The Pregnancy Project

Values Clarification
I teach a Teen Leadership Class in a high school and just at the start of the new semester students reported from social media about alleged pregnancies in a neighboring town. Just as the movie represents prejudices, stereotypes and preconceptions prevailed in the comments and discussions. I recalled this video and accessed it from Amazon for my next class. All the students related very well and because many were seniors it really kept their attention. Students relate to their peers and the whole concept of the plot being a Senior Project further added to the relevance of the school setting. Needless to say, we have some discussion ahead of us and a semester to breakdown the small boxes that we sometimes place others in these situations. What better vehicle to teach adolescents than the reality from a Lifetime presentation. I am hoping that my class of "Teen Leaders" can assist in breaking down the prejudices that so many hold in society.

Good Discussion Starter
I have had this book on my nightstand for about a week, so when I saw that Lifetime was presenting the movie version, I figured it would be a better opportunity to open up a discussion with my daughter in regards to other people's beliefs and opinions when a teen girl becomes pregnant.

I think I hit a nerve when I asked, "Which of your friends would accept you?" Right away, she knew who would walk out of her life and I think it did dawn on her how tenuous relationships can be when you do not live up to the expectations of others.

For her High School Senior Project, Gaby Rodriguez decided to conduct a social experiment into the thoughts and statements of both students and teachers when a well-liked promising student announces her pregnancy. The truth was, Gaby was not pregnant, she used a fake pregnancy belly and conducted herself the same way she always had. It was others that saw her differently and judged her. Being a child from a single mother who herself...

Not quite the book
I read the book first, and couldn't wait to see the movie. It lived up to my expectations, with very few details that aren't even worth mentioning. Overall, great movie.

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Volume I, Episode 1

Lynda La Plante (writer of the series) is at the top of her game
I bought the complete series from Amazon.co.uk several years ago. The series Trial & Retribution was written by Lynda La Plante.She is a Bafta award winner for her detective stories. I loved the series especially the early ones. The series is well written, good acting, and difficult to stop watching. The lead detective DCI Mike Walker (David Hayman) does a excellent job of convincing the audience that he really cares about each victim and he isn't going to stop until he finds the perpetrator of the crime. Each set within the series is interesting and diverse. It is a great fine for and American audience. If you love Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect you will love this series also.

wow
This show was insanely good. It's not like any other crime drama I have seen in that you get inside the lives of the victims' loved ones, of the police trying to solve the case and of the attorneys representing the accused. There are endless surprises and you really just cannot guess if the guy is guilty or not. I am so happy I happened upon this and that there are several seasons for me to get lost in. Highly recommend.

Worthwhile British crime drama
I enjoyed this series although not everyone will like it. As others have commented it is filled with top notch performances and some great drama. The show (every season) documents the investigation of a murder (or series of murders), apprehension of suspect(s), and the subsequent trial. As the seasons develop the writers delve into the lives of the detectives (most notably Pat North and Michael Walker). In later seasons they become involved and the show documents the terrain of their relationship.

In addition to the murder plots there are often snippets of people's lives: people connected to the victims, people connected to the suspects and the lives of the investigators and their staff. It is a wide roaming show in this sense, but as it always finds its emotional mark, despite these interludes which do not necessarily advance the plot, it is these elements of the show that give it such emotional power.

It is the conclusions that sometimes fail to deliver. I do...

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Bombay To Goa

Great Light Hearted Fun
One of the better comedies from yesteryears. You name a comedian from that era in Indian cinema starting with the ever great Mehmood, followed by Sundar,Mukri,Keshto Mukherji and even Kishore Kumar. They are all there. Must watch.

Cult comedy! Amitabhs first notable movie!
Great comedy! I showed this to my kid and she loved it too! Some good songs like " Dekha Na " which are cult dance numbers. Amitabhs first hit - probably. Great direction by the talented actor Mehmood. It's a story of a confused woman played by Aruna Irani who witnesses a murder and boards a bus which is departing from Bombay to Goa. Good actors like Mehmood, Mukri, Lalita Pawar, Keshto Mukherjee and Shatrughan Sinha.



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Paradise Lost: Volume XII, Episode 1

another great brit cop show
great acting, well written, all in the prime suspect vein, accents require replay sometimes but adds to the fun. everyone drinking all the time when they happy or frustrated. high quality drama

Top British Crime Drama
This is an edgy, well written and acted crime drama that sets itself apart from others by great character development, suspense, good acting and not for small children.

Great storyline that tackles a tough subject
This episode tackles racism and police responsibility to remain sensitive while asking tough questions. The story effectively shows the frustration of an innocent man who struggles with the murder of his long-term girlfriend while trying to persuade the police they need to search for another perpetrator, The acting is superb and plot believable.

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Our Family Wedding [HD]

Warm & Fuzzy Comedy with a Great Cast
Our Family Wedding is a good movie, just know in advance that it's not a flat-out comedy. Shot by the same director as 1999's "The Wood", it's mostly a warm movie about love and marriage, with a few funny scenes thrown in.

The best part about the film is its cast. A gorgeous America Ferrera shines as Lucia, wife-to-be of future doctor Marcus Boyd (Lance Gross of House of Payne). Great acting and chemistry between the two offer warm scenes that will make viewers both laugh and cry. As a long time fan of Forest Whitaker, it was refreshing to see him in a comedy. And is it just me, or does Regina King get even more lovely with each film?

While Chappelle Show veteran Charlie Murphy has limited screen time in the movie, he steals every scene that he's in. Warren Sapp, Noel Gugliemi and Taye Diggs also make for funny moments, though all three get "blink and you missed them" roles (Diggs oddly isn't credited).

My biggest complaint with the movie is that...

this was very entertaining. .
My 19 year old daughter bought this movie around Thanksgiving 2011, I watched it with her and liked it. . .she's away at college, so I thought "hmm better buy myself a copy" -- I like Forest Whitaker and Regina King so it works for me!

If you want a good laugh
This show is extremely funny. I highly recommend it if your looking for a fun movie. Its one of my favorites now.

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The Tents [HD]

The Most Comprehensive Fashion Documentary Ever!
This documentary covers 18 years of fashion week history in New York. It is the first to uncover the origins of fashion week and the path taken to becoming a global phenomenon. Then it's funny! Great backstage moments. All the top designers.

boring
I could barely finish it, it was so dull. I am a documentary nut and I love fashion so I thought this would be a good fit. Nope. Skip it and get The September Issue instead - that one's great.

for fashionistas only and terrific history for fashion's evolution at the Tents in Bryant Park
I watched this innumerable times before buying it. I love fashion and this is a terrific peek behind the scenes at Fashion Week.

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Valentine [HD]

My bloody valentine
I think Valentine is a vastly underrated, thrilling horror movie. At its root, it is obviously a slasher film, but this movie features great pacing, true suspense, quite effective musical transitions, and, most importantly, a terrific finish. Valentine not only has a recognizable plot, it incorporates some dandy instances of symmetry that really help tie everything together in the end. I wish I could tell you just how satisfying the ending is. I had my suspicions about the identity of the killer, but several late twists made me doubt my theory, change it, and finally just applaud the filmmakers for essentially keeping me in the dark up until the very end. I know the clues are there all along, and many people may discover the secret well before the final revelation, but this experienced horror fan was kept off-balance throughout. I also have to admit that this movie made me jump a couple of times (and I can't say that about very many horror movies). With significant help from...

The perfect movie when you're dateless on Valentine's
This seemed 'appropriate' to watch on Valentine's. I keep getting told it's 'appropriate' to watch certain movies at certain times. The only movie I've ever tried that with (apart from Christmas movies), is Sweet November, which is the perfect movie to watch in November. This seemed appropriate to watch alone (gimme some sympathy please) on Valentine's night.

During the first few minutes, it very obviously steals ideas from a few other movies: the Halloween-style score at the beginning; a guy getting a red liquid thrown over him, similar to the infamous pigs blood scene from Carrie and the young guy's character being called Jason. There are also quite a few, probably unintentional, references to other teenie movies, particularly Scream.

I am not the biggest fan of Denise Richards, as her eyebrows are a little overpowering, and definitely need plucked. Plus, she's too perfect - hopefully not anymore, considering at the time of writing, she has one kid, and another...

VALENTINE
VALENTINE is a new horror-thriller about five young girls who are being stalked by a Cupid mask wearing killer who could possibly be the same guy they all rejected back in middle school. There are many plot twists, lots of action, lots of action, many suspects, and a high body count. This movie turned out to be much better than I expected, and I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of horror movies!

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Cellmates [HD]

Heartwarming and funny
What happens when you put a KKK member in the same prison cell as a Mexican farm laborer in a Texas prison headed by a warden who is obsessed with his prize-winning potatoes that are cultivated and raised by the inmates? Add to this the sweet and pretty Mexican maid of the warden, with whom the KKK inmate falls in love, and you have the perfect recipe for a lighthearted but poignant evening of entertainment. Although there's nothing profound about this movie, it manages to show in a charming and humorous way that truly no one (including the most hardened KKK member) is beyond change and redemption.

I had no idea what to expect the Friday evening recently my wife and I watched this movie. I'm glad we did. It was engrossing from start to finish, and at the end of the movie I felt totally satisfied with the experience.

Ok
It had some funny parts in it. From the description it seems like it would be hilarious, but not exactly.

Wasn't funny enough, wait for it on HBO.
I was expecting more comedy, wasn't really funny.
I watched the entire thing on a amazon video credit, So glad I didn't pay for it.
If you have nothing else to do and a free credit from amazon, then get it.
If not, wait for it on HBO.

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The Lovers: Volume IX, Episode 2

Trial and Retribution
T&R never fails to entertain me and here again awesome. I always look forward to a new season . I like that Walker and Conner are getting along better . I like good plot lines not in house or personal bickering all the time like they were at first. Just get me back to the main plot and I am happy





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The Minutemen

Thoughtful, Balanced and Breathtaking
I must give the highest recommendation to the quality of the Wascinski /Minuteman documentary. The vistas of the Arizona borders transmitted in breathtaking colors. The piece was thoughtful and well constructed. One must marvel at the camerawork and photography; while appreciating the balanced approach to a very controversial subject. The documentary presented a thorough analysis of the unspoken consequences of illegal immigration: the loss of entry level jobs for legal entrants and citizens, the environmental consequences of gross littering, the loss of livestock to fence vandalism, deaths, and the narcotics trade.
Wascinski's documentary explores the solitary life of patriots who cloister themselves away from society, because they firmly believe in a principle. The watchdogs of the border are, literally, voices crying in the wilderness. We clearly see and feel the emotions they experience,the frustration, the rewards, the pride.
The documentary fairly portrays...

Take the Good Leave the Bad
Some of the characters in this make you proud to know there doing what there doing. Some of them are simply embarrassing.

An Interesting Look
This will give you an up close and personnel look at some of the people in this group. It's both disturbing and enlightening.

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What is the Electric Car?

What is the Electric Car?
This movie is nice because they trie to explain in simple words what is the electric Car?. It have interviews, you can see different models of electric cars. The quality was perfect.

Thanks





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M. Butterfly [HD]

Intriguing Reversal of Classic Opera Story
Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly is the catalyst behind this fictional version of the bizarre true story of the relationship between Bernard Borsicot, a French diplomat, and Shi Pei-Pu, a Peking opera singer. In the film and play, Bernard Borsicot becomes Rene Gallimard, a low-level accountant at a French embassy, who is promoted to head of embassy intelligence after he inadvertently ruffles some feathers among the espionage staff. The real-life Shi Pei-Pu is known as Song Liling, a singer at the Beijing opera, although the actual events took place in Peking. With a background set among the chaos of China just prior to and during the Cultural revolution, the affair between Boriscot/Gallimard and Pei-Pu/Lilang is used to frame a well-crafted and extremely well-acted story of espionage, love, betrayal, obsession and, ultimately, a dramatic reversal of the tragedy of Madama Butterfly.

Unlike some, I believe that Borsicot/Gallimard probably did not know, or certainly did not...

"It's the Music,not the Story"
"M. Butterfly" is David Cronenberg's powerful espionage drama,based on David Henry Hwang's stage drama. Jeremy Irons stars as Gallimard, a French civil servant in Beijing who finds himself smitten with the lovely opera diva Soong Liling (John Lone) Their pillow talk consists of American troop movements in Vietnam, Soong is a secret agent for the Red Guard. Along the way, Soong drops little hints to her true nature. Picnicking on the Great Wall, Soong asks, "Why do you love a woman with a boy's chest?" Soong also tells one of her comrades that men impersonated women in the Beijing Opera because "only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act."

The romance becomes political intrigue. In the end, Soong's identity is revealed and Gallimard commits hara-kiri. In real life,however, both lovers remained alive. The French agent didn't kill himself; in fact,he has gone to numerous stagings of the play and was on the set when Cronenberg's movie was being made.

"M...

The "Best" of Jeremy Irons
This version of "Madame Butterfly" is not the opera type. This is a heart-breaking love for a Man looking for his perfect Butterfly. It first seems like He (Jeremy Irons) has found his heart's desire. But the truth, (ugly as it is) slowly comes out. His life is in ruins, so is his soul.
The last half-hour is not to be missed, no phone calls or computer on. See this actor take you on a trip you will not forgot emotionally. And a ending that is unexpected and leave your soul wounded as well.
The "Best!"

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Only The Strong Survive

Loved Seeing My Favorite Artists of Old
I loved seeing what has happened to my favorite stars. It made me happy and sad.
Some stars didn't fare too well. D. Denman, Phoenix, AZ

Supreme!
I saw this movie at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. shortly after it was released a few years ago. The sound and performances were perfect...and heartbreaking stories prove only the strong survive. I am a great fan of Mary Wilson so I was pleasantly surprised that the original Supreme was included with the Stax stars.

One of the greatest DVD's for yesterday's Soul Music.
This is one of the most enjoyable DVD about the 60's and 70's period of Soul music. When you're a "Golden Senior Citizen" like I am, the music and coverage brings back many great memories of the "Good Old Times" ~ as we "Old Golden Oldies" like to say. Never ever lose the moments of yesteryears because that is what keep us going for tomorrow.

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Volume III, Episode 1

soo disappointed
I really found the first season of this show to be unique and riveting. Sadly, it has lost its oomph very quickly and become very like any other crime drama. in this episode, attention has shifted to the personal lives of the detectives and abandoned the in-depth exploration of the victims and defense teams that made the first season so engrossing.
So much has it drifted, that I wound up losing interest and not even watching part 2 of this episode.
Such a bummer.

This is a great series!
The police work is great, very believable compared to most similar programs. And the actors are not movie star-looking, but regular people, which I like. The women don't run around crime scenes in slut pumps and low-cut blouses. The first part of this 2-part season leaves you hanging and wondering. I can't wait to watch the second part!

Intriguing
This is one of my favorite Acorn TV shows. Good story lines and good acting. Can't wait for more free episodes.

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War, Inc. [HD]

Comedy from today's headlines
I almost skipped this one as a political annoyance until I saw the star power supporting it: Ben Kingsley, Marisa Tomei (a personal favorite), John Cusack, Joan Cusack, and more. That cast simply won't let a movie be bad. They couldn't if they tried.

Despite an apparent attempt to be ordinary entertainment, this one rises above all the usual categories. Do you want a cynical mockumentary of Haliburton-style war profiteering? Got it. Do you want pointed jabs at operations funded by Congress's "black budget?" Check. Do you want satirical assaults on simplistic sloganeering from every possible direction? It's there. Add in a babe like a pre-meltdown Britney but with hotter hotpants and a bucket of slapstick, and you're headed in the right direction. For example, a major character's name is "Uckmee Fay." Speakers of pig-Latin, please take note.

They set the tone from the very first scene. Chevy Chase delivers a "Mission Impossible" style of assignment to a high-class...

What a strange & smart little movie
I loved it. Take John Cusack, add 1 part Brazil and pour over Starship Troopers, and you've got a hilariously bizaare commentary on geopolitics and the industrial war machine.

Its dark, and I mean, almost navy. Its only downfall is its heaviness, and sometimes it and the metaphors are jammed down your throat a little too often, but the ensemble cast is actually phenomenal, with Ben Kingsley and even Hillary Duff doing a great job (I can't believe I typed that).

You will laugh, if you have a dark sense of humor and like smart comedy. This movie is very timely, with the rise of the military farming out their work to private security (who are portrayed to be the craziest of all the crazies in the movie). Its small wonder it tanked in the box office, but if you have a proclivity towards movies like Dr. Strangelove, you'll find this to be one of the better movies you watched this year.

Classic Cusack!
I came upon this movie by accident while I was visiting friends in Colorado (because, naturally, such a film won't be shown in ultra-conservative Georgia). I immediately fell in love with the dark humor and political satire as my favorite actor battled against his conscience, his bosses, and his hot sauce addiction. This movie is a fun watch for all, but particularly relevant to those of us who oppose the war. John Cusack hits it out of the park by finally saying what everyone's been too afraid to say. "War, Inc." is a MUST SEE!

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The Woodlanders

Into the Woods
A shorter version of a longer 1997 film of one of Thomas Hardy's lesser-known novels has been released in America on this bare-bones DVD. It will please viewers unfamiliar with the entire film as much as displease those who have seen the original or read the novel, the author's favorite of all his works. Characters, backstories and nuances that are Hardy trademarks are given short shrift in both versions. Not to worry, however. Newcomers to "The Woodlanders" will like this re-edited film, reduced and refocused as it is, because it is so well cast, acted, directed and photographed in beautiful locations. The film confirms that Hardy is as superb a storyteller as he is a social commentator.

A timber merchant sends his daughter (Emily Woof) off to school but welcomes home less a country lass than an educated woman who is now ill at ease among her kith and kin, including the young woodcutter (Rufus Sewell) she promised to marry. Instead, she marries a class-conscious doctor...

The Woodlanders
This is a good film but I have seen the original version (region 2) and sadly this region 1 DVD is missing crucial scenes, leaving some glaring holes in the story, particularly concerning the excellent Polly Walker's character, Mrs. Charmond. Had I not read the novel and seen the original film, I would have missed some important elements.

The cast is top rate, particularly Rufus Sewell and Emily Woof, in her first starring role.

OK, but certainly should have been longer
Previous reviews go a long way toward explaining what's wrong with this movie -- it's been injudiciously and unwisely cut! As it stands, it's not a bad use of an hour and a half -- compared to what's probably showing on network TV at the time. But it could have been great had the US distributor left it alone as it was shown in Britain.

I agree with previous reviewers who mention that the story seems rushed and the characterizations somewhat superficial. What a lost opportunity.

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Adventures In Babysitting [HD]

Elisabeth Shue's Babysitter Blues - a fun romp for the kids
Beginning your movie with the right song can get you off to a good start and "Adventures in Babysitting" gives us that golden oldie "And Then He Kissed Me" as Chris Parker prepares for her big date with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, this clown promptly proceeds to dump our heroine, which only proves he is a fool because Chris is played by Elisabeth Shue. Those of us who remember "Call to Glory" already knew that Shue was a babe and so does Brad Anderson (Keith Coogan), the kid who is too old for the babysitter on whom he has a mondo crush. Into the mix we add Sara Anderson (Maia Brewton), the adorable kid sister who has a thing for the Mighty Thor from Marvel Comics (she must have got the cool Thor helmet from Stan Lee, Jack Kirby or somebody in the ol' Bullpen), Daryl Coopersmith (Anthony Rapp), Brad's best friend who has yet to learn when to shut up, and Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller), Chris' best friend who is stuck in downtown Chicago at a bus depot...

a classic 80's comedy
Another classic 80's comedy, ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (aka "A Night on the Town") comes to DVD to delight old fans and new.

When highschool senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) decides to spend Saturday night babysitting the Anderson kids Sara (Maia Brewton) and Brad (Keith Coogan) as well as Brad's best friend Daryl (Anthony Rapp), no one, not least Chris, will be prepared for the wild ride ahead, when Chris' best friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller) phones and begs to be rescued from the Chicago bus depot after an aborted attempt to run away. Chris bundles the kids in the car and heads for downtown Chicago, but after getting stranded thanks to a flat tyre, the gang end up in a mess of trouble!

This is such a fun film. Elisabeth Shue glows as Chris and offers one of her funniest comedy performances. Whilst she is best-remembered by most film critics for her role in "Leaving Las Vegas", to 80's kids like me, she'll forever be fondly regarded as Chris in...

Really good comedies are hard to come by...
This is one of those rare gems!

Everyone, I believe, can relate to the craziness that goes on here.... it is just taken to the extreme in this movie.

Elizabeth Shue is fantastic as the babysitter. One of the most memorable lines is when she proclaims... "I'm the babysitter!".

Not to be missed. Enjoyable for everyone. Must see classic and timeless comedy.

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A Farewell To Arms

Blu-ray Upgrade Well Worth It!
For years this film was shown in badly duped shortened prints that did nothing to show the beauty of its Academy Award winning cinematography by Charles Lang. Kino's Blu-ray offering showcases Lang's still outstanding work in what hast to be one of director Frank Borzage's finest films. Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes are both excellent as is Adolphe Menjou. The only thing that dates this film is the music score. When the film was re-issued the newly formed censorship caused the film to be cut from 89 minutes down to 78 minutes. Many scenes had a only few seconds cut out of them while others were clipped more severely. Warner Bros. bought the rights to the Ernest Hemingway material from Paramount and re-issued the film with new main and end titles in the censored version around 1950. That edition appeared as a Laser Disc and was the first decent picture quality available for home use. Later David O. Selznick acquired the rights from WB in order to remake the film. The uncut version of the...

My review of the KINO DVD release of "A Farewell to Arms" (1932, 89 mins.).
First off, I want to make clear that, despite what the Amazon product description for this DVD presently (on 2/27/13) indicates, this movie, in this DVD release, is 89 mins. in length, not 80. I notified Amazon of the error a short while ago, so hopefully the correction will be reflected soon.

Secondly, I wish to COMPLETELY disagree with the product review posted by BAILADORA FINA on 1/7/13. I own a KINO DVD of "A Farewell to Arms". KINO released this movie as a new HD master, NOT as a restoration. Master means a best-possible straight HD reproduction from the best available picture and audio elements. A restoration, on the other hand, is when imperfections in picture and sound are corrected, as well as is reasonably possible.

As a new HD master, I consider this KINO DVD to be excellent, with overall clear, clean picture and sound, and with nicely balanced greyscale contrast.

I realize there is a conspicuous editing jump in one place, that makes it...

Part of American and European History
Good to watch to understand the impact of WW1
Hemingway is dismissed too often, as is WW1, but it lives today, and we need to understand it.
It led to WW2 and the holocaust

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Phone Booth [HD]

Very suspenseful!
In what seems like the most unlikely premise of all, we are treated to one of the most suspenseful movies so far this year. Not many people could take a film that has 90% of it taking place in a phone booth and still make it good, but Schumaker pulls it off here. Colin Farrell really shines in this movie, and as the suspense mounts toward the film's resolution, you really feel sorry for him. The sense of hopelessness he's feeling becomes your own as you realize there's no easy way out of the situation. The only thing I have against this film is that it could have easily been made into a PG-13 film for a wider audience range with just the loss of profanity. The violence is not as full as Lord of the Rings, but every third word is profanity and that's what earned it the R rating. I understand that you're trying to show Farrell's character's mounting desperation, but it could have been toned down a bit. Still, Keifer Sutherland's calm and even-tempered tone of voice is just psychotic...

Easily the best film of 2003, so far...
...Well, I guess that isn't saying too much. Phone Booth is a suspense genre movie that is actually suspenseful! In only 88 minutes, Phone Booth managed to get me to the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Colin Farrel really displayed his ability to act. His character may not have been the perfect guy, but he still managed to make the viewer feel for him. With this movie, Kiefer Sutherland also managed to regain the top position as the scariest actor in Hollywood...with his voice alone! Joel Schumacher's directing was great. One might think having the whole movie take place in mostly a phone booth would be boring, but Joel managed to make the movie compelling and visually stimulating. The other actors were also great; although if you're a fan of Katie Holmes, she's in about two minutes of it. I would defintely recommend anyone to see, especially if the person has been hesitant about seeing thrillers due to the blatantly bad ones that have already come out, because Phone...

The art of listening.
Before I watched this film, I read several reviews on it. Most of them was negative. Than I checked out the director: Joel Schumacher. I found few mediocre films by him but at the same time I found few of my favorites: The Lost Boys (1987), Flatliners (1990), Falling Down (1993), The Client (1994). Based on this research I had no choice but to watch this film.
Main character Stu (Colin Farrell at his best performance) is one of this fake New Yorkers: some publicist, dressed in a fake coat of bogus fame and unexciting BIG contacts. He stops by at the phone booth to make his regular call to another women, the one which doesn't know that he is married... As soon as he hangs up? A phone call... A phone call for him... A phone call by a sniper. He has to play by the sniper's rules, or someone will die.
A thriller? An action? A psychological drama? I would say all of it at the same time... but much more. Did I want to know what will happen next? Yes! Did this film make me...

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Seven Chances

Give "Seven Chances" a Chance!
Buster Keaton movies have a similar formula; na

Dead Poets Society [HD]

"And what will your verse be in the poem of life?"
"I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." (Henry David Thoreau, "Walden.")

Hands up folks, how many of us discovered Thoreau after having watched this movie? *Really* discovered I mean, regardless whether you had known he'd existed before. How many believe they know what Thoreau was talking about in that passage about "sucking the marrow out of life" cited in the movie, even if you didn't spend the next 2+ years of your life living in a self-constructed cabin on a pond in the woods? How many bought a copy of Whitman's poems ... whatever collection? (And maybe even read more than "Oh Captain! My Captain!"?) How many went on to read Emerson? Frost? Or John Keats, on whose personality Robin Williams's John Keating is probably losely based? Judging by the vast majority of the reviews on this site...

Be careful if you want the Director's cut
Be careful about the label 'Special Edition' if you are still waiting, like me, for the fabulous Director's cut that was released on laser disk but not on DVD. It contains essential extra footage added by Peter Weir that fleshes out the motivations behind many of the characters and answers some questions that the theatrical cut raises. The Director's cut is 142 minutes so this DVD is just a re-release of the original theatrical version.

"Special Edition" is Less Special Than it Could Be
I just received the "Special Edition" and was disappointed. The reviewer who advised caution was correct-this is just the same version with a few "bonus" features. The "Deleted Scenes" or "Raw" footage contains only the couple of minutes of Keating meeting the boys at the cave after Neil's performance. The version shown on USA (I haven't seen the Laser Disk Director's Cut) containing the extra footage of Knox's dinner at Danbury's and meeting Ginny Danbury, the scene rehearsing near the lake, the boys being assigned their extracurricular activities are all missing. The original script called for Knox and Chris to kiss near the frozen waterfall after the Keating-led meeting. That's not here, either. Too bad - those scenes really tie up the story much better.

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Nothing Sacred

Essential Carole Lombard...
Much like Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard continues to intrigue even decades after her own untimely death. An actress skilled at drama but showing a distinct preference for comedy, Lombard mixed her stunning beauty with a genuinely quick wit and a sharp, sarcastic intelligence. On screen, she was someone who, even at her most vulenerable, could still obviously take care of herself. Whereas the joy from watching Katharine Hepburn's screwball comedies came from seeing the haughty Hepburn brought down a notch or two, the joy of Lombard's films was watching her force the rest of the world to come up a few notches to meet her.

One of her most enduring (and endearing) turns came in the 1936 film Nothing Sacred. In a plot recycled in countless films since, Lombard is mistakenly told that she is dying. A small-town girl, Lombard's one wish is to see New York before she dies. Natrually, New York's high society welcomes her with open arms and Lombard, on account of her impending death,...

Nothing Funnier
Nothing Sacred is often referred to as a screwball comedy. Granted it has Carole Lombard the ultimate screwball heroine and other elements which suggest this form of comedy. However, it does not in the end so much resemble films like Bringing up Baby as it anticipates the later satires of Preston Sturges. Whichever way it is classified though, Nothing Sacred remains one of the best comedies of the thirties or indeed of any era.

This film, with its story of an apparently dying young woman, has an added poignancy for viewers watching it today. Lombard would be dead by 1942 and a real national heroine also with a navy warship named after her. The fiction at times seems to look ahead to the fact and thus the story becomes moving as well as funny.

The print of the film on this Lumivision DVD is on the whole good. There are some scenes especially at the beginning of the film where the early Technicolor print has been damaged. This means that there is some flickering and some...

Yumpin' Yiminee! Comedy and commentary in a perfect union!
NOTHING SACRED has all the right elements to make it a classic screwball comedy. It's short (a mere 74 minutes), has tight and fast scenes, some out-of-the-blue and very odd occurences (as mentioned by others, the boy biting March is a riot), stars who aren't afraid to get silly or messy to produce the best laugh, and a strong, scathing message.

Ben Hecht's script is excellent, providing many belly laughs during the movie, and chuckles long after the VCR or DVD player has been shut off. Carole Lombard is her hilarious wacky self. I love black and white movies, but I must admit the Technicolor really allowed me to appreciate her full beauty. And as for Fredric March, well, I've always had a sweet spot for his acting, and he certainly didn't disappoint in this production. He and Lombard balance each other out perfectly. And, as was characteristic of the great comedies of the 30s, the supporting characters excel in their roles to round out a practically perfect comedy.

As far...

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Hero (English Subtitled) [HD]

Well worth the wait, "Hero" finally plays in our land
I feel like I have been waiting a long time to see this movie and that the trailer for "Hero" ("Ying xiong") has been teasing us for at least a year. I have to admit that I fully expected to see an epic full of battle scenes and massed armies of men. My mistake. This film from China is a pointed fable, distilled from legend that may well be myth, and with a point that may well be lost on Western audiences. This is clear from those viewers who are unwilling to accept the conventions of wire work in Chinese martial art pictures and whose standard of realism refuses to allow for the poetic ballet of combat.

The prologue makes it clear that this story takes place in China before it was China, when the land was made up of seven warring provinces and the King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming) dreamt of conquering the other six provinces and uniting the land. For years the king has been unable to have a peaceful night of sleep because there are three assassins who are out to kill him...

Blu-ray: I love this film so much but no lossless Chinese audio soundtrack is disheartening for the hardcore fans!
Beautiful, artistic, poetic...an enchanting martial arts film that will captivate you with every scene!

These are the words I feel about "HERO", the 2002 film directed by Zhang Yimou ("Curse of the Golden Flower", "The House of Flying Daggers" and "Happy Times") and a film that would feature cinematography by Christopher Doyle ("Chungking Express", "In the Mood For Love", "Fallen Angels", "Happy Together") and music by composer Tan Dan ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "The Legend of the Black Scorpion").

The film would also star Asia's top talents which include Jet Li ("The Warlords", "Fearless", "Once Upon a Time in China", "Fist of Legend"), Tony Leung Chiu Wai ("Lust, Caution", "Red Cliff", "Tokyo Raiders", "Infernal Affairs"), Maggie Cheung ("Ashes of Time", "Sausalito", "In the Mood for Love", "Comrades: Almost a Love Story"), Daoming Chen ("Peace Blossom", "My 1919', "Infernal Affairs III"), Zhang Ziyi ("House of Flying Dagger", "My Wife is a Gangster",...

A Visual Feast and a Cleverly Told Tale
Much as Ang Lee demonstrated his directorial virtuosity in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, Zhang Yimou has applied his magnificent talents to the martial arts genre with HERO. This is movie not only worth seeing, but worth watching two or three times, or more. Each viewing unveils new appreciation for Zhang's artistic direction, Chris Doyle's cinematography, Tan Dun's musical score, and Itzhak Perlman's violin performance, not to mention fresh insights into the story line and character interrelationships.

The story line is simple enough on its surface, based loosely on Chinese historical fact. The king of the Qin state seeks to unify the Seven Kingdoms some 2,000 years ago, and three assassins from the defeated Zhao state wish to kill him. An unknown warrior named Nameless, from the Qin state, succeeds in killing the three assassins and returns to collect his reward in an audience with the King. As we view segments of Nameless's explanation of how he defeated three such...

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The First Time

Not great acting, but fun
This was a fun, adult film, although about a bunch of high school kids who want to lose their virginity. I guess Mr. Werkheiser wants to get out of the "Ned's Declassified" shell he has been trapped in -- as most kids want to grow up on screen. Unfortunately, this film isn't really for adults, and its theme is not intended for children. So who is the audience? Probably why it went straight to video. I'm an adult who is a child at heart, so I wanted to see Werkheiser "grow up." That's who the film is for. I enjoyed it, but it probably will have a small audience.

The First Time (aka Love at First Hiccup)
After finishing this movie, I was amazed. Scout Taylor-Compton has been doing a lot of really good movies like Triple Dog [Blu-ray] and The Runaways. I've been waiting to see The First Time (originally Love at First Hiccup) for a long time. I received an imported copy of the movie and finally got to watch it. After I finished it, I fell in love with it. It was absolutely amazing. There are a couples problems with the movie: 1. the length, it's just way too short, 2. Why don't you show the scene?, and 3. The quick ending. But the movie is really good, I'm just confused how this didn't make it to the cinemas, it's defiantly better than some of the movies that have been releasing in the cinemas lately (now on DVD), like Grown Ups. This movie is a must have!

The DVD...

The couple i want to be!!!
The movie was so sweet they were weirdly perfect for each other they are my want to be couple. An awesome Movie

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Secuestro Express

I am from venezuela
This is an awesome suspense and action movie, representing the reality of venezuela, when you see it you will be amazed and everybody I know that actually lives here (my friends and family went out of the cinema shocked of the country we are living in), the sad part IS ALL TRUE and it's one of those movies you can't leave the cinema to go to the bathroom you will be hypnotized and wondering in EVERY PART what's going to happen next. It's so realistic that Venezuelan government has forbidden the movie to be played on cinemas other than the capital, and the film will not be released for the national market

.
This film was very well made and I would reccomend it most people. However, that is not the purpose of this review. Many people suggest in the other reviews that this film is a accurate repesentation of Venezuelan life. While this is accurate and does happen, one should not take away the impression that all Venezuelans have been kidnapped- or that anyone visiting Venezuela will be a target. True, it is necessary to take precautions that some cultures (specifically Americans) are not accustomed to. Yet, remember this is a film about crime set in Venezuela, not a film about the entire culture of Venezuela.

Its true but not really truth
Its a great as a movie that tries to portray all Latin American reality in less than 2 hours. Its nice to see some new Latin American talent trying to breakthrough in a filmmakers world. Its a little exaggerative but a very nice film, a thrilling ride.

But I got to admit that this movie brought a lot of controversy into my house, at first I was shocked I didnt believe that my city, the city where I lived most of my life was like that , then it came anger to the movie makers for making such an exaggerated film like that and finally it came acceptance that it truly represents Latin America in a sense that the corruption, drugs, injustice, poverty is all there.

The movie gets unrealistic when all the situations that the characters live occur in a period of a couple of hours and in the same day and to the same people. Its true that kidnappings in Venezuela occurs, its true that drugs occurs, its also true that carjacking, robbery occurs daily and thorugout the city...

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The Fountain [HD]

Millenial masterpiece. Aronofsky is Kubrick for a new generation.
I was utterly moved to tears by this film. The Fountain is a breathtaking sentimental masterpiece in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey [Blu-ray] as it boldly seeks to answer the great mysteries of life, love, death and re-birth transgressing the metaphysical boundaries of the universe. It's epic non-linear narrative spans the centuries with Hugh Jackman delivering an absolutely unforgettable performance as Tomas, a Spanish Conquistador in the 16th century who pledges his loyalty to Queen Isabella (Rachel Weisz) to find the mythical Tree of Life so that Spain will hold the key to the Fourth Paradise, Immortality, denounced as heresy by the Grand Inquisitor. Tomas' quest is interleaved between three converging narratives across time and space. As a modern-day neurosurgeon, Tomas struggles to find a cure for a tumorous disease that threatens the mortality of his beloved wife Izzi who is writing a fable called "The...

Breathtaking . . . But There is a Caveat . . .
This film is a artistic masterpiece. Its graceful beauty is does not permit debate. It will be an exquisite experience for any lover of art. The sheer visual originality will transfix the viewer. It is without pretense . . . its message is universal.

Here is the caveat: you need not be "educated" in film to understand this work . . . you need not be a Ph.D. holder to enjoy its majesty . . . you need not have any background in Early Colonialism to follow Aronofsky's thoughts . . . but you do need to be patient. You need to prepare yourself for a visual experience that rivals Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. You need to surrender yourself to Aronofsky's vision. His non-linear approach may initially confuse the viewer . . . his metaphors may initially frustrate . . . . his repetition may initially annoy . . . but try to understand these aspects as essential to the film's glory. Trust Aronofsky to guide you through the film . . . the more you resist his approach, the less you...

An epic movie
I first heard about "The Fountain" a few years back at San Diego Comic Con. Aronofsky seemed really hyped about it and showed us a few clips. After seeing them I was amazed but confused, and thats how I felt when I viewed the entire film years later, but after thinking about the film and discussing it with some friends I figured it out and I was blown away by its beautiful complexity. "The Fountain" follows three story lines. The first is about a scientist whose wife is dieing of brain steam cancer. He spends all of his time devoted to finding a cure but to no avail. The second follows his wife when she takes up a hobbie and writes a book about a conquistador who is sent on a quest to find the fountian of youth for his queen. Her book is played out in live action as she's writing it and provides a really cool tie in to the film. The third story is the strangest. It basiclly watches the scientist as he floats up through space in a big bubble(Stay with me here)while he meditates by a...

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Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) [HD]

Just as good as the first.
As a Scooby fan I may be a bit biased but how you can deny that this is just great entertainment for everyone is beyond my understanding. Of course this isn't high art but it IS very well put together and there are plenty of in-jokes for the wiser viewers. This movie HAS to be mindless, it would lose its kid audience otherwise. But that doesn't mean there's no good humor or plot to it.

Granted, the plot is dumb (the gang go up against all the monsters from the first season, only this time they're real), but there is slight sophistication and the manic set-pieces just bombard us, one after the other. Once again, there's not a moment of boredom, but there are quieter scenes with the Mystery Inc. gang in which character is not completely ignored. The main stars are, as usual, Shaggy and Scooby. Matthew Lillard is dead-on as Shaggy. Give this man an Oscar, seriously!

One moment that requires major suspension of disbelief is not any scene feature sludge monsters or a talking dog but a...

Better Than the First
Scooby-Doo still looks fake but if you look past that the movie isn't to bad.The movie has the original cast excluding Rowan Atkinson with Freddie Prinze Jr as Fred,Sarah Michelle Gellar as
Daphne,Linda Cardellini as Velma,and Matthew Lillard as Shaggy.
There are also some new characters including a museum curator who has a crush on Velma played by Seth Green.Also a mean news reporter played by Alicia Silverstone.The movie has the gang investigating a villian stealing all the costumes of the ghosts they've caught in the past and turning them into real monsters
and a subplot involving Shaggy and Scooby learning they really have no contribution to the gang and trying to solve the mysteries by themselves.Lillard again seems to be channeling Casey Kasem who did the original voice.The only bad thing about the movie was little kids in the theatre repeating every single thing that was said in the previews and in the film itself.Scooby-Doo fans should be pleased with this...

Lets get a third effort in this fun franchise :)
Contrary it appears to public opinion (if box office receipts are anything to go by) I actually preferred this sequel to the original SCOOBY DOO.

Gone is the ridiculous unmasking of the improbable villain (though this one is pure fantasy too) and we actually seem to have a plot here with actual clues to uncover. Whereas the first one seemed to play like some wacked out amusement park ride, this one plays it all a little straighter without losing its Scooby sense of zany humor.

The movie opens as a museum exhibit is being unveiled covering the history of Mystery Inc. Things get steadily worse however as one of the disguises comes dramatically to life Soon the team are being chased by all manner of monsters as well as a rather vindictive television reporter (played by 1990s sex symbol Alicia Silverstone).

There are some real red herrings in the convoluted plot of this movie, but there is actually a coherant follow the clues structure to this movie that...

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From Justin To Kelly [HD]

"You're the one playing games Kelly!"
Okay, I admit I rented this movie. Yes, I am properly shamed. But you know what? It's actually not that bad. Sure, it's silly, improbable, and goofy beyond all belief (the outfits alone...) but "From Justin to Kelly" is also surprisingly sweet and good natured. Our favorite ex-Idolers star as "Justin Bell" and "Kelly Taylor", two young adults in Florida on Spring Break. Justin is supposed to be a wild party boy, and Kelly is the down home girl from Texas (she is described at one point as "one bonnet short of Amish"). They meet, have an instant connection, and spend the whole movie overcoming various obstacles (mostly Kelly's evil best friend) before finally finding true love.

The big surprise here is how natural Clarkson and Guarini are on screen; they read their lines with assurance and ease. There is one good musical number, a couple of decent ones, and one really bad one. The songs are pleasant, and made better by Clarkson's beautiful...

decent dance routines, but as a whole not very good
A Film by Robert Iscove

I read a professional review (Owen Gleiberman, EW) of this movie that called From Justin to Kelly "Grease: The Next Generation acted out by the food court staff at Sea World." I previously had no intention of ever watching this movie but when I read that review I felt that I just had to see the movie, just to see if it could possibly be *that* bad. I'm not sure any movie could be quite as bad as Mr. Gleiberman thinks this one is, and to be honest, From Justin to Kelly is not that bad. Make no mistake about it, it isn't a good movie, but by no means is it as bad as what the food court staff at Sea World could do.

Here's the plot: Kelly (Kelly Clarkson) is a waitress in a bar in Texas. She and two of her friends drive out to Miami for Spring Break. Justin (Justin Guarini) and two of his friends are also heading out to Miami, both for some fun as well as to promote some parties and events there. Justin and Kelly meet and are interested in each other...

So bad that it's brilliant!
All I can say is wow. There were a total of 9 people in the theater. Three twosomes were seeing it as a joke, making fun of it as it went along. Then there were three people who were actually seeing it. Two of them walked out (not sure if it was because of us or the flick). Every time a person got up and left, the six fun people let out a "aw[...]"

As for the film...wow... I have never seen anything like it before. Because Justin and Kelly can't act, they made sure not to have any real actors that could upstage them in the movie. There wasnt a single drop of talent involved in any aspect. It was one of the most remarkable things i have ever seen.

And the songs??? They were worse than the script. They were mediocre rhymes repeated endlessly to mediocre beats. It made the music of Spears and Timberlake sound that Lennon and McCartney. Also, the song writers never learned how to write the ends of songs, so EVERY song just faded out during a chorus. I guess the director took a cue...

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Daredevil DIRECTOR'S CUT [HD]

Improved version of "Daredevil"
A marked improvement over the previous version of the film, "Daredevil" (Director's Cut) allows director and co-writer Mark Steven Johnson to adjust his film to the darker aspects he originally wanted to portray on screen. I won't be reviewing the previous edition in this review at all (since amazon.com inadvertently combines all editions into one pool this may end up under the previous theatrical DVD release), but will focus on what makes the "Director's Cut" unique and worth picking up for fans of the movie and the comic book.

Sometimes "Director's Cuts" are a mere attempt by the studio to make more money or the director to create something successful out of a disaster. That isn't the case with "Daredevil"(Director's Cut). Director Johnson originally intended to focus as much on Daredevil as he did on Matt Murdock and his career as a crusading lawyer fighting for the underdogs. The 30 minutes of additional footage adds an important subplot about the murder of a hooker...

Big improvement over theatrical release
Don't get me wrong, I like the theatrical version of this movie. But, as a lifelong fan of Daredevil in the comic books, the Director's cut is not just more faithful to the source material, it's also a more cohesive film.

The added storyline with Coolio puts more focus on Matt (Ben Affleck) as a man, and how precariously he balances his life as a lawyer and as a vigilante. The toning down of the Matt/Elektra romance makes the the love affair all the more tragic. Jennifer Garner comes off much more believable as Elektra this time around because the love is unfulfilled. The subplot with Fisk's lawyer lends more depth to how insulated Wilson Fisk (Michael Clarke Duncan) really is, and some added footage, really lends to the Kingpin's cruel and violent nature. The fight sequences have a much better flow now, Ben Urich (Joe Pantoliano) is more fleshed out as a character, and Foggy (Jon Favreau) Nelson's sense of humour is given more room.

All in all, this is a...

I Kinda Liked the Original Version, but I Love This One!
This Director's Cut improves on the original in almost every way. The plot holes are filled in, the fight scenes are more violent, and the romance is trimmed down a bit. And believe it or not, former rapper Coolio was actually quite funny, especially in the court scene when he mentions he uses only shotguns (you'll know what I mean when you see it). If this was the version released in theaters I think most people would have this one at the top of the Superhero film lists right beside Batman, X-Men 2, and Spider-Man 2. This version is worth buying and I will never watch the theatrical cut again.

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Daredevil [HD]

Improved version of "Daredevil"
A marked improvement over the previous version of the film, "Daredevil" (Director's Cut) allows director and co-writer Mark Steven Johnson to adjust his film to the darker aspects he originally wanted to portray on screen. I won't be reviewing the previous edition in this review at all (since amazon.com inadvertently combines all editions into one pool this may end up under the previous theatrical DVD release), but will focus on what makes the "Director's Cut" unique and worth picking up for fans of the movie and the comic book.

Sometimes "Director's Cuts" are a mere attempt by the studio to make more money or the director to create something successful out of a disaster. That isn't the case with "Daredevil"(Director's Cut). Director Johnson originally intended to focus as much on Daredevil as he did on Matt Murdock and his career as a crusading lawyer fighting for the underdogs. The 30 minutes of additional footage adds an important subplot about the murder of a hooker...

Big improvement over theatrical release
Don't get me wrong, I like the theatrical version of this movie. But, as a lifelong fan of Daredevil in the comic books, the Director's cut is not just more faithful to the source material, it's also a more cohesive film.

The added storyline with Coolio puts more focus on Matt (Ben Affleck) as a man, and how precariously he balances his life as a lawyer and as a vigilante. The toning down of the Matt/Elektra romance makes the the love affair all the more tragic. Jennifer Garner comes off much more believable as Elektra this time around because the love is unfulfilled. The subplot with Fisk's lawyer lends more depth to how insulated Wilson Fisk (Michael Clarke Duncan) really is, and some added footage, really lends to the Kingpin's cruel and violent nature. The fight sequences have a much better flow now, Ben Urich (Joe Pantoliano) is more fleshed out as a character, and Foggy (Jon Favreau) Nelson's sense of humour is given more room.

All in all, this is a...

I Kinda Liked the Original Version, but I Love This One!
This Director's Cut improves on the original in almost every way. The plot holes are filled in, the fight scenes are more violent, and the romance is trimmed down a bit. And believe it or not, former rapper Coolio was actually quite funny, especially in the court scene when he mentions he uses only shotguns (you'll know what I mean when you see it). If this was the version released in theaters I think most people would have this one at the top of the Superhero film lists right beside Batman, X-Men 2, and Spider-Man 2. This version is worth buying and I will never watch the theatrical cut again.

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The Losers [HD]

Losers is a winner
On the surface, it's just another action movie. Stuff blows up, people get shot, the bad guy is trying to destroy the world and the good guys are trying to stop him. It's the perfect popcorn movie.

But take a closer look at The Losers and you'll start to see that there's more than just mindless entertainment going on here. It's not trying to deliver a message, thank god, and it's not an action movie with pretentions of being great art. But it's smart, well written and well acted, and that separates it from the last 10 action movies you paid good money to sit in the dark and stare at.

[...]

The Perfect Action Film!!!
I saw this a few hours ago with a friend, and personally, I thought it was awesome! It was literally filled to the brim with action, comedy, and special effects. Clay, Roque, Jensen, Pooch, and Cougar are part of an elite United States Special Forces team that are on assignment in Bolivia. When they are betrayed by an enemy named Max, they become fugitives and are believed to be dead. They are forced to team up with a mysterious woman named Aisha who may be able to help them find Max. I understand this movie is based on a comic book by Vertigo, but I never read any, so I couldn't compare it. My favorite character was Chris Evans as Jensen, because he had all the hilarious lines. Another thing, was that this film reminds me a lot of 'The A-Team' If you love action, I highly recommend THE LOSERS!!!

"The Losers" wins at action
Adapted from the short-lived Vertigo comic series, "The Losers" delivers a solid B-action-movie experience. It's got humor, `splosions, and an over-the-top bad guy played by Jason Patric. A few things holding this film back from true greatness are the over-stylized editing (it feels a bit gimmicky after a while), the fight scenes are fast and frequent but aren't that memorable, the plot seems like it was lifted from an "A-Team" episode, and there's no big name stars to pick up the slack for the less than original characters that fill the film. Jeffery Dean Morgan is the leader of The Losers, and while he did an excellent job as The Comedian in "The Watchmen," I couldn't help but wonder how much more an actor like George Clooney or Russel Crowe would bring to the part.

However, the cast has some major talent with Zoe Saldana (kicking butt and in her underwear no less) and the future Captain America, Chris Evans. I doubted Evans' ability to pull off the part of Marvel Comics'...

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Caterpillar

If you are familiar with Koji Wakamatsu's films and his career, you'll love the absurdity of this film and its political message
Among Koji Wakamatsu's films, "Caterpillar" is no doubt his best film yet. Unsettling but yet managing to retain the political message that Wakamatsu incorporates in his films.

For those who are familiar with Koji Wakamatsu's oeuvre and have looked at the filmmaker's history, you will know that he is well-known for his pink movie films of the '60s and '70s and his contribution to the "Pink Eiga" genre. To also know that he was a producer of Nagisa Oshima's controversial film "In the Realm of Senses" (1976) and similar to Oshima, willing to take on films that are not traditional style of storytelling in Japan and are known to have an edge.

But similar to Nagisa Oshima, Wakamatsu is also a rebel. In 2008, his film "United Red Army" was a docudrama on the tragedy of the Japanese radical left and America and in 2011, he began working on another political film based on the acclaimed novelist and political activist Yukio Mishima titled "1.25 Jiketsu No Hi, Mishima...

Banzai to the War God
By far the most conventional of Wakamatsu's films, Caterpillar is, nonetheless, extremely effective in its use of icons to construct an antiwar poem for all time: the reoccurring image of villagers throwing up their arms shouting "Banzai! Banzai!", the neatly framed portraits of the Emperor and Empress displayed next to the newspaper clipping and the hero's three war medals, the quadriplegic veteran forever lying behind the screen, routinely fed, cleansed and serviced by his wife (deftly played by Shinobu Terajima, for which she was named best actress at the Berlin International Film Festival). But the most indelible image is that of the "caterpillar" dressed up in coat, medals and hat, who is paraded around as the "War God" in a garden cart. This must be the most absurd yet dramatically charged image of insanity, group insanity, as villagers bow and officers salute. The "War God" is indeed a hell-being and within this mutilated man's mind we catch glimpses of horrors in repeated...

The God of Soldiers
The first few minutes of "Caterpillar" do not promise a great movie. Shot on what looks like digital video, with bad special effects of a burning building that look like they were done on someone's home computer, I figured this was yet another low-budget Japanese horror film.

I was wrong.

Nominated for Golden Bear (director) and winner of the Silver Bear (Best actress) at the Berlin International Film Festival, "Caterpillar" is an intense anti-war film, heavily political and nothing even approaching a horror film. Director Wakamatsu Koji made the film in response to the re-release of Mishima Yukio's militaristic right-wing movie Patriotism, showing the harsh reality of Japan's military cult of WWII.

Nominally based off of Edogawa Rampo's banned short story of the same name (Found in Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination), "Caterpillar" shares only the briefest of association...

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Swastika

Still a chilling, frightening film
I first saw this documentary in 1976. It took several days for me to shake the chilling, disturbing effect it had on me at the time. I just bought the DVD and watched about half of it. It still has the same effect, particularly if you have not seen it before.

What makes it so upsetting? It's not what you've come to expect in a documentary about Nazi Germany. This is the Nazis through their own eyes. The entire film is archival footage from the time. There is no narration. There are no post-facto talking heads. In short, there is no editorializing, and, lacking that, you start to see why the German people were willing to follow such evil people.

The bulk of the film is from before the war. The highlight is Eva Braun's home movies of Hitler and the Nazi leadership. We see Hitler relaxing at Obersalzburg, talking to friends, greeting children, petting dogs. As the film says at the beginning, it is necessary to see the human face of evil in order to...

A Must See Film!!
This is an absolutely fascinating look at pre-war Nazi Germany. The film attempts and I believe succeeds in allowing the viewer to experience what it was like to live in Germany prior to the Second World War. This was before the bombings, death camps and all the horrors that are now associated with the words Nazi and Adolf Hitler. Hitler as well as his inner circle are shown in a manner that makes them all too human and, for me; quite easy to relate to on a human level. That alone would make the film worth watching but what I really found extremely powerful was seeing how much the German people idolized Hitler and watching it could understand why. The film was vilified when it first opened and considered by many pro Nazi because it lets the viewer interpret this material for themselves. This is a film that doesn't "tell" the viewer anything. It is a film that makes the viewer experience something radically different and having experienced it forces them to understand exactly...

Not So Shockingly New
For those who are avid students of WW II, those who have seen the better WW II documentary films and those who watch a lot of The Military Channel and The History Channel on cable, 90% of the Berghof footage is old news. A lot of the Nuremberg footage is well known. There is a very short scene of one of the Braun sisters skinny dipping up in the mountains which was new to me. Yes,they played with their doggies, sipped tea, doted over the children, frolicked in the Alpine meadows and murdered millions. There are numerous scenes of ordinary Germans doing mundane things especially Bavarian farmers who look like Appalachian hillbillies. There is some interesting footage of German kids going to summer (indoctrination)camp and it looks like everybody in Germany wore a uniform. Look at the faces of the people in the huge crowds and you can see and feel the hysterical "fatal attraction" Hitler had over these people. This film is an excellent slice of German life from 1933 to 1939. The ironies...

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It's Complicated [HD]

Not Usally My Genre But I Loved It!
Romatic comedy--usually not my genre. This one's different. Very funny, and it's got just the right mix of elements. Number one -- should I say it again -- truly very funny. Everyone in the theatre I saw it with was laughing out loud and having a great time. Number Two -- intelligently written, no mediocrity here. Number Three -- it's about real people who are grown-ups (well, maybe Alex Baldwin's character has got a ways to go), people with lives, children, and friends. Number Four -- it has a good spirit. So many of what passes as comedy today is nothing but nasty or stupid. That's not what's happening here. It's Complicated manages to be generous and wise about human nature without being mushy. Number Five -- Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alex Baldwin do a great job, and seem to be enjoying themselves. I give it a 5 for "totally entertaining".

It's Very Fun
We watched IT'S COMPLICATED the other night, with multiple generations in attendance. And everyone laughed out loud. IT'S COMPLICATED is a light-hearted, refreshing romantic comedy that will entertain you, brighten your spirit, and make you smile.

In IT'S COMPLICATED, Jane and Jack have been divorced for 10 years now, and they have finally come to a sort of workable truce. They have three nearly grown kids together. Jane has a very successful restaurant, and Jake is happily married to the younger woman with whom he cheated. Or is he? Unacustomed time alone together at their youngest son's college graduation leads to an unexpected night in bed together. This one-night-stand blossoms into a full blown affair, which leaves Jane, Jake, and the entire audience wondering if old wounds can be healed and old love rekindled.

While the plot of IT'S COMPLICATED really isn't (it's really pretty formulaic), the acting is truly magnificant. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin,...

Meryl continues to astound
In her latest highly entertaining romantic farce "It's Complicated", Meryl Streep continues to astound. Moreso than and other actress (or actor) Streep is a chameleon, who takes on new totally different roles and completely inhabits the characters without leaving any traces of herself. It astounds this reviewer to think this was the same actress who portrayed chef Julia Child in "Julie and Julia" and a very strict nun in "Doubt" within the last two years! And she was totally convincing, and gave Oscar worthy performances in all three roles!

Whenever we see actors drunk (or high) on the screen we must realize they are not. They are stone cold sober or they couldn't act, which makes her many intoxicated scenes all the more funny and marvelous.

Meryl and costar Alec Baldwin look heavier, older and more middleaged here then I have ever seen them , which lends credibility to their roles. It is difficult to believe this is the same actress who just played the severe,...

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The Boys Are Back

A chic flick for guys
The essence of THE BOYS ARE BACK is "fatherhood", i.e. what it means to be a Dad. It's an absolutely lovely film absolutely worth seeing.

Joe Warr (Clive Owen) suddenly finds himself a single father when his young wife Katy (Laura Fraser) precipitously dies of intestinal cancer. Joe, the lead and oft-on-the-road sportswriter for Melbourne's major newspaper, must now connect with his six-year old son Artie (Nicholas McAnulty). Coming to visit from England is his 14-year old son from a previous marriage, Harry (George MacKay), whom Joe pretty much abandoned to his first wife years before on their divorce.

THE BOYS ARE BACK is about male bonding - father with motherless son, father with fatherless son, brother with half-brother. In this clubhouse, the women, whether it be Joe's mother-in-law Barbara (Julia Blake) or potential new significant-other Laura (Emma Booth), are almost intruders.

Filmed mostly on Australia's striking south coast and with a...

Sadly under-rated
This is a great little movie, sadly under-rated, with wonderful performances by all cast members. I know many reviews have praised young Nicholas McAnulty and, yes, Nicholas is brilliant - especially when you remember that he is an inexperienced 6 year old! On the other hand I felt that George Mackay, as the older brother Harry, stole the show! Absolutely wonderful performance by this young man with a great acting future ahead of him, I'm sure!

I may be a little prejudiced when it comes to this movie since I'm a HUGE Clive Owen fan and, because it was filmed where I live, I was fortunate enough to be a part of it - albeit as an extra but what a wonderful experience!

In a world of mix 'n' match families, this is a must see movie! As for the South Australian location - well that is a bonus!

Enjoy!

Clive Owens Goes Hallmark
If Clive Owens accepted the role of Joe Warr (based on the autobiography of Simon Carr) as an attempt to break away from his type casting as a blood and thunder action hero, he at least proved that he is able to step beyond his usual screen presence. Though the story of a happily married sports writer to a beautiful young second wife Katy (Laura Fraser), enjoying their one child Artie (Nicholas McAnulty), who abruptly becomes a single parent when Katy dies from metastatic carcinoma, placing him in the uncomfortable position of becoming a single parent, is not unique among the tearful novels that have also made their way to the screen, this film survives on the quality of the cast. Not only does Joe have to overcome the treacherous terrain of tending to housekeeping along with the tenuous gap that occurs when a parent dies and the remaining parent must tend to the grief of the remaining child, but he also must cope with the young Harry (George McKay), his son by his first marriage in...

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Texas Killing Fields [Blu-ray]

YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT, RIGHT HERE
The film opens with the over used phrase, "Inspired by true events." Sam Worthington and Jeffrey Dean Morgan play two detectives in Texas City, Texas. They are investigating a murder of a young female while having to take care of domestic cases as a subplot. Jessica Chastain (The Help) plays CSI Det. Pam Stall. She is the ex-wife of Sam Worthington and investigating a disappearance in the "Killing Field." She requests the assistance of our two Texas City detectives who initially refuse because it is out of their jurisdiction. She is a "Dirty Harriet" type. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is from New York and plays the "good cop" as opposed to Worthington's "bad cop" role. Later we see their roles reverse. There has been 50 unsolved murders involving the Killing Field. Once a girl goes missing there, they are never found alive.

Chlo

LOST RIVER, LINCOLN'S SEC

Interesting story, but a bit amateurish
The story is an interesting one and the Lincoln portrayal was first rate, but the overall video had all the professionalism of a home movie.

Great woman. Great story. Humble but respectable independent effort.
So the opening scene was great but the film quickly showed its casting deficiencies. This was a unique woman in history with a gripping actual story handled by acting and storytelling amateurs. I give it five stars because I liked the music and think this independent cast deserves respect for trying.

Hubby is in this!
My hubby is a Civil War Reenactor and has a very small part; he is part of a group marching in a scene and I have honestly not viewed the entire movie. I will do that soon.

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Centre Place

Female lead terrible...
The only positive to this movie was Sullivan Stapleton. The female lead needs to find another line of work. The story could have come off fun and quirky, but it just came undone instead. Disappointed!

enjoyable
I found this movie enjoyable. I agree with snc, because I also don't understand why the leading lady was trying to resist Sullivan Stapleton. But I didn't find this movie predictable, a couple of things happened that I did not expect at all and I liked that. Overall I enjoyed the story.

A little predictable but fun!
If you're a female fan of Sullivan Stapleton, you'll enjoy this movie. If you're not, you will be! He's perfectly charming in this film and I spent a lot of the movie wondering why the lead actress was trying so hard to resist him! I was not as impressed with her performance as Stapleton's, but I enjoyed several of the supporting characters. Overall I enjoyed the movie. It was a little quirky, a little predictable, but good fun.

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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - "Grave Danger" (Two-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Great Episodes, Lousy Price
I am a huge CSI fan, and not much of a Tarantino fan though. Having said that i very much enjoyed the Grave Danger episodes of CSI. They were well paced, full of intense thrills, and you really feel for the CSI agent in peril throughout the episode. It was well done...back in when this first aired. This release is actually episodes Grave Danger parts 1 and 2 from the last two episodes of season 5.

So here is the big question...what is this relaease all about then? This is a blatant cash in on the CSI and Trantino names for more money, just on a new format. It's just these two episodes re-re-relaesed on Blu Ray. These 2 episodes have already been previously released on a stand alone DVD back in 2005, which was bad enough. You can also simply buy Season 5 of CSI for less than $20 or get it used for less than $10 and get these exact same two episodes, plus an entire season of the show. Why pay $20 for just 2 episodes, at $10 per an episode when you can get a whole season at...

A correction on the "stars" of this great episode!
Probably the best ever CSI--should have been a movie! However, the star of this show is George Eads, WILLIAM PETERSEN--not Laurence Fishburne--, and the rest of the original cast.

SEASON 5 FINALE
Just thought I'd mention these were episodes 24 & 25 to conclude Season 5 and they were riveting television.
Tarantino's directorial efforts made GRAVE DANGER rock.

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Project Nim

Nim gives a lesson in human arrogance
I remember the first time I held a chimp's hand. The first touch between human and ape fingers establishes a connection, and you never forget the soft leathery feel of a chimpanzee's palm. What should be an ordinary sensation is not. It is unforgettable and forever.

The problem arises when the chimp-human connection becomes subject to human arrogance, sometimes cloaked in love, other times defined by science, and often supported by stupidity.

Project Nim is the true story of a chimpanzee who was taken from his mother to participate in a 1970s university research project on communications. The movie has all three components: love, science, and stupidity, all adding up to a level of human arrogance that is almost incomprehensible.

Nim's story begins at an Oklahoma primate research project, when the mother chimpanzee, Carolyn, is shot with a tranquilizer so the research director can grab Carolyn's sixth newborn, Nim, as they stole all the others. Nim goes...

Utterly Engaging, Unbearably Tragic
About half way through the fascinating, absorbing and unsettling PROJECT NIM, a tear-stained former female caretaker of the chimp looks right into the camera and states "Shame on us." That sense of shame at humanity's awesome hubris is just one of several very strong emotions that filmmaker James Marsh effectively evokes in a film that asks some very big questions, even as it moves and breaks your heart.

Poor Nim. From the day he was torn from his mother's devastated arms, he was unwittingly entwined with human machinations he could never understand nor hope to escape. For an animal lover, it's hard to watch his tragedy unfold, yet also impossible not to watch its moments of sheer joy and revelation; and impossible not to want to comprehend what happened and what it all meant . . . for us, for science and for Nim.

Some might take issue with Marsh's playful directing, which fuses some rather graphic and overtly dramatic recreations with real documentary...

For a wide audience
Project Nim is a fascinating video comprised from wonderfully logged archives of videos, along with more recent interviews from his caretakers: past and present. It's a great documentary that you don't need to be a naturalist or linguist to enjoy. I enjoyed the "science" from the film, my 9 year old daughter felt the story, and my wife felt so bad for Nim she could barely watch - but did so with great interest. A couple of days later we still find ourselves discussing Nim in the household.

This resource would be a great one for a range of classes, in various educational settings, from kindergarten to graduate school.

The story of Nim, as revealed here, will engaged the viewer with questions: from the nature of language, to the linguistic capacities of "other animals", along with the humane treatment of subjects used in clinical and experimental research. I appreciate the honesty put forth in the documentary as there are aspects of Nim's treatment that will...

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Karen Cries On The Bus

Divorce Colombian style: "I'm repainting my life"
Let me state upfront that I am a big fan of the Film Movement library of foreign and indie movies, so much so that I finally gave in and joined their DVD-of-the-month club last year. But I'm still catching up on earlier releases as well, and this is one of those.

"Karen Cries On the Bus" (2011 release from Colombia; 98 min.) opens as we see Karen (played by Angela Carrizosa) sitting on the bus, in tears. Karen arrives at a cheap boarding house where she rents a room, and it is only later that we find out she has just left her husband. Later on, Karen's mom arranges a 'reconciliation' meeting between the two of them and Karen temporarily returns to him, but not for long. Karen makes the acquaintance of Patricia, who also rents a room in the same boarding house. Meanwhile, Karen is desparate to land a job as she is almost out of money. Then one day, as she takes a coffee break in a local cafe, Karen's handbag is stolen, leaving her penniless, literally. What is she going to...

Starting Over
The title of this film refers to the way in which its protagonist manipulates well-meaning strangers to provide her with money which she needs to survive given her relinquishment of a financially comfortable but ultimately deadening marriage to a shallow, self-absorbed man who cannot see Karen as a person in her own right to save his life. Beautifully photographed and well acted, Karen Cries On the Bus is a gritty, often disturbing examination of the profound difficulties generally encountered when a socially isolated individual possessing little native talent is precipitously thrust into society with no resources except the wile and determination to make it on her own whatever the cost. My problem with the film was that I often found Karen to be an unsympathetic character but that did not stop me from remaining absorbed by the film-making throughout. 3.5 stars.

Realistic life journey
As the title might suggest, Karen Cries on the Bus begins with it's title character sobbing on a bus. Her destination is the city of Bogota, Colombia, though she has little money and no job to support herself. It's soon learned that she is leaving her husband. This emotional opening sequence alone is enough to illustrate the trials of life and the difficult journeys we sometimes have to make.

The character of Karen (Anjela Carrizosa) could be anyone. She's portrayed as an average housewife, who we assume has been living a comfortable life with her successful husband. Like many of us, she has regrets about her life. Though unlike most people, Karen makes the drastic and life changing decision to leave her husband and try to find herself. This particular scenario doesn't just apply to marriage. It could be someone who decides to take a leap by quitting their job and starting a new one. Taking action to find oneself is scary and not without risk.

Karen takes on the...

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