Gargon Movie Reviews

If I'm doing a chore that I don't really want to devote my mind to or if I'm just looking for a pleasant way to spend a rather boring afternoon, "Soapdish," with its endless cast of Oscar winners and nominees, is the movie I watch.

Now, when I first saw it in theaters when I was around 14 or so, I was not as big a fan of it because I wasn't as big of a soap watcher. As I've seen more of the soaps and their surrounding culture that this film lampoons so closely, I find the humor to be spot on.

At this point, I've seen the film so many times that I can recite Celeste's speech about giving up her baby by heart. I know how many people Montana Moorehead attempts to seduce and how many she succeeds in seducing. I know that the producer David is a sniveling pig opportunist who embraces every twist that manages to work in his favor.

The script is hysterical. Line after line is quotable. And though I wouldn't call it a great movie, it's certainly an immense amount of good fun.

And the cast is top-notch, as well. At this point, the Oscar nominees and winners in the cast are: Cathy Moriarty, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Downey Jr., Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Kline and Sally Field. The film also features funny appearances from notables like Garry Marshall, Teri Hatcher, Costas Mandylor and Carrie Fisher. Oh, and to show its daytime TV savvy, Finola Hughes ("All My Children"), Stephen Nichols ("General Hospital"), John Tesh (late of "Entertainment Tonight") and Leeza Gibbons also make appearances.

This movie is HILARIOUS, and the first time I saw it in the theater, people were practically rolling in the aisles. Sally Field, Kevin Kline are fantastic, but my favorite is Cathy Moriarity, playing the evil soap vixen Montana Moorehead. She is just perfect!! I also like Robert Downey Jr. a lot too. If you are fan of daytime drama, you will love this movie, because it has many inside jokes for soap fans -- even the sets and cinematography add to the "soapish" flare. This is a treat not to be missed. Take it out when you are feeling blue and you will be roaring in no time!!

Terribly, incredibly, uproariously funny! The story of people who work for a soap opera and their lives are the best soap opera of all!

I am a big fan of the orignial Freaky Friday. but this one is even better. Yes, truly. I was surprised to see such a well done re-make. The performances are great, the updates work and the character motivations are much more solid this time around. jamie Lee Curtis delivers and so do her costars! And the music is GREAT

If you loved the orginal verson then you will love this one even more. The story is pretty much the same as the old one only this story is set in today. This movie is so funny especially Jamie Lee Curtis. This movie you can watch over and over and still wanna watch it again. Its a great movie for any age group. Also the music through out the movie is pretty good not to mention how well Lindsey sings (Watch out Britney and Hillary Duffy)

First of all i didn't like Jamie lee curtis but after i saw this movie she was awsome so was lindsy but jamie stole the show she had the best parts of the whole movie my whole family just loved it i was espeesialy suprised to see how many adults reviewed this movie at Amazon.com

I am a big fan of the orignial Freaky Friday. but this one is even better. Yes, truly. I was surprised to see such a well done re-make. The performances are great, the updates work and the character motivations are much more solid this time around. jamie Lee Curtis delivers and so do her costars! And the music is GREAT

If you loved the orginal verson then you will love this one even more. The story is pretty much the same as the old one only this story is set in today. This movie is so funny especially Jamie Lee Curtis. This movie you can watch over and over and still wanna watch it again. Its a great movie for any age group. Also the music through out the movie is pretty good not to mention how well Lindsey sings (Watch out Britney and Hillary Duffy)

First of all i didn't like Jamie lee curtis but after i saw this movie she was awsome so was lindsy but jamie stole the show she had the best parts of the whole movie my whole family just loved it i was espeesialy suprised to see how many adults reviewed this movie at Amazon.com

There is so much to this film! You have the whole "Kabbalah" thing going on. You have the idea of improving yourself. The idea that one small thing you do can impact other people way beyond what one would think. You have the love story... It's just a good film. And it's funny. I am NOT a Bill Murray fan by any stretch, but this is a good flick. Check it out!

It just might be. It is certainly something to have in your collection, because there is so much more you discover every time you see it. Perfect vehicle for Bill Murray's lovable scoundrel personna. Thought provoking and funny.

When Bob Whiley doesn't spend his day the way fate wanted, he get's a second chance. And a third chance. And a forth chance. etc..
Groundhog day is a comedy classic and deserves it. Bill Murray is great.
Starring Bill mUrray

There is so much to this film! You have the whole "Kabbalah" thing going on. You have the idea of improving yourself. The idea that one small thing you do can impact other people way beyond what one would think. You have the love story... It's just a good film. And it's funny. I am NOT a Bill Murray fan by any stretch, but this is a good flick. Check it out!

It just might be. It is certainly something to have in your collection, because there is so much more you discover every time you see it. Perfect vehicle for Bill Murray's lovable scoundrel personna. Thought provoking and funny.

When Bob Whiley doesn't spend his day the way fate wanted, he get's a second chance. And a third chance. And a forth chance. etc..
Groundhog day is a comedy classic and deserves it. Bill Murray is great.
Starring Bill mUrray

This isn't a BAD movie per se, but it isn't great. Yes, it will make you cry. The premise is somewhat contrived. Marissa is so adorable though, how can you resist her? And Christian does a great job here.

I find "Untamed Heart" an absolute art work ! Cynics may comment on the illogical parts of the films (especially the baboon-heart! ) or the predictability of the plot, nevertheless this movie reveals love so tenderly and beautifully. As I watched this movie, the fine chemistry of Tomei and Slater looked like a beautiful dance, with slow motion at the beginning, peak-moments in the middle and tragic yet memorable final movement in the end. Some reviewers said their actings are of mediocre quality, I absolutely disagree -- the chemistry definitely works out between the two actors and it is sensed by the audience as both were crowned with the best movie kiss in 1993.

Tip: Enjoy Untamed Heart as if you were looking two ballet dancers , and try to inhale the atmosphere yourself.

"Untamed Heart" is one of my favorite movies! It revolves around a shy, introverted young man named Adam who has fallen in love with one of his co-workers. Every night he walks her home (she doesn't know he's doing it until something drastic happens) to make sure she's safe.

Once she sees that Adam is a kind, gentle (almost child-like) soul and isn't the weird guy she always thought, she discovers herself falling just as much in love with him. The bad thing is that Adam's heart, which has been ravaged by disease, is ceasing to work as well as it once had. Adam has tough choice to make: receive a new heart from a donor or keep his heart and love her the way he had in the past (side note: Adam felt that if he lost his original heart he wouldn't love her the same.

This film will definitely tug on your heart strings and make you believe in love regardless of what others tell you or how someone is perceived. If it's strong enough, love can withstand all. I would highly recommend this film!

Witness is critically acclaimed and everyone likes it, but probably me. There's something lacking in this film that keeps it from my honor list (four stars or above). As usual, the acting is fine when Ford is included, but the story line bothers me a bit and I think I know what's missing.

John Book is Ford's character and he takes up a case which includes an Amish boy and his sister, big sis, and the uncovering of crooked cops in his own precinct. The Amish boy witnesses a murder and Book finds out its a cop behind it, but as he investigates he gets shot and he escapes with the boy and his sis to Amish territory where he seeks assylum.

This movie has some really good points, so let me point them out first.

1. Harrison Ford is outstanding, why he didn't win best actor for this the world will never know, but he did a great job with a city cop who has to change and learn of a new culture far from his own.
2. This film put the Amish and their culture for America to learn about. I admire their culture and beliefs and their moral duties, which you learn a great deal about. Again, I am all for movies that teach you things as well as entertain you at the same time. This film does that, sort of.
3. The plot is original, for its time, although many spins have made off it, films that now make fun or attempt to include the Amish in it have come about as a result to this film's success.

Here's the problem with it. The film was intended to be a romance/thriller/drama and it failed. The thrillingness of it is very good, it is successful at keep us glued seeing if the bad cops will find Ford stashed with the Amish. But the romance and drama are pitiful and unrealistic.

Ford's character, although believable, is kind of lost. He finds himself at the care of these Amish folks and yet he doesn't know what to do. He can't return to the city cops, so he just sits there and bides his time. I never could figure this out. Why doesn't he go to a different city? Seek out of state jurisdiction? Instead he just remains, willingly, among the Amish learning their customs as he checks in with his partner to see how things are. But this is so stupid and unbelievable. Damn, if I was him I'd be on the move. Who cares if your car doesn't work, walk or borrow a carriage of theirs. Sheesh!

OK, the romance is dumb. I don't think it works and the reason why I think it doesn't works is because Kelly McGillis' character has to step out of character for it to even happen, which is a total no no. There is this one scene that makes me puke, it is when McGillis is bathing and she doesn't mind that Book is watching her in the nude. She even turns to stare at him, showing all like "Come and get me, big boy."

This is not a born and bred Amish gal, this is stupid Hollywood being perverted. It's this incident that takes her out of character for good and it ruins the movie, making viewers uncomfortable like me. A real Amish girl would never do such a thing. I almost wonder if the director knew this but did it anyway to make a statement or demonstrate that "physical pleasure is more important than one's Faith." It wouldn't surprise me.

This film would've been better if McGillis's character hadn't turned into a sex symbol, but been a woman who loved her Faith more than her own lust. That would've been character development and more realistic. I guess I'm so sick of these lady roles being these easy, bare all sex symbols that have no personality or originality in their character.

The end is also unbelievable. Three bad cops show up to find Book and kill him, so they go right into the heart of the Amish community and start shooting up the place. This reminded me of a cheesy western that Clint Eastwood would sport. Give me a break.

This film has some reality in it, but a whole lot of typical hollywood as well. I'm sorry, but the out of step character of McGillis and the ending was just unsatisfactory to give this movie more than three stars.

Time will tell if Ford, known as heroic Han Solo and Indy Jones will return his heroic status. I is hard for me to realize that when push came to shove and Ford was asked to support the pro-Sadam leftist in hollywood or our troups he blinked. He has been known for his financial support for clinton, and thats fine. That is the way hollywood is. But support for proping up sadam... and then he had his publicist try to explain away his apparent anti-american pro-french feelings...

Anyway, my point is that Harrison Ford is arguably out best actor today. He plays the hero roles and the human interest roles very well. If the public stops accepting him as a hero, due to his politics then his excellent work in movie like WITNESS will come to dominate. I liked this movie, but it is not currently my favorite Ford movie. Maybe that will change over time.

Most Harrison Ford movies have a considerable number of things in common. Ford's character is usually street-smart (or something similar), there's always action, and more often than not he and his romantic interest are hesitant to admit their feelings for each other. While Peter Weir's 'Witness' fits the mold technically, somehow this movie feels very different from anything else Ford has ever done (Including the little known, 'Mosquito Coast').
Ford stars as a stubborn Philadelphia cop named John Book, who is in charge of the investigation when an undercover police officer is murdered in a public restroom. Ford identifies one of the murderers with the help of a wide-eyed Amish boy named Samuel (played by the adorable Lukas Haas). However, as soon as he has disclosed this information to a superior who he trusts, the murderer is after him and Samuel. Kelly McGillis plays the female lead, Rachel - Samuel's mother, and Danny Glover and Patti LuPone (the stage actress who originated the role of Fantine in Les Misérables) also star.
'Witness' is undoubtedly a good movie, and Ford makes his part seem incredibly human, to the point that you start to forget he's acting and begin to wonder why he almost won an Oscar for such a simple role. 'Witness' possesses none of the glitz and glamour of Ford's other blockbusters; however, it is still one of the standout movies of its decade and a completely recommendable film.

What genius decided to remove the name of Walt Disney from above the title of this film?

As the final production completed while Walt Disney was alive, this film deserved better for this DVD edition. Not only could there have been additional "special features" featuring the songs of the Sherman Brothers, but the spectacular work behind Emile Kuri's set designs should have given cause to at least feature a gallery of his work. Kuri's influence was extensive upon the films created during the final decade of Walt's life, and should be further acknowledged. This was a missed opportunity.

Most people with a VCR don't need an additional DVD. It was the FEATURES that created DVD demand, and it appears that now that there is market momentum toward this new technology, Disney, along with all other studios, is quickly retrenching in order to reduce costs. It is regrettable that they are also diminishing the value of their own brand in the process.

All in all, an unnecessary release in this version.

WE LOVE THIS MOVIE! FUN SONGS! LIKEABLE CHARACTERS! THE BEST THING ABOUT THE MOVIE IS THAT (NO MATTER HOW FAR-FETCHED IT SEEMS) IT REALLY IS A TRUE STORY! ANTHONY BIDDLE REALLY DID KEEP PET ALLIGATORS, THEY REALLY DID FREEZE ONE TIME, HE REALLY DID GO ON A CHOCOLATE CAKE DIET, HE REALLY DID PURSUE THE MILITARY TO USE HIS BIBLE CLASS, ETC. ETC. EVEN DOWN TO HIS EXPRESSIONS...."I MIGHT HAVE DIED" "DEAD, DEAD, DEAD." READ THE BOOK WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER. IT MAKES FOR A FUN COMPARISON. TRUTH REALLY IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!

My only criticism of the DVD version of this is that they edited out some of it. I'm used to seeing it with all the movie and it aggravated me that some of it was cut. But it is a very long movie (aren't all musicals?) so that may be why. The story is based on fact (exactly how close it comes I don't know!)and concerns a millionaire who is, to say the least, quite eccentric. He runs off servants constantly, but manages to hire as his butler John Lawless from Ireland, who fits in perfectly. McMurray, who plays the millionaire who hates change, was perfect in this part, as he fights sending his daughter off to finishing school and then fights even harder when she gets engaged. John Davidson plays the fiance (I think this might have been his first big screen role)and is both good-looking and likeable. The songs are good & some scenes are memorable indeed, like the high-class duel-of-words between Aunt Mary and Mrs. Duke or the hangover scene when they go to get Angie (Davidson) out of jail. Perhaps most memorable of all is the scene where the alligators have thawed out and the maid finds them -- don't ask, just watch the movie. A very enjoyable musical.

What genius decided to remove the name of Walt Disney from above the title of this film?

As the final production completed while Walt Disney was alive, this film deserved better for this DVD edition. Not only could there have been additional "special features" featuring the songs of the Sherman Brothers, but the spectacular work behind Emile Kuri's set designs should have given cause to at least feature a gallery of his work. Kuri's influence was extensive upon the films created during the final decade of Walt's life, and should be further acknowledged. This was a missed opportunity.

Most people with a VCR don't need an additional DVD. It was the FEATURES that created DVD demand, and it appears that now that there is market momentum toward this new technology, Disney, along with all other studios, is quickly retrenching in order to reduce costs. It is regrettable that they are also diminishing the value of their own brand in the process.

All in all, an unnecessary release in this version.

WE LOVE THIS MOVIE! FUN SONGS! LIKEABLE CHARACTERS! THE BEST THING ABOUT THE MOVIE IS THAT (NO MATTER HOW FAR-FETCHED IT SEEMS) IT REALLY IS A TRUE STORY! ANTHONY BIDDLE REALLY DID KEEP PET ALLIGATORS, THEY REALLY DID FREEZE ONE TIME, HE REALLY DID GO ON A CHOCOLATE CAKE DIET, HE REALLY DID PURSUE THE MILITARY TO USE HIS BIBLE CLASS, ETC. ETC. EVEN DOWN TO HIS EXPRESSIONS...."I MIGHT HAVE DIED" "DEAD, DEAD, DEAD." READ THE BOOK WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER. IT MAKES FOR A FUN COMPARISON. TRUTH REALLY IS STRANGER THAN FICTION!

My only criticism of the DVD version of this is that they edited out some of it. I'm used to seeing it with all the movie and it aggravated me that some of it was cut. But it is a very long movie (aren't all musicals?) so that may be why. The story is based on fact (exactly how close it comes I don't know!)and concerns a millionaire who is, to say the least, quite eccentric. He runs off servants constantly, but manages to hire as his butler John Lawless from Ireland, who fits in perfectly. McMurray, who plays the millionaire who hates change, was perfect in this part, as he fights sending his daughter off to finishing school and then fights even harder when she gets engaged. John Davidson plays the fiance (I think this might have been his first big screen role)and is both good-looking and likeable. The songs are good & some scenes are memorable indeed, like the high-class duel-of-words between Aunt Mary and Mrs. Duke or the hangover scene when they go to get Angie (Davidson) out of jail. Perhaps most memorable of all is the scene where the alligators have thawed out and the maid finds them -- don't ask, just watch the movie. A very enjoyable musical.

Wow!! One not to be missed. Highly underated in all areas, direction, production, script and acting. Now how could anyone not like a film with two of the best actresses of recent times giving 100%- I refer to Fairuza Balk and Gabrielle Anwar. Top them off with a wonderful effort from Andy Garcia and Steve Buscemi and this really is a collectable, in whatever format you can grab hold of. One of the top 20 films in my collection of over 3500.

Wow, this is probably the best gangster flick nobody knows.Andy Garcia,and Christopher Walken are fantastic.This is better than King of NewYork and Untouchables!Please watch this band of misfits try to get right before mobster Walken Fixes them all.Boat drinks, anyone?

This is a really good movie for those of you whom enjoy a
movie that makes you think. The plot twist at the very end and
leaves you thinking about it long after the movie is over.