Reviews

This movie is not very believable. A man markets a product that can mutilate people if it is not used correctly. When you see what a man has to do to injure himself with it, Hmm, hard to imagine. After a few people mutilated themselves, you might assume that the news would get around (but, apparently it doesn't).

The president of the company goes to jail (for Gross Negligence, not a crime in any state I know), and gets a parole after 8 years. He loses every nickel of his 100s of Millions in court judgments (apparently, he never had the wherewithal to hire a bankruptcy attorney, which would have left him something). No one else is affected at all (including his fellow workers, one of whom is a billionaire because of the ex-president). His wife gets to keep $362 Million (what US state is she living in, where that could happen?).

Now, 8 years later, his now-ex-wife has re-married, AND spent her entire $362 Million (with nothing to show for it). OK. His ex and his daughter won't give him even a few minutes of conversation, just belittle him and tell him to leave.

Anyway, the plot flounders around with weird stories about people in his new life, including, a woman who claims to be a lesbian, but just broke up with a boyfriend, and has the hots for the ex-president, and is pretty angry when he spurns her sexual advances.

The finale is after he starts marketing his new million-dollar product. So, a man markets many infomercial-quality products, goes to jail, and ends marketing a new infomercial-quality product. I was hoping that he would have changed his attitude during the movie.

This is a movie about a person who seeks to become Enlightened.

This is a story that Bruce Lee wrote (along with the actor James Coburn, one of his favorite martial arts students). Bruce wrote this to show the Buddhist path to Enlightenment, and the spiritual trials a Seeker of Enlightenment faces in his journey to break through all of the "stoppers" which prevent us from thinking Enlightened thoughts.

There is "The Book" . . . a "book that contains all the wisdom of the world." If a Seeker of Enlightenment reads "The Book" . . . after spiritually preparing himself, AND passing through 3 Trials, he will be given the chance to face Zetan (the Keeper of The Book), and read The Book. The learning in The Book will help him transcend his normal mind, and open up his mind into Enlightened thoughts.

There is a ritual combat show at a local monastery. The one who wins the competition will be given the right to search for Zetan. But along the way, he will have to survive 3 Trials. Cord makes it to the final round, but is disqualified because he hit the other man while he was on the ground. Later, the man who won the competition is mortally wounded during his first Trial, and passes his medallion on to Cord.

Along Cord's way through his 3 Trials, he meets a spiritual guide, who helps him overcome his first Trial, and later gives Cord some spiritual wisdom from time to time, and listens to Cord discuss his thoughts about the Trials, and the lessons he has learned from the Trials.

His first Trial is about feeling shame, being confused, and staying on his Journey to find Enlightenment. His second Trial is about anger, revenge and betrayal. His third Trial is about fear of death.

After passing his 3 Trials, he faces Zetan, the Keeper of The Book. Zetan is among 100s of people who have stopped short of reading The Book (after passing their 3 Trials). These are the "Near Ones" ... who spend their time perfecting their earthly thoughts (instead of thinking Enlightened thoughts).

For a fuller view of the actions (and their significance) in this movie, you can read my Synopsis of the movie.

Lucie Arnaz and Swoosie Kurtz are best friends, both single (and probably destined to remain that way). Swoosie is hungry to get married (but with a poor self-esteem around men), and Lucie wishes to stay out of the dating world (except for first dates).

These 2 city girls are in for a culture shock; they go into the great outdoors to a bird-watching camp. Lucie is not used to hiking (or even walking more than 6 blocks), and she is (almost) totally devoid of wanting to bird watch.

Lucie is a one-person disaster area, and loves to scream whenever something befalls her (which is often). So, if you enjoy seeing a damsel in distress, BOY, are you in luck.

On the other hand, Swoosie actually relaxes, and learns to become more approachable by men.

There is some beautiful scenery, and it is well-cast (with some zany bird watchers). A bonus is a Pre-Anne of Green Gables Megan Follows.

Many people ignore God, and follow the path of chasing Fame, Fortune and Power.

This movie shows one such story (although this man is wanting to have SOME Fame, enough to get some good gigs, instead of weddings and bar mitzvahs).

He said the magic words: "I'd sell my soul to the Devil to make it in this business." Satan heard this, and came to him (as a Business Manager), saying that he could help him make it BIG in the music business.

Satan embarrassed him into signing the "contract" ... and POOF, everyone sees him now as Billy Wayne (a HUGE rock star). This new life might have been OK, except that his wife no longer knew him. There was a new hubby for her.

Billy spends the rest of the movie upset at losing his wife, and eventually prays to God to have him released from his contract.

This is an important movie to watch. See how when people get the Fame that they want, the rest of their life gets distorted, and they lose the thing that made their life happy (but didn't know it at the time).

So often, in Show Business, once Fame comes ... their old life fades away: Wife, supportive friends, a life in the slower lane.

Then that life is replaced by things which come along with the trappings of Fame: screaming fans, and people who want to use you, and NO true friends to offer honest perspective to their life.

What if you could come back to life, to help set things straight with the ones you left behind? A widower, who does not know how to relate to his 2 daughters, has allowed their relationships to weaken. For years, his one daughter has lived with him, and has taken care of him (while he has lied to her about how sick he actually is).

This daughter has gone through a life with little-or-no love, no respect, and no appreciation. Fortunately, she has dug herself out of that hole of drug-and-alcohol abuse (no thanks to her non-supportive family). With that said, this daughter doesn't complain, and tries to always be upbeat.

Dad faints, and is taken to the hospital. Tests there are inconclusive. He checks himself out, and goes to a favorite place. There, he talks to his now-dead-wife. She tells him to go back to the small town where they used to live. His daughters show up, and take him from L.A. back to Trinity. Once there, he talks more-and-more with his wife.

As the well-adjusted daughter is leaving, her mom appears; so she stays. Mom announces that she is there to help fix things (and, eventually, she does).

This is a low-key movie (which is wonderful in itself). It fulfills the fantasy of people who fear their loved ones are gone forever. I have watched this 50-or-more times. I play it when I want a quiet movie (to offset a hectic day).

This is a wonderful, upbeat portrayal of a person who has had enough of her life. She knows what she wants to do, and is not "wasting" her time moaning and groaning about things.

Here is a woman who has had a pretty-darn miserable life. The more she shares about how things have gone with her mother, the more I can see why she is ready to move on to whatever her next existence is.

Of course, her mother has benefited greatly from her daughter's existence here on earth. She has been able to get her needs met. So, mother-dear is not very happy to lose her "good thing." I just love the dead-pan way the daughter goes through her list of things to do, to ensure that mother is well-taken-care-of. This shows me what the rest of the daughter's life has been: Forget me, take care of others (those who know that they are MORE important than I am).

All during the movie, I am cheering the Daughter on: GO, Go, go.

And, I get a belly-ful of the mother, and her twisted relationship with her daughter. She deserves to be without a loving, dutiful daughter.

This is a one-of-a-kind gem.

This is the story of a girl who is unhappy with her looks (and lack of friends in school). She sees a knock-out new boy in school, but he doesn't seem interested in her. One day her fairy god-brother shows up (asian, with a black leather jacket).

He tries to convince her that she is fine just the way she is (fat chance). Then, he allows her to choose different lifestyles. One is a pre-Supermodel. She wakes up, to find an hour of makeup awaiting her. She melds into the model crowd (not eating anything, acting underwhelmed, ...). She hits on the new guy, but he is not interested in the New her.

Day by day, she joins a new clique, to excite the new guy.

This is a remake of "It's a Wonderful Life." Amy is a high school student, with one friend (who has no friends). Amy sees her life as a lost cause: her mother dreams of her being a social butterfly (fat chance); her grandfather (who owns a garden shop) is her only bright spot (but even he doesn't give her the thanks she deserves for working there, and helping him out with his life).

Meg Ryan is a legend in her own mind -- the hottest thing in school. Matthew Modine is the new kid in school, and he is assigned to be lab partner with Amy. He treats her well, and Amy feels a little better about things. Later, he asks to see Amy at the garden shop after work. Amy knows that the big dance is coming up, and thinks he is going to ask her out (WOW).

Then, Meg sinks her teeth into the new boy, and dumps a tray of food into Amy. She runs out of the lunchroom (not knowing that Modine tells Meg to flake off). During her next day at work, Amy wonders if Modine will still show up. Well, he doesn't show up (and doesn't even call to cancel). This is the last straw. Amy decides to commit suicide.

James Earl Jones and Hermione Gingold send a young angel to stop Amy from dying. He tries several things to make Amy feel better, but Amy says she wishes she had never been born. Voila, she hasn't been born.

This new existence shows Amy that she has had a powerfully positive influence on all of the people in her life.

P.S., This is the First movie for Meg Ryan ... and Helen Slater ... and Matthew Modine. Whoever did the casting has a good eye.