A Christmas Carol [HD]

My favorite adaptation of my favorite Christmas tale
Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol, and this is by far my favorite. George C. Scott gives one of the greatest performances I have ever seen an actor give; he truly becomes Ebenezer Scrooge to the fullest degree possible. Scott can say more with just the slightest hint of a facial movement than many actors can say during the course of an entire movie. All of the performers here are excellent, bringing to life adored characters such as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's nephew Fred. All four spirits are remarkable, none more so than Scrooge's old partner Jacob Marley; having Marley's jaw drop after untying the burial cloth holding his mouth closed is an important aspect of the story and certainly does make an impression on the viewer. This is just one example of the moviemakers' faithfulness to Charles Dickens' original story; another would be the inclusion of the two miserable children, Ignorance and Want, beneath the robes...

The best of all possible Scrooges.
The celebrated version of "A Christmas Carol" is the one starring Alastair Sim, who gives the definitive version of the traditional, crabbed miser performance of Scrooge. It indeed is very fine, but this version is better. It is probably the most faithful of all the screen "Christmas Carols" to the original Dickens story. It pulses with color and life, and the ancient Midlands town of Shrewsbury makes a delightful stand-in for 19th-century London. But what really makes this version unforgettable is the superb, surprising casting, beginning with George C. Scott as Scrooge. Scott plays Scrooge not as a crabbed old coot, but as a man whose imposing, smug facade masks enormous sorrow and insecurity--a man who suffered greatly, lost his way because of it, and needs to find that way again. It is a brilliant performance, and the supporting players shine like rubies: Frank Finlay as a truly terrifying Marley's Ghost; "Tom Jones" co-stars David Warner and Susannah...

A Holiday Must See
George C. Scott makes an outstanding Scrooge in this 1984 TV production of the Christmas classic. The story is once again told of a miser, miserable and alone. He shuns Christmas and helping others, only doing things that will increase his personal wealth. But then one fateful Christmas Eve, he's visited by four spirits who try to show him another way. Will it be enough to redeem him?

I love this story, usually enjoying it in a couple forms over the course of December. This particular film version is my favorite. Probably helps that I've watched it almost every year since it came out. The acting is superb, especially from Scott. The costumes, scenery, and effects are wonderful as well, and they stick very close to the original story. Just watching a few minutes, I get... in and want to watch the whole thing all over again.

This DVD is the perfect way to watch the film. The picture and sound are remarkably clear for an almost 20 year old made for TV film. Definitely...

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The Robe [HD]

A Good Biblical Epic
The Robe is most famous now for being the first movie filmed in CinemaScope. It was not the first film shot in a widescreen process. There were a few experiments with widescreen in the twenties and thirties, but The Robe was the film which started the boom in the production of widescreen epics. The Robe therefore has a definite and important place in cinema history, but this would mean little today if it were not also a fine film in its own right. In this respect it does not disappoint. The story tells of Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), a Roman tribune sent to Palestine who oversees the crucifixion of Christ. He wins Christ's robe in a dice game, little realising the significance it will have for him. Burton is very good in this role and shows what a fine film actor he could be. Victor Mature is also entertaining as Demetrius, Burton's slave and later his friend. Best of all the film shows Jean Simmons at her best, playing Diana the woman Burton loves. My only complaint about her...

The Robe -- RESTORED on Blu-ray!
I was blown away watching "The Robe" on Blu-ray disc last night. I've never seen it like this. The richness in detail is exhilarating. The score sounds incredible, especially on Audio Channel 6 (isolated). It's long been one of my top 5 favorite scores and Fox Home Entertainment (FHE) served the film and the soundtrack very well with this massive restoration.

FHE spent the most money in this restoration on the soundtrack according to the man in charge of the project, Shawn Belston, VP of Library and Technical Services for FHE, in a chat he had with Ronald Epstein of Home Theater Forum this past Monday evening. They even removed the "wow", which is likely a costly process, but a process well worthwhile in such endeavors.

The entire score is isolated, and it has NEVER sounded better. I noted, however, that in the "Rescue of Demetrius" sequence as Marcellus and other men were preparing to burst in on the torture room, the mix wasn't what I am used to hearing...

"as for me, I have found another king"
A marvelous epic melodrama, with portions that are emotionally stirring, and with two exceedingly attractive stars, this film ranks high in the "sword and sandals" genre.
This is prime-time Richard Burton, at age 27, heavenly to look at and even better to listen to; his crisp enunciation makes the English language shine, and though some of his scenes are a little "over the top", he carries them off with charismatic presence. Jean Simmons is exquisite as Diana, the woman who has loved Marcellus (Burton) since childhood, and their screen romance has a rare depth and spark.
Other notable performances come from Victor Mature as Demetrius the slave, with a mute but moving scene at Christ's crucifixion, and Michael Rennie is grand as Peter. Jay Robinson is wonderfully rotten as the vicious Caligula.

I always like a good fight sequence, and there is a brilliantly choreographed one between Marcellus and a centurion. It is the kind of swordplay great...

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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian [HD]

More of the Same? Yes, but well done
Most sequels either fail miserably at trying to "top" the original ("Miss Congeniality 2" springs to mind), or succeed beyond all expectations ("Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan" is a good example).

"Night at the Museum 2, The Battle of the Smithsonian" hits neither of these extremes: it has no pretensions about being a great film. It seems the writers and producers just wanted to make a film that their audience would enjoy, and they succeeded. Certainly, the original film was better and more original in many respects, and there is lots of continuity with the first film, as many of the characters have returned. There are also some notable additions to the cast, such as Amy Adams - who is superb as Amelia Earhart (as many of my fellow reviewers here have noted).

Yet, the scene stealer in the film though is not Ms. Adams, but Hank Azaria, who plays the Egyptian Pharaoh Kahmunrah: the evil and inept older brother of Ahkmenrah (the Pharaoh from the original film)...

Even Better than the First!
My wife and I enjoyed the original "Night at the Museum" we expected to the sequel to be typical of seconds... not quite as good. However, "Battle of the Smithsonian" bucks this trend - and in our opinion it is significantly better than the original. The plot is a bit silly - our favorite night-watchman had made it big as inventor of useless products. His new position as CEO means that he is no longer working at the museum. The museum has also undergone a few changes - namely most of the exhibits are being shipped into storage. The storage is below the Smithsonian... and that is where the action begins!

"Battle of the Museum" blends, action, humor and a numerous celebrity cameos into a fun-filled flick. The story introduces us to some Egyptian pharaoh (can't remember which one), Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon, Amelia Earhart , Abe Licoln, and miniature Einstein bobbleheads! The star of the story is the incredibly imaginative action sequences... the jumping in-and-out...

Not the movie
Stop putting the previews of movies as free downloads. It's silly, I'm not going to waste my time downloading a movie preview. I thought it was the actual movie, for free.

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The Story Of Ruth [HD]

Okay, but not the Bible
The Story of Ruth, the movie, adds a great deal to the biblical story of Ruth and changes some of the biblical narrative. I understand why there are additions to fill in some of the gaps, but I have never understood why writers and directors want to change the biblical story. For instance, Boaz's rival wants Ruth in this film. In the biblical story it appears his rival want's land, but is very willing to give up the land when he learns it comes with Ruth. The film shows Jewish disdain for Ruth because she is a Moabitess. Even Boaz initially shows disdain in the film. There is no such showing in the biblical story. Boaz appears gracious from the beginning in the Bible.

That having been said, the film is still worth watching and does capture the essence of the biblical story of Ruth.

Inspiring Story of a Woman's Devotion!!
Stuart Whitman, Jeff Morrow, Peggy Wood, and Elana Eden star in this screen version of the story of Ruth.

Ruth is a young Moabite woman who was raised from childhood to become a priestess and revere a pagan idol, but when she meets Mahlon the Judean (Tom Tryon), she's deeply affected by his belief in a merciful God who demans no human sacrifices, so she marries Mahlon, and when he dies, she renounces her own culture to remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi (Wood).

Now she comes into Judea, where she meets Boaz (Whitman), and the story begins anew. There is a wonderful depiction of loyalty, romance, faith, and devotion, and although the film is 132 minutes, it seems so short once you get into it.

Highly recommended, and the whole family with enjoy it.

A great film of a great Hollywood period!
The Story of Ruth was released in 1960 and I remember seeing it on a wide wide screen, curved, and in stereophonic sound; it was glorious, as were all Cinemascope films.

This film is not the Bible, but a meditation on it, factual, no, but it gets the point of The Book of Ruth across.

The best bits are a very moving perfromance by Peggy Wood as Naomi, and some stylish acting by Elena Eden and Stuart Whitman.The Wood scenes are excellent, and Naomi's prayer is quite striking, all filmed in a small house in earth tones...very good. Peggy Wood's many scenes of emotional upheaval are instances of excellent screen acting.

The Moabite scenes are crazy, as is all of that Chemosh stuff, but this film has great appeal...for die hards only, and especially for cinemascope afficionados of yore who can re-imagine it all even on the tiny screens we must put up with now, TV and movie alike. Buy and enjoy. Still not letterboxed.

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show [HD]

DVD = Perfect format to truly experience "Rocky" at home
I loved going to "Rocky Horror" when I was in college, but watching on home video just wasn't the same. I'm probably committing heresy but there's a reason why this sci-fi, horror, B-movie satire, rock musical didn't really make it big until theaters started showing it as a midnight movie and fans started attending in costume and talking back to the screen. The 25th anniversary DVD, with several audience participation options, really is the next best thing to being there.

For the uninitiated, "Rocky Horror" tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of "Spin City") and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of "Dead Man Walking") whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm--the classic beginning to many horror movies--and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don't have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest...

good, but with some major problems
Having owned several 35mm prints of this film and watched many others, I know how this film should look. Overall, this disc looks amazing with intact grain structure and details; however there are 2 major issues.

1. For unknown reasons Science Fiction is LETTERBOXED ( within the 1.66 frame which the Fox logo and the rest of the film is in), cutting off the top and bottom of the lips during parts of the song. The entire film was 1.66 on the dvd so this blunder on the Blu-ray is unforgivable.
2. The blue tint from Brad's bedroom scene has been removed. The blue tint from the Timewarp flashback has also been removed.

I have emailed FOX and have not heard back.

Let me show you my favorite obssession...
So you haven't seen this movie and you call yourself a true movie fan! BAH! I'm sorry, folks. Whether you like it or not, this one's required-reading. And I will tell you something now: I've seen worse on USA's UP ALL NIGHT. In fact, that's just what this movie makes fun of. It takes all those late-night science-fiction thrill-omedies and skewers them mercilessly. A favorite of mine since first-viewing, it's a great musical and an outrageously fun romp. Misunderstood greatly when it first came out, this satire preys on cheesy musicals("Dammit, Janet" is a wondeful indication of this), sex-and-science-fiction films(read "Flash Gordon" & "Barbarella") and a bit of society's judgement of man("Frank-n-furter!/It's all over/your mission is a failure/your lifestyle's too extreme") and how we're crucified if we're not perfect. The performances are on par(including early ones from Barry Botswick and Susan Surandon) but it's truly Tim...

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The Boys in Company C (Special Edition)

Outshines Full Metal Jacket
The Boys in Company C was not only released 10 years before Full Metal Jacket, but is 10 times better. R. Lee Ermey plays the USMC DI who whips a bunch of civilian misfits into a cohesive fighting unit that will have most of them going to Vietnam upon graduation. (Sounds familiar doesn't it Mr. Kubrick?). This movie gives the viewer a fantastic Who's Who of most of the cast before they even show up to "Boot Camp". From the concientious objector, to the high school jock, to the street-smart drug dealer, the first ten minutes of the movie gives you a solid understanding of why their characters do what they do throughout the movie. Although this movie is paralleled by FMJ, The Boys of Company C has a much better story line. After graduation, the ones chosen for Vietnam meet their new company commander on the transit ship and are exposed to an interesting concept of how to defeat the Vietnamese by playing soccer. The entire movie is excellent, well acted, and flows evenly...

A few good men...
The parallels between 'Full Metal Jacket' and this film, 'The Boys of Company C', could not fail to be noticed, even without the stand-out performance of R. Lee Ermey in both films as a Drill Instructor (DI), a role he fulfilled in real life prior to his acting career. This was Ermey's first film role, and made him a person to watch; ironically, Ermey is better recognised today that most of the other stars of the film. Stan Shaw gives one of the best performances of his career here as Tyrone Washington, the independent, out-for-himself recruit who, being a natural leader, is tapped to take charge, and finds his sense of duty and teamwork growing stronger as his time in the Marine Corps proceeds.

Other recruits followed include Billy Ray Pike (Andrew Stevens, in one of his early roles), a high school jock depressed because he has lost the glory of those days; Alvin Foster (James Canning), the aspiring writer who is hoping to turn the Marine Corps into a story for fame and...

Great Movie, But Possible False Advertising for "New" DVD and Possible Illegal Copy
The movie is a great movie. The movie itself I will heartily recommend to all Marines, and I guess other military enthusiasts. ;-)

BUT...

I thought I was getting a newly released DVD version from the parent company. I was wrong.

Choices advertised of this item are NEW and USED. I ordered NEW.

However, upon receipt yesterday, I discovered that while it was sealed in a box, it was not an original, but a copy of a VHS. While it may fit the bill as NEW because of a new DVD on which it was copied, it should not be advertised as such.

Yes, the plastic box was new, but that was all.

1. The DVD was a copy of at least a second generation VHS copy.

I own a 1st generation copy bought almost 20 years ago in Japan. My copy still higher quality than this DVD.

2. The artwork on the box is a poor scanned-in copy of the original VHS box and possibly clips cut from the movie.

I have since...

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A Cool Dry Place [HD]

An excellent "dad" movie
As a single father, I really appreciated this movie's viewpoint on raising a child from dad's point of view. Too many movies make the dad look like some free-swinger while the mom in the divorce is this abused single woman working two jobs to keep her kids fed. This movie shows reality: that sometimes it's the mom who walks away from it all and dad has to step in and become both parents. This movie was great, and the characters were well-developed. The story was true-to-life, with things going good, and things going bad sometimes. Vince Vaughn was great, and Monica Potter showed a great depth in her character as the mom who leaves one day without reason, and now wants back into her son's life 18 months later. Joey Lauren Adams is nice as the girlfriend, but her voice gets annoying kind of quickly (sorry, Ms. Adams). All in all, a great movie and definitely one worth owning.

One of my personal favorite films
'A Cool Dry Place' to me is a very underappreciated film. It all but slipped under the radar and recieved little if any attention, but that's a shame, a huge shame. This film has always been one I enjoyed, but recently having seen it four times in the past month (it's played on TV almost every day) it's really grown into one of my personal favorite films. Vince Vaughn pulls out a brilliant performance, far more serious than most of his recent films, and he taps into something I've never seen in him before. Vaughn I think has hit some bad luck, for he's actually a pretty good actor he's just not given near enough credit where credit is due, and here is a prime example of due credit. Vaughn plays a single father, recently single, as he struggles to raise his young son (Bobby Moat). Not able to balance his career as an attorney and fatherhood he decides to leave his practice and move to Kansas where he coaches basketball and meets a lovly woman played by the beautiful Joey Lauren...

ENGAGING!
From beginning to end, "A Cool Dry Place" genuinely entices the viewer. My 20-year old son introduced Vince Vaughn's acting versatility to me when he rented "Clay Pigeons"; his cool, suave manner could "best" James Bond's attitude anyday - and you have to love that "unique" laughter! "Psycho", "Swingers" and "The Lost World:Jurassic Park" are GREAT movies (between my son and I, we own them all), but Vince Vaughn's performance in "A Cool Dry Place" is charming and attractive! Any actor who can portray a "cold, deadly" killer in one movie, but yet portray a loving, but firm, Father in this movie has "Oscar" written into his future.

Joey Lauren Adams was well cast for this film. I bought "Dazed and Confused" last year because I also suffered from the "screwed-up" seventies and graduated from high school in May 1976. I completely related to that movie! I thought Joey Lauren Adams was "Renee Zellweger" - Sorry Joey! After watching "Big Daddy", I had no doubt that there...

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From Hell [HD]

Meticulous and Thrilling Depiction of an Incarnation of Evil
Jack the Ripper is perhaps one of the most famous (or should I say infamous) serial killers known. His has indeed become somewhat of a household name that has withstood the test of time. The Whitechapel murders, to this day, remain unsolved, and many people find themselves morbidly drawn to this slew of ghastly occurrences. The Hughes brothers are no different from the countless others who seek to dissect the facts surrounding these heinous crimes, and they approach this fascination with cinematic fervor, creating an excellent movie from the excellent comic book.

There have been countless books, movies, and PBS specials produced that delve into the Jack the Ripper tales and theories. This particular adaptation is the depiction of a detective named Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) who is hot on the trail of the murderous monster. Enlisting the hallucinatory effects of absinthe, he can induce visions that aid him in his quests. Throughout his investigation, he gradually...

A Hellish Pleasure
When I had seen the trailers for the film "From Hell" I'd expected it to be good. Was it good? Yes. As good as I hoped it would be? No. But it is still a damned fine mystery-horror-thriller that incorperates romance and drama into the story as well.

The story follows Inspector Fredrick Abberline as he begins his investigation of the infamous Whitechapel murders, perpetrated by the shadowy, never-caught Jack the Ripper. During the course of the investigation, he has precognitive visions that lead him deeper into the mystery, as he tries to save the beautiful prostitutes who are being viciously murdered, and are somehow linked to a massive conspiracy. He even begins to fall in love with Mary Kelly, who would be the Ripper's final victim.

The performance of Johhny Depp as Inspector Abberline is overall an excellent performance from an actor who always takes notoriously quirky roles. Heather Graham came off rather well as Mary Kelly--much better than I thought she would be...

A Jack the Ripper film that lays off the really bad stuff
The most important thing you need to know about "From Hell," is that the Hughes Brothers really let you off easy with this one. When you go home after seeing this movie late at night and have trouble getting to sleep, just remember that they could have shown you a lot more, which means you might not have gotten to sleep for a week. I have read Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's graphic novel "From Hell," and have also spent some time researching the historical record regarding Jack the Ripper, which includes not only autopsy reports but also photographs of the victims. Consequently, I was surprised that the film verion of "From Hell" actually backed off three times from completely grossing out the audience.

First, when the Ripper killed Annie Chapman he draped some of her intestines over her shoulder. The film does not even suggest this happened, beyond the idea that organs have been removed. Second, the night the Ripper claimed two victims, most Ripperologists have...

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Mirrors [HD]

SHATTERING
If you like horror movies you won't be disappointed in this. Buy it. The movie has an interesting premise involving radical treatment for schizophrenia, which results in a supernatural side effect involving mirrors. There are some "very" brutal scenes in this movie. The theme is actually very creative and Sutherland does an excellent job of making you feel the horror. I liked the ending. It was a nicely twisted finish. The disk functioned perfectly, audio and video quality were great.

- Mike S.

anna are you o.k. ? are you o.k. anna ?
i did enjoy the film a good bit more than i thought i would . i read a very favorable review in VIDEOSCOPE (the phantom of the movies) mag . i chuckled to myself a good bit when ann was impaled on the pipe (so to speak) and an approximation of MICHAEL'S lyric sprung into my mind . i like the director a good bit (THE HILLS HAVE EYES) remake . i've seen better . i've seen a lot worse . it's my favorite genre . it was not too insulting . good grue . pretty fair script . loads of things you've seen before but still a fun and sometimes scary afternoon . certainly worth a rental . if you've seen a lot of horror you'll still be entertained . if you have not seen much horror you'll probably think it's the cat's p.js . check it out . if you're an avid 24 fan , you may not be able to divorce yourself from JACK Bauer syndrome . not his fault . he gives a solid performance here .

So good until those final minutes.
Mirrors (Alexandre Aja, 2008)

I was about forty minutes into the hundred-odd-minute Mirrors last night when my wife, who's down with bronchitis, took some cold medicine and went to bed. I considered turning the movie off and coming back to it today, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Why? Because I was seeing something I had never seen before--a good Alexandre Aja movie. No, seriously--a really good Alexandre Aja movie. (In my defense, when my wife takes cold medicine, twenty minutes later she has no idea whether I'm in bed with her or not. "Comatose" is a valid description.) I was expecting yet another stupid Hollywood remake (and with Alexandre Aja having helmed the epitome of the stupid Hollywood remake, the 2006 version of The Hills Have Eyes, I felt entirely justified in this). For the record, I have yet to see the film upon which this is based, the 2003 Korean project Into the Mirror, and maybe that changed my perception a bit. But oh, yes, I was completely...

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Margaret [HD]

This review is based on the theatrical release
I was fortunate enough to see this film recently at the West End Cinema in DC. Having read some of the mixed reviews, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I found myself pleasantly taken with the movie. Yes, there are one or two digressions that could have been better integrated with the story (or, possibly, cut). Yes, the climactic scene could've stood some tweaks. And yes, between this and You Can Count on Me, I do prefer the latter. But this was still one of the best films I've seen in years! It is a mature work, and honest, and considered. The emotions and psychologies of the characters feel real and authentic. If you're looking for a light, generic popcorn movie, this film is not for you. But if you appreciate true to life drama with weightier themes that will challenge your preconceptions and stimulate your higher cognitive functions, Margaret is definitely worth watching.

An early scene, of the...

Among the best movies I've seen
I can't remember the last time I've been so moved by a film -- maybe never. What's it about? Everything. It's hard to think of a major theme of human existence that is not explored in this movie. What it's mostly about is a teenage girl's confrontation with mortality. The title comes from a beautiful poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins called "Spring and Fall," which is read in the film by Matthew Broderick, playing Anna Paquin's high school English teacher:

To a young child

Margaret, are you grieving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leaves, like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! as the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you will weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sorrow's springs are the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost...

FORMATS :: Read this before you buy
Be aware that while this set does contain both versions of the film, it includes them IN ONLY ONE FORMAT EACH. The theatrical release is here ONLY in Blu-ray, and the extended version is here ONLY as a DVD. If like me you don't have Blu-ray, you won't be able to watch the theatrical release. And if on the other hand you wanted to watch the highly-regarded extended version in Blu-ray quality, this set won't give you that option.

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Jesse James [HD]

TERRIFIC MOVIE
For sheer gusto, excitement and action, it's hard to beat this classic western which unfolds the legendary saga of the notorious James boys. Tyrone is sympathetic, dashing and utterly charming as Jesse who lives on his mother's farm with his slow, deliberate, dependable brother Frank (Fonda). Director Henry King gives the film his special brand of zest and the acting of both Brian Donlevy and Jane Darwell is superb. More Hollywood than real-life for sure, nevertheless Power proved he could really act in this one; before he was just a beautiful matinee idol for the women to swoon over. Here he appealed to the menfolk as well as he successfully captured the good and evil which existed in one of America's most enigmatic men; Fonda was so good as brother Frank that Fox cast in the sequel RETURN OF FRANK JAMES; this film made the not-so-young (34) Henry Fonda a star. The Technicolor is magnificent!!

A CLASSIC REMINDS US THAT THE WESTERN ONCE RULED HOLLYWOOD!
There was no surpise when the recent publication of the TOP 50 STARS list put HENRY FONDA in the top ten, because Henry Fonda is certainly one of the pantheon of Hollywood actors that defined the term "star." JESSE JAMES offers a delightful opportunity to go back to 1939 when the star many of us know as a grand old man was a breathtakingly handsome romantic lead. In this film Fonda has the second lead, playing Frank James, America's most famous romantic outlaw, with the characteristic understated warmth and dignity that would enoble his whole career. The real star of JESSE JAMES is Tyrone Power, sadly neglected by the TOP 50 LIST, but an actor of exceptional charm, charisma and talent as we can see from his performance in the title role. The two actors achieve a balance in their different styles that not only colours and enriches the story but creates a beautiful context of the love between two brothers. JESSE JAMES marked the beginning of a long collaboration...

A Big Technicolor Letdown - No Restoration
I was expecting rich, vibrant Fox Technicolor, on a par with "Drums Along the Mohawk", and I could have dealt with some flicker and with modest print damage, but right from the opening scene, it was clear that this film had not been restored, that the Technicolor strips were damaged, and that the colors were off (and almost non-existent at times). As a result, I found it difficult to concentrate on the film; I kept thinking of how bad it looked and how much better it might have looked had the money been put into some sort of restoration. I've grown to have so much confidence in these Fox classics, and this is my first major letdown, so I'm hoping "The Return of Frank James" will turn out alright (though I was so disappointed with "Jesse" that I've toyed with the idea of returning "Frank").

Anyhow, sadly, I have to advise against getting this unless you don't care about the picture quality --- if PQ matters to you, you are bound to be disappointed.

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Angel Wars: The Messengers [HD]

Angel Wars is AMAZING!!
We have been super impressed with all the Angel Wars series and this latest release is Incredible!! We are thrilled that a new movie has been added to the series and our boys LOVE it.(ages 5 & 8) Even my 14 year old daughter said I could watch this over and over!! It really fits a great need for the younger current generation! We look forward to the continuation of all the Angel Wars series!!I highly recommend this video.Angel Wars: The Messengers - Unleash Heaven

Great family movie
My boys(6&8) love this series and have been waiting for months for this latest installment. This is an exciting series with a positive message.

Awesome and Inspiring
I just got this vie UPS [Today,May 4th 2009] and Now I am writung this review. I love this movie and its unique spin on heaven, angels, demons and the war that is happening right now. Get this movie because it has positive clean messages not seen in the empty violent sex filled meaningless action sequence laden blockbusters of Hollywood. A true feel good inspirational movie without being corny. The animation is great and I have almost 1000 movies to compare. I will support this if more come out and I will keep hope [See thhis film!] alive. Get the boxset offered from a seller here on Amazon. Pun intended. :)

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Beneath The Planet Of The Apes [HD]

The Most Misunderstood Of The Series
I'll preface this review by saying 'Planet of the Apes' remains my favorite movie of all time (so far). And in an age where film has been reduced to terms like 'franchises', the prerequisite to even a sequel must remain 'is there a story to be told'? As both a writer and a member of the audience, I cherish the surprise but detest the fact that if I buy into it- someone in an office somewhere thinks I'll buy into 'Star Trek, Indiana Jones or Star Wars 46'.

Planet remains the classic- the next three sequels are a terrific companion piece, adapting its suggested history and fleshing it out. Avoid Battle. The stories have been told.

Beneath has always remained the maligned, misunderstood one and I want to address that in my review. Being the only actual sequel (the other 3 being prequels), has something to do with that. I personally think it rose to the challenge of following a classic admirably- thanks to the team of Jacobs, Dehn, Abrahams, Post and Franciscus...

My favorite of the Apes series
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is the second movie in the series and my personal favorite. Probably the darkest of all five movies, the story begins with Taylor and Nova riding through the Forbidden Zone where the first one left off. Taylor mysteriously disappears, but Nova is able to find Brent, the only survivor of the crew sent to rescue Taylor. After seeing Ape City, Brent and Nova go into the Forbidden Zone where they find an underground city of mutants who worship an atomic bomb as their god. Meanwhile, the Apes are planning an attack on the Forbidden City. The story is very good and also examines the prejudices of the Apes that are so similar to the ones of the humans they so despise. This is not the happiest movie, especially the ending, but it is still a great movie and the ending does fit.

James Franciscus plays Brent, the astronaut who survives the crash, and plays it very well. His performance is similar to that of Charlton Heston's in the first one, and at some...

Well, 4 3/4 stars, really
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is the typical sequel that has to follow the plot and hold the same standards as its phenomonally successful original. "Beneath," as I will continue to call it, does it's job better than most. The plot is well thought out, the new characters, Nova, Taylor, and Dr. Zaius hold up very well, and it keeps many of the original film's aspects with it.

James Franciscus may have had the most difficult acting challenge. Since Charlton Heston did not want a sequel, and agreed to do only two cameos, Franciscus had to fill in the main character slot, and give a performance as strong as Heston's. He does a really good job at it. The main character, Brent, is very believable and obviously has a devotion to friends. His quest to find Taylor goes a lot farther than most humans would care to go. Brent's character is also helped by the fact he is new, so has no risk of not being like his past characterizations.

Ursus, the gorilla commander, is played by James Gregory...

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The Hunters [HD]

Jet-Propelled Action !
"The Hunters" is a well-made, exciting Korean war drama, with the accent on aviation. It has an above-average plot for this type of film, and the whole movie, particularly the aerial sequences, is expertly directed by Dick Powell. If you are interested in combat aircraft, there are many scenes of F-86 Sabre Jets engaging MIGs in dogfight battles to the death.

While the planes are great to watch, this film is primarily about human beings caught up in war. It stars Robert Mitchum, and he is terrific--his fighter pilot character is a born leader, yet he also suspects there is something important missing in his life. He enters into a guilt-ridden relationship with the wife of another pilot, played by lovely May Britt. When there's a war on though, the feelings of two people aren't worth--as someone once said--"a hill of beans". Mr. Mitchum's main job is to lead a fighter squadron, and satisfy his boss on the ground--Richard Egan in a strong performance, knowing that every day he may be...

The F-86 is sexier than May Britt
I was quite eager to acquire a DVD copy of "The Hunters" when I learned of its availability. My faded recollections of this Korean War flying epic long ago had melded into a vague and adolescent montage of childhood images of F-86 dogfights led by an aging Cleve Saville (Robert Mitchum), a cocksure would-be ace and young beatnik-like wingman, Lt.Ed Pell (Robert Wagner), the base commander (Richard Egan) who's memorable one-liner "The Iceman Cometh!" was enthusiastically uttered while observing Saville's aerial prowess through a pair of field binoculars, and of course an enemy ace named Casey Jones. When the movie stuck to flying, it was cutting edge and it was great. The aerial photography was fabulous. The F-86 Saber Jet was one classically beautiful and superb flying machine and its historic role helped define aerial combat in Korea. But alas, when the flying sequences deferred to a ridiculously improbable love triangle, "The Hunters" had a way of...

The Citizen Kane of modern air/space combat movies!
When I was 11 years old, I saw this movie when it was released. In its air combat sequences, The Hunters is the Citizen Kane of all modern air/space combat movies, as revolutionary for its time as Star Wars later was to be for its time. While prior air combat movies had been on the square screens, usually in B&W, The Hunters was filmed in state-of-the art CinemaScope (widescreen) and Technicolor. Its air combat sequences -- twisting jets on each other's tails soaring in mountainous clouds, then diving and roaring a treetop level through valleys -- were brilliantly conceived and breathtakingly executed -- unlike anything that had been seen before. They still hold up with the best ever filmed, although they've been copied so much (by movies such as Top Gun and Star Wars) that they no longer have the knock-your-socks-off novelty that they originally did. Unfortunately, the feel-good screenplay, with a distracting romantic subplot, bears no resemblance to the gritty, macho novel on...

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Thomas And Friends: Blue Mountain Mystery The Movie [HD]

Superb tale of mystery, trust, and doing the right thing!
My 4 year old Thomas fanatic and I were able to see Blue Mountain Mystery at Showcase Cinemas' Kidtoons. He was so excited, and it didn't disappoint! Even better, I loved it. One thing that is important to me is realism, and unlike prior Thomas movies where Thomas floats on water and logs magically get tossed by Wheezy onto flatbeds, this movie was much more realistic.

This story heralds a return many of the "old" familiars, including many on the narrow gauge engine line that we don't see very often in the current Thomas the Tank Engine series on TV like Rheneas, Skarloey, and Rusty. Annie and Clarabel have some really cute spots with Thomas on his Branch Line that had the whole theater laughing. His relationship with them is charming.

Blue Mountain Mystery also introduces us to some fun new characters: Merrick the quarry crane, Luke the narrow gauge engine, Owen the quarry lift, and Winston the crazy rail-mobile that Sir Topham Hatt drives (very...

Fantastic Film, Bad Discs
Blue Mountain Mystery revolves around Luke, a small green narrow gauge engine. He's afraid he'll be sent away if anyone finds out what he did. Through investigation and hard work, Thomas befriends Luke and learns what happened. After hearing Luke's story, Thomas sets off to find the yellow engine who fell off the boat.

BMM is a major improvement from the poorly constructed "Day of the Diesels" and the awful "Misty Island Rescue". The dialogue is no longer forced and there is not exaggeration on words. The film also has some hidden easter eggs on the biggest of Thomas fans will notice. Such are: The Marklin Engine (in scrap form) at the Dieselworks, The "Rolling Eyes" effect, etc. It's also the first time the Narrow Gauge engines are seen in FULL CGI!

The discs, on the other hand, are a mystery themselves. This is the first Thomas disc to be released in its native 23.976 frame rate. This allows for better quality overall throughout the film. But the main problem...

Cute Movie
I bought this for my friends son who is four. He has watched it about 10 times in a week... I have watched it with him- Its a cute story line.. Not muct to add as its a Typical Thomas tale, just a new journey- Another winner for Thomas!

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The Stone Boy [HD]

Captures the timeless "feel" of rural life & attitudes
I loved this movie, not only because it is a sensitive and realistic account of one family's tragedy and lingering aftermath, but also because it truly captures the essence of life in rural America. Seeing it brought back memories of living on an Eastern Colorado farm, and of how the families formed real community, sharing their struggles and heartaches as well as happy times. These people are strong and often silent, drawing from within when a loved one dies rather than talking over problems or complaining incessantly about their sorrows. Support from the rest of the community comes in the form of quiet understanding, not trying to pry or get the mourners "to open up" but giving them time, space, and love. It might not be the way we would choose to handle a similar situation, but it is dead on as far as farm communities go. Most farmers face daily struggles the rest of us can't imagine: wondering if a sudden storm or pestilence will end their lifestyle and cost...

An intelligent, very moving film.
Robert Duval and Glenn Close are superb as the parents of "the stone boy". Based on a short story by writer Gina Berriault. Informed and sensitively directed, this is a great film. They don't come any better than this! A memorable, beautiful story. Don't miss it!

Superb quiet film
I saw this movie quite a few years ago and was deeply moved. It is a film that is quiet and slow, but that provides the patient viewer with innumerable rewards. The plot concerns the accidental death of the oldest son in the family and the blame placed on the youngest son for this death. Although the family does not directly blame the youngest son, he feels tremendous guilt and the family memebers slowly pull away from him and each other. The movie has a great feel for rural families and small-town life and doesn't provide any easy answers or excess sentiment. Look for Linda Hamilton in a small early role as a bus passenger.

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Omen III: The Final Conflict [HD]

A much underrated Masterpiece ...And the score !!
The Final Conflict is a rare film in its genre...consisting of sumptious production standards, no over the top CGI or hammy lines....just beautiful cimematography, strong acting and the best element of all....Jerry Goldsmith's compellingly beautiful score.... this movie demonstrates how a powerful film score can transcend and lift a film into a higher realm of fantastic possibilities ........in my opinion this film is a perfect-seamless blend of visionary lushness and sound....I believe this to be Goldsmith's greatest score with the exception of that composed for Ridley Scott's film Legend ... again a beautiful example of evocative film making incorporating the undeniable power of a perfect film score. So if you need only reason to see this film let that be it....

Rather Well Made
I adore this movie. It is my favourite in the trilogy. For a low-buget film, I'd say they did a pretty good job. People complain about the acting and direction all the time, but some of the actors weren't very experienced at the time and it was the director's first film. I congratulate them for making such a good movie.

Not the worst film of its genre, but not the best, either
In comparison to "The Omen" and "Damien - Omen II", The Final Conflict is rather weak. It doesn't bring the mounting tension of the earlier films to the satisfactory conclusion one would expect, and Sam Neill's portrayal sometimes lacks a certain intensity. As a horror/thriller film, it's not particularly successful either. The horrific elements are restricted to a handful of scenes and the characters (Dean, Kate, the priests who assist Father DeCarlo in his hunt for Damien) aren't always fleshed out the way they should be. But there are some nice touches, like Damien's monologue in his dark "chapel" and the grand foxhunt sequence. Jerry Goldmith's score is an interesting mixture of bombast and subtlety. And Rossano Brazzi is always enjoyable to watch.

I found the ending awkward and somewhat muddled, and contradictory to key plot points made in the previous films (notably, the importance of having all 7 daggers when trying to destroy Damien)...

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Slumdog Millionaire [HD]

Epic. Touching. Horrifying. Romantic. Uplifting.
Slumdog Millionaire deserves a place among the masterpieces of world cinema. Praise is pouring in for this brilliant film, directed by Danny Boyle from a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy adapted from a novel by Vikas Swarup.

The settings move from the bleakest - the slums outside Mumbai, where our hero, Jamal Malik, lives as a child with his older brother Salim - to high rise vistas and no less than the Taj Mahal. The story ranges from the worst despair and heartbreak to the noblest sacrifice and most romantic love.

We are introduced in the opening moments to the young adult Jamal, played by Dev Patel. He is a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and has just answered the ten million rupee question prior to the end of the show. His next question will be worth twenty million rupees, an unimaginable fortune to the average Indian. The arrogant, primping star of the show, played with artificial charm concealing an oily narcissism by Anil...

Love over gold
I saw this movie back in the Christmas season last year with some reluctance. Were it not for a good friend edging me on I probably would not have bothered. I incorrectly sensed that it was just another drippy foreign film about drippy people living on the edge and getting lucky.

Boy was I wrong.

This is such a smart, cleverly woven story with a classic twist--reminding me of Dickens--and all the stuff we love about life, but what's really striking--and I just watched this twice on DVD--is the precious love that is expressed here.

Lump in throat anyone?

Goosey bumps, too?

I just lap it up. Call me a sucker--but I had to re-play the last two minutes over and over again--where our hero brushes his sweetie's scarred cheek...and you either already know or will know the rest. It just kills me every time.The quintessential message is: LOVE OVER $$, GOLD, whatever, ANY DAY!

Amen.

Bogus special features
Do not buy this DVD if you are interested in the special features listed on the box and at the Amazon site. This DVD does not contain the making of, the deleted scenes or the audio commentary. The special features contain only trailers for 4 other movies. The movie is great, but the main reason I bought the DVD was to watch the making of. This false advertisement was a complete disappointment.

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Behind Enemy Lines [HD]

Behind is in Front!
Wow! is this a thrill ride or what. The disclaimer at the beginning of the movie made me sit up and pay attention, because I knew the movie was on to a sensitive subject. The action sceens were fantastic. The SAMs chase of the Navy jet was awesome. The flight for home was a good mixture of reality and a little fantasy help from Hollywood but you are sure to be entertained by this hard hitting gritty action movie. It's parallel to past situations in western Europe make for a great hero movie. After you see this movie you will want to start it over from the begining. Great stuff!!!...

Excellent Gene Hackman--and I don't like Gene Hackman!
This was a surprisingly thrilling story about the rescue of an American pilot in the war in Bosnia. The pilot's mission was to take photographs of the, "Killing fields.". Upon rescue of the pilot, he also manages to rescue the photographs. The Serbs are the bad guys. There is no gray.

The movie is loaded with special effects and explosions. Gene Hackman is pretty good in this one, even I have to admit. I liked the actor, Owen Wilson, who played the pilot. He looked and acted very different than most male actors would, especially in a military role. He seemed like an average, regular guy, with a normal personality, which I felt drew a lot of credibility and sympathy from me, to his character.

The film was based on a true incident. Some of the technology shown was amazing. I hope for our sake that we really have such capability.

Pleasing Action Thriller!
This is a very entertaining and visually pleasing film, one that will capture your interest and propel it along for the almost two hours of the movie. Yet it is really just an escape movie that happened to be released in the aftermath of the 911 events, and so capitalized on the pent-up feelings of patriotism everyone was experiencing at the time. As a thinly disguised although highly fictionalized representation of an actual case of an American flier rescued after evading the Serbs for several days during the Bosnian police action, this might have made some sense.

Yet the depiction of the Serb ground forces as brutal and conscienceless bogeymen is a bit overdone and not very accurate; most of the Serbs treated downed American fliers with consideration and in a very friendly manner. Of course, had this been depicted as part of the Kosovo effort, the scenes depicting the Serbs might have been more accurate. As it stands, however, the story is hardly representative of the reality on...

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Runaway Jury [HD]

Sleazy, cheesy, but fun. Hoffman and Weisz steal the show
The plot goes round and round in "Runaway Jury" and the camera is in lockstep, swirling around its actors as if they stood at the pivot of a merry-go-round, dizzying the audience into a headache of chaos, the better to distract them from a movie that makes no sense at all. That said, the story is so thorough in its cynic fantasy it is (like, say, "Cruel Intentions") pretty entertaining.

Gene Hackman, who at 73 never slows down, is sternly malevolent as Rankin Fitch, a high-priced jury consultant whose arsenal of espionage tools and recon foot soldiers rivals the KGB. The "war room" scene where he breaks down his potential pawns is informative; though nobody is going to spend $15 million to select 12 people - as movie contends - there is an art to it, and the technique is laid out far better here than it was in "Devil's Advocate."

Fitch assists a New Orleans gun manufacturer caught in a class action lawsuit only plausible in movies, and one of the jurors, Nick Easter (John...

Compelling drama made by Rachel Weisz and Gene Hackman
While I'm still new to the whole John Grisham experience, Runaway Jury was a real good theater experience. The acting is fantastic, and the issue raised about gun control is a very touchy subject to tackle. Rachel Weisz is sunning as the woman with a price to offer, and Gene Hackman is fantastic as the bad guy of the show who wants to secure a verdict , and John Cusack is great as well as a juror who is more than meets the eye.

The hoopla about the right to bear arms is a bit off center and a bit bias but the movie is still a real winner.

Weisz and Hackman shine with a unfaithful script.
While I do understand the fact that books that becomes movies usually do not follow the same pattern of the book, I can't forgive the fact that this film does not even follow the book's theme. While that does bother me, I can't deny the fact that the movie was entertaining. Mostly because of the performances of the actors involve. The Best of these performances goes to Gene Hackman, who is always a delight to watch and is always capable of taking a mediocre film and making it better. The other goes to Rachel Weisz, who not only holds her own with the Great Gene Hackman but also matches his intensity with lethal charm. Don't go in with the notion that this will be just like the book, but go in knowing that you will be entertain by two great actors at there game.

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Never Let Me Go [HD]

A Haunting And Elegant Treatise On Love And Life In A Dystopian Alternate Reality
Kazuo Ishiguro's hauntingly enigmatic novel "Never Let Me Go" is a challenging artistic work that requires its readers to decipher a mysterious story arc that is never fully unveiled in the text. It's complicated to describe, but the brilliance of the work is what it doesn't say--and this ambiguity, when all the pieces finally fall into place, reveal a unique and disturbing alternate reality. It's a difficult piece to conceptualize and adapt to a visual medium, so I was curious to see what director Mark Romanek and writer Alex Garland might bring to the table. Those hoping for a literal translation might, indeed, be disappointed in the film incarnation of "Never Let Me Go" which can't replicate the novel's precise and measured revelations. However, this lovely and thoughtful film does succeed in its own right as a heartbreaking examination on the nature of humanity.

"Never Let Me Go" does honor Ishiguro's novel in tone, pacing, and mood. Gentle and idyllic, but austere...

What would we do for more life?
First of all, I haven't read the 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishigiro that this film is based on, nor did I know much of anything about it apart from the basics (dystopian English alternate-world story) before seeing the film. So the few problems I mention or areas that I feel the film is deficient in dealing with are wholly a product of my experience with the movie - I suspect that some of these issues might be less problematic in the novel. As you can see from my rating and review, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Second of all, if you know even less than I did, be prepared for **SPOILERS**

All that out of the way, what we have here is a story taking place in a roughly contemporary (1978-94) England, a country (and presumably, world) radically changed by medical advances that did not happen in our world. Or...maybe. The most fascinating element of this film to me, and I'm sure the most infuriating to many viewers, is that we never get a really clear...

Even More Moving the Second Time
"The breakthrough in medical science came in 1952
Doctors could now cure the previous incurable
By 1967, life expectancy passed 100 years"

And so begins Never Let Me Go, a downbeat adaptation of a book I've never had the pleasure of reading by Kazuo Ishiguro. This film is an exercise in understatement; rarely have I seen a film that's so emotional and yet avoids bravado and manages to depict these emotions in such a gentle way. This is no straight-forward drama and there's an unconventional element to the story that I feel would be best to keep secret from the potential viewer. Unfortunately, it's difficult to discuss/critique the film without disclosing that element. With that said, the secret comes out very early into the movie so don't feel that I'm spoiling anything for you.

Besides a brief opening scene, the film opens in 1978 at a boarding school called Hailsham. While headmistress Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling) gives her daily announcement to...

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A Blueprint For Murder [HD]

Film Noir Architecture at its Finest!!
While I cannot speak to the Jack Palance film, I can say that I am very enthusiastic indeed that Blueprint for Murder is FINALLY coming out in public release. This one never made it to VHS, even, and could only be gotten via bootleg copies on ebay--and happily so! This is a taut little low-budget thriller, with Jean Peters as the step-mom with ice-water in her veins and dollar signs in her eyes; and Joseph Cotten is her earnest, bumbling brother-in-law whose hormones cloud his judgment as to her dark, dark intentions--at least for a little while! Peters is just sensational, embodying a fetching femme fatale who is both seeringly voluptuous and deeply dangerous. She really steals the show here. Cotten is effective in his ineffectiveness, but he proves right in the end. While not of the caliber of Double Indemnity or Out of the Past, owing to a rather flat, stodgy pictorial style and mise en scene, the film is really story/character/actor driven, and is very engrossing. There are a lot...

For those who love older films, these two might do with their almost endearing flaws
A Blueprint for Murder:
"Lynne's warmth and affection for Doug helped so much to soften the blow of his sister's death. Never did Maggie's absurd suspicions seem more fantastic than now." That's Cam Cameron speaking to us. Doug is his nephew, a little boy whose sister, Polly, has just died in hospital of what turns out to have been strychnine poisoning. Their step-mother, the cool, beautiful Lynne Cameron (Jean Peters), is, of course, distressed, just as she was when her husband, the children's father, died mysteriously with the same symptoms. Lynne's brother-in-law, Whitney Cameron (Joseph Cotton), Cam for short, who flew into town when Polly became ill, can see for himself how solicitous Lynne is toward young Doug. He's not about to listen to the suspicions raised by his good friends, Maggie and Fred Sergeant (Catherine McLeod and Gary Merrill).

But wait a minute. Fred, a lawyer, now remembers the terms of the will he drew up for Polly's and Doug's father. A great...

two rare Fox thrillers for a bargain price
Two obscure films from the Twentieth Century-Fox vaults make up the double feature on this outstanding Midnite Movies release. Apart from the fact that both movies were produced in 1953, they aren't linked by a common theme or star, nevertheless these two movies are definitely worth the time for classic film buffs.

First on the bill is A BLUEPRINT FOR MURDER (written and directed by Andrew L. Stone). When his little niece dies following an unexplained illness, Whitney Cameron (Joseph Cotten) begins to suspect the child's stepmother Lynne (Jean Peters). The ice-cool society type, Lynne hardly seems a candidate for murder, but when it's revealed she'll inherit the entire family fortune should she outlive her stepchildren, Cam starts to fear for the safety of nephew Doug (Freddy Ridgeway). With the help of his sleuthing friends (Gary Merrill and Catherine McLeod), Cam sets out to trap Lynne using her very own "blueprint" for murder...

This stylish murder noir is...

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Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1993

The Vitals
Here's some more of what you want to know, at least this is what I always look for, the EPISODES contained. Don't know why Amazon consistently either does not list them or if they do they get it wrong. The good news here is that in addition to the regular '93 season episodes they do include the Dec. '93 Special, "Welcome To Earth". This one, like all other LOSW specials are never played on PBS, so being able to see the specials on these U.S. LOSW releases is a major plus! I have to tell you, that this episode is extremely funny, an excellent example to show anyone who is not familiar with the series what it's all about. All the best characters are here all doing what you hope and expect they will do. This episode does not disappoint. So, with that tidbit out of the way, here are the episodes in this release, enjoy Summer Winers:

Welcome to Earth
The trio join Darren's friend in expecting a visitation from outer space (or maybe even Huddersfield)

How To...

Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1993
The music, the scenery, the characters are awesome. Never get tired of watching over and over! These DVDs have brought many hours of pleasure to me and my husband.

Inconsistent sound track.
The character and story line are great. Fans of "Last of the Summer Wine" won't be disappointed. In my opinion, the only negative thing is the sound track. The sound varies- up and down, sometimes hollow sounding, reverberatres/echoes- and the laugh track is very loud to the point of sometimes drowning out the narrative and being annoying in it loudness. Maybe I received a faulty recording. I suppose the only way to find out is to buy another copy, or if someone has the same experience and notes it with a review.

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Shame [HD]

A Compelling Dance Of Dysfunction That Seems Designed To Polarize Its Audience
While most mainstream critics have praised the daring work of leads Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, the reception to co-writer/director Steve McQueen's "Shame" has been somewhat mixed. It's really no surprise as this gritty and unpleasant film seems designed to polarize its audience. A lot of attention has been focused on the film's nudity and sexual content, and I'm pleased to see that the dreaded NC-17 rating hasn't discouraged year-end accolades from being awarded to its stars. While I'm not sure that "Shame" is as fraught with meaning as some of its more ardent supporters would have you believe, I do think that it is a dizzyingly unique film. As a character study, and a fascinating one at that, the screenplay actually tells you very little about the central pair of disturbed siblings. And yet, as the film progressed, my mind filled in all the blanks. You are invited to watch their most intimate and destructive behavior while only given clues as to the psychological...

Fantastic filmmaking that's still hard to recommend.
WARNING: While not explicit, per se...this review does touch on some subject matter some folks might simply not want to read about. I don't mean to offend anyone, but there's no way to review the movie otherwise, in my opinion.

SHAME has been called the "movie about the sex addict" and this is a rather unfair over-simplification. It also implies that there might be lots of juicy sex scenes, especially given its NC-17 rating. If THIS is what you're expecting, you are in for a disappointment.

Director Steve McQueen's film is a character study of one very specific sex addict, Brandon (Michael Fassbender). And I'm not even sure if Brandon is a sex addict or something different. He is certainly a man driven to spending virtually all his spare time (and much of his time at work) viewing porn and pleasuring himself. He spends lots of money on prostitutes. He is also attractive enough to draw yearning from women looking for a good time and a quickie in an alley...

A Compelling Dance Of Dysfunction That Seems Designed To Polarize Its Audience
While most mainstream critics have praised the daring work of leads Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, the reception to co-writer/director Steve McQueen's "Shame" has been somewhat mixed. It's really no surprise as this gritty and unpleasant film seems designed to polarize its audience. A lot of attention has been focused on the film's nudity and sexual content, and I'm pleased to see that the dreaded NC-17 rating hasn't discouraged year-end accolades from being awarded to its stars. While I'm not sure that "Shame" is as fraught with meaning as some of its more ardent supporters would have you believe, I do think that it is a dizzyingly unique film. As a character study, and a fascinating one at that, the screenplay actually tells you very little about the central pair of disturbed siblings. And yet, as the film progressed, my mind filled in all the blanks. You are invited to watch their most intimate and destructive behavior while only given clues as to the psychological origins...

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Arthur and the Invisibles 2: Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard [HD]

Arthur and the Invisibles 2 RENTAL
Great quality. The story line is good. Forces you to watch part 3. The voices seem the same. The characters stories are pretty good.

great 2 nd film
my son and me had a lot of fun watching this movie, it inspires the fantasy of young kids and teaches them respect for the animal kingdom and also the little creatures on earth....

Nice family movie
Excellent for older children. Don't take everything literally. It's meant to be watches right before the third movie. The first one was my favorite. I wish there was a forth one.

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Turistas (Unrated) [HD]

Like Hostel, But Better
Among the better movies from the recent batch of extreme/torture horror, it's a shame that Turistas is probably destined forever to live in the shadows of the "Hostel" series, because it's significantly better than either installment that Hostel has yet produced. Following an unmistakably similar plot as the first "Hostel" - although I think both movies started production at about the same time and this one just took longer to finish - "Turistas" finds (as does its better-known peer) a group of vacationers travelling to an exotic hot spot (in this case Brazil) for a fun-filled getaway, only to run afoul of a local group of brutal, torture-minded psychopaths. The main differences are, I guess, rather subjective. Personally, I thought Turistas was scarier and sexier than Hostel, and had more likable protagonists and more interesting villains. In the first half, there's little overtly horror movie-ish about the film: the main group is prevented from going to their upper-scale tourist...

Deserves more credit................
This movie is reminiscent of the movie HOSTEL only without as much gore. As a serious horror fan, I thoroughly enjoyed Hostel but every once in a while you need an intense thriller that focuses more on the tension of the situation than just blood and guts. This movie is that more tense/ less gore "Hostel". The themes are similar-- American/European tourists going on vacation to a foreign exotic country where they get way more than they bargained for when they fall into the sinister hands of a group of locals with other inhumane plans.... I thoroughly enjoyed the movie; the acting was pretty decent, nothing overtly cheesy and their responses and interactions were believable. I could realistically believe that this storyline could have actually taken place. The plot was nothing overly imagined nor too far fetched in my opinion. The characters were intriguing to watch-- likable personalities and sensual hard bodies *smiles*... I think this movie was good enough to have caught it on...

Throwback to 70's horror...
I was suprised to find that this movie was pretty decent. The cast of characters were unsurprisingly one dimensional with very little to go on, such as perhaps understanding any single motivation. The acting is strictly mediocre, with some gaping holes in plot and logic. Nonetheless the film held my attention and was far superior to some of it's peers of late. The story itself is rather ludicrous, but looking past that, the arch of the film is interesting and the direction of the plot is somewhat unique in that it sets itself apart from its counterparts by breaking away from a few of the standard genre cliches. I was impressed by the action sequences, and the film get's huge bonus points for the locales and general atmosphere. I also of course love the fact that the movie is wonderful exploitative as far as making sweeping and hugely exagerated statements about Brazil and American tourists. It reminded me of some of the better 70's exploitation film (mainly Italian cannibal fair)...

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Halloween II (Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray / DVD]

2000 years later, we've come no further
In putting together this sequel, the powers-that-be decided to combine several of the strongest elements from the original film(Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, the strong Halloween atmosphere)with the standard pace of an early 80's slasher film(people getting killed every 5-10 minutes.) For me, this is the ideal combination. There has not been a slasher movie since that I have liked more than this one.
Dr. Loomis is my favorite horror hero, and Michael Myers my favorite horror villain. They both enjoy some of their finest moments in this installment. I find this version of Myers creepier than the later incarnations, where he has suddenly grown into something resembling an nfl lineman. There is something in the deliberate movements, and the angular figure, that is decidedly inhuman. And Dr. Loomis elevates all of this to a far higher level than it could ever have achieved otherwise.His strength,courage, and iron will make him a hero. So does his moral anguish over seeing innocent...

Scream Factory gives you more for More Of The Night HE Came Home!
This isn't just an ordinary re-release, it's a fan's dream come true! You might say, it out does Universal's 30th AE (sort of, read on)! What's it include? Well:

Audio commentary with director Rick Rosenthal
Audio commentary with stunt co-ordinator/actor Dick Warlock
The Nightmare Isn't Over - The Making Of Halloween II, featuring Rick Rosenthal, Lance Guest, Dick Warlock, Alan Howarth, Dean Cundey and more..
Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Revisiting the original shooting locations
Still Gallery
Theatrical Trailer, TV and Radio Spots

And for the Coup De Grace, a second disc contaning the famed TV Cut with additional/alternate footage (although the R-Rated material is edited out). The TV cut will be on a DVD disc for both format releases.

Now don't start getting rid of your 30th AE just yet! Although the CE is pretty awesome and includes the Deleted (TV) Scene and Alternate Ending via the TV Cut, it misses out on the movie...

One of the Absolute Essentials
I have seen this film in excess of 300 times-perhaps 400-by now. I mention that for one reason..........namely, that you simply cannot watch something that many times unless you really enjoy the process of watching it. For instance, once you've seen something a half dozen times or so, all pretense of suspense is lost. There is no longer any suspense, because you know exactly what is going to happen. You're not waiting to see how it ends, because you know how it ends. Eventually, you know how each and every SCENE ends.

I reached that point, and surpassed it.........and yet I still kept watching it. For one reason........

Just about EVERY SINGLE SCENE in Halloween 2 is either perfect, or at least very, very good. This is the key. When I watch this, I will sometimes skip the scene where the ambulance driver plays the little prank on his lady friend. Not always, but sometimes.And that's it. There is not another moment in Halloween 2 that I find extraneous, even as...

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The Marine UNRATED [HD]

a MAN movie
Basicly this story is about a retired marine whose whife gets kidnaped from a hostage situiation. Well it's definatly action packed...but not completly true to life. Lots of explosions and fight sceans that are unnecessary. But it is very fun to watch if you don't mind random cars blowing up all over the place.

Non-stop action from beginning to end!
I was skeptical of this movie featuring a WWE wrestler (WWE wrestlers are notoriously bad actors) and because the movie was produced by the WWE rather a than a major motion picture company. However I was wrong. The movie was full of action and special effects. John Cena did a respectable job acting. The theme and plot were very entertaining, not cheesey or bogus. If you like action movies such as "Arnold" movies or Rambo movies then you will very much enjoy this movie!

NON-STOP ACTION ENTERTAINMENT
I never expected to be so thrilled and entertained by this almost tongue-in-cheek non-stop action thriller.

Robert Patrick (The BAD Terminator, in Terminator 2) is perfect as a vicious killer, but still pokes fun at his own movie when one of his killer friends who is failing at getting "The Marine" off their back, comments: "This guy is worse than the Terminator!".

The DVD and Blu-ray releases are crystal clear and fully color satutated. The spectacular stunts are supported by an incredibly potent DTS soundtrack.

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The Blue Max [HD]

Worth the time. Peppard was fine by me.
A really good war movie, perhaps in part because it was so relatively unexplored in film. It is the story of a German working class soldier ("common as dirt", as characterized by his General, played by James Mason) named Bruno Stachell (who is well-portrayed with icy self- assurance by George Peppard) man. Stachell leaves the trenches in World War One and becomes an ace in the German flying corps which is populated by officers and gentlemen. His obsession is a medal - hence the film's title - awarded to aces, and his colleagues, commanders and the British Air Force won't keep him from it.

Predictably, he rebels even as he never fits in with his comrades. It is illustrated well by his response to his first kill (which sadly goes unconfirmed even after he went scouring the countryside for the plane he shot down). He "responds" by getting his first confirmed kill by shooting down the next enemy plane over his own airfield. While his betters who populate the squadron never cease to...

The Blue Max ,revisited
This is one of those films that seems to get better with age. It is the story of a low-born warrior Bruno Stachel (George Peppard), who by force of will and talent, rises out of a common foxhole and into the cockpit of a fighter airplane in the closing days of WW1. It is his arch-nemesis, the aristocratic flying ace Willi von Klugermann,(Jeremy Kemp) who keenly observes Stachel's ruthlessness and nicknames him "Cobra". The aerial flying sequences are breathtaking and plentiful, many of the aircraft were constructed for the making of this movie, unlike computer generated duplications so common today. The slow cadence and almost hesitating sound of unreliable machine guns firing from the flimsy aircraft they were fitted to is striking testament to the sound editors art. Stachel's ambition for glory "in and out of bed" is unmatched by his well-born and condecending comrades. But in the end, his destiny is inexorably tilted by an unyielding competitiveness, a beautiful countess (Ursula...

Top of the Line War Flick!
I've seen most war flicks and this one from 1966 is definitely one of my personal favorites (other favorites include Apocalypse Now, Where Eagles Dare, Platoon, The Eagle has Landed, etc.).

"The Blue Max" is about a World War I German Soldier, Bruno Stachel (George Peppard), who "graduates" from ignoble trench warfare to the aristocratic air officer corps. Stachel is naturally a fish out of water with his new higher class comrades-in-arms; but this doesn't seem to bother him one iota. Stachel is only interested in gunning down twenty enemy planes to get the coveted Blue Max, Germany's Medal of Honor. In fact, he is so focused on this goal that he'll do anything to achieve it, honorably or dishonorably.

The vibe of the movie is ultra-realistic. Critics of the flim have complained that Stachel is an unlikable character and therefore not a very good hero to root for. It is true that Stachel doesn't seem very friendly (how friendly would you be with high-class...

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Water [HD]

A Social Conscious Film of Uncommon Beauty.
"Water" is the third film in writer/director Deepa Mehta's elemental trilogy, following "Fire" and "Earth". It explores the plight of widows in traditional Hindu culture, where women are condemned to a grim, rudimentary existence after their husbands die. Driven by characters as much as by its cause, this is not a bleak film. On the contrary, "Water" is breathtakingly beautiful. In India in 1938, young Chuyia (Sarala) is widowed at the age of 8. By religious law, when a man dies, his wife may either be cremated with him, marry his brother, or live the life of an ascetic -chaste, poor, and pious. Chuyia's head is shaved, her jewelry removed, and she is sent to live in an ashram with other widows of all ages. She is befriended by a pretty widow named Kalyani (Lisa Ray), watched over by the devout and generous Shakuntula (Seema Biswas), and often at odds with the ashram's callous matriarch Madhumati (Manorama), who pays the rent by prostituting Kalyani. A handsome law student with...

A Moving Portrait of Life in Rural India
When I was in film school, I remember a professor showing an Indian film called "Panther Panchali". Despite the terrible print, I could see director Satyajit Ray was an artist. "Panchali" is a beautiful film about a poor Indian family living through the monsoon season. I then went on to discover some of his other films. A couple of years ago, Merchant Ivory hosted a retrospective of Ray's films and these restored prints are available on DVD. You are depriving yourself if you do not watch these films.

As I watched "Water", the new film from director Deepa Mehta, I was constantly reminded of Ray's films. The composition, pacing, subject matter and acting style are all the same.

Chuyia (Ronica Sajnani Sarala), a seven year old girl, finds she has become a widow; her arranged husband has died leaving her adrift in a society that favors men. Religious law dictates if she lives a chaste life she will join her husband in heaven. Of course, she doesn't know or understand...

Widow's Peak
"Water" is a beautiful, tragic, sad, emotionally available film about the deplorable situation in India in regards to its many millions of widows: who are segregated into Ashrams, forced to beg in the street, some into prostitution to support the Ashram and are viewed as if not Untouchable...then unavailable for remarriage.

"Water" focuses on the beautiful very young, as in 9 years old, Chuyia (Sarala), Kalayani (Lisa Ray), both widows and Narayana (John Abraham): a young Ghandhi follower in love with Kalayani.

The time is 1938, India is in social, political and religious upheaval but director Deepa Mehta uses this as only a backdrop for her very personal and tragic story. At times, though her agenda is without a doubt important, Mehta's approach is too overwrought, too heavy-handed. But her film is so gorgeous and her mise en scene so much about the cleansing qualities of color: turquoises, lemon yellows, scarlet reds, lime greens...that most of this didactic...

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Hombre [HD]

AN OVERLOOKED CLASSIC
This is a flat-out great western, even though often it is overlooked on many "Best" lists. It is existential, yet spiritual. It has action, but not too much. It focuses more on the interaction of its characters; the human condition. The cinematography by James Wong Howe, one of his last efforts, is crisp and expansive; shown magnificently on the DVD version. The score, by David Rose, is energetic and melodic. Director Martin Ritt made the most out of an unconventional plot with his powerhouse of a cast; and ultimately he filmed a picture that delivers a message without preaching.

Paul Newman, a giant among actors, found something in his character, John Russell; a stillness, an incredible strength buried deep within honed survival skills, a quiet confidence, and ultimately a compassion for others. It is a very layered, compex, and brilliant portrayal.

The supporting cast was excellent, surrounding Newman with talented adversaries and cronies. Diane Cilento, as Jesse, was willful,...

Paul Newman's Ode to Self-Reliance
Some reviewers on this site have said that all the white people in this film are louts; that's not true. Unlike Dances With Wolves, where every white man other than Kevin Costner's character is a brute, a lunatic or a savage, in Hombre the characters have a great variety of virtues and faults -- admittedly, mostly faults, but they are not caricatures, and I don't see this movie as a liberal guilt trip by whites.

For example, Peter Peter Lazer as the ticket agent stands up to Cicero Grimes and enforces the rules of the stage company; that's an example of a white character in the movie showing integrity. Diane Cilento's character is frank and gritty and self-confident. She stands up to Grimes in the stagecoach, calling him on his lewd comments. It's her integrity at the end of the movie, her willingness to put her own life on the line for others, that makes Newman's character finally relent from his self-contained aloofness and face the outlaws.

Newman is...

Newman and Ritt make Western magic again
Whenever Paul Newman and Director Martin Ritt("Hud", "The Outrage") team up for a western it's pure magic. "Hombre" is a shining example of that.Western lovers will love this film. And if you already know you love it, you'll be thrilled with the DVD.
As the story opens we see an Apache Indian, quiet, crouching behind a rock,eyeing the horses that will soon be his. This Apache though is different from the rest. He is a blue eyed Indian. A white man raised by the Apache, outcast from the world he was born to. He is HOMBRE! He is his own man.
After word comes to him that he has inherited a boarding house from the man who once tried to raise him and gave him his name, John Russell, he sells it. cuts his hair and embarks on a stagecoach trip. Some of the other passengers are outraged when they learn of his upbringing, and don't even want him inside the coach with them. But the stagecoach runs into trouble,overtaken by outlaws.
They are left in the desert to fend for...

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Fantastic Four [HD]

Cheese. But good cheese!
First off, I am amused by all the people who try to dissect this film saying how thin the plot is, how cheesy the characters are, and how bad the special effects are. Its based on a comic book people! Not to mention a comic that is over 40 years old! I challenge anyone to read the '60s comics and say that they're NOT the cheesiest thing they've ever read. This comic was as generic as generic can be. Just look at the names of the characters: Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, The Thing, Dr. Doom. Not very creative.

Not very creative, but very fun. It captured the imagination of people back then and after 40 YEARS it has turned these characters into beloved icons. That's where I think people are being unfair to this movie. They're expecting all 40 years of character development into 1 hr. and 45 minutes worth of film. It's a beginning, an origin. We see how these characters know each other, how they attain their powers, and how they choose to deal...

THIS version DESERVES to be watched because of the JACK "KING" KIRBY documentary bonus feature!!!!
I'll be honest...this movie doesn't need an "extended cut" version...sure it's a fine movie, but most of you already have an acceptable version of it, and an extra 20 minutes of footage is fine, but to most of us, not quite enough to justify buying an entire other DVD version of it...
So WHY am I reviewing this version of the DVD as a 5-star "MUST BUY" version? SOLELY because the "extras" DVD has a feature reflecting and honoring JACK "KING" KIRBY, the man/legend who co-created the entire Marvel universe (among other superheroes), with Stan Lee, but got almost NONE of the credit (or money) that Stan did...
KIRBY was a creative FORCE for both Marvel and DC comics over his lifetime career, and not only was he the world's greatest comic book creator and artist, but an amazingly warm, wonderful person, family man, and treated his fans as if they were close friends...never in the world was a man more deserving of a documentary than Kirby was, and while it should've been included...

Nice DVD package
I missed the Fantastic Four, aka FF in the theatres and as any self-respecting Marvel comic fan, had to watch the DVD in spite of the mixed reviews I'd heard.

The good news is: the movie is watchable. It's not perfect, and I still rate the X-men and the Incredibles ahead of this. The effects are well crafted, and much thought has been put into the visual approach.

What else is good about this: Great casting of Von Doom (Julian McMahon of Nip/Tuck) and Chris Evans as the Human Torch. Jessica Alba looks great too.

What could have been better: This entire film was more like an introduction to the Four rather than a complete movie experience. Sometimes feels like a TV show. Since a sequel is in the works, we'll just have to wait.

Weak Chink for me: Mr Fantastic is pretty average. And Dr Doom's origins are less compelling than the real comic book Dr Doom.

As some reviews say above, the Fantastic Four isn't about...

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