Class Action

Starring:Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Colin Friels, Joanna Merlin, Laurence Fishburne, Donald Moffat, Jan Rubes, Matt Clark, Fred Dalton Thompson, Jonathan Silverman, Joan McMurtrey, Anne Ramsay, David Byron, Tim Hopper, Robert David Hall, Wood Moy, Victor Talmadge, Ken Grantham, Hajna O. Moss, Abigail Van Alyn
Director: Michael Apted
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

Product Description

On this inspirational DVD program, Esther and Jerry Hicks present the teachings of the Non-Physical entity Abraham, whom Esther calls infinite intelligence and Jerry refers to as the purest form of love Ive ever encountered. The Law of Attraction is never more evident than in the pulse of an Abraham-Hicks Art of Allowing Workshop. And this is one of the year s best, so sit back, relax, allow, and attract.

Customer Reviews:

Soooo good!.......2007-07-05

If you liked The Secret - you will love these DVDs. They are The Secret put to practical, everyday use.

A real "vibration-raiser".......2007-06-27

I'm a big fan of Esther/Jerry Hicks/Abraham and I never miss them on Hay House Radio on a program called "Ask and It Is Given", excerpted from workshops which are pretty complete audio presentations in themselves.
But this DVD was the first chance I had to actually watch a workshop--and I felt a lot more good energy from it. Abraham speaks through Esther, and the words and body language are logical and loving. Watching the participants' faces during all this is very moving.
Abraham states that the magic key of manifesting what we want is to keep our vibrations elevated--to "be as happy most of the time, as much as possible". Sometimes a hard day at work or a bad dream the night before can make that a tall order--however, I can absolutely state that merely watching this DVD has raised my happiness level when nothing else would work.
Whatever your belief system or philosophy may be, this is a riveting presentation, and I plan to get the upcoming DVD!

The original "Secret".......2007-06-27

Before there was "The Secret" there was "The Law of Attraction". Read the book, then watch this DVD...it's amazing to see Abraham in action. If you truly want to manifest good things in your life, "The Law of Attraction" is a must!

Is not worth it .......2007-06-15

I bought this DVD & I found is not worth it. It's just recorded from one of the public courses they offer just to save money. Also I didn't find this DVD is helpful to learn from it.

Amazing insight!.......2007-06-07

Have to see it for yourself & take it in. This is something that everybody can benefit from watching.

Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Gangs of Sound Stage 6
Pure Entertainment
very happy
Yawn!
Overblown melodrama

Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Roger Ashton-Griffiths , Jim Broadbent , Peter-Hugo Daly , Daniel Day-Lewis , and Leonardo DiCaprio
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKN9
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Amazon.com

Gangs of New York may achieve greatness with the passage of time. Mixed reviews were inevitable for a production this grand (and this troubled behind the scenes), but it's as distinguished as any of director Martin Scorsese's more celebrated New York stories. From its astonishing 1846 prologue to the city's infernal draft riots of 1863, the film aspires to erase the decorum of textbooks and chronicle 19th-century New York as a cauldron of street warfare. The hostility is embodied in a tale of primal vengeance between Irish American son Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his father's ruthless killer and "Nativist" gang leader Bill "the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis, brutally inspired), so named for his lethal talent with knives. Vallon's vengeance is only marginally compelling; DiCaprio is arguably miscast, and Cameron Diaz (as Vallon's pickpocket lover) is adrift in a film with little use for women. Despite these weaknesses, Scorsese's mastery blossoms in his expert melding of personal and political trajectories; this is American history written in blood, unflinching, authentic, and utterly spectacular. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This motion picture event from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese earned 10 Academy Award(R) nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, along with 5 Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Song! Leonardo DiCaprio (TITANIC), Cameron Diaz (CHARLIE'S ANGELS), and Daniel Day-Lewis (THE BOXER) star in this epic tale of vengeance and survival! As waves of immigrants swell the population of New York, lawlessness and corruption thrive in lower Manhattan's Five Points section. After years of incarceration, young Irish immigrant Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio) returns seeking revenge against the rival gang leader (Day-Lewis) who killed his father. But Amsterdam's personal vendetta becomes part of the gang warfare that erupts as he and his fellow Irishmen fight to carve a place for themselves in their newly adopted homeland!

Customer Reviews:

Gangs of Sound Stage 6 .......2007-06-25

I agree with those reviewers who've seen through this movie. Under the period costumes and the periodic bursts of graphic violence, "Gangs of New York" is a set-bound bore. Bad dialogue, worse accents, and a cliched, spaghetti-Western plot. But, Gogol, if you're going to diss "Once Upon a TIme in America," as innovative a gangster movie as "The Godfather," at least blame the guy who did make it -- Sergio Leone -- not a guy who didn't -- Scorsese.

Pure Entertainment.......2007-06-07

I was surprised by how enjoyable this movie is. It's just fun and if you're looking for a history lesson from a Hollywood movie, then you obviously know nothing about the American entertainment industry. Read a book. I held off watching this for a long time because I'm not terribly fond of Day-Lewis or DiCaprio. Also, I was wary of watching Cameron Diaz try to act. Finally, the movie bombed at the box office to a chorus of boos and some scathing reviews. Admittedly, this isn't Scorsese's best. The movie is too long, the script is a mess as it sags in spots and jumps around in others and DiCaprio is dubiously cast but he performs well enough. Diaz can't act but she is easy on the eyes. The dialogue lacks the resonance of better epics. In the end, Gangs is just a typical period piece revenge story with the emphasis on costumes, mayhem, and cheerfully swaggering overacted performances. Sort of Braveheart and Gladiator go to NYC in the mid 1800's.

very happy.......2007-05-07

I was very happy to get the Cd that I sent for..........Again it came very fast,I enjoy it very much.......... thank you for giving us Cd's that we can order very fast. I just love Leonardo Dicaprio

Yawn!.......2007-04-23

Has nobody seen through Scorseses weak plots yet? He makes one exellent gangster film (Goodfellas which after all was based on a book) then repeats the same formula for almost every other film. So we have the Italian mafia in Goodfellas, the Jewish mafia in Once upon a time, back to the Italians but change location for Casino and now we have the Irish and 'native' mafia. So what next for Scorsese when he runs out of ethnic groups for his mafia films?

This film lacks everything. Loosely based on historical facts its slow, dull and only made vaguely interesting by the odd input of horrific violence (just as all of his gangster films are, the start of Goodfellas, the baseball bat scene in Casino etc)

Sorry but this film lacks everything.

Overblown melodrama.......2007-02-17

When this film came out, I knew it was going to be in deep trouble because of the hype connected to it and director Martin Scorsese's almost endless appearances on the talk show circuit.
The problem isn't in the sets or costuming, both of which are excellent, but rather lies mainly in the almost incoherent, plotless script the actors were saddled with. Historically about as accurate as a Ritz Brothers film, it confabulates various New York events and characters into a hopeless mishmash of misbegotten melodrama.
Special notice should be taken of Daniel Day-Lewis' scenery-chewing performance, which was uniformly terrible. Perhaps I being a bit harsh considering the odiousness of the script, yet the other actors at least managed to rise above the high school play level that marked Day-Lewis' effort.
As to this 2 DVD set, it annoyed me that I had to change DVDs to see the entire film.
The extras included contain all the frenzied hype that surrounded the pre-release of the film and are enjoyable, if you like that sort of thing.
The quality of the digital transfer to DVD was excellent.
Someday there will be a great movie about this turbulent era in New York City but this, unfortunately, isn't it.

Average customer rating:

Spartacus
Excellent movie, excellent price
A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!
A Great Classic
Spartacus - Like I remember it !

Spartacus
Starring: Kirk Douglas , Laurence Olivier , Jean Simmons , Charles Laughton , and Peter Ustinov
Director: Stanley Kubrick , and Anthony Mann
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783226039
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

Stanley Kubrick was only 31 years old when Kirk Douglas (star of Kubrick's classic Paths of Glory) recruited the young director to pilot this epic saga, in which the rebellious slave Spartacus (played by Douglas) leads a freedom revolt against the decadent Roman Empire. Kubrick would later disown the film because it was not a personal project--he was merely a director-for-hire--but Spartacus remains one of the best of Hollywood's grand historical epics. With an intelligent screenplay by then-blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo (from a novel by Howard Fast), its message of moral integrity and courageous conviction is still quite powerful, and the all-star cast (including Charles Laughton in full toga) is full of entertaining surprises. Fully restored in 1991 to include scenes deleted from the original 1960 release, the full-length Spartacus is a grand-scale cinematic marvel, offering some of the most awesome battles ever filmed and a central performance by Douglas that's as sensitively emotional as it is intensely heroic. Jean Simmons plays the slave woman who becomes Spartacus's wife, and Peter Ustinov steals the show with his frequently hilarious, Oscar-winning performance as a slave trader who shamelessly curries favor with his Roman superiors. The restored version also includes a formerly deleted bathhouse scene in which Laurence Olivier plays a bisexual Roman senator (with restored dialogue dubbed by Anthony Hopkins) who gets hot and bothered over a slave servant played by Tony Curtis. These and other restored scenes expand the film to just over three hours in length. Despite some forgivable lulls, this is a rousing and substantial drama that grabs and holds your attention. Breaking tradition with sophisticated themes and a downbeat (yet eminently noble) conclusion, Spartacus is a thinking person's epic, rising above mere spectacle with a story as impressive as its widescreen action and Oscar-winning sets. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Spartacus.......2007-06-28

This rousing epic was disowned by Kubrick after a contentious, difficult production, but "Spartacus" still offers grand-scale entertainment, thanks to bold, sure-handed direction and a powerhouse cast. The brawny, clench-jawed Douglas shines in his signature role, while Olivier is suitably poisonous as the cold-blooded Crassus. Other notables include the rotund Peter Ustinov providing comic relief as a cowardly slave-trader, and Charles Laughton, who lends gravitas as a senior Roman senator. If you're craving generous portions of spectacle and sweep, here's your movie.

Excellent movie, excellent price.......2007-06-28

I bought this as a gift for my husband. Received promptly,pleased with packaging. The movie is a definite classic, must have for the DVD collector.

A MESMERIZING SPECTACULAR OF GLADIATOR EPICS!.......2007-05-23

This motion picture is a must for all Gladiator Epic lovers. The movie was made when these films were very popular and all stops were pulled for this classic Roman Picture.. The movie showcases the Great Kirk Douglas in his most memorable performance. The cinematography is spectacular and verY authentic for its time. After all these years, the color is vivid and true to form. A very young Tony Curtis appears with a great cast. You will love the feel for the movie and the sets are very opulent. Notice that if you went to pick this movie at the store, it will still cost alot. That is a sure sign that this movie has gotton better with age. Pick it up today and enjoy!!!
Noel Serrano

A Great Classic.......2007-05-14

Spartacus is one of the best movies from the past. Everything about it is very well-done. The DVD is a great addition to our collection.

Spartacus - Like I remember it !.......2007-05-13

This was a favorite growing up as a kid. Haven't seen it in a long time, so I had to buy it. A great movie, the sound and picture quality was much better then when I saw it growing up. A big time classic !!

Average customer rating:

Very entertaining, very clever
If you figured it out you're almost as clever as the kid next to me
Appearances Can Be Deceiving...
I expected more...
Hated it...

Inside Man (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Denzel Washington , Clive Owen , Jodie Foster , Christopher Plummer , and Willem Dafoe
Director: Spike Lee
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000GFLKF8
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Amazon.com

Spike Lee scored his biggest hit to date with Inside Man, an unconventional thriller with fascinating details in the margins of its convoluted plot. The screenplay (by first-timer Russell Gerwitz) could've used a few more rewrites; it moves at a brisk pace but in hindsight a lot of it doesn't make sense. That makes Inside Man more fun to watch than to think about afterwards (when you discover plot holes big enough to drive a truck through), but it's curiously involving, especially as NYPD Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) struggles to outsmart a high-stakes bank robber (Clive Owen) who, along with a well-trained crew of accomplices, has seized control of a Wall Street bank, turning what initially looks like a hostage crisis into a personal crusade to expose some mysterious evil secrets. As you might expect from the director of Do the Right Thing, Lee seizes several satisfying opportunities to examine post-9/11 issues of racial prejudice and domestic terrorism, and the mysterious "problem solver" Madeline White (Jodie Foster), as eerily sinister as she is vaguely defined, is worthy of her own movie. With the benefit of his most stellar cast to date (including Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe and Chiwetel Ejiofor), Lee seems more interested in character details than well-crafted suspense, but that doesn't stop Inside Man from being engrossing, subtly amusing, and quirky enough to qualify as a welcomed break from the formulaic thrillers that are Hollywood's bread and butter.--Jeff Shannon

Description

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, Academy Award nominee Clive Owen and Academy Award winner Jodie Foster star in this intense and explosive crime thriller. The perfect bank robbery quickly spirals into an unstable and deadly game of cat-and-mouse between a criminal mastermind (Owen), a determined detective (Washington), and a power broker with a hidden agenda (Foster). As the minutes tick by and the situation becomes increasingly tense, one wrong move could mean disaster for any one of them. From acclaimed director Spike Lee comes the edge-of-your-seat, action-packed thriller that The Wall Street Journal calls "a heist film that's right on the money."

Customer Reviews:

Very entertaining, very clever.......2007-05-22

As others have indicated, if you think you have it figured out, you will be totally surprised before the end. As suspense films go, everything fits together when you get to the end with nothing that suspends belief (unlike another film I recently saw). The acting is very well done.

I gave the film only four stars because of the thoroughly gratuitous use of one very frequent four letter word. Its use is so over the top that it takes away from everything else. I saw the film in a theater. Some months later we were on an overseas flight and "Inside Man" was the in-flight movie. There were small children on the flight. I wondered how that would work, given the ubiquitous use of that word. Well, the word never occurred anywhere in the film! Further, no one's lips were out of synchronization with the dialogue at any point. I have since read that Singapore will not allow films with foul language in them. Apparently, film companies must shoot two versions of the same film. They could give us films with less objectionable material, but choose not to do so. They even have the same films with less objectionable material already available. Can I give Hollywood two stars only?

If you figured it out you're almost as clever as the kid next to me.......2007-05-13

This kind of movie prompts you to take wild guesses, but what is fun is the process and class of the movie. While the kid in the theater next to me figured it out from the start, while having some small mistakes, there was nothing lost in seeing how it all went down and the slight surprise at the end. Inside man is a feel good example of an old and dying art of the con man movie. Technology is getting far too perfect for these kind of brilliant man versus the system type movie. With the need of hacking eye scanners, finger print machines, motion sensors, time locked safes, security systems with off-shore staff that is awake twenty four hours a day, and even more things we can't even imagine but someone else did coming into play you need to be a billionaire to be a thief in the first place. So these movies will become more and more rare, so we should enjoy them while we can.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving..........2007-05-10

I have to start out by saying that as an avid movie watcher I generally try to keep an open mind when approaching a movie. With that being said there are a couple of directors that I find this to be a particularly hard task to succeed in, Quentin Tarentino is one such director and the other is Spike Lee. I have to say that whenever either of these two critically acclaimed directors releases a movie (or a `joint' as Spike Lee prefers to label them), I find it difficult to get too excited about seeing them, and sometimes I don't end up seeing the movie at all, though I try to make an effort because you never know when one might hit you just right. So, when I saw the trailer for the upcoming Spike Lee movie "Inside Man" starring Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, I was somewhat interested in it simply because I enjoy both actors' work; however, Denzel had done a Spike Lee movie before that I didn't like, so that didn't guarantee that I would enjoy him in this one. Over time I saw more trailers for the movie and read what the film was to be about and I have to say that for the first time ever, I was actually excited to see a Spike Lee movie, but whether my anticipation was misplaced or completely justified would remain to be seen.

"Inside Man" presents us with the story of a brilliant criminal mastermind (Clive Owen) who has devised the perfect bank robbery and subsequent escape without being caught by the law. However, when the plan is hatched events quickly begin to spiral out of control and the police are fast on the scene led by a cunningly smart detective (Denzel Washington) who will not rest until the situation is contained. Just when negotiations are beginning to take shape between the criminals and the police, a government power broker (Jodie Foster) interferes throwing this delicate matter into a state of uncertainty where one wrong move could spell disaster for all involved.

After watching this movie I quickly came to the conclusion that even though I generally dislike most Spike Lee movies, even he can surprise me sometimes. "Inside Man" was a wonderfully constructed cat-and-mouse thriller that was completely engrossing and a genuine surprise to me, and was by far the most mainstream Spike Lee movie to date. The story was well paced, full of twists-and-turns that you don't see coming, and the dialogue was so well-written and at times an absolute joy to listen to, especially the many exchanges between Denzel Washington and Clive Owen's characters. The acting was terrific from all actors involved, each actor was given so much to work with, which is often a rarity in an ensemble piece like this one, where there are so many A-list actors gathered in one film, generally one or two of them get shorted on development. A lot of the fun I had in watching this movie was trying to figure out the various motives every character had or which side they were truly on, so many of the characters had hidden agendas you really didn't know what to expect from any of them, which made the experience all the more enjoyable for me.

As I said earlier I'm not by any means a Spike Lee fan and enjoying this movie doesn't change that fact, but for me to have been even remotely entertained by this film is a feat in and of itself. With all that being said, I think it would be nice to see more independent-type directors, such as Spike Lee or Quentin Tarentino, make more mainstream films and maybe, just maybe, I would like their work a whole lot more than simply one movie here and there.

"Inside Man" is rated R for violence and language.

I expected more..........2007-05-07

This is one of those movies that probably would have worked better as a novel than a movie. The slow pacing left a lot to be desired. I was expecting something more brilliant than what was presented here. Dalton Russell's who, what, and when explanation was fine, but he definitely short-changed us on the why. Why the heck did he care how Case made his money? None of the robber's where Jewish. How did he learn of his past if no one else knew? Once Dalton and Ms. White had their little dicussion, hence, telling the audience the real deal, I was bored waiting for Det. Frazier and his crew to catch up. Then I wasn't rewarded well enough for the wait. Why was Dafoe in this movie? have the acting gigs dried up that badly that he's taking parts that could have easily gone to a glorified extra? Foster was good, wouldn't mind having her job. Overall, it's just okay. I like Washington more when he does character pieces compared to his action/thriller/ heist stuff. I can rarely tell those characters apart.

Hated it..........2007-05-04

I know this movie won't be shown at the boys and girls club! It is awful.

Average customer rating:

A Fun Film - If You Get the Joke and Don't Take It Seriously
An embarrassing fiasco
Hunky Heath Ledger
Dumb and Dumber
Enjoyable Movie

A Knight's Tale
Starring: Heath Ledger , Rufus Sewell , Shannyn Sossamon , Paul Bettany , and Laura Fraser (II)
Director: Brian Helgeland
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00000F4ZY
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Amazon.com

There's no rule against rock anthems from the 1970s in the soundtrack for a movie about a medieval jousting champion, but if you're going to attempt such jarring anachronisms, you'd better establish acceptable ground rules. Writer-director Brian Helgeland does precisely that in A Knight's Tale and pulls off this trick with such giddy aplomb that you can't help but play along. (Upon witnessing a crowd of peasants at a jousting match, singing and clapping to the beat of Queen's "We Will Rock You," you're either going to love this movie or dismiss it altogether.) Other vintage rock hits will follow, but Helgeland--the Oscar®-winning cowriter of L.A. Confidential--handles this ploy with judicious goodwill, in what is an otherwise honest period piece about a peasant named William (Heath Ledger) who rises by grit and determination to the hallowed status of knighthood.

As if the soundtrack weren't audacious enough, Helgeland (recovering from the sour experience of his directorial debut, Payback) casts none other than Geoffrey Chaucer (wonderfully played by Paul Bettany) as William's cohort and match announcer, along with William's pals Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), and feisty blacksmith Kate (Laura Fraser). Of course there must be a fair maiden, and she is Jocelyn (newcomer Shannyn Sossamon), with whom William falls in love while battling the nefarious Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) on the European jousting circuit. Add to this an inspiring father-son reunion, Ledger's undeniable charisma, a perfect supporting cast, and enough joyful energy to rejuvenate the film's formulaic plot, and A Knight's Tale becomes that most pleasant of movie surprises--an unlikely winner that rises up, like its hero, to exceed all expectations. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A Fun Film - If You Get the Joke and Don't Take It Seriously.......2007-06-23

Here is my disclaimer - DON'T TAKE THIS MOVIE SERIOUSLY. I have to admit, when I first saw A Knight's Tale, at first I was a bit put off by the glaring historical inaccuracies and rock music. That is I was until I saw the scene where the herald, Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), is getting the crowd fired up prior to a match and it all made perfect sense - Jousting as PRO WRESTLING! What the director and writers have done is a satire, putting the features and passion of pro wrestling (and other fan favorite sports like football) into a medieval setting.

Not to completely rehash the plot, the story is a basic, Horatio Alger rags to riches story. William (Hugh Ledger) is a commoner serving as page for Sir Hector, an aging knight who dies of a heart attack during the course of a tournament. Out of funds, William dons Sir Hector's armor and finishes the tournament. This victory inspires William to try to make a living impersonating a knight. He convinces Sir Hector's other pages, Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), to join him and with practice, they become successful on the "Jousting circuit" with William creation, "Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein." Along the way, William defeats the heavy, Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), gets the girl (Jocelyn - played by Shannyn Sossamon), and wins the Jousting Championship.

The dialogue is average (although Bellamy shines in the role of the herald) and the directing is adequate (I did like the shots of the jousting) but the real fun in this film is the satire and the music. The musical selection, such as "Golden Years" by David Bowie for the dancing scene or the choice of "The Boys are Back in Town" by (British) band "Thin Lizzy" for the return to London scene really capture the spirit of the action on the screen. Other details such as the Nike "Swoosh" on the armor just add to the "don't take this too seriously" tone.

I suppose from looking at what others have written, this is a love it or hate it film. I think I got the joke and once I started looking at it from that perspective, found the movie very entertaining.

An embarrassing fiasco.......2007-06-10

I watched this terrible movie on the recommendation of a friend, recently. As soon as I heard the music of Queen, I knew that I was about to be subjected to a slice of dumbed down unfunny Pop culture schlock.

I wouldn't be surprised if Aussie thesp, Heath Ledger, prudently leaves this dud off his resumé. I wouldn't blame him, either! However, he did make "Two Hands" and on the strength of that film alone, he deserves our respect.

Hunky Heath Ledger.......2007-06-09

I love this movie! My daughter & I love to watch this over & over. Funny, romantic, everything you want in a good chick-flick.

Dumb and Dumber.......2007-05-24

Dumb, dumb, dumb, ney, moronic. If you want Medieval fantasy with silly music, rent Ladyhawk. A much better film.

Enjoyable Movie.......2007-05-11

I truly enjoyed this movie. Moves fast, good characters, sense of humor, and good music.

Average customer rating:

Horribly awful
Silly but fun
A parody of the greatest essence
Nostalgic at best
I hated this movie

The Pirate Movie
Starring: Kristy McNichol , Christopher Atkins , Ted Hamilton , Bill Kerr , and Maggie Kirkpatrick
Director: Ken Annakin
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)

ASIN: B00076ONW8
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Product Description

Buckle your swash and jolly your roger for the ultimate musical comedy pirate adventure! Kristy McNichol (LITTLE DARLINGS) and Christopher Atkins (THE BLUE LAGOON) star as dreamy young lovers in this uproarious update of Gilbert & Sullivan s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, filled with virtuous maidens and shirtless cutthroats, savage swordplay and buried treasure, a dashing Pirate King (Ted Hamilton) and a modern Major General (Bill Kerr), plus plenty of pillaging, plundering, plank-walking fun! For years, fans have been clamoring for this infamous 80s musical from the Oscar®-nominated director of THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES (1966). The wait is over: THE PIRATE MOVIE is now presented with a brand-new Widescreen Transfer, featuring a fascinating new Director s Commentary and mixed in timber-shivering Dolby 5.1

Features

Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Audio Commentary with Director Ken Annakin and DVD Producer Perry Martin.

Theatrical Trailer

System Requirements:

Running Time 99 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Horribly awful.......2007-06-26

To put it lighty, this movie sucked. This movie is worse than every bad film I've either seen entirely or commercials for including Norbit, Little Man, White Chicks, Bowling for Columbine, Outfoxed, Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price, anything with the Wayans brothers, Farenhight 9/11, Under The Rainbow, Bean, and Babe: Pig in the City.

Silly but fun.......2007-05-31

I loved this movie when it came out and though it's quite silly and a bit choppy, I still love it. Just don't buy the DVD in hopes of getting much more than is on the VHS tape. The sound is bad, it has no subtitles for the hearing impaired ( I Had to sign the whole thing to my girlfriend who had never seen it) and the commentary is more about the director in his good old days of working with Walt Disney and other older projects. He rarely speaks of the movie he's supposed to be commenting on.

A parody of the greatest essence.......2007-05-11

The movie is defiantly right out of the 80s and a classic `B' film. It is basically a parody to Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. It is both a comedy and a musical with such films as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark thrown in. There are many hilarious overtures thrown into the mix and the main characters Frederic (Christopher Atkins) and Mabel (Kristy McNichol) go great together.

Nostalgic at best.......2007-04-23

When I was a little kid and HBO was still only a few yews new, I use to watch The Pirate Movie, Grease 2, and Superfuzz over and over again.
As a kid, I would (for some reason) never get sick of these 3 movies.
They are very cheesy and corny. And if you knew me at all, you would know that I usually can't stand anything that doesn't have an edge to it.
But these movies are exceptions because they bring me back to a carefree time in my life, that sometimes only feels like yesterday. Watching the Pirate movie and the other 2 I mention literaly gives me a surreal feeling of nostalgia.
I wouldn't expect anyone to buy this movie unless they have had a similar experience.

I hated this movie.......2007-04-07

Why is this movie in print, but the far superior "Pirates of Penzance" with Kevin Kline out of print?

Average customer rating:

family involvement
Fantastic Movie
Cant get enough
2nd Best Soundtrack of Any Stallone Film!
Soon on Rifftrax, Commentary for this 80's Wonder

Over the Top
Starring: Sylvester Stallone , Robert Loggia , Susan Blakely , Rick Zumwalt , and David Mendenhall
Director: Menahem Golan
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007TKNKG
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

Arm-wrestling might be far down on most viewers' list of "most cinematic sports," but Sylvester Stallone certainly goes the distance to prove the contrary in this lightweight but entertaining mid-'80s action/family feature. Stallone (who co-wrote the script with Stirling Silliphant) plays taciturn trucker Lincoln Hawk (though he's called "Hawks" by large portions of the cast), who faces two considerable challenges at once: to win the Las Vegas Arm Wrestling Championship, and to impress the son (David Mendenhall) who's been turned against him by his grandfather (Robert Loggia, snarling up a storm). Menahem Golan's direction and the soundtrack of bombastic '80s pop-rock (by Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and others) is anything but subtle, and the host of opponents Stallone faces look like they were culled from professional wrestling (indeed, veteran grappler Terry Funk is in the cast), but Sly stalwarts and '80s action aficionados may find this rousing entertainment. The widescreen anamorphic DVD offers only the original theatrical trailer as an extra. - Paul Gaita

Description

Rocky and Rambo star Sylvester Stallone gives fans another reason to stand up and cheer. He stars as hard-luck big-rig trucker Lincoln Hawk and takes us under the glaring Las Vegas lights for all the boisterous action of the World Armwrestling Championship in Over the Top (co-scripted by Stallone). Relying on wits and willpower, Hawk tries to rebuild his life by capturing the first-place prize money - and the love of the son (David Mendenhall) he abandoned years earlier into the keeping of his rich, ruthless father-in-law (Robert Loggia). He matches muscles with some of the game's gargantuan greats - and grips you tightly with a rousing finale in crowd-pleasing Rocky style. Grab hold for rip-roaring fun!

Customer Reviews:

family involvement.......2007-06-27

The movie was something I wanted to share with my grandchildren to show them the values and importance of a parent/child relationship, and the rewards that each receive, even through the past "not so great" issues in one's relationships.

Fantastic Movie.......2007-06-11

This is hands down one of the best movies from the 80's. It is the BEST Sylvester Stallone movie every made. It has a little something for everyone... Need a little action? It has arm wrestling. Are you with your lady and need a little drama? It has Hawk trying to gain the love of his son. Like motor vehicles? It has freaking TRUCKS! BIG ONES! Seriously what more is there? I do not understand how you people could give this movie anything under 4 stars. I think all the low reviews are just Stallone haters.

Cant get enough.......2007-05-29

I grew up as a kid with this as my favourite movie. Still today it ranks as a favourite. Great movie for all audiences.

2nd Best Soundtrack of Any Stallone Film!.......2007-03-22

An "ok" movie with a GREAT ,but overlooked soundtrack.The music is perfect to use with work-outs.Next to "Rocky" this music "will take you HIGHER"!!!

Soon on Rifftrax, Commentary for this 80's Wonder.......2007-02-10

Rifftrax [...] announced that on 2/19/2007 they will release the "Mystery science theater 3000-esque" commentary track for this "classic".

I dont want to sound TOO much like a commercial for them, but this movie is bad in a good, cheesy way and the Rifftrax commentaries are perfect to play along while you are watching this film.

I remember watching this movie at the theater when it came out and groaning during the movie. I cannot to watch it again with the humorous commentary.

Average customer rating:

the Karl Marx sci-fi action movie
B-Movie fun
A vision like no others
They Live
Fresh concept (even for today) 5 Star Winner!

They Live
Starring: Roddy Piper , Keith David , Meg Foster , George 'Buck' Flower , and Peter Jason
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000AOX0F
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Amazon.com

An economic crisis brings unemployed Nada (Roddy Piper) to L.A. in search of work. What he finds instead is that the ruling elite of the world are aliens in disguise, their aim being to keep humans in a state of mindless consumerism. His discovery comes when he dons a pair of special sunglasses made by a resistance group and sees for the first time reality unadorned. Billboards, store signs, magazine covers--all bear subliminal messages to OBEY, to CONSUME, to have NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT. Money itself says THIS IS YOUR GOD. But worst of all, with these glasses you see which of us are really hideous, bug-eyed aliens. The conceptual breakthrough is hilarious while keeping its roots in darker matters. Although some fault the film for settling into its action plot, the ending has a great payoff. And the direction by John Carpenter is handled with superb workmanlike aplomb. One unforgettable set piece has Piper in a back-alley fistfight with a friend who won't put on the glasses that goes on and on, and just when you think it's over it goes another round. One of the most subversive films ever made in Hollywood, They Live was released on the eve of the 1988 elections. The first TV ads had two hideous alien politicians debating, then one accusing the other of being "No John Kennedy!" --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

the Karl Marx sci-fi action movie.......2007-04-23

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing this wonderful 1980's sci-fi action film starring pro wrestler "Roddy Piper". Piper plays an unemployed drifter, who is looking for work. Unfortunatley there aren't many good paying jobs available, because of corporate outsourcing (a problem which is killing the middle class and increasing poverty). However, nobody seems to notice or care that their fellow Americans are suffering, because they are caught up in materialism.

Piper discovers a pair of glasses that expose the truth. With the help of a few greedy individualistic elites, an evil race of aliens are slowly enslaving the human race.

Pipers acting is great, and there are plenty of memorable one liners.

B-Movie fun.......2007-03-28

I'm a HUGE fan of Carpenter's early work, everything from ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, CHRISTINE, THE FOG, and his magnum opus, HALLOWEEN. So when I picked up THEY LIVE and saw that Rowdy Roddy Piper starred, I knew I couldn't call myself a Carpenter fan without popping this in for a viewing. I sat back and looked forward to taking in more Carpenter goodness.

The result? A movie that takes a long time to get going, has only one standout acting performance, and displays some really lame effects.

We watch Piper's character drift into town and apply for work, shelter up in a homeless community, chance upon a construction job, chat with the homeless residents, go back to the job, etc. Some 30-40 minutes later the movie finally kicks into gear. It was hard for me to stay interested for this long without anything really happening, but the promise of aliens and action compelled me to persevere. The highpoint in all of this was Keith David, who plays Piper's fellow homeless/construction worker friend. The man acted circles around everyone else in this movie. The other actors, however, come off as wooden, more like actors TRYING to act. Because they couldn't imbue their characters with much of any real emotion, I didn't sympathize with them nor really care what happened to them. And the effects are pretty low-grade, more of the B-movie variety. There's not a whole lot of difference between the effects in ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976) and THEY LIVE (1988). As you could guess, the lack of more sophisticated effects sets this movie back to, well about 1976.

I must say that I loved the ending (which I won't give away), but my investment in the finale was lessened by the slow beginning and poor quality of the movie's middle. If you like cheesy B-movie fun, then rent THEY LIVE. If you want serious action and fear, rent something from the beginning of Carpenter's career, like HALLOWEEN or CHRISTINE.

A vision like no others.......2007-03-09

John Carpenter explicates his theory on where yuppies and corporate culture come from. If you hate this movie you must be a College Republican.

They Live.......2007-02-14

The best of the genre. Cheesy acting but the subject matter is real, "aka David Icke." If you have interest in conspiracy or aliens then you must absolutely watch this movie and of course "read between the lines" for the message that the savvy Carpenter weaves into this somewhat plausable tale. Hey it could happen, especially if you don't like who is president at the time you see the movie. The last scene is unsuitable for children without your input.

Fresh concept (even for today) 5 Star Winner!.......2007-01-26

ok first off let me start by saying piper and keith david are excellent and their little fight scene in the middle is worth every penny! imagine you feel something is wrong with the world (seems..hm nahh) and all of a sudden you come into possesion of glasses that when you put them on you realize the world is so much different then you ever thought with thought provoking signs like "OBEY" and "SLEEP" "EAT" "WATCH TV" etc a superb movie a true gem that should be in every library totally origional story and concept. this movie may seem a little dated but the theme music sets the sinister mood and the feeling of "this isnt good, something bad is going to happen" that creeps down your spine. well this movie is really that good and worth owning without doubt.

Average customer rating:

Great show! Well worth five stars!
Ghost Dog with Forest Whitaker
Breathtakingly Poignant and Spiritually Enlightening
Become one with your inner self
Big yawn!

Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai
Starring: Forest Whitaker , John Tormey , Cliff Gorman , Dennis Liu , and Frank Minucci
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005QCVX
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

Forest Whitaker makes an unlikely modern samurai with his laser-sighted pistols, shabby street clothes, and oddly graceful gait--but then Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is an unusual film. Quirky, contemplative, and at times absurd, it's just the kind offbeat vision we've come to expect from the fiercely independent Jim Jarmusch (Stranger than Paradise, Dead Man). Whitaker is Ghost Dog, a mysterious New York hit man who lives simply on a tenement rooftop and follows a code of behavior outlined in Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai (passages of this book are interspersed throughout the film). When the local mob marks him for death in a complicated code of Mafiosi-style honor, Ghost Dog sends a cryptic message to his foes. "That's poetry. The poetry of war," remarks mobster Henry Silva, with sudden respect upon reading the verse. He could be describing the ethereal beauty of Jarmusch's vision, full of wonderful imagery (a night drive across town seems to float in time) and off-center humor. Though it briefly stalls in a series of assassinations (Jarmusch is no action director), it settles back into character-driven drama in a quietly epic showdown, equal parts samurai adventure, spaghetti western, and existential crime movie. The film is likely too unconventional and offbeat for general audiences, but cult-movie buffs and Jarmusch fans will appreciate his idiosyncratic vision. He finds a strange sense of honor in the clash of Old World traditions, and salutes his heroes with a skewed but sincere respect. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Great show! Well worth five stars!.......2007-06-18

There isn't anything I didn't like about this film. Good old Forrest comes through with another superb performance and makes his character very believable. He portrays Ghost Dog - a very intelligent and thoughtful fellow - in such a way that this individual could be a very likely manifestation within the environment the story takes place in.
Equally, there is no wild and absurd special effects to mar the flow or the potential realism; no fancy super-duper martial arts moves to turn what you're watching into a farce. Ghost Dog is careful. He's deliberate. He consciously regulates his behavior and tries to adhere to the code of the Samurai. He comes across as being quite human - a person who has developed a psychological mechanism to allow him to cope and survive within a depressing and dangerous environment.
There's some humor in this movie too, as well as some telling symbolism. The scenes generating the "feel" of the show are quiet, seedy, gritty, and earthy, and when all these elements are combined with the performance of the cast it makes for a very well-done production.
Too bad there isn't more of this type of show and less of the mindless, ultra-violent, formula-type [....] that is spewed out by the cocain-sniffing hacks in Hollywood year after year.

Ghost Dog with Forest Whitaker.......2007-05-22

This is a very good film. The uniqueness of Whitaker's real-life persona enhances the unique character he brings to the screen. Ghost Dog displays all the discipline of a martial arts master but with a gun in hand. From this perspective he is far removed from the on-screen likes of Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly and Jet Li but equally as deadly. The film does not hide the fact the methods of destruction used by Ghost Dog are not only outlandish but straight out of a cartoon fantasy. This adds to its entertainment value: we know we're being taken for a ride. It's a fun trip. Whitaker's supporting cast round out this excellent ensemble work.

Breathtakingly Poignant and Spiritually Enlightening.......2007-05-05

Yesterday I tried in vain to encourage some of my friends, who had never even heard of Ghost Dog, to plan on watching it someday, and I obviously failed to give them even a mere glimpse of the magnitude of the story and its central character, Ghost Dog!

One friend said, "I can't believe you would enjoy a movie about an assassin! It seems so unlike you."

Yes, this is a movie about an impoverished, urban Black man, who survives by doing hits for his local Mob, but it is so much more, that it ranks right up there at the top of my favorite movie list.

Raised by a movie loving father who early on introduced me to independent American films and international films, such as Rashomon, with Tashiro Mifune and the French film, The Red Balloon, the sweetness of this very spiritual movie lives on and is one I know I will never forget.

I was already a Forest Whitaker fan, when I saw Ghost Dog for the first time, but since then, he has been firmly established, in my opinion, as one of the most poetic actors of our age. In this movie, he communicates at the highest levels of consciousness...sometimes by staying silent.

Ghost Dog is a masterpiece. Don't deprive yourself...rent it. Or better yet, buy it!

Become one with your inner self.......2007-03-12

This movie is better than expected. Forrest Whittaker seems miscast for this role, but he really is tremendous as Ghost Dog. And don't worry, there's no scenes of him slicing down evil hordes with his blade. That might be silly.
The story fuses elements of the mafia, gangster, and the way of the samurai. Ghost Dog is a hired mercenary that studies the great ancient culture of the samurai. He's definitely more dangerous with a gun than with his sword, and his dedication to his craft is amazing.
The mafia clan in this movie are intentionally laughable, a far cry from the Sopranos.
Ghost Dog also features a superb soundtrack of classic hip-hop. The rhythm and the beats coincide perfectly with the flow of the plot.
This is a different type of movie, better than you might expect.

Big yawn!.......2007-03-12

I fell asleep during this movie and didn't bother to try to finish it. The story was incredibly slow and boring. Forest Whitaker's performance as a samurai is laughable. He just looks rediculous through the entire film. The mobsters in the movie are just corny Italian stereotypes. This movie was a waste of space on my Netflix queue. But on the bright side, RZA did the soundtrack and that may be worth checking that out.

Average customer rating:

See you in L.A. folks!
Great movie
Absolutely brilliant.
Back to The Ride Back
Untouchable

Midnight Run
Starring: John Ashton , Robert De Niro , Danielle DuClos , Dennis Farina , and Richard Foronjy
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00008O38F
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Product Description

Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) is a tough ex-cop turned bounty hunter. Jonathan The Duke Mardukas (Charles Grodin) is a sensitive accountant who embezzled $15 million from the Mob, gave it to charity and then jumped bail. Jack s in for a cool $100,00 if he can deliver The Duke from New York to L.A. on time. And alive. Sounds like just another Midnight Run (a piece of cake in bounty hunter slang), but it turns into a cross-country chase. The FBI is after The Duke to testify the Mob is after him for revenge and Walsh is after him to just shut up. If someone else doesn t do the job, the two unlikely partners may end up killing each other in this hilarious, action-filled blockbuster from producer-director Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop).

System Requirements:

Starring Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Dennis Farina

Directed by Martin Brest

Running time: 2 Hours 7 Minutes

Amazon.com essential video

Director Martin Brest rocketed to the top of Hollywood's A list with the blockbuster success of Beverly Hills Cop, and this 1988 follow-up is even better. Midnight Run is a genuine rarity--an action comedy that's dramatically satisfying--thanks to a sharp script by George Gallo, the superb teaming of Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, and Brest's consummate skill in combining suspense and humor with well-developed characters. De Niro plays a maverick bounty hunter whose latest assignment is Grodin, an accountant accused of embezzling from the Mob. De Niro thinks he's in for an easy job, transporting Grodin (who's afraid to fly) from New York to Los Angeles, but soon discovers that both the FBI and the Mafia are hot on Grodin's trail. Equal parts road trip, action thriller, and a quirky character study, Midnight Run moves at a breakneck pace but still gives De Niro and Grodin time to create rich, memorable performances as two men who seem to be opposites, but gradually develop mutual respect and admiration. Mainstream entertainment at its best. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

See you in L.A. folks!.......2007-07-04

After starring in loads and loads of serious movies in a row, Robert Deniro needed to do something light and felt that Midnight Run was just what he was looking for. Originally a Paramount project, the suits wanted to team him up with Cher for some sex appeal (oh, dear GOD no!) but director Martin Brest (teehee) vehemently opposed this idea and the project ended up at Universal.

The role of Jonathan Mardukas ended up going to deadpan Charles Grodin (though a young Bruce Willis auditioned) since Martin Brest (teehee) felt that he had the best chemistry with Deniro. I'm glad he didn't make that compromise. Can you honestly imagine Midnight Run with Cher??? Deniro is Jack Walsh a tough, ex-cop bounty hunter who is offered $50, 000 by a shady bail-bondsman to capture crooked accountant Jonathan 'The Duke' Mardukas and escort him from NY to LA for a court appearance. The Duke embezzled millions of dollars from crime boss Jimmy Serrano (the always great Dennis Farina) and gave it all to charity so it's not just California justice who wants to get their hands on him. The FBI also want The Duke for their own purposes and The Duke is a clever and cunning enough to chuck as many spanners in the works as possible. So it's not just a simple matter of hopping on a plane...or an easy Midnight Run.

With Marvin Dorfler (John Ashton) another sleazy bounty hunter after them too and loads of double crosses Midnight Run becomes a sort of action/comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles character drama with enough F-words to give TV censors a nervous breakdown. Back in the stinkin' early 90s the stinkin' BBC dubbed out every stinkin' swear word with the most hilariously awful stinkin' choices. Why? Honestly, this kind of thing makes me wonder what the hell is going on the minds of these censors. Do they honestly think that they're making the world a better place by not exposing full-grown adults to an ancient Anglo-Saxon word for making love? But that's a separate rant altogether.

Those familiar with Brest's (teehee) previous mega-hit Beverly Hills Cop will find a lot of Midnight Run's pacing and cinematography familiar. He is the kind of director that only makes a movie every five years or so but I have a feeling that Gigli has ended his career for good. Don't let that tarnish your feelings toward this film though. Even if Midnight Run didn't have a clever and funny script the chemistry between Deniro and Grodin is worth it alone. We've seen odd-couple buddy/buddy types before but they do it with class.

Although it's nearing 20 years old, Midnight Run seems timeless in way (despite the very liberal 80s attitude towards smoking), mostly because it knows it's nothing but pure entertainment that, for once, isn't dumbed down for the lowest common denominator. These days we get crap like Epic Movie and Talladega Nights. Where did the R-rated comedies go? What grim times we live in.

Not sure about Danny Elfman's score though. Totally the wrong choice of composer, my only complaint.

The HD-DVD sports a 1080p 1.85:1 image that is not entirely perfect. While the daytime scenes surely sparkle, the darker scenes can seem a bit too grainy. Though this is obviously due to film stock and lighting rather than the DVD lack of quality. A couple of slim extras are included.

Great movie.......2007-06-08

This is a great movie. I loved this and this is probably my favorite movie of all time. Robert DeNero is great. Greate story, direction etc.

Absolutely brilliant........2007-02-04

This the kind of the movie that you will likely watch far more than once. It is raw, it is funny, it's the kind of movie that leaves you feeling that you had as much fun (0r pain) as those starring in it. You feel like you're with them.

Extremely entertaining, one of the best movies I have seen of its kind. The two main actors are wonderful together. I can't recommend it enough. The touches of humour through it, the very real touching human situations that are not over the top or nauseating.

I cannot fault it, keeps you amused from beginning to end. And at times could have you in stitches.

Back to The Ride Back.......2007-01-25

This is a great movie! I love Bobby DeNiro and Charles grodin together,BUT,has anyone noticed that this is the same identical movie plot of 'The Ride Back' with Anthony Quinn and William Conrad in 1957?
A renegade lawman goes after a wanted man and gets him to agree to return with him to justice due to greater obstacles which face him if he continues to evade the law. On the journey,(The Ride Back),they are confronted with one threat after another which force them to co-operate with one another just to survive the trip back. The black and white lines of good and bad are likewise blurred until,on the return,you like both characters equally when a similar resolution is met. Look familiar now?
Still a great flick with some snappy comeback lines. One of my favorites was when 'The Duke' told Jack,"My wife's hung in there with me through all of this",(he had just stolen millions of dollars of a syndicated drug dealer's money-*not a spoliler*-),to which Jack,(DeNiro),replied,"Jeez,yeah boy,with you and all your millions;what a trooper!"LOL

Untouchable.......2007-01-19

This is easily one of the 10 best films of the 80s. As a comedy or an action flick, or even a drama, it's near-perfect.

DVD:

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