Fortress

Starring:Christopher Lambert, Kurtwood Smith, Loryn Locklin, Clifton Collins Jr., Lincoln Kilpatrick, Jeffrey Combs, Tom Towles, Vernon Wells, Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Alan Zitner, Denni Gordon, Eric Briant Wells, Dragicia Debert, Heidi Stein, Harry Nurmi, Peter Lamb, Troy Hunter, Peter Marshall, Michael Simpson (III), Tracy Martin
Director: Stuart Gordon
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The story of Fortress takes place in drastically overpopulated America of the year 2017, where each woman is allowed only one pregnancy. John Brennick (Christopher Lambert) and his wife Karen (Loryn Locklin) flee to Mexico when she becomes pregnant after the death of their first child. They are captured by border police and sent to the Fortress, a subterranean high-security prison owned by the Men-Tel corporation and operated by "Zed-10," an omnipotent computer system, and a sadistic, genetically "enhanced" warden (Kurtwood Smith) who has nefarious plans involving Brennick's wife and unborn child. Along with his cellmates (including Jeffrey Combs, a favorite of director Stuart Gordon), Brennick plots a breakout, and Fortress shifts into auto-pilot action mode.

Amazon.com

The last film completed by Bruce Lee before his untimely death, Enter the Dragon was his entrée into Hollywood. The American-Hong Kong coproduction, shot in Asia by American director Robert Clouse, stars Lee as a British agent sent to infiltrate the criminal empire of bloodthirsty Asian crime lord Han (Shih Kien) through his annual international martial arts tournament. Lee spends his days taking on tournament combatants and nights breaking into the heavily guarded underground fortress, kicking the living tar out of anyone who stands in his way. The mix of kung fu fighting (choreographed by Lee himself) and James Bond intrigue (the plot has more than a passing resemblance to Dr. No) is pulpy by any standard, but the generous budget and talented cast of world-class martial artists puts this film in a category well above Lee's primitive Hong Kong productions. Unfortunately he's off the screen for large chunks of time as American maverick competitors (and champion martial artists) John Saxon and Jim Kelly take center stage, but once the fighting starts Lee takes over. The tournament setting provides an ample display of martial arts mastery of many styles and climaxes with a huge free-for-all, but the highlight is Lee's brutal one-on-one with the claw-fisted Han in the dynamic hall-of-mirrors battle. Lee narrows his eyes and tenses into a wiry force of sinew, speed, and ruthless determination. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Recruited by an intelligence agency, outstanding martial arts student Bruce Lee participates in a brutal karate tournament hosted by the evil Han. Along with champions Roper and Williams, he uncovers Han's white slavery and drug trafficking ring located on a secret island fortress. In the exciting climax, hundreds of freed prisoners fight in an epic battle with Lee and Han locked in a deadly duel.

Customer Reviews:

Clasic Bruce Lee.......2007-07-04

Probably the best known of Bruce Lee's films, this one has a great cast of supporting actors who were skilled martial artists in their own style.Lot's of great action and a great display of Bruce's unsurpassed skill. Excellent quality of video and audio. This is one of the best remastered films I've seen.

Enter the Dragon.......2007-07-03

"Dragon" breathes fire for purely one reason: the riveting presence of Lee, whose personal charisma and particularly ferocious brand of martial arts made him an international star. Part James Bond-style thriller, part Hong Kong chop-socky extravaganza, "Dragon" was Lee's last film, and quite justifiably his most popular. His battle with the gargantuan fighter Bolo (Sze) is a head-turning highlight, as is the scrappy brawl between real-life karate champions John Saxon and Jim Kelly, playing shady ex-pat Americans. But the film's climax, a harrowing confrontation between Lee and the deadly, claw-fisted Han in a hall of mirrors, turns this kung-fu classic into an extravagant Asian treat.

His 4th and last film.......2007-04-17

Well, this movie had a profound impact on me. I discovered Bruce Lee shortly after his death, and then he became my childhood hero. Yes, I had all the posters and all the books. I even studied Wing Chun as an adolescent, just like he did. Speaking of which, it is amazing to me that until his last breath he never really abandoned that style of fighting, despite all his experimentation and despite founding Jeet Kune Do. Leaving aside the opening scene in which he mostly adopts Mui Thai (Kickboxing), and with remarkable prescience, Ultimate Fighting type mixed martial arts, the rest of the film in terms of his hand fighting is strictly Wing Chun: all the trapping hands and short, precise, practical movements and techniques are virtually 100% Wing Chun.

Now, was this Bruce Lee's best film? Well, in some ways in terms of production value it was. But if you pay close attention to Fists of Fury (also known as The Chinese Connection), and Return of the Dragon, you'll find that the production value of those two weren't that far behind ETD, and in some cases was better. Production wise, nothing in ETD can compare with the battle with Chuck Norris in the Coliseum in the climactic scene from Return of the Dragon. Similarly, in Fists of Fury, the battle in the Japanese Karate dojo along with the fight against the big European towards the end are as good, if not better than anything in Enter the Dragon. The one poorly produced film made by Bruce Lee would be The Big Boss, his first on his return to Hong Kong. Although, that too had some scintillating and spectacular fight scenes.

In terms of Bruce Lee himself, I'm afraid to say he was past his prime at this juncture. Remarkable, powerful and masterful yes, but somewhat past the prime he demonstrated in his earlier films. Martial Arts, in the end, is an athletic endeavor, and athletes generally reach their prime in their mid to late 20s and pass it as they approach 30 and beyond. And, of course, Bruce Lee was under an extreme amount of pressure. This would be his make or break film. If it failed he would be finished in Hollywood, if it succeeded he would finally take his place among the Hollywood elite whom he alternately admired, envied and detested. In addition to that, there were guys coming out of the woodwork wanting to fight him and claim the singular distinction of being the one guy who kicked Bruce Lee's butt. When he couldn't avoid it, he actually had a couple of real fights on set during the making of this film, and he didn't dissapoint. There was no fancy stuff, his opponents were quickly and ruthlessly dispatched. Had he lost any of those fights his career would be over.

All in all this film is a classic. It has some of the most brutal and beautiful hand to hand fight sequences ever committed to film. The battles are at once fantastical and savagely realistic. There is a minimum of fakery here, which at the time was the hallmark of Kung fu movies. And while Bruce Lee would always add fancy kicking to his film repertoire, many of his techniques here are in fact practical and commonsensical, and would work on the street if executed by a decent fighter.

Enter the Dragon is the only Bruce Lee film in which we hear his real voice. And it was finally the big budget, relatively carefully made Kung-fu movie everyone was clamoring for. But the greatest compliment I can pay this film is that after having watched it dozens of times over the last 30+ years, I can still watch it over and over again.

The man the myth, the legend........2007-04-02

Bruce Lee was a cult figure/phenomenon that may never be explained, a martial artist, a philosopher, a movie star. This movie I have always thought was his finest effort and showed the more thoughtful introspective side. The original scene with the shaolin,priest was cut out but it really gives you some of his thoughts on Zen and Fighting. Its great that it was put back in. I have to agree with others that in this movie Bruce was beginning to look sick and may have been slowly dying, his face was drawn and he was carrying to little body fat. The speed and power was evident and this is a great movie with a great story.

bruce lee's best...........2007-03-19

i have a lot of bruce lee's work but this is his finest hour... the plot and the movie have the best script and the supporting actors are very good... it also had the best cinematology, great locations... excellent dvd with bruce lee at his best in all categories!!!

Average customer rating:

The Colossus of Rhodes
Starring: Rory Calhoun , Lea Massari , Georges Marchal , Conrado San Martín , and Ángel Aranda
Director: Sergio Leone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OHZJGE
Release Date: 2007-06-26

The Hidden Fortress - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

The Hidden Fortress
Lucasfilms started here!!
It's all about the journey, not the destination
A Gentle Masterpiece
Early Kurosawa, epic adventure

The Hidden Fortress - Criterion Collection
Starring: Toshirô Mifune , Misa Uehara , Minoru Chiaki , Kamatari Fujiwara , and Takashi Shimura
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005B1ZL
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com essential video

In one of the many classic collaborations between director Akira Kurosawa and his leading man Toshirô Mifune, this 1958 film tells the story of a warrior and a princess trying against all odds to return to their homeland with their fortune. Along the way, they are simultaneously assisted and thwarted by two itinerant and not too bright farmers with their own designs on the treasure, giving the story a subtle comic bent. The Hidden Fortress combines an epic tale of struggle and honor with modern comic sensibilities, creating a masterful addition to world cinema. --Robert Lane

Description

A general and a princess must dodge enemy clans while smuggling the royal treasure out of hostile territory with two bumbling, conniving peasants at their sides; it's a spirited adventure that only Akira Kurosawa could create. Acknowledged as a primary influence on George Lucas' Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa's inimitably deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action and humanist compassion on an epic scale. The Criterion Collection is proud to present this landmark motion picture in a stunning, newly-restored Tohoscope edition.

Customer Reviews:

The Hidden Fortress.......2007-06-26

In this bristling adventure with a leavening dose of humor, Kurosawa created one of his most indelible, influential early films, inspiring George Lucas to conceive "Star Wars." (Think of the peasants as distant ancestors of R2D2 and C3PO). Kazuo Yamazaki's evocative black-and-white photography is enhanced by the widescreen format, which Kurosawa used here for the first time, lending the action a dazzling visual sweep. Meanwhile, Mifune plays at the top of his game as Makabe, while Uehara makes a feisty, bewitching princess well worth saving. Whatever you do, don't keep this "Fortress" hidden.

Lucasfilms started here!!.......2007-05-07

This is a masterpiece... take away that George Lucas completely ravaged this film to "create" Star Wars... & you have an adventure unlike any other... editing techniques that were scarcely employed at the time... which are now novelty efx... This criterion collection even has a foreword by George Lucas where he both admits to, and lies profusely about, using this film as a basis of his Star Wars.

The genius of Kurosawa... further explained

It's all about the journey, not the destination.......2007-04-11

George Lucas loosely based Star Wars on this movie. Don't take my word for it; he said that and more himself in an interview on this DVD.

The plot is simple: a princess needs to reach home to claim power and she carries the clan's gold bars, which without she won't be able to rule. She's accompanied by a loyal General to protect her while they're in disguise. Yet, that's not the interesting part; it's what happens throughout the journey.

The princess learns from people and about people. She experiences new things that other rulers don't usually get to experience. You get to see how people react to issues like greed, loyalty, duty and other qualities that are tested in many situations in the film.

Of course, it's another Japanese brilliant born-to-be-classic-film by akira kurosawa. And Toshirô Mifune's graceful acting style grows on me every time I see more of his work. (See the Seven Samurai for a completely different role he plays and see Shogun for his acting at an older age).

Not all B&W classic films are well restored, but I trust Criterion Collection's efforts and standards. You won't be disappointed.

I gave it 4 stars because I felt the ending few scenes were too short compared to the rhythm of the entire film (and it's long, I warn you). But again, it's about the journey, not the destination.

A Gentle Masterpiece.......2007-03-20

The Hidden Fortress is another of Akira Kurosawa's cinematic masterpieces. This movie is a wonderful example of deep character development coupled with great direction and camera work. As viewers, we are taken for a ride into old feudalist Japan with its' various class distinctions. There are the peasant farmers, Tahei and Matakishi, who sold everything to go to war and end up penniless trying to survive. There's the disguised general, Rokuruta Makabe (Toshiro Mifune), a samurai general protecting his charge the princess. He must find a way of getting her and the gold across the enemies border to rebuild the empire. Finally, there is the princess Yuki. All the hopes of clan rest with her and the gold's successful escape to friendlier territories. Along the way life's lessons are learned. The princess moves from spoiled child to become a true princess ready to lead her clan. The farmers come away far less greedy and much better friends. Lastly, the word of the samurai is honored between two old antagonists.

Whether it is the camera shots...just watch the escape sequence as hundreds of extras come fighting down a staircase...or the story, this movie satisfies on many levels. All good or smart directors borrow from each other. The influence of John Ford can be seen in many areas and Lucas certainly borrowed from Kurosawa. Try to avoid the Star Wars comparisons and sit back and enjoy a truly great film. Well worth adding to the film library.

Early Kurosawa, epic adventure.......2007-02-21

There are about 100 things that this film did right and later directors have often taken advantage of this textbook on how to tell a great story in film. I wouldn't call it Kurosawa's best because to me, the best films are all deep character studies and that really isn't the true strength of The Hidden Fortress. To be honest, all the characters in this film are more caricatures and archetypes than deeply developed characters. That's not to say it isn't well acted because it is. But the fact is, all we know about bickering Tahei and Matakishi is that they're friends fleeing a war. We get a good handle on their relationship, but not all that much about them individually. General Rokurota is a veritable picture of nobility and imperious command, but we see little emotion from him. The most engaging character, ironically, is Princess Yuki who is forbidden to speak for fear that her accent and tone would betray her rank. Of course, even when silenced, her behavior is every bit the proud, haughty noblewoman. The beauty of the film is how much of the story is advanced not by dialogue, but by small actions and movements and facial features. In the end, I found myself deeply moved by the Princess' gradual understanding of the life of the humble peasants in her country and her determination to restore her family's kingdom. Kurosawa does an amazing job of driving home these themes with a great deal of subtlety and not an excessive amount of dialogue. I consider Yojimbo, The Seven Samurai, and Rashomon to be better flicks, all in all, but I think The Hidden Fortress is superb example of the filmmaker as storyteller.

Average customer rating:

Suspenseful Thriller
Remember....
childhood memory
My favorite Aussie movie
the heart!!!!

Fortress
Starring: Sean Garlick , Rachel Ward , Elaine Cusick , Laurie Moran , and Marc Aden
Director: Arch Nicholson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GAKDP6
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Description

When a teacher and her class are kidnapped by gunmen in the Australian outback, they soon realize that the only way they will ever escape alive is if they save themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Suspenseful Thriller.......2007-04-29

Setting: Australian wilderness- desolate and isolated. An Australian teacher and her students. A schoolhouse in the middle of nowhere. They start the day off like normal and are in the middle of a lesson when a group of whackos in crazy masks show up with guns at the window. Some of the masks they use are Santa Claus, A mouse, a duck, etc. The teachers and students are then forced into a van and driven off into the even more remote wilderness area where they are trapped in a cave... Now they have to devise a plan and fight for their own survival and try to get away from these kidnappers before its too late. They have to use their brains to get out of this situation. It reminded me of a Lord of the flies type of deal. The ending was a little disturbing to me. They're in a cave and the last kidnapper comes in and it involves spears, wont give it away here but this was scary and quite plausible situation. Recommended.

Remember...........2007-02-21

...when this movie came out on cable? It brought back memories for my family as well. A little corny at times(maybe overacting)but overall good to have in your DVD collection.

childhood memory.......2007-01-10

it was something I vaguely remembered watching in childhood and certain parts I remembered but I always remembered being a little scared by what was happening. It was nice to finally get to see it again. Kind of a lord of the flies deal, but it was nice to see them use their heads.

My favorite Aussie movie.......2006-11-04

This movie has just about every thing a good adventure flick requires, good character development, surprise, danger, even some tastefully done wet T-shirt scenes (Rachel Ward is a natural beauty), and a viscerally satisfying ending. And even though it's over two decades old, it does not appear dated, and the production values stand the test of time.

the heart!!!!.......2006-10-19

OMG, I've never posted on Amazon ever and I haven't bought this item yet; however, I'm COMPELLED to write. I have been searching and searching for this movie for years!! I watched it when I was a kid (6,7,8?) on HBO like all of the other 47 comments below mine. I was probably in 3rd grade - so have no idea why I was allowed to watch this everytime HBO showed it. But this movie scared the hell out of me and I can't tell you how HAPPY I am that it's finally been released on DVD - I'm ecstatic! For those of you have seen it - I hope you recall the creepiest part of the entire movie - the end and the beating heart! I'm not giving anything away here, for those of you who have yet to see this classic. But when viewing it for the first time, be sure to watch until the credits roll - you'll be glad you did. I'm ordering my copy today and I can't wait to watch it again.

Average customer rating:

Save your money on this one.
It's not really bad...but not really great either.
Okay...
Not too bad for a "Return", but was it worth it...?
Merlin's Apprentice

Merlin's Apprentice
Starring: Sam Neill , John Reardon , Miranda Richardson , Christopher Jacot , and Meghan Ory
Director: David Wu
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000E1YW2M
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Amazon.com

A fanciful sequel to the successful 1998 miniseries Merlin, this 2005 multi-part series benefits greatly from Sam Neill's return performance as the legendary wizard. Taking place some 50 years after the first film, Merlin's Apprentice partners the magician with a young thief with untapped magic powers of his own (engaging Canadian actor John Reardon) in a quest to recover the lost Holy Grail, which holds the key to Camelot's protection and survival. Miranda Richardson, who enlivened the '98 production as the ferocious Queen Mab, also returns to provide some necessary drama as the Lady in the Lake. Solid production values (bolstered by the lovely Vancouver locations), confident direction by Hong Kong veteran David Wu (Bride with White Hair 2), and an abundance of fantasy-action make this a worthwhile adventure for fans of the first miniseries and sword-and-sorcery features in general. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Save your money on this one. .......2007-06-26

The special effects are nothing compared to the first movie, Merlin. The plot is nothing. It's just an excuse to create a spin-off from the original Mervin.

I regret renting this.

It's not really bad...but not really great either........2007-06-22

This movie doesn't really tie into Merlin at all. It's still a fun movie to watch. Plus I love the music, quite lovely really!

Okay..........2007-05-29

but not that great. Way too much silliness for a "2nd." It didn't make very much sense and was pretty much a waste of time and money.

Not too bad for a "Return", but was it worth it...?.......2007-05-11

Sam Neill returns in this TV movie in his title role of Merlin the Magician and he is the only thing that shines this time (hence my three stars).

Not even Miranda Richardson, as the Lady of the Lake "incarnated" (Queen Mab disappeared in the original "Merlin"), can find any true joy in reprising her former role (which she played well the first time).

All the rest of the cast goes by numbers and are as stiff as statuettes.

The story is original, but that's it. It has absolutely nothing of the enchanted aura that was in the original "Merlin" (despite many attempts to make it so).

Granted, the storyline happens many years after the facts involving Morgain, Arthur and Mordred, but still, although gloomy in scope, it could have been developed a tiny bit better.

Indeed, nothing in this NON-sequel reminds us of what Camelot truly was for those who were involved with it (a few reminder flashbacks could have worked as well). Instead we are treated with a "younger" version of Merlin, who appears to be his very own son, with only a twist, he's also a thief and an adventurer...

The rest is deja-vu, and self-gratifying drama, mixed with some hurried action scene here and there, just to keep audiences from falling asleep in the process.

Some reviewers said that in its own right, this movie is as good as "Merlin". I must strongly disagree.

If it only had been a sequel, I would have praised it, but in the present form, I cannot accept the cheers...

Let's say we had a "recall" of Merlin from his "long sleep", because Camelot, or at least what was left of its glory, was about to be threatened by an adverse magician of equal powers if not stronger (just like in "Lord of the Rings" for instance), to those Merlin had, was about to destroy it and establish a new rule of terror on the Land, then and only then, would I have been interested in the plot.

Let's go one step further. What if as a result of this titanic feat and probable duel, resulted the beginning of the Medieval history of England, with say, Nennius as the ideal successor to Merlin?
Myth tied up with a touch of true history, would have helped things along and would have made this follow-up to "Merlin" even more believable, as well as closing the tale in a tightly knit loop between fact and fiction.

This would have been the movie that would have awakened audiences and would have also brought home some prices and praises.

This instead is only good to satisfy the very young and inexperienced audiences around, but not those who have either studied the tales, or are knowledgeable in the historic backgrounds surrounding the tales.

Nevertheless, after having stated all this, it is still a very watchable movie with some tiny good moments for the entire family, but I repeat, it is not for the very demanding audiences.

Merlin's Apprentice.......2007-03-11

Fun, but nothing to do with the legend. I enjoy Sam Neill as an actor and the era of the movie. It is OK

In Search of History - Lost City of the Incas (History Channel)

Average customer rating:

A little disappointing
More People, Less Architecture, Please!

In Search of History - Lost City of the Incas (History Channel)
Starring: In Search of History
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

In Search of History - The Aztec Empire (History Channel)
NOVA: Secrets of Lost Empires - Inca
Conquest of America (History Channel)
The Incas Remembered
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World: Mayans and Aztecs Ancient Lands of the Americas

ASIN: B000AABL62
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Product Description

The spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains, was long thought to be legendary. Then in 1911, the intrepid explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon its remains. But while the walls and chambers have been extensively studied in the years since, the purpose of this ancient site remains unclear. Go to the top of the world to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic place. See incredible footage of the earliest expeditions to Machu Picchu, and meet the men and women who have dedicated their lives to unearthing its secrets. Wander through the incredible ruins and feel the eerie presence of the past and the timeless secrets that are locked somewhere within. Was it a pleasure palace, an observatory, a fortress or something else entirely? The answers await just below the clouds in LOST CITY OF THE INCAS.

System Requirements:

Running Time 50 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

A little disappointing.......2007-01-18

I've visited Machu Picchu, and I suppose I was looking to re-live some happy vacation memories, but I found the footage a bit disappointing. Basically, we have one angle looking down on the city, but no reverse angle to see where the camera person stood, and these views are equally magnificent. There was no mention of the Gateway to the Sun, nor the trail leading to it from the city. I realize there were time constraints, but I would have preferred seeing this as opposed to time spent on Cusco (or Cuzco depending on your nationality).

That being said, I think they did a good job of touching on Inca history. Not enough information to do a paper on their civilization, but to the average viewer, enough insight to introduce an often glossed over culture.

Certainly worth the time to watch it, but if you're looking for a comprehensive study on either Machu Picchu or the Inca, this isn't it.

More People, Less Architecture, Please!.......2006-09-18

This was really about Machu Picchu more than about the Incas themselves. I am in awe that centuries ago, people could build something so amazing from an architectural perspective. I am pleased that the ancient Egyptians weren't the only great builders. Still, this work left me frustrated.

I wanted to learn more about the Incas themselves. When they showed modern Incas performing ancient ceremonies, I was most interested. I loved learning that they blended their religion with Catholicism, rather than religion absolutely dying out. Thus, Santeria and candomble aren't the only syncretic religions in Latin America. The work shows drawings, from both indigenous and Spanish artists, depicting the invasionary times of the 1500s. Why not show more of that? Does the Inca language still survive? The disc never says. The disc implies that some Yale professor found Machu Picchu within the last 100 years, almost like a newer Leonard Woolf. I wonder if modern Incas knew about it, but just didn't tell anyone.

Sometimes this disc stretches things out unnecessarily. For example, the narrator says, "The Incas scarified children. Did they use Machu Picchu for that? Probably not, since no bodies have been found there." Hello! Just say, "It probably wasn't a place of human sacrifice because no bodies have been found there."

This disc only showed American professors as interviewees. It should have show Peruvians, whether of Spanish or indigenous descent, speaking too. I heard that the day of the Western anthropologist is gone: plenty of countries have their own experts who can excavate and curate. This disc doesn't address that at all, though. For those wanting to teach young children, they could show this non-fictional work alongside Disney's "Emperor's New Groove."

Average customer rating:

Demolition Man Meets Riddick
Not a bad little movie here.........
On my list of Top 5 worst movies
"Built to hold anything . . . except an innocent man."
It's Got a Charm of Sorts

Fortress
Starring: Christopher Lambert , Kurtwood Smith , Loryn Locklin , Clifton Collins Jr. , and Lincoln Kilpatrick
Director: Stuart Gordon
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005O5B6
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com

The story of Fortress takes place in drastically overpopulated America of the year 2017, where each woman is allowed only one pregnancy. John Brennick (Christopher Lambert) and his wife Karen (Loryn Locklin) flee to Mexico when she becomes pregnant after the death of their first child. They are captured by border police and sent to the Fortress, a subterranean high-security prison owned by the Men-Tel corporation and operated by "Zed-10," an omnipotent computer system, and a sadistic, genetically "enhanced" warden (Kurtwood Smith) who has nefarious plans involving Brennick's wife and unborn child. Along with his cellmates (including Jeffrey Combs, a favorite of director Stuart Gordon), Brennick plots a breakout, and Fortress shifts into auto-pilot action mode.

After making his reputation with such audacious horror films as From Beyond and Re-Animator, Stuart Gordon graduated to a bigger budget with Fortress, but his penchant for exploitation remains deliriously intact. While borrowing elements from a variety of better sci-fi movies, Fortress indulges every prison-flick cliché, but does it with such enjoyable B-movie vigor that it qualifies as a bona-fide guilty pleasure (indeed, it deserves to be ranked with James Cameron's original Terminator in terms of its budgetary ingenuity). Featuring such giddy (and gory) devices as "intestinators" (deadly obedience devices implanted in prisoners' bodies) and a torturous "Mind Wipe Chamber," this is really just a drive-in action movie with lofty ambitions, and the schlocky script hasn't a prayer of rising above the level of juvenile popcorn fodder. But there's no denying the energy and enthusiasm that Gordon brings to the film, which understandably became a global box-office hit and spawned a 1999 sequel starring Lambert and Pam Grier. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Demolition Man Meets Riddick.......2006-10-31

1/2 Riddick because a husband and wife are sentenced to a prison 30 or so stories below surface (for having more than one kid). 1/2 Demolition Man becase of the "big brother" like atmosphere and the lame acting. I know, it sounds great! How could this movie not be a blockbuster? Well, Chris Lambert isn't exactly a great actor. This movie isn't exactly good. And, oh yeah, the plot sucks! But it's an enjoyable watch anyway. For some reason my left brain kept telling me "change the channel" but my right brain just couldn't do it. I wish I could give this movie 2 1/2 stars, because I didn't really like it...but I didn't dislike it either. Plus the fact that Lambert has a gunfight with a diesel truck at the end really adds something to the story. It may be worth watching on a movie channel, but paying for this film might upset a few people out there.

Not a bad little movie here................2005-11-04

I happend to catch this movie on television the other day and found that I was actually pleased by it. At first look, one might think that FORTRESS is going to be a really bad movie. I know that was my first impression before I even watched it. As the movie moves along, the plot starts to unfold and it's actually interesting to watch. FORTRESS is like a mix of COOL HAND LUKE and ROBOCOP in a way. The special effects in the movie are used just for what is needed and the acting is pretty good. Over all, this is an enjoyable movie that might get over looked. So if your looking for a way to kill an evening, there are alot worse way to do it than watching FORTRESS. Check it out.

On my list of Top 5 worst movies.......2005-03-17

Some movies are so bad that they're funny ... "Fortress" doesn't even make the cut in THAT category. Christopher Lambert continues his string of bad sci-fi movies with this clunker. Do yourself a favor and watch "Highlander" again. It was all downhill after that.

"Built to hold anything . . . except an innocent man.".......2003-10-18

You know all those anonymous video box covers you see when you walk down the aisle at the video store? Well, most of them are direct-to-video productions and aren't worth a second look. Some of them are films made with modest budgets that got a limited theatrical release. Most of them are horrible which helps to explain why they left the theaters so quickly. However, once in blue moon one of these obscure "lost" films actually manages to surprise. Stuart Gordon's "Fortress" is one of those rare finds.

The population in the United States in the early 21st century has increased beyond control. In an attempt to solve the problem, the government has passed a law that limits a woman to only one child. However, John Brennick (Christopher Lambert) and his wife Karen (Loryn Locklin) run afoul of the authorities when they try to have a second child to replace their firstborn who died as an infant. Imprisoned for their crime, the couple is sent to a maximum security prison called The Fortress and are tormented by its despotic director, Poe (Kurtwood Smith).

"Fortress" is neither a completely original film nor one that has had a tremendous influence on the medium. It is quite simply an odd film that somehow works despite its limited production values and its lack of big-name stars. As with most science fiction films set in the near future, "Fortress" paints a rather bleak view of the years to come. Those looking for a nightly rental that has some deep meaning to it might enjoy the film's cautionary messages on overpopulation and private-sector prison administration. Yet, the film also satisfies as a breezy time-killer for those who find themselves with free time on their hands and nothing else to watch. Either way, "Fortress" fits the bill.

It's Got a Charm of Sorts.......2003-09-14

The first time I ever saw Christopher Lambert was in the memorable "Highlander" film back in the 1980s. I saw him again in the first sequel to that film a few years later, but after that he seemed to vanish down some type of cinematic memory hole. Occasionally, I would stumble across "Highlander" again on some cable channel and wonder about the fate of this actor. After recently wandering across the 1993 film "Fortress," I got my answer: Lambert works almost exclusively in the landscapes of low budget movies. I am not saying low budget films are a bad thing?certainly not?but if ever there was an actor who perfectly fit the parameters of a B movie production, it is Christopher Lambert. That accent coupled with a slightly stilted method of delivery dooms Lambert to semi-obscurity. You can probably tell that I am not a great fan of this actor's work, but after criticizing his acting skills, I should state that "Fortress" actually manages to achieve a certain chintzy charm.

"Fortress" presents a picture of an extremely bleak future set in America in the year 2017. The United States, and possibly the world, staggers under the weight of a massive boom in its population. In an effort to alleviate these problems, the government resorts to enforcing laws banning couples from having more than one child. Anyone caught breaking this law ends up in an underground prison run by a private corporation named Men-Tel. This prison does not qualify as one of those posh, white-collar jails we know and love today, but is a claustrophobic, overcrowded place bristling with automatic cannons, cameras that move across the ceiling, and androids armed with impressive weaponry. Even worse, newly inducted prisoners swallow "intestinators," devices that explode if a prisoner wanders beyond certain boundaries. For those inmates considered especially problematic, there awaits the "mind wipe" chamber capable of turning a man into a shattered wreck. It sure looks as though no one could escape this subterranean nightmare.

Enter John and Karen Brennick, a married couple that conceived a second child after their first born died. The Brennicks know the laws, but decide to flee to Mexico in order to escape these draconian measures. Regrettably, the couple's ruse falls apart at the border, earning them a quick trip to the Men-Tel resort and spa. John and Karen, forcibly separated, soon encounter the warden of the prison, a brutal thug played by veteran actor Kurtwood Smith, and the computer that runs the prison. John bunks with few odd characters, most notably imprisoned technology wizard D-Day (played with geeky aplomb by the always amazing Jeffrey Coombs). John Brennick doesn't intend to spend one more day than necessary in prison, and he soon enlists his roommates in a plot to escape from the prison. Along the way, Brennick dukes it out with the resident psycho, undergoes a trip to the mind wipe chamber, and schemes to get his wife out of the clutches of the evil warden.

"Fortress" offers up a whole host of gory sequences for the avid sci-fi/horror fan. The best sauce scene occurs when an intestinator explodes inside a man's stomach. The filmmakers love the idea of such a device so much they just have to show this scene soon after we learn what function such a piece of hardware serves. I kind of like that in a way. Why waste time when you can show a guy's abdomen exploding in the first twenty minutes of the movie? Moreover, the fight between Lambert and the cellblock murderer is appropriately bloody, as is the gunfire heavy finale. Overall, "Fortress" does give the viewer plenty of good old-fashioned carnage. The conclusion does seem a bit predictable, but who cares? Getting there was quite fun.

I liked most of the performances in this movie, even Lambert's turn as the laconic Brennick. Kurtwood Smith always does a good job, and Jeffrey Coombs may well be one of the greatest B movie stars in the history of cinema. Look for Lincoln Kilpatrick in a prime role, as well as the always menacing Vernon Wells playing the prison heavy who hates Brennick at first sight. About the only actor I didn't care for in "Fortress" was Loryn Locklin, who played Karen Brennick. I cannot put my finger on any specific reasons for this dislike, except that maybe I thought her too plain for the role. Stuart Gordon, the director responsible for the cult classic "The Re-Animator" helmed "Fortress." According to the production notes on the DVD, none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger helped get this movie made. With heavy hitters behind the scenes and a strong cast in front of the camera, "Fortress" entertains.

Amazon.com

Leading off the set of four Akira Kurosawa classics is Seven Samurai (1954), unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture. It was the inspiration for countless films modeled after its basic premise, but has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set in the 1600s, when the residents of a small Japanese village seek protection against repeated attacks by a band of marauding thieves and hire seven unemployed "ronin" (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune), who is actually a farmer's son desperately seeking glory and acceptance. The climactic battle remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed and one of Kurosawa's crowning cinematic achievements.

In another of the many Kurosawa-Mifune collaborations, The Hidden Fortress (1958) tells the story of a warrior and a princess trying against all odds to return to their homeland with their fortune. Along the way, they are simultaneously assisted and thwarted by two itinerant and not-too-bright farmers with their own designs on the treasure. Frequently cited for its thematic influences on Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress combines an epic tale of struggle and honor with modern comic sensibilities.

The partly comic Yojimbo (1961) was inspired by the American Western genre. Mifune plays a drifting samurai for hire who plays both ends against the middle with two warring factions, surviving on his wits and his ability to outrun his own bad luck. Yojimbo is striking for its unorthodox treatment of violence and morality, reserving judgment on the actions of its main character and instead presenting an entertaining tale with humor and much visual excitement. One of the inspirations for the spaghetti Westerns of director Sergio Leone and the 1996 Bruce Willis vehicle Last Man Standing, this film offers insight into a director who influenced American films even as he was influenced by them. The 1963 sequel, Sanjuro, is more lighthearted and less cynical, a rousing adventure with Mifune becoming an unlikely big brother to a troupe of nine naive samurai. It isn't the subtlest of Kurosawa's films, but it's one of his most entertaining.

Customer Reviews:

4 Classics in a box set? Priceless!.......2006-11-06

I was thinking about purchasing all four of these movies, but to have them together in a box set is a beautiful thing.
I will not bore you with the reviews of these movies, those who love Akira Kurosawa movies sees the stories closely matching those of Shakespeare, a Clint Eastwood Western, and Star Wars.
For the price and what you get, it's a steal.

To the Criterion Collector............2006-09-14

Buy now as this set is going out of print.... Don't say I didn't tell you so.

Awesome movies, but way too expensive........2006-03-13

Awesome movies, but way too expensive for the product itself.

First, I bought it at a reduced priced, since it was left sitting on a shelve collecting dust for a few years in the store. They dropped the price from a initial $200 Can (around $150 U.S.), to $149 Can (around $110 U.S.), and that was the cheapest price I could find it in my city and by far. A few of the stores told me that their cost was around $149 Can, so it was able to buy it at around cost. Considering that, it was a bargain, so I got lucky to start with.

Now the movies, they are awesome, and after watching them all in two days, I felt sad, sad at Hollywood and the current level of movie making, after tasting a piece of history, with movies that are deep, funny, either deals with issues (Seven Samurai and Hidden Fortress) or don't (Yojimbo and Sanjuro), they are all movie gems. But we can also be realistic here, seven Samurai in my opinion is the real champion in this set, it has everything, it's epic, yet personal, it's deep, yet sometime funny, but always powerful and superb.

Now to the quality of the disk, that where it's hard to tell, these are old movies. But something struck me as odd, Seven Samurai (7S), was done around 10 yrs before Yojimbo and Sanjuro but looks and sound better, obviously, they cleaned it out a little before putting it to DVD, but then, if Yojimbo and Sanjuro where made 10 yrs later, someone should expect at least a equal quality, if not better then the 7S, but it's not the case, especially Yojimbo is painful to watch, the sound track has a loud background hiss for at least half of the movie, scratches as big as a straw that last a full min multiple times, the contrast and brightness is out of wack in half the scenes, it's a painful experience, you tell yourself how great the movie is, but is it ever ugly to watch.

So far I would give it 4 stars, why then I give it 2?

It's down to price vs quality and extras. No extras what so ever beside the theater trailer of each movie, and a commentary track for 7S, then nothing. So Criterion in my mind had two choice, drop the price to 1/3 to 1/2 of what it is now, or pick a better original copy to bring on DVD, clean it, and add extras, selling it to the same price it is now, but they did neither. They used for Yojimbo, a terribly copy, add nothing, and charge full Criterion price, BAD !!! So in the end, one fell like being robbed by Ronins. In my case, I wanted to see those movies, and own 7S and this box set was the only way to go about doing this, and in the end, I praise the movie, the acting, the story, the camera work, everything, except Criterion DVD who brought those movies it North America, they dropped the ball on this one.

So 0 stars for Criterion and there DVD product (in this case) and 4 stars for the movie themselves so my end review is 2 stars.

Kurosawa Movies.......2006-01-31

Every one who likes Cenema, should see/have this collection by the great One Akira Kurosawa.

Don't pass it up.......2006-01-26

Kurosawa is not just considered a great japanese director - he's considered one of the best the world has known.
Samurai are a passion for me anyway - however, kurosawa brings them to life like no other.
I sometimes wish he were working today with the technology available, but it's not a degradation of what he did at all.

Details he pays attention to are easily missed the first time around and frequent watchings of these films with bring more to your eyes.

Yojimbo's first encounter with the blackgards and braggarts - the wanted men in the town, is ingenius and thrilling. Mifune plays the part so comfortably you can be lead to imagine he lived in his kimono.
His demeanor is so casual and calm that you could fear him just through his confidence.
It's something to take to heart. No real warrior needs to brag, nor does he threaten.
Right out of the Tao te ching.

Awright enough of that!

With the hidden fortress you can really see Luca's inspiration for Star Wars. And also, the female lead for every anime ever created afterward.

but my favorite is the seven samurai later to be remade as the magnificient seven in the west (what is it with the west and their inability to accept foreign films?).

the old samurai who in the opening sequence plays a monk to rescue a trapped woman gives you the personality of a man who puts all at risk for the right. And teaches a motley band of characters to do the same.

Every good fortress needs a weakness. :p

ENJOY

Discovery Channel 20th Anniversary DVD Collection

Average customer rating:

Discovery Channel 20th Anniversary DVD Collection

Manufacturer: Discovery Channel
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Best of Discovery Channel Volume 2
Best of Discovery Channel Volume 3 (5 DVD set)
Titanic's Final Moments: Missing Pieces
Coral Reef Adventure (IMAX) (2-Disc WMVHD Edition)
National Geographic's Restless Earth Collection (Asteroids Deadly Impact/Volcano/Nature's Fury)

ASIN: B000AY75YU

Product Description

Product Detail: Celebrate two decades of globe-spanning exploration and top-notch entertainment with this special, five-disc collection. Featuring a variety of hit programs from Discovery's first 20 years some never before available on DVD. Forbidden City: The Great Within Explore one of the world's most extravagant palaces the Forbidden City of Beijing. Unprecedented access reveals for the first time some of its reputed 9,999 rooms and 240 acres of palace grounds, schools, temples and theaters. Once closed off to the world, this icon of Chinese imperial power is now yours to discover. Wolves at Our Door Join documentary filmmaker Jim Dutcher and his wife, Jamie, as they share their experiences living with a family of wolves for three years. By bottle feeding them as puppies and being a constant presence in their lives, the Dutchers gain unprecedented acceptance into the world of these lively but misunderstood canines. Titanic: Anatomy of a Disaster Touted as unsinkable prior to its maiden voyage, the manner in which the Titanic sank has long been a source of debate. Watch as scientists and researchers combine underwater archaeology, forensic science, metallurgy and other disciplines to get to the bottom of this 90-year-old mystery. Queen of the Elephants As India's population explodes, precious elephant grazing areas are beginning to disappear. Join conservationist Mark Shand and elephant handler Parbarti Barua as they stride 300 miles across India on the backs of elephants to generate awareness for the plight of these gentle giants. Carrier: Fortress at Sea Meet the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and shove off for a six-month, 45,000-mile voyage from San Francisco to the Persian Gulf. Along the way, thrill to the real-life story of the Navy's top guns as told by the men themselves and marvel at the visual excitement of flight deck operations and footage from jet-mounted cameras. Presented in full screen format.

Average customer rating:

Fortress 2
Oh the humanity!
Doesn't add up to the original...
Sequel lacks the budget and performances of the original
great stuff

Fortress 2: Re-entry
Starring: Christopher Lambert , Aidan Rea , David Roberson , Liz May Brice , and Beth Toussaint
Director: Geoff Murphy
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Futuristic | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Fortress
Absolon
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Crossworlds

ASIN: B00004REZS
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com

Christopher Lambert in a straight-to-video sci-fi film? You know it's gotta be good. Here he reprises his role as John Brennick, former leader of the Resistance and thorn in the side of the MEN-TEL corporation. In the first movie, Brennick escaped from and destroyed MEN-TEL's high-tech "inescapable" prison. In the 10 years since then, he's gotten himself a house in the woods and some horses, and has illegally procreated with his wife. When Resistance members find him and try to recruit him back into the cause, the bad guys are not far behind, and after some two-dollar action scenes he finds himself captured and thrown into MEN-TEL's brand-new prison, which happens to be orbiting the Earth. Surely, nobody could ever escape from this! Except maybe, just maybe John Brennick!

The plot is even more predictable than the placement of the co-ed shower scenes, to the point that you can practically quote the dialogue before it's spoken, with the only surprises being which cliché they're going to use, and when. (By the way, these violent prisoners are actually being used to build and modify the satellite they're imprisoned in!) Pam Grier has an embarrassing cameo as the owner of MEN-TEL, and the dignity she tries to bring to the role is entirely out of place. The only fun to be had is if you watch it as if you're watching a bunch of adults play "action film," making for a strange entertainment, indeed. --Andy Spletzer

Customer Reviews:

Fortress 2.......2006-02-17

As Fortress was an excellent film I was very disappointed with this sequel. The first one had nice ideas not in a realistic setting but in a nice way. This was just repeated and overdone in the second part so that it became ridiculous, e.g. fighting in outer space for hour without oxygen and in jeans? So I recommend the first part but forget this.

Oh the humanity!.......2004-01-22

The only word you need to know relating to the atrocity that is "Fortress 2: Re-entry" is, quite simply, LAMBERT! That's right, master thespian and international film god Christopher Lambert returns to reprise his role as the persecuted John Brennick, the bane of the powerfully evil Men-Tel corporation. The first film in the series, which arrived on the scene some six years before its sequel, was an enjoyable action/drama film larded with good characters, occasionally intriguing special effects, and lots of shoot 'em up action. The first film was even directed by Stuart Gordon ("Re-Animator," "From Beyond") and employed solid character actors like Jeffrey Combs and Kurtwood Smith to good effect. It got so you didn't even mind Christopher Lambert starred in the movie since the secondary elements made up for his lack of talent. You would think at least a little charm from the original might rub off on its sequel. You would be wrong. "Fortress 2" is a disaster across the board: bad acting, lousy script, slow pacing, and a forgettable supporting cast destroys any chance this movie had at success. "Fortress 2" is to the world of cinema what Linda McCartney was to Wings.

Once again John Brennick and his wife are on the run from the Men-Tel Corporation. At the end of the first movie the couple escaped the clutches of the evil plutocrats and went underground in order to defy the ban on having children. The opening of "Fortress 2" shows the Brennicks safely ensconced in a cabin somewhere far from the overpopulated urban centers run by Men-Tel. A group of rebels from the resistance pay a visit to Brennick so they can convince him to rejoin their efforts to destroy the corporation. Predicatably, Men-Tel thugs clandestinely follow these upstarts out to the cabin and launch a raid. Lots of bullets fly, Brennick and family escape through a tunnel under the house, and Johnny blows a helicopter out of the sky before the soldiers finally capture him. Brennick's spouse and young son escape, so there will be no wife in prison to compromise John's attention this time around. And prison is exactly where he is going, but this time the penitentiary is a floating space station revolving around the earth. It would seem that walking out of this situation will not be as easy as it was last time. C'mon, you know better! This is big, bad John Brennick we are talking about here. Of course he will escape. Our job is to play like good little sheep, shut our mouths, and watch how he does it.

The space prison is pretty much like the institution encountered in the first film with a few minor exceptions. First, the beloved intestinators from the first film are long gone, replaced with a different implant device that causes everyone to fall on the ground and roll around shrieking in pain whenever the guards punch a button. Second, one of Brennick's cellmates is a sexy young woman who takes lots of showers to distract the bulls whenever John and his allies are plotting something. Third, this is a dumb movie. There is a bunch of nonsense about Men-Tel building some huge project and using the prisoners as slave labor, but it is largely uninteresting most of the time. Pam Grier turns up in the role as the head of Men-Tel, perhaps the most egregious crime the film commits because she doesn't have much to do except threaten the prison warden via video screen and show up briefly in the end. Another wasted opportunity arrives in the shape of Yuji Okumoto as the sadistic guard Sato. Viewers will recognize this veteran character actor and loudly lament the inability of the script to put him to better use. By the way, did I mention this movie reeks?

I actually followed the movie for a bit before issuing an increasingly loud series of raspberries at the stupidity unfolding onscreen. A few things were slightly interesting, such as Brennick's turn in "solitary" after a failed escape attempt. The punishment differs slightly from a similar penalty on earth: guards lock Brennick in a transparent bubble on the outer shell of the station, thereby exposing him to extremes of cold and heat as the prison revolves around the earth. Alas, this scene is the only good point in an otherwise useless production. One need only watch one of the characters attach a miniature video camera to a roach to understand the ridiculous depths to which this movie sinks. The absolute worst, and I mean WORST, situation occurs when Brennick, in an effort to reach another part of the rapidly deteriorating space station, holds his breath and flies through space without any sort of protective gear. You heard me right. A man soars through deep space wearing nothing but the clothes on his back--with only a bloody nose to show for it--and survives to fight another day. This scene alone guarantees a one star review. How dare the screenwriters, the director, and the producer attempt to foist off such an idiotic scenario on viewers.

Brennick escapes in time for the inevitable reunion with his loved ones (in front of a picturesque sunset, no less), but the viewer has nowhere to go after watching this piece of crud except perhaps to the local pharmacy to pick up a bottle of Thorazine. Whatever your poison, pray it is strong enough to burn the memory of this film out of your head. The DVD is fortunately sparse, with a trailer for this film, one for a movie called "Resurrection," and a widescreen presentation of the movie. The lack of a commentary surprises me not at all; I wouldn't want to take any responsibility for such a worthless project either if I was associated with it. Good luck with this one, faithful viewers.

Doesn't add up to the original..........2002-10-02

Our story picks up about ten years where the original ended. Brannick is caught and put in a new prison, this time in space orbiting Earth. The characters are plenty fun and the humor is well-placed, but the acting and overall script leave much to be desired. The film is very watchable, but little comes from it. Christopher Lambert is not a good enough actor to make his character as interesting as he was in the first film, but his supporting cast is not all bad. Mostly, I liked the computer effects and some of the action was neat. The star rating can be ignored here. I really give it 2 1/2, but Amazon.com won't let me do halves.

Sequel lacks the budget and performances of the original.......2002-08-01

Although I really enjoyed the original movie, "Fortress 2: Re-entry" is disappointing in comparison. The film offers a promising storyline: John and Karen Brennick are shown 10 years later with their son, hiding from the MenTel Corporation. John is eventually captured and sent to a prison space station to serve his sentence for having another child, while Karen and her son are still being pursued by MenTel. Again, John is driven to escape from this dismal prison. The magic that made the first "Fortress" work is not present in this film. The special effects are of poor quality, and the actors' performances are not very good. This movie may be worth renting just to see what happens to the characters from the first film.

great stuff.......2002-05-04

Action, Sci-fi, nudity, 'behaviour modification' and Christopher Lambert? You know you're in for one hell of a ride!
This movie is at least as good as the original, and looks and sounds great on dvd.
No, it's not one of the most intelligent flicks out there, but who cares? The movie-makers set out to make the movie an exciting romp in space, and in that they certainly succeed.
The only thing that let me down a little was the abrupt ending, something the original suffered from too, but trust me, this is good fun if you're not looking for a masterpiece!

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