3Deep Movie Reviews


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Family movie reviews for "3Deep" sorted by average review score:

Deep Purple and Ian Paice: Not For the Pros
Released in DVD by Music Video Distribu (20 August, 2002)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Ian Paice and Deep Purpl
Average review score:

Behind The Sticks
See the man behind the sticks.Ian Paice,the man ,the myth,the legand.The driving force behind my favorite group "DEEP PURPLE".A very well done production of life behind the kit.I really felt a natural connection,like he was talking to a fan, not a drummer.But I would think that if you were a "stick man", you would get alot of useful information.I just love to here and see him play.He comes across as a guy that anyone could talk to.


Deep Purple: Heavy Metal Pioneers
Released in DVD by Wea International (11 February, 2003)
MPAA Rating:
Average review score:

yes!
This one rocks. It includes interviews from Roger Glover, Jon
Lord, Ian Gillan, Joe Lynn Turner, Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice.
It also includes some live performances like Smoke on the water,
Speed king, Black night, Burn, Strange kind of woman, Child in time and more. If you like Deep Purple, buy this.


Freedom Deep
Released in DVD by Peacock Films (17 July, 2003)
MPAA Rating:
Director: Aron Srevenson
Average review score:

From the future comes a new savior
In the year 2018, a poet named Liam finishes writing a new kind of "bible", and becomes a future prophet. He journeys back to the remants of civilization to reveal his work to the world.


Return to Oz
Released in DVD by (03 February, 2004)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Walter Murch
You don't fool with Mother Nature, spit into the wind, remake Casablanca, or trash the land of Oz. Perhaps that is why the 1985 live-action sequel split critics and audiences alike. The 1939 classic musical is so beloved that it's almost impossible to imagine seeing Dorothy in shock therapy, a crumbled yellow brick road, the ruins of Emerald City, and the Tin Man turned into stone. But L. Frank Baum, the author of the original Oz books, portrayed just that with his continuing stories of Dorothy. When you get by these tough facts, the film version is solid entertainment for the over-7 set.

Dorothy (a 10-year-old Fairuza Balk in her debut) is back in Kansas, where Aunt Em (Piper Laurie) is at the end of her rope: her niece is not sleeping and going on about a place called Oz. Therapy may be the answer, but luckily the scary clinic goes dark before Dorothy can be, er, cured (but the lead-up will scare the munchkins out of most kids). She wakes up in the land of Oz, now in tatters, and searches for its king, the Scarecrow. A new set of friends, including a tin soldier, a talking chicken, and a pumpkin man, help her against new villains, including Princess Mombi (Jean Marsh)--complete with a set of detachable heads--and the evil Nome King (Nicol Williamson with a great assist from Will Vinton's Claymation). The sole directorial effort of Oscar-winning editor Walter Murch is stuffed with marvelous effects that foreshadow later works by Tim Burton and the Henson non-Muppet films. --Doug Thomas

Average review score:

Definitely PASS OVER THIS ONE! TERRIBLE!
I have never written an online review, but I felt compelled to warn anyone who thinks of buying this DVD that this film is probably the single worst film ever released...Do not go near this one...The production values are laugh-out-loud terrible and the storyline is completely uninteresting. Do not go near this and who gave this film 4 or 5 stars??? I am shocked

An Unappreciated Classic That Must Be Seen
1939. The Wizard of Oz musical movie sensation starring Judy Garland makes history. The timing was right. The U.S. and the whole world was entering WWII. We needed to laugh again, to fall in love with a timeless innocence, as is depicted with Judy Garland's performance, the Munchkin and the Romantic scope of the film. There is no doubt that The Wizard of Oz is a classic. However, L. Frank Baum wrote an extensive series, following the Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy returns to Oz and has further exploits. Return To Oz, starring Faureza Balk as Dorothy, is more or less faithful to some of the characters and darker aspects of Baum's Oz novels. In the novels, the evil Gnome King, a bearded greedy little creature similar to the character of Alberich in the Nibelung saga, has seized power and taken over Oz, casting it into darkness and ruins. The only hope lies in the liberation of Ozma, the beautiful and benevolent enchantress who has been trapped in a mirror. Mombi, a truly wicked spectre, is a princess with a fetish for putting on human heads as easily as wigs. These Gothic images, the haunting milieu of the film, are perfectly captured. The novels had dark moments, such as the broken Yellow Brick Road, the ruined Emerald City and darkened skies, Mombi's henchmen, all perfectly made into Muppets and Tim Burton-like creations. Faureza Balk, in the end, is a more believable Dorothy. Judy Garland was too old to play a little girl. In the Baum novels, Dorothy was only a prepubescent child. Perhaps the success of the 1939 film lay in the charm of Judy Garland's voice, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" became the no. 1 song of the 20th century, and in the fact that America did not want to see the spoils and ravages of war. However, as all good fantasies, and Baum's is no exception, the land of Oz is saved once again from evil by Dorothy and her friends. This is a terrific film, with dazzling special effects, haunting and beautiful music (which is similar to the same Gothic Romantic sounds of Danny Elfman who wrote music for Edward ScissorHands) and wonderful, believable performances by Faureza Balk and Jean Marsh as Mombi. Before you see Return to Oz, however, you'd best read the novels. They will help explain the drastic transition from the 1939 Oz we all love and remember to the 1985 Oz. Enjoy.

Baum's True Vision
Many people verbaly attack this wonderful story & claim to be "Wizard of Oz" fans, but I being a true fan of everthing "Oz" I love this story as much as "The Wizard of Oz". This movie much truer to L. Frank Baum & John R. Neill's vision of "Oz". Many people expected "The Wizard of Oz 2" which is impossible, this film helped bring a teen-following to the "Oz" stories. This is an adaption of "The Marvelous Land of Oz" & "Ozma of Oz" not "The Wizard of Oz 2". The story features in my opinion only one mistake which is putting Dorothy in shock-treatment. After escaping the hospital Dorothy floats to "Oz" in a chicken coop, her & her talking chicken, Billiana follow a broken Yellow Brick Road to the ruins of the Emerald City, where the evil Mombi is in charge with 31 changeble heads. Dorothy meets Tik-Tok & Jack Pumpkinhead who helps her build a flying "Gump" to flee to the Nome King's mountain, there they rescue the Scarecrow & restore Oz with the return of The Ruby Slippers. The end is a great Parade scene featuring many charecters from the "Oz" books. Over all it's a great film, which deserves a chance. Recomended for children 7+


Return to Oz
Released in DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment (23 July, 2002)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Walter Murch
You don't fool with Mother Nature, spit into the wind, remake Casablanca, or trash the land of Oz. Perhaps that is why the 1985 live-action sequel split critics and audiences alike. The 1939 classic musical is so beloved that it's almost impossible to imagine seeing Dorothy in shock therapy, a crumbled yellow brick road, the ruins of Emerald City, and the Tin Man turned into stone. But L. Frank Baum, the author of the original Oz books, portrayed just that with his continuing stories of Dorothy. When you get by these tough facts, the film version is solid entertainment for the over-7 set.

Dorothy (a 10-year-old Fairuza Balk in her debut) is back in Kansas, where Aunt Em (Piper Laurie) is at the end of her rope: her niece is not sleeping and going on about a place called Oz. Therapy may be the answer, but luckily the scary clinic goes dark before Dorothy can be, er, cured (but the lead-up will scare the munchkins out of most kids). She wakes up in the land of Oz, now in tatters, and searches for its king, the Scarecrow. A new set of friends, including a tin soldier, a talking chicken, and a pumpkin man, help her against new villains, including Princess Mombi (Jean Marsh)--complete with a set of detachable heads--and the evil Nome King (Nicol Williamson with a great assist from Will Vinton's Claymation). The sole directorial effort of Oscar-winning editor Walter Murch is stuffed with marvelous effects that foreshadow later works by Tim Burton and the Henson non-Muppet films. --Doug Thomas

Average review score:

Definitely PASS OVER THIS ONE! TERRIBLE!
I have never written an online review, but I felt compelled to warn anyone who thinks of buying this DVD that this film is probably the single worst film ever released...Do not go near this one...The production values are laugh-out-loud terrible and the storyline is completely uninteresting. Do not go near this and who gave this film 4 or 5 stars??? I am shocked

An Unappreciated Classic That Must Be Seen
1939. The Wizard of Oz musical movie sensation starring Judy Garland makes history. The timing was right. The U.S. and the whole world was entering WWII. We needed to laugh again, to fall in love with a timeless innocence, as is depicted with Judy Garland's performance, the Munchkin and the Romantic scope of the film. There is no doubt that The Wizard of Oz is a classic. However, L. Frank Baum wrote an extensive series, following the Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy returns to Oz and has further exploits. Return To Oz, starring Faureza Balk as Dorothy, is more or less faithful to some of the characters and darker aspects of Baum's Oz novels. In the novels, the evil Gnome King, a bearded greedy little creature similar to the character of Alberich in the Nibelung saga, has seized power and taken over Oz, casting it into darkness and ruins. The only hope lies in the liberation of Ozma, the beautiful and benevolent enchantress who has been trapped in a mirror. Mombi, a truly wicked spectre, is a princess with a fetish for putting on human heads as easily as wigs. These Gothic images, the haunting milieu of the film, are perfectly captured. The novels had dark moments, such as the broken Yellow Brick Road, the ruined Emerald City and darkened skies, Mombi's henchmen, all perfectly made into Muppets and Tim Burton-like creations. Faureza Balk, in the end, is a more believable Dorothy. Judy Garland was too old to play a little girl. In the Baum novels, Dorothy was only a prepubescent child. Perhaps the success of the 1939 film lay in the charm of Judy Garland's voice, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" became the no. 1 song of the 20th century, and in the fact that America did not want to see the spoils and ravages of war. However, as all good fantasies, and Baum's is no exception, the land of Oz is saved once again from evil by Dorothy and her friends. This is a terrific film, with dazzling special effects, haunting and beautiful music (which is similar to the same Gothic Romantic sounds of Danny Elfman who wrote music for Edward ScissorHands) and wonderful, believable performances by Faureza Balk and Jean Marsh as Mombi. Before you see Return to Oz, however, you'd best read the novels. They will help explain the drastic transition from the 1939 Oz we all love and remember to the 1985 Oz. Enjoy.

Baum's True Vision
Many people verbaly attack this wonderful story & claim to be "Wizard of Oz" fans, but I being a true fan of everthing "Oz" I love this story as much as "The Wizard of Oz". This movie much truer to L. Frank Baum & John R. Neill's vision of "Oz". Many people expected "The Wizard of Oz 2" which is impossible, this film helped bring a teen-following to the "Oz" stories. This is an adaption of "The Marvelous Land of Oz" & "Ozma of Oz" not "The Wizard of Oz 2". The story features in my opinion only one mistake which is putting Dorothy in shock-treatment. After escaping the hospital Dorothy floats to "Oz" in a chicken coop, her & her talking chicken, Billiana follow a broken Yellow Brick Road to the ruins of the Emerald City, where the evil Mombi is in charge with 31 changeble heads. Dorothy meets Tik-Tok & Jack Pumpkinhead who helps her build a flying "Gump" to flee to the Nome King's mountain, there they rescue the Scarecrow & restore Oz with the return of The Ruby Slippers. The end is a great Parade scene featuring many charecters from the "Oz" books. Over all it's a great film, which deserves a chance. Recomended for children 7+


Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete First Season
Released in DVD by Paramount Home Video (25 February, 2003)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Avery Brooks
Of all the spinoff TV incarnations of Star Trek, Deep Space Nine had the hardest job persuading an audience to watch. By all accounts, Gene Roddenberry had concerns about the idea before his death in 1991. It took two more years to develop, and when it finally aired in 1993 reasons for that concern were evident right away. The show was dark (literally), characters argued a lot, no one went anywhere, and the neighboring natives were hardly ever friendly. Yet for all that the show went against the grain of the Great Bird's original vision of the future, it undeniably caught the mood of the time, incorporating a complex political backdrop that mirrored our own.

In the casting, there was a clear intent to differentiate the show from its predecessors. Genre stalwarts Tony Todd and James Earl Jones were considered for Commander Sisko before Avery Brooks. The one letdown at the time was that Michelle Forbes did not carry Ensign Ro across from The Next Generation, but when the explosive Nana Visitor defiantly slapped her hand on a console in the pilot episode, viewers knew they were in for a different crew dynamic. In fact, the two-part pilot show ("The Emissary") is largely responsible for DS9's early success. Mysterious, spiritual, claustrophobic, funny, and feisty, it remains the most attention-grabbing series opener (apart from the original series') the franchise has had. The first year may have relied on a few too many familiar faces--like Picard, Q, and Lwaxana Troi--but these were more than outweighed by refreshingly detailed explorations of cultures old and new (Trill, Bajoran, Cardassian, Ferengi). As it turned out, Deep Space Nine was the boldest venture into Roddenberry's galaxy that had been (or ever would be) seen. --Paul Tonks

Average review score:

First Season of Trek isn't dreck
DS9 was the Rodney Dangerfield of television; it couldn't get much respect from long time NextGen fans nor of fans of the original series. I've heard DS9 described as boring because it's set on a space station (as if that has any relevance)and lacking the sense of adventure of NextGen. The fact is that DS9 eventually grew into the one of the best written science fiction series on television.

The first season was wildly uneven with politically charged, intelligent science fiction alternating with lame brain routine adventures that could have been written for any show. Duet stands as the most stunning individual episode although the pilot is equally as good (although a bit scattered as befits an episode setting up the characters). What's most interesting is the look at religion, politics and science on the show. Given Roddenberry's beliefs, I was surprised that DS9 eventually made it to the air as it tackles each subject but doesn't judge the value systems or beliefs of others.

No doubt, it made it to the air because 1) Roddenberry wasn't around to object; 2)Berman was in command along with co-creator Michael Pillar; 3) It kept the franchise viable as NextGen began winding down.

Avery Brooks gives a frequently firey performance as Sisko and Nana Visitor is every bit his equal. All the actors do a great job.

DS9 - Star Trek's Best Kept Secret
Deep Space Nine is truly the hidden treasure of the Star Trek franchise. Instead of telling the umpteenth story of a ship in space meeeting new aliens with funny noses, DS9 explored the human (and alien) condition living in space. In retrospect, the show gallantly became an archetype for our world. Multiple cultures sharing the same world (or region of space). Throughout the series, alliances change, cultures meld (or fall apart) but through it all, we see the true sense of the human spirit. While I'm sure Gene Roddenberry would have had a problem with the initial premise of the show, the series turned out to showcase a group of characters who exemplified the best of humanity.

If you're looking for great acting and great drama, tune into the episode "DUET". It's a two character story between Major Kira (the amazing and painfully underrated Nana Visitor) and a former Cardassian overlord. Clearly, an early sign of great things to come from this series.

I'd much rather watch reruns of DS9 than new episodes of the ghastly "Enterprise" any day.

The best trek ever... volume 1!
On the heels of the runaway success (and soon to be ending) "Star Trek: The Next Generation", the studio and producers decided to add another chapter to the Trek legacy. For the first time, there would be no starship going where no man had gone before. Instead, this would be set on an alien space station at the edge of the known frontier. If the original was meant to be "Wagon Train" in space, then this would be "Gunsmoke" in space.

We meet all of the players early on. A disillusioned Starfleet commander and his son. A former freedom fighter who sees the Federation as no better than the Cardassian occupation force that was just driven out. A geeky doctor. A shape-shifting Security Chief. A nefarious Ferengi bar owner. An ill-tempered station engineer. A Trill that has lived seven lives. And, the former leader of the Cardassian forces, determined to return to his old office. Unlike in previous Treks, not all of the protagonists got along very well.

The station seems like the last stop for all of them until a major discovery puts it and them on the map.

All of the elements for a great story arc were in place here. Unfortunately, they didn't make full use of these elements until they hit the third and fourth seasons.


Run Silent, Run Deep
Released in DVD by Mgm/Ua Studios (14 August, 2001)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Director: Robert Wise
Starring: Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster
A movie's lasting value can often be measured by its influence in the years and decades following its original release, and on that basis Run Silent, Run Deep is certainly a classic of sorts. It remains one of the seminal World War II submarine pictures, and its intelligent script and tautly executed action are clearly echoed in such later submarine dramas as Das Boot and especially Crimson Tide, which borrows liberally from this 1958 film.

In one of his best and final roles (he appeared in only four films after this), Clark Gable plays a submarine captain without a command, having been saddled with a desk job after his previous ship was destroyed due to his overzealous pursuit of the enemy in dangerous Japanese waters. He finally gets another boat--this time with a vigilant first officer (Burt Lancaster), who stands poised to assume command if Gable puts his crew in unnecessary danger. The tension and mutual respect between these two principled men is superbly written and directed (Robert Wise was just two years away from his triumph with West Side Story), and the crucial inclusion of a strong supporting cast (including Jack Warden and Don Rickles) enhances the movie's compelling authenticity. Based on a novel by former submarine commander Edward L. Beach, Run Silent, Run Deep is rousing entertainment with the added benefit of paying honorable tribute to the men who navigated through the most frightening and claustrophobic channels of the Pacific theater. --Jeff Shannon

Average review score:

Excellent submarine movie
Run Silent, Run Deep is an excellent WWII submarine adventure with an excellent cast. It tells the story of a submarine who has received a new captain in place of one of their own officers. The new captain, Captain PJ Richardson, wants revenge on the Japanese destroyer who sunk his previous sub. The man he took the position away from, First Officer Bledsoe, instantly takes a dislike to him which causes obvious problems. The movie follows the efforts of the two men to counter each other as one seeks revenge and the other tries to save the lives of the crew.

Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster are both excellent as the battling officers aboard the sub. The movie boasts an excellent supporting cast that includes Jack Warden, Brad Dexter, Nick Cravat, and Don Rickles, all who do very good jobs with their roles. However, Gable, in a later role, and Lancaster steal many of the scenes they are in together. The DVD is well worth it with a booklet included and also widescreen and full screen options for viewing. This is a great movie for fans of WWII action flicks! It is often obvious how this movie influenced later submarine movies in the genre. Go and check out this movie!

One of the greatest movies ever made... IMHO ;-)
A suspensful, action packed drama, this film is one of my all time favorites. Performances by both Lancaster and Gable are right on the mark, they (especially Gable) had me believing they were actual naval officers. The scene where Lancaster relieves Gable of command is powerful, here we see two great actors at the peak of their skills. Gable's contempt towards Lancaster for the act is truly inspired (He virtually spits out his disgust here: "A fleet ship of the US Navy, with her fighting power intact, and your first command is to order a retreat", every time I watch this scene it gets better and better!). Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman recreate this scene in "Crimson Tide", but it doesn't match the intensity created by Lancaster and Gable in the scene from RSRD. One neat byproduct of this movie is that after watching it, you will have a pretty detailed understanding of what a WWII Balao class sub looks like, how the chain of command works, and what happens on a typical patrol - you will be educated and entertained at the same time, what a bargain! Nice supporting role by Don Rickles. A great, classic movie for sure, you won't be disappointed! END

The greatest submarine war film
This is the quintessential submarine movie, not to mention one of the great war movies of all time. It by far outclasses the other submarine movies like Torpedo Alley, Torpedo Run, and The Enemy Below (although with Kurt Jurgens and Robert Mitchum the latter is actually pretty good). And although still not in Run Silent, Run Deep's league, the more recent Das Boot is excellent too.

Gable and Lancaster are great as captain and commander and the supporting efforts from Jack Ward and Don Rickles also deserve mention. Don looks like he's only 25 here (although he's probably more like 30) and he still has no hair! (That's okay, Don, we still luv ya.) The movie builds the tension up to an almost unbearable climax as Gable proceeds to train his crew to perform the risky bow shot maneuver to take out the Akekazi destroyer, despite the scepticism of both Lancaster and the crew. The tension is made all the more palpable when their first attempt at destroying the Akekazi fails and the Akekazi drops depth charge after depth charge on Gable's ship. But Gable manages to just barely slip away. Then finally, in a suspenseful climactic scene, Gable successfully torpedoes the deadly sub-hunter with the infamous bow shot.

They don't make 'em like this anymore. Big Steve says go rent it and don't Bogart the popcorn.


The NeverEnding Story
Released in DVD by Warner Studios (08 July, 2003)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, and Tami Stronach
Wolfgang Petersen (In the Line of Fire) made his first English-language film with this 1984 fantasy about a boy (Barret Oliver) visualizing the stories of a book he's reading. The imagined tale involves another boy, a warrior (Noah Hathaway), and his efforts to save the empire of Fantasia from a nemesis called the Nothing. Whether or not the scenario sticks in the memory, what does linger are the unique effects, which are not quite like anything else. Plenty of good fairy-tale characters and memorable scenes, and the film even encourages kids to read. --Tom Keogh
Average review score:

A terribly uneven fable
The quick and dirty is: don't believe the gushing hype from the other reviewers, there are many better fantasy movies and this one isn't worth the time.

The NeverEnding Story, while a unique creation, is little more than a thin and flimsy canvas stretched upon a tired rack. The basic story should be familiar - lonely withdrawn youth finds refuge from worldly troubles in a fantasy book, and through the adventures of the main character grows more confident and whole. All the necessities are there, including a central internal conflict that must be reconciled (the death of his mother), a handful of bullies that in the end get their comeuppence, a wide array of superficially unique creatures, obscure magic forces, a quest to save the world. The problem is that everything is so poorly thought out that the movie becomes an inscrutable connection of disjoint and unsatisfying moments.

a key element to any fantasy is the degree to which its conceiver has thoroughly thought out his/her conception. the grand daddy of them all, tolkein, did an unbelievable amount of behind the scenes 'research' for middle earth, so much so that readers can bore themselves to death pouring through obscure appendicies on the origin of hobbit pipe weed and other trivial and irrelevent details. the upshot of this is that everything is tied together and every creature and race draws upon a complex history, which gives the story itself a tremendous amount of death. nothing in the the middle earth books is simply there; everything is there for a reason, and everything was somewhere else and did other things before it came to be there.

In the NeverEnding Story (NES from now on) nothing has a reason beyond its surface, and the writing to connect the dots of the plot is terrible. our hero, atreus, is summoned before a motley and completely arbitrary collection of 30 or 40 strange individuals who appear to form some sort of world congress. the language of the scene and the acting of the characters is tremendously unconvincing, and it reminded me of the initial meeting between flash gordon and his crew and ming the merciless. flash was a terrible movie, but it was supposed to be terrible and campy, while NES seems to be someone's best efforts at a child's tale. after some verbal sparring atreus is given one inexplicable piece of advice ("you must go alone, and you must go without weapons")and heads off on his quest. He travels from short, absurd vignette to short absurd vignette, buoyed by an enormous amount of deux ex machina, the greatest portion of which is supplied by the funny looking flying dog (a 'luck' dragon) from the movie trailers. to give you a sense of the inanity of the plot devices, the dragon saves the boy from a wolf and carries him while he sleeps 9,900 miles towards the next plot point. when the boy wakes up, for some reason he has to walk the last 100 miles, but at least it only takes him a couple minutes.

On the bright side, The NeverEnding Story is a unique creation, full of vast lanscapes and strange creatures, and it does have a good message. i was disappointed with the creatures. while most are unusual, they are generally either the wrong size of present some sort of contradiction. for example, we see an enormous giant (the presentation of scale is effective) and later on an enormous turtle. we see an enourmous snail that (surprise!) travels very quickly, an enormous flying dog, and some very small people who are helpful. nothing has any depth, and (sorry if i sound like a broken record) the lack of substance leaves one hollow. whoever was in charge of the musical score goes way overboard by way of compensation; the excruciating orchestral backdrops (with the exception of the title song is appropriately simple and joyful) ooze so much heavy feeling that you'll be smearing the emotive goo out of your ears with an oar.

an outstanding alternative to this movie is "the dark crystal", created by jim henson of moppet fame. it is extremely well thought out, well acted and well written. all the characters have a history and all interact with the world as if they really belong within it, as opposed to the pasted on characters of NES. this grounding gives the story a strong foundation on which to build, enabling the culmination of the dark crystal to resonate with meaning.

Never give up
I don't know if I have the words to express the way this movie has inpired my life. When I was young, I watched it several times a day until I knew every line, could sing every note of the opening theme song ~ even still to this day.

The Never Ending Story has two heroes and two villains. The first hero and villain are outside the book, high above the fantasy.

Bastian is a young kid that is blessed with a great imagination (He gets in trouble for drawing unicorns in his math book.) He lacks courage and is always being beaten up by bullies and stuffed into dumpsters. While running away from these bullies, he hides in a bookstore. When in there, he makes off with a book that has the snake-twisted orrin on the cover...you guessed it...the neverending story.

"The Nothing", is the first ultra-villain. It's reason for existence is a secret that I don't want to spoil. It is destroying fantasia for its own means(Brought to life by the guys that invisioned The Empire Strikes Back!) The Nothing is becoming rampant, and the ruler, the Empress is dying. The people of fantasia, the world in which all fantasy resides, seek help from a great warrior Atreau. The ultimate second villain, A massive wolf with Glowing green eyes, takes flight through the forests to stop Atreau on his quest.

There is so much to the story! It is the type of movie you'll want to watch over and over until your player starts steaming.

It will soon be on DVD in September, so wait until then if your a crazed dvd loony like me. I have a feeling its gonna be awesome! Hope this review helped!

One of the classic 80s fantasy films...
"Die Unendliche Geschichte"

Released in 1984, this movie is perhaps the best of the classic 80s fantasy resurgence. Along with The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Ridley Scott's Legend, The Neverending Story lets us all escape from reality for a while.

This film, however, rises above others in its genre by offering a somewhat postmodern examination of the desires and needs for escape from everyday life. Drawing comparisons between Bastian's storybook readings and our own cinema-going, the film ultimately condones such escapist daydreaming - disapproved of by Bastian's father early in the movie - and offers us hope that if we follow those dreams with all our heart, we will achieve them.

Visually stunning with Ul de Rico's inimitable production design, and directed with a beautifully non-Hollywood flare by German director Wolfgang Petersen, The Neverending Story is a film to be not only enjoyed but cherished. On the surface it's an exhiliarating fantasy ride, below it's an examination of the childhood daydreams most of us have given up on or forgotten. Relive them.

All the leads are strong, with some brilliant supporting performances from actors and creatures alike. Followed by George 'Mad Max' Miller's sequel in 1990, which was watchable but suffered from the lead-cast changes (unavoidable as the original actors were hitting twenty), and an abysmal third installment in 1994, which should be avoided at all costs.

NOTE: This review was written just prior to the release of the DVD version. I hope Warners give the film the treatment it deserves - no film with $27m of production design in it goes without supplementary material. There are two versions of the film, the German version containing Klaus Doldinger's complete score and lacking Giorgio Moroder's memorable theme song. The musci video at least should be included.


Skin Deep
Released in DVD by Warner Home Video (04 June, 2002)
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Director: Blake Edwards
Starring: John Ritter and Vincent Gardenia
In yet another of a long line of lame Blake Edwards's films in the 1980s, John Ritter stars as a compulsive womanizer trying to get his impulses under control as he seeks to reconcile with his ex-wife. But his gonads get the better of him every time, and they also get the better of the jokes here, which are distinctly few and far between. Indeed, the film has only one sure laugh, a rather tasteless scene involving a darkened room, glow-in-the-dark condoms, and two men, neither of whom realizes the other is there until the lights go out and they've stripped for action. --Marshall Fine
Average review score:

An Underrated Comedy
This movie is very funny. At the same time, it has a very incisive statement regarding personal responsibility - in this case, alcoholism. I will never forget the "dueling condoms" scene, and there are several classic comedy bits that make this film one of the minor (at least) classics of film comedy. I laughed at the condom scene. I hurt myself laughing at the scene of John Ritter trying to escape with a novocaine-filled leg. I look forward to viewing it again, and often.

One of the Best
First off -- I am writing this the day after the passing of John Ritter. Ritter was one of the best physical comedians. He wow'd us with his antics and sweet heart for many years on 3's Company. John -- thanks for all the great laughs.

Now on to the review of this movie. To this day, this is one of my favorite movies even though I've only seen it 3 times (I'm purchasing the DVD today). Yes, the condom scene is one of the funniest scenes in movie history -- but I prefer another funny scene. John's character follows a woman into a upscale "physical therapy" office and is then tortured with muscle stimulators by a scorned former lover. When Zack comes out of the office he is twitching so badly he can hardly walk. This is classic John Ritter physicality. I laffed so hard the last time I watched that I almost couldn't breathe any more.

Also, while very funny, this movie follows a man who is trying desparately to repair his life and at every turn keeps failing. At one point, in his physcharist's office, his cry for help is so real-looking that it made me cry.

So, again, John, thanks for the many years of laughter. You will be missed!

The drama-comedy that glows in the dark!
The now-deceased John Ritter is Zachary Hutton,a bearded writer whose passions are booze and beautiful females. First,Hutton's wife Alexandra(or Alex) returns home from a cancelled flight. She finds a jealous female about to fatally shoot Hutton after she(the jealous female) catches him in bed with his female barber. This is where the Huttons' divorce begins. Hutton goes for advice from his bartender buddy Barney(the late Vincent Gardenia,famous for his role of Frank Lorenzo on "All In The Family"). Angry Alex throws Zachary's typewriter out the window and into the swimming pool. Zachary wanted to remain married to Alex so he sought psychiatric help. He started by cutting down on his drinking and eventually cold turkey,quit. Zach found a new girlfriend Molly(Julianne Phillips) and they lived together. She became so angry with him at one point in the film that she set his piano afire while he was playing it!(Zach plays the piano also) The house and Zach's Mercedes both burned down in that fire. He also meets musclebound Loni Jones(she looks like Patrick Swayze!) at Barney's bar where he was playing the piano. They sleep together that night and when Zach awakes the next morning,he does aerobics in her class in his underwear! Next,there the death of his buddy Leon "Sparky" Sparks. Zach attends his funeral with another buddy Jake(Joel Brooks). Alex was at the funeral and she invited Jake over for dinner at her house. Although Zach wasn't invited,he showed up. So at the dinner Zach and Alex chat and Zach says how awful he's felt since their separation. Zach attends a black tie affair at the Century Plaza hotel dressed as a genie! He thought it was a Halloween party. Many of the guests laughed at him,even Jake. Jake nearly went to the affair as a cowboy! Then Zach finds out that Alex has another man who she plans to marry and almost did until Zach crashed the wedding. Alex's mother Marge always has hated Zach because of his behavior. So more therapy sessions follow,and Zach did more cutting down on his boozing and womanizing. By Christmas,Zach is no longer boozing and womanizing. He wrote a book which sold big and there was a party at Barney's in his honor. He and Alex have reconciled and drank lemon-lime soda instead of gin and tonic. Marge still hates Zach. She was being sarcastic when she said she was proud of Zach. But everyone else who hated him,loved him again. So Alex and Zach are in bed together in the last scene and she persuaded him to get rid of the glow-in-the dark condom which was first seen in an earlier bed escapade. I dedicate this film to the memory of John Ritter who passed away at age 54 on September 11,2003 of a heart disorder. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,always.


ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Deep Impact Uncensored
Released in DVD by Pioneer Video (10 April, 2001)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Sabu
This anthology of wrestling mayhem from Extreme Championship Wrestling promises an "emotional barbed wire hell," and it delivers. In one gory match, Terry Funk, whose specialty is taking more punishment than any sane person could stand, meets the evil and vicious Sabu in a ring surrounded with barbed wire. In their battle for the ECW World Heavyweight championship, it doesn't take long for them to be smeared with blood, beating the hell out of each other while hopelessly entangled in strands of wire. It eventually takes several men with tools to cut them free as the announcer proclaims that the action just witnessed is too brutal to ever be shown on television. In another match Steve Austin, before he became "Stone Cold" and attained primetime stardom, battles in a "three-way dance" with other notorious bad asses Mikey Whipwreck and the Sandman. And Mick Foley, in his "Cactus Jack" persona, tangles with Terry Funk and gets burned (literally).

Bonus footage includes an "aerial war" between Japanese and Mexican wrestlers that provides some diversion from the usual hardcore brutality, and in what's billed as the "Original Catfight," bad girls Beulah McGillicuddy and Francine drive the crowd wild by shedding all civility along with most of their clothing. While the production of this DVD is reasonably professional, that doesn't detract from the decidedly gnarly and low-rent feel ECW fans adore. Fans of more tame and cartoonish wrestling should be warned that the blood does flow freely in some of these matches. --Robert J. McNamara

Average review score:

Really Good DVD
ECW's 3rd DVD is a good offering. Though not as great as the first two it is still worth a look for all hardcore fans. The opening match between Steve Austin,The Sandman, and Mikey Whipreck is awesome and full of action. This is Austin in his prime,back before the tragic neck injury reduced him to a more simplistic wrestling style. Sabu vs. Terry Funk in a barbed wire match is just something you have to see to believe. Great match with a lot of "sheesh" while your cringing moments. Taz vs. Bam Bam is another good brawl that spills into the crowd and has a great ending. Funk/Sandman vs. Catus/Shane. Hmm. Well fire does not make a match great. Which is basically the only reason this match made the dvd is because of a flaming branding iron. Just an OK match. Tanaka and Lynn vs. Awesome and Credible is another basic tag match with another cool table spot between Tanaka and Awesome. Tajiri vs. Psychosis is a great technical/arieal display,that may steal the show for this DVD. Not as good as the RVD/Lynn match from the first one,but better than the Guerrero/Malenko match from the second. Francine vs. Beulah. Well it's a catfight so what else do I need to say. The Fonzie/Beulah match in the extra section is also a fun match.Very bloody. The Steveamanac promo shows just how funny Steve Austin can be brother. All in all a good DVD,every hardcore fan should have one.

It is EXTREME.
Sandman v. Mikey Whipwreck v. Steve Austin
Slow match but there is some technical wrestling mostly from Austin. Austin eliminates Mikey with the Stun Gun. Sandman pins Austin after Woman puts Brass Knucks on the Sandman's hand and he knocks out Austin but Austin gets his foot on the bottom rope yet the ref misses. An ok match.

Sabu v. Terry Funk in a Barb wire match
If you saw the Sandman/Raven Barb wire Death Match from ECW Extreme Evolution
then this match makes that match look like a WCW Hardcore match.
You won't believe what happens to Bill Alfonzo.

The Sandman and Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack and "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. not a bad tornado match.

Taz v. Bam Bam Bigelow
Both these guys put up a hell of a fight. A great brawl and one hell of an ending.

Masato Tanaka and Jerry Lynn v. Mike Awesome and Justin Credible
One of the better ECW tag team matches. Good match. Tanaka gets Awesome Bombed through a table.

BONUS:Yoshihiro Tajiri v. Psicosis
A great high flying, high impact match. A lot of counters and reversals. I cringe every time I see and hear one of Tajiri's kicks. He has some of the most effective kicks in wrestling today. A 5 Star match Bar none.

BONUS: CATFIGHT Francine v. Beulah McGuillicuty
[Female] Show with Stevie Richards as the referee. He acts like an idiot, as expected and lets Raven interfere more than once. ...P>This is a good dvd over all. There are some really hardcore matches. The Psicosis/Tajiri match and the Terry Funk/Sabu match are my two favorites as far as the action goes. The Taz/Bam Bam Bigelow match was not short on action either. I recomend this for any ECW fan. ECW Deep Impact gets a 9 out-of-10 Four and a Half stars.

Best ECW DVD yet
This is the best ECW DVD yet. The triple threat match with Austin(with Hair)vs.Mikey Whipwreck(young ECW Champion)vs. The Sandman. One of the best 3-way brawls I've ever seen. The All time best BARB WIRE matches I've ever seen Featuring SABU & Terry Funk, You can't get more hardcore or bloodier than this match.Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Taz for the Television title good match with a suprising ending you WILL have to see to believe. & finally Mike Awesome & Justin Credible vs. Jerry Lynn & Masato Tanaka, a mixture of excellent talent equals one of the best tag team action you will ever see!The only Drawback is RAVEN is not in it! the best ECW superstar of all time is not even in this tape!besides that it truely is the Best ECW DVD yet


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