This is a terrible movie that uses every trite sentimental piece of flotsom and jetsom that the irresponsible producers (Bette was one) could throw in.

Here is the stout hearted troop entertaining other stout hearted troops from which hubby emerges to be sung to by his sexy smart mouthed hoofer/singer/wife on stage. His last hurrah. Cut to widow in black weeds. Here, worst of all, is the god-awful wrung out slow motion machine gun death of a perfect top-of-his-West-Point-class son, trying to reach Mom who, incidentally, probably drew the enemy fire in the first place with her belted out songs and thudding around the stage.

It must be said in the son's favor, however, that he managed to get his hair stylishly cut (just a whisper of mousse)and deliver a moving anti-war speech to his slack jawed mom before biting the dust (dust he wouldn't have bit if he had the sense to come in out of the flack). By the way, didn't anyone casting this turkey realize that the son's bone structure and genetic characteristics would not have completely altered over the years from childhood? I think the adult son actor is hunky, but he must have been a Walk In for the other kid.

It is deeply offensive to portray any young man dying the way this movie does. It is vicious and unnecessary, given the countless thousands of non-chic snipped young men who died in Vietnam. And, let's just say it, it is an insult to West Point. I mean, really, if they can't even teach their "point man" to keep his damn head down under fire, we might as well turn the place into a day care center.

However, all that said, I would definitely recommend you see this movie. Bette in a rubber ducky suit is worth the price. Why is it that special effects people can give us incredible illusions like Star Wars, and can't make one middle aged Jewish woman believable as a dottering old crone? Just as well, it's hilarious to watch her waddle. When I saw Old Bette in that purple Balenciaga ballgown, I reflexively looked for the tie down rope.

I can't bear to share my thoughts about the tear jerking (from laughter) final scene in this flick. Let's just say that "For the Boys" should be a boxed set with the remake of "Lost Horizon".


This is one of the rare kungfu movies ever made in Hong Kong. Nothing is boring here : interesting script, direct and efficient scenery, good acting. But what makes this movie so good is the fightscenes that are inventively and beautifully choreographed. Not only it's very good but it's also very hard-to-find. Dammage.


This is one of the best kung-fu films I have seen. The originality, which is common in kung-fu films, is astounding. The characters are great; Carter Wong is awesome as the villain. A classic kung-fu film.


This is one of the rare kungfu movies ever made in Hong Kong. Nothing is boring here : interesting script, direct and efficient scenery, good acting. But what makes this movie so good is the fight scenes that are inventively and beautifully choreographed. Not only it's very good but it's also very hard-to-find. Dammage.


This was the first Kungfu movie I ever purchased, as I was drawn to the cover and storyline. When I first watched it, I was in awe. It was probably one of the few films I watched 2 times in a row in one evening. This film features some of the best fight sequences in any kungfu film. They are fast and creative. Carter Wong does a perfect job as the white haired Chi Kung master who is impervious to all attacks except for in his throat (note: this concept has been done in many other kungfu films, but never was pulled off this well). Lo Lieh is also great as Wong's sidekick with the golden tonfa (one of the coolest weapons in any kungfu movie, it has a blade that shoots out of it so it can be used as a sword and it has a clamp that rips swords). Although the story is fairly basic, we get nearly non stop action from one fight ot another. A true masterpiece in all aspects, and essential for all hong kong film fans.


Joseph Kuo was one of the best independent directors and teamed here with Yuen Woo ping he produced a classic old school kung fu film. It seems strange to have the two strongest characters Carter Wong and Lo Lieh as the villains (and nasty villains they are too) but the young students of the school (including Jack Long (Lung) and Mark Long) faced with overwhelming odds are inventive and courageous and unlike many films it is not at all obvious that they will win in the end. A special mention to the two evil minions as well, played by Corey Yuen and Yuen Woo-ping's brother Yuen Shun-yi. The fights are not only well choreographed but well shot as is generally the whole film with good scenery well filmed. Carter Wong is brilliant here, from his high pitched voice and white hair - effects of his Tai Chi virtual invulnerability - to his fighting skills and ability to form a Tai Chi diagram with his feet whilst fighting. The end fight is terrific, clever and very satisfying.


This film is the epitome of good anime! It's even clean, so if you wanted to you could show it to your kids (of course they wouldn't get it, but if they like action animation, it's fine!) It carries on the quest for peace and the great battle scenes and even gives us a little of the characters' background! I may have gone a bit overboard, but I gave this film a ten!


I cannot began to discribe my feelings towards "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz" simply because, It is in this reviewers option. The film is a most excellent ending to the greatest animated series of our time! Why? It took all the elements of the series, and all of the questions that the fans have had. (Such as "What was Operation M?") and it not only answers them in full detail, but it also gave us a more clear view of our favorite Piolts past(s).

Yet while this is an animated film, it is not ment for small childern however. I would recomend this to any anime fan, or for anyone who simply enjoys brilliant stories and movie making!


-I've been listening to movie scores since I was five, and this movie just might have one of the best film music I have ever heard in my 21 year life on this planet you humans call earth.

-The movie picks up where the great series ended, there's being peace between the colonies and earth for a year now and everyone is happy with their lives. The Gundams are sent to the sun for destruction since they're no longer needed to maintain the peace. But before the Gundams are to be destroyed a new presence threatens to shatter the peace by kidnapping Relena and waging war on earth. This new presence which threatens to shatter the peace treaty and destroy the sacrifice that was made by the brave men a year ago is also the same group of rebels that was lead by Zachs the previous year. This time around the now good Zachs is no longer their leader and he is replaced by a little girl whose more of a figure head. The little girl is the daughter of the late Treize Khushrenada. She's claims that she's doing her father's will even though her father gave his life to maintain peace for the colonies and earth. she and her rebel forces have an abundance of mobile suits and space crafts ready for an all out assault on earth, this off course leads to be the Gundams being needed again and the characters coming out of their peaceful retreat to maintain the peace.

-Fans of the series will also be delighted to hear that we spend time with each of the five pilots and get to learn where they're from. At least we get to learn where Trowa is from, and Zachs is back and badder than ever. The Gundams themselves have undergone some sort of face lift and I'm really glad they did because they look a lot cooler in this than they did in the anime show. The best upgrade is without a doubt Wingzero who actually is equipped with wings. That really doesn't make sense when you think about it but hey it's a cartoon so stuff like that should be overlooked.

-This movie was made for fans of the series and nothing more. If you're someone who thinks a Gundam is some form of venereal disease then you need to go back to watching Pokemon. The one thing that drew me in the most was the score. From the very start of the movie, you know that this is going to be a great musical experience just by the dreamlike violins that gently caress the speakers to the ethereal use of wind instruments. It's like Danny Elfman and John Williams meet Phillip Glass and James Howard Newton. Just makes me glad to be a film music fan. The orchestral elements and electronic elements are mixed together nicely because sometimes they will have nice strings and horns going then kick some nice electric and bass guitar. American composer need to take note to the music because this is a great example of how to mix orchestral and electronic elements to form a pleasing listening experience.

-Don't watch it if you haven't seen the TV series but if you have and you loved it then you should have no problem loving this.


This has to be one of the best anime films out there. Endless Waltz is, in my opinion, just as good as the Studio Ghibli films (to name a few, Princess Mononoke, Totoro, Laputa - also known as Castle in the Sky -, Spirited Away). Go see it! And Duo Mexwell is the best character without a doubt. Don't doubt me!! LOL OK so I'm just a little obsessed. But really, if you ever get the opportunity, watch the TV series then the movie, as you will certainly not regret it! You'll really have to watch the TV series first though, as I have to admit (like all movies of TV series I should think...), otherwise you'll be sitting there going, 'Whaaaa...?' ~Sandileina (Sandy for short)~


Let's get one thing straight. I enjoyed this movie, it had some great action sequences. But it definitely had its weak points, namely its characters. The characters are alright, better than characters in DragonBall Z (but that isn't saying to much), but the writers obviously tried to make the characters appear deeper than they actually are by having them say and do things that really don't make a whole lot of sense (they did this much more in the show, the movie wasn't nearly as bad on this subject). They also have the characters spew out lines that sound philosophical, but are really just common sense. But overall the movie was pretty decent, but it shouldn't be portrayed as more than it is; a good action movie (and it often is made up to be more). The last thing that really bugged me (and if this were different I might have given this an 8) is that none of the good guys die. They all survive and live happily ever after. There needs to be sacrifice and heartache in a story like this to make it more effective.


To be honest, the ending of the Gundam Wing series was so anti-climactic that it was horrible. It did not fit with what the entire series had going for it throughout its run. The mecha are beautifully brought back again for one final hurrah. The story is engaging, the characters (though textbook heroes) are still well-written, and that's it. The series ends, and what a way to end it. Top notch.


I just love this movie because of one character : Lady Une, former OZ soldier and now the leader of The Preventers. She is the only reason I like the gundam series and all thank to the voice of actress, Enuka Okuma. But I just hope lady une some would remember this character in the future ,so heres to Lady Une:

We will never forget you!


Along comes the "special edition" MOVIE version of the 1998 Endless Waltz OVA.(which i reviewed in the "Shin kidô senki Gundam W: Endless Waltz (1998) (V)" IMDb entry.

Before you think that this movie is a waste of time and money that just cobbles the 3 episodes of the endless waltz OVA into one long show, think again. There are an additional 10 minutes of footage that further develop the already intriguing plot and flesh out the Gundam pilots' back-stories in greater detail. This manages to clear up some of the plot holes that remained in the OVA and resulted in a more enjoyable movie experience. Some of the musical cues seemed to be changed or reshuffled, but most of the changes are for the better and matches the scenes well.

Aside from the additional footage, the battle sequences look like they have been touched up and extended. Just when you thought the final battle between the Gundams and the Serpent mobile suits in Brussels could not get any more epic, it just did. I got the DVD of Endless Waltz which had both the OVA and the movie version and i can safely say that the movie version is superior. By being longer, it actually makes it more believable that the Gundam pilots would fall victim to fatigue. You can see how their fighting style changes from the decisively professional strikes in the initial scuffle to an almost desperate, wild flailing once the Gundams have run out of their primary ammunition and are low on energy.

I do not know if the other battle scenes were touched up by the animators or if was a result of a better film master or transfer, but the art and animation in the movie looked sharper, more vibrant and detailed. The fluid character movements and tight combat sequences are pure eye candy surpassing many action scenes in other mecha space anime.

I highly recommend "Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: special edition movie" to any fan of mecha and action anime. It takes all that was good about the TV series and OVA and makes it a lot better. Engaging story, complex but likable characters, thought provoking themes about war, and amazing animation that is years ahead of its time. This movie sets a whole new benchmark in the standard of animation that one would expect from anime movies.

Be sure to get the "special edition" and not the "toonami edition" though.


This movie is probably the best way to end the magnificent Gundam Wing series. It answered a lot of questions asked about the series. It showed the pilots' pasts. The new Gundams are awesome, especially Tallgeese II. I didn't like Wing Zero Custom because the angel wings was ridiculous!!! Death Scythe Hell was nice too. The animation was much better than the series.

Watch the series first or else you won't have a clue about what's going on in the movie.


In my opinion this has to be one of the best anime movies ever. Many loose ends left over from the Gundam Wing series are tied up within this great ending. Characters' backgrounds are explored a little more and new light is shed on the original Operation Meteor. Amazing animation, delicious bishies, awesome mecha fights...what more could you want?! An absolute MUST-SEE for any Gundam Wing fan!!!


For Gundam Wing fans who thought the last episode of the series left off at an awful place, Endless Waltz is a beautiful end to an incredible story. The version aired on Cartoon Network is the three-episode OAV, which had several scenes cut to make it into three twenty-five minute episodes. The movie version has about 15 minutes of additional footage (I think four scenes were cut, and the ending clips are different). Overall, I think that the Endless Waltz movie is much better, although the OAV has better background music. The movie ending theme, Last Impression, is so beautiful and very fitting- I cry at the end almost every time I watch Endless Waltz. The first two minutes or so are very slow, unlike most of the themes, and a little melancholy. Then, it's like an explosion: the tempo increases dramatically, and the listener is swept away by the passion in Last Impression. Still, there's definitely a sad note, not only in the lyrics but in the song itself. White Reflection is a little too upbeat to be a good ending theme, especially when the movie's ending is taken into consideration. However, it would make an excellent opening theme (if Endless Waltz had one).

The DVD is an excellent value because not only does it contain both version of Endless Waltz and some nice little extras, it is possible to watch Endless Waltz in the original Japanese! I am admittedly not fond of the dubbing, even though it's a lot better than some I've heard. I cannot stand certain characters in the dubbing (i.e. Zechs and Noin-they sound too...old). I mean, they're supposed to be 20-21 years old. In the original, Noin sounds like she's 18-20 (depending upon whether you watch the early episodes, the later episodes, or Endless Waltz), and Zechs doesn't sound much older than 22. I think that the dubbed voices make them seem to be closer to 30. Other characters that sound younger in the subbed include Duo (his seiyuu really shapes Duo's character well- talkative, friendly teenager to serious Gundam pilot)and Relena (yes, she's actually more likeable in the original).

I'll try not to do spoilers, but if you haven't seen the movie and don't want to know what happens, I strongly suggest you skip this next paragraph. The four cut scenes are not absolutely necessary to the plot line, although Sally's role in the fiasco is much clearer in the movie. The first cut scene explains why Quatre goes to retrieve the Gundams, and has a rather funny line courtesy of Duo. Cut scene number two is my absolute favorite (I try not to cry too much) because it is a sweet semi-reunion between Zechs and Noin. The third cut scene explains Sally's meeting with Duo and Trowa on the shuttle, and the fourth is a surprisingly good scene with Dorothy.

The uncut version of Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is rated pg-13 for good reason. There is quite a bit of swearing (nothing really offensive), violence, and blood. No sex, though, and the only romance is implied through dialogue. The cut version is suitable for mature 7 or 8-year-old children, and the uncut is okay for anyone over 13 (maybe a bit younger, even, if they're mature).

Gundam Wing has held me in its world for well over a year, and I never tire of what has become a part of me. The plot is intricate yet realistic, the characters fascinating, the music beautiful, and the quality excellent. Endless Waltz is definitely not a disappointment to the Gundam Wing name.


The Endless Waltz, a fine piece of anime at it's best. Heero's human side has shown him to be a very virtous and honorable fighter. His own personal struggle has greatly been an intricate part of this movie. We get to see a forming romantic bond between Relena and Heero as well. Mariemaya Krushrenada was a victim of greed in this movie, and a pawn in a bigger scheme planned by her sick, sedistic, madman she calls Grandfather (Dekim Barton). Spectacular Animation! Awesome storyline! A must see for any anime fan!!!!!


This action packed epic Gundam movie will blow you away. With its great animation,mood setting music,close combat edge of the sit plot line,and thrills around every corner,this movie is not for people with weak stomaches!The first time I saw it I was hooked!It blows Dragonball Z right out of the water!If you like great plots,action ,close combat fighting,stuff exploding, then this movie is for you.(I know I LOVED it!)


I've seen a bit of the series and when I looked it up on the web, I just had to go and buy it! The characters have so much life in them and their personality is all their own! The artistry is beautiful especially on Wing Gundam Zero. Great movie!


I recently bought the special edition DVD, and it is beyond all of my expectations. It has both versions of Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, the 3-episode OVA and the theatrical movie with more scenes than the OVA. Gundam Wing is my 2nd favorite anime series, and I love the prequel/sequel Endless Waltz. I recommend the series and the movie, they are both a must-see. A space opera with realism, it reminds me of STAR WARS a little bit. Zechs Marquise/Milliardo Peacecraft voiced by BRIAN DRUMMOND RULES!


I was in AWWW, the whole time I was watching it. After seeing the series then the movie, this is the best Gundam series ever. The music was exquisite, the animation was one of the best I've ever seen. You have to see the 49-episode series before you watch this excellent movie. It will take your breath away.


Very interesting,I think. The story line is very good,the characters are just as good as they were in the series,and it answers a lot of questions that you might have been asking. It shows extra stuff about the pilots,which I liked,and I liked how they made the 'evil' person a little girl. And a BIG plus for Endless Waltz is that Relena didn't scream to Heero when he obviously couldn't hear her. I liked how they had an equal amount of stuff on all the pilots and it didn't mainly focus on Heero Yuy. The Gundams looked a lot better in Endless Waltz than in the original series,and the characters actually had a different change of clothes...But,who am I to nag how they do their job? I couldn't make an Anime cartoon,for sure,and I have to give them all the credit I can. All and all,it was a fabulous movie to watch and it was quite enjoyable.....


New mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless WaltZ is the movie sequel to the perfect Anime. I would recommend this movie to anyone!!! I love it! It's so great! I can't believe how perfect it is!!! Wow!!! Mothers reading this to see if it's a good idea for their kids: This movie is really good. If your kids are sensitive to blood, Dekim Barton gets shot and a bit of blood is visible. But that shouldn't matter because this movie is GREAT!!! Oh yeah, and Quatre will um, teach them to be nice and stuff.


Wow! This is an excellent movie! Anyone who likes the series, "Gundam Wing", or even any animé, will LOVE this movie! The animation is great, and so is the dubbing. Plus, Lt. Zechs is voiced by BRIAN DRUMMOND! Whoo!


I'm absolutely in love. This movie was the best there ever was, the music was the coolest and the best, and the story was really hot too.

The Gundams are really cool and the Tallgesse III. My favorite Gundam custom was Deathscythe Hell Custom, it was really awesome and really cool like the Heavyarms. Wing Zero Custom I didn't like it very much because of the angel wings, some people said it looked great but it wasn't too great.

The characters are the best, but the saddest thing they've ever done in the ending was to detonate their gundams, Duo still the funniest there is, Heero the silent guy, Trowa the smart guy, Wufei the strongest and Quatre well you know.

But I couldn't believe that Relena slapped someone. That's right Relena 'all violence is wrong' Darlian, had slapped someone because of the cause of peace. Great movie I give this movie a 10/10


I usually try to bring a little more creativity in the titles for my reviews but I'm still to speechless after seeing this "Dead Doll". It's just...putrid! This film strongly reminded me of those cheap, amateurish and entirely worthless 70's films directed by Eddie Romero, Al Adamson or  even worse  Ted V. Mikels. I'm sure that writer/director Adam Sherman is a big fan of those guys because his own movie is just as retarded. "Dead Doll" pretty much is a 70 minutes long sexually perverted fantasy of some weirdo guy on crack! A seriously troubled "artist" murders his girlfriend and processes her corpse into a life-size doll that he keeps around his workshop. From that moment on, every male that lays eyes on this doll becomes obsessed with her sexual charisma and they end up brutally murdered. There's not the slightest bit of coherence in the screenplay, only constant and brief introductions of new loser characters going nuts over a girl that even isn't that attractive. In fact, she's quite intolerable with her squeaky voice talking nonsense all the time! Sherman's blackly humorous intentions totally miss their effect and the completely non-stylish nudity only seems used as padding. The gore sequences are too fake to be disturbing but they don't qualify as camp, neither. The only possibly advise I can give you is to stay away from "Dead Doll" as far as you can! You'll live longer...


Although it wasn't quite horrible enough to make my list of the ten worst movies of all time, "Dead Doll" sure tried hard to make the cut. The technical quality and production values were actually pretty good, but there is no reason, compelling or otherwise, for anything that happens in the film past the initial murder which we are shown via flashback ad nauseam. The characters are simply motivated out of the blue. It wasn't funny. It wasn't scary. It seems to be a vehicle to show Romi Koch's tits as many times as possible. The only way I could describe it to someone who really was interested in knowing is as a chain of events involving a bunch of sick and sad people all driven by the mere presence of the doll to do things that no rational person would consider - and do nothing very interesting at all in the process. The logic flaws in the story not-withstanding, and the inevitable continuity errors that plague through-out, this was just dumb. The misogynistic adolescent wet-dream of an abuse sufferer. My sympathies to anyone who spent actual cash on this one.


Back when cable TV started, there were tons of softcore porno movies being released to late night cable. Most of those movies were borderline retarded, and they were put together just to show lots of women prancing around topless and engaged in bedroom scenes with each other or guys. I later discovered (from reading about it on the internet) that many hard-core porno movies would also shoot an alternate soft-core version for cable TV, and these movies would be released with different titles. Sometimes even the names of the actresses would be changed, so that the porn actresses could build up a resume in non-porn movies. Since it is often the dream of many porno stars to break into mainstream acting, I guess that made sense.

So what was the motivation behind Dead Doll? Apparently this was never an alternate take on a porno movie, so it was just what it is, a horribly bad T&A movie. At least if I knew that Dead Doll was just the leftover exploitation of some cheesy porn movie, I would understand why Dead Doll is so awful. Unfortunately, Dead Doll is the creative expression of someone's mind. I hope that guy got some therapy. As a soft core porn, it is not bad if you fast-forward through most of the movie. I saw Dead Doll in about ten minutes, and that was only because I actually stopped to watch and listen to the dialogue of most of the scenes. That was a big mistake. You can probably watch Dead Doll in about three minutes if you fast forward through everything except the T&A.


Well i suppose the story could have been interesting, but since there were amateurs involved through the whole movie; from the director to probably the craft service team, this movie shows it. Only thing that mattered was probably the breast shots here and there, otherwise, expect nothing but terrible acting, and badly chosen shots. I'm guessing this director is NOT a film-maker. I would even bet that the actors didn't even show up for their own premier, thats how bad this flick is. Embarrassed most likely, and would gladly erase this section of their lives. At a certain point in most movies , I suppose people go and use the restrooms, this probably never made it to theaters, so I was forced to chat with a telemarketer. I think I ended up buying some vacuum cleaner with super sucking power. I would have loved to break this DVD in a million pieces , and test the vacuum, since it was a rental, my super-sucking machine will have to wait.


OK. i watched this movie just today with my friend Irene and my sister Jessica. when the movie started it was obvious it was a low budget movie. we rented it and thought that it would be a scary movie because the back said something totally different from the movie and looked scary. the tacky music and the Chinese writing was.. totally wrong. it didn't even go good with the movie. I Don't think anything will go good with this movie. i honestly hated it. i laughed throughout the whole movie! and the part where Dave falls out of the window with the doll... wow. can you say bad graphics!? it showed a BARBIE DOLL flying through the air. i mean. dude. I Couldn't stop laughing. this movie was weird. and every time it said somebodies name... that person has sex with the doll. i mean. man o man this movie is not scary at all. it is a horrible comedy. and man o man. ha-ha wow i still cant stop laughing.


Boy did I get ripped off here! I get the feeling that when they were making this film they had planned to make a serious horror, and after watching it, they knew, to save face, they would have to promote it as a dark comedy.

Its not either! Its rubbish! I felt robbed that I had spent $15 Aussie Dollars to buy it, but then I thought about how the financial backers of this film would have felt when they saw it! The only redeeming feature was that it went for 78 minutes. I feel sorry for you guys who had to sit through 91 minutes of it! Mind you Romi Koch gets naked a fair bit, thats always a good thing....


I just saw the movie "Dead Doll" and you should too, if you like original script and weird sentimental human reaction! A disheartened and disillusioned sculptor kills his beautiful -barbie like- girlfriend and entombs her body into a lifelike blonde doll. The doll travels from one owner to the next, seducing men and women and luring them to weird and catastrophic actions. AMAZING....the story of a doll that everybody love and lust!!! Great cinematography...funny and beautiful!!! Not as good as the film May but... good enough!!! Satirical, cynical, fantastic!!! B-movie but also a great piece of cinema: cinema as the product of the imaginary, creative and humorous human being! It's like reading an adult-horror-funny comic! Defenetaly I would recommend to see it because, probably, you haven't seen something like that... so it's worth it!!!


If you have are tired of the increasing boredom that ships with movies from Hollywood nowadays this is for you; there are no mister-nice-guy or sane persons in this movie. Depending on your taste it is either comical or terrifying; if you go for the first you are in for some hilarious scenes. The story circles around a lifelike doll that previously happened to be the girlfriend of a paranoid doll-maker, who killed her after she threatened to leave him. The doll continuously goes from one owner to another, but not without leaving a bloody trail behind her that results from the attraction she has on people. Everyone in this movie is messed up in a way, be it the creator of the doll who is somewhat paranoid or the cosmetic surgeon that kills a patient and eats what-ever part of him. To summarize: this is an highly original, comical (in the black humor sense), bizarre movie that is a must for those who are tired of 'normal' ones.


This film deserves far more attention.

The acting is quite believable, the cinematography is excellent, and this is far from an amateur-grade straight to video production. Though some parts are genuinely funny, this is *not* a comedy, and it's not horror in the conventional sense. If I were forced to package it into a easily-digestible category I'd call it a modern fable.

The film obviously borrows heavily from Greenaway-- his favorite themes, the artistic composition of shots, even a Nymanesque minimalistic score all betray this influence. Conceptually, it's very similar to Masamura's "Blind Beast." See this film. I gave this film a 10 not because it's perfect, but because the pitifully low rating nearly made me overlook it.


Larry Holden's directorial debut shows that he is a true indie maverick. All one needs to do is watch this film to see how little he seems to care about the marketplace, or what Hollywood is jamming down our throats. I simply cannot wait to see what he offers us next. My Father's House is not easily gotten, but I was lucky enough to find a copy being sold by one of his ex- employees on Ebay. But, trust me, folks, if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of this DVD's, and are willing to suspend the way you usually watch films, you will be rewarded more than you can imagine. Sure, I'm a bit older than most IMDb users, I imagine, but I think this film speaks to anybody who's heart is still beating, and has its own rhythm.


This film seems to have worked a little spell on me.

After I watched it for the first time, I just sat there, thinking, not feeling blown away, truth be told.

Then, before I knew it, I'd been sitting there in my recliner for about 45 minutes or so, absolutely still.

Then I wanted to watch it again for some reason - which I did, very late that same night. And it was then that I felt myself being tugged, and, eventually, almost overcome at its conclusion. But I really don't know why - and still don't.

But I have a strong feeling that's a good sign, that this film is not done with me yet. Because I kind of want to watch it again.

But be forewarned that this film is very very different from the norm. Then again, nothing about it's presentation screams out to be noticed, really. Like it is meant to draw you in, standing at the door and smiling, like somebody you think you know - but don't, really.

Must be something to do with how simple and subtle Mr. Holden has made it. Becaus3e it isn't at the end of the day. At least it doesn't seem to be.

Hmmm...


It's hard for me to explain why I love this movie so much, but only because I'm not that articulate when it comes to speaking what's in my heart, I guess. But that's also a compliment for writer, director Larry Holden, and his remarkable directorial debut - because (I think, anyway) that's his goal: to try and speak the inarticulate speech of the heart. Does that make sense? I know, sounds corny, but I think it's right on the mark. Well, anyway, I think it's simply amazing when a film can stick with you long after you watch it (especially nowadays with all the disposable / forgettable crap that's out there); and, sometimes, like with this film, for reasons you're not really sure of. You just feel like you really have experienced something different, that you've been exposed to art, and the film keeps popping into your mind at the strangest times. I've read that another of his films, Tucked In His Knuckles, has that affect on people even more -that it bugs them a good, long while afterward, but I haven't seen it yet. Question, though: Why doesn't Mr. Holden sell his movies to Netflix or Blockbuster? Seems like that would help get his movies out there a bit. I admire what has been reported to be an uncompromising stance when it comes to how his films are released and promoted, but isn't the whole point to reach as many people as you can? I mean, it would be a damn shame if this film got lost, eventually, and all because he won't take advantage of all of the available distribution channels. But maybe he doesn't care about all that, and that's why the films are so special. I don't know. All I do know, though, is this film made me take the time to post this, and that says a lot in my book. Check it out if you can find it.


I auditioned for Mr. Holden in 1999 for the lead female role (Jenna) in "My Father's House," and remember him saying then - after I asked him what he was looking for in regards to the scene I was about to do - "Make me love and hate you at the same time. Or one or the other is fine, too." Then he chuckled.

I didn't get it then, but after reading some of these posts about this film, as well as a recent online interview at Rogue Cinema, I do now. Well, I think I do, anyway.

Him and his films seem to have their absolute haters and their absolute lovers, nothing in-between, and I have a very strong feeling that that suits him just fine. And I have always thought that was a good sign when it came to works of art. And artists, too.

Anyway, I came here today to find out what he's up to now (after running into one of his producers, Kerry Johnston, recently at a restaurant here in Hollywood on La Cienega - who said he was about to begin filming his seventh film at the end of this month in Wyoming - though I suspected she was purposely throwing me off his trail, as she looked at me like I was a stalker), and, remarkably, IMDb only has this, his first time behind the lens, listed. Not sure why, because he has directed five other films. But for some reason, as I was alluding to before, I bet that's just fine with him.

Mr. Holden, I'm going to try and email you now (I can't believe your email address is listed here!); but if you by some chance come here and read this first, I'm eight years older now and have thickened my resume substantially, and am ready for my close-up!

Oh, and "management1," I went and checked you out, reading some of your previous posts, and know now why you were so confused with Larry's film: It's not Battlestar Galactica, and doesn't star your late heroine, Anna Nicole Smith. Stick to wondering why that steroid riddle pro wrestler Benoit killed his wife and son, and leave space here for people who are serious about film. Also, your post smells of personal vindictiveness. Did you work for him? Or did you also audition for this remarkable film and get shown the door?


I bought this movie when it 1st became available (to the tune of ~$65) because I was there for some of the shooting and my car was in the movie. What a complete and total waste of money! This movie was AWFUL! Boring, slow, terrible story line...I'm not sure what movie the other people that reviewed this actually watched, but it couldn't have been this one. I'm not really sure what else I can say about this movie other than I wish I could recover the the time in my life that I wasted in watching this horrible movie. After my wife tortured herself by watching the entire movie, I literally fast forwarded through the it until I saw my car and then shut it off...it was that bad. I can't believe this won any kind of award. It must be only for the fact that he made the movie. I have nothing against Larry. I met him and he was a very nice, personable guy. But IMHO, this movie just does not cut it.


A hatchet job is what I fully intended to do to this movie until I found some quiet time in the afternoon to watch it. In fact I gave it an 8/10 for novelty as well as pathos. The casting is preposterous. Can you imagine Edward G Robinson and Loretta Young as Chinese?

Eddie G plays a well respected Tong assassin who is forced to kill his childhood friend and blood brother (played by J Carroll Naish) witch was no surprise. He inherits the friends business and 6 year old daughter for his effort. He prospers and when the girl grows up, he marries her. I should mention that Loretta Young was only 19 when she made this movie and she was remarkably sexy and seductive. Along comes another Tong War and Eddie is pulled out of retirement to do his stuff. Meanwhile his young wife falls for the bodyguard and runs off with him. Loretta and her lover are deported to China for messing about with opium. Although Eddie is initially shamed by her betrayal, he eventually redeems himself and his reputation. After all, he is a hatchet man!

This is one of EGR's lesser known movies, but if you can get over the bizarre casting, the story really is gripping and the cast turns in a bravo performance.


SLIGHT SPOILERS Finally I get to see one of those early Chinese-themed dramas with Hollywood actors made up like Orientals. I'm not talking about a blockbuster like The Good Earth or Dragon Seed, but one of the early sound potboilers. When The Hatchet Man begins, I'm a little leery. A lengthy printed prologue spells out the story premise. I suspect while reading it that this is OK because the cultural norms to be depicted are alien and unfamiliar to a 1932 American movie audience. Edward G. Robinson, always superb, is fine as always; at first I can't recognize Loretta Young though, while on the other hand, Leslie Fenton doesn't initially strike me as Chinese. I'm wondering if the movie is going to be a lot of stereotyped bunk, full of coincidences and contrivance.

Before long, it soon wins me over, getting better and than better still. The Hatchet Man approaches racial dynamics with more insight than expected. Director William Wellman applies intelligence, handling this thriller's more lurid aspects with needed detachment, as in less worthy hands it could've all gone melodramatically out of control. It's pre-Code, so I'm not really surprised that drug use is important to setting up the film's climax, and that one figure, formerly an assassin, is unpunished at fade out. Meanwhile, good character actors handle themselves convincingly (except for Charles Middleton, who is too much like Charles Middleton, and there is still the question of Fenton's casting, although he performs well). Also, I'm starting to come around to the realization that Loretta Young's acting range is limited,something her doll-like beauty has been distracting me from noticing through numerous films of this period.

But the corker is the clever, shocking, coolly ironic surprise ending. People, you have got to see this. Few movies have ever ended with such a jolt!


I Saw This Movie Many Many Years ago,And I Still Remember Whar A Great Movie It Was. The Hatchet Man Has Without A Doubt, The greatest Ending of Any Movie That I Have Ever Seen, And I've Seen A Few In My Day,Being 80 Years Young///It's Hard For Me To Believe That The Hatchet Man Has Never Been On TAPE OR DVD////I Will Order It The Minute That It Is On DVD///Why Edward G Robinson Was Never Nominated Or Won An Academy Award Is Beyond Reason//Hollywood Must Have Been Blind And Deaf,For Edward G.Robinson Was Truly A Great Natural Actor//I'm Even Amazed That Hollywood Has Not Tried To Remake This Movie,And As I Have Said Before/ This Movie Has The Greatest Ending Of All////So Please You People Out There Who Make These DVDS//Please Please Put The Hatchet Man Out On DVD Thanking You In Advance

Stanley Cooper / Jupiter Florida


Okay, let's take a quiz. What do the actors Paul Muni, Agnes Morehead, Henry Travers, Warner Oland, Katherine Hepburn, Luise Rainer, Walter Huston and Boris Karloff have in common? Well, isn't it obvious?! All have played Chinese people in films!!! While none of these people remotely looked Asian, and there were plenty of Asian actors available (such as Keye Luke, Victor Sen Young, Anna May Wong and others), Hollywood stupidly decided to have very White looking actors play Chinese characters again and again in the 1930s and 1940s--and in some cases, even up through the 1970s! So in this context, it isn't all that surprising that Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young play Chinese-Americans in this exceptional and exceptionally strange movie. Now I was actually surprised to see that underneath the makeup, Loretta Young didn't look too bad as an Asian, however Robinson looked about as Chinese as Scatman Crothers!! In fact, apart from a silly hairstyle he only sported at the beginning of the film, he looked like Little Caesar throughout the movie!!! Because of this ludicrous casting, I felt pretty irritated with reviewers that gave this movie a 10 (one going so far as calling this "one of the best movies ever made")!! Sure, it is a really cool movie, but to me a 10 implies a perfect film. Casting a Jewish man (Robinson) as a Chinese person has to automatically knock off a point or two! In addition to him and Young, ALL the rest of the major Chinese parts were played by White actors--such as J. Carrol Naish and Dudley Diggs!! Now once you get past the stupidity of the casting, what you have left is an exciting Pre-Code film. Pre-Code means that the film was released before the strict Production Code was adopted in 1934. As a result, the film had a few adult themes (such as adultery and violent murders) that you just wouldn't have seen a few years later--or they would have been severely censored--lessening their impact.

The film is called THE HATCHET MAN because Robinson is literally a hatchet-wielding assassin who does his tong's bidding. Tongs were secret Chinese-American societies--much like the gangs of today. And, when someone offends the tong, it's Robinson's job to kill--even when he is ordered to kill his best friend! Ironically, upon killing this friend, Robinson inherited the man's fortune AND custody of his young daughter--with the intention that Robinson later marry the girl! Now THAT'S ironic!! While everything seems just fine after they marry 20 years later, eventually this lady (Young) is seduced away from Robinson--not a smart move considering Robinson is a skilled assassin with a hatchet!! Despite his rage upon discovering the affair, he forgives her and allows her to leave with her lover--much to the dismay of the tong. The secret society is angered that Robinson acted so weakly and lost face, so they threw him out of the organization and his life went downhill fast.

What happens next is just too exciting to reveal, but the film has one of the most interesting and lurid conclusions I have seen in a long time. Thanks to a fantastic script, it's well worth seeing--plus, the plot is so bizarre and creepy, that it's a real guilty pleasure. See this one--and try to look past the ridiculous casting.

By the way, if you are so inclined, try counting the number of times the "Chinese" characters say the word "honorable". My bet is that it must be at least 100! So, according to old time Hollywood, a White guy can squint and say "honorable" at the end of every few sentences and he becomes instantly Chinese! Wow...I gotta try that!


It is very surprising to see great actors like Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young and J. Carroll Naish performing as Chinese. However, in the 1930's, actors had no choice to refuse the casting director's wishes. Most of these actors were under contact to act and portray characters of different races other than themselves which is not practiced in this century in Hollywood. Edward G. Robinson (Wong Low Get), "The Red House" '47, was a sort of hit man for the Chinese community of San Francisco. Loretta Young (Sun Toya San)," The Stranger",'46, played a very outstanding role, who charmed Wong Low Get. It was also surprising to see J. Carroll Naish,(Sun Yat Ming), "The Beast with Five Fingers"'46, who often played roles of Italian subjects in most of his films. I am grateful for all these great actors who acted as Chinese citizens and made it possible for us to view this great film TODAY ! William Wellman, director of this film also created "Public Enemy" '31 with Jimmy Cagney.


Yes as many have stated, by today's standards, the casting of this movie seems ridiculous, but please keep in mind the time period that this movie was made. All things considered, even with the period specific "whites for ethnic minorities" casting mentality, respect for a certain amount of cultural authenticity was in this movie to a greater degree than in previous films of this era, and so I feel that in that respect this movie was ground breaking and helped slowly pave the way for minorities to eventually take center stage in great theatrical releases. Most other films before and since (until the late 70's early 80's) stereotyped Asian characters as clownish and comical to an absolutely racist degree. Not so here. Robinson (although he did use some stereotyping) created a character who was not only mysterious, but both an anti-hero as well as deep & complex the likes of which would not be seen for a great long time after. His acting ability was amazing and truly well showcased here. He was able to show what really made his characters great and not just the mugging gangster stereotype that became so exaggerated over time. Often people forget what a true talent Robinson was, and if you need to know why... See this one if you ever get the chance!!!


The film The Hatchet Man is based on an unproduced play written by one Achmed Abdullah and theatrical impresario David Belasco. Belasco had died the previous year and I'm sure Warner Brothers must have bought the right to this play from his estate. The play was entitled The Honorable Mr. Wong and it was an outsiders view of what life was like within the Chinese ghetto on the Pacific coast. It's important to remember that when trying to rationalize the yellow peril attitudes that are in this film.

Edward G. Robinson did not look fondly back on The Hatchet Man. I imagine neither did his heavily lacquered co-star Loretta Young. Both look positively ridiculous and neither attempts any kind of Chinese accent. I guess they didn't want to sound ridiculous as well.

Robinson is in the ancient an honorable profession of Hatchet Man or more precise he's a Chinese contract killer for the Tongs. He's been given a contract on J. Carrol Naish by one of the Tong heads, Dudley Digges. Though Naish is an old friend and has even made him prime beneficiary in his will which includes his daughter who grows up to be Loretta Young. Naish says do the deed quickly and Robinson does.

Fifteen years passed and Young's now married to Robinson, but the Tong Wars are heating up and he's not giving her the attention she needs. Leslie Fenton is around and he's a Chinese gigolo and opium addict.

Although the plot takes a few surprise twists in the end it does come out as one might expect. The Honorable Mr. Wong never got produced by David Belasco and I suspect for good reason. The Hatchet Man feeds into all kinds of attitudes prevalent in the day about the Yellow Peril. And it's just not a terribly good or even terribly bad film. Just bad enough.


My first impressions on seeing this series was: "Yes, Penelope Keith is still brilliant, but this series isn't really funny." I felt the children were too antagonistic - it felt real, but not funny. But, seeing that La Keith was on great form, I kept watching and grew to love the series. The children grew as actors, and you could, to purloin a phrase, "feel their pain". Pain is not something you normally associate with sitcoms, but here it was. Now I think the series should be considered a groundbreaking show: the way the pain, sorrow and frustration the children felt was dealt with intelligently and moving. And I reiterate what the others have stated: THIS SERIES SHOULD BE RELEASED ON DVD!


DOES CONTAIN SOME DETAILS OF EPISODES AND Story lines FEATURED.

Starting in 1995 Next of Kin joined a long list of hit BBC sitcoms.

Like 2 Point 4 Children it was based around a family, 2 grandparents (Penelope Keith and William Gaunt) Maggie and Andrew Prentice who after their estranged Son Graham and his Wife (They call her 'Bootface') are killed in a car crash, are left with their grandchildren, Georgia (Ann Gosling), Philip (Matthew Clarke) and Jake (Jamie Lucraft) not to mention their collection of animals.

To make life more difficult for Maggie and Andrew the children come with their own different needs, not only is Georgia an environmentalist, she is also a vegetarian and comes with her own special dry sense of humour. Philip only eats Spam, nothing else. He also discovers girls, one in particular, Roxanne who owns a very large dog called Die Hard (you can sense the jokes that this brings). He is more reserved than Georgia but can more than speak up for himself. Jake won't eat anything that is round. He loves stick insects, pigeons, hamsters, rabbits, parrots and almost all animals. He is also sick if he stands on his head for too long.

Series 1 sees the initial fallout after the death of the children's parents and Maggie & Andrews realisation that they will not be retiring to France. Their cleaner Liz is also on hand to help out but gets rather distracted by Tom, a builder, hired to add another bedroom to the house.

Series 2 sees Liz and Toms relationship develop further and Liz becomes pregnant. The children's relationship with their grandparents is still being put to the test on a daily basis with party's, puppies, sports days and even a spot of camping, which is not to Maggies liking at all.

Series 3 - The Last, sees Georgia believing that nobody likes her and starves herself for 3 days in an attempt to get attention. Philips interest in Roxanne grows and is put to the test when she invites him over to stay - when her parents are out! Philip flees home and confesses to Andrew about where he has been.

Next door want to move as they want their peace and quiet back, only to sell their house to a family of Hells Angels. Jake tries to shave and starts to use deodorant(too much). Philip goes to Swan Lake, with another girl, much to Roxannes annoyance. Georgia goes on a demonstration and hugs a tree

They all have a canal boat holiday , which turns into one of the best episodes along with the final episode 'The Bully' which sees Philip being blackmailed by a boy from his school.

The last scene, rather fittingly is of Maggie pulling an envelope from Philips coat pocket (thinking it is yet another school letter she is never destined to read) and opening it to find it is in fact a Mothers Day card.

Overall i think this series deserved at least another series to wrap it up. The story could have easily developed even further as the children got older. The ratings weren't dreadful, the show held it's own in its time slot, but the BBC decided to drop it, much to the dismay of Penelope Keith who did a fine job in the role of Maggie. All the actors did an excellent job.

Yes it wasn't always 'Laugh Out Loud' comedy, it was more like 'As Time Goes By' with its gentle humour and slower pace than some of its contemporaries. But it was GOOD!

The premise of the show was repeated, in a slightly altered version (Mans wife leaves and dumps the kids on him AND his Mother In-Law!) in another BBC1 sitcom 'After You've Gone' which coincidentally, also only lasted for 3 series despite getting decent viewing figures. How the mind boggles.


Just as they are about to start their retired life, a couple has to take custody of 3 grandchildren, as their son and daughter-in-law have died in a car crash. The pain of the loss of their estranged child overtakes the shock of retirement postponed. A tribute to love (for the sacrifice) and human courage and love (for making it work). It is sometimes too close to home - for anyone who sees all aspects. But that won't stop you from admiring all actors, not just Keith and Gaunt. The supporting roles do not just reflect the incredible amount of talent for UK comedies, but also the reality of life: it goes on, outsiders will help you see the upside.


Penelope Keith CBE OBE is better remembered for her roles as Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton in "To the Manor Born" and "The Good Life" as Marjery Ledbetter. In this series which was prematurely shortened, she and William Gaunt plays parents and grandparents who must raise their three orphaned grandchildren after their son and daughter-in-law have died in a car accident. The children are now orphaned and now must be raised by their grandparents who are not normally affectionate towards children even their own son. The news and circumstances that they must endure but the writers do a splendid job in bringing the unlikely pair of grandparents who probably would prefer traveling the world rather than raising their own grandchildren. This show could have been a hit if it was allowed too.


When these two guys get together you know your in for a great laugh.The way they have to improvise when one of them makes a mistake is just poor class.As with there other video's which I also think are excellent if you in a badmood and need a little bit of cheering up look no further.I think that this video is ALMOST as good as some of the second season episodes and i hope they get around to doing at least one more bottom video


In my opinion this is their second best live show surpassed only by Hooligan's Island. To sum up the plot, this line from the show says it all: "Stop turning everything dirty, will you, I'm trying to f**k the Queen!" - yes, that's the plot :D The first half of the show is great fun (God save the Quim, Eddie?) but it's the second half that really gets me in tears from laughter. Among other things you will in this half experience Ade getting kicked (for real) in the b******s by Rik (poor guy) which I must admit I giggle about every time. And the later scene with their girlfriends (well ... blow-up dolls, actually) gets me laughing just thinking about it. So if you in any shape or form are into vulgar humor, cricket bat violence and blow-up doll action, this is a show for you. Watch it now! 9/10


I've been a fan of BOTTOM and YOUNG ONES for years, since I was 11 to be exact (Im 20 now!!) and I hadnt seen nothing until I saw the BOTTOM LIVE videos!!!!

Okay the second one was a wee bit iffy for me but still I loved it!! The parrot was funny especially when everyone applauded and Ade says "Thats right give the lump of plastic an applause!!".

The way they improvise when something goes wrong (missing lines- Rik's speciality, tripping over wires, doors flying open) is PURE CLASSIC! The improvisation bits always crack me up, leaving me in utter stitches!!!

Go.....see.......now!!!

H xxxxx


The Big Store is not one of the Marx Brothers' best films, but it's worth watching once. Groucho still delivers a few good one-liners and insults to Margaret Dumont. Harpo and Chico have some good scenes (watch as an Italian immigrant accuses Chico of mocking his accent!). I actually think that the musical numbers in this one are wonderful, except for those by Tony Rogers, one of the many love interest duds who grace the Brothers' flicks. Maltin's right: The Tenement Symphony is a suicide-inducing number, and easily a low point in all of the Marx Brothers' films, except for the entire running time of Love Happy. But there's a great song and dance number when Groucho first enters the store. You have to catch the woman singing a jazzed-up version of Rock-a-bye Baby; I have never seen a more eerily emotionless visage on a human being. It's creepy and oddly beautiful. Chico and Harpo perform an awesome piano duet. There's also a scene where four young kids play the piano like Chico, which is very charming. And Harpo's harp sequence is pretty good (he plays Mozart on the harp, and then his two reflections accompany him with other, various string instruments). The final chase sequence is rather annoying. The Marx Brothers' fall came about when their films started overutilizing special effects, fast motion, and sound effects to enhance the comedy. Still, The Big Store is not a disaster, by any means. 7/10.


While I disagree with the conventional wisdom about the Marx Brothers' film made before The Big Store, Go West (1940), believing it to be yet another one of their many masterpieces, I have to agree with the conventional wisdom about The Big Store. It has the feeling of a contractual obligation film. One, two or all three of the Marx Brothers are absent for long periods of time. The story is often confusing. The film doesn't flow very well. Some of the material featuring other performers simply doesn't work. Even when it does work, it's never as good as the Marx Brothers' material, and even their work is too often strangely flat.

The Big Store is really the story of Tommy Rogers (played by famed pop singer Tony Martin). Rogers has just gained partial ownership of the Phelps Department store with the passing of a relative. However, he's not interested in the store, so he plans to sell and use the money to build a state of the art music conservatory in conjunction with his friend, Ravelli (Chico Marx). Unfortunately, not everything at the Phelps store has been on the up and up, and surviving store manager Mr. Grover (Douglass Dumbrille) is worried about buyers discovering their creative bookkeeping. So they try to off Tommy, which leads to hiring private detective Wolf J. Flywheel (Groucho Marx) and his assistant, Wacky (Harpo Marx), who happens to be Ravelli's brother. At the same time, Mr. Grover is courting Martha Phelps (Margaret Dumont), Tommy's aunt, with machinations of eventual ownership of the store.

In terms of meatiness, that's far more of a plot than I usually relay, but all of that is presented in the first 10 - 15 minutes of the film. The remainder involves playing out those threads. The problem is that the above is way too complicated, especially for a Marx Brothers film. The Marx Brothers style was that plots were really secondary to their anarchic, madcap skits. In truth, the two were usually well integrated in their films, with meatier plots than the conventional wisdom has it, and the skits relatively seamlessly enmeshed in the plots.

Here, the plot is often difficult to follow, and when you do manage to follow it, it just isn't that interesting. Despite this, there are still a number of fabulous set pieces. The scene where we first meet Groucho and Harpo in Groucho's private eye office is hilarious. The bedding department scene is good. The climax, featuring an extended chase through the department store, is a lot of fun, including its cartoonish use of wire stunts and camera tricks.

But there just isn't enough of that stuff, and one of the Marx Brothers' strongest points--Groucho's verbal bantering, is oddly flat just as often as it isn't. Even the usual musical sequences are problematic, unlike their sublime charm in Go West. Only Harpo's musical sequence and a brief duet with Chico on the piano are worthwhile. Groucho is given a schmaltzy "big musical production number" that goes on too long, is supposed to be funny and isn't, and ends up with Groucho doing little else but mugging and doing his trademark walk while other characters we're not familiar with sing the song.

Tony Martin has a song early on in the film that's okay, but doesn't exactly fit the tone of the film, and later, he does another "big musical production number", called "The Tenement Symphony", that is bizarre, to say the least, but not particularly funny. Instead, it's a strange mish-mash of styles that is strongly derivative (in a negative way) of George Gershwin.

While Marx Brothers completest certainly can't avoid The Big Store, it's difficult to imagine this being anywhere near the top of the list for any Marx Brothers fan. It's also not a great way to introduce anyone to their work (as they're likely to not be very interested in seeing more), and there are far better films for casual viewers who are not particularly interested in the Marx Brothers.

The few hilarious scenes could easily be excised and work just as well (if not better) in isolation, as "random" skits. But the film is very slightly recommendable for them.


After Zeppo Marx refused to move on with his brothers to MGM from Paramount, the Marxs usually secured the services of another player, usually a singer to function in Zeppo's nondescript place. Usually that person had a lot more personality than Zeppo did. It was Allan Jones in two films, Kenny Baker in one and in The Big Store it was Tony Martin.

The still very much alive, but retired Tony Martin, had one of the great voices of the last century. He never made the screen impact that other singers did, though he was in some very good films. His main media outlets were records, radio, and as one of the premier nightclub attractions, especially when he appeared with his second wife Cyd Charisse. Martin had two songs to sing in The Big Store, the much maligned Tenement Symphony and a really nice ballad, If It's You.

Martin is the heir to one half of Phelps Department store. The other half is owned by his aunt Margaret Dumont. The Hastings Brothers, who own a chain of department stores, are looking to buy this one.

Manager Douglass Dumbrille has been doing a little embezzling on the side and he's afraid that if Martin sells his half, he's taking a stretch up the river. After Martin becomes the victim of an attempted murder, Dumont hires who else, detective Wolf J. Flywheel who is of course Groucho Marx.

By a happy coincidence, Groucho has Harpo as a sidekick and Harpo's brother in the film Chico is a friend of Martin's. So now we have all the Marx Brothers working at the store.

The Big Store is usually dismissed as one of the Marx Brothers lesser films, but it's always been a favorite of mine. Another reviewer said there were too many musical numbers. I don't think there were any more or less than in other films of their's. The running time is a bit short so it might seem like there's more.

The highlight for me is always the final chase seen through the store, especially since Douglass Dumbrille joins in the fun. Dumbrille on screen usually plays some serious villains, probably his best known part is that of Mr. Cedar the lawyer who is milking the estate that Gary Cooper is inheriting in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

Dumbrille is just as successful dealing with the Marx Brothers over embezzlement as he is with Gary Cooper. But here this very serious and obviously classically trained actor joins right in the slapstick fun. Dumbrille looks like he's having a ball. Later on he would really cut loose in a couple of Abbott and Costello films.

A question to all movie fans. Who do you think had the most inventive screen character names, W.C. Fields or Groucho Marx?


Tony Martin's "Tenement Symphony," although seemingly misplaced in the movie, was great, in that its melody was classic in tone, and Martin's voice only enhanced the overall effect. The "ditzy" chase scenes towards the finale of the film, although exaggerated, and obviously performed by stunt doubles, and stop-action, or jerky photography, were "over the top" for belly laughs. Harpo's mirror-reflection musical moment was a great deep breath of rest from his usual zaniness; it was magic, as was Chico's duet with him. For me, born in 1936, my viewing it at still a tender age of nine or ten only made this little boy happy and delighted with the film. If I were to be critical at the age I am today, I would say, the film doesn't come close to what the Marx Brothers films intended from earlier works...but just see it again through the eyes and heart of the child I was, and you'll agree that, gee; what a funny film the Big Store really was.


I first saw this movie several years ago when I was really on a role on seeing films starring the Marx Brothers, I loved a lot of those great comedy teams, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Laurel and Hardy, and The Three Stooges! And so one day, I watched this movie, and I can absolutely say a lot of things in its favor! This is a movie that is filled with what you'd expect to see from the Marx Brothers! This is their best of the 1940's! This is not as funny as their earlier films, Duck Soup and A Night At The Opera, but this is totally worth a rating of ten stars! This movie is really hysterical, I remember that when I saw this, I was laughing so hard, I fell on the floor in tears, I honestly thought that I was going to die, this is so very hysterical! If you are really a huge fan of the Marx Brothers and want to see a movie that is really a huge slap-happy time, then this is a movie that I would very recommend that you see! As usual, Groucho is his usual self in this movie, saying very sarcastic comments to people who are complaining to him! Out of all of the Marx Brothers that I have seen, Grouch is my favorite, he is funny, he is abusive, he is just Groucho!

Like I just said, this is not the best movie that the Marx Brothers ever made, their best film is Duck Soup, but this is a movie that is going to get you laughing your head off at, this movie has very big laughs, it is a must see for all fans of the Marx Brothers! I can say that this is another one of the funniest movies that I have ever seen, though I have seen a lot of movies funnier than this one, but it is just one of the funniest movie that I have seen in my life!

10/10


This is my favorite movie ever.

These are the highlights for me.

From Groucho's singing "Mr. Grover you are just a quack to me" to the end of the "Sing while you sell" reprise. Virginia O'Brien had me laughing on the floor the first time I heard "Rock-a-bye Baby". I just love the way Groucho takes the big production number, a standard vehicle of the time, and makes it signature Groucho. You got to smile.

I think this movie has some of the best Groucho/Margaret Dumont banter.

Harpo's harp solo is miles ahead of any of his others. It's just plain fun,

Although the Tenement Symphony clearly is lacking musically, you have to love the overriding pun. The Tenement Symphony in four flats.


The Big Store is a Marx brothers movie from 1941.The plot is irrelevant as it is in any other Marx movie.All that makes any difference is how funny these movies are and I can tell you about this one; IT IS.This time the brothers go crazy in a department store.Groucho plays Wolf J. Flywheel, the private eye, Harpo is Wacky, his silent partner and Chico is Ravelli, the bodyguard of the singer Tommy Rogers (Tony Martin).The amazing Margaret Dumont makes her last appearance with the Marx brothers playing Martha Phelps.It was most hilarious in all those movies to watch Groucho court Margaret and at the same time humiliate her the worst way.She didn't seem to mind.The Big Store is an underrated gem that shouldn't be thrown away.There are lots of scenes that raise this movie higher than many modern movies would deserve to be raised.It's incredible to watch the brothers roller skating in the store.There are also some musical numbers in the movie.It's great to watch and listen to Groucho singing "Sing While You Sell".There's the lady (Virginia O'Brien) singing "Rock-A-Bye Baby with a frozen face.I just loved her! Chico and Harpo playing piano together is just hilarious! Harpo playing his beloved harp with the mirror reflections is just magical! I'm just reading Harpo Marx' autobiography "Harpo Speaks!".It's fascinating to read how these brothers grew up in poverty under the wings of Minnie and Frenchie and became the comedy team everybody loves.These brothers worked great as a team.The viewer can sense that.That's probably why we still love them.It's timeless, their humor.You can live the 1940's or whatever decade or millennium, it always works.If somebody woke them up now and they'd be back in the moving pictures, the movie theaters would be packed with people.And the laughter would be heard miles away.


Just to say to all those who think it's not funny: My 16 year old daughter, who had not seen it before, thought it was hilarious from beginning to end.

So did I - even though I had to look up a couple of period references. After all we all still enjoy Shakespeare despite not quite understanding a few of the 16c gags.

Despite a slight yawn during Tenement Symphony, the musical numbers were also entertaining - especially Harpo's duet with himself in the mirrors.

What one misses is seeing these films at the cinema - as they were intended to be seen - on a large screen with several hundred other people all enjoying the moment. That's why some of the gags seem a bit laboured as there is often a calculated pause for the audience laughter, so that the next gag won't be missed.


OK, yeah, it's a mess, and there's no glory in the messiness either. Eventually it loses its balance altogether and degenerates into something resembling a variety show, with the comedy subjugated to, God help us, "The Tenement Symphony" - which soon enough gives way to a SECOND harp solo, a cardinal sin. The chase scene at the end, while quite fun in its way, is hyper-extended, ill-motivated, and entirely word-free, hence a waste of their talents. And the unexpected onslaught of racial stereotyping in the middle third is just one example of the throwing-sh*t-against-the-wall distractions and gadgeteering that clutter things up. But at this remove, the gadgets and their attendant art-deco design are fascinating in and of themselves, as is the big production number, especially that super-hip rockabye deadpan woman. While they're terribly integrated, Chico's piano number and Harpo's super-eclectic trio with himself are, in and of themselves, as enjoyable as any of their interludes that I've seen. And when the comedy we're all there for is actually going on, the boys are as sharp, fresh, and at-home in their shtick as ever, with Groucho making a welcome return to ironic self-referentiality, not to mention Margaret Dumont. And the impressive swath that Harpo removes from a vamp's dress can't have pleased the Hays Office.


RUMOR has it that Irving Thalberg, the 'Boy Wonder' Honcho of MGM, really dug the Marx Brothers. Even while they were over at Paramount, where the 4 Brothers made their first 5 films; the young Studio Head planned on how to make the very best bit of madcap Marxian Cinematic Lunacy.

Following the poor showing of their politically oriented spoof, DUCK SOUP (Paramount, 1933), the Marx Boys found themselves persona non gratis at that Adolph Zukor/Jesse Lasky/Famous Players Lot. It was at this time that Mr. Thalberg got his wish when he brought the Boys to MGM. They came over but as the 3 Marx Brothers, sans youngest brother, Herbert (alias Zeppo).

NEXT; they set out to make that ultimate Marx Brothers romp, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (MGM, 1935). The improved method was achieved by the use of testing out the material to be filmed and timing the laughs; as the one knock on the previous Paramount product was that one laugh would drown out the set up for the next.

THE new method worked. The team with Chico, Harpo and Groucho received a new lease on life. They would be at Metro for about as long as had been their stay over at Paramount. Every thing was just honky dory for the team.

AND then, the frail and chronically ill Mr. Thalberg died the following year of 1936. Their dealings with MGM were then all negotiated through new Studio Head and founding partner, Louis B. Mayer. Whereas Thalberg had been artistically inclined, cinematically motivated and was among the Brothers biggest fans; the gruff Mr. Mayer was strictly for the bottom line, practical, pragmatic and (allegedly) hated the Marx Brothers. Groucho, Chico and Harpo continued to work at the Studio; but there seemed to be a steady decline after the second MGM picture, 1937's A DAY AT THE RACES.

BY the time the Marxian Laugh Express had arrived at THE BIG STORE, the team had done a total of 10 movies: 5 at Paramount, 4 at MGM and their solo shot with a previously written play with ROOM SERVICE (RKO Radio Pictures, 1938). Their act was well enough known now to make a Marx Outing by formula. So, they did do that thing! THE BIG STORE starts out with setting up a sort of precursing of that which would come later: like, Chico's being a poor, but honest and lovable piano teacher; in cahoots with one young Singer/Song Writer/Good Guy, Tommy Rogers (Tony Martin); who just happens to be inheriting half interest in a big, major downtown type Department Store.

THE Present Manager of the store, one crooked and ill-tempered Mr. Grover just happens to be planning a nefarious plot to get control of the store by any means possible. Do you get the drift? THE Picture mixes in a great deal of musical numbers, big ensemble songs and songs for Mr. Martin, his female lead, Virginia Grey (as Joan Sutton); as well as some others, such as Virginia O'Brien and a group called Six Hits and a Miss.

NOT to be thought of as being strictly a 'crepe hanger' we must say that even this is not the best Marx Brothers outing; it does contain a lot of excellent bits and should not be boycotted by any means. Some excellent comic interaction is done between Chico & Harpo with one Italian immigrant, Giuseppe (Henry Armetta). We also are witness to a parade of on screen ethnicities; done up in the typical stereotypes of the day. Italians, Blacks, Swedes, American Indians and Chinese family groupings are part of the innocently meant and harmlessly received by the audiences of the day.

OTHER critical cast members included in THE BIG STORE'S Directory are William Tannen, Russell Hicks, Anna Demetrio, Paul Stanton, Bradley Page, Edgar Dearing and Al Hill.

AND lest we forget the most important Lady to any Marx Film; for what would Groucho do if a movie of the Brothers did not include Miss Margaret Dumont; for the Grouch's horrid dalliances?

PROMOTIONAL spots for this movie were done in a most unorthodox manner. There was a very serious sounding promo/trailer/preview of coming attractions which began with a very somber announcement from veteran character actor, Henry O'Neill, which stated that the Marx Brothers were retiring from the movies and this new picture, THE BIG STORE would be their farewell to the cinema, the Boys' swan song!

APPARRENTLY there was some truth contained in this trailer as this marked the abrupt jettisoning of the Marxes from MGM and the Big Hollywood Studio system. From 1941 to the first post World War II year of 1946, Groucho, Chico and Harpo each operated as solo performers; doing personal appearances, guesting in Radio and even making some movie guest shots. Groucho, especially, did well on the Old Time Radio and later on the new medium of Television. Chico organized his own Big Band and went that route to keeping busy.

IN the above mentioned year of 1946, the Threesome was lured once again to go in front of the cameras with A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA (Loma Productions/United Artists, 1946); which was a post War Comedy and spoof of Warner Brothers' Humphrey Bogart/Ingrid Bergman Blockbuster, CASABLANCA (1942); followed by LOVE HAPPY (Artists Alliance/United Artists, 1949). By this juncture, the old Marx Brothers routine had become a pale imitation of a caricature of its old self..

AS a Film or more particularly as a Marx Brothers starring vehicle, we must give THE BIG STORE ** ½.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!


** Here be spoilers **

An artist inherits a part in a big store, and plan to sell it to build a musical conservatory. However, there are plans to murder him in an effort to steal the store. Flywheel, a mediocre private detective, is brought in to protect the artist. Of course there immediately is trouble and mix-ups.

Groucho is his usual self, delivers a quick and witty dialog masterfully. By his side his brothers Chico and Harpo bring solid efforts and the three of them is the entire show. The other cast falls into shadow, with few exceptions. However, no harm done because the Marx brothers are very good. As stated, very funny dialog, good comedy and some nice musical scenes.

7/10


Not their greatest film, but not bad at all. I prefer this one to At the Circus or Room Service. Some would object to the obvious ethnic humour, but in all it's quite silly and mild. Margaret Dumont proves she still has it, Groucho is sharp, Chico's shooting keys and Harpo is, well, Harpo. If you have more than a passing interest in the Marxes, give this one a shot. Best Line: Groucho, "This dress is actually red, but technicolour is sooooo expensive."


Not their greatest film, but better not bad at all. I prefer this one to At the Circus or Room Service. Some would object to the obvious ethnic humour, but in all it's quite silly and mild. Margaret Dumont proves she still has it, Groucho is sharp, Chico's shooting keys and Harpo is, well, Harpo. If you have more than a passing interest in the Marxes, give this one a shot. Best Line: Groucho, "This dress is actually red, but technicolour is sooooo expensive."


The Big Store is not one of the Marx Brothers' best films, but it's worth watching once. Groucho still delivers a few good one-liners and insults to Margaret Dumont. Harpo and Chico have some good scenes. I actually think that the musical numbers in this one are wonderful, except for those by Tony Rogers, one of the many love interest duds who grace the Brothers' flicks. But there's a great song and dance number when Groucho first enters the store. Chico and Harpo perform an awesome piano duet. There's also a scene where four young kids play the piano like Chico, which is very charming. And Harpo's harp sequence is pretty good (he plays Mozart on the harp, and then his two reflections accompany him with other, various string instruments). The final chase sequence is rather annoying. The Marx Brothers' fall came about when their films overutilized special effects, fast motion, and sound effects to enhance the comedy. Still, The Big Store is not a disaster, by any means. 7/10.


Halfway through "The Big Store," my Dad turned to me and remarked, "This is an uneven movie - some parts are great, some are terrible, some are boring and some are a scandal." I couldn't put it better myself (and so I didn't try!).

The scandalous parts are, of course, the scenes involving broad stereotypes.

The Marx Brothers always walk a pretty fine line on the right side of good taste, as much of their humor involves insulting women and authority figures. But that's their schtick, and it's usually pretty harmless (not to mention hilarious). It's only when they go after ethnic groups that they lose me. And yet, I always laugh during the "bed scene" in this movie, so maybe they don't really lose me; I hate to say it, but stereotyping IS often funny. But it's an uncomfortable kind of funny.

It's a shame because the Brothers clearly aren't playing to their strengths in this movie. The final chase scene is good fun, but not really their "thing" (somehow, the slapstick seemed better thought out in "A Night at the Opera"). Still, they shine in several scenes, most notably when Groucho first meets Grover and proceeds to insult him while simultaneously wooing Margaret Dumont with Romantic poetry. I also like Harpo's fantasy segment, one of the more imaginative musical numbers from the latter-day movies. I don't even mind the obligatory Handsome Young Man character as he's got a good rapport with Groucho, but his bizarro Tenement Symphony (which is mercifully excised from most TV versions) really needs to go.

I sound like I hate this movie, but I really don't. Though it's clearly a big step down from the best of Marx, The Big Store is still intermittently hilarious, and even at its worst, it's diverting. Lesser comedians would kill to be as good as the Marx Brothers on a mediocre day.


I finally brought myself to watch all of the Big Store, the movie on the flip side of Go West DVD. I recall seeing Store (in the late 60's/early 70's I deliberately saw any Marx movie whether on TV or in a revival in a theatre until I had seen them all) years before and being bored out of my skull.

I had tried to watch it a few weeks earlier, but gave up after the scene where the beds can be hidden in the wall or floors.

This time, biting the bullet, I watched Groucho sing while he sold and the final chase scene with sound effects added that made it seem like a Hanna-Barbera cartoon.

And the end, I had to admit, The Big Store was passable--provided it had starred someone else.

If you can erase the fact you're watching the Marx Brothers from your mind, The Big Store seems exactly like any overblown 1940's comedy. It well meets the standard for a Red Skelton film or perhaps something with Danny Kaye or early Jerry Lewis.

If you can perform the mental feat that Groucho is Red Skelton, Chico is Danny Kaye and Harpo is Jerry Lewis (uggghhh!), the Big Store does not seem like the abysmal thing it is.

Seeing this film makes you understand just how high the bar the Marx Brothers set for their movies, much higher than virtually any other comic working with a film studio, instead of independently as Chaplin did.

Things happened in a Marx Brother film that just never happened in one with Red Skelton: Margaret Dumont being deviled by Groucho, Groucho being deviled by Chico, and the rest of the Universe bedeviled by Harpo. Out of the gate in the Cocoanuts, the Brothers' first film in 1929, we already have the "Why A Duck?" routine between Groucho and Chico. We already have Groucho's "Won't you lie down?" to Margaret Dumont, and Harpo giving Basil Ruysdael his leg while whistling a tune from the arcane musical, "Floradora." Even as we move to the later films, there is also the Marx's brilliant sense of surrealism and absurdity, far beyond the capabilities of anyone else. Their penultimate film, A Night in Casablanca, an almost last hurrah which they financed themselves and had more say over, can be arguably ranked with the lesser Paramount or best MGM films.

But Store provides a disconnect which the brothers never are able to overcome. This was never something impossible for them. The plot was generally something they made their way around, jumped over, or totally jettisoned. Here, there are trapped in it, and it's not pretty.

There are still some marvelous moments--how can there not be in a Marx Brothers movie? Groucho's last film appearance with Margaret Dumont is as always wonderful. Harpo has a magnificent harp solo where he turns into Mozart and his mirror reflections spring to life far more than any ever did in Duck Soup. The opening sequence where Dumont visits Groucho's fly-by-night detective agency (where Harpo is the given the Quasi-Zeppoesque role as Groucho's Assistant) is wonderful.

But the lengthy Groucho musical number (three DVD chapters!) is pretty much a straight one. There's no tattooed lady, African explorer, or pre-war hysteria to be found. The juvenile's musical number, The Tenement Symphony, is nowhere as mercifully brief as When My Dreams Come True is in the Cocoanuts. Harpo and Chico even participate in it.

Worst of all, however, are the moments where the brothers are made into just any old comedy team, pushing wrong buttons to create chaos, riding on roller skates and unicycles to escape the villain, and serving up a wienie with some Puccini (Or is it Rossini? My mind has blocked it out like a car accident).

You don't gotta sing while you sell. Please don't.

It's sad that the Marx's valedictory with MGM had to be this generic bore. Through no fault of their own, they became personae non grata at the studio and seemed to be given a script pulled at random from a file drawer.

So, if you're a Red Skelton fan, and can ignore the fact you're watching Groucho, Harpo and Chico, by all means, watch The Big Store. If you're a Marx Brothers worshipper (they don't merely have fans), please show their memories respect and keep the DVD on the side that has Go West.


This has to be one of the most hilarious films I have ever watched. It consists of two stories - Billy the Ninja has to battle some gangsters, while Gordon the Ninja has to defeat some other ninja who wants to kill every other ninja to prove he's the best. There is a lot of "ninja" in this film. Highlights included the fantastic Ninja headbands (all ninjas need a headband that announces their ninja status), the ninja shell suits, the urban cameo ninja and the screamingly funny dialogue - "Bully, what are you going to do about work? I don't think your ninja skills will help you find a job." Ah yes, a common problem for young ninjas. I think this film would be best viewed while drunk.


It grates my potatoes when I read reviews on this site that say things like "This is worst film ever!" about films like Battlefield Earth, Pearl Harbour, etc. OK, these films are dreadful and made by people who should know better but compared to this tripe, and its ilk, I would describe Battlefield Earth as a cinematic masterpiece.

I would concede that it's certainly possible to make a worse film than this but you have to be genuinely trying to make a bad film.

** Spoilers ahead ** (Ha, as if you could spoil this film.)

There are just so many things wrong with this film and it takes multiple viewings to spot them. E.g., at one point, John, a good guy, while trying to come up with a plan with rescue Billy's sister suggests using his adopted children a decoy! Also, the bad guy kidnaps Billy's sister early and doesn't think of using her as bait to capture Billy until right at the end of the film.

Even the one thing that they seem to have put a bit of effort into - the gun-based action sequences - are bad. They're just boring and repetitive.

However, I learnt several interesting things from this movie:

1. Wherever this film is set, it is certainly a very cosmopolitan area. The lead character, who seems to have lived here all his life, has managed to pick up a South African accent. The evil gangsters all seem to sound Mexican and/or Asian. The women have an array of different, peculiar American accents. (Were the dubbing actors having bets on who could do most stupid voices?)

2. Being brutally machine-gunned down results in no more than slight bleeding from the mouth (and then only sometimes).

3. Any slight brush against a ninja's sword results in instantaneous death.

4. Ninjas, i.e. stealth assassins, wear Day-Glo padded suits. A headband with 'ninja' written on it is the current must-have ninja accessory.

5. Job prospects are poor for Asian ninjas nowadays. (You'd think Billy would have thought of that before going off to spend 10 years at Ninja School.) However, many of the causasian ones seem to have jobs that involve poncing about in glades.

6. When a ninja dies, a windchime somewhere falls down.

Nevertheless, this film is a hoot. I honestly can't decide if this it is really as bad this or if someone is taking the piss - especially with regards to the randomly interspersed ninja sequences and the godawful dubbing.

Thoroughly recommended.


The Ninja Squad is another Godfrey Ho Ninja flick that's so bad it's entertaining like the previous ones and the ones that came later. The Ninja squad is entertaining for several reasons, one is that the Ninja's costumes all have headbands with the word "Ninja" on, it's like they're pointing the obvious to the audience, another thing is that the Ninja's are all white males, no Japaniese Ninja's just white Ninja's which is funny since the Ninja originated from Japan so you'd think they'd have some Ninja's from Japan. Another thing is that the main character Billy has spent all this time being a Ninja yet he doesn't even dress up or use any Ninja skills, he just beats them up or uses Machine guns. The reason for this is simple, apparently Godfrey and Joespeh Lai found reels of unreleased Hong Kong movies so to make a quick bit if money they shot some Ninja scenes and edited it in to other films then re-dubbed the unreleased movie they was using to make it like it was connected to their Ninja movie, it does make sense since why does the films always have a Ninja plot and a non Ninja plot, wouldn't it just have one plot like American Ninja. That was a very interesting bit of information I found out because it does make more sense when watching these Godfrey Ho Ninja movies. One thing you've got to put your hats up for is Richard Harrison, he's been in so many of these Ninja movies I lost count. He must of been a good sport to star in these low budget movies, he must of known they were cheesy but he still did a great job and starred in them. Later he stated that it made him feel like a prostitute but he was in that many you can't blame him, most of them was shot in the same year.

The film sees a young boy named Billy training with Ninja Master Gordon (Played by the great Richard Harrison.), years later Billy returns home to his family. Billy needs to find a job since being a Ninja doesn't qualify as a paying job, it makes you wonder why Billy decided to spend all that time training with Gordon if he's told to get a proper job but again the whole Billy plot was from another movie. Meanwhile Gordon gets a threat from a Ninja named Ivan the Red who challenges him, he declines so Ivan then goes around killing other Ninja's to make him the ultimate Ninja Warrior. The Ninja's in this movie get killed way to easy, just a slice in they're stomach and they're dead and the funny thing is there's no blood. I guess they couldn't afford fake blood effects, there are some movies where a guy gets stabbed and he's still alive. Anyway Billy meets a group of thugs and beats them up and so because of that the kill his mother so Billy decides to get his revenge, Billy also has other problem since his girlfriend's father doesn't like her being with him since "He's a Ninja and a very dangerous man." Ivan the Red keeps discarding these Ninja's until he gets to fight Gordon then he will try and kill Billy, Gordon gets ready to face Ivan the Red and stop him from becoming the ultimate Ninja Warrior.

The Ninja Sqaud is another cheesy, low budget Ninja movie that's entertainingly funny and should be seen if you're in the mood for a laugh at some Z-grade fun. Check this out. 10/10


Richard Harrison returns once again (albeit unwittingly if you know the history behind these films) as a ninja master yet again named Gordon (but ostensibly not the same character in each film)

At the inception of the movie we see Gordon training a young student named Billy in the ancient warrior art and explaining to him it's historical origins. The film then inexplicably jumps forward in time some years to when Billy is grown up (and strangely sporting an Australian accent!) and has returned to his native home (The Phillipines?) where he manages to get on the wrong side of a gang of heavies and their vicious boss who are extorting money from the villagers amongst other criminal activities.

If you're familiar with the 'Cut and Paste' 'Masterpieces' synonymous with the names of director Godfrey Ho and producer Joseph Lai then you'll know exactly what to expect here.

The segments showing the 'grown up' Billy in this film are in fact footage taken from a completely separate film with the newer footage of Harrison's character and the other ninjas spliced into it at irregular intervals.

Anyway, back to the 'plot' at hand....

Whilst Billy is experiencing problems involving the gangsters, Gordon is having some trouble of his own in the form of an evil Ninja calling himself Ivan the Red (Dave Wheeler) whose aim is to challenge Gordon to combat in order to prove his fighting supremacy and to wrest the supreme 'ninja power' from him. When Gordon initially refuses to participate in any such confrontation Ivan resorts to challenging and subsequently killing other ninja in order to goad Gordon into battle.

Having dispatched of each opponent Ivan removes their (rather crappy) Ninja headbands which he then sends to Gordon as proof of his kill (although I've seen exactly the same crappy Ninja Headbands for sale for about £2.00 in martial arts shops so he might as well have bought a few from there and saved himself some hassle)

Finally Gordon is forced to accept the challenge to stop the bloodshed (although as per usual with these films despite ninja being sliced/stabbed etc there is not one drop of the red stuff in sight!!!) I'm sure that you can guess the final outcome.

What can I say about this film?

Well the acting/dubbing is atrocious and to call the link between the ninja footage and the footage involving the character of Billy as tenuous would be overly complimentary (it's completely none existent!)....so in other words it's all brilliant fun!

If (like me) you are into bad movies then you'll no doubt be able to derive a good laugh from this one.

The fight scenes are especially energetic here with lot's of flips and acrobatics and oh, did I mention that our hero wears a pink ninja uniform? Hmmmm intriguing indeed.....


The pain I endured during the viewing of this film was unbelievable. I didn't exactly have high hopes for this film, in fact I watched it merely because I was in need of a laugh. But unfortunately for me, my brain could not have sustained worse damage had I repeatedly ran head first into a brick wall.

SPOILERS AHEAD 70% OF THE FILM RUINED(not that there's a plot anyway)

A man named Billy hasn't been paying his rent. Enter the rockard African Americans with bad Australian dubbed voices who proceed to get there arses kicked by the mighty Billy. They go back to there boss and.... that's where my IQ dropped 24 points. Anyway Billys mother is eventually killed and his sister kidnapped, so he sets out on a journey to "revenge" his mothers death (no I'm not joking he really does say that)

Most of the film concentrates on Billy randomly going to sites with bad guys and pointing a gun in different directions to shoot his load. These sessions are followed by large intervals of talking. The talking seems to go on for hours which is probably thanks to the gut wrenching dubbing, the silly looking characters and the annoying music.

The other untimely classic character this film introduces is Gordon

Gordon the ninja is challenged by the mighty Ivan the red. Ivan wants to kill Gordon so he may be crowned as the ultimate ninja. If Gordon refuses Ivan will go on a ninja killing spree until Gordon changes his mind. Obviously Gordon being the intelligent man that he is refuses and Ivan proceeds to wipe every last ninja from the face of the earth. One thing Ivan should have considered is how can the ninjas praise him as the grandmaster if there all dead? But oh well none of the other characters use there brain in this film why should he be any different?

The main thing I noted about the characters in this film was that every one of them especially the ninjas were so superbly trained. No matter how many times a character was shot, slashed or stabbed they just wouldn't bleed, no blood was spilt in this film whatsoever.

Another thing I noted was that every ninja in this movie was a white American. Every time one of the ninjas died they would pull the stupidest face ever before keeling over at a ludicrous speed which had me in fits of laughter. It actually kept me watching to see if the next ninjas death was funnier than the last. But the repetitive Billy scenes just kept coming back over and over and over, and I've just had enough of typing now. I would say more about this disgrace to planet earth, but even thinking about this film for too long could cause irreparable brain damage.


Its called The Ninja Squad...where's the ninja squad in this film? All we see are individual ninjas cruising round fighting each other, because they've got nothing else to do besides meditate and wave their swords around to the same individual sound effect. Then again I bought this film for a pound; so what do you expect? We see the protagonist, Billy, being trained as a young boy to become the world's greatest ninja. After several shots of generic ninja training Billy has become a grown man and an ultimate ninja! Then he starts complaining about how he can't get a job, as there's little work for ninjas in his hometown. Its an unwritten rule that ninja's financial issues aren't addressed in ninja films, but maybe director Godfrey Ho was trying to kick some realism into the formula. If he did, it fell flat on its face with the dubbed Australian and Texas accents against the faces of people clearly from an Asian background. But at least Billy is inconspicuous. His fellow ninjas parade round in what looks like cheap, camp, fancy dress, with a headband bearing the title'ninja', just to clarify. Its terrible. This is why I love this film and you have to watch it!!!