On Deadly Ground

Description

An Alaskan oil worker is left to die in the Arctic wilderness after threatening to go public about unsafe drilling practices. Ultimately, he plots his revenge after being rescued by a tribe of Eskimos.

Customer Reviews:

Apparently Segal Dislikes the Oil Industry Or Something........2007-08-26

Ecological preservation must be pretty important to Steven Segal. Important enough to blow up an oil rig, important enough to kill about 20 people in the process.

This has got to be one of the funniest films ever witnessed. Films that weren't intended to be comical but end up as laughing stalks just because of the sheer impossibility of the action are always the best. There's such great sardonic value in bombastity but what makes Segal's films especially laughable is that he takes himself so seriously. I mean, as if this film weren't ridiculous enough Segal had to have a 15-minute one-on-one with the audience at the end of the film to badger them into environmental preservation. You're just sitting there with your mouth open the whole time, practically in a state of terminal shock at the prospect that this was done with the greatest seriousness and sincerity.

Some of the highlights of the film were Segal showcasing his patented groin attacks on a room full of people, choke slamming a 70-year old man through a bar table, and playing handsies with a bully shortly before convincing him to reevaluate his opinion of Native Americans.

Perhaps more than anything though it's the demonization of folks (ANY folks) associated with the oil industry that really sends this film off into galaxies never previously before phathomed. The lense through which Segal seas the oil industry is quite astonishing really; it's almost as if he sees them as an ideologically cohesive unit, akin maybe to the Bolsheviks or the Jacobins, than he sees it as just another segment of the economy. Oil workers willingly give their lives for the company in this film, they keep a third world country's supply of ammunition at the refinery, and they even have their own battle cry ("We're Oil Workers!") which is echoed each time they futilely try to fend off Segal.

This is just hours of an Inuit running roughshot on the white man, blowing up oil rigs, the emasculation of big burly males, and enacting blood-soaked revenge on corporate, capitalist America. In sum this is everything that socialist Hollywood dreams about. If this film had been made in 2007 it probably would've gotten an Oscar nod. If it had been released independently it would be hailed as the greatest thing since the Manifesto.

I'm as much for conservation and protection of our forests as anyone but seriously Steven, this is just unbounded environmentalist crackpotry. Still probably the funniest film ever.

Most important lesson to take from this film: Don't ever get into a helicopter if Steven is nearby.

Deadly Therapy.......2006-10-30

My wife insisted we see this because it is a movie in which her therapist played a featured part! So groaning I said, fine, whatever, and in all good faith we sat back to enjoy the marvelous countryside of Alaska and to drink in this story of a man, Forrest Taft, who at the beginning of the picture works on a huge oil rig for a wicked corporation, and who later changes his mind about how he's living his life. People say Steven Segall never changes, but here's a movie in which he undertakes the biggest journey of them all, cleansing his soul in the process. He's not good at acting, but that's neither here nor there. If you ask me, his direction of this movie was spot on and he should definitely have gotten more offers to direct. It's just a shame his leading actor was so wooden and chubby.

Forrest Taft has one great friend aboard the oil rig, a crotchety old coot who's always berating Forrest for forgetting the little people and sucking up to the big boys. Blinded by greed, Forrest doesn't listen to the old man. Then one day, the old man threatens to blow whistles on Michael Caine and Caine has him horribly tortured and murdered by John C. McGinley. They break each of his fingers with an ivory tusk! Probably whalebone, eh? Then they castrated him with a plumbing tool! I can still hear the screams of the old guy--nobody deserves to die that way.

All in search of a computer disk in which the old codger had named names and shown that the corporation, in a hurry to exercise mining rights granted them twenty years ago by unthinking tribal leaders, the corporation has used unsafe equipment that has caused the death of several innocent workers.

When Forrest Taft learns of this death, he goes a little crazy and begins a vision quest in which he becomes a bear. Not the kind of bear we have here in San Francisco, but a spirit bear, and a Native wise man tells him, "You are a bear, you have a destiny to fulfill." Blown up by Caine's henchmen and left for dead, Taft is rescued by a pack of polar bear hunting Indians, who tie him to their dog sled and take him home to a beautiful native hut on multilevels, where toothless hags grin lopsidedly and Forrest really trips out when the chief plucks bullets out of his spine with eagle-like talons.

It becomes a race between starting up the oil rig, and demolishing it in a sort of ecoterrorist act. Seagal the director makes sure our sympathies lie with the right cause. Joan Chen is on hand as the chief's daughter, she's great of course but why didn't they think of hiring a Native American actress, would that have been difficult, Warner Brothers? I don't know, it just rang false to me. Otherwise the movie showed a roughhouse world of hard drinking, hard working, hard loving factory workers all sweating blood and tears doing great work except in the service of evil, corrupt people determined to destroy our beautiful planet.

The movie has Billy Bob Thornton prominently in the credits, but he gets to say about three things. The movie's credits say his character is called "Homer Carlton," but how do they know?

Anyhow enough nitpicking, see it for yourself! Add a star if YOUR therapist is in the movie too.

Pleased.......2006-08-19

I like most of Segal's works because they have a message that deals with issues that affect the environment.

this had to done as a tax rightoff.......2006-06-27

not even michael caine could save this BLEEDING HEART(in more ways than one) about the raping of the alaskaen interior by an oil company is just so bad that you wonder how it ever got made. steven seagal walks through it in a half daze(he also directed)and kills more pepple than any accident by an oil company! the final "speach" is the only part of the movie that works(but only because it's so funny,not because it's good)! movies like this are what killed mr. seagals movie chances!!
REALLY,REALLY BAD!!!!!!!!!!

Good action and story.......2006-03-20

I love the backgroud of Stevens characters and this one was good. As an action movie this was great. If you want to see truth watch the news. If ou want enterntainment, watch On deadly ground.

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')

Average customer rating:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!
MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!
A classic finally gets its due

King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')
Starring: Lo Lieh , and Tien Feng
Director: Cheng Chang Ho
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MM0LE6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Better known in the United States as Five Fingers of Death, this spectacular mix of martial arts action and Western-style melodrama from the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios helped to light the fuse for the kung fu movie explosion in the early '70s. Indonesian actor Lo Lieh is the young acolyte caught up in a struggle between rival martial arts schools; after one villainous outfit murders several of Lieh's classmates with the help of hired killers, he trains to develop the invincible "Iron Palm" technique and defeat the opposing school. Korean director Chang-hwa Jeong delivers stunning (and very violent) action set pieces (set to a dizzying array of American library music cues, most notably Quincy Jones' theme to Ironside) but also manages to create a compelling and dramatic sub-story about loyalty and honor. The result is a martial arts film that can be enjoyed by viewers who aren't fanatical about the genre and diehard kung fu heads alike. The widescreen DVD (which surpasses all previous VHS and DVD versions of the film) includes an interesting commentary track by Quentin Tarantino (who aided Dragon Dynasty in assembling its Shaw Brothers library) and critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute, who discuss King Boxer's appeal and thematic similarities to Hollywood product; Chute is also featured with critic Andy Klein in one of three short supplements about the film's production and history, with director Jeong and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-Liang taking center stage for the others. - Paul Gaita

Description

(Action) A young martial arts students quest to win a tournament despite numerous acts of sabotage by his rivals.

Customer Reviews:

The influences this movie has... just call it the blueprint!.......2007-09-05

Seeing this for the first time you may knock it for being fairly paint by numbers (train/tragedy/train harder/revenge/redemption)... problem is that this is one of the original paintings that the formula is based off! This is classic kung-fu action in the finest sense of the word. Lo Lieh as our heroic lead is great and shows flashes of Bruce Lee type charisma (but not nearly his furious fighting) and will have you rooting for him through every uphill battle he's in. Lots of cool characters and action scenes, including the 3 Japanese masters brought in to derail our hero (and bust his hands up real good!). The movie just oozes style and grittiness that in this new age of martial arts film we may never see again (Kill Bill excluded)... so sit back and enjoy it like the fine wine it is!

MASTER OF THE IRON FIST !!.......2007-07-03

Kudo's to the Weinstein Company for releasing this Kung Fu classic on DVD.The audio and video restoration that went into this DVD release is absolutely incredible and Martial Arts fans won't be disappointed."King Boxer" is presented in it's Widescreen format and enhanced for 16x9 television's.The films colors are incredibly sharp and vibrant and the mono sound is clear and crisp.The video transfer of "King Boxer" is the absolute best version I have ever seen and fans of the Kung Fu genre will be amazed by the quality of this release.Sound options include original Mandarin and English dubbed version and choice of subtitles.The special features are an added bonus,specially the Trailer Gallery.This movie has it all,non-stop action,fierce fighting and plenty of blood.Watch the magnificent Lo Lieh as he masters the Iron Fist technique and exacts his revenge."King Boxer" is five star entertainment at it's very best!!

A classic finally gets its due.......2007-06-19

King Boxer (aka Five Fingers of Death) came out in 1973 and is a classic example of a Shaw Brothers kung fu film - a genre they helped pioneer and perfect with this movie being one of the finest efforts from this time period. It also has the distinction of being the first kung fu film to be released in the United States, just ahead of Bruce Lee's equally influential Enter the Dragon. In the 1980s, it inspired filmmaker John Carpenter to make Big Trouble in Little China and more recently was a huge influence on Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill movies.

The filmmakers maintain just the right level of pacing with very short lulls between action sequences. Let's face it - we're not watching King Boxer for its thoughtful characterization. That is not to say that this film is not well made or doesn't take itself seriously because it does, but it is hardly Shakespeare either. Director Cheng Chang Ho employs sudden zoom in and outs and even the occasional freeze frame during many of the film's dynamic fight scenes. This is a beautifully shot movie with expert use of the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio with superb compositions of every frame. The use of shadows for dramatic effect in one scene, and a brief fight that takes place at sunset that looks like something right out of 1950s Technicolor era, is part of the reason why this film is so revered among kung fu film fans.

King Boxer features betrayal, torture, revenge and even some heroic style redemption thrown in for good measure - all heightened to melodramatic levels making for a very entertaining ride. Our hero has to deal with a devastating injury and his own self-doubts before he can face the bad guys and use the Iron Palm technique to save the day. You soon find yourself rooting for Chi-Hao to win the competition and the cute woman he loves as well. Even though our hero triumphs at the end, it is a terrible cost with friends, family and his mentor dead or horribly maimed all because of a petty rivalry between two martial arts schools.

There is an audio commentary by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino and film critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute. Love or hate Tarantino, the guy knows his film history, displaying an impressive encyclopedic knowledge of kung fu cinema. For example, he not only talks about how it was the first kung fu film released in America but then rattles off 5-6 other films that came after. This is a very entertaining, information-packed track by three guys who are fans of the film and display a genuine love for the genre. Highly recommended.

"Interview with Chang-Hwa Jeong." He talks about how he got involved with the film. Initially, he found the script to be "common" and studied Chinese history and literature in order to make improvements. He talks about some of the techniques he used to make the action sequences so exciting and visceral.

"Interview with action director Lau Kar Wing." Kar Wing was the kung fu director on the movie and speaks about how he approached the many fight scenes, including the challenge of matching the actor with their stunt double seamlessly.

"Interview with film critic/scholars David Chute and Andy Klein." Chute gives the film a historical context in terms of American cinema including its shocking level of violence at the time. They point out that the soundtrack was a pastiche of music ripped off of other film and that this would often hamper its distribution because of rights issues.

Also included are two trailers and alternate opening sequence that features very crude opening credits.

Finally, there is a "Stills Gallery" with poster and promotional photographs.

Average customer rating:

Fair and believable
This film is a MUST SEE!!
unexpected yet academy material
Pure stubbornness
Rip Rips it and Tantoo tatoos it

Where the Rivers Flow North
Starring: Rip Torn , Tantoo Cardinal , Bill Raymond , Mark Margolis , and Michael J. Fox
Director: Jay Craven
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000A2ZR5
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com

Rip Torn was critically acclaimed for his commanding performance in this 1993 drama set in Virginia in 1927. Where the Rivers Flow North is about an old-time logger who defends his property against a pair of power-company executives (Michael J. Fox and Bill Raymond) seeking to build a dam on Torn's leased land. Native American actress Tantoo Cardinal is equally superb as Torn's longtime partner and ardent supporter, and the strength of their relationship is what gives this modestly budgeted, beautifully photographed independent feature most of its high-spirited appeal. The film, adapted from a novel by Howard Frank Mosher, was written and directed by Jay Craven, and would likely have earned Rip Torn an Oscar nomination had it been more widely seen at the time of its release. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Fair and believable.......2006-11-22

Rip Torn plays a gritty old logger who just wants to keep his forest and trout streams in tact but is suddenly pitted against Michael J. Fox and a corporation that wants to build a big dam that will take them all away. The movie is commendable for not making the dam-builders horrible monsters and Torn the epitome of moral righteousness: the former want to bring modern services to remote areas and the latter is not an example of political correctness. Tantoo Cardinal plays Torn's wife, and she is perhaps the biggest asset in the movie; she is a spunky and sensitive actress. The storyline is a strong one (it's set during the 1920s), and the photography is stunning. Made on a tight budget, the production makes up for cut corners with sincerity of purpose. Pretty good movie, all around.

This film is a MUST SEE!!.......2006-07-25

This film seems to be about as authentic as possible reflecting wilderness life near the turn of the century. Keeps you on the edge of your seat as the story developes with an ending that is unexpected.

unexpected yet academy material.......2006-03-11

This movie was filmed in Vermont by moderate to successful actors filming for a Vermont Film maker.

The story is totally believable, the charators are believeable and it is a wonderful movie to just sit and watch on a Sunday afternoon.

Pure stubbornness.......2005-02-19

Noel was an idealist. He wanted things to stay the way they were.

he leased the land he, and his live in indian squaw lived on, and distiled cedar oil for a living, and he didn't aim to give it up
for any amount of money, because it would destroy his livelyhood.
He absolutly couldn't be reasoned with, with even his best friend.
This story is full of adventure.and conflict.
It's one of the most underated films I can think of.
Rip Torn, and Tanto Cardinal were perfect in their depictions
of the characters they played. In fact if I'd had anything to do with it Tantoo Cardinal would have gotten an oscar for her performance. She was phenomenal!!

Rip Rips it and Tantoo tatoos it.......2004-01-24

If I could give this more stars I would...... The photography is beautiful and gives justice to the setting.... The music is perfect but the acting is just incredible. What a pair... Rip Torn as "Mister" became my favorite all time actor with this one. Tantoo Cardinal is perfect in her role.

Average customer rating:

Somethings Missing
Classic Bad Company
Better than Expected
SO GOOOOD!!!!!
Paul Rodgers continues to Amaze!

In Concert: Merchants of Cool
Starring: Bad Company
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000067D3K
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Customer Reviews:

Somethings Missing.......2007-06-12

I love Badcompay and Paul Rogers and had a chance to see him play with Queen in 2006. But this Concert DVD Lacked a Vibe.The lone guitar player was a little shaky on some songs and solo's,and Paul Rogers allthough sounding great seemed to be phoning in this performance.I cant put my finger on it but this dvd is better to listen to than watch.One bright spot is when Neal Schon of Journey and Slash play a couple of songs near the end with the band.This is the only time i felt the Vibe that seemed to be missing through out this dvd.
It would be interesting to see old concert footage and compare it with this recent rendition.

Classic Bad Company.......2007-05-26

Quite simply - this concert captures the absolute essence of Bad Company. Well filmed and recorded (ie: Modern techniques, no Vintage bodgy footage), this DVD will not disappoint.
No matter Burrell and Ralphs are absent - inconsequential.

I enjoyed every song on this DVD and will no doubt watch it again and again. I had to order 2 further copies for the guys in my own band we were all so impressed.

Only an absolute die hard Bad Company fan would not be entertained.

Better than Expected.......2006-11-04

Couldnt be happier w/ this DVD. Sound quality is great and you`ll want to keep turning it up every time. We also purchased the CD and now my kids and I do our best to keep up w/ the awesome voice of Paul Rodgers! Do yourself a favor and add this concert to your collection. You`ll thank yourself. I guarantee it!

SO GOOOOD!!!!!.......2006-07-16

A must buy for anyone who is a Bad Company or Paul Rodgers fan. His voice is so sexy and soulful, along with that bluesy feel. I would recommend this one to all of their fans. 100% good!

Paul Rodgers continues to Amaze!.......2006-07-04

Became back in touch with Bad Company and Paul Rodger's music after the Return of the Champions tour. I first bought the Merchants of Cool cd and after playing it non-stop for three days, had to see the dvd. It didn't disappoint! From the first song, Burning Sky, the heat and the passion of the band came screaming thru. Loved the simplicity of the set and the cool shots of all the band members. The star, as always though, is Paul Rodgers. What he achieves vocally is absolutely amazing to watch. He never cheats on a song, the way he does changes and draws out notes is breathtaking. Good Loving Gone Bad, Feel Like Making Love, Rock Steady and Silver, Blue and Gold really stand out. Love the way he does the Beatles at the end of Rock and Roll Fantasy. Don't like to hear that song any other way now! The jam session of Wishing Well is worth the price of the dvd alone. A must have for any Paul fans.

Average customer rating:

Innocents abroad
Old West
A lyrical, funny Western...
Bad Company - Good Story
"Bad Company": The Definitive Anti-Western

Bad Company (1972) (Ws Sub)
Starring: Jeff Bridges , Barry Brown , Jim Davis , David Huddleston , and John Savage
Director: Robert Benton
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000648YY
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Amazon.com essential video

A genteel Northerner during the Civil War (Barry Brown) is robbed by scalawag Jeff Bridges--and winds up teaming up with him. Together, they become a criminal duo (although with one member more reluctant than the other) in this entertaining, realistic tale of what the West was really like. Bridges has a gangly, easy-going demeanor, as well as a sense of playfulness that even extends to moments of extreme jeopardy. He makes an interesting team with the stiff, proper Brown, creating comedy seemingly out of thin air. Film directing debut of Robert Benton, who had cowritten Bonnie and Clyde, and who would go on to win an Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Innocents abroad.......2007-04-26

Some films just never seem to build up much support or reputation no matter how much they affect many of those few who see them. Case in point Bad Company - no, not the Jerry Bruckheimer turkey but the undervalued Robert Benton semi-Western from 1972 with Barry Brown's upstanding young man on the run from the Union press gangs during the Civil War finding himself in 'rough company' with Jeff Bridges and his band of juvenile delinquent outcast would-be desperadoes (John Savage among them) in a bleak and harsh West. Not the easiest of sells even in a healthier box-office climate than the early 70s, it holds up much better than many of its more revered contemporaries, avoiding the increasing trend towards political allegory in the genre for a more underplayed 'this is how it was' approach, complete with all the pettiness, spite, bravado and delusions of youth in a world that really has no place or use for them. In many ways it's more a road movie with horses than a conventional Western, the journey being not from the city to the West but from moral principles to their abandonment - not so much a loss of innocence but more an acceptance of what it takes to survive in a world where compassion is a weakness.

Yet it's a strangely uncynical film, surprisingly entertaining and involving, with fine performances that feel almost Dickensian at times: certainly David Huddleston's superb supporting turn as an eloquent holdup man whose intelligence is not matched by that of his companions (Geoffrey Lewis, John Quade and Ed Lauter) is an discreet delight with echoes of Mr Micawber ("My boy, let me give you a little piece of advice. If you're going to pull a gun on somebody, which happens from time to time in these parts, you better fire it about a half a second after you do it, because most men aren't as patient as I am."). Robert Benton's direction is beautifully understated, favouring long but unostentatious takes that give the characters room to be absorbed into the world around them and reveal their strengths and, more often, weaknesses, and there's a beautifully simple piano score from Harvey Schmidt. It's a genuine shame that the DVD realease has failed to do anything to raise this one's profile.

No extras, but a decent widescreen transfer.

Old West.......2007-04-18

This is a 'cowboy film' with a difference. Basic sets, realistic plot, believable scenarios without sensation. Every performance is a gem. Bridges shows his potential at a young age, the rest of the cast follow suit. An early western classic.

A lyrical, funny Western..........2006-12-18

In recent years, Robert Benton has exhibited a subtle capacity to manipulate audience emotions through an astute use of fashionable themes... In his more inventive films, however his ear for witty, naturalistic dialog and his expert handling of actors is allied with a perceptive, probing and quizzical attitude towards genre...

Benton's most impressive work was his own directorial debut, "Bad Company" a lyrical, funny Western about a group of young Civil War draft-dodgers seeking fame and fortune in the West as con-men outlaws...

Clearly intended to strike an emotional chord in an America at war with Vietnam, the movie's strength lies in Benton's gently, anti-romantic undermining of traditional pioneer myths: en route to a final encounter with death, the boys find themselves reduced to robbing infants of small change, while the 'heroes' they meet on the empty, dusty prairies are incompetent, braggart bullies...

Bad Company - Good Story.......2006-07-11

Four Big Sheriff's Stars for this production! I love westerns, particualrly set in this time "when the west was young," the 1860's - loved the soundtrack, loved the stark natural locations, loved the wit and literacy of the dialogue. The story moves right along, the characters are interesting. The director and writer draw us in to a world transforming where silly harmless pranks evolve into deadly serious crimes. I am getting to be a bit of a "cinema geek" in spotting tiny details. The handguns, nearly every one I saw, were 1873 model Colts (or a similar configuration). The time setting was for the film was 1863 - full decade before such firearms were available to the public. That's my only beef.

"Bad Company": The Definitive Anti-Western.......2006-06-21

"Bad Company" (1972) is an underrated gem of a then-novel genre:
the Anti-Western.

There are no punches pulled, no wholesome moral lessons, no happy endings in this gritty, minimalistic drama about the fortunes of
two diametrically opposite young men, and, when they finally intertwine, how alike they really are.

Drew Dixon (Barry Brown) a naive, pious young Ohio draft dodger on the run from Union during the Civil War meets up with a raffish, genial criminal, Jake Rumsey (Jeff Bridges), and after
a savage, furniture-annihilating fight (in which Dixon unsuccessfully attempts to retrieve money which Rumsey stole from him), the larger Rumsey is impressed with Drew Dixon's moxie, and inducts Dixon into his gang.

The gang (a disorderly collection of runaways and orphans)make
their way across the stark, lonely prairie and fall afoul of
another gang, older and more vicious than they.

However, after losing the gang to gunshots and defection in the course of their travels, the remaining two, Rumsey and Dixon, meet up with, and take on their former adversaries - this time, with murderous accuracy.

In actuality, the movie is less about the bravado of a boy gang, and more about the subtle vitiation of a "good" boy, Drew Dixon,
who, when removed from the structured evironment of a religious
family proved not so dissimilar from his criminal (but more
forthright) cohort, Jake Rumsey. In the end, the cold-eyed,
cynical Dixon is the one who snarls, during a bank robbery: "Stick 'em up."

The two focal points in the movie are actors Jeff Bridges (Jake Rumsey) and Barry Brown (Drew Dixon).

Jeff Bridges played the amoral, congenial Jake Rumsey with an
insouciant ease. Rummaging through the property of a church lady's home, stealing whatever he could stuff into his pockets (meanwhile stuffing his face with stolen food), Jeff Bridges's Jake Rumsey was less a desperado, and more a desperate kid, at loose ends, just trying to survive(albeit outside the law.)

On the other hand, the part of Drew Dixon (played by the late, highly talented Barry Brown) was a more complex proposition.
In his native environment, surrounded by piety and propriety,
Drew Dixon was the ideal, church-going young man.

Left to his own devices, however, Drew Dixon was a chameleon,
and assumed whatever coloration of the landscape in order to survive; in other words, Drew Dixon was "the thinking man's
criminal.")

Watch "Bad Company", and you'll see for yourselves why they called it the "Wild West."

Average customer rating:

More Than Expected!
Amazing Hopkins-Weak Movie
Fighting clichés
Basically a Junky Movie
Better than expected

Bad Company (2002) (Ws)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Chris Rock , Peter Stormare , Gabriel Macht , and Kerry Washington
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00006JDVT
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Amazon.com

Bad Company boasts all the gloss one expects from A-list Hollywood talent, but you get a lot of chaff with the wheat. Pay attention to Anthony Hopkins as a weary CIA veteran, and you'll see the reliable work of an old pro giving his best in the absence of challenge. That sums up this movie, however: Hopkins and costar Chris Rock are already fighting clichés when Rock is recruited into the CIA after his identical twin brother (they'd been separated at birth) is killed in the line of duty. Rock and Hopkins must carry out a sting against nuclear terrorists, but apart from this coincidental similarity to The Sum of All Fears, director Joel Schumacher seems asleep at the wheel, rotely crafting a thriller without thrills for Pearl Harbor producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Those expecting comedy from Rock will be disappointed; Bad Company reins him in, and that restraint affects the rest of the movie. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Academy Award(R)-winner Anthony Hopkins (Best Actor, 1991, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) and the irrepressible Chris Rock star in this spy action thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! Veteran CIA agent Gaylord Oakes (Hopkins) must recruit streetwise punk Jake Hayes (Rock) when Jake's identical twin brother is killed in the line of duty. With only nine days to complete a nuclear weapons negotiation, Jake has to go from smart talking to smooth operating and convince all parties he is the sophisticated brother he never knew. From Prague to New York the chase is on and the clock is ticking when more than a preemptive arms deal goes "bad."

Customer Reviews:

More Than Expected!.......2007-06-07

I don't usually watch a film too concerned about who is in it, who produced and directed it. If any of these are familiar, so much the better (e.g., Tony Scott). First of all, the pairing of Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock was simply a surprise. The soundtrack is excellent (and who cares if any of it was used before?). It begins as what looks like a fairly serious film (several killings in Prague) and then BAM! it is a comedy. If they spent any time showing how they figured out that Michael Turner (Kevin Pope's alias) had a twin brother (the husling Jake Hayes) it would have spoiled the film completely.

Much of the hilarity and charm of this film comes from that BAM--and it comes through. Does anyone expect Anthony Hopkins to be anything but dry as an FBI Agent? I mean, his boss, after all, seems to be 30 years younger than him. Why is he taking orders? Why does he have a crew of geeky 30-somethings to handle, as well as groom Jake Hayes for a critical job?

It isn't perfect. I'll bet Chris Rock made up 40% of his lines on the spot (like, what does C.I.A. stand for?). Anyone expecting "Three Days of the Condor" gets what is expected, disappointment. Taken for what it is (such as, why is one of the head criminals an ex-K.G.B. Colonel named "Vas" which is at best an OLD nickname for an out-of-date Russian first name.....it moves, it is funny, and is definitely worth two viewings, so at least, well, $9.99. And there are so FEW comedies worth the time these days!!!

Amazing Hopkins-Weak Movie.......2006-02-04

Bad Company was a quite a disappointment, considering the presence of Anthony Hopkins.
The movie sheds light on a CIA operation that is about to go awry when one of its operatives is killed in Prague. Following the discovery, however, of a long lost twin to take the deceased's place, it just might work...
The plot has elements of both comedy and adventure, though it fails to take off. The acting is pretty weak (with the exception of Anthony Hopkins who does a great job of trying to cover up the mess that is Bad Company), while the humor and the plot are just about average.
On the positive side, the movie's European location was quite enjoyable and Anthony Hopkins is Anthony Hopkins.
On the negative side, Chris Rock really overdoes it with all the hoopla. ENOUGH already!
Moreover, weak/uninteresting story/script/dialogues, with the cherry on the cake being the nationalities of the "terrorists" (who surprisingly say some pretty accurate things!) which are not openly mentioned, but the leader "Dragan" has a Serbian name and his No2 speaks Greek (with a very strong American accent mind you). No further comment needed here...
Though the potential for a great movie was definitely there it fails to take off. A shame really...
In a nutshell, it's an ok movie if you've got nothing else to do, and that's about it; it lacks that extra something to put it over the top. No masterpiece here.
If Anthony Hopkins is what you had in mind, check out the AMAZING movies: Remains of the Day, Instinct, and of course, the Silence of the Lambs, among others.

Fighting clichés.......2005-06-21

When I pop a DVD in it's not to see how much action, or which film can I compare it too, it's because I enjoy movies. I like to laugh, and I love a tear jerker! Now I'm a boyish girl so I love me some speed, some violence, and yes some action.

Okay I've been sick so I haven't been doing anything with the exceptions of coughing, blowing my nose, and popping pills that have kept me a little dazed. So while lying on the couch I picked up Bad Company and decided to watch, or let it watch me. WHATEVER....

Chris Rock plays a dual role. One as Jake Hayes and the other is Kevin Pope who is pretending to be Michael Turner. Believe it or not Jake, and Kevin were twins separated at birth and it's not until Jake is needed that he learns that he was a twin.

Jake has all the potential in the world, yet he lacks whatever it is needed to buckle down and do things right. He's a hustler baby, a DJ, a chess player, and a ticket scalper. But it still doesn't seem to be enough. He loves his girl Julie (Kerry Washington) and is sick to death when she tells him she's moving. I mean seriously what girl wants to live with her sister and family while her man lives in some basement apartment hustling here and there?

Okay so as Jake is all lost in love, he goes to sell some tickets and discovers that he had a twin, and now the CIA needs him to workout this major deal for them or else! So do it for your country? NOPE! Do it for your brother? NOPE! Do it for some dollar-dollar bills? OF COURSE!

Okay so Oakes (Anthony Hopkins) who had the pleasure of working with Kevin/Michael has the task of transforming Jake into both in the matter of 9 SHORT DAYS! Dress, speak, customs, and mingle on a higher level with people who know Kevin/Michael personally. Oh did I mention that the great government was using him as bait? Someone is desperately trying to prevent Kevin/Michael from making his detrimental meeting in 9 days. Risking lives, limbs, and whatever else it doesn't take that much for Jakey to realize that he is at risk of loosing more than a couple of dollars. Now the question is will he stick around to see this mission through and why?

This is the part of the film where the main character has grown and is now doing things because he wants a chance to prove people wrong, and he's gained the respect of the person/people who doubted him. BOO WHO...

Okay so everyone is talking about the action and I'm like where? This movie is a major explosion, and not in the way that you think. It's predictable from the very first line. Chris Rock in my opinion is not that great of a comedian. He's loud, and obnoxious and he annoys you trying to get the jokes out. Anthony Hopkins, had to be broke, starving, and gang banging to do this film. I'd almost rather watch him eat people then see him all out of breath here. AND PLEASE what was the purpose of Garcelle Beauvais? Michael Ealy? (Though Bro is FINE!) I did like Irma P. Hall's character.

I'm glad for once that this is a rental cause it has got to get out of here!

Basically a Junky Movie.......2005-05-18

However, I was quite fascinated with Anthony Hopkin's performance. It seemed to be quite an interesting extension of his Hannibal Lecter character. I thought he got the jaded, weary, bureaucratic essence of his CIA agent character. Also, the movie was very effective as a window into the matter-of-fact ruthlessness of that world.

And the shots of Prague are beautiful.

Chris Rock's performance appeared to be mostly a disaster. It seemed to me that the director gave him a lot of conflicting signals. I think if the performance had been based on his character's desire to learn more about his identical brother, the movie would have been pulled up by several notches. After all, wouldn't anyone become driven to find out more about his newly discovered biological double, especially if he had grown up as a foster child? And, certainly, the choice would have given Chris Rock a lot more dramatic opportunities.

Perhaps that is the impression I am left with: how good Chris Rock could be if he got the right director and script.

Better than expected.......2005-03-08

After hearing a lot of negative comments on this movie I really expected the worst. Perhaps that is why it is a lot better then expected.

First of all there is the director and producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, you either lover or hate his productions. He is probably the world's most famous producer and many of his productions arevery recognisable, this is one of these typical Bruckheimer productions. But where most of these typically well known Bruckheimer action-movies are are directed by Michael Bay this one was done by Joel Schumacher. Schumacher nowadays finally is slowly getting recognision for his work, however in the days this movie was made he still sufferend from the negative opinion on his Batman attempts. It is widely agreed that the first two Batmans were batter than the latter two. That can indeed be blamed on Schumacher, but it was not his own choice to make his versions of Batman less dark and Gothic than the first two, it was the choice of the people he worked for(WB&Producers). Bad Company movie was not good enough to really improve his status, but it did the job and was good enough to keep him more than accepted in the industry.

The actors: Anthony Hopkins plays a role that seems a sort of crossing between the characters he played in 'The mask of Zorro' and 'Mission Impossible 2' but with a bit more fysical action. He does not have to use a lot of his qualities as an actor, and it can hardly be denied that some of his qualities are wasted in this movies, but we see some chemistry with Chris Rock(but that is also result of his quality as an actor), and even although this movie may not demand all of Hopkins' qualities, we don't have to be sorry for him. He has made clear in interviews that he can find himself at home in a movie like this, and that he has a very down to earth idea about the acting profession.

Chris Rock acts pretty decently. He is a respectable komedian but at best an average actor. I must admit some moments are almost ashaming, but others are pretty good. He seems a bit out of place in the whole picture, that tries to be realistic an serious, while Chris Rock can only really shine in a good comedy setting. It almost seems like they got him into the project thinking he could become a sort of second Will Smith or even Eddie Murphy, although with his very own character. Unfortunately his acting is not always up to par, at least it goes not go very well with the vision of the director and this is one of the main reasons why the movie does not really know where it wants to go, and goes a little bit in every direction, but nowhere in particular.

This is the biggest problem of this movie, it seems like the product of conflicting visions. It has no definition or direction where it wants to go. It tries to do a little (buddy)comedy, it tries to be a sort of stylish action movie (some of the shots and locations are among the best in action movies in the last few years. These two directions create a bit of conflict in many movies, but here this tension is really of bad influence, it can't become humoristic enough nor stylish enough to really work. So it can't stick out enough in the masses of action movies.

The second problem is that there are a lot of Clichees in this movie. The way the characters are introduced. It really seems the story relies on formulas to quickly recall instantly recognisable concepts of characters. This way the characters remain a bit opf cardboard characters or puppets. It is just impossible to create truely interesting character development if the character is made by stereotypes and formulas.

The editing is not always very good. The action sequences are often very well done... wel paced, nice use of cinematography etc. But the other parts don't alway have the right pace timing and style.

Even although this movie has some big problems it is still a decent action movie that is worth watching. The action sequenses are good with clear cinematography, perhaps a bit slow for some, but imho that made it only better. It is a Bruckheimer film, so that is what you should expect. If you want to see a perfect exaample of an action thriller that is a reference still today try" the day of the jackal(1973)" ,or if you really want something modern and are not into Bruckheimer yet "Enemy of the state" is the better choise. But if you want to see a movie that is generally entertaining, knows what Bruckheimer stands for and don't mind that the good (action) moments that are there in the movie are intervened by a lot of average and some bad ones it is surely worth the try. You will be surprised by some (hidden) qualities it offers. My advice is really to watch (rent) it before you buy it. It is definately worth watching once but I can't guarantee you like it.

Average customer rating:

BadCompany1
Barkin Fan
Barkin, Fishburne Out for Blood...
Something different
Nice Erotic Ellen Barkin Scene

Bad Company
Starring: Ellen Barkin , Laurence Fishburne , Frank Langella , Michael Beach , and Gia Carides
Director: Damian Harris
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008L3U0
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Amazon.com

Laurence Fishburne is so cool and confident as rogue CIA man Nelson Crowe he looks born to the game. Wearing a cagey smile and exuding a fierceness beneath his calm, he runs through a battery of tests under the watchful eyes of Ellen Barkin (whose crooked grin reveals she's interested in more than simply his professional abilities) and Frank Langella. Barkin and Langella run "The Toolshed," a private-sector version of the CIA that provides security, investigations, and covert work such as blackmail and espionage, and they've got plans for Fishburne. Little do they know that he's not as rogue as they think. As Barkin plots her palace coup with Fishburne as her strong-arm partner, CIA agent Michael Murphy (at his most sleazy and manipulative in an unbilled role) plans his own takeover. Fishburne's role recalls Deep Cover, another film where the cop finds himself so in tune with his undercover part that he becomes as ruthless as the people he's investigating. Bad Company is rarely as compelling as Deep Cover, but its cleverly twisting plot (by veteran mystery scribe Ross Thomas) and roll call of corruption makes for an entertainingly cynical thriller. Director Damian Harris proves an adept stylist with his low-key direction and sleekly handsome look, but Fishburne makes the film with quiet menace and cold-blooded efficiency oozing from under his calculated reserve. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Dynamic stars and edge-of-your-seat suspense electrify BAD COMPANY, the sexy thriller that's charged with red-hot erotic energy! Laurence Fishburne (WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?, THE MATRIX) is Nelson Crowe, a deep-cover CIA operative with a deadly assignment: infiltrate a highly secret industrial espionage firm. Once inside, he teams with Margaret Wells (Ellen Barkin -- SEA OF LOVE, SOMEONE LIKE YOU) a master spy and seductive manipulator, in a plot to overthrow the organization's sinister president (Frank Langella -- DAVE). It's an explosive situation as this dangerous power play leads Crowe and Wells into a darkly mysterious web of intrigue -- and shocking murder!

Customer Reviews:

BadCompany1.......2007-05-14

One of my favorite movies of all time. Ellen Barkin sizzles in this 90s thriller.

Barkin Fan.......2006-09-07

This isn't Oscar material but a film worth seeing. I am biased toward Barkin. The plot with it's twists and turns keep you guessing and the ending is appropriate. Barkin will keep you interested. Barkin and Fishburne were the film, though they could have editted the outdoor scene, it was strictly for sensationalism.

Barkin, Fishburne Out for Blood..........2004-05-21

...forget the overused plot line of cross and doublecross in this 1990's noir like thriller. Watch Barkin and Fishburne do some serious sneering and smirking as the plot gets twisted and contorted and convoluted...Beach and the two gov't agents are so sleezy you can see the greed dripping from their pores. Good movie.

Something different.......2002-02-04

An interesting movie, interesting characters, beautifully filmed.

Nice Erotic Ellen Barkin Scene.......2001-12-07

If You like Ellen Barkin, and find her sexy, there is one outdoor sex scene that makes watching this travesty all worth while. Plus there's a cootch shot. Beautiful.

Average customer rating:

Bad Company entusiasts only
Not a bad documentary, but no bonus footage

Inside Bad Company 1974-1982
Starring: Bad Company
Manufacturer: Classic Rock Legends
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009FGX98
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Product Description

BAD COMPANY - INSIDE BAD COMPANY 1974-1982 (BAD COMPANY)

Customer Reviews:

Bad Company entusiasts only.......2006-03-03

Interesting, but how many times can you watch anyone doing a review. A good item for the true Bad Company fan who (no pun intended) can't get enough of Paul Rodgers.

The best parts of course are the live performances taken from Don Kirshners Rock Concert. While there isn't a complete song on the DVD there are a couple of clips that aren't too short and enjoyable and it's good to see what the band looked like back in their prime.

I saw Bad Company at Madison Square Garden on their Run with Pack tour and I love to see a complete concert or at least some complete songs from the band from their early days. I can only hope that Don Kirshner releases his shows on DVD some day soon. I don't know of any other video of the band from this time period.

Not a bad documentary, but no bonus footage.......2005-08-18

This is a worthwhile documentary from the standpoint of covering material on BAD COMPANY's first two albums; discussion of later albums is given short shrift and trails off very quickly, perhaps because the producers had no footage from later albums to support the discussions. Nevertheless, the performance clips from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert circa '74 are very good, albeit shrunken to compensate for the wide-screen presentation, which is a real shame.

Important Note: I must emphasize that these are CLIPS! No complete performances of any song are ever shown on this DVD.

Also worth noting, some of the interview sections contain intemittant amplified noise, at least on Dolby stereo/surround track. This is rather disconcerting and may make you think that your audio system has developed problems, but the distortion was apparently recorded accidentally during the taping of certain interviews, so it comes and goes during various segments. However, it smacks of shoddy production values & QC that this wasn't corrected in post.

The best parts of this documentary next to the all-to-brief performance clips are the interview segments with Simon Kirke (Free/Bad Co., drums) and the various instrumental demonstrations showing how the songs were written and played; these are interesting even if you aren't an aspiring guitarist.

Otherwise, this Classic Rock Productions release (AKA Classic Rock Direct; Music Reviews Limited) is pretty much a wash. The energetic performance footage is quite good, what there is of it, but unfortunately there isn't nearly enough of that. Had all of the clipped performances been included in their entirity as a BONUS, formated for full screen (4:3), it might've elevated this from an okay documentary to an indispensible, must-have historical collectable. Alas, this is not the case.

That's why I consider this Inside/Critical Review only worth about 2 & 1/2 stars (for fans of Bad Co.) to perhaps 3 stars for those curious, who never had the opportunity to see this group in their prime and would like to know what the fuss is all about. It's a good enough starting point, like an hors d'oeuvre with lots of garnish, but less substance than the expected main course.

Average customer rating:

Extremely Powerful

Bad Company
Starring: Maud Forget , Lou Doillon , Robinson Stévenin , Maxime Mansion , and Cyril Cagnat
Director: Jean-Pierre Améris
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008UAPT
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com

Jean-Pierre Ameris's 1999 feature Bad Company is a solid, unusually measured drama full of reversed expectations. It is a film about hidden, adolescent torment and the rise of a secret life lived beneath the radar of trusting parents, yet it is an exceptionally bright, pretty, and visually extroverted production. Its subject concerns doomed romanticism, but it is finally an adamantly romantic movie. Two 16-year-old girls, the sheltered Delphine (Maud Forget) and emotionally isolated Olivia (Lou Doillon), pair up as unlikely friends, delve into sexual exploration with a couple of creeps, and agree to let the latter pimp them off in an absurd quest to raise traveling money. One might expect a lot of grit and shock here, but Bad Company is more interested in the elasticity of youthful experience and durability of human dignity. The intense, highly focused performances of the two young leads (Doillon is the daughter of actress Jane Birkin) are remarkable. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Extremely Powerful.......2003-05-12

Definitely, a hard film to make. Ameris did a great job, and so did all the actors. The theme explored is truly sad. I should say that director Ameris deserves a big credit for the treatment of such a complex subject.

Two adolescent girls. One quite wild and lonely. The other, shy and under care and love. Both, an explosive mix that becomes the ultimate bomb. A bomb that will reveal the lowest of lowest human nature can go, and, alas, ultimately, the amazing capacity we all have to heal.

Set in actual France, the film hangs from one line of text: if I do this for love, it's worth it. I really don't like to spoil anything, so when you approach this film, do it with a big dose of love. Things will get dark, and I mean, really dark. You will find how human nature is always the same, but sometimes, it's simply sad to know that even it's most perfect expression of humaness, love, can be misjudged and faked, to manipulate someone to self-destruction.

Thankfully, as I said, Ameris managed to save human dignity in a beautiful yet cold way.

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Innocents abroad.......2007-04-26

Old West.......2007-04-18

A lyrical, funny Western..........2006-12-18

Bad Company - Good Story.......2006-07-11

"Bad Company": The Definitive Anti-Western.......2006-06-21

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