Dog Soldiers

Amazon.com

This lean, efficient horror flick stands well above most bloated blockbusters. Dog Soldiers follows a military squad on a training mission in the Scottish wilds, where they run into a pack of werewolves. There's nothing fancy about the plot--the soldiers hole up in a farmhouse and desperately try to fend off the werewolves until dawn--but the script is full of smart dialogue and clever ideas, the direction is dynamic, and the performances (from Kevin McKidd, Sean Pertwee, Emma Cleasby, and Liam Cunningham, among a solid cast of relative unknowns) are strong and committed throughout. Dog Soldiers pays homage to Night of the Living Dead, Aliens, and The Evil Dead, among other films, but the references are woven into the fabric of the movie. An unpretentious, tension-inducing flick like this is a pleasant reminder that even crude special effects can be more evocative than expensive computer flashiness. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL, but bloody and disgusting--now one of my favorite movies.......2007-09-07

From Director Neil Marshall, who also directed the horror girly movie, "The Descent."
This is just plain high class British horror, with fantastic acting, wolfies that are huge, disgusting, terrifying (and really, real looking!)
Special yahoos for actors Sean Pertwee and Kevin McKidd..................
Plot--Special Forces group on mission (pseudo-style) that turns into a werewolf horror fest. The group of elite officers are all looking at each other like, "You have got to be sh......ing me." They are all running over hills and through trees trying to pick these creatures off, but a few of the army buddies get body readjustments in the attempts. I love the one guy who get some claws to the stomach and the 24ft of bowel and intestine are dragging behind him, but!!!, his mate seems to stuff the sausage back into him and use super glue and a surgical device instead of stitches.
You have to watch this flick, it is just bloody disgusting, but the writing is terrific, directing good, acting fantastic. Even the British country side is quite pretty to look at--Give it a try........

Indeed a very good werewolf film.......2007-08-28

In an era where you don't expect much from a film, this one delivers more than you hope for and just a little bit more. The film's modesty is what I find particularly endearing. It doesn't try to be the best horror film ever with over-the-top effects or cast, it's just a good solid film with some honest special effects, acting, and fun.

A True Love For the Genre..........2007-08-23

This film draws inspiration from the very best elements of many horror/SF films and successsfully wraps them around a lycanthropic theme. The werewolves are top notch---some of the very best ever depicted on screen (no kidding...and no CGI, either! )---and the acting is superb. What a rare and wondrous combination to find a film that simultaneously forces the viewer to love its antagonists (in this case, the lycanthropes)and identify with the very human protagonists (the soldiers). This is a remarkable effort, and I can only hope to see a sequel of equal intensity in the near future. As far as effects go, It's "The Howling" meets "An American Werewolf in London" and a refreshing twist of everything in between. Truly inspired horror for die-hard genre fans and casual viewers alike.

I Hope I give you the %&$%s!.......2007-07-19

For buying it used, it was a noteworthy title to add to my horror collection. The wolves reminded me of a lost concept with present day horror. They were more scary when you barely see them. Then they show up, you are like "heh,. oookay." However, I thought the actors made it enjoyable. It's hard to see how ths was showed on the Sci Fi channel. Lots of censoring?

ecxellent unknown military horror.......2007-06-18

great independent lower budget gem. This is the same guy who made The Descent, if you are a horror fan than this is worth checking out, a diffent spin on the old werewolf fims.

Average customer rating:

Cry Havoc and Buy `The Dogs of War'
The Dogs of War
Timeless
What a let down
Who's the villain

The Dogs of War
Starring: Christopher Walken , Tom Berenger , Colin Blakely , Hugh Millais , and Paul Freeman
Director: John Irvin
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B00005O06P
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com

Back before Christopher Walken became a caricature of himself, when he was still considered a rising actor based on his Oscar® for The Deer Hunter, he made this graphic, exciting action film, about a group of professional mercenaries. Walken leads a band of soldiers of fortune, who are hired to overthrow a dictator in West Africa (think Idi Amin). But when their mission is compromised by political and monetary forces, Walken returns to the United States, disillusioned, battered, and not sure the high life of lawyers, guns, and money is really for him. Still, vengeance is sweet, as his partner, Tom Berenger, keeps whispering into his ear. A better film than it's generally given credit for, The Dogs of War features the kind of cool, detached performance Walken used to be capable of, before he began believing both the hype and ridicule about his over-the-top style. --Marshall Fine

Description

Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Christopher Walken (Pulp Fiction) is a brutal mercenary who must fight the ultimate battleagainst his own consciencein this powerful action thriller with a "heart-thumping tempo" (The Hollywood Reporter). The Dogs Of War is a spectacular adventure that brilliantly captures the gloryand horrorof war. Jamie Shannon (Walken) is a cynical warrior-for-hire who feels truly alive only in the heat of battle, and now he's aboutto take on the most challenging assignment of his career: to invade a corrupt African dictatorship and shift control to the "puppet" of a powerful British corporation. To prepare, Shannon masterfullytrains and equips a squad of deadly mercenaries with the latest and most destructive tactics and military hardware. But as their explosive assault begins, Shannon finds himself embroiled in an internal conflict of his own: Will this be his greatest triumph or has he sold his soul along with his battle expertise?

Customer Reviews:

Cry Havoc and Buy `The Dogs of War'.......2007-07-17

`The Dogs of War' is a cold warrior classic forgotten.

I still remember the frightening sight of the VHS cover, a painting of Walken's frightening face gripping a revolving grenade launcher, greeting me at the video store. I never saw it, always assuming it was merely Vietnam War backwash resulting from `The Deer Hunter.' I was completely wrong, sand deeply regret missing `The Dogs of War' all these years.

Based on Fredrick Forsyth's best selling cold warrior novel of the same title, `The Dogs of War' focus on a single great raid battle with wide reaching elements of drama. Mercenary Shannon (Christopher Walken) is hired by British industrialists to overthrow a stereotypical African dictatorship. 75% percent of the film involves the planning of a single great victory. The planning is filled with excitement as Walken and co mercenaries, including Tom Berenger and Ed O'Neal scavenge Europe of equipment. Their arsenal includes Uzis, rocket launchers, claymores, and new unique on unforgettable revolving grenade launchers. An advanced weapon still only now 27 years later making it to the battlefield.

The climactic battle is one of the most memorable blitzkriegs in movie history.

Christopher Walken's performance takes us back to when his frightening face and demeanor were used for fear, not comedy. Yes, some comedians like Walken and Leslie Nielson started out as action heroes.

`The Dogs of War' effectively combines Walken's acting, cold warrior cloak and dagger, and all out modern action.

The Dogs of War.......2007-04-06

I am a big fan of Christopher Walken. However this movie was almost a
verbatim remake of "The Wild Geese" from a few years before. I would
not recommend this movie as a purchase item to anyone else, but it
would be nice to rent "both" DVD's. Then anyone could make an informed
choice as to whether to purchase either,or both movies.

Timeless.......2007-01-01

I just watched this movie and it was the first time I've seen it in 25 years.
It is just as fresh now as it was then.

What a let down.......2005-10-25

As a huge fan of Frederick Forsyth and after seeing the brilliant screen adaptation of his book The Day Of The Jackal, another favorite read of mine, this film was terrible.
This adaptation butchers the original story to the point where it's almost unrecognizable.
If you've never read the book but like cheesy shoot and blowup action films this one may appeal to you.
But if you read and enjoyed the detail of the book I think you too will find this film to be a great disappointment.

Who's the villain.......2005-10-06

This film stands out because, unlike most action movies, the plot drives it. It's a portrayal of the life of mercenaries, pawns in the larger global game of power and profits, seen through the experiences of the character played by Christopher Walken. Its specific focus is a coup d'etat in Africa that must be executed by a clandestine force, necessarily commissioned outside the official channels of government. From its earliest stages, all aspects of the mission are rife with mortal danger, a typical reflection of the political forces vying to maintain their own interests. A veteran of several similar assaults, Walken's character is contacted to organize and implement the project. For him, it should be just another assignment, but this one is different. We see a grizzled, jaded soldier of fortune who is well-trained and honed for the task, but who is nonetheless hoping that this particular job may be his last, providing just enough of a pay-off to enable him to leave the life and pursue a more normal existence. Through the course of events, we therefore get not only a story of conflict but one that is personal as well.
The other film's strengths are its aversion to stereotypes and straw men. This is not the stuff of Chuck Norris or Sylvester Stallone. We are not subjected to distorted combat scenes where the hero wins the battle with one hand and the enemy is a stupid, sub-human dreg. Rather, we get a sense of the uncertainty of survival, of the brutal reality of life and death under unusual and exceptional circumstances. Within that context, the lines between good and evil, hero and villain, are blurred. Questions concerning loyalty and principle are posed. Who, in fact, is right? Who should win- and does it matter? Can the employer be trusted or even the other men in the unit?
This is as good a movie as there is in this genre. Walken's performance is compelling, bolstered by an excellent supporting cast(including an unexpectedly good showing from Tom Berenger). Fine direction of vivid action scenes ensures that the tempo does not drag, but balanced against that is suprisingly cutting, insightful and sensitive dialogue. This film thus succeeds at several levels and, while disturbing in tone, still makes for great entertainment.

STALINGRAD - Dogs, do you want to live forever?

Average customer rating:

Huende wollt ihr?
DVD OK
Not very engaging.
The definitive Stalingrad movie has not yet been made
Much better than the PC remake

STALINGRAD - Dogs, do you want to live forever?
Starring: Joachim Hansen , Ernst Wilhelm Borchert , Wolfgang Preiss , Carl Lange , and Horst Frank
Director: Frank Wisbar
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ASIN: B0000646UO
Release Date: 2001-06-15

Customer Reviews:

Huende wollt ihr?.......2007-04-04

1950's German cinema, bereft of the cultural contributions which became the "New German Cinema" of the late 60's and 70's, is an interesting period in filmmaking. This Stalingrad opus is a beautiful anti-war film, and historically accurate as you can get. Original Uniforms, actors who were German soldiers themselves during the war, and T-34's rolling over trenchlines. For those of whom love the series 08/15 this is a must. The only historical error that I can pick up would be the MG-42's replacing the 34. But outside of this supply issue (as most of the 34's had been in use in Israel for some time) the film is great.

DVD OK.......2006-06-04

I have always been a fan of this movie and would recommend it to any student of Stalingrad. While the resolution of the DVD works well on a HDTV, I doubt if the DVD contains the original theatrical release version. The DVD contains the 4:3 formated movie, so don't foget to set your DVD player to this unless you want to see it stretched out on your widescreen TV.

Not very engaging........2006-05-13

This movie is a disappointment considering it was made at a time when so many of the survivors were still alive and recently freed from Russian captivity. The film covers the experiences of a veteran German officer assigned as an advisor to a Rumanian Army Corps on the eve of the Stalingrad encirclement. The film does not go into any kind of depth either in terms of character development or story line to explain the importance and tragedy of Stalingrad. One must think that it even disappointed it's original German viewers of the 1950's who probably desired some kind of explanation for the disaster of Stalingrad and the Nazi era.
As an anti-war film this film is a failure; as a shoot 'em up action war film it is droll. All in all this is less satisfying than a made for TV movie of the same period.

The definitive Stalingrad movie has not yet been made.......2005-07-19

This gets a 4 star under doubt. [German version]

Frank Wisbar spent the 1930s in the States and most of WWII there too. When he caught up on the theme of WWII in Germany in the late 1950's he did so without the causcious guilt many of his politically tainted countrymen posessed.

Where "Enemy at the Gates" is an embarrassing performance tumpets and bravado, "Stalingrad" a show of German theatrical performance, "Hünde, wollt ihr ewig leben" almost comes down to the level of "I say chaps, Stalingrad is awfully chilly, hm?"...

However, as for sticking to historical facts it scores. It touches in on the German arrogance and prejudice even against her own allies. Anecdotes of how things aren't right are sometimes played down to subtile hints which is almost unusual in German films. Modern German directors, please take notes here...

The relatively low budgets on battle scenes in spite, this is a good movie with a even pace towards the end. If you like the old school war movies and would like to see a German view, this is worth the time. But keep in mind that Wisbar didn't make full use of his material - Read Beevor to catch up on events, and "As far as my feet will carry me"/"So weit die Füsse tragen" (Clemens Forell) about life/dispair in the Soviet POW camps after the war. I recommend the 08/15 series for a movie look at the Germans in WWII. Why on Gods green planet isn't it released on DVD to an English language audience?

PS: the German villain is well played by Wolgang Preiss. Oddly enough, as the battle of Stalingrad begun he enjoyed his fame in the role as a dashing nazi pilot hero in "Die Grosse Liebe" (1942).

Much better than the PC remake.......2005-04-28

What is interesting about "Stalingrad: Dogs, do you want to live forever?" (1958) is how much better it is than the color remake "Stalingrad" (1993) made by the producers of "Das Boot."

I saw the latter film first and was deeply disappointed by it. It is an excruciatingly long and depressing antiwar screed choked with post-war self hatred and guilt, and the last hour is almost unwatchable. The producers obviously had a political agenda and carried it out at the expense of such minor things as the historical truth or watchability. I'd rather watch "Born on the Fourth of July" a half-dozen times than sit through "Stalingrad" again.

"Dogs" is a superior film in almost every way, and I would recommend it over the remake despite the outrageous price of $45 bucks (maybe you can get it used). It tells the story of an officer named Wisse who has just recovered from a slight wound and has been assigned as the liason to a Rumanian division north of Stalingrad. Wisse is tough, able, honest, humane and cool-headed under fire, and quickly earns the respect of both his Rumanian allies and his German subordinates. Unfortunately, his timing is bad: it's November, the the Red Army has just launched the offensive which will trap the German Sixth Army inside Stalingrad.

"Dogs" alternates the story of Wisse's struggles with his men's morale, the Russian winter, the Red Army, and his cowardly and devious superior, Col. Linkmann, with scenes from Hitler's headquarters explaining the Fuhrer's "rationale" (if you can call a completely irrational decision by that name) for refusing permission for the Sixth Army to break out. It also details the attempt by von Manstein to relieve the city. The film relies a bit too much on newsreel footage to pad out its limited budget, and there is a rather obvious sub-plot involving a cute Russian female, but the battle scenes are very well executed and the acting is better (in my opinion) than some of the other reviewers here indicate.

Unlike the "antiofficer" films and books which became so popular after the war, "Dogs" puts Wisse in a heroic light as a man who leads by example and cannot be turned away from what he percieves as his duty, even when common sense tells him all is lost. It is this attitude that separates "Dogs" from "Stalingrad," where the moral and ethical collapse of the soldiers is complete (for a firsthand account that vindicates "Dogs'" version of events, read the unpublished memiors of Col. Dingler as reproduced in F.W. von Mellenthin's seminal "Panzer Battles" available on this site, q.v. my review of that book if you care!). Interestingly, the film seems to take a certain amount of pride (in a subtle way) with German military accomplishments and dciscipline without endorsing the war or Nazi ideology: the basic message is that these men were just doing their jobs as they saw them, and Hitler committed the ultimate betrayal by exploiting their sense of duty and squandering their lives. One could argue that it glosses over the atrocious German treatment of Russian civilains, but "Dogs" is meant to be a war story and not a cinematic expiation of national guilt. On that level it succeeds. If you saw "Stalingrad" you should defintely give "Dogs" a try; if you didn't, you might want to watch this version first.

Average customer rating:

Funny even for Mom and Dad
From Russia with Love
Cats & Dogs
Who Rules and Who Drools?
Horrible and misleading.

Cats & Dogs (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jeff Goldblum , Elizabeth Perkins , Alexander Pollock , Miriam Margolyes , and Myron Natwick (II)
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00005QJJ4
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Amazon.com

How can you hate a movie that features ninja Siamese cats wreaking havoc with their kung fu prowess? That's one of the highlights in Cats & Dogs, an effects-laden family film that mystifies cat fanciers by casting dogs as the undisputed heroes in all-out warfare with nefarious felines. Hidden headquarters and high-tech gadgets are featured on both sides of this age-old battle. On the feline side, the longhaired Persian Mr. Tinkles (voice of Sean Hayes) plots to sabotage the efforts of Professor Brody (Jeff Goldblum) to discover a cure for human allergies to dogs. On the canine side, stalwart shepherd Butch (voice of Alec Baldwin) trains the mistakenly recruited beagle puppy Lou (voice of Tobey Maguire) to foil Mr. Tinkles's scheme--a mission that begins when Mrs. Brody (Elizabeth Perkins) adopts Lou for her son Scott (Alexander Pollock).

Using combinations of live animals, animatronic puppets, and digital wizardry, Cats & Dogs has just enough imagination to match its effects, climaxing with a feline global-domination scheme involving mice sprayed with chemicals that will make all humans allergic to dogs. Goldblum and Perkins gamely play second fiddles to this menagerie of mayhem, and as madcap "realism" gives way to cartoonish fantasy, the movie escalates into utter chaos, burdened by lame jokes but highlighted by a furry supporting cast including a Saluki hound (voice of Susan Sarandon), a shaggy sheepdog (voice of Michael Clarke Duncan), and a Chinese hairless techno-geek named Peek (voice of Joe Pantoliano). Though never as charming as the Babe movies, Cats & Dogs is harmless fun--especially for dog lovers. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Comedic action-adventure that mixes live action with cutting-edge CGI and animatronic effects. "Cats & Dogs" uncovers the truth about the high-tech, secret war being waged in neighborhoods everywhere that humans aren't even aware of: an eternal struggle between the two great armies of Cats and Dogs. The story follows a Cat plan to destroy a new vaccine that, if developed, would destroy all human allergies to Dogs, and the Dogs' efforts to stop the Cats from executing their plan.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
DVD ROM Features
Documentaries
Interactive Menus
Storyboards

Customer Reviews:

Funny even for Mom and Dad.......2007-05-14

A great kids movie with good actors (Elizabeth Perkins and Jeff Goldblum). Obviously far fetched since there are animals that talk but really very funny even for adults!

From Russia with Love.......2007-04-25

You can see other reviews for the general plotline, but I'd like to give a hearty second to the idea that this movie is fun for the whole family.

My wife and I love it. My 8-year old loves it, and my 2-year old loves it. There are many subtleties you can catch upon multiple viewings, which is a good thing as my daughters like to watch this movie over and over. There are many great one-liners and performances, but "The Russian" is easily my favorite character. Sean Hayes is also awesome as "Mr. Tinkles".

Cats & Dogs.......2007-03-10

Great dvd and was delievered to me quickly and in great condition, thank you.

Who Rules and Who Drools?.......2007-02-12

This is a fun flick to watch for all ages. Comical yarn about supposed secret war between canines and felines for control of the owner population. In the middle is an unsuspecting scientist looking for cure for dog allergies, and the replacement dog for his family, an unsuspecting beagle.

Fun to watch. Delighted to hear that families like to watch multiple times. Kids of all ages who like their humor without the sordid language and violence problems will enjoy this one.

Horrible and misleading........2007-01-27

I saw this movie in theaters when I was 9 because it seemed like a cute story: Cats and dogs in a fight with each other to take over the world. BOY were those commercials misleading. Even back then, I HATED all of those stupid cats and dogs and race cliches. You don't know how tired I am of seeing evil siamese cats that look asian and have funny accents. I would never want my children watching this garbage. It'll just teach them how to hate cats and make fun of asians and russians. There was no humor in it either. None of the jokes were funny.

Average customer rating:

Funny even for Mom and Dad
From Russia with Love
Cats & Dogs
Who Rules and Who Drools?
Horrible and misleading.

Cats & Dogs (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Jeff Goldblum , Elizabeth Perkins , Alexander Pollock , Miriam Margolyes , and Myron Natwick (II)
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005O5DJ
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Amazon.com

Description

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Dog Commentary Cat Commentary
Deleted Scenes:Deleted Scenes - tied together
Other:"Teaching A New Dog New Tricks" Easter Eggs (4) - "Techbone", Star, Mr. Tinkles Flag, Dog Paw
TV Special:HBO First Look Special

Customer Reviews:

Funny even for Mom and Dad.......2007-05-14

A great kids movie with good actors (Elizabeth Perkins and Jeff Goldblum). Obviously far fetched since there are animals that talk but really very funny even for adults!

From Russia with Love.......2007-04-25

Cats & Dogs.......2007-03-10

Great dvd and was delievered to me quickly and in great condition, thank you.

Who Rules and Who Drools?.......2007-02-12

Horrible and misleading........2007-01-27

Average customer rating:

Forbidden Games
A Superb Film
A tale that plays with the viewer
Hidden Scars
"almost unquestionably the most compelling and intensely poignant drama featuring young children ever filmed"

Forbidden Games - Criterion Collection
Starring: Georges Poujouly , Brigitte Fossey , Amédée , Laurence Badie , and Madeleine Barbulée
Director: René Clément
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B000BC8SWE
Release Date: 2005-12-06

Description

A timeless evocation of the loss of innocence, René Clément's devastating Forbidden Games tells the story of a young orphan and her friend forced to fend for themselves in World War II France. Featuring brilliant performances from its child stars, the film won the 1952 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and remains a singular, breathtaking cinematic achievement.

Customer Reviews:

Forbidden Games.......2007-06-25

The stark simplicity of Rene Clement's masterpiece makes it one of the more eloquent anti-war statements ever put on film. In a world gone mad, Michel and Paulette respond with an act of quiet kindness, which is their way of making sense of what is happening. While clinging to childhood via their secret game, the two unwittingly reflect humanity's noblest traits in its darkest hour. Haunting and profound.

A Superb Film.......2007-03-15

"Forbidden Games" was never a film I wanted to see. I didn't know anything about it, but I saw it on video store shelves a couple times. This movie is a perfect example of why a person shouldn't judge a "book" by its cover. The cover is, usually, the first thing someone notices about a film and the cover of "Forbidden Games" doesn't scream "see me!" Too bad, because it is (as you probably already know) a masterpiece. Opening in France, in 1940, during the German blitzkrieg of Paris;
We watch as hundreds of people flee for the countryside. Then we see a young girl named Paulette, whose parents are hurrying her along. She's too preoccupied with getting her dog Jock. As planes fly overhead, Paulette chases after the dog, which leads to the death of both her parents and her dog. After the corpse of the dog is thrown into a river, Paulette retrieves it and wanders into the countryside home of the Dolle family. There she meets a child a few years older than her named Michel, whose family has enough problems that they are hesitant to bring in a child. After all, Michel's brother Georges was just kicked by a horse and lies in bed dying. But the father of the Dolle family allows Paulette to stay. The title "Forbidden Games" refers to what begins to happen midway through the film between Michel and Paulette. After burying her dog, Paulette becomes obsessed with burying other animals around him. She enlists Michel's help in doing so, as well as retrieving crosses for the burial sites no matter how he gets them. Death is the theme of the film and it is a theme that is hammered into the ground. Anyone who watches this film should realize that it's a great film, but that doesn't always mean you'll enjoy it. After all, a lot of great films aren't necessarily entertaining. This film, however, is entertaining. If Jean Renoir's "Grand Illusion" was the most important film about World War I, than "Forbidden Games" is easily the most important about World War II. It's a wonderful, beautifully photographed, and superbly acted film that is largely unseen today. I urge you, if you're reading this and have not seen the film, to go see it.

GRADE: A

A tale that plays with the viewer.......2007-03-06

How? By inviting the viewer to interpret the weird things going on, and thus reveal his own heart and mind (the dark side of them). The story, mind you, stands on its own feet if you don't interpret it and only bear witness to the superficial facts, which are innocent enough, tender for sure, and sad as any other story of war time can be. And that's it... at first sight. But evidently the director has made every little detail fit an ambivalent agenda. He hints at more; what more? That's the trick.

On the surface, if you disregard everything said above, the film is still beautiful and haunting. The charming little kids play their "secret" games. Games that would be macabre if they themselves were not so young and innocent to realize it. (Is the boy really that young and innocent?) One thing that makes me think, after watching the interview to the director in the extras, was that he intended to have as the little girl star an older gilr, more 9 or 11 than 5 years old as she was. Well, that would have made a lot of difference. The ambivalence wouldn't have been so; I mean, what is underlying now would actually be the meaning of the story.

In any case, the little kids do their parts wonderfully as I haven't seen in any movie with kids until now. The cinematography is gorgeous, the guitar (splendid 'Gardens of Aranjuez by Rodrigo) music is enchanting and the overall mixture of tragicomedy and macabre allegory is really haunting. I did not like the ending very much, though, but I can't come up with a good way to end the story but abruptly, since it has such an oneiric quality about it.

Another important thing is that if you focus too much on the two little leading stars you are going to miss a lot of other imprtant things going on. Every character (& groups of characters) is worth attention and study. A great film.

Hidden Scars.......2006-12-22

A small French girl orphaned by attacking Nazi planes is taken in by a farm family where she and the boy she bonds with establish a hidden animal cemetary.

No need to detail the plot since others have already done so. Just a few comments on points generally uncommented on by others.

Yes, the movie's main point concerns the invisible scars war leaves on the young. Little Paulette and youthful Michel will likely never recover from their psychic wounds, while the shot of little Paulette wandering helplessly among the chaotic tide of refugees is one of the most quietly searing in film annals. The harm already done her by the Nazis is in fact compounded by the unfeeling way she is disposed of by both the farm family and the orphanage. The film's brilliance lies in making us feel what she feels in a wholly unsentimental way.

That, I think, is the basis of the film's near universal appeal. However, there is a second less universal theme overlooked by most. In fact, as many French critics complained at the time, the two farm families really are depicted in unflattering fashion. Some called the portrayal of the Dolle's and Brouard's an unfair and vicious slur on French peasantry. Unfair or not, daddy Dolle comes across as a small-minded tyrant whose chief means of communication with son Michel amounts to a blow to the head, while the final beating in the barn is truly brutal. Then too, he flat out lies to Michel by sending Paulette away, seemingly indifferent to the boy's emotional trauma. And when the easily overlooked younger daughter tries to bring something "beautiful" into her life by reading in a dim light, he sends her to bed with the admonition that "light is not for reading". Also, the older surviving brother has dodged military service by faking an illness, while the Brouard son has deserted the army claiming a lack of leadership. As someone in the film wryly observes: with material like this, no wonder we lost the war. And no wonder some Francophiles complained loudly. There are many other unflattering instances as well, and somehow I get the feeling that this aspect of the script results from an entrenched hostility between city sophisticates and countryside traditionalists. Anyway, it's a testament to the mysteries of human personality that such a profoudly intuitive boy as Michel could emerge from such unpromising family fodder.

The other neglected point surrounds the film's often understated humor. Much of it passes quickly and so is easily overlooked. But it's there, particularly with the Brouard boy, and his lusty relationship with the older Dolle girl. He's a faintly comical character to begin with. Our first view of him is of a deserter returning home in baggy uniform, announcing his arrival by standing outside the Brouard hovel and blowing sour notes on a stolen trumpet-- a parody, I guess, of `The Hero's Return'. The graveyard scene between the feuding families also has a faintly comical undertone. It's not the kind of brawl to take seriously, and when daddy Dolle refuses to reciprocate by helping daddy Brouard out of the coffin hole, a rather humorous point is made about Dolle's selfish character. Anyway, look fast, because there are unexpected deposits of humor in an otherwise very somber story.

By and large, anti-war films are not known for their understatement, often relying on one form or another of visual or verbal shouting. `Games', however remains a masterpiece of unadorned understatement. Except for the rather stagey graveyard scene, it's told in simple and straightforward fashion, allowing audience emotions to build quietly until the final shattering scene. All in all, it's very effective. Of course, everyone wonders what is to become of little Paulette. But the same question could be asked of the disillusioned Michel. For it's clear in his final scene that while throwing away the graveyard crosses, he's casting aside more than mere pieces of wood.

"almost unquestionably the most compelling and intensely poignant drama featuring young children ever filmed".......2006-12-06

Hollywood film critic, Leonard Maltin, nails it with this movie. The child stars of "Forbidden Games" (Juex Interdits) absolutely blew me away! The acting was so superb! The movie was SUPERB! Although a war drama, I think that it was a great comedy film, too. The two child actors provided the best lines--and the scene where Paulette (played by Brigette Fossey) buried and blessed her deceased dog was one of the most outrageous and funniest things I had ever seen. The ending, however, was tragic and very sad. I almost cried.

As for the music, I loved listening to Narciso Yepes's version of the enchanting Spanish folk melody, "Romance d'Amour." It was a delight to hear throughout the entire film. (By the way, just a correction: Yepes didn't play with a lute; it was a classical guitar!). And though I really enjoyed Yepes's playing, I still prefer Christopher Parkening's rendition of this beautiful tune. His musical interpretation of the piece is exquisite!

The DVD bonus features were a wonderful surprise--especially the archival interviews with Rene Clement and Brigitte Fossey, in addition to the alternate opening and ending scenes of the film. I especially love the comment Clement made during his 1963 interview. When asked if he liked actors, he said simply, "Yes, when they're not actors. Those are the great actors."

"Forbidden Games" will definitely be considered as Christmas gifts for both family and friends. I highly recommend watching it. Ultimately, this is one cinema classic you don't want to miss!

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Cats and Dogs
Starring: Alec Baldwin , Jeff Goldblum , Salome Jens , Jon Lovitz , and Miriam Margolyes
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000P0J088
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Description

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son of lassie
Faithfully marching on....
BIZARRE FOLLOW UP IN LASSIE LEGACY!
Adventure Rather Than Sentiment
I think Son of Lassie is one of the best of its films.

Son of Lassie
Starring: Peter Lawford , Donald Crisp , June Lockhart , Nigel Bruce , and William Severn
Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B000294U5K
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Description

Joe Carraclough has grown into adulthood as a WWII RAF airman. And Lassie's son, Laddie, is so devoted to him that he secretly stows away on the plane when Joe leaves on a bombing run. When the plane is shot out of the sky over enemy-occupied Norway, Joe and Laddie parachute from the burning aircraft and begin their wartime adventures in this lively sequel.

DVD Features:
Featurette:Classic Tom and Jerry cartoon Flirty Birdy
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

son of lassie.......2007-01-04

I LOVED THIS MOVIE WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND ENJOYED SEEING IT AGAIN.

Faithfully marching on...........2006-07-27

Bought this for the children as they had seen all the pre-quels and wanted to see what happened to the next generation. It did not disappoint and was, in a way, a happy conclusion to the other Lassie movie starring Elizabeth Taylor. Has all the excitement of seeing someone grown up, doing something worthwhile as an adult, things not always going to plan, but somehow ending up happily. A feel-good movie that kids will love and remember.

BIZARRE FOLLOW UP IN LASSIE LEGACY!.......2004-08-24

A WWII melodrama and problematic recasting hamper "Son of Lassie" a really dismal successor to "Lassie Come Home." The collie is now recast as Laddie - a haplessly playful mutt that runs amuck until Joe (now recast as Peter Lawford) is enlisted as a flyer for the Allies. Laddie sneaks aboard Joe's plane and the two are off into the wild blue yonder. Unfortunately the wild blue fizzles out when the Nazis shoot down Joe's plane. In need of medical attention, Joe summons Laddie to seek help and inadvertently brings half of Nazi Germany to the rescue. Clearly attempting to rekindle the essences of the original film, the characters of Priscilla (now recast as June Lockhart) and the Duke of Radling (alumni, Nigel Bruce) return to lend moral support to a dragging tale that is barely reminiscent of the original's glory. This film is an adventure yarn with the dog thrown in, but it doesn't play as either an adventure of a family drama, the latter of which must have clearly been the target of MGM's publicity campaign for the film. The cast of Lawford and Lane in the roles originated by Roddy McDowell and Elizabeth Taylor is a huge error in judgment from which the film never recovers.

Small ironies aside, Warner's DVD is the most satisfying of the bunch, presumably because it didn't get much play over the years and has therefore been spared most of the ravages of time. Tonal quality is the least dated of the three "Lassie" films with consistently rendered colors that are vibrant. Age related artifacts are, on the whole, absent. Edge enhancement and pixelization are kept to a minimum. Overall, fine details are very nicely realized. Contrast and black levels are very solid. The audio is mono but respectably cleaned up and presented with a fidelity that outweighs the visual characteristics. There are NO extras.

Adventure Rather Than Sentiment.......2003-11-23

In this movie, Lassie actually plays Laddie, Lassie's harum-scarum son who can't seem to do anything right, but Joe Carraclough stands by him, even when he is called up to do service in World War II. When Laddie stows away in Joe's bomber and is shot down with his beloved master, the search is on: separated from Joe, Laddie does his best to catch up with him, inadvertantly leading the Nazis directly to his master. This is an adventure film, not a sentimental story like its predecessor LASSIE COME HOME, but that's fine--I'm just marking it down a little for those four child actors who find Laddie after Joe disappears. These have to be the worst child actors in MGM history. Every minute with them is excruciating. Thank God they are gone from the story after about 15-20 minutes. Otherwise a terrific film.

I think Son of Lassie is one of the best of its films........1999-07-01

I think this movie has more plot and action in it, making it one of my favorite Lassie movies. It shows how good people will risk their lives not only for human beings, but also for animals, which is true in real life. I'd risk my life to save my pets. It also had a more adult theme for adults and children to ponder. It was more realistic, in that some parts of the movie were very sad and tearful. It does end happy.

Average customer rating:

Heartwarming Adventure!
Best use of Technicolor
Liz is again the overwrought, ecstatic child...
Courage of Lassie
Interesting...

Courage of Lassie
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor , Frank Morgan , Tom Drake , Selena Royle , and Harry Davenport
Director: Fred M. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000294U4G
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

Peril lurks behind every scene resolution in the 1946 hit Courage of Lassie. After an odd, peaceable-kingdom beginning, Lassie is shot by Carl Switzer, the kid who used to play Alfalfa (really!), and rescued by Elizabeth Taylor. She inexplicably names Lassie "Bill" (maybe in revenge because Lassie got on the movie's title) and trains him to be a sheepdog. Bill gets hit by a truck, then impressed into service in the U.S. war effort in the Philippines. Presaging Rambo, Bill becomes a war hero, yet returns home from the front a broken dog and is considered a menace to society. The war scenes are a bit too grueling for a family film (at least with very young children). Bill gets shot (again) and has to do a reconnaissance mission that Joseph Conrad would admire. Taylor doesn't so much act as sob and gush, and only Frank Morgan, the actor known best as the Wizard of Oz, comes off as well as the collie. That collie, though, is pretty wonderful and fans of the first film won't be too disappointed. --Keith Simanton

Customer Reviews:

Heartwarming Adventure!.......2007-08-07

In an age where we have graphic brutality, sex and violence on both the small and big screen how refreshing it was to watch this movie released in 1946. It was made a year before I was born and it took me back to a time in America when Hollywood produced clean, wholesome, decent entertainment that appealed to all ages.The wildlife sequences at the beginning of the film are priceless and one wonders how they could be coordinated with such precision and Elizabeth Taylor's performance is emotionally endearing. If you can watch this movie without tearing up at least three or four times you must have ice water flowing through your veins! Well worth the price and the DVD transfer is excellent considering the vintage of the the film! Three thumbs up!

Best use of Technicolor.......2007-01-31

While this film really can't compare with the story line of the original Lassie Come Home, it is cetainly one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Is there really a place so beautiful? Then I read from the cover notes of the two disc,three film version, that it was filmed in Canada during the Second World War. That country is gorgeous! It must have more pristine scenery packed into it than anywhere else on earth.

Liz is again the overwrought, ecstatic child..........2006-12-24

In "Courage of Lassie," the dog gets top billing, but a pretty teenager (Liz Taylor) has plenty of crying and hugging to do as a supremely devoted mistress...

Another heart-warming story, filmed in the wilderness of Washington State, the movie (which begins with a long, curious, wild-life sequence) mixes farm-family folksiness with an unusual dog story: Lassie goes to a training school for war dogs, is shipped to the front and performs heroically... Returned to America, the dog suffers a nervous collapse, becoming a menace to society...

As the willful farm girl who finds a dog, loses a dog, and regains a dog, Liz Taylor is again the overwrought, ecstatic child, lavishing her attention on Lassie...

Because her greatest fame came later, as a young woman, most people forget what a skillful child actress she was... Less burdened than at any later time by her beauty and fame, she is at her least self-conscious in these early performances... Untouched, she reveals in these animal stories her natural flair for tears and hugs--the paraphernalia of an emotional female...

Courage of Lassie.......2006-02-23

This a great movie for the whole family. Who could not love this dog?

Interesting..........2005-06-11

I still don't understand how Lassie showed up in the title to this movie because she plays a male dog named Bill. Elizabeth Taylor is OK, but the best actors in my opinion are Frank Morgan and Tom Drake. The end is heart-warming, but the trailers sure didn't sound like the film would give anybody warm fuzzies. Watch the movie before the trailers. It's better that way. All in all, this is worth watching for the scenery, with its breathtaking shots of mountains and lakes.

Average customer rating:

The Dog Who Stopped the War
Starring: Steve Savage , Cedric Jourde , Julien Elie , and Maripierr Arsneau-D'Amour
Director: Andre Melancon
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Cloak & Dagger

ASIN: B0001ZVA3K
Release Date: 2006-11-16

DVD:

DVD

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