Really Big Things

Matt Rogers + Really Big Things = Good TV
I have been a huge fan of Matt Rogers ever since he was a contestant on season 3 of "American Idol". I think he has such a great personality. He's funny, quick witted, not full of himself, a real down to earth likable kind of guy. So when I read that he would be hosting a show called "Really Big Things" on Discovery Channel, I made a point to tune in. And, let me say, I love it. This show is really informative without ever being boring. Matt is the perfect host for this kind of program. His sense of humor and willingness to learn and participate keeps the show light and fun yet it is still educational and entertaining. I watch it every week and am very glad it was renewed for a second season. I cannot wait until September 4th to get the first season on DVD. Thanks Discovery for bringing us Matt Rogers & Really Big Things.

Great show
A very interesting collection of programs which give you an insight to how some of the world's largest machines operate. Expertly presented by Matt Rogers who makes it both interesting and amusing.
Recommended to all those who like to know how big things work.



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City Teacher

STAND AND DELIVER
This film is the African-American version of "Stand and Deliver." This has been re-released as "A Hard Lesson." Jeff Solomon (Jonathan Sale) is a parole officer who is asked to teach a class of 12 troubled unruly teens how to read. He has to buck the teaching system as well as having to gain the trust and respect of his class, all who have criminal records.

Jeff is white and Jewish. His wife Marsha (Heather Tom) leaves him because she wants him to be in a job that makes more money. Jeff is also unusual in that he was adopted and raised by African-American parents in a far fetched story. He gets advice from his dad (Glynn Turman) who was also a teacher. Meanwhile there are robberies going on in the neighborhood.

Heart warming ending in a film that has border line acting. Like so many produced African-American films this one contains excessive amount of dialouge and discussion about the problems facing the black and Latino communities rather then just let us...





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Suze Orman: Women and Money

Suze, captain of the cheerleading squad
If you need inspirational cheerleading, this is the DVD for you.

I love the Suze Orman TV show and wait eagerly to see more, so, I ordered a few of her products. In this first to arrive DVD "Women & Money" Suze recounts her path into the big boy's world of financial investment and brokerage. She enthusiastically outlines an overview of characteristics and attitudes that she deems necessary to achieve and maintain control and prosperity of your money as a woman in America. For example, be happy and be able to say your name proudly, boldly, with confidence.

This type of encouragement could be labeled "inspirational", but, Suze could have been chatting about grocery shopping and it would be inspirational coming from her. In a DVD on the subject of women and money though I expected a portion of real meat and potatoes to put on my plate, some actual practical information and content to digest and nourish the growth of my financial autonomy. In that respect this DVD...

Anyone & Money!!
I just want to say this applies to everyone else as well. First time I saw it was on PBS and decided to get the DVD eventually. Lots valuable lessons for all of us. Funny thing about Suze is you get to learn little bit about yourself. Little difference between Logic and Feelings; and little self improvement in the process.

Fantastic Information for Women
This is the book I've been waiting for but putting off reading. Doesn't make sense, does it? I shy away from financial "stuff." But a few of us (women) get together (have wine) as a group and discuss the next steps. We support each other, offer help, etc. Together we are doing the monthly plans. It is terrific. This book is easy to read and understand. We are having a great time and accomplishing SO much. Things that we knew we needed to know and do but weren't organized enough (alone) to do them. I highly recommend this book to every woman out there, whether in a relationship or not. Buy it! Read it! Do it!

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RL Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It (Full Screen Edition)

A surprisingly entertaining movie
I used to be a huge fan of R.L. Stine, but as I got older, I realized that his books were pretty stupid. When I heard about The Haunting Hour, I decided to give it a shot since it had a great cast. My expectations were low, but the movie proved to make for an exciting two hours. Emily Osment is a great actress and was able to play a very different character from her role on Hannah Montana. The rest of the cast were pretty good too, with the exception of the little brother and parents who I felt were a bit annoying. The plot isn't that different from a typical Goosebumps books, but the great characters, amazing soundtrack and snappy writing make it special.

Either R.L. Stine is really improving as a writer, or he wasn't involved in the movie that much. The only problem I really had was the last few minutes, which felt like a typical, stupid ending you'd find in Goosebumps. All that aside, this is a very interesting movie that even managed to creep me out a bit. Give us a...

Great Kids/Teen Flick
My kids and I were channel surfing this past Halloween week and came upon this movie. When my daughter, who is a huge Hannah Montana fan, saw Emily Osment was in the film she demanded we watch. My 14 year old son was not thrilled with the idea, but 15 minutes into the movie we were hooked- including myself! It spoke to an 11 year old a 14 year old and an adult. It's a great family flick- perfect for Halloween! I highly recommend this movie.

Great for Kids
This movie was great for my kids over Halloween weekend. They normally don't like scary movies, especially my youngest, but they were both thoroughly entertained and spooked. My youngest daughter asked me to buy the film 'so we could watch it every year'. I am glad to do so.

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Rush to War

Everything That's Gone Wrong
I've seen this DVD at least three time before I felt I could write about it. One problem I had was putting all of it in context. It's because the "Rush to War" was not just about a rush to war. It was about many topics including the rush to war. It was easy to follow when being viewed, but extremely difficult to write about.

This DVD examines the reasons behind the attacks of 9/11, which includes our history of giving precedence to our support for repressive regimes that served the US interests, rather than the spread of liberty and democracy. Unfortunately, numerous examples abound such as Guatamala, Iran, and Chile where democratically elected governments where overthrown in favor of governments that served our interests.

The "Rush to War" finally gets around to the lead-up to the war and the lies told by the administration regarding weapons of mass destruction (WMD), yellow cake, reconstituted nuclear weapons programs, and the imminent "mushroom cloud,"...

MAINLY TALKING HEADS BUT OH SUCH LOVELY HEADS: ZINN, CHOMSKY, MOLLY, BERRIGAN (AND FALWELL??)
Okay, so I was duped by the odd amazonian custom of crediting DVD's by alphabetical order and by first name, and thus the great director of The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky (Fando y Lis / El Topo / The Holy Mountain). As there is presently no indication anywhere upon the product page of the real and actual director, I assumed somehow it was Alejandro so inspired by these critical events as to do something far removed from his usual works of mythic, epic, fantastic super-realism. I thought he would bring his infinite vision to these banal, evil, imperial events. But I was duped; he appears merely as another talking head, saying that when the USA goes crazy, we all go crazy.

This DVD therefore may serve as a good conversation starter, as an opening for further reading, as the first class in a course in political science or in the art of war as an example of how and why not to start one. There is much...

Great history lesson
Solid information very passionately delivered. Molly Ivins calls it like it is, and it is great to be reminded of the wisdom of George McGovern. The 45 minute interview with Joe Wilson was incredibly informative -- he was able to expand on events involving the Valerie Plame outing that he normally only gets 3 or 4 minutes on talk shows to explain.

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Closing Escrow

Cleverly funny film about the foibles of the home-searching process
I happened to catch this movie last night on high-definition cable. Having never heard of it (and not knowing about it's premise), I thought I'd watch a little bit, as my wife and I are saving up to buy a home of our own, and it seemed that there might be some insight to be gleaned by viewing it. I quickly realized, however, that this was a farcical mockumentary in the style of "Best In Show", "A Mighty Wind", and "Spinal Tap" (this film, "Closing Escrow", has no cast or crew in common with those movies, as far as I know).

Although the writing isn't as snappy as its predecessors, it's still quite good, with a couple well-written and acted characters. The journey of 3 completely different couples looking for their perfect home, each with the "help" of their own quirky realtor, all eventually converging on the same home in the finale, is equal parts hilarity, weirdness, and almost-went-somewhere gags.

This is one of those films that will most likely have a cult...

You gotta see this one
This is the kind of movie that as you are watching it, you start to realize the humor in even the most subtle ways. You don't need to have gone through a home purchase to have fun watching this one. Just sit back and enjoy the crazy scenario of each home buying couple and their strange realtors as they unfold.

If you HAVE gone through the purchase of buying home, it will probaby conjure up a number of funny moments from your own experiences.

Definitely check this one out.

Wonderful Movie but I missed the Christopher Guest Cast
I thought the movie rated well; however, I was psyched out to see some of the Christopher Guest cast in this "mockumentary," but none of the Guest cast showed up, and I could see each one of them in the different roles. Imagine seeing Fred Willard as a Real Estate Agent with a chain saw...etc.

Anyway, kudos to the wonderful job the writers, producers, directors and actors did. Everyone did a supurb job, and I hope to see these producers do some more mockumentaries in the future. It seems as if they have their own cast, so I will be looking forward to seeing them in the future. You give Guest and cast a good run for the money. Thanks for the great entertainment on the fourth of July weekend.

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Dead in the Water

One of the Funniest and Blackest Comedies, Ever
Call it a sleeper or rare find, but this movie is one of the funniest I've seen. Smart, sexy and filled with twists and dark humor. If you liked Pritzi's Honor, you'll love this one. One of the first feature films w/Terri Hatcher and Brian Brown is wonderful as a lawyer who tries to commit the "perfect crime." The crime isn't, but the movie is. It makes me laugh every time I see it and I can't recall how many times I have. An excellent murder mystery, too -- you'll love it!

Juicy neo-noir
This was actually made for cable TV back in 1991, but is well enough directed by Bill Condon to make it feel like a feature release. Based on a 50's hard-boiled pulp novel by the great Harry Whittington, Web of Murder, the movie stars Bryan Brown as hot shot attorney Charlie Deegan who's married to a rich wife played by Anne DiSalvo and who has a sexy secretary Laura (Teri Hatcher).

So there's the standard noir plot elements--lust and greed and murder. Yep. But the way they're put together here is sharp and nifty, with lots of juicy dark humor along the way, so this is a really fun movie.

Nice score--dig Satchmo's singing in the opening credits--and the acting, especially by major fly-in-the-ointment Veronica Cartwright (who puts a serious damper on Charlie's plans) is very strong.

A really good addition to your neo-noir collection, Dead in the Water is a great way to spend an hour and a half soaking up them noir vibes. Oh, yeah.

Punchy neo-noir hits the mark
For inspired casting, try putting Australian Bryan Brown--native accent intact--in the role of corrupt American lawyer Charlie Deegan whose marriage is crumbling and whose secretary is too luscious to ignore. What this does is highlight the corruption on display by playing up Charlie's personality to the max. Very smart.

Charlie comes up with a plan to get rid of his oh-so-wealthy wife that looks completely foolproof, but we all know that in these noir flicks, things NEVER go as planned. Do they? Nope. The plan is to bump her off, inherit her money and run off with Laura the luscious secretary. Unfortunately fate has other things in mind.

The direction here, by Bill Condon, is whip smart-tight. The music is perfect, underscoring the black humor on display, including an opening tune sung by Louis Armstrong. There are enough laughs to keep things lively, and the supporting cast--espeically Veronica Cartwright as an obnoxious, pushy woman--is right on the money. Contributing...

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Tide-Line Blue Vol 3

Just Give Me Another Character
The animation remains beautiful and the music is strong but the characters and story are still just very weak. While there is a real interest in seeing how this series ends, it has failed to leave a lasting impression and leads me to think that perhaps it's time for this series to finally sink into the murky depths. Recommended if you're bored but with only one volume remaining, this series is very quickly running out of time to sell me.





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Veggie Tales Holiday Gift Pack

Do Not Be Fooled
There are NOT 4 movies in the set. Anyone who wasted their money thinking they were getting new Veggie movies (like me) is going to be sorely dissappointed. This set has what they have already released.
Toy that saved Christmas and The Star of Christmas.
It has a Very Veggie Christmas on CD.
And another CD.

I was so excited because I was waiting for them to put A Very Veggie Christmas on DVD.
Since there is no product description and the photo is decieving I bought it.

There are 4 discs alright.
2 DVDs and 2 CDs.

If you already have this seperately dont waste your money on this set unless you really want the extra CD.

2 Movies, 2 CDs
I saw this pack and immedietly had to buy it! I only owned The Toy That Saved Christmas but it was on VHS so this was a great deal. There are two movies and two cds. The cds are done in the style of an old radio show and are hugely entertaining.

The Toy That Saved Christmas - The Nezzer Toy Factory is trying to convince the children that unless they get the most toys Christmas won't be great. It's up to Buzz-Saw Louie and his friends to remind everyone what Christmas is really about!

The Star of Christmas - Set in 1800s London Bob and Larry set out to teach London to love by putting on a show (with lightbulbs!) however there is a pageant the same night at a neighboring church. How can they teach London to love if no one comes to the show?

A Very Veggie Christmas - I had this on cassette when I was little, it was the only tape I played so often that it broke. Finding it on CD was pure joy. It is like a really song heavy episode of VT in radio format...

My son loves it!!
My son is a huge Veggie Tales fan and loves all the videos. This was a perfect addition to our library at Christmas time.

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Witchblade, Vol. 1

A very promising beginning!
On the run from the Child Welfare Department that wants to take her 6-year-old daughter away from her, jobless and homeless Masane Amaha has come to Tokyo for a new start. Masane is a beautiful young woman with a tragic past. She remembers nothing of her life before a destructive earthquake hit six years earlier. When the Child Welfare Dept. catches up to her once again, she makes one final, desperate act to keep little Rihoko and lands herself in prison. While there, a confrontation with a local murderer that is more than what he appears brings out a hidden power in Masane. She has been endowed with the Witchblade, an ancient, living weapon that attaches itself to select women throughout the ages, turning them into savage warriors to satisfy its lust for violence and blood. As Masane's battle in prison allows for her escape, her clever daughter Rihoko pulls off an escape of her own with the help of a photographer with journalistic ambitions. Rihoko eventually makes her way to her...

Great story, skimpy costume!
The storyline of "Witchblade" is classic manga, with an interesting twist. Masane, the heroine, is a young mother, who with her 6-year-old daughter, Rihoko, struggles to cope after a disaster wipes out their home. Regaining her memory, she finds herself on the run and burdened with a mysterious glowing bracelet. Whenever Rihoko is threatened -- by a child welfare agency trying to putting her into foster care, or by mostrous felons -- Masane morphs painfully into a superhuman warrior. Aside from the government agency trying to help her, there are industrialists trying to capture her and regain possession of the bracelet, which courses with the power of the Witchblade, an ancient power-giving object. Masane must navigate between these powerful interests, with the reluctant help of a young freelance cameraman, to rid herself of the cursed Witchblade and gain her daughter's freedom.

The story line of WitchBlade is engaging, and its characters symptathetic and nuanced. The child...

WHA'HAPPEN?
It is said, by Westerners who have lived and worked there, that Japanese culture and society are so foreign to ours that most of us can't even comprehend the differences, nevermind their causes and effects. Perhaps the one popular medium where we get some feel for the divergence is the increasingly popular Japanese anime market. Even the most accessible films--the Ghibli Studio stuff or an adaptation of classic American animation, like Little Nemo--have aspects, subplots or even large swathes of narrative that are basically incomprehensible. Take a great family film like Kiki's Delivery Service: it's not only impossible to tell where or when the story is taking place but so much of the underlying mythos is left unexplained that each step of the plot is surprising, if only because it seems so odd.

This adaptation of the American comic book Witchblade is kind of like a Miyazaki film in ways both bad and good. On the plus side, the animation is terrific, pretty nearly...

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The King of Queens: The Complete Ninth Season

Saying goodbye to old friends
The King of Queens is the most underrated show of the last decade. Everybody Loves Raymond was great, but K of Q was a much funnier show. The chemistry between the three main characters--Doug, Carrie and Arthur--makes for countless laughs, even when no dialog is spoken. The show strikes a special chord if you grew up middle class in the New York area. I have been an avid fan for from the beginning and am so happy that we don't have to wait too long for the final season to be released. Buy all nine seasons and you will always be among friends.

This rocks!
My husband and I have the entire collection of The King of Queens. We have literally watched them each at least a dozen times. Every time we watch an episode it is funnier. Of course, we have much of it memorized and use quotes on a daily basis for our own entertainment! This is our absoloute favorite series and we would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

You Will Be Missed!
Please keep the reruns on forever! My husband and I enjoyed that show so much because (besides the obvious reasons) my ederly mother lives with us and there were times when she was watching the show with us that we had to turn the channel as it seemed it was written BY us! And anyone that cares for an elderly parent knows we need the laughter! Can anyone say "Demented Old Circus Monkey?"

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Fitness with the Pros

Fantastic and Fun!
Being a fan of the show I ordered the product, not expecting the workout to be much of a challenge as far as cardio goes. Wow, was I wrong! My heart rate was up, and thanks to the setting and wonderful instruction from Edyta...you almost forget you are working out! As a personal trainer, I know that cross training is key to keeping the results coming, and this is something that I will incorporate into my program on a weekly basis. It challenges my body in a completely different way than anything I get at the gym, and I love it! Highly recommended! This proves the theory that trainers have been saying for years....working out IS fun! :)

Well done DVD!
I own both this DVD and its companion teaching DVD. Both are wonderful, with easy to follow instructions. In the fitness DVD, Edyta is your instructor, and she's everything you could ask for in a teacher. There is even a helpful feature where if you have trouble figuring out a movement, you can have it broken down so you can learn at your own pace with just the touch of a button on your remote. I've lost 30 pounds over 4 months with the help of this DVD, and I'm still just on the beginner workout, preparing to advance to the intermediate. I found this DVD easier to follow and complete than the Dancing with the Stars one that features Ashly, Kym, and Maks.

Best workout--hands down!
This was by far one--if not the best workout DVDs I have ever used. I've tried all different kinds, but this one truly gave me an amazing workout that was fun, easy to follow and slowed down when I had trouble with a step. (thanks to the slow motion feature this DVD has!) Alec and Edyta are very personable and it made it seem like you were working out with friends rather than with an instructor. It goes by quickly as well.....you barely realize you are working out! I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun workout

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Maggie and the Ferocious Beast: Somewhere in Nowhere Land

A creative story featuring a strong little girl
Maggie is an intrepid 5 year old girl with a strong mind of her own. If that's not enough to get you interested in this series, then the fact that she creates and reads maps, has a menagerie of imaginary friends, and deals with everyday issues with grace and humor should do it. The pacing, script (by originator Betty Paraskevas) and story lines are perfect for preschoolers. This is a great gift choice for young children. We know a little boy who's obsessed with Maggie and her adventures in Nowhere Land.

Episode Guide
Here's the episodes that features in this DVD:

Pack Up Your Troubles
Rain Rain Come And Stay
A Beastly Garden
Mr. Shivers

Includes these bonus episodes:
Rub-A-Dub-Dub
The Big Carrot
out Of Water Beast
Hamilton The Ham
Flim-Flam-A-Fiddle
Spring Clean
Nap Time
Up, Up And away

There you go. Hope this comes helpful to everyone.

great for maggie lovers
my daughter just loves maggie and the ferocious beast. It is hard to find on tv though, so this video, with multiple episodes, is a life saver.

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Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse

Awesome movies
A good looking lady kicking zombie ass, it does not get much better. Cool weapons, good effects, worth your time

Awsome!!!!
The resident evil movies are awsome! This one comes with a free movie ticket to go see resident evil extinction in theatures! I cant wait to go see that movie! I recomend this movie! It comes with a bridge scene between apacolypse and extinction!

I've seen all but Apocalypse.
I've seen all Resident Evil movies but never seen the second movie. I'm glad I got to watch it its awesome.

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Drawn Together - Season 2

Crude cartoon humor...Check
Yeah drawn together is great when it comes to the crude humor. The first season was hilarious but sometimes i found the second season lacking. But it still was a great season. A definite buy is you're a fan of crude humor and hilarious cartoons.

Funny, vulgar and sick: three of my favorite things...
People who like cartoons must be thankful for DVDs, because that technology opened up the floodgates for fans for every kind of animation. Whether you like classic Looney Tunes, hippy-dippy sci-fi parables or Asian tentacle porn, it's all there for you to find and enjoy. It's only been in the last 20 years or so, however, that American TV networks have clued into the idea that many adults like cartoons that have content specifically aimed at adults, even though some cartoons did well in prime-time even fifty years ago or so. Now, with DVD, you can not only watch entire seasons at a shot, you can also see the shows in their unadulterated glory.

Which brings us to the Comedy Central series Drawn Together. I've been a fan of this show for a while, partly because of the writing and partly because of the cheerful way in which it steamrolls political correctness and good taste. If South Park is the Mount Everest of crude, crass animation, then Drawn Together is K2; it doesn't...

As good as it gets.
Just like the last season, this one gives you hours of laughter and tears.
Uncensored and brutal, the Drawn Together gang will once again in the most twisted way show you how hard life on a reality show can be.
With more episodes, more racist humor and even more stoned producers, this season will without a doubt be even more entertaining than the first one.
If you liked the first season this is a must! If you didn't like the first season, well then go back to watching The Simpsons and miss out on this fantastic DVD.

All my five are belong to this!

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Bob Hope: Signature Collection

Hope full DVD
ST. CLAIR's "signature" series each consist of three public domain movies (on a single DVD) that are good, but not always the featured artist's best work. In this case, only two theatrical films are offered. The third item is an episode of the Jack Benny Program that includes a brief skit of Benny, Bing Crosby and George Burns trotting out an old vaudeville softshoe routine. Hope appears near the end of this sketch.

The Hope, Crosby and Dorothy Lamour "road picture" franchise was still going strong a dozen years after it had begun when their sixth entry, ROAD TO BALI (filmed in Technicolor), was released. Here, our two song-and-dance men (Bob and Bing) hastily depart Melbourne, Australia to avoid some marriage-minded ladies. They take jobs as sea divers and on the way to Bali meet up with lovely Princess Lala (Lamour).

In MY FAVORITE BRUNETTE, Bob is a baby photographer mistaken for the private eye who occupies the office next door. Soon entangled with bad guys...





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Air TV, Volume 2

One of the best animes of all time.
Title: Air - DVD 2 + Artbox
Volume: DVD 2 / 4
Running time: 100
The search for the winged girl behind the sky continues. As Yukito's relationship with Misuzu grows, new complications surface. Whereas Misuzu yearns for a companion closer than ever before, Yukito is forced to choose between what the heart wants and what the heart needs.

Meanwhile, the strain on Minagi's life at home is bought to light. She lives with her mother, yet remains alone. Only great loss may bring the two of them together. Also, a glimpse of the past answers the queries of the present - but with it, new questions arise; deeper, darker and more dangerous.

This edition includes a collectors' art box large sized to hold the entire series.

Contains episodes 5-8.

DVD Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation, Previews.

Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.

THE WINGED GIRL
Yukito's quest for the winged girl beyond the clouds takes second priority as the girls around him face large problems that could threaten their lives. Misuzu is getting weaker and weaker as her dreams increase in frequency and intensity. He gets angry with Misuzu's mother for being insensitive about her daughter's plight. But then he remembers that his mother told him about a girl that suffered like Misuzu before she passed away. She had the same kind of dreams and a bizarre and frightening condition. The closer the girl becomes to people, the sicker she became. Eventually, she died. Ironically, Yukito comes to believe that his proximity and emotional ties to Misuzu are the very things that are endangering her life! Meanwhile, there's something weird going on between the quiet and introverted Minagi and her best and only friend, the crazy Yukito-bashing Michuru. When Yukito walks Minagi home, he is shocked when Minagi's mom calls her by the name of Michuru which leads to the...

A Tear Jerker, but Still Good
Not as funny as the first volume (the anime two of the main characters were watching where two orchastra conductors are fighting was about the funniest scene) this was still great. The tales in these volume were quite sad, bringing a tear to my eye, but I still loved them.

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My Bad Dad

If you have kids...watch this film!
The movie is homemade and that's it's charm. It's a light comedy about the redemption of a bad man through his kids. The kids performances are natural and entertaining. All the music is original. After watching it, you'll want to kiss your kids, or hug your dad.





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Wyatt Earp [HD DVD]

Flawed but impressive epic western comes to DVD
Larger than life and with twice as many brothers, "Wyatt Earp" struts onto the DVD scene in a "Special Edition" that looks stunning but is less filling than one might have expected. This sprawling episodic tale begins with Wyatt as a child preparing to run away from home and join the Union army like his brothers Virgil and James. His father (Gene Hackman in a brief but powerful performance)catches him as he leaves and returns him back home. While Wyatt clearly yearns from the adventure he feels his brothers are experiencing, his father knows the truth about war and sets him straight.

Later, James and Virgil return home both exhausted and beat up from serving in the army. Their father has put on his traveling shoes and announces that the family will be moving West where there's opportunity for a lawyer and rich land is ready to be farmed.

Wyatt after many trials and tribulations ends up out west as a lawman. He manages to interest his brothers in coming out to...

Wyatt Earp was a Man
A lot of people forget that Wyatt Earp was a real man who had more courage and integrity then most people you will ever know. This movie is a pretty accurate portrayl of that man. Kevin Costner and Dennis Quaid (Doc Holliday) do a superb job, although the supporting cast has a lot to be desired. This movie differs from the movie "Tombstone", in that it portrays a lot of Wyatt's life from being a teenager during the Civil War to his and Josie's adventure to the Alaskan gold fields near the turn of the century. "Tombstone" deals primarily with the happenings in Wyatt's life in that one town, which ironically dealt with less than 2 years of his long adventurous life. I liked this film because it dealt with an approximate 35 year time span of Wyatt's life, and the movie is long enough to dipict this. There are a lot of historical accuracies in the movie which include proper representations of places and dialogue such as what is said on the way to and...

Dramatic and Entertaining
Historical inaccuracies aside, this movie was the best I've seen in a long while. Kevin Costner was even colder than usual (as in "For the Love of the Game"), an expressionless look on his face for much of the movie, but anything else would not have done justice to the character. The supporting cast was unremarkable, but Dennis Quaid as Doc Holliday was incredible...in my opinion, he stole the show and deserved much more screen time. While many of the Earp brothers (excluding Wyatt, of course) were faceless and often difficult if not impossible to tell apart, Quaid captured Doc Holliday's character in every action--speaking, riding, making one of those cynical and hilarious one-liners (Like when Wyatt confides in Doc that he is his closest friend, and Holliday replies, after a long silence, "Shut up," or when he comments that Wyatt wants to be a lawman and an outlaw, getting "the best of both worlds."). It took me a considerable amount of time, at least an hour, to finally believe...

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An American Messiah (The Proper Care & Feeding of)

Excellent satire that's fun for everyone
I first saw this mockumentary at a film festival, and I was happy to buy a copy as soon as it became available here. It's one of the few films that I've seen at festivals that's actually worth spending money in order to own a copy of. While the acting and technical work are perfect for the genre, this film is really made brilliant by the writing. The basic idea is very original, and it lends itself to scenes which poke fun of people and institutions which set themselves up as "gods." Although the character of Brian is caustic at times, the spirit of the humor remains gentle. Although this is clearly religious satire, don't expect something that bashes religion or God. It's the kind of satire that can be enjoyed regardless of whether you're coming at it from a religious or non-religious perspective. You hear a lot about "indie gems" that come from film festivals instead of major studios. This is one of the very rare movies that lives up to that phrase. It's easily worth owning a copy...

Hilarious Mocumentary
This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen; generally I don't like comedies but this one was just really great. It's about a not-too-bright guy named Brian who thinks he's a messiah. Not the Messiah, but a messiah, who is to help the people who live within a 100-mile radius of him. He feels that the biggest problem besetting humankind is indigestive problems and the solution is "Aunt Acid" pills. His special powers, proving he is supernatural, include things such as growing facial hair at an extremely slow rate so that he only needs to shave every four days. And the miracles he performs include "The Miracle of the Fruit" in which, when his brother tosses plums to him from a distance of 10 yards, he can catch them in his teeth--that is about one out of thirty. The main plot of the film involves an attempt to raise money to rent a hall at the local civic center where Brian intends to proclaim to the world--or at least the local area he is responsible for--that he is their...



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The TV Set

Tension-free satire (but the commentary is good)
This is an airless, somewhat smug, fatally mild-mannered satire about the production process behind a doomed television drama. Duchovny plays a writer/producer whose autobiographical show is, bit by bit, compromised by Weaver's executive -- the casting, the tone, the plot and even the title are all eventually distorted by a suit who takes demographic readings from her teenage daughter.

This war between artistry and commerce isn't exactly breaking news, and in fact it was already tackled years ago by the smarter, funnier "The Big Picture."

"The TV Set" is pitched too loose. Though he has plenty of opportunities, Duchovny's character never really articulates any kind of vision, and the film loses a lot of tension because the story he wants to tell really doesn't look much better than the compromised version. Even when the final version of the show appears, he seems more angry over its implied failure than he does over the loss of his vision.

Ioan...

I'M PART OF THE PROBLEM
Mike Klein (David Duchovny) has written a sit-com based on his own life. He claims to have artistic integrity and doesn't want to be "part of the problem" with the substandard shows on TV. Once it looks like his show is going to be picked up, the network wants to make changes to his story. Mike is torn between his artistic integrity and his real life pregnant wife. Sigourney Weaver gives us another good performance as an alpha female and Ioan Gruffudd does a pretty good British guy in spite of a lackluster script.

The pilot they are attempting to get picked up is pretty bad. It is not funny yet people laugh at it as if it was. The film dwells on a scene until ad nauseum. There are scenes that look like they might explode and go somewhere, by then die as if they never happened. Perhaps that was the intent, but it wasn't entertaining. 2 1/2 stars. Mildly amusing.

PARENTAL GUIDE: F-bomb, no sex, no nudity.

What can I say? Good but not great -- a rental
What to spend a couple of hours in the depths of the LA TV show development process (and its attendant dramas?). Well then TV Set might just be for you.

Engaging performances from Sigourney Weaver (whose father was a network exec so the role must have been interesting) and David Duchovny (as the put upon writer producer); genuine feeling of the real process; but at the end of the day this story is just not a big story and the characters aren't that memorable. It just does not capture the most important moment in anyone's life or provide any insights into them or our culture that are particularly profound. So it winds up being a middling sort of entertainment. Funny, but not super funny; kind of dramatic without being really moving. Insightful, but not in a super profound or memorable way. Sigourney Weaver is kind of like a slightly less amazing version of Faye Dunaway in Network.

Kasdan's Orange County was definitely better.

If you like this you...

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Dawn of the Dead / George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (Unrated 2-Movie Collection)

This set was created to take advantage of innocent zombie fans
The product combines the REMAKE of Dawn of the Dead with the Romero ORIGINAL Land of the Dead. Chances are, you love one and hate the other. Add the fact that you can buy (the same versions of) both movies for less, and there is no good reason for this product to exist--other than to trick people.

For example, the video preview on the product page (as I write) is of the original Dawn of the Dead, which is NOT a part of this set. It's disgusting deceptive marketing. The producers of this product must believe their customers are brain dead!

If you don't read the package carefully and know which versions you are getting, you will be disappointed. The movies individually would rate more stars, but the set should receive less than zero stars. In fact, if you're a purist, you'll recognize that this set represents what Romero was mocking in the original Dawn of the Dead!

Don't soil your shoes by stepping in this thick irony.

3 1/2 stars-Romero's entry is,of course,the best,but the other?
This Universal two pack,on two single discs,features Dawn of the Dead(released Mar/04)and Land of the Dead(released June/05),both in their director cuts.It doesn't mean they are any better,just a little longer.Both films were shot in and around Toronto,with the first having a majority of its cast from Canada.The second uses mostly Canadian supporting players while the films leads are mostly Americans.
Dawn of the Dead finds Sarah Polley as the lead character,playing a nurse who comes home from a hard day at the hospital.The next morning the world has turned upside down as many of the populace have become walking zombies and she must flee for her life.She ends up in an accident in transit but meets up with policeman Ving Rhames.Together they follow some other folks to the local mall.They are only safe for a little while on the main floor and eventually are forced to make their way up to the second level.There some security guards have already taken control,and it takes some time...

great price!!
i got both of these movies at a great price it was a no brainer! i had wanted them for a year since my ex took them on the split.....

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5 Girls

how OUR half lives
This work gave me a flashback. In 2000, a series called "American High" came on. The channel showing it quickly dropped it due to low viewership. The thing is: it gave no insight into Columbine, the year before. It showed that high school is just as normal and mundane as one remembers. "Boston Public" showed the edgy stuff that older people wouldn't know, but "American High" was same old-same old. So is "5 Girls."
"5 Girls" shows 5 girls from the middle-class, with mostly two parents, and attending great schools. They all have everyday non-shocking issues and they all go on to great colleges and then pursue respectable careers. If you are middle-class, you won't need to see this because you've seen your daughter go through it or you've seen countless other successful girls like these. There's nothing exceptional here. If the Brady daughter or the Cosby daughters were real people, they'd be like the girls in this documentary. This show the privileged and not the...

ars
Adolescence is an extremely complicated time, and there are few other movies that capture the nuances as perfectly as this documentary does. The film follows powerful young girls who take control of their situation and learn how to turn negatives into positives. It is a very REAL portrayal of youth, one without exaggeration, but touching nonetheless.



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Bug (Special Edition)

A shattering of the soul
First off, totally exterminate any preconceived notions of the extreme horror you might be accustomed to. Bug is more of an alarming psychological journey into the human mind, an intense exploration of a broken soul. It's closer to the films Beautiful Mind and Conspiracy Theory than something like Aliens or The Fly. Director William Freidkin opens the crazy door and dares you to step inside.

The acting and character development in this movie is outstanding. Ashley Judd gives the performance of her lifetime as Agnes, an emotionally battered waitress who is hanging on by a thread. She has a trainwreck of a past, from her abusive ex-husband to her missing child.

She meets a mysterious loner named Peter, and he might offer a hand toward gaining some mental stability. Or he might push them both over the edge. We quickly realize it's most likely the latter, as this romance doesn't take long to unravel. Peter is a war veteran, and claims to be the victim of some...

Know The Difference Between Horror and Psychological Thriller? No? Watch This Film and Learn...
***CONTAINS SPOILERS***

Based directly on the stage play by the same name, BUG will most certainly get under your skin. Although thriller in nature, horror fans should be warned that there are no supernatural or superhuman elements in the story. Looking at the DVD cover, one gets the impression that it might be a spin-off of something along the lines of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, but Bug couldn't be further from it. No mutant grasshoppers. No aligning of planets that results in bloodthirsty arachnids.

Stage play actor Michael Shannon reprises his role on the silver screen as drifter Peter who falls for lonely waitress Agnes played by Ashley Judd. Agnes is damaged goods to begin with; a woman who's lost her only child to a kidnapping and drowns herself in liquor and cocaine. And when she meets Peter, she believes she may have found someone to connect with other than her abusive ex-husband...

"Bug" will get under your skin.
William Friedkin returns with a vengeance in this highly disturbing tale of mental illness, self-mutilation, depravity, and isolation.

The story is deceptively simple in that Ashley Judd, who still looks beautiful no matter how sickly she's made up, plays an isolated, abused and tortured woman who has a history for making awful decisions and eventually makes one too many when she hooks up with a paranoid stranger who is at first shy, tender, and compassionate, but quickly becomes as domineering as Judd's criminal ex-husband who is very well played by Harry Connick, Jr. As I said, this is a deceptively simple tale, because nothing is as it seems in this incredibly violent and disturbing film.

Things very quickly spiral out of control with both Judd's character and the mysterious stranger believing that the government has arranged their relationship in order to produce some super bugs. This, ironically, appeals to Judd's character who has been seeking, in her own...

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Tekkon Kinkreet

One of the best anime films I`ve seen in years.
This is the film adaptation of what might be the best graphic novel I`ve ever read. There are no words to describe how much I love the original comic book so I attended the North American premiere of Tekkon Kinkreet at the Moma in NY with high expectations.
Not only did the movie not fail to meet them but in fact added exciting and unexpected layers to the story. I am an animator; I`m rarely satisfied with the technical aspects of most animated features but the production on Tekkon is flawless. The animation, character design, backgrounds and camera work are all top notch. The two main characters are rendered in all their complexity and the movie doesn't shy away from the deep implications that the original story holds within its pages.
The movie is faithful to the comic book and the storyline is basically the same. However, Michael Arias and studio 4C were sometimes inventive, albeit in appropriate and creative ways. The new uniforms of the three warriors that Snake sends...

A True Anime
If you like Akira (Special Edition) or Ghost in the Shell, and thought they were true masterpieces despite their ambiguous style of storytelling, then you'll love Tekkon Kinkreet. It's as true an anime as there ever was: it follows its own style of storytelling, it has interesting, even endearing characters, and the art is just beautiful. It sits comfortably next to some of the best anime ever to come to the States.

Tekkon Kinkreet follows two young boys, known around the city as the Cats, but to each other they are Black and White. Black is a brooding, violent youngster with a gift for taking pain and dishing it out. White is, simply, special; he's empathic, enjoys life, and has a deep sense of when things aren't right. He also seems to be magically gifted. That gift, however, has left White an innocent boy, incapable of growing up...

Beautiful Film with a Thought Provoking Story
I was not familiar with the story behind this anime before watching it, but now I want to locate the manga and delve even more into the story because the world of Tekkon Kinkreet is amazing.

The animators used a combination of digital and hand drawn art to create this wonderful anime. I won't do a plot summary, but the story is engaging. There are portions of the film that are quite slow, but why the story at these parts may be developing there is still so much visually to look at.

This is a beautiful film with a great story. The extras are worth a watch and some are subtitled for those of us who only understand words like "Thank you" in Japanese.

Well worth a view for anyone who is a fan of more thinking anime such as the Ghibli films and Akira. I would caution parents as there are some mature themes dealing with violence and the reality of good and evil. I would suggest for about 14 and above.

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Two Weeks

Sally's Field Day as a Dying Mother Surrounded by Shallow Characters and Forced Humor
The humor is way too forced, superficial and well-trodden to add the well-intentioned black comedy elements this otherwise bittersweet soap opera needs, but this 2007 film offers a vanity-free Sally Field giving a powerhouse performance as Anita Bergman, the dying mother of four grown children. The movie's title refers to the amount of time her character is expected to live before succumbing to ovarian cancer. With the clock ticking, the four children gather at her North Carolina home from different parts of the country and respond differently to the imminent tragedy. Directed and written by Steve Stockman as a series of vignettes, the characterizations represent different archetypes, and the actors are left to flesh them out to some human dimension. The results of their efforts are variable.

Affecting an unrecognizable American accent, Ben Chaplin fares the poorest as eldest brother Keith, an LA-based filmmaker whose sarcastic jokes are meant to shield him from feelings of...

A suprisingly good balance of comedy and drama.
This genre tends to be hit or miss in that it's very hard to create a credible drama with humorous elements. This one nails it quite well.

Recent endeavors into this genre have left me feeling very suspicious of them and the disastrous Running With Scissors pretty much nailed the coffin shut for me. Earlier tries that I can recall that were quite good were Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias. This film, Two Weeks, like the two previous mentioned films, deals with family relations and death and to my surprise handled both with great insight and realism that is laced with gallows-like humor.

The story about a dying mother, excellently portrayed by the ever reliable and incredibly youthful Sally Field, who is predominately cared for by her...

Death as an Exodus and an Epiphany
TWO WEEKS may put a lot of viewers off as it deals confrontationally with the issues of death and dying and yet finds the very human humor that always serves as a relief sidebar in stories (and life incidents) such as this. Steve Stockman wrote, directed and produced this little film and his inspiration and efforts are well served by a fine ensemble cast. It is a story about dying and the effects the finality of that event have on a family that has dispersed in different directions life.

Anita Bergman (a phenomenally effective Sally Field) is under hospice care as she faces her last days of dying from gastrointestinal cancer. Knowing that she has little time left she calls upon her four children to return home to North Carolina for goodbyes. Her children are a mixed lot: Keith (Ben Chaplin) is a Zen-influenced California man who has decided to video his mother for posterity; Barry (Thomas Cavanagh) is a workaholic who attempts to piece together time for this inconvenient...

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Severance

Awesome British Slasher!!!
I checked this one out not expecting much & was shocked to have loved it by the end of the movie. This is a true "slasher" (although there's more to it than just a scary monster guy running around in the woods hacking up teens)flick in every sense of the word. Now the box's cover art claims this to be a comedy/horror flick in the same line as "The Office", & "Shaun Of The Dead". Maybe I missed something, but I didn't get that. While the movie does have it's moments, it's more amusing, than it is just straight out comedy. You'll get some definate chuckles, but I doubt very seriously the film was intended to be strictly just a comedy. The blood & gore is definately there & done very well, & you really get a sense of danger by the end of the movie. The movie is actually really brutal too, which I always like to see; alot of the violence is kinda believable.

A brief synopses(as not to spoil the movie) is you've got a group of people going out on a company retreat...

We will meet again
I just watched this movie yesterday and I was blown away. From the opening sequences you are shocked yet intrigued, just what the hell is going on here. The story steps back and unfolds. The characters, even the a-holes are believable and lovable, and utterly hilarious. It is the perfect blend of horror and comedy. This is not Shaun of the Dead, this is a very dark and bloody tale that is full of gut busting funny moments. I absolutely loved it. A closer film in feel to me would be Feast.

Nothing Builds Motivation like Murder
Not only does this flick have the wit of "The Office"
it also has the gore of "Turistas".
Not a bad combo at all, if you ask me.
Here's the premise:
A group of office employees(all of which are great characters), on a retreat, happen upon the wrong cabin.
And by wrong, I mean, home of a psychopath.
So what naturally starts out as whole-hearted laughs, quickly distorts into blood-curdling screams.

Needless to say,
I am so glad I stumbled upon this gem of a horror/comedy.
So freakin' glad.
I found it infinitely more hilarious than Shaun of the Dead AND Black Sheep.
In fact I found it funnier than practically every horror/comedy I've ever seen.
Very highly recommended.
(Especially to those who like to laugh & cringe)
One of the most lovable characters in the picture is trippin' out on mushrooms the entire film. =D
And during this one particular scene,
he sees himself standing in the threshold across the...

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Saturday Night Fever (30th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition)

Blu-ray: Over 30 years old and the presentation is absolutely magnificent! Also, new features for this release!
"SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER"...the iconic disco film from 1977 that defined a decade full of polyester, hairspray and most of all, disco dancing. Also, a film that would catapult actor John Travolta (previously known for his role on the TV series "Welcome Back, Kotter") into one of the top actors of all time.

The film was based on a New York Magazine article from 1977 titled "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night" written by Nik Cohn (who admitted fabricating the whole story after twenty years later) and was written by Norman Wexler and directed by John Badham ("War Games", "Short Circuit", "Blue Thunder").

Featuring classic disco music by the Bee Gees (the soundtrack is recognized as the top selling movie soundtrack of all time) and popular disco tracks of that time, the film helped popularize the disco movement.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER" looks incredible on Blu-ray. The film is presented in 1080p High Definition and I compared the...

Still Flaming Hot
Unfairly dismissed by many viewers today as a relic of the disco era, "Saturday Night Fever" should more properly be remembered as the classic coming-of-age tale in which John Travolta exploded onto the big screen. The actor's character, Tony Manero, is a nineteen-year-old Italian-American still living with his family in Brooklyn who is stuck in a dead-end job and hanging around with a group of old friends who (like himself) have no real hopes or ambitions for the future. Manero's only true talent - and his escape from the world around him - is his prowess on the dance floor. It's a tricky role - the outwardly racist, sexist, homophobic, immature Manero is not the most sympathetic of characters - but Travolta imbues him with a aura of underlying decency and vulnerability that causes the audience to identify with him and ultimately, cheer for him. It's truly a knockout performance ... one that deservedly netted Travolta an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and won him the top male...

A Period Piece
"Saturday Night Fever" started out as a low budget film by legendary John Badham and ended up being an unforgettable period piece nominated for Oscars and selling more soundtrack albums in history. A tale of a paint shop guy who blows his money on the weekends to become a local legend on the disco floor, John Travolta nailed the role dead on. Although gritty with language and scenes that some might consider offensive, it is a true life tale of the mid seventies in New York City. Some call it the revival of the movie musical, but it's much more than that. Ultimately a story of one man's growth into adulthood through misled love and the confusion of youth, this freinds and family story rings true to the bone. Fueled with the dance beat of that generation and climaxed with the writing and singing skills of the Bee Gees, this movie is a classic representation of the times.

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Kathy Smith: Great Buns and Thighs Step Workout

Another fantastic step workout!
I love Kathy Smith's workouts and this is one of her best. It is a re-release in DVD form of one of her VHS released in the 1990's. The DVD breaks down like this:

- A 9 minute warmup
- Segment 1: 16 minutes of step aerobics
- Segment 2: 10 minutes of step aerobics focusing on the butt and thighs mixed with a standing-routine strength moves
- Segment 3: 10 minutes on the floor of strengthening your butt, inner and outer thighs and leg muscles.
- A 5 minute cool-down.

This is my second favourite stepping DVD (just behind the Kathy Smith step workout that I also reviewed). This one is slightly easier than her other step DVD but a fantastic workout for the lower body. You warmup and spend 16 minutes stepping and then another 10 minutes with a raised heart-rate doing more stepping / strength moves before you continue to floor exercises.

The one really nice aspect about this DVD is that it is not hard to follow. She leads you through...

Good workout, easy to follow
I had this workout when it was only in VCR, and I wanted it again now... it is a good workout, really easy to follow, and it really works you out. You can do beginner and skip the hard segment and still sweat, and then when you are ready, you can start doing all segments and let me tell you, my buns and thighs really did get nice and firm the last time I did this regularly... so that is why I got it again... I got soft and now I need to firm it back up. Kathy is very good.

Great workout
This workout really works. It is easy to follow and learn the steps, and by the end of the routine you can feel it.

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We Are Marshall (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD)

Yes, We are Marshall!!
I have lived in Huntington, WV almost my entire life and attended Marshall University. I was a small child when the plane crashed in 1970. I remember, first hand, what our town and community went through after the tragic loss of so many lives. When I first heard that the movie was going to be made, I was both thrilled and trepidatious. Could a big time Hollywood movie capture the real event with integrity, honesty and respect? The answer is a resounding Yes!

McG, McConaughey, Fox and the rest of the cast and crew treated our story with all of that and more. The movie is historically accurate, (thanks to a great script by Jamie Linden) the acting is excellent, the soundtrack is fabulous, and McG - thank you for filming a good portion of this movie in Huntington!

This movie was not only "necessary" but a story that applies to so many other "rise from the ashes" events in our world today. I know it would seem easy for me to love this movie because I lived it,...

True Story of America's Greatest Sports Tragedy
On November 14, 1970, an airplane carrying the Marshall University football team, coaches, and many prominent supporters crashed with all aboard killed. This movie portrays what happened to those left behind and how they rose from the ashes of this disaster and resurrected the football team.

Since everyone knows what is in store, the first part of the movie is especially poignant as you meet the players and know their lives are destined to end far too early. What a typical moviegoer might not be familiar with is the character of Jack Lengyel, a man who was the only one willing to come forward and try to salvage the football program. Matthew McMcConaughey gives a stirring performance as Coach Lengyel as does Matthew Fox as Red Dawson, the assistant coach who gives up his seat at the last minute to another person. The guilt of being a survivor eats at him and nearly destroys his life.

Emotional, uplifting, and enjoyable....this movie manages to honor those who...

Stunning, simplistic, rewarding!
I remember clearly, as a high school junior, the shock and loss that the crash of the aircraft carrying the Marshall University football team invested on a nation. The town, the college, and those left behind must have suffered so. It has taken 25 years to portray that loss on film, and the December film, "We Are Marshall", while not living up to its promise as one of the years "awardable" movies, was nevertheless a moving film experience.

The film deals briefly with the events leading up to the crash, and then in depth with the different ways that those affiliated with the school grieve and start over again. Star athlete Nate Ruffin (Anthony Mackie) is stunned at the fact that he wasn't on the plane, due to injury, and that his legacy is to pick up where the team left off and start over again. His faith in that new start never waivers. Unlike Ruffin, the school's administration and its president Donald Dedmon (the always excellent David Strathairn)
are more realistic...

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Laura Smiles

mesmerizing glimpse into the heart of a troubled soul
****1/2

*SPOILERS*

Written and directed by Jason Ruscio, the ironically titled "Laura Smiles" is a profound and provocative exploration of how we cope with tragedy and loss in our lives. As the movie opens, Laura is a 25-year-old aspiring actress who appears headed for a bright and happy future, thanks to a career that seems to be on the point of taking off and her recent engagement to a man who loves her. All that changes in an instant, however, when her fiance is run over and killed by a motorist on a busy Manhattan thoroughfare. Flash forward nine years to find Laura comfortably ensconced in a middle class suburban home with a devoted husband and a loving young son. The trouble is that Laura wanders through life like a shell-shocked zombie, emotionally cut off from the people around her. Could it be the effect of that traumatizing event in the past, or is there something deeper and more endemic to her personality that keeps Laura from finding fulfillment...

"You ever think about keeping a journal?"
I rented Laura Smiles because Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, a favorite critic of mine described it as "the movie Little Children wanted to be." Laura Smiles shares its focus with Little Children on suburban malaise, on characters who find release in an affair, who are desperate to shake the skin of civility and propriety. I think that critic was trying to say that Laura Smiles allows you to glimpse the tender, hopeful Laura (Petra Wright) who exists simultaneously, if in the past, with the Laura we see present day, married and bored in the suburbs - that where Little Children assumed a tenderness and possibility within its characters, Laura Smiles does its best to prove and make you feel like the character now is a product of her past. However, I respect Owen Gleiberman more than I respect the movie - Little Children used its suburban desperation to create something rather life affirming. Laura Smiles attempts more authenticity (although, Little Children was plenty...

Quite slight
Some nonsense about how a woman falls apart later in life after experiencing flashbacks to the death of her fiance nine years earlier. Laura goes a bit nuts, sleeps with a neighbor and the market bag boy, then comes apart in her shrink's office at the end. What is the point here? Still, there's something entertaining enough to carry this through.

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Blade - House of Chthon

Enjoyable Escapism
Blade: the Series is currently playing on HDNet. I watched the first three episodes and was totally hooked. I downloaded the rest of the episodes from iTunes and watched them all over the space of about a week. I regret having missed the show when it was running on Spike. I think the show's creators did a really good job of translating the movies to television, and the show itself was a little more adult than most basic cable fare.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I think the production values and acting in the show were just fine. While I initially had some problems adjusting to Kirk Jones as Blade, I think he improved a lot as the season wore on and was good at conveying Blade's reluctant caring and his gruff exterior. I was especially impressed with Jill Wagner, who plays Kirsta Starr, Blade's spy in the House of Chthon. Wagner was equally convincing wearing a evening gown or kicking butt in blue jeans and a t-shirt. In the first half of the two-hour pilot episode,...

Blade on TV did work...
..yet not enough! Blade the TV Series was actually pretty good. Now, I'm not a geek enough to look past bad production values for shows I really want to like. But to be honest, Blade wasn't all that bad! At times, it was really good! Sure, it wasn't the movies. But if you went into the TV show thinking that it was going to be the movies, then you deserve whatever disappointment you got. What Blade the TV Series did was take the world created in the movies and go into further details. The whole warring factions, the houses, the characters were really good! Sticky was a great Blade. And all the supporting characters were well done!

I liked the show. I was pissed it got canceled. It just needed a little more time and a little TLC. Obviously, Spike TV felt it needed more male viewers.

Enjoyable Series
I happened to catch the Blade marathon on Spike TV and I loved the show. It was fast-paced and I thought it did translate well. It wasn't the gore fest of the movies, but it was slick and adult. I was saddened to see the show go away, so I hope this signals a return of some sort. I still think Spike TV gave up on the show too quick.

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A Dog's Breakfast

Be ready to giggle
You will be giggling through this whole movie.

David Hewlett has managed to create a film that evokes all the fun about the "old-fashioned" dark comedy. Think "Arsenic and Old Lace" or "A Fish Called Wanda" with a little Peter Sellers and some Fawlty Towers thrown in.

It's a wonderful, family-friendly film about a rather dysfunctional guy who can't even manage to do murder correctly. (The "violence" is all implied, in case you're squeamish like I am.) It not only features a great performance from David himself, but you also throw in his real-life sister Kate Hewlett and his friend Paul McGillion and you get a whole lot of fun. (Look for David's dog Mars to steal several scenes while in the foreground and background.)

You might recognize all of these actors (and much of the listed crew) from the TV shows Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG-1. If you're a fan of these shows, you'll really enjoy seeing everyone in a very different role. If you're not a...

Remar-Kibble!
Being one of the lucky few to see this film at the time of writing, I am excited for everyone who hasn't seen this. I'm happy that at last that you will be able to see this at home soon.

I can safely say that this film surpassed even my expectations (unsurprisingly high) and it did not disappoint. Given that this is David Hewlett's directing debut (no doubt under the watchful gaze of long time Yoda and chum, Vincenzo Natali among others)Hewlett exhibits a creative flair that marks this film out as distinctively his own. Natali et al were not the crutch for this project that I had feared. Newbie Hewlett seems to have successfully navigated what was probably a m

Closure

Flawed.....but definitely better than two stars
I disagree with the opinions of many of the reviewers of this movie; it is better than their two-star rating would imply. Yes, there are weaknesses: background on the characters, particularly the character played by Gillian Anderson and the two most agressive attackers, was sorely lacking. The ability to travel miles through the forest on foot in mere seconds stretched credibility, and personality reversals seemed to occur frequently and with indistinct motivation. Was the daughter actually being molested by her father's associates, or was it merely a possibility? What's up with the abrupt ending? etc...etc...

Despite the shortcomings, many scenes and situations were quite engaging. Anderson's character radiated an intense sexuality and her casual seduction of the security system tech was quite credible. I doubt that the "relationship" would have lasted long without the brutal interlude on their way home from the party, but once forced together by their shared horror and...

Gripping, disturbing and thought-provoking
Gillian Anderson is becoming more beautiful and interesting as she gets older. The round-faced freshess of her X-Files days is gone, replaced by a sleek steeliness. And in this film she's 180-degrees different from her X-Files character, and for us that's a very good thing, because we see a performance that's tough--aggressive, even--unnerving (and that's even before she and her date are viciously attacked), and yet still vulnerable. Much is communicated through facial expressions and body language, not dialog. Danny Dyer's Adam is a perfect foil to her toughness, being basically a big kid at 23 with a low-paying job and a general innocence and decency that he holds onto through most of the film. The circumstances presented in the film are really just opportunities to explore the characters, as they both deal with the aftermath of brutality in different ways, shifting toward and away from each other, phasing between power and powerlessness, outrage and fear, conscience and...

Very Bizarre but Entertaining
Gillian Anderson has gone so underground after leaving the series The X-Files,when she does appear in a movie,it ends up being like a surprise.
The last movie she co-starred in was The Last King Of Scotland even if it was small part it was good to see that she is still acting.

Closure which probably opened in the UK but went straight to DVD in the states isn't a bad movie.It's brutal,sexual,masturbation,violent rape scene (not as much as the cult classic "I Spit On Your Grave")and focuses on one woman's quest for revenge and her male (boy toy) going from a scared weakling and finding himself.

This movie is borderline X-rated,so it's not a family movie or even along the lines of Death Wish or The Brave One.It's very sadistic,you don't get to bond with the characters and I don't think you would want to.

The ending will sure enough be a big surprise.

If you looking for a Death Wish than this in NOT the movie for you,better movie in this...

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Vol. 1-Being An Individual

No Closed Caption for the Hearing Impaired
The Volumes 1 and 2 are colorful, fun, with meaningful stories and my son loves them. The reason I gave this 3 stars is that with all the attention to appreciating differences, episodes on sign language, and so on, I found it ironic that the DVD itself is not closed captioned for the hearing impaired (such as myself). I also like to turn on the closed captions on movies because it helps my son with word recognition and with reading.

Great DVD!
We LOVE Todd Parr in our house! We bought this for our 2 1/2 year old son & he loves it. Our 8 year old enjoys it as well.

loves it
My 3 1/2 year old loves this show. What a unique group of characters with a lot of lessons to be learned! Highly recommended!

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Superman: Doomsday

When a Superman dies...
The first in a line of straight to DVD animated features adapted from classic DC stories, Superman: Doomsday re-tells the much maligned Death of Superman saga from the early 90's in animated form, and despite what many of the negative reviews here say otherwise, it works. The Man of Steel (voiced by Serenity's Adam Baldwin) is in love with Lois Lane (voiced quite stiffly by Anne Heche) and both are enjoying their relationship, until his world is rocked by the arrival of the murderous creature Doomsday, who is inadvertantly let loose by Lex Luthor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James "Spike" Marsters). If you've read the comics, you know what happens next, but the animated feature wisely ignores the Reign of the Supermen part of the arc, in place of an imposter created by Luthor, which results in an apocalyptic showdown. Being the first in a line of newly animated features, don't go into this expecting something among the lines of the DC animated series' that had come before it. The...

Good, but could have been great
There's good stuff to recommend in this DVD, but there are some awfully big caveats I feel one should know before buying:

1.) Straight-to-video titles rarely have the production values of theatrical animated releases, so know going in that the animation is no great shakes - a notch above the latest Superman and Justice League shows on Kids WB!, but not a huge step up by any means. There are some inspired moments of animation, but they are few and far between.

2.) Don't be taken in by the "PG-13" rating. I suppose slapping "PG-13" on it works to WB/DC's advantage, suggesting the movie is a "hard" Superman story that attracts the fanboys. But while it does contain some language, violence and themes that you'd never see on the Animated Series on TV, in relation to what you see in theatrical films, this is squarely "PG" all the way.

3.) There is no way they could cram in everything from the Death/Rebirth of Superman storylines into a 90-minute film...

Not bad, but not what I remember...
I read the book/graphic novel over ten years ago, if I remember. This isn't much like that at all. Superman fights something called Doomsday and dies, then comes back to life. That's about all that remains of the original story.
Gone are the side stories about Superboy and Steel, which were very cool IMHO. Gone also is the interesting story about how Superman came back to life. The mechanics behind how he does so in this DVD are completely different, from what I recall.
Not bad for a fun hour's watching, but don't expect this to be like the original story.
I wish they'd have made the movie of it like they'd planned :(

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Gracie

Solid plotting in a genuine story of reality and triumph
The fact that this quiet yet beautiful gem of a film was released on the same weekend as the summer blockbuster "Knocked Up" may give some indication as to why it came and went relatively quickly in the theaters. Still, if you saw the previews for this and/or went to see it when it came out, chances are you agree that it was an impressively well-told story of courage, redemption, and the realization that life simply is never perfect, regardless of how much effort is put forth.

Contemporary sport films have become a distinctive genre that is all their own, and simply seeing the poster for this film may instantly suggest something about defying the odds, standing up against adversity, and meeting with huge successes that are the result of hard work. Isn't that, after all, the general formula of many of the inspirational sports movies that are out there?

However, while "Gracie" emphasizes all those things and efficiently plays out those typical messages, there is...

"I AM TOUGH ENOUGH!"
Synopsis: After the tragic death of her older brother fifteen-year old Gracie (Carly Schroeder) decides she wants to make the boys high school soccer team as he had. With the town, the team and even her own family against the idea of a girl playing on a boys team she finally convinces them all of her passion and fire to compete and gets her chance to show everyone what she's capable of.

Critique: The '07 release 'Gracie' is one of those feel good sports movies about an underdog triumphing over seemingly insurmountable odds to win the day on and off the field of play. Reminiscent of a Disney or Hallmark production the film follows a tried and proven formula that we've all seen many times. However it's quite well done, Carly Schroeder delivers an engaging performance and the contemporary soundtrack is infectious. All and all 'Gracie' is a film that will provide positive and enjoyable family entertainment for one and all.

My Rating: -4 Stars-.

Pleasant Underdog Sports Story, but Lackluster and Contrived.
"Gracie" is a young woman who battles social conventions to achieve her dream of playing varsity soccer. Actress Elizabeth Shue and her brother Andrew were inspired by their own competitive, soccer-obsessed family to co-write and produce the film. Elizabeth Shue's husband Davis Guggenheim directs. Many details of family life were taken from or inspired by the Shue family. They put a lot of themselves into this film, which is dedicated to their brother Will Shue. But the storyline itself is fictitious and, I suppose, meant to comment on the personal power of sports and the foolishness of letting others define your limitations.

It's 1978 in South Orange, New Jersey, and the Bowen family is preoccupied with soccer, as always. Bryan Bowen (Dermot Mulroney) was a star player in his youth and has infected his entire family with enthusiasm for the sport. After a family tragedy, teenaged daughter Gracie (Carly Schroeder) pours her grief into training and is determined to play on...

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The Perfect Storm / Three Kings (Double Feature)

Such a deal . . .
Between a movie set in the aftermath of the 1991 Persian Gulf War and one set among fisherman from Massachusetts, there don't seem to be many similarities. But, as the saying goes, the quality is up there on the screen. And this happens to be a particularly good deal for those who would like to acquire both.

Both movies employ George Clooney and his high-wattage movie stardom to good advantage; both have compelling plots; yet neither can be considered a comedy. (THREE KINGS has considerable comic relief, though.) Second leads are handled in PERFECT STORM by Mark Wahlberg, and THREE KINGS by Ice Cube and Wahlberg both. I for one was impressed at the level of acting.

Can a DVD-viewer like one and dislike the other? Sure, anything's possible. But here is a cost-effective way to take a small chance!

Great deal & widescreen as well.......
Just received this from a Amazon seller for 2.00!!! What a deal!! Anyway, this is in widescreen(2.41)with all the extra features that was included on each individual DVD. Perfect Storm is in Dolby Digital EX & Three Kings is in Dolby 5.1. Great price for two movies. Thank you Warners!!

Digital Water / Real Iraqis
I should start by saying that this release is indeed a bargain since you get two full-length widescreen movies on one double-sided DVD disc. In addition, you get tons of extras like special commentaries, behind the scenes featurettes, and more. I encourage movie studios to release more double features like this.

I'm not one for sad endings, and unfortunately THE PERFECT STORM ends on a downer. It's an ambitious movie with fine acting and fabulous special effects, but like The Mist (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), the ending leaves you with an uneasy feeling.

Speaking of special effects, the tremendous storm and powerfully destructive water scenes were masterfully done through digital / computer effects, and it is absolutely impossible to distinguish the real water from the digital water. In short, this is a breathtaking movie (pun not intended).

THREE KINGS is a fast paced,...

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Red Garden, Vol. 1: Live to Kill

Creepy, dark and twisted but in a good way!
What would you do if you were given a second chance at life?

Welcome to the life of four teenagers who are given a new chance at life but things are not as what you may expect.
In October 2006, GONZO's "RED GARDEN" appeared on TV Asahi. The show ended at 22 episodes in March 2007 and now the teen/horror drama will be released in the US in September.

"RED GARDEN" is an anime that takes place in New York and revolves around four teenagers:

Kate Ashley - A member of GRACE, the top students who police the school for students who are late to class and to ensure that all is well at their high school but trying to cope with life after the death of her good friend Lise.

Rachel Benning - The popular girl in school, wearing the most expensive clothes and always partying with her friends.

Claire Forrest - Independent and outspoken. Not a student but works (or tries) to make ends meet.

Rose Sheedy - A shy girl who takes care...

Not A Very Healthy Garden But It Has Potential
Sometimes while I'm watching this series I start to think about how much I want to know exactly what is going on. Don't get me wrong cause this is a decent little series but it has some annoying habits. Red Garden revolves around 4 teenage girls who interact most at their private school located in New York. Of course, all four of these girls are in way different social groups and all have very different attitudes and lives. Kate, Rachel, Rose, and Claire are nowhere near friends but one truly dark night they're forced to come together and fight.

What they have to fight looks to be a zombie but how can 4 high school students defeat a zombie with no weapons? This is when the story hits its mystery and main plot. A man and woman who don't immediately tell their names confront the girls. The two keep roaming around in the shadows and show up every once in a while to annoy them. Now these two don't give too much info in this volume but you can tell that they know more than they...

Surprisingly good!
My husband and I rented this from netflix and yes, at the opening credits we both groaned at the bad song translation. However, we persevered through the first episode, which hinted at more. So we continued to watch, and each episode was better than the last, giving more of the story - which is quite complex and involved! Before we knew it, the afternoon was gone and we had watched the entire first dvd! We both agreed to move the second and third dvd's in this series to the top of our queue, and to look into purchasing this series.
We are both middle-aged professionals with good imaginations and open minds, who love both fiction and non-fiction, as well as good scifi. If you give this series a chance and pay close attention you will be well rewarded with a smart, serious story underneath the silly songs and cosmetic fluff that graces most anime nowadays. Highly recommended!

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