Don Movie Reviews

You don't have to know a thing about rap music to love this screamingly funny satire about culture clash, the media, fame, hypocrisy and a lot more.

A black woman (college-educated, oh-so-serious public TV type) is filming a documentary on a three-man rap group from the streets. Calling their mean selves Niggas With Hats (NWH), they're very concerned, at least while on camera (which is all we see) with maintaining their "hood" persona.

All their managers are mysteriously shot dead while NWH are "out of town" (wink, nudge). Early on they switch from using family members as managers to employing Jewish white boys. Before the film ends, they go through six of these poor fellows.

The dialog between the group and their middle-aged Caucasian record company owner is sidesplitting. With misplaced confidence, the businessman feels compelled to speak street talk in a doomed attempt to bond with his artists. We watch the astonished faces of our rappers as they listen to his ludicrous slang, which dates back to Malcolm X's time.

NWH even puts out a Christmas album called "Ho, Ho, Ho's." A rival rap group dogs their rise to fame, each outfit trying to destroy the other. NWH finally prevails, however, when it's discovered that the opposition's lead singer went to a prep school and even edited its yearbook. His career ruined, the antagonist and his crew are banished in shame.

There's an angry Spike Lee wannabe and an opening act, Vanilla Sherbet, a bouncy white rapper who insists he was raised by a black family. The concert audiences are pimply white youth who ape the group's moves, clothing and speech mannerisms and for whom the rappers can barely disguise their utter contempt.

Relating these details in no way spoils the fun, for it's the telling of the tale and the facial expressions of those to whom all of this happens that make the movie.

No matter what your age or background, you'll be howling out loud at many parts of this parody. See it soon.

Man this is a funny movie. I can't belive more poeple don't know about this one. If you haven't heard of this one but love CB4 then you've been an square. Follow the lives of 3 men making it in the rap world and what fame does to destroy your artistic balance. Just kidding. This a just an all out funny movie made in a rapumentery style. Vanilla Sherburt in the house!

When a friend reccomended this movie, some time ago, I was kind of reluctent to rent a movie about a rap group that has a thing about hats. I eventually broke down and did rent it. This movie is a great satire/parody of rap and its' various movers and sometime shakers. The obvious comparison between this movie and This is spinal tap begins and ends with the music element. Fear of a black hat hits every social/cultural hot button there is while streaming along with truly funny developments that mirror real life events. In short buy this movie and laugh your ass off.

What can I say about this movie? It's a beautiful and still remains a movie I can get my entire family to watch. It has the perfect mixture of action, sadness, occasional humor, and BEAUTIFUL music. Listen to the credits, if only to hear "If We Hold On Together." It also teaches an excellent lesson without preaching it at you. And a single quote from this movie will forever stand out in my mind:

"Let your heart guide you...it whispers so listen closely"

Sorry If I sound like a killjoy or anything. But, what the [heck] is with the songs in the sequels of this movie? They put in songs in Sercet of NIMH 2 and that made it awful. They put songs in Land Before Time II and that made it awful too. If the oringal movie hasn't got a song, it's for a good reason. The only song in the first movie is the end credits.
Land Before Time follows the adventures of Littlefoot and his dinosaur pals in search of the Great Valley to find enough food to eat. A good moive and the only Land Before Time movie.

I love all the Land Before Time videos and I have bought them all for my 3 year old grandson!! They promote empathy and friendship and yet they are very entertaining!!
Once you become familiar with the characters, you will
look for them in each successive video! My grandson
just loves this video and the sister Land Before Time videos!! You won't be disappointed with this series of heartwarming videos!!

What can I say about this movie? It's a beautiful and still remains a movie I can get my entire family to watch. It has the perfect mixture of action, sadness, occasional humor, and BEAUTIFUL music. Listen to the credits, if only to hear "If We Hold On Together." It also teaches an excellent lesson without preaching it at you. And a single quote from this movie will forever stand out in my mind:

"Let your heart guide you...it whispers so listen closely"

Sorry If I sound like a killjoy or anything. But, what the [heck] is with the songs in the sequels of this movie? They put in songs in Sercet of NIMH 2 and that made it awful. They put songs in Land Before Time II and that made it awful too. If the oringal movie hasn't got a song, it's for a good reason. The only song in the first movie is the end credits.
Land Before Time follows the adventures of Littlefoot and his dinosaur pals in search of the Great Valley to find enough food to eat. A good moive and the only Land Before Time movie.

I love all the Land Before Time videos and I have bought them all for my 3 year old grandson!! They promote empathy and friendship and yet they are very entertaining!!
Once you become familiar with the characters, you will
look for them in each successive video! My grandson
just loves this video and the sister Land Before Time videos!! You won't be disappointed with this series of heartwarming videos!!

What can I say about this movie? It's a beautiful and still remains a movie I can get my entire family to watch. It has the perfect mixture of action, sadness, occasional humor, and BEAUTIFUL music. Listen to the credits, if only to hear "If We Hold On Together." It also teaches an excellent lesson without preaching it at you. And a single quote from this movie will forever stand out in my mind:

"Let your heart guide you...it whispers so listen closely"

Sorry If I sound like a killjoy or anything. But, what the [heck] is with the songs in the sequels of this movie? They put in songs in Sercet of NIMH 2 and that made it awful. They put songs in Land Before Time II and that made it awful too. If the oringal movie hasn't got a song, it's for a good reason. The only song in the first movie is the end credits.
Land Before Time follows the adventures of Littlefoot and his dinosaur pals in search of the Great Valley to find enough food to eat. A good moive and the only Land Before Time movie.

I love all the Land Before Time videos and I have bought them all for my 3 year old grandson!! They promote empathy and friendship and yet they are very entertaining!!
Once you become familiar with the characters, you will
look for them in each successive video! My grandson
just loves this video and the sister Land Before Time videos!! You won't be disappointed with this series of heartwarming videos!!

The relative obscurity of this film has been a boon to a generation of film makers, who have shamelessly ripped off the stunning shooting of Caleb Deschanel ("The Natural") and especially the film editing of John Dalva, who inexplicably failed to get the Oscar that year. Much as I enjoyed 'Seabiscuit' visually it wasn't even close, frankly I wish people would steal from 'Black Stallion' a little more.

I say this as a horse nut, mind you, who sat in her youth through every horse movie ever made! Cinematographers, even great ones, never seem to quite 'get' how to film horses, this is the textbook not only on dramatic filming of animals but valuable to study for cutting generally. The action sequences particularily thrust you right into the scene in very original ways.

Horsey girls need no persuading to see this movie; I'd rather urge film students to brave chortling roommates and take a good long look.

On a horsey note though, how on EARTH did they get that horse to do all that stuff?!

The Black Stallion is a wonderful horse that I have always loved. He is the most beautifulest and strongest in the world. I love him because he is beautiful. I also love Alec Ramsey.

What a beautiful motion picture this is. Not only it is gorgeously photographed, it is quite simply breathtaking in many respects. Though many people will feel the film is too slowly paced, it's never plodding, just leisurely. The opening boat sequence is directed and photographed so perfectly that it boggles the mind. Those who think that James Cameron's special effects during the sinking of "Titanic" are anything special need to see the boat sink in this piece. There's no comparison.

There is a 45 minute sequence on the island with Kelly Reno and the stallion. This is only portion of the film which does lag just a trifle. There's no dialogue and the tender love that grows between boy and horse is very deliberately filmed. It does seem improbable that the boy could survive alone on the island with only a pocket knife, but you have to just accept the dubious and revel in the lush photography and understated elegance.

Ther performances are uniformly superb. Kelly Reno is excellent as the boy, but the film ultimately belongs to Mickey Rooney, a naturally charasmatic and gifted actor who never appears to be acting. He steals the film because he's always brilliant and his character is enigmatic and made interesting because Rooney is playing him. Terri Garr, as the boy's mother, is not especially memorable or interesting. Imagine Meryl Streep in this role instead.

The climactic race scene at the conclusion always leaves me in tears. This is a cinematic jewel, a truly beautiful and outstanding movie. People of all ages should love this film, it bridges the generation gap perfectly.

I have loved this movie since being the age of four, since then it has been crimped hair and leather jackets all the way. I was a playground punk at the age of five, and by the age of six my whole family called me Riff.
This movie has been the frame of my life, from the first time i saw it I have been in love with Joey. I am now in High School, and none of my friends are familiar with The Ramones, yet I am still hopelessly devoted to them.
If you dont like the Ramones, you will after you have watched the movie. If you do like them, watching this will make you like them even more! It's funny, kinda cool and the music rocks!!! It tells the story of Riff Randall, the Ramones' number one fan, who will go to any lengths to defend them, AND MEET THEM!

This movie is great, it's got the ramones in concert (Blitzkreig Bop, California Sun, Teenage Lobotomy, Pinhead, and She's the one live) And it's funny and creative and a school gets blown up. Just lay down and watch it and you'll feel better.

This is the best movie ever...ever...ever....it has the best music and even though the plot is stupid the movie is still very good...watch it!!

I have seen aq lot of Barbra Streisand"s movies, and I can clearly say, this is one of the most touching. I can't believe she didn't win an oscar on this one because no scene has ever touched me as much as the tewlephone scene in this movie. The chemistry between her and Robert Redford is electrifying, and their acting and the music are both flawlewss.
However, this movie gets four stars for three reasons:
1. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WRITERS CONCENTRATED MORE ON THE DIALOGUE AND CHARACTERS RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL PLOT. I MEAN, WE DON'T SEE THAT THEY GET MARRIED UNTIL SHE TELLS HIM,. IT DOES GET A LITTLE AWKWARD IN THE MIDDLE

2. IF YOU DO WATCH THE GREAT DOCUMENTARY YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE TWO SCENES WERE EDITTED OUT. ONE OF THOSE HAS KATIE DRIVE BY A SCHOOL AND SEE A GIRL LIKE SHE USED TO BE. IF THAT SCENE HAD NOT BEEN CUT OUT, IT WOULD HAVE MADE MUCH MORE SENSE, AND THE MOVIE WOULD HAVE GONE SMOOTHER

3. THE POLITICAL PART OF THE PLOT IS VERY VAGUE, I PERSONALLY COULD NOT FOLLOW IT AT ALL. IF THEY HAD JUST PUT IN ONE OR TWO MORE SCENES EXPLAINING WHY KATIE WAS THE WAY SHE WAS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEARER AND SMOOTHER.

In general, an almost perfect movie, with a few small flaws that although a bit important do not mask the great movie that is The Way We Were

Honest to God,the first time I saw this movie, I cried. I am now 15 and saw the movie when I was 12 years old.I loved it then and I love it now.i know lines by heart and always keep kleenex with me while watching it. Robert Redford does an excellent job as the popular charming college student, Hubbell Gardiner. Barbra Streisand is spectacular as the Communist sympathizer Katie Morosky. From the beginning their lives are very different. He doesn't know she exists. i mean he talks to her but its not like they're close. But that doesn't stop Katie from loving Hubbell though he doesn't exactly see her the way she sees him. Years pass and by fate(as i like to believe) they meet again. They date and eventually marry. What tears them apart in between these times of bliss is Katie's love for politics and Hubbell's habit of taking things lightly and love of hanging with his friends, with whom Katie does not associate. Katie is too serious for Hubbell's taste. But she loves him so much and is willing to change for him, as he is for her. A profound movie with references to the McCarthy Era and the time of leaders: Hitler, Roosevelt, etc.
What makes this movie so unforgettable?
First of all the theme song, sung by Barbra Streisand. "the way we were"
Second, the actors ability to become the characters. Makes me think that Barb and Robert had a little something going on....!
Third, the brilliance of the director to blend a love story and include the politics. makes the movie seem much more real
Fourth, I have a personal reason for this. I loved it when i first saw it(about 3 years back) and now it makes me think of someone I like(i've liked him for 1 year and 1/2. and counting)*shhh, don't tell*
it's just one of those movies that women will love and maybe even men. Men can learn how to treat a woman and what not to do.... I think. This movie made me a Robert Redford fan. I've seen all his movies and love to read about him and stuff. talk about a hardcore fan. if you love Love Story, then please please see this movie. you will love it. The way Hubbell and Katie stare into each other's eyes.... some parts made me yell, "Why!!!!!???!!!" of course I was crying at the exact same time I was yelling. ain't that funny? the end scene is a classic. very memorable. WATCH IT!
PEACE & LOVE

It was a brilliant film I couldnt stop watching it I think
Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford are wonderful I am a very big star of Babra Streisand and all my friends make fun of that but I don't care.
My favourite part in the film is when Hubbel finaly realises he really likes Katy.
And when Katy and Hubbel say goodbye for the last time at the end it made me feel like crying.

THX-1138 is a surprisingly accurate movie about the society we live in today. Which in a way is kind of sad. This movie predicted (twenty five years before it happened). The coming of the Internet, free over the counter drugs that are not good for you, the super mall, infomericals, reality based TV shows, fast cars that look bad, and a movie industry that turns out recycled movies. Remember this was 1970, and George Lucas had just made this small film that did not get a lot of press or attention. and yet film schools and science organizations really thought it was something and did predict where certain techological adavancements were heading. It's either strange or it's just the way things turned out. Ever this, George Lucas went into a new world of film making with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films, and I think many people decited to go with him.

first of all, like the film "Blade Runner" this movie is very prophetic in showing a (then) future society and culture that was very automated, sterile, boring, predictable, and loveless- kinda like the world we live in today- as other reviewers have noted, this film was made 30 years ago; yet the themes of surpressing the dreams of the individual and freedoms for all for the sake of the machinery of the state can be read in today's newpapers (for those with eyes to see)-- you can enjoy this film on many levels, but please remember to not (as an American) take your freedoms for granted- you could lose the freedoms you love so much if you do.....

It's strange that a film dealing with a bleak, dehumanized future turned out to be so human! THX-1138 starts out with what appears to be a Buck Rogers trailer, but it's re-dubbed in such a way that the announcer is talking about "Buck Rogers in the 20th Cen-tu-reee!" There is a great deal of ironic humor and deadpan comedy in the film, and it would be difficult to appreciate "THX-1138" without understanding that. This is a film in the vein of "Catch-22", "M.A.S.H.", and "Slaughterhouse-Five". In fact, in some ways "THX-1138" bears some similarities in its absurd humor with "Apocalypse Now", which George Lucas helped to write and almost directed.

THX-1138 (Robert Duvall), a good citizen in an institutional society of the future, falls afoul of the Powers That Be when his roommate, LUH-3417 (Maggie McOmie) falls in love with him and begins weaning him off the mandatory tranquilizers he has to take in order to get through his job (making robot policemen) without freaking out. These robocops run on atomic fuel, which sometimes explodes... Another citizen, a computer geek called SEN-5241 (Donald Pleasance), wants THX as his roommate and generally pulls strings and screws things up. Ultimately THX is imprisoned as a dangerous drug-deprived sex fiend and subversive, and he finally has to escape the underground hive-society in which he lives.

"THX-1138" does a great job depicting a future society by immersing us in it; in that respect it's a lot like "Star Wars". But, unlike "Star Wars", "THX-1138" gives us an idea of how things might have been if the Dark Side had taken over. Even so, there's hope, in the form of people like THX.

The cinematography is a lot like that of "2001: A Space Odyssey" in its stark visual quality, but a great deal of the film was shot on existing locations, which adds a lot of realism to THX's environment. Don Pedro Colley adds an ironically-human note to the film as a hologram: designed as a virtual TV character, he is more human than the real people with whom he interacts. And Walter Murch's sound design is both convincing and appropriate.

As far as I know, "THX-1138" is still only available on VHS; I hope someday it will be released as a DVD.

Cute film addressing one girl's determination to realize her dream as a serious writer AND be taken seriously, not just as a girl with a hot bod. Feminism in an 80's film with hip clothes and music? Indeed. A fun film with a feel-good message. Don't expect more than that and you'll enjoy it just fine.

I use to watch this when I was a kid. It's soooo hilarious. Buddy is way too funny.

This movie is another great teen comedy of the 80s. Its funny, original, and its such a shame colombia/tristar re-released in 2000, BUT NOT ON DVD!?!?!? Maybe if we hound colombia/tristar for this one, private resort, and loverboy, we will get a re-release of all of them on DVD. This movie as well as the rest belong in any 80s movie fans collection! Highly recommend.

I was disappointed by Exotica. I've only seen a few of Atom's films, but it seems as though he uses the same devices in much of his work (extensive flashbacks only revealed in maddeningly small bits until the end; lighting and film effects; complicated psychological problems of the characters). The story was interesting, albeit confusing at times, but like with Atom's other films, I found myself feeling very detatched and flat by the finale. I had figured out much of the plot by near the end, and instead of feeling like I understood the motivation of any of the characters, I just felt cheated, like I had read a story about interesting people written by someone with very little insight into human behavior. I got the impression that the filmmaker wanted to shock the audience by creating characters with lots of weird hangups but didn't give them the proper emotional life to explain why they did what they did. Anyhow, the film is worth a view, but I personally don't think it's as good as many others do.

this one gripped me from the beginning till the shocking end. Bruce Greenwood goes to a stripclub called Exotica, there he only sees one dancer, who both they know eachother, the stripper played by Mia Kirshner in one of her more better roles also has a connection with the DJ of the club, Elias Koteas who sees Greenwood always around her and becomes jealous. Greenwood also is friends with Don McKellar(whos gay), but that doesnt ruin the fact that this movie is truly a masterpiece. the connections of each is amazing , piled up with the intense ending where Greenwood goes to kill Koteas but then Koteas confronts him head on and how Greenwood knows Kirshner is the big bang. also in the mix is Victor Garber(Alias, Titanic) and Sarah Polley(The Sweet Hereafter). one of 1994's best

I like movies that reveal their mysteries gradually. Films like Mullholland Drive, Memento, Following, etc. Like a good postmodern novel (no that's not an oxymoron - there are a few [Paul Auster comes immediately to mind]) these films are non-linear and one is kept guessing about not only what will happen, but whethere central characters are crazy, evil, benign, etc. The audience is kept intentionally in the dark, and thus on edge, and sometimes (as is the case with Mullholland Drive) there is no clear resolution, no tidying things up at the end. Egoyan seems to be operating in similar territory.

Another characterstic that these directors share is that often their characters are not what one would call likeable. This is the case in Exotica. A Canadian Customs Inspector (David Hemblen) is assigned to audit the books of a nervous Toronto exotic pet shop owner. From the outset, we see that this is not going to be your typical CPA/customer relationship. Things get more intriguing when the inspector finds a pistol in the pet-shop owner's drawer and reacts enigmatically.

As the film progresses, the inspector's psyche gradually disintegrates, until finally there is a denouement of denouements at the end of the film. Finally, Egoyan lets the audience in on the source of the inspector's descent into emotional breakdown. No spoilers here, but suffice it to say that the ending provides resolution, without relying on clichés.

Another satisfying Egoyan film. Thoughful script. Uniformly excellent acting, cinematography, direction. Worth re-viewing.

BEK