Flash (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a family movie in the most wonderful sense. So often, people use that phrase to mean "no swearing" or "no nudity", but so many "family" movies are just watered down nothingness, no story, no interesting characters...
This movie has spirit and heart. Lucas Black is an amazing young man, a wonderful young actor who carries the entire movie all by himself. After his grandmother's death, Conner (Black) decides to embark on a journey from Georgia to New York to meet his father's ship as it returns to port. He confronts danger and many of life's challenges along the way.
What I especially like about the movie is that it doesn't tiptoe around some hard issues. Conner deals with his grandmother's death all alone...he confronts an abusive adult with heart and bravery. I think this movie is wonderful because it shows a nice, good, brave kid who isn't unreal the way so many kids are in movies and on TV today. He's polite and smart and respectful and still super cool. Way to go Disney and Lucas Black.

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The idyllic life of Connor Strong (Lucas Black, SLING BLADE), his dad (Brian Kerwin), grandmother (award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn), and horse Flash changes overnight when financial pressures force Connor's father to leave home and find work. Connor is forced to sell Flash, and then is heartbroken to discover that the new owners are cruel to his beloved horse. Connor rescues Flash, and together, they set off cross country to search for Connor's father. In classic Disney tradition, the adventures they have along the way will forever touch the hearts of young and old alike.

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Castaway Cowboy (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)In the early '70's, James Garner made two films for Disney studios, "One Little Indian" and "The Castaway Cowboy." Of the two, "Cowboy" is by far the best: a slight but entertaining little comedy-western co-starring the lovely Vera Miles (who was also in "Indian"). She plays Henrietta McAlvoy, the owner of a failing Hawaiian (known here as the Sandwich Islands) potato plantation whose native workers fish a nearly drowned deserter named Costain (Garner) out of the ocean. While Costain waits for a ship home to Texas, he hatches a plot to save the farm by turning it into a cattle ranch, using the Hawaiian workers as ranch hands. Of course, in Disney films of the era, there is always a villain, and "Cowboy" features Robert Culp as Bryson, a local businessman who romances Henrietta in order to get her land and when she won't sell, stoops to some nasty business to sabotage Garner's plan.
Everything is predictable and ends just like you think it might. Also quite predictably, Henrietta is a widow with an irrepressibly cute (i.e. cloying and obnoxious) preteen son played by "The Poseidon Adventure"'s young Eric Shea, who gives an even more annoying, don't-say-your-line-shout-it performance than he gave in the previous film. The only other performances of note are given by native Hawaiians playing the workers as stereotypes who exist merely as goofballs to be laughed at. (More about that later.) Only Elizabeth Smith as Henrietta's housekeeper escapes with her dignity intact, since she manages to make her character more than a one-note stereotype.
Finally, about Anchor Bay's DVD presentation. Even though the copy I received was in fullscreen format (instead of the advertised widescreen--grumble, grumble) I kept it because of the excellent remastered print and the addition of a cool copy of the original poster art from the 1974 release on the back of the scene breakdown card. I still would prefer widescreen, but at least the picture and sound are much better than the awful transfers Disney have been ripping us off with on its own lazy releases.
Now, a word of warning about the presentation of the native Hawaiian characters: if you are sensitive about racial issues and potential racism in the movies, you may want to steer clear of this film. The Hawaiian workers are stereotyped as lazy and undisciplined men-children who would rather swim and play than work. This fact may make the film as offensive to some as "Song of the South" is to African-Americans. However, the natives do become better, more competent workers by the end of the film, so proceed at your own risk!

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Stone Fox (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)My students watched this movie recently, after having read the book as a class assignment. In many ways, the movie brought the story to life. You should be made aware of the fact that there are many storyline differences between the text and video. In the book, for example, little Willy lives on a potato farm and is trying to win the National Dogsled Race to pay the government for back taxes that are due on Grandfather's property. In the movie, he lives on a large farm and grows wheat crops. He is trying to win the race so that he and Grandfather have the money to get by during Grandfather's illness. In the book, Grandfather is described by Doc Smith as being "As healthy as an Ox." In the movie, he is bedridden because he suffered a stroke! There are also many other new character and plot differences to the story that don't fit in with author John Reynold Gardiner's original script. We watched the movie as a lesson on how movies often differ from the novel. One of my students found 85 changes (some very subtle) between the book and the movie. Still, it was fun to watch, and I believe the children got a lot out of watching the movie! I would recommend the film, but be prepared to have a discussion on the differences that can occur when a novel is made into a movie.

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Private Lessons (25th Anniversary Edition) (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)Private Lessons is one of the top grossing independent films of all time pre-Miramax. Private Lessons was released in 1981, starring Sylvia Kristal, Eric Brown, and Howard Hessman(W. K. R. P. in Cincinnati). Private Lessons was the first in a genre of soft core, teenage, wet dream, pictures.
Originally, based on the novel, Philly by Dan Greenberg. Originally, the story was supposed to be a horror story with a blackmail plot, but when Silvia Kristal was cast the producers decided to turn the story into a sex comedy.
Alan Myerson, Dan Greenberg, and Howard Hessman handle the commentary on the DVD. Generally, they reminisce about what a pain this movie was to make, but generally they say it was a good experience.
I liked this movie, but just to let you know, it has been altered from the version, which is on VHS tape. It has also been revealed that Silvia Kristal had a body double, her name is Judy Helden.
However, Ms. Helden only appears in two scenes in the movie, and they are not the famous scenes which those of us in the 35 to 40 age group, who love the movie all know. Miss Helden's scenes appear towards the end of the movie, where we see aroused nipples on a breast, in one shot of the backside that does not match up with Sylvia Kristal's.
If you are a fan of Sylvia Kristal's, you will like this movie. If you are 35 to 40, and you can remember when this movie was released. You will probably like this movie. I will close this review with a question. Do you want to feel like you are 15 again?

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A Far Off Place (1993) Review

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(More customer reviews)A Far Off Place is the sequel to the bestseller by Laurens Van der Post, 'A Story Like The Wind'. Hunters Drift is a farm in Matabeleland (today part of Zimbabwe)
It is the home of Pierre Paul Joubert known affectionately by all who live there as 'Ouwa', where European, Matabele and Bushmen live in harmony with each other , and with the great flora and fauna of Africa.
This is before the forces of destruction and death, Marxist terrorists, massacre the whole population of Hunter's Drift , as they carve a path of blood through Southern Africa.
The only survivors are Ouwa's teenage son, Francois, Nonnie, the young daughter of a colonial governor and his Portuguese wife, both murdered by the terrorists and Francois' beloved hunting dog, Hintza. They are joined by a young Bushman, Xhabbo, and his wife, Nuin Tarra.
The four young people and brave dog , must pass through bush and desert , to safety , while pursued by the cold-blooded killers.
'A Far Off Place' is a heartwarming story of love hope and courage, and of survival against overwhelming odds. It is about the fine balance between all living creatures.
Not least it highlights the death and suffering caused so many times by those forces of evil that hide behind the slogans of revolution and 'Liberation'.

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Walt Disney Pictures and Amblin Entertainment team up to deliver a thrilling story, action-packed adventure, and breathtaking scenery! Thrown together under incredible circumstances, two strangers must discover courage and strength when they begin a journey across the treacherous African desert! Equipped with only their wits and the expertise of a native bushman who befriends them, they are determined to triumph over impossible odds and reach their destination. But along the way, the trio face a primitive desert wilderness teeming with deadly obstacles, including wild animals, ruthless poachers, and severe weather conditions!

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