Michael-Douglas Movie Reviews

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VHS movie reviews for "Michael-Douglas" sorted by average review score:
Metallica: S & M With The San Francisco Symphony (Edited)
Released in VHS Tape by Wea/Elektra Entertainment (23 November, 1999)
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Wayne Isham
There's little doubt that this two-volume concert and documentary package will appeal to die-hard Metallica lovers--given its more than three-hour length (two and a half for the concert segment alone), the band's predominantly white male fan base (repeatedly addressed as "man" by singer-guitarist James Hetfield) will be--in fact already are--ecstatic. But one wonders, especially given the erratic history of rock-cum-orchestra experiments, whether S&M will win Metallica any new aficionados. The fact is that the presence of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by composer Michael Kamen, adds texture but not much else of significance to the Metallica sound. The band is so loud that it tends to overwhelm even a 100-plus member orchestra; what's more, Metallica's crunching, fist-pumping, riff-laden metal music lends itself less to genuine orchestral adornment than to superfluous bombast. And while the sound quality is excellent, it's still basically just a filmed concert, with little in the way of additional visual interest. Still, there are some cool moments, and all involved are clearly having a great time. There are also two new Metallica songs, "No Leaf Clover" and "Minus Human." (Note: also available is an edited version, sold at a slightly lower price, which corresponds to the popular PBS broadcast. The longer version carries an explicit content advisory label, due to much casual profanity, especially in the "making of" documentary.) --Sam Graham
Average review score:

Just Brilliant
This is one of the Best DVD concert i have ever seen . Not only considering my self as a Metallica Fan but a DVD concerts fan Too , Believe Me you wont be Disappointed picking this up . the 5.1 Dolby Digital on those 2 Dics can crush any DTS DVD i own ! and the outstanding Mega clear Picture quality - considering that most of the show played in a dark environment - is woderful . the direction is Brilliant , i mean imagen that someone gives you some Video cameras in a Cinema Theater Full of People and and tells you " come on film the Band and the 107 Orchestra members in that small stage " !!! well , *Wayne Isham* did it for 2 and a Half hour somehow . Also there is 40 minute Great documentary , four Multi-Angle songs ( each Member of the Band has a Camera following him during the song ) . The best and the most FUN thing as a Metallica Fan is that you can chose to Hear Metallica Alone or the symphony Alone or Both of them . one thing that i know for sure , my DVD player will see those 2 dics ALOT MORE than any of my DVD collection !!

Simply Amazing
I was one of the many losers who wasn't able to get tickets to see this show, so I waited on pins and needles for its release on DVD and let me tell you - you will NOT be disappointed. As any true Metallica fan knows, seeing a live show is equal to a religious experience and this disc proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that Metallica can rock in even the most unexpected of circumstances (headlining a symphony?). You've all heard the CD, but watching the performance brings it into a new light. Not only is the sound great and the visuals superior (the picture on this DVD is one of the clearest I've ever seen), it is fun to see the crowd scenes. From the protesters outside, to the symphony fans rolling their eyes at the t-shirt clad youth surrounding them, to the tattoo covered shirtless man in the audience, singing along and cheering with the best of them, the crowd is definitely worth seeing. One of the highlights of the show is during "Memory Remains", when the audience fills in for Marrianne Faithful, never missing a beat. This disc is 2.5 hours of pure adrenaline, guaranteed to please. Invite some friends over and have a night of "culture".

A Celebration of Life, A Legacy of Power
Written in memory of Maestro Michael Kamen, (15 April 1948 - 18 November 2003), by a fan of his.

There is no doubt in my mind what an amazing and passionate spirit Michael Kamen is...this only made it even more evident.

The arrangements, of course, were spectacular, and I cannot think of a single song that did not benefit tremendously from Michael and his orchestra. One could hardly imagine two more different genres of music--and yet the result was such that every note, every majestic chord was exactly where it should be...as if it had been destined from the very beginning.

I began my musical life through classical music and only later moved into rock when I heard Pink Floyd, with whom Michael collaborated--and for me, having enjoyed both genres, this is the perfect synthesis. I will probably not ever investigate Metallica's other works...for I feel like all that I need to know is right here.

Obviously from a visual standpoint, I wish there would have been much more footage of Michael, as I am much more his fan than I am of Metallica, but I am very pleased that they honored him with his very own "Maestro" section in the bonus materials, and I was also very happy with the interview he did in the documentary. When he was visible, I couldn't help but feel invigorated by the sheer energy of his personality. His joy was obvious--watch for when he shouts "MASTER!" along with the audience during "Master of Puppets"! And his vitality becomes all the more amazing and wonderful when you realize that Mr. Kamen was already having to deal with the challenges of MS--but he never allows that to stand in his way here. That in and of itself is a testament to the power of his spirit. Even when he isn't visible, that power reverberates through that orchestra and into the heart of the listener! Even now, when I sit here writing this in silence, the memory sings joyously in my heart...where it will be treasured forever.

Despite S & M being a DVD of bold statements, experiencing it was often a case of being touched by the little details...one of the most wonderful moments was as Michael came back onstage for the second part of the concert, and one of the hardcore Metallica fans in the front row greets him with that 4/4 time gesture, just as enthused about Michael's presence as he was with the presence of the band. It was clear that the audience loved him--and at one point, I could very clearly read Michael's lips as he looked out at them: "I love you!" And somehow, even the song with the grimmest lyrics became part of this great celebration. And that's how I think he was...smiling even through the most difficult things--and in a different way, smiling even now.

"How does it feel to be alive?"

What can I say after watching this, but WONDERFUL! Both this life and the life that is eternal!

There is one fact that cannot be denied...Michael Kamen will ALWAYS be remembered.

I don't think he'd want it any other way...I feel that I have just experienced a celebration of life, a legacy of power.

The Mighty
Released in VHS Tape by Miramax Home Entertainment (08 October, 2002)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Peter Chelsom
Starring: Elden Henson, Kieran Culkin, and Sharon Stone
Caught between the purest of intentions and unimaginative shortcuts to sentimentality, The Mighty is nevertheless rewarding enough to make it worth seeing. Kieran Culkin stars as Kevin, a terminally ill but spirited young boy who befriends a healthy but illiterate social outcast, Maxwell (Elden Henson). They realize that together they are a stronger, braver force than they are as individuals, and the various opportunities they have to confront persecutors and memories of their bad fathers are handled very effectively by director Peter Chelsom (a very original filmmaker who made the terrific Funny Bones). The curious adult casting includes Sharon Stone (a natural scene-stealer even when she doesn't intend it) as Kevin's saintly mother, and Gillian Anderson in a quite-unbelievable supporting role. Chelsom's lapses in judgment are not terribly significant (imaginary appearances by Camelot-era knights on horseback are the most annoying), though one could argue that a plot to kidnap one of the boys is a cheesy way to underscore the kids' redemptive loyalty to one another. Still, all in all, you can laugh and cry at this tale of rare friendship, and admire the sensitive performances by Chelsom's younger players. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

Only A Bit Like The Book
I watched this in reading class after reading Freak The Mighty. The movie cut out many important details from the book and made worse scenes to put in their place. If you read the book, you will notice that the movie doesn't resemble it very much and the book is so much better.

The Mighty
In Miramax Film's The Mighty, starring Kieran Culkin, Elden Henson, Sharon Stone, and James Gandolfini, among others, centers around an illiterate boy who meets and befriends a boy with a physical disability. Elden Henson stars as Max, the illiterate boy, and Kieran Culkin steals the scenes as Kevin, the witty but crippled teenager. The script isn't extraordinarily good, but the theme of friendship resonates throughout the film. Kieran Culkin's Kevin, aka "Freak", the disabled boy whose sharp humor entertained the audience. The carnival sequence with the local bullies who had tortured "Freak" and Max being defeated, is entertaining, but the basketball scene, in which Max and Kevin, conquer via teamwork. The movie's message is that we can accomplish more together than alone is well-received.
I find that the movie was fairly scripted and a well-aimed meaning of friendship and teamwork. It also sends the message that looks can be deceiving and just because two people may be different doesn't mean they have nothing in common.

Pure joy to watch!
This is a story about all souls, lives and beyond.
I bought this because I am Gillian Anderson's big fan from, of course, the X-Files, but it was far beyond my expectation.
Gillian Anderson is real surprise, and the rest of the cast are all fantastic.
Excellent film! I could watch it a million times. And, by the way, I would like to read the original book this film is based on as well.
This film makes you happy even after experiencing a trasic event. I surely believe that.

Wall Street
Released in VHS Tape by Twentieth Century Fox (09 January, 1996)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas won an Oscar for perfectly embodying the Reagan-era credo that "greed is good." As a Donald Trump-like Wall Street raider aptly named Gordon Gecko (for his reptilian ability to attack corporate targets and swallow them whole), Douglas found a role tailor-made to his skill in portraying heartless men who've sacrificed humanity to power. He's a slick, seductive role model for the young ambitious Wall Street broker played by Charlie Sheen, who falls into Gecko's sphere of influence and instantly succumbs to the allure of risky deals and generous payoffs. With such perks as a high-rise apartment and women who love men for their money, Charlie's like a worm on Gecko's hook, blind to the corporate maneuvering that puts him at odds with his own father (played by Sheen's offscreen father, Martin). With his usual lack of subtlety, writer-director Oliver Stone drew from the brokering experience of his own father to tell this Faustian tale for the "me" decade, but the movie's sledgehammer style is undeniably effective. A cautionary warning that Stone delivers on highly entertaining terms, Wall Street grabs your attention while questioning the corrupted values of a system that worships profit at the cost of one's soul. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING MOVIES ABOUT THE MONEY.
In "Wall Street" everything moves around the money. The main motivation of Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) and Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) is getting as much money as they can, no limits, no boundaries. Director Oliver Stone managed to capture on-screen the '80s decade perfectly.

"Wall Street" is a very good movie thanks to the script, the direction, the dialogues, and above all the performances of the lead actors Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen and Martin Sheen, all of them gave an outstanding performance, specially Michael Douglas in the role that got him an Academy Award.

As usual, Oliver Stone created a very personal movie, he co-wrote the screenplay and dedicated the story to his father, a former stockholder. But Stone didn't exclude the audience because the movie presents the fascinating and complex world in Wall Street, and also the movie shows very human feelings such as the ambition, the greed, the envy, the revenge and the personal integrity.

The DVD doesn't include a lot of extra material, but the features that does include are quite good: an audio commentary by Oliver Stone, very valuable, of course, theatrical trailers and a very interesting "Making Of Wall Street" documentary, with interviews and commentaries by the cast and the production crew of the movie. "Wall Street" is a very interesting and entertaining movie, very recommendable.

Capitalism at its Finest
Absolutely fantastic. All you folks in the finance industry out there - watch this movie three times a day, everyday, after meals. Adam Smith ("The Wealth of Nations", ISBN:0879757051, buy it here ! ) would've taken the trouble to rise from his grave to watch this one.

Douglas was excellent and deserved his Oscar, and Sheen (both dad and son) were terrific. I'm not a great fan of Oliver Stone's other movies, but this is one movie I treasure as much as my MSFT stock certificate !

The quotes from the dialogue should be printed in bold and stuck up on the wall of every investment bank's office:

"It's all about bucks kid. The rest is conversation".

"See this building over here ... it was my first real estate deal ...I made over $900,000. At the time I thought it was all the money in the world - now it's a day's pay".

Surprised it didn't win the Oscar for best screenplay as well.

Oliver Stone's best film
Bud Fox ( Charlie Sheen)is a young broker who is intelligent, ambitious, and hard working. He has many ideas on how to make it big. The only problem is that he is stuck in a job that consists of cold calling investors over the phone. Wanting something more, he seeks out the highly successful financial wiz Gordon Gecko ( Michael Douglas). Gecko sees a younger version of himself with Bud, and takes him under his wing. However, the road to success, is not always paved with honesty. Bud is immediately lured by Gordon, into the world of corporate epsionage and insider trading. Bud starts to make more money than he ever dreamed was possible. But he soon learns that the pursuit of overnight riches comes at a price that is too high to pay.

Wall Street takes us into the world of the stock market and insider trading. It is definately Oliver Stone's best film, and one of the best that I have ever seen overall. No matter how many times you see this movie, it never gets boring, or seems any less amazing. Michael Douglas offers one of the most memorable lines of all time with "Greed is good". This is the driving force for the film. This perhaps, is the film's best feature because the story is so authentic. Stone manages to fully capture all of the glory that Wall Street can bring, and the misery that it can cause.

Of course, you need talented actors to make it convincing. Michael Douglas gives the best role of his career as Gordon Gecko. In fact, he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for the role. It is that good. Gordon is a man that is ruled by greed, and is completely ruthless. That is why Charlie Sheen's portrayal of Bud Fox plays so well off of Douglas. Sheen is young, ambitious, and also extremely naive. He is the puppet, and Gecko is the puppeteer. Martin Sheen delivers an extremely solid role as Bud's father Carl. I loved the fact that Martin Sheen got the role, because only a real father could bring such a realistic portrayal of love. There are other great actors as well in this film, and they include Hal Halbrook, John C McGinley, Daryl Hannah, and Terrance Stamp.

Wall Street is a classic story dealing with ambition, greed, and betrayal. The story is extremely authentic, all of the acting is superb, and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat. The DVD extras are nice too. The making of documentary is great, and so is the commentary from Oliver Stone.

Falling Down
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (26 March, 1996)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, and Barbara Hershey
This film, about a downsized engineer (Michael Douglas) who goes ballistic, triggered a media avalanche of stories about middle-class white rage when it was released in 1993. In fact, it's nothing more than a manipulative, violent melodrama about one geek's meltdown. Douglas, complete with pocket protector, nerd glasses, crewcut, and short-sleeved white shirt, gets stuck in traffic one day near downtown L.A. and proceeds to just walk away from his car--and then lose it emotionally. Everyone he encounters rubs him the wrong way--and a fine lot of stereotypes they are, from threatening ghetto punks to rude convenience store owners to a creepy white supremacist--and he reacts violently in every case. As he walks across L.A. (now there's a concept), cutting a bloody swath, he's being tracked by a cop on the verge of retirement (Robert Duvall). He also spends time on the phone with his frightened ex-wife (Barbara Hershey). Though Douglas and Duvall give stellar performances, they can't disguise the fact that, as usual, this is another film from director Joel Schumacher that is about surface and sensation, rather than actual substance. --Marshall Fine
Average review score:

Most engaging film Schumacher's done
Movie Critics are morons. All of these characters ARE stereotypes, as are the characters in 85% of Hollywood's movies today. Panning this movie for it's blatent use of these cliched people kind of misses 'the point' they were looking for. People are ugly, racist, and selfish. This man (with serious emotional problems) takes a look around his world (downtown LA) and slowly begins breaking down. How many of us can identify with the idea of the American Dream gone wrong? Being menaced by a gang? Being lied to by advertising? 'they lie to everybody'. Micheal Douglas portrayal of a Joe Blow gone bad is mesmerizing. Unlike 'Payback', I actually found myself rooting for the 'bad guy'. What Douglas does is ugly, what we all see everyday is ugly. Robert Duvall (as mentioned before) is rock solid.

The DVD's main benefit is crystal clear audio and video. It features scene selection and the trailer. Had it included a few extras (Like a MD or RD commentary track, I'd rate it a 5). This movie is about the 'average man' in a cruddy world who can't take it anymore. He could have been someone you worked with, or saw when you're getting off the bus, or waitied in line behind. And THAT was the point of this movie.

"GOD BLESS THE WORKING STIFF!!!!!"
In this excellent film, Michael Douglas plays Bill Foster, an everyday man working in the everyday world, although he is not the example of the American Dream (which to you older folks, no one ever is). He is divorced, has a high level of rage, has been downsized from his defense worker job, and is being scr##ed over by the system. One day, sitting in his car in a traffic jam during a heat wave, he snaps, and starts to walk home through gangland. He first encounters trouble with the system through a Korean shopkeeper, who charges 85 cents for a can of soda. When the shopkeeper attacks Foster, he takes his bat and smashes up the store, which after he leaves, attracts the attention of the LAPD. Along the way, he accquires a bag of weapons, and the movie becomes real interesting...

We all understand what is going through Foster's head, mainly because when a bad day hits its peak, we all, deep down, want to do that to our aggressors. Michael Douglas is great as Foster, while Robert Duvall is equally as great as the detective on his last day, determined to stop Foster. The DVD, however, is horrible (I only got it because it was in the bargain bin). The video and sound are excellent, but the extras are severly lacking. All there is is a trailer that focuses on the comedy elements of the film. A commentary and TV spots would
have been nice! Great movie, lousy DVD.

FALLING DOWN
(1993, R)

Bill Foster\ D-FENS: Michael Douglas
Prendergast: Robert Duvall
Beth: Barbara Hershey
Amanda Prendergast: Tuesday Weld
Sandra: Rachel Ticotin
Nick: Fredric Forrest

Director: Joel Schumacher
Writer: Ebbe Roe Smith

MOVIE: 5
VIDEO: 5
AUDIO: 5
EXTRAS: 2
MENUS: 3
OVERALL: 5

I had to laugh.........
Michael Douglas as a nerd-gone-psychotic...living at home with his totally oblivious mother...flashbacks of his wife and child who could not stand the "horsey" he made her ride when she was a toddler....

Robert Duvall's shrew wife demanding he be home on time for dinner.....and going ballistic when his female partner answers his phone...

This film has it's stereotypes, but it was entertaining. I especially liked the fast food restaurant scene, when MD demanded BREAKFAST! Also when he went up on the freeway demanding the DOT workers to answer "why" the road was being torn up.....his bungling of the rocket launcher (and the kid telling him how to fire it) was totally comical!

Ahhh, Michael, what a gorgeous NERD you made! ;)

Falling Down
Released in VHS Tape by Warner Studios (26 March, 1996)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, and Barbara Hershey
This film, about a downsized engineer (Michael Douglas) who goes ballistic, triggered a media avalanche of stories about middle-class white rage when it was released in 1993. In fact, it's nothing more than a manipulative, violent melodrama about one geek's meltdown. Douglas, complete with pocket protector, nerd glasses, crewcut, and short-sleeved white shirt, gets stuck in traffic one day near downtown L.A. and proceeds to just walk away from his car--and then lose it emotionally. Everyone he encounters rubs him the wrong way--and a fine lot of stereotypes they are, from threatening ghetto punks to rude convenience store owners to a creepy white supremacist--and he reacts violently in every case. As he walks across L.A. (now there's a concept), cutting a bloody swath, he's being tracked by a cop on the verge of retirement (Robert Duvall). He also spends time on the phone with his frightened ex-wife (Barbara Hershey). Though Douglas and Duvall give stellar performances, they can't disguise the fact that, as usual, this is another film from director Joel Schumacher that is about surface and sensation, rather than actual substance. --Marshall Fine
Average review score:

Most engaging film Schumacher's done
Movie Critics are morons. All of these characters ARE stereotypes, as are the characters in 85% of Hollywood's movies today. Panning this movie for it's blatent use of these cliched people kind of misses 'the point' they were looking for. People are ugly, racist, and selfish. This man (with serious emotional problems) takes a look around his world (downtown LA) and slowly begins breaking down. How many of us can identify with the idea of the American Dream gone wrong? Being menaced by a gang? Being lied to by advertising? 'they lie to everybody'. Micheal Douglas portrayal of a Joe Blow gone bad is mesmerizing. Unlike 'Payback', I actually found myself rooting for the 'bad guy'. What Douglas does is ugly, what we all see everyday is ugly. Robert Duvall (as mentioned before) is rock solid.

The DVD's main benefit is crystal clear audio and video. It features scene selection and the trailer. Had it included a few extras (Like a MD or RD commentary track, I'd rate it a 5). This movie is about the 'average man' in a cruddy world who can't take it anymore. He could have been someone you worked with, or saw when you're getting off the bus, or waitied in line behind. And THAT was the point of this movie.

"GOD BLESS THE WORKING STIFF!!!!!"
In this excellent film, Michael Douglas plays Bill Foster, an everyday man working in the everyday world, although he is not the example of the American Dream (which to you older folks, no one ever is). He is divorced, has a high level of rage, has been downsized from his defense worker job, and is being scr##ed over by the system. One day, sitting in his car in a traffic jam during a heat wave, he snaps, and starts to walk home through gangland. He first encounters trouble with the system through a Korean shopkeeper, who charges 85 cents for a can of soda. When the shopkeeper attacks Foster, he takes his bat and smashes up the store, which after he leaves, attracts the attention of the LAPD. Along the way, he accquires a bag of weapons, and the movie becomes real interesting...

We all understand what is going through Foster's head, mainly because when a bad day hits its peak, we all, deep down, want to do that to our aggressors. Michael Douglas is great as Foster, while Robert Duvall is equally as great as the detective on his last day, determined to stop Foster. The DVD, however, is horrible (I only got it because it was in the bargain bin). The video and sound are excellent, but the extras are severly lacking. All there is is a trailer that focuses on the comedy elements of the film. A commentary and TV spots would
have been nice! Great movie, lousy DVD.

FALLING DOWN
(1993, R)

Bill Foster\ D-FENS: Michael Douglas
Prendergast: Robert Duvall
Beth: Barbara Hershey
Amanda Prendergast: Tuesday Weld
Sandra: Rachel Ticotin
Nick: Fredric Forrest

Director: Joel Schumacher
Writer: Ebbe Roe Smith

MOVIE: 5
VIDEO: 5
AUDIO: 5
EXTRAS: 2
MENUS: 3
OVERALL: 5

I had to laugh.........
Michael Douglas as a nerd-gone-psychotic...living at home with his totally oblivious mother...flashbacks of his wife and child who could not stand the "horsey" he made her ride when she was a toddler....

Robert Duvall's shrew wife demanding he be home on time for dinner.....and going ballistic when his female partner answers his phone...

This film has it's stereotypes, but it was entertaining. I especially liked the fast food restaurant scene, when MD demanded BREAKFAST! Also when he went up on the freeway demanding the DOT workers to answer "why" the road was being torn up.....his bungling of the rocket launcher (and the kid telling him how to fire it) was totally comical!

Ahhh, Michael, what a gorgeous NERD you made! ;)

The Ghost and the Darkness
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (29 January, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer stars as Lt. Col. John Patterson, a 19th-century Irish engineer drafted by Britain's railroad bosses to build a trestle bridge over an African river, thus expanding the empire a tiny bit more. In Tsavo, Patterson is instantly hailed for killing a man-eating lion that had been making life hell for native workers. But morale sinks when a pair of unstoppable big cats devour more men and destroy the project. Along comes an Ahab-like, expatriate American hunter (Michael Douglas) to help Patterson face the almost preternatural powers of the two killers. The script by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) is based on fact, though the film owes more to Spielberg (specifically to Jaws) than history. There are also suggestive echoes of Kipling and Conrad in the material and characters, and there are hints of emotional complexity and psychological nuance that make one wish this could have been a great film instead of a merely fun one. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

Very tense action adventure
The Ghost and the Darkness is a very exciting movie that is based on fact although liberties are taken. The story is about two man-eating lions who terrorize the village of Tsavo as Colonel John Patterson tries to build an important bridge across a river. Patterson and a famous hunter, Henry Remington, attempt over and over again to kill the two lions until finally the workers decide to leave the area because they are so afraid of the lions. The hunting scenes are truly well done. The scene where Patterson and Remington discover the den of the lions is a great scene that shows that the lions are in no way normal. Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas both give great performances as Patterson and Remington. Douglas' performance is a little over the top, but it works very well here. The film is beautifully shot with an excellent backing by Jerry Goldsmith's musical score. The DVD is a little disappointing with very few extras but for the movie alone it is worth the purchase. Do not miss this very exciting adventure story that is based on a true story!

Old fashioned, Hollywood production
This movie tells the story of Lt. Colonel J. H. Patterson, D.S.O., and engineer that was commissioned to build a bridge in the Tsavo region of Africa during the colonial period. His work was interrupted by the activities of a pair of male lions, intent on thinning out the conscripted and hired labor as quickly as possible. This is based on a true story. The film takes liberties with the book from which it came: "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo", by Colonel Patterson, but I can't say I minded that too much. If it's one thing that drives me to distraction its "experts" that nit-pick about the details of a genre picture. This is a Hollywood film, a Hollywood blockbuster, no less - not a documentary. In short, this was a tremendously tense film throughout, and Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer turned in two fine performances. The cinematography of Africa was beautiful, and the lions were terrifying. Did you expect a historical document?

Jaws in the Serengeti
This is a good, old-fashioned thriller about man versus beast. Exciting, well-paced, well-acted (despite Val Kilmer's sometimes wobbly Irish accent). Although based on fact, in plot and structure it resembles Spielberg's Jaws in more ways than one: cunning, ferocious maneater wreaks havoc on a community; civilized scientist/engineer teams up with tough old salt to hunt down maneater; a tense showdown in which.... I won't spoil the ending for you.

This is a good Saturday night movie that didn't deserve all the snide, hostile reviews it got at its premiere.

The Ghost and the Darkness
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (29 January, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer stars as Lt. Col. John Patterson, a 19th-century Irish engineer drafted by Britain's railroad bosses to build a trestle bridge over an African river, thus expanding the empire a tiny bit more. In Tsavo, Patterson is instantly hailed for killing a man-eating lion that had been making life hell for native workers. But morale sinks when a pair of unstoppable big cats devour more men and destroy the project. Along comes an Ahab-like, expatriate American hunter (Michael Douglas) to help Patterson face the almost preternatural powers of the two killers. The script by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) is based on fact, though the film owes more to Spielberg (specifically to Jaws) than history. There are also suggestive echoes of Kipling and Conrad in the material and characters, and there are hints of emotional complexity and psychological nuance that make one wish this could have been a great film instead of a merely fun one. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

Very tense action adventure
The Ghost and the Darkness is a very exciting movie that is based on fact although liberties are taken. The story is about two man-eating lions who terrorize the village of Tsavo as Colonel John Patterson tries to build an important bridge across a river. Patterson and a famous hunter, Henry Remington, attempt over and over again to kill the two lions until finally the workers decide to leave the area because they are so afraid of the lions. The hunting scenes are truly well done. The scene where Patterson and Remington discover the den of the lions is a great scene that shows that the lions are in no way normal. Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas both give great performances as Patterson and Remington. Douglas' performance is a little over the top, but it works very well here. The film is beautifully shot with an excellent backing by Jerry Goldsmith's musical score. The DVD is a little disappointing with very few extras but for the movie alone it is worth the purchase. Do not miss this very exciting adventure story that is based on a true story!

Old fashioned, Hollywood production
This movie tells the story of Lt. Colonel J. H. Patterson, D.S.O., and engineer that was commissioned to build a bridge in the Tsavo region of Africa during the colonial period. His work was interrupted by the activities of a pair of male lions, intent on thinning out the conscripted and hired labor as quickly as possible. This is based on a true story. The film takes liberties with the book from which it came: "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo", by Colonel Patterson, but I can't say I minded that too much. If it's one thing that drives me to distraction its "experts" that nit-pick about the details of a genre picture. This is a Hollywood film, a Hollywood blockbuster, no less - not a documentary. In short, this was a tremendously tense film throughout, and Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer turned in two fine performances. The cinematography of Africa was beautiful, and the lions were terrifying. Did you expect a historical document?

Jaws in the Serengeti
This is a good, old-fashioned thriller about man versus beast. Exciting, well-paced, well-acted (despite Val Kilmer's sometimes wobbly Irish accent). Although based on fact, in plot and structure it resembles Spielberg's Jaws in more ways than one: cunning, ferocious maneater wreaks havoc on a community; civilized scientist/engineer teams up with tough old salt to hunt down maneater; a tense showdown in which.... I won't spoil the ending for you.

This is a good Saturday night movie that didn't deserve all the snide, hostile reviews it got at its premiere.

The Ghost and the Darkness (Widescreen Edition)
Released in VHS Tape by Paramount Studio (23 September, 1997)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer stars as Lt. Col. John Patterson, a 19th-century Irish engineer drafted by Britain's railroad bosses to build a trestle bridge over an African river, thus expanding the empire a tiny bit more. In Tsavo, Patterson is instantly hailed for killing a man-eating lion that had been making life hell for native workers. But morale sinks when a pair of unstoppable big cats devour more men and destroy the project. Along comes an Ahab-like, expatriate American hunter (Michael Douglas) to help Patterson face the almost preternatural powers of the two killers. The script by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) is based on fact, though the film owes more to Spielberg (specifically to Jaws) than history. There are also suggestive echoes of Kipling and Conrad in the material and characters, and there are hints of emotional complexity and psychological nuance that make one wish this could have been a great film instead of a merely fun one. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

Very tense action adventure
The Ghost and the Darkness is a very exciting movie that is based on fact although liberties are taken. The story is about two man-eating lions who terrorize the village of Tsavo as Colonel John Patterson tries to build an important bridge across a river. Patterson and a famous hunter, Henry Remington, attempt over and over again to kill the two lions until finally the workers decide to leave the area because they are so afraid of the lions. The hunting scenes are truly well done. The scene where Patterson and Remington discover the den of the lions is a great scene that shows that the lions are in no way normal. Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas both give great performances as Patterson and Remington. Douglas' performance is a little over the top, but it works very well here. The film is beautifully shot with an excellent backing by Jerry Goldsmith's musical score. The DVD is a little disappointing with very few extras but for the movie alone it is worth the purchase. Do not miss this very exciting adventure story that is based on a true story!

Old fashioned, Hollywood production
This movie tells the story of Lt. Colonel J. H. Patterson, D.S.O., and engineer that was commissioned to build a bridge in the Tsavo region of Africa during the colonial period. His work was interrupted by the activities of a pair of male lions, intent on thinning out the conscripted and hired labor as quickly as possible. This is based on a true story. The film takes liberties with the book from which it came: "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo", by Colonel Patterson, but I can't say I minded that too much. If it's one thing that drives me to distraction its "experts" that nit-pick about the details of a genre picture. This is a Hollywood film, a Hollywood blockbuster, no less - not a documentary. In short, this was a tremendously tense film throughout, and Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer turned in two fine performances. The cinematography of Africa was beautiful, and the lions were terrifying. Did you expect a historical document?

Jaws in the Serengeti
This is a good, old-fashioned thriller about man versus beast. Exciting, well-paced, well-acted (despite Val Kilmer's sometimes wobbly Irish accent). Although based on fact, in plot and structure it resembles Spielberg's Jaws in more ways than one: cunning, ferocious maneater wreaks havoc on a community; civilized scientist/engineer teams up with tough old salt to hunt down maneater; a tense showdown in which.... I won't spoil the ending for you.

This is a good Saturday night movie that didn't deserve all the snide, hostile reviews it got at its premiere.

The Game
Released in VHS Tape by Usa Films (14 September, 1999)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, and Deborah Unger
It's not quite as clever as it tries to be, but The Game does a tremendous job of presenting the story of a rigid control freak trapped in circumstances that are increasingly beyond his control. Michael Douglas plays a rich, divorced, and dreadful investment banker whose 48th birthday reminds him of his father's suicide at the same age. He's locked in the cage of his own misery until his rebellious younger brother (Sean Penn) presents him with a birthday invitation to play "The Game" (described as "an experiential Book of the Month Club")--a mysterious offering from a company called Consumer Recreation Services. Before he knows the game has even begun, Douglas is caught up in a series of unexplained events designed to strip him of his tenuous security and cast him into a maelstrom of chaos. How do you play a game that hasn't any rules? That's what Douglas has to figure out, and he can't always rely on his intelligence to form logic out of what's happening to him. Seemingly cast as the fall guy in a conspiracy thriller, he encounters a waitress (Deborah Unger) who may or may not be trustworthy, and nothing can be taken at face value in a world turned upside down. Douglas is great at conveying the sheer panic of his character's dilemma, and despite some lapses in credibility and an anticlimactic ending, The Game remains a thinking person's thriller that grabs and holds your attention. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

Play This Game
This is one interesting, thrilling film. It's definitley one of those films that you'll think about afterwards. Michael Douglas stars as a rich man(again?!), who is having his birthday. He's now at the age his father was when he comitted suicide. Sean Penn pops up as his brother, who offers him an interesting birthday present that needs him to play 'the game'. Before Michael knows it, the game is on and he doesn't know what's going on, what to do, or where to go. Along the way he hooks up with a waitress(Deborah Unger)who gets involved with him and this serious 'game'. There are twists and turns in this movie that are set up and executed very, very well. There are things that the audience won't expect. Douglas is very good when he gets to play icy millionaires. You can thank "Wall Street" for that. He is at his best here. Sean Penn does what he can with a pretty small role. Director David Fincher brings a moody, captivating presence to the film. This is a very good movie that will grab hold of your attention and not let it go until the very end.

Gordon Gekko gets his comeuppance--big time!!!
Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
THE GAME is definitely a director's movie. David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club) propels us into the nightmarish world of Michael Douglas' Scroogish investment banker. Nicholas is cold; lonely; bearing a lot of anguish over the suicide of his father, the seeming failure of his brother (Sean Penn in a rather small role, almost overacting, but tolerable). What in this movie is real and what is a game? The use of news commentator Daniel Schorr to set the rules for Douglas is very good, and unique. Deborah Kara Unger fills the role of Christine nicely, although sometimes she seems in a vague fog. Peter Donat as Douglas' lawyer is sturdy; James Rebhorn as the smarmy employee of CRS is also good.
The movie rests on Douglas' shoulders and thought it may be a combination of his other roles, he still does a commendable job in carrying the movie. It is bizarre, nightmarish, ominous and a director's triumph. Some of the things that go on toward the end of the movie and stretch the credibility factor, but I can't divulge those without spoiling the ending.
A good film, inventive and well done.

The Game
Released in VHS Tape by Usa Films (14 September, 1999)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Michael Douglas, Sean Penn, and Deborah Unger
It's not quite as clever as it tries to be, but The Game does a tremendous job of presenting the story of a rigid control freak trapped in circumstances that are increasingly beyond his control. Michael Douglas plays a rich, divorced, and dreadful investment banker whose 48th birthday reminds him of his father's suicide at the same age. He's locked in the cage of his own misery until his rebellious younger brother (Sean Penn) presents him with a birthday invitation to play "The Game" (described as "an experiential Book of the Month Club")--a mysterious offering from a company called Consumer Recreation Services. Before he knows the game has even begun, Douglas is caught up in a series of unexplained events designed to strip him of his tenuous security and cast him into a maelstrom of chaos. How do you play a game that hasn't any rules? That's what Douglas has to figure out, and he can't always rely on his intelligence to form logic out of what's happening to him. Seemingly cast as the fall guy in a conspiracy thriller, he encounters a waitress (Deborah Unger) who may or may not be trustworthy, and nothing can be taken at face value in a world turned upside down. Douglas is great at conveying the sheer panic of his character's dilemma, and despite some lapses in credibility and an anticlimactic ending, The Game remains a thinking person's thriller that grabs and holds your attention. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score:

Play This Game
This is one interesting, thrilling film. It's definitley one of those films that you'll think about afterwards. Michael Douglas stars as a rich man(again?!), who is having his birthday. He's now at the age his father was when he comitted suicide. Sean Penn pops up as his brother, who offers him an interesting birthday present that needs him to play 'the game'. Before Michael knows it, the game is on and he doesn't know what's going on, what to do, or where to go. Along the way he hooks up with a waitress(Deborah Unger)who gets involved with him and this serious 'game'. There are twists and turns in this movie that are set up and executed very, very well. There are things that the audience won't expect. Douglas is very good when he gets to play icy millionaires. You can thank "Wall Street" for that. He is at his best here. Sean Penn does what he can with a pretty small role. Director David Fincher brings a moody, captivating presence to the film. This is a very good movie that will grab hold of your attention and not let it go until the very end.

Gordon Gekko gets his comeuppance--big time!!!
Less than a full year before A PERFECT MURDER (1998) was released, Michael Douglas starred in THE GAME (1997), which is not simply a Michael Douglas movie, it's a David Fincher film-and you know what that means! From a screenplay by John D. Brancato & Michael Ferris, THE GAME is classic Fincher: dark, mysterious and with a constant sense of brooding danger in which lets you know that somehow, somewhere, something is not quite kosher.

In THE GAME, Douglas is Nicholas Van Orton; a man of great wealth and power and totally devoid of any human compassion (as evidenced by the cold and callous way in which he fires a longtime employee). If this sounds like Gordon Gekko to you, it's because Michael Douglas, at this stage in his career, plays cold callousness like no one else. Call it typecasting; I call it brilliant acting ability and being smart enough to stick with what works. However, Gordon Gekko in the legendary Oliver Stone-directed WALL STREET (1987) didn't have a younger brother; Nicholas Van Orton does. On Nick's 48th birthday (the same age at which his father died, hint hint), his black-sheep-of-the-family brother Conrad, as brilliantly played by Sean Penn, visits him in his sprawling, cherry-wood office and hands his older sibling his birthday present: a business card with the name Consumer Recreation Services (CRS) on it. "What is this," Nicholas cynically asks. The sly answer given by Penn is one of my favorite lines in the film, and one that tells us that his elder bro's life will never be the same, once he begins to play THE GAME.

Along the way, Nicholas Van Orton encounters CRS and its primary spokesman (or so he thinks) Jim Feingold (played with disarming confidence by character actor James Rebhorn), a mouthy cocktail waitress (Deborah Kara Unger) who seems to hold the secret to THE GAME, and a spooky-looking full-size inanimate clown who appears to watch everything he does. Also along the way are near-brushes with death that culminate with Conrad Van Orton's tearful admission that he "didn't know what the $#@! he had gotten them into" when he had signed his brother up for THE GAME. But that's still just the beginning...

Everyone is superbly cast in this film, including BABY DOLL (1956) herself, Carroll Baker, and the always-watchable Armin Mueller-Stahl. But the real star here is David Fincher; he is so adept at guiding us down a labyrinthic path of which only he knows the end, that all we can do is hang on and enjoy the rollercoaster ride on which he breathlessly takes us. He primarily relies on small, subtle signs of foreboding to generate suspense, as opposed to full-blown violence and gore. Although this is one of those films that relies on first-time viewers' lack of knowledge of what to expect, and thusly loses something on repeated viewings, it is still a very good film to re-visit on occasion, if only to experience Fincher's unique style (this film and A PERFECT MURDER are miles apart in this respect, believe me), Douglas and Penn's acting and the production values, which are first-rate.

See and experience THE GAME for yourself.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
THE GAME is definitely a director's movie. David Fincher (Seven, Panic Room, Fight Club) propels us into the nightmarish world of Michael Douglas' Scroogish investment banker. Nicholas is cold; lonely; bearing a lot of anguish over the suicide of his father, the seeming failure of his brother (Sean Penn in a rather small role, almost overacting, but tolerable). What in this movie is real and what is a game? The use of news commentator Daniel Schorr to set the rules for Douglas is very good, and unique. Deborah Kara Unger fills the role of Christine nicely, although sometimes she seems in a vague fog. Peter Donat as Douglas' lawyer is sturdy; James Rebhorn as the smarmy employee of CRS is also good.
The movie rests on Douglas' shoulders and thought it may be a combination of his other roles, he still does a commendable job in carrying the movie. It is bizarre, nightmarish, ominous and a director's triumph. Some of the things that go on toward the end of the movie and stretch the credibility factor, but I can't divulge those without spoiling the ending.
A good film, inventive and well done.

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