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

Amazon.com

A strong candidate for the designation of most thrilling action movie ever made (the turbo-charged exhilaration of its full-throttle highway chases has never been equaled), the second part of George Miller's post-apocalyptic trilogy is also a magnificently imagined movie myth. Like the Star Wars trilogy (by that other George) the Mad Max films draw their inspiration from the works of mythologist Joseph Campbell. In the 1979 original, Max (Mel Gibson) is a policeman, the last guardian of civilization and order in a devastated world reduced to chaos. But when a leather-clad gang of sadomasochistic speed demons mows down Max's family, his remaining connections to humanity are also permanently severed. After brutally exacting his revenge, Max wanders off into the wasteland alone, "a burned out shell of a man" who (to paraphrase The Searchers) is destined to wander forever between the winds. In The Road Warrior, Max rediscovers a sliver of his shattered humanity, and a spark of redemption, when he helps an embattled colony of pioneers fight off the savages who are after that most precious of all commodities: "guzzline." Max is transformed into a legendary hero, just as Mel Gibson was catapulted to international movie stardom. With its final stirring images, The Road Warrior transcends its genre (whatever that may be--science fiction? Western? action adventure?) and becomes something timeless. It's a great movie. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (117)

One of the best action movies ever made.
Movie:
The Road Warrior, set seven or so years after the events of Mad Max. Max is now a heartless man, wandering the wastlands of the outback. The third world war has left the world in total ruin, and many have turned to the cruelness of the gangs that rule the wastland. The few that maintain the humanity are few. Max stumbles apon an little sliver of civilization which is constantly assulted by evil biker gangs. Soon he finds himself involved in their flight for survival. The last chase scean is epic compaired to anythng made to date. This movie as many movie buffs like me say, is possibly the best Action/Scific movie ever made. One might think that it is a very poor movie to the small amont of talking, this just adds to the brillance of the movie! This is kind of like Star Wars: Even if you don't like it, you have to see it at least once.
Movie 5 out of 5 stars
DVD:
Whoever owns the rights to this breakthrough-of-a-movie is out of his mind! Shure the picture and sound quality is good, but look at the extras! Zero, nada, zip. What a good way to ruin a great movie's DVD!
DVD: 1 out of 5 stars

The best, hands down
This is easily one of the greatest action movies ever made (and, personally, I think it's one of the greatest movies ever made, period.) It is also one of those rare movies that defines its genre, and yet, at the same time, transcends its genre. Actually, you have three different genres being represented in this film that, in the years since, have become intertwined as the norm for this type of movie because of "The Road Warrior"'s influence. You have the much-copied post-apocalyptic wasteland, populated by barbaric savages and helpless victims; you have the classic western and the classic western's "reluctant hero," represented here by Mad Max, the drifting loner, scarred by his past, who only comes to the aid of others when it serves him; and, of course, you have the spectacular car chases, amazing stunts and crashes and huge explosions of the modern action movie. "The Road Warrior" brought all three of these elements together, and you can still see them in movies today, such as the much-inferior "Waterworld" and "The Postman" (man, Costner must've liked this movie too--you'd think he'd get it right eventually.)
And, as an action movie, "The Road Warrior" has yet to be topped. All of the stunts, chases, crashes, explosions you see on the screen are 100% real. No computer enhancement, no technical junk -- when you see a guy drive into a car on a motorcycle and he flies about 75 feet through the air, it's real. And when I say this movie transcends its genre, I'm talking about the style in which it's directed. All of the action becomes almost operatic because of the expert direction and musical score. It comes across as a beautiful-looking action movie, in spite of all the violence and carnage.
I wouldn't hesitate to rate "The Road Warrior" as one of the best action movies of all time and Mel Gibson's Mad Max as one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) action "hero" in cinema history. If this movie were made today, the writers would probably have him cracking lame one-liners throughout the film, but, instead, Max hardly speaks at all (the strong, silent type that also goes with the western genre) -- his actions speak for him. I wish Hollywood at least attempted to make action movies and action movie heroes like this these days (well, come to think of it, I guess they did attempt it with "Waterworld," and that became one of the biggest money-losers in film history, so I guess the moral is: Don't try to duplicate perfection.)

MEN OF THE WORLD, WATCH THIS
This is quite possibly the greatest MAN movie ever made. Cars, guns, blood, exploding heads. I can't even begin to say how much I love this movie. It is truly a fantastic spectacle and the best sequel I've ever seen.

Not very interesting
I guess the folks who made this movie decided to make an all-out pitch to a mediocre audience: it's all about cars and gasoline and violence.

The way it is put together is mildly interesting, but incoherent. The purported hero, Mad Max, has been subjected to an enormous personal loss (his wife and child) which occupies about ten seconds of the movie. He finds a bunch of liberal-hippie types running a gas refinery (??? huh ???) in the middle of the outback, in a world where gasoline means life or death. The liberal-hippie types are being attacked by a really weird group of folks, including a very obvious gay couple. There is a feral boy with a razor-sharp boomerang who knows more than anyone else.

It seems hard to find any connection between this movie and anything in reality.

Recommended only for curiosity value.

This is what it has come to...
Okay, here's the deal. Mad Max (Max Rockatansky) is THE baddest BELIEVABLE movie hero that ever was and will be. Enough said. ... Read more

Reviews (187)

Welcome to... METROPOLIS
I waited for what seemed like years to see this movie but when I finally did see it, it lived up to all expectations. It's about a 20's version of the future where robots are just as smart as humans but they are treated differently. The story goes much much deeper than that but i don't want to explain it.
ANIMATION:10/10: It's a mix between anime a fifties cartoon and computer graphics. I personally thought they blended very well. Although the CG wasn't superb it WAS passable and there was a whole lot of it.
SOUND:9/10: In the theatrical release there was no english dubbing, it was left in it's original japanese form with subtitles. However the DVD has the english language and the original japanese language. The dubbing is actually quite good. The music was EXCELLENT! However if your not into jazz you should probably turn the sound off and just read the subtitles. At the end when they played "i can't stop loving you" it had a really weird effect on you but it was cool.
CHARACTERS:9/10: Metropolis has realistic lovable characters that wear cool clothes. (Rock's boots are tight!!!)
OVERALL:10/10. Metropolis is a must see and a must own. Buy the DVD.

Style extravaganza... but falls short of it's potential
As an anime fan, I felt compelled to watch this movie. After all, it's a must see, according to everyone and their mothers. Sadly, this movie doesn't hold to the hype.

It's undeniable that it gets brownie points for style: The graphics are crisp and clear, and the jazzy music worked it's way into my soundtrack favorites list. However, I felt the use of 3D Computer Images was overdone, and contrasted too much with the normal 2D animation.

So far, so good. However, when it comes to the story, it falls flat. Metropolis sure gave it a shot: It attempts to be deep, it attempts to create a living, breathing environment, it attempts to use great characters... and that's it's problem: It attempts. but it never quite meshes out correctly. It never achieves the potential it holds to reach the state of greatness it was intended to.

Still, it's not something to keep it out of your collection. A reccomendable movie for most people, worth the money. Just don't expect a Grave of the Fireflies quality movie.

Work Smart Not Hard
* METROPOLIS, a Japanese animation film by Katsuhiro Otomo (of AKIRA
fame) and colleagues, is an adaptation of a late-1940s manga (Japanese
comic) series by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese animation
and comics. The manga was in turn inspired by Fritz Lang's silent-film
sci-fi classic, METROPOLIS.

METROPOLIS takes place in a city of breathtaking skyscrapers sitting on
top of underground complexes populated by humans and robots. The
society of Metropolis is caste-oriented, with an elite at the top of
the skyscrapers and a downtrodden, restless underclass at the lowest
level of the underground, with armed fascist gangs maintaining their
idea of order while a revolutionary underground arms for an uprising.

The story begins with the opening of the "Ziggarut", which despite its
name is a skyscraper, not a step pyramid. It is the creation of the
aristocratic Duke Red, an ambitious man with an obscure agenda. His
adopted son, Rock, leader of the fascist gangs, idolizes the Duke but
has an agenda of his own, which he carries out by indifferently
shooting anything in his way. A lad from Japan named Kenichi arrives
with his uncle, a detective in pursuit of a fugitive, and the two
become involved in the intrigues, which revolve around a pretty
android named Tima.

METROPOLIS is, particularly by anime standards, an impressive
production job, mixing elaborate computer-generated visuals with
excellent character artwork in Tezuka's style (though they made the
legs longer). It takes an interesting "retro" approach, with airships
flying over the city and a soundtrack mostly focused on old-time pop
tunes and New Orleans jazz -- SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY in an anime, what
a surprise -- and also makes good use of a Ray Charles number.

The end result is a movie that is visually dazzling and technically
impressive but fails to be memorable, not in spite of these things
but because of them. There is a fundamental clash between the
computer graphics and Tezuka's artwork style, and more to the point
the characters end up being lost in the scenery -- sort of like a
theatrical stage that is so elaborate it's hard to spot the actors.
Somehow I ended up thinking of the kind of web pages that are full
of bells and whistles but don't have any content.

The story actually seems basically sound, and the irony is that
METROPOLIS seems like it could have been a very good movie if
substantially less effort had been spent on the computer graphics and
more on getting up-close with the characters. In practice, METROPOLIS
never really picks up much momentum. It's interesting to watch, but
doesn't have much impact. Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS, though very dated,
has a lot more staying power and will be around for much longer.

Incredible backgrounds
I admit, I watch most videos with only half my attention while doing something else. This time, I just had to see every detail. The backgrounds in this animation rich and varied. Some, with meshes of building-sized gears, catch the early-industrial mood of Lang's "Metropolis". Others have an art-deco esthetic with monumental symmetries, or tech-noir grunge. They create unique moods for each passage, and are the distinctive strength of this movie.

That said, the script and action are ordinary. The characters came from central casting: boy-hero, grasping industrial mogul, bounty hunter, and central character with identity angst. The action is well paced and the script follows its own rules. Earth is saved in the end, as usual.

The one real disappointment came from the title "Metropolis," staked out almost 80 years ago by Fritz Lang. That title creates a very high standard to live up to, and this movie falls short. I have tried and failed to imagine any reason for this self-inflicted injury. A few of the choices for background music border on the bad, as well. At worst, though, they came across as 'trying too hard.'

It's good. I'll watch it again, if only for the backgrounds. I just wish it could have given the greatness that it wanted to.

Tima's last scene
It'd been a long time since I hadn't seen a 'one scene' capable of rescuing a whole anime movie. (I wished for a scene like this one all along Akira for instance, and ... nope, it never happened, not one scene saved it, it sucked until the very end.) Other anime don't need such scenes because they are entertaining or decidedly good; not quite the case with Metropolis.

The design of the characters is quite dull, which contrasts distastefully with the (for the most part) great scenery of the picture. I'd say though that the major achievement of the designers was to portray the robot girl so beautifully, which was essential for the movie itself.

On the whole, the plot seems week, as does the script; but we'll always have that last scene between Kenichi and Tima ... which would have been the only reason for a third star, but it does not pay off for a rather mild film. ... Read more

Description

The greatest villain of all comes out of the past to threaten Batman, Bruce Wayne and all of Gotham City in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the first feature-length Batman Beyond movie. The sleeker, deadlier and seemingly immortal Clown Prince of Crime is back with his own unique brand of havoc and mayhem. While trying to uncover the Joker's secrets, the new Batman, Terry McGinnis, discovers the greatest mystery in the life of the original Caped Crusader: What happened the night he fought the Joker for the last time. When Bruce Wayne is almost killed in one of the Joker's latest attacks, Batman vows to avenge his mentor and put the Joker to rest forever. Get ready for heart-stomping action, awesome adventure and amazing revelations in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. ... Read more

Reviews (182)

Best BATMAN movie since Keaton and Nicholson!!
This movie and DVD were terrific. I was really impressed with the depth of the storyline and the kicker about the Joker's Return. A word of advice. DO NOT...repeat...DO NOT read the Character Bios in the Special Features section prior to watching the movie! They give away the movie's big secret! I made this mistake. The movie was still fantastic, but would have been better if I had not already scanned the Bios. I won't give anything away, but part of what makes this such a great movie is that some loose ends from the original Batman animated series' are cleared up. With the state of the live-action Batman movies, you can't go wrong with this series and this DVD!

Not Flawless, But Still Excellent
Nothing will ever replace the animated series of the early 90s for me, but this film carries many merits. There is a lot of dispute about as to whether the edits should have been made or not. On one hand, I don't feel it was such a bad thing to tone things down that were not crucial to the story. But I do feel they should have kept the scene where the Joker rams a knife into Batman's leg. (This would explain why the true Batman has to use a cane.) All of that aside, the movie is excellent. The action is well done, and the suspense rarely drops. I can not remember stopping the V.C.R. once when I watched this. The new Batman is fighting a gang. We later learn that their boss is someone who is at least claiming to be the one and only Joker. The (Joker's?) first scene is drawn very well. Right away we learn that whoever he is, he DOES NOT tolerate insubordination. Also, despite his role as the older man behind the scenes, he DOES get directly involved in the action. The original Batman says that there is no way this new terror could be the Joker seeing that he knows the Joker is dead. Yet all of the lab work in the Bat Cave says that it IS in fact the Joker. (Excellent suspense!) We are thrown a mislead here and there as to the (Joker's?) true identity, but they are gradually eliminated. (Excellent!) The flashback scene is one of the most terriffying things I have ever viewed. (Only the animated Batman episode where Batman fought the puppet Scarface, the episode "Be A Clown" where Batman and the Joker have their most dramatic confrontation, and the 1979 version of "Dracula" with Frank Langella and Laurence Olivier have frightened me more.) Besides the terror of the flashback, it was a charming bonus to see the original Batman as well as Harley Quinn in action again. The flashback tells us that despite the explosion of the misleads, the new terror simply CAN'T be the Joker. But soon afterwards the terror unfolds and we learn that the Joker truly has returned! The only thing that stops me from giving this 5 stars is that I feel despite his age, the original Batman should have been capable of putting his cape back on for this one final fight. (After all, in the 60s episodes, Alfred occasionally put on Batman's outfit in an emergency. In the early 90s episodes, Alfred, despite his age accompanied Batman in many of the missions.) I think it is almost tragic that animated movies seem to carry more story line, suspense, terror, and quality than so called adult movies. It is almost as if the people making these movies realize that since children are watching it, they can't shower it with sex and profanity. So they have to make it intelligent! Even if like me Bruce Wayne will always be Batman to you, you will not want to miss this.

Takes awhile to get into, but is great once you have.
When the television series Batman Beyond came out, I was very excited about watching it. I thought the episodes were cool, but being twelve at the time they first came out, I soon became bored and got into other things. A few weeks ago, during my spring break, I came across an episode of Batman Beyond on the WB. Since I was bored anyway, I watched it. I was hooked again.

A few months earlier, I had bought this movie for my brother and watched it. I thought it was cool, but the creepy Joker's death scene turned me off. After I got into Batman Beyond again, however, I watched it a couple of times and thought it was great.

For those of you out there that prefer the older Batman series over this one, I would like to state my opinion concerning them. I remember when I was younger watched The New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the live movies, and I think I saw a 70's episode where Batman's climbing a ladder with a plastic shark taped to his leg... Anyway, I can understand why dedicated fans of those shows may be slow to like Batman Beyond. Yes, the series are different, but in a way, I prefer Batman Beyond over the older series. Why? Because even though Bruce is usually the one sitting behind the computer doing the research, his crime-fighting dependance on Terry, the new Batman, shows almost a different side of him. Bruce isn't the one anymore telling the kids to sit at home and take care of business himself. Now he doesn't have much of a choice except to send the kids out to fight while helping as much as he can. So if you're a somewhat sentimental, action-loving, and comedy-enjoying kind of person that likes seeing father-son-like relationships developing in movies/tv series, then maybe Batman Beyond can eventually grow on you.

We've been cheated.
Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy this video...UNLESS it's guaranteed uncut AND unedited. What we have here is a truly inferior product, when compared to the scenes that were cut and edited OUT of the video...which makes no sense really. Mask of the Phantasm had death, blood, and even sex! Why couldn't this video keep what it had originally?

This is truly a shame. What was taken out was, while dark, a truly integral and provacative piece(s) of the story. Don't buy this, it's not how the story really happened. It's a dumbed down version of the flick that Warner Brothers commanded to be made, because they're still under the impression that kids are stupid, and cartoons are only watched by kids.

Quite insulting really.

Extreme Bat Fan
In reading the reviews written by people who have not seen the uncut version, I find that most say that the cuts don't matter. That is totally incorrect! While the edited version is still good, the edits do change the story and in some places make it confusing. If you haven't seen the unedited version, do not be foolish and say that it the edits don't matter. They do. Hopefully WB will release the unedited version in the future and then the reviewers can be treated to something very special. Notice how everyone who has seen the unedited version immediately says that it is better. Take a hint from them. But I would say for now, buy the DVD or VHS tape. You may never get a chance to see the unedited version and the edited version isn't that bad. Although it doesn't hold a candle to the original, it's all we have for now. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, the third part of George Miller's post-apocalyptic Mad Max trilogy, is certainly the least of the bunch (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the undisputed masterpiece, and maybe the best action movie ever made), it has still got a good share of imaginative industrial-wasteland-pastiche imagery. And casting Tina Turner as Aunty Entity, the queen of Bartertown, was a masterstroke. Mel Gibson's character Max is pitted in a battle to the death against the bizarre Master Blaster in the Thunderdome, flying around on rubbery straps inside a sort of gigantic overturned colander with bloodthirsty spectators clinging to the outside. Miller's producing partner, Byron Kennedy, was killed in a helicopter crash while scouting locations for this film. Miller was devastated, only agreeing to direct the action sequences--and, somehow, you feel his heart wasn't entirely in it. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (48)

A Worthy Sequel
The third chapter of the Mad Max films can't possibly outdo the success of The Road Warrior, but it's a worthy successor, an exciting film with a very interesting story.

Mel Gibson's Max is back again and finds himself helping another group of ragtag characters. Max finds his way to a town called Bartertown and is forced to engage in a gladiator battle to the death. After refusing to kill his beaten enemy, he's dragged back out to the wasteland, there he's rescued by a group of tribal children. A small group from Bartertown is looking to escape to "The Promised Land" Max and some of his young rescuers lead the way.

Tina Turner is on hand as the wicked Aunty Entity, ruler of Bartertown. Bookending the film are two excellent songs from her as well. Mad Max "3" is a worthy sequel, while not as intense as the previous two, the story is thought provoking and while a bit slow paced, the ending is more than worthwhile. Maurice Jarre's music score isn't as intense but does create an appropriate epic atmosphere. George Miller and George Ogilvie are the directors and create both a sequel and a film that can stand on it's own.

Mel Gibson's most underrated film
I'm probably one out of only a handful of people that thinks Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is just as good as The Road Warrior, and for different reasons, too. The Road Warrior was a spectacle of frenetically paced action sequences and it would feel like a complete retread if Beyond Thunderdome tried to do the same thing again. Instead, they added new elements, and the result is a very entertaining and imaginitive action/adventure.

Max (Mel Gibson) has just been robbed of all his belongings in the middle of nowhere in Australia. He searches for the thief and this leads to Bartertown, a unique society built upon methane energy dependent on pig manure, no less.

Max's search leads him to Aunty Entity (Tina Turner), Bartertown's lawmaker, who strikes a deal with him. All Max has to do is kill a certain somebody in Thunderdome arena and he'll get provisions in return. Not everything goes according to plan and Max is banished to the desert where he is rescued by a small group of lost children.

For those expecting the action of The Road Warrior you might be disappointed. While there is a good bit of action in Beyond Thunderdome, it's not as much as its predecessor and doesn't have as much energy. However, Beyond Thunderdome should be noted for having what is perhaps one of the best action sequences in American film history with the gladiator fight in Thunderdome arena between Max and the gigantic Blaster. The sequence is undeniably inventive and clever; it involves the two men tied to bungee cords that allow them to spring and leap throughout the arena and grab any weapons placed all around such as a mace, chainsaw, spear, etc.

What makes the film so good, though, are its successful attempts at creating complex societies. Bartertown is a sight to behold and is made all the more interesting by the rituals the "citizens" perform and the laws they obey.

As for the performances, Mel Gibson excels and gives a fine performance as usual. Tina Turner is a real surprise as the villainess; she certainly knows how to act and delivers a fairly good performance. Most of the supporting cast do a decent job with the material they're given. Angry Anderson, in particular, is quite humorous as the henchmen who rarely talks and mostly grunts, screams, and yells in exaggerated tones.

After Brian May's exciting score in The Road Warrior, Maurice Jarre takes over the job and composes a score that is quite poetic and, at times, lush and beautiful.

As with all the final scenes in the Mad Max films, this one ends perfectly. This time, we get the feeling that humanity has hope so long as men like Max are around.

classic
I grew up with the mad max trilogy, and i have to say this is one of my favorite movies. Yes it does not totally fit in with the first 2, but personally its still a good movie. Mel does an excellent job as always, and i was very impressed with tina turners performance, not to mention the children being just absolutely fun and witty for their roles. Yes the last road battle was sorta a letdown compared to mm1 and 2, but mm3 had a different tone to it, more optimistic and cheerful, which i didnt seem to mind. The musical score is very nice, and overall id say pick this one up if u get mm1 and 2- but dont be expecting a dark, road rage type of film that road warrior excelled at being. I still have many questions like- why were all those children on that plane?- err did they grow up in the crack in the earth never having "the things that were worth knowin" (or whatever savanah says lol)- all in all i highly reccomend this movie.

Third best of the trilogy, but fun watching anyway.
The Mad Max films finish their transformation from the edgy, ultra-violent first movie to this kid-friendly adventure picture with slick production values and flawless photography. The violence is toned down and the fantasy elements are played up; unfortunately, this means the post-apocalytpic kick of the second movie (just about one of the greatest action flick -- EVER!) has vanished. "Thunderdome" has some fine moments, especially the well-directed scenes with the tribes of children and the haunting images of the coda, as well a couple of good action sequences, such as the face-off in the Thunderdome arena, but it doesn't stay in your memory the way the first two films do. It is still worth seeing if you enjoyed the other movies in the series. Tina Turner's performance is certainly interesting, similar to Grace Jones turn in "Conan the Destroyer," which was made at about the same time.

Of course, if you've never seen a Mad Max films, don't start here. Go back to the first one (available in a great deluxe DVD), then work up to the best of three "Road Warrior" (available in a not so deluxe DVD), then you'll be ready for this finale -- and this DVD doesn't have much in the way of extras on it either.

Nearly as good as _The Road Warrior_
The original _Mad Max_ suffered badly from its tight budget, but _The Road Warrior_ more than made up for it. The third and final film in the trilogy is, to my tastes, almost as good.

In some respects it's superior. I like Brian May's scores, but this one (by Maurice Jarre) is better. There's a lot more action in this one too; the plot sails along swiftly and we get to see quite a bit more of the postapocalyptic world (the politico-economic constraints of which are well embodied in the iconic Bartertown). And Tina Turner (who also sings on the soundtrack) as Auntie Entity is a fine piece of casting.

Good stuff, and Mel Gibson is in top form as well. Still, it just seems to me that a bit of the wind has gone out of the sails. Maybe it's because of the untimely death of producer Byron Kennedy (to whom this film is dedicated). Maybe it's just because this film is clearly intended to be more 'mainstream' than its two predecessors. But in some respects it just doesn't quite have the Mad Max 'feel'.

At any rate, it's a very cool film and highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good postapocalyptic thriller. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the most absurdly violent films ever made, this outrageous comic book of a movie is short on style but makes up for it in sheer audacity and excess. Brooding street kid Ricky Ho (Fan Siu Wang, playing the part of avenging angel with self-righteous earnestness) walks into the corrupt corporate prison system with superpowered martial arts skills and proceeds to punch his way through every bullying thug and sadistic guard who comes his way. Literally. His fist puts a gaping hole through the stomach of a giant sumo-wrestler-sized thug and the jaw of a pompadoured bully, and turns the skull of a pathetic guard into a bloody stump. As Ricky becomes a hero to the downtrodden prisoners, the assistant warden (who keeps breath mints in his removable glass eye) organizes the dreaded "gang of four," the cell block gang leaders, to take Ricky down. Fat chance!

There's nothing realistic about the bone-shattering, blood-splattering spectacle of crushed heads and snapped limbs, but the unrestrained display becomes so preposterously grotesque it hardly matters. You'll be convinced that the "Oh" in Riki-Oh stands for "Oh my God, did I really see that?" Yes, Ricky really does tie a sliced tendon with his teeth, a thug cuts open his gut and uses his own intestines to strangle Ricky, and the warden (for no apparent reason) puffs himself up into a giant rubber ogre. Ricky's curvy, feminine nemesis Rogan is played by Yukari Oshima, the butt-kicking, all-woman star of Angel and others. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (75)

A movie so bad that it's entertaining.
....Riki-Oh: The story of Ricky is a B movie beyond any B movie I've ever seen.As a movie, it gets 1 star,as a form of visual entertainment for the morbid,and/or people with strong stomachs looking for a movie to make fun of,a full 5 stars.The dubbing is bad,the music is bad, the plot is full of holes,and ridiculous things happen in his movie that could never occur in real life,but all this does not matter,because the gore and violence are so over the top. If you have a morbid sense of humor, this movie will definitely do. There are tons of graphic scenes of major mutilation and death.I found it so funny that I often had to replay the scenes in slow motion to see how they did it,and when you slow it down,it looks even funnier.This movie is crazy,and doesn't make a ton of sense,but I find it very entertaining.If you've got that "special sense of humor",you owe it to yourself to buy this DVD,and gross your friends out with it.I have to find/make a T shirt that has the DVD box art on it! Too funny.

Ridiculously violent masterpiece of bloodshed and mayhem.
OK, this is either the worst movie ever made, or the best, depending on how you look at it. By normal standards upon which most movies are reviewed, it doesn't get much more terrible than this. However, based upon sheer violent content that reaches such an unbelievably, unimaginably, outrageously graphic level it achieves comedic sickness whether its meant to or not, it is the best movie ever. Riki Oh is by far the bloodiest, goriest, and sickest film ever concieved. Imagine the game Mortal Kombat... and make it 50x bloodier. Holes are punched through people, heads are crushed, tendons are ripped and tied, intestines are pulled out and used as weapons, body parts fly, eyes shoot out from the sockets, and people are shoved into meat grinders. That is only half of it. Blood flows like water. Watch it, you'll have a good time doing it. You'll be watching the fight scenes over just to make sure that, yes, you really saw Ricky tie his own tendon with his teeth. Watch it with a group of friends, you'll all be laughing your butts off, either that or vomitting profusely. Riki Oh is a tremendously enjoyable experience, however those who are weak of stomache should stray away from this movie at all costs. If you are a gore freak, or just looking for a good distraction from your woes, by all means get Riki Oh. If you are looking for depth of plot and heartfelt acting, avoid Riki Oh no matter what. Again, it cannot be stressed how insanely violent this movie is.

So bad it's funny
Story of Riki is a must see.
It is so bad it's funny. Especially the laughable dubbed version of the film.

The plot is pretty dull but still holds a grudge.
The film is very very Cheesy too.

The violence is over the top but very unrealistic but Still over the top such as the part were Riki pumbles through a guys stomach or of course the part were riki smashes through a guys hans. This film is very very violent and graphic but in a funny way.

The music was acctually pretty good! The story of Riki Rules! And I recomend this too some one who just wants to see some thing F-d up.

Over all this is a horrbily but funny movie even though it's not tended to be funny.

Get it...NOW!!!

Later

Ricky's Great! Ricky's superb!!!!
Recently I've been reading up on Horror movies while on the internet, which naturally leads to discussion of gory films. Not too many non-horror movies would generally come up, except for this one, which was referred to repeatedly. Still, I wasn't too interested til I came across it in a store, and noticed the 'features the hilarious exploding head from the daily show' sticker.

Clearly, this was a film I had to see.

Normally, I write long, tedious reviews, but really what can you say about Riki-Oh. This is the height of camp entertainment. It is compulsively watchable, including the non-action scenes which still have immeasurable camp appeal. The ultra-cheap, inappropriately brightly colored sets are delightful, and the subtitles are absolutely atrocious, both of which add to the film's appeal. Honestly, this movie would be pretty damn amusing even without the delirious effects.

The effects are the real star, and they are fall-down hilarious. Contrary to what you may think, there isn't much kung-fu in this film, especially on the part of Ricky, who generally just lands a single, explosive deathblow with his mighty fist. There isn't all that much variety in the gore fx, but the sheer absurdity and audacity of the bare-handed-explosive-mutilations maintains interest throughout. Despite the general technical incompetence of the film they manage to pace it pretty well, not overdoing the violence early, but not having too little happen either, so it entertains well continously.(And they still save most of the best effects for the final act) Personally, I found the funniest effect one to be the least graphic one: Ricky's girlfriends staggerinly unrealistic plummet from a rooftop. The film falters slightly at the very end. The fight with the warden goes too far over the top, but their doing so was pretty much inevitable considering the nature of the film, so I applaud them for managing to delay this inevitablility until the very end.

This is an utterly bare-bones dvd, which looks pretty much like a tape. A nice digital make-over wouldn't be appropriate for this picture, but it's annoying to have to pay nearly 30 bucks for something so cheaply done. Really, this should only cost half of it's suggested price. But what can I say, it's worth it.

RIKI SET ME FREE!!!
If you deal opium, oppress old men who build toy trains, fillet the skin off of poor mutes, get in Riki's business, or otherwise piss Riki off: YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!!! This movie is totally ridiculous and wild! Bad dubbing, cheesy fx, and over-the-top gore will have you rolling! The only reason this isn't getting five stars is because of my dissappointment that the warden's fat, annoying boy didn't get pummeled. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

PRINCESS BLADE IS NOT KING!
Tough this movie was pretty good, alongside such awesome epics such as HERO,(with Jet Li), Azumi, and Crouching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, this movie paled by comparison.

But in and of itself, it is much better then a lot of the more cheesier Asian films being pumped out. The action sequences were very dynamic and exciting to watch, and the set and tone of the futuristic Samurai was different. And different is good!

But the storyline was lacking, and sometimes plodded along way too slow for this American. But overall, I can see what people see and like in this film. But the storyline could have been so much stronger and better. A good basic idea, with good action, but seemingly nothing else.

If you want to see a much faster-paced movie, with bigger budget and better acted, and awesome action sequences - then MUSA, THE WARRIOR is the best!

Fresh take on martial arts movies
I bought Princess Blade as a blind buy, and overall I really liked it. I think what really made it feel original to me was the way they showed the futuristic setting. There weren't a lot of dumb costumes or cheesy touches to overemphasize the fact that the characters are in "the future". There was one amazing shot of a super high-speed train speeding by the construction of a huge Orwellian statue of some kind of "supreme leader", and there were a couple of radio broadcasts giving us similar hints of a dystopian future setting, but it was all very subtle. Also, I liked the fact that although it was a futuristic setting, most of the fight scenes took place out in the forest. The action choreography (almost completely consisting of swordfights) is quite well done and not as fantastical as a lot of 90's Hong Kong wire-fu movies---there's very little use of wires or undercranking. The story, casting and acting are quite good, although the film suffers somewhat from an obviously limited budget. Also, although there is some blood, the movie is not excessively gory. Unfortunately, the ADV DVD picture quality is not very good for such a recent movie---it's non-anamorphic, and there are some compression artifacts evident.

Overall though, I thought the swordfight scenes were very good, the performances and story were touching, and the setting was unique and subtle. A very enjoyable, fresh and stylized take on martial arts movies.

Wasted potential thy name is Princess Blade.
This modern remake of The Lady Snowblade is very thin. If you want an entertaining movie with quirky characters, lot's of jokes and a deep enthrauling storyline...well look at Versus or Samurai Fiction because I had been looking forward to PB for a while now and it really dissapointed. The movie has some amazing action set pieces for ten minutes in the begining and for ten minutes at the end. The action is thin and so are the characters, the love story was to weak for me and I'm a guy! I really wish it was better because it really could have been. I truly believe the japanese have the leg over the hong kong film industry in there ability to appease American audiences. But still, there are much more entertaining alternatives to this film. Now if you still want to see this despite my warnings, the film is not entirely without it's merits. It is beautifully shot, if not a little drab and depressing, and the action and the acting when it's put to work it works.

Boring beyond belief
Boredom...boredom..boredom. Some Japanese movies move to slow and are filled with nonsensical dialogue. This is one of those movies. The brief swordplay is interesting, yet the movie itself just couldn't keep my attention.

SO CLOSE, AND YET SO FAR........
This film could have been so much more than it was. A fantasy film in which a future Japanese police state utilizes assassins who use swords, despite having 21st century technology. The patriarch of the assassins is scary looking, the heroine is very sexy in that school-girl innocent look that Japanese men love (what is it with Japanese men and their desire for very young girls in sailor-suit school uniforms?-a dread of comparison?), and it does have a tangible combination of visual texture and depth. But the actions scenes, despite Donnie Yen's guiding hand, are silly looking and bad to the point of laughable. Granted, he didn't have much to work with, and the actors involved didn't look as bad as spindly and stiff Keanu Reeves or Fat Larry Fishburne in the Matrix franchise, but there was just very little there to hold your attention. Try it if you're bored, but otherwise, you could do better in this genre, with something like Equilibrium with Christian Bale; better acting, better fights, and better directing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Road Warrior meets Dragonslayer in the briskly entertaining post-apocalyptic action thriller Reign of Fire. Reign of Fire exists primarily to give us a bigger and better dragon than the Vermithrax Pejorative of 1981's classic Dragonslayer, and in that regard, the special effects are mightily impressive; the reptilian fire-breathers are stupendously convincing. While the earlier film offers a richer, more whimsical medieval adventure, Reign of Fire is a fast-moving tale of man versus dragon that takes place in the charred England of 2020, after Earth has been scorched by rapidly multiplying dragons and the aftermath of a futile nuclear counterstrike. Mixing high-tech gadgetry with primitive survivalism, X-Files alumnus Rob Bowman makes the most of his midlevel budget, establishing a lavish castle base for the rugged, adversarial teaming of Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey as dragonslayers on the brink of extinction. With a steady supply of crowd-pleasing highlights, Reign of Fire is a pyrotechnical treat. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (241)

5 STARS! Very well done EOW (End of World) movie!
What if dragons were real?What if they came back?Could we stop them in time before they scorched the earth and ruled the land?This movie will answer that question.

A great movie, I'm not big on Fantasy as much as Science Fiction but this was the bomb!Holding your breath watching people try to outrun dragons...well lets just say they make the critters in jurassic park look look like the next door neighbors annoying terrier!

Medieval fantasy meets futuristic science fiction in this movie! In present-day London, 12-year-old Quinn Abercromby witnesses the awakening of a hibernating dragon from a centuries-long slumber, the result of a construction dig supervised by his mother and an incident for which Quinn feels partially responsible.

Twenty years later, the adult Quinn (Christian Bale) is the fire chief of a refortified castle community, responsible for dousing the blazes lit by the dragon's prodigious number of flame-spewing offspring, airborne juggernauts that have wreaked havoc across the globe, torching civilization and turning humans into an endangered species.

Hope arrives in the form of Denton "Dragon Slayer" Van Zan (Matthew McConaughey), an American known to be the only man to ever kill one of the dragons, and Alex Jenson (Izabella Scorupco), a scientist/pilot who's a member of Van Zan's army, a zealous fighting force that includes a secret weapon: the Archangels, paratroopers using themselves as bait to attract and then dispatch the deadly beasts.

Rent it, buy it, if you like sci fi or fantasy, you must see this movie!!

Not a very good movie.
This plot didn't make a lot of sense.We are told dragons have taken over the skies of earth, yet we hardly see any flying around.I rented this because Gerard Butler is in it.He has the best lines then gets killed off.Christian Bale has an angry expression on his face for the entire movie, I bet he was sorry he signed the contract.Matthew McConnaughy chews up the scenery with gusto, he looks like the only one having any fun.If the dragons only eat ash, why do they chomp on people?This is for hardcore sci-fi/fantasy fans only.

Much Better Than Some Reviews Here Would Indicate
This is the type of film I take out of my DVD library to watch whenever I'm bored and don't want to watch a movie that requires too much thinking. I do prefer smart movies over mindless action with no plot, but "Reign of Fire" is an exception to that rule. The story is pretty cool (writing could be better though) and the acting is above average thanks to Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey (I thought he was wildly entertaining here). The best thing about this film is of course the look of the dragons themselves. The CGI creatures are up there with anything ILM has done of late, with the only downside being that they are not shown on screen as often as one might think. So ignore the plot holes (if dragons feed on tons of ash, why chase and eat a few pesky humans running around?) and just enjoy this one for what it is, brainless fun that will achieve what movies are suppose to do...entertain.

Give me fire, give me Gasoline
Hordes of fire-breathing, human-eating dragons. A devastated, smouldering modern-day England. Christian Bale as the monastic, stalwart leader of a besieged castle full of dispirited Englishmen. A wild-eyed Matt McConaughey as a rogue U.S. military commander.

Oh, did I mention Apache helicopter gunships versus Dragons?

If you want nearly two hours of char-broiled goodness and don't mind disengaging your brain, then read no further, and pop "Reign of Fire" on the hopper.

Now for some background: Back in the early nineties, NYU college buddies Kevin Peterka and Greg Chabott went backpacking through the United Kingdom; as they hiked, they talked; Greg had taken along a vintage 1939 typewriter, and they typed up their ideas. They used the storied English landscape, with its castles and legends of dragons, to churn out their first screenplay, which was entitled "When Heroes go Down" and which they sold on spec , ultimately picked up by Spyglass pictures.

Spyglass spiffed up the script and mercifully renamed it "Reign of Fire", but at the core of the movie was Chabott and Peterka's original vision of a fire-breathing dragon going claw a mano with an Apache gunship. And that, I'm happy to say, is what is at the center of this roaringly fun and occasionally inspired movie about fire-breathing dragons rampaging through the England of 2020.

Yes it's flawed. Yes it's uneven. Yes, the editing on the battles between man and monster is often so bad as to make it hard to follow what's going on. And yes, you desperately want to see more of the dragons. But don't be overly critical, for "Reign" is a flame-roasted cheesefest.

The movie's promotional campaign, featuring the sky above London's Houses of Parliament teeming with marauding dragons, was a bit misleading: other than a brief introduction by the narrator Quinn (played feverishly well by Christian Bale), the events of the movie are focused on the pitched battle between a gigantic uber-dragon, some frightened English civilians in a Scottish castle, and a band of renegade American soldiers under the command of Van Zan (played by a steely-eyed, cigar smoking Matthew McConaughey, who appears to be having the time of his career), who are there to chew bubble gum and kick dragon butt.

Oh, and they're all outta bubble gum.

The reign of fire, and the millions of dragons that come with it, was spawned by the nasty uber-dragon, who came crawling up out of the bowels of London after a development project unearthed his 'final' resting place---and that titular reign lasts about 3 seconds.

That's pretty much all that is needed, though: the Earth itself is a burned, desolate wasteland, roasted by the dragons and decimated by mankind's last gasp, a futile nuclear strike that did more damage to humanity than it did to the dragons. Society has regressed to the medieval, and merely venturing out for a few turnips can mean death---nasty, screeching, fiery death.

But what's bad for English civilians is great fun for the audience, particularly when Van Zann's dragonslayers (who have tanks and the obligatory Apache gunship) show up. The movie was made for a relatively trifling $117 million, and it's all up on the screen: movie dragons have never looked so terrifying.

Nor has a B-monster movie looked so good, and that's not a surprise: "Reign"'s director of Photography is the brilliant Adrian Biddle, who did the cinematography for Aliens, Princess Bride, Willow, and The Mummy. All of the sequences, particularly the castle, are crisp, harrowing, and beautifully shot.
The DVD is crisp and gorgeous (and stuffed with some useful extras), the setting is bleak and atmospheric, the dragons are gorgeous to behold, director Rob Bowman (who also helmed "X-Files:Fight the Future") keeps the action rolling along, and Matthew McConaughey's death-defying mid-air leap at a dragon's spikey, smelly, smokey craw must be seen to be believed.

Here be Dragons.

JSG

Watch it for Gerard Butler as Creedy-------
Dragons!!They look like just what the are - drawn onto a screen like cartoons!

The story is okay in a dark, fantasy kind of way.The only reason I would ever see something like this is to follow the career of one of its' stars.In this case, Gerard Butler.

He plays the most human and natural character in the film, Creedy.Cracking wise with Christian Bale, interacting with the children of this dark, unpleasant place, and doing the hero that takes the ultimate risk, he is lively and interesting.I wanted to know more about his character.But, what do we get?Bale and his two expressions.Dour and dourer.

And then there is Matthew McConaughey and his odd super-dooper nut job.Strangely, I enjoyed watching him more than the boring Bale.At least Matthew did crazy well.

In fantasy films it is best to go in with your disbelief in check.A good one will just carry you along for the ride.This is not a very good one.

But The Butler is worth a watch.6/10 ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Not a good DVD, but a Good Arnold flick
The Running Man tells of a future world where convicted fellons are put on a game show "The Running Man" and are placed in arenas along with psychotic stalkers who are there to kill these guys in record time all for the entertainment of the American people.
The film is great but not perfect. I love the way the film portrays society, as basically a bunch of mindless and gullable media slaves. Which some would argue is true for our society today, where we believe everything served to us on television and radio, not considering that maybe the people behind these stories are money hungry, heartless liars. It was almost like a future version of the Roman Empire, where upper class Romans found the most violent and bloody sport with slaves getting butchered in an arena as pure entertainment. This film uses the likes of rich corporate adults as the shows mainstream audience loving fellons get butchered the same way.
The films special effects are ahead of its time, with believable gore and movie props like futuristic cars and buildings.
Richard Dawson is great as the gameshow's host, as a lovable teddy bear on screen, and a greedy, self-involved liar backstage. The remaining cast do thier jobs well, although they could have found more talented actors. Arnold is Arnold, without him, this movie wouldn't have the box-office appeal that it did, nor would it have the appeal on todays audience that it did. And even though his one liners after each death border on stupidity in this film (with a lot of the other dialogue), his Arnoldness simply makes up for it.
This movie was a great and unique idea and it was executed just fine, I own this dvd and like it a lot. Although, giving us simply a trailer as an extra simply sucks. I wouldve like to hear some commentary on it at least. Oh well...

Mediocre, but strangely likable and memorable 3.,5 stars
It's the future, and the world is in a violent, poverty-stricken mess. The biggest entertainment around is . . . a reality show. A very brutal reality show. Convicted criminals become contestants in a game-show where they either get killed as they run a gauntlet against a bunch of thugs, or they survive and get to move to Hawaii.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a man wrongly convicted of a crime and chosen as a contestant in the lovely game-show described above. Of course, Ahnold can't take that lying down, so he proceeds to not only survive, but try to break this ugly set-up. Richard Dawson plays the host of the show, which is broadcast everywhere, and hams up it to perfection, as the ultimate it's-all-about-ratings smarmy egotist-with-a-smile.

I didn't like the repetitiveness at times of the action scenes, nor the bad, cheap settings somewhat hidden by bad lighting. I did like the general sense of tension created, as well as Arnold's genuine good-guy versus Dawson's completely-fake bad-guy. Not a movie to rave about, but fun to watch if you don't have much else to do.

Perhaps more topical now
While in 1987 this may have been simply another action star for Governor-to-be Schwarzenegger, viewed today this film offers more layers of meaning.

"The Running Man" is a reality show in which criminals are forced to run from bounty hunter-types who are given WWF wrestling style introductions and use a myriad of weapons to kill their prey. The audience cheers and boos mercilessly as the real-life people meet tragic ends. Seen today in the era of "Survivor" and "Fear Factor," among other reality shows, this movie offers much in the way of questioning the direction of such television. Is this the direction reality TV is going? Also good for a look at mass media and people's belief in what is told to them.

The movie is what it is. Fist-pumping commando, guns and heavy artillery. Schwarzenegger is wrongly framed for a crime he didn't commit and made a criminal in this Orwellian society in which the mass media is everything. He's forced into The Running Man world. There's some throw-away jokey lines after disposing of the heavy villains, but the real treat is watching real-life game show host Richard Dawson playing the slimy, evil host of The Running Man - the real villain in this movie full of larger-than-life killers.

Read the book instead
I read the book by Stephen King and I loved it! This movie is NOTHING like the book. The basic plot (and I mean VERY basic) is the same, but the events that take place aren't even close. I'm sorry I wasted my time with this sad excuse for a movie. I was very disappointed and I recommend to everyone READ THE BOOK INSTEAD!

Another great piece of 80s Arnie action megacheese!
Although I don't consider 'The Running Man' to be one of Arnie's best bits of action fare, it does have more than its fair share of those silly cheeseball moments that I ofttimes crave. I especially enjoy the part where our hero and his fellow contestants/captors take out the first obstacle: Sub-Zero, a deadly blade-wielding hockey goalie who looks a lot like that Odd Job guy. His referring to the late SubZero as "Now, just PLAIN zero!" is a prime example of bad action one liners at their best (worst?)!

Then there's Richard Dawson as the main heavy: a futuristic game-show host with all of the fake glee and smarmy oiliness you can bear! He also gives the best rebuttal to our hero's famous "I'll be back!" here, so be on the lookout for it! And not to go off on a tangent, but does anybody out there imagine how 'The Running Man' would've looked like had present 'Family Feud' host Louie Anderson played Killian, or am I the only one? Um... anyone? A little help here...?

Oh yeah, let's not forget future Minny guv Jesse Ventura as one of the game announcer/enforcers. His raucous, obnoxious blather and uber-macho posturing really adds a pro-wrestling feel to the competition as it unfolds! You'll definitely be feeling Minnesota (or is it FLEEing Minnesota?) after watchin' "The Mind's" performance here!
All in all, 'The Running Man' is one enjoyable waste of an hour-and-a-half for all you testosterone-driven action megacheese buffs out there!

As for the Special Edition extra features: Along with the usual director/producer commentary tracks-- both of which I bailed out on after the first fifteen minutes because they were so inane and uninteresting-- and such are a couple documentaries dealing with the movie's subject matter. The first is a half-hour-long talk about Constitutional rights and freedoms following the 9/11 attacks and the passing of the Patriot Act, and the other dealing with reality TV shows. I found both reasonably informative, although the former show had some of creepiest-looking interviewees I've ever seen in a documentary. Both of these were included to reflect the movie's central "duel-to-the-death-game-show" premise and dystopian backdrop, as well as its 'prediction-of-the-future'-style prescience. Personally, I think they're giving this over-the-top actioner a bit too much credit in being a mind-opening mirror of modern society. I mean, let's face facts: since when has the term "high-concept" and Arnold Schwarzenegger gone together in a movie? Is that the smell of overheating brain matter from you pondering my question that I'm smelling, or is it just me?

'Late ... Read more

Reviews (230)

Futuristic dragons and unbeatable British talent
Having grown up on films such as "Krull" and "Dragonslayer" I was excited yet hesitant to see "Reign of Fire." (We've all been burned before on these types of films.) But since I'm a huge fan of the very talented Christian Bale, I decided to take the risk. Wow! The dragons sent chills from my head to my toes. As did Bale and his side kick Gerard Butler. (He was the best thing about "Dracula 2000." Probably the sexiest vampires EVER! Can't wait to see him in "Tomb Raider 2.") But the actor who surprises the most was Matthew McConaughey. With biceps bulging and shaved head, he came off as a real force to reckon with. What's even more impressive about the story is its unique combination of genres, fantasy and sci-fi. It's a clever concept.
Any fan of Rob Bowman ("The X-Files") will appreciate this effort. And the closing song by Mad at Gravity is fantastic. Not without some holes, but a very enjoyable 1 hour and 40 minutes well spent. I'm certainly going to buy the DVD even though it doesn't look like it has many extras.

Looking for dragons? Won't find many of them here.
Despite the wonderful science fiction premise -- a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by bestial creatures responsible for the dragons of legend -- "Reign of Fire" fails to deliver in an important department: dragons! Although supposedly the cause of the near annihilation of the human race, the dragons seem strangely absent for most of the film, dropping in for the occasional none-too-thrilling action sequence, then vanishing for long periods. The short finale is especially disappointing and delivers none of the promise of humans going head-to-head with a dragon. The only action sequence that really works is a clever piece near the beginning involving skydivers with nets chasing down the fire-breathing nasties.

Strangely, the film works better in the character category, and is at its best between the dragon attack scenes. Usually films of this type have the situation completely reversed. The portrait of survivalists facing the end is wonderfully, vividly portrayed, and McConnaughey's grizzled and slightly insane American dragon hunter (the "Captain Ahab" character of the story) is a good performance. The role certainly is a big departure for the actor away from his image in films like "The Wedding Planner." Much more drama goes on between him and Christian Bale's character than ever occurs with the absentee dragons.

If you're a dragon lover, rent "Dragonslayer" instead; you won't feed your need with this underwhleming picture. (And wouldn't it be nice if someday someone did a film adaptation of Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" novels? There's a science-fiction take on dragons that would make a great movie series.)

Better than most
Gerard Butler brings a sensitivity to the movie, as well as the courage and bravory of a "Knight".
The movie is for the "thinking man", the bad reviews are not to be considered. This film seems true to life in believe-ability; the dragons could not have been more "real" in looks movements and fire breathing action; in flight they are magnificent!
The men are wonderful with the children, in keeping them strong and unafraid in there horrowing situation. They are as men Should be these days, protective of their women and children.
The costumes are rustic and real.
The movie can be compared to "King Author" in style. A Great action movie, mystical, gritty and Wonder-full.

not bad despite the negative reviews
Many people felt the need to trash this movie just because it didn't have dragons in every scene. While there are better dragon films, Reign of Fire had some good special effects to it. There are a few points of intensity,the violence factor isn't too heavy (otherwise this film would have received an R rating), and the ending seems a bit mediocre but the movie is still worth a look.

great dragons but little else to recommend it
This sure seems like it should be a winner, and as someone who enjoyed all the Mad Max movies and who likes Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale, I was prepared to be thoroughly entertained, but this was a mess that started out well and then deteriorated. Strangely enough, things seemed to grind to a halt when McConaughey's character (Van Zan) enters the picture, so to speak. And who thought it was a good idea to take a good looking guy like McC and turn him into a bald cigar-chomping neanderthal? The dragons were excellent and the sets and design were great, but the script and plot needed work.

DVD extras include a trailer, a 12-minute conversation with director Bowman, a 15-minute making-of featurette and an 8-minute sfx featurette. The film can be heard in English or French and subtitled in English or Spanish. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the first anime features, Fist of the North Star was based on a popular manga series set in the not-too-distant future, when Earth has been devastated by a nuclear holocaust. The scattered survivors huddle in ruined cities, awaiting an enlightened warrior-hero worthy of the title of "Fist of the North Star," who will start the planet on the path to recovery. That mythic hero arrives in the person O, who looks like a caricature of Sylvester Stallone drawn for an American Saturday morning cartoon show. The relatively simple story is burdened with many subplots involving evil brothers, betrayals, kidnappings, and murders, all needing endless expository scenes. Director Toyoa Ashida borrows shamelessly from the Rambo and Mad Max films, along with Frank Frazetta's illustrations. Fist of the North probably ranks as the most violent film in animation history, but after the fourth or fifth head explodes in gobbets of red paint, the effect becomes unintentionally comic. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Dragonball Z but with Gore and Ultraviolence.
In the near future, The Earth is a nuked world with only some Water and a few plants remain, the only thing that rules the planet is the Violence. A formly dead Warrior named " Ken"
has came back from the dead to get his girlfriend back and he has
incredible powers that let him punch through people and make them exploding. A ultra-Violent anime movie full of Gore and
Humor to not disappoint you, if you are Squeamish or have a weak heart then don't see this.

Other similar movies i would recommend: The Toxic Avenger, The Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Day of the Dead, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, Princess
Mononoke, The Professional: Golgo 13, Rats, Scanners, Suspiria,
and The Crow.

The best in violent Anime.
Forget about Ninja Scroll and Guy. If you want realistic anime violence and a hell of a story to boot then Fist of the North Star is for you. I've seen this film three times and every time I see it I think to myself a. What a killer story b. What carnage and gore. Take the body counts from ten Friday the 13ths and you'll have a third of the deaths in this movie. Like I said it also has a hell of a story. A Man named Ken (Kenshiro in Japan) is killed or so it seems. He comes back and must search for his lost love Julia, threw a world torn apart by nuclear war. During this time he must prove he is the fist of the north star by defeating his two brothers Jagi the Pretender and Rauol the Conquerer and his rival Shin. If you are a mature anime viewer then I recommend you buy or at least rent Fist of the North Star. It is too bad that we will never get to see the sequel to Fist of the North Star in the USA. A sequel cartoon series was made in Japan in 1988. So far no Anime company has even tried to bring it to America. I doubt we'll ever see it, but we can always hope.

Love it or Hate it....
Whichever side you're on, you can't deny that Fist of The North Star is satisfying to watch. Fact is, the world would be a much better place if martial artists like Kenshiro actually existed. Kenshiro represents something truly fictional; kindness towards good but weak people, and extreme cruelty towards strong and bad people. In the world we live in, particularly in the typical american high school, its the other way around. Sad thing is, if a martial artist like Kenshiro actually existed and executed his brand of justice on evil people, he would be demonized by the media because the more powerful, fortunate and cruel among us would be threatened by him. I guess that, despite the fact that the voice acting is terrible, the animation horrible, and the effects downright cheezy, people love this move because Kenshiro represents an impossible ideal.

So bad...its good!
It won't be double billed with "Wings of Honneamise" or "Metropolis"...but it'll definately be put in my video collection as one of the most craptacular movies ever made...right under the animated "Lord of the Rings."

So why? Well its got good action...and not much else. Every scene consists of such dialogue:

Guy #1: "Hey, you!"
Guy #2: *punch*
Guy #1: "Owe, man, that hurt!"
Guy #2: "You are dead."
Guy #1: "Am not!" *head explodes*

Just replace head with arm, leg, stomach, back, ear, eyeball...

So I shouldn't say too much because then I'd be talking a lot about nothing. Lemme put it this way: if you like crazy violence and campy storylines and dialogue, this will fit you nice and well. MSTie it if you want, I dare you...I managed too.

Blood splattering, eye popping (literally) chaos!
This is one of my favorite anime of all time. It is simply an over-the-top gorefest. I love the fact that it pulls no punch and simply gets the plot out of the way in the first few minutes..

I can sum this movie up as:

Good Guys: "Man builds really big bombs and is stupid and annihilates the whole planet. This was a bad thing, let's not do this in real life. Oh look, a flower survived. Now we have hope."

Bad Guys: "Hope?! We can't have hope! We love slaughtering everything in sight for no apparent reason. Die flower die!"

Good Guys: "That's it! You die now!"

(Insert 70 minutes of insane fighting).

As silly as that sounds, this movie is GREAT. Turn off your brain and enjoy it.. ... Read more

Reviews (191)

The Strong Arm of the Law
The future of law enforcement is now available in the thrilling Sci-Fi actioner "Robocop". In the near future, police officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is brutally gunned down by ruthless criminals but a powerful corporation rebuilds him as an indestructible high-tech cyborg with the mission to bring justice in violent streets of Detroit. Tormented by nightmarish images of his former life, Robocop seeks revenge on the criminals that took his life. "Robocop" is still director Paul Verhoeven's (Total Recall) best work to date. This film is a fiercely entertaining action-packed joyride. It contains a sharp storyline, high-voltage actions and some surprising bits of wicked satire. The cast also includes Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith and Miguel Ferrer. The 1987 hit actioner is presented in its theatrical 1.85:1 widescreen format. The DVD contains a good video transfer and well-balanced 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Its only supplement is its original theatrical trailer. Though fans are more interested in the Criterion Edition, this simple edition is a worthy bargain purchase and gets a "B-".

Not a bad movie, but one scene makes me sick
Dutch director Paul Varhoven takes us on a ride filled with the demise and downfall of our own society in his first American action adventure film, ROBOCOP. It is worth while to mention that ROBOCOP was shot in a time period where Detroit was known as the murder capital of the world. Since than, Detroit has cleaned up its act, and New York has lifted that title from the motor city's back. But in Varhoven's vision, Detroit is a spiraling downward paradox, filled with drugs, violence, and prostitution. The picture is dark and monochromatic, with a grim look upon our future. Its actually a bit depressing to tell you the truth. ROBOCOP is a satire, cracking jokes at modern day aspects of life such as the automotive industry, television commercials, and corporate development (the OCP portion of the film.) The movie has a solid script and a convincing cast, probably most entertaining are the OCP corporate hot shots, but no one steals the show like ED-209. Peter Weller does well with the material he is given to work with, even if he is a little on the monotone side. Kurtwood Smith is all too believable as the dark and sinister villain, Clarence Bodiker. The villains in this film are the most convincing, although its not that hard to make someone seem evil. Basil Poledoris's music score is commanding, even if a little overemphasized with synthesizer, but I guess that's how the 80's were. It really adds a whole other dimension to the film, and multi-academy award winner Phil Tippit's stop motion effects are amazing. I have mixed feelings about this film. Like I may have mentioned above, ROBOCOP is very convincing when it comes to its antagonists, almost too convincing. Along with the Robocop package comes one of the most brutal scenes in Hollywood History. Not since the ambush sequence in BONNY AND CLYDE has there been a more shocking murder in a motion picture. I'm speaking of the scene in which Murphy is, to say the least, shot to death. I felt this over-emphasis was anything but crucial to the plot, as there was no need for it, since we had already been given a display of the cruelty of the characters (can you fly Bobby...CAN YOU FLY! ) We didn't have to see Murphy take a shot between the legs, fall to his knees in agony, and lie there helplessly as his limbs are blown off one at a time. This isn't art, its savage. VARHOVEN, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! Now I'm aware of the criterion edition, which features even more of this nonsense, in crucifixion style! I mean come on! That's just sick if you ask me. One thing off-setting about this scene is that it takes place in a very confined setting, creating a claustrophobic illusion. We can sympathize for Murphy, especially us males when it comes to the first shot he takes. Some things just shouldn't pass through the lens of a camera, period. As for the rest of the film, three cheers, but this scene was totally unnecessary. The blade thru Kurtwood Smith's neck ain't pretty either, but at least he deserved it. The viewing of this scene leaves one feeling sick to there stomach, thanks Dad, for fast forwarding when I wa