Martin-Sheen Movie Reviews

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VHS movie reviews for "Martin-Sheen" sorted by average review score:
Cadence
Released in VHS Tape by Republic Studios (08 February, 1999)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Martin Sheen
Starring: Martin Sheen and Charlie Sheen
Martin Sheen's 1991 directorial debut features Sheen as the disturbed head of a military stockade where the prisoners include a troublemaking Army misfit played by his son Charlie. Private Bean (Charlie Sheen) is thrown into the stockade with a group of five blacks calling themselves the Soul Patrol, and gradually learns teamwork from the men, including their leader Stokes (Laurence Fishburne). Eventually the tug of war between Bean and the bigoted commander reaches a boiling point with tragic conclusions, and Bean learns the meaning of compassion and the difference between right and wrong. The film is nothing particularly inspiring or insightful, but the supporting players, including Fishburne, give solid performances, and Cadence affords the audience a chance to see the father and son team work together in an earnest and well-meaning drama. --Robert Lane
Average review score:

A treat from the Estevez/Sheen family
This is one of Charlie's best performances as an actor, and I've seen many. Charlie plays his role as Private Bean with such passion, especially in the beginning, that he seems to bring you into the scenes with him. Maybe the fact that he was doing his father's movie with 2 family members added a little spark to the fire. Martin Sheen is excellent, of course, in his role as the soon-to-be-crazy Commander. However, I think the last scene in which we see the Commander was a bit contrived. It probably would have read better in a book because books seem to give more poetic license. An added bonus to the fine acting of Charlie, Martin, and Laurence Fishburn, was another Estevez son, Ramon. This is the first time I've seen Ramon in a movie - I hope it's not the last.

A Treat for Sheen Fans
A real treat for fans of the Sheen/Estevez clan, featuring the always excellent Martin Sheen with his famous son Charlie Sheen - one of Charlie's more appealing performances - and his lesser-known son Ramon Estevez who does a great job as suck-up assistant Gerald to Martin's Sargeant role. Ramon definitely inherited the family good looks - go to the cast and crew feature on the DVD to see a good pic of him. This movie grows on you - the more you watch, the more you notice. A really fantastic song in the church scene which was written and performed by the actor Harry Stewart (Sweetbread). It's touching to see Martin perform with his sons.

Not A Typical Fish Out of Water Story
I saw this when I was still in highschool, a great film though Fishburne's performance was limited. Most of the focus was on Charlie Sheen but that's what I think was the intention. Private Bean is put with a bunch of black army prisoners during the 60's which would of course be unnerving though most of the film didn't dwell on racial differences and conflict with the exception of the pivotal moment when one of the black prisoners is shot dead. For the most part the focus on adaptation and how the rebellious Bean must learn to deal with the real world as it was. A short but decent movie.

The Dead Zone
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (19 August, 2003)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: David Cronenberg
Starring: Christopher Walken and Brooke Adams
The Dead Zone is based on a novel by Stephen King, directed by David Cronenberg (Scanners, The Fly) and produced by Debra Hill (Halloween, The Fog). Such a trio of horror vets would be expected to come up with an evening of shocks and gore, but The Dead Zone is a surprise. While it has great atmospheric eeriness and undeniably scary moments, The Dead Zone is at heart a sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of main character Johnny Smith's dilemma. Christopher Walken, king of the vaguely creepy, plays Smith, a man who awakens from a five-year coma with the very mixed blessing of second sight. At the mere touch of a hand, Smith is unwillingly launched into scenes of past and future terror. (Director Cronenberg is said to have fired blanks from a .357 Magnum just out of camera range to keep Walken's flinching spontaneous.) The Dead Zone wisely takes its time telling the story, and thus allows for some great performances. Walken gives a rich portrayal of the conflicted Smith, and Colleen Dewhurst and Tom Skerritt both do welcome turns in smaller roles. The most fun of all, though, is clearly being had by Martin Sheen, who gives a spirited performance as a complete sleazebag. --Ali Davis
Average review score:

The ICE... is gonna break!
I've never been a fan of Stephen King's books or movies adapted from his stories, but I have to admit I really enjoyed this film. Almost 20 years after it was released, it's still very powerful, and the reasons are multifold.

I'm a big Christopher Walken fan, and in this film, he hits every emotion available right on the nose--sympathy for his character, fear of human contact (and the lack of it), disability, weariness... he does it all splendidly, and straighter than most of his other film roles.

If that wasn't enough, check out Martin Sheen (now ironically playing the president in "The West Wing") thoroughly enjoying himself as a complete lunatic presidential candidate.

The pace of the film is it's greatest strength; it never sacrifices believeability for garishness, and ends on a fitting note, remaining as true to the book as is possible for a movie. It's suspenseful, entertaining, and most of all, fresh. Many movies since then have used elements of it, and for good reason; it's solid filmmaking.

Genuinely haunting
In my opinion, this is the best film made from a Stephen King work, but it may be too understated for its own good. I've visited many Stephen King discussion websites, and "The Dead Zone" appears surprisingly rarely in the threads about movies made from King works.

One would expect that in a film featuring Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen, Walken would play the villain and Sheen the hero. This film turns that assumption neatly on its head, and it's a wise choice, too; for all his talent and oddball appeal, Walken does not have the type of oily charisma needed for Greg Stillson, the character Sheen plays. Sheen, however, does a terrific (though at times over-the-top) job of playing a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing politician, a far cry from the saintly President Bartlett he currently plays on TV's "The West Wing."

Walken's performance as Johnny Smith (great name) is more muted--although that scene where he smashes the vase and yells "THE ICE IS GONNA BREAK!" never fails to startle me--and he hits all of the right notes playing a protagonist who is atypically complex for movies, and certainly for "horror" movies (the genre this movie is generally relegated to). Smith starts out righteously wounded, then becomes withdrawn and self-pitying, and finally is faced with a Cassandra-like dilemma (he knows the dreadful future, and also that no one will believe him), but unlike Cassandra, he can do something to prevent it, even though it will mean sacrificing himself. With this knowledge, he realizes that what he'd thought was a curse was really a gift, as he himself says.

This film is also atypical for the "horror" genre in that it has more than its share of heartbreaking scenes. The scene that is most so, for me anyway, is when Smith tells Sarah (Brooke Adams, who gives another of the film's roundly excellent performances) that he wishes to be like Irving's Ichabod Crane: "And as he was a bachelor and in nobody's debt, nobody troubled their heads about him anymore."

A brilliant, underappreciated adaptation of King's novel
For some reason, The Dead Zone has always been one of my least favorite Stephen King novels, but I have to say this movie adaptation of the novel is first-rate indeed, one of the most underappreciated of all the movies based on the work of the king of horror. The film's success is due in large part to Christopher Walken; with a less capable actor filling the role of Johnny Smith, this movie could have turned out as flat as a pancake. Walken, the consummate actor, is mesmerizing here. It's a complex role to play, as Johnny Smith has not exactly been blessed by the kind hands of fate. When we first meet him, he is a happy English teacher preparing to marry the woman he loves; a stormy night and a runaway milk tanker later, he wakes up to find that five years have passed, his girl has married someone else, and he is all but incapable of even walking. If you think this is a film about eliminating a politician of great and destructive evil, you're not even half-right. While that is of course the focus of the concluding minutes, the movie itself is all about Johnny's struggles to come to terms with his new life, a new life which includes a frightening power to see into the past and future of those whom he physically touches. The first manifestation comes in handy, as he helps save a nurse's little girl from dying in a fire, but traumatic, soul-draining visions of horror take a lot out of a guy as time moves on.

Johnny first comes to terms with his power when he agrees to help the police discover the identity of an elusive serial killer walking the streets of Castle Rock (which, for some strange reason, is supposedly located in New Hampshire rather than Maine). This experience only makes him retreat farther into himself, compelling him to move to another town and try to begin a new life within the comfort of his own protective walls. A traumatic vision concerning one of the students he is tutoring leads him to discover a new aspect of his power, and this discovery comes just in time for him to make a difficult decision as to whether or not to sacrifice his own life in order to prevent a truly cataclysmic event from taking place in the future.

David Cronenberg directs this bleak but absorbing film, but don't expect the kind of gore Cronenberg is famous for, as this is not a gore-mired film by any means (although the deaths we do witness are pretty satisfyingly presented). The Dead Zone is a psychological study of human nature and a suspenseful thriller, not a horror movie per se. Martin Sheen leaves an unforgettable mark on the film with his portrayal of as slimy and dangerous a politician as you would ever want to meet (and, as a side note, impersonating Elvis Presley's voice apparently goes over big among New England voters for some reason).

A lot of care and detail went into the making of The Dead Zone, and it shows. The atmosphere is dark and palpable from start to finish, and Christopher Walken commands the viewer's rapt attention at all times. There are a number of very moving scenes, particularly in relation to Johnny's new relationship with his former fiancée, so don't be surprised if Walken coaxes a tear or two out of the corners of your eyes. Many of the early movies based on King novels did not translate to the big screen very effectively, but The Dead Zone is an often overlooked and very impressive exception.

American President
Released in VHS Tape by Columbia/Tristar Studios (02 September, 1997)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, and Michael J. Fox
What sounds like the high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching, and quite funny. Granted, it's wish fulfillment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?), but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, The American President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the '90s. --Mark Englehart
Average review score:

What a Great Movie. . .
Fun yet serious romantic comedy. . . Douglas is great. Benning is cunning, captivating, and beautiful. Martin Sheen is great in his supporting role. Michael J. Fox is always a plus in a movie.

The movie is about president who lost his wife, who falls for a environmental lobbyist. The struggle comes from Richard Dryfus's character "Bob Rumpsfeld" (bad nomanclature). He finds out that this woman is an extreme left lobbyist. He uses this to throw stones at the president, who he is trying to defeat in the coming election. The presidential staff characters are wonderfully acted and fun to watch. The interaction in the staff is Golden.

People should look at this movie as a movie, not a political statement. Of course the movie has liberal themes. When a filmmaker makes a movie, the audience is what he/she is working to please. It is hard to romanticize a conservative agenda. This movie's target audience is women(Even thought I love it). Do you think a woman is going to want a watch a romantic dramedy with a central theme of business, welfare reform, or maybe even limiting awards in malpractice suits? NO, of course not. I am a conservative, and I don't want to watch a romanitic comedy about my agenda. Two things that are heart felt issues on both sides of the isle are the environment and gun control. They use these issues because they are common and good plot points, and are easily dramatized. They are not the central theme of the movie.

Overall, the movie is quality. It is a movie that I never get tired of watching.

Makes me happy every time!
This is an all time favorite of mine and absolutely guaranteed to lift my spirits each time I watch it.

Michael Douglas plays somewhat against his usual type as a likeable, widowed, well-meaning single father who is also the President of the United States, Andrew Shepherd. He becomes romantically interested in an environmental lobbyist, Sidney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) which turns out to cause a lot of problems for both of them.

These two high-powered actors manage to humanize their characters into ordinary, likable people who are just trying to fall in love despite unbelievable opulence of surroundings, ugly political maneuvering and living inside a media fishbowl of publicity. Along the way, there are plenty of funny, heartwarming moments including a couple of very funny telephone calls. (Imagine what YOU would do if you suddenly received a call from someone who claimed to be the President of the United States)

David Paymer, Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen are excellent in their supporting roles as advisors to the President and Shawna Waldron is wonderful as the 1st daughter.

If you love humorous dialog, beautiful, nearly fairy-tale settings and happy endings, be sure to see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Charming, Sweet, Funny, Serious. Just A GOOD Film!
Rob Reiner's 1995 film, "The American President", is one of my favorite movies.

Michael Douglas' realistic portrayal of the title character [President Andrew Shepherd] is a refreshingly-different change for Mr. Douglas, from his earlier rather--shall we say--steamy roles in "Fatal Attraction" (1987), "Basic Instinct" (1992), and "Disclosure" (1994).

Annette Bening also shines brightly here--as Douglas' love interest.

Written by "The West Wing's" Aaron Sorkin, it's nearly impossible to watch this movie today and not notice the similarities between Sorkin's work on the film and the excellent NBC-TV program it spawned.

Several of the actors in the film went on to star in the TV series as well, including Martin Sheen, Joshua Malina, and Anna Deavere Smith.

Mr. Sorkin is one heck of a writer. And he wrote an impressive movie in "The American President".

Unfortunately, there's no "Making Of" type of materials included on the DVD. We get a trailer for the film, plus some production and bio (text) notes, but nothing more in the way of bonuses. (Perhaps a "Special Edition" DVD Edition will some day surface. That'd be sweet indeed.)

While it's certainly true that the picture quality on this non-anamorphic Warner Brothers DVD-Video is far from being perfect....I still think it's in a highly-watchable condition. Sure, we get the usual amount of "jaggies" and blurred images of stuff in the background inherent to an image that's not been enhanced for 16x9 televisions. But I don't really think it's the worst DVD transfer ever to come along either. Of course, mileage will vary. Everyone has their own definition of "bad".

The soundtrack, on the other hand, seems quite robust and nice. There's a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track on this disc.

"The American President" is presented here in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. I've seen information elsewhere that claims this DVD presents the movie in a 1.85:1 ratio, which is inaccurate. So don't be fooled, it's definitely shown here in its full w-i-d-e "scope" ratio of 2.35:1.

This is a fresh, funny, smart, sassy, intelligent film, no matter if it's your first time seeing it, or your hundreth. Despite a less-than-stellar video transfer, I'd still recommend every DVD collector pick this baby up right now!

"You think there's an assassin waiting in the flower shop just in the off-chance I might be stopping by?" -- President Shepherd

LOL! *wink*

The American President
Released in VHS Tape by Castle Rock (12 January, 1999)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, and Michael J. Fox
What sounds like the high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching, and quite funny. Granted, it's wish fulfillment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?), but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, The American President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the '90s. --Mark Englehart
Average review score:

What a Great Movie. . .
Fun yet serious romantic comedy. . . Douglas is great. Benning is cunning, captivating, and beautiful. Martin Sheen is great in his supporting role. Michael J. Fox is always a plus in a movie.

The movie is about president who lost his wife, who falls for a environmental lobbyist. The struggle comes from Richard Dryfus's character "Bob Rumpsfeld" (bad nomanclature). He finds out that this woman is an extreme left lobbyist. He uses this to throw stones at the president, who he is trying to defeat in the coming election. The presidential staff characters are wonderfully acted and fun to watch. The interaction in the staff is Golden.

People should look at this movie as a movie, not a political statement. Of course the movie has liberal themes. When a filmmaker makes a movie, the audience is what he/she is working to please. It is hard to romanticize a conservative agenda. This movie's target audience is women(Even thought I love it). Do you think a woman is going to want a watch a romantic dramedy with a central theme of business, welfare reform, or maybe even limiting awards in malpractice suits? NO, of course not. I am a conservative, and I don't want to watch a romanitic comedy about my agenda. Two things that are heart felt issues on both sides of the isle are the environment and gun control. They use these issues because they are common and good plot points, and are easily dramatized. They are not the central theme of the movie.

Overall, the movie is quality. It is a movie that I never get tired of watching.

Makes me happy every time!
This is an all time favorite of mine and absolutely guaranteed to lift my spirits each time I watch it.

Michael Douglas plays somewhat against his usual type as a likeable, widowed, well-meaning single father who is also the President of the United States, Andrew Shepherd. He becomes romantically interested in an environmental lobbyist, Sidney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) which turns out to cause a lot of problems for both of them.

These two high-powered actors manage to humanize their characters into ordinary, likable people who are just trying to fall in love despite unbelievable opulence of surroundings, ugly political maneuvering and living inside a media fishbowl of publicity. Along the way, there are plenty of funny, heartwarming moments including a couple of very funny telephone calls. (Imagine what YOU would do if you suddenly received a call from someone who claimed to be the President of the United States)

David Paymer, Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen are excellent in their supporting roles as advisors to the President and Shawna Waldron is wonderful as the 1st daughter.

If you love humorous dialog, beautiful, nearly fairy-tale settings and happy endings, be sure to see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Charming, Sweet, Funny, Serious. Just A GOOD Film!
Rob Reiner's 1995 film, "The American President", is one of my favorite movies.

Michael Douglas' realistic portrayal of the title character [President Andrew Shepherd] is a refreshingly-different change for Mr. Douglas, from his earlier rather--shall we say--steamy roles in "Fatal Attraction" (1987), "Basic Instinct" (1992), and "Disclosure" (1994).

Annette Bening also shines brightly here--as Douglas' love interest.

Written by "The West Wing's" Aaron Sorkin, it's nearly impossible to watch this movie today and not notice the similarities between Sorkin's work on the film and the excellent NBC-TV program it spawned.

Several of the actors in the film went on to star in the TV series as well, including Martin Sheen, Joshua Malina, and Anna Deavere Smith.

Mr. Sorkin is one heck of a writer. And he wrote an impressive movie in "The American President".

Unfortunately, there's no "Making Of" type of materials included on the DVD. We get a trailer for the film, plus some production and bio (text) notes, but nothing more in the way of bonuses. (Perhaps a "Special Edition" DVD Edition will some day surface. That'd be sweet indeed.)

While it's certainly true that the picture quality on this non-anamorphic Warner Brothers DVD-Video is far from being perfect....I still think it's in a highly-watchable condition. Sure, we get the usual amount of "jaggies" and blurred images of stuff in the background inherent to an image that's not been enhanced for 16x9 televisions. But I don't really think it's the worst DVD transfer ever to come along either. Of course, mileage will vary. Everyone has their own definition of "bad".

The soundtrack, on the other hand, seems quite robust and nice. There's a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track on this disc.

"The American President" is presented here in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. I've seen information elsewhere that claims this DVD presents the movie in a 1.85:1 ratio, which is inaccurate. So don't be fooled, it's definitely shown here in its full w-i-d-e "scope" ratio of 2.35:1.

This is a fresh, funny, smart, sassy, intelligent film, no matter if it's your first time seeing it, or your hundreth. Despite a less-than-stellar video transfer, I'd still recommend every DVD collector pick this baby up right now!

"You think there's an assassin waiting in the flower shop just in the off-chance I might be stopping by?" -- President Shepherd

LOL! *wink*

The American President
Released in VHS Tape by Castle Rock (12 April, 1999)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, and Michael J. Fox
What sounds like a high-concept romantic comedy pitch from hell--widower president falls for smart lobbyist while the world watches--is actually intelligent, charming, touching, and quite funny. Granted, it's wish fulfillment all the way (when was the last time you saw a president who was truly presidential?), but in the capable hands of writer Aaron Sorkin (TV's Sports Night) and director Rob Reiner, The American President is incredibly enjoyable entertainment with quite a few ideas about both romance and the government. Michael Douglas stars as the president, who after three years in office starts thinking about the possibility of dating. When he auspiciously encounters cutthroat environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), sparks begin to crackle and the two begin a tentative but heartfelt romance. Of course, his job gets in the way--their first kiss is interrupted by a Libyan bombing--but darn it if these two kids aren't going to try and make it work! However, they hadn't counted on the president's Republican antagonist (Richard Dreyfuss), who starts carping about family values. The predictable plot--Douglas finally goes to bat for his lady and his country--is leavened by Sorkin's wonderful, snappy dialogue and a light touch from the usually subtle-as-a-sledgehammer Reiner. Both manage to create a believable White House-office atmosphere (with a crack staff including Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox, Anna Deavere Smith, and Samantha Mathis) as well as a plausible and funny dating scenario. The true success of the movie, though, rides squarely on Douglas and Bening; this is unequivocally Douglas's best comedic performance (ergo his best performance, period) and Bening, usually such a good bad girl, takes a standard career-woman role and fleshes it out magnificently. You can see in an instant why Douglas would fall for her. One of the best unsung romantic comedies of the '90s. --Mark Englehart
Average review score:

What a Great Movie. . .
Fun yet serious romantic comedy. . . Douglas is great. Benning is cunning, captivating, and beautiful. Martin Sheen is great in his supporting role. Michael J. Fox is always a plus in a movie.

The movie is about president who lost his wife, who falls for a environmental lobbyist. The struggle comes from Richard Dryfus's character "Bob Rumpsfeld" (bad nomanclature). He finds out that this woman is an extreme left lobbyist. He uses this to throw stones at the president, who he is trying to defeat in the coming election. The presidential staff characters are wonderfully acted and fun to watch. The interaction in the staff is Golden.

People should look at this movie as a movie, not a political statement. Of course the movie has liberal themes. When a filmmaker makes a movie, the audience is what he/she is working to please. It is hard to romanticize a conservative agenda. This movie's target audience is women(Even thought I love it). Do you think a woman is going to want a watch a romantic dramedy with a central theme of business, welfare reform, or maybe even limiting awards in malpractice suits? NO, of course not. I am a conservative, and I don't want to watch a romanitic comedy about my agenda. Two things that are heart felt issues on both sides of the isle are the environment and gun control. They use these issues because they are common and good plot points, and are easily dramatized. They are not the central theme of the movie.

Overall, the movie is quality. It is a movie that I never get tired of watching.

Makes me happy every time!
This is an all time favorite of mine and absolutely guaranteed to lift my spirits each time I watch it.

Michael Douglas plays somewhat against his usual type as a likeable, widowed, well-meaning single father who is also the President of the United States, Andrew Shepherd. He becomes romantically interested in an environmental lobbyist, Sidney Ellen Wade (Annette Benning) which turns out to cause a lot of problems for both of them.

These two high-powered actors manage to humanize their characters into ordinary, likable people who are just trying to fall in love despite unbelievable opulence of surroundings, ugly political maneuvering and living inside a media fishbowl of publicity. Along the way, there are plenty of funny, heartwarming moments including a couple of very funny telephone calls. (Imagine what YOU would do if you suddenly received a call from someone who claimed to be the President of the United States)

David Paymer, Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen are excellent in their supporting roles as advisors to the President and Shawna Waldron is wonderful as the 1st daughter.

If you love humorous dialog, beautiful, nearly fairy-tale settings and happy endings, be sure to see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Charming, Sweet, Funny, Serious. Just A GOOD Film!
Rob Reiner's 1995 film, "The American President", is one of my favorite movies.

Michael Douglas' realistic portrayal of the title character [President Andrew Shepherd] is a refreshingly-different change for Mr. Douglas, from his earlier rather--shall we say--steamy roles in "Fatal Attraction" (1987), "Basic Instinct" (1992), and "Disclosure" (1994).

Annette Bening also shines brightly here--as Douglas' love interest.

Written by "The West Wing's" Aaron Sorkin, it's nearly impossible to watch this movie today and not notice the similarities between Sorkin's work on the film and the excellent NBC-TV program it spawned.

Several of the actors in the film went on to star in the TV series as well, including Martin Sheen, Joshua Malina, and Anna Deavere Smith.

Mr. Sorkin is one heck of a writer. And he wrote an impressive movie in "The American President".

Unfortunately, there's no "Making Of" type of materials included on the DVD. We get a trailer for the film, plus some production and bio (text) notes, but nothing more in the way of bonuses. (Perhaps a "Special Edition" DVD Edition will some day surface. That'd be sweet indeed.)

While it's certainly true that the picture quality on this non-anamorphic Warner Brothers DVD-Video is far from being perfect....I still think it's in a highly-watchable condition. Sure, we get the usual amount of "jaggies" and blurred images of stuff in the background inherent to an image that's not been enhanced for 16x9 televisions. But I don't really think it's the worst DVD transfer ever to come along either. Of course, mileage will vary. Everyone has their own definition of "bad".

The soundtrack, on the other hand, seems quite robust and nice. There's a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track on this disc.

"The American President" is presented here in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. I've seen information elsewhere that claims this DVD presents the movie in a 1.85:1 ratio, which is inaccurate. So don't be fooled, it's definitely shown here in its full w-i-d-e "scope" ratio of 2.35:1.

This is a fresh, funny, smart, sassy, intelligent film, no matter if it's your first time seeing it, or your hundreth. Despite a less-than-stellar video transfer, I'd still recommend every DVD collector pick this baby up right now!

"You think there's an assassin waiting in the flower shop just in the off-chance I might be stopping by?" -- President Shepherd

LOL! *wink*

Firestarter
Released in VHS Tape by Universal Studios (31 August, 1999)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Mark L. Lester
Starring: Drew Barrymore
Stephen King wasn't exactly in peak form when he wrote Firestarter, so this 1984 movie adaptation was at a disadvantage even before the cameras rolled. There were so many King movies being made at the time that this one's weaknesses became even more apparent. In her first film role after her memorable appearance in E.T., Drew Barrymore stars as a little girl whose parents acquired strange mental powers after participating in a secret government experiment. From this genetic background she has developed the mysterious ability to set anything on fire at will, especially when she's angry. That makes her very interesting to government officials seeking to exploit her skill as a secret weapon. Her father seeks to protect her by using his powers of mind-control, and George C. Scott plays an Indian who believes the girl must be destroyed. There's a routine climax involving a lot of impressive pyrotechnics, but none of this is grounded in a dramatically solid foundation, and none of the characters are developed enough for us to care about them. So the movie gradually turns into a laughable thriller with no suspense whatsoever. It's a movie only a pyromaniac could love. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

Please Rerelease This on A New DVD!
I agree, both the book by Stephen King and this movie based on it are so underrated. Firestarter happens to be one of my favorite books by Stephen King and I really liked this movie and thought Drew Barrymore (The Wedding Singer) and David Keith (An Officer and a Gentleman) were perfect as Charlie McGee and her father Andy, and George C. Scott (The Flim-Flam Man) was amazing as the sinister Rainbird, he really creeped me out! Martin Sheen (The West Wing) was also great in his roll and so were Art Carney (The Honeymooners) and Louise Fletcher (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest). I see that the DVD got a bad rating from widescreen Reviews and it seems it's not being made anymore and I would really like to have this movie on DVD so I hope they rerelease this movie on a new and much improved DVD!

Fantastic!
The Book Firestarter is great and so is the movie. Though some of the stuff from the book wasn't in the movie I feel that it was pretty faithful to the book and I can understand why they didn't include the garbage disposal incident, it just would have been too gross! Drew Barrymore was great as Charlie and even at around 8 years old you could tell what a wonderful gifted actress she was, she really inherited the famous Barrymore acting skills! Well, really at around 5 or 6 years old she proved what an amazing actress she was in E.T.! David Keith was very good as her father Andy and I also really liked George C. Scott he was a perfectly creepy Rainbird. I didn't find the book or movie very scary, I found both as more mystery/suspense which is what I like and it also had Drama. I too found it sad what was done to Charlie and her father, especially Charlie she was just a little girl and what The Shop did to her was despicable, and afterall they made her what she was, because of an experiment they did they caused her to be born with the ability to start fires with her mind and she couldn't always control it! I highly recommend this movie!

CLASSIC DREW!!!!
This is a good movie if you like science fiction supernatural movies then I would reccommend that you buy this movie because this is a good movie and I liked it a lot I remember when I had came on cable t.v when I was a kid. Drew did some great acting and she had took care of anyone who got in her way and anyone who harmed her in any kind of way this is a movie about a kid having a special poower about starting fires to anyone or anything she was posessed with this power and she used it !!!!

Lorna Doone
Released in VHS Tape by A & E Entertainment (29 May, 2001)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Director: Mike Barker
Starring: Mike Barker, Martin Clunes, Richard Coyle, and Aidan Gillen
Star-crossed lovers, feuding family, royal plots, noble destinies, and salt-of-the-earth heroes. No wonder R.D. Blackmore's romantic classic has been a perennial favorite. Amelia Warner (Michael Caine's innocent child bride in Quills) is Lorna, the beautiful young brunette "queen" of the feral Doone clan in this latest adaptation, a handsome 2.5-hour co-production between the BBC and A&E. The once noble line now lives out of a swamp fortress and preys off the local farmers and tradesmen, but the family patriarch (Peter Vaughan) has hatched a plot to win back his title and his land. Handsome John Ridd (Richard Coyle) swears vengeance against the Doones when they murder his father, but he falls for Lorna, and the rakish, ruthless Doone scion (Aiden Gillen, who swaggers through the drama with a perpetual sneer) refuses to give up his claim on the girl without a fight.

This is the kind of British romantic adventure that decries the tradition of nobility and privilege while rewarding its heroes with those very privileges, all within a grand framework of melodramatic twists, thrilling battles, and chivalrous heroics. Director Mike Barker creates an appropriately larger-than-life world at once pastoral and savage for his little epic--shot in the verdant British countryside, where a lush forest green permeates every outdoor scene, while the dusky interiors glow with candlelight--giving in completely to the sweeping emotional melodrama at the core of the story. --Sean Axmaker

Average review score:

Great Entertainment!
This dvd was worth the purchase and worth the viewing time! Truly enjoyable entertainment!

Epic tale in the footsteps of Romeo and Juliet--with a twist
Set in the beautiful valleys of England, this A&E original movie is both gripping, elegant and poetic in its screenplay. It follows the story of Lorna, part of the family of feared and much-hated Doones, and John Ridd, an honest farmer, as they fall in love and struggle to overcome in the shadow of the hate that exists between their families. Based off the book by Richard Blackmore, the movie contains excellent action sequences, non-stop adventure and unexpected twists in plot that will leave you aghast and enthralled. And if that does not interest you, Lorna Doone is a must-see for its historical observation of English life and times during the period of the Monmouth rebellion, and it's enduring theme that, ultimately, love conquers social status, prejudice, and even family secrets long concealed.

A Promise to Keep
Fortunately I was able to catch this originally when it ran on A&E and was so captivated I pre-ordered both the video and DVD. The video version differs only slightly from the DVD; the color is not as good. That's it. Overall it's a very good purchase at a reasonable price for such an excellent film.

Fans of A&E's lush romances like Pride & Prejudice, Victoria & Albert, and Emma will enjoy Lorna Doone. It's a blend of romance, adventure, mystery, and something of the sinister, with a Romeo & Julietish twist. The acting is stellar, particularly in the casting of Aidan Gillen as Carver Doone. He completely overpowers the screne whenever present and makes a loathable and yet empathetic villain. Richard Coyle is doubly good as the heroic John Ridd, and Amelia Warner proves she can play leads effortly as the spirited but puzzling Lorna.

It's a film my entire family enjoyed... there was enough romance for the girls, some action scenes for the guys, and enough lush English countryside and magnificent costuming for one and all. Rent it, buy it, borrow it -- see it.

O
Released in VHS Tape by Lions Gate Home Ente (19 February, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Starring: Mekhi Phifer and Julia Stiles
When you compare O to William Shakespeare's Othello, you'll realize just how well this modern adaptation really works. Shakespeare's tragedy transfers nicely to the film's contemporary private school setting, where Othello is now Odin (Mekhi Phifer), star of the basketball team and the school's only African American student. Desdemona is Desi (Julia Stiles), the dean's daughter and Odin's girlfriend, and Iago is Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's steroid-shooting son, who jealously plants seeds of doubt that fester in Odin's mind, leading them all to a tragically violent fate. As directed by Tim Blake Nelson (who played the dimwit Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?), this is a clever and serious interpretation of Shakespeare that, sadly, was shelved for two years when its distributor balked at potential comparisons to the Columbine massacre. Such fears were pointless; this well-acted film delivers an anti-violence message that younger viewers will readily appreciate. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

"O", the modern remake of Shakespeare's "Othello"
From the eyes of a teenager, this movie was quite good. After the Columbine and Thurston school shootings, this movie seems much more believable.

It takes place in an upper-crust college prep school, and revolves around the high school basketball team. Odin, known as O (Mekhi Phifer) is the team's star and only African American student in the high school. He's adored by all, to the point where the coach (Martin Sheen) publicly announces that he loves Odin like his own son, who's Hugo another player on the team. Hugo (Josh Hartnett)is sick of never having his time to shine - always having to watch O in the limelight. He plots to destroy O with the help of his picked upon roommate Roger, by making it look as if Desi (Julia Stiles) is cheating on O. He sadly falls for the manipulative lie, which leads to a downward spiral of negative effects that all come together to cause the traumatic ending.

I was impressed by how they turned Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" into an modern version without completely wreaking it. Odin truly was a tragic hero - as he began as person who was honored, kind, talented, etc, but because of an innate flaw (his being jealously) that dictated his life, lead to ruin.

I only have a few complaints on this movie. One of which is the excessive amount of cuss words that I believe the movie could have gone without. I understand that slang and foul language is needed to make it feel modern, yet it's not needed in such large amounts to get the point across. Another complaint, was that most of the movie was in whispers (except any cuss words, those were yelled) which can also be understandable as "O" is a dark movie not a happy teen flick. . .but it would have been nice to watch the movie without having to keep adjusting the volume.

Overall I enjoyed this modern remake of "Othello", the acting of the main characters were above what I had expected, (bravo to the handsome Josh Hartnett who played the dark and conniving Hugo to a tee & Mekhi Phifer who convincingly portrayed Odin), and sadly in today's society this movie doesn't take too much of an imagination to believe.

Intelligent and Well-Done
Tim Blake Nelson's retelling of Shakespeare's Othello is an intelligent and thought provoking film. He does an excellent job of showing how one jealous man can destroy many people. Mekhi Phifer is Odin James (called "O") - the only black kid at an all white private school. He's the star basketball player, going out with the dean's beatiful daughter, Desi (played wonderfully by Julia Stiles), and everyone loves him. Josh Hartnett stole the entire show as Hugo Goulding, the son of the basketball coach (Martin Sheen), who is ignored by his father, which provokes his manipulative plans. Sick of being on the sidelines all the time, Hugo devises a plan that will break up O and Desi and will eventually make O go over the edge with rage. With the help of his roommate, Roger, and his un-suspecting girlfriend, Emily (Rain Phoenix) - who is Desi's best friend, Hugo destroys everything. O's best friend, Michael (Andrew Keegan) also becomes innocently involved in Hugo's sinister plans. With beautiful direction and thought, "O" is a well-paced drama that leaves you thinking hard about violence and jealousy. What makes Hartnett so good as Hugo is the fact he is able to make audiences feel sorry for him even as he is ruining lives of innocent people. Its tragic end is terrific. Go see "O": it is worth it! Although keep young kids away from it due to the various elements of the plot.

absolutely amazing
i saw this twice. originally i thought it was stupid but i liked it the second time around. wait scratch that i loved it from beginning to end. Tim Blake Nelson did a great directoral debut and he's an even better actor. thumbs up.

O
Released in VHS Tape by Trimark Home Enterta (19 February, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Starring: Mekhi Phifer and Julia Stiles
When you compare O to William Shakespeare's Othello, you'll realize just how well this modern adaptation really works. Shakespeare's tragedy transfers nicely to the film's contemporary private school setting, where Othello is now Odin (Mekhi Phifer), star of the basketball team and the school's only African American student. Desdemona is Desi (Julia Stiles), the dean's daughter and Odin's girlfriend, and Iago is Hugo (Josh Hartnett), the coach's steroid-shooting son, who jealously plants seeds of doubt that fester in Odin's mind, leading them all to a tragically violent fate. As directed by Tim Blake Nelson (who played the dimwit Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou?), this is a clever and serious interpretation of Shakespeare that, sadly, was shelved for two years when its distributor balked at potential comparisons to the Columbine massacre. Such fears were pointless; this well-acted film delivers an anti-violence message that younger viewers will readily appreciate. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

"O", the modern remake of Shakespeare's "Othello"
From the eyes of a teenager, this movie was quite good. After the Columbine and Thurston school shootings, this movie seems much more believable.

It takes place in an upper-crust college prep school, and revolves around the high school basketball team. Odin, known as O (Mekhi Phifer) is the team's star and only African American student in the high school. He's adored by all, to the point where the coach (Martin Sheen) publicly announces that he loves Odin like his own son, who's Hugo another player on the team. Hugo (Josh Hartnett)is sick of never having his time to shine - always having to watch O in the limelight. He plots to destroy O with the help of his picked upon roommate Roger, by making it look as if Desi (Julia Stiles) is cheating on O. He sadly falls for the manipulative lie, which leads to a downward spiral of negative effects that all come together to cause the traumatic ending.

I was impressed by how they turned Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" into an modern version without completely wreaking it. Odin truly was a tragic hero - as he began as person who was honored, kind, talented, etc, but because of an innate flaw (his being jealously) that dictated his life, lead to ruin.

I only have a few complaints on this movie. One of which is the excessive amount of cuss words that I believe the movie could have gone without. I understand that slang and foul language is needed to make it feel modern, yet it's not needed in such large amounts to get the point across. Another complaint, was that most of the movie was in whispers (except any cuss words, those were yelled) which can also be understandable as "O" is a dark movie not a happy teen flick. . .but it would have been nice to watch the movie without having to keep adjusting the volume.

Overall I enjoyed this modern remake of "Othello", the acting of the main characters were above what I had expected, (bravo to the handsome Josh Hartnett who played the dark and conniving Hugo to a tee & Mekhi Phifer who convincingly portrayed Odin), and sadly in today's society this movie doesn't take too much of an imagination to believe.

Intelligent and Well-Done
Tim Blake Nelson's retelling of Shakespeare's Othello is an intelligent and thought provoking film. He does an excellent job of showing how one jealous man can destroy many people. Mekhi Phifer is Odin James (called "O") - the only black kid at an all white private school. He's the star basketball player, going out with the dean's beatiful daughter, Desi (played wonderfully by Julia Stiles), and everyone loves him. Josh Hartnett stole the entire show as Hugo Goulding, the son of the basketball coach (Martin Sheen), who is ignored by his father, which provokes his manipulative plans. Sick of being on the sidelines all the time, Hugo devises a plan that will break up O and Desi and will eventually make O go over the edge with rage. With the help of his roommate, Roger, and his un-suspecting girlfriend, Emily (Rain Phoenix) - who is Desi's best friend, Hugo destroys everything. O's best friend, Michael (Andrew Keegan) also becomes innocently involved in Hugo's sinister plans. With beautiful direction and thought, "O" is a well-paced drama that leaves you thinking hard about violence and jealousy. What makes Hartnett so good as Hugo is the fact he is able to make audiences feel sorry for him even as he is ruining lives of innocent people. Its tragic end is terrific. Go see "O": it is worth it! Although keep young kids away from it due to the various elements of the plot.

absolutely amazing
i saw this twice. originally i thought it was stupid but i liked it the second time around. wait scratch that i loved it from beginning to end. Tim Blake Nelson did a great directoral debut and he's an even better actor. thumbs up.

Lost and Found
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (04 April, 2000)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Jeff Pollack
Starring: David Spade and Sophie Marceau
Boy meets girl, boy falls in love. Girl loses dog, boy finds dog, decides to be a hero. But wait--the girl has an oily Euro ex-boyfriend, and the dog swallows the boy's best friend's wedding ring and can't be returned to the girl until the ring is, uh, found. Fans of There's Something About Mary should like this light-as-a-feather comedy, since it heists plot devices directly from that film. Think about it: there's two guys competing for the same girl, a scruffy-but-lovable terrier, and even a clutch of oversexed old ladies. David Spade, Saturday Night Live alum, is marginally less grating and more likable in this slight romantic comedy. Unfortunately this film is also littered with some pretty bad gags (beware of Spade's lengthy Neil Diamond impersonation), poo-poo jokes, and a character who's a direct stand-in for the late Chris Farley. Sophie Marceau, gorgeous as she is, apparently speaks her lines in phonetic English for all the feeling she puts into them. Still, this is suitable for stashing your brain under the couch for an evening with the VCR. --Jerry Renshaw
Average review score:

Only for David Spade's Biggest Fans
David Spade plays the typical David Spade character here: a smarmy, semi-witty wise guy who is deeply self-involved and frequently unscrupulous. Sophie Marceau plays a cellist with a little dog. Guess who takes her dog so that he can "find" it and earn her gratitude? Guess whether anything will go wrong with the old-hat plan? Guess who eventually gets on Mlle Marceau's good side? So much for the "plot." As a comedy, this is pretty tired stuff. Sadly, to prep the ever-adorable Sophie Marceau for her part as a cello virtuoso, the director seems to have had her coached in bowing and fingering for about five minutes. ... Of course, we usually don't go to comedies or heroic adventure films for the realistic musicianship of the actors--but the sloppiness of this element in THIS film is just one more insult to the audience. After all, duh, the e-a Marceau is supposedly playing a professional cellist.

Semi--Funny, unrealistic, and stupidly predictible.
David Spade was funny in Tommy Boy and even funnier in Black Sheep, but without Chris Farley at his site he fails in this. The movie is about a loser who falls inlove with his new neighbor and kidnaps her dog to get her attention. The sick and unrealistic thing is that they actually get closer from this, you can see jokes coming from a mile away in this lame unrealastic plotHow can any say this is a romantic comedy? Whats romantic about stealing a womens puppy? And another thing, why don't the two actors playing the french people speak french in the scenes where they are alone? I never saw the end of this but I already knew what was gonna hap... he gets the girl. David Spade and Artie Lange have some real funny parts, but they can't save this miserably script (which Spade co-wrote) This just missed getting pne star because its so terrible its almost funny, but almost is the key word.

A fine Romantic Comedy
Let me begin by asking you this: Are you a David Spade fan? If you are then you will definitely like this movie. If not, then chances are his antics will grow tiresome very early. I have found that with many people it's either love or hate with David Spade. On the other hand I enjoy his comedy and I loved this movie. Spade plays Dylan, a struggling restaurateur who falls for his beautiful new cello playing neighbor played by the always lovely and charming Sophie Marceau (The World is Not Enough). Unfortunately she hardly knows he exist. Dylan soon devises a plan to win her affections involving kidnapping her dog. As you may guess things quickly turn sour for Dylan. A missing ring, Lila's greasy ex-boyfriend, an obnoxious protégé that wants to be "just like him" not to mention a huge catering gig that could make or break his business, and you have some really funny moments.

Jeff Pollack's direction keeps the film moving, and tries to keep all of the gag's believable, even Spade's Neil Diamond impression. Spade is his usual sarcastic self, and his chemistry with Marceau is very good. Artie Lang is very funny as the Spade wanna be, a part that must have been written with Chis Farley in mind. There are also several good cameo's by John Lovitz (The Dog Whisperer), Martin Sheen (The Bank President), and several card playing old ladies that anyone over thirty will surely recognize. "Lost & Found" is very good romantic comedy that I would absolutely recommend, I liked it enough to watch it three times

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