Ian-Hart Movie Reviews


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VHS movie reviews for "Ian-Hart" sorted by average review score:

Oh, God! You Devil
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (06 April, 1999)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Paul Bogart
Starring: George Burns and Ted Wass
Average review score:

George Burns Rulz !!!!!!!!
George is so cool in this flick some people may get the wrong idea about the title but in the end you realize that God can take the devil down a peg or two anytime he gets ready !!!!!!!


Liam
Released in VHS Tape by Lions Gate Home Ente (12 March, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Ian Hart and Anthony Borrows
Average review score:

Not a bad film, but...
A somewhat over-obvious drama about a struggling Irish Catholic family living in Liverpool during the Great Depression. Ian Hart plays the agonized father, who just wants a good job, politics be damned; the title character is his son, the innocent through whose eyes we watch the family dissolve and reunite. Liam is caught between his pragmatic, hardbitten Pa and his upright, religious mother, who maintains her faith in the Church, even as it fails to live up to its promise. This film is okay, but somewhat leaden, overly stylized and the plot is too on the nose.

A Down Mood
Eight-year old Liam and his Catholic family live in grimy, industrial Liverpool during the Depression. Liam's Dad loses his job, and each member of the family searches for answers in different places and ways. Their lives become enfolded in bigotry, violence, and social and personal conflicts. Liam, who is being prepared for his First Communion, looks to Catholicism for answers.
This is a Serious Movie. It's dark, and it takes some discipline to stay with it. It has a few good insights but raises many more questions.
A critic on the Internet says "Liam" is more raw than "Life is Beautiful" and more genuine than "Billy Elliot."

Liverpool in the 1930s: Depression: and an Adorable Kid
After critically praised "High Fidelity," director Stephen Frears came back to his homeground with "Liam," which traces a family living in Liverpool during the time of the 1930s, immediately after the Great Depression.

Though, with justification, some people pointed out the resemblamce between this one and "Angela's Ashes," you must know that "Liam" is set in Liverpool, England while the other in Ireland. So it is very suitable that "Liam" cast Ian Hart as Dad of the family because Liverpool-born actor once played a very credible portrait of John Lennon. But you may now remember him as Prof. Quirrell in "Harry Potter." Whichever you are, he totally remodelled himself, to become this father of 7-year-old Liam, whose stuttering sometimes works for his advantage in this hard times of Depression.

The film follows the life of Liam's family members, each of which strrugles to live under conditions of life that gradually get harder. Liam goes to a Catholic school where he is taught about the hell and its fire; his elder sister Teresa starts a job of a housemaid in a rich Jewish family, where she inspite of herself helps to conceal the mother's affair from her husband; and Liam's father, who lost his job at factory, resorts to entering the membership of radical political party.

It seems at first sight that the film is dark, grim, and somber to put off many of you, but it shouldn't. The fact is, thanks to the fast-paced editing of the film, and very sly humors of Jimmy McGovern (of controvertial "Priest"), which include ones with sexual nature -- little Liam had to witness his mother's naked body accidentally, and thinks he has committed a sin --the film is always watchable. You may call it a light-weight work from Frears (running time is about 90 minutes), but it has good acting all around, convincing production designs, and most of all Anthony Borrow's adorable Liam, which itself is worth your money. He has no previous acting experience, but you won't believe it after seeing his face.

Also good is Ian Hart, as always he is. But his final act as Dad, which is very drastic and melodramatic, looks out of tune, and certainly many of you might feel disappointed (and I was too). But I know a Japanese reviewer who pointed out that final conclusion shows an irony -- while Liam himself is terribly afraid of being burnt in hell, it is not he that receives that fate. Is the ending a right one? Please judge it for yourself.

Very gripping drama about a family in Liverpool, "Liam" tells you a thing or two about living there at that time, and influece of religion on the children. You may wonder why Teresa had to say "I'm sorry" while it is Dad that should say so. It is thus always engaing, and thought-provoking. If you didn't like "Angela's Ashes" (which I liked), you may go for it.


Liam
Released in VHS Tape by Lions Gate Home Ente (12 March, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Ian Hart and Anthony Borrows
Average review score:

Not a bad film, but...
A somewhat over-obvious drama about a struggling Irish Catholic family living in Liverpool during the Great Depression. Ian Hart plays the agonized father, who just wants a good job, politics be damned; the title character is his son, the innocent through whose eyes we watch the family dissolve and reunite. Liam is caught between his pragmatic, hardbitten Pa and his upright, religious mother, who maintains her faith in the Church, even as it fails to live up to its promise. This film is okay, but somewhat leaden, overly stylized and the plot is too on the nose.

A Down Mood
Eight-year old Liam and his Catholic family live in grimy, industrial Liverpool during the Depression. Liam's Dad loses his job, and each member of the family searches for answers in different places and ways. Their lives become enfolded in bigotry, violence, and social and personal conflicts. Liam, who is being prepared for his First Communion, looks to Catholicism for answers.
This is a Serious Movie. It's dark, and it takes some discipline to stay with it. It has a few good insights but raises many more questions.
A critic on the Internet says "Liam" is more raw than "Life is Beautiful" and more genuine than "Billy Elliot."

Liverpool in the 1930s: Depression: and an Adorable Kid
After critically praised "High Fidelity," director Stephen Frears came back to his homeground with "Liam," which traces a family living in Liverpool during the time of the 1930s, immediately after the Great Depression.

Though, with justification, some people pointed out the resemblamce between this one and "Angela's Ashes," you must know that "Liam" is set in Liverpool, England while the other in Ireland. So it is very suitable that "Liam" cast Ian Hart as Dad of the family because Liverpool-born actor once played a very credible portrait of John Lennon. But you may now remember him as Prof. Quirrell in "Harry Potter." Whichever you are, he totally remodelled himself, to become this father of 7-year-old Liam, whose stuttering sometimes works for his advantage in this hard times of Depression.

The film follows the life of Liam's family members, each of which strrugles to live under conditions of life that gradually get harder. Liam goes to a Catholic school where he is taught about the hell and its fire; his elder sister Teresa starts a job of a housemaid in a rich Jewish family, where she inspite of herself helps to conceal the mother's affair from her husband; and Liam's father, who lost his job at factory, resorts to entering the membership of radical political party.

It seems at first sight that the film is dark, grim, and somber to put off many of you, but it shouldn't. The fact is, thanks to the fast-paced editing of the film, and very sly humors of Jimmy McGovern (of controvertial "Priest"), which include ones with sexual nature -- little Liam had to witness his mother's naked body accidentally, and thinks he has committed a sin --the film is always watchable. You may call it a light-weight work from Frears (running time is about 90 minutes), but it has good acting all around, convincing production designs, and most of all Anthony Borrow's adorable Liam, which itself is worth your money. He has no previous acting experience, but you won't believe it after seeing his face.

Also good is Ian Hart, as always he is. But his final act as Dad, which is very drastic and melodramatic, looks out of tune, and certainly many of you might feel disappointed (and I was too). But I know a Japanese reviewer who pointed out that final conclusion shows an irony -- while Liam himself is terribly afraid of being burnt in hell, it is not he that receives that fate. Is the ending a right one? Please judge it for yourself.

Very gripping drama about a family in Liverpool, "Liam" tells you a thing or two about living there at that time, and influece of religion on the children. You may wonder why Teresa had to say "I'm sorry" while it is Dad that should say so. It is thus always engaing, and thought-provoking. If you didn't like "Angela's Ashes" (which I liked), you may go for it.


Strictly Sinatra
Released in VHS Tape by Umvd (04 February, 2003)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Peter Capaldi
Starring: Ian Hart and Kelly Macdonald
Average review score:

DECEPTIVE BOX COVER -- NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL -- CRUMMY MOVIE
THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL!

The box cover image is deceptive. Amazon doesn't show a VHS box image at the time I am writing this, but they have an image for the DVD (and it's the same one). The box shows a man in a tuxedo, (Tony, the main character). The background is the LAS VEGAS STRIP. Right? It shows the strip looking from the vicinity of The Stratosphere looking toward The Mirage or so.

THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS IN THIS MOVIE AT ALL though. In fact, except for the last 20 seconds of the movie, THERE IS NO AMERICA IN THIS MOVIE EITHER.

The movie is weak. Its impossible to care about ANY of the characters. And goodness, what was the producer thinking having Tony go around throughout the movie wearing a ridiculous 20 dollar winter coat that looks like it belongs on a school kid?

He is not credible as a singer at all. The entire movie is Irish accents. Nothing but Irish accents. If you like that, then fine, but otherwise it will drive you out of your mind.

The singing was miserable. The version of My Way sung near the end was sickeningly bad.

Nobody acted well. The story is constantly absurd. The acting has no credibility. There is never a moment when you believe that these are real people in real situations.

Even when they are acting in a life or death situation, the acting is so bad that you will not for a second believe that they are living what they are acting.

AND THERE IS NO LAS VEGAS AT ALL.

The slippery slope
Ian Hart plays Tony Cocozza, a lounge singer who specializes in Sinatra songs--hence the name of his act "Strictly Sinatra." While Tony respects and idolizes Sinatra, he gets little respect from his audience and is more or less a laughing stock. Then one night, he is sent a request--something other than a Sinatra song. At first he refuses. He is, he says, true to his "Strictly Sinatra" format, but he bows to the pressure and performs the requested song for a local mobster and his Sinatra-crazed wife, Dainty.

Soon, he is singing at the mob casinos, singing at their Christmas parties, and doors that were slammed shut in his face, mysteriously open.

There is a price to pay for this, and Cocozza pays it--little realizing where all this will inevitably lead until one incident presents him with a moral dilemma, and he is forced to make a choice.

Excellent film--excellent acting by all involved. I can't think of a film in recent years that portrayed the insidious moral seduction of a character so well.

Ian Hart does it his way
Ian Hart is always an amazing performer, and this role is no exception. This is the story of Toni Cocozza, a small-time Scootish crooner with dreams of being the next Sinatra. It looks like he might finally be catching a break when he catches the eye of a "prominent local businessman" and meets the girl of dreams but nothing is ever that easy and he finds he has to earn his keep among in his new circle, much to the horror of his true friends.

There is not a bad performance in the film. Kelly Macdonald, Alun Armstrong and Brian Cox portray their characters wonderfully, but it is ultimately Ian Hart's movie and he doesn't disappoint. I also think he sings quite well.

Technically, there are no extras on the DVD which is a bit frustrating, but what can you do?


The End of the Affair
Released in VHS Tape by Columbia/Tristar Studios (17 October, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Rea, and Julianne Moore
"This is a diary of hate," pounds out novelist Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) on his typewriter as he recounts the lost love of his life in this spiritual memoir (based on Graham Greene's novel) with a startling twist. It's London 1946, and Maurice runs into his achingly dull school friend Henry (Stephen Rea with a perpetually gloomy hangdog expression). Their meeting is brittle, all small talk and chilly, mannered civility beautifully captured by director-screenwriter Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), and it only barely thaws when Henry suggests that his wife Sarah (the luminous Julianne Moore) may be having an affair. Maurice's mind reels back to his passionate affair with Sarah during the war years, which she abruptly broke off two years ago, and gripped with a jealousy that hasn't abated he hires a private detective (a mousy, marvelous Ian Hart) to shadow her movements. He prepares himself for the revelation of a rival, but instead finds a deeper, more profound secret: "I tempted fate," she writes in her diary, "and fate accepted."

Jordan's cool remove captures the unease beneath formal manners but never warms into intimacy during the scenes between the lovers, even while Fiennes and Moore almost explode in repressed emotions, their faces cracking under their masks of civility and their resolve shaking through jittery body language. There's more thought than feeling behind this collision of passion and spirituality, but it's a sincere, richly realized portrait of ennui and rage against God energized by brief moments of shattering drama. --Sean Axmaker

Average review score:

Romantically intriguing
A highly recommendable romantic drama, The End of the Affair proved to be an indulging and intriguing film for audiences worldwide. It may not have got the Oscar success that Neil Jordan was hoping for, but it was a competitive year and The End of the Affair certainly got mentioned in other ceremonies (the Oscar's did give it 2 nominations, which is less than it deserves), which is refreshing. Anyway, on about the film. It has stunning performances, Ralph Fiennes is at his best, waltzing through jealousy with ultimate passion. Most notable though is the brilliant Julianne Moore, who captures Sarah's romantically unhappy side with grace. The script does have flaws - it gives no real explanation of why these 2 people would want to fall in love, but the literature and meaning have lots of quality to them. Nice costumes and beautiful cinematography added, and you have a very moving story that includes almost every human emotion possible.

A beautiful and intelligent love story
If you're the kind of person whose idea of a good movie is an action film, and you don't care for movies where almost all the action happens inside the characters, this movie is not for you. But if what you look in the cinema its a film with a perfect cast, directed by an artist filmmaker, with a brillant screenplay, based on a novel of one of the best writers of the century: The End of the Affair is a sure bet. Based on a Graham Green's novel, The End Of the Affair was originally made in the 50s with Deborah Kerr as the unfaithfull wife and Van Johnson as the jealous lover. I confess that I saw the 90s version completelly virgin because I haven't read the book, or seen the earlier version, so with nothing to compare Neil Jordan's version, I absolutelly loved this film. Why? Let me count the ways: First the screenplay: beautiful dialogues, one liners and silences; all the characters are extraordinary and the plot is full of surprises; Second: The cast; They are perfect: Ralph Fiennes as the jealous lover is better than in The English Patient, maybe because Julianne Moore, as the enigmatic Sarah, makes believable all the passion felt for her by the men on the story(and the boy too); and I shouldn't forget the unpassionate husband(why did she married him?), the clumsy and sentimental private detective, and his marked boy, and God, who is the big antagonist of the film. Neil Jordan, always a great director, never have been better than with The End of the Affair, making a strange jewel: A beautiful and intelligent love story.

great film
worth seeing if only to watch Julianne Moore's porcelain skin


The End of the Affair
Released in VHS Tape by Columbia/Tristar Studios (17 October, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stephen Rea, and Julianne Moore
"This is a diary of hate," pounds out novelist Maurice Bendrix (Ralph Fiennes) on his typewriter as he recounts the lost love of his life in this spiritual memoir (based on Graham Greene's novel) with a startling twist. It's London 1946, and Maurice runs into his achingly dull school friend Henry (Stephen Rea with a perpetually gloomy hangdog expression). Their meeting is brittle, all small talk and chilly, mannered civility beautifully captured by director-screenwriter Neil Jordan (The Crying Game), and it only barely thaws when Henry suggests that his wife Sarah (the luminous Julianne Moore) may be having an affair. Maurice's mind reels back to his passionate affair with Sarah during the war years, which she abruptly broke off two years ago, and gripped with a jealousy that hasn't abated he hires a private detective (a mousy, marvelous Ian Hart) to shadow her movements. He prepares himself for the revelation of a rival, but instead finds a deeper, more profound secret: "I tempted fate," she writes in her diary, "and fate accepted."

Jordan's cool remove captures the unease beneath formal manners but never warms into intimacy during the scenes between the lovers, even while Fiennes and Moore almost explode in repressed emotions, their faces cracking under their masks of civility and their resolve shaking through jittery body language. There's more thought than feeling behind this collision of passion and spirituality, but it's a sincere, richly realized portrait of ennui and rage against God energized by brief moments of shattering drama. --Sean Axmaker

Average review score:

Romantically intriguing
A highly recommendable romantic drama, The End of the Affair proved to be an indulging and intriguing film for audiences worldwide. It may not have got the Oscar success that Neil Jordan was hoping for, but it was a competitive year and The End of the Affair certainly got mentioned in other ceremonies (the Oscar's did give it 2 nominations, which is less than it deserves), which is refreshing. Anyway, on about the film. It has stunning performances, Ralph Fiennes is at his best, waltzing through jealousy with ultimate passion. Most notable though is the brilliant Julianne Moore, who captures Sarah's romantically unhappy side with grace. The script does have flaws - it gives no real explanation of why these 2 people would want to fall in love, but the literature and meaning have lots of quality to them. Nice costumes and beautiful cinematography added, and you have a very moving story that includes almost every human emotion possible.

A beautiful and intelligent love story
If you're the kind of person whose idea of a good movie is an action film, and you don't care for movies where almost all the action happens inside the characters, this movie is not for you. But if what you look in the cinema its a film with a perfect cast, directed by an artist filmmaker, with a brillant screenplay, based on a novel of one of the best writers of the century: The End of the Affair is a sure bet. Based on a Graham Green's novel, The End Of the Affair was originally made in the 50s with Deborah Kerr as the unfaithfull wife and Van Johnson as the jealous lover. I confess that I saw the 90s version completelly virgin because I haven't read the book, or seen the earlier version, so with nothing to compare Neil Jordan's version, I absolutelly loved this film. Why? Let me count the ways: First the screenplay: beautiful dialogues, one liners and silences; all the characters are extraordinary and the plot is full of surprises; Second: The cast; They are perfect: Ralph Fiennes as the jealous lover is better than in The English Patient, maybe because Julianne Moore, as the enigmatic Sarah, makes believable all the passion felt for her by the men on the story(and the boy too); and I shouldn't forget the unpassionate husband(why did she married him?), the clumsy and sentimental private detective, and his marked boy, and God, who is the big antagonist of the film. Neil Jordan, always a great director, never have been better than with The End of the Affair, making a strange jewel: A beautiful and intelligent love story.

great film
worth seeing if only to watch Julianne Moore's porcelain skin


Highlander
Released in VHS Tape by Republic Studios (23 March, 1999)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery
This 1986 fantasy/action thriller has since spawned two sequels, a popular syndicated TV series, numerous comic-book spinoffs, and a loyal (if somewhat oddly obsessive) following of fans. Directed by music video veteran Russell Mulcahy (which explains the dizzying camera work), the original theatrical release made hash of an intriguing story about an "Immortal" from 16th-century Scotland (Christopher Lambert) who time-leaps to modern-day America with his archenemy (Clancy Brown) in hot pursuit. It becomes a battle to the death (yes, Immortals can die), and Lambert seeks survival training from an Immortal mentor played by Sean Connery. Dazzling, energetic, and altogether confusing in its original form, the film has since been released on video, laserdisc, and DVD in this revised widescreen "director's cut," with additional footage, director and producers' commentary, a photo and artwork archive, the original trailer, and an official time line of the film's evolution from script to screen. A must for Highlander fans ... and you know who you are! --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Just as good on the fifth as the first viewing
I'll say it up front - this movie is one of my top five of all time. I knew none of the stars at the time (save Connery) and maybe this made the story all that better. Why this particular film had (and has) such an attraction to the general public is not hard to figure out.

The premise, while seen elsewhere, is presented here with only a minimum of hokiness - no deep, theological, mythological or genetic explanations as to why the Eternals came to be - they just are. The switch between 16th century Scotland and modern America was deft and non-obtrusive. The acting was spectacular and bad boy Clancey Brown makes a strong, almost show stealing performance. But it is Lambert in all his quixotic dry wit and somber moods that is the icing on the cake.

Fantastic music - loved the ballade, great action scenes, just a perfect gem. Then they had to go and try to ruin it with all the follow-ups (garbage), a TV series (It DOESN'T grow on you) the action game (my youngest son said it was "crummy") and the Highlander toys. How many movies have directors "followed" by a catastrophic sequeal? Foreget all that stuff and buy or rent the DVD.


Highlander - 10th Anniversary Edition
Released in VHS Tape by Republic Studios (02 May, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery
This 1986 fantasy/action thriller has since spawned two sequels, a popular syndicated TV series, numerous comic-book spinoffs, and a loyal (if somewhat oddly obsessive) following of fans. Directed by music video veteran Russell Mulcahy (which explains the dizzying camera work), the original theatrical release made hash of an intriguing story about an "Immortal" from 16th-century Scotland (Christopher Lambert) who time-leaps to modern-day America with his archenemy (Clancy Brown) in hot pursuit. It becomes a battle to the death (yes, Immortals can die), and Lambert seeks survival training from an Immortal mentor played by Sean Connery. Dazzling, energetic, and altogether confusing in its original form, the film has since been released on video, laserdisc, and DVD in this revised widescreen "director's cut," with additional footage, director and producers' commentary, a photo and artwork archive, the original trailer, and an official time line of the film's evolution from script to screen. A must for Highlander fans ... and you know who you are! --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Just as good on the fifth as the first viewing
I'll say it up front - this movie is one of my top five of all time. I knew none of the stars at the time (save Connery) and maybe this made the story all that better. Why this particular film had (and has) such an attraction to the general public is not hard to figure out.

The premise, while seen elsewhere, is presented here with only a minimum of hokiness - no deep, theological, mythological or genetic explanations as to why the Eternals came to be - they just are. The switch between 16th century Scotland and modern America was deft and non-obtrusive. The acting was spectacular and bad boy Clancey Brown makes a strong, almost show stealing performance. But it is Lambert in all his quixotic dry wit and somber moods that is the icing on the cake.

Fantastic music - loved the ballade, great action scenes, just a perfect gem. Then they had to go and try to ruin it with all the follow-ups (garbage), a TV series (It DOESN'T grow on you) the action game (my youngest son said it was "crummy") and the Highlander toys. How many movies have directors "followed" by a catastrophic sequeal? Foreget all that stuff and buy or rent the DVD.


Highlander - Director's Cut
Released in VHS Tape by Anchor Bay Entertainment (16 January, 2001)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Starring: Christopher Lambert, Clancy Brown, and Sean Connery
This 1986 fantasy/action thriller has since spawned two sequels, a popular syndicated TV series, numerous comic-book spinoffs, and a loyal (if somewhat oddly obsessive) following of fans. Directed by music video veteran Russell Mulcahy (which explains the dizzying camera work), the original theatrical release made hash of an intriguing story about an "Immortal" from 16th-century Scotland (Christopher Lambert) who time-leaps to modern-day America with his archenemy (Clancy Brown) in hot pursuit. It becomes a battle to the death (yes, Immortals can die), and Lambert seeks survival training from an Immortal mentor played by Sean Connery. Dazzling, energetic, and altogether confusing in its original form, the film has since been released on video, laserdisc, and DVD in this revised widescreen "director's cut," with additional footage, director and producers' commentary, a photo and artwork archive, the original trailer, and an official time line of the film's evolution from script to screen. A must for Highlander fans ... and you know who you are! --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

"It's a kind of magic"
This movie is a real gem. I don't really understand why critics were so hard on it, much less do I understand why a few people here are insulting the movie itself (I know the DVD transfer was bad, so I relate to those people) or why the movie was so cheap, then again, the quality of the transfer of this movie would explain it. But this movie is excellent in all aspects. It's unique, and it unfortunately has had its glory destroyed by lousy sequels and TERRIBLE TV shows.

In terms of the acting, contrary to what other people claim here, Christopher Lambert's performance is first rate, and I think it a shame that he has subsequently appeared mostly in bad 1 1/2 star flicks and hasn't since had a real breakthrough in movies. Sean Connery adds real style to the movie with his acting, but it's a shame that he's in there for such a short time. Clancy Brown is as sinister as ever as Kurgan.

The visuals and effects are great by any standard and the swordfighting scenes are excellent

And WHO could possibly diss the rocking musical score by Queen? With such a strong opening theme ("Princes of the Universe") a truly emotional ballad ("Who Wants to Live Forever") and their smash hit single ("A Kind of Magic") just to name a few, you can't go wrong. If you learned about this movie just by being a Queen fan, and first watched the movie out of interest in their score (my situation), you're in for a real treat.

To fans of this movie who were disappointed by the latest transfer, My only suggestion is to wait a while for the Highlander Immortal Edition which will be released April 16, 2002. It promises better sound and picture quality, the uncensored Director's Cut, Commentary, and plenty of Queen material including music videos to their songs from this movie which are musical and visual masterpieces (I've seen them). Plus it's in anamorphic widescreen format, and anamorphic seems like a good way to go especially for a movie like this.

In any case, this movie is a winner and magic in it's strongest form. There can be only one.

There can be only one!
The wait is almost over! The first (and the best, as rated by most) movie in the Highlander saga is about to be released as a 2-disc set with completely new Dolby Digital and DTS audio mix and a much better video transfer. The previous DVD versions of the movie lacked the audio-visual quality, most dvd fans crave for. In fact, in my opinion the movie really deserved a good audio mix, for it is packed with some great music by Queen and I hope the new version contains an isolated music track as well!

The Immortal Edition will be packaged in a limited edition tin box, a feature Anchor Bay Entertainment is known for. With a second disc full of extras, this edition is a release no Highlander fan should miss.

"There can be only one", and it seems this is THE ONE!!

Just as good on the fifth as the first viewing
I'll say it up front - this movie is one of my top five of all time. I knew none of the stars at the time (save Connery) and maybe this made the story all that better. Why this particular film had (and has) such an attraction to the general public is not hard to figure out.

The premise, while seen elsewhere, is presented here with only a minimum of hokiness - no deep, theological, mythological or genetic explanations as to why the Eternals came to be - they just are. The switch between 16th century Scotland and modern America was deft and non-obtrusive. The acting was spectacular and bad boy Clancey Brown makes a strong, almost show stealing performance. But it is Lambert in all his quixotic dry wit and somber moods that is the icing on the cake.

Fantastic music - loved the ballade, great action scenes, just a perfect gem. Then they had to go and try to ruin it with all the follow-ups (garbage), a TV series (It DOESN'T grow on you) the action game (my youngest son said it was "crummy") and the Highlander toys. How many movies have directors "followed" by a catastrophic sequeal? Foreget all that stuff and buy or rent the DVD.


Frogs For Snakes
Released in VHS Tape by Artisan Entertainment (15 August, 2000)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Amos Poe
Average review score:

Entertaining wacky noir
Amos Poe takes the framework of neo-noir and wraps around it a wacky satire of actors so desperate for parts they'll kill for 'em. To top it off, the "impresario" who puts on the plays is a big guy, played by Robbie Coltrane--an English actor with an impeccable tough Noo Yawk accent--who's also a mob boss. What Poe's really done here is to give us the New York City that really exists--the one full of attitude, show business, desperation, "me first", and day-to-day toughing it out.

The reason this all works is because Poe makes it obvious that this is, after all, a movie--that is, another piece of show business that's being used to show how the business itself is so cut-throat it makes killers of those scrambling within it for placement. There IS some humor here, the laugh-out loud kind, and there is the overall premise which is cleverly done, albeit in a somewhat cartoonish way. But the intensity of most of the dialogue more than makes up for whatever cartoonish elements may exist.

The cast here is a good one--and all of them (aside from the "impresario") are actors. Barbara Hershey is the least cartoonish of the characters, the mob boss' ex. John Leguizamo is her lover. Lisa Marie is another divorcee, also with a young kid. Debi Mazar, who gives the most unfortunately cliched monologue in the film, is the most desperate of the actors. Clarence Williams III--who cannot give a bad performance if he tries--HAS to play Teach, in American Buffalo, the mob boss' next show. And Harry Hamlin is the lowlife who is sure HE will play Teach. Also on hand are Mike Starr, Justin Theroux and Ron Perlman who do their New York characters proud--as does the rest of the cast--with real panache.

Poe is also poking fun here at David Mamet; all his characters have the same monosyllabic names that Mamet favors in his play American Buffalo which is the actors' focal point. So here we have Klench, Zip, Flav, Simone, Myrna (I lied; the women have two-syllable names), and Crush.

This is not a great film, but an amusing one, especially, maybe, for actors struggling to make it big in the Big Apple.

Not For The Stupid at Heart
Frogs for Snakes takes many of todays tratitional actors and expounds on their true abilities to entertain and act. This film is nothing short of enlightening when compaired to the pretense of other movies. The guise cast by this assemblage of actors is perfection.

this movie is great
if you didn't like it, you have no idea what goes on in the new york acting world. you'll do better with Third watch!


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