The Time Machine - 2002

Warner Bros. Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, Parkes/MacDonald Productions

Directed by Simon Wells

Cast:

• Alexander Hartdegen – Guy Pearce
• David Philby – Mark Addy
• Emma – Sienna Guillory
• Moorlock Leader – Jeremy Irons
• Flower Shop Worker – Alan Young
• Vox – Orlando Jones
• Mara – Samantha Mumba
• Kalen – Omero Mumba

Story: In January of 1899, a young physics and applied engineering professor at Columbia University is about to propose to Emma. Professor Hartdegen meets Emma at the skating rink at Central Park, and they take a stroll into a secluded area of the park where he proposes. Unfortunately, a thief is lying in wait for them and in the ensuing robbery, Emma is shot and killed. Professor Hartdegen is devastated and retreats into his home laboratory. His goal: to build a time machine that will allow him to return in time to prevent Emma's death. Yet even when his machine is complete, Emma dies in a different scenario. He finds he cannot change the past, so he goes forward instead to find the answer to the riddle. In the year 2030, he encounters Vox, the compendium of all human knowledge at the New York City library, who informs him that time travel is no more than science fiction, so he determines to go farther into the future. In 2037, he finds the world is in shambles because they have thrown the moon out of orbit, and when he climbs aboard his machine to escape the carnage, he is knocked unconscious and unwittingly travels to the year 802,701. Here he is discovered by Mara, an Eloi who has learned “the stone language” and can communicate with him. He soon learns their agrarian community is threatened by the Moorlocks, creatures who live beneath the earth and hunt the Eloi for Food.

Review: Four generations later, we have a revision of this classic science fiction film by none other that the great grandson of H. G. Wells. While entertaining and well presented, this film bears only a superficial resemblence to the original of 1960. Underlying the plot is the question of Fate. Why can't you change the past? The concept of Eloi and Moorlock are somewhat consistent with the original film and the novel, but their roles have significantly changed. The Eloi are fishers and farmers, and they live in cliff dwellings made of bamboo and other natural materials. The Moorlocks are still subterranean creatures, but now they are divided into castes, some bred for hunting, others bred to control. Where the hunters are physically superior, the controllers have telephatic powers which allow them to keep the hunters at bay. Our protagonist is Alexander Hartdegen, not H. George Wells, and his motivation for creating the time machine is love, not commerce or scientific knowledge. The addition of Orlando Jones as Vox allows for the failure of Hartdegen to return to the past, since he contains all human knowledge from the 21st century and some beyond. Guy Pearce presents a believable character, and Samantha and Omero Mumba are excellent in their roles as the brother and sister Eloi who discover and befriend him. Mark Addy is Philby, and an excellent addition to the cast as Hartdegen's mentor and friend. Jeremy Irons portrays the Moorlock Leader with a rare and insightful talent that only he can generate. While his character is not evil in the sense we normally believe, he is still a thoughtful being who offers Hartdegen the opportunity to return to his own time. Rated PG-13 for violence, this film is highly entertaining but certainly not destined to be a classic. It is, however, an interesting revision of the original plot with some well thought out twists and turns, and the romantic angle of the film is sure to keep the ladies interested.

The Time Machine - 1960

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), George Pal Productions, Galaxy Films Inc.

Directed by George Pal

Cast:

• H. George Wells – Rod Taylor
• David Filby / James Filby – Alan Young
• Weena – Yvette Mimieux
• Dr. Phillip Hillyer – Sebastian Cabot

Story: On January 5th, 1900, four friends gather at the home of H. George Wells on an invitation to dinner. George, the host who has called this meeting, arrives late, looking very disheveled. He tells them he has just returned from the future, the year 802,701 AD where he has discovered the human race has divided into two distinct species, the Eloi, who live a Elysian life where everything is handed to them, and the Morlocks. The Morlocks, he discovers, are cannibals who keep the Eloi as cattle, conditioning them to respond to old air raid sirens and walk peacefully to their deaths like sheep tot he slaughter. His time machine is trapped in a Sphinx built by the Moorlocks, and he must discover their weakness before he can recover it to return to his own time. When he has finished with his tale, he dismisses his guests and returns to the room where the time machine is. We hear the machine power up, and when Filby and Mrs. Watchett go in, the machine is gone, and three books are missing from the shelf.

Review: Of the two films I am comparing here (Time Machine -2002 will follow), this is the more accurate to the book. Interestingly, Rod Taylor portrays H. George (H.G.) Wells, the author of the novel and the main character in this timeless fiction classic. His guests are Alan Young, Sebastian Cabot, Tom Helmore, and Whit Bissell. The dialog is clear and to the point, and while George relates his tale of time travel, the guests do not interrupt. Given the technology available in 1960, the scenery and settings are exceptional. Photography and Cinematography are excellent as well, and the acting is believable for the story. The departure from the book comes at the end, when George returns to the future to help the Eloi and Weena. An interesting point if the film, which was made for $750,000.00 in 35 days, is that Yvette Mimieux was only 17 years old at the time the shooting began and turned 18 during the filming. Violence is minor and profanity is non-existent in this George Pal classic, and there should be no problem allowing the children to watch. Collectible for science fiction fans and anyone who appreciates pre computer special effects.

Hannibal Rising - 2007

Young Hannibal Productions, Carthago Films S.a.r.l., Dino De Laurentiis Company

Directed by Peter Webber

Cast:

• Hannibal Lecter – Gaspard Ulliel
• Lady Murasaki – Li Gong
• Mischa Lecter – Helena-Tia Tachovska
• Inspector Popil – Dominic West
• Vladis Grutas – Rhys Ifans
• Enrikas Dortlich – Richard Brake

Story: How do you make a monster? In this last film and earliest prequel to the character originally introduced in Manhunter, we begin in 1944, in Lithuania at Castle Lecter. The Nazis and the Soviets are approaching one another, and Hannibal's father moves the family from the castle to their hunting lodge a few miles into the woods, hoping to avoid the fighting. That hope is shattered when a Soviet tank bursts into their clearing to pump water from their well, only to be spotted by Nazi aircraft. The planes begin a strafing run, the tank machine gunner manages to shoot down a plane before he is killed, and the only survivors are Hannibal and his sister, Mischa. They are in the lodge only a few days when a group of looters who have been working for the Nazis break in and hold the children hostage, thinking at first they will use them as leverage if they are discovered by the Soviets. They have no food, and soon they decide to eat one of the children for survival. Next we cut to Castle Lecter, which has been transformed into a “People Orphanage” where Lecter is one of the orphans. Singled out by a bully for refusing to speak, Hannibal is locked in a storage room below the Castle where he escapes, and discovers some letters and photographs of his mother's that reveal he has an uncle and aunt in Paris. He travels to Paris, and Lady Murasaki, his aunt, takes him in. Hannibal decides to attend medical school and shows a great aptitude for the profession, but within him is his growing desire to avenge the murder of Mischa.

Review: Here is the foundation of madness. The tale of Hannibal Lecter is a grisly and dark tale, but here we actually sympathize with him. He is a boy who loves his sister very much, so much he attempts to defend her against the invading looters. He is only about 10 years old, much too young to fight off five armed men, and their violation of the boy and his sister is nothing short of monstrous. Even in time of war, there is no excuse for the horror these men perpetrate on the children, and these are the seeds planted in Hannibal's mind that create the character we are so familiar with. The cast is primarily European, which gives us another perspective into the creation of our sociopath, and the introduction of Lady Murasaki and ancestor worship creates the dimension needed for Hannibal to avenge the death of Mischa. The film begins in horror and ends in horror, and is perhaps the most chilling of the five films about our character. Gaspard Ulliel gives a haunting performance as the young Hannibal, Li Gong is impressive as Lady Murasaki, and Dominic West is equally intriguing as the investigator of war crimes who knows but cannot prove Hannibal is killing the criminals. And perhaps this is the reason we sympathize with Lecter. This monster preys upon monsters. If you think about it, most of the people Hannibal kills, with the notable exception of the two police officers, two ambulance personnel, and the tourist at the airport in SOTL, are criminals, murders, child molesters, and worse. While we are not privy to the full list of Hannibal's victims, we see a purpose in his killings. Overall, this is a chilling tale that completes the Lecter series, and one that is a must see for fans of the films and Harris' novels. Rated R for the same reasons as the previous films, and definitely not the fare for the younger members of the family. Collectible for the lovers of the series.

Red Dragon - 2002

Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentiis Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Directed by Brett Ratner

Cast:

• Will Graham – Edward Norton
• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Francis Dolarhyde – Ralph Fiennes
• Jack Crawford – Harvey Keitel
• Reba McClane - Emily Watson
• Molly Graham - Mary-Louise Parker
• Freddy Lounds – Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Nurse Barney Matthews – Frankie Faison
• Dr. Frederick Chilton - Anthony Heald

Story: Will Graham is a retitred FBI agent who is called back to the BAU to help Jack Crawford catch “The Tooth Fairy”. Graham is a 'profiler' of criminal behavior, and tries to think like the killers he profiles in order to capture them. While searching for clues to the Tooth Fairy's identity, Will meets with Dr. Hannibal Lector, an incarcerated serial killer who Will captured years earlier. His early dealings with Lector nearly drove him insane, and almost cost him his life. He discovers secret communciations are being routed in newspaper personal ads between Lector and the Tooth Fairy, and Lector may be behind a plot to kill his family for revenge.

Review: This remake of Manhunter is the first of two prequels to the Hannibal Lector saga, and there are some marked differences in the visions of Ratner and Mann. Hopkins reprises his role as Hannibal Lector, and his viscious and brutal nature are more pronounced here that in the previous two films. Perhaps it is his hatred of Will Graham, played brilliantly by Edward Norton, perhaps it is his blossoming hatred of Dr. Chilton, the second appearance of Anthony Heald in the role. Frankie Faison also reprises his role as Barney, the nurse. Harvey Keitel's vision of Jack Crawford is an interesting shift from Scott Glenn's portrayal, with Keitel being a more emotional agent, but that may be a sign of maturity from the days of this film to SOTL. While I am a big fan of Michael Mann, I have to say this film is a more complete picture of the events, and a much more in depth look at the characters, particularly of Lector. Ralph Fiennes gives a spectacular performance as the Tooth Fairy, and Emily Watson's portrayal of the blind Reba McClane is passionate and very human. We have a glimpse also of Lecter before he was incarcerated in the flashback scenes between Hopkins and Norton, as well as the interaction of the two in Lecter's exercise room. Rated R and they mean it. Much too grisly and bloody for the little ones, and some teens and adults will find the settings and the gore disturbing. Collectible for lovers of Hopkins, Hannibal Lector, and anyone who loves a good horror story.

Hannibal - 2001

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Universal Pictures, Dino De Laurentis Company

Directed by Ridley Scott

Cast:

• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Clarice Starling – Julianne Moore
• Barney – Frankie Faison
• Mason Verger – Gary Oldman
• Paul Krendler – Ray Liotta
• Inspector Reynaldo Pazzi – Giancarlo Giannini
• Allegra Pazzi – Francesca Neri
• Dr. Cordell Doemling – Zlejko Ivanek

Story:Ten years since the escape of the infamous Dr. Lecter, he remains free. He has chosen to live a benign existence, and is currently under review as a historian in Florence, Italy. Meanwhile, back in the US, Special Agent Starling's career is at a standstill. The FBI has her on field duty, and she is agent in charge of massive multi-task force to arrest one of the biggest drug smugglers on the west coast, when a local cop tries to play hero and the streets turn into the OK Corral. Starling is forced to shoot her suspect while she is carrying her baby. She is on suspension pending the outcome of the investigation, and the federal prosecutor wants her head on a platter. Mason Verger, a very wealthy former patient of Lecter's, is also looking for him...for revenge. Lecter was so repulsed by his crime, the rape and torture of children, that he convinced Mason to cut away parts of his anatomy while under the influence of drugs, leaving Verger a disfigured invalid. Inspector Pazzi, an Italian detective, has located Lecter and is ready to sell him to Verger, but at what cost?

Review: I've already talked about Hopkins in my review of Silence of the Lambs, so suffice it to say he is just as evil and monstrous in this film as in the last, if not more so. I was disappointed, as I think everyone was, that Ms. Foster did not agree to reprise her role as Clarice Starling, but Julianne Moore does an excellent job. Frankie Faison is consistent in his role as Barney, the kindly nurse who placed the chair opposite Lecter's cell in the first film, and in this one he is caught by Clarice auctioning off the remainders of Lecter's belongings. Most of the action is around Lecter and his intricate game of chess with Verger, played exceptionally by Gary Oldman, but the three subplots are brought together in the end, and an unexpected end at that. Ridley Scott, the director of such Sci Fi classics as Blade Runner and Alien, does not disappoint, and this film retains all the darkness and foreboding of the former. A must have for the collectors of Hopkins, crime dramas, and horror films. Rated R for gore, violence, language, and horrific scenes that are sure to give any sane man or woman nightmares.

The Silence of the Lambs - 1991

Orion Pictures Corporation, Strong Heart/Demme Production

Directed by Jonathan Demme

Cast:

• Agent Clarice Starling – Jodie Foster
• Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
• Jack Crawford – Scott Glenn
• Dr. Frederick Chilton – Anthony Heald
• Barney Matthews – Frankie Faison
• Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb – Ted Levine
• Senator Ruth Martin – Diane Baker
• Catherine Martin – Brooke Smith
• Lt. Bill Boyle – Charles Napier
• SWAT Commander – Chris Issak

Story: A young FBI trainee with degrees in the law and psychoanalysis is sent on a mission by the head of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. She is to interview the notorious serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lector, nicknamed Hannibal the Cannibal. It begins as a routine visit, she is polite and courteous, but when the inmate in the next cell assaults her, Lector offers her a clue to some of his past records and perhaps even a clue to the identity of a serial killer they are looking for, a man called Buffalo Bill. Clarice follows his clue to a long term storage facility where she uncovers the disembodied head of a former patient of Lector's. Lector offers to help Clarice solve the crime and catch Buffalo Bill for a price, an exchange of information and insight into Clarice. Unbeknownst to all, Dr. Lector is using all of the people involved as pawns in an intricate game.

Review: There is something about this film that will continue to haunt me forever. Perhaps it is the idea that someone like Lector could actually exist. That thought exists due to the phenomenal acting of Anthony Hopkins. While there are many actors whom I would enjoy the privilege of sharing time with, I think to this day if I were to meet Anthony Hopkins, I would like it to be in an open room with plenty of people. That is how convincing his portrayal of Lector strikes me, and I know many people who feel the same way. Scott Glenn's portrayal of Jack Crawford is cool and calm, exactly what you might expect of a senior agent and department head in the FBI. Jodie Foster's portrayal of the ambitious Clarice Starling is as compelling and haunting as Hopkins', which would account for both of them winning their respective Academy Awards. Demme and the film itself also received Oscars, as did the screenwriters of this exceptional film. The film itself is superbly written, perfectly cast, and splendidly presented in every aspect. Details are important to Demme, obviously, so important that filming was done at Quantico for the academy shots, using actual FBI personnel in the training sequences. Perhaps the most riveting quality of the film is the portrayal of Buffalo Bill, and the ability of Ted Levine to carry off that twisted and complex role. Ted shows us how innocuous evil can be, and presents it with such flair and elegance we can imagine such a man being in a rural town like that, hiding his crimes beneath a veil of anonymity and isolation. Rated R for violence, language, gore, and some partial nudity, this is definitely not a film for the kids or even the young teens, if you ever want them to trust your neighbors and you live in a small town. Collectible? Without a doubt, one of the finest dramas ever brought to the screen.

Manhunter - 1986

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG), Red Dragon Productions S.A.

Screenplay and Directed by Michael Mann

Cast:

• Will Graham – William Petersen
• Molly Graham - Kim Griest
• Reba McClane – Joan Allen
• Dr. Hannibal Lecter – Brian Cox
• Jack Crawford – Dennis Farina
• Francis Dollarhyde – Tom Noonan
• Dr. Frederick Chilton – Benjamin Hendrickson
• Lt. Fisk – Frankie Faison
• Freddy Lounds – Stephen Lang

Story: Will Graham is a former FBI agent who recently retired to Florida with his wife and son. Graham is a 'profiler' of criminal behavior, and tries to think like the killers he profiles in order to capture them. He is called out of his retirement by his former boss, Jack Crawford, to help the FBI catch an elusive serial killer, known to the press as the 'Tooth Fairy', who randomly kills whole families in their houses during the full moon and leaves bite marks on his victims. While searching for clues to the Tooth Fairy's identity, Will meets with Dr. Hannibal Lector, an incarcerated serial killer who Will captured years earlier. His early dealings with Lector nearly drove him insane, and almost cost him his life. He discovers secret communciations are being routed in newspaper personal ads between Lector and the Tooth Fairy, and Lector may be behind a plot to kill his family for revenge.

Review: This is the first of four reviews I will do on the movies involving the character Hannibal Lector, the horrifying creation of Thomas Harris who even now ranks among the most terrifying villains imagined. A physician and psychiatrist who not only manipulates and murders his patients, but eats them as well. In this first screen appearance of Dr. Lector, he is little more than a footnote. Most of the film concentrates on the toll taken on Will Graham in his return to the FBI and his pursuit of the Tooth Fairy. The film contains the classic Michael Mann “darkness”, and the action is brisk and to the point. Petersen, Cox, Farina, and Noonan give splendid performances, and the overall feel is better (in my opinion) than “Red Dragon”, the remake of this film. Rated R for violence and language as well as disturbing content and images, this is definitely not a family film.

Ghost Rider - 2007

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Crystal Sky Pictures, Relativity Media, Marvel Studios

Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Cast:

• Johnny Blaze – Nicolas Cage
• Barton Blaze – Brett Cullen
• Carter Slade – Sam Elliot
• Mephistopheles – Peter Fonda
• Blackheart – Wes Bentley
• Roxanne Simpson – Eva Mendes
• Mack - Donal Logue

Story: “The story goes that every generation has one, some damned soul cursed to ride the earth collecting on the devil's deals. Many years ago, a ghost rider was sent to the village of San Vonganza, to fetch a contract worth a thousand evil souls...” Thus the narrator sets the stage for the epic battle of good and evil. Johnny Blaze is a professional stunt rider who made a deal with the devil when he was just a boy, a deal that backfired in his face, and left him orphaned and isolated from his friends and his sweetheart. Since then, he has gained national fame as the most daring daredevil on the planet, doing impossible stunts on his motorcycle. But his deal has come due, and the devil has charged him with a seemingly impossible task: find the contract of San Vonganza, a contract worth a thousand evil souls. The son of the devil, Blackheart, is also looking for the contract to create a hell on earth. The Ghost Rider must battle the devil and his son to make certain neither one get's the contract.

Review: I remember watching this film the first time and thinking it was just a lot of special effects without a lot of plot. Then I watched it a second time, and started to realize you have to really pay attention to the details to get the story. While not the best adaptation of a comic book (graphic novel if you prefer) to the screen, the special effects are awesome and the photography is Oscar worthy. Cage is Cage, that stoic actor who seems somehow devoid of emotion in most of his films. Mendez is hot, goes without saying, and equals Cage's level of emotion. Sam Elliot and Peter Fonda are the saving graces of the film, both adding a dimension of emotion lacking in the main characters. The prelude scenes of young Johnny and Roxanne are somewhat necessary, but could have been trimmed down to include more footage of the Ghost Rider and his missions. I haven't seen the newest film, just released at this writing, but hopefully the characters have been “fleshed out” and the plot concentrates more on the present than the past. With Cage being the only holdover for the new movie, perhaps the new directors can up the game a bit. The original film is rated PG-13 for violence and language, but nothing the teens haven't seen in their video games. Collectible? If you are a Marvel fan like I am, probably. As as classic film? No way. But entertaining.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - 2005

Mr. And Mrs. Smith - 2005

Regency Entertainment, Monarchy Entertainment, 20th Century Fox

Directed by Doug Liman

Cast:

• John Smith – Brad Pitt
• Jane Smith – Angelina Jolie
• Eddie – Vince Vaughn
• Benjamin Danz – Adam Brody
• Jasmine – Kerry Washington
• Father – Keith David
• Martin Coleman – Chris Weitz
• Suzy Coleman – Rachael Huntley
• Gwen – Michelle Monaghan
• Julie – Stephanie March
• Jade – Jennifer Morrison

Story:Two attractive, young, middle class adults are talking to a marriage counselor after five (or six) years of marriage. They sound pretty normal, until you hear how they met in Bogota, Columbia, providing each other with an alibi for their actions. Unbeknownst to one another, they are both professional assassins working for competing agencies. As fate would have it, they are assigned to the same hit and interfere with one another, and each assassin is given an assignment....kill the competing assassin within 48 hours or face termination. This film gives an entire new meaning to Couples Therapy.

Review: Now I am sure there has to be at least a thousand people living middle class suburbia lives who are really high tech assassins. And with all of them out there, it stands to reason two of them might actually meet, fall in love, and continue to do what they do without ever telling the other. Not buying it? Me either, but who says a movie has to have a plot to be entertaining? Jurrasic Park pulled it off three times. I think the appeal here lies in pretty people (Bradjolina) and marriage counseling taken to the extreme. Vince Vaughn, a tremendous talent, provides the perfect foil for Brad, and adds tremendously to the film. Angelina's staff of beauties looks like something out of early Bond or In Like Flint, but they add to the artistic merit of the film (okay, they are great looking women worth looking at), and the special effects and photography is wonderful. PG-13 is about right, language is pretty restrained, so its the violence you have to watch out for. Not particularly collectible, but highly entertaining, especially if you and your spouse have been married for about five (or six) years.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, part 1 - 2011

Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment, TSBD Canada Productions

Directed by Bill Condon

Cast:

• Jacob Black – Taylor Lautner
• Isabella Swan – Kristen Stewart
• Edward Cullen – Robert Pattinson
• Dr. Carlisle Cullen – Peter Facinelli
• Esme Cullen – Elizabeth Reaser
• Sheriff Charlie Swan – Billy Burke
• Billy – Gil Birmingham
• Alice Cullen – Ashley Greene
• Renee – Sarah Clarke
• Jasper Hale – Jackson Rathbone
• Phil Dwyer – Ty Olsson

Story: Bella and Edward are about to be married. Jacob receives his invitation and is not pleased, reacting like any spurned lover who is able to run for miles after turning into a giant wolf. Alice, Edward's sister, is in her most favorite place, planning the wedding, making sure every detail is perfect. And on the day of the wedding, Jacob does return, to wish her luck on her final day as a human...only to discover she is going to wait until after the honeymoon to be changed. The honeymoon is not without incident, but they manage until, 14 days after the wedding, Bella discovers she is pregnant. Can she survive? Will the baby be a blessing or a curse? Can Jacob stop the tribe of werewolves from killing the child?

Review: Okay, I have to let you know I have a wife and three daughters, which is why I am even aware The Twilight Saga exists. To my chagrin, I have seen all the movies, and on a scale of one to ten, I give them a six at the most. These are not the vampires and werewolves we grew up with, but the Gothic romance style of the stories appears to be appealing to many people, or else why make the movies in the first place. The special effects are probably the most appealing aspect of the film. The transformation of the tribal members to wolves is interesting and very smooth. The scenery is beautiful, and the photography is exceptional. As to the acting, well, I doubt if anyone at the academy is looking to give any Oscars away, but the actors are sufficient in a melodramatic way. I personally thought I was watching a soap opera, and not feature length film. All that being said, I think, much like the Harry Potter series, the purpose of extending this final film in the series to two episodes is more financial than artistic, and the action suffers for it. Little more than a wedding, a honeymoon, a pregnancy, and … well, that would be telling. Rated PG-13, so the little ones will best be in bed, but the teenage girls will eat it up.

King Arthur - 2004

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Green Hills Productions

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

Cast:

• Arthur – Clive Owen
• Lancelot – Iaon Gruffudd
• Tristam – Madds Mikkelson
• Gawain – Joel Edgerton
• Galahad – Hugh Dancy
• Bors – Ray Winstone
• Merlin – Stephen Dillane
• Guinevere – Keira Knightly
• Cerdic – Stellan Skarsgard
• Cynric – Til Schweiger

Story: Where did the legends of King Arthur originate? While scholars still debate the actual origins, this film reveals one possible circumstance. We are in the time of the decline of the Roman Empire, when the Roman cavalry stationed in Britain were conscripts from Samartia, a land in steppes of the Ural mountains. The Christian era has begun, and all Roman citizens are Christians, while the Samartians retain their pagan faith. Rome has decided to surrender its holdings in Britain, leaving that island to be conquered by the Saxons, the tribes from Northern Europe descended from the Vikings of old, or defended by the Wodes, the indigenous people. On the day the Samarian knights are to be discharged, the Bishop gives them a final task, to rescue a final family of Romans who live above Hadrian's wall, a defensive wall built to keep invaders out. Arthur and his knights reach the household of Marcus Oronius, to discover he has been using torture and beatings to control his serfs. As they journey back to the safety of their fort, they must battle the Wodes and the Saxons. With the hordes of the Wolds on one side and the Saxons close behind, will they succeed in their mission?

Review: For those of us who have read and seen the Arthurian legends based on Morte de Arthur, this is a fascinating look into the possible beginnings of the legend. Since Bruckeimer is producing and Fuqua is directing, the film is filled with fantastic battles and gore, but the plot is solid and the acting is superb. Clive Owen and Iaon Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic) show incredible insight into their roles, building strong characters for us to consider, as do the remainder of the cast. Kiera Knightly is exceptional in role of Guinevere, the Wode “princess” rescued from the Roman torture chamber. Stephen Dillane is fascinating as Merlin, the guerrilla leader of the Wodes and Guinevere’s father. Stellan Skarsgard as the Saxon king is dark and determined, and you get the impression of three distinctly different cultures who have come to that place in history where the world will change. Overall, the film is a stand alone historical perspective with only one tastefully done (and wholly unnecessary) sex scene. Rated R for the gore and violence, and some language, this film will probably not offend teens who play video games with violent content. The little ones should be asleep before you slip this one in the player. Collectible for the history buffs, or for anyone who enjoys Bruckheimer's work.

Dogma - 1999

View Askew Productions

Written and Directed by Kevin Smith

Cast:

• Bethany – Linda Fiorentino
• Liz – Janeane Garofalo
• Loki – Matt Damon
• Bartleby – Ben Affleck
• Metatron – Alan Rickman
• Azrael – Jason Lee
• Rufus – Chris Rock
• Serendipity – Salma Hayek
• Jay – Jason Mewes
• Silent Bob – Kevin Smith
• God – Alanis Morrisette
• Cardinal Glick – George Carlin

Story: The Catholic church has come up with a new way to get people in the door: a massive new campaign called Catholicism WOW!, starring the new symbol of the church, the Buddy Christ. In order to kick off this campaign, they have come up with a special dispensation for all newcomers: you walk through the doors of the church and BINGO, all your sins are automatically forgiven! This is great news for Loki and Bartleby, two angels who have been kicked out of heaven and sentenced to Wisconsin, for if they can renounce their immortal status as angels and enter the church, they can die as men and return to heaven. If they do, they will have negated God's word, and they will unwittingly undo all of creation. To stop them from accomplishing their mission, Metatron, a special angel who acts as the voice of God, contacts Bethany, the last Scion, and charges her with a mission from God. She is aided on her mission by Jay and Silent Bob, and Rufus, the unnamed 13th apostle. Azrael, a demon from the hell, commands the Stygian Triplets, three demons who have already placed God in a coma. Will the demon succeed in helping the angels to enter the church and negate all of creation?

Review: Kevin Smith will be serving an eternity in hell for writing and directing this movie, and we will all be joining him for enjoying it. This young genius, the creator of Clerks, Mallrats, and the unnamed leader of counterculture has succeeded in making the perfect statement about the dogma of the Catholic church, and he has done it in a way sure to offend any devout Catholic. The rest of us, however, are free to laugh our asses off as we roll through all the irony, comedy, and sarcasm of the film. Linda Fiorentino is amazing as Bethany, and the woman deserves an Oscar in the category of “How in the world did you manage to keep a straight face in the midst of all that”. Having Jay and Silent Bob, the icons born of Kevin's previous films, as Bethany's protectors and prophets was nothing short of genuis (a word I tend to use a lot when I talk about Kevin Smith), and allows Kevin to reprise the role we all love so well. Salma Hayek plays Serendipity, the muse who fell to Earth, who can inspire everyone else except herself. Chris Rock, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Jason Lee, all veterans born of Kevin's films, perform with perfection, making this an exceptional piece of satire, parody, comedy, and art all rolled into one. Definitely rated R for language, nudity, violence and general poor taste (by the Catholics, that is), this is one of those films to watch when the kids are in bed. Collectible for everyone except devout Catholics, who will probably do time in purgatory for even mentioning its name, let alone watching it.

Necessary Roughness - 1991

Paramount Pictures

Directed by Stan Dragoti

Cast:

• Paul Blake – Scott Bakula
• Coach Ed Generro – Hector Elizondo
• Coach Wally Rig – Robert Loggia
• Dr. Suzanne Carter – Harley Jane Kozak
• Dean Phillip Elias – Larry Miller
• Professor Andre Krimm - Sinbad
• Dean Carver Purcell – Fred Dalton Thompson
• Jarvis Edison – Jason Bateman
• Lucy Draper – Kathy Ireland

Story:Ooops. The team and coaches of Texas State University are sanctioned by the NCAA, and the school is forced to recruit a football team from actual students in order to play. Ed “Straight Arrow” Generro is hired to coach and recruit his team. He brings in Wally Rig as his defensive coach, and starts to recruit students. But Dean Elias sees this as an opportunity to eliminate football from the curriculum forever, and sets about trying to sabotage the team academically. Meanwhile, Coach Rig has a brilliant idea. He recruits Paul Blake, a former high school quarterback who was set to play for Penn State when his father passed away and he had to take over the family farm. Blake is in his thirties, but his curiosity to know if he can still play draws him back into the game and he enrolls to play. All sorts of things emerge. Blake's journalism professor, Dr. Carter, was a cheerleader who had a major crush on Paul in high school. Blake's science professor, Andre Krimm, was a former football player who dropped out of football to pursue his career in science and still has eligibility left. In need of a kicker, they recruit a soccer player, Lucy Draper, who is anything but male. While they fail to win all their games, they prove that honesty and college football can go hand in hand.

Review: So why review a 21 year old movie? Easy. Good movies have no expiration date, and this is certainly one of them. At the time, the NCAA was going through all sorts of problems with player bribes, payoffs, faked grades, violations from steroids to hookers to cars for the players. This movie was brave enough to face these problems and gives an accurate picture of trying to build a football team from a bunch of wanna be's and never were's. Scott Bakula is perfect in the role, neither attempting to affect a fake Texas drawl nor over playing the role. Hector Elizondo and Robert Loggia, two veteran actors who could easily dominate the film, instead add their considerable talents to make the film believable. Several great touches are added, including Rob Schneider as the announcer for the games, and the appearance of a prison team arranged by Dean Elias (Larry Miller, the schmuck you love to hate) adds an extreme and interesting comic scene. Dick Butkus, Earl Campbell, Roger Craig, Ben Davidson, Tony Dorsett, Evander Holyfield, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Kelly, Jerry Rice, Herschel Walker, and Randy White are the prison football players. The film is cohesive, the language is minimal, and the violence is limited to the football field, practice, and a slight altercation between two teams at Billy Bob's. Collectible if you are a fan of good sports movies, and definitely a great film for the family on a Saturday night.

Rustler's Rhapsody - 1985

Paramount Pictures, Impala, Tesauro S.A.

Written and Directed by Hugh Wilson

Cast:

• Rex O'Herlihan – Tom Berenger
• Peter – G. W. Bailey
• Miss Tracy – Marilu Henner
• Colonel Ticonderoga – Andy Griffith
• Railroad Colonel – Fernando Rey
• Colonel's Daughter – Sela Ward
• Bob Barber – Patrick Wayne

Story: A tribute to the serial westerns of the silver screen. Sort of. Rex O'Herlihan is the Singing Cowboy who rides into town to save the day from the evil cattle baron and his henchmen. He's not psychic, but he seems to know exactly what will happen in every town he rides into. Peter, the town drunk, is enthralled by Rex's smooth manners and fast draw, not to mention his exceptional wardrobe. He soon signs on with Rex as his sidekick, and together they fight for the rights of the townspeople and the sheepherders against Colonel Ticonderoga and the Railroad Colonel. All the thrills and suspense of the Saturday morning matinees of the late 1930's and 1940's, without the bloodshed or death.

Review: I was born in 1952, so I must have been about 10 years old when my brother and I were dropped off at the local theater in Waukegan along with a couple of hundred other kids to watch the Saturday morning matinees. In our days it was Flash Gordon, Sky King, and Commander Cody, all legendary “cliff hangers”, which meant they would always end the episode with the hero in danger and you would have to come back next week to see what happened. In the 1930's and '40's, the theme was the American West, and the heroes all rode stallions of white or gold, had two guns, sang and played guitar, and wore white hats. Tom Mix was the silent movie hero, then came Gene Autry, Randolf Scott, and later Roy Rogers. This well written parody takes all those memories and rolls them up in a pleasingly benign story that incorporates the old and the new. Language and sexuality are not an issue, so the kids can watch without worry. While there is a lot of innuendo, nothing is explicit enough to warrant anything more than a PG rating, and I think that is a little excessive. Not necessarily a collectible, but worth a viewing on a Saturday morning with the kids, just before they head out to play.

The Blues Brothers - 1980

Universal Pictures

Directed by John Landis

Cast:

• ”Joliet Jake” Blues – John Belushi
• Elwood Blues – Dan Ackroyd
• Curtis – Cab Calloway
• Reverend Cleophus James – James Brown
• Ray – Ray Charles
• Mrs. Murphy – Aretha Franklin
• Mystery Woman – Carrie Fisher
• Sister Mary Stigmata (The Penguin) – Kathleen Freeman

Story: “Joliet Jake” Blues is getting out of Joliet prison. His brother, Elwood, is there to pick him up in a used Mt. Prospect police cruiser. Elwood drives him to the orphanage where they were both raised to visit “The Penguin” aka Sister Mary Stigmata, who informs them the orphanage will close unless she has $5,000.00 to pay for tax assessment. The church is not interested in keeping the orphanage open, but when Jake offers to come up with the money, The Penguin refuses to accept what she knows will be stolen money. They meet Curtis, the caretaker who lives it the basement and taught the boys to play music. He tells Jake to get straight, to get to church, so the brothers go to the church of the Reverend Cleophus James, where Jake receives a vision. From that moment on, the brothers are on a mission from God to put their band back together, raise the money to save the orphanage, and redeem themselves while evading the police, the Illinois Nazi party, an irate country band, and a jilted fiance of Jake's.

Review: One of the most hilarious movies to ever come out of a Saturday Night Live skit. Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi lead us from one ridiculous situation to another as they proceed on their mission from God. James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, and the Blues Brothers Band fill your ears with some of the greatest rhythm and blues hits of the 50's and 60's, complete with choreography and dance that is sure to please. The stunts are amazing, the acting excellent, and the plot is cohesive and well thought out, as ridiculous as it is. This is a classic film for the entire family, even though there is some profanity, a few off color jokes, and a lot of overt violence that is all played for laughs. Probably more for the 13 and older set, but frankly, a fun film that is too ridiculous to miss. A definite collector's item as one of the top live action comedies of all time.

Con Air -1997

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Kouf/Bigelow Productions

Directed by Simon West

Cast:

• Cameron Poe – Nicholas Cage
• Duncan Malloy – Colm Meaney
• U.S. Marshall Vince Larkin – John Cusack
• Baby O – Mykelti Williamson
• Billy Bedlam – Nick Chinlund
• Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom – John Malkovich
• Garland Greene – Steve Buscemi
• Diamond Dog – Ving Rhames
• Pinball – Dave Chappelle
• Guard Bishop – Rachel Ticotin
• Johnny “23” Baca – Danny Trejo
• Swamp Thing – M. C. Gainey
• ”Sally Can't Dance” Martinez – Renoly Santiago
• Tricia Poe – Monica Potter

Story: A U. S. Army Ranger is released from his tour of duty, but on the night of his return, three men at a local bar attack him and he is forced to defend himself, killing one of the men in the process. He is sentenced to 7-9 years in a federal prison, and is being transported by a U. S. Marshall flight to his point of release. The flight he is on is packed with some of the most notorious prisoners in the system on their way to a supermax prison, and as soon as the plane is in the air, the prisoners take over the flight. Cameron Poe, the released prisoner, must find a way to protect a female guard from being raped and keep his diabetic cellmate alive while trying to foil the plans of the prisoners, led by Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom, a sociopathic murderer who claims he has killed more men that cancer.

Review: The plot is thin, and I mean almost anorexic. No way would any court convict a decorated veteran in a three to one fight of anything other than self defense, especially with witnesses in the bar testifying the three men started it. The “well oiled machine” of the U. S. Marshall's service would never employ a guard that taunts prisoners or uses ethnic slurs to address them. Every character is overblown, every scene charged with organizational and procedural errors, and the lack of intervention by higher authorities is outrageous. All that being said, Con Air is a true action-adventure thrill ride, one of those Jerry Bruckheimer films you can't stop watching. Casting alone is worth the watch, with Cage, Malkovich, Cusack and the rest providing for intense moments, dialog, and entertaining quips sure to delight. Emphasis on the Action part of the genre, this film is rated R for violence and language, and deserves it. All the right elements for a great fun film, and collectible for all the Bruckheimer fans.

P.S. I Love You - 2007

Alcon Entertainment, Grosvenor Park Productions, Wendy Finerman Productions

Directed by Richard LaGravenese

Cast:

• Holly Kennedy – Hillary Swank
• Gerry Kennedy – Gerard Butler
• Denise – Lisa Kudrow
• Sharon – Gina Gershon
• John – James Marsters
• Daniel – Harry Connick Jr.
• Patricia - Kathy Bates
• Ciara – Nellie McKay
• William – Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Story: A young couple are madly in love with one another, but a sudden problem comes up. He dies from an inoperable tumor. With no children and no purpose and without her husband, she begins to withdraw, barely leaves her apartment, and is heading toward a serious breakdown when a letter arrives in the mail. A letter from her dead husband. He has arranged to have the letters delivered and in each letter he gives her a task to complete. Against her will, he is leading her to get on with her life, He enlisted the help of her mother, her friends and even his parents to make this all happen, and his plans lead his love through a path of new adventures and cherished memories.

Review: So here is my Valentine's Present to my readers. A chick flick. But not just any chick flick. An incredibly good one. I don't care if you are male or female, you have to love this idea, people fall so much in love the only thing that matters is the happiness of the other person. Gerard Butler and Hillary Swank are perfect together, which is no surprise to anyone who knows their work. The supporting cast members could all be swapped out for the leads in this case, since you have a cast of seasoned professionals with their own followings. Of particular note are Gina Gershon and James Marsters, two underused and powerfully good character actors with enough talent to carry off a film by themselves. Toss into that mix the incredble Kathy Bates and Lisa Kudrow, and for icing on the cake add Nellie McKay and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and you have the perfect cast for any romantic comedy you would want to watch. Next you take some incredible scenery and photography, mix in a wonderfully romantic plot, and a director who understands the limits of his necessity, and you have the perfect Valentine's film to watch with your lover tonight. A PG-13 rating means the little ones ought to be in bed before you start, but that was probably your intention anyway, right? After all, it is Valentine's Day.

The Italian Job - 2003

Paramount Pictures, De Line Productions

Directed by F. Gary Gray

Cast:

• Charlie Croker – Mark Wahlberg
• Stella Bridger – Charlize Theron
• John Bridger – Donald Sutherland
• Handsome Rob – Jason Statham
• Lyle – Seth Green
• Left Ear – Mos Def
• Steve – Edward Norton

Story: A crew of hi-tech thieves executes a very slick robbery of a safe filled with gold from a townhouse in Venice. They travel out of the city and gather in a circle drinking bottles of Dom Perignon, talking about the things they will do from now on. Suddenly a crew of men with guns rushes in and steals the gold, and one of the crew shoots the safe cracker, and is about to shoot the others then they escape by driving the van off a bridge into the deep water of reservoir. A year passes, and the daughter of the murdered man gets a call from the leader of the heist. They've found the man who betrayed them. Since she is a professional locksmith and security expert, a legal version of her father, she tells Charlie no at first, but soon calls him back and says she is in. The crew plot to recover their gold and to teach the betrayer a lesson he won't soon forget.

Review: Sometimes remakes are a good thing, sometimes they're not. This one is very loosely based on the film of the same name in the 1960's starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward with Benny Hill as the comedy relief. That film was a so-so farce, but this one is a runaway hit. The action starts at the beginning and keeps the pace throughout the film. Mos Def and Seth Green are our comics in this film, but their abilities to shift from comic to dramatic are well played. Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron are well suited to their roles and come off with a very reserved but appropriate sexual tension to add interest to the already interesting hi-tech portions of the film. Sutherland's role, while brief, is the perfect set up for the remainder of the film. Statham does what he does best, and his character is a mix between The Transporter and The Mechanic, with a splash of smooth to balance it out. As always, whether good guy or bad guy, Ed Norton's presence is perfect to create the correct tension in the movie. Good plot, great scenery, and exceptional photography make this a film the entire family can enjoy together, despite the PG-13 rating. Collectible if you like action adventure, although you will probably pull it out as an afterthought.

In The Line Of Fire - 1993

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Castle Rock Entertainment

Directed by Wolfgang Petersen

Cast:

• Frank Horrigan – Clint Eastwood
• Mitch Leary – John Malkovich
• Lilly Raines – Rene Russo
• Al D'Andrea – Dylan McDermott
• Bill Watts – Gary Cole
• Harry Sargent – Fred Dalton Thompson
• Sam Campagna – John Mahoney

Story: An aging secret service agent is investigating a reported threat against the President when he stumbles on to a guy who is actually plotting to kill him. “Booth” is a sinister sort who recognizes Frank Horrigan as the last remaining Secret Service agent from the Kennedy era, the man who was standing behind the car when Kennedy was shot. The Secret Service takes all the right steps to capture “Booth”, but he is always just a few steps ahead of them. He plays a cat and mouse game with Frank, calling him, talking about how, even telling him where the assassination will take place. Frank risks everything, including his life several times, to prevent the assassination from happening, but is it enough?

Review: To date, this is the last film Clint has starred in that was not directed by him. But if you're going to work with the best, why not work with Petersen? That logic appears to be sound, as this film is one of the more seamless dramas Eastwood has done. Everything fits, from the opening scenes as an undercover agent to relationship with John Mahoney to the interaction with John Malkovich. The love relationship between him and Rene Russo is neither forced nor overly romantic, but the feeling blends perfectly into the resolution of the film. Fred Dalton Thompson is not stranger to political roles, but might have played this one with a little more panache. Overall, this film is well-written and directed, plays well to the adult audience, and leaves a favorable impression, like going to a good restaurant on a night when the chef has gone all out. You leave satisfied, and plan to come back again. Rated R for violence and language, this film is not for the pre-teens, and while the teens would not be shocked at the violence, they probably won't want to watch a bunch of “old people” for 128 minutes. Their loss is our gain. Collectible for the Eastwood fans, and anyone who enjoys a good suspense film.

The Bourne Identity - 2002

Universal Pictures, Kennedy/Marshall Company, The Hypnotic

Directed by Doug Liman

Cast:

• Jason Bourne – Matt Damon
• Marie Kreutz – Franka Potente
• Conklin – Chris Cooper
• The Professor – Clive Owen
• Ward Abbott – Brian Cox
• Wombosi - Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
• Zorn – Gabriel Mann
• Nicolette Parsons – Julia Stiles
• Eamon – Tim Dutton

Story: Robert Ludlum's character comes to the screen in the first of three thrilling action-suspense movies. A fishing trawler off the coast of Marseilles fishes a man out of the water. They believe at first he is dead, but when he moves, the captain of the trawler brings him below decks and finds the man has two bullets in his back, and a secret code device in his thigh. When the man wakes up, he has no idea who he is. For the next several days, he works with the men in the trawler, and tries but cannot remember who he is or what he was doing in the water. When they dock, the captain gives the man the device. It leads the man to Geneva to a numbered bank account, and a safety deposit box. In the box, he finds several passports, a lot of money in various international currencies, and a gun. He discovers his name is Jason Bourne, he lives in Paris, and suddenly he is being pursued by men who want to kill him. As they attack again and again, Bourne realizes he is highly trained and skilled, but for what?

Review: Matt Damon comes off well as the celebrated Jason Bourne, and Franka Potente is marvelous as Marie. While loosely based on the character created by Robert Ludlum, The film keeps you drilled to the screen as it moves quickly from one scene to the next. Brian Cox and Chris Cooper are superb character actors and a fine addition to the film as the two CIA operatives in charge of Treadstone. Julia Stiles is particularly good in the role as “Nicki”, the operative who coordinates the “assets”. Excellent performances throughout the film are what makes this story so believable, or is it the fact we, as Americans, think our government is capable of doing this? Language and violence are the reasons for the R rating, so they little ones need to be away from the screen when you are watching. For the grownups, this is an entertaining action film with lots of “wow” moments that led Hollywood to make two more.

Rocky Balboa - 2006

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios

Written and Directed by Sylvester Stallone

Cast:

• Rocky Balboa – Sylvester Stallone
• Paulie – Burt Young
• Mason “The Line” Dixon – Antonio Tarver
• Marie – Geraldine Hughes
• Robert Balboa Jr. - Milo Ventimiglia
• Duke – Tony Burton
• Steps – James Francis Kelly III

Story: The aging prizefighter has come full circle. Adrian has passed away, he lives in his old neighborhood, he visits his wife's grave every morning and places flowers on the headstone, and he owns a nice little Italian restaurant. He's still the champ, and people come to his restaurant where his memorabilia is displayed to sit, have a nice meal, and get up close and personal with the former heavyweight champion of the world. His life is routine, but a computer generated fight between him and the current champion, an unpopular fighter named Mason “The Line” Dixon, stirs something within him, and he applies for a boxing license. He runs into Marie, the little girl in the first film who yelled “Up yours, Creepo!” at him for walking her home away from her friends. They become friends, and Rocky befriends her son, Steps. Rocky's son is all grown up, but unhappy. Paulie is still around, but unhappy. Meanwhile, Dixon's managers have heard about Rocky getting his boxing license back and see an exhibition fight as a way of turning around their fighter's career. When Rocky and Dixon meet, Dixon learns the meaning of heart!

Review: The first time I saw the original Rocky, I was at a drive in theater outside of Bremerton, Washington. It was cold, it rained half the time, and you had to idle the car now and then to keep the windows from fogging. But one thing amazed me: during the fight scenes between Rocky and Apollo Creed, you could see the cars shaking. I mean, literally shaking, as if the wind were blowing at high speed. This is the kind of excitement the Rocky series has inspired since 1973, and this final film is no exception. This is the film that reveals the persistent message of every film in the series in detail. “It's not how hard you get hit, it's how many times you can get up and keep going!” Rocky is a singularity in a world of chaos. He is devoted to Adrian, even though she has passed away. He still befriends his brother-in-law, Paulie, even though Paulie has never truly grown up. He is a testament to the persistence of the human spirit, always trying to see the good. The cast, new and old, is perfect in this summation of the series, and Stallone's signature in this film is evident from beginning to end. A must see movie for the family, and an absolute must have for the Rocky collector, or anyone who needs to be reminded we can all be champions if we try.

Schindler's List - 1993

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment

Directed by Stephen Spielberg

Cast:

• Oskar Schindler – Liam Neeson
• Itzak Stern – Ben Kingsley
• Amon Goeth – Ralph Fiennes
• Emilie Schindler – Caroline Goodall
• Poldek Pfefferberg – Jonathan Sagall
• Helen Hirsch – Embeth Davidtz

Story: In 1939, Poland's army was defeated in two days by the Nazi forces. A man named Oskar Schindler leaves his home in Czechoslovakia to take advantage of what he knows will happen to the Jews. He endears himself to the senior officers in Krakow, and approaches Itzak Stern with an offer to allow the Jews to keep something of value in exchange for their backing him with money to purchase a factory. To curry their favor, he trades with Jews on the black market to send expensive items such as cognac, chocolate, caviar, and other gifts along with the order forms for his factory's output, enamelware and other cooking supplies for German troops. The Jews working in his factory are given work permits, and Itzak Stern is charged with making sure they know their jobs, whether they have training or not. During the course of the war, Schindler must make many deals under the table wit the Nazi's in order to keep his Jews from being sent on to concentration camps and death camps. In all, 1,100 Jews were saved by Schindler.

Review: This amazing story is, in my humble opinion, the epitome of Spielberg's work. To bring a story like this to the screen is nothing short of magnificent. It would be difficult to single out a particular actor for their contributions, since the film is so cohesive and unified. You are immediately drawn into the action, you are watching the events unfold as if you were there. Liam Neeson's performance as Schindler is dynamic and compelling. At first he appears the opportunist and war profiteer, but his growth through the film lets you feel his compassion. Ben Kingsley's quiet and steady demeanor throughout the film compliments Neeson's. Ralph Fiennes is the quintessential Nazi camp commandant, unhappy to be where he is, ruthless in his orders, and totally without compassion. He is a soulless man who cannot feel love or hate, simply disdain for the Jews, as if they were cattle. There are so many scenes in this film that speak to your soul, but perhaps the most important line in the film occurs near the end. “If you save one life, in time you save the world.” The violence and cruelty of the film make it unsuitable for those under 14, and between 14 and 17, I would use sound judgment. A definite collectors item, and if they haven't shown this to your teens in high school, they ought to. This is a reminder of the inhumanity man can reach if he has nothing to stop him.