When this episode aired many years ago, It stood out to me. I saw how sometimes friendship transcends everything, and the racism and bigotry that exist in the world. I grew up in a time when race was a big issue, and how blacks were treated. In the end John goes all the way to President Roosevelt to secure a pardon for Harley. Then the sadness at the end, when the President dies, and it's revealed that granting Harley's pardon was the very last act he carried out. Then the whole family travels to Charlottesville to see the presidential funeral train as it passes through on its way to Washington D.C. This shows the true effect Roosevelt's death had on the country. This two part episode will forever be one of my favorite episodes.
Reviews
28 Reviews
The Vashons are the quintessential crime family
24 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This is the first part of the only 3 part episode of the series. Chris Vashon is the son of the Vashon family. Robert Drivas did an excellent job in the role. He acts like the typical rich kid that can do anything he wants, and doesn't have to pay any consequences for his acts. He robs a hotel, and punches the victim in the face with his "V" ring leaving a telltale sign of who he is, and puts McGarrett right on his tail. His dad Honory is played by Harold Gould. He is another great actor is his own right, and is perturbed that his son is acting so stupid. He has to try to curb his sons activities, and keep McGarrett off his back. Talking to his son does no good, and Honory wants his father, Dominic to intercede. Dominic is played by Luther Adler. He is an "old school" type of gangster who either bought or intimidated people into doing what he wanted. When Chris is arrested, Honory and his dad must do everything to get the case against Chris thrown out. When this happens, Chris, acting every bit the cocky son laughs and replies "so much for the pigs" to which his grandfather gives him a good whack in the face. Not to be deterred, Chris decides to pull off another job, with disastrous results. Watch for Honory's reaction at the end.
Turn-on
(1969– )
A bit colorful for it's time
16 February 2008
I remember watching the only episode of this show that ever aired. I do remember Tim Conway using a lot of vulgarity, which I never noticed in any other work that he did. The skits seemed to mimic that of Rowen and Martin's Laugh-In. I know that this show was so controversial at the time that it was canceled 10 minutes after it was aired. The other networks wouldn't even touch it.
Because of the time difference, people on the west coast never got to see it. I remember commenting to my mom how out of place the show was. There were some scenes that were drawn, and the characters just "popped in". This show was below the kind of comedy that Tim Conway was capable of doing.
Because of the time difference, people on the west coast never got to see it. I remember commenting to my mom how out of place the show was. There were some scenes that were drawn, and the characters just "popped in". This show was below the kind of comedy that Tim Conway was capable of doing.
The Time Tunnel
(1966–1967)
One of the best sci-fi shows...
29 March 2006
This is one show that I dropped everything for to watch...Some might say it was ahead of it's time, but it was well done just the same...It made time travel a possibility...I recently got all 30 episodes on DVD (some of which I haven't seen since the series was on TV)...A must for anyone sci-fi lovers collection...One of the best of the 60's shows...The cast of guest stars was great, with Michael Rennie and Victor Jory among them. Robert Colbert and James Darren headed up the cast for this show...A top secret project known as "tic-toc" far below the Arizona desert...A U.S. senator visits the complex to see if the government should spend any more money on the project...Fearing that the project will be shut down, Dr. Tony Newman (Darren) decides to go into the time tunnel to show it can work...He is instantly transported to the Titanic, which is doomed to sink...Newman tries to convince the captain of the upcoming disaster, and is locked away...Then, Dr. Doug Phillips (Colbert) decides to go through the tunnel and help him...The captain then informs them that the ship has struck an iceberg...Newman and Phillips assist passengers to the lifeboats, when suddenly and explosion throws them overboard...the crew back at the time tunnel are able to stop time and send them back into the portal...from then on, Newman and Phillips are transported to different events in history.
Chiefs
(1983)
One Good Mini Series
1 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of the best mini series I have seen. The plot was well written, and had a great cast. Charlton Heston was outstanding as Hugh Holmes, the man behind the town of Delano. It is a small southern town in need of a police chief. the mini series is in three parts, covering three generations. The first part is 1924. A meeting is held, and there are only two candidates for the job. One is a well known farmer, Will Henry Lee. The other is a World War I veteran named Foxy Funderburke. Foxy is breeding dogs, but a lot of people in the town think he is strange. Will Henry Lee is a fair man, and well liked. He has to deal with a county sheriff named Skeeter Willis. Willis is very bigoted, and has the backing of the Ku Klux Klan. Will Henry investigates a death, and leads him to begin an investigation of disappearing young men. As is turns out, they are being murdered by Foxy. Will Henry dies after being shot by a man that has malaria. The man mistakenly shoots Will Henry, and sends his son away before being executed for his crime. The second part takes place in 1945. Many of the towns soldiers are returning after the war, including a very bigoted Sonny Butts, who becomes police chief. He is involved in the beating of a returning veteran named Marshall Peters. Peters was set up in business by Hugh Holmes, and befriended by Will Henry Lee's son, Billy. Butts happens upon the investigation that Will Henry Lee began 20 years before, and goes to visit Foxy. Foxy kills Sonny, and buries him and his motorcycle. The third part takes place in 1962, and Delano is again in need of a police chief. Billy Lee is running for governor, and suggests a retiring army officer named Tyler Watts be given consideration for the job. Watts gets the job, and it is revealed that he is the son of the man that shot and killed Will Henry Lee almost 40 years before. Again young men are disappearing, and Tyler Watts begins an investigation of his own. He runs into trouble when he wants to search Foxy's property, but eventually does get permission to search the property. One of the agents there trips over what he thinks is a pipe, but it turns out it is the handlebar of Sonny's motorcycle buried almost 20 years before! Foxy gets his rifle and shoots Tyler, and then is shot by agents. More than 40 bodies are unearthed on his property. Billy, Tyler, and Hugh are saddened by what they have found out. In the end, Billy is elected governor, and Tyler reveals his true identity to Billy by recalling a conversation they had almost 40 years before. Billy is brought to tears as he realizes it is his long lost friend.
Hawaii Five-O
(1968–1980)
One of the best!
10 September 2003
Without a doubt, this is probably one of the best cop shows ever made! Jack Lord made the series all the more beleivable as the tough as nails Steve McGarrett. Adding Wo Fat as an adversary was even better!. I grew up in New England watching this series, and came to Hawaii a few years before it stopped production. It was a trip seeing all the sights that I saw on the show. Jack Lord had many of the local entertainers from Hawaii on the show. Many of the plots were good. This is one show that I will always remember.
The movie that started it all!
15 August 2003
This is the one that began a series that lasted 12 years! Probably one of the best cop shows of all time! McGarett is a tough as nails cop on an elite state police force answerable only to the governor. He is stumped when one of his best friends turns up dead. As is turns out a Red Chinese agent named Wo Fat is using a device to procure information from U.S. agents. Wo Fat became one of McGarett's arch enemies throughout the run of the series. It should be noted that Danny Williams was played by an unknown actor named Tim O'Kelly. He was replaced in the series by James McArthur. The other regulars who went on to star in the series are Zulu and Kam Fong.
The Core
(2003)
The Ultimate Save The World Movie!
16 April 2003
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS!!!! This is probably one of the best what I like to call "save the world" movies I have ever seen. It seems like almost a reverse of the movie "Armageddon". A group of scientists discover that the earth's core is about to stop spinning, thereby causing disasters around the world. Dr Josh Keyes realize that there is something very wrong when a bunch of people with pacemakers suddenly die, and flocks of birds suddenly start dropping out of the sky. Keyes realizes that it has something to do with the earth's magnetic fields. Keyes meets up with another scientist, Dr. Conrad Zmiky, and together they begin to understand what is happening. At the same time, the space shuttle is entering the atmosphere, and on its way to landing, when the crew suddenly see that they are about 100 miles off course, and about to crash in Los Angeses. One of the pilots, (Hillary Swank) makes a daring landing in a drainage channel, and is chosen along with her fellow pilot for a mission to save the earth. Another scientist Braz (Delroy Lindo) has the concept for a craft able to make the journey to the center of the earth. The mission: the crew must deposit several Multi-megaton warheads at the center of the earth, and hope that the resulting explosion will be enough to start the core spinning again. I would have to say that all the actors in this movie gave a powerful performance. Most especially Aaron Eckhart, Stanley Tucci, and Delroy Lindo. Their broad knowledge of physics adds to the intensity of the film, and ultimately has them at each others throats. This is evident when Dr. Zmisky is knocked out after he goes on a rampage. During this mission, another disaster occurs when deadly microwave radiation is allowed to penetrate the atmosphere, causing the Golden Gate Bride to be destroyed. Eventually it is a race against time, as the crew realizes that the nukes they have onboard may not be enough to do the job. Add also another situation brewing on the earth's surface concerning a secret project that the U.S., whereby they have the capability to unleash earthquakes on other countries at will. Luckily, "Rat", a computer geek, is able to stop it in time. The visual effects shown in the movie make it all the more beleivable. I would reccommend this movie to anyone that enjoys Sci fi adventures.
Rudy
(1993)
One of the best football movies!
6 December 2002
This is without a doubt, one of the best football movies I have ever seen. Sean Austin does such a superb job at Rudy Rutigger, a young steel mill worker from Joliett, Illinois who aspires to attend Notre Dame, and play football. He is very undersized (5ft 7in) and 170 pounds. He makes it known that he intends to make the team. First of all, Rudy had to fight really hard just to get into Notre Dame. Rudy hires himself a tutor, and constantly applies for admission. Just when everything looks bleak, he is finally accepted. Coach Ara Parshigan sees that Rudy has a lot of heart, and wishes all his players were the same. Rudy makes the team, and is assigned to the practice squad. At first he puts up with a lot of flack from the other players who think that Rudy is making them look bad. They finally come to realize that he really wants to make the team. When Rudy fails to find his name among those that are being allowed to suit up, he is disgusted, and quits the team. He has a conversation with one of the janitors at the field, who is Rudy's good friend, and is told that he must not quit. Rudy finds out that this person was also on Notre Dame's football team, but never got to play, and quit. He points out to Rudy that "not a week has gone by that I didn't regret my decision." Rudy returns to practice, and is welcomed by his teammates. He goes to Coach Parshigan, and asks to be allowed to suit up for one game the next season. The coach agrees, but later on resigns. The new coach, Dan Devine, does not see Rudy the way Parshigan did. When the last home game of the season against Georgia Tech comes, the players all want to give up thier starting spots to allow Rudy to play. Rudy fulfulls the dream of a lifetime when he gets to lead the team out of the tunnel. As it turns out, Notre Dame completely dominated Georgia Tech, and the players realize that Rudy might not get to play, despite their begging Coach Devine to let him play. The offense scores one final touchdown, with time running out, and Rudy comes on the field as a special teamer. He is then told by the assistant coach to stay on the field, and on the next play, Rudy sacks the quarterback just as time runs out. This is a very moving movie, and I would highly recommend this movie to anyone. I just added this movie to my collection, and the DVD version is the best. The real Rudy Ruttiger does a short commentary, which eveyone should see.
Backdraft
(1991)
Blockbuster Movie
27 October 2002
This is one of Ron Howard's better films. Much of the filming was done on location in Chicago. Acting was excellent. Especially by Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. I have heard a lot of negatives about this movie, but I still feel it is worth a 9 at least. Steven and Brian McCaffery's dad (also a fireman) was killed in a fire in 1971. Brian was just a youngster, and along for the ride with his dad when he was killed. Twenty years later, Brian has become a fireman after failing at other pursuits. Steven is a lieutenant with the Chicago Fire Department. Steven does not think Brian can cut the mustard as a fireman, and Brian is out to prove himself. It makes for a great sibling rivalry. On top of this, an arsonist is setting fires, and the arson investigator, Donald Rimgale (Robert DeNero) does not have a clue as to who it is. Rimgale is pressured by an egotistical alderman (J.T. Walsh) who wants to be mayor. Brian has his problems working with Steven, and finally gives up, and accepts a job working with Rimgale. They find the links between all the fires, but Brian finds out more. (who the arsonist is). The climactic scene in chemical warehouse is great! I was told by someone that the funeral scene was overdone. I don't think so...I have seen funerals for firemen and they look exactly like what you see in the movie...Universal Studios in Hollywood had a Backdraft set on their lot some years back (which I visited), and it gives you a chance to see what these actors really faced...This is without a doubt one of my favorite movies, and Ron Howard deserves his share of kudos for an excellent directing job
The Dirty Dozen
(1967)
Good war movie!
19 October 2002
Robert Aldrich really outdoes himself with this movie. He put together an all star cast that gave a great performance! Lee Marvin is tasked to mold a bunch of army prisoners into a crack team. Their mission is to infiltrate a chateau in France where high ranking German officers take leave. These army prisoners are the worst of the worst. Telly Savalas is the craziest of the bunch as Arthur Maggot (fitting name). Lee Marvin must convince these prisoners that it would be in their best interest to listen to what he has to say. He makes it known that if they are successful with the mission, they wlll be givin pardons, but if they mess up, they go back to prison to await the execution of their sentences. Charles Bronson gives probably one of his best performances in this movie. Donald Sutherland also fit in as a rather odd character. He plays an even better one in "Kelly's Heroes" (Oddball). As it turns out, the group is succesful in its mission, and there is only one survivor from the original dozen, (Bronson). A Very good movie that I would reccommend to anyone.
The Delta Force
(1986)
Good action movie
17 October 2002
This was an excellent action movie, and Chuck Norris does a great performance. This movie is based on a real hijacking that happened. The movie seemed to follow what actually happened aboard that TWA flight. The hijackers attempted to hold a press conference with the flight crew as hostages, with disasterous results. Yes, Lebanon at first refused to allow the hijacked plane to land at Beirut, and eventually permission was givin. The hijacked plane was refueled and flew on to Algiers. The only difference between the movie and what actually happened was the rescue. In actuality, the hostages were taken to Damascus, Syria, and released. It would have been great if it had happened the way the movie showed it, where a crack team of commandos were flown in to totally wipe out the terrorists. Still, the movie had great action, especially where Scott (Norris) beats up Abdul (Forster) and eventually blow him up in his limosine. Robert Forster did a great job acting as well.
Shenandoah
(1965)
Great family movie!
17 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
This is probably one of the best movies James Stewart made. This movie shows the struggle one family must go through during the Civil War. Charlie Anderson has a large farm in his native Virginia. The Civil War is raging, and coming closer to his home. One of his sons feels that eventually, they are going to have to be involved in the war. Charlie feels that it is not their war, so he does not want to be involved. His son-in-law, Sam is a Confederate officer, and goes off to fight in the war after marrying Charlie's daughter, Jenny. Then, Charlie's youngest son is captured by Union forces. Now Charlie feels the war involves him, and with his sons and daughter, sets out to find his youngest son. He comes upon a train that is carrying Confederate prisoners, and sets them free, hoping that his son is among the captured. Charlie's son is not there, but Sam is. Charlie asks Sam what should be done with the train, and Sam says to burn it. Later on, Charlie's son, Jacob is shot and killed by a young Confederate soldier. Charlie feels it is time to go home, and gives up looking for his youngest son. Upon returning home, Charlie and his family find out that his oldest son, James and daughter-in-law, Ann were killed by scavangers. Their infant daughter is spared, however. Charlie goes to the graveyard and speaks to his wife. After that, they go to Sunday services, and during the church service, his youngest son show up. There are a lot of moving scenes in this movie, but not like this one. The youngest son is in tears when he sees his father. Jimmy Stewart was the perfect actor to portray the patriach in this movie. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who has not seen it. I can't really say enough about it.
Best Movie Of It's Time
10 October 2002
This probably the best movie that Jack Nicholson ever did. His performance outranks anything he has ever done. As Randle P. MacMurphy, he is a convict that just doesn't get along. It is decided to have him checked out at a mental hospital, which to him is a big joyride. He meets some patients there, and soon has them doing things for themselves. He is especially fond of the Chief, played by Will Sampson. The chief has the staff at the hospital beleiving that he is deaf and dumb, and he is neither. MacMurphy is the only one that knows this. He also develops a true hatred for Nurse Ratched (played by Louise Fletcher). MacMurphy shows his dislike for her by constantly breaking the rules. He takes the patients on a bus ride, and then on a fishing trip. He also brings in some women and booze to have a party on the ward. He was already givin shock treatments for interfering in a fight on the ward, and after Nurse Ratched causes Billy to commit suicide, MacMurphy really loses it, and tries to choke Nurse Ratched. It is decided that MacMurphy is dangerous, and he is givin a lobotomy. The Chief, after seeing his friend a vegetable, decides that he does not want the other patients to see him in that condition, and smothers MacMurphy. After this, the Chief escapes from the hospital using the water cooler to break the window. This is in homage to MacMurphy, and is very moving. Again, I say this is the best movie of it's time.
Truely, the King Of The Monsters!
9 October 2002
This is probably my favorite of the old monster pictures. I think I was 4 or 5 when I first saw it. It left a lasting impression on me. I can still remember how frightened I was when I first saw him. I am a collector of old monster pictures, and I definetaly have this one! Godzilla comes to life after nuclear testing has occured. I also have the movie "Gorgo" so I would like to compare the two. First of all, Gozilla is a lot bigger, second of all, he has "nuclear breath". He breathes fire. He arrives in Tokyo, and does partial damage at the docks. It is decided to defend Tokyo, and build a huge electrical fence around the city. This does no good. Godzilla walks right through it, and now he's really mad. By the time he's done, Godzilla has made Tokyo look like it was hit by an A-Bomb. Excellent special effects for the time.I especially remember the long distance shot of the city in flames. The reporter Steve Martin (who just happens to be in Tokyo to visit an old friend is on his way to Egypt and decides to cover this story). He is nearly killed himself, and concludes that his friend must destroy Godzilla. ( He is a scientist who has discovered a way of taking the oxygen out of the water, thereby destroying anything in it. It works, and Godzilla is destroyed. (But not really). Again, one of my favorites from the old monster movie age.
Gorgo
(1961)
One Mean Monster!
9 October 2002
This is one of those movies from which I refer to as the "golden age of monster movies". As a kid, I enjoyed any kind of monster picture. Godzilla was one of my favorites, and I would have to say that Gorgo was second. Back in the '50s and '60s, they didn't have the technology for special effects as they do now. Gorgo (or actually Gorgo's child) comes to life after a huge undersea earthquake in the North Atlantic. The fishermen who capture it are supposed to take it to the University of Dublin in Ireland for study. The two fishermen have a better idea. They decide to take it to London, and put it on display at a circus. Unknown to them, it's just a baby, and pretty soon, mama comes looking for her offspring. The adult Gorgo is over 200 feet high. (is it the mama or papa?...we don't really know). The adult finds it way to London (sinking a ship on the way) and totally trashes the city. Gorgo reclaims her child, and heads back to sea. This is one of the few monster movies where the monster actually lives at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture as a child, and I enjoy looking for all those old monster pictures. I guess you'll beleive anything when you are 6 years old!
The Vikings
(1958)
A Great Epic
13 September 2002
This is probably one of the best movies depicting the Viking civilization. Kirk Douglas plays Einar, son of the great Viking warrior Ragnar (Ernest Borgnine). Ragnar has been raiding England, and fathers a child by Queen Enid. This child is quickly spirited away to Italy and later captured by the Vikings. Twenty years later, Queen Enid dies, but the rumors that she had a child by Ragnar dog her husband's successor to the throne, King Aella. The King accuses one of his lords of treason by aiding the Viking raids. This lord quickly escapes, with the aid of the Vikings, and continues to aid them by drawing maps of the English coast. He meets Eric, a slave who dislikes Einar, and uses a hunting hawk to attack him. Later, Lord Egbert recognizes him as the child of Queen Enid and Ragnar. Lord Egbert gains possession of the slave in order to save his life. The Vikings later capture Princess Morgana of Wales to hold for ransom. Einer wants Morgana for himself, but Eric helps her escape, and takes her and Ragnar back to England. Morgana is supposed to marry Ayella, but doesn't want to. She asks to be released from her pledge to marry him, and he refuses. Ragnar is sent to his death in a pit of wolves, but not before Eric cuts his bonds, and gives him a sword with which to die. (The Vikings believe that to enter Valhalla, one must die with a sword in his hand.) As punishment, Ayella cuts Eric's left hand off. Eric returns to the Viking village, and tells then what happened to Ragnar. Eric and Einar join forces to defeat Ayella, and then they have one last battle in which Einar is killed, but not before Eric gives him a sword to die with. Einar is then given the traditional Viking funeral, sent adrift in a burning Viking ship. This movie depicted the Vikings like no other could. Ernest Borgnine was perfect as Ragnar. He looked like he was born into that role. This was probably my favorite of all Kirk Douglas's movies. As Einar, he has a lot of his father's qualities. The only difference being Einar had a shaved face. Frank Thring, who plays King Ayella, does an excellent portrayal. He is a very cold and cruel person, and Eric gets even with him in the end by shoving him into the pit of wolves. I was around 5 when this movie came out, and the one scene that sticks out in my mind was the one of Ayella cutting off Eric's hand. Without a doubt, one of the best movies.
Enter the Dragon
(1973)
The Best of Bruce Lee!
10 September 2002
This is without a doubt the best Bruce Lee movie ever. Bruce Lee accepts an invitation to a martial arts tournament on a remote island near Hong Kong, but unknown to his his host (who's a crime lord), he's really there to spy on him. Lee finds out that his sister was about to be captured by one of this guy's goons, and committed suicide. Lee realizes that he must defeat the goon, and destroy the crime lord. The fight sequence in the yard is great! the showdown that Lee has with the crime lord is even better! The fight scene in the "room of mirrors" is great too! John Saxon co-starred in this movie, and did some great martial arts move himself. This was the movie that made Bruce Lee a household name in the U.S. Sadly, he never lived to see the fame it brought him. He died a month before it's release. Truely, the best of Bruce Lee.
First Blood
(1982)
A great action movie
8 September 2002
This is one of the best movies that Sylvester Stallone did. He actually wrote the screenplay for this movie, and his talents are visible. Stallone plays John Rambo, a Vietnam vet who is more or less a drifter, wandering from place to place. When the movie opens, Rambo is on his way to visit one of his old friends from his unit from Vietnam only to find out that he died from cancer. As it turns out, he died from exposure to agent orange that was used in Vietnam. Rambo then wanders into a small town to look for something to eat. The local sheriff there, Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) doesn't like Rambo from the very beginning. This was probably one of the best acting jobs by Dennehy. Rambo is arrested for vagrancy, and immediately set upon by one of the sheriff's deputies. He is hosed down like an animal, and is in the process of being dry shaved, and totally flips out. He begins reliving one of his nightmares from Vietnam, and beats up the sheriff and his deputies and escapes from the jail. The chase scene afterward is great, and Rambo outwits the sheriff, and runs into the forest. The sheriff uses every means at his disposal to recapture Rambo to no avail. While the sheriff and his deputies are searching for him, he attacks them all, including the sheriff. He informs the sheriff that he could have killed them all, and warns him to back off. When Rambo's commander shows up to assist in capturing him, it turns into a real confrontation between him and the sheriff. Richard Crenna plays his commander, and does a great job. He tries to point out to the sheriff that it would be wise to just let Rambo escape and capture him later on, but to no avail. This sheriff is determined to get Rambo one way or another since he killed one of his deputies. Trautman (Crenna) tries to explain that with kind of survival training and combat training Rambo has had, the sheriff's men are no match for him. Rambo ends up in a cave,fighting for his survival. National guardsmen blow the cave up,thinking they killed Rambo, but are surprised when he shows up later. He steals an army truck loaded with weapons, and blows up a gas station in town, then blows up a sporting goods store before catching up with the sheriff. Rambo wants to kill the sheriff, but Trautman talks him out of it. Rambo then breaks down, relating to Trautman what it was like to come home from Vietnam, and be treated like nothing. I have this movie on VHS, and I highly recommend it.
WarGames
(1983)
Great thriller!
7 September 2002
This is a great edge-of-your-seat movie. Matthew Broderick is David Lightman, an average high schooler in Seattle, Washington who loves computers. By accident, he breaks in the computer at NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Facility in Colorado. It is interesting to note that the movie makers were not allowed into this facility to make this movie yet, it looks strangely real. Barry Corbin was perfect as General Jack Berenger. This movie really makes you think how easily a hacker can get into anyone's computer system. It is interesting to see "Joshua" want to win this game of global thermonuclear war, but then realize at the end, that there are no winners, and the only way to win is not to ever play. A move well worth watching.
Hoosiers
(1986)
Great Movie!
6 September 2002
This is an excellent movie for anyone who is a basketball fan. Gene Hackman did a outstanding job as coach Norman Dale. He is faced with bringing a small Indiana town's high school basketball team together. The coach has a questionable past,but really wants to work with this team. The town holds a referundum as to whether or not to fire the coach, and one of the players informs the town that "IF he stays, I play, but if he goes, I go". It was great to see how these players rallyed around the coach. He was assisted by Dennis Hopper, who's a drnkard and his son plays on the team. At first his son doesn't like the fact that his dad is coaching, but later comes around. It was great to see how this coach molded the players into a team, and take them to the state finals. I want to add this movie to my collection. It is worthy of any collection.
Eraser
(1996)
Great Special Effects
5 September 2002
I thought this movie was adequate. Arnold Scwartzenegger does a great job, and this movie does not detract from his acting abilities. This movie deals with a U.S. Marshal who sets witnesses up with new identities in order to protect their lives. One such person is Lee Cullin, who works at Cyrez Corporation. Cyrez produces high-tech weapons that end up being sold on the black market. The plot of this movie was really good, the only problem I had with it was the beleivability of the weapon in question (the EM gun). A weapon that can fire rounds at near light speed seems rather far-fetched. One thing I thought was interesting was the fact that anyone using this gun could see through solid objects, like x-rays. Wouldn't this involve radiation? If so, would the person using the gun have to be shielded like an x-ray technician does when they operate an x-ray machine? The Internet Movie Database does an excellent job in pointing out these flaws in the movie goofs. For instance, the heat that would have to be generated to fire the rounds, and the damage it would do. This would create a lot of questions to anyone with at least a little physics knowledge. The movie does do an excellent job with the special effects, and made the movie enjoyable. I actually used this movie in a career day presentation at my son's school. I used the scene where Lee goes into the Cyrez vault to copy files on the EM gun. I used this to explain the concept of downloading files from a mainframe coomputer. James Caan does an excellent job playing the bad guy.
Bullitt
(1968)
Fast Action Movie!
30 August 2002
This is one of the best action movies that Steve McQueen made. The car chase scene says it all. McQueen really stepped into character in this one. He plays a San Francisco detective assigned to protect a witness in a critical case. The man who gives him the assignment is Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn)..Chalmers is a very political figure, and wants his witness protected at all costs. When the witness is murdered, Bullitt has to cover it up to find the killers. He does, and it generates one of the best car chase scenes ever used in a movie. It is understood that Steve McQueen did some of the stunt driving. I have this movie on DVD, It took me a long time to find it, and I am glad to own it.
Walking Tall
(1973)
Buford Pusser is the best!
27 August 2002
One great movie! Joe Don Baker does a great job portraying Buford Pusser. This movies deals with a man that has just givin up pro wrestlng because he is sick and tired of being controlled by someone else. He returns home to Tennessee, and finds the same thing going on. His mother warns him to ignore it, but by accident, he finds out the hard way how these people operate. His battle is an uphill one. First, he is jailed for robbing the local bar. He acts as his own defense at the trial and wins. Then the local sheriff tries to kill him, and is killed himself. Once Pusser is elected sheriff, the fight really begins. He eventually cleans out the graft and corruption in McNairy County, and then he is ambushed, and his wife is tragically killed. Pusser finally has one last showdown with the people at the Lucky Spot. I would like to have seen Joe Don Baker do the other two movies. This movie is a real tear jerker at the end.
The Green Mile
(1999)
One Unique Movie
26 August 2002
This is one of those rare movies that really touch you. Tom Hanks does a great job as Paul Edgecomb. It's a little different from other roles he has had, but good nonetheless. Michael Clark Duncan really steals the show as the huge, softspoken, and kindly John Coffey. He was nominated for best supporting actor, and should have received it. Doug Hutchison has one of the most difficult parts as Percy Whetmore. He does a magnificent job with the role. John Coffey arrives on death row at Cold Mountain Prison in 1935, accused of killing two young girls. As it turns out, he is completely innocent, but prefers to go to his death anyway. Paul is suffering with a painful infection that John eventually cures him of.Del (Michael Jeter) is another prisoner slated to die in the electric chair who befriends a mouse named "Mr. Jingles". Percy deliberately kills the mouse, and John brings it back to life, giving witness to his great healing powers. Percy is a spoiled brat, with connections to the governor. He uses this to more or less throw his weight around with the other guards, but gets his in the end. He should have taken that job at the mental institution. This is one movie that grabbed my attention at the beginning, and held it until the end.
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