The Sting II

Starring:Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis, Teri Garr, Karl Malden, Oliver Reed, Bert Remsen, Kathalina Veniero, JosÃ© PÃ©rez (II), Larry Bishop, Francis X. McCarthy, Richard C. Adams, Ron Rifkin, Harry James, Frances Bergen, Monica Lewis, Danie-Wade Dalton, Val Avery, Jill Jaress, Paul Willson, Sidney Clute
Director: Jeremy Kagan
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

One of the Best British Comedies Ever
Madcap British crime caper
The only film that makes me proud to say I'm British
Celluloid Fiction
"A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia."

Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jason Flemyng , Dexter Fletcher , Nick Moran , Jason Statham , and Steven Mackintosh
Director: Guy Ritchie
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007ELEP
Release Date: 2002-11-05

Product Description

Streetwise charmer and cardshark Eddy (Nick Moran) walks into the biggest card game of his life carrying a stake backed by the life-savings of his three best mates, Tom (Jason Flemyng), Bacon (Jason Statham) and Soap (Dexter Fletcher). Eddy is the sharpest player on the circuit but the game is a set-up, and Eddy leaves owing the underworld boss Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty) half a million. Harry gives Eddy a week to come up with the money before he starts taking fingers as collateral. Eddy s dad, JD (Sting) can cancel the debt by handing over his bar, lock, stock and barrel to his old adversary, Harry. JD refuses to give in, feeling his street-tough son can get himself out of his own messes. So, while Harry sends a couple of petty crooks to steal a pair of antique shotguns to add to his collection, Eddy and his mates plan a caper that will enable them to pay off Harry and make out like bandits! In a comedy of errors, and a helter-skelter ride through London s gangland, the guns, cash, drugs and identities become all mixed up as a full complement of London s lowlife get involved in a melee which even all their menace can t handle. Full of energy and surprising twists at every turn, it s a rollicking comedy that has it all, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Cockney boys Tom, Soap, Eddie, and Bacon are in a bind; they owe seedy criminal and porn king "Hatchet" Harry a sizable amount of cash after Eddie loses half a million in a rigged game of poker. Hot on their tails is a thug named Big Chris who intends to send them all to the hospital if they don't come up with the cash in the allotted time. Add into the mix an incompetent set of ganja cultivators, two dimwitted robbers, a "madman" with an afro, and a ruthless band of drug dealers and you have an astonishing movie called Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Before the boys can blink, they are caught up in a labyrinth of double-crosses that lead to a multitude of dead bodies, copious amounts of drugs, and two antique rifles.

Written and directed by talented newcomer Guy Ritchie, this is one of those movies that was destined to become an instant cult classic à la Reservoir Dogs. Although some comparisons were drawn between Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, it would be unfair to discount the brilliant wit of the story and the innovative camerawork that the director brings to his debut feature. Not since The Krays has there been such an accurate depiction of the East End and its more colorful characters. Indicative of the social stratosphere in London, Ritchie's movie is a hilarious and at times touching account of friendships and loyalty. The director and his mates (who make up most of the cast) clearly are enjoying themselves here. This comes across in some shining performances, in particular from ex-footballer Vinnie Jones (Big Chris) and an over-the-top Vas Blackwood (as Rory Breaker), who very nearly steals the show. Full of quirky vernacular and clever tension-packed action sequences, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a triumph--a perfect blend of intelligence, humor, and suspense. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best British Comedies Ever.......2007-06-25

If you've seen "Snatch" you have to watch this film (since it is the pre-sequel to "Snatch".) It is a very funny and yet full of action that you won't get bored. I am a big fan of Jason Statham so I purchased this film and I am hooked. Everyone who I recommended this film to has purchased it to add on to his/her collections. This film is idea at get-togethers.

Madcap British crime caper.......2007-04-16

Director Guy Ritchie expertly concocted an amusing crime thriller replete with crosses and double crosses among various criminal groups in London's underworld. The plot surrounds a group of 4 low level criminals played by Jason Statham, Nick Moran, Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher who pool their resources to sit in at a high stakes card game with a 100,000 pound admission. Nick Moran playing Eddie is a card shark but the game run by porn king Harry "Hatchet" Lonsdale played by P.J. Moriarty is fixed. He loses the 100,000 and an aditional 500,000 which must be paid within a week or else.

The band of 4 friends contrive to recoup the stolen funds by ripping off a marijuana growing cartel that conveniently live next door. That group had already been targeted by other group of robbers and things as a result get predictably muddled.

Meanwhile The "Hatchet" has commissioned the theft of a pair of antique shotguns worth a small fortune that bizarrely wind up in the hands of Moran and his friends. The various groups begin exchanging both the money and the shotguns among them leaving behind a trail of bloodied corpses in this farcical romp.

Ritchie concludes this well contrived comedic thriller, which includes a plethora of tough looking British thugs, with a touch of irony that effectively caps this winning film.

The only film that makes me proud to say I'm British.......2007-04-01

This is the best british comedy EVER....well in my opinion ;-)

It has a pulp fiction vibe, following a group of wheelers and dealers (hustlers) who get into a sticky situation with an East End gangster.

Original plot, clever dialogue and great cinematography. I'm sure Americans will struggle with the dialogue but give it a try!

Celluloid Fiction.......2007-02-08

A friend of mine suggested that I watch 1998's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels..."It's the British version of Pulp Fiction," he proclaimed.

There is the similarity that characters unaware of each other's presence are ultimately all connected by the closing credits in both Pulp Fiction (1994) and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. There is a lot of shooting. But otherwise, there were not a lot of plot similarities. And Pulp Fiction is much more of a violence R-rated film than the mainly language R-rating slapped on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

So, I'm glad that my friend recommended Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to me, but I'd mostly disagree about his summation of the film. This movie absolutely stands on it's own as a good, suspenseful action flick with some terrific twists. It's funny when it wants to be. It's serious. It's thrilling...a thoroughly enjoyable movie from the late 90s.

I don't know why I'd never taken the time before yesterday to watch Director Guy Ritchie's story of 4 guys that get themselves in deep with a local kingpin. But I can tell you that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was sure good enough to have me add Ritchie's 2000 follow-on Snatch (aka Lock, Stock and Six Stolen Diamonds) to my Ready-to-View queue; I understand that several of the actors are back, but all playing unrelated characters along side Brad Pitt. But that's another review entirely.

Check out Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

"A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia.".......2007-01-11

I've owned Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) on DVD for a few years now and I've watched it about three or four times so far mainly due to the fact it's extremely entertaining and engaging, but also because it's one of those films that actually gets a little better each time it's viewed, in my opinion. Written and directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Swept Away), the film features Jason Flemyng (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Dexter Fletcher (Tristan + Isolde), Nick Moran (The Rules of Engagement), and Jason Statham (Snatch, The Transporter, Crank), in his first, feature film. Also appearing is P.H. Moriarty (Jaws 3-D), Vinnie Jones (Snatch), Lenny McLean (The Fifth Element), Frank Harper (Bend It Like Beckham), Steven Mackintosh (Underworld: Evolution), Nicholas Rowe (Young Sherlock Holmes), Stephen Marcus (Quills), Vas Blackwood (Mean Machine), and Sting (Dune) aka Gordon Sumner, former frontman of the band The Police.

The story, set in London's seedy East End, involves four friends named Eddie (Moran), Bacon (Statham), Tom (Flemyng), and Soap (Fletcher) who find themselves in deep with a local criminal boss after Eddie loses big during a poker game. Here's the deal...a scary fellow named 'Hatchet' Harry Lonsdale (Moriarty), who operates an adult novelty shop as a front, has a running card game, one in which the buy in is 100 thousand pounds. Seems Eddie's specialty is not so much in cards, but the ability to read his opponents, so Eddie and his friends come up with the dough in the hopes of turning around a quick profit. Thing is, Harry cheats, so subsequently Eddie loses, and loses big, to the point where he's a half million in the hole to Harry. Harry knows Eddie's buy in money came from a collective pool, so he now holds them all responsible for the debt, and has given them approximately a week to pony up, or else he'll have his collector, a seriously scary individual named Big Chris (Jones), come around to start removing body parts. The situation seems bleak but hope does arrive in the form of a plan, one in which involves Eddie and his friends putting it to Eddie's neighbor, a man named Dog (Harper), who, along with his crew, are planning to rip off a group of local weed dealers. As the various plans come together (along with various comical complications tied to each), Eddie and crew successfully heist Dog's score, but even more complications arise as various players get involved, resulting in an extraordinary amount twists and turns, so much so you just may need a scorecard to keep track of all the action...

One should know I barely scratched the surface of the story above, as there's a great many interesting characters running about this film, along with a large number of varied plot elements which don't seem all that related at first, but eventually do tie together well as the film careens towards its conclusion. The story is very complicated, but I think Ritchie does an excellent job in keeping things orderly and moving along at a solid pace. Ritchie uses a decent amount of techniques to forward the story, including voice overs, slow motion, still frames, flashbacks, odd shooting angles, etc., all of which are utilized in such a way to enhance the story. All the performances are solid, bolstered by a lot of great dialog awash with cockney slang. At first some of the language may seem odd, but after awhile the viewer doesn't notice it as much as they're engrossed in the activity on the screen and certain things not understood through dialog alone become apparent from the inflection of speech and the action of the characters. The first quarter or so of the film sets up most of the characters, while the second quarter presents the dilemma, and then the rest involves Eddie and friends trying to extricate themselves from a very deep hole. As I mentioned earlier, there's a large number of characters introduced throughout, but know each has a specific role in the overall scheme of things, and is presented with the appropriate amount of screen time in terms of their importance to the story. Given this was Ritchie's first film, I was amazed at how well he managed to present as much as he did with the ease in which he did it, as everything clicked her for me. I should also mention the eclectic choice of tunes used throughout worked very well, as there's songs by The Stooges, James Brown, Dusty Springfield, Robbie Williams, The Stone Roses, among others. My favorite character in the film was Big Chris, a no nonsense enforcer/collector played by Vinnie Jones (he was `Big' Chris, as his young son, who could often be found at his side, was `Little' Chris). There's a great scene near the end where Big Chris deals with a threat to his son by utilizing a car door on the head on the one who made the threat. There is a copious amount of violence throughout this comical crime caper, but most of it, in terms of the actual visceral displays, isn't shown. An example of this is you'll see someone shooting a gun at someone else, but you don't necessarily see the person being shot at during impact. The trick here is what you don't see you fill in with your mind, given the detailed events just prior, so there's a perception of violence, rather than the actual depiction, which can be just as effective. All in all this is a highly entertaining film, capped off by a great ending. If you've seen this film and are interested in others like it, I'd highly recommend Ritchie's next film entitled Snatch (2000), as they're very similar, the main difference being the latter has a larger budget and features a slew of recognizable faces such as Brad Pitt (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Dennis Farina ("Law & Order"), and Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), along with a number of performers from this film.

The DVD I own is the initial release, and not the `Lock N' Loaded' director's cut which was released later. In terms of the version I own, the picture, available in both widescreen anamorphic (1.85:1) and fullscreen format (1.33:1), looks clean, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio comes across very well. In terms of extras there are production notes, cast and crew biographies, a production featurette, trailers for both the U.S. and U.K. release, an informative cockney rhyming slang dictionary, and subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

Cookieman108

Average customer rating:

Un gran cuento ...
Grotesquely Magnificent!
A delirious visual tour de force!
wonderful old adventure
advebtures of barron munchousen

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Starring: Mohamed Badrsalem , Ray Cooper (II) , Valentina Cortese , Winston Dennis , and Don Henderson (II)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767809335
Release Date: 1999-04-27

Amazon.com essential video

Monty Python's Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) directs this wild, wild version of the stories of Baron Munchausen, pushing the limits of 1989 special effects technology to bring us such sights as a horse divided in half and running around in two parts, and a giant Robin Williams with his head flying off his shoulders. Basically, this is a treat for Gilliam fans, as the sustaining idea of the film runs out of steam, and manic energy alone keeps the momentum going. Casual viewers might find it tedious after awhile. There are nice parts for fellow Python Eric Idle, as well as Sting, Alison Steadman, and Uma Thurman as a dazzlingly beautiful Venus on a half-shell. Gilliam had greater artistic and commercial success with Brazil, The Fisher King, and 12 Monkeys. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Un gran cuento ..........2007-05-13

como aquellos que nos contaban de niño, pero para entenderlo como adulto. Una historia genial para mayores, aunque no muy entretenidas para niños del 2000.

Grotesquely Magnificent!.......2007-04-12

This film delights the eyes with its startlingly beautiful, and often disturbing, imagery. In one unforgettable scene, for instance, we see the Baron's ship coming to rest on the white rippling sands of the moon, as a spattering of stars--constellations of the zodiac--whirl past in a midnight-blue firmament. In another, which plunges us into the fulminating fury of Mount Etna, we see a a Botticelli-like Venus emerging tranquilly from her seashell, as handmaidens and cherubs drape her in white silk and pink satin ribbons; we then watch her levitating with the Baron in a magical waltz, as they spin heavenwards in front of Tivoli-like cascading fountains. In a third sequence, which depicts the almost unrelieved distruction of war, we see a great black-winged Angel of Death, who swoops down and kneels over the recumbent Baron, its skeletal fingers gently lifting the fire of the soul from his mouth. This image of Death, as beautiful as it is dreadful, has come straight off a seventeenth-century Italian baroque church.

Underneath the unbridled fantasy however, "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" poses a serious question: Can the creative power of the imagination survive in a world of cold--and supposedly enlightened--reason which inevitably conjures up fear of 'the other' as an excuse to inflict suffering on its peoples through wars? And if reason succeeds in stifling imagination, will the world not be a poorer place? The Baron's opening of the city gates to end the people's suffering represents an opening of the mind to the possibilities of new creative solutions to the problems of mankind.

This beautifully acted as well as darkly humorous film is sometimes disturbing to watch, but it never ceases to fascinate!

A delirious visual tour de force!.......2007-02-21

Adventures of Baron finds to Gilliam in absolute plenitude of his imaginative abilities to create an anthological feats for eyes, plenty of ravishing inspiration and lovable savoir vivre.

An absolute must for all those hard fans of Gilliam around the world that I guess, must be too many.

wonderful old adventure.......2007-01-10

My father got my son started on this movie when he was very little and he has wanted to own a copy for years now. The movie itself is a little hard to follow at times and not believable at all but is entertaining. It has some amazing animation/special effects for its day and it never fails to make you smile. Robin Williams is an extra treat in this movie.

advebtures of barron munchousen.......2007-01-09

was well done, funny and witty. lots of great actors and charactors, keeping in mind it is a fantasy of a crazy man. very amuzing.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Locked 'N Loaded Director's Cut)

Average customer rating:

Guy Richie At his Best
A triumph of attitude and style
Unique but Great.
A Classic
Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (Locked 'N Loaded Director's Cut)
Starring: Jason Flemyng , Dexter Fletcher , Nick Moran , Jason Statham , and Steven Mackintosh
Director: Guy Ritchie
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GGSMC6
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Customer Reviews:

Guy Richie At his Best.......2007-05-30

I already own his movie "Snatch" and that brings me to tears laughing, this movie is no exception. The way way he draws you into the storyline and the characters reactions are hilarious. Absolutly love this movie.
CHEERS

A triumph of attitude and style.......2007-05-26

Looking back on "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels," it's not hard to see why Director Guy Ritchie became one of the hottest directors around. It's a rollicking joyride of a film that delivers non-stop action, head-spinning plot twists and plenty of laughs.

The movie centers around four young punks who chip in some money so Eddy (Nick Moran), the master card player of the group, can enter a high-stakes card game with Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarity), a local gang boss whose specialties include gambling and porn. Unfortunately for Eddy, he's in way over his head, and ends up owing Harry a cool 500,000 pounds. His penalty if he doesn't come up with the money in a week? Having his fingers cut off one by one by Harry's mammoth enforcer, Barry the Baptist (Lenny McLean).

Eddy and his friends Soap, Tom and Bacon are understandably distraught at this turn of events. As they rack their brains to come up with a plan to scratch together the money, they overhear their neighbors discussing plans to rob a wealthy group of drug dealers. A plan is quickly hatched to ambush the theives and steal the drug money that they stole. And did I mention that a seemingly unrelated pair of antique shotguns manages to work its way into the picture?

Needless to say, when Eddy & Co. put their plan into action, glorious mayhem ensues. The cast, which includes European soccer star Vinnie Jones as Harry's collector Big Chris, is a likeable bunch all around. But the film's real star is director Ritchie, who pulls out all the stops to command our attention, from freeze frames to slo-mo to speed-up and everything in between.

Naysayers call the plot ridiculous and lament the film's lack of substance. Come to think of it, the police do seem conspicuously absent considering all the gunplay, drug dealing and theivery that's going on. And even diehard fans of "Lock" will likely admit that it's ultimately a triumph of attitude & style over substance.

In spite of its shortcomings, though, "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" feels blisteringly alive from start to finish, a thrilling rollercoaster of a movie that's well worth the price of admission.

Unique but Great........2007-03-29

This movie has a more advanced story line portrayed through a heavy dialog, with highly developed fun characters that drive the movie. Typical Guy Ritchie film.
Directors Cut is worth the extra money.

A Classic.......2007-03-14

I forgot how much I enjoyed this movie. Good characters, good story line and a good mix of humor and drama. If you haven't seen it - see it now.

Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels.......2007-03-08

If you're a fan of Guy Ritchie's movie SNATCH, then I highly recommend adding Lock Stock to your DVD collection. The director's cut adds some funny special features.

Average customer rating:

One of the Best British Comedies Ever
Madcap British crime caper
The only film that makes me proud to say I'm British
Celluloid Fiction
"A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia."

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Starring: Jason Flemyng , Dexter Fletcher , Nick Moran , Jason Statham , and Steven Mackintosh
Director: Guy Ritchie
Manufacturer: Polygram USA Video
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ASIN: 630549228X
Release Date: 1999-08-31

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Customer Reviews:

One of the Best British Comedies Ever.......2007-06-25

Madcap British crime caper.......2007-04-16

The only film that makes me proud to say I'm British.......2007-04-01

Celluloid Fiction.......2007-02-08

"A minute ago this was the safest job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia.".......2007-01-11

Average customer rating:

Clash Of the Acting Styles--A British Crime Drama Brings Four Unlikely Actors Together
Early Figgis, dark-themed, worth a look
A film noir to enjoy again and again.
A must-see for fans of Mike Figgis, Sean Bean, or Sting.
A must-see for fans of Mike Figgis, Sean Bean, or Sting.

Stormy Monday
Starring: Melanie Griffith , Tommy Lee Jones , Sting , Sean Bean , and James Cosmo
Director: Mike Figgis
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B000069HZZ
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Description

Melanie Griffith oozes sensuality ('the Today Show ), while Oscar® winner* Tommy Lee Jones and rock legend Sting face off in a deadly game of cat and mouse in this sexy, extremely stylish film noir (Leonard Maltin). Written and directed by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas), Stormy Monday is a sizzling thriller that holds its audience rapt with the promise of imminent danger (The New York Times Corrupt businessman Frank Cosmo (Jones) arrives in Newcastle, England, determined to muscle his way into owning the entire town. On his payroll is Kate (Griffith)a tantalizing beauty Cosmo loans out when he wants a favor from the local officials. But when Kate's new lover ends up working for Cosmo's latest target (Sting), Kate must choose between the man who owns her and the man who has stolen her heart. *1993: Supporting Actor, The Fugitive

Customer Reviews:

Clash Of the Acting Styles--A British Crime Drama Brings Four Unlikely Actors Together .......2006-11-16

Having seen "Stormy Monday" many years ago, I was completely enchanted with this small and interesting picture. Nowadays, it is commonplace for every self-aware "cool" British crime drama to be embraced by American audiences. But in 1988, this stylish film from Mike Figgis was a bit more unorthodox. Where else can you get Sean Bean, Sting, Tommy Lee Jones, and Melanie Griffith together? It's such a weird amalgamation of acting styles, and yet somehow it works.

This, I suppose, is a gangster flick at heart. But what I like about "Stormy Monday" is that the familiar crime elements are downplayed. There is action when needed, and some brutality--but you've also got a credible romance, a peak at the Polish subculture, a commentary on American commercialism, and a loving tribute to jazz. Music plays just as great a role in setting the tone of "Stormy Monday" as the plot does. It's cool and leisurely and the picture flows over you in comfortable waves. This movie doesn't try too hard, it's not designed to be in your face--it's subtle and smart.

Sean Bean is great in the lead. Bean is someone I've always admired, but he never really connected in American roles as a leading man. Forever the villain or sidekick here--you have to turn to his British resume for his greatest performances (check out the Sharpe's saga). Melanie Griffith is subdued and believable in a somewhat sketchy part--we never know quite what she does. Tommy Lee Jones provides his usual bravado. And Sting is surprisingly good. For someone who only flirted with acting, this picture will show you a potential that went unrealized.

"Stormy Monday" is definitely a small picture, but very worthy. It's an effective mood piece--one that may initially seem a bit slight, but it's effect lingers with you. KGHarris, 11/06.

Early Figgis, dark-themed, worth a look.......2004-02-17

One of Mike Figgis' first films, Stormy Monday fuses an intriguing mix of American greed, crudeness, and innocence with British coolness, toughness, and civility. But added to the mix, interestingly enough, is a Polish element (more on that later).

One American is Melanie Griffith as a cocktail waitress and vaguely defined moll (or former moll) of the other, Tommy Lee Jones, a ruthless moblike businessman who plans on making Newcastle, England his own--commercially, of course. (Political takeover is a little hard to imagine circa 1988). Melanie emits a sexy blend of sensuality and innocence, pretty much irresistible. The British are Sting, as the owner of a club (a role he neatly reprised in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels), and Sean Bean as his cleaning person/gofer. Both are civil and, as it happens, tough as well. And Sting's coolness is in the ultra category, a real neat piece of work.

Sean and Melanie meet and then do a whole lot more; they do the romantic thing, all the while being pursued, as is Sting, by Tommy's henchmen. Tommy plays rough, as it turns out. The mingling of Yank and Brit romantically (Melanie and Sean) is paralleled by battling of Yank and Brit commercially (Tommy and Sting).

The Polish element? Melanie's character is half Polish, and, as well, the band slated to play in Sting's club has an accident so the Cracow Jazz Ensemble (or some such), all Poles, steps in instead, among which is Andrej, a sympathetic band manager, the only one who speaks English. Andrej is destined to play a critical role in the film, but rather than provide a spoiler here, see the film to understand what this means.

Violence plays a large part in the proceedings, as is obvious from the above description. This is a well-plotted film that put Mike Figgis on the map. Doesn't hurt that he not only wrote and directed it, but also composed the music for it, an effectively moody jazz score.

Recommended.

A film noir to enjoy again and again........2002-08-09

Because I like the genre (film noir) I sought out this film on advice of a friend. Although, at the time, it was scarce, I am glad I persevered! The cast is a surprise - imagine Sting as the standout in a dark drama! He nearly steals the show! The setting is interesting and the direction superb. This is one of those films that lets you fill in the blanks and causes you to concentrate on each scene so as not to miss a nuance or clue. I found that the second viewing was more than twice as entertaining! I have now seen it four times; each time very enjoyable. Sean Bean was an unknown to me when I first saw the film, but has now become just about my favorite actor - you can see him at his present best in LOTRFOTR as Boromir. In Stormy Monday, made in 1988, he plays a young, blonde, strangely naive fellow with a mystery past (never revealed). Tommy Lee does his expected great turn as the villian (among several in the tale), while Melanie Griffith makes the most of a role-type for which she is well known, the girl-gone-wrong who overcomes her bad luck. You will find a lot to enjoy in this dark story and a chuckle or two also - from the wild Polish rock band!

A must-see for fans of Mike Figgis, Sean Bean, or Sting........2002-05-10

A slick noir piece set in Newcastle, England (yes, Sting's hometown), Stormy Monday is a little-known but beautiful film by Mike Figgis (also the director of "Leaving Las Vegas"). When guileless Irish drifter Brendan (Sean Bean) arrives in town, he befriends a shady nightclub owner Finney (Sting) and falls in love with a ill-used waitress, Kate (Melanie Griffith). As the film's off-beat, strangely elliptical plot advances, all three characters find themselves at odds with a villainous real estate developer, Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), who is busy snatching-up an entire portion of the city. (Presumably, Cosmo plans on turning it all into one giant shopping mall, and the film works nicely as a commentary on American-style "globalism" masking good-old American greed.) When Brendan thwarts an attempt on Finney's life (Finney is the last business-owner refusing to sell-out to Cosmo), he and Kate become bystanders in a power struggle between the two men--a situation complicated by Kate's moonlighting as a call girl for Cosmo. As the love story between her and Brendan unfolds-played out against a darkly lyrical backdrop of underworld violence--the film perfectly captures both the promise and menace of the 1980's.

A must-see for fans of Mike Figgis, Sean Bean, or Sting........2002-05-10

A slick noir piece set in Newcastle, England (yes, Sting's hometown), Stormy Monday is a little-known but beautiful film by Mike Figgis (also the director of "Leaving Las Vegas"). When guileless Irish drifter Brendan (Sean Bean) arrives in town, he befriends a shady nightclub owner Finney (Sting) and falls in love with a ill-used waitress, Kate (Melanie Griffith). As the film's off-beat, strangely elliptical plot advances, all three characters find themselves at odds with a villainous real estate developer, Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), who is busy snatching-up an entire portion of the city. (Presumably, Cosmo plans on turning it all into one giant shopping mall, and the film works nicely as a commentary on American-style "globalism" masking good-old American greed.) When Brendan thwarts an attempt on Finney's life (Finney is the last business-owner refusing to sell-out to Cosmo), he and Kate become bystanders in a power struggle between the two men-a situation complicated by Kate's moonlighting as a call girl for Cosmo. As the love story between her and Brendan unfolds-played out against a darkly lyrical backdrop of underworld violence-the film perfectly captures both the promise and menace of the 1980's.

Average customer rating:

Streep gives her all in a very difficult role
A Mackerel Sky
One of Meryl Streep's finest performances and a really excellent film!
"I've climbed the hill to have a better view"
Criminally Overlooked Streep Film

Plenty
Starring: Meryl Streep , Charles Dance , Tracey Ullman , John Gielgud , and Sting
Director: Fred Schepisi
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005OCJZ
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Amazon.com essential video

David Hare's Broadway play--about political idealism and the way some people always need to be fighting for a cause--was credibly transferred to the screen by director Fred Schepisi from Hare's screenplay. Meryl Streep (in the midst of a streak of movies that required accents) plays a British woman who fought for the French Resistance during World War II. When she returns to normal life in post-war England and marries a diplomat, she becomes something of a terror--speaking her mind when, of course, diplomacy dictates otherwise. Did she leave the best part of herself in France, where life was more meaningful and immediate? Hare's comment on Great Britain's post-war slide into Thatcherism, this film features a tough-minded (and not particularly likable) performance by Streep, who is actually quite good. It's a hard movie to embrace, but a well-made one nonetheless. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Streep gives her all in a very difficult role.......2005-10-25

Sumptuous film version of David Hare's play about a young and idealistic Englishwoman who experiences her glory-days whilst working for the Resistance in WW2, only to find disillusionment and unhappiness in the following years. Meryl Streep turns in a credible performance in the very difficult role of Susan Traherne.

Susan survives the danger-fraught days of the Resistance full of hope and ambition, that is soon crushed when she returns to a sense of numbing apathy in England. Marriage to renowned foreign service officer Raymond Brock (Charles Dance) does little to improve her outlook; initially entranced by her unorthodox ways, he becomes repulsed by her and sees her as an embarrassment. Susan eventually becomes a piece of driftwood floating through her own life, and that is the real tragedy.

Hare's stinging social commentary, based around an entire lost generation of real-life "Susan's", still packs quite a wallop. Meryl Streep is fabulous as Susan with a fine support-cast including Tracey Ullman, Sir John Gielgud, Sting, Sir Ian McKellen and Sam Neill.

A Mackerel Sky.......2005-10-09

Meryl Streep gives a heartbreaking performance in this deeply affecting and brilliant film about a woman trapped forever in the past. Susan Traherne might appear on paper to be a selfish and unlikable woman, but Streep somehow manages to let the audience see her inner anguish and restlessness, and her quiet desperation at not being able to recapture the feeling of living life to its fullest; something she experienced during WWII as a Resistance fighter in France. It is one of the most exquisite performances ever captured on film.

Fred Schepisi crafted this Edward R. Pressman produced RKO film from a play by David Hare. There is a fine cast which lend support to Meryl Streep, including a winning turn from Tracey Ullman as Susan's wild and irreverent friend, Alice Park. Beautifully shot in several countries, the viewer feels as if they too are trapped in a moment in time. It is a poignant and wistfull moment, however, and in the end, the ache that runs through this story is fully driven home by a flashback of a joyful Susan shortly after the war ended.

When the film opens, Susan is waiting in the dark with other Resistance fighters when a paratrooper they had not been expecting lands in their area. Sam Neill is Lazar, who has landed far from his intended location. Once the weapons are lowered and he is identified, Susan will escort him to the nearby village. Lazar saves her life from a group of Germans on night patrol, and Susan's vulnerability in that moment bonds the two together in a tender manner brought about by war.

Susan and Lazar will share a brief but intense intimacy only those who have shared some danger with another can understand. When he gets the message to leave due to impending danger, he will leave behind a momento of the time they shared that she will carry with her for life; a reminder of a life with meaning she longs to return to. The Germans murder a man in the streets they believe to be Lazar, while he escapes by bicycle. Susan watches as her life disappears with a touch of the cap; the only gesture he dare show.

Susan after the war is restless and strong willed. She wants to change everything but does not know how. She is unable to remain ensconced in a job or situation for any length of time and longs for that hour or two during the Resistance when she saw bravery, and the best in people. It is much more than nostalgia, but a paralyzing ache that will cause her to always move on. Streep lets us see into Susan's soul, and rather than being unsympathetic because of her character's outward actions, we fall in love with her from the inside out and want to save her.

She meets a diplomat named Raymond Brock (Charles Dance) who shows kindness to her in a sensitive situation. They have a romance that will eventually come to an end, or so it would seem, when she can not leave the past in France behind and move forward with her life. The one constant during all this turmoil is the spirited Alice (Tracey Ullman). She is a free soul and lives her life as she pleases, which is often to her detriment.

Susan's anguish begins to worsen, and once she makes a proposition to a bloke named Mick, her world begins to unravel. Sting is very good as Mick, who is in way over his head with Susan and her friend Alice. Just over his head is where the bullets will land when Susan finally has a mental breakdown. It is Raymond who will return to pick up the pieces. When the ambassador, portrayed with stoic flair by John Gielgud, decides to resign, Raymond will get a post in Egypt, where Susan is far from Europe and her memories.

She is also far from herself, as her friend Alice will discover when she comes to visit. The languid pace and sandy colors of Egypt would seem to agree with Susan. She is lovely and sedate, but it is because she is, in fact, sedated. Susan is a picture of serenity, but her spirit is not in evidence. It is only when Alice speaks to Raymond in her defence that she shows a glimmer of her former self.

The seed has been planted, and when the ambassador dies, Susan decides to return to England for the funeral, against her husband's wishes. It is in England she will remain, forcing Raymond to abandon his post, effectively ruining his career. Susan does not want him to suffer because of her, and has a talk with his superior with disastrous results. It will force a confrontation between she and Raymond in which she will leave her home. It is a poignant scene as she walks down the street, a bit unsteady. We know she will never return.

Lazar tracks her down from a BBC broadcast about the Resistance, and they have a reunion which proves to be too late. France is too far away to reach after so much damage has been done. We will see a joyful and hopeful Susan in a golden field in France after the war, and our hearts will break at a life which never happened.

Magnificent is not a strong enough word for Meryl Streep's performance in "Plenty." It is one of the most memorable you will ever see in film. A beautiful refrain played by the London Symphony Orchestra haunts this film, and each time I hear it still, I see Meryl Streep in that field in France, with a world of promise in front of her. This is a movie, and a performance, no film lover should miss.

One of Meryl Streep's finest performances and a really excellent film!.......2005-09-26

Plenty is one of my all-time favourite films. I loved this movie.

I understand why many people did not like it, but I think they should have another look. Sure, it is not an easy movie to watch, and Meryl Streep's character is not the most pleasant woman in the world, but that is part of the point. "Plenty" is unabashedly unsentimental, and that is one of its greatest strengths.

Meryl Streep gives one of her best performances, and it's not only because of her flawless British accent. That is just the surface of Ms. Streep's complete, and absolutely brilliant transformation into a very complicated character. She is also sexier than she has ever been on screen up to that time. She looks simply beautiful!!

This film is about as performance-oriented as films get, and it is full of great performances -the entire cast is excellent!!

"Plenty" is a movie about how different life can turn out from the way we plan it. It is not supposed to be cheerful. It is gritty, gripping, and extremely powerful. It portrays the hardships of Resistance era France, and the harsh realities of Britain immediately after the Second World War; as well as the decadence that prosperity can bring, and the disappointments of life, and how the inability to deal with them can destroy a person's sanity.

Of particular note are Charles Dance, as Streep's husband, Sam Neil as her lover, Sting and Tracey Ullman in small but important supporting roles, and especially Sir John Gielgud, who effortlessly steals the few scenes he is in. In one of the movie's few comic moments, Mr. Gielgud corrects the wife of a Burmese diplomat just as he is leaving a dinner party on the nationality of a certain European film director. Just this scene makes the movie worth watching!

I have seen this movie described as an underrated tour-de-force. That is an extremely fitting description. I would add the word classic to that description. This is a film that challenges the viewer to sit through its grim depictions of what life can be like if we don't know how to deal with life not turning out like we want it to. Depicting different eras from the Second World War to the early to mid sixties, "Plenty" is a period piece with painstaking recreations and some incredible locations in England, France and Jordan.

If someone has not seen this movie, I urge them to buy it or rent it and watch it. For a long time, this film was not available in widescreen on home video. Now there is at least one widescreen DVD which restores the film to its stunning beauty and allows us to enjoy its excellent cinematography. To anyone who appreciates great acting, this film is a MUST SEE. No serious film collector should be without this great classic.

If someone has seen it but did not like it, I urge them to watch it again, and again.

I have seen this film at least 50 times, and I could easily watch it 50 times more.

"I've climbed the hill to have a better view".......2005-07-06

The above line precedes the more famous final line in the final scene of this film (and the play, too) but I think it's one of the more crucial lines in the text. Streep's character speaks it first in French, then again in English when she realizes that her cover is no longer necessary. The repetition gives the line its' weight. Why do I think the line is particularly important? I don't think too many audiences want to climb a hill or very much else when they sit for a film but it's that better view that rewards those willing to make the climb. "Plenty" is a climb, I won't deny that. It demands your attention and your intellect and it rewards accordingly. To those who gave it a bad review, I don't know whether to envy those people or to pity them. They've missed the point and that could be a good thing: they've never known this kind of despair. If they had, they would have recognized it. On the other hand, if they've never known such despair, have they ever known what it was to live so fully that such despair is possible? Streep's Susan is a paradox of sympathy and disgust, reflecting a life that once was almost impossibly heroic which then devolves into the most trivial existence imaginable. You can't love her but you can't easily dismiss her, either. This film takes you into a difficult place that most people don't want to climb to, better view or not. "Entertainment"? No. A waste of your time? Climb the hill and see for yourself.

Criminally Overlooked Streep Film.......2005-05-12

This multilayered movie from 1985 isn't the best known of Meryl Streep's movies (it got largely overshadowed that year by "Out of Africa") and those more in tune to her commercial efforts such as "Death Becomes Her," of "She-Devil" will likely be sorely disappointed.

Based on David Hare's stage play (recently given a London revival staring the marvelous Cate Blanchett) the story revolves around Susan Traherne a British woman who, when the movie opens, is working as a part of the French resistance during World War II. The movie then follows her and her life over the next 20 years as show slowly becomes disillusioned with the vacuous society that springs up over the next two decades after the war and begins to question the idealism that led her into the resistance in the first place.

Some have been critical of Streep's performance as being "chilly" forgetting the fact that this is precisely the traits of the character that the script emphasizes particularly as she begins her downward spiral into dissatisfaction with postwar life.

Adding to the strong performacne by Streep is the supporting cast, particaulry Charles Dance as her husband, Tracy Ullman (in her first movie role) as her best friend, and the late John Gielgud as the Brisith diplomat she humilates. Look also for small, but pivitol, roles from Sting, Ian McKellen and Sam Neil.

"There will be days and days like this" says Susan Traherne as she looks out over a lovely pastoral scene in rural France on a clear day after the war has ended. "Plenty" is a powerful reminder of how such optimism can quickly be dismantled.

Average customer rating:

If you changed the title...
Sting II not worth it
Lonnegan seeks revenge? He DIDN'T KNOW he was stung!!!
Arguably the greatest sequel ever.
Skip this one

The Sting II
Starring: Jackie Gleason , Mac Davis , Teri Garr , Karl Malden , and Oliver Reed
Director: Jeremy Kagan
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00023P4R4
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Customer Reviews:

If you changed the title..........2006-04-13

This is a movie that I will defend to the end. The problem is that it is tied to an Academy Award winning picture. Yes, different actors play the roles (with different first names) but the film is only "loosely" tied to the original. Jackie Gleason is in dapper form as the ring-leader and he is surrounded by a fine and funny supporting cast. The film uses nostagia in all areas well. It is downright goofy at points but it never tries to be anything more. The scene where Gleason mocks Karl Malden's character is (to me) a classic. Mac Davis is suprisingly good and Teri Garr always makes me smile. I'm glad they put this on DVD for the few fans the film has. Nice widescreen print with a cool trailer. I never said this was a better film than the original. I just think it is unfairly over criticized.

Sting II not worth it.......2006-02-25

This is not anything like the original Sting. I thought it would be a worthy follow up but it was just strained. I would not recommend it.

Lonnegan seeks revenge? He DIDN'T KNOW he was stung!!! .......2005-05-19

This movie might have been ok if it was a story on its own, rather than trying to be a sequel to "The Sting". First off, how can you possibly replace Redford and Newman? Second and critical, which is really a non-negotiable fact from the first movie - Doyle Lonnegan did NOT KNOW he was stung by Gondorf and Hooker. How could he possibly be out for revenge if he didn't know? Plus, he saw them "die" just before he was pulled out of the club. Even if he realized that he was set up and taken, who would he go after - the dead guys? Changing critical facts from the first movie creates a sequel which makes no sense and does not deserve to associate itself with the original. If you pretend it's a totally unrelated movie with different character names, it's ok - but that's about it.

Arguably the greatest sequel ever........2004-09-09

Forget the fact that different actors replace those from the original, forget the 10 year gap between the two films and forget what others have said about this film. Quite simply this is the best film ever made. The script is suberb, the acting is the best you will ever see and the story is highly original. Just like the first film when Special Agent Polk is revealed as being in on the con at the end, I can reveal that this film is dire. I think that, that is the real sting.

Skip this one.......2004-07-30

Save your time and money and stay away from this horrible excuse of a sequel to the 1973 classic. How in the world can ANY actor fill the shoes (in the same roles) of Robert Redford and Paul Newman???

That alone is enough warning.

Average customer rating:

Awsome Video
CLEVER, CAMPY, AND YES, ENTERTAINING.
Jumpin' Jack Flash!
Excellent Mini-Rockumentary
Excellent

Being Mick
Starring: Kevin Macdonald , Mick Jagger , Gabriel Jagger , Keith Richards (II) , and Elizabeth Jagger
Director: live director: Jim Gable
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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Performance

ASIN: B0000648ZF
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Customer Reviews:

Awsome Video.......2006-11-05

We thought that Being Mick was a great video. My daughter and I are big Rolling Stones fans. I hope to find more videos like this in the future.

CLEVER, CAMPY, AND YES, ENTERTAINING. .......2005-06-21

If you are a Stones/Jagger fan, or even not, who enjoys quality entertainment you will find this one hour documentary a pleasing work. It is a unique glimpse into Jagger's work and family life. It is nicely edited, well paced, and leaves the viewer wishing for more.

On the music side there is Bono, Wycliff Jean, Pete Townsend and Lenny Kravitz. Watch for the little comments that Jagger and others make throughout this video. Pay attention when Jagger enters Kravitz's house. Very funny stuff. Jagger tapes most of this on a consumer level DV video camera and the quality is excellent.

Kate Winslet and Elton John are also seen. It is also revealing to see Jagger's devotion to his family and his children. His views on the institution of marriage are very interesting indeed. It also has a very insightful little bit of an exchange between him and former wife Jerry Hall while riding in a car.

Check it out! A very nice addition to the DVD library for me and I recommend it most highly.

Jumpin' Jack Flash!.......2005-03-30

This movie is great fun. One guy above panned it for being a thinly-veiled PR piece and that's very obviously what it is... but it's fun to be able to glimpse into Mick's world and see how a Rolling Stone spends his golden years. He's very campy and funny, which is great. It's also fun to watch him sing old Grahm Parsons and Rolling Stones songs by the piano. And it's funny to see his mild-mannered dad sitting in the background of so many scenes.

What I don't get though is how some people give it five stars. This is not "Citizen Cain" folks! People need to get a clue about how to work the Amazon.com rating system. Five stars should be reserved for classics, one star for crap. Three stars should me "worth buying but it won't change your life." That's how I'd rate this.

I will say this... the renditions of the songs that appear on "Goddess" sound great on here, in their raw form. It's when he gets in the studio and labors over them that they start to sound like crud. He needs to learn that you shouldn't overproduce your records! I mean, how great would a striped-down blues record from the Stones be at this stage in their career?

Excellent Mini-Rockumentary.......2004-08-24

While only a casual fan of The Rolling Stones, I was intrigued to watch this (originally) TV special when it aired on Thanksgiving in 2001 because you have to admire someone approaching 60 still being creative, spirited, and intent on creating a beautiful work of art. In Mick Jagger's case, this would be his hugely underrated 2001 solo album _Goddess in the Doorway_.

This 'Rockumentary' features Mick in his studio as well as other studios around the world (with Lenny Kravitz, Pete Townshend, Wyclef Jean, etc.) working on songs for _GitD_. At the same time, it features Mick working behind the scenes producing the movie "Enigma" starring Kate Winslet. One interesting scence has Mick attending a charity benefit/party at Elton John's house and the two frankly discuss Madonna's recent tour. Great, candid stuff. The most interesting part of the DVD tho' is just watching Mick Jagger work, writing lyrics, recording vocals, and taping ideas on a tiny recorder. The man is truly one of the most important figures of rock and roll. The fact that new songs such as "God Gave Me Everything" and "Gun" are as vital and as fresh as anything he's ever done is even more amazing.

I'd not only recommend this to Stones/Mick fans, but to anyone who wants to be inspired watching someone being creative in what they do for a living. Additionally, pick up _GitD_ -- it's definitely an album that undeservedly fell by the wayside.

Excellent.......2004-08-17

For anyone who likes Mick Jagger this movie is a must see. This movie gives you a great insight into his life. He is a great father, a loving son. I particularly liked how he spent so much time with his family in every minute of his spare time. It was so fun to watch him travle from place to place. This movie is very funny and a wonderful all around family flim.

Average customer rating:

Sting of Death - 60s B-movie can be great fun!
Great fun for the whole family
Sting of Death/Death Curse of Tartu
Plastic Bag Headed Jellyfish Monster Meets Neil Sedaka!
bad drive in fun

Death Curse of Tartu / Sting of Death
Starring: Joe Morrison (II) , Valerie Hawkins , John Vella , Jack Nagle , and Sandy Lee Kane
Director: William Grefe
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005OCKX
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Description

Death Curse of Tartu (1967, 84 min.) - Four archaeology students deep in the Florida Everglades activate the Death Curse of Tartu when they start making out and go-go dancing on an ancient Indian burial ground. This so annoys Tartu, a Seminole witch doctor dead some 400 years, that his decomposed corpse comes to life, changes into a variety of animals, and promptly starts killing everyone.
Sting of Death (1966, 80 min.) - A mad marine biologist sneaks off to an underwater lab, transforms himself into a mutant half-man, half-jellyfish, and attacks college kids with his Sting of Death! Why? Because he's in love! Really. And with his giant bulbous head, the jellyfish man may very well be the single most hilarious-looking movie monster yet committed to film.

Audio Commentary by director William Grefe; William Grefe Trailers for Death Curse of Tartu, The Jaws of Death, Naked Zoo, Racing Fever, Stanley, Sting of Death, and The Wild Rebels;
Bonus Short: Miami or Bust; Sing Along with Neil Sedaka with the enclosed lyrics to "The Jellyfish Song;" Almost 30 minutes of Rare Scenes from Sting of Death producer Richard S. Flinkis' glamour-girl and gore exploitation epic, Love Goddesses of Blood Island; Gallery of Horror Drive-In Exploitation Art; Horrorama Radio-Spot Rarities

Customer Reviews:

Sting of Death - 60s B-movie can be great fun!.......2007-01-02

Sting of Death and the scenes from "Love Goddesses of Blood Island" are great campy examples of Drive-In B-movies in the 60s! Great fun for the whole family as something radically different and nostalgic. "Death Curse of Tartu" is not as good as "Sting of Death".

Great fun for the whole family.......2006-12-31

I watched Sting of Death and some of the special features with my children and grandchildren (ages 7-12) and we had a ball. The kids wanted to watch some scenes over and over (such as the monster in Sting of Death, Neil Sedaka singing the Jellyfish song, and the Love Goddesses of Blood Island feature). It helped to watch much of it at double speed (if your DVD player also does sound at that speed). There are many killings and lots of gore, all of it looking very fake, but some younger children might be frightened.

Sting of Death/Death Curse of Tartu.......2006-11-14

I bought this DVD because my mother-in-law is one of the dancers in Sting of Death. She is billed as Linda Lee Craves, however, her name was actually Linda Lee Cravey. She is the dancer in the green and black bathing suit. The movie is hilariously bad. We watched it because my mother in law is in it and that is about it. This is one of those that should be watched on Mystery Theater or some show that pokes fun of really bad B horror movies. Some of the reviews on here are a little rough the movie has its moments. If you are a fan of B horror movies this one will make you laugh. Happy viewing.

Plastic Bag Headed Jellyfish Monster Meets Neil Sedaka!.......2005-03-12

You have to hand it to William Grefe, creator of these two features, and the people at Something Weird: this dynamic drive-in duo is a real treasure for any grade Z movie aficionado. Grefe, known for his extremely low budget horror films from the mid 1960s is in his absolute finest form here.

"Death Curse of Tartu" is about good looking teenagers who inadvertently trample (and dance on) an ancient Indian burial ground, with disastrous consequences (mostly involving alligators, snakes and rubber body parts). It's a howler, but the real treat is listening to the commentary track with Grefe mocking much of his masterwork.

Of the two, my favorite is without doubt "Sting of Death." A friend described this spectacle to me, but I was unable to fathom how bad the inflated plastic bag jellyfish head "special effect" actually looked until I watched it for myself (with a dropped jaw, I might add.) This movie is simply one of the most unintentionally hilarious films I have ever seen. It has everything: a ridiculous plot, terrible acting, wretched script, unexplained and embarrassing Neil Sedaka poolside dance number ("The Jilla-Jalla Jellyfish"), and one of the most ineptly conceived and executed monsters in screen history. You really must see the inflated plastic garbage bag jellyfish head for yourself to believe it.

There are numerous extras on the DVD, but best is the commentary with William Grefe himself giving surprisingly candid appraisals of his work.

For lovers of bad cinema, this is a double aquatic nightmare not to be missed.

bad drive in fun.......2002-02-24

If you were a kid in the 60's then you might have gone and seen some doub