SETI Movie Reviews

I've been hurt in the past by a lot of "classic" Woody Allen films. But this one does not disppoint. I think this is one of his best films. A nostalgic look back on his childhood in the good ole radio days. Although for once, Woody was not the highlight of a Woody movie for me. And I never thought I'd utter thses words in my entire life. But...Mia Farrow was the funniest thing about this movie (and it was a really funny movie by itself). I just loved her eating as people are discussing where to dump her body and my favorite line of her's is upon hearing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor at an inconvenient moment, she asks kind of agitated, "Who is Pearl Harbor?" The second stories would switch, and she'd pop up, I'd already be laughing. And I am by no means a Mia Farrow fan. She was just so broadly funny; maybe that's what she should have done more of. Because usually she plays such dry characters...but this was a welcome change. Woody must have loved her role too. He basically recycled her in Bullets Over Broadway with Jennifer Tilly's ditzy character (also funny). This film was just so real and honest and clearly personal to Woody, that his passion showed in the writing and the acting and made this movie one of my favorites of his (and a young Seth Green did Woody justice too).

That special blend of comedic, melancholic ideal world haze---when he gets it correctly, it is great! This is one of those Allen movies that sucks you into the remembered world, sepia toned, more than slightly un-realistic! But how realistically did we think when we were kids anyways! Great flick.

I'm a huge fan of Woody Allen (even his "clunkers"), but this is my absolute favorite Woody film. All of his films are personal, but none as personal and revealing as this...and ABSOLUTELY entertaining. Seth Green, Woody's young character, is perfect, justifying his current success. Wonderful performances from Woody's usual stock troupe (Kavner, Wiest, etc) are all in tune with the goings-on. Mia Farrow, in particular, is a hoot, especially her scenes with Danny Aiello. Woody even managed to squeeze a cameo from Diane Keaton at the end ("You Be So Nice to Come Home To"). Lovely and sweet. It's too bad the Academy eliminated the category for "Best Adapted Score", cuz this woud've won, no question. The greatest songs of the period (1940-1945) were lovingly presented, and anyone who sees this film can't help but be left with a wistful, soft and nostalgic feeling. Yes, this is my favorite Woody film.

In 1984, Kathleen Turner was doing big Hollywood films such as "Romancing the Stone". However, on the side she did a more obscure Ken Russell film called "Crimes of Passion". This film truly showcases Kathleen Turner's talents as she portrays an advertising executive by day, and a Hollywood hooker by night. Anthony Perkins plays a 'preacher' trying to correct Ms Turner's wrong-doings, while John Laughlin plays a husband searching for intimacy. Any fan of Kathleen Turner will want this film in their collection. I borrowed my friend's copy, and am eager to get it my own.
DVD SUMMARY:
A great transfer to DVD by Anchor Bay, with some deleted scenes thrown in. Full uncut version of film, but only a mono soundtrack.

That blue dress! That casitone score! Anthony Perkins! That music video! That I wrote the first part of my review in slogans should enlighten you as to the type of film on offer here. It is loud, brash, unsubtle and suffers from a severe lack of dramatic (?) consistency. Whereas these indications should point towards an awful film, this one just seems to work (dementedly). This is a far greater diatribe on exactly what went on in those nether years also known as the eighties. Far more effective than the patina of after the fact examinations (and far scarier than anything Brett Easton Ellis could think up). A must own! An AMerican Classic!

I consider myself lucky to find this cult classic on DVD with an awesome deep blue cover and the words "unrated, uncensored". Although I've been watching it so many times on video, the uncut version on DVD including some newly restored footage is a real bonus, let alone its other bonus materials, like the commentaries and a whole bunch of deleted scenes. "Crimes of Passion" is the kind of film that ignites different thoughts on each viewer's mind, although the talents of its director and actors are undeniable to everybody. The sarcastic, witty dialogue is another achievement that can be fairly compared to "All About Eve". I for one have been deeply impressed by the innumerable outrageously funny lines exchanged among the characters. One line, however, sounded like a sad memorable quote, not just because it wrapped up the whole plot but it also reminded us of an exceptionally talented and ill-fated actor -- Anthony Perkins: "Goodbye, China Blue".

In 1984, Kathleen Turner was doing big Hollywood films such as "Romancing the Stone". However, on the side she did a more obscure Ken Russell film called "Crimes of Passion". This film truly showcases Kathleen Turner's talents as she portrays an advertising executive by day, and a Hollywood hooker by night. Anthony Perkins plays a 'preacher' trying to correct Ms Turner's wrong-doings, while John Laughlin plays a husband searching for intimacy. Any fan of Kathleen Turner will want this film in their collection. I borrowed my friend's copy, and am eager to get it my own.
DVD SUMMARY:
A great transfer to DVD by Anchor Bay, with some deleted scenes thrown in. Full uncut version of film, but only a mono soundtrack.

That blue dress! That casitone score! Anthony Perkins! That music video! That I wrote the first part of my review in slogans should enlighten you as to the type of film on offer here. It is loud, brash, unsubtle and suffers from a severe lack of dramatic (?) consistency. Whereas these indications should point towards an awful film, this one just seems to work (dementedly). This is a far greater diatribe on exactly what went on in those nether years also known as the eighties. Far more effective than the patina of after the fact examinations (and far scarier than anything Brett Easton Ellis could think up). A must own! An AMerican Classic!

I consider myself lucky to find this cult classic on DVD with an awesome deep blue cover and the words "unrated, uncensored". Although I've been watching it so many times on video, the uncut version on DVD including some newly restored footage is a real bonus, let alone its other bonus materials, like the commentaries and a whole bunch of deleted scenes. "Crimes of Passion" is the kind of film that ignites different thoughts on each viewer's mind, although the talents of its director and actors are undeniable to everybody. The sarcastic, witty dialogue is another achievement that can be fairly compared to "All About Eve". I for one have been deeply impressed by the innumerable outrageously funny lines exchanged among the characters. One line, however, sounded like a sad memorable quote, not just because it wrapped up the whole plot but it also reminded us of an exceptionally talented and ill-fated actor -- Anthony Perkins: "Goodbye, China Blue".

I found this anime very confusing. Like most animes the episodes can seem confusing but they reveal themselves in the end. What makes this anime even more confusing is that it has a cliff hanger ending and it never really reveals itself in the end.

Had seen it on Cartoon Network, and wanted to see what it was like unedited. Only thing I don't like about it, is the fact that they appear to not have finished the story.

In the future, mankind lost 4 planets due to a terrible mistake. They reteated to space and built colonies,huge domes with glass protecting it. There is only one planet left, Zion. The alien form known as VICTIM is out to destoy it. So.....

Mankind built huge mechas called Ingrids or Goddesses. The candidates must first train to become one of the 5 Goddess pilots. They go to the Goddess Opperating Accademy or GOA. And when they become pilots they go to GIS. And.....
To be a candidate you have to have the abiltity of EX. Having a reaction to such a power turns your hair teal. It may be telepathy or the power to move fast without being seen. OK.....

The story follows 5 candidates. The main character is Zero Enna. He is a hyper boy and can't stop talking about his dream to pilot the White Ingrid that saved him when he was younger. He has a rival named Hiead and friends Yamagi, Roose, Clay, and another senior named Erts whose brother is a pilot.
Zero and his classmates train and live on GOA. And the story also go into the lives of the pilots. Now...

I love the anime and I'm getting the DVDs. It came on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network but was cancelled for some strange reason.
Get it because it's in space and space is COOL!!!!

I found this anime very confusing. Like most animes the episodes can seem confusing but they reveal themselves in the end. What makes this anime even more confusing is that it has a cliff hanger ending and it never really reveals itself in the end.

Had seen it on Cartoon Network, and wanted to see what it was like unedited. Only thing I don't like about it, is the fact that they appear to not have finished the story.

In the future, mankind lost 4 planets due to a terrible mistake. They reteated to space and built colonies,huge domes with glass protecting it. There is only one planet left, Zion. The alien form known as VICTIM is out to destoy it. So.....

Mankind built huge mechas called Ingrids or Goddesses. The candidates must first train to become one of the 5 Goddess pilots. They go to the Goddess Opperating Accademy or GOA. And when they become pilots they go to GIS. And.....
To be a candidate you have to have the abiltity of EX. Having a reaction to such a power turns your hair teal. It may be telepathy or the power to move fast without being seen. OK.....

The story follows 5 candidates. The main character is Zero Enna. He is a hyper boy and can't stop talking about his dream to pilot the White Ingrid that saved him when he was younger. He has a rival named Hiead and friends Yamagi, Roose, Clay, and another senior named Erts whose brother is a pilot.
Zero and his classmates train and live on GOA. And the story also go into the lives of the pilots. Now...

I love the anime and I'm getting the DVDs. It came on Adult Swim on Cartoon Network but was cancelled for some strange reason.
Get it because it's in space and space is COOL!!!!

I bought this DVD before seeing it because I love the three actresses who are the main characters in the three stories. They are all awful. This unfortunate as all three of these actresses have shown their talent in other films.
The main problem with this film is the narration that continues over the entire film. The purpose of narration is to tell the viewer something that isn't already obvious, but this film uses narration to tell the most minute of details which is already obvious.
If you must see this, rent it, don't buy. Anyone who actually likes this film is welcome to my copy. I tried to sell it on ebay but no one wanted it.

Personal Velocity, written and directed by Rebecca Miller (and based on her book) tells three stories of women at crossroads in their lives. A film that is divided into separate stories must overcome certain challenges. Short stories, if they are good, can still leave the reader a little unsatisfied. This may be even more true of short films, as even a two hour movie tends to have less depth than a book. It is also common for stories to be of unequal quality. Personal Velocity, however, succeeds in creating three engaging half hours with some powerful performances. I found all three equally entertaining. The first character we meet is Delia (Kyra Sedgwick), a woman fleeing from an abusive husband with her three young children. While this is a familiar, movie-of-the-week situation, Sedgwick is completely believable as the hurt, angry and uncertain Delia as she attempts to make a new start. Parker Posey, a distinguished veteran of many independent films is the star of the second tale. She is Greta, an editor who unexpectedly finds success working with a famous novelist (who makes a pass at her). Greta is married to a man who is nice, intelligent but lacking in ambition and she finds herself wondering if he will fit in with her new future. There is a great contrast between the first two episodes. The first is set in the rural working class of upstate New York, the second among Manhattan's literary chic. The third tale changes pace once again. Paula (Fairuza Balk) is a woman who has just been traumatized by a tragic accident. Driving aimlessly, she picks up a young hitchhiker who turns out to be another victim of a violent event. Paula drives with the boy to her mother's house, which does not turn out to be much of a refuge. Both the first and last segment deal with rather depressing circumstances, but both leave us with the sense that the women have left the worst behind them and are ready to begin a new and better life; the same is true of the second story, though its overall tone is more upbeat. Personal Velocity is about just that; characters who overcome the unpredictable challenges of their surroundings by the force of their own wills. The film was shot digitally, which works well with its focused, microcosmic perspective.

Many of these reviews have given detailed descriptions of what the stories are about...so I won't delve more into that aspect. I want to add to that though the unifying feature to the three stories -- which is finding what is "moving" each of these characters forward. It is admirable that the movie doesn't give the answers, just gives the human beings. Of the three I found the last story -- Paula and the hitchhiker, to be the most moving, and redeeming. The connection between Paula and the wounded character played by Lou Taylor Pucci is palable and heartbreaking -- conveyed by their eyes. It is about feeling for another person -- and in the feeling Paula expresses (now emerging from her state of shock) she identifies with the hurt she sees in the boy. She sees how vulnerable he is -- notices he is just like a little boy, just a baby -- and had been hurt, tortured really -- then she wants to take him home and protect him. The boy can't trust that, however. Both actors had heartbreaking, expressive eyes -- and it is enlightening to see a film about love that is not about sex, but about caring and protecting another.

Though i still think " The Toxic Avenger" is the best Troma movie, this is a highly entertaining effort.

It's a mix of Science Fiction, Horror and satire about a High School in Toxie's town " Tromaville" that is located near a nuclear power plant that springs a leak and turns some of the students into Maniacal criminals and sometimes into nuclear creatures.

Preety farfectched and poorly acted, but this is a fun movie that is not for those with weak stomachs.

Similar movies recommended: The Toxic Avenger, C.H.U.D., Nightmare City, Scanners, Slugs, and Stephen King's The Stand.

This is a film only for those whom truly enjoy bad film-making, even worse acting, and off the wall characters. ...CLASS OF NUKE EM HIGH is without a doubt a film that summarizes the cliches, cliques, and comic tastes of the 80's, makes the viewer laugh, want to go to the porcealan thrown, and very happy all in the same frame. A gore masterpiece in the genre of horror-comedies, this film is the second best in this genre... I will remember this film for many years to come. Oh, and yes, it is a better movie than any Toxie film. B-bye.

Rating: 5-"This is a special rating for bad films that are fun to watch. Because they are inherently difficult to rate, they receive 5's because there is much that is terrible about them, but much that is often unintentionally amusing as well. Or they can be bad films made to be bad or camp. They may have intentional merits, also. Everyone should stay away except for connoisseurs of enjoyably bad films."

At various times good, bad, enjoyable and irritating, Class of Nuke 'Em High is a grade C film that was intentionally made to be a grade C film. The plot concerns a nuclear power plant that's run by a whole team of Homer Simpsons. Not only are they having periodic mini-disasters, but one of the employees has been growing marijuana in a restricted outside area and selling it to kids at the local high school, which is only a quarter mile down the road. The high school kids are exposed to nuclear waste both through the marijuana and through a water supply contamination, and it turns some of them into pulsating radioactive superheroes, disintegrates others, and for the former honor society, it turned them into an overacting group of Mad Max rejects. There is one scene in the movie which is especially bad where supposed actor, Brett Weston, playing a corpse gets gang raped by a bunch of covermounters and can distinctively be seen smiling as he recieves wave after wave of punishment.

A lot of Nuke 'Em High is supposed to be funny, and much of it is. Some of the stuff that's supposed to be funny is simply irritating-this goes for the Mad Max rejects most of the time. Movies like this tend to work better when it's not so obvious that they are trying to spoof genres. When they are trying, it has to be extremely funny in order to work. When they aren't trying-when the filmmakers are trying to make a decent film given their budget, and it still comes out bad, the little unintentionally funny bits are enjoyable. It's the difference of laughing at a faux pas as opposed to watching a bad comedian tell a cheesy joke.

The nuclear plant setting, with a wonderfully fake looking matte painting for exterior shots, is unfortunately underused-the plant employee characters were enjoyable, funny and there was a lot more potential for them. Several other auxiliary characters should have been used more, also, but the two goody-two-shoe protagonists are well cast and do an admirable job.

Classified as horror, Nuke 'Em High doesn't even approach that genre for a large chunk of the first half. That's too bad because it works best when it's violent. The scene with the old lady carrying groceries, the alleyway brawl, the coup d'etat in the principles office, the bathroom fight scene, etc. are all among this films best.

Recommendation: Overall, Nuke 'Em High is a mixed bag, and my evaluation while I was watching it continually vacillated between "bad bad" and "good bad." Troma films fans are bound to enjoy this to some extent, although most fans are more than likely already familiar with this Troma staple. Other than Troma fans, approach this film only if you enjoy cheesy B and C movies. It's not the best "turkey," but it is tasty enough for Thanksgiving.

A: 4/5 Stars

Robin Williams gives an outstanding performance in "Jack", a movie about a boy with an extreme growing disorder.
We first see Mrs. Powell dressed as a witch at a costume party from which she is rushed to a hospital where she gives birth to Jack Powell after being pregnant for only ten weeks. We learn that Jack has a disorder that causes him to grow four times the normal human rate.
We then see Jack spending his days lonely and holed up in his home, a ten year-old boy that has the physical body of a forty year-old man. Bill Cosby plays Jack's private instructor, who homeschools him.
Finally, after prodding from his instructor, Jack's parents allow him to go to school.
Jack is at first shunned and ridiculed by his fellow fifth-graders, but slowly earns their friendship by proving that you can't judge a book by its cover.
The movie ends at Jack's high school graduation. Jack was valedictorian and gives a powerful speech. By this time Jack appears to be an elderly man, but is really 18.
Jack is a heart warming and laughter provoking movie about enjoying life while you have it, and I highly recommend it.

J: 4/5 Stars

"When a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day, make a wish and think of me and make your life spectacular. I know I did." -Robin Willliams as Jack
Jack is a bittersweet tale about a boy who, despite certain setbacks, is determined to live and enjoy his childhood.
The movie begins after an odd premature birth, where we learn that Jack ages at four times the average rate. Because of this he is kept out of society for ten years. Jack is visited by a tutor (Bill Cosby) every day. Although the tutor likes teaching Jack, he realizes that he is lonely and convinces Jack's parents to insert him into the public education system. At first he isn't too popular, but finally he wins over the class by using his condition to his advantage. The ways he gets them to accept him are refreshingly true: he can buy porno magazines and dominate the basketball courts. However, Jack has several confrontations with the adult world. His attempts of getting together with his school teacher fails and ends up getting in a brawl at at the local bar. It doesn't help when he recieves a "what I want to be when I grow up" assignment that truly affects him. When his friends are twenty he will probably be dead. The movie ends with a speech of triumph that is both tear jerking and heart warming.
Robin Williams definitely wins the best perfomance award. Here, he is able to bring a poignancy to the role while capturing the youthfulness of being a kid. Francois Ford Coppolay who is usually the director of hard, serious dramas, (see the Godfather) has taken a different route by making a human drama enclosed by comedy. Because of this, he has made one of the most honest movies in recent years. Jack is a joy to watch and a movie to treasure.

This very funny and touching film has an amazing cast... ROBIN WILLIAMS (Mrs Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting), DIANE LANE (Unfaithful, Perfect Storm), BILL COSBY (The Cosby Show), and JENNIFER LOPEZ (Out of Sight, Maid in Manhatten).

The story is cool and the directing by FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA is very good. Worth checking out for the excellent performances by the all-star cast.

10-year-old Jack is a boy with a unique condition that makes his body age four times faster than normal. He convinces his parents to let him attend fifth grade in a public school, but his 40-year old appearance creates all sorts of havoc for him!

This is just a fun movie that anyone can enjoy. The plot-an alien (Kim Bassinger) comes to Earth to study the planet and in doing so falls in love with a scientist (Dan Akroyd). But things are not all sun and fun! Dan's daughter (played by Alyson Hannigan!) suspects things are not all gravy on the home front and investigates his new love interest. Needless to say-hilarity ensues. The best part of the film is the scene when a really young Seth Green comes to take Alyson on a date. Buffy Fans!!-You'll really like seeing Seth and Alyson together. Rent the movie if you see it, you'll have a good time.

What's wrong with WHITE HUMOUR?, I mean it's OK to have a film to enjoy with your children, even if afterwards you consider it won't deserve an Oscar...
I think it's not so bad at all (as some reviewers put it), it's not genius but definitly does not merit one star... And no I am not Kim Bassinger...
I can think of a lot of movies I rather not want to see again on a Sunday afternoon. So here you have it. A NICE FILM TO SEE WITH YOUR FAMILY HAVE A GOOD LAUGH AND FORGET ABOUT IT.

I first bought the DVD for my mother for Christmas. She let me borrow it. I am glad that I finally watched it. It is a truly great movie. It is a funny movie and very entertaining. I suggest either renting it or buying it.

A complete set for a cheap price is the largest bait this has to offer. The animation is decent, but not top notch. The story could also use a lot of work. If your a teen looking for a laugh or just a silly few hours, I suggest this to any of you (even girls). This is totally NOT a fanboy/serv. video, just good clean silliness.

As other reviewers have said, this isn't the best anime ever, just good entertainment. The movie combines romantic comedy, homemade superheroes and power suits to create a fun short story.

Most of the actual story is about Hiroshi and Mirai trying to prevent the evil Dr. Machinegal from stealing pieces of retro technology for his collection. When Mirai is in control of the Moldiver suit, which is most of the time, we are treated to massive destruction of anything that crosses her path, such as buildings, roads, the odd spacecraft and the occational evil mecha doll.

Mix this with a nice dose of romantic fun as Mirai and another girl try to impress the handsome Mr. Misaki and you have Moldiver in a nutshell.

*Spoiler below*

Because most of the episodes are light comedy I was a bit surprised at the bittersweet ending. I have to disagree with the editorial reviewer who thought the "Last minute romance" between Mirai and Misaki was forced. Both because there was no "romance" as far as I could tell and because Mirai had been chasing him from episode 1. Also, Misaki obviously cared for Mirai, but perhaps more as a friend than a girlfriend.

Personally I thought it was a good twist to the story that Mirai didn't force Mr. Misaki to choose between her and his dream. I actually thought it was kind of noble in a way, to avoid troubling him with the fact that she was really sad to see him go and thereby letting him pursue his dream without regrets.
If it wasn't for a good ending I'd probably have rated the DVD at 2-3 stars.

To sum it up: Lots of romantic fun, Lots of destructive fun, Lots of fun situational comedy and good ending, but generally uninteresting conflict lines Moldiver<->Machinegal.

I bought Moldiver because the art looked cool, because of the price, and because I love Anime.

Prudish parents be warned, there is nudity, however it is NOT sexual in any way.

I wasn't expecting much at this price but as it turns out, this is a worthy part of any collection. Even a "hardened, seen it all," Anime veteran friend of mine thought it looked cool based on just 7 minutes.

The quality of the art is 10x better than what you see on the cover.

The first episode is a bit slow, but is important. It starts moving along with the 2nd episode.

Moldiver is mostly comedy, and is partly a love story.

BTW, I call it a movie because it has a beginning and an end, despite the end being a potential for a new beginning.

I'll try to do Moldiver some justice by pointing out a couple of the many scenes (sans some details for the sake of brevity and for the sake of "surprise") that I consider to be hilarious. Please note that I've done my best not to reveal anything:

1) The inventor of the Moldiver saw the professor and ended up showing him an "ancient" video tape instead. As it turns out, the professor is the bad guy [1st episode].

2) The hero goes into a changing room, a burst of light appears, and out comes the transformed hero. A bystander looked in shock. This is hilarious because it shows how "unprofessional" this hero is [3rd episode].

3) The hero "saves the day" but always manages to cause massive destruction in the process [ongoing].

4) The hero, having started out, got so wrapped up in competing against an enemy and getting used to the suit that they got side tracked momentarily forgetting to rescue someone [1st episode].

Take the same chance I did, I'm sure you'll love Moldiver :)