Run Lola Run

Amazon.com essential video

It's difficult to create a film that's fast paced, exciting, and aesthetically appealing without diluting its dialogue. Run Lola Run, directed and written by Tom Tykwer, is an enchanting balance of pace and narrative, creating a universal parable that leaps over cultural barriers. This is the story of young Lola (Franka Potente) and her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). In the space of 20 minutes, they must come up with 100,000 deutsche marks to pay back a seedy gangster, who will be less than forgiving when he finds out that Manni incompetently lost his cash to an opportunistic vagrant. Lola, confronted with one obstacle after another, rides an emotional roller coaster in her high-speed efforts to help the hapless Manni--attempting to extract the cash first from her double-dealing father (appropriately a bank manager), and then by any means necessary. From this point nothing goes right for either protagonist, but just when you think you've figured out the movie, the director introduces a series of brilliant existential twists that boggle the mind. Tykwer uses rapid camera movements and innovative pauses to explore the theme of cause and effect. Accompanied by a pulse-pounding soundtrack, we follow Lola through every turn and every heartbreak as she and Manni rush forward on a collision course with fate. There were a variety of original and intelligent films released in 1999, but perhaps none were as witty and clever as this little gem--one of the best foreign films of the year. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

A stupid film, unimaginative, badly written... with barely one good idea........2007-08-10

This film has some cult following. And I decided to give it a try.

Basically, this is just a "one-idea-film" that would have made a GREAT short feature. Instead, they stretched it into a feature film.

And it is all offensively idiotic.

1 - Lola is at home. Her boyfriend calls her and explains his problem: he forgot some gangster's money on the subway... and some homeless guy found it.

This gives birth to one of the most uninspired explanation scenes in movie History. Who's the bad guy, what was the money for, what will happen if he does not get it back, etc... one stupid phone call that lasts forever with Lola and her dumb boyfriend talking... and talking... and talking...

Halfway through their ridiculous conversation, I'm already thinking: "this guy is sooo stupid and incompetent that I DO WANT him to get killed! I hope Lola gives him the boot!"

But she doesn't. Instead, when he says something idiot like "help me or I'll just rob the supermarket close to this phone booth" (to which I'd simply reply "do it, you stupid punk. Then drop dead!") she just says "I'll be there in twenty minutes and I'll think of something. Don't do anything stupid!" - like if that wasn't the rule so far... LOL

Then I started thinking: "Wow, I can't wait to find out what will she do in order to get the money. I hope she'll do something brilliant".

And what does she do? She runs aaaaallllll the way from home to the bank where her dad works. Exactly: the "running" you see on the title is to daddy!!!

Hello!! Can't we be brilliant and creative?
No.

Daddy (by far the most fascinating character in this film) gives her the boot (hurray!). And she does not get the money. When she meets her stupid boyfriend, the moron is already robbing the supermarket. She helps him and (guess what?!?!?) she gets killed by the police on the way out.

What follows next is (we go back in time) a long and boring bed scene (put there to make some time - so this can be a feature film) where the two lovers are talking... and talking... and talking... for almost 8 minutes things like "do you love me?" "Yes" "How much?" "A lot" "Are you sure?" "I guess so" "So you are not sure?" "I am" "what would you do if I'd die?" "I don't know"... -things like that.

...No wonder why teenagers love this. This is bad teenager screenwriting.

And then we see two variations of the same story:

B) Lola goes to dad and ends up robbing the bank. She gets the money, but this time it is her boyfriend who gets killed (hit by an ambulance).

C)Lola goes to the bank but takes a while longer to get there. Does not find dad and goes to a casino (A CASINO!!!!) that just happens to be there where she gambles some change money and wins all the money she needs... -talk about deus-ex-machina.

Is this supposed to be a masterpiece?
Would someone please explain to me, like if I were a four-year-old child, why is this film so praised.

I do not get it.

intense, fast paced, a mind flip .......2007-07-02

What a great movie? I've loved it since the first time I saw it... eight years ago or so. The sound track gets repepetitive at times .. but it's still a wonderful film.

How did this poorly acted and directed movie get 4.5 stars?.......2007-03-23

Since I'm not a customer here I'm using this kid's forum. I'm not a kid by the way.

Anyways, I don't get why this movie is so highly regarded. It was just the most annoying movie I've ever seen. Basically it's the same story about retrieving a lost bag of money repeated three times. It's not like we needed to see shots of Lola running all the time. There are too many crazy cuts between events that don't seem to make much sense. Also, what's with all those cuts when Lola runs past or bumps into any bystander on the streets? How can she have any insight into the pasts of these people and seriously why do we need to know about them? They're not essential to the story. One more thing is why does Lola scream like such a maniac and why does it shatter glass? These are all just failed attempts to make a good arthouse film. It's a poorly acted and directed film unworthy of the praise it gets.

6 Stars Out of 5! The Most Creative and Brilliant Movie Since Godard's Breathless in 1960.......2007-03-23

There are very few films that become instant cult classics such as Godard's 1960 Breathless and the less-than-brilliant Pulp Fiction by Tarantino. Run Lola Run in many aspects tops both these movies in its ability to take an incredibly simple plot and turn it into an exgtravaganza of motion, sound and film-making showmanship that redefines filmography and becomes a genre of its own.

Run Lola Run is a brilliant combination of a very talented cast, extremely creative writing and masterful video and sound editing, which results in one of the greatest masterpieces in modern moviemaking history. I am not getting carried away!

Although the movie is sparse with words, it does an incredible job at providing a unique perspective into the characters lives, sometimes with a single sentence or even just a sequence of camera snapshots:
Lola's mother's only sentence in the movie while holding a glass of wine at home: "clearly, I knew your ascendant was Sagittarius.... But you are married too".

Lola's relationship with her father:
Lola: "if I can't get the money, Manni will die".
Father: "Who is Manni?"
Lola: "My boyfriend for a year now".

We also get a glimpse into random characters' lives through a sequence of camera snapshots, sometimes in a humorous way, all interweaving into the main theme which is the stage and play that we're all part of and how sequences of events change the outcome of the end of the play.

Along the plot line there are several humorous winks and tributes to other movies and books which arguably provided some inspiration to parts of the movie. For instance, Lola's ability to shatter glass with her voice is a direct tribute to German author Gunter Grass's The Tin Drum. A silent scene at the casino provides a tribute to Apocalypse Now. The 3 tries plot may have been inspired by Fritz Lang's 1922 Der Mude Tod, etc.

Regardless if you recognize these tributes, Run Lola Run is a captivating movie where every frame and every note of sound seem to be perfectly orchestrated by a maestro who is conducting this fast paced, brilliant symphony.

Film making at its best! Savor it!

Lola's Running .......2007-03-09

I thought this product was awsome, a classic, cheaply priced, and I recieved item way before the delivery date. Recommend buying movies from this seller. This movie was creative (although it was in subtitles), and equally unique from any of the other movies I found over the internet.

Average customer rating:

Important film that didn't age well...
A good introduction to the "Heroic Gun Play" genre
Not the "Ultimate" but Awesome Nonetheless
One of the greatest action films of all time
Nice enough release of this Hong Kong classic.

Hard Boiled (Two-Disc Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat , Kwan Hoi-Shan , Cheung Jue-lin , Tsang Kong , and Philip Kwok
Director: John Woo
Manufacturer: Dragon Dynasty
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Ultimate Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000N4SHNK
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Amazon.com essential video

Masterful Hong Kong action director John Woo (The Killer, Face/Off) turns in this exciting and pyrotechnic tale of warring gangsters and shifting loyalties. Chow Yun-fat (The Replacement Killers) plays a take-no-prisoners cop on the trail of the triad, the Hong Kong Mafia, when his partner is killed during a gun battle. His guilt propels him into an all-out war against the gang, including an up-and-coming soldier in the mob (Tony Leung) who turns out to be an undercover cop. The two men must come to terms with their allegiance to the force and their loyalty to each other as they try to take down the gangsters. A stunning feast of hyperbolic action sequences (including a climactic sequence in an entire hospital taken hostage), Hard-Boiled is a rare treat for fans of the action genre, with sequences as thrilling and intense as any ever committed to film. --Robert Lane

Description

A tough-as-nails cop teams up with an undercover agent to bring down a gun smuggling ring. Features some of the most amazing and influential action set pieces in cinematic history.

Customer Reviews:

Important film that didn't age well..........2007-08-12

When Hard Boiled came out as a theatrical release I was blown away. It was utterly unlike any other film I had seen up to that point. Now though it's been imitated so many times, both by Hollywood and by Woo himself, it just doesn't hold up. It plays almost as a parody of itself.

It's worth seeing because it is such an important milestone, but don't be surprised if your memory of the film is stronger than the film itself.

A good introduction to the "Heroic Gun Play" genre.......2007-08-12

This was my first experience with a movie from the "Heroic Gun Play" genre. I'm not a fan of American action pictures, so I had always shied away from John Woo's Hong Kong action flicks. I now see that I have definitely missed some great movies (I'm female, so a bunch of guys shooting guns at one another was never something I thought I would get into). I decided to give the movie a look because Tony Leung is my favorite actor at the moment and I knew that he co-starred in the film. Actually, Leung and Philip Kwok Choy (the killer Mad Dog in the film AND the action director) steal every scene they share with Chow Yun-Fat. Now I want to check out some of the Shaw Bros. films Kwok Choy was in to see more of this martial arts actor.

Maybe it is the surprising emotional complexity Leung brings to the film and the exhilerating action sequences (and that the killing looks so fake), but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. As a neophyte, the commentary and 3 interviews added to my understanding and enjoyment of the film. Since this is a cult film, I understand that die-hard fans of Woo and this particular film might be disappointed in various aspects of the presentation (this isn't a Criterion 2-disc premium treatment, afterall). But, as an introduction to this film, to Woo 's heroic gun play pictures and to the world of Hong Kong action films, it is as good a place to start as any. I am definitely looking forward to viewing other John Woo HK films.

Not the "Ultimate" but Awesome Nonetheless.......2007-07-31

For those of you lucky enough to own the Criterion Collection edition of this movie, you might want to hold onto your copy as none of the extras from that edition are included on this one. That being said, the video and audio on this version easily surpass any previous Region 1 incarnations making this edition a must-have for fans of the movie.

The first disc features an audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan. He shows off his impressive knowledge of HK geography by pointing out which locations in the film don't exist anymore and their significance in the country's culture. Logan also dishes out interesting factoids, like the teahouse in the opening sequence was going to be demolished and this happened right after they filmed the last scene in the place! As with other commentary tracks that he has done his encyclopedic knowledge about the film and HK cinema in general is quite impressive, making for an informative track.

Disc two starts off with "A Baptism of Fire: A Featurette with Iconic Director John Woo." He was a big fan of Steve McQueen in Bullitt and Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and with Hard Boiled; he wanted to create his own Dirty Harry. Woo wanted to make Chow Yun-Fat like Eastwood's iconic character but with the Asian actor's warm charisma.

"Partner in Crime: An Interview with Producer Terence Chang." He talks about how he met Woo in the late 1970s but that they didn't start working together until ten years later. Chang also talks about the genesis of the film which was originally a psycho who kills baby (?!). Fortunately, after they filmed the teahouse shoot-out, Chang convinced Woo to discard this idea.

"Art Imitates Life: An Interview with co-star Philip Chan," the actor who played Tequila's boss in the film. He was real policeman before getting into film and brought that authenticity to his role. He actually ran a team of undercover cops and speaks admiringly of working with Woo.

"Mad Dog Bites Again: An Interview with Leading Villain Kwok Choi." He talks about working with Woo on the film. Originally, he was hired to only design the action sequences but Chow Yun-Fat recommended him to play the villain's right-hand man.

"Hard Boiled Location Guide": takes us on a fun, fascinating tour of many of the locations from the movie. Some places, like the teahouse (which is now a mall), don't exist anymore and a little historical background is given to some of the places.

Also included are two trailers, the U.S. and Hong Kong versions.

Finally, there is "Stranglehold Video Game Mini-Making Of." This is the John Woo-approved sequel to Hard Boiled that allows you to play Tequila. This extra shows how deeply involved he was in the game's production with Chow Yun-Fat returning to provide the voice for his character!

One of the greatest action films of all time.......2007-07-29

Undoubtedly one of the finest action films ever made, Hard Boiled tops every single slam bang, big budget, mainstream action film you have ever seen. Chow Yun-Fat stars as a super tough cop on the trail of the murderous triad, only to learn that an up and coming triad soldier (Tony Leung) he has his sights set on is an undercover cop who gives the term deep cover new meaning. As loyalties shift and the bullet and body count rise, the two team up and help provide some of the most dynamic and exciting action scenes ever put to film, including a standoff at a hospital that concludes in a barrage of blood, bullets, glass, and incredible carnage. Before he came over to America and helmed watered down mainstream action films like Broken Arrow, Mission: Impossible 2, and Paycheck (personally, the only film of his I've liked that he's made over here is Face/Off), John Woo crafted the amazing action scenes that you've heard so much about with this film. This double disc Ultimate Edition released under the Weinstein Company's Dragon Dynasty label features a nice selection of extras (yet no commentary from Woo or Chow Yun-Fat) including an examination of how much Hard Boiled has influenced the action genre over the years. To this day Hard Boiled remains a masterpiece, and if you're an action junkie who has never seen the film before, you need to pick this up immediately.

Nice enough release of this Hong Kong classic........2007-07-25

Forget the reviewer claiming that they cropped the picture and then stretched it back out. He probably doesn't know how to work his wide screen TV or hasn't set his DVD player to enhance anamorphic DVD's. Cropped and stretched? What a silly notion. And as for the subtitles, they seem to be pretty much the same as the Criterion version which wasn't bad, but not anamorphic. Unless you speak fluent Cantonese, how in the hell could you ever know which version was the most accurate? This release has the best transfer of the film to date, and I've owned four copies of it including this Dragon Dynasty edition. The colors are rich and the the images are sharp. This is the best version for your money, unless you want to wait for the Blu-Ray edition. I hate it!!!

Average customer rating:

Awesome!!
Sneakers on DVD
A Must See!!
This one deserve more playing time....
Both suspenseful and funny

Sneakers (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jo Marr , Gary Hershberger , Robert Redford , Sidney Poitier , and David Strathairn
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00008OE4W
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Product Description

Robert Redford leads an all-star cast in one of the most satisfying suspense films! Computer expert Martin Bishop (Redford) heads a team of renegade hackers including a former CIA employee (Sidney Poitier), a gadgets wizard (Dan Aykroyd), a young genius (River Phoenix) and a blind soundman (David Strathairn) who are routinely hired to test security systems. But Bishop s past comes back to haunt him when government agents blackmail the sneakers into carrying out a covert operation: tracking down an elusive black box. Along with his former girlfriend (Mary McDonnell), Bishop s team retrieves the box and makes a stunning discovery the device can break into any computer system in the world. With factions from all sides willing to kill for the powerful box, Bishop and his team embark on their most dangerous assignment ever in this exhilarating high-tech caper from Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams).

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

This enjoyable thriller, written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson (the screenwriter of Field of Dreams), follows a raggedy group of corporate security experts who get in over their heads when they accept an assignment poaching some hot hardware for the National Security Agency. Robert Redford plays the group's guru, an aging techno-anarchist who has been hiding from the feds since the early 1970s; his companionable gang of freaks includes Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, the late River Phoenix, and Sidney Poitier, as a veteran CIA operative turned "sneaker." The technological black box that everybody is after, an array of computer chips that can decode any encrypted message, isn't a very plausible invention, but it's a serviceable McGuffin, and the megalomania of the master plotter played by Ben Kingsley has more resonance than most. Modest inferences can be drawn about the very latest high-tech threats to civil liberties. --David Chute

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!!.......2007-09-17

Just Awsome! Love Robert Redford. Don't want to miss any of his movies. He is a legend.

Sneakers on DVD.......2007-08-30

My husband and I are always on the lookout for movies that we both like, as well as our adult children, who like to have occasional movie nights at our house--movies that are not full of profanity or lewdness or terrible violence and are immensely enjoyable. This is a tricky combination to satisfy. We saw "Sneakers" recently on TV and realized how really clever and fun a movie it is--definitely one that filled the above criteria. When we decided to try to purchase the DVD for our collection, we went straight to Amazon. How quickly we had this entertaining movie in our home! It is in great condition. We immediately planned a movie night and watched it (again). Thank you for being there and doing such a great job of providing good stuff!

A Must See!!.......2007-08-25

If you have not seen Sneakers, where have you been hiding?

Robert Redford leads this all star cast, an emsemble that blends effortlessly for so much talent in one room.

Sneakers combines good character with interesting plot, suspense, humor, and romance.

I never get tired of watching this movie again and again, it's just a great movie!

This one deserve more playing time...........2007-07-17

This is such an entertaining film, but how often do you stumble across it on one of the movie channels, or any channel for that matter? Great ensemble cast, lots of humor, but still enough plot and drama to satisfy a wide range of movie watchers. Each of the characters (the "good guys") has his or her quirks that makes each one memorable, and also invaluable in some way to getting the job done. One premise, that decisions that we make can stay with us for the rest of our lives and influence so many other decisions that we make, is well illustrated by Redford's character. Great interactions and witty banter among the lead actors. Enjoy!

Both suspenseful and funny.......2007-07-10

"Sneakers" is one of my favorite watch-again movies, and I think it has the elements needed to become a classic: numerous stars; a tight, suspenseful plot; enough laugh-out-loud humor to make it lots of fun to watch; and plenty of action and intrigue. The star-studded cast includs Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, the late River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, and David Strathairn, and each of them brings an excellent performance. This quirky combination of stars plays well in the movie, with Aykroyd channeling his brother, who believes every conspiracy theory ever devised and Redford as the guy who gets all the dangerous tasks, or--as Poitier puts it--"all the fun stuff." Ben Kingsley as the maniacal Cosmo with his two cold-blooded operatives, Timothy Busfield and Eddie Jones, is just scary enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, while the other performers all add humor to the suspense. Stephen Tobolowsky as Dr. Werner Brandes is comical as Mary McDonnell's computer date, yet menacing when he finds out her true identity. This is an engaging and entertaining movie that lets the viewer into the inner sanctum of a group of exceptionally talented computer gurus with the boyish charm of high school geeks. It has a warmth and vibrancy that are a bit unexpected for a movie of its genre, and there are few "slow" moments in the film; the action keeps moving. The scene where Robert Redford unexpectedly encounters the mathematician's paramour is hilarious, and the one where Whistler drives the van is hair-raising and funny at the same time. It's fun to watch for details such as Redford's using a Popeil Pocket Fisherman to retrieve something, right in the midst of a suspenseful moment. "Sneakers" is still appealing after all these years, and someday when all the impressive technology in it starts to look dated, the movie will still be a good time.

Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Make Some Time
a classic
Has there ever been a longer movie?
Haunting and Brilliant.
LONG AND DRAWN OUT

Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Robert De Niro , James Woods , Elizabeth McGovern , Treat Williams , and Tuesday Weld
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Two-Disc Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000DI87S
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com essential video

This movie has a checkered history, having been chopped from its original 227-minute director's cut to 139 minutes for its U.S. release. This longer edition benefits from having the complete story (the short version has huge gaps) about turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrants in America finding their way into lives of crime, as told in flashback by an aging Jewish gangster named Noodles (Robert De Niro). On the other hand, it's almost four hours long, and this sometimes-indulgent Sergio Leone film is no Godfather. Still, it is notable for the contrast between Leone's elegiac take on the gangster film and his occasional explosive action, as well as for the mix of the stoic, inexpressive De Niro and the hyperactive James Woods as his lifelong friend and rival. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Make Some Time.......2007-09-03

Once you start watching this movie you can't stop. DeNiro and James Woods are gangsters growing up in New York. One of the best movies I have scene which marks the passage of time.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

a classic.......2007-08-05

his is an epic, episodic tale of the lives of a small group of New York City Jewish gangsters spanning over 40 years. The movie centers on David 'Noodles' Aaronson (Robert De Niro) and his lifelong partners in crime, Max (James Woods), Cockeye (William Forsythe) and Patsy (James Hayden) and their friends, who all grew up in New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s-1930s. In the late 1960s, an elderly Noodles returns to New York after many years in hiding to look into the past.

Told mostly in flashbacks and flash-forwards, this film is a classic that has us discover great actors, including Jennifer Connelly and Brian Bloom. It features a great cast, like Danny Aiello and Joe Pesci.

One of the masterpieces in film history worth watching.
If you have 4 hours to spare, take your time to watch it. It's worth it - at least once in your lifetime - for the cinematography, the acting, the music, and the directing.

Has there ever been a longer movie?.......2007-07-15

Well, sure. Several.

This movie is looong, and while it deserves to be seen in one sitting, that's not likely.

It's the standard rise-of-a-mob story, enhanced and improved, and even elevated, by the performances of De Niro, Pesci, Woods, and a cast of hundreds.

I admire this film way more than I actually like it. I'm not sure it needs to be owned; rented, perhaps.

Still, it needs to be viewed at least once by anyone who actually loves movies.

Haunting and Brilliant. .......2007-06-19

This is an unbelievably beautiful story which is multi-layered and textured to a great extent. Yes, it certainly is a gangster movie and it also is a love story; although, one about as politically incorrect as they come. Both aspects of the film are conceptually executed well. I can't say the same thing about many of its technical aspects, however. At 3:45, this movie is far too long and moves too slow. It could easily have been just as good if an hour had been cut out of it. Furthermore, Sergio Leone is no Martin Scorsese. There's an element of amateurism inherent to the production as the reunion of Elizabeth McGovern and DeNiro is rendered ridiculous as he was an old man despite her not aging a day after 35 years.

Once Upon a Time in America is a very unique film as unlike a Goodfellas or Casino it is rich in sentimentality and the effect is mesmerizing but also very depressing. Ennio Morricone's musical score adds to the film's melancholic feel. It's not the type of thing you can see more than a couple of times but there's no denying that it's excellent.

LONG AND DRAWN OUT.......2007-06-13

WITH AN ALLSTAR CAST YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE SUPER. BUT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A SLEEPER. THIS MOVIE WAS TERRIBLE! I FELT TORTURED SITTING THROUGH THIS BOMB! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS ONE.

Average customer rating:

Backdraft review
Great when alight but far too watered-down between infernos
Backdraft with Kirt Russell
Over exaggerated action for a dangerous profession
a flawed but admirable effort

Backdraft (HD DVD)
Starring: Kurt Russell , Robert DeNiro , William Baldwin , Jennifer Jason Leigh , and Scott Glenn
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000G8P1TG
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Product Description

Universal Backdraft - HD DVD
Academy Award-winning director Ron Howards heroic action-thriller about the adventurous lives of professional firefighters now includes hours of bonus features that take you behind the heart-pounding pyrotechnics and Academy Award-nominated special effects! Kurt Russell and William Baldwin star as two feuding firefighter brothers who must set aside their personal differencesin order to survive the burning, churning infernos set by a maniacal arsonist.

Amazon.com

A somewhat contrived screenplay doesn't stop this thriller from serving up some of the most spectacular fire sequences ever committed to film. Like any Ron Howard production Backdraft is impressively slick and boasts a stellar cast, including Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. The actors play sibling rivals who have been at odds since the death of their firefighter father years earlier. Robert De Niro is the veteran fire inspector who is tracking a series of mysterious and deadly arsons, and Donald Sutherland is effectively creepy as the former arsonist who understands the criminal psychology of pyromaniacs. Rebecca De Mornay, Scott Glenn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh are featured in supporting roles. Backdraft is a triumph of stunt work and flaming special effects. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Backdraft review.......2007-06-27

The fire scenes are way ahead of there time. The plot is figured in a few minutes time but I bought it for the fire effects anyway. ( New HD DVD, player and new 37 in LCD TV.

Great when alight but far too watered-down between infernos.......2007-06-18

Backdraft has some of the most impressive fire scenes ever shot and some daring stunt work (three of the leads, Kurt Russell, Scott Glenn and William Baldwin, are actually billed as stuntmen), but unfortunately it's wrapped up in a trite two-brothers-at-each-other's-throats plot that keeps it from being anything more than a high-priced soap opera with burning buildings. And, it has to be said, it looks a lot less impressive on the small screen than it did on the big one. Despite the ostensibly impressive ensemble cast, some of the supporting performances are weak, with Jennifer Jason Leigh proving big time that she really can't play `normal' while Donald Sutherland's Hannibal Firelighter is too Looney Tunes to convince even in his brief screen time, while Baldwin is a considerably less compelling leading man than Russell but gets the lion's share of the screen time anyway. The result is a modestly entertaining but entirely predictable studio picture that plays everything but the conflagrations safe.

While many of the plethora of deleted scenes on the two-disc special edition DVD are trims or purely redundant, it seems that a lot of the murder mystery plot and much of Robert De Niro's lazy turn as an arson investigator also hit the cutting room floor, alongside a couple of good fraternal confrontations, but there's little to imply that a better film was left on the cutting room floor. There's a good selection of featurettes as well to make up for the original bare-bones release, though it's disappointing that the two good theatrical trailers aren't included in the set.

Backdraft with Kirt Russell.......2007-04-01

This movie of Backdraft was given to my firefighter granddaughter. She had seen it before but was happy to have a copy to own. J. Hall

Over exaggerated action for a dangerous profession.......2007-01-03

I'm going to try to make this short and sweet,and although for the most part I am a fan of many of Ron Howard's films,this one is a bit of a dud.True,the special effects and fire scenes give this film some pizzaz,but not enough to warrent it a 3,4 or 5 star rating.I am in the fire profession myself and I can tell all of you that the action scenes are almost 100% unrealistic and phoney.If any of the things were attempted in real life as seen on screen,Kurt Russel and his crew would have died early on in the begining of the film.The acting was mediocre at best(mostly due to the poorly written script)and really...the best and most interesting characters and parts in the film were portrayed by Robert Deniro as the Fire Inspector and Donald Sutherland as the convicted pyromaniac.Not nearly enough time was spent on them or in the film for that matter.It in fact was probably the most realistic part of the movie at all.All in all,if you want some medioce entertainment and a "macho" portral of Firefighters this one does deliver.Personally,of all the Ron Howard films made,this is my least favorite and is at the bottom of my list.I pretty much hated this film.Not only for its inaccurate portral of the firefighter profession,but because when it came out,every macheesemo guy out there who had something to proove wanted to be a firefighter and the job market was flooded with recruits that had the wrong idea about what being a firefighter is really all about.Its not about rushing into a burning building to be the hero.Most firefighter who are heros are "dead" heros.Firefighting is ranked amongst the most dangerous professions and is for a very good reason.Backdraft is full of hot air and allot of blow hard B.S.To date,there has been no good or accurate depiction of a Firefighter put to film.Maybe one day?

a flawed but admirable effort.......2006-10-12

At the time of its release, Backdraft was regarded by some critics as an admirable if not flawed homage to the profession of firefighting. Of course, compared to the recent Ladder 49 it seems downright gritty and hard-hitting but still doesn't hold a candle in terms of realism to television's Rescue Me. Still, Ron Howard's film has its heart in the right place and does boast an impressive cast. Looking back at it now, Backdraft was one of Howard's early attempts to be taken seriously as a dramatic filmmaker and an initial bid at Oscar glory - something that would elude him until A Beautiful Mind.

Howard's film dutifully trots out the stereotypical characters: the long-suffering ex-wife (DeMornay), the gorgeous but otherwise unimportant love interest (Jason Leigh), the crazy killer (Sutherland), the gung-ho recruit (Gedrick) who is punished for his inexperience, the feuding brothers and so on. What Backdraft does have going for it is how it shows the camaraderie of the men in the firehouse: the good-natured hazing of the new guys, the communal meals and how they watch each other's backs in and out of fires. It is very much a brotherhood and this film brings this out very well.

Speaking of which, the firefighting scenes are well-staged and executed, done before the proliferation of CGI and this gives these scenes a real, visceral quality. It is like the fire is another character, a living, breathing organism with a life of its own and the ability to take one as well. Howard's camera is able to get into the thick of these fires so that there is no safe distance in which to remove oneself from the action. You're right in there with the firefighters.

The best scene in the movie isn't the impressively staged fires but the one between Donald Sutherland's twitchy, crazed arsonist and De Niro's investigator. It lasts only a few minutes but every moment between these two brilliant actors is mesmerizing and truly brings the film to life proving yet again that good acting trumps SFX and stunts every damn time. In fact, Backdraft should have focused on De Niro's intriguing character and his intuitive knowledge of how fires work and what causes them. The screenplay hints at an interesting backstory for him and his relationship with Sutherland's firebug. Instead, it amounts to nothing more than a subplot and a red herring of sorts.

The first disc features an introduction by Ron Howard as he briefly talks about how proud he is of the movie and what else is available on this 2-disc set.

There is 43 minutes worth of deleted scenes that sheds light on Brian's backstory -- his nomadic existence, how he dropped out of the academy years ago and how he talks his way back in. There is also more footage of the mysterious arsonist plying his trade that reveals a little too much a little too early in the movie. We also get more of De Niro and Sutherland which is always a treat.

The second disc starts off with "Igniting the Story," a featurette that traces the origins of the project as Howard and his producer Brian Grazer talk about what drew them to it. The screenwriters talk about the genesis of the screenplay while the term "backdraft" is also explained.

"Bringing Them Together: The Team" examines the casting process. Howard knew Kurt Russell from back when they were child actors and had always wanted to cast him in one of his movies. Baldwin, Glenn, Gedrick and, surprisingly, Jason Leigh (who never seemed too enthused about this project) talk about how they got involved in new interviews for this DVD.

"The Explosive Stunts" takes a look at how they pulled off the realistically rendered firefighting scenes. The highlight of this extra is Scott Glenn recounting a particularly dangerous stunt where he came very close to getting seriously burned.

"Creating the Villain: The Fire." After computer effects tests failed, the special effects guys ran all kinds of practical tests to see the various ways they could manipulate fire. Everything was planned out beforehand.

Finally, there is "Real-Life Firemen, Real-Life Stories" with actual firefighters from Station 73 in Santa Clarita, California recounting some of their own personal anecdotes and what they think of the movie. These guys really love what they do and speak passionately about it.

Average customer rating:

The Devil's Arithmetic - video and novel
The Best I've Seen in a Long Time
Not bad, but disappointing after the book.
Interesting, provocative and powerful!
Heart-wrenching

The Devil's Arithmetic
Starring: Kirsten Dunst , Brittany Murphy , Paul Freeman , Mimi Rogers , and Louise Fletcher
Director: Donna Deitch
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Holocaust | Jewish Heritage | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0002CX1NY
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Amazon.com

Executive producers Dustin Hoffman and Mimi Rogers present the truth of the Holocaust so a new generation can understand why it must never be forgotten. Kirsten Dunst plays Hannah, a modern teen more concerned with trends than history. During the traditional Passover dinner, she zones out as her relatives harp about concentration camps. But then Hannah passes through a portal to the past, where she becomes her own ancestor in Poland during the Nazi persecution of the Jews.

Director Donna Deitch provides an infinite library of Holocaust detail, re-creating the period with minute dedication. Haunting images, every costume, every hair, every light and shadow conspire to maintain a sense of desolate desperation. Suspense pervades as escapes fail and mothers with newborns are taken away. Only the magical context of the story, taken from the original children's novel by Jane Yolen, allows for a life-affirming ending. The performances may not be multifaceted but, considering the single-mindedness of the tale, the deep commitment of the actors makes every moment real and meaningful. Dunst seems able to carry a movie herself, and Brittany Murphy is mesmerizing as Hannah's sweet cousin Rivkah.

The message is powerfully direct, but the film avoids extreme violence in deference to young audiences. The theme is enshrined in the Rivkah's words: "We must stay alive to tell everyone what we've been through." Indeed, when Hannah returns to the present, she is a new woman, with a profound love of her culture and a religious respect for the value of all human life. --Lloyd Chesley

Description

Based on the popular novel by Jane Yolen, a typical American teenager gets transported back in time and experiences firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust and discovers the meaning of her family's heritage.

Customer Reviews:

The Devil's Arithmetic - video and novel.......2007-08-16

A fellow teacher let me borrow this (and I subsequently bought my own copy) to review before I taught a unit on the Holocaust. As a high school English teacher, I plan to use the two in tandem to illustrate how books become films. It's an excellent lesson in how film makers make subtle changes to the written word in order to accommodate the screen. Additionally, this film is great to use in the classroom as a way of bringing the horrors of the Holocaust to the students' consciousness in a way they can understand. While the film takes us on one girl's journey from her village to the cattle cars and then to a concentration camp, the film spares the viewer of the graphic details that might be too much for a child to see. A teacher should be careful, however, to explain that what the students will see is watered down because the reality of what happened is too bloody, graphic, horrific to show in the classroom.

The Best I've Seen in a Long Time.......2007-06-27

The Devil's Arithmetic is one of the most inspiring movies that I have seen in a long time. If you want to know about the Halocaust, then this is the film for you. Be sure to have a tissue handy, for you will be blessed thru tears and laughter.You'll learn to love God's people, the Jews, as I have.

Not bad, but disappointing after the book........2007-06-18

I purchased this movie to go along with my sixt[...] Holocaust unit, in which we read the Jane Yolen novel on which the movie is based. The changes were a disappointment to both me and my students. In fact, of my 60 students, 59 wrote they were disappointed with the movie version after reading the book (they enjoyed the book a great deal). While the movie is not poor, it doesn't measure up to the book, but that seems to be the norm. It provided a great assignment of comparison/contrast, as mentioned by J. Potter "Teacher with a Mission".

Interesting, provocative and powerful!.......2007-05-09

I was born years after the holocaust occured. Decades after.

What I know of it, I know of books, movies and stories told to me by those who lived through it and experienced it first hand (or even second hand). To that end, I have no true reference point to say whether or not this movie was true to life. What I do know is that it stayed true to the horrors that were the holocaust. What I do know is that it runs parallell to virtually every story I've ever been told about this horrific series of events.

The images are powerful and stark, but not so disturbing that a Junior High child will be scarred for life. I do believe it will move them. I do believe it will give them their first real glimpse into this horrifying period of Mankind's history. It will give them a tiny glimpse into the heart of true EVIL. I do believe it will cause many inquisitive children to want to learn the truth about this tragedy. It will give them pause to talk to Grandma or Great Grandma about what they experienced as a child. It will breed empathy and sympathy. I know this because I've seen it have this effect on kids.

The movie itself takes a fantasy approach to a real world, historical event. You're carried into the dream world of Hannah, (Dunst) who is somehow magicaly transported back to the days of World War 2. What she experiences transforms her from a typical "apathetic" teen to a wisdom-possessing child on the verge of womanhood. It grants her an understanding of the world few children can ever truly possess. Through this dream (or is it a dream?) her eyes are opened to reality. The line between good and evil becomes a bit more clouded, though the truth about Mankind's existence becomes all too clear.

A great way to introduce children to this disturbing period of history. a strong story, worthy of praise. Contrary to what some others have felt, I felt as though it was a decent adaptation of the book.

Heart-wrenching.......2007-04-07

We had a week long study of the Holocaust. We watched this movie with 7th and 8th graders. I think it was the first time that you could hear dust fall in the classroom. It is meaningful and heartwrenching and is a good starting point to discuss persecutions that are happening around the globe today.

Average customer rating:

WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST TV DVD-MOVE FOR SHORE EVER DONE
Fun with time travel
Gotta give the ppl what the ppl really want.
Van Damme always gets his man
Pretty Much a Classic

Timecop
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme , Mia Sara , Ron Silver , Bruce McGill , and Gloria Reuben
Director: Peter Hyams
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Science Fiction | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783225520
Release Date: 1998-01-20

Amazon.com

Pay no attention to the fact that Timecop is an insult to intelligent science fiction, and that it gradually succumbs to an acute case of the sillies. It is a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie, after all, so check your brain at the door and enjoy this action flick set in the year 2004. Van Damme plays an officer in the Time Enforcement Police, assigned to prevent criminals from traveling to the past with the intent of altering the future. Ron Silver plays the evil politician who plots to retrieve a stockpile of gold from the Civil War to finance his latest campaign. The film is clever to a point, and entertaining if you can ignore the dumb jokes and inconsistencies. Best of all, it's an above-average vehicle for Van Damme (relatively speaking), who gets to kick some villainous butt and share a few scenes with Mia Sara, who plays the Timecop's wife. As Van Damme fans can tell you, this is one of the action star's better movies. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST TV DVD-MOVE FOR SHORE EVER DONE.......2007-05-08

NOW I COULD EASYLY SAY THIS WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GRATEST MOVE EVER MADE IN THE WORLD THAT IS SO FOR SHORE & THAT IS PUTTING IT LIGHTLY

Fun with time travel.......2007-02-18

This is an interesting action/adventure/mystery film with time travel elements. It also has great cinematography. I really like the story. Some parts are a little gruesome, and I have to close my eyes.

Gotta give the ppl what the ppl really want........2007-02-04

Well in the beginning of the early dvd stages movie studios were adepting anyways. I had this film on laserdisc and its orgnial oar was 2.35:1 so whats the problem universal. As many films in there library the shadow also was in widescreen in laserdisc also maybe in the future universal will start producing more titles in there widescreen products. Even more studios double dipping these days thats what i call a re-release of a film special editions blah blah better late then never right or trying to make the ppl spend more money when they double dip or dont wanna spend the extra time and quaily and money even bad movies get nice transfers look at the newly released gymkata geez. But universal its 2007 jump on the widescreen bandwagon from all the older release you've released from the beginning twins,timecop,the shadow,kindergaten cop,i'm putting faith in you now give the ppl what the ppl really want thanks for reading.

Van Damme always gets his man.......2007-01-23

I loved this movie when it first came out, so when I saw it cheap I had to buy it, only to be a little disappointed. It certainly wasn't as good as I had remembered it being. It is very early nineties in every way. Van Damme's acting is just dreadful, but that comes as no surprise, no-one watches his movies for his acting abiliteis. All of his awesome martial arts moves are here, along with his corny one-liners. It is sad that his stunt double was obviously used quite regularly.
There are a couple of other good performances by Ron Silver as the bad guy, and Mia Sara as the love interest, who is so tiny, Van Damme could snap her in half. This one is for fans only, for anyone else it is merely just lost in time.

Pretty Much a Classic.......2006-07-09

For Future Films this is a good one. Pretty much a classic. Van Dame is as good as ever and the show is great on DVD. The story is great - trying to take over the Country through time manipulation. What more can you ask for ?

Average customer rating:

HARSH TIMES, PURE ADRENALINE!!!
Pretty Lame for a Christian Bale movie
LOVE LOVE LOVE Christian Bale
Heavy Heavy Flick
Look a little deeper...

Harsh Times
Starring: Christian Bale , Freddy Rodríguez , Armando Cantina , Eva Longoria , and Kenneth Choi
Director: David Ayer
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000KX0IM2
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

Bleak as its South Central Los Angeles setting, Harsh Times is like a suicidal vortex swallowing men who ought to know better but can't stop their self-destruction. Christian Bale stars as Jim Davis, a stressed-out, former Army Ranger who becomes a very bad influence on his weak-willed buddy, Mike Alvarez (Freddy Rodriguez of Six Feet Under). Together the two meander through streets at night, getting drunk and stoned, finding trouble for its own sake and inviting danger as a ritual of machismo bonding. Mike's wife, Sylvia (Eva Longoria), a lawyer whom Mike, working as a telemarketer, put through school, is repelled by Jim and watches in pain as her spouse chooses a downward spiral over renewal and redemption with her. When Jim's application to join the L.A. police is turned down, he leads Mike into pure anarchy. An impractical change of fortune doesn't help any, and first-time director David Ayer, who wrote the screenplay for Harsh Times years before his script for Training Day, goes to some lengths, dramatically and visually, to convey Jim's unhinged condition. The dreariness of it all, and a sense that Bale has constructed--but not exactly lived in--another in his gallery of lost, misfit souls, makes it hard to connect with this film. Still, it is hard to turn away from these desperate and dangerous characters. --Tom Keogh

Description

(Action) Bale stars as an ex-Army Ranger who finds himself slipping back into his old life of petty crime and booze after a job offer from the LAPD evaporates. Honorable discharged, Homeland Security wants to recruit him for some special ops in Central America, but first he has to pass a urine test...which proves difficult. Film directorial debut for Ayer who has written such box office hits as TRAINING DAY, U-571 and THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

Customer Reviews:

HARSH TIMES, PURE ADRENALINE!!!.......2007-09-08

man this movie was over the top. great movie, with a good story behind it. yea, it's similar to training day, but this has it's own unique touch as well. denzel washington, magnificent actor did his thing. no doubt, but here christian bale totally transformed into an out of control psycho. just flew off the handle. great performance. you were actually scared of him at some point. freddy rodriguez this guys just so adorable. i thought he did just fine, right along side eva. she's the caring girlfriend who wants a good man by her side. saw a good bit of her talent. and freddy's trying to be strait, but it's hard when you got somebody like bale as a friend. their always getting drunk, wasted, and suppose to be looking for work, but not in the least bit following through. it's a roller coaster of a ride they get into trouble, they mess with the wrong people, and sometimes it's a little to late to right all the wrongs. that's what happens when people come back from the military without any therapy, they get all twisted inside, and this is a good film showcasing just that.

Pretty Lame for a Christian Bale movie.......2007-09-03

I thought Christian Bale didn't make full-on bad movies. I was wrong. The script is horrible. Performances are inconsistent at best. None of the relationships make much sense. I'd heard it was good, and really wanted to like it, but it was all I could do just to finish it. Seriously, don't even bother renting it.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Christian Bale.......2007-08-31

This man really knows how to pick a movie! He's amazing. Definitely thought-provoking. Can't miss!

Heavy Heavy Flick.......2007-08-12

I give this movie five stars because it gave me back every penny I paid for it. I think anybody who ever served active duty in the combat zone can relate to this movie or even any gangster. While Christian Bales character shows an extreme case of PDSD, there are many vets just hanging on out there in society. They are not monsters, but sensitive men who did a lot of insensitive things too people overseas. Don't go into this flick expecting anything.

Look a little deeper..........2007-07-26

...and search your feelings (not to sound too much like Yoda). People who didn't like this movie either simply did not get the deeper meaning, or were expecting another glossy hollywood action movie. Listen up America, there are a lot of damaged kids coming back from Lil' Bushies War; beware, if we ignore them there will come time to "pay the piper". They walk among you, they hold good paying high profile "respectable" jobs; however, if you had any idea what goes on inside thier heads - you would hide under your bed. People who do not suffer the anguish of PTSD may never truly be able to understand what this movie represents. This movie is not about creating a "likeable character", it is about harsh reality.

Average customer rating:

A Supprisingly Hysterical Movie
The Pest is Leguizamo's 3rd best!
It knocked me out of my chair
the pest is awsome
Fun and irreverant film

The Pest
Starring: John Leguizamo , Jeffrey Jones , Edoardo Ballerini , Freddy Rodríguez , and Tammy Townsend
Director: Paul Miller
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Criminals | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00004STDB
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Customer Reviews:

A Supprisingly Hysterical Movie.......2007-08-29

I can watch this movie over and over again. I think John Lequizamo's impessions are hysterical. He does a suprisingly good job impersonating asians. I noticed that on the DVD menu that you can watch it with Chinese, Korean or Thai subtitles, so they must have found the impressions as funny as I did. I think that John Leguizamo is at his comedic best in this movie. In this movie he plays a latino scam artist who owes the Scottish mob $[...]. In an effort to quickly get this money to pay back the Scottish mob, he gets caught up some Germans who like to hunt people.

The Pest is Leguizamo's 3rd best!.......2007-08-20

This movie is a laugh riot and John Leguizamo's manic energy is the reason why. He's downright funny as Pestario Vargas or better known as Pest, a con artist and part time Chinese food delivery boy. The plot is simple yet very entertaining. Pest is into The Scottish Mob for $50,000. Then one day by fate, a man named Gustov (Jeffrey Jones) offers Pest $50,000 if he can survive a big game hunt on his private island. But turns out that there is a catch. That being Pest is being hunted for real. He escapes the island, gets back to his native Miami, and is being chased by both Gustov and The Scottish Mob. Watch as Pest disguises himself as a Rabi during a religious ceremony and as a Japanese man in the kareoke bar. Both are very funny scenes. Especially the kareoke bar scene. Jones is ruthlessly funny as Gustov and Aries Spears and Freddy Rodriguez are also funny as Pest's 2 best friends Chubbs and Ninja. And Tammi Townsend is entertaining as Pest's love interest Xantha. And she's hot to boot. The Pest is a 90 minute laugh riot that will keep you entertained throughout. A must see for Leguizamo fans!

It knocked me out of my chair.......2007-03-12

Being that this film was a parody of "The Most Dangerous Game" (1996) [says, TLA Video] and John Woo's (yes, him) "Hard Target" (1993) ["The Pest" (1997) most closely resembles "Hard Target", which did win awards from Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA]. It most likely is inspired and adapts from both films--both serious films while this was a farce and satire. Perhaps not politically correct if analyzing those "Quacky" and karaoke scenes?

Some would say too much emphasis on bodily humor, but this is a film about hunting--the outdoors--where men (& women) squat and use pheremones ["Father, I feel funny"] to attract prey!

John Leguizamo vs. Jean-Claude Van Damme? Does it get any funnier?

It goes on the shelf next to "Beyond Therpay" and "Sibling Rivalry".

the pest is awsome.......2006-11-10

i tell you what if you like John Leguizamo you'll love the pest

Fun and irreverant film.......2006-06-27

This is a movie I remember watching when I was a teenager. It is a mix between the Wayans brothers and Ferris Bueller. The film's humor is often short and cartoonish set in the early 90s. John Leguizamo is incredibly funny in his role-a hustling latino caught in the most deadly game. If it were meant to be serious, Leguizamo's exploits as a Chinese waiter and the snake-crazed son of the hunter most certainly destroyed its chances.

A fun movie if you want mindless humor and a nonexistent plot. Might sound bad from that line, but I enjoy the movie.

Average customer rating:

Based on a book based on actual events
Excellent entertainment
Not that good
Night Of The Twisters
night of the twisters dvd review

Night of the Twisters
Starring: Devon Sawa , Amos Crawley , John Schneider , Lori Hallier , and Laura Bertram
Director: Timothy Bond
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Disaster Films | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Ferry, David | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores |