The Little Engine That Could (2011) [HD]

A Nice Book into a Scary Movie...
This is my 3.5 year old's favorite book in the whole world. He has even memorized portions of it. When I saw there was a new movie coming out, I grabbed it as soon as I could. He was ecstatic. At first he was curious about the story and the personified engines and water-tower. It was all going well until the scary "bad dream" engine came along. Before I knew it, my son was completely in tears and was so afraid of what was going to happen to the sweet little blue engine and the little boy. I get the fact that if you're going to create a full-length movie from a fairly brief children's story that it has to have some plot to it. My problem with this movie is that this book is favored by YOUNG children who are oftentimes easily scared and while most of this movie is fairly sweet and innocent, just that one part with the big, scary, mean train was enough to poison my son's whole experience. If you have an older child who likes trains or a younger child who is not quite so...

Enjoyable for young and old - love the voices!
My 2.5 yr old son who is addicted to trains loves this movie. There is a scary bad guy that I think is bothering him, but overall it's a good movie for kids that are into trains. My favorite character is the caboose voiced by the guy from "Rules of Engagement". He's hilarious!! Jamie Lee Curtis was a good fit for the clown and Whoopi is good as the tower too. I don't know the younger voices, but it appears they are all rather famous too. Would have been better if some of the trains has names instead of just being called "Freight Train" etc. Like Rusty had a name...but oh well. Nice to see some of the proceeds go to a good cause. And of course, it's a great message for kids. Gotta wonder about the "mushroom forest" though, what was going on when the writers put that in hmmm?? Anyway, overall a good family flick!!

My son is still asking to watch this months after he first saw it
LIKES

- Wonderful animation, great textures
- Beautiful colorful landscapes
- A kinetic and interesting dream world
- A sweet and slightly cheesy children's story for the first 3/4 of the movie
- Interesting and exciting action sequences
- Good vs bad, good wins
- Bully vs victim, victim fights back (verbally) and wins
- Interesting characters and good voice acting

DISLIKES

- They overdid it when making the nightmare train. He's freaky and scary. My 3 year old watches the movie and at first was a little anxious but seems fine now. He has a creepy scary appearance, voice, and actions.

I'd love it if the bad guy was bad rather than creepy and evil, but I can't really say it's a problem because my son loves this movie.

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Funerals and Felonies

Terrific movie, not enough JEFF
Great movie, there were some seriously funny lines. There wasn't enough of Jeff's character in the movie. I'd like to see more of Jeff in another movie.





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The Skulls [HD]

Mediocre cinematically but entertaining anyway...
The Skulls finds us at Yale University, which you'll have to assume on your own like I did since they never actually say Yale. We meet Luke, who is a self-confessed former menace to society, working the cafeteria line and studying hard to make something of himself and hopefully go on to Harvard Law School. The only thing standing in the way of that goal for this young man is the fact that Harvard Law is a teensy weensy bit expensive.

Luke, along with best friend Will (Hill Harper) and girlfriend Chloe (Leslie Bibb) speculate on his chances to be chosen to join the Skulls, a secret society on campus which is rumored to pay for such things as law school bills.

It is the secrecy of the society that becomes a rift between Luke and his pals. His buddy Will speculates, "It's secret and it's elite - it can't be good." Insert ominous music here. By the stroke of midnight on that same eve, Luke finds himself in the midst of the Skulls initiation ceremony.

The rules that govern...

Fraternity vs. Secret society
I recommend this movie to anyone considering joining a frat and/or is between the ages of 18-27. Rob Cohen does an excellent job in attempting to portray what goes on inside the walls of the "Skulls" secret society. The Skulls - a highly powerful secret society - provide third year college students with expensive cars, girls, and powerful ties...an enormous key to future political power. The lucky members chosen each year at midnight (approx. 15 ?) must go through intense hazing and rituals dating back to the early 1800's. Each prospective member unites with another to become soul mates. Each pair of soul mates tell each other their darkest secrets to become closer and to ensure loyalty in the most defying situation.

In the movie, Luke (Joshua Jackson) demonstrates how joining the Skulls has placed tension on his friendship with Chloe (Leslie Bibb) and his roommate (Hill Harper). Sworn to keep the happenings of the Skulls a secret, the line between friendship and...

Noteworthy Thriller
The Skulls is a well-paced and well-acted thriller. Joshua Jackson is Luke McNamara. An Ivy League college student who isn't doing to well with paying his tuition. To certify his place in completing college and have a successful future, he wants in with the Skulls. An intermediate group of young men who are guaranteed anything they want in life. After getting in, Luke's life begins to fall apart as his best friend is murdered and his girlfriend is on the run. Should Luke trust the secret society and his new friend Caleb, or try to get out of the society alive?

The Skulls, for some reason, gives me an at-home feeling. I kind of relate to each character in a way, and that shows that each actor gave a pretty good performance. Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker, and Leslie Bibb shine as the leads. Craig T. Nelson also gives a nice performance. The plot and pacing of The Skulls is excellent. The scenes meant to be intense are just that, and scenes meant to be heartfelt and fun are just that...

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Funny People (Unrated) [HD]

The Marketing was Wrong, but the Film is so RIGHT
This film was really a drama, so, if you go in with the mindset that you are watching a drama, this film will blow you away.

However, if you go into this film thinking it will be like 40-yr old Virgin or Hangover, then you will be disappointed (which is where all the low rated reviews come from).

This film does a great job of showing us the life of a Comedian/Actor who is dying from an illness.

The film has a whole lot of levels going on which is over the head of most of the people who rated the film low.

It is a comedic form of the movie Inception. You have actors playing comedians who have dual lives where they alternate from being "on" and "off"....

The problem is most people have a misconception of how comedians live their real lives.

Anyways, great movie. Go in with the mindset that you are watching a drama and this movie will blow you away.

enjoy

amnightus

Flawed and Meandering Yet Still a Worthwhile Look Inside a Stand-Up Comic's Mind
The psyche of the stand-up comedian is the subject of Judd Apatow's third and most ambitious directorial effort, but the elliptical, rather skewed characters that inhabit this serious-minded 2009 comedy obscure the personal revelations that he ironically attempts to mine. In certain ways, it's a dramatically audacious film, yet in others, Apatow comes back to the comfortably off-kilter humor of his previous ensemble efforts, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Sometimes the balance feels very off here, primarily because the protagonist is so hard to read from the outside. It was inevitable that the director cast his former roommate Adam Sandler as George Simmons, a comic who has become a major movie star based on the type of juvenilia he constantly ridicules. Sandler accurately captures both the demented comedy mind and the innate cruelty...

Jake LaMotta would've made a hell of a comedian
Judd Apatow's Funny People is going to divide audiences (it certainly has divided critics). Those going in expecting a comedy along the lines of The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up or any other of the films in the Apatow-verse will enjoy it but not love it. But that reaction may be more a product of the misdirection in the marketing of the film than anything else. Funny People is going for something more emotionally complex, and it succeeds on that count.

Without dwelling on plot, the film focuses, by and large, on the professional and personal lives of a group of comics and comic actors at various rungs of the show business ladder, from Adam Sandler's George Simmons, a hugely successful film comedy star who came out of the stand-up comedy world, to Seth Rogan's Ira Wright, a novice comic who is drawn into George's world, to Ira's friends, who are his roommates, who are his competitors.

The common thread running through these characters is anger and aggression,...

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Nancy Steele is Missing

Apparently inspired by the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping
Victor McLaglen plays a nice guy anarchist kidnapper who ultimately become a trusted friend and employee of the baby's father. Nuts at the time of production but probably politically correct today in the Julian Assange--Wikileaks sense. We feel for the hysterical betrayer. What a joke. A brutal hero who casually commits mayhem and is supposed to get love for it. Did I say, Joke. The DVD transfer is just so-so.

Further Thought: Walter Connolly gives what must be one of his most likable performance and Peter Lorre one of his most chilling.





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Biloxi Blues [HD]

In my top ten . . .
Despite my best instincts to the contrary, this movie remains among my top ten favorite (notice, not BEST - there's a difference) movie of all time.

There is something about this movie that simply appeals to me. Being in the military and working as the Executive Officer of a Basic Training Battery, I definitely recognize the witt and toughness of Drill Sergeant Merwyn J. Toomey (actually, I kind of wish we were allowed to be more like him today - it would produce better soldiers). But the appeal of this film goes far beyond recognition of the brilliance of Christopher Walken's performance as the DS.

Above all the dialog in the movie is crisp and funny, without an element of raunch or being to sarcastic. There are feelings of genuine nostalgia and sweetness about the picture which are hard to describe, but definitely noticeable. They are in the scene in which Broderick's character meets Daisy for the first time, they permeates the scene in which Eugene loses his...

A truly natural comic treat
If there has to be a message to this movie, and I don't really believe there's supposed to be, it's that a sense of humor will indeed get you through the worst of situations.

Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken carry this comedy. There is an unassuming quality here. It's funny without trying to be funny, or at least that's the feeling I get from it. There's not much of a chance that this is on anybody's top ten list, not even a top ten comedy list. There's no obvious contrivance here. The whole story just happens, flowing smoothly along without effort. And so it's exceedingly pleasing, immensely enjoyable, quite lifelike.

And as another reviewer points out, for all the innocent quality of the movie, there are "blue" scenes here, but nothing graphic.

Unique.
I found this movie to be simple and cute. I watched it once,and then i wanted to watch it again because i enjoyed it so much. The whole story revolves mainly around Eugene Jerome (Matthew Broderick) and how much trouble he has at the army with a sergeant,the people he mainly talks to,and the life he is having there. His fantasy was to lose his virginity and fall in love,both of which he did,in the same day! Eventually he made amends with his friends,after all the things they went through. I really enjoyed this movie,i was surprised about that too. All together the movie was good. This is one i would want to buy and add to my collection.

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The Bourne Ultimatum [HD]

Rewriting the genre
A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy? That would be like crediting "The Matrix" with a satisfying level of originality.

Everything the makers, cast and crew have learned about what makes the Bourne formula tick, and click, is revved to supercharged perfection in this pinnacle of a movie.

More is not always better (Matrix 2?), but with careful attention to detail and a plot that works like a Rolex, Ultimatum's unrelenting pace never feels overblown. Matt Damon's impenetrable oasis of razor focus and quiet, seething menace, now seeming to melt glass, finds a new level of counterpoint in this movie. Damon has become so riveting in this role, it's almost possible to overlook the stellar cast around him, matching step for step in a multi-threaded, multi-tiered, multi-national locomotive of twists and action played out with the orchestration of a Beethoven score.

There's something just plain admirable about a movie franchise which insists on digging...

Where in the World is Jason Bourne?
(4 1/2 *'s) `The Bourne Ultimatum' is a non-stop thriller ride that easily propels itself to the top of 2007's three-peat super summer. The third in the series, Jason Bourne (played superbly by a tough and tormented Matt Damon) still suffers his same identity crisis, this time criss-crossing his way across the globe with breakneck speed. Suspenseful for more than the thrill of the chase, we are given a gripping sense of drama as CIA director, Noah Vosen (played with tough officiousness by David Strathairn in another great performance) and his sparring co-leader, Pamela Landy (Joan Allen in an admirably complex role) come to grips with Bourne and his alleged treason against their assassination operation. Hooking up with a fellow operative Nicky Parsons (a sleight-of-hand Julia Stiles), Bourne and associates provide enough development to keep us guessing throughout.

Besides all of the identity intrigue, the action is relentless without being predictable. All the scenes of...

The Bourne Ultimatum
Jason Bourne (Damon) is still searching for his true identity, and is once again becoming a thorn in the side of the CIA. Noah Vosen (Strathairn), head of black ops targets him for elimination, and soon he is on the run again. This time around agents Pamela Landy (Allen) and Nicky Parsons (Stiles) are on his side, offering their assistance to stop the darker aspects of the CIA as well as help him find himself.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" is an excellent action movie, and a fitting end(?) to the Bourne trilogy. The best of the three and the best threequel of the summer, "Bourne" is nonstop action with a smart story. Matt Damon falls back into Bourne's shoes easily, and the supporting cast is once again top notch. The "Bourne" series has delivered top notch stories and action from the beginning, and it would be a shame if it didn't continue beyond this point. This is one of the best action trilogies ever made. I highly recommend this film.

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Phantasm II [HD]

Universal should be ashamed of their treatment of this film.
The long and outrageous wait is over and we FINALLY have PHANTASM II on DVD in region one. Universal knew that fans were in a frenzy to get this one and they also knew they didn't have to bother doing anything more than a bare bones release. Fans would buy whatever version they decided to throw our way and they did the LEAST amount of work on this they could get by with. What we got was a good looking anamorphic print of the film and an unimpressive STEREO soundtrack. Thats right, only 2 channel sound (even though the other films in this series all got new Dolby 5.1 remixes Universal knew they didn't have to bother). There are NO EXTRAS on this disc (other than one faded and dirty copy of the trailer). No cool animated menus, no commentary track, deleted scenes, making of features, retrospective documentary, cast interviews, NOTHING. All of this material is available and is on the worldwide releases of this film but the North American market gets ripped off by Universal. It...

Reggie Bannister & Angus Scrimm are back.
This second Phantasm begins where the first film, PHANTASM (1979), left off and takes you seven years later. In real time it was nine years before they finally made this sequel. That is why everyone looks more mature. James Le Gros takes over as "Michael" for this film only. But A. Michael Baldwin can be seen in flashbacks. Reggie Bannister and the Tall Man Angus Scrimm are back and so are those deadly silver spheres. I'll keep the plot a surprise for you, but this sequel is more big-budget. They go all out for this one and is very enjoyable if you like suspense, horror and more gore.

Funny sex scene.
If James Le Gros looks familar, twelve years later after this film, he had a regular role in the tv series "Ally McBeal" in 2000-2001.

Followed by:
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead(1994).
Phantasm IV:...

MORE PHANTASM PLEASE ON BLU-RAY!!!!!!!
I wonder why they decided to release PHANTASM II on blu-ray / DVD before the first movie PHANTASM?

Let's hope we can get the rest of this series with GREAT PICTURE QUALITY on Blu-ray soon...PLEASE!!!!

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Slaughterhouse-Five [HD]

Billy Pilgrim Lives...from Time to Time
A faithful adaptation of the novel by celebrated American author Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE (1972) is about the life of one Billy Pilgrim, a milquetoast of a man who has somehow become "unstuck" in time and therefore randomly ping-pongs back and forth to relive various events in his life. Although the film does depict instances when Billy re-experiences a few snippets from both his childhood and the moments immediately preceding his death, most of the time he is relegated to three major periods of his life: His tour of duty in WWII, during which he is a POW in Dresden, Germany, as it is bombed by Allied forces; his mid-life era, in which he suffers from suburban ennui while he labors in an unsatisfying career and contends with his overbearing, overweight wife; and the time he spends as a captive of extraterrestrials on the distant planet Tralfamadore, where he is kept in a dome-like cage and "forced" to mate with a beautiful soft-core porn starlet.

As bizarre and...

How's this for rare...a quality Vonnegut adaptation.
Kurt Vonnegut is one of those writers who, when you hear about a movie adaptation of one of their works, you always immediately think "How the Hell are they gonna manage that?". His books are stream-of-consciousness tirades against the madness of mankind...not exactly cinema-ready audience pleasers.

This has been proven by experimental disasters such as "Slapstick (of Another Kind)". But under the expert and fearless direction of George Roy Hill ("The Sting", "The World According to Garp", "Slap Shot", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"), the movie version of "Slaughterhouse 5" has nothing to feel embarassed about when placed next the the excellent novel. The key to this, as in all great novel-movie transfers, is a worthy cast. And here we have one in spades. I don't think there's another movie made that has done such a bang-on job at matching the flesh and blood actors to their literary...

A Job Well Done
After seeing the mess that was "Breakfast of Champions," I was really skeptical about how the film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's masterpiece, "Slaughterhouse-Five" would turn out. It isn't the easiest book to translate into film, after all. So, I think it's fair to say that I had my doubts at first. I finally found this available on DVD, and to my surprise it was a faithful and well done adaptation. While it may not be absolutely flawless or spectacular, it does its best to stay true to the source.

Billy Pilgrim is unstuck in time. This meaning that he relives certain parts of his life in random order. There is no beginning, no middle, and no ending for Pilgrim. His life plays in scrambled portions in a continuous loop. This is something that Billy has no control over and he never knows what part of his life he will revisit next. Sometimes he relives the time he was in WW2 and was a P.O.W. in Dresden. Other times it's to his life shortly after the war...

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Dragonheart [HD]

"A knight is sworn to valor, his heart know only virtue."
I guess it helps if you place the review under the right movie. Somehow I posted this review under the other Dragonheart Movie, A New Beginning.

Dragonheart is one of my favorite movies, up there with The Last Unicorn. The music is good, the actors are fantastic, and the storyline actually has some thought to it.

Dennis Quaid is great as Bowen, the knight turned dragon slayer. He looks the part as well as acting thepart of a dragon slayer bound by the old code, who is trying to rid the world of dragons so the evil in his protégé, King Einon, will be defeated.

Sean Connery is great as the voice of Draco. According to the 'making of Dragonheart' feature on the DVD, the director had only Connery in mind for the voice, and spent 13 months trying to get the dragon to have facial and body actions that patterned Connery. I don't know if it's because Connery is so well known, or if it's because he can project life into Draco, but the dragon has a personality, and you...

Excellent movie, but get the Dolby Digital Version instead
If you are interested in this movie, buy the Collector's edition with Dolby Digital instead of this one as this DTS version offer nothing in special features and the sound is not much better than the Dolby Digital Version. And the most annoying part is when you put the disc inside your player, you are given an option to chose between DTS and Dolby Surround but you don't know which one is which as they just shift color when you chose and if you got it wrong, there is no way to get back to the option page, you have to stop the disc and open the drawer and insert the disc again. It is a pain.

The movie itself is excellent about a Dragon who gave half of his heart in order to save a dying prince. The prince turned out to be an evil king and it is up to a knight (Dennis Quaid) and the dragon (voiced by Sean Connery) to save the people. The special effect is great and the acting is good. David Thewlis is very good as the evil king. The picture quality is fine and the DTS sound is good but...

HD-DVD version
Okay folks, I am guessing you have seen this movie as it is quite a few years old now so I will not bother going into the details of it. If you wish to know more about the plot then check it out on imdb.

The big question is, how did it fare being transfered to HD-DVD? Well to sum it up I would say brilliantly. The video transfer is crisp and detailed, it does suffer a tad with film artifacts but this is the best we are ever going to see it that is for sure.

The audio transfer is absolutely superb.

You want HD-DVD? Well this is as good as it gets for this title.

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Halloween III: Season of the Witch [HD]

Watch The Magic Pumpkin
When talking about the Halloween series, you'll always get the schmuck who says, "oh yeah, then there was that one that didn't even have Michael Myers in it. That was stupid". Yup, I've heard it time and time again. Most of the time this statement comes from someone who hasn't actually seen the film or is just a victim of the general consensus that says this is a terrible film coz it's not a legitimate sequel. Sure there are people out there that honestly just don't like the film, and that's cool coz there isn't a single film that everyone agrees is good. If they have reasons for not liking the film other than the lack of Myers, that's A-OK with me. Here's a little backstory. Halloween 3 was the first and only film in an experiment of John Carpenter's. Carpenter went to great lengths to show the audience at the end of Halloween 2 that Myers is dead, terminated, gone forevermore. Carpenter hated the idea of a second Myers film, but was pressured to write a second(with the help...

Open your mind.....Halloween III is a classic!
Let me start out by saying that I love Halloween 1 & 2. When it was time for Johm Carpenter and Debra Hill to make another Halloween film, they decided that the Michael Myers character was tired and played out. So they tried something new and fresh with Halloween 3: Season Of The Witch. Being a fan of horror, Carpenter's original idea was to release a new Halloween film every few years, each one with a totally new plot and original characters. His idea was to bring in new directors and serve as a producer for these original scary tales. Well the close-minded public couldn't accept a film with the Halloween heading and no Michael Myers, so the idea was scrapped. Well I used to ditch school to watch this on The Movie Channel in the 80's, so I guess you could say I like it. A sinister warlock that wants to kill thousands of children on Halloween night. Robotic killers that can pull your head right off your shoulders. Masks that use the power of Stonehenge and ancient witchcraft to turn...

The third Halloween installment was terrifying!!
This is in my opinion one of the most terrifying films I have ever seen, the whole premise of this film is enough to frighten hell the out of anybody. The story for the film was written by Nigel "Quatermass" Kneale, and British highly acclaimed science fiction/horror writer. Nigel "Quartermass" Kneale was so overwhelmed and disgusted by the gruesomeness(blood and gore) of this picture, so he sued the producers of this film to have his name removed from the credits. The film has a deeper meaning to it. Many Americans don't realize the hedonism of Halloween or their not concerned with it. Thousands of young children in North America go trick or treating every year on Halloween, yet they don't realize what their celebrating. The film involves a Celtic warlock disguised as a CEO of large company called Silver Shamrock, who is getting ready for a Halloween like no other. Meanwhile somewhere in the rural outskirts of Northern California an old man is getting chased by a group of assilants...

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One Foot in Hell

Alan Ladd in a rare unsympathetic role
When an impoverished man (Alan Ladd) brings his ill and pregnant wife (Rachel Stephens) to a new town, their indifference and lack of compassion results in his wife's death. Feeling guilty, the town offers penance by making him a deputy sheriff and welcome him into the community. While on the surface a model citizen, he secretly plots a terrible revenge on the town to avenge his wife. To this end, he recruits a drunken ex-soldier (Don Murray), a prostitute (Dolores Michaels) and two gunslingers (Dan O'Herlihy, Barry Coe). While an intriguing and fresh premise for a western, this is no HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER. Ladd, in his most unsympathetic role, isn't a strong enough actor to register the rage simmering underneath his complacent surface. It doesn't help that he looks terrible, aged and bloated. The director James B. Clark doesn't have the edginess that would have increased the tension quotient that a film like this requires. Still, the intriguing posit is enticing enough to keep one...

Good Western
This is a good Western starring Alan Ladd and Don Murray. Let me say that this release is not a Pan&Scan like other Fox Cinema Archive releases and this is in 2.35:1 Widescreen format. This movie is also presented in color and runs for about 90mins. This movie also star: Dan O'Herlihy, Dolores Michaels, Barry Coe, Larry Gates, plus others! There isn't any special features and it only has English audio with no other languages and no subtitles. Overall this is a good Western and I would recommend this.

Arrived in listed condition and ahead of time.
The movie was excellent, good acting with enough action to keep interest. Alan Ladd looks a little hung over, but was still a good actor.

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Waist Deep [HD]

They Should've Just Given The Kid Back
Waist Deep didn't really surprise me and at the same time I was still very impressed. I think Tyrese is a very underrated actor because he did a solid job in Baby Boy but never got the recognition he deserved. Tyrese is also lucky to get roles playing characters that are based on a California lifestyle, one he has seen before growing up in Watts. Though Waist Deep may seem like the same old same movie it's really not because it's full of talent with these young stars. I knew Tyrese would be ok and play his role perfect and of coarse Larenz Tate would play his character fine but I wasn't so sure about Game and Megan Good. Game was actually a pretty good villain but besides his scarred eye he doesn't stick out as much but he gets the job done. People were probably thinking his character would be over the top just because he is a famous rapper but the director didn't go that route. Megan Good was a nice support to Tyrese and she shows that she's an actress and not just eye candy...

Predictable But I Enjoyed It Start To Finish
Tyrese Gibson and Meagan Goode heat up the big screen in the movie Waist Deep which arrives on DVD on October 10th. The movie arrived in theaters this summer and was well received. In the film, Tyrese stars as a O2 working class single father living in South Central Los Angeles. Early in the film he is the victim of a violent car jacking. Even worse his son is in the backseat of the car. A gun battle soon ensues and Tyrese finds himself on a mission to rescue his son from the hands of a dangerous street thug named Big Meat. On top of that the word on the street is that O2 has a huge stash of money hid away and Big Meat is holding his son for $100,000 cash and O2 has one day to deliver. On the street, O2 runs into a beautiful street hustler named Coco portrayed by actress Meagan Goode. After suspecting her of setting him up, he turns around and enlists her services to help him raise the ransom money. The two go on a crime spree like a urban Bonnie & Clyde hitting up hustlers and...

Hot.......Thriller
Tyrese had a strong love for his son and would do anything to keep that promise. It was a great action movie and kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, Meagan Good was a strong supporting actress and had great chemistry with Tyrese. They were a perfect match in the thriller. It had a great ending. This would be a great moive to add to your collection.

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The People Under the Stairs [HD]

Funny, Over-The-Top Horror
I've always gotten a kick out of this movie. The story line is original (or at least it seems so to me). The gore is startling in a couple of scenes but isn't overpowering. The acting is outrageously over the top but also is endearing.

Thirteen-year-old Fool (Brandon Ames) finds himself in a large suburban house owned by the two slum lords who are about to evict his sick mother and others from a ghetto tenement. He's in the house because he agreed to help two burglars make a score on treasure they heard was hidden there. Unfortunately for Fool (and his two grown-up accomplices), the owners are a brother and sister who call each other Mommy and Daddy. The man (Everett McGill) is a homicidal maniac who goes in for head-to-toe, studded, black leather bondage suits and pump action, single barrel shotguns. His sister (Wendy Robie) is just as looney and just as murderous, a screaming dominatrix. They also have a large vicious dog you wouldn't want to hand feed...that is, unless...

This movie is not cliched
An earlier review I read of this movie seems to be horribly off. It mentions that it follows a horror-movie cliche where the cops are offered food and then give up the search.

However, this reviewer is dead wrong on several accounts. One, they are not policemen at all, but rather are child services. Two, the horror movie cliche would be having the policemen not believe the little boy crying wolf. Three, instead of following cliches, this movie instead turns around and breaks all of the cliches.

Instead of being afraid, only being able to scream, and seemingly always frozen in place, Fool instead doesn't ever really scream, either runs away or TURNS AROUND, FED UP, AND ATTACKS THE VILLAINS HIMSELF. At one point, he turns around, says "I'm through running" and tackles a man-eating dog that is bigger than him.

Is a character who isn't afraid of the villains, a character who fights back, a cliche? No.

This movie was hilarious, captivating, and...

"Damn Buckshot!"
I got a real kick out of some of the previous reviews treating "People Under the Stairs" as a serious horror film! The thing with this odd movie is that it should be awful...the premise is just so goofy, but somehow things just click and it's just too damn fun! If you like horror-humor, along the lines of the second two Evil Dead films or Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, then you will enjoy "People Under the Stairs". You can't treat this film seriously, if you go into this movie expecting to be scared or frightened you are going to be sorely disappointed. There really are no tense scenes, and anytime the film approaches anything the may be deemed as frightening, something so absurd will happen that you will be smiling immediately. This movie is quite a bit of fun, just don't take it too seriously.

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The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps [HD]

Nutty 2 better than the original? I think so!
Nutty Professor 2 was one of the funniest movies this summer. It was definitely better and had a better story than the other fat suiyt comedy this year, Big Mamma's House. This one is better because we get more of Eddie at what he does best and we get Janet Jackson, who lights up the screen with her presence. Granny Klump is the best. She makes you laugh every time you see her. Great movie! Funny movie! Excellent Characters! Get it now!

The Klumps Uncensored/ Censored-There isn't mush difference
Nutty Professor II was a funny movie, I own the DVD. When I saw that they had an uncensored version I was excited to see what was considered too racey for to the version that was in the theaters. I was very disappointed. There aren't any extra scenes. Just a few more lines from about 3 of the characters, which does not make much of a difference in the movie. As far as the Extra Features...I was looking forward to seeing Janet Jackson's screen test. BIG disappointment. They just show the wardrobe test of Janet in Mama's hug wedding dress. I was expecting to see Janet basically auditioning, reading for the part of Denise Gaines. Dont get me wrong i Loved Nutty Professor II and I am I huge Janet Jackson fan, but I would suggest that you either get one version (Censored or Uncensored) or the other. There is no reason to have both. Also check the running time of both movie. the Uncensored version is only 2 minutes longer, so that should tell you how much of a difference there is...

Pretty Good Movie. The Uncensored Version Is The Same Thing
WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! READ WITH CAUTION! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!

O.K. I really like Nutty Proffesor 2 The Klumps. If you get past some of the sex jokes (some which aren't even funny) and the sick, perverted things (a hampster raping Dean Richmend) you'll find yourself laughing pretty darn hard. I'll admit it is pretty funny. Not really like Airplane! but good for a few laughs.

Since I'm sure you've seen other reviews that tell you the plot I'm not going to even bother. Instead, I'll tell you what I think of this Uncensored Director's Cut.

First off, I own the reqular version on VHS, and I was quite happy with it, but when I saw the Ucensored DVD, WOW!!! I got excited. Imagine what could have been considered to Rated-R-ish, and was cut out!!!! There might be some pretty funny stuff in there!!! I got the DVD, and unwrapped the plastic and put the disk in my DVD player. Oh, I was so prepared to get blown away, the same way I got blown away with the Extended...

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MacGruber [HD]

Underrated Over the Top Action/Comedy!!!
A lot people trashed this movie, and I felt I had to throw my two cents in! I grew up watching 80's action flicks actually in the 80's and loved all the 80's action movie cliches and nods thrown in this movie! They even started the movie off with the whole "You're the best, and we need you back" schtick!! Cool!!! The people that trashed the movie just didn't understand the over the top humor, that's all. Ok, YES this movie is stupid. YES it has toilet humor. BUT it is SO over the top stupid that it's hilarious! If you like over the top 80's action movies, then why NOT give MacGruber a try??? I mean, MacGruber has a mullet, 16 purple hearts, and 3 Medals of honor! That in itself is so ridiculous it's AWESOME!! And the way MacGruber finishes the badguy? Well, let's just say any 80's action fan would be proud! I really liked all the actors too! They took it to the next level of sheer silliness! Mad Martigan (Val Kilmer) as the bad guy?? Perfect!!! There were only a...

A Wonderful Throat-Ripping Adventure
This movie at first seems horrible. Then the slow realization that it may be one of the better movies ever made starts to creep over you. Then it hits you. MacGruber is tits. If you think this movie is stupid, you deserve to have Will Forte rip your throat out with his bare hands. Three times. That's called a Turkey baby.

Let's go pound some...
I went into watching this movie absolutely kicking and screaming. I had heard the SNL skits were not all that clever, and most spin-offs suffer an equally horrible demise at the box-office. I think the R-rating is what really helped Will Forte deliver his vision of what MacGruber stood for, and by all means, this turned out to be hands down one of the funniest comedies I have seen. I am almost embarrassed to say that I watched this movie four times last week.

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Which Way Is Up? [HD]

Good Movies, Bare Bones Treatment
As you may know, comedian Richard Pryor passed away in December of 2005 following a massive heart attack. The award winning funnyman had also been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. On February 7th, Universal released a four movie collection titled The Richard Pryor 4-Movie Collection. Universal re-released Bustin' Loose on DVD last year as part of their Soul Cinema collection, so I was a bit curious as to why this film was being released on DVD again.

The Richard Pryor 4 Movie Collection features the following films-Which Way Is Up, Brewster's Millions, Car Wash, and Bustin' Loose. This is a good collection of Pryor's funnier films. The bad thing about this collection is the bare bones treatment. There is no booklet, there are no new bonus features (as a matter of fact there are no bonus features at all), and there aren't even four discs. The movies are packaged on dual sided discs with two movies on each side of one disc. Each film is presented in anamorphic widescreen...

Hilarious Genius
" Which Way Is Up " , has been , and still is one of the funniest movies , that I've seen. From the beginning to the end , it's just down right hilarious. I'm smiling right now , just thinking about certain scenes. The script isn't original , by any means...but Richard Pryor's comedic talents take this film to unprecedented heights of humor. During a period of 1970's film making , when stereotypical images of Blacks , were the norm , this film is highly likely to offend people who are desiring political correctness.However , if you're able to except this film , for what it is .....you'll soon find yourself laughing at every ludricrous scene. I think the genuine qualities, of this film , are that it doesn't try to be something it isn't. It also doesn't attmept to be over-the-top, ridiculous. It simply tells the story of Leroy Jones's ( a young man , who leads a life of stagnant impoverishment), relocation to the big city. Motivated by the prospects of new romance , more money , and the...

Richard Pryor Fan
If you like Richard Pryor, you'll love this DVD. Pryor plays three different characters in "Which Way is Up" and every character is a riot! His interaction with the children in "Bustin' Loose will have you in stitches! The only reason this doesn't get five stars is because of "Brewster's Millions", which I did not find quite as funny as the other three movies. Three great and one decent Richard Pryor movies all on one DVD---you can't beat it for the price.

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Cinderella Man [HD]

Riveting Humanity
Friends had warned me that much of the first part of this film was slow and they had made the same observation of Angela's Ashes. I disagree with them about both. In Cinderella Man (a phrase attributed to Damon Runyon), it is imperative that James Braddock's circumstances and those of his family are carefully, unhurriedly established to create an appropriate context for the process by which he resumed his career as a professional fighter in 1934 and then faced Max Baer on June 13th, 1935, in Long Island City, N.Y. Although a 10-1 underdog, Braddock won the heavyweight championship of the world. (The film takes us to this point.) He would lose his heavyweight title two years later in an 8 round KO to Joe Louis, "The Brown Bomber." Braddock retired after a final win over Tommy Farr in 1938.

Other reviewers have shared their own reasons for thinking so highly of this film. Here are mine. First, perhaps only in Raging Bull is the physicality of boxing so compellingly portrayed...

Crowe Superb in Extraordinary Film Bio...
"Cinderella Man", Ron Howard's heart-felt film biography of boxing legend James J. Braddock, never received the recognition it deserved when first released, due, in large part, to Russell Crowe's bad press following a telephone-throwing incident. Overzealous critics tended to lump the incident and film together, and despite Crowe's public apology, many moviegoers skipped it. Now that the film is available on DVD, it's time to acknowledge the film for what it always HAS been; director Howard and star Crowe's FINEST film, together!

Braddock's story is so amazing and inspirational, that it is astonishing that it's taken seventy years to tell it. Sylvester Stallone 'borrowed' from it, extensively, in creating "Rocky", and in viewing the film, the parallels between fact and fiction are obvious; Braddock had been an 'up and comer' in the twenties, but broken bones and ill-advised matches had cost him a championship shot. Then the Depression struck, Braddock was wiped out,...

You can have Rocky, I'll take Cinderella Man.
If you see only one movie this year, see Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger, directed by Ron Howard. You will be glad you did. Well-written, acted and directed, it will deserve any laurels it takes this coming award season. This review contains "spoilers". The movie is based on a real life--knowing how the story ends does not in any way detract from one's appreciation of it.

Cinderella Man is the story of James J. Braddock, a boxer in the 1930s who after suffering injury and a losing streak, came back to win the heavy-weight Championship. It is a mesmerizing story with indelible imagery of The Great Depression. The blood and violent behavior was appropriate to the story-confined as it was to the boxing ring.

Ron Howard makes movies about real people and real events-Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, for instance. He sometimes glosses over, or skips entirely, unpleasant or unsavory events in the lives he translates to the visual medium...

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Scott Pilgrim vs. The World [HD]

A Completely Fresh Type of Movie
First things first, it was Not a cut and paste of the books.
It was as funny, as innovative, as lovable, as heartfelt, and as humble as the books.
My favorite part of the books though, was that they were just really fun. I felt a smile on my face while I read it.
The movie version doesn't lose that.

Some characters are far gayer (weird, I expected to see a red line under that word), and some characters are far less.
Some lost face time and others gained, but I can't think of a single Book-to-Movie edit that was a bad call. (considering they had to cut about 75% of all character development/back stories)

It feels inappropriate to use the same old words and phrases to praise a movie that was slathered with completely new things I've never seen in a movie or script. I owe Edgar Wright and Brian Lee O'Malley an attempt though...

-Any one scene from this movie could be viral on YouTube on its own.
-My 'Love the Movie' to 'Hate the...

A Weirdly Appealling Mishmash
I'd never heard of this movie or the book that it was apparently based on, but watched it last night. This movies is a weirdly appealing mishmash of twenty-something angst, a comic book plot, videogame fight sequences and hard-driving punk rock. It's also one of the funniest movies I've ever seen with a huge number of laugh out loud sequences and dialog, example:

Scott, picking up a guitar: "I wrote a song about you."
(plays a tender, haunting song mostly repeating the name Ramona)
Ramona, after song ends: "That was nice, let me know when you've finished it."
Shot of Scott looking perplexed.

Ramona: "Back then I was bi-curious."
Female Evil-ex: "Now I'm BI-FURIOUS!"

I'm not going to get into the plot of the movie, which is mostly irrelevant anyway. This film is just an escapist roller coaster. Forget about anything making sense and enjoy the ride. It's a blast.

Best Comic Movie Ever
NOTE: This is just reviewing the theatrical release, not the DVD or Blu-ray.

It was with very little fanfare that I went to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on opening night. The ads were never really appealing to me and I felt like Michael Cera was being typecast so I figured this movie would be a flop. Still, there was enough positive buzz that I agreed to come along when a friend wanted to go and I'm floored at how opposite of a reaction I had to this film. Not only is it probably the biggest surprises of my life as far as movies go (not plot-wise, just in my feelings about it), but it's hands down one of the most fun experiences I've ever had in a movie theater.

The plot of Scott Pilgrim is pretty much exactly what you'd expect from the trailers: Michael Cera is Scott Pilgrim, who has fallen in love with a very alluring girl who, as it so happens, has 7 evil exes who have banded together to ensure that no one dates her if they can't. You really have to go...

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The Breakfast Club [HD]

"Sweets, you couldn't ignore me if you tried..."
Just when you couldn't bare being in school during the week, imagine having to be forced to spend a Saturday there. That's what happens to five high school students who are forced to spend a Saturday detention together. None of them have anything in common and none of them are friends. Each is an opposite from the other. The group consists of a brain, a prom queen, a jock, a basket case and a trouble-maker. A unique and unexpected bond is formed by the five teens as the day goes on, with all sorts of different states of emotion going on for each of them. No matter happens on Monday, all five of them will always that one Saturday together; therefore, forever labeling them "The Breakfast Club."

Not only is this a classic film, it's one of my personal favorites. I loved it when I was little and I love it now as I am in my twenties. It's so refreshing to have a brutally honest film that plays on all of your emotions as this movie does. And even though this was shot in...

Review of the DVD transfer
There are plenty of reviews here about the movie, so there is no sense in writing another.

This review is about the DVD. I will tell you up front that this DVD looks like a direct copy off VHS. I have seen the VHS version about 2 times this year and when the title song comes on, the audio fades in and out. Not bad, but you can definitely see some age in it. The DVD is EXACTLY the same. The sound is of no higher quality.

There is no widescreen, just a full screen with the same picture quality as VHS. It's not horrible, but if you are the type of person who buys DVDs for the superior picture quality, you are definitely going to be unhappy with this.

The movie itself is EXCELLENT, I love it, but the DVD transfer from VHS isn't the best.

As for bonus features, you get bios for all of the actors. The trouble is, the information included is the same as you can find on the internet movie database (imdb) as well as fan sites. If you have read a fair amount on any of the actors and...

THE Definitive Gen X Movie of All Time
If you graduated from high school in the 1980s and haven't seen this film, you must have been locked in a cave.

John Hughes delivers the definitive nostalgic teen movie of the Generation X crowd. The cast made up the '80s "brat pack" with Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. It's hard to believe while seeing this film that Ringwald and Hall were the only real high school aged performers... the others were in their mid to late 20s during filming.

While modern teens may not find this as "sophisticated" as over-sexed comedies like "American Pie," anyone can appreciate true feelings, teen angst, self doubt and relationships with parents portrayed in this film.

A group of kids sitting for 8 hours in detention on a Saturday none of them will ever forget. While there is foul language, it's about the same speed as what you can hear on "NYPD Blue" on TV. There is no nudity or sex, just raw,...

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Rio Grande

John Ford's Triumphant Conclusion to Cavalry Trilogy!
'Rio Grande', the last of director John Ford's 'unofficial' Cavalry Trilogy, has often been unfairly judged the 'weakest' of the three westerns. Certainly, it lacks the poetic quality of 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', or the revisionist view of a thinly-disguised reworking of the events surrounding the death of George Armstrong Custer ('Fort Apache'), but for richness of detail, a sense of the camaraderie of cavalrymen, an 'adult' (in the best sense of the word) love story, and a symbolic 'rejoining' of North and South conclusion that may have you tapping your toe, 'Rio Grande' is hard to beat!

It is remarkable that 'Rio Grande' ever got to the screen; Ford hadn't planned to make it, but in order to get Republic Pictures to agree to his demands for 'The Quiet Man' (he wanted the film to be shot on location in Ireland, and in color), he had to agree to do a 'quickie' western that would turn a quick profit for the usually cash-strapped studio. This is, perhaps, a reason why the film is...

Rio Grande finest of much vaunted "Ford Cavalry Trilogy"
Rio Grande, shot in glorious black and white, is in a way the most colorful of the three cavalry movies that John Ford made with John Wayne. As in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" Wayne is in the starring role but a fetchingly mature Maureen O'Hara is able to hold her own with Wayne and become as powerful a figure in the story. Much of the fun of watching this picture is the on screen chemistry of Wayne and O'Hara, they are totally believable as lovers and as equals. It must be duly noted that they are supported by the John Ford stock company and they are seldom showcased as well as this. Of particular note are superb efforts by Harry Carey, and Ben Johnson who carry their parts in an easy and natural style, and Victor Mclaglen who reprises his Sgt. Quincanon from "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". The DVD edition was digitized from the original negative and it is indeed beautiful. The soundtrack is also clear although a trifle shrill at times. Wayne, with...

A Trilogy Completed
This is the third of Ford's films which focus on the U.S. Cavalry and its violent encounters with the Apache. Wayne's role in each is quite different. He is a subordinate officer in Fort Apache, a commanding officer about to retire in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and again a commanding officer in this film but estranged from his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), and son Jeff (Claude Jarman, Jr.) among the men he commands. Lieutenant Kirby Yorke (Wayne) resembles Woodrow F. Call in Lonesome Dove (played by Tommy Lee Jones) who refuses to show any favoritism or even affection whatsoever to his son. (In fact, Call denies his fatherhood.) Of course, Ford ensures that husband and wife are reunited by the end of the film; also, that father and son become close after Trooper Yorke plays a key role in helping to rescue children captured by the Apache and thereby earns his commanding officer's (and father's) respect. A similar relationship exists in Red River except that the conflict is resolved...

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Out of Africa [HD]

Africa DVD is Gorgeous
The transfer of OUT OF AFRICA is gorgeous on this newly released DVD. The African sun is bright and the detail is crisp -- very important since the scenery is practically a third character in this Oscar-winning "Best Picture" from 1985.

I really enjoyed "Song of Africa", the documentary created for this DVD release. Not mentioned in the DVD's technical specs, this documentary features several cut scenes not included in the film (except in a network television showing). Example: the subplot of the servant boy with the bad leg whom Karen Blixen heals. There are a few Redford-Streep scenes there, too, which ended up on the cutting room floor (a last dance among Karen Blixen's packed-up home; a made-up story on safari.)

Also, the documentary features incredibly funny and entertaining tales told by Meryl Streep. She is a great mimic -- listen to the sound effects that woman can make! At times hilarious and reflective, she shares stories about the...

Beyond this place there be dragons
"Out of Africa" stands out as one of the most spectacular movies ever made. At the 1985 Academy Awards this movie won seven Oscars including Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Picture. It deserved all seven!

It is filled with romance, scenery, real-life struggles and the inevitability of fate. It is a journey into Africa and into love. The escape is in the hand of fate. This movie presents Africa as a paradise. The natural environment is harsh, yet unspoiled in this movie.

This is based on the true story of Danish writer Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) who left Denmark to marry German Klaus Maria Brandauer/Baron Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer) and start a dairy in Kenya.

Some women do enjoy the security of a man looking after them, however Karen is different. She seems to desire companionship and offers her fortune in exchange for marriage. Her husband changes his mind about the dairy and instead they use her money on a risky...

Takes My Breath Away....
This review refers to the Universal Widescreen "Collector's Edition" DVD of "Out Of Africa".....

"Out Of Africa" not only takes my breath away, but for 2 hours and 40 minutes I am transported to another time and place. A beautiful story in a wonderous setting will have you mesmerized as well. No matter how many times I view this film, I never tire of the gorgeous cinematography,the lulling music, the compelling story and of course the superb acting all brought together by the wonderful direction of Sydney Pollack.

Based on a true story, it depicts the life of Karen Blixen(who wrote under the name of Isak Dinesen) She marries a philandering Baron, and gains a title but discovers he has squandered her money on a coffee plantation in Kenya. Left to run it on her own, she befriends the local residents "The Kikuyu", offers them education and medical help, survives on her own strong willed nature and falls in love with the country, the people and...

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Accent on Love

cleaver film
Saw this film on TCM and was delighted to see it on DVD. A man who is VP of a big company discovers how bad the real estate own by the man he works for is all shabby and in danger. As he poses under a different name, he also finds the woman he is love it with. The film is just over a hour, snappy and enjoyable.





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Charlie Wilson's War [HD]

Consequences of Wheeling 'n Dealing on a Global Scale
Congressman Charlie Wilson from Lufkin, Texas, a ruggedly handsome man, who was a committed anti-Communist, with a few character flaws, who loved to have a good time, enjoyed alcohol and was a ladies' man ... became one of the unsung heros of the Afghanistan War. He was the only civilian to ever receive recognition and honor by the C.I.A. for his part in helping to drive the Russians out from Afghanistan. This film is based on the true stories written by the author George Crile in his book, "Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times". Essentially, there are two formulas to win this war on a global scale: the first is, "money + power = secret arms deals" and the second is, "clandestinely obtained weapons + motivated Afghani fighters = success". Serendipity often comes into play when success occurs on a global scale and Charlie Wilson seemed to benefit both from the unexpected and unknown...

We'll See
Mike Nichols was not unaware of the irony in Charlie Wilson's story. Late in the film he has Philip Seymour Hoffman, in the character of Gust Avrakotos, recite a story on the balcony of Charlie's apartment. "Listen, not for nothin' but do you know the story about the Zen master and the little boy? There was a little boy, and on his 14th birthday he gets a horse, and everybody in the village says 'How wonderful, the boy got a horse.' And the Zen master says, 'We'll see.' Two years later the boy falls off the horse and breaks his leg and everybody in the village says 'How terrible' -- and the Zen master says 'We'll see.' Then a war breaks out, and all the young men have to go off and fight, except the boy can't because his leg's all messed up and everybody in the village says 'How wonderful...'" and Tom Hanks (as Congressman Wilson) completes the story, "And the Zen master says 'We'll see.'" Avrakotos: "So you get it?" Wilson: "No, no I don't 'cause I'm stupid."

But...

Charlie did it!
It's amazing what a few committed believers can do. In 1979, Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), a good timin' Texas Congressman finds Dan Rather doing a remote report in war-torn Afghanistan more interesting than a hot tub full of gorgeous naked women, drugs, and booze.

Next thing he knows, the sixth wealthiest woman in Texas and his sometime lover, Joanne Herring (Julia Roberts) invites him to a fundraiser. She's a bit right of center for him, but he goes--for the sex as much as anything probably.

He comes away with a mission. Start a war. If the US can arm Afghani rebels, they can stop Soviet encroachment into the Middle East--which would probably have ended with the Russians owning most of the oilfields and us out in the cold--quite literally.

"Charlie Wilson's War" is based on the true story of Texas' 2nd District US Congressman who literally did initiate the clandestine help the US gave the Afghani rebels. He, with a little help from his friends,...

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Deliver Us From Eva [HD]

I loved this movie!!
Because Eva was such a "witch" to put it nicely. Gabrielle Union was excellent in this role as matriarch of the Dandridge family. She was more than domineering to her sisters and their husbands. I laughed when one of them got an enema.

I never expected her to carry her work as an inspector into her personal relationships. One man was so damaged by her lethal tongue that he studdered when he spoke from then on. Poor Ray, (LL Cool J) wanted to give up after their first meeting, but even he saw something under that lethal exterior beating its way to the surface. I liked the way Eva got even with the man that hurt her so long ago. This part really made me laugh so hard other than the part where the enema took place.

I think the hardest lesson for Eva was learning how to 'let go' of the control and pain she had over her sister's lives and those that they married.

I would recommend this movie to every LL Cool J fan like myself.

Very good most of the way, but falls flat at the end
"Deliver Us From Eva" is an amusing comedy about a family of sisters, and the men who they are with. Two of the sister's are married, one has a boyfriend, and the other.....is Eva(Gabrielle Union). Eva is a hard nosed, don't take anything from anyone, especially men, person. Not only that, she basically controls the lives of her three sisters. This does not sit to well with their men. All the men really want is to get Eva out of their hair so they can live happily with their wives. It'll take a pro to do the job. That's where player Ray(LL Cool J) comes in.

This is suprisingly a very amusing film. I went into the movie with rather low expectations. However, the film is very satisfying, except for the formulaic ending. One thing that works for the film, is they loveable, and attractive characters.
Everyone is likeable, and it's a joy to watch these people talk.

The film and dialouge gets a little goofy in some spots, but all around the film is pretty funny...

Enjoyable
I never got a chance to go see this movie when it hit the theaters. I rented it not knowing what to expect. After watching it on DVD, I can say that I would not have minded paying the price of the movie ticket to see this movie. It's not all that glamorous, but what it is is a nice feel-good, respectable movie. Gabrielle Union does a nice job playing a rude, obnoxious, man-hating sister by the name of Eva. At times she takes it over the top, but that's acting and that's what she gets paid to do. Eva is bent on taking care of her little sister's who all lean to her for advice instead of their men. The sister's love Eva and listen to her as if her word were the gospel. The men, on the other hand, hate her guts and want nothing more than to see her leave town. She often interferes with her sisters' relationships and makes it a point to drive her sisters' men crazy. So, in order to bring proper order to their respected relationships the men plot to get Eva out of their lives. Thus the...

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The Blues Brothers (Unrated) [HD]

Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration doesn't fail us
Let's get this straight -- this blu-ray contains both the theatrical AND the extended cuts, for the misguided soul here (obviously NOT on a mission from God) who says stick with the 25th Anniversary edition.

And let's get this clear as well -- the quality of the picture is superb, much MUCH better than the DVD. Older films have issues when you transfer them to blu-ray, no question about it, but this image is as good as it can possibly get (don't believe me? Check out Blu-ray.com for a review of it).

On the extended version the extended scenes aren't as good a quality -- the source material there wasn't available and they probably transferred it from the DVD master. But it's not WORSE than the DVD, only not improved.

And on that note, IMHO the theatrical version is the one you want anyway. This is a film that does not get better when the timing gets slower -- and at nearly 2 1/2 hours the extended version just drags. Watch the theatrical version...

My Two Cents Worth
I've read the reviews on Amazon but wanted the blu-ray upgrade. Amazon's details may not be complete. The blu-ray I purchased has theatrical and extended versions on a single disc. There is a banner at the top front on my cover with says "Includes Theatrical and Extended Versions" and it is also mentioned again on the back cover. The DTS sound is outstanding on my Polk 360 home system and I don't think I am missing anything by not having lossless DTS sound. This movie looks and sounds great on blu-ray and the price is affordable. I found myself enjoying the movie and singing along with the sub-titled songs. I saw it in the theater when it first came out and here it is over 30 years later looking and sounding just as good if not better.

We're On A Mission From God...But Made a Deal With The Devil
What a let down! The promise of "never before seen footage" turns out to be the same "never before seen footage" from the last DVD. The bonus materials on this disc are a joke (and not in a funny "ha ha" way). The special "Introduction to the film by Dan Aykroyd" is 23 seconds long. The "Day on the Blues Brothers Tour" is nothing more than a lame performance by the current Blues Brothers at the House of Blues. But the real insult is the featurette called "Remembering John: An ultimate portrait of John Belushi." It clocks in at 9 minutes long (including credits). Ultimate?? This is John Belushi, not Garrett Morris!

You might be reading this wondering, "So what was this guy expecting?" Well, how about an audio commentary? Perhaps some outtakes? Bloopers? Maybe concert footage of the REAL Blues Brothers on tour with Steve Martin? Why not include Blues Brothers performance footage from SNL? How about revisiting the locations made famous in the movie (the abandoned...

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Two for the Money [HD]

For the Actors
TWO FOR THE MONEY takes on the topic of Sports Gambling and makes a serious attempt to turn it into a movie. The story is apparently based on a true one (as per the opening screen statement) but it is from the pen of Dan Gilroy that the well-drawn characters are realized. DJ Caruso (Smallville, The Salton Sea, The Shield) knows his way around matters such as these and his pacing is fine, allowing for the isolated 'arias' in the film to work well. The problem, for this viewer, is the topic: how interesting can bilking chronic gamblers over football game wagers possibly be?

The story is related by Brandon Long (Matthew McConaughey) who begins life as a sports hero and just at the moment when he is ready to break in to the Pro Football domain, he fractures his leg in a winning touchdown. Six years later, and still dreaming of making it as a player of football, finds him in the numbers game with a talent for picking winning teams and calling 900 numbers to urge gullible...

TWO FOR THE MONEY
The general premise, man gets sucked into the world of sports gambling and then tries to find a way out of it. Thats the whole story in a nutshell.

Really, the story is nothing new. Actually quite formulatic. I can't really say that there is anything new. But the thing about this movie is the acting.

The acting is great. Matthew M. is suprisingly very good. I don't think he is a bad actor, but I don't see him as a breakout actor for his acting abilities. He is quite good in this movie though as the arrogant sports-to-go-to man for gambling tips. Jeremy Piven, though in a small role, is very similar to his character on Entourage, but you know, he's great as that character as he is in this one. Al Pacino is always good. Acutally, he's great in this movie. The only problem is that his character is very conventional Pacino. Always yelling, yelling, yelling, getting mad, being scary. But, Pacino is good at that. Though Pacino is presenting nothing new here, he is very...

Avoiding This Film Is A Safe Bet.
There's no easy way around it. "Two For The Money" is a bad movie. A very bad movie. It pains me to say this for the following reasons. I'm an avid, life long sports fan and a great admirer of both Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey's work.

Alas, the film is a formula "hick in the big city" tale that revolves around the shark-like world of sports booking. McConaughey plays Brandon, a young studly former athlete who possesses a gift for making game picks on the 900 lines in Vegas. Pacino plays Walter, the chain smoking kingpin owner of a sports book advice line with an addictive personality. Walter catches wind of Brandon's abilities and woos him to New York to polish the diamond in the rough and make him his next golden boy. Sound interesting? It's not.

Clearly poor dialogue shares the blame, but McConaughey delivers a disappointingly shallow, paper thin performance that offers nothing for the viewer to sink his teeth into. You get the obligatory hickory...

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McHale's Navy (1997) [HD]

This isn't your father's McHale's Navy - but it is rather funny
Not having seen any of the original McHale's Navy episodes, I can't really compare this film to the television classic - but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the movie is undoubtedly of lower comedic quality than the original series. Judging the film solely on its own merits, it's really not that bad. It's certainly no showcase for sophisticated humor, but it is generally pretty funny throughout. Surely, I'm not the only guy who finds Tom Arnold pretty funny (as long as he's not doing stand-up). The other guys are pretty much hit and miss, though, as they're really just stereotypes. David Alan Grier has his moments as the slow ensign dreaming of lieutenant's stripes, but we've seen the same kind of character act the same way in many a movie already. Originality is not a word you're going to hear in the same sentence as McHale's Navy, I'm afraid.

McHale (Arnold) is a former Navy man who peddles his wares on San Moreno and surrounding Caribbean islands, with...

Old TV Series
I thought it was the movie, but it is a group of TV series shows. Still the great series, but I need to read the fine print better.

Kinda Corny, but it's pretty dang good!
I enjoyed this movie immensley, I almost didn't watch it because I thought it wouldn't be that great due to the others reviews, but I really like it and plan on buying it VERY soon!
The one thing I don't like about it is in the beginning theres at least 7 references to sex, and after that about 2 more in the middle of the movie. BUT, other than that, the movie rocks.
I don't know why no one finds this movie funny, maybe it's me, I usually go for those nutty-don't make that much sense-comedy movies.
Tom Arnold was great playing McHale, the other actors did good too but I have to say Tim Curry as Vladikov (The second best terrorist in the world *rolls eyes*) really made the movie, he's so funny and brought a lot more greatness to the movie than the others did. I loved his eastern european accent, kinda sexy ;-) (of course his voice is sexy all together.)

*Ahem* Anyway, if you're anything like me, you'll like this movie. But in case you're not, rent it first. Just in...

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Far and Away [HD]

"I have no wish to fight you (Leonard Maltin)" BAMM!
When I first viewed this film when I was 10 years old on May 23, 1992, when fell in love with it from the very start. It was so rare a feeling at that age to actually feel good in a very human way, not just as a spectator. The movie's theme seems to be a very trite one: Always follow your dreams. Many films have tried to exercise this theme and failed miserably. They will pump a lot of cheesy moments into one finale, without any kind of supporting events to show that it is an earned pay off. FAR AND AWAY succeeds where these other films fail. The journey starts at point A and goes straight to point B without any pishposh in between. You are with Joseph and Shannon through their fortunes and misfortunes and see almost every step they take from getting to rural Ireland to Boston and finally to Oklahoma. What also makes it work is the onscreen chemistry between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The two had only done one movie together (DAYS OF THUNDER) before teaming up for this...

I can't believe this is only a 2-star movie.
I might I have only been intrigued by this movie because I was bored (first saw it at 12:00 at night on TV when I couldn't sleep), but I was shocked at what a MIRACULOUS film this is. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. For critics to say there was no story, WHERE WERE YOU DURING THIS MOVIE? All the twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. It was in no way predictable. All throughout the movie, I thought Shannon and Joseph would kiss and live happily ever after, but something would tear them apart. Films like this come few and far between. I highly recommend this epic!!!

An overlooked gem.
This is easily the most underrated film of the last decade. So ujust was its nasty reception, I sometimes wonder if everyone else saw the same film I did. I think the problem may be that it simply came at a time when no one wanted a film of this kind. A closer look at Far And Away reveals it has all the hallmarks of a glittering success. Here's the story: A century ago, a rich girl escapes from her suffocating fiancee, setting off to a new life across the Atlantic and falls for a poor boy who shows her a love she's never known. Sounds like a certain

Beethoven [HD]

Good Boy!- Good Movie!
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid and now even as an adult I see all the magic that made me enjoy it when I was younger. After watching this movie even the person in your family who is not an animal lover will want to go out and adopt a St.Bernard!

It starts when Beethoven is just a puppy by narrowingly escaping a pet store robbery Beethoven wanders the streets until he enters the lives of the Newton family. After Emily Newton the youngest member of the clan awakes in the morning to see a cute little fluffy St. Bernard puppy in her bed "I dreamt I had a puppy and my dream came true." George and Alice Newton are besides themselves on what to do with the dog- they can't keep it is George's first reaction. It will ruin the yard, destroy the house, it will grow to be enormous, and then it will die and we'll have to replace it and start the whole process all over again. Well George despite, being an a non-dog person decides to keep it for the sake of the kids "It's...

It beats all the "talking animal" movies out there!
First, I gotta admit to my partiality towards St. Bernards in particular and big dogs in general. So, naturally, my review of this film is somewhat skewed in that direction. Still, I think it's a wonderful film, even in the context of "family movies." And like the title of this review says, it's a wonderful oasis from all the other movies out there that seek to anthropomorphize animals, rather it just portrays a dog being...well...a dog. Refreshing. Grodin does a good job, I'd rank it somewhere between "Midnight Run" and "The Great Muppet Caper." And whoever trained the big lug that was Beethoven deserves due credit, too!

Nice Doggie
Beethoven DVD

Beethoven is a comedy about a family with a Saint Bernard dog and all the trouble the dog gets in to. A laugh-a-minute.

Highly recommended for the entire family, especially dog lovers.

Gunner April, 2008

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Imitation of Life (1934) [HD]

Review for 2-Movie Special Edition
Having studied the 1959 version of "Imitation of Life" in film class, it has become one of my favorite films, one that is rich with many subtexts that may not be visible upon first glance. This special 2-disc DVD set contains both the 1934 and 1959 versions based on a Fannie Hurst tear-jerker novel. Tackling a sensitive issue for the times (in both versions), these movies deal with an African-American girl who wants to pass for white to have more opportunities open up for her. The girl's mother develops a friendship and working/subserviant relationship with a white woman who has her own daughter of the same age. How the two women function in their environments and the conflicts that occur due to the daughter's "passing" constitute the basis of both stories.

The 1934 film stars Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers as the mothers. The film seems very dated and old fashioned on the surface; watching it a 2nd time with the commentary track is very beneficial. Avery Clayton, an...

The original is better then the remake
Finally both of these movies are released together. Most people do not even know the 1934 version exists. In my opinion the 34 version is the better of the two. Even though both are really over the top, at least the first version portrays the black and the white woman more as equals. The remake actually is more racist and condesending. The black woman in the original whose name is Delilah is a business woman not a maid. She is treated like a real person. Claudette Colbert who portrays the the white woman treats Delilah as a partner, her friends treat her equally. They actually try to talk to Delilah about her daughter and try to help her as a friend would not as a person who is pitied as in the remake. "Poor Annie" as Sandra Dee's character mentions. PLUS I find it insulting that in 1959 Hollywood could not find one black actress to play the part of the daughter, but way back in 1934 they did. Ferdi Washington. Delilah's job was not to take care of the white woman...

The original, and still the best version
Most viewers are far more familiar with the campy, 1959 version of this film, starring Lana Turner. But, this is the original version, and I find it far superior to the remake for so many reasons.

First of all, it takes place in the early 1930's, putting us smack dab in the Depression, and a time period which suits the subject matter. Claudette Colbert, a much better actress than Lana Turner, is one of the first reasons I prefer this version. But, mainly, the incredible Louise Beavers is absolutely unforgettable as the black maid, Delilah Johnson, whose light-skinned daughter, Peola, is raised alongside Colbert's daughter, Jessie.

When the girls grow up, Peola realizes that she can "pass" for white, and in the 1930's, with racism and joblessness rampant, her choice makes sense, for the times. When Peola, played by Fredi Washington, completely rejects her mother, it is heartbreaking. To see Louise Beavers sobbing onto the counter in the department store is truly painful.

Peola...

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Spartacus [HD]

Classic Hollywood epic looks great-Review for Criterion version DVD
If you're a fan of the movie "Spartacus", this is the version to get; the Universal DVD is as bare bones as they get with just the movie. The Criterion version looks great. The facelift the film received help return much of its luster. Kubrick later disowned his version of the epic Hollywood Sword & Sandal genre, but Kubrick brings much of his sensibility to bear; the fight sequences and epic vistas bring to mind Kubrick's work on Paths of Glory and 2001. True, this isn't a complete Kubrick picture; Kubrick had nothing to do with the screenplay and Douglas had all but cast the picture in collaboration with director Anthony Mann (dismissed after butting heads with Douglas one too many times).

Is it Kubrick's finest film? Well, frankly no it isn't. It's an interesting mishmash between Kubrick's detached, ironic style and Hollywood glitz. Spartacus is Kubrick for people who don't care for Kubrick's detached style. It doesn't measure up to Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, 2001 or A...

great movie, TERRIBLE blu-ray
Great movie. Horrible, horrible blu-ray. Maybe the worst blu-ray disc I've seen. Do not buy, wait for a recall. It's so blatantly awful even non-cinephiles will notice.

Here's the main problem: most all the film grain and fine detail have been completely wiped out in a clumsy attempt to remove video noise. Which begs the question: so what's the point of owning it on blu-ray?

What's worse is that it didn't have to be this way. But I guess this is what happens when an indifferent media conglomerate has complete control over a masterpiece. Check out Robert Harris's (the man who restored the film years ago) extremely negative review of this blu-ray on the web. I thought maybe he was overdoing it a bit, but no. It's even worse than he says. If you have the Criterion DVDSpartacus - Criterion Collection, just hang on to it for now.

The Original "Gladiator" - beautifully restored on DVD!
Long before Russell Crowe picked up his sword and battled corrupt Roman emperors, Kirk Douglas showed him the way in "Spartacus". This epic 1960 film still ranks as one of the best performances in Douglas's distinguished career, and it marked his second collaboration with famed director Stanley Kubrick. Even more than "Gladiator", "Spartacus" is based on a real historical event, although it greatly exaggerates the actual history. Spartacus was a Roman slave in the first century AD who became a gladiator for the Romans, but then escaped and formed an enormous army (estimated at anywhere from 50,000 to 75,000) of freed slaves and gladiators. For the next year this army, under Spartacus's leadership, terrorized the Italian countryside, until they were finally trapped and destroyed in battle with the still-powerful Roman Army.

As an old-fashioned Hollywood epic, "Spartacus" doesn't disappoint the viewer - there are epic battle scenes, high drama, and some great acting by...

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Peter Pan [HD]

One of the greatest children's films for adults of all time
I do not think that most kids can appreciate how great of a movie P.J. Hogan has made with this new version of "Peter Pan." However you really have to be familiar with not only all of the various versions of the story from Disney to Steven Spielberg but also J. M. Barrie's original plays and books to really appreciate everything that is in this movie. Hogan's purpose was to go back to that original material, but it is impossible not to touch upon everything that has come since then. My generation cannot hear the words "I do believe in fairies" without thinking of Mary Martin beckoning out from our television sets beseeching us to clap (or when Smee turns and gives an aside to the viewer).

On the one hand there are the fantastic elements as Peter Pan (Jeremy Sumpter) and the Darling children Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood), John (Harry Newell), and Michael (Freddie Popplewell) fly off to Never-Land. But this is a more realistic Never-Land than every before for all...

"Second star to the right and straight on til morning!"
This live-action version of Peter Pan stars Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook and Jeremy Sumpter as Peter. The story begins in London, where motherless Peter has come to listen to stories told by young Wendy (Rachel Hurd-Wood). He takes her and her brothers to Neverland to live the wild pirate life, until it is time for them to return home and grow up.

All the characters you remember from your childhood are here: The ticking crocodile (computer-animated and scary), the fiesty Indian Princess, funny Pirate Smee, spunky Tinkerbelle, and even Nana, the dog-nanny. The film is photographed almost entirely in dark, moody lighting to heighten the feeling of magic and danger. Jason Isaacs hams it up just right as the dashing and outrageous Captain Hook and he is good as the timid clerk, Mr. Darling. Jeremy Sumpter looks just like Peter should look - beautiful, cocky, and fun-loving.

Definitely darker and more sinister than the old Disney version, this film has a lot to...

"That was no Thimble!"
The last time J. M. Barrie's infamous creation hit the big screen was in the lacklustre "Return to Neverland", the latest in a long line of pitiful animated sequels that the Disney Company have been mechanically churning out. The time before that was in Steven Spielberg's critically ill-received "Hook". With these two movies as a somewhat stale background for writer/director P. J. Hogan's attempt to recreate the fairytale, it was not surprising if audiences at large were somewhat cynical.

But children's literature translated onto the big screen is always successful when it is done faithfully and respectfully, and that is precisely what Hogan and his team have done. For the first time ever (if you can believe it) a young boy plays the part of the Boy Who Never Grew Up: Jeremy Sumpter, complete with bare feet, pan pipes and captivating smile. Following in the pantomime tradition, Jason Issacs plays both George Darling and Captain Hook, meek and clumsy in one role, charismatic and...

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