Don't be fooled by the stylish DVD cover. You will regret it!!! This movie was annoying to say the least. ZERO action. Breathtaking my eyeball! The lead character was never out of breath except when he ran out of cigarettes. I don't remember him even running a single time. He was never in a hurry to get anywhere. I saw one machine gun the whole movie and it was being carried by a soldier in town. No one fired at the main character. No one even came near him with a gun. So why is the rifle the most prominent image on the DVD cover?!?!!?

I got tired of hearing that terrorist on the other end of the phone line after about 10 minutes too. Tell me please how on earth he could see him EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE. If the terrorist on the phone walked everywhere the lead character did, then why on earth didn't the terrorist just do the job? Silly plot line.

The only thing this movie is good for is for its National Geographic-like shots of the slum-filled Philippines. I now know that I would never want to waste my money visiting that country. It's an absolute wreck!


An American friend of mine to me to watch this movie. This movie is awful. This is very offensive to me especially you're showing it to a foreign country. I go home to the Philippines once/2 years and this is a misrepresentation of the Philippines. People who have not been to the Philippines might think that the WHOLE of the Philippines is like this and IT IS NOT. Of course, I do believe that some of the things in the movie is true but it is like showing to the world South Central as the representation of USA. All countries have an ugly side but to say it in the movie that this is the Philippines...THAT IS JUST SO WRONG. I was very hurt when I read some of the comments especially the one that says "Remind me again NEVBR to visit the Philippines" by Scott Weinberg. I am a Filipino and proud to be one but after watching a movie like this I felt so little. I WAS VERY OFFENDED.


According to the box (and as an aside - God bless Something Weird Video!), this feature is cobbled together from material censored out of Marins' earlier "Coffin Joe" films. Though there are plenty of topless girls, and a good bit of torture and mayhem as well, the content of this movie seems to indicate that the censors in question (Brazilian?) had more serious issues with intense hallucination sequences. The handful of scenes which comprise the framing device, some mumbling business about a psychotic guy and the people trying to cure him, are certainly inept and boring enough, but this is actually a relief, because the hallucinations are pretty overwhelming, and you'll be happy for opportunities to catch your breath. An endless barrage of utterly grotesque and disjointed imagery, much of which seems to be intended as literal hellscapes, is liberally flavored with nude women, partially obscured by psychedelic lighting and editing effects, and staged on sets which must be seen to be believed (parts of actors' bodies are often built into the backdrop). It's easier to compare this to other movies than it is to describe it; if you can imagine Kenneth Anger's Satan movies, interspersed with gore scenes from H.G. Lewis, and rationalized by the further insertion of pieces of a fifties health class film on mental hygiene, you're on the right track; and, not to be snotty, but if you can't imagine that, you might not be ready to watch this one. If one can judge by this film alone (as, unfortunately, I must, though that won't be the case for long), Marins' big influences are Jung, Bosch, and E.C. Comics, which places this picture in heavy company by virtue of its aspirations alone, despite its technical shortcomings. (Not to mention that its very incoherency makes this movie a more accurate picture of some forms of schizophrenia than many more "serious" films which address the same subject.)


Marins' HALLUCINATIONS is a brilliant collage consisting of many disturbing, bizarre, and imaginatively perverse scenes which were censored from his earlier films. A man, Dr. Hamilton, is having nightmares in which Coffin Joe, Marins' demonic alter-ego, repeatedly kidnaps his wife for the purpose of superhuman procreation (a theme which runs through the Coffin Joe films). Fellow psychiatrists seek the help of Marins the filmmaker, in an attempt to force Hamilton back into reality. Of course, Marins mastery of cinematic metaphysics throws all matter of logic and rationality to the dogs, so that what you get instead is a wild journey into the dark realms of the unconscious. The film is as much about Marins and his controversial career as it is an underground "head " film, and to get anything out of it, it's helpful to understand who and what Coffin Joe is. Once you can appreciate Marins' mastery of "the aesthetics of garbage," you'll realise how brilliant and undervalued he is in international cinema.


~contains spoilers

Whatever the director was trying to achieve with this film, I do not know. In my opinion, all he delivered was a messed up plot that barely rivals that of Executive Decision, a film whose story it was painfully obvious that he wanted to recreate. Come on. A vice president traveling in a standard 747 passenger plane? That would never happen, especially in 1997, when this movie was made. The VP always travels in a US government plane, Air Force 2. This is clearly a low-budget, poorly-made film that the makers of Executive Decision didn't want to sue since the makers of Executive Command wouldn't have to money to pay them anyway.


This is, without any doubt, the WORST movie involving airplanes in the entire history of movies, and also one of the WORST movies, period. Good thing I was alternating between this movie and "Corrina, Corrina" on TV, I thought the latter was by far more interesting. But the point is: the guys not only directly copy Air Force One and Executive Decision, but also don't know anything about aviation.

I mean how on Earth is there supposed to be this little trap at the belly of the 747, right on spot? How is there supposed to be this elevator that goes straight to the cargo section? Why on Earth is that plane bearing the livery of the inaugural 747 flight from Boeing? They were too cheap to take shots of a plane themselves, so they took footage from Boeing. Why is that "TERRAIN - PULL UP" or "TOO LOW - GEAR" alarm ringing when the aircraft is flying at cruising altitude? One last thing: the realistic ending of the movie would have been the 747 crashing and burning in Santa Monica and having half the population of Los Angeles killed either with the fire or the chemical toxin, because it is impossible to land a plane that easily (and so nicely aligned with the runway)! Overall, this movie is the worst of all, the acting is awful, the plot is awful, it made me think: "How lower can you sink?"


I am a very tolerant viewer. I enjoy almost every film I see, even if it is not the best film ever made. However, this motion picture directly challenges the tolerance that I have for filmed entertainment. "Strategic Command" is easily THE WORST film I have ever had the misfortune to watch. It is an almost identical clone to the vastly superior "Executive Decision" with elements from "The Rock" thrown in to try and (In a pathetic attempt if I may add.) to distinguish it from the aforementioned films. Although there are some differences in the film (The jet that docks with the 747 in "Strategic Command" is an SR-71 while the jet in "Executive Decision" is an F-117.), these differences are not enough to keep the film from being a mediocre imitation. Special effects are mostly poorly executed, although some of the matte shots did seem convincing. Parts of the film where some of the bad guys and a good guy vomits looked like they put an Alka Seltzer tablet in their mouth and would spit the foam out at the right time to emulate vomit. Some of the footage of the F-16s, both interior and exterior, were taken directly from the film "Iron Eagle" so as to save money on the limited production budget. Acting is another weak point, with people playing their parts too hard. As a result, the characters become unconvincing and lifeless. The only good actor in the film was Paul Winfield. I was shocked to see how low Mr. Winfield sunk, his acting talent could've served in better films than this. The film's only saving grace is the musical score, sounding better than most other low budget and even some high budget films. However, it seems that the composer was trying to emulate and, in some parts of the suite, combine the styles Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner. Most of the suite, although is surprisingly good for a no-name composer, is mostly unoriginal and uninspired. Overall, "Strategic Command" is a mediocre facsimilie of "Executive Decision". This is a film that deserves to stay in a vault and rot away. The video does not deserve to be purchased, even five dollars for this movie is highway robbery! This picture can, at the very best, serve as a rental, but there are better choices at the video store. Besides, this film is nothing but two hours of your life that can be spent watching a better film. After seeing this review, your brain should be giving an excellent "Strategic Command" to steer clear of this stinker! - Reinhart


Obviously, someone at the writer's den couldn't think of any more ideas so they decided to steal Executive Decision. It's the same story and same EXACT plot. Plane gets hijacked, there's a bomb, a team goes in by via plane hook-up, some made it, gotta disarm bomb, and whee!! All the heroes make it. They even copied the salute in the end when the hero and soldiers saluted. Whoo, boy. Someone ought to smack the writers around for copying.


This movie is excellent if you want to see a Stealth Fighter take off from different angles, and if you get a kick out of watching F-16's rear. Otherwise, stay away. The script is bad, the acting is bad, the directing is bad, and the improbability level is soaring. Only plus in the margin is to Bok Yun Chon for being beautiful and to Marcus Aurelius (i think...) for being partially funny.


Same scenario: plane hijackers, stealth plane hookup, not all the crew makes it into the plane, mini-cameras to see what's going on, and guy trying to disarm bomb. Even the name is the same thing...sounds like a guy with a thesaurus named it!


of all hijack movies this is the best of the worst! only decent thing was SR-71! that is always a cool thing. except the hooking under a jumbojet... and a FBI agent can do anything, f.e. land a jumbo without a door. yeah.

i could write all the funny mistakes down, but it would take all the fun away from watchers. anyway, remember to concentrate on f-16s radars. and also i found funny that same poor pilot was sent for same mission two times. not a good day for him.

good thing with these bad movies is that if you're hit with bullet, you don't actually get hurt that much. but that is just movies, isn't it. good thing was that the world (america) was saved once again. and an aircraft.


Well! I'm sorry to disagree entirely with everyone else here since I enjoyed this film tremendously. So, it's not original - what of it! That doesn't stop me enjoying 90 minutes of pure escapism. Michael Dudikoff is always well worth watching and many of his movies are great fun, indeed. This one is one of his best and I am delighted to have now bought it on VHS so that I can watch it many times, which I plan on doing.

I do feel sorry for everyone else who has seen and not enjoyed this film - perhaps they simply cannot let themselves go and enjoy the film for what it is, not what they think it ought to have been. Maybe I am too simplistic for their tastes - in that case I'm glad I am. There must be somebody else out there somewhere who, like me, has enjoyed this film!


This film is pretty damn bad. As has already been mentioned the film steals the plots of Executive Decision and borrows a bit of the Rock for good measure.

What I did not understand was why would the kidnappers hijack the Vice Presidents plane ?? Surely with all that potential chemical death on board any plane would have done. In fact why use a plane at all just use a bomb in a warehouse with the chemical. Oh well who knows the minds of master criminals in terrible films ?

The plot is stolen from executive decistion. The aerial shots are borrowed from stock footage. This really only leaves the acting to save it - sadly it doesn't. Stereotypical bad guys and Stereotypical good guys (the leader of the special forces team sent in to rescue the Vice President is a gung ho idiot so that the main film hero can take over - oh my god).

Good look finding more work for all involved in this turkey.


Hey, of course it's the same movie as Executive Decision. Michael did it first and Hollywood thought it was such a good movie, they packed it with so called top stars and remade it with bigger special effects. Fantastic movie, great scenes even if some of them were re-used in other movies, but what do you expect from a lower budget film. Not only does Michael put in a solid and believable performance, but all the cast come together well to make this a great action/suspense movie not to be missed. Whether you are a die hard Dudikoff fan or a newbie to his movies, this one is yet another great offering from Dudikoff. Check it out and you won't be disappointed.


it's a great movie!I loved it!I am not to old but I may answer a few questions...the kidnappers hijacked the VPs plane because it was more important then another plane.They did not use a bomb because they wanted something(the fellow terrorist to be released)...if they had used a bomb of course they didn't have to tell because everyone would know what to do(capture them or stop the bomb).I totally agree with Michael Mays!Maybe if people would not want to see an EXTRA MOVIE then they would like it...it's a great movie if you know how to enjoy good films.Of course it borrows something from 4 movies but come on it is great the way it is.I liked the acing especially the terrorists.


This movie made quite an inpact on anyone who saw it in the 70's. A masterpiece. Pioneer work, first rate stop motion animation. The director and producer Ivo Caprino, invented a whole new 'multi camera system', and the brilliant result is this classic movie. To this date 5 million(!) tickets sold at the boxoffice in Norway alone! Thats more then there are people in Norway. The fact that this movie surely inspired the Podrace (filmed 25 years later) in Starwars Episode I, should be proof enough for anyone that this is a movie ahead of its time. More info at www.flaklypa.com


I saw this movie in Russia, Moscow in 75-76 when I was 8 years old. It was showing in a specialized cinema for children "Orlenok". The movie was on screen for about a week and I went to it every day - i.e. 7 times or so.

You DON'T have to be Norwegian to understand subtleties of this movie (maybe you just need to be a kid, even though grown up :)

This piece was superbly translated into Russian and I remember some of them till now. I can't say how much I love this movie. It was such a pity that I couldn't see it for so many years. I was in Norway once, but it was in spring and I missed your X-mas show :)

Can you picture my excitement, when I suddenly found Flåklypa Grand Prix on IMDB.com? I feel like if I found a childhood friend that I lost long ago.


...however let's try.

I'm not gonna sketch the plot, couz' plenty other people have done it, but:

The humor is outstanding, the action is tense, and one can not help getting sucked into this world filled with nutcases, daydreamers, villains, plain goofy looking types, and hopelessly stupid inventions and the characters likewise way of thinking.

The music score is absolutely perfect, the dialog is sharp and fun, the scenes are extremely well done. It simply doesn't get any better than this.

Just my two cents


I just bought this and watched it again for the first time in 10 years, such great memories, it is truly a timeless piece of art by Caprino. The humor hits all levels for all generations, every detail has been considered in its making. I heard when it came out on DVD in Norway it shattered a lot of DVD records, anyone know when/if it is going to be released in US? my bootleg DVD copy I bought on ebay is nice, but would love a version that had some history on the film.

I'll never forget how my father would get my brother and I so riled up by insisting this was the time that Gore Slimy was going to win. Everyone who likes to cheer for an underdog should find a way to watch this film


The number one cult movie in Norway still attracts full houses with its naive and wonderful tale of the bicycle-repairman Reodor Felgen and his two trusted companions; the porqupine Ludvig and the bird Solan Gundersen. Authentic characterisation of norwegians and their uniqueness in the Scandinavian picture. For full appreciation add either kids, norwegians or alcohol for maximum viewing pleasure. This is the norwegian answer to The Rocky Horror Show, with no similarities what so ever beyond the cult status and the average norwegians need to apply commentary and reciting of the script...


Flåklypa Grand Prix is a wonderful piece of art. This movie is, to put it in simple words, perfect. I saw the first time as a kid, and I can still watch it over and over again without any loss in pleasure. It is a children's movie, in a way, but I'm over 30 and I still love it. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, with the mountains of Flåklypa and everything. The puppets are amazingly alive in spite of the relatively small number of moving parts. The technological marvels of Reodor Felgen, including but by far not limited to the monstrous car Il Tempo Gigante, evidence a very skilled craftmanship and an eye for details. The car competition towards the end really feels in your own stomach, too. The story line is quite simple and not really original, but that's the way it should be in a children's movie (even for kids above 30).

Flåklypa Grand Prix is my absolute favorite of all movies ever made in the whole world!


I can't say much about this movie, just that I love it, love it, love it, and I'm quite sure that's an understatement. Unfortunately, Kjell Aukrust, the creator of all the wonderful characters in this movie and many, many more, passed away christmas eve 2002, at the age of 82. May he rest in peace, content with the fact that he has made several generations of Norwegians, and others, laugh their hearts out. 10/10


This is an animation classic in Denmark! Unfortunately, it has been a while since it was shown in national television, but everybody my age (22) know it and love it. Just whistle the first few notes of the tune and people above twenty whistle along.

This is a must see in Scandinavia. In Denmark a radioshow ran a campaign a couple of years ago so this movie could be shown in national tv.


I always knew this film as Pinchcliff Grand Prix in the United States. I loved this movie as a five-year-old child in 1977 but now it is impossible to find anywhere. I have been looking for years and have had no success. Can anyone out there help me get a copy? This movie was very ahead of its time and in my opinion could compete with some of the latest high tech computer animation movies out today. NOTHING has even come close to what Pinchcliff Grand Prix did for me. It even inspired me as a young child to become addicted to fast cars as an adult!


This excellent movie is now available in crisp colors and with restored sound. Being made i 1975, the stop motion animation is surprisingly good, and the story still hold to the ones we have been served in more recent animation flicks. It also contains a behind the scenes documentary.

The car in the movie (Il Tempo Gigante) was made in full scale (actually a guy from the Ferrari factory in Italy helped out on the bodywork), and can be seen on display and driving at "Hunderfossen" park in Norway.

I remember seeing it when it was first released, but seeing it again as an adult revealed lots of details:

1: Look at the eyes of the moose when the main caracters are watching tv.

2: The car registration HB 4596 as anounsed on the loudspeaker before the race refers to bootlegging booze: HB - Home Brewed, 45 (as in 45% proof, available in norwegian stores) - and 96 (as in 96 proof, what all bootleggers aim for)

3: And the game of chess played in the tent of "Ben- Redik - Fy Fasan" (actually a euphemism for "fy faen" - norwegian swearing meaning "the Devil") is a spanish play which you'll find in many books on chess.

and the list goes on


This is the best and most original piece of pop-culture from Norway ever. I love this movie. It is unique. It is a doll-movie. The motor-race in the movie is really good and well filmed. The dolls are well-made and filmed very well - with stop-motion. All the inventions and mechanics in the film are very good designed.

It is a work of genius - I love it.

The whole start is good. The music in the start starts it all.

If you are from Scandinavia: watch it.

If you are from the rest of the world: also watch it.

I love this Norwegian film WATCH IT

10/10 - Nuff said.


Flåklypa Grand Prix is the biggest selling and most watched film of all time in its homeland of Norway. In fact, its ticket sales in Norway is greater than the population of Norway: which should tell you a lot. It is a cultural phenomenon in Norway that is just as popular 30 years after its arrival, which was proved by the video game based on the film that became the biggest selling video game of all time in Norway: 25 years after the films debut. OK, enough "Hype and Wonderment", lets talk about the movie.

Set in rural Norway in the mid 20th century, it tells the tale of a bicycle mechanic and his friends who wind up entering a car race with a homemade automobile. It is a story of wonder, adventure, charm, "getting by against the odds" and most of all friendship. It is a family film, enjoyed equally by teens, young-lings and adults alike. The humor is accessible to all ages and types of people, and the emotions that emanate from the screen are always moving the story forward and deepening your involvement about the characters and their environment. It is quite simply, an outstanding film, that should not be missed.

To balance my obvious admiration for this piece of work, I will now look on the flip side of this shining coin. Firstly, the film does stereotype slightly, and does so from a 1970 point of view. This makes some characters and jokes seem outdated and "inappropriate" nowadays. However, this is a minor flaw from which most all films of age suffer. The second and final "critisism" is this question: why was a (proper) sequel never made???

This film has had influence on Hollywood without the major public knowing about it. From Back to the Future to Star Wars Episode I, which pod racing scene is almost an exact copy from Flåklypa Grand Prix. If you are an avid film enthusiast and want to have light bulbs appear over your head in regards to finding our where things came from in some major Hollywood productions, then you should watch this film.

What more can I say but go and see it :)


I first saw this when I was at Universitet i Oslo and I went to the film festival in about 1990.

I'd only just arrived and so my norwegian wasn't up to much at the time, however, I knew that what I was seeing was something special.

I spent about six years trying to remember what exactly it was called until finally the wonderful internet helped me to find it again.

Now, having shown it to my five year old, I know that this film is timeless as she adores it too.

I recommend this film to anyone who wants to see something the equal of anything produced by Aardman - my little girl likes the hedgehog best.


Two words: Pod racing. I haven't payed much attention to the end titles of Star Wars Episode I, but there really should be a "thank you Caprino" in there somewhere. Of course that's an entirely different picture, but still the racing scenes are conspicuously similar to the ones in the thirty-some years older Pinchcliffe Grand Prix.

Yeah, this film is what makes me proud to be Norwegian. Reading the other comments on this film simply fills me with joy. I see it's hard to find abroad, but I'm sure it's possible to order an English version on the internet, and possibly the latest Caprio Collection DVD set with the ingenious short films that predates this full feature masterpiece.

If only the the up and coming Norwegian filmmakers could make something like this... It doesn't even have to be better, so long as it's close. But then again, that's why masterworks are masterworks, and everyone else are mere mortals.


I first saw this movie when i was 11 years old, and it was love at first sight. In 1977, I bought it on super-8. Before VHS or any other home movie standard, that was the only way to own a copy. Sadly it's only about 20 minutes. The DVD double disk version brought me right back to the first time I saw "Bjergkøbing grand prix" (as it is called in Denmark), in the cinema. I'm proud to say, that back in 1975, in that little cinema, I fell out of the chair during the final race scenes. I often wish that the same thing would happen to day. But they simply don't make films like this anymore, and that's a shame. Then of course, the cinema chairs today are much more comfortable.

It is very "Norsk" -very Norwegian. That's why I loved watching it in it's original language, on the DVD.

Kim.


Well, this one is a true diamond! Ever since I watched it the first time as a 7 year old, I have loved this movie. I am now 29 and still do. I don't know how many times I have seen this movie, but it manages to catch me every time.

This simply has to be the best animation movie ever made! Yeah, i am aware that recent animation movies are a lot more technically advanced. but the fact that it took more than 20 years, and a heck of a lot more technology, for the rest of the world to duplicate what Ivo Caprino did with his dolls, stands as a bullet proof testimony that the guy was an incredible genius. Ad to that the marvelous script written by Kjell Aukrust, an equally genius man, and you have a movie that will continue to amuse people young and old, for decades to come.

Yes, I have been impressed by the good animation on recent animation movies, and some of them even have a darned good plot, but they don't even come close when it comes to sheer entertainment value. And even when it comes to animation, this movie,despite it's age, are better than some of the new ones! It should not be possible, but it is!!!

There is something about that low key humour and warmth of heart, that lack in recent kind movies. Nowadays it is just full throttle action from start to end. The plot often seems to come second or third. Flåklypa Grandprix makes you fell strongly for or against the characters, whom are so wonderfully described, that you feel you know them personally.

Now, there certainly are plenty of action in this movie, but even the Action sequences is made with a twinkle in the eye.

I realize that much of the humour of the movie is very "Norwegian", and as such may be difficult to translate. And sadly I have been told that Norwegian is one of the hardest languages to learn in the world. This is probably the reason that it is relatively unknown outside Scandinavia.(shakes my head sadly) but I know there is both an American and German version. I have not seen any of those, but still I urge you all out there, if you ever get the chance to see this wonderful movie, then DO IT!!! I am fully convinced that you will have a fond memory for the rest of your life.

I apologize to all Americans that read this, but Disney Company could never make an animation movie half as good as Flåklypa Grand Prix. Not now anyway. Disney's latest productions looks like they don't even care making an effort, and keep resting and snoring on Walt's laurels. That was a man, which genius even Ivo Caprino had to look up to.

Well, thats it for now.

PS! The Car Race at the end of the movie, are so good that you actually find yourself forced to the sides of your chair by the G force.


I remember first seeing this movie at a showing at Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway. I was about 7 years then. I remember how funny all the characters were, and how I loved the cars and the racing action in it. After that I have seen it a lot of times at home with friends and family, but I never got tired of it.

Then I watched it again, age 20, thinking this movie would sadly be "one of the childish past", but I was wrong. I laughed, and I got this really good feeling inside me, and I was amazed at the great attention to detail in this movie. There are so many things I didn't catch as a child that I could relate to this time, like the moonshine brewery kit, the moose on the wall with its moving eyes, the living fur, and the incredible "burnt asphalt" speed start of Il-Tempo Gigante. Of course, had this been anything near realistic, the Il-Tempo Gigante would have failed for lacking a streamlined profile and having too much gadgetry on it. But that is not what I see this movie for.

It is for me pure escapism to a small village in Norway's mountains filled with all sorts of quirky, funny devices and an excellent array of charming characters. It is among the five best movies I have ever seen, and the best puppet-animated movie yet, and is well overdue a place among the top 250 here on IMDb.

10 out of 10. "There is no question about it." -HAL


This is simply a masterpiece. It is the most seen Norwegian movie ever, seen by 5,5 million people in a country of only 4,5 million. It is considered to be the best Norwegian movie ever, and with reason. I've seen it around 20 times, and I can't get enough of it. It's one of very few movies out there which can appeal to a five-year old and an eighty-five-year old at the same time, on different levels.

Caveat: it is doubtful, however, that one can truly appreciate the ingeniousness of this movie without being brought up in a traditional Norwegian way. This movie reflects in many ways Norwegian culture, and partly makes fun of it. If one doesn't know Norwegian culture by heart, this aspect is lost.


I first watched this movie when I was about five years old (already at that time it was old) and I've seen it many times since. It's just about the best animated movie ever, forget Finding Nemo (which is a great movie) or the Toy Story-films, this is simply sublime.

To all who haven't seen this movie: Go watch it, it's perfect. The story, the characters, the villains, the cars, the animation and just how to get the ideas behind this 'still stuns me. The only problem is that i've never seen the original version (only the danish version). However, should I ever get the chance to see the original I'll certainly not hesitate.

10 out of 10.


People get really impressed of movies like "Team America", but this 30 year old movie doesn't even give space for competition. That something like this could be made 30 years ago is fantastic itself. They even started the shooting as early as in the late sixties. What makes this movie different from other movies in the same genre, is the characters. The details takes your breath away.

I can't imagine how much time and effort Ivo Caprino has spent on this movie project. It is really a genuine masterpiece.

Just see this movie. I haven't seen the translated versions, but if they are 10% as good as the original, it's worth it.


This film is the best norwegian film ever made!! It is impossible to get tired of watching this film... I've seen it many times and it's only getting better every time.. But you have to be a Norwegian or understand the Norwegian language to fully enjoy this masterpiece..

This film took five years to make and was finished in 1975.. and it's been translated into 13 languages..


First: As I am Norwegian, and have lived with this film since I was about six years old I am biased!! I also expect that it's US/UK translation will lose some of the 'Norwegian' humor, hence it may seem less interesting in it's international release.

I do however rate this film very highly on account of the following:

* The animation is brilliant (for it's time), with unique style and very distinctive puppets.

* Stereotypes of Norwegian small town characters are on display, and shown as only Kjell Aukrust can create them, and Ivo Caprino make them alive.

* Though the storyline is quite basic, the film is well paced, and the racing scenes is exiting, hence neither childrens or adults need be bored.

PS! Watch out for the 'Burnoff' scene. Michael Schumacher - eat your heart out.


This is a must-see. Technically impressing in the 1970's, but still a charming and excellent movie now in 2002. The charachters are especially funny and charming, and gives entertainment both for the parent and the kid... Flåklypa has given me many happy hours, if you have a chance checking it out, do it!


Flåklypa Grand Prix is a one of a kind movie. The magic that Caprino has created with his puppets is absolutely amazing. You don´t have to like puppet movies and the film is not only for kids.

This is a movie that you will find much pleasure in seeing over and over again. The detail work is fantastic and you will see new details every time. The film is a masterpiece in every aspect, the story, the sound-track and the picture. All fits together in perfect harmony. This movie is a true classic and I reward it a 10.

The DVD version of 2000 should be a must have for every film lover. The film has been restored and dolby digital 5.1 is added.


I have seen Flaaklypa Grand Prix over 200-400 times. Not kidding! I just have to say that it is the best movie ever! Normally I don't like to see a movie more then 1 or 2 times, but Flaaklypa is different! The movie makes me happy and you get a picture of how Norway was before! It may be difficult to understand all the humour in the movie if you are not from Norway, but it is still a great movie! The music, the sounds, the dolls, the little details, everything! An example is when Reodor(the mecanic), Solan (the bird) and Ludvig are watching tv. There is a dead moose head on the wall, and when they are watching tv it looks down with its eyes for a while!

That is just an example of the humorous details in the movie! So just go and buy it! Now!


Flåklypa Grand Prix is the best film in Norway ever. And if anyone wonders where "Star Wars: Episode One" has got their racing theme from just look at FGP :) In the racing scene you first have an outstander that want to be racing in his own machine. And there has ofcourse been some sabotage on the machine he is driving that occours later in the race. In the race you have spectacular camera-views that makes you dizzy and you feel like your inside the machine. And after he almost loose the race because of the engine trouble he suddenly got the machine together and wins the race in the last second. Any other that see the similarity ? :)

Otherwise FGP is outstanding animated and is the best of Caprino's animated films.


This film has been shown as a Christmas special for the last few years on TV. In my family it has become a tradition to watch this film on Christmas eve, though we know everything which will happen in the film, even most of the dialogue, by heart. It is a wonderful experience every time.

The humor might, as has been pointed out, be lost on foreigners, but that hasn't hindered the film from being translated to more than 70 languages, and being shown somewhere in the world at any given time!

I must say that it's a shame that it isn't available in the us, but I've heard rumors of a DVD release...which I certainly will buy for myself.


This is probably one of the best films ever made in Norway! It contains great dialog and effects. If you come from outside of Norway and yet haven't seen it, I will recommend Flåklypa! I'm sure that the translation is bad, but it's still worth seeing!


I love this movie, like most norwegians. Still after all these years watching this movie again and again I still can barely believe it's norwegian! It's just TOO good to be true! Without a doubt one the greatest animated movies in the international history of movies! Too bad it contains so many internal references to norwegian characters and surroundings as these jokes then will be somewhat lost to foreigners, but there's still lots and lots left. This also has my favorite movie-line ever: "Jasså, døk sitt og glor?" :) (it looses a lot when translated)

It was sooo sad when Ivo Caprino died, who created this. Maybe, just maybe his son will be crazy enough to make a sequel 30 years later??? I wish!


This film is unique, you won't ever see anything like it. The animation technique is patented, the characters are original and lively and all scenes are extremely carefully and detailed modeled. The movie is soaked with atmosphere and you can just lean back and enjoy it as you become familiar with each of the different personalities in the film. The exciting car race is wonderfully animated with plenty of details. Having been made 35 years ago this movie is still a winner as the environment it is happening in is kind of timeless, and the animation dolls are just as timeless.

This film is a must see! ...and it's very suitable for kids as well.


Words cannot describe this movie, it must be experienced! Things to watch for: the explorers climb a cliff with no supplies, but somehow a huge tent filled with sleeping cots is set up in the next scene; the plane diary is in English in a Chinese movie and although the jungle girl can only grunt, she can read the handwriting in the diary with no trouble; the "costume" she wears keeps peeling off when she runs...you can even see some of the glue peeling in a couple scenes; AND, the tree-climbing scene is NOT to be missed!!!!!


This is not just any King Kong rip-off... this is a King Kong rip-off from the legendary Shaw Bros! Filmed in Shaw Scope! Shady Chinese guys try to find a giant ape in India. The "exploration" is wonderfully ridiculous. Then, just when you and your friends think you can't possibly laugh any more, amidst all the Chinese actors appears a beautiful blonde westerner! Raised in the jungle, she swings through the trees like Tarzan with a crazy scream. Her top is glued on... barely.

Lots of bad, generic 70's music accompany all of this.

When she shimmies up a tree, legs akimbo, the hapless Chinese explorer guy gets quite an eyeful.

She can control all the jungle animals. The tigers, cheetahs and elephants all love to frolic with her. Except the snakes. One nasty snake bites her high on the inner thigh. Pretty close to the danger zone. What's the hapless Chinese explorer to do while she writhes in pain? Why stick his face down between her legs and suck the poison out, of course! The miniature sets are fantastically cheap. Not one of them would have qualified for a Godzilla movie. They don't help matters by offering lots of close-ups of the miniature trees and fake streams. You keep expecting a Lionel train to whistle by.

Samantha (the girl) doesn't command much of any language, preferring grunts. She is so grateful to the hapless Chinese explorer that they make love in her cave. Cue more 70's music.

Oh, and Samantha, raised in this harsh jungle since a child, wears a lot of make-up.

The Peking Man changes size a bit, depending on the sets. He seems to range from 20 to 100 feet tall.

If you enjoy campy trash, this is a must see! Our group has watched a lot of bad movies together but very few have given us as much joy as Mighty Peking Man.


Mighty Peking Man was done in the seventies after the last Godzilla film of the original Godzilla series (Terror of Mechagodzilla, 1975) and this totally takes up the slack. It's even at least as entertaining as the last Godzilla films easy. It's a rip-off of King Kong and Godzilla but never tries to be anything more than it is, and that's what makes it honest and fun.

The miniatures is this film are fantastic, especially near the end where the giant is walking around the city and elevated roadways. The action even starts early, no waiting an hour for the monster's first appearance. This is one of my personal fave giant monster films, definitely gonna buy it on DVD! This even had a recent successful midnight run here in New York City. Don't miss it!


The Mighty Peking Man (1977) stars Danny "The Man" Lee as an anthropologist who's searching for the mythical "Peking Man". Funded by a wealthy investor, Lee and his associates travel to Northern India to find the behemoth. Along the way he encounters a jungle girl (Evelyne Kraft who's so friggin' hot that she broke my babe-o-meter) who just happens to have the Peking Man as her guardian and companion. The original Hong Kong version of this film has a very sad and depressing overtone to it (unlike the badly dubbed "international" version). The original version plays out like an updated Mighty Joe Young. I liked this movie very much. Danny Lee is my hero!

Another entry in the Shaw Brothers attempt to go international. The movie is not as bad as people make it out to be. Don't believe the hype people. A cheesy movie with loads of fun!

Highly recommended!

Evelyne Kraft is hot!


The bad reviews and accusations of cheesiness put me off watching this one for a little while, but I watched it last night and had a blast. I was surprised to see Danny Lee, who I recognised from a few Category Three films. He plays a nice anthropologist, and comes off as innately kinda cool throughout the movie. The plot is a lot like King Kong, but the Mighty Peking Man is a much less ferocious and more sympathetic and human character than Kong. Mighty Peking Man is a friendly giant ape man who cares for a jungle girl and takes a lot of abuse before he snaps. In contrast, the humans are mostly pretty scummy, apart from Danny Lee's character and the jungle girl. This makes the film more interesting and less black and white than the average monster film and causes the ending to be genuinely poignant. There is a lot about this film that is cheesy, especially in the first half. However the movie is directed with brilliant gusto and the music helps carry the fast moving events along nicely, with a range of musical themes fitting well to different scenes. There is a lot of action in the movie, and great destruction. The action is a lot more visceral than most disaster films, with lots of people being caught up and crushed in Mighty Peking Man's rampage, or other events in the earlier part of the film. I believe that the director was responsible for some of the Shaw studios demented horror, which could explain the how the film is very enjoyably destructive at times. There was certainly potential at times for the film to get fairly gruesome, though it remains a family affair. I thoroughly recommend this movie, it does look cheap and a bit silly at times, it is cheesy and unintentionally funny in parts too. However, its just such darn fine and memorable entertainment that these are barely issues.


Honest speaking, this movie is really bad, however some awful movies are somehow very attractive and possess some kind of mysterious charms, and this Mighty Peking Man is one of those movies. This is a Hong Kong version of King Kong, who is able to change his size according to each scene, which is miracle! I laughed a lot from the beginning to the end. Samantha is gorgeous and love scene of Johnny and Samantha is very memorable with awesome music, "Could it be I'm in love? Maybe~" I wonder if the director was serious about this movie or he actually intended to make funniest comedy of the decade. Anyway, I really love this movie and if you are reading this and you haven't watch Mighty Peking Man, run to the nearest video shop and grab it. If you can't find it there, try the furthur video shop! It's worth it. Finally I would like to thank Quentin Tarantino for brings back this movie to life.


One of the worst movies ever made...thus making it one of the best movies ever made. Everybody who loves awful movies, must go see this movie. I saw it at a midnight show, and got a free fortune cookie! This is basically an awfully funny version of "King Kong." They ripped off the plot, the ending, and anything that might be ripped off. I liked the gratuitous, no-nudity sex scene. Go see this movie for the music alone. It is total seventies crap. The dubbing sometimes comes after their mouths have stopped moving. Total ineptitude. Great movie. The special effects are not-so-special. There are animals galore that are mean one minute, tame the next, and can rip off a leg, and make it disappear in a millisecond. Also watch for the bad acting in the flashback scene (yes, they even used flashbacks, it ruins them all.) For the guys, there is a jungle babe that only has a small animal skin that sometimes is glued on (only one arm strap) and sometimes falls out of. I personally like her makeup...in the jungle at all times, it's perfect! I don't know whether to give this movie one star for not really trying too hard, or 9 stars for being so entertaining.


Of course there are movies so bad they're fun to watch; this just ain't one of 'em- by any stretch of the imagination. Coming or going. While I did like the costume the title character sported (not that far removed from Rick Baker's duds in SCHLOCK), that's about IT as far as admiration goes. Looking over the posted comments here regarding this one, I can't help but feel that Television has wrecked havoc with the taste buds of most viewers- because MIGHTY PEKING MAN, more than anything else, reminds me of an episode of a really bad television show (take your pick, from day first to this- and they're still being cranked out with mind-numbing regularity); nothing more, nothing less. If you can honestly walk away from something like this having been in any way "entertained," consider watching paint dry.


This movie, while definitely not credible film making by any means(or worth ten stars), is good ol' fashioned, camp entertainment. You have a giant ape, a blonde babe whose nipple pokes out for almost the entire movie, gore, death, and destruction. What's not to like? That said, this is just an adventure movie, and it delivers what it promises: Action, romance, and a giant ape. And it's hilarious to boot! While it probably tries to be serious(well,maybe not) it just comes off as silly. And, this being a big budget Japanese release, the picture looks great while the movie is totally goofy. This is 0one of those movies that's better to find in the dubbed, Amercanized version. It just makes it sound even sillier. Definitely worth a look for all fans of silly cult cinema. Especially silly Japanese cult cinema.


This ripoff of "King Kong" has got to be one of the funniest movies that I've ever seen, just because of how it never takes itself seriously. When a Hong Kong magnate sets out on an expedition to find a prehistoric ape in India, he and the others find not only the ape but also a scantily clad woman (Evelyne Kraft) who's known the big guy ever since her plane crashed in the jungle many years earlier. This of course means that "Xing xing wang" - called "The Mighty Peking Man" in English - is really an excuse to show off the woman's body. And what a body! I bet that many a teenage boy went to see this movie just to ogle the hot babe and get as horny as possible.

Anyway, this is a total exploitation flick, so it makes sense that Quentin Tarantino brought it to DVD. Any image that you have of corny '70s cinema can be found here. A real treat in every way. You're sure to like it. Especially the blonde gal in the skimpy bikini, natch.


One of the "sweded" films in Be Kind Rewind, this starts out as a ripoff of King Kong, then switches to a Tarzan movie as Johnny (Danny Lee) discovers Samantha (Evelyne Kraft), an absolutely gorgeous babe that was raised by The Peking Man after her parents died in a plane crash.

Just like Tarzan, she talks to the animals, all except for a snake that bit her on the thigh, necessitating Johnny sucking the venom out very close to the jungle treasure. Of course, Peking Man arrives with special leaves that Johnny crushes up and applies to the wound. Miraculous! We go back to King Kong and Tarzan in Hong Kong, as they transport the Peking Man to the city. You can imagine the carnage as The Peking Man becomes Godzilla-like after he sees Samantha being raped (not really, it's PG-13).

Only Quentin Tarantino can bring us this much fun.


This is quite the movie. It's a total rip off of KING KONG only it's done Asian style like the old GODZILLA movies so you know it's gonna be super cheesy. Basically some dudes set out to capture this giant ape man and must take a dangerous mission through the jungle. They encounter lots of deadly wild animals along the way and a bunch of em get killed. There's actually a couple relatively good deaths. Eventually the main dude is on his own and finds a hot retarded chick who is good homies with the mighty Xing Xing Wang. Anyway despite monkey man helping homeboy out and the dude getting to hook up with the hot wild woman he and his "partners" end up doing what they set up to do and capture the monkey. Of course this pisses off Xing Xing Wang and tons of destruction follows. I don't usually bother with most PG rated movies but this one's pretty damn funny and it's got plenty of cheesy action. It's too bad we don't get to see the main chick naked. At least she's dressed pretty skimpy. So if you like GODZILLA style monster movies or have kids it's worth a look you'll definitely get some laughs out of it.


It's hard to say with some Asian flicks whether they were made to be serious or if they were made as spoofs. If this one was made to be serious, it's also an excellent spoof. The story is not that much different from that of King Kong, except home base is Hong Kong & the Peking Man has been spotted in the Himilayas, so a heart-broken explorer and a team of men head off to find it. Our heart-broken explorer had just caught his fiancée in bed with a friend and therefore was ready for anything to get out of town, but maybe this...he finds the Mighty Peking Man but he also finds Ah Wei, a beautiful blonde who wears a ragged loincloth and top, who can communicate with Peking Man & also all the other animals in the jungle, except for perhaps a cobra, which bites her. Seems like she was in a plane crash with her parents years ago & they died but she lived with the animals. After bidding a tearful farewell to her favorite leopard (which is shown making choked-up faces when she walks away) she sets sail for Hong Kong with Mighty Peking Man chained to the deck of the ship, and from then out out it's more or less like "King Kong" only funnier. There's the obligatory shoot-out on a tall building at the end, and the usual treachery from those who don't understand. Strange that Ah Wei communicates with Kong in "native language" in the jungle but then in English towards the end, maybe he's as fast a learner as she is. Some of the earlier parts of this film are beautifully done, and somewhat fun and exhilarating, but it bogs down a bit toward the end with the seemingly endless shoot-out. There's some truly priceless bits in this, like someone getting their leg bitten off by a tiger near the beginning, and a gun battle with rear-projected elephants, and so on. A fun film, hopefully not meant to be taken seriously but if it was, you won't. 7 out of 10.


The lamentably lousy '76 "King Kong" remake fortunately inspired a handful of hilariously horrible low-budget cash-in copies which includes the incredibly awful Korean cheapie "A*P*E*," the groan-inducing idiotic spoof "King Kung Fu," and this simply stupendous Hong Kong howler. Produced by the Shaw Brothers, who usually cranked out extravagant chopsocky costumers by the dozens and shot on a conspicuously paltry budget of what appears to be several rolls worth of quarters, this utterly inept, yet always entertaining and frequently sidesplitting tale of gorgeous jungle honey Samantha (the beautiful, curvaceous, flaxen-tressed Euro minx Evelyn Kraft, giving the viewers am amazing eyeful in a scanty, revealing fur bikini outfit that leaves precious little to the imagination) and the fearsome, village-stomping behemoth ape who's her best friend is not to be missed.

Blessed with all the correct so-totally-wrong-it's-paradoxically-right schlock movie stuff -- clueless ham-fisted direction by seasoned journeyman Ho Meng-Hua, a crummy, leave-no-cliché-unturned cookie cutter script, meager (far from) special effects, laughably poor dubbing, proto-MTV buzzsaw editing which accentuates a manic rapid-fire pace over rhythm and continuity, unspeakably terrible dialogue ("Hey look -- it's Peking Man!"), ramshackle production values, a sappy romance between Kraft and dorky Oriental adventurer Danny Lee (who also portrayed the titular bionic superhero in the equally astounding "Infra-Man" around the same time), a breathlessly frenetic pace, an absurdly melodramatic score, a fantastic mondo destructo monster on the rampage sequence (WARNING: Possible *SPOILER* ahead - in one alternate version Kraft croaks along with the ape at the film's riotously botched conclusion), a few groovy Erutrash disco tunes (one's even sung to a cloying lovey-dovey jungle montage!), and, most importantly, a certain cheerfully off-target, yet still unyielding and unbridled go-for-it hearty gusto which blithely permeates every last fabulously fumbled frame -- this choice chunk of delectably dreadful cinematic cheese rates as essential viewing for hardcore bad film buffs.


I heard about this movie and found it in a recycle bin at the video store and bought it. I popped it in the VCR and watched in amazement as the movie unfolded. All I can say is WOW! This movie actually sucked so bad I had to turn away a couple of times, because the acting was so corny and ludicrous! Words cannot describe the lack of real plot (if there was suppose to be one) and the disjointed script. People who saw this tripe know what I am talking about. However if you like bad movies then watch this one and suffer like the rest of us. Obviously one of the worst movies ever made, but have fun anyway.

1 out of 10, and don't just go by my rating watch this movie!


The film is awful.But it's awfully funny at the same time!The producers didn't want it to be funny,but it most certainly is.There are scenes in this that have to bee seen to be believed!Spoiler alert!Best bits:a)The elephant stampede,b)The tiger attack,c)The scene in which Evelyn Kraft runs through the forest,d)The scene in which the all-powerful monster gets some oranges thrown right into his face...There are more,quite possibly even funnier moments,but I don't want to give them away for those who haven't see it yet.This is the epitome of so-bad-it's-good cinema.It's a King Kong-Mighty Joe Young-Tarzan-Godzilla RIP-OFF!Seriously,this film is ridiculously bad.That's exactly what makes it worth seeing.It is the best COMEDY off all time.The effects are bad,the acting is bad,the "script" is bad...Please,do yourself a favor and go buy it.You won't get bored watching it(If you like these kind of movies).Hell,it's even WORSE than "Plan 9 from outer space"!


I watched the dubbed version of this movie. Despite the logo that pops up every ten minutes, this movie still stinks. The dubbing is hilarious, and the effects are side splitting. This is THE worst movie I have ever seen. It even has product placement for gasoline.

Oh, and yeah, it is just a rip-off of King Kong. 1/10


Not truly bad enough to be "so bad its good". Its just a tacky 70s Indonesian "King Kong" rip off. I know that actually sounds like a must see for all bad film buffs, but take it from me its just a tedious silly bore. I can't believe Tarantino took the trouble to restore it.


Liza Minnelli's Emmy-award winning musical TV special, directed by Bob Fosse, and coming right on the heels of their Oscar-winning "Cabaret". After listening to this record album for years, I was quite excited to find a copy on video (transferred from the 16mm print). I was surprised by two things: 1) that the LP captures most of the show's excitement all on its own, which says a lot for the command of Liza's singing and the quality of the music; and 2) that Fosse is irreplaceable in the business of musical-comedy staging. The dancing on numbers like "I Gotcha!" and "Son Of A Preacher Man" is incredible, with Fosse's sensual style of choreography bringing down the house. Still in all, it's Liza's singing that is the show's centerpiece, and she's in fine, clear voice throughout. Dramatic, comedic, self-effacing, flirtatious, silly, giggling, Liza proves to be a virtuoso performer of great magnitude.


It would be difficult to imagine another performer on the planet capable of accomplishing what Liza Minnelli achieved in her riveting hour-long performance of "Liza with a Z." In its beautifully restored version, this stunning television showcase, originally broadcast on May 31, 1972, is now available for a new generation of viewers.

The expression "triple threat" is used in the theatre for those gifted performers with skills in singing, acting, and dancing. Liza Minnelli is at the top of her game in all three areas in this knockout performance. With the brilliant choreography of Bob Fosse and the electric feeling of a live audience at New York's Lyceum Theatre, this was a spellbinding and virtuoso performance. While not listed in the credits, the dancing ensemble also deserves kudos for their supporting contributions to this singular and indeed historic concert.

Among all of the dazzling numbers, including "Bye, Bye, Blackbird" and Liza's "Cabaret" medley, my favorite selection was the most personal and introspective, a quiet love monologue adapted by Liza from one of Charles Aznavour's songs, "You've Let Yourself Go." The song is a confession of a wife to her husband about the rather mundane and unexciting state of their relationship. Liza's interpretation, including her raw emotions and the coloring of the words, was unforgettable in its honesty and simplicity. This song and the other dynamic numbers reveal the range of Liza's performing abilities in a show for the ages!


This magnificent film about Liza Minnelli is one of the best films showcasing a popular entertainer at her prime. Bob Fosse directed with a keen eye and great panache. He gets the viewer involved in the performance and what the star is trying to accomplish. The music material by Kander and Ebb never sounded to poignant and fresh, as interpreted by Ms. Minnelli.

The late 60s and early 70s brought forth an unusual talent, Liza Minnelli. She was at the time at the best moment of her career. She had a voice, youth, and she could move well, following Bob Fosse's choreography, designed to enhance the presentation.

The film has been kept in mint condition and just recently released on cable. Fans of Liza Minnelli can rejoice in rediscovering that vibrant entertainer showing her public why she was a star on her own right.


i was lucky enough to have seen the show when it was originally broadcast. I have been looking for a copy of this show either on VHS or Video Disc. But have not been able to achieve my goal. Anyway, I remember that I was impacted, I fell in love with Liza that very first time, what a woman, Energy, Charisma, strength, voice. I remember watching her sing every song, I used to know all the lyrics of all her songs, and even remember some of the steps. It was the best show I ever saw, and actually have not been able to see another show like that. I've seen Madonna or Cher live, but they can't compare with Liza and her voice. I saw her live years later here on my hometown, she is still great, but I think that this is her best concert ever.


Liza Minnelli has it in her genes from her beloved mother, Judy Garland, and Vincente Minnelli. Although she states that her sister Lorna Luft is the singer in the family, LIza is the entertainer of our generation. She can sing, dance, act, and do it all. Thirty years later, her career is revived after another divorce and health problems. Liza may never be as fit as she was when she performed on stage in a live production in 1972. Liza has always been an incredible performer. I love her in Cabaret and I refuse to see any production of the musical because I can't imagine anybody but Liza as Sally Bowles, the sad Berlin singer who craves the love of a good man and the love of her own father in the film. This stage version is like an extended performance of her from the film, Cabaret. Unlike the film, this show is not as dark and lonely. Liza worked hard for six weeks before this production. IT's a once in a lifetime event and I wasn't even born yet. I first bought her Liza with a Z CD to listen in the car. You can't imagine not singing along with her as well. Now I look forward to seeing her dance, sing, and entertain us in the DVD. Believe me, nobody today can touch Liza as a performer.


I saw this for the first time on TV when I was a child. I remembered liking it a great deal-I think it was the first time I'd seen Liza Minelli. Watched it again today on Showtime and was amazed! Liza was fabulous-and the whole thing seemed so undated-that was a real surprise. Bob Fosse's choreography is still so modern looking and sexy. Halston's costumes were gorgeous and even when he put her in knickers (which believe it or not were IN for about 5 minutes during this time) she still doesn't look dated-you just think "Wow, I didn't remember KNICKERS looking that amazing"! The only thing that looks time-warpish is the hair and facial hair of her backup dancers. The guys have big, fluffy mustaches and it looks like she is being backed-up by 1970s porn stars. Other than that this special could have been done yesterday. The decision to do it live was perfect-Liza starts off quiet, and she just does a slow burn. By the end of the show her hair is plastered to her head with sweat and she is just burning and glowing and brilliant. An artist at the peak of her powers. Liza is just as talented as her famous mother, I think. She has all of Judy's raw talent & her incredible vulnerability, but with Liza you also get sex-I had forgotten how very sexy she was. By all means watch this special on Showtime or rent the DVD-you will not be bored.


When I first viewed this TV concert in 1972 I thought it the best TV concert ever. Nothing in the intervening 28 years has done anything to change my mind. Liza and director-choreographer Bob Fosse are at the peak of their respective careers and it shows in this luminous performance. I still hope for its return to video in some format.


Liza/Z is great! Really good bonus features. The Toronto Film Fest alone, proves that Liza is still sharp as a whip! That said, she did forget that at the beginning of Son of A Preacher Man - Fosse was paying tribute to Ailey with those "Revelations" arms. And I'm still trying to find out the name of the male singer that starts Preacherman.

As much as I'm thankful for the careful restoration of this major event, I still feel that an integral part of the show has been slighted: the dancers! I really wish someone had bothered to list the dancers in the credits. While a few names are mentioned, surely the overall group should be known as more than just "the kids". I understand that 1972 was a long time around, but surely someone remembers all of their names. In fact, I would have enjoyed seeing Liza in a room with the some of the dancers - sharing memories. (I know Candy Brown is still around)


wow! i think Liza was a star that really made it to the top...and then some. i think she was such a great performer in her day , she still have that great performer in her to this day.

she really put a lot of pain and sweat in her performance. she truly is a performer by heart. i could'not believe it was the daughter of the all time greatest Judy gander. i thought she was just a fantastic singer. nobody in the world would have thought that she was Judy's daughter.

but some how,she pulled it of. she is just another icon that was in the making.


We have really come a long way in terms of visual storytelling and the types of shows that get produced on television, but when I was watching it, the one thing that stuck out was Bob Fosse's choreography. Especially in the "Ring the Bells" number, it really shows how he was able to bring so much to live. Also, we should remember that a primary reason this was able to be resotred was that he paid so much attention to detail, some technical aspects of the show that they were concerned about were able to be salvaged.

On another note, I think you get a somewhat good glimpse of the 70s when you watch this show.


Phenomenal is the only word for LIZA WITH A Z - did you notice that there were no spectacular sets or special effects, just an incredibly versatile artist accompanied by a dancing ensemble and an orchestra. Who of today's "artists" could do that? With all the negative news about LIza in the past decade or so, some people tend to forget that in the two decades after CABARET Liza was indeed a superstar of the first magnitude - if her movie career never really took off (remember duds like LUCKY LADY and A MATTER OF TIME?), she was still the Queen of the Concert Stage in the US and Europe.

Liza was absolutely in her prime here - incredibly, she was only 26 in this year of CABARET and LIZA WITH A Z, and her voice was in great shape: rich, resonant and powerful - all the notes were there, big-time! (Check out some 1960s Minnelli recordings like "Come Saturday Morning" - her voice was much higher and sweeter then than we're used to.) And yes, there were certain brief moments when she looked (rather than sounded) like her mother, but she's all LIZA. I saw her on Broadway in CHICAGO in 1975, and caught her first "Post-Betty Ford Center" tour in 1985, and she was still brilliant (That's when she starting singing "When I gooooooooooooo - I'm NOT - going - like - El - sie!") and at an outdoor theater in 1992. What a performer!

Barbra Streisand had MY NAME IS BARBRA - LIZA WITH A Z is Liza Minnelli's MY NAME IS BARBRA! Truly legendary performances by truly legendary performers.


After many years from seeing this performance on TV, I purchased the DVD, and after viewing it I had forgotten how amazing and entertaining this concert was. It is by far the best concert that I have seen to date. What sets it above the rest is the way Bob Fosse directed it. Not only does Liza and company give an outstanding performance but Fosse actually brings you up close and personal with his choice of camera angels, cut a ways to the audience, back stage shots and those beautiful close ups of Liza, you feel like you are there on stage. On the technical side, the costumes, sets and lighting are minimal but pack a powerful image that complements the entire show, kudos to the technical staff and designers. The sound and orchestra are right in sync with the dancers and Fosses choreography. I recommend this DVD and give it a Zen, (oops) I mean a ten. Thank you.


The show was broadcast on T.V. once or twice in the early '70s. Recently I had the rare pleasure of viewing a bootleg video of the show as it was broadcast. If you think you know how well Liza could dance, and how captivating she was on stage, and if you think you know how extraordinary Bob Fosse's choreography & direction could be, and you haven't seen this performance, then you still don't know.

The marriage of Liza, Kander & Ebb, Fosse & the glitz of early 1970s musical theater come together here in perfect harmony. The lighting, the dancing, the songs, the costumes, the star. This was the year that Liza won an Oscar (for Cabaret), and an Emmy & a Tony for this production, "Liza with a Z". She may have also gotten a Grammy that year, but even if she didn't, it's a hat trick that stands alone in the annals of American entertainment. For her and for us, it's been all down hill from here.

To see her do "Ring Them Bells", "Mammy", "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Bye, Bye, Blackbird", just four numbers on this hour-long video, is worth the trouble of finding a bootleg copy.


First off let me make something clear--I LOVE Liza Minnelli. She's talented, beautiful can sing and act. I'm also a big fan of her mom. But this show just bored me. I saw the restored version on Showtime last night.

The show was remastered--the picture was as clear as a 1972 TV special can be, the colors were strong and the sound was excellent. Liza herself looked incredible and belted out the songs full force. But I didn't recognize most of the songs and she seemed to be acting in a REAL strange way during a bunch of lullabies. Also the dance numbers were just OK--nothing special. The show only came to life at the very end when she did all her songs from "Cabaret" (No "New York, New York"--that was 3 years later). Basically I quickly lost interest and patiently waited for the show to end.

I'm not sure why I hated this so much. Minnelli was superb...but I was just bored silly. I can't recommend this at all.


The original BBC version of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT shocked a nation way back in 1953 but this remake barely caused a ripple when broadcast three years ago and it's not too difficult to see why . Nowadays television audiences are much more sophisticated and television in the 21st century is more of a bastard child of cinema than theater , but it would be both churlish and incorrect to state that the failings and the lukewarm reception of this remake are down to the audience because the fault lies entirely with the production team

A lot of people have complained about the anachronistic feel of the production . Indeed it doesn't really feel like it's set in the present day despite the scenes set at the Tate Modern and having BBC News 24 giving away exposition . Perhaps the most startling thing are the large number of characters who smoke , something both television production teams and government have cracked down on and I'm possibly correct in saying if this had been made in the Autumn of 2008 none of the actors would be allowed to smoke on screen by law

Director Sam Miller usesa countless number of medium shots . In order to generate tension and atmosphere wouldn't close ups have been more effective ? Of course Miller is directing a live broadcast where anything or everything can go wrong so perhaps we should be more forgiving because of the amount of pressure he was under . Unfortunately any tension and atmosphere is diluted with the amount of clichéd POV shots and over head filming of London which outstay their welcome very quickly . There's also a lack of internal logic to these shots . If you're a mutating monster walking around London dressed in a cloak wouldn't someone call the police , and wouldn't the police be going out of their way to hunt down the mutating monster ? Are we to believe the monster hasn't been picked up on CCTV cameras ? Apparently the story is set in a world where we can send astronauts into deep space but no one has invented the close circuit TV camera . Do you understand the anachronistic criticisms now ?

Some of the problems with the script actually lie at the door of Nigel Kneale . The original version of THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT was written as a suspenseful mystery . Alas however it was constructed very much as a whodunnit . Once you know what is happening to Victor Carroon etc there's little mystery involved . It's similar to watching a whodunnit unfold when you already know who did it so there's no surprises . Kneale did construct his story in an episodic form to be broadcast over a period of six weeks which leaves Richard Fell's adaptation very disjointed . In some places it's very slow and in other places so rushed you find yourself thinking if there's been a hitch in the production that stopped a scene being transmitted . We also have to endure a ridiculous scene where an art lover bleats " If you destroy beauty then we don't deserve to go on living " Oh please !

All in all this version of a Nigel Kneale classic is more of a nostalgic gimmick than anything else . If the BBC are thinking of doing a live version of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT then my advice is don't . It'd be terrible to see the greatest SF drama in the history of television turned in to something like this


I started to fast forward to see if it got better but unfortunately it didn't. Cheap sets and production (looks like handy cams with poor acting) let this movie down. At one stage you could see the camera and sound men the next shot pans too. Also you can tell the transitions between shots as there is a awkward pause before the actors start acting! It was also hard to believe as there were no hospitals for the sick astronaut or isolation chambers, etc as if the script had not been updated. The whole movie looked cheap, very c-grade and was extremely implausible to watch, so much so it had me cringing and wanting to turn it off. I Give it a miss.

Just found out this was originally broadcast live, I watched a broadcast much later.


But I just couldn't believe that this was really happening. Where were the isolation chambers? Where were all the medics? Where were the police and the politicians?

If it had been set in the 50s I might have been able to tolerate it, but it had been updated to 2005 and as a result it just looked lame. My suspension of disbelief lasted about five minutes before I started to get annoyed with it. The presence of Indira Varma kept me watching a little longer until I was forced to hit the fast-forward button after about half an hour.

If this had happened today, the crashed rocket would have been surrounded by troops, police, scientists, stripey red and yellow tape, covered with a tarpaulin with filtered air, and no-one would have been allowed near it for at least a week until all possible biohazard and radiation tests had been made.

Just too frustratingly unrealistic for me. Oh - and the soft focus effect all the way through - puhlleeze!!


I know the film well, & was intrigued when I heard about this version & how it would compare. I was very happy with it. All the actors were superb-especially Fleming & Gatiss & the atmosphere was excellent, especially the use of music. The special effects were minimal, but that only contributed to the atmospshere-creepy music & good lighting & that can do a whole lot more sometimes than all the special effects in the world!! For a live production it also looked great.Its also a treat to get well acted & scripted sci-fi, & sci-fi aimed at adults. I understand that the ending used in this version is closer in feel to that used in the original TV series. I liked also that characters who were given little to to in the film were fleshed out nicely here-ie. Caroon (sp!!)the doomed astronaut & his wife but without slowing the pace. I really hope that this comes out on DVD as I would buy it.


The original TV series and movie were ground breaking in Sscience fiction. Why BBC remade this as a 90 minute film , is a mystery. The story line, sets and especially the acting were all atrocious. Good actors appeared to be embarrassed in their attempt to utter their lines from an appalling script. The BBC should be censured for this nonsense and I doubt Nigel Kneale, the original author (mentioned as a consultant) had anything to do with this travesty. I could go on using all the derogatory adjectives in the English language but who really cares, but I have to to make this submission the required length. I sincerely hope they do not attempt a remake Quatermass and the Pit. probably one of the best ever science fiction series.


I really liked the old Quatermass films and even though I discovered them belatedly, being from the US, I got some enjoyment out of the TV series. But this remake was simply dreadful. The writing and direction were horrendous. Most of the time it was simply dull, but occasionally the poor actors had to deliver lines that made no sense, or go from quiet discussion to drastic scenery chewing in a heartbeat. I'm a huge science fiction fan and will watch (and enjoy) almost anything with a hint of science fiction to it. I can find great pleasure in a good B film and put up with almost anything to enjoy a bit of space travel, alien contact, or futuristic speculation of any kind. But I had to give up after about 36 minutes of this. I skipped forward, dropping in once in a while if anything looked remotely interesting. It never was. Partly because it was live, partly because it was cheap, and partly because the people who created this were completely lacking in intelligence or imagination, it was utterly without even a pretense of supporting special effects (e.g., monitors with important data the actors are all discussing are tilted away from the camera so you only see the back of the monitor), the sets were plain and very few, the audio was terrible, the whole show was dark and dreary looking, and the ending was as uneventful and lame as any movie or television program I've ever seen. Do not waste your time. It's not even interesting as a curiosity. There is absolutely nothing to recommend it.


Very, very different to the flash-bang wizardry of almost all TV sci-fi these days, but a marvellous and suspenseful piece of viewing.

It requires more than the usual suspension of disbelief until the characters and story fall into place, but the acting--live remember--is powerful and extremely effective. Flemying is excellent as Quatermass, and the supporting cast uniformly good.

It isn't perfect. It is acted live, with all the limitations that brings with it. It has a mix of styles and seems uncertain of what year it might actually be set in, but it becomes a riveting piece of television.


While it may be slow, overly-intellectual, and deficient in CGI for younger, ADD-prone viewers, this remake is all the more admirable for sticking to its roots. This is live TV modernized but not homogenized... assembled using the best of current technology, but with the emphasis still very firmly on script and performance. Could it have had a big green CGI monster at the end? Yeah, yeah, sure. But thankfully it avoids such tired clichés.

While the original Quatermass is lost, this version goes a long way toward recapturing its impact, and the unique vitality of the live format. The story has been parceled out differently, but quite reasonably; the two new episodes offer an adequate running time, considering all the recaps and redundant credits that are omitted compared to the original shorter episodes. So the careful pacing remains largely intact. Scientific revelations accumulate at an accelerating pace, leading up to the same unnerving climax.

The performances are all superb. The younger take on Prof Quatermass is perhaps the biggest shock, but it works. This new Quatermass is very much the kind of scientist you see in all those direct-from-NASA broadcasts. He effectively combines the quick wit and moral sensitivity of the original character with the reality of modern life.

I'd love to see more of this kind of thing - not just the rediscovery of lost masterpieces like Quatermass, but the immediacy of TV as a live medium, a direct link between performers and audience. TV just doesn't get any better than this. More, more, more!


I can honestly say I've been a "Quatermass" fan most of my life. Ever since I saw "Quatermass Xperiment" at age eight(shown in the U.S. as "The Creeping Unknown"), I've seen and enjoyed almost all available versions of the series. If I say that this version is the weakest of the bunch, that's no slam, not at all! The acting was first-rate, the adaption nearly so; the only flaw here is one that almost everyone on the site mentions--the production budget. If BBC 4 needs a benchmark of how little money they can get away with spending to make a good SF thriller, this is the breaker. Even a brief look at the metamorphosed Caroon in the museum would been better than what we were supposed to have seen over the television monitors(that was fiberglass insulation being shaken by off-camera grips, to portray the "alien fungi", right? In soft-focus? That was pretty sad). To quote the late, great Casey Stengel, "Eventually, you've got to sell some steak along with the sizzle!" I hope that when they re-make "Quatermass 2", they give it a *slightly* bigger budget. Hell, I know _I'd_ watch it.


n 2005 the BBC did a live version of Nigel Kneale's Quatermass Experiment. Originally a 6 part three hour TV series about a rocket that returns to earth with only one of its crew still alive, and he's horribly changed. It was the first appearance of Professor Quatermass a flawed genius who is in a way the precursor to Dr Who.(This version co starred David Tennant, the current Dr Who).

The production is very good and the cast is excellent with Jason Flemyng making an excellent Quatermass.The show is for the most part very creepy and had it held together until the end it might have actually crossed into scary. The problems with the show come from two places. First the 96 minute program effectively removes half of the originals 180 minutes. There is a great deal of story compression especially in the second half as the plot does not zip along as much as it jumps. I have not seen the original series (only two episodes survive the last I heard) but I've read on the show and seen the film that was made from it so I know there was a bit more towards the end than we see. The other problem with the show is that in adapting the 195-something scripts for modern day broadcast they didn't update enough. the space shot is secret, the technology is often out of date (audio cassettes in a black box?), the media is much too trusting and not enough in your face. It creates a nice sense of its own world, but at the same time its not wholly believable. That said its still a very good retro-sci-fi drama 7 put of 10


I'm all for people trying out different things and a live scifi programme is certainly different! I'll be honest and say that I bought this because David Tennant was in it. And he was very good in the supporting role he had. Mark Gatiss was another highlight which surprised me. I'd only ever seen him in League of Gentlemen sketches. I look forward to seeing him take on other dramatic roles. Unfortunately, I found Jason Flemyng's central performance to be flat and unengaging. I fast forwarded through most of his scenes.

For something that was filmed live, it lacked the excitement and adrenalin of a live performance. Perhaps the Experiment could have been improved on DVD with some judicious editing.


Yes, the time you spend watching this movie will prove that you are truly a media harlot. Meaning... if you sit all the way through this bomb you are using your video unit as a drug to induce you into state of dismal low brow Neanderthal stimulation. The dialog and plot are so vacant any trace of the suspension of belief is lost in the worthless dialog and amateur acting. Goofey stupid kids who live to drink and water ski do not even do that very well. The alleged sexual content is barely even suggestive past some kind of fourth grade giggle girl whispering and "I dare you" boy humor that would have been better spent on "poot" jokes. I mean any attempt at trying to get an audience response with such short quick stupid teenage uncool blather leaves the viewer so unrewarded that you end up not liking anyone but the alleged killer. But you can't like him because he is not getting rid of the whole cast fast enough. I say this because I was the first guy to die in this movie. If you look really hard you will see me later hanging from some car chains from the rafters of an old shed.


This was, with all honesty, absolutely terrible. Take a really bad movie, multiply its awfulness by 100, run it over with a tank, dice it up and then glue it back together you'll get Blood Lake. Which isn't really a bad thing, because it's so SO SO bad it's almost kind of interesting. One of the things I thought was humorous was like the 15 minute ending where they showed the killer walking around doing nothing. Also, it was freaky how that scrawny hillbilly kid kept on saying he was going to bang the black chick. And I think they ended up getting it on.

You should see this movie, it'll give you a laugh.


"Blood Lake" is one of those movies that has to be seen to be believed. I had already seen this a few years ago and have finally gotten the chance to review it. But in my review, I was wondering if I should judge it on camp value (like Plan 9 From Outer Space) or just on its own merits in terms of film-making style. I decided on the later, since this was purely painful.

If there were words in the Webster's dictionary that could describe how much I hated this movie, I would definitely use them. However, there are not. The acting is horrid across the board. There are long sequences in which absolutely nothing happens (when I say "nothing" I mean nothing). Apparently, the filmmakers felt that the viewers could watch the characters playing cards for 45 minutes. It was more like 10 minutes, but it felt like 45. At any rate, a scene of characters playing cards (without some significance to the plot, in this case there was none) shouldn't last longer than 30 seconds.

That scene was particularly frustrating (thank God for picture-on-picture) but the rest of the movie wasn't any better. The heavy metal soundtrack particularly made me laugh, mainly because it reminded me of the horrendous 80s rock.


this is the absolute worst piece of trash i have ever seen in my entire life! who would be dumb enough to rent this trash? actually i am dumb enough because i paid 3 bucks to see this movie because i thought it looked halfway decent, like an actual good slasher film. its amazing, if i were in 1987 maybe i could have gotten a video camera and shot a film as bad as this. the acting is terrible, the script is worse, there are like no good death scenes, the music sucks, the ending sucks, this film just sucks sucks sucks! avoid at all costs! for a decent flick rent the glenville films or slumber party massacre or something like that, not this junk.

rating: 0 out of 10


I had to give this movie a 1 out of 10 because IMDB.com does not allow 0 out of 10, which is what this movie deserves. Some fat guy with a knife goes around killing Friday the 13th-type movie teenagers, typical of a repulsive slasher movie. Never have I seen a movie that is so dull, poorly acted, and incoherent. Just disgustingly bad.


I rented this with a friend of mine and I must say that it is so so so sad that some stupid video distributor could possibly find this film decent enough to release. Or BAD ENOUGH! It doesn't even serve as camp value or a "so bad it's good" movie. Just an awful movie, the worst Ive ever seen!

0 out of 10, 0 out of 10, 0 OUT OF 10!!!


Lets get one thing straight. I know that the on the box the artwork at the video store may be a little misleading but we are watching a home-made movie. It's not The Shining, Psycho, or any other masterpiece. It was filmed at cedar lake in Oklahoma(I Think?). You can hear the locusts in the background. The scenery looks really good. The actors are extremely amature with regional accents but are using realistic dialog(realistic for a bunch of kids camping at the lake). There are thousands of bloopers throught the movie. One was a dead body who had one arm tied to a tree and the other holding on to a branch. This is one talented dead body. Another was a joint someone was smoking that didn't emit any smoke. I thought the story with the two 12 year olds was really funny. There is a so bad it's good element to this movie but the better elements are the 80's slasher themes. This movie is not scary but is enjoyable. Movies that are getting made now are not half as good as movies made in this era; I prefer this film over Leprechaun in da hood or the Halloween webcam movie. This movie shows us that anyone who owns a camcorder can make a movie.


Being a HUGE fan of the horror genre, I have come to expect and appreciate cheesey acted, plot-holes galore, bad scripts, horrible lighting and effects, and cliches after cliches. But these things is what make me like horror movies so much. No other genre can get away with this qualities like the horror genre can. Unfortunately, Blood Lake barely does. It is an absolute desperate attempt to cash in on the success of the "camp-slashers" of the 80s's. A group of teens spend the weekend at a lakeside cabin and get butchered. Nothing new here folks. The movie plays out like a bad, bad soap opera and transcends into a laughable mess. The killer and his motives are like something out of a bad "Scary Movie" clone rather than something that is attempting to be a serious slasher film. With that said, amazingly enough I WOULD recommend Blood Lake to any SERIOUS horror movie fan, if only to see the good old days of the horror genre, when a films like this could get made.


This has to be the worse C movie I've ever seen. It looks and sounds like someone filmed it with their home camcorder. A couple of the death scenes are tolerable but the acting ruins it. Lots of continuity problems. I paid $1.50 to rent, got ripped off. Avoid at all costs.


I didn't have expectations for this one. I watched it on LATE local t.v. But the cast really had me intrigued. David Schwimmer, Jason Lee, the beautiful Mili Avital, Vanessa Angel, Mili Avital among others deliver a great performance. The cast is really good and seems that they had great chemistry between them.

The movie had the occasional funny situations and some smart dialogs. Then I thought I was watching an episode of "Friends". The acting, dialogs, and even direction made this look like a sitcom.

Still I have a good time with this movie. It's funny and romantic at some points. Of course, with the typical American humor.

Give it a try, I can see why it's considered to be an underrated comedy.


I enjoyed this movie far more than I thought I would. Both male leads give good performances (I never doubted they were really friends, which is rare in a movie) and there were many funny moments, a lot of which came from Bonnie Hunt. The only character that seemed underdeveloped and forced was Natasha - Jason Lee's ex. Their scenes together didn't do much for the movie.


Very much on the same lines as a Kevin Smith movie, if you enjoyed Mallrats and Chasing Amy then you should find this entertaining enough. It even has Smith 'regular' Jason Lee in the cast alongside David Scwimmer, who is surprisingly good, and unknown beauty Mili Avital, who is very impressive in the first film I have ever seen her in. The story centres on 2 friends who have been friends since they were kids. They are constantly setting each other up with their female acquaintances, enter Avital, Lee's boss, who has a big effect on both of them!. You will have seen this formula many times before and maybe better, but if you are looking for a genuinely funny 80 - odd minutes, look no further.


Altogether the premise of this movie doesn't seem all that exciting, now that I really think about it there is not much to this movie but both myself and my sister have an odd obsession with it.

It's funny, granted Jason Lee is always funny but the cast puts out some great performances. Not many people have seen this and the reactions to it are mixed. There are some parts with really great narrative and the story moves along quite fluidly. The characters are over the top and make for a very fun movie (Max, Natasha etc.).

By no means one of the great films or anything, but definitely one of my favs for sure.


Okay I admit it: I'm a sucker for this kind of "how long will it take them to get together" romantic comedy. Sure it has problems: the plot's kind of dopey, the audience is always ahead of the characters, David Schwimmer's still irritating (though oddly, in a completely way to usual) but enough of it worked to satisfy me.

Jason Lee is great (despite awful hair) as Jay, who's really the lead despite billing. Mili Avital is sweet and lovely. It's nowhere near as good as My Best Friend's Wedding or The Truth About Cats & Dogs, but if this is the kind of thing you'll probably like if you like this kind of thing. You know what I mean.


Jason Lee is one of the wittiest, funniest actors...I just love watching him, and he was absolutely great in this movie. David Schwimmer was good, and Mili Avital was impressive(first time I had ever seen her!). I thought this was a great romantic comedy...to the extreme. VERY ROMANTIC, VERY COMEDIC!


OK, I am not the most easily offended, but this movie was severely detracted from by gratuitous use of words beginning with f and s and m and you get the picture! Does Schwimmer think he is John Hughes, Judd Nelson and M. Broderick together now? No sympathy for the characters, bad language, Chicago (again)!, contrived plot ---------- that's enough!


All I have to say about this movies is that if Jason Lee was a somewhat bigger name in the industry, it he should have had top billing. I mean this movie is all about Jason Lee, he is great in this film. It also shows that he can play a different role then the characters he has played in Kevin Smith films. If you like Jason Lee watch this movie.


The story opens with a bride and groom kissing at their marriage service but you only get to see the face of the bride. This is a clue for us. We are going to have to figure out as we watch the film which guy is going to end up being the groom. The picture on the front of the video box has already showed us a bride being kissed from one side by Schwimmer and simultaneously from the other by Lee so we know the race for romance is going to be between the two of them. (This release, with Dutch subtitles, has a different picture to the US video/ IMDb picture.)

Yet in the first five minutes Linda the publisher tells us, not once, but twice that she introduced the bride and groom. We cut to a flashback of her introducing the two of them to each other, just in case we still don't get it. Then within another five minutes Jay the writer (Lee) is introducing Sam, his editor (Avital) to Max the sports caster and general foul-mouthed ignoramus (Schwimmer). IF the publisher is telling us the truth, doesn't this just kinda rule Max out of the contest for the first person to kiss the bride? Or have I missed something here?

This film is about as predictable as trying to guess which kind of white meat will feature most often on Thanksgiving dinner tables this year. I'll tell you; it will be turkey. And this movie sure is one.

But it is not just the plot and direction that are hugely lacking. Schwimmer is totally unbelievable and badly miscast as Max. His mouth moves, the words come out, but they lack any conviction whatsoever. The character of Jay the writer is such a whiney loser (with possibly the worst hairstyle in recent movie history) that I began to dread every screen appearance he made. He seemed to communicate in a series of whinging questions: "What are you doing here?" "So what??" "And??" I have absolutely no idea why the two of them were friends; they had nothing in common and were always bitching at each other. The script was very weak in places: Jay's explanation of why he had introduced Max to Sam provoked for me the biggest guffaw of the film (one of the very few). Best part of the film? The Harry Connick Jr. song over the opening credits.

Overall, it gets a 3; a waste of my time and money - it was I who was the FOOL for not reading Roger Ebert's review BEFORE going to the video shop. If you are looking for a nice romantic comedy get While You Were Sleeping, The Philadelphia Story, As Good As It Gets or anything else on the IMDb list of top 50 Romance films.


Kissing A Fool is such a delightful movie, you can't help but love it. The movie has a great script and a brilliant cast, including, the fantastic Mili Avital (One of my favourite actress'. She's destined to go far.) and David Schwimmer who are both brilliant here. (I think it's great that they're both together in 'real-life.' (And engaged too.)) I shouldn't really forget, Jason Lee who is also good here. If you haven't seen, Kissing A Fool, then I'd really advise you too. Like I've said many times, it sure is brilliant and I give it a well deserving 10/10.


Nice love comedy which examines love commitment and betrayal problems.Good performances by lead actors and a good showcase here for Avital.Nothing spectacular but delivers it's genre promises.The film could have used better screenplay, directing,cinematography,script and editing.Most Schwimmer fans will be satisfied.......


Implausible and boring, with distracting and unnecessary profanity. Bonnie Hunt's talent was totally wasted. Maybe the film would have worked if a different set of actors had been cast. It was really quite unpleasant to watch them going through the motions, and not caring about them at all.


Because the only redeemable quality in this film is Jason Lee. His brand of comedy is one of those who you either love or hate. David Schwimmer is the worst I have ever seen him in this movie. Go see All the rage if you want to see him as a good actor. Even his work on Friends is better. This movie is only to be watched if your girlfriend makes you.


I had never heard of the movie before but when they showed it on TV it had a great review and since I like everybody from the Friends cast very much I thought let's give it a try. And I am so glad I did. The actors did a great job and I am surprised you only hear so little about them (beside David Schwimmer). David was cast totally against his Ross character from Friends and I think he pulled it off very well. The actors who portrayed Jay, Sam and Andrea were very good, too. The story is told in flashbacks to a really funny couple and there is some great dialogue in this one. A really pleasant surprise, give it a try!