Adams Movie Reviews

This dvd is a must have for anyone who trips. Watch this dvd while your peaking, its got so many visuals with Terence McKenna talking in the backround (this was also made live in san francisco) There is also a Diggereedoo in the backround (the australian instrument) and it really completes the package.

In a word - amazing, but like the psilocybin and dmt expereinces discussed, words cannot describe it. McKenna was an amazing man and will be sincerely missed. Alien Dreamtime is an adventure all its own - not only do we have one of Terence McKenna's vivid and insightful speaches, it is accompanied by the perfect didj music of Space Time Continuum and crazy trippy visuals - not the synthetic ... kind that look acid inspired, beautiful shroom inspired sights made me wonder whether or not they were in my head!

Great graphics, interesting music, brilliant narration. This is a live show. It might be too trippy for some. But I thought it was great.

Ignore the ridiculous review that Amazon decided to head up this entry -- what a fatuous lot of garbage. Try watching some of the Duke's films and you'll see in most of them a respect for Native American culture that's surprising -- especially if you've been brainwashed into thinking that every Western Hollywood ever made was racist towards Indians. As for Jameson's description of "macho gun play", don't worry -- we don't "fret" about it. We like it. That's why we watch these movies. That "macho gun play" helped settle whatever land you're sitting on right now, Jameson. Try and remember that. Great movie from the Duke!

This is one of the more 'fun' films of John Wayne (along with Mclintock). Wayne plays Sam McCord, a prospector who struck it rich in Alaska. His partner sends him to Seattle to fetch his fiancee, but Sam finds her married and instead goes looking for another French woman (the other woman was French, and Sam apparently thinks all French women are alike). He finds one, Angel, and takes her to Alaska, but both of them fall in love with the other on the trip back. The result is a hilarious fiasco of love and hate, with Sam playing the stereotypical stubborn, hardheaded man.

This movie is a lot of fun. There are the typical barroom brawls (as well as a fight on the street), and also a shootout just for good measure. This is John Wayne through and through, but there is a strong comic element as well. North to Alaska is definitely worth the time, both for fans of John Wayne and for anyone who enjoys a good, lighthearted western comedy.

Partners (John Wayne, Stewart Granger, and Fabiano Anthony Forte) who share an interest in a gold mine near Nome Alaska must fend off all sorts of claim jumpers and worse. In the middle of the struggle we realize the definite lack of available women. Due to the riggers of protecting the mine Stewart Granger (George) asks John Wayne (Sam) to retrieve his intended from Seattle.
John Wayne intends to fulfill the contract but finds a small hitch. The intended is already married. However everyone knows that one Frenchie is like another and if you can replace a departed pet then why not a departed ... well you get the idea.
On his return things get a little more complicated. Who are the good people and who is the bad? So watch the movie and see who gets the mine and who if anyone gets the girl.

The film "Mister Roberts" has everything.

Great Story, great cast, great meaning. If I had my choice of only a dozen movies to recommend to anyone, this would be one of them.

After fifty years, it's still an inspiring story of how sometimes small, seemingly insignificant details and the consideration of the human factor contribute to effective leadership.

In fact, this film is still in use as a motivational tool in the U.S. Naval Services.

I highly recommend this movie.

I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago, it's timeless and still funny after all these years. I'm so glad it's available on DVD and now part of my movie collection.

Fonda, Cagney, Powell, & Lemmon! This is one of my favorites. A captain bligh type (Cagney) is stood up to by the first officer (Fonda), until a deal it cut so the men can have liberty. Lemmon is just behind fonda in rank (hidden behind). We have William Powell as the doc. Things get real interesting and fun when the captain wins an award represented by a palm tree.

if you haven't seen it on pbs before, this is a great way to get a good understanding of how the megalithic companies we know as microsoft and apple etc. have come to be. who knew that a company that sold a box of 1's and 0's would be more wealthy than all of the oil companies? now if only the dvd and vhs versions would come down in price a little more into the $20 range (used to be around $89!!!)...

I'm a software engineer and watched this DVD like 100 times. It's just amazing how this computer thing started, and Bill Gates knew this was going to be big. Steve Jobs still is evolutionaizing the industry with new products. Must have for computer geeks.

It is a funny and entertaining chronicle of the personal computing revolution described by someone who was there at the very beginning Bob X. Cringley. Mr. Cringley relates to us how he was one of the early employees of Apple Computers in the days in which it operated out of a garage. Now a self-proclaimed gossip columnist for the computer world Mr. Cringley guides us through the important steps and missteps that made personal computing the industry it is today.
Interviewed are computer giants such as Bill Gates, Steven Jobs and Larry Ellison just to name a few. They along with others relate their stories and the excitement they shared as they built from scratch the phenomenon, which is now the personal computer. Their presence not only adds to the credibility of the story but also cements Mr. Cringley's thesis argument that the computer industry was created because of "a group of nerds trying to impress their friends".

Simple, uncluttered, charming- sadly, this film could not be made today simply because the mentality of so many Hollywood studios is steeped in formulaic storytelling: more sensationalism (they would want Homer Smith to exude more action, and maybe have a hot romance), and more youth (the 36-year old Sidney Poitier would be considered too old for the role today; Hollywood would want a younger, and definitely "edgier" actor to do the role now. Ice Cube? Mekhi Phifer?) As it is, the story gets to the point in short order, and gives a stronger lesson about teamwork, tolerance, and faith in its 94 minutes than most modern films do today (I'm sure there are cynics who'll read this and pigeonhole it in so-called 'political correctness' because it dares to mention positive race relations, but whether you agree or not, that is part of the world we live in). One could even argue that Poitier's relationship with Mother Superior Lilia Skala never really reaches a warm-and-fuzzy breakthrough, but I accept that compromise based on the fact that the characterizations are tight as a drum, and leave little room for a 180-degree change. (After the completion of the chapel there are various facial ponders, but no further dialogue; only the chant of "Amen-" as it should be.) Check it out, and marvel at a film that cost less than a quarter million dollars to make.

Let me start this off with one irreversible fact: I am not a religious person. Thus it is a pleasant surprise for me to be charmed by a film which, quite simply, is about faith. Not faith in the traditional evangelical sense, which is perhaps why it appeals to me; it's about faith in other people, in honesty and commitment, and...sappy as it sounds...in doing good.

One key reason why I enjoyed "Lilies of the Field" is because my favorite films are character-centred dramas (especially black and white ones!). This is just one in a list of such films released under MGM's "Vintage Classics" DVD label, joining the ranks of such greats as "12 Angry Men", "Birdman of Alcatraz" and "Elmer Gantry". They are simple, well-scripted and directed films that, when all is said and done, sink or swim on the quality of one thing: an actor's performance, in this case the legendary Sidney Poitier. He carries the character of Homer Smith with expert precision, neither making him overly-compassionate or overly-selfish (a lesser actor might have gone one of these two directions), and very much deserving of the Academy Award he won. He is of course joined by several quality supporting actors, most notably Lilia Skala as the cantankerous Mother Maria and Stanley Adams in a rare dramatic role as the gas station owner, Juan.

Ultimately, the story is a little on the thin side - it is _very_ simplistic, even more so than most movies of its kind - and some characters, especially the other nuns, do little more than nod and smile, but the natural warmth and humor of the film carry it the full 95-minute length and leave the viewer feeling satisfied. It is a very charming picture and great for the whole family...especially during the holidays (despite having no actual holiday 'ties'). Even if you're a bit skeptical, give it a try - I don't think you'll regret it.

It's real simple. If you haven't seen this movie, IT IS A MUST SEE! While it is now 40 years old, it's age does not detract in the least. It's about man's relationship with himself, with others, and his understanding of a greater purpose in life. If I were trying to make a good impression on an alien from another planet - with respect to humanity - I would show him this movie.

The theme from "Laura" is one of the most haunting ever written, by David Raksin, relatively unknown, but forever memorialized through this melody. Gene Tierney is at her peak of beauty, and she really is breathtaking in the most literal sense of the word. When I grew up this was always one of my favorite movies, and then when I re-discovered this movie as an adult, I was always mesmerized by her and by the entire cast, the score and the story, all prime examples of how great film noir can be when it's done with this amount of style and class.

SIDENOTE:
***I was not aware until recently of her tragic encounter with a female Marine at a Hollywood Canteen, during WW2. Apparently this Marine was hospitalized for German Measles, and she sneaked out of the hospital to meet her favorite movie star. She had her picture taken with GT, who was pregnant at the time, and also KISSED her, which resulted in her baby daughter being born with severe mental retardation. When Daria (the daughter) was four years old she was insititutionalized. GT met the woman one year later and found out how she had contracted German Measles, but did not mention the tragic consequences of the woman's actions for reasons unknown.***

What sets this particular movie apart from the rest of the genre, is it's cast and it's tasteful telling of the story, which includes the creme de la creme of New York society, played to the hilt by the cast. One of my chief joys in watching this movie, is the scene of Clifton Webb (as the acerbic critic, Waldo Lydecker) sitting in his enormous black bathtub(!) typing furiously, and relishing the power he has by virtue of his position as a critic. He takes savage pleasure in denigrating anyone who displeases him, either by their lack of talent or because of his own personal dislike.
There is not one moment of slack; all is interesting, relevant and suspenseful; you will NOT be able to figure it out until the end. On DVD, especially, this movie guarantees suspense and a fascinating glimpse into what the "Golden Age of Hollywood" was capable of...Excellent performances also by Vincent Price as the ne'er do well playboy, man about town, and Judith Anderson, a far cry from her portrayal of the redoubtable Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca." If you have never seen this, get it; you will not be sorry, and if you have seen it, you should get it for the quality of the DVD...

I am thrilled to see that this outstanding film is due for DVD release. It is befuddling why it has taken this long--and why other truly great classic films (viz., Gaslight, Out of the Past, The Letter, Asphalt Jungle, High Sierra, Force of Evil, Dark Passage,The Sea Wolf, Magnificent Ambersons, Ace in the Hole) are still awaiting DVD issue. So much merdre gets released each week--it is truly astonishing that a film such as Laura has to take a number and wait. Well, that gripe aside--this is a taut thriller that is psychologically deep, witty, romantic,sexy, and suspenseful. How much more could one ask of a movie--that it solve the budget crisis? For an earlier reviewer who thought it ... that the Clifton Webb character leads the detective along, this device is part of the personality of Lydecker ("Lie", get it?), who is so narcissistic that he has to confess his perfection in both love and murder in order to appease his vanity, to be admired, to be known for the genius he believes himself to be--even be it for crime and a date with Ol' Sparky. He is constantly proving his superiority by insulting McPherson and Shelby and showing them up in Laura's eyes--so he thinks. He is a master manipulator, perfectionist, and control freak--even if it means implicating himself! So this bit of character development is completely in keeping with Lydecker's temperament and is what drives the story. Gene Tierney is incredibly gorgeous in this part, and Dana Andres is both muscular and tender--when he needs to be. Clifton Webb astonishes, with some of the best, most crackling dialogue ever composed---and just tons of snobbery!!! I'll score and watch this DVD the day it comes out!

It is my opinion that classic B/W movies win anyday over anything that is around today. Give me a Friday night, a bag of popcorn or ice cream, and an old movie...and you've got one happy camper!!

The first time I saw Laura was on AMC. I taped it. This movie had me hooked!! I never expected what happened midway to have happened!! This was a great "who dun it?" movie. No one is left unsuspected!!

I loved this movie so much, I even made myself an audio cassette tape to listen to!!! And you know what, even w/o the visual, it still holds the same suspense!!!

I really, really loved this movie. It's one of the few movies I have seen lately where I could actually get attached to the characters, and to the plot. I loved Evan Adams' portrayal of Thomas. He was such a positive and endearing character. Also, Irene Bedard is one of my favorite actresses so in my opinion any movie she is in is a great one. Adam Beach gives a really good performance as Victor too. I would recommend this movie to everyone, regardless of what kind of movie you normally like. You get a good view of Native American culture, as well as a storyline that just about everyone can relate to.

This is an absolutely incredible film. I've seen it several times. The character of Thomas is completely endearing and his stories and rhythm in verse are engaging.

Its hard to write the words that best describe this movie. What an emotional, honest, and respectful piece of work. Chris Eyre really shows his directional skills by composing a masterpiece. Not only do you become emersed in our main characters' journey, but you make your own memories as well. There aren't too many Native American-made movies out there, but this movie is truly among the best of them. It compares to 'Dances with Wolves' and 'Thunderheart' easily! Look for Chris' new movie, 'Skins,' out on DVD. A masterpiece and a must see!

I remember watching this as a kid, and it was one of my favorites. I recently saw it again after about 20 years, and must say I was extremely disappointed. Yes, it had an all-star cast, and Leslie Warren's performance holds up quite well. But compared to the 1997 production (with Brandy and Whitney Houston, etc.,) this version is SO stiff, so wooden, so BORING, and the guest stars all stodgy and way too old for their parts. (Pat Carroll as a step-sister? She must've been at least in her late 40's when this was filmed.) But most importantly, the sets are so unbelievably cheap and tacky, the special effects are so shoddy -- it's really embarrassing to watch stars like Ginger Rogers stooping so low to appear in such a "stagey" low-budget production. (Buy the newer (1997) version -- it was directed by Rob Marshall, the same man who directed the Oscar-winning "Chicago", and compares almost to the Wizard of Oz when it come to the production quality.)

This is another very nice musical version of Cinderella. I watched it on a movie channel like HBO when I was a teenager and when I found out that the Prince was played by Stuart Damon who plays Alan Quartermaine on General Hospital I was pleasantly surprised! If you like the Cinderella fairytale and you watch General Hospital than I think you just may like this version of Cinderella

I was born in 1978, and am completely in love with this movie. I grew up with it one of my favorites as a child, and now 25 yrs. later I have just bought a copy for myself

Back in 1993, two movies involving baseball and children, The Sandlot and Rookie of the Year, came out in the theaters about the same time, both being released by Twentieth Century Fox. I remember Rookie of the Year was pushed hard by the studio while The Sandlot got much less advertising and publicity, which was too bad because I always thought The Sandlot was a much better film.

Scotty Smalls, his mother (Karen Allen), and his step dad (Dennis Leary) just moved into the neighborhood and Scotty is having problems acclimating himself to his social surroundings. An intelligent boy (an egghead), he lacks certain abilities most boys have, like knowing how to catch and throw a ball, any basic baseball rules, or who's the Great Bambino. The movie does an excellent job in providing just enough depth into these characters to provide a sense of the family dynamic given that Allen and Leary have limited screen time.

In attempting to join a neighborhood pick up game, Scotty's lack of rudimentary baseball skills is made painfully apparent, to which all the boys except Bennie, the best player of the bunch, let their derisive comments fly. Bennie, feeling a bit sorry for the new kid, gives Scotty a couple of tips and a little extra help in a well hit fly ball that gives Scotty a measure of confidence and helps bring him into the gang.

Once Scotty's accepted into the group the movie delves into a plot involving a priceless baseball and a local dog with a mythical reputation. What I really liked was how all the boys came together to help a friend in need, and it was an automatic response. If someone in the circle needs help, the group rallies around, regardless, as they would have done the same for any other member. While a seemingly natural trait in children (atleast in this movie), it seems to be one that becomes lost as we grow older, as seen in Scotty's step dad and his reluctance to play catch with Scotty because he has too much work and doesn't have the time.

What's so great about this movie is while it's set in the 50's, the story appeals to most anyone. Whether or not we all had that one great summer or just fond remembrances of childhood friends and activities in general, the movie serves to help recall days when things were simple, and summers were made up of endless possibilities. While watching this movie, I thought about friends I had when I was a kid, phrases we used, nicknames, activities, etc.

No real extras on this disc, but a great presentation of a wonderful movie. My favorite part involved one of the boys called Squints, a smaller boy with great, big glasses, and scene with curvaceous, older, female lifeguard at the local pool.

This movie is by far one of the best sports movies of all time. I say "sports movies" because it captures the essence of the love of the game that only those of us that have experienced it will recognize. It is simple, fun, and doesn't really need to resort to outlandish gross-out moments to find it's heart. I watch this movie everytime I come accross it on television. A similar non-sports based movie would be "Stand By Me", also highly recommended.

This movie is completely enjoyable and utterly captivating. The actors are outstanding and the whimsical directing captures to a T the way we all used to view the world, once upon a time when we were children and the world was full of magic, wonder, and possibility. If baseball was an integral part of your childhood, as it was for mine, then this movie is especially recommended. No other movie has captured the true childhood dilemma of wanting to cheer a friend who just managed to tear the cover off a baseball, yet knowing that the most integral piece of equipment has just been destroyed!
This is one of the best movies for and about kids to come along in quite awhile. A classic that will endure.

This review refers to the DVD edtion(MGM) of "The Apartment"

This 1960 winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1960,touched our hearts and made us smile 43 years ago and still does today. It has not lost one bit of it's charm and continues to add new fans all the time. It's a treasure chest of great cinema moments, and a must own for collectors of classics, Billy Wilder or Jack Lemmon films.

Lemmon's immense talent shines through as C.C. Baxter, one of thousands of office workers in a huge company who is quickly working his way to the top floor and the executive washroom. He's got what it takes to get ahead...he's a dedicated employee, and a hard worker, he's got they key to success...and it opens the door to his apartment! It seems the powers that be on the upper floors have discovered this single guy's bachelor pad and have badgered Baxter into letting them use it for their little extracurricular activities.

Things get complicated for C.C. though, when the big boss wants in on the action. He wants the apartment for his own use and now C.C. has a chance to go all the way to the top floor.But the rewards are bittersweet..Mr. Sheldrake's girl turns out to be the very sweet elevator operator Miss Fran Kubelik. The very girl that C.C. adores himself.

The moments as we watch C.C. agonize over this dilemma are touchingly funny,and poignant. Lemmon is brillant in his portrayal as he is able to bring all these emotions to the screen.The rest of the cast is excellent as well. Shirley MacLaine(Fran) will touch your heart, Fred MacMurray(Sheldrake) is marvelous at his turn as the philandering exec(you'll see him in a very different light from his "My Three Sons" role), and also look for such great notables as Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, Joan Shawlee,Hope Holiday and the wonderful Edie Adams. Oscar also honored legendary director Billy Wlider for his work as director and another for screenplay along with I.A.L. Diamond. The music by Adolph Deutsch is as sweet as the story and will stay with you for quite some time after the view.

Overall the DVD was quite good. This 43 year old film looked pretty good. It could use a little improvement. There were times when it showed it's age, but the black and white images were clear and bright for the most part.The sound is in Dolby Dig MONO!...."Some Like It Hot" made only 1 year prior to this one, has been enhanced with Dol Dig 5.1(on both DVD editions) and sounds great.The Special Edition of "SLIH", even gives you the choice of watching it in the 5.1 or the original mono. This is a film that deserves at least the same attention. It may be veiwed in French and Spanish and has subtitles in those langauges as well. But..there are no subtitles or captions in English for hearing impaired viewers to enjoy this great classic and that is a shame. This is a film that should be enjoyed by all! MGM..maybe it's time for a new edition of this treasure.

"That's the way it crumbles....cookie-wise"(Shirley MacLaine to Fred MacMurray).....enjoy...Laurie

I first saw The Apartment on TCM and I thought it was a fantastic movie, it is a comedy/drama and is about a man named C.C. Baxter played by Jack Lemmon being taken advantage of by his superiors who use his apartmnent for their extra marital affairs with promises of rising up the corporate ladder and when they put in a good word for him with the boss he gets promoted and when the boss played by Fred MacMurray finds out about the arrangement with the apartment he makes Baxter give him a key so he can use the apartment for his trysts with his mistress Fran Kuberlik who also happens to be the sweet elevator operator at work that Baxter has a crush on. I don't want to give away too much information about this movie and spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it so I will just give that brief description and say that Jack Lemmon was great as Baxter and Shirley MacLaine was wonderful as Miss Kuberlik and Fred MacMurray was good as the boss and his character was so different than the loveable Dad he played in My Three Sons. In this movie his character is so cold and calulating but he did a great job of it and I highly recommend this movie on DVD which I think was done very well, yeah maybe some scenes show it's age a little with the white flickering spots but it's pretty mild and kind of adds to the charm of watching a black and white movie. This movie at the time it was made could have been filmed in color but was intentionally filmed in black and white and I think it really fits the mood of the film. Highly recommended!

When I first saw this film in 1960, I missed almost all of its darker themes and their serious implications. By then, Billy Wilder had written and directed a number of other films in which he also explores such themes. For example, The Lost Weekend (1945), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Sabrina (1954), and Love in the Afternoon (1957). I had already seen them and only years later fully appreciated their significance as well as The Apartment's in terms of Wilder's use of social satire. I am reminded of the fact that the original meaning of sarcasm is "ripping of flesh." Over the years, I have seen The Apartment again several times and am now convinced that -- despite its comic moments -- it offers one of Wilder's most cynical commentaries on human nature.

J.D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) uses and abuses Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine) to satisfy his lust; moreover, he exploits the naked ambition of C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemon) so that he (Sheldrake) and other senior-level executives can use Baxter's small apartment for their sexual dalliances. Baxter exchanges his "cooperation" and "discretion" for a series of corporate promotions. He is also attracted to Kubelik (obviously the film's most sympathetic character) and only much later realizes the nature and extent of Sheldrake's callous exploitation of her vulnerabilities. His "deal with the devil" upsets him only when he becomes aware of its human implications (i.e. Kubelik) and its impact on his own self-respect. Baxter's process of enlightenment is comparable with that of another character played by Lemon, Joe Clay, in Days of Wine and Roses (1962). Of special interest to me is Wilder's use of the Dr. Dreyfuss character (Jack Kruschen). He functions somewhat as a Greek chorus as the narrative progresses, sharing his opinions, but also becomes actively involved when his professional assistance is needed. I was also intrigued by MacMurray's performance in a role unlike almost all of the others he has played in films and television programs. Perhaps only a director with Wilder's talents could elicit such a performance. He received and deserved Academy Awards for direction and for co-authorship (with I.A.L. Diamond) for best original screenplay. The Apartment was selected for an Academy Award as best film, also well-deserved. Although the corporate machinations it examines may now seem dated, Wilder's guarded affirmation of human decency does not.