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490,025 | 33,913 | 274,166 | 7 |
Could have been better !
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Rowan Atkinson is better known for his role as clueless Mr . Bean or Raymond from " A Thin Blue Line , " British comedies that play popularly here in America too . Rowan Atkinson ( he should be knighted or honored but that will come eventually ) is one Britain's best known comedic actors . Unfortunately , he does not have the look of a leading man to get better roles . As Johnny English , this film is a spoof of the James Bond genre . The film has great authentic London locations and also stars the deliciously evil John Malkovich as the man who steals the Queen's jewels in order to reclaim his family's throne . The film does have some laughs along the way . It could be funnier but I still enjoyed it . I love watching Rowan Atkinson in anything . He truly is one of the great British comic actors of our time and his talent is surely underused in today's film industry .
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489,803 | 33,913 | 458,352 | 7 |
Meryl's Still Got It !
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After 30 years , Meryl Streep shows that she is still the Queen of the films . This film based on the novel about a young girl played by up and coming Anne Hathaway as a college graduate , Andrea , who has high aspirations in the journalism field . She accepts an assistant job to the dragon lady known as Miranda Priestley who resembles more Leona Helmsley in personality . She is the editor and power broker in the fashion industry of Runway magazine . Think of it as Cosmo or Vogue . As Miranda , Streep steals the scenes . She can make her vicious , complicated , and then vulnerable . She earned an Oscar nomination ( her 15th ) so far . Despite the film having more youthful roles for Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway , Streep shows that she's tops and why . I loved the scene where Andy runs to Smith and Wollensky's restaurant and I have eaten there and have their steak sauce . It's an excellent restaurant . I love the New York City scenery as well . I was disappointed with the scripting of the film . I thought they could have done better and more . Still I love Stanley Tucci as Nigel and the film is entertaining but not much more . It reminds me my days as an assistant in a New York publishing house . It's not that exciting because it was for computers .
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490,234 | 33,913 | 104,031 | 7 |
It's alright !
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Don't listen or pay any attention to the negative reviews . I remember watching this mini-series . Blythe Danner is memorable as the mother who comes to terms with her son's horrible crime . Gwyneth Paltrow who is her daughter is memorable playing her daughter . Ed Asner plays one of the lawyers and Kathy Kinney has a small role before she hit it big on the Drew Carey Show as Mimi . I won't say it's my favorite mini-series but I do watch it when it comes on because of Blythe Danner's performance . If you are a fan of her daughter , then you will understand how Blythe Danner has become one of the finest Ameican actresses around whether stage , film or television . She does her job magnificently . I wasn't happy about the ending of the story but it's true so you can't change anything there but if you want to see Gwyneth Paltrow make an impression than you should watch this mini-series . Even as a minor role as Angela , she makes an impression .
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490,687 | 33,913 | 1,203,291 | 7 |
Not a Bad Saturday Night Live !
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The show opens up after the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal regarding his use of prostitutes and now is working as a lawyer representing clients who have been in humiliating situations with his wife , Silda , standing beside him . Anyway the show has Jonah Hill who sings in his opening monologue . There is the Suzy Orman Show sketch which is borderline silly since her spoof of the lesbian financial adviser advises Philip , a millionaire from Miami , instead of going to Europe for vacation rather go to Epcot in Orlando . He hangs up the phone . Jonah plays the second guy who sells his profitable home to buy an abandoned hospital before Suze advises him not too . I liked the short film where he and Adam Samberg go out for coffee and Jonah admits that he's dating Adam's father . I thought it was funny and well-done especially with Adam's reactions . Jonah was quite good and the man who played Adam's father did a great performance in it . Still it was one of the better shows of the last season .
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490,545 | 33,913 | 96,609 | 7 |
I actually liked it !
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It was one of the few shows on CBS that didn't have a chance as it should have had . It was well-written and I liked the cast including Brian Keith and his real-life daughter Daisy Keith ( Both father and daughter committed suicide years later ) . I remember this show because it was rural and set in the Heartland of Nebraska . First , there are few shows set in Nebraska anymore . I always liked to see how other people lived in other states . The show also featured Richard Gilliland ( husband of Jean Smart in real life ) . I thought the show had a lot going for it but obviously , I was wrong . The show got cancelled and I have nothing but my memories of it for now . It would be nice to see family oriented sitcoms like Heartland today on network television or on cable or in syndication . I have a feeling that Heartland would have done well in syndication like Mama's Family .
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489,874 | 33,913 | 257,315 | 7 |
A Delightful uneven show !
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I like My Family . NJN started showing it in the place of " Last of the Summer Wine " or what I like to call " British version of Desperate Housewives . " I much prefer them to anything on television . In fact , I love British comedies and I only saw My Family briefly on a British Airways flight 2 years ago so now I have it at least once a week . I love Zoe Wanamaker C . B . E . and Tony winning Robert Lindsay although the children actors have to compete with such talent . It's nice to see a British family for a change . On British shows , children are often never shown . I loved the premiere pilot with the bunny rabbit and would gladly give it a home . I thought it was cute that Zoe and Lindsary were talking to him like a member of the family . I look forward to more episodes of this show . BBC should do more to create comedies . I always prefer the Brits to the American comedies any day .
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490,085 | 33,913 | 64,107 | 7 |
Not for today's audiences but for those of us from yesterday !
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As a child , I couldn't get enough of the holiday Charlie Brown specials or movies which were occasionally shown on television . Until today , I caught the full film version of the first film and I liked it but it could have been better . The music scenes were a bit off the track of the film about Charlie Brown competing in the national spelling bee . Of course , the rest of Peanuts gang are there to support or criticize him . He wins the school spelling bee and goes on to the national championships with Linus ' blanket . When Linus can't live without his blanket , he and Snoopy go to the championships to retrieve it . By then , Charlie is exhausted and overwhelmed by the spelling bee . Despite the technology of the time , Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang always entertain and never come up short . This film is really for those who love the Peanuts gang especially Charlie Brown , Snoopy , Linus , Peppermint Patty , and others .
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490,812 | 33,913 | 96,590 | 7 |
La Vie De France !
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I really enjoyed this comedy series better in France than in England . Maybe they can bring their show to America ! If only BBC made more episodes per season like the United States , I would gladly campaign for that idea . The British make better comedies than we Americans do . First , I didn't see their previous series , Fresh Fields , with cast members Ann Beach as neighbor Sonia , Hester's mom played by Fanny Rowe , and Hester's dad played by Ballard Berkeley . Anyway , this show is better in the French version as the Fields get used to life in France . The Fields are played by veterans Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers ( another two possible British honorees ) . Julia's Hester is quite lovable but I wish she would sing because she has a phenomenal singing voice that she is also known for her work in West End musicals . Anton is better known for his other series , May to December .
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489,815 | 33,913 | 84,590 | 7 |
Glenda the Great !
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Before she went into politics or public service , Glenda Jackson was one of Britain's finest film actresses . This film displays her talent despite having a supporting role in a stellar cast that includes Julie Christie as Kitty , the wife of a British Royal Captain who has lost his memory of the last 20 years , and Jenny played by American Ann-Margret in an almost unrecognizable role as the doting sister . Alan Bates plays the captain who suffers from memory loss triggered by the shell shock during World War I . Sir Ian Holm has a smaller role as the doctor treating him . You see familiar faces like Sheila Keith , Patsy Byrne , and Frank Finlay . You can't help but watch Glenda play a dowdy housewife and the first true love of the Captain but they came from different classes . It's not the greatest movie but it's good to see Glenda's amazing talent . She is still a fantastic actress , comedy or drama . She makes Margaret Grey into a likable character and you see why a regal captain fell in love with her .
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490,214 | 33,913 | 77,010 | 7 |
Somewhat Endearing !
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I got this video series since I was researching life in the Victorian era . I like Christina and the cast of actors and actresses like Peter Copley . I don't recognize most of them unless I see their names here . It's the story of an orphaned girl moving to the Flambards where they have horses . Christina McKenna is wonderful as Christine . The cast of characters includes the Lord of the Manor and servants who remind you of life on the manor and estate . The Lord of the Manor is a reviled , unhappy creature . It's Christina who tries hard to help bridge the gaps between rich and poor , upper and lower classes . The art direction is quite sufficient and the cast is quite good at acting and the writing is adequate at best .
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490,580 | 33,913 | 265,459 | 7 |
Williams is Chillingly Different !
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Robin Williams is better known for his comedy than his dramatic skills but he sure proves his acting range can stretch from doing silly comedies to doing thrillers . His character , Sy Parrish , is a disturbed man . He's lonely in the first place . He really has nobody but becomes fixated on this family while working at a one hour photo booth . Robin Williams can make you feel sorry and empathy for this man who is obviously desperate for a family of his own or something to connect with in life . Sy gets desperate and does things aren't so forgivable or forgettable . His sad life is brought brilliantly to the screen by Robin Williams who is almost unrecognizable in this role . He really can act beyond the silliness and develop his Juillard talents beyond comedies .
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490,670 | 33,913 | 408,524 | 7 |
Billy Bob can win your heart !
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I love Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa and the Bad News Bears remake to 2005 after a 29 years since the original film . The film has changed to modify today's world where computers rule the world which I said at 10 years old to an skeptical neighbor and where even a handicapped wheelchair-bound boy can play baseball . Thornton plays Buttermaker , the major league baseball player who turns coach rather than get a jail sentence . The mother of one his players is played by the divine Marcia Gay Harden . I think the kid from Bad Santa also has a role as does Greg Kinnear who plays a competitive coach . I love watching the kids learn the sport by killing insects since Buttermaker is an exterminator and they sponsored by a strip club . They start getting better in the beginning . They are lovable losers who face ridicule and humiliation every day at school . Suddenly , they get help with a girl pitcher and a guy who's a rebel .
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490,562 | 33,913 | 103,986 | 7 |
Just a typical Columbo !
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Of course , I love Columbo . I must have seen this episode a few times whether on network or cable television . It is still worth watching . You have to love watching Peter Falk . Of course in the real world , murderers are not that smart as they appear on Columbo . But this is fiction and a detective show , the criminals are more than cardboard characters . This film is quite a mystery and I do miss Columbo episodes even the newer episodes today . Tyne Daly is one of America's best recognized actresses . I have seen Tyne on Broadway in Gypsy and she is still one of the hardest working actresses today whether film , television or stage . Tyne plays against type in this film and I won't spoil the plot for anybody . I love Greg Evigan and I'm from his hometown so I'm a little biased toward him . Of course , the episode could have been better but I still love Columbo and I always will have a soft spot in my heart for him . He reminds me of my own father in some ways .
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490,268 | 33,913 | 74,860 | 7 |
It was a decent film but it could have been better
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At the end of the Marathon Man , I felt myself asking a lot more questions about Dustin's character . I thought Lord Laurence Olivier did wonderful chilling performance as the evil Nazi dentist was worthy to watch but I felt the story was not solid enough to explain the situation . But still , it is worth watching . I loved the scenes shot on location in Manhattan . I felt confused after watching this movie . I understand what happens but I don't why which left me wanting more of this film to answer my questions . I thought Olivier was just marvelous and so was Dustin Hoffman who were very hard for this role according to the story of making this film . Olivier told him to imagine not sleeping nights rather than actually working sleeplessly .
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490,142 | 33,913 | 29,608 | 7 |
A Tear Jerker !
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Barbara Stanwyck was one of America's finest actresses whether on film or television . I don't know much about her stage career but she was always brilliant and unforgettable . In this film , which is one of her most beloved roles is Stella Martin Dallas , a poor woman who marries a rich man and has a daughter , Laurel . Unfortunately , the marriage ends and she leaves the daughter with the father . It's one of those tear-jerking films that you need a box of Kleenex around to wipe the tears . There is no doubt that this role and many others of her long wonderful career allowed her to be one of the finest American actresses around . They remade this film with Bette Midler in the Stella Dallas role but it can't be matched by Stanwyck's beautiful interpretation of a woman that could have be done inadequately by any other actress .
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489,810 | 33,913 | 1,288,329 | 7 |
Phelps should have rested before SNL but otherwise decent show !
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Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps had the great honor of hosting Saturday Night Like like some other athletes in the past like Chris Everett who I thought was the best and the Rock and others . Well , Michael Phelps had just earned 8 Olympic Gold Medals before coming to Saturday Night Live . He was okay but not spectacular and after watching the Anderson Cooper interview on Sixty Minutes the other night . Phelps was clearly exhausted by the coverage and his new life as spokesman as well as maintaining his physiques . I loved the McSwimmy segment of Grey's Anatomy with him wearing nothing but his swimsuit and medals . There was plenty of outside material like the upcoming election . He was also good in a sketch about inbred children of a polygamous cult who are home schooled by a deranged teacher participating in a television game show challenge against public school students . Still , Phelps was not spectacular but he did provide a decent showing . He is not an actor or comedian who usually graces the show but Phelps is a phenomenon today .
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490,579 | 33,913 | 81,353 | 7 |
For the die-hard Popeye fans only !
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I am not ashamed to admit it but I love Popeye , the cartoon and the movie starring the amazing Robin Williams as Popeye . He is almost unrecognizable in the role but completely believable . I love Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl because she really does a superb job living up to and beyond my expectations as the ultra-skinny love interest to muscular Popeye . It's like watching old friends . " I'll pay Tuesday for a Hamburger today " was a common statement . Of course , Popeye and Olive Oyl have Brutus as an obstacle to their happiness and almost the loss of Sweet Pea . It's a kind a family film too . It has music and dancing . Okay , it's not the greatest musical film ever made but it's always worth watching again . It reminds me of being 7 years old and seeing this film at the movie theater .
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490,830 | 33,913 | 94,563 | 7 |
A Disappointed Series !
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Stephen Collins better known from Seventh Heaven and Blythe Danner better known as Gwyneth's mother , played a couple who divorced in New York City . Their family restaurant , Tattingers , is supposed to be one of the classier restaurants for the in-crowd of New Yorkers like Wall Street millionaires , publishers , Broadway stars , movie and television stars . The show was memorable because it was also filmed in New York CIty and was created by the same gang who created St . Elsewhere but you get disappointed because Tattingers has a tough act to follow with the creators of St . Elsewhere who created probably the best drama on television ever . Tattingers needed a lot of work with the writing to make it appeal to broader audience of Americans . Most Americans like myself don't eat at 5 star restaurants but might work in one some day .
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490,310 | 33,913 | 94,582 | 7 |
The Wonderful Wonder Years !
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I have to admit that I love Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold . The cast included Dan Lauria and Alley Mills playing his sixties ' parents , the Arnolds . Then there were his siblings , a sister played by Olivia D'Abo and a big bully brother played by Jason Hervey . Kevin was the youngest and we hear his thoughts from Daniel Stern's narration . The other cast members included Danica McKellar as his love interest Winnie and a geeky friend whose name escapes me at the moment . The show is going to be aired late on the I network in a couple of weeks . I have to admit that I liked it in the beginning but it wore off in time . It was different because there was no laugh track or audience . Most family oriented comedies of the 1980s had audiences and laughter . This show was different and it was also set in the 1960s with an unknown suburb as location . The creators , Neal Marlens and Carol Black , who created Growing Pains went on to create The Wonder Years . The writing was uneven at times but solid as the acting .
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489,905 | 33,913 | 935,095 | 7 |
okay , the show has won me over finally !
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Okay , the premise is about a tough-talking , smart female U . S . Marshall agent Mary Shannon played by the wonderful Mary McCormack . She works in a predominantly male world but she acts more like one of the guys than one of the girls . Lesley Ann Warren plays her mother , Jinx , with two dogs . McCormack is truly a professional and team player and the role is suited to her real-life personality . She did not get this far without being tough in this business . I didn't think I would like this show but I did to some extent . The show is set in Albuquerque , New Mexico which is change from Los Angeles where they do film on location . It's a decent show but it's not that great . It's not because of McCormack's character but it's because it's so similar to everything else on television today . Anyway , she plays a tough and rough attractive U . S . Marshall who handles witness protection witnesses who usually don't follow rules in the first place . She is not allowed to discuss her work with her family who thinks she runs errands . She has a drug-addicted sister and a mother who spends more time with her dogs than with her kids . In a way , Mary has raised herself and her family . She also has a lover , Raphael , on the side but she claims it's only sexual . Her partner and her have more chemistry to me . The show is filmed in New Mexico which it gives a more authentic nature . I think the chemistry between Mary Shannon and her partner , Marshall Mann , played equally well by Fred Weller is quite apparent . Despite coming across as rough and tough , Mary Shannon has a softer , vulnerable side that does come across . But in a man's world or business , you have to be more of a man than a woman . The job of U . S . Marshall is not easy and in fact it's difficult to find out information because they are sworn to secrecy until death so she couldn't get the information regarding the profession that she portraying on screen . While I think the show has some originality with the U . S . Marshalls premise , the show needs to work on character development . Why is Jinx single ? Was she widowed or divorced ? How come Mary Shannon seems to be more of the dominant character in the household ? Given time and possible another season , it can develop into a well-meaning thought provoking show . Mary McCormack can prove that a woman can still be feminine and be masculine simultaneously . I kind of enjoy how she is aggressive with some of the men in custody . It's kind of fun of watching a man get his but kicked by a tough-talking and acting woman .
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489,777 | 33,913 | 96,734 | 7 |
A bizarre twist of American life
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Most Americans live in the suburbs today . The Burbs is a satisfactory film about neighbors , suspicion , and the perils of suburban life . When the strange new neighbors move in next door , Tom Hanks and his neighbor friends like Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman start searching for answers . This was a Tom Hanks vehicle long before his Oscar winning roles in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump . Now that he is the king of Hollywood films , movies like this won't happen anymore . Tom Hanks ' role as a suburban father is actually quite typically having fun . Soon , you wonder if he misses these roles rather than Oscar depth roles of today . I liked watching Gale Gordon in probably his last known role and Carrie Fisher as his long-suffering wife .
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490,174 | 33,913 | 94,540 | 7 |
Was fine as a blue collar show until it went awry !
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I liked the Roseanne show when it was a blue collar comedy that made people laugh mostly about themselves . I didn't like it when it became preachy and liberal especially since half the cast of characters like Leon and his partner played by Martin Mull and Fred Willard were gay as was Sandra Bernhard's character and then the outing of Beverly played by Oscar winner Estelle Parsons . I felt the show was too much by then and it was making a political statement when there plenty of other statements . I felt the show went from being blue collar comedy to left wing liberalness . Don't get me wrong , I am a liberal and I support gay rights but I felt that the show's original premise and it's realism was lost aside to shocking audiences . While it was a shock factor then , it does not exist now . I loved Beverly played by Estelle Parsons who they were smart enough to use wisely and often . Laurie Metcalf's Jackie and Roseanne's herself were believable as sisters on the show . John Goodman's Dan deserved accolades for being the long-suffering husband . There were plenty of topics and smart enough to have casted George Clooney before ER . Yes , Roseanne's show became too much at times but it was funny and maybe you didn't agree with it or disliked the insanity but you saw yourself in the role .
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490,028 | 33,913 | 89,003 | 7 |
Violence begets Violence !
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Charles Bronson returns in his signature role as Kersey , the vigilante , from Death Wish I and II . In this sequel , returns to the neighborhood of East New York in Brooklyn where the gangs of hopeless teenagers take on violence , robbery , and terrorism in a way more frightening than before . The police seem powerless or useless to stop the gang of teenagers and young adults who are all clearly deranged or under the brainwashing control of one . Everybody in the neighborhood has guns because they have already been terrorized by the youth . They remind me of the Children of the Corn . Anyway , Kersey returns to avenge his friend Charlie's death . He befriends his neighbor and friend played by the wonderful Martin Balsam . If you look closely enough , you will Star Trek's Marina Sirtis and Bill & Ted's Alex Winter in small roles . The film is entertaining at times . It's not for the weak hearted . There is a lot of unnecessary violence on both sides .
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490,848 | 33,913 | 92,410 | 7 |
Stupid Plot but a good show !
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The show's premise about a young single mother dies leaving orphan Staci Keanan to be raised by two potential fathers who are very opposite of one another . They are played by a former hometown resident Greg Evigan and Paul Reiser . The Judge who put them together is played by the wonderful Florence Stanley . Okay , the plot may have been dumb but something clicked on this show about two very different men who are not gay raising a daughter in New York City . Of course , a simple blood test would determine who the father was but it was more important that it did not matter after awhile . That family can be redefined about people who love and care for each other . The show also had the two fathers date women . Of course , now the show would be about two gay men raising a daughter which would have left the fire out of them trying to get along and live together as a family . Isn't family about people who love each other after all ?
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490,102 | 33,913 | 239,948 | 7 |
If you love Neil Diamond ! You'll Love This Film !
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Okay , Neil Diamond is the celebrity who plays himself for a trio of friends who idolize him for his music . While some of us may not care for Diamond , I think he's a talented singer and entertainer . Well , Silverman and his two pals played by the wonderful and under-rated Steve Zahn and the always funny Jack Black decided that Silverman's fiancée , Judith , played well by Amanda Peet should not marry Darren Silverman because it would ruin their lives . They believe Darren is still in love with Sandy who might become a nun after taking her final vows . So after staging Judith's death , J . D . ( Jack Black ) and Wayne ( Steve Zahn ) kidnap and plan to kill but they can't . Anyway , she uses the whole situation to work in her favor . Oh , let's not forget the crazy high school coach who is also involved . The film is not so bad and it's okay after awhile . It grows on you .
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490,226 | 33,913 | 473,389 | 7 |
A Promising Movie
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Why would Ron Clarke leave a comfortable job in the SOuth to go up to NEw York City in the first place is a good question . He wants to make a difference . Matthew Perry best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends is very good in this role as the teacher who wants to make good . He goes to New York City in hopes of making a difference . For starters , he gets and prefers to work in one of the poor sections of the city , Inner Harlem . In the meantime , he has to work so he gets a job at a theme restaurant where the other workers are aspiring actors and he's an aspiring teacher . Once he takes a job of teaching , he is in for a challenge . Since I am planning to become a teacher myself , he does at least visit the students ' homes before getting in the classroom . THere are some awkward cheesy moments in this film but it's still worth watching . The Ron Clark Story is true and suitable family viewing . It also shows Ron's persistence in achieving the unthinkable with the forgotten students . When they get to go see a Broadway show , their faces light up . Imagine , they live north of Broadway and most have never seen a show . He helps boost their spirits and shows that faith , trust , and hard work can make a difference . If only all our schools had teachers like Ron Clark .
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490,480 | 33,913 | 102,216 | 7 |
Watching King Ralph can be a guilty pleasure !
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I have to say that John Goodman's performance among a sea of royal British costars like the great Peter O'Toole , Leslie Phillips OBE , Rudolph Walker OBE , John Hurt CBE , Judy Parfitt , Ann Beach , and Richard Griffiths . John Goodman plays Ralph Jones who turns out to be the British royal family's closest living relative after a photo picture that turns into a disaster killing everybody . While the country mourns , they need a new monarch . They found him , Ralph Jones , an American lounge lizard who plays the piano and watches television at the same time . Of course , he's nothing that they expected and he's an American too living in sin city or Las Vegas , Nevada . They bring him the news and bring him back to Buckingham Palace . He seeks to escape the bodyguards and security to see his lady love , Miranda , played well by Camille Corduri . Miranda is a commoner who wants to design dresses but works as a stripper and gets canned because she can't do it . Anyway , the love story appears genuine . She helps him with his British history . But the scene at McDonalds is quite memorable . The girl who takes the King's order was a regular on East Enders . Of course , the crowd gets mobbed . Without John Goodman in the role , I don't think King Ralph would be that enjoyable to watch but that's why I find it irresistible . He wins them over with his charm . I appreciate it now 15 years later . Everybody even the Royals could use a good laugh .
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490,150 | 33,913 | 883,069 | 7 |
Dixie steals this episode hands down !
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Dixie Carter playing Gloria Hodge has to be one of the best performances in recent years . I guess it helps that she gave Marc Cherry , the show's creator , his first Hollywood job as her assistant in 1988 . Of course , Dixie is having a ball playing the mother from hell . When she says " I should have smothered you as a baby " is a classic television moment , then Andrew says " Can you start calling her grandma ? " . Of course , Danielle is silent and barely present . I guess Cherry doesn't have much use for her . The dinner scene is classic because of the demented relationship between mother and son . The mother who knows all her son's secrets and threatens to out them to his second wife . Dixie's Gloria is quite entertaining if not overly acting . After all , she is a terrific actress and will probably be with us this whole season . Gaby starts a new career helping young girls become models . Of course , the subplot is Lynette discovering that her new neighbor , Art Washburn , might be a pedophile when she sees his pictures of half-naked boys . That story ends up as vague as it should have been . Cherry seems to only dabble in it while he does not seem to mind exploiting other plots in this show .
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490,394 | 33,913 | 287,336 | 7 |
It's really a fascinating story !
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SPOILERS SPOILERS The true story of the big heist in the 1970s at JFK airport is really a fascinating story . It's almost a Shakespearan tragedy about a newly released mobster Jim Burke played sympathetically by DOnald Sutherland who with his pals plan the big heist . Expecting only about half a million dollars , they steal about 8 million dollars in an elaborate well-plotted scheme . Jim Burke is no Castellano or John Gotti , he truly loves his men like family . They are on the bottom of the New York Mafia hierarchy . When they get the money , Jim hides it until everything is ready to release and cut for everybody . But when one of his own men mess up , he had to get killed . But the killing does not stop . The situation only gets worse for him . Soon , all of his own men are killed and he is all alone . Somehow the money does not matter anymore to him . He was placed in a difficult position by New York's mob leaders who threatened his own son's life . Unfortunately , he would die while Jim returns to prison for a minor crime in comparison to the big heist . You almost feel sorry for Jim Burke who did not have the heart to kill his own men to save his son's life . While the big heist was the big thrill in itself , it slowly became a living nightmare for Jimmy Burke .
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490,449 | 33,913 | 1,280,629 | 7 |
It's not so bad !
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I believe sitcoms are still worth the effort regardless of the cost . Let's face it , sitcoms are preferable in syndication than any crime dramas . In this sitcom , veteran comic Bob Saget plays a suburban dad and husband and Cynthia Stevenson plays his wife in unmentioned suburb somewhere . In the pilot episode , we meet them and get the basic humor of all about their neighbors and friends like Jere Burns who plays Dr . Jim . The pilot was weak and poorly written but the cast does pull it off and I'm hoping and praying that they get a better time slot as well as some improvement in their scripts . They placed this show right after the dancing with the stars show because it worked for Samantha Who ? I am glad that they have a studio audience because comedies don't work well without one in reality and it's an immediate effect . Sadly in today's world , sitcoms are far and few in between and I pray that there will be more to come .
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490,460 | 33,913 | 113,749 | 7 |
Same Smith Formula but new location !
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Kevin Smith wrote and directed this crowd pleaser about two dumped young guys who spend the day at the local mall . As usual , Smith has his regular cast mates like Ben Affleck , Joey Lauren Adams , Silent Bob and Jay . In this film , we see Earl's Jason Lee and his on screen brother Randy played by Ethan Suplee who has a role in the film as Willam trying to see the sailboat in a picture . The film takes place in early Spring because of the Easter holiday where there is an Easter bunny taking pictures with children . There is Shannen Doherty playing Renee , the ex-girlfriend of Jason Lee's character , Brodie . The film has some nice moments about a television show being taped at the mall . It's a shame that they cut Elizabeth Ashley , a brilliant actress . The film also pays homage to Smith's love of comic books with Stan Lee as himself . It's an okay , entertaining film but not brilliant and not one of my favorites .
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490,213 | 33,913 | 94,490 | 7 |
Spun Off of Growing Pains and was perfect for Friday night !
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God , I'm getting old because I can recall this show being shown on Friday nights on ABC when it was really family viewing . Of course , it spun off of Growing Pains which was superior but it still worked with Coach Lubbock and his over-sized family including the devoutly Catholic wife played wonderfully by Deborah Harmon . The kids were also wonderfully played by Heather Langenkamp who played the equally religious Marie . Jamie Luner played one of the twins and I forget Brooke's last name who played the other twin . They were the only girls in an all-boy Catholic school in Eureka , California . The show only lasted two seasons but I bet it could have thrived in syndication . It's a pity that we don't have family oriented shows anymore like this .
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490,221 | 33,913 | 762,107 | 7 |
Don't take it seriously and you'll enjoy it ! !
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Okay , this is not one of the best movies ever made nor was it the worst . But the premise of a sham gay marriage or domestic partnership to get health benefits and pension for his two children is done well with starring Kevin James as the widowed father and Adam Sandler as his best friend . He saved his life after all and he asked him for one favor which was to marry him in order to get benefits for his two children , Eric and Tori . Ironically , Eric would rather try out for a musical than little league . Of course , things go wrong because Sandler's character , Chuck Levine , falls head in heels over in love with their lawyer played by Jessica Biel . A great supporting cast includes Ving Rhames as a New York City fireman with a secret , Mary Pat Gleason as Teresa , Larry's housekeeper , Rachel Dratch as the benefits lady with her eyes on Larry , David Spade is there too , Richard Chamberlain as the commissioner , Steve Buscemi as the man who seeks the truth just for kicks . Anyway , they filmed in Brooklyn and New York City . Can't forget Rob Schneider as the Asian minister in Niagara Falls , Ontario , Canada ? There are cameos by Lance Bass too but I didn't recognize him until I saw his name in the credits . Of course , the wonderful Dan Ackroyd plays the fire captain and Nick Turturro of NYPD Blue plays fellow fireman . I won't give away the ending . But I was touched that they mentioned the firefighters from the fire station who perished on September 11 , 2001 in the credits . being a firefighter is not an easy job , the film doesn't take a serious turn but does show them doing jobs of rescuing and saving people in situations .
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489,739 | 33,913 | 94,455 | 7 |
Not Entirely Empty !
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The show was a spin-off of Golden Girls about their neighbor , Dr . Harry Weston , a widower and doctor , who lived down the street with his beautiful dog , Dreyfuss . He gets frequent visitors like David Leisure who played the womanizing pilot , neighbor and friend . His daughters were played by Kristy McNichol and Dinah Manoff , both professional actresses with long histories . Of course , who could forget his nurse , Park Overall as Laverne . The show last seven seasons probably because it fell on after Golden Girls huge success . Richard Mulligan won awards for his performance and he was the heart and soul of the show's existence in my opinion . Marsha Warfield joined the cast late and there was some trouble especially with Kristy professionally and personally . Anyway the show was a lot better written than most of today's sitcoms . It dealt with lot of issues like death , relationships , etc . always with a good dose of laughter along the way . It was never the Golden Girls nor did it pretend to be and sometimes they would visit the show .
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490,794 | 33,913 | 88,610 | 7 |
Not so Bad !
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Remember that this show was one of the first sitcoms in syndication in the 1980s . It was a new thing . When a sitcom or drama could not get a network , they went with syndication . I thought this show was alright in syndication because it reached a wide audience . I often saw it on Saturday evenings usually before Mama's Family . I was a kid so I didn't know better . I think we pretended that we were Viki or played her in our backgrounds . The show was never meant to be serious in the first place . The cast was somewhat decent with Marla Pennington , Edie McClurg who left to do Hogan Family , Tiffany Bressette , the guy who played her father , the brother , and the red-head girl next door with her father . The writing wasn't great but it wasn't bad . I don't recall ever not watching it . It just seemed like it came for a simpler time . I only wish Syndication was still around . It is but not as it was in the 1980s . It was the equivalent for independent films , rather just sitcoms .
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490,144 | 33,913 | 284,767 | 7 |
Not for everybody !
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Bill O'Reilly is an acquired taste . His audiences probably have a lot of gray hair if you ask me . But then again , he can be fun to watch and he is definitely fun to spoof on Mad TV and Saturday Night Live . O'Reilly's audiences are probably Republican , blue and white collar , conservative etc . His appeal is that he does tell it like it is even if it offends us liberals and everybody else who doesn't agree with his views and stance on major issues . Then again , he is practicing Catholic . Although , he doesn't practice the Catholic teachings about forgiveness and compassion as much as he should . He should work on it with his show . I don't think the beloved Pope John Paul II would have watched and given his approval to this show because O'Reilly's just angry at the way that the world has changed from his childhood . Of course , it can't be helped . O'Reilly's demeanor is the reason that most people would watch the show in the first place . He does get angry and does argue with his guests . He pulls no punches and doesn't admit when he's wrong so if you agree with him most of the time , you should watch the show and if not watch something else .
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490,426 | 33,913 | 824,730 | 7 |
If I'm not mistaken , this episode is about the horse-racing !
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If I'm not mistaken , I believe this episode was about Mama Harper having the gift for seeing the horses race at the local racetrack . The episode doesn't have Iola in it which I remember wasn't in this episode . While she dreams , Mama gets clues to help the family determine who would place appropriately . The gang is excited over Mama's gift and the possibility of being rich . They listened to the races on the radio and the episode is quite memorable if not for the fact that Iola's absence was missed on the show . I don't know why or maybe the writers didn't have enough for her . Regardless , Iola's entrance is always memorable and her time on air as the lovesick girl with a crush over clueless Vint is what makes her identify with so many others .
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490,705 | 33,913 | 824,731 | 7 |
MOP Fights Back !
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Mama Harper is mad because she has found a dirty magazine in Bubba's room . It turns out that the magazine came from the Food Circus where her daughter-in-law works . Mama Harper decides to form a group known as Mothers Against Porn better known as MOP to protest the store selling the dirty magazines . She gets Iola , Aunt Effie , Maggie , and Joan to help her with her fight . Of course , the protest gets some coverage and interest until there is a settlement . Of course with Mama's exception , the other protesters can't help themselves to using the Food Circus despite their protest to stop selling pornography in their local supermarket .
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490,237 | 33,913 | 443,536 | 7 |
An Animated Movie for Adults and Children !
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It's rare than an animated movie like Hoodwinked can entertain both children and adults . The movie is set around the story of Little Miss Riding Hood known as Red voiced by Anne Hathaway . Glenn Close provides the voice of the Granny . There is a story and plot about recipes , evil rabbit , and animals who come to life speaking and a frog . The language and the script itself is smart with jokes to entertain the adults while the children viewers will be glued to the screen for it's first rateanimation . Today's animation makes the past animated classics look like children's work . Technology has come a long away and animators today are computer savvy and smart enough to use it for their own advantages . We'll see a lot more animated films in the future .
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490,216 | 33,913 | 1,095,213 | 7 |
Must Watch Television ! Think the Jerry Springer Show & Entertainment Tonight !
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If want proof or evidence that the stars today are unlike the golden age of yesterday , this show entitled TMZ which stands for the Thirty Miles Zone around the Los Angeles or Hollywood area . Unfortunately , the cameras says it all . Most of the program has cameras surrounding celebrities . Their actions speak for themselves anyway . While we don't need another entertainment show on the air , TMZ is refreshingly candid and truthful . TMZ is like the guests of the Jerry Springer Show and an Entertainment tonight format . Unfortunately , I think the actual guests of the Jerry Springer Show are far more sympathetic than the actual celebrities in this show like Lindsay Lohan , Britney Spears , Tommy Lee , Kid Rock , Criss Angel , etc . I have to say that the show can be addictive because you want to watch a train wreck which is much like where Lindsay Lohan's career is heading as well as Britney Spears . It's sad that the young stars who have millions of dollars have no support structure or mentor system to warn them about the dangers of Hollywood . I have a feeling that this show will be around a lot longer than anybody else envisions because it all started from a website . The cameras speak for itself as well . While it's always nice to have celebrity sightings , I wished that the show had just a better brand of celebrities . I feel sorry for the drunken young girls in Hollywood who make complete fools of themselves . I have watched Harry Levin since the O . J . fiasco and I admire him . I'm surprised that he made no mention of the Phil Spector trial and pending verdict . Sadly unlike the O . J . Trial , Phil Spector has not gotten the publicity or attention of that trial but then neither did Robert Blake . I guess celebrities accused of murder is not that important anymore anyway . I would love if he found out about the agency who called Lana Clarkson's video as lacking quality . Her video reel was far more entertaining than most of today's television . She played Roy from Siegfried & Roy , a morning talk show hostess , a Barbie style model , an American version of Sister Wendy . I still want to know which talent agency criticized the tape because they don't know talent if it bit them in their behinds .
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490,002 | 33,913 | 187,664 | 7 |
Enjoyable British Comedy Going the Edge !
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I only saw one episode because I was on a plane . At first , I didn't like it but it grew on me about cartoonist who submitted the wrong picture to the man who can change his life forever . He has to get it before he sees it . Well remember the Mission Impossible scene where Tom Cruise has to break into the CIA but it's far more enjoyable and there are laughs along the way . The cast is unfamiliar to me personally . I don't get much newer British comedies in America but I think Simon Pegg does a wonderful job as does the other cast members . It's kind of quirky and silly but really enjoyable . I think Simon Pegg goes over the edge regarding the show's comedic appeal . It's not so much about Spaced as it is about average ordinary life in London and the characters who wish they were anything but ordinary and average .
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490,243 | 33,913 | 90,540 | 7 |
It was never the same without Harper !
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This show really belonged to Valerie Harper , no offense to her replacement Sandy Duncan . Harper left the show under uncertain circumstances . Regardless , the show and network wrote her off sadly . While on , she was the mother to three boys and a pilot husband who was often absent . The cast was first rate including Edie McClurg as a neighbor , Christine Ebersole as her snobby unmarried sister-in-law , and the boys played by Jason Bateman , Jeremy Licht , and Danny Ponce . Ponce and Licht played fraternal twins who were as opposite as night and day . They touched on some issues like AIDS and homosexuality and other issues in this series but the show never fully recovered from the blow of Harper's absence .
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490,682 | 33,913 | 96,271 | 7 |
Melissa Leo is truly a mesmerizing actress !
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Melissa Leo truly is understated and under-appreciated in the Hollywood industry . She was the best female cop since Cagney and Lacey in Homicide . She truly is very attractive in Time of Destiny . I don't understand how Hollywood can forget such a beautiful presence of hers on screen . With such lovely hair and Irish features , she should easily be one of the hardest working women in show business . I'm shocked she hasn't received a nomination from Homicide . She is truly a scenestealer . I was so upset from Homicide's inconsideration and under appreciation of her talent so I gave up watching the show . What a dumb mistake to give her up ! In this film , she chews the scenery away from William Hurt and Timothy Hutton . I believe this is her film and her turn . I just wish Hollywood would use this lady more . I wish Kay Howard would turn up on Law and Order since they always need a new cop .
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490,547 | 33,913 | 90,533 | 7 |
A Decent Syndicated Show !
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I remember this show being on Saturday evenings back in the 1980s . That was when syndicated television shows like Throb and Mama's Family aired when it didn't succeed on prime time . Anyhow , Throb was alright . It wasn't bad . The writing was decent and so was the acting of Diana Canova . I swear that Jane Leeves from Frasier was on this show but I could be wrong because I don't see her name anywhere here . Like so many sitcoms of the 1980s , this show was somewhat mediocre for network but had a syndicated audience . I remember those days of syndication when you watched independent sitcoms like Throb and not infomercials . Sadly , they don't make many syndicated programs like they used too . Everybody has a network for them . But I do remember a time when syndicated television thrived and shows like Throb thrived or lasted longer than a few episodes . Sitcoms need time to develop and the networks don't give that time anymore and they don't want that audience neither .
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490,577 | 33,913 | 129,280 | 7 |
A Needless Remake !
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Let's face it , the Out of Towners may have been an updated remake about an Ohio couple dealing with the troubles in New York City but I think the original was more believable and realistic . I didn't like the ending because that's not what I expected . The purpose of the original movie was about an Ohio couple who may not have been as off the wall as the Clarks . True , Mr . Clark played by Steve Martin and Mrs . Clark played by Goldie Hawn are truly comedic talents and who can bring this movie to life . Don't forget John Cleese ( Silly for turning down a CBE ) as the hotel manager ! The film has a great cast , the writing was not upheld to the original quality of the first film which I think was just better and less silly than this film . New York City is a tough place to live , work , and even visit . The ending just disappointed me .
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489,791 | 33,913 | 104,411 | 7 |
A Great Sequel to a Horrifying Story !
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Meredith Baxter miraculously makes us feel some sympathy for the spoiled former wife of attorney Daniel Broderick even in this sequel to the original television film . Betty is now in prison for murdering her husband and his new wife in their bedroom . It's hard to feel sympathy for a woman who was getting $16 , 000 a month in alimony and living in a million-dollar home overlooking the Pacific Ocean . Regardless , Betty was determined to win the divorce even if it meant killing Dan and his wife and going to prison for the crimes . She wasn't going to be embarrassed but she did the same to her husband and her own family . Judith Ivey plays the prosecutor in the case . Kelli Williams returns as does Stephen Collins . I get the feeling that they had so much fun making the original that they returned to the sequel . Most of the original cast is back in the sequel .
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490,692 | 33,913 | 144,120 | 7 |
Chucky's Back and this time he's not alone !
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Jennifer Tilly plays Tiffany , the long lost love of the serial killer , who inspired Chucky , the doll only a mother can love who kills people . Tiffany is his soul-mate from hell . She finally becomes the doll and the two of them get together for mayhem and murder . The movie is quite hysterical and often bloody at times . Grey's Anatomy Katherine Heigl has a role here fighting with a bloody doll . Chucky and Tiffany have to get to New Jersey to the cemetery in order to retrieve something from his coffin . I only saw the half the film but it was more than enough . Evil dolls like Chucky and Tiffany go around killing people just to get to Hackensack . The people like the honeymoon couple at Niagara Falls and the senior elderly couple in the RV always looked shocked by being killed by two dolls . In the end , there is another surprise . I wonder if Heigl remembers this film or maybe she would rather forget . I would love to see a reporter ask her about it now that she's huge .
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489,781 | 33,913 | 112,060 | 7 |
It could have made it !
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Too bad , UPN didn't give this show a chance . I liked it . Richard Grieco is better know for his role on 21 Jump Street but he plays a Jersey born guy who moves to Hawaii and becomes a private investigator . They haven't shown this show in a while so my memory is pretty vague . I would have liked to seen more of it for the scenery in Hawaii and the cast . THey had some good stories but I would have liked to see this show again if given the opportunity but it's been so long anad I would have liked if it showed up in repeats or even on DVD . Marker had a chance but nobody knew about it so I would recommend this show if you liked to see Hawaii . I thought 11 years ago that I would be there by now and come home for visits but I have not been there once but I have visited London 4 times so it's one of my favorite places on earth .
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489,749 | 33,913 | 320,052 | 7 |
It's less than perfect but a great show !
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I am a very difficult viewer with television comedies today . I do enjoy this show because the writing and acting are worth watching . MadTV's alum , Will Sasso , brought refreshing energy to this show . Where is Eric Roberts and when will his famous sister , Julia , make a cameo ? Of course , the casting is brilliant with veteran Sherri Shepard and Andy Dick . I wasn't pleased about Joanna Kerns and Valerie Harper playing his lesbian mothers . I would have preferred Estelle Parsons instead . Anyway , Less Than Perfect is a great show and works well . Bring back Caroline Aaron , she's a scene stealer . Sadly , they changed the schedule so many times and this show ended up lost somewhere in the prime time mess and ended up being canceled when the ratings weren't that high .
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490,330 | 33,913 | 410,997 | 7 |
Keep the audience guessing !
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I liked Jack & Bobby . I am not a big fan of the dramatic genre or the melodramatic series like this one but I liked this show . I like Christine Lahti who is always dynamic in whatever role . She should have mantle filled with statues for her acting appearances . I was very impressed with the chances of letting us know what was going to happen into the future about these two young men . Of course , it always best to leave the audience guessing about the outcome of which one anyway . But I liked this show because of the strong characters in Jack , Bobby , & Grace . I don't think it's necessary to have the people in the future reflect until the very end of the series . If this was a mini-series or movie , I could see it but not now . Keep the audience guessing until the very end .
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490,462 | 33,913 | 406,265 | 7 |
Mostly Faithful !
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The book by Zora Neale Hurston of the same name was about Janie Crawford's life in Eatonville , Florida at the turn of the early part of the twentieth century . The movie doesn't reveal about Janie's birth or past and Ruby Dee is used to play Nanny which she was also the voice of the unabridged version of the book on tape . Halle Berry is great as Janie Crawford and earned an Emmy nomination for her performance . This book adapted to the television film is first rate for television movies . It is produced by Oprah Winfrey's production company and it is one of Oprah's favorite books which was featured as a book club member . I'm sure Zora is smiling down at Oprah . Zora , the author , was quite a character in herself . She wrote about the life of a typical African American woman in post-slavery America in Florida where there were not many choices for women at the time .
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490,207 | 33,913 | 366,551 | 7 |
I wanted to like it !
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I do find the film entertaining at some moments but completely unbelievable at another . Harold and Kumar are two guys from New Jersey ( my home state ) who are not mobsters for a change or the stereotype of New Jersey that we get from other medias . Anyway , Harold is a Korean American investment banker and his friend Kumar who should be going to medical school like his father and brother . One of my problems was the whole pot situation in this movie . It seems like that and sex is the center of men's existence . They go out to White Castle after they get stoned because the white castle burgers taste better that way . One of my problems with the movie is the drug issue because it becomes a core aspect of the movie's humor . Anyway , they pick up hitch-hiker Neil Patrick Harris along the way playing himself . As somebody who lived in New Jersey my whole life , believe me , the highways are much closer than they appear on the maps . Anyway , the movie has it's moments and I love Bobby Lee from Mad TV even for only a few minutes of him in the movie .
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490,095 | 33,913 | 100,004 | 7 |
The Queen of Mean Reigns Supreme !
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Suzanne Pleshette deserved an award for playing the most unlikable woman or most hated woman in recent history , Leona Rosenthal Helmsley . She climbed her way to the top of the New York Real Estate market which is quite brutal if you read anything about it . She found ultimate love and happiness with Harry Helmsley , a married billionaire . The two were destined for each other . He divorced his wife of many years and married Leona Helmsley . Pleshette plays Leona quite well almost perfect . Only because the book by the same name was used as a resource . The movie does not mention that Leona and Harry were active philanthropists who donated their vast fortune to charities . Now that Leona , Harry , and even Suzanne Pleshette who was grandiose , charming , and mad at times in this role are gone to a better place .
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490,788 | 33,913 | 90,395 | 7 |
Amen ! Amen ! Amen !
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Amen was a good sitcom . It was set in a Protestant Church led by Sherman Hemsley's character . The show had a stellar cast including Jester Hairston , Roz Ryan and Barbara Montgomery as sisters which was truly believable , Clifton Davis as the new pastor and the love of the head minister's daughter played by Anna Maria Horsford . After a while , you began to believe that this environment existed . It was set in Philadelphia which was a change of pace from New York City . Amen and 227 were usually aired on Saturday nights before Golden Girls . Amen was a well-written , acted show . It was the kind of church that I wished I belong too at times . It also showed that Sherman Hemsley was talented to hold his own show as well besides being best known as George Jefferson . He will always be George to us but we have to acknowledge that the Jeffersons did move on and prospered as well and rightfully so .
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490,098 | 33,913 | 92,605 | 7 |
Who says you can't have it all ?
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A woman like J . C . Wiatt played by the Oscar Winner and film legend , Diane Keaton , plays a hard-working college graduate professional working up the ranks of partnership at a New York City firm . She has love by Harold Ramis who is equally consumed by his job in the business world . The two lovers are partners but not married . Then one day , J . C . gets her inheritance from a cousin which she thinks is a pin but is actually a baby named Elizabeth and she is the only living relative to care for the adorable baby . Keaton's Wiatt is already uptight with the thought of motherhood dropped on her doorstep . She takes Elizabeth in and says goodbye to her boyfriend . She becomes the unlikeliest of mothers . The supporting cast features the wonderful American actor and the man who helped rebuild the Globe Theater in London , Sam Wanamaker CBE as her boss who is the work addict himself and doesn't know how many grandchildren that he has but his wife does ; James Spader plays the man who would take over Wiatt's job after three years of training under her belt ; it must suck to be a woman so Wiatt quits New York City and buys 63 acre farm in Vermont . There with Elizabeth , they embark on a new life where she makes apple sauce and starts her own business like Martha Stewart . Does she find love and happiness in Vermont with all the troubles of running her estate ? You'll just have to watch and find out . I believe Margaret Whitton is totally under-used in her role here as one of the corporate women .
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489,954 | 33,913 | 410,975 | 7 |
A Surprise Hit ! 2 Year Later , a Change of Heart !
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Most Americans live somewhere like Wisteria Lane although not with so much action like these ladies . While it is an exaggeration of suburban life , it is fun to watch , enjoyable , and maybe somewhat educative about our American culture . I like Marcia Cross ' performance of Bree Van De Kamp as the best performance of the year . I watched her on One Life to Live several years ago . To see her now , she is totally hitting it like a Stepford wife . If her husband Rex comes out gay , I think it would ruin it . I think if the creator wants to be daring , he will do something else to explain his sexual problems . I like Bree best of all while I am not married or with children . I just like Bree , I think there is so much there in her role . If her husband comes out of the closet , she will probably have a nervous breakdown . But I could see why he comes out too . If a man was married to someone like Bree , sure they would end up dating each other . I was also surprised by the setup of the show with Mary Alice narrating the lives and events of Wisteria Lane . It is a pretty innovative idea but I still want to know why she killed herself , if she did anyway . I missed the first couple episodes . It is the show everybody is talking about . Besides Marcia Cross ' Bree , I like Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer . I never liked her playing Lois Lane . I love Felicity Huffman and would have been happy if her real-life husband William H . Macy played her on screen husband . Eva Longrio's character , Gabrielle , is my least favorite of all the housewives . She has a beautiful home , wealthy husband , and no children . Come on , she has a maid when she does not even work outside the home except for her affair with a teenager which I strongly disapprove of . Zach and his father have also an unusual dysfunctional relationship . They could have Mary Alice in flashback scenes to help explain her death . But then what about next season , I guess they could always find another desperate housewife and bring her to Wisteria Lane . I appreciate the fact that suburban life is depicted as interesting rather than the escape from city life like so many other shows try to do . Suburban life is here to stay . It is just as dysfunctional and fascinating as anything in the city . 2 years later , my feelings about this show has changed and not for the better . I was surprised that Matt Roth's character , Art Shepard , to practically admit that he was a pedophile . Of course , his character is gone from the show now and unlikely to return . The storyline about him being a pedophile didn't go far enough or deep at all . Art actually admits to being the monster that Lynette creates only to realize that her over-reaction and gossip caused such a fury . I think Marc Cherry jumped the shark a while ago on this show . I think he just brought Art in to prove a point . But let's think about it , Art helped save Lynette's life in the hostage crisis . Of course , if Cherry and his gang did research . They would find that pedophiles are also victims of sexual abuse by other pedophiles . The only difference is that they become the predator rather than the victim . I'm sorry but I thought the ending was a disappointment . Art is now free and on the loose somewhere thanks to Lynette's unknowing assistance . He would have no reason to return to the show now since he was so vilified . The scene with Rebecca was poignant and sad because it reminds you that they have families and friends as well . Just look at the Dateline shows on tracking internet predators . Since I read a lot of true crime books , monsters such as pedophiles and serial killers come in all shapes and sizes with no menacing characteristics . But on Wisteria Lane , aren't the others guilty just as well for other crimes ? I mean Wisteria Lane is like a nightmare street with all the murders , crimes , affairs , and cover-ups that occurred . I would be surprised if Cherry would have one of Lynette's boys be a victim of somebody that she would least suspect like a favorite teacher . I am not in anyway supportive of Art's secret . In fact , the problem is that we don't understand what causes pedophilia except the fact that nearly all pedophiles have been victims themselves . Now we hear even in my area about a beloved coach involved in child pornography and a female gym teacher having an affair with a 13 year old boy . So there goes the stereotype about female gym teachers in this case . In fact , almost every blue collar prisoner have been victims as children . So I believe Art was a victim too and I would like to know why Rebecca was wheelchair bound . Wisteria Lane is no more safer than the worst neighrborhood in the world . You have a convicted murderer ( Mike Delfino ) , your neighborhood whore ( Edie Britt ) , psychotic dentist ( Orson Hodge ) and his demented mother ( Gloria Hodge ) , male hustler-drunk driver ( Andrew Van De Camp ) , former resident and murderer ( Paul Young ) , former resident-extortionist-murder victim ( Martha Huber ) etc . So who are we too judge Art ? Anyway , the ending was quick and painless but it left questions unanswered . It was vague too . Of course , I thought Marc Cherry would be a master instead he used this pedophilia to prove a point without harming the show itself . It was quick and painless but for those of us who have been victims , it's not quick or painless . We carry it with us forever . Sorry but I think Cherry and his gang should do some research on the subject before they tackle it again and this time with more depth .
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490,246 | 33,913 | 71,349 | 7 |
It's really Jack's turn !
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Jack Cassidy is a perennial veteran of Columbo episodes especially as the chief suspect in murdering his prize writer , a mystery writer , who would be stolen by Mariette Hartley's character . I never really liked Mariette Hartley's acting or personally and I don't know why but she has been in a few episodes of Columbo . Mickey Spillane plays the victim writer . Anyway unlike Murder by the Book which features Jack Cassidy as a writer who offs his partner , he gets somebody else to do the crime because the writer wants to go legitimate and break his contract but to Jack's character , he's the star writer and makes him a lot of money and he would go broke . Rather than do the murder himself , his character gets drunk and involved in a car accident and arrested by the police and spends the night in a drunk tank . Anyway , Columbo always gets his guy or gal so he gets him in the end . It's how that's the question .
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490,245 | 33,913 | 71,347 | 7 |
Columbo in a Think-Tank of All Places !
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It's one of the better ones but it has a strange setting . Dr . Nicholson played by Hollywood actor , Lew Ayres , is an aging doctor with a young , attractive but equally successful psychologist played by Jessica Walter ( mom from Arrested Development ) and Jose Ferrer as the chief suspect in the crime . Even COlumbo has his work cut out for him because all of these intellectuals are geniuses as well . Anyway , COlumbo surrounded by geniuses has been done in another film . But in this episode , it's a small community . Jose Ferrer plays a devoted father but his son is keeping secrets from him that will not only destroy his career but his father's as well . The pressure must be unbearable in their community . Anyway , the story works fine with great actors like Lew Ayres , Peter Falk , Jessica Walter , and Jose Ferrer .
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490,591 | 33,913 | 71,345 | 7 |
A Twist in Old Formula
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Richard Kiley plays a Los Angeles commander who lives well with his wealthy wife in an unidentified part of Los Angeles . His friend and neighbor admit to killing his wife . Kiley's character helps his friend out of his crime in exchange for him killing his wife . It's kind of like Patricia Highsmith's book , " Strangers on the Train . " Of course , Kiley's character has been planning it better and with more thought than his friend . Anyway , jewelry is stolen and it the crime is set to look like a robbery gone awry . Anyway , I love the scene with Columbo and a paroled experienced Jewel thief exchanging barbs . He looks at him after Columbo hands him a cheap piece of jewelry and laughs and says that he would get laughed at in prison for being caught with something so obvious . Anyway , I love how Columbo catches Kiley in the end .
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490,206 | 33,913 | 119,654 | 7 |
It Worked Well because of Fiorentino !
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I have been a fan of hers since I saw her in Dogma . Now I wonder why I never noticed her before . Here she teams up with Oscar Winner Tommy Lee Jones and Oscar Nominee Will Smith as government agents to stop aliens from ruining our planet . First , the film is quite smart , witty , and works well . My favorite scenes are with Linda though not because I'm a fan of hers but she really steals the thunder and knows how to make a comeback whether verbal or physical . I don't know what happened on the set to make her the pariah of the film but she did deserve to return for the sequel . But for whatever reasons whether it was fate or her destiny , she was not and her performance in this film really shows that she can play Dr . Laurel Weaver as a smart , sensual , sexual , intelligent woman . We need more women like that and more actresses like that . She's approaching fifty now and it's not hard to believe that she wasn't even forty but she knows how to be equal with Smith and Jones . The problem might have been that it said men in black and not woman in black . I wish the best for Linda though where ever she is .
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490,212 | 33,913 | 94,213 | 7 |
Satisfactory Version of the Classic Tale !
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Uncle Tom's Cabin was brought back to life with a stellar cast including Danny Glover , Kate Burton , Phylicia Rashad , Bruce Dern , Paula Kelly , Edward Woodward , and Samuel L . Jackson just to name a few . I don't remember much of the story itself apart from reading it a long time ago . In the 1980s , television movies were a class apart . They were inspired by actual true crime or literature like Uncle Tom's Cabin into a movie with television stars . Anyway , the television movies of the past have long disappeared onto cable stations and PBS programming if possible . The quality of this television movie is worth watching for students . I now remember why television movies stopped being so good . It was because major television networks had the audiences to watch them . It's a lot cheaper to do reality series or program unfortunately . The audiences of the eighties have a lot more choices now . The major networks ruled prime time with the finest quality . Sometimes , quality should not be outnumbered by quantity .
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490,365 | 33,913 | 73,273 | 7 |
First Rate Cast but weak script hurts film !
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We will never know who killed Lizzie BOrden's father and stepmother for sure . She claims to be innocent and the house where the murders occurred is now a bed and breakfast but quite haunted . Elizabeth Montgomery plays Lizzie Borden , Katherine Helmond plays her sister who has her doubts about her sister's guilt . While the Borden murders were brutal and horrible , Victorian women did not do such things . There were no witnesses to the actual murders and there is a lot of argument and discussion regarding Lizzie's involvement since she stood to inherit her father's estate along with her sister . The movie doesn't show doubt as it shows Lizzie doing the crimes . I still have more questions than answers about the BOrden murders but I don't think it was Lizzie .
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489,968 | 33,913 | 119,668 | 7 |
Don't Read the Book First !
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For the movie , John Cusack who plays the author in the movie visits Savannah , Georgia for a story in Town and Country about Jim Williams ' magical Christmas party with eccentric characters like Serena Dawes played by Tony Winner Dorothy Loudon who shows off her gun that may have been used in her late husband's suicide , and another woman who jokes about her own husband who shot himself to death while watching Gunsmoke . Clint Eastwood is probably the best living American director today ( sorry Spielberg ) who directed this film with his daughter , Alison , playing Mandy Nichols . Lady Chablis plays herself and Emma Kelly plays herself as well . Ann Haney plays mother Williams . Kevin Spacey shows how great of an actor he is . Jude Law shows that he can do Southern accents as well . Sad to say that the book was a long-term affair . The movie does show sites of Savannah especially the famous garden of good and evil .
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490,261 | 33,913 | 387,898 | 7 |
Still has great acting but weak plot !
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I love Daniel Auteil who I think is one of France's leading male figures in the cinema business . He is brilliant in any role . He is France's answer to Cary Grant in my opinion . In this film , he co-stars with Oscar winner and fellow French actress , Juliette Binoche , as a married couple who are haunted and stalked by an unknown figure . Auteil plays a television reporter in Paris and somebody is after him but the movement in slow and the plot never really picks up speed to explain why . Of course , his character has flashbacks to his rural childhood in France . His relationship with his son is also interesting but despite his arguments with his wife , the character never becomes alive to me . I feel like the plot just stays stagnant . The cinematography and the beauty of Paris and France is worth watching the movie . I will watch it over again just to understand what is going on .
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490,457 | 33,913 | 117,008 | 7 |
Pam Ferris is brilliant !
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The cast is first rate with Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman playing unsuitable parents of an advanced child , Matilda Wormwood . The Wormwoods don't understand their daughter who prefers to read big books rather than watch television with them and their son . Mara Wilson is unforgettable as Matilda Wormwood . She steals the scenes sometimes away from DeVito and Perlman . Embeth Davidtz plays Miss Jennifer Honey , the teacher who loves Matilda . Miss Honey has her secrets like her relationship with Agatha Trunchbull , the demon principal , who enjoys torturing and taunting her students . Pam Ferris ( she should be on the Queens Honors List ) is brilliant and unrecognizable as Agatha Trunchbull who is masculine and quite monstrous at times . I didn't recognize the actress until I read the credits . Roald Dahl's children's books like Matilda and others are quite similar with themes regarding children's relationships with adults . In this film , I didn't understand Trunchbull who enjoyed the hell that she inflicted on her students . Miss Honey is her niece and it's possible that Honey's father Magnus ' death was no suicide but held responsible by Trunchbull herself . There is not one redeeming quality about the Trunchbull and that's what bothers me the most . Not all monsters look like Trunchbull or act like one . No principal would ever get away with such inhuman behavior .
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489,986 | 33,913 | 103,526 | 7 |
It was alright better than today's sitcoms !
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Emmy winners Patricia Heaton before she was Debra Barone plays the daughter in this sitcom where she is an executive producer of a New York City television show . Her mother played by Alice's Linda Lavin arrives from Ohio with opinions and criticisms which invited her to become part of the television show leaving her family and friends behind in Ohio . With Heaton and Lavin , you really believe they are mother and daughter because they both appear to be doing their best with what they have in the scripts which are about average but superior to today's sitcoms . In an era where sitcoms were they were plentiful , Room for Two was about average and who knows about Heaton's upcoming sitcom with Kelsey Grammar . Heaton's potential appears in this show . Across veteran actress Linda Lavin , Heaton comes across as a match made in sitcom heaven .
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490,557 | 33,913 | 97,089 | 7 |
A Decent Columbo episode !
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Columbo's episodes are really quite a combination of serious , lightheartedness , good acting , an excellent cast , and drama mixed with comedy . Sex and the Married Detective casts Lindsay Crouse who is an excellent actress and does a superb job in this episode . She plays a sex therapist who discovers and learns of her lover's infidelity . She decides revenge . I found this episode to be much more entertaining than some others and still worth watching again and again . I found the interaction between Columbo and the Crouse to be the most interesting as well . Like most of Columbo episodes , one of the trademarks is to treat the audience and the suspect with intelligence rather than dumbing them down .
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489,896 | 33,913 | 120,890 | 7 |
Wild Things is truly wild !
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Matt Dillon is brilliant in his role as a guidance counselor who is accused of raping his students or is he . Anyway Kevin Bacon is also brilliant as the police detective in charge of an investigation of murder . Neve Campbell has a strong unusual role as a brilliant but trapped in a blue collar life . Denise Richards who I never saw before is above average in her part . The plot is not easy and you have to watch it to the end to get it but you're left with more questions than answers anyway which is why I am giving it a seven . I love Carrie Snodgress who plays Ruby in this film . I think she is brilliant actress who does a fantastic job with her small part . Of course , I won't reveal anymore regarding the plot because you have to watch it for yourself . It's not an easy plot with lots of twists and turns . In the end , they show the scenes that we don't see and it helps explain what really happens and that does help answer some questions . I can't forget Bill Murray who has a small role in this film as well . Of course , I would like to ask the director lots of questions about this film but that's not going to happen .
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490,499 | 33,913 | 387,877 | 7 |
Good acting in otherwise flawed film !
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Don't get me wrong , I have read a lot about the true crime of the black dahlia murder of Elizabeth " Betty " Short . I haven't read James Ellroy's novel centered around the Black Dahlia . Of course , the crime is never solved and remains as infamous as Jack the Ripper in American folklore . There are plenty of suspects and of course , Los Angeles police department was corrupted by the wealth and power of Hollywood moguls . This was not a place for those young aspiring girls like Betty Short to become a movie star but to end in tragedy . Her murder was brutal even compared to this day . The details can make anybody queazy if you don't know or are unaware of them . Anyway , the cast is excellent especially Aaron Eckhart who was in Thank You for Smoking , he turns in a great performance but is overshadowed by his younger on screen professional male partner Josh Harnett . Aaron plays Lee Blanchard , an LAPD cop and boxer , who is married to Scarlet JOhanson's character Kay . She does a pretty good job of making you forget . I didn't care for the lesbian bar scenes because I think there unrealistic and man's fantasy . Let's not forget it's Brian DePalma directing this film . KD Lang has a brief moment as a lesbian bar singer in a pretty risqué sketch . Hilary Swank plays Madeline Limpscott , a woman who looks like the Black DAhlia . She comes from a wealthy prominent family . Her father practically build Hollywood but her family is quite unsavory . Fiona Shaw makes a surprising performance out of such a small role . I know she has an honorary CBE but she's got Irish dame all over her . Madeline's sister , Martha , is played by Macauley Culkin's former wife , Rachel Miner . Funny , I watched her grow up on Guiding Light . Like L . A . Confidential , there are lot of simlarities with the characters and the plots . I wanted Harnett's character Dwight , to ask Madeline why she goes to lesbian haunts when she appears to be straight . Was it just to show a scene in a lesbian nightclub ? There are few more scenes that really risqué involving Elizabeth Short and a blonde teen unknown actress as well . The director seemed to have enjoyed in bringing a lot of lesbian scenes in this movie even if it was unnecessary or had nothing to do with the plot . if you're going to show a lesbian bar of the 1940s , be a little more realistic rather than idealistic to satisfy men's fantasies . I mean weren't the lesbian patrons shocked to see a man in the bar even a policeman without uniform . Now , I know I go on about this issue but since I have read a lot about the black dahlia case , I don't understand why it was overly done in the first place .
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489,846 | 33,913 | 84,021 | 7 |
It was alright !
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Before I saw the first Grease , me and my neighbor only saw Grease 2 because that's all HBO or Showtime aired at the time . Anyway , it introduced us to Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield . The casting was excellent but they were trying to recreate the magic from the first Grease . I was glad to see some old favorites back like Eve Arden , Didi Conn as Frenchy , Dodie Goodman , Sid Caesar , Alice Ghostley , and new faces like Adrian Zmed , Lorna Luft ( Liza's sister and Judy's daughter ) . There were some dumb scenes like when one of the Pink ladies and one of the guys got together thinking it would be the last . That was a silly medley but you can still watch and laugh . Of course , the plot was silly but it managed to make a somewhat decent sequel to a classic movie . The scene in the bowling alley was funny to watch . Alright , it wasn't the original but we got to see some old friends again .
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490,723 | 33,913 | 81,839 | 7 |
An Okay Spin-Off !
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I remember when the network gave Marla Gibbs her own show as Florence Johnston who worked in a posh hotel with Ruth Brown and Liz Torres in the housekeeping department . Of course , Marla was much better on The JEffersons and when the show got canceled that Marla was welcome back on the Jeffersons . it proved how much she meant to the cast as wisecracking sidekick to Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley as the Jeffersons in their upscale New York City apartment . Of course , the show never lasted long even with Marla Gibbs as Florence Johnston in her own series . Fortunately , she had gained sitcom stardom on 227 playing straight to Jackee's character . As Florence Johnston , Marla Gibbs was outstanding as the maid that you just love to hate and learn to love at the same time . Florence was never more truthful , honest , or kinder than when she was the with the Jeffersons . Thank God , the show did get canceled and we got Flo back .
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489,829 | 33,913 | 103,496 | 7 |
One of the Oddest British comedies ever !
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I have to say that this show introduced me to the great actress , Geraldine McEwan , who now plays Miss Marple in the new series but the actor Karl Howman who plays Mulberry is quite an odd chap as they would say . He's not who he appears to be and his reasons for being employed by Mrs . Farnaby , a lonely spinster of a woman who lives on a manor , is rather strange . I don't want to scare anybody off but the plot behind the dark man is enough to get you asking way too many questions . The longtime dedicated servants , Bert and Alice , are extras . The Alices were changed between seasons for reasons unknown because British comedies don't work like American comedies in the first place . They make fewer episodes and sometimes actors or actresses are committed to the theater , television , or other film project . Anyway , the writing is satisfactory but I never understood the whole point of Mulberry , the man who helps this lonely lady of the estate reclaim some life in her . Geraldine McEwan who would have been Dame by now does a superb job in making you feel sympathy for her . Sylvia Sims has a guest appearance as Mulberry's mother .
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489,733 | 33,913 | 103,484 | 7 |
Not Mad About It !
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Okay , I watched this show because it was funny but it was never a show that I enjoyed watching repeatedly . I love sitcoms but this one was annoying at times . I felt Helen Hunt was worthy of her multi-Emmys because she really made me like her character . Paul Reiser's character was just neurotic and annoying . Their chemistry worked but the show had a great cast like Cynthia Harris , Carroll O'Connor , Carol Burnett , etc . The show was set in New York City in a large apartment which costs a small fortune if you have the money . Paul and Helen showed us how married couples have their fights but truly love each other . Maybe the show works best if the audiences are married and need to laugh at somebody's else's misery . Anyway the show stayed on for seven seasons despite Helen's Oscar Win in 1998 . The casting was great but the writing lacked . It was like Seinfeld got married to Elaine and they were living together . They were just annoying at times .
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490,717 | 33,913 | 82,121 | 7 |
Still a Lovable Film !
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Let's face it , Cicely Tyson and Richard Pryor play an unlikely pair . Cicely plays a good-hearted social worker who is determined to transport a school bus-load of abandoned orphans across the country to a farm with animals . She gets Richard Pryor's character who plays an ex-con who redeems himself in this film . Of course , Tyson and Pryor are quite simply marvelous in roles that would have otherwise failed . I know if I wanted somebody that would be Cicely who plays Vivian Perry whose heart and mind are always in the right place . While Pryor's character feels like a failure , she and the kids inspire him as well he inspires them . It's not a wholesome after-school special but it's touching at moments to see the outcasts look and treat upon each other as friends and family because they could have treated this film like silly film but it's a serious film about serious problems and they do it admirably .
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490,305 | 33,913 | 81,869 | 7 |
Gimme A Stroke ! Only Kidding ! This show made Nell famous !
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Nell Carter will always be known as Nell from Gimme a Break than her Broadway background which included singing and dancing . Sadly , she died in her fifties . She plays a beloved housekeeper in a Caucasian American home led by the wonderful Dolph Sweet who passed away during the show's run . The cast also included three teenage daughters . The show had an extended family of regular cast members like Telma Hopkins who played Nell's best friend . Sweet's character was a police chief of Glenlawn , California . Over the years during it's run , Nell welcomed Joey and Matthew Laurence and other cast members . The show dealt with sensitive topics like depression , suicide , teenage angst , death , loss , racism , etc . , without being preachy or dumb . It was never a critical favorite but you felt at home with Nell and the gang .
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490,154 | 33,913 | 81,871 | 7 |
The Great American Hero is Satisfactory at Best !
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Just think of this premise for a television show , a teacher becomes a superhero with a silly red costume reminiscent of Superman with powers and abilities that he doesn't understand at all . He has help with supporting players like Robert Culp and Connie Sellecca . The show only last 30 episodes with William Katt playing the starring role . Somehow the show became a cult favorite in syndication when some shows that did not last as long appeared weekly like this show . Anyway it's catchy theme song is worth watching for anyway . The show missed but it was a hit in the sense that it maintained a cult following . Who cares if it never made a 100 episodes ? It's now on DVD for all of us to enjoy .
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490,558 | 33,913 | 97,087 | 7 |
A good episode and entertaining !
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What makes Columbo work in my opinion is that despite the seriousness of the crime which is always murder that there is light-heartedness . Fisher Stevens is the star of his own movie . The cast is excellent besides Stevens and Peter Falk as the dashing Columbo . You have Molly Hagen who is underused in the industry and has appeared in another Columbo as Fisher's girlfriend . They also have Nan Martin who is wonderful as the woman who helps and hurts the lead character . Anyway , the filmmaker played by Fisher Stevens does learns the hard way by trying to fool Columbo . You can't fool or mess with him around or you'll get caught . He always catches his man or woman . This episode could have been better but it's not bad .
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490,749 | 33,913 | 97,084 | 7 |
It could have been worse !
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Columbo always likes to get his man or woman . This time , it's Robert Foxworth who plays a military man . Sam Wanamaker better known and respected for his role in rebuilding the Shakespeare Globe Theater on the Thames in London , England returns to direct a Columbo . He is a veteran director and it shows . Of course , I think it could have been better . The writing was a bit weaker than most and I think it could have been a lot better in the acting department but I love Columbo and I have seen almost all of them many times . I think even the casting would have been better besides just Falk and Foxworth in the roles but I'll take Columbo with the good , the bad , the ugly , and sometimes brilliant episodes .
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489,826 | 33,913 | 184,122 | 7 |
England's answer to Grey's Anatomy
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This show came before Grey's Anatomy and will likely be on after that show ends . I only saw one episode last night but it's typical British soap fare . There is a Jamaican doctor who is taking care of orphaned baby Leeann until they locate her father . She suspects that he is a drug addict because of the physical symptoms and questions the authority . There are other members in the cast but the show doesn't exhibit anything but average writing , above average acting , and above average sets . I never saw Casualty so I can't tell the difference or the similarities . It was on after EastEnders so I watched it and it was watchable in my opinion but I wouldn't say excellent because I think the show needs to do more work in getting strong characters who will be memorable and writing that creates a sensation . Until then , Holby City will be the sister show of Casualty and while it follows EastEnders , it might get an audience leftover to keep it going . I think the show is good and worth watching .
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490,303 | 33,913 | 842,404 | 7 |
Mama goes on the radio !
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Mama Harper has never been without an opinion or too . In this episode is I remember , she gets her own radio show which is about consumer reports and the whole family and Iola get involved in sampling and testing products and local restaurants . Everybody wants to know Mama Harper's advice and opinion regarding cleaning products and donuts . The problems arise when it gets out of control and Mama Harper doesn't know how she's abusing her power of influence . This episode is okay but I believe that a guest or two appeared and is not listed here . I could be wrong because the show hasn't really play regularly anymore and there is no DVD collection . Still , it's typical Mama's Family fare with the family and Mama trying to make it big on radio and it works for a while .
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490,752 | 33,913 | 77,352 | 7 |
One episode with a twist !
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This Columbo episode is about dogs who kill on command . British actor Nicol Williamson plays a doctor is better known for his role as Hamlet in 1968 production . Another British born actress and better known for her role as Samantha on Sex and the City , the actress Kim Cattrall in an early performance at a very young age is also in a supporting role . Anyway , St . Elsewhere's Ed Begley Jr . has a small role as a police officer . Anyway , the episode is a Columbo favorite because it has film references around . Of course , Peter Falk's Columbo has become like an old family friend with great stories and interest in anything whether psychiatry , dogs , or movies . The ending is also brilliant with a twist and of course , Columbo catches his man in this case .
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490,610 | 33,913 | 247,144 | 7 |
Give it a chance ! It's worth a try !
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I just watched a repeat episode of Yes , Dear and I was impressed with the improvement since it's debut . I would have preferred that Anthony Clark have remained on Boston Common which was a better and funnier show on NBC but they canceled it after a few seasons . Yes , Dear has improved over the time and striving to be better . It is one of the few comedies that gets better than worse with time . CBS was unwise to cancel this show for John Goodman , Jean Smart , Ed Asner , and Olympia Dukakis in Center of the Universe . Yes , Dear may not be the greatest sitcom but it is certainly better than Center of the Universe . I could not understand CBS ' decision to cancel it in the first place . I love the guest appearances of Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway as Clark's parents in the series . They are terrific company . Of course , Yes , Dear could better . But for a sitcom to work in television , it needs time to evolve . Yes , Dear may never become Everybody loves Raymond but it is worth a half-hour to watch . These are likable characters and the cast does their best in bringing light-hearted humor to television .
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490,446 | 33,913 | 790,192 | 7 |
Mama's homemade remedy for laughs !
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Mama Harper develops her mother's concoction to help her family get over an illness like the flu . After her son and bimbo-in-law Naomi who is now expecting their child realized that they can't afford it . They try a get rich scheme which falls on the unmentioned ingredient , alcohol . Mama Harper brings the remedy and potions to her stuffy Church Ladies League and they all end up wasted . It's funny episode especially when Mama Harper doesn't realize that it was the alcohol all along that was the cure . Still , I miss this show and any episode with Anne Haney as Alberta Meacham , the minister's no-nonsense wife , is a joy to watch as always . They'll just have to find another way to make the $180 , 000 to raise the Harper baby .
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490,312 | 33,913 | 88,496 | 7 |
Not Dynasty But Still Good !
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I liked the Colbys maybe because it had a stellar cast including Charlton Heston , Stephanie Beacham , Barbara Stanwyk , Maxwell Caulfield , Tracy Scoggins , Emma Samms in their cast . The writing if I remember was not as good as it's sister show , Dynasty , but it still had spunk . It was set in Los Angeles , California as opposed to Denver , Colorado . It had a similar theme like Dynasty and the Colbys were supposedly richer than the Carringtons . I can't forget Katharine Ross better known as the original Stepford Wife . This show introduced great actors and actresses like her to a new generation . It may not have been as good as Dynasty but it still had style , class , and cat fights if I remember maybe they were more subtle than Krystle and Alexis but they were worth watching on a weekly basis .
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490,582 | 33,913 | 105,576 | 7 |
A Chilling Production !
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A brilliant cast featuring Oscar Winner Karl Malden as a school bus driver who gets hijacked with the young students in rural California by three young criminals who plan a careful school bus hijacking but everything goes wrong no matter how well planned you orchestrate such a horrendous crime . The children and the bus driver played by Karl Malden are taken and held against their will despite the children's pleas , cries , and fear when they are placed in a dark , hot below ground in a secret location by the criminals . Suddenly , things start to go bad . I couldn't want too much more . I just kept thinking about the children being kidnapped and held for so long . It's based on a true story of an event in rural California in the 1970s .
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490,298 | 33,913 | 790,191 | 7 |
A Sweet End to a Memorable Show !
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Mama's Family never got the proper recognition that it long deserved as a cult hit . What started out as a family sketch on the Carol Burnett show evolved into something of it's own life . Unfortunately , the sad end of the show was probably because it's executive producer and creator , Joe Hamilton , and former husband of Carol Burnett , would pass away a year or so later . This season was tough because they ran out of ideas . Sadly , I wished that they brought the family together one more time for a reunion before calling it quits but it didn't happen . In this episode and the series finale , the blessed event of Naomi's baby is due to give birth and she is frantic that Vinton won't be there for the event . While Mama gets her house back since Vint and Naomi are moving into their trailer at the mobile home park in town and grandson Bubba will move into the fraternity house at the community college . Still , the baby is always welcome even if it means the end of the show and an era . Mama's Family was the first family that I felt was real . The characters were imperfect and sometimes didn't get along when they were together . They weren't like the other family sitcoms of the era . This show should have stayed in prime time but the network canceled it after two seasons for whatever reasons . In syndication , Mama's Family was queen because it allowed the show to move along without the politics of network television but without the money but it still delighted the fans who miss this show terribly and miss the characters as well .
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490,642 | 33,913 | 121,022 | 7 |
Could have had a longer run ?
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With a cast that included Penelope Wilton OBE , Gwen Taylor , and Jill Baker as three women with something in common ! They are all involved with the same man . I don't recall seeing him very much . Somehow the three women bond and form an unlikely friendship despite their man . They are all three very different women who range in personalities . The show begins by playing a song by Lakme's Delibes opera . It's quite a poetic song and it sets the mood for this show . It's still an unusual sitcom that aired briefly in the New York City area years ago but I remember it well because of the three actresses who play the women in one man's life . Maybe that's why the show is called screaming because they wanted to scream away from the situation ?
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490,789 | 33,913 | 88,470 | 7 |
Saturday Nights on NBC was the place to be in the 1980s !
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This show and Amen both aired on NBC . Both show featured the comic genius of two Jeffersons ' alums , Sherman Hemsley , and Marla Gibbs . We all watched her play the wisecracking maid , Florence Johnston , on the Jeffersons . Now she shines in her own show but not without a great supporting cast . There is Emmy winning Jackee Harry as Sandra , her upstairs neighbor , or veteran actress Helen Martin as the nosy neighbor on the stoop . The show was named 227 after it's address . No it was set in Washington D . C . of all place , a nice change in location . Hal Williams played the ideal spouse to Marla Gibbs ' husband . If you look , you will see Regina King who is on her way to becoming a star with credits like Jerry Maguire and Ray . It was a good show with wholesome family entertainment .
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490,603 | 33,913 | 112,368 | 7 |
Angus represents the high school outcast !
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Angus is an overweight teenager who only wants to be accepted by his peers . Much like reality , Angus is a nerd but a likable one with a great personality . Rather than lose weight , Angus does become an unlikely hero without changing himself to please others . That is the part of the film , Angus , that makes the difference . It is a wonderful film overall and children and even adults of all ages can identify with Angus ' plight to overcome acceptance . High School was hard for some of us while easier for others . Angus points out that it's difficult feeling unaccepted because of his weight . Ironically , we live in a society where childhood obesity is an epidemic and they think by removing salt from the lunch packets that they would help solve the problem . I ate lots of unhealthy food and drank plenty of soda during my days but I also exercised regularly . I rarely spent an entire day inside until I became an adult . I walked , rode my bike , swam , ran , and played games with the neighborhood children . I think it's awful that children are going to gyms as if they were adults . That was what was fun about being a kid is that we imagined ourselves as adults .
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489,912 | 33,913 | 117,218 | 7 |
Silly , Sad , and Poignant Film at times !
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Eddie Murphy transforms himself with the help of the Oscar winning make-up team into an array of characters known as the Klump family , Buddy Love , and Dr . Sherman Klump , an overweight lonely professor . He becomes Buddy Love when Sherman develops a formula to thin him down but the formula does not last as long as he would like it too . It's not permanent . He becomes a full-fledged Buddy Love , the man who is thin and goes after the ladies unlike never before . The scenes with Dave Chappelle as the comedian who pokes fun and cruelty at the overweight Sherman is quite sad . Murphy delivers in his role and many roles on screen . As Dr . Sherman Klump , you like him the best because he is the kindest and sweeter than Buddy Love who only thinks about himself . As the Klump family , Murphy proves that there is nothing he can't or won't do to get a laugh at the audience . But enough with the fart jokes around the dining room table , the movie also includes James Coburn and Jada Pinket Smith as the woman of Sherman's desire who goes after Buddy but she does not realize he's the same person . It isn't the acting but the make-up that shows how Sherman to Buddy transformation can be .
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490,056 | 33,913 | 88,527 | 7 |
It's not the best but it sure beats most other shows
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After the family ties success on NBC , ABC developed Growing Pains to rival it about the Seavers with their 3 children in Long Island , New York . Nobody in this show has the New York accent but it still beats other shows . Kirk Cameron became a huge teen star in the eighties . Tracey Gold shined as the middle sister , Carol Seaver . Alan Thicke finally had a successful show in his lifetime and Joanna Kerns came out of her big sister Donna Devarona's shadows as the Growing Pains mom . The writing could have been better and the show could have equaled Family Ties but nowadays , a show like this would have got Emmys . Sure , it was sweet and full of saccharine but I miss it now .
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490,699 | 33,913 | 203,119 | 7 |
Don't judge a film by it's title !
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Sexy Beast is never fully explained . Perhaps it is a nickname for Ben Kingsley's character . Sir Ben is wonderful in this film as complicated bald British burglar . Ian McShane is deliciously evil in his role as the man behind the master plan . Ian is well deserving of an O . B . E . or a C . B . E . Ray Winstone should also get an O . B . E . for his services to acting . The cast is wonderful including Amanda Redman who is best known for playing the older Diana Dors . I hope they don't forget her for a British honour in the same fashion as the late Diana Dors ( she should have been given a C . B . E . ) but nevertheless the plot is fun and filled with four letter words , violence , a little sex , and brief nudity scene . Sexy Beast may not have raked it in at the box office . I don't know why but maybe it should have with all the sex , violence , and nudity for American audiences . Isn't that what they want and they don't go for it ? Maybe it's the British accents that throws them away but whatever it is worth watching at least once without the children .
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489,862 | 33,913 | 684,917 | 8 |
Vintage Beverlee ! !
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Before Beverlee McKinsey returned to daytime in her final long-term role , she had a guest appearance on Remington Steele as Alexis Vanderveer . Beverlee chews up the scenery in the same way that dogs chew bone but she's always fun to watch and enjoy . Even this episode where it showed some of her brilliance as family matriarch and demanding mother . I wished that she would come out of retirement for another stab at acting regardless of the role . With Beverlee , she can make it worth it . Vintage Steele is about Laura's old flame coming to see her and help him with a dead man in the trunk . Who knew in 1982 that it was supposed to be drama ? Laura , Steele , and her ex-boyfriend travel to the wine country where you get vintage in order to solve the mystery . Upon going there , they meet Alexis and her horses . Too bad , Beverlee McKinsey has given up acting and retired . We miss you , Beverlee .
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490,366 | 33,913 | 102,933 | 8 |
Sizzling True Story !
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Few stories are worth adapting to the screen . Elizabeth Montgomery gives a mind-bending brilliant performance as Ruth Coe , the beloved and twisted mother , of serial rapist Kevin Coe . It's not enough that her own son has been found , arrested , convicted , and imprisoned as the South Hill Rapist in Spokane , Washington . The South Hill Rapist struck usually in the mornings during his mornings when he jogged . He also struck about forty known victims and there were probably more than fifty knowing some who didn't report the crimes to the authorities . All the while , Mommy Dearest Ruth Coe refuses to believe any evidence and defends her son to the hilt . Elizabeth Montgomery's performance is chilling as is Dale Midkiff who plays her son . Now the real Kevin Coe might be released unless the state of Washington can place him on a island where he can be imprisoned for life as a dangerous sex offender . Even to this day , Spokane has not recovered from the years of terror as the South Hill Rapist struck and attacked his female victims .
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489,837 | 33,913 | 47,834 | 8 |
It's not that bad ! ! !
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This animated film version of the classic George Orwell novel , Animal Farm , is faithful to the book's story . After reading Animal Farm , I watched this movie which was a colorized version of the story . This film is ahead of it's time in 1954 so you have to understand that the quality may not be that great and their are only two male voices offering to play all the roles which includes the wonderful Maurice Denham OBE . The story of animals who run a farm after chasing the evil , Mr . Jones away . The animals believe they can run the farm better than Mr . Jones . The problem is that Napoleon , the pig leader or big boar , takes charge and moves into Jones ' house and begins breaking the rules that they were founded upon in Animal Farm . Slowly , we see the problems arose among the animals and the unhappiness , greed , and power-hungry of some versus the others .
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490,649 | 33,913 | 118,655 | 8 |
These Boots were made for walking !
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Austin Powers is really the creation of Mike Myers , Saturday Night Live alumni . He plays multiple roles as the sex-crazed hairy gap-toothed Austin Powers who was frozen in time in the 1960s while Dr . Evil , his complete opposite and enemy also was frozen in time . Now they're both back and at each other's throats again . Austin is trying to save the world while Dr . Evil is bald and truly evil . My favorite scenes include Dr . Evil and his minions including the wonderful Mindy Sterling and Robert Wagner . I love Dr . Evil's relationship with his newfound son , Scott Evil , played by Seth Green . Those are my favorite scenes in the film as Dr . Evil tries to get a hug from his son . One of the funniest scenes in the movie is when Dr . Evil and Scott go into family therapy lead by Carrie Fisher .
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489,894 | 33,913 | 75,995 | 8 |
A rare disturbing film for even the most mature adults !
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I want people watch this film with an open mind but they have to be mature and understanding . Alan Strang is disturbed young man who has a disturbed fascination with horses . He places them in the godlike category . His relationship only gets worse when he works at a stable barn . There , he has almost a bestial relationship with the animals there . When he finally confronts a relationship with a fellow stable girl played nicely by Jenny Agutter . When he feels watched and betrays his god , he commits the most disturbing crime . Warning , this film is not for children or some adults with weak stomachs . There is full nudity of both Firth and Agutter in the movie . There also wonderful performances by Dame Eileen Atkins and Dame Joan Plowright in this film .
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490,267 | 33,913 | 105,107 | 8 |
Kudos to McDonnell , Woodward , and cast
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This film surprised me a lot . I liked it very much . It was well-written , acted , and worth watching Mary McDonnell who received her second Oscar nomination for this performance . Alfre Woodard should be nominated for best supporting actress . I was surprised to find two equally challenging roles for women in an almost extinct era . The relationship between the two women grows slowly . It is nice to see friendship between these two very different characters . May Alice becomes a likable person after awhile . Angela Bassett has a small role as her friend from New York City . David Straitharn plays an old flame who has since married and remain local in the Louisiana swamps of their hometown . It's a great story overall with characters that you grow to like over the time we spend with them .
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490,003 | 33,913 | 73,802 | 8 |
Almost Perfect !
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The Three Days of the Condor is pretty entertaining with a stellar cast featuring Oscar winners like Robert Redford , Faye Dunaway , John Houseman and Cliff Robertson . Redford pays Joe Turner a . k . a . Condor who is the lone survivor of a major killing spree where his colleagues including his Asian girlfriend Janice are shot to death in New York City offices . The movie is based on the book but I haven't read it . Redford does his best as a man on the run like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible . He doesn't know why they were murdered and all he does is read for the CIA . He kidnaps an unwilling woman played by Faye Dunaway . Their relationship gets complicated by their mutual attraction to each other . Carlin Glynn plays the small supporting role as Sam's wife . I love the New York City locations especially seeing the twin towers where they once proudly stood .
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489,962 | 33,913 | 72,577 | 8 |
It's pretty good !
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Two's Company has been shown recently on the WLIW in Long Island Thursday Nights after Waiting for God . It's actually a delightful surprise to see Elaine Stritch and Sir Donald Sinden in this show . Elaine was married to British writer during this time . She is so talented in many ways including singing the theme song . She appears to have fun with her character . While the character is an American expatriate , the show sometimes uses it unwisely . I am an American who love British television more than American television . In fact , I watch Waiting for God reruns rather than Friends . After all , Two's Company was produced by London Weekend Television . Sir Donald's Robert plays wonderfully to Elaine Stritch . We should be very proud of Miss Stritch's talent and success . She is still an American treasure from this show .
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