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The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death, Enter the Dragon was his entrée into Hollywood. The American-Hong Kong coproduction, shot in Asia by American director Robert Clouse, stars Lee as a British agent sent to infiltrate the criminal empire of bloodthirsty Asian crime lord Han (Shih Kien) through his annual international martial arts tournament. Lee spends his days taking on tournament combatants and nights breaking into the heavily guarded underground fortress, kicking the living tar out of anyone who stands in his way. The mix of kung fu fighting (choreographed by Lee himself) and James Bond intrigue (the plot has more than a passing resemblance to Dr. No) is pulpy by any standard, but the generous budget and talented cast of world-class martial artists puts this film in a category well above Lee's primitive Hong Kong productions. Unfortunately he's off the screen for large chunks of time as American maverick competitors (and champion martial artists) John Saxon and Jim Kelly take center stage, but once the fighting starts Lee takes over. The tournament setting provides an ample display of martial arts mastery of many styles and climaxes with a huge free-for-all, but the highlight is Lee's brutal one-on-one with the claw-fisted Han in the dynamic hall-of-mirrors battle. Lee narrows his eyes and tenses into a wiry force of sinew, speed, and ruthless determination. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Bruce Lee at His Incomparable Best
Considered by some critics to be the definitive martial-arts film, Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" (1973) is comic-book escapism on a grand scale. Robert Clouse received credit as director, but there's no doubt that Lee handled the terrific action sequences. The fights are almost nonstop as Lee performs impossible feats with lightning-fast, effortless precision. Though unoriginal in terms of scripting, "Enter the Dragon" represents Lee's finest 90 minutes on screen while featuring some of the best martial-arts choreography captured on film. It remains a spectacular swan song to his brief career. (For the Warner Home Video "special edition," two scenes were restored that provide insight into Lee's character and his motivation for tracking down the villainous Han. Despite good intentions, the additional scenes are ruined by horrendous dubbing. Hopefully, Warner will reissue "Enter the Dragon" in its original version.)

Enter The Dragon All Time Classic!
Enter the Dragon (ETD) was the last completed film of legendary martial arts expert Bruce Lee. It was Lee's dream to achieve international success and it is of extreme irony that he did not live to see all his dreams fulfilled. At least he left behind his legacy which includes ETD. Lee (character has the same name) is sent on a mission by a British organization of "information gathers" to infiltrate Han's (Shih Kien)island at an international tournament that is held every three years. Lee shares screen time with Williams (Jim Kelly middleweight karate champion) and Roper (John Saxon). The film was the first U.S.-Hong Kong co-production and was intended to introduce Lee to an international market.

While the film borrows heavily from Dr. No of the James Bond series it is Lee that separates this film from the mundane. Lee's screen presence is undeniable only surpassed by his phenomenal ability as a martial artist. His battle with the guards in the under ground dungeon is "extraordinary" as Han so aptly observes. Lee's mega watt glare is also a site to behold particularly when he stares down an unsuspecting henchman who dare's to question why Lee is not in the provided uniform. ETD is directed by Bob Clouse who actually does a good job freeing up the surroundings so that Lee has plenty of room to strut his stuff. All of the fight sequences were staged and expertly executed under the direction of Lee. A testament to this is that 30 years after it's initial release ETD can still hold it's own next to the more special effects driven features like "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or "Kiss of the Dragon."

In the climatic scene of ETD Lee exacts revenge on Han in spectacular fashion. I recommend this DVD without reservation it is simply a true classic in every sense of the word!

ULTIMATE KUNG FU CLASSIC
ENTER THE DRAGON Two-Disc Special Edition (Warner) is not only the best Bruce Lee movie but the best Kung Fu film (sorry, Quentin). It's been 30 years since Lee's untimely death andfor me, he's still the ultimate martial arts action guy in the movies.

This double disc has several compelling documentaries that examine Lee's life and skills. A special treat is previously unseen footage of Lee in action.

Disc Two includes John Little's feature length biography Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey with a meticulous reconstruction of Lee's intended cut of The Game of Death.

The Best of Bruce Lee
Enter the Dragon, as any fan will tell you, is the definitive Bruce Lee film. It rightly deserves 5 stars both on its own merits and its influence on subsequent films. The audio and video quality have never been better. This deluxe 2-DVD set serves not just as a tribute to the film, but also to Bruce Lee's entire career. It includes documentaries on his life, as well as a reconstruction of several key scenes in Game of Death - the intended follow-up to Enter the Dragon. This is the DVD that Bruce Lee fans deserve, and newer fans will have no idea how spoiled they will be by the wealth of goodies Warners included in this set.

Exit the Dragon
So here it is... more than 30 years since the original theatrical release of Enter the Dragon, Warner Brothers releases the definitive 2 DVD Special Edition. It's a fine offering, long overdue, and considering the reasonable price, really offers a lot of nice extras, though most of them have been available elsewhere and have therefore been seen before (at least by rabid fans like me).

To start with, there is of course the movie Enter the Dragon (ETD) - Bruce Lee's magnum opus that was not released until after his unfortunate death in 1973, but sealed his immortality. The plot is simple enough - Bruce is a modern day Shaolin monk who is somehow enlisted by the British/Hong Kong government to infiltrate the island of Dr. Han (Shieh Kien), a crusty old renegade Shaolin gone bad who holds a yearly martial arts tournament to recruit talent for an international opium and prostitution racket. Roper (John Saxon), or "Loper" as Bruce says his name, is the established Hollywood caucasian star brought in because of reservations about Bruce's ability to carry the film, while Williams (Jim Kelly) is the token blaxploitation character who, this being the 70's, is kind of a Shaft/Superfly ass-kicker and, in the spirit of horror movies, is the first to die at the hand of Han - actually, at his artificial, interchangeable, iron, and oftentimes bladed hand. Even Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, as young Hong Kong stuntment before they became stars in their own right, make infamous appearances as guys on the receiving end of Bruce's wrath. But the real point, or value, of this movie is that Bruce Lee shines throughout with his incredible fight sequences - he once again casts Bob Wall as whipping boy, hitting him with lightning fast punches, an insane skip side kick, and a great groin shot that still makes me wince despite hundreds of viewings; he has some fantastic weapons sequences with staff, double escrima sticks, and nunchaku; and he more than lives up to his reputation as the "man with three legs" as he demolishes armies of scrawny Asian guys whose gung fu is pitiful in comparison (check out the guy laughing in the background as Bruce connects three successive roundhouse kicks to one sap's head in the final mob fight). This was totally innovative and amazing in 1973 as the first ever martial arts movie made in Hollywood and despite all the subsequent copycats and modern day wire-fu flicks, no one has ever matched Bruce's intensity, charisma, and moves. There are some classic dramatic sequences as well with Bruce speaking English in his own voice (unlike all of his Hong Kong movies whose English versions are horribly dubbed), such as Bruce teaching a student and rapping him on the head as he expounds some homespun Zen philosophy or Bruce poignantly asking "why doesn't someone just pull a .45 and settle it?" Incidentally, this is the uncut version of the movie with some extra scenes not included in the theatrical release - basically Bruce talking quasi-philosophy (well, actually, it's someone else dubbing in Bruce's voice) with his Shaolin elder that he later recalls in the final fight sequence.

Of course, few people who buy this DVD don't know all this already, so what's new? Well, there is a commentary track by producers Paul Heller and Fred Weintraub - there's some interesting tidbits, but overall it's disappointingly uninspired. Then there's "Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon" - a newly produced documentary short that includes some rare and new footage - a clip from Bruce's Hong Kong TV appearance in which he breaks 4 dangling boards; an interview with John Saxon, Lalo Schifrin, and the kid who gets smacked on the head by Bruce in the movie (now apparently a well-known Hong Kong director); and several minutes of on-location footage shot with Ahna Capri's handheld Super 8 camera that has never been seen before (it's short of amazing, but it's new and therefore gold to diehard fans). On disc 1 there's also a soporific Linda Lee (Cadwell) interview, another "making of" featurette with on-location footage shot by the AD, John Little's short "In His Own Words" featuring most of the Pierre Burton interview, and some old black and white movies (with sound) of Bruce kicking his buddies and hitting his heavy bag in his Los Angeles backyard - though these have all been previously available in one place or another (including the 25th Anniversary ETD DVD).

Disc 2 includes all of the TV and theatrical trailers for the movie (somewhat repetitive) and two previously released Warner Brothers documentaries - Warrior's Journey, which captures and knits together the lost Game of Death footage (GOD) in its available entirety, and Curse of the Dragon, a George Takei (Sulu of Star Trek fame) narrated documentary released around the time of Brandon Lee's death. These are both decent films, with Warrior's Journey a real gem with the GOD footage - the definitive way to watch Bruce in widescreen duel nunchakus with Dan Inosanto and try to deconstruct Kareem Abdul Jabbar's fighting style while sporting the iconic yellow and black tracksuit revived by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol 1. Curse of the Dragon is interview heavy (Kareem, Taky Kimura, Paul Heller, James Coburn, etc.) but also includes clips from Bruce's childhood movies, his Green Hornet screen test, his appearance at Ed Parker's Long Beach Karate touurnament, and some backyard work-out footage with Coburn. But once again, these films have already been released before on their own, so while decent, they're less than revelatory.

And so, what we have here is by far the best available version of ETD that now exists and probably ever will, complete with a lot of nice extras, most of which have been available elsewhere. It's nice to have it all in one package (there's no apparent need to sell Warrior's Journey as a standalone product anymore) at a reasonable price. On the other hand, Lee worshippers will no doubt wish that there was more - why not include the complete Green Hornet screen test, or a Jim Kelly or Jackie Chan interview or commentary track, the complete James Coburn training session footage, all of the Ahna Capri film, more ETD outtakes, or maybe even "Kentucky Fried Movie," a parody of ETD released many years ago... but what can you do - Bruce died 31 years ago and this is the legacy he left behind. ... Read more

Description

Life seems to have settled down for British Officer Richard Sharpe as he enjoys a much-deserved rest at a French chateau with his new love, Lucille. However, the news of Napoleon's return from exile drives Sharpe back to the army. He is placed on the staff of the incompetent British ally, the Prince of Orange. Reunited with his Chosen Men, Sharpe abandons his inept commander and organizes the defense at the farm of La Haie Sainte. It is here he plays a key role in one of Britain's most famous victories, the Battle of Waterloo. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Interesting performance!
This was an interesting look at the Battle of Waterloo. It probably isn't presented in a fashion for those trying to understand the battle completely. Small skirmishing and parts of the battle are covered in a complicated format. This movie is probably for those who already have an understanding of the battle and want to get to different details. The fighting, cannonades and reenacting goes far in this movie. Sometimes I was puzzled by why the I felt that the director used the same scene several times such as cannon fire scenes or marching. From a grand scale this movie never portrayed large armies massing together which made me disappointed to see. This movie has great action, though is far too brief on the subject matter making Waterloo appear as a small skirmish.

Yes I do like the series
I like the series so I am not objective in viewing this a stand alone.

I am very plesed that the budgets have become much bigger as the series progressed. Far more extra's, more horses (some of them actually moving together as cavalry should) more variety of uniforms and nice settings.

I look at period/costume pieces for more than just a plot...I am looking for an escape in time...the Sharpe Series does this for me (as does the Hornblower's)

I am looking for a "feel"...for 90 minutes I want to believe I am in another world...I want the flavor of what it was like to live in another time, doing historic things.

Sharpe's Waterloo does a good job at making me feel I am actually there at the defence of La Haye Sainte...there is no examination of the whole battle...just the worm's eye view of the men who had to hold the gate...

So if you want the glamor and the big picture...maybe this isn't for you...however,if you want to pick up a rifle and help hold a key spot on the battlefield in a fighting that was desperate...then this is definitely for you.

Buy the DVD, grit your teeth, then read the book
I became enchanted by the Sharpe series by watching the series on TV. The chemistry between Sharpe (Sean Bean) and Harper(Daragh O'Malley), the struggle of the compentent Sharpe to get recognition and authority within the rigid class structure of the British Army (makes you wonder how the British army could have been so successful in the 19th century), the wary relationship between the Spanish and the British, the fantastic luck that keeps Sharpe and Harper alive, and the characterization of even temporary characters all presented against the background of the peninsular campaign during the Napoleonic wars, I found fascinating and moving. Sean Bean plays a much more compelling character here than in any of his villianous movie roles (e.g. Bond).

Of course, I looked forward eagerly to the release of the series on DVD.

In the meantime, I read all of the books. Since the completion of the television series, Bernard Cornwell has extended the story of
Sharpe both before the peninsula campaign and after Waterloo. The books are far richer than the TV series, but this doesn't detract from the series at all. The series generally stands on its own but the books add considerable depth, background, and context.

The last episode in the series, Sharpe's Waterloo, suffers more in comparison with the book, because the underlying events are familiar. 100 minutes is hardly engough time to explain the manner in which the battle of Waterloo unfolded and to develop the several other story threads involving Sharpe. Still, it is fine culmination to the series.

As in all of the DVDs in this series, the video quality is poor. This has been mentioned by other reviewers but needs some explanation. The color is good, the video has little noise, and there are no surprizing artifacts. The problem is image resolution. The DVD is encoded at 4.35Mbites/sec with almost no variation responding to changes in scene or motion. This is low: the Abyss, a high-quality DVD transfer, is encoded at 5.79Mbites/sec with occasional bursts at over 7Mbits/sec. The difference is dramtic. All of the Sharpe DVDs are fuzzy and lack detail; they appear to be out of focus. There are not enough pixels in the image to provide a good image on even a small TV screen. And forget about watching these on a large screen.

Still I recommend this series. Buy the DVDs, put your chair across the room, and enjoy. At the end you'll want more. That's the time to buy the books.

Sweet!
I thought that the performace by Sean Bean was brillient! He is the perfect actor to play sharpe. This was the best sharpe of them all! I thought that it was so funny when the man that was cheeting on sharpes wife peed his pants when sharpe was going to kill him.

Sharpe's End
Here we are, after thirteen hundred glorious minutes, at the last hundred minutes of the TV adventures of Richard Sharpe. After the events of "Sharpe's Justice", Sharpe has returned to Normandy to Lucille, as he promised, never to fight another battle. Except: it is now the summer of 1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte has left his exile on the island of Elba, marching across France and calling his loyal troops back to him. The Hundred Days have started, the final gasp of the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe's greatest regret has been that he has never faced Boney in battle, so off he goes to war, his Chosen Men back at his side.

But Wellington places him on the staff of the Prince of Orange, young, arrogant and incompetent - his adulterous wife, Jane wants her lover, Rossendale, to kill him - and Napoleon has humbugged them all, quickly and efficiently splitting the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian armies apart, to destroy each individually. Will Sharpe survive this? Boney's attacking, the Prussians have still not arrived to give aid, and the fate of Europe will be decided in this little valley near a town called Waterloo...

Bernard Cornwell's original novel, "Waterloo: Sharpe's Final Adventure", was masterful - it managed to weave an exciting personal story for Sharpe and at the same time give an understanding of how this most famous of battles unfolded. Unfortunately, "Sharpe's Waterloo" doesn't really do that. I could follow it because I already knew how the battle progressed, but I would think the viewer who knows little about what happened that day wouldn't be able to follow the grand scheme of battle. As a result, we see Sharpe take part in various bits of the battle but never quite get why each is important.

On the other hand, one could argue that this shows the fog of war from the soldier's perspective - that the individual didn't really know how the big picture was forming up. This isn't particularly convincing to me, because I've seen it done magnificently in Ted Turner's production of "Gettysburg", and with a good script I don't see why it can't be done here.

Also, the same budgetary limitations that have plagued the series also show up here. One doesn't get the impression in the slightest that this was a battle than involved more than 300,000 men, all in all, on all sides. We never get much more than one regiment at a time on screen and the final advance of the Imperial Guard as a result winds up looking pretty wimpy. Given this was the grand finale, I had hoped they would splurge a bit, but sadly this was not the case.

On the positive side, the acting is cracking as usual and loose ends are (more or less) tied up. The battle at La Haye Sainte is particularly well done, even given the budgetary problems. Sharpe does a lot of swordplay and firing and realizes his dream of commanding a battalion. We see the deaths of beloved and hated characters, and Harper and Sharpe finally get their wish - to see Boney. The rest, as they say, is history, and you're going to have to watch it to find out what happens to our heroes. The transfer, like the latter few episodes, is surprisingly good compared to the earlier DVDs - one wishes heartily that they could have put some extras in, though.

About time for them to adapt "Sharpe's Devil" one of these days, I think... ... Read more

Reviews (755)

In True Comic Book Fashion
Finally, a movie based on a comic book that actually remains faithful to the original book and characters. Of course if you're talking about the X-Men, you're talking subject matter that is more mature on many levels than most comics books. The story line goes head on into the racism and fear of mutants, people born with genetic differences that don't surface until they hit puberty and give them never seen before gifts that allow them to do pretty amazing things, some incredibly beautiful, others intensely frightening. Professor Charles Xavier (perfectly cast and portrayed by Patrick Stewart) is their unsung savior as a wealthy father figure who takes in these young people to try to mold them into something positive. On the other end of the spectrum is a jaded and bitter Magneto, also portrayed well by Ian McKellen, who believes that normal humans have had their chance and now something has to be done to show them that mutants are superior. Xavier's Senior students, Cyclops, Jean Gray and Storm help new found mutants Rogue and Wolverine discover who they are and what may lie in the future. The actions scenes are unique and original. All the actors give solid performances, especially Jackman, and Halle Berry impressed me with her Kenyan accent. I hope she speaks more in the sequel. The DVD is excellent for true fans because it's obvious that Director Brian Singer wanted so much more for this movie but just wasn't allowed to have it. Time, budget and a last minute search for someone to play Wolverine caused serious constraints. Considering the obstacles and the bad luck of past comic-book-to-movie adaptations, this one scores high and pleases fans and normal folks alike. It stands for something more than just heroes and villians, and it gives us a story about people, no matter who they are or what they can do. Buy this, if you have not already.

In a not-too-distant future...
The long-awaited comic book-to-film translation of X Men left some fans satisfied and some wanting more. There are some terrific action scenes and great characters. Veterans Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier) and Ian McKellen (Magneto) are terrific, as are Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and Tyler Mane as Sabertooth. The Special Effects in the film are inventive and amazing. My favourite SFX moment: Where Magneto is walking across a pathway created by moving metallic planks across a chasm, the pinnacle of cool. Director Brian Singer has loaded the film with eye-popping visuals and some great one-liners. Michael Kamen's futuristic score (one of his best) adds to the mysterious tone. After watching the film several times through, there are a few little quibbles. Wolverine is a great character, but a bit more exposition on the other characters would be good, and the rather stringent running time leaves the film a bit short on great set-pieces. Still, that's what sequels are for!

The DVD extras are great, with trailers, some interesting deleted scenes, "The Mutant Watch" featurette, a Bryan Singer interview, Hugh Jackman's screen test, still photo gallery and TV spots. To quote Darth Vader: "Impressive. Most impressive."

An informative political allegory
X Men, the youthful animation that divides love and evil, is a good film, incorporating great special effects, not to mention the childish violence. But X Men really is a grave political allegiry, highlighting how the governments of the world sometimes thing they are making changes for the best, whilst the silent minority, in this case the mutants, think otherwise. Taking it on one level, this film is an entertaining, action-packed thriller, but one should really consider how the undertone of this animation reflects on a democracy whereby everyone should be considered, and not just the elite. Three stars; that really is all I'm giving.

Great movie--Absolutely Stunning Sound and Picture!
I watched this movie for the first time without ever having read any of the X-Men comic books-in fact, I don't like comic books at all. So, needless to say, I was given the opportunity to watch this film from a purely objective standpoint: I had no expectations of what this movie should or should not entail. And, to my surprise, I was extremely delighted with this DVD for a few specific reasons.

First and foremost, the Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks are remarkable. Anybody who has a decent surround sound system-set up correctly!!!-will marvel at the amazing acoustical environments created by the sound team of X-Men; I suspect that THX played a large part in the success of mixing a soundtrack in which every sound effect is mixed with such careful attention to detail that one wonders how such perfection can be possible-I wish every movie's soundtrack would be so immaculate.

As if the sound wasn't enough to sell me on X-Men, the picture quality is outstanding as well-far exceeding that of a typical DVD. Again, I'm sure THX played an important role in the video transfer process.

And, technical aspects aside, the movie was written and executed very well. I think the X-Men team did an excellent job of taking a highly unrealistic story line and turning it into a movie in which the plot and characters evolve without the sense of corniness often associated with films of this nature.

So, all in all, I appreciated X-Men and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a well made movie-if not for the sound quality, alone (granted, this will not contribute to a viewer's satisfaction at all, if not played through a quality surround sound system). But there are few movies that I enjoy watching more than once, and this is definitely one of them. Enough said.

Where is Chris Claremont
I can't beleive this was at all based on the comic. Where do I even begin? This movie has taken all of the good elements out of the comic and replaced it with utter crap.
As far as the casting goes Wolverine probably got the best treatment. Jean and Cyclops were also good though they did not get the screen time they deserved. Who in the world came up with Halle Berry as Storm? She can't act her way out of a paper bag. Not to mention the bad accent. If she could not keep it all the way through she should not have done it. Anna Paquin was also a horrible idea. What happened to the southern accent that Rouge was famous for?
A lot of this can be blamed on the writing. Rouge has no history with Mystique and Wolverine has no history with Sabertooth. Even worse than that is the relationship with Rouge and Iceman. Iceman and Rouge were not even at the mansion at the same time. But all of these gripes aside this movie still sucked. I have to wonder if Chris Claremont had any say. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Grand old-fashioned Cinemascope entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released this DVD on May 11, 2004. For anyone who's a fan of the Cinemascope era of the studio, this DVD is a must have. The movie itself is a silly contrivence of the time, based on a popular comic strip, as the illustrations during the main titles show, but it's all well-mounted with excellent photography and a Franz Waxman score that's a prime example of how a composer can really elevate the atmosphere and pace of a movie. The depiction of the era of the story is cardboard, with everyone and nearly everything looking too pretty and well-manicured -- no grubby surfs are anywhere to be seen, and even the comicbook Vikings are too clean -- but it's fun at its own level, even if today the movie's pace is a bit slow. My only complaint is that top-billed star James Mason isn't in more of it. The actor and his character are far more interesting to watch than the story's protagonist and the stiff, young Robert Wagner sporting a silly wig!

Fox has done a decent job of restoration on this 1954 Technicolor film. While the look is dated and the film stock is more grainy than we're used to today, the majority of it looks remarkably good. I suspect much of it was newly struck from the black and white color separation masters, but the frequent lap desolves have the second generation look of excessive grain and poorer color fidelity. There's one bad anomaly in the transfer at 24min.15sec., a 15 second shot that looks to be third generation. It's soft, grainy and blocked-up. Except for a couple rear projection shots elsewhere in the movie, nothing else in the transfer looks this bad. Otherwise this is a fine looking 16X9 anamorphic DVD of a vintage Cinemascope film.

Originally this movie was presented in some theatres in 1954 in 4-track magnetic stereo. Here, what survives of the stereo tracks is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 (not 5.1 as stated in another review here). I'd have preferred if Fox had gone to the efforts of doing a proper 4.0 transfer, but the stereo still sounds good, with the directional dialogue of the era intact, though it can be a bit distracting when left and right speakers are too far from the screen (in theatres the speakers would of course be behind the screen). I found I had to raise the dB level of my rear surrounds to +10 in order to bring out the ambient sound of the film, mostly reserved to the music, but at 1:27min.21sec., when pig fat is used to light fires during the siege of the castle, the mono surround did come alive with fire noise and that was fun.

I'm only giving this DVD three stars because Fox didn't have enough faith (and they may be right) in this library title's marketability to include a commentary track by star Wagner, or a least some feature on the film's production history, and because the sound wasn't remixed for 4.0, but if you're a fan of such films I highly recommend this DVD.

A Viking prince joins the Knights of the Round Table
The Sunday comic strip character gets the CinemaScope treatment and is an entertaining film with plenty of marquee names to attract more than passing interest. The movie holds up quite well 50 years after its release and tells the story of a Viking prince who seeks to overthrow an imposter who has seized the throne of Scandia from his father and return it to King Aguar. Robert Wagner is perfect as the determined and resourceful "Val", as the smitten Aleta [Janet Leigh] calls him, Sterling Hayden is fine as Sir Gawain, the stern but dedicated mentor to the "Viking knave", and the excellent James Mason's suave, polished and calculating Sir Brack has dark, sinister shadings. The film has plenty of action and derring-do, romance, jousting matches at a tournament, palace intrigue, a large-scale battle at the castle in Scandia and an excellent fight with broadswords between Valiant and the Black Knight at the end of the movie. Excellent color photography, realistic sets, beautiful scenery and Franz Waxman's brooding score round out a first-rate film production.

Fun Americanized Arthuruan Adventure!
"Prince Valiant" is a fun, colorful adventure yarn from 1950's Hollywood. It isn't very faithful to the tone or style of Hal Foster's groundbreaking and beautiful comic strip but is far above the average swords'n'armor pic of the era.

Lacking the style of Curtiz's swashbucklers, the solid scripting of Thorpe's "Ivanhoe" or the visual panache of his stunning tribute to the Brandywine illustrators, "Knights of the Roundtable", "Prince Valiant" packs in lots of well executed, wide-screen action, terrific set pieces, wonderful costumes and attractive landscapes.

Done with a straight American accent (apart from James Mason's stage-villain turn as the traitorous Sir Brock) it often reminds one of George Lucas's "Star Wars".

I've shown this to alot of kids & they all love it. Presented in its original 2.35.1 aspect ratio from a really clean print, it looks remarkably good considering it's a B-picture from half a century ago.

Oh, it also stars the wonderful Donald Crisp ("National Velvet", "How Green Was My Valley"). Overall, a steal for the sell-through price. Enjoy!

I'm eleven again
As soon as I began this DVD, I found myself setting in the massive RKO Keith's theater in Downtown Dayton, Ohio. The reason I purchased the disk was for that reason. I am 100% satisfied for in that department.

The film score by Franz Waxman is perfection. It is dramatic and fun. As an adult, I wish that the transfer had been in Dolby 5.1.

The performances are appropriate for this film except for Mr. Mason who does no wrong.

I would like to add that the sword fight at the end of the film is of equal to the excitement found in the final duel in Scaramouche.

SWORDS AND SASHES - AND LOVE THAT HAIR CUT!
Director, Henry Hathaway's film version of cartoonist, Hal Foster's Scandinavian hero, "Prince Valiant" is one of those over-blown, wacky-tacky epics that is impossible to take seriously, but so much fun to watch. Robert Wagner is the rather effeminate looking title character who takes Camelot by storm. Determined to regain his own throne, Valiant uncovers the treachery of the Black Knight (James Mason, in a toss away role) and challenges him. Of course, there's also time for love with bombshell, Princess Aleta (Janet Leigh - who quite often found herself squeezed into a corset during her 1950s film tenure.) The film veers between comic book pulp and self-conscious seriousness, but Hathaway's direction ensures that neither become the vice to sink his epic. Brian Aherne (as a credible King Arthur)and Sterling Hayden (a not so credible, Sir Gawain) costar.
THE TRANSFER: Pretty good. Colors are generally bold, vibrant and well balanced. Flesh tones seem a bit pasty but that's in keeping with early Cinemascope/Eastman color dye transfers. Shadow, contrast and black levels are generally solid. Rear projection photography is more obvious than it should be. Pixelization and edge enhancement are present but do not terribly distract. The audio is 5.1, delivering a nice spread in the music tracks. Dialogue is not natural sounding, but again, this was usually to be expected for the vintage of the film.
EXTRAS: Sorry. Nothing but the film.
BOTTOM LINE: This prince is worth a second glance, but its not quite as glamorous as, say "Scaramouche" so much as it belongs as the bottom half of a double bill at your old-time drive in. ... Read more

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Things started going downhill for Eddie Murphy around the time of this 1986 clunker, in which the comic actor plays a social worker predicted to be the savior of a kidnapped child, who has special powers to heal the Earth. Dennis Feldman's script and director Michael Ritchie (The Candidate), a once-thoughtful satirist, stumble over every link in a chain of fantasy-fueled sequences. Murphy phones it in, and Charles Dance (Pascali's Island) looks foolish in retrospect. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The Bald Magical Child
Perhaps the success of GHOSTBUSTERS was the inspiration for THE GOLDEN CHILD to mix comedy and horror fantasy. GHOSTBUSTERS had all the elements in perfect sync and THE GOLDEN CHILD is very uneven. Many of reviewers and moviegoers reaction to the movie was basically, to paraphrase many quotes, "Eddie Murphy was great and funny...but the story and plot was stupid!" It was reported that Eddie Murphy hated the out-of-country location shoots and it shows. His character, Chandler Jarrell is the reluctant hero who is a social worker and part time finder of missing children. Chandler is chosen (by divine providence) to find and save a magical child from kidnappers who are in the league with evil. There is an uncomfortable fantasy-supernatural, dream sequence that makes no sense in the context of the story. Also, in the final leg of the film, the stop-motion animated effects of a bat-winged demon and an actual "dragon lady" seems to be out of place and unexpected. The film takes its subject too seriously with Eddie Murphy winking at the audience. With his character's disbelief of the whole absurdity of the situation, maybe it was a tough sell for the audiences. Overall, a movie that showcases the early brilliance of Eddie Murphy but his comedy does not gel wit the rest of the film.

Hmmm
What an odd movie. Its a fantasy children's movie that thinks its a fantasy comedy. Murphy is completely lost at sea in this flick. As if he isn't entirely aware of what's going on or is trying to push the movie in a direction it just won't go in. His character and the movie seem to exist separately of each other. He plays his usual silly harmless likable guy and the rest of the movie is earnest kiddie sci-fi action.

Eddie Murphy shines
When this movie first came out, from what the critics had to say, and the trailors for it, I was not that impressed with the idea of spending money to see it. I was truly surprised when I finally did see it. It is not a visually enhanced movie, but you see a side of Eddie Murphy that is surprising and refreshing, his character is fairly polite, not too much on the 4 letter word band wagon, and actually shows compassion. I would say that he shows these same qualities in the Dr. Dolittle movies, but really... talking animals??? It is a heart warming story, protection of a childs life... see it and judge for yourself. I think you will be surprised and want to add this one to your collection!

for its time
for its time it was a great movie but it was just so cheesy compared to now it sucked.. lol so idk if u can watch the movie realizing they didnt have all the stuff then they do now it was a okay movie

Golden Balls
This film made a lot of money on its release, and i was not surprised: there was action comedy, and Charles Dance not pronouncing his "j"'s coupled with some special effects circa 1978. what more could it need?

And yet...for some reason, after watching this film, i felt somehow unfulfilled. Perhaps it was not explaining who the real bad guy was(i'm sorry, Forces Of Evil is not enough for me). Maybe it was the low low grade action. Maybe it was just the Forces of Evil surrounding me, but the truth is, i just couldn't bring myself to be able to like this film.

It is however not all bad, This is Eddie Murphy on vintage "Trading Places" style form, which is always worth the laugh, and there is one dream sequence which is so surreal its...well, surreal.

Despite this however, my suggestion would be to watch it on TV rather than buy it. it just aint worth the nuggets. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Sylvester Stallone plays the world's number one assassin in this thriller, that must make Antonio Banderas, well, number two. The two are competing to hit the same target for a $20-million payoff, and their challenge takes them from explosion to explosion on a cat-and-mouse chase from Seattle to Mexico. Julianne Moore plays the cagey cat fancier and computer hacker who possesses a stolen computer disc that makes her a prime target for bad guys, and Robert Rath (Stallone) is only too happy to come to her defense. Director Richard Donner handles action sequences with adequate flair and has a good time blowing things up. Banderas has fun with the nonsensical plot, and Moore is enjoyable in one of her big-budget mainstream roles. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some movies you just have to love. Oh, they may be well, even beautifully, made; wonderfully cast and stirringly acted; uplifting in theme and noble in motive. That's fine. In fact, that's great. For that, you admire them. But you love them because they are perfect distillations of a mood, of a moment in the history of filmmaking, of a breed of imagination that, like the best of fairy tales, transcends the tides of taste and empire, and certainly of political correctness.

Consider The Four Feathers, produced in England in 1939, at Alexander Korda's London Films studios, where a family of Hungarian expatriates aspired to exalt their newly adopted country, its history and traditions, and also to out-Hollywood Hollywood. With this film, they realized both ambitions, in spades.

A.E.W. Mason's novel of stiff-upper-lip honor and valor had already been filmed three times (and at least that many remakes have followed, superfluously). This is the only version that matters. On the eve of the British army's departure to reconquer the Sudan, a young lieutenant descended from a long line of military heroes resigns his commission and is tendered a white feather--the symbol of cowardice--by each of three brother officers. From his fiancée's plume he plucks a fourth, then fades out of their lives... to embark, a year later, on a private quest that will carry him down continents and through unimaginable sacrifice to hard-won redemption.

John Clements (who never had much of a film career) is excellent as the tormented Harry Faversham. But it's Ralph Richardson, as Harry's romantic rival John Durrance (wonderful names!), you'll cherish--he and that spitting image of the Duke of Wellington, C. Aubrey Smith, whose blustery recollections of the Crimean War strike a satiric yet affectionate keynote. Directed by one Korda brother, Zoltan--who shot spectacular sequences in the Sudan--and exquisitely designed by another, Vincent, The Four Feathers is a Technicolor milestone, and its music score is an early triumph by one of the Kordas's legion of Hungarian-expatriate helpmates, Miklos Rosza. --Richard T. Jameson ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Great Movie.Not So Great Transfer
There is no question that this is a classic film. It is exciting, spectacular, and features some of England's finest acting talent. However, the DVD transfer is far from satisfying. In fact,it is so mediocre, that one of the reviewers thought it was a colorized version!
This film deserves better treatment. Filmed in Technicolor,the color registers are off much of the time, and the brightness rises and falls within many of the scenes.
Hopefully, a restored version will be released to preserve this wonderful film in something close to its original glory. The Criterion Collection comes to mind. Considering some of the garbage they've preserved lately, it's about time they got around to a classic like "The Four Feathers".

OUTSTANDING CLARITY
FOR A 1939 MOVIE THE QUALITY OF THIS COLORIZED VERSION IS EXTREMELY WELL DONE.THIS IS INDEED A CLASSIC THAT DEPICTS SOME OF THE HISTORY BEHIND AN AREA OF THE WORLD THAT HAS PROBLEMS EVEN TODAY-THE MIDDLE EAST!

Commentary leaves me gasping
Obviously the movie's magnificence is a given, and my copy is crystal clear. What surprised me was the commentary on the backside of the DVD case.
"With cannon fire ignited the North African skies, the British calvary charges into battle to capture the stratetic city of Khartoum. In the midst of the devastating carnage, a horrified officer (Clements) resigns from his post."
Huh?
The guy resigned in England and his unit left without him. Whoever wrote that commentary doesn't deserve to write another one.
It takes nothing away from the movie, but it seems amazing such erroneous commentary would accompany this great movie.
- Roger Carlson
Costa Mesa, Ca. 92627

MGM's disappointing DVD release
My review is not of the movie itself, which has always been one of my favorites and is grand, but of the cheap DVD just released by MGM.I have been waiting for several years for a DVD of this movie and was eagerly anticipating buying it as soon as it was available.My disappointment is based on several factors: one, the transfer is only OK, it looks much the same as the VHS version.It's clear that no restoration or enhancement was done to create a sharp, clear DVD.It's just a video transfer to DVD. So, one must ask why did MGM bother to do this except to cash in.Second, whichever idiotwrote the liner notes on the back cover obviously hasn't even seen the film.Also, there isn't even a card on the inside listing the scenes or any information at all about the film.In addition, the sole "extra" is the trailer. No one even took the trouble to give biographies of the actors or the producers/director.An essay on the Kordas would have been most welcome.
It will be a long time before I buy a DVD released by this company without reading the reviews first.I feel like a sucker and I would advise any real movie fan to pass on this one and wait in hopes that a better one is in released in the future.As a footnote, I would like to recommend that whoever is in charge of this stuff at MGM call up Warner Bros. or Universal for a how to lesson on releasing classics in DVD.Maybe then they'll "get it."

A Dream Overseas Posting
Back in 1939 aged 13 on holiday in Wales my parents took me to the cinema to see 'Four Feathers'. I was enthralled by the location and the acting and from that day the film became and still is my favourite. By 1945 I was serving my National Service and in December we embarked on the troop ship 'Strathmore' destination unknown. Off we sailed across The Bay of Biscay into the Med, a brief stop at Malta, on to Port Said through the Suez Canal where they announced our destination.....Khartoum.
And so I visited the scenes of my favourite film where I stayed until November 1947. In those days the Sudan and its people was a very friendly place so it saddens me to read of the long and bitter struggles that have existed there to this day.
Naturally whenevr 'Four Feathers ' is shown on TV it is a must for me and always will be. Wonderful colour,scenery,acting and a real 'Boys Own' adventure story. No swearing, no sex and no special effects.
Ken Vellam71 Palm Court Westgate on Sea kent England ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A movie that surpasses dbz movies # 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11)!!
In this dbz movie, the fighters are competing in the Tenkaichi Budokai and then it's interrupted by Borjack and his man. Trunks (future), Gohan, and rest of the fighters fight agaisnt Borjack's men, but it is Gohan who has to stand up, and show courage in the battle against Borjack. Goku is dead, and the action is excellent and a very entertaining and must see for any db/z/gt fan. rated with 5 stars or 7/7.

A Good DBZ Movie!!
I saw this movie in subtitle, and I would highley suggest to anyone who hasn't seen and is a fan of DBZ, Watch it. It takes place right at the end of the Cell Games Saga, and is about Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Tien and Yamcha fighting in a tournament created by Mr. Satan, but some unexpected challengers
disrupt the tournament and challenge the Z fighters and are lead by a powerful warrior named Bojack.Future Trunks also enters the tournament with the Z-fighters and help them fight. This movie has great fighting scenes and also Gohan transforms to Super Saiyan 2 in this movie.

This Movie doesnt has much of action
Hello all DBZ Fans I would like to share my thoughts on this dvd for ur benefit, this movie is not exactly that good what was expected from it and i'm sure most of you would have seen it in japanese but I saw it in german and the action was not that good but the story was really good i wanted to see more better kind of action.

Not really a nice movie
Hello there dbz fans i've seen this dvd much before it was released in english i saw it in german by polyband this movie has a lame end and no basic point and not some good action. I would reccomend not to buy if you believe me. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

CLINT Does it Again!
Clint Eastwood portrays a robber ( John Thunderbolt Doherty ) who takes on a side-kick played by Jeff Bridges (Lightfoot ). There is money to be found in an old church. Trouble is, the church has been moved. Also: Geoffrey Lewis ( Goody ) and Gary Busey (Curly) and Catherine Bach (Melody). There is action in this film. But, I wouldn't consider it an action film. It is more of road chase with subtle dramatic elements. Great film. ***Note, we had no problems playing this DVD on our JVC DVD player.

Clint Eastwood And Jeff Bridges Make One Heck Of A Pair!
Released in 1974, "Thunderbolt And Lightfoot" starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy and a host of other actors, is one of those movies that will have you glued to your seat (or couch) for the entire movie. Eastwood plays a bank robber named "Thunderbolt" and Bridges plays "Lightfoot" a young drifter. The beginning of the movie has Eastwood (who is giving a sermon in a small church) running from an old ex-con buddy and literally bumps into Lightfoot, driving a stolen white '73 Pontiac Trans-Am. The two of them are followed by yet another ex-con named Red Leary (played by George Kennedy) and his sidekick named Eddy Goody (played by Geoffery Lewis)who wants to get even with Thunderbolt for hiding some stolen cash from a heist that Leary and he had done years ago. Both Leary and Thunderbolt settle their differences and together the four end up planning on robbing the Montana Armory again the second time around. Who would ever suspect Leary And Thunderbolt? The movie is full of car chases and laughs (ex. Jeff Bridges is a riot dressed in drag in one scene) and the ending is quite a surprise. An all around excellent movie which has finally made it's way onto dvd. Recommended!

Eastwood's most underrated film!
In 1974, director Michael Cimino, who had helped write the script for MAGNUM FORCE, made his debut as director for THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT. The result is a surprised combination of action, suspense, and comedy. Clint Eastwood plays John Doherty, a bank robber who is hiding from other members of his gang who think he ran away with the loot,(it is actually hidden behind a blackboard in a schoolhouse). After nearly being gunned down in his own church, Doherty takes off across a wheatfield, and literally runs into drifter Jeff Bridges,(Lightfoot) , who has just stolen a Pontiac. After getting Doherty out of trouble, the two begin a friendship that involves hookers, stealing cars, and running from Doherty's enemies.

George Kennedy plays Red Leary, a member of Doherty's gang who eventually catches up with him. Geoffery Lewis plays Goody, Leary's sidekick. After cornering Doherty,(nicknamed Thunderbolt) and Lightfoot, Doherty convinces them that the money is gone, although he is unaware the schoolhouse had been moved. They all then decide to rub off the same bank because no one would suspect them of doing it again. The plans leading up to it are funny. I always liked the part where Kennedy tells off the snotty kid while they are planning their route in the ice cream truck. Bridges dresses in drag to fool the security guard. When the whole operation is done, the police still catch up with them, and all hell breaks loose.

Still, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot escape and find the money stashed behind the moved schoolhouse on the side of the road. They then buy an expensive convertible and light victory cigars. What happens next is very sad, although I won't give that away. The movie is highlighted by beautiful Montana scenery and long quiet periods with no music, creating a relaxing and peacful setting that will please any action buff. Cimino was obviously off to a good start, and he would win an Oscar for DEER HUNTER 4 years later. This is the most underrated movie of Eastwood's career, and it shows him on the other side of the law and doing a very good job of it.

A rousing action film that is also supremely funny
Before he destroyed his career with the excess of Heaven's Gate, Michael Cimino, the screenwriter of Eastwood's second Dirty Hary flick Magunum Force, created this wonderful caper flick, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, under the discipline of producer and star Clint Eastwood. The cast is excellent, with Jeff Bridges first rate in his Oscar nominated role as Lightfoot, and Oscar winner George Kennedy and Eastwood regular Geoffrey Lewis (father of Juliette) both very memorable as Red and Goody.

The scene of Red and Goodie in the ice cream cart confronted with an obnoxious lad is a classic in cinema.

The climax of this film is superb. A definite MUST SEE for all Eastwood fans!

Auspicious debut for Cimino...
Buddy films are always fun, and this is no different. The exotic American locales of Idaho are every bit as unique as the Bolivian settings in "Butch Cassidy". As in "Butch Cassidy", the script (by Cimino) is character-driven, and you'll find yourself cheering on the bad guys. Jeff Bridges Oscar nomination (Supporting) surprised a lot of people, but it was most deserved. His role was really equal to Eastwood as far as importance (and screen time). Eastwood was, well, Eastwood. That's not a bad thing. I always thought he was underrated. The DVD transfer is excellent, with a wide 2.35:1 letterbox that shows off some of our country's best scenery. There's action, humor and great chemistry between our buddy-heroes. George Kennedy is about as nasty as they come, though he somewhat copied his nasty performance in "Charade" (10 years earlier). The most interesting thing about this film is that it is the debut of "wunderkind" Cimino. The strength of his work on this film allowed him to create his masterpiece, "The Deer Hunter". No doubt the man has vision and talent. Too bad he over-indulged himself in the dismal "Heaven's Gate" and ruined a studio with his excesses. ("Heaven's Gate" really wasn't that bad, except for the first hour). I think of "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot" as an up-dated version of "Butch Cassidy". Though the music wasn't as frivolous and the script not as taut, there are definite comparisons. Not bad. Check it out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Made for a fraction of the cost of Oliver Stone's similarly themed Natural Born Killers, Gregg Araki's The Doom Generation is more persuasively outragous in its cultural satire, scarier in its violence, and more profound in its vision of a hate-fueled, media-drunk America seemingly determined to eat its young and dwell stupidly on their vengeance. Rose McGowan (Scream), James Duval (Nowhere), and Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do!) star as a trio of friends (Schaech's character actually being a complete stranger who steps into their car and into their lives one club-hopping night) who end up on a sex-and-crime spree that draws the fixed stare of television coverage. Araki makes a case for their continuing innocence in a society whose anti-outsider malevolence is barely disguised in the media but is quite naked out in the heartland, where a punishing level of bigotry is not unknown. Araki's jokes and techniques are crude yet forceful, and his anger is absolutely clear where Stone's was obscured and overreaching. The climax is among the most shattering and enraged scenes of '90s cinema. The DVD includes cast information, a theatrical trailer, and French and Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (123)

"Red"," White" and "Blue" on the Run
Everybody made a big deal about Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers", calling it brilliant. But I thought it was ... One of the worst movies ever,too over the top and condecending. "The Doom Generation" gets it right with a mixture of satire,music,and a punk attitude.
The movie stars Rose McGowan as Amy Blue.Both she and her boyfriend Jordan (James Duval) are sitting in their car sharing a moment when Xavier (Jonathon Schaech)leaps into their car and thay have to get out of there to avoid the goons chasing Xavier.
After that, they embark on a road trip around L.A. They get involved in a bloody holdup,killings,and are being chased by homophobic maniacs,the FBI,and people who constantly mistake Amy Blue for someone else. The movie has a tongue in cheek quality that I felt accurately mirrored the teen angst rebels on-the-run scenario. Rose McGowan makes the movie with her witty one-liners and her attitude driven performance. It's wild and outrageous and has an ending that definitely caught me off guard. I also think the soundtrack,which I bought,is pretty good. With gore, nudity, ...undertones, and enough metaphors ... , this one's not for the kids.

Rose and Gregg tear up the screen!!
What drew me to this film was the sexy chic on the cover.. Rose Mcgowan made this role her own.. Gregg Araki directed the film and her very well.. The film is about two lovers played by Mcgowan and James Duvall. They pick up a stranger who is being beaten up by a gang of kids.. after picking him up (by accident).. they try to drop him off at a convenience store.. trouble ensues and the twosome becomes a threesome.. they begin to travel across the state to avoid the police.. on their journey they meet up with some very strange characters who all think they are lovers of Mcgowans, and try to take her back by any means neccesary.. each time, something bad happens.. and each time they run.. finally, trouble catches up with them..

This movie is a prime example of how movies should be made.. its an indie classic in the making.. a cult hit if you may.. it never lets go once it grabs ahold.. watch and enjoy.. you won't be dissapointed..

This film stinks.
"The Doom Generation" is a piece of garbage. It tries to be so many things and fails on all levels. It's not art and it's not good entertainment.
It tries to be as violent and funny as "Pulp Fiction" and "Natural Born Killers" are and it fails! "The Doom Generation" tries to shock the audience with violence and even there it fails! I guess one could call it a boring and cheesy comedy. The only thing to laugh about it's how predictable and boring it is. Still, I give it 1 star for the scene where the "heroes" of "The Doom Generation" show a bit of compassion for a dog.
Otherwise, it's as boring as a rat's ass!

Over-The-Top is the absolute understatement
I rented this movie basically because of the fact that it touted itself as a "road flick," a genre that I'm usually a fan of. I'll admit the gratuitous violence in the beginning had me laughing just because of how corny it was presented, but this wore itself out several minutes later. The film tries to loosely have some kind of "hell" theme by continuously referring to $6.66 as payment for different items they buy along the way. We get it. You didn't have to do it 7 times. I wasn't sure exactly what theme the writer was trying to convey, but it doesn't matter because the story it was based on was so bad anyway. The filmmakers try to use shocking visuals and group sex to (I guess) grab the attention of the audience, which is good because it diverts that attention away from the terrible story that's going on. Don't waste your time.

Over Cooked?
Normally, I don't care much for movies that try to hard to be shocking but this one does leave an impression. The entire film is jam-packed with subliminal messages and 'eye-candy' visuals. There is a story here, with no satisfying conlusion, that is entertaining as he77 to watch. The ending to this film is "overly-shocking" by which I mean not shocking because it tries so hard to be shocking, but it will suprise you. I give it 3 stars because it is not the best movie ever but it leaves a lasting impressioin. I guarantee it. ... Read more

Description

A team from the United States are going to compete in the world finals in karate. The team consists of fighters from all nations, can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win ? Starring: James Earl Jones (Academy Award® Nominee 1970 The Great White Hope, Field of Dreams, Hunt for Red October), Eric Roberts (Academy Award® Nominee 1985 Runaway Train), Chris Penn (The Funeral, True Romance, Reservoir Dogs), Sally Kirkland (Academy Award® Nominee 1988 Anna). ... Read more

Reviews (18)

do not analyze but enjoy
I have studied martial arts for a very long time, and I teach young children...This movie may have an element of revenge overtoning the truth behind the meaning of martial arts, but children do not see it that way, nor do I...all the children I have taught have seen this movie and we all agree it is a great film, about respect, teamwork, leadership and growth...the people who constantly analyze a film instead of viewing it and enjoying it will always miss the message behind it. Sure it was about revenge for the character "tommy" - Yet, how did it end! I think this is an excellent movie for the young and old alike. So for all those people who constantly pester the subject behind this movie don't really know/understand the meaning of Martial arts. For them, you need to grow up and get with the program! I would like to see this movie in DVD soon as well...

good viewing quality hard to find
I first saw this movie when it first came out, and believe it or not i can still remember the story line and the impact it had on me as a person having only seen it once,MAYBE TWICE,this movie greatly inspired me with the message it sent. But you have to watch the whole thing, especially the last 30-45 minutes of it to really grasp what that message is. Few movies(as a grown man)have ever made me angry, want to stand up and cheer, and shed tears at the same time. if you want to see a movie with people beating each other up and killing each other just for the fun of it, then this is not the one for you, but if you enjoy a good show of competition and sportsmanship,with some "on the edge of your seat action" and a heartfelt message contained therein then i defineitly absolutley recomend this one. Lets just say you might not pay much attention to your popcorn bowl!

Great Movie
This movie is very touching........very. I recomend it to all martial arts fans

The Best of The Best, Alot better than the rest
i will keep it short and sweet. The Best of The Best is one of the best movies i have ever seen, The ending is really good and it almost made a tear drop from my eyes.Buy it and watch it forever

pop it tommy, pop it.
If you want to watch a fun movie, this is it. Sure, some of the acting is not academy award winning. Who cares! It's a movie you just want to watch when there's nothing else on. It's not a chick flick. However, I assure you that you will be reciting several lines from the movie. Anyone that has watched this movie can recite a line or two. It's that good! hahahaha...

i'm sure there's a small following of "best of the best." we are still waiting for the dvd version. It's a fun movie. enjoy! ... Read more

Description

In this continuation of "El Mariachi," a traveling musician looking for work gets mistaken for a hitman and is thereby entangled in a web of love, corruption, and death. This leads to a very high body count, involvement with a beautiful woman who works for the local drug lord, and finally, the inevitable face-to-face confrontation and bloody showdown. Stars Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Deluxe Edition packed with special features! Featurette: "Sneak Peak: Once Upon A Time in Mexico. Featurette: "10 More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout." Audio Commentary with Director Robert Rodriguez. ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Yuen Woo Ping Knows How to Direct Great Martial Arts Films
The Iron Monkey is evidence why the martial arts choreography in The Matrix thrilled the American audience. Director Yuen Woo-Ping delivers an impressive punch with this 1993 film which features an easy-to-follow storyline, good acting, stylish cinematography, and amazing fight scenes. Highlighted in this film is actor Yu Rong-Guang whose acrobatic and hand-to-hand combat skills are at their best. The inclusion of the legendary character Wong Fei-Hung (depicted in this movie as a child) makes this movie appealing to the younger viewers as well. All in all, the Iron Monkey is a great film and, perhaps, deserves a big screen showing here in the U.S. Until that happens, whether you buy or rent this film, watching it would definitely be time well spent.

Iron Monkey Rocks!
Okay, I'm behind the times. I'm just now catching "Iron Monkey" and feel pretty much like a Johnny-Come-Lately. I never really cared much for martial arts films but was amazed by Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". I read a few things about "Iron Monkey" after it was released due to "Crouching Tiger's" success but never got around to seeing it or buying a copy of the dvd. Recently, however, I found the movie at a pre-owned cd/dvd store and purchased it. I'm glad I did because it ranks right up there with "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". Yuen Woo-ping's chinese take on Robin Hood is done with great style, incredible fight choreography and filled with charming actors and actresses. Yu Rong-gang plays the Iron Monkey and Dr. Yang, a humble doctor that basically practices the same tactics as the Iron Monkey---helping the poor who are sick for free and charging the rich for his help. The rest of the cast is filled with interesting characters such as Dr. Yang's helper and romantic interest, Miss Orchid, and Wong Fei-hung, a young boy who's fighting skills are as remarkable as many adult men. The fight scenes in this film are a pleasure to the eye and well worth the purchase of the dvd alone. If you are a martial arts fan, you will NO DOUBT want this movie in your collection. If you are not a fan, I dare you not to enjoy it!

not cool
This is not a cool film. Watch a real kung fu movie; watch a Bruce Lee flick.

The best Martial Arts movie of the 90s
This movie just fell from the sky or something. Considering that it was produced in 1993, it is of amazing quality. The storyline is excellent and inspiring, and the cast is astonishing. Yu Rong Guang is not very known in the west, but he is indeed a true martial artist. In fact, he has Peking Opera training. Additionally, this is Donnie Yen's best performance to date. His character was so convincing that you really believed him to be Wong Key Ying.

fun to watch
The opening scene and setting of Iron Monkey is very similiar to Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Where CTHD is more of an epic drama, IM is more of a comedy, but the martial arts choreography is just as spectacular. Their naming of certain moves is amusing. Enjoyable plot. As to suspending belief, I give you this quote from Albert Einstein: Imagination is more important than knowledge. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"It is not enough that your actions are good. You must take care thatthey appear so." This is one lesson that plucky orphan Tom Jones (Max Beesley, adead ringer for Ewan McGregor) never learns, charging through life with his chinup and his libido unchecked. With tongue firmly in cheek, narrator HenryFielding (John Sessions) walks us through this randy satire like a tour guide,proffering introductions and amusing observations as he tours the drama. Beesleyis all charm and earthy sincerity as handsome Tom, with Samantha Morton adetermined, elegant, and deliciously funny Sophia and red-faced Brit stalwartBrian Blessed (Black Adder) as her blustery, bellowing pater. Comparisonsto Tony Richardson's hearty interpretation are inevitable: this 1997 miniseriesfavors dry wit and understated asides to Richardson's knockabout comedy and highenergy, and it's a delight from start to its improbably (and delightfully)contrived conclusion. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Great Fun!!!!!!!!!
A&E is excellent when it comes to making mini-series, and Tom Jones is a prime example. The characters were very well cast and the screenplay was very well written. It was a joy to watch. I enjoyed every minute. Max Beesley was amazing as Tom and Samantha Morton did a wonderful job of portraying Sophie. There is nothing more to say other than, it was one of A&E's finest.

Excellent!! Flawless adaptation of the book!
I saw Tom Jones when it aired on A&E, and loved it so much that I had to read the book. I must commend BBC for the superb work they did interpreting the book into the movie. The movie follows the book exactly, which pleases me to no end, considering the way that some movies have massacred the story they came from. This is a very funny and enjoyable movie.

Outrageous!
Here's a story filled with dastardly plotting and prevarication, true love and tawdry sex, wild drunkenness, chases, disguises, near-misses, and utterly improbable (but hilarious) meetings. Wonderful acting by British stage and film stars--fans of BBC literary adaptations will recognize many favorites--bring this wild, picaresque tale to life with charm and boundless verve. Perhaps best of all is the screenplay, which manages to make sense of everything in Fielding's convoluted tale while also making the most of 18th-century English, when the language was at its graceful, urbane peak.

Just try to watch this one with a straight face!

I Love You Tom!!
Tom Jones is one my favorite movies of all time. It is so hard to watch this movie and not be charmed by Mr. Jones and his crazy antics. In this movie you have your two central characters, that rapscallion orphan Tom Jones and his fair innocent(though sometimes a bit temperamental)Sophie. Surrounding this epic love story are a wide variety of vivid and eccentric characters. This story has one of the best endings ever, which I won't reveal to you though I am sorely tempted to do so. If you are a rommantic at heart or just love a good laugh and lot of adventure, you must see this movie.

Henry Fielding's immortality
"It is a pity he was not immortal, he was so formed for happiness." -- Mary Wortley Montagu on the death of her cousin, Henry Fielding.

This dramatization of this most wonderful book is nearly perfect. I say nearly perfect because that are one or two little problems with the sound (no, Honour doesn't mean she wouldn't say a word if Sophia were to go to bed with Mr. BLIFIL inst