Kansas

Rating:
Summary: surprise
Review: I bought this with having no idea what this movie would look like on dvd. Having it on laserdisk for many years, I knew it was a tough looking movie video wise, and being from 1988 and low budget I expected this to look grainy and such. Well, when I popped it in my dvd player I was surprised by how nice it looked transfered onto dvd. There wasn't the grain you would expect. The colors and flesh tones where on. No edge enhancements. The movie was a bit soft, but that was probably due to the studio transfering it onto dvd due to the age and grain that would probably be noticable. This has a nice wide 2:35 aspect that makes the scenery look beautiful. Not stunning like some of todays solid transfers, but for its age and low budget its what makes dvd shine at its best. Overall...great!

Rating:
Summary: Anywhere but here ...
Review: Kansas ... it's flat; it's monotonous; it stretches on forever; nothing ever happens; and it seems like it will never end. Of course, I'm talking about the movie, not the state! Hard to believe that any film starring the talented Matt Dillon could be a total bore, but this one is a complete waste. The script is pointless and inane; the editing is choppy; the musical score is shrill and inappropriate; the pacing is relentlessly slow. Even the cinematography, despite the natural beauty of the scenery, is lackluster. Blame it all on director David Stevens (who?) ... the man apparently had no sense of dramatic creativity during the production of this incoherent mess.

The DVD also includes the Original Theatrical Trailer. But why would anyone care? Take my advice and stay away!

Rating:
Summary: Anywhere but here ...
Review: Kansas ... it's flat; it's monotonous; it stretches on forever; nothing ever happens; and it seems like it will never end. Of course, I'm talking about the movie, not the state! Hard to believe that any film starring the talented Matt Dillon could be a total bore, but this one is a complete waste. The script is pointless and inane; the editing is choppy; the musical score is shrill and inappropriate; the pacing is relentlessly slow. Even the cinematography, despite the natural beauty of the scenery, is lackluster. Blame it all on director David Stevens (who?) ... the man apparently had no sense of dramatic creativity during the production of this incoherent mess.

The DVD also includes the Original Theatrical Trailer. But why would anyone care? Take my advice and stay away!

Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: The main reason I saw this movie was because I lived in Kansas. It has little to do with life in this great state, but it may be accurate for someone passing through on a train. They could have done a little more research before putting this out -- mainly on how to pronounce the names of some of the towns. I did like it, though.

Rating:
Summary: this is cool...
Review: This movie was filmed in Valley Falls, Kansas, the town where I live. This is probably the only reason I have watched this movie, and it is so awesome because our main street looks so different in the movie, but everything still looks so familiar. Many of the people I know, including some of my teachers, were extras in this film, one of them riding one of the horses in the parade. I recognize everything from the bridge to the cemetary, and I think its cool that we had movie filmed in our town. I just wish it could have been more of a success, so we could've gotten recognized more and maybe had another movie shot here. That would be great considering I was 4 when this movie was shot, so I don't remember much about it.

Rating:
Summary: Watch only if you must
Review: Ultra-cheap, predictable trash with Dillon involving McCarthy in a bank robbery, McCarthy runs away with the money, saves a politician's daughter from drowning...well you pretty much figured out the whole story.

Rating:
Summary: Hits and misses
Review: While the premise for the story is good, some of the writing leads the film away from being really good.

The acting is good, and the cinematography is outstanding (love those deep-focus shots).

Good direction and camerawork make this worth 5 stars to me.