Topic: DSigs What I'm Watching

[DSig]

Poltergeist: 25th Anniversary Edition (1982/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Director: Tobe Hooper Writing: Steven Spielberg (Screenwriter), Michael Grais (Screenwriter), Mark Victor (Screenwriter), Steven Spielberg (Story By) Length: 114 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.20:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Portuguese: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish

Stars:
Craig T. Nelson as Steve Freeling
JoBeth Williams as Diane Freeling
Beatrice Straight as Dr. Lesh
Dominique Dunne as Dana Freeling
Oliver Robins as Robbie Freeling

Plot:
"THEY'RE HERE," playful at first...but not for long. A storm erupts, a tree attacks and little Carol Anne Freeling is whisked into a spectral void. As her family confronts horrors galore, something else is here too: a new benchmark in Hollywood ghost stories. Producers Steven Speilberg and Frank Marshall and director Tobe Hooper head the elite scream team of this classic. Welcome to Home Sweet Haunted Home.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

Steven and Diane Freeling live a quiet life in a California planned community called Cuesta Verde, where Steven is a successful realtor and Diane is a housewife who cares for their children Dana, Robbie, and Carol Anne. Carol Anne awakens one night and begins conversing with the family's television set, which has started transmitting static following a sign-off. The following night, while the Freelings are sleeping, Carol Anne becomes fixated on the television set as it transmits static again. Suddenly, an apparition emerges from the television screen and vanishes into the wall, creating a violent earthquake within the house in the process, to which Carol Anne announces "They're here."

Bizarre events begin to occur the following day, such as glasses and utensils that spontaneously break or bend and furniture that moves of its own accord. The phenomena seem benign at first, but quickly begin to intensify. That night, a gnarled backyard tree becomes animated and grabs Robbie through the bedroom window. While Diane and Steven rescue Robbie, Carol Anne is sucked through a portal in her closet. The Freelings realize she has been taken when they hear her voice emanating from a television set.

A group of parapsychologists from UC Irvine—Dr. Lesh, Ryan, and Marty—come to the Freeling house to investigate and determine that the Freelings are experiencing a poltergeist intrusion. They discover that the disturbances involve more than just one ghost. Steven also finds out in an exchange with his boss, Lewis Teague, that Cuesta Verde is built where a cemetery was once located.

After Dana and Robbie are sent away for their safety, Dr. Lesh and Ryan call in Tangina Barrons, a spiritual medium. Tangina states that the spirits inhabiting the house are lingering in a different "sphere of consciousness" and are not at rest. Attracted to Carol Anne's life force, these spirits are distracted from the real "light" that has come for them. Tangina then adds that among these ghosts, there is also a demon known as the "Beast", who has Carol Anne under restraint in an effort to manipulate the other spirits.

The assembled group discovers that the entrance to the other dimension is through the children's bedroom closet, while the exit is through the living room ceiling. As the group attempts to rescue Carol Anne, Diane passes through the entrance tied by a rope that has been threaded through both portals. Diane manages to retrieve Carol Anne, and they both drop to the floor from the ceiling unconscious. As they recover, Tangina proclaims afterward that the house is now "clean".

Shortly thereafter, the Freelings prepare to move elsewhere. During their last night in the house, Steven attends a meeting with Teague and Dana goes on a date, leaving Diane, Robbie, and Carol Anne alone in the house. The "Beast" then ambushes Diane and the children, attempting a second kidnapping. Diane and the children escape the house to discover coffins and rotting corpses erupting out from the ground throughout the neighborhood. As Steven and Dana return home to the mayhem, Steven realizes that rather than relocating the cemetery for the development of Cuesta Verde, Teague merely had the headstones moved and the bodies left behind, desecrating the burial grounds. The Freelings flee Cuesta Verde while the house itself implodes into another dimension, to the astonishment of onlookers. The family checks into a hotel for the night, and Steven shoves the room's television outside onto the balcony.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

Genre: Horror / Thriller
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes

Rating: 4of5

'Poltergeist' (2005) is an excellent Horror / Thriller

• produced by Steven Spielberg
• produced by Frank Marshall
• screenplay by Steven Spielberg
• screenplay by Michael Grais
• screenplay by Mark Victor
• directed by Tobe Hopper

It stars

• Craig T. Nelson (Steven Freeling) ("Flesh Gordon" (1974), "...And Justice for All" (1979), "Stir Crazy" (1980), "Where the Buffalo Roam" (1980), "Private Benjamin" (1980), "Silkwood" (1983), "All the Right Moves" (1983), "The Osterman Weekend" (1983), "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986), "Coach" (TV) (1989–1997), "Turner & Hooch" (1989), "Troop Beverly Hills" (1989), "Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996), "Devil's Advocate" (1997), "Wag The Dog" (1997), Peter Benchley's 'Creature"(1998), "Family Guy" (1999) - Himself, "The Skulls" (2000), "The Incredibles" (2004), "Parenthood" (TV) (2010–present) and other TV shows/series
• JoBeth Williams (Diane Freeling)("Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), "Stir Crazy" (1980), "The Big Chill" (1983), "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986), "Switch" (1991), "Dutch" (1991), "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" (1992), "Wyatt Earp" (1994), " Jungle 2 Jungle", (1997), "Fever Pitch" (2005)
• Heather O'Rourke (Carol Anne Freeling) (before her untimely death in 1988 ("Poltergeist" (1982), "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986) and "Poltergeist III" (1988) along with a couple tv shows )
• Zelda Rubinstein (Tangina Barrons) ("Under the Rainbow" (1981) a great movie, "Sixteen Candles" (1984), "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986), "Poltergeist III" (1988) with lots of other movies and TV credits)

The film also features Dominique Dunne (Dana Freeling), Oliver Robins (Robbie Freeling), Beatrice Straight (Dr. Lesh), Martin Casella (Marty), Richard Lawson (Ryan) and James Karen (Mr. Teague)

I remember seeing Poltergeist when it first came out. Man were we blown away. Everything from the storyline to the special effects (remember this was 1982). WOW. I recently ran into this dvd used and picked it up. I don't know why I didn't already have it in the collection but I didn't. So having just watched it for the first time in many many years I can only continue to say WOW.

Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams are excellent as upper middle class parents of 3 children in a suburban housing development. Everything should be fine but for Carol Anne Freeling (Heather O'Rourke 4 years old at the time) seeming to be a channel between the spirit world and our world. All heck breaks loose as 'the beast' tries to break into our world through Carol Anne.

Zelda Rubinstein is great as Tangina Barrons the medium that is called in to rescue Carol Anne and 'clear' the house of spirits. She and her character have often been caricatured on many show/movies.

There are 2 sad notes of this movie (and the Poltergeist Trilogy). Shortly after the release of "Poltergeist" was released Dominique Dunne who played daughter Dana Freeling, was murdered by her abusive boyfriend. And then shortly before "Poltergeist III" was released, Heather O'Rourke died of a heart attack brought on by "bowel obstruction" and complicated by septic shock. She was had just turned 12 years old.

I wish I had run into a Blu-Ray version of this film and I will be looking for one. It must be very nice.

I highly recommend this to everyone.

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Only Angels Have Wings: Columbia Classics (1939/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States) Director: Howard Hawks Writing: Jules Furthman (Screenwriter) Length: 121 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai

Stars:
Cary Grant as Geoff Carter
Jean Arthur as Bonnie Lee
Richard Barthelmess as Bat MacPherson
Rita Hayworth as Judy
Thomas Mitchell as Kid Dabb

Plot:
A two-fisted adventure tale set in South America, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS stars Cary Grant as the tough-talking head of an air-freight service operating in the dangerous Andes Mountains. Jean Arthur co-stars as a vacationing showgirl competing with Rita Hayworth for Grant's affections. A potent combination of humor, romance and action, the film was directed by Howard Hawks, the legendary director responsible for Red River, His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, and the original Scarface. A triumph of casting, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS is one of the best examples of Columbia chief Harry Cohn's skill in developing talent. Cary Grant had just been released from his contract with Paramount when Cohn, sensing that the handsome leading man was poised for stardom, turned him into Columbia's most durable star. Jean Arthur was an unexceptional veteran of over 50 films before Cohn "discovered" something in her that previous studios had overlooked. Teaming her with director Frank Capra, he created one of the finest comediennes in Hollywood history. And Rita Hayworth, Cohn's personal protégée, was a pure product of the studio system. Groomed for stardom from the first, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS offered her a chance to learn from the best in the business. And the rest, as they say, is history.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

Geoff Carter (Grant) is a pilot and the manager of a small, barely solvent air service owned by "Dutchy" Van Reiter (Sig Ruman) carrying mail from the fictional South American port town of Barranca[1] over the Andes Mountains. Bonnie Lee (Arthur), a piano-playing entertainer, arrives one day and becomes infatuated with Carter, despite his fatalistic attitude about the dangerous mountain flying, and stays on in Barranca (not at Carter's invitation, as he insists on telling her).

The situation is complicated by the appearance of Bat MacPherson (Richard Barthelmess) and his wife Judy (Rita Hayworth). MacPherson is a pilot shunned by other fliers because he once bailed out of a plane, leaving his mechanic — the brother of 'Kid' Dabb (Thomas Mitchell), Carter's best friend — to be killed in the resulting crash. Carter needs pilots desperately, but he is unwilling to hire MacPherson even so. However, when Judy begs him to give her husband a chance, he gives in, with the proviso that MacPherson will get the most dangerous flights. MacPherson understands and accepts the setup: none of the other pilots would shed a tear if he were lost.

Dutchy will secure a lucrative government mail contract that would put the airline on a solid financial footing if he can provide reliable service during a trial period. On the last day of the trial, bad weather closes a mountain pass. Bat and Kid try flying over the mountains in a new Ford Trimotor instead. However, they are unable to climb high enough. On the way back, a bird crashes through the windshield, paralyzing Kid. Bat refuses to bail out and manages to land the burning plane. Kid dies, but not before telling Geoff of Bat's heroism. As a result, Bat is finally welcomed by the others.

Bonnie finally gives up on Geoff and bids him goodbye. He offers to toss a coin to decide: heads, she stays; tails, she leaves. Then the weather clears; Geoff rushes out to secure the all-important contract. Bonnie is unwilling to decide her life so haphazardly, until she sees that the coin has heads on both sides.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Production Notes
• Closed Captioned
• Vintage Advertising

My Thoughts:

Genre: Drama / Adventure
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes

Rating: 4of5

'Only Angels Have Wings' (2005) is an excellent action film

• produced by Howard Hawks ("The Dawn Patrol" (1930), "Scarface" (1932), "Viva Villa!" (1934), "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "His Girl Friday" (1940), "Sergeant York" (1941), "To Have and Have Not" (1944), "The Big SLeep" (1946), "Red River" (1948), "I Was a Male War Bride" (1949), "The Thing from Another World" (1951), "The Big Sky" (1952), "Monkey Business" (1952), "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), "El Dorado" (1966) and "Rio Lobo" (1970)
  
• screenplay by Howard Hawks (story)
• screenplay by Jules Furthman ("Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), "The Outlaw" (1943), "To Have and Have Not" (1944), "The Big Sleep" (1946), "The Outlaw" (1943), "To Have and Have Not" (1944), "The Big Sleep" (1946) and "Rio Bravo" (1959)
• directed by Howard Hawks (see above)

It stars

• Cary Grant (Geoff Carter) (although there are to many to list here are a few of my favorites .. "Topper" (1937),"Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "The Philadelphia Story" (1940), "His Girl Friday" (1940), "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944), "The Bishops Wife" (1947), "Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948),"People Will Talk" (1951), "To Catch A Thief" (1955), "An Affair to Remember" (1957), "North by Northwest" (1959), "Charade" (1963) and "Father Goose" (1964))
• Jean Arthur (Bonnie Lee) ("The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu" (1929), "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), "The Plainsman" (1936), "You Can't Take It with You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "The Devil and Miss Jones" (1941), "Shane" (1953) )
• Richard Barthelmess (Bat MacPherson) ("The Dawn Patrol" (1930))
• Rita Hayworth (Judy MacPherson) ("Susan and God" (1940), "Angels Over Broadway" (1940), "You'll Never Get Rich" (1941), "My Gal Sal" (1942), "Gilda" (1946), "The Lady from Shanghai" (1947), "Salome" (1953), "Pal Joey" (1957), "The Story on Page One" (1959))
• Thomas Mitchell as ('Kid' Dabb) ("Lost Horizon" (1937), "Stagecoach" (1939), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "Gone with the Wind", (1939), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939), "Swiss Family Robinson" (1940), "Our Town" (1940), "Angels Over Broadway" (1940), "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941), "The Outlaw" (1943), "Bataan" (1943), "The Fighting Sullivans" (1944), "Buffalo Bill" (1944), "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), "High Noon" (1952), "Destry" (1954))

The film also features Allyn Joslyn (Les Peters), Sig Ruman (John "Dutchy" Van Reiter), Victor Kilian ("Sparks" Reynolds), John Carroll ("Gent" Shelton), Don Barry ("Tex" Gordon) and Noah Beery, Jr. (Joe Souther)

I *know* that I have seen this before but I couldn't remember much about the film. I was filling in my Cary Grant films and this one popped up.

Having just watched it again I really like this film. The cinematography (black and white) is very good. It is a 'dark' movie but that is part of the story I think. For a 1939 film there really aren't any "special effects". Planes on wires etc but if you can get past that the filming is excellent.

The actors (Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Thomas Mitchell) are great in this. Characters rich and worth caring about. This comes from a good script, great direction and acting.

I highly recommend film this to everyone.

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The Fall (2006/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Tarsem Singh [Tarsem] Writing: Valeri Petrov (Original Material By), Dan Gilroy (Screenwriter), Nico Soultanakis (Screenwriter), Tarsem Singh [Tarsem] (Screenwriter) Length: 117 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, French, Commentary

Stars:
Catinca Untaru as Alexandria
Justine Waddell as Nurse Evelyn / Sister Evelyn
Lee Pace as Roy Walker
Kim Uylenbroek as Doctor / Alexander the Great
Aiden Lithgow as Alexander's Messenger

Plot:
Filmed over a period of 4 years in 18 different countries, Tarsem's The Fall is an unforgettable movie experience. In 1920s Los Angeles, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), a 5-year-old girl hospitalized from a fall, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Roy (Lee Pace, TV's "Pushing Daisies"), a Hollywood stuntman shattered by a near-fatal movie set accident and his lover's betrayal. To pass the time, he tells Alexandria the epic story of Governor Odious and the 5 remarkable heroes determined to defeat him – a dazzling world of magic and myth. Only when the line between reality and fantasy begins to dissolve does Alexandria realize how much is truly at stake. Presented by David Fincher (Fight Club) and Spike Jonze (Adaptation), The Fall is an awe-inspiring, cinematic tour de force.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) frm Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

In 1920s Los Angeles, stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace) is hospitalized, as he is bedridden and possibly paralyzed after a jump he took in his first film. He meets Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), a young Romanian-born patient in the hospital who is recovering from a broken arm, and begins to tell her a story about her namesake. Alexandria is told she has to leave, but Roy promises to tell her an epic tale if she returns the next day.

The next morning, as Roy spins his tale of fantasy, Alexandria's imagination brings his characters to life. Roy's tale is about five heroes: a silent Indian warrior (Jeetu Verma), a muscular ex-slave named Otta Benga (Marcus Wesley), an Italian explosives expert called Luigi (Robin Smith), a surreal version of Darwin (Leo Bill) with a pet monkey, and a masked swashbuckling bandit. An evil ruler named Odious (Daniel Caltagirone) has committed an offense against each of the five, who all seek revenge. The heroes are later joined by a sixth hero, a mystic.

Alexandria vividly imagines her friends and people around her appearing as the characters in Roy's story. Although Roy develops affection for Alexandria, he also has an ulterior motive: by gaining her trust, he tricks her into stealing morphine from the hospital pharmacy so that he can attempt suicide; a choice driven by his love leaving him for the actor for which he provided the stunt footage. However, Alexandria returns with only three pills, having mistaken the "E" on the piece of paper Roy gave her for a "3". The stories become a collaborative tale to which Alexandria also contributes. Alexandria herself becomes a character: while Roy is the masked bandit, she is his daughter. Roy talks Alexandria into stealing a bottle of morphine tablets locked in a fellow patient's cabinet, and then downs it all. The next morning, Roy awakens from his sleep and realizes he is only alive because his neighboring patient is receiving a placebo rather than actual morphine. Alexandria, desperate to help Roy, sneaks out of bed to the pharmacy. She climbs onto the cabinet but loses her footing and falls. After surgery, she is visited by the bewheeled Roy, where he confesses his deception. He encourages Alexandria to ask someone else to end the story, but she insists on hearing Roy's ending. Roy reluctantly begins the rest of the story.

The heroes die one by one, and it seems that Odious will be triumphant. Alexandria becomes upset, and Roy insists, "It's my story." She declares that it is hers too and exerts some influence on the course of the tale. Finally, the epic tale comes to an end with only the Bandit and his daughter remaining alive and Odious dying. Roy and Alexandria, along with the patients and staff of the hospital, watch a viewing of the finished 'flicker' that Roy appeared in. With everyone laughing, only Roy's smile is broken in confusion when he sees that his life-threatening jump has been edited out of the film as another stuntman jumps instead.

Alexandria’s arm heals and she returns to the orange orchard where her family works. Her voice-over reveals that Roy had recovered and was now back at work again. As she talks, a montage of cuts from several of silent films' greatest and most dangerous stunts plays; she imagines all the stuntmen to be Roy.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure
Have I seen it before: No
Do I Like it as much:

Rating: 3.5of5

'The Fall' (2005) is a Fantasy / Adventure film brought to you by the same people who did "The Cell" in 2000

• produced by Tarsem Singh
• produced by Ajit Singh
• produced by Tommy Turtle
• screenplay based on the 1981 screenplay "Yo Ho Ho" by Valeri Petrov
• screenplay by Tarsem Singh
• screenplay by Dan Gilroy
• screenplay by Nico Soultanakis
• directed by Tarsem Singh ("The Cell" (2000), "The Immortals " (2011) didn't like)

It stars

• Lee Pace (Roy Walker / Red Bandit) ("The Good Shephard" (2006), "The Resident" (2010), "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" (2011) and several TV shows/series including the GREAT series "Pushing Daisies" (2007-2009) )
• Catinca Untaru
• Justine Waddell

The film also features Daniel Caltagirone (Sinclair / Governor Odious), Marcus Wesley (Ice delivery man / Otta Benga), Robin Smith (One-legged actor / Luigi), Jeetu Verma (Orange picker / Indian), Kim Uylenbroek (Doctor / Alexander the Great), Leo Bill (Orderly / Charles Darwin), Emil Hostina (Alexandria's father / Blue Bandit), Julian Bleach (Elderly patient / Mystic)

As noted above, I had not seen this film before, but on recommendation of Achim on dvdCollector forum, in response to a review I did on "The Cell", and a review of "The Fall"  previously done by Silence_Of_Lambs, I went ahead an picked up a copy.

I have to say that I like it very much. "The Fall" is a sweeping imaginary tale, a story told to/about/sometimes by a child patient by another patient who ultimately wants to get the child to help him.

I like it much better than "Immortals" which for me was too dark. Usually the darkness and shadows are a form of creating ambiance The story of the patient/child relationship is interesting as is the story being told. Nice on both levels.

The direction is another great job by Tarsem Singh. The working of script, cinematography and artwork/sets was very nice. The acting on all levels is very nice. I am very happy with this addition to my collection and it is on my watch list for a blu-ray version.

But having said all that, I don't think it is as good as "The Cell". "The Cell" really has a much deeper feel for me. Possibly it is stronger cast (Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio) as I think they are much more 'involved' in the film and their characters. But don't get me wrong .. I think that Lee Pace did a marvelous job. Possibly the "The Cell" was a stronger script.

All in all, I do recommend film this to everyone who likes Fantasy films. It is stunning in its sweep and camera work.

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Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Special Collector's Edition (2004/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia | HomeSite Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Kerry Conran Writing: Kerry Conran (Writer) Length: 107 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Gwyneth Paltrow as Polly Perkins
Jude Law as Sky Captain
Giovanni Ribisi as Dex
Michael Gambon as Editor Paley
Bai Ling as Mysterious Woman

Plot:
If the world is in trouble and there's no one else to turn to, it's Sky Captain to the rescue!

When mysterious giant robots begin attacking the streets of New York City, intrepid reporter Polly Perkins (Academy Award®-winner Gwyneth Paltrow*) is on the story and enlists the aid of ace aviator and old flame Joseph "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Academy Award® nominee Jude Law**). Their mission is to find out who's behind these killing machines and stop a plot to destroy the world before it's too late.

Co-starring Academy Award®-winner Angelina Jolie*** as the ravishing Captain Franky Cook and Giovanni Ribisi as the technical genius Dex, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow features innovative state-of-the-art special effects that will thrill and amaze you right through to the action-packed finale.

* Actress in a Leading Role, Shakespeare In Love, 1998.
** Actor in a Leading Role, Cold Mountain, 2003.
*** Actress in a Supporting Role, Girl, Interrupted, 1999.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

In an alternate, more technologically advanced 1939, the zeppelin Hindenburg III arrives in New York City, mooring at the Empire State Building. A frightened scientist named Dr. Jorge Vargas (Julian Curry) makes arrangements for a package containing two vials to be delivered to a Dr. Walter Jennings (Trevor Baxter), then vanishes.

Polly Perkins (Gwyneth Paltrow), a newspaper reporter for The Chronicle, looks into the disappearances of Vargas and five other renowned scientists. She receives a cryptic message telling her to go to Radio City Music Hall. Ignoring the warning of editor Paley (Michael Gambon) not to go, she meets Dr. Jennings during a showing of The Wizard of Oz. He tells her that Dr. Totenkopf is coming for him. Suddenly, air raid sirens go off as giant indestructible robots attack the city. In desperation, the police call for "Sky Captain" Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), who commands a private air force based in New York, the Flying Legion.

Polly photographs the action from the street as Sullivan knocks out one robot and the rest leave. News reports show similar attacks around the globe. The robot's wreckage is taken back to the Legion's air base so that its expert, Dex Dearborn (Giovanni Ribisi), can examine it. Polly follows, hoping to get information for her story. She and Joe are ex-lovers, who broke up three years earlier in China where Joe was serving with the Flying Tigers. Since it appears Polly has useful information, Joe agrees to let her in on the investigation. Her lead takes them to the ransacked laboratory of Dr. Jennings, with the scientist himself near death. The killer, a mysterious woman (Bai Ling), escapes. Jennings gives Polly two vials, which he says are crucial to Dr. Totenkopf's plans. Polly withholds this information from Joe. They return to the Legion's base, which comes under attack from squadrons of ornithopter drones. Dex manages to track the origin of the robot control signal, but he's captured. However, he leaves behind a part of a map marking the location of Totenkopf's base.

Joe and Polly find it and head to Nepal. Venturing into the Himalayas, they discover an abandoned mining outpost. Two guides turn out to be working for Totenkopf, forcing Polly to turn over the vials and then locking her and Joe in a room full of explosives, which they light. Joe and Polly are knocked unconscious by the explosion. They wake up together in the mythical Shangri-La. The monks there tell of Totenkopf's enslavement of their people, forcing them to work in the uranium mines. Most were killed by the radiation, but the final survivor (who was suffering from radiation poisoning) provides a clue to where Totenkopf is hiding. This leads them to another of Joe's ex-flames, Commander Franky Cook (Angelina Jolie), who commands a Royal Navy flying aircraft carrier with submarine aircraft.

Franky leads the attack while Joe and Polly enter through an underwater inlet. After surfacing, Polly notices that the identification number on Joe's aircraft reads "Polly" when viewed upside-down. Joe and Polly find themselves on an island with dinosaur-like creatures. They head to a mountain and find a secret underground facility, where robots are loading animals, as well as the mysterious vials, onto a large "Noah's Ark" rocket. Joe and Polly are detected and nearly killed. Dex, piloting a barge, arrives in the nick of time with three of the missing scientists. Dex explains that Totenkopf has given up on humanity and seeks to start the world over again: the "World of Tomorrow". The vials are genetic material for a male and female human: a new Adam and Eve.

In Totenkopf's lair, one scientist is incinerated by the defense system. A holograph of Totenkopf (Laurence Olivier) appears and speaks. Dex disables the defenses and the group discovers Totenkopf's mummified corpse. He had died 20 years before, but his machines have carried on his work. In his hand is a scrap of paper reading "forgive me". The only way to sabotage the rocket is from the inside. Polly tries to tag along, but Joe kisses her and knocks her out. He prepares to sacrifice himself while the others escape. Polly recovers and follows Joe, arriving in time to save him from the mysterious woman, who turns out to be a robot. The two board the rocket. Before it reaches 100 km, when its second stage fires and incinerates the earth, Polly pushes an emergency button that ejects all the animals in escape pods. Joe tries to disable the rocket only to be interrupted by the same robot. He jolts her with her electric weapon and then uses it on the controls, disabling the rocket. They use the last pod to save themselves as the rocket safely explodes.

Joe and Polly watch the animal pods splash down around their escape pod. Polly then uses the last shot on her camera to take a picture of Joe. He tells her that the lens cap was still on the camera. Polly's look of joy turns to shock as she realizes she has no proof any of their adventure happened.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Outtakes/Bloopers
• Closed Captioned
• Original Six Minute Short Film

My Thoughts:

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Rating: 4of5

'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' (2004) is a Fantasy / Adventure film

• produced by Jon Avnet
• produced by Sadie Frost
• produced by Jude Law
• produced by Marsha Oglesb
• screenplay by Kerry Conran
• directed by Kerry Conran

It stars

• Jude Law (Harry Joseph "Joe" Sullivan, a.k.a. Sky Captain) ("Gattaca" (1997), "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (1997), "Final Cut" (1998), "eXistenZ" (1999), "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), "Enemy at the Gates" (2001), "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" (2001), "Road to Perdition" (2002), "Cold Mountain" (2003), "   Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004) voice only, "   The Holiday" (2006), "Sherlock Holmes" (2009), "Repo Men" (2010), "Contagion" (2011), "Hugo" (2011) and "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" (2011)
• Gwyneth Paltrow (Polly Perkins) ("Hook" (1991), "Malice" (1993), "Seven" (1995), "Sliding Doors" (1998), "Shakespeare in Love" (1998), "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999), "Duets" (2000), "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001), "Shallow Hal" (2001), "Austin Powers in Goldmember" (2002), "Proof" (2005), "Iron Man" (2008), "Iron Man 2" (2010), "Contagion" (2011), "The Avengers" (2012)
• Angelina Jolie (Commander Francesca "Franky" Cook) ("Hackers" (1995), "Foxfire" (1996), "Gia" (1998), "Pushing Tin" (1999), "The Bone Collector" (1999), "Gir, Interrupted" (1999), "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001), "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003), "Taking Lives" (2004), "The Good Shepherd" (2006), "Beowulf" (2007), "Kung Fu Panda" (2008), "Wanted" (2008), "The Tourist" (2010), "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011)
• Giovanni Ribisi (Dexter “Dex” Dearborn) ("That Thing You Do" (1996), "The Postman" (1997), "Saving Private Ryan" (1998), "The Other Sister" (1999), "The Mod Squad" (1999), "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), "The Virgin Suicides" (2000), "Basic" (2003), "Cold Mountain" (2003), "Flight of the Phoenix" (2004), "Avatar" (2009), "The Rum Diary" (2011)

The film also features Michael Gambon (Morris Paley), Omid Djalili (Kaji), Bai Ling (The Mysterious Woman), Julian Curry (Dr. Jorge Vargas), Trevor Baxter (Dr. Walter Jennings), Peter Law (Dr. Aler Kessler), Laurence Olivier (Dr. Totenkopf) (Olivier had been deceased for nearly 13 years at the time of filming, and was depicted in the film via computer manipulation of video and audio from when he was a young actor) and Khan Bonfils (Creepy).

Planes with flapping wings, miniature elephants, robots with tentacle like arms, P-40s that can go underwater and large flying platforms help to make this a fascinating movie. With the blending/combination of futuristic visions/technologies with period technologies movie is priceless. The filming, to me, is visionary. Keeping comic imagery and period feel of the '30s (after all they are fighting nazi like enemies) but still with a strong futuristic feel, "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" is breathtaking.

I strongly recommend this film to anyone who likes fantasy films and/or new/creative story telling.

[DSig]

Gia (1998/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia HBO Home Video (United States) Director: Michael Cristofer Writing: Jay McInerney (Writer), Michael Cristofer (Writer) Length: 119 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Angelina Jolie as Gia
Elizabeth Mitchell as Linda
Eric Michael Cole as T.J.
Kylie Travis as Stephanie
Louis Giambalvo as Joe Carangi

Plot:
It's late '70s New York. Studio 54, designer jeans, drugs and disco. One girl is living life in the fast lane. She can have any man - or any woman - she wants. Sex, money, glamour, fame, it's all within her reach. She walks toward you across the dance floor, struts toward you down the runway, stares at you from the cover of a magazine. She's a goddess. She's a star. Her name is GIA.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Gallery
• Production Notes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Drama / Biopic
Have I seen it before: No
Do I Like it as much:

Rating: 3of5

'Gia' (1998) is a is a Drama / Biopic Fantasy developed for HBO Films

• produced by James D. Brubaker
• screenplay by Jay McInerney
• screenplay by Michael Cristofer (Screenplay "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987), "The Bonfire of the Vanities" (1990))
• directed by Michael Cristofer ("Die Hard with a Vengeance" (1995) )

It stars

• Angelina Jolie (Gia Carangi) ("Hackers" (1995), "Foxfire" (1996), "Pushing Tin" (1999), "The Bone Collector" (1999), "Gir, Interrupted" (1999), "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001), "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" (2003), "Taking Lives" (2004), "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (2004), "The Good Shepherd" (2006), "Beowulf" (2007), "Kung Fu Panda" (2008), "Wanted" (2008), "The Tourist" (2010), "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011)
• Faye Dunaway (Wilhelmina Cooper) ("Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), " The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968), "Little Big Man" (1970), "The Three Musketeers" (1973), "Chinatown" (1974), "The Towering Inferno" (1974), "The Four Musketeers" (1974), "Three Days of the Condor" (1975), "Network" (1976), "The Champ" (1979), "Mommie Dearest" (1981), "Don Juan DeMarco" (1995), "The Chamber" (1996), "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1999), "The Rules of Attraction" (2002)
• Mercedes Ruehl (Kathleen Carangi) ("Heartburn" (1986), "Big" (1988), "Married to the Mob" (1988), "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989), "Crazy People" (1990), "The Fisher King" (1991), "Last Action Hero" (1993) plus numerous TV shows

The film also features Daniel Caltagirone (Sinclair / Governor Odious), Marcus Wesley (Ice delivery man / Otta Benga), Robin Smith (One-legged actor / Luigi), Jeetu Verma (Orange picker / Indian), Kim Uylenbroek (Doctor / Alexander the Great), Leo Bill (Orderly / Charles Darwin), Emil Hostina (Alexandria's father / Blue Bandit), Julian Bleach (Elderly patient / Mystic)

This is the sad story of super model (considered one of the first) Gia Carangi who at the age of 26 died from complications of AIDS. Born in 1960, by 1978 at the age of 18 she was already well established in the fashion world. Regardless of her success, or maybe because of it, her demons won out and she became hooked on heroin reportedly getting AIDS from an infected needle. Although I am not a big fan of Angelina Jolie in this type of movie I did enjoy it (if that is the word) very much. Because of the subject matter it can be *depressing* and for that reason it is not for everyone. It is also very sexually explicit in Gia's lesbian tendencies.

All in all, I do recommend film this to everyone who likes Biopics, but just be aware of the subject matter. Much drugs and sexual content.

[DSig]

Harvey: Award Winners (1950/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Home Video (United States) Director: Henry Koster Writing: Mary Chase (Original Material By), Mary Chase (Screenwriter), Oscar Brodney (Screenwriter) Length: 104 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Nana Bryant as Mrs. Ethel Chumley
Grace Mills as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet
Clem Bevans as Herman Schimmelplusser
Wallace Ford as The Taxi Driver
William Lynn as Judge Gaffney

Plot:
James Stewart gives one of his finest performances in this lighthearted film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

Stewart stars as the good-natured Elwood P. Dowd, whose constant companion is Harvey, a six-foot tall rabbit that only he can see.

To his sister, Veta Louise, Elwood's obsession with Harvey has been a thorn in the side of her plans to marry off her daughter. But when Veta Louise decides to put Elwood in a mental hospital, a hilarious mix-up occurs and she finds herself committed instead.

It's up to Elwood to straighten out the mess with his kindly philosophy, and his "imaginary" friend, in this popular classic that features a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award® winning performance by Josephine Hull.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

Elwood P. Dowd (Stewart) is a middle-aged, amiable (and somewhat eccentric) individual whose best friend is an invisible 6' 3.5" tall rabbit named Harvey. As described by Dowd, Harvey is a pooka, a benign but mischievous creature from Celtic mythology who is especially fond of social outcasts (like Elwood). Elwood has driven his sister and niece (who live with him and crave normality and a place in "society") to distraction by introducing everyone he meets to his friend, Harvey. His family seems to be unsure whether Dowd's obsession with Harvey is a product of his (admitted) propensity to drink or perhaps mental illness. Elwood spends most of his time in the local bar, and throughout the film invites new acquaintances to join him for a drink (or to his house for dinner). Interestingly, the barman and all regulars accept the existence of Harvey, and the barman asks how they both are and unflinchingly accepts an order from Elwood for two Martinis.
Veta (Josephine Hull) and Myrtle Mae (Victoria Horne)

His sister, Veta Louise Simmons (Hull), tries to have Elwood committed to a sanatorium. In exasperation, she admits to the attending psychiatrist Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Charles Drake) that, after so many years of putting up with the invisible rabbit, she sees Harvey every once in a while. This causes Dr. Sanderson to let Elwood out and lock Veta up. After sorting out the mistake, Dr. Chumley, head of the sanatorium (Cecil Kellaway) decides that to save the reputation of the sanatorium he must bring Elwood back. At one point, when her daughter asks how someone possibly could imagine a rabbit, Veta says to her "Myrtle Mae, you have a lot to learn and I hope you never learn it".

When tracked down, Elwood goes through several ordeals, although he remains largely oblivious to the plans put in place for him by Dr. Chumley, Judge Gaffney (William Lynn) and Veta Louise. In a poignant scene where Dr. Sanderson and his nurse Miss Kelly (Peggy Dow) follow Elwood into an alley at the back of his and Harvey's favorite bar, Charlie's, Elwood tells the incredible story of how he came to meet Harvey, and explains the way in which people react when they meet them. In a later scene, he gives Dr. Chumley an insight into his philosophy of life:

    Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood – "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.
    —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd

Elwood also explains that Harvey has the power to stop time: "Did I tell you he could stop clocks? Well, you've heard the expression 'His face would stop a clock'? Well, Harvey can look at your clock and stop it. And you can go anywhere you like — with anyone you like — and stay as long as you like. And when you get back, not one minute will have ticked by. ... You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space — but any objections."

In the final scene of the film, Elwood (along with everybody else) arrives back at the hospital. By this point, Dr. Chumley is not only convinced of Harvey's existence, but has begun spending time with him on his own, with a mixture of admiration and fear.

Dr. Sanderson convinces Elwood to come into his office where he'll receive a serum called Formula 977 that will stop Dowd from "seeing the rabbit". As they are preparing for the injection, Elwood's sister is told by their cab driver about all the other people he has driven to the sanatorium to receive the same medicine, warning her that Elwood will become "just a normal human being. And you know what stinkers they are." Upset by the very thought of this, Veta halts the procedure by banging on the examining room door, at which point Elwood comforts her and explains her tears to others with, "Veta's all tired out, she's done a lot today".
Miss Kelly (Peggy Dow) and Dowd (James Stewart). Judge Gaffney (William H. Lynn) is in the background.

As Elwood is leaving, Dr Chumley asks Elwood for Harvey's help, and Elwood, being the obliging fellow he is, makes no objection. Dr Chumley, arm in arm with an invisible companion, asks 'Have you ever been to Akron?'. The inference being that Harvey will now use his power to stop clocks and mystically transport Dr Chumley to a personal paradise, in Akron, Ohio.

After the gates to 'Chumley's Rest' are closed, and Elwood is leaving, he stops, turns around and has a conversation with an invisible Harvey, who is already back from his trip to Akron and reaffirms their friendship. Elwood and his invisible companion saunter off towards the bus stop, following Veta and Myrtle Mae, towards the planned last stop of Charlie's Bar and another drink.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Production Notes
• Closed Captioned
• Introduction by Jimmy Stewart

My Thoughts:

Genre: Comedy
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: YES
Last Watched: 6/25/2012

Rating: 4.5/5

'Harvey' (1950) is a comedy

• produced by John Beck
• screenplay by Mary Chase
• screenplay by Oscar Brodney ("The Brass Bottle" (1964), "Tammy and the Doctor" (1963), "Tammy Tell Me True" (1961), "The Purple Mask" (1955), "The Black Shield of Falworth" (1954), "The Glenn Miller Story" (1953), "Francis Goes to West Point" (1952) "Mexican Hayride" (1948) )
• screenplay by Myles Connolly ("Hans Christian Andersen" (1952) )
• directed by Henry Koster (("The Singing Nun" (1966), "Take Her, She's Mine" (1963), "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (1962), "Flower Drum Song" (1961), "My Man Godfrey" (1957), "A Man Called Peter" (1955), "The Robe" (1953), "Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell " (1951), "The Inspecter General" (1949), "The Bishop's Wife: (1947))

It stars

• James Stewart (Elwood P. Dowd) ("After the Thin Man" (1936), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "Destry Rides Again" (1939), "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940), "The Philadelphia Story" (1940), "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), "Rope" (1948), "Winchester '73" (1950), "Broken Arrow" (1950), "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952), "Bend of the River, " (1952), "The Naked Spur" (1953), "The Glenn Miller Story" (1953), "Rear Window" (1954), "The Far Country" (1954), "Strategic Air Command" (1955), "The Man from Laramie" (1955), "The Spirit of St. Louis" (1957), "Night Passage" (1957), "Vertigo", (1958), "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958), "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), "Two Rode Together" (1961), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962), "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (1962), How the West Was Won" (1962), "Take Her, She's Mine" (1963), "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964), "Dear Brigitte" (1965), "Shenandoah" (1965), "The Rare Breed" (1066), "The Cheyenne Social Club" (1970), "The Shootist" (1976), "The Big Sleep" (1978), "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" (1991) voice only)
• Josephine Hull (Veta Louise Simmons) ("Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944))
• Peggy Dow (Miss Kelly)
• Charles Drake (Dr. Lyman Sanderson) ("Dear Heart" (1964), "The Lively Set" (1964), "To Hell and Back" (1955), "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954) , "It Came from Outer Space" (1953), "Winchester '73" (1950))
• Cecil Kellaway (Dr. Willie Chumley) ("The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), "Practically Yours (1944), "The Invisible Man Returns (1940), "The House of the Seven Gables (1940), "The Mummy's Hand (1940), "I Married a Witch (1942), "The Luck of the Irish (1948), "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), "The Shaggy Dog (1959), "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), "Fitzwilly (1967))

The film also features William H. Lynn (Judge Gaffney), Victoria Horne (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Jesse White (Marvin Wilson), Wallace Ford (Cab Driver), Nana Bryant (Mrs. Chumley), Grayce Mills (Mrs. Chauvenet)

What can I say about this film? This is probably one of my favorite James Stewart films and one of probably the 100 best comedy films ever made. It almost has a "Capraesque" feeling about it which by itself makes it a great film.

James Stewart just about caries the entire film himself, as it is mostly just him and Harvey. But there is a superb cast there to support him, and support they do quite well. With actors like Cecil Kellaway, Jessie White and Josephine Hull how could this film be anything but great movie.

I recommend this film to everyone of all ages.

[DSig]

The Flight of the Phoenix: Widescreen Edition (1965/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Robert Aldrich Writing: Lukas Heller (Screenwriter), Elleston Trevor (Original Material By) Length: 142 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono, Spanish: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
James Stewart (1908) as Frank Towns
Richard Attenborough as Lew Moran
Peter Finch as Captain Harris
Hardy Krüger as Heinrich Dorfmann
Ernest Borgnine as Trucker Cobb

Plot:
James Stewart heads an impressive cast that includes Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch and Ernest Borgnine in this gripping tale of courage and suspense. When their cargo plane crashes in the Sahara Desert, the only hope for a crew of oilmen and military personnel is to try to rebuild the craft before they all perish from heat and deprivation. Based on Elleston Trevor's popular novel of the same name, and artfully directed by Robert Aldrich, THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX is a riveting combination of finely honed character studies and an exciting story line.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

The story describes several men struggling to survive their airplane's emergency landing in the Sahara. Frank Towns (James Stewart) is the pilot and Lew Moran (Richard Attenborough) is the navigator. The passengers are Capt. Harris (Peter Finch) and Sgt. Watson (Ronald Fraser) of the British army; Dr. Renaud (Christian Marquand), a physician; Heinrich Dorfmann (Hardy Krüger), a German aeronautical engineer; Mr. Standish (Dan Duryea), an oil-company accountant; and several oil workers that include Trucker Cobb (Ernest Borgnine), a mentally disturbed foreman; Ratbags Crow (Ian Bannen), a mean-spirited, sardonic Scot; Carlos (Alex Montoya) and his pet monkey; and Gabriel (Gabriele Tinti). The struggle is complicated by a personality clash between Towns, who is a proud old traditionalist, and Dorfmann, a young, equally proud technician. Moran, a good natured man suffering from alcoholism, struggles to keep the peace.

The film begins as Towns pilots a twin-engine Fairchild C-82 Packet cargo aircraft from Jaghbub to Benghazi in Libya. A sudden sandstorm shuts-down the engines, forcing Towns to crash-land in the desert. As the aircraft careens to a stop, several oil drums and oil drilling gear break loose and severely injure Gabriel's leg. Two other workers are killed.

With no functioning radio to call for help, the survivors wait to be rescued, but the storm blew them too far off-course to be found. Although they have a large quantity of dates for food, they calculate their water will only last for 10 to 15 days provided they avoid physical exertion. Harris and Carlos attempt to walk to an oasis. Carlos leaves his monkey behind with the men. Harris and Towns refuse to let Cobb go along due to his increasing mental instability, but he defiantly follows and dies. Days later, Harris returns to the crash site alone and barely alive.

Meanwhile, Dorfmann has been working on a radical idea: He believes they can build a new aircraft from the wreckage. The C-82 has twin booms extending rearwards from each engine and connected by the horizontal stabilizer. Dorfmann's plan is to attach the outer panel of the right wing to the left engine, left boom and left wing outer panel, discarding the center fuselage and both inner wing panels of the aircraft. Harris and Moran believe he is either joking or deluded, and the animosity between Towns the veteran pilot and Dorfmann the aircraft designer increases. Post war anti-German sentiment also simmers under the surface. The tension only gets worse when Dorfmann bluntly explains that Gabriel will die before the aircraft flies.

Though Towns is resistant, Renaud points out that activity and any hope will keep the men's morale up and so Towns agrees to the plan. Dorfmann supervises as the workers cut, haul, and weld parts of the aircraft. Towns is doubtful the plans will succeed. During the work, Gabriel takes his own life by slitting his wrist with a knife. The men are so depressed by the loss they contemplate giving up the new plane's construction. Things seem even bleaker when Towns discovers that Dorfmann has taken extra rations of water. However, Dorfmann promises to not do so again if they all work equally hard. Moran talks Towns into resuming work on the aircraft.

When the new aircraft is almost complete, Standish labels it "The Phoenix" after the mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes. Any good moods, however, are quashed when Harris and Renaud are murdered by a band of native raiders.

Final plans are made for the Phoenix's flight. Dorfmann loses his temper and stops working after Towns insists on testing the engine, which would deplete the scarce supply of explosive Coffman engine starter cartridges. Once again Moran must patch up the feud and work continues.

Towns and Moran learn that Dorfmann designs model aircraft instead of full-sized aircraft. Dorfmann claims the principles are the same, but Towns and Moran are horrified at the idea of flying an aircraft made by a man who works with "toys." Without any other choice, however, Towns and Moran forge ahead with the plan and don't tell the others of their discovery.

Just as the water runs out, the Phoenix is completed. Dorfmann panics when four cartridges fail to start the engine and Towns wants to use one of the remaining three cartridges just to clear the engine's cylinders. Dorfmann objects, but Towns ignores him and fires one cartridge with the ignition off. The penultimate cartridge succeeds. The men pull the Phoenix to a nearby hilltop and climb onto the wings with Carlos's pet monkey in tow. When Towns guns the engine, the Phoenix slides down the hill and along a lake bed before taking off. The film ends after the Phoenix lands at an oasis with a manned oil rig. The men celebrate and Towns and Dorfmann reconcile.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre:
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Last Watched: 6/27/2012

Rating: 4/5

'Flight of the Phoenix' (1950) is a is a Drama/Adventure film

• produced by Robert Aldrich ("Apache" (1954), "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962), "4 for Texas" (1963), "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), "The Dirty Dozen" (1967), "Ulzana's Raid" (1972), "Emperor of the North" (1973), "The Longest Yard" (1974), "Hustle" (1975), "The Frisco Kid" (1979), "...All the Marbles" (1981) and lots of TV shows)
• screenplay from the original novel by Elleston Trevor
• screenplay by Lukas Heller ("The Dirty Dozen" (1967), "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (1964), "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) and "Damnation Alley" (1977))
• directed by Robert Aldrich (see above)

It stars

• James Stewart (Capt. Frank Towns) ("After the Thin Man" (1936), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "Destry Rides Again" (1939), "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940), "The Philadelphia Story" (1940), "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), "Rope" (1948), "Winchester '73" (1950), "Broken Arrow" (1950), "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952), "Bend of the River, " (1952), "The Naked Spur" (1953), "The Glenn Miller Story" (1953), "Rear Window" (1954), "The Far Country" (1954), "Strategic Air Command" (1955), "The Man from Laramie" (1955), "The Spirit of St. Louis" (1957), "Night Passage" (1957), "Vertigo", (1958), "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958), "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), "Two Rode Together" (1961), "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962), "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (1962), How the West Was Won" (1962), "Take Her, She's Mine" (1963), "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964), "Dear Brigitte" (1965), "Shenandoah" (1965), "The Rare Breed" (1066), "The Cheyenne Social Club" (1970), "The Shootist" (1976), "The Big Sleep" (1978), "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" (1991) voice only)
• Hardy Krüger (Heinrich Dorfmann) ("Hatari!" (1962), "Paper Tiger" (1975), "A Bridge Too Far" (1977))
• Richard Attenborough (Lew Moran) ("The Great Escape" (1963), "The Sand Pebbles" (1966), "Doctor Dolittle" (1967), "The Magic Christian" (1969), "And Then There Were None" (1974), "brannigan" (1975), "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Magic" (1978), "Gandhi" (1982), "Chaplin" (1992), "Jurassic Park" (1993), "Miricle on 34th Street" (1994), "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997), "Elizabeth" (1998))
• Peter Finch (Capt Harris) ("Sunday Bloody Sunday" (1971), "Lost Horizon" (1973), "Network" (1976))

The film also features Ernest Borgnine (Trucker Cobb), Ian Bannen ("Ratbags" Crow), Ronald Fraser (Sgt. Watson), Christian Marquand (Dr. Renaud), Dan Duryea (Standish), George Kennedy (Mike Bellamy), Gabriele Tinti (Gabriel), Alex Montoya (Carlos), Peter Bravos (Tasso), William Aldrich (Bill), Barrie Chase (Farida).

This is the 1965 version of "Flight of the Phoenix" with the remake staring Dennis Quaid being found here .

This film is a perfect example of how you can have a drama with no blood and guts and with no special effects. This movie relies on a great director, a very well done script and an ensemble cast that can pull off the scenes.

The cinematography is very good. But the hallmark here is the acting performed by the cast. James Stewart, in what is actually the latter part of his career is right on point with his portrayal of Capt. Fran Towns. And Richard Attenborough is brilliant as his drunken co-pilot. But I think that Hardy Kruger actually stole the show as the person everyone wants to hate but who they must rely on.

I strongly recommend this film to everyone who likes good drama.

[DSig]

Air Force One (1997/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States) Director: Wolfgang Petersen Writing: Andrew W. Marlowe (Writer) Length: 124 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Harrison Ford (1942) as President James Marshall
Gary Oldman as Ivan Korshunov
Glenn Close as Vice President Kathryn Bennett
Wendy Crewson as Grace Marshall
Liesel Matthews as Alice Marshall

Plot:
Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Glenn Close star in two-time Oscar®-nominee* Wolfgang Petersen's gripping thriller about a steadfast U.S. President who has just told the world he will not negotiate with terrorists. Now, Russian neo-nationalists have hijacked Air Force One, and the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision – give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country's dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

*1981, Das Boot, Director, Screenplay Adaptation

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

The film begins with a joint special operations mission composed of Russian Spetsnaz and American Delta Force operatives to capture General Ivan Radek, the dictator of a terrorist regime in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. Three weeks later, James Marshall, the President of the United States, gives a speech at a state dinner in Moscow, telling the world that the United States will no longer negotiate with terrorists or fail to intervene in dictatorial regimes (a subplot that seems to reference the Bosnian and Kosovo Wars). Afterwards, Marshall, much of his Cabinet and his advisors board Air Force One to return to the U.S. Just before takeoff, they are joined by Marshall's family, First Lady Grace and First Daughter Alice. Meanwhile, six Kazakh ultra-nationalist terrorists, led by Egor Korshunov and posing as a Russian news crew, have boarded the plane and shortly after take-off are able to hijack the plane and kill several people with help from Gibbs, a mole in the Secret Service. Agents hustle a reluctant Marshall to the escape pod before Korshunov's men can capture him. In the cockpit, the pilots attempt to make an emergency landing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. However, the hijackers breach the cockpit, shoot the pilots, and set course for Kazakhstan.

Korshunov gathers the remaining passengers into the conference room and contacts the White House Situation Room, where he speaks to Vice President Kathryn Bennett. He demands that they arrange for General Radek's release in exchange for the hostages. Until their demands to release Radek are met, the terrorists threaten to execute one hostage every half hour. National Security Advisor Jack Doherty is the first to be executed, and Grace and Alice are taken up to the cockpit as separate hostages.

Marshall’s escape pod is discovered to be empty; he is actually still on board. It was also revealed that Marshall was a Vietnam Veteran, and a Medal of Honor recipient. After Marshall kills two of Korshunov's men, Korshunov responds by executing and killing Press Secretary Melanie Mitchell in front of Marshall's terrified family and over the intercom, trying to force Marshall to surrender. Hiding from Korshunov in the avionics bay, Marshall is able to initiate a dump of Air Force One's fuel reserve in hopes of forcing the terrorists to land, but Korshunov demands a mid-air refueling.

Marshall sneaks back into the conference room where the passengers are being held and escorts them to the parachute bay. Most of the hostages escape via parachute, until they are discovered by one of Korshunov's men. The resulting chaos caused depressurization of the parachute bay, and several people are sucked out of the plane without parachutes, meeting their deaths (the parachute-less people being the Secret Service agents who just volunteered to stay with Marshall). It also disrupts the refueling process, setting the refueling plane's fuel reserve on fire and causing it to explode in midair.

Korshunov takes Marshall hostage, as well as Major Caldwell, Gibbs and Chief of Staff Lloyd Shepherd and threatens to kill Alice unless he agrees to call Russian President Petrov and demand Radek's release. As Radek prepares to leave prison, Marshall breaks free and kills the last two of Korshunov's men. Korshunov drags Grace down to the cargo bay, where he throws all the remaining parachutes overboard, except for the one he is wearing. In the ensuing fight, Marshall wraps a cord around Korshunov's neck, says "Get off my plane!", and opens the parachute, which breaks Korshunov's neck, and his dead body floats away off the plane. With all of the hijackers dead and regaining control of the plane, Marshall halts the release of Radek, who is fatally shot from all sides as he tries to escape.

Marshall takes up the task of piloting the plane with help from Caldwell and turns it toward the nearest airbase. Back at the White House, Bennett discovers six Kazakh MiG-29s fighter planes piloted by Radek loyalists in pursuit and warns Marshall. A squadron of F-15s arrive and fight off the MiGs, with one pilot sacrificing himself to stop a missile from hitting the plane, but in the ensuing explosion, Air Force One is left so badly damaged, it is unable to land safely and is leaking fuel.

An Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130E Combat Talon plane is hastily tasked to zip-line Marshall and the remaining passengers from the plane before it runs out of fuel and crashes. Marshall insists that his family be rescued first, as well as a wounded Shepherd. The last engine fails and when the final rescuer states he can only evacuate one more, Gibbs pulls a gun and kills both the rescuer and Caldwell, revealing his true identity. Marshall is able to subdue Gibbs before the steel cable detaches from the plane with the President secured, and Air Force One finally crashes into the Caspian Sea, killing Gibbs. The country celebrates as the President is winched to safety, and Marshall embraces his family and salutes the crew of the Hercules, who change their call sign to Air Force One

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Action / Thriller
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Last Watched: 6/24/2012

Rating: 3/5

'Air Force One' (1997) is a Action / Thriller film

• produced by Armyan Bernstein (as producer "The Hurricane" (1999), "End of Days" (1999), "Thirteen Days" (2000), "The Family Man" (2000), "Spy Game" (2001), "Tuck Everlasting" (2002), "Open Range" (2003), "Dawn of the Dead" (2004), "Firewall" (2005), "Children of Men" (2006) )
• produced by Thomas Bliss (as producer "The Hurricane" (1999), "End of Days" (1999), "Thirteen Days" (2000), "The Family Man" (2000), "Spy Game" (2001), "Tuck Everlasting" (2002), "Dawn of the Dead" (2004), "Children of Men" (2006), "Flash of Genius" (2008) )
• produced by Gail Katz (as producer "Shattered" (1991), "In the Line of Fire" (1993), "Outbreak" (1995) ), "Mighty Joe Young" (1998), "Instinct" (1999), "Bicentennial Man" (1999), "The Perfect Storm" (2000) )
• produced by Jonathan Shestack ("Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" (2009), "Dan in Real Life" (2007), "Firewall" (2006))
• produced by Wolfgang Petersen (as producer "Shattered" (1991), "In the Line of Fire" (1993), "Outbreak" (1995), "Red Corner" (1997), "Troy" (2004))
• screenplay by Andrew W. Marlowe ("End of Days" (1999), "Hollow Man" (2000) )
• directed by Wolfgang Petersen as director ("Das Boot" (1091), "The NeverEnding Story" (1984), "Enemy Mine" (1985), "Shattered" (1991), "In the Line of Fire" (1993), "Outbreak" (1995), "Red Corner" (1997), "The Perfect Storm" (2000), "Troy" (2004))

It stars

• Harrison Ford (President James Marshall) ("Getting Straight" (1970), "American Graffiti" (1973), "The Conversation" (1974), "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (1977), "Force 10 from Navarone" (1978), "Apocalypse Now" (1979), "The Frisco Kid" (1979), "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980), "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981), "Blade Runner", (1982), "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" (1983), "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), (1984), "Witness" (1985), "The Mosquito Coast" (1986), "Frantic" (1988), "Working Girl" (1988), "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), Presumed Innocent" (1990), "Regarding Henry" (1991), "Patriot Games" (1992), "The Fugitive" (1993), "Clear and Present Danger" (1994), "Sabrina" (1995), "The Devil's Own" (1997), "Six Days and Seven Nights" (1998), "What Lies Beneath" (2000), "Hollywood Homicide" (2003), "Firewall" (2006), "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), "Extraordinary Measures" (2010), "Cowboys & Aliens" (2011) )
• Gary Oldman (Egor Korshunov) ("Criminal Law" (1988), "The FIrm" (1988), "Dracula" (1992), "True Romance" (1993), "Léon: The Professional" (1994), "Immortal Beloved" (1994), "Murder in the First" (1995), "The Fifth Element" (1997), "Lost in Space" (1998), "Hannibal" (2001), "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), "Batman Begins" (2004), "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007), "The Dark Knight" (2008), "The Unborn" (2009), "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011) voice only, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" (2011) )
• Glenn Close (Vice President Kathryn Bennett) ("The World According to Garp" (1982), "The Big Chill" (1983), "The Natural" (1984), "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984), "Jagged Edge" (1985), "Fatal Attraction" (1987), "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988), "Hook" (1991), "Mars Attacks!" (1996), "Mary Reilly" (1996), "In & Out" (1997), "Cookie's Fortune" (1999), "The Stepford Wives" (2004), "Hoodwinked!" (2006) )

The film also features Wendy Crewson (Grace Marshall), Liesel Matthews (Alice Marshall), Dean Stockwell (Secretary of Defense Walter Dean), Elya Baskin (Andrei Kolchak), Levan Uchaneishvili (Sergei Lenski), David Vadim (Igor Nevsky), Andrew Divoff (Boris Bazylev), Ilia Volok (Vladimir Krasin), Paul Guilfoyle (White House Chief of Staff Lloyd Shepherd), Xander Berkeley (United States Secret Service Agent Gibbs), William H. Macy (Major Caldwell), Alan Woolf (Russian President Petrov), Tom Everett (National Security Advisor Jack Doherty), Jürgen Prochnow (General Ivan Radek), Donna Bullock (Deputy Press Secretary Melanie Mitchell), Michael Ray Miller (Colonel Axelrod), Carl Weintraub (Lieutenant Colonel Ingraham), Spencer Garrett as White House Aide Thomas Lee), Bill Smitrovich (General Northwood), Glenn Morshower (Agent Walters), David Gianopoulos (Agent Johnson), Dan Shor (Notre Dame Aide), Philip Baker Hall (U.S. Atty. General Andrew Ward), Richard Doyle (Colonel Bob Jackson, A.F.O. Backup Pilot), Willard Pugh (White House Communications Officer), Don R. McManus (Colonel Jack Carlton, F-15 "Halo Flight" Leader).

This is a great Action / Thriller and finds Harrison Ford in his prime. I think this is the type of movie that Harrison Ford was born to play. Sure, he has done light weight 'Romantic Comedies' like "Sabrina"  a remake of the 1954 film "Sabrina" which starred Humphrey Bogart. He did a good job but it looked like he was stiff throughout the film. He didn't look comfortable. Although I did enjoy him in "Working Girl".

But in action films like this one, "Blade Runner", The Star Wars Trilogy  and the Indiana Jones Quadrilogy  he shines. He also does a very good job in drama films like "Regarding Henry", "Frantic" and "The Devil's Own".  He is always a good watch.

And Gary Oldman, what to say about him. From his short but brilliant role as Mason Verger in "Hannibal" to his over the top portrayals of the cop Norman Stansfield in "Léon: The Professional" and Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg in "The Fifth Element" he shines. He brings with his performances a brilliance. His characters, no matter how insane, loathsome or cruel simply shine on the screen.

And Wolfgang Petersen did another good job in his direction. From family entertainment like "The NeverEnding Story" to drama films like "Das Boot" and "In the Line of Fire" his direction is crisp and clean.  The action comes hard and fast with little time in between to breath.

Is this the best action movie ever made .. nope .. and it isn't rocket science either, but it is a fun watch.

I recommend this film to everyone who just wants to be entertained.

[DSig]

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Director: Kevin Reynolds Writing: Pen Densham (Story By), Pen Densham (Screenwriter), John Watson (Screenwriter) Length: 143 min. Video: Widescreen :1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Subtitles: English

Stars:
Kevin Costner as Robin Hood
Morgan Freeman (1937)
Christian Slater
Alan Rickman as Sheriff of Nottingham
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Plot:
Two-time Academy Award winner®• Kevin Costner plays the legendary Sherwood Forest outlaw leader in a richly textured epic bringing a 12th-century medieval world to spectacular screen life. Filmed at historic locales in England and France, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves brims with the romance, passion, pageantry and humor that have made this remarkable nobleman a hero through the ages and his story the focus of many movies over the past century. Morgan Freeman as Moorish aristocrat Azeem, Christian Slater as rebellious Will Scarlett, Alan Rickman as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as the spirited Lady Marian also star.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

Robin of Locksley (Costner), an English nobleman who joined King Richard "The Lionheart" in the Third Crusade, is imprisoned in Jerusalem along with his comrade Peter. Robin escapes, saving the life of a Moor named Azeem (Freeman) in the process, but Peter dies while escaping and has Robin swear to protect his sister Marian (Mastrantonio). Robin returns to England with Azeem, who has vowed to accompany him until the debt of saving his life is repaid.

In England, with King Richard still away, the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham (Rickman) rules over the land, aided by his cousin Guy of Gisbourne (Michael Wincott), along with the witch Mortianna (Geraldine McEwan) and the corrupt Bishop of Hereford (Harold Innocent). At Locksley Castle, Robin's father (Brian Blessed) is killed by the Sheriff's men after refusing to join them.

Robin returns to England to find his father dead, his home in ruins, and the Sheriff and his men oppressing the people. While fleeing the Sheriff's forces, Robin and Azeem encounter a band of outlaws hiding in Sherwood Forest, led by Little John (Nick Brimble). Among the band is Will Scarlet (Slater), who holds a belligerent grudge against Robin and does not hesitate to show Robin his true feelings. Robin ultimately assumes command of the group, encourages his men to fight against Nottingham, and trains them to defend themselves. They rob English soldiers and convoys that pass through the forest, then distribute the stolen wealth among the poor. One of their early targets is Friar Tuck (Michael McShane), who subsequently joins these Merry Men, and Marian also begins to sympathize with the band and renders Robin any aid she can muster. Robin’s successes infuriate the Sheriff, who increases the maltreatment of the people, resulting in more support for Robin Hood.

Hiring Celtic warriors from Scotland to bolster his forces, the Sheriff manages to locate the outlaws' hideout and launches an attack, destroying the forest refuge. He confines Marian when she tries to summon help from France. The Sheriff proposes to Marian, claiming that if she accepts, he will spare the lives of the captured outlaws. Nevertheless, several of the rebels are due to be executed by hanging as part of the wedding celebration. Among the captured is Will Scarlett, whom seemingly makes a deal with Sheriff to find and kill Robin in order to be set free.

Will meets back with Robin and a handful of his most trusted aides who survived the assault by the Celts. Instead of attacking Robin, Will informs him of the Sheriff's plans to marry Marian and execute Robin's men. Will still continues to take out his anger against Robin, to which Robin then questions Will as to why he hates him so much. Will then reveals himself to be Robin's younger illegitimate half-brother; Will's mother was a peasant woman with whom Robin's father took comfort after his (Robin's) mother died. However, Robin's anger toward his father caused him to separate from her and leave Will fatherless. Despite Robin's anger toward his father for being with another woman, he is overjoyed to learn that he has a brother and embraces Will.

On the day of the wedding and hangings, Robin and his men storm Nottingham Castle, freeing the prisoners. Although Robin's band originally planned to free their friends and retreat, Azeem reveals himself and his willingness to fight the Sheriff, turning the peasants to revolt. After a fierce fight, Robin kills the Sheriff but is attacked by Mortianna, who charges with a spear. Azeem slays Mortianna, fulfilling his vow to repay his life debt to Robin. Tuck also kills the Bishop by defenestrating him after learning of his corruption and treachery.

Robin and Marian profess their love for each other and marry in the forest. Their wedding is briefly interrupted by the return of King Richard (Sean Connery), who blesses the marriage and thanks Robin for his deeds.

(click to show/hide)

Extras:

• Feature Trailers

My Thoughts:

Genre: Action / Adventure
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: No
Last Watched: 6/26/2012

Rating: 3/5

"'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1997) is Action film

• directed by Kevin Reynolds (as director "Waterworld" (1995) uncredited, One "Eight Seven" (1997), "The Count of Monte Cristo" (2002))
• produced by Pen Densham (as producter "Backdraft" (1991), "Taking Liberty" (1993), "Blown Away" (1994), "Larger Than Life" (1996) and a lot of TV shows/series)
• produced by Richard Barton Lewi[s/b] (as producter "August Rush" (2007), "Blown Away" (1994), "Backdraft" (1991) and lots of TV shows/movies)
• produced by John Watson (as producer "Backdraft" (1991), "Blown Away" (1994) and lots of TV shows/movies )
• screenplay by Pen Densham (as writer lots of TV shows/series )
• screenplay by John Watson (as writer TV shows/series )

It stars

• Kevin Costner (Robin Hood) ("Night Shift" (1982), "The Big Chill" (1983), "Silverado" (1985), "American Flyers" (1985), "The Untouchables" (1987), "No Way Out" (1987), "Field of Dreams" (1988), "Dances with Wolves" (1990), "JFK" (1991), "The Bodyguard", (1992), "Wyatt Earp" (1994), "Waterworld), (1995), "Tin Cup" (1996), "The Postman" (1997), "Message in a Bottle" (1999), "For the Love of the Game" (1999), "Thirteen Days" (2000), "3000 Miles to Graceland" (2001), "Dragonfly" (2002), "Open Range" (2003), "The Upside of Anger" (2005) )
• Morgan Freeman (Azeem) ("Brubaker" (1980), "Harry & Son" (1984), "Glory" (1989), "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989), "Lean On Me" (1989), "The Bonfire of the Vanities" (1990), "Unforgiven" (1992), "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), "Outbreak" (1995), "Se7en" (1995), "Chain Reaction" (1996), "Amistad" (1997), "Kiss The Girls" (1997), "Deep Impact" (1998), "Hard Rain" (1998), "Under Suspicion" (2000), "Along Came a Spider" (2001), "The Sum of All Fears" (2002), "High Crimes" (2002), "Bruce Almighty" (2003), "Dreamcatcher" (2003), "Levity" (2003), "An Unfinished Life" (2005), "March of the Penguins" (2005) narrator, "Batman Begins" (2005), "Unleashed" (2005), "The Contract" (2006), "Lucky Number Slevin" (2006), "Evan Almighty" (2007), "The Bucket List" (2007), "Wanted" (2008), "The Love Guru" (2008), "The Dark Knight" (2008), "The Maiden Heist" (2009), "Invictus" (2009), "Red" (2010) )
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Marian Dubois) ("Scarface" (1983), "The Color of Money" (1986), "The January Man" (1989), "The Abyss" (1989), "Class Action" (1991), "Consenting Adults" (1992), "The Perfect Storm" (2000) )
• Alan Rickman (George, Sheriff of Nottingham) ("Die Hard" (1988), "The January Man" (1989), "Quigley DOwn Under" (1990), "Bob Roberts", "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), "Dogma" (1999), "Galaxy Quest" (1999), " Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (2001), " Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002), "Love Actually" (2003), "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004), "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005), "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005), "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007), "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (2007), "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2010), "Alice in Wonderland" (2010), "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1" (2010), "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2" (2011) )

The film also features Christian Slater (Will Scarlett), Geraldine McEwan (Mortianna), Michael McShane (Friar Tuck), Brian Blessed (Lord Locksley), Michael Wincott (Guy of Gisborne), Nick Brimble (Little John), Harold Innocent (Bishop of Hereford), Walter Sparrow (Duncan) and Sean Connery (uncredited) (King Richard).

I remember that I was working in Munich at the time this film was released. My daughter (8 at the time) was visiting and we decided we wanted to see it. So we found an theater showing the English version and saw it. At the time we liked it very much. It was an swashbuckling adventure film and I had always like them as a kid.

Having said that ... I don't like this movie as much any more .. especially the performance by Kevin Costner. That is why I only give it a 3. It is watchable and entertaining but it is not all it could have been.

As mentioned I did like it when first seen so maybe it is only really good once. I do very much like the performances by Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Alan Rickman, especially Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

And the supporting cast is very good as well, with the exception of Christian Slater who I think was weak in this film. Geraldine McEwan as Mortianna is great, even more crazy than Alan Rickman's character.

I do give this a 3of5 primarily on the story, filming and supporting cast. It is a good watch though not something I would/could watch very often.

[DSig]

The Man with the Golden Arm: Frank Sinatra Collection (1955/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Director: Otto Preminger Writing: Walter Newman (Screenwriter), Lewis Meltzer (Screenwriter), Nelson Algren (Original Material By) Length: 119 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Frank Sinatra
Eleanor Parker
Kim Novak
Arnold Stang
Darren McGavin

Plot:
Drummer Frankie Machine is out of detox and eager to get on with a big band career. He’s sure that he has kicked his habit. But the habit kicks back.

In 'The Man with the Golden Arm', Frank Sinatra gives a piercing, Academy Award®-nominated* portrayal many call his best. (The film's art direction and Elmer Bernstein’s smoky jazz score also earned Oscar® nominations.) Pioneering moviemaker Otto Preminger directs this landmark that first defied Production Code taboos against on-screen depictions of drug abuse. 'A Hatful of Rain', 'The Panic in Needle Park', 'Clean and Sober', 'Drugstore Cowboy', 'Rush' and 'Blow' would offer later portraits of narcotic terror. But it all started with this harrowing, grown-up film.

*1955: Best Actor.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

Frankie Machine (Frank Sinatra) is released from prison with a set of drums and a new outlook on life. A heroin addict, Frankie became clean in prison. On the outside, he greets friends and acquaintances. Sparrow (Arnold Stang), who runs a con selling homeless dogs, clings to him like a young brother, but Schwiefka (Robert Strauss), whom Frankie used to deal for in his illegal card game, has more sinister reasons for welcoming him back, as does Louis (Darren McGavin), Machine's former heroin dealer.

Frankie sees his wife Zosh (Eleanor Parker), who is supposedly wheelchair-bound, but secretly fully recovered, after a car crash some years ago. Zosh smothers her husband and hinders his attempt to make something of himself. He thinks he has what it takes to play drums for a big band. While calling to make an appointment, he bumps into an old flame, Molly (Kim Novak).

Frankie soon gets himself a tryout and asks Sparrow to get him a new suit, but the suit is a stolen one and he ends up back in a cell. Schwiefka offers to pay the bail. Frankie refuses, but soon changes his mind when the sight of a drug addict on the edge becomes too much for him. Now, to repay the debt, he must deal for Schwiefka again. Louis is trying to hook him on heroin again, and with no job and Zosh to please, pressure is building from all directions.

Soon Frankie succumbs and is back on drugs and dealing marathon, all-night, card games for Schwiefka. He gets a tryout as a drummer, but spends 24 hours straight dealing a poker game. Desperately needing a fix, Frankie follows Louis home, attacks him, ransacks his house, but can't find his stash of heroin. At the audition, with withdrawal coming on, Frankie can't keep the beat and ruins his chance of landing the drumming job. When Louis goes to see Zosh to try to find him, Louis discovers that Zosh has been faking her paralysis and can walk. Zosh, scared of being found out, accidentally pushes him over the railing of the stairwell to his death, but things backfire when Frankie is sought for murder.

Initially not realizing he is a suspect in Louie's death, Frankie goes to Molly hoping to get money for a fix. After learning the police are looking for him, Molly convinces Frankie that he must go cold turkey if he is to stand a chance with the police. Frankie agrees and is locked in Molly's apartment where he goes through a grueling withdrawal to clear the drugs from his body. Finally clean again, he tells Zosh he is going to leave her, start anew and stand trial. In her desperation, Zosh once again gives herself away, standing up in front of Frankie and the police. She runs, but can get no further than the outside balcony. Trapped, she blows the whistle and throws herself off the balcony to her death. An ambulance then arrives to take Zosh to the hospital and drives away while Frankie watches in dismay. He then walks away with Molly.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

Genre: Drama
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Last Watched: 6/28/2012

Rating: 4/5

"The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955) is Drama film

• directed by Otto Preminger (as director "Fallen Angel" (1945), "Carmen Jones" (1954), "River of No Return" (1954), "Porgy and Bess" (1959), "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), "Exodus" (1960), "Advise and Consent" (1962), "Skidoo" (1968) )
• produced by Otto Preminger
• screenplay by Walter Newman ("Cat Ballou" (1965), "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) uncredited, and TV shows )
• screenplay by Lewis Meltzer ("Jazz Singer" (1952), "Comanche Territory" (1950) and TV shows/series )
• screenplay by Ben Hecht (uncredited) (many screenplays with many 'uncredited' credits. Checkout screenplays here

It stars

• Frank Sinatra (Frankie Machine) ("Anchors Aweigh" (1945), "The Miracle of the Bells" (1948), "On the Town" (1949), "From Here to Eternity" (1953), "Young at Heart" (1954), "Guys and Dolls" (1955), "Finian's Rainbow" (1955), "High Society" (1956), "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1956), "Pal Joey", (1957), "The Pride and the Passion" (1957), "A Hole in the Head", (1959), "Can-Can" (1960), "Ocean's Eleven" (1960), "The Devil at 4 O'Clock" (1961), "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), "Sergeants 3" (1962), "4 for Texas" (1963), "Robin and the 7 Hoods" (1964), "Von Ryan's Express" (1965), "Assault on a Queen" (1966), "Tony Rome" (1967), "Lady in Cement" (1968), "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988) voice only )
• Eleanor Parker (Zosh) ("Of Human Bondage" (1946), "Detective Story" (1951), "The Naked Jungle" (1954), "A Hole in the Head" (1959), "The Sound of Music" (1965), "The Tiger and the Pussycat" (1967) )
• Kim Novak (Molly) ("Picnic" (1955), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), "Pal Joey" (1957), "Vertigo" (1958), "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958), "Strangers When We Meet" (1960), "The Notorious Landlady" (1962), "Boys' Night Out" (1962), "Of Human Bondage" (1964), "The Mirror Crack'd" (1980), "Liebestraum" (1991) )
• Arnold Stang (Sparrow) ("Dennis the Menace " (1993), "Skidoo " (1968), "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963) and a lot of TV shows including being the voice to "Top Cat" )

The film also features Darren McGavin (Louie Fomorowski), Robert Strauss (Zero Schwiefka), John Conte (Drunky John), Doro Merande (Vi), George E. Stone (Sam Markette), George Mathews (Williams), Leonid Kinskey (Dominowski) and Emile Meyer (Detective Bednar)

Otto Preminger was a great director and this is one of my favorites of his.

Frank Sinatra gives a very powerful performance as Frankie Machine, a heroin addict always trying to stay straight and make his way. But always failing to stay straight and always blowing his chances. Arnold Stang gives a powerful performance as Sparrow, Frankie's best friend. Well actually he follows Frankie around like a pup. Eleanor Parker gives a great performance as Zosh, Frankies crippled wife. She is manic about Frankie to the point of perfection.  And Kim Novak is great as Molly. An old flame of Frankie's and she still loves him. She plays the truely supporting friend/lover.

With this ensemble cast it would be hard to come up short and Otto Preminger does a masterful job of blending the performers with a very good script and great filming.

I strongly recommend this film to anyone.

[DSig]

Hard Candy: Widescreen (2005/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Lions Gate Entertainment (United States) Director: David Slade Writing: Brian Nelson (Writer) Length: 104 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Ellen Page as Hayley Stark
Patrick Wilson as Jeff Kohlver
Sandra Oh as Judy Tokuda
Odessa Rae [Jennifer Holmes] as Janelle Rogers
Gilbert John as Nighthawks Clerk

Plot:
A smart, charming teenage girl, Hayley probably shouldn't be going to a local coffee shop to meet Jeff, a 30-something fashion photographer she met on the Internet. But before she knows it, she's mixing drinks at Jeff's place and stripping for an impromptu photo shoot. It's Jeff's lucky night. But Hayley isn't as innocent as she looks, and the night takes a turn when she begins to impose a hard-hitting investigation on Jeff in an attempt to reveal his possibly scandalous past.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

The film opens with a flirtatious online chat between 14-year-old Hayley Stark (Ellen Page) and 32-year-old photographer Jeff Kohlver[4] (Patrick Wilson) who agree to meet for the first time at a café. After further flirtation, Hayley suggests they return to Jeff’s house. Once there, Hayley makes them both screwdrivers after telling Jeff that she would not drink something that she did not mix herself. Hayley, who appears slightly intoxicated, suggests that Jeff take some photographs of her, similar to the ones of young girls displayed on the walls of his home. As Hayley dances and poses, Jeff begins to feel disoriented and eventually passes out.[5]

Jeff wakes up tied to a wheeled computer chair. Hayley explains that she drugged him and has also been tracking him, knowing he is a pedophile. Jeff denies the allegations, saying he had innocent intentions. Hayley frantically searches the house, eventually finding a hidden safe in his rock garden containing a photo of Donna Mauer, a local girl who had been kidnapped and remains missing. Jeff denies involvement in Mauer’s disappearance and tries to escape. Hayley asphyxiates him with plastic wrap until he passes out again.

Jeff once again wakes, this time tied to a steel table with a bag of ice on his genitals. Hayley once again confronts him about Donna Mauer, informing Jeff that she is going to castrate him. After a long conversation, she begins composing an e-mail to Janelle, Jeff’s ex-girlfriend. Jeff attempts to dissuade her with threats, negotiation, and a long plea for sympathy based on a story of the abuse he suffered as a child, but Hayley proceeds with the operation. Following its conclusion, she steps out of the room claiming to leave to take a shower. Jeff breaks free and realizes she has faked the castration. Scalpel in hand, he follows Hayley to the bathroom, only to find that the shower is empty and he has walked into a trap; Hayley knocks him unconscious once again, this time with a stun gun.

Jeff awakens once more, this time standing on a chair, his hands bound, with a noose around his neck. Hayley reveals that she has written a fake suicide note on his behalf and she makes Jeff an offer. He can commit suicide, and Hayley will erase the evidence of his crimes. If he refuses to kill himself, Hayley will knock the chair out from under him and fully expose his secrets. Their conversation is interrupted when a neighbor (Sandra Oh) knocks on the door. Hayley answers and convinces the neighbor that she is Jeff’s niece who is staying for the weekend. When the neighbor asks her basic questions, Hayley stammers and tells unconvincing lies. When Hayley returns, Jeff breaks free from the noose and pursues her to the roof — where she has brought the noose and holds him off with the gun. Hayley reveals that she has contacted Janelle, who is driving to the house as they speak. She tells him that if he does not commit suicide, she will pull off her own clothes and run into Janelle’s arms, crying and screaming.

Jeff finally confesses that he was involved in Donna Mauer’s death, but that he only watched while his accomplice committed the murder. He promises that, if she spares his life, he will disclose the other man’s name and help her find him. Hayley reveals that “Aaron”, the man Jeff claims killed Mauer, told her the same thing before killing himself. Janelle arrives and Hayley urges Jeff to kill himself to avoid prosecution and prison, where he will be branded as a child molester and brutalized. She reminds him that her offer is still on the table. Jeff, defeated, lets Hayley slide the noose around his neck with no resistance. He takes the deadly step off the roof with Hayley promising “I’ll take care of it all…” Hayley looks over the side of the house, observing Jeff, and simply states: “…or not.” She gathers her belongings and escapes through the woods at the rear of the house. She stops for a moment to sit and the scene cuts to Hayley walking down the road with the hood on her jacket over her head.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• DVD-ROM Content
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Drama / Crime Thriller
Rating: R
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: Yes
Last Watched: 6/27/2012

Review: 4/5

"Hard Candy" (1955) is a Drama / Crime Thriller film

• directed by David Slade (as director "30 Days of Night" (2007), "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" (2010), and TV shows including "Braking Bad" )
• produced by Rosanne Korenberg
• produced by Paul Allen
• screenplay by Brian Nelson ("30 Days of Night" (2007), "Devil" (2011), and TV shows including "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", "Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict" and "JAG")

It stars

• Patrick Wilson (Jeff Kohlver) ("The Alamo" (2004), "Watchmen" (2009), "Insidious" (2011) )
• Ellen Page (Hayley Stark) ("X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006), "Juno" (2007), "Smart People" (2008), "Inception" (2010) )

The film also features Sandra Oh (Judy Tokuda), Odessa Rae (Janelle Rogers) and Gilbert John (Nighthawks Clerk)

This is a brilliant, hard and edgy film. It deals with the subject of a pedophile and revenge, and for that reason it might not be for some people. This isn't for the young.

This is an Ellen Page film. Patrick Wilson is very good in his role. You feel sorry for him, you believe him and you even hope that he gets out of trouble .. could she be wrong?

But this is an Ellen Page film. She carries it. Her character is so intense that you can't stop watching her. No matter what she does you "feel" for her. It is hard to believe that it is another 2 years before she does "Juno". She is so strong in this movie I can only believe that the entire film project was just developed for her.

There is no sex or real violence (except at the end), but it is 'R' rated.  But I strongly recommend this film to anyone capable of watching this type of intensity.

[Achim]

This is a brilliant, hard and edgy film. It deals with the subject of a pedophile and revenge, and for that reason it might not be for some people. This isn't for the young.

This is an Ellen Page film. Patrick Wilson is very good in his role. You feel sorry for him, you believe him and you even hope that he gets out of trouble .. could she be wrong?

Mild spoilers ahead.

(click to show/hide)

I thought that part is indeed brilliantly. First you are not sure if he really could do such things and when he admits it one an not help but wonder if he only admitted it to stop her torturing him. If you think about, that was quite the achievement of Patrick Wilson to get the audience to feel that way.

[DSig]

This is a brilliant, hard and edgy film. It deals with the subject of a pedophile and revenge, and for that reason it might not be for some people. This isn't for the young.

This is an Ellen Page film. Patrick Wilson is very good in his role. You feel sorry for him, you believe him and you even hope that he gets out of trouble .. could she be wrong?

Mild spoilers ahead.

(click to show/hide)

I thought that part is indeed brilliantly. First you are not sure if he really could do such things and when he admits it one an not help but wonder if he only admitted it to stop her torturing him. If you think about, that was quite the achievement of Patrick Wilson to get the audience to feel that way.

Yep .. he definitely didn't just "phone it in".  On first watch I really loved the film.  An now on second watch I think it still holds up.

Glad you liked it too
Dsig

[DSig]

First Knight (1995/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States) Director: Jerry Zucker Writing: Lorne Cameron (Original Material By), David Hoselton (Original Material By), William Nicholson (Original Material By), William Nicholson (Screenwriter) Length: 134 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo, French: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Korean, Spanish

Stars:
Sean Connery as Arthur
Richard Gere as Lancelot
Julia Ormond as Guinevere
Ben Cross as Malagant
Liam Cunningham as Sir Agravaine

Plot:
Together, Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall, Sabrina) and Jerry Zucker, the director of Ghost, bring you a new vision of King Arthur's Camelot. A vision of breathtaking battles, of heart-pounding courage, of the undeniable love that brought an entire kingdom to its knees...and of the undying passion that made it live forever.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

The film's opening text establishes that King Arthur (Sean Connery) of Camelot, victorious from his wars, has dedicated his reign to promoting justice and peace and now wishes to marry. However, Malagant (Ben Cross), a Knight of the Round Table, desires the throne for himself and rebels.[1]

The film opens with Lancelot (Richard Gere), a vagabond and skilled swordsman, dueling in small villages for money. Lancelot attributes his skill to his lack of concern whether he lives or dies. Guinevere (Julia Ormond), the ruler of Leonesse, decides to marry Arthur partly out of admiration and partly for security against Malagant, who is shown raiding a village. While traveling, Lancelot chances by Guinevere's carriage on the way to Camelot, and helps spoil Malagant's ambush meant to kidnap her. He falls in love with Guinevere, who refuses his advances. Though Lancelot urges her to follow her heart, Guinevere remains bound by her duty. She is subsequently reunited with her escort.[1]

Later, Lancelot arrives in Camelot and successfully navigates an obstacle course on the prospect of a kiss from Guinevere, though he instead kisses her hand. He also wins an audience with her husband-to-be, Arthur. Impressed by Lancelot's courage and struck by his recklessness and freewheeling, Arthur shows him the Round Table which symbolizes a life of service and brotherhood. Guinevere is subsequently kidnapped by Malagant's followers and imprisoned in an oubliette. Lancelot poses as a messenger to Malagant only to escape with Guinevere and return her to Camelot. Once again, Lancelot tries to win her heart, but is unsuccessful. On the return journey, it is revealed that Lancelot was orphaned and rendered homeless after bandits attacked his village, and has been wandering ever since.[1]

In gratitude, Arthur offers Lancelot a higher calling in life as a Knight of the Round Table. Amidst the protests of the other Knights (who are suspicious of his station), and of Guinevere (who struggles with her feelings for him), Lancelot accepts and takes Malagant's place at the Table, saying he has found something to care about. Arthur and Guinevere are subsequently wedded. However, a messenger from Leonesse arrives, with news that Malagant has invaded. Arthur leads his troops to Leonesse and successfully defeats Malagant's forces. Lancelot wins the respect of the other Knights with his prowess in battle. He also learns to embrace Arthur's philosophy, moved by the plight of villagers.[1]

Lancelot feels guilty about his feelings for the queen and in private announces his departure to her. She cannot bear the thought of him leaving and asks him for a kiss, which turns into a passionate embrace, just in time for the king to interrupt. Though Guinevere claims to love both Arthur and Lancelot – albeit in different ways – the two are charged with treason. The open trial in the great square of Camelot is interrupted by a surprise invasion by Malagant, ready to burn Camelot and kill Arthur if he does not swear fealty. Instead Arthur commands his subjects to fight, and Malagant's men shoot him with crossbows. A battle between Malagant's men and Camelot's soldiers and citizens ensues, and Lancelot and Malagant face off. Disarmed, Lancelot seizes Arthur's fallen sword and kills Malagant. The people of Camelot win the battle, but Arthur dies of his wounds. On his deathbed, he asks Lancelot to "take care of her for me" – a double entendre referring to both Camelot and Guinevere. The film closes with a funeral raft carrying Arthur's body floating out to sea, which is set aflame.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

Genre: Adventure / Romantic Drama
Rating: PG-13
Have I seen it before: Yes
Do I Like it as much: No
Last Watched: 6/24/2012

Review: 3/5

"First Knight" (1995) is a Adventure / Drama film

• directed by Jerry Zucker (as director " The Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977), "Airplane!" (1980), "Ruthless People" (1986), "Naked Gun" (1988), "Ghost" (1990), "Naked Gun 2½" (1991), "Naked Gun 33 1/3" )
• produced by Hunt Lowry ("Airplane!" (1980), "Only the Lonely" (1991), "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992), "Striking Distance" (1993), "My Life" (1993), "A Time to Kill" (1996), "Instinct" (1999), "The Kid" (2000), "Donnie Darko" (2001), "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" (2002), "What a Girl Wants" (2003) )
• produced by Jerry Zucker (as producer "Rat Race" (2001), "Fair Game" (2010)
• screenplay by William Nicholson ("Gladiator" (2000), "Shadowlands" (1993) and "Nell" (1994) )

• from story by Lorne Cameron
• from story by David Hoselton
• from story by William Nicholson

[/list]

It stars

• Richard Gere (Lancelot) ("Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977), "Days of Heaven" (1978), "American Giolo" (1980), "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), "The Cotton Club" (1984), "Internal Affairs" (1990), "Pretty Woman" (1990), 'Final Analysis" (1992), "Primal Fear" (1996), "Red Coner" (1997), "Runaway Bride" (1999), "Unfaithful" (2002), "The Mothman Prophecies" (2002), "Shall We Dance?" (2004) )
• Julia Ormond (Giomevere) ("Legends of the Fall" (1994), "Sabrina" (1995), "Animal Farm" (1999) voice only, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008) plus TV series such as "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Mad Men" )
• Sean Connery (King Arthur) ("Darby O'Gill and the Little People" (1959), "The Longest Day" (1962), "Dr. No" (1962), "From Russida with Love" (1963), "Marnie" (1964), "Goldfinger" (1964), "Thunderball" (1965), "A Fine Madness" (1966), "You Only Live Twice" (1967), "The Molly Maguires", (1970), "The Anderson Tapes" (1971), "Diamonds are Forever" (1971), "The Offence" (1973), "Zardoz" (1974), "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "The Man Who Would Be King" (1975), "Robin and Marian" (1976), "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "The FIrst Great Train Robbery" (1979), "Meteor" (1979), "Outland" (1981), "Time Bandits" (1981), "Never Say Never Again" (1983), "Highlander" (1986), "The Name of the Rose" (1986), "The Untouchables" (1987), "The Presidio" (1988), "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989), "Family Business" (1989), "The Hunt for Red October" (1990), "The Russia House" (1990), "Highlander II: The Quckening" (1991), "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), "Medicine Man" (1992), "Rising Sun" (1993), "Just Cause" (1995), "Frist Knight" (1995), "Dragonheart" (1996) voice only, "The Rock" (1996), "The Avengers" (1998), "Entrapment" (1999), "Finding Forrester" (2000), "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (2003) )
• Ben Cross (Prince Malagant) ("A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Chariots of Fire" (1981), "The Ascent" (1994), "The Invader" (1997), "Exorcist: The Beginning" (2004), "War, Inc" (2008), "Star Trek" (2009) )

The film also features John Gielgud (Oswald), Liam Cunningham (Sir Agravaine), Christopher Villiers (Sir Kay), Valentine Pelka (Sir Patrise), Colin McCormack (Sir Mador), Alexis Denisof (Sir Gaheris), Ralph Ineson (Ralf), Stuart Bunce (Peter) and Angus Wright (The Marauder).

You would think that with Jerry Zucker directing and Connery, Gere and Ormond staring this should be a great film. But it really isn't. It has some nice bits and is entertaining. But that is the best I can say about it.

Connery does not appear to have his heart in the part. Maybe playing Robin Hood in so many films and he doesn't feel right in the part of Arthur. I also don't find Richard Gere credible in the part of Lancelot. For me he is primarily a Thriller/Drama kind of actor.

I did really like Julia Ormonds role. And Ben Cross as Prince Malagant was wonderful.

Maybe it was the storyline. It seemed to veer a lot from the "Arthur" films/stories I had seen in the past. Maybe that was it.

Don't get me wrong, this is an entertaining film but simply isn't great as it could have been. I do recommend this film if you haven't seen it and if you are into the "Arthurian" legends.

[DSig]

Knowing (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Summit Entertainment (United States) Director: Alex Proyas Writing: Ryne Douglas Pearson (Story By), Ryne Douglas Pearson (Screenwriter), Juliet Snowden (Screenwriter), Stiles White (Screenwriter) Length: 121 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Nicolas Cage as John Koestler
Chandler Canterbury as Caleb Koestler
Rose Byrne as Diana
Lara Robinson as Abby / Lucinda
D. G. Maloney [D.G. Maloney] as The Stranger

Plot:
Nicolas Cage (National Treasure) stars in this edge of your seat sci-fi thriller as John Koestler, a professor who deciphers a coded message with terrifyingly accurate predictions about every major world disaster. Looking to protect his family and prevent future calamities he enlists the reluctant help of Diana Wayland {Rose Byrne}, daughter of the now-deceased author of the prophecies. His quest to understand the messages and his own family's involvement in them becomes a heart-pounding race against time as he faces the ultimate disaster.

** Complete Plot (with spoilers) from Wikipedia **

(click to show/hide)

In 1959, student Lucinda Embry hears whispers as she stares at the sun. Later, she writes a page of seemingly random numbers and adds it to her school's time capsule, set to be opened in 50 years.

In 2009, Caleb Koestler is a student at the same school. When the time capsule is opened, Caleb is supposed to read and write about some of the capsule's contents. He's given the page of numbers written by Lucinda. His widowed father Jonathan (Nicolas Cage), a professor of astrophysics at MIT, notices the numbers have a specific set of sequences referring to the times and locations of fatal disasters over the last 50 years, including 911012996 (the date and death toll of the 9/11 attacks). The last three sets of digits are dated in the immediate future.

That night, Caleb speaks with mysterious strangers in his room. They give him a small smooth stone, showing him visions of the world on fire.

Jonathan tracks down Lucinda's daughter Diana and granddaughter Abby. Though apprehensive and scared, Diana eventually decides to help Jonathan. She says that her mother used to hear voices and that the next date in the document, October 19, was the day Lucinda always said she would die.
Copy of Matthäus Merian's engraving of Ezekiel's "chariot vision" (1670)

Searching Lucinda's mobile home, they find pictures of the disasters she predicted, a copy of Matthäus Merian's engraving of Ezekiel's "chariot vision",[4] and a pile of small smooth stones near Lucinda's bed.

The last number in the document appears to be "33" but they discover it is really "EE" written backwards. They figure out that EE means "Everyone Else", representing a cataclysm that no one will escape.

Outside, more alien strangers walk up to the children waiting in the car. John drives them away only to have Abby say that the "whisper people" want her and Caleb to go with them.

The next day, John has a sudden revelation and rushes them to the MIT observatory, where he discovers that a massive solar flare will soon reach Earth, making it uninhabitable.

Diana wants to hide in some caves. John reluctantly agrees at first, but Diana decides to take the children and heads for the caves without him. As Jonathan chases after them, he calls Diana and tries to persuade her against relying on the caves. He warns her that the solar flare will penetrate miles under ground.

While Diane stops for gas, the aliens take the children. Diana chases them but is broadsided by a truck. John arrives at the accident just as Diana dies, finding the small stone in Diana's hand. He goes back to Lucinda's mobile home, finding the children and the aliens waiting in a dry river bed covered with the stones. A space ship descends from the sky. John is refused entry but allows his son to leave with the aliens. The ships departs with the children and a pair of rabbits, and a distant shot shows many similar vehicles leaving Earth.

The next morning the skies are on fire from the solar flare. John fights his way through the chaotic streets of Boston, arriving at his estranged father's home. They embrace as the solar flare burns away the atmosphere and incinerates the surface of the Earth, destroying all life on the planet. The film mostly focuses on the destruction of New York City in this scene.[5]

The film ends as Caleb and Abby are deposited by the aliens on an Earthlike planet. They are seen joyfully running with many other children through a beautiful mountain field towards a giant white tree.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

Genre:
Rating: PG-13
Have I seen it before:
Do I Like it as much:
Last Watched:

Review: 4/5

"Knowing" (2009) is Drama / Thriller film

• directed by Alex Proyas (as director "The Crow" (1994), "Dark City" (1998), "I, Robot" (2004), "Knowing" (2009) )
• produced by Todd Black ("Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" (1992), "Fire in the Sky" (1993), "A Knight's Tale" (2001), "S.W.A.T." (2003), "The Weather Man" (2005), "The Pursuit of Happyness (2005), "Seven Pounds" (2008), "Knowing" (2009), "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009) )
• produced by Jason Blumenthal ("Bio-Dome" (1996), "The Weather Man" (2005), "The Pursuit of Happyness (2005), "Seven Pounds" (2008), "Knowing" (2009), "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009) )
• produced by Steve Tisch ("The Weather Man" (2005), "The Pursuit of Happyness (2005), "Seven Pounds" (2008), "Knowing" (2009), "The Taking of Pelham 123" (2009) )
• screenplay by Ryne Douglas Pearson ("Mercury Rising" (2006) )
• screenplay by Juliet Snowden ("Knowing" (2009) )
• screenplay by Stiles White ("Knowing" (2009))

It stars

• Nicolas Cage (Professor Jonathan "John" Koestler) ("Brubaker" (1980)uncredited, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982), "Rumble Fish" (1983), "Peggie Sue Got Married" (1986), "Raising Arizona" (1987), "Moonstruck" (1987), "Vampire's Kiss" (1989), "Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992), "Amos & Andrew" (1993), "Guarding Tess", (1994), "It Could Happen to You" (1994), "Trapped in Paradise", (1994), "Kiss of Death" (1995), "Leaving Las Vegas" (1995), "The Rock" (1996), "Con Air" (1997), "Face/Off" (1997), "City of Angels" (1998), "Snake Eyes" (1998), "8mm" (1999), "Bringing Out the Dead" (1999), "Gone in Sixty Seconds" (2000), "The Family Man" (2000), "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" (2001), "Windtalkers" (2002), "Adaptation" (2002), "Matchstick Men" (2003), "Lord of War" (2005), "The Weather Man" (2005), "The Wicker Man" (2006), "Ghost Rider" (2007), "Next" (2007), "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (2007), "Bangkok Dangerous" (2008), "Knowing" (2009), "Astro Boy" (2009) voice only, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (2010) )
• Rose Byrne (Diana Wayland / adult Lucinda Embry) ("Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" (2002), "Troy" (2004), "Wicker Park" (2004), "28 Weeks Later" (2007), "Knowing" (2009), "Insidious" (2011), "X-Men: First Class" (2011) )
• Chandler Canterbury (Caleb Koestler) ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), "Knowing" (2009), "After.Life" (2010), "Repo Men" (2010) )

The film also features Lara Robinson (Young Lucinda Embry / Abby Wayland / Young Diana Wayland), Nadia Townsend (Grace Koestler), Ben Mendelsohn (Professor Phil Beckman), Alan Hopgood (Reverend Koestler), Adrienne Pickering (Allison Koestler), Liam Hemsworth (Spencer), D.G. Maloney, Joel Bow, Maximillian Paul, and Karen Hadfield (The whisper people), Alethea McGrath (Miss Taylor in 2009), Danielle Carter (Miss Taylor in 1959), David Lennie (school principal in 1959), Carolyn Shakespeare-Allen (school principal in 2009), Tamara Donnellan (Lucinda's mother), Travis Waite (Lucinda's father), Gareth Yuen (Donald), Lesley Anne Mitchell (Stacy), Raymond Thomas (teacher), Alyssa McClelland (flight attendant), Menik Gooneratne (woman with baby).

The first 3 movies by Alexander Proyas (director) were brilliant and you can tell from this film that he learned a lot along the road. "Knowing" is a great thriller. Plenty of good twists and turns in this film to keep you engaged.

And this is the type of film that Nicolas Cage shines in. He was good in "It Could Happen to You" and better in "City of Angels", but I think that the Action/Thriller is really his forte. He was very good in "Snake Eyes", "Windtalkers" and "Gone in Sixty Seconds" (among others). The stories where he is rushing to get something done like "Next" and "Knowing" are really good.

The rest of the cast does a very good job. Chandler Canterbury had been in just a few things by the time of this film but he performs very well. He will be fun to watch in the future.

As you can tell I really like this film. I strongly recommend this film to anyone.