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I'm not an aficionado of scary, slasher flicks. But Halle Berry is too much of a Babe to pass up in GOTHIKA. Besides, my Mom, a former prison psychiatrist, wanted to see it.Berry plays Dr. Miranda Grey, a shrink on the staff of a women's penitentiary that has all the ambience of a Transylvanian castle. Driving home on a dark and stormy night - hey, is there any other kind in this genre? - Miranda swerves into a ditch to miss a young woman standing in the road. Upon asking the near-victim if she's OK, Miranda observes that she's been physically abused. Then, the woman undergoes spontaneous combustion. Miranda next wakes up to find herself an inmate on her own psycho ward, under arrest for chopping her husband (Charles Dutton) up into little pieces, and in the care of a former colleague (Robert Downey, Jr.).Berry's performance makes the film great fun to watch despite a preposterous storyline that, at the end, had me saying "Yeah, but ..." about too much of what I'd seen. And the set designers weren't at all subtle in their use of flickering lights, shadows, and general gloominess. I had to check to see if I'd inadvertently left my sunglasses on for the show. Perhaps the prison was economizing on the use of electricity after being forced into the California Plan. Really scary stuff is sometimes more effective in full daylight because it's less expected.Penelope Cruz, another hottie in my book, appears as Chloe Sava, an inmate accused of cutting her stepfather's throat, and who claims to being repeatedly raped by the devil in her prison cell. While this is a clue to the endgame, it added nothing to the plot's credibility. In retrospect, it was just another "Huh?" that defies understanding if you think about it too much.Downey's performance was unremarkable, and his Dr. Graham character serves only as straight man to Miranda's more frenetic moments.GOTHIKA is a chilling ride on which Halle Berry is pretty much the only driver. Keep the DVD release in mind next Halloween as something to watch while waiting for those pesky trick-or-treaters. | 34 stars
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First I'd like to say that, not only is this movie as low budget as it get's, the dvd format used doesn't even work in all dvd players. Luckily I rented this before I bought it, and was able to get my money back. If you want a movie that is sumized in ten minutes but then takes the rest of the movie to replay that ten minutes over and over and over..... then this is the movie for you. This makes "The Blair Witch Project" look like the best movie ever made. It felt like I was watching a really, really long episode of "Unsolved Mysteries". If this rating system had negative stars I would give it a negative 5 stars. | 01 star
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OMG just great from start to end, Tyler Perry out did his self with this one Job well done. LOve It | 45 stars
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Bridging the gap between George Romero's average NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and his magnum opus, DAWN OF THE DEAD, this little Spanish/Italian co-production is a diamond in the rough and is often forgotten about. I mean, when asked to name the great directors of zombie films, Jorge Grau rarely comes to mind. The plot is fairly simple: Swinging Londoner George (Ray Lovelock-you may have seen him in the terrible Crispino film, AUTOPSY) is trying to get out of the pollution filled city to the northern English countryside and through a chance encounter with Edna (Cristina Galbo), the two discover that the living dead are not so alive ... Somehow, LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE pulls it off. There are some interesting plot points that are introduced that actually make sense, e.g. Edna's heroin addict sister and her voyeur husband. My only problem with the film is that the pacing is a little slow, but don't worry...the ending is so ... good that it seems like Lucio Fulci ripped it off for his own morgue scene in THE BEYOND. Except Grau's is better. Better in a 'breast mutilation' kind of way. So if you are tired of watching NoTLD and are waiting for the rumored 3 disc set of DAWN OF THE DEAD, I suggest this little treasure. | 34 stars
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Years ago I saw Nicholas Cage's `8 MM,' which was a pretty bad film, leaving some nasty taste in my mouth. Then someone still remembered this forgettable film, and decided to re-use the title again to lure the unsuspecting viewers like me. The fact is, `8MM 2'was originally called `The Velvet Side of Hell' another forgettable film that has absolutely nothing to do with Nick Cage's thriller. Apparently the film is categorized as thriller or mystery, but the greatest mystery is how this kind of dishonesty can be allowed at all.The film's director refers to the film as "sexual thriller." Surely it is sexual, but never thrilling. Right from the beginning that includes one incredible and laughable sexual fantasy in the courtroom, David, aspiring (and boring) politician played by Johnathon Schaech does so many ridiculous things that it is impossible to believe that he could be a fiancé of Tish, daughter of American ambassador in Budapest.And these lovers are stupidly seduced by the night of Budapest when one glamorous lady named Rita shows up before them. Cue to the obligatory `threesome' scene. And they are blackmailed. And they search Rita who just disappeared. And they go further into the underworld of porno industry of the city. And they are deep in trouble. And we are going to see just another predictable ending that is not as clever as the filmmakers seem to think.[TEDIOUS, SO TEDIOUS] Actually, at the earliest stage of `8MM 2,' tedium settles in, so you cannot enjoy the film even as `so-bad-so-good' film. The film tries to stretch the poor story more than 100 minutes, which is told in the most thrill-free, by-the-number way, without giving the couple any real dangers. The film also attempts to show the psychological changes that are happening in the characters, that of Tish in particular, but unfortunately poor acting from the leading lady cannot convince us that she is fatally attracted to the world forbidden to her. One scene about two ladies dancing together is clearly inspired by `Basic Instinct,' but there is no Sharon Stone and her fearless and audacious performance, which is not afraid of being campy.Johnathon Schaech and director J. S. Cardone have worked together in `The Forsaken' and `Mummy an' the Armadillo.' Probably `8MM 2' is worse than these, and much worse than Nicholas Cage's original. The only thing I thought good about it is the beautiful buildings of Budapest. But as many scenes are shot at night, even this fun is denied to us. | 01 star
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Love it! thank you. They are great to do business with. Thank you emailing me and for shipping so quickly!!!!!! | 45 stars
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I love South Park and this is one of my favorite seasons, because of the succubus episode (actually turns out to be a foreshadowing of events to come for Chef). There are plenty of other hysterical moments and I do recommend including it in your South Park collection. | 45 stars
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The quintessential Pam Grier film. In an era where white producers were rolling black films through an assmebly line like process, every blue moon, one would transend it's stereotypical script and give birth to a true star. Pam Grier takes the paper thin plot (a slightly twisted woman who goes on a vigilante crusade against drug dealers)and turns in a what would become the prototype female hero. Well worth seeing because of Ms. Grier's excellent ability to make us believe in her cause. | 34 stars
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You know the saying "you want things done right, you have to do it yourself?" That's Jack Bauer. Fighting off terrorists and preventing attacks while dodging death, all in a 24 hour period. His harsh methods have many questioning his motives, but usually getting the results needed in the end, which makes him the best at his job as field agent for CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit). In each season though, we find that even though he is honored for jobs well done, it does however take a toll on him and everybody around him. He's endured the murder of his wife, and being disconnected from his own daughter who loves him, but can't deal with the danger that's constantly around him. In season four, the Chinese government sought to apprehend Jack after leading a mission to kidnap a suspect from their consulate which led to the accidental death of one of their officials. Someone then came to kill Jack, but not before he could fake his own death and escape. In season five, Jack is living under the radar. With that in mind, you almost wouldn't expect something to go wrong...but doesn't that usually happen on this show? Former President David Palmer is assassinated, framing Jack while terrorists threaten to attack with deadly nerve gas. What is usually seen as a very long day for Jack Bauer only gets worse.If you're not addicted to 24, start on season one. You won't regret it. | 45 stars
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Wall-E is one of those rare movies, where everything goes right. And this DVD is brilliant. Thanks for sending it to me as promised, mint in package! | 45 stars
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Sugary-sweet and woefully lame, The Bachelor stumbles on its way to the altar. Chris O'Donnell stars as a good-natured guy who adores his adorable girlfriend (Renee Zellweger), but just can't commit to her, just can't work himself into a marrying man. And so she leaves. Unfortunately, it's right about now that O'Donnell's grumpy grandfather (Peter Ustinov) kicks the proverbial bucket. And what does gramp's do? Yes, that's right, he leaves the millions of dollars behind for O'Donnell, but only if he marries by the time he is 30 years old. O'Donnell doesn't really want the hassle, but the family-owned company wil get the hostile take-over treatment if he doesn't come up with the money to save it. So what does O'Donnell do? He chases down Zellweger, who can see in his eyes that he's not coming from the heart. She refuses and O'Donnell is forced to track down every ex-girlfriend he's ever had, imploring them to marry him. Of course, O'Donnell soon realizes that true love was right there all along, but now it might be too late.It's a terribly familiar plot, and it's put across with increasing desperation and sentimentality. Even a wonderful cast can't salvage the mess. O'Donell is all charm, no depth. Zellwegger makes every word and every emotion feel real, but it's as if she's in a different, better movie. Marley Shelton, a rising star, scores points as Zellwegger's supportive sister, while Ed Asner and Hal Holbrook chew the scenery as O'Donnell's friends/advisers, and James Cromwell treads weater (barely hiding his embarrassment) as a priest who sticks with O'Donnellm in case he finds Mrs. Right.Director Gary Sinyor tries every old trick in the book, from quick cuts to dream sequences, from cameos to blaring songs. Too bad Sinyor didn't let the story do the job.As it stands, any marriage between The Bachelor and its audience is bound to be brief and movie-goers can cite a premeditated overdose of schmaltz for the inevitable break-up. | 12 stars
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Intriguing, amusing and full of Zen moments. This documentary has profound depth- on the surface the film appears to be about cooking but the koan of the film is without a definite answer. One can find oneself exploring awareness, stillness, meditation, ritual and even cooking. Roshi Ed Brown encourages us to explore food as a metaphor. I was touched when he was examining the old teapot.What's cooking? I think I got it! | 45 stars
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When you're watching this movie, you get the eerie feeling that all is not as it seems, which in the end, turns out to be true. "Never Let Me Go" isn't what I'd classify as an 'entertaining' movie but rather a film that takes what is possible in this day of modern science marvels and turns it into a disturbing reality. Kathy, Tom, and Ruth grow up together in an what could be perceived as an orphanage/boarding school. The children are treated well, with the exception of the several boxes of broken toys that are delivered to the school. But one day, a teacher decides that the children deserve to know 'the truth' about their existence and purposes in life: to be vital organ donors 2 or more times until their lives end, without the possibility of even living to be middle aged. Once Kathy, Ruth, and Tom learn of these truths, their own lives take on new meanings as they strive to live what little time they have as best they can. This movie is worth seeing at least once if for no other reason than it does make one consider what could happen in this age of organ donations, cloning, and dna engineering. | 23 stars
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Christopher Titus is a brilliant comedian. He perfectly understands the problems that crop up in relationships and makes them funny. Great laughs!! | 45 stars
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I have nothing against the idea of turning a classic television show into a theatrical film. Such films can work in extremely different ways (e.g., "The Fugitive," "The Brady Bunch," Charlie's Angels"), although they are the exception rather than the rule (e.g., "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Wild Wild West," "Leave It to Beaver," "Bewitched," "The Dukes of Hazzard," ad infinitum). I also do not objective to recasting such a film with African American actors and can accept that working either when the race reversal is part of the film's dynamic (e.g., "Guess Who?") or something that is never commented on, which is what we have here with "The Honeymooners." I prefer the former, but the latter also qualifies as a political statement in that just accepting Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden says something.I understand that there are plenty of people who are offended by the idea of ANYBODY playing Ralph besides Jackie Gleason, and once the Great One has been recast you know something is going to try and commit the ultimate outrage and remake "I Love Lucy." But Ralph Kramden represents an archetypal character as the incompetent head of the family. Remember that the 1950s were the time of Jim Anderson on "Father Knows Best" and Ward Cleaver on "Leave it to Beaver." It is Ralph Kramden who serves as the link between those edifices of fatherly wisdom and the likes of Archie Bunker and Homer Simpson, and if they keep letting new people play Hamlet and Superman, then Cedric can try wearing Jackie's pants.That being said, my problem with "The Honeymooners" has to do with the script much more than the performers. Fifty years later he classic situation comedy has been turned into a romantic comedy, albeit one in which the couple are married a couple of minutes into the film. In fact, I though the film's prologue got this 2005 comedy off on the wrong foot in several key ways. "The Honeymooners" became in media res, with Ralph and Alice "happily" married, if constant bickering constitutes some form of happiness. Part of the mystery is why these two were married in the first place. But the screenplay begins with Ralph and Alice (Gabrielle Union) meeting and him trying to impress her. Apparently he does, although neither the dance he does nor his Y2K Survival Kit are capable of doing the job. The next thing we know Ralph and Alice are married and yelling at each other. Under the circumstances set up here this strikes me as tragic rather than as funny.This is not to say that a couple cannot fight and still love each other. Just watch "Gilmore Girls" when Luke and Lorelai go at each other. But the prologue makes it seem like these two should not be fighting. I also think there is a major casting problem with Alice because Gabrielle Union is simply too fine for Cedric. Remember: he does not do anything in the prologue to suggest he is not as selfish as she accuses him of being when things come to a head in the film over Ralph's attempts to strike it rich. Ralph COULD be loveable, but given what we see from the start of this film to pretty near the end, he simply is NOT. At best, he stops being selfish and only has some minimal notion of what it would mean to move in the other direction. This time around Alice and Trixie (Regina Hall) are both more interesting, and I was hoping that maybe they would become actively involved in making things work out, but that did not be the case. I also thought that the villain played by Eric Stoltz would amount to something specific, but he ended up being a one-dimensional figure, and while John Leguizamo is always worth watching, why let him upstage Ed Norton (Mike Epps), who is supposed to spend his time upstaging Ralph? Can you name a guest star who ever stole a scene from either Jackie Gleason or Art Carney?The script here is written by Danny Jacobson ("Roseanne"), David Sheffield ("The Nutty Professor") and Barry W. Blaustein ("Coming to America"), and Don Rhymer ("Big Mama's House"). Seeing that many writers on a film is usually not a good thing, and ultimately my objection to the film is that everything is by the numbers. Ralph is the anti-Midas, so that all of his best laid plans to make a quick buck will fail, either because they were stupid in the first place, Ed finds a way of messing them up, or simply the gods look down and laugh (which is more than the audience does for most of this film). The happy ending is not so much a contrivance as it is uninspiring. This film wants to have a heart, but it needs to be better connected to a better brain for it to really work. You cannot accuse these actors of not showing proper respect for those who came before them, but you can fault the writers for not coming up with something worthy of the Gleason-Carney-Meadows-Randolph legacy (and the producers for not insisting on it [and director John Schults ("Like Mike") for not recognizing it was not here]). | 12 stars
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Average at best. Nice cinematography alone does not do the trick. The few action scenes felt like slow motion. If you like to watch Jolie or Depp, this may be something for you. Otherwise, do not waste your time. | 12 stars
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This movie gets blown way out of what it is due to the really negative reviews, I actually thought it was a pretty good film. The thing that hurt this movie the most was what everyone else has said, Lex Luthor was horrible. They completely got rid of the serious and tough Lex seen on TAS and replaced him with a joke. The jokes were coming from Lex, and it hurt the movie since he shouldn't be the one to carry the jokes.Besides that, I didn't have a problem with the movie. There were at least two continuity errors in the movie that was different from the TV series. One was that Lex did know Brainiac before this movie and the other being that Lois did kiss Superman before Clark. On the final episode of the TV series, Lois kissed Superman. On this movie, she tells Clark that she is surprised that she is kissing him before she kissed Superman. Those two small parts didn't bother me, no one said that it had to stay 100% true to the series.It was definitely different to hear Lance H. play Brainiac, but I he did a good job. What I loved was the return of Tim Daly and Dana Delany. They are just as good as they ever were. Overall, a good movie that isn't has bad as everyone thinks it is. | 34 stars
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It is hard to conceive that this film could have been done better. Eastwood is excellent as an actor and as the director. The story is based on a novel by Michael Connelly who is a marvelous writer. The disclosures, little by little, are masterly done. There is no wasted moments. The film moves forward without fluf as it should. | 45 stars
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The story is told in such a lousy way! We are left to guess why the aliens are invading or killing the humans. Why wait thousands of years to resurface? The end is ridiculous, totally lacking in imagination. The high tech stuff is second grade; we have seen this in many many previous films before. Some "suspense" parts such as alien camera searching for humans was already seen in previous work by Spielberg, better. I would only buy this movie for $5, or watch it on TV. Major disapointment!!! | 01 star
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... while watching monster i couldnt take my eyes off the screen. The movie is a very emotional rollorcoaster and let me tell you its INTENSE. zach and i were kinda shocked about how intense the film was. After watching the film i could not stop thinking about it, the film moved me so much and while watching i could see a tear in zachs eye. The movie is very moving and it has a way of disturbing you. the movie definatly deserved all the awards it won. The only thing is i think that cristina ricci sohuld have won an award too because this was one of her best performances. if your planning on going to the movies go see Monster, warning- its intense but its definatly a movie you wont forget and you'll be telling all your friends to go see it. its a great film and i'm hoping that i can go see it again!!! its great!!! | 45 stars
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It's been an up and down year for horror movies, and I'm going to stick this one right in the middle of all of them. It's really not a bad little horror movie, but it has alot of flaws and some credibilty issues. The two leads are great, I really enjoyed both of them, specifically our female lead, Lindy Booth, she is gorgeous and quite an impressive actress. She was awesome in being pretty and 'normal' one minute, then being sexy and dangerous the next. She keeps you guessing until the very end, and I won't give it away, but she really makes it worth your while to stick around and figure out who-done-it.....Julian Morris plays our male lead and although I'm not to familiar with him, I like what I saw, he is very sharp, ladies are going to love his innocent yet confident look, plus he too is a pretty good actor.A young man with a checkered past joins another private school and instantly hits it off with a stunning red head, she in turn introduces him to a 'game' her and her friends play. You lie and scam your way into finding out who is the wolf and the sheep in your group, if you guess incorrectly, you have to leave. At first, all seems innocent, until our group takes it too far and make up a 'wolf' that is a serial killer attacking students at there school. They start all these 'rumors' using the internet, and pretty soon the whole school is terrified. Of course a few killings take place and obviously someone is taking this game a bit too far........but who?There are several plot twists and turns, most fun, a few that were pointless. The ending is pretty silly and contrived, but you can forgive that because you're going to have some fun in getting to that ending. It's not very scary, a few of the internet moments are done well and suspensefull. Unfortunately, this got hit with the stupid "unrated' tag, and it is totally useless in this movie, there is very little gore, also very little sex and nudity, mostly just language and some blood here and there, easily a PG-13, even 11-12 year olds could watch it, and probably enjoy it too.Jon Bon Jovi really needs to just stick to music, he is just awful as a teacher who is also sleeping with our hero, this role would have been perfect for an actor who can be sleazy yet educated, Jon is just too 'pretty' We could also have had more of Jared Padalecki, he plays the cocky rebel role of the group and is not used nearly enough.So, not bad, not worth buying, but I got a kick out of it for the most part. Its much better then some of the crappy horror movies we've had lately, and should keep me satisfied until Red Eye and Venom come out next month, take care all.........acting......4 stars, Great young cast, watch for Lindy Boothdirecting...3.5 stars, Jeff Wadlow directs, pretty decentspecial effects...n/a, None in the moviehorror rating...3 stars, Not scary at all, some suspensequality....3 stars, Grain, Gliches, but not over-powering | 23 stars
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The Last Legion is a wonderful tale of the search for the last true Romans in the far hinterlands of the Roman Empire at a time when Rome itself had fallen to the barbarians. It provides a view of how people lived in early Britain and the mythos of that far off time. The introduction of "Merlin" the teacher and the young roman leader who sired King Arthur imagines a prefect back story for the legend of Arthur and Camelot. I have always been fascinated by the legends of Arthur and this story fills in the blanks very neatly. | 45 stars
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This is a great movie. The love that this couple shares at the beginning is wonderful and it makes you believe in how aman can really love a woman that thinks and works and has a mind of her own. The roller coaster ride of events thatthey go on keep you guessing. I rented it for $1.99 and it was well wortth it. I intend on buying it. | 45 stars
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this is one hell of a movie. it takes the good qualities of all his previous movies and excludes the bad ones. His chinese movies were action packed with awesome martial arts, but with out any cars, guns, or quads it didnt seem like "now". then all of jet li's american films focused too much on talk and not enough kung fu. And then cradle 2 the grave comes along, and thats when everythin changed.Jet Li plays Su, his typical bad@$$ yet soft spoken charachter. Of course theres no one that can even touch him in a fight until he meets his old adversary known as Ling. This all leads up to a fight between Su and Ling over some very important black stones (not telling why theyre important).Dmx plays tony fait, a gangster who gets mixed up in the action by stealing the black stones for someone. despite earlier dudes dissin the acting of Dmx, i really dont see why hes so bad. i mean that he has the easy role of a gangster, and being a rapper he has plenty of practice swearing.since cradle was directed by the same dude as romeo must die and exit wounds, you know theres gonna be anthony anderson and tom arnold, theyre the two real providers of comedy in the movie.the real reason this movie is great is obviously because of the action, some great scenes like the fight club include real untimate fighters. this movie is packed with that sort of stuff.the only reason i minused a star is the dvd itself. the special features are junk.theres a dmx music video (edited [BOO])some commentary, plus more boring stuff. nevertheless, this is a great movie. very recomended | 34 stars
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With little fanfare, MGM has quietly transferred a handful of great B films to DVD that they not too arbitrarily categorize as "Midnight Movies." The nice looking digital prints are in their original theatrical format and appear as if they were taken from original material. The discs come with no substantial extras but care has been lavished on the box art, often reflecting the lurid lobby cards and posters of their initial release. Even acknowledging the B category, these are for the most part well-crafted and, well, adequately acted.Two titles that deserve to be a double feature are "THE MAN FROM PLANET X" and "IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE." One of the first alien invasion films, "Man from Planet X" was released in 1951 to an Eisenhower era audience that was abuzz and awash with "flying saucer" urban legends and alleged sightings. This atmospheric, sometimes unnerving black and white film was shot on the old sets of Ingrid Bergman's "Joan of Arc" with one major change -- a fog machine in full throttle. Two other classic alien films, "War of the Worlds" and "The Thing" began production about the same time this film was made. In "It! The Terror From Beyond Space" the invasion is turned inside out and upside down. Here, a monster from Mars wreaks havoc on the human crew of invaders to an alien planet. | 23 stars
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This movie is not only boring, but DEFINATELY NOT worth a five star rating. I have seen many, many of the classics and it is not up to par with any of them. If you watch both evil Dead movies...it does not make any sense. Ash drives up to the cabin with his girlfriend Linda in the first movie. He beheads her with her a shovel. In the second one her has a girlfriend , Linda, who is beheaded with a shovel the same exact way. Hello....Does this make sense to anyone. I'm sorry, but it definately lives up to its name....Sequel. Even if it were meant to be humorous it is lacking in that too. | 01 star
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I saw this film a few years back and then once again recently. This is a definite watch for everyone.The film is emotional, brutally honest, gripping and changed the way i thought of whale sharks forever.Its not only a story but a documentation of what was happening to the whale sharks without the government knowing, without conservation agencies knowing and without the fishermen knowing about the envieonmental damage that was ongoing.The film was finally used as a tool to bring the issue to the notice of the government and finally national and international wildlife protection agencies and was able to protect the whale shark legally in Inida and worldwide!!You have to try and get your hands on this and watch it! | 45 stars
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God save us from the dysfunctional and unfunny group in this outdated film. Not even the normally watchable William Powell can revive this old wheeze. And the whinging, whimpering and wailing of Carole Lombard is enough to make one homicidally inclined long before the flick is over. | 01 star
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My wife begged me for this for Christmas. Once I got it for her, we have continually laughed. To me, a future Seinfeld-type reputation should ensue for this comedy series. And Penny certainly doen't hurt the eyes, either, know what I mean? | 45 stars
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An intense movie about a freelance cameraman struggling with life in the city. He is a complete vulture how films the horrors of life and sells them to the highest bidding local news station.While in a drugged state he sees a crime in progress and grabs his camera to document it and happens upon three men tearing a woman to shreds. He realizes that he didn't put a tape in his camera and proceeds to hunt down the men only to find death and desperation.I didn't really like many of the characters but this is a good movie. Some people will be offended by the main character (portrayed excellently by Timothy Muskatell). | 23 stars
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This is the second Walter Hill movie I've seen recently, and I believe I'm getting the hang of it. At least as far as his westerns go. Hill takes as his subject matter a larger-than-life character, in this case the Apache warrior Geronimo, and embellishes the facts to fit a larger truth. I say that without sarcasm or disapproval. Hill turns a bandit queen into a prostitute, kills off one of his characters in the wrong place at the wrong time (to give a big star a death scene,) invents a fight between two men who probably never met, much less knew of each other. There's a good reason this one is subtitled "An American Legend." It's a fair approach for a filmmaker to take, but the raw material of his films have been so finely sifted by so many passionate students for so long they're almost magnets for those prone to nit-pick the tiniest historical accuracy.When I set aside my concerns for historical accuracy I discovered I enjoyed the heck out of this movie. It looks beautiful, always a plus with a western shot on location. Wes Studi, an American Indian of the Cherokee Nation, really reaches deep into the core of Geronimo - courageous, proud to the point of arrogance, and ultimately doomed. To Hill's credit Geronimo isn't a two-dimensional wooden noble. Likewise, his "bad" guys, in this case racist scout Robert Duvall, aren't caricatures either. Hill doesn't paint in bold contrasts, and GERONIMO: AN AMERICAN LEGEND feels real. This mature approach comes at a price. It's hard to build up to big dramatic moments in an action film when you don't have highly contrasted Good Guys and Bad Guys. Fortunately for the film and the audience GERONIMO'S cast is filled with high-caliber actors able to portray complex characters without losing the audience in the process.There's also a highly developed sense of intervention in GERONIMO. Gene Hackman's General Crook ("They don't realize it, but I'm the best friend the Apaches have") shields the Indians from a harsh interpretation of his orders. Jason Patric visually embodies this theme - in a number of scenes he steps in between an angry aimed gun and the Native American it's pointed at. Ultimately, I believe, Hill also intervenes between his audience and awkward facts and sour interpretations. It's an approach that drives some historians to distraction, but also occasionally results in highly entertaining movies. | 34 stars
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Based on Damon Runyon's 1929 short story "Madame La Gimp," Frank Capra's POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES is a remake of his own 1933 motion picture, LADY FOR A DAY (VHS) (DVD). This was Capra's last film and the final screen appearance for both Thomas Mitchell and slapstick era clown 'Snub' Pollard. Conversely, Ann-Margret made her big screen debut here.Kudos to Bette Davis for her portrayal of boozy street-dwelling hag Apple Annie. Davis is superb in what amounts to a dual role: the über-ugly Annie and her elegant counterpart. Also outstanding are Sheldon Leonard as thuggish Steve Darcey, Edward Everett Horton as Hudgins the baffled butler and Peter Falk as the main character's right-hand man, Joy Boy.SYNOPSIS--Superstitious bootlegger Dave the Dude (Ford) never conducts business before buying one of Annie's 'magical' apples. Things are fine until the ragged old beggar's daughter, Louise (Ann-Margret) unexpectedly steams from Europe accompanied by fiance Carlos Romero (Mann) and his dad Count Alfonso (O'Connell). For years, Annie's run a ruse on Louise, convincing the girl that she's well-off and living in a luxury hotel. Now the truth about her lowly station will be discovered, with Louise's marriage hopes dashed in the bargain, unless the Dude and his girlfriend Queenie Martin (Lange) can figure a way to fool Annie's visitors.All their flim-flamming lowlife friends are cleaned up to lend a hand, including pessimistic Joy Boy and bummish Judge Henry G. Blake (Mitchell), who masquerades as Annie's husband. But Dave has other worries: gangster Darcy and his henchmen, plus the Police Commissioner (MacLane), the Mayor (Cowan) and Governor (Brian).(Cameos: STAR TREK's Grace Lee Whitney as "broad in black dress" and cowboy star Kermit Maynard as "newspaper editor.")"Pocketful of Miracles" is available onDVD.Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.(7.3) Pocketful of Miracles (1961) - Glenn Ford/Bette Davis/Hope Lange/Arthur O'Connell/Peter Falk/Thomas Mitchell/Edward Everett Horton/Mickey Shaughnessy/David Brian/Sheldon Leonard/Peter Mann/Ann-Margret/Barton MacLane/John Litel/Jerome Cowan/Jay Novello/Benny Rubin/Jack Elam/Mike Mazurki/Hayden Rorke/Doodles Weaver (uncredited: Grace Lee Whitney/Hal Taggart/Kermit Maynard/'Snub' Pollard) | 45 stars
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I saw this movie on TV ages ago, and I loved it and found it on here for a great price! It came very quickly and I watched it right away. The cast is full of my favorite stars of that time. There are good songs and a cute storyline. I would recommend it to anyone who loves musicals. | 45 stars
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This dvd is an excellent deal for the price! And as a new dvd it was packaged and in great shape. I would recommend buying from this dealer any time. The item also arrived sooner than I thought it would. Jack Bauer fans, if you don't already have the first season, pick it up here. | 45 stars
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It was a pretty good movie.it had me rooting for the good guys.it was suspenseful and rewarding. i was disappointed in the end. the producers should have left well enough alone and kept the hero intact.here is where the movie lost some credibility. the lead actors friend had his apartment(where the evidence was) B&E;'d, it was a shambles. same day BAD cop chases the guy causing him to Crash and burn (with the evidence).the film never addressed the peculiarity of these suspicious happenings.BTW, when michael douglas was brought up on charges, murder and attempted murder were never brought up. here is the clincher, since this movie focused on DNA evidence. Dogs have dna also, which could have been tested and proved that the accused was not bitten by a witnesses dog.from a stand point of reality. blah! but movies are supposed to be entertaining and not factual and that it was! The purty girl made it so exciting. | 34 stars
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I'm going to break the trend of a life time on Amazon now and comment on the actual item in question the blu ray disk of the movie "Last Tango in Paris" and not the movie itself. The good news is the film has a had a very subtle remastering for blu ray with the studio being sensitive to the source material while keeping the original palette of the movie without making it look to artificial in Hi Def. As long as you don't have your black levels set to high you won't be disappointed. Sound is a big improvement with a mono DTS remastering which does the job making the most important aspect the dialogue crystal clear. No extras but the trailer I'm afraid. | 34 stars
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A UFC movie about bruddas from the neighborhood with hard luck stories and hearts o'gold. One's a physics teacher and the other's a war hero, both spawned by Nick Nolte, a wife-bashing drunk who has seen the light. A lunk head's dream. It goes on and on and on until it milks every white-trash mythology that can be crammed into a PG-13 thug fest with the Chuck Norris seal of approval. It makes just about any Jean Claude Van Damme movie from the eighties look like CITIZEN KANE. | 23 stars
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Adam green had a idea which came to him after his ski trips, that he used to take with his family. If the ski slopes operated only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, what would happen if you were stranded on a ski lift on Sunday night and the operators would not be returning until the following weekend? This is the premise behind ` Frozen' Three friends take a ski trip to a remote mountain in New England ( Utah, actually), throughout the weekend these skiing enthusiasts never get a chance to do some real skiing, so on Sunday decide to go for one last downhill trip. The life operator due to a shift change forgets about these friends and thus they are stuck on the halfway point on the life with no one to help them. The film then follows their struggles and fight for survival against wild life and nature's brute fury.I liked this movie because there is a minimal amount of CGI and locations, the entire action takes place on a ski life, this could have been boring and tedious but these actors do a fine job conveying first the anguish, depression and ultimately fighting to surviving very well. Infact during the final scenes, the events become so drastic and tragic, that you may well find yourself rooting for them to win. I enjoyed this film. 4 stars on 11/4/10 | 34 stars
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It's close to 300, but lacks a fully-defined world.Synopsis and Plot Summary:King Hyperion declares war on humanity and seeks the all-powerful Bow of Epirus which he will use to unlock the imprisoned Titans. Theseus, a human peasant is favored and trained by Zeus incarnate to become the savoir of all humanity.General Angle:This is 300 turned up a notch by replacing the Spartans with fighting gods. 300 was based loosely around true events and Immortals gives the same visual treatment to Greek Mythology.The New and Original:The gods are young and active. No more lounging around in floating clouds, wearing togas and eating grapes. Titans (who were supposed to be as strong as or stronger than the gods) are skillful warriors and not the far-from-factual monsters depicted in Clash of the Titans. For the record, Medusa and the Kraken are not Titans.What's Old and Borrowed:Slow motion combat sequences. A hero that is TOLD he's a hero, BECOMES a hero without doing too many heroic things. A single weapon/object that's so powerful it can defeat armies. Yes, more movies like Lord of the Rings and Krull. A woman who serves no purpose besides being eye candy- yes, that's Megan Fox in The Transformers.When I saw the trailer for this movie two years ago, I quietly leaned over to my girlfriend and said "They made this one for me." Really, it's a guy's movie with the looks of intense battles and non-stop action. I love the combination of great visuals and majestic vistas. I like when moments in a movie have additional impact from meaningful storylines and solid character development. I do. This is a great movie, but its total ranking on my charts suffers from flaws in its foundation. Since 300 is its too- close- for- kissing -cousin, we'll offer some comparisons.I'll skip over the slow-mo fight scenes and partial nudity to nudity (ahem) and Rourke (Hyperion) verse um...the guy who played Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). It's about the believability of the world. That makes the action have meaning, the plot twists intriguing, the characters have dimension and the storyline have a logical course. That's what's missing here. Oh, by the way, if you're the kind of movie fan that only cares about loud explosions, action stunts, hot chicks and plots as simple as The Dukes of Hazzard; just go see the movie, its' awesome.I expected more and at first I couldn't figure out why I wasn't enjoying this epic as much as I should have. I figured out why the remake of Clash of the Titans missed the bullseye for me. It was a pacing problem. Everything happened so fast; nothing had any meaning. He gets the Pegasus, no big deal. It's just a flying horse. No sense of wonder there. Even the hero Perseus seemed unimpressed. Dude, you just got a flying horse! Both Troy and Alexander had some great moments, but the impact was lessened by all the badly executed scenes between battles.In Immortals, it's the world that's lacking. I read that Director Tarsem Singh had a lot of control over this movie. With movies like The Cell and The Fall under his belt, you have no doubts about his ability to tell a tale with visual flair. But for Immortals it seems as though the one-man's-vision approach leads us to numerous plot holes and logic-defying devices.Let's take a look at some of them: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!!!!1. Early in, Theseus is told he must wait a day to evacuate his village before the rapidly advancing army of Hyperion. The privileged upper class is leaving immediately and the poor must wait 24 hours. Why? And why wouldn't he just leave on his own? If you were told a flood was coming and you must evacuate, but only certain people could leave now, would you say "Oh, okay" and stick around? Exactly.2. Next, a captured Theseus is sent to the salt mines to work. At night the slaves are corralled near a fountain where the (hot) Virgin oracles are also getting a sip or two. And the hotties are chilling one-room over at the Hyperion-Hotel-Six. Who would mix rough slaves with the sexy virg-...oh wait, why are there only four slaves at the salt pit? Why do we never enter the salt mines and only see the front door? Why are there so few guards? How do they get from the salt flats back to...wait...3. Everything in this world is a few minutes walk. At least when King Leonidas, in 300, showed his map, it did look like walking distance. They also omit any means of travel. The massive army of Hyperion has no horses, carriages or any depicted means of getting around. We only (really) saw two horses in the entire movie and they seemed thrown in at the last minute to solve another How do we get there quick? problem.4. She's the virgin oracle that never sees a useful vision. She was hunted down because she could lead Hyperion to the Epirus Bow, but um...she didn't know where it was and our hero found it on his own, by accident. And after she loses her visionary powers by having sex (like she couldn't wait till the end of the movie) she's still around and truly serving no purpose. Speaking of serving no purpose, did you think the Monk who sliced off his own tongue was going to have some kind of significance after sticking around so long? Me too.5. Yay, a cool scene involving Poseidon making a giant wave. How come the main characters can leave the boat, but the bad guys stayed in the boat and just watched the wave come. AND the Oracle said something to the effect of staying steadfast when the sky thunders. Well, she quoted that line right before the tidal wave hit and our hero did the opposite. He jetted off that boat like he leaned over and saw the name Titanic written on the side.6. Their plan is to commandeer a merchant boat of Hyperion's navy, but at the dock, there's no one. No other boats, crews or merchants or goods even...and that leads us to another problem.7. Aside from the bad-guy action figures like the hawk-guy, the Bull guy and the beast, everyone else in Hyperion's army is a generic foot soldier. No generals, captains or anyone else of any rank or skill. In 300, you saw assorted flavors in the Xerxes forces. They seemed like a conquering horde. In Immortals, they felt like the extras they were.8. Speaking of people, in 300 I could see myself living in that universe, tending, crafting, hell maybe I'd be some kind of musician there too. In Immortals they never showed us Hellenic life to actually see what Theseus would have been fighting to save. Same with the gods. What do they do besides watch us? I wish we knew more about their world. Had their universe been more and better defined, I might have more to walk away with- than the memories of some very cool and graphically charged combat scenes.I could go on longer, but I'm even getting tired of taking apart this movie. It's good, long as you watch it lightly and don't think too deeply about anything besides the beauty of the visually visceral violence. I rate it a 8.5 and 300 a 9.2 | 23 stars
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Horrorfest 2007 did not make it to the Zenith City, so I had to wait for last year's offerings to come out on DVD to be able to check them out, going the one a night route this time around. One of the interesting things about going to see the original 8 films 2 die 4 in the theater was the order in which I saw the films, since that colors the veiwer's perceptions of each film. The fact that the first one I saw last year, "Reincarnation," was the best of the bunch certainly affected what I thought of Horrorfest 2006 overall (It was not until I watched the schlock horror films that Lionsgate released direct to DVD during the past couple of years that I had to admit Horrorfest really does represent the cream of the crop, albeit during a period of extended drought). Anyhow, to figure out the order of these films I went to the official Horrorfest website and arranged these eight films in the order they appeared there. That means "Borderland" takes the lead off position, and history might repeat itself because it was the film I heard mentioned most often as being the best of the second round of offerings."Borderland" begins with a group of Mexican drug runners going to town on a pair of Mexican police officers, one of who survives the ordeal. This is a prologue to the main part of the film, where three Texas University students travel to a Mexican border town as a last fling before graudation. Henry (Jake Muxworthy), Phil (Rider Strong), and Ed (Brian Presley) have a series of misadventures south of the border that end up crossing the paths of both the lovely Valeria (Martha Higareda) and the drug cult. So it takes a while to get back to the blood, gore, and dismemberment that makes up most of the final act. Clearly there are torture porn elements to this 2007 film, and parts are reminiscent of the original "Hostel," most specifically in the fact that the victims are males rather than females (although the same rules apply for figuring out which of the trio will be last one standing). But director Zem Berman provides a mixed bag of horror genres in his film. The back of the DVD proclaims this film "blends the raw fear of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre}]' with the stark reality of '[[ASIN:B0000AN4JE In Cold Blood.' I can see the former as a point of reference, but not the latter, mainly because Ulises (Damian Alcazar), the cop who survives the opening scene, is around but not part of a concerted effort to track down the bad guys.The most memorable part of this film is cleary the performance by Sean Astin, who shows up as one of the bad guys. Having played "Rudy" and Samwise Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings," there is a tendency to think of Astin as being a kind soul and a little fellow. Well, forget that after watching him in this film. If you were wondering why somebody like Astin would show up for a supporting role in a film like this one, the obvious answer is the opportunity to play against type, which he does quite well. I found it interesting that Berman was more willing to show bad things happening to the good guys than when bad things happen to the villains, although I am not sure what such a distinction signifies. My biggest complaint here is the overuse of hand held cameras, because I am getting really tired of the shots constantly bouncing around in films these days (especially since more and more often I am convinced the rationale for the use of hand held cameras is not aesthetic, but economics: it is way cheaper to shoot a movie that way). However, whatever they did to the film stock for "Borderland " gives the movie an effective look for the south of the border setting. Too bad the soundtrack is little more than constant ominous ambience, because halfway through it becomes rather annoying.Unlike most movies that throw out the label "Inspired by a True Story," Berman makes sure with the limited DVD Bonus Features that he proves his point. In "Inside Zev's Head: A Filmmaker's Diary," Berman tells about his own personal connections to the case of Adolfo de Jesús Constanzo, the serial killer and cult leader in Mexico known as "The Godfather of Matamoros," when he and some college buddies headed from New Orleans to Mexico with a bunch of voodoo stuff in their van. The specific point of inspiration is the disappearance of Mark Kilory, a college student, during Spring Break in 1989. It turned out that Constanzo, in addition to running drugs, engaged in occult rituals and human sacrifice as followers of Santeria, a religious hybrid of Catholicism and African religions. The details of the investigation are covered in "Rituales de Sangre: The True Story Behind the Cult Murder Investigation," where one of the Texas law officers intimately involved in the case tells the story. As far as telling the true story behind the movie, this is one of the better documentaries I have seen. It was almost enough to get me to round up on this particular DVD, but I really am getting sick of the over-use of handheld cameras in movies these days. Next up: "Unearthed." | 34 stars
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Review? Oh, I wouldn't call it that. An informed opinion, perhaps, or maybe a fan's commendation, but definitely not a review. I've seen all of the "classic" nicholson films one or more times, but this is the one that haunts me. It slaps me on the cheek when I'm not looking, and pinches my ass when I am. Part of this unpredictability stems from the outstanding performance of Lois Smith, a wonderful actress who makes me believe in siblinghood and family. Ultimately, however, Nicholson is at the heart of every Nicholson film, and "Five Easy Pieces" is no exception. The final scene is all. I won't whisper it away here, but it's definitely worth the price of the movie. In my opinion, "Five Easy Pieces" ranks among Jack's top three films. | 45 stars
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I like Guy Ritchie movies (except Revolver) and this one delivers. Like "Lock, Stock & 2 smoking barrels" & "Snatch" a good cast with a move around story line. Choice. | 34 stars
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This is a good film and the first werewolf film. Yes the plot does wander a bit and the odd humor sticks out in a few scenes, but if you are reading this that probably does not matter to you.The werewolf makeup is minimalistic, yet very effective, and realistic. While this film has its flaws it paved the way for many more horror films to come, so I would give it a 4 out of a 5 | 34 stars
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I got tired of reading how this movie supposedly painted the lesbian community in a dull, negative, underdeveloped light.You know why you feel this? Because this movie was NOT about the lesbian community. It was about a single lesbian and a guy's romantic endevors (sp?). It had nothing to do with the community as a whole, and it wasn't written to be a commentary on the lesbian (or gay) community. It's just a glorified unrequited love story.If you find some sort of insult to the gay community in here, then please realize that not only are you looking WAY too hard for insult, but it's not the director speaking. It's a character. There's a difference in a self-described "autobiographical" movie, wherein the director is clearly presented as the main character. And from what I recall, the main character never speaks poorly of (and sticks with his poor perception of) the lesbian community. His insults (if there are any) are presented as inquiries which are promptly answered, understood, and accepted by the character.Get over it, people. A) it's not an insult and B) it's just a MOVIE. | 34 stars
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I began collecting VHS & DVDs around 2001 - and it wasn't until a few years ago I realized an ongoing theme or genre to my films - 75% of them were CONTROVERSIAL in nature. HORROR, DRAMA, COMEDY, ACTION. CULT. CLASSIC, B MOVIE whatever the main genre, the film itself Raised some brows. Spawned some protests, Angered some group of people and usually drew crowds and horrific reviews. Well, CRUISING is no exception. It angered gays, upset the Ratings Board, repulsed others....but became one of my top 25 films. Al Pacino is absolutely wonderful in this film. Directed flawlessly by William Freidkin of Excorcist fame its about the gay sub culture, S&M / Leather scene. which in itself is a turn on with SN ugly side a serial killer is on the loose and enjoys killing gay men after having sex with them. It'd a 70s film true to the times. Scary, creepy, darkly erotic and perfect for NY controversial collection. | 45 stars
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It was An under rated movie. Remembered this movie from my childhood. Was very hard to find. Love it still. | 45 stars
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Surprising little story about computer software theft with different partners involved. David Paymer was never better, Casper never handsomer, and the various characters were spot on -- well casted, well executed, well produced all around. | 45 stars
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At first glance, John Wayne's 1953 western, "Hondo", bears a remarkable similarity to another 1953 release, George Stevens' classic, "Shane". Both films open with an iconic stranger appearing out of the wilderness, spotted first by a young, impressionable boy. Both title characters arrive at homesteads in need of an 'extra pair of hands', and form unspoken bonds with the women of the households. Both Hondo and Shane have survival skills the families desperately need, even as the families fill a void in their own lives. But while Stevens' filmmoves at a slow, deliberate pace, meticulously creating a near-mythic vision, "Hondo" director John Farrow, working from a script by longtime Wayne scribe James Edward Grant (from Louis L'Amour story), cuts the exposition down to basics, giving the film a much leaner 'look', with a climax (actually directed by John Ford, as Farrow had scheduling problems with another film) that is so fast-paced that it can leave a viewer in 'midair', expecting more. As a result, "Hondo" isn't held in as high esteem as "Shane", but is certainly a rewarding, entertaining experience, with one of Wayne's best pre-"Searchers" performances, and Geraldine Page earning an Oscar nomination in her film debut.Filmed in the broiling summer heat of Mexico, utilizing massive,cumbersome dual cameras to create 3-D (which both Wayne and Warner studio head Jack Warner felt was the wave of the future, but would be passé by the film's release), the production was grueling, yet formed lasting friendships. Australian Michael Pate, playing the key role of historic Chiricahua Apache Chief, Vittorio, was stunned to find Wayne, during a dangerous riding sequence, running along, off-camera, to protect him if he fell (Wayne, impressed by the actor, would cast him, ten years later, as another Indian chief in "McLintock!"). Several of Wayne's 'Stock Company' (Ward Bond, Paul Fix, James Arness, and Chuck Roberson) have roles (Bond's bearded, crusty 'Buffalo Baker' is a standout). John Ford, between films, vacationed in Mexico to visit Wayne and Bond, and was recruited (unbilled), to help direct.The only discordant note on the set was stage actress Page. Wayne had hoped to get Katharine Hepburn for the role of Angie Lowe, but the liberal actress wasn't comfortable working with the politically conservative Wayne at that time (during the "Witch Hunt" for suspected Communists in the film industry), and passed on the project (as would her long-time love, Spencer Tracy, in "The High and the Mighty", Wayne's next production).It would be 22 years before Hepburn and Wayne would finally team up together (in "Rooster Cogburn"). Geraldine Page, picked by Farrow for her fresh, 'natural' look, carried her stage training and 'attitude' into the filming, which did little to endear her to the cast, and Wayne felt little chemistry between them (although her performance would be the most honored, by the film industry).With colorful characterizations, a chaste romance, plenty of action, and little of the obvious '3-D' gimmicks (only noticeable in the titles sequence, and two Indian fight scenes), "Hondo" was a HUGE hit when released, and has endured as one of John Wayne's most popular westerns.Best of the Special Edition DVD 'extras' is a wonderful "Making of" documentary, with comments by Pate and the film's juvenile lead, Lee Aaker; brief bios of writer Grant, and Ward Bond; and a revealing, VERY balanced Apache overview of both the film and the REAL Chiricahua Chief Vittorio.With nearly pristine image and sound quality, the "Special Edition" certainly lives up to expectations! | 34 stars
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A gorgeous blond who can physically be funny with a raunchy twist (the story is from her point of view), so get ready for "female" type jokes. I love her facial expressions and the way she can smoothly switch from confident sexy lady to a down and trodden miserable woman who can let it all out! Hooray for Jenny for being beautiful and crazy funny... | 34 stars
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hello,my name's aaron johnsonthe reason i'm writting this review for the untouchables filmis because i've seen it so many times that i enjoy how malone says his famous line to elliot , the one about getting caponeanyway, the whole entire plot is excellentespecially when the federal agents try to stop capone's men in timethe other reason i'm writting in this review , is because i've seen the untouchables tv seriesand i'm wondering this very question ;"when will the untouchables tv series from 1993be out on dvd"because i think that people would enjoy the entire [whatever how many seasons it ran for [if it was one or two] of the seriesi'm sure a lot of other customers would appreciate the untouchables tv series on dvd | 45 stars
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I'm an all time fan of "I love Lucy" and for those of you who are too, you will appreciate the classic tv show that has made millions of people laugh. I cannot get enough of this show and am ever so grateful that this was restored onto DVD's because of the excellent quality and there are no edited parts. | 45 stars
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**1/2 "Flight of the Phoenix" is at best a so-so remake of the fine Robert Aldrich adventure classic from1965. The plot in both films is fairly simple and straightforward. After a plane crash lands in the Gobi Desert, the survivors hit upon the notion of rebuilding the damaged vehicle in the hopes of flying it back to civilization. Dennis Quaid assumes the role, originally filled by Jimmy Stewart, of the pilot who, against all odds, endeavors to lead his passengers to safety.Although the new version follows the original fairly closely in terms of both character delineation and plot development, the story doesn't seem quite as fresh today as it did when we first encountered it close to 40 years ago. Perhaps what's missing is the guiding hand of a master craftsman like Aldrich to really deliver the goods (John Moore, a far less distinguished director, is manning the controls here). This "Flight" feels awfully predictable and rote, as we plow our way through each of the various survival threats, rescue attempts and internecine personal conflicts that are standard in all such tales of survivors stranded in a hostile environment. Each of the characters steps out of the shadows to have his or her own Moment in the Sun (yes, in this version, there is actually a woman aboard), before receding dutifully into the background to allow the next person to do the same. About the only intriguing element in the story is the fact that the main character, the pilot of the plane, has to actually be talked into participating in the Quixotic rescue plan. Thus, he is a leader and a hero more by default than by design.Although the crash itself is fairly impressive from a technical standpoint - despite a rather phony-looking, computer-generated sandstorm that brings the plane down - once we end up on the desert floor, the movie doesn't do a particularly effective job conveying the truly grueling nature of the predicament these individuals are facing. We never really get the sense that they are just a few water droplets away from dying of thirst or heatstroke. Moreover, the feat that they are able to accomplish seems barely credible - from a sheer mechanical engineering standpoint - given the lack of resources and expertise with which the group has to cope. The main weakness with a film like "Flight of the Phoenix" is that, when the plane goes down, we're stuck in the desert right along with the characters, and if they don't have anything particularly interesting to say to one another, we can feel just as stranded as they.Thus, despite a few quality moments, this "Flight" never manages to get off the runway. Check out the original instead. | 12 stars
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Awesome show too realistic and scarry but you cant stop watching! Cant wait for new season to begin. Walking Dead season 3 | 45 stars
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This film takes it's place right in the tough cop films of the seventies. I place it right in with the likes of The French Connection; Dirty Harry; Magnum Force and Death Wish. Another plus is the movies great sondtrack. | 45 stars
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Not particularly well done and boring at times. Keira Knightley is wasted in her role and Steve Carell is well Steve Carell which means he plays a variation of the same character as in every movie he has been in. Connie Britton does a good job in a brief appearance but she wisely and quickly bolted from this melodramatic and meandering movie. [SPOILER ALERT]: The lackadaisical approach to the direction and script is perfectly captured in the scene where Steve Carell's character's father takes off from the U.S. in a single engine (small) plane for the U.K. with Keira Knightley's character (I can understand their desperation). | 23 stars
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I love the Greek Mythology, The frist movie the "Clash of The titans" was very good and this was just as good keeping the tradition of the segall. | 34 stars
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Very slow paced with a lot of talking and no action. I usually love action thrillers but would not rent any further episodes. | 01 star
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Reviews of this movie usually start with "don't be fooled, this is not a Carpenter's movie."I wasn't fooled. Since Carpenter put his signature on Vampires and Ghosts of Mars, he could easily do that here as well because movie is equally stupid and infantile as these previous two. What makes these people do movies this foolish, one may ask. Well, the answer has to be money, and in Bon Jovi case some type of macho posturing.What are you going to see?Body builder impersonating dedicated handyman impersonating dedicated priest.An ugly frail women impersonating stronger than "average" vampire.American teenager impersonating Mexican teenager.Another frail, not ugly though, woman, impersonating victim.A black guy playing unusually stupid vampire "hunter."And a bunch of statists that die in implied but not consumed action sequences.Anything new you have not seen before? I guess that must be a surfboard weapon package. Anything new that you have not heard before? With lines like "I bet it will hurt you bad if I pull this trigger" or something like that, there is nothing very smart here.I think that both Carpenter and Craven ... and their cohorts, should be demistified as "classics." These guys are making movies for mediocre and subintelligent moviegoers, there is nothing remotely "classic" and worth viewing in their flicks. | 01 star
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I give this one 5 stars, it's about damn time these producers put out something worth watching. Good sound track, good photography... Over all, a good modest thought provoking film, not the usual endless gun fighting, car chases, and explosions every other minute. Well done! | 45 stars
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Okay i remember when this was advertised in the theater, and i remember that i really wanted to see it, because i quite enjoyed the first one. I think my Aunt or sumbody got this for me at Christmas Time the year it came out and i watched it rite after we opened all of our present. i was so ready for it, i was ready to be scared, or at least some what frightened...but please, i've seen disney movies scarier than this. First of all the acting was terrible...it looked like they tried to imitate the first movie by getting a black dude (Ice Cube from the first movie) and a hispanic woman (J. Lo form the first one). Second of all...the plot was so retarted....and 3rd of all, the snakes looked too fake. I mean i figured they wouldnt get real snakes, but at least try and make them looked semi scary! i wasn't scared at all. I just expected so much out of this movie...maybe that why it sucked so much, because of my high expectations. In my opinion...the only reason you should RENT, not buy, this movie is to laugh at how stupid it is. They should've marketed it as a comedy. | 01 star
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As an avid camper who usually videotapes her trips, this has got to be one of the scariest films to date. Despite the realism the footage and characters portrayed, an open mind is no match for the sinister "Blair Witch". On a personal note, after deliberately viewing the film at 3:00 in the afternoon, I never really closed my eyes for the next two days. "The Blair Witch Project" is a classic that everyone should own. | 45 stars
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At this point the Asian horror genre is somewhat tired due to American remakes of the Ring & The Grudge, followed by their sequels. The first Grudge came at a time when we were still intrigued by this creepy, robotic moving ghost girl which led to a decent film. The second was pretty much the same deal with a little less of a budget, a slightly weaker story, and an appearance of Kumar. Now we are brought to the third and hopefully last installment which lacks just about everything. Obviously the budget was way less since it was a straight to dvd release, the story was the same but with a few boring twists, and our scary ghost girl/brother have really lost their effect.The story picks up kind of where the second one left off. The apartment in Chicago where our asian ghosts have caused havoc is now forcing tenants to flee leaving it close to shutting down. Max is the manager of the complex who lives there with his two younger sisters. As he desperately tries to retain and gain new tenants he winds up becoming possessed by the spirits. As his sisters lives lay in the balance between the spirits and their possessed brother they are told they must do a ceremony to end the spell.Out of the series this by far is the worst of all. It was supremely boring with way too much dialogue. To watch the film you will have to fast forward through roughly 70 % of it or you will be fast asleep in you chair like Santa at work. Even the ghost girl and her brother were way less creepy. The way the girl would crawl around in that bizarre twitching motion has even been cut back. I guess they couldn't afford the camera function that made it appear so scary because this one didn't have it. Even their make-up was more b. It looked like they rolled the actors in some flour and threw them out on set. When this one is returned it will get the Sid patented "He's gone, the evil's gone from here!" We would NOT have enjoyed this one back in the glory days. | 01 star
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I did enjoy the film. The story line is fractured and needs to be fully developed. Would be interesting to see this script developed as a stage play and really give the characters a full back-story. | 23 stars
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Those people who gave it one,two, or three stars need to be locked away and shot (well not really) because this movie was great | 45 stars
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I personally haven't watched this show, but my mom & dad LOVE it! They have the 1st Season so I sent them the 2nd Season for Christmas. When you don't know what to give someone, the Season collections make a good gift. | 45 stars
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If anything in "Diplomaniacs" makes sense to you, you are one step ahead of the game. Here is a movie that completely exist within its own world. Nothing in the movie is even in the slightest bit believeable. You could say this movie is delightfully ridiculous. It is as zany and offbeat as a Marx Brothers comedy or a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movie. Because of this it is the best Wheeler & Woolsey comedy of the ten films I have seen by them.If you can make sense of it the plot goes something like this. Wheeler and Woolsey play two barbers; Willy Nilly (Wheeler) and Hercules Glub (Woolsey). They open their shop on an Indian reservation. This is done because Willy misheard Hercules when he said they should open a shop where there are no competitors. Willy thought he said they should open a shop where there are no customers. Somehow the two men are called upon by an Indian Chief (Edward Cooper) to deliver letters to a Peace Conference they were not invited to. The Indians want Wheeler and Woolsey to have all the prime ministers sign their peace treaty at a convention in Geneva. So the two agree.But wait, more nonsense ensues. Trying to stop them is Winklereid (Louis Calhern) whom with associates have developed an explosive bullet. Because of this they want a war to break out. Though it is never really explained why they want this I assume it is because they figure the world leaders will all want to try on buy these bullets. So Winklereid goes through various methods to stop the boys. He along with his henchmen, simply known as Chinamen (played by the non Oriental character actor Hugh Herbert) get a vamp (Marjorie White) Dolores to try and seduce the papers away from them, but when she falls in love with one of them another girl is hired, Fifi (Phyllis Barry) who falls in love with the other one.But do you really care to know any of this? Probably not. It's pointless to go over the plot with you because by me describing it to you it all seems logical. You have to see how this material is played out. It is anything but logical. The movie has people going into song and dance out of nowhere, people telling one-liners and not getting into trouble, characters deciding on their own to exit the film, and much more.The film was directed by William A. Seiter who had directed Wheeler and Woolsey in previous films including my old favorite "Peach-O-Reno" and their lesser attempt "Girl Crazy". But Seiter's comedy experience did not stop there. He also directed Laurel & Hardy in a film that is often regarded as their best "Sons of the Desert" and directed the Marx Brothers in "Room Service". The movie was co-written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz as well. With up of such talent behind the scenes perhaps it is not so odd the movie is as funny as it is.Wheeler and Woolsey really don't have developed characters in this movie but honestly I don't care. I've never had as much fun as I did watching this film when compared to their other works. The plot structure is all over the place. The film has no real ending, nothing is really resolved. It is the first film I can think of where the heroes don't succeed. But the film has a lot of charm.Spot Charlie Hall as Calhern's valet and Edgar Kennedy as the Chairman of the Peace Conference.Bottom-line: The best Wheeler and Woolsey comedy I have seen so far. A movie as wild as anything the Marx Brothers or Bob Hope ever made. A brilliant piece of political satire. | 34 stars
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Like my review title says: Superb writing and pacing of the entire show, and especially episode #10, Ssn 2. Holder and Linden's bond strengthens. Holder is the MAN in this episode. The "tweaker" shows his stuff, and is of incredible substance. I don't want to spoil things, so that's why I'm remaining vague. The possibility of this show going 3 seasons is there. The peeling off of layers among characters is sublime. Again, it's more than about Rosie Larsen's murder...it's so much bigger. TELL EVERYONE about this show!!!! | 45 stars
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I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is way bet- ter than the first one. It's completely different and surprsing. But it's not as scary as Scream or The Blair Witch Project. I liked it, and I recomm- end it. | 34 stars
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It really does matter who is doing the violence. If this were a clearer story about a victim dying a terrible death at the hands of criminals who then went on to smear her reputation posthumously by claiming that she slept around, it wouldn't change how absolutely breathtaking and satisfying Noah Taylor's vengeance is.It's no accident that he was cast as the ultimate protagonist because he is that much more inherently attractive and charming than his opponents. Even when he is living in a trailor outside Tomb Raider's mansion, Noah Taylor had great screen presence and it really shows here. He doesn't have to be bulky or loofah'd up to be compelling and believable as The Punisher.It was an instructive experience watching the last part of the film and not having any sympathy for the transgressors and their families because they clearly went after Erica and treated her as badly as possible because they believed that no one would come after them on her behalf. She was totally unprotected and there would be no revenge taken and they obviously didn't believe in hell after death so they were scott-free.Revenge is Sweet. | 34 stars
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After seeing this film, you may well feel like the famous Prince of Denmark in one of his less optimistic moods. Whilst this is really no masterpiece, it is a most interesting, and above all else, disturbing experience to watch. I haven't read the book, so I can't make any comparisons here, but taken on its own, as I have, it will, or should, leave you with profound misgivings about what we have come to accept as unquestionable the benefits of transplant surgery.Although the film is presented in dystopian garb, it is all to easy to imagine such a nightmare coming true in the darker fringes of the world. Without wishing to reveal much of the plot, I feel bound to say that the idea of cloning apparently willing organ donors is not that far removed from the seduction of a nation's youth to go and die on the battlefield, as happened in the First World War. Here we have the idea of voluntary sacrifice taken to a grisly extreme.This is not a film for the faint-hearted nor anyone looking for a bit of entertainment. It is a dour, troubling and depressing experience, but none the less valuable for that. It is deliberately slow, but is a highly atmospheric film, in which you will find no tour de force of acting. What you will find is some impressive photography which serves well to emphasize the bleakness of the theme. It is a serious, minority film with a serious message, which certainly ranks above average, yet perhaps because of its very nature falls short of 5 stars. As far as the Blu ray version is concerned, it offers some stunning landscapes in a muted palate, which are every bit as impressive as some of the more "Technicolor" type films, where Blu ray clearly excels. | 34 stars
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I love this movie!It's a wonderful, love story. Probably one of my favorite movies. I actually recorded this movie thinking it was the other Jersey Girl movie with Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck. I totally liked this one better. The girls voice was completely annoying, along with her choice of style. But all in all, this movie is amazing =]and for the guy i'm assuming who would make such a comment saying its a fantasy and no guy in their right mind would give up money for some trailer park looking chick, THATS why its a movie NOT reality... | 34 stars
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Just another one of those movies. A bunch of young kids travelling somewhere and get cut up into pieces because some psycho wants their organs. Neither scary nor educational(Tommy, you are taking Anatomy 101, and believe me, this movie doesn't help you pass that class!). Many scenes are too dark to tell what happened. Hear someone scream and some light streakes across the screen, and the next thing you know, someone has dropped. It is okay to see it for free, but not worth it when you pay for the ticket. | 12 stars
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Do you really read those 5 paragraph reviews? It was a Friday night, I chose this movie and I enjoyed it. | 34 stars
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Surprisingly enough, the remake of "The Hills Have Eyes" is more enjoyable than the original. The overall setting and plot are very similar. A normal, lovable family is traveling through the Nevada desert. Their vehicle breaks down and they are beset upon by cannibals. However, the remake has more details (and I'm not referring to gore, although there is plenty) that make it a more realistic, faster paced thrill ride. The opening scene is both shocking and horrifying. The viewer soon realizes that this remake will be more violent than the original.Mild mannered cell phone retailer Doug Burkowski (Aaron Stanford of "X-Men: The Last Stand") steals the film when he must turn into Rambo in order to get his baby back from the mutant cannibals who abducted her while his father-in-law was being roasted alive. This lean, wiry built man kills a lot of tough mutants. He also discovers a crater where dozens of vehicles have been stored - their owners slaughtered by mutants - and an eerie, fabricated town occupied by mannequins. This is the town that the government was using for testing nuclear bombs. Now it is occupied by hideously deformed, inbred miners who suffered radiation damage while hiding in the mines.The entire film has a creepy Twilight Zone atmosphere that wasn't found in the original. Furthermore, "The Hills Have Eyes" remake was highly influenced by "Wrong Turn," another film involving a cannibalistic family - this one living in the secluded woods of West Virginia.If you enjoy cannibalistic horror classics involving inbred families such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Wrong Turn," "Raw Meat," etc., then you must see Wes Craven's remake of "The Hills Have Eyes." After watching this film, you will never again travel through the deserts of Southwest America without carrying extra gasoline and good maps. Never take short cuts, especially if they are recommended by a grizzled, toothless yokel who owns a gasoline station where the telephone doesn't work. | 34 stars
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I bought this dvd a while ago under ten bucks.Now it's 30.00 or higher WHY??? i contacted Sony,they have no idea why this title is hard to find,and easy to find,then hard to find again.what is going on with this dvd title? and Rosemary's Baby must be OOP, that to is sky high Attention Movie studios,stop the insanity!!!i smell remakes,beacuse when a movie is remade the original version half the time is scarce,then a Special Edition emerges. Just a thought | 45 stars
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A comedic view of major league baseball.The Cleveland Indians are in last place, and the new owner wants them to loose, so she can relocate the team to a different city. Without revealing the details of the movie, a team of misfits gel together to win their division. The antics of the players, including some romance provides a setting that both males and females can enjoy! My favorite scene was when Charley Sheen came out of the bull pen, with thousands of fans screaming "Wild Thing".JTB | 45 stars
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I'm so glad this show came back for atleast 1 more season. I hope they make season 5 now. This show is a classic. | 45 stars
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I thought this would be an entertaining post apocalyptic thriller, but instead far too much time is spent with the hero thinking he's going crazy, visiting his schizophrenic mom, and developing the small folksy hometown feel of this small Ohio town. I watched 45 minutes and all that happened is the hero had a few bad dreams. I fast forwarded to the end to find out how it all ended, but I was disappointed.I thought the film was atmospheric, and I liked the characters and if there was a sequel which might explain what happened next, I could've gone for it, but far too much buildup for me not to want to see the payload which is barely touched on in the last few minutes of the show.I was disappointed. | 01 star
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This weekend I watched The Way Home starring Dean Cain. It's the true story of a family who is preparing to go on vacation when something awful happens. Dean stars as the dad, Randy Simpkins, who is too wrapped up in his work to take time with his family like he should. Randy was supposed to be watching their 2 year old, but when he comes back outside, little Joe is gone.This is a very emotional movie. As you watch everyone search for Joe, Randy does some soul-searching of his own. The family's faith is tested with each hour that passes. Will they find Joe, will he be okay?The Way home is a Christian movie without being too preachy. Faith is shown more often than spoken. Best of all, it's family friendly!I received The Way Home from Book Sneeze in exchange for a review. | 34 stars
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"The Shadow Riders" is an entertaining western typical of Sam Elliott and/or Tom Selleck. If you like novels by Louis L'Amour you will like this adventure. | 34 stars
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I do not blame this film for being what it is. It's a good film. However, I do not agree with the critics who heaped praise upon it so lavishly. It was a very, very good film, but not a five star film. There is nothing here beyond "Pulp Fiction." I read an interview with one of the actors saying how the violence in this movie was "real" as opposed to the glorified violence of "Pulp Fiction." Actually, I think that is completely inaccurate. I think that this film is basically a Mexican "Pulp Fiction" without the punch that Tarintino's movie had. Don't get me wrong, it's a good drama, and will hold your interest, but if you go in expecting something stunning or groundbreaking, I don't believe it is here. Some of the scenes were very average, as a matter of fact: the non-chalance with which the hitman treats his captive, for example. Is this supposed to be humorous? Have we not seen this same ambivalance towards violence several thousand times? Worth the price of admission but not a landmark by any means. | 34 stars
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You sold me Blues Brothers 2000, And it is garbage. My DVD player tells me that it is a regional error. You sold me a video that is worthless in my area. I tell all my friends about it. And for them not to buy anything from you ever again. The other Blues Brother DVD would stop and we were lucky to be able to see the end of it. Unless youy made some kind packaging error, Amazon is a liar and a thief! Shame on you! | 01 star
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This movie rocked! A must for the serious Punisher fan; a treat for the casual fan.Even my wife, who has never read a comic book, nor even heard of the Punisher before we saw the Thomas Jane film, loved it. She liked 'War Zone' so much she suggested seeing it again, the following afternoon!You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll remember what The Punisher comic is all about.... revenge, bloody retribution. No one does it like Frank Castle. | 45 stars
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I love the show, but was horrified to discover that Weeds, which I originally watched in High Definition on Showtime, is shown only in 4:3 aspect ratio, old-style tv format on this DVD. This cuts off the left and right side of the picture. If you have an old set, maybe it won't matter to you, but the default for DVDs is widescreeen anamorphic which allows the DVD player to show old screen format just fine for old TVs, or the full beautiful 16:9 picture for new DVDs. If this show had originally been broadcast as full-screen (a codeword for 4x3) it might have been excuseable, but they should be ashamed to market this and Amazon should put a bigger warning on the DVD. | 01 star
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Millionaire's private plane with bratty 13-yr.-old daughter and father's friends aboard is struck by lightning knocking pilots unconscious, leaving it up to the daughter, Nicole, to fly the plane and land it safely. This movie has parts borrowed from other movies, but that's ok: private plane (Airport '77), daughter on board, refueler plane, and rescue to get people off plane (Air Force One), turbulance from one plane near another (Executive Decision), Lightning hits plane (Panic in the Skies), and finally -- and one which the "reference" is actually mentioned in the dialogue -- female takes control of the plane and professional talks her through flying the plane (Airport 1975). One of my favorite lines in this movie is when Nicole says, "Charlton Heston? Let's make it Brad Pitt." Another of my favorite lines is when the Air traffic Controller asks Nicole, "What's your status?" she answers, "My status? My status sux!" While it is somewhat implausible for a teenager to actually fly the plane, her actions, her reactions, her attitude (i.e. "The auto-pilot is p*ssing me off!" as she grabs a bat to use to disengage the stubborn auto-pilot), and what she says is very real and believable. It is not one of the best airplane disaster movies, but it is not bad either. It is very watchable and worth watching. | 23 stars
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This was a great movie! I wish they renamed the title of A Tale of Two Sisters. Because it did remind me of that movie while I was watching it. I love Emily Browning in this movie! She is my favorite actress. I would love to meet her one day. What I liked about this movie was that it did have some differences from A Tale of Two Sisters. The only difference was that there was no dinner scene. If you saw A Tale of Two Sisters, then you know what I'm talking about. This movie was great! I loved it! | 45 stars
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As a resident of the Greater Los Angeles area, I'll be the first to say that LA isn't the most salubrious place to live. But DARK BLUE paints such an unflattering portrait of the city and it's police force that even I was mildly disgusted.Kurt Russell is LAPD Sgt. Eldon Perry serving with a special investigations unit. Both his grandfather and father were also LA cops. The family tradition is that you take a sleazeball off the streets by subduing him, shooting him in cold blood, planting a bogus weapon, then claim self defense in the subsequent Internal Affairs hearing. Perry's new partner, rookie Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman), is learning the ropes. The Perry philosophy is shared by his boss, Jack Van Meter (Brendan Gleeson), who has crooked deals going on the side that even Eldon doesn't know about. Out to nail them all is Deputy Chief Holland (Ving Rhames), whose skeleton in the closet is that he once slept with his aide, Sgt. Beth Williamson (Michael Michelle), who herself is now bedding Keough.This film has no engaging characters. Russell's Perry makes Denzel Washington's Alonzo Harris (TRAINING DAY) seem positively charming in comparison. Holland is the nominal good guy, but he demonstrates all the vitality and leadership qualities of a brick. Keough is so muddled that, by the time he sorts himself out, it's hard to care. Williamson is a knockout in her dark blue dress uniform, but otherwise has all the warmth of a police .38 stored in an icebox.DARK BLUE adds insult to injury by positioning the storyline during that week in April 1992 when Rodney King's police beaters were acquitted and parts of Los Angeles were looted and torched by angry mobs. At the very end, as I gazed on a downtown panorama of flames and smoke, I wished that all Midwesterners, Southerners, Northerners, and Easterners wishing to move to overcrowded SoCal could see this film. Perhaps they'd decide to relocate to the Balkans instead. | 12 stars
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I dont know how people can watch this movie and call it a good sequel. The movie is dreadful, and the Penguin is the worst villian in the Batman series. Burgess Meredith played Penguin in the orignal series, and is the only man who can play Penguin. This movie is too long, and its basically 2 hours of talking and about 20 minutes of action that is thrown in here and there. Save your money and buy the regular dvd with no speical features, this movie is not worth rebuying for speical features. | 01 star
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This is a movie with the feel of an old fashion Disney movie, but designed for the modern expanded definition of family. Seven years ago Robin Williams got divorced. His buddy, John Travolta takes him to South Beach where Williams meets a girl, gets drunk, gets married, then has it annulled. However Williams still has feelings for his one night wife and after 7 years writes her a letter.They meet and he finds out he is the father of her two children. Through a series of circumstances, Williams agrees to watch his estranged kids for 2 weeks. Travolta aids Williams as they attempt to play dad with disastrous results. The jokes are a bit trite and much of the humor is slap stick. Most adults will find something to enjoy in the film while they watch it with their kids. The theme of the movie is that friends, love, and family are the most important things in life and together we can work through anything. | 34 stars
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Highly recommend for thought provoking drama. The characters are very well cast. A timely scenario for our current political and social environment | 45 stars
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This movie really opened my eyes to the food me and my family was eating. I have changed the meat and vegetables we eat to only organic. The way the farmers treated the animals was really heartbreaking. I wish everyone would see this movie, another thing the way they washed the meat we consume.(bleach and ammonia) I had no idea this was going on. Buy this movie and you be your own judge. | 45 stars
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***1/2In "Rescue Dawn," Christian Bale plays Dieter Dengler, a navy pilot who was shot down over Laos in 1966. He spent many months in a prisoner-of-war camp not far from the Ho Chi Minh Trail, suffering torture and starvation along with the half dozen or so other men who were imprisoned with him. A man of great determination and resourcefulness, Dengler engineered a daring escape that earned him the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart."Rescue Dawn" was directed by Werner Herzog, the world-famous auteur of such visionary films as "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," "Fitzcarraldo" and "Grizzly Man." Given that pedigree, one is struck by just how conventional a piece of filmmaking "Rescue Dawn" turns out to be (Herzog made a documentary on Dengler, entitled "Little Dieter Needs to Fly," in 1997). Perhaps because the director found himself hemmed in by the biographical nature of the material, "Rescue Dawn" feels pretty much like every other prisoner-of-war film set during the Vietnam Era (and before). The main distinction of this movie lies not in its plot details or character insights but in the fact that Bale and several of the other actors were willing to go on drastic diets and drop massive amounts of weight in order to achieve their emaciated looks. With their ribs and spines clearly sticking out through their taut skin, the actors never allow us to doubt for a moment their total commitment either to the material or to their art. The problem is that it becomes such a distraction to us in the audience that it may actual have the opposite effect than what was intended. We begin to worry more about the actors than about the characters, questioning whether any role is worth putting one's health and life at risk in such a manner. In other words, rather than drawing us deeper into the story, it actually winds up pushing us away.Reservations aside, it is important to note that "Rescue Dawn" is still a film well worth seeing. It is superbly acted by Bale, Jeremy Davies and Steve Zahn (as two of his fellow POWs), and features any number of disturbing, harrowing moments as we watch men, pushed to the limit of their endurance, trying to keep hope alive even after all reason for hope has vanished. We watch in complete empathy as deprivation, confinement and emotional abuse take their toll on the characters` bodies, psyches and spirits. The last half hour of the film, in particular, is poignant and heartbreaking as the men become increasingly desperate in their efforts to stay alive.I wish the filmmakers had provided some clue as to what happened to some of the other prisoners after they and Dengler part company late in the film. We're happy that things eventually worked out well for Dengler, but we would like to know how the other characters we've come to care about fared as well. I imagine that Dengler himself would have wanted it that way. | 23 stars
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When I grow up I want to be just like Dexter. No one know a killer story like good 'ol Dexy. | 45 stars
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A good cast with flawless acting ability. But, the writers didn't let you feel anything for the characters, not even when they were killed off. It has a WWII feeling with the computer game "Quake" scent. If you're a fan of that game, you'll say, I've been here before.Don't waste your money until the DVD hits the bargain bin in about 8 months. | 12 stars
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too funny, but alittle nutty. But he's a great comic! Have watched all of his movies, the TV shows are obviously pg 13. | 45 stars
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With Jake's release from Joliet the two brothers, Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues, are back together again. After visiting "The Penguin" (Kathleen Freeman), a nun at their old orphanage, they have a quest to save their old orphanage which requires the reformation of the Blues Band. We follow them on their quest, kibitzing when we can as they come across many of the musical greats from the past such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, James Brown etc.Toss in some Chicago neo-Nazis (Henry Gibson), Twiggy, Carry Fisher, and the entire Cook County police force in an intense chase scene.Will the band get together?Will the escape the revenge of Carry Fisher?Will they be caught by the Real "Good Old Boys?"Will they be caught by the Cook County Police force?Will they be able to save the orphanage?Will we have fun and lots of good music? (YES) | 45 stars
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This is an excellent account of Lennon's career both with The Beatles and solo. Keep in mind that this is largely Yoko's version of events as she commissioned the film. Her heavy hand is evident and much relevant material has been omitted including the truth about the breakup of The Beatles. One thing we didn't need to see is the home movie of Lennon and Yoko having sex. Bleaughh! It almost ruins the whole thing. If you buy this video make another copy omitting this scene and watch that one instead. One star has been deducted for that unfortunate indescretion. | 34 stars
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this is a very good b movie. i first saw it on cable years ago.this is the movie that sold me on drew barrymore. its kind of a creepy movie yet a very good plot.drew is more sexy in this movie than anything ive ever seen her in.she is smokin' hot.to bad she didnt show more skin than she did but its well worth watching just to see her in a high cut t shirt and bikini.shes definantly eye candy in this movie. i highly recomend this movie to anyone that likes drew she is hot in this one ! | 45 stars
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Amazing Grace was a superb depiction of one man's over 30 year struggle to end the British Empire's lucrative slave trade. William Wilberforce was a young man who came to his own understanding of the immorality of the ongoing practice of enslaving other people. He was raised in a rich trade family, and had no need to work himself. He was exposed to the best of everything; the best food, the best clothes, opportunities for schooling including Oxford, continual parties and entertainment. Yet in the midst of growing up, he was exposed by a Methodist uncle and aunt to the great religious speakers (and practitioners) of that faith. Wilberforce came to the realization of the need to devote his life to something good. His friends including William Pitt Jr. encouraged him to spend his life in Parliament fighting for a cause, rather than retiring his place in Parliament to become a preacher or a religious hermit. Wilberforce had always been a kind young man who hated to see the mistreatment of animals and other human beings of all classes, so when his friends showed him the ugly side of the British Empire's wealth, that was based on the enslavement of people from Africa who were then sent to the Americas, he quickly chose to devote his life and time to ending this horrific trade.This movie eloquently demonstrates not only the many obstacles Wilberforce had to contend with, but also the length of time it took him to achieve his goal...the passage of a bill that made the trade of shipping slaves illegal in Great Britain. Thirty years of work by Wilberforce and those who work with him took its toll on his health. This movie above all is a testament to the need to endure to the end that this great man demonstrated so well.I had read the book on this man, and wanted to see the movie. My husband had not been interested in this though I had told him about this man and his great efforts. During the course of the movie, my husband went from paying attention to his photography work, to paying attention to the movie. Afterwards he exclaimed that this was one of the best historial dramas he had ever seen. This from a man who prefers Dirty Harry movies and war movies. The acting was impeccable as always from known British actors, many of who performed in small but great support roles. Iaon Gruffudd, who most Americans know from the commercial 'Fantastic Four' series, was outstanding as Wilberforce.Don't think that a historical drama has to be dry and boring. This one is anything but. For one thing, Wilberforce was known to be one of the best, if not the best, political speaker of his time. His eloquence on the floor of Parliament and in his own writings, made him required reading over here in the U.S. by Franklin, Jefferson, LIncoln, and other well-known men of our own. They considered his acts, acts of supreme courage (which they were). He also had a huge sense of humor and timing, and was quick on his feet and could put down the highest ranking Lords (one of which was the King's own fat son). He and William Pitt complemented one another to great effect in Parliament, and they were practical joke players who would aid and abet in setting up those who needed to be taken down a few pegs. Yet in all this, Wilberforce did so without meaness...and this movie shows this.I wish this movie would be shown in history classes throughout the world. Our children need to have better examples than what they currently are exposed to. A truly great movie.Karen L. Sadler | 45 stars
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Everything's been covered by other reviewers, but I wanted to ask if CBS would please add the option to run EVERY episode with the bumpers intact. Right now, only a few include the option to have the "Bonanza will return after these messages", and "And now.. the exciting conclusion of Bonanza". It would be awesome to be able to have those included with every episode. That's all I have to say, except please bring the season sets out more often. | 45 stars
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