Irene Ryan

Average customer rating:

High School Musical Rocks!
Complete Cop Out and Rip Off
Hideous
Highs and Lows
It brought me back

High School Musical (Encore Edition)
Starring: Zac Efron , Vanessa Anne Hudgens , Ashley Tisdale , Lucas Grabeel , and Monique Coleman
Director: Kenny Ortega
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

High School Musical
Hannah Montana, Vol. 1 - Livin' the Rock Star Life
Disney Channel's High School Musical DVD Board Game
The Cheetah Girls 2 (Cheetah-Licious Edition)
Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)

Accessories:

Disney Channel's High School Musical DVD Board Game

ASIN: B000F2BNW2
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Amazon.com

The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical is a combination of backstage action and Grease without the unwholesome habits. Scoring record ratings at the time of its January 2006 broadcast, it's a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appealing for all ages. At a New Year's Eve party, Troy (Zac Efron of the WB's Summerland) has a chance meeting with Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) when they share a karaoke song. Lo and behold, when school resumes, they discover that Gabriella has just transferred to Troy's East High School, a campus divided into tight cliques of jocks, cheerleaders, brainiacs, and skater dudes. Eager to recapture the magic they'd discovered during karaoke, Troy and Gabriella consider auditioning for the school's upcoming musical, much to the dismay of the school's frost queen/theater goddess, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody). Problem is, Troy is also the star of the basketball team and Gabrielle is being recruited to compete in the Scholastic Decathlon. Will they give up their cliques to start something new, or will they do as the show's first big anthem urges and "Stick to the Status Quo"? Well, this is a Disney movie, so maybe the sacrifices won't be that hard, and even the hints of romance are mild.

The bestselling soundtrack is catchy in that Disney-pop kind of way, mixing in a dash of hip-hop ("Getcha Head in the Game," punctuated by squeaky basketball shoes and other sound effects), salsa ("Bop to the Top"), and the endearingly hammy ("What I've Been Looking For" performed by Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, played by Lucas Gabreel). It's not hard to imagine High School Musical becoming a semi-staple for high school groups to perform themselves. DVD bonus features include sing-along subtitles; a 9-minute featurette discussing casting, recording sessions, and rehearsals; a multi-angle look at a rehearsal of "Bop to the Top"; and music videos for "We're All in This Together" and a song that didn't make it into the final film, "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," performed by Efron, Hudgens, Tisdale, and Gabreel. --David Horiuchi

Description

The all-new, smash hit Disney Channel Original Movie everyone is talking about is now available for the first time ever on DVD -- with never-before-seen bonus features that will rock your house! Troy (Zac Efron), the popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), the brainy and beautiful member of the academic club, break all the rules of East High society when they secretly audition for the leads in the school's musical. As they reach for the stars and follow their dreams, everyone learns about acceptance, teamwork, and being yourself. And it's all set to fun tunes and very cool dance moves! Featuring the hottest talent, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL celebrates the power of music in this hip, entertaining, gotta-get-up-and-dance movie. Own all the excitement and the exclusive extras available only on this Encore Edition DVD.

Customer Reviews:

High School Musical Rocks!.......2007-06-12

I think High musical is great because I sing very well and I have been singing and I have been acting in plays for five years. The power of music explodes in this spectacular, show-stopping two-disc Remix Edition of the Emmy Award-winning High School Musical! The smash-hit Disney Channel Original Movie everyone is talking about now features hours of awesome new bonus features that will rock your world. Take a front-row seat on the red carpet for the star-studded hollywood premiere, and join the High School Reunion where the cast reunites in an exclusive interview where they talk about how their lives have canged dramticlly since being a part of this movie phenomeon. Plus,stand up and experience the Dance Along (as seen on Disney Cannel), where Troy,Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan give step-by-step instuctions to popular dance sequences "Get'cha Head In The Game" and "We're All In This Together." Hear two exclusive remix versions of your favorite songs and watch three new nusic videos. High School Musical Remix Edition is everything you've been looking for-and more!High School Musical is a great film about a young boy, Troy, (Zac Efron) who is a star basketball player at his local high school. He is pulled on "stage" by his friends at a karaoke party to sing with the new girl, Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), who spends most of her time studying. These two characters quickly discover that they sing very well...especially together! Efron plays the "cool" Troy without going overboard with the stereotype. He's a good guy with a cool head who is not as egotistical as what you might think. Hudgens plays Garbriella with a soft cuteness and gentleness which makes are very appealing. She has a tender smile which helps the audience tap into the wholesomeness of her character.When these two characters contemplate trying out for the winter musical, they find themselves in a quandry between maintaining their "reputations" with their friends (since their friends don't know about their hidden talent!) and following their hearts and dreams.The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical is a combination of backstage action and Grease without the unwholesome habits. Scoring record ratings at the time of its January 2006 broadcast, it's a smash hit with tween audiences (ages 6 to 10), but appealing for all ages. At a New Year's Eve party, Troy (Zac Efron of the WB's Summerland) has a chance meeting with Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) when they share a karaoke song. Lo and behold, when school resumes, they discover that Gabriella has just transferred to Troy's East High School, a campus divided into tight cliques of jocks, cheerleaders, brainiacs, and skater dudes. Eager to recapture the magic they'd discovered during karaoke, Troy and Gabriella consider auditioning for the school's upcoming musical, much to the dismay of the school's frost queen/theater goddess, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody). Problem is, Troy is also the star of the basketball team and Gabrielle is being recruited to compete in the Scholastic Decathlon. Will they give up their cliques to start something new, or will they do as the show's first big anthem urges and "Stick to the Status Quo"? Well, this is a Disney movie, so maybe the sacrifices won't be that hard, and even the hints of romance are mild.
The bestselling soundtrack is catchy in that Disney-pop kind of way, mixing in a dash of hip-hop ("Getcha Head in the Game," punctuated by squeaky basketball shoes and other sound effects), salsa ("Bop to the Top"), and the endearingly hammy ("What I've Been Looking For" performed by Sharpay and her brother, Ryan, played by Lucas Gabreel). It's not hard to imagine High School Musical becoming a semi-staple for high school groups to perform themselves. --David Horiuchi

Complete Cop Out and Rip Off.......2007-06-03

Okay, this should really be a zero, but this rating system won't allow it.

First of all, this movie has nothing interesting that hasn't been seen already: the struggle to move from the social norm has been done so many times I wonder who the heck started it (Probably "Pride and Prejudice"). Anyway, this is nothing new.

This movie is no great shakes. It doesn't really say much to call it "A hit" because anyone can say that. And I don't really understand why people are so into it. It doesn't grab me. Maybe I've seen too many films already, but that proves my point, it does nothing for me. I like intelligent films. Films that have meanings under the words being said, new themes, new ways of introducing those themes. And new words in songs for it to be a musical. If you think that this movie is good when you're five, okay, fine. But not past seven. At age seven most kids who are my age had already started reading books like "Holes", not the best movie, but a good book. And Harry Potter isn't bad either. It's something a little different, I respect that.

But again, High School Musical is nothing more than an opportunity for a bunch of high school age actors to get famous. Not everyone I know can sing like that, even me. So, I know that not everyone can sing in reality. Now, you want an accurate and funny school musical? I suggest "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". Peanuts is a classic, funny, and realistic view of how kindergarten is, and it's fun to sing along to!

Geniuses like Charles Shultz, Walt Disney, and JRR Tolkien, cannot be just attempted to copy and then labeled as great within a short three years or less of filming. In reality, most experts say it takes ten years minimum to be an expert. And the LOTR movies came close by taking seven years to create the movies, they were flawed, but Tolkien's world was captured.

High School musical fails to capture anything but a gag and acid in my throat. I can't believe how loosely labeled this movie is.

Next, the people who watch this need a reality check. Who actually thinks that high schools are like this? I go to an arts high school (And people sing, yes) but it is by far not like that at all. And the other thing is why, why, why can a science nerd sing? It makes no sense! If you focus on your studies, logically, you will have no after school time for music lessons. And same goes for basketball jocks. And this is really all too complimentary of jocks. I've been to many places and seen jocks. They are all one demensional as they are stereotyped. Not that some aren't different. But what needs to be said is that when you have something you concentrate on, say, hockey, you need another person who you can see who has a similar schedule. Anyway, that's how real high school works. I don't even know if the Disney staff wants people to be prepared for the real thing. All I know is that this is not it.

The only thing that was somewhat appealing was the music, and even that was only because it was catchy, otherwise it sucked.

I agree with the other reviewers, this movie tries to hit new (Excuse my bad pun) "notes" but it is so far off with its singing characters trying to overcome their conflict of being stuck under pressure. Yeah, sure, I get that it's a conflict, being under pressure in school, but the movie is so ludicrous about how the problem is solved. I'm not trying to be morbid, but singing doesn't solve diddily squat.

Not to mention the songs are really annoying. Songs have to have more than one line. End of story. Even the Beatles (good band by the way) have more than just "We all live in a yellow submarine" and it's catchy, but there's a point.

There's a story in those songs that requires thought. High School Musical made me feel brain dead. I couldn't think about anything that wasn't in the song already.

I might want to add that to be a Disney movie, it has to be a movie with a good plot that is original. Which it's not. I've seen movies about overcoming social barriers at least fifty times before now and I've enjoyed better musicals. Good example (Cynical) but good: "Avenue Q", good show with music that says something about our society and is funny at the same time. That's entertaining.

I was not really interested in High School Musical simply because after I saw the comercials, there was nothing left to see. I watched it to see if I was wrong, but I wasn't.

Story:Girl meets guy at party, girl and guy leave. Girl and guy meet up at school. Girl and guy are on separated sides of social status. Girl and guy fight status and win and sing about it. There you have it.

The reason for my statement about the "Rip Off"? Oh, that, maybe some of you should take a look at the (I think even before 1999) film "Grease" and tell me if that looks familiar.

Two high school kids meet and then meet again later to find out they go to the same school. The guy is popular... get the idea? I liked Grease and I think it deserves all the credit this High School Musical is getting.

Second of all, Disney is dead. Not dying, dead. Great classics like "The Lion King" and "Fox and the Hound" aren't produced any more. Kids of this generation have been cheated out of a good movie and TV experience.

Shows like "Kim Possible" and "Spongebob Squarepants" barely make the cut for good shows.

Good shows are more than just social problems, get creative! Anime has the same plot, but... the guy might turn into an animal or demon (something like Beauty and the Beast) and the girl has to deal with the guy being a demon and having to hide his identity. That is good drama. And heck, they can sing about it and make it seem funny because it's serious when your boyfriend might end up killing the school if you're not careful. Morbid humour, yes, but it's interesting to watch.

For example: Grease is a good movie because it touched a new subject.

High School Musical is a sad version that I was laughing at (Not because it was funny) but because it was a sorry excuse for an overated film).

I have a suggestion for you disney goers: STOP WATCHING DISNEY CHANNEL BEFORE YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME YOU'VE WASTED!! Disney has not produced too many good movies since Disney himself died. Okay ones have been "Smart House" and "The Thirteenth Year" about a sinister house and a merman. Not bad, really. I haven't exactly seen too many Merman movies, mostly mermaid ones. And I have heard of horror movies with senile houses, but this one was bittersweet, but good. Might want to watch those instead.

With few exceptions of some shows with good acting, the Disney Channel does not produce good shows.

Suggestions: Go to your TV guide channel and watch these shows/channels: Comedy Central (most of the time it has hillarious comedians) I really like Dane Cook and Mind of Mencia isn't bad either), watch Adult swim on Saturday nights (for teens and older), Avatar is excellent (It's not American by the way), Don't watch the Cartoon Network versions of Anime shows, go to Youtube or rent them. Watch the subs not dubs! (Meaning, don't watch it in English, they're overedited, the voices stink, and they are censored like there's no tomorrow). Oh, if you do watch Nicktoons, watch Avatar, Danny Phantom, and (Buy or rent this) "Invader Zim".

Good Shows (Anime Wise):

Chrno (Chrono) Crusade

Trinity Blood

Kimba the White Lion (Sound similar to "Simba" from the Lion King? It should, Kimba was the basis for the Lion King and was produced in Japan)

Fullmetal Alchemist

Teen Titans (This is Japanese, not American)

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed

Naruto (Please save yourself the pain and don't watch it on Cartoon Network)

One Piece (Cartoon Network really messed this up, watch it in Japanese)

Rurouni Kenshin

Samurai Champloo

DN Angel

Beet the Vandel Buster (For Fantasy Fans)

Fruits Basket (Good for you romance people)

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Astro Boy

.Hack//Sign (Good for Video game people)

Good Movies (Anime and Other)

Grave of the Fireflies

Steamboy

Akira

Spirited Away

Castle in the Sky (Laputa)

My Neighbor Totoro

Porco Rosso

Jungle Emperor Leo

Kiki's Delivery Service

Top Gun

Ocean's Eleven (Not Twelve and Thirteen,the first is the best)

Master and Commander (The far side of the World)

Glory (Rated R)

Dragon Heart

Seabiscut

The Frisco Kid

Star Wars (All are good, especially the originals)

Fight Club (Rated R)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Princess Mononoke

Millenium Actress

Cocoon

Hero (Same who did "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, also a good movie)

The Dark Chrystal (This is good animation by Jim Henson, master of the puppets!)

Labyrinth (Also by Jim Henson)

Rashomon (Artistic film, made to be analyzed very carefully. The director, Akira Kurosawa is a great director, if you like Japanese films and want to see one that's not a cartoon, this is for you)

Well, that should set you straight, check out my other reviews of books and DVDS for more recommendations.

If you haven't seen this movie, don't torture yourself.

This movie is aweful! It needs to be said. And don't tell me this review isn't helpful JUST because it says this movie is bad. Reviews are opinions.

Hideous.......2007-06-02

First of, I really like Disney movies. The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, to name a few; were all were great movies with likable characters, but they also had great songs. Live action Disney, however, is another matter entirely. My brother asked me one day to sit and watch this movie with him. I tried to like it. I WANTED to like it, really.
But this movie is horrible. There is no redeeming quality in it at all. Where do I begin? (SPOILER ALERT!!!)

Your suspension of disbelief is forced so much, you have to throw logic out the window in order to put up with the horrible plot. So the male and female lead meet at a New Year Party. OK. They are both chosen for a karaoke duet, but don't fear, they can both sing pretty well. The song, by the way, is called "Start of something new". Riiight. They happen to attend the same high school. Argh. They get the main roles in the school's musical (hence the title, quite generic I might add, but I'll get to that soon) even when there were much more talented kids auditioning. By then, my brain had been set to simmer. The guys who made this movie think we don't care about how crazy or illogical the movie plot may be, as long as we get plenty of songs.

The songs themselves: OK it's a musical, so maybe the plot is not THAT important, right? Maybe the songs are the beef of the movie, right? WRONG.
The lyrics were inane, clichéd and repetitive. They try to be "deep" (Stick to the Status Quo) but end up feeling stupid and cheesy, pretentious. The choreography was nauseating too.

The ending: It's a Disney movie, so a happy ending (100% happiness for everyone, no bittersweetness, no one left miserable, as in other movies) is a must. I knew that from the start. But still, I had no idea it would be this corny. Everyone singing "We're All In This Together", I almost expected them to take each others' hands and dance merrily in a circle. That was just unbearable to watch.

Finally, the message. Every time I watch a movie, I ask myself afterwards: what's the message? Or in the case there is none, was it entertaining? Let me tell you you'll find neither in this movie. The message they seem to try to give is "be yourself", but it's quite funny, since everyone in this movie is a stereotype, the jock, the nerd. Their friends. Everyone. The only thing that seems to break the "status quo" is the main characters' liking for singing, but other than that they are exactly as their friends. I mean, seriously, what was the point of this whole mess? Not to entertain, at least not anyone older than 8 or 9. I found it truly ominous that people are enjoying this half-baked, predictable, boring excuse for a musical...a Disney musical, for crying out loud!

With the title High School Musical, you know what to expect. It's a musical, with a high school as a setting. That's about it, and nothing more. Don't buy it. Don't watch it. You're not missing anything.

Highs and Lows.......2007-06-01

I'm one who has been very skeptical of the Disney Channel for sometime. Much of their programming depicts a very antiquated idea of High School. Before seeing this movie, I assumed it would follow in the pattern. After seeing it, though, I will say I was pleasantly surprised.

The portrayal of East High was more or less accurate of a real high school, though the lines between the cliques were a little too clearly drawn. Cliques are rarely, at least in my experience, as well defined as they are in this movie. There is usually a fair bit of mingling among different cliques, unlike in High School Musical. However, it's nothing that isn't easy to overcome, especially for younger audiences who likely won't know the difference anyway.

The soundtrack, while a little annoying at times, definitely contains a few toe-tappers that are enjoyable to listen to. However many of the songs, though enjoyable, seem out of place in my opinion. The movie is about kids auditioning for a musical. Accordingly, many of the songs fit perfectly into the story line (i.e. Start of Something New, Breaking Free, etc.) while others seem forced into the movie in order to make it a musical unto itself (i.e. Get'cha Head in the Game, Stick to the Status Quo, etc.).
The actors are all great picks for their respective parts. Vanessa Anne Hudgins is a joy to watch. Zac Efron seems to move his mouth a lot more than necessary during songs but does an otherwise respectable job.

Overall, this is a good movie. Enjoyable even to some older audiences, and greatly enjoyable to the younger ones. There are a few faults that older viewers might notice but this is a great choice for kids and some young-hearted adults too.

It brought me back.......2007-05-23

I bought this DVD because my daughter's classmate (she's 5) raved about it. By the opening scene I knew I'd love it. I was a major fan of Grease and Dirty Dancing, the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family. This was the clean version of all of those. The star of the movie looks like a young David Cassidy, from the lips, to the eyes to the voice. And that's not a bad thing. While I was having fun reliving my youth, my daughter was up and down dancing along with the actors every time they broke into song. Oh, and I must point out the film was directed by one of motion pictures TOP choreographers (Dirty Dancing, Newsies and much more), turned director, Kenny Ortega. Ortega has already committed to directing 2 sequals of High School Musical! So there is more fun to come.

High School Musical (Two-Disc Remix Edition)

Average customer rating:

High School Musical Rocks!
Complete Cop Out and Rip Off
Hideous
Highs and Lows
It brought me back

High School Musical (Two-Disc Remix Edition)
Starring: Zac Efron , Vanessa Anne Hudgens , Ashley Tisdale , Lucas Grabeel , and Monique Coleman
Director: Kenny Ortega
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Made-for-TV Movies | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

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

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

High School Musical
Hannah Montana, Vol. 1 - Livin' the Rock Star Life
Disney Channel's High School Musical DVD Board Game
The Cheetah Girls 2 (Cheetah-Licious Edition)
Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)

Accessories:

Disney Channel's High School Musical DVD Board Game

ASIN: B000I2J6SM
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

On the DVD
The two-disc Remix Edition of High School Musical retains all the bonus features of the original DVD and adds a Spanish audio track and 34 minutes of new features. Following a couple minutes of red-carpet interviews from the DVD release party, "High School Reunion" (6 min.) gathers the cast for some more interviews, glimpses of their other Disney Channel credits, and appearances on the Teen Choice Awards and in London and Sydney. The longest feature is the dance-along, in which the cast teaches the choreography for "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "We're All in This Together." At 16 minutes, it allows for move-by-move instruction followed by half- and full-speed runthroughs, though they're facing the camera, so home participants will have to figure out the mirror image or simply ignore the left-right directions and do it backward. And because this is the Remix Edition, there are videos of the remixed versions of "Breaking Free" and "We're All in This Together" as well as a video of "Eres Tu," a Spanish version of "What I've Been Looking For" (the Ryan and Sharpay version) by Mexican band Belanova. Retained from the original DVD are the sing-along subtitles, the making-of featurette, the "Bop to the Top" rehearsal, and the music videos for "We're All in This Together" and "I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." Not included in this version: the trivia-packed "pop-up edition" that debuted on the Disney Channel on Thanksgiving weekend 2006. So even if the Remix Edition is a little thin for two discs, fans will enjoy the new stuff while they wait for High School Musical 2. --David Horiuchi

Description

The power of music explodes in this spectacular, show-stopping, two-disc REMIX EDITION of the Emmy(R) Award-winning HIGH SCHOOL MUSCIAL! The smash-hit Disney Channel Original Movie everyone is talking about now features hours of awesome new bonus features that will rock your world. Take a front-row seat on the red carpet for the star-studded Hollywood premiere, and join the High School Reunion, where the cast reunites in an exclusive interview where they talk about how their lives have changed dramatically since being a part of this movie phenomenon. Plus, stand up and experience the Dance Along (as seen on Disney Channel), where Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, and Ryan give step-by-step instructions to popular dance sequences "Get'cha Head In The Game" and "We're All In This Together." Hear two exclusive remix versions of your favorite songs and watch three new music videos. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL REMIX EDITION is everything you've been looking for -- and more!

Customer Reviews:

High School Musical Rocks!.......2007-06-12

Complete Cop Out and Rip Off.......2007-06-03

Hideous.......2007-06-02

Highs and Lows.......2007-06-01

It brought me back.......2007-05-23

Average customer rating:

Inauthenticity everywhere
Five Easy Pieces
Makers of Modern Character Studies Should Take Note
Jack's Best Work
as sad and hopeless as you could get

Five Easy Pieces
Starring: Jack Nicholson , Karen Black , Billy Green Bush , Fannie Flagg , and Sally Struthers
Director: Bob Rafelson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Carnal Knowledge
Easy Rider [Region 99]
Chinatown
The Last Detail
The Last Picture Show (Definitive Director's Cut Special Edition)

ASIN: B00002VWE0
Release Date: 1999-12-14

Amazon.com essential video

This subtle, existential character study of an emotionally distant outcast (Nicholson) forced to confront his past failures remains an intimate cornerstone of American '70s cinema. Written and directed with remarkable restraint by Bob Rafelson, the film is the result of a short-lived partnership between the filmmaker and Nicholson--the first was the zany formalist exercise, Head, while the equally impressive King of Marvin Gardens followed Five Easy Pieces. Quiet and full of long, controlled takes, this film draws its strength from the acutely detailed, nonjudgmental observations of its complex protagonist, Robert Dupea--an extremely crass and frustrated oil worker, and failed child pianist hiding from his past in Texas. Dupea spends his life drinking beer and sleeping with (and cheating on) his annoying but adoring Tammy Wynette-wannabe girlfriend, but when he learns that his father is dying in Washington State, he leaves. After the film transforms into a spirited road movie, and arrives at the eccentric upper-class Dupea family mansion, it becomes apparent that leaving is what Dupea does best--from his problems, fears, and those who love him. Nicholson gives a difficult yet masterful performance in an unlikable role, one that's full of ambiguity and requires violent shifts in acting style. Several sequences--such as his stopping traffic to play piano, or his famous verbal duels with a cranky waitress over a chicken-salad sandwich--are Nicholson landmarks. Yet, it's the quieter moments, when Dupea tries miserably to communicate and reconcile with his dying father, where the actor shows his real talent--and by extension, shows us the wounded little boy that lurks in the shell of the man Dupea has become. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

Inauthenticity everywhere.......2007-05-12

Or, as Bobby would probably say, "Bulls*t everywhere!" Or something more explicit. Even with The Joker, the psychopathic writer in Kubrick's "Shining", and his chilling performance in "The Departed", I would say this is Nicholson's scariest character.

Bobby Dupea, a former piano prodigy who finds the pretentiousness of art, culture, and his entire family so revolting that he takes Timothy Leary's edict closer to heart than any hippy--he becomes a worker on an oil rig, a complete alcoholic, a brutal misogynist and generally reprehensible human being all around, completely divorced from his origins and disdainful of his considerable talents. Karen Black, his gorgeous hilbilly girlfriend, really forms the paradox of Dupea's character: his ferocious embrace of man's lower instincts in favor of a greater authenticity and his actual repugnance when facing them for any extended period of time. The most telling scenes in this dark but compelling tale of ultimate failure consist of Rayette and Bobby together: Bobby listening to her sweet, well intentioned but limited sentiments about life and the small world she was born into, his constant annoyance but sympathy; his violent defense of her in the presence of his "high brow" family, and his ultimate inability to stay with her--even when he knows she's pregnant.

Bobby's more or less constant agitation is a result of his unwillingness to face his hopelessly divided nature. Stopping traffic in a drunken rage, he hops on a moving truck and begins furiously playing a piano to the incomprehension of his drunken backwoods co-worker, flipping out on a waitress for misunderstanding his order, and trying to reconcile with a father who is catatonic from a stroke: these are all the actions of a man without the strength to face his inner demons or acknowledge them. He protests too much without really wanting anything to change.

Bob Rafelson was obviously conscious of the contradictions inherent in the 1960's counterculture and this a commentary of sorts: the rejection of the father--the dominant culture--for good reasons, and the impotence of the son--the 60's mentality embodied by Bobby--all culminating in disaster (the present day). This is a masterpiece and wins out over similar modern fare like "American Beauty" or "Good Will Hunting" anyday.

That poor waitress.

Five Easy Pieces.......2007-05-08

Robert Dupea[Jack Nicholson] starts out being his normal tough guy and
woman chaser. The plot changes when he meets Susan Anspach and falls
for her, making him change is idea about women. This seems hard for
Jack to do. Overall this is a good movie, but a bit slow at times.

Makers of Modern Character Studies Should Take Note.......2006-12-18

This film is everything that modern character studies long to be. 'Five Easy Pieces' is revealing about a wayward culture; it strikes the audience with its emotional interactions; and lets us peer into the hearts and minds of very intriguing personalities.

The story follows Robert Dupea (Nicholson), who has abandoned his well-to-do, intellectual family for a proletarian lifestyle of manual labor and promiscuity. His impetus is clear from the beginning--our culture is restrictive and absurd, and must be rejected. But refuting his old life doesn't exempt him from the world's ludicrousness and we find him restless and discontented from the opening. Arguments with his girlfriend and the famous 'chicken salad sandwich' scene epitomize this agitation.

Dupea returns to his family under the pretext of attending to his ill father. There, he finds what he believes could be his salvation in the form of sophisticated woman who is also romantic and optimistic (she doesn't believe she's ever been bored). In her, Dupea sees reason and justification for his old life and considers it once again. A clash of interest results, generating the sharpest interactions and the bitterest of conflicts.

This clash is all that modern character studies aim for. Failing to show the value of the rejected old life, however, there is no good reason for the clash and the character is seen to be shallow and heartless, leaving the audience with nothing to study.

Enjoy this picture for the craftsmanship with which Rafelson molds the internal conflict, an art that is evidently admired these days and very rarely achieved.

Jack's Best Work.......2006-12-11

I can't remember when I saw this one on the big screen. It was not long after Easy Rider and we had the idea that this Jack Nicholson had something to say to our 60's-70's counter-culture. He did have something to say with some of the sharpest acting I had ever seen. He out-classed the James Dean's and Marlon Brando's, but not with ease. Jack was workin' hard, switching from depressed concert pianist to hillbilly good time dude to misunderstood Romeo in five-minute intervals. No, make that changeable temperament every five seconds, truly an artistic milestone. Throw in an equally magnificent portrayal by Karen Black, sexy and hillbilly; Jessica Simpson, eat your heart out, and you have the couple of the year, 1970.

Jack's father is one of those evil patriarch's that hurt their kids bad, pushing them to greatness without an ounce of love. Consequently, the siblings are brilliant and eccentric. The daughter is a frumpy dope. The older son is a violinist with a neck injury, and then there's handsome Jack, shiftless, moving from bed to bed, crossing the country, a boozing bum. Back in the Vietnam years there was an examination of bourgeois life. Did we have to get a job and get married? Was everyone in a particular cubbyhole, mail in the funeral? Hence, we had the counter-culture, drugs, long haired hippies, sexual openness, and shiftless lifestyles. Bob Rafelson's film gives you that, but mercifully, with subtly. That last scene at the gas station says it all. I think directors would be hard pressed to sum up a film's theme so effectively with so little noise - amazing.

as sad and hopeless as you could get.......2006-09-19

the whole life was just a meaningless struggle and very difficult to interpretate it. a quite good movie but also a very sad and hopeless one. a very represenatative piece of the 'existentialism' and 'escapeism' so popular in the 60s to 70s'. then fully bloomed into the crazy era of the vietnam war. these kinda movies would affect your mood badly, drive you nuts and throw you into a dark alley. there's no way a man could run away from himself.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing followup to horror classic "Suspiria"
Surrealism and Expressionism's Journey to Hell
a bit hard to follow when first seen, but thats a very minor complaint
You'll either love it or hate it.
colour

Inferno
Starring: Jr. Feodor Chaliapin , Eleonora Giorgi , Ryan Hilliard , Veronica Lazar , and Leigh McCloskey
Director: Dario Argento
Manufacturer: Blue Underground
ProductGroup: DVD
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Suspiria
Deep Red
Deep Red
Opera
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage

ASIN: B000KRNG5E
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Dario Argento's sequel to Suspiria, his first and to date only American hit, is an even more incoherent nightmare fantasy. Laden with symbolic imagery and fantastic explosions of death shot in candy-colored hues, it's a bloody feast for the eyes. Mark (Leigh McCloskey), an American music student in Rome, rushes home to New York after a frantic phone call from his sister only to find an empty apartment and obscure clues about a supernatural presence in her spooky building. It all has something to do with the mysterious Mater Tenebrarum, one of the "Three Mothers" of Argento's murky mythology, and the fun house of an apartment house she inhabits, complete with a fully furnished underwater ballroom, miles of secret tunnels flooded in red and blue light, and hidden passageways under the floorboards. Meanwhile, there's a killer running around stabbing beautiful women for who knows what reason, a crippled bookseller attacked by rats, and a homicidal hot-dog vendor in Central Park. Why? It's best not to ponder such mysteries--Argento obviously isn't as concerned with making sense of his meticulously staged murders as he is with lighting them with just the right hue. Dramatically it's inert, a parade of quirky but faceless victims dispatched with elaborate care, but it's beautifully designed and executed, a spectacle of elaborate set pieces and magnificent decor orchestrated with a complete disdain for narrative logic. --Sean Axmaker

Description

The Master Of Horror Dario Argento Brings You Terror That's Hotter Than Hell!A young woman stumbles upon a mysterious diary that reveals the secrets of "The Three Mothers" and unleashes a nightmare world of demonic evil. As the unstoppable horror spreads from Rome to New York City, this unholy trinity must be stopped before the world is submerged in the blood of the innocent.Written and directed by Dario Argento, INFERNO is considered to be the sequel to his classic SUSPIRIA. This surreal shocker stars Irene Miracle (NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS), Daria Nicolodi (DEEP RED) and Leigh McCloskey (DALLAS), and features a pulse-pounding original score by Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Now transferred from the original vault negative materials, INFERNO contains visually stunning sequences of horror that Argento fans consider among the best of his career.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing followup to horror classic "Suspiria".......2007-05-31

Apart from one knockout horror sequence (with the heroine swimming in an underwater chamber) this movie never really catches fire. The performances are very poor, in marked contrast to Suspiria. The music is also strangely sedate for a horror film, also in contrast to Suspiria. The look of the film partly makes for the lack of real horror, but only in certain spots. Overall a disappointment.

Surrealism and Expressionism's Journey to Hell .......2007-05-02

Inferno is the second film of Dario Argento's unfinished "The Three Mothers" trilogy (while Suspiria is the first film). This film is classic Argento with its brilliant cinematography, abrasive yet eerie soundtrack (which seems out of place in certain scenes), brutal/bizarre deaths and sub par acting. Argento has stated that the actors aren't the focus of his films; rather the environment, mood, story and technical aspects are the potent force behind his masterpieces.

One thing about this movie that I found totally surreal and almost fantasy like was the lighting. The illumination in this giallo creates an ambient and nebulous setting, which is very unique. The light gels and/or set design in Inferno paint a mood in just about every scene. These moods vary from precarious (yellow) to foreboding (blue) then tranquil (green) to wrath (red) and back to enigmatic (purple). This type of movie making magic really plays a huge part in the film. I've shown Inferno to people before and they might not have liked the movie, but were impressed with the lighting and cinematography.

As for the plot, well it is somewhat lackluster. Mark, who is schooling in Europe, receives a letter from his sister Rose, who lives in New York. Rose's letter has a sense of bereavement to it, in regards to the apartment she is living. Rose believes that there are some clairvoyant or supernatural forces at work. Therefore, this sends Mark to The Big Apple to console his sister. However, this is the beginning of Mark's disconsolate hardships. He seems to be putting a puzzle together that doesn't want to solved.

Inferno might have to be witnessed more than once to fully digest what has transpired. However, I have seen it about a dozen times and I still don't know if I fully "get it". In other words, the movie can be a bit confusing. There are also some parts of the film that "drag on", but it doesn't take away from the overall effect of the movie. One of the best scenes is the underwater sequence, which is just plain eerie. There is one scene that involves cats. I love cats and having them as pets, might make this scene a bit hard to watch. Nevertheless, many aspects of Argento's films have a "pseudo-fake" quality about them, so you always know in the back of your head that what is happening on the screen isn't real.

As formally noted, Dario Argento's "The Three Mothers" trilogy is currently uncompleted. However, the third film is supposed to be completed and released by October 2007. The name of the movie is "The Third Mother". I do hope this is fact and not a rumor.

a bit hard to follow when first seen, but thats a very minor complaint.......2007-04-29

the movie is definately argento's most surreal one. along with suspiria and phenomena, this one is among his most bizarre and fun. dare i say that is shares more in common with a less character driven david lynch film over a hitchcock one. if you liked suspiria for the visuals, lighting, and supernatural delving, this is sure to please. hopefully, dario will finish the 3 mothers thing and cover the mater laciorum(sp?) story.

anyways, a lot of underground dvd collectors are probably wondering about this new blue underground version of this movie. i say this. if you have the anchor bay version, never fear. both versions are exactly the same, save for the fact that the newly released one is region zero and the insert is doubled sided along with the clear case. the anchor bay one does come with a nice interview book insert though. if you dont have this movie,id recommend to pick the blue underground version up.(ahem, cheaper!) if you have the anchor bay one (likewise to myself) theres no need to shell out 12 more bucks..i mean unless you plan to visit folks out of the USA or adore the clear see thru cases.

anyways, enough rambling from this dvd nerd.

You'll either love it or hate it........2007-03-30

Since there is a plot description here I'll skip the rehash, which might be good because I'm not entirely sure how to even sum up the plot.

Inferno is widely seen as Dario Argento's sequel to his popular horror flick Suspiria. For me, Inferno is a tough one to explain, but I shall give it a shot.

The plot is a bit messy often people have complained about the movie being confusing. I wouldn't really say it was, but it sure doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

A lot of things happen with very little explanation. Dario Argento gives us as little explanation as possible. Honestly there really wasn't much of a plot at all.

Inferno gets off to a rather slow start the first 20-min nothing really happens at all. Now some might wonder why the 4-star rating?

Well first off the movie is beautiful to look at. From a visual side Inferno looks amazing. Each scene is just so amazingly shot the lighting is out-standing.

Inferno has the best use of colors I have ever possibly seen in a movie. Also going for Inferno is the dream like feel it has, which actually a lot of Argento films do.

But Inferno really feels like a nightmare, one that may not make a whole lot of sense, but still creepy. The pacing of Inferno at times can be slow, but at the same time that is what draws me in to the movie. It's just so surreal and nightmare like that each scene pulls me in.

In the suspense scene Dario Argento nails it. The scenes have a lot of tension and suspense and like most Argento movies the murders are filmed amazingly.

While, Dario Argento doesn't really shy away from gore his movies really aren't that gory, well except the arm scene in Tenebre. Besides that his movies really aren't that gory. Inferno isn't really gory. The most we get is some blood splatter.

But like most Argento movies like that the murders are still very violent even if we don't see tons of gore. Despite the lack of plot I have to say I quite enjoyed Inferno. I am a fan of Dario Argento, but I'm not a huge die hard fan.

Sometimes fans feel the need to defend every film they like by a filmmaker I am guilty of that sometimes myself, but I can also be honest. Even though I like Dario Argento I'm giving my honest opinion here and not being biased.

When it comes to Inferno you'll either love it or hate it. Based on everything I have read there is very little middle ground. The majority loves it or hates it and the minority found it decent.

So for those who haven't seen Inferno keep that in mind. Despite the lack of plot and despite the movie not making much sense at times I really liked Inferno.

It has a great visual style and again despite the lack of plot Argento was really able to draw me in to this world he created.

colour.......2007-03-18

Inferno is a kind of eye candy. The colour create a special tone for this imagination story.

Average customer rating:

Forever Knight
Decent, but Give Me "Forever Knight"
Springfield is outstanding!
yes!
above average made-for-TV vampire movie

Nick Knight
Starring: Rick Springfield , Allison Barron , Andree Chapman , Rif Hutton , and David Byrd (II)
Director: Farhad Mann
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Forever Knight - The Trilogy, Part 1 (1992 - 1993) [Region 99]
Forever Knight - The Trilogy, Part 3 (1995 - 1996) [Region 99]
Hard To Hold
Forever Knight - The Trilogy, Part 2 (1994 - 1995) [Region 99]
A Change of Place

ASIN: B0000844IS
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Customer Reviews:

Forever Knight.......2007-06-13

I had never heard of this movie, although I had been a fan of the Forever Knight series for years. It was a little odd seeing different actors in the parts, but t was a very interesting look into Nick's early time as a cop. If you are a fan of the series, you will find the movie interesting. I even like Rick Springfield in the part of Nick - and I believed in him. Not the best movie of all time, and the series was better acted, but still fun for Forever Knight fans.

Decent, but Give Me "Forever Knight".......2007-04-28

"Nick Knight" is a cool movie to have and own. It is one that fans of the TV series will want, but it isn't as good as the Ger Davies TV series. There is no Natalie, Janette is unattractive and LaCroix is no where near as cool as he is when played by Nigel. It's not only those shallow points, but there is just no chemistry between the cast and characters. Janette and Nick seem like enemies, and there is no real sense of hate towards LaCroix for becoming a vampire. The entire movie just has a different feel.

The music, I have to admit, is quite good if you like the music from the decade. These were songs I knew very well, so it was enjoyable to hear them in the movie. Overall, fans will want to see this movie, but those who aren't fans may actually like it more. You just can't beat the relationships the characters have on the TV series, and it is obviously missing here-even compared to the "Forever Knight" version of this movie.

Springfield is outstanding!.......2007-03-22

Rick Springfield is equally adept at acting and music, an all-too-rare combination. In fact, he's the only musician/actor I can think of who can really do both. In this film, he is perfectly cast as an LA cop who works nights, successfully hiding the fact that he is also a vampire. When a series of murders strikes Los Angeles, Knight (Springfield) is the investigating officer, along with his new, obnoxious partner (John Kapelos). The connecting thread among the murders is that all the victims are homeless - and all have been drained of blood.

When another murder is committed in which the victim has been drained of blood, yet all the other marks of the crime differ from the usual pattern, the case takes a strange twist for Knight.

I wish that the film had been written with a stronger female character. Alyce Hunter, who is supposed to be a brilliant archeologist, does some of the stupidest things I've ever seen in a film. She chases Knight down an alley (trying not to be seen or heard) in high heels. She tries to attack another vampire with a dowel. She tips her hand too early. A better actress would have done more with the role, but Laura Johnson is simply awful. She's awkward, angular, and looks as if she's wondering when the shot will be over, so she can go hide somewhere. I can't believe that she was cast as a woman with whom Knight is supposed to make a fast emotional connection. She looks more like a bundle of neurosis held together by very fine wire. Why on earth was she cast? Not only does she sink every scene she's in, she damages the movie as a whole.

Johnson (and her character) aside, this was a nifty film showing modern life for a vampire. Where does he go during the day? How much daylight can he handle? Where does he get his food? Does anyone else know what he is? The film offers interesting answers to these questions.

If you like Rick Springfield, or if you like vampire films, this is one for you. Especially if you like Springfield, who IS the character, and hence, makes the movie effective.

yes!.......2007-02-07

All I can say is: if you like vampires and 80ies-style-movies (and for sure, Rick Spingfield ;-) ) with lots of good music in it, you will absolutely love this movie.
I bought this dvd because I am a Springfield fan and very long ago -when I was a teenager - I read about this movie in a magazine. Later I saw tbe series and remebered about the movie, but was never able to get it in Germany. Finally I have it and am very happy about it. Definately worth the money.

above average made-for-TV vampire movie.......2007-01-29

I think that the "Nick Knight" pilot is an underrated made-for-TV movie. In some respects I like it better than the series that followed (although the series LaCroix, Nigel Bennett, was superior). Ultimately both this pilot and the series were great ideas with mediocre execution, but even so, bot hare worth checking out if you like vampires. At least it tried to do something different (for the time it was made). I also recommend Susan Sizemore's "Stirring of Dust" novel, based on characters from the series.

Average customer rating:

a little disappointed with Christopher McQuarrie
Overlooked
HOSTAGE VS KIDNAPPERS VS RESCUERS
One Great Action Movie
A Very Good And Suspenseful Film: Crooks Versus Crooks!

The Way of the Gun
Starring: Ryan Phillippe , Benicio Del Toro , Juliette Lewis , Taye Diggs , and Nicky Katt
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Suicide Kings
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Widescreen Edition)
Snatch (Special Edition) [Region 99]
The Boondock Saints
True Romance - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00005QJHP
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com

The big selling point for The Way of the Gun is the fact that it was written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the guy who wrote The Usual Suspects. Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillippe star as two low-rent criminals who fall into a plan to kidnap a surrogate mother (Juliette Lewis) who is carrying a baby for a very wealthy couple. The duo are immediately in over their heads, and their kidnapping plot brings to light the dark and hidden tendrils of the old man's family structure. It also brings on lots of gunfights and lots of blood. McQuarrie creates some good action sequences (particularly the slow-moving car "chase" through the alleys), but that only serves to emphasize the one major weakness of the film: the script. Though it's chock full of macho declarations, shootouts, and "surprise" revelations, the core story is ultra-predictable. That wouldn't be so bad if there were any characters to care about, but only a supporting performance from James Caan elicits any kind of sympathy. This is merely a movie based on violent movies, with no additional commentary. Then again, McQuarrie does do a nice job with much of the action. Though nowhere near as good as The Usual Suspects, particularly in its story, The Way of the Gun is a promising debut for McQuarrie as a director. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews:

a little disappointed with Christopher McQuarrie.......2007-03-07

Kinda sounds like a martial arts movie set in the Old West. Actually, it was a rather strange movie directed and written by the guy who wrote the screenplay for The Usual Suspects. But unlike The Usual Suspects, this lackluster film failed to deliver.

The cast was even more diverse than Suspects, if that is even possible. Ryan Philippe, Benicio del Toro, and Juliette Lewis were the headliners, with a cast rounded out by Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, and James Caan. Caan's performance was the one diamond in this coal mine of acting drivel. He rarely fails to deliver stellar, well-nuanced characters. Taye Diggs is not believable as a bodyguard. He is a model, not an actor. Del Toro gives us his typical one-dimensional character that we've seen a thousand times, and Philippe's accent was absolutely dreadful (watch Matt Damon if you want real Boston). Lewis, typically strong (i.e. Natural Born Killers), was a little disappointing in her role as a surrogate mother for doting multi-millionaire parents.

The storyline is basically two cons (del Toro and Philippe) who abandon their typical money-making schemes (sperm donation, etc) to pursue a more lucrative idea by kidnapping the surrogate of a millionaire. After watching the first gunfight (guns galore, thus the title), one really begins to wonder where these two get their skills from. Two cons that have to jack-off to make ends meet typically don't have the elite skills of the top Army Rangers in tactical weaponry. But these two are obviously gifted in S.W.A.T. Remarkably, it becomes even more surreal as these two lead the skilled bodyguards of the surrogate down alleyways in intricate cat and mouse play that even Jerry and the Road Runner would be envious of.

A potentially intricate plot is heavily diluted by a poorly written script and even worse directing. I don't think this film is worthy of being in the same review as The Usual Suspects, much less being on its cover. This film was a good idea, but poorly executed.

Overlooked.......2007-01-31

I get the feeling there was alot of the story we're missing here; It hints at the possibility of being a truly epic crime story, with rich background stories and intricate plots to unfold. And while this is not the overall result, there are alot of really great moments in this quirky and well-acted crime drama. Ryan and Benicio are compelling leads, and Caan is excellent as an aging mobster. And, of course, it's really all about the big finish. Kind of a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid thing...This is one of those odd movies I just really liked.

HOSTAGE VS KIDNAPPERS VS RESCUERS.......2007-01-28

More disorganized crime.
If anything can go wrong, it will.

Surrogate mother (Juliette Lewis) is kidnapped. (Benicio Del Toro)
Daddy-o (Scott Wilson) sends his strongarm (James Caan) and her bodyguards to get her back.
Subplot: bodyguards think of this as some sort of competition with the strongarm.

Adult content.

If you like this movie try
Hostage

One Great Action Movie.......2007-01-11

I knew as soon as the first five minutes had passed that this was my kind of movie. This flick is definately a must for any action movie buff's DVD collection. The final shoot out is raw!

A Very Good And Suspenseful Film: Crooks Versus Crooks!.......2006-10-18

"The Way of the Gun" is a very complex and violent film, but then so are the characters portrayed in the film. Most the complaints I hear from people who have seen this film is that it is violence for violence sake. Not true. The individuals involved in the film are all violent men; and they don't ask for anything, they take it by force. That is the world they live in, and that is their nature: And that is also the premise of the film. Therefore, you will either like this film, or you won't. I happen to believe that this was a very good film. Not great [almost], but very good.

The story revolves around two petty losers, Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro) and his partner Parker (Ryan Phillipe). Both of them are good friends who are wanderers. Neither holds a job, and for them anything is for the taking. They make money any way they can: From petty larceny to robbery, or whatever other way they can. While attempting to earn money at a sperm bank clinic; they both overhear a chance conversation about a woman who is the surrogate mother (Juliette Lewis) of a very rich couple. In their greed to make a quick bundle of money, they both decide to kidnap her and hold her for ransom.

However, in their greed to rush into the kidnapping they don't plan it very well. First, and foremost, they know nothing about the rich man whom they are about to deal with. He is a criminal not unlike them, only he has quite a few men under his control. Moreover, his men are trained killers who will stop at nothing to see that the surrogate mother is not abducted: Even if it means killing her. What Longbaugh and Parker find themselves in is a situation in which they are totally outmatched, outgunned, outmanuevered and more importantly; they are up against a man who will stop at nothing to see them dead.

The acting by ALL the film's characters is great. Also, the action scenes are very intense and dramatic. The shoot-out scenes are some of the most realistic I have ever seen in film. You almost believe that the characters are actually firing real rounds. This in itself give this film a very realistic intensity lacking in many films of this genre. [Many films look fake in their shootouts--not this one}. As I wrote in the beginnig, this is a very complex film. Some of the characters in the film give outstanding performances: From James Caan, who has a deep secret that invovles the surrogate mother, to Taye Diggs and Nicky Katt, the hired bodyguar