I thought that Bulworth was one of the funniest and most well written movies to date. Warren Beatty did an astonishing job in this film, a little too good now that I think of it. But really, this film attacked all aspects of life in the united states, welfare, blacks, whites, lying politicians, sleazy businessmen, all of it. It truly was one of the most ingenious movies ever to be created, and the fact that they got Warren Beatty to rap through the whole thing, that was a hoot. But in all honesty, I would have to say that if you have not seen this movie yet, go see it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.


Sneak-preview in Cinecitta, Tilburg, The Netherlands. The film is surprising, funny and with a message. There´re still several talented Hollywood producers. A master-piece.


Bulworth was the most under-rated movie of 1998. Beatty- who I don't usually like-- showed both comic and dramatic flair in this film. I have seen it 3 times and each time I watch it I appreciate the brutal honesty of it all. Except for the romance being unlikely, the rest of the movie is well done- his staff is played to the hilt- including their duplicity when things start working. Beatty should have received a nomination for something- screenplay or best actor. This is a film that shows what hypocrites rich people are the true divisions is rich against the poor not the blacks against the whites.


Anyone who went to see this film based on its trailers--and who was then, predictably, disappointed by what s/he saw--should consider her/himself an absolute, and willing, buffoon.

I do believe that this film was mismarketed, and woefully so. Appealing to the lowest common denominator, the trailers showed us aging white Warren bustin' moves/rhymes and talkin' jive. One would expect, by all accounts, the typical scenario: high falootin smart guy makes ass of himself or, equally, white guy loses marbles and believes he is black. Great idea, apparently, according to those who bought into the ads. I had no interest in seeing Bulworth when it was first released, and only gave it a chance on video since virtually every review I'd read recommended it.

As it turns out, Bulworth was totally misrepresented by the trailers, which is a shame because it is a much better, much more intelligent film than it would have you believe. There are some very dark, quite substantial elements to it that one might not expect. And I'm not referring to the obvious seedy underbelly of politics and socio-economic superstructures--of which we are all, of course, aware. Bulworth is much more than simple social criticism. At the core of the film is Bulworth himself--and it is indeed the human element which redeems what could have been a cold, bloodless and unremarkable movie-as-statement (as in Wag the Dog). Bulworth is about a man and about the essential decisions he makes (not just the bizarre behaviour he exhibits), and is, at its heart, deeply existential.

The writing is excellent, the pacing is effective and Beatty's performance is strangely compelling. The love-story sub-plot is perhaps the least successful component (Halle Berry is not entirely convincing)--and the film very nearly shoots itself in the foot near the end--but, overall, this is a very satisfying and stirring movie-going experience (even on video).

I would recommend Bulworth to everyone--especially those who have pre-conceived notions about it. And to those who would decide to spend $8.50+ on a movie, based exclusively on its trailers, some advice: read a few reviews before you make that decision.


So it wasn't perfect. With all the polls being thrown at me constantly, telling me how popular the "state of things" are with the public today, I really needed to hear IN A BIG WAY that not everyone is buying it. I don't. I agree with Bulworth 100% and it was an extremely satisfying release to see it on the big screen. I gave it a 10 for that. If Warren Beatty has a fan club, I'm joining.


The comments on this board are all interesting and quite valid in their praise of Warren Beatty's gutsy take on American politics. However, no one's made mention that this is film is also brilliantly crafted. Beatty has made a film that balances dozens of well-etched characters in under two hours and made it move lightning fast. The story never loses focus, is wildly romantic and is the first political film that is so gorgeous to look at--it's painted in lush, primary colors that made my jaw drop open with delight.

It is fantastic and should have been honored with more Academy recognition.


Warren Beatty shows he has moved on from his early Director/Writer days (Reds etc) but is still thinking deeply about what is happening in the real world. Bulworth is radical in that telling the truth is always risky business and for the music alone this film should be huge.


This film is a very funny satire on politics with Warren Beatty telling the truth. Platt & Berry are great support. I laughed so hard when he raps. Just hated the ending.

Rating:****1/2 (out of five)


Warren Beatty's BULWORTH is the craziest political satire I have ever seen. It is actually more of a statement than a satire, touching on several important economic issues, most importantly the African-American place in our country. Beatty goes way over-the-top as California Senator Jay Bulworth, a man who is destroyed by the monotony of modern politics. He also happens to be up for re-election, so he tours churches, South Central clubs, and the ganglands around L.A., most of which are unplanned and infuriating to his staff, led by talented actor Oliver Platt. The statement is the question of whether or not free speech really exists in this country. Bulworth speaks his mind and what he really feels, but the consequences can be both enlightening or fatal. This is what the film is driving at.

Beatty's performance is well-meaning and energetic, and he displays a good comedic sense in many of the speeches, but it is, at times, a bit contrived. You can tell he is putting his all into making Bulworth a crazy, paranoid prophet of the people. Halle Berry is the calm point of the movie. There is more to her than meets the eye. Most importantly, she is the centerpiece of the African-American realization of how Bulworth could really be the 'real deal' in regards to how he can help them economically. BULWORTH has many scenes in the "hood", most extremely funny, but also brutally realistic. This, of course, is pure political fantasy.

BULWORTH has a lot to say and does so in a lot of effective ways, but its outrageousness is sometimes its flaw. Sure, Bulworth says and does what we wish Clinton or Dole would do: speak their mind relentlessly on the biggest public stage there is. But is this possible? Not really, the movie tells us. There are some great individual sequences, the best being Beatty and co.'s entrance into a South Central club. They are so out of place and Beatty assumes he's not, so laughs begin to ensue. The Oscar-nominated script by Beatty himself is fast-paced and the film is extremely well edited. It does not dwell on one point for two long and there is some method to Bulworth's demented madness. Basically, the message is government business as usual, no wildcards allowed, and the possibility of a leader who mires in free (and I mean free) speech rendered virtually impossible. If their were any politicians like Bulworth, the voting process in the United States would be a hell of a lot more aggressive.


One of the smartest movies to come along in a great while, it's also very funny. Beatty's transformation from a suicidal senator on a campaign trail he no longer cares about to the life loving man who embraces urban hip-hop culture to the hilt is great. The best comedic moments are when Beatty is in his "rapper" mode, speaking in rhymes at campaign functions and tv interviews. A really great movie, you won't be disappointed.


I've finally found out the reason why the High School Musical phenomenon is such a success. Why the first movie's soundtrack was the top-selling CD of last year. Why there are ice shows, stage productions (amateur and pro), karaoke CDs, and karaoke DVDs to boot. It all traces back to the 90s.

You see, the 1990s gave birth to NSync, Backstreet Boys, the Spice Girls, Britney, Christina, Jessica, what have you. But their time wasn't meant for the 90s. They had come too early. Music honestly wasn't ready to cycle back to the confectionery, syrupy, Velveeta meets cotton candy of the late 50s/ early 60s. But now is the time.

The reason that High School Musical, and now Part 2, are such a success is because 1990'S POP MUSIC IS BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!!! High School Musical was the Reset Button, if you will, setting kidz-bop-pop back in its rightful place. Adults have their music, their innuendos, their profane-angry-paranoid-hurtfully honest songs. Why not give the kids a break? A place to be a kid?

The sequel does a great job of avoiding the urge to fix what's unbroken, but instead to polish it. This film isn't darker, but it is spunkier. More attitude, and even more confidence (if that's hard to imagine). This film is strictly for A) kids, and B) people who not only remember but enjoyed being kids. High School Musical 2 is a burst of joyful exuberance. Winks towards adult audiences have their place, but so do productions where a kid isn't talked down to or expected to grow up too fast.

The straight-up theater pop of the first has been replaced with more of a Hip-Hop/ Arena Pop edge. Less Broadway, more Billboard. Plus, the mythological task of defeating high school cliques has been replaced with simply earning a check for the summer. The movie wants to feel bigger than the last, but it's actually more intimate. That's an unintended plus.

The cast goes through some drama this time around, and some changes are made, character-wise. This was the biggest surprise. Disney Channel could have simply done a rehash of the first film, but everyone involved truly did a great job. I forgot that, as corny as the premise - the whole franchise - is, these guys can really act. And sing. And dance. No wonder Disney gonna's make a fortune.

And no wonder musical theater is so rough. Every single participant has to be a Triple Threat. But that's part of the fantasy of the first film: making the audition, giving it your all, and gaining the applause and support of your peers. What's great about this second movie is, really it's about the reverse of that. LOSING the support of your peers. Losing yourself in search of something you don't really need, not yet anyway. It's a good message: The future will come soon enough. Enjoy being a kid and being with the ones who love you while you still can.

Still, if this second movie doesn't match up to the first, it's because of moving it away from the dream of Triple Talent Status. No longer a musical about a musical, it instead becomes a musical about a country club. Instead of risking social status to be yourself, to find yourself, it is now about the dangers of losing yourself, by giving into social status. More dramatic, sure. A stroke of genius, I would say, except for the fact that it's still a freakin' High School Musical movie, not a Country Club Musical movie.

By moving into more complex territory, it grows up. But by default, it is less fun, just a smidgen less, than the original. To its credit, it isn't stale (the new setting keeps it fresh), but Disney Channel, Ortega, and all company involved will be hard pressed to create a three-quel that's just as fun, lively and CHOCK FULL OF 90'S POP as the original. A return to the theater would be welcome.

As for the songs themselves, let's just say I've been fair enough to comment that I enjoyed the MOVIE for what it was. Disney's been great at soundtracks but they'll have to do a lot better for part 3. Aside from the opener and a baseball game/swing number, there's not much to enjoy this time around, once again due in part to the removal of the high school locale.

The kids will LOVE IT, the parents will Tolerate it, Disney Channel will collect money hand over fist, and everyone else will have no idea what is going on because they've failed to realize (A) what it meant to be a kid, (B) that 90's Pop Music is back with a vengeance, and (C) everybody wants to sing and dance, even if they don't want to admit it.


Okay, so the day the first High School Musical came out I watched a documentary on PBS instead, so I had no idea what horrors were going on at Disney Channel until the next day at school. I stepped into class and WHAM! I hear everyone belting out "We're soarin', flyin'," and "We're all in this together!" and I was like, "What the heck are you guys singing?" and in unison they cried, "High School Musical!" and I could literally see America's IQ was falling. So I decided to see it for my self, and I must say I was sickened by the time they got to, "Stick to the Status Quo." No song should actually tell you to be average. I was disgusted by all the actors, especially Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale, who seemed to have no brains at all, for bringing this message to the world. And now High School Musical 2. Even worse than the first. It's completely devoid of any intelligence. And don't think I'm some teenager watching R-rated horror movies-I'm a twelve-year-old watching R-rated Oscar winners. I'm not saying parents have to let their kids watch Silence of the Lambs instead of High School Musical-but please, at least let them watch decent musicals/movies, like The Sound of Music or Dr. Strangelove (which is not a musical but still great-and rated PG! Don't say your kids won't get the jokes either-I got them when I was seven!) or maybe Singing in the Rain. Not this crud. Do you really want your kids watching airheaded rich kids complain about their boyfriends/girlfriends and how terrible their lives are? I didn't think so. Please, save America's movie reputation by bringing and end to High School Musical!!!


I really wish I could think of this movie in a way other than negatively.

I cannot stand sequels in general, and this one, I must say, was one of the most pointless. High School Musical centered around...well, just that. High School Musical 2 had nothing to do with a musical; it was simply a group of almost-juniors (or whatever grade they're in) getting summer jobs with each other and the issues they face with the jobs. Sure, there was a performance at the end, but that doesn't make up for the absence of the movie's namesake. The plot line was bland and really predictable: Jealous girl loves cute guy who's into another girl, so jealous girl gets angry and goes out of her way to make sure the relationship fails, but jealous girl's plan blows up in her face. Have we not seen that enough in our own lives? I was not thrilled to learn that a High School Musical 2 was being made, but I decided to give it a chance anyway. After viewing the movie, all I can say is this: HSM2 is just another example of how Disney Channel has evolved from a decent channel to a complete wreck.

The one good thing of this movie was Ashley Tisdale's performance; she got the character of Sharpay spot-on. (Edit: After being forced to watch the movie multiple times over, I have "repealed" my statement on Ashley Tisdale's performance: She went completely over the top. No one acts like that; it's not even CLOSE to realistic. She's like a slightly smarter, more catty version of Paris Hilton.)

A very unfortunate 1/10.


This may contain Spoilers OK. I was a hugge fan of HSM 1. But what happened to this movie? I hoped and prayed that they would not kill these movies, because they're a cute and happy movie. But the second one, well this was torture. I am normally a big musical girl and I loved HSM 1's music. But HSM 2 was somewhere of a mix between Barney and The Land Before Time. They sang everything, including Troy and Gabriella's breakup. Oh, don't worry they get back together...without talking about what went on or anything..just YAY we sang together, i love you again. Yeahh...no.

If you are a Zac Efron fan, watch Hairspray a few more times. That's what I did..you see how the acting differs.

Not a horrible sequel..but I think we all know they could've done better. Oh yes! I cannot wait for HSM 3!!!! (sarcasm all the way)


High School Musical 2 review This movie is a mash of random dance moves that look like something a back up dancer to Britney Spears would do and dialogue that only succeeds to prolong the plot that was probably written a week before production by somebody who didn't want to change a thing from the original film.

So how could I explain the plot without "spoiling" anything? The film starts out seconds before the familiar school atmosphere will come to an end for the summer. The main cast is together in what appears to be drama class (I guess it would be nitpicking for me to point out that the entire main cast is in the same classroom) counting down the seconds before summer break. This of course leads to "What Time Is It," the first musical number of many. Filled with break dancing and group wave dancing, the three minute dance redefines cheesy. Question: if Sharpay is supposed to hate Gabriella, why is she dancing right by her with a smile on her face? Oh, and this all happens within the first five minutes, ensuring a FUN following 93 minutes.

Suddenly the plot requires the cast to worry about summer jobs. Troy needs money to help pay for college (though wasn't his family rich in the first movie? I thought that's how they could afford to spend New Years Eve in a ski resort.), and Gabriella equally needs money badly (I guess her mom spent all her college tuition money on moving every summer). So does Chad and Taylor and every other main and supporting cast member besides Sharpay and her brother Ryan. So where do they end up getting jobs? They all get jobs at the country club that Sharpay and Ryan hang out throughout the rest of the film. Yeah, you heard right. They ALL get jobs at the country club. Tsk they must have been drastically understaffed before these people came along.

From here the inevitable love triangle between Troy, Gabriella and Sharpay occurs, reducing the job of a supporting character to just dancing in the elaborate dance numbers and saying a non funny one liner every twenty minutes. After taking forever to get to the climax, the film takes the clichéd easy way out that will require Gabriella to hate Troy forever which in Disney land is about fifteen minutes and a commercial break.

There. That's the plot to High School Musical 2. You know, I can't for the life of me think for a second that Disney released this film thinking that it was a good movie. It's just not. Instead I'm led to believe that it was green lighted to break ratings records and sell millions of copies of the accompanying CD and DVD. I imagine a meeting at Disney studios where an unknown screenplay writer brings his version of High School Musical 2, complete with perfect character development and believable segues into music. The head of Disney (or the person in charge of this film) reads the first ten pages and throws it down in disgust. "This is too risky!" He grumbles. "If it's too risky the ratings may not be as high as the last one. No, this will never work." I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you that there are several unintentionally funny scenes in this film. One is the cameo appearance by Miley Cyrus. She won a contest on Disney.com that ensured her a cameo in HSM 2, and her appearance was all of four seconds. She is shown as a random girl dancing at the very end of the movie. Seriously, if you blink too long you'll miss her whole role. Also funny for the wrong reasons was the choreography in the song "I Don't Dance" (I know, I know; the irony of a song implying that someone don't dance while they are dancing.), which can be described as homoerotic. Finally the funniest scene that was supposed to be dramatic was one right after Troy found out that Sharpay was screwing with him.

Basically the only thing that is better in this film from the original is the music. This is in no way an endorsement for a Grammy nomination or anything. I'm just saying the overall music is better than that of the first one. Of course the first film was made as a crappy made for television movie. The music was made in all of two weeks and the success was completely accidental.

Rating: * out of ****


I saw the first High School Musical just after it came out hearing rave reviews and i thought it might be at least interesting. I was wrong, after about 40 mins of watching I would have rather ripped off my own ears and set them on fire than watch for another minute. I had absolutely no intention of watching this sequel but I was asked to by my sister on her birthday so I did. If I had poison handy I would have taken it without a second's hesitation. It was literally the worst "movie" I have ever seen. Don;t get me wrong I enjoy musicals very much, this had the worst songs and most obvious lip-syncing I have ever seen. The dance moves were similar to what you might expect from some backup dancer for Jessica Simpson. What I hate more than this movie (if that's even possible) is the fans. The true fans are the most moronic people I have ever met. Using no logic to backup their arguments of why this movie was so amazing other than 'OMG How can you say High School Musical sucked?? Zac Efron is lyke so kute! I just wanna hug him forever!' I could care less how cute an actor is that does not excuse the horrible monstrous atrocity that is High School Musical! Please for your sake DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE!


Where do you start? How about the warped message this film is sending out to children who's families genuinely have money issues? I almost choked on my own disgust when Troy complained that he was fed up of seeing all the rich people at the Country Club while his parents were 'scraping for pennies'. With a house the size of his I doubt they're scraping for anything. Secondly, isn't it wonderfully convenient that they all managed to get pretty good jobs with no previous work experience and that they all managed to secure employment on their first attempt, at the same place, at the same time. Apart from being the luckiest group of 'teenagers' in the world, they are all the most ungrateful group of spoilt brats I've ever witnessed. The jobs they secured aren't given away to teenagers with no employment record and you don't become an assistant chef because you made a Crème Brule and some cookies then complain about it.

Apart from those two minor points that really, really grated on me, the rest of the film is truly dire. I would happily watch High School Muscial (which, I am shamed to admit, made me laugh a little) every day for a week rather than sit through this trash again. The pointless, meandering plot-line, the dreadful, dreadful songs and the nauseating tones of Vanessa Hudgens were all too much for me. I stayed true to my word and sat through the whole thing, but not before my soul was permanently tainted. You may think I'm exaggerating, and you might be right, but a movie hasn't dragged like this since the Forty Year Old Virgin. Mercifully, I didn't have to pay for this one, but I did have to waste electricity on it.

There are many, many bad points to be raised about this poor excuse for a film, and I think Nastarinvonjacobis has made them quite eloquently. Oh, and before I forget, who in the world has a portrait photograph of themselves in their basketball gear in their own room? A dreadful film, even by Disney Channel's standards, I don't recommend this film to anyone, unless you're playing a drinking game to take a shot every time something in this film annoys you (not recommended for those who don't want to get seriously drunk)


the only thing that bothered me a little was that not all of the singing scenes fitted in with the plot. other then that I am completely thrilled.

the story is similar as in the first movie just the other way round. instead of loosing yourself in your friends you loose your friends searching for yourself. it still has this good ol'Disney moral at the end but it is pleasantly subtle.

it is fun - some lines are hilarious - especially from Ryan and one of the funniest scene is definitely Sharpays & Troys rehearsal.

as for the acting - aside from Zac, Corbin, Ashley and Lucas, they are mostly supporting, which is working fine for Kelsi or Jason or Zeke but not so much for Gabriellas character. Zacs dancing reminds me a little of Kevin Bacon in Footloose - mostly in his solo, but it is not a bad thing. and this role is yet another proof of his acting skills. Ashely is perfect in her role as drama queen but yet again Lucas stole them all the show. I totally enjoyed the scenes with Troy & Gabriella. they were so natural.

this movie has some awesome dancing sequences but the best one is the Fabulous bit.

and the music is even better then in the first movie. the final song is not as climaxing as should be but fits with the story nicely. IMHO You are the music in me is way catchier. Vanessa evens the score for a lack of character to play by snatching the best song - yet again. and she and Zac harmonize wonderfully - visually as much as musically. we even get to hear the rest of the gang sing which is a plus point.

this movie is different then the first one but it has all what made its predecessor so memorable. great music, simple story, beautiful cast and a heart. Disney still has it.

P.S. check out Chads t-shirts - they are hilarious.


I admit I wasn't blown away by High School Musical 2's stankocity, especially since they stole the plot from and summer special of Saved by the Bell, (and a word of advice to the writer and producers of HSM2: DON'T GET PLOT IDEAS FROM SUGAR-CRAZED CHILDREN!!!).

I was severely disappointed though with the musical score which was jaw-droppingly awful. It was too Britney Spears meats Justin Timberlake. And that's okay, but not in a musical that's suppost to be realistic.

And another thing! The only reason High School Musical was such a hit was because it wasn't like a real Broadway musical where they sing to each other and it's so corny. It was more of teenagers who like to perform teenagers. But HSM2 was like a basic whiny musical, except most whiny musicals have good acting and dialog.

Also they should not have given Zac Efron his own songs to sing this time. Because frankly, he is a choir boy singer. he has a nice voice when he is singing those remedial notes, but give him some actual soaring notes and he will croak like a frog because he does not posses the range. Of course it sounded like he did in the first movie, (only because they morphed his voice with Andrew Seeley, a very accomplished singer), but then the producer let Zac sing on his own and all the songs were low key because Zac can't hit any good notes.

The plot was jacked and stupid and pointless. THe ending was horrific at best. THere was only one good song in the movie and it was too depressing for me to even enjoy.

In the end i believe it would have been best to just have a High School Musical Christmas special than this complete-waste-of-a-time sequel. I give this movie one star since it is not possible to give it none.


I've never been a fan of Disney movies including HSM 1. So when I heard about HSM 2 I knew it was going to be pathetic. My little sister begged me to watch so unfortunately I gave in. IT WAS HORRIBLE! It's made HSM 1 look good. The acting is bad and the singing is OK. OK, Zac Efron is cute, not cute enough to make this movie at least half way decent. If you want a good quality movie then it's best to not watch a Disney movie. They're so cheap on Disney movies and celebrities with no talent. And now they're having a HSM 3 that's coming out in theaters, that should be good;) HSM 2 should get a lower rating than 5.2. The only people who should be a entertained by this movie should be little kids. The producers, directors, actors, etc, are just trying go as cheap as they can go and at the same time make money off their viewers. If you want to see a real musical then watch hairspray (2007).


After a truly fun and Disney magical HSM, the sequel leaves the fan flat on the floor from disappointment. I found the entire first half of the film unfocused, boring and centered nearly entirely on Ashley Tisdale. We know that Disney likes Ashley and promotes her big time, but there were other talented actors and actresses that were underutilized and basically didn't add a thing to the film because they were never part of a storyline. They were treated solely as eye candy and background dancers.

The original HSM started to imply that there might be developing other couples that I had hoped would continue in this film. I wanted to see Chad and Taylor, as well as Jason and Kelsi, but instead we got a nearly unrecognizable Sharpay shoved down our throats.

Sharpay in HSM was crafty, self-centered and self-loving, but in this sequel, they turned her into a miniature Paris Hilton. Why the drastic character personality change? She was downright annoying and far from entertaining to watch. I enjoyed her in the original HSM, but really yawned at her in this one.

While I didn't like they way they tried to transform Troy into a first class jerk, I did enjoy watching Zac show us a much deeper range of acting skill. I enjoyed his angst number in black. He truly did remind me of Ren in Footloose and I can see him using that footage to try and land work for that developing remake. Zac is too talented to keep playing Troy. He has clearly moved on in both talent and skill. It was clear he tried to salvage what he could of this poor storyline, but even his talent wasn't enough to save such a bad script. It was nice to have his voice in this sequel and the only truly memorable number in the film is the one he and Vanessa sing (Music in Me), although I did like his angst number performance as well.

Vanessa was barely in the film. Same with Lucas, Chad and Monique. These are talented actors that barely had any screen time or story. What a shame to waste such talent. Shame on the producers and director! Unfortunately the script in this sequel really destroyed the magic of HSM and was a suffer to sit through.

The choreography was promised to be stepped up a lot, but there really wasn't much in the film beyond the first ten minutes and last five minutes. So where was this stepped up choreography? I kept looking for it, but it didn't ever show its face.

The entire rest of the film was primarily a really predictable, boring story that featured a character that was completely out of character (Sharpay). What a shame to have tanked so bad after such an enjoyable original film.


My family and I watched High School Musical 2 today. Our cable company allowed us to watch it beginning today. I have to say, I am not usually a fan of sequels, since they are not usually as good as the original. However, this was not the case for this movie. The music is awesome and the storyline was pretty cool. I love the fact that the movie begins with them in school right before summer vacation. It made me wish that my summer vacation was just beginning. Anyway, the movie was great because it seemed like it could have really happened. I will not spoil the details, but there is betrayal of friendship and fighting between siblings. I hope everyone who reads this will watch it!!!!!


This film was bad - nowhere near as good as the first.

The first opening sequence was good, the song, the dance everything was good until they took it out of the high school and that was when it all went downhill.

The film took on a different purpose. Instead of it being about people following their dreams, finding out who they are and stuff like that, it became about Sharpay's (Ashley Tisdale) awful obsession with Troy (Zac Efron.) The character of Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) was i thought not even in half of the movie - and the only good bit was when she stripped and got into her bikini (although I've pretty much seen it all if ya know what i mean!) As its Disney - it robbed us of several moments including a fist fight and a gay kiss. The acting was sketchy at parts and became very cheesy. The songs weren't as good as the first - instead of fun showtunes they became sloppy balads which were just plain awful.

The only thing in this film that was better than the first was the choreography, it was brilliant. The dance moves were complex and great to watch.

I hated it that Miley Cirus was in it as well, im just glad Disney didn't give her a speaking party, if they would've then i think id have to jump under a bus.

Overall - not good.


I loved HSM 1 and i was really excited when i found out there was going to be a hsm 2. With all of excitement gone to waste this movie sucked! What did i do to deserve this?! The plot is pointless and the songs that were written. I mean come on, who wants to know about sharpay, (ashley tisdale) being fabulous. That song was i waste and so was almost every other song. The only song i seemed to enjoy was you are the music in me. The singing is OK. But the acting i really hate. The only reason why i really watched this was to see Zac Efron. Without him........you don't even want to know. There are way better movies on Disney. At least hsm was actually worth watching. I could watch it again. However hsm 2 i wouldn't want to sing again unless someone held a gun at me forcing me to see it. Little kids might enjoy it but i hated it. It's no wonder why it only got like a 5.9/10. If you really want to see a good movie don't catch your breath on this. Movies at the theaters are way better than Disney channel original movies. But if i had to pick some of the best movies on Disney they would be: Twitches life size parent trap Those are the only OK movies on Disney. Anyway, take this comment from somebody who cares about what you watch and don't watch. DON'T WACTH THIS MOVIE! My overall rating is 1/10


I was a big fan of the first High School Musical. It wasn't the best thing in the world, but the music was, if nothing else, fun and so was the movie.

I give Disney points for the music. I know many didn't like the music in this installment at all, but I personally found it better than the first. However, the music is different this time around- more to my taste and less to others. It all depends on your taste in music.

The movie itself- Disney tried far too hard. I think I got that idea when I saw Sharpay's musical number with the pink piano in the swimming pool. Any character development at all (which lets face it, wasn't a lot) that was made in the first movie was completely undermined. Sharpay wasn't an airhead, she was just self-centered. She's both in this movie. Gabriella was a sweet, optimistic, intelligent girl. They made her bubbly beyond reason. The only person that really had any real character development was Ryan. I give them points for the character development of Ryan.

The story gave a whole new meaning to the word cliché. And there were several moments that the story just doesn't make sense at all. When or why did Gabriella decide to go back to Troy? We don't know! We don't see her or hear from her at all between her little "goodbye" number and the talent show! We're just left to assume that she found out that Troy's made this overnight (literally) change from super-jerk to team player again. It makes no cinematic sense. And neither did the placing of most songs. Instead of "I think I hear a song coming on", the audiences should have been thinking. "Where the heck did THAT song come from?"

I'm not even going to elaborate on how Troy's "angst on a golf course" song and 'dance' looked like an over-dramatic bad music video of nothing but drama poses. And we didn't need another movie to watch Ashley Tisdale dance around in her bathing suits/Paris Hilton-esquire dresses and to watch Zac Efron take off his shirt. Yay for added fan-service? (please note the heavy sarcasm).

The title "High School Musical" makes no sense when applied to this movie. This movie is not about high school. Nor is it about a musical. It's a mishmash of over-the-top acting interrupted by random songs. Long story short. The music was better. The movie was FAR worse.


HSM 1 was really good. I guess they didn't expect it to be such a such a success and didn't really mind that much how it turned out. That's why it all went wrong with HSM 2, Disney tried so hard not to make it the exact same things as the first movie, that they made it in too something worse. Don't get me wrong though, it was a good thing that they didn't make it in to the same thing, but the songs were bad and it just doesn't seem to live up to the first movie. So here's my opinion; I'm going to tell you the good things about the movie, and I'm going to tell you exactly what's wrong with it.

Let's start with the characters: Sharpay Evans turned into a squeaky voiced, annoying girl. Her crush on Troy was a good thing for the movie, though. And in the end, she turned out pretty nice. Troy Bolton was selfish and didn't care much for his friends during the movie. Gabriella Montez was OK, but way better in HSM.

next...

The idea of Summer was nice, and good for a change... but the talent contest thing was exactly the same thing as the musical at East High.

Also, I love the fact that they focused more on Ryan Evans, who has to take a lot of crap from his sister Sharpay. He was very deserving of the award, and I'm glad his sister finally realized that her brother works way harder than she does.

So, I'm glad I watched HSM 2, for Ryan's sake. But, HSM 2 will never live up to HSM, and I doubt there will be an HSM 3. High School Musical was a movie meant to have no sequel. It ended great, and Disney should have kept it at that. I'm sorry to say this, but I find HSM 2 a very bad movie and by all means do not watch it... unless you care for Ryan Evans, who's clearly more talented then all of East High.


Following hot on the tails of the monumental success of the first TV film, Highschool Musical 2 manages to out do itself in the newest sequel of the soon to be long franchise of films to come. Part two finds the entire cast of Part one ready to celebrate the summer, when (with the help and dastardly doings of evil sharpay) the entire school manages to end up working at a posh resort. The formula is still the same: simple plot, swooning girls, and boys with squeaky clean images. This time though the quality of the music has been stepped up a notch, with a more conscious effort to write more theatrical music (with the exception of a few silly fillers). The cast is still strong with Efron and Hudgens leading the pack. Corbin Bleu is a standout actor and gets to show off his potential, and Ashley Tisdale commands the screen with her quirky off beat character. Of course there are the lines that are so cheesy that you laugh out loud, and of course the awkward moments (Efron's "angry" dance number comes to mind) but it's still entertaining. The real star though is Kenny Ortega who helms the project and brings some exceptional choreography and ideas to the small screen. Bravo!


OK i know most people think Disney can't make a good sequel which is generally true (no affiance 2 Disney) but this one is really good the singing is superb and so are the songs!!!!!!! the acting is pretty good this one has some of the same plot but its hard to tell en-less u really Analise the movie i like the effect mikes used for this movie. Sharpay's plan was pretty good! over all i would give the movie 4 stars **** the dancing was great new and creative!!! but a third movie *COULD* be a huge mistake but with Kenny Ortega as the directer there's a small chances for it to be a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!

4 STARES ****


Personally, the sequel was 10 times better then the original. Sure, the first one was good, but it was just simple and dry. No magic, no nothing, just a straight movie about following your dreams.

This movie was so much more complex and more grown up. It was definitely more realistic. If it were like the first one, of course Troy would have never given into Sharpay's world. But this one shows more reality. He does give in and lose himself because money and opportunities show up. In the first one, you see the relationship between Troy and Gabriella begin. But in this one, you see them in love with each other and that love having to withstand trials.

I think the acting has gotten way better. The actors seem more confident and the chemistry is better then ever.

The songs are more modern, making it more enjoyable. It's really music you can dance to. The movie is more like a musical because in the first film, the majority of the songs were songs that were to be performed. These songs are more like just "randomly bust into song and dance" then the other one- making it seem more musical. The choreography has been stepped up a lot as well.

Visually, the movie shines. The backgrounds and the colors are brilliant.

The movie is definitely amazing.


I understand that a lot of people feel that this wasn't as good as the first movie, but personally I think it's as good, if not better than the first one. The cast seem a lot more comfortable with each other and their characters, which make their characters seem a lot warmer and welcoming.

I also like that this film concentrates a little more on the importance of characters such as Martha, Kelsi, and Zeke. In my eyes, they're just as important as the main six, and I can't imagine the movie without any of them.

As with the first movie, the singing and dancing are flawless and perfect. My only problem is that there isn't a song that is as amazing and climatic as Breaking Free. The equivalent in this movie would be Everyday, but it's nowhere near as powerful.

Nevertheless, an amazing film that you'd be a fool to miss, no matter what age you are (take it from a 19-year-old!)


High School Musical 2, like its predecessor, is set in the season of its release- namely, summer (last time it was winter). The movie begins with drama teacher Miss Darbus droning on in the classroom. The kids began to chant "summer" as the clock slowly counted down to 3 PM. Then they threw their papers in the air around a slightly uncomfortable Troy Bolton, and began singing what I consider the worst song of the film- "What Time Is It?" Which should have been called "What Time Is It? I Think This Song Is Lasting Forever." Upon the initial viewing, this movie seemed kind of...oh, how do you say? Rushed. There were about 10 songs (including remixes) versus the 9 in the first movie, but the way they were presented made them feel a little smooshed together. For example, there are 3 full-length songs within the first twenty minutes. As a person who hadn't been watching Disney Channel incessantly before the film's premiere to familiarize myself with the songs, I felt that they were coming at me so fast (sometimes) that I couldn't fully enjoy them.

So I watched the movie again, the very next day.

That's when I realized, that many of the songs were not as memorable as they had been in the first movie. I wasn't singing "You Are the Music in Me" the way I had been singing "What I've Been Looking For". Most are excellent in the movie, but many don't seem quite as catchy or stick with you quite as well when you're away from the TV. In that way, the producers struck out. "What Time Is It?" wasn't enjoyed by me any more the second time around than it was the first.

I've heard the opinion more than once that HSM 2 was a better movie than the original. The excuse is that the characters "matured" in this film and it is about growing up. I am inclined to disagreement with that angle. What I liked about the first movie is that everything was fresh. Troy and Gabriella were just starting to get to know each other and to recognize their love for singing, and the awkward moments and building chemistry were absolutely adorable to watch. Their "friends" misunderstood so much, that they tried to change them.

A film about them maturing and growing up would have been great- if that film had genuinely existed. HSM has never been loved for a strong plot, so it's no surprise that although there's now a new focus on college and the future, it's more than a little misrepresented. In the end, a lot of weight was put on living in the moment. True, we should remember to keep our friends close even though the future might cause us to go our separate ways, but I felt that the movie didn't communicate this message in a realistic context.

When it came to the characters growing, it was clear that some people didn't learn anything- namely Troy's "best friend" Chad. Though even Sharpay showed some unexpected goodness in the movie, Chad was more-or-less the same self-righteous jerk that he was in the first movie. Back then, he spearheaded the effort to change Troy by distracting him from singing. Now, in the name of keeping Troy from changing into someone else, he gives him the cold shoulder and offers no understanding at all. Chad might have been wise to realize that although he was saving for a car, Troy was aiming to get a college scholarship. His motives might have been noble and Troy a bit misguided, but his attitude was nothing less than aggravating. What's new, though? Ryan was one of the characters that went throughout the most growth in the movie. The "dumb slave" persona that he had in the first movie was really amusing, but it was also good to see him coming into his own in High School Musical 2 as a more developed and rounded character.

Even though there were definitely cheesy moments in the film- namely, all the talk about "changes" and "saving the summer" sounding kind of like a little kid's book- there were definitely redemptive moments too. The similarities between it and the first movie aren't really too hard to miss, but I found myself liking them rather than feeling like I was seeing the same film all over again. Gabriella has another (kind of) solo, Troy has to make a hard decision- only this time he makes it with no guarantee of being able to compromise. Sharpay is her usual self again remixing one of the songs to fit her own liking. Only this time, she is even more funny than before. Her songs were among my favorites.

Though in the end, when Zac Effron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens came together to sing, the magic really happened. No matter how cheesy the line I just heard was, I loved those moments.

There's also something new this time around. Troy has a solo- coincidentally one of the best songs of the movie- and Lucas Grabeel and Corbin Bleu come together to sing "I Don't Dance", a song where swing dancing, hip-hop, and baseball come together to make something great and original. Freshest moment(s) of the film, definitely.

So in the end, we have an interesting paradox. In some ways, High School Musical 2 doesn't have the magic of the first. Yet at the same time, I can watch it again, and again, and again.

*sigh* 7/10 stars.


one of the best movies ever, i loved it it was brilliant, and i loved the parts where Ryan (Lucas Grabeel) actually fired back at his sister. all in all nothing i dislike about it. 10/10. this was one of the BEST musicals i have ever seen, i think musicals are making their comeback in the form of the HSM cast. I think the actors and actresses did a brilliant job playing and bringing the characters to life. I think this second one is better than the first, and Troy's penguin slide at the beginning made me laugh a little. My favourite song was I Don't dance which is a brilliant combo of singing and dancing and baseball at the same time. So like i said before all in all nothing to complain about.


I enjoyed the first HSM even though I thought I wouldn't since my kids are in college and the Disney Channel is something I rarely watch. When I read that the second installment was going to be on Disney, I decided to tune in. Well...what a pleasant surprise! I think I may have enjoyed this more than the original- I have always been a fan of the Disney films from the animated features to The Parent Trap, but I am so happy that they have kept the tradition of 'family films'. Any family could sit and watch this delightful movie without fear of inappropriate scenes or language, how refreshing- Maybe some of the situations are predictable, but who cares...the story and music is still very cute and entertaining! I think this is an adorable movie that the whole family should see!


This movie was really great, and in my opinion, lived up to it's expectations. Maybe it wasn't the "BIGGEST Sequel TO THE BIGGEST Disney CHANNEL PRODUCTION," but it was still a great movie. I will admit that it wasn't as pulling as the first movie was, but I think the plot was very creative and funny. People said that the first movie was a "Cheesy remake of Grease," And I disagreed with that. It may have had a similar plot, what with the whole boy meets girl on vacation, girl moves into his school, they can't be together because of clicks thing. But at least the second movie didn't come out like, 10 years later out of the blue, with different actors, and a lame plot with main characters not even related to the originals at least. It was an incredible movie, and very funny for a person under, or over 18.


It is shocking to think of how big the High School Musical franchise has become for Disney. In 2006, the first film became a surprise hit, and the sequel is expected to follow along the same lines. It is embarrassing to admit, but I bought a month's subscription for Disney Channel on Demand just so I could see High School Musical 2 before anyone else, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Let me say it right here and now: High School Musical is thousands of times better than the first film, with improvements in every category. The movie is longer, most of the scenes are more realistic, the directing and the acting seem to have vastly improved, and most importantly of all, the songs and the music are just AMAZING. These are the type of songs you would expect from a Broadway film or production, not some TV movie musical! The lyrics are beautiful, and nearly all of the songs are spectacular. All of the original cast members return for High School Musical 2, including Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Lucas Grabeel, and Corbin Bleu.

The plot this time around is incredibly different from the first one, and much more structured. It has a certain unique flow to it. Summer has arrived and Troy and Gabriella's love has to stand the test of time. Summer break just happens to be the ultimate test. Sharpay's parents own a country club, and she allows them to hire Troy, but all of the Wildcats come along for summer jobs. Sharpay will stop at nothing to tear apart Troy and Gabriella. Troy must discover who he is and what the future really holds for him along the way.

The best thing about this sequel is the fact that Disney seems to care so much about it. It's not one of those crappy sequels like Inspector Gadget 2 with none of the original cast returning. This sequel brings back the entire cast, and fleshes out the backstories for each and every one of them. With a longer length, there is more time to develop the characters, and this time is utilized wisely with a number of songs with amazing lyrics. Each and every song brings something new to the plate and is a realization of one thing or another. Every song has its own sound and feel that is much more unique than the first one. The soundtrack is simply amazing, and even the one song that didn't make it into the movie (Humuhumunukunukuapua'a) ended up as one of my favorites.

The acting is considerably better this time around as all of the cast members have had a year or so to work on their acting. Lucas Grabeel steals the show as Ryan, who finally breaks free from being Sharpay's accomplice in everything. Zac Efron gives a flawless performance with some amazing vocals, and it's very easy to see why he has become such an icon so quickly. Everyone's hairstyles and clothes look much better this time around, and there is much less of that corny Disney-Channel-show feel to it. The writing and the script are very well-written, and there are very few scenes that don't come out the right way. The dialogue and the music and lyrics balance themselves out perfectly in the movie.

High School Musical 2 is not only the best Disney Channel Original Movie ever made, but it is also sure to become a classic, and one of the best film musicals I've ever seen. It is better than the first film in every way imaginable with better humor and comedic moments, better writing, and much better songs. Don't miss this filmyou won't be disappointed! It is nothing short of amazing.


This is super Good!! Zachary David Alexander Efron is so cool!!! Even though he is kinda weird hair in Hsm3. Can't Wait for it this October!!!!YAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYa!!! YOu souled all watch it!!! Zac Efron Vanessa Hudgen Lucas Gabreel Ashely Tisdale Kenny Ortega Corbin Bleu They all DARN ＲＯＣＫ！！！ Heartbreak for High school musical!!! Wodnerful and free on Disney channel! The songs all rock!!!! It's really interesting. The songs are good. Really.I love the song Everyday and Bet on it and all that. Cool. Awesome!!!everyone should watch it with there family! HEHEHEHEHE. COol Awwesome. IM serious. Watch it. Cmon! Your still on your chair! stand up. Don't read anymore of this! Read it! CMON!!!!!


I thought this movie was just fantastic.

the first time i saw it, i thought it was awesome. But when i watched it for the second time i thought it was Fabulous. Its probably my favourite movie now.

It took me a while to realise but i think this movie is better then the first one.

Ashley Tisdale is Highschool Musical she was so so so so good in this movie. Every scene she was in i was glued to the TV, she did such a good job as sharpay and she looked so beautiful in this movie, in the first one her hair was really thick and that what ruined her style but in this movie her hair was so pretty she just looked hot in every scene she was in.

Vanessa Hudgens really did a good job. I didn't like her in the first movie but i thought in this movie her character wasn't so childish.

To bad Chad and Taylor weren't in it more. I love Taylor i think she is funny but they didn't use her much in this film. Chad should of had a way bigger part too.

The songs in this movie were really good. Fabulous is just a really fun feel good song. Work this out was a really good song with a really good beat. Music in me was a really pretty relaxing song. I don't dance was an okay song but i wasn't really that much into it. Music in me Sharpay version was so so so hot and it was so sharpay which i thought was fantastic. gotta go my own way was a beautiful song sung really well and acted really well during it. Bet on it was a really good song to, good beat and good lyrics. Everyday was just a really sweet, cute, fun song and all for one was pretty good not as good as were all in this together but good enough to get my attention.

The concept for this movie was really smart and really enjoyable. It was a fabulous lead up to the first highly successful first movie.

I highly anticipated this movie and i was so pleased that it was as good as hyped.

I am so excited for the third movie. I hope they do as good a job as they did for this one and the first one, im sure they will.

Brilliant.


I enjoyed high school musical 2 it is even better then the first one which sometimes doesn't work and the whole thing nose dives. The acting between Vanessa and Zak is 101% you could almost believe that they are head over heels in love when singing "you are the music in me" and "I gotta go my own way" Every member of the cast in fact gave a 100% for me. I loved it who said you have to be a child/teenager to watch and enjoy, Im 42 and I already cant wait for high school musical 3, its so nice to see young people enjoying life instead of all the hate and violence in society today and they managed to get their first kiss "cheers for them" maybe some young girls will be a bit disappointed with this or wish to be Vanessa or the boys wish to be Zak, ah the young, I was smiling remember my younger days too lol. Anyway don't take my word for it watch the film and see for yourself byeee


I honestly loved this movie. I think it's better than the first. The songs are great. Especially, 'You Are The Music In Me.' Pure genius! Troy and Gabriella are great. It was sad when they had their break up. I cried! But I'm glad they got back together and I really hated Sharpay in that one! >:( I can't wait until the third one comes out. It should be even more awesome. Hmmm, i really don't know what to say about it except how great it was, so I'm gonna stop typing. But first i'm going to type some words: Excellent, Awesome, Spectacular, Fabulous, Fantastic, the great shimmy-nits! I have more but now i'm really done. Good-bye HSM2 Fans.


As a mother, I loved this movie. It is just good, clean fun. My son is five, and he insisted we buy the CDs for the first and second movies. And I went along with it. I like the music too. It is just sad when people are down on a kid's movie, as much as they are down on this one. I would like to urge them to please check in with reality. Kids' movies by genre are usually tired and trite. As a babysitter, a child-care provider, an aunt, and a mom I have seen enough of the genre to really appreciate the freshness that is offered by the High School Musical franchise. Come on already! This movie is so much better than other tween/kid crap that is on TV. But it doesn't try to take it's self seriously; which is why I can't believe people actually are. It isn't trying to be a four star movie. It is just trying to be entertaining.

Disney supports families. Families want to see good entertainment that is in good taste. I'm not a religious freak, but I want to raise a child; not a kid-going-on-30. And this movie is great for that. Period.


I just saw this recently on DVD. I hadn't seen it since it was first released and couldn't remember it that well. Well, I've reacquainted myself with it and, although I'm genuinely not the one to exploit yiddishisms, my first thought was "Oy!" Somebody tell Gene Wilder to stop screaming! He did some funny shrieks in his previous films, including the Mel Brooks romps, but he kept it at the proper minimum. Here he screams in every scene like he's having his leg amputated with a steak knife and anesthetic was unavailable. Other times he mugs like a bad burlesque comic. The film itself is just as subtle, filled with loud music, heavy handed gags, and cartoon sound effects. The "Modern Times" parody is a major embarrassment. This film isn't even good bad. It's just sad bad. Even Wilder, in his DVD commentary said "They don't make movies like this today, and maybe that's a good thing." And then there's Carol Kane, who is absolutely adorable. In time, she too would become self conscious about her comic abilities (especially after "Taxi"), but here she gives a tender, endearing performance with occasional touches of genuine comedic spark which would be even better if only the material would give her more. The Sex-By-The-Numbers segment is the one truly funny bit in the movie.

Those two look like they were made for each other. I'm really surprised they didn't become an item after the movie. Maybe she just couldn't handle the screaming.


This production was built around the search for the next Rudolph Valentino. While this work has become dated, it was filmed as a pseudo-retrospective at the time, so it was already "dated" the day it was filmed.

This is a total Gene Wilder vehicle. He wrote the screenplay, directed the movie, and was the movie's sole credited producer. He is also THE star of the movie. He does share the limelight with Carol Kane (a pure delight, as usual), but this was one of Wilder's brightest moments. By this time, the world realized they had a comedic genius on their hands and after this work Wilder pretty much had the Midas Touch for a while.

Kane plays Annie Hickman, the world's greatest Valentino fan. Wilder portrays a Milwaukean baker who is at the end of his rope. His idiosyncrasies are so severe, he finds it impossible to maintain employment. Upon learning of a contest held by Rainbow Studios (NOT the #1 studio) to find the next Rudolph Valentino, Rudy Hickman just "knows" this is his ticket to a better life. His wife leaves him to go find Mr. Valentino. But once Hickman is in the middle of it all, he realizes his wife is what is most important to him and he sets the works in motion to woo her away from Rudolph Valentino. The formula makes for some of the best heart-warming entertainment that's hit the big screen. It's endearing and funny in its bittersweet malaise.

It also goes a long way towards showing what CAN be done with no effects and no locations beyond the Studio Backlot and a few, cheap but decent sets.

While it is frayed about the edges, this classic favorite is one ripe for a DVD restoration...perhaps even a 2-disk director's cut for those of us fans who have BEEN fans since the beginning.

It rates an 8.8/10 from...

the Fiend :.


Coming out at the same time as Ken Russell's rather more amusing Valentino, The World's Greatest Lover suffers from Gene Wilder's sporadic tendency to mistake the grotesque for the side-splitting. Thus we get the odd huge close-up of mouths covered in shaving foam and a lot of tiresome hysteria and tongues. We also get far more of Dom DeLuise mugging away as if semaphore were back in fashion than is strictly necessary, though he's not as OTT here as in Sherlock, for which we can at least be grateful. Unfortunately, we get much more of Wilder's tendency to mistake hysteria for the hysterical  when in doubt, shout seems to be his motto  with Wilder adding a nervous tic that sees him stick out his tongue when he gets nervous. And he gets nervous a lot. Be still my aching ribs It's a reworking of Fellini's near career killing early flop The White Sheik, even including a Felliniesque lineup of hookers at a bus stop in one scene, only without Fellini's restraint (yes, you did read that right), with Wilder's unemployed baker heading for Hollywood to enter a screen test to find the next Valentino while his young wife seeks out the real thing. Wilder does acknowledge the debt in a screen credit that's part thank you to 'my friend', but seems more name-dropping in a film that comes across as something of a vanity project  certainly with Wilder starring, writing, directing, producing and even writing a song for the film, it's fair to say where the buck stops on this one. One of those films that at once offers fairly lavish period production design but often a complete lack of understanding of silent cinema  yes, we do get sped-up comedy scenes - it's definitely pre-Kevin Brownlow's Hollywood, which completely destroyed most of the then-common myths about silent cinema that this embraces. Indeed, anachronisms abound, with the feel (and the songs) often more Thirties than Twenties, which perhaps wouldn't matter quite so much if it were all funnier. It's not a total disaster  there's the odd good line (a conductor announcing "Hollywood, home of the stars and several featured players"), a nicely natural performance from Carol Kane before she became a mess of mannerisms to rival Wilder and it does offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see James Hong playing a Norwegian (or is it Svedish?) studio executive, complete with excellent accent. (Also to be glimpsed among the bit parts in the supporting cast are Danny De Vito as an assistant director, Billy Sands  Paparelli in Sergeant Bilko  as a studio guard and, as the boss of a bakery, David Huddleston, here billed as 'Michael Huddleston's Father'!)


Back in April of this year I heard that The Worlds Greatest Lover was going to be on AMC and I was like yes I'm finally going to get to see this movie, I'm a big Gene Wilder fan so.....yeah, anyway the only problem was that it was going to come on at 3 in the morning on a Monday which was a school night for me so I asked my mom to record it for me, so when I came home from school I saw it and thought it was awesome, two or three months later I ordered the DVD off of Barnes and Nobles and I now have it on DVD what I had heard from this movie was that Gene not only stars in this movie but writes, directs, produces, and surprisingly wrote a song for the film as well, I think Gene's take on Rudolph Valentino was pretty cool and I think he came up with some clever ideas like "histerical laryngitis" and sticking your tongue out or twisting your words around whenever his character is nervous. I also thought Carol Kane was wonderful as Rudy's wife Annie and Dom Deluise was as funny as usual as movie mogul Adolph Zitz, one thing you probably found annoying was Gene Wilder's constant screaming and going into hysterics all the time but he does it brilliantly, plus the character of Rudy was very high-strung kinda like Leo Bloom right? so if you like slapstick comedy or if your a fan of Gene Wilder, I highly recommend this and I'd say its another one of Gene Wilder's forgotten films and its a great one to look out for, I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10.


Gene Wilder (Rudy Hickman) keeps having trouble with the jobs he's had due to his constant daydreaming or his so called "nervous behavior" dealing with sticking his tongue out at people and temporary voice loss. He decides to go to LA with his wife Carol Kane (Annie Hickman) and change his name to Rudy Valentine to try out to become 'The World's Greatest Lover'. He soon questions if it's really worth ending his marriage to become something he really isn't. Dom Deluise also stars as the head of Rainbow Studios who came up with the idea of searching for 'The World's Greatest Lover'. After seeing Rudy's screen test (Dom) picks him to be one of the top 3 finalists to win a movie contract with Rainbow.


Wilder should have more like this one, it is his best, up there with Blazing Saddles, Stir Crazy, Willy Wonka, Young Frankinstien. The only other film that rivels this one is Sherlocks Holms Smarter Brother. See this film today, it airs on the FXM: Movies From Fox. Highly recomended!


When I saw this movie on TV some decennials ago, I found it quite funny, because Gene Wilder was "in" at that time. We youngsters longed for more comedies with him after having seen him in the outrageous (is it still seen this way today?) "Young Frankenstein". The movie has its wonderful and romantic moments, sometimes even funny ones. Just enjoy it as a light-weight spoof, as a slapstick-comedy, and if you're a tongue-out-of-your-mouth-sticker, this is definitely the number one movie for you, for it is THE running gag of the show (if you like it or not). Yes, there are many clichés repeated over and over, like for instance Fritz Feld doing his standard hotel receptionist number, but there are so many little fun jewels hidden everywhere. Take for instance the scene when Gene/Rudy, in his exaggerated Hollywood craze thinks he sees Greta Garbo dancing in the hotel garden, falling/jumping on "her" dancing partner, only to detect Garbo is a transvestite. Cheep joke? From today's view perhaps, but not at its time. There were lots of comedies like this one which generate hardly more than a moan today (even the Mel Brooks series). If you can ever get hand on a VHS tape of this movie, grab it and watch it. Simply watch it. Be romanced. Be funny. Forget the cruel world and your cineast attitude. Leave your brain at home. Just watch (and enjoy) that movie!


This is one of my favorite films. I went to see this film over ten times on it's initial run in the theaters. Wilder was wonderful. Kane superb. Dom DeLuise adorable. Too bad the film doesn't have the following that it deserves. I'd love to see it on DVD or for Home Video Sale. I met Carol Kane in line at a supermarket and I told her my love for this film and she was surprised. The film was not well received when it was originally released. I'm glad this film was made. Gene, I love this movie.


This movie is a perfect example of a film that divides people into 2 groups.. Those who get the joke and those who don't. People usually attack what they don't understand. This film has a comic style and charm that has been unparalleled since. It's a GREAT comedy.. and a GREAT romance. It's a perfect date movie. A perfect movie for someone who wants a good lighthearted laugh. And if your perspective is too tense, maybe this movie isn't for you, and you may need counseling. It is an injustice that Fox has kept this film, along with Wilder's 1975 classic "The Adventure Of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" on the shelf since the early 80's, having never seen the light of day on DVD. Yet they feel "Big Momma's House" was worthy of a special edition. I find it odd that my two all time favorite romantic comedies have never been released on DVD. The other being Carl Reiner's "The One And Only", which Paramount has sat on since the early 80's as well... Yet, "From Justin To Kelly" is in nearly every video store in the country. There is no Justice in the world. Maybe those who took the time to bash this will enjoy "From Justin To Kelly", I'm sure that one is watered enough for them to "get".


wha ha ha ha...kidding of course. I thought a joke like this was fairly obvious. The World's greatest lover is a complete Gene Wilder project and by this movie, he proves that he was one of the most talented comedians of his time. There often are moments of great genius to detect in this story about a fed up man who moves from Milwaukee to Hollywood to chase the American dream and become a world famous actor.

Of course, you have to be a fan of very much over the top humor to enjoy this film but if you are...you certainly won't be disappointed. It becomes a bit boring from time to time but there are enough twists to keep you entertained till the end. There isn't a great idea behind the story but - as usual - it tries to teach you an important life-lesson by using comedy. In this case : your true love may walk beside you since a long time without you realizing it. Take a little time to stand still about your feelings and be true to your heart. Voilà...isn't that something !!! Some great jokes ( especially the scenes with the hotel manager are hilarious ) and nice acting by Gene Wilder and Carol Kane. That's all you need for an 90 minutes of brainless but heart-warming entertainment! Enjoy...


ok maybe not really but it sure felt like it the first 60 or 70 times i saw it as a kid on cable i loved this movie cause it was so freakin funny i watched it over and over and over again laughing myself hysterical every time and then when i saw it like 15 years later i laughed so hard i broke a rib laughing ok maybe not really but it sure felt like it ya know what i'm sayin


This is Gene Wilder at his best! It is one of my all time favorite films. If you ever wanted to be a movie star this film is for you. It shows the struggles of a new actor trying to break into film; at least as it was in the early days of Hollywood. As always Gene keeps you laughing until your sides hurt but what really makes this film different from his others are the love scenes. Their tenderness and passion will touch your heart and bring you to tears no matter how many times you watch the film. Although the only well known supporting actor in the film is Dom De Louise the rest of the cast are wonderful in their role portrayals. If you like Gene Wilder and you spend the hour and a half watching this film I know it will be one of your favorites as well. Let's all make a plea to the studio to put this one out on DVD. As for me it is a MUST HAVE in my collection.


Fox execs and shareholders in 1977 must have thrown their collective hands in the air when presented with this infantile vanity project from a clearly unrestrained Gene Wilder: he wrote directed and starred in this excruciating and labored so called comedy and it is a blueprint for NOT allowing temporarily popular 'comedians' free reign to be auteurs. Just because he was funny in the clever Brooks/Kahn comedies does not automatically make him funny on his own...and this proves it beyond doubt. The Fox Studios art direction and set design of the 20s is lovingly crafted and expensively produced..... ...and then Wilder runs around like a neurotic infant, screaming and spluttering stomping all over the cast and extras like a male Lina Lamont at a jazz baby Bar Mitzvah.

After Fox's expensive disasters AT LONG LAST LOVE and LUCKY LADY of the previous two years the studio management must have been chewing the palm trees on the lot down to the roots after previewing this. Thank God STAR WARS was on the horizon to bail Fox out of that money pit. In Australia Fox was SO embarrassed by this fiasco it was not released and sat on the shelf waiting for some sympathetic cinema owner to volunteer showing it...and here the other Wilder/Mel Brooks were huge successes. If ever a film needed Madeline Kahn and Mel brooks it is this. Instead we get more of the Huntz Hall level mugging from Dom Deluise that sent the planet mad in other painful misfires like SEXTETTE or THE END. This film should in Jewish comedy parlance be called THE WORLD'S GREATEST LIVER and chopped up accordingly. It is the same sort of ghastly and expensive mindset that also gave us HARRY AND WALTER GO TO NEW YORK. Kids today, or even 30 year olds would just spit at the TV if you showed this to them, so rightly disgusted at the lame babyish drivel Wilder seems to think is his genius. I love fun / bad films and this is NOT one.


Soldier Soldier was truly an excellent drama series for its time. It is a pretty accurate portrayal of Army life. I can say this from certain as I have 13 years of personal experience. At the time Soldier Soldier began showing on ITV and the BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service), my Dad was in the British Army and we were living on camp with him in Germany.

The series really hit home for us as our family was precisely like the families you see in the series. Wifes and Children following the Soldier from posting to posting, sometimes separated for long periods due to exercises or overseas action.

The community spirit and the bonding together to help that the series depicts between the soldiers wife's and offspring is true to life.

The depiction of British life in Germany was spot on. Again, from direct personal experience, I can tell you there was and still is a microcosm of British culture in Germany around Military installations and their surrounding towns. Its different to Mainland UK life, yet recognisable. A new Army wife was able to quickly fit in and I guess its still the same today. Soldier Soldier brought this culture to the TV screen.

Dad would often tell me that every regiment and squadron had characters like Tucker and Garvy. General jokers and mischief makers. There was also always an officer that was a hard ass and thought he knew it all. Then you had the compassionate and the down to earth types. And of course, the people you'd rightly give your right arm for to help them. Soldier Soldier successfully depicted the whole spectrum of these kinds of characters, the bonding that occurs between Soldiers and the way that Squaddie mates will do just about anything to help one of their own. Likewise the families attached to them.

As with any program, there were a few moments where there were differences between reality and what was on the show, but one has to allow for some artistic and dramatic licence, or else you might as well call it a documentary.

I miss Soldier Soldier, above all, I miss the life it depicts, for despite the downs, the ups were far more numerous and the life was good.


I Love this show (although I was a baby when the second series was aired) All the characters are so cool especially Tucker, Garvey, Nancy and Donna. The show so deserved the awards it got it is amazing how the stories in the lives of loads of individuals in army life can be portrayed in such amazing detail. I also like Ultimate Force which is also about army life, but Soldier Soldier tells the stories of the lives of the wives and girlfriends as well as the stories of the actual soldiers. This was an amazing TV Show, is is a shame that i couldn't watch it when it was first televised. (Does anyone know if it is TV on a Sky/ cable channel?)


Jumanji gone terribly wrong! Ohnoes!

Go into this movie expecting a low budget, but hopefully creative film. Dialog's pretty funny and original. The acting is primarily very bad, but that's okay.

The male actors are in fact so horrible that they cannot even stay in character or hold on to a believable emotion structure for even a few seconds. The girls seem more believable overall.

The characters are fun, the dialog is funny, sometimes so bad its fun.

I really liked the sundial concept that was pretty cool, more like a moon dial, or egg timer for the dark wiccans of doom! AHH!!!

"I thought he was taking me to a spa..." That chick's death was pretty sweet.

The movie was very low budget, we knew that, but at least it keeps you wondering what it's all about, which is more then I can say for a lot of other horror movies, which made this movie at least enjoyable.

Sadly I think the people who rated this so low did so unforgiving of low budget movies. yes some of the plot and character cohesion was really bad. But conceptually, effect wise, music wise, honesty wise, it was pretty fun and kept me wanting to know what the hell was going to happen.


I have seen 1000's of films from bad to great, and this one barely ranks as watchable.

The story has already been given by a poster, so no need for that. The wife and I sat down to watch this one with hopes. After 15 minutes we knew it was bad. We would have turned it off then, but we had hopes it would get better.

After 40 minutes into I was wanting to pull my hair out. We knew at this time we just had to get through it. After this awful thing finally played out, I actually took the DVD out and smashed it with a hammer. The only movie I have ever done that to.

I feel for anyone who sits through this entire thing!


Ghost Game tells the tale of two couples & close friends, Abbey (Shelby Fenner) & Nate (Peter Cilella) plus Dara (Alexandra Barreto) & Randy (Curt Cornelius) who decide to get together for a camping weekend. They drive deep into the isolated forest wilderness where the Buckhorn River Resort is located miles from civilisation, the resort manager Simon (Eric Woods) points them in the general direction of their cabin & they're off. Sebastian (Aaron Patrick Freeman) along with his girlfriend Talia (Danielle Hartnett) & an idiot named Cousin Ted (Robert Berson) also turn up later on to join the party. Unfortunately being stuck in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere without so much a as Playstation can understandably become boring (a bit like watching this film in fact) so they decide to do things the old fashioned way & play a board game. They come across a metal box with what looks like a game of some sort inside & despite the worrying 'Do Not Play This Game' note inside they give it a whirl anyway. However they are unaware that they have unleashed three ghosts, the ghosts of a coven of teenage witches named Jessi (Sarah Shoup), Rachel (Caroline D'Amore) & Lucy (Sahra Silanee) who died 30 odd years ago in a supernatural ceremony that went wrong. As the friends start to die the survivors realise that they must play the game to a complete finish if they want to escape with they're lives...

Co-produced & directed by Joe Knee I thought Ghost game was average at best & just another crap low budget shot on video travesty that clutter video shop shelves at worst. The script by Benjamin Oren is slow, fairly predictable, populates the film with highly irritating character's especially Talia & has no conviction. As the friends drive out to an isolated log cabin I was thinking The Evil Dead (1981) crossed with a bit of Cabin Fever (2002) & when I saw the woods I was also thinking that the filmmakers had recently seen The Blair Witch Project (1999) along with Friday the 13th (1980) & it's fairly easy to tell that these (& more besides) had an influence on Ghost Game, but then it goes into a slightly different direction with all the supernatural stuff & the game. Unfortunately it makes no real difference as the annoying character's remain, the whole story when you think about it doesn't make any sense, the horror aspects are disappointingly tame & as a whole the film sucks, it's as simple & straight forward as that. For some bizarre reason the IMDb jointly lists Ghost Game as a comedy/horror, well I can tell you now that there is no intentional comedy in this film at all & it takes itself 100% seriously.

Director Knee obviously didn't have a big budget to work with & it shows, Ghost Game has straight-to-video written all over it from the cheap shot on video picture quality, the fact there's only about ten people in the entire thing & only one location used throughout. There is zero atmosphere, tension, scares or significant gore apart from a bit when someone falls on a branch & is impaled on it through their throat.

With a supposed budget of about $200,000 I can cut it a little bit of slack but as a whole it's still bland, forgettable & dull. I ain't surprised this went straight-to-video that's for sure. The acting was OK but as I've said I found the teenage character's highly irritating & I was sitting there hoping they would just all get killed & Ghost Game would finish thereby putting me out of my misery. Having said that the three goth girls who played the witches were pretty hot.

Ghost Game did nothing for me, it's slightly more original than a lot of low budget rubbish, it's competent & it's not as bad as some of these straight-to-video crap I've sat through but that in itself is no recommendation. Watchable if your desperate.


I think if this movie had a bigger budget, it would have been really great. The concept is good, the acting and shooting is typical "B" rated movie, its better than most low budget movies, and would be an amazing blockbuster with the right people. Worth the rent, if you have one of those pay by the month things, instead of individual movie prices. FYI - My "8 of 10" is with the knowledge that it is a rating for a B movie. I think the good witch looks amazingly like Ali Larter, but I can't confirm that, and they take death in real stride. The acting was totally unrealistic. Its very Blair witch, and there is a time loop kind of thing happening. You wonder who "athena" is, and why she is important. It needed more story. It did not actually show any people really doing anything, which was very Alfred Hitchcockian of the director.


Ben Oren is a literary Genius when it comes to this movie. I am surprised he is not famous yet. and i am serious. though ghost games is not the scariest movie it is one of the smartest indie movies i have seen and has a smart sense of humor. Though many people may not get the movie i believe the plot is funny and there are so many key quotes from the movie that i share with my friends. all in all i would love to see a Ben Oren movie on the big screen. I believe that he will succeed and though many people did not love this movie on the budget it was made i think it is wonderful. I can not wait to see what else this up and coming writer has to offer. If huge studios are putting out movies like Grandma's Boy and She's the Man i believe this educated young writer will do big things.


This was one of the most absurd ideas for a movie I've ever had the displeasure of coming across! I know it is what it is; but the acting was probably the worst I've seen up to now. These people just couldn't spit out their lines and when they did it was hard to understand them because of all their indecipherable accents. I went in with low expectations and yet I was still disappointed because it doesn't even classify as typical mindless action-type fun such as "Bloodsport" and the like. And don't get me started on the raw cheesiness of the props such as those stupid tiki torches lighting up every part of the building/arena/outside that the bad guy owns, or the main character driving a construction machine to the fight because the car door is locked, or why the bad Asian dude does a Michael Jackson dance after he wins a fight (which I'm sorry for, but it definitely detracts from one's alleged toughness). That list is just the tip of the iceberg as well, there were seriously so many plot holes and the like that I'd go crazy if I thought about them any harder. Funding should not be handed out for fecal matter such as this.

Final Summation:

Movies: Awww, hellz no!

DVD Purchase: Wouldn't collect it if you paid me.

Rental: Not worth it in any aspect whatsoever!


A shoddily directed and poorly written knockoff of pretty much every other fighting tournament movie-- except, as bad as other movies of this genre are, at least they pull off the formula. The training sequence, a staple of the "fighting tournament" B-movie, is a perfect microcosm of how the movie is as a whole; shabby, questionable in logic and technique, sparse in action and intelligence, heavy on clichés, and despite the possible enjoyment one could get from how bad it is, simply uninteresting. Many unnecessary scenes, absolutely terrible dialogue, and wafer-thin characters played by uninterested actors who stumble through half-improvised dialogue make this "movie" a complete waste of time.


Poor sound quality really had me pulling my hair out, and the accents of the actors was trying my nerves, but I didn't turn it off. I cared about what happened to Derek Longstreet and I watched until the end.

I hope they fix all the technical problems for the obvious sequel and get some well spoken actors next time. The strong point of this film was the fights, nothing fancy, but good energy.


Bryan Genesse and Billy Drago are the best things about this movie, and I like the fights. Olivier Gruner was the weak link in the film, terrible actor and terrible action star, but his supporting cast makes up for his lack of talent. If you like fighting and those bizarre Hong Kong kung fu movie training sequences, The Circuit delivers!


The Circuit is another low budget action movie about another one of those underground fighting circuits. Olivier Gruner stars as Dirk Longstreet, an ex-circuit champ who is now a college professor. He finds he has to return to the circuit to search for his brother, who has fallen prey to the gambling clutches of the circuit leaders. Meanwhile, a young female reporter tries to get the scoop on Dirk's past. A promising beginning to a tired formula quickly deteriorates midway through the movie. Almost every secondary storyline is poorly developed and ultimately unneeded. Gruner is a great fighter with quiet charisma, and he possesses better acting ability than most lead actors of this genre. He has a couple of good fight scenes early on in the movie in a bar and especially in the park scene. However, the training sequences with Billy Drago offer little of anything new, and Drago himself is wasted in an untraditional good guy role. The real culprits in the movie are the slow pacing, especially the middle third, and the terrible fight scenes in the "circuit." Jalal Merhi, the director, is an actual fighter himself, so we expect better fight sequences from him. Despite some good flying kicks from some fighters, most of the fight effects turn out to be disproportionately mismatched sound edits. Several of Gruner's martial arts moves are really just common wrestling holds. Gruner seems to fall prey to the Van Damme syndrome of getting beaten to a pulp before rising to the occasion with brief flurries of energy. I've never been a big fan of this style of filming climactic fights. The climactic fight is really disappointing and unsatisfying too; we are left with an unfinished fight right when we expect a punishing finish. This is a fatal flaw by director Merhi. Give us what we want in a fight picture! There is a sequel: The Circuit 2. 1/2 star of 4.


And I am now suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. This movie was horrible. It was boring, unrealistic, and the acting was dreadful. The best part of the movie was the end credits because that signaled the end of my torture.

Watching Gruner play the nice guy with moves of death and a heart of gold is wearing out its welcome. If I hear him say," I don't want to fight" one more time I will scream in frustration. He has potential, but he is picking the wrong scripts.

There were so many things in this movie I could nitpick, I would be typing for days. The worst would be Gruner blatantly plugging his own line of athletic gear. Then there is the gratuitous nudity, the requisite nosy reporter, and the bad guy wearing black. Skip this or suffer like I did.


Herzog has been making brilliant films since the late '60s, and frankly it's a bit of a pain in the arse keeping up with such a prolific director.

However, if you are a fan of his features and staggering documentary work, "Lessons of/in Darkness" demands your immediate attention.

The film is essentially a birds-eye view (often quite literally) of the plague of oil-choked death, fire, chaos and destruction that resulted from the brief but grotesquely internecine technological blitzkrieg of the Gulf War. Herzog, of course, takes particular interest in the seeming madness of the crews of mercernary American firefighters that are putting out the oil well fires across the deserts.

Various points on the conflict and its aftermath inevitably bubble to the surface, but arise without overt proselytizing. The images do the majority of the talking.

And they are eye-popping. Startling, frightening visuals that stand out even in the Herzog canon -- great vistas of blackness and glowing terror that would make any sci-fi director soylent green with envy. They are accompanied by little else: brief interstitials, an almost nonexistent, terribly serious Herzog narrative and a ghostly and elegiac score.

The short interviews with individuals who suffered are heartbreaking, perhaps all the more so due to their brevity.

See this.


Herzog's grandiose manner, sense of the operatic, and true historical events come together awe-inspiringly in this apocalyptic vision of oil fires and destruction left in the wake of the Gulf War.

If ever a man was fitted to undertake the portrayal of destruction on such a grand scale, then Herzog is he. It would be interesting to know whether this documentary was a commission or Hertzog directed this film on a personal, artistic basis. Whatever the reason for its production, Lessons of Darkness (it's English title) is a stunning piece of work. The Kuwaiti landscape is presented in sweeping, wide angle shots making it look like the surface of an alien planet rather than the Middle East. Huge oil fires, the cratered burnt desert, dark oil spills, crumpled and abandoned machinery and war vehicles, appear in surreal and awesome parade which both take the viewer's breath away in their beauty and shock through the utter devastation.

A central section, in which quiet footsteps walk alongside a ghastly display of torture implements, provides a shocking contrast to the images that open the film. Here the impact is smaller, more intimate but as moving.

In the third and last part of the film, firefighters attempt to douse the oil blazes, their hoses and equipment rearing up and out in the smoke and sunshine, shining like monsters in the alien landscape.

The sonorous music of Wagner perfectly complements a vision which is an entirely characteristic, memorable addition to Herzog's oeuvre.


Lessons of darkness is one of the most captivating, hypnotic experiences I have ever witnessed. I felt like I was in a strange nightmare and in an alien world. The film is almost purely visual; it is breathtakingly shot. It feels more like science fiction than most sci-fi films ever made. Absolutely haunting.


Lessons of Darkness (1992) looks and acts like a companion piece to Fata Morgana (1971). As with the earlier film, Lessons either captures viewers or leaves them confused and bored within the first few minutes. Early in Lessons we see an aerial shot of an unusual city. It is obviously a contemporary urban area because we see highways, traffic, stoplights, and large buildings, but it is also obvious that it is not an American city. The narrator (Herzog) announces that this city is about to be destroyed by war and the thought of this strange but vibrant place being destroyed becomes completely repugnant. Thus, Herzog succeeds here with the approach he initially planned and then abandoned in Fata Morgana. Lessons of Darkness triumphs as a mock Science Fiction story of an apocalypse that threatens all of civilization. Luckily, it doesn't take a college education to realize that the footage is shot in Iraq in the aftermath of the First Gulf War. Luckily as well, Herzog's anti-war statement does not need to be explicit to be effective. Early in the film, interviews with two Iraqi women suggest the human price of this military event. In the rest of the film, humans appear to be on the periphery of the "action" but they keep coming back to the center of our consciousness. Those who persist in their viewing will eventually encounter a chilling repetitiveness in this film (the fires are still burning!) However, that repetitiveness can become cumulative and mesmerizing. This is not a film experience for everyone, but for those who have a taste for it the film will be unforgettable.


Herzog has worked a masterpiece here...

In a similar endeavor to Aguirre, Fata Morgana and Nosferatu, Herzog has captured the grotesque absurdity of contemporary man and made it beautiful. He has begun creating the images essential to man's survival - those necessary for man to escape the inarticulacy in face of our modern times. The images in this film are not about war nor the atrocities of war. They are rather offering man - who is void of adequate images - a set of images with which he may begin to understand. To understand the complexities and the fundamental basis of these complexities for which at present, his language is fundamentally insufficient.

Chapeau Werner!


This is less a documentary than it is a work of art. Herzog presents a visual symphony comparable to the grandeur of Dante.

The cinematography of this movie is a constant presence of beauty and terror, heart-throbbing and breathtaking, still always far from pathos. Inspiring and touching throughout its full length, Herzog demonstrates the power of pictures, the essence of film or photography as a medium separate from logical understanding.

There is no storyline to this motion picture since it defines itself as such, - not as a visual derogative of verbal expression but as a free form of expression displayed in sensuous, demanding and touching PICTURES!

This movie is a must for any photographer or person involved in visual arts, I have seldom encountered such a sincere and demanding work of cinematography.

In a frenzy of subjectivity this flick deserves a full 10 out of 10, I am ready to die now, thank you...


There is a sense with this documentary, that the middle east is part of another world altogether. It opens with a fly over of Kuwait pre-war, looking like a place far removed from this world, with its quasi-religious skyscrapers welcoming the camera as it comes over the port. Satellites are shown post-war, blown apart in a tangled mass resembling a fallen space station. Echoing a sci-fi, but with a ghostlike feeling only reality can achieve. The images are reinforced by some of the most moving music ever composed. Herzog struggles with a large lump in his throat, to clarify the situation with infrequent narration. The situation speaks for itself, no words are necessary, the images and the music combine to get as close to representing the unrepresentable as possible. I recommend Godfrey Reggio's Koyaanisqatsi (1983) to fellow admires of this film, and it's message.


Herzog is such a darling bringing all his weirdness and filmmaking skills into a special little masterpiece like this one. Small details like a little flame in the middle of gigantic cloud of black smoke or making a bulldozer beautiful is captured and it is wonderful.


This ranks as one of the few documentaries, along with Littlest Soldier, where his politics and German Guilt are most direct. Usually he limits himself to studies of character, individuals. This one is about the character of modern warfare and brings up memories of The Doors' When the Music's Over, and reference to Apocalypse Now. Herzog flies in a helicopter, through oil fires, playing Wagner, and reading from the Apocalypse. This is a filmaker's documentary of life imitating art imitating life. Even if you don't think real images of scenes usually reserved for horror movies are moving, the photography of the colors of the sun through the smoke and fire is stunning. And those who think it's politics are one sided should note the equally graphic details of the results of both sides' work. For those that don't remember, there was a little action in the Persian Gulf in 1991.