Reviews

I remember seeing this film in the theatre - a wonderfully mind altering experience! Burstyn's acting is Oscar quality, and her transformation throughout the film is truly remarkable. If you have seen and enjoyed "Brainstorm" with Natalie Wood, this makes one of the best companion pieces to it. I guess you know you've seen a great film when it makes you suspend your disbelief while the lights are out in the theatre, and then changes your beliefs forever after it is over. We have all seen movies that featured psychic experiences that have ranged from the weird to the simply unbelievable. Ellen Burstyn starts out a non-believer, but is converted by her experiences. The film also neatly plays upon the elements of faith-healing and the role of the believer in any mental experience. A finely nuanced and rewarding film - I hope someone wakes up and issues this GEM on DVD sometime soon!

If this neat little documentary doesn't get to you, you must have a heart of stone. These tests show the crazy scope of the atomic experiments that were conducted by the weapons folks to justify their own existence and keep themselves in business. Crazy stuff like the Plowshare program, Project GasBuggy, and of course, the Cannakin Experiment will not only give you an idea of the terrible power of these weapons, it will give you a new appreciation for the freedom of the press - and why it is important. If you think the critical importance and world shaking consequences of terrorists - or terrorist states - having nukes is exaggerated, this film will change your mind forever.

Fritz Lang's attention to detail, lighting, and pacing build the tension steadily throughout this fine film. The use of innovative techniques such as moving cameras in a car chase, special effects in the famous train wreck scene, and terrific sets with wonderful art deco and expressionist touches make this visually stunning. The careful viewer will see film techniques, visual forms, and story telling techniques that are reflected in later films from Alfred Hitchcock to the James Bond series. Rudolph Klein-Rogge is a master as the evil mastermind Haghi, and the ending is thrilling and full of surprises. If you've never seen a silent film, if you never thought you could enjoy early cinema, Fritz Lang's "Spies" will change your mind forever.