Brent Stait

Far From Home - The Adventures Of Yellow Dog

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
HEARTWARMING FAMILY FILM
Movies About Dogs
Awesome Dog Movie
Excellent Family Movie

Far From Home - The Adventures Of Yellow Dog
Starring: Mimi Rogers , Bruce Davison , Jesse Bradford , Tom Bower , and Joel Palmer
Director: Phillip Borsos
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Alaska (1996)
Trial of Old Drum (Ws Sub)
Because of Winn-Dixie
Homeward Bound - The Incredible Journey
Fluke

ASIN: B00007JMDX
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Amazon.com

A boy (Jesse Bradford) and his yellow Labrador are marooned on a wilderness island in British Columbia and must find their way home through uncharted forests. This is a story about friendship and personal strength, focusing on the relationship between a boy and his dog as they battle the elements, the terrain and, of course, wild animals in their effort to find their way home and survive their harsh surroundings. Director Philip Borsos has a nice eye for those Ansel Adams-like moments--but scenery only carries a movie so far and this movie asks too much. Though relatively short at 81 minutes, it still feels long. --Marshall Fine

Description

Set against the backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, a young boy and his dog forge a special bond that neither time nor distance can break. When their boat capsizes in turbulent waters off the Pacific Northwest, John McCormick (Bruce Davison) is rescued, but his 14-year old son Angus (Jesse Bradford), and recently adopted stray Golden Labrador, are washed ashore. Resourceful and courageous, Angus and his faithful dog fight to survive in the rugged wilderness. Thought his terrified mother (Mimi Rogers) and father never give up hope he will be found alive, Angus begins to fear he and Yellow will not last on their own much longer. Praised for its remarkable realism, wisdom and suspense, this winning family adventure story with it's irresistible four-legged star is ideal entertainment for children and their parents.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2007-01-12

I love dogs and I really wanted to love this film. Unfortunately I didn't find it quite as satisfying at most of the reviewers. Can't quite put my finger on it, but perhaps I didn't find the characters as likeable or convincing as some who saw this. Even the dog was not that interesting for some reason; perhaps not one of the more attractive breeds. Also it seemed that they didn't spend enough time developing the bond between the boy and the dog. (The movie is short; not even 1 1/2 hours.) It's a great family movie and I think it is more suitable for young children than older ones who may find it boring. The younger ones might be a little upset near the end when the dog can't be rescued, but don't worry as it has a happy ending. It's an okay movie, but I expected a lot more. I like movies that BOTH kids and adults can enjoy (like Shrek II). This is definately one mainly just for the kids. So many things that kids can't or shouldn't watch. This is one that anyone can watch, which is a big plus. Probably would have been better as a TV movie and would easily fit in a 2-hour timeframe with plenty of time for commercials.

HEARTWARMING FAMILY FILM.......2006-08-07

Young Jesse Bradford gives a heartwarming performance as Angus, a young lad who adopts a labrador and names it Yellow Dog. On a sailing trip with father Bruce Davison (effective in a non-typical role), he and the dog are thrown overboard and faced with surviving in uncharted Pacific Northwest. Mimi Rogers plays Angus' mother, and the parents' dedication in believing their son is still alive is touching as well. Although the movie doesn't give us a lot of "adventures" with the boy and his dog, it nonetheless focuses on Angus' survival skills and the devotion of his dog. One particularly poignant scene involves a rabbit. Early in the film, Bradford and his buddies are chasing a rabbit and he has the opportunity to kill it with his slingshot but upon seeing the cute little thing, he scares it away. When he is lost, a rabbit is once again caught by the dog and Angus realizes the difference between hunting for play and for survival. An enjoyable family film.

Movies About Dogs.......2006-08-06

This may be the best dog movie I have ever seen. On an equal or better par with Old Yeller. A terrific bond between a boy and his dog and fantastic faith in survival for both. Scenery
is fantastic and acting is above par.

Awesome Dog Movie.......2006-07-31

You don't have to own a Yellow Lab to absolutley love this movie, but true dog lovers will find it irrestible. A young boy takes in a lost Yellow lab, and despite his parents reservations allow him to keep the dog. The boy and the dog become very close and forge a bond that is put to the test when they are lost in boat accident and end up stranded on a remote island. The dog stays by the young boy's side as they struggle to survive, find food, and battle a pack of wolves. All this happens while his parents and the coast guard desperately search for him.
After many weeks pass the Coast Guard believes they may never be found, but the dog and the boy do survive as they gain strength through each others love and devotion. It has an unusual ending, which I don't want to spoil, but Yellow Dog is one movie, although simple in structure, that really captures the true relationship that a boy and a dog can have that transcends even human friendships.

Excellent Family Movie.......2006-05-08

As owners of a Yellow Lab, we just might be a bit biased, but we were mesmerized by this movie.

The adventures of a lost boy and dog. Of course the ending is predictable. We knew that. But the story line, the fabulous scenery, the cinematography, the acting, the sub-plots and the adventure make this a must-see movie for the whole family - Preview it before showing it to the very young; they might be traumatized by the scary parts.

Buy "Far From Home..." a guaranteed winner. You'll be watching it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

Born to Run review
racing galore
If you like car racing : yes; otherwise: no
A very good movie for people who like hotrods?
wog the mennie

Born to Run
Starring: Richard Grieco , Jay Acovone , Shelli Lether , Joseph Cortese , and Christian Campbell
Director: Albert Magnoli
Manufacturer: Fox Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video

Acovone, Jay | ( A ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Bacic, Steve | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Cross, Roger R | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Grieco, Richard | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Stait, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Magnoli, Albert | ( M ) | Directors | VHS | Video
Similar Items:

Heart Like a Wheel
Vanishing Point
Over the Top
Vanishing Point

ASIN: 6303454615
Release Date: 1994-02-14

Customer Reviews:

Born to Run review.......2003-11-12

If you're a race fan this is the movie to have. Forget about those hi-strung imports, this one is All American muscle. I have watched it over and over, it never gets old. My blood pumps a little faster every time I see it.

racing galore.......2003-11-11

filled with cool racing scenes and Grieco's wanna be James Dean attitude. though I think Grieco ripped off Dean's red jacket. some scenes are lame as hell. the lead actress is hot(fogot her name) but she is hot hot hot. Born To Run is for the dragracing fans and fans of the cars and the ladies, yeah. fun for a while. the ending is good to.

If you like car racing : yes; otherwise: no.......2003-04-19

This is a very polished high gloss movie with Richard Grieco as a racer kid. The storyline to me was quite boring. Maybe you like it more if you are into car racing. Grieco still has one of his better appearances in this one.

A very good movie for people who like hotrods?.......2001-03-30

This movie was action pack and keep me on edge of my seat! I wish they would make a sequel to it? So people would know if they built another beautiful car? This movie was excellent a must see movie?

wog the mennie.......2000-08-11

i love this movie..i thought it was a great popcorn flick. we pick up some hotdogs form the vendor and raced right home to watch this movie. i think there are too many referneces to satan and the power of politications in this moive.

Average customer rating:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Love this movie.
the virginian
"Smile when you say that, pardner!"
Surprisingly touching story with gorgeous music

The Virginian
Starring: Mark Anderako , Darcy Belsher , James Drury , Norman Edge , and Gary Farmer
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Cowboys & Indians | Westerns | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | VHS | Video

Drury, James | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Farmer, Gary | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Feore, Colm | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Lane, Diane | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Savage, John | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Stait, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Weaver, Dennis | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Yulin, Harris | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video
Similar Items:

Virginian
Riders of Purple Sage
The Virginian (Signet Classics)
Spy Games
The Setting Sun

ASIN: 0780630068
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Description

The Virginian leaves the state of his birth to make a new life for himself on the frontier of the American West. He falls in love with Molly Stark, a schoolteacher also new to Wyoming, and becomes the foreman of a successful cattle ranch, hoping to make good in her eyes. But he is forced to resort to violence when he must protect the ranch against the treacheries of a rival rancher and the betrayal of a former friend.

Customer Reviews:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......2006-06-29

There are no words to describe how SLOW this movie was from beginning to end, but let me try anyway so as to give people a fair chance to avoid it and thus try and prevent their day/evening from being ruined: the film deals with the story of a schoolteacher from New England who meets a Virginian cowboy on the plains of Wyoming.
The presence of Bill Pullman and Diane Lane did very little to alleviate the pain of watching this slooow and boooring mooovie...
In addition, Diane Lane's character was way to pushy/bossy/feminist for late 19th century, making it rather unrealistic.
As for the supporting characters, this film does not seem to be their thing, and subsequently they look like they are out of place.
In relation to the plot and the dialogues, they are way beyond "below average."
With the exception of the setting, (the plains are indeed breathtaking!) everything else is nothing to write home about.
In conclusion, the potential for a decent movie was there if only the writers had the ability to... write! A shame really...
Rent or buy at your own risk.

Love this movie........2005-09-14

I love westerns. Simple, clean, classic stories of moral dilemas. This is one of my favorites.

the virginian.......2004-11-08

i liked this movie but would recommend that it would be put into dvd so that all the scenery can be seen as well.

"Smile when you say that, pardner!".......2004-07-05

Director: Bill Pullman
Format: ColorRated: NR
Studio: Turner Home Video
Video Release Date: February 6, 2001

Cast:

Pullman The Virginian
Diane Lane Molly Stark
Dennis Weaver rival rancher
James Drury The Judge
Others: unidentified

A schoolteacher, Molly Stark, comes West to Wyoming and meets the Virginian who falls for her. He is made foreman of the Judge's ranch, but the ranch is competing with Dennis Weaver's (of Gunsmoke fame) ranch. There is also a rivalry between the Virginian and Trampas ("Smile when you call me that, pardner!"), who quits when he becomes foreman rather than take orders from him. The Virginian is forced to hang one of his saddle mates when he turns outlaw.

This story has all of the elements of a good Western, pathos, struggle, rustling, violence of which Molly disaproves, and causes tension between them very similar to that in High Noon, made later.

This is the story that started them all, and became the pattern for the genre and was the granddaddy of all of the nonsense "Wild West" mythology, including the ridiculous fast draw contests in the middle of the street, the fancy cowboy outfits, and the idea that murderers adhered to chivalric rules of combat instead of the backshooting, drygulching and murders that actually took place, just as in the Bowery, but in smaller numbers in the West.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Surprisingly touching story with gorgeous music.......2001-10-09

This is one of the best westerns I have ever seen. After spending our vacation in Montana this year, this video made me yearn for that majestic loneliness and the strong sense of the importance of the individual. The unusual score also adds a mysterious, haunting quality to the film.

Customer Reviews:

Best Western Ever.......2006-06-16

Lance was born to play this role. He was awesome. Good cast, good acting, good directing. Excellent movie. I have watched it 5 times so far. The guy that played Walt Shannon was also excellent as the menacing bad guy, creating almost unbearable suspense leading up to the gun fight. And the girl that played his daughter brought tears to my eyes every time as she realized he was her father. Incredible western, right up there with Shane.

great perfornance by young actor but to short.......2004-01-19

the young actor at the begining of the movie who calls lance out and eventully gets shot because of his scummy brothers advice to fight and become the number one gunfighter, i thought this young actors performance stood out above the rest with exception of lance,the intensity in the gunfight was awsome had me on the edge of my seat.i thought this young man's performance was oustanding even with the short screen time. i would like to no more about this young actor. if any one has information on him could you contact me at dandycandy55@hotmail.com.

great perfornance by young actor but to short.......2004-01-19

the young actor at the begining of the movie who calls lance out and eventully gets shot because of his scummy brothers advice to fight and become the number one gunfighter. i thought this young actors performance stood out above the rest with exception of lance.the intensity in the gunfight was awsome,had me on the edge of my seat.i thought this young man's performance was oustanding even with the short screen time. i would like to no more about this young actor. if any one has information on him could you contact me at dandycandy55@hotmail.com.

Close to a classic.......2003-12-26

I rate SHANE, HIGH NOON, and THE CULPEPPER CATTLE COMPANY as the three best westerns ever made.

I rate this as about half as good---but the 4th best best western I have seen.
Lance Hendrickson is terrific as he gives off the sympathetic persona of a sad, resigned, top level professional (gunfighter) who is true to his calling, whether he chooses the situations he finds himself in or not. The picnic scene with his daughter (who doesn't know he is her father) as she chatters on about her father--how she would have liked so much to have known him---how (she was told) he was killed in the war----is wrenching. The contrast between the innocent, chattering young girl and the grizzled, weatherbeaten-by-life, but tough as nails aging gunfighter is brought home strongly.

The final scene is the best gunfight in any movie (I realize the finale of Shane is tops too).
The bad guy here is absolutely terrific----one of the best , scummiest, slimiest badguys ever. The guy deserves an oscar for what he did there (He has one from ME). The long,drawn-out prelude to the actual gunfight---- where the head bad guy talks and talks and talks to give his two fellow hoods time to manuever into positions that makes it look impossible for the hero to come out alive--- is the highlight of the movie.

The very ending, where the daughter finally gets an inkling of who the stranger might be, is wrenchingly effective.

Well worth seeing.

Larry Ferguson made one good movie. This aint it........2003-09-28

Kay Lenz, former dogqueen of the Movie of the Week genre uglies this thing down to the bargain basement of the sadly missed quality Western. And I love Lance Henricksen but he's just a little too sullen and introspective to make his Frank Morgan character interesting. However, Nikki DeLoach turns in a terrific performance as his long estranged daughter by guess who....the ubiquitous Kay Lenz of course. Gaaak.

Amazon.com

When it comes to the subject of community, David E. Kelley--the prolific writer-producer behind television's The Practice and Ally McBeal--falls somewhere on a continuum between directors Howard Hawks and Robert Benton. While Hawks's professional characters are bound by a knowledge of how to do what they do even if they don't know why, Benton's people, professional or not, have long ago substituted their own eccentric reasons for that elusive why. Thus we get the kind of in-house, oddball rituals sandwiched between passages of actual work on Ally, and the affectionately entangled personal and professional ties between small-town folks in Kelley's earlier TV series Picket Fences.

Kelley's script for Mystery, Alaska (co-authored by Sean O'Byrne) takes that level of eccentricity to a geographical and spiritual extreme. The film revives the hackneyed Rocky formula, setting a lopsided hockey match within a remote, self-contained hamlet where the members of a tiny population all have to wear multiple hats and still keep neighborly ties intact. The story concerns the town's chief source of identity and pride: so-called "Saturday games," in which local men divide into teams and play pond hockey for the locals. When a prodigal son (Hank Azaria) of Mystery shows up with a television network offer to bring the New York Rangers in for a televised match against the homegrown team, the town fathers agree. Coaching falls to the town sheriff, John Biebe (Russell Crowe), an admirable man and a longtime player recently bumped from the team. John, however, doesn't want the job: everyone knows the real coach in those parts is Judge Burns (Burt Reynolds), but he wants no part of it either. All of that changes after a sad tragedy forces everyone to reevaluate their positions and pull together in order to beat the Rangers.

Following the success of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Jay Roach proves to be an able director of drama, swift action, and low-key, character-driven comedy not unlike that in Benton's Nobody's Fool. He has to deal with some pure corn at the end, but Roach pulls it off and guides the actors to and through far better moments. --Tom Keogh

Description

With Russell Crowe (THE INSIDER, A BEAUTIFUL MIND), Hank Azaria (GODZILLA, THE BIRD CAGE), and Burt Reynolds leading an incredible all-star cast, here's a fun, uplifting, action-packed story that everyone will love! A remote hockey-obsessed town populated by 633 of the most eccentric characters you'd ever want to meet, Mystery is the kind of place where nothing ever changes. But then life as they know it gets turned completely upside down! When a publicity stunt brings the world-famous New York Rangers -- and the national spotlight -- to Mystery for a game with the local team of weekend warriors, the whole town rises to meet the challenge of a lifetime! Also starring Mary McCormack (TRUE CRIME, DEEP IMPACT) and Lolita Davidovich (PLAY IT TO THE BONE, JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE) in another critical favorite from the hit-making director of AUSTIN POWERS 1&2 -- you'll stand and cheer as this ragtag bunch shows that nothing can melt their dreams of a miracle on ice!

Customer Reviews:

Heartwarming............2007-05-26

Mystery, Alaska is one of those movies called a "sleeper". Not much heard about it and not much expected when you see it, but it turns out to be an amazing feel good, heartwarming kind of movie. If you love hockey, then it's a must have for your collection. If you love good, clean, family oriented and feel good kind of movies, then it's definitely worth the purchase.

mystery alaska.......2007-05-16

mystery alaska is a very good hockey movie if you are a hockey fan and russell crowe plays a very good role in this movie and there is some humor to go with this movie.

Totally Enjoyable "Small" Film.......2007-03-25

In a town [New York] where "March Madness" has ruined every aspect of TV watching, except for PBS [they're begging instead -- seems as if they do that for two weeks every two weeks or so now], this little film was a real treat for this nonhockey fan! The performances were uniformly excellent [though I wish Russell Crowe would not go so terrifically soft in the voice at times so that you have to pitch your sound way up and then suddenly decrease the volume quickly; Burt Reynolds, an excellent actor, is also guilty of this in this film], the story good, the cinematography excellent -- in short, for me, a really good, totally enjoyable movie! Thank you, producers!!

Decent screenplay overshadowed by a lousy leading man.......2007-03-19

There is one major problem with this movie, and the problem's name is Russell Crowe. I CAN'T STAND Russell Crowe! I think he is one of the most overrated actors around, and his arrogance bleeds into every single movie he appears in. He is not particularly talented and makes the same faces in every film, and it drives me CRAZY! In this case, we have what could have been an okay movie, but Russell Crowe poisoned the whole thing with his very presence.

"Mystery, Alaska" has the potential to be a decent movie. It's about the small Alaskan town of Mystery, a place where everybody knows everyone else and each resident is obsessed with the game of hockey. One day a former Mystery resident turned sports promoter returns to town with very exciting news: he's set up an exhibition game between Mystery amateur hockey players and the New York Rangers. The people of Mystery must learn to put aside their various differences and pull together in preparation for the event of a lifetime.

This film is sentimental and can basically be summed up in one cliche: "It's not about whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game." There are several strong performances in this movie, including Hank Azaria as Mystery's prodigal son and Burt Reynolds as the town judge/coach. However, Russell Crowe spoiled the whole film for me. He plays the town sheriff/hockey player/coach, and he's basically just a big cocky oaf on ice. There's this one scene where Crowe's character is supposed to have a "touching" moment with his wife. He crosses out a bunch of words in a newspaper column and instructs his wife to read the remaining characters out loud. I think the intention of the scene was for Crowe's character to come across as being all sentimental and deep, but it was just incredibly stupid and serves as a perfect example of how every movie Crowe is in basically turns to garbage.

If ANYONE but Russell Crowe had been cast in the role of John, "Mystery, Alaska" might be worth watching. Sadly, though, I must advise you to skip it.

Part of Your Hockey Collection.......2007-02-06

If you are a hockey fan, this movie has to be part of your collection! Besides, without this movie, you will never be able to answer the question, "What are the best two activities to do in the cold?"

Average customer rating:

A minor TV film where Hepburn makes friends with a thief
don't waste your time

Man Upstairs
Starring: Katharine Hepburn , Ryan O'Neal , Henry Beckman , Helena Carroll , and Brenda Forbes
Director: George Schaefer
Manufacturer: Cabin Fever
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Carroll, Helena | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Hepburn, Katharine | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

O'Neal, Ryan | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Stait, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Wisden, Robert | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Schaefer, George | ( S ) | Directors | VHS | Video

General | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video

Drama | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

This Can't Be Love
One Christmas
Little Minister
Grace Quigley
Undercurrent (1946)

ASIN: 6303198600
Release Date: 1997-06-30

Customer Reviews:

A minor TV film where Hepburn makes friends with a thief.......2003-07-04

When Katharine Hepburn made "The Man Upstairs" in 1992 it was her first acting project in four years. Two years later she would end her distinguished career with a couple of television films and a memorable supporting role in "Love Affair." At the age of 85 Hepburn plays Victoria Brown who has a sprawling home. One day Mooney Pulaski (Ryan O'Neal) escapes from the local penitentiary and hides out in her attic. Mooney is a jewel thief, so while he is literally an escaped convict he is not a threat to Miss Brown's life. He just needs a place to hide, along with a shower and a hot meal. Convincing Miss Brown that he is innocent, she allows him to stay.

Of course, this cannot go on forever, but "The Man Upstairs" has to develop the relationship between the odd couple before the sorrow of their ultimate parting. The story takes place during the holiday season and most of the movie has to do with Mooney and Miss Brown telling each other their stories, sharing secrets, and forming a friendship. We are not surprised that the housekeepers become suspicious and that the police start to close in on the escapee, or that Mooney is willing to make sacrifices for his new friend. O'Neil reminds us of how charming he can be as a performer and we can well understand why he would jump at the opportunity to do a film with Hepburn. Her motives for doing "The Man Upstairs" are less than clear, because having her do this role is basically overkill of the first order.

The problem is that Hepburn first forays into television movies was so solid, with productions of "The Glass Menagerie," "Love Among the Ruins," and "The Corn is Green." She was nominated for all three of those performances, winning along with her co-star Laurence Olivier for the middle work. Although she was nominated for "Mrs. Delafield Wants to Merry" several years later, you are inclined to think that was more out of a sense of habit than anything else and her final film work on television consists of trifles like this one. "The Man Upstairs" is pleasant enough, but we are talking Katharine Hepburn here and we expect something more. This is a predictable but enjoyable little story, but not much more. For fans tracking down everything Hepburn has done this is worth a look. My second viewing is due only to my spending the week watching every one of her 51 film and television appearances in chronological order.

don't waste your time.......2001-06-17

So sad that elderly Katherine Hepburn got involved in this 'stinker' at the end of her career. Not that she did a bad job, but the whole film is a disaster. The premise of the plot simply asks the viewer to stretch belief too, too far. An unusually boring movie. Ok, if you really want to see what a very elderly Hepburn looks like with palsy, or what aging, pudgy Ryan O'Neill looks like, go ahead and watch it...

Average customer rating:

THIS IS THE ZODIAC (MAYBE)
The Zodiac Killer case revisited

Limbic Region
Starring: Edward James Olmos , George Dzundza , Roger R. Cross , Gwynyth Walsh , and Don S. Davis
Director: Michael Pattinson
Manufacturer: Mgm Entertainment
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Cross, Roger R | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Davis, Don S | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Dzundza, George | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Olmos, Edward James | ( O ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Stait, Brent | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Walsh, Gwynyth | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | VHS | Video

Pattinson, Michael | ( P ) | Directors | VHS | Video

General | Drama | Genres | VHS | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video

Deals Under $8 | Today's Deals in Video | Features | VHS | Video

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS THE ZODIAC (MAYBE).......2000-12-31

Edward James Olmos and George Dzundza turn in excellent performances in this thinly veiled recreation of the Zodiac murders of San Francisco. Olmos' role starts out purposeful but ends up pathetic while Dzundza begins as weird and turns predatory. It was great to watch their characters change as they played off of one another. While it was interesting that the Scorekeeper's victims and M.O. clearly paralleled those of the Zodiac, I fear that this film would only be a 2 star affair (at best) for the non-Zodiac buff. You have been warned.

The Zodiac Killer case revisited.......2000-12-06

A San Francisco detective is obsessed with catching a serial killer who has been killing people for over 20 years. When the detective learns that he has only a few weeks of life left, he tries his one last shot - taking the suspect for a ride down memory lane, hoping to force him into a confession...

What makes the movie interesting to true crime buffs like myself ;) is the fact that it's very obviously based on the never-solved case of the serial killer "Zodiac" from San Francisco area in the 1970s. The movie is a faithful recreation of the "canonical" crimes of the Zodiac, with Edward James Olmos starring as an SFPD detective clearly modelled after Inspector Dave Toschi (who hunted the real Zodiac).

....

Customer Reviews:

Allan Kroeker's Showdown at Williams Creek.......2002-05-27

Tom Burlinson, of "The Man from Snowy River," and not much else, plays an Irishman who comes to the Northwest Territories to find gold. He befriends an American, and a fellow Irishman, and comes to the titled Williams Creek twice in the span of two years and loses all of his gold- once in an obviously fixed poker game and again when the gold mysteriously disappears off of his American friend after he is killed. By this point, Burlinson has met Scotsman Rhodes, who we find out at the beginning of the film was murdered by Burlinson. The entire film is a flashback (albeit a long one) over Burlinson's life and his run-ins with Rhodes over many years.

Burlinson leaves Williams Creek after the death of his friend and parts ways with his fellow Irishman, traveling with Rhodes to find more gold. Burlinson is shot with an arrow, and left by Rhodes with a rifle in the wilderness. Burlinson makes like "A Man Called Horse" and "Dances With Wolves" and is adopted by some native people, who are offspring of Native Americans and French fur trappers. Rhodes, missing a leg, shows up AGAIN and bilks Burlinson into joining him at a trading post selling watered down whiskey to the "savages." That ends badly, too, with a bloody gunfight, and Burlinson goes back to his native family, a broken man. Quicker than you can say "fool me once, shame on you...," Rhodes, now missing a hand, shows up AGAIN, trapping wolves with a bald pated [fool] who wants to get it on with Burlinson's native wife. Rhodes kills his bald partner, and eventually steals Burlinson's wolf pelts. Burlinson FINALLY decides he has had enough and kills Rhodes. During Burlinson's trial, with TV's Perry Mason presiding, Burlinson's old Irish friend suddenly appears in the nick of time to explain he saw Rhodes steal their gold way back in Williams Creek, but since he could not believe his own eyes, he failed to mention it to Burlinson. Burlinson is found not guilty by reason of he was defending his personal property.

In a perfect world, this would have had a $100 million dollar budget and starred Mel Gibson and Sean Connery in the two lead roles. Burlinson is great in a very poor part (except for some sadly done hair extensions), and it is amazing he has not done much else since "...Snowy River." Rhodes' Scottish accent sounds like a poor Mike Myers impression, and everytime he pops into Burlinson's life, he is missing a limb.

The Canadian scenery is gorgeous, but the director thankfully does not linger over long shots of frosty lakes and evergreen forests. The settings are right, from a squatty little mining camp to large frontier towns. The rest of the supporting cast does their job admirably. Come on, though. I know this was based on true events, but how many times does Burlinson need to be [fooled] over by Rhodes before he finally does something about it? And the video friendly title is also wrong, since the climactic murder occurs very far from the mentioned Williams Creek. The Williams Creek saloon shootout, while very well filmed, is not even a showdown, it is an a group of men shooting at other men.

This is not a bad film, but a flawed one. While I recommend it, it has almost as many strikes against it as it does for it.

Description

Based on the best-selling book, BECAUSE OF WINN-Dixie is the heartwarming "tail" of a young girl (Annasophia Robb) whose life is changed by a scruffy, fun-loving pooch she names Winn-Dixie. The special bond between them works magic on her reserved dad (Jeff Daniels) and the eccentric townspeople they meet during one unforgettable summer. Far From Home - Set against the backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, a young boy and his dog forge a special bond that neither time nor distance can break. When their boat capsizes in turbulent waters off the Pacific Northwest, John McCormick (Bruce Davison) is rescued, but his 14-year old son Angus (Jesse Bradford), and recently adopted stray Golden Labrador, are washed ashore.

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