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Sneakers

Sneakers

List Price: $19.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sneakers...Sneaks in 5 Stars!!
Review: SNEAKERS is a great caper flick with minimal violence and an ensemble cast one would never expect would ever be put on screen. Who would think that a movie would contain the likes of Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn (Eight Men Out, League of Their Own), Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves), River Phoenix (Dog Fight, Stand by Me), and the great Sidney Poitier to boot. It's fun, light, and suspensful. Redford heads a group of high tech misfits who troubleshoot and hack security systems. They are hired by a renegade government agency to steal a device that can decipher electronic coded messages developed by a mathematical genius, but get caught up into something more sinister than they bargained for as people begin getting kidnapped and murdered. Great characters including Dan Aykroyd's tailor made 'Mother' who sprouts off any conspiracy theory at whim, David Straithairn's blind hacker 'Whistler' whose ears can "see" more than anyone's eyes and whose only need in life is peace and good will towards his fellow man, and a great cameo by Ben Kingsley as the vengeful 'Cosmo' who is behind all the evil doings. Overall, a great cast, great script and first class entertainment!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: seen it over 20 times. nuff said?
Review: Robert Redford puts in a fantastic performance in front of an all star cast that raises serious questions that are only now seeing the light of day in today's online society. The thought of our lives being run by 'little ones and zeros' is indeed troubling, but unlike 'The Net', this film deals with it in a more subtle manner. The comic relief from lines such as James Earl Jones' 'We are the United States Government, we don't DO that sort of thing' in response to a request for 'good will on earth and peace towards all men' adds to a well-rounded piece of entertainment.

The technological / hacking side of this movie really appeals to the more technologically oriented, but the wizardry of this movie is in that one needn't be the aforementioned to enjoy it. Robert Redford, James Earl Jones and Sidney Poitier provide solid performances despite their roles, as does Ben Kingles as 'Coz'.

'TOO MANY SECRETS, Marty'

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A strong, intellectually intriguing movie
Review: When I first saw this movie I was expecting something completely different. Being a software developer, I was expecting the standard stereotype of eccentric not-in-touch-with-reality radical leftist computer nerds. What I got instead was a bunch of really fun characters that I thoroughly identified with and who covered the gamut of personality types. The plot was somewhat believable (the core plot device notwithstanding) and the choices the characters made to come out on top were also fairly enjoyable, such as the sightless gentleman driving the van down a steep embankment to save his buddies with only radioed instructions to keep him on track. What few persons have mentioned, however, in these reviews is that the movie also has a winning soundtrack. Its theme is quite catchy and emminently memorable. Pay no attention to the gentleman who says the movie isn't worth anything. This movie was meant to be a cut above the rest and it succeeded. If someone was unable to enjoy it, then I unashamedly chalk it up to his small mind.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hacking Inside And Out
Review: Sneakers, released 1992, was among the first films to center on the world of computer hackers. But unlike the lesser movies in the category, such as The Net, Sneakers has a better plot, and it is more of an ensemble piece. This allows for us to really get into the story a bit more. Another thing that makes the film work is its subtle use of humor.

Computer genius Nathan Bishop, (Robert Redford) and a group of fellow rag-tag renegade hackers, are normally hired to test the vulnerability of computer networks, for different industries...then their job is done. Not this time. Something out of Bishop's checkered past comes back to haunt him. He and the rest of the "sneakers"-Donald (Sydney Poitier), "Whistler" (David Stratharin), "Mother" (Dan Aykroyd), and young Carl (River Phoenix)-are blackmailed by agents, working for the government, into getting a secret black box. Once the the team recovers the item, they soon discover its contents can be used to break into any computer system in the world. Everyone around them, would kill to get a hold of the box, Bishop and his team must think fast, in order to save themselves and the technology.

I am not a real big fan of Robert Redford, as an actor, per se`But I must count this film, as one of his best, in a varied career. The rest of the cast. that also includes Ben Kingsley and Mary McDonnell, is top notch. The chemistry between the players, humor, and excitement of the film, its all there. Directed and co-written by Philip Alden Robison, he takes full advantage of the cast. It was fun to see Redford and Poitier loosen up a bit here and just go with the flow of the story. Whenever I see River Phoenix in a film, I am always struck at just how talented, he really was. Sneakers is an enjoyable film with a lot to like.

For true fans of the movie, the "Collector's Edition" DVD, has a solid audio commentary from Robinson, I just wish that some cast members could have joined in as well. The "making of " featurette, is fairly standard stuff. The theatrical trailer rounds out the bonus materials Sadly though, I was hoping for a deleted scenes section...Still a must if you like the film as much as I do.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Superlative Film; DVD is Lacking in Supplements
Review: I currently own the original Widescreen Edition (1998 Universal). I'll buy the 2003 Collector's Edition, but I'm very disappointed by the paucity of extras: This movie is too good to have this few DVD extras.

One of my favorite movies of all time, for all of the same reasons listed by others here. I own the original DVD, which was released in 16:9 anamorphic, quite ahead of its time.

Unfortunately, it's painful to see a favorite movie come out on DVD with so few Special Features. This was a wasted opportunity, considering the quintessential ensemble cast that made this movie as fun as it is. The movie's 11 years old, and while I'm glad Universal thought enough to re-release it earlier this year with director Phil Alden Robinson doing a commentary track, I think there's much more that could have been done. I can understand the difficulty in tracking down such an incredible ensemble cast after 11 years. But as a consumer, I can say: this movie is too good to have this few DVD extras.

I *will* buy this new version for the following reasons: It's under $15, my existing copy is worn from repeated use, and I have been hoping for extras such as Robinson's commentary. I am, however, disappointed at the waste of potential on Universal's part: The quality of this movie deserves a DVD with a lot more to it.

5 stars for the movie, 2 stars for the extra features.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Film, Fair DVD
Review: This film is an example of what an ensemble cast of A-list actors can do when they have fun with a project. While their acting has been better in other films, their camaraderie carries the film. Clocking in at over 2 hours, the film becomes muddled in parts, but your interest in the characters keeps you from becoming overly impatient with it. Equal parts "Charade" and "WarGames" the movie keeps you guessing at who's who and what the character's true motivations are, while the technology doesn't get out of hand (most solutions are low- not high-tech).

For a Collector's Edition, the supplementary material on the DVD is disappointing. The high point is the commentary: the detailed reminiscences of the director and writers are informative and enjoyable. The "Making of" documentary is pleasant, but doesn't build much on the commentary; the comments of the cast don't expand beyond telling who the characters are (only Ackroyd describes anything he brought to his character beyond the writers' amalgam of 70s and 80s phone phreaks and social engineers). The single theatrical preview is nice, but with along with the bonus materials in general, you feel there should have been more. The only other item on the Bonus Materials section is a "Recommendation" for "other films you might enjoy": Field of Dreams (same director/writer), Spy Game (also with Redford), and The Sting (Redford again, with James Earl Jones' father); there aren't previews of these films, just three small DVD cases sharing the screen. No deleted scenes (although several are described in the commentary). No outtakes (you know there had to be some serious hijinks on the set). No scripts or scene comparisons to show the film's decade-long evolution. Not even an Easter egg to reward devoted hackers.

Buy this disc for the movie, not the bonus materials. It's a lot of fun and the cast is a "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" player's dream.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favorite movies!
Review: This movie is a really fun ride! It has a great story with great characters and an all star cast. I have seen it many, many times and can't wait to get the DVD I ordered today!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: That Should Tell You Something
Review: This movie opened in mainstream theaters on a Friday morning in Houston, a major metropolitan area. By the following Friday, it had been removed from regular cinemas and was playing in the dollar theaters. I took several young teens to see it, and none of us could follow its confusing so-called plot -- it was somewhat indecipherable. Don't bother with this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very fun film to spend an afternoon or evening with popcorn
Review: This film is treat with the actor mix and the unique characters they play. I take one star away, for if it was better written, we would not have been cheated out of several Sneakers sequels. The film has enough action for adults, yet cute and fun enough for kids to watch along with you. I raced to the theater when it was released, and I am now racing to own the DVD. Sit back and enjoy a film that has action/drama/humor/suspense, and a well put together cast.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it
Review: This movie is really entertaining, keeps you on edge and is fun to watch. I've seen it atleast 20 times, and love it the same as I had the first time. In a world where are a lot of movies arent worth the time and money, Sneakers is guaranteed NOT to be one of those.


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