1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
the american way to bananas, April 1, 2006
This review is from: The American Way (DVD)
If you are desparately seeking the "riders of the storms" like I am, buy this DVD at once.
I had an old french SECAM VHS tape of the movie lost somewhere in the attic and never watched it since... (oh my god !)
I loved this movie since day one !
BUT :
The video quality sucks. That's why I gave it only a 3-star rate.
If your are planing on replacing your old VHS by this DVD, don't buy this because it seems to be VHS master.
Now it's up to you to decide what to do. Remember the WHO's song (and others), the Eugene Lipinsky's wheelchair, Michael J Pollard going bananas, Dennis Hopper as the "captain". All together stuck in a bomber with this last job :
Find the dirt to put Mrs Westinghouse off her inauguration.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strange brew., January 24, 2012
This review is from: The American Way (DVD)
This is a strange brew of a film. But everyone acting in it seemed perfect for their role. Dennis Hopper plays the leader of a rag-tag group of Vietnam vets who earn their living by operating a pirate TV station - relying solely on viewer support. And, they're tough pirates to catch. Their studio is located in the innards of an old B29 aircraft that seems to be perpetually in-flight (refueling is not discussed). Also, rather than having a regular broadcast schedule, the pirate station "inserts" its programming into the programming of legit TV stations by blocking/replacing their signals. It's their way of making "their truths" (as they see them) available to the public at large.
Their foe is a U.S. Senator - Mrs. Willa Westinghouse. Westinghouse wants to be President. And she's running on a platform of re-arming the military with a dose of conservative Christianity added to the mix for good measure. The pirates, however, see her as a danger - a politician who could lead the U.S. into future wars like Vietnam. So, the pirates do whatever they can to interrupt or "corrupt" her political broadcasts. In the meantime, Westinghouse uses her friendship with the military to convince them that the pirates need to be shot down.
Unfortunately for Mrs. Westinghouse, the pirates aren't "ordinary" Vietnam vets. They're former "psy-ops" (psychological warfare) experts. And, the film turns into a race against time - with the pirates trying to get some kind of proof of corruption or malfeasance on her part before they get shot down - evidence that will permanently derail her campaign.
One follow-up note. The DVD I got (from an Amazon partner) did not seem like a VHS transfer. The picture and audio quality were spot-on. And, I feel fortunate to have acquired this DVD cheaply while it is still available. The 4:3 aspect ratio, given the time it came out, was expected. And I'm guessing it's the original theatrical aspect ratio as it was when it first appeared at the Cannes Film Festival in 1986.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
