SCSI Movie Reviews

Martin and Caine re-writing the book on comedic duos, set in the lush French Riviera. Slows down a bit towards the end, but delivers the punch right when we need it, a feel good movie to the max.

Caine's class is as if Niven was still with us... and Martin functions at his best when in contrast with it.
I am against revealing the plot but as comedy goes there do not come any better then this.
ENJOY (at least once every two years...).

This is one of the best comedy films of the past 50 years -- intelligent, intriguing, classy and, above all, hilarious. It stands up well to repeat viewings, doesn't gain any staleness at all, and the handful of bust-out-laughing instances are so good that you still laugh out loud even if you've seen them five times. Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headley gave absolutely superlative performances, and I hope they all had a lot of fun making this film.

Martin and Caine re-writing the book on comedic duos, set in the lush French Riviera. Slows down a bit towards the end, but delivers the punch right when we need it, a feel good movie to the max.

Caine's class is as if Niven was still with us... and Martin functions at his best when in contrast with it.
I am against revealing the plot but as comedy goes there do not come any better then this.
ENJOY (at least once every two years...).

This is one of the best comedy films of the past 50 years -- intelligent, intriguing, classy and, above all, hilarious. It stands up well to repeat viewings, doesn't gain any staleness at all, and the handful of bust-out-laughing instances are so good that you still laugh out loud even if you've seen them five times. Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headley gave absolutely superlative performances, and I hope they all had a lot of fun making this film.

A costume drama masquerading as an art-house sexual intrigue, MAD LOVE is far more about the trials of the human heart than it is about the temptations of the human flesh.

Queen Isabella of Spain arranges the marriage of her daughter, Joan, to Philip -- a romance novel covermodel complete with the long hair and bulging biceps if there ever was one -- a wealthy nobleman. Sexually awakened by Philip's hunger, Joan finds emotional contentment in loving her husband, bearing his children, and birthing heirs to her inevitable kingdom. However, after Philip's wandering eye is discovered, Joan edges further and further into acts of desperation to prove that the love she so long believed in was more than a facade.

Wonderfully photographed and evenly paced, LOVE moves briskly toward its inevitably grim climax, one perhaps not tidy enough for viewers all too sensitived to filmdom's increasing fascination with "alternate endings" and "living happily ever after." Arguably, fiction would've postulated a far more dramatic resolution to such an expansive tale of betrayal, but history teaches that perhaps the facts of the matter -- that perhaps the queen never finds happiness and that, perhaps, there are no answers in death -- are still the best representation.

As the ever slipping into obsession Queen Joan, Pilar Lopez De Ayala is a remarkable discovery. She tiptoes deftly between every notch on the emotional scale -- ecstacy, frenzy, compulsion, bitterness -- with accomplished ease.

However, the film's packaging and advertising would lead one to the conclusion that MAD LOVE is a bodice ripper of Academy Award proportions, and this is entirely misleading. While the film does boast several sexual encounters, they are -- with one notable exception -- relatively brief. That is not to say, however, that they are unimportant to the story; in fact, they are perhaps central to understanding Joan, Philip, and Beatriz's motivations and behaviors at a time when kings took consorts while queens were relegated to longing passions of the heart.

The official Spain entry for the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film, MAD LOVE is quite the discovery.

great story from beginning to end. this movie is definitely a keeper.

I will not go on about the story of this film, as it has been very well reviewed by others, needless to say it is an excellent period piece, very well acted an directed..another film from this new Spanish cinema revival, where many new directors are finally having the opportunity to share their talents with cinema lovers worldwide.I just like to mention how misleading the sexual element is, plastered all over the DVD.
Intimacy, Romance X, Sex and Lucia or the Ages of Lulu it is certainly not. What sex scenes and nudity there is are very tame in comparison to the above mentioned films.
Certainly there is a lot of passion, but expressed very well by the actors more emotionally than graphically.
So don't believe the marketing hype about the 'sex' in this film, and instead watch it as it truly is, a wonderful drama from very talented actors and director.

Channing and Tilly...an appealing duet. Who would have thought. I just liked the movie.

THIS MOVIE IS A MUST FOR EVERY WOMAN (OR MAN) THAT HAS EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A DIVORCE FOLLOWED WITH A NEW RELATIONSHIP. THE DIALOG IS FULL OF THE LITTLE "TRUISMS" THAT WILL TOUCH ANYONE WHO VIEWS THIS FILM. "FUNNY"? ABSOLUTELY!! THIS IS A COMEDY IN THE TRUEST SENSE. JENNIFER TILLY AND STOCKARD CHANNING ARE HILARIOUS. I RECOMMEND SEEING THIS FILM NO LESS THAN TWO OR THREE TIMES, AS EACH TIME YOU WILL PICK UP ON A NEW PIECE OF THE PUZZEL THAT TIES THESE CHARACTERS. HOW MANY LITTLE "NUGGETS" CAN YOU FIND!! P.S. BETTER TO WATCH ALONE OR WITH A GIRLFRIEND. GUYS CAN HAVE A TOUGH TIME WITH THIS MOVIE!

This was actually a movie I caught on cable half way through, and then I rented it. It was worth the rental fee! This is a story of three single women all hoping and wishing to be married before they are old and gray. Ileana Douglas is my fave in the movie, and the other women are charming too. a good cast, some interesting insights into marriage, relationships, and sex. Also, good writing! a very well rounded film, which was never released widely. catch it on video if you like romantic comedies with an attractive cast.

Rented this before on a whim. I've rented it several times since (am now buying it to save money!). It is one of my favorite indy films. A fun story about three roommates who head to Vegas in search of Mr. Right Now, and what they learn about themselves along the way. I highly recommend it!

This is one of my favorite MJF movies. It captures the essence of what made him so popular as an actor. There were no LOL scenes, except maybe at the end, but lots of broad smiles while watching it.

A pure fluff and fun movie with a rather clever theme. Helen Slater was a last minute replacement and her performance is a bit wooden but adequate for this very enjoyable film. A nice addition to the comedy section of your DVD collection.

This is a great exemple of what happens to the business today, the movie itself is great, with the image of the "white knight" American who save the corporation. I in a academic point of view find the concept hysterical, even more if you look at corporation today! We might need more Brantly Foster around.

Anyway Micheal J. Fox Rules!

The time and place is Germany as Hitler is coming to power. The story centers on the genesis of the Comedian Harmonists, a group of five singers and the piano player who accompanies them. We can't be sure how much of the story has much truth value, but we do know that the Harmonists were a real group and their music was much appreciated, and remains so even today. They are called "comedian" because of their lighthearted and humorous approach to the music they sing.

The founder of the group is a jew, Harry Frommermann. He is a talented singer/arranger and his vision is to bring together an exceptional group of men to sing "jazzed up" and highly stylized versions of popular songs. Harry is a perfectionist and the first third of the film shows him first cajoling and then badgering his singers to develop a musically unique and visually entertaining style. He succeeds beyond even his ambitious dreams. Soon the Comedian Harmonists are a feature act in demand not only in Germany, but internationally.

Unfortunatley for the Harmonists, Hitler comes to power in 1933, just as the group is headed for true stardom. Jews in Germany are beginning to feel the impact of the racial hatred that will end in the holocaust. Of the six members of the Harmonists, three are jews and as the story progresses, first restrictions and then cancellations of their concerts prevent the group from finding an audience in Germany for their work. They head to New York and find success there. Harry would like to remain in America, but the rest of the band still believes there is a chance for some success in Germany, so they head home again.

The Harmonists' error in judgment is typical of the mistake of many jews in Germany who thought they only needed to patiently wait for reason to return to their country. At the end of the film we see the Harmonists on stage in Munich performing to an audience that knows that something very special is being lost to them. The Harmonists disband and the jewish members escape to freedom. The group left in Germany tries to reconstitute the band, as does the group that leaves, but they do not experience the success of the original members.

If it were not for the music, which is truly first-rate, this story would be interesting, but not worth four stars. Because the music is so much a part of the film, those viewers who enjoy vocal singing at its very best are sure to enjoy this unusual film.

The true story of one of the greatest singing groups ever to hit the scene during the World Depression Era is effective in showing Berlin during emminent Nazi take-over, but seems to focus mainly on the issue of religion. Other than debating who's Jewish and who isn't, there is a preoccupation with the services of prostitutes, and marrying the same once successful.

The group member with the initial idea to "do something" is shown eating bird seed, implying he can not even afford groceries. Once gathered, the ensemble reheares for months without pay, for the sheer chance at eventual success. Of course they do make it big; too big for the liking of certain political party sympathisers.

For fans of the original music (including the FDR Presidential Campaign song "Happy Days Are Here Again") this film delivers. Many of the legendary tunes are worked into the plot. The "naughty" suggestions in "Veronika, der Lenz ist da" are accepted by even respectable upper class theater guests, paving the way for recording contracts and world stardom of the newly discovered "Comedian Harmonists".

This German/Austrian co-production filmed in German has high production values. The setting reminds of "Cabaret", however the story (although based on true events) is rather thin. The overuse of some of the above mentioned situations becomes unnecessary and boring. As a viewer with a background extremely partial to this story I looked for detail and could see several obvious embellishments for the sake of drama. There must have been more than wine, women and song to tell about. The final minutes somewhat redeem the earlier shortcomings, delivering a tear-jerking love story along with sad good-byes amidst still-cheering audiences.****

I was unaware that this was based on a true story until the very end of the film, when photographs of the original Comedian Harmonists were shown. The story line is so gripping, it almost seems too contrived to be true. And, given the immense talent and popularity of the group (in its heydey), I was surprised that I had never heard of them. The story is about a group of six musicians, three of whom are Jewish, who rise to fame in Germany in 1930s. Tension grows within the group as the Nazis become increasingly powerful in Germany. After the group performs aboard the USS Saratoga in New York harbor, there is some question about whether they will return to Nazi Germany or stay in the US. The group plays its final concert to a sold-out crowd shortly after the New York trip. The movie will leave you wanting to know much more about its members, particularly Mr. Frommerman, and its music. As an added bonus, the five-part harmonies are FANTASTIC. This is one of the most gripping shows I've seen in several months, it came as a complete surprise.

Daniel is an aspiring young gourmet chef with a knck for landing just about any girl he sets his sights on with his amazing meals. He lives with his friend, Samantha, an aspiring young artist/tomboy/mechanic. Samantha is the perfect friend, always supportive - in Danny's career, his love-life troubles, his problems with his disapproving father - and there's no worry about romantic entanglements, right? Wrong! Suddenly, just as Sam begins to realize just how much Daniel means to her, Daniel is swept away by success. He lands a job as the chef on a gourmet coooking show. His success climbs as he dispenses advice to the love lorn while cooking gourmet dishes for two. As Daniel begins to become more famous, he begins to be pulled away from the people he cares about and gets swept up in the fame and fortune of television. All the while, his dreams of writing a cookbook are put on the back-burner. While Sam struggles to get over him, Daniel realizes how much he misses her and the simpleness of his former life.
This movie has all the flair of an independent film. I happen to enjoy independent film, because those involved are willing to take chances. They don't hold to the regualr constraints of film genre. Don't get me wrong - this is definitely a feel good movie in the style of Some Kind Of Wonderful, but done in a different , more modern style. Great performances by Christian Oliver and Pamela Segall. I think Pamela Segall doesn't get the respect due her acting skill! She definitely deserves more attention! And before you think that this film stars only up-and-coming actors, keep in mind that both Linda Hunt and Laura San Giacomo do an excellent service to this film. A film definitely worth checking out. Romantic fools like myself will just eat it up!

Great movie. Christian Oliver is soo adorable and sweet. If you cant get enough of this cutie, another I would recommend is "Kept". Hes great in that also.

Hey, there's a phrase you don't hear everyday - longtime Pamela Segall fan. But that's me. Any of you realize that the actress playing Samantha in this film is the voice of Bobby Hill on the animated series, KING OF THE HILL?
Pammy's a true vet of her industry. She's been acting for almost 20 years and she's only in her 30's! Watch her closely in this movie. She's great! She's almost always better than the material she's in. But I can't really say that about this movie because it's a gem! Most especially from my perspective, since I've enjoyed this actress's work for about 18 years (since FACTS OF LIFE if anyone remembers) and it gives her such a nice, juicy, leading part.
I also can't knock the movie because I know it came from the heart. As a struggling screenwriter, I really respect that.
And finally, I gotta give mad props to the writer/director, Felix Adlon because Pammy's name nowadays is officially Pamela Segall-Adlon.
Sorta adds a new dimension to the experience of watching this sweet little love story, doesn't it?

I watched this movie with my friend and it was so funny! Laugh-out-loud funny gags and spoofs. In this movie they spoofed alot of different movies: The Godfather movies, Scarface, Twister, The English Patient, Forrest Gump(run, florist, run!), they spoof even more, including Riverdance. The best part is the Child's Play/Lost World Jurassic Park spoof. A little boy named Chucky(he's dressed like the Chucky doll) is running through the forest. He falls over a log, and the compy dinosaurs(the small ones), jump over the log and attack him(his clothes fly over the log). The plot is well, confusing. But if you see it, you should get it(unlike me!). But, be warned, this isn't for kids! This has alot of stuff that's offensive, plus stuff they wouldn't get(like people sniffing drugs). Overall, it's a funny laugh-out-loud movie that spoofs the mafia. Throw in some top-notch actors, and you got one movie that's worth watching on a Friday night!

This film is a wonderful compendium of spoofs on the entire gangster genre. Especially look out for the true emotion seen in the face of ATM Man with Double Chin!

The only part I couldn't really buy was a little boy swimming all the way to America from Sicily!! I mean that's not possible!!

One of my favorite movies of all time! This is a must for any comedy loving movie fan. If you like the Naked Gun Series, then you'll love this. Every detail of the movie is packed with humor, so much so that you have to watch it more than once to see it all. Get it, and you'll love it!

The Movie Cat's & Dogs was an ok movie when I saw it. I mean ok , cause the jokes and the humor was a little dumb , and the scenes kind of dragged on a little bit. But , the great thing about the movie is the respect the dogs get , I love dogs , I have a Siberian Huskey , and Golden Retriever. So I think they are the best. Lou was a cute , playful little guy , played by a cool actor ``Tobey Mcguire'' (Spider-Man ,The Cider House Rules , and the 2003 summer movie ``Sea Biscuit'' which I want to see.) And the Butch was cool (Alec Baldwin , ``Pearl Harbor'')
as was Susan Surandon's part , as the female Hound. The Cats were incredibly stupid , but then again , I am not big on cats so that would make sense. This movie had one scene in particular , that I liked , when the kid told Lou , he was his best friend , I love that , people who have a close bond with thier pets , especially dogs , is a great sight. But i'm not dissing cat people , but lets face it , cats don't exactly show 2/3 a fraction of love as dogs do. Anyway , the movie was ok , but it's not as memorable as other family movies that came out like (Shrek , Dr.Dolittle 2 , Tarzan , Prince of Egypt , A Bug's Life , Antz , & Mulan) _ _ They ``bark'' up the right trail.
v (Those are a couple of my favorite family movies)

I thought this movie was great. Mr. Tinkles is halarious. His lines made me laugh so hard that I couldn't breath. The 3D animation, the voice acting and the characters are great! Very halarious.

Absolutley adorable! Those are the words I have to use to
start my review of this outstanding movie. In this upbeat
film, we have man's best friend, the dog pitted against the
cat world. The cats, after all, are trying to make us their
slaves as we once were so long ago! Could that be possible?
I loved it.
The movie was full of action, had some tender moments and was
just plain fun.....a good time for everyone watching it!
Highly recommended!