Reviews

This film is great. Many here have mentioned the acting, the effects, the story, etc, and I must agree with them; this is a well-made production with only one major flaw - it is too short. This story deserves a full-length feature film, and possibly a series to follow; there is so much that could be done with this story-line. The ship is cool, the concept is compelling, and the idea of the aliens returning the astronaut to Earth is brilliant! Worth a mention also are the alien craft - they are pretty cool too.

There are, unfortunately, a couple of factual errors in this production though: 1/ As many have mentioned, the pilot really should have been wearing his helmet. If a test-pilot, (which is what the astronaut really is in this picture), is going to test a new space craft or propulsion system, he would always wear a helmet. You never know what your craft will do, or whether there will be a mishap, explosion or decompression, or what else you could encounter on your test-flight, so you would take all precautions possible, which include wearing your helmet to protect your head! That is why real astronauts always wear their helmets during launch and re-entry.

2/ In the scenes where the ship's windows are cracking there would have been a decompression. Remember that there are 14 pounds per square inch of air pressure on the inside of the space craft pushing against each window and absolutely zero pressure outside. Therefore, once any of the windows started cracking it is inevitable that they would blow out under that pressure and decompress the craft instantly, not just show some minor cracking; yet another reason to be wearing a helmet!!! If you are wearing a full space suit with helmet, and an internal air supply, you would have some chance of survival in that event. Without that, you are a meat popsicle!! I suspect that that is one reason that the aliens took him out of the space craft.

It is because of those 2 things that I have taken a mark off, but it is still worth a 9/10 rating to me. This is a good film and I would love to see more of it. Hopefully someone will pick it up and make it into what it should be, a full length feature film and perhaps a series! Bravo!

This is a load of overacted crap!! It's complete garbage from the word go. The mob who made this are trying to make us believe that some aliens landed near a family's house out in the sticks and attacked the occupants by various means. This is all told in the all-too-common modern-day documentary style but you can still tell that the whole thing is just a put-on. The females of the family are all running around panicking and just making a whole lot of fuss and being totally useless while the mother handles the situation by doing her best to crawl into a bottle of red. Meanwhile the men rightfully try to defend the place and the little girl of the household has some kind of mental attatchment to the strangers. Then the aliens supposedly take them all away to their ship. If it were sold as a normal film it may be sort of acceptable, but they have the nerve to try to tell us that it is a real-life occurence! That is the main thing that puts me off this piece of junk. Don't even bother wasting your time!

This movie has too much weird horror stuff in it for me, which is a pity. They got together some great actors but any potential of this being a great alien encounter movie is overtaken by all the "look inside yourself", "it's your own manifestation" horror crap! It starts off well with an alien spacecraft being discovered under the sea and a bunch of specialists being sent in to examine it and come up with some answers about where it came from etc, but then it gets twisted into a psycho-analytical horror thing which just turns me off half way through. The great cast just can't save this thing. It just doesn't keep my attention. Only 5/10.

It is a pity that The Orville must always be compared to Star Trek but I think that it is inevitable given the obvious similarities of the two shows and the fact that Seth MacFarlane originally set out to make a Star Trek-like show in a more pure form than the original. I believe that he has certainly attained that goal with The Orville and that he has created a show which actually surpasses the Star Trek franchise in terms of pure entertainment value.

The Orville is a more entertaining show; it is lighter due to the comical moments which are always apparent in the form of quick one-liners and facial expressions, the obvious and not-so-obvious innuendoes, the hilarious sight-gags, and the ever-present relationship-related jibes between Captain Mercer and his ex-wife First Officer, Commander Grayson (it is obvious that they are still passionately in love with each other but neither one will actually broach that). Isaac, the artificial life-form, and Bortus from the planet Moclas both continually struggle to understand the human sense-of-humour, and helmsmen Lt Malloy and Lt Cmdr LaMarr are the jokesters aboard the ship; (Lt LaMarr was later promoted to Lt Cmdr as Chief Engineer). Malloy is renowned as the best pilot in the whole fleet and that really shows in some of the ways that he throws the ship around during battles with marauding aliens or getting through dangerous spacial anomolies. Added to this motley bunch is the only completely gelatinous space engineer I have ever seen, the very capable bright green crewman, Yaphit.

I also find the action sequences and space battle scenes to be more thrilling than those on Star Trek for whatever reason, and the whole Orville experience seems to me just a more professional production. The action sequences Orville-style have me sitting on the edge of my seat and being swept along on an adrenaline-filled, blood-pumping thrill-ride full of surprises at every turn where Star Trek's attempts just leave me ho-humming. Star Trek is a space drama where The Orville is pure entertainment. There are twists and turns and excitement in the Orville episodes which other sci-fi's just don't give me.

At one end of the sci-fi spectrum lies Star Trek, which takes itself very seriously all the time, and at the other end is Galaxy Quest, which is almost all comedy in a space-faring setting. The Orville falls between the two and recognises that sometimes funny stuff happens and it demonstrates that there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the lighter side of life occasionally. I know that if I were tripping through space on long, boring missions, or risking my very survival on occasion, I would certainly be glad of some levity to liven things up aboard ship and relax the tension of the next deadly space-anomaly ahead or the next advanced killer species to be dealt with.

It is also interesting to see the sprinkling of high-profile stars who grace The Orville from time to time. Such people as Rob Lowe, Ted Danson, Jason Alexander, and Charlize Theron have all appeared in the show in varying degrees of make-up, and even Robert Picardo, (best known as the holographic doctor from Star Trek Voyager), has popped up in an episode or two. It reminds me of the times in the 60's and 70's when I saw such stars as Michael Ansara and Michael Rennie show up in episodes of Lost in Space.

The writers of The Orville examine some very intriguing scientific theories along the way, which are a great thrill to my astrophysicist mind. From an episode dealing with a colourful two-dimensional species to one involving a planet existing in two simultaneous universes, my mind is often sent on wild journeys through the many unexplored possibilities and theories of the great unknown voids of space and time.

The Orville has a growing cult following at the moment but it deserves a much wider general audience. The professional critics have panned it mercilessly but let's not forget that they make their living by criticising, so that is no real surprise to me. I make it a habit never to take any notice of them or their opinions, and to judge a work for myself, and in this case I urge you to do the same. The tv audience, who are the only critics who really count, love this show and have rated it highly and I join them in that. The Orville is not Star Trek and it does not try to be; it is better. I want The Orville to continue on for many years and many space-faring adventures as it is much better quality entertainment than anything I have seen on tv for many years. May it live long!

Copyright © 2019 by "esmorr". No portion of this work may be reproduced without the author's permission.

This would be a good movie if not for all the swearing. The "F" word is used far too liberally for me to have enjoyed this picture. Yes, yes, I can hear you all screaming "authenticity" where street language is part of a movie, but honestly, we can get by without it and still end up with a much more enjoyable picture-going time. Just look at all the movies that were made in the 50's and 60's. There was not a "B" or an "F" word among them and we still loved the movie-going experience and enjoyed the movies all the more! The acceptance of bad language in movies has come about because so many people these days have not been taught right from wrong, and so they fail to understand that such language does not belong in our entertainment. This contribution to the decline of our society is allowed to fester and pervade every aspect of our daily existence but it should not be so. You might think it's alright to include gutter-talk in movies, but I would have enjoyed this picture so much more without all the "F's". I also have the sequel to this picture, ("Analyse that"), but I will not be watching it because I already know that it will just be more of the same. I find it disappointing that a couple of potentially good movies with otherwise great actors have been ruined for me. I have rated this one a 6 only because of the comical story-line and the fact that Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal are good together in this, but now I will be throwing both of these pictures into the rubbish where they belong! I will not let my family see these movies and feel degraded by them as I was!

This movie is a typical Hollywood "remake" of a brilliant British original. The story is only vaguely similar to the British one, and this is shown in the use of gold bars as the target of the theft, the three mini's, the chase scene and the traffic jam. Other than that this picture is very far removed from the original Italian Job that has always been one of my favourite classics. The only thing that is really worth watching in this mess is the lovely Charlize Theron and a 10 minute appearance by Donald Sutherland.

This picture is not special in any way, and is just yet another one of these modern-day action movies with a bunch of thieves, some high-speed chase scenes, lots of guns and explosions, some boats and some pretty Venecian scenery. It is the sort of thing I might watch only if I get bored with the news and the commercials, the fresh paint on the wall has finished drying, and the grass outside has stopped growing!

Hollywood has shown us yet again, as if we needed any more proof, that the Yanks just can't make movies as well as the Poms can. This title was originally a Michael Caine British classic of the theft movie genre with a dash of typically understated British humour, and Benny Hill in an uncharacteristic scientific role. How dare the money-grabbers in Hollywood even think that they can "update" such a classic with a bunch of Yankee actors and some speed boats and still maintain the quality of the original? I do not mean to take anything away from the actors themselves here; they have done the best that they could with what they were given to work with, and stars like Mr Sutherland and Miss Theron were obviously brought in as draw cards to grab the audience. They are not the issue, but it always maddens me when the Hollywood sausage-machine tries to recreate a brilliant original movie which cannot be equalled. They should leave them alone because all that ends up happening is that they reiterate just how good the original is. That is what has happened again here, and so I can only give this movie a 4 and tell you to go and grab the original Italian Job and be properly entertained, and forget this ridiculous rubbish!!

This is an interesting old British movie from the 60's about the effects on the Earth after two simultaneous nuclear test explosions by the U.S. and Russia. The planet gets knocked off its normal axis and starts heading toward the Sun, heating up as it gets closer to it. The film is an examination of the ways that the populous tries to cope with the discomfort, and the disastrous effects on the world's weather as it heads for a doomsday rendezvous with our burning star. Unfortunately for the writers of this picture, in the real world the immutable laws of physics make it absolutely impossible for a nuclear explosion to occur in more than one location on the Earth's surface at any one time, which is why there has never been, and could never be, a nuclear war - at least in the way in which we would imagine it to be, each side exchanging ICBM launches within minutes of each other; it's simply impossible and cannot happen that way. However, irrespective of that fact, the movie is dramatic and entertaining and not comical at all. It is a "serious" look at what might happen in such a situation. The picture is told from the point of view of the journalists of the local London newspaper, and how they try to find out the facts and then report these to the public. Leo McKern makes a good effort as the editor, Edward Judd is excellent in this starring role and Janet Munro sheds her clean Disney image for this one. It is an o.k. film, somewhat entertaining in a serious way, touching on the sci-fi genre, but it's not my favourite sci-fi film. I give this one only 5/10, because of its serious, dramatic angle, the complete implausibility of the story and also because it was shot in black and white, probably to add to the gloomy subject matter. This picture looks and feels old and might actually benefit from a remake effort. See what you think.

At last - political correctness is dead, gone, buried, bashed, burned and kaput, finally! Now, at long last comes a movie which completely stomps on all that PC crap that has been forced down our collective throats for the last couple of decades! I caught this movie on TV a couple of nights ago when there was not much else worth looking at. I didn't expect much from it but it quickly surprised me. Sacha Baron Cohen completely dismisses all that over-sensitive PC drivel in his movie, The Dictator, and it is wonderfully refreshing to see that someone has finally had the guts to make a picture without regard for PC and damn the consequences! It would surely be a risky gamble in today's Western society which has become so afraid of upsetting anyone or anything that it's scared of its own shadow, and one would expect that today's audiences would therefore turn their backs on such a work. It is obvious that Mr Cohen had established his popularity with his previous works, and then let this movie ride on the back of that reputation. I don't think that this picture would have been accepted otherwise. This work is a comedy, and no doubt most of the script is completely tongue-in-cheek. I say most because toward the end Mr Dictator gives a speech to the UN which is not fictional and correctly sums up the situation in today's western society, or at least America anyway. He made some strong points and wrapped them in comedy, but the message still gets through clearly. Unexpectedly, I liked this picture because of the anti-PC content, even though the plot is pretty predictable at times. Visually it is great, and there is plenty of "Eye-candy" for those who want that. The plot seems fast-paced, and watch out because the dialogue comes thick and fast, and so do some of the juicy comments! This was an unexpected hit with me and I chuckled more than a couple of times while seeing this picture. If you suspend all your sensitivities while watching this movie I believe that you might enjoy it too. Note that it's not one for the kids until their about 16 or so due to the nudity and swearing involved. Overall though, a refreshing and enjoyable work, and I will now watch other titles by Mr Cohen.

I caught this movie on TV the other night while flicking around, and could not turn it off! As a Westerner with little knowledge of Chinese history or culture, (any knowledge that I do have has come from a smattering at school as a child and some movies as an adult), this visually spectacular work grabbed my attention and would not let me go.

As has been said by others here, this picture is set during the reign of the famous Tang dynasty, where the Emporer lusts for complete control of everyone in his kingdom, including his immediate family. If he cannot gain this by twisting their lives to his will, he will do so by blood-lust. The machinations which surround his ambitions involve every member of the family, and his personal army, as well as his doctor and his relatives.

I am not normally a fan of martial arts movies, but the fighting scenes which sew this story together are extremely well choreographed and spectacular to see. Be aware that the blood does flow though. The scenery in this movie is mostly of the Forbidden Kingdom palace and grounds, but is spectacularly offered. Hollywood could certainly learn something from the way that these sets are presented.

Masterful performances by the two leads steer this movie through twists and turns which demand the viewer's full attention. Chow Yun Fat is wonderful as Emporer Ping, and the very beautiful Gong Li is quite incredible as the dutiful Empress Phoenix, and grabs your attention in every scene. While on the subject, from a male's point of view it is notable that the push-up bra's are doing overtime in this movie!

This is a great picture which I believe that any fan of Chinese cinema, and also those who enjoy Hollywood's offerings about ancient China, will love. It is more than a martial arts movie, and more than a drama involving family. It is a thoroughly engrossing story told in spectacular fashion. I look forward to seeing this picture again, subtitles and all !!

Not a bad storyline for this picture, but nothing puts me off like a bunch of Hollywood stars trying to put on the Aussie accent, a hard job for anyone not born or brought up here. Such attempts usually fail dismally and this is no exception. Peter Ustinov, Ronald Fraser and Glynis Johns seem to be the only ones who don't attempt it, and I take my hat off to them for not doing so - they obviously knew their limitations. Notably, you can hear Robert Mitchum often starting to fall back into his familiar American lilt and you wish that he would just start talking normally. He should not have bothered making the attempt to imitate our laconic drawl as he's just not up to it. I would have enjoyed this movie more if the overseas imports had stuck to their own ways of talking, and it still would have worked - many overseas people came to Oz in generations past to make a new life, so the American drawl and the Pommy rounded vowels would not have been out of place at all. Thankfully, there are some genuine Aussie stalwarts such as the great Chips Rafferty holding up the realism of our speech, so all is not completely lost. The rest of this picture is reasonable enough with a decent depiction of outback life the way it used to be, and what the mob of shearers get up to from day to day is pretty typical of what really went on before the advent of the mobile phone and the portable computer. There are even, typically, moments of a comical air from Mr Ustinov. This picture is light viewing and not hard to watch at all. A few marks off for the silly accents, but otherwise this is an enjoyable family movie. Here are a few translations for you poor bastards who aren't Aussies and don't know what's being talked about in this movie: "Darl" - short for darling; "Dingo" - Aussie native dog. They hunt in packs but aren't worth two bob, (are cowards), if confronted on their own; "Jumbuck" or "Wooly Jumper" - a sheep; "Two-up" - a traditional Aussie gambling game.

I have always liked Walter Matthau movies, and swash-buckling pirate movies, and comedy movies, so you can imagine that I would be in absolute hog-heaven with this movie which involves all three elements!

I had always enjoyed Walter Matthau, from his Odd Couple days when he and Jack Lemmon bounced great acidic lines off each other to his Dennis the Menace days as Mr Wilson, and I also admired his very dramatic efforts in Failsafe and Charade. If something has Mr Matthau in it, I am there on the couch ready.

I did not know that he could do accents, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear his efforts at an English pirate's drawl. Of course, I should not have been surprised that such an experienced and professional artist should accomplish such a task; it is, after all, his trade. He makes a great fist of it, and there is no trace of his native lower east-side New York accent at all. He is very convincing as a rather bumbling pirate captain, who somehow commands the respect of his rag-tag bunch of followers.

He is ably assisted by "Froggy", his French sidekick, (Cris Campion), who survives their ordeals despite his captain, as they incite a mutiny and take command of the ship which rescues them, and its treasure. They are joined by the beautiful niece of the Governor of Maracaibo, (Charlotte Lewis), who falls for Froggy.

This is a hoot of a pirate picture, and a romantic comedy, and the producers actually had the Spanish galleon built to full size by Maltese and Italian craftsmen. I believe that that is typically Roman Polanski though, going all out on the sets and damn the cost!

"Pirates" did not do well at the box office due to Roman Polanski's troubles with the U.S. legal system at the time, which was unfair. It should not be ignored by the wider populous, and deserves a fair viewing on its own merits. I believe that anyone who watches it will be pleasantly surprised. I love this movie, and I give it a 10 out of 10.

This has always been one of my favourite movies. I'm not the biggest Charles Bronson fan; I've never really been into his other movies, I can take them or leave them, (the Deathwish series, Chino, etc), but The Mechanic has always stood out for me. I think it's probably the storyline which grabs me, and of course the cool, methodical way in which Bronson goes about his business as Mr Bishop.

In this picture, he is a one-man hit squad, or "Cleaner", as is the vernacular. He had always worked alone, in a deliberate and reliable fashion, until one day he decides to take on a helper. It's clear that Mr Bishop should have sought permission before bringing in the new kid, but he obviously thought, mistakenly, that he had more autonomy than he actually did; a bad mis-calculation. It pays to know, or at least to be wary of, the people that you work for in such circumstances.

The movie shows us not only something of what it's like to be in "The business", but also it shows us the heirarchical nature of the employers. They too are cool and methodical, and not about to be underestimated.

Mr Bronson gives a great performance here as a highly professional "Mechanic", very organised, taking one step at a time, and studying his prey until he finds their weakness. So also does Jan Michael Vincent as his apprentice, who perhaps learns too much too quickly. He's young, and that may be his downfall.

I enjoy this movie every time I watch it, and the ending IS an absolute Hollywood classic, as many here have said. I only hope that they don't try to do a remake of this classic movie too, for they surely could not better it !! 10 out of 10 from me.

This is a fantastic movie! I had heard of the title, and had it on my list of must-gets, even though I had never actually watched it before. I finally picked it up for $1.00 in a charity shop. This is exactly the kind of picture that I enjoy; a great cast in a romantic comedy, with lots of laugh-out-loud antics thrown in. I was surprised at how good Rod Taylor is in this. He's not my favourite actor, but he and Doris have great chemistry in this movie, and they are ably assisted by the likes of Paul Lynde, Dom DeLuise, Edward Andrews, John McGiver, and Dick Martin thrown in for good measure. With those names on the bill you already know that you're in for a heck of a treat, but this picture goes above and beyond! There's slapstick galore throughout, and it's almost as though Frank Tashlin said "Now, Doris and Rod, you say your lines, and these other guys are just going to do their thing and you just go with it, and I'm going to keep rolling, o.k.?" I mean, I know that there was a script, but it just feels as though sometimes they threw it away!! The movie is fast-paced, witty, sometimes predictable, but always wonderfully entertaining. Paul Lynde is such a crack-up that you can imagine the whole cast and crew falling about in hysterics many times over while filming this. There are also several appearances by the familiar face of Alice Pearce who plays her usual nosey neighbour character, as she does in many of Doris's movies. I love this picture, and it is now one of my favourites!! I think you will like it too. It's a great movie for the whole family from a time when Hollywood made great pictures! Pity they don't make good stuff like this now! 10/10.

This is quite a good western. It's not a John Wayne style western, with the big hero triumphant over some nasty adversary etc., or some hired gunman coming into town to do a clean-up job for an aggrieved widow, but it's a more serious type of western picture, telling a true story of cowboy life. I saw that it was due to come on TV, and I ran a tape over it, even though I had never seen nor heard of it before. I was intrigued that Jack Lemmon would be in a cowboy picture, and I just couldn't envisage him in that genre. I guess that I'm too used to seeing him in comedic roles. Well, for the first half of the movie I watched him, and I kept seeing Jack Lemmon the comic, even though he was portraying a serious cowboy. However, after I got engrossed in the story a bit, I realised that Mr Lemmon was really doing a good job, and I stopped seeing the comic Lemmon, and saw instead the cowboy which he had suddenly become. I must say that he impressed me greatly with his portrayal, and I admire his versatility even more now.

Glenn Ford does a great job too, as always, but we have seen him in roles like this before. He and Jack bounce their portrayals off each other with wonderful effect, and they work extremely well together.

I was also surprised to see Dick York pop up as one of the cowhands, and he makes a really good job of it too. Look out also for Strother Martin and Richard Jaeckel.

I think that this picture is a surprise package in several ways, and well worth watching. It is an enjoyable true story, with great scenery, and good acting from a great collection of stars. It is a must-see for any western buff. 8/10.

This is a good movie. I had not heard of it prior to coming upon it in an opportunity (charity) shop a few weeks ago, but I picked it up for $1.00 because Doris was in it, and Rex Harrison, and I collect Doris Day movies - among others. Like many of the other reviewers here, I find many parallels between this title and any one of Mr Hitchcock's movies, and one could be forgiven for thinking that 'Midnight Lace' is a 'Dial M for murder' sequel, the mood is so similar. It's that feeling that someone intends to murder this lady, (Doris), but we just wonder when and how. The tension is set from the very beginning, and it lasts all the way through the picture to the climactic end. This sameness between the two movies is helped by the fact that John Williams portrays basically the same Scotland Yard Inspector that he played in the former picture, and also Miss Day could easily be Grace Kelly in this work; both ladies display that same unassuming, trusting quality. This movie is a thriller, a who-dunnit, and almost a Hercule Poirot / Miss Marple mystery all rolled into one. You won't be able to help feeling for Doris all through this movie, as she tries to navigate her way through normality with a crazed phone-caller shaking her sanity at all times of the day and night. Who can she turn to? Who will believe her? If not the Inspector, then her friend Peggy? Her Aunt Bea? Surely her trustworthy husband!! Midnight Lace will hold you spellbound right through, and then thump you with a final twist! Checkmate!! 9/10.

I have always loved this movie. It is one of my favourite sci-fi adventures, and is recognised as one of the classic sci-fi's of all time from a period when Hollywood actually made good science fiction movies. The premise of the Earth being destroyed by colliding with another planet is quite a plausible one, and you can't help wondering while watching this picture just what you would do in that situation. Would you do as the people in the picture do, and make every effort to escape our doomed planet, or would you just wait for the world's inevitable end?

I love the rocket-ship in this movie too. It has become a bit of an icon in sci-fi moviedom, and it is a fantastic creation for the time. The technical people who worked on this movie did a wonderful job with all the technology involved, but they stuffed up in one fundamental area. The outfits, (I cannot call them space-suits), worn by the crew and all the passengers who fly in the rocket-ship would not be nearly enough protection for a trip into space. They are simply overalls, (complete with draw-strings at the neck!), and black beanies. In the real situation of moving form one planet to another, one would have to wear a full space-suit as protection against any eventuality, or for the take-off and landing at the very least. I guess that the producers must have run out of money! There is also the one tiny point about the crew not bothering to test the air on the new world before opening the hatch for all and sundry, but I won't bother carrying on about that. However, if we ignore these two small points, the movie is technically great in most other areas.

This movie is a great adventure for the whole family; it is good, clean fun and a great story. The cast is excellent, the story is gripping, and the colour is wonderful. I'm sure that you will enjoy "When worlds collide"! 10/10 from me!

I like this 1950's movie. I enjoy most of the pictures from this era and have several of its contemporaries. I won't go into the storyline, as many other reviewers have already done that, but suffice it to say that this is one more of those 50's space movies that so many of us love. They just can't make gems like this today.

I have seen some reviews here which bag the available DVD print. I must say that I picked this DVD up a few days ago, and it seems fine; there are no scratches etc on it, and it plays perfectly well. It is a 'Bounty' DVD from Australia, and a 'Monogram' production, so whether or not it has been taken from the same master as the 'Image' print mentioned by other reviewers I do not know. My only query about it is that for the first 15 min's or so, and in some subsequent scenes, everything appears quite greenish, (ie: there is a distinct greenish tinge to the whole thing, almost as though a green filter was used in the making of the film, which I would doubt very much). I have been told that that is because it has been taken from a print which has not been re-mastered. However, it's not something that will ruin the movie for me, nor should it for you.

This movie has lots of the quaint things which are distinctive about the pictures from that era, such as fantastic rocket ships, great imagination, quaint outfits, (leather flying jackets and leather flying caps as spacesuits, alien women with padded shoulders and mini-skirts), and a martian surface with no change of gravity! - and breathable air !!! All in all it's great!

I have given this movie a 9 out of 10 because it doesn't quite come up to the level of other movies of the period such as Forbidden Planet, (one of the best), When worlds collide, or The day the Earth stood still, (even though it's a black and white movie). Even Destination Moon was a more polished production and it was made the year before. However, it's still a great movie for any fan's collection and I'm glad to finally have it in mine!

This is an interesting movie. It is clear that Jennifer Hudson is the star of the picture, a tribute to good management so early in her career, and with all due respect to Miss Beyonce who was a star well before this picture was made, and remains so. It is no wonder that Jen got the Oscar for the role; her voice is used to great advantage in this movie.

I found it nostalgic that they sang many of the spoken lines through the picture, (shades of Jesus Christ Supserstar in the 70's), but once you get used to it, it's not really too off-putting. Also I think that Eddie Murphy was a strange casting choice. I found it impossible to separate him from his well-known comedic history, and during many of his singing performances in this movie I expected to hear the words "Sexual Chocolate, ladies and gentlemen" come bursting forth from his lips, (a reference to his extremely similar role in Coming to America in 1988). I believe that they could have found someone else for his role who wouldn't have brought this confusion to the picture.

The ladies' dresses are mostly very elegant, especially their evening gowns, and their musical numbers are, for the most part wonderful, and beautifully sung as unison performances. There are great parallels to be drawn between The Dreamgirls and The Supremes in the style of their music, whether or not intentional. There is also a clear reference to The Jackson Five, which helps to establish the time period in which the movie is set.

On the downside, I think that there is way too much smoking in this picture, and it gives a visual example to people, especially the young, that we don't need. For a movie made in the modern age, I was surprised and disappointed at this.

However, overall I found this movie well worth a look, and the music and costumes alone make the picture. Add to those the tremendous acting performances from the cast, and Dreamgirls is a worthy work. It is nice to see Danny Glover making an appearance in a fairly substantial role, and Jaleel White pops up in a role far departed from his Steve Urkel days. I have taken 2 marks off, one for all the smoking, and the other for Eddie Murphy's appearance. In general though, I believe that you will enjoy this movie.

This is one of my favourite movies. It took some time for me to get to the point of liking it so much though; the first time I watched it I thought it was o.k., but after subsequent viewings I now like it very much. I have always loved Jimmy Stewart's work, he's my favourite actor, so the fact that he's in it is a plus. The message of this film is that one man can make a difference, and that should never be forgotten by anyone; we all make a difference individually, but whether it's good or bad is up to us. Donna Reed is excellent as the dutiful, loving wife, and Lionel Barrymore is classic as the miserly, greedy opportunist. Henry Travers shines in his role as Clarence the guardian angel 2nd class, sent to pull George up by the bootstraps and make him see his place in the world of Bedford Falls. This is the movie which should be played every Christmas, as it engenders in the viewer the true spirit of Christmas: the joy of giving and investing in your fellow man. If you can get your hands on the behind-the-scenes extras' please do, as they contain very revealing interviews with both Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra. I only wish that they still made good quality movies like this nowadays. I give it a 9 because it's a B&W; it would be great in colour, but either way 'It's a wonderful life' is indeed a wonderful family movie with a great message. Note: There is a coloured copy of this classic movie floating around, so you might like to grab it if you can.

I am very sorry to say that I must give this classic film a rare negative review. I love most classic movies from the 40's through to the 60's inclusive, but unfortunately I did not enjoy this one very much. I know that it is widely regarded as a classic piece of cinema, and a wonderful book and story, up there with the likes of '12 Angry Men' or 'Casablanca', but to me it didn't compare with these films. I picked up the DVD a couple of months ago, and was all prepared to see a wonderful picture that I had heard great things about. Perhaps wrongly, I expected a great and triumphant court battle for the human rights of a wrongly-accused man, a black man at that. I am sorry to say that this expectation was too high, and that what I saw was a fairly half-hearted collection of courtroom discussions, surrounded by the goings-on of a couple of children in Depression America, along with the actions of some bigots. I know that many of you will say that it's not a story about the court drama, but about life in the Depression, and I acknowledge that to be true having seen the movie, but I think that the court-case should have been the central theme, and it could have been so much more. I acknowledge that Gregory Peck's performance is great as far as it goes, but I feel that it was constrained by a slightly insipid storyline. He, of course, makes the movie, and to me it would not even be watchable but for his presence. I have given the film a 5 rating, mostly because of Mr Peck's work, but I think that his talents were let down by the rest of the production. If you compare his appearance here with his work in Cape Fear, which was done in the same year, the two are very different; (in that movie Mr Peck did a brilliant job, showcasing the full range of his talents). I say sorry to the rest of you who love this film, but sometimes a movie just doesn't come up to expectations, and I just couldn't get into this one. It is very slow and very boring!

Like some of the other reviewers, I too saw this movie when I was younger, and it stuck in my mind for years, until I finally saw it advertised in the TV guide some 2 or 3 months ago, and I made sure that I taped it.

I am pleased to have it in my collection. It is a light-hearted romp through 1960's Europe with a bunch of American tourists, including a kleptomaniac, lead by a lonely Englishman. We are given glimpses into the personal lives of each of them, and there are attempts at holiday romance between some. There are several postcard-like scenes of many countries, and the canals play a major part in the scenery. The highlight is probably when one man "loses" his wife and she ends up on a completely different tour going in the opposite direction!

This movie is not riotous or hilarious, but it is humorous and light-hearted fun with some great stars such as Suzanne Plashette, Norman Fell, and Michael Constantine. Ian McShane is the lonely tour-guide, and there are appearances by Robert Vaughan, Virna Lisi, Ben Gazzara, and Anita Ekberg, among others.

It's a bit of fun, pretty typical of the romantic comedies of the era, and it is safe for the kids to watch! I think that you will enjoy this family movie.

This movie has always been one of my two top favourites. I love many of Doris Day's pictures, but "The thrill of it all" stands out for me. Probably that is because of James Garner's involvement, (he is another of my favourite stars). I love the chemistry between these two in this movie. I had seen it a couple of times on TV growing up, and then not for many years. My memory of it had faded a bit over time, but I remembered enough to motivate me to track it down about a year ago,(after doing a bit of research to find out the title), and now the DVD is in my collection.

It's light-hearted, funny, witty, romantic, and easy to watch many times over. I never get sick of it, as with most Doris Day movies. Maybe part of my romance with this sort of film is that it takes me back to a time when life was simpler and more innocent than today, and made more sense.

It's good to see the likes of Bernie Kopell and Hayden Rorke in roles other than those which made them so familiar to us. I noted the query on the Message Board re Buddy Hacket in the swimming pool soap sud scene, and had already picked the voice as one of the actors from Top Cat, Maurice Gosfield, but I didn't know his name. I also like seeing Robert Strauss, the guy who is the chief of the clean-up gang. You'll pick his gruff voice straight away as "that guy who's in all those movies"; and watch out for the butler, he's a real crack-up!!

I love this film for so many reasons, and I highly recommend it for all the family. It's even safe for the kids to watch, which is getting harder to say these days!! By the way, the kids really make this movie for me. The twins are so natural that they make the whole family even more believable. You can just imagine them being in your own household. This is a fantastic film. 10/10 !

This movie might be o.k. if not for all the language in it. I think that the storyline itself isn't bad, but I would be too embarrassed to let my wife or kids see the movie. I know that kids will learn all the swear words along the way eventually, that's true, but parents should not assist them in the process by letting them see and hear the stuff in the guise of entertainment.

I used to quite like Robert Loggia; he has a distinctive gritty quality with that rough voice of his, but in the last few years all I have seen him do are roles with a lot of language in them. If we had an award for over-use of the F word, he would have to be a contender. Unfortunately, I think he's now lost me as a fan. When I see his name on movies in future, I will be thinking twice about picking up that title.

Look, I'm no prude. I use language sometimes too, in extreme circumstances, but when we're watching a movie it is for the sake of E N T E R T A I N M E N T, something which we hope will bring us some joy and escapism. I do not want to be reminded of what's happening out on the streets in any big city these days, and it's a hassle to have to wonder whether or not a movie is alright for my family to watch.

I like Matt Modine too, but it's a pity that he has associated himself with a picture which has let his image down like this. He probably did an o.k. job in the movie, but I turned off about 1/4 of the way through after having had my ears assaulted once too often by others in the cast. Why can't these actors just say no when these scripts ask them to carry on with this gutter language? Once enough actors, (especially the big names), kick up a fuss about it, the writers will stop putting it in the movies!

I'm sorry, but I cannot recommend this picture. It's a pity too, because I think it would probably have been alright, if it had been made well enough for decent families to watch! Thank God I only wasted $2.00 on it!

This is a great movie; obviously you already know that from all the positive reviews about it that you've already seen. I have loved it since I was a youngster, and I have had the DVD in my collection for the last few years. It's always a joy to pull it out and watch it every so often, and I honestly cannot say enough good things about this picture.

I think that the storyline is very realistic; going down in the desert is something that could easily happen in the right circumstances to anyone, and how a group of people deals with it makes a great premise for a movie. The fact that it is all scientifically quite possible makes the movie even better.

The cast is an absolutely fantastic collection of Hollywood greats, and with all the combined acting experience that these stars possess you know that you're in for a great time with this picture, even before it begins. I have always loved Jimmy Stewart on screen, he's been one of my favourite actors for years, and I think that this role brings out all those wonderful strong emotions from him which stir me so much. It's why I love his performances.

He is supported more than ably by Richard Attenbrough, Earnie Borgnine, Peter Finch, Hardy Kruger, and Ronald Fraser playing his usual supporting character, that of a man who is downtrodden but simmering beneath, and he finally puts his foot down at one point in this picture and makes a stand.

I actually find it very hard to say who gives the greatest performance in this movie. Jimmy is fantastic, Hardy Kruger is wonderful as the aircraft designer, and importantly, the motivator to get the job done and therefore keep everyone else alive by giving them a purpose, Peter Finch is great as the soldier who wants to try to save everyone, and Ian Bannen is excellent as the very annoying Scottish stirrer whom I would have happily hit had he been in that situation with me. He won an Oscar nomination for the role, and deserved it. Earnie Borgnine gives a believable performance as the simple man who starts to show the effects of the heat and the barrenness of the situation. The movie is really a great example of everyone doing his best work and making the whole thing come together beautifully.

By the way, I did not like the remake; it doesn't come anywhere near this picture in so many ways. You can't honestly tell me that the cast they chose for it could in any way compare with the true stars of the original. Most of the actors today just don't posses the screen presence that the old Hollywood greats did. There are a couple of exceptions of course, Harry Ford and Sean Connery to name the two obvious ones, but they are not involved here.

The original Flight of the Phoenix is a great movie, with a fantastic cast, wonderful performances, and a great story beautifully portrayed. What more could a movie-buff want??

I have seen this movie a few times in the last couple of years, and it has become one of my favourites. I love the light-hearted comedies of that era, and "Teahouse" certainly lives up to its contemporaries in that regard. It's not only a fun movie, but it also says a lot about Western Imperialism, which still goes on today in different guises. One of my favourite lines in this film is "I'll teach them Western Democracy if I have to shoot every one of them!" That kind of says it all, doesn't it?

Marlon Brando is, of course, brilliant in the film, and funny too. I believe that there was some controversy among audiences when the movie came out; they could not accept Marlon as "Japanese". I have no problem with it. I think that the way he tackled the role simply shows us that he could do more than just the serious parts, which is the mark of any actor worth their salt. Maybe I was more prepared for it, as I had already seen Mickey Rooney as a Japanese in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

I am also a great fan of Glenn Ford and Eddie Albert, both of whom give great performances in this picture as the two G.I.'s who are charged with transforming the Japanese village of Topeki into a showpiece of American post WW2 occupation, but do they successfully transform the village, or do the villagers transform them?

I think that Teahouse of the August Moon is a brilliant film, with several great actors driving it. A light-hearted premise with a touch of romance caps it off nicely, and there's even a sprinkling of foreign culture to add colour! The classic twist in this film is that the "Conquered" Japanese race ends up getting their own way in the end, after playing the Yanks like a fiddle all the way along.

I'm looking out for the DVD, as my VCR wouldn't record when I tried to catch it today; oh well !! 10/10 from me !!