Christmas in Compton

Sorry
Waste of time for me. Beyond sophomoric. The jokes were lame and it was so sad to see wonderful character actors try to make something of this script.

Poor movie
I was disappointed with the movie,was very low budget and the trailer was the height of it.Good actors but poor script.

FEEL GOOD MOVIE
Feel good movie during the Holiday season. It had alot of funny parts as well as soon difficult parts. Enjoy!

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Broken Lizard's Club Dread [HD]

Saw it last night....
at the University of Pittsburgh's free sneak preview. All I have to say is wow! It was amazing. It is slightly scary (not expected) and overwhelmingly, extremely funny (more than expected). It doesn't play off of Super Troopers' success at all. This movie has a life of its own and is worth seeing. I love it. All I want to know if when does it come out on DVD?

Hey, Broken Lizard Can Do No Wrong in My World . . .
The problem with this film is that it falls into a narrow, narrow film niche: horror-comedy. Many horror fans will loathe the fact that the film parodies common tropes of the genre . . . many comedy fans may not "get" the parody itself. Thus, you have the wildly mixed reviews that you find here.

Personally, I found this work hysterical (but I love goofy films like "Idle Hands," "Evil Dead," and "April Fool's Day"). Bill Paxton portrayal of a Jimmy Buffet "wannabe" is spot-on!! Moreover, it was refreshing to see Kevin Heffernan fearlessly tackle a character completely different from Farva: a spiritual masseur! Still, Jay Chandrasekhar steals the show not merely because he is one of the most handsome men in existence, but because his character of Putnam is RIDICULOUSLY FUNNY!!

If you don't "get" why "Shaun of the Dead" was so uproariously funny, this film may leave you confused and disappointed. Still, you should buy it for the Pac-Man scene alone!!! And, no, it's...

Wildly Entertaining, and Not a Spoof!
"Club Dread" was one of the most entertaining, funny, and scary movie that I have seen in a long time. It also kept me guessing, right untill the very end. I found it to be rude, crude, and vicious fun. It is the second film in the comedy troop "Broken Lizard" who made a film about two years ago called "Super Troopers" which I have never seen. I almost gave this movie five stars, but was stopped because of the first scene. I thought that the first scene was a little dull, and after that I was scared that the entire movie would be a waste of time. I was very very wrong. The movie stars Bill Paxton, who I thought was great in this as Coconut Pete, Brittany Daniel from "Joe Dirt," and the leader of Broken Lizard, Jay Chandrasekhar, who played a tennis instructor who thinks that his playing is great.

The movie takes place on Pleasure Island resort in Costa Rica. Run by former former rock star Coconut Pete. He has young people come and have a good time, away from phones, and other...

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Forks Over Knives: The Extended Interviews

Its About Time!
I saw this movie in the theater on May 28. It is excellent, and should serve as a wake-up call to all who see it to get their eating-habits act together. As one who has spent time in the hospital recovering from congestive heart failure and subsequently converted to a plant-based diet, I can personally attest to the efficacy of Drs. Esselstyn and Campbell's approach. I am now off all but one of the Meds, and am only continuing with that one because it helps my kidneys repair themselvs from the diabetes damage I inflicted on them with my previous eating habits. When they have recovered sufficiently, I will be off all meds.

My resting blood pressure (BP) is now in the normal range without meds (typically about 115/70, down from mid 180s/80), no thanks to my cardiologist who was perfectly happy to keep me on three BP medications indefinitely. My weight is now about 170 lbs, down from over 400 lbs. My heart ejection fraction is now in the mid 60s, up from 42 when I went...

I almost died - will you?
This movie contains information that could save your life. In October 2009, at age 52, while running a mile around my neighborhood as I did every morning, I staggered a couple of steps and hit the ground unconscious in full cardiac arrest. Heart disease is the leading killer in this country (needlessly as this movie shows) and the most common type of heart attack is the one like mine that comes with no warning. Survival for cardiac arrest outside the hospital is about 3%. I was extremely lucky - you might not be.

After my heart attack, my doctors said nothing to me about diet. In fact, later after learning about the work of Campbell and Esselstyn (featured in this movie), I asked my doctor how much time they spent in medical school learning the relationship between nutrition and health. His answer - none! If you see this movie, you will know more about the affect of nutrition on health than my doctor, and perhaps more than your doctor too. See this movie.

I...

The Must-See Movie for Plant-Based Nutrition
This movie combines the scientific and medical work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, PhD Professor Emeritus in Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, and Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstlyn, Jr., MD, surgeon at the world-renowed Cleveland Clinic, and the incredibly INSPIRING story of two FORMER heart disease patients and two FORMER diabetes patients.

This movie is POSITIVE, ACCURATE, and HOPEFUL. It is the perfect introduction to the concept of plant-based nutrition, and it offers very attainable role models in the patients to empower people to take their health into their own hands.

There are no segments of tortured animals - just wonderful information, top athletes, and people reversing their chronic disease.

Everyone needs to see this movie!!!!!

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Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold (1975) [HD]

A stellar transfer for a terrific movie
Some things are frankly mystifying about this DVD release and the movie itself in terms of its high quality. In 1975, most film stock was pretty poor, especially for budget productions. Casino of Gold looks like an A-list production with great film quality, camera work, lighting, etc. and the DVD release is sharp as a tack. Someone somewhere really applied themselves to this transfer because I've seen Blu-ray releases of 70s films that don't look nearly as good as this. Worth every penny, you would be easily justified in thinking it's high-def if you saw it unawares.

We all know Tamara Dobson owned this role, but Norman Fell is terrific and under-used as her theoretical boss.

The DVD quality is so good I'm tempted to give 5 stars but ultimately this is a guilty pleasure, not high art. Strongly recommended though.

Better than the original!
This sequel is that rare bird... one that is better than the original movie (CLEOPATRA JONES). Largely because of the exotic setting (Hong Kong and Macao are more fun than East L.A., after all), and certainly because of the villainess, Stella Stevens.

Cleopatra Jones tends to find herself up against Evil White Lesbian dope queens, and Stella Stevens is certainly nicer to look at than Shelly Winters (in the original). Her climatic fight scene ... with the foxy black Cleo is OVER THE TOP! The ladies must have been covered with bruises after shooting this (NO stand-ins apparent!).

As for Stella's "wild" outfits, they are conservative compared to the title heroine's!

A "must see" for Blaxploitation fans!

Good, Enjoyable Bubblegum Nonsense Action Sequel
The sequel to "Cleopatra Jones" benefits from the authentic location of Hong Kong and its good production design. The story is almost the same as the original one, showing us Cleo fight against drug syndicate, of which mastermind, this time Stella Stevens, lives in a gorgeous casino.

You might remember Warner Brothers once produced "Enter the Dragon" featuring Bruce Lee, which became a worldwide hit, and probably this fact influenced the studio's judgment to shoot the film in Hong Kong. The film is full of shoot-outs and kung-hu fights, but unfortunately, not as good as Lee's deadly fighting style, but still it is mildly entertaining. The final action sequence, chain of good stunts using motorcycles running in a casino, with its riders shooting machineguns (!), is the showdown of the film, and though the film nearly gets so close to ludicurousness, still remains enjoyable as a whole. And check out Stella Steven's outrageous costume.

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Die Hard 2: Die Harder [HD]

Yippee... you know the rest
Die Hard 2 DVD

Once again John McClane deals with terrorists at Christmas time; once again McClane is forced to crawl through ventilation shafts muttering to himself; once again McClane climbs up and out of elevators; once again no one's going to take the threat seriously but McClane. And once again, McClane gets to drop everyone's favorite line: "Yippi ki-yay, motherf----r."

To make things worse, the film itself, adapted from the novel "58 Minutes" by Walter Wager, is unrealistic nearly to the point of ridiculousness. McClane dodges bullets and chases villains on snowmobiles like Roger Moore's James Bond. What made McClane so appealing in the original film was the fact that he was an everyman, not the unbeatable hero he would seem in "Die Hard 2," were he not saved by a down-to-earth performance from Willis. There are points at which scoffing is inevitable. That's not helped by William Sadler's villain, who pales in comparison with Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber...

How can the same thing happen to the same guy twice?
The makers of Die Hard 2, hoped to surpass the success of the original Die Hard. While the second film may feature action on a larger scale, the plot does not draw the audience into the story in the same way the first Die Hard did. Director and action movie specialist, Renny Harlin, is only partially successful at creating and sustaining a high level of suspense and excitement, working with a script that could have been stood a bit more polish.

Once again police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) gets into some heavy-duty action on Christmas Eve. This time it's at Dulles Airport, in Washington, where terrorists have taken control and seek the release of a foreign general. McClane is suddenly in the middle of the action, seeking to foil the plot and also save his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), who is a passenger on a circling plane, in danger of running out of fuel.

Die Hard 2, is a very different film from Die Hard. Some of the elements most critical to the success of the...

Die Hard and Die Hard 2
Die Hard began a subgenre in action films (as well as Bruce Willis' career as an action star)--that of the lone hero, a sort of cowboy for the modern era. Films like Under Siege ("Die Hard on a boat") and Passenger 57 ("Die Hard on a plane") are example of substandard entries that soon followed. What they missed is that Die Hard is a good film on its own.

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is a New York cop transplanted to Los Angeles when his wife gets a job with the Nakatomi Corporation. When terrorists take over the building during a Christmas party, it's up to John to save the day. Alan Rickman gives an excellent performance as lead terrorist Hans Gruber but it's Willis that carries the film with his wisecracks, catchphrases, and charisma.

Inevitably, there would be a sequel and we should consider ourselves lucky that it was Die Hard 2. Subtitled "Die Harder," it was actually based on an unrelated novel (58 Minutes by Walter Wager) that was then geared to fit the McClane character...

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BERSERK: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King

Amazing Reboot
I'm going to start this review with a bit of backstory. This may be a long read but this is Berserk so I'm going to take my time and get this right.

The original Berserk anime is infamous for its massive cliffhanger ending. I was never into manga until I watched Berserk, then I simply HAD to read the manga, because I literally could not live with not knowing what happened next. The fact that Berserk is one of the most well drawn and well written (if poorly updated) manga series ever made.

For years the fans clamored for season 2, even after it became clear that it wasn't going to happen there were still some hold outs, but eventually even they died out as well. Then the past few years we have started to see a lot of old uncompleted anime series get reboots. Some like Ultimate Hellsing were just what the fans were waiting for, others like Inuyasha: Final Act were rushed and kind of disappointing. But if any anime deserved a reboot, it was Berserk. And now here it...

In this world, is the destiny of mankind controlled by some transcendental entity or law?
I have to admit I was just a tad disappointed with The Egg of The King; mostly due to how the animation could sometimes make it look like you're watching someone play a video game instead of the first part of an animated dark Byronic Fantasy epic. The story is good (if massively condensed) but since this is trying to adapt so much into about an hour and a half-ish some of the characters can come off as one dimensional. If you've read the manga or seen the old tv series (and if you like the old shoes dub you'll be pleased to know they bought back the voices of Guts, Griffith, and Casca) you'll have an easier time understanding what's going on. Be all that as it may I still suggest buying this just so we can (hopefully) FINALLY move past The Golden Age in animated form someday.

For 2 hours-- Pretty fantastic!
I am a huge Berserk fan, so going into this I was pretty skeptical.
In the end, I think this is a great film adaptation of the chapters it covers.
There are some minor bits that are cut from the original anime that may help build a little more of an emotional connection to certain characters, but when you have to condense these chapters down into 2 hours segments - cuts have to be made.
Fantastic job! I hope that WB funds them to keep producing more than the 1st three (which are really just an intro in my opinion.)

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Ex-Girlfriends

Pleasant surprise
A film about past relationships. Sweet, funny, nothing deep...just what I needed..

I recommend for when you need a light night in.

Excellent film with realistic outcomes
Alexander Poe wrote and directed a charming, funny, realistic look at the lives of single twenty-something's living in New York. Poe also manages to show us a side of New York most non-natives don't get see. Watch it!!!

light hearted
Nothing too deep but entertaining and well written. I would definitely watch more of his movies. Great independent flick for a weekday watch.

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The Day [HD]

Finally, a great female character!
There are several things that make this movie a standout in the apocalyptic genre. Most notably the fact that the pivotal female character isn't just a badass that looks hot while fighting. She has a legitimate backstory and motivation that is truly compelling. I also enjoyed the fact that the movie doesn't insult you by explaining everything before the story starts. It's not a perfect film, but for an indie it's pretty damn impressive.

Awesome film
never really been into apocalyptic/horror films, decided to try this based on word of mouth - it is definitely worth watching. I recommend this without hesitation, and I'm a female senior citizen!!! :) :) You won't be disappointed.

great film!!!
definitely what i was hoping for. a great post apocalyptic movie!!! a small group of people looking for food and refuge fall into a trap set up by cannibal hunters, i wont spoil the movie for you. just watch it now!!! very quick and to the point never a dull moment. highly recommended.

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Tilva Ros

a contemplative and complex look at lost youth in a Serbian factory town
Tilva Ros is quite an interesting film -- it is essentially a tale of growing up, but is supplemented with real-life footage of Jackass-like stunts that were shot by the film's protagonists (Marko Todorović and Stefan Đorđević).

A compelling soundtrack, stunning (both aesthetically and technically) photography, and a slow, thoughtful pace create an atmosphere that reminds me of Gus Van Sant but with an Eastern European aesthetic (I'm thinking of Tarkovsky or Herzog, for example).

Anyway, Tilva Ros is a rewarding and challenging film, but is does not have a typically structured plot. This may be off-putting to some, but fans of art-house films will enjoy every minute.

Not for everyone
I started out watching this with no expectations whatsoever so it could have gone either way. I liked the idea of this being filmed in Serbia and thought it could be an interesting film. There were not many reviews to go by and that's the only reason I'm writing one now. I gave this 3 stars simply because I only watched 32 minutes of it and that felt like three hours. Maybe someone else will think this is a wonderful movie so I don't want to endorse it or say you shouldn't, I'm just saying that a half hour was more than enough for me. Someone should point out that this is a sort of teen angst movie at the core - the guys make crappy stunt movies on camcorders and everyone has a cell phone, there's a girl and skateboards. You get the idea.



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Ghosts With Shit Jobs

So fun!
Totally wonderful treatment of the subject. Wonderfully quirky sci-fi reversal of east / west roles. I have recommended this title to all my friends.

Actually pretty good
I hoped this would be average (at least mildly entertaining) and was pleasantly surprised when I truly enjoyed the movie.

Good concept, horrible audio
This movie is good and I like what it explores but the audio was unintelligible many times. This made the movie hard to watch.

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Rites of Spring [HD]

A Nutty Mash-Up: Two Film Genres Collide For One Night Of Murderous Mayhem
I'm a bit torn in my evaluation of the new thriller "Rites of Spring." As a low budget shocker, it leaves a lot to be desired with a clunky screenplay that raises more questions than it answers. But I also appreciated that the film attempted to meld two different film genres into one story. If not always successful, it was something that I'd never really seen before. So I'll give writer/director Padraig Reynolds points for originality. "Rites of Spring" is really two different films. One is a standard heist picture and one is a horror story. Neither is particularly well developed or spectacular on their own, but it's the mash-up that keeps things interesting. My head is telling me that the movie should only rate about two stars. My heart, however, is pushing me toward three stars just because the idea behind the film is rather bonkers. And I like that! I didn't love "Rites of Spring" and probably wouldn't view it a second time, but I enjoyed seeing the two stories collide...

INTERESTING SLASHER FLICK
RITES OF SPRING is one creepy little horror flick that is two movies in one. Part of the movie is a crime drama and the other a WICKER MAN type horror film with a great creature named Worm Face. At first watch I didn't really know what to think of the movie. It's very ambitious and keeps you guessing throughout. Which I found very satisfying for these type of films. I also enjoyed that the two stories were connected and that the Rachel character is responsible for this butterfly effect that she sets in motion. There are some holes in the script that left me puzzled. What happened to the little girl? What happened to the bodies? Does it really end like that? The movie looks very professional and is absolutely beautiful. RITES OF SPRING is a gem of a low budget horror movie but I just wish that the script would have taken a little more time to explain itself. Definitely worth a rental and far better then a lot of big budget horror movies out there.

Fantastic horror/kidnapping/slasher/monster film
Rites of spring is a fine little film, and has a uncommon storyline where there is a dual set of circumstances going on at the same time. i didn't really care for the story of the kidnapping/ransom part of the story, and wish that they would have concentrated more on the sacrificial part of it. i wonder if there is a longer version of this film that had key scenes that were cut out because of censorship, that would have explained why stuff happened the way it did? in the first part of the film an older guy prepares for a sacrificial date and has to have virgins to sacrifice to a monster locked away in the bottom of the barn. it didn't make any sense to me why they had to chop off heads and use goat heads for the sacrifice? it is a shame that they couldn't remake this film and just have the storyline revolve around the monster/sacrifice story. would have been fantastic if they could divulge more about the monster and why they had to sacrifice chicks to him. oh. well... maybe if enough...

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Scrappers

pretty good film
Overall I liked the film. 4 dollars is a little steep since it was paid for already by tax dollars. I do understand that these people are just trying to make a living. I do scrap myself from time to time. Work is getting kinda hard to find and many people are trying to eek out a life. Many people do get mad at scrappers since most think that they are no go thieves. Some are but most are pretty honest. I like the two stories coming from the minority prospective. I was there when the prices dropped, it sucked. I hope things come back soon. good movie

Well-made documentary
This film gets up close with two scrappers in Chicago. Scrappers are metal collectors who may roam the alleyways for waste metal, which they sell to metal recyclers. Sometimes they try to refurbish an item and we see this with a motorcycle. I saw this film > a year ago, and since no reviews, I'll give you my rusty account of it. Both scrappers are nice. These guys are not stealing signal equipment from railroads, though wire stealing comes up. One of the scrappers is hispanic, a family man who is an illegal here. The other is a black man with scrapping in his blood. You also meet their SO's: family, a girlfriend, a back alley bar-b-que of scrappers. A local metal buyer is portrayed. He keeps a sharp eye on commodity prices and has his cute office cat nearby. About that time a neighbor told us how he lost a cat when it jumped onto a scrappers' truck, could this be that cat?

Two of the filmmakers appeared at my viewing. They explained they are sharing the proceeds equally...



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The Devil's Bloody Playthings

Entertaining Trash, Sleazy Fun...
'The Devil's Bloody Plaything' is by no means a good movie. However, it was rather entertaining. It felt like Doris Wishman hopped into a time machine, emerged, and than crept into William Hellfire's mind and helped him make this little sleazefest...

I found myself laughing laughing out loud at numerous times due to the over-the-top nature of the dialogue, and the ridiculous actions of Ruby Larocca. This is a very trashy movie, which is exactly what I expected when I ordered it. I read many reviews in which this little gem was lambasted and maligned. Really, what does one expect when viewing a moive entitled 'The Devil's Bloody Plaything' directed by a man named William Hellfire and starring Zoe Moonshine. It delivered exactly what I was looking for: cheesy sleaze, over-the-top dialogue, and ridiculousness...

Ruby Larocca does a great job as Christine, the insane antagonist who films and black mails her roommates. She is total trash, and very crazy. She is very...





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Pecker [HD]

not to be missed commentary by John Waters
If you're not a John Waters fan already, you probably won't even be reading this. I won't even comment on the film Pecker, since the critics and other viewers have done a pretty thorough job of that, but I will comment on John Water's running commentary, which is almost as good as the film itself. Even if you have already seen Pecker in a theatre, buy the DVD to hear John's commentary. He is so smart and funny and simply lovable, and he accepts everything and everyone with a wide-open heart. I watch every commentary that is included on DVDs, and without doubt, John Water's is one of the best. After hearing this wonderful commentary, you will love the movie even more!

Instant Waters collection
If, like me, you've been collecting various versions of the Waters films over the years, this will be a welcome addition to your library. I bought the three 2 movie sets individually and then mailed away for the 7th disk that this collection includes. It's got little videos and pictures and other trivia on it. At long last I can finally retire my second generation VHS dubs of Female Trouble and Desperate Living.
Buy this set, and invite your more open-minded friends over. You'll laugh your heads off. These movies literally changed my life (for the better) when I saw them for the first time in my early teens.
Oh, and to knucklehead that gave this set 1 star: Criticizing John Waters' films is like criticizing Picasso's paintings because the people don't look real.

Charm City - Trade Capital of the World!
From Charm City comes another Waters charmer - another minor masterpiece!

From start to finish Pecker is a delight and Waters infuses his script with enough loveable oddball characters to populate an entire city. Whether it's Christina Ricci's obsessive compulsive wreck of a laundress, the sugar addict Little Chrissy, eternally hopeful Mom, sleaze loving Tina or best of all Memama, who's room contains a shrine to the Virgin Mary - and a statute of the Virgin that shrieks "Full of grace! Full of Grace!" there is always someone to watch and enjoy.

Edward Furlong is all wide-eyed innocence - even when he's secretly photographing bottomless lesbian lap dancers at the and male strippers at a gay bar with the unfortunately hilarious name of "The Fudge Palace." Big sister, Tina offers a rip-roaring good time from Martha Plimpton, and Brendan Sexton III is a delight as Pecker's betrayed best friend. Throw in Mary Kay Place (!), Patty Hearst, Mink Stole, Lili Taylor,...

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Zombie Undead

IT BIT ME
The movie title appears to be redundant. Clearly the Brits do not understand what to do during a major Zombie outbreak, perhaps due to the poor showing of "Zombie Diaries." A dirty bomb goes off and the film concentrates on the life and survival of Sarah (Ruth King). She passes out then comes to at a country infirmary. Here she encounters live people and zombies. They make numerous mistakes.

First, you need to secure the perimeter and eliminate the zombies inside. This is common sense stuff, but the Brits don't do it. Secondly if you are in a building that has zombies, don't ride the elevator as you don't know what is going to be outside the doors when they open. When you suspect the zombie infestation is caused by a blood borne pathogen, don't leave infected blood on your skin. Immediately wash it off and disinfect with a 10% Clorax solution. Also according to the Homeland Security handbook, the people who will actually be infected first are old people, children, and...

Surprisingly Very Good
This got terrible reviews everywhere. But I have very distinct likes being a Zombie film lover before it was cool I saw Night of the Living you know what in 1969 at the Orson Welles Cinema in Boston and have been a fan since. I hate most Zombie flicks and I hate running zombies, except the Dawn remake, which worked. This had slow really expertly directed Zombies. Good makeup for low budget and the acting which got panned as amateur worked very well. Sure there were head scratchers, like how did the main guy get off the roof when the girl was behind the door and then it closed. Look forget that. Forget that nobody but nobody but Romero presents a possible metaphysical origin, and the sudden biological origin is not as deeply terrifying to me, but this British Zombie flick is not a lame comedy, very few work except of course Sean of the Dead,but this is enjoyable if you expect little but love zombie flicks that are made not for money but because they love the genre..Thank the Lord...

Zombie Undead DVD
As a fan of zombie movies, which there are really great ones out there, especially by George Romero, I found this movie entertaining but not a "to die for" type movie. It had its good moments and slow moments, but in the end, a movie to just sit down, eat popcorn and enjoy. The zombies looked more like the ones in 28 Days Later, rather than ones shown in TV's Walking Dead. As I said before, put it on, sit down and watch another zombie movie out of the movie grinder.

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The Holy Land of Tyrol

A Napoleonic era period movie, not like an American pioneer drama.
Life in the 19th century was harsh for mountain farmers, that's what the newlywed bride of an "Herrgottschnitzer"
(Woodcarver of Religous Icons)has to learn. Coming from an affluent Doctor's family in Munich, trying to adjust to a remote Tyrolian Alm (Meadow) farm, this is also a humbling experience. In no uncertain terms, her mother in law tells her "You have to earn your food and keep. A deeply catholic and religious people, the rules and laws are archaic, and bitter to swallow, for the more worldly (modern civil rights) educated.
To make matters worse, Tyrol is occupied by Napoleon's army, with the zeal to force Tyrol into a more modern and enlighten age.
Often enforced by corrupt and violent officials, this message is infuriating the people. Our protagonist family does not remain untouched by the events, and the sons join Andreas Hofers Schuetzen Batallions (Rifle Batallions).
There is another movie, that portrait's the leader of the Tyrolian uprising (The...

Sensational Romantic War Drama
Was surprisingly blown away by this touching romantic war epic. What's so brilliant is that we get to stay at home with those who are left behind. We see their struggles and their devastation when loved ones return home fractured. Oh and ready...this was a student senior thesis film in Germany. Amazing what happens when the country supports the arts.

Epic Drama
I'm going to be honest, I wasn't sure about this one, because I tend to like more light-hearted films, but I really enjoyed this. It was such a beautifully shot film. Very moving. Interesting perspective from the women during war.

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Port City

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED
The title doesn't prime you for what this movie delivers. Clever script and good acting. Some names I recognized and others I expect to see again.

Great comedic approach
This is an engaging and lighthearted film; it would be a good watch and will bring a relief to tensions surrounding SSR's.

Very good movie...
I really enjoyed this movie. Frankly I was surprised but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice story.

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The Ritual

Awful
Not sure why but I thought this was a documentary, instead it's a terrible student-quality film. Low budget, bad acting, absolutely terrible.

Ahhhhh ok
Not the greatest but it was ok......I think it was low,low,budget lol......I wouldn't waist my $ if I were you

Watched on Prime
I was not very impressed with The Ritual. It was long and drawn out and on the boring side. It was very easy to get up and get a cup of coffee without hitting pause without worry of missing anything. More of a Drama style and very slow moving.

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Johnny Winter - Live From Japan

very enjoyable
Definitely worth watching again if you're a fan you will the show. Grab a brew sit back and you won't be disappointed

JOHNNY STILL ROCKS
AFTER SO MANY YEARS, THIS LEGENDARY BLUES/ROCK GUITARIST,SINGER/SONGWRITER HAS NOT DIMINISHED IN QUALITY. THE AUDIO IS ABOVE PAR WITH FOREIGN FILMING CAPTURING EXTRAORDINARY GUITAR WORK. THE BAND IS TIGHT WITH JOHNNY AT THE LEAD. IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC BOOGY&BLUES, YOU WILL SURELY ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE.



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H. H. Dalai Lama - Message Of Peace And Compassion His Holiness The Dalai Lama UK Visit

Excellent Material
The subject of the Dalai Lama and his message is always compelling.
The way the movie was pieced together was less than satisfactory. At one point in time you see the DL say one small phrase and his translator speaks for what seems to be an unequal and lengthy period. I understand the why, but there has to be another way to convey the message (subtitles???) while you hear the DL himself speak.





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Companeros De Lucha (Brothers in Arms)

Puerto Ricans Are Fighting for acces to their beaches
I spent about a year in Puerto Rico training for the Peace Corps at the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras and at El Yunque Rain Forest. I was nor aware of the issue of beach access. I would have appreciated an analysis in more depth, but i support their campaign.

Great Debut from an Up-and-Coming Young Documentarian
"Companeros de Lucha" tells a little-known story of a resistance group of environmentalists that have spent close to a decade camped out on public beach land in order to prevent the Courtyard Marriott from unlawfully expanding. This is director Juan Carlos Davila's first documentary effort, which means that the finished film shows some rough edges. It also shows plenty of promise for the rest of Davila's career, especially in his ability to discover and expand upon little know character studies from the fringes of Puerto Rican society. The documentary has a fine structure, making it easily accessible to those who have no prior knowledge of the conflict between the "Playas Pal' Pueblo" resistance camp and the Marriott. The characters that are interviewed for this film are engaging enough, always informing while keeping the audience's attention.

Davila gives us a peek inside the lives of those that have dedicated over 7 years to living in the camp full time, and their methods...

Must see this uplifting film about public access to Puerto Rico's beaches
I saw this film in the Vieques International Film Festival. This is the story of citizens defending access to their public beaches in the face of the Marriot hotel who got a "sweet" deal from the Puerto Rican government. Protesters have been occupying the beach for 6 years to prevent the building of a hotel with a private beach. There is a legal case still to be decided. You will see interviews with the legendary Tito Kayak and other members of Friends of the Sea who have lead this and many other environmental justice struggles in Puerto Rico. This documentary is even more important in the face of climate change which soon could be claiming more of Puerto Rico's shore line. This film helps educate about this critical issue.

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12 Christmas Wishes For My Dog [HD]

Cute Family Movie for Christmas
Solid storyline with a good lesson of life. How we all wish for something better, not knowing that what we already have is maybe all we really need.

Great Family Movie
This movie is an excellent movie for the kids around the Holidays. Also, quick shipping and items was exactly like it was described!

12 Wishes of Christmas
This is the same movie that is called "12 Wishes of Christmas".
Chondra Pierce is very funny as the life coach. It is a
wonderful Christmas movie with a message and was awarded 5 Dove awards.

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Reggie Mixes In

Below Average Print Quality
The source of this transfer is the old Blackhawk edition, possibly from 8mm, including Blackhawk's original opening titles. The transfer is passable, but very grainy. There may be a short scene or two missing, but I can't tell if they are missing from the original source, or this transfer. It looks like the projection speed is correct. The score, however, is simply needle-drop stuff, most often inappropriate. I just turned it off after awhile and used one of the generic scores I keep on file. The bonus short, "Are Golfer's Cuckoo?", is actually a better transfer, from a pristine source. The score, again, is needle-drop, but this time more listenable. So, until a better transfer comes along, these are the deficiencies we'll need to put up with.





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Inventing David Geffen [HD]

Hollywood's Most Polarizing Power Players Gets His Due In This Engaging Documentary
Premiering as a part of PBS's American Masters series, "Inventing David Geffen" is an engaging look at one of Hollywood's more polarizing power players. David Geffen has made his share of enemies through the years, but there is no denying his impact and success in the entertainment world. Susan Lacy's documentary takes a look primarily at Geffen's rise and his legacy. It's a candid, mostly positive, portrait in which many of Geffen's contemporaries acknowledge the man's volatile reputation while giving credit for his many accomplishments. "Inventing David Geffen" is certainly a respectful tribute. I wouldn't say it is an all encompassing vision of Geffen, though. Lacy's film rarely mentions struggles, hardships, or genuine unpleasantness. Every move Geffen made in his life seems to have led to a pre-determined success story. But if you love the business, Geffen's story is definitely one for the ages.

Admittedly, I probably knew more about Geffen than many before watching...

Really fascinating flick
If you're interested in a story about someone who simply willed success, this is it. What a story. Iwas spellbound, all 3 times. Plus, Geffen was at the center of the renaissance of music in the '60's, even facilitated it really. So if you're interested in how that amazing era of music came about you'll be fascinated by this film.

Amazing Story
In my younger days during the 60's 70's and 80's I was very aware of the name David Geffen. What I was not aware of was how broad a shadow he cast over the music industry. While he was a business man through and through he was a music lover first and the prime reason he was such a success.

What I was not aware of was his direct influence on some of the greatest movies of the 80's. This is an amazing documentary of an amazing man.

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Day Of Violence

Gory crime thriller in Fulci tradition!
Wow - a film that completely captures the gritty vibe of Italian crime thrillers (think 'Live like a cop, die like a man' & Lucio Fulci's 'Contraband'!! The violence had me looking away from the screen on many occasions. Good performances all round, with a cracking 80's synth score by Dave Andrews.

The film also features Italian horror legend 'Giovanni Lombardo Radice' (Make them die slowly, Gates of Hell, Cannibal Apocalypse). A real treat for the jaded action/horror fan!

I have seen on the film's official facebook page that this film is still doing the festival circuit and has won some impressive awards along the way. BEST FEATURE FILM (Germany, WEEKEND OF FEAR 2012), BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS (Brazil, CINEFANTASY).

Do yourself a favor and gets this gritty slice of mayhem.





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The Coffin

About What You'd Expect for a Straight to DVD Thriller
Coffin was shot on a shoestring budget of only $600,000. So in all fairness to the filmmakers, you can't expect a horror or thriller of the same quality as Scream or Jacob's Ladder. If you're a diehard fan of Kevin Sorbo, or horror movies in general, it's worth a watch. Otherwise, casual fans of psychological horror flicks may want to give this one a pass.

Coffin is the story of a Jack Samms, a man who discovers that his wife and her lover are buried in a wooden box with less than 75 minutes to live. A mysterious stranger offers Jack the opportunity to save his wife, as streaming video shot from the "coffin" reveals what could be her final moments alive. As a duo of detectives gain clues into the disappearance of the missing wife and her lover, Jack must play ever card that he has in order to win the game of cat and mouse that he's been pulled into.

Despite being shot on a ridiculously low budget, the creators of Coffin were able to cast Bruce Davison (Senator...

A real thriller with an ending you won't believe!
This movie is a real thriller with great acting and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end! There was a big twist that totally had me fooled-I never saw it coming! You'll feel the same way after you watch it,believe me!

So Slow-Moving and Boring
A 2011 thriller "Coffin" begins pretty in the same way as a Ryan Reynolds' "Buried," in which a man finds himself trapped in a box buried under the ground. In "Coffin" a man and a woman (Kevin Sorbo and Sunny Doench) are buried alive together in a coffin, and they have only 75 minutes before they die by suffocation. How original, you might say. The good news is that the film's story offers something more. The bad news is, what it offers is poorly executed and just boring.

Anyway, the buried woman is the wife of Jack Samms (Patrick Barnitt), who learns his estranged wife's predicament from a masked stranger "Trick." Showing the monitored image of the inside of the coffin, Trick demands Jack pay money for their safe return. Otherwise, Jack might be involved in trouble. Oh, I almost forgot to say that the buried man is the lover of Jack's wife. You will also see Bruce Davison in a brief but pivotal role.

"Coffin" has two major problems: lack of originality, and...

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Unknown [HD]

This got so-so reviews but I thought it was a great film
"Unknown" is a wonderful suspense/thriller action-er that finds (the always excellent) Liam Neeson's Dr. Martin Harris fighting an identity crisis as another man (Quinn) has taken his identity after a car accident. There is a twist that I have to admit that I figured out fairly early in the film. However, that doesn't take away from the film. It all plays out very well. The movie is based on the French novel Unknown: A Novel by Didier van Cauwelaert, and there is no lull in the film. This is probably the best suspense action film I've seen so far this year. Definitely a film that should've had much better reviews, "Unknown" delivers the action, drama and suspense that you want in a film.

Taken into the Unknown
Unknown may be marketed as a sequel of sorts (at least in tone) to Liam Neeson's surprise hit of a few years back, but this is not the action packed thrill ride that Taken provided. This film is about 75% mystery/thriller and 25% action. In fact, there were only a couple of fight scenes and one neat car chase to fill in the gaps when the pace needed picking up. I agree with the other reviewer here who said they wished the twist came earlier and left more time for Neeson to kick some serious booty. Speaking of the twist, I couldn't figure it out and I felt it worked really well.

Liam Neeson once again proves to be an unlikely yet very believable action star. You can't help but root for this guy. I hope he continues with these types of roles every so often. January Jones and Diane Kruger are here to look good, but only Kruger has a character worth any interest. There is a quiet scene with Frank Langella and Bruno Ganz that stands out.

Taken or Unknown? Which one do...

WILL THE REAL MARTIN HARRIS PLEASE STAND UP?
Along with his wife, Liam Neeson is in Berlin for a biotech conference. He forgets his briefcase at the airport and realizes this when they arrive at the hotel. He takes a cab ride back to the airport to retrieve the briefcase and has an accident along the way. Four days later he awakens from his coma, after being dead for 7 minutes. He has no ID. He goes to the hotel where he sees his wife, except she is with a man with the same name as his (Martin Harris) and he claims that he is her husband and his wife likewise makes the same claim! At this point I was divided as to what is going on. Is this a Twilight Zone where a guy goes to an alternate reality? Maybe a "Dark City" experiment. Is this an elaborate hoax? If so why is his wife a part of it? Maybe they decided to remake Hauser's Memory (am I showing my age?) Or none of the above? Liam contacts the underground in Berlin to help him find out what is going on.

The acting was good, as expected. The chase and action scenes...

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State of the Union [HD]

One of the best political satires ever made!
Since the gentleman before me does such a wonderful job in describing the movie's plot I won't go into that...but I did want to say that "State of the Union" is one of my all-time favorite "classic" movies. This highly underrated Frank Capra film ranks as one the best on-screen pairings of the ever-watchable Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. This film is just as relevant to today's political system as it was to its' own era a half-century ago, which only shows that there has never been a "golden age" of American politics. Tracy is superb in his role as a kind of sane and non-paranoid Ross Perot who hopes to "come from nowhere" and capture the 1948 Republican presidential nomination. Katherine Hepburn,Van Johnson and Adolphe Menjou turn in strong supporting performances, but this film really belongs to a very young (and very attractive) Angela Lansbury, as the ruthless owner of a newspaper publishing empire who will stop at nothing to make...

The Tracy and Hepburn team do a Capracorn film
Hollywood always seems to produce better Presidents and candidates for President than the real world, which is certainly the case with this 1948 Frank Capra film. Spencer Tracy plays Grant Matthews, who is persuaded by his mistress, powerful publishing heiress Kay Thorndyke, played to the hilt by Angela Lansbury, to seek the Republican nomination. Katharine Hepburn plays Mary Matthews, who joins her estranged husband to present a public portrait of a happy family. With the aid of the conniving political boss Jim Conover, played by Adolphe Menjou, Matthews begins the long road to the White House.

Based on the Pulitzer-prize winning play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, you can still get a sense of the original three-act structure of the story. Act I in a Washington, D.C. bedroom in the house of political operative Jim Conover is where Matthews is convinced to try running for President and his wife is persuaded that this is as much a chance to save her marriage as it is...

Tracy and Hepburn do a Capracorn film
Hollywood always seems to produce better Presidents and candidates for President than the real world, which is certainly the case with this 1948 Frank Capra film. Spencer Tracy plays Grant Matthews, who is persuaded by his mistress, powerful publishing heiress Kay Thorndyke, played to the hilt by Angela Lansbury, to seek the Republican nomination. Katharine Hepburn plays Mary Matthews, who joins her estranged husband to present a public portrait of a happy family. With the aid of the conniving political boss Jim Conover, played by Adolphe Menjou, Matthews begins the long road to the White House.

Based on the Pulitzer-prize winning play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, you can still get a sense of the original three-act structure of the story. Act I in a Washington, D.C. bedroom in the house of political operative Jim Conover is where Matthews is convinced to try running for President and his wife is persuaded that this is as much a chance to save her marriage as it is to...

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Detective Montalbano: Episode 17 - Wings of the Sphinx

Funny and entertaining
Whether or not you are a fan of the books, the TV series is engrossing and very entertaining. Subtitles are legible and easy to read and story moves quickly. Highly recommended. Looking forward to more episodes for Prime members.

The characters, the actors, the casting,
Luca Zingaretti - I want to meet him! All the characters are great - and a beautiful place too - Vigata in Sicily. And the food -

All of it. Great stories, excitement, intrigue, humor,humanity...

Superb entertainment

Great Mysteries, great characters, grogeous location!
I stumbled across the Montalbano books after watching the Zen series (which i also highly recommend). This is another one of those rare shows that are as good as (and sometimes better than) the books they are based on! The acting is great, and the cast of characters are diverse and engaging. Also, the show is set in one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. My only regret is that I don't speak enough Italian to watch without subtitles and that there aren't more of these available on instant watch!

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Rolling Stones - Under Review 1975-1983: The Ronnie Wood Years Part 1

Good Review of some of the best years of Rolling Stones career
Ronnie Wood really was a Stone before he was included in the band. My personal favorite guitarist to pair with Keef was Mick Taylor. But, as an act, the Stones really benefited from Ronnies rock attitude. A good documentary, covers a great deal of info.

Great movie!
Well researched, with commentary from those people who were personally or professionally involved with the Stones.
Great video clips of live performances.

Nice Documentary
I thought that this Documentary was very well written, Whoever thinks about not renting this should rent it it wont be a waste of time.

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Detective Montalbano: Episode 22 - The Age of Doubt

one of the best
great suspend, a little bit of all the ingredients which makes the series a success. Sicilia all over, great, great.

It's A Cultural Thing
We usually enjoy movies from other cultures, if only to see the differences between cultures. This series was new to us and well rated, but we found it slow moving, verbose, and 1970's sexist (compared against our current standards.) There was no on-screen violence or nudity, but lots of discussion. The pacing reminded me of our daytime soap operas.
This isn't a bad movie, just probably not as enjoyable to U.S. viewers as British or Scandinavian movies, IMO.



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Top Gear Apocalypse

Top Gear takes on Doomsday Preppers
Top Gear takes on Doomsday Preppers. Funny enough, lots of really good exploding things. Low budget frame story mildly annoying.

Im Ready
This is all you need to know to survive the apocalypse. Never has such a comprehensive guide to post-apocalyptic survival ever been compiled. Forget anything you've seen or heard before. This is it.

I liked this special.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Some of the other reviews didn't give it a very good review, I think some people even just didn't like it at all. I did like it. Mr. May and the Hamster do have a different chemistry together without Clarkson, I just see it as another way to go. The comedy is more low key, the stunts are just as good though! Some of the games they come up with are really pretty funny, and for me the cars they show were almost all my favorites or near the top favs, so that was cool for me.

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Liz & Dick

I (don't) want more
Everyone knew "Liz and Dick" was going to be a disaster as soon as it was announced. Two reasons why:

1. It was being made by the Lifetime Network, with a TV-movie budget.
2. It starred Lindsay Lohan.

The pessimism was not unwarranted -- this movie is so bad that I'm surprised Richard Burton hasn't risen from the dead just to throw liquor bottles at the people responsible. I actually hoped that it would be bad in a hilarious, campy way, but instead it's just hideously awkward, cheesy and cheap. As Lohan croaks at one point, "I'M SO BORED!"

The story is narrated by Elizabeth Taylor (Lohan) and Richard Burton (Grant Bowler) from the afterlife. Apparently the heavenly host really want to hear the inside scoop on their relationship. It started during the shooting of "Cleopatra," when Shakespearean actor Burton was unexpectedly cast opposite the scandal-generating superstar Elizabeth Taylor.

Well, despite a rocky start, they began a torrid...

A Horror Classic
First up, It's a lifetime movie... that said, It didn't even live up to that expectation. This movie should have been a SciFi Channel film touting the first collaboration of Roger Corman and Ed Wood (long dead) through the Troma studios. Yes, it was that bad.

The acting was so uneven and ridiculous that it made me remember the worst high school production of West Side Story ever. I've taken 20 years to block that from my memory and thanks to this hot mess, it's back.

The story told the viewer nothing they didn't know or has been done better in other films (including TV movies). It played like a disjointed harlequin romance novel of what was a fascinating and very full life. The writing came across as that of a first time screen writer and was just poorly researched as it was dull and boring.

In just a few short years, Lohan has gone from a young, bright promising actress to Paris Hilton (without Nicole). Every once in a while with the right light...

So, so, so, so, SO AWFUL!!!!
I am truly amazed that I sat through this entire movie. However, you need to realize that I went into it knowing that it would be a train wreck, but it was far worse than I expected. "Liz and Dick" is a bloody massacre. For the record, I am actually a member of Team LiLo. As a child star, she showed great potential as a solid B-actress (remember "The Parent Trap," Freaky Friday," and of course the iconic "Mean Girls?"). Then Lindsay Lohan grew up, went to rehab 50 times, got arrested 105 times, and unfortunately she hasn't shown a whole lot of promise since then. I actually feel bad for her because she was so horribly miscast in this role. Lifetime obviously was desperate for viewers, and they cast LiLo as Elizabeth Taylor because they knew people like me would watch. And I did. And LiLo totally bombed.

In fairness, the entire movie is an epic disaster (the only saving graces are the costumes, so props to the wardrobe mistress). First, let's talk about Lindsay. Ignore the...

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Detective Montalbano: Episode 18 - August Heat

Hey, It's Italian, Isn't the Reason Enough to Love it!
Wonderful, witty, and great way to try and sharpen your Italian skills.

This is Sicilian dialect, and a little fast, but bits and pieces come through that can be understood.

Check it out..

Salvo conquers again
Another fine story with our Sicilian hero scoring points against crime and in favor of passion. He is, of course, a man.

great series but too expensive
love the books and the series-the lead actor is tough and charismatic-scenery is gorgeous-but WHY does it
cost $4,.99 an episode?

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Dear Dracula

Adorable, Monsterish Fun for my 3yr old Son..A must Have DVD for any little monster toddler!
Any parent that has a toddler that LUVS monster & scary kid movies, this is a must! The characters are engaging, they hold my son's interest(he is very monster picky also)..he sat through whole movie but last 10min! He smiled & laughed the whole time..I could see him just listening/concentrating so hard while watching this..he then put on his Little Vampire Cape & resumed watching the rest of the movie! Its a Must Have DVD --just buy it..I rented first(bc I was not sure if I should buy, bc sometimes they just aren't that kid cool/fun/monsterish fun)..but this was..so 100%momma promise just buy this, if you have a little monster toddler/child..its a blast & super cute!

IT'S NOT A DOLL, IT'S AN ACTION FIGURE
This is an hour long Halloween cartoon for kids, perhaps 4-9 age group. Sam (Nathan Gamble) lives with his grandmother. He writes Dracula (Ray Liotta) who in turn visits Sam on Halloween. Sam helps Dracula get his scare back while Dracula helps Sam with his shyness involving Emma (Ariel Winter). Sam has a pet spider named Webber which makes him an outcast to his peers which include the stereo typical shallow cheerleaders.

Very boring production for parents and older kids. The jokes lines are old. Film is of course critical of "Twilight" as that has become the fad. I would go watch "Monsters and Aliens" instead.

Cute and original new Halloween movie!
My 3 1/2 year old loves to watch this. Not to scary but fun! Great cast of voices. Worth watching!

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H.H. Dalai Lama - Facing Death And Dying Well

Not for the easily bored
I really enjoyed the documentary, but I will warn you, if you are easily bored or are not interested in listening to ideas solely for gaining a differing perspective, I would wait until you are in that sort of mood or else you will not enjoy this for what it is. The documentary is long, and a lot of it is listening to the Dalai Lama speak, and then listening to his translator. I don't mind it because I was expecting it, having seen recordings of the Dalai Lama previously, but I can see how it would get boring for some people. The reason I enjoy the documentary, and speaking from the Dalai Lama in general, is that he discusses his private beliefs openly with people. He admits when he doesn't have an answer, but shows a willingness to hypothesize what an answer may be. Many public figures avoid speculation because they don't want to take risks; however, taking a stance of "I don't know" and not offering a hypothesis leads to a stale conversation. It is more interesting to me to...

Very informative Buddhist view of Dying
This is a recording of a public talk given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1993 on the subject of Death and Dying from the perspective of a practicing Buddhist. There is one central camera shot throughout - you do not see the crowd or any thing else; the video is focused only on His Holiness and his translator. His translator is used about 50% of the time, but he is very articulate and helps the overall discussion rather than hinders it. His Holiness always adds a compassionate humor to his dialogues, and this is no different.

There are some issues during certain times with the microphone cutting in and out, but if I were to guess, I'd say it was caused by His Holiness adjusting his robe that kept displacing itself from his shoulder and inadvertently bumping the mic. The problem lasts only a few minutes. Nonetheless, this presentation is wonderful for those looking to get a Buddhist view on this subject.



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Donna Leon's Comissarrio Guido Brunetti Mysteries: A Sea of Troubles

So true to the books!
I do love this series because I loved the books so much. Brunetti comes alive as does his family and the characters at the station. You feel Venice in the same way that the books portray it. I think the fact that they stay so close to the books ic perfect.

you got to get into the pace
Different than I imagined it from reading the book, a little slow but once you get into the pace of it, it's OK.



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Detective Montalbano: Episode 16 - Track of Sand

Avanti!
If you're reading this, chances are you don't need a lot of back-story on the wonderful Italian program IL COMMISARRIO MONTALBANO. You already know about Detective Montalbano (Luca Zingaretti), the eccentric Sicilian police investigator who juggles crime-fighting with a personal life that can only be described as...well, involved. So let's cut to the chase and get to the episode itself.

"Track of Sand" opens, as do many episodes of this series, with Salvo Montalbano discovering a crime quite literally on his doorstep -- in this case a dead horse which has been brutally killed on the stretch of beach just behind the deck of his home in Vigata. Suspecting the horse-slaughter may be linked to underground races controlled by the Mafia, he launches an investigation which brings him into contact with the sultry equestrian Rachele Esterman and her enigmatic husband, Saverio Lo Duca, who may or may not be connected to either the Sinagra or the Guffaro Mafia clans. Certainly someone...

Montalbano!
Always great! Wonderful acting and dialogue, and beautiful sets and scenery. We hope one of these days Amazon makes all of the episodes available for instant watching.

Typical European Drama
Have to have a little sex on the side to make it worth watching, I suppose. The script goes so fast it is difficult to read the subtitles in time for the next scene. I kept having to "rewind" just to finish reading. The hero needs to wear platform shoes.

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Donna Leon's Comissarrio Guido Brunetti Mysteries: Doctored Evidence

a great series
This series is beautiful, subtle and moving. This actor is terrific as Brunetti (I liked the other guy, he just didn't fit my image of Brunetti). The kids are truly special characters. I preferred the other actress who played Paola, Brunetti's wife, but this actress does a good job. Patta is hilarious and Elettra is PERFECT. The sad facts of the books don't seem as heavy in the series, which is a double-edged sword. Venice is, of course, the star.





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In The Mouth Of Madness (1995) [HD]

Great work by Carpenter and Cast
Before I get into my review of the film itself, let me say that one of the other reviewers is quite correct. The commentary on this DVD is hands-down the most mind-numbing exercise in boredom ever. "So, you used a soft focus back lighting here to deepen the shadows, right?" "yep". Not a real quote from the commentary, but it gives you a taste of the tedious nature of their conversation.

The movie, on the otherhand is anything but boring. I had been a Carpenter fan for quite some time when I went to see this in the theater. Most of Carpenter's films seemed to be centered around a certain atmosphere. IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS is wrapped around a concept. If enough people believe something, does it become reality?

Sam Neill plays John Trent, an insurance investigator who specializes in smoking out con artists. He is hired to find Sutter Cane (played with relish by Jurgen Prochnow), the world's leading author. The search leads to a town that shouldn't...

Carpenter's Tour de Force
Much more than a simple horror movie, In the Mouth of Madness takes the viewer on the twisted tale of insurance fraud investigator John Trent (Sam Neill) sent to find world famous pulp horror writer Sutter Cane (Jurgen Prochnow of Das Boot, Dune). Carpenter's cinematic style reaches its pinnacle in this wild ride and his self-composed score completes the masterpiece. Full of outstanding introspective scenes juxtaposed with Carpenter's trademark wit, ITMOM delves into the core of reality and, more importantly, the perception of reality. What is reality but what the mass populus believes it to be? Sutter Cane's twisted books have become more believable than the Bible in the world of ITMOM and John Trent finds himself an unwitting pawn of Cane's warped apocalypse. A visually astounding, thought provoking movie that is not to be missed.

My favorite horror movie bar-none
If you're a horror fan this is the movie for you. If you're like me and you love supernatural horror more than slasher horror, than this is THE movie for you. Scares and a deep, strong story, through and through. A superb ending. Can't be beat. This should be in any horror fans library to watch whenever you they can.

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The Specials - 30th Anniversary Tour

A must for ska fans
Great live concert of a great sounding band! I watch it again and again it's really that good and after all these years the band is as good as ever





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Donna Leon's Comissarrio Guido Brunetti Mysteries: Uniform Justice

The Germans Understand Donna Leon
Uniform Justice is one of the Donna Leon's mysteries we missed reading. In German with subtitles, the plot is wonderfully revealed. The acting is superb. The Venetian scenery nearly steals the show. We get to examine the secrets of a military school where thugs are abusing fellow students. Commissario Brunetti persists despite his superior's fears of offending the gentry. His teen son shadows him for a day and his partners prove indipensible.





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Steelyard Blues (1973) [HD]

Woefully Overlooked Counter-Culture Screwball Comedy
When this film was released on national teevee, the network, in its infinite wisdom (or something) decided that we wouldn't want to watch a film with a title so irrelevant to what they perceived as the main thrust of the film, and so they retitled it "The Final Crash" -- i assume it was because the main character (Donald Sutherland as Veldini) is a demolition derby driver when he isn't in jail (he was in jail for robbing gas stations in order to pay for the demolition derby driving habit...).

This, of course, is almost irrelevant to the main themes of the film, except as it is to be seen as one more example of a free spirit trammeled 'round by petty mundanity, i guess.

That aside, this is a nice little surreal comedy about a group of non-conformist types who want to fly away and a society that cannot tolerate their oddnesses nor grant them the freedom to opt out, as personified in Veldini's brother, DA "Veldin" (Howard Hesseman, against type as an uptight Establishment...

Steelyard Blues
Steelyard Blues, with Fonda, Sutherland, and Boyle (C1973) was arguably one of the most hysterical cult movies ever made. I saw it several times when it first came out. Unfortunately, Jane Fonda was having problems with her North Viet Nam excursion at that time and the movie never was promoted as it should have been. If you think Peter Boyle is great on Raymond, please availe yourself of his talent over a quarter of a century ago. An absolutely must see.

Finally a cult I want to join
Fonda, Sutherland, and Peter Boyle make this an unforgettable cult film. It captures the wacky counter- cultural sixties-seventies anti-hero perfectly - an urban Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Liondrops keep falling on my head (see film to get reference).

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OC87:The Obsessive Compulsive, Major Depression, Bipolar, Asperger's Movie - 2 DVD Set (Amazon Exclusive)

A rarity: a funny film about the tribulations of Mental illness
I find most films about mental illness are unbearably sad. This film-maker pokes fun at himself, his parents and the frustrations of those who try to work with him. There is a lot of "New York" humor that may not work in the Heartland. However, I found it delightful and remarkable that after many years of an inability to do anything, Bud Clayton put together a film that is eye-opening for anyone who knows nothing about mental illness and inspirational to anyone who may be struggling to regain balance after developing a mental illness.

A Must For Families & Friends
I was wanting to educate myself on Bipolar, Asperger's, and Obsessive Compulsive disorders and ran across this film.

This film grows on the viewer quickly. It's very personable as it takes a look at the life of Buddy Clayton who suffers from some or all these disorders. The beauty of the film is that it let's someone on the outside journey with Buddy and enter Buddy's mind on a day to day basis. It's impossible for a disease free person to understand the mental thoughts of someone with these diseases without help from someone walking them through it as Buddy has.

I commend Buddy and his staff for producing a "dead on" film.

I do believe through Amazon Reviews and other reviews that this film (in time) will find a place in the mental health media as a MUST to be seen. I give it 1 star for the simplicity of the film, 1 star for covering the complexity of a disease, 1 star for honesty, 1 star for Buddy's bravery, 1 star for overall education! This is a...

"...I Don't Feel I'm In Control At All - On This Project!" - Buddy Clayman
This documentary all about the life of Bradford (Buddy) Clayman is truly a wonder to behold. What is initially striking is just how personable Buddy is, with all he now must undertake just to get through one single day. I felt honored to have been included into a snippet of his situation.

People having something to say with this kind of rare honesty is not a situation that I ever really expect, it takes a bravery and candor that will and does lift it up. His attitude toward his new-found life at age 47 is the glue that holds Buddy together in society with this type of severe mental illness. I was amazed at each and every turn he made, with his therapist who suffers from the affliction of OCD himself, his friends, and with his parents' loving support.

Buddy explains to one of his Dr.s (Sally Gever PhD) about what "OC87" means to him. It is actually a state of mind when his Obsessive-Compulsive thoughts are overtaking him; "out of control of everything" is a...

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Detective Montalbano: Episode 21 - The Treasure Hunt

Montalbano - always enjoyable
This is a fine episode in a great series. The Montalbano series has something for about everyone - mysteries, police work, personal drama, comedy, and wonderful scenery.





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Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen not quite, but very entertaining
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was an Ugly Duckling. He lived in the third largest town Odense, in Denmark. The son of a cobbler he was poverty ridden and a failure as an actor and it wasn't until he moved to Copenhagen and won the patronage of Frederick VI, through his poetry, that he wrote his fairy tales and developed into a swan. Like many artists he wasn't particularly happy, and never did marry, although he was very fond of Jenny Lind (1820-87) the Swedish Nightingale a soprano given the name by P.T. Barnum during her tour of the United States between 1850-52.) Charles Vidor's film does state at the beginning, This is not the story of Hans Christian Andersen but a fairy tale about the great spinner of fairy tales. The Danes objected to the way Hans Christian Andersen was portrayed even though Goldwyn had rejected 21 previous manuscripts, so the film company inserted this statement in the credits.

Danny Kaye with his chiselled features does resemble H.C.Andersen...

Memorable and magical -- a must to share with your kids
With all due respect, Leonard Maltin just doesn't get it with regard to this movie, and I hate to think his negative comments might prevent someone from seeing it. This was one of the most memorable movies from my childhood -- and I can only have seen it twice at the most, because there were no videos in those days. We had the soundtrack album and those glorious and, yes, melodic, songs burned themselves into my consciousness. I could not wait until my daughter was old enough to share this movie with, and now that we are watching it together (she is three), it is a joy to see her, too, respond to the magic and music of Danny Kaye's charming performance. For the past three months it has been her most requested video, and when we aren't watching it, she wants me to sing the songs, and when I can't do that, she sings them herself! And now that she is familiar with the musical versions of the fairy tales, she wants them read to her, and is thereby learning to listen to much...

Enchanting, elegant study of filmmaking in the early 50's
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN presents a fanciful, fictionalised re-telling of the famed storyteller's life, highlighted by Frank Loesser's beautiful score and the perfect casting of Danny Kaye in the central role.

As the film opens, cobbler Hans is entertaining the children of Odense, Denmark, with yet another fantastic tale, much to the consternation of the schoolmaster who feels the children are having their time wasted when they should be studying. This seems to be the opinion of most of the townspeople, so Hans is politely told to leave town...for a while anyway. Hans and his young assistant travel to the bright lights and bustle of Copenhagen for a fresh start, but old habits die hard and soon Hans is entertaining a new group of children with his amazing storytelling talents. When Hans is engaged to make slippers and toe-shoes for the city's ballet troupe, he becomes entranced by the prima ballerina Doro (Zizi Jeanmaire in her film debut) not knowing that she's married...

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South Central (1992) [HD]

"Deuce Got My Son Shot!"
When you think about it, many 'hood movies dropped around the early 90's, like "Boyz N The Hood", "New Jack City", "Menace II Society" etc. All of these got the recognition they deserved, and they have all stood the test of time, as all of them are over 10 years old. However, there is one movie that didn't get the recognition and publicity that it should have. This is the 1991 "South Central". South Central is a great hood movie with a different twist to it than the others I mentioned. It is also very touching in certain places. It takes place in Los Angelas just like almost all these other hood movies so that's no surprise.

The movie starts off with a young Bobby Johnson getting out of jail. After fighting with a local drug-dealer over his girlfriend, he kills the drug-dealer who's name is Genie Lamp. He lays low for a few months, then he decides to ride out with a few other members of the Deuce gang, which he is part of. They pick up an undercover cop along the way, and...

South Central Is A Classic
South Central is one of the premier hood based movies. It is about the start of a california based gang called the Deuces which I believe later becomes the Crips. But what it's really about is one man's struggle to get out of the gagsta life and to bring his son out of the hood. South Central is not as gorey as Menace II Society, so even older adults will like it, but it is still a great movie for teenagers and 20 year olds as well. My mother, brother, all of my brother's friends, and I loved this movie and I recommend it for anyone.

Cult classic; helped end gang murder epidemic
This adaptation of Donald Bakeer's novel, "South Central L.A. Crips", showed the human side of L.A. gang members (Crips) thru Glen Plummer's memorable portrayal of an O.G. (original) Crip who came back from prison to save his son from a similar fate. The last scene is one of the best in all of black film making. This, the first portrayal of the human side of Crips, fulfilled "Variety's" prediction that it would save lives. South Central which debuted soon after the L.A. Uprising (7/92) had a great impact on L.A. gang and would-be gang members. It and Bakeer's novel are a must for anyone who seriously studies the gang wars that killed thousands of youths in America during the 70's, 80's and 90's.

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Dracula Has Risen from the Grave [HD]

You just can't keep a good man down!
Seems like people either love or hate this particular entry into the Hammer Dracula line of films. I, myself, enjoyed it very much, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the vampire genre.

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1969) has Christopher Lee reprising his role as the ultimate blood-sucking creature of the night, which is kind of strange as in the last film, Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), he was destroyed...or so we thought. The film takes place a year after the last film, as Monsignor Ernest Muller (Rupert Davies) visits the small village near Dracula's no empty castle to see how things are getting along. Well, things aren't getting along too well as the Monsignor finds the church empty and in a rather poor state of housekeeping. Finding the priest at the local bar, he learns that the villagers believe that while Dracula may be dead, his castle projects an aura of evil, casting a malignant shadow of evil on the town. The Monsignor decides the only course of...

An atmospheric period horror piece
"Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" opens to the sounds of James Bernard's evocative, ominous main musical theme. Directed by Freddie Francis, the film stars horror icon Christopher Lee in one of his many portrayals of cinema's most celebrated vampire. This version features a lean, effective screenplay by John Elder.

The film opens in a small, pre-industrial village that had previously been terrorized by Dracula, who is presumed to have been destroyed. As the title of the film indicates, however, Dracula soon rises from his grave to begin a new campaign of bloodsucking villainy. His foes in this film are a Catholic monsignor and the boyfriend of the monsignor's lovely niece.

Bernard's solid score is complemented by good art direction. Francis makes effective use of forest and rooftop settings as Dracula pursues his ends. Lee gets solid support from the rest of the cast. Barry Andrews makes a particularly appealing young hero as Paul, the boyfriend of the monsignor's niece. I also...

Eerie and engrossing Hammer Vampire effort
"Dracula Has Risen From The Grace" is one of the highwater marks of the Hammer Dracula series and features the wonderful Christopher Lee in his third outing as the world's most famous vampire, the blood sucking Count Dracula. Made while the Dracula cycle of films were still fresh this film is one of the best that Christopher Lee did in the role and is a vast improvement over the previous effort "Dracula Prince Of Darkness". The main yardstick for measuring this improvement is that sparse as his screen time is again, Lee has dialogue in this entry which adds tremendously to the overall impact of Dracula's sinister presence.

Ably directed by veteran Hammer man Freddie Francis the film opens a period of time after the conclusion of the earlier film where a small village experiences a horrible death in the bell tower of the local church. The terrified townspeople still living in fear from the shadows cast by Dracula's abandoned castle prompt a visiting Monseignor to travel up to Castle...

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