David-Keith Movie Reviews

Star80 is a very overlooked movie despite excellent performances from both Mariel Hemingway and Eric Roberts.

Mariel Hemingway portrays Dorothy Stratten, famous model who marries a lunatic played by Eric Roberts. He will stop at nothing to dominate her life and career, and it all ends with tragic circumstances. The last 10 minutes are quite possibly the saddest scenes I have seen in a movie.

The Australian DVD is thankfully presented in its original widescreen presentation (and anamorphic too) unlike the American pan and scan version.

I'm surprised Mariel Hemingway's career didn't take off because she is an exceptional actress.

Okay since we are in the DVD forum, and we are supposed to be writing about the DVD, lets get that out of the way. If you are looking for neat features like audio commentary, deleted scenes and the like, you will not find them here. Only chapter selections on a pan and scan format. It did not include the pictures for the scene selections and that was a bit frustrating to navigate when I tried jumping into the miiddle of the film. So as far a DVD goes, thumbs down.

If however you are looking for a great film, you have hit the jackpot! Fosse's writing is amazing and is carried off by some excellent acting. Eric Roberts balances one challenging role. As the husband/manager living off his wifes fame and popularity, he comes across as a second rate Ike Turner. The man is a slime and you still manage to find some sympathy for him. Watching his behavior his fascinating, and we have seen his like in one form or another. One who portrays what he thinks a rich and glamourous life style is by spouting off ham-handed dialouge and wearing tacky clothes who doesent realize the joke is on him. When finally does, it ends with tragic results. I've not been a big fan of Roberts until this movie.

Hemingway is also very effective as the centerfold with the heart of gold. The contrast of her and Roberts works nicely. She may not be the smartest person but at least she knows who she is. Her flaw is that she tries to please everyone and that of course also leads tragically.

The only flaw to this film is it's production value. Many would argue that it was 1983 when the movie was made, but it still has the feel of a after school special. There really is no style to the film. Just point and shoot film. If Fosse was looking for a documentary syle, he succeeded better with "Lenny" which I also reccomend. "Star 80" is a good one!

This is a highly original and unsettling film. Although Mariel Hemingway as Dorothy Stratten effectively conveys her innocence and vulnerability, it is Eric Roberts as Paul Snider, the seedy small time loser and user of women, who is the focus of this film. What Roberts does so effectively is to make clear to the viewer why his awareness that he is losing Dorothy to a big name director leads to him committing his horrible rape-murder-suicide. It is more than just losing a meal ticket; it is instead the total self-negation it represents to him as someone who is dominated by feelings of worthlessness and a corrosive mixture of inadequacy, insecurity and hatred towards those he perceives as successful, rich and powerful. It is Roberts's delineation of these aspects of his character that makes his terrible act seem like the inevitable outcome of the forces that drive him, and leaves the viewer experiencing a mixture of horror and pity, even though one feels revulsion towards him. Moreover, the supporting performances by Cliff Robertson and Carroll Baker are excellent.
A definite recommendation.

It was on Disney when I saw it, and I thought it to be good entertainment. There are 'things' that are wrong with it of course but if you can over look those on-site flaws, it's fine. It was one of the good ones but then I have to watch what is on broadcast TV; I don't do theaters. I would say the age range would be young, and grandparent age (mine) but anyone might like it. I was young once and so I enjoyed the partnership the two had in the version I saw.

I rented this yesterday and this is the second time I've seen it the first time I've seen it was on TV on ABC and let me tell you this is one of my most favorite films I've ever seen I think Christina Ricci is great in this film you should buy this or rent it it's one of my favorites if you don't get this you'll regret it believe me it is one of the best films that you've seen!!..

A movie about 2 totally different young girls that take an AWESOME adventure the ENTIRE FAMILY CAN ENJOY!!!! Great music,Cool actors,Fun story,happy ending.What more can you want? Its worth EVERY penny! So GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!

It was on Disney when I saw it, and I thought it to be good entertainment. There are 'things' that are wrong with it of course but if you can over look those on-site flaws, it's fine. It was one of the good ones but then I have to watch what is on broadcast TV; I don't do theaters. I would say the age range would be young, and grandparent age (mine) but anyone might like it. I was young once and so I enjoyed the partnership the two had in the version I saw.

I rented this yesterday and this is the second time I've seen it the first time I've seen it was on TV on ABC and let me tell you this is one of my most favorite films I've ever seen I think Christina Ricci is great in this film you should buy this or rent it it's one of my favorites if you don't get this you'll regret it believe me it is one of the best films that you've seen!!..

A movie about 2 totally different young girls that take an AWESOME adventure the ENTIRE FAMILY CAN ENJOY!!!! Great music,Cool actors,Fun story,happy ending.What more can you want? Its worth EVERY penny! So GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!

This video is filled with excitement, adventure, suspense, and action. It contains the last four episodes of Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. They are "The Wrath of the Queen", "Rise of the Super Demons", "The Fate of Lightspeed, Part 1", and "The Fate of Lightspeed, Part 2". Th Queen is furious with the civilians of Mariner Bay for building over her palace and creating their own city. Now she'll do anything to get her palace back. Even destroy. Mariner Bay's only hope is the Power Rangers. But will they be enough? Get this video to find out!

This video contains the last four episodes of Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. They are: The Wrath Of The Queen, Rise Of The Super Demons, The Fate Of Lightspeed, Part 1, and The Fate Of Lightspeed, Part 2. Queen Bansheera has lost control. She uses one of her loyal servants to transform her into a bodily form, she makes another one destroy her stupid servant, just to destroy the power rangers, changes her son and her most powerful servant, who betrayed her into super powerful demons, which destroy the rangers' zords, then she threatens to destroy all of Mariner Bay by releasing all the demons in the shadow world. Darkness reigns and the rangers are trapped in an attacked Aquabase. This adventure will leave you breathless to the end. It includes some good special effects. Get this video!

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue: The Queen's Wrath was an excellent video. Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue was an excellent series. I enjoyed this series. Although I do hope maybe a past character will come back in the series Power Rangers Dino Thunder. Overall a very good video!!!! Aron.

This video is filled with excitement, adventure, suspense, and action. It contains the last four episodes of Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. They are "The Wrath of the Queen", "Rise of the Super Demons", "The Fate of Lightspeed, Part 1", and "The Fate of Lightspeed, Part 2". Th Queen is furious with the civilians of Mariner Bay for building over her palace and creating their own city. Now she'll do anything to get her palace back. Even destroy. Mariner Bay's only hope is the Power Rangers. But will they be enough? Get this video to find out!

This video contains the last four episodes of Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. They are: The Wrath Of The Queen, Rise Of The Super Demons, The Fate Of Lightspeed, Part 1, and The Fate Of Lightspeed, Part 2. Queen Bansheera has lost control. She uses one of her loyal servants to transform her into a bodily form, she makes another one destroy her stupid servant, just to destroy the power rangers, changes her son and her most powerful servant, who betrayed her into super powerful demons, which destroy the rangers' zords, then she threatens to destroy all of Mariner Bay by releasing all the demons in the shadow world. Darkness reigns and the rangers are trapped in an attacked Aquabase. This adventure will leave you breathless to the end. It includes some good special effects. Get this video!

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue: The Queen's Wrath was an excellent video. Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue was an excellent series. I enjoyed this series. Although I do hope maybe a past character will come back in the series Power Rangers Dino Thunder. Overall a very good video!!!! Aron.

This show has got to be the best Power Rangers show in a long time. The Titanium Ranger storyline kicks off when the folks at Lightspeed try to infuse the Red Ranger with Titanium Power, but it is too much for Carter to bear so the Titanium Power is locked away. Diabolico finds out about this new power and sends a secret agent to retrieve the Titanium Morpher. When this agent finds and activates the power, the Rangers morph into action to stop him and get the power back. Yet things get complicated when the Rangers find out that the Titanium Ranger is really...uh, uh...you have to watch the video to find out. All around great fun with alot of suprises in store. I recommend to Power Ranger and non Power Ranger fans alike.

This is a pretty good movie, adding to the chalked up points of the Lightspeed series. The beginning of the movie shows Carter trying out the new Titanium Ranger morpher, but the circuitry is too extreme and powerful for a normal human*. Soon after, Dana and Captain Mitchell celebrate the 20th birthday of their brother and son respectively. That night, the Titanium morpher is stolen by a secret agent of Diabolico's, who seems to feel something for the two Mitchells. The next day, the Rangers are introduced to the evil Titanium Ranger, who kicks their multicoloured butts. Although soon, they beat the evil Ranger with the help of new weapons called V-Lancers. Before they can destroy the Titanium Ranger, Captain Mitchell calls them off, recognising the eyes that are inadvertently shown during the fight. When the Rangers get back to the Aquabase, they demand to know why he called them off. The next part will shock you, so buy the movie!

*How the Ranger could control the power of the morpher is unexplained, so this is only a hypothesis. My guess is that since this person grew up with demons around him, he was either taught magic to control it, or he hung around them long enough to become more like them and not be a 'normal' human.

This recent PR reincarnation is superb, in any way I can name it. It practically contains NO (I repeat NO) cheesy plot lines and plot holes, because of the original plotline--Ryan, the new Titanium Ranger (takes off his shirt many times--female viewers will appreciate the eye candy he provides) is cursed with a cobra tattoo which crawls closer to his neck every time he morphs. Once it gets close enough, it will destroy him.

The storyline is predictable, but that hardly matters. What matters is that Haim Saban finally broke the mold and came up with an at least semi-original plot, fine acting by all the cast, and a ending that which you have to see the last PRLR video to figure out the conclusion.

Not rated; contains some violence.

This show has got to be the best Power Rangers show in a long time. The Titanium Ranger storyline kicks off when the folks at Lightspeed try to infuse the Red Ranger with Titanium Power, but it is too much for Carter to bear so the Titanium Power is locked away. Diabolico finds out about this new power and sends a secret agent to retrieve the Titanium Morpher. When this agent finds and activates the power, the Rangers morph into action to stop him and get the power back. Yet things get complicated when the Rangers find out that the Titanium Ranger is really...uh, uh...you have to watch the video to find out. All around great fun with alot of suprises in store. I recommend to Power Ranger and non Power Ranger fans alike.

This is a pretty good movie, adding to the chalked up points of the Lightspeed series. The beginning of the movie shows Carter trying out the new Titanium Ranger morpher, but the circuitry is too extreme and powerful for a normal human*. Soon after, Dana and Captain Mitchell celebrate the 20th birthday of their brother and son respectively. That night, the Titanium morpher is stolen by a secret agent of Diabolico's, who seems to feel something for the two Mitchells. The next day, the Rangers are introduced to the evil Titanium Ranger, who kicks their multicoloured butts. Although soon, they beat the evil Ranger with the help of new weapons called V-Lancers. Before they can destroy the Titanium Ranger, Captain Mitchell calls them off, recognising the eyes that are inadvertently shown during the fight. When the Rangers get back to the Aquabase, they demand to know why he called them off. The next part will shock you, so buy the movie!

*How the Ranger could control the power of the morpher is unexplained, so this is only a hypothesis. My guess is that since this person grew up with demons around him, he was either taught magic to control it, or he hung around them long enough to become more like them and not be a 'normal' human.

This recent PR reincarnation is superb, in any way I can name it. It practically contains NO (I repeat NO) cheesy plot lines and plot holes, because of the original plotline--Ryan, the new Titanium Ranger (takes off his shirt many times--female viewers will appreciate the eye candy he provides) is cursed with a cobra tattoo which crawls closer to his neck every time he morphs. Once it gets close enough, it will destroy him.

The storyline is predictable, but that hardly matters. What matters is that Haim Saban finally broke the mold and came up with an at least semi-original plot, fine acting by all the cast, and a ending that which you have to see the last PRLR video to figure out the conclusion.

Not rated; contains some violence.

This video portrayed the life of Dorothy Day, a remarkable woman, who with her passion for Christ started the Catholic Worker movement.

A special movie... One that is not at all light-hearted, but one that will challenge you and make you think differently about the value of human dignity.

If you are in the mood for something different, a movie that will bring you closer to your own faith, I recommend this one. It made me reevaluate my priorities.

An Inspiring Movie about a woman (Dorothy Day), her personal discovery of God, and her Quest to be in Loving Unselfish Service to those in desperate need. Truly a shining example of Living Faith!

I watched this on telvesion recently and knew I had to have the video to share with others this most inspiring story of Dorothy Day, a political and social activist who practiced what she preached. This movie may only be superficial... but it nonetheless gives one a glimpse into the person who is rightly called the Mother Teresa of America. Moira Kelly does a great job portraying Dorothy Day. Martin Sheen is excellent in his portrayl of Peter Maurin who inspired her to set up a hospice to help the poor in her quest for political and social justice.

.... I have heard many Catholics complain that while Dorothy Day did great work like Saint Mother Frances Cabrini and Mother Teresa, she was too political for the Catholic Church. Perhaps. It is true the Catholic Church discourages political involvement by her priests, laybrothers, and nuns. However, as a lay woman not bound by constraints imposed by the religous life, Dorothy Day was free to be involved with politics. This movie shows actor Brian Keith as a Catholic Prelate telling Miss Day she is an embarassment to the Church with her socialist views, and thus so Dorothy Day must change or the Church governmment and clergy need to keep her at a distance, lest they too be considered Communists or Marxists. Dorothy Day did not change but continued her political protests and lobbying for the help of the poor.

Although not a life-to-death biography, I feel that Entertaining Angels portrays the spirit and the conscience of Dorothy Day. A convert to the Faith in her early adulthood, Dorothy Day proved why many converts make better Catholics than some of us who were born, baptized, and raised in the Catholic Church. In want of a better understanding of Dorothy Day I recommend the viewer of this movie also read her autobiography titled: The Long Loneliness. Although I have given up on politics I must say I find the life of Dorothy Day most encouraging. Like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Dorothy Day saw people suffering and had the courage to help them to better lives - becoming perhaps - a martyr in her own right.

Having just her read her autobiography called the Long Loneliness I am very disappointed that the movie did not follow her version of the events. The movie does justice to the spirit of Dorothy Day, but not to the facts of her life. I advise the viewer to read both "the Long Loneliness" and the biography by Robert Coles for a much better understanding and appreciation of Dorothy Day.

I have loved this series for years. I just love the little thought provoking things that Caine, the main character says. I've watched it since I was a little kid, and when I was in my twenties, it came on at 4 am on a channel once a week so I'd stay awake just to see it. I really hope they put the whole series on DVD. I'd buy it in a minute.

I love the quiet demeanor of Caine. I enjoy his humility and his respectfulness. The Caine character proves that you don't have to be "bad" to be cool. The pilot movie is definitely worth watching.

This is certainly by no means an all-time favorite movie of mine, but it's an excellent little flick nevertheless -- especially considering that it was made-for-TV, the pilot for the "Kung Fu" TV series. My wife and I just saw it tonight and quite enjoyed it. At a mere 74 minutes, it's short and sweet, kinda the way I wish more movies would be! It's definitely a Western, as it takes place out West in the late 19th century, but it's unique for this genre in that it incorporates Eastern philosophy/wisdom and martial arts -- sorry, no quick-draw shootouts here.

A great scene appears near the beginning wherein Caine walks into a saloon after walking (!!) across a desert to get some water. Naturally some redneck dork wants to start a fight with him 'cause he's one of them "slant-eyes." Three times the guy attempts to attack Caine and three times Caine swiftly and decisively repels the attacks. The guy wisely decides not to attack again as Caine finishes his water and humbly walks out of the saloon leaving the saloon patrons in astonishment.

There's more martial arts action toward the end, but, it should be noted, this is by no means a standard martial arts flick. The movie teaches humility and respect for elders & all fellow human beings.

Despite the fact that they have very little dialogue, Caine develops a close father/son relationship with blind Master Po.

Some scenes have such a reverent and touching quality to them that they actually brought tears to my eyes .

In Brian Garfield's "Western Films" guide he criticized this film as "Juvenile tripe." With all due respect for the brilliant Mr. Garfield, this film is neither juvenile or tripe! As far as Westerns go, it's quite mature and original. Good Eastern-style music too.

KUNG FU is one of the few movies I have ever seen that has respect for a foundation. It is unfortunate that the martial arts are what viewers most often think of when they remember either the movie or the long running television show. Yet, a respect for tradition and a veneration for one's elders form the philosophical underpinning for both. The young Kwai Chang Caine, played modestly by Rademas Pera, portrays Caine as the height of worshipful respect. Having grown up as an orphan, we see in flashbacks, that he and the other village orphans, were invited to visit the local Shaolin monastery. He waits patiently in the rain for days until he is admitted. Once he is, he and a group of ragamuffins sit down at a table laden with food. The other orphans gorge themselves. Young Caine does not. Because he had the manners to wait, he is invited to stay by Master Po. During his years in the monastery, there are many scenes of interaction between him and his Shaolin instructors. It is these vignettes of the Wise Sages instructing the Eager Youth that lend the movie its charm. Caine, played now by David Carradine, grows to adulthood and leaves the temple to wander China. He is forced to kill the Emperor's nephew and must flee to America. These scnes of exposition are required for the movie to make sense. Caine's rise to maturity forms the basis for his encounter with villainous engineers and a renegade monk.
One subtle scene of respect occurs midway in the film when the adult Caine is working on a desert railroad somewhere in the western region of the United States. A heavily loaded wagon threatens to tip over, and Caine rushes over to prop it up with his surprisingly strong skinny arms. As he raises his arms, the Chinese crowd sees the tatoo of a dragon on his arms, and they bow in reverent silence. Later at the end, Caine must fight an outlaw monk whom he kills, but takes no joy in his victory. Even in defeat, a beaten enemy commands respect.
KUNG FU is the movie that attempts to make some sort of sense out of a violent unpredictable life. Caine seems to say that respect for all may make that possible. Perhaps he is right.

This movie is one of the better ones about Hank Sr. Compared to "Your Cheatin' Heart" and the Jim Owens films its probably the best. A fairly accurate job on Hank by Sneezy, excluding the revival/church type stuff. Hank would have never done that. Being a Hank Williams historian of sorts, Id recommend this one to Williams fans but watch it with a grain of salt. (ie Hank never had drums on stage) :)

Originating on stage in London, England in 1980, "The Show He Never Gave" is a labor of love by a devoted Hank Williams fan who fully understood Hank's legacy as the greatest country star of all time. Focusing on the last hours in his life, his story is told through words and music. Hank's addictions are part of the story, but kept in perspective. This is the most emotional movie I've ever seen, and I've seen thousands. Performances and photography are perfect. Since there is only 10 minutes of real Hank footage in existance --- which I finally saw after 50 years --- this hard-hitting movie is the next best thing.

Although this film appears simple... it's a filmed version of a London stage play... it quietly builds to an emotional pitch unequaled by even the classics of Ingmar Bergman. Hank Williams is/was the most intensely loved artist in country music. His work will never be surpassed because the usually unspoken secret of his work is that (like the saints) he wrote by grace of God and has reached people's hearts in time of intense trouble... I've seen it 12 times. The final 90 seconds are emotional beyond description. Highest possible recommendation. 5 stars+++