5 comments about The X-Files (Movie).

1. You might want to pull up a chair, this is a long, self-interested review.
   
   Back in the autumn '07 I saw this p'ticular movie in a bargain bin, on sale for a dollar, and although I still remembered my loathing for the way its makers manipulated so many of us into flocking to our local multiplex, only to rip us off our ticket price, I still bought it on a "wonder if it was really that bad?" basis. And now that I've at last made time to see it, guess what...it's still THAT BAD.
   
   To think, back in the late-`90's I spent months looking forward to this film. There was once a time, after all, when The X-Files was a big deal, and when I was in college, it was the one TV show no one ever seemed to miss. Instead of a project equal to my and so many others' eager anticipation, we were "treated" to a movie that was terrible in every way. Filled with clichés (please, why must every on-screen bomb have those little red numbers on the front counting down the time till detonation?), this movie made an even greater muddle of already muddled conspiracy theories that by then were starting to drag down one of the most suspenseful, intelligent, and altogether cool series in broadcast history.
   
   Although Fight The Future (yes the "X-Files Movie" actually had a name) promised to reveal all or at least much that we'd been squirming to know, this stinko actually backfired and showed that not only was the truth not out there, but The X-Files was actually a ship plowing haphazardly through choppy waters, no one at the wheel.
   
   As we left the theater, my friend said to me, "They're just making this stuff up as they go, aren't they?"
   
   "Yep, Jackie," I replied, "they are." (There, I used your name in a review.)
   
   And for the first time, ladies and gentlemen, the light of Heaven shone down onto New England, and we saw the Emperor was stark naked.
   
   Okay, kidding aside, I truly think the release of this film was when The X Files jumped the sharks and the beginning of the end to this once ice-hot TV show can be traced to this one goshawful motion picture.
   
   Why after so long do I still feel so much antipathy for a banal movie? Because it was bad. Yes, truly bad as a stand-alone work, and much worse as a disgrace to the one-time great series. Just absolutely hideous!



2. Aliens, viruses, secret government entities, genetic engineering, assasinations and the rest of the staples of the X-files TV serial are all in this movie, tied together into a fairly cogent and actually quite believable storyline. And like a good movie based of a TV serial, multiple arcs are closed while none are opened. Specifically, this movie sees the deaths of two important characters from the serial (not Fox or Scully of course), and the existence of aliens on earth is confirmed once and for all in the movie's climatic ending. The style and substance of the movie mirrors the TV show; no sex, swearing or blood, and one short scene of near romance. Hence both movie and serial are appropriate for the same audiences. For those who need to know, the movie does not touch upon Mulder's sister.
   
   All in all, good sci-fi, good action and good storytelling.



3. For nearly all successful television dramas, there comes the conflict of when the show should end. For most of the X-Files' first few seasons, show creator Chris Carter imagined the show running five seasons, then spinning off into a series of motion pictures (much like the original series of Star Trek). However, with the Fifth Season of the X-Files garnering the best ratings in the show's history, it became obvious that the FOX network would do anything it could to bring its most successful hour back.
   
   Now, what does that above statement have to do with this movie? During the promotion of the movie, the creators touted it as giving "all the answers", essentially the be-all, end-all of the X-Files' many plotlines. Because of the show's tremendous popularity, however, the writers/producers could not put all their cards on the table quite yet. Despite clearing up many questions surrounding the Syndicate's involvement with the alien colonists (more specifically, how colonization will occur), this movie did not, by any means, provide ALL the answers, and was heavily criticized (even in these reviews) for it. In fact, just as many loose ends were brought up as were tied off.
   
   So, why does this movie still get a five-star rating from me? Because, despite its false-advertising, the movie still contains every aspect that made previous seasons of the X-Files so great: thrilling action, mind-bending plots, and witty, sardonic humor. Plus, as fans found out in the next two seasons, the X-Files still had many more great stories to tell. Ending the series with this movie would have cheated its loyal fans out of some more great drama. Though I will admit that the show drastically changed when it returned after the movie, many viewers (including myself) find the later seasons to be just as thrilling as the earlier fare.
   
   Overall, this is a great movie for any fan of science-fiction. As unbelievable as this may sound, this movie was the first X-Files fare of any kind I ever saw (imagine my confusion!), yet it still hooked me enough to become an avid follower, proving that you don't have to be an uber-fan to appreciate this film.



4. The story here is very involved, but it never gets too hard to follow. There's a lot here that comes from the TV series, but it's not crucial for you to have seen every episode to understand what's going on. Of course, you probably wouldn't be watching this movie if you hadn't seen at least a little of the series.
   
   The effects are well done. The tone is solid. The characterization is wonderful. This may not make you fall in love with the series, but it is a wonderfully made sci-fi adventure.
   
   I don't know about you, but I now get scared every time I go outside to stand in our oil pool.



5. My family has recently become huge fans of the X-files TV show (thanks to reruns on the Sci Fi channel), so we were excited to see that they had actually released a movie back in the late 90's. I read several of the bad reviews that this movie received, but we really liked it when we first watched it. True, it's a little different from the TV series in that it was hard for them to try & fit in all of the usual cast members, but overall, we were really surprised at just how much we liked this movie. It was very suspenseful & it kept us rivited to the very end. Can't wait to see the new 2008 movie version as well!

5 comments about North.

1. I Always loved this film i saw it when i was ten i still enjoy it as an adult. How could anyone even say that "it's so bad that it's good" It was never bad. It's funny, entertaining, magical and has an all-star cast. I also want to comment on Matthew McCurley's(Winchill)acting and how great he was. I mean even though Elijah Wood is the star, McCurley's acting was wonderful, so natural and just plain hilarious! He was the geek who made it big, the boy who gave North the idea. It was just so funny and i don't think anyone else could have pulled it off like he did. Oh and for those of you who haven't seen North don't listen to any bad reviews, this is a film worth watching with the whole family.



2. I first saw this film when it came out in 1994, but was fighting health issues which made it impossible to get out and buy a VHS copy of the film. Nice to see it available on Amazon.
   
   It's hard not to love Elijah Wood in any role he plays. I knew when I first saw this film, this kid was destined to do something great in Hollywood: So guess who wasn't surprised when he got casted to play Frotto in the series of films entitled; "Lord of the Rings". The books were great to read when I was in my teens, but I always had wondered who would play Frotto one day, when the books were made into films. Well, though Elijah had not been born yet back in those days of my youth, he makes a perfect Frotto in my view with the Trilogy of films.
   
   I loved this film for a few odd reasons: Having grown up in a disfunctional, abusive family, like many in my generation experienced out of the 1960's; I had often wished I could have done what Hugh North (played by Elijah Wood) did in this film and that's divorce his parents. Hugh North is a bright wiz kid; great at scholastics, sports and anything he puts his hand to, whose parents don't seem to even have a clue what a great kid they got from heaven as a son. Except in my case, I would have not gone back to my original parents if I had divorced them. I think I might have settled for the family Hugh finds that had John Ritter as the father. That would have been more my speed.
   
   The film is certainly a light comedy with a profound message: "As bad as anyone's parents might be, apparently, God in His wisdom picked the ones best suited for us". However, this does not mean the best laid plans of God don't go eschew when it comes to free will. So it has been my long experience with life and living anyway; a message this film tries to also drive home it seems.
   
   This film sort of has a happy ending, as Hugh's adventure, we find in the end, culiminates with him almost being murdered to save the cause to free all kids from their overbearing, controlling parents. But instead of being shot, he wakes up and finds his entire adventure has been nothing more than a dream and that his parents really do love him. Otherwise, Hugh's adventures to find a different family are funny and fun to watch. Elijah is adorable in this. This kid has one of the most pretty young male faces I've ever seen in kid actors. What ashame no one thought to do a series of Astro Boy movies back in this time period. Hollywood was staring at the perfect kid to play Astro Boy back then in my opinion. He looks just like the old 1963 anime character, both as Tobio and as Astro.
   
   Bruce Willis, as I recall, first appeared on the Hollywood scene in the TV series "Moonlighting", long ago, when I was much younger. He plays Hugh's angel or conscience in all of this, while constantly appearing as different characters thoughout the story. Willis's characters play a Godly type presence, the part of unconditional love watching over Hugh North, never judging Hugh, but helping him to see what he has in the end ain't so bad.
   
   John Lovitz plays Hugh's attorney. Lovitz obviously had fun with the role; an easy role to play I might add.
   
   Hugh's parents; played by Jason Alexander and Julia Louise Dreyfus are histerical as Hugh's parents, who, for the most part, stay in a comatose state throughout the majority of the film after they learn their son wants to divorce them. In fact, the opening scene where Hugh North (Elijah Wood) is found sitting at the dining room table with his parents, listening to his parents not listen to each other, finds Hugh about to have a total anxiety attack he thinks is a heart attack, which only made me laugh histerically: The poor kid!
   
   I could not help but think back to my own parents when they would talk and not listen to each other before they divorced each other when I was age 10, while fighting for each others attention and how I was constantly in the middle feeling I was being suffocated by their fighting to be heard. I could equate in other words with Hugh North, except my scenario was not funny. In fact, my generation came from allot of families like this, which is why my generation had such a high divorce rate as I grew up.
   
   While I realize this film did not do well at the box office, it did well on TV simply for those of us who could equate to this type of scenario as kids. One of the reason's why it did not do well at the box office might be because those from my own generation were only all too well reminded of the disfunctional home they grew up in and didn't want to be reminded. Those who grew up in loving homes, I would think, would have trouble with this film, simply becaues it would look unreal to them. For me, the reverse is true, looking at families that get along looks unreal to my own childhood, simlpy because I did not grow up in a family that got along all that well. So I suppose it depends on what side of the fence you are coming from in your experiences growing up, that make this film appealing or not appealing.
   
   I was allot like Hugh North in this movie when I was growing up; extremely bright, a good kid, a prodigy, wanting to do right, but getting crucified by the family I grew up in. Wish I might have had the option to make North's choice as a boy, which is why I like this film so much. It's a good fantasy for anyone who can equate to a family they wish they had not been born into.
   
   For those of you who have children and order this film, you shouldn't think this film will give them any ideas if you are a family that respects and loves each other, however if you are not, it might give your kids ideas with the way our legal system is these days. These days kids can divorce their parents if they want to. Just know this stroy is fiction and actually allot of fun to watch. Lots of top named stars were in this film and oddly enough the whole chemistry of the thing works for me.
   
   The VHS tape came in surprisingly great shape. No defects on the video tape or the box. Delivery was on time. No real complaints. I'm so glad this was at least on VHS. I've so wanted this in my library for years. Thanks Amazon for making it available and now in my home library.



3. I have seen this movie multiple times and LOVE it! It is so cute and deserves to be on DVD. I know that the critics gave it poor reviews, but everyone that I know that has watched it loves it. I definitely recommend it to families. It is a classic 90's movie.



4. by dane youssef
   
   Here is a movie so wrong-headed, wrong-hearted, wrong-made... so worng, you'd think the old axiom of a broken clock that's right twice a day would prove. But nope. It doesn't. Not by a long shot.
   
   One of my most depressing experiences as a child was seeing Rob Reiner's "North." In fact, as extensive internet research has shown me, it was a painful experience for many as children and stayed with him throughout adulthood.
   
   One of the worst movies of the year. One of the worst movies of the decade. One of the worst movies ever made. One of the worst ever. And when I say "worst", I'm comparing it to thinks like the Black Plague, the Holocaust, World Hunger, AIDS and Leperocy.
   
   Elijah Wood is a wonderboy who is constantly ignored by his parents despite his best intentions and efforts that make most parents beam like the sun with pride. He spends a lot of time feeling ignored and sits in a chair in a furniture store at the mall to think. He decides he deserves better parents than the ones he's got (who doesn't?) and divorces them.
   
   His folks are comatose from shock, but who cares? He's already in search of better ones.
   
   He travels all over the globe and finds surrogate folks which are not right for him. Not loving, caring, nuturing... or very funny or interesting.
   
   His best friend from school is enthusiastic about the divorce and gets the word out to all parents that children deserve better and thing better change or else.
   
   I was actually in physical pain watching how badly the film's plot is handled.
   
   While it is a thrill to see Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus together as a married couple and action legend Bruce Willis in an easter bunny suit... believe me, it doesn't last. The bad outweighs the good. Oh, HOW the bad outweights the good.
   
   The big-name celebrity bit-players are many: Dan Aykroyd, Reba McEntire, Jon Lovitz, Bruce Willis, Graham Greene, Abe Vigoda, Richard Belzer, Ben Stein, Alexander Godunov, Kelly McGillis, John Ritter, Scarlett Johansson, Lauren Tom and Alan Arkin. Films with a big-name cast doing walk-ons is kind of tricky. Often this leads to a bunch of actors embarassing themselves in bit throwaway roles for a quickie paycheck and "the sake of work." It all really depends on the film itself--the screenplay and the director.
   
   When a film with such a high pedigree of actors and filmmaker, Mr. Rob Reiner, you have to wonder why this whole damn thing went so incredibly wrong. And then kept going. And going and going. I am reminded of the legendary quote, "Only those who dare to fail greatly, can achieve greatly." And just about all who flaunt this picture have achieved greatly at one time or another. So... there you go. The ying to the yang.
   
   The result can be "Traffic" or "Gosford Park." And the result can be "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" of "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas."
   
   You know, it's funny. When I first saw the trailer for "North," I thought to myself, "Wow. This looks like a good movie. I'm gonna see this one." And yes, the trailer damn well made this look like a good one. It just goes to show you... advertisements can make anything look appealing. Hey, remember "Babe: Pig In The City?" The ads didn't make the movie look like much. But the movie was... wow.
   
   Hey, come to think of it-- I would like to advise to eveyone who was unfortunate enough to see any more of this one that what they used for the trailers (so much as a frame more) to go out and rent "Babe II." It's an ideal antidote.
   
   Of course, you may need a few days of bed rest and antibiotics right after seeing "North," but after that... please... don't let this one put you off movies. Or any of the truly gifted people who were associated with this abomination.
   
   Wood is one of the most talented actors ever to grace the business and the man seems unable to do a bad job on screen. Just check out "Radio Flyer" or " for evidence. But hey, like I need to tell you, right?
   
   But while his acting is on-par with Brando, Guiness, Hopkins and Kilmer, not every movie to come his way compliments his talents. Just after the disastrous misfire "The Good Son," this one floated it's way into theaters like a chunky, nutty, crooked turd after a whole year of improper diet. Adding further insult to injury.
   
   It is perplexing--to the point of going cross-eyed and your whole head exploding "Scanners"-style--trying to figure out what in God's name the filmmakers were thinking.
   
   Seriously, I actually picture Jesus H. Christ himself on the cross, thinking to himself, "I died for this... ? If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered."
   
   We all make mistakes, even collosal ones. Even the best of us.
   
   Hell, especially the best of us!
   
   Walt Disney was an anti-Semite. L. Ron Hubbard was a pedophile. R. Crumb is a racist and misogynistic sycophant. And I myself...
   
   Well, I could go on, but you get the idea. Honestly, avoid this one about as much as you hepatitis A-through-Z. A sulfur plant leaves he aroma of an autumn meadow perfume compared to this one.
   
   In summary, "North" is a childhood trauma that refuses to be repressed. For many, including myself. Don't let it be yours.
   
   Still, we are all mortal. We are all human. We all make mistakes, we stumble, we falter.
   
   No one of us are infallible. Rob Reiner has delivered us "When Harry Met Sally," "The Sure Thing," "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Princess Bride" and "The American President." Surely, we can forgive "North." Can't we?
   
   "Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly."
   
   And Reiner has clearly done both. Let us at this as one of humanity's greatest follies... and try to find laughter in it. Not at the movie itself, which is clearly impossible, but at the movie's expense.
   
   Like many Jewish comedians have done with WWII, the Holocaust and the years of slavery they were subjected to in Egypt, this is just one more thing we have to learn to laugh at. Not with, AT.
   
   OK, Mr. Reiner. You are officially forgiven. Good luck... and let's hope another abomination like this isn't in the works.
   
   Peace...
   
   
   
   danessf@yahoo.com
   
   http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=58175682
   
   http://movies.yahoo.com/mvc/durvl?iid=7-3771615&.crumb=tGxhXi4L%2Fi8&s=mt_a



5. This movie is really great! Bruce Willis is great and so are all the other actors. It reinforces the idea that you can't choose your family but in the end they will always be there for you. Even thought someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. Watch it, it's great!!

5 comments about Sleeping Beauty (Special Edition).

1. This movie is a classic. Many reviews here describe why this movie is just that and I won't dwell on that aspect of the movie. I will say this though.
   
   This is my absolute favorite of the Disney classics. The art direction is simply superb, many scenes present themselves as multi-layered moving story books. It not only is an interesting direction but is entirely complimentary to midieval fairy tale setting of the movie.
   
   The story is wonderfully and efficiently written, and includes Disney's most memorable villian. This movie truly is a stylistic classic, a giant among it's peers.
   
   Per this blu-ray speicfically, this movie looks like it could have been produced yesterday. The absolute crispness of the backgrounds, especially forgrounds during closeups is stunning. I will say I did notice some softness of character in mid-ground shots, but what could you expect of a movie of this vintage. Even the live action shots of the story book opening is extrodinarily detailed.
   
   And it sounds great, 7.1 surround sound in hi-def DTS-HD MA audio. For a movie that was originally recorded in mono, the surround effects and "presence" and superb. Another masterful job by Disney.
   
   Bonus features:
   This 2 disc set includes an exhaustive set of bonus features, in line with high profile Disney releases. These include, numerous making of and historical bits, the standard interactive game and next-gen features such as BD-live and Picture-in-Picture "Cine-explore". Additionally included is a limited time pack-in of a standard DVD disc. Personally, I find the BD-live features are of limited value but many might find the opportunity to send piture mail to friends over the Disney BD-live system fun. I do think the limited time DVD pack-in is a great bonus for those that have portable regular DVD players such as in-car models. Why buy 2 discs if you have kids and are interested in making sure your movie purchases work with mobile needs.
   
   All, in all, this edition including the extensive bonus features make this movie a nobrainer as a first purchase or an upgrade from VHS and a highly recommend for people upgrading from DVD.



2. I was skeptical about buying an animated movie in blu-ray. I can't even express how amazing this movie looks! The color is outstanding, the scenery better than I would have ever thought possible. All the dotty looks of the old-style Disney movies has been completely erased with this enhancement and yet, you lose none of the nostalgic feel. The story is one of the best, as always and the characters are wonderful. The sound is fabulous AND you get a bonus regular dvd with this purchase which I think is wonderful (Yay portible DVD player for trips!). If you are on the rail about buying animated blu-ray like I was, don't be with this one! I bought mine on sale, but I would have paid full-price for how amazing this looks. I would recommend this to anyone.



3. Walt Disney released his greatest artistic masterpiece "Sleeping Beauty" in February of 1959. After spending 6 million dollars and 8 years in the making of this masterpiece, Sleeping Beauty managed to gross 5.3 million at the box office, certainly not enough for Disney to break even on his greatest artistic achievement in animation. Disney spared no expense on Sleeping Beauty, as he used Technicolor and Technirama 70. Technirama 70 was a special system of film running through the camera horizontally, exposing two 35mm frames simultaneously. This unusual film is then printed normally on standard 35mm film and shown with an anamorphic lens for the widescreen, extra dimension effect. Unlike Disney's earlier box office successful films of "Snow White" and "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty" lacked the music and characters that younger children love. There are no fun songs like "Heigh Ho" or "Cinderelly" and no adorable little mice like Jacques and Gus. This movie is definitely for a little older audience that appreciates the greatest art ever created for a full length animated movie. To say it is Disney's artistic masterpiece is an understatement! I saw Sleeping Beauty when it premiered in the winter of 1959, and even though I was a small child, it was then and is still now my absolute favorite Disney movie of all time!
   This new blu-ray version of "Sleeping Beauty" made me feel as though I was seeing it again in 1959! This is the widest version I have ever seen and when you add hi-def 1080p and the all new digital restoration to it, it's like seeing it for the first time ever! Everything is so colorful, super wide, sharper, brighter than you can imagine! You can see every crack in every brick and stone! I am keeping my fingers crossed, that they treat more of the other great old Disney films with this same blu-ray restoration, as it's like seeing the film like you've never seen it before!
   "Sleeping Beauty" may not be known for it's songs, like in "Snow White" or it's cute characters in "Cinderella", but it is known for the most fantastic hand drawn art that will never be surpassed by anyone ever again. Every scene is pure art in it's highest form due to the fantastic work of the best Disney artists of the time. This blu-ray dvd has a Bonus Feature disc that features many of the artists that contributed to this masterpiece. Seeing Eyvind Earle, who was given complete control of every artistic aspect of the film, along with other artists Marc Davis, Mary Blair, Ken Anderson and others is a real treat!
   This bonus disc also features the beautiful Mary Costa, whose looks and gorgeous voice made Princess Aurora come to life. We also get to see Bill Shirley, the voice of Prince Phillip, Eleanor Audley, the voice of Maleficent as well as the wicked stepmother in Cinderella (She is the best villainess voice of any in animation!) and of course the three good fairies Verna Felton the voice of Flora, Barbara Jo Allen the voice of Fauna and Barbara Luddy the voice of Merryweather. This is so great as Disney shows how the people whose voices played the characters look so much like the characters! Of course they show how the film looks like Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty music seems to have been written for this Disney masterpiece, instead of the other way around!
   More Bonus features include a Maleficent game, learning to waltz, an all new dragon encounter and a never before seen alternate opening. The best bonus feature for me is the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. This is unbelievable, to be able to take a digitally re-created 3-D tour of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, just as it was in 1957 and 1958 (two years before the movie premiered)in Disneyland in California! What a treat! If you don't have a blu-ray player, now is the time to get one to enjoy the most breathtaking Disney masterpiece ever created! Sleeping Beauty is pure art in every way one can imagine from it's Tchaikovsky music to it's fairy tale of how good always conquers evil, but mainly for the opulent, gorgeous art dominated by the talents of Eyvind Earle's scenery and Marc Davis' characters- it's a rare treat for the senses and one you don't want to miss!



4. For a fifty year old animated movie, Sleeping Beauty holds up exceptionally well for the modern viewer. While a bit light on story (evil queen threatens new born princess with curse of death, fairies cause the curse to be limited to slumber, fairies raise princess as a peasant to protect her from curse, curse strikes, etc), Sleeping Beauty tells that story quite well without relying too heavily on over-the-top musical numbers. Visually, Sleeping Beauty is one of the stronger works of from Disney with a striking Maleficent, contrasts between light and darkness, and one incredibly creepy castle for the evil queen. Outside of the fairies, the good side is a bit boring, but the three fairies carry the story and breath life into Sleeping Beauty. Of course, the movie relies on a bit of stupidity on the part of the fairies to actually have a story, but beyond that, the movie works. This one truly is a classic.
   
   This is the two disc "Platinum Edition", however, and there is an abundance of special features. This set has a commentary track and a trivia track that are each, unfortunately, buried in the bonus features menu on Disc 1. Rather than having those two features which are designed to play along with the feature be on the main menu, they are each tucked away and easily missed. The only other features on disc one are a music video from Emily Osment singing the signature song "Once Upon a Dream",
   
   The second disc has the bulk of the special features and this is broken into "Cottage" and "Castle". "Cottage" is designed for the younger viewers with a poorly designed dancing game and a language game so horribly narrated that it is best avoided. The good stuff (for adults) is in "Castle" with a making of, alternate scenes, a 30 minute video with visuals of the Grand Canyon set to music, the original broadcast of a Disney documentary, and all told, if you're looking for bonus footage, this is the disc to get.
   
   On the strength of the art, the fairies, and Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty is a Disney masterpiece. The Platinum Edition is the DVD to own.



5. This movie is a classic. To upgrade it to blu-ray was a brilliant idea by Disney. The graphics and colors are vibrant and stunning. But what put me over the top to buy it was the addition of the standard DVD with it. This made it a must buy since most people with young children have a grandma and grandpa or DVD system in the car that doesn't exactly have a blu-ray player in it. More companies need to think about adding in the standard version with the blu-ray version, especially with older movies so they can be watched anywhere.

5 comments about Beauty and the Beast - The Enchanted Christmas (Special Edition).

1. Those who watched Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" knew they were watching something special. The first Disney film ever to released on Platinum Edition DVD, that movie had a powerful and compelling story with a cast and musical numbers to match.
   
   Set in the Beast's castle, back before the spell was broken, comes "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas." Mrs. Potts takes readers back to this tale which begins on Christmas Eve. Christmas is coming and Belle couldn't be more excited. Little Chip is excited to hear the news of Christmas too, but when Belle starts planning a celebration, she's stopped in her tracks. It seems "the Master," Beast, has forbidden Christmas and the servants don't want to go along with her plan. Belle convinces them otherwise and even when the Beast rebels, she still goes ahead.
   
   "Beauty and the Beast" is hard act to live up to and while this film isn't quite up to the same standard, it is still another great story and one I enjoyed watching. The original "Beauty and the Beast" featured a terrible villain, Gaston, and this film has one to match --- one that is perhaps even more terrifying. Forte was the musician in the castle and when the spell was placed on the castle, he was turned into a pipe organ. He now feels useful because his gloomy music seems to be the only thing that makes the Beast forget his hardships. So when he notices what's happening with Belle, he wants to put a stop to it and uses a little flute named Fife as his lackey. At first, Forte is a bit of a sympathetic character, for it's not hard not to sympathize with his worries of loneliness should the spell be broken. But when it seems like things are not going his way, Forte becomes truly horrifying.
   
   As with "Beauty and the Beast," whose most memorable song matched its title, this film also has one song that stands out in particular --- "As Long As There's Christmas."
   
   As long as there's Christmas, I truly believe / That hope is the greatest / Of the gifts we'll receive.
   
   By the time you get done watching this video, you will have heard it four times --- twice sung by characters during the film and once during the closing credits, performed by Peabo Bryson ("Aladdin") and Roberta Flack. There is one final performance --- see below.
   
   
   This special edition video release is close-captioned, recorded in SP mode and Hi-Fi stereo. Before the film starts, there are previews for other film, video and DVD releases, including Miramax's "Pinocchio" and Disney's "Lilo and Stitch" (which has been out for sometime now.) After the film, stay tuned for one more rendition of "As Long As There's Christmas," a pop version performed by PLAY.
   
   
   This is a film worth adding to lineup of holiday specials. It really does capture the Christmas spirit and is essential viewing for "Beauty and the Beast" fans.



2. Doing a "prequel" to the Disney classic was a hard act to follow, and it shows. The animation here is competent but fails to dazzle like the original, the villain is too droll, and there are no memorable songs. Since computer-animated fare have taken over the theatre staples, Disney has turned toward the direct-to-video market, and unfortunately, knocked off some rather lame sequels to their classic animated films.
   If you want a great film, then stick to the original "Beauty and the Beast". Better luck next time, guys!



3. We rented this film because my daughter is obsessed with "Beauty and the Beast." Her favorite character is Chip, and he features huge in this sequel, so she was interested throughout the entire movie and wanted to watch it over and over. I played Scrooge, however, and returned the copy immediately without a second viewing. In my opinion, this video is far too scary for little kids and too dark for a Christmas movie. The songs are forgettable, and the themes are way too mature for the younger set.



4. My 2 year old LOVES Beauty and the Beast, so I thought this would be a great movie for her. I was very disappointed with this movie. The beginning half is fairly cute, but Belle does a horrible job at singing the songs. The second half of the movie is very dark and the organ character is too much. The "Don't Fall in Love" song by the organ is absolutely horrible and dumb. I don't think the movie stayed true to the beast's character either. They made him a little too angry this time. He throws Belle in the dungeon and tells her that she will rot there forever. I still gave this three stars because my daughter was entertained, but I don't really like her watching it. I don't recommend buying this movie.



5. Two words: absolutely enchanting.
   
   I was looking through customer reviews for my old favorite Disney films, and I saw all of the unfavorable reviews for this title.
   
   This follow-up to the classic Disney film is just as fun and magical as the original.
   
   Enchanting songs and the same characters, plus a few new ones, make this a classic for kids and adults alike.
   
   Wonderful.

5 comments about Until the End of the World.

1. By far, this is one of my favourite films of all time. I am so keen to see the diecrto's cut - I would be willing to spend a day or two watching it with no problem - so I bought the VHS tape, but I would happily have bought a no-frills DVD (like the one I have for Deliverance, among others) just to have this on disc. As cheap as it is to transfer this to a disc now, it just seems mean to not do so. Let's get it going for goodness sake.



2. This is also one of my all time favorites, haven't seen it in awhile, have the CD and the VHS buried here somewhere; and hoped it would be easier to finally get a new DVD version - But I don't live in Germany, I live in the Bronx for chrissakes. Is Wim Wenders holding out? It's time for a Region 1 release!!



3. Wim Wenders established himself as the quintessential art house foreign film director in the 1980s. He had his critically claimed road movies and the well loved "Wings of Desire" under his belt. His style is hard to pin point, but if there is one word that could be used, it is exploration. Whether it be in travels or in the human condition, it is something that his characters do. "Until the End of the World" epitomizes exploration, and consequently, begs for repeat viewings.
   
   The title itself holds so many meanings. There are two literal ones. The first being that the film involves a chase around the world for the elusive William Hurt character. The second being the fear that the world would end at the turn of the millenium.
   
   But that doesn't even begin to scratch the clever layering of meaning within the film. Wenders loves exploring the depth of the characters, even after the chase is over, he lets us visit with them a little longer. While we're doing that, the characters are going deeper and deeper in trying explore themselves through the use of devices that allow people to see their dreams. And we do get to see this in the American 158 minute version. Although this is regarded by the director as a heavily truncated version of his vision, it's still highly watchable and entertaining.
   
   The film is also notable for it's interesting look and concept. Wenders isn't venturing too far into the future here, but places subtle glimpses of what he felt it might look 9 years from when the film was made in 1991. He actually does a credible job and shows a genuine curiosity for science in this film.
   
   This also boasts one of the best soundtracks period. Wenders has had some allegiances with some great bands or artists over the years. Included here are prominent Wenders collaboraters U2 and Nick Cave as well as a number of alternative icons like R.E.M., Elvis Costello, and the wonderful score by the nearly infallible Graeme Revelle.
   
   The structure of the film can be very off putting for the regular film goer and I must admit that when I first watched it, it through me for a loop. Wenders is not satisfied with giving you merely a human drama or action story and is known for shifting gears in his films. What starts as cat and mouse chase story shifts into an exploration of the human condition through the use of dreams, looking into people's obsession with them. It makes for an odd watch that if you are pleased with, you might have another go round.
   
   This is an excellent movie surely worthy of another look and possibly a DVD release. It wasn't well understood when it came out and Wenders grand idea probably wasn't ready for the US quite yet. I'd be willing to give this film another while, be it the 158 minute version or 280 minute trilogy version available in other regions. While many may disagree, I do think Wenders succeeded in creating his ultimate road movie - and a little bit more.



4. I have seen this movie in bits on the Tele now owning it I look so foward to sitting thru it in it's entirity. A very large bowl of *hotair* popped corn...no salt but some garlic melted into the butter a mug of hot chocolate and the phone off the hook. A complex movie but wonderful concepts and insightful projections of the future, all twixed into an adorable - Love Story -



5. I mean really - what's the holdup??? Seems like the rest of the world gets this on DVD but not the U.S.

5 comments about Hangar 18.

1. ... what our government would do if it suddenly had possession of an alien spacecraft.
   
   For a low budget film, this is actually a fairly good movie. No special effects here, just a mysterious craft which the politicians are trying to hide. The plot is captivating if somewhat, at times, trite.
   
   Darren McGaven turns in a fine performance as NASA's Harry Forbes ... in charge of the research team exploring the craft. Ditto for Andrew Bloch as Neal Kelso and Steven Keats as Paul Bannister. The team unwinds the secrets of the space ship and the death of the aliens on board and makes a startling discovery.
   
   Where the film falls short is with the two 'astronauts' Steve Bancroft and Lew Price. Their part in the story is to find out why they are being set up to take the fall for the death of a third astronaut, an Air Force colonel who is decapitated by wreakage from a satilite they launch inadvertently striking the alien ship. James Hampton is a little chubby and goofy for an astronaut (Lew Price) and Gary Collins (Steve Bancroft) a little too mechanical. The casting team might have done a somewhat better and vastly improved the film.
   
   Still, in spite of its shortcomings, this is one of those 'sleeper films' which somehow captures the imagination of the viewer. Definately worth having in your film library if you like space yarns ... and you'll love the ending.
   
   --Recommended--
   
   ~P~



2. There's not much I can say about the overall plot of this movie that hasn't already been said by other helpful reviewers - shuttle astronauts accidentally collide a launched satellite with a UFO, the UFO and its occupants land in the desert, are recovered and hidden, and the death of a fellow astronaut during the collision is blamed on the shuttle crew, who must clear their names and uncover the truth.
   
   I do have to agree that the casting seems just a bit off in some cases - Gary Collins as an astronaut? Some casting decisions were spot-on, though, such as Robert Vaughn, who seems to have been born to play a politician/bad guy in one production after another. [Fans of Vaughn and semi-cheesy early 80's sci-fi should also check out his role as the mercenary assassin Gelt in "Battle Beyond The Stars."]
   
   The effects in this film aren't the greatest, but they're generally secondary to the story anyway. They probably could have done without the "let's-blow-up-a-tanker-truck" chase scene, though, which doesn't seem to do much more than strain the credibility of the plot. Gary Collins is an astronaut AND an expert big-rig driver?
   
   I also have some minor complaints about the design of the UFO - it looks like a flying industrial refrigeration unit and would have been about as aerodynamic as a brick wall - but that was just the production designer and the props department at work, and who can really say what a real alien spacecraft should look like anyway? Not me, but personally, I would have gone for a more classic "UFO" look. Instead of little green men, though, we have tall pale men who look surpringly human, and for good reason. Watch the movie and find out why.
   
   One of the aspects of this movie that fascinates me the most is the aliens' language. Although we only hear it being synthesized by a computer aboard the UFO [and sounding very much like a Cylon from the original "Battlestar Galactica" series], it's still interesting, and the more you hear it, perhaps not all that alien after all.
   
   Overall... An entertaining and thought-provoking film marred a bit by some weak casting and a few rather unlikely plot twists. Fans of "The X-Files" should indeed like this film, and it may even have served as a bit of an inspiration for that series. Just remember that it's an old film and the art of special effects has advanced quite a bit in the past 25 years. Even its contemporaries such as "Star Wars" and "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" had better effects, but then they were also made on much larger budgets.
   
   I have an old VHS copy at the moment; I can't comment on the DVD release yet.



3. I first saw Hanger 18 when it played on network television years ago. I never forgot it and through the miracle of Amazon.com I was able to get it, at the time, on VHS. This is one of the best dramatic and seriously acted presentations of several reportedly real UFO stories: Roswell, Wright-Patterson AFB, etc. In this historical-fiction account, the true life stories have been somewhat conflated to produce a composite of all of them. The film shows its age in terms of the quality, the special effects, etc, but that notwithstanding, it is still an excellent production and well worth getting.



4. this little thriller(from sunn classic studio) is a great little movie that can also be watched by your kids.
   while on a mission to launch something into orbit,a space shuttle sees a ufo.when the object is launched it hits the ufo and sends it crashing to earth and kills the man outside the shuttle.
   to cover up, the pilot,and co-pilot are blamed for the death and a team is sent to find and study the ship.
   this is low-buget but the action and drama to come are all well handled and this is a fun and thought provokeing thriller.



5. This third-rate production concerning the government cover-up of a crashed and recovered UFO is of slight interest and some minor unintentional amusement. Performances range from middling to terrible; Vaughn makes the best of a mediocre script in a serviceable performance, while McGavin overacts as blandly as possible. The story moves along satisfactorily, in spite of plot holes that a gigantic alien mothership could easily navigate though. Highlights: violent, rampaging astronauts, the cleanest accidental beheading in interstellar history, space alien iconography and the most inept government agents ever assembled to preserve national security. This is a cut above the average TV movie and below mainstream feature fare.

5 comments about Weird Science.

1. This movie has all the essentials of a great teen comedy: a hot model(Kelly LeBrock), a bully older brother (Bill Paxton), a guy with three names(this one has two, Ilan Mitchell-Smith and Anthony Micheal Hall)and it's directed by John Hughes. Wierd science is a must have for anyone interested in a movie of this genre.



2. Two nerdy high school students inadvertently create the perfect female through an experiment. With her charm and her powers, she helps the two gain confidence in approaching women and being affirmative and outspoken with bullies, such as big brother Chet, and the post-apocalyptic road warrior from Mad Max. Hilarious and entertaining! Easily in my top 20.



3. I recently picked up a copy of weird science on dvd and when watching it noticed some of the original dialogue was cut. The scene when Gary and Wyatt first start to make the girl Gary makes a comment on enlarging the size of her breasts. On this dvd you can see his mouth move but no words are heard. Why this little bit of dialogue would be cut is beyond me but none the less it is so this is really not the movie in its original form. I was 14 when this movie came out and i watched it alot when it came out on vhs and i even have a copy of it on vhs from about 15 years ago with the missing dialogue intact. Hopefully on the new release in september they will have this corrected.



4. This is not as strong an 80s comedy as some of John Hughes' other work is, but it is all right for a brief comedic diversion. The acting is just okay, Kelly LeBrock is cute but not all that energetic, the music is mostly synth, and the wacko science that disrupts the household does not make a lot of sense, especially during the party scene, when a missile shows up along with some crazed bikers. These distract from the basic storyline.
   Otherwise, it is amusing enough for a cheap rental, but I would recommend Hughes' other work instead.



5. 
   In that classic 80's fashion, only John Hughes can create such a madcap, crazy film such as 'Weird Science'.
   
   Social outcasts Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt(IIan Mitchell-Smith) have a little too much time on their hands, with the lack of friends, hobbies, or even jobs. They spend most of their time concocting what they would do if the sun smiled on them and they could attend parties and date the girls they adore; And that's when the brilliant idea strikes!
   
   They must create their perfect woman! With the help of a computer, a barbie doll, and a little magic (I've yet to test this method myself...) she appears, perfect as a picture, willing to do anything they ask of her!
   
   Lisa(Kelly LeBrock), although just created knows just what to do to help bring these boys into their popularity, and she doesn't take no for an answer!
   
   A classic, un-conventional, crazy film that reminds me of all the great things that were the 80's.
   
   It's no history channel documentary(obviously) but it's a whole lot of fun!

5 comments about Back to the Future Part III.

1. This is the best of three in the Back to the Future trilogy. It was set in the past and in the west during the times of cowboys, indians and especially gun sliggers. I loved all of the reference to past events, and the humor it brought to the film. This is a film I can watch over and over again, unlike the first in the trilogy. Unlike the second film in the trilogy this film kept my attention, and wasn't so off-the-wall that it was unbelievable. This is one that will be in my home collection.



2. A film by Robert Zemeckis

   "Back to the Future Part III" is the third and concluding chapter to the "Back to the Future" trilogy. For many years this was my least favorite film in the trilogy, but watching it again for the first time in years I have new appreciation for it. "Back to the Future Part III" is a satisfying and worthy end to this trilogy.

   At the end of the second movie the DeLorean is struck by lightening (which we already know provides the necessary 1.21 gigawatts of energy required for time travel) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) is sent somewhen in time. Marty (Michael J Fox) is stuck in 1955 Hill Valley, but just after Doc and the DeLorean disappears a letter arrives for Marty. The letter is from Doc and was written in 1885. It was left as the post office with the instructions to be delivered on that particular date at that particular time. The letter says that Doc is alive and well in 1885 and under no circumstances is Marty to try to go back and rescue him.

   Marty returns to the 1955 Doc Brown and enlists his help to recover the DeLorean which was left in a cave for 70 years. While recovering the DeLorean Marty discovers a tombstone with Doc's name on it...and the date that Doc died was only a week after he wrote the letter! The tombstone reads "shot in the back by Buford Tannen (Thomas F Wilson) over a matter of $80". There is no way Marty is going to let this happen, so he puts gas in the DeLorean and travels back in time to 1885 to help Doc. Of course, if it was that simple, we wouldn't have much of a movie, so complications evolve. The DeLorean ruptures its gas line, so that it leaks gas and can no longer be driven under its own power. Part of the movie is Doc and Marty trying to get the DeLorean back up to 88 miles per hour, but there is also the matter of Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen who still intends to shoot Doc over that matter of eighty dollars...or will history change and will Marty's name on that tombstone? This final installment also introduces a love interest for Doc Brown in the person of Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen), the new school teacher with an interest in science.

   This movie is much more of a straight forward action/adventure/comedy (whatever) movie. The time travel serves to get Marty in the past and back to the present, but there isn't as much playing around with time travel as there is in the second movie. I still think this might be the weakest of the movies, but it is a very fun ride. While this movie will never reach the "classic" status that I feel the first one will, this is a very enjoyable movie and is a fitting end to the trilogy. Good stuff.




3. *** ½ stars for "Back To The Future, Part III". Well, this movie isn't exactly a western, but it's a nice twist in the direction of the series, and a good conclusion to this excellent saga. This time, Marty (Michael J. Fox) and our favorite mad scientist Doc Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) are stuck in the Old West, and that premise gives a lot of opportunities to play with opposite genres, Western and Sci-Fi.
   
   "Back To The Future, Part III" also presents references to classic westerns, specially John Huston's famous camera angles that show desert landscapes, and spaghetti westerns, like Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In The West" and "The Man With No Name" trilogy (or "Dollars" trilogy, if you prefer). One funny example of a reference to classic westerns happens when someone asks Marty his name, and he always answers "Clint Eastwood".
   
   I can't imagine a different cast in these movies: Michael J. Fox superbly plays the hero of the trilogy, Christopher Lloyd does what he does better: he plays a lunatic, Thomas F. Wilson mastered the role of Tannen (Biff, Griff and Mad Dog Tannen). In few words, every actor seems perfect for every role.
   
   "Back To The Future, Part III" is a very amusing movie, it has comedy, action and romance, and the movie closes one of the most entertaining trilogies ever made.



4. Well, there are five reasons. The first four are found in the review of the DVD set of all five; here is the last one:
   
   5. Gestalt. Call it what you want, but consider the conceptual continuity of these three movies. 1985 remained the "present" for all the films, right? Even this one and BTTF3, made some years later, preserved 1985 as the fulcrum. Quick quiz: of all the eras depicted, which one was the best: 1885, 1955, 1985 or 2015? Tough question, given that there were at least three distinct 1985s, etc.
   
   But look: even the "best" 1985 was, in significant ways, not as good as 2015. Our predicates, then, are that obstacles can be overcome, the past reinvented as needed, and, most importantly, "the future is what you make it."
   
   I've found no clearer demonstration of a fundamentally optimistic philosophy in any movie I ever saw. Even though these films intentionally avoid sentimentality (all right, you could argue that), they express a relentless optimism that enables characters and, derivately, ourselves, to take charge of our situations, invent new solutions and fulfill Doc Brown's mandate. Make mistakes, learn from them, experiment, and then move forward. The past does not have to trap you; it is only a platform for a better future.
   
   You cannot leave the movies without feeling more empowered about your own life. And it does not get any better than that.



5. I enjoyed the first two a lot but the third one seems to be weak. It's nothing close like the first two and the plot didn't seem to make sense to me. The ending was cool but I sure wish they made a BTTF 4 but BTTF 3 seems to be the end of the series. The acting is not bad though but I didn't see any similarities with the first two it was just a newer adventure where they go cowboy but it's still fun to watch if your a BTTF fan.

5 comments about I Come in Peace.

1. I saw this flick the very first night it came out in theatres and have been a die hard fan of it ever since. I love Dolph Lundgren in this, and it is even better than Punisher(which is another one of his underrated movies of the late 80's. Where is the dvd and when it does come , do not make it bare-bones with no trailer, commentary, deleted scences and all that good stuff.



2. i saw this when it first came onto vhs all those years ago, and just loved it. have been looking for the dvd, saw from the other reviews that it wasn't available in the US, so looked more, and YES!!!!!! its available in Australia FOR SURE on dvd ( i have it) BUT its called Dark Angel, so as long as you have a multizone dvdplayer get this on dvd and continue to enjoy it in all its glory. certainly one of dolphs best, good action and killer aliens!



3. This is one of Dolph Lundgren best movie.Don't miss this movie.



4. I Come In Peace, is pretty well acted. The plot is exciting and as sci-fi goes in a pretty what if? beleivable sort of way. I Come In Peace is at times a good balance between both the funny and serious in what I think are the right ratios.
   
   There is just enough love interest without it turning into sappy syrupy muck fest. There is the tried and true action hero side kick angle going on. There are nasty stinking earthbound dope dealers born to be hated with every fiber of your being. Finally you have an alien dope dealer from outter space who wants to steal endorphins from us lowly earth creatures. To this space alien dope dealer all every man woman and child on earth are his crop to be harvested at his whim. His job is to simply supply the demand for a drug our brains make and that he has to kill people on earth well thats just the costs of doing his ugly business.
   
   I Come In Peace contains lots of action adventure, shooting, car chases and blood of both the human and alien varieties. I Come In Peace is just plain silly fun on so many levels it begs the question, WHY HASN'T WE COME IN PEACE MADE IT TO DVD YET? Why hasn't "I Come In Peace" made it to DVD when I have seen so many lesser quality or purely lame Sci-Fi movies come out on DVD. Dracula 3000 comes immediately to mind as the lamest alien \ horror hybred movie maker tripe yet to make DVD. I Come In Peace is of a level of quality so superior to Dracula 3000 that it hardly rates honest comparision.
   
   Here is hoping the studios do the right thing and release I Come In Peace on DVD. Reading the other reviewers for I Come In Peace convinces me that I am not alone in thinking I Come In Peace is both worthy of DVD status and quite marketable as well. I Come In Peace is some of Dolph Lundgren's best work. Who knows the studios might hear our requests for I Come In Peace to be released on DVD because every so often studios DO actually listen to their customers! We can at least live in hope.



5. Essentially, "I Come In Peace" (aka "Dark Angel") is a great idea that was only moderately well exectued. With the exception of appearing in a religious drama, this is probably the strangest vehicle for action hero Dolph Lundgren to get himself over, and to some degree, the Swedish Superman makes it work, but even along with the passing performances of the rest of the cast and a pretty original bad guy, "Peace" ends up being forgettable due to its uninspired pacing and overall lack of action.
   
   Jack Caine (Lundgren) is a vice cop who's earned himself notoriety for doing things his way, much to the dislike of the department. After being assigned a by-the-book partner whom he frequently finds himself at odds with (Brian Benben, "Radioland Murders"), Caine's personal war on Houston's drug cartel takes a twist when a new player on the street turns out to be a seven-foot alien who's killing innocents by way of massive heroin overdoses. Threatened by underground entities of two different worlds. Caine must watch his back at all times as he attempts to overcome an enemy who no one else believes exists.
   
   Consider the movie a combination of "Lethal Weapon" and "Terminator" - buddy-cop flick meets sci-fi action package. The premise gets even more absurd as the story progresses, as you find out why the alien - armed with a machine pistol and an wrist-mounted razor disc - is on his killing spree, but if you can keep from being too uptight, through the power of Dolph you'll never really feel the need to question why or how all of this is happening. "Interstellar drug war? - why not?"
   
   But while the movie has the right approach to its story, it has exceedingly little action to back it up. An uninspired car chase and a couple of short shootouts (albeit with big explosions) couldn't keep me entertained while I waited for the eventual, passable confrontation between Dolph and the alien (played by B-movie veteran Matthias Hues). I kept waiting for a decent martial arts showdown or a gunfight using the alien technology, but neither comes through satisfyingly enough. Seeing as keeping violence out of the movie wasn't the issue here (spike through the forehead, anybody?), I really can't figure out why the movie lacks the thrills the way it does.
   
   The way I see it, "I Come In Peace" has little reason to stay on my shelf: as an action movie, it's lacking; as a sci-fi film, it's too asinine; and as anything else, it's a debacle. While Lundgren has done worse, both he and director Craig "Storm of the Century" Baxley have done better. It's a bit disappointing to see such obvious creativity be left obsolete by the lack of other essentials...but what the heck: I never liked Dolph with brown hair, anyway.

5 comments about FernGully - The Last Rainforest.

1. The DVD Fern Gully has long been a favorite in my household. Both children, now in college, enjoyed it and still do. This recent purchase was a replacement copy. The message of "Fern Gully" becomes increasingly more important as we continue to defile this planet: conservation, respect, friendship. Not only does it have several interwoven life message but the overall story is well-written and executed. The characters are lovable. The beauty of this movie is undeniable: vivid colors, attention to detail, beautifully done and just simply a lovely story well presented. We all watch it for enjoyment, entertainment. The messages are everlasting. This is a worthwhile purchase.



2. I honestly don't know why people like this movie so much. The animation is poor, the songs are just dreadful(acid rain falling down like egg chow mein-seriously!!), and the story is extremely one sided. All destruction is portrayed as being bad. There is only one line in the film that suggests that there needs to be a balance between creation and destruction. The portable lumber mill is just ridiculous; that is not how forests are cleared. If you want to teach children about the horrors of clear cutting, explain it to them in a logical way. If you want to teach them the importance of environmentalism, show them "Princess Mononoke."



3. This is a great movie for children. Teaches them about ecology and ways to save the planet.



4. (Note: I do not own this version. I am commenting on the movie itself.)
   
   When I was young, many movies like this were quite popular - especially if you were of the female persuasion. Samson and Sally, Seabert the Seal, The Little Fox - all titles running alongside each other and carrying the same message: FOUR LEGS GOOD! TWO LEGS BAAAAHHHD!! - and Ferngully is no exception - it just happens to be drawn a little better.
   
   The title alone should be a red flag; Ferngully the *last* rain forest. This 'film' was released during the height of the "OH NOES! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF FORESTS!" especially pertaining to the rain forest. At that time (much like the 'new and improved' global warming) scientists were concerned that - because the rain forest regulated the atmosphere (somewhat true, though this was partly debunked as most forests effect the atmosphere) - destruction of the rain forest would cause the world to blow up, catch on fire, roll around in broken glass, and become a smack-addicted solar prostitute. One should note that these forests were being cut down because certain countries were developing that needed land, lumber, and the sale of lumber to feed their families.. but we all know that hyoomans are teh eavils so it doesn't matter... as long as I can have MY Starbucks.
   
   Anyways... this movie pretty much encapsulates the insane spirit of the neo-hippie movement of the 90's. Cute little fairies and animals are happy and dancing in their magical forest of love and cheap pot when a bi-polar aspie bat who is a massive fan of cranial intrusion falls out of the sky. Crysta (the protagonist and head burnout)is both amused and disturbed by the sing-song way Batty communicates when he does too many whippits and decides to make batty her chuaffeur, as she is way too stoned to fly.
   
   Meanwhile, some greedy corporation ( also see D:< ) decides that trees attract hippies and begins to cut them down and turn them into sawdust. When this fails to bring down a blue skinned green mulleted twink from the sky to share in their bear-on-bear action, they call Tim Curry. Still in gelatinous form after a long night of drinking and trying to avoid RHPS thespian trannies, Curry awakes to a clear cut forest. This is good, for it will allow Tim to find all of the Purple Nurple Liquid Roller Mellow Rainbow Sunset Snoopy Redhair that he was promised in return for showing up to this crap movie. He rejoices by sexually molesting our ear-holes.
   
   One day, while rolling around in her own filth and enjoying a tab of liquid sunshine, Crysta falls in curious with [INSERT DISNEY SENSITIVE-YET-STRONG UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION HERE...we'll call him Dudebra]. Luckily for her, Dudebrah has always fantasized about a sexual encounter with a macro otherkin and also falls into curious with Crysta. Unfortunately, the contact high of fairy-licking made Dudebra shrink, thus eliminating the possibilities of fully realizing his macrophilia. He is then introduced to all of Crysta's commune friends who descend upon him in a cloud of armpit crystals and pure unadulterated lust.
   
   After several hours, Crysta realizes that she is out of shrooms and goes to search the forest for some more. During this outing, the second half of her high kicks in, leading her to hear the trees crying. Lost and confused in the forest, Crysta collapses. Three days later, her family finally locates the commune where she has been staying and immediately take her home - away from the temptations of drugs, art school, and cutting. Oh yeah - and she can make vines grow from her hands and heal flowers with her mind. They end up defeating Tim Curry with magic ivy +5 of holy smite, grow back the forest with love (although seeds work just as well) then go back to being the petal-wearing freegan commune hippies they were to begin with.
   
   FIN.
   
   
   
   The art looks like it was spit out of every other animation mill of the early 90's. The songs are terribly dated, the propaganda is EXTREMELY OBVIOUS, and the plot has so many holes you could strain pasta through it.
   
   I gave it two stars because it's a great movie to put on a party for pure WTF responses.



5. Having watched Fern Gully many years ago with my younger siblings, I purchased this DVD edition to watch with my preschooler. The story centers around Crysta, a tree elf who lives in a rain forest with her friends, consisting of other magical beings, and animals such as the radar-impaired Batty, the Beetle Boys etc. They find that their beloved rain forest is threatened by Man and must take the necessary steps to ensure its preservation.
   
   The environmental message here is well-suited for little ones - it is not over the top and put forth in a fun way. The songs are fun: "Life is a Magic Thing", "Batty Rap", "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody", "Toxic Love", "Land of a Thousand Dances". This DVD comes with both Widescreen and Fullscreen Versions, there are 8 set-top games & behind the scenes features such as a making-of featurette [both the original and new], director commentary and many more. It also comes with captioning options for the hearing-impaired. I must say that the DVD has been well put-together and all in all highly recommended for young and old viewers alike. My little one certainly enjoyed it!