a determined young Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) is Obi-Wan's venerable Jedi master, trying to teach the Jedi way to his apprentice as their world begins to unravel in political turmoil. Episode I takes audiences through extraordinary realms and adventures, from the desert planet of Tatooine to the galactic capital world of Coruscant (with its Jedi Temple), the green world of Naboo, and beyond. Familiar Star Wars characters Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Jabba the Hutt are along for the ride. This first chapter in the Star Wars saga follows young Anakin Skywalker's journey as he pursues his dreams and confronts his fears in the midst of a galaxy in crisis. Digitally mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.  (less)

a determined young Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) is Obi-Wan's venerable Jedi master, trying to teach the Jedi way to his apprentice as their world begins to unravel in political turmoil. Episode I takes audiences through extraordinary realms and adventures, from the desert planet of Tatooine to the galactic capital world of Coruscant (with its Jedi Temple), the green world of Naboo, and beyond. Familiar Star Wars characters Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Jabba the Hutt are along for the ride. This first chapter in the Star Wars saga follows young Anakin Skywalker's journey as he pursues his dreams and confronts his fears in the midst of a galaxy in crisis. Digitally mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.  (less)

The star-studded cast is headed by Richard Thomas ( The Waltons ) as Paul Baumer, and includes such award-winning actors as Ernest Borgnine, Ian Holm, and Patricia Neal. As both narrator and star, Thomas occasionally seems to reincarnate his familiar John-Boy persona, but creates a character that has many more levels than that television alter ego. Watching Paul as he watches all of his high school buddies die is a highly emotional experience. He returns to his home a different person, conflicted in his feelings about the Army and war, evolving from an idealistic schoolboy to a fearful and humble veteran. The scenery and costuming in this period piece are well done, and surely contributed to its winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Made for TV. ...  (less)

swaggering Marine undergoing a mysterious court-martial after World War II. The nature of his alleged offenses won't become clear until we hear all the testimony, which the movie provides in a series of flashbacks. The story's a goof: how Burt and Marine buddy Chuck Connors end up on an island with gin-slinging dame Virginia Mayo, doing battle with the Vichy French, the Japanese, and each other. There's also a cross-dressing scene, a highly questionable native dance, and assorted slapstick. Journeyman director Arthur Lubin (guiding light of the Francis movies--the talking mule, not Ford Coppola) manages to work up some brawny action in the big climax, and the movie unexpectedly goes for a bit of grandness around Connors' character. Connors, the future star of The...  (less)

smuggles the director's now celebrated genius into an incendiary Heroic Bloodshed street opera of the John Woo mold.Already stretched to breaking in a loyalty tug of war between Triad bosses and his loose cannon partner, Wah (Andy Lau, Fulltime Killer, Days of Being Wild), a rising star in the HK underworld, finds himself saddled with beautiful, ailing country cousin Ngor. As an escalating test of wills with a stubborn debtor explodes into bloodshed and a mob turncoat instigates a ruthless police crackdown, Wah's growing fascination with Ngor becomes his last chance for escape from a violent past and a dubious future.Cast in comic eye candy roles prior to As Tears Go By, Maggie Cheung (In The Mood For Love) cites Ngor, her first of many collaborations with Wong Kar-Wai, as the character that truly began her dramatic career. Under Wong Kar-Wai's direction, Jacky Cheung (Days of Being Wild) earned the 1988 Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Wah's guilt-ridden, out of control partner Fly. Balancing epiphanous imagery with experimentation and realism with brazen romanticism, Wong Kar-Wai's As Tears Go By offers a tantalizing glimpse into the nascent brilliance of one of the most influential filmmaking talents of the last twenty years.  (less)

The star-studded cast is headed by Richard Thomas ( The Waltons ) as Paul Baumer, and includes such award-winning actors as Ernest Borgnine, Ian Holm, and Patricia Neal. As both narrator and star, Thomas occasionally seems to reincarnate his familiar John-Boy persona, but creates a character that has many more levels than that television alter ego. Watching Paul as he watches all of his high school buddies die is a highly emotional experience. He returns to his home a different person, conflicted in his feelings about the Army and war, evolving from an idealistic schoolboy to a fearful and humble veteran. The scenery and costuming in this period piece are well done, and surely contributed to its winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Made for TV. ...  (less)

the German invasion of Russia. "I wouldn't even trust you to cover a hole in the carpet!" screams his editor in chief, Mason (Donald MacBride, with the requisite steam coming out of his ears). Then, of course, Kittredge stumbles onto an evil Axis plot and ends up saving the world. Dorothy Lamour--Hope and Bing Crosby's glamorous love interest in seven Road pictures--appears here sans sarong, playing an intrepid Lois Lane type. But Hope doesn't have to fight Crosby for her affections; "Der Bingle" makes only one brief vocal appearance, via a music box. Subtlety is not this movie's strong suit, and goofy gags abound from the start, with Hope skulking through a Russian hotel disguised as a Cossack to escape creditors. The Axis characters--Germans, Italians, and Jap...  (less)

barbarian thugs. Falling for the beautiful woman, he becomes a sort of foster father and macho mentor to the boy. Think of Shane in leather tunics and iron helmets, with Italian beaches and inland forests standing in for the Scandinavian landscape. Mitchell makes a thoughtful action hero burdened by the sins of his past, but his reddish-blonde bleach job is about as convincing as the slipshod dubbing, and his odd gracelessness makes him more convincing as a brawler than a marksman. It's a handsome-looking film (would you expect less from former cinematographer Bava?) with a complicated legacy of war and murder and other unspeakable crimes at the core of the tale. Apart from the dark pasts of the main characters, however, there are few sur...  (less)

again after four years, the couple tries to recapture "that old zing." Complications arise when Duke goes on a mission with dud torpedoes, and his best friend's younger brother goes after Neal. Fans will be pleased with Wayne's role, as the Gifford character is one of Wayne's simplest, but most honest performances. Wayne regulars Ward Bond and Jack Pennick are on hand as well; Bond plays sub captain "Pop" Perry, and Pennick the sub's Chief. The scene in which Pop tells his crew to "Take 'er down!" came from real life; a sub skipper uttered the famous command during a desperate surface action. --Mark Savary  (less)

film of the '90s, returns to the saga's roots and allows Lucas to flesh out the history of some of the fable's core characters and conjure up a dazzling new cast of cohorts, antagonists, and alien realms for them to interact with and in. Thus, all composer John Williams had to do was essentially reinvent the world's most popular wheel. The film-scoring legend has admirably risen to that daunting challenge, delivering an inventive score whose dynamics should surprise and delight even the most ardent SW fanatic. The Main Title and a few oh-so-sparing bars of a familiar Jedi theme are all that remains from the original trilogy's lexicon, Williams having evolved the saga's musical language, stylistic ...  (less)

on the screen or do something important), there's also enough variety in the incidental music to keep things interesting. From the instantly recognizable opening music to the medley that accompanies the closing credits, this is excellent work that perfectly captures the innocence and sense of adventure of the film. At the same time, the Star Wars score stands up very well as a piece of music on its own. --Genevieve Williams  (less)

film of the '90s, returns to the saga's roots and allows Lucas to flesh out the history of some of the fable's core characters and conjure up a dazzling new cast of cohorts, antagonists, and alien realms for them to interact with and in. Thus, all composer John Williams had to do was essentially reinvent the world's most popular wheel. The film-scoring legend has admirably risen to that daunting challenge, delivering an inventive score whose dynamics should surprise and delight even the most ardent SW fanatic. The Main Title and a few oh-so-sparing bars of a familiar Jedi theme are all that remains from the original trilogy's lexicon, Williams having evolved the saga's musical language, stylistic ...  (less)