Clue

Starring:Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, Colleen Camp, Lee Ving, Bill Henderson, Jane Wiedlin, Jeffrey Kramer, Kellye Nakahara, Will Nye, Rick Goldman, Don Camp, Howard Hesseman
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

For the Hollywood remake rule, which dictates that an update of an older film be inferior to the original in almost every aspect, The Thomas Crown Affair stands as a glorious exception. The original 1968 film, starring a dapper Steve McQueen and a radiant Faye Dunaway, was a diverting pop confection of mod clothes and nifty break-ins, but not much more. John McTiernan's new version, though, cranks up the entertainment factor to mach speed, turning what was a languid flick into a high-adrenaline caper romance. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is now a man of industry who likes to indulge in a little high-priced art theft on the side; Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is the insurance investigator determined to get on his tail in more ways than one. If you're thinking cat-and-mouse game, think again--it's more like cat vs. smarter cat, as both the thief and the investigator try to outwit each other and nothing is off-limits, especially after they start a highly charged love affair that's a heated mix of business and pleasure.

What makes this Thomas Crown more enjoyable than its predecesor is McTiernan's attention to detail in both the set action pieces (no surprise from the man who helmed Die Hard with precision accuracy) and the developing romance, the witty and intelligent script by Leslie Dixon (she wrote the love scenes) and Kurt Wimmer (he wrote the action scenes), and, most of all, its two stunning leads (both over 40 to boot), combustible both in and out of bed. Brosnan, usually held prisoner in the James Bond straitjacket, lets loose with both a relaxed sensuality and a comic spirit he's rarely expressed before. The film, however, pretty much belongs to Russo, who doesn't just steal the spotlight, but bends it to her will. Beautiful, stylish, smart, self-possessed, incredibly sexy, she's practically a walking icon; it's no wonder Crown falls for her hook, line, and sinker. With Denis Leary as a police detective smitten with Russo, and Faye Dunaway in a throwaway but wholly enjoyable cameo as Brosnan's therapist. --Mark Englehart

Description

Thrill-seeking billionaire Thomas Crown (Brosnan) loves nothing more than courting disasterand winning! So when his world becomes too stiflingly safe, he pulls off his boldest stunt ever: stealing a priceless paintingin broad daylightfrom one of Manhattan's most heavily guarded museums. But his post-heist excitement soon pales beside an even greater challenge: Catherine Banning (Russo). A beautiful insurance investigator hired to retrieve the artwork, Catherine's every bit as intelligent, cunning and hungry for adventure as he is. And just when Thomas realizes he's finally met his match, she skillfully leads him into a daring game of cat and mouse that's more intoxicating and dangerous than anything either of them has ever experienced before!

Customer Reviews:

OK.......2007-03-27

This movie is OK, but I prefer the original version with Steve McQueen. This remake is too Hollywood for me, with too many unbelievable stunts. The original was better.

He got his Kicks .......2007-02-07

Despite my misgivings I actually enjoyed this movie. I found it to be very entertaining. Pierce Brosnan is rich, affluent and board. He steals art treasures for kicks. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo make an acceptable and reluctant love duo. Denis Leary as the detective trying to nab Brosnan actually steals this film with his dedicated yet easy going style. As remakes go this is one of the better ones as of late. This film was made as one of Brosnan's non-Bond films during his tenure as 007. I still prefer the original.

Find out what a billionaire does in his spare time.......2006-12-22

+++++

This movie is a remake (actually not an exact remake) of the 1968 movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" starring the legendary Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway (who has a small role in this remake).

In this movie a bored billionaire named Thomas "Tommy" Crown (Pierce Brosnan who also co-produced) masterminds an art theft of a 100 million dollar Monet painting. Unlike in the original movie (that was a bank heist), Crown actually participates in the theft.

Enter insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) with police detective Michael McCann (Denis Leary). Banning identifies Crown as the mastermind behind this crime. She's out to get him but a problem ensues along the way: she falls for Crown and Crown falls for her. Their scenes together are sizzling and explosive.

Unlike the 1968 original, there is tension created as the viewer wonders if Crown will actually get caught. As well, the sexual tension between Crown and the insurance investigator is heightened in this movie.

The acting is terrific by Brosnan, Russo, and Leary. I have to give special kudos to Russo as the smart and very sexy insurance investigator Catherine Banning. The background music is interesting and adds to each scene. There is a clever ending that I found unforgettable and fun to watch. I felt the entire movie was slick and ingeniously done.

Finally, the DVD (the one released in 2000) is perfect in visual and audio quality. It has the movie on both sides of the disc. Extras consist of the 1968 and 1999 theatrical trailers as well as a director audio commentary.

In conclusion, watch this movie for yourself to discover what a billionaire does in his spare time!!

(1 hr, 55 min; 1999; full screen; 36 scenes; rated `R')

+++++

Watchable caper flick.......2006-12-05

This is a movie that moves in fits and starts. Parts of it are a lot of fun, parts of it stumble.

Most of the stumbling is done when Rene Russo is the focus of the movie. Admittedly, the script verges on the downright ridiculous, and she's placed in scenes that were simply hopeless. (Some of the dialogue is so bad that this movie might almost have made its way into an MST3K episode.) Still, a better actress might have made them...less hopeless. I found myself groaning and rolling my eyes at her hamming. And to hot things up, she's reduced to shimmying sans underwear in a see-through gown, and then providing plenty of topless footage. It doesn't work. The sudden, extended nudity seems kind of jarring, as if I just switched over to Cinemax without realizing it. There are also scenes where Russo switches to the cartoonish character known as The Bitch, and she's not believable then, either.

Brosnan is also a touch ridiculous from time to time, but mostly he plays his usual suave, handsome character. If you like that, you'll like him here.

Dennis Leary surprises with a low-key performance. If I would have expected anyone to deliver a true hambone performance, it would have been him.

There are lots of shots of exotic locales, like a hilltop cabana on a tropical island, or a glider flying over a forest alive with autumn colors, that are nice eye candy. We had just gotten our first widescreen TV and it was pretty nice to watch this movie show off the TV.

I found myself reaching for the remote a few times during this movie, telling myself, "OK, I've seen about enough of this." But I must admit, it held my attention, just barely, to the end.

Excdellent!.......2006-12-02

I absolutely LOVE this movie. I am on my way to purchase my very own DVD today. I have been borrowing my sisters and decided I need my very own copy. Just like another reviewer said this movie requires intelect so if you do not have that don't bother. This movie is sexy, it has suspense, the music is nice and the characters make this movie seem very real. My sister and my friend use to rave about this movie years ago and I wander what the hype was about then finally years later I decided to watch it and became hooked! I can watch this everyday! LOL

Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express

Average customer rating:

Murder on the Orient Express
Unlike so many DVD's, this one is worth owning
Beautifully Realized: A Classic Of Its Kind
The Best of Christie
Christie's best

Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express
Starring: Albert Finney , Lauren Bacall , Martin Balsam , Ingrid Bergman , and Jacqueline Bisset
Director: Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002I832C
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com essential video

Just the name "Orient Express" conjures images of a bygone era. Add an all-star cast (including Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, and Lauren Bacall, to name a few) and Agatha Christie's delicious plot and how can you go wrong? Particularly if you add in Albert Finney as Christie's delightfully persnickety sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Someone has knocked off nasty Richard Widmark on this train trip and, to Poirot's puzzlement, everyone seems to have a motive--just the setup for a terrific whodunit. Though it seems like an ensemble film, director Sidney Lumet gives each of his stars their own solo and each makes the most of it. Bergman went so far as to win an Oscar for her role. But the real scene-stealer is the ever-reliable Finney as the eccentric detective who never misses a trick. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Murder on the Orient Express.......2007-07-04

An unrecognizable Finney transforms himself into Agatha Christie's renowned Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Beyond this star's astonishing portrayal, the fun of this whodunit comes from the fascinating assortment of characters he interrogates, played by some of our most accomplished acting veterans: Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Wendy Hiller, and John Gielgud among them. Predictably, in addition to Finney, old pros Hiller and Gielgud steal the show. "Murder" should be nirvana for any mystery lover, and director Lumet gives the film plenty of period charm and atmosphere.

Unlike so many DVD's, this one is worth owning.......2007-07-03

I remember seeing this movie when I was 5 years old in 1974. Fortunately for me, I forgot "whodunit" and was able to enjoy when I saw it again as a teenager. Having viewed the movie at least 20 times since then, I find it hard to see how plebian works like "The Usual Suspects" garner such rave reviews when such obviously better fare like this exist. Everyone involved in this film gives it their finest effort. Only with many viewings does one get the opportunity to observe the details that are so interwoven into the script and acting. The story is among the most perfect murder mysteries ever penned, and the performance of the cast is resplendent. Throughout, the cast crackles with sparking witty dialog that is matched perfectly with the deftest of facial expressions and gestures that continuously lay clues at your feet until your so confused that you'll be begging at the conclusion to find out who the murderer is.

So few movies stand up to repeated viewing and thus are seldom worth the cost of the DVD or the space it takes up in your home. Buy this movie so you can watch it, so that your parents can watch it, your children and your grandchildren. Heck, you will probably want to mention it in your will!

Beautifully Realized: A Classic Of Its Kind.......2007-07-01

In the early 1960s Agatha Christie (1890-1976) sold the film rights to several of her most celebrated novels--and although the public liked the ensuing films, she herself did not. She was forever after suspicious of the film industry and rejected one offer after another until the early 1970s, when Lord Louis Mountbatten interceded on behalf of son-in-law and film producer John Brabourne for the film rights to MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Christie reluctantly agreed. In 1974, upon seeing the film, she declared it to be the ONLY film version of any of her novels that she liked.

The story is famous. Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) is a celebrated private investigator traveling via the legendary Orient Express. The train is snowbound in the Balkans--and Mr. Rachett (Richard Widmark) is found brutally stabbed in the bed of his luxury room. At the request of Signor Bianchi (Martin Balsam), an official of the train, Poriot agrees to investigate the murder... but the more he learns from the numerous passengers, the more impossible the crime seems.

Even today, most film versions of Christie novels are played with a bit of a twinkle in the eye, as if to say "this is all just in good fun." Not so MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. The all star cast includes John Gilegud, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Michael York, Jacqueline Bisset, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Anthony Perkins, and Rachel Roberts, to name but the most obvious, and they play out the story with tremendous style but without the self-knowing cuteness that tends to undercut most similar films. The novel is among the more convoluted Christie works, but the Paul Dehn manages to encapsulate it without simplifying it. And then there is the look and sound and feel of the movie, which is simply amazing.

The Orient Express had passed into legend by 1974, but this film returns the celebrated luxury train to sparkling reality. From costumes to art design, from cinematography to score, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is so richly detailed that it becomes an almost tactile experience. This is truly an example of "no expense spared." The film was nominated for no fewer than six Academy Awards, winning one for Ingrid Bergman, and was also nominated for no fewer than seventeen awards from other groups, winning at least six. All in all, it was one of the most celebrated films of its era.

For many years MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS was only available in mediocre VHS and DVD transfers, but this particular edition not only returns the film to a near-pristine state, it includes several memorable bonuses as well, most especially a "making of" documentary that includes many of the cast members; a short documentary on Agatha Christie; and a short documentary on the Lindberg kidnapping, which was among Christie's inspirations for the novel. Slick, beautiful, and seductive, the 1974 MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS sets a standard for mystery movies that few have equaled--and none have surpassed. Strongly recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

The Best of Christie.......2007-06-12

Murder on the Orient Express is undoubtedly the best Christie mystery ever filmed. Not only is the acting superb, the producers and writers stayed very close to the original novel in their presentation, which was not true in later Christie presentations by the same production team. But in Orient Express one gets a real feel for what it was like to travel from Istanbul on the Calais Coach.

Christie's best.......2007-05-29

The best of the movies from Christie's books, Well done and a lot of fun.

Average customer rating:

Clue
hilarious movie
80's Classic
The greatest of all comedys that is totally under appecttied
Clue

Clue
Starring: Eileen Brennan , Tim Curry , Madeline Kahn , Christopher Lloyd , and Michael McKean
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express
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ASIN: 6305882649
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Amazon.com

Undoubtedly the first movie in history to have played in theaters with three different endings (depending on which theater you attended), Clue is a silly whodunit based on the familiar board game featuring Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, and all the other usual suspects. A broadly comic cast play the sundry suspects gathered in a mansion to solve a murder, knowing that one of their numbers is the culprit. Michael McKean, Eileen Brennan, and Tim Curry are the best of the bunch, and the film is as lightweight an experience as a round of the game itself. Directed by Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny). The video release contains all three endings. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Clue.......2007-07-03

Another great classic! You can't go wrong buying this movie. It's still good and funny no matter how many times you've seen it.

hilarious movie.......2007-06-02

This is one of my favorite movies and has been since I was a little kid. I'm not sure it would hold up to most people's tastes, but it makes me laugh every time. Some of the best movie quotes made into inside jokes. Playing the game when I was little only made some of the references more amusing.

One of the best parts is the end - there are three! You can watch one randomly or all three. Something I wish would happen more often with silly movies made nowadays.

80's Classic.......2007-05-13

This movie has an all-star cast, including Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry, Eileen Brennan, and Madeline Khan. But the movie is just not funny at all. The only good thing about this movie besides the cast is the 3 different surprise endings.

The greatest of all comedys that is totally under appecttied.......2007-04-20

Who wouldn't love it when Wadesworth tells everyone how and where the murder's are committed in his super fast and comical way. You actually get to run with the six suspects as Wadesworth re tells what everyone was doing during each murder.

How about when Scarlett and Mustard were locked in the parlor with the dead driver and they were shouting to let them out. "Let us out! Let us Out!" oh and don't forget Plum and Greene trying to open the door "Let us in! Let us in!" How about when Yvette shoots at the door and misses and hit's the candler and freaks out everyone. Plum and Greene drop to the floor over each other as Yvette finally shoots the lock off; while inside the parlor Scarlett and Mustard are screaming at being shot at. How about Mustard's line "I have been shot" before the lock is blown away. Also when he marches out of the room and shouts that he couldn't take another shock to the nerves that night and the chandler comes crashing down.

CLUE is the one of the greatest comedy's that has been saddly and totally under appecitted. If you enjoy playing the game than you will enjoy this great movie with all these great and wonderful actors.

Clue.......2007-03-30

Goes great with the board game. My son loves the movie.
recieved in New condition.

Average customer rating:

A great movie.
Unique, horrifying thriller which leaves you desperate for a happy ending
MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL-TIME
Downright Creepy
Very dark - very scary

Seven (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , Gwyneth Paltrow , Andrew Kevin Walker , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000050FEN
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com essential video

The most viscerally frightening and disturbing homicidal maniac picture since The Silence of the Lambs, Seven is based on an idea that's both gruesome and ingenious. A serial killer forces each of his victims to die by acting out one of the seven deadly sins. The murder scene is then artfully arranged into a grotesque tableau, a graphic illustration of each mortal vice. From the jittery opening credits to the horrifying (and seemingly inescapable) concluding twist, director David Fincher immerses us in a murky urban twilight where everything seems to be rotting, rusting, or molding; the air is cold and heavy with dread. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt are the detectives who skillfully track down the killer--all the while unaware that he has been closing in on them, as well. Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey are also featured, but it is director Fincher and the ominous, overwhelmingly oppressive atmosphere of doom that he creates that are the real stars of the film. It's a terrific date movie--for vampires. --Jim Emerson

Description

A retiring cop and his replacement track a psychotic killer who's using the seven deadly sins as a guide. Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Customer Reviews:

A great movie........2007-06-10

Alien 3 wasn't too good. The Game was passable. Fight Club was mediocre. Panic Room was forgettable. I haven't seen Zodiac yet.

This film remains a gem in David Fincher's otherwise uneven filmmaking career. I remember going to see this with my buddies back when it first came out (the girls went to see Now And Then). After the movie was over, an eerie silence befell the entire theater until people realized that the movie was over and it was back to reality. Time to go. People gathered their things and quietly walked out. Talk about an intense ending.

Everyone in the world has seen this by now, but if you're thinking about purchasing it, I'd say go for it. I've had the Platinum Edition since it came out, and feature-wise, it's still one of my favorite DVD's to play with. A wise investment indeed.

If there's two things this movie has taught us, it's that Brad Pitt has a foul mouth and that Amazon reviewers sure love to spell the movie's title with a 7 in place of the V.

Unique, horrifying thriller which leaves you desperate for a happy ending.......2007-06-07

This one still hunts my mine. David Fincher broke new grounds in 1995 with the release of the psychological thriller 'Se7en'. Since its release, the suspense genre has reached newer levels. Se7en is not particularly a deep movie, but it has the ability to leave the viewer both in deep thought and awe. William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and David Mills (Brad Pitt) are two detectives, an old veteran and a young newcomer, that's being hired for a murder-case. This turns out to be a case of a serial-killer, and the killer's victim is people committing one of the seven deadly sins: Gluttony, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and wrath. . The movie is incredibly dark not only in tone but physically. Somehow cinematographer Darius Khondji manages to take a desert setting in the middle of the day and make it dark, shadowy and bleak. The dark look of the movie adds to the overall feel of despair.

Morgan Freeman is good as usual even though he seems like the same person as he plays in about every film I've seen him in: the old, wise and confident man who got the answer to almost every question. Brad Pitt is also good in, what may be one of the best performances I've ever seen by him. The same can be said for Gwyneth Paltrow (who plays David Mills' wife), even though I haven't seen many films from her. But the one, who steals the show, is Kevin Spacey. His straight face zombie-like pose and flat monotone dialog is downright creepy. "Seven" pretty much gets your attention from the very beginning and then throws you a pretty disturbed title sequence which makes you kind of twitchy and puts you in the proper frame of mind.

The movie starts off very graphically with the 'gluttony' killing. If you manage to make it through the scene where the body is discovered (I swear, you can almost smell that apartment!) and the autopsy scene you've already sat through the goriest parts. This doesn't mean that you can relax, though. I don't ever recall seeing a film which provoked such a reaction in me. But then, twisting conventions and reversing clichés is exactly what Se7en aims to do (even the final credits roll upwards rather than downwards). One of the best mainstream Hollywood films of the '90s.

MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL-TIME.......2007-05-27

When I first saw this movie I took the phrase "JAW-DROPPING" as an understatement. Mainly, becasue this was the first movie that by the end my jaw was on the floor. Everything about this movie flows effortlessly, the mood of the film, the acting is superb, and the ending couldnt have been better. Anyone who has not seen this movie is doing themselves a disfavor. David Fincher is a talented director, his vision and direction for this film is untouchable, ingenious, and exquisitely clever. The story unfolds like a blanket, as far as thriller's go this is the best one I've ever seen. The screenplay is well-written, and in my opinion should've been nominated for an Academy Award, along with the movie itself.

The casting for the film couldn't have been assembled no better. Morgan Freeman... well its Morgan Freeman, what can you say but living legend. Brad Pitt, who I am not a big fan of, outdid himself in this movie, this one of his best roles. Even If I tried I couldn't find not one thing bad about this movie. Kevin Spacey crafts the role as John Doe to perfection. He was only in the movie for about 20 -25 minutes, and boy did he make his presence known.

I recommend this movie to any and everyone. I can guarantee once you've seen it, you'll watch it over and over again, changing the way you look at movies forever.

Downright Creepy.......2007-05-07

A wonderful performance by the great chameleon Kevin Spacey. The movie is dark and chilly and leaves you feeling that way long after it's over.

Very dark - very scary.......2007-04-18

Se7en is one of the best thrillers ever made, and if 12 years later you still haven't seen it then you have missed a fantastic film.

Its a simple story - two detectives start investigating a series of murders that increasingly seem to relate to the seven deadly sins - Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Wrath. As the film progresses the film gets darker and darker, and its only at the very end that detectives, David Mills (Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), realise that they have been pawns in a bigger game.

The cast, which also includes Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow are very good and the script is brilliant. Take nothing for granted in this film. Believe me if you haven't it already seen the film, the ending will leave you fairly surprised (I think thats an understatement!). The director is David Fincher who also made Fight Club and Panic Room.

The film is grisly and quite repulsive in places. Although described as a mystery-thriller on the back of DVD case it has enough unpleasantness to be classed as horror-horror. So don't buy if you are easily spooked, or have a weak stomach!

The extras on the 2 disc special edition are well worth watching and amount to another 163mins worth of material.

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

Average customer rating:

A silly little movie, and a bit more.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
One of Wilder's best.
Wilder
funny movie

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Starring: Gene Wilder , Madeline Kahn , and Marty Feldman
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Silver Streak

ASIN: B000E6ESJ4
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Product Description

The younger brother of the consulting detective tries to steal Sherlock's glory by solving an important case assisted by an eccentric Scotland Yard detective and a lovely but suspicious actress.

System Requirements:
Running Time: 91 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

After co-writing and starring in Mel Brooks' smash hit Young Frankenstein, Gene Wilder graduated to his own directing debut with another spoofy take on a cultural icon. The 1975 Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother gives Wilder some great trademark meltdowns, even if the movie doesn't sustain its initial comic energy. Wilder plays Sigerson Holmes, third (and bitterly resentful) brother to the more fabled Sherlock and Mycroft. Two Young Frankenstein co-stars help bring the game afoot: Madeline Kahn, as an opera singer with a problem in distinguishing truth from lies, and Marty Feldman, as a Scotland Yard man with "photographic hearing." The long early sequence that introduces all three characters to each other--and culminates in a lunatic song-and-dance number, "The Kangaroo Hop"--is truly funny, and Dom DeLuise summons up some broad yoks as a singer with a bad toupee. The British are represented by Leo McKern and Roy Kinnear, as well as a mysterious cameo by Albert Finney. (Mel Brooks isn't around, but you can spot his unmistakable pipes in a moment of voiceover.) Things become routine fairly quickly, and the last half-hour is something of a slog, so you'll have to be a Gene Wilder fan to love this one. Still, the rapport of Wilder and Kahn is something to behold: two expert comedians who always suggested an undercurrent of melancholy beneath their clowning. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

A silly little movie, and a bit more........2007-06-09

On the surface this is a silly Sherlock Holmes parody, courtesy of Gene Wilder and Co. And as a parody it works OK, though at times (several times) it is almost too silly.
However, there are several bonuses here:
1) Wilder is wonderful. Playing a character (Sigerson) who is wildly intelligent and talented. His character would be an absolute standout in any field he might choose to pursue - except his chosen field - following in the footsteps of his brother - Mr. Sherlock Holmes. As such we see this intelligent, talented fellow as a miserable failure who is just smart enough to realize by the end of the show the genius, competence and love of his brother.
2) The Sherlock Holmes of this movie is superb. Here, Sherlock, has a small and mostly behind the scenes role. But the Holmes we see is THE BEST HOLMES ever brought to film. He is simply superb.
3) The ending scene where Sigerson approaches a costumed Holmes and through eye contact conveys his understanding and acceptance of their relationship and acknowledges their relative skills and talents - this is a well done scene. It is worth watching a whole movie for a scene like this.
4) Lots of nice hat tipping to Holmesian lore.
5) The zany Moriarty. Leo McKern does a nice performance here.
6) As do all the "friends" of Wilder (Feldman, Kahn, De Luis, etc).

PS - I am not much of a Wilder fan - but his Sherlock Holmes alone - small as his role is - earns this movie 5 stars.

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother.......2007-05-06

Always like Mel Brooks movies,, especially with Gene Wilder & Marty Feldman.
If you liked Young Frankenstein type comedy then you will love this.

One of Wilder's best........2007-04-12

This movie was most likely Gene Wilder's best. The story and main characters were clever and enjoyable. At times Wilder makes his movie too silly to the point of nearly insulting the viewer. If you like any of his work, you need to watch this one. Check out his World's Greatest Lover.

Wilder.......2007-03-30

I am a huge Gene Wilder fan and loved Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The World's Greatest Lover, Stir Crazy, etc. This movie however just didn't work for me. With Kahn and Feldmon I thought this would be a winner, especially with Wilder writing and directing. I love his humor, but I just didn't laugh with this movie. I think this one you should rent first if you haven't seen it. It is certainly not for everyone judging by the wide swing of ratings.

funny movie.......2007-03-29

gene wilder is very funny in the movie--he always seems on the verge of losing his sanity. if you are a fan, you will like it. if not, you will like gene after seeing it.

Average customer rating:

Kingsley and Holmes as comic geniuses; 4+ 1/2 stars of sparkling spoof!!!
a novel view in figure holmes
Fun, frothy comedy crime caper
Delightful
"Thank you, gentlemen, I am touched." "I can vouch for that!"

Without a Clue
Starring: Michael Caine , Ben Kingsley , Jeffrey Jones , Lysette Anthony , and Paul Freeman
Director: Thom Eberhardt
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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Clue

ASIN: B00015HVN8
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

Without a Clue is an underrated comedy featuring stellar teamwork by two great actors, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley. This Sherlock Holmes pastiche with a twist stars Kingsley as physician, writer, and self-effacing super-sleuth Dr. John Watson, who channels his genius for deduction into lucrative stories about Holmes. Watson wants the world to believe the fictional private eye actually exists, posing a problem when a steady stream of troubled souls come seeking Holmes's help. The doctor's prescription: hire a two-bit, drunken, skirt-chasing actor (Caine) to portray the Great Detective, an arrangement that causes Watson consternation whenever "Holmes" tries to improvise his way through a case. Wonderful comic timing and tension make Without a Clue a delight; Caine, particularly, gets a lot of mileage out of the faux Holmes's grand efforts to appear a genius. Henry Mancini's score adds a touch of old Hollywood gloss, and Thom Eberhardt (Night of the Comet) directs. --Tom Keogh

Description

Suppose for a moment that Dr. Watson was the real brains behind Sherlock Holmes? The result is anything but elementary! Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley deliver stellar performances as a delightful duo, an 1890s Odd Couple (Los Angeles Times) in this madcapmystery that's 'the most hilarious Sherlock Holmes adventure of them all ('sneak Previews )! Dr. John Watson (Kingsley) is secretly a crime-solving genius. But to protect his reputation as a physician, he hires bumbling, boozy, out-of-work actor Reginald Kincaid (Caine) to play the part of his fictional creation, Sherlock Holmes. The charade works until Watson mysteriously disappears, forcing the baffled, seriously inept Holmes to crack the biggest case of Watson's career on his own! *Caine: Supporting Actor, The Cider House Rules (1999); Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters (1986); Kingsley: Actor, Gandhi (1982)

Customer Reviews:

Kingsley and Holmes as comic geniuses; 4+ 1/2 stars of sparkling spoof!!!.......2007-05-19

What a joy to see two of the finest actors on the planet, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine in a comedy! Academy Award winners,both,WITHOUT A CLUE is a great reminder of how real comedy done by classically trained actors can be so much more rewarding, especially Ben Kingsley who is more noted for his serious roles. Caine on the other hand has often played a lout and a buffoon before (SAVING GRACE)with great effect. Both show why they have such long and distinguised careers as they, with great agilility, bring Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes to life in this funny and ficticious role reversal.

It is not necessary to have an indepth working knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes stories to appreciate this wonderful film, though knowledge of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories does make this screenplay all the more clever!

The great Henry Mancini provides a wonderful romp of a soundtrack fitting for this sparkling spoof on the team of Holmes and Watson.....or is it Watson and somewhat if none of Holmes at all???

Beautifully filmed on locations in and around London it is a real shame that WITHOUT A CLUE was released in a year when comedies such as BEETLEJUICE and A FISH CALLED WANDA as well as heavyweights DANGEROUS LIAISONS, THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST and RAIN MAN were garnering all of the praise .Perhaps in a different year WITHOUT A CLUE , Kingsley and Caine would have received the recognition so richly deserve!

Both vhs and dvd are adequate for WITHOUT A CLUE as they are both in FULL SCREEN and both have wonderful colour saturation.

Another suggested companion film spoofing the Holmes stories would be YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES.

a novel view in figure holmes.......2007-05-07

a good movie
a fine cast
a pleasure for holmes lovers

Fun, frothy comedy crime caper.......2007-04-16

This 1988 Sherlock Holmes spoof boasts Michael Caine as Reginald Kincaid, an occasionally drunk, often womanizing actor (with gambling debts as well) who's recruited by Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley) to play the part of Holmes, whose stories Watson writes and sells to Strand Magazine. The premise is a clever one, and both Caine and Kingsley carry off their roles splendidly--as mayhap may be said in the UK--providing enough wit and even slapstick to generate a nifty flow of chortles as the movie progresses.

Even the notorious Professor Moriarty is included here and while the movie is decidedly lighter than air, it's immense fun to see a group of talented actors having fun themselves spoofing the most well known literary sleuth of all time. Dudley Moore's former partner Peter Cook shows up in a small role--another bit of fun--and Jeffrey Jones is perfect as the semi-dopey Inspector Lestrade.

Caine and Kingsley play extremely well off each other; the movie almost doesn't need anyone else. But of course a mystery plot demands other characters and so they are there including, of course, the aforementioned Moriarty (Paul Freeman) who supplies the dastardly plot point of ultimately bringing down the entire British economy. Caine is funny and, at times, absolutely hilarious.

Lots of fun and definitely recommended.

Delightful.......2007-03-17

My Russian born soulmate and I recently watched this movie (DVD) and I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I discovered shortly after we started dating that the Russians have their own movie renditions of Sherlock Holmes and I must admit they are quite excellent. I was a bit afraid that she might find the whole idea of a comedy based on Holmes rather rediculous. I was also a bit concerned for myself, as I'd never even HEARD of this movie before we picked it up at the store the other day, despite the fact that it came out in 1988. But, given that it WAS a Holmes story and starred Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine, we figured "how bad can it be?".

Well, I'm happy to report that we both thoroughly enjoyed this movie, both as Holmes fans and as folks who enjoy a good comedy now and then. I was a bit surprised just how much and how often my girlfriend laughed. When we'd finished watching it, she said she not only liked it but considered it one of her favorites. This coming from a woman who judges both movies in general and Holmes movies in particular with a rather discerning eye.

Others have explained the plot well enough here so I'll just that the production values, acting and directing of this movie make it great fun for lovers of Holmes and comedy alike.

"Thank you, gentlemen, I am touched." "I can vouch for that!".......2007-01-16

The reviewers who have said you don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast who is familiar with the Holmes stories to enjoy this film are exactly right. I don't generally give in to hyperbole when reviewing a movie, so I won't go overboard with superlatives here, suffice to say that this is a charming, delightful and VERY funny satire! It really is. If you are reading this review and have never heard of this movie, or have heard of it but never got around to watching it because it didn't get rave reviews, don't let that deter you any longer! Buy or rent this movie and you will not be disappointed, I'm willing to bet.

The plotline and background of the film have already been reviewed here, so I won't repeat them. I will say that I first began watching this movie with luke warm hopes that I would enjoy it, but boy, did I enjoy it! The time flew by and I laughed almost all the way through it. Usually, movies with so many in-jokes, visual humor and tongue-in-cheek one-liners will have several jokes that fall flat, but very few, if any, do here.

The character of Mrs. Hudson has a prominent role in this film, and it turns out to be a blessing, as Pat Keen played the role to the hilt. Her comedic portrayal of the proper and sometimes haughty Mrs. Hudson of the books was hysterical! (Oops! Some unintended hyperbole there! Well, what the heck, she really was extremely funny and I was impressed at just how engaging Ms. Keen really is! I had never heard of her before this movie and I found myself searching online for roles she has had in other films.)

I give this five stars. Admittedly, I am a huge Holmes fan, but my daughter is not and when I loaned this movie to her, she returned it to me saying that she thought it was great. She even threw a couple of notable quotes at me from the film. I liken Without a Clue, in many ways, to the original version of The Out of Towners with Jack Lemmon, another film I reviewed last month. (NOT the new, inferior version with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn). Like Without a Clue, it is also relatively unknown by many people and is a very underrated comedy.

As for the packaging, I too, like others, am disappointed that this DVD is only available in full screen version and take off half a star on my rating for that. I would gladly have paid a few bucks more for some extras, possibly a commentary by Caine or Kingsley (or best of all, BOTH), or even a short interview or two. But since I am not able to give it 4 1/2 stars, I have given it five, as it is clearly worth more than four. Confusing? Peace.

Average customer rating:

Brash, Class, And a Psychopath
ehh.... not bad
A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ...
Top notch thriller.
Septenary of Horror.

Seven (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , Gwyneth Paltrow , Andrew Kevin Walker , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00011CZRE
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Description

A retiring cop and his replacement track a psychotic killer who's using the seven deadly sins as a guide. Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Customer Reviews:

Brash, Class, And a Psychopath.......2007-06-25

Young Det. David Mills(Brad Pitt) and his pretty wife(Gwyenth Paltrow) have just transferred from smalltown USA to the big city. He is eager and rearing to go as he gets assigned to his first murder case("Ladies and Gentleman we have ourselves a homicide").

He is paired up with the reserved, ready to retire Det. Somerset(Morgan Freeman). Somerset wants nothing more than to wrap it up and get on with his life.But this case is not going away so easily, they discover this is just one of deranged serial killer's,"John Doe", long list of victims. The list includes victims that John Doe (can't tell ya who plays him or I'll have to kill ya) deems have committed one of the seven deadly sins.He tortures them first in a style that would be appropriate to their sin.

Mills and Somerset frantically work and research the case as they know there will be at least seven murders. Their research leads them to discover the most disturbed psychotic imaginable. In his apartment they find volumes and volumes of notebooks chronicling his descent into madness. This guy is right up there with Norman Bates, Hannibal Lechter and Jaws!Five murders have already been committed. Will they be able to stop him from committing the last two?? Or are they part of his plan too??

The film is one of the best Psychological thrillers I've seen. It was well directed by David Fincher. If I wasn't on the edge of my seat, I was jumping out of it. Even the title credits are bizarre. Freeman and Pitt were excellent in their roles.

You'll love the DVD.The picture and sound quality are very good .

Get lots of popcorn ready for this one!...........Laurie

ehh.... not bad.......2007-05-14

"Seven" deals with two police officers (played by thespians Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) who are trying to track down and bring to justice a killer, except this is no ordinary killer. It is belief of the killer that he was sent through divine inspiration to put to death anyone in violation of the seven deadly sins.

A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ..........2007-05-04

This is one of those movies that makes you cower in your seat as you cover your eyes repeatedly while viewing it. Real scary stuff; one of the most frightening in its genre.

This movie was well formulated and the cast well-chosen. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role of the young detective who wears his emotions on his sleeve, while Morgan Freeman is wonderful as the older, more patient but cynical mentor who tries to help the younger man.

Kevin Spacey plays the part of the insane killer who is on a misguided mission to save mankind from sin, murdering sinners to do so. He's great in this role, also, leading the detectives from one bloody, gory crime scene to another and another, until he turns the tables on them in a surprise move.

The ending, though shocking and unexpected, is a brilliant piece of writing, but it ruined the movie for me. I not only gasped at the ending, I cried for both detectives. The movie left me craving a happier, more equitable kind of justice, so I had to lower my rating to 4-star, despite the extremely high-caliber of the acting and the screenplay.

SIDENOTE: You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, especially the review format, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

My e-mail address is at top of this review. Thank you for your time."

Top notch thriller........2007-03-29

If you loved The Silence of the Lambs, 7 will blow you away. The last 30 minutes of this film are incredible. The twist at the end will make you gasp. What a flick. Don't miss it.

Septenary of Horror........2007-01-25

"At first sin is a stranger in the soul; then it becomes a guest; and when we are habituated to it, it becomes as if the master of the house." - Tolstoy.

Although not originating from the bible, the concept of deadly sins is almost as old as Christian doctrine itself. Theologians like 4th century Greek monk Evagrius of Pontus first compiled catalogues of deadly offenses against the divine order, which 6th century pope Gregory the Great consolidated into a list of seven sins, which in turn formed the basis of the works of medieval/renaissance writers like St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologiae"), Geoffrey Chaucer ("Canterbury Tales"), Christopher Marlowe ("Dr. Faustus"), Edmund Spenser ("The Faerie Queene") and Dante Alighieri ("Commedia Divina"/"Purgatorio"). And in times when the ability to read was a privilege rather than a basic skill, the depiction of sin in paintings wasn't far behind; particularly resulting from the 16th century's reformulation of church doctrine, the works of artists like Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder brought the horrific results of humankind's penchant to indulge in vice back into general consciousness with surrealistic eloquence, reminding their viewers that no sin goes unseen (Bosch, "The Seven Deadly Sins") and that its commission leads straight into a hell reigned by gruesome, grotesque demons and devils whose sole purpose is to torture those fallen into their hands (Bosch, "The Hay-Wagon" and "The Last Judgment;" Bruegel, "The Triumph of Death" and "The Tower of Babel").

More recently, the seven deadly sins have been the subject of Stephen Sondheim's play "Getting Away With Murder" and a ballet by George Balanchine ("Seven Deadly Sins"); and on the silver screen the topic has been addressed almost since the beginning of filmmaking (Cabiria [1914], Intolerance [1916]). Thus, "Se7en" builds on a solid tradition both in its own domain and in other art forms, topically as well as in its approach, denouncing society's apathy towards vice and crime. Yet - and although expressly referencing the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaucer and Dante - David Fincher's movie eschews well-trodden paths and grabs the viewer's attention from the beginning; and it does so not merely by the depiction of serial killer John Doe's (Kevin Spacey's) crimes, which could easily degenerate into a mindless bloodfest that would defeat the movie's purpose. (Not that there isn't a fair share of blood and gore on display; both visually and in the characters' dialogue regarding those details not actually shown; but Fincher uses the crimes' gruesome nature to create a sense of stark realism, rather than for shock value alone.) In addition, Doe's mindset is painstakingly presented by the opening credits' jumpy nature, his "lair"'s apocalyptic makeup and his notebooks, all of which were actually written out (at considerable expense), and whose compilation is shown underlying the credits. The movie's atmosphere of unrelenting doom is further underscored by a color scheme dominated by brown, gray and only subdued hues of other colors, and by the fact that almost every outdoors scene is set in rain. Moreover, although screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker explains on the DVD that the story was inspired by his observations in New York (and the movie was shot partly there, partly in L.A.), it is set in a faceless, nameless city, thus emphasizing that its concern isn't a specific location but society generally.

Central to the movie is the contrast between world-weary Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) who, while decrying the rampant occurrence of violence in society, for much of the movie seems to have resigned himself to his inability to do something meaningful about this (and therefore seems to accept apathy for himself, too, until his reluctant final turnaround), and younger Detective Mills (Brad Pitt), who fought for a reassignment to this particular location, perhaps naively expecting his contributions to actually make a difference; only to become a pawn in Doe's scheme instead and thus show that, given the right trigger, nobody is beyond temptation. As such, Somerset and Mills are not merely another incarnation of the well-known old-cop-young-cop pairing. Rather, their characters' development over the course of the film forces each viewer to examine his/her own stance towards vice.

Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt perfectly portray the two detectives; while Freeman imbues his Will Somerset with a quiet dignity, professionalism and learning, muted by profound but not yet wholly irreversible resignation, Pitt's David Mills is a brash everyman from the suburbs with an undeniable streak of prejudice, a penchant for quick judgment and a thorough lack of sophistication, both personally and culturally. Notable are also the appearances of Gwyneth Paltrow (significantly Brad Pitt's real-life girlfriend at the time) as Mills's wife Tracy and ex-marine R. Lee Ermey as the police captain. Yet, from his very first appearance onwards, this is entirely Kevin Spacey's film. Reportedly, Brad Pitt especially fought hard for his casting; and it is indeed hard to imagine "Se7en" with anybody other than the guy who, that same year, also won an Oscar for portraying devilish Keyser Soze in "The Usual Suspects": No living actor has Spacey's ability to simultaneously express spine-chilling villainy, laconic indifference and limitless superiority with merely a few gestures and vocal inflections.

While "Se7en" can certainly claim the "sledgehammer" effect on its viewers sought by its fictional killer, the punishment meted out to Doe's victims - taking their perceived sins to the extreme - pales in comparison to that awaiting sinners according to medieval teachings. (Inter alia, gluttons would thus be forced to eat vermin, toads and snakes, greed-mongers put in cauldrons of boiling oil and those guilty of lust smothered in fire and brimstone.) Most serial killers have decidedly more mundane motivations than Doe. And after all, this is only a movie.

Right?

"Sin ... engenders vice by repetition of the same acts, [clouding the conscience and corrupting the judgment.] Thus sin tends to reproduce ... and reinforce itself, but it cannot destroy the moral sense at its root." - Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994).

Average customer rating:

The Naked City
Did I see the same film?
The architype of police procedurals - and, film noir to boot
One of Eight Million Stories
no truer depiction of new york was ever caught on screen

Naked City - Criterion Collection
Starring: Barry Fitzgerald , Howard Duff , Dorothy Hart , Don Taylor , and Frank Conroy
Director: Jules Dassin
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000M2E3GI
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

"Ladies and gentlemen, the motion picture you are about to see is called The Naked City." With a helicopter shot slowly closing in on Manhattan, producer Mark Hellinger's staccato narration introduces the film ("It was not photographed in a studio . . .") and continues throughout like a documentary commentator with a literary flair. It's a conceit that serves this police story nicely, giving the patina of realism to this deglamorized look at the work of the homicide squad. Barry Fitzgerald reigns over the film with his jovial good humor as a veteran detective investigating the murder of a high-living model. He has few clues and fewer suspects, until he cracks the story of big-talking Howard Duff and throws some light on his shady past. Jules Dassin, who had just come off the shadowy, expressionist Brute Force, peels away those flourishes to shoot in a straightforward style influenced by the Italian neo-realists and the contemporary American newsreels. The film is rich in supporting performances by soon-to-be-famous character actors--Arthur O'Connell, James Gregory, Paul Ford--but the city itself becomes the film's most vivid character. Shot entirely on location in New York City, the distinctive cityscape looms over practically every shot and injects the film with a defining sense of place (cinematographer William Daniels won an Oscar for his work). You can see the roots of The French Connection in the bustling city scenes and the exciting foot chase finale on an elevated walkway. --Sean Axmaker

Description

"There are eight million stories in the Naked City," as the narrator immortally states at the close of this breathtakingly vivid film—and this is one of them. Master noir craftsman Jules Dassin and newspaperman-cum-producer Mark Hellinger's dazzling police procedural was shot entirely on location in New York City, as influenced by Italian neorealism as American crime fiction. A double Academy Award-winner, The Naked City remains a benchmark for naturalism in noir, living and breathing in the promises and perils of the Big Apple, from its lowest depths to its highest skyscrapers.

Customer Reviews:

The Naked City.......2007-06-25

Shot entirely on location in 1940s Manhattan, this semi-documentary police procedural offers a day-to-day look at the life of the Big Apple, its varied denizens, and the routine of two cops--old hand Fitzgerald (who quietly steals the film) and the dutiful but still green Taylor--out to catch a killer. Dassin handles the action with matter-of-fact directness, and soon fast-talking Frank Niles (Howard Duff) has raised their interest. But the great achievement of "City" is its verisimilitude of character and place, and a final chase scene on the Williamsburg Bridge that will steal your breath away. There might be "8 million stories in the naked city," but this sinister crime drama was the first--and still the best. Trivia note:this film was said to have inspired "Dragnet".

Did I see the same film?.......2007-06-23

This has developed a rep as being a landmark movie, but somehow I managed to miss it. Now that I've seen it I don't understand the praise at all. The Irish affected Fitzgerald barely carries the lead, and the rest of the acting is simply putrid, horribly ham handed. I watched the scene with the mother identifying her dead daughter, and all I could think of is that she had another job that afternoon and had to emote quick and flee. The preceding scene where the young cop comes home to handle spanking his kid is completely pointless, and the acting by husband and wife is soap opera quality at best, just awful.

It gets worse, there's a narrative track would embarrass a "Dragnet" episode, syrupy strings in the soundtrack, and dialogue that often wanders off point, making it difficult to follow. All the side bits just waste time, the action doesn't move from scene to scene in a form which builds any sense of continuity. I couldn't even finish watching it, so I guess I'll never know who Mcillicuddy was.

The architype of police procedurals - and, film noir to boot.......2007-06-04

A murder.
The evidence.
The investigation.
Red herrings.
Resolution.

This film's DNA runs through all that followed - from Dragnet to Law & Order.
Buy this film if you love 1948 NYC and Irish detectives - a great film!

One of Eight Million Stories.......2007-05-07

This landmark film, energetically directed by Jules Dassin not long before the McCarthy witch-hunts forced him out of the U.S., deserves the typically classy Criterion treatment. As we have now come to expect of all Criterion versions, the print has been beautifully restored and meticulously annotated. Movies of any decade do not hold up equally well; "Naked City" is flawed by producer Mark Hellinger's narration--often hammy and too much "on-the-nose"--and some dated performances. On the other hand, the police procedural still draws you in, the music score is superb, and the noirish yet documentary-quality of post-war New York City makes for a wondrous time-capsule. (Thank God the move was shot in black and white. Color would have ruined it.) Like the place and people it captures, ""The Naked City" is an imperfect but very good movie.

no truer depiction of new york was ever caught on screen.......2007-05-05

just an all-around great movie! jules dassin directed this groundbreaking film, shot in and around late 1940s new york city: a decade too early for me to remember its reality, but still close enuf in time for me to sense just how accurately it was caught. any fan of procedural television cop shows of today (the "law & order" or "csi" franchises most prominent among them) should go take a look at this to understand where they came from; tho the immature eye might view this earlier version as "primitive" in some senses, that would be akin to a fan of adam sandler disparaging chaplin. barry fitzgerald is wonderfully schlumpfy as the long-time detective working his way thru a homicide investigation, even making a misstep or two along the way. great supporting cast, great editing, great writing, great cinematography, &c. -- and neat extras on the dvd, highlighted by a long interview with the still going strong dassin, whos a hoot! this is a must see.

The Charlie Chan Chanthology (The Secret Service / The Chinese Cat / The Jade Mask / Meeting at Midnight / The Scarlet Clue / The Shanghai Cobra)

Average customer rating:

charlie chan chanthology
Charlie is my hero
Warner Oland, Why Did You Die?
A Great 6 Pack
If you love Charlie Chan

The Charlie Chan Chanthology (The Secret Service / The Chinese Cat / The Jade Mask / Meeting at Midnight / The Scarlet Clue / The Shanghai Cobra)
Starring: Sidney Toler , Mantan Moreland , Edwin Luke , Hardie Albright , and Frank Reicher
Director: Phil Rosen , and Phil Karlson
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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