Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6751 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-10
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: German, English, Danish, French, Finnish, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Swedish, Portuguese, Turkish, Hungarian, Bulgarian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 122 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Considered by many to represent a low point in Steven Spielberg's career, 1990's Always did suggest something of a temporary drift in the director's sensibility. A remake of the classic Spencer Tracy film A Guy Named Joe, Always stars Richard Dreyfuss as a Forest Service pilot who takes great risks with his own life to douse wildfires from a plane. After promising his frightened fiancée (Holly Hunter) to keep his feet on the ground and go into teaching, Dreyfuss's character is killed during one last flight. But his spirit wanders restlessly, hopelessly attached to and possessive of Hunter, who can't see or hear him. Then the real conflict begins: a trainee pilot (Brad Johnson), a likable doofus, begins wooing a not-unappreciative Hunter--and it becomes Dreyfuss's heavenly mandate to accept, and even assist in, their budding romance. The trouble with the film is a certain airlessness, a hyper-inventiveness in every scene and sequence that screams of Spielberg's self-education in Hollywood classicism. Unlike the masters he is constantly quoting and emulating in Always, he forgets to back off and let the movie breathe on its own sometimes, which would better serve his clockwork orchestration of suspense and comedy elsewhere. Still, there are lovely passages in this film, such as the unforgettable look on Dreyfuss's face a half-second before fate claims him. John Goodman contributes good supporting work, and Audrey Hepburn makes her final screen appearance as an angel. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Always... a decent feel good movie
A good Spielberg film from about 1990, this is a nice and easy romantic comedy, it's one of those classic sunday afternoon films.
It's kind of in 2 parts (you'll understand)

The basic story is: Richard Dreyfuss and John Goodman are airbourne fire fighters who obviously put out forrest fires by bombing them with water, Dreyfuss a bit of a risk taker obviously does this in a rather recless manner.

Dreyfuss has a longterm girlfriend Holly"love that accent"Hunter a tough lil tom-boy cookie, wants it to go further though he seems far than bothered about it, until he goes out on a mission and tries to tell her as he gets in the plane... but she doesn't hear him. He then sacrifices himself to save his friend Goodman in his usual maverik way.

Enter Audrey Hepburn (in her last ever film appearance) as the kind of guide to Dreyfuss's spirit who has unfinished business on earth and can't let go until Holly knows how he felt about her.... enter a dashing young pilot who wants Holly and as it happens Dreyfuss is charged by Hepburn with being his guardian angel with some hilarious consequences!

There you are in a nutshell!
I really enjoyed this nice feel-good romatic comedy and would really recomend it for those lazy sunday afternoons when you are feeling a bit down!

Always - you'll want to watch it again and again...
Overshadowed by the popularist 'Ghost' which also features the same haunting music - this is one of my all-time favourites... Big, big stars in this one and the biggest star is also the littlest - the divine, petite Holly Hunter, who plays a fantastic role as the life on hold girlfriend who Dreyfuss (deceased) will not let go - hence his role as ghost.... Sentimental, moving - sort of a weepy - remake of a 1930's film a Guy named Joe or Sam... Look out for the beautiful Audrey Hepburn in cameo ...
Why Ghost got all the acolades is beyond me....

An unlikely film from Spielberg...
Steven Spielberg's tale of love defying death is a good premise for a story and he does very well. Richard Dreyfus plays the fire pilot who dies trying to save some forest fire men who are trapped by a large blaze. He is recruited by Audrey Hepburn (of all people!) to return to earth and act as a guardian angel/trainer for another young pilot. Little does he know, that he is also there to help his girlfriend (Holly Hunter) and friend (John Goodman) come to terms with his sudden death and move on with their lives. Some good performances from the main players and a joy to see Hepburn on the big screen again in this small cameo. A good solid movie that will leave you with a smile, if not some tears, on your face.