Zorba the Greek [VHS]
If you thinkZorba the Greekis a simple-minded homage to a man  with a zest for life, then you haven't seen the movie. Basil (Alan Bates),  a reticent British writer, comes to the Mediterranean island of Crete to  revive a mine his father owned. On the way, he meets a Greek roustabout  named Zorba (Anthony Quinn) and hires him to help, little suspecting that  Zorba's exuberance will lead him to some dark and troubling  places--frankly, if the last 30 minutes ofZorba the Greekare  what it means to embrace life, some viewers will want to shut the door in  life's face. But there's no denying the movie's ambitious scope and  implacable force, even as it paints an alien and disturbing portrait of  life in a Greek village. On top of that, gorgeous cinematography and one  of the greatest film scores ever give this movie almost demonic energy.--Bret Fetzer