Genres

Visitors Review

anonymous 2013-05-14 13:45:57

Oh Yeah

If you see this movie on the video shelf at a video store, rent it. It isdefinitely worth seeing.

Pepper Anne 2013-05-14 04:12:52

A bold idealist.

John Travolta is social worker Scott Barnes, a person adamant about keepingthe kids of some innercity area of California from giving into the rampantdrug circles that work the street. He's been working the job for so long, heknows the dealers by name, and they know him.The job gets personal when a close friend of his, a 13 year old boy namedTommy (Joey Lawrence), starts dealing. Unfortunately, Tommy has alreadybecome much more involved in the "Youth Incentive Program," which is thename for the dangerous clan of cocaine dealers that run the area. Travoltafigures that he owes it to Tommy to help him, seeing this as an opportunityto redeem himself after having accidentally killed his only son in anaccident where Scott was drunk. Scott, the bold idealist that he is, goes undercover in one of the mostdangerous drug rings (which reminds me a lot of Shredder's underground gangfrom the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie), hoping that he can rescueTommy from their grips before it's too late. Though the message is good, considering it is a powerful statementespecially where kids are messing up their lives in being hooked on thisstuff (they run like rats in the daylights to protect their stash) becausethey're sold on the false philosophy that they'll become filthy rich.Likewise, it illustrates the failures of the system as Scott tries so hardfor other government agencies to help him out and put an end to the messthat he's witnessed for so long. But, it does in part seem a little toounrealistic, detracting from the importance of this message somewhat, asScott, by himself, tries to disguise himself and his motives from a veryruthless leader (Benjamin Bratt) and his even more ruthless gang of drugdealing thugs. When the stakes are high, these guys will do whatever ittakes to protect their product and their money. But is Scott able to do muchmore to protect Tommy?

2013-05-02 16:37:02

Surprised me!

I hadn't heard of this movie but thought I'd seen everything Travolta had done over the years. I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing, acting and directing in this movie. It's old enough that you might happen upon it on a premium movie channel or OnDemand cable, and if you do, give it a watch. I would have paid to see it at a theater but I'm glad I happened across it on Amazon.com instead.

Ben_Cheshire 2013-05-02 02:35:15

A piece of trash, but Travolta (amazingly) carries it. +, he looks great and thin - making this a real rarity. Includes a theory about Travolta's career.

Good luck finding this - they're selling it on a cheapie DVD inAustralia. One of the most obscure entries in Travolta's career, itsone of those rare opportunities to see him looking this skinny.Its absolute trash, of course, the kind of preachy exhibitionism thatcharacterises mid-day movies, soap operas and tele-features.*The progression of Travolta's career seems to be characterised byalmost total randomness. What is the explanation for the decisions JohnTravolta has made? Even his biggest, best decisions had a degree ofrandomness: from TV sweathog Vinne Barbarino to disco king in SaturdayNight Fever? From family-movie icon in Look Who's Talking to hit-man inPulp Fiction? Don't tell me these were the only roles available to him- not true. After Saturday Night Fever, he was the hottest thing sinceJames Dean. He would have been offered a million scripts - hundreds ofthem probably great, so why the strange bomb Moment by Moment? Andafter Grease, when he lucked-in again, he could have had any script inHollywood, so why the strange western drama Urban Cowboy? , he was thehottest thing since The sad truth behind this randomness is thatTravolta bases his decisions of what role to take on the Hollywoodreligion of scientology. So instead of good characters or good dialoguein the script, good directors attached, or his agent's advice - heappeals to whatever mystical devices scientology suggests. Travoltaclaims that scientology knows best because it was responsible for hisgreat decisions in the 70's (Grease, Saturday Night Fever and WelcomeBack, Kotter). But in truth, scientology has been responsible for aboutfive hits (those three, plus Pulp Fiction), and about thirty misses.Travolta is a great actor, with terrific looks (even in expanded form)- so why is it that his career has been a series of almost random upsand downs, every now and then accidentally scoring a hit script, butmostly toiling away in rubbish like Perfect (1985), Two of a Kind(1983), Staying Alive (1983), White Man's Burden (1995), Michael(1996), Phenomenon (1996), Lucky Numbers (2000), Battlefield Earth(2000), Basic (2003). It was the same problem with Brando. Terrificactor, great looking (even in expanded form), but he picked roles basedon the highest bidder. Money, instead of script and director quality.Contrast these guys with someone like Jack Nicholson - a pretty goodactor, with terrible looks - but he's become a legend! He's been inscores of incredible films, one after another! What separates him?Terrific decisions - perfect decisions for that time of his life, andfor his image, and for a projection of how good the final movie mightbe.*Only scientology could explain someone, even someone with not muchweight in Hollywood, agreeing to do this script. Poorly written, itindulges in all the possible clichés of melodramatic trollop - and thenis executed in the most trashy manner possible.Still, Travolta is not poor. He makes us believe this crap, which is areal feat.4/10 for Travolta, and that's very very generous.

anonymous 2013-04-03 21:31:51

good

If you like John Travolta, and you like a good thriller, see thismovie.

2013-04-03 11:42:36

From social worker to Schwarzenegger

Chains of Gold is one of those movies John Travolta did during his career slump. This one has Travolta as Scott Barnes, a social worker who rescues a kid from a drug-running street gang. Hector Elizondo has a part as Lieutenant Ortega. Silly plot certainly doesn't help this forgettable action movie. Director Rob Holcomb moved on to direct the excellent TV movie 'Finding the Way Home'.

ladies_pinch 2013-03-26 10:10:54

This film IS good!

I actually really liked this film not just because i like joey Lawrencebut because its about real issues. Joey Lawrence and John Travolta givereally good performances, i was never really a fan of Travolta before isaw this film but now i see him as a really talented actor! Also JoeyLawrence gives an excellent performance as the troubled teenagertommy,everyone who still just see's him as that kid from Blossom shouldsee this film, so they can see that there is more to him than his looksand his funny role as Joey Russo!!!Despite the bad reviews this filmhas had i give this film 8/10 and if you have the chance to see thisfilm take the opportunity!

Wizard-8 2013-03-25 21:40:11

If it had been Mr. T's chains of gold, it would have been more interesting

I'm assuming that John Travolta decided to take things in his own handsat the time of making this movie, seeing that his career was in a slumpat the time. I assume that because Travolta is credited as being one ofthe four screenwriters of this movie. It must have hurt when thefinished product was shelved for some time before being dumped directlyto cable TV, though I'm pretty confident that the movie wouldn't havedone well if it had been released to theaters. It's pretty apparentthis was a low budget movie, with such attributes as poor photographyand dimly lit sequences. In fact, despite all the swearing, violence,and drug scenes, the movie feels like it was made for TV. Thescreenplay contains some howlers like interracial gangs, but it's amostly dull and slow-moving affair. Bernie Casey and Hector Elizondoare good, but there's only so much they can do in their limited roles.As for Travolta, while he's been good in other movies, you wouldn'tknow it from his performance here. His swearing, getting uppity andsaying such things as "How dare you?", crying, and bulging eyes suggesta director who was reluctant to reign him in for some unknown reason.The only reason to see this is to try and figure out how this gotre-released (on DVD) a few years ago.

2013-03-19 20:24:42

nice movie

I brought this movie strickly on impulse from my work. It cost me $2.99, brand new (dvd). I'd never seen it before, but was very impressed. I know it is a TV movie, but nonetheless, it is very watchable. I can watch it several more times, in fact. After watching movies like these, you gain respect for independent films.There are bad reviews for this movie out there, but I say hire it out and make up your own mind. A Travolta classic!

2013-03-19 04:37:00

Excellent,Underrated Travolta Film!!

In one of his lesser known films, John Travolta does an excelleent job potraying a social worker trying to rescue a kid from a brutal, vicious Crack Street Gang.I thought the film was excellent,John Travolta along with Marilu Henner did a superb acting job!!

anonymous 2013-03-18 06:32:57

Entertaining

A thriller about one man pushed to far by drug dealers he feels isresponsible for the disappearance of his best friend. From the powerfulperformances at the beginning, to the thrilling climax, this movie is oneyou have to see.

2013-03-17 18:36:07

Cool

An enjoyable film in my mind. Travolta is especially good in a movie aboutasocial worker's determination to save his friend after he is kidnapped bythe drug dealers that he worked for. Sure, this is hardly a perfect movie,but it will entertain you for 95 minutes.

2013-03-14 19:24:09

chains of gold

this is a very nice movie with a lot of action.

anonymous 2013-03-13 22:14:53

This Movie Rocks

Powerful performances and great thrills make this movie one you have to see.If you get the chance to see it, don't pass it up.