The Matador

An amazing look inside the world and tradition of Bullfighting.
This is a fantastic voyage into the world of Bullfighting. You get to live in "El Fandi's" world and see him pursue his quest of completing 100 Corrida's in a single season. You see first hand the love of a family dedicated to helping David attain this dream, and the sacrifice they all make to see it happen.

Bullfighting certainly is not for everyone, but for those who can see the inherent beauty, and bravado this is sure to please. The documentarian also shows the people who protest Bullfighting, and question it's place in todays world. Bullfighting is ceratinly not without critics, but this film is about a mans total focus on attaining a dream, not a debate. To watch him in the ring is magical and majestic, he is trully one of the best Matadors. The score is also grand and the photography brillant. If this were about another topic, besides Bullfighting, this would surely have won and Academy Award.

If this topic interests you at all, buy the DVD, you will be...

Excellent bullfighting video!
I am a Spanish teacher and have been looking for a replacement video for a bullfighting unit that we do in class. This video is absolutely fantastic! It gives an excellent view into the art and shows many great quality video clips of the bullfight and behind the scenes involving what really happens at a bullfight. The video is in Spanish with subtitles and really gives the kids a workout listening and the musical score is outstanding. THIS IS GREAT FOR A SPANISH CLASS!

Next best thing to attending one.
I was very surprised at how beautiful this movie is and how well the matadors career is shown. I think it is a fascinating career choice in such a demanding tradition.

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Shaking Dreamland

Didn't watach it.
, read the write up and put this in the watch list then watch the movie later, do this alot

Powerful and Thoughtprovoking
This film treats a very sensitive subject in a very tasteful and powerful way. I like the movie very much. Philip Winchester is excellent and makes this tricky topic succeed. I highly recommend the film.



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American Cannibal

Fact or Fiction? You Decide
In "Network," his frighteningly prescient satire from 1976, writer Paddy Chayefsky only half-jokingly envisioned a day, in the not-too-distant future, when some innovative producer, knowing exactly the kind of programming the viewing public wanted to see, would create a series in which each week a different person would be assassinated on live TV - all to boffo ratings. Well, thirty-some-odd-years later, that day may have finally arrived, at least if "American Cannibal: The Road to Reality" is to be believed. This is a documentary that appears on the surface to be "straight" but which, one can only hope (and one frankly suspects), is actually a put-on. And if the movie ISN'T a put-on, then society may be more far gone than even the most pessimistic social critics have hitherto allowed themselves to imagine.

Nowhere in the movie do the filmmakers tip their hat as to whether this is a "real" documentary or simply a cleverly disguised facsimile of one. Each viewer is left...

Biting satire
Didn't know what I was getting into with this movie(like the contestants in the show). Really enjoyed it. Great for a peak into the dim, dark world of "reality" TV. Cynical humor. Underrated. So much better than so much out there.

American Cannibal
It is amazing what people will do for fame and fortune. Perry Grebin, the director and producer, did an excellent job. I'm looking foward to other movies he will be producing and directing.

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Sleepover

Aye...but what about the movie?
I can understand being a big Jeff Buckley fan, but I'm astounded to find that every review of this film focuses solely on his music...and not, as reviews should, on the film as a whole. I think that we should all be thankful that this film is now being released on DVD. Up until now, it's been nigh-unto-impossible to acquire, or even SEE. I was lucky enough to catch it on either the Sundance Channel or the Independent Film Channel (IFC), no doubt at about four or five in the morning, back in 1998. Back when I had Sundance and IFC, I would check them regularly for fresh independent films, particularly at ungodly hours of the morning, when they seemed to showcase some of their best movies. I caught this film from the very beginning and was completely captivated until the final scene. This is one of those movies that doesn't feel like a movie. It feels a lot like life, especially if you're young and know what it was like to be a teenager in the '90s. This film works wonders with...

Compelling Film
I saw this film in Berlin a few years ago and was moved by it's callow yet intense perspective of teenage angst. Coming of age, it is - or isn't. Disturbing, yet subtle. Performances were right on. The bully was the quintessential. Intense, brooding, a suburban star. Some of the dialogue was underwritten and trite. Buckley is a genius and it's a hidden jewel that he scored a film. Where are the actors now? Where is Sullivan?

"A true portrayal of the hardships of teenage life."
I saw this movie when it was at the Toronto Film Festival many years ago. It was an excellent depiction of what teens go through and how they are so affected by peer pressure. Michael Albanese did an amazing job as the popular leader of his peers. John Sullivan, the director, shot it in a way that made you feel you were actually a teenager again. I recommend this film with a big thumbs up!

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Wall

"First of all, we see both sides as ours."
In the documentary film "Wall", filmmaker Simone Bitton travels to Jerusalem to chronicle the building of the immense concrete wall that separates the Jewish population from the Palestinians. The wall--which is about 500 kilometers long--is built at the cost of $2,000,000 per kilometer, and it winds in and around Jerusalem.

The film begins with one section of the wall and just the voices of children--many of Bitton's interviews do not include the faces of those filmed. The children speculate about the ethnicity of the filmmaker before she begins to ask them questions about the purpose of the wall. From the voices of these children, Bitton moves onto the construction of the wall itself--it's made from huge interlocking concrete slabs, and the camera focuses on the placement of these slabs until the entire skyline and the beautiful view is entirely blocked.

"Wall" contains moments of startling purity--a young Israeli settler named Moti speculates exactly how he'd...

protection or partition?
In 2002 Israel began constructing a 400-mile "fence" along the Green Line that separates Israel and the West Bank. This "wall" consists of 25' concrete panels, trenches, endless razor wire, guard towers, sensors, alarms, cameras, radars and check points. It is only 50 yards wide, but in fact it symbolizes an immense geo-political gulf. Director Simone Bitton was born in Morocco, educated in Paris, and resides in Jerusalem. Fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, French and English, she uses the crude architecture of this "wall" as a rich metaphor of the political debacle in the region. Yes, in some sense the wall "protects" Israelis from terrorists, but of course it also imprisons them, exacerbates the strife, and partitions normal citizens on both sides, almost all of whom who were interviewed in this documentary hate the wall. "Without peace," remarked a foreman on the job, "this fence is worthless." In Hebrew and Aramaic with English subtitles.

Israel.....wow
They are becoming the same people that prosecuted them in WWII , it seems that they learned how to apply their previous suffering onto others. Sad.

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Zus & Zo

Entertainingly Quiet
While Zus & Zo is not a movie that will make you laugh out loud or cause a downfall of tears it is a mildly touching and quietly entertaining portrait of life. It is an interesting and at times smirk-inspiring film, but with an all-to-tight ending that leaves too many questions about the future. The acting is fine and the cinematography is unobtrusive, but the emotional connections are few and far between. Once you begin to identify with a character, they are ripped away from you by an evil act, or quick phrase that turns your stomach. A beautiful montage, a great song over the closing credits (Sarah Bettens' "Someone to Say Hi To") are not enough to lift this movie to the heights of top ten lists for the year. This Acadamy Award Nominee, deserves a look, but for most one will be enough. My advise: Rent before you Buy.

not great by any stretch of the imagination
Back when I was considering a move to Holland or Belgium and was immersing myself in the Dutch language, I got my hands on this film, hoping for the best. Generally, I have enjoyed Dutch cinema, so this was actually quite disappointing. It is not that this was a terrible film; the story was actually fairly interesting. A group of busy, very different sisters conspire to sabotage their brother's upcoming nuptials in order to safeguard a family property (he will inherit it if he marries). Having believed for years that the property was safe (because the brother was widely perceived to be gay) the sisters are shocked and band together, despite their very obvious and frequent differences. Overall not a one of the characters here is very likeable, and though I applaud films that take a candid look at real people with real personalities (likeable or not), this one just rubbed me the wrong way. It's watchable but not great by any means.

Oscar nominated relationship drama...
Three sisters are in a predicament about their beloved gay brother, Nino, who has decided to marry a woman. Nino has also decided to sell the family hotel Paraiso which is located in Portugal, and this upsets the sisters as it is a haven of family memories. The marriage is planned to take place within three weeks at the family hotel, which gives the sisters a very limited time to find a way to sabotage the wedding as they want to keep the hotel in family. In the quest for sabotaging the marriage the sister's own relationships undergo revelations. Zus & Zo is a fun drama that offers both entertainment and thought, which in the end provides a good cinematic experience.

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No Way Out

Unbridled racial strife
Joseph L. Mankiewicz's able direction accurately chronicles the ugliness of racism as seen through the eyes of the characters in the flick "No Way Out".

Sidney Poitier is his first starring role plays dedicated and idealistic physician Dr. Luther Brooks. Poitier is working the prison ward of the county hospital when Ray Biddle played by Richard Widmark and his brother Johnny are brought in. They both had been shot in the leg by cops during a gas station heist.

Widmark, a hellacious bigot, balks when he and his brother are examined by a black doctor.

Poitier becomes suspicious that brother Johnny Biddle is in much more dire straits than from just a leg wound. Fearing brain damage he performs a spinal tap but the patient expires during the procedure. Widmark immediately blames Poitier for killing his brother. Poitier with full support of his boss Dr. Wharton played by Stephen McNally, requests an autopsy to prove the suspected presence of a brain...

No Way Out
There's nothing much subtle about NO WAY OUT. Two men, two brothers, are injured by the police while committing a petty crime. The men are transported to the prison ward of the county hospital, where one of the brothers dies while being treated by a young intern. The surviving brother vows mortal vengeance. The doctor needs the approval of a family member to conduct an autopsy to prove his competence and relieve his conscious.

It's a suitably sturdy set-up for what could have been an unspectacular urban melodrama. Trouble is NO WAY OUT is pretty spectacular. For starters, the young doctor is black and the surviving brother is a virulent racist. The talent behind the movie is, to put it mildly, impressive. It begins with the amazing producer Darryl Zanuck, the motor behind such thinking-person movies as The Grapes of Wrath & The Snake Pit, and who seemingly was incapable of making a bad movie. Joseph L. Mankiewicz wrote and directed this movie, and though nominated...

SIDNEY POITIERS' FILM DEBUT PACKS A WALLOP !
Any film noir starring Richard Widmark and Linda Darnell, with script and direction by Joseph Mankiewicz is sure to rate atleast 4 (out of a possible 5 ) star rating.Add the great Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee to the cast and your edging closer to a 5 star rating, and makes this film is the quiet, understated performance by Sidney Poitier, in his film debut.The three leading players Linda, Widmark (never better as a ugly racist] and Poitier come to life vividly under Mankiewiczs'expert direction.Wonderful commetary by Eddie Mueller,who is also a great fan of the of that forgotten treasure LINDA DARNELL.Great to know Fox is releasing two great noir films on June 6-2006-"I WAKE UP SCREAMING", and "HOUSE OF STRANGERS", (also directed by Mankiewiczs).Another Fox noir "BOOMERANG" will be released the same day.TO me "BOOMERANR" is not up to the same level as the other two.

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Boomerang!

Goes on Sale Again September 2!
Update!! It's in stock and for sale at Amazon Canada at CDN $16.99. Maybe Amazon U.S. can't get this disk. (limited release?)

(I have tried to ask customer service twice why this DVD is not listed. It is listed on Amazon Canada as a pre-order.) This DVD was released once before but it was withdrawn from sale soon after. It is based on a true story-a drifter(who is not guilty)is arrested and charged with the murder of a respected citizen in a small town. This nightmarish scenario is handled wonderfully well in a semi-documentary style by the director Elia Kazan. Dana Andrews gives another excellent noir performance.

Part of the flowering of post war films
Dana Andrews had just appeared in the acclaimed Best Days of Our Lives, when Director Elia Kazan lured him to do this film. It is a fine piece of work as Dana Andrews plays a moral man in a political and moral quagmire of an ordinary American town. The documentary style was often repeated, but Kazan got it right first time.

It is a feast of fine acting with the camera moving from one small story to another. There are so many good actors in this film, but Lee J. Cobb delivers the best as the old time police officer.

This film was made just before the HUAC investigation of Hollywood which drove out social criticism of American life. It is an example of where Hollywood was going before the investigation strangled the life from Hollywood. The Best Days of Our Lives was another example of this type of film. It is direct and honest.

The choice of ending where it is not made clear about the killer makes it all the more interesting. I have no idea why this film is not readily available...

A killing in a small town
Elia Kazan's third directing effort was "Boomerang!" - a solid murder drama that explores the sometimes polluting effect that politics exerts on the legal system. In a small town, a beloved pastor is murdered in the street, shocking the local residents. Dana Andrews plays the prosecuting lawyer trying the case: clearly the biggest assignment of his career. A shifty ex-serviceman (the talented Arthur Kennedy) is indicted and appears unquestionably guilty. But is he? Everyone involved in the case seems to have an ulterior motive, and Andrews' character is determined to see justice prevail. The Oscar-nominated story was inspired by a true case; Andrews portrays Homer S. Cummings, who later became U.S. Attorney General in the FRD administration.

Despite being a satisfying crime drama, "Boomerang!" is a relatively neglected film, especially among Kazan's outstanding canon. Why has it been ignored? All aspects of the film essentially are good to very good, including the...

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That Lady In Ermine

Betty Grable Sparkles In An Unusual Musical
"That Lady in Ermine" should have been a huge hit but had too many things against it. Betty Grable fought against making it but with the big success of "Mother Wore Tights" studio chief Darryl F.Zanuck pushed her into it hoping to create a different setting for their top box-office star. Grable gave it her all and got along very well with director Ernst Lubitsch who thought she had great beauty and comedy timing. Shortly into production Mr. Lubitsch died leaving Betty confused and insecure. Her leading man couldn't sing or dance and director Otto Preminger (a difficult, demanding man) took over.
Betty looks great and delivers her usual professional performance. Originally eight songs were written but cut to four. The songs are fun (particularly "Oooo What I'll Do" while the ballad "This Is the Moment" earned an Oscar nomination). But without the other four the film is too talky. It needs more music and only comes to life when Betty sings and dances. Her costumes are...

THAT GORGEOUS GRABLE IN ERMINE
There's two Betty Grables in this delightful musical fantasy, and she may never have looked lovelier. Producer/director Ernst Lubitsch intended her role to be a spoof in a royal seting of the typical Betty Grable movie heroine. History repeats itself when a ruling countess saves her kingdom from an invading army with a happier ending the second time around.

Classic Lubitsch title
It took me a couple of viewing before I really enjoyed this musical. Very offbeat for Grable and the film flopped at the box office. The film has some beautiful songs. Was surprised at FOX's MOD release. The colors looked quite good and no complaints about the audio. Now if only FOX would release THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM, which also stars Grable.

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Man On A Tightrope

Five stars for the movies themselves, BUT...
There's no question that many of the films in this collection are among the greatest movies of all time, but there is a major quality control issue in the release of this set. I just received a new, sealed copy, and while the packaging itself is very handsome, I was stunned when I took the discs out to examine them. In the set I received, EVERY one of the 18 discs had scuffs, scratches and what appeared to be flecks of adhesive on the playing surface. The DVD of PINKY in particular looked liked it had been scraped against a rough piece of metal. I can only assume this was the result of careless handling somewhere in the production process. My advice to anyone thinking of purchasing this pricey set is: if you really want to add the rarer films like VIVA ZAPATA! and WILD RIVER to your collection right now, you might take a chance and get it. Otherwise, I would hold off until these titles are (hopefully) released individually in the future.

Great films marred by 20th Century Fox's disregard for customers.
From a motion picture standpoint most of the films in this collection are "must sees" for any one who loves movies, or are a serious student of film. Unfortunately if you bought this box set your chances of enjoying these movies have been compromised by the cheap and shoddy way that 20th Century Fox has chosen to release it. Instead of providing individual DVD cases for the DVDs, the discs are packed into a booklet. However the glue that has been used to keep the booklet's pages together have gotten on to the discs rendering them defective. In the first set that I received of this collection, more than a half dozen of the discs had multiple globs of the glue on them and could not be played. Additionally almost all of the discs in the collection had scratches, scuff marks and some even had finger prints on them. Apparently 20th Century Fox has no quality control or regard for the consumer otherwise the disgraceful packaging of this set wouldnt have occured. The second...

Wish Tree Grows in Brooklyn Would be Issued Separately
I think this is great for collectors who don't have many of the films but many of us have many in this collection.
TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN is absolutely wonderful and deserves to be issued separately. I can imagine how many high
schools alone would buy it. They could do it in their CliffsNotes series like they did with JANE EYRE and ANNA
KARENINA. I am greatful to TCM for showing TREE often and they have a terrific print. Another great film, SUNRISE,
was never issued separately but at least it was in its own case and many copies turn up on e-bay. For me, the greatest child performance is still Peggy Ann Garner's in this film and there are terrific performances by Dorothy McGuire, Joan Blondell and James Dunn. Please, 20th Fox, put this out as a separate entity.

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Stonebrook (Web Of Lies)

Excellent Film
Stonebrook is one of those movies inevitably called "a sleepy little film," and in this case, it's an apt description. A low budget indie that evidently went straight to video without hitting cinemas, Stonebrook is well worth the rental money, and is in some ways more satisfying than a lot of big budget blockbusters.

Erik Landson (Brad Rowe) is working as a farmhand when a friend of his late father's, a police detective named Oliver Franklin (William Mesnik), wrangles him a scholarship to Stonebrook University, a fictitious branch of the Ivy League. Erik is accepted at the college, so he packs his meager belongings into a battered Ford pickup, and hits the road.

Unfortunately, he soon learns that the police department scholarship is contingent upon a blood relationship with Franklin. His funding suddenly revoked, Erik has to produce some money fast, and his nerdy roommate Cornelius (Seth Green) proposes a get-rich quick scheme.

The two immediately run afoul of a small-time...

Good for Indie fans & a must for Seth Green fans
While this independent film is flawed, it is nevertheless a gem and time worth spent. If you like suspense-yarns that don't spoon-feed you all the plot connections, you will have fun watching this one. On the other hand, if you need to have everything spelled out for you, this one may be a brain-struggle. Personally, I favor movies that let me do a bit of the work myself. But whatever camp you're in, I think you will ultimately walk away having enjoyed it. Another reason to check this one out is Seth Green who, as always, is in top form. What I like about Seth is how he always brings flair and depth to his characterizations. He is a charming and talented actor, so I wish he had had more screen time. Brad Rowe is well suited as the farm boy lost in a big city, but his performance lacks dimension. For those who haven't seen it, try not and read too much on this movie before seeing it. I've deliberately not delved into what the movie is all about here...you'll have fun finding...

A disappointing indie in which the audience is the mark
I picked this direct-to-video film up based on my respect for Seth Green. It was, unfortunately, a mistake.

This movie, a first-time venture for both Byron Thompson and Steve Morris, ends up failing in so many respects that its skipping theatrical release was as predictable as much of its plot. While the indie market is flourishing, more films like this could stop it in its tracks.

When Erik (Brad Rowe) enters the ivy-league Stonebrook on a bogus family scholarship engineered by a family friend (Bill Mesnik) it is, of course, too good to be true. In the first few minutes his scholarship is revoked and he falls helplessly into the hands of his nerdy roommate Cornelius (Seth Green) and a small-time criminal named Tali (Stanley Kamel).

Cornelius and Erik begin to dupe virtually everyone around with their elementary confidence scams before discovering they are in much too deep. In the midst of the myriad scams, Erik finds a love interest in the form of Londyn (Zoe McLellan) who...

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Undertaking Betty

A great English comedy that has been criminally overlooked...
Death can be funny; at least it is in the small Welsh town of Wrottin-Powys, population 7,500. The town indeed has some zany and eccentric characters who seem to want to capitalize on our journey into the afterlife, not the least is big-haired eccentric funeral director Frank Featherbed (Christopher Walken) and his nerdy assistant Delbert (Lee Evans).

Frank and Delbert have a whole new angle going and have begun to offer to the townsfolk new types of funerals. Their latest catch is a "fantasy funeral" in which the deceased dream is realized in the service. One has a Star Trek theme because it was her favourite show, and another is a star on Broadway.

Alfred Molina's Boris Plotz is the rival undertaker who has been forced to hide his secret thirty-year crush on Brenda Blethyn's Betty Rhys Jones. They have always shared a passion for ballroom dancing, but the dutiful Betty's father insisted she marry Robert Pugh's self-important and arrogant Hugh, who was actually...

Totally silly in a good way
This movie is a riot. Stumbled onto it 15 minutes into it, but was immediately intrigued and had to watch. Watched it again a week later with my husband, and we laughed our butts off. The plot is ridiculous, of course, but clever and very funny. The casting was superb, as was the acting. It's great to see someone like Alfred Molina, who was such a...jerk...in Chocolat play such a tongue-in-cheek role, and Brenda Blethyn, as always, has fantastic comedic timing. This is destined to become a cult classic, just like her film Saving Grace. And Naomi Watts is great. Didn't even recognize her because she's so different in every role, but she plays the diabolical mistress to the hilt.

Highly recommend for a break from a stressful day.

Funny Movie
My husband & I saw this movie on a Princess cruise when it was titled PLOTS WITH A VIEW. I tried buying it after I got home, but it was not available in the US, until last year, with the title changed to UNDERTAKING BETTY.

It is rated "R", but I think it is wrong. There is no fowl language, but there are some scenes that young children shouldn't see. In this day and time, I would rate it PG-13.

I have watched it three times and I still laugh everytime I see it. It is a typical British comedy with hilarious situations.

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Heaven Can Wait

"A passport to Hell is not issued on generalities."
At last, this timeless romantic comedy has gotten the Criterion "treatment" and is being released on dvd. Don Ameche stars as Henry Van Cleve, an over-the-hill former playboy who has died and gone to Hell. But Satan, or "His Excellency" (Laird Cregar, giving one of his very best performances!) isn't convinced that Van Cleeve belongs there, so Henry tells him the story of his life (through flashbacks of course).

Growing up a Van Cleeve wasn't easy, and young Henry had no one to turn to for help (both his parents are somewhat out of touch with reality!) except his wild grandfather (Charles Coburn), who is obviously not a very good role model for Henry. As Henry becomes a man, he starts pursuing young and beautiful women, and finally meets a respectable young lady, Martha (Gene Tierney). The problem is that Martha is already engaged to a relative of Henry's! But, he wins her over and they elope and begin their life together.

After ten years of marriage, Martha walks...

A witty, humane, thoughtful movie directed by Ernst Lubitsch and written by Samson Raphaelson
"As Henry Van Cleve's soul passed over The Great Divide, he realized that it was extremely unlikely that his next stop could be Heaven. And so, philosophically, he presented himself where innumerable people had so often told him to go."

Henry (Don Ameche) is greeted courteously by His Excellency (Laird Cregar). "I presume your funeral was satisfactory?" the devil asks. "Well...there was a lot of crying," Henry says, "so I believe everybody had a good time." His Excellency explains that while he will consider Henry's request, there must be good reasons to avoid going Up There. "If you meet our requirements, we'll be only too glad to accommodate you. Would you be kind enough to mention, for instance, some outstanding crime you've committed " "Crime...crime...I'm afraid I can't think of any," Henry says. "But I can safely say my whole life was one continuous misdemeanor."

Heaven Can Wait is the witty, nostalgic, gentle and surprisingly thoughtful tale of Henry Van...

Perfectly made, brilliant script
This was Don Ameche's finest film. For once, he had a first rate director and script and a chance to take the centre stage in a comedy. He plays a lifelong flirt who, in spite of his love for his wife, can't help himself when he encounters a pretty woman. Whether it be due to the Production Code or otherwise, his actions are very genteel and neither the audience nor his wife take him very seriously but his charm and humour create a warm and funny character.

All the other actors shine in their roles. Gene Tierney is subtle, versatile and graceful as Ameche's wife. It is a mystery to me why she is sometimes singled out as mediocre. She has some very complex dialogue which she delivers faultlessly, her timing is excellent and she ages very convincingly. Charles Coburn as grandpa has the best lines, Signe Hasso as a French maid steals every scene in which she appears and Eugene Pallete as Tierney's father-in-law, Mr Strable, is very funny. There is a memorable scene between...

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The Collective

The best captured moments of freeriding.
When watching mountain biking movies, you assume they will be showing crazy descents, big air, crashes, all to a rocking sound track. This movie has all this, but it also has a whole lot more. This is not only the visions of downhilling, but also the thoughts, feelings and spirit involved.

What catches you first is the film shot. Bar none, the best footage ever shot. Sharp, clean, and artistic, just like the riders. You can tell a lot of work went into shooting and editing this movie. It is just beautiful, and with the sound sound track, it just captures you and gets you involved with the film. It does have it's rocking moments, but what gets you are the mellow, soulful soundtrack in between.

Lastly, the riders narration brings you that much closer to the film. They express their feelings, what they are going through, what they have planned and why.

I could watch this film a thousand times and never be bored. The beautiful scenery, the...

Well rounded video
A very nice collection of 8 different terrains using excellent camera angles, long cuts of video, and good match of music. DVD put together very well with various chapters behind the scenes, interviews, and awesome crash footage. I very much recommend this video for anyone who enjoys off road, air/freestyle, and/or urban trials.

the spirit of freeride mountainbiking
well there are so many mountainbike videos out there but In my opinion none of them were able to really catch the spirit of freeride- mountainbiking. but this time it's different. the collective is the most stylish bike film ever with an incredible camera work, absolutely great music, beautiful riding-spots and in my opinion the first bike film ever that was able to bring the spirit of freeriding to the screen. I had tears in my eyes when I saw this film the first time ! If you're looking for a really good mountainbike film then buy THE COLLECTIVE !

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Peter and the Wolf

Technically stunning, and thematically dark
"Peter And The Wolf" (2008)
Technically stunning, and thematically dark, this amazing adaptation of Sergei Prokoviev's classic children's piece, features marvelous stop-motion animation from director Suzie Templeton.

The film places "Peter" squarely back into its Russian origins, but rather than an idealized rural-agrarian past, it places the story in a more modern setting, amid glum, drab, rundown shacks and tattered forests, a grim vision of a Soviet-era or post-Soviet Eastern Europe, complete with gun-toting thugs (the hunters of the original story here seem more like cold-hearted militiamen) and the nearby village appears as a rundown, dismal cinderblock outpost. Amid this crushing gloom, Peter finds wonder and joy, unlocking a secret garden where he and his friends the bird and the duck (both crippled and unable to fly) are able to play and forget the bleakness around them.

While this may sound a bit miserable, the film itself is a marvel: the amount of...

Beautiful, stark and amazing!
Suzie Templeton may be little known outside of the world of stop motion animation circles, but she is an incredible talent with a penchant for dark, thoughtful and sometimes twisted short subjects. With Peter and the Wolf she delves more into the mainstream and handles her biggest project to date.

Templeton has weaved together an international co-production between studios in Britain and Poland, using stop motion animation and digital effects to create a modern retelling of the Sergei Prokofiev musical.

There are plenty of reviews of the movie itself, but the amazon.com description does not include information about the plethora of extras on this new Region 1 DVD. Included are:

The musical themes
The story in pictures
The making of Peter & the Wolf
Behind the scenes documentary
Audio commentary
Educational workshop

If you are worried about buying an $18 DVD for just a 32 minute feature, you can rest assured you are...

Peter without the narrative (or Prokofiev's ending)...delightful, brave and touching
For a young boy, unhappiness can be a natural state. Peter and his aged grandfather live in a scrabbly old farmhouse on the edge of a forbidding Russian forest. The grandfather has built a wooden fence around the dirt yard and forbids Peter to go into the forest, where dangerous things lurk, like wolves. Peter hates this. All Peter has for a friend is a scruffy, long-necked duck. When he goes into town two hunters bully him. Still, Peter is a good kid. He helps a bird with an injured wing fly again with the help of a balloon. He sneaks out and plays on the iced pond, skittering and sliding and joined by the duck. He accepts his grandfather's fat, fat cat as a creature perhaps not to like, but not to hurt. Peter even manages to catch the dangerous, hungry and mangy wolf in his net. Peter stops his grandfather from shooting the wolf. When he and his grandfather take it to town, Peter is a hero. But it's not to last. Those hunters show up to taunt and bully the wolf. Peter stops them...

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Lucia, Lucia

A Labyrinth Well Worth Entering
Director Antonio Serrano obviously holds his contemporary Pedro Almodovar in high esteem: he has found the same sharp edge between reality and fiction, uses some of the same actors, and most important, satisfies his audience with a first rate product.

LUCIA, LUCIA is a tour de force for the brilliant actress Cecilia Roth. Cast as the wife of a man she barely knows after many year of marriage, a man who mysteriously disappears on the eve of their Latin American holiday vacation, Roth moves from dowdy plain-Jane to sensuous beauty in the course of the story. Roth (Lucia) is a writer of children's books - silly stories about chickens and ducks illustrated by a young artist (Adrian) who is not only intelligent but also very handsome and passionate (Kuno Becker, in a career-making role - he simply has it all.) From the outset of the film Lucia talks with us, her audience, admitting that she has just related fantasies rather than truths, versions of her life that are far more intriguing...

suspensful, strange, and unique
I didn't know what to expect from this movie. It was overall very suspensful, with lots of twists and turns. I haven't seen anything like this movie. Nothing too typical or predictable. A few scenes do not connect well together, and the movie can drag on a bit. I don't know if i could sit through it again, but it was suspensful and captivating 2 hrs of entertainment from some talented actors (and a cute Adrian)

(3.5 STARS) All About Lucia, and Talent of Joyful Cecilia Ross: Another Good Mexican Film Delightfully Genre-Defying
Most films claim certain amount of credibility to tell its story. `Lucia Lucia' doesn't. The film rather goes in for the unreality, or constant twisting of the conventions of all the film genre (except that of comedy, which I think is the right description of `the film). Consequently what Lucia does first with the voiceover is to apologize to us for having said a lie. And that's only the beginning of the film.

But the film is all about Lucia, and that part is true. On December 27th, at the airport, husband of Lucia (Cecilia Ross) goes to the bathroom, and never comes back. Then someone calls her, and his disappearance turns out a kidnapping case. But as I said, Lucia immediately corrects the date (it was in fact 30th), and the detective is awfully sloppy. But again, we are not supposed to believe in everything, or to take it too seriously.

While waiting for a chance to do something on her own, she enlists help from the two people living in the same building:...

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The Clarence Cross-Eyed Lion

Clarence The Cross-Eyed Lion
This movie is the official prequel to the great series Daktari. The story starts when a lion is roaming the villages...and seems to be gentle as a lamb! Soon, Dr. Tracy and his daughter Paula find and adopt the cross-eyed lion, giving him the name Clarence.

But not only Clarence lives on the wildlife preserve. Judy the chimp causes all kinds of trouble and laughter. During this, a woman who has been studying gorillas for the past several months is stalked by some dangerous poachers that want to kill the gorillas.

Now it is up to Dr. Tracy, Clarence, and Judy the chimp to the rescue! This movie is full of laughs and adventure that is sure to entertain people of all ages. But it is ashame that this movie along with the continuing series Daktari have yet to be released onto DVD.

But, if you are looking for a great movie, then Clarence The Cross-Eyed Lion is the movie for you. So, what are you waiting for? Buy this classic movie and enjoy it again and...

Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion
I saw this movie at the drive-in theatre when I was a kid. It's a silly, lighthearted flick about a lion who can't hunt because of double vision, his encounter with the local veterinarian, and his animal loving daughter. Corny and nostalgic, this is a film you can watch with anyone! It is a hoot. It's funny to see the old VHS technology and really appreciate how far we've come from there too. All live action, no CGI, it's one for the history books for sure.

Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion [VHS]

Great movie!!!!
I loved this movie and the television series when I was a child, my kids love it too, great purchase!

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Claws Of Steel aka Last Hero In China

Claws of steel
It was okay. All subtitles. Wacky martial arts. Probably one of the least enjoyed of my Jet Li movies. I probably wouldn't recommend it .

Iron Rooster Vs. Centipede
This movie is supposedly a remake of an old Kwan Tak-hing film but with Jing Wong and Yuen Woo-ping as co direcotrs, I doubt that it resembles any similarity at all.

As long as you remove from your head everything you knew about all of the Wong Fei Hung's films you ave ever seen, you should find this a very surprisingly good movie. Just stick the Jet Li you know from the OUATIC series into Jing Wong's world and see what happnens. It is actually my favorite Jing Wong film, BY FAR!!!! He comes up with these crazy ideas of sticking a centipede into the film to combat Wong Fei-hung in the lion dance. Can Jet stop the evil government officer in the centipede outfit from winning the lion dance with his northern rooster style?. The villianous officer is one of the funniest people I have ever seen. I was laughing so hard I was crying when he was asking Jet about his fist forms face to face about 2 inches away from Jet and then calling him a bad boy when he played it off like he...

i thought i should give it another
i thought my last two times were just a glitch but it turns out amazon needs to update their connections. horrible connections caused lots of interruptions.

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The Very Thought Of You

A true gem not to be missed
Maybe I'm just a sappy romantic, but to be honest, I loved this movie. Oh sure, it has most of the usual cliches, but the point is you don't mind them. You love them. You also love all the characters. Monica Potter is wonderful and proves she can do more than stand next to Robin Williams and Nic Cage and look pretty. Oh she looks beautiful here, but she is also charming, witty, and lovable. The three guys are funny and well acted. The shrink is terrific. This might be a chick flick, but I'm one guy who loved this movie. Don't waste your time with a big studio comedy, go rent this tonight.

Like a thunderbolt
Rented on a whim and with nary an expectation, The Very Thought of You proves surprisingly entertaining. The leads, Joseph Fiennes and Monica Potter, are, of course, sufficiently overly-qualified in the areas of talent and beauty as to make one wonder how they were lured into this quirky, unambitious, yet endearing love story -- all the better for us the viewing audience! The cross-cutting story line is cleverly played out between the various persona inamorata and the past and present tenses. I would agree that character development is not all it _could_ be, but this is more a backhanded compliment than a true criticism: I was sad when the time was up and happily could have sat through 30 or 40 more minutes. Those who would turn their noses at the admittedly implausible premise of love at first sight (amid the busyness of Gatwick Airport?) perhaps have forgotten the adrenaline rush acting upon an instant attraction can produce. I, for one, have never had the courage...

great romantic comedy
When I rented The Very Thought of You at my local video store I wasn't expecting much, but what I found was a charming,funny,and romantic movie. Monica Potter and Joseph Feinnes, who play the leads in the movie, are both talented young actors who should be watched. the supporting cast, which includes Rufus Sewel is excellent as well, I also enjoyed how they presented the story so as to cause the watcher to be somewhat surprised at parts. All and all The Very Thought Of You is a movie that I consider a must rent, if not a must buy.

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Reindeer Games (Director's Cut)

Great Video and Audio Quality
Please describe the audio and video quality of any Blu-Ray you review. Thanks to those who do this.

I am reviewing the Director's Cut Blu-Ray version released on 03/06/12. I noticed no difference in the movie with this Director's Cut compared to the version I recently saw on satellite TV. The aspect ratio is 2.35:1, not 1.85:1. Sound is DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio, which is really great (lot's of surround sound and sub-woofer bass). Video quality is outstanding.

I think this is a good movie, and a very good Blu-Ray purchase (especially at this price).

Mr. Ben's Mild Ride
After trashing "Pearl Harbor" last year and "The Sum of All Fears" this year, I felt the pangs of guilt telling me I was picking on local boy Ben Affleck. Therefore, to appease my conscience, I decided to review a Ben Affleck film I enjoy - John Frankenheimer's "Reindeer Games".

"Reindeer Games" is just about the most unremarkable, low-stakes thriller you could ever expect to see, featuring all the obvious twists, all the obvious turns, and set in locations and in pursuit of prizes that do not exactly get the viewer buzzing with excitement. What makes the film work, in its own modest way, are the director and the cast.

Frankenheimer is covering old territory here, but it is like watching a veteran baseball player at the plate or in the field - you've seen it a thousand times before but it is still fun to watch. Frankenheimer knows how to edit his films just right, and he always gets a kinky, dark edge out of all his scripts...

One extremely thrilling and suspenseful ride
I didn't think Reindeer Games was anywhere near as mediocre as the critics thought it was. As a matter of fact, I loved the film, and it's certainly much better than that other much overrated plot twisting thriller Wild Things (a mostly suspenseless which might hold some sort of cinematic record for most plot twists ever).

The film is about a car thief named Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck). His best friend, Nick, who has a pen pal named he plans on meeting after he's released-which is also the same day Rudy will be let out-is killed during a food fight. Rudy, in a very tough decision, decides to pretend he's Nick and meets the beautiful Ashley, Nick's pen pal. At first, everything seems to be going right for him for the first time, until Ashley's brother Gabriel arrives and demands Rudy, whom he thinks is Nick, to help him and his band of cronies rob a casino since Nick used to work as a security guard there. Now, Rudy has to try to pretend he's Nick and convince Gabriel...

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The Unbelievable Truth

My favorite Hartley Film
If you like Trust and Simple Men then you'll love this film. Personally I love all of Hartley's works, but to me these three films just go so well together. They're all earlier works and in these films you witness an incredibley inspired director do more with a low budget film than most high paid directors could ever dream of doing. I'd also like to say that if you've never seen a Hal Hartley film then this is probably the best point to start out at.

RIP Adrienne Shelly
I was saddened to hear of the tragic and senseless passing of the beautiful actress Adrienne Shelly. Nobody can watch Hal Hartley's "The Unbelievable Truth" and not be struck by how talented and engaging Shelly comes across onscreen. At the time of the film's release it seemed as if she was a star in the making. However, she seemed more content to stick with modest indie films and sporadic appearances in acclaimed TV shows rather than become a fixture in vapid Hollywood product that would have increased her exposure. Eventually she moved behind the lens for what was shaping up to be a very interesting directorial career. Sadly, we will no longer be able to witness her growth as an artist, but as a small consolation we still have films like "The Unbelievable Truth" and "Trust" to remind us of her once luminous presence.

...at last, a Hal Hartley feature film on DVD!
When I heard about a year ago that Hal Hartley's "The Unbelievable Truth" is going to be out on DVD in 2001, I feared some low quality production - but this release should prove worthy for this masterpiece. The picture will be 1.85:1 anamorphic and hopefully the image quality is going to be excellent considering Anchor Bay's good reputation... Having been the directorial feature film debut for acclaimed director Hal Hartley, the film does not long for any big extras to be on the disc - an audio commentary would have been illusory - but we do get an interview with Hal, and the theatrical trailer of course. This is definitely a disc to get for all Hal Hartley fans, and the only thing that could make me even happier would be more DVD releases of his movies: Trust, Simple Men, Amateur, Flirt, his short films, etc... I'm desperately waiting!!

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Project Greenlight's Stolen Summer: The Movie

Lights...... Camera..... DRAMA!
What started as a simple Internet contest transformed into one of the most acclaimed reality series to hit cable for quite some time. Pete Jones was the winner and was given the opportunity to direct his film, "Stolen Summer." Sounds easy, right? WRONG!

With these episodes, you get to see all the drama, all the battles, and all of the controvercy that took place during the filming of "Stolen Summer." From casting complications to the infamous beach incident, they're all here, uncut and uncensored.

I for one really enjoyed the series. It was a look into directing that I had never witnessed before. I never knew how complicated and stressful it is for the director, even when it comes to getting ONE scene into the can!

This spectacular DVD package includes four disks. On these disks you will find twelve episodes, the full length movie "Stolen Summer," and a disk full of all sorts of extras and goodies.

The disks go something like this:

Disk...

Interested in the film industry, definitely worth buying!
After reading the so-so reviews, all I can say is to each their own. If you are a filmmaker, interested in the film industry...this four DVD set is jam-packed!

First, let's talk about DVD 2-3. The Project Greenlight twelve episode series. I literally couldn't stop after each episode, I literally wanted to keep watching all episodes in one sitting and I did. You really get a good behind-the-scenes look at the making of a film. Sure, probably not in-depth that people would like but nevertheless a really good behind-the-scenes look at the making of "Stolen Summer" and the difference of opinions and the stress that goes on. You literally can feel it.

DVD 4. This DVD is packed with video entries from the top competitors in the contest from their personal videos of why they should be selected to the top 10's short films and more. There is also the act like Chris Moore competition and of course Project Redlight and also advice. There is just so much stuff on this...

Great Greenlight
There are times after I have seen a movie, I say to myself "I wonder how could they have made this film?", "Who the producer who took a risk on this script?", "Why didn't they get such and such an actor for that role?" or "Why did they have such a down ending?". After viewing the first season of HBO's Project Greenlight on four dvds, I have a better concept of filmmaking nad the process involved behind the scenes.

I have read Jerry Lewis's theThe Total Film-Maker.and understand the basic concepts of how the film starts from the script to final production. If you find a copy, read it!

Here in this documentary DVD set is director Pete Jones's filmmaking odyssey from being a novice screen writer (selected from an on line script contest) to selection of his script Stolen Summer (with producers Ben Affleck, Chris Moore & Matt Damon) greenlighted by Miramax. Then Jones had to make a budget and...

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My Soul To Take

This Is What We Get From A Legendary Film Maker?
I definitely suggest reading a few reviews before viewing this one. As with all trailers nowadays, they can be very misleading. My Soul To Take, a poor excuse of a film from someone whom I thought was a talented director, is no different when it comes to its trailer. I missed this in theaters and I actually wanted to see it. So I was semi-excited to view it for first time. Well that enjoyment lasted for about 25 minutes. Opening scene was great IMO, but the movie went downhill from there, attempted to get confusing, became cheesy with CGI killings and one liners, as well as being predictable. I won't add any spoilers so you can see for yourself, I dont like ruining anyone's viewing as I don't like mine ruined. This movie seemed rushed, and should not have been. There was definite potential here, just poorly executed. I'm not big into cheesy horror, and this was one of em. I enjoy all the screams, the original nightmare, original hills have eyes, even original last house on the left,...

My Soul To Take (Blu-ray)
I had wanted to see this movie ever since the trailer came about, as I am a big fan of craven's movies. But with doing research, I was leery of buying this due to the amount of negative reviews. Well let me just say, you cannot judge a book by its cover. I was surprised to find that this craven slasher was a breath of fresh air to the genre. Of course its not as good as scream, but then again its hard to top a movie that redefined the franchise. The whole storyline of soul possession was brilliant, and something different for a change. Never once did I find this movie confusing, or boring for that fact. If you have followed the "SAW" movies for the past years, then you'll have no problem piecing this one together. Not that those two movies are anything alike, but some of the saw's were confusing at times. Anyhow, there is blood throughout the film, nothing extreme, but enough to satisfy you gore lovers, like myself. There are some jump scares here and there, especially if you have...

The Cerebral Teen Slasher Film
Few horror directors would have the nerve to experiment with the conventions of a teen slasher film, to go beyond the reliable hallmarks of knife-wielding maniacs, bloody corpses, and paper-thin revenge plots. Perhaps that's exactly why Wes Craven wanted to write and direct "My Soul to Take," which is unlike any slasher I've ever seen. In terms of atmosphere, it exists in a gray zone between dreariness and absurdity. In terms of structure, it's a bizarre, meandering dreamscape of grisly murders, horrific visions, and dread secrets. In terms of theme, it could be anything from teenage social circles to heredity to reincarnation to insanity to the California condor, an eater of the dead revered for its ability to clear away the old and usher in the new. I can't pretend that I understood this movie, but at the very least, I never once found it boring.

Set in the fictional town of Riverton, Massachusetts, "My Soul to Take" is the story of seven teenagers, who were all born the...

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Essex Boys

A First-Rate Gangster Flick
Essex Boys is a 1999 "gangster" film that takes the viewer into the gritty, dangerous domain of Essex's drug-dealing underworld. The story is narrated in part by a lad named Billy, a lowly (but fairly quick-witted) driver for the self-important kingpins, and though we don't see everything from Billy's vantage point, it is an effective and engaging means of presenting the story. Though the characters and the story are pure fiction, the inspiration for the film came from the murder of three suspected drug dealers whose bodies were found in a Range Rover in Essex in 1995. The story created around this real-life event is highly imaginative, plausible, gripping, and suspenseful.

Sean Bean (Sharpe, Extremely Dangerous, Bravo Two Zero, The Fifteen Streets, Golden Eye), donning a cockney-flavoured Essex accent, is simply superb as the jealous, arrogant, mean-spirited, foul-mouthed Jason Locke, a drug-dealing thug who's just been released from prison (and who thinks he's God's gift to...

Smart, tough Brit crime bites and stings
After the flash and fire of Lock, Stock..., there were a whole spate of Brit crime flicks (including its empty-headed sequel Snatch). It's a credit to the genre (or sub-genre) that Essex Boys is one of the better entries.

That can be attributed to a very intelligent script, terrific acting (since when have British actors failed to deliver the goods?), and fast-paced directing--all of which speak of a keen understanding of exactly how to craft a thriller that moves the way it should.

Sean Bean is outstanding here as Jason, an ugly-minded thug who's just been let out of the pen. He finds his old mates, after settling a score in an especially violent scene, and together they set about raking in the pounds, primarily from drug dealing. What they don't count on is Jason's wife Lisa who's the toughest and smartest of all. Her plots and counterplots land her squarely in the femme fatale arena and it's a lot of fun to watch Alex Kingston, the actress who portrays her, strut her...

Another excellent performance by Bean
I don't feel the need to spell out the plot of the film, since you probably already know it if you're reading this, so I'll keep this short. If you're American and not used to watching British films you may have to watch it a couple times or try it with subtitles to catch everything, but the movie itself is still wonderful. Sean Bean is (as usual) the bad guy, and he plays it beautifully. If you're a fan of his or just into action-packed gangster flicks, I highly recommend Essex Boys.

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Pinky

TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE...
This is a landmark film, as it tackled issues that were considered to be taboo at the time. Race hate, miscegenation, and passing for white are some of its themes. Unlike "Imitation of Life (1934), which in its own fashion dealt with the themes of passing for white and the unequal opportunities afforded blacks, this is not a sentimental tearjerker of a movie. Rather, there is an undercurrent of anger and righteousness that permeates it, and rightly so. It is a hard edged, no holds barred type of film. There is nothing sentimental about it.

Controversial in its time, the film is about a young bi-racial woman known as "Pinky" (Jeanne Crain), sent up north by her southern granny (Ethel Waters), so that she could receive an education. While up North, she begins passing for white inadvertently, as that is how she is apparently perceived, and makes no move to correct that perception. She studies and works hard, becoming a nurse. She then meets white Dr. Thomas Adams...

Pinky
Although this movie is somewhat dated, it has a message that is still important: you must be true to yourself. This was one of the first films to successfully deal with racism. So controversial was this film in 1949 it was banned in the south. The performances by all three women are very good. Jeanne Crain's scenes with Ethel Barrymore are especially moving. I'm surprised by the review from Amazon. You can't look at this film with the eyes of someone living in the 1990s. Pinky should be appreciated for addressing a subject that hadn't been addressed at all up until this film was made. From a technical level, this film is nicely put together. The music, the cinematography are all first rate. As film history, it's worth taking a look.

Old-Fashioned "Issues" Movie
"Pinky" is one of those old-fashioned "issues" movies popular in the 1940s, such as "Gentlemen's Agreement," which tackled anti-semitism (of note, both of these films were directed by the great Elia Kazan). Unfortunately, these movies don't tend to age particularly well, and even the sympathetic characters often end up looking quite intolerant. However, we shouldn't dismiss these films summarily, as they obviously had an impact on their audience.

Jeanne Crain stars as the title character, a young black woman raised by her grandmother. Granny (Ethel Waters) is a poor, uneducated Southern washer-woman - the kind of good-hearted woman who cares for sick neighbors without compensation. When Pinky was a child, Granny saved every penny she could and sent Pinky up north to go to school and escape the harsh life of segregated Alabama. Pinky is so light-skinned, though, that she begins to "pass" as white; when she returns to Alabama, she has a white fiancé and has been...

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Panic In The Streets

"Anything I don't like's a smart-cracking dame."
Love him or hate him (many in Hollywood still do, hate him, that is, based on his cooperating with the HUAC - House Un-American Activities Committee back in the early 50s), Elia Kazan knew how to make damn good films, including such features as A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), which won eight Academy Awards, including one for best direction and one for best actor in leading role for Marlon Brando, Splendor in the Grass (1961), and this earlier effort titled Panic in the Streets (1950), which also won an Academy Award in the best writing motion picture story category for Edward and Edna Anhalt. Starring in the film is Richard Widmark, whom I last saw in the one of the unfunniest comedies I've ever seen in National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1983), so I really relished this opportunity to put that experience in the past as I knew Widmark capable of much better things having seen Pickup on South Street (1953), which I think is one of his best films (I have yet to...

An unusual but very gripping film noir!
This excellent documentary-style noir was superbly directed by the great Elia Kazan, who made great use of actual locations in New Orleans to create a very realistic and believable atmosphere. The cast is nearly flawless, with great performances from Richard Widmark (in a rare good guy role!), Paul Douglas, Barbara Bel Geddes, Zero Mostel, and Jack Palance, in his stunning film debut.

Richard Widmark plays Dr. Clint Reed, a public health doctor who must work with New Orleans Police Captain Tom Warren (played by Paul Douglas) to find the killer(s) of a man who was already dying of the deadly bubonic plague (he was carrying a virulent strain of it). They have only 48 hours to find the killers before they can escape the port area and unknowingly spread the plague throughout the country.

Jack Palance plays the ruthless killer who's on the run from the police, not knowing that he's already infected with the plague. Barbara Bel Geddes plays the patient wife of Dr. Reed...

Classic film noir comes to DVD with great commentary
Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) and New Orleans Police Captain Tom Warren (Paul Douglas) frantically search for a pair of criminals involved with the murder of a card player who may have been infected with plague by the victim. Reed and Warren have 48 hours to find the criminals before they become infectious and spread plague through the population like a wildfire. Although it doesn't compare to the gorefests that pass for suspense thrillers today. Kazan's eighth film as a director is filled with long takes influenced by Welles (although far more naturalistic looking without the unusual angles that Gregg Toland used on Welles' masterpiece "Citizen Kane") creating as much suspense by letting the action play out as the quick cutting style of Hitchcock and other directors working at the time. Featuring the lovely and underrated Barbara Bel Geddes as Widmark's wife, "Panic in the Streets" continues to astound with its suspenseful direction and brutal violence. A young Jack Palance...

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The Day of the Jackal

Why can't they make movies like this any more?
Rarely does a movie do justice to a book, but Fred Zinneman's production of "The Day of the Jackal" is wonderful adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's novel which, I continue to believe, is one of the greatest thrillers ever written.

It's hard to put a finger on what exactly makes this film great: excellent performances by relatively unknown actors, a wonderful plot, fantastic location shooting or a complete desire to avoid the bells and whistles, special effects laden movies that are all that makes up the "suspense" genre of films these days. Like other reviewers have said, be this the first or the fiftieth time that you watch this film, you will be left on the edge of your seat with its "cat and mouse" plot of the search for a lone assassin hired to murder President De Gaulle. The young Edward Fox is brilliant in the title role and the supporting cast excellent.

If anything, this film proves that you do not need big named stars, explosions around...

Edward Fox is bloody brilliant!!
Well, up front...I am an Edward Fox fan. Have been since he lumbered around in the 1966 FROZEN DEAD as Nazi Popcicle #3. Hey, he was one super fozen dead!! He had several good roles in next few years, but really stood out as Ian McShane's fellow flyer in THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. They stole the show in a cast of super Brits - Lord Larry, Michael Caine, Ralph Richardson and Robert Shaw, just to name a few - firmly setting their star potential. But Edward really carved his chunk of attention for the role as the Jackal in the 1973 DAY OF THE JACKAL.

The film is a tight production, nearly boarding on documentary. Edward portrays the meticulous hitman of many disguises who has been hired to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. Based on the spy novel from Frederick Forsyth, director Fred Zinnermann focuses on the French detectives racing to track down the elusive Jackal before it's too late, and well as the dispassionate, professional preparations by Fox. But you are in two minds, actually...

Compelling Entertainment
Years before the U.S.'s controversial involvement in South Viet Nam, France struggled and eventually failed to sustain its own involvement in Algeria. Many of its senior officers felt betrayed by their government. Efforts to assassinate President De Gaulle failed. Frederick Forsyth had this in mind when writing the novel on which this film is based. At substantial cost, an assassin known only as "The Jackal" is retained by dissidents to succeed where others had failed. There are two separate but related plots: one focuses on the assassin's meticulous preparations; the other on Inspector Lebel's equally thorough efforts to identify, locate, and capture him. Of special interest to me is director Fred Zinnemann's decision to tell the story (as does Forsyth) in a straightforward manner, without any special effects or gratuitous violence. He presents Lebel (Michael Lonsdale) and The Jackal (Edward Fox) as highly skilled professionals. Each fully understands what he must do and how to do...

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Moondance

Not to be missed, a delightful film
This recently released film is a beautiful story about Patrick and Dominic, two brothers living an unusually independent life on a delapidated country estate in western Ireland. Their lives are changed when Anya comes to stay, propelling both of them into a new understanding of themselves, their world and one another.

The cinematography in this film is outstanding and the acting sensitive and evocative. Ruaidhri Conroy, who has appeared in a number of Irish films, gives a particularly touching performance in the role of Patrick's younger brother Dominic, who undergoes a right of passage as the story unfolds.

Marrianne Faithful puts in a rare appearance as the boys' estranged mother.

All in all an outstanding film, with an outstanding cast. I highly recommend it! END

Moondance .
I have to confess to buying this DVD as a result of my interest in the music of Van Morrison. I was delighted and enthralled not knowing what to expect. The music is beautiful many of Vans famous songs sung by an equally talented Brian Kennedy. But the acting and story line was simply fabulous. The appeaance of Marianne Faithful is a treasure and the blend of story acting and music make this film unmissable. Buy it and enjoy!

ACADEMY AWARD WINNING
As a fan of Marianne Faithfull you too will be beleiving that Marianne has adopted you into her family. The "MOONDANCE" is truly a treasure and a magical reality check. Marianne's perormance left me unable to determine if she is acting or truly a genius, the second is an obvious. This film is too "cool" to be mainstream in the "good "old" U.S." The masses wouldn't get it.... I did... Thank you again Marianne Faithfull

BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Blues Brothers 2000 [Blu-ray]

Love It, Hate It, It's Still The Blues.....Brothers!
Love it or hate it, it doesn't matter, this is still a great blues film. Sure this sequel has a silly plot, but so was the original....it's a joke, get it? I found myself laughing repeatedly as the plot continued to satirize the entire concept of a sequel.....if it was too subtle for you, watch it again....it's right there, brazen as can be.

But who on earth would watch this film for the plot? True to the original, 2000 is a great blues MUSIC sequel. You've got to admire the script writing that has Elwood earnestly trying to convince his band they can compete in a battle of the bands against Clapton backing B.B. with Clarence on sax, or Aretha actually delivering a better take on Respect than on the original film, or John Goodman doing James Browns' cape.....this is great stuff.....and what really matters is that the musicians are having a ball.....and it comes through loud and clear, with soul to spare.

Buy this one for the music, the charisma that jumps off the screen and...

a very guilty pleasure
Boy, it took guts to not submit this review anonymously, though I feel less ashamed of myself for liking it after seeing other reviews here. Well, it's not the original-nothing is, and no-one can replace Belushi. (you can't help thinking of that joke while watching this, the one that goes 'what's blue and sings alone? Dan Ackroyd') Thank GOD they used John Goodman instead of Belushi's brother. I didn't like the scene where they all turned into zombies, that was embarrassing--and what the heck did it have to do with the plot? Speaking of the plot, it was pretty much non-existent, mainly an excuse to rehash scenes from the original. But as for the good stuff...Ackroyd did as good of a job as he could. He obviously took off weight for the role, though he is far from the slim, fast-dancing, sexy Elwood he used to be. His dancing has slowed down, but is still solid. He's actually still pretty charming in parts. The kid didn't annoy me anywhere as near as much as I thought he...

Just Enjoy The Music And Laugh
How could any fan of "blues," not like this? I mean, look at all the great performers in this film and how much better does it get to have all of them join in for a couple of jam sessions at the end? The movie sports a "Who's Who" of modern-day blues musicians and singers and also is directed by John Landis, who has directed some of the most entertaining films of the last 25 years.

Yes, it's a dumb story......very dumb......but it's about the music.

The leading actors were amusing: Dan Akyroyd and John Goodman - and a really neat-looking little kid in J. Evan Bonifant who really makes me laugh. Just looking at this 10-year-old dancing is his Blues Brothers outfit alone is worth a number of laughs. Some of the characters in here are so outrageous they would be tough to describe. The car chases, the dances and clothing were all over-the-top story. No, this isn't Shakespeare and it wasn't meant to be. It's probably closer to Dukes Of Hazzard. It's a much...

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A Man Apart

Worth watching
Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others

STORY: DEA agent is out to take revenge on the drug dealers that killed his wife.

MY FEEDBACK:
1) Forget XXX or Fast & Furious, this is a much better Vin Diesle movie (Pitch Black is still his best though). Vin does some decent acting and his general charisma carry a large portion of the movie.

2) Good attempt at developing the relationship of Vin's character with other characters in the movie

3) Not a huge action flick but enough guns to keep this drama moving

4) Some suspension of belief is needed in this movie

5) Seemed the editing didn't explain a plot twist or two but cut things out leaving gaps in the story.

OVERALL: We enjoyed the movie and didn't feel like we wasted out time with it.

Vin can act - no really, he CAN!
I know a lot of people laugh at the thought, but this film illustrates that Vin Diesel can act...he's actually damn good at it.

I think this is Diesel's best film ever. Sure, it's got lots of action and fighting, but what really makes this movie for me is the transformation of Diesel's character from beginning to end. It's quite possibly the most tangible thing throughout the entire film. That's not even doing it justice...it jumps out the screen, grabs your heart in it's fist and bursts it...yeah, that's a little better.

You owe it to yourself to at least check this film out as a rental. You'll be glad you did.

A Man Coming Apart
Better than I expected, based on the mixed reviews I've read. Vin & Larenz were good, I was surprised they made such a believable & natural pair! & the story did have a couple of surprises (for me). Watch Diesel's expressive face convey the way Vetter is often on the verge of exploding from pain & anger, Vin does this even when he's not the focus of the action.
Vetter is a man overwhelmed by his wife's murder, & no one put him in check before he went completely haywire, even though they saw signs of trouble. I would like to have seen the guy referred for some therapy or at least have a real good cry, but that wouldn't make for much of an action movie.

There were certainly holes in the story, & the 'happily married man phase' was a bit overdone. Diesel acted so smitten & the wife so sweet she had 'DEATH' written across her forehead! But it's all make believe anyway, and still worth seeing and listening to (good music). So Vin, where's the soundtrack?

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The Return Of Frank James

Lang's First "Western Noir"
In 1940, Darryl Zanuck gave Fritz Lang the opportunity to shoot his first Western - a sequel to director Henry King's "Jesse James" (1939). When asked why he allowed Lang to make a Western, the Fox producer responded: "Because he'll see things we don't." Lang's attention to detail and atmosphere dominates this unusual tale of revenge. "The Return of Frank James" also marks a cinematic advance for the German director in his vivid use of Technicolor and location photography. An impressive highlight is the chase through the High Sierras - a spectacular action sequence that reveals Lang's expressionist design in his use of architectural rock formations. "The Return of Frank James" has a look and feel unlike any Western. In some respects, it can be considered the first "Western noir." Henry Fonda delivers a memorable performance in the title role, with good support from Henry Hull, John Carradine and Jackie Cooper.

A great sequel to Jesse James
If you have ever seen the Tyrone Power movie of Jesse James, this is a must. If you have not seen it, this is still a great movie. The film picks up where the first ended and runs from there. Henry Fonda is simply great as the slow talking but extremely wily Frank James. much of the cast carries over into this sequel with is seamless in production. It was very well written and beautifully filmed. This is a good one to watch. Better yet, get both and watch them together. It will be a hoot.

A Classic Western from a Classic Director and Classic Actor
This movie is much better than what the other reviewers would have you believe. While it is a sequel, it stands on its own as sort of a revenge flick with Frank (Henry Fonda) terrorizing and delivering retribution to John Carradine's Robert Ford, the man who shot Jesse James. It is also the screen debut of the beautiful Gene Tierney. Compared to the special effects laden trash spewn out by Hollywood today, this has excellent characterization, excellent plot and excellent acting. It is definitely worth the price of admission. Fritz Lang did a great job of depicting his vision of the Old West and while it may not be the greatest Lang film such as his 1931 classic, M, it is still a classic nonetheless.

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Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Classic

Great original Tae Bo workout.
This workout takes you back to the basics of Tae Bo. This workout is like the This Is Tae Bo DVD workout. If you are a big fan from Billys Tae Bo, then you need this.
I love this. This challenge you from had to toe.
Five stars for a great workout DVD from Billy.

not for beginners but awesome!
I started doing TaeBo several years ago after the birth of my first child. I have been doing the Cardio and Cardio Sculpt workouts and love them...but both are relatively basic and especially good for beginners. I wanted something challenging but still mostly cardio so i got this Classic DVD. Wow! Sweat galore and some moves i couldnt even do the first time. I would recommend a short walk and stretch before even starting this routine...there isnt much warm up before it gets really intense. I would not reccomend this for beginners as it requires quite a bit of core strength and stability to do these moves effectively and safely...and injury is not far off without those...

Overall i love this and am excited about watching the lbs melt off now after baby #2!!

The hour long workout is easy to follow. What I didn't like was that after each sequence you take an extended walking
break before moving on to the next thing. I loved the original taebo vhs, I used to do it 3 times week and worked hard every time. While this dvd got me sweating, each time my heart rate would pick up another walking break would take it back down. Now when I do the video I do jumping jacks in between or just keep doing the sequence while Billy talks through the walk break.

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One California Day

Cali Nostalgia At It's Finest
I grew up surfing California and there are a number of things about the state that I miss. This movie captures the key elements of why I love the CA coastal lifestyle. Nostalgic without being sappy, looking back at the past while at the same time embracing the challenges beach-goers face today. Awesome. The movie is broken up by region (which fits with how I think of the state anyway,) with personality segments from each region. Skip Frye, Joel Tudor, Curren(Tom, Joe) the Ubiquitous Malloy brothers segment etc...

Although I surf and love the film, it seems like the movie was put together for surfers & non-surfers alike. If you liked Single Fin Yellow, Siestas & Olas or even Endless Summer, you'll love this flick.

Good job guys...

Longboard delight
A great surfing movie with outstanding photography at some of the best surfing spots in California with some of the best longboarders. The clip of Dale Velzy's funeral is worth the price of the movie. All the legend's are there. Pretty moving. A+

Classic
This has quickly become one of my favorite surf videos - along with Searching for Tom Curren and Surfing for Life, it's inspiring, without just showing a bunch of pros on perfect waves in exotic locations. It shows the California I love and the surfing spirit I love.

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Love and Sex

A true relationship movie, Great fun with a great cast....
Well I have just seen this movie today and wanted to checkout what other people thought of it. So I came here and was shocked to see only a few reviews. Does this mean that this film is no good, NO! It means that it will remain something special to all of those who have seen this unexpected treasure. But please, tell your friends, neighbours and countrymen that this little movie should not be missed on any account. Right now I myself am going through a really bad break up with my girlfriend of 6 years. Who I still dearly love very much but we have decided to give ourselfs a little space and time. I can relate to this movie on all levels and it was a breath of fresh air in the romantic comedy genre. Both lead actors show great chemistry on screen and pull off genuine emotion. I have been a big fan of Jon Favreau since Swingers and we really do not see as much of him as we all should do. Famke Janssen is a great actress too, really shinning through. Watch this movie, again and again. It...

One of the most honest movies I've ever seen...
Love and Sex is perhaps my most favorite movie. It has a great cast and excellent chemistry between the two leading actors. It explores one woman's experience of relationships -- from losing her virginity to her high school French teacher to her eventual meeting of Adam (Jon Favreau) -- without skipping a beat. Unlike more popular "romantic comedies," Love and Sex is not about fairy tale romance but rather about the humor in real-life relationships and what happens when those relationships end. Highly recommended!

Everything When Harry Met Sally missed...
This is the part of when harry met sally that was missed, the TRUE relationship interpersonal relationship activity.

I have read all the reviews here on this movie, they are all very accurate. This movie is perhaps the ultimate relationship/couple movie, with one real exception. This is the perfect movie for those couples in REAL relationships, relationships that are very honest and true. I love this movie, it has become one of those movies I pull out on rainy days, just to remember lost love. This is really a bellweather movie, couples that are really and truly in love and honest with each other will love this movie and talk about it over and over again; however, couples who have alot of hidden issues and things they cannot talk about this movie will make them very sad, because they long for the relationship this couple has.

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Unfaithfully Yours

His Last Bow
In hindsight, Paramount's decision to terminate their relationship with Preston Sturges occupies the region between 'insane', 'irresponsible' and that old standby, 'stupid'. Sturges' subsequent relocation to Fox was, of course, utterly disastrous; which makes UNFAITHFULLY YOURS as much a miracle as it is a great comedy. His stock company (save for a very funny Rudy Vallee) was now a thing of the past; although the cast he assembled here is game and lively, Edgar Kennedy foremost among them. Nevertheless, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS is Sturges' second consecutive attempt (after MAD WEDNESDAY) to move away from his trademark of the inspired dialogue-comedy and towards a more visual (or in this case, audio-visual) farce. Fortunately for us, he succeeded brilliantly (not that it cut him any ice in an increasingly desperate studio-system that not only didn't know what to do with its few geniuses but began to openly despise them). Rex Harrison plays a vain, high-strung symphony conductor who -thanks...

One of Sturges' very best
Only The Lady Eve forces me to edge this movie out of number-one spot among Preston Sturges' comedies. The dialogue is snappy as ever (Doltish husband: "Too much temperament! Give me the simple viewpoint!" His wisecracking wife: "You've got it, kid. You don't have to yearn for it.") but the slapstick of the finale is cleverer by far than any in his other movies. The use of music is inspired, both in Harrison's concert revenge-fantasies and in his later attempts to put them into action, when the music is spiked with comic effects. A little slow to get started, this movie soon enough develops a quirky, unpredictable, and completely fascinating story line. Don't deprive yourself of seeing this!

Classic Struges comedy finally comes to DVD
In "Unfaithfully Yours" Rex Harrison plays a conductor who imagines what he would do to his wife (who he believes to be cheating on him)during a performance. Unfortunately, he discovers that real life never works as smoothly as one's fantasies. A classic Preston Sturges comedy, "Unfaithfully Yours" captures the brilliant comedy director in top form. Although there was an anemic remake with Dudley Moore in 1984 (with a screenplay co-written by Valerie Curtain the cousin of Jane Curtain of "Saturday Night Live" fame and one of the original cast members of "Three's Company"), all it does is prove not to mess with a classic film.

This new Criterion edition has some really cool extras and the image quality is very, very good. The audio Audio commentary by Sturges scholars James Harvey, Diane Jacobs, and Brian Henderson are fascinating but I honestly preferred the video appreciation by Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) as well as the video interview with Sandy Sturges. There's...

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