5 comments about Open Water (Widescreen Edition).

1. I don't recall who said that this was better than Jaws, but they were wrong. I watched it and was ashamed that I had spent 2.99 on the rental fee, because this is not worth a penny. Jaws is great cinema. This doesn't qualify as a film or even a movie as far as I'm concerned. Between terrible writing, horrendous acting and pointless nudity, this film is just offensive. Don't waste your time here. Just back away, because any sensible person would wish he or she did.



2. The beginning was a bit slow and low-budget-like which was about the only thing I "didn't" like about the movie. Other than that, when it picked up I really liked it. There's no real action scenes or shark attacks but that was okay for me. What appealed to me the most was imagining anyone in that situation--alone in the ocean--and how you become desperate and afraid -- that was more scary to me than any shark attack. Really liked the ending and imagined what I would do in that situation...



3. Plot: A young married couple goes on vacation. When they arrive in the Bahamas they decide to go on a scuba-diving adventure. While off diving the crew forgets them. They end up getting left out in the ocean in shark infested waters. As they wait and try to struggle to live you get to see the interactions between the characters and what they do in a life or death situation. Imagine knowing you were most likely going to die or get eaten by sharks and not be able to do anything about it. Just float and wait, Hoping someone would come find you.
   
   This movie Looks like someone took a regular video camera and just started recording. At first I did not like the way this was filmed and the sound quality wasn't that great. During the first 20 minutes I wasn't liking it but as the movie progressed it got better and better. It's a simple story with a deeper message. A message about life and the human spirit. Overall, It was an interesting movie. 3.5 stars.



4. The nightmare that one can only imagine in their mind becomes reality for a vacationing couple on an island getaway in OPEN WATER. Daniel (Daniel Travis) and Susan (Blanchard Ryan) lead hectic lives and desperately need a vacation. Their vacation goes awry (sounds a lot like my vacations) while open-water scuba diving. After frolicking with all the underwater sea creatures, their fun abruptly ends when they surface to find that their guide boat has left them. Why did it leave? Is it coming back? Will they ever make it back to the island? Daniel and Susan are cold, alone, miles from land, and now adrift in shark-infested waters. Their only support now is with each other.
   
   OPEN WATER is based loosely on the true events surrounding the disappearance of Thomas and Eileen Lonergan, an American couple who were left behind during a dive off of the Great Barrier Reef in Northern Queensland, Australia in 1998. The error was due to the Lonergans' dive details not being entered into the boat's divemaster's log book and a possible botched head count. Over 48 hours after the couple were left behind, the crew of the Outer Edge realized their error and a search was issued with 17 aircraft, helicopters, and boats. The Lonergans were never found and many rumors of their ultimate fate have surfaced since. Talks of marriage trouble provided the theory that that they committed suicide, or a murder-suicide took place. Another scenario has the Lonergans using the dive boat as part of an elaborate hoax to fake their deaths. Most diving experts, however, believe that they died on the reef. A few weeks after they'd gone missing, some of the couple's personal dive gear washed up on a beach 75 miles from the dive site. Six months later, a weathered dive slate - used to communicate underwater - with contact information for Eileen's father and the words, ""[Mo]nday Jan 26; 1998 08am. To anyone [who] can help us: We have been abandoned on A[gin]court Reef by MV Outer Edge 25 Jan 98 3pm. Please help us [come] to rescue us before we die. Help!!!"
   
   While nobody will ever know what truly happened to the Lonergans, OPEN WATER takes a stab at one possible scenario. This is not, however, meant to explain the story of the Lonergans. It is simply a fictional tale based "loosely" on their tragic story. The location is left intentionally ambiguous and no characters are based on real people. Shot completely on digital video, OPEN WATER may be a very new experience for many watching it on the big screen. The audio is simply horrendous in parts, and much of it looks like you're watching your in-law's boring vacation video. Though, I think it's akin to watching a film with subtitles. It's a bit distracting at first, but soon you won't even notice it. For a film such as this, combined with the real sharks, it has a much more "real" feel to it. It's believable, and for the most part, I was immersed in the story and their dilemma, and could ignore the shaky cam and technical shortcomings.
   
   It must also be said that this is not a shark movie, though it's not surprising that many are buying tickets with that in mind, seeing that Lions Gate has marketed it that way. It will end up getting people into the theater, but ultimately may backfire as audiences will feel like they were mislead. The sharks are important to the story, but really, they take a back seat to the third main character of the film, the water itself. The ocean serves as the biggest antagonist in the film. They're stuck in it, they can't drink it, it houses innumerable dangers underneath (including sharks), and they're completely at its mercy. They're going to go where its currents want to take them.
   
   I don't think everyone will like OPEN WATER. In fact, some people will hate it. Marketing it as a great shark movie may ultimately annoy audiences after it's all said and done. Whether Lions Gate actually cares or not, who knows. While not a great film, at least it's original and a little different. It does give off a certain amount of uneasiness and helplessness, which at times can have you on the edge of your seat. And afterwards, maybe you won't feel so bad having to go back to your crappy 9 to 5 job everyday. That everyday tedium and our unsteady relationships are often taken for granted, just keep telling yourself, "At least I'm not stuck in the middle of the ocean surrounded by sharks," and your day will go much better. Now let's hope I don't slip on some bait and fall overboard next time I go deep sea fishing!



5. Of all the shark movies that have come out of Hollywood.
   I'd have to say Open Water is the best of the bunch.
   Why you ask?
   It's more realistic than either Jaws or Deep Blue Sea.
   The shaky camera is annoying at first but you'll adjust in no time.
   I think the actors, if you can call them actors should have gotten some sort of nomination for even doing this movie.
   There were no fx sharks or robot sharks.
   They swam with the real life thing the whole time and I gotta tip my hat to them for that.
   Jaws had a better story, Deep Blue Sea was more entertaining.
   This movie borders on disturbing since it was based on a true story.
   And the ending.............I want to tell but I wont.
   I mean........ I REALLY WANT TO TELL........
   Go rent it, if you don't like it you can blame it on me.
   Highly recommended.

2 comments about The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu (Director's Cut - Import).

1. quality of the actual CD is poor and it's hard to watch the whole movie without skipping passage...



2. I didn't notice the import when I ordered this item, it's factory made and is poor quality. The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu (Director's Cut - Import)

5 comments about Into the Blue.

1. Jessica Alba in this movie rocks.The picture is so clearly and the sound is espectacular.



2. Wait, before you condemn this movie and categorize it as another "babe watch" show, take another look at Walker and Alba's underwater skills and the curious grey? reef sharks. I've never swum that close to even the placid white tip. Lifting heavy objects using floatation device and transferring air from balloon mouth-to-mouth when tank is empty requires at least rescue certified skills. I would be happy enough not to disturb the bottom sand for macro look.
   
   I think this movie would appeal to most scuba divers or avid snorkellers.



3. An action packed movie with beautiful scenery Amust have for your video collection



4. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I expected that the visuals would be great -- and they're terrific on Blu-Ray, especially the underwater sequences (and, of course, the babes in their bikinis) -- but the story was actually interesting and exciting. Scott Caan was particularly good in his role.



5. This movie was fun and exciting. My kids and I enjoyed it and now want to become treasure hunters. HAHA

5 comments about The Big Blue (Director's Cut).

1. If you are a fan of the Big Blue or have yet to see it, this is a superb add to your collection. 5 stars is not enough. I love it all.



2. This is the original movie. It has a totally different effect on the viewer. This is the version you want. The american version is rated PG and it is not worth watching. I now know why it was a flop in the USA and was a big hit in Europe now. This version is five stars. You will watch it over and over again. Watching this in surround sound makes a big difference. It will leave you in tears or speechless. One of the best movies of the last 25 years. Bravo Bravo



3. I stumbled across this movie at the age of 18 in 1990, when living in Europe. I couldn't believe it and didn't know who to love harder, Enzo or Jacques. It had such a profound effect on me, I then went on to read everything I could get my hands on about Jacques Costeau. After seeing the movie on TV I went straight to the video store and got out the film, and to my dismay it was a 2 hr and heavily edited movie. I cried to the video store person who had never heard of an extended version. Several months later I found a copy in a tiny video store in Ireland. I bought it on the spot. It has remained my favourite movie of all time, right up there with Cinema Paradiso, My Life as a Dog, Blade Runner and Taxi Driver.
   
   I still take baths like Jacques uncle. It seems a nicer way to do it.



4. This is one of my favorite movies of all time but sadly I cannot recommend this cut.
   
   Director's cuts are usually either much better or much worse than it's theatrical release sibling but this unfortunatly is the latter. The story is drawn out in a confusing and adolescent way and rather than enlightenment we find boredom. I found myself caring less and less about these people as this mess went on. The theatrical release moved quickly and clearly. I knew who these people were and what drove them. The director's cut left me with none of this. I found the added scenes a distraction and rather than pushing the story forward they tended to digress from it not leaving you with any new information and subjecting you to more of the VERY BAD soundtrack!
   The music in the theatrical release was at least appropriate to the story. The theatrical release had soft, wave like earth music that wound you into the ensuing action unlike the Directors cut. The heavy synthesized jazz score that is plunked down here actually pulls you out of the film. The scenes become about the irritating 80's jazz rather than the story line.
   Sadly, the entire directors cut smacks more of ego on Bessons' part ( refusing to see that the cuts/music in the theatrical release actually made it a better film,) and less of the wonderful story teller which he can be. I would love to see a Theatrical version as well on this disc and let the public decide.



5. This movie captivated my heart and soul when I first saw it many years ago. I watch it again every so often because I love it so much! And Jean Reno is just great in this.

5 comments about Blue Water, White Death.

1. I first have seen this movie when I was a teenager. And never since this time. I watch out for the DVD and now here it is ! Don't miss this movie. This is not JAWS but a very impressive shark movie one of the very real first ! It is an historical account not only about the history of scubadiving Captain Cousteau or Hans Hass began years ago (as reported in HDS last issue) but also about the way we considered Mother Nature in the 70's.



2. This is a documentary of people that are shark divers.
   They are actually searching for a Great White shark to film.
   This was filmed a couple years before JAWS hit the big screen.
   but this shows how sharks pretty much dominate the ocean.
   And after JAWS came out back in 1975 which upped the fear of
   sharks in the American public.
   Just remember these diver are pro's at what they do and have been doing this for many years.
   In fact a couple of the people that's on this documentary helped in the movie JAWS.
   Ever since I watched JAWS I've had a fascination with sharks.
   If your a shark diver or just like to watch shark diving this is
   one of the best that I've seen.
   I rate this DVD a 10 from 1to10!!



3. Blue Water, White Death is a wonderful blend of action, suspense and historical underwater cinematography.
   The shark encounters might seem a bit tame by today's standards, especially if you are used to watching leaping Great Whites on NG's Shark Week and other wild-life shows. But the movie was shot in the innocent pre-Jaws early 70's, when few people knew much about sharks or shark behavior.
   Watching the divers fend off schools of circling Oceanic White-tip sharks off South Africa is intense as it gets. Later, in Australian waters, you feel the adrenelin pumping as the divers film from inside cages while Great Whites rake their razor-sharp, serrated incisors along the bars.
   A special treat is watching legends Stan Waterman, Valerie and Ron Taylor, Rodney Fox, and the late Peter Gimbel, diving in their prime, and then seeing them today and listening to them reprise their exciting experience.
   The movie is unique and belongs in every ocean lover's collection.



4. This film is RARE. It is a ground breaking, historical documentry which, unfortunately, is very little known. If you are a serious diver, this is a MUST-HAVE.



5. This is a great documentary. The underwater photography and action are incredible. Also, the movie is worth watching just for the cast of characters - be sure to watch the reunion of the cast in the special features part. I am so glad that this movie is available again for everyone to see. GET IT!

5 comments about Leviathan.

1. Coming in the late 1980s with all the momentum sprung from the "Alien" original and first repeat, "Leviathan" sought to take the alien model underwater, where a group of trash collectors fights on-board monsters with saws and flamethrowers.
   
   The producers of this film knew a good model when they found it and obviously allowed the audience to laugh at their copycat ways by creating aliens that alternately look like tongues with teeth and moving intestines. There's also a paean to the real "Alien" near the end that Peter Weller does away with by squishing it's head in an elevator shaft.
   
   And, in the final scene, you won't believe how hokey and stupid this kind of movie could be just a few years before the advent on high tech and high gloss computerization became de riguer in this type of thing. It's worth it to sit through the whole thing just to see that unbelievably dumb final scene.
   
   Weller "starred" in this vehicle two years after his biggest hit, 1987's "RoboCop". This didn't do much for his reputation even though the cast included some great eye candy in Amanda Pays and the steely blue eyes of Meg Foster. A solid supporting cast headed by the great Richard Crenna, Ernie Hudson and Hector Elizondo offer a high level of acting credibility.
   
   Still, they can't make sense of this mishmash which, oddly and fantastically, still works as horror. Leonard Maltin says to, "Skip it" on this one but I'd disagree. I think there's enough humor, whether intentional or unintentional, eye candy, schlock horror and fine acting to give you your money's worth. It didn't work as a big release in the theater but it's pretty good entertainment on a Tuesday night on your home system.



2. Again, not up to par with todays special effects, but really good all the same. I'm a sucker for the horror movies of the 80's and early 90's. I have to put this one above Deep Star Six, although that was a terrific movie also. Leviathan will have you jumping and scared.



3. GOOD SCI-FI FLICK UPDATING VIDEO COLLECTION HAD IT ON VHS AND WANTED IT ON DVD.



4. I saw this film 18 years ago and I was scarred, Now that I saw it again I found it not bad. Effects now seems kind of cheese but have nice tension.



5. Everybody gives this movie bad reviews, but it really freaked me out when I was a kid. I remember the scene when they go to dispose of the first infected body, that pervo guy, who drank the vodka. Just before they go to blow him out of the submarine hull, or whatever. A limb, tentacle thing spews out of it, and scratches one of the crew. Really creepy. Than one of the girls is so traumatized, by the whole thing, she's crying in the shower, scrubbing herself. It's a fairly intelligent, trippy horror film.
   The overall feeling of the movie is creepy, on a psychological level.
   All though there is some good old organic gore.
   Pre-computer graphics era.

5 comments about The Deep.

1. The film opens with Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset diving in the waters off Bermuda, exploring a sunken wreck... They soon find themselves drawn into a sea of jeopardy and intrigue involving a cargo of dangerous drugs, a fortune in Spanish treasure, ocean predators and ruthless drug smugglers accompanied by black magic voodoo...
   
   The adventure begins when they discover a strange ampule containing liquid, and a coral-encrusted Spanish medallion near the wreck of a World War II freighter..
   
   Henry Cloche (Lou Gossett), a local underworld figure with a hand of menace, offers to buy the ampule, then changes to unrefined tactics, for he knows that the small glass vessel holds the clue to a rumored cargo of morphine, convertible into a fortune...
   
   As Nolte and Bisset try to discover some light to the mystery, they unite in an alliance with Romer Treece (Robert Shaw), a strong ocean-expert recluse, who wants to punish Cloche whom he believes responsible for the death of his wife...
   
   Motivated by their own personal welfare, the trio dive depths, racing against the ticking time bomb of Cloche's vicious and relentless pressure in an effort to recover the Spanish treasure and to prevent the morphine from falling into his hand... The dramatic events culminate in a final explosion beneath the sea...
   
   If you love to see our quiet photogenic Bisset swimming around half-naked in a breathtaking wet-T-shirt, well, don't hesitate to join our innocent heroes in their efforts to wrest the treasure from the bottom of the ocean in their dangerous underwater battle in the deep...



2. I had seen this movie on TV many years ago, and wanted to watch the whole thing. It's not available in video stores. I enjoyed it very much as did my husband, who had never seen it. The movie is based on the book by Peter Benchley who wrote "Jaws". I recall an intro from the TV showing that appears to be missing from the video. It shows the submarine being wrecked off of the coast of Bermuda and a young Romer Treece finding Adam Coffin on the beach. Whatever the movie lacks in substance is made up for in the fine talents of Robert Shaw, Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bissett, and Louis Gossett, Jr. This was one of the last movies that Robert Shaw made. His early death was a great loss to the movie industry.



3. OK sure it's not the greatest movie made but it is one fun underwater adventure and as stated my first crush started with Ms. Bisset's wet tee-shirt dive over the opening credits. The memories this one brings back. The underwater photograph is still stunning and the tale of treasure hunters and drug dealers is still very well done.
   The copy I have features both the full and wide screen version of the film but little else, but who cares lets go diving!



4. 1977's "The Deep" is a very serviceable movie drama, featuring a solid cast (Robert Shaw, Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset, and Lou Gossett), an exotic location (Bermuda), and a thrilling premise (a hunt for underwater treasure).
   
   The movie opens with an underwater dive by David and Gail (Nolte and Bisset) while on a romantic holiday in Bermuda. Those not distracted by Gail's wet t-shirt will watch the couple discover a ship wreck and various artifacts, including a mysterious glass ampoule. The dive is interupted by Gail's scary encounter with an unknown underwater creature under the wreck.
   
   Back on shore, the couple's effort to trace their small collection of artifacts leads them to two encounters. The first, with legendary Bermudian diver Romer Treece (Robert Shaw), leads to the discovery that they have found a long-sought World War II freighter loaded with glass ampoules of morphine, and that the freighter may be sitting on top of an even older Spanish treasure ship. The second encounter, with Haitain drug dealer Cloche (Lou Gossett) leads to the discovery that Cloche and his gang are prepared to kill to get to the morphine.
   
   The rest of the movie is a suspense-filled chase on land and underwater, as Treece, David, and Gail try to recover the Spanish treasure while staying one step ahead of the Haitians in a complicated game of cross and double-cross. The tension lasts to the final scene, a dramatic fight to the death inside the wreck of the freighter.
   
   This movie is well-recommended as a entertaining underwater thriller, featuring Robert Shaw in one of the last roles of his long career.



5. she's an older one, but a good movie, good story line, enjoyed it, actually saw it when it came out and wanted to see it again...

5 comments about Back To School (Extra-Curricular Edition).

1. In the course of cinematic history, many standup comics have crossed over into films, and most of the films have been truly abysmal. Even a comic like Richard Pryor, who is considered the best standup of all time, made some of the worst films I've ever seen (like The Toy). Some will argue about Robin Williams and Bill Murray, but Williams's work is uneven (he's been great in some dramatic films like Good Will Hunting and has done some true crap like RV), and Murray is in another league together, as he is doing much more dramatic work, much more introspective than most comedians would ever dare. Some of John Belushi's work is very good (notably The Blues Brothers), and Eddie Murphy made a few great films (48 Hours is probably the best), but the most notable exceptions to this rule is Rodney Dangerfield. Rodney didn't make any cinematic masterpieces like Satantango or Berlin Alexanderplatz, but a good number of his films were hilarious, true to life, and they are still good today. This is his best work, a consistently hilarious film where he plays a successful, street smart businessman who decides to go back to college to help out his son. It works so well because Rodney himself is so damn engaging and so likeable one forgets the rather predictable (but still funny) plot. Dangerfield is my favorite standup comic (a part of the entertainment field that I have to admit I don't really like). His comedy never became dated (like many comedians), it was never topical, it was always universal, it was never cruel, never crass, never smug (a quality I hate about most modern comics), and his films had these qualities too. He was just a real guy who never got any respect. He plays a character like that here. Despite his character's success, the faculty at the school still looks down on him (except for Sally Kellerman, who kind of loves/likes him). Dangerfield one liners abound, and the rest of the cast is very engaging as well. It's a very good picture, Rodney's best and one of the few examples out there of a standup making a pretty damn good film.



2. Back To School is directed by Alan Metter. The film stars Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert Downey Jr., Paxton Whitehead, Sam Kinison, Terry Farrell, M. Emmet Walsh, Adrienne Barbeau, William Zabka, and Ned Beatty. Danny Elfman contributes the film's musical score.
   
   Back To School is the story of Thornton Melon (Dangerfield), a man who got rich when he opened a chain of clothing stores that catered to larger people - appropriately called "Tall And Fat" stores. His son Jason (Gordon) is attending school, but doesn't fit in, and plans to drop out. It doesn't help things any that Jason's best friend (Downey) is the weirdest kid on campus. Following Thornton's divorcing his second wife, he and his long-time friend and chauffeur (Young) decide to pay the school a visit. To discourage his son from dropping out, he enrolls with him - but it quickly becomes clear Thornton is more interested in the part aspect of campus life than the classes.
   
   Easily one of the best film's of Rodney Dangerfield's career. With a combination of great actors and characters, humor that never wears out its welcome, and a fun storyline that works better than you'd think, it's a great film from start to finish.
   
   I shouldn't have to tell you that Rodney Dangerfield is great in the film. His character here is certainly one of his most memorable, serving up his traditional one-liners. His character here is a man who has incredible wealth, but quickly discovers having a lot of money and partying endlessly won't get him through school, like he intended to show his son to begin with. Easily one of the best characters Dangerfield has ever portrayed.
   
   While it's Dangerfield that steals the show, his co-stars are also impressive. Amongst the supporting cast are Burt Young (Rocky series) as the strong, mostly-silent chauffer, Keith Gordon (Jaws 2, Christine) as the son struggling to fit in and complete school, Sally Kellerman as the teacher turned love interest, Ned Beatty (Superman, The Toy) as the school's dean, Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric friend, and even Sam Kinison in an all-too-brief role as a loudmouthed history teacher. Every member of the cast is well selected for their respective part.
   
   There are a number of classic scenes in the film, all of which contribute to its greatness. A lavish party with Melon's soon-to-be ex-wife, a comical stunt to kill the registration lines in the college, a bar room brawl, a party with Oingo Boingo playing.... The list goes on!
   
   Music for the film was composed by Danny Elfman, probably best known for being the composer on a number of Tim Burton's films. He's also a member of Oingo Boingo, and has a cameo in his band in the film, during the party scene. The score isn't your typical over-the-top Elfman music, but it works just fine for the film.
   
   The film was released on DVD twice. The first release was a horrid one, lacking extras of any kind. But the Extra-Curricular Edition fixes all these issues. In addition to improved sound and picture quality, there are a ton of new featurettes. Among them are "remembering" featurettes for Rodney Dangerfield and Kurt Vonnegut (who as a cameo in the film), as well as a making-of look at the film, and photos and TV spots. Most of these features aren't too lengthy, but they make for a massive improvement over the old DVD. Again, make sure you're getting the Extra-Curricular Edition!
   
   Great movie, enough said. Rodney Dangerfield at his best.
   
   Thumbs up



3. There's wide agreement that the three greatest American film comedies are It Happened One Night from 1934, The Lady Eve from 1941 and 1986's Back to School. Some might quibble that It Happened One Night is no match for Miss Congeniality when it comes to female snorting or that The Lady Eve doesn't have the consistent belly laughs of Turner & Hooch, nor does it have a lovable, slobbering dog unless one counts Henry Fonda. Back to School, however, remains one of a kind.
   
   But seriously, folks...I like this movie a lot. It's not just that the film pokes hard at complacent academia, or that there are a string of great comedy moments given to us by several first-rate actors. Mainly, there's Rodney Dangerfield, himself an idiosyncratic comedian who at times can be easy to get tired of. As Thornton Melon, an up-from-his-boot-straps wealthy clothier -- he owns the Tall & Fat stores -- who signs up as a college student determined to help his wimpish son become popular, Dangerfield is something else. He's not just the loud, wisecracking, eye-popping comedian. Dangerfield gives Melon a layer of good-natured intentions, likeability and even a little lost pathos that is eventually quite endearing.
   
   Some parts of the movie don't work too well for me, mainly the parts of the storyline that involve Melon's son, played by Keith Gordon, his son's pal, played by Robert Downey, Jr., and his love interest, played by Sally Kellerman. Gordon is wimpish enough but, in my view, not very interesting. Downey is little more than an over-the-top exaggeration, and Kellerman puts me off with her above-the-salt manner and accent. But to compensate there is a great comedy turn by Ned Beatty as the obsequious university dean, Dean Martin, a man who knows endowments are worth more than an unseemly attention to student entry requirements. He'd be right at home in the Ivy League. Sam Kinison is terrific as a crackpot right-wing professor of history. Adrienne Barbeau is amusing and unlikable as Melon's high-spending wife who likes to show off her Klimt. And Paxton Whitehead as an over-civilized, professor of marketing with an aquiline nose can give us all useful lessons in condescension. The set up and follow-through with the Kurt Vonnegut joke is a classic. Part of the joy of the movie is watching how Melon deals with these people.
   
   Still, what makes Back to School work is Rodney Dangerfield, his way with comedy, his delivery and his timing. I'll leave the movie where it started, with Thornton Melon's new television ad for Tall & Fat stores. I hope you can hear Dangerfield in your mind..."Hi there. Are you a large person? Pleasantly plump? A little on the hefty side, perhaps? Well, let's face it: Are you FAT? When you go jogging, do you leave potholes? When you make love, do you have to give directions? At the zoo, do the elephants throw YOU peanuts? Do you look at a menu and say 'OK'? Well, now you can eat all you want, because at Thornton Melon's "Tall & Fat" stores, we've got you covered. That's right. Fine woolen, and woolen-blend suits and sport coats, in all the larger sizes -- husky, stout, extra-stout, and the new Hindenburg line. And for you ladies we have caftans, muumuus, and our own exclusive A-frame in all colors and patterns. Yes, we have miles and miles of fabric. So take it from me, Thornton Melon, if you want to look thin, you hang out with fat people."
   
   The DVD disc I have has wide screen on one side, pan-and-scan on the other, with no extras. It looks just fine.
   
   (And for the record, I'm also fond of Miss Congeniality and Turner & Hooch.)



4. One of the better 80's comedies.
   Juvenile, yes.
   Funny, yes.
   Not life changing or movie changing.
   If your in the mood for a blast from the past chuckle.
   Rent it, when the just released section is sold out.



5. Great Movie to watch anytime of day. Classic Rodney at his best. Manages to workin a lot of his stage material throughout the movie. Also features a young Robert Downey Jr.

5 comments about Thunderball.

1. Thunderball is one of my all time favorite action adventure movies. I saw this movie when it was originally released as a young boy with my older brother at the Star Theater. It was perhaps the biggest blockbuster movie of the 1960s. It was as big a hit as Star Wars in the 1970s if not bigger. This is noteworthy because it was the fourth movie in the series. Most sequels in movie series start to loose steam. For example, Lethal Weapon 4 is not in the same league as compared to the first 2. The Bond series has great staying power and has been able to reinvent itself and stay fresh over the 21 or so installments.
   
   I recently watched one of the original Star Trek TV series episodes from the 1960s. It really looked dated and even had a campy feeling to it. This is not true about Thunderball. The movie has aged well, though some of the special effects and some of the models used do look dated and not as realistic as current standards.
   
   There has been a lot of debate about what Bond lead actor is the best or what the best Bond film is. As a young lad, I was fascinated by Dr. No and his steel hands. At present, From Russia With Love is my favorite Sean Connery Bond Film.



2. After the success of "Goldfinger", the Bond producers secured the film rights to "Thunderball" and tripled the budget. The basic plot is simple but good: Largo, working for Spectre, steals atomic missiles and demands a ransom. Unfortunately, "Thunderball" is considerably longer than the previous movies, but there's less plot. The script is dull and the direction lifeless. Most of the budget seems to have been spent on the underwater sequences. But they're not well made, only chaotic and go on for way too long. They become the anticlimax of a movie that had already lost my interest. "Thunderball" is one of the few Bond movies that manages to bore me. Not recommended.



3. Top rate Bond film, completely forgotten by many. As I've mentioned before, Connery is absolutely no match for a 2007 Matt Damon (Jason Bourne), but in 1965 he had no peer. As usual in these films, the plot is both simple and outrageous. An organized international banditry group wants to extort 1 million pounds from NATO countries. They steal a bomber with 2 armed nuclear warheads as ransom. Bond arrives both casually and late at headquarters, having nearly been already killed and having had his mandatory sexual encounters with two gorgeous underground types.(If you ever see Shirley Booth or Rose Marie in one of these films, they've accidentally wandered onto the wrong set). With time running out, again and again the enemy has a chance to put Mr. Bond away for good, but fails to do so, thus lengthening the film, but also enabling a wild, realistic finale,accompanied by beautiful photography and a stirring musical score. Do not let alleged inferior Bond films fool you; this production can stand tall against the best of the others.



4. Sean Connery's fourth outing as James Bond, 1965's "Thunderball", finds him and the franchise in high gear in a spy extravaganza filmed on location in and around beautiful Nassau, the Bahamas. The underwater film sequences were pioneering at the time and hold up pretty well today.
   
   As the movie opens, Bond is at a health spa in England, recovering from one of his recent adventures. He can't help getting involved in another. The clues he picks up at the spa will lead him to a SPECTRE plot to steal a British bomber with two nuclear bombs aboard, stash the bomber in the ocean, and sell the devices to the highest bidder. Bond ends up in the Bahamas, where his investigation leads him to SPECTRE agent Largo (played with haughty menace by Adolfo Celi) and his beautiful mistress Domino (Claudine Auger). The movie manages two equally thrilling climaxes. One is the huge underwater fight between British and American frogmen and Largo's SPECTRE henchmen. The second is a struggle between Bond and Largo for control of Largo's escape boat as it careens toward destruction on a reef.
   
   Luciana Paluzzi is an added bonus as a gorgeous but deadly red-headed SPECTRE agent who dogs Bond's footsteps. Their meeting in his bathtub features one of the more priceless tongue-in-cheek Bond dialogues, as she asks for something to wear and he hands her a pair of sandals.
   
   This movie is very highly recommended as one of the best of the original Bond movies, featuring Sean Connery at his wise-cracking best as the prototypical Bond.



5. XXXXX
   
   It's difficult to believe that this movie is almost 45 years old (counting from the year of this review)!!!
   
   (Sir) Sean Connery made six EON production (or "official") movies with him starring as James Bond. They were: Dr. No (1962); From Russia with Love (1963); Goldfinger (1964); Thunderball (1965); You Only Live Twice (1967); and Diamonds are Forever (1971).
   
   As can be seen from the above list, "Thunderball" is the fourth spy film of the British Bond series. As well it is the fourth to star Connery as the fictional MI6 agent Commander James Bond (code number: 007).
   
   This movie is based on the 1961 novel of the same name as the movie by Ian Fleming (1908 to 1964).
   
   Briefly, 007's mission (code name: Thunderball) is to find two NATO nuclear bombs stolen by SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion) who holds the world in ransom for not destroying with these bombs a major city in either England or the U.S. The search leads Bond to the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), the card-playing, eye-patch wearing SPECTRE #2 and a beautiful but deadly SPECTRE operative named Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi). Backed by the CIA and Largo's mistress Domino (Claudine Auger), Bond's search culminates into an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen.
   
   The title song is belted out by singer (Sir) Tom Jones.
   
   This movie has all the Bond ingredients: gadgets, witty dialogue with "Bondisms" (Bond's one-liners), incredible background music, beautiful Bond girls, a memorable villain, and plenty of action. Also in the cast is Miss Moneypenny, M, Q, and Felix. Gorgeous background scenery accompanies most scenes. (This movie was made on location in Paris, the Bahamas, and London, England.)
   
   Sean Connery brings his characteristic savoir faire to the movie and he holds it together. A. Celi as Largo is an unforgettable foil to Connery's Bond. Kudos must go to Luciana Paluzzi for playing a memorable villainess. (In fact, so memorable that she had trouble getting acting jobs after the movie's release.)
   
   The underwater scenes are spectacular. Some say they are too long but this is untrue. They just feel long because they're underwater where the action seems to be in slow motion.
   
   It seems to me that the entire movie was carefully constructed. For instance, the voices of A. Celi as Largo and C. Auger as Domino are actually dubbed but it's difficult to tell this.
   
   Here's an example of witty dialogue with a Bondism:
   
   While visiting Largo's lair, he and Bond go to so some skeet shooting (using a rifle). Largo hits a moving skeet while carefully aiming.
   
   Bond: "Perhaps you can call [a skeet] for me."
   Largo: "Of course. Pull!"
   Bond: "It seems terribly difficult."
   (He hits a moving skeet seemingly not aiming and with his rifle at hip level.)
   Bond: "No it isn't, is it?"
   
   When first released, this movie earned about one hundred and forty-one million dollars worldwide. That's about nine-hundred and sixty-five million in today's dollars making it the highest grossing Bond film so far. It won a Academy Award for Best Effects (visual).
   
   The DVD (the one released in Feb., 2007) is flawless in picture and sound quality. This movie has been digitally restored and I'm sure the picture is just as good (if not better!!) than when it was released almost 45 years ago. There is also superior sound. There are two extras in the form of audio commentaries.
   
   Finally, here is some information to consider. This DVD is actually the first disc of the two disc "Ultimate Edition." Bond fanatics might want to purchase this two disc Ultimate Edition since the second disc has "the best collection of special features ever assembled for Bond." (Unfortunately, the Ultimate Edition is no longer available but can be purchased second-hand.)
   
   In conclusion, to date this is the highest grossing Bond movie and some say the best one. I leave you with some more witty dialogue from this movie:
   
   This dialogue occurs right before the example dialogue given above where Bond and Largo are about to do some skeet shooting. Largo is carrying a rifle for skeet shooting:
   
   Bond: "That [rifle] looks more fitting for a women."
   Largo: "Do you know much about [rifles and] guns, Mr. Bond?"
   Bond: "No. I know a little about women."
   
   (1965; 2 hr, 10 min; wide screen; 32 scenes)
   
   <>
   
   XXXXX

5 comments about The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

1. An engaging and penetrating adaptation of Jean-Dominique Bauby's brilliant memoir of the same title. Jean-Do was the handsome young editor of Elle magazine, with the house, the car, a beautiful wife and adorable children, and of course, the other woman. While enjoying the accoutrements of the good life he suffers a massive stroke that leaves him paralyzed from head to toe, but for the ability to blink his left eye. He is afflicted with what is termed locked-in syndrome. He retains the faculties of memory and imagination and, with the help of his devoted carers, is able to complete his memoire by blinking yes or no in response to a particular letter of the alphabet. With the aide of a patient scribe, Jean-Do retraces the defining moments of his short life from the fresh perspective of this unique predicament, inside what he metaphorically describes as his diving bell - the world beneath his skin containing all of his subjective thoughts, his reflexive response to what appears real externally, and what he retains of his past. The aesthetic is represented as a butterfly, wandering at will and gracing the things its touches with its ephemeral beauty. He sees the faces of his loved ones: his wife, lover, children, and adorable carers, and appreciates what he has lost - the capacity to fully express his love for them with a gentle embrace. It is a multi layered film that explores the emotional responses of others to Jean-Do's loss as well. This is one of those rare films that can change your way of seeing. I found it profoundly moving and performed by an outstanding cast. The one shame is that Jean-Do hasn't survived to see what beauty his little butterfly is bringing to the world after all.



2. If there was ever a film that illustrated how anyone's life can change dramatically in a matter of seconds, or how perseverance is possible even in the face of the most extreme limitations one could face, this is it. The main character is completely paralyzed aside from his left eye, for the majority of the film, yet still able to get his message across. "The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" is the true story based on the meiors of Jean-Dominique Bauby, a well-known french journalist, author, and editor of 'Elle' magazine, who was left paralyzed after suffering a stroke. He awakes from a three-week coma unable to move, yet the viewer is still told the rest of the story through the eye of Bauby's character, in his world of vision. We hear his thoughts in the voice he was given, but the rest of his words are only told via the pain-staken work of the speach therapists who worked diligently with Bauby as he lay bed ridden. After he is freed from the confines of the hospital, with hired help from Elle, Bauby continues writing the book he had previously planned on writing prior to his stroke. This story is nothing short of inspirational and is one of the most creative points of view I've seen in film. I could never bring myself to complain about a dream involving the lovely Emma De Caunes, only that I wish they had done more with the visions that were outside of Bauby's reality, but besides that, this film is strong, compelling, and definitely delivers a message that should be heard.



3. This is an awesome story of a man who, rather than give up on life, manages to write his story in a most poetic manner. I should have been sad about his situation, but instead I clapped my hands at his resolve.



4. Beautiful film. I'm grateful the filmmaker decided to go against the original plan to shoot it as an English-language film and instead shoot it in French.
   
   After seeing this true story about the last months of a SEVERELY disabled person, it will be a long time before I complain about the problems in my own life.
   
   An inspiring story.



5. Before I knew it, I was already an hour into the movie when I glanced to see how much time had elapsed. This is one movie that deserves all the cliches that are so overused today: Riveting, powerful, moving. I'm not into current movies, but I'm glad I made an exception here because it restores my faith in the filmmaking industry that original movies (or, in this case, adaptations from books) can not only be made, but in a way that keeps you watching and has the experience stay with you.
   
   Shooting the movie from the perspective of the late Jean-Dominique Bauby was beyond brilliant. It wasn't done in a contrived way, but, rather, in a way that you felt you were right there with Bauby in a body that, indeed, became a prison.
   
   Other reviewers on this page have covered just about everything regarding the film, but I will put my hat in the ring and say this is a hell of a film - subtitles or not. - Donna Di Giacomo