Friday, October 18, 2013

Civil Love



Add this to your list of favorites!
Once in awhile you come across a love story to be added to your list of favorites. For me, "Civil Love" is one of those movies.

Rachel and her two children must find a way to survive on their own after the death of Rachel's husband a year earlier. A soldier for the Union Army during the Civil War, Rachel's husband was killed by enemy soldiers. When faced with a proposition to remarry the local sheriff, will Rachel do so, even if it means being married to someone she doesn't love? And what will she do about the stranger she found injured in her barn? After all, the stranger is a Confederate soldier - just like the ones who killed her husband.

Daniel recently escaped from a Union Army prison. A Confederate soldier from Georgia, Daniel is shot in his attempt to return home. Will he survive the brutal cold? Will he be able to outrun the two men relentlessly searching for him? What happens when he collapses in a barn, only to discover later it is the barn of a woman...

A Romance First and Foremost
This story provides an interesting premise for a love story, and for the most part, it delivers.

The set-up is not totally unfamiliar: a single mom with children, isolated, trying to make a go of it in a primitive enviroment. Along comes a handsome(once he shaves) mysterious stranger in need. The added relish, it's the Civil War; he's of the enemy that killed her husband, and he's recently escaped from a brutal prison.

It's a great plot for interesting interactions, and an ever present feeling of danger looms overhead, makes it all the more romantic. Can he be trusted? Will the authorities catch up to him and kill him? Can the heroine resist the growing feelings she's developing?

In general, the filming, sets, and acting are fine. It's a tad low budget, and in places, it comes across like TV show and the costumes a bit stagey looking. The outdoor shots with the cold were much better, and the music flows fine with the scenes, which can be problem...

Good idea for a story but.....
I love the civil war era and so was excited to see a new movie from the era...but with all the information about the 1860's couldn't somebody have done some research? The costumes are awful. Totally awful!! There was no synthetic fabric in the 1860's. Also no zippers and the styles were totally wrong. Besides that the mom seemed way too young to have kids that old. The Confederate soldier has no southern accent but one of the men hunting him did. The wood chopping scene...it was obvious that the wood was already split. I gave it 2 stars because it was a sweet love store.

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Genetic Roulette - The Gamble of Our Lives



Must See if you eat food!!
I got a chance to see this video for free and still bought it because I wanted to lend it to others to see. We've all heard a little bit about genetically modified foods and I thought the issue had more or less been taken care of. I couldn't have been more wrong. These crops need to go and our politicians will never have the will power but we have the power of the almighty dollar to stop it by not buying the stuff. I get a voice in how the world's and my own food is produced because every dollar I spent is a vote for what I want to see. Of course the worst affected are those unable to make decisions for themselves the children. Immoral and unethical are words too good for the multinationals that produce this garbage that they call food and feed for animals. This is something that everyone who eats needs to see. I cannot stress enough that everyone who is reading this review has already consumed genetically altered foods and so have their loved ones. I am not an alarmist by nature, but...

A Must See Documentary
Jeffrey Smith just released an incredible new documentary called Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives. It's narrated by Lisa Oz (daughter of Dr. Oz) and features interviews with physicians, scientists, farmers, dieticians, chefs and educators all discussing the problems with genetically engineered foods.

Americans get sick more often then Europeans and people in other industrial countries and we're getting sicker. Since the mid 1990's when Genetically Modified Organisms (Genetically Engineered Foods) when our food supply was taken over, without our knowledge or our consent. The number of Americans suffering at least three chronic illnesses nearly doubled. Why is this taking place?

We've had an epidemic increase in cancer, obesity, allergies, autism, diabetes, asthma, and intestinal disorders. These are the same conditions that animals eating genetically engineered foods develop in the lab. It seems like we, and our children, are the guinea pigs of the...

Genetic Roulette movie review
This is a very informative documentary.
google geneticroulettemovie

Public officials' connections to Monsanto Former Monsanto employees currently hold positions in US government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Supreme Court. These include:

Michael A. Friedman, MD, was Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Medical and Public Policy for Pharmacia, and later served as an FDA deputy commissioner.[195][196]
Linda J. Fisher was an assistant administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before she was a vice president at Monsanto from 1995 to 2000. In 2001, Fisher became the deputy administrator of the EPA.[104]
Michael R. Taylor was an assistant to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner before he left to work for a law firm on gaining FDA approval of Monsanto's artificial growth hormone in the 1980s. Taylor then became...

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Changing Hearts



So nice to have family value movies.
The movie is well done and supports family. Something harder and harder to find in movies anymore. I know my grand kids can put it on and be safe. It's in my library as my tv is going off more and more.

Mild Family Drama with a Touch of Romance
A clean family drama with a bit of humor, romance, scenery and decent enough acting and directing to keep one's interest.

The story's familiar: successful, big city son returns to beautiful, country home at news of ill father. The family needs help with their flailing B&B as a ruthless, competitor, Daphne Zuniga, pressures them to sell out. There's also internal strife between brothers, and a girlfriend urging the son to return to the city. Will he do the right thing? Can the family and the B&B be saved? Is there a love with the right person blossoming? Stay tuned.

We pretty much know the outcomes, and it's a pleasant enough journey. There's no earth shattering revelations or shocking discoveries.

SunWorld Pictures puts out these films, Scents and Sensibility, Civil Love, Christmas Angel. They offer the same premise of romance, a light moral message and a Dove approved film. They interchange the actors; same crew and directors, Brian Brough...

Wonderful family movie!
Family is very important to me! I didn't like that the main character started out with some kind of problem with his family. I loved that he changed and family relations were mended!

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The Bride Walks Out



So-So Stanwyck Fare
This was one of only 5 minor projects Stanwyck committed to in the emotionally turbulent year following her divorce from Frank Fay. It proved a solid box office hit, but it hasn't aged gracefully. The movie begins with snappy promise: Stanwyck is a disillusioned bride whose new husband can't afford to support her in the manner to which she is accustomed. Enter a charming and very eligible drunk in the form of Robert Young. Unfortunately, the movie veers sharply away from any interesting developments in order to chastise Stanwyck - and every woman - for entertaining the least notion of dissatisfaction with a borderline-abusive spouse. A wife's proper place, afterall, is in the home, even if that home is no more than a squalid rat hole and the husband a bore and a boor. For roles far more worthy of her sparkling talents, check out THE LADY EVE and BALL OF FIRE and CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT.

Anything
Anything Barbara Stanwyck did in the 30's and 40's is wonderful. She was a terrific comic actress - one of the FEW truly gifted actresses.

Gene Raymond as Fred Flintstone...
... in a production that is an OK time passer but is based on entirely archaic ideas on the subject of marriage. If I'm going to watch a film from 1936, I guess I should be prepared to deal with the values of 1936, but this is just too much.

Mike Martin (Gene Raymond) is an engineer who basically nags model and long-time girlfriend Carolyn (Barbara Stanwyck) into marrying him. The arguments begin at their quickie civil marriage ceremony and continue as Mike's estimate that $35 a week is enough for them to get by on is incorrect. Plus no wife of his is going to work! It's a Martin tradition. Before this film is over I felt like if it was a Martin tradition to walk a tightrope strung between high rises on your 30th birthday Mike would be up there doing it. He's not exactly a deep thinker.

Meanwhile, Carolyn is stuck making Mike's maxims work. Mike gets to live the dream of supporting a wife that doesn't work, but his dream is really a mirage. Carolyn is the one...

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Corvette Summer



Corvette Summer...summer release...what a concept!!!
Yeah, that's right, I'll admit it: I've been waiting for this one to be released on DVD. Is that so wrong? Back in '78, this was Mark Hamill's first post-Star Wars project; we were excited to see "Luke Skywalker" again; even if he wasn't Luke here. We were also excited because Corvette Summer boasted one of the coolest custom 'vettes we'd ever seen, not to mention Annie Potts as a "working girl" This is a nice time capsule of the late 70's, I would recommend to anyone who grew up in that decade, Star Wars fans in particular.

Nostalgia aside this isn't a bad comic chase as Hamill ("Kenny" here) searches for his custom car, made by his own 2 hands, neither of which is robotic at this point, aided and hindered by Potts, as the love-right-in-front-of-his-eyes interest. Hamill's youthful overacting is a pleasure to watch in itself.

This film has aged well and has some really funny moments, like Hamill hitchhiking encounter with a lowrider fleet creeping to Vegas...

Deeper Than You Might Think
I saw this at the drive-in when it came out. It's an easy movie to get totally lost in.

When I first saw it I completely empathized with Mark Hamill's character "Kenny" when his car / catharsis was stolen. The moment in the film when he first realizes he is looking at his stolen car at the car wash, the moment when the music inserts just enough of an orchestrated punctuation mark...that's magic. I am always very aware that I can't avoid a tremendous smile during that moment every time I watch this movie, just as I did when I first saw it.

I couldn't envision another actor in this film and have it work on the same level with the same impact as Mark Hamill. He always had a very likeable, sincere and positive energy throughout this film and wore his ideals with pride. A performance that leaves many of today's leading men looking like arrogant posers.

Many aspects of the 70's are encapsulated here as well, only sweetening a fantastic experience...

The Movie held upGreat over the years but the Car didn't
This is one of those great summer movies that you see as a kid and sticks with you all of your life. It's a very fun movie to watch that flows great, the movie really has stood the test of time but looking at the Corvette with today's standards the car looks really Cheesy, funny how it looked like the coolest thing when I was a kid but not anymore.

Great Movie though

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Taxi



Cagney and Loretta Young make a great team
In 1932, James Cagney was on a box office role in a series of cheaply made contemporary stories "torn from the headlines". In this one, he is a cab driver in New York, competing for business and always ready with his fists. Loretta Young is his leading lady, the improbable daughter of cabby, Guy Kibbee, who is jailed for shooting the guy who smashed his cab in order to run Kibbee out of business.

The film has the usual quota of slang and low lifes and moves at a fast clip under Roy Del Ruth's slick direction. The first half is probably the best before melodrama takes over but the real highlight is the unexpected rapport of the leads. Cagney and Young may seem an ill matched pair but at this stage of her career, Young was not only beautiful, but hot and she plays off Cagney's energy with a nonchalant and submissive air which is perfect. She is as riveting as Cagney and who could ignore those beautiful big eyes!

The DVD has been issued under the Warner's Archive...

Another great cagney picture
If your a jimmy cagney fan like me,you will love this movie,shot during the gangster movie years----been waiting for this one

early Loretta Young
If you don't appreciate looking at life in the early 1930s, if you don't like the music from the early 1930s, if you don't like the snazzy cars from the early 1930s, if you don't like seeing the feminine clothes and pretty fluffy soft & shorter hair on women in the early 1930s, if you aren't interested in seeing movie stars long dead who were very young and appealing in the early 1930s, don't buy this dvd. My parents were a really good-looking couple with 2 kids and one on the way, but they lived from hand to mouth during this period known as the Great Depression. In many respects this movie reminded me of them. I loved this movie the first time I saw it on Turner Classic Movies. When it became available on Amazon.com, I had to own it so I could view it every few months and think about my pretty mom. She looked so much like Loretta Young in the early 1930s - - not so much in later periods. Now you may understand why I gave it 5 stars. There are many other early 1930s movies with...

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Nobody Knows - The Untold Story of Black Mormons



Very informative
My family is from Puerto Rico which has a mix of ancestry including descendants from Africa. Although I am a devout "Mormon" or member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was unclear/misinformed about the past "policy" regarding the ban for African men from receiving the priesthood. This documentary was very informative, it has strengthened my testimony. I recommend everyone to watch it, because it depicts a very important part of history and present, but it is not sugar coated.





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Bright Road



Bright Hope
BRIGHT ROAD is the first movie which presented colored people as beautiful and intelligent role models. This also marked the first time I saw myself in a movie because I was 9 years old at the time and looked like the students in this Hollywood version of an all black school elementary school. We all hoped that other un-stereotyped pictures would follow but that did not happen until years later when blacks produced black films.

This classic film was also my introduction to Dorothy Dandridge and I have been in love with the beautiful screen goddess ever since.

This Movie Is A Gem and I'm Glad to See It Finally Released on DVD.
I have periodically checked on Amazon to see if the movie Bright Road was available and was found to be disappointed each time. I was pleasantly surprised to find the movie on DVD the last time I checked.

I first saw this movie in 1953 when I was nine or ten years old depending on the month I saw it. At that time I felt it was the best movie I had ever seen. This movie is tame by today's standards, but I still find it to be worth five stars. I remembered parts of this movie from sixty years ago and was reminded of other parts when I viewed it again today.

The story takes place in a school setting. Dorothy Dandridge plays the role on a new teacher and facing the frustration of dealing with an indifferent student while Harry Belafonte plays the role of the principal. It is also the story of the troubled student, C.T. Young having to deal with the death of his new-found friend, Tanya.

Who knows. Perhaps this movie played a part in my choosing to...

GREAT ADDITION
THIS WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO MY BLACK HISTORY COLLECTION I AM SO GLAD IT IS IN PRINT AND ON DVD

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Wild Horse Wild Ride



Horse Lover's Must See
Absolutely the BEST horse movie ever!!! You will laugh and you will cry. So touching and so well done. There is something so magnificent and spiritual about wild horses; about the connection between horse and human. This is an absolute must see for all horse lovers. My husband and I have both been anxious to see it for a second time and can't wait for it to come out on DVD. What a great gift. I will be giving it to relatives as well as our horse loving friends in Switzerland. Yahoo! Don't wait; order it; you will not be disappointed!

more than a documentary about horses
This film is more than a film about horses and horse lovers. It is one of the most moving documentaries I've seen about human compassion and the desire to connect. The various persons followed in this film have chosen to take in a wild mustang, train it and bring it to competition in just 100 days. These are not polished or wealthy people with time on their hands. These are ordinary people who are passionate about horses and willing to take on what at times seems an impossible task. From an old Navajo man who is terrified to get on his horse to 2 young brothers in New Hampshire who learned to work with horses by observing and imitating the horses natural behavior, -every single one has a wildly different approach to achieve the one goal they all share: developing a trust with their horse. At times it is heartbreaking just knowing that all their intuition, creativity, commitment- and the deep love that inevitably develops is all with the purpose of getting the horse to competition...

You WILL be a Horse Lover after this film!
I never thought much about horses until seeing this film and now feel as though I have a MUCH better understanding of these beautiful animals! Well written, directed and thoroughly enjoyable! I've ordered a couple of extra DVDs as Xmas gifts.

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Home Alone 2: Lost In New York



BEST HOME AOLNE EVER and a very special movie for the heart.
This sequel actually turns out better than the first and soooooo much better than the third. Kevin again finds himself stranded without his family, but this time he is in New York. With beautiful christmas music, and spectacular visions of holiday surroundings, this movie earns to be my favorite christmas movie of all time. This movie provides extra and a ton more laughs than the first one with awesome performances by TIM CURRY, ROB SHNIEDER, AND DANA IVY. They lighten the movie up to me. But also this movie is special for the heart and soul, when Kevin finds a poor woman to befriend, and love on the streets. This movie goes to prove that: Maybe there is people out there that will give the time, care, and effort to make a difference in some one's life.

And He's Back; They're Back...Again!
Last time around, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) was left home alone (pun intended) by his family in a frantic hurry to get to the airport. And to add insult to injury, he had to deal with a couple of bumbling sillies--burglars who wanted to burglarize his house--who went by the name of the "Wet Bandits." This time around, it's more of the same, but with a slight difference: this time, he gets on the wrong plane, and is left to his own devices in the "Big Apple"--a/k/a New York City.

The plot is pretty similar to the last one in many ways: Kevin gets into trouble due to getting into it with his older brother, and is punished. He gets fed up with his family treating him unfairly, and in the midst of his angst, wishes that he could have a vacation on his own, without any of his family. The next morning, in a frantic hurry, the family rushes to the airport to go to Florida for Christmas vacation. In the airport, Kevin stops to put some batteries into his small camcorder (which will...

Blu-Ray Version is the best for HOME ALONe2
I've seen many reviews about this Blu-ray disc, and they say it's a big disappointment when compared to the first Home Alone Blu-ray. Well, I'll be the judge of that (of course, it's my review). Does this Blu-ray look as good as Home Alone? Nope, but it still looks very good on an HDTV. If you stand 1-2 feet from the screen, you will see a lot of grain though, but if you stay at a normal seating distance, it looks great. I compared it to the previous DVD version I have, and there is no comparison. There are simple things you can see now that you could not before like: the note given to Kevin, clear Christmas lights, and the text when Kevin uses his Dad's Visa Card. The old DVD version could not be played properly on widescreen TVs since it wasn't enhanced while the Blu-ray version is 1080p which makes a HUGE difference. The DVD version suffered with Dolby Surround 2.0 while we get DTS-HD sound on the Blu-Ray. There are no extras, but it's a good thing since this was a single...

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Easy Living



A fallen champion
Of all the films of Jacques Tourneur, directed after the war, this film is one of my most misunderstood. Set in the world of American footbal, the film engages in a reflection on the sport and the notion of stardom. Through the course of a champion,(superb Victor Mature), Tourneur engages in critical reflection on the American way of life, the concept of social success. A must see.

Where was the Hays office when we needed it? (And I'm not into censorship)
Victor Mature once quipped, "I'm not an actor--and I've got the movies to prove it." This is a poor soap opera disguised as a sports picture. From its oh-so-ironic title to the wooden performances of most everyone involved, this is a dud, about a self-loathing, each-other-loathing couple who can't cope with the loss of their careers. It stops being a dud at the end, when Vic's character gives up hitting opponents on the field and starts hitting his wife to compensate--then it goes from dud to disgusting. A waste of film, and also of Lucille Ball, who has a thankless role as the team's secretary and implied slut. This is the worst type of misogyny, as the guys are degraded too.



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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Ken Follett's World Without End (Volume 2)



Ken Follet's World Without End
Even though I enjoyed it thoroughly, I was disappointed how much it strayed from Follet's writing. I would be interested to know his feelings on the adaptation. They seemed to follow more closely the original manuscript for The Pillars of the Earth, which I enjoyed immensly. Being a big Follet fan, I did enjoy seeing his work put into such extensive movies. I hope to see his other works on the screen some day.

great movie
one of the best movies I have watched. The story is captivating and holds the attention. The actors and actresses played the parts as if they lived them. Also the time period is one I love.

Fantastic
Great plot and costumes (but morphed slightly from Follet's book).
The actress who played Isabeau (mother of Edward III) could not have been more French. Often Isabeau is played as an English princess (ala Braveheart).
Some great villains and villiannesses.

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Heartbeeps [HD]



Underrated Classic
Two robots (portrayed by Andy Kaufman and Bernadette Peters) escape from their factory(along with a hack-comedian type of robot) and embark on a wilderness adventure. Along the way, they create a child named Phil from spare parts, all the while falling madly in love with one another. There are a lot of disparaging comments circulating about this film, but don't let that discourage you. Perfect for the kids.

Underrated Kaufman classic features bizarre world view
Many people never understood Andy Kaufman's creative genius while he was alive, and it seems that many people never will. Kaufman's performances in mainstream TV stuff like Taxi were well and great, but it's his fringe work that I feel best represents what Kaufman had to say about the world. HEARTBEEPS is one of those early 80s films that clearly dates itself with its cheesy hairstyles and out-of-date social commentary, yet at its heart lies a film about the dehumane treatment of "weaker" people that wear their heart on their sleave... as well as their battery pack. Andy's pewrformance (as well as Bernadette Peter's) is full of mild wit and charm, and his eyes (hidden underneath what I consider to be some of Academy Award Winning make-up artist Stan Winston's most creative and beatiful effects) portray a character full of innocense, imagination, and a rebellious sense of curiousity. A beautiful, low-budget look at a surreal future (back when the era of capitalism and...

zzzzzzzzzz
I agree with Peter, good film for the "kiddies". I watched this film when it came out and loved it. I was only 9 at the time. Almost 20 years pass without seeing it and suddenly I remember parts of the movie...and do an extensive 2-3 week search for the title. As soon as I found the title, I found a copy for sale, ordered it, and recieved it today. And painfully sat thru the 79 minutes (seemed like 179 minutes). It's just boring for lack of a better word. My favorite "stupid lines": "I wonder why Catskill's battery had so much power left?" "Oh, he was using less powerfull jokes." C'Mon! Will probably be another 20 years before I watch it again. Hope nobody makes the same mistake I did. (Oh, the second star I had to give because at least as a child i liked it :-)

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New Jerusalem



Great Movie
I loved it. Most people most likely won't enjoy it as much as The Comedy, but I really liked it.





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Angel's Wings



Inspiring, funny and joyful message
Was shown at my church for a movie night and they had a q and a period after...it was a great experience! Reminds us to know our God given purpose and live it out no matter what since we do not know how long we are here....the heaven scene is beautiful!

Zero-budget junk!
This movie probably cost them $10 to make. What a bad choice Amazon.com. They might as well be on the corner selling this type of movie. Fake ass reviews as well. Who would give this POS 5 stars? I am going to have to stop renting from Amazon VOD. Nothing but junk. I turned this off after 30 seconds and that was too long...



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The Idle Rich



Prehistoric
This movie was made shortly after movies switched to talkies-and it shows. The sound quality of this DVD is not good, and the plot leaves much to be wanted. The plot is simply not realistic. It shows a middle class family learning that one of their daughters is marrying a rich man and objecting because he comes from a different class than they do. The truth is the only reason I got this movie is because Bessie Love is in it. I am a big fan of hers. The character she plays is that of the immature sister of the engaged sister. She does well with a poorly written part. I cannot recommend this movie unless you are a fan of one of the stars.

Cute and Funny Early Talkie
This 1929 film (All Talking as it says on the cover) is really a cute story of a nice, good-natured guy who just happens to be extremely rich and who falls in love with a middle class girl. The issue arising from their marriage isn't that his rich family won't accept her, it's that her middle class family has issues with him being rich! I don't want to spoil the fun of watching it for you, so I won't give away all the story plot, but it's great fun seeing how he breaks through their middle class "snobbery" towards him and becomes a beloved part of the family. It's a fun, and heart-warming, comedy.

Conrad Nagel plays the main part as the millionaire and does wonderfully portraying the character. His voice is always great to hear; that combined with his ease with the camera made him an easy switch from silent to sound film.
Leila Hyams plays the girl he falls in love with. She also acts with him in Hell...



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10 Years



Very realistic reunion movie
Have you been to your ten-year high school reunion yet? If you have then you will relate to this film starring Channing Tatum. There were a couple of stereotypes like the hot girl everyone's eager to see whether or not she got fat. Or the class bully whom you're hoping doesn't show up at all. Most of all, though, when you go to your reunion you're eager to see the people who meant the most to you. Like a sweetheart, or the guy you had a crush on. All of these scenarios are represented in this film. I admit, I chose it because of Anthony Mackie whom I'd just seen kicking vampire butt in Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, but I'm glad I watched this film. It was more poignant than I thought it would be. A lot of the characters matured in the ten years since they'd graduated. Although one of them was still a bully deep down even though he made a show of having 'changed'. Entertaining and even enlightening, give 10 Years a try.

Good Story w/ Humor and Realism
I was a little reluctant to watch this movie given the couple bad reviews that I read on Amazon and the "average" IMDB rating. I just finished watching this and I would indeed rate this at least 7 out of 10. The story line had humor, romance, realism, and the acting and storyline were both above average.

I don't like silly movies that have no heart or emotion in both acting and storyline, and this movie, 10 Years, has both Heart and Emotion and left me feeling like watching it again.

This will go into my movie Library.

Not a bad movie, but not great either.
10 Years has a great cast and the performances are all very good. The problem, or the movie's strong point, depending on your taste, is that the pace and the individual stories are very realistic. The problem with that is that things move a little slowly. I did enjoy the movie, and it's worth the price of a rental, but it's not something that I would go out of my way to see again.

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Jane Fonda Am/Pm Yoga For Beginners



EXCELLENT
Ms. Fonda is a very good teacher - wish she would tell me what to do all day about everything. Sound quality and production of video is perfect. I have never done yoga and this was simple to follow and I wanted to do the whole video. I look forward to it every morning.

No excuses accepted
With this new edition of Jane Fonda's AM-PM yoga there is no excuse for not getting out of your chair (or staying in it if you aren't able to get up--there is a yoga for that, too) and moving. Yoga is more than "jumping jacks", in fact not like that at all. It is a philosophy as well as a body movement and extremely beneficial to those willing to put in the time and dedication. This CD has a total of five sets--3 AM workouts for morning bringing overall tone, strength and energy, and two PM workouts for mobility and relaxation.If you have been telling yourself you mean to get into yoga one day, this is your CD. Don't delay, get it today. Highly recommended.

My Favorite Jane's Package!
The sound quality and picture quality is just perfect. Jane is super nice and encouraging as always. She makes me feel I'm in a fairyland. Well, the exercises might seems easy but they're not as easy as you think. They help you work every muscle in your body, you can divide them to 10 minutes exercises as Jane has done or do them all together. You'll definitely feel great after that and believe it or not, I've started to look better already. Thank you Jane!

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Shred-A-Vision



Very cool. Also shows red blood and bad injuries-so great for mothers worried about their children to encourage caution and watc
Also shows red blood and bad injuries-so great for mothers worried about their children to encourage caution and watch these movies instead of try these tricks.





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The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting



Floundering and unnecessary sequel to a classic
Upon first look at the Hitcher 2, your first question will simply be, why? Why was this direct to video sequel to an 80's horror/suspense classic even green lighted? Who knows, but it shouldn't have been. Despite some relatively good stretches, for the most part the Hitcher 2, which retreads on the plot of the original, is a routine and predictable pot boiler. An older C. Thomas Howell returns as Jim, who is now a troubled cop trying to put his past behind him and go away for a little R&R with his girlfriend (Kari Wuhrer). Eventually, they come across a hitcher (Jake Busey) whom they pick up, and well, you know where this is going. Busey is good as a murdering psychopath who may or may not be Rutger Hauer's character from the original film, but Howell looks so bored in his brief return as Jim, and Wuhrer's acting abilities are wasted leaving her as eye candy (which isn't such a bad thing). The police force is presented here as ignorant hillbillies, a stereotype which the...

Drive on. There's nothing to see here.
With what seems like the most unnecessary sequel in recent cinema history, THE HITCHER 2: I'VE BEEN WAITING is ''finally'' here. Coming from out of nowhere, this film not only doesn't need to be made, but actually succeeds in making you know that it doesn't need to be made.

The story picks up years after the first movie closed, as Jim Halsey (played by C.Thomas Howell, who has grown up to resemble a rejected member of Motley Crue) is still haunted by the nightmare that was Rutger Hauer. He is now a veteran cop, undergoing serious stress and anxiety. In an effort to get his life back on track, he seeks out his police mentor buddy (Jeffrey DeMunn's character from the original, here played by someone else). However, to get to him, he must travel down that same stretch of road from the original movie, where he first encountered Hauer's malevolent villain.

En route, he takes his girlfriend Maggie (Kari Wuhrer in serious direct-to-video fatigue), who is blissfully unaware of Jim's past...

SEQUEL?
Face it people, this is not T2 or The Godfather Part II, and why is there a sequel to the hitcher anyway? The first "The Hitcher" was a classic movie which was a perfect reimagining of Steven Speilberg's classic DUEL. There was no need for a sequel. The story was told, nothing more to tell. A sequel? Dragonheart fell victim for this. A sequel will just tell the story all over again. Not even C. Thomas Howell could save this movie from being a failure. All in all, not entertaining and unnecessary. Not recomended.

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure



Excellent! Far exceeded my expectations!!
I'll admit, when I first heard about this documentary I was a bit skeptical. While Kirk Cameron has always struck me as a very sincere person, he wasn't someone I was expecting to do a serious documentary. However, this documentary really exceeded my expectations! Cameron's sincerity and and passion brings a lot of energy to the this film.

"Monumental" was filled with interesting content, much of which I had never heard before. This was quite surprising considering the fact have a Bachelor's Degree in History from a well known state university! Frustrated with the current state of our country, Cameron seeks to understand the foundations of the United States. To accomplish this, he travels to places like England and Holland in search of a deeper understanding of the Pilgrims and then back to New England to understand the foundations of America. He discovers what once made this nation great and something that can chart the course for a new generation of Americans...

Incredible
Monumental is incredible! Didn't really dawn on me that my generation (pre-1963) was the last to receive even part of the truth in education of the Puritan's plight. I remember at least seeing photos in our history books of people in England who fell asleep in church, in "stocks" and read of their tortures because of the Government-run church and the church as the mouthpiece for the government. Kirk does a remarkable job of telling this story. Not one single person born after 1963 should be without this. It could change a nation! Excellent, just excellent!

Great Documentary
The movie was enlightning and educational. I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to know more about our founding fathers. It's a great movie for kids as well.

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Heaven [HD]



Transcendent in every sense
What is heaven? More importantly, how do we, as imperfect people, transcend our daily limitations and transgressions to reach heaven - be it here on Earth or elsewhere? The master Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski, who wrote the screenplay for "Heaven" shortly before his death in 1996, uses the film's story and dialogue as a final opportunity to expand the core humanist philosophy that underlies nearly all of his films ("Decalogue", "Trois Couleurs", "Double Life of Veronique".)

Philippa, played by Cate Blanchett, is a widowed English teacher living in Turin. Disillusioned from the mounting death toll that drug abuse has claimed on several of her young students and her recently deceased husband, Phillippa executes a desperate plan to kill Turin's drug kingpin, Vendice, by deposting a bomb in his office trashbin. When the bomb is unknowingly intercepted by a cleaning woman on her daily rounds and taken to an elevator transporting a father and his two daughters, Philippa's...

A beautiful, thought-provoking film
This is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. The director knows how to create magic moments, and the slow tempo of the film allows the viewer to reflect upon not only the intrigue, but also the visual pictures. If you like films where something happens all the time, this is not a film for you. Instead, the film is almost floating forward in a way that makes you think about not so much what happens, but the deeper issues that are embedded in the film.

Human beings are not good or bad, and there is no such thing as a black and white world. Instead, the nuances matter. Being human is to make mistakes, sometimes. The director does not spell out any answers to the questions that the film poses, rather, provides one perspective on how they could be viewed, but is not trying to convince the viewer that this is THE truth.

The Triumph Of Substance Over Style
In his first English language film, "Heaven", German director Tom Tykwer abandons his earlier displays visual pyrotechnics, fast cut editing, and adrenaline laced pacing, to present us with heart felt meditation on the nature of unconditional love. This may disappoint some fans of his brilliant trilogy of films ("Night Sleepers", "Run Lola Run" and "Princess and the Warrior") which explored the themes of syncronicity, metaphysics and causality. It is the blissful performance of the cameleon-like actress Cate Blanchett that allows Tykwer the space to breathe and expand his artistic vision.

"Heaven" begins as a thriller involving a woman obsessed with avenging the death of her husband, but quickly shifts gears and becomes an exploration of love between doomed outsiders, another favorite Tykwer theme. Tykwer shot the film in Italy and it is technically a bi-lingual film, because much of the dialogue is in Italian. Giovanni Ribisi, whose career has alternated between lackluster and...

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Silent Night



This should have been the original
I remember when I was a teenager and I heard they were doing a slasher film with a killer Santa Claus. 20/20 and everyone was up in arms about this concept and Silent Night, Deadly Night's hype was born. And to any horror fan or movie nut in general, when people complain and try to ban a film, those are the ones you have to go see first. The sad news is most of us did get to see this film when it hit home video a year later we did not think it was warranted of what the uproar was about. Now that being said, if Silent Night which is directed by Steven C. Miller would have been the film coming out at that time, I would have seen what the uproar was about. While this is a very loose remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night make no mistake about it, this film is a million times better than any other Christmas slasher film I have seen so far. In a small quiet town in Wisconsin, Santa Claus seems to be coming to town a day early and seems to know who has been naughty and nice. This film has...

Christmas Slasher film , well done !!!!
I was totally shocked to see this film so well & done they don't make slasher films to well anymore but this one is neat and well done. No cheesy parts on this movie That i recall I gave this movie 5 stars and I do really recommended it to everyone that likes slasher films only. If u are offended it by the gore and blood don't watch it is not for you ...got to have big cojones to watch this one great Christmas slasher to own for the collection. Also check this other great horror slasher films: silent night. , deadly night, Christmas evil, don't open till Christmas, to all goodnight , P2 , Jack Frost 1 & 2 , black christmas , Santa slay , Saint Nick etc....

ANOTHER REMAKE THAT PAYS DECENT TRIBUTE
There seem to be three roads to take when making a horror film these days. The first and least used path is to make something original. Unfortunately few in charge these days are willing to risk anything to make an original film. The second is to make a sequel. The sad part here is that when an original film is made that succeeds it tends to go this route to far lesser productions. The last road is that of the remake. The bad news is that some people feel they need to improve what can be considered a classic and update it for the times, more often than not by adding a few more scenes of titillation or more gore. Most of these fail. But once in a while...

SILENT NIGHT is not actually a remake of the classic bad movie SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT, the film that caused such an outrage when it was released years ago. Yes, a few of the memorable items from that film are here including a killer dressed in a Santa costume and the antler scene. But this film feels more like a tribute...

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How High [HD]



LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY!!!!
The snobs and other uptight people will hate this one....but if you have a sense of humor, you will be rolling on the floor. Very funny and talented supporting cast for Method Man and Redman. Forget about the plot (think Marx Bros.)and just enjoy some of the year's hippest and funniest gags.

I wish I could give Higher stars
I saw in the movies with my best friend and we thought we were gonna die laughing. This movie is hella funny, Red and Meth are awesome. all of those people who say this movie is bad are probably old geezers who are mad that they are not young enough to have like us teenagers and what not.
The plot of two stoners getting into harvard is quite ingenious in this sensitive comedy. Watch this movie with the parents due to the low ratio of swear words, and there is barely any smoking or drug abuse-THATS UNHEARD OF IN THIS MOVIE!!! Hey you might even learn something because they are going to Harvard and learning too!
Highly recommend to buy this movie about two low class but well brought up boys finally achieving their goal of going to an ivy league school, you might cry you will feel such joy for these two excellent role models.

HOW HIGH
OMG ONE OF THE BEST FILMS EVER.. ESP WATCHING WITH FRIENDS... REDMAN AND METH ARE DEF AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME ON THIS FILM... ESP WHEN THERE IN CLASS IN THE BEGINING OF THE FILM..

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Ted (Unrated) [HD]



A downright hilarious R-rated comedy with a lot of heart
When you grow up with a woman who makes teddy bears by hand and sells them for a living, they kind of become that extra member of the family. As a child, there were times when the bears would be in positions or places that weren't where they were thought to have been left. Our theory was that whenever we weren't around, whether it was if we left the house or went to bed or whatever, the bears would get up and throw parties when we weren't around. So any movie that features something like a living teddy bear that can talk probably resonates a bit more on this end than for the average person.

"Ted" pretty much already had that nostalgic factor to it with the concept alone. While Seth MacFarlane doesn't always hit it out of the park with each episode of "Family Guy," "American Dad," or "The Cleveland Show," when he does get it right it's something special; it's hilarious, it's emotional, and its references are spot-on. "Ted" is MacFarlane at his best. The trademarks he's known...

Best comedy in many years!
After being beat down by Hollywood's recent (say, the last 15 years) interpretation of comedy, I was skeptical of this movie.
But, since it seemed different from your basic mindless, re-hash comedy(Epic Movie), or endless do-over (W. Farrell, J. Carey), thought I'd give it a chance.

After watching Ted, I was actually happy to have taken the time to see it, and that doesn't happen often in this age of re-makes and sequels.
Being 49 years old, it's tough to come across a new, funny comedy. This is definitely one.
Admittedly, there are one, or two, scenes that even made me cringe.
This is NOT a movie for kids, or folks whose laces are tied a bit tight(as noted by a few bad reviews,... 'What did you expect, Teddy Ruxpin?').

Most people will find this quite funny. 'Most'.

TED = Longer version of Family Guy
If you like the Family Guy humor with the the PG-13 edits, then you'll enjoy this movie because this Family Guy with no holds barred. The story and plot was a typical boy meets girl plot but all the little quips and snide remarks in this movie is what made it a funny movie for me. Again, before you decide to buy or rent this movie, watch Family Guy. If it made you laugh out loud or even chuckle at all the morally incorrect jokes then this movie is for you. If you're easily offended at racial, ethical, and/or religious jokes then this movie is not for you.

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The Adjustment Bureau [HD]



Was it Your Choice to Read This Review or Your Destiny?
There's a scene in "Citizen Kane" where one of the characters mentions seeing a beautiful girl on a trolley and he regrets not sitting next to her, and not one day goes by where he doesn't think of that girl. We all have experiences and memories like that, we wonder what our lives would have been like if we did sit next to that girl, or if we did talk to her, or get her number (undoubtedly, we lay more importance on these experiences than they may deserve. They're giant `what if' moments in our lives, the path not taken). But what if that moment of decision is the intrusion of destiny or fate? And we we're supposed to be with that person? That is the theme of "The Adjustment Bureau."

David Norris (Matt Damon) is a fast rising Congressman with a great political future. As he is set to win his race for the Senate, a revelation comes out that puts his whole political future in question. He goes into a men's room to rehearse his concession speech and meets Elise (Emily Blunt)...

A romantic sci-fi suspense thrill ride!
Just as Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Edition) was a love story with a slightly different angle of sci-fi-type themes, "The Adjustment Bureau" is a sci-fi/suspense love story. It may seem a bit out there or far-fetched, but, trust me, it works! Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have amazing chemistry together; it's easy to root for these two as they take on the agency that's doing everything within their unlimited power to keep them apart. The movie, based on a story by Philip K. Dick (also responsible for Blade Runner - The Final Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition), Paycheck (Special Collector's Edition), Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition),...

I liked it alot
This film was well done. Without ever once bringing religion into it, it covered the discussion of Free Will vs Destiny as it relates to two people in love.

Someone may quibble over the one mention of angels but seriously not once did I feel like any one was proselytizing for any viewpoint over another. Delightfully refreshing in this time of polarization and fanatacism.

Watch it and decide for your self. I plan to buy this one for my library.

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Monday, October 14, 2013

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946) [HD]



Billy Wilder said it best...
** UPDATE: This newly re-issued (January 2013) product offers NO improvement in picture or sound quality from previous DVD releases (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo). Beyond cosmetic changes to the box - this newest edition brings back the 1997 HBO Video interviews with Virginia Mayo and Teresa Wright and improves the look of the English subtitles - which were all left off the MGM DVD release in 2000. This 2013 release is a "must" ONLY if you want everything previously released - on one disc. Remember, the 1997 HBO Video issue was a "flipper" - part 1 of the movie and special features were on side one, part 2 of the movie was on side two. The 2000 MGM issue had NO English subtitles and NO special features other than an old trailer. The Samuel Goldwyn (2013) issue has the entire movie, subtitles and all the aforementioned special features on one side of the disc, with "no flipping" required. Still waiting for a Blu-Ray release for this outrageously neglected classic. (Older review about the...

A poignant drama that provides insight into post-WW2 America
"The Best Years of Our Lives" is a compelling dramatic masterpiece, and certainly one of the best films ever made. It's not as well known today as other pieces from the period, such as "Casablanca" or "Citizen Kane", but it is nevertheless a classic that deserves ranking with those same films.

This film paints a picture of the struggles of World War II servicemen that they faced AFTER the war was over. It was a more personal struggle of men returning home after being away for many years, and after experiencing horrors that their loved ones could never fully understand. They return home as changed people, and come home to changed lives.

The story of such a homecoming experienced by thousands of men after World War II is told from the perspective of three fictional characters: Captain Fred Derry, a bombadier in the Army Air Corps (Dana Andrews), Sergeant Al Stevenson, an Army infantryman (Frederich March), and Seamen Homer Parrish(Harold Russell). They happen to meet on the...

Comparisons of the two DVDs
The 4-star rating reflects the quality of the DVD only, not the movie itself (which is a 5-star). The picture quality of this DVD (the 2000 MGM-released version) is poor, much below the average expected from a DVD. The picture quality of the 1997 HBO-released DVD is slightly better. However, the 1997 version sometimes has annoying black lines running vertically in the middle of the screen. This 1997 release is the one that people complain about having to turn the disc over around the middle of the movie. Both the 1997 and 2000 releases are Full Screen format (contrary to what Amazon.com says about the 1997 release). Considering that the 1997 release costs about twice the price of the 2000 release, you would be better off spending your money on the 2000 release.

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How to Survive a Plague [HD]



The Rise Of The AIDS Crisis
I was a nurse during the early days of AIDS. I remember young men dying and not being able to find a funeral home that would take the body. I remember the feeling of helpless as a nurse, no real treatment for my patients, family was rare, other students and health care personnel would try and avoid these people as if they had the plague. Well, yes, indeed, they did have a plague, and no one was doing anything to help, it seemed.

This is a film about the activists in the Gay Community, who gathered to fight this disease that was taking their lovers, friends and community. Act Up with Larry Kramer was loud and proud. They forced pharmaceutical companies to start working for medications, the Government to listen and care,,and the population who were doing nothing. Essentially Larry Kramer and his fellow men fought the plague, while most everyone else stood around and looked.

This was a horrible time, President Reagan disavowed all knowledge. Thousands of men were...

It's About Time!
This documentary by David France explores the early advent of AIDS, its impact on "Ground Zero" (in Greenwich Village), and the birth of the gay advocacy groups ACT UP and TAG.

Of course, given the topic, we know that many of those attractive, articulate and intelligent men we meet will be dead by the time the final credits run, but it is endlessly fascinating to see how smart the activists were and how quickly they learned everything they had to know in order to have credibility with the US FDA and with Big Pharma. They actually wrote the protocol for testing that surprised the federal agency with its professionalism and ease of application.

There are meetings in which the activists learn the art of the "sound bite" and are reminded to be passive and polite but express their outrage to any media in the area. It shows the ads they sponsored attacking President George H. W. Bush, it shows a defensive Bill Clinton dressing down an activist and surprisingly, it...

An Exemplary (And Oscar Nominated) Living History Of Activism In The Age Of AIDS
It hadn't been that long since I sat down with David Weissman's stirring documentary about the early days of AIDS in San Francisco "We Were Here." And truthfully, I wasn't sure I wanted to partake of the similarly themed "How To Survive A Plague" quite so soon afterwards. I'm glad that I didn't listen to myself! This Oscar nominated feature by David France is like a living history, an important chronicle filmed throughout the eighties and nineties by those on the front lines of the crisis. While "We Were Here" is personal and stirring, "How To Survive A Plague" is epic and challenging. Based almost entirely in New York City, the film explores the activism and unwavering commitment of those who simply could not stay quiet as an epidemic was being compartmentalized by the nation and its leaders. What is so incredibly powerful about France's documentary is how relevant and vital it feels. This was history in-the-making within my lifetime, and this film maintains an unparalleled...

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An Ideal Husband [HD]



Everybody has flaws
Have you ever looked at a person who seems to be perfect in every way, and thought to yourself, "No one is perfect. They must have done something wrong, sometime."

And the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect man are at the heart of "An Ideal Husband," a powerful and witty adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic play. It's not entirely faithful to the play, but it rests on Wilde's brilliant writing and a quartet of formidable actors (although Minnie Driver's character seems... almost unnecessary).

Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam) seems to have it all -- a flourishing career in Parliament, his beautiful and perfect wife Lady Gertrude (Cate Blanchett), and the universal respect given to a man with a perfect reputation. He has a vivacious sister (Minnie Driver) and is pals with a charming, womanizing, ironic and very bored playboy, Lord Goring (Rupert Everett).

But when a certain Mrs. Cheveley (Julianne Moore) arrives from Vienna, things take a sudden turn...

RUN, DON'T WALK, FOR THE VHS/DVD OF THIS FILM!...
One may wish to watch this movie many times, for there are witticisms galore, so much so that one can hardly keep up with them. While laughing at one, another takes place, and so on. The dialogue is glittering.

This is the greatest production of an Oscar Wilde play I have ever seen, and leaves me on pins and needles waiting for the release later this year of The Importance of Being Earnest because it also stars an actor who seems born to perform in Wilde's plays/movies: Rupert Everett.

The performances: wonderful all. Rupert Everett's work nears the genius level. Jeremy Northam as a not-so-perfect parliamentarian is great. John Wood as his father stands out. And there are the ever-so-essential ladies: Cate Blanchett as Northam's wife (would you believe she is Australian?), who believes she has a perfect husband. Julianne Moore as one of the most charmingly wicked women ever to grace the screen (would you believe she is from North Carolina?), and the very strong presence of Minnie...

Witty Dialogue, Great Acting Ensemble
If you're as tired as I am with the Action/Special effects explosion in Hollywood, An Ideal Husband will prove to boost your low opinion of the film industry. Beautifully cast, written, and directed, it's no wonder why it's been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. The first of course, going to the actor, Rupert Everett. He delivers his lines with such an aire and grace of an English gentleman and takes such care to wrap each word in a delightful sarcastic tone-- which fits his character perfectly. Although he is, in some ways, considered a nasty man of arrogance, Everett's charm shines through and draws the viewer into his oh so romantic embrace. The rest of the cast is equally entertaining--mostly because they mesh so well together. The period costumes and cinematography are also important to note. The movement from scene to scene, the juxtaposition of the placement of the characters in the scenes are particularly amusing to watch. Enough is enough already. If...

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Finding Nemo (Three-Disc Collector's Edition: Blu-ray/DVD in DVD Packaging) (Spanish Version)



Walt Would Approve
Recently, I saw Albert Brooks on Late Night with David Letterman, talking about Finding Nemo. Brooks, who stars as the voice of Marlon, the daddy fish, had taken his son (who, I believe was about five years old, the equivalent human age of Nemo), to the premiere. After about five minutes, Brooks said his son leaned over to him, and quietly said, the way a grownup might, "I cannot watch this movie," and walked out. Late in the movie, the son returned, having obviously been crying. Leaning over, Brooks assured his son, "You are not Nemo."

Such is the power of this fish story about father and son clownfish who become separated, and must struggle to find their way back to each other. Marlon is a loving but neurotic and overprotective father; Nemo is a frustrated young fish who wants to be independent and see the world, and resents his father for preventing him from doing so. We see an ocean (read: the world) that is a terrible, heartless, and yet joyous place that we frail fish must...

Pixar's getting in a habit of constantly outdoing themselves
Finding Nemo is the fifth installment for Pixar Studios, the most reliable studio in Hollywood today, and it is my personal favorite. The first obviously outstanding aspect of the movie is the animation. From the breathtaking wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, to the cold, sterile fish tank, the animation is top notch and truly state of the art. The water, which has always been the bane of animation, is picture perfect, and the animators have captured the rolling but constant ocean and the light refractions perfectly. But animation itself doesn't make a film. Finding Nemo's strongest aspect is it's warm, witty, heartfelt, and funny story of a father's quest to reclaim his son. The kids will love the vibrant characters and funny situations, and so will the parents. However, the parents will be able to enjoy the film on a level far more than the kids will. The story is about losing a child, and the desperate quest to be reunited, which will hit the parent right in the gut. This is...

The Coolest Movie I have Ever Seen.
YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE.

There. Now that I've said that, I should tell you that this is NOT solely a childrens' movie, but will be enjoyed as much (if not more) by adults. The cleverness of Pixar will never cease to amaze me. Only they could take a concept like a full-length movie about fish and make it totally believable. This film succeeds n being very, very funny. Heck, I'm 16 and saw it in the theater with only my mother. The two of us were laughing hysterically throughout the entire thing!

There's alot of sadness and emotion in this movie and some absolutely terrific voice acting--the voice cast is top-notch. There are some touching moments and subtle messages to be heard by all, not just kids. I look forward with anticipation to the DVD release of this wonderful movie. The suspense never lets up; encounters with jellyfish, a whale, and a deep-sea lanturn fish make every moment exciting.

As we know, every Disney/Pixar film is associated with its own special "short." Well,...

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The Thing About My Folks (2005)



Apples and Oranges
Paul Reiser steps away from the standup comedy spotlight to write a warmly humorous and gently tender story about family - what we see and what we don't see, what we expect and what surprises us. THE THING ABOUT MY FOLKS doesn't set any new standards for film, but it is a fine little story well told that reminds us about the significant bonds that family represents.

Sam Kleinman (Peter Falk) has been a workaholic, at times pushing his wife Muriel (Olympia Dukakis), his daughters (Mackenzie Connolly and Lydia Jordan), and his son Ben (Paul Reiser) into the background. One day Muriel leaves a note that after years of marriage she is leaving! Her daughters, along with Ben's wife Rachel (Elizabeth Perkins) immediately begin the search for her whereabouts, leaving the confused and hurt and disgruntle Sam to sort things out on a road trip with son Ben. The road trip becomes a time for the two men to learn who each other is and what they each mean to their status as father and...

Father And Son Bonding--A Slight And Unassuming Little Film For Those Who Like that Sort Of Thing
"The Thing About My Folks" is a pleasant, if not at all surprising, little diversion. In a bit of male wish fulfillment, a man and his father find themselves on an unlikely roadtrip--and thus have the time to learn about one another and bond in ways previously foreign to them both. This seriocomic adventure stars Paul Reiser and Peter Falk as the duo, and the piece was obviously put together as an ode to familial love. What little boy doesn't yearn to spend more time with his dad? Apparently, even into adulthood, that's not something you ever get over.

After a fairly contrived and perfunctory beginning, our guys get on the road. Their escapades are pleasingly familiar which means that we're treated to a lot of cliche'd moments. As you might expect--we get ballgames, camping, fishing, drinking, smoking, carousing with women, and any other father/son interaction you might hope for. It's all very tame, though, but there is a warm humor to be had throughout. Naturally, they...

THE REAL DEAL
I just viewed this movie last night with my husband and we thought it was THE BEST! I feel it deals with REAL families and emotions, right down to the "farts". I didn't realize Paul Reiser was such a talented writer. He turned out a movie that didn't once make me feel that it was contrived or stilted. It was like being with the family---a family that cares and shows anger and fear and frustration and LOVE. And it shows us that we CAN grow and change AND still love and support each other.

It was one of the best 98 minutes we've had together right up to and including the tears we shared at the end. Right on, Paul Reiser! Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, this is THE REAL DEAL!!

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Held Up [HD]



Awesome,Funny Movie
In this movie Jamie Fox or "Michael Dawson" is on vacation with fiancee Rae or "Nia Long" in the middle of nowhere.Until Rae dumps him then, a teenager takes his car and is caught up in a hostage situation it's just a hilarious situation after another!!

funny for the first ride
if you wanna watch this over and over again I , dont...its better if you watch it once. this is about Foxx and his girlfriend leaves him and then he ends up being Held Up by some robbers who are so stupid. the cops come, or should I say uneducated cops come to teh scene. my favorite bit is where Foxx thinks he is grazed with a bullet and it turns out its a dorito chip(the part where the microwave explodes). Jake Busey and Michael Shamus Wiles(military man) add some spark as well.

Side splitting!
I loved this movie. It was funny and loaded with some of the most interesting characters I've seen in a long time. Jamie Foxx is charming and charasmatic. And the rest of the cast are all very talented actors, especially Barry Corbin, who plays the sheriff of the town Jamie gets stuck in. This movie was cleaver and sweet all at the same time. A definate must see for the whole family.

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What To Expect When You're Expecting - Workout



keeps you moving
I like that the disc is broken into 6 mini workouts (10 minutes each). I ALWAYS skip over the dance portion because I feel like a fool doing the body rolls and don't really see much benefit to the moves.





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It All Came True



Pure Hollywood Entertainment 1940
Ann Sheridan Lights up the screen in this pure Entertainment from the Hollywood Dream factory 1940. Shes Witty, Smart, Talented and a "Good Sort" to boot.Humphrey Bogart Sends himself up as a tough guy,And this added to the enjoyment I got out of this movie.Una O`Connor, a character actress,and very funny, plays Ann Sheridan`s mother.The music numbers are magical,and Ann`s melody of songs at the end of the movie is a pure delight.
This is a Warner Archive Movie,The picture is clear and bright,the sound is excellent mono quality ,Nothing distracted me enjoying this movie.The movie was discounted by Amazon,$18.99,and although its still expensive for a dvd,I got my money worth here..

Sheridan at her very best. A forgotten gem.
This is one of Ann Sheridan's best movies in my opinion. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when she dances and sings. Ann Sheridan was a tough cookie but I found her to be funny, cute and tough in this movie. It's her movie even though Humphrey Bogart is not too far behind in an underrated performance. He was both tough and funny. He did so many gangster movies it would have been nice to see him play more characters like this. He was mostly used as the rotten evil irredeemable gangster who both made Jimmy Cagney and Edward G. Robinson likable and is usually shot by both of them. Bogart's character was so likable and this movie was a treat.
I didn't want to buy this due to the price but when I saw it I know I made the right decision. I've rewatched it a few times and every viewing gets better. It's a nice funny movie. It has good acting but if you are looking for an Oscar worthy movie you might want to see another movie. This is a must for Bogart fans. It's great for...

A treasure of a movie
This is just a delightful, fun movie from 1940 with a great cast. I saw this on TCM for the first time recently and can't believe as a devoted classic movie buff, I hadn't seen this one. Bogart wonderful Ann Sheriden is wonderful and the treasure of the movie is Una O'Connor, an Irish actress with a great Irish brogue, feisty, loving, so funny and a pleasure to watch. Buying this dvd for the pure enjoyment of it and so that I can see Ms. Ocnnor over and over again.

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Mindfulness Meditations for Anxiety



meditation for everyone
I've been practicing meditation for a few years now and recently discovered Ira's meditation technique effective to help me focus more clearly and easily. There are different guided exercises and tools in the video that you can follow or just watch him meditate in beautiful places - it's relaxing to see. My favorite tool is the " labeling your thoughts". I incorporate this in my practice and happy to say that it's working.

excellent mindfulness meditation video
I really liked Ira Israel's "Mindfulness Meditations for Anxiety." I thought it was well done and I definitely felt calmer being led through meditations. Ira is very genuine on camera and definitely sounds as if he has done his homework on the subjects of anxiety and stress and has worked very hard to develop tools to help others. Some of the shots were spectacular so it was a joy to watch also! Highly Recommend!

Very chill, super relaxing
Very easy to follow. Music is quite cool - loved the Jacqueline Fuentes! A sweet space to fall into. The meditations wash over you like soft waves. Soothing.

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Intolerable Cruelty [HD]



Coen Farce
There is a point in Intolerable Cruelty where George Clooney is giving a key note speech professing his love that is long enough to make you suspect the Coen brothers have "sold out" into schmaltz. Wrong! The film, in typical Coen style, dives into as many twists and turns as is needed in a good thriller. Fortunately, the film is a comedic farce.

Clooney plays Miles Massey, the most prominent divorce lawyer in southern California. A man so good at what he does he has a prenuptial contract named after him. Massey's good and he knows it. Near the beginning of the film, he and his assistant, Wrigley (Paul Adelstein), are chatting about how boring Massey's life has become while a sweating client sits between them as the client's wife describes how she was used as a sex slave. Massey is that confident of himself.

And confidence is what Clooney is all about. He is simply incredible. Swaggering around like a peacock while checking to make sure his teeth are clean, Clooney...

Friends don't let friends miss Coen Brothers' films...
Intolerable Cruelty has to be the funniest film I've seen all year! Fans of the Coen Brothers will instantly love this fast paced, witty and surreal piece of cinematic genius, brilliantly directed, fantastically scripted and incredibly intelligent. While the idea of Clooney and Zeta-Jones fogging up the screen in a romantic comedy turned me off so much that I missed this in the cinema, now I've seen it I can't believe I had so little faith in Joel and Ethan. The Coen's didn't write the story, so this is sadly no Big Lebowski or Fargo, and some of the characters are a tad unsubtle (Cedric the Entertainer's private dick, the half-dead head lawyer and Clooney's sidekick come to mind) but they did have a hand in the screenplay, and therefore the dialogue sparkles with the typical Coen shine. I think the best scene for this is during Zeta-Jones' first divorce, as Clooney, his sidekick and this Client, in strained whispers, discuss their experience with the Judge ("Have you sat before...

uneven film with a most beautiful woman
I doubt that there are two more strikingly attractive actors in movies today than George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Zeta-Jones, in particular, has the kind of classic beauty that puts her right up there with the great screen legends of all time, women like Ingrid Bergman, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn, who, with their ravishing good looks and photogenic quality, came to define the ideal of female pulchritude in their time.

Credit the Coen Brothers, who made "Intolerable Cruelty," with having the good sense to know what they had in these two stars and for exploiting it to the full. They have allowed the actors to play off their good looks, most especially Ms. Zeta-Jones, portraying an icy gold-digger who specializes in marrying rich men with the express purpose of taking them for everything they've got once the marriage is ended. Clooney is the first-rate divorce lawyer who finally meets his match when he falls under the spell of this strangely bewitching woman.

The...

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Discover the World India



genuine India
very succinct and very real - highly recommended watch it and watch it one more time. Congratulations to the creators for great work!





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The Bourne Legacy [HD]



The Legacy continues!
I confess I am addicted to this series of movies, but this one is quite different as it delves into the science behind the agents in the 'Program'. Don't expect Jeremy Renner to replace Matt Damon, as this is not the intent. Renner is quite a good actor in his own right, and has risen in the ranks of action stars recently, most notably as 'Hawkeye' in the Avengers. The Bourne Legacy starts slow, but picks up tempo quite quickly as it intertwines with the plot of the Bourne Ultimatum. There is a great supporting cast including Edward Norton and Rachel Weisz. The car chase is replaced by motorcycles, but in all a great follow up to the previous three movies. If you liked them, this will not disappoint.

A movie in search of a director
Other reviewers have already recounted much of the plot. So, I'll skip that and go to a critique of the production itself.

I gave this an overall rating of four stars because I found the movie to be interesting, engaging, with a good story and some really good action scenes. I found that I cared about the primary characters - Renner and Weisz. This tells me that the characters were fairly well developed and interesting

Renner's character, Aaron Cross, would have been more compelling if more of his backstory came out sooner, and if his pathetic origin were presented differently. I think Weisz' character could have used more backstory too - all I know about her is that she's an attractive scientist with a top secret clearance.

The story is really good. But this movie could have been a classic if the plot were tightened up and presented differently - too much dialogue where 'showing' instead of 'talking' would have got it across to the viewer better...

Great addition to the Bourne franchise
The Bourne Legacy does not feature Matt Damon's character, Jason Bourne. Instead a new agent, Aaron Cross played by Jeremy Renner, is introduced. Aaron Cross is similar to Jason Bourne in many ways and there are hints that he is a genetically improved version of the agents that Treadstone created. Rachel Weisz plays Cross' romantic interest, Edward Norton plays the main antagonist, and Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Albert Finney, and Scott Glenn return as Landy, Vosen, Hirsch and Kramer, respectively, all from previous Bourne installments.

The movie also attempts to tie in the previous Bourne movies and their plots into this installment. Most interesting about this movie is that it builds on what we have learned in the last three movies, but promises that Jason Bourne was just the beginning and that the conspiracy is much larger than just the Treadstone project.

After Treadstone was revealed by Bourne and Landy at the end of the third movie the CIA and top...

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Sunday, October 13, 2013

The Priest's Wife



A Comedy Concerning The Catholic Conundrum...
(1971) Valeria (Sophia Loren) has just broken up with the man she's been dating for four years, seeing as how she just found out he's married and has a family all this time, by demolishing his car before verbally tearing him a new a*hole. Distraught, she goes home where she lives with her parents (which was still commonplace at that time in Italian households), heads to her room and begins ingesting twenty narcotic pills to end it all. The pills she begins to take are laid out on a magazine cover that has a suicide hotline ad displayed, and she phones it as a comically ironic last gesture. The person at the other end of the line is Prof. Don Mario (Marcello Mastroianni), who just happens to also be a priest. He advises her not to go through with it, but she continues to ingest the narcotics while they converse, ultimately passing out while still on the phone with him.

Father Don gets a phone call from the local hospital while teaching a classroom of Catholic hoodlums the...

It takes two to tango,,,,
The Priest's Wife

The explosive chemistry between Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren is undeniable. Although this is not one of their best films together, it is still very good. Sophia is delightful as the hot tempered, scorned woman who fails at all her relationships and then sets her cap on a priest played by Marcello. Handsome Marcello is incredibly believable as the celibate, pious priest who tries to help Sofia while attempting to rebuke her advances. Of course he fails so the age old duplicity of priests is well highlighted. Very good movie, well worth a view.,

C3 = Comedy, Caper, Catholic = Cute, Cuddly and Charismatic
Who can resist these leading couple, the Italian equivalent of Hepburn & Tracy, Bogart and Bacall, with the pairing of Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni.
They absolutely shine in their comedic genius and Sophia looks absolutely ravishing in her mod clothing. And WOW what a looker she is.
There is also some good camera work with some swell sights of late 60s/early 70s Italy
A definite must have for all Sophia and or Marcello fans.

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Home Alone [HD]



Home Alone - Family Fun Edition
On November 21st, 2006, 20th Century Fox released Home Alone - Family Fun Edition. This DVD edition is the long awaited special edition to one of cinemas most adored Christmas films. This edition offers a hefty amount of extra goodies...such as over 30 minutes of deleted scenes, on the set featurettes, new interviews, and a brand new commentary track featuring director Chris Columbus & Macaulay Culkin. I have to say unlike most commentary tracks, this one is actully very informative and very fun. Macaulay and Chris seem to have so much fun watching the film. This edition like the first one is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. I read somewhere that the video and audio is updated too, I cannot confirm if it is or not but I read that. If you own the previous edition of this film, it is definately worth your money to update to this. The special features alone warrant a double dip. Also for the hold outs not wanting to buy the film til it got a special edition,...

AT LAST!
Finally Fox studios came to their senses to re-release a childhood classic. Now this re-release does have a substanial amount of bonus features including 4 behind the scenes feature, deleted scenes, 3 trailers, and some trivia games but the icing on the cake is the Christopher Columbus and Macaulay Culkin Commentary. Its good to know that Macaulay Culkin being the highest paid child star back then in the early 90's and still to this date, he is humble enough to go back to his childhood memories. Deff worth the upgrade if you own the previous release..a true classic...

It Will Never Wear Out It's Welcome!
This movie was a favorite amongst many when it first came out in 1990, and more than a decade later, this movie *still* remains a classic, and will continue to be a classic for many more years to come.

The story is simple, really: young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is the underdog of the family; always getting picked on by his older siblings, and feeling like an outcast. One day, he gets into it with his older brother, and Kevin ends up being punished. During his punishment, he wishes that he could spend a christmas by himself without any of his family members. Wouldn't you know it - due to his family's carelessness, they accidently leave Kevin home on their way to the airport (to fly to Paris for Christmas vacation.)

And from there, the fun begins. While Kevin is home by himself, two bumbling, nincompoop burglars (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) known as the "Wet Bandits," set their sites on Kevin's house. When Kevin figures this out, he sets the house up with...

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That Night (1993)



DVD RELEASE PLEASE!!!!!!
This is a wonderful movie set in the 50's about a little girl who adores her neighbor who lives across the street. A GREAT movie that should be released on DVD so that everyone can enjoy.

Work of Genius
I bought this a few days ago and so far I've watched it with my eleven year old daughter 3 times, and she has invited a half dozen freinds over, all of whom love it. Having grown up in the 50's I find this a masterpiece. Finally I got to show my daughter a real 1949 Mercury, my absolutely favorite all-time car! One of Juliette Lewis' best roles and Elisa Dushku, the actress who plays 10 year old Allie is magical. There is a dancing scene near the pier with C. Thomas Howell, Christy's punk boyfriend Ricky, that makes me cry every time. The birthday party is heartbreaking as well, my daughter had to ask how you play spin-the-bottle. The set design were masterful,with stop frame I recognize hundreds of things from my youth. The movie is an absolute work of genius!

FOUND THE SONG!!!!!!!
Like everyone else I agree that this is a great film. One of the few I can watch again and again......but like everyone else I too have been searching for the title song Ruler of my Heart by Lisa Fischer and want to say I found it on Kazaa......good luck.

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