Don Movie Reviews

This is one of the single greatest DBZ DVDs. Not only do we get to see the fight between Goku and Majinn Vegeta begin, but we get quite possibly some of the best character interaction between the two. When Vegeta screams why he hates Goku so much, and why he wants to take up his old ways, it's just impossible to not feel sorry for him. And Goku, well, the scene between him and Kaioshin has to be seen. It will leave you speechless. Never have I seen Goku that angry, and I doubt I ever will again. It is so easy to see that the battle between Goku and Vegeta can never actually have a winner, as the two battle it out to the death(or at least as dead as Goku can get), and who knows? Maybe they both realize that their struggle against each other is ultimately futile and neither one of them can win, but just don't care. All I know is, a DVD title has never been more appropriate.

This dvd contains 3 episodes:

Episode 214:Vegeta`s Pride: Babdi has used his dark energies to transform Vegeta into the wicked Majin Vegeta, who now is a servent of Babdi!But when Majin Vegeta teleports the crowd to the World Martial Arts Tournement to cause chaos, Goku has no choice to fight.But in order too, he must destroy the Supreme Kai!!!

Episode 215:The Long Awaited Fight:As the Supreme Kai and Gohan advance to Stage 4, Majin Vegeta and Goku both go Super Sayin to fight eachother!The clash between rivals has arised once again! Will Majin Vegeta have his revenge on Goku after all these years? Or will Goku, once again, be claimed the victor?

Episode 216:Magic Ball Of Buu:While the chaotic clash between Goku and Majin Vegeta continues, the Supreme Kai and Gohan arrive at Stage 5, and confront Babdi and Dabaura, who are protecting Majin Buu`s cocoon.Can Gohan defeat the deadly duo, or will Babdi triumph and awaken the monsterous Buu?

These three episodes are some of the best eps in the history of dragonball. We see why vegeta hates goku so much, and after he explanes his pain you're not sure who to root for. Babidi's insanity and the terror on The S-kai's face as majin buu comes out is great! buy the uncut version for a funny urination scean, {watch this, I can write my name!.}

p.s. the really cool music plays in the last episode.

The Harder They Come is the longest running cult classic in film history. Criterion did good to restore this old classic to Hi definition glory. It looks almost as good as when I first saw it many years ago- and i'll say that's pretty good. This is a movie about struggle, triumph and dreams. It so well illustrates the daily struggle of ghetto youth and the trials that they face each day. And it also shows the music industry and how young musicians are exploited on a daily basis.

Previous reviewers did well to explain the movie in depth so I wont delve much into the plot. I'll just like to reaffirm that this movie is a good watch. If you ever wanted to see what true poverty is like and what it really is like living in a third world country like Jamaica, I suggest that you see The Harder They Come. Then if you like the Harder they Come see movies like DanceHall Queen and Third World Cop (though those movies don't compare in the least).

The soundtrack is indeed infectious by the way. Even if you aren't a reggae fan. I've seen people turn reggae fans just by watching this movie. The seemless intermingling of music and film is done perfectly in this movie. The soundtrack is one of it's highest points and it does well to amplify the emotion and hardship our protagonist (Ivan)endures. Criterion always releases good movies and this is definately one of them. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

1973's The Harder They Come is something of the Jamaican version of Bonnie & Clyde or Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, but with a singular lead character instead of duo. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff stars as Ivan Martin, who at the start of the film arrives in Kingston from the country with dreams of stardom as a singer. After struggling to find work, he is taken in by a preacher (Basil Keane) and falls in love with the preacher's ward, Elsa (Janet Barkley). After using the church to practice his song, the preacher kicks both Ivan and Elsa out of the house. Ivan eventually gets a chance to record his song, the movie's title track, but the producer, Hilton, does not offer him riches, only $20.00. Ivan decides not to sign the contract releasing the song to Hilton and tries to sell the record himself. What he finds out is that Hilton controls not only the recording studio, but the radio stations, record stores and club DJ's as well. Ivan goes back to Hilton and accepts the $20.00. With basically no money to support Elsa and himself, he is taken in by Jose (Carl Bradshaw) who is the local ganja dealer. Jose teams Ivan up with Pedro (Ras Daniel Hartman) to push drugs. The drug trafficking is like everything else that Ivan runs across in Kingston, rife with corruption, being run by the local police. Ivan doesn't like the pay out he is getting from Jose, feeling he is doing all the work and getting none of the reward. Jose thinks Ivan has become nothing but trouble, so he tells the cops to arrest him. When Ivan is being pulled over by a cop, he shoots and kills him instead of surrendering. He gets caught in another showdown with the police, killing several more cops. Hilton decides to release Ivan's single and it becomes a smash hit, making Ivan a folk hero (much the same as Bonnie & Clyde and Butch & Sundance). Ivan enjoys his hero status and plays it to the hilt until a final showdown with the military on a beach. Director Perry Hanzell uses the Kingston landscape with its alternating tropical beauty and urban slums as a perfect juxtaposition between the paradise people believe Jamaica to be and the harsh reality of its cities. The camerawork is gritty and the acting is rough, but authentic. In fact the Jamaican accents are so thick in places, that subtitles are employed. Mr. Cliff, in his acting debut, gives a convincing and credible performance, but it is the reggae music that is the star of the film. The movie helped introduce reggae to an American audience and the songs like the title track, "You Can Get It If You Really Want It", "Johnny Too Bad" and especially the angelic "Many Rivers To Cross" (covered by artists like Cher, Joe Cocker, UB40, Harry Nilsson and most notably Linda Ronstadt) have become reggae classics.

This is just great. The story is a very traditional one, that of a country boy Ivan (played by Jimmy Cliff) who comes to the city and gradually gets wise to the ways of the world. Through his eyes we see all the sophistications of Jamaican life, the music industry, the ganja trade, the police, religious life and girls.

Ivan tries to make money in the city...

The soundtrack is populated with reggae classics from the likes of The Melodians, Desmond Dekker and Jimmy Cliff himself, and it's just as well the title song is a classic as it's played about four or five times!

This film is essential for anyone wanting to see the real Jamaica, away from the tourist spots and the dance-halls. You can almost smell the shanty towns, illustrated best by the sign saying 'please don't pass urine, people live here'. Even if you don't pay attention to the action, enjoy it for the songs.

The Harder They Come is the longest running cult classic in film history. Criterion did good to restore this old classic to Hi definition glory. It looks almost as good as when I first saw it many years ago- and i'll say that's pretty good. This is a movie about struggle, triumph and dreams. It so well illustrates the daily struggle of ghetto youth and the trials that they face each day. And it also shows the music industry and how young musicians are exploited on a daily basis.

Previous reviewers did well to explain the movie in depth so I wont delve much into the plot. I'll just like to reaffirm that this movie is a good watch. If you ever wanted to see what true poverty is like and what it really is like living in a third world country like Jamaica, I suggest that you see The Harder They Come. Then if you like the Harder they Come see movies like DanceHall Queen and Third World Cop (though those movies don't compare in the least).

The soundtrack is indeed infectious by the way. Even if you aren't a reggae fan. I've seen people turn reggae fans just by watching this movie. The seemless intermingling of music and film is done perfectly in this movie. The soundtrack is one of it's highest points and it does well to amplify the emotion and hardship our protagonist (Ivan)endures. Criterion always releases good movies and this is definately one of them. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

1973's The Harder They Come is something of the Jamaican version of Bonnie & Clyde or Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, but with a singular lead character instead of duo. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff stars as Ivan Martin, who at the start of the film arrives in Kingston from the country with dreams of stardom as a singer. After struggling to find work, he is taken in by a preacher (Basil Keane) and falls in love with the preacher's ward, Elsa (Janet Barkley). After using the church to practice his song, the preacher kicks both Ivan and Elsa out of the house. Ivan eventually gets a chance to record his song, the movie's title track, but the producer, Hilton, does not offer him riches, only $20.00. Ivan decides not to sign the contract releasing the song to Hilton and tries to sell the record himself. What he finds out is that Hilton controls not only the recording studio, but the radio stations, record stores and club DJ's as well. Ivan goes back to Hilton and accepts the $20.00. With basically no money to support Elsa and himself, he is taken in by Jose (Carl Bradshaw) who is the local ganja dealer. Jose teams Ivan up with Pedro (Ras Daniel Hartman) to push drugs. The drug trafficking is like everything else that Ivan runs across in Kingston, rife with corruption, being run by the local police. Ivan doesn't like the pay out he is getting from Jose, feeling he is doing all the work and getting none of the reward. Jose thinks Ivan has become nothing but trouble, so he tells the cops to arrest him. When Ivan is being pulled over by a cop, he shoots and kills him instead of surrendering. He gets caught in another showdown with the police, killing several more cops. Hilton decides to release Ivan's single and it becomes a smash hit, making Ivan a folk hero (much the same as Bonnie & Clyde and Butch & Sundance). Ivan enjoys his hero status and plays it to the hilt until a final showdown with the military on a beach. Director Perry Hanzell uses the Kingston landscape with its alternating tropical beauty and urban slums as a perfect juxtaposition between the paradise people believe Jamaica to be and the harsh reality of its cities. The camerawork is gritty and the acting is rough, but authentic. In fact the Jamaican accents are so thick in places, that subtitles are employed. Mr. Cliff, in his acting debut, gives a convincing and credible performance, but it is the reggae music that is the star of the film. The movie helped introduce reggae to an American audience and the songs like the title track, "You Can Get It If You Really Want It", "Johnny Too Bad" and especially the angelic "Many Rivers To Cross" (covered by artists like Cher, Joe Cocker, UB40, Harry Nilsson and most notably Linda Ronstadt) have become reggae classics.

This is just great. The story is a very traditional one, that of a country boy Ivan (played by Jimmy Cliff) who comes to the city and gradually gets wise to the ways of the world. Through his eyes we see all the sophistications of Jamaican life, the music industry, the ganja trade, the police, religious life and girls.

Ivan tries to make money in the city...

The soundtrack is populated with reggae classics from the likes of The Melodians, Desmond Dekker and Jimmy Cliff himself, and it's just as well the title song is a classic as it's played about four or five times!

This film is essential for anyone wanting to see the real Jamaica, away from the tourist spots and the dance-halls. You can almost smell the shanty towns, illustrated best by the sign saying 'please don't pass urine, people live here'. Even if you don't pay attention to the action, enjoy it for the songs.

the new version dvd (with the painting of the locomotive cover) is a full-frame only version. knowing this would've saved me some heartache (and money)

It's been many years since I had seen "The Great Locomotive Chase", and it was a real pleasure to watch it again. With so many other reviews, I don't think I need to summarize the plot.

Anchor Bay, as usual, has given us a DVD that is beautiful to look at, with only a few areas where the age of the film is apparent. This is widescreen and I can't imagine watching this film any other way. The sound is pretty much what you would expect for a 1956 release.

Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter are fine as the lead protagonists, with Jeff York also registering as one of Andrews' Raiders who would rather fight, than follow the "cloak and dagger" routine. Of course, York played Mike Fink--"King of the River"--opposite Fess Parker's Davy Crockett.

This movie is a dream for railroad buffs--old steam trains still provide a thrill for many people. It is also noteworthy for people interested in the civil war, being based on actual events, although I suspect history scholars might find it too superficial. However, the purpose of this movie is to entertain fans of all ages--not to get bogged down in too much detail.

Parents should find this movie a delight to watch with their children, especially young boys. The plot is not complicated--there is plenty of action--and while shots are fired, and some fists fly, there is none of the more graphic violence that today's films seem to wallow in.

Like other reviewers, I would have liked some "extras". Comments from Fess Parker--now a successful California wine-maker--added a lot to Disney's Davy Crockett collection. Mr. Parker's memories of this film would have been a nice plus. Sadly, Jeffrey Hunter passed away at a young age, during the 1960s.
Perhaps some day there will be a "deluxe" edition from Disney--but, in the mean time, we must thank Anchor Bay for giving us this highly watchable version.

Again, recommended viewing for the whole family.

I remember seeing this fine film in original release and on television when I was a young girl. I was fascinated by the real-life Civil War spy story, the brave men fighting hard for their respective causes, the high drama and colorful action of the train chase through the north Georgia countryside (shot where it had originally taken place), and the attention to detail. (I also thought that Jeffrey Hunter and Fess Parker were the handsomest men I'd ever seen in my short life!) I always hoped to see it again as an adult, but like many Disney features of the 1950's it simply vanished from view.

In the 1980's I moved to Big Shanty (now Kennesaw), Georgia, living very near where that fatal stop for breakfast was made at the Lacy Hotel. I was delighted to find that the little museum that housed the real "General" locomotive also had a copy of "The Great Locomotive Chase" that it screened on rare occasions. Despite the faded and scratchy 16mm print, I renewed my acquaintance with the story and appreciated the film's fine production values, direction, and performances. Since then, I've become familiar with the the drama that took place practically in my back yard.

I'm delighted that Anchor Bay has re-released "The Great Locomotive Chase" with a quality print on DVD so I, my children and grandchildren can enjoy it together for years to come. My one wish is that the company would consider adding enhancements to future editions. For example, how interesting it would be to have Fess Parker's film commentary, or an interview recorded with him, while he is still with us. Contemporary memorabilia is available in Georgia for background features, as are local people who worked on the production. Still, the film is fine all by itself, and I recommend it as worthy of being in your collection.

...

the new version dvd (with the painting of the locomotive cover) is a full-frame only version. knowing this would've saved me some heartache (and money)

It's been many years since I had seen "The Great Locomotive Chase", and it was a real pleasure to watch it again. With so many other reviews, I don't think I need to summarize the plot.

Anchor Bay, as usual, has given us a DVD that is beautiful to look at, with only a few areas where the age of the film is apparent. This is widescreen and I can't imagine watching this film any other way. The sound is pretty much what you would expect for a 1956 release.

Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter are fine as the lead protagonists, with Jeff York also registering as one of Andrews' Raiders who would rather fight, than follow the "cloak and dagger" routine. Of course, York played Mike Fink--"King of the River"--opposite Fess Parker's Davy Crockett.

This movie is a dream for railroad buffs--old steam trains still provide a thrill for many people. It is also noteworthy for people interested in the civil war, being based on actual events, although I suspect history scholars might find it too superficial. However, the purpose of this movie is to entertain fans of all ages--not to get bogged down in too much detail.

Parents should find this movie a delight to watch with their children, especially young boys. The plot is not complicated--there is plenty of action--and while shots are fired, and some fists fly, there is none of the more graphic violence that today's films seem to wallow in.

Like other reviewers, I would have liked some "extras". Comments from Fess Parker--now a successful California wine-maker--added a lot to Disney's Davy Crockett collection. Mr. Parker's memories of this film would have been a nice plus. Sadly, Jeffrey Hunter passed away at a young age, during the 1960s.
Perhaps some day there will be a "deluxe" edition from Disney--but, in the mean time, we must thank Anchor Bay for giving us this highly watchable version.

Again, recommended viewing for the whole family.

I remember seeing this fine film in original release and on television when I was a young girl. I was fascinated by the real-life Civil War spy story, the brave men fighting hard for their respective causes, the high drama and colorful action of the train chase through the north Georgia countryside (shot where it had originally taken place), and the attention to detail. (I also thought that Jeffrey Hunter and Fess Parker were the handsomest men I'd ever seen in my short life!) I always hoped to see it again as an adult, but like many Disney features of the 1950's it simply vanished from view.

In the 1980's I moved to Big Shanty (now Kennesaw), Georgia, living very near where that fatal stop for breakfast was made at the Lacy Hotel. I was delighted to find that the little museum that housed the real "General" locomotive also had a copy of "The Great Locomotive Chase" that it screened on rare occasions. Despite the faded and scratchy 16mm print, I renewed my acquaintance with the story and appreciated the film's fine production values, direction, and performances. Since then, I've become familiar with the the drama that took place practically in my back yard.

I'm delighted that Anchor Bay has re-released "The Great Locomotive Chase" with a quality print on DVD so I, my children and grandchildren can enjoy it together for years to come. My one wish is that the company would consider adding enhancements to future editions. For example, how interesting it would be to have Fess Parker's film commentary, or an interview recorded with him, while he is still with us. Contemporary memorabilia is available in Georgia for background features, as are local people who worked on the production. Still, the film is fine all by itself, and I recommend it as worthy of being in your collection.

...

the new version dvd (with the painting of the locomotive cover) is a full-frame only version. knowing this would've saved me some heartache (and money)

It's been many years since I had seen "The Great Locomotive Chase", and it was a real pleasure to watch it again. With so many other reviews, I don't think I need to summarize the plot.

Anchor Bay, as usual, has given us a DVD that is beautiful to look at, with only a few areas where the age of the film is apparent. This is widescreen and I can't imagine watching this film any other way. The sound is pretty much what you would expect for a 1956 release.

Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter are fine as the lead protagonists, with Jeff York also registering as one of Andrews' Raiders who would rather fight, than follow the "cloak and dagger" routine. Of course, York played Mike Fink--"King of the River"--opposite Fess Parker's Davy Crockett.

This movie is a dream for railroad buffs--old steam trains still provide a thrill for many people. It is also noteworthy for people interested in the civil war, being based on actual events, although I suspect history scholars might find it too superficial. However, the purpose of this movie is to entertain fans of all ages--not to get bogged down in too much detail.

Parents should find this movie a delight to watch with their children, especially young boys. The plot is not complicated--there is plenty of action--and while shots are fired, and some fists fly, there is none of the more graphic violence that today's films seem to wallow in.

Like other reviewers, I would have liked some "extras". Comments from Fess Parker--now a successful California wine-maker--added a lot to Disney's Davy Crockett collection. Mr. Parker's memories of this film would have been a nice plus. Sadly, Jeffrey Hunter passed away at a young age, during the 1960s.
Perhaps some day there will be a "deluxe" edition from Disney--but, in the mean time, we must thank Anchor Bay for giving us this highly watchable version.

Again, recommended viewing for the whole family.

I remember seeing this fine film in original release and on television when I was a young girl. I was fascinated by the real-life Civil War spy story, the brave men fighting hard for their respective causes, the high drama and colorful action of the train chase through the north Georgia countryside (shot where it had originally taken place), and the attention to detail. (I also thought that Jeffrey Hunter and Fess Parker were the handsomest men I'd ever seen in my short life!) I always hoped to see it again as an adult, but like many Disney features of the 1950's it simply vanished from view.

In the 1980's I moved to Big Shanty (now Kennesaw), Georgia, living very near where that fatal stop for breakfast was made at the Lacy Hotel. I was delighted to find that the little museum that housed the real "General" locomotive also had a copy of "The Great Locomotive Chase" that it screened on rare occasions. Despite the faded and scratchy 16mm print, I renewed my acquaintance with the story and appreciated the film's fine production values, direction, and performances. Since then, I've become familiar with the the drama that took place practically in my back yard.

I'm delighted that Anchor Bay has re-released "The Great Locomotive Chase" with a quality print on DVD so I, my children and grandchildren can enjoy it together for years to come. My one wish is that the company would consider adding enhancements to future editions. For example, how interesting it would be to have Fess Parker's film commentary, or an interview recorded with him, while he is still with us. Contemporary memorabilia is available in Georgia for background features, as are local people who worked on the production. Still, the film is fine all by itself, and I recommend it as worthy of being in your collection.

...

Mudd's Women-This episode, in which we meet Mudd and his three sirens, has never really worked for me. For one thing, it moves like molasses. The 'inquest' scene, for example, in which the women seduce the crew, in addition to being ineffective is at least twice as long as it need have been. Other evidence of low production values at this point in the show include the cheesy music and use of the (grossly) soft lens in the scenes with Mudd's Women. Other problems include the hopeless moralizing and cornball twist at the close of the episode. While it's true that later shows could be too cold, it's also true that first season episodes were often smarmily warm and cloyingly sincere.

The episode is not without it's pluses. It does explore some of the contradictions surrounding perceptions of beauty and the objectification of women, and I suppose makes a statement about drug use. They also did a nice job making the women look ugly (although in my opinion--probably by design--they weren't too eautiful to begin with). (2 stars)

The Enemy Within-With this episode, in which a transporter malfunction creates two wildly different Kirk's, the show begins to hit its stride. Like many first season shows, this one is sharply focused on dynamics of human personality and interaction. We are shown subtle aspects of both the two Kirks, and the thought process of the rest of the crew as the relate to the new Kirk's. Such attention to internal details, for better or worse, really fell off in the 2nd and 3rd seasons as the show become more extroverted. As others have noted, Shatner turns in a nice performance here, although that absurd make-up they put on the male crew members for the early shows is kind of distracting in the close-ups. One other nice thing about this episode is that its central theme, concerning our dual nature, is not presented in an overly simplisitic way; by this I mean that even each of the two sides of Kirk are somewhat nuanced, and the description of how the two parts need to be together not overly cliché. Nevertheless, the show like many early ones, is way too talky. While the show was beginning to hit it's stride, it wasn't there yet; this episode does drag, and feels somewhat clunky despite a fair amount of action (3 stars)

This one is well written, acted and directed and gets, well, four full Enterprises. Excellent consistency in the transfers with nice colors, skintones and detail. Some special effects that actually are enhanced by the clarity and stand as some of the best in the series. As with the other discs in this series, there are no extras other than the trailers and the information booklet. This is a pretty good Star Trek disc with a nice mixture of camp, comedy, suspense and drama in the two episodes. Star Trek didn't really go off the air. It's now part of our culture. Even for the casual Star Trek fan, this DVD is a great bang for your buck. Yes, I will use the old cliche and simply say... "Beam this one into your collection!"

Mudd's Women...Kirk beams up Harry Mudd & 3 ultra-sexy women who no man can seem to resist. But are they really that beautiful? Watch & find out.

The Enemy Within...Kirk is duplicated in a transporter accident. See Shatner portray Kirk's "evil side" with absolute brilliance.

At first I didn't like this film. It was too artsy, too frumpy, too fuzzy. Far too fuzzy. Frankly I bought it because I am a big PJ Harvey fan, no surprises there right? But after watching it a few times I begain to find importent and often funny moments. The interaction between Jesus and the Devil are often quite amusing.
The acting is lacking. Donovan has done better work in my opinion(Nadja, for example). PJ Harvey is surprisingly good, speaking as a critic and not a fan, perhaps the best actor in the film really besides maybe Thomas Jay Ryan. As for her looking like "Jack Skellington", as my friend pointed out, well she has always looked that way.
If you like independent films or are an art student then this is a good choice for you.

Martin Donovan (Trust) plays Jesus and Thomas Jay Ryan (Henry Fool) is the Devil as the clock ticks down on the last day of the world in Manhattan. Jesus agonizes over unlocking the seven seals of the apocalypse on his Apple laptop, verbally battles the Devil, and walks around NYC with Magdalene (PJ Harvey) on this most eventful of days.

This is a typical Hal Hartley film -- incredible premise, great actors, very good soundtrack, and creative but cheap production. I enjoyed the film even though the glaring lights and jerky camera got old -- at just over 60 minutes you don't have time to get too annoyed :-)

Extras are minimal -- credits and filmographies for Hartley and Donovan.

A worthwhile addition to Hartley's ouevre but as often happens with this talented director, one feels that the potential was greater than the execution.

If you don't like Hal Hartley, this film will not change your mind. It is more abstract, more talky and even more cheaply made than most of his stuff. But it is Awesome! It's basically Jesus (Martin Donovan) up against Satan (Thomas Jay Ryan) battling it out for the souls of men on New Year's Eve 1999-Armageddon. Jesus, as played by Donovan, is a self-doubting, earnest, hard-working, God-Fearing(pun intended),normal guy with the weight of the world on his conscience. Satan, as played by Ryan, is like an extra sleazy used car salesman, not to far off from Ryan's title role as Henry Fool. The two of them have excellent verbal battles which are as funny as you might imagine. Jesus's best line come when he says to Satan, "you know, it's not that you're so dispicable, it's just that you're so damn trite". It's almost as if the actors are speaking to each other... Throw in funny Mormon jokes, an appearance by PJ Harvey, as Jesus's assistant, and digital video style for miles and miles and you have the best one hour independent film about the Apocalypse ever made.

From Don (Dirty Harry, The Shootist) Segal comes this engaging World War II combat drama with an all star cast including Steve McQueen, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, Bobby Darin (!), Bob Newhart, LQ Jones and Nick (`Godzilla vs. Monster Zero') Adams.

The story begins when a squad of combat-weary GI's is sent back to the front and then left behind by the rest of the Company to defend an insignifigant portion of the Siegfried Line. Then the Germans decide it is not so insignifigant after all. The hook is the diminutive squad must convince the company of Wermacht soldiers that they are facing a much larger force. They employ a variety of illusions to keep up the charade (James Coburn runs a backfiring jeep in low gear in a circle to make the Germans think they have a tank, Bob Newhart sits in a pillbox making up radio traffic, and they string up rocks in empty ammo cans to make it sound like troop movement), but eventually the Germans begin to figure it out. The only thing left for them to do is hit the enemy hard and without warning to discourage their advance until the company returns.

This is an engrossing small scale drama with some intense action (despite a liberal use of wartime stock footage, mostly of artillery crews, to give us a sense of place) - the scene where the German patrol charges McQueen's foxhole with fixed bayonets is pretty desperate, with McQueen resorting to throwing his helmet to beat down their advance!

Without a doubt this movie is carried by the skillful gritty direction of Segal and an awesome cast. McQueen comes on strong and early as the grizzled vet busted down from Master Sergeant for trying to run down a colonel with his jeep. Little details hint toward a bloody and intriguing past - he favors a captive Schweisser German machinegun and keeps a butcher knife strapped to his hip. This is just about the toughest I've ever seen him. Guardino as the Sarge is paternal, Newhart endearing as an inexperienced typist who stumbles onto the squad and gets his jeep requisitioned, and Nick Adams is pretty authentic as a Polish D.P. desperate to prove his worth and go back to America with the squad - I didn't even know it was him till the credits rolled. James Coburn is reserved as a tinkering engineer, and Bobby Darin is fine too as a profit-minded procurer. All the cast gives standout performances, never once blurring as individuals in my mind - which makes the impact of some of their deaths all the more real and shocking.

Little details about the movie help to sell it - the toilet seat hung on the base wall as a frame for a picture of Der Fuherer, Newhart talking into a radio-phone with the severed chord dangling there, and that nerve-wracking night crawl through the minefield! Plus, what a climax! Great movie.

Like Citizen Kane this movie plays more like a movie made yesterday that just happened to be in black and white.

Cheesy musical scores, guns that never run out of bullets, and ...Germans are WWII movie elements this one leaves out. Like Saving Private Ryan, there is little music and very realistic fighting that detail the horrors of war.

Certainly dark, this movie consists almost soley of 5 characters on one set. But there's still plenty of action and suspense. Although no really large battle scene, we really feel for these characters and understand the dispare of their position.

One of the grittiest and effective war films ever produced, "Hell is for Heroes" centers around a small band of WWII infantrymen who are ordered to hold their ground against hundreds of German soldiers despite the odds. While the movie centers around Steve McQueen and his patented off his rocker characterization, the real gem here is the legendary Bobby Darin, who handles drama, comedy, and pathos with the best of them. Darin later went on to win French Film Festival and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in the psychological drama "Pressure Point," and he garnered an Academy Award nomination for "Captain Newman, M.D." The whole cast is great, but Darin---as great an actor as he was a singer---really stands out. A great film---one of the best war movies ever made. God only knows how great Bobby Darin would have become had he lived beyond his thirty-seven years.

What a 180-degree turn from his role in Deep Blue Sea!
LL showed he had much talent in acting as in Hip-Hop.
His acting here was vivid, energetic and fierce, which made "GOD" scary as hell but at the same time revealed his "family" side...Really GREAT

However, I think the film lost focus when Omar was pulled off his undercover job in the middle. And the ending is somewhat tame and tasteless

this is a really great film, the two actors Epps and Cool j where
great in this film, this is a powerfull film but i dont think its
as good as mennace to society but this is still a great film,
Epps is the only cop that will go deep enough into the case of catching the crime lord of the streets (cool J) known as god, but the only thing is has Epps gone into DEEP and will he ever get out, a must see film

This movie did a good job of presenting the trials and tribulations of acceptance. I honestly felt bad for the "badguys" at some points in the movie. The drug dealers were like family, but their actions weren't commendable by far. The money and love provided by the "underworlds" were quick fixes for the things the main character seemed to be lacking. It made me really think how easy it could be to get engulfed in the life of crime if the situation presented itself.