Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-15 20:10:23

Great story in a beautiful setting

Although the plot was nothing new, it was filmed in a beautiful setting and used one of the best actors currently doing movies. Anthony Hopkins does an excellent job in the role of eccentric billionaire, and Alec Baldwin is very believable as the back stabbing urbanite. The bear is simply amazing. One of the better movies out there, and it will make you think "what would I do"? Well worth the purchase price.

2012-05-15 07:16:53

a metaphor for life

Every once in a while a movie comes along that tends to realign your thought process. The '50s had '12 Angry Men' the '70s had 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' and the '90s has 'The Edge'.The plot is simple. A group of men lost in the woods is trying to find their way back. The attitude they bring to this situation is the central theme of this movie. Hopkins' quiet focussed billionaire is a perfect foil to Baldwin's raving lost personality. The scene where the crude compass does not work is one of the best examples of character study in a movie. The bear is a metaphor for the seeming unscalable problems in life and how it is possible to conquer them.The cinetamography is brilliant and the wilderness is captured in all its glory. The contradiction , of visual unforgiving nature and Hopkins 'never give up' lines , forms great drama.

Keith F. Hatcher 2012-05-04 11:40:25

Hopkins-Baldwin duel amidst splendid scenery

And they came out about evens. Helped along by Harold Perrineau in the firsthalf of the film. Suspenseful throughout, this is a good character study inwhich Hopkins as usual is excellent, and Alec Baldwin is in the best rôle Ihave seen him in. Fabulous scenery, supposedly in Alaska but I have somedoubts. Anybody know for sure? I do not like them putting at the end offilms `Filmed on Location': why can't they tell us exactly where thatlocation is? It's very good for the local tourist industry!The second viewing of this film recently did not bore me one little bit, asthe two main characters play their parts with great conviction, helped alongby Mamet's dialogues which at times sounded more like a playwrite than acinematographic script. The other great actor is Bart. Sorry to see that he has since died, poorfellow, but at least he can be held up as one of the best animal actors ofall time. And he is not even credited in IMDb!Mercifully, Elle MacPherson only had a very small part to play, so she doesnot spoil anything. Cannot for the life of me understand why somefilm-makers are so bent on putting top models in their films, when,obviously, most of these unarguably beautiful women are limited to posing infront of cameras suitably dressed (or not) in sexy attire and smilingalluringly. The IMDb voting average of 6.8 is just about right.

2012-05-03 20:41:28

Great movie, though very overlooked

I saw The Edge in the theater and didn't expect anything more then a run of the mill action/wilderness picture. What I got was one brilliantly acted and directed film. OK, first we are dealing with Tony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin---these guys play thier roles with extreme professionalism and tact. And I must add Bart the Bear, who plays the man-eating monster Hopkins and Baldwin must overcome while all the while dealing with thier own conflicts towards one another. Bart is truly an awesome animal and is worth the admission price just to watch. But this movie is chalked full of dialouge and feeling that goes way beyond the awesome visual story. Man, if you like a well told story with a message, breath-taking nature shots and acting that for some reason was over-looked at oscar time...you should check this one out. It is a sleeper.....I don't know why it wasn't more critically acclaimed when it was released but who knows---that is usually how it goes. I give it a solid 8 and a half out of 10.JF

2012-04-26 02:04:13

The Edge

Billionaire Charles Morse accompanies his supermodel wife Mickey to photo shoot at Alaska. The shoot is to be made by fashion photographer Robert Green. To find specific Indian for the shoot, they fly to even more distant location, where their small plane crashes into a lake. To survive in the woods full of man-killing bears they need each other, but the smarter of the men, Charles is suspicious that Robert is having an affair with his wife. This is a well written, well acted, well directed thriller. Anthony Hopkins as always turns in a great performance but the big suprise is Alec Baldwin who did just as well. This movie has some of the best dialogue ever written for a movie of this type, and the action scenes are clever with a blazingly paced. "The Edge" is a terrific movie.

2012-04-25 12:32:34

Yes, I rented this to see Bart the Bear. I admit it!

Seriously, I felt sorry for the bear anytime anything bad happened to it, or it got poked with a stick and hurt. Hey, the big bear was just cranky from being hungry and wanted a little snack.Yes, I know I sound like a moron. He was so cute, though. I know if I were ever confronted with a real bear when I was not at the zoo or Northwest Trek I would either soil myself, run like hell, or pass out, but I rented this movie to see the bear. Seriously, I thought I would be rooting for the bear the whole movie, but I did start to really feel sorry for the characters (though it was funny when they were trying to climb along that log and the bear thoughtfully decided to start jumping up and down on it trying to make them fall off) because the script and director did such a good job of making them likeable. Well, Alec Baldwin played a jerk, but I felt so sorry for Anthony Hopkins' character who was trying to hold it together, and I REALLY felt sorry for the poor injured man who got cornered by the bear and shook around by it like he was a Beanie baby (tm) being shook around by a hyper-active child. Yikes! Overall, this movie was quite a bit better than I thought it would be though, and I thought it would be predictable but it wasn't. A few twists and turns actually surprised me. Tony Hopkins is great as usual, and Alec Baldwin shows he is still the most talented of any of the Baldwin Bros. Might want to steer clear of it if you're already scared of bears in the first place, though.

Hard Justice 2012-04-20 02:42:18

Amazing movie!

This movie is the ultimate in survial of the human spirit. The only other film that surpases this film is "Alive". Tremendous story, a definate classic!

2012-04-19 11:57:10

By God this film was bad!

I thought this was the worst film I had ever seen. Then I saw Antitrust. The Edge is now the second worst film I have ever seen.Still, I got a good laugh out of the part where the desperate city-folk stranded in the wilderness use POINTED STICKS to defeat the merciless man-eating bear twice their height - and then appear in the very next scene in very dapper, matching bear-skin vests.

2012-04-09 19:09:03

Awesome

This review is from: The Edge [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) So glad this came out on Blu-Ray. It's been one of my all-time favorite films over the past 10-12 years since I first saw it. Once I got my flatscreen I was bummed that my original DVD showed up on the screen in the old 1.33:1 fullscreen format with letterbox on the top and bottom making the view area even smaller, I guess that would be called a regular widescreen DVD versus an anamorphic widescreen DVD. The Blu-Ray solves that problem thankfully. The picture is great but there are some weird shaky parts particularly in some of the aerial shots, which doesn't detract much but is slightly noticeable and may be a result of the transfer of the original to Blu-Ray. Wish some special features would have been added like some commentary tracks from Hopkins, Baldwin, or Mamet. Oh well, still a great film and worth upgrading.

TomL 2012-04-09 05:51:13

A survival thriller with a brain

Aided by three very good performences and a solid script written by David Mamet, The Edge is an adventure film that does not leave your mind hanging. Anthony Hopkins is superb as Charles, a billionaire who, because of his money, is unsure of just who his friends really are, Alec Baldwin is very fun to watch as Bob, a fashion photographer with a deadly interest in the wealth and the wife of Charles. The two men have several great exchanges through out the film, Charles maintaining his cool, while Bob starts to question the odds, and in the process they get to know one another and what each other is capable of. The third key performence in the film comes in the form of Bart the bear, who's menacing demeanor and great sense of timing (thanks to trainer Doug Seuss) is essential for at least the first hour and a half of the movie. I will not go into plot specifics, as I assume if you are reading this then you must be familiar with the film already or have at least read the synopsis, but about half the film is devoted to niffty survival scenes and assorted action sequences, the last 30 to 40 minutes deals with the social breakdown of the two leads. Charles and Bob kill the bear and remove the biggest threat to their survival but in the end it comes down one man's agenda, I found this to be the most fascinating thing about the movie. Charles is the sole survivor of the whole ordeal, and when he is asked how his companions died, he simply responds: "they died saving my life". This indicates that rather then exposing the ugliness of what actually happened, Charles decides to honor the memory of the only people who truly knew him for who he was, despite the fact that one of them tried to kill him. I liked this movie, it challenges one to think about what you would do in the classic "lost in the wilderness" situation, and of course none of us really know until we are put to such a test.

critic_at_large 2012-04-03 19:35:51

Superb Direction, Script and Acting!

This is a great film , and I mean truly one of the great films - it shouldbe on AFI's Top 100 films list. It's that good. David Mamet crafted a witty andsuspenseful script, it was masterfully directed, and the acting is off thecharts. Hopkins can always be counted on for a memorable performance,but the big surprise hear is Alec Baldwin. This should have been anOscar-winning performance - certainly his best ever. There is one scene inparticular in which his character nearly gives into despair, and the emotionhe brought to that performance grabs you and ropes you into the world ofhis character. Powerful, heart-stopping performance - bravo Alec! Whilesupermodels are notoriously bad actresses, Elle MacPherson did a nice job(playing a supermodel, so admittedly not much of a stretch) in this one. She's understated and believable as the billionaire's trophy wife. Thisone will keep you on the edge of your seat. Do yourself and favor and see ittonight.

ATG-2 2012-04-03 10:36:26

My favorite movie of all time!

This is the best movie that I have ever seen! It had a lot of action initlike the scene when they were going to try and kill the bear. AnthonyHopkins and Alec Baldwin are at their best in this movie! There are a lotof good lines in the Edge but the one that I like the most is when theyareyelling at each other saying "I am going to kill the bear!" I think everyone should see this movie and if you like it I think that you should alsosee a movie called The Ghost In The Darkness. That is a good film too butin that movie it is a lion that is killing people and not abear.

Jeremy Severdia 2012-04-03 07:08:23

Perhaps the best movie of 1997

I remember seeing this movie back in '97 in the pre-Titanic days. I lovedthis movie for its acting and scenery. In addition, the screenplay by analways-delightful David Mammet was top notch. I waited forever for it tocome out on DVD, and when it finally did, I watched ittwice.The acting is best in the word plays between Charles (Hopkins) and Robert(Baldwin). The rest of the characters are throw aways, but the story is notcentered on them. The other guy with them dies early when he accidentallycuts his leg and is then eaten by the bear. The bear (Bart the Bear) by theway is great too. The story is the typical survival story, with Mammet's writing talentslayered in. The movie becomes less about the bear that is chasing them, andless about survival, and more about the dark side of human nature and thebest side. This leads to an ending that was unexpectedly powerful for amovie like this.The scenery was also very good, and I recommend anyone seeing the movie justfor that. Also, see it for Hopkins and Baldwin. See it for the bear. Seeit for a movie that will probably be a survival classic. **** stars (out of*****)

2012-04-02 20:28:06

CONFRONTATION with Nature (Wilderness, Animal and Human)

Anthony Hopkins stars as Charles in 1997's "The Edge", a sad, lifeless billionaire who has accumulated a vast store of mostly useless facts. Because of his great wealth he's unsure if people are honestly interested in him as a friend or just want his money. His much younger, model wife (Elle Macpherson) treats him more as a teddy bear than a romantic lover. He wonders if she's having an affair with her photographer Bob (Alec Baldwin).Charles gets stranded in the Northewest wilderness and is forced to confront three types of nature: First, he must contend with wilderness nature itself (the movie was filmed in breath-taking Alberta and British Columbia). Secondly, he comes face to face (literally) with a fierce Kodiak bear. Thirdly, he must confront human nature in the ugly form of arrongance, envy, malice, greed, lust and murder. Unexpectedly, as Charles confronts these three challenges he starts to blossom and fully come ALIVE, perhaps for the first time in decades. His colossal store of mostly worthless knowledge actually becomes useful.There are a couple "Yeah, right" Hollywood implausibilities -- for instance, the bear shaking the tree as the guys cross the river (an homage to King Kong) -- but, for the most part, the story plays out realistically."The Edge" addresses many powerful and worthy themes including Rebirth & renewal, confronting & overcoming incredible challenges, and, perhaps most potent of all, the power of repentance and triumphing over evil through goodwill & forgiveness. *** SPOILER ALERT *** Don't read the next paragraph if you haven't seen the movieSome may scoff at that last one but, after Charles gains the upperhand over Bob at the end, Bob sincerely repents of his wicked deeds before he ultimately dies (the 'wicked deeds' being his intention to kill Charles for his wife & wealth). At the end Charles refuses to say anything bad about Bob, even though he clearly has the right to; all he states is that Bob died saving his life. Why did he say this? Why didn't he lambaste him for being a murderous, greedy, adulterous scumbag? Perhaps not only because Charles accepted his repentance and FORGAVE him, but also because he realized that ALL OF US are screw-ups to some degree. We all have a dark, carnal side to our psyche, Bob simply made the mistake of going over THE EDGE; yet, in the end, he realized this and was truly sorry for it. What an amazing story about the power of repentance and forgiveness! *** END SPOILER ***These descriptions of the film's profundities are feeble at best; there's so much more I'd like to comment on but mere words won't do it justice. Discover for yourself. This is definitely a movie worthy of repeat viewings. BOTTOM LINE: If all you want out of "The Edge" is a great adventure/survival story with spectacular scenery, you'll definitely get it, yet it profoundly (and unexpectedly) offers so much more. I'm a pretty masculine dude but the last time I saw this film I was so affected that I broke down at the end. The next day I saw the Peter Jackson "King Kong" flick, which is essentially another adventure/survival yarn albeit with a giant gorilla and dinosaurs instead of a bear. Compared to "The Edge" Jackson's "King Kong" is a laughable $200 million Road Runner cartoon."The Edge" ranks with my all-time favorite films. 'Nuff said.

2012-03-31 22:27:47

Great Film - Poor DVD

This review is from: The Edge (Widescreen Edition) (DVD) It's an entertaining survival story, but the US Region 1 NTSC DVD sold here is washed out and grainy, rendering otherwise outstanding scenery looking like a poor quality video tape. I purchased the PAL Region 2 edition from Amazon UK and the difference is striking. If you have a multi-region dvd player and a PAL compatible display - order that one. It's the perfect type of film to justify a future Blu-Ray release.

2012-03-31 04:53:55

Very Well Done, though puzzling emotionally

Anthony Hopkins is great as usual and gives his character depth. Well written dialogue and story as Alec Baldwin plays the role he's been stereotyped in: the bad guy who isn't totally bad. The ambiguity of the final portion left me confused as to what was happening in Hopkin's character's mind. Why would he care about Baldwin's character? The film is frought with cryptic references and a soul-searching undercurrent during the fight for survival in Alaskan wilderness. Finally, the bear is really what the meat of the film seems to be about. The exciting terror of outwitting a bear before he has you for dinner. All else is a bit of an ill concieved 2nd plot, though the whole effort is worth seeing. At least you cant say too much is explained.

MovieAlien 2012-03-26 19:00:59

Imperfect but compelling

Anthony Hopkins plays a billionaire who spends his birthday in thewilderness (presumably the Alaskan) when his plane crashes during a relatedexcursion. Soon a struggle for survival, he and his wife's mutual bestfriend (Alec Baldwin) are faced with living in dangerous conditions as wellas a man-eating bear which soon sniffs them out and stalks them. Typically this is "Call of the Wild" with a Saturday Morning Adventuresetting (hidden secrets, betrayals, etc.) But Hopkin's profound performance(and character) makes the movie worthy of a single goodwatch.

2012-03-26 06:26:41

A wilderness metaphore about facing life's adversities.

"People lost in the wilderness tend to die from shame." This oft repeated theme in the movie links the story to our everyday lives. Confronted with adversity, men tend to blame themselves or others and wallow in regret and confusion, rather than muster available resources and think smart. Alec Balwyn and Anthony Hopkins, adversaries for the same woman, render splendid life/death performances. And the Kodiak beak? He deserves an Academy Award nomination, I believe. Hopkins final comment in the show is worth experiencing the entire movie. This is one of the finest film stories I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. My wife and I both loved it.

mpj201 2012-03-25 05:38:06

Are men more than animals?

The Edge reminded me of the old Kipling quote, that to be a superiorman means to keep your head when everyone around you is loosingtheirs!Its is my favorite survival film, & one of the best of Baldwin &Hopkin's careers. In addition to a great cast (check out Michael fromLOST!), interesting characters & great action, the film asks manyquestions of the audience - Why do some succeed where others fail? Howdo we look at success - when we see it in others, do we feel envy oradmiration? I think that the central message of the film is that inorder to prevail in any difficult endeavor, people must rise abovetheir "lower", "animal" instincts like fear & selfishness, and embrace"higher" qualities like self-control, intellect, compassion, &sacrifice.

2012-03-24 21:04:00

Great Blu-ray, except for problem at the very end...

This review is from: The Edge [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) I picked up this Blu-ray the other day, and it is by far the best presentation of the movie I've ever seen.However, there is a major problem when compared to the standard definition DVD. At the very end of the Blu-ray version, immediately prior to the credits, the close-up of Anthony Hopkin's face fades to black prematurely. It robs the ending of some emotional resonance, since originally, the camera lingered on his sadness for a few seconds longer. Fans of the film might find it absolutely annoying since the final seconds of the Blu-ray's presentation definitely looks more awkward.