Editorial Review

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Read more

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Reviews (320)

45 Times and Counting
It is not a mistake: I have seen this movie so many times that I can only estimate the number of times I have seen it. One may ask if it has even started to lose some of its charm. Short answer: no. It is still a great and moving story now, even after 45-odd viewings.
Moving performances
Neither Mr. Broderick nor Mr. Washington have been favorites of mine in the past but I must give them their due in their performances in Glory. Both gave stunning and moving performances. The visuals that made you feel like you were there were astounding as well.Mr. Broderick does a wonderful job of portraying a character who is sometimes self-righteous and self-seeking and at other times inspiring and self-abasing. Mr. Washington provides the angry man to bring out the more sedate and clear-thinking Morgan Freeman character.All come together in common bond that builds in fighting together for a common cause.It is a somewhat one-sided and shallow portrayal of the war's causes that may not go over well with the lovers of history.But, the coming-of-age band-of-brothers mood of the film is moving and enjoyable all the same. No matter which side you may favor in that conflict (if either), you will still find yourself cheering with the rest, "Give-em Hell 54th!"

INSPIRATIONAL MASTERPIECE
Flawless movie making at its best! Patriotic and powerful telling of the true beginning-of-the-end for the Confederacy. Ex-slaves and free blacks alike, finally aloud to defend their dignity, were the final blow to the Southern bondage of an entire race of human beings history tells us. The Truth based story of the Massachusetts 54th. Only the beginning of black heroics during the Civil War.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-action/Adventure    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

A box-office hit when released in 1994, this sprawling, frequently overwrought familial melodrama may get sillier as its plot progresses, but it's the kind of lusty, character-based epic that Hollywood should attempt more often. It's also an unabashedly flattering star vehicle for Brad Pitt as Tristan--the rebellious middle son of a fiercely independent Montana rancher and military veteran (Anthony Hopkins)--who is routinely at odds with his more responsible older brother, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and younger brother, Samuel (Henry Thomas). From the battlefields of World War I to his adventures as an oceangoing sailor, Tristan's life is full of personal torment, especially when he returns to Montana and finds himself competing with Alfred over Samuel's beautiful widow (Julia Ormond), whose passion for Tristan disrupts the already turbulent Ludlow clan. Under the wide-open canopy of Big Sky country, this operatic tale unfolds with all the bloodlust, tragedy, and scenery-chewing performances you'd expect to find in a hokey bestselling novel (in fact, it's based on the acclaimed novella by Jim Harrison), but it's a potent mix that's highly entertaining. Not surprisingly, John Toll won an Academy Award for his breathtaking outdoor cinematography. Read more

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Reviews (149)

Legends Of The Dull
More predictable than an old TV Land episode of Bonanza and much less entertaining, this story of an anti-government rancher and his three sons, one the upstanding sort who seeks to work for good within the system, one an idealist, and the middle son, Tristan, played by Brad Pitt, a tormented man who seeks to find peace within nature's anger. At least that's what I think he was doing. The fact is I never was a fan of this movie, not back in the 1990's when my best friend loved it (and predicted Julia Ormond would be a superstar--sorry, Gina, if you ever read this, I just couldn't resist working that in there, ha-ha) and not upon the occasion of a recent second viewing. I don't think there's anything to really recommend this movie to anyone. It's not spectacular in its setting, it's not revolutionary in its by-the-numbers story, and I found then and still find now that it is highly melodramatic and boring. To each his own, I know some love this movie, but from where I sit, this film is a would-be epic that never rises above fluff.

I Love This Movie
Marvelous movie, marvelous cast in this 1994 release.
I'd rather be hit with a bat than watch this again
Beyond words.Just awful.I wish they would have just followed a bear around with a camera for a few hours instead of doing this to the audience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

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Reviews (24)

How Could This Lahti/Tilley Charmer Have Passed Us By?
I recently caught this wonderfully captivating flick on the Sundance channel.It was early one morning when I couldn't sleep and there was nothing else but garbage on over 150 cable channels.Christive Lahti and Meg Tilley were the perfect combination to keep me from drifting off back to La La Land...
Before there was Thelma and Louise...
Actually, both probably came out about the same time, or close...I am astounded that this has not been issued on DVD yet. Of all the "buddy" movies I've seen - especially dealing with women - this one always cut straight to the bone with me. When Meg Tilly, in a moment of trauma, cries out "Why am I here again?" referring to her continual missteps in life, it struck such a resonant chord with me. Do we ever feel that we've gotten to the place we're supposed to get to? Apparently, in an absolutely luminous moment, she does, as, looking up at the Northern Lights sometime after that, she responds to a friend asking her why she's happy now, she answers, "Because I didn't expect anything." (Or words to that effect.) Her character comes to an epiphany before Christine Lahti's does - but both come to a resolution by the end of the movie. It's like observing two of your most dysfunctional friends from afar - you long to help them, hope they arrive at the right answer, and sit back happy when they do. (I also like Meg's moment in the phone booth when, after a raucous conversation with her former husband, she screams, "I MARRIED him, what is my problem?") Hopefully in a short while we will be able to get this on DVD - certainly it is the prevailing comment in the critiques.

Please issue on DVD
I hope the powers that be are listening and release this movie on DVD! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

A high-profile action/exploitation thriller set in the present, Read more

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Reviews (112)

It is a great movie!
This is a great movie.Denzel Washington is riveting. This movie is really a vehicle for him and he does a great job creating a multi-dimensional character plus he is easy on the eyes.
An ironic anachronism, replete with Hollywood PC shibboleths
You can tell this movie was released in 1998 because you can still see New York's Twin Towers standing, and because of the groveling incantations of "Islam is a religion of peace," repeated often enough (along with casting a Good Guy Arab Cop, Tony Shalhoub) to offset any PC-incorrect image of portraying Islamofascist terrorism.
Even more relevant since 9/11, but undermined by the need to demonize the CIA & the U .S. Military
This movie has become even more relevant since it came out in 1998.It was controversial and there were very predictable cries of ethnic defamation and so forth.While it came out after the first bombing of the World Trade Center and the Khobar Towers, it seemed a bit over the top at the time, but less so after 9/11.
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Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Feature Film-action/Adventure    3. Movie   

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Reviews (24)

It's deja-vu all over again!
I saw this movie when it was broadcast 24 years ago, and have never forgotten it.Although I never mistook it for an actual broadcast of a terroristic event (comparisons to Orson Wells' War of the Worlds notwithstanding), the realism and plausibility of the story were truly frightening.Some of you may remember the commotion caused by the 1979 movie "The China Syndrome," about the cover-up of a nuclear accident.That film was released just weeks before the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island.Just as then, I had a palpable sense of deja-vu when I saw "Special Bulletin," and 24 years later, when terror struck in New York City on 9/11, I was just 40 blocks away, and I thought "it's finally happening."Watch this movie - given today's political climate, it will scare the socks off you.

Ripped From The Headlines
Attacks on New York, attacks from within (Oklahoma City); it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Hell, it's already begun. The United States seems on a path that doesn't give enough credit to terror from within, and terror from elsewhere. America doesn't seem to nurture real care to any nation. Hiding behind the veil of the oft stated, "We are a nation of laws". Well enough. We simply give billions, we never develop a bond with our friends, neutrals, or foes. A little bit of love would go much further than billions. I humbly propose a worldwide emergency response team that resembles military enscription - and helps peoples with as much touching, as money and technology. (And perhaps a Tupperware Party here and there). So it's not unthinkable that an unlikely crew of Americans demand to state thier case via terrorism. Made for TV film "Special Bulletin", prophetically explores the anger of those who seek uni-lateral disarmement as a first step towards the reduction of Weapons of Mass Destruction.This film was made before the fall of Communism, and clearly cites the Soviet Union as a threat that can be de-escalated, if America makes a first bold, and trusting move. As the film shifts into high gear, it becomes clear the Administration will not capitulate to internal terrorists despite thier claim that they have a Nuclear Weapon, and will detonate it soon, unless America begins to dis-arm. The threat is initially brushed off as a hoax by the Administration, however, plans are actually being readied to storm the tugboat the terrorists are operating from, and where the bomb is allegedly housed. All this horror takes place in the context of a CNN-like broadcast. A television journalist and cameraman are abducted by the terrorists as a means of communicating with the authorities. From the anchor desk, the "Dean" of RBS News, and the female counterpart Sylvia, give a play-by-play, and color commentary, of the eminent destruction of an American city. Embedded within this intense drama, is also a satirical dark comedy inwhere we see many of the news staff being more concerned about thier appearence, than the tragedy they're about to cover. Very interesting characters populate the terrorist ensemble; a naive Social Worker, Military Strategist, Vietnam nut, Poet, Nuclear Scientist, and a shared hunger for peace; and power. The tension mounts quickly both in the ship, and in the Government. A devastating ending serves as a distasteful desert. Shattering.

VERY UNDERRATED FILM
This film is a real sleeper and its presentation is virtually unique.The film depicts a shattering and momentus news event unfolding as it would be viewed if you were watching CNN. The film is way ahead of its time, and offers some alarming and shuddery scenes of an event that could certainly happen.It was a film I will never forget, and one that I highly recommend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Instructional / Educational    3. Motion Picture Video    4. Movie    5. Television   

Editorial Review

For better or worse, David Mamet's hit play Read more

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Reviews (49)

Not happy at all - DVD not working properly although suppose to be new
Although I purchased a brand new DVD and expected it to be brand new I have to report that I am extremely unhappy as the DVD is not working properly and stalls frequently during the middle part of the movie.
About Last Night still holds water
I can't believe I've only just seen this movie for the first time.SUCH a realistic insight into first (real) love and what living together must be like.My favorite aspect was how it portrays the strain that being in a relationship puts on your friendships.I liked it even more than the John Hughes movies of that era because of it's realism--Hughes would sometimes sacrifice the truth for a joke.The only part I found unrealistic was the ending--too Hollywood, considering the rest of the movie had an independent film feel (hence the four stars rather than five).
The Best date movie of the 80's...
For me this is best and most truthful date film of the 80's.Being from Chicago everything just rings true.I always thought the film makers did a great job of adapting a David Mamet play into an 80's comerical date movie, while leaving in some of Mamet's complex wording in the dialogue.
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Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, Read more

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Reviews (638)

This Movie Captured My Attention
I'm not big on movies. This one is big. I don't normally watch R movies. This one is R because of the realistic battle scenes.
What took so long?
Why did it take Hollywood so long to finally create a really good movie about the Samurai? This movie could have easily been made 20 or even 30 years ago but wasn't. The story itself was clearly availible back then. No special effects were required. Just a good sound story, a decent script, set pieces, wardrobe, cinemetography and director were all that was needed. These are all things that were readily at hand 20 or 30 years ago.
Spectacular--A Truly Great Film
This is Tom Cruise at his greatest. The film's tone, mood, action, acting, directing, sets, and scenes (especially the exteriors) were magnificent!!! This is a movie with a heart, and Tom's gradual transformation--from savage soldier to honorable fighter--was refreshing and uplifting. Buy it and keep it. You'll want to see it many times, as each viewing shows you how very much more there is than when you saw it earlier. I can't praise this movie enough, and believe me, I'm a harsh critic, especially when I note something unbelievable and phony. Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

A year after a devastating friendly fire incident during the Gulf War,Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is in a Washington, D.C., desk job assigned the rudimentary task of overseeing a Medal of Honor candidate who died in the war. However, the case and soldier in question are a political hot potato--Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) is America's first female soldier to be killed in combat.Read more

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Reviews (37)

A Testament to Courage
This is a riveting soldiers in combat drama that works as a human drama also. Director Edward Zwickhas made something special here as what could have been a routine story, takes on depth and a sense of honor and history as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the first female officer killed in combat turns into a marshy quicksand of lies and deception about the events leading to her death.
EXCELLENT!
Definitely a great movie, Courage Under Fire, brings to the screen two stories as they unfold at the same time; a military investigation into whether a female officer should receive the Medal of Honor posthumously, and the inner struggle of the investigator as he tries to come to terms with his having been responsible for his friend's death in Iraq during Desert Storm.
A Meg movie that is not a comedy
Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serving (Denzel Washington) makes the ultimate boo boo.In the heat of the moment he targets our side.
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-action/Adventure    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

One of the very best films about the Civil War, this instant classic from 1989 is also one of the few films to depict the participation of African American soldiers in Civil War combat. Based in part on the books Read more

Features

• Color
• Widescreen
• NTSC

Reviews (320)

45 Times and Counting
It is not a mistake: I have seen this movie so many times that I can only estimate the number of times I have seen it. One may ask if it has even started to lose some of its charm. Short answer: no. It is still a great and moving story now, even after 45-odd viewings.
Moving performances
Neither Mr. Broderick nor Mr. Washington have been favorites of mine in the past but I must give them their due in their performances in Glory. Both gave stunning and moving performances. The visuals that made you feel like you were there were astounding as well.Mr. Broderick does a wonderful job of portraying a character who is sometimes self-righteous and self-seeking and at other times inspiring and self-abasing. Mr. Washington provides the angry man to bring out the more sedate and clear-thinking Morgan Freeman character.All come together in common bond that builds in fighting together for a common cause.It is a somewhat one-sided and shallow portrayal of the war's causes that may not go over well with the lovers of history.But, the coming-of-age band-of-brothers mood of the film is moving and enjoyable all the same. No matter which side you may favor in that conflict (if either), you will still find yourself cheering with the rest, "Give-em Hell 54th!"

INSPIRATIONAL MASTERPIECE
Flawless movie making at its best! Patriotic and powerful telling of the true beginning-of-the-end for the Confederacy. Ex-slaves and free blacks alike, finally aloud to defend their dignity, were the final blow to the Southern bondage of an entire race of human beings history tells us. The Truth based story of the Massachusetts 54th. Only the beginning of black heroics during the Civil War.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

A box-office hit when released in 1994, this sprawling, frequently overwrought familial melodrama may get sillier as its plot progresses, but it's the kind of lusty, character-based epic that Hollywood should attempt more often. It's also an unabashedly flattering star vehicle for Brad Pitt as Tristan--the rebellious middle son of a fiercely independent Montana rancher and military veteran (Anthony Hopkins)--who is routinely at odds with his more responsible older brother, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and younger brother, Samuel (Henry Thomas). From the battlefields of World War I to his adventures as an oceangoing sailor, Tristan's life is full of personal torment, especially when he returns to Montana and finds himself competing with Alfred over Samuel's beautiful widow (Julia Ormond), whose passion for Tristan disrupts the already turbulent Ludlow clan. Under the wide-open canopy of Big Sky country, this operatic tale unfolds with all the bloodlust, tragedy, and scenery-chewing performances you'd expect to find in a hokey bestselling novel (in fact, it's based on the acclaimed novella by Jim Harrison), but it's a potent mix that's highly entertaining. Not surprisingly, John Toll won an Academy Award for his breathtaking outdoor cinematography. Read more

Features

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• Color
• Dolby
• Original recording reissued
• Special Edition
• NTSC

Reviews (149)

Legends Of The Dull
More predictable than an old TV Land episode of Bonanza and much less entertaining, this story of an anti-government rancher and his three sons, one the upstanding sort who seeks to work for good within the system, one an idealist, and the middle son, Tristan, played by Brad Pitt, a tormented man who seeks to find peace within nature's anger. At least that's what I think he was doing. The fact is I never was a fan of this movie, not back in the 1990's when my best friend loved it (and predicted Julia Ormond would be a superstar--sorry, Gina, if you ever read this, I just couldn't resist working that in there, ha-ha) and not upon the occasion of a recent second viewing. I don't think there's anything to really recommend this movie to anyone. It's not spectacular in its setting, it's not revolutionary in its by-the-numbers story, and I found then and still find now that it is highly melodramatic and boring. To each his own, I know some love this movie, but from where I sit, this film is a would-be epic that never rises above fluff.

I Love This Movie
Marvelous movie, marvelous cast in this 1994 release.
I'd rather be hit with a bat than watch this again
Beyond words.Just awful.I wish they would have just followed a bear around with a camera for a few hours instead of doing this to the audience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

While Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernized society in 1876-77, Read more

Features

• Color
• Dolby
• Subtitled
• NTSC

Reviews (638)

This Movie Captured My Attention
I'm not big on movies. This one is big. I don't normally watch R movies. This one is R because of the realistic battle scenes.
What took so long?
Why did it take Hollywood so long to finally create a really good movie about the Samurai? This movie could have easily been made 20 or even 30 years ago but wasn't. The story itself was clearly availible back then. No special effects were required. Just a good sound story, a decent script, set pieces, wardrobe, cinemetography and director were all that was needed. These are all things that were readily at hand 20 or 30 years ago.
Spectacular--A Truly Great Film
This is Tom Cruise at his greatest. The film's tone, mood, action, acting, directing, sets, and scenes (especially the exteriors) were magnificent!!! This is a movie with a heart, and Tom's gradual transformation--from savage soldier to honorable fighter--was refreshing and uplifting. Buy it and keep it. You'll want to see it many times, as each viewing shows you how very much more there is than when you saw it earlier. I can't praise this movie enough, and believe me, I'm a harsh critic, especially when I note something unbelievable and phony. Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Foreign Film - Spanish/Misc Sa    3. Movie   

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Reviews (1)

the siege, the warning
the siege was release in 1998, nobody cared. 911 came alone and the movie was justified. strong performances from every body especially the main stars made the movie REAL. a very underrated movie for it time. siege is a movie set in nyc home of terrorist cells, also home of denzel and the fbi. plot and sub-plots preceed from scene to scene. denzel and bening fight for the information, b. willis slides in and steal the show as the general of the elite army. after seeing this movie you are going to say, "why didn't the president watch this muther******* pre-911!" ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action / Adventure    2. Feature Film-action/Adventure    3. Movie   

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Reviews (4)

A Testament to Courage
This is a riveting soldiers in combat drama that works as a human drama also. Director Edward Zwick has made something special here as what could have been a routine story, takes on depth and a sense of honor and history as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the first female officer killed in combat turns into a marshy quicksand of lies and deception about the events leading to her death.
A Good Movie Based On a Totally Bogus Premise
I place Courage Under Fire in the same class with A Few Good Men as "A military movie that would have been a lot better if the people writing/directing it had actually done a bit of research on the military." Let me hasten to add, I enjoyed Courage Under Fire, but I had two gripes: A Gulf War Rashomon with Washington and Ryan
The basic plot line of "Courage Under Fire" is that Lt. Col Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) is investigating an incident during the Gulf War to determine whether or not the Medal of Honor should be awarded posthumously to Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan). It does not take us long to find out that the title of this film refers to both Serling and Walden. The initial story on Walden, the pilot of a rescue helicopter, is that she made a spectacular rescue of a downed helicopter crew, then fought off attacking Iraquis after her own copter crashed, dying right before the besieged group was rescued. But as Serling questions the surviving members of Walden's crew, he discovers their various versions do not jive, and he begins to question what is the truth of what really happened. Moreover, Serling is haunted by his own actions during the Gulf War, where he was responsible for a "friendly fire" incident that resulted in the death of American soldiers. To complicate matters even more, Serling is drinking way too much, has grown distant from his family, and is being hounded by both a commanding officer (Michael Moriarity) who wants the P.R. value of Walden being the first woman to receive the Medal of Honor and a reporter (Scott Glenn) who knows something of what happened to the Colonel in Iraq and wants to know the rest. Read more

Subjects:  1. Action    2. Adventure    3. Drama    4. Feature Film-action/Adventure    5. Movie   

Editorial Review

A box-office hit when released in 1994, this sprawling, frequently overwrought familial melodrama may get sillier as its plot progresses, but it's the kind of lusty, character-based epic that Hollywood should attempt more often. It's also an unabashedly flattering star vehicle for Brad Pitt as Tristan--the rebellious middle son of a fiercely independent Montana rancher and military veteran (Anthony Hopkins)--who is routinely at odds with his more responsible older brother, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), and younger brother, Samuel (Henry Thomas). From the battlefields of World War I to his adventures as an oceangoing sailor, Tristan's life is full of personal torment, especially when he returns to Montana and finds himself competing with Alfred over Samuel's beautiful widow (Julia Ormond), whose passion for Tristan disrupts the already turbulent Ludlow clan. Under the wide-open canopy of Big Sky country, this operatic tale unfolds with all the bloodlust, tragedy, and scenery-chewing performances you'd expect to find in a hokey bestselling novel (in fact, it's based on the acclaimed novella by Jim Harrison), but it's a potent mix that's highly entertaining. Not surprisingly, John Toll won an Academy Award for his breathtaking outdoor cinematography. Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Letterboxed
• Widescreen
• NTSC

Reviews (149)

Legends Of The Dull
More predictable than an old TV Land episode of Bonanza and much less entertaining, this story of an anti-government rancher and his three sons, one the upstanding sort who seeks to work for good within the system, one an idealist, and the middle son, Tristan, played by Brad Pitt, a tormented man who seeks to find peace within nature's anger. At least that's what I think he was doing. The fact is I never was a fan of this movie, not back in the 1990's when my best friend loved it (and predicted Julia Ormond would be a superstar--sorry, Gina, if you ever read this, I just couldn't resist working that in there, ha-ha) and not upon the occasion of a recent second viewing. I don't think there's anything to really recommend this movie to anyone. It's not spectacular in its setting, it's not revolutionary in its by-the-numbers story, and I found then and still find now that it is highly melodramatic and boring. To each his own, I know some love this movie, but from where I sit, this film is a would-be epic that never rises above fluff.

I Love This Movie
Marvelous movie, marvelous cast in this 1994 release.
I'd rather be hit with a bat than watch this again
Beyond words.Just awful.I wish they would have just followed a bear around with a camera for a few hours instead of doing this to the audience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Editorial Review

A high-profile action/exploitation thriller set in the present, Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (112)

It is a great movie!
This is a great movie.Denzel Washington is riveting. This movie is really a vehicle for him and he does a great job creating a multi-dimensional character plus he is easy on the eyes.
An ironic anachronism, replete with Hollywood PC shibboleths
You can tell this movie was released in 1998 because you can still see New York's Twin Towers standing, and because of the groveling incantations of "Islam is a religion of peace," repeated often enough (along with casting a Good Guy Arab Cop, Tony Shalhoub) to offset any PC-incorrect image of portraying Islamofascist terrorism.
Even more relevant since 9/11, but undermined by the need to demonize the CIA & the U .S. Military
This movie has become even more relevant since it came out in 1998.It was controversial and there were very predictable cries of ethnic defamation and so forth.While it came out after the first bombing of the World Trade Center and the Khobar Towers, it seemed a bit over the top at the time, bu