Cujo [Blu-ray]

Cujo finally gets his reward!!!!! 2013 Blu Ray UPDATE
I have waited a looooooong time to see this film get the special treatment it deserved. For years, the only way I had to view this classic horror treat was on an old DVD release with cropped edges, horrible picture, and NO special features at all.....not to mention the ugliest DVD artwork ever for a Stephen King release.

Lionsgate has now given us Cujo as it has never been seen on home video. I was blown away by how clear the picture is, and how vibrant the colors are. The old transfer just seemed washed out and faded. I watched this on my PS3, which upscales it to hi-def, and I never dreamed this film could ever look this good. I'm also glad that there was no effort to try to create a surround sound track for this film, since most of it takes place inside a car. You have the choice of watching it in the original mono, or a 2 channel stereo mix. While this is not a film I would choose to show off my surround system, it is very effective for what is happening on...

What is up with this cover art?
Actually a fairly good Stephen King translation, I remember being genuinely frightened a few times when this played theatrically. But my fondest memory of the movie was its poster: a beautiful sun-bleached drawing of a very east-coast summer house, surrounded by a picket fence splattered with blood in the form of Cujo's name. Warner home video used this artwork when intially releasing the video over a decade ago, and now? This picture of a clownish lip-sticked overly-reddened St. Bernard and his teeth is clearly not even a shot from the movie! I have always questioned/doubted the wisdom of revisionist cover-art for video releases, but this one takes the cake as the most artless piece of junk I've ever seen.

A Claustraphobe's Nightmare!
If I had read the book first I would have probably known what I was in for when I sat down to watch this movie. I have a deeply rooted fear of confined spaces and possibly an even bigger fear of being eaten. So basically, this movie scared me to no end! Now I have to admit much of the story (and acting) moved along fairly slowly, until the mother and son were stuck in the middle of nowhere, in a station wagon, with a large, rabid Saint Bernard attempting to get inside! It was this portion of the movie that got my skin crawling! When Cujo starts attacking the car and you just get this feeling that nobody is getting out of there alive, that's good Horror entertainment! Strangely enough I never felt that Cujo should die or that he was a "monster". I just kept thinking that all of us are victims of circumstance, and not one of us has control over the events in our lives. That concept alone is terrifying! The acting of the mother and son were perfect and I'd...

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Searching for Sugar Man [Blu-ray]

It can happen to you if you're young at heart
The most striking thing of the many striking things in Searching for Sugar Man is the personality of Rodriguez himself. Unspoiled, not bitter, undimmed perceptions, and the continued passion for his craft all make a huge imprint on the viewer. And of course, it is all the more impressive because he spent 30 years in demolition and cleanup instead of filling our minds and souls with his remarkable music. The story is too crazy to be made up; no one would see it if it were a piece of fiction, unless it was written by Kurt Vonnegut or Douglas Adams. But it is a true story, a gripping story, and a rewarding story. The story of a wonderful human being and a remarkable father. A feel good documentary which alone makes it a near impossibility. There is only one qualifier you will notice again and again in reference to Searching for Sugar Man: must see.

Stranger than fiction: a MUST-SEE documentary
"Searching for Sugar Man" (2012 release; 85 min.) brings the unlikely but true story of how, Rodriguez, an obscure American musician who released 2 never-heard albums in the early 1970s became a music sensation in South Africa. As a music nerd, this became even more compelling as I will admit I had never heard of Rodriguez before.

The first half of the movie centers around the efforts of two South African men in the music business, both fan of and curious about the mysterious Rodriguez to simply find out more about this guy. The movie then traces the beginnings of Rodriguez in the late 60s in Detroit (with archive footage of the city at that time, not much better than it is now, just haunting) and how Rodriguez's 1970 debut album "Cold Fact" first became an underground hit in South Africa at the height of the apartheid regime (with songs like "The Establishment Blues") and eventually became a genuine hit album. It is about midway through the movie that we are introduced to...

Amazing Story
As a South African raised, with almost all my friends, on the music of Rodriguez it is almost impossible to believe that such a talent remained unrecognised in his home country.
This film goes some way to explaining it, but only some way. See it and buy "Cold Fact"; better late than never.

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Imaginary Friend

LACEY DID GREAT
this movie is AWESOME! never saw the twist coming. definately left me wondering if the little girl was real or not! GREAT BUY FOR SURE.

Oh yeah, its a Lifetime movie!
Smacks in the mouth? Check! Cheating husbands? Check! Betrayal? Check! Oh yeah, it's a Lifetime movie. I love to bag on Lifetime and their man hating ways but they do occasionally manage to put forth an entertaining effort. Luckily, Imaginary Friend is one of those films. Starring the ever lovely Lacey Chabert, Imaginary Friend has pretty much an all-star cast. Everyone does fine in their roles especially Lacey Chabert and Ethan Embry.

The story line has twists galore but despite that the whole movie is pretty well telegraphed from the beginning. And once the twist occurs that is telegraphed as well, sigh. But watching the whole affair play out is quite fun and the actors make it worth watching simply to enjoy their performances. There a couple of pretty massive plot holes however, and you can put together what happened but you shouldn't have to as it would have been pretty easy to touch on them at the end of the film. But let's be honest, you can't stay mad at a film...

It's okay
I thought this movie was just okay. The story is pretty average and very predictable. I found myself feeling bored many times as the movie will drag on and on. Then, I would be predicting what is going to happen next as it was happening.

The only real thing I liked about the movie is the main actresses as she is so super hot. If she wasn't in the movie, I would give this 2 stars inside because she was the only reason I was continuing to watch it.

I don't have anything else interesting to really say about this movie besides, that I felt it wasn't really scary, suspenseful, or thrilling. I don't recommend this movie.

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Trancers

Eerily Entertaining Sci-Fi Movie
"What kind of name is Peter Gunn?" "What kind of name is Jack Deth?" is just one of the memorable lines you will see in this low budget 1985 cult thriller "Trancers," starring the ever reliable Tim Thomerson and a struggling Helen Hunt. "Trancers" spawned five sequels, all of which never quite duplicated the fun of the original. I saw somewhere on the Internet that Thomerson is the "King of the B movies," but "Trancers" is the one film he made that stands head and shoulders above all others. If you draw a blank with the name "Tim Thomerson," you most likely saw him in a few bigger budget pictures, such as "Air America, "Uncommon Valor," and "Who's Harry Crumb?" He's done television work as well, appearing on "Xena" and "The Days of Our Lives." Once you recognize Thomerson, you'll remember his appearance in numerous films. Helen Hunt should need no introduction, but the fact that she appears in this low budget film is oddly jarring. Hunt went on to appear in two "Trancers" sequels...

Trancers DVD Huge Letdown
After waiting years for a excellent copy of one of my favorite movies, I was very disappointed when I received this in the mail. First of all, this is advertised as WIDESCREEN when it is NOT! There is no Widescreen version of this available.There is also no full moon featurette on trancers either. secondly, halfway thru the movie I notice the screen going black for a couple of seconds.No biggie.. Later, after the end credits come up, The Vestron Video Logo comes on, then it says END OF SIDE TWO!!! This DVD is nothing but a copy of the Laser disc transfer that Vestron did quite a few years ago. The quality of the print is not very good, color is weak and images not very sharp, with the film having several cig. burns in it.Come on Full Moon, get your act together, and spend a few bucks to do this movie justice. I would much rather see a widescreen version of this than any of the other so called sequels..One nice note, the flip-side of the DVD does have over 40 trailers for...

Jack Deth is BACK!
And he's never even been here before! Classic quotable ad line for the cult hit Trancers back when it played in theaters in 1985. Yeah, Trancers really played the big screen venues back before video ate up the grindhouse theater chains that booked these exploitive little trash movie gems. Charles Band (of Full Moon fame) created his own little movie studio, the now defunct Empire Pictures, which scored a megahit with Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator and, from 1983 until 1988 (or 89), released many a great piece of low rent cinema, Trancers being one the tiny studio's bigger non-Stuart Gordon hits (Ghoulies was the other one).

Jack Deth is an Angel City cop tracking down the last few Trancers, people who have become mental zombies enslaved to their psychic leader Whistler, who Deth singed (slang for dispatch revolver style) on one of the 'Rim Worlds'. But it turns out that Whistler is not dead, he has gone 'down the line' to wipe out the current Angel City Council members family...

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End of Watch

Good Cop, Good Cop
Directed by David Ayer, "End of Watch" is a police drama that celebrates the value of friendship and the all too frequently unsung efforts of police officers to try to keep the rest of us free from the violence and evil the officers constantly endure. The movie is set on a rough police beat in South Central Los Angeles and follows the activities of two young officers, Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhall) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena) as they cruise the streets and fight crime. Some scenes of the movie take place in the police academy or the stationhouse and show the cameraderie among the men and the women in uniform.

The movie is a mix of introspection and action. Brian and Mike depend upon each other for their lives, and they are fast friends. As they drive the streets they discuss their families, their respective ethnicities and backgrounds, their dreams and their women. Mike has been married to his high school sweetheart for eight years, while Brian has found a new romantic...

Great Movie!!! Very Real!!!
First of all, let me say that I am not a professional movie critic. So, I am just going to evaluate the movie based on my personal experience and enjoyability of the film. This film was phenomenal. It was very well directed. The plot was very credible and for those working on law enforcement, it will seem too accurate. The actors nailed it. It was also filmed like "Cloverfield", to make you believe that you are part of the action as a first person viewer. That was my only complaint. Since, this type of filming seems to give me headaches. Overall, I would give this film 5 stars based on the following: enjoyability, credibility, acting, costumes/clothing, special effects and plot delivery/transition and conclusion. This is not your typical "happy ending" cop movie. So, if you want a happy ending fake cop movie, do not bother watching this one. Great movie, overall. Very well portrayed.

A you-are-there, gut wrenching cop drama
If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a beat cop in L. A. without the danger, this David Ayer film may be as close as you'll get. Shot in the overused "found footage" style, we get a tension filled action drama with excellent character development and sense of realism. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena give memorable performances as partners who are also best friends and confidants, each inviting the other into their extended families.

Officers Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Zavala (Pena) are hot shot cops who want to do more than make traffic arrests while patrolling a mixed gang section of L. A. Sometimes heroic (rescuing children from a burning house or from an abusive home) and sometimes foolish (not waiting for backup) they manage to stumble upon an arm of a Mexican cartel involved in human trafficking. Taylor is filming everything as a project for a class he is taking at a local college. In addition to using a small traditional HD camera, he attaches mini...

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Witch's Brew

HorrorNews.net Review
When Jeff Ducker (Chris Magorian) and Preston Oakley (Gary-Kayi Fletcher), a pair of friends who run their own micro-brewery, accidentally run over a black cat that attempts to cross their paths, they go to the owners home with the best of intentions. Unfortunately for them, the animal belonged to a coven of witches, and the eldest witch, Brynn (Helenmary Ball), doesn't take kindly to the boys' peace offering of beer. She curses their freshly brewed batch of Slacker Lager, proclaiming "After you drink that beer, liver damage is going to be the least of your problems!"

The superstitious Jeff wants nothing to do with the supposedly cursed ale, but Preston insists that they sell it as planned. They deliver cases to local bars, liquor stores, friends and more. As the characters drink the alcohol, they drop like flies after suffering awful deaths. Witch's Brew is something like a (slightly) less bizarre version of Street Trash, although it's just as fun on most accounts...

Pretty Awesome
I went into this movie not knowing what to expect and came out loving it. I had the privilege of seeing it in the theaters, but can't wait to pick the dvd. If you like beer, boobs, and horror then this is the flick..

Horror Comedy on a Low Budget at it's Best!
I had the pleasure of seeing this movie on the big screen when it debuted at the Charles Theater in Baltimore. It's well written, the gags work, and the effects are done very well considering the tiny budget. Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!

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Beauty is Embarrassing: The Wayne White Story

An Entertaining Documentary Portrait Enhanced By A Bounty Of Valuable DVD Extras
As I sat down to watch "Beauty Is Embarrassing: The Wayne White Story," I really had no idea who Wayne White was. Within one minute, however, I discovered that I absolutely knew who Wayne White was! I've been a fan of his for more years than I can count, I simply had no idea. White's resume is lengthy and impressive. He works across many artistic realms and can alternately and simultaneously be called a puppeteer, a designer, a sculptor, a painter, and even a musician. "Beauty Is Embarrassing" is a modestly scaled documentary that serves as an effective introduction to the man and his contributions and/or as a tribute if you are already familiar with his work. It's a relatively intimate affair that gets up close and personal with White and family as they embark on new projects. In addition to these moments at home, we see a cross section of his work, interviews with his friends, co-workers, and those in the artistic community. And there is no denying that, despite his...

Prepare to be INSPIRED
I'll make this short. If you have an artistic bone in your body, you will probably love this movie. Nothing is more inspiring than seeing an artist who is true to themselves, is able to capture their uniqueness in their work and who's is appreciated by their audience on a level that they deserve. This is one of those storys about a person who's work you may know, but who's face you would probably not recognize. Growing up watching Pee Wee's playhouse influenced me deeply as a kid - little did I know that Wayne White is responsible for a lot of the content and visual elements that stimulated my young brain. His freedom of expression is downright inspiring, and pure of heart.

This Film is Not Embarrassing
Though not as famous as some other artists of his generation, Wayne White's voice is as authentic and personal as any. This film takes the reader on a raucous romp through White's life as told by the artist himself. Funny, lyrical and highly entertaining, watching this movie should make anyone want to leap off the couch and start making art! Highly recommended.

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Officer Down

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Claustrophobia

Claustrphobia
I thought it was a great movie. Russell Harvard was really good in it. Was very suspensful. Would recommend it to anyone.





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A Thousand Cuts [Blu-ray]

Just smoke and mirrors!
This movie is long on conversation, acting and drama. To spice things up a bit, the viewer is lead to belive that there will be some violence, torture, gore and even nudity happening soon. If you are hoping to see any of those things in this movie, you will be disappointed. This is more of a slow paced psychological drama centered on the morality of making movies nowdays that are "slasher/torture/porn" type. It is a good movie with good coversations dealing with this subject, but has little action, yet alot of anticipation.

CLIFF NOTES AREN'T BOOKS?
This is NOT a slasher film, it is a psychological thriller/drama. Lance Ross (Michael A. Newcomer) is a shallow Hollywood horror film director/writer who loves his sister. He has made a film franchise known as "A Thousand Cuts" based on an ancient oriental torture technique. As life imitates art, so it was. Oklahoma rube Frank (Michael O'Keefe) had a daughter who was a victim of the technique. He blames Lance and decides to have his revenge.

What I liked about the film was the crisp dialouge during the party. The characters were colorful. Frank, who comes across as a rube, has done his homework as he plans ahead. I expected a twist at the end more complex than what I got, i.e. Frank really being an actor hired by Lance's sister (Olesya Rulin) as that is where it appeared this thing was going and wish they would re-shoot the ending to suit me...but that won't happen.

The film does not contain any real torture scenes. There are glimpses of a torture victim (Madi...

CLIFF NOTES AREN'T BOOKS?
This is NOT a slasher film, it is a psychological thriller/drama. Lance Ross (Michael A. Newcomer) is a shallow Hollywood horror film director/writer who loves his sister. He has made a film franchise known as "A Thousand Cuts" based on an ancient oriental torture technique. As life imitates art, so it was. Oklahoma rube Frank (Michael O'Keefe) had a daughter who was a victim of the technique. He blames Lance and decides to have his revenge.

What I liked about the film was the crisp dialouge during the party. The characters were colorful. Frank, who comes across as a rube, has done his homework as he plans ahead. I expected a twist at the end more complex than what I got, i.e. Frank really being an actor hired by Lance's sister (Olesya Rulin) as that is where it appeared this thing was going and wish they would re-shoot the ending to suit me...but that won't happen.

The film does not contain any real torture scenes. There are glimpses of a torture victim (Madi...

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The Quiet Man (60th Anniversary Special Edition) [Blu-ray]

Wonderful Film - Be Careful Which DVD Edition You Get
*****5 stars for the film

Haunted by an incident that happened in the ring, American boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) returns to his Irish birthplace, seeking only his roots and a quiet, peaceful life.

He soon falls in love with the beautiful, tempestuous Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara). She is equally taken with him, but won't marry without the consent of her stubborn, blustering brother, Will (Victor McLaglen), who disapproves the match.

With the help of a well-intentioned scheme arranged by their friends, Mary Kate gets her brother's permission and Sean and she wed. Relationships spoil soon after, however, when Will refuses to pay the rightful dowry. Sean doesn't care, but Mary Kate is outraged and wants Sean to have it out with Will.

Time and again Sean backs down - determined not to use his fists - his inner tension building the whole while. But eventually he will have to decide between losing his wife's love and respect and facing his...

Crushing disappointment
I will not, as some feel necessary, go over the story/characters/performances of this film. Suffice to say, this is one the most enjoyable films ever made, blarney or not.

Rather, what I would like to briefly comment on is the utterly pathetic transfer of this classic film to DVD. It states quite clearly on the back of the cover that this film has been digitally remastered. I took that to mean both video and audio. WRONG. The picture quality of this DVD is shocking, one of the worst I have ever seen. Believe me when I say this -- the VHS version I purchased in 1991 has a better video clarity than this. At times it's actually difficult to make out the actors features. The company behind this, ARTISAN I believe they are called, should be ashamed. I have a copy of the recently released and remastered CASABLANCA DVD. That film was made in 1942, yet it looks as if it was just made, such is the sharpness of the video. The Quiet Man deserved the same treatment, but didn't get it...

Terrible DVD Transfer
i hate giving a classic a 1 star rating. the movie is nothing less than 5. but the dvd transfer is pathetic. i've seen better 2nd generation VHS to DVD transfers than this. what was the distributor thinking when they allowed this to be distributed to the public?? did they even bother to review the final product before its release? there's no excuse for this with todays movie restoration technology. hopefully we will see this movie re-released by a company who cares about art.

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Lurking Fear

Burial and Flesh-Eating, the life of a Tunnel Dweller
Lurking Fear isn't really that accurate of an H.P. Lovecraft adaptation, but, as far as movies go, what cinematic try ever has been? While this is a sad and movies have been dismissed (with good reason) because of this, I think it would be a bit rash with this movie. I say this because the movie is still entertaining, has a little bit of gore and a few tensely horrific moments, sports a good cast including the immortal Jeffrey Combs, and has a nice looking "monster" design.
The story is about a now isolated town that, over the years, has been steadily deprived of its occupants by creatures dwelling in tunnels beneath the local cemetery. Through haphazard means, our main characters Cathryn Farrells, looking for a little vengeance, and John Martens, looking for a fortune buried somewhere in the cemetery, find themselves teamed up with a disposable cast (poor Mr. Combs) as they try to live through the night.
Besides, subhuman creatures feeding on flesh-flavored...

"Merry Christmas!"
Lovecraft in name only, meaning a dead author has very little recourse whenever some yahoo `borrows' one of his ideas and mistreats it shamefully.
That aside, there really isn't much they could have done to spiff up this Christmas dinner. The plot is basic: strand a group of people in one location and pick them off one by one. There's nothing new or original there. The action is scattered at best, they don't even take full advantage of the below-dwellers. The `suspense' couldn't kill anyone, being almost nonexistent. It's amazing how they took so long to say so little. None of the performers excelled, even stalwart actor of the overdone, Jeffrey Combs, seemed a little anemic here, not that he was given much to do. And that's the best way to describe this film; it didn't really try to accomplish anything of merit. Horror by rote. I wasn't impressed.

70 laughable minutes of the least Lovecraftian Lovecraft adaptation on the market. But it's a bad, fun romp.
70 minutes of terrible...but I couldn't stop giggling while rolling my eyes. And yes, without the credits this really is only 70 minutes.

Really cheap sets and highly questionable acting raise a brow of doubt in the first 90 seconds of this movie. But don't worry, the writing is bad, too. So you'll get plenty of "oh, geez" laughs out of it. A lot of the scenes feel like they came out of some horror-themed soap opera--which doesn't speak well of the director of this laughable catastrophe.

The first scene sets an interesting tone. Two women and an infant are staying in some old church with monsters living between the under the floors. They know these monsters want to eat them, but they spend the night anyway and somehow are able to sleep...alone...with no one keeping watch. Low and behold, the consequence of this thoughtful plan was that someone got killed by some rubber-gloved monster-clawed arms reaching out from a vent in the wall.

You see, there...

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Breathing

Beautiful, touching, powerful, lovely and deeply satisfying
I fought hard not to fall in love with this movie, but I lost that battle. Words seem inadequate to describe a movie that communicates so effectively with very few words, words that only hold the story together but never carry the full weight of its power. But all I have here is words, so I must try.

Breathing is the story of Roman Kogler, a 19-year-old inmate of a juvenile detention center where he has lived since he was 14 and killed a boy who had been bullying him. Roman was given up by his overwhelmed teenage mother soon after his birth (she had almost killed him to stop his crying) and has spent his whole life in orphanages and group homes, where the bullying incident occurred.

He is almost catatonic, with no idea how to relate to other human beings. He's like a wounded wild animal held in a cage, never looking anyone in the eye and almost never speaking; I didn't count, but I'd be surprised if he said more than 50 words in the whole movie. Inside the...

great movie
quite, deep movie that goes to the root of who we are as human beings and what we yearn for in life.

satisfying
It reminds me of two other german films Antares and Everyone Else for sinking like a stone in terms of no frills perceptivenes; clear and profound in it's own way.
A german word : gestalt, meaning a comparison , wherein the one makes the other so obvious side by side ( ie black v. white.
In Breathing, a young juvenille offender discovers being around corpes brings out how poignant and lucky it is to still be alive and throws a fresh perspective on his life. ( It actually gives the viewer the same sense which is illuminating) Then he can ask the right questions to find accountability .Breathing illustrates the positive aspect of detachment in terms of being in a deeper space than people and places at the time.
I really liked this films intelligent neatness with just the correct amount of words and screenplay to carry its ideas across and an unavoidable gallows humour in places.
Great little film.

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Abel's Field

A different Christian film.
When I asked my gang what they thought of this new film starring Kevin Sorbo and Samuel Davis, they unanimously said, "It was different from other Christian films." And they mean that's a good thing. Abel's Field was well written, well acted and entertaining to boot.

Among many good messages in this story, I was particularly touched by Seth's dedication to his younger sisters. My kids also pointed this out as one of the things that made Abel's Field stand out. So often, even in Christian media, brothers and sisters are portrayed as annoyances to each other. It was a nice change to see an example of what siblings should be to each other.

Allen liked that Abel, the Christian lead in the film, was not a perfect saint. He was portrayed in a very real way that all of us can relate to. Just like the average Christian, Abel was struggling to overcome his past and gain victory over the sin in his life while trying to live out God's will, share the Gospel and be a...

These films are getting better...
I purchased this DVD simply out of a sense of obligation. If the Body of Christ fails to support faith-based films, every time we go to the megaplex it will be nothing but Naked Girls Part 2 and Blowing Things Up Part 3.

Using my incredible powers of deductive reasoning which are never wrong, I examined the cover and classified this movie as a rehashing of one of those Yoda and Luke Skywalker films. The angry kid learns important life lessons from a wise groundskeeper or trash collector or whatever.

Boy, was I wrong.

This time, Luke's anger management issues pale in comparison to the baggage Yoda is carrying. The story is complimented almost perfectly by the location. The small Texas town setting gives the film a "Friday Night Lights" kind of feel.

I won't name names, but I have sat through some truly awful faith-based movies. But "Abel's Field" is one of the best I have seen.

Sometimes the heroes are on the sidelines ~ Abel's Field
Sunday, January 27, 2013
DVD Review Abel's Field

Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle (Samuel Davis) faces enormous pressure as he strives to support his younger twin sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying from members of the football team. At work, he struggles to earn enough money to make ends meet. At home, he has no one to turn to.
When Seth fights back, he's singled out for punishment and assigned to an after-school work detail under the supervision of the reserved groundskeeper, Abel (Soul Surfer's Kevin Sorbo). Seth is surprised to discover that Abel understands his struggles ... and his dreams. Abel encourages Seth to ask out popular Katie and even steps in to babysit so Seth can go out on the date. Yet as dark circumstances lure Seth toward a desperate decision, a reluctant Abel could be the one person who points him back toward the light.

Abel's Field
Kevin Sorbo, Samuel...

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For a Good Time, Call... (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Light-hearted "sisters" comedy
"For a Good Time, Call..." (2012 release; 85 min.) brings the story of two girls down on their luck. Katie (played by Ari Graynor) lives in a fabulous apartment in New York which she no longer can afford. Lauren (played by Lauren Miller) has just been told by her boyfriend that he wants to "evaluate" their relationship and she needs to move out. A mutual friend, Jesse (played by Justin Long), brings the girls together and even though they have an unpleasant history together from their college days, they really have no choice but to try to make things work. And how they do! Lauren finds out that Katie, in order to make some extra money, works on the side as a phone sex operator. Lauren figures out that if they do this on their own, they'll make much more money.

While a heavy emphasis is made in the promotional materials for the movie (both on the poster and in the trailer) about the sex phone operation, the movie is in fact much more about how two girls who used to hate each...

Light-hearted "sisters" comedy
"For a Good Time, Call..." (2012 release; 85 min.) brings the story of two girls down on their luck. Katie (played by Ari Graynor) lives in a fabulous apartment in New York which she no longer can afford. Lauren (played by Lauren Miller) has just been told by her boyfriend that he wants to "evaluate" their relationship and she needs to move out. A mutual friend, Jesse (played by Justin Long), brings the girls together and even though they have an unpleasant history together from their college days, they really have no choice but to try to make things work. And how they do! Lauren finds out that Katie, in order to make some extra money, works on the side as a phone sex operator. Lauren figures out that if they do this on their own, they'll make much more money.

While a heavy emphasis is made in the promotional materials for the movie (both on the poster and in the trailer) about the sex phone operation, the movie is in fact much more about how two girls who used to hate each...

Super Funny Flick
I knew from the commercials that this film would be a little on the funny and goofy side of things, even cartoonish, but this movie has a lot of heart in it and in the end is a story about more than just a friendship; it's about a sisterhood. Loved everything about it!

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The "Dead End" Kids On Dress Parade/Hell's Kitchen

Dead End Kids Double-Feature
This Warner Brothers Archive Collection offering provides a double feature of two of the last three films in the "Dead End" kids movie series, both coming out in 1939, bracketing "The Angels Wash Their Faces".

"Hell's Kitchen" has the Dead End Kids (Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, and Bernard Punsley) being sent off to a reform school run by an odious, embezzling superintendent, Krispian (Grant Mitchell). A paroled criminal, Buck Caesar (Stanley Fields), starts making contributions to the school, intending to do good. While this works out briefly, Krispian frets about interference and about audits, leading him to want Buck Caesar out of the way, by arranging a likely parole violation. Meanwhile, the Dead End kids' antics to not ingratiate themselves with Krispian. Using a cold meat locker as a punishment leads to a tragedy for Bobby Jordan's character. There is a conflict over a pet dog too. At the resulting funeral, Krispian tries to...

Dead End Kids
The purchase of this DVD through Amazon completes my collection of Dead End Kids movie features. It was purchased for the purpose of completism. The movies themselves, whilst entertaining, were standard DEK fayre and the outcomes very predictable. The whole DEK movie output appears to be a "one trick pony", but as nostalgic material they fill the bill.



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The New Frontier

First time on Blu Ray
This was Duke Wayne's second film for the incipient Republic Studio. A great transfer for a 78 year old film. Keep them coming Olive Films

John wayne in 1935 action oater!
First of all the print is first class. The plot about Wayne picking up the badge to save churchgoing citizens from the tyranny of the saloonkeeper and his henchmen is a classic and the film balances somewhat between being an a- and a b-western. First of all it is a b-western though. There are lots and lots of fine action, Walter Richmond is a favourite mean and venomous villain and Al Bridge plays a touching role as a good/bad guy. Many other great actors for instance Earl Dwire and Glenn Strange give us brilliant entertainment. The many, many minutes long showdown shootout finale is amazing. No doubt about five stars!

A Fun B Western, A Beautiful Transferl But Overpriced!
This review applies to all of the Republic John Wayne B westerns released so far by Olive Films. I love B westerns and Olive Films is to be commended for bringing us these John Wayne B's in such pristine quality, even in Blu-ray if you desire. However at running times seldom exceeding an hour they should be presented as double features as this type of material has been since the earliest days of Beta & VHS tape (remember those early Nostalgia Merchant releases). List prices of $20-25 are just too high for single B features, even if "the Duke" is in them! More and more you are seeing double, triple and quadruple recent and classic "A" product on one or two discs for $10 to 20, no reason at all to be gouging us B western lovers for these. Double feature them and I'll buy them all Olive Films! As single features, sorry but not worth it!

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Hello I Must Be Going

Cure for Agoraphobia
This is pretty standard romantic comedy fare; the most amusing part is the May/December romance (well, not really December...) which features a (sorta) older woman and a younger man.

A recent divorcée has to move back home because her husband wanted the divorce and she has never held a job. Now she is caught in a spiral of embarrassment, ennui, and agoraphobia. Her well-meaning parents are anxious for her to get out and start to take an interest in life: she hasn't left the house for three months. They decide to throw a party for one of Dad's clients to pave the way for his possible retirement, while at the same time, to motivate their daughter to change out of her old t-shirt and meet some new people.

We meet:
* Melanie Lynskey ("Ever After") is Amy, sorely in need of an antidepressant; she mixes her metaphors and says, "I had the rug pulled over my eyes."
* Blythe Danner ("The Lucky One") is Ruth, her mother, who reads Dr. Seuss to her...

Engaging divorce and family drama
"Hello I Must Be Going" (2012 release; 95 min.) brings the story of Amy (played by Melanie Lynskey), a thirty-something who has just moved back into her parens' house after her husband left and divorced her. Amy hasn't legt the house in three months and doesn't get up before noon. In other words: depressed. Amy's dad, who is a lawyer, is trying to woo a potential new client, and at a dinner party with the potential new client and his extended family including his 19 yr. old stepson Jeremy (played by Christopher Abbott), Jeremy and Amy develop an instant crush on each other. Soon therafter, they have a fully blooming affair. Inevitably, one day, they get found out. To tell you more of the plot would ruin your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Several comments: (1) it must be Melanie Lynskey weekend for me here in Cincinnati: I just saw her yesterday in a (much smaller) role in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and now today she...

All Of Life's Little Curves At One Time
Although this film might be seen as formulaic, it's the two female leads that make it work. Amy is quirky & slightly puzzled & lost in wonder. Her mother is so grounded she can't seem to ever get off the ground. There are dreams & nightmares but they are real life for the characters in this movie & you get to watch how they deal with those moments because like all dreams & nightmares, they tend to come to a quick end. I wouldn't call this a slice of life but compressed life. I'm really glad I watched it & I'll watch it again. Melanie Lynskey is a wonderful actress & she has a natural beauty that reminds me of Kelly MacDonald & Emily Mortimer. Although I know it will not impress her to find this out, she has added another fan to her circle that I am certain is very wide & quite full.

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Birders: The Central Park Effect

Delightful Journey of the Seasons into Central Park
Nostalgia.

If you have "ever" been a New Yorker and Central Park became part of your life, then this movie is right for you!

Not only does this film have some of the very best color footage of Central Park that I have seen, but it covers three topics very effectively...First what makes birders "chirp" ...so to speak. How they think and connect to the natural world. Second, information that the entire park is a landscaped fantasy, not a natural world. Strange, when so much looks like it might have been wild New York back in the days. And third, the essential need to preserve wildlife habitat - because the Park attracts 25 per cent of all the birds in the United States as well as many migrants because there are no other good places to go.

There are four characters that play a role in the film. The birders, of course. One of them is an elder woman with cancer who has spent most of her adult life taking groups of people on bird walks through the...

A good gift for a bird watcher
We are bird watchers, and greatly enjoyed taking a virtual trip to Central Park in the winter, from our living room. Who knew Central Park would be a worthy destination for birders!

We enjoyed the birds, the people, and the park. We loaned the DVD to a friend, and she liked it too.

Would non-bird watchers like it? I don't know.

If you are looking for a gift for a bird watching friend, I highly recommend this DVD. It is much more entertaining than strictly bird-centered DVD's ("the birds of..." Or "hummingbirds" "hawks" etc).

Everything that The Big Year wasn't
Such a great documentary. I showed it to my ornithology class and they were all enthralled with the people in the movie. I really think they did an amazing job capturing the sentiment of birders and why we do what we do, knowing how crazy we must look to others and not caring in the slightest. You won't be able to watch this without falling in love with birds.

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Trust

One of the five best films ever made!
Hal Hartley's simple, brilliant masterpiece. Martin Donovan should have won an oscar for his performance as Matthew Slaughter. All the characters are written to perfection, and they complement each other perfectly. The film is as sad as it is hilarious (there are some 50 lines of dialogue that are worth quoting here). Matthew Slaughter's character is made all the more real by the ending. As an "empiricist" who doesn't believe in love, he can only understand what it is (love) once things turn in the wrong direction for him. The love between him and Maria Coughlin (Adrienne Shelly) is not one of those stuffy Hollywood romances, but a simple trust and understanding between two individuals (admiration, respect, trust equal love!). Further complicating matters between them are their downright sinister parents; Matthew's father beats him, while Maria's mother blames her for the death of her father. Simple, intricate, funny, sad, and filled with nuggets of...

Truly amazing, deserves better support from its Studio
This movie is considered the best Hal Hartley ever, even if some Hal Hartley aficionados may prefer Surviving Desire or Simple Men, But TRUST is the movie that grabs even non fans. As why it is not released in the US is hard to understand. I'm from the UK and Have to buy low quality region 1 DVDs as they are not released in the UK. this one is interesting as it is an Australian PAL import, so I get the better quality video. If you are a US Resident, do not worry, PAL video is better, each frame of film equals a frame of video, it runs at 25 frames per second and it has more pixels per frame, so you are watching a more film like experience. Regions on DVDs are just another bad idea from the Hollywood studios, but 90% of european DVD players are region free and if you look for your DVD model on the web, I am sure you will find a code to "region Free" it. as why the rights owner doesn't release all Hal Hartley movies in all countries, it is another story.

Black Humor, White Trash
If you like John Waters films (particularly "Female Trouble" and "Pink Flamingos") but were disappointed that they didn't quite clear the hurdle to being funny, then "Trust" is for you.

"Trust" is the follow-on to "The Unbelievable Truth," and features many of the same actors and themes. "The Unbelievable Truth," however, is a screwball romantic comedy, while "Trust" is flat-out black humor. If you're planning to watch both, watch "The Unbelievable Truth" first.

I spent the first half of "Trust" laughing, but wondering whether Hal Hartley intended it to be funny. By the end, it becomes clear that he did; this is one very funny film.

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Noobz

Hilarious
As someone who doesn't play that many video games, I still found everything very funny. There are plenty of inside video game jokes I was able to pick up on, but not too many where I was lost.

Funny as hell, Glad I bought it!
I've seen a ton of negative reviews about this movie, but honestly I thought it was amazing! Really really funny.

Best video game movie ever!
The title says it all. It's kind of a Kevin Smith(which I love)-esque type flick about gamers. The cast is awesome and the movie is ridiculous( in a good way). I had been anticipating it's release since I read about it last year. So glad I bought it. I'm not yanking your d**ks right now(you"ll understand after you watch it)!

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The Sex Thief: Remastered Edition

The Sex Thief
Many were the sex comedies that England made during the seventies, with a significant part released by Jezebel. I do remember watching some at the time, although I have forgotten most of their titles. But one that clearly comes to mind is the delicious "The Sex Thief," a spicy sex comedy directed by a young Martin Campbell, who would years later be responsible for James Bond's "Casino Royale" and "Goldeneye."

The film stars David Warbeck - who at one time was considered to play James Bond -- as Grant Henry, the sex thief, who, during the day, works as a "creative artist" - never figured that one out. He is an attractive guy and, when discovered by his female victims while conducting a robbery, they quickly fall for his charms, with one saying, "I should call the police," and Grant just answering, "Later." Yep, as simple as that. However, the cops are after him, due to a clue given by one aspiring actress, trying to get publicity, when she tells the police that, "he had a...

A Brit Sex Comedy Worth A Larf or Three...
[The Sex Thief AKA Her Family Jewels - 1973 - 88 minutes - directed by Martin Campbell - Widescreen] The late David Warbeck (who later appeared in three Lucio Fulci horror films in the 80’s and a ton of other films) stars as Grant Henry AKA the Sex Thief in this silly but surprising 1973 British sex comedy. A writer of trashy paperbacks, Henry moonlights as a masked jewel thief who is usually caught in the act but lures his female captors to bed. He is a criminal by choice, not by necessity. Bedroom gyno-gymnast that he is, the women all lie to the authorities about his identity and secretly hope to get burgled again and again.

A shameless Hollywood producer and a ditzy blonde wannabe movie star try to drum up publicity by claiming that the notorious thief assaulted her. Enraged and engorged that his name has been tarnished, our beloved Sex Thief purchases a toy gun and stalks the actress. In a forced apartment entry, he catches her in the bath before the pair...

hilarious
A nice recap of an old theme but with the added salacious sexual slant. Average and nice movie to while away the time.

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Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears

A rare look at Joe Frazier
A great look at the later life of Joe Frazier. Straightforward and honest portrayal of where his life has gone and how he got by at the end. Good interviews with family and friends help put his life and legacy in perspective.

What to expect
If you think this is a insightful view of one of the greats of boxing this is not it. ESPN did a better job in their production that was broadcast after his passing. Yes, there is some good interviews with Joe in his later days but still there is not any discussion about his career from his point of view. There is very little history here. It is really more about Marvis and his community work. The cover photo leads you to believe one thing...but it does not have the knockout you would expect.

Happy with Service but ...
The service for the film Joe Frazier: When the smoke clears was excellent and I would definitely use them again. The film itself left much to be desired! It was overly long and drawn out. I believe Joe's story could have been said in much better ways. That said, RENT the film and don't buy it!

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King of the Pecos [Blu-ray]

"The Duke" is King...Of The Pecos....
This review refers to the Artisan DVD of "King Of The Pecos"(John Wayne Collection)...

Alexander Stiles is a land grubbing, cattle rustling,water hording, lily livered murderin' thief. Nobody and nothin' will get in the way of the empire he is building for himself in Old New Mexico. He even goes as far as to have a hard working husband and wife shot down in cold blood in front of their own child. BIG mistake...little did Stiles realize then that this little kid would grow up to be The Duke..John Wayne!

Yesiree Bob..little John Clayborn comes back to town all grown up and with a law degree to boot. Now known as John Clay he's on a mission to help the townspeople that have all been swindled by the evil Stiles. The long arm of the law is no match for Stiles' murderin' ways though, and lucky for us, The Duke not only has a law degree but is a crack shot with a six-shooter as well! So let the range wars begin! Who will be the last man standing?...well..You...

Cleburn's Revenge
John Cleburn and his family were hard working settlers with legal right to prime western property. They happened to be on the property that the thieving Alexander Stiles set his sights upon. When Cleburn did not agree to sell his property, Stiles and his evil cronies just killed Cleburn and his wife and beat their son, leaving him for dead. But, he did not die, and you can imagine that John Jr. grew up with revenge in his eyes. He became a lawyer and a gunman. With those two talents, he eventually manages to ruin the evil Stiles Empire. John Wayne was the only one in the film with much acting ability. His two sidekicks are somewhat funny. As usual, there is a wedding at the end and JW is in it. This is a good film for all to see. Get your kids into the old Wayne films. They are clean and wholesome good fun.

King of the Preteens
I'm a big fan of John Wayne. Even in my youthful liberal days, I always stood up for him whenever my friends on the left would disparage him and his acting. "Forget his politics" I would say, "He's an outstanding actor!" The comment that "He always played the same role" led me to observe, over the years, that this discription would apply to 90% of all screen actors. The idea that a strong, forceful man of principle is the discription of a character role just doesn't register. The main problem with the career of John Wayne was that he made numerous poor decisions in the movies he chose to make. However, that is a flaw of his years of stardom. He made a lot of clunkers before he ever became a star but that was his role in hollywood; the Saturday matinee cowboy hero.

I have seen a number of Wayne's pre-"Stagecoach" movies and I decided to jot a review of "King of the Pecos" because it struck me as one of the better movies Wayne made during this period. It has an...

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Pina (3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray Combo Pack) (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Why $ 37.98?
Finally an important show of Great Pina's work. But, why $ 37.98 for a zone 2 dvd - plus shipment charges? You could get it direct from the British Amazon site for 8.99 english sterling pounds - plus about $ 5,00 shipment, which altogether is about half the price what the other sellers for this item are requesting. So far, there is available even a 3D blu-ray - and a regular 2D blu ray - in blu-ray-zone 2. Why not for the USA - blu-ray zone 1? Ah!, the merchants ... When will this nonsense about dvd and blu-ray regions stop. Greed is godd and necessary, but excesive greed is bad and stupid for everybody.

For the love of modern ballet and Pina Bausch
"Pina" (106 min.) is a thrilling documentary about/celebration of choreographer Pina Bausch's work. It is important to note that Bausch herself was involved in the preparations of this movie, but she passed away just before shooting beagan after a short but devastating bout with cancer. Director Wim Wenders halted the production, but the dancers of the Wuppertal Tanztheatre convinced him to carry on and to make the movie as a tribute to Bausch. And that it certainly is.

The movie showcases 4 major pieces by Bausch, starting with The Rite of Spring, in which the dancers perform on a thick layer of dark sand. The other pieces are Cafe Mueller, Kontakthoff, and Vollmond. The latter is truly remarkable: there is a huge rock on the stage, and a continuous waterfall onto the stage, which eventually gets flooded for the most part. The dancers splish and splash their way to, through and onto it and it is an incredible visual experience. A number of scenes are also filmed in and...

Wenders is a talented director: Pina Bausch was a giant.
I've never been entirely convinced by Wim Wenders as a narrative film director-- his talents have always been more situated in the realm of conceptual art than that of the storyteller. Here he gets a chance to apply his conceptual art strengths to one of the few great artists of our time, Pina Bausch. The results are often startling, enthralling, and affirmative.

The opening excerpt from Bausch's RITE OF SPRING ranks as one of the greatest pieces of filmmaking I've ever seen. There is no doubt that Wenders has found the best possible use for 3D. To be frank, I would have preferred to see the entire performance rather than the documentary which enfolds it, but ideally we can have both (hint to distributors: there are at least five DVDs to be gleaned from the various dances here. I'd buy all of them!!)

The central section of the film includes excerpts from Bausch's more cerebral work, and it is here that perhaps the film is less effective. While the work...

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Tales of the Night Blu-ray / DVD Combo Set

TALES OF THE NIGHT Delights With Tales of Whimsy And Adventure
I'm not a parent. Nor do I play one on TV. This isn't to say that I wouldn't know what to do with a kid. I'm an uncle, after all, and I've been around children long enough to know that - when properly nurtured - their imaginations are boundless. Each holiday season at a workplace children's event, I'm amazed at how quickly the boys and girls rush to the craft table for a chance to play and putter with glues, crayons, and stencils. They'll rejoice in fashioning together the most modest gifts that they take home to give to mom or dad or a neighbor. As I watch, I can see how committed they are to building something, making it sparkle, and bringing it to life in their own unique ways. And I'm amazed at how many parents sit beside their children experiencing much the same.

After watching TALES OF THE NIGHT, I'd imagine director Michel Ocelot lives his life much the same way as those children, embracing his insatiable desire to weave fairy tales of magic, mayhem, and...

Lights, Action, and....Glorious Color
This film is a continuation of Michel Ocelot's "Princes et Princesses". Both offer a selection of six short, brilliantly colored fairy tales in the style of The Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen. The tales share a theme where the obvious choice of the hero or heroine is not the correct one...instead the right choice must be made from the heart, wisdom, and compassion.

It is a matter of taste, but the story set in Africa was the most unusually beautiful and the one set in Tibet was the most conventionally pretty. I found no appreciable difference in visual quality between the Blu Ray and the DVD. What I have to discuss is the choice of voice options. There are three - English dubbed, French original, and French with subtitles. My strong recommendation is French WITHOUT subtitles...even for younger children. Why so? The English version is spoken by untalented actors - like most dubbed films. And the subtitles for the French version interfere with the visuals...

Simple, Yet Visually Dynamic, Animation Showcases Six Short Stories For Older Kids And Adults
While I know that the French animated import "Tales of the Night" is marketed toward a younger audience, I think that a slightly older crowd is more likely to appreciate the film's simpler charms. Director Michel Ocelot has mastered a shadow play style of animation that gives this film a distinctly unique feel compared to more frantic entries of the day. The film is comprised of six short stories, each with a specific color palette over which the shadow figures enact the drama of the tale. The stories themselves don't always break new ground thematically, but they have pleasing moral centers and positive messages. The approach, however, might appear somewhat subdued to kids reared on quick-cut editing, manic energy, and blaring soundtracks. It is a more mature audience, therefore, who will probably connect with the leisurely vibe and the visual beauty of the piece. The film is gorgeous to look at, with the Blu-ray really allowing the contrast of colors to pop!

The six...

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Fate/Stay Night: Collection 1 [Blu-ray]

A Great and Well Rounded Series
Shirou lives alone after his adopted father passed away and left him with a huge house. Shirou has the ability to reconstruct objects with his magic. He stumbles across a classmate and a couple warriors in a battle after school. He soon becomes part of "The Holy Grail War". A battle fought every so often to obtain the Holy Grail. The winner gets to make a wish. He becomes the master of a legendary warrior spirit. Her name is Saber. Togther with their ally Rin and her servant, Archer, they will fight against ruthless enemies for their 1 most precious wish.

This anime is simply amazing. It has action and drama mixed together with mythology and magic. The modern day setting with legendary mythical heroes is really cool. I normally prefer anime dramas (Kanon, Clannad, Air, etc.) over action series, but this anime combines the 2 genres very well. The voice cast, animation, story, and soundtrack are all top notch. It's a very addicting series. There are many great, and memorable...

Blue ray is a rip off, but the dvd is worth it
I have been a fate fan for a few years. This is series is very well thought out, action packed, and intelligent enough to keep almost anyone entertained and interested for years to come. This series has some problems, I will admit that. I.e. some of the continuity is lost because they try throwing in parts of the other story lines (there are 3) into the Stay Night story to make this series longer (not done as well as it could have been), another problem is the change of wardrobe for not apparent reason (You will know what I mean when you see it.), etc. I would still recommend this series to everyone.

Now to explain my review title. This series is AMAZING, BUT not worth 50$ for only half of it. The DVD version though is the COMPLETE series for about 35-40$ depending on where you are looking for it. This anime came out back in 2006. The quality difference is almost unnoticeable and it's cheaper.

My closing statement. This series is one everyone should watch. You...

BEST ACTION - THRILLER not for comedy, boobies and a$$es
this is really good it has mages wizards knights ninjas assassins beasts dark elfs gun-man all different kind of rules the plot is very thick suspense is very high it will put u in another world the music is cool as well however if u are watching this to get laughs and to see boobies or animated porn then this is not for you ...if you are stressed out and you want to watch fantasty and go into another world of horror fantasty mystery magic then i recomend watching this

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Baby Geniuses And The Mystery Of The Crown Jewels

Great for the kids!
Lots of action and CGI effects for the kids. Also some good educational elements as the geniuses travel to other countries.
The kids are adorable and the cast is really good. Lots of laughs. Jon Voight is hilarious.

Soooo bad
This really was terrible...although my 6 & 8 year old kids didn't seem to notice too much! Just painful for the parents

Ok movie
My 3 year enjoyed the movie and sat through most of it. It's not as entertaining as the first two Baby Genuis movies.

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Beck: Episodes 13-15

Beck Murder Mysteries
We have thoroughly enjoyed this series of Swedish police investigating murders in and around Stockholm. Even though it is subtitled in English, it is entertaining and full of twists, turns, and surprises!

We would recommend this series for anyone who finds mystery and solving the crime of murder socially redeeming.

Second to Wallander
After watching the Sweedish mysteries it is hard to go back to the American ones.Or the British series.
Fortunately Amazon has a few ones in stock and I am ordering them every time I get the announcement of a new arrival.

Please take note
I am very old and do not write well in internet...everything that I rate is because I lided it very much...that goes for all the ratings

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Little White Lies [Blu-ray]

Similar to a French Big Chill
Since I have an all-region DVD player, I was able to enjoy this exquisite movie about a group of friends who decide to take a previously planned vacation after one of them (played by Academy Award winner, Jean Dujardin) gets seriously injured in an accident. This character-driven movie deals with lies we tell ourselves, lies we tell others to keep face, and the consequences, positive or negative, for sometimes telling the truth. At the heart of it is the acceptance of friends for who they are, with their human frailties exposed. The ending, like the coming together of a complex tapestry, is extremely powerful and emotionally moving. There's not a false note in the fine ensemble cast. I sincerely hope that a Region 1 version will be released in the near future for North American consumption.

`The one thing friends can't escape is a few home truths.'
Guillaume Canet creates films (Tell No One, Whatever You Say, J'peux pas dormir..., Je taim) that though they are about love, loss and life, they probe more deeply into the human condition than the glossy entertaining surface can conceal. In the end all of his films demand that the viewer connects to his concept of the flow of life and death and those aspects of living that make a difference. Les petits mouchoirs AKA Little White Lies magnifies these attributes. The story is so conversationally written that for a while it is difficult to pull together where the film is going, but by the end of the film the audience is so choked by the discoveries revealed that tears and a stunned afterburn are inevitable.

Every year, Max Cantara (Fran

Flight of the Navigator [Blu-ray]

Reminiscent of the best of the Heinlein young adult novels..
Flight of the Navigator is a far better movie than we'd have a right to suspect.

Plot spoiler if you read further:

A few minutes into this film, 12-year-old David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is on an
errand to retrieve his 8-year-old brother, Jeff, when he falls into a gulley and is
knocked out. Regaining consciousness, David returns to his house, thinking only a
few minutes have passed, and instead of his parents and brother finds a locked
door and an elderly couple living there.

Taken to the police station, David is identified by computer records as a boy
reported missing eight years before. Despite the fact that he hasn't aged, he's taken
to the Freeman's at a different house nearby, and when he sees his parents
obviously older, he faints. He returns to consciousness again on a gurney on his
way to a hospital bed. A few minutes later, while his parents are called out of the
room by a somber-faced doctor, David is left alone with his...

Nostalgic Eighties Flick
I have nostalgic memories from watching this film as a kid in the eightees. Along with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "ET: the Extra-Terrestrial", this was one of my favorite sci-fi films. The concept of aliens and UFOs fascinated me. Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen out of circulation. Luckily I was able to get a copy of the VHS some time back. I hope Disney will re-release this film on DVD so we can see it in its original widescreen aspect ratio.

Joey Cramer is David Freeman, a boy living in a picture perfect Florida town in 1978 with his parents and bratty kid brother. However, he finds his life changed when he is knocked out in the forest for a few minutes, or so he thinks. When he returns home, he finds that it is 1986. David has been missing for 8 years, yet David himself has not aged. David's parents are now eight years older, and his bratty kid brother has grown up into a quite decent 16-year-old. David's quest to find out what...

See You Later, Navigator
While meeting his brother in the woods in 1978, David Freeman falls down a ravine. He gets up to discover that it's suddenly 1986. Where has he been for the last 8 years? Meanwhile, NASA has found a space ship. Is there a connection? Can they find a way into the ship? And who keeps calling David inside his mind?

I loved this movie as a kid. While the first part seems slow and rather obvious if you've heard of the premise, the second part is a fun ride. Once David meets up with Max, things pick up and the movie switch from mystery to comedy. Watching it today, I was impressed by the special effects. This movie is almost 20 years old and they still hold up very well.

This is basically a movie only DVD release. The film is presented in wide screen and surround sound. But for the price, you're getting a great deal.

While not great cinema, this is a movie that the entire family will have fun watching together. Get it today and enjoy.

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The Playroom

Great acting, didn't like the story.
The acting in this film was absolutely amazing - from the kids to the adults. Every single person in this movie should win an award. Beyond that, I did not enjoy watching this. It was depressing and needed more character development for the adults. I think, however, the reason the adults weren't developed was because the focus was these kids, which was ok - but I wanted more insight into the relationships and behavior of the adults. I guess I expected a drama and a coming of age story, but didn't expect such a sad, depressing experience. I felt really unsatisfied at the end. Maybe that's the point and I'm not artsy enough. I don't know.

It's About the Kids
At least the performances are kid-strong. Molly Parker and John Hawkes are brilliant at what they do. Wouldn't expect less but the children showed talent. Was surprised to see this film on Instant Video so soon because I expected it to go further. Felt like the story was truncated, though. Wasn't developed-enough around its apex.

Oscar Performance
This is one of the most moving films I have seen in years. Look out 2014 Academy Awards because The Playroom is going to steal the show! John Hawks and Molly Parker are nothing shot of spectacular! Yet the true star is Olivia Harris. She is absolutely beautiful and puts on a breathtaking performance. This is a must see!!!

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Berlin Philharmoniker in Singapore

A sensational performance
I was astonished by the performance of this work by the BPO/Rattle when I listened to it via ABC fm radio direct from the Sydney Opera House around the same time as this Singapore recording. At that time I realised that I just had to have it even though I have a few recordings already of Mahler 1. This dvd re-created for me that evening in 2010, where I remember an amazing feeling of being able to "see" into the orchestra to hear details I never knew existed. This is, for me, the greatest performance of a symphonic work that I have heard, live or recorded.

Muscians and Show people
the Berlin Phil is so familar to me. I know the first names of many of the muscieans. It is one of the few symphony orchestras that records for DVD. they are tops.



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Frontline: The Suicide Plan

Take control
This is well done and informative. If you don't want to feel helpless at the end of your life and you want a painless way out, watch this.

Frontline: The Suicide Plan - Synopsis of this documentary
I just purchased this documentary a week ago and also have seen it from my public library. I have been studying euthanasia
and medical assisted suicide for sometime now. Frontline gives excellent documentaries on various types of subjects such as
these. I have stage 4 kidney cancer in both kidneys and severe cardiomyopathy with a tumor on my heart and weakened lungs.
I was diagnosed with cancer in Jan. 2010 and the only states that allow assisted medical sucide is the states of Oregon and
Washington all other states within the U.S. look at euthanasia and assisted sucide as "murder". This is an excellent documentary
for the terminally ill and the loved one whom have to be care givers. It helps you understand what terminally ill patients are
going thru while on hospise care and pallative comfort care. You will see some of the patients and their loved ones whom are
caregivers coping with death and the terminally ill of their loved ones. You have...

Shows Both Sides
When is it mercy, when is it murder, to have assisted dying? Is the Oregon law an ethical choice for those in excruciating pain at the end of life or does it rob the person of redemptive suffering? Is it playing God to refuse help to someone begging for mercy or it is playing God to thwart death by continued medical treatment via machine or other extended efforts. This program examines both sides of the issue in an objective and equal presentation. An excellent effort in a time when society deals with the advances of medical care and the sense that sense is a failure.

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Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel

"D. V." -- Totally "divine"
A day or two after I saw this film, I was still grinning. Diana Vreeland, not unlike Auntie Mame, understood that life really IS a banquet. She was one of those remarkable "People Who Notice"; and through her unquenchable curiosity and enthusiasm she made us notice too. When I was a young person, growing up in Blue Collar USA, I scraped together allowance money to buy Vogue. It widened my horizons, and affirmed my urge to get to the Big City and become part of an urban creative environment. No mere "fashion rag", the exuberance and style of Vogue magazine represented a wider world - a place where anything could happen. Watching this film, we get to eavesdrop on that unique/lavish period in publishing, where boundaries were expanded, ideas flourished, and that giddy sense of "Why NOT?!" was rampant. This film covers her whole life (not just the years at Vogue) and it is a wonderfully-conceived cultural Time Capsule - with crisp, fast-paced editing, and a wealth of captivating...

Fabulous and fun
This is one of those films that makes you feel good. A brilliant woman, and delightfully eccentric, her impact on the fashion world (and beyond) is legendary. The film has several interviews with her and does a wonderful job telling the story of her life and career. The pace dips a little towards the end, but not enough to detract from this wonderful film. Diana is so captivating, full of energy, brilliant, and fun (albeit a tough cookie). Watching this film, there were several times I thought "I need to remember that quote!" Visually, the film is an absolute treat, and I highly recommend the book by the same name if you want a coffee table version of this movie. Bottom line, I would love to have lunch with Diana Vreeland... but since that is not possible this is the next best option.

I was hoping to give it as Christmas gifts, but they are not releasing it until February... which is too bad because this would have made wonderful stocking stuffers (Chanel stockings, of...

4.5 stars... celebrating the genius of D.V.
I had been looking forward to seeing this documentary for quite some time and it finally arrived in the theater here in Cincinnati this weekend. You betcha I went to see this right away! In the Fall of 2011, a hardcover book called "Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel" was released, to critical acclaim. Now finally comes the documentary.

"Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel" (2012 release; 86 min.) starts with a brilliant opening credits/photo-montage as the soundtrack features the Rolling Stones' "She's A Rainbow". After that introduction, we get a chronological look back on Diana's life. The beauty is that Diana herself does most of the talking in the documentary (taken from tapes she recorded for her auto-biography "D.V." in the early 80s). Of course there are a lot of celebrities (both A and B lists) giving their thoughts on how Diana influenced the fashion industry when she was at Harper's Bazaar and later at Vogue. When Diana found a new "face" (such as Cher, or...

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Indiscreet

Indiscreet is Indescribable!
Indiscreet is one of my favorite Cary Grant movies of all time!
Ingrid Bergmand & Cary Grant are at their all time most charming selves in this light-hearted romantic comedy. Bergman, who has shown her talents in suspenseful thrillers such as Notorious, is surprisingly outstanding in comedy! Will Anne (Bergman) who plays a famous stage actress and Phillip (Grant) an international financier get together? In the course of finding out, you will be delighted with the amusing interactions & banter which so accurately characterize men & women in romantic relationships. Ingrid Bergman is stunning and stylish and her apartment is to die for. Grant is debonair and charming as always. The lines in this movie are timeless! A favorite scene includes watching Grant dance with Bergman at a ballroom type function. This is a movie you can watch again & again and love even more each time.

Dark video + faint scratchy audio = big problems
From the first frame of the opening credits it was clear that the transfer was from a poor quality master and that no restoration had even been attempted. The picture is morbidly dark throughout. The sound level is atrociously low - I had to turn up the amp nearly to reference level to understand the dialog. The soundtrack was harsh, with strings braying like castrated trombones. The picture popped out of focus at least a half-dozen times, and on at least two occasions large black blobs sullied the picture. Republic/Artisan pat themselves on the back BOTH before and after the movie, for what I do not know. The announcement following "The End" startles, since it and it alone is recorded at the proper level.

I just A/B'ed this DVD with the "35th Annivesary" widescreen VHS and except for sharpness (which is lost in the darkness anyway) the Video wins hands down: the sound is at an appropriate level, and the vividness of the (Techni)colors is astounding.

This...

A great movie- a lousy DVD
I just bought this because it is one of my favorite movies and my VHS tape was kaput after so many viewings. DO NOT BUY THIS DVD!! It is supposed to be widescreen, digitally remastered and close-captioned. It is NONE OF THESE THINGS!! The film is full of lines, snow, etc. No re-mastering here. The menu only contains scene selection and play movie. If I thought I could get my money back, I would send this one back. It is most definitely NOT as advertised.

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The Paperboy (Blu-Ray)

Outstanding film about the human condition
I came to this film not knowing what to expect. I hadn't seen "Precious" so I was unfamiliar with Lee Daniel's work. Plus, I had read some of the negative reviews about the film, so I came to the film with some trepdidation. But from the opening sequence in which Macy Gray barges in on Zac Efron to clean up his room, and the hilarious dialogue between these two actors, I was hooked. Nothing about what I had heard about the film had anything to do with the actual film. It was at times sad, funny, bizaare, chilling, grotesque, romantic, menacing, and at times all of the above. It was like nothing I have ever seen, except perhaps for the films of Tod Soldendz.

This film, like so many great films, doesn't have a genre, so if the fact that it doesn't fit into some preconceived notion of a specific type of film upsets you, you are not going to understand this film. It is mostly a character study of all the motives, predjudices, obsessions, and secrets that each character in the...

A Haunting Film ...
This motion picture is difficult to watch in places; but it is without doubt one of the best films I've seen this year. Nicole Kidman's performance deserves an Oscar. Ms Kidman is truly an actress who cannot be forced into cookie cutter roles. She has proven throughout her career that she can assume the character convincingly no matter how different that individual is from herself ... a rare and amazing gift.

Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, David Oyelowo, John Cusack & Macy Gray also give outstanding performances. I especially loved the character played by Macy Gray ... a truly loving and generous character in the midst of a world that did not value her as she deserved.

The Paperboy touches many dark places known to human beings. The film is set in a small Florida town in 1969 ... a place you might expect to find the racism and violence depicted in the film; but by the end of the film, you may view these expected vices tame compared to the other human conditions...

The Most Underrated Film of 2012
With The Paperboy, we have the arrival of a major new cinematic talent - Lee Daniels. Though his first two films (the bizarre Shadowboxer and the extremely well-acted Precious) had their merits, only with The Paperboy do we finally see the maturation of his craft, the arrival of a distinct new voice. It is a hypnotically bold, daringly original, and utterly fearless film that seemingly effortlessly dances between drama and comedy, tenderness and tension, completely unafraid to go to shocking, dangerous places. It feels totally unpredictable, and nothing about it feels safe, which is something far too many movies are these days. The Paperboy hearkens back to the audacious spirit of American cinema in the 1970s, when filmmakers weren't afraid to make outrageous works like Deliverance and Prime Cut. In this film's world, nothing is sacred, and because Daniels is so assured with this approach, so completely in control of every moment, watching it is an enthralling, absorbing, exhilarating...

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Bleeding Through

Dark and Disturbing
Lindsey (Sandy Behre) is a shy girl. She is also going throuhg a lot. Her parents are dead, her boss is a jerk, her teacher at school is a letch and her brother continually nags her that they have to sell the house. Lindsey is showing signs of depression that are completely ignored by everyone around her. Her boyfriend thinks she's just being an ice queen.
Then she meets Katie (Ruby LaRocca). Katie is funny and spontaneous and tries to bring Lindsey out of her shell. Lindsey has started being happy, dressing up and in love with Katie.
All is going well.
Then the betrayal occurs that sends Lindsey to a tub of warm water and a razor. That one straw has been broken and she can't stand to be alive anymore. She slices her wrists. (Note: This actually occurs at the beginning of the movie so, I'm not giving anything away here. Back to the review)
Lindsey's lifeblood oozes into the tub and she dies.
Then she comes back.
What comes out of that tub of gore is the...

A Bloody Good Film
I just finished watching this film and it is visceral experience. The film tackles loss and mental illness in both subtle and overt ways. The soundscape is effective and adds to scenes that in less capable hands would fall flat. Henrique Couto is a true find. Support his work!

Bleeding Through

I REALLY LIKE YOU
Lindsey (Sandy Behre) is in despair. Her parents died a year ago and she still mopes about the house. She is almost non-responsive in life as her bad actor brother (Henrique Couto) explains over and over again she must move out so they can sell the house. Not only does he explain this to her several times, but goes home to a web cam and explains it all over to us again in case you missed that plot point.

Lindsey is dysfunctional. She sucks at work, school, relationships, and killing herself with a Trac II. The first hour shows us that college girl Lindsey can not function. The film is done entirely with a hand held camera, although not all scenes are being filmed by anyone other than an off screen camera man. Coupled with the horrible lines and acting, the film ranks as purely amateur with little entertainment value. With 20 minutes of film left, Lindsey assumes the DVD cover position, pushed to edge by bullies. Not much of a horror film. It is a bad concept drama with a...

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The Great Gildersleeve Movie Collection

The Great Gildersleeve!
Im an OTR fan and Im especially fond of The Great Gildersleeve. I own a lot of Gildersleeve episodes on cd and even some on audio cassette. A few years ago, I bought The Great Gildersleeve Movie Collection from another site. I was disappointed when I saw the packaging; one thin case with one DVD. I played the disc and part way through each of the four movies, the audio and picture got out of sync. This was very annoying and distracting. I paid about $9 for it, and so I just decided to keep it,thinking that thats probably as good as it gets since that was the only site even advertising this movie collection. When I saw this collection offered by Amazon the other day, I just had to take a chance and Im glad I did! This DVD is much better, the audio and picture are in sync and stay that way throughout each movie, and the picture is better quality than the other DVD I bought years earlier. Overall I am very happy with this purchase and I recommend it to any Gildersleeve fan.

This is fun!
It seems that there is a antural affinity for movies of he forties when you like old time radio (OTR) and vice versa. Gildersleeve had years of funny radio shows and it was natural they would lead to this series. If you liked the radio shows, get this.

It is fun and funny and Peavey is a scream

Memories of radio listening as a boy
My family tuned in "The Great Gildersleeve" over NBC every Thursday evening. The show was a favorite of mine, and the movies contained in this set bring back fond memories. Crisp, clear transfers. Recommended for fans.

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