A very good Simpsons DVD

This DVD is a mixture of good and bad."Guess who's coming to criticise dinner"and"King Size Homer" are both brilliant episodes, a couple of the best Simpsons there are.

Whereas, on the other hand the other not so good episodes in my opinion are"Lisa the vegetarian"and"Burns ver kaufen der kraftwork", so overall a very mixed DVD.

The episodes and rating I would give them:
"Guess who's coming to criticise dinner" wher Homer becomes his most desirable job for him, a food critic! This episode is very interesting as it realistically shows how power can go to someone's head very quickly, it's also very witty and intriguing, and whether you want to or not you end up watching it to the end! Overall this is aclassic episode and would give it 10/10

Capricorn One

Very good and packed very, well recommended

Hard Work

Stopped watching it after 30 minutes and that alone was a feat of endurance.

For all I know it may have turned into a Busby Berkeley musical afterwards - but I very much doubt it.

Never have Alter Boys been this entertaining

I was in the gym on a Thursday evening, my 3rd visit in 2 months. I noticed that my gym has a vast collection of rubbish 80's video and a selection of about 5 DVD's, I browsed these DVD's more through a means to distract myself from the inevitable workout that the intention to rent one out.

Anyhow I stumbled across the title"The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys" I'd never actually heard of this title but the description it gave was intriguing and I remember Kieran Calkin put in a good performance in"Igby Goes Down" even though I was slightly disappointed with that Film overall.

"The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys" has everything, its a film about friends, its a film about love, its a film about growing up and getting into a lot of trouble while doing it. Maybe because I was expecting so little I got so much or maybe it's just a damn good film. I loved it!!!

The film revolves around 4 friends and their fascination for comic books; this fascination however gets two of them expelled from their strict Catholic school after a blasphemous comic they had written is found by Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster). They hatch a plan to destroy the evidence involving four friends imagination and a wild cat!!

Buy this film or go and rent it from the gym, either way make sure you watch it.

Extremely funny!

When I first watched this film on TV, I was expecting some poor grade film with only a couple of laughs. But I was wrong, VERY WRONG!This film is extremely funny!I had not seen the first two, but still found myself rolling around laughing. The jokes take little understanding and I recommend this to anyone who likes classic light hearted comedies.

Give it a chance

I think the majority of reviews below seem to be far too harsh on this film. Ok, so it's an independent film that's been made on a very tight budget (it shows) and the script is not perfect. So what? Not every movie needs to be a"blockbuster" to be good. At least it isn't you're typical cliche gay coming out film and the characters all have depth even if it isn't always explored to the max. I'd recommend renting it before shelling out 20 quid to buy it, but don't be put off the unfavourable reviews - give it a go.

Check out the Museum of Crime!

The video box cover for this Simpsons four-episode collection (Bart Skywalker engaged in lightsaber battle with Darth Homer) suggests there's a Star Wars theme to the episodes on this tape ('Mayored to the Mob', 'Dog of Death', 'The Secret War of Lisa Simpson' and 'Marge Be Not Proud') but I couldn't spot any references at all! 'The Secret War of Lisa...' tells the story of Lisa's experience as the only girl attending an otherwise all-male military academy - she gets alienated by the other recruits, including - gasp - her big brother Bart. As with many other Lisa-centric stories, this story is quite an emotional one, but it's lightened by moments such as Chief Wiggum's tour of the Museum of Crime:"Now, what I am about to show you all next will shock and educate you. Hold onto your values as we step through the looking-glass into a HIPPIE POT PARTY... While Johnny Welfare plays acid rock on a stolen guitar, his old lady has a better idea" (he flicks a light switch to reveal a crude dummy of a woman poised to eat a sandwich containing a human baby!)..."That's right, she's got the munchies for a California Cheeseburger!".

Simpsons in special halloween themed DVD

As anyone who watches The Simpsons nearly everyday on sky channels (like me), you would know that the last few seasons of The Simpsons have really been at times shockingly bad to what the show is usually able to produce.
So sadly the fourth episode of this disc falls into that category, where it just seems the idea's have unfortantely run out for the writers of the hit show.
The Simpsons is my favourite TV show ever and I always look forward to the new episodes but the fourth episode here is really nothing to get excited about.
But the first three episodes here are really good.

'Treehouse of Horror V': This is an episode that starts off with a short story about the 'The Shining', which really is quality comedy.
It depicts Homer as a crazy axe weilding maniac who goes nuts when he has no beer or tv.
Homer is so funny acting really crazy.
But this is only a third of whats on this episode, the other two episodes contain amusing stories of Homer travelling back in time continuosly and always going back to the present where everythings changed because of what he did when he travelled to the past, and another story in how Bart and Lisa fear that them and the rest of the kids at school are on the menu for the school teachers, who find a taste for their school children.

For the second episode giant billboards come to life to cause havoc in downtown Springfield, Groundskeeper Wullie does a Freddy Krueger, and invades the dreams of the school children for revenge, and the third short story is interesting because it involves Homer being transported to the third dimension, and for the first time Homer appears in the real world of Earth.

the third episode contains the meeting between Bart and his evil twin, Lisa creates a miniature world by accident for a science project, but becomes a litle more involved with her project than she might have wanted, and American election candidates Bill Clinton and Bob Dole have their bodies taken over by aliens Kang and Kodos, in their bid to rule America and enslave humanity.

But the fourth episode is truly bland and uninsperational, as the first story is abouta gypsy putting a curse on Homer and things go worng for the people he knows and loves, but thats not all wait for the really stupid idea to include a pointless lepracon thats role in the story is really un-needed.
The next story is about a house that takes a fancy to Marge, and has the intention to get Homer out of the picture.
This is a clear example of the way new episodes of The Simpsons are going with the story being built around the celebrity voice (Peirce Brosnan), rather than the other way round.
And the third story is a depiction of Lisa being in the role of Harry Potter, and being against the evil Lord Montymort (Mr. Burns).

There's also a montage of humouress and the most memorable clips involving popular aliens Kang and Kodos, and features their previous inclusions in the hallo'ween specials.

Overall, this is The Simpsons at their best and the episodes on this DVD, apart from the last episode, are really top-quality stuff with the show really on form with what it produces here.

Everything except"Busman's Honeymoon"

Strong Poison

This is the first in a series of television movies based on Dorothy L. Sayers's famous mystery series featuring Harriet Vane and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey.

To be can tell it the first of the program that the actors are struggling to find the characters that they play however by the end of the program they are easily identifiable. In the next mystery"Have His Carcass" and they run smooth from the beginning. Then in"Gaudy Night" they are somewhat abbreviated.

One of the strengths of the BBC production is that they do not try to dramatize so much that the story that it does not match the book. One of the advantages of this series is that it is long enough that most of the pertinent information is shown. They made an excellent choice when deciding to use Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Walter as Harriet Vane. They match the book character descriptions perfectly. In fact if you see this program before you read the book their images will be in your mind.

You may recognize Harriet Walter as the nasty attituded Fanny Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (1995).

In the opening scenes we notice that Harriet is on trial for life accused of murdering her ex boyfriend. Everyone is convinced that she did it except Lord Peter Wimsey. Because he fell in love with her she just had to be innocent. As with all Dorothy Sayers mysteries the harder Peter whimsy fought to prove Harry its innocence, the tighter than use got around her neck. In the mean time Peter Wimsey proposes to Harriet.

Watch every scene and listen to every word from the beginning as this movie is peppered with clues. You will have to see the second time to recognize the clues that you missed.
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Have His Carcass

This is the second in a series of television movies based on Dorothy L. Sayers's famous mystery series featuring Harriet Vane and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey.
The characters are now smoother and fuller than they were in"Strong Poison" Which was the first in the series and had no guide to go by.

One of the strengths of the BBC production is that they do not try to dramatize so much that the story does not match the book. One of the advantages of this series is that it is long enough that most of the pertinent information is shown. They made an excellent choice when deciding to use Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Walter as Harriet Vane. They match the book character descriptions perfectly. In fact if you see this program before you read the book their images will be in your mind.
You may recognize Edward Petherbridge as France King Lear (1984). And many of the other character actors from The BBC Agatha Christie"Miss Marple" series.
In the opening scenes we notice that Harriet on holiday, recovering from being on trial for murder. She is on the beach and hears something that startles her. Realizing it is getting late she tarts down the beach and finds (you guessed it) a body. Naturally there are only two sets of footprints hers and the deceased. Once again she is mixed up in a mystery and reluctantly with the help of Lord Peter Wimsey attempts to find out if it was murder, suicide or a Bolshevik plot.
Watch every scene and listen to every word from the beginning as this movie is peppered with clues. You will have to see the second time to recognize the clues that you missed.
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Gaudy Night

This is the third in a series of television movies based on Dorothy L. Sayers's famous mystery series featuring Harriet Vein and amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey. The first two programs are"Strong Poison" and"Have His Carcass."

One of the strengths of the BBC production is that they do not try to dramatize so much that the story does not match the book. One of the advantages of this series is that it is long enough that most of the pertinent information is shown. They made an excellent choice when deciding to use Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Walter as Harriet Vane. They match the book character descriptions perfectly. In fact if you see this program before you read the book their images will be in your mind.

Maybe due to time restraints or different directing, many of the most interesting book characters were left out of"Gaudy Night" A chess board plays a significant part in the book and is also left out of this version.

Harriet is invite to her university's gaudy. She soon finds out that it is not an idle indentation. It seems that people are receiving poison pen letters and very nasty pranks. Not wanting the police to be involved they turn to Harriet (knowing of here reputation for solving crimes.) When Harriet receives a letter herself she confides in Lord Peter. Are these innocent pranks or will they lead to some thing more sinister? And who is the culprit?
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Busman's Honeymoon

Too bad they could not make this one. They probably could not get the license. It was made many years ago as"Haunted Honeymoon" (1940)
Robert Montgomery as Peter Wimsey
Constance Cummings as Lady Harriet Vane

"She was the kind of woman who made you want to drop to your knees and thank God you were a man!"

Watching this 1991 sequel to Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad, is like opening a time capsule. A slapstick comedy/satire set in Washington, DC, during the Presidency of George H. W. Bush, the plot involves the kidnapping of Dr. Albert Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), the President's energy czar, who wants to reduce the country's pollution and its dependence on coal, oil, and nuclear power. Working as the Public Relations Director of the Meinheimer Institute, is Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley), to whom Police Lt. Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) was once engaged (until he was found in a compromising situation with the Queen in Naked Gun I). Jane is now the lover of Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet), who has planned the Meinheimer kidnapping.

Filled with sight gags, one-liners, parodies of other films, stock comedy routines, jokes hidden within the sets (a portrait of Mike Dukakis on the wall, for example), and non-stop action that runs amok, the plot is the least of director David Zucker's concerns. Lt. Drebin (Nielsen), his romance with Jane, and his constant missteps as an investigator serve as the primary focus. Goulet acts the suitably oily villain, and actors George Kennedy and O. J. Simpson, who work with Drebin, are as bumbling as he is.

In the opening scene, a Presidential reception hosted to honor Drebin by President George H. W. Bush (played by John Roarke, who is hilariously realistic), Drebin decks Barbara Bush several times (with Margery Ross, who plays the First Lady as a valiant trouper, always coming up smiling). The setting quickly changes to a strip joint, a bowling alley, and operating room, and eventually includes a bomb site, a blues bar, and a dance-reception before the chases start. Nelson and Winnie Mandela, John Sununu, and Davy Crockett have roles here, and ZsaZsa Gabor and Mel Torme appear in cameos.

The action is wild and wacky, and the gags (both verbal and visual) never cease. Love scenes add romance--or attempts at romance, since those, especially a seduction in which the two people are making a vase from wet clay in an art studio when the wheel goes out of control--are as off-the-wall as the rest of the film. Especially time-sensitive regarding O. J. Simpson, who dominates his scenes ironically in ways that he never did in 1991, when the film was made, Naked Gun 2 1/2 is a hilarious but poignant comedy--the energy problems of 1991 are, unfortunately, not all that different now. Mary Whipple

Naked Gun

When all's said and done, this film boils down to one simple fact; if you hate the humour presented by the Zucker brothers and Abrahams then you're simply going to hate this film. If you love the humour then certainly you're going to love the film, but you're probably also going to appreciate the significance of the film in the history of cinematic comedies.

This is more than a film of one-liners and slapstick gags (although lets face it, it is jam packed full of rip tickling jokes) there is also some of the sharpest observational humour around and even then there is room for some memorable spoofing swipes at other films.

There's no real reason to discuss the plot, that is simply a vehicle to hang all the funny situations and brilliant pranks onto, and similarly you can't really criticise any of the cast for their performances as it's really a time to forget acting skills and just give a hammed up pantomime performance.

Leslie Neilson is brilliant in this type of film and although it basically prevented him ever widening his acting horizons (did he actually ever try?) his is the master of his craft in this one. Well supported by a rare old mix of actors including the lovely Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban and even wooden old O.J. Simpson is acceptable in this.

One final point, whilst some films from the 80's have aged horribly badly over the years, this one comes out very well indeed. The fact is, it should actually age very badly indeed (just take the first scene where the world's"tyrants" are gathered round the table) but instead, it this respect, it comes over as a lovely whimsical look back on old times.

We are not nuns

Nuns on the Run is a story of two old fashioned gangsters, Charlie & Brian who are fed up with the increasingly violent nature of their business. They decide to retire from it after a bungled robbery in which a fellow robber is killed by accident.
However after seeing their gang boss kill a mechanic who fixes up stolen cars, because he wanted to leave the firm they decide to flee, after setting up their gang boss with a robbery on a triad drug gang. Predictably the set up goes wrong and soon leaves Charlie & Brian forced to hide from both the Triads, and Casey their rather violent former boss. The only place they can find to hide, a nunnery. Charlie & Brian soon become Sisters Inviolata & Euphemia to hide them until they can escape. However Brian is in love, and won ’ t leave without his girlfriend Faith, who is being hunted by the Triads and Casey as a link to Brian & Charlie.

Nuns on the Run has to be one of the funniest films of the early 1990s, and a masterstroke combining Robbie Coltrane & Eric Idle together for this happy caper. Many people remember Coltrane as the tough forensic psychologist “ Fitz ” in the TV series Cracker, or more recently as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films. However in Nuns on the Run, his characters serious efforts to be a nun show what a talented comedy performer Coltrane is, and how he made his name in TV.
A film of sharp and extremely funny dialogue, a great sound track by Yello and action packed if not slightly predictable as calamities come the way of our two “ nuns ” as they try to blend in, and to also make their escape.

A great film from start to finish, and one I can watch over and over again.

Classy...

One of the best disaster films of the 70's. This one belongs with all the others in the collection, Airport, The Poseidon Adventure etc. Sophia Loren is exquisite, Ava Gardner is breathtaking & so is the whole cast. The effects are well made, the plot although familiar still works with most audiences. It's done with class and a lot of style. Picturesque! Don't Miss It!

1978 Thriller - Top drawer stuff

The premise behind Peter Hyam's (Busting) Capricorn One plot is believable: how an agenda-based government space program, struggling on a shrinking budget, tries to buffalo the public into believing in a faked mission to Mars, then the fallout over that botched attempt results in an action-packed"escape" plot of high entertainment. The cast is excellent: movie buffs will enjoy Telly Savalas, James Brolin and Elliot Gould at the peak of their careers, along with many others. Hal Holbrock plays an icy and very, very bad program director out to cover his kiester at any cost.

The story and how the plot unfolds is solid. Everything moves in a logical, intelligent, and extremely realistic pace. That is at least one feather in Capricorn's cap. Some of the scenes impressed me like the astronaught's escape. Too bad a solid story is not enough on the silver screen. The acting was mostly dry, with the characters only having transparent personalities. That's not to say there wasn't any good acting, just that there was no dynamic. The only character that really stands out in personality is a surly crop duster played by Telly"Kojak" Savalas. The scenes with Savalas are worth watching the movie alone.

There isn't much action. There are hardly any special effects. Not that the movie really needs any of this. I just wanted to point that out to those of you who require these aspects in your sci-fi viewing. The movie's pace is consistent enough, but again for those of you who want edge of your seat plot progression you will not find it here.

All in all it's not a bad movie. As a matter of fact I bet most of you government conspiracy buffs will really get into as it does that quite well. For those of you who have a short attention span you might not like it. Well... you might like the Savalas scenes. For the masses I recommend catching it on television or cable and see for yourself what I'm talking about. For me I find the lack of character development really hurts what could have been a well-rounded movie. Capricorn One: A decent meal but has no spice to it.

B&W is good, but...

Good picture for an old, black and white film, and hte sound quality is as good as it will get. However, the colourised version...well...looks like it has been coloured in with crayons.
Avoid.

The word 'camp' doesn't do it justice... Bad does though.

Oh my God....!

Watching this film now with the knowledge that this was a Village People vehicle movie, one is ready for the fact that this is unlikely to be a truly great film. However a truly great bad film was the result. One that definitely needs to be seen by all afficianados of camp, schmaltz and 70s tack and excess. And all who just love bad scripts, bad acting and ridiculous plots...

As the 70s disco boom took off 'Saturday Night Fever' released in 1977 took most movie executives by surprise. 'Grease' followed a year later and again was a massive success. So the cynical hacks in Hollywood began to see a formula - whom ever was currently flavour of the month in the pop charts - give them an Elvis-type rags to riches story, popular dance songs, young good looking actors in starring roles - what could go wrong...?

Well for a start having Steve Guttenberg roller-skating through the streets of New York while the opening credits roll, singing about this city being his city is a shot across the bows that even Ingmar Bergman would struggle to rise up from. But then it goes on through more and more ludicrous scenes and twists. I won't lace spoilers here to ruin the enjoyment of those, like me, who positively revel in toe-curlingly awful dialogue and bad acting.. But watch for an extended scene toward the end of the film where they supposedly film a commercial for milkshake, with a song called... 'Milkshake'! It was said later of the film, released as it was in 1980, that it hammered the last few nails into disco's coffin...

Everyone should see this film for it's sheer jaw-dropping badness. Certainly it has pride of place in my dvd library, placed neatly at the front so anyone who scans the titles can see it - and then ask me incredulously why I have it. And for anyone who starts to watch but doesn't get all the way through - just make sure you get to see the scene where one of the Village People 'auditions' while singing 'Danny Boy'. When I watched this scene in astoundment I just knew that this sealed, for me, the glittering title of 'All time worst ever dvd'.

I've seen it probably twenty times since I bought it. Massively recommended, for all the wrong reasons - yes! But definitely should be bought and seen!