Abalone Movie Reviews

this one was very daring for it's time. the opening score is one of the most ominous music compositions i've ever heard. it's simple but terrifying. you know from the beginning that "something" is going to happen and it does. a woman is manipulated and extorted and threatened all in the first 10 minutes, inevitably compelled to involve the FBI. to divulge any more of this ominous little film would be unfair. a thriller in the most definitive form of the word. it boasts two of the best actors ever to grace the silver screen: Glenn Ford and Lee Remick. this was director Blake Edwards sole attempt at a dramatic film. this attempt proved to be sufficient. it's a cinematic masterpiece. watch it with the lights out!!!!

as for the DVD, not much in extras but the transfer and audio are very good.

Take an early, lean Blake Edwards, a tension filled script, a cast of fine actors, great San Francisco location shooting and a suspenseful score by Henry Mancini and you have "Experiment in Terror"---one of the best suspense thrillers ever made. Adapted by the story's authors, it pits innocent bank clerk Lee Remick against asthmatic madman Ross Martin who terrorizes her in an extortion plot to rob her bank. His threats include harming her kid sister Stefanie Powers. When Remick contacts the FBI, agent Glenn Ford and his associates barrel into action. The result is a bizarre cat & mouse game between Remick, Martin and Ford. Martin is slick and murderous. But he manages to finance expensive hip surgery for a 6 yr.old Asian boy whose mother he's seeing. His heavy breathing is some of the most realistic I've ever heard in a film. Edwards directs "Experiment" in a fast paced style that keeps you glued to the screen all the way to the Giants game finale. Again, his on location shooting is superb. He never goes for the cheap shot in this film. Some scenes are just down right creepy. "Experiment in Terror" gets my vote as one of the best DVD finds around and deserves collector's status. It's wonderful b&w photography is preserved in a nice crisp print and the sound is fine. This is a first rate keeper all the way. Enjoy.

In a time when one is supposed to have the wits scared out of you by graphic depictions of violence on the screen you would think that a film like "Experiment In Terror" (1962)would be out of place. There is no graphic violence what so ever; not even a harsh word. I can assure you however that it will scare the wits out of you.It might not depict graphically but does something even more unsettling; leaving it to your imagination. Through the stark use of light and shadow combined with a superb script director Blake Edwards will have you on the edge of your seat through what is basically a simple police procedural.
It is quite simple ; a bank teller (Lee Remick) is coerced by someone unknown ,but who knows her, to steal from a bank. The coercer is , until the end, not seen even though he appears in several scenes. That effect is brought about by Edwards use of those stark shadows. With the help of an FBI agent (Glenn Ford) a cat mouse game procedes as the FBI narrows in on a suspect more sinister than first believed. The climax is superbly crafted and to the point. One of the crucial elements of the film is Henry Mancini's very unnerving and edgy score that will come as a shock to those who only know him through such lighter fare as The Pink Panther which oddly enough Blake Edwards also directed. One for the edge of your seat and not easily forgotten.

Side A of the DVD contains "Muscle Beach Party." Frankie, Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) and the gang uneasily share the beach with a group of musclemen and their trainer, Jack Fanny (Don Rickles). The muscle men are the natural enemies of the surfers, taking the place of Eric Von Zipper and the Rat Pack, who are sorely missed in this movie. The recently deceased Buddy Hackett is especially funny as the guardian of the rich Italian countess, played by the beautiful Lucianna Paluzzi. At first, the countess only has eyes for Flex Martian, played by Rock Stevens (actually, it's Peter Lupus of Mission Impossible fame). After she meets Frankie and hears him sing, she falls head over heels in love with him. Recording him live at Cappy's nightclub, backed by Dick Dale and the Del Tones, she's determined to release the record and make him an international singing star. The countess almost persuades Frankie to board her yacht and sail around the world with her, when Frankie realizes that Dee Dee is his one true love. Flex and the muscle men follow them to the nightclub and, in order to win over the countess, they duke it out with the surfers. Jack Fanny eggs on the fight, while Cappy (Morey Amsterdam) watches his nightclub get wrecked. Flex's father, played by the great Peter Lorre, comes in and breaks up the fight. The countess says good-bye and sails the seas in search of true love, while Frankie and Dee Dee go on to make more beach movies. Little Stevie Wonder makes his movie debut, performing a song at the nightclub and singing a song during the closing credits.

Side B of the DVD contains "Ski Party," marking the official release of this movie. In this film, Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman play the world's oldest college students, with Annette Funicello making a brief cameo at the beginning as a college professor. Frankie and Dwayne aren't getting anywhere with Deborah Walley and Yvonne Craig, so they decide to join them on a skiing vacation. Finding the men's German ski instructor too tough, they do what any red blooded, all American boy would do. They dress up as women and go to the beautiful women's Swedish instructor to learn how to ski! Robert Q. Lewis plays the inept innkeeper, and Aaron Kincaid is the playboy all the girls are after. The musical numbers in this movie are outstanding, especially "Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows" by Lesley Gore and "I Feel Good" by James Brown. A comic highlight is Frankie's ski jump, which has to be seen to be believed! Just for good measure, the action follows the gang back to the beach in time for a swinging number by the Hondells and the obligatory happy ending. Even though the only special features are the theatrical trailers, you really get your money's worth with this double feature DVD. Both movies reflect a more innocent time in America, and their comic appeal is timeless. In addition, the colors are sharp and bright, and the sound quality is superb. I hope that MGM releases "The Ghost In The Invisible Bikini" soon, since it is the last of the beach related movies that remains unreleased.

I was shocked to find out Ski Party would be released on DVD. It wasn't even released on video, for crying out loud. But here it is. Fun in the sun turns to the slopes with great songs, funny moments, and witty dialogue mixed in with childish nonsense that you can expect from all beach movies. The Rats aren't in this movie, and "Freddy" (who was Bobby in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini) is the best and sharpest beach movie bad guy out of all of em. Robert Q. Lewis, the old timey game show host, plays a fun supporting role in the picture.
You get to see Deborah Walley looking pretty hot (much better looking than she was in Elvis' Spinout), Yvonne Craig and that drop dead gorgeous body (she has no rythm whatsoever), and James Brown dancing to "I Feel Good". That dude can move!
Leslie Gore gets one scene in this movie, singing "Sunshine, Lolipops and Rainbows".
Again, musically this might be the best movie of the bunch (I think it narrowly beats out Beach Blanket Bingo). This movie also has the best flow of any of the beach movies...there are no real parts in the movie that are so embarrassing that you need to fast forward, unlike many of the other beach movies.

Pajama Party is the second best, and Beach Blanket Bingo is third. Ski Party is definitely the best beach movie AI made, and definitely needs to be in your collection. Lots of fun.

Muscle Beach Party is a bonus. Buy the DVD for Ski Party.

BOD is a silly but hilariously warming romp through teenage romance and all the anguish that goes with it. Let's face it -- almost all of us who were awake during our adoloscence went through such emotions. BOD is merely a lively flick, sometimes even a spoof of itself (as in the cartoon animation during a cafeteria scene,) that manages to go on without a dull moment! Plus, there's a sweet little message: you can do it if you only put your mind to it. Yes there are some juvenile and downright bizarre moments, but they never stray out of context and their detraction from the film's merits are trivial. The movie is pretty lighthearted and yet one that you can easily identify with -- Highly recommended to own not just to rent, as it lives up to repeat viewing (even 7 times.)

possibly the best John Cusack 80's movie besides Say Anything. this one has great actors and a great story. the animation is funny as hell and Cusack has never been more cooler and better. the kid who tortures him over the 2 dollars sorta wears thin but otherwise its great. highlight would have to be when Cusack is running in the woods from all of those paperboys

I'm a sucker for a lot of the '80s teen movies--Ferris Bueller, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club, etc--but Better Off Dead is my absolute favorite.
Unlike a lot of it's competition, there's something dark about this film. The protagonist, Cusask's character Lane, isn't one of the popular/cool/beautiful people. He's something of a loser, with a loser friend, a bizarre family, just trying to make it through life's little struggles. He's easy to identify with, especially if you were something of an outcast in high school yourself. Add to the basic storyline a whole lot of wacky sidebars like Ricky the shut-in neighbor, the Howard Cosell-speaking Asian racers, the Van Halen-singing/dancing hamburgers, and, of course, the paperboy and his quest for his $2, you've got one crazy high school movie that stands the test of time.

This is for serious movie goers, and even some of those might miss the point. We see hear an era which is long gone, and those who didn't live during that era might not understand what the deal is. We see the eternal hope played against the backdrop of the 1940's and from the perspective of three different generationss.

Yes, it is played to make the most of mood swings from playful and nostalgic to the bitterest of disappointments. This isn't manipulation; it's effective dramatization. The succession of family Thanksgiving dinners tells us what was happening to America, the diminishing of the family.

As has been noted, the performances, the direction, and the musical score all lift this to a high plane of film making.

This highly personal movie focuses on three generations of a family, the first generation which immigrated to America. The setting is in the 50's, and the film is pretty nostalgic. The shot of the immigrant arriving on the fourth of july is one of the most beautiful scenes ever filmed. The film does well with showing the problems of the time. From the pursuit of the american dream, to the disillusionment of a tight family unraveling. Fine perfomances by all, including Aidan Quinn, Kein Pollak and a young Elijah Wood. But the most moving of all is done by Armin Mueller-Stahl. A great film.

Thanksgiving dinner plays a central role in this warm and heart rending look at one family and changing America in which they live. While waiting for dinner to be served or a slice of pumpkin pie to arrive the grandfather of the family, played by Armin Mueller Stahl, sits back and tells the stories of the family. We are not mired in the past however, an America that leaves the inner city behind and heads to the upper middle class suburbs is well portrayed as individual ambitions, changing priorities and new realities change the extended family from a unit that needed to stick together for their very survival to one with separate hopes and dreams partly marred by petty fueds and rivals, further divided by the wider world in which they now live. Outstanding performances at every level, lush cinemaphotography and a subtle yet firm score combine to make this one of the new American classics.

I don't have much to add to the previous reviews, except to say to parents who have children under age 13 - be warned! There is some profanity in this movie. I suggest you preview it and make a list of the places where you'll press the mute button on your remote control, that is if you don't want your children to hear and ultimately repeat some of the language. The profanity consists of: a** 4 or 5 times, several d***s, several G**D***s (when Macchio's character Daniel is complaining about being Mr. Myagi's slave), sh**, and bulls***. Overall, the movie is super. It's a heart-warming and exciting story about a shy, new kid whose grit and determination earn him the respect of his enemies, and the All Valley Karate Championship. It has good lessons about the value of hard work, being true to oneself, and pressing toward your goals in spite of obstacles. I just wish the writers didn't insist on corrupting an otherwise perfect family movie with so much foul language. It adds nothing to the story and somewhat diminishes the character Daniel, the young teen-aged hero.

Who would have ever thought that you could put a 40 year old from Reseda as a down and out high school kid next to the old owner of the diner from Happy Days and you'd get a smash hit. See you can't learn karate unless you find an old wise man who cleans your pool and owns a bunch of cars that he doesn't want. Really he just had Danny do a bunch of yard work and tricked him into thinking he was learning the crane kick. In the end though he gets the girl and wins against the evil cobra ki do or die!

This is my idea of a martial arts movie. This not only looks at the combative side of martial arts, but the mental aspect as well. Ralph Maccio does a good job of portraying a boy who goes through the hardships of both school and learning martial arts. Being a martial artist for 10 years is hard training, and similar methods were used in this movie that I had to go through. Plus, the music fits well with the theme of the movie, so it keeps you interested.

I don't have much to add to the previous reviews, except to say to parents who have children under age 13 - be warned! There is some profanity in this movie. I suggest you preview it and make a list of the places where you'll press the mute button on your remote control, that is if you don't want your children to hear and ultimately repeat some of the language. The profanity consists of: a** 4 or 5 times, several d***s, several G**D***s (when Macchio's character Daniel is complaining about being Mr. Myagi's slave), sh**, and bulls***. Overall, the movie is super. It's a heart-warming and exciting story about a shy, new kid whose grit and determination earn him the respect of his enemies, and the All Valley Karate Championship. It has good lessons about the value of hard work, being true to oneself, and pressing toward your goals in spite of obstacles. I just wish the writers didn't insist on corrupting an otherwise perfect family movie with so much foul language. It adds nothing to the story and somewhat diminishes the character Daniel, the young teen-aged hero.

Who would have ever thought that you could put a 40 year old from Reseda as a down and out high school kid next to the old owner of the diner from Happy Days and you'd get a smash hit. See you can't learn karate unless you find an old wise man who cleans your pool and owns a bunch of cars that he doesn't want. Really he just had Danny do a bunch of yard work and tricked him into thinking he was learning the crane kick. In the end though he gets the girl and wins against the evil cobra ki do or die!

This is my idea of a martial arts movie. This not only looks at the combative side of martial arts, but the mental aspect as well. Ralph Maccio does a good job of portraying a boy who goes through the hardships of both school and learning martial arts. Being a martial artist for 10 years is hard training, and similar methods were used in this movie that I had to go through. Plus, the music fits well with the theme of the movie, so it keeps you interested.

Nothing about the movie, just the DVD. And not even this DVD. More the fact that I know that next year, Paramount has another DVD of Grease coming out. No word on what's on it, but undoubtedly it will be better than this DVD. That annoys me...I know you want to make money. But...any fan of this movie, I'm sure, will tell you, that no matter how much they want the movie on DVD, they would rather stick to their well-worn VHS copies for another year and get the real deal the first time around than get the movie bare-bones and cough up the dough for it only to find out later that there's a better disc, maybe even a better set of discs in store.

This is only made worse by the fact that most Paramount DVDs contain a trailer and nothing else in the way of features -- their most packed DVD is the original Tomb Raider. Bleh.

I saw this when I was only a little boy, but to this day I can still pop it in the DVD player or the VCR and enjoy the music and acting and just the wonderful vibe it puts out. This was origionaly a musical on broadway and I think Hollywood did a smart thing by making it into a movie and it has become a classic.
Ovewr the summer, Danny and Sandy meet, and seem like the perfect match, but when they suprisingly meet up at the sma eschool the following fall, Danny must keep up his reputation with the T-birds as a tough, macho guy, and at a pep ralley, meets Sandy and makes a fool out of himself saying that the Danny over the summer is gone. Now Sandy wants nothing to do with him and forms a friendship with some off the wall pink ladies and one night, Rizzo goes off and sleeps with kenicky ( spelling? ) and gets pregnant and later in the movie this becomes a big thing at a drive in. And so the story goes with Danny and Sandy going through ups and downs of a relationship, and then singing about them, and I have to say that the end still gives me goose bumps. I don't know what it is, that fact of Olivia newton-john in tight clothes or the singing and fuzzy feling, but it is a great scene.
This is definitaly a good moive and any one of all ages can enjoy it and understand it, except for some language. It is a truely great piece of work!

In school we watched this movie and I loved it! I will never forget the amazingly portreyed "flickering" love of Sandy [Newton-John] and Danny [Travolta]. I could really see that, me being in my teenage years. Grease has a great creativity to it and the humor is so subtle! As soon as I got home, I asked my mom and my gramma, "Have you ever seen the movie Grease?" they had, and I couldn't stop talking about Grease-Grease-Grease!!!!

Nothing about the movie, just the DVD. And not even this DVD. More the fact that I know that next year, Paramount has another DVD of Grease coming out. No word on what's on it, but undoubtedly it will be better than this DVD. That annoys me...I know you want to make money. But...any fan of this movie, I'm sure, will tell you, that no matter how much they want the movie on DVD, they would rather stick to their well-worn VHS copies for another year and get the real deal the first time around than get the movie bare-bones and cough up the dough for it only to find out later that there's a better disc, maybe even a better set of discs in store.

This is only made worse by the fact that most Paramount DVDs contain a trailer and nothing else in the way of features -- their most packed DVD is the original Tomb Raider. Bleh.

I saw this when I was only a little boy, but to this day I can still pop it in the DVD player or the VCR and enjoy the music and acting and just the wonderful vibe it puts out. This was origionaly a musical on broadway and I think Hollywood did a smart thing by making it into a movie and it has become a classic.
Ovewr the summer, Danny and Sandy meet, and seem like the perfect match, but when they suprisingly meet up at the sma eschool the following fall, Danny must keep up his reputation with the T-birds as a tough, macho guy, and at a pep ralley, meets Sandy and makes a fool out of himself saying that the Danny over the summer is gone. Now Sandy wants nothing to do with him and forms a friendship with some off the wall pink ladies and one night, Rizzo goes off and sleeps with kenicky ( spelling? ) and gets pregnant and later in the movie this becomes a big thing at a drive in. And so the story goes with Danny and Sandy going through ups and downs of a relationship, and then singing about them, and I have to say that the end still gives me goose bumps. I don't know what it is, that fact of Olivia newton-john in tight clothes or the singing and fuzzy feling, but it is a great scene.
This is definitaly a good moive and any one of all ages can enjoy it and understand it, except for some language. It is a truely great piece of work!

In school we watched this movie and I loved it! I will never forget the amazingly portreyed "flickering" love of Sandy [Newton-John] and Danny [Travolta]. I could really see that, me being in my teenage years. Grease has a great creativity to it and the humor is so subtle! As soon as I got home, I asked my mom and my gramma, "Have you ever seen the movie Grease?" they had, and I couldn't stop talking about Grease-Grease-Grease!!!!

Nothing about the movie, just the DVD. And not even this DVD. More the fact that I know that next year, Paramount has another DVD of Grease coming out. No word on what's on it, but undoubtedly it will be better than this DVD. That annoys me...I know you want to make money. But...any fan of this movie, I'm sure, will tell you, that no matter how much they want the movie on DVD, they would rather stick to their well-worn VHS copies for another year and get the real deal the first time around than get the movie bare-bones and cough up the dough for it only to find out later that there's a better disc, maybe even a better set of discs in store.

This is only made worse by the fact that most Paramount DVDs contain a trailer and nothing else in the way of features -- their most packed DVD is the original Tomb Raider. Bleh.

I saw this when I was only a little boy, but to this day I can still pop it in the DVD player or the VCR and enjoy the music and acting and just the wonderful vibe it puts out. This was origionaly a musical on broadway and I think Hollywood did a smart thing by making it into a movie and it has become a classic.
Ovewr the summer, Danny and Sandy meet, and seem like the perfect match, but when they suprisingly meet up at the sma eschool the following fall, Danny must keep up his reputation with the T-birds as a tough, macho guy, and at a pep ralley, meets Sandy and makes a fool out of himself saying that the Danny over the summer is gone. Now Sandy wants nothing to do with him and forms a friendship with some off the wall pink ladies and one night, Rizzo goes off and sleeps with kenicky ( spelling? ) and gets pregnant and later in the movie this becomes a big thing at a drive in. And so the story goes with Danny and Sandy going through ups and downs of a relationship, and then singing about them, and I have to say that the end still gives me goose bumps. I don't know what it is, that fact of Olivia newton-john in tight clothes or the singing and fuzzy feling, but it is a great scene.
This is definitaly a good moive and any one of all ages can enjoy it and understand it, except for some language. It is a truely great piece of work!

In school we watched this movie and I loved it! I will never forget the amazingly portreyed "flickering" love of Sandy [Newton-John] and Danny [Travolta]. I could really see that, me being in my teenage years. Grease has a great creativity to it and the humor is so subtle! As soon as I got home, I asked my mom and my gramma, "Have you ever seen the movie Grease?" they had, and I couldn't stop talking about Grease-Grease-Grease!!!!

Have to say I was totally appalled by the way MGM UA released this classic movie on DVD. Have the Director's Cut on VHS and it's a completely different experience, fleshing out many scenes which appear abrupt in the edited version, especially between Flaca and Crockett, Bowie and Travis - and relating to Travis himself. The death of The Parson (Hank Warden) which is a very moving scene, does not appear, and the viewer especially misses out on Dimitri Tiomkin's Overture, Entre Acte, Intermission and Exit Music. Also missing is the birthday sequence, the fight in the Church over gunpowder doesn't make any sense, and Flaca seems to make a very sudden exit. Even the TV versions run longer than this!
Of course, even with these unacceptable drawbacks, the movie remains Duke's immortal homage to freedom and The Republic.
The DVD also includes a featurette "John Wayne's The Alamo", which will be very interesting to all students of Wayneasia and of this movie in particular.
I would suggest that John Wayne fans and Clubs should petition MGM to release this classic properly as it was meant to be seen, perhaps even with the addition of "Spirit of the Alamo", which Duke also did that year, and give us, the viewing public what we are entitled to - complete versions of all our beloved movies, and not a cut rate edition. Surely the studio could come up with some archival footage re the Premiere of the Picture, maybe even an expanded two disk set - just like they have with other notable Hollywood epics.
The Director's cut on VHS is the one with five stars

This review refers to the MGM DVD edtion(2000 release) of "The Alamo"(1960).....

So many times in History, man has had to make the decision of whether to accept things the way they are and live in terror, or rise up against his oppressor no matter what the cost, to make life better for future generations. "The Alamo" is one story of the brave people in American History, who stood and fought for what they believed in, against overwhelming odds.John Wayne put his heart and soul into this epic story and breathes life into these dedicated and heroic Americans.

Col.Davey Crockett,Col.Jim Bowie and Col. William Travis are the driving force behind a group of less then 200 untrained men and their families, barracaded in an old Texas mission("The Alamo"), being used as a fort to fend of the advances of the immense army being lead by Generalissimo Santa Anna. All knowing that they will probably lose their lives, and they could leave without shame at any time, they all stay to defend the right of freedom, and to give General Sam Houston the time he needs to prepare his army for battle. It is a touching and gripping account of the events, of the battles, and of the growing comraderie within the fort.

John Wayne produced, directed and stars as a very convincing Davey Crockett. Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as Col Travis are fabulous in the roles as the two Colonels at odds with each other but are united for the cause.
Also starring is Richard Boone(every time I see him I expect the old "Palidan" music to start playing), a very young Frankie Avalon and western legend Chill Wills, who recieved a nod from Oscar for his performance as "Beekeeper" in the supporting actor catagory. The music is hauntingly beautiful, and will stay with you long after the film is over. Dimitri Tiomkin won a Golden Globe for his scoring as did Paul Francis Weber for his equally beautiful lyrics of "The Green Leaves of Summer".The cinematography, also garnering a nomination from Oscar,makes this film a joy to watch.

I had previously taped this film from a classic film channel,finally bought the DVD, and when I saw the brillance of this transfer and heard it in the enhanced 5.1 Surround I was in movie heaven. The picture in the original theatrical widescreen and the colors looked magnificent. Every sound from the galloping of the horses, to the cannons blasting, the dialouge and the music were crystal clear. There is also a great documentary included on the making of the film, where you will see the great John Ford making an appearance on the set and adding his expertise as well.It may also be viewed in French and Spanish and also has subtitles in those languages.

So why only 4 stars for my rave review of this film and the DVD?....As I mentioned I had this on tape and watched it many times. I noticed a couple of my favorite scenes are now missing and the film somewhat shorter in length. I especially missed the little birthday party scene(if you have seen it before, you know what I am talking about). This scene to me, depicted the growing closeness of the people inside the mission and the family like atmosphere.

This film is a sentimental favorite of mine, and I really hope someday MGM will release the entire film to DVD, until then I will certainly enjoy this terrific transfer. It's absolutely worth the view.

"Remember the Alamo"...and enjoy.....Laurie

This movie is just great...period. The frictional dynamic between John Wayne, Widmark, and Laurence Harvey, all fighting for the same cause has never been duplicated. Before or since.

I can't believe they are remaking this classic. And when I saw that Billy Bob Thornton was picked to play Crockett I almost fell out of my chair laughing. I dont think so!

This is an immortal film. One of the very few that still brings a tear. And the DVD does justice to the original theatrical release. 5 Coonskins.