Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-18 23:53:57

BEST CLASSIC, TO SAY, EVER SEEN - 24 APRIL 1999

DREW BARRYMORE REALLY PLAYED HER PART WELL, ALONG SIDE KEITH DAVID, BEST MOVIE THROUGH MY ENTIRE CHILDHOOD. I SIMPLY WISH STEPHEN KING CAN PULL HIS FINGER, AND ALLOW HOLLYWOOD TO MAKE A PART 2 NOW THAT DREW IS ALL GROWN UP...THE MORE WICKED, THE BETTER....NUMBER 1 FAN, ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE DREW

Master Cultist 2013-05-18 15:36:23

Pyrokinetic thriller

Based on the Stephen King book of the same name, this is an efficientsupernatural thriller that neither excites nor disappoints.Andy and Charlie McGee are father and daughter, and both have a specialpower. He is a 'pusher', someone with the ability to bend people'swill, to make them do things either against their will or evenunconsciously. She's a pyrokinetic - a firestarter. She can burn thingsup by thought alone.See, Andy and his wife took part in a medical trial when they wereyoung, and both had innate powers anyway that were brought to thesurface. Now, the wife is dead, Andy and his daughter - played by avery young Drew Barrymore - are on the run from the authorities, andshe's losing control of her ability to tame the burning rage within.An intriguing concept, well executed, this is underplayed andenjoyable, though it won't change your world.

2013-05-18 07:55:14

colud of been a little better.

This is not the best film based on a Stephen King book, but you can lok at it thi wa, at lest it is not as bad as IT (nothing colud be as worse as that). any way Drew Barrymore did a good job, but Martin Sheen eats up all the scenes and going all out in his role. all i can say about the story is it is about a little gril who gets things on fire when she is pissed off and there is this really f***ed up Indian guy. it is siad that that John Carpenter was going to do this. he sound have (hey man he can always do another film verison). by the way i am 17 years old, it is does that i don't know how to sing up and all that. nuff siad.

Lee Eisenberg 2013-05-18 02:44:57

Take "Carrie" one step further...

If you thought that "Carrie" made incredible use of conflagrations, youain't seen nothing yet! In Stephen King's other combustion-themedstory, "Firestarter" portrays the daughter (Drew Barrymore) of aexperimental guinea pig (David Keith) using her ignition abilities toget her way. When the government kidnaps her and her father, thingsreally get ugly.On one level, this movie seems a little preachy, with the shadowyagents going after the man and his daughter. But I would call that anaccurate depiction of things. And you gotta agree with what the girldoes, no matter how extreme she gets (and I'm talking really extreme).So I definitely recommend this movie. But if you're a pyromaniac, don'tlet this movie encourage you.Also starring Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen, George C. Scott, ArtCarney and Louise Fletcher.

phd-15 2013-05-16 23:50:07

Surprisingly bad.

This is a stunningly bad film - my dog could have done better if it wasallowed to use the camcorder. There isn't really much need to say morebut, since the minimum accepted review length is ten lines, I'll do mybest. The plot is ludicrous. Fortunately, though, the acting is badenough to make the plot look good. This, in turn, makes thecut-and-paste characterizations less immediately obvious. And all ofthis at least takes your attention away from the dialogue, whichappears to be made entirely of balsa.If you want a good night in, rent this on DVD. Get a decent bottle ofwine or a few beers, start the DVD and then go in another room.

Rich Cline 2013-05-16 05:25:19

corny and overblown

Michael_Elliott 2013-05-14 01:18:26

Great Cast but the Film is a Flop

Firestarter (1984) ** (out of 4) Weak adaptation of the Steven King novel about a young child namedCharlie (Drew Barrymore) who has the special power of being able to setthings on fire by just using her thought. She's on the run with herfather (David Keith) from various government people wanting to exploither talent as she tries to control her gift. I haven't read the novelthat this movie is based on so I can't comment on what this got rightor wrong. However, I'm one who never expects a movie to follow the book100% so with that in mind I can only say that this film is a completemess. Thankfully this thing offers up an all-star cast including somelegends because without them this film would be nearly impossible toget through. Clocking in just under two-hours, the film feels twice aslong and I think a lot of the blame has to go to director Mark L.Lester. His direction is all over the place and not for a second did Ifeel any tension in the story and I also thought the pacing was prettybad. I will say that not all of this might be his fault because thescreenplay itself has a fair number of problems. One such problem isthat the entire thing never really seems to know what it wants to do.Is it a horror film? Science fiction? Is it trying to be some sort ofhard, negative look at the government and their powers? The film is allover the map in regards to what it's trying to do but sadly it doesn'tdo any of them very well. The performances are actually pretty good andare the best thing in the film. Barrymore delivers a strong andbelievable performance as the haunting girl and I've always liked Keithin just about everything he's done. Heather Locklear does a nice job inher scenes as the mother and we get vets like Martin Sheen and GeorgeC. Scott offering up fine performances. The highlight of the film dealswith a couple farmers played by Art Carney and Louise Fletcher. Yes,FIRESTARTER has three Oscar-winning actors. The special effects areanother plus and help give the film some energy. I must admit that theentire story struck me as being silly and especially early on as we seeKeith's character getting nosebleeds from doing his psychic powers andBarrymore crying from setting people on fire. These scenes really mademe laugh the majority of the time and once we keep seeing the samething over and over it just gets boring.

Tim Cox 2013-05-13 11:34:45

Firestarter

Stars Scott, Sheen and Barrymore cannot save this silly film about alittlegirl who can start fires at will. Based on theStephen King novel.

2013-05-03 17:34:26

An ok watch

Its an ok movie. I'd watch it once,but I wouldn't pay to watch it twice. For an older movie it didn't look as fake as I thought it would. Its an ok movie. I'd watch it once,but I wouldn't pay to watch it twice. For an older movie it didn't look as fake as I thought it would.

2013-05-03 09:51:47

It's A Personal Thing

This review is from: Firestarter (Amazon Instant Video) I actually had a little script part in this movie and got to know most of the cast. This was the first Stephen King film to be made out of the Wilmington, North Carolina studio and started something wonderful.It's fun to see Drew Barrymore as a child again. She was fascinated with all the rings I wore back then. David Keith was very gracious and Martin Sheen was just a good guy all the way around. Not George C. Scott. He had nothing to do with anyone. Guess it takes all of his thoughts, all of the time to play a part.The producers,directors and whole crew were so professional and helpful. It was amazing to watch them put this 'Firey' story together and the special effects won awards and got a lot of notice in the industry back in the eighties.Just fun to watch how special effects were done about 30 years ago.

2013-05-01 19:23:52

Turning the Heat Up

This review is from: Firestarter (DVD) FIRESTARTER is one of Stephen King's best stories--surreal, yet plausible; both frightening and cheering. Drew Barrymore's performance warms hearts and burns villains. Great story, great movie--perhaps the star performance in Barrymore's career.

2013-05-01 14:15:20

There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight

A government experiment with "Lot. 6" goes awry and leaving a few side effects; one of those effects is Charlene 'Charlie' McGee (an 8 year old Drew Barrymore) who has the ability to start fires and maybe dispatch the Earth. Her father Andrew 'Andy' McGee (David Keith) wants to save her, Captain Hollister (Martin Sheen) wants to control her, John Rainbird (George C. Scott) wants to take her to the next world, and Irv Manders (Art Carney) just wants a daughter. So who wins and who lose, and who gets burnt in the process?This is a based on a timeless tale by Stephen King. As there are many factions and cabals that today want to control their own firstarter.I found it as much fun to watch now as it was originally. And who can believe how young Drew was. Many of the other actors are now relegated to the past but not forgetting.

Jason C. Atwood 2013-04-17 18:32:07

Poor thriller is sparked with the help of young Barrymore.

I suggest audiophiles who loved Tangerine Dream's music in FIRESTARTERshould go out and track down the soundtrack album that's been out fifteenyears ago. Otherwise, this stands as almost plain forgettable. The acting,plot, and script makes this a long and painfully ludicrous experience. Itneeded much more smoke to fry this picture whole, but a very young DrewBarrymore saved her second or third film from a total crisp. Bestrememberedas "Gertie" from E.T., the young actress pulled off some impressive talentthat would put to shame a wasted cast of familiar actors including MartinSheen and Art Carney. Standing in front of the camera with special effectsblowing her hair is one thing, and it was the best any child star could doat the time, but this was higher ground for Barrymore that later followsseveral more movies to date. Don't always take it from her, though, unlessyou're dying for more Drew. It's the fact that FIRESTARTER is anuninspiringexample of a Stephen King thriller.

revival05 2013-04-17 10:38:26

Boring...

**Please excuse me for some spelling mistakes** What made Stephen Kings novel ''Firestarter''so good was the fact that it would'nt make it as a movie. And the movie ismostly following the book so the result is a bit predictible. The movie itselfis carelessnessy told and all through boring. Even more if you've read the book. Theonly good thing is the actors. No one is doing a bad job. Sheen and Barrymooreare both really good, but let's just say that ''Firestarter'' is a great waste ofgreat actors.

2013-04-11 22:14:02

Me And Charlie McGee...

Drew Barrymore is not bad at all as little Charlene "Charlie" Mcgee. She's afflicted with pyrokenesis (starting fires w/ her mind) handed down to her by her mum Vicky (Heather Lockleer) and dad Andy (David Keith), who were both injected with an experimental serum by a secret government organization called "The Shop". Now Charlie is on the run with dad, trying to escape the clutches of the nefarious shop operatives who've already killed mum! Unfortunately, an assassin named Rainbird (George C. Scott) wants Charlie for his own demented reasons. Along with Capt. Hollister (Martin Sheen), Rainbird plans on exploiting Charlie's powers, then killing her with a quick blow to the head! He's a sick one! As much as I like Drew Barrymore in this, FIRESTARTER has it's lame moments of pure cheese, like when Mum's oven mits burst into flames, whatta riot! Or when flaming mannequins (shop agents) fly through trees at Charlie's instigation during the blazing climax! Still, it's not a terrible movie, just not a classic. Then, there's FIRESTARTER 2: REKINDLED, a nearly 3 hour sequel that suffers from a bloated storyline that could have easily been squeezed into an hour! Charlie's all grown up now, and suffering from nightmares from her past, as well as that pesky burning thing. She is unaware that Rainbird (Now played by Malcolm McDowell) is alive (?!) and still infatuated with her. He's also raised up a small army of kids with various psychic abilities (sort of a bratty version of Village Of The Damned). These kids are being trained as weapons of course, and will ultimately face Charlie in an all-too-whimpy showdown. Dennis Hopper (Night Tide, Blue Velvet) is also in this as Richardson, a clairvoyant with the personality of day-old oatmeal. REKINDLED has far more smoke than fire, and seems almost endless to sit through! It's more or less a freebie tacked on to the infinitely superior original. So, grab some marshmallows and roast 'em by the TV screen! Enjoy...

2013-04-11 16:49:13

Dangerous Drew Barrymore

This review is from: Firestarter (DVD) This is a movie about a father daughter duo of danger. Drew Barrymore makes her debut as the powerful mind behind a force of fire that will demolish anything in its path.

2013-03-26 03:32:02

Two enjoyable Thrillers!

In "Firestarter", a young girl named Charlie "Charlene" Mcgee (Drew Barrymore) and her father (David Keith) are on the run from the govement who wants to use them for experiments. Long ago, Andrew McGee whom has the power to control minds and objects met a beautiful woman named Vickey (Heather Locklear) as they got married and gave birthd to a young girl whom would later have the supernatural ability to start fires with her mind and soon becomes a danger especially her father. Next "Firestarter 2" deals with Charlie all grown up 20 years later as she's still on the run under a new ID and still dangerous as ever as she's learning to control her powers! John Rainbird (Malcom Mcdowell) from the first has six young kids with similar psychic powers but not as strong to go against the now beautiful Charlie for only a friend (Dennis Hopper) can stop Rainbird's evil plan.The first "Firestarter" is a nice suspensful Sci-fi horror thriller based on Stephen King's novel of the same name features Martin Sheen, Art Carney, Freddie Jones and George C. Scott as Rainbird is an enjoyable little romp. The pyro effects were really neat for their time before CGI and the performances aren't too bad even Barrymore's portryal of the little tortured pyrokinetic girl, it's not really true to the book but it's a fine little exciting movie with good effects and a cool score by Tangerine Dream all in this Dino De Laurentiis produced shocker. The sequel on the otherhand is a reasonable one which a hot grown up Charlie McGee played by Marguerite Moreau and of course Malcom Mcdowell nailing the part of Rainbird quite good feels kind of a remake of the first movie mixed with an "X-Men" movie rather then a sequel, but still it's a fine made for cable sequel.The Transfers to both movies on this DVD set are very good and the only extra is a trailer to the first movie.

2013-03-25 12:05:37

It was the worst movie I have ever seen.

It was the worst movie I have ever seen.They should allow this movie to be sold in stores.

PeachHamBeach 2013-03-24 18:56:26

still quite impressive after many years

When I was about 14 and this film was released, I was obsessed with it.I thought Charley McGee had the most coveted powers on earth, to readothers thoughts and to fry anyone who tried to hurt her or her family.A long time has passed but I have the DVD now and I have to say I neverknew just what some of the critics were talking about when they pannedthe movie. I have read the book too and it's not 100% faithful, but I'dsay it was at least 85 or 90 % like the Stephen King story. Not tomention the stellar cast, who all did MARVELOUS with their material.Martin Sheen was terrific, Art Carney and Louise Fletcher werewonderful, George C. Scott was menacing perfection, David Keith wasprobably the most impressive to me as the father who worried himselfsick about his child...and the scenes where he had to go find hismurdered wife were outstanding. And 8 year old Barrymore did awonderful job. I love the music too of course, a moody ambient score byTangerine Dream, but I thought the sound quality was a littledisappointing. Apparently years and digital enhancements haven'thelped. Still, this is, after over 2 decades, a cut above today'scrappy ultraviolent horror offerings, and still a lot of fun to watch.I still can't see why the critics called it "wasted talent of a lot ofthe best actors". It's a really good movie.

kay 2013-03-24 04:06:35

Pyrotelekinesis

This story is base on a Stephen King novel.Charlie McGee is a little girl play by Drew Barrymore.She has the power to start fires and stop fires by using her emotions and mind.Andrew McGee is play by David Keith.Her father has the power to make people do his bidding.The Shop is out to kill Charlie and Andrew.John Rainbird play by George C. Scott works for The Shop.Rainbird is the most intellent and clever of the vilains.The entire cast does a wonderful job.The director Mark L. Lester does a wonderful job.The spiecial effects are very good.