I read all of the premature reviews from the critics who just about all stated this was one of the best new shows of the season. I have never been a fan of The CW or WB/UPN for that matter and was extremely skeptical about tuning in. Man, glad I did. This show is so funny. I haven't laughed this hard watching TV in a long time. And I laugh a lot during The Office. Reaper is paced perfectly for the hour long format. I could never see this working as a sitcom. The interactions with the cast seems so real and natural. Sam and Socks chemistry is great as well as Sam and Satans. Everything clicks. Sure there might be some continuity issues but this show isn't made to be taken all that seriously. The plot all but says it shouldn't be taken seriously. This is a great show and is quickly climbing the ladder to become one of my all-time favorite shows. hopefully it can keep up it momentum. RECOMMEND THIS SHOW TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. Let's help in its ratings. It'd be a shame to see this show disappear.


"Reaper" is a brilliant show, not one episode has seemed flat (some have been better than others, but none have been bad at all) and it truly does have an ensemble cast. Sam (Bret Harrison) is terrific, "Sock" (Tyler Labine) has perfect comedic timing and steals most of the scenes he's in, Andi (Missy Peregrym) is a fantastic actress (and not to mention has a dazzlingly bright smile), the Devil (Ray Wise) is by far the best TV/film devil I've seen. Ben (Rick Gonzales) is not as good as the others, but still very funny.

The end of every episode is satisfying; I've found VERY few plot holes or flaws. The show is deep and complicated without being confusing, and every episode has several laugh-out-loud and edge-of-your-seat moments.

The concept of "Reaper" is very original, the script is flawless, the acting is phenomenal, the special effects are gorgeous, and it's the highlight of my Tuesday night.


It was a fluke that I seen a preview for this show, I was watching the only show I tune into the CW for and they showed a preview for it. I was happy I tuned in! First off, Tyler Labine (Sock} is the main reason I decided to check out the first episode and I was really happy with what I seen. It is such a great change to see a new show on television that has nothing to do with "reality" or superheroes {even though I like one or two of them} It is refreshing to watch a show where the idea hasn't been done to death, I think the originality is one of the major things I like about this show. There isn't much flaw to the show other than the network, The CW. I really hope this show becomes a hit because I would hate to see it canceled. This is a real diamond among a sea of coal.


If you haven't checked out this show yet, then I suggest you do.

It's a fun, light-hearted take on the whole Faustian bargain. Falling somewhere between Shaun Of The Dead and Idle Hands it's a truly like-able series. It consistently juxtaposes believable characters with fantastic scenarios. Ray Wise definitely comes out on top with his take on The Devil, anyone who remembers him from Twin Peaks will see glimpses of Leland Palmer in there, albeit a bit more over the top.

Definitely a few plot points being dropped that suggest a deeper storyline ahead for Sam and his cronies. Can't wait to see how it pans out.

MAKE MORE QUICKER!!!!


The CW has really stepped up on there line-up of shows this season and this is an example. Sure, a kid who plays bounty hunter to the escapees from Hell, it doesn't sound funny. Its sounds like a... well, something deep and dark. And that's what you would expect, but don't. The show takes you out of the land of religion and plops you in sunny suburbia, with a guy who just can't get things right, and then finds out he has to work for the devil. That would suck. That's the appeal of an average college dropout battling hell with his friends at his side. That's where the real fun comes in: Sam has great friends. He has his bud Bert "Sock" Wysocki who is loyal and just goes with his friend's new gig. There's Ben, who is more of the brains of the outfit. And, of course, there's the girl, in this case, Andi. She works at the same Home Depot-like store with the guys and is going part-time to college. Oh, and she has no clue that Sam is in love with her. That's all pretty typical of a twenty-something TV comedy. But the fact that they throw in the Devil and his needs takes it from "Friends" to "Buffy"  real life is hell. But it can be funny too. This fall, don't miss "Reaper" on the CW.


...in a good role - best since Bob Roberts. the series is on ep 6ish in old blighty. Good mix of slacker humour, with enough mystery about the original Deal with the devil. Plenty of possibility for soul searching and moral issues - perhaps a bit predictable in places, but what isn't these days?

Cast is good, but main attraction is Mr Wise in a suitably slippery take on old nick. Not quite Dogma but shaping up fine.

worth

a

watch


Ever since the frog jumped ship, it took some class with it. Finally the CW made a smart move and signed a Charmed/Buffy/Angel style show.

Just enough evil to have a serious side, yet just enough "Sock" for its lighter side. This show was unexpectedly recommended by my father-in-law and I was instantly hooked. No extra super special effects but enough to make believable. Casting could not have been better. The "Dead Like Me" feel helps too. I didn't think it was possible to make a show of this genre without copycat characters, plot lines or even locations. I can't say enough good without spoilers. Only thing is you really get the most from the show from watching in order from 1 to 18.

Can't WAIT for next season!!!


I don't know about you guys but Reaper is one of the best shows i've seen cuz it brings something totally new (for me at least. I mean were can you find a show that is funny and has demons). I have seen the season like 3 time already and I can still watch it. What I'm wondering is what took them so long I mean the show was aired like in 2007 and it takes the 2 years 2 make 13 episodes. I can't wait till season 2 arrives in March, damn, it will be one of the most outrages shows in '09. Ps: I wonder if Sam is gonna finally use his powers I mean it shoud have been even better if he were able 2 make fireballs right? So I made my self clear and because the review needs 2 be 10 lines long I need 2 make usless points.


There are many shows this season that have had a great premise only to drag and loose my interest after just a few episodes.

Reaper is one I am glade to say is the exception.

There is a dark humor to this show; like in Angel and Buffy tat makes each episode entertaining, it doesn't bore you the way Charmed did.

This show is great, the characters and stories have been great even if they are a little predictable. This show has been getting better with each show and it has a sub story that keep's you guessing, like why is his dad keeping him from seeing the contract and what is the Devil not telling him.

I look forward to this show every week and will miss it when it goes off for the holidays. I hope the writer's strike doesn't kill it.


Yes. I have been able to watch this. I won't tell you how, but I have. Its a deep subject really - collecting dammed souls (Which I thought I might be watching another version of Ghost Rider, or something.) However, this show was light and humorous.

It is a show that reminds me of one that used to be made here in England, way back in the 1960's - "Randle and Hopkirk Deceased". Anyone remember that show?????

This show has great humour between its characters, and the plot/s of the shows are unique and light in a dark way.

I like the way that they show is based within a Diy type store (The Workbench), giving it that "Down to Earth" feel about it...I love the way that the boss is always on to the 3 x slackers. Also making it realistic as well.

I also love the fact that all his friends want to help him (Sock and Ben), and do so.- when ever the boss (*The devil contacts - SAM)

He (SAM) has a love interest as well, who is incredible beautiful.(Andy). He likes her, she likes him, and yest not one of them have gone any further about it; and I also love the love/hate relationship between Sock and his old girlfriend - Josie. I would love these two feature in every episode, and maybe one day get back together. There are great in any episode they are in...

I love the actor who plays the DEVIL (Ray Wise). Good quips, good lines, nice tan...He is smooth, and Ray Wise plays his part well.

I still think the show mustn't get rid of the parents of these slackers. THey must be shown from time to time. To give the show reality as well. Remember, one of the quips is that they are all (*Or most of them - still at Home)

Maybe a future episode can be written whereby all 3 of them leave Home and get a flat between themselves (Sam, Ben and Sock) eventually.

And maybe a visit from the Other side (God) within this show would make it more interesting as well. Just to show that the devil doesn't and will not get it his own way all the time.

I really do think that we have another hit show in the making here. It got that feel Quantuam Leap feel about it. You know what I mean?

I hope the writers of Reaper read these comments.....


Reaper stars Bret Harrison (Grounded for Life) as Sam who works at a Best Buy wannabe store and is afraid he'll be stuck there his whole life. He then finds out the hard way that his parents sold his soul to the devil before was even born. Now the devil wants him to pay up and hunt down demons that escape hell.

The result is a show that goofy fun with the cast in top form. Bret Harrison who was the geeky but hilarious b/f in Grounded for Life handles the lead role perfectly. While Missy Peregrym is adorable and hot at the same time as Sam's crush Andi who works with him and is also a good friend. Ray Wise is simply a show stealer as the devil. Tyler Labine is also great fun as Sam's bestfriend, co-woker and sidekick Bert and he gets to show his comedy talents more than he did in abc's Invasion. Rick Gonzalez is also funny as Sam's other co-worker and friend who also helps him catch demons.

Don't miss out on this show just because it's on the CW. It's not sappy teen drams show that wants to be Dawson's Creek. It's clever and fun and is an original comedy horror series.


I have just watched both series of the program and have loved every episode. I think that the whole idea is brilliant and much better than some of the other shows around today. I am however really disappointed that there will not be another series, the show leaves us on a cliff hanger and i'm sure a lot of people, would like to see a solution. If this was to be sold to UK and European television companies I am sure that this would get a hell of a lot more views. Channels like Channel 4, BBC Three and E4 would be the perfect window for this show, ratings would be assured on them channels. I would love to see a new series and i'm sure many people would agree that they would also love to see a new series.


I wasn't expecting to like it, but this is a great show. It's funny and the plot is actually thought through and (sort of) consistent. It's not just serving the jokes. Especially the second season has a serious touch.

That aside, I gotta say it's all thanks to 'the Devil' that I kept watching. Ray Wise plays him brilliantly: he is sadistic, intimidating, funny and still has room left for rare moments of affection(?). Much of the cast looks boring compared to him: I never really liked any of the 'good' characters, but that makes it funnier when they're the victim of whatever the episode is about.

Altogether, 'Reaper' is definitely worth a watch. It's too bad it got canceled.


I've just recently watched most of Season 1 and I must admit that I am truly hooked :P I loved the idea of the Sam's soul being sold to the Devil by his Dad as the premise for the series ;) Sam is told the truth on his 21st birthday and he must work for the Devil as a bounty hunter to capture 'souls' who have escaped from Hell. As morbid as it may sound, the show is really funny as the rest of the cast adds some real flavour to the central character.

Sam's best friends 'Sock' and Ben are great sidekicks and as the series progresses so does the character development. The fact that they all work together at 'The Work Bench' (a home depot) makes things all the more interesting. Andi (Missy Peregrym) does a good job of shrugging off being typecast from her role in 'Stick It' and plays Sam's love interest very well.

Even characters like Sam's boss Ted, the Devil and all the other demons have great individual personalities (great work by the writers). I can hardly wait for every episode to find out what the Devil gives Sam as the 'vessel' to capture the escaped souls - some of the them have been classic! Overall, I loved the simple characters, the style of the show, the humour (some scenes left me ROFL i.e. like the dream that Sock had about Gladys the DMV Demon) and not too much CGI. I eagerly await the next episode!


Despite people comparing this show to Supernatural, it actually shares very few things in common with that series. Yes, the main character is named Sam, he *does* have some powers and there are demons/supernatural things going on - but that's where the similarities end. Reaper is much more tongue-in-cheek/takes itself far less seriously/embraces the absurdity of the situation, rather than focusing on the drama aspect. That isn't to say that there aren't serious moments in the show, but when we get them, it is SO unexpected that you suddenly realise things aren't all light-hearted and there is potential for some truly dark moments/themes to be explored. The show's morbid sense of humour is one of its best assets. The creepiness catches you completely off guard.

Whilst the show is rather formulaic, and rarely deviates from its pretty simplistic premise, it does make attempts to try new and different things on occasion. The first few episodes are probably the slowest of the series, but around episode 5 or 6, things start to pick up and you realise that there may be more to this show than it would first have you believe. While it may not take as many risks as it probably should, it does at least come up with some twists and turns along the way. There are some unforeseen/interesting developments in Season 2 especially.

One of the main reasons the show works is because of its hero, Sam Oliver. Bret Harrison fits the role well and demonstrates that he's capable of balancing the humorous aspects with the more serious side of things. He a bit of a "loser", yes, but a likable loser nonetheless. The most important thing is that you can sympathise with him and the impossible situation he's in. Sympathy for the Devil, however? Not so much. Guy's a jerk. But an entertaining jerk (which, really, is all that matters). Ray Wise is another piece of brilliant casting, as he's able to exude menace along with that twisted sense of humour one would expect from Lucifer. He can turn on a dime, from friend to foe.

One of the main things that peeked my interest about this show from the start was the fact that it starred Missy Peregrym (who had been underused on Heroes). I'd longed for a show that had not only a love interest for the hero who *stayed* on the series (and wasn't booted off simply because fangirls didn't like her), but also had a truly likable relationship happening between the hero and the love interest. The Sam/Andi relationship is surprisingly refreshing in that, whilst it starts off in familiar territory (ie. he must lie, make up lame excuses and keep secrets from her), it actually gets moving after a while. It doesn't drag things out NEARLY as long as other shows do and by the end of the first season, certain things are revealed that makes for a change of pace from the usual continuous lying/keeping secrets over multiple seasons.

You can see why Sam falls for a girl such as Andi (she's a cool chick, and nowhere near as bland as most female love interests tend to be). Although she does get understandably ticked off at times, she never does anything to make you HATE her. Missy is, in large part, the reason for this. You can't help but like her. It's a different case with Sam's bulky buddy, Sock, however. He's the sort of character you either love or loathe (he proved to be the latter for me, after having witnessed his animal cruelty in the 'Pilot'). He's your typical annoying sidekick - complete with crude jokes, bad advice and slacker behaviour. A large portion of screen time is often wasted on his (mostly) unfunny comments. Poor Ben (Sam's other friend) is less annoying, but almost always ends up getting hurt every episode (at least he cares for animals).

There are other supporting characters who vary in their likability. Sam's boss at The Work Bench, Ted, is the usual type of jerk you'd expect (but is, on occasion, somewhat funny). Josie, Sock's ex, is kind of a non-entity and you wonder how on Earth she could ever fall for someone like him. Then there's Gladys, the demon at the DMV who basically exists to deliver the escaped souls that Sam has captured (with an array of bizarre and comical "vessels") to Hell and say, "Place the vessel on the mat.". Much more successful are the characters of Tony and Steve (Sam's neighbours). Tony, especially, is well-portrayed by Ken Marino (from Veronica Mars). There's also the awesomely weird spawn of Satan, Cady (Jessica Stroup). She provides some nicely creepy moments (but unfortunately makes a premature exit and never returns). Her absence is more than made up for in Season 2, however, by the introduction of a demonic love interest for Ben, named Nina (played perfectly by Jenny Wade). She proves to be a great addition to the cast and provides plenty of wicked humour.

The show might not have the best CGI going around, but it gets by. You can't really criticise it for the somewhat dodgy effects, considering the type of show it is. What matters is that, with its cast of bizarre/funny characters, its ludicrous "vessel" props, and - at times - dark humour, the show avoids being overly convoluted (as so many other shows are getting these days), offering us something that's easy to get into. The second and final season shows what great potential the show had. It's a shame the series was cancelled. While the final episode does feel a tad rushed and things are left open-ended/unanswered, it's at the same time oddly satisfying as well. This series is definitely worth a look.


Yeah I said it! "Reaper" is just that. The trio has the same relationship and sense of comic timing that the Ghost trappin' quartet had in the films and animated series.

The difference is that the ghosts are demons. Well sort of. I guess I'm splitting hairs here with the analogy.

Aside from that, Reaper is just a damn good time. Bret Harrison must've inherited some of Topher Grace's comic timing on that 70's Show because he's great as Sam. He's a normal Joe who's makes the best of the worst kind of situation. Great leader. Tyler Labine's past performances as "burn-outs/dudes" sure prepared him to play the ultimate stoner geek freak. Rick Gonzalez is perfect as the straight-man with a conscious. Many kudos go to veteran Ray Wise as "The Devil" who chews the scenery up with a big, bleached smile. Last but not least is Christine Willes as Gladys the DMV/Hell (not much difference) customer service rep. Dead pan comedy at its finest.

The stories are basically the same as Brimstone: Find the escaped Hell souls and return them to hell.

The plot is simple but its not the baddies so much that make Reaper worthwhile: its the boys. They're fun to watch and you really root for them. They fight with what little wits they have and with the oddest of materials. The "vessels" are a hoot. Each soul gets their own vessel to be used on them and in different ways.

Funny, silly, action packed and genuinely entertaining. Great show.


First off let me say that I decided to give this show a chance based on the amount of positive reviews on this site. I gave it seven painful 40 minute viewings before I decided to call it quits on this show.

Utterly formulaic. Every episode proceeds in a manner identical to the last. Bret Harrison awakes to discover that he is affected in some strange way by his "demon-sense". He goes to work, and manages to run into the devil. The devil gives him, in the vaguest manner possible, his assignment. He receives a box. Somehow his demon-hunting manages to delay the inevitability of his love interest with Andi.

Nothing about the writing in this show makes any sense. A canvas of hollow, poorly constructed characters interact in a manner completely abstracted from the reality in which social interaction actually occurs. Nothing so much as the motivation or background of the characters is properly accounted for, reducing the characters to moving plot devices.

It was actively arduous to watch the writers delay the painfully obvious love connection between the male and female lead. Every episode is another exercise of giving the audience hope, and then somehow spoiling it. This is obviously done to create a plot arc between episodes in a series otherwise devoid of continuity and purpose.

The show earned three stars because it wasn't the actors' fault. I sincerely believe it was the fault of the writers.

Avoid this show like the plague, H1N1, herpes, and the clap. You might trick yourself into thinking it is mildly clever after one or two episodes, but you'll soon realize this show has less tricks up its sleeve than a magician in a nudist colony.


I like it. It's not the best, it could certainly use some work, especially with the special effects - It's not all that easy to make a low-budget action-comedy series these days, that's enjoyable or at least doesn't make you want to kill yourself. But the Devil is what will take the series to a successful and better second season. Don't get me wrong - the show is great. Main character, Sam Oliver, The Devil and Sock are portrayed brilliantly, and the other actors seem to match with their characters. Story starts of well, get's a bit slow for a couple of episodes, then it picks up again, gives us some unexpected twists, and just for the story(it got interesting) and the Devil(do I even need to explain why I like him?) I will watch the second season. And if the effects get better, Reaper might just hit my personal top 5 ranking...


Never mind the Jack Black act of Tyler Labine or the Ben Afflack slash Toby Maguire act of Bret Harrison, Rick Gonzalez as the straight man steals the show. This is hands down the funniest, most witty, sometimes scary and dramatic 15 hours of TV show you'll ever experience. You will fall in love with the characters; they are believable and they grow on you. The plot is like a demented soap opera. Satan is diabolically lovable. The villains are X-File worthy. The love relationships are charming. The acting is fine and the direction, ah, the direction--you'll wonder why this isn't being played on the big screen in theaters. It's all there, nary a flaw. I had a REALLY good time watching season one of Reaper. Can't wait to see more.


This is an awesome show. The idea of a soul being sold to the devil and then being forced to do the devils dirty deeds has been seen before but not like this.

3 things makes this show great.

1. Acting. This is a great bunch of actors, giving the show a feel of character. Bret Harrison is doing a great job of holding this show on his shoulders while Tyler Labine and Rick Gonzalez deliver an amazing comedic backup duo. Ray Wise is real convincing as the Devil always trying to convince Sam that what he is doing is a good thing whilst showing the audience that you should never forget that he is actually the Devil and the cruelest thing existing.

2. the Writers. I simply love the script in this show. They always find a way to make an everyday unpleasantness to something everyone can enjoy.

3. Special effects. The special effects in this show is actually only above average and yet you are never disappointed in what you see.

I can only recommend this great show. And i hope everyone who likes a little dry humor will give it a shot.


Shows we see on regular TV lack so much compared to their cable counter parts. Finally we have a show that leaves me dying to see the next episode. The entire cast does a phenomenal job. Out of all of them though, Tyler Labine is going to blow up in a big bad way. He amazingly hysterical. With how much he has done before this, it's a shame it didn't happen sooner. Excellent delivery and great acting show this man will be an excellent career to watch.

So far this show has had Kevin Smith back a few times to be a consultant which I think is genius. You can definitely feel his presence whenever he gets in there. This (despite the naysayers) adds a lot to the comedy. Hopefully this show receives the treatment it deserves and becomes a cult classic.


In the past few years i have rarely done reviews of films or TV on here for one simple reason, abuse, abuse from people who think you are wrong or are thinking you have been unfair on something they love/hate and i grew sick of it. BUT and it is a big BUT i decided for something this special i had to pull my head out of the sand, tonight i watched the season finale and i have to say i had my eye on the clock out of fear of when it would end.

This show has brought me nothing but happiness from the first episode to the last. Every character is written and cast to perfection, every shot is done brilliantly, ever episode is funny, clever and most of all enjoyable and will keep you baited until the next week.

In essence this is probably the greatest import from America i have seen in recent years. Now don't get me wrong, i love Friends/the Simpson's/family guy/Scrubs/South park/dirty sexy money/pushing daisies/west wing etcetc

but nothing quite compares to the originality or catch of this, certainly it is probably the best show i have seen in years in terms of enjoyment

the only negative thing i can dare say about it is the fact the first series is over

long live reaper!

for those that haven't seen it, it is truly a gem to behold, for those that have and arnt obsessed with it, shame on you!

i love this program so much. If you have a complaint with what i've said, go ahead and complain to me, i really don't care anymore, this show is too good to miss out on or miss the chance to explain how unbelievably good it is, so all you nay-sayers do your worst, this show is near perfection and i am more than happy to admit it. I rated it 10 out of 10 on here for a good reason and i stand by that decision completely.


I first wanted to see this show because I am such a Kevin Smith junkie. I hang on that mans every word. He knows how to write and direct films I enjoy. I am glad he directed the pilot, or else I might not have ever watched this show. I love the comic book style in the show, and the good old straight man, funny man formula that has been around for ever. Ray Wise makes a very believable devil by always trying to seem like he is doing good, but it gets you in the end. The characters all work well together and make you want them to get the bad guy in the end. All the elements work well together in "Reaper". The casting is great, the stories are great, and the entertainment value is really great. All around I would say that this is my favorite show on TV now with Smallville running second. This is one show that always has me asking what is next. With all the souls in Hell this show could go on for a while and we never know what will escape next.


The television show is somewhat enjoyable, but I have some issues about it. First, the show's main character is in a sad situation because he is working for the devil. Second, demons and fallen angels are never righteous because of their natures.

However, some of the plots are enjoyable because they remind me of the Ghostbusters movies and cartoon series because the characters used "vessels" to capture demons and send them back to hell. It is a similar pattern to the way that the Ghostbusters captured spooks through the use of ghost-traps.

Therefore, I hope that the second season of Reaper helps to show that the characters have an encounter with God and Jesus Christ.


i was just flicking through channels when i saw an ad for reaper....directed by Kevin smith....now this came as a surprise to me as I'm usually up to date with his works....a regular on the IMDb page as well as the message boards...so decided to give it a go....mostly anything Kevin smith does (despite saying that after jay and silent bob strike back he was quiting the industry...) is good in my book :) and i was pleased to see that this was no exception....the plot is great...and not (as another user posted) like Shaun of the dead...similarities in certain things perhaps...but clearly not based on Shaun of the dead... i would however recommend this series to any fan of Kevin smith or even any fan of comedy...its a warm light hearted comedy about a kid whose just really not had the best start to being 21...:)


So I watching TV. on the net and I came across this show called "Reaper". I immediately became intrigued because it seemed like the title of show that could possibly be somewhat interesting. However, from what I've seen this show is nothing but a rip off on Dead Like Me which was made five years earlier. It has the same idea of a young person being torn from "normal" life and being forced to deal with the question and curiosities of death. The only difference between the two shows is that this reaper works for the devil, and this show is not funny and the actors leave much to be desired. If you like this type of stuff (tastefully morbid and ironic things), then I highly recommend you check Dead Like Me Out. It is only amazing.


I, like this movie, have very little to say about it. It has been done before. In various locations, with a variety of protagonist and with very similar ending. The writing on this one was not very memorable with the one exception of the alcoholic guide played by Eion Bailey. The cinematography was outstanding, great images of one of the United States great remaining natural wonders.

That being said, I do wish that the filmmakers had given a little more time to the script and less to the backdrop. While I was watching this movie the one thought that did come across over and over was that of Darwin theory of survival of the fittest.

I don't think this movie deserves it's low rating. I enjoyed watching it even if I found it somewhat predictable it did have an interesting ending.


The only reason I was interested in watching The Canyon was the presence of actress Yvonne Strahovski, who is brilliant as Agent Walker in Chuck, one of my favorite TV programmes.However, The Canyon ended up being an entertaining thriller with decent performances and a generally good rhythm, although it is not very memorable.

The screenplay from The Canyon does not offer too many surprises, but it produces an adequate level of suspense and tension thanks to its good structure.One of the fails I found on this movie is that I think a few scenes could have easily been deleted from the movie, not because they are boring, but because they add nothing to the story and they break the rhythm a little bit.And then, the characters make some stupid decisions and they occasionally do not behave naturally.

However, in spite of its fails, The Canyon deserves a recommendation as a competent thriller, which may not be highly memorable, but at least is entertaining.


Good thriller about a couple who hire a guide to take them into the into the desert canyons only to have to all go wrong.

The less said the better, not because its bad, rather because its the sort of film that is best left to its own devices. Its also the sort of film that you've seen variations on before. Normally that would make for a dull little film but the combination of characters and location (the photography is great) make for a really good little film.I liked it. Is it perfect? No. Its probably too long, but other than that its a good little film to pas the time. This is also a film thats going to be better on DVD rather than in the theaters where one is a bit more forgiving of the flaws.


The general plot line of stranded individuals in any particular setting is nothing new to Hollywood, as we have seen many marooned protagonists go up against mother nature, blood thirsty villains, and both fictitious and very real beasts alike. However, of all the places we have seen films set in, the grand canyon is mostly new. With a fresh setting we should have endless possibilities and plenty of room for an exciting and unconventional script. Unfortunately, 'The Canyon' cannot capitalize on it's sources. The final product that director Richard Harrah presents us with is nothing short of boring film-making, extremely grating 'come on' moments, erroneous use of wolves, and a very empty script. The actors are very talented and do what they can with the material, but not even talented actors can save a script that is as empty, dry, and desolate as the grand canyon itself. There are a few shining moments, but not enough to carry this movie into the entertaining zone. There is a nice gore scene (that will surely make anyone who watches it wince), the scenery is put to very beautifully shot aesthetic use, and of course nicely acted moments that accurately evoke the hopelessness of the situation and sometimes are even ironically witty. Notice that I have yet to mention the word 'thrilling' or 'thriller', which is extremely sad because this movies is obviously supposed to be just that - a thriller. 'The Canyon' simply can't cut it as a thriller and is obviously too straight forward to be anything else. Avoid this one just as you would avoid going into the grand canyon with a guide who could possibly double as the homeless guy who shines shoes outside of your office.


Well I am positively surprised how good this movie actually was. Not sure why sometimes it's branded 'horror'because it's more like dramatic thriller. I liked the story and I liked the characters who were rich and believable. For the first time 'a chick' didn't annoy me:)and there was more to her than meets the eye. The story begins when a couple of newlyweds decides to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. Their guide is a rough, heavy drinking guy, who promises them an unforgettable experience. The trip however does not go as planned. I think this film is a solid piece. Don't expect more than 140min of adventure/survival flick and you won't be disappointed. It kept me focused and interested. Well worth seeing.


In the vein of Survive (or Alive, if you saw it in the 70s like I did), The Canyon traps human beings in unforgiving terrain only to push the limits of survival. There are a couple of really shocking scenes here, one involving a rattle snake and another very disturbing one involving an amputation, but if the kids close their eyes for a few minutes there isn't anything else that would make this anything but a PG film. Some of it isn't very plausible, in fact the entire idea of the heroine suddenly becoming Grizzly Adams and fighting off wolves with her bare hands, creating a stretcher out of thin air, cauterizing a wound with a red hot knife, and keeping her beauty and sense of humor through it all, is actually pretty ridiculous if you think about it, but it doesn't matter that much: this is a disaster movie of sorts, so don't think about it. It'll keep you going, keep you interested and engaged, and from time to time it will make you cringe. But, be warned, the ending is the anti-climax of all anti-climaxes.


One of the most stupid films I have ever seen. I tried to find an excuse for the director of the film, but there is no one except if he had maybe been abused as a child and for that reason wanted to imply a lot of violence with no film trace at all. If you can watch this film until the end, then you will never consider any film boring. It is a wasted time and money, wasted talent of actors and camera which is beautiful as the Grand Canyon. However, everything else is so stupid as most insulting offense. There is no plot in the film, just two people lost in the wildness - and that is exactly about all. I cannot remember the film I could not watch until the end, but this is the one. Pls, do not forget if you get into watching this movie you will be able to leave the projection, go to business lunch, come back after an hour and you will not need anyone to tell you what happened meanwhile.


okay what made me mad was her utter lack of common sense. Have wolves harassing you? build a huge circle of fire wood surrounding your camp, keep the fire burning that way you will not only deter the diabolical doggies but also provide smoke for rescuers to see. Thirsty? if they can eat the dogs then why not go ahead and drink the blood. Then towards the end I guess she is just tired of dragging him and dogs looking at her so what does she do to her beloved new husband, who when they are rescued could lead a normal life with what there able to do with prosthetics these days...smothers him for no apparent reason just as a helicopter is in the distance. Also the stupidity of climbing a precarious cliff and leaning way out holding a shaky rock on the most narrow ledge of the climb not even halfway up to wave your cell phone around is begging for disaster. I thought this may be a decent survivalst movie, but your much better off watching man vs. wild episodes.


This was a pretty sad piece of work. All it is is another vehicle for Bb Drek to show off her tremendous body (and face). The acting is terrible in here and the story is muddled. Frankly, it's not much more than a soft-porn flick.

What's disappointing is an actor of Robert Mitchum's status to stoop to this level. Yeah, and he acted poorly, too. If I didn't know it was him, I would have thought it was some amateur thespian. He, and the guy who played the police chief, sounded like they were just reading their lines. Jeff Fahey is the only actor who sounds like he knows (or cares) what he's doing.

Derek is nice to ogle in her steamy scenes but this is a horrible movie.


If you like Bo Derek and you haven't seen this movie, you should. The sex scene on the motorbike is as good as any you will ever see. Bo Derek looks perfect "10" in this movie. Not a good movie considering story or acting. Worth checking out.


If seen now by young people who weren't old enough to have lived during the Viet-Nam War, this film will seem "small" and out-dated. But, when this film was released in 1969 at the peak of the war, this was not only a very funny film, but a sad reality of the society of the times.

Sad in the fact that some draft-age males would make believe they were gay to avoid going to Viet-Nam.

Made slightly before the Gay Liberation movement, this film gives a surprisingly sensitive view of the gay lifestyle and gay community of this era. Micheal Greer gives an academy award winning performance (he wasn't even nominated)as the gay landlord, Malcom DeJohn; in one of the screens funniest, yet sensitive performances. DeJohn is best remembered as "Queenie" in the brutal prison film, Fortune in Men's Eyes.

The stars of the show, Kevin Coughlin as Danny and Lawrence Casey as Elliot give fresh, intense, and emotional edged performances as men living with the fear of the war lurking over their shoulders.

Also wonderful supporting roles by Sebastian Brook and veteran character actor Jack Starrett.

The Gay Deceivers captures a time in American history that has been forgotten. Yet, today's headlines have made this film worthwhile today. The Gay Deceivers is not deceiving at all, I rate it a 10 out of 10.


Much underrated comedy masterpiece, profoundly relevant, compassionate and witty. One of the greatest American comedies, a true work of pop art. Unique and unmatched. All performances are great, particularly Michael Greer and the late Kevin Coughlin (1945-76). Director Bruce Kessler's deserves a lot of credit. Cinematography is very fine, as is the music. This great film is STILL ahead of its time, misunderstood by both straights and some gays. The Gay Deceivers should be required viewing at colleges. No other film raises so many important social issues and does it with such grace, simplicity and charm. Although the film was very successful at the time, it has been totally forgotten, and can be found at a handful of video stores ("Video West") in West and North Hollywood. It is particularly puzzling, that Kevin Coughlin's movie career should have ended after this, his most successful film. His obituary states that he worked in European cinema in the seventies, but I have been unable to unearth any information about it.


So two guys try to convince the army that they are gay to avoid being sent off to war. Of course, they decide they have to move in together, next door to the queeny landlord. Michael Greer should have received SOME award for this work. Lawrence Casey and Christopher Riordan were pretty much just hired to spend the movie with their shirts off. Kevin Coughlin and his big blue eyes do a great job in a very believe-able role. Watch out - that drag queen at the party is the butchest one in the flick. On the DVD from Dark Sky Films, there is a funny bonus interview with director Bruce Kessler. The big difference between this film and ones like "Chuck & Larry" or "Partners" is that this one treats the actual gays living in their natural habitat with a lot of respect, albeit with some stereotypes (the pink, the nudes, the ascots). I understand... at that time, that's how you knew who was gay and who was not. Fun for the most part. They spend so much time worrying about getting caught by their family, friends, or the army, that its a little more serious than it needs to be. Also some frontal female nudity and butt shots. Hats off to the actors for having the guts to make it.


A premise that could have worked for comedy or drama is defeated by amateur acting, writing and directing and the result feels like soft core porn that's been edited for an R rating. Michael Greer, a specialist in swish, has charisma, but the rest of the cast is downright unappealing. The film has no atmosphere, poor pacing, drab set design and dreary cinematography, and it's offensive in its stupidity and gay clichés. It's interesting to note that lead Kevin Coughlin played an unapologetically gay character in 1968's Wild in the Streets. Coughlin was killed in a hit-n-run accident in 1975. A child actor, he appeared on The Patty Duke Show, and played Duke's brother in the 1959 feature Happy Anniversary.


I just thought of this film after about forty years and remembered it as a real funny feature picture. So, naturally, I went on IMDb and looked it up.

I was surprised that the first(rotating?)review was bad and remembered how original and funny a story and movie it was.

So, I clicked on "More reviews" and was glad to see that I was right. Maybe the one reviewer was not about to get drafted at the time as I was, and I faced going straight (no pun intended) to Nam.

I saw it with friends most of whom I suppose were straight. Some were filmmakers and we just 'broke a gut' laughing. And the thing is, the entire audience was laughing just as hard in a major Hollywood theater, as they would have in a small art house.

The only (SPOILER)in this review is really not much of a spoiler; it's just describing a neat scene. I just did not want to spoil it for someone lucky enough to see the movie if it is ever brought back. The scene is that funny. So just in case this movie is not re-released for TV or rental, and if tomorrow, Televangilist Pat Robertson is made America's censor, here goes ...

It is the visual that is hilarious. Of course the straight boys have to invite their parents to see their one-bedroom apartment. In the boys deception they have had to leave it furnished just as it had been before their taking possession from the very gay prior tenants.

They were unable to change anything because they were being investigated by the draft board, who did not believe that they were gay, which of course they were not.

When the parents and younger brothers and sisters (I think) walked into the one bedroom, THAT THE BOYS WERE SHARING; I and everyone in the theater were laughing so hard, one could not hear the dialog; that is, if the actors were even talking.

Picture a bedroom decorated like a '30s or '40s musical, or as my late parents used to love .. operetta movies featuring women's themes, with titles like, "Up in Central Park" and "Naughty Marietta" with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. Oh, how I hated those films as a kid.

A bedroom decorated so strongly that it shouted-out, "Ths is a women's room."

But what got the most screams of laughter was THE BOY'S BIG RED VELVET BED THAT THEY SHARED ... SHAPED LIKE A HUGE HART!!! I remember that today, forty years later!

Great, funny film; I wish they would bring it back.


Just dreadful "comedy" about two young men who pretend to be gay to avoid being drafted.

The comedy is horrible--very childish and stupid. The view of gays is simply unbearable--all limp-wristed, mincing, lisping men. Basically this film reinforces every single gay stereotype known to man. As a gay man I got so offended I had to stop watching half way through. It doesn't help that the print I saw had color that was so faded it looked like the film was in b&w.

I suppose, in a way, this is useful in a historical context (i.e. to show how negatively gays were thought of in the late 60s). But its entertainment value is nil and it's so incredibly offensive it makes "Boys in the Band" look like an uplifting, liberating gay movie.

For gay film completists only but be warned again...the view of gays here is deplorable.


Being a diehard Les Miserables fan, I first learned the musical and then read the book. The musical, though wonderful, was nothing in comparison to the book; there was just so much material in the book that it couldn't all be put in the musical. In this movie adaptation, however, much effort is made in accuracy to not only the plot of Victor Hugo's novel, but the atmosphere and characters. Scenes are filmed as near to where they actually took place in the book as possible, and characters reflect the Hugo's original intentions. The plot is concise enough to be understandable, but full enough to give the viewer a true sense of Hugo's message. Overall, it is a wonderful adaptation and an excellent film.


In the middle 1950s two film versions of Hugo's best remembered novels appeared and disappeared very quickly in movie houses. This French version of "Les Miserables" was one. The other was a French/Italian version of "Notre-Dame De Paris/The Hunchback of Notre-Dame". That one starred Anthony Quinn as Quasimodo and Gina Lollabrigida as Esmarelda. Both films were actually quite good, and were the best straight versions of the novels to try to get most of the stories onto the screen. However, both were too long for most audiences, especially this version of Les Miserables. This ran over three hours. As pointed out in the other review that I wrote about the 1935 version of Les Miserables, that film version is the best normal screen length film version. But the performance of Jean Gabin as Jean Valjean in this film is superior to the performance of Fredric March in the same role. I would also note that the performance of Bourvil as Thenardier is the best I've seen (even better than Ian Holm's in the 1978 version). Thenardier is an even slimier villain than Javert is, but Javert's single minded pursuit of Valjean in the novel makes the antics of Thenardier look secondary, and they are usually dismissed in the filmed versions (though not in the musical version). Check out the scene where Thenardier and his goons kidnap Valjean for ransom, and the latter demonstrates how tough he is effectively thwarting the plan. It does not appear in the 1935 version.


I have seen numerous film adaptations of Les Miserables. This 1957 French version (directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois) is the best one I have ever seen. I watched the version that was produced by The Bridgestone Group in 1992 with English audio (ISBN# 1-56371-044-7). It aligns closely with the plot of the novel, and the cinematography is outstanding.


This version of the famous novel of Victor Hugo I found very suitable in general, with good acting and a narration, which give a real idea of the book. As I said several times several films never coincide with their original written versions, but this time the director Jean-Paul Le Chanois made a good effort in having a material as much similar to the book. Jean Gabin, for me the best all-time French actor, plays a good role as Jean Valjean seconded efficiently by Bernard Blier as Javert and several other French and Italian actors/actresses. I am sure that not all should agree with the opinion given here by me, but it depends how you feel about Hugo wrote. Misery is shown not only materially but spiritually as a sign of decaying society.


I'm surprised at seeing how highly regarded this version of Victor Hugo's classic novel is. True, it's very faithful to the book (even if unavoidably leaving some things out), but that's about its only virtue.

Victor Hugo didn't call his story "Les Misérables" for no reason. He wanted to point out and denounce misery and its causes and consequences. But nothing of that is in this film version. It seems a lot like a 1950s Hollywood romance movie, a MGM musical, or in the best of cases, something along the lines of The Trapp Family. Everybody looks too healthy, clean and well-fed, and more middle class than poor, and the darkest aspects of the plot have been eliminated (with the result of one of my favorite parts of the story, the fall of Fantine into the lowest levels of humiliation in order to get money for her daughter, being totally absent from the film). I expected the characters to start singing and dancing in any moment!

As for the cast, the only one I really liked was Silvia Monfort as Eponine, who gives the character a very welcome mundane feel. Jean Gabin lacks energy as Valjean, with results of making his more active scenes (specially the one when he liberates himself from the chains to save the life of a fellow prisoner, and the one where he frees himself again, this time from Thénardier and his other captors) seem false and almost laughable. Bernard Blier, with his inexpressive face, is a weak Javert, and the fact that this character is criminally underdeveloped doesn't help either. The rest of the cast is adequate enough, with the exception of Fantine, who is just plain awful, and seems right out of Mervyn LeRoy's "Little Women". Fantine's role has been reduced to just a cameo, and I have not decided if this is a good or bad thing, because the interpretation of the character couldn't be more wrong. There is also too much use of an unnecessary voiceover narration that hurts more than enhances the story.

Overall, it all lacks Hugo's main point, and, despite the almost textual faithfulness to the book, I'd have preferred that it had changed more of the plot but had staid truer to the central theme, than this, the other way around.

I can't rate this film higher than 4/10. For a masterful adaptation that truly does the book justice, check the brilliant Robert Hossein version starring Lino Ventura as Valjean.


When I saw this movie, I thought it was surreal. Then I moved to New York and realized that it was just being honest. The movie takes place against the colorful (sometimes to a ridiculous extent) new york artist scene. I never read the book, so I don't really know (or care) if the movie was true to it or not, but I thought that all the characters were well developed and gave some hilarious performances. The plot flowed seamlessly and by the end you know that, despite the fact that little of what you saw made much sense, there is some strange order to the world and that it's all good. I find myself recommending this movie to all my friends as I would recommend it to anyone interested in New York, art, or the simultaneous crappiness and lovableness of humanity.


I LOVE "Slaves of New York"! It´s a charming movie despite it being set in a contemporary big scruffy city. The reason is the main character, Eleanor, played by Bernadette Peters is so sweet! She feels she´s just a "normal" girl who wouldn´t mind having a kid, while living among all sorts of arty big city characters. I wish I had a friend like her. The film has a calm pace, not as frenetic as one would think about a movie about art types in New York. It´s a very underrated movie. It´s funny too in a low key way. It grows on you.


Following all the Merchant-Ivory productions in the past, where it took place mainly in Victorian England, those were all ensemble movies, with Helena Bonham Carter at the center of it all. Bernadette Peters could be considered a contemporary version of Bonham Carter's characters. Being that these hapless characters are caught in the middle leading their daily lives with eccentric characters around them. I enjoyed over the years watching this film for several reasons, first one the artwork that is featured in it, next is the music, another this could have been a good lead in for a television series(not the big reason, but part of it. The characters play well off each other, and also gives that feeling of six degrees of separation. I've read the book and it would be hard to film it since it was a collection of short stories, however Merchant-Ivory pulled it off.


Slaves of New York, is a lovable, bittersweet portrait that gets better with age. It captures the essence of the late 80s art world inhabited by those on the artist food chain: future superstars, struggling unknowns, narcissists, star-f*ckers, martyrs, creeps, losers and hangers-on. Eleanor's battle with finding her place in the world while in the shadow of her ego maniacal boyfriend is a story as old as time. Slaves is a thinly-veiled art-world "A Star is Born" and there are many characters to love and hate. The main focus on Stash and Eleanor is both

frustrating and believable. Stash being immensely insecure, Eleanor being quietly talented, the actors portray their roles with such intensity, it must be noted that the casting is perfection. Everyone from myopic art dealers, lazy femme fatals, bloated benefactors and competitive artists are here waiting for their chance for their big score, whether it is buying low and selling high, getting into the "good" gallery or hooking up with the "right" lover or muse. It is satisfying in the end to see how Eleanor, by just being who she is, basically fumbles into her true calling while trying to navigate a world so cutthroat and critical. She eventually finds satisfaction with her lot in life and realizes that, that in itself, is an art worth mastering.


I must have seen this movie more then a hundred times, know every lines. Putting aside the fact that this movie made me Miss Peter's biggest fan. While watching this movie in France (over and over again), it gave me the urge, need, inspiration to move to the Big Apple, and pursue my dreams. Combining it with Working Girls, Hannah and her Sisters, and Bare Foot in the Park, I put this movie to portrait New York at its best and truest, as I want to see it, as it supposed to be, as I am seeing it. Whenever in doubt with the city watching the movie all over again reminds me of what New Yorkers are all about of the reason I moved here, and regain my faith in New York! One of the top movies ever made, one of the best New York movie, with some of the best actresses (lets face it, top stage actors ARE the top screen actors as well). Let's not forget to mention Miss Mercedes Ruehl, whom actually rules!!!

"- My only problem is that I can't sew. But a lot of people can't sew...... Coco Channel for instance... -Coco Channel couldn't so? -I Don't Know!......."

"-A whole house.... I never knew anybody with a whole house"

"-OOOOh, where did you get that Ice cream? -From the freezer!"

THANK YOU


I LOVED the book....and come on, piecing together the book into any sort of coherent film couldn't have been the easiest endeavour, and the result really isn't so bad! Looking back on this film 11 years later it truly DOES seem to capture the time and place effectively and has what amount to basically cameos of Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi, and Mercedes Ruehl.


I should qualify,

First of all, this is the best, most encapsulating movie of the 80's ever produced, IT IS THE SINGULAR HIGHEST PERFOMRNACE OF BURNDADETTE PETERS (which is an outstanding recommendation considering how talented this woman is/even with that talent she has been circumscribed by second-rate films which do not do justice to HER TALENT WHICH THIS FILM TOTALLY DOES!!!)...DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED ON DVD???....this is (and I usually like books better/and having read this novel) the BEST reproduciton of Tama Janowitz's novel-and (having lived in the East Village of NYC during this period) THE MOST STRAIGHTFOWARD/TRUTHFUL/ACCURATE OF FILM REPRESENTATIONS...this is a modern Don Quixote set to 80's East Village setting...the music selection could NOT BE MORE PERFECT!!! (and is still more inspiring than anything produced today)..the character of Stash also amazing....but Burnadette Peters with Ashtray Lopsided Hat is beyond PERFECT...this is perhaps MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME...PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE RELEASE ON DVD...Merchant/Ivory has never produced anything less than a first rate film!!!!!..that should also make it a sure bett for those concerned more with financial risk of releasing this CLASSIC!!!!


"The Green Archer" is an action packed 15 chapter serial from Columbia. It has all of the serial cliches that we've all come to know.

 First we have the masked hero whose identity is unknown, The crusading crime reporter Spike Holland (Victor Jory), the mad villain with dreams of glory Abel Bellamy (James Craven), the helpless heroine Valerie Hewett (Iris Meredith), her sister Elaine (Dorothy Fay), the dumb cop Captain Thompson (Fred Kelsey), the lame brained henchman Dinky (Kit Guard), secret passage ways, trap doors, numerous fist fights where the hero gets knocked out but never finished off, death defying escapes from certain death etc.

 Abel Bellamy who controls a ring of jewel thieves has framed his brother for murder and taken over the family castle from which he runs his operations. His brother Michael (Kenne Duncan) is involved in a train wreck on his way to prison and is apparently killed. His wife Elaine is kidnapped and taken to the castle and held prisoner. Ace crime reporter Spike Holland whose company had insured much of the stolen jewelry, enters the case. Spike had been a close friend of Michael Bellamy and works closely with his wife's sister Valerie and her father to discover the jewel thieves hideaway/identity and secure Elaine's release.

 Abel Bellamy enlists one of his men Brad, to pose as the Green Archer a legendary figure from the Bellamy Castle past. But of course the "real" Green Archer shows up and the inevitable confusion takes place. Much of the story has Holland fighting with Abel's henchmen and falling into various traps set by the bad guys, only to escape in the nick of time, usually with the help of the "good" Green Archer". Spike must have had a lot of suits because he gets soaked to the skin in several chapters.

 Finally, Spike and the police sort things out and bring the crooks to justice and the Green Archer turns out to be.....

 It wasn't too difficult to tell who the real Green Archer was. In spite of a couple of red herrings, it is rather obvious. There's also some tacky special effects. The back projection shots are amateurish and the miniatures used in the house burning are less than convincing.

 It was good to see veteran villain Jory get to play the hero for once. He did much better in another Columbia serial "The Shadow" released the same year. With his distinctive speaking voice, Jory made a career out of playing smooth talking gang leaders or back shooting henchmen, mostly in westerns. Serial veteran Craven goes way over the top as the chief villain and some of his gang are too dumb to be believed.

 Others in the cast include Robert Fiske as Savini, Craven's nervous second in command, Joseph W. Ross as Inspector Girard and Herbert Evans as the butler Henderson who may not be what he appears to be. Veterans Charles King, Harry Harvey, Bud Osborne, Edmund Cobb, Jack Perrin and Tom London pop in for a chapter or two.

 "The Green Archer" is everything that you'd expect a serial to be.


This is one of the better serials. There's a castle with secret doors & passageways everywhere, lots of fist fights, lots of bow & arrow work, bombs, shooting, poison gas, an underground hideaway for automobiles, & spirited acting in an action packed plot. On the down side is redundancy (a trademark of all serials), absurdity (by himself, the hero defeats 6-8 baddies at once in fist fights, even when the baddies have guns!). But overall, a neat serial with a good & satisfying ending. It's also weird watching Victor Jory play the hero, after seeing him play the bad guy in many Hopalong Cassidy movies; he's somewhat more convincing as a bad guy than as a good guy. Iris Meredith is beautiful, if nothing else, as the female lead. I rate it 8/10 for a serial.


Altho QUITE a bit different than the Edgar Wallace story on which it's based, this is an excellent serial, none-the-less. Why? Because it's QUITE a bit different than the usual "mad-genius-taking-over-the-world" sort of thing that was the usual theme of serials at that time.

A crook & his henchmen move into a castle (to be used as a "base of operations"), but they didn't reckon on the "ghost" of the Green Archer who haunts the place. He continually thwarts the crooks in their shady deeds, and it's quite a surprise when he is unmasked at the end of the film.

An enjoyable film!


By accident I stumbled upon a couple of episodes of The Green Archer on a local TV channel. I had not heard of this serial when it came out. I stopped seeing local movies in the fall of 1940 when I was sent to boarding school. I enjoyed seeing this, hokey as it was. It was a surprise to see Victor Jory as a hero! The other bright spot was trying to ID the makes and years of the cars used. I could not quite make out what the roadster with suicide doors was--it looked like a Dodge or De Soto from around 1933-35. Prior to that time I had seen a couple of Jimmy Allen flying films but I can't recall if these were full-length films or serial episodes. In doing some searching I learned that these films were preceded by a Jimmy Allen radio series, but I had not heard of that, either, before now. Other radio serials I was familiar with were Jack Armstrong, The Phantom Pilot, Radio Orphan Annie and General Shafter Parker and his Circus. Ray Mac.


I really liked the original Skulls. There were good actors, writing/script/plot etc. And I haven't seen Skulls II yet (I didn't know there were any sequels until I saw Skulls III was on TV).

Skulls III is poor. The actors are fine, but the plot is so easy to predict. There's no suspense. No surprises. And I'd almost call Skulls III slow most of the time.

Skulls III certainly gives you nothing worth watching for 2 hours. You'd be better off renting/watching the original Skulls again, than to watch this version.

If they plan to make a Skulls IV, bring back the writers and director types which made Skulls (I) a success.


I didn't see part 1 or part 2 of this film but after catching part 3 just 15 minutes away from the beginning, I was hooked. I have to say that this part looked like a made for telly movie but it was nevertheless very engaging.

The plot deals with a college girl struggling to come to terms with her brother's death as well as her father's growing distance towards her. When she is unable to solve neither conundrum, she decides to take on "The Skulls" a society at her school (also one that her brother had been trying to get in to) and challenge their prejudices. The dean of the school hear's her plight and taps her as a front-runner to become the first female member of the 250 year old fraternity whose membership doesn't end at graduation. Slowly but surely, she begins to discover that all is not as it seems.


If i were you, i would skip Skulls 2 and go directly to this nice little gem. Clare Kramer actually did a decent job at this film, as well as the other cast. Normally i don't expect much from direct to video sequels of popular teen movies but this one actually surpassed the original in my opinion. Providing more interesting twists and turns than the original ever did. Not to mention the carbon copy sequel which really sucked. This one really held my interest and kept me guessing at an outcome.

Kramer stars as Taylor a bright and head strong young woman who is still haunted by her brothers suicide and her fathers growing distance. She decides that she will take up the mantel her brother failed to do with becoming a skull. But as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. As Taylor suddenly begins to spiral out of control down a path of betrayal, jealousy and murder.

Unlike Skulls 2, this third actually spends time detailing the grueling process of becoming a skull, Skulls 2 skipped all that and just repeated the same scenes from the original, the only thing skulls 2 had differently was a breasts. And sadly Skulls 3 didn't but I'm not complaining the story was so good, i quickly forgot my horn dog ways. Skulls 3 has everything you would want in a good Friday night movie...except breasts but i think we can overlook that cant we?

Not a bad way to waste a couple of bucks on a weeknight.


Death is nothing but a survival from this tricky world.No matter what anyone says I think this film is worth watching. Bryce acts as a perfect actor and a girl's real power is shown.Wrong impressions about the weakness of women have to be disappeared and this film may help those kind of thought's owners to change their ideas. After this film I am a fan of (not Steve's) Bryce's and expect many more films from him!..There must be more photos and movies of Bryce Johnson.This is the certain idea of my friends and mine. Although I prefer sci-fi films more than watching these kind of thrillers which include less action but the sense that makes us believe in the doubts is even enjoyable in some parts..


This film went straight to video, here is why:

The film has the misfortune of following one of the worst sequels of all time. "The Skulls" is a well known film starring Paul Walker, and "The Skulls 2" was the worst explanatory sequel since "Highlander 2." Everybody thought this movie would disappoint because it's a sequel to a bad sequel.

Secondly, "Skulls 3" is a feminist film anachronism. The audience is ready for women in serious roles. "G.I. Jane" was a huge hit. No longer is a film which begs the question 'why can't girls play too?' provocative. The films feminist themes are dated and cliched.

Finally, the obvious nature of the script rivals daytime drama. The roommate actually says, "waddaya know? A sorority girl with a brain!" (when describing herself).

Do not see this movie.


For as low of a score that this film carries, I hand to confirm that I had watched the same film. For some strange reason, I witnessed a completely different film than the one mentioned from other critics. I thoroughly enjoyed this French farce that was boldly colorful, imaginatively creative, and passionately contrived. While I did find it at times hard to read the subtitles and see the action together, I did not see it as a completely spoiled moment for the film. The comedy was quick, the plot was well rounded, and I especially loved the characters that director Jean-Marie Poiré brought to the screen. It was so wonderfully absurd that it kept me glued to the screen wondering what would happen next. I will admit that this is a rather predictable film, but what Poiré has done is taken a used story and restyled the "fun" fit in this modern day of cinema. This suddenly transformed into a zany adventure that kept my head buzzing, my mind engrossed, and my funny bones in action.

The best part of this film is simply the characters. There are two power-players in this film that each bring something unique and original to the screen and ultimately make Ma femmes'appelle Maurice worth watching.. The first is the hysterical Régis Laspalès whom nearly steals the entire film away from everyone else. He takes the role of Maurice and transforms it into a modern day Robin Williams vehicle. From the moment that I meet him in a little bread shoppe until the final climactic moments, I was captured. He controlled the screen with such brilliance and pizazz that I was surprised that I had not encountered him in any other films. He was genuine, which is sometimes a hard asset to find in comedians today. The second character that I deeply enjoyed was Gotz Otto. He plays the possibly sexually confused Johnny that gets some drink into him and falls for the closest lady to him. That just happens to be Maurice. Together, these two play superbly well against each other. Their chemistry is better than some matches found in Hollywood today. I could feel their moments clicking from across the screen and to my delight it worked. They were extremely funny together adding an extra layer of icing to an already hysterically sugary film.

Another aspect that I truly felt compelled about in this film was the colors set against the backdrop of the whimsical adventure. I think I have been involved in too many darkly grey films lately here in America, and it was finally nice to see the bold and vibrant colors of life clearly defined on the screen. The hues of red, yellow, and orange perfectly decorated not just the surroundings, but also the characters as well. I think that is some of the reason for the amazing performances, because of the colorful environment that they had to work in. The colors brightened the sets, but also this film. At times it nearly felt like a fairy tale film (with the colors and magic castle feel that the apartment had), especially with the color of love painted in nearly every scene. Poiré knew what he was doing, and while this is definitely no Amelie, it does show the colorful cinematic technique that the French have so proudly called their own.

So, we have some very funny characters combined with some beautiful sets that seem to be used to accentuate the characters (Hollywood, you could be taking notes here), what else was there? I enjoyed the themes of this film. For anyone that enjoyed Mrs. Doubtfire and The Birdcage (and the French counterpart), this is the film for you to see. It combines the ideals of homosexuality with a farce about life. It brings these ideas of cross-dressing and gender swapping into a very colorful light that will make you think and laugh at the same time. This is not a negative aspect, but rather a very poignant element that Poiré chose to add to this film. He could have simply gone main stream, but the elements that he chose to uses were brilliant. Coupled with some random moments that make this film stand on its own two legs (the entire chainsaw scene was hysterical and very random), My Wife Maurice is a comedy that will have you laughing for a very long time.

Overall, I was very impressed. This was a gem that I had never heard about that graced my DVD player well. The overall feel of this film was happiness and whimsy, and it was exactly what I needed at the end of the day. While it is not a flawless film, the problems are so small that you probably wouldn't even notice them if you tried. Do not just look at these negative markings as a sign that this is a poor film, check it out for yourself, and you may find (like me) that this was a perfect comedy.

Grade: **** out of *****


wow. I am so glad that I read one of the comment before i rented this movie. If I just followed the rating, I would have missed a great fun entertaining movie.

I was gonna rate it a 8, however, since it only has a 3.1 i am gonna rate it a 10. it made me laugh so hard, and unlike some movies who make dirty jokes to make people laugh. this movie's storyline is generally authentic and believable.

Every time when that guy mentions fraternal aid society, it just makes me laugh even harder. and their dialogues are well thought, very funny.

however, i have to say that it is just a funny movie to watch, it doesn't have much of educational purposes,etc.


I have seen this movie many times over and I can assure you that it has yet to get old for me. The movie does a great job of allowing the audience to witness first hand and laugh about how difficult it is for a very average-looking middle aged man with no career to juggle his well-off wife and his ambitious mistress. Of course the fact that both main characters are married (George and his mistress), albeit to other people, is the main reason why this heavily vaudeville influenced comedy works so well. Poor Maurice, all he meant to do the day he met Georges was collect knick-knacks to help the poor Instead he ends up being forced  (after a little convincing) to pretend he is George's wife in order to help him hide the affair that his mistress is about to reveal and, in the end, discovers the feminine side he was never aware off.

Despite the fact that the two main male characters pretend to be married to each other, there is no gay theme going per se but the comedy clearly arises from the fact that everyone is fooled by Maurice's act as he pretends to be George's homely wife (unlike in The Birdcage, which, although the latter is a very good comedy on its own, I find to have nothing in common with this one. Indeed, the fact that both contain a transvestite is pretty much the only similarity between the two movies since the reasons behind the cross dressing serve very different purposes!).

For those of us who grew up in Europe, the whole side story about the Audi lover and the father and son cameos at the dealership made for some most welcome additional insider chuckles! If you are looking for a good laugh, watch this little gem, it is a great way to spend a couple of hours!


I do not understand why this zany, crazy French farce has received such a low rating. I can only assume the viewers do not know what a farce comedy should be like & also the fact that France invented farce comedy hundreds of years ago.

One more thing the writers & director gave us 2 years prior,. The magnificent Jean Reno farce ---- THE VISITORS.( about a knight from centuries ago brought back to the 21 st century.)_

My Wife Maurice takes place in todays modern Paris. This movie has all the elements of what a farce comedy should be.

Mistaken Identities, Unfaithful married & Unmarried people,insane, silly situations., good looking sets & most of all actors who have perfect timing. Also lots of non-raunchy sexual situations.

I laughed all the way throughout this comic romp.

one minor point,, It would have been even funnier is just a wee bit shorter. The best farces should run only about 90 minutes,

Ratings ***1/2 (out of 4) 92 points (out of 100) IMDb 9 (out of 10).


The rating this movie got here (3.0 out of 10) is far too small. It's a hilarious film. Saw it on TV and it was the most entertaining movie I saw in a long time. From beginning to end, it was very funny. Whether if it's the actors or the way it was filmed or the script. It was very well made.

If you think the movie will put issues about gay people or transvestites on the table to discuss, you'll be surprised. It's meant to be a comedy and it's about very straight people (with a very well developed feminine side but NOT effeminate).

The dialogs went very fast and of course in French but still it was enough to cause hilarity amongst my family. If you're looking for an entertaining film to watch with friends or family and you've got a reasonable command of French, it's a very good choice.

I wonder why there aren't more movies like this made.


All the ingredients are there for a funny movie and finally the result is really poor. After Papy fait de la résistance,les visiteurs et le Père Noël est une ordure we know what to expect.... and.. no. It is unexpected and finally confusing and boring. Anemone (Claire Trouabal)as soon as she appears will give you a hope quickly destroyed by Götz Otto (one of the main actors (acting as Johnny Zucchini), unknown and certainly not ready to be discovered:-) Disappointing, confusing ... few funny scenes but why do we feel uneasy from beginning to end, you know, like when you drive a car with no gas thinking it can stop anytime?


I can not believe so few people have seen this movie. It is a terrific film. It has all the action, intrigue, double and triple crosses, and tragedy anyone could ask for. The plot and its development is a work of art. It is first class. The characters are so real and the depth of their portrayals goes well beyond most crime films, including the Godfathers. This is a film you must see if you every watched a single episode of The Sopranos, and liked it.


I am an avid Allen Payne fan, and I do not see enough of his work. Thank you so much for casting him. The character he played was quite well suited to his debonair persona. I also enjoyed the other actors as well. They all portrayed serious life and death issues with sincerity. This cast really fit together perfectly. I must say that none of the actors were difficult to watch, and the director made me see his whole intention. I will probably rent it again to show some folks whom I believe could appreciate the quality that has been displayed in Blue Hill Avenue. The actors who played Tristan's friends were excellent and of course Allen Payne was OUTSTANDING as always. More Allen Payne please.


I believe that there is an industry-wide conspiracy to deny theatrical access for independent films, particularly those with multi-cultural casts and themes. Blue Hill Ave. reinforces this suspicion in my mind. Of course, I've seen better movies, but I've certainly seen much worse movies in theatrical release and I cannot believe that Blue Hill Ave. could not merit at least a moderate theatrical release on about 500 screens. I would have certainly paid $8 to see this film rather than to see "Soul Plane", "You Got Served", "Baby's Daddy", etc. Perhaps the Justice Dept. needs to step up their investigation into the anti-competitive practices of the mega conglomerate-owned film production and distribution entities. This was supposed to have been resolved in U.S. v Patamount back in 1948! Anyway, I digress. I though Craig Ross, Jr. and his cast and crew did an exceptional job with this film, especially on such a low budget!

If films like Cappuccino (an earlier quality film from this same writer/director) and Blue Hill Ave. can't make it to theaters and the previously mentioned vapid works are able to, why should intelligent Black folks pay $8. at the theater? I hope Mr. Ross' investors were able to profit on this one!


I've been waiting to see this movie ever since it won several awards at various film festivals. Well, it was worth the wait! It's playing in theaters in just 3 cities so far, so make sure that you keep your eye out and catch it when it comes to your town. The other reviewers here give an idea about what the film is about, so I won't duplicate their efforts. I think that the consumer ratings (averaging 8.3 so far) let you know that this is a high quality product. It'll be interesting to see if Blue Hill Avenue gets any Academy Award nominations this year.


It started off like an action movie for a minute, then it goes back into time to the lead-characters youths.

The beginning has got BRANDON HAMMOND (from SOUL FOOD the movie) and PERCY DAGGS III (from VERONICA MARS) and 2 other unknowns which are all pretty good.

And YES I do enjoy the first 30 minutes where the characters are in their teens, even though it seems a little far-fetched how short time it takes for the boys to start killing the competition (I am not spoiling anything this is 20 minutes into the movie or something).

Anyways after 30 minutes the guys are around 30 years old or something and wearing suits and all that business-like styled persona.

And it just turns into this snooze-fest where there's hardly anything happening except for a big number of dialogs exchanged about "The Game", and the crews various ideas of how to play it and the threat of investigating police.

You are suppose to believe that all 4 friends are bosses of one gang each, but there are no gang-members shown in the movie which makes it even less convincing.

Also the acting from the "old" cast is so much worse than the "young" cast, I especially didn't like ALLEN PAYNE's character, perhaps it was because he looked like he needed to do number 2 on the bathroom half or all the time through-out the movie.

I thought WILLIAM L JOHNSON playing old E.BONE was the only reason to keep watching, well that and I did pay money for the DVD so I had to continue for it to end at least.

The first 30 minutes was reminiscent of BOYZ N THE HOOD (which of course is a good movie) but the rest 90 minutes was reminiscent of SUGAR HILL (Wesley Snipes) almost a copy of that movie actually but with a lot more twists and stuff.

If you happened to like SUGAR HILL then you might like it, but I don't like neither.

If you want a Hood-Movie there are plenty of better ones, such as: SNIPES, HUSTLE & FLOW, CLOCKERS, GET RICH OR DIE Trying, BABY BOY... the list could be long but I will stop there.

3.5 out of 10


Some one told me a while back that I should check this movie out. I do not really like low cost films so I declined. One Sunday (after hearing how good it was from so many people)I was at the video store and decided to pick it up just to give it a try. I enjoyed it very much. You could tell it was a low budget film but the story line was pretty good. I enjoyed the work of the young actors. The older actors were not half bad either. With a little more funding and a few corrections to the script this really could have done well on the big screen. If you rent it watch it early because there is a good chance that you may want to watch it again.It had me waiting and guessing whats next. Growing up were I grew up this film was true to life for me. I ended up buying a copy. It is a great add to the DVD collection. If you are from the hood you will love this movie. CHECK IT OUT!!!!


I thought Blue Hill Avenue was very well written. Allen Payne and Angelle Brooks were phenomenal together. I would have love to have seen a LOVE scene between them, but Maybe Next Time. I like All the movies Allen play's in. Including New Jack City where he got shot. And Jason's Lyric, with Jada Pinkett Smith. Angelle Brooks is quite the Actress herself. I've enjoyed All her movie's too. I'm glad to see more African-American's today getting better position's, in movie's. And in Business, Today. I look forward to seeing both Actor's in Movie's to come. Allen Payne is just a dreamboat. I wonder if he's still married. I really appreciate them as Entertainer's.


This was one of the best independent films I've seen to date, not to mention all the brothers were VERY easy on the eyes (laughing)! But seriously, I thought it was very well written, exciting and the performers were talented. Its a 10 hands down.


When i start watching "Blue Hill Avenue", my expectations were low(Because it was an independent movie and the quality of the camera was a little bad),but i was wrong. The plot is just awesome and the actors make an excellent work. I really felt the same emotions and adrenaline that the carachters.

It's a wonderful Drama/Action movie that everyone should see and it's really a shame that it's so over rated.

My final classification is 7 out of 10. It's a powerful movie, with a very good storyline and an excellent acting.

A Must-see of Independent movies.


This was a very good movie pretty realist not to out of character there were some really good actors in this movie and it really shows what the "game" can do to the community, family and friends I love this movie so much and I could watch it over and over again. This movie is exceptional in the way it show the common drug dealer it speaks to me because I live where this happens all the time; people dying because of drug whethe they are friends, or enemies. This movie is a in depth look at what society face today in this world of selling drugs and making a living off of it. It shows us how thin of a line there is between friends, business, and money. It is a true work of art.


I just wish that there were more amazingly addictive ghetto/drug dramas these days.

All of the idiots who gave this movie bad reviews are full of crap because this movie completely owns.

Whoever said that this movie has a crappy script or is not believable is a total moron, because this movie is epic.

Also they do not use the "f" word too much. If anything uses the "f" word to much it is the south park movie. (but that is a good movie anyway)

GO SEE IT!


There was a depressed market for films the last 3 years or so, mainly thanks to the SAG who's 11th hour decision not to strike created a flood of movies on the market. This threw BHA into a tail spin. Also Artisan was in turmoil at the time of delivery and gave Bluehill a very limp release. This is a good movie! I'm not just saying that because I invested in it. I think people need to see it. Allen Payne did a remarkable job. It's a struggle for indie's to begin with, and having things happen like SAG and 911 may have signed the death certificate for this flick. We shall see. As an investor, sorry to say, I have not seen a nickle return on this. Not to say I won't, but it's taking far too long to recoup my coin.

Rick


I see a number of viewers gave this film such high praise and I ask, for what?

The story of boyhood friends falling into the world of drug dealing could have been told in a number of realistic ways but the screenwriters of this flick didn't use any of them. The story arch about a bunch of 14-year-old novice criminals successfully gunning down their drug dealing rivals just didn't ring true.

But my biggest critique of this film is the dialog. I don't care what ghetto you grow up in, people must speak in a realistic way and the cast didn't. I feel sorry for the cast of pretty good talent having to try to make this script palatable, and failing miserably.

EXAMPLE: ACTOR 1: "What do they call this?" ACTOR 2: "They call it crack."

Awe-inspiring stuff, right? And the dialog in the opening drug deal scene was flat and formulaic, not to mention corny.

I know you must toss in a liberal use of the word "fuck" in any gritty-urban drama *yawn* but it seems a little ridiculous here.

So to recap, keep most of the cast (Maybe recast Allen Payne for someone who actually appears like they could have come from the streets), but re-write the lines for every single scene and you might actually have something.


I had seen the 19-episode TV series on DVD, and I had been awaiting the movie since it was filmed in 2006.

I received the movie on DVD on July 1. I really liked the movie because it stayed true to the TV show ( mostly ) and also because it finally touched on a subject that many whom are familiar with the TV series had been wondering about: the estranged fathers of the boys. In fact, much of the movie is centered specifically around this topic.

There's not much I can say here without spoiling it. But rest assured that this movie ( preceded by watching the TV series ) is something that you will want to see.


Despite what I had heard, this was in no way a sequel to City of God, post viewing I have learned that it is a follow-up to a TV series. Still, this film will be constantly compared to City of God, so let's get that out of the way first. City of God makes City of Men look like a day at the park, at times it is hard to imagine that both stories share a common location. In a world where City of God does not existed City of Men would shine brighter, unfortunately for this film that is not the case, it is a constant reminder of a superior film. Both films do share amazing cinematography, no matter how many times and in how many movies I see shots of Morro da Sinuca, I am always amazed by it's vastness and unique beauty. Also both films acting, if it can be called that, goes beyond acting to a feeling of capturing real life as it happens. City of Men dives deeper into the lives of individual characters, allowing us to see how a generational cycle has created and sustained this type of environment for it's people. I walk away from this film feeling grateful for living where I live and that tomorrow I'll have to chose between Coke or Pepsi not life or death.


I loved City of God it was a classic and when i first heard this was coming out i was overjoyed. but when i finally saw it i felt it needed more spice to it if you know what i mean. the gang violence was too quick for me i wanted to see more violence i guess you can say and the end with the 2 friends just walking away and leaving town. i guess i wanted a bit more of a dramatic ending than that but all in all a good film. I enjoyed the characters, and the cinematography was awesome. the storyline is very well done as well i guess if there was just a bit more violence or at least just to prolong their quick violent scenes i would have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more. all in all a 7.9 out of 10 if you enjoyed city of god or if you like gang films and you don't mind subtitles this is the movie for you.


Bubblegum Crisis: 7 out of 10: Hot chicks, giant robots, and evil corporations fill every frame of Bubblegum Crisis as does some surprisingly catchy Eighties tunes.

Bubblegum Crisis much like Akira or Macross is one of those Anime that separate the thirty something Anime fans from this year's crop of snot nosed wannabees. When you think Japanese cartoons do you think Pokemon or shower scenes. Do you think irritating children or kick ass adults. Do your favorite plots involve the little kids defeating the big evil corporation or adults facing economic hardship and self sacrifice. Bubblegum crisis is an Anime of the latter.

As I settle into my damn kids today voice and distaste for every over hyped, rapid cut seizure inducing, saccharine piece of crap that passes for entertainment these days. (I'm looking your way Cartoon Network). I can sit back and watch full grown woman destroy some boomers (as well as half of Tokyo) and reminisce about my childhood when cartoon characters swore and every battle was followed by a gratuitous nude scene.

Is Bubble Crisis as good as I remember it? No. The episodes are not connected well and vary in quality. Some of the dubbing is dubious and the live action music videos contained in the extras are simply painful.

Does it both allow me to relieve my childhood and look down upon kids today? You betcha.


A product of the golden age of anime(mid to late 80s)Bubblegum Crisis has all the essential elements of great sci-fi and much more. There are the usual themes about technology and corporate domination but developed further than usual. But, best of all it has the great and incomparable Priss, perhaps the greatest and most glorious fictional female character ever created. The story grows in depth and complexity as the series progresses; often a forgotten thread gets picked up again later. The music ranks as among the most atmospheric in anime, the songs are topnotch and range from breathless rockers to melancholy ballads. Ultimately, it's more a modern myth in the making than just another sci-fi with babes. The impulse behind Bubblegum Crisis is that which gave us Athena. Check the archives at alt.fan.bgcrisis to learn more.


Considering the large following and high reputation this series has, one imagines it must be quite good. Oddly, it never struck me as mind-blowingly fantastic as the fan hype makes it out to be, but I did quite like most of the series.

Many praises are sung about the soundtrack, and those are very true indeed; great rock songs with very good pace and vivid vocals accompany the action. They work a treat, and a lot of the songs stick with the viewer for very long.

Alas, the raving over the music is probably the only point where the hype got it right. For the rest, the actual series seems a bit underwhelming compared to what one might expect. For example, the supposedly excellent character development is a much-trumpeted point that falls a bit flat. Not to say that the characters are poor by any means. They're very likeable, and they do have their own distinct personalities, but they don't seem all that revolutionary. Our four heroines, Priss, Nene, Sylia and Linna basically consist of respectively the tough rebellious youth, the pink-haired girly "cute" computer whiz, the mysterious and only -really- interesting one, and...err, the other one (yup, poor Linna is badly under-used and shows very little distinct character traits). It's true that this is a cast formula that was innovative for it's time, and that it has been copied very often, but maybe that's exactly why the whole thing sometimes seems a little below it's reputation. There are tough, rebellious youths and pink-haired squeaky cute computer geniuses all over the place on the anime market. The fact that they're all female is hardly a novelty anymore either.

That might be the main problem here; time hasn't been too kind to Bubblegum Crisis. Those who first saw the series and became loyal followers in the 80's had every reason to be impressed back then. Alas, by now, the same formula has appeared so often, be it under different guises, that there's little left to be amazed about for one watching this series for the first time now. Somehow BGC doesn't really manage to hold up a feeling that it's the founding father of a whole generation of anime series.

Animation quality has aged a bit better though, with only the first episode looking genuinely old hat by now. Episodes seven and eight are still lovely to look at (probably due to the nice and somehow "softer" color palette used for ep. 8). The mecha action scenes -another highly hyped point- are indeed fast and furious, and have some very intense moments. The mecha designs as well are admirably intricate and innovative sometimes. But like most over-hyped elements of BGC, the fights have flaws as well, namely that they are sometimes cut short a bit. The way the main villain in the sixth episode (who is utterly brilliant, by the way) is finished off struck me as rather too sudden, as was the end of the battle in episode 5. It's supposed to be a very dramatic moment, but it went a bit too fast and thus didn't have all the punch it -could- have had.

There still is lots going in favor of BGC, however. Several minor characters are very likeable and amusing, and manage to actually be more entertaining than the four heroines. The adorable Daley springs to mind, not exactly because he's gay -homosexuality is very common in anime- but because during his few moments in the spotlight he's always delightful (and damn it all, he's -cute-). Most of the one-shot characters that only appear in one or two episodes are also handled with style and become very vivid. A very nice bunch, basically. And that goes for the minor nasties as well. The four heroines are also entertaining enough, despite not being all that full of surprises.

The storyline also manages to present some interesting themes. Revenge is one of them, as is the blurred borderline between machines and living beings. There's also a very intriguing triangle between Sylia, minor nasty Mason and more impressive nasty Largo. There are also hints that Sylia might be more than meets the eye. All these themes and possible subliminar messages are only established in the background and hardly ever mentioned in so many words. One could very easily miss them altogether.

Subtelty is all very well, but it's a shame that none of these possible deeper plot threads are ever tied up; the end of episode 8 is -not- a proper ending. The series was supposed to continue on for a few more episodes, but alas the project ran into murky waters at that point. And that's why BGC is so tricky to judge; it's an unfinished piece (a sequel tried to sort of tie everything up but didn't really succeed). It's as if Return of the Jedi was missing from the first Star Wars trilogy, for instance. And that's quite a shame, as the -promise- certainly is there.

If the series had lived to see it's originally planned ending, it might have become the masterpiece it's -said- to be. As it stands, it's a good, solid series with plenty to enjoy and a few flaws that don't get in the way too much. Give it a go, see what you think. You probably won't be blown over with amazement, but chances are high you'll have a very plain good time all the same.

(just note that you should avoid the dub if possible. It's tolerable, but the songs are dubbed as well, and as a result suffer overall. Besides, dubs are always inferior to the original)


A great OVA series. It personfies the babes with guns anime. Wonderful music, in depth plotline, perfect villain. The only thing this series leaves to be desired is slightly better artwork.


The DVD set of this series is excellent. The sound is great, and the picture quality is perfect, even surpassing the laserdisc release. The ability to watch it in the original Japanese without subtitles covering the picture is nice, also. All 8 episodes are in the set, which is a steal at about $50 (compared to about $120 for the tapes, or around $100 for the laserdiscs, if you can even find them). My only complaint is that the music videos are compressed really badly, giving them an M-PEG look, and compared to how the actual episodes look in this set, that low quality is unacceptable. Still, that one complaint aside, this set is more than worth the money if you like this series even a little.


This series of eight videos is by far my favorite japanese animation series.

My other favorites are "Akira" (superb details, excellent coloring scheme, artistic aspects) and "Ghost in the Shell" (great opening scene, strong atmosphere) but my heart is captured by "Bubblegum Crisis" and its cast of female characters.

One of strongest features (esp. in the first episodes) is the soundtrack; albeit in general japanese pop music sounds pretty childish to most listeners, the songs from "Bubblegum Crisis" have something special to them.