Looking For Richard [HD]

Engaging and Informative
I really like looking behind the scenes of making a film - or, as in this case - putting on a play.

I've been searching for this film for quite a while, and I'm glad it is again available. It's a must-see for students of acting, Shakespeare, or both.

Al Pacino is faced with mounting a free production of Richard III in Central Park. Along the way, he has to assemble his crew of actors and actresses, coordinate the production, and try to get his arms around one of the Bard's more difficult plays.

There is a world of difference in reading Shakespeare, and watching it on stage. I think we've all done penance reading Shakespeare, with mixed results. I've found the language in the abstract (i.e. simply reading the play) to be difficult. Seeing it on stage (or screen) adds the visual element, that makes it more understandable. (After all, the plays were meant to be seen, not read.)

This is a film that will bear watching over and over again...

A great look at Shakespeare
Some reviewers have complained about this film. This is a documentary that illustrates how Shakespeare can be seen as both art and history, both as literature and as entertainment. One reviewer called it an introductory for grade school children. That's exactly the point. "looking for Richard" is an introductory to the complexities and richn ess of Shakespeare and those who act and perform his plays. Certainly the general audience at "The Rose" and "The Globe" were not scholars, teachers or students of English literature or history. Few were alive in 1600 that lived in the days of the last Plantagenet and the first Tudor. To them, history was oral and immediate. Historical accuracy is not high on the Bard's priorities or of in those of his audiences. What matters is the interplay of characters, the tone and thrust of its plot and the relevance to its audiences. Thus there is a correlation between those Renaissance English audiences and most American audiences. How many Americans even...

everyone should see this
Few people know that Al Pacino "did" Shakespeare before moving on to the big Hollywood roles we know him for. This film is intelligent, witty, and downright entertaining. In fact, there's two stories being told: in one sense, the film is an abridged version of Shakespeare's Richard III; simultaneously this is the story of the actors, directors, and producers concerns in producing a Shakespearean play. Production is interpretation, and people have made their entire careers interpreting Shakespeare in wildly abstract ways. "Looking for Richard" is far from wildly abstract. As a graduate student in literature, and specifically, Shakespeare, I can say that this film succesfully put into layman's terms many of the issues that are discussed by scholars in elitist terms. It's fun and offers a glimpse of what those wildly abstract literary scholars truly love, but not so oft express. As to another reviewer who cautioned that this play ignores the...

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Solaris [HD]

Flick Not for Many Tastes, but DVD is Film Student's Delight
This review refers to the DVD release of Solaris, the remake. Just a couple of notes from the outset:

(1) This film will not be well-liked by most people. There are a ton of spoilers in most reviews, so I'll try to boil it down for its essence to avoid ruining the unfolding of the movie should you choose to see it: a guy goes to a spaceship where weird things are happening and sees his dead wife. Maybe. That's all you need to know about the plot. The movie, some might think is slow, there's no action, it's a head-tripper, and honestly, had I not read the book before and also seen the magnificent Tarkovsky original, I might not have followed what was going on. As such, while I really enjoyed it, I can't call it either a great film nor one that is likely to appeal to a broad cross-section of movie watchers. There are some heady issues surrounding reality, consciousness, life and death, and if you take them too seriously you'll find yourself snoozing.

It's...

"Solaris" Intellectual Sci-Fi
Solaris" tells the story of a planet that reads minds, and obliges its visitors by devising and providing people they have lost, and miss. The Catch-22 is that the planet knows no more than its visitors know about these absent people. As the film opens, two astronauts have died in a space station circling the planet, and the survivors have sent back alarming messages. A psychiatrist named Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) is sent to the station, and when he awakens after his first night on board, his wife, Rheya (Natascha McElhone), is in bed with him. Some time earlier on earth, she had committed suicide.

"She's not human," Kelvin is warned by Dr. Helen Gordon (Viola Davis), one of the surviving crew members. Kelvin knows this materialization cannot be his wife, yet is confronted with a person who seems palpably real, shares memories with him and is flesh and blood. The other survivor, the goofy Snow (Jeremy Davies), asks, "I wonder if they can get pregnant?"

This story originated...

Intriguing mood piece
Since nobody had the wherewithal or wisdom to re-release "2001" in the actual year 2001, a remake of Andrei Tarkovsky's comparable "Solaris" in 2002 would seem the next best thing. Like those two earlier films, Steven Soderbergh's latest work is something of an "art" science fiction film, far more concerned with philosophy and theme than with action and suspense. This may make the film a tough slog for modern day audiences who have been conditioned to be jolted out of their seats every five minutes while watching films of this genre. But for the deeper thinkers among us, "Solaris" offers a fairly intriguing sci-fi vision of the afterlife, a sort of new religious paradigm for the twenty-first century.

George Clooney stars as Chris Kelvin, a successful psychiatrist whose mentally ill wife - ironically enough, given his profession - killed herself a few years back. Chris is commissioned to travel to a space station orbiting the planet Solaris after strange things begin happening...

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Bad Medicine [HD]

Must see before studying at UAG!
If you are thinking of studying medicine at the Universidad Autonima de Guadalajara, you must see this film first! Having been there, I can tell you there are schools like this. Rumor in Guadalajara is that this film is banned, and the witer went to UAG.

The setting is fanciful, but everything else is a fantastic portrait of the administration, students, and faculty at UAG. UAG has better facilities, and much more than one cadaver. However, the school is owned by a single family, and the administration does exercise dictatorial power over students. Many of the characters in this movie you will meet your first week of school at UAG.

Bring this movie with you, it has considerable black market value in Guadalajara!

Bad Medicine dvd
This is a great movie. One of the funniest I've seen in years. I can't figure out why it is not available on dvd except from another country and in another language. I would much rather buy the movie and keep it for my collection than rent on line.

Just like UAG - Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
Oh God, as a graduate of UAG I should say that this movies is nothing like the movie but I can't lie. The Madera's own the med. school.. the Leano's own the med. school. The Dean does not care about students.... Dean Villalobos and Martinez Sandoval dont care about the students. The infrastructure is a bit outdated.... you guessed it!! UAG's buildings are as old as Fenway without any upgrades. Oh yeah, the pride and joy of the institution is the infamous PMC program: "Programa Medicina en Comunidad", just like in the film!!!! It is a riot! If you plan to go to UAG you must watch this film. If you get a hold of it, bring it down to Guadalajara so you can laugh.

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The Dolphin (AKA El Delfin) [HD]

A little scarier than we expected
Cute movie, though a little scarier than expected for 5 year olds. The 2 year old didn't seem bothered by the shark storyline.

Slow moving
My 3 yr old son was getting very bored with it and we ended up not even finishing the movie. Some of the dialog was weird. Like it was made to be awkward, yet funny conversation, but it was just awkward in general. A couple of scenes were a little intense for my son, but most of it was weird and boring.

Dolphin fart jokes. Really? Yes, really.
This movie is just plain horrid.

The sea creatures and brightly animated ocean aspect of it is the only quality that deserves a star. My three-year-old loves it, mostly because he loves sea creatures. And because he's THREE. But as an adult, this film is absolutely torturous.

Reasons for the movie being horrible are mostly due to the poor writing, plot, and character development.

The plot has to do with the main character, Daniel Alexander Dolphin, being called by The Ocean to "dream". And apparently this will save all the other sea creatures from the confines of fishing to live, as opposed to living to fish, and even though this particular idea is introduced in the opening sequence, it is not revisited, nor is it made clear exactly how his journey will "free" the dolphins. In a nutshell, at the end of the movie, Daniel's daring to dream leads him to surf the biggest wave he's ever seen, brought on by the forthcoming eclipse of the sun. And that,...

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Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes [HD]

A great Planet of the Apes sequel
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is by no means "a very bad film" as the first reviewer here put it. It's actually a very well thought out film that does reflect some of the social upheaval in the United States during the late 60's and early 70's. Planet of the Apes films have always been a comment on the social climate during the period they were made.

Conquest is the darkest film of the Apes series, and the two different versions on the Blu-ray disc have varying levels of violence. The uncut version is very in your face and bloody and ends on a very violent note, which if you discount the fifth movie in the series Battle for the Planet of the Apes, makes a perfect transition to the first Apes film which is set after Conquest chronologically. In the first Apes film men are hunted for sport by apes, used for medical experiments and treated like animals. It was a pretty violent film for it's day as well.

The PG rated version of Conquest ends on a much more...

Underreated Entry In This Classic Series
This fourth entry in the Planet of The Apes is by far the most straightforward and violent in the series. The scenes of revolt by the apes are tame by todays standards but are still effective. especially considering the small budget director J.Lee Thompson had to work with. He makes the film look much bigger in scope than it really was.

The story begins with Caesar,the son of Zira and Cornelius from The 3 earlier films and it was a great touch allowing Roddy McDowall to portray both father and son. He goes into a city with mentor Armando. The circus owner from the third film Escape From The Planet of The Apes and again portrayed by Ricardo Montalban and sees what has become of his fellow apes. They were at first being treated as pets to replace the dogs and cats that were wiped out by a plague only to become slave labor for humans. He cries out when a fellow ape is beaten and runs away. Armando goes to the police to explain and is interrogated. In the process he kills...

ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN APE!
This is the forth installment in the POTA's series and I'm aware that this film was severely cut before releasing it in theaters. Fortunately they have restored the edited scenes in an extended version available only on Blu Ray. This was done to "Battle for" on standard DVD a few years ago. The theatrical release of the film is pretty good, but a bigger budget would have helped it a great deal. The problem with most of the POTA sequels is that they were pushing for a G rating so kids could go see them. This is the studios idea, not the directors of the films. The sequels are too middle ground. Too violent for the kids, but too tame for adults! I don't mean to be harsh on these films as I am a big fan! I saw them all at the theaters growing up and have seen them many times now. This is a good film that could have been much better....hopefully the Blu Ray extended version retores the original vision of the story. The DVD transfer is very good and I will add more once I've watched the...

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Children of Paradise (Criterion Collection)

One of the Truly Great Films of World Cinema
CHILDREN OF PARADISE has a history almost as remarkable as the film itself. Production was just beginning when Paris fell to the Nazis; the work was subsequently filmed piecemeal over a period of several years, much of it during the height of World War II. And yet astonishingly, this elaborate portrait of 19th Century French theatre and the people who swirl through it shows little evidence of the obvious challenges faced by director Marcel Carne, his cast, and his production staff. CHILDREN OF PARADISE seems to have been created inside a blessed bubble of imagination, protected from outside forces by the sheer power of its own being.

The story is at once simple and extremely complex. A mime named Baptiste (Jean-Louis Barrault) falls in love with a street woman known as Garance (Arletty)--and through a series of coincidences and his own love for her finds the inspiration to become one of the most beloved stage artists of his era. But when shyness causes him to avoid consumation...

HEAVENLY
Once again Criterion delivers one of the all time great French films, Marcel Carne's majestic "CHILDREN OF PARADISE" ("Les Enfants du Paradis") in a superbly restored, bounteously filled two-disc digital transfer . The screenplay by poet Jacques Prevert is a celebration of theater, art, music and literature. The story follows the life and loves of the serenely beautiful and worldy-wise Garance (Arletty) and the four masculine archetypes -- from sensitive to sordid -- with whom she becomes entangled. This epic, wise, witty, romantic melodrama unfolds in an 1820s Parisian society teeming with hucksters, aristocrats, pimps, prostitutes, courtesans, psychics and performers.

The actress who went by the single name Arletty was born Leoni Bathiat. On screen and off she was perceived as a free spirit who believed in "neither God nor the devil and still less in the men around her." Shortly after WWII she faced a prison sentence for having an affair with a Nazi officer. In "Children of...

Best Film Ever Made
Children of Paradise is, quite simply, the best film ever made. It's one of those strange, lyrical movies that must be seen at exactly the right time in life, or its true meaning is elusive. The story works on many levels -- what IS this about? Paris? Life? The Theater? Thumbing one's nose at the Nazis? Thumbing one's nose at Arletty? Yes. But mostly, it's about the timelessness of Love and all it entails. It's about pain and retreating into -- and out of -- dreams. Children of Paradise is about watching life unfold from the safety of the "paradise" -- the peanut gallery, the balcony, the cheap seats. In English, the language of this film is haunting; in French, it's sublime perfection. I saw this film for the first time in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was 19. I was also recovering from a devestating head-injury which robbed me of my ability to speak French. For the first part of Children of Paradise, I struggled with subtitles. Then something magical happened: I...

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Just Married [HD]

Predictable; Second Half is Funny
I found this movie to have two distinct halves. I somehow did not find it funny when Ashton Kutcher pushed Brittany Murphy near the beginning of the film. Getting liquid all over her front was supposed to be slapstick, but I thought it was cruel and mean, even if they weren't getting along. Because of this beginning, I found it difficult to get into the movie initially.

Our story is an old one. Poor boy meets rich girl. The two fall in love. The families object. The two persist, and get married, and it turns out badly until the end of the movie; sort of like "Romeo and Juliet", only nobody dies, and it's funnier.

However, I didn't get my first laugh until about 22 minutes into the movie. I had to wait until about halfway through the movie before it started to get really funny. The movie was supposed to be funny before that, but the humor was flat. For example, Ashton Kutcher is plugging a sex toy into an electrical outlet. Of course the toy has a plug for 110 volts, and...

Surprising Hit
This movie was a surprise hit with me.

I found it to be very very funny, and Brittany Murphy's laughter in the film is extremely infectious.

Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy were such a great pair.

The extras were pretty average, but the commentary was really inspiring and fun. The film gets 3 stars, but the great DVD commentary gives it major bonus points, equalling 4 stars overall.

Have fun checking it out.

A very well-written, touching romantic comedy.
I was completely surprised to read so many bad reviews about this movie. It's high up on my list of favorite movies. It makes me laugh every time I see it, and it has some incredibly romantic, touching moments. Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy did a fantastic job of portraying newlyweds. I adore this movie and hope people will read this and think about buying it.

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Dunston Checks In [HD]

Dunston = Brilliance
Ah, the simple pleasures in life. Monkey movies are getting to be few and far between, with the bad ones overtaking the good. (Did anyone see Ed with Matt LeBlanc, yeah, i didn't think so) All those that feel that the genre of monkey movies is almost dead should see the brilliant Dunston Checks In. This film has it all: a monkey that wreaks havoc in a swanky hotel, and Jason Alexander really overacting. Jason, lighten up bud! you are in a monkey movie! The real pleasure comes in knowing that this film was an attempt to breath life into the monkey movie genre, a field that has been over looked by the Oscars for numerous years. The only problem with this film is that it is far too short. When will filmakers realize that monkey films should be epics, not 90 minute comedies. Give me an epic monkey movie over the same old Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy garbage anyday. Dunston, i think i speak for everyone when i say: I love you!

Great family fun!
"Dunston Checks In" is great family fun. The plot involves a chimp who wreaks havoc in a five-star Manhattan Hotel and befriends the manager's young sons in the process. Warm-hearted, funny, and quite entertaining for ages 4 and up. The chimp and his antics are adorable and the acting is quite good, featuring performances by Jason Alexander (as the hotel manager), Faye Dunaway (as a Leona Helmsley-like hotel owner), Rupert Everett (as Dunston's owner), and Pee-Wee Herman.

Good
I like this movie very much. My favorite thing in the whole movie is Paul Reubens as Buck LaFarge, the animal control man. It is a childrens movie, but overall well acted and funny. Jason Alexander, Faye Dunnaway, and Rupert Everet are also very good.

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Batman (1966) [HD]

Fox did the Caped Crusader proud
The key things to know about the DVD are:
1) The colors jump off the screen, it is a great transfer
2) The featurette with Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin) is good, though they cover a lot of the same ground in the commentary
3) The Batmobile feature is very cool
4) The commentary is awesome. Adam and Burt have a great chemistry and really seem to love both the movie and the show. Their tongues are firmly in their cheeks druing the commentary (Adam West's views on Bruce Wayne alone are worth the price of admission), but you will learn about the production and such secrets as:
Why did ABC tear down the Batcave so quickly after cancellation?
What did Burt Ward really think about the BatCycle?
How and why did Lee Meriweather get to play Catwoman?
Why did Adam and Burt have to spend two hours each week getting oxygen at the Fox infirmary?
The team at Fox had a lot of love for this movie and it shows. Buy this DVD and get Fox to release...

Before Nolan, Before Schumacher, Before Burton, There Was...Martinson?
Who knew that the campy 1960s' take on the dark superhero Batman would age so well? 39 years later, "Batman: The Movie" still is wholly enjoyable even for the most adrent Batman fan.

The plot of the film is paperthin. Batman (Adam West) and his sidekick, Robin (Burt Ward), are out to thwart the four most dangerous villians in Gotham: Catwoman (Lee Meriwehter), The Joker (Cesar Romero), The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) and The Riddler (Frank Gorshin, who recently left us, sadly) from taking over Gotham. To lure Batman into a trap, they kidnap Batman's secret identity, Bruce Wayne. This is more or less all the plot there is. There's also somehing about destroying people with a dehyrdator, but other than that, there's no real plot. And that's the film's charm.

It's a great piece of 1960s' nostalgia. The "holy (insert random word or phrase here), Batman" schtick is still hilarious, and the cast is clearly enjoying themselves. The extras for the dvd are surpisingly...

They may be drunks Robin..but they're human beings as well!
I bought this for my 3 year old son but it turns out i enjoy it almost as much as he does. Almost.
I remember watching this as a kid and I never realized how corny it was. Untill now. Yikes! I haven't laughed so hard at a movie in years. This film is funnier than than our best comedies. How can one not burst out in tears as batman is savagely attacked by a rubber shark? Check out his face as he grimaces in pain as the foam rubber teeth clamp down. And then theres the morality. Its good to know that even though drinkers may be riff-raff according to Robin, Batman still considers them human beings. And worth saving. Even the 'Human flotsam' near the end of the film is worth saving. And check out the deep blue sea in the submarine scenes. Whats that in the backround? Is the very horizon rippling before my eyes? Is it a rift in time! Or is it a screen painted with clouds and seaguls gently billowing from a stage fan! It just goes on and on. Poor sets, cheesy diologue coupled with...

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Meet the Spartans [HD]

Pit of Death?
I'll have to admit, watching this movie the first time, there were some quick laughs, and it caught my attention. Sometimes, I feel the jokes were drawn out way too long, and that's a shame. If I were a 14 or 15 year old, I'd probably give this all 5 stars. This definitely isn't a movie in which you can watch over and over again. When you're bored, or strung out from the job, or the weekly grind is just too much and you want to let loose for a brief moment, go ahead. Otherwise, this movie is dime a dozen, in the ranks of The Comebacks, Epic Movie, etc etc etc.

The worst movie ever, if you can even call it a "movie"
Not only does this movie suck completely, it doesn't abide by the rules of how to make a good spoof at all. There was ONE scene where I laughed, and that was the "Ugly Betty" scene. Epic Movie was very poorly made, yet it had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Did I enjoy Date Movie at all? No. Neither did I enjoy this.

These are the rules of making a good spoof:

1. Be timely. A joke about Ellen in Mr. Wrong??????????

2. If trying to be offensive, be funny too. An accident-prone protagonist in Superhero Movie was funny, assaulting a Spartan kid with many heavyweight objects is not.

3. Widen your humor sources when cracking the odd joke. Go everywhere, don't stay on the same topic just with different words.

4. Be subtle when making a spoof. Not everything has to be uncalled for.

5. Don't go outside the genre you're spoofing. American Idol? Shrek? Casino Royale? Really??????

And lastly...

6. DON'T EXPLAIN...

You could buy it... but I'm sure you can find a cheaper COASTER out there somewhere.
Unbearable.

All that needs to be said. Complete trash. I'm not sure at what point, pop-culture references became funny just by themselves. I guy dressed up like Sanjaya from American Idol pops out of nowhere and they kick him into a pit. Then the 3 person American Idol panel. Britney Spears and K-fed.

There's no setup. There's no nothing. If this is what has come of hollywood spoof comedies... I'm done... and now that we've seen a long string of these comedic failures pour out into the theatres and people actually pay for them... legitimizing them... we'll probably see more. It's a sad day in Hollywood.

Thousands of scripts are written every year that should be funded and produced before trash like this. When a supposed comedy does nothing but make this viewer angry... it's awful.

Everyone should be offended that cheap, brainless, here's a pop-culture reference and here's another type movies are being produced like MEET THE SPARTANS. We...

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Donnie Darko [HD]

A must-have DVD
I missed this film in its theatrical release (apparently it received limited distribution), but since it requires at least two viewings, it's well-suited for DVD. It's difficult to describe the story or even characterize it by genre, which shows how original the film is. Simply put, it's about time travel, but it's about a lot more than that, too.

The acting is consistently outstanding, with a list of well-known names in the cast, along with less familiar ones. Jake Gyllenhaal gives an amazing performance that is so convincing, you forget that he is acting; he IS Donnie Darko. While the story is mainly told through his eyes, the other characters are surprisingly sympathetic as well. This is not an easy feat for a script to accomplish, especially when the viewer must focus so much attention on every event. It would have been easy to create a one-dimensional hero and a bunch of villains, but writer/director Richard Kelly doesn't take the easy way out.

Instead, we get a...

Awesome Movie - Transfer to Blu-Ray Not So Good.
First I would like to say that this review is more targeted at the Blu-Ray transfer of this movie. When I first found out this movie was available on Blu-Ray I had to have it since it's one of my favorite movies. I already owned the DVD, and was happy with the quality of the video on my up-converting DVD player. I figured the Blu-Ray would have to look better since it advertised as HD 1080p. Unfortunately that was not the case; in fact the DVD looks better up-converted than the Blu-Ray does. How does that happen? It appears the studio did very little to prepare this film for Blu-Ray. If anything they made it worse by trying to doctor it up rather than spend the money to re-master it properly. The movie has a lot of dark scenes which are almost all grainy and not very detailed. The light scenes are not as noticeable but you can still see it unless you're sitting a good distance from your TV. I guess the point I'm trying to make would be to hang on to your DVD until they fix the Blu-Ray...

Sometimes less is a lot more ...
My rating and the following refers specifically to the Director's Cut. I would rate the original theatrical release five stars.

This director's cut brought to mind William Faulkner's line about writers often having to "kill their darlings" in order to meet the demands of a work's wholeness and integrity. Evidently, Richard Kelly was forced to kill his darlings with the theatrical release, and the result was close to perfection, if not perfection itself. The film's emotional force was stunning; its mysteries challenging; its pace so good that hitting pause to get more popcorn was impossible to do; its soundtrack (to my mind) a tour de force. It worked terrifically as a film experience, being a beautiful "whole" work of art. Extras that included Roberta Sparrow's book were great ... who really wanted to read the book during the movie anyways? (Which we can now do in the DC.)

Which does not mean a director's cut had no hope of working. Or even, maybe, revisions to...

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The Girl In The Red Velvet Swing [HD]

A showcase role for the young (really young) Joan Collins as Evelyn Nesbit
Like a lot of people I first learned the story of Evelyn Nesbit from the movie version of "Ragtime," because I did not read "Ragtime" the novel. However, when it comes to calling Nesbitt "The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing," that is something that I associate with "Ragtime - The Musical." A century later we look back at Nesbit as having been at the heart of what is clearly the first "trial of the century," and can trace a clear line from it through the Scopes Trial, the Lindbergh baby case, the O.J. Simpson trial and a host of others. Nesbit was married to Harry K. Thaw, a rich playboy who had become infamous for such antics as riding a horse up the steps of an exclusive New York club. But Thaw was obsessed by the fact that Evelyn had once had an affair with Stanford...

"Shoot the moon!"
Ripped from a turn-of-the-century scandal, THE GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING is a fascinating movie starring Joan Collins as Evelyn Nesbit, the young showgirl who found herself at the center of the infamous Thaw/White murder trial.

Evelyn Nesbit (Joan Collins) achieves nationwide fame posing for Charles Dana Gibson (Richard Travis), and later becomes romantically linked with famous architect Stanford White (Ray Milland). Unwilling to create a scandal by divorcing his wife, Stanford instead enrols Evelyn in an exclusive boarding school where Evelyn, heartbroken, suffers a nervous breakdown.

Salvation comes in the form of millionaire playboy Harry Kendall-Thaw (Farley Granger). Seeing no other option, Evelyn reluctantly marries him; but his vicious imagination still believes White to be a competitor for Evelyn's love. Their violent relationship comes to a shocking climax when Thaw murders White on the rooftop of Madison Square Garden; Evelyn is then forced to...

GIRL IN THE RED VELVET SWING
One of Farley Granger's best performances highlights this period drama of the Evelyn Nesbit/Harry K. Thaw/Stanford White love and murder triangle. It was an early Cinemascope picture, full of vivid color; i hope the product description is in error when it says they've released it in full screen. If so, don't waste your money; it shows in a letterboxed version of the Fox Movie channel - watch that instead. Otherwise, an interesting, neglected film.

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The Clearing [HD]

Not for newlyweds
THE CLEARING will resonate most, I think, with long-married couples. Newlyweds and those married for less than, say, ten years - perhaps longer - may leave the theater thinking, "What was that all about?" Gum-chewing, adolescent singles needn't bother even buying a ticket.

Successful executive Wayne Haynes (Robert Redford) lives the good life in an elegant mansion in a leafy suburb with his wife of decades, Eileen (Helen Mirren). One morning on the way to work, Wayne is kidnapped by Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe), a former employee, and made to march at gunpoint deep into the woods, ostensibly to be handed over to accomplices waiting in a cabin who've planned the escapade for reasons to be revealed. Eileen is left to expect developments and a ransom note with FBI agent Fuller (Matt Craven).

To be honest, I kept expecting a plot twist that would reach out, knock the popcorn from my hands, and scream "Gotcha!" And, admittedly, I was a little...

A Good, Simple Story. 61 out of 100
The Clearing is a story of a couple, Wayne (played by Robert Redford) and Eileen (Helen Mirrem), who are in the golden stages of there marriage when Wayne is kidnapped.

Wayne is a successful business man who has nice adult children, a gorgeous home, a nice car and a mistress. Wayne exits his home one day, only to be kidnapped by Arnold Mack (played by Willem Dafoe). It is here that the story begins.

The Clearing really isn't a kidnapping movie so much as it is a story about Wayne and Eileen. It moves along at a comfortable pace, but is by no means an intense thriller or action motion. This is not a bad thing.

The story is fresh, the acting well above average, and the interaction between the characters is pleasant to watch. Overall, the only flaw in the movie is that we really don't get a taste for Wayne and Eileen's relationship to the depth that is needed. They are rarely on screen together. Thus, there is a tension that is missing, because our hearts...

A Psychological Study, Not Action Thriller
This is an intense drama which examines the impact of a kidnapping on the three main participants in the drama; Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford), a driven executive who has become a multimillionaire by selling the business which he founded; his wife Eileen (Helen Mirren), who shares their luxurious estate but who was deeply wounded years ago by an affair which she now learns has not ended, and Arnold Mack (William DaFoe), a menacing yet vulnerable kidnapper who hopes to begin a new chapter in his disappointing life. It is directed with great attention to detail; while there are occasionally scenes of intense action, most are very brief except for the one involving the payment of the eventual ransom demand. The performances of the three co-stars in this film allow them to exhibit their talent for dramatic expression which has made them recognizable to all fans of serious drama; if strong performances and a well crafted film by themselves are sufficient criteria for you to attend a movie,...

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The Park Is Mine [HD]

Needs to be on DVD
One of the best movies I saw when I was younger. I have been looking for this to released for years. I hope it will soon be on DVD. One Tommy Lee Jones best movies.

Belongs on DVD
I love this move, Tommy lee Jones is great in this movie. This is a movie that must come out for DVD in the near future. In the 80's it was HBO biggest movie.

This is a wonderful old Tommy Lee Jones movie
This is a wonderful old Tommy Lee Jones movie. I remember this movie from when I was ten and will never forget the action scenes and acting. I definately recommend this movie if you like action movies or early Tommy Lee Jones stuff.

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Prince Valiant [HD]

Exuberant Camelot Adventure a Great Family Film!
There is such a sense of childlike wonder and fun in Henry Hathaway's 1954 Camelot tale, PRINCE VALIANT, that it's easy to forgive the obvious incongruities in accents (Robert Wagner's broad American tones...hard to believe he plays Donald Crisp's son...Sterling Hayden, looking and sounding more like Wild Bill Hickok than Sir Gawain...Victor McLaglen as the most Irish Viking you'll ever see!), and concentrate, instead, on the energy, pageantry, and sweep of Hathaway's adaptation of Hal Foster's classic comic strip.

Certainly, one would be hard-pressed to assemble a finer cast; in addition to Wagner, Hayden, McLaglen, and Crisp, you have James Mason as the villain, Sir Brack, dazzling, and far more believable than he had been as Rupert of Hentzau in MGM's remake of THE PRISONER OF ZENDA; Janet Leigh and Debra Paget, both ethereally beautiful as the sisters, Aleta and Ilene; and Brian Aherne, as King Arthur, so perfect in the role that you wish his part had been larger...

Yankees in King Arthur's Court !
Released in 1954, "Prince Valiant" is as much fun for the whole family now as it was fifty years ago. This colourful, Cinemascope movie is a feast for the eye, and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish. You have a brave young hero to cheer for--a nasty villain to "hiss"--action--romance--beautiful sets, locations, costumes--and Henry Hathaway's expert direction.

A very young Robert Wagner stars as "Prince Valiant", a Viking who wishes to become a knight in the court of King Arthur--he certainly cuts a dashing figure, once you get used to a rather outlandish, but compulsory, Prince Valiant wig ! Valiant soon finds himself involved in a treacherous plan to oust his own father, King Aguar ( laid-back, avuncular Donald Crisp ), and--zounds !--King Arthur himself ( laid-back, avuncular Brian Aherne ). Of course, our hero still finds time to fall in love with Princess Aleta ( gorgeous Janet Leigh )--not enough romance ?--well, Aleta's handmaiden, Ilene ( sultry Debra Paget...

Not really Foster's Val, but GREAT anyway!
This movie, released in '54, must have frustrated many diehard fans of Foster's original classic strip. While it carries over much of its source material's spirit and enthusiasm, the plot is WAY off and some of the characters emerge as entirely different beings (e.g. Princess Aleta, Gawain, even Val himself.)

Still, it works surprisingly well. In fact, this film is actually much more enjoyable than the far more faithful '90s remake. This fact is attributable, I believe, to the script for the '54 version, which transformed Foster's lusty picaresque strip into a glorious send-up of Victorian boy's books and blood-and-thunder dime novels. In fact, fans of the now-revived juvenile fiction of G.A. Henty should view this as almost a tribute to that great author, complete with relentless Victorianisms and a theme of paganism versus emerging "muscular Christianity."

As a sidenote of interest, this film also seems to have influenced Foster's writing as well. His strips from...

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Little Miss Sunshine [HD]

The ambivalent ties that bind
If you have ever attended a family reunion or sat down at an extended family holiday dinner and thought to yourself "Who are these people? How could I possibly be related to them?" -- then you will probably appreciate the hilarious and poignant indie film "Little Miss Sunshine."

Richard (Greg Kinnear) is the head of a mostly dysfunctional family and the author of a multi-step/self-help program that he espouses with the passion of a zealot. Sheryl (Toni Collette) is Richard's wife and arguably the most normal and high-functioning member of the family. Their son, Dwayne (Paul Dano), is a nihilistic and remote 15-year-old, who has either stopped speaking to his family because he can't stand them or taken a vow of silence to achieve a personal goal - depending on who is explaining his behavior. Olive (Abigail Breslin) is the family's bright and effervescent 7-year-old, who is already starting to pick up some of the family's more unhealthy tics of criticism and self-doubt...

The Quirk Works--Don't Buy The "Sunshine" Hype, Discover It For Yourself
"Little Miss Sunshine" is yet another quirky indie comedy, this time about a dysfunctional family roadtrip. Every character has the requisite wacky personality and/or oddball mannerisms (as is the case in every film of this type). The plot is minimal and contrived, existing for the sole purpose of forcing this unlikely family together. Handled incorrectly, I would usually loathe this type of film. So I'm pleased to report that "Little Miss Sunshine" is far more successful than it has any right to be. While I still feel as if this "little" picture was slightly overpraised upon it's release, it provides many laughs and works as screwball comedy.

One thing that sets "Sunshine" apart from similar indies is a stellar cast. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette do fine work as the embattled parents. Abigail Breslin brings a refreshing blend of hope and delusion to the title character. Alan Arkin chews the scenery as the foul mouthed addict father--it's nice to see him again,...

Sunshine is Brilliant
Little Miss Sunshine is easily my pick for best film of the year. At the same time, I won't say that you've never seen a movie like this one before. It treads familiar territory and dredges up some recognizable character types, like the silent broody teen and the dirty old man, but it doesn't belabor them; instead it reminds us why we find situations and individuals like these so relatable. It's a road trip movie. It's a dark comedy, but it's also something else altogether.

There are sight gags a plenty and some dysfunctional family fun that walks a fine line between trite and genius, but I (and 93% of the critics on [...]) believe that the performances tip the balance in favor of genius. Alan Arkin is extraordinary as the cantankerous, heroin snorting grandpa with a heart. Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear, as the emotionally fatigued married couple, have an onscreen chemistry that threatens to blow up at any minute. (Boo! Kenney, that's such a cheesy line. You can...

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Compulsion [HD]

A fascinating, chilling film.
Of the three high profile movies that deal with the Leopold and Loeb case, (the other two being Swoon and Rope)this one is by far the best. The two leads are frightening but believable in depicting warped, psychopathic killers. It is interesting to see how the film slyly danced around the period taboo of mentioning the duo's homosexual bond, and how Welles' Darrow character raises the issue of xenophobia/homophobia in the court room without stating the issue bluntly.

Everyone in the film is first rate, with the one exception of Diane Varsi. On some viewings, she is annoying and a major weakness to the movie. Other times, her character is credible within the context of the time period and locale. In any case, the movie is first rate and ought to be seen more widely that it seems to be.

Re-enactment of a sensational murder trial
The brilliant Orson Welles' eloquent and compassionate soliloquy as defense attorney Jonathan Wilk during summation at the trial of two adolescent boys accused of murder is the highlight of the movie "Compulsion".

This crime and courtroon drama is based on the 1924 trial of Loeb and Leopold, two wealthy and intelligent teenaged law students who killed a young boy in a "thrill" killing. Bradford Dillman playing Artie Straus and Dean Stockwell playing Judd Steiner felt so smug and intellectually gifted that they believed they could commit and get away with the perfect crime. Dillman the cocky leader of the two goaded the shy and introverted Stockwell into carrying out the demented plot. Both boys had no real close friends and subsisted together in what had the looks of a homosexual relationship.

Straus and Steiner conjured up alibis for the time of the murder but were split up for interrogation by state attorney Harold Horn, with E.G Marshall excellently playing...

Stylish, Well Performed, But Ultimately Unsatisfying
Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were two intellectually gifted, extremely wealthy young men of 1920s Chicago--but they were also highly neurotic. In 1924 their twisted relationship exploded into one of the most infamous crimes of the era: largely in order to demonstrate their supposed intellectual superiority, they kidnapped and murdered fourteen year old Bobby Franks. But their "perfect crime" was not quite as perfect as they had thought: it quickly unraveled, and with the celebrated Clarence Darrow appearing for the defense the court case became as legendary as the crime.

The 1959 film COMPULSION, based on the Leopold-Loeb case, had a great deal going for it. The cast was superior and included a Hollywood legend; director Richard Fleischer was a rock-solid craftsman; production values from cinematography to composer to costumer were in experienced and capable hands. But the film ran afoul of two issues: censorship codes of the day, which effectively prevented a...

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Gerhard Richter Painting

looking at the creative process, with limitations
Gerhard Richter Painting
this dvd is an attempt to explore the inner workings of the creative process of a great contemporary artist. what is highlighted in the inexpressible process of the artist's thinking and feeling as he works on his paintings until the "moment" of achievement is met. richter admits to not knowing from the get go what he is intending to achieve. his large size squeegees create transformations of the initial hand made painting, and the mechanical process offers him the opportunity for the painting to have a life of it's own. in watching this, the viewer is fascinated, puzzled, bored, and transfixed looking at an artist, but not quite seeing into his inner psyche. richter is often both self deprecating and humorous about the "unknowable" in mulling over the creative process. the film tends to be rather slow moving and at times lumbering, but it is none-the-less, a wonderful inside view of...

Moving Paint
An intimate visit with the artist in his studio. It was a joy to watch him engaged in his creative process, and to see his paintings unfold. He's very adept with both brush and squeegee. It was delicious to watch.

Well filmed and very inspiring
Just seeing how he manipulates his colors and respects the media makes me hungry to produce more work as an artist. Great production.

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Before We Say Goodbye

A FILM EMBRACING ONE'S HEART AND SPIRITUALITY
I have an aversion to kitchen sink melodramas and while I hesitated before viewing this film, I was overjoyed and elated to discover that movie people can actually produce a film about day-to-day real-life situations and keep the viewer totally absorbed. "Before We Say Goodbye" is the story of an Hispanic-American family living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's the story of Ramona and Carlos Garcia, the parents of four grown up children and grand-children who each are suffering through their own individual problems. The contrasts are vivid from the crusty tequila-swigging great-grandma to the rebellious teen who prefers Taco Bell delicacies to the food created in a Mexican Restaurant owned and operated by her hard working, almost bankrupt parents. The film is a tapestry of four generations each with distinct and deteriorating situations. Sitting in a hospital bed for the entire movie, Carlos played admirably by F.X. Gurrola-Gar, manages to mentor his family members with wisdom and...

Before We Say Goodbye - Humorous Look at Southwestern Hispanic Culture
This is a cute little low budget film which will make most Hispanics of the Southwest smile. The same way Mexican comedian George Lopez makes his audiences laugh by poking fun at his roots, this movie does much the same. It touches on many facets of the local New Mexican culture like religion, immigration, pregnancy, and the prioritization of brothers over sisters.

Anglo's (non-Hispanics) who have never experienced the culture may find it more difficult to find the humor since there needs to be some sense of understanding of where it is coming from. Having said that, it does give the non-Hispanic a glimpse into the Southwestern Hispanic culture which some may find interesting. On the other hand it could reinforce some negative stereotyping which some Hispanics would disagree with. The acting reminded me of the cheaply made Mexican Novella's (soap operas). No matter how over the top the acting may be, you can still get into the story and laugh and cry at times. Beware there...



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Shut Up! (Tais Toi)

A Laugh Riot!
A brilliant comic performance from Gerard Depardieu as a simpleton so annoying and talkative it's hard to believe marks another hilarious collaboration between the heralded star and writer/director Francis Veber and actor Jean Reno. The group from Les Fugitifs, remade in America as Three Fugitives, is equally as good here. Depardieu will have you laughing out load much of the time. Reno is no slouch either as the hardened and dangerous mobster out for revenge against the man who took his only love away. It gets more complicated, and more hilarious by the minute when Quentin (Depardieu) attaches himself to Ruby (Reno), his only friend.

The talent and quality of the three principals, both in front of and behind the camera make this film what others in this genre try to be but are not. In short, this is dumb comedy for smart people, a brilliantly executed exercise in making us smile while feeling a tug in our hearts. A clumsy robbery, an escape from prison that will leave your...

"Be Quiet!" Gérard Depardieu & Jean Reno in Well-made, Character-Driven Comedy
"Tais-toi!" (meaning `Shut-up') is also known as "Ruby & Quentin" in some countries. Whatever it is, the film's greatest asset is its stars - Gérard Depardieu and Jean Reno. In spite of the capable supports from Jean-Pierre Malo, Richard Berry, and Leonor Varela, the film belongs to the two leading stars.

Gérard Depardieu plays Quentin, a criminal who made a silly mistake in commiting 'bank robbery.' Now in prison, Quentin has a knack of irritating the guys around him by his constant gab. He is the worst kind of inmate to be with, who never stops asking things a single moment, and he thinks he is a very nice person trying to be gentle while you are most likely driven to madness by his constant chatting.

Jean Reno is a professional killer Ruby, who has stolen money from the mobster/his former employer Vogel (Jean-Pierre Malo), and hid it somewhere he alone knows. Both the boss of the gangster and Police Commissionaire Vernet (Richard Berry) want to...

A VERY funny movie
I really enjoyed this movie. Depardieu shows his versatility as an actor this time playing the role of a very simpleminded but talkative fugitive, who ends up sharing a cell with a much more sinister character played by Jean Reno. Very watchable movie with much heart.

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Hard Boiled Sweets [HD]

Good film, interesting premise
The first few scenes had such unfortunate musical choices that I nearly stopped watching, but I'm glad I saw it through.
It was a cute premise, and a good film for those who like crime films.

Lacks Substance
This production is slick, but it has very little depth. We have all seen some variation of this movie before: a bunch of lowlifes, who may be wearing expensive threads, covet big stacks of money. All of them have the morality of the proverbial alley cat. This version is set in the seedy underworld of an English seaside city.

A common theme runs through it all: we get to know a character fairly well, for the acting is solid. Then the character gets "popped" at close range or weighed down (in one case, with a car wheel that he is forced to carry) and tossed off the pier.

It's all backed by an effective soundtrack that underscores a spirit of decadence and doom. The cinematography is sound; there are some spectacular shots.

Half-boiled film
The british always have a cool way of doing Lundun villains with assorted wise-cracks of the saucy bastard type. Hard Boiled Sweets started out with alot of promise when it laid the ground-work by introducing a mix of colourful characters. It was amusing to hear them nick-named after a different candy. Incase you americans didn't know - the english word for candy is sweets.
A visting king-pin is visting a sea-side resort to pick up his share of earning from the various gambling and whoring racket run by the local mob, who reckon they want to kill him and take his spoils instead. The spice to the plot is they got the same idea at different times. So the film takes some unpredictable turns. But in the last 1/4, , the film becomes diluted and and unlikely. It was light-fare to begin with, which was amusing as a yarn, but the film could not survive a dose of the unlikelies well. Villains need their integrity. So it ends up as 3 star. The screen-play and plot failed to take up a...

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The Hills Have Eyes (R) [HD]

"There ain't nuthin' to see in the desert."
This past weekend I saw film critic Roger Ebert and the other guy he does a show with talking about the worst films of 2006 (so far), and one of them on their list was The Hills Have Eyes (2006), which is actually a remake of a 1977 movie made by Wes Craven. Roger's biggest gripe seemed to be the film was too `by the numbers' (it is a remake), and he would have preferred more character development in the antagonists (Roger, they're radiated, grotesque, cannibalistic mutants...what else do you need to know?). Co-written and directed by Alexandre Aja (High Tension), the film features Dan Byrd (A Cinderella Story), Emilie de Ravin ("Roswell", "Lost"), Aaron Stanford (X-Men: The Last Stand), Kathleen Quinlan (Lawn Dogs), Ted Levine (Heat, "Monk"), and Vinessa Shaw (Corky Romano). Also appearing is Tom Bower (Die Hard 2), Robert Joy (Land of the Dead), Desmond Askew ("Roswell"), and Billy Drago (The Untouchables, Freeway).

The movie begins by telling us that between 1945 and...

Great set.
I ordered this set mainly for the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's cult classic (the sequel doesn't do it for me, but I'm a completist). I figured the two movies would be on one disc but was pleasantly suprised that the blu-rays were individually packaged within the collectible box. Having both movies in high definition and a decent amount of special features for around $20.00 is a great bargain. The picture quality on both is great as well. If you're a 'Hills' fan, I recommend getting this set.

The Hills Have Eyes - Just as good as the original.
Well, I must admit to you that I was a bit skeptical about this movie. One of the reasons for this was the fact that the movie was a remake. With the constant stream of remakes pouring out of Hollywood lately, I was worried that this would just be another worthless movie, a remake of a movie that didn't need to be remade. And, while I did see promise for this movie in the trailer, I just didn't think that it would be as good as the original. The second reason for my skepticism going into watching this movie was because the original was directed by Wes Craven, arguably the greatest horror director ever. Nobody can match what he did with the original, can they?

Alexandre Aja, the director of the movie Haute Tension, stepped up to the plate to direct this remake. As a matter of fact, Aja was selected by Wes Craven to direct this remake, which Craven also produced. If you aren't familiar with Aja, I'd recommend that you check out Haute Tension, which was later released in the...

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Office Space [HD]

The greatest office comedy ever?
I'm not sure it is essential to have worked in an office to enjoy this film, but I'm certain it will hit home for those who have. The movie was a complete bust at the box office, which utterly mystifies me, because it is hysterically funny and reflects the experience of millions of people across the United States (and I assume elsewhere). In an age where companies are seeking to lay off workers at any possible opportunity, this film has perhaps even more relevance now than it did when it came out in 1999.

The humor of the film works on multiple levels, but for me so much of it is funny with a twist of the knife, for much of the humor hints at a much more serious fact: modern work is genuinely dreadful and alienating. Perhaps many office workers love their job, but I hate mine, and I assume that I am merely one of millions. No one in this film has a meaningful job. Even Lumbergh, though the boss, has an absurd position. Peter Gibbons is at least able to be honest about the...

Decline and Fall of the Cubicle
I first watched "Office Space" on a laptop in a Tuscaloosa hotel with my future wife. We were on our way to a conference, and she suggested that we watch this movie. It wasn't too late in the evening, and the running time seemed reasonably short at approximately 90 minutes. I also figured that it would be pretty good, especially with Mike Judge as the writer and director. After having watched it several times since then, I am convinced that "Office Space" is one of the very best cinematic comedies made in recent years.

Watching "Office Space" seems especially therapeutic after dealing with craziness at work. This probably explains the film's broad appeal; it resonates with people who have needed to suffer bureaucratic B.S., the latest manifestations of "office speak," and arbitrary rules at some point in their working lives. Of course, Judge himself drew upon his own memories of work in an office, which he finally escaped after hitting upon the idea for "Beavis and...

Surprisingly Funny
This movie made an almost "psychic" connection with me... the first time I saw it, I had just come home from my nightmare job -- many of the same things depicted in the movie had happened to me that very day, including the printer jam with that exact message "Error - PC Load Letter", while trying to print a report that was already late (what the heck does that message mean, anyway?!).

I related so well to this movie's honest, astute, and technically correct observations of office culture in the 90's, that the brilliantly original bits of commedy were almost incidental to me (I must have annoyed the heck out of my wife with outbursts like "Oh my GOD, that's so TRUE!" every two minutes). I caught some of the more subtle humor in subsequent viewings.

I'll admit, the movie lost its hold on me about 2/3 in, when the main character (who had by this time become an icon to me with his new found "no fear of consequences" attitude) took a strange...

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Bob Dylan - And The Band: Down In The Flood

Lovely way to waste some time
This documentary covers a lot of ground (important ground) but not with much depth. Of course, seeing those guys in their heyday and hearing the great music sets off a lot of endorphins in my brain, but it is only a momentary high. Without the cooperation of Dylan, or Robbie Robertson, or Levon Helm, the director was left only with Garth Hudson- a brilliant musician who mumbles his way through interviews. On the plus side, getting Robert Christgau to comment was a coup.

I did love it...
Just watched this Rock Doc on Dylan and The Band. I enjoyed every second of it. It gave a great background on the formation of The Band and how they intertwined with Dylan through the years. Yes, there were no interviews of Dylan, Levon or Robbie, but it did not take away from an enjoyable time and education.

Great Doc!
Great film! It gives all the details that you didn't know about one of the great stories of rock n roll

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Golden Winter [HD]

Golden Winter
Great movie for families to watch. This one movie that is very interesting to watch and enjoy by yourself or with someone.

Great movie
My 8 year old grandson loved this movie. He said it was very funny. He watched it with his mom and she thought it was cute.

Cute movie
Since I love Golden Retrievers so much this is a feel good movie for sure. I will enjoy watching it often.

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Ain't Misbehavin

Really fun adventure!
As a fan of Robson Green, I had to add this DVD to my collection. It is a light fun filled movie showing the great chemistry between Jerome and Robson. The Brits seem to know how to tell a story much better than Hollywood. Comedy with lots of fun characters and you can see the cast is having fun making this film.

Robson at his "jolliest"
Anyone who loves Robson Green will thoroughly enjoy this production. He's young,incorrigible, and very Robson. The music is terrific and the whole cast is right on the money. Lots of unique characters, entertaining story and great chemestry with Jerome. This is a movie that deserves watching and rewatching - so I had to own it.

Ain't Misbehavin Movie
The set up on the two disks is a bit confusing so we missed the second part on the first disk and didn't realize something was missing until we started watching the second disk. Why they had to use two disks for this movie is beyond me but we enjoyed the movie anyway. Wonderful music in it too.

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We're Not Married [HD]

"...to inform you that you are not legally married."
"In one week, he laid six time bombs. ... He jumped the gun. The appointment was for 1 January. This clown began marrying people before he had the authority!" That's what the attorney general tells the Governor Bush (!!!) of (I presume Louisiana), as the story opens in Gretna Green. That clown is Judge Melvin Bush (Victor Moore), a doddering but well-meaning old man. His daughter-in-law, the governor's wife, proposes that they write the couples of the mistake and let them take it from there.

The first couple, Steve and Ramona Gladwyn (Fred Allen and Ginger Rogers) have the funniest moments of all five. However, two and a half years after their marriage, they live in a totally hostile atmosphere, and they don't need help from that thunderstorm outside in the opening waking up segment. Avoiding each other, slamming doors, not saying a word--imagine what this couple think about each other. They are hosts of a radio breakfast program that mentions products of their latest...

Why no deleted sequence?
This is a funny movie, especially the Fred Allen and Ginger Rogers section, with a great cast but why didn't Fox include the deleted sequence with Walter Brennan and Hope Emerson as an extra? It's included on the Hidden Hollywood Fox DVD and it's been shown on AMC. It should've been included on this disc.

A star-studded comedic romp from 1952
We're Not Married is a star-studded comedy from 1952 that helped catapult Marilyn Monroe to stardom. Ginger Rogers gets top billing, but the spotlight is shared by just about everyone in this terrific cast. The premise of the movie centers around a rather scatterbrained, newly appointed (by his nephew the governor) justice of the peace who marries a number of couples immediately after receiving his formal letter on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, his appointment was not official until January 1, meaning that over two years later several couples from many walks of life suddenly discover that they are not legally married. The reaction of each couple to this news is, to say the least, quite varied. Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen play a popular morning show husband and wife team who get paid to sound like the happiest couple on earth, yet they no longer even speak to each other off the air; they treat the news at first as a miracle come true. Marilyn Monroe plays a beauty contestant who...

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Where The Heart Is [HD]

WHITE TRASH GIRL MAKES GOOD...
Based upon the book of the same name by Billie Letts, this film was a more than pleasant surprise. It is simply a compelling absorbing, and unusual film. Well directed by television veteran Matt Williams, the movie exudes a certain folksy charm that grabs the viewer from the get go and keeps that viewer enthralled until the final scene.

The film centers around Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman), a very pregnant seventeen year old, who, with her boyfriend, lowlife Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), pulls up to a Walmart's in Oklahoma where he abandons her. So, with virtually no money, literally barefoot and pregnant, and nowhere to go, she sets up camp in Walmart by night and explores the town by day, making friends with a number of memorable characters.

She unexpectedly has her baby at Walmart's, making her into a minor local celebrity. While at the hospital convalescing, she meets a sassy, brassy nurse, Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd), who befriends her. She is showered with gifts and her...

I am very surprised.
This movie is one of those films that you pick up from the store when there is nothing else to rent ... and you are glad you did.

While the plot sounds really contrived, the actors and actresses in this film make it almost believable. And, it is one of the most heartwarming, feel good movies I have seen in quite some time.

Natalie Portman is excellent as Novalee Nation, the girl who has the Walmart baby. While you know what is going to happen, the actions leading up to the moment are a gem. Keeping a very exacting record of what she owes the Walmart adds to the situation, making you like Novalee even more.

Of course, this is a film about the downtrodden. Novalee is in her situation due to her no good boyfriend dumping her on his way to a Country Music career. The rest of the characters in the film share in this misery. From Forney Hall, a brilliant dreamer stuck in a library to Sister Husband (Stockhard Channing), who fornicates a lot, and finally Lexie Coop (Ashley Judd), who...

Wonderful Surprise
This film was an extraordinarily wonderful surprise. The writing was excellent, managing a perfect balance throughout between tear-jerking scenes and comedic moments. Every time it teetered close to the edge of cliche, it pulled back to safety and perfection.

The performances by Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd and Stockard Channing were phenomenal. This film had me crying rivers, laughing, and clapping. It left me feeling better than I had felt after the last 10 movies I'd seen combined. It is also exceptional for how unlike other Hollywood movies it is; it tells a story about women with a truthfulness and reality that would not even have been possible to get put on film even a couple decades ago. Indeed, it's still a remarkable abberation.

I can't recommend this film too strongly. For anyone with a heart, buy it and treasure it.

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Napoleon Dynamite [HD]

"I caught you a delicious bass."
In high school, I was one of the nameless, faceless rabble who drew little attention, maintained a low profile, and caused little trouble all in the hopes of getting out relatively unscathed, a goal I managed to accomplish, partly due to my sometimes intimidating presence, but mainly because I was able to fit in, sort of like a fish within a shoal...but there were those who weren't so fortunate, as obvious physical characteristics or personality traits (or both) tended to enunciate their presence regardless of vain attempts to `blend in' or enjoy the anonymity I, and those like me, tended to take for granted. Napoleon Dynamite (2004) is a film about one of those individuals.

The film, written and directed by Jared Hess, takes place in a small Idaho town and stars Jon Heder as the title character (he reminded me a lot of Timothy Busfield's character of Arnold Poindexter in the 1984 film Revenge of the Nerds). Also appearing is Jon Gries (Real Genius, Fright Night Part II),...

Geeeze Don't be an "Idiot" just see it!
I knew absolutley nothing about this flick when my 14 year old red-headed math whiz son said Dad let's go see this movie. From the opening credits I was entertained. This movie, is essentially a "day in the life of an Idaho high school nerd as he moves through various life cycle events and characters." Though the word "nerd" hardly seems to do justice to the timeless nature of title character Napoleon Dynamite. With little or no plot, Napoleon turned out to be more than part nostalgia. It was a stroll down memory lane. If I did not know that the writers in fact lived in Idaho, I would have sworn they had gone to my High School in South Florda in the late 70's. Our Senior Class Vice-President was in fact PEDRO from Mexico, our class Secretary, Melanie a blonde buxom cheerleader incarnate of this films' fictional "Summer" character and our Treasurer sported a huge Afro and all were clad in their finest disco outfits.

I guess this is why this sleeper film has gained such...

The New Mormon Cinema Finds Its Poster Boy
For the past few years there has been a movement in American film you could call "The New Mormon Cinema." Young Latter-day Saint filmmakers (definitely inspired by the Sundance Film Festival which is held right in their own backyard) have been making inexpensive independent films that are targeted at the Mormon population that stretches in the west from Alberta in Canada down past the Mexican border (the so-called "Mormon Corridor.") Most of these movies have been really bad, cheaply done sit-com influenced "comedies" that have had absolutely no influence on non-Mormon audiences. (With the honorable exeception of Richard Dutcher, the director of good movies like the missionary drama "God's Army" and the thriller "Brigham City.") Things began to change this year with widespread recognition going to the tough-minded World War II drama "Saints and Soldiers" and this twisted little comic masterpiece, "Napoleon Dynamite."

Jared and Jerusha Hess are products of Brigham Young...

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The Girl Next Door (1953) [HD]

"The Girl Next Door"- A delightful "lost" 20th C.Fox Musical !
It's interesting, and amazing to me , that 20th has finally decided to release this musical on DVD along with "The Bloodhounds Of Broadway" (a fun, but not a particularly inventive Mitzi Gaynor musical), and the long-awaited, song filled "With A Song In My Heart". Although I've had a poor, taken-from-TV, video of this film for 20 years or so, I never thought it would ever see the light of day again.
It's always been one of my favorite "minor" 20th musicals since I first saw it as a kid in 1953, mainly because of the charming performances of June Haver, Dan Dailey and Dennis Day. I doubt that anyone even remembers it, since it sat on the shelf for almost 2 years,..and then was rushed into release only to quickly disappear.
Originally offered to Betty Grable, who turned down the script ...( one CAN picture her in the role),...it fell to Miss Haver, who with her sparkling personality...and singing and dancing talents, was far better suited for the part. Beginning shooting...

Almost lives up to it's great potential.
4.9 stars. I bought this DVD for my mother's 86th birthday, primarily because her very favorite films are the Warner Bros. Doris Day musicals On Moonlight Bay and By The Light of The Silvery Moon -- so our opinion and this review of The Girl Next Door is in comparison to those. When my mom read the box, she was delighted that it stars June Haver (Wake Up And Dream, another favorite) and has Dennis Day (The Jack Benny Program) and Billy Gray, who was also in those two Doris Day movies a year or two earlier. When we watched it last night, everything seemed perfect - yet somehow not quite up to our hopes. The plot's sort the converse of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, but not as poignant. Haver's and Dailey's numbers are fine and the highlight of the film. But Dennis...

June Haver
The Girl Next Door. It was great seeing June Haver again. This was her last picture and right after making it, she went to the convent. The movie is quite spectacular and also stars Billy Gray of Father Knows Best. It was great seeing him, too. He was quite an actor. I'm surprised that he didn't go on with his acting career. It is sad to think that June Haver is gone now. I was shocked to hear that she died in July of 2006. I had just been thinking about her the day before her death, wondering what she was doing now.

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Miss March UNRATED [HD]

Thousands of people are on the Internet. And half of 'em downloaded my song!!!
This is a stupid, crass, moronic, juvenile ile and I loved every minute of it. There are at least 5 scenes that I have never seen before in a film. Add that to the Tucker guy being one of the funniest guys I've seen in a long time, and a rapper named Horsed*ck.Mpeg and you got yourself a party. don't confuse it for THE OFFICE now, it's not clever. Miss March is just plain laugh out loud funny. It's absurd. I highly reccomend it for those of you who like silly, leave your logic at the door comedies. Plus what other movie has the line: "Lesbians...break down that door!" Get it and laugh.
Oh and amazingly enough, Hef was very good in his part. It didn't seem forced or fake. I bet if I'd break into his den, he'd talk to me the same way!

I Guess I Just Have Bad Taste....
but I couldn't help but laugh at the insane humor on display here. I suppose I'm just an immature teenager at heart sometimes (and I love The Whitest Kids U Know, well, at least the first 2 seasons).

I don't know if I can recommend this film, because it's obviously not for everyone......in fact I don't think it's for anyone really, except for me and my friends. So if any of you are reading this.....oh what the hell, you're gonna buy it anyways.

EXTREMELY CRUDE, BUT STUPID FUN! YOU'LL EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT!
Every once in a while a film defies all logic, has no business getting a four star rating and offers nothing new to a genre and yet it succeeds where so many other like films fail. 'Miss March' is so stupid that you can't help but laugh at the over the top gross out gags that propel this stupid film through it's running time like a torpedo propelling through water.

The cast especially Cregger and Moore play two childhood friends, one who is a sex crazed kook and the other a reserved guy waiting for the right time to lose his virginity to his girlfriend of 2 1/2 years. After one of them comes out of a 4 year long coma(don't ask!), the two embark on a cross country road trip and extreme wackiness ensues!

The film is full of raunchy ridiculous high jinks and nudity and shouldn't even be worth looking at, but I must confess that I haven't laugh so hard in a while. It's just stupid fun, but I think this film will only appeal to a certain crowd of people who like a...

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Kingdom Come [HD]

Can I Get A Yeamen ?
Whoopie Goldberg, LL Cool J, Loretta Devine and Jada Pinkett - Smith star in this overlooked little comic gem of a movie. The supporting cast, including Cedric the Entertainer, are also on hand to bring to life a funny farce on death and dying, dysfunction and survival. Admittedly, perhaps a few of the plot devices may be trite, but it's very rare for a movie not to have a few over used plots or farcial moments. This movie is all about family surviving family and life and trying to rise above whatever life has in store - be it fate or human blunder. Goldberg plays Mama Rae, a stoic and strong woman, who does know her own mind. When her husband drops dead at the breakfast table, she continues on - with an assortment of family members and friends who are coming home to " help " her. The always amazing Loretta Devine, the bombastic, morally and religiously effusive, bounds onto the screen and doesn't stop chewing the scenery throughout her turn as Aunt Marguerite - the long...

Great, True-to-Life Comedy About Family Life!
I really wasn't expect much from this film. I expected it to be your typical cookie cutter fare. I ended up being pleasantly surprised. The cast was likable, the storyline was interesting, and the film's comedy was VERY funny and VERY down to Earth.

In a way, the family in the film reminded me of my family. I'm sure it will remind you of your folks, too. I don't care if you're white, black, or whatever. This movie has UNIVERSAL APPEAL. I recommend it to EVERYONE who loves to laugh! Buy or rent this film today!

Simply Marvelous!!!!!
When this movie was released in theaters, it received bad reviews and I wondered out loud: "What movie was the critics watching????" This movie is awesome! I was completely drawn into the story because I could relate on a very personal level to all the things that happened in the movie, from beginning to end. The music was wonderful, too. I couldn't find anything to dislike about "Kingdom Come." It was the southern version of "Soul Food" only better. If you buy this DVD, you won't go wrong!

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French Connection II [HD]

Awesome on Blu-ray! Underappreciated sequel but wonderful performance by Gene Hackman and quite enjoyable!
Entertaining, gritty and taking the character of "Popeye" Doyle to new lows. Excellent performance by Gene Hackman, it may not have the shocking action and the famous chase scene but on its own, "FRENCH CONNECTION II" is a good film and very entertaining.

Four years since the original "THE FRENCH CONNECTION", in 1975, the sequel would be released. Where the first film was based on real events on the lives of Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso, the sequel is more fictional.

This time around, Doyle goes to France to go after Charnier. Being in a new country, Doyle is a fish out of water and knows that what he was used to New York, it's not going to fly in France, especially with the gendarmes.

But unbeknownst to him, after he's spotted by Charnier, Doyle is kidnapped and the hard-nosed cop that we saw in the first film will be fighting for his life and be broken down severely.

A riveting film, it may not be at the same caliber as the first but...

The Best That Could Be Matched With the Original
Considering the enigmatic ending of the Oscar-winning "The French Connection," a sequel seemed obligatory. But four years later, it's likely that no one was expecting the harrowing twist that came with the follow-up's plot.
This time directed by John Frankenheimer, gruff, foul-mouthed, brute narcotics officer Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) travels to Marseilles, determined to stop the elusive drug kingpin Alain "Frog One" Charnier (Fernando Rey), whom he failed to stop in New York City. Once in France, Popeye is met by Inspector Henri Barthelemi (Bernard Fresson), who resents the former's rude and crude crimefighting demeanor. Doyle finds himself as a fish out of water in France, where he is matched with a language he can't understand, eliminating one of his most useful weapons--his mouth. Determined to find Frog One on his own (and unaware he is being used by Barthelemi to lure Charnier into the open), Popeye escapes his French escorts. Now here comes the unexpected; in an...

The definitive movie sequel.
That the sequel was made at all was no certainty although the original left an obvious opportunity to chart the conclusion to Doyles mission in bringing Frog One (Fernando Rey) to justice.

Hackman gives an even better acting performance in this effort if that were possible but lost out in the Oscar accolades probably due to his earlier success. This time he is on his own with no Cloudy to back him up and stuck with the sometimes dubious support of the French Police.The french acting in this movie is par excellance and perfectly cast which is saying something since this was essentially an American production. We see Fernando Rey carry on his good work from the original movie this time in a more familiar setting namely his home town Marseille. The casting of Rey in both part 1 and part 2 is almost as inspired as that of Hackman himself and also worthy of acting plaudits which sadly did not materialise.Connection part 2 is a worthy sequel to the earlier offering and although...

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Fever Pitch EXTENDED RED SOX EDITION [HD]

Movie Gets 4 Stars, DVD Edition is a rip-off, though
I'm a Red Sox fan and a sucker for romantic comedies, so I waited for the "Special Red Sox Collectors Edition" before even seeing the flick for the first time -- I knew I wanted to buy it. This review contrasts the two editions, with some minor comments about the movie at the end.

Now I see I paid an extra $4 for the "Collector's Edition" over the regular DVD release for what amounts to about a minute of extra Red Sox highlights interpolated at the end. That's it. That's the only difference. That, my friends, is a rip-off from the marketing people, and a pretty crummy one.

Not to say that as a DVD this isn't a very nice package. The gag reel is pretty funny. The directors' commentary and a couple of the featurettes are interesting enough. And the deleted scenes, frankly, make it into a better movie; I only wish they'd done a Director's cut and re-inserted the deleted scenes, because it makes the occasionally thin plot a lot fleshier. In particular, the deleted...

A true romance
Selfless love exists in many forms. "Fever Pitch" artfully weaves two of them.

One of Ben Wrightman's (Jimmy Fallon) 9th grade muses asks him, "When have the RedSox ever loved you back?" But for all of us who have loved and lost and loved some more, the answer isn't so clear.

Especially during these past few years (thank you John Henry, Larry Lucchino, and Theo Epstein), that love has been requited. But the years of Jimmy Williams and Dan Duquette weren't so bad after all either. And we'll always have Ted Williams (and Harry Hooper, and even Babe Ruth for a few years . . .)

Drew Barrymore plays her second romantic movie ending on a baseball field (Never Been Kissed) extremely well. She's a vulnerable cutie with lots of female power and a straight shooter. In my opinion, she shares her secret shame of "seeing patterns of numbers and rearranging them into new patterns" quite well. Her buddies are convincing women characters that test and question...

a love/hate relationship between a city and their baseball team
forget Jimmy and Drew. This is really not about them. It is the actual story of how the city of Boston has developed a love/hate relationship with the baseball team that has broken their hearts for too many years. Every spring, the fans of Red Sox nation begin their courtship of a championship season and every autumn they are once again left at the alter. Except the year this movie was made. Somehow, someway, the Sox did it and it was captured in this movie. Buy it just to keep your Red Sox highlight disk company.

Is God a movie fan..He must be!

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Big Momma's House [HD]

Good, but not as good as it could have been with some radical revisions
The biggest problem with Big Momma's house is that you can often see just how funny it should be, but the cast and crew are not able to sustain the occasional hilarious parts with any consistency.

It doesn't seem to help that Big Momma's House wants to be more than a comedy. Writers Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer shoot for a combination of a crime comedy ala Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and a romantic comedy. But the core comedy is absurdist, while the mostly serious crime stuff is so underwritten that it would be better absent, and the somewhat serious rom-com stuff is so generic and predictable that it has all the surprise of attending Mass.

To me, the comedy being absurdist is a plus, but it doesn't mesh well with other modes. It's ridiculous, of course, that Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is trying to pass himself off as "Big Momma" Hattie Mae Pierce (Ella Mitchell). That's a large part of what makes it funny. However, director Raja Gosnell's decision to...

Big Momma's House
I think this is a very very funny movie. Martin Lawrence is at his best in this movie. I know a lot of people didn't like the
bathroom scene.but,i thought it was very funny. All the people in the film are great. i really like nolen the security guard.
he was awesome in the movie. i laughed so hard during the entire film my stomach was sore at the end.the movie is defintly worth
a look a MUST BUY MUST OWN i promise you'll absolutly love it.
another wonderful scene from the movie was when Martin dressed as big momma had to deliver a baby that is hillarious.
Martin is truly at the top of his acting career in this flim.
i think it's the best film Martin has made so far.
Ella Mitchell who played the real big momma is very funny also.
she is a marvelous actress. she has a scene at the beginning of the movie where she finds a dog in her yard she says lord i done told sadie bout this dog. then she picks up the dog and says if i catch you in my yard...

Martin Lawrence continues to make me Laugh!
Blue Streak was a suprise hit to me last fall, Big Momma's House suprised me this summer. I laughed my astrodynamics off watching Martin Lawrence dress up as BIG MOMMA (A 60 year old 400 pound lady) Not only was this a super funny movie, but a great story and excellent chemistry between Nia Long and Martin. Paul Giamatti, playing Lawrences FBI partner, is just as funny as Martin when given the chance. A few scenes stick out in mind like when BIG MOMMA (lawrence) take self defense class and when BIG MOMMA dunks over two other guys heads. Non-stop laughing in this one, go check it out--you're sure to like it. --Star Wars on DVD-- Come on Lucas!

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