This movie scared me to death when I was a kid. I had absolutely no idea who Joan Crawford was, so I just naturally took the whole thing as a tale of a goofball mother who abused her kids a lot. I had nightmares of Faye Dunaway wearing a facemask beating me with wire hangers while screaming, "Don't f--- with me, fella!"

Seriously, I never had the nightmares, but as a child, Faye Dunaway played one vicious bitch who I was glad wasn't my mother. I'm 22 now and know who Joan Crawford is. The physical resemblance between Mrs. Dunaway and Mrs. Crawford is striking at times. As far as Faye's acting goes, well... I'm suprised she didn't gain a little weight during the production from all that scenery she chewed. This is THE definitive "ham" performance. It's just so over the top and hysterically wacko. There's so many instances where the character does something off the wall that it'd be impossible to list them all. In short, it's one of the most memorable performances of the 80's. I would say "bravo," but I'm not sure if this is what Dunaway was going for.

It's also the only interesting performance in the entire movie. At least Dunaway knows how to deliver her lines in a SLIGHTLY realistic manner; the rest of the cast is basically just pathetic. The girl who played Christina (name escapes me) is god-awful in this film. Behold:

"I'm... not... one of yourrrr [FANS]!"

It must be seen to be believed. The entire film revels in the realm of all things bizarre and awful. And that's exactly why it's so darn entertaining. Some of the quotes are so nutty that they've earned a permanent rank into the lexicon of pop culture, the most famous being, of course, "No wire hangers... EVER(....)!"

If you're into this goofy stuff, I'd highly recommend buying it. No interesting extras to speak of, but the price is good. Place it on your shelf right next to your MST3K collection.

(...)

Anyway, "Grease" is one of my favorite movies. It's just one of those timeless gems that will never die (can't say the same for the sequel, though). Every song is a joy and the film couldn't have been casted any better. John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing; all involved give indelibly charming performances. A lot of great films came out of the 70's (The Godfather, A Clockwork Orange, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, Jaws, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, etc., etc...) but "Grease" is still able to hold it's own after all these years. A quintessential film to add to your collection.

As far as the DVD goes, well... it's typical of Paramount to stiff us with what could have been a solid release. If you take into account that almost everyone who buys the disc already knows all the songs and dialogue by heart, the studio could have done lots of fun things with the material. Alas, we only get a songbook (which is admittedly kinda cool) and a documentary. Oh, yeah. And a theatrical trailer. How rare. *scoffs*

A half-assed effort to bring "Grease" to a great medium notwithstanding, I'd highly recommend buying this.

"Summer lovin'... had me a bla-haaast..."

My first exposure to the Halloween movies was when I was a pre-teen. I loved the first one and really liked the rest of the sequels, which I watched non-sequentially. Halloween 3 was the last entry on the roster (mainly because it was so hard to find back then). My cousin finally got a hold of it, we both watched it and never spoke of it again. A Halloween movie without Michael Myers? Humbug! Blasphemy! How dare they! What a garbage movie!

Well, I'm 22 now and decided to buy Universal's re-issue on DVD. Not because I had any fond memories of the film; I'm simply a completist and it drove me BONKERS whenever I saw that one inch gap between my Halloween 2 and 4 DVD's. So, I reluctantly opened up the packaging, put the disc in the DVD player and just laid back with remote in hand. When it was all over, I realized the film is still no masterpiece.

However, it's been years since I've gotten over the fact that Michael isn't in it, so at least I was (ironically) able to watch it for the second time with a fresher perspective. And I have to say, it really isn't that bad. I actually like it better than Resurrection, but I guess that's not really saying much. The story drags sometimes, but the overall concept is interesting. Cochran, the villain, makes for a cool thorn in Tom Atkins' side. I also give the filmmakers kudos for allowing that annoying kid to just shut up and die a really horrible death.

Much has been said about the theme song. You know... "X more days till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween..." And it really does kind of grate on your nerves after you hear it for what seems like fifty times in ten minutes. But, I guess horror buffs can credit Halloween 3 for contributing at least ONE classic attribute to the genre, annoying or not.

If you're not a completist like me, I'd definitely suggest renting before buying. Just watch it with an open mind.

This film is still in it's infancy in the world of cinema; it's only about a year old. But it's already a classic.

Much like "Raiders Of The Lost Ark," "Pirates Of The Caribbean" is one of those popcorn adventure films that's enjoyed by both casual moviegoers and cinema snobs. Why? Because you can't deny a great thing when you see it. The best part is it doesn't rely on ultra-violence and crude innuendos to move it's story along, unlike a lot of films today. "Pirates" is good old-fashoined fun that can be enjoyed by everyone. We need more movies like these.

The cast is terrific, especially Johnny Depp, whose Jack Sparrow character was an automatic icon in the film lexicon. Geoffrey Rush is also entertaining as the menacing, campy Barbossa. Direction is solid, dialogue is snappy, cinematography is great and the setting is wonderful. It goes on for almost 2 1/2 hours, but you'll wonder where all the time went when the movie's over.

It's filled to the brim with special effects, but the story doesn't depend on them. "Pirates Of The Caribbean" is real movie magic. Everything just clicks. If you haven't seen it yet, you're really missing out. One of the best movies of 2003.

HIGHLY recommended. I look forward to the sequel.

All these five star reviews that, after the events of 9/11, call the film "haunting" and "important" and "before it's time." Yeah, it's definitely weird watching this movie knowing that it came out three years before the attacks. And it certainly does fit in with what's going on in the world these days.

However, from a cinematic standpoint, this is no five-star film. The plot jumps around and is sometimes almost headache-inducing. The pace often meanders and Annette Bening is annoying. However, there are a few pretty good scenes; the best being when Denzel is trying to negotiate with a group of terrorists holding a city bus hostage. A couple other exciting moments, hence the three stars.

Please, don't believe the hype unless you want to be disappointed. But, if you want to see a sporadically entertaining sign-of-the-times film, "The Siege" is isn't a bad way to kill two hours.

I was happy when "Batman: The Legend Begins" was released on DVD, despite there being only five episodes on the disc. I figured it was just Warner testing the waters of how much the series would sell before they went all-out with a full-fledged box set. Then they released a few more single-disc volumes and I was a little less than ecstatic. As much as I love this show, I didn't bother picking up subsequent releases. It was simply a ridiculous way to try and collect Batman on DVD.

Finally, the DVD Gods smiled upon us and Warner Bros. finally gives B-TAS the treatment it's deserved since the DVD formant was introduced. I knew they'd do this sooner or later, but I can't help but feel suprised and excited that this is finally happening.

If "The Simpsons" was the animated answer to "Seinfeld," then "Batman - The Animated Series" was the answer to "The Sopranos" (even though the Simpsons and Batman came first, respectively). B-TAS is probably the most dramatic animated series ever produced. Kids (me included) fell in love with it when it first came out, but it's not a show aimed at children. Sure, it's got great animation and exciting fight sequences for the kids, but adults can appreciate the dark undertones and indelible voice talent. Yeah, I think it's safe to say that there's something here for everyone. It's also more grown-up than the cartoony "Batman & Robin" film.

In the years before the WB got a hold of Batman and kicked off their silly, but admittedly entertaining, "Batman/Superman Adventures," it was a glorious time to be a Caped Crusader fan. Joel Schumacher had not yet completely ruined the live-action series and the Animated Series was one of the greatest shows on television. HIGHLY recommended.

I also suggest "Batman - Mask Of The Phantasm" for some more great Batman drama/excitement.

My two favorite comedies of all time are "Duck Soup" and "Airplane." Don't agree with "Airplane?" I have a good mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it!

Anyway, few people will dispute that "Duck Soup" is one of the funniest movies ever made. So many classic lines and zany moments; this is the Marx Brothers at the peak of their powers. It was made in the 30's, but holds up extremely well. That makes it a timeless movie. Never boring or corny. I swear the whole hat gag has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

So... when can we expect a reissue on DVD, Paramount/Universal?

Well... at least the first one did.

If you're a JP fan, this is undoubtedly one of the best investments you'll ever make. Not only does it include the Collector's Editions of all three films, but a bonus fourth disc whose material seems to stem from special features that were scrapped for the individual releases. The bonus disc isn't GREAT material, but well worth checking out if you're a fan of the series. I liked the particular featurette that covered the big rain storm during production of the first film.

Jurassic Park - Is there anyone who hasn't seen this movie? Can a review possibly help you? Ah, well. Nuts to it. Here's my two cents: a modern classic that jump-started the special effects craze and once again proved that Spielberg is the master of quality popcorn adventure films. If by some slim chance you haven't seen it yet, I'd suggest renting some sort of rig to remove that big rock you've been hiding under all these years.

The Lost World - someone (the name escapes me) once said of the Marx brothers, "Even at their worst, they're still at the top of their game" (or something to that effect). Spielberg's sequel disappointed many, but I really enjoyed it. It's not necessarily a classic like the summary on the back of the DVD case suggests, but it's still a rollicking good time. The cinematography, special effects and acting, especially by Goldblum and Postlethwaite, are great. If only David Koepp would have invested a little more care into the screenplay...

Jurassic Park III - The script has no real source material and Spielberg doesn't direct; Joe Johnston takes the reins. The result: a suprisingly fun hour-and-a-half adventure. The spirit of the original is thankfully intact and the pace of the film is competent. A flawed movie, no doubt about that, but it really surpassed my expectations (the title of the film itself suggests "rush job"). Here's hoping JP4 doesn't disappoint.

Well, there you have it. You've seen the films and wonder if you should invest your hard-earned cash on this box set. My advice? Go for it. Crank those speakers up, get comfy and immerse yourself into the world where dinos rule.

An impeccable achivement. The spikey-haired white kid's performance makes Jimmy Stewart's fillibuster speech in "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" look pedestrian. I remember seeing the TV spot for this film; when the kid said, "You suckaz got served," it was at that moment that I knew cinema cynics could rest their notion that modern mainstream cinema has become a cesspool of moronic garbage. Direction is solid, the script should become it's own poetry book and the soundtrack might as well be God saying, "You are my greatest creation." That's how good "You Got Served" is.

I'd recommend this DVD were it not for the fact that another Special Edition is coming out, so save your money for it. It's going to be a boxed set with commentary by Roger Ebert, the AMC documentary "Getting Served: A Filmmaker's Passion," a clip from Omarion's performance as Jesus in the stage play "Jezuz 'n' Ish," a featurette dedicated to the infamous debate on which film is more substantial entitled "Did 'Honey' Get Served?" (hosted by Lauren Bacall), a two-hour documentary on the choreography and eight lobby cards. A gold-plated CD soundtrack will also be included.

If you haven't seen the film yet, you're missing out on one of life's truly amazing experiences. I can think of only one thing I'd rather do than watch this film, and that is to repeatedly bash myself on the head with a sledgehammer until my life expires.

You suckaz got served.

There are two types of people in the world: those who love Superman and those who love Batman. Count me in the latter; I love Batman. And if the original film is my favorite superhero movie of all time, then "Batman Returns" is my second favorite.

A few fans of the series will argue that this is the best film of the series and, in some respects, that's hard to argue against. The story is better than the first one and the vision is much more Burton-esque. Selina Kyle is, obviously, a much more interesting love interest than Vicki Vale. And Elfman's score is more boisterous than ever. I guess I just favor the first one for it's nostalgic value and Nicholson's performance.

None of the Batman movies are masterpieces, but the first two make for some amazing and sometimes deep entertainment. "Batman Forever" has the best story of the series, but the dark Batman mythos was toned down a bit to make room for those funky neon lights. And "Batman & Robin" was just goofy and bizarre. Here's hoping the new 2005 Bat-flick goes back to the basics.

Warner is really starting to get on the ball with the DVD format (check out the stuff they have in store for us in August). Wouldn't it be great if they finally gave the Batman series the treatment it deserves? The mere thought of how much great extras that can be included for the first two films is almost orgasmic. Maybe they'll do it next spring to hype us up for Nolan's vision of "Batman." Better late than never, I suppose. Cross your fingers, guys.