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Nope
This movie went from worst to just plain bad. Even with named actors they could not carry this movie as it needed to be. | 12 stars
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One of the best movies that "You have never heard of!"
Starts out a little weird. OK, a lot weird, the story builds nicely. Like true life some really nice things happen for the young star in her sad little life. Yet also as is the case in real life, you have to live it and that's where things get a little messy. A really good film. | 45 stars
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women at their finest beating the odds against a male sociey
angela basset stole the screen with the real life drama story. all the ladies in this picture up hold a level of class and loviness far beyond the rest. thumbs up to them all | 34 stars
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Let's be honest
As stated in other reviews, these concerts were recording sessions in front of an audience. Consequently there are almost no theatrics to the concert. I don't see that as a bad thing but I guess the video producers did, so yeah, there's a lot of unnecessary video junk mixed in. But man, the musical performance is brilliant. This is the video I've always dreamed of -- the concert that so many love and so few were able to see. If you like classic Yes, don't pass this opportunity by. | 34 stars
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Office: Season 4
I'm a big fan of the Office, and Season 4 didn't let me down.Kudos for this great satirical series of office life! | 45 stars
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HAUNTING
Mike White's strangely fascinating little movie is one of those rare masterpieces that hits all the right notes; there is not a moment in this movie that does not feel utterly real, it even looks like a grainy documentary, as if we are seeing something private unfold. Buck, a repressed, sad, obsessive man-child, cannot move past his childhood experiences with Chuck, his best friend. The turns that this story takes are alternately funny, touching, disturbing, and complex. Mike White's performances is extraordinary; it is a testament to his enormous talents that you leave this movie with a tremendous sense of feeling -- melancholy, sadness, even a little bit of hope. A complete surprise, and one of the best movies of the past year. | 45 stars
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Inspiring movie
Even though this movie is based on a book, I think that the actresses do a wonderful job of creating a story worth watching. | 45 stars
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Watch it, love it!
I started watching this show in the third season, so really enjoyed going back and seeing the first two seasons on DVD. This is a great show, very well written and smart - if you like investigative fiction, you will enjoy NCIS. | 45 stars
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Boring and stupid.....what a waste of talent!
The only thing to recommend about this film is the "director's commentary" in the extras section - where the director "pontificates" about how "hard" movies are to make and to be "releasable" - which the irony is - this film is so awful it should have been shelved. Gone are Syndey's good days as a viable filmmaker (Kubrick he's not)! The casting is terrible (absolutely no chemistry between Kidman and Penn) and the screenplay is completely inane and impossible to follow. This is definitely one for the Mystery 3000 boys! Everyone collected their checks on this one - zero craft - zero film! | 12 stars
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Really good 3D effects
Under the sea 3D is a really good movie with great 3D depth and some really good pop out effects. The movie is not too long about 45 min so the whole family was interested the whole time. My 6 year old son was trying to grab things coming out from the screen definitly entertaining. Buy this movie you will not regret it. | 45 stars
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Keepsake Edition of Dirty Dancing
A beautiful edition of the film and a "MUST HAVE" keepsake for every Patrick Swayze fan to add to their film collection.This edition has all the extra little finishing touches and is now among my 'most treasured' DVDs. | 45 stars
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Racy and exciting melodrama - but Lana's miscast
The filmed version of the famously shocking and successful bestseller is a little tamer than its literary parent, but still very racy and excting viewing. Even today the frankness of some of the stories is astounding - and all the moreso because this film was made in the '50s.Firstly, the photography is sublime. The Maine locations are beautiful and the natural perfection of the town is an excellent and jolting counterpoint for the seedy storylines in which the town's participants are involved. All of the film's exteriors (except, very joltingly, for Lana Turner's scenes) was shot on location. The fact that Turner's scenes were obviously shot on a soundstage when the rest of the film was not is one of the few aspects that does date this film.Single mom Lana Turner (in goregeous costumes and looking glamorously radiant throughout - in fact, far too glamorous for the part) is having problems with her clever but sexually curious teenage daughter Diane Varsi, who is involved with the hunky but smothered mommy's boy Russ Tamblyn. The daughter's best friend, lovely Hope Lange, daughter of Lana's cleaner, comes from the wrong side of the tracks and has her own problems, not least of which is her lecherous stepfather (Arthur Kennedy). Like most of the characters, Turner has a secret from her past, which initially inhibits her relationship with an unvconventional school principal."Peyton Place" is a long but riveting soap operatic film, still compulsively watcheable today. The only flaw is the lovely Lana, who, despite her own sordid private life which assured the film its great success, is simply too glamorous and thus miscast as a small-town single mother. Her inclination toward artifice was used to great effect in "Imitation of Life" a few years later, but in this particular part Lana is plainly ineffective with her Hollywood gloss and her "big" acting style.The younger actors are all excellent and there are many moments to commend this interesting and visually goregeous film. | 34 stars
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Average Action Film with Violence and Gores
"Punisher: War Zone" follows the story of Frank Castle aka "The Punisher." Unlike Batman, another comic-book hero, Punisher never hesitates to distribute punishment to bad guys in the street and his punishment always means killing. In the third adaptation (co-produced by Lions Gate Films known for its "Saw" franchise") The Punisher confronts the most formidable enemy called "Jigsaw" (no, not that guy in "Saw"), who swears revenge on our (anti-)hero for what happened in the nasty incident.Replacing Thomas Jane who played the titular character in the 2004 adaptation, Ray Stevenson becomes Frank Castle/The Punisher fighting the villains of the city. This time The Punisher, feeling responsible for what he had done in his action, has one more thing to accomplish, that is, to protect an FBI agent's widow Angela (Julie Benz) and her lovely daughter from vengeful Jigsaw (Dominic West) and his brother Loony Bin Jim (scenery chewing Doug Hutchison). The simple story with (intentionally I guess) corny dialogues is just OK, if nothing great.The most memorable aspect of the film is naturally its violence. You either love or hate Lexi Alexander's ("Green Street Hooligans") over-the-top direction during the film's action sequences. Some blame her for gratuitous violence, but maybe the whole point of "The Punisher" is the gratuitous violence itself. Still, I for one was not impressed with the film's actions very much, not because of the excessive amount of gores and body counts (what did you expect from the film called "The Punisher"?), but because of the lack of style during the action sequences. With the exception of the lurid red lighting, blown-off heads and mutilated bodies (I don't say I disagree with them), and occasional dark humor, the new "Punisher" adds little to the action genre.And any effort to humanize the hero (like Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's "Batman" films) only slows down the story. In fact the film gets unnecessarily sentimental at times when the camera shows the little girl and her mother. Though I enjoyed watching the film, I think this could be something different. | 23 stars
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Monster In The Closet
This is a hilarious low-tech movie that most people can enjoy. It is not overdone with loud unrealistic Special Effects that destroy the pleasure of current horror flicks. The movie is done in a straight-up CAMPY style, even the faint of heart will be won over. When I reflect on some of the scenes I still burst out with laughter! | 45 stars
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Enjoyable For Fans Who Let Alan Ball Take The Reins
(This review contains spoilers for several of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries as a vehicle for comparing the books to the show. You have been warned.)If you're a fan of Charlaine Harris, Alan Ball says in the commentaries you should stop watching his show and read the books. Admittedly, he does drop a few hints to book fans about what book plots and subplots he intends to explore, but no matter how much of a fan of her books he is, Alan Ball has not created a verbatim recreation of the Southern Vampire Mysteries.I'm actually rather glad.Like the BBC Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth, if I wanted a book-on-tape to be visual, I would have asked for it. I want enough loyalty to the original matter to justify linking them, but I don't want a line for line reading on my television screen. Alan Ball has taken the world that Charlaine Harris created and added several of his own aspects; he's changed a few characters, added a connection here and there, and given us a world that is intended to be visual. Televisions in the background of scenes playing news interviews with Nan Flanagan, spokeswoman of the American Vampire League (vampire-rights organization) as well as ads sponsored by the Fellowship of the Sun (anti-vampire religious group) add to the full experience of a world going through another adjustment and all the prejudices associated with realizing we are not alone.Fans of the books who want everything to be exactly the same won't find it here. However, fans who are willing to let the reins loose a little bit and see what Alan Ball (you might know the name - he created "Six Feet Under") has to offer will be pleasantly surprised. For example, Tara Thornton is not the vague entreprenurial best friend - she's a fierce, outspoken woman trying to deal with her own problems and is not just around to buffer Sookie's wardrobe malfunctions. Ball has decided not to tell the story entirely from Sookie's point of view, so we get several other characters flushed out in ways they are limited in the books simply by rote of the singular POV. Yes, this means that we get more visuals on Jason's conquests, which I could have done without, but this is HBO, so I don't dwell. In exchange for giving up all of Sookie's inner thoughts, we get a richer world and I don't think we were cheated at all.Anna Paquin makes a good Sookie - her discomfort with normal folks, her flash-temper, and her initial fascination with vampires that quickly fades are all spot-on. Stephen Moyer plays Bill, and does a fine antiqued Southern accent (how would any of us really know? I'm making assumptions here), considering I've seen pretty much all of his work over the years and he's very English. Dialogue coaches on this show must be top shelf, as Jason (played by Ryan Kwanten) hails from Down Under and you'd never guess.Seeing the folks I loved in the books appearing on screen is a treat, despite the sometimes unfortunate hairstyling of my personal favorite, the Viking Sheriff of Area 5, Eric Northman - played by Swede Alexander Skarsgrd (I've had a crush on his dad since "The Hunt for Red October", so this revelation was a little strange for me). Pam (played by Kristin Bauer) does wear one twinset, but hasn't yet mentioned Dear Abby. Sam (Sam Trammell) is pretty much picture-perfect, and Terry Bellefleur (Todd Lowe) gets it just right. While Ball insists that Bill & Sookie will not dissolve on screen as quickly as in the books, he does set up the competition between Bill & Eric right away, and pulls some lines verbatim, including Sookie backtalking Eric when she meets him for the first time, inspiring his interest in her as more than arm candy.The show is fast-paced, the first season running only 12 episodes, but the books are no slowpokes either, so this isn't really an issue. One of the major plot arcs is the serial killings that appear in the first book, "Dead Until Dark", but Ball fills in the gaps with several other stories, including a more in-depth look at what Drainers like the Rattrays are selling on the black market.Folks who've never read the books (but like a bit of vampires, social commentary, and some cable-sanctioned sexuality) will get enjoyment out of it, and as a big fan of the books, I find I'm enjoying wondering where Alan Ball will take us. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the pink-and-aqua lycra, we don't get the hair-braiding, and chances are slim we'll get Bubba, but I'm willing to keep watching and see what Ball turns out. | 45 stars
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terrible movie
this was a terrible movie. everything about it is miserable. | 01 star
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Movie Gave Me False Hope
I saw the name of the movie, and I watched it because I thought it would shed some light about life after death, but it didn't. The fact is nobody knows what happens when we die 'cause you can't come back to tell people about the experience once you die. Don't waste your time and money. Look for something else. One more thing, they should've changed the name of the movie because it's very misleading. | 01 star
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Disappointing and distasteful, NOTa family flick
This film had a great story line that was poorly executed. It included what appears to be a real horse being trampled to death, a rape scene and other basic violence. I am sure this would receive an "R" rating from MPAA.At the beginning of the film, the Chinese girls (who actually are the best part of the entire movie) are inspected for their virginity. This of course has some nudity and other quick uncomfortable shots. The only thing that would have made it more gratuitous would have been a copycat scene from Basic Instinct. Ok I can get past that but clearly I would not let younger family members see this. The one scene I could not believe actually made the final cut is the running of the horses. As masses of horses are running toward the camera on the right you can see a horse turn upside down and get obviously trampled, I am assuming to its death. I was incredulous that a scene like that would be left for viewers. Any director would have to know that would color someone's opinion from then on. Obviously SPCA didn't certify that no animals were hurt during the making of this movie. I am sure the scene where horses fall and are killed showed even less mercy for the animals. I just cringe thinking of how many were injured during the production of this saga.Other scenes were disjointed. How Ritter knew that that the two men were carring diseases when they tried to cross the trail is beyond me. It would have made a great dropping on the editing floor. The rape scene is another great selection for droppings.If you are considering buying this, do not expect it to be a family western and do not expect to feel good afterward. This film lacked class and was NOT tastefully done. I got the feeling that only men influenced the production of this and I regret spending the money on a film that made money off of the poor treatment of horses. Instead of being an artfully done feel good western, this saga left me with a sick feeling in the middle of my stomach. At the end of the story, I really didn't care that a scroll of what happend to the characters rolled by. If it was based on a true story, I don't think the real people portrayed would be proud of this version of the true events.Just beware if you choose this "Western" that you are not getting a classic or even one you will want to watch again. | 01 star
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Great !!!
Never heard this story until now. My God!!! It's unbelievable, no, it is unimaginable, but in today's world and today's America it is believable. Extremely unfortunate, extremely wrong. | 45 stars
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Doesn't work or broken
Received in a timely manner however when received and attempted to view the dvd did not work. I had ordered this as I have been collecting all the seasons and wore out the first and needed a replacement, i was very disappointed that it would not play and could not figure out why but would not read on any dvd player.....very sad. | 01 star
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3.5 out of 5
In 1995, with a much larger budget and a top-notch cast and crew, writer/director Robert Rodriguez set out to remake his low-budget film festival hit, EL MARIACHI. The end result, titled DESPERADO, is a very violent and entertaining actioner that combines Sergio Leone's gritty westerns with Quentin Tarantino's no-holds-barred violent actioners. Antonio Banderas stars as a gunslinging "mariachi" who enlists the aid of a small-town bookstore owner (Salma Hayek, in her breakthrough role) in his attempt to take down a local drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida). There is plenty of violence and enough sex to any true Tarantino/Rogriguez/action fan won't be disappointed; there's also a very good soundtrack by Los Lobos. The action is very well directed, if not extremely bloody (this helped to get that "R" rating), and flows through the entire film. There's also occasional comedy moments, primarily at the end. Banderas is great as El Mariachi; Salma Hayek gets her first nude scene (this also helped with the "R" rating). Action and western fans will love Rodriguez's own brand of "West Side Story", followed by ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO. | 34 stars
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wtf
ok vol 3 cost 9.99 why the heck is vol 4 127.00 why | 23 stars
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Forget this turkey!
I have always thought it unfortunate that great films like "Jaws" are often followed by sequels that are so unworthy of their original predecessor. "Jaws 3-D" is no exception. This is just a typical example of a film studio trying to make a couple extra dollars by producing a crappy sequel that they know is going to make cash because so many people liked the original. Something that is so painful about this sequel is that it completely defies logic. And how? Well, for starters the film takes place in Sea World where a Great White and its baby manage to get into the park. Forget that Sea World is about 90 miles from the ocean. If you think that's silly, the shark here also roars and can swim backward. In life a White Shark is capable of neither. Ugghh! But throwing away logic is not the only error. One of the biggest problems I perceived here was the glaring lack of good direction from Joe Alves. He simply couldn't muster up the suspense and fear that Steven Spielberg created in the original, which makes one wonder why they even hired him to begin with. Some of the scenes could have been quite suspenseful but thanks to Alves they just plod along in boring style. The special effects (if they can be called special) are among the worst I've ever seen on film. The shark in many scenes is a cheap small-scale model, which is imposed onto a background. Not only that but the beast is about as stiff as two-by-four when it swims around. As for the acting, my thoughts are mixed. Louis Gossett Jr. did fine. He obviously had a limited role but makes up for it by putting some energy into his character. Everyone else is sort of ho-hum or just plain bad. And were talking about actors like Dennis Quaid and Lea Thompson here. Overall, "Jaws 3-D" is a terrible film. Stick with the original classic and the first sequel only. I just can't believe that, after viewing this disaster, "Jaws the Revenge" (which I haven't seen) is even worse. | 01 star
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Caught In The Undertow--Just Relax And Go With The Flow
I was impressed with David Gordon Green's minimalist, haunting "George Washington." I was surprised and delighted with his "All The Pretty Girls." So I was interested to see what his third picture, "Undertow," would bring to his oeuvre. But I have to admit, I was nervous as well. Here, he was working with a larger budget and more mainstream actors like Jamie Bell, Dermot Mulroney and Josh Lucas. What I got was a nice surprise--a nasty little family gothic thriller.It's a bleak and uneventful existance on the Munn farm. John, a widower played by Mulroney, is raising his two boys in a very secluded lifestyle. Oldest son Chris, a prematurely weathered Jamie Bell, handles most of the responsibilities and chores but longs for a different life. He rebels at every opportunity which gets him into trouble with the law as often as not. Younger brother Tim is a sickly and emotionally stunted child. There is talk of a family treasure, told in dreamlike fashion, but no signs of material wealth of any kind.One day, shady Uncle Deel arrives. Oozing dangerous charm, this ex-con wants to reconnect with his brother, get to know his nephews and get a fresh start. Chris is initially drawn to the stranger, but mistrusts him on many levels too. And as we find out--for good reason. Secrets come out and violence erupts. The boys go on the run, taking hope and charity where they can get it while evading danger. There is a certain menacing "Night of the Hunter" quality to their travels through the country landscape.I really enjoyed the film. It's unorthodox and has a lazy, southern gothic appeal. I didn't know exactly where the story was going and so was caught up in the journey. There were interesting family dynamics as well as a decent thriller. Mulroney is perhaps one of our most underrated actors and he's great here. He's a tremendous character actor "cursed" with leading man looks and I always prefer him in these interesting choices as opposed to seeing him in more traditional fare with someone like Debra Messing. Josh Lucas, as Deel, is really creepy. He was born to play villainous roles. His charm and smarminess work to perfection. And Bell continues to impress. So, if you want to try something off the beaten path, take a look at "Undertow." KGHarris, 10/06. | 34 stars
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"Why his Head so Big...WHY HIS HEEEEAD SOOO BIIIG"
Season two is equally as wonderful as season one. Basically everything else pales into insignificance against this superb show. Why oh why they haven't put it on terrestrial here in the UK is just plain wrong. Put pressure on Channel 4 if, like me, you agree that this deserves a much much wider UK audience. The animation here is awe inspiring, the sound and music quality utterly fantastic and voice casting is without question the best you'll find. | 45 stars
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NICE MOVIE
if you loved pet sematary you will love pet sematary two they both are worth buying | 34 stars
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A great movie
The movie is well done and offers an opportunity to discuss an important issue the US is wrestling with. we must learn to interact with those of different faiths and not let the behavior of a few shape our perspective on | 45 stars
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loved the movie
This movie was so good I never really cared about how long it was | 45 stars
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Depressing
I thought the movie was well done but the story is very depressing. Not too much more to be said here; I don't really want to provide spoilers but had not realized the story was so depressing prior to watching (I find movies better if I see them without knowing the full story in advance). I gave the movie four stars for solid quality but the fun factor would be 2 or 1. | 34 stars
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Downton Abbey Season 1
Downton Abbey is a wonderful series, great interaction of the landed gentry vs. the service staff. Good historical perspective on life in England during the first war | 45 stars
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Hot in Cleveland
The dvd came in the mail super fast! I really love ordering from Amazon and will order from them again! | 45 stars
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best yet
THIS WAS AN AWESOME MOVIE. NOT A DULL MOMENT, TEARS AND LAUGHS ALL FLOWED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MOVIE. THE END LEFT YOU WITH TH RESOLVE TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE AS A MAN. | 45 stars
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Pandora's...Umm...Dawn's Box
4 Stars = Classic"There is something wrong with Dawn"A black comedy with bite, cult classic! This film is every man's deep seated nightmare when having sex with a woman, the ultimate female revenge!Funny & scary, this is a original film to say the least, from an idea as old as chastity it's self. No film maker has had the testosterone testicle fortitude to confront this malicious munching monster, until this film! But here it is, in all it's toothy terror!The moral of the story; don't go sticking your business in where it may not bring a return, literally!Don't be surprised guys, if you find your legs crossed while watching this film. It's safer that way! And if your wife, girlfriend, or a strange woman is smiling at you while watching this film, go immediately to the shower & turn the cold water on, then leave the state!Nuff said! | 34 stars
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Wander. Lust?
If you've seen the previews you know the gist of the movie: Jennifer Anniston and Paul Rudd are a married couple who end up in a commune named Elysium, that may or may not be a nudist colony. In and of itself that was enough to reel me in. Ultimately, however, I was a little disappointed.As often happens in life, a couple - George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) - makes a mutual sacrifice by following the dreams of one and risking the lives of both. George and Linda get in over their heads when her documentary pitch gets rejected and he gets fired, leaving them with no money to afford the recently purchased expensive, downtown NYC studio apartment. Left with no choices, they pack up and move to Atlanta where George's brother Rick (Ken Marino) has a menial backup job. On the way they search for a place to stay they end up at the aforementioned Elysium (I was hoping they'd find the motel fromVacancy). At Elysium they encounter an assortment of offbeat, outcast, and oddball who live their free-spirited way. The experience at Elysium, and the soul-crushing life possibilities at Rick's house, is enough for George and Linda to question their current situation, their preoccupation with technology and industry, and contemplate a life-altering decision. Sadly, Wayne (Joe Lo Trugilo) is quickly revealed as the only nudist of the group is, immediately tempering the excitement and anticipation of a possible Anniston or Malin Akerman uncovering.Speaking of Akerman, one of the strongest aspects of this movie is the combined cast. Every bit player is someone who could carry a portion of a film in their own right. Most are funny. Alan Alda, Justin Theroux, Kathryn Hahn, Kerri Kenney, Lauren Ambrose, Michaela Watkins, and Todd Barry all bring something to the table. Alan Alda, while up there in age, can still deliver in any role.Being a fan of raunchy comedy, I really thought I'd like the film more. The script is predictable as can be, but it's easily dismissed for people who can shut off their brain for two hours. I'm also a fan of Paul Rudd; his sarcastic delivery is hilarious. Unfortunately this film didn't deliver nearly enough laughs, and disappointed me just like Couples Retreat. One scene has Paul Rudd in front of a mirror, preparing for a tryst with Malin Akerman, and he's obviously adlibbing for an extended period of time. It's painfully unfunny to watch.Verdict? Not crude enough to win me over in aSuperbadsort of way, and not heart-warming enough to convince me in aLittle Miss Sunshinekind of way, but good enough at each that I sort of enjoyed it. | 23 stars
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Predictable but Addicting
The more you watch 24, the more you'll realize how often the same plotlines are used over and over again. The secret to its success lies in its ability to combine those very predictable aspects in new and creative ways. 24 of course has an untouchable hero in Jack Bauer, but adds the unique twist of being willing to kill or slander pretty much any other character in the show. No one is above being blown to bits at a moment's notice or being revealed as a turncoat of the worst sort.Every season of 24 has a couple of less engaging portions. In Season 5, I would say that it wanders a little in the beginning, and then about 15-16 hours in.Once you get into the heart of the story line, it really IS quite addicting. I'm not spoiling anything by saying that Season 6 is definitely left wide open.This is definitely a show to watch on DVD. I would find it very annoying to watch it week by week on television. | 45 stars
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Doctor Who in the old west
The setup sounds quite bland, but they explore the ethics of war and experimentation quite well in this episode. It never quite reaches that true western feel, but it is a solid episode nonetheless. | 45 stars
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Rocketshp X-M, a minor sci-fi classic.
Length:: 3:02 MinsRocketship X-M, a minor sci-fi classic. | 45 stars
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Super cheap
Love it when i find a great deal! Shipped quickly and was as advertised! Who couldnt be happy with bones!!! | 45 stars
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Damp Squid, Whale of a Bad Time
Almost everything about this movie is bad. On the writing side, there is no plot, no theme, no characterisation. It's like a first, very rough draft, that everyone involved convinced themselves was so brilliant it didn't need re-working. It's impossible to tell, for example, if the father is meant to be brilliant but fading, or just a rather stupid impostor. He constantly makes references to literary works he believes are valid, and he teaches creative writing, but none of his comments have any intrinsic value: it's just what he personally likes or dislikes. So we're left wondering if we're supposed to see him as a pathetic literary snob or the guy who's right. Quite possibly, this confusion is caused by the writer of this film being in a similar position.Much of this film is like the 'Wonder Boys' without the charm, humour, humanity, surprise and interesting dialogue. It's a classic example of how up its own arse so much artsy film-making is. Plot faults abound, e.g. others have already pointed out the absurdity of an entire audience not having heard the Pink Floyd song plagiarised by the son.As for the morality of making such a young actor do and say stuff he shouldn't have to . . . . In this country (UK), we have double-standards about this sort of thing, and it looks like the US may do too. For instance, here the press slaughtered, and continues to do so, Gary Glitter, a pop star who was found to have thousands of pictures of child porn on his computer. Rightly, his career ended overnight, and the press has continued to pursue him. Contrast that with Benjamin Britten, a classical composer. BB liked young, under-age, boys; he wooed them, took them on holidays with him and in one case at least, sexually abused a victim to the point of ruining his life. But his music is still played, his reputation intact. In fact, he's recently had a book written about him in which the writer 'explains' that his child-abusing was not really that at all, because in BB's day it was seen more as a companion/mentor kind of thing.This film is a good example of how double standards apply, both morally and artistically, under the banner of 'art'. But the fact is, it's a boring, witless, unrealistic, morally suspect, piece of work whose only saving grace is that it's short. | 01 star
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Charles Laughton rules!
If you enjoyed Charles Laughton in Mutiny on the Bounty, you will probably enjoy this movie. It's not as good as `Mutiny', but it's enjoyable. And Charles Laughton is great.It's been awhile since I've seen it, but if my memory is accurate, in this movie, Charles Laughton is the captain of a pirate ship named the `Stinky Princess'. His crew is a band of ruthless hooligans that he rescued from execution off the shores of Madagascar. His mission is to capture and pillage a ship carrying King George himself. In addition to the royal crown and jewels, the treasures on board include, but are not limited to; The Mona Lisa, Frankincense, 10,000 quid, 5000 pesos, and 12,000 dollars in unmarked 20 dollar notes. But there are many obstacles standing in his way... | 34 stars
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Justified
Love this show! Raylan Givens is an awesome character. Since the show is between seasons, I bought dvd's of season 1 & 2 to tide me over.Can't wait for it to return. | 45 stars
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a robust adventure movie, filled to the brim with visuals ranging from awe-inspiring to bizarre, wall-to-wall excitement, and a constant air of intrigue and wonderment. Even in the hands of the Walt Disney Studios, there was plenty of room for the production to falter. Jules Verne's classic novel features deep characterizations and drips with mystery, and the pressure to soften the story in order to appeal to younger audiences was surely intense. Thankfully, Walt Disney and director Richard Fleischer did not give in to temptation. Like the greatest films of the science-fiction genre, including George Lucas's "Star Wars" trilogy, it tells a lively and exciting tale of mystical technology and worlds unknown where richly drawn and colorfully visualized characters happen upon the likes of a steel leviathan that plunges to unimaginable fathoms, man-eating sharks, a tribe of blood-thirsty cannibals, and a monstrous giant-squidThree very different characters find themselves at the center of the action. Paul Lukas is Professor Pierre Aronnax, a famous French marine biologist, who along with his apprentice, Conseil (Peter Lorre), depart for Saigon on a United States warship from San Francisco in hopes of coming across a rumored sea monster that has struck fear in the hearts of every sailor on the Pacific Ocean. Also on the ship is cocky harpooner Ned Land, played with great zeal by Kirk Douglas, who is convinced that no such creature exists.After the ship is sunk by the monster, a giant beast with glowing yellow eyes, the three men are left adrift on the open sea. Soon, they discover that the monster is in fact the Nautilus, a mighty steel submersible that is commandeered by the brilliant but deeply disturbed Captain Nemo, who is brought to stunning visual life by the great James Mason. After much deliberation by Professor Aronnax, Nemo takes them aboard the ship and a marvelous voyage ensues.The sight of the Nautilus sets the tone of the entire production. Its exterior is a formidable steel vessel that looks like a cross between an alligator and a shark. Its interior, however, is the perfect manifestation of Nemo's imagination and in an ironic sense, the fantastical minds of both Jules Verne and Walt Disney. Despite the severity of its construction, its many rooms and corridors are lined with fine Victorian furnishings including an enormous pipe organ and a collection of red carpets and tapestries. These surfaces are topped with an assortment of obscure objects and devices that suggest the work of a genius is at hand. One room features a giant porthole that acts as a glass eye into the strange world of the ocean depths while another holds the atomic furnace that propels the craft on its many missions.Most of the drama takes place inside the Nautilus. Nemo, who has vowed vengeance on the terrestrial world, is a complex figure who is neither hero nor villain. Over the course of the story, Nemo's inner being is slowly revealed, more often to Professor Aronnax, who despite his sensible mind, begins to slowly find empathy and understanding for the Captain's antics. This causes distrust of Conseil who finds friendship with Ned Land, who constantly is looking for a way out of Nemo's stronghold."20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is a masterpiece of art design and special effects. While the Nautilus provides the visual anchor for the entire story, the image most people take from the film is the epic battle with the giant squid. With its writhing tentacles and its menacing beak, it is still a fearsome sight for the average moviegoer. Also notable is the matte paintings by Peter Ellenshaw, who brought San Francisco's harbor and the island of Vulcania to vivid life.Watching "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" again after many years, it became clear to me why it has endured for so long. Despite living in a time when computers are used for even the slightest effect, I still found myself lost in the production. The special effects have taken on an almost unattainable mystical quality in the same way that King Kong, the land of Oz, and Kane's Xanadu have done. The endless marine landscape and the beautiful yet claustrophobic interiors of the Nautilus inhabit a world that is all its own without rules and limitations and the adventure within is one of the greatest of all time. | 45 stars
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Some shivers, but mostly stock shock
One of the many slasher films that attempted to ride on the coattails of "Halloween", "He Knows You're Alone" attempts to scare us with this tale of a terrified bride. The special effects are a bit hokey, especially since they're now so dated, and the film makes use of the worst groaner tricks - dark houses (excuse me; the first thing most frightened people do is turn on the lights in the room!), missing knives on the wall, the works. A decent popcorn movie, but if you really want to get frightened, re-view "Halloween" or "When a Stranger Calls" instead. | 23 stars
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radio city christmas spectacular starring the rockettes
The quality of the dvd was extremely high, the delivery of the dvd from vendor was superb, the price was right, and the entertainment value was priceless. | 45 stars
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Kurosawa at his best
Has Kurosawa ever made a bad film? I believe that he could have made a film simply about going grocery shopping and he would have made it a masterpiece. And, another thing, why is it that the colors in Kurosawa's films always appear more vivid than in other films by other directors?Anyway, this film is a collection of "short stories" supposedly based on dreams that Kurosawa had over the years. All the stories, like all dreams, are surrealistic and, of course, based on Japanese life and folk tales. However, for once, there are no samurais monopolizing the film, which is unusual for Kurosawa. Even if there was no translation of the dialogue the visual aspect of the film makes it worth watching, like a painting in motion. Kurosawa was one of the greats, no question about it. | 45 stars
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Great Drama
Season 1 has its own twists and turns as do the other seasons. I love the series and find this very well written and acted. A treasure for all who enjoy the intrigue of period drama. Great wardrobe, set designs, and locations to add to the splendor of it all. Well done! | 45 stars
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Terrible ending
Its an honest look at lennon from this time- I dont think a non Yoko approved Biopic would be any better- its not like John is protrayed as some kind of saint. About the only odd thing is the complete absence of material from the making of Imagine. never the less if your interested in what was happening to this person at that time this is a good referance. 1 star because Im not into the whole star system but you Have to choose a number of stars to write a review. | 01 star
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Lets Get Everything Straight!
Ok, the reason everybody has a problem with this movie is, that they believe it tramples on the memory of Brandon Lee because they feel someone else is playing his part. It doesnt, even if he had lived he wouldnt be in this movie. The characters are completely different people for a reason, showing that all kinds of people can come back for vengeance. The problem I had with it is that it was too much like the first, almost trying to copy it(i.e. The similarity of Brandon and Vince's look). I think Salvation did a better job by changing the victims dress, hair, etc.. No movie will ever top the first but, this one tried to, buy using the same formula, long hair, black leather clothes, and a little birdie. Overall it wasnt that bad. | 23 stars
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Memories
I loved it as a kid and this video brought back a lot of great Christmas memories. Now I can wach it every year at Christmas and remember the good ole days. | 45 stars
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GROW-UP! Pee-Wee is a comedian, not BARNEY
This isn't a 5-star movie but since everybody else is giving it 1 star I feel I need to balance out the overall rating. This movie is pretty funny. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure wasn't funny at all, it was just amusing. Okay the escaped prisoner guy was funny but that's about it. Besides, Tim Burton is WAY overrated. Just look what that fool did to BATMAN and PLANET OF THE APES. When I was growing up, BATMAN and PLANET OF THE APES were the coolest things ever. Tim Burton ruined them with his silly movies. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure was supposed to be silly so I guess it's okay, but it still wasn't funny. All the jokes were recycled from Pee-Wee's stand-up routine of the previous 5 years. Maybe they were new to little kids but I'd heard them all before I saw the movie. BigTop at least has new jokes. COME ON, don't tell me you didn't laugh at the HOT DOG TREE. Sure, if you're 8 (or have the mentality of an 8 year old) you won't get the more subtle humor of Big Top, preferring the over-the-top gags like Large Marge. Go watch that lousy Beetlejuice movie if that's your idea of humor. | 45 stars
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Amazing!!!
Shocking, enlightening, transformative and unforgettable, this film will burn itself deep into your psyche. One thing I found particularly interesting is that the film's subtext of pedophilia, a very loaded subject in the USA, is inconsequential and not the least bit upsetting - its the abhorrent and omnipresent violence of Columbia that makes this story so powerful. A real education!!! | 34 stars
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Interesting, unseen look at youth culture in China
"Super, Girls!" presents a portrait of female youth culture in contemporary Chinese society rarely seen by the West. The film follows several contestants for the Super Girls singing competition, an American Idol-style solely for girls. Director Jian Yi tracks young women from every walk of life and allows their stories to illustrate dreams, struggles, and growing social problems in fast-changing China. | 45 stars
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"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned / Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned."
I have read many reviews about this before renting this and one thing that puzzles me is how viewers conclude this is a Romeo/Juliet type love story. The only true and honest love in this story is shared between the sisters Ajla (a portrait painter who's favorite subject is her sister) and Lejla and for Lejla's baby boy. Danijel is a coward and torn with mixed feelings about this war. He knows what is right and is wrong and enjoys his new power and privilege he obtained only thru his connections from his father. We watch him show indifference to the suffering and abuse the female prisoners endure as Ajla is also subjected to it, witnesses it and helps nurse them. These women could be her sister, they are her sisters and they are her. He talks about how easy it is to kill and holds the barrel of an AK47 to Ajla's head and ponders if she could kill easily herself. Female prisoners, including Ajla are used as human shields in a shoot out in a forest and these women have to watch their men burn alive. Does his so called kindness and so called love making while telling her and his command that she is his property, his personal painter and keeping her in a locked room...true Love? I think it is more like an obsession of power and sexual possession. Danijel does give her advice on how to escape. The first attempt is a disaster, but on the second she runs into a man named Tarik that brings her to a bitter sweet reunion with her sister Lejla.Their group is alone and cut off. No one to save them but themselves. Thru a rather contrived plot, Ajla allows herself to be recaptured to fake a happy reunion with Danijel. It's a rough ride for both of them. If anyone doubts the ending, just look at Ajla's self portrait at the end of the film and compare it to her portrait of her sister that she did before the war. Does it look like a portrait of a women in love? To me it looks like how she feels inside--a corpse that has been beaten and tortured beyond endurance. A predictable ending, but most war films are. I wouldn't take it for a complete history lesson, but rather a little brush stroke on a huge canvas. It's a good film compared to others offered out there at this time. | 34 stars
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Our Reveiw
this great movie classic is but a taste of director:Tod Browning's beautiful craft. dolby digital makes it absolutly stunning. with a newly composed score by the Kronos Qurtet it is a must buy for all lovers of classic horror and sci-fi. | 45 stars
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Great acting; confusing movie
Meryl Streep does an excellent portrayal of an elderly lady fighting dementia and Jim Broadbent plays the role of her husband brilliantly. Had I expected a film about dementia I would've gotten what I expected however the balance of the film concentrates on that rather than the accomplishments and career of Margaret Thatcher.Reverse that balance and you have an excellent film to go along with the great acting. | 23 stars
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Back on track!
24 is an old friend that was not doing well but is much better. Maybe as good as they have ever been. All the elements are back into place, the twists & turns of the plot, implacable villains, a fast pace and a contemporary story lines. Season 7 pulled all these elements together giving us a classic story that ranks as one of the best.The nice thing about buying the DVD set is you do not have a week between shows and there are no commercial breaks. We watch four to six episodes each night making it even more fun. This is pure escapist entertainment and great fun! | 45 stars
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Worth getting through Season 1 for Season 2
Season 1 of Without Motive was decent. I appreciated the portrayal of the officers as regular human beings and felt that this may be closer to what a true-life situation might be in an investigation. However, the interactions between the main character and his wife and subsequently some of the other officers seemed off and out of left field. It was so distracting that I considered dropping the show. However, as the season progressed it became more engaging and I was ready to devour Season 2. | 23 stars
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Movies for Late Night
These movies fall into four major categories: getting smaller, getting larger, prehistoric creatures, and hidden societies.Getting smaller:"The Incredible Shrinking Man" - The title says it all. Its sets and props are completely believable."Dr. Cyclops" - Obsessively secretive about his work, the optically-challenged inventor relishes shrinking prying snoops.Getting larger:"Tarantula" - This gargantuan spider looks better than the big ants in "Them" or the huge locust in "Beginning of the End"."The Monolith Monsters" - Dark, glossy, shards of a meteorite grow and multiply, threatening to crush a desert town.Prehistoric creatures:"The Deadly Mantis" - A gigantic praying mantis, trapped in a glacier, thaws out. Luckily, there is only one; it eats humans."Monster on the Campus" - The water from a thawing extinct fish, if touched, causes regression to a primeval form."The Land Unknown" - Polar dinosaurs! The swimming dinosaur looks the fiercest. The lethargic T-rex looks the silliest.Hidden societies:"The Mole People" - An ancient society, deep in the Earth, survives under austere conditions."Cult of the Cobra" - A secret society worships a charming young woman who can morph into a deadly hooded snake."The Leech Woman" - A jungle tribe can rejuvenate a woman, but unfortunately, in order to do it, a man must die.Overall: These movies fall in the 3 to 5 rating range. The most fun to watch is "The Monolith Monsters" and the most polished film is "The Incredible Shrinking Man". | 34 stars
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Good, but.....................
I will not dwell on the content as other reviewers have done this admirably, There are 3 main criticisms1) Double sided "Plain" discs....... very cheap and for a show as good as this, why?2) No "Play All" feature, one of the reasons people buy TV show DVD's such as this is No Commercial breaks and being able to watch multiple episodes back to back in one sitting, so in this instance I have to > go to main menu, then click play on the next episode.EDIT; The above 2 issues have been addressed in Season 23) the Title intro seems really loud as opposed to the actual episode content itself, I found myself turning down the volume each time, then turning it back up again?Otherwise its fine as advertised | 34 stars
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Enjoyed the Movie
Russell Crowe isn't in his best setting here. Still I enjoyed watching the movie. I don't think that the sound was too good. Some of the conversations were hard to follow. | 23 stars
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a hypnotic movie
I have a hard time understanding how this movie could get a bad review. This movie was completely brilliant! I loved all of the symbolism and clues that were scattered throughout the movie. I love how the end of the movie effects everything you have seen so far. This is a movie that requires some thinking, as all of the plot is not presented to you in an orderly fashion. If you don't like movies that are considered "artsy" you will not like this movie. I thorougly enjoyed this movie. | 45 stars
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Ringers, prepare to cringe a little
As a long-time leader of a Tolkien fan group, Mootstock, I of course had to see a film that focused on us, the 'Ringers'. I had been hoping some film maker would eventually do a documentary focusing on Tolkien fans, as I have often thought the fans to be particularly intriguing and diverse. Granted, the film tries to do this, but it is only partly successful. Somewhat tactless and lacking in professionalism, it left me feeling a little insulted both as a viewer and as a Tolkien fan.What it does provide is a narrow view of a certain kind of fan, focusing a little more on the weird ones. What it doesn't do is enough interviews with normal people of all ages and classes who happen to love these books for a variety of very interesting reasons. It doesn't explore how the books may have profoundly affected their lives. It doesn't ask what ELSE these LOTR fans may all have in common, which could have led to some interesting discoveries. Many topics that could have added value to this film were left out. It was more light and silly in its approach. Most of the fans they interviewed seemed to be attending a particular costume event. The Line Party interviews they did were just weird. I was the Line Party Leader at all three movie releases in Salem, Oregon, many of us in costume, some were out there for 8 hours, but none were camping out there for 8 days. If they had been there for 8 days, I would have probably given them a wide berth. ;-) We had people of various ages and various degrees of education and vocations in our line. If they had interviewed the people who were standing in OUR Line Party, they would have gotten an ear full of thoughful and varied responses from many points of view.If they had wanted to see who ringers really are, the should have come to one of our Mootstock retreats, where Tolkien fans from all over the country gather to spend days with other Mooters doing, discussing, reading, exploring, playing and eating all things Middle Earth related. There they would have discovered a rich variety of Tolkein fans (fans of the books, may or may not be fans of the movies) with so much more to say than what was covered in this... Hroooom...Ringers film.But to its credit the film does include some interesting moments, and the interviews with LOTR movie actors are very good, probably the best parts of the film, even though this was supposed to be a film about the fans, not the actors. Some of the history they included was interesting, though some of the ways they presented the content was just plain distasteful. For example, in an interview with one family, a little boy says something about his "wiener", an unnecessary part to have included in the final cut of the film. There were so many eye-rolling segments, that I actually found myself fast-forwarding over parts of it. But it did contain some worthy material. So though I would give it one thumb down for lack of professional quality, I give it one thumb up for the celebrity interviews and historic content. Bottom line: it does not reflect thoroughly or deeply on the diverse and varied groups of Tolkien fans we know as Ringers, but if you are a fan, you may still enjoy watching it.HobbitLovr | 23 stars
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Not "Blazing Saddles" but still very funny
The talking is fast. And plenty of camp. It is not "Blazing Saddles" (which is funny in a whole other direction) - there is hardly much swearing (except for just about all the characters saying "Molly-B-Damn" because they are too stupid to say "Molybdenum"). And much of the movie (I think) exists just to set up the 40 second monologue that John Astin gives toward the end. May be too slow or intellectual (???) by today's standards but I think this movie is a hoot! | 45 stars
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The Act of Valor is a Winner
As a former military member, the script and detailed scenarios make the story come alive. I hope that all readers appreciate what the Seal teams have performed over the years. | 45 stars
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looking for a film
I know everybody is going to give this reveiw a "not helpful" because it isn't, and I don't care. I am leaving this reveiw under Nosferatu Because I figure fans of this film can help me. I am looking for a silent film that I caught the end of on late night TV. it is a japanese silent film, and In the end it was an army of samurai storming a castle. I can't remember to much else but I must know the name of this film! Please will some silent film buff write a comment on this reveiw and help me!By the way I do enjoy the film Nosferatu and give it 5 stars, very moody and atmospheric. (the same reason I loved the japanese film) | 45 stars
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4+
First let me say : Bill Murray rules in this movie, and it really is a good, warm and quiet 99 minutes "piece" - I just watched it. It's definetively in the league of "As good as it gets" (Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt) though not quite as good perhaps. These kind of movies are all about acting, and not about effects at all."Lost in translation" is a simple story, but different. It's a love-story without the usual Hollywood-score and drama there to spice it up. But at the end of the movie you still are able to feel with the young married girl and the aged actor as they struggle to find the right words to say good-bye. It's the "dark" Notting Hill, though these movies shouldn't be compared to eachother.I personally find "Lost in translation" as a very funny movie as well, just the expression on Bill Murrays' face makes me laugh when there is something happening in the movie his character finds hopeless or weird. The man has a funny face! It's not a comedy, but I feel good after watching it. There is a strange humour in it, and I actually also find Tokyo-english a lot of fun.As mentioned, these kinds of movies are all about acting. And the two main actors here has done a great job I think. Bill Murray as always is brilliant, put Bruce Willis in his role instead and the movie would be a disaster. But it's not.Though it's a simple story being told here I admire Coppola for her script and talent behind the whole thing, this movie belongs in my DVD-collection - and I absolutely do not regret I bought it.So if you like down-to-earth-movies between the great epics standing in lines these days, and if you're a fan of Bill Murray don't hesitate to watch this one. I know the reviewers here either love or hate "Lost in translation", but it deserves a chanse at least. | 34 stars
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Single White Female 2
Single White Female 2 was filled with much of the same intrique and drama as SWF #1, minus the sexy suspense and originality.Therein lies the problem, originality. Like most people I do look for a little more action in a sequel, but I also want to be surprised with a new twist from the original version, SWF 2 did not provide this. The characters were dull and uninteresting and offered nothing new to the role.The plot was basically the same as the original only not as good.However, I would still give it one thumb up if you want to watch it on free tv, but I would not spend any money for this movie. | 12 stars
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Waste of talent and potential material.
There's nothing really more irritating than sitting down to a movie that you think is going to be good and ends up falling flat on its face. "Forces of Nature," while trying to be funny and cheerful, succeeds only in achieving this goal, and, I must say, very admirably. Promoted as a bright and sassy comedy about a guy trying desperately to get to his wedding, it ends up being more, so much more, in fact, that it bogs the film down in a blithering mess of subplot and washed up one-liners which carry on for too long.The husband in question is Ben Holmes, who hates bachelor parties and can't wait to get hitched with his soulmate sweetheart. Of course, they both live in New York, and since the story needs a great deal of distance to separate our two love birds for a long period of time, the wedding is going to take place in Savannah, where her parents are planning a very festive celebration. Ben's parents want to marry him off for some reason not discussed in the plot. She flies down before him (why not together?), and he soon boards his own plane which has an accident on the runway, leaving him and his seating partner Sarah stranded. Sarah is a bit wild and evasive, without a care in the world it seems, though her admissions will later prove otherwise. Thus begins the wild race down to Savannah, involving natural and human disasters which stand in his way, not to mention his undeniable attraction to the illustrious Sarah.The story seems like it has a lot going for it. So why does it fail in so many places during the movie? Well, there's a lot of things wrong with it: the contrivance of the plot, the bad execution of most of the key scenes, the let-down ending, and most of all, the character of Ben.Throughout the entire movie, our two little nomads run into one problem after another, from things like stalled planes to switched train cars, from stormy weather to geriatrics on a travel bus who believe the lie about Ben being a doctor, Ben and Sarah run into just about anything you can possibly think of. While this may sound amusing, it gets to the point where you keep wishing he'd do one of two things: call his parents and get their credit card number to purchase a ticket to Savannah, or screw Sarah like he knows he wants to, call his fiancee and break the wedding off, and run away into the sunset and never be seen again.The way some of the scenes in this film were carried out, as well as their content, are too contrived and unbelievable to make the movie work. one of these scenes that especially stands out is the trip they take to K-Mart to get out of a rainstorm. Here, they are seen romping through the store, using walkie-talkies to communicate while shopping, sitting in beach lounge chairs having drinks and talking like they own the chain of stores. I'm not sure how they usually operate things at K-Mart, but in my town, they'd be kicked out by management. The ending is the biggest contrivance, and since I cannot give it away, let's just say that there's no way you can have a wedding like that.The characters of the film turn out to be a major disappointment, especially when they are given the opportunity to shine. Ben, portrayed by Ben Affleck, is portrayed as nothing more than a mushy, whining idiot who you wish would trip and break his face at least ten times throughout the movie. While his inner struggle is supposed to provide a dramatic factor for the movie, it does nothing more than make him and the story more annoying and unbearable. Sandra Bullock, while charming and radiant, proves that her character is a big fat waste of talent. Her free-spiritedness and wit grow even more tired than Affleck's whining, though she does have her monents of hilarity. The saddest waste of actress is Maura Tierney, who plays Ben's fiancee. During her stay in Savannah, awaiting the arrival of Ben, all she can do is pout about his inability to reach her sooner, get drunk with friends, be seduced without success by an old high school male friend, and listen to her parents gripe and complain about her fiancee's tardiness.One an even worse note, I must comment on the decision to try and have a parental storyline going on in the midst of everything else (as if there weren't enough to keep up with already). Tierney's parents turn out to be separated, while Affleck's are happily married. They keep popping up just when you think they've been obliterated by the scriptwriter who was deciding to give us a blessing.My summation: too much plot going on, hardly a shred of believability, even if you suspend disbelief, and less-than-amusing characters, all combined into one large mess that makes "Forces of Nature" a very confused and sloppy attempt at a romantic comedy. To thou who wouldst see this movie, I charge thee beware endless subplots and annoyances that make your own life's discord seem like posies in a breezy field. | 12 stars
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A valuable critique on media and polictics
And one that whould make any thoughtful person worry. The 2004 presidential race came down to a wire that stretched across Ohio. The film makers taped the race from the perspective of both sides. The stratagists on both sides are surprisingly open about their tactics and, more importantly, about their opinions. Whatever the actual merits of either party's platform; Polls showed that the voters in Ohio agreed more with the Democratic positions, but in the end more voted Republican, largely because the Republican's kept their message simple: "You might not agree with George Bush but at least you'll know where he stands."Kerry's message meanwhile (although more Ohio voters actually agreed with it) was scattered and lacked a theme. Kerry was his own worst enemy. He had a proclivity for tripping over his tongue, soundbites of which the Republicans were able to use in their "Flip Flop" attacks. And when he should've spoken up during the swift boat attack ads, he remained quiet. He also allowed himself to be taped doing something other than riding a horse or chopping wood, which seems to be a big mistake in American politics. That his handlers allowed him to go wind surfing should've cost them any future political employment. I half expected to see him curling in the next shot.One Republican stratagist admits he was relieved when Howard Dean's campaign crashed and burned, because he knew it would be easier to subterfuge Kerry. The Republican stratagists were quite shrewd, while the Democratic stratagists may not have qualified to run a highschool campaign.One simple unfortunate truth that emerges is that attack ads work. The electorate claims that they're sick of mud slinging and that they don't respond to it, but in fact they do. And campaign stratagists are (or should be) well aware of this.Another truth that emerges is the utter superficiality of a campaign process that's all about TV images and smear jobs. I'm surprised more people don't keep away from the voting booths.I was surprised that the supporters of either side really cared that much about their candidate or their party. Both sides had supporters who were intelligent and honest and dedicated, and who believed in what they were doing. And yet I had this feeling that what their party apparatus had to offer them for their herculean efforts wasn't enough. To the victor goes a flat glass of champaign. To the vanquished goes the same. And if they said "participating in the democratic process was enough of a reward for them" I'd remind them that a process that lacks any kind of honest dialog or exchange of ideas can hardly be called democratic. If it rests soley on mud slinging and 'image' it's a beauty contest, and it's a damed shame.This is a very troublesome documentary. If you believe that democracy is a good thing and that it hindges on a well informed electorate you'll be saddened to see this. But see it you must. | 34 stars
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Shakespeare at his worst
Of all the attempts at making Dream work on film, this has got to be the worst ... and with an all star cast to boot, whose performances could be and were outdone by an elementary school production in Upstate New York. To date, Peter Hall has been the only director to accomplish this play on film. | 01 star
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Japanese Mobsters versus Martial Arts Masters, but with a soul....
Wonderfully plotted -- with twists reminiscent of Chinatown -- and beautifully acted, this tale of trust and betrayal, love and obligation encapsulates the spirit of post-WWII Japan and the effects of immersion in a foreign culture on a man (Robert Mitchum). Believing he is doing a favor for an old friend who has run afoul of the Japanese mob (the Yakuza of the title), Robert Mitchum returns to Japan where he re-experiences his love for a Japanese woman, learns of a friend's lies and betrayals, and pays a heavy price for that discovery. Ultimately, this movie is not about violence and death -- although there is enough of it to make Quentin Tarantino proud, or envious -- it is, rather, about duty and obligation (in Japanese, 'giri'), and how one comes to assume a duty or an obligation. A gem. | 45 stars
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worst spineoff ever made for people who look up to terrible jersey shore role models like this idiot
this tv show stinks another lame jersey shore spinoff this guy is annoying and he thinks hes from italy when hes not this show features terrible role models like pauly d vinny etc etc etc the other spinoff hersey shore show features jwoww and snooki both those girls are seriously are terrible role models this spinoff features bad role models for both girls and boys and guys etc etc etc etc etc etc | 01 star
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Wow ....
Three quarters through this movie, I was thinking that I would title my Amazon review as 'Disturbing,' and leave it at that. Yes, it was a disturbing movie in some respects, but not in the way one would feel after watching a movie about Nazi Germany.As others have written here, it's best not to go into any details about this film. How to start, even if I did?Independent of any themes or storylines, this movie was well-acted by every (!!) character. Outstanding performances.This is the kind of film you watch and want to discuss/analyze in a study group of some sort.I don't really know what else to say. It's different from all the other movies I've seen by this Director and I have no regrets having watched it. But for now, I need to go sit outside with a glass of wine and ponder/reflect upon what I just saw. | 45 stars
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YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!! The Great one is finally on DVD and in his best film, 1940's The Bank Dick. I'll be camped outside the Borders waiting for this treasure. | 45 stars
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Not what I thought
As a kid I remember the adventures of Ber rabbit as narrated by Uncle Remus and I inadvertantly thought this was it. I'll keep looking as enjoyed them when I was young and would like my grandchildren to see them also. | 23 stars
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depressing
A well-meaning but painfully insecure young teacher slowly - painfully slowly - falls apart and eventually commits an unrealistic suicide by climbing from the driver's seat into the back seat of her car that experieces no road friction. Absurd, painful to watch and utterly pointless. Don't waste your time. | 01 star
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Great Seller...Really
Great seller, Shipped and arrived on time as described, doing business was a pleasure and I dont say this just because...I say it because you are a great person to buy from. | 45 stars
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Oh my, this was awful
One star probably is rather harsh, but a movie with any kind of budget certainly should have done better than this. The idea of an alien invasion is nothing new, and it has been done far better. In this incarnation, we are given a sad lot of characters who somehow survive the onslaught of invaders by partying all night and sleeping in as to avoid the bright lights that attract humans like bugs to the zapper (literally). They spend the rest of the movie trying to figure out how to get out of the apartment builing in which they are stranded. At the same time, our intrepid invaders, appearing as superintellingent reptilian creatures, can storm across the vastness of space but cannot figure out how to enter a building. Most of our time is spent with nonsensical conversation with caricatures rather than characters while watching what is happening in the city block that surrounds the apartment building. Therein lies a real issue. The world is being overtaken and we're stuck with a few people in an apartment. There is no real drama inside, and the ruckus outside never seems to rise to apocolyptic prportions. It just seems to be a nuisance.I do give credit to some of the special effects, though War of the Worlds should sue for copyright infringement. I can't halp but think this would have been a more exciting picture had there been more tension or urgency. As it stands, this is arguably the dullest apocalypse on record. | 01 star
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Twists and turns and beautiful imagery make this indie film one worth watching!
Set against the beauty of the Sonoran desert, the film depicts two men who hatch a plan that they think will both help immigrants and make them rich. The film touches on the complexity of immigration but balances it out with the timeless story of men seeking happiness and satisfaction.Twists and turns in the story were fun and left me guessing until the end. The cinematography was very beautiful and uniquely captured the stark desert landscape, giving the film a look that was much more polished than most indie films I've seen. The acting was very naturalistic, a nice counterbalance to the stereotypical portrayals in many mainstream films. This a great film--highly recommended for a movie night at home! | 45 stars
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Before the hammer came the sword! Really?
Thor: Tales of Asgard is all about Thor and Loki (his brother) as teenagers. Odin (their father) was grooming both boys to eventually compete to hold his throne. Loki is more into intellectual and magical pursuits while Thor is more into the fighting aspect of it all.One day, Thor is sparring with another warrior (a girl) and looses. Of course, being a boy and a teenager, he's pretty upset with this especially when she tells him that he isn't anywhere near as tough as he thinks he is because everyone is going easy on him because of who he is. Thor and Loki decide to go off and prove they can become real warriors by finding the Sword of Surtur. The Sword of Surtur is supposed to burn hot enough to kill frost giants. They follow Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun on their adventures and learn they aren't really what they're claiming to be and end up having to save Asgard themselves.I haven't seen the new Thor movie so I can't say how this fits in with it. But if you have kids who love Marvel comics or super hero type cartons, you need to see this one. It's a neat viewpoint to see Thor and Loki as teenagers instead of adults. Die hard Thor fans will probably be a bit put out seeing Thor with a sword instead of a hammer. I got quite the lecture from my husband who is a HUGE Marvel fan about there NOT being a sword before the hammer.Being a super hero cartoon, you have to expect some amount of violence so be careful if you plan on watching it with little children. The movie isn't rated at this point but I'd probably give it a PG. It's probably going to really appeal to the child/tween crowd more than older kids and adults who will probably more appreciate the feature film. It's a great way to let younger kids enjoy a Thor movie that's suitable for them while older kids/parents are enjoying the PG-13 feature film. | 45 stars
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The Truth About Charlie
Here's a quiz: Take the movie Charade. Remove the witty dialogue, charismatic stars and all of the humor, then add in plot twists that make absolutely no sense and annoying camera tricks and what do you get? Answer: The Truth About Charlie.I was hesitant to see this film because I thought a remake would be blasphemous. Then I head that Peter Stone, who wrote the original, had a hand in writing the remake so I decided to give it a shot. What a mess! I think Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant and Walter Matthau had turned over in their graves; if they were still alive, this movie would have killed them.Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton have no chemistry. I won't compare them to Hepburn and Grant simply because no one will ever replace either one of them. The plot twists make no sense and what was the deal with her being friendly with the people wanting the money?! Exactly how am I supposed to believe that she is in danger if they are all hanging out and going dancing together.There were characters added that weren't necessary and Jonathan Demme used the camera like a kid who'd just gotten his first one for Christmas. It was annoying. Am I the only one who got dizzy?While I hear that this does come with a copy of Charade that is far better than most of the lower priced copies ( including the one that I bought,) I don't want a copy of The Truth About Charlie anywhere in my home! | 01 star
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best show
Army Wives has to be one of the best TV shows ever made. I am sorry to see it was not renewed for the 7th season. Amazon was the best way to watch it. To be fair it was a little pricey at 1.99 per show | 45 stars
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Amazing
This movie has the best 3D effects of any movie ever made. People are amazed every time they see it for the first time. The younger kids always try to grab the fish. They would sell more 3D TV's if they showed this in the store instead of kids movies. | 45 stars
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What the heck!
No reviews yet for this unreleased title? Are you people slipping up or something? Normally some crackpot will review a DVD the second Amazon catches wind of it! | 45 stars
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Welles has lost it
Orson Welles was a master of film. But not this film. While I appreciate the message he is trying to convey, his "cleverness" is off the deep end. This film is like a big ego-trip for Welles. He's so proud of how clever he is. But the film is a mess, like paranoid, disjointed ramblings. In his younger days he would have executed this with a more subtle style. Clever is most clever when it is not obvious. In this film he beats you over the head with the "subtext" and thinks he's cleverly deceptive by trying to hide it in a jumbled-up the story line. I'm sorry I wasted my time to watch it. I would have turned it off, but given my high respect for Welles, I continued, expecting a revelation or twist. Alas, no, it was just a stupid movie. | 12 stars
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So-so
We were looking for a standard Statham action thriller for a Saturday night popcorn movie. Left us a bit dissatisfied. As expected, Statham provided an excellent imitation of a tree - wooden looks, monotonic voice and zero emotion. But, unlike other Statham fare, the action sequences in this one were pretty run-of-the-mill and ho-hum. Maybe he's set the bar high enough that what would have been cool 5 years ago is now boring. No "wow" scene. The plot was so transparent I can only assume the screenwriters worked for free. Donald Sutherland had a few lines and exited early. No one else could act. There was only one attractive woman in the whole movie - and she was on for 2 scenes.None of this would matter if the action had been jaw-dropping. But it wasn't. So 2 stars. Should have got something else. | 12 stars
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he's still got it
Wes Anderson's still crankin out the good stuff. By this point, you love him or hate him, let's face it. Those that like Wes at ALL will love this movie - it's one of his best, in my opinion. Well-scripted, acted, and shot, I thought it was a great addition to his growing body of quirky, heartfelt, humorous movies. | 45 stars
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Kind of Weak
An ancient haunting legend takes its toll on modern visitors to a rural wooded location. The actors spend too much time frozen in fear while a guy in overalls and a women with a big hole in her mouth reek havoc. The idea was OK but the execution is not so good. | 12 stars
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Better than I expected.
This film was suggested by my 21 year old daughter. She never tires of comedic paranormal films and I now like them as well. | 34 stars
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Mmmm... Film Noir!
Well some people never learn... In this film a reporter gets released from jail after being set up by corrupt government. He then runs into a rich wife looking for someone to help her and her step daughter stage a kidnapping to get money from her husband. This is a really good dark film. I love a good movie that you can never tell who's messing with who! Elizabeth Shue makes a great femme fatale. Beautiful setting! Because its in Palmetto, Florida, I love to watch this film on a sultry summer night. | 34 stars
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Pretty good flick
This movie was pretty damn good. The ending was a definite twist. I really liked Nick Stahl in this flick. Im a big fan of the dark cerebral films and crime stories...this was a nice mix of both. I'm not a professional reviewer, this is my first one. The only reason I'm really doing this is because I didn't see one posted. Also I am one not to pay too much attention to reviews, but this movie wasn't the least bit slow and kept ya on your feet. I always love a descent ending... | 34 stars
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Boooh
Bought this movie only because I like very much Paul McGillion (from "Stargate Atlatnis") and Shannen Doherty ("Beverly Hills 90210", "Charmed"). Both are cool actors but honestely, this movie is terrible and cheap filmed. The movie plays somewhen in the past but they have microphones/speakers? Anyway... its a fantasy movie and don't care about.But this movie is really cheapy filmed (its look like an amateur movie). The special Effects are for a small TV Channel good.5 Stars for hottie Paul McGillion3 Stars for Shannen DohertyZero Stars for the movie3 Stars for the DVD quality (Picture quality is good) and contains also English subtitles!FaZIT: only for fans of those actors. | 12 stars
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Enjoyed it!
I bought this movie and I enjoyed watching it. I have read many books on Elvis. I have listened to others, who lived with the Elvis, be interviewed. This movie seems to fall into line with what everyone else has stated in the past. This movie is about "David" and what he saw and how he felt while touring with Elvis. I found this to be great, because I felt I was a "fly on the wall" to what was happening behind the scenes. The hard core Elvis fans will not like the movie because it reflects the hardships and weaknesses of Elvis. We are all human and we all have them. I dislike movies that are "white washed" and just show one side of a person. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to see the truth about life on the road. | 34 stars
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excellent purchase
I would recommend this dvd to other people, and the purchase price was excellent. I had no problems viewing this dvd. | 45 stars
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A bit boring
The animation was odd. The movements of the characters was weird. It is public television type material, and you'll pick that up as soon as the first note plays on the shows intro. But, none of that really matters when it was being played for a kid. So, what did the kid think? That it was boring. Had to turn it off after only 2 minutes cause my kid kept trying to turn off the TV just to stop the apparent torture I was putting him through by watching this show! For us, this show stunk. For you, it might work... if what your looking for is a sleep aid. | 01 star
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A worthy addition to your collection.
KISS THE GIRLS will not disappoint anyone looking to spend90 mins transported into another space and time, mainly,in Raleigh, North Carolina where Morgan Freemaninvestigates the disappearance of a family member of his,a bright young girl with musical training, at the sametime a rash of rapes, disappearances of certain talentedwomen are occuring in the so-called Research Triangle,which was hip around the time the Y2K bug mania washappening, back in 2000.We see Ashley Judd, the protagonist, once again repriseher role seen in Double Jeopardy, as a young woman facedagainst all odds, to survive a terrible ordeal, having tobuild physical stamina, mental determination and enduranceto overcome all of those challenges put forth.Here again, Tony Goldwyn (earlier seen in Kuffs, alsowith Judd), packs a powerful performance as anupstanding citizen having a dark, dispicable, insidiousside to him, in participating with the sex ring-master doingthe abductions of the victims, and those horrible serialcrimes.Quite simply, the filming quality, action sequencesindoors and outdoors, the acting, and at -times, alarmingand frightening sequences - make this movie a worthyaddition to your collection. | 34 stars
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Not bad for a movie that's supposed to be about a Jewish Man
I don't have anything against this movie -- it's a pleasant little romp. I just remember that I was sorely disappointed when it came out because I'm a fan of the series of books that it's based on. I suppose I should say "loosely based on," because this doesn't even come close to the books. The books were written by Lawrence Block and featured an aging Jewish man named Bernie Rhodenbarr. Rumor has it that Bruce Willis bailed on the production, so it was given to Whoopi. Not a bad decision, I suppose. But not a good one, either. If you like harmless mystery/comedies from the decade of The Mullet, then you will enjoy this.By the way, the books are also available here at Amazon, so you ought to do yourself a favor and pick them up, too. | 23 stars
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Awesome!!!
I always want it a movie with and alien on earth and without super weapons, when the first AVP movie came out i didn't love the pyramid thing, but in this one, ufff, for me is the best alien movie ever!!! | 45 stars
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The first of the great Anthony Mann-James Stewart Westerns
Winchester `73 was the film that moved director Anthony Mann from the b-movies to the big league, rescuing James Stewart's floundering post-war career in the process by casting him as a conflicted hero (although since he inherited the project from Fritz Lang, maybe Lang deserves the credit for that). Both men would go to much darker places - Mann already had with the remarkably bleak Devil's Doorway, which remained shelved by MGM until the success of Broken Arrow convinced them to release it - but a movie about a man hunting down his own brother as the rifle of the title is handed from person to person along the trail before it ends up in one of the director's beloved mountainside shootouts is still stronger meat than you'd expect from the studio system. Great dialog, an impressive supporting cast - Dan Duryea, Will Geer, Millard Mitchell, Stephen McNally, Shelley Winters, Charles Drake, Tim McIntire, Jay C. Flippen, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson among them - and Mann's outstanding visual sense raise the bar with this one.Sadly, the print used for the DVD could stand some restoration, although there is an interesting audio interview with Stewart on the disc that is carried over from the old laser disc release. | 45 stars
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great!
This is a fun Dora episode. If your kid likes Dora, then they will like this episode. Yep, they will. | 45 stars
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