Michael-Bay Movie Reviews

This movie sent me into a blue funk for two weeks. Why? The movie was too true to life in most respects. The one big flaw, the thirteen year old runaway who gets a job in a strip joint, but won't go topless (Hollywood couldn't get away with that). In real life the thirteen year old could have gotten the job but would've done more than strip (see Traci Lords). The two runaways live a really depressing life. If you are mentally strong, watch the movie. If the news upsets or depresses you, skip this movie altogether.

wonderful music, wonderful realistic story.
a guide for how to live!
FREEDOM!
watch it every day.
why is there not a soundtrack CD

This is a beautiful Story with great performances by the two leads. It possesses a quality of "teen" desperation that doesn't exist in films today. Sadly the studio ruined this film after they fired the director and filmed more "filler" scene in order to fit more songs in which to sell the soundtrack. They also reedited the movie to "tone it down" and shorten the length. Despite its flaws, the original vision of this film still shine through. I can't help but wonder what this film would have been like if the director had free reign. I suspect a classic. After my first viewing, Times Square instantly got on to my all time favorite movies list.

The movie could have been better if they left out Nicolette's horrific so called acting. all the other actors did their characters justice! The make-up in first 12yrs for the female actress for the story line was gruesom, but it did get better!! All in all the movie was fine I would recommend buying this movie @ a discount only!!

A very nice movie,with a splendid cast (although there were some exeptions!).
The story itself is offcourse classic and appealing.
It provides some 4 hrs of intertainment witch may seem long,but the movie is surtanly worth the time.
An exiting tale with an impressing cast...
So all by all i would recomend it.. (too bad its not yet available on dvd!)
But why trust my opinion,watch the movie and decide for yourself..

I thought this was a great movie. I loved the actor playing Gino. I actually felt like he was ment for the part. Although the books were much better, I really enjoyed this movie and the sequal to it. Sandra Bullock was a good Maria, but her part was too short.The actress playing Lucky was brilliant! She gave off the real essence of Lucky.

I would like someone to tell me what the big deal is about this series. It's a great idea but why on earth do they have to teach kids how to make fun of each other, call each other names, and to tell each other to shut up? If these are the values that you would like to teach your children, then by all means, buy this video. Otherwise, stay away from it and go for the Wiggles. At least being teachers, you don't have to worry about the content of their videos. What a shame this is - this train thing is a great idea and it's just too bad that they can't make it child-friendly. This one is narrated by George Carlin and nothing clean usually comes from his mouth. I just don't understand this at all. Coming from England, I expected more from this video but instead, I got to see a whirlwind of negative influence on my young child.

This is a very useful Thomas video. It teaches children the meaning of friendship and teamwork and contains the stories: Edward Helps Out, Foolish Freight Cars, Thomas, Percy, & the Mail Train, Thomas Breaks the Rules, Down The Mine, Percy's Promise, Trouble In The Shed, Donald & Douglas, Saved From Scrap, Bertie's Chase, and Thomas & Percy's Mountain Adventure. My favorite stories are Saved From Scrap and Donald & Douglas. Most of the Thomas fans I know (besides myself) have this video and watch it over and over, and over, and over again. I think this is one of the best Thomas videos and I think your Thomas fan will love it.

um this was a great thomas percy and the mail train berties chase and thomas and percys moutain adventure. the episodes are :(edward helps out. foolish freight cars. thomas percy and the mail train. thomas breaks the rules. down the mine. percys promice. trouble in the shed. donald and douglas. saved from scrap. berties chase. thomas and percys moutain adventure.)i just wrote a rivew.

BRONSON SHOULD'VE PUT AWAY HIS GUN AFTER THE BRUTALLY DISGUSTING "DW 2". THE FIRST ONE WASN'T THAT GOOD TO START WITH (2 STARS). BUT NO. HE KEPT ON GOING MAKING EACH SEQUEL DUMBER, SILLIER AND YAWN! VERY TIRESOME! PART 4 WAS JUST THAT. SOMEONE CLOSE TO BRONSON IS KILLED, HE TAKES HIS ARSENAL, STARTS FIRING, YADA YADA YADA....

When his girlfriend's teenaged daughter dies from a cocaine overdose, Paul Kersey again picks up a gun and starts wasting drug dealers. Although the story's twists and turns border on being silly, nonetheless star Bronson and director J. Lee Thompson give this unnecessary entry in the Death Wish series a little something extra. The opening minutes of the film are particularly impressive, sending a subtle signal that they were trying to make a real movie instead of just another bargain basement formula action thriller. So well done it's almost good in its own right instead of being just another b-grade guilty pleasure.

i can't understand why the reviewers of Bronson films think it necessary to trash the people who actually like to watch Bronson. you know, i love his movies because they say a lot of things i wish i could do in real life. everyone wants to get rid of people they hate and since killing is illegal and i have a rational mind, i can watch Bronson films and get out my anger at somebody through his mass killings of street scum and corrupt public officials. i don't see the harm in the genre of films Charles chose to link himself with. Death Wish and all it's sequels are designed strictly for that kind of audience that gets thrilled and excited watching someone do things that can't be done in real life without suffering the consequences. Charles' character never goes to prison or is never seriosuly pursued by the police...BECAUSE Bronson is doing what the POLICE wish they could do to crooks and the PUBLIC loves what Bronson's character is doing. that's the message that his mid '70s to mid '80s movies set. i say, what's the harm in an actor giving HIS public what they want and all you have to do is look at the box-office, not the critics. 90% of his so-called "bad" movies, the ones that critics scathe and tear apart, were huge money makers and that's the bottom line. to say Charles Bronson's career wasn't popular and appealing is a lie...he's the "common man"'s hero but my no means does that make his fans vigilantes...we just get excited watching bad guys get what they deserve and Charles vents our frustrations for us in his movies. it's as simple as that. Death Wish 4 is based on a murder and the fact that red tape and procedures get in the way of solving cases. vigilante films, like the wonderful Death Wish series, are limited in originality due to the very fact that it's a vigilante film. you can't get too original with that premise, can you? so that's why we don't mind that the series is all the same sort of plot, we get a kick out of the many ways Bronson shoots the bad guy and the different sort of guns he might use.

Essentially, buying this DVD is equivalent to paying for a cover picture of Joe Pesci. If you really want a small little picture of Joe Pesci in his first movie and have some use for a little mini frisbee, then buy this movie.

The plot itself seems to have no connection whatsoever. Joe Pesci is not even the star of the movie. He ends up dead in an ice box in a Ramada Hotel in New Jersey, along with his stupid sneaker wearing friend Serge. They are both slain by a Shaft look-alike assassin. This loss is heartbreaking to the main character who proceeds to sabotage Shaft's car, and he shoots him in the chest with his sawed-off shotgun.

Of course within this entire plot, there are a plethora of useless scenes. For example, Pesci and pals are in the hotel lounge throwing peanuts at the lounge singer. None of these scenes have anything to do with the movie. Then to top it all off, the same black Cadillac is driven by at least three different people. However, the only thing that saves this movie is the lighting. In some of the scenes it is impossible to make out some objects because there is so much light on them. The director chose to make people's faces glow, and the sky became a brilliant white. Similarly all windows blazed with whiteness. All the light reminds me of the fire that I threw this movie into after I finished watching it.

This movie is also called "Family Enforcer", but "death Collector"is the original title. Re-released after Joe Pesci's rise to fame a'la "Goodfellas" et al, this movie set the stage for all those to follow, including that film. Pesci's character is a minor role in this film. It follows the career of an italian guy "in the know" (not pesci) as he becomes, by steps, a mob collector, and believe me he enjoys his work. As the film progresses, he seeks to collect a debt from a deadbeat "made guy", and he makes no exception. This of course leads to feuds and an eventual contract on his head, which is enforced. In a way (thought I don't want to spoil it) the film starts at the end. This movie has a great shoot out at the end also. Great vintage 70's imagery. Truly a lost gem. I would recommend it as "homework" if you like goodfellas, casino, heat, et al. You will recognize more than just Pesci, by the way. Stands on it's own as a very good film, and a slice of another era, the fab 70's. I particularly love when they "whack" the guy on the toilet!

This story revolves around Joe Pesci's character. He is in the mob and his friend is also in the mob. He is a hot head and starts a war with another mob over an unpaid $400.00 loan. Soon revenge attacks in response to revenge attacks, etc. etc. is too much for the mob boss to tolerate because he originally advised that Joe Pesci's friend just keep the peace. In the end, the mob boss has his own guy killed because he is tired of disobeyed orders causing conflicts with rival previously on friendly terms mobs. Pesci is already dead also at this time as he always gets taken out near the end in all his mob films. That is the Pesci formula if you haven't noticed.

I hear rumors that this is Pesci's first film. Also look for cameos by Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel, and Al Pacino. Look for them but you won't find them anywhere in the film. They are not there. That's because Pesci carried this one on his own. Go Joe!

Randy Quaid plays a stereotypical golf/athlete who cannot grow up and out of his passion and lack of passion for the game. It is not only the precursor of Tin Cup, but it is a much better movie with certainly more comedy, and gets at the heart of a good walk spoiled. Certainly not a grade "A" movie by any standards, but a nice "B" look at the behind the scenes life of golf as evinced in Dan Jenkin's novel expose.

Although not his biggest commercial success, 'Dead Solid Perfect' may be the funniest book written by one of this country's great talents, Dan Jenkins.

In the text, there is a combination of comedic genius, and a true love for the subject matter, the game of golf. Add 50 some years of experience reporting on the game, and Mr. Jenkins has just about every aspect of this story nailed, cold.

I know many who think one of his earlier books, Semi-Tough to be an exemplary piece of writing, I agree, but the film it produced turned out luke-warm as best.

This film is better, although it can not be described with the superlatives of Jenkins original. Sometimes it's just impossible to capture the essence of such multi-layered characters on film in 2 hours or less.

Not to knock Bobby Roth, or the two principals, Randy Quaid, and Jack Warden who both did good turns: Quaid as Kenny Lee, the talented but struggling tour golfer and Warden as "Bad-Hair' Wimberly, the cash-rich sponsor. For golf fans it's a good movie and certainly more honest and original than Tin Cup. For the rest I'd say only fair.

Move over Dorf and forget all about TIN CUP. DEAD SOLID PERFECT is the best golf movie ever made. It's on the same level as CADDYSHACK, only more mature, so as not to scare away the conservative duffers. Randy Quaid and Jack Warden are wonderful and Corinne Bohrer is the cutest thing to ever grace the links this side of Annika Sorenstam.

It's criminal that DEAD SOLID PERFECT has not yet made an appearance on DVD. It's funny, it's got nice production values, great acting, drama, and Corinne Bohrer.

"Groundstar" is a top-secret government space project, whose security has been breached, by Welles, one of its employees (Michael Sarrazin). Escaping the facility with secret information, the man is severely injured, and when captured has no memory of who he is. George Peppard is Tuxan, a hardened, single minded, government investigator in search of answers. Nicole (Christine Belford) is a bystander drawn into the situation, as Tuxan attempts to unlock the secrets within Welles's mind.

The film has a made for TV look and feel, with a plot that is not really original, or particularly credible. The script doesn't contain much action, or well-written dialog. The atmosphere of big brother government is pervasive. Tuxan, who routinely travels in a helicopter, is full of bluster, and attempts to orchestrate much of the action, yet doesn't actually do much that is impressive. The resolution to the story is rather unsatisfying, and implausible. Unless you enjoy heavy-handed government tactics, you can skip this drama.

Groundstar was released while Peppard was doing the TV show Banacek. Fans of that program, should be prepared for quite different type of character. The same applies to Christine Belford, who also had a reoccurring role on Banacek. There are no warm scenes with witty conversation between them. Michael Sarrazin has the most challenging role, and his performance while serviceable, is hampered by having to deliver some very bad lines.

George Peppard plays a character named Tuxan, who is responsible for uncovering the break in and theft of highly classified information at a government facility called Groundstar. He uses any and all means necessary to do this, including hidden cameras, hidden microphones, and 24 hour surveillance. He has complete control most of the time, and absolute authority to find the information he needs in order to protect the United States against foreign interests that may try to undermine the government by stealing precious secrets.

That being said, this movie plays out like a cheesy 70's TV melodrama. I tried hard to like this movie, but it was a hard sell. The movie starts out with multiple explosions at some facility, and one character managing to make it out before the whole place goes up. We see this character running down a corridor, being chased by other individuals, and then the picture freezes at a dramatic moment to allow for a credit to be displayed on the screen. This happens about four or five more times, and becomes quite tiresome, but if I recall, this was a device used quite a bit in the 70's, on movie but more so on TV. This movie really has a 'TV' feel to it, so I am wondering if the director was primarily a TV director...well, I was right. The director is Lamont Johnson, and he has an extensive career directing TV, and it shows here. Anyway, one character escapes before the whole place goes blammo, and it's Michael Sarrazin playing Welles. This is one of those actors who you may not recognize the name, but you'd probably recognize his face. He was fairly popular in the late 60's through the 70's. This slender, dark haired actor seemed to be on the verge of becoming a major star, but has since been relegated to mostly TV roles.

Well, he escapes, and we find out later that he was the only survivor of the explosion. His face badly damaged from the explosions, he manages to make it to the house of Nicole, played by Christine Belford, and actress with a solid television background and a few parts in some features films. The role I remember her from was the over protective mother to Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter/Stephen King's killer car classic 'Christine' from 1983.

Well, we soon find out that that Welles, the soul survivor of the explosions, was also the one who caused the explosions. Apparently he used false credentials to get his position within the ultra top secret facility, then stole vital information, and caused the destruction of the facility to cover his escape. He remembers none of this, as he has lost his memory along with his face in the incident. We learn all this information from Tuxan, who is now investigating the situation.

There is a conspiracy, and it does follow though. The rest of the movie has Welles trying to put the pieces back together, recall what happened, if he could have killed those people and done the things Tuxan says he did. Nicole provides a haven for Welles, and seems sympathetic to his plight.

The most memorable line comes from Tuxan (what kind of name is that?) and is in response to Nicole berating him for invading her privacy by having hidden cameras and microphones in her house. He says something like 'murders are planned in private, assassinations are planned in private' etc. I don't remember the exact line, but it showed a great deal of the motivation behind the character.

The movie plays out, the conspiracy unfolds, and we are treated to a shocking ending. Well, not so shocking, really, but whatever. It was kind of hard to swallow, though. My main problem with this movie is I never really felt the tension that should have been there and the acting seemed kind of wooden. I enjoy a good conspiracy theory, but I had a hard time buying off on this one. The thing to keep in mind before you buy this movie is that it looks like a TV show. This was made in 1972, and prior to that, George Peppard had a somewhat promising movie career with Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), How the West Was Won (1962), and The Blue Max (1966) to name a few. Then around 1971, the movie roles seemed to dry up and he went into TV. He did make a number of movie after 1971, Damnation Alley (1977), Battle Beyond the Stars (1977), but none seemed to really have the prestige of previous movie roles. The same could be said for Michael Sarrazin. And the other main character, played by Christine Belford was primarily a TV actress. Given the director's history in TV, this all adds up to making this look like a high budget TV movie. I think once some directors immerses themselves in a particular medium, it's difficult to expand beyond the boundaries proscribed by that medium, and it shows here. I felt like the director was trying to exceed his grasp, and couldn't quite do it. Not a bad movie, for TV, but not a great movie for the big screen. I'd say 3 stars for a TV movie, 2½ stars for a theatrical release.

A good film, Peppard as Tuxan in a role that would resemble 2 of his roles on TV (Thomas Banacek that year, and Hannibal Smith of The A Team, 10 years later). The ending is that of a classic suspense film. The DVD version by the way is cheaper than most stores are offering the VHS copy (if you can find it) so get it while you can. Note Christine Belford, the woman down the road who falls for Sarazin also starred in Banacek, coincidence?

Here's something a little new, yet a little different. Yes, it's Ruggero behind the camera again with his buddies, the cannibals. Ths time around he decided to use his flair for the gruesome to make an 80s Cannon-esque action flick. You can tell this film had a so-so budget; It looks and plays out like on old Charles Bronson/Chuck Norris type flick. It's not bad. Richard Lynch(still unable to escape playing a crazy villian) does a good job though he can't have more than ten minutes of screen time. The plot seems awfully similar to Apocalypse Now(watch it and you'll see), but Italian directors have never been the mark of originality. Michael Berryman (as usual) is great to watch, I wish we'd seen more of him. The other actors are nothing special, though it is cool to see Eriq Lasalle as a pimp. Check it out, but don't spend too much.

Although I always found the movie a little on the dull and plotless side, I do have to admit that it has enough well-edited good gore scenes to warrant a couple viewings. The cast is pretty good too, but it doesn't seem like any of them are used to the best of their abilities, especially Berryman, who needed much more of a dramatic exit than he gets at the end of the film.

The DVD is a mixed bag. They erroneously claim that a lot of the dialog was never dubbed in English, but I have the European uncut version on tape and it has all the dialog in English. This makes watching the DVD an infuriating experience as actors constantly switch from using English to Italian and back at random. Also, the DVD often looks quite shabby, such as the scene where Steiner gets ripped in half by the jungle trap. It's obvious that they took that scene from a video source and unsuccessfully tried to mix it in with the film. It's distracting, and with the dubbing thing only reflects laziness on Anchor Bay's behalf.

However the rest of the DVD looks good with bright, crisp colors, good sound, and a silly introduction by Ruggero Deodato in which is literally brags about the fact that he was dating Valentina Forte at the time.

Anchor Bay's 'Uncut and Uncensored' release of Ruggero Deodato's (Cannibal Holocaust, Jungle Holocaust,
House on the Edge of the Park, Body Count) CUT AND RUN (1985), is a brutal kick in the face, to say the least.

Previously seeing the butchered version a few years back, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this 'hard' version of the film.
The man being torn in two is quite inventive and should quench most gore freaks blood-lust. There are a couple of graphic rapes that had me wincing, so you've been warned if that ain't 'yo cup 'a tea. Be prepared, this movie is only for people with strong stomaches and an appreciation for gory special effects.

Also, the cut scenes from this film were never dubbed into English on initial production (there was no point), only Italian,
and are therefore restored into this version in Italian with English subtitles.

The story in my opinion, was lacking, focusing on two news reporters trekking to the Amazon in search of a renegade Colonel (Richard Lynch) in charge of a drug cartel, yet also to find the long lost son (Willie Aames) of their boss, who just coincidently happens to be caught up in the whole mess. Come on!

It's obvious Richard Lynch put his whole heart into this role as the evil drug lord and is quite convincing as a man totally in his own world from too much Blow. The biggest downer to this film is having to sit through the scenes with Willie Aaames
(In the featurette of the DVD 'Uncut and Run', Deodato explains he was having problems), who pretentiously acts as if he could have received an Oscar, HA!

The DVD itself is great, though, with a cool interactive menu, containing a fifteen minute featurette 'Uncut and Run', the original theatrical trailer, a lengthy Ruggero Deodato bio, and an introduction from Deodato himself at the beginning of the film.
Good work Anchor Bay.

On a final note, if you are considering purchasing the film from Amazon.com, and have not yet seen this uncut version,
avoid watching the featurette first, as they expose all the cut scenes from previous versions. Watch the film first. Enjoy!

The tape arrived in only days, but when I opened the package I had been sold a broken tape that was rated by this seller as like new. It was not broken in route because there were missing pieces. This seller is deceitful.

Being a fan of Patrick Duffy this movie sure locked that feeling in good. Danielle Steele wrote a wonderful story that took a mans view of a marriage gone sour. Which is rare to see. As when this came out in the early 90's things have certainly changed a lot. Attitudes about marriage and women are so different now. But, the romance was captured in this film. Patrick Duffy gave the character "Oliver" a personality that we can feel. He was touching and made you feel for him. You just wanted to reach out to "Oliver" and tell him all will be ok. Only a very good actor can do that and his talent shines. Featured was a young Ben Affleck who surprisingly looks the same and still acts they same! Lynda Carter however acted too desperate in this movie and you sort of wish they cast someone else. She is pretty and had the star look for the role but, her acting was disappointing. Overall it was Patrick Duffy who certainly carried the story and I just only wish it lasted a little longer and focused more on his new relationship. Thank you Mr. Duffy for a wonderful performance in this movie you really made this a most enjoyable family film.

I have to confess I bought this VHS movie because of BEN AFFLECK. And I don't regret it a minute! The story is believable and the characters all seem to be like someone we know. Patrick Duffy of Dallas fame, is as always a wonderful "dad". This movie is all about love and family values. If you don't like to watch movies that speak about family commitment, love between father and children than this movie isn't for you. There are plenty of tears and heart felt moments from beginning to end. This movie isn't about it's women. Instead it shows us the pain and joys that go inside a man's heart. Sensitive and kind men I may add. The type of men women are always trying to find but never seem to get their hands on. As for BEN AFFLECK... this movie is a MUST SEE for all his fans. His delivers such a powerful performance that it is touching. Note the young actor was only 17 years old when he made this movie, though he already had the good looks he has today. The ONLY problem with this VHS tape is it's video and sound quality. The movie was taped in EP mode (the slowest recording velocity possible) and consequently the image isn't good and the sound only plays clearly on a stereo VCR. I still would buy it for BEN AFFLECK'S work though. By the way, he appears in almost every scene, his character is not a small one. You can say that he shares with Patrick Duffy the lead male role. As a matter of fact, I loved this movie so much that I will be more than happy to buy it on DVD if it ever comes out!

I watched all the WWII and nazi-related movies and miniseries from the 1980s and I must say this one has stuck with me ever since. Derek Jakobi's performance of Hitler is spellbinding. The scene of him practicing his gestures before a mirror is compelling. Hauer gives a competant though understated performance as Speer. But I must tell you if you watch this movies for no other reason it is the lengthy scene, without dialogue, of Hitler walking through the rooms of the new reich chancellory. The haunting soundtrack music and Jakobi's eyes as he takes in Speer's handiwork are memorable and at the end of the scene, with tears he looks at Speer and say "Well done." When I watch that scene, ever 20 years later, it still gives me goosebumps. This two-part movie is definitely a cut above others from the era. Well worth it to watch.

This movie is fairly faithful to "Inside the Third Reich" authored by Albert Speer while in prison. While it has gotten a barrage of criticism here on Amazon, I liked it. Rutger Hauer puts in a fine performance as Speer. The actors who play Hitler and the other major characters also do good jobs. This movie does a creditable job explaining who Speer was, and what he did, at least according to Speer as based upon his book.

This is very watchable historical drama. I hope it is soon available on DVD.

...this TV movie isn't as bad as some reviewers claim. At moments it gets quite interesting and it features a once-in-a-lifetime-never-to-be-seen-again cast that includes John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Ian Holm, Elke Sommer, Blythe Danner, Robert Vaughn, Rugter Hauer (Albert Speer) and the great Derek Jacobi as Hitler.
Tends to be somehow an apology for Speer (couldn't be otherwise, it's based on his memoirs) and, true, it fails to inspire much emotion (except for the rage of a few reviewers, it seems). It's also rather long (a miniseries, actually) and may not be as accurate as some would like it to be. Personally ...who cares? If you're that obsessed with facts and dates read the book instead!
So, not a life-changing movie experience for sure (I hope), but interesting if you're into WWII within reason.