Michael-Duncan Movie Reviews

I never heard of this film and probably never would have except for a connection I made with another Amazon.com reviewer (hannah12). I suppose as many other people do, I found that hannah12 reviewed several books, movies and BBC series that I enjoyed, so I began reading her other reviews. That's how I was introduced to "I Know Where I'm Going", and I was not disappointed.

The plot is thin, but appealing. It's the gorgeous scenery, even in black and white, that makes this movie a standout-it was filmed on location in Scotland. And being a dog-lover, the scenes that include beautiful Scottish Deerhounds are particularly special to me. Wendy Hiller is terrific as the headstrong young lady bound and determined to marry a very rich older man and Roger Livesey perfect as the low-key local laird with lots of breeding, but little money.

This is a movie with tons of atmosphere. It's a great way to escape from our everyday lives here in the good old USA.

'I know where I'm going' is another film directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and was released as one their Archers productions in October 1945. It's the story of assured, determined Joan Webster who travels to the Scottish Hebrides to marry a rich man. But when she meets a penniless Scottish laird her intentions are thoroughly thwarted. This film was shot in black and white on location on the island of Mull [of the cast only Roger Livesey who plays the part of the laird Torquil, didn't set foot on Mull because of engagements elsewhere]. 'I know where I'm going' is an unforgettable love story which features two of the most eminent British actors: Wendy Hiller as Joan and Roger Livesey as the laird Torquil, and they certainly carry this film.

The message of 'I know where I'm going' is to embrace life and love, and this picture is enchanced by such diverse symbols as a wonderful dreaming sequence, a castle with a curse on it, hawks, gales, a turmoil and the Scottish landscape itself. Wendy Hiller is wonderful as Joan, it's a delight to watch her unbend, and embrace the love/life she truly desires [that is Torquil]. Roger Livesey is equally riveting as the very charming Torquil and his golden, deep voice is definitely an asset to his acting skills. Of the supporting cast I was also very fond of Pamela Brown's Catriona. A free spirited Highland lass who lives with wolfhounds. 'I know where I'm going' is also remarkable for its authentic treatment of Scottish culture. There's a lot of Gaelic spoken in this film and Joan and Torquil visit a traditional Highland 'ceilidh'. The stunning Scottish landscape itself is another important 'protagonist' in this film.

All in all, 'I know where I'm going' is definitely one of the most riveting and unforgettable productions of the Archers.

The first ten minutes are very dated, but keep watching, the romance is as inevitable and gratifying as the cavalry showing up in an old western. Wendy Hiller is as beautiful as she was in Pygmalian and Livesy gives the performance of a lifetime. The DVD extras are excellent. Scotland is ravishingly beautiful. A couples movie if ever there were one.

Being a big fan of Jeff Daniels' acting and Revolutionary War drama, I ordered this movie and was very disappointed. The sequence of events is historically accurate but the characters are not very well portrayed. The crudity and obscenity were unbelievable in an unrated movie--in at least two places Washington uses the a-word to refer to someone's behind. Right! In the 1770s they still used that word to refer to a donkey. And we still have a copy of Washington's orders that his troops were to refrain from profanity. It is known under extreme provocation Washington used an occasional four-letter word, but never in casual conversation like in this movie. Stick with true history...try Jeff Shaara's books on the War.

I saw this version of the pivotal Revolutionary War Delaware river crossing earlier this year on A&E and then bought it myself. Jeff Daniels as General George Washington, and the rest of the cast, did an excellent job as did the writers in giving exceptional personality to all the characters portrayed within 90 minutes of movie. Being from DE/PA/NJ I was first engrossed by looking for powerlines and modern artifacts that might have been unseen in the backgrounds. By the third time I saw the film I was overly impressed by all the skill from all involved in 'The Crossing'. Perhaps the only negatives are the lack of far shots (due to limitations at the historic sites) and the fairly ridiculous lingering and overacting on the Hessians who die at the end. Perhaps the most 'Hollywood' influence was seen in the sequences with cannon fire blowing Hessians into the air while they are clearly hoisted via wire.

Quite a good film, despite some of the minor stylistic flaws. Glover, Mercer, Knox, and the rest of the Intercontinental Army become tangible dimensional characters due to great writing and acting. I highly recommend 'The Crossing' for lovers of historical drama, war films, and plain good stuff.

In the last 10 years or so, Hollywood and cable TV has finally started to get it right when they make movies (Widescreen or TV) about historical events, and The Crossing is no exception.

This is a well acted account of one of the major events of the War of Independence. Jeff Daniels portrays a superb George Washington, who was at times very impatient and hot tempered. History seems to gloss over the imperfections and vulnerabilities of our nations beloved figures, however this movie shows Washington to be flawed and tired at times like the rest of his army was.

The uniforms,locations, and camp life were accurate as well as the filth and harsh existence the Continental Army had to go through. The movie did an excellent job of trying to film the famous battle, which definitely caught the Hessians by suprise.

Overall, a well acted, accurately portrayed Revolutionary War movie.

Disney always makes top quality made for t.v. movies, but this one has made my top ten list! Buzzy Crocker is a reporter for a fake tabloid wich produces headlines such as, "Frozen Ghost Found in Freezer." Anna, his neice, askes if he "Ever wanted to write something real" and her questions were soon answered when an old woman came to him with the secret of why 5 hotel guests at The Hollywood Tower Hotel suddenly vanished from an elevator on Halloween, 1939. Buzzy and Anna go to the run down hotel only to find that it's haunted by the ghosts of the 5 people. When they befriend the ghosts and plan to help them get to the "other world", They find out that someone they know has evil intentions for the 5 souls. Can Buzzy and Anna stop them? Starring Steve Guttenberg as Buzzy and Kirsten Dunst as Anna, although this storyline may sound a bit corny, the movie is great and the plot is drawn out perfectly! Buy it today! This price is very reasonable and It's destined to become A disney Classic! It comes in a hard cover collectors case and is 89 minuites long.

Disney has made an exceptionally good movie for ABC's "The Wonderful World Of Disney." I'm so glad they've lowered the price so that everyone can own it. The movie was made back in 1997 to advertise the opening of "The Twilight Zone: Tower Of Terror" ride at Disney's MGM Studios in Walt Disney World. But this movie was so good, I thought they should have put it in theaters. It's the story of a group of people who were traped in an elevator and plumited to their death. Among them was an child movie star. The hotel was closed down. Now it is 1997 and Buzzy (Guttenberg) is a struggling journalist. His neice (Dunst) Goes with him to the abandoned hotel to write a foney story about it, but they discover that the ghosts are real, and that the elevators crash wasn't an accident. It turns into a big mystery with a good ending. You really start to root for the characters. Buy it today. You'll love it!

60 years ago,a Shirley Temple type of child star named Sally Shine,plus 4 others entered an elevator and were lost forever.Or did they ever really leave the hotel they were in?Steve Guttenberg's character is a journalist who will discover that all 5 souls have been 'living?..' in limbo because of a witches evil spell.All the poor things want is to finally make it to their party on the 12th floor,but they're running a little late.

Since there is already an excellent plot synopsis, and good reviews, I have just a few comments. In selecting acting roles, Alec Guinness clearly felt that variety was the spice of life !
"The Man in the White Suit" is a brilliant, but very eccentric scientist, and Guinness is of course terrific in the lead. As always, Cecil Parker is fine in support, and Joan Greenwood, with her breathy, seductive voice, is wonderful. As other reviewers have noted, watch for Ernest Thesiger as "Sir John"--in just a few scenes he manages to convey pure evil and greed very convincingly.

While this film has humour, it is not quite a comedy in the usual sense. Its various themes and messages ring true even today. "Planned obsolescence" is as much a part of modern manufacturing as it has ever been. The possibility of a product that never wears out and will never need to be replaced is every big business' worst nightmare, and hardly good news for labour either. This comes across in the movie, and in 2003 I don't expect that the reaction would be any different. We have been hearing about engines that run on solar power or even water for years--guess how much "big oil" is going to let that happen ? !

The movie has a number of unforgettable scenes, including the climax where Guinness is cornered by the mob of workers and capitalists, united in their fear. The ending is as upbeat as one could expect, without compromising the seriousness of the theme.

The picture quality of the DVD is fine, especially for a 52-year old film.

If you like classic movies that are aimed at your brain, as well as your funny-bone, "The Man in the White Suit" fills the bill.

Putting together the information of the different reviews will give customers already a good idea about the plot of this very interesting movie. But I just wanted to add -I'm somewhat surprised that nobody made the comparison- that the sultry voice and some little feminine gestures of sensual Miss Joan Greenwood in this film bears quite some resemblance to Veronica Lake's. In fact, there was another thing that reminded me of a V.Lake/Alan Ladd movie: the character of the old boss of bosses of the textile industry somewhat resembles a catain pg industry, head of a dubious chemical plant in 'This gun for hire" 10 years earlier.
I guess the choice of "white" for the new product is not a coïncidence, being the complete opposite of the "black" city and the black cars and suits of the bosses.

I recently purchased The Horse's Mouth (1958) from Amazon as well as "The Alec Guinness Collection" which includes The Man in the White Suit (1951) plus four others: Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), The Captain's Paradise (1953), and The Ladykillers (1955). Frankly, I was amazed how well each of the six films has held up since I first saw it.

Directed by Alexander MacKendrick (who also directed The Ladykillers four years later), what we have in The Man in the White Suit is Guinness' own version of the naive, indeed eccentric visionary/inventor/humanitarian. Sidney Stratton's dream is to create a fabric which never wears out and cannot be soiled. Endless (sometimes explosive) experiments involving various gurgling contraptions prove unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Stratton is fired from his job in one research laboratory, continues his research in another, and eventually succeeds. Or so he thinks.

One of these film's several delights is Joan Greenwood's portrayal of Daphne Birnley, daughter of the owner of the company in whose laboratory Stratton finally discovers the correct formula for the miracle fabric. Her father is played with great style by Cecil Parker who is almost as eager to marry off his daughter as he is to save his company. Only a spoilsport would reveal the climax of this entertaining film, one which may surprise viewers as much as it does Stratton and Alan Birnley. Sadder but wiser, Stratton ambles (as only Guinness can) into an uncertain future. Nowhere else throughout the plot is the special soundtrack more effective than it is in this final scene.

I bought this film on a whim and will watch it more than once. The DVD version has been digitally mastered and is very beautiful--the blues and reds of the English and French uniforms, the greens of the countryside, the stunning blue of the hot air baloon, the white sand of the coast.

Robert Louis Stevenson, a 19th Century English writer whose illustrious compatriots include Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Jane Eyre wrote ST IVES--the book the film is based upon. This tale is somewhat reminiscent of a Jane Austen story with its lover's angst, but it lacks Austen's irony and amazing plot twists. Also, Janie did not include the blood and guts and sex depicted on the screen in ST IVES--but did Robinson? In some ways, ST IVES is more akin to the French tales of the Ancien regime (VALMONT) than the English tales of the Regency period, but unlike the French stories, this tale is relatively upbeat (there are some deaths).

Perhaps one might liken ST IVES to the Scarlet Pimpernel but the hero is a real Frenchman, not an English Aristocrat posing as one. St Ives is also fighting for Napoleon when he isn't dueling "wanabees" or chasing pretty women. One day, St Ives finds himself an English prisoner-of-war after back-slapping pal (his second at his numerous duels) unwittingly causes him to slide down an embankment into the waiting arms of British soldiers.

St Ives captors transport him to Scotland, where he is placed under the watchful eye and lock and key of Major Chevening who is a bit resentful of having been kept out of the fracas on the continent. Chevening has been ineffectively courting the delicious Flora, niece of Miss Gilcrist. In an amazing turn of events, Miss Gilchrist (who is extemely worldly) and St. Ives are soon both coaching Major Chevening concerning his courting strategies.

ST IVES is a hero, not the place with kits, cats, sacks and wives as I thought all these years, and the gentleman's name is pronounced "Santeff". Miranda Richardson is wonderful as Miss Gilcrist (she is related to the Redgraves and Natasha). Richard Grant is oh so funny as Major Chevening, and he and Miss Gilcrist have some very amusing scenes together. I had not heard of the two younger actors who play St Ives and his love interest, but they are also very good. The plotline of ST IVES is not as well developed as Austen's story PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, if it were it would be as well known, but it is as well developed as NORTHANGER ABBY. The characters are two-dimensional, but real enough that one cares what happens to them. The film's strengths include moments of sadness, humor, and above all lots of love-making.

...Just a whim that it might be good because I love the combination of literature and film. I want to tell you what a rollocking, fun ride this movie is, I was definitely not disappointed. The portrayal were fun and first rate, the story was exciting and funny. Everyone interested in Lit/film should run out and rent this film.

The first time I viewed this delightful video was on a whim. What a wonderful time I had! This film stands up to multiple viewings thanks to the witty screenplay, rich cinematography and wonderful casting in all roles -- the heroes are flawed, the villains are delicious, and the women are intelligent and gutsy. Both men and women will enjoy this movie. It's a keeper.

I bought this film on a whim and will watch it more than once. The DVD version has been digitally mastered and is very beautiful--the blues and reds of the English and French uniforms, the greens of the countryside, the stunning blue of the hot air baloon, the white sand of the coast.

Robert Louis Stevenson, a 19th Century English writer whose illustrious compatriots include Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Jane Eyre wrote ST IVES--the book the film is based upon. This tale is somewhat reminiscent of a Jane Austen story with its lover's angst, but it lacks Austen's irony and amazing plot twists. Also, Janie did not include the blood and guts and sex depicted on the screen in ST IVES--but did Robinson? In some ways, ST IVES is more akin to the French tales of the Ancien regime (VALMONT) than the English tales of the Regency period, but unlike the French stories, this tale is relatively upbeat (there are some deaths).

Perhaps one might liken ST IVES to the Scarlet Pimpernel but the hero is a real Frenchman, not an English Aristocrat posing as one. St Ives is also fighting for Napoleon when he isn't dueling "wanabees" or chasing pretty women. One day, St Ives finds himself an English prisoner-of-war after back-slapping pal (his second at his numerous duels) unwittingly causes him to slide down an embankment into the waiting arms of British soldiers.

St Ives captors transport him to Scotland, where he is placed under the watchful eye and lock and key of Major Chevening who is a bit resentful of having been kept out of the fracas on the continent. Chevening has been ineffectively courting the delicious Flora, niece of Miss Gilcrist. In an amazing turn of events, Miss Gilchrist (who is extemely worldly) and St. Ives are soon both coaching Major Chevening concerning his courting strategies.

ST IVES is a hero, not the place with kits, cats, sacks and wives as I thought all these years, and the gentleman's name is pronounced "Santeff". Miranda Richardson is wonderful as Miss Gilcrist (she is related to the Redgraves and Natasha). Richard Grant is oh so funny as Major Chevening, and he and Miss Gilcrist have some very amusing scenes together. I had not heard of the two younger actors who play St Ives and his love interest, but they are also very good. The plotline of ST IVES is not as well developed as Austen's story PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, if it were it would be as well known, but it is as well developed as NORTHANGER ABBY. The characters are two-dimensional, but real enough that one cares what happens to them. The film's strengths include moments of sadness, humor, and above all lots of love-making.

...Just a whim that it might be good because I love the combination of literature and film. I want to tell you what a rollocking, fun ride this movie is, I was definitely not disappointed. The portrayal were fun and first rate, the story was exciting and funny. Everyone interested in Lit/film should run out and rent this film.

The first time I viewed this delightful video was on a whim. What a wonderful time I had! This film stands up to multiple viewings thanks to the witty screenplay, rich cinematography and wonderful casting in all roles -- the heroes are flawed, the villains are delicious, and the women are intelligent and gutsy. Both men and women will enjoy this movie. It's a keeper.

A good made for television movie adaptation loosely based on Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol but in this adaptation instead of being set in 1843 Victorian era England it is set in Concord New Hampshire 1933 during the Depression and instead of being named Ebenezer Scrooge the main character is named Benedict Slade and has the miserly old grump repossessing the belongings of towns people but later on that night after being visited by the ghost of his old partner he is visited by three ghosts who show him the tragic and disastrous results of his actions of the past present and future and if he doesn't set things right his actions will hurt others and his soul will be doomed just like his deceased partner who made many mistakes in life and business and never set things right. Not as good as the Christmas Carol movies starring Alastair Sim, Patrick Stewart, Reginald Owen, George C. Scott, and Albert Finney but it's good, though I personally found that it started off kind of slow before getting better but Henry Winkler did give a good performance and made Slade's transformation believable and making it the best of the modernized versions of A Christmas Carol and anyone who grew up watching him play the Fonz on Happy Days should get a kick out of watching this movie. I have the DVD and the sound and picture are good but there are no extras and I'm disappointed that the DVD doesn't have Captions for people with impaired hearing, I think all DVD's should include that!

IT WAS 1979, CHRISTMAS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FLICKING THROUGH THE CHANNELS, I STOPPED ON CITY TV, CHANNEL 79, AS IT WAS KNOWN AT THAT TIME. I STARTED WATCHING THIS MOVIE CALLED AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH HENRY WINKLER, EVER SINCE THAT NIGHT IN DECEMBER 1979. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN TIME WATCH THIS FANTASTIC MOVIE, I BOUGHT THE VIDEO, NOW I WILL BUY IT ON DVD. I THINK ITS THE BEST VERSION OF CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS CLASSIC SCROOGE....

Awesome. If you like Christmas, then you'll like this movie. Just as the original by Dickens, it teaches us the true meaning of Christmas. I have been hooked since seeing this movie as a young adult and it still delivers. I enjoy the American twist on Dicken's story. You won't get a Victorian town in England, but you will get a simpler America and the American entrepreneurial spirit. Henry Winkler gives a commendable performance and the supporting cast works well. All in all, a must see for Christmas.

This is one of the most heartwarming tales of courage I've ever seen. I was touched by Jim and Jen's love for each other and their baby. I was horrified at what happened to Jim and Jen's feet (the only way you're gonna find out is to watch it, so go get your hands on this movie), but the movie seemed to be touched by magic. Since this is a true story, it makes the movie all the more heartwarming. I saw it on TV, but I can't wait to see it again....and again! If you haven't seen this movie, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!

Neil Patrick Harris and Susan Clark were extremely believable in the lead roles. If you don't know how the movie ends, then it can have you on the edge of your seat wondering will they ever get home. Sometimes, like when they realise they took the wrong fork in the road, you'd wonder are they going to make it back and did they find Jen's diary. Amazing.

This is easily one of the best movies I've ever seen. I saw this video in class at school and loved it. Kelli Williams did a fantastic job and so did everyone else! I felt bad for them both cause they were young, hungry, had a baby with them all alone in the wild... ... it was actually kinda sad. I found myself time and time again wanting to reach through the screen and give them a cup of hot chocalote. Put simply, this movie is incredibly inspiring and will fill your eyes with tears and warm your heart.

I love Zorro. The Z and all that! But this movie was not worthy of to 'wear the mask'.
What little story line it had didn't make sense. But that's not really that important for a Zorro is it?! It's the fun and the sword play. (That's important)
They didn't have any fun or sword play either.
Duncan Regehr might be able to act (I didn't see any proof of that on this movie) I'll give him the benefit of the doubt though; but he cannot fence! I am myself a fencer and sword fighter-whatever you want to call it. I've fought with Broad Swords, Rapiers, Short Swords, Knives, and even spears, and a whole bunch more medieval weaponry. I can tell you right now! Duncan Regehr can't sword fight. When I watch a Zorro I want to see somebody who might be able to beat me. The Sword fighting was pathetic. It makes me want to take on the whole Mexican army with my right hand tied behind my back!

Over the years, there have been many films made about the legendary masked rider of Old California, but only two serious television series. This tape, consisting of the four episodes from 1989 that began the four-season Family Channel series, introduces a Zorro that I rank among the top five, which include Regehr, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Guy Williams, Alain Delon, and Reed Hadley. "The Legend Begins" tells the story of the origin of Zorro in a new way and with some changes to the traditional story: James Victor's "Sergeant Mendoza" is not the fat buffoon of previous "Sergeant Mendoza"s but a likeable and sympathetic supporting character; the villain is not the Commandante of the garrison but now the corrupt alcalde Luis Ramone; and Zorro's love interest is no longer the traditional senorita but now Victoria Escalante, the owner of the local tavern and a modern woman with a mind of her own who's not afraid to speak out against the alcalde's! injustice. This story adds details to Zorro's origin that many must have wondered at, and there is enough action, suspense, and swordplay for everyone to enjoy, not just fans of Zorro! END

I ordered this video from Amazon.com, and when it came today, I watched it. It was excellent! First on my list of praises would have to be Duncan Regehr, whom I first saw in the TV-movie "Earth Star Voyager". He created an intriguing Diego/Zorro, one whom I would really get along with. He has courage and intelligence, and he is a scientific tinkerer as well as an excellent swordsman. I also loved the way he snuck himself into the coffin for Zorro's "memorial". That made me laugh in appreciation! Then there's Patrice Camhi. She was a spirited Victoria in the tradition of the original Lolita Pulido and Lolita Quintero of Tyrone Power's movie, but Victoria's even more independent than those women because she was created in the late 1980s. Juan Diego Botto also made an excellent Felipe. I admired his loyalty to Diego/Zorro. I even thought Michael Tylo made an excellent villain as the Alcalde. In short, I loved it and would highly recommend this video to anyone who wants to know more about Zorro.

I remember my parents renting THE MACK when I was about 10 or 11. I didn't watch it with them, but, throughout the years, I've heard referrences 2 it several times. I recently bought the DVD and have since watched it twice. I thought it was a pretty good movie. Almost everything within the story is laid out: why he was in Cali, why he went to prison, his reason for becoming a pimp, and why he ended up the way he did at the end of the movie. In other words, it explains in detail the cause and effects of his pimpin'. Not only that, but, the soundtrack is pretty cool. The acting could have been better, but, the film made up in other parts for what it lacked in the acting. The DVD transfer could have been better, but, you have to realize that maybe the source (the film) may have had more grain on it than one can deal with being that this film is almost 30 years old. The sound quality updates the film for the new millenium (pay 'taintion to the surround sound). I must admit that for the most part, when New Line release their films on DVD, it is more than just a movie. Now, if we can just write several letters to Warner Bros. to do the same for PURPLE RAIN!

This movie is a blaxploitation classic. Its only rival could be considered to be 'Superfly' with Ron O'Neil. In my opinion "The Mack" is more enjoyable. Max Julien became 'Goldie' in 1973 as he stepped into this role.

His desire is simple..."to be the coldest pimp in history! People are gonna be talkin' about Goldie like they were talking about Jesus!" he declares. And he sets out on his quest to do just that. It doesn't necessarily explain how he came to secure all of the women and the money, but we see him throwing money in the air and immediately surrounded by his ghetto fabulous trappings. Soon he is running a business in which he teaches his ladies how to steal, deceive and "always remain a lady". He even goes so far as to run a show at a planetarium to show how necessary it is to control a woman's body and not just her mind.

The dvd includes a documentary into how "The Mack" was made. It shows that it was partially financed by the notorious Ward brothers (real ... and hustlers) who had small roles in the film. It also showed that there is in fact a message to the "Mack" and what its intents and purpose was. It would be easy to dismiss this movie as a 70's black movie about ... women. But it does in fact have a message. You're able to see Goldie's faults. Not everythig turns out right for him once he makes it big. This movie isn't a must see, but it's entertaining all the same.

I live in Europe and saw only saw AMERICAN PIMP, but not other pimp movies since they are in
"VHS Features:NTSC format (US and Canada only. This VHS will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about VHS formats.)"

IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY THESE MOVIES IN EUROPEAN VHS FORMAT?

THANKS