5 comments about The Enemy Below.

1. They don't make them like this anymore! Great move and great transfer to DVD. The special effects are showing their age, but hey, it was made in 1957. Actually, the special effects are the only part of the film that has not aged well. I was surprised by the fact that the only Oscar the film won was for special effects!! Oh how times have change! Now the effects are stunning but the acting is bland.



2. Great war movie showing that there are no victors in war and that men can still be humane even under the most difficult of circumstances.



3. Many other reviewers also like this movie,and those reviewers in the top 500 have done a fine job in explaining the mind games that go on between the two captains and in explaining why those reviewers (and I) like this movie a lot. May I add that this movie also provides a nice look at the boredum, excitement, and I-need-to-do-my-duty that the crews experience. It's a viewing experience that immerses you in the situation, makes you believe it and live it, and you want to keep watching--nuff said. Watch it.



4. Every submarine movie has the same things in it. Rig for silent running, the water leak that a crewman get under control by turning a valve, depth charges, emergency lighting, open outer torpedo tubes one and two, take her up to periscope depth, etc. Your always in the submarine lurking, surviving.
   Not in this one. Your the guy on top. You are the guy on the surface ship and are one cool customer. Everybody is a good guy in this one just doing their job. I like this movie.



5. A lot of World War II movies show how it was for U.S. Subs during that War. The Enemy Below reverses the normal and gives a look at the enemy in a sub being chased by an American Ship. It isn't the expected outcome but the action is good and the acting superb! It's a great movie.

5 comments about Popeye.

1. I wanted a movie that I have had trouble finding in stores. I bought it. I got it in about a week. I'm very satisfied.



2. The late Robert Altman was a cinematic auteur, portraying ordinary people's ordinary lives, be it during the Korean War ("MASH") or at a country music fest ("Nashville"),or even at a British country estate ("Gosford Park"). In "Popeye", Altman attempted to bring the beloved comic books to life. It was a change of pace for him. He was going from arty indie movies to a mainstream one.
   
   "Popeye" was an offscreen disaster. There were problems during production in Malta, and it shows. Onscreen, "Popeye" doesn't work either. Robin Williams is obnoxious as the spinach-scarfing sailor. Shelley Duvall is annoying as Olive Oyl. The plot is oddly timely- the people are suffering from burdensome taxes thanks to the unseen Commodore and his enforcer, Bluto. Instead of voting Reagan into office, they have Popeye come to the rescue. There's a plot that makes sense to the kids! In the meantime, Olive has a psychic infant in tow who may or may not be Popeye's progeny (Popeye procreating-ugh) The movie ends with fisticuffs between Popeye and Bluto.
   
   "Popeye" was a cinematic disaster. Altman realized he had a tin ear with children's movies, and resumed making serious dramas for the grown-ups. Malta forgave and forget. Luckily, Malta is now remembered for the Ggantija Temples (the most ancient free-standing structures in the world,monolithic temples dating back to the Neolithic era), "Final Justice"-a MST3K classic starring Joe Don Baker, and Jason Bateman.



3. Sure, POPEYE doesn't fulfill conventional expectations, but Altman chose (perhaps as a snarky contrarian to Disney and Paramount, his financiers) to deliberately produce a film that retained the context of the original Segar cartoons and the Dada antics of the Fleischer cartoons at the expense of making a fun, forgetful, and irrelevant cookie-cutter film for the whole family.
   
   Jules Feiffer, the film's screenwriter and one of the great keepers of the Segar/Popeye flame (and someone who understands the iconic value of Popeye better than anyone I can think of), thought Altman restored the spirit of Segar's original strips, saving it, effectively, from the decades of mainstream mediocrity that Popeye suffered from, largely as a result of the patriotic exploitation of the character in the wake of World War II.
   
   I watch and greatly appreciate this film for what Altman is doing with the Popeye "legend,'" and not for its (lack of) entertainment value (which, ipso facto, makes me an "Altman apologist." Yeah, right. Whatever).
   
   Let's put one ignorant myth to rest, shall we? POPEYE was not a bomb. This tall tale was promulgated by a few egomaniacs in the industry who wanted to bury both the film and Altman's career. It did have a problematic production history, as did dozens of films from this era, a time when the studios were going through a major upheaval and wound up playing it extremely safe in the 1980s. Altman (along with nearly all of the great or at least interesting auteurs of the 1970s) became persona non grata practically overnight.
   
   But let's not let history get in the way of opinion...



4. Yes. Robert Altman never got to make the big ending that he wanted. But this film still has a sweetness and charm that stays with you. It also does an amazing job of emulating the early Fleischer Brothers Cartoons of the 1930's and translating them into live action. I will always wonder "what might have been" had the studio not pulled the plug on this film (shame on them). But I still really like this movie.



5. I am 59 years old. What most people who review this movie don't understand is that this movie was taken from the old comic strip and cartoons of my youth, and stayed true to its origins. It was taken from the cartoons of the 50's that mystified me as a small child.
   
   It takes me back like the Superman, Batman, et cetera movies never could. You see, they were made to relate to a modern audience...one who never saw the originals. Popeye was not meant for the young movie crowd of today, however some of you do "get it", but was made for people of my age...to take us back to the 50's and earlier.
   
   We "get it". We understand about the lack of identifiable plot...it perfectly mimics the cartoons of my childhood. We understand that the songs were only snippets...the short ditties and song snippets were all a young child would sit still for back in those days.
   
   No one but Robin Williams could have played Popeye. No one but Shelley Duvall could have played Olive Oyl. The entire cast takes me back to a time when life was simple...not perfect, but simple.
   
   Call me an "old school" person for I don't care. I love this movie. I have it both on VHS (copied from HBO) and on DvD; and whenever it is shown on TV, I watch it. On quiet Saturday afternoons, I sometimes get a bowl of popcorn, a tall glass of iced tea and pop the DvD in the player and sit back. It immediately takes me back to those old cartoons.
   
   It was meant for me.

5 comments about Mister Roberts.

1. This is a classic. Terrific actors and great story. Still entertains after all these years.



2. I was looking for this classic movie and found it on Amazon. I placed my order and it was delivered in less than 7 days. I was very pleased with the service I received.



3. In addition to "Mr. Roberts" being a great classic drama/comedy from WWII, the tranfer of this 1955 film to DVD is quite good. Presented in anamorphic widescreen (it was filmed in Cinemascope), the picture is sharp and crisp and the colors are perfect. I viewed the DVD on a large screen (46-inch) high definition TV, played on a Toshiba 1080p HD DVD player. The sound is also excellent. Highly recommended!



4. A movie about a supply ship with a crew that is frustrated with a potentate of a captain. A true powerhouse of casting. Great acting with a storyline that has you laughing one minute, and teary eyed the next. It really does not get any better inside this genre. Henry Fonda is Mr. Rogers, and you will love him too.



5. ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Henry Fonda finally returned to the silver screen after an eight year absence to star in Mister Roberts. The movie is an adaption of the Broadway play in which he portrayed the same role. Mister Roberts takes place in the closing months of WWII but it's as much a comedy as it is a drama. John Ford directed some of the film & was replaced by Mervyn LeRoy who finished it.
   
   Lt. Doug Roberts (Henry Fonda) is the chief cargo officer of the Reluctant, a supply ship in the U.S. navy, a true derelict of a ship if there ever was one. He's anxious to get transferred to another ship so that he can get combat duty. All of his requests for transfer are denied by the Captain (James Cagney) because he views it as an insult to his less than illustrious record. Cagney is absolutely superb in his role. The entire crew despises the Captain while they adore Mr. Roberts. Mr. Roberts is constantly looking out for the crew which causes the Captain to countermand every order or allowance given by Mr. Roberts.
   
   Ensign Frank Pulver (Jack Lemmon in an Oscar winning role for Best Supporting Actor) almost steals the movie. He's served on the Reluctant for over a year & has never come face to face with the Captain. He's the laundary officer & he's done his best to avoid any & all duties & especially not ever being seen by the Captain. When they finally meet the Captain asks him who he is & what he does. Pulver tells him & the Captain can only tell him to use a little less starch.
   
   William Powell, in his final role (best known for his Thin Man movies), is Doc, an older naval officer just trying to get to retirement. Doc is the father-figure for Mr. Roberts, the one he turns to for advice, much as thecrew does to Mr. Roberts. In one of the film's classic scenes we see Doc, Mr. Roberts & Pulver "mix" up some Scotch. After they sample is Roberts says it doesn't taste right & adds that Scotch tastes a lot like iodine. So Doc adds a dash of real iodine & the concoction is complete.
   
   Finally, after much scheming, Mr. Roberts gets his transfer to combat duty & we never see him again. Before he leaves, the crew makes up an award, the Honor of the Palm Leaf (referring to the Captain's beloved palm tree), & bestows it on Mr. Robeets. There's an occasional letter from him which the whole crew wants to hear. Then , in one of Hollywood's greatest heart-touching scenes, comes a letter telling them of Mr. Roberts death in combat. The entire crew, except for the Captain, mourn his passing away. In a moment of sheer inspiration, Ensign Pulver deigns to be the Captain's new nemesis. He throws the palm tree overboard & the Captain now knows he has another "Mr. Roberts".
   
   The cast is star-studded including Ward Bond, Nick Adams, Ken Curtis, Philip Carey, Patrick Wayne, Tige Andrews, Harry Carey, Jr. & Martin Milner. Mister Roberts had three Academy Award nominations: Best Movie, Best Sound & Best Supporting Actor (the only win). This is one of Hollywood's greatset productions & should be enjoyed by all generations.

5 comments about The Sand Pebbles (Two-Disc Special Edition).

1. The movie per se is excellent. Steve Mcqueen's best performance. But the jewel here is the excellent transfer on this blu-ray. If you are a fan of this film or of Steve McQueen, this is a must buy.



2. I have replaced the DVD version of "The Sand Pebbles" with Bluray and it delivers all it promises. I'll say no more about technology. This remains to this day perhaps the finest anti-war film ever; capped off by the line delivered by the Missionary "...it's too late in the world for flags". With the (possible) exception of Bullitt, this is McQueen's finest performance. The luxury of a movie that takes it time and films SCENES instead of snapshots always makes me long for a David Lean film (see "Bridge", "Lawrence" and "Doc Z"). Try it - you'll like it.



3. Starts out promising but after the intermission, (cut short), makes sharp left turn into anti-American drivel. The new Rambo movie, which I also purchased in Blu-Ray, covers largely the same story line, (disillusioned American soldier rescuing missionarys caught in a war zone), but Rambo does it much better. Steve McQueen seems embarrassed throughout the second half of the movie. Good movie to show to the kids to let them see how crappy the 60s were for entertainment. Picture quality excellent, kind of sparse on the special features.



4. David Arneson Previous Reviewer stated: "Good movie to show to the kids to let them see how crappy the 60s were for entertainment. ...kind of sparse on the special features."
   
   I pity this poor man, apparently he wants nothing but special effects, computer-generated FX, explosions, etc. However, great actors and acting apparently don't fit his "style'.
   
   He doesn't realize that some of the best movies of the 20th Century were made in the '60s, such as:
   To Kill A Mockingbird, Dr. Stangelove, Fail Safe, The Longest Day, In Cold Blood, Psycho, 2001 - A Space Odyssey, Alfie, Bonnie & Clyde, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, Once Upon A Time In The West, The Manchurian Candidate, The Miracle Worker, In The Heat of The Night, The Great Escape, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, The Pink Panther, and so many more. Many of these movies have far betting acting and actors that what is available today.
   
   I strongly suggest that people reading his review treat it with a grain of salt.
   " The Sand Pebbles" is a great movie, one which garnered over EIGHT Academy Award Nominations!



5. I had forgotten how great this movie was so seeing it again made my day. Steve McQueen wasn't the first choice for his part, but he was a 10+. Worth every $$$. Hope you enjoy.

5 comments about Hook.

1. I'm starting to think that all of the people who disliked this movie, calling it one of Spielberg's worst, saying it has none of the magic of his earlier films, that it doesn't capture the spirit of the Peter Pan story, is a little bit deranged. I'm not saying this is Steven Spielberg's best film, but apparently watching a guy fight Nazis and a kid find an alien is more magical and reminds someone more of their childhood than the idea of growing up and having to give up on the fun you had as a child (by the way, I love the INDIANA JONES films and E.T.). I've read a lot of the bad reviews of this film, and all of them are written by people who have grown up and apparently become the workaholic who has no time for fun anymore that Robin Williams plays here. Yet they all seem to enjoy Spielberg's other forays into capturing the fun of childhood. I'm not sure what exactly went wrong for them here. Neverland doesn't look right? I don't know how much money was spent here, but I found Neverland to look pretty amazing. Dustin Hoffman is too over-the-top as Hook? Yeah, you're right, Hook should be a real bore. The list goes on and on.
   Anyway, as many probably know, the plot concerns a grown-up Peter Pan, now Peter Banning (Robin Williams, doing a great job), who has left Neverland and become a workaholic with no time for his kids (like a lot of movies, so maybe that's a complaint of the naysayers). Then suddenly, upon a visit to Granny Wendy's (Maggie Smith), Peter's kids are kidnapped by Lord Voldemort... er, Captain Hook (Hoffman), who wants to rid himself of Peter Pan once and for all. However, Peter has no idea who he once was, so it's up to his old friend Tinkerbell (Julia Roberts... good cast, huh?), who snatches him away to Neverland, and the Lost Boys (apparently another complaint of people... anyone that has any energy in this film gets negativity, it would seem), who are still wild and orphaned. Does Peter become the Pan again and save his kids? Who do you think directed this?
   I really wish this could be considered one of Spielberg's best, because it's certainly one of my favorites. Spielberg's direction, the acting, John Williams' beautiful score, it all works so well for me. I grew up with this movie, and I also grew up with the Disney cartoon of Peter Pan, the book, and various other film/stage adaptations, and I truly believe that Spielberg has created a magical semi-sequel. I'm uncertain how the people who don't like this movie would have done a 'Peter Pan is grown-up movie'. Would they have not done one at all? It was and still is a great idea, and perhaps it's a movie best enjoyed by people who saw it first when they still had the innocence of childhood that is explored so well here.



2. This is a great film for the whole family, they definitely don't make movies like this any more.



3. Love this movie, and think every A-type man should view it. I cry every time Peter discovers the child within and when he actually sees his children, it is magical. Dad's, watch this whenever you feel the need to work to achieve career glory over family. It might save your marriage.



4. I liked this movie very much when I first watched it, being a grown up and all. Now I wanted my kids to watch it too, and I was right: they loved it! Wonderful, funny, fantastic story, with such great actors! I was hoping it was in spanish for my children, but it didn't have the option. They could understand a few things, but even with myself acting as the translator, it was wonderful for all of us!



5. DVD arrived in the designated time frame and the quality is perfect! It's exactly what I wanted, Amazon never disappoints me.

5 comments about Dangerous Crossing (Fox Film Noir).

1. This movie was bought as a gift. My stepfather requested it.
   I have to say he is enjoying it.



2. This is an outstanding movie, a little gem. Filled with suspense and interest. A newly married woman boards a cruise ship with her husband and he immediately disappears. The ship's officials think she is delusional. Worth watching.



3. AS MUCH AS I HAVE LOVED MISS CRAIN FOR YEARS, THIS IS NOT ONE OF HER BETTER MOVIES. I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ONE AND ORDERED IT SIGHT UNSEEN WHEN IT WENT ON SALE. IT'S VERY INTERESTING, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER AND ENDS A LITTLE QUICKLY.



4. Dangerous Crossing is a little known and short Film Noir and carries itself well. The acting abilities of it's featured artists Jeanne Crain and Michael Rennie are believable and the actors who pull together to make sure Miss Crain's character seems to be going out of her mind do a superb job. Note the stewardess' who is helping her lover(the husband of Miss Crain), it is Kathryn Grant (future wife to Bing Crosby - 1957). It's well worth the viewing.



5. Here's a perfect example of what the studio system could do with a B-movie. Shot in a mere 19 days, utilizing previously built sets, made on a modest budget, this mystery at sea delivers the goods in far more than just workmanlike fashion.
   
   Newlywed Ruth Bowman (the lovely Jeanne Crain) & her handsome new husband (a young Carl Betz) board ship for a honeymoon cruise after a whirlwind courtship & wedding. It's all too wonderful for Ruth ... until her husband disappears, and there's no evidence of him ever having boarded the ship. In fact, there's considerable doubt as to whether he ever existed at all!
   
   Enter the handsome & caring ship's doctor (an elegant Michael Rennie), the only one on board who seems genuinely sympathetic to her plight. Of course, by this time Ruth's nerves are so rattled that she doesn't quite trust him ... but who else is there to trust? And then there's the matter of those mysterious phone calls --
   
   I won't give away any more. This is a solid thriller, with not a wasted moment, swimming with atmosphere & enough red herrings to keep you guessing (wrongly) until the very end. This might have been just a B-movie, but the filmmakers & cast gave it their all -- and it shows. So settle down with a big bowl of popcorn & enjoy this old-fashioned treat!

5 comments about The Great Outdoors.

1. This is a great family comedy about two brothers and their families that end up spending a family vacation together in a cabin. Our family watches this from time to time and think it is great because our family rents a cabin a few times a year and can relate to some of the movie.



2. This is one of the greatest movies ever, I got it for my husband for Christmas and he had to watch it Christmas day.



3. This is one of my favorite films (that is a huge list by the way). As you may have gathered already it's about a family vacation that goes downhill when another family decides to show up with no invitation to join them in their cabin.
   
   The comedy is perfectly 80s and a John Candy gem. Though some may say this is a family movie please be warned there is some minor use of "adult" language mostly A** and Sh** with a few adult situations. Movie ratings were not so strict back then so if you are a person who frowns on these things you might want to view it before you sit the family down to watch it, you have been warned.
   
   Anyhow, if you like John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, or anything 80's buy this movie you won't regret it.
   
   A top notch 5 out of 5.



4. This is a great movie to just sit down with the family and have some good laughs. John Candy is Hilarious and this is one of his greatest. I highly recommend this movie for the whole family to enjoy.



5. I love this movie, if you have ever gone on a family vacation you can relate. Its just a classic John Candy flick and hilarious. A movie I can watch over and over and never get sick of.
   A must have, it was a hit when I saw it in the 80's and still one of my favorites.

5 comments about An Affair To Remember (50th Anniversary Edition).

1. This is my favorite movie of all time. If you love old movies, this is definately one you have to see. It makes you believe in love and romance every time you see it.



2. You had the DVD in stock and I received it in a timely manner.
   
   Thank you.



3. This one is truly a classic. Everyone, from 13 years up, should watch this movie.



4. The expression on Cary Grant's face when he opens her bedroom door and sees the painting...well, I cry every time.



5. This is a wonderful love story and my favorite movie. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr portrayed the characters so well. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

5 comments about The Perfect Storm [Blu-ray].

1. I love this movie and so when i had the chance to get it in HD for dirt cheap i took the time to get it. The HD version is chrisp and clear and the sound is very sharp. Get this movie as it should be a must for anyone who collects HD DVDs :D



2. I am not gong to review the movie as everyone has seen it and I only bought it for the HD-DVD aspect.
   
   Like a lot of older re-released high def movies, the studio did not take extra steps on the re-release to take advantage of the greater capability of HD-DVD. The result is that neither the visuals nor the sound knock your socks off like the do in a full-on HD-DVD release. If you have the DVD version, no need to upgrade. If you don't and want the movie, you might as well get the HD release, but buy it used for less than $15 (delivered)...or just get a used DVD for $5.



3. HD makes this movie so much better. It was good before but HD makes its better



4. Based on the true story of the ill-fated last voyage of the Andrea Gail which sailed out of Gloucester, Mass in '91 off into the North Atlantic only to fall victim to the "Storm of the Century". The '00 film `Perfect Storm' depicts the tragic event in dramatic style featuring a strong, likeable cast, superior special effects and a memorable soundtrack. If there's any fault to be found in this re-visioning of the last days of the Andrea Gail is would be the overly romanticized manner in which the crew is depicted. At times it was kind of like watching `The Magnificent Seven At Sea'.
   
   Rating: Overall `Perfect Storm' is an enjoyable watch with lots of familiar faces and fine performances; -3 ½ Stars-.



5. Stick to the book or try the film on a large screen when you want something noisy and active. The main scenes during the storm with Ahab's (Clooney's) boat had quite well-done effects and a zillion gallons of water, as you would expect, but they felt to me more like an extended car chase, where lots is happening while also not much is happening.
   
   The fine cast did not get much chance to develop, except for some spark from Clooney and Wahlberg and a few spots here and there. Otherwise some talent is wasted on stock roles such as Diane Lane's. At least an almost gaunt-looking Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio was a ship captain herself, and not some homebody.
   
   The prelude to going to sea did not allow for much character development, which is ok, given that the movie is "The Perfect Storm" and not the drama of human interaction. However, that meant nothing of particular interest, either. The setup for Bugsy and Irene was unusual and almost embarrassing.
   
   I liked getting an idea what a sword boat looked like, how it operated, what they did with the fish, etc. Some more of that would have gone over well with me. The conflict between Murph and Sully seemed artificial and added little.
   
   It's probably not a good sign when the other rescue scene got me wondering about my tax dollars at work. Do we really send sophisticated, expensive forces into hurricanes to rescue dummies, risking others, Private Ryan style? You better "earn this", people.

5 comments about Operation Petticoat.

1. A classic must have movie from an era where entertainment was based on fun not violence or special effects.



2. Cary Grant is cast as the commander of the Sea Tiger, a sub held together by a lick and a promise. Tony Curtis is cast as Lt Nick Holden. He was assigned sea duty as a punishment, and is very outside of his element. Since the country is at war, supplies are very scarce, and Holden discovers that he does have a talent in being a thief. If they can't get a requisition filled, Mr. Holden can find it. This crew has one catastrophe after another, and then they get stuck with team of nurses that are stranded. This is a hilarious movie that will make you laugh out loud. The cast is superb, and not just the talent of Grant and Curtis, but all the supporting players.



3. ESSENTIAL MOVIE!!! Though some may disagree that this film is essential I've found it to be one of the most entertaining movies that I've ever seen. Cary Grant was a very versatile actor able to do comedy & drama equally well. His co-star, Tony Curtis was versatile also though he never received the same respect as many of his peers. I've always felt that comedy was the strength of Tony Curtis, most of the films that I enjoy with Curtis fall into comedy. Tony Curtis was also the king of teaming-up with other actors. Curtis normally got second billing in these cases, don't know if teaming up so often with other actors was his choice or the studio. But he had teamed with the likes of Cary Grant (as here), Burt Lancaster (more than once), Kirk Douglas & Frank Sinatra just to name a few. About the only time Curtis got top billing in his pairings were his movies with Jack Lemmon which were also hilarious.
   
   Operation Petticoat is a WWII comedy that involves the submarine Sea Tiger. Curtis in his role isn't really a war zone officer, he's been sitting it out in the rear echelon doing jobs that aren't directly related to the war. It's his misfortune that he's stuck in a place where combat is an everyday occurrence. He volunteers to join the Sea Tiger, his reason, to get back to an area where his talents can do him more good. He ends up being the supply officer because his scavenging skills & initiative are without equal. Many funny situations occur in this movie including where Curtis steals a pig & transports it back to the submarine. Grant, in his role, is somewhat tolerant but doesn't really want all the facts. He just wants to get the Sea Tiger fully shipshape & into the war. The most famous scene in the movie occurs when, due to the lack of gray paint, red & white paint are mixed creating a very brilliant hue of pink with which they paint the submarine.
   
   There's more to the movie but do yourself a favor & get this; it's entertaining from beginning to end.



4. Hilarious movie. A must own for Cary Grant fans. Great humor for those in similar predicaments. Or those with family in those situations. A great laugh to take the edge off. This show has the only pink submarine I've ever seen, which is all part of its humor a one of a kind show.



5. I love this movie. I have been looking for it for quite awhile. It arrived promptly and in good condition, played beautifully.