Reviews (157)

Prince of Action Heros
Kevin Costner got a lot of... for his English accent, and while it wasn't great, it wasn't that distracting. "Robin Hood: Prince of Theives" slightly brakes from traditional myth in that Robin Hood is a returning knight from the Crusades. In the absense of King Richard, Sherriff of Nottingham attempted to take power. When Robin returns he swears vengence against the sherriff who killed his father and defamed his name. Then it's basicly "Die Hard" in the forest. The greatest change is Morgan Freeman's Moorish warrior traveling with Robin. Freeman is good, as usual. Christan Slater is full of fire and wind (putting it nicely) as Will Scarlet. Costner dose well as Robin, I really thought he did excellent. Mary Elizabeth Mastrentonio is pretty good as more or less independent Maid Marion (she has a lot of 1990s style "Thelma and Louise" attitude than was not realistic in the Dark Ages). But it's Alan Rickman's Sherriff who steals the show. He is wild, over the top, very funny to watch. This movie is dark, violent, and kind of scary with it's witch and occultic themes. This is pure action from start to finish. Just excellent.

Entertaining
First off, I wanna address this whole thing about Kevin Costner's accent. What difference does it make at all??? If you think it makes the movie more historically accurate, well, I hate to break it to you but, you're wrong. English people in 1194 weren't speaking in modern British accents, they were speaking in Old English, which is basically a dialect of German. So, with that thought, the British actors were as from the historical truth as Costner with their accents. Costner I think plays a very realistic Robin Hood, who is a lot more human than the other Robin Hoods. He shows emotion, and in the beginning, really plays well his role of a spoiled, rich boy. A lot of people commend Allan Rickman on his performance here, but I think he was one of the worst characters. When talking about him, people spoke so frightenedly about him, but in every single one of his on screen moments, he was acting like a goofy weirdo. I couldn't ever tell if what he was saying was supposed to be serious or a joke. I think his character took away from the more serious, adventurous tone of the rest of the movie, and made Prince of Thieves seem like a parody in itself. Not to say that he was a bad actor, I think that s a fault of the writers. There were a few inaccuracies, like the way that the Scots dressed. My exact first thoughts of that scene are expressed by other reviewers. They looked more like people who would have been ravaging the Roman establishments in Britain in the 4th and 5th centuries, not like Scots of the 12th. A lot of people have complained about the witch, and although I m not sure what her purpose was in the movie, she was entertaining, and kind of scary at the same time. On the whole, this was a good movie that s entertaining to watch, not too far away from Braveheart. (Although Robin's rhetoric skills are definitely much worse than William Wallace's. I could not comprehend at all what he is trying to say while he s lecturing the people from the fallen tree. He started off with something about being freedmen, and then ended with making weapons from the forest, I don't understand that connection. If they are free men then while in the hell are they living in the forest? I think that if you re free you can live wherever you want, not be forced into a "haunted" forest in the middle of nowhere. And if they were already free, they wouldn't need to fight back.)

4 1/2
Much better than the original release. This version has optimal quality in the picture and sound and has lots of bonus features. Now I can review the content of the film as this version is the best you can get! The film presented here is pretty good, well done. Im not a huge Costner fan but he does fairly well here, this story of Robin Hood did well in the theatres but skyrocketed with the help of Brian Adam's song "Everything I do, I do it for you". Its a good film with a great soundtrack and it helped sell cereal, toys and books...Good film, GREAT dvd! Must buy

Prince of Leaves
I'm rating this film so low only because of the dvd itself. Its a double sided disc that doesnt need to be flipped but the studio was so cheap they made it double sided at the time! The film itself looks average, not wonderful. Do yourself a favor...get the new extra disc version....

aging slowly but surely...
This was one of my favorite movies way back when it came out in '91. What may have even prompted me to see it was that it wasn't gonna be the proverbial 'men in tights' satire. But Kevin never really did much that was meant to be an intentional comedy (some only turned out to be that way not by design). Hilarity was an element was not intended to dominant the script. However, anyone who may have been expecting this to be anything like Dances With Wolves will have been thrown a curveball. Costner did not hold the directorial reigns and it shows, with no disrespect to K. Reynolds.
I bought the DVD recently and I cringe at some of the choices the project had taken. It's easy to say it in hindsight but the truth is rough considering the lineup of some high-profile actors cast. Bottom line: It fumbles from being having all components of a comedy, drama, and romance in one release. In other words, typical Hollywood fare.
I found the second supplementary disc sub-par. I'm surely not asking for anything on the level of the Lord of the Rings, Terminator 2 or Star Wars prequels, but I thought the SE version was going to merit more information and detail. I also grew weary of Costner's commentary here.
I might have given Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves three stars. But the cast did all they could do to save a rushed screenplay. The movie did do well in the theatres in '91 so it did have its charm. Get this only if there is absolutely nothing on the store shelf. ... Read more

Reviews (219)

rush hour 2
Rush Hour 2 is an unbelievably hilarious, action packed, better-than-the first sequel to Rush Hour. I strongly recommend that you rent and watch the first one before you go see Rush Hour 2 because much of the humor and jokes are based on the original one, however, this is not necessary because you will catch on quickly and only miss a couple of the related jokes. Rush Hour 2 begins exactly where the first movie leaves off. If you watch both movies in order it will just seem like one long movie. This is a nice feature because it makes the movie easier to follow and understand.
Rush Hour 2 is about two detectives, Detective Lee (Jackie Chan) and Detective Carter (Chris Tucker). While on their vacation to Hong Kong Lee and Carter are called back to duty to investigate and bust an international counterfeiting ring. This is no easy task, however, as they soon find out. Carter and Lee find themselves locations around the world such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and even Tokyo.
Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker give a perfect and encore performance doing what they do best. Jackie Chan plays the serious logical and skilled martial artist Detective Lee. Chris Tucker portrays the never serious, ego boosted LAPD officer, Detective Carter. I don't believe that this movie would have had the same punch without these talented actors working together in this fabulous duo.
The action in this movie is spectacular. As always, Jackie Chan performs unbelievable stunts during his fighting rendezvous. At one point in the movie he jumps and dives through a very tight slot, much like one at a cashiers cage. On the other hand
Chris Tucker, let's just say... is not very good at Kung Fu, but nevertheless great comical relief.
The humor in this movie is absolutely bladder busting. Ethnic and personality differences between Carter and Lee create humorous situations. For instance: Carter speaks his own version of Chinese. Obviously, he just says a bunch of random gibberish and makes himself look like a total idiot in front of a rather large group of Chinese people. Carter is quick to the tongue and is always bashing on the Chinese culture. Lee is just simply funny while acting so serious and straight-faced: A perfect contradiction.
I recommend that you go see this movie or rent it when it comes out in January 2002 It will be worth your time and money, and because it stars Jackie Chan, you will get to watch the comical, and quite painful out-takes at the end of the film during the credits. You'll laugh your way through Rush Hour 2 with its wonderful blend of action and comedy.

Feel the Rush...
A sequel that exceeds its predecessor. That in itself is an anomaly these days, but Rush Hour 2 packs enough wallop for both movies. How about some of the best lines in an action comedy in recent years? From one liners to the chemistry that has evolved between Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, this movie will make you pause the scenes until you finish laughing. Hit play again and you'll be slapped with more humor. Carter runs through downtown Hong Kong, where no one knows what he is saying, yelling, "Get outta the way! L.A.P.D!" There's a moment in Hong Kong where Carter meets up with a chicken vendor and the laughs keep coming. Rush Hour 2 opts for a more sexy approach with the Chinese massage parlor scene, and the 2 main female characters who are sure to boggle the eyes of the male population. As for action, there's plenty of it to support the clever dialogue. The movie is so realistic and unrealistic at the same time, you'll be bringing the first movie back out and panting for Rush Hour 3. I can't leave out the fact that a story goes with this and it's told quite well, and for what this movie is, it doesn't burden the high-jinks, but supports it. Simply put, Inspector Lee has an old vendetta with the man who killed his father and Carter is pulled along from Hong Kong to L.A. A few plates need to be found from a counterfeit ring using them to make a "Superbill," which is identical to a real bill. Not quite an original story, right? Well, it's all in the way you tell it and Rush Hour 2 pulls off a good time and that's what we wanted to see.

Robert Eldridge (...)

Funnier Then The First...
Slick, chaotic, and decently entertaining sequel picks up where the first movie left off. LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) is on vacation in Hong Kong with his friend, Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan). Carter just wants to relax, have fun, get some "mu shu", but Lee can't stop doing his job even for a minute. This time, he's hot on the trail of gangster Ricky Tan (John Lone), who may have been behind an Embassy bombing.

More-of-the-same in terms of content AND style, but still pretty engaging, with lots of action and thrills. Chan and Tucker still share the same chemistry, and overall there are some good laughs. (Worth it just to see Tucker perform Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"...) For me, one of the perks of this sequel is watching "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" beauty Zhang Ziyi as a very fetching and lethal assassin.

Terrific High energy sequel is GREEN!
Not satisfied to just build on the personalities and chemistry created in Rush Hour -RH1, this action movie delivers an inventive script and great action. I would have given 5 stars but I down grade for language.

Chris Tucker delivers another high energy, comedic performance. Since Chris first caught my attention in the Bruce Willis vehicle, Fifth Element. He has proven himself to be a real comedy - action star. This movie might have worked with a different actor playing chans part, but jackie chan is the genious that created these incredible films and may now be our top action star.

Highly recommended, but only partially family friendly.

Better than the first, alot better!
Take peoples word for it when they tell you this is better than the first Rush Hour movie, even Chris Tucker is much funnier in this one. The movie is funny, not amazingly funny but you can expect for laughs than the first one. Though there's alot of stupid things in this movie it wasn't made to be serious, now really two guys fighting off 10 guys at once on several different occasions. The ending was not bad, it was a pretty cliche ending but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. After watching it, I am looking forward to a possibly Rush Hour 3 and I hope they make one, if you're into action/comedies this is a must watch. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Voyage of the Nautilus
Kirk Douglas and James Mason explore the mysteries of the deep in the Sci-Fi classic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Rumours of a sea monster that attacks ships, has open the interests of a curious French scientist (Paul Lukas), his faithful aide (Peter Lorre) and an able harpoonist (Kirk Douglas). Upon a striking encounter, they learn that the "sea monster" is a powerful under-water vessel under the command of the vengeful Captain Nemo (James Mason). "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a remarkable adaptation of Jules Verne's stunning adventure tale. The film features a powerful story, great under-water photography and a rich music score. Kirk Douglas, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre are well cast but it's James Mason's intense performance of Captain Nemo that often drives the whole film. It also contains some impressive visuals and thrilling momments including a gripping battle against a giant squid.

Disney gives "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" the full "2-Disc special edition" treatment. The movie is presented in it's original theatrical widescreen format. The DVD contains an amazing video transfer and clear digital sound quality. Disc 2 features exclusive bonus material including Behind-the-scene featurettes, Theatrical trailer, picture gallery and audio commentaries. Like previous Disney DVD, the disc also contains forced commercials and trailers of upcoming Disney releases. Overall, it scores an "A".

It's not just a Disney classic, it's a classic, period.
Among the live-action output of the Disney studios there are precious few _truly_ great films. One of them is "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

It was the first wholly live-action movie made at the Burbank studios (the previous live films having been made in England, one of which -- "Treasure Island" -- is another classic, recently reissued in a gorgeous DVD transfer). "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a classic example of how simply throwing money, talent, and imagination at a project can result in a masterpiece.

It is difficult to overpraise this film. Earl Felton's imaginative rethinking of Jules Verne's novel and his script's focus on the moral issues at the center of the story; James Mason's subtle and controlled performance as Captain Nemo; the startlingly realistic miniatures (which have not been surpassed); and Richard Fleischer's simple, uncluttered direction are standouts.

But all these pale in the face of the incredible art design, which deservedly won an Oscar. The interior of the Nautilus cleverly imagines how a Victorian submarine (had there been such a thing!) would be furnished. The exterior is the most-fanciful submarine design ever conceived. It does for this film what Robby does for "Forbidden Planet."

Did I forget to mention the fight with the giant squid, one of the most-memorable scenes in the history of movies?

My only complaint is that I'm not a fan of Paul Smith's music. His principal theme for this film is inspired, perfectly invoking the fundamentally somber mood of the story, but the rest of the score doesn't come up to it. (It might be that the dreadful style of Disney's "house" orchestrations -- which afflict dozens of other Disney films -- keeps me from properly appreciating Smith's work.) I can only note that, while Disney was hiring one of Fox's model designers to create the miniatures, he might also have borrowed Bernard Herrmann, who, five years later, would produce a classic score for another Jules Verne story, also starring James Mason.

This transfer is the best yet (including the LV). The color is rich and varied (quite unlike the overly-red/muddy-green mess Technicolor would soon become), and I didn't see a single spot or scratch. There's a lot of supplemental material, including an hour-long "making of" feature that's well-above-average for this sort of thing, Disney or otherwise. There is also a intermittently interesting running commentary from the director and Rudy Behlmer, the film historian. Note that the "Operation Undersea" episode of Disneyland -- an hour-long "commerical" for the film that won an Emmy -- is _not_ included.

Despite its half-century age, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" has lost little of its freshness or excitement. If your kids don't like it -- get new kids.

A Great DVD of a Great Film
Like many of the other reviewers of this movie, I'm a pre-boomer who was dazzled by the film as a child. Somewhere in my aging mom's attic, I have a few bolts (painted wood) from the movie set of the Nautilus, which I "borrowed" from one of the Disney properties as a kid nearly a half century ago. I remember taking a bus from LA to Burbank to stare through the slats of the fence in the back lot of the Disney Studios and seeing a partial model of the Nautilus, perhaps 1/3 scale, tossed in a corner like so much debris. What I would have given to be able to drag that model home.

When I viewed the VHS version of this film a couple of years ago, I was bitterly disappointed by the poor quality which made the watching experience actually painful to a fan like me. But, let me tell you, this DVD is as thrilling as the VHS was painful. This fully-restored version of the film comes roaring back to life in all of its glory and then some. It's the best film restoration these old eyes have ever beheld. Watched on a state-of-the-art widescreen TV, this is every bit the experience it was in the '50's and I think it's wonderful that this great film is now preserved for the ages, just as it was when it was first released.

Is this a perfect movie? No. Even as a kid, I noticed that the background music was too cheesy, that Kirk Douglas's songs seemed gratuitous, that the fish swimming outside the large porthole were cartoonish, and that the electrically-illuminated eye of the Giant Squid made an otherwise perfect special effect look a bit fake. I'm just as puzzled by those weaknesses today as I was then, especially since all other aspects of the film, including the numerous, Oscar-winning special effects involving the Nautilus, are masterful. But no movie is perfect and this movie, minor warts and all, is nothing less than a memorial to the genius of Disney, the acting of James Mason, the passion of the Disney staff, and the vision of Jules Verne.

The best Disney movie ever... and a DVD to match it!
Finally! The definitive edition of a Jules Verne classic brought back in all its pomp and glory. The price, for once, is right.

I remember it when it first was released in Europe, and I can safely say that this version beats even that showing back then.

Extremely clear image, stupendous surround sound, make this a must have in the most absolute way.

Forget all the other versions ever made. This remains THE classic of them all!

Forget the dated special effects which, by the way, you may not even notice, since the story is so gripping and fast paced, that you may not even realize they are.

James Mason gives a wonderful portrayal of Captain Nemo. One of his best roles, together with Fieldmarshal Rommel in "The Desert Fox", Cicero in "Five Fingers" and Professor Arronax in "Journey to the Center of the Earth" of about the same period.
Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre form a perfect if not odd comical duo, to ease the tension of the story.

The score is beautifully remastered and brings you immediately back to those long bygone days of great moviemaking.

I won't be long reviewing this movie, since many others before me, have already praised it and described it in detail.

I can only say, buy it, buy it, buy it!

Oh, and by the way, don't forget about another Jules Verne classic coming out soon on DVD and in Widescreen:
"Around the World in 80 Days".
That's another "absolutely must have".

In the meanwhile, have you checked on "Journey to the Center of the Earth".
Do you have it on your DVD shelf?
No?
Shame on you...
Go and get it fast.
It's been remastered and it's a worthy companion to the other two Jules Verne movies.
So, what are you waiting for?

Superior DVD Package of a Memorable Film
Loosely based on the celebrated novel by Jules Verne and set in the late 19th Century, LEAGUES offers the story of Professor Arronax (Paul Lukas), his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre), and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas), who are coaxed by the United States government to aid in the search for a sea monster said to be terrorizing shipping lanes. But the monster is not of flesh and blood, and soon the three find themselves in the hands of the mysterious Captain Nemo (James Mason) as prisoners aboard the Nautilus--a fully functional submarine capable of ramming ships and sending them to the ocean floor.

Underwater photography was hardly new in 1954, but never had it been used so extensively nor to such visually beautiful effect, and the art designs--particularly those for the Nautilus--are justly celebrated. But for all its beauty, it is the performances which make the film work. James Mason does not merely play Nemo, he seems to be Nemo; after seeing his performance it is impossible to imagine any other actor in the role. Paul Lukas adds yet another brilliantly understated performance to his memorable career, and while Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre are hardly the Ned Land and Conseil of the Verne novel they have surprising chemistry and lend the film considerable dash.

At the time of its release, LEAGUES was the single most expensive motion picture ever made (ironically it would loose that dubious distinction later that same year to yet another film featuring James Mason: A STAR IS BORN), and every penny of the money spent shows in the onscreen result. While many of Disney's live-action films are fondly recalled, few have had enduring fame, much less claim to status as art--but LEAGUES is the exception, and although the episodic nature of the story seems a shade languid from time to time it remains both a landmark and one of the most influential films of its decade. Truly enjoyable from start to finish.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Description

Kung Fu expert Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a martial arts master who arrives in Hong Kong to compete in the Kumite, a violent championship fighting contest. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

Way past due on DVD
A great martial arts flick As noted, this movie was JeanClaude Van Damme's first starring role, and for my money one of his two best films. He portrays Frank Dux, an American champion of the Kunite, which was/is a full contact, anything goes martial arts competition.

The movie introduces us to Van Damme's incredible martial arts ability. The story line is simple and unremarkable but effective. Van Damme participates in the Kumite against the wishes of the government which trained him. The cast is certainly unremarkable, led by Bolo Yueng, first(?) seen in "Enter the Dragon", playing Chong Li, the film's key villain and kumite champ.

What makes the film, though for martial artists (and fans) is the incredible range of fighting techniques seen through the film. Some of them are great, some comical. But there is a ton of action (much of it predictably brutal). But for fans of the genre, it is highly recommended.

Van Damme's first and best
Bloodsport is a movie that every Martial Arts fan has seen or at least heard of. This movie was Van Damme's first starring role in which he portrays real life martial artist Frank Dux, an American who was the undefeated heavyweight champion of the kumite from 1975 to 1980 (don't quote me though). The reason this movie was so great was that it showcased Jean-Claude's martial arts and gymnastic prowess rather than his sub-par acting ability. The story was simple but effective: a shady and brutal Martial Arts tournament is being held in Hong Kong and Dux (Van Damme) is going to participate to honor his shidoshi and surrogate father Senzou Tanaka. Leah Ayres and Donald Gibb did an average job of playing Van Damme's cohorts. But who really shines in this film is Bolo Yueng who did a great job in playing Chong Li, the film's key villain and kumite champ. Paul Hertzog did a great job with the soundtrack, which fuels the movie's many fight scenes. This is probably Van Damme's best film. ... Overall, Bloodsport delivers plenty of action with a decent story and is an enjoyable film. I would reccommend it to any Martial Arts fan.

"Now, I break you! Like I break your friend!"
During the martial-arts craze of the mid-90's, there were few bigger stars than Jean-Claude Van Damme. Though it wasn't a box-office hit during its enitial theatrical run, "Bloodsport", Van Damme's first starring vehicle certainly found its audience on cable and video. "Bloodsport" follows American fighter Frank Dux (Van Damme) as he enters a brutal full-contact tournament known as the Kumatai. Looking back at the movie that I once watched religously with all my friends almost a decade ago, it's probably to safe to say that if you didn't pick up on this one during its time then you probably won't understand it now. It had all the great things you'd expect from a Van Damme movie: Minimal story, cheesy overacting, and tons of random splits. The musical score from Stan Bush and a rather silly perfomance from Donald Gibb are the icing on the cake. Anytime I'm looking to take a trip down memory lane, I toss in this and "Kickboxer" and have my own little JCVD double-feature. Now, if only they could put together a special edition DVD.

The Frank Dux story is a hoax
That was proven amongst the martial arts community years ago. Being a martial artist myself, I always get a laugh when I read the description of this movie on websites. However, I am giving this movie 4 stars only because of Van Damme and the great fight scenes in this movie. This is Van Damme at a young age and doing all the kicks and moves that he seems to have lost with age. Bloodsport is basically an imitation of "Enter The Dragon" (the greatest martial arts movie ever made) where a lone guy enters a tournament. The theme has been repeated countless times but Bloodsport is one of the better clones. Also be sure to check out Kickboxer, which is even better than Bloodsport!

jean-claude van damme this movie was good
pretty good movie old though, but its alright the acting was kind of cheap ,but what do you expect from an old movie right? its a van damme classic . ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The performances are strong
Matt Damon pretty much carries this sequal where his charecter comes closer to restoring his memory of who he realy is. Julia Styles also shines in her role as someone who is still uncertain if she is a friend or for of Jason Bourne. It's more complex then you may think.

Hey Jason Greeno
Don't you think your being a little too harsh, and whats your problem with dentists. If you have not seen the Bourne Identity or read the books it might be a little confusing. All in all it's your typical spy/espionage flick. If your not into the genre you won't like the film, but if your a James Bond fan you should enjoy this. I love the idea of traveling from country to country it gives the movie an international feel. Bottom line is I enjoyed this movie.

I'd rather be at the dentist
I snagged a Sneak Peek movie pass from a coworker yesterday to check out this film. Universal would not allow the name to get out. It was a huge secret. We were not sure if we would be seeing "Two Brothers", "Spider-Man 2" or something else. I finally learned my fate when a rep. announced it as the lights dimmed. Gosh, how I wish I got out then.

Long story short, I have not seen the first film. Hence, I really had no idea what was going on. It's one of those movies that keeps moving from country to country like an online Lonely Planet guide. The name of the place shoots up on the screen so that we can read it. They do this because you can't tell from the script where you are. It's all convoluted and dry. Damon has never done worse work. He looks like a robot from the new Will Smith movie than he does a real man most of the time. There is an emotional part near the beginning that was nice, but then it is all procedural FBI/police type stuff.

If you have a calendar of Matt staring down at you right now, you should go and see this. If you will be starring in a new episode of a one-season cop show, go.

If you are hoping for a coherent, fun summer flick, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Description

In this unrelenting action masterpiece from director John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York), a police station under siege from a vicious street gang becomes a cataclysmic battleground where only the strongest survive! Inspired by Howard Hawks' immortal western, Rio Bravo, this explosive gem from one of cinema's great frightmasters has been newly remastered with a host of high-powered extras! ... Read more

Reviews (51)

One of the Top Independent Films Ever
Being a fanatic of John Carpenter, specifically the Halloween series, hearing about this movie made me eager to check it out. I read the raving reviews here on Amazon dot com and decided to take a slight risk and purchase the DVD. Well, I sure was blown away. Movies now a days are never made like this, especially in the way that the characters act. The portrayol of the evil gang members is superb along with the portrayol of the "good guys" in the movie, one in particular being Austin Stoker who plays the main role. This movie is action packed and many parts will leave you shocked. The soundtrack is another great aspect of this film, and way ahead of it's time considering that this movie was made in the 70's. The special features include a very comical interview with Carpenter and Stoker done very recently where some lucky fans got to ask the pair questions regarding this movie along with asking about other John Carpenter classics. Assault on Precinct 13 proves that John Carpenter can make a masterpiece out of a budget no matter how high or low that it is. If you like any work that Carpenter has done then I highly reccomend this film. This is only the second movie he released, but it's deffinatley one of his best.

Lucky 13
Before he scared the heck out of us with the original Halloween, director John Carpenter tried his hand at the action genre, with Assault On Precinct 13. Like Halloween, this movie was made on a shooestring budget, but doesn't let that stop it from being darn good.

A vicious Los Angeles gang called Street Thunder takes over an all but abandoned police station. This, as a group of convicts are being transnsported, awaiting time on death row. Now, a handful of cops must join forces with these criminals, to survive the seige.

The action comes fast and furious. Carpenter makes the most of limited sets and really goes all out. The tension of the film is sustained throughout and played in favor of any real character development. Of course, the infamous, anti-establishment cynacism that Carpenter is known for is ever present. The movie is really like a modern day-in the 70's at least-western. Most of the characters are a tough hombre`s. Strong performances by Austin Stoker as Bishop, Darwin Joston as Wilson, Martin West as Lawson, Tony Burton as Wells, and Laurie Zimmer as Leigh, highlight the film. The climax rivals most gunplay scenes in any of the more recent actioners. Assault is dsated only by its wardrobe and hairstyles but holds up rather well--just the same.

The special edition DVD has a fair amount of bonus material. Most of which, will provide enjoyable insight, into how it all came together. Carpenter provides another straight forward audio commentary for the film. He is low key about it all--but quite candid. The "new" video Q&A with Carpenter and star Austin Stoker at the American Cinematheque is also well done. I wish there could have been a few more participants though. The music score, written by Carpenter is a real treat and it's cool to have it isolated. Both behind the scenes stills and lobby card galleries are here, as is the theatrical trailer, and a couple of radio spots. Not bad if you ask me...

Assault On Precinct 13 may not be my favorite Carpenter film. But it's still worth a look, especially for those keen on the action genre

Before you see the Remake make sure you see the original 1st
Yes it is being remade for release in 2005! But before you go out and see that you MUST see the original. Carpenter's 1st studio film!
Based on Howard Hawks Rio Bravo, it tells the story of a police precinct under siege, where Police and prisoners have to fight side by side in order to survive. Great acting by Austin Stoker and Darwin Joston. Excellent direction and music by John Carpenter. Not to be missed!

A cult action classic from John Carpenter!
A police station in L.A. called Precinct 13 has two police officers, two women and two convicts including a traumatized victim are being trapped by street gangs who are surrounding the place making it a living hell for them. They have to find a way to get out, defend themselves and make those devils go away.

An intense, exciting, gripping action drama classic from John Carpenter which happens to be his second movie after "Dark Star". This movie offers loads of action, brutal violence including a on screen child murder, gunfire, an interesting storyline and cool music by Carpenter.

This movie became a cult classic over the years yet still has a strong following including being one of the greatest action movies in movie history. The DVD here is a nice special edition with great transfer, and cool extras like Poster-and-still gallery, trailer, radio spots and interviews, if you love John Carpenter and action movies then add this to your collection.

There is going to be a big budget remake due out next year with Ethan Hawke, Ja Rule, Lawrence Fishburne, Brian Deheney and John Leguizomo.

Also recommended: Die Hard, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Rock, Con Air, Shaft, The Siege, The Peacemaker, Lethal Weapon, Scarface, Commmando, Passenger 57.

Killer movie, but even better, AWESOME music soundtrack
after everything's been said or written about this movie, that's the one part I felt I must highlight; the music for this movie was credited to Carpenter, and in the DVD format, it just rocks, just gives the speakers a serious workout. For a 1970s movie, or for any decade, for that matter, it's awesome. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Before the action-oriented "buddy movie" formula settled into place in the 1980s and 1990s with the Lethal Weapon films, Walter Hill's 48 HRS. presented a much more irreverent and politically incorrect version of the genre. Eddie Murphy made an auspicious film debut alongside veteran Nick Nolte's consummate performance as a worn cop. Murphy plays a convict on a two-day furlough from prison to help capture his former partner (James Remar). The intense animosity between his character and Nolte's impatient detective is rude and violent--albeit in a comic way--and the film's racist and sexist banter is so ubiquitous that some viewers might be turned off. (This early, raw Murphy is not the Murphy of The Nutty Professor.) Then again, sometimes deliberate overkill is funny in itself, which is certainly closer to Hill's intention. There are a couple of scenes for the ages in this film, especially Murphy's single-handed shutdown of the action in a redneck bar. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is the REAL thing. Accept no imitations.
In order to appreciate this film fully, you hafta turn yourself back in time to 1982, an' try an' remember the political an' social mindset of the day. Then imagine watching '48 HRS.' an unabashed an' raucous cop thriller that breaks the very foundation of political correctness. Now how does that make you feel? If you say, sick to your stomach, then maybe you needa loosen your jock strap an' try it again. E'ybody knows the plot, the hard-drinkin', chain-smokin' San Francisco cop Jack Cates, played by Nick Nolte (who looks almost TOO comfortable in the role of a wasted, burn-out), is lookin' to put two recent prison escapees an' vicious cop killers away after he tried an' failed to apprehend them. In going over the case he comes across several members of their old gang an' decides to go talk to one'a the incarcerated ones. Here's where Eddie Murphy comes in. Reggie Hammond is the smooth an' dapper, fast-talking convict who convinces Cates to get him out of jail an' on the street to help him solve this case. Cates reluctantly does so, an' from there is' jus' the two of them together goin' from place to place, crook to crook, bar to bar, lead to lead, tryin' to keep from killing each other in the process. Cates is a rough-edged, semi-bigot with an apparent vendetta toward these crooks (though apparently jus' for stealing his gun), Reggie is the charming, jive-talking criminal, with a more obvious vendetta toward the crooks (they dropped the dime on him, got him locked up, an' are now tryin' to steal a half a million dollars of his hard-earned, er, um, hard-stolen cash). Both are on the same mission, but with two TOTALLY different personalities an' when they mix it up, oh, is' gunpowder. E'ybody talks about the scene with Murphy in the country-western bar playin' cop ("Alright listen up. I don't like white people. An' I HATE rednecks. You people're rednecks. That means I'm enjoyin' this s---.") an' although it is funny, my favorite scene comes right after they question the two ladies who were s'posedly in cahoots with the killers, when Nolte an' Murphy finally drop the trash-talkin' an' jus' have a drunken brawl in the street only to be broken up by two cops on the beat.

This is the original buddy cop flick. With two guys who're ironically ANYTHING but buddies. Depending on the way you've come up watching movies, this one will either be a wonderfully offensive cop thriller, or a horribly offensive cop thriller. Of course, no matter how you look at it, '48 HRS.' will forever be a hallmark, because it was one'a the first movies of its kind: a rough-edged, blatant politically-incorrect film centering on characters that are so sleazy at times you hafta force yourself to like them, an' revolving around racial stereotypes an' sexist banter thas' thrown around like it's nothing, not to mention some brutal violence. Now it'd be much harder to overlook all the coldness if it wasn't for the charm an' appeal of Eddie Murphy, in his film debut. He is the main reason to watch the flick, although Nolte's character also provides the perfect counterbalance. Directed by Walter Hill, '48 HRS.' set a new standard for the way action flicks were to be played for the rest of the 1980s. With laughs, wit, chemistry, an' a not-so-serious attitude set against a very serious backdrop.

Fun cop buddy flick
Eddie Murphy made his debut in this Walter Hill film, and he is really the star here, even though Nick Nolte gets top billing. Nolte does a fine job, but his part is not as showy, and one's eyes are not drawn to him as much as Murphy, at his best in the country-western bar scene.

You probably know the story, but I'll summarize it here by saying that this is simply a buddy movie with an antagonistic twist. Murphy is the con, in for three years with six months left. Nolte is the cop on a search for James Remar, who stole a lot of money with Murphy long ago.

The story is set up as a mystery, with the pair questioning several possible connections, but the story doesn't really matter. The main attraction is the relationship between Murphy and Nolte and the slow growth towards friendship.

One complaint is that since this was filmed in 1982, they had a different idea of gritty police drama than today. The police department's atmosphere is incredibly tame compared to shows like NYPD Blue. Nolte does his best, chain-smoking and nipping from a flask (I read once you could tell an '80's movie by how much they smoked), but he still doesn't come across as jaded as any scene with Andy Sipowicz.

It's still fun and good entertainment, especially if you are looking for a film with an American Indian character that dresses like a '50's relic.

Wonderful
This is Eddie Murphy in is prime, when he was at the height of his acting career. He is so wonderful in this movie. He steals the show from Nick Nolte.

Worth Owning on DVD
At less than $15, this movie should be flying off the shelves. Both Nolte and Murphy are great. Their characters are are perfectly scripted to each actor's abilities and personality. Murphy plays a loudmouth penny ante punk. Nolte plays a grumpy, rascist tough guy. They, of course, learn to respect and like each other as they chase down the bad guys. The story isn't bad either. The soundtrack is good and 48 Hrs is set all over San Francisco. If your a fan of either or of comedy action or movies set in SF, you can't go wrong. My favorite Eddie Murphy movie.

Murphy's best is his first
Some of the best 1-liners ever reside in this film. Simply put, its a great comedy with a flare for drama, and in the cop buddy genre. Lots of cursing, some nudity, but ultimately, a great flick. It kicks today's cop buddy flicks in the Mother F-ing Aholes Mother F-ers! ... Read more

Reviews (53)

an underrated cult movie!
This was one of those big budget, high concept films of the '80s that the studio had high hopes for but ended up belly-flopping at the box office. It's a shame, really, because this is a wonderfully entertaining B-movie with A-movie production values.

Yeah, most of the songs (with the exception of the two awesome tunes by The Blasters) are horribly dated and totally inappropriate for the look and vibe of this movie (what do you expect? they were mostly written and/or arranged by the guy who produced Meatloaf's BAT OUT OF HELL -- ugh), which should have gone more with rockabilly and old school '50s rock 'n' roll instead, but oh well.

Michael Pare delivers his finest performance in this one as the silent tough guy Tom Cody and he has real chemisty with old flame Diane Lane who is perfectly cast as the rock singer who needs to be rescued. This was at the time when both of their careers were read hot (esp. Lane's after doing all those awesome Coppola films!) and this film was supposed to launch their careers into the stratosphere. Doh.

Surrounding them is a great cult cast of character actors... Rick Moranis as the annoying manager, Amy Madigan as the butch soldier-of-fortune, Willem Dafoe as the nasty, leather-clad bad guy and the blink-and-you'll-miss-'em cameos by Bill Paxton (great hair!), Lee Ving (from the punk band Fear), Ed Begley, Jr. (what the?!), Robert Townsend (I'M GONNA GET YOU SUCKA!) and a young Mykelti Williamson (Bubba Gump!).

This was also Walter Hill at his finest. After this, with the exception of JOHNNY HANDSOME, it was pretty much all downhill. But, man, he had a good run until the bottom fell out.

The transfer on this DVD is top notch with kickin' sound that really comes out if you've got the proper home theater set-up. It's a real shame that the studio didn't let Hill or anybody else involved provide some new extras! C'mon! If commercial flops like UHF and NEAR DARK can get awesome special edition treatments then so can this one!

A Terrible Movie That You Can't Help But Love
Personally, I really like Streets Of Fire, but strictly speaking, it's terrible. The script is really bad and the dialogue is some of the worst I've ever heard. However, it can be very fun to watch. The cinematography is excellent, and the beginning and ending concert scenes are the reason I bought this dvd in the first place (I'm a huge Jim Steinman fan). It really is fun to grab a few friends and some snacks and just laugh at Rick Moranis and Michael Pare overacting their corny lines. It also has Elizabeth Daily, whom you may know as the voice of Buttercup on The Powerpuff Girls. I love her! She's a joy to watch. I was dissapointed in the lack of special features on the dvd, and somehow I don't think there will be a special edition version. But hey, it's always amusing to watch corny dialogue transform into corny French dialogue, right?
Simply put, if you're a fan of cheesy movies and you don't take things too seriously, you will probably get a kick out of this film.

A "Grows on you kind of flick!"
Ok...when I first saw this movie the first thing out of my mouth was..."Ok...what was that all about?" lol...but after watching it again...and being a really big (self-proclaimed) Michael Pare fan, I gave it another try, and was really suprised that I enjoyed it! It grows on you...it's a "You can't help but love it" kind of film! The more you watch it, it becomes a guilty pleasure! A must see...if you like the kind of movie that you can love, and still think..."WOW...I really like that?!?!?!"

"You can kiss your baby goodbye."
If you recognize the name Ellen Aim you know your cult sci-fi rock movies, or, as director Walter Hill called his 1984 film Streets of Fire, your "rock and roll fable[s]."

Ellen Aim and the Attackers are a band that plays in an alternate version of the eighties, or maybe an alternate version of the fifties. It's either the eighties that couldn't let go of Elvis and pre-British Invasion rock and roll, or it's the fifties anticipating an urban underclass where everyone is on the edge of violence. Walter Hill loads the movie with a retro neon look, blending genres, similar to what he did in 1979's The Warriors, where he mixed the post-war social-issue movie with the seventies exploitation film, along with some ancient Greek history. (As Cyrus, the would-be savior of all the warrior gangs, booms at us, "Can you dig it?")

Michael Pare (as Tom Cody) stars in Streets of Fire. Cody's just out of the army in a what-if America that still has the social restraints from fifties Tab Hunter movies, but wallows in the corruption and depravity of Reagan's eighties. On this particular morning in America it's raining and everyone's on the verge of killing someone. Willem Dafoe's first appearance as Raven, the villain in black rubber, fresh from God knows what perversity, to the song "One Bad Stud" performed by the Blasters ("If he likes your baby, you can kiss your baby goodbye"), may be what got him typecast as a psycho in so many movies.

But in a fifties movie there has to be a love story. You can't have a guy without a girl. There has to be a Natalie Wood for James Dean, even if the romance is between James Dean and Sal Mineo. In Streets of Fire, Michael Pare's Natalie Wood is Diane Lane as singer Ellen, who Aims her Attack straight at your heart while she caresses one of those old round microphones that look like a hood ornament. Raven kidnaps Ellen and her old boyfriend Tom Cody (Buffalo Bill to the rescue) is called to save her. Unfortunately, Lane doesn't get to do much more than play the frail here.

Cody's real emotional connection is with McCoy (Amy Madigan), another vet who makes Cody hire her to rescue Ellen. McCoy brushes off Cody's half-hearted passes with "You're not my type." McCoy wears greasy old clothes and fixes cars better than Cody so I think I get the point. Especially when McCoy leers at a female nude dancer at the club where Ellen is being held. It seems like the movie was going to be more explicit about McCoy's sexuality but chickened out.

I won't spoil the story but you know how it ends.

I have a soft spot for movies that are original, even if they're not entirely successful. The music's good, the look of the film pulls you into its unique world, and the story is one of those mythic restatements that move you even when you know they're corny.

Yes, cheesy but the best kind though...
I truly love this movie, even though it is chock full of horrible writing and over acting, but all of this is done in a very cool way. I like to think of this as a pirate movie only on land with a bunch of bikers, cool cars, and tons of film noire dream like quaility action going on. Plus a great sound track to go with it. If you like Micheal Pare I recomend checking him out in Eddie and the Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives! instead of Eddie and the Cruisers. He's much more interesting in Eddie Lives! and it has a much better soundtrack with incredible songs done by John Caffhery and the Beaver Brown Band. ... Read more

Reviews (132)

The Best Movie Ever
2 Fast 2 Furious is the best movie ever.Better then the first one.There were more practical cars in the first one and in the second is more exotic cars.Brian O'conner and his Nissan Skyline rev up and race, by suprise he gets caught this time by the cops and his real name is revealed{O'conner}.Bilkins from the first movie is in miami with a deal for Brian.He puts a drug smuggler Carter verone and his dirty money together if not he would be arrested for the laws he broke in L.A. if he did his record would be cleared.The guy they gave him to be his partner{there suppose to be two street racers} has the intellagence of a wet mop, so they let him choose his own guy Roman Pierce{Tyrese}.
Together with hard work,dangerous stunts,the help of Tej{Ludacris},miami street racers, and Monica Flementes{an undercover cop living with Carter} they put Carter and his money toghether.

worst sequel of 2003 if not the worst movie of 2003
this movie was the biggest waste of time and money.bad acting bad script bad actors bad directer bad producer this movie is the worst sequel of the 2003 if not the worst movie of 2003 If you are lookng for laugh go watch this garbage I this soap orphras have better acting then this movie I have no idea how movie got 4 stars because it stunk please dont wast your time or money on this movie this movie doesn't even deserve a 1 star

2Fast2Furious Is A Tricked Out Movie, Hands Down 2Thumbs Up!
If you like fast cars and hot chicks, 2fast2furious is the movie for you. You need watch the 1st Fast And The Furious Movie 1st tho. I could not believe all of the dinamic special effects in the movie, it was off the hizzle my bizzle. I gave it 5 stars, The blockbuster movie of the summer. And while your at it, check out the awesome soundtracks for the Fast And The Furious Series. Full of great Jams, and awesome beats.
~Neo~

BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL
"2 Fast 2 Furious" is better than the original "The Fast And The Furious". It has more action and the cars and races are better. In the first one, Vin Diesel's in it. But he is absent in this one. The plot of the movie goes like this. Former LAPD Cop Brian O' Connor (Paul Walker) is sent on a mission. He must go to Miami to find and capture a drug dealer, Carter Verone. But O' Connor needs help from an old friend, Roman Pierce (Tyrese). Another cop, Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes), must go undercover as Verone's girlfriend. O' Connor's friend, Tej (Ludacris), helps with the mission in some ways. With the great special effects, action, and cars, "2 Fast 2 Furious" is the hottest movie of the summer.

Hot guys and Hot cars
2 fast 2 furious lives up to its title- somewhat. it isn't the fastest or the most furious, but it's airheaded and fluffy enough to move quickly without being attatched to the strings of an actual plot.

But its lack of an intriguing storyline doesn't destroy its fun factor. the souped up hot rods polished to a fine sheen speeding down the streets of miami make for some rather satisfying guilty pleasures.

And if you'd rather feast your eyes on something more than oversized hot wheels in a rainbow of colors, you won't be disappointed. the men have the pleasures of drooling a little puddle over shapely women, but we girls definately aren't left out in the cold.

Studly Paul walker with his charmingly innocent grin, and his accomplis Tyrese with his toned body (and urge to constantly rip his shirt off) would make any girl faint (if they weren't sitting in a chair)

if you want something quick, that doesn't require too much thought, is loaded with eye candy, light hearted, fun, and will help you munch your way through your stale, overly buttery popcorn, than this movie is what you've been searching for. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The up-and-down career of director John Milius had no finer moment than The Wind and the Lion, a dandy adventure tale. It's based on fact:An American (played by Candice Bergen) and her two children were kidnapped in 1904 Morocco by a Berber tribe, an international incident settled by President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick" military muscle. The film's sweep and swagger are unabashedly old-fashioned, even as Milius occasionally pokes fun at the grand characters. Some of the peripheral material is sloppy, but as long as Milius keeps his sights locked on the two powerful protagonists, he's dead-on:Brian Keith makes a gutsy Roosevelt, and Sean Connery is in splendid form (with Scots accent in place--got a problem with that?) as the dashing Berber chieftain. Perhaps overshadowed by John Huston's The Man Who Would be King the same year (Huston plays advisor John Hay in this one), Wind makes a marvelous companion piece. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Great movie combined with great actors, story and actions...
This is a movie where most people would have a hard time not liking it. Its has everything anyone wants, unspoken romance, actions and intelligent script. I did have some problem with Sean Connery as the Berber chieftain but he played the role well and if a Berber were taught English by a Scotsman, he would sound just like Connery. Brian Keith played Teddy Roosevelt to a perfection. I think Keith had all the best lines of the movie and many of things he said about our nation sounds more real today then ever before. Candice Bergan was wonderful as well and there was a definite chemisty between Bergan and Connery that make the movie work.

There might be one stick that get stuck in many people's throats and that is that Sean Connery plays a very honorable man of Islam. When his character stated that Raisuli don't make war on women and children, he sounded bit insulted that a true warrior of Islam might be considered to scooped so low. A true patriot in his own eyes, Connery's portrayal of an Islamic leader run contarary to what many Americans see today, especially after 9-11 and many Islamic terrorist attacks directed at women and children. (I was told that this movie is quite popular in Islamic nations for Connery's portrayal of a true and honorable warrior of Islam.)

The DVD of this movie proves to be a must-buy for me. Its in anamorphic widescreen and at least for my basic TV, it looked very good. The audio is in 5.1 DD but its not very active as you hope to be. Still the sounds are pretty clear and background material are separated nicely. There are your director's commentary and making of the movie feature included but that is all from the extra feature department.

Considering that this movie was made in mid-1970s when America's power was ebbing after the Vietnam War and we were in an "anti-pro-active" stage, this story of Berber chieftain kidnapping an American woman and her children which generated a pure imperialistic response from the United States, must have been a rarity to hit the screens at that period.

Rousing Adventure with a Touch of Romance
Well, I wait patiently for this movie to be released on DVD. In the meantime, I keep the VCR so I can watch this movie for the umpteenth time. In many ways, this screen adaption of actual events seems more appropriate to be viewed in these times. The movie is a VERY loose depiction of actual events: the kidnapping of an American businessman in Morocco. Look beyond that and you will find a story that reflects admirably on the antagonists. Candice Bergen plays the (subtle) potential love interest of the Raizuli, and well, Sean Connery, is Sean Connery, in the best tradition of a Scostman playing an Arab. Anyway, Brian Keith's portrayal of Teddy Roosevelt makes you wish he were still alive so you could vote for him in the next election. This is one of my all time favorites and it makes you feel good to be an American (not wanting to be jingoistic or anything). The movie does depict an era when international politics was not so seemingly complicated as they are now. The portayal of Arab Muslims is fair: good and bad traits, as in all people on this planet. The depiction of the Marines coming ashore, is well, one of the best (unintentional) recruiting tools for the USMC. I understand these scenes use (still?) to be shown at USMC Officer Candidate School. This is a truly enjoyable film.

The DVD ruined the best scene
First the good stuff. This is a pretty enjoyable movie. Connery's casting as the barbary pirate / lord of the Riff starts out as rather unbelievable, but it grows on you. Brian Keith is perfect as Theodore Roosevelt. Keith and the script do a great job of showcasing this man's beliefs, pretenses, and genuine nobility. My only complaint about the performances; It would've been nice if Candice Bergin had picked one accent and gone with it. The romance is a little forced, but hey, it's a movie.

"LOOSELY" based on a historical incident, it remains relevant even in today's world. The contrast between a slumbering but decisive America that is willing to negotiate to a point, but go it alone if it must to protect it's citizens, versus a self-absorbed charismatic leader who uses religion to justify his own desires for power and place. Sound familiar?

Based on the above, I'd give the movie itself a weak 4 star rating, but the DVD fumbles.

The pinheads in charge of subtitling this better than average film managed to screw up one of the finest depictions of 1900's era small unit actions in the history of cinema. This piece of film is (or was until recently) used in the training of US Marine Corps officers. They obviously used historical and technical experts to get the movie right, why couldn't they have talked to even an ROTC cadet to make sure that the command verbage in the subtitles was correct? Very shoddy, and unfortunately it is becoming typical of the level of quality in the DVD market. A minor point for most, but a notable and easily avoidable flaw.

Absolutely Fantastic
I saw this movie at the theater, many years ago, and was taken by the fantastic story of Theodore Roosevelt vs the Sheik. The main stars of this movie perform splendidly and the rest are just as entertaining. As someone who studied Teddy in school and later in life, I must add that I thought Brian Keith's portrayal was far and away the best likeness of Teddy that has ever been done in a movie. Sean Connery plays the Sheik masterfully and nobly and in this current time it is nice to see a balance approach to the "barbaric" Islam tribes. Connery plays the Sheik as honorable and worthy of respect. Definitely a must see movie.

FABULOUS FILM THAT STILL HOLDS UP
"The Wind and the Lion" was a beautiful John Milius film and story, with a pulse-pounding sound track. Brian Keith plays Teddy Roosevelt, who orders U.S. troops to Morocco to protect U.S. interests, as well he should have. Candice Bergen is an American socialite, kidnapped by a roguish Arab sand pirate, played by Sean Connery. The film is much more story, character rivalry and romance than history, but it does not hand us any of the usual garbage portraying the U.S. as racist exploiters. Instead, America under Roosevelt is portrayed as a modern power, unafraid to flex its muscles, but not willing to go overboard.
Milius writes and directs to this day. He has a tremendous love of history, a conservative trait. The reason for this is simple. History is the accurate description of great things done by conservatives. No wonder we love history. He is not the household name that Speilberg, Coppola or Lucas are. He says he is comfortable with the decisions he made, which were to be up-front about his politics regardless of whether it cost him. He freely admits that his conservatism indeed did prevent him from the kind of greatness that he was capable of.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM ... Read more

Reviews (137)

Mad Max 1
I'm a great fan of the Mad Max series of films and since I'm living in Australia, I have seen the original Aussie version on video locally. It seems stupid that we can only get Mad Max 2 and 3 on DVD in Australia and not Mad Max 1 (which is only available on Video). So, because of this I bought Mad Max 1 (The U.S Version DVD) through Amazon which has the American voices dubbed over the original sound track (which I didn't know at the time). Me being Australian and having watched the original, I found the U.S version very disappointing. Also the picture quality on this US version DVD of Mad Max 1 should have been better (It's more like VCD quality). The Australian version of Mad Max 1, I would give 5 stars.

The Original Mad Max
I own the original Mad Max the way it was released in Australia and i have to say that it is a brilliant movie (although not as good as its sequel). I have never had the oppertunity to see the U.S version but would love to own it one day...The exellent chase scenes and crashes are now part of Aussie film history. The scene of Max getting his leg blown open by the gang shows why he has a leg brace in the sequel. If anyone would like to e-mail me and (hopefully swap movies) send to: pjb_3@hotmail.com no paper clips please..They will be deleted.

Mad Max : The original and the American
Mad Max is certainly not a movie for everybody especially not your Saturday night date but it has proved to be an excellent guy movie and it sucks that the good ol' USA had it dubbed,edited or how 'bout butchered. The dubbed American version has however grown on many of us and is certainly an excellent action/horror/western/biker movie. This version will probably always be available but if you ever have a chance to see the original or even own it, you are in for a true delight. The Aussie dialogue is not as difficult as "A Clockwork Orange" but can be hard to understand at times but you get what they are saying. Also, there are several key sequences that were edited that adds to the tension (hence forth the horror genre). Although, some would disagree, a director's cut is certainly deserved to this cult classic, one that restores the the original sounds and lost(?) edited scenes. MAD MAX is definitely a high energy movie that every guy should own. There is real movie magic at work here while still displaying an artistic approach(an angle rarely explored in action movies of years since its premier.)

This was how you did it back then.
For 1978/79, Miller's debut feature is tightly directed and highly engaging thanks almost to the constraints that had to be imposed because of the films amateuresque style. Gibson breaks out of his screen starting gate like a racehorse, the villain gang is well (and humourously) put together and the plot is as souped-up and humming with power as practically all the vehicles shown therein (remember that post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers only became well and truly cliched after the third installment of this series). Still, the real stars of the show in this picture are the cars themselves. Those Interceptors painted yellow and marked 'Pursuit' are the best thing to happen to a Datsun since the invention of the 454hp engine and scoop. Miller directs the road sequences with zest and conviction - so much so that the frenzy of the death highway comes out to stab the viewer in the eyeballs at times. There are a few funny bits with deaths etc. Most are well executed [except for the Edwin Nealesque (he's the guy who gets smushed under the wheels of that truck at the end of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre') demise of the ludicrously camp biker leader, 'The Toecutter'] but watch out for the sequence where Max runs the bikers off the bridge right after his wife and kid get splattered. Look for the guy in the red helmet and brown jacket (I think he's also wearing a white aviation scarf) who falls on the road (most of the bikers being catapulted over the railings). Found him? Okay, good. Now wait until you see the front wheel of the bike to the left of him smash him in the head and jerk his neck forward. That actor must have died! No way could anyone have lived through that without serious hospitalisation. Hmmm.... was George Miller trying to get too opportunistic with that? Anyway - it's a damned fine film given its unripe origins so go see it whether you're familiar with the trilogy or not. Scholastic work for sure.

The origanil version is comming
Good news folks. I read that the origanal version of Mad Max is being releast. First to the big screen, than on DVD. So I would wait, if I were you. ... Read more

Reviews (159)

Packs a big punch
"The Transporter" is by no means a theatrical masterpiece...but that doesn't matter. The stunts are amazing: from the opening car chase to the multiple battles featuring Jason Statham vs. Large Group of Bad Guys. I challenge anyone to watch this movie and not say "Whoa!" at least ten times throughout the duration.
Statham holds his own in his first starring role, sometimes shirtless and covered in oil (a little something for the ladies). He proves to be the right mixture of brood and mystery needed for this type of action hero. And anyone should be impressed with an actor who did a lot of his own stunts (either that or his stuntman is a perfect doppleganger).
Overall, the movie is great fun, but it's not to be taken seriously. There is a plot that attempts to keep the movie going, but it's only a tiny distraction. Corey Yuen's direction and the fight choreography are classy enough to make this a better action movie than some. Need I even mention Steven Seagal's recent debaucles?
I think the best things that are going to emerge from "The Transporter" release are the budding American careers of the main star and director. I'd love to see what either of these two do next.

Holds you and doesn't let go!
Wow, Jason Statham finally made it!. That's what I felt after watching this hugely enjoyable action romp from director Corey Yueng who has collaborated with such as Luc Besson in the past in movies like "Red Dragon". This movie has a distinct European feel, not only in locations, but also direction, and one could be forgiven for thinking this was a Besson movie. This notwithstanding, it is a great roller coaster action flick, with some very well choreographed fight and action sequences. Mr Statham plays retired special forces hardman Frank Martin (why do they always retire so young?) living in the South of France who is a highly paid, feared and reveared professional courier, sporting a customized BMW, and formidable array of weapons (himself included). Regardless of the cargo, he conducts himself with consumate expertise, and deadly force where necessary, but is essentially a morally driven "good guy" who just happens to work as a mercenary. Quickly embroiled in a kidnapping, and attempted murder he stirs up a veritable hornets nest of villians who are not only armed to the teeth, but also ruthlessly led by a sadistic and equally die hard nemesis played by Matt Schulze. You can easily watch this movie over and over again for it's non stop action pace, and very slick direction, but the more discerning viewer, will want to leave the intellect behind, as this is pure adrenaline junky material. I would have given this movie 5 stars, but for a couple of reasons. Some of the fight sequences just cross the line a tad on believabilty (even in this genre of escapism) and the amazing ability of all character (Statham included) to endure taking the kind of punishment that would drop a Rhino, and still bouncing back like new. The only other moan would be the annoying habit it seems today, of multiple scenes and sequences that appear in the trailer, NOT being in the film! - if you check out the extended features on the DVD you'll see.
If you can place your tongue squarely in your cheek for a couple of hours though, you will LOVE this movie.

Girl Porn
Jason Statham, shirtless, greased up in a bus station kicking ass. Oh.my.god. This movie has a crappy plot & silly dialogue, but I own in because Mr. Statham is the hottest British guy ever. The action sequences are really good, and he does his own stunts. If Jason Statham & Vin Diesel made a movie together where they get in a fight & accidentally kiss, I would be in heaven.

hahaha soo bad
the first scene was good but it just went downhill from there, a very steep hill. bad acting, bad story line, bad everything

Worth One Viewing & Only One
I made the mistake of watching this more than once. In the theater, on a huge screen in a dark room, the action scenes are incredible and the story reasonable enough. On repeated viewings, numerous mistakes in continuity, logic and possibility become obvious. For our hero to have accomplished a few of his feats, he would have been blessed with either x-ray vision or clairvoyancy. The movie takes great pains to repeatedly tell and show the viewer what an "I" dotting "T" crossing exacting professional our hero is. That Mr. Self Control spends the vast majority of the movie behaving with the self control of a ten year old with ADD seems incongruous. Also, word to the unwise, never establish yourself in an extremely dangerous business and deliberately place yourself in the position of having to trust extremely untrustworthy strangers who might not have your best interests at heart. Rule number three should really be: I always get to know what's in the package because, when I'm out there driving, its my butt on the line, not yours and, after all, it might be a bomb. Luc Besson's fingerprints are all over this movie. Its another one of his damsel in distress vehicles. Both the 5th Element and The Professional are along the same lines and are much better movies. ... Read more

Reviews (362)

Rousing swashbuckling tale
This is not your Father's Zorro, and Antonio Banderas does a fine job as the masked avenger (and according to the Amazon.com trivia section, the first Hispanic to play this role). Banderas plays the second generation people's hero in Southern California, just prior to Spain's ceding of the land to Mexico.

Anthony Hopkins is a great second (who is actually the first) Zorro, a/k/a Don Diego de la Vega, a Mexican land baron and freedom fighter. After escaping decades later from prison, Hopkins escapes from prison to seek revenge on the no-good governor (well played by a smarmy Stuart Wilson) the man who killed his wife and stole his daughter.

Bandaras, a low-life bandito becomes urbane and a proficient warrior at the teaching of Hopkins, and then becomes transformed by a positively bewitching Catherine Zeta-Jones. Their interplay gives the film its romantic, and often sensual edge.

Lots of swordplay and general excitement, as we recall from Douglas Fairbanks and Disney's Guy Williams. The movie moves quickly (but bogs down for awhile 2/3 of the way through. Happily, it picks up the pace through the end.

Nice scenery. When we see the sign of the return of Zorro, via a blazing Z cut into a hillside , it is positively thrilling. A stirring script which fits the film well. More than enough humor (such as the scene in the confessional, or one of several chased of Zorro by the troops) for the purpose of lessening the tension which is well added by a malevolent Matt Letscher.

As one says, it is a grand throwback. As another said: That's entertainment!

...They make the sign of the Z...
This film is the most recent Zorro film. It stars the young Hispanic Antonio Banderas and the intelligent actor Anthony Hopkins. THis may be the first time that a true Hispanic has played Zorro in an American film.
In 1820, Spain has lost California to Mexico. But Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) the Spanish govenor, is determined to kill his nemisis Zorro. The fox again foils Montero's plans with the help of two young orphans, one of whom he gives a medallion. Somehow, Montero learns that Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) is Zorro. Diego's wife is murdered by Montero's men, his hacienda burned, Montero robs him of his child, and Diego is sent to prison. Defeated but determined never to surrender, the enraged fox promises the govenor that he will never be rid of him.
Twenty years later, Santa Anna has become worse than Montero, and people vanish without a trace. The orphan who helped Zorro, Alejandro Mureita (Banderas) and his brother are caught by Montero's man Capitan Love (Matthew Letcher) who beheads Alejandro's brother. Meanwhile, Deigo escapes and sees that Montero has raised his stolen child Elena (Catherine Zeta Jones). Diego sees Alejandro. The two men form an alliance. Diego trains Alejandro in the art of the sword, the whip, riding a horse, and athletic ability. Alejandro tries an exlpoit as Zorro but is rejected by Diego. In the end, however, the new fox earns his mask. Diego now seeks revenge on his nemisis, Montero, while the new Zorro tries to free the people.
This film extends Zorro's legacy. However, in the future I am sure we will see more films with Zorro being Diego. One line with this film seems to hold more emotion than the rest.
DIEGO: "Rafael! You'll never be rid of me! Never!"

New Zorro, New Age
I have never been a huge fan of Antonio or Jones until I saw this film. With its breathtaking scenery, action and atmosphere it makes you love zorro again! A new zorro for a new age! Very well done film with superb acting. The dvd is full on with excellent picture quality and sound.

Zorro No Longer a Hero
Zorro, the hero of Pulps, movies, books, comics and television, has a new movie out. Antonio Banderas, on Larry King Live, mentioned that he hoped this movie would help to keep alive the spirit of the only Spanish super-hero (he in not the only one nor was he at the time of the interview). Well, I think it will do much to keep the name alive but not the spirit.

Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, the Fox. After years of struggle, Spain is pulling out of California and leaving it to the Mexicans. But Zorro slips up and the evil Governor tracks him down, kills his wife, steals his daughter and throws him in prison. Twenty years later Don Diego (Zorro) hears that the Governor is back. Minutes later he has escaped from prison (what was he waiting for?) and is destined to run into Antonio Banderas. After their meeting