Hell and Back Again [HD]

An Intimate Documentary About Men In Combat, Modern Warfare, And The Road Home
There have been a number of films made about men in combat and/or men returning home from conflict. Any documentary feature about our involvement in recent military events may have the tendency to turn the primary topic to political debate. That's fine as subject matter, but sometimes a more simplistic and candid approach can speak volumes louder than any pointed analysis or commentary. Danfung Dennis' intimate chronicle of one Marine unit's presence in Afghanistan places the focus exactly where it should be--on the soldiers. This is about as realistic a glimpse as you're likely to get at the realities of day to day existence in modern warfare. Photojournalist Danfung was embedded with Echo Company in a 2009 assault on Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan. As such, he was privy to film the everyday struggles pursuing the enemy faction while interacting with the locals. As you might expect, he documents a number of firefights, injuries and even casualties. But he also films...

First Hand Account of the Realities of War
I never leave reviews on anything, But this time I had too. To Hell and Back Again gives you an inside look of what it is Like at War in Combat and the Hardships of Coming Home. I served as a Grunt in the Iraq War and am 27 Years Old. Watching this Documentary was like Watching myself, All Over Again. PTSD and Substance abuse is a Serious Matter and this Video Shows how Real It Is.

Illuminating
It used to be that the camera was considered the enemy of war. The Tet Offense was shown on the network news and has often been cited as the dealbreaker for The Vietnam War. Now it all depends where and how you aim and shoot, but with a video camera and some skillful editing, you can make some intimate and informative war films. Of course today's support for the soldier has increased, but point-of-view has become essential in how one perceives any modern campaign.

Such is the case for 'Hell and Back Again,' an honest portrait of gung-ho soldier Sergeant Nathan Harris, and a film which criss-crosses between serving the end of his third duty in Afghanistan and his homeridden rehabilitation from a wound he received just days before his last duty ended. At first we see him as an able commander, barking at and leading his troops through some harrowing campaigns as we see their counter insurgency increase the pressure on the Taliban.

At home Ashley, his wife, is...

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The Rebound [HD]

Rebound, refreshing and sweet.
Hey-film geek girl here(actually,woman)!! I watch a lot of rom-coms and it is hard to find ones that are really great throughout like this one. I have thought that Justin Bartha(and his gorgeously almost neon blue eyes)was adorable and funny ever since the 1st "National Treasure" movie and Catherine Zeta usually makes great film choices,this is definetely no exception.Also when I stumbled upon this in the new to video part of amazon instant,I didn't notice at first that the director was Bart Fr...Sorry,can't remember at the moment how to spell his last name. I do know that he is married to the beautiful and talented Julianne Moore and that they know about a successful relationship involving a slightly older woman.Sure can relate to liking and lusting after younger men. The chemistry between Sandy,the 40yr old mother of 2 kids that is on the rebound from a cheating,kind of awful husband and Arol(not really sure what his name was),the 25 yr old college grad,that works at a cafe and...

Very sweet romantic comedy--and no nudity!
Forty-year-old Sandy (played by a radiant, 41-year-old Catherine Zeta-Jones, Traffic, Chicago, The Mask of Zorro) has been a stay-at-home mother the past ten years. Her husband is a domineering man whom she's never found the courage to confront. Not even when she discovers he's been cheating on her in her own home. Instead, she simply walks out with her eight-year-old daughter (Kelly Gould) and her six-year-old son (Andrew Cherry), moving from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City into the City itself. Her obsessive hobby of compiling and charting sports statistics lands her a job at a sports broadcasting station, and further good luck leads her to an very nice apartment over a coffee shop where she meets 25-year-old Aram Finklestein (played by then 30-year-old Justin...

Not Your Typical May~December Romance
I found "The Rebound" a delightful Adult Romantic Comedy, written and directed by Bart Freundlich, and not your usual fare. After all, this one stars Catherine Zeta-Jones (Sandy) and Justin Bartha (Aram) as the two leads. You really can't go wrong with these two presenting a younger man and an older woman theme. Sandy's two children, Sadie (Kelly Gould) and Frank (Andrew Cherry) are just adorable and precocious as ever. The R rating is for the themes explored and for some 'bawdy' language making this a romance, with a generous lending of comedy...for grown ups.

This story basically starts with forty-year old married Sandy, on her laptop looking through video clips of Sadie. As she's perusing through her young daughter's accomplishments, she spies in the background her husband being 'unfaithful'. This issue is not explored in detail. We quickly focus on Sandy and the children moving into an apartment in New York City, above a coffee shop. This is where the very sweet...

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Love in Space (English Subtitled) [HD]

Love in Space
The kids (ages 12 and 13) and I were looking for a fun foreign film to watch, and Love in Space didn't disappoint. It was very much like a typical American romantic comedy to me. Pretty "light" but had its moments where I teared up a bit. The kids laughed out loud on several occasions and really enjoyed it. Definitely a movie I'd watch again.





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Today's Special

Charming Indie film
This movie was an unexpected charmer! It's the story of a second generation east Indian sous chef, whose mother keeps trying to arrange a marriage for him. He expects to get a promotion as Executive chef of his own restaurant. But they tell him he doesn't have the passion they're looking for. So he quits, and decides to go to Paris to study under a master. Then his immigrant father, whose ethnic restaurant is failing, has a heart attack. Our disgruntled hero, whose knowledge of the cuisine of his heritage is limited, is forced to ask for help from a cab driver who claims to have superb cooking skills. In the mix is a girl from the restaurant from which he resigned, and the characters who hang out at his father's restaurant. I loved the heart and soul of this movie. I'm a life coach, and there were some very believable and tender moments. Yes, the plot was a bit predictable, but the humanity of the characters and their interrelationships drew me in. If you're tired of some of...

A Lightweight Crowd Pleaser About Food, Family, And Friends
The genial and engaging "Today's Special" may not hold many surprises, but it has an irresistible charm that is guaranteed to ensure its status as a crowd pleasing favorite. It's a gentle and, dare I say, sweet comedy about searching for success but finding contentment instead in the most unlikely of places. At the end of the day, I may have wished the film had taken a road less traveled--but it's all so big-hearted, why bother quibbling? The film celebrates good food, good friends, good family, good times and throws in a bit of romance for good measure. That's a lot of good in this genuinely appealing movie.

Co-writer Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) stars as a jaded New York chef who's looking to take the next big advance in the culinary world. When by-passed for an expected promotion, Mandvi starts to reconfigure his career and plans to take dramatic steps to meet his ambitions. His meddlesome parents don't seem to understand him and, in return, he holds...

Honest Look Into The Mirror
Samir is a self-assured, accomplished and extremely diligent sous chef. His hard work has earned him a position as second-in-command at a high profile eatery. And, having paid his dues the past six years, he expects to be tapped to head his boss' latest expansion restaurant. He's so secure in that knowledge that, when it's announced through a trade publication that a junior chef that he oversees will be given the prestigious position, he is utterly dumbstruck.

Angry, confused and frothing - he demands an explanation. The top chef explains to him that he's competent, efficient, and very much an excellent lieutenant, but he just doesn't have what it takes to be a head chef. The boss hesitates giving him a full and honest critique until he's pushed into a corner and relents. He tells Samir that, in his opinion, he lacks the verve, the passion, and the simple love of cooking.

Stunned and emotionally devastated - he quits. Deciding he needs to make a big move, both...

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Beat the Devil (1954)

I'M A TYPICAL RARE SPIRIT
It was delightful watching this old film, black and white, bad transfer and all.

Four bad guys are on their way to East Africa to secure a deal with uranium mines. Their agent is Billy (Humphrey Bogart) a man who is a "typical rare spirit." His wife is Maria (Gina Lollobrigida). They meet a British couple who are also on their way to Africa. Gina falls for the husband Harry (Edward Underdown) while Harry's wife Gwendolen (Jennifer Jones) falls for Billy. They are stranded in Italy as the boat is in need of repairs and the captain is always full of spirits.

Jennifer Jones steals this film as a fast thinker with an over active imagination who is prone to lying in every situation. The dialouge, in part written by Truman Capote, reflects national stereotypes that translate into today's world as well as clever oxymorons, mispronounced words and misused phrases. It is film in which you want to pay close attention to the words. The bad guys are quite the lot. Peter...





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2-Headed Shark Attack [HD]

Cheesy, Fun Goodness
How can anyone purchase a movie titled "2 Headed Shark Attack" that stars Carmen Electra and Brook Hogan and review it negatively? Seriously, what were you expecting????
Things go wrong quickly for a group of students on a Semester At Sea trip, when their boat, the Sea King hits a shark, damaging the boat. The boat begins to take on water and the group heads for safety on a nearby atoll and are terrorized and devoured by the double headed beast.
Is the acting bad? Yep
Is the dialogue wretched? Uh Huh
Is the shark CG and cheesy looking? Sure Is
Is this movie totally fun? Absolutely

Two Heads Are Better Than One
"2-Headed Shark Attack" is the latest ridiculous sea monster flick from The Asylum. Before you can even get to the film there's an intro from The Asylum bragging how they have done over 100 of these cheesy disaster films so far, and the beauty is that if you've seen one you pretty much know what's going to happen in any of the others: just substitute "two-headed shark" for "giant alligator," "enormous squid," or "subterranean volcano under a metropolis" and you've got it. As the credits unwind to obnoxious college students on a speedboat, creature feature fans may feel the hairs on the back of their neck stand up when they see the director is Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray. With B-movie genetics like this you know it's going to be an entertaining movie for all the wrong reasons. Not that I fault Chris Ray, it's not like anyone was going to make a good movie called "2-Headed Shark Attack" or anything. You know what you're buying when you see the title.

The opening starts the...

of course it's bad. BUT AWESOME.
Look, this isn't winning any awards in any universe, parallel or otherwise. It's craptacular and it has what you expect from the new age of b-movie schlock: bad CGI, bad acting, b-actors, some boobs.

Carmen Electra stretching for most of the film? check. Brook Hogan making her acting coach grimace? check. really awful acting from a well known actor's sibling: double check. CGI is suspect and fabulously cheesy. Some boobs for those that need some T&A. Worth a few bucks for what it is.

If you like this kind of stuff in general, you'll have fun; otherwise, don't bother.

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Styx: The Grand Illusion / Pieces Of Eight - Live

Classic presentation from a definitive classic rock band
As a writer for a guitar magazine, I got just an advance of the two-CD, single DVD (not Blu-Ray) set, ten days before the actual release date. My wife and I caught the show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, four days after the band had videoed and recorded the show at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis for this release.

From a technical sense, this is a masterpiece---filmed in HD w/ 11 cameras, and the accompanying coordinated video that played on the screen while the band is playing live is visible enough to where you can tell that the video production company nailed their assignment in prepping this for the concert
(definitive example: The screen explodes with a "Get up!" graphic when that shout-out line comes along in "Fooling Yourself".

Three of the songs had never been performed in concert before, and the band is in fine form. As for perceived controversies about the lineup, the disproportionate live albums, etc., this is the most stable...

The concert I was imagining in the dark all those years ago
At age 13, one of the first records I ever bought was Styx's "Grand Illusion." When "Pieces of Eight" came out, I scrambled to get it. I remember lying on my back, lights out, headphones on, partaking in their sonic magic.

By the time I began attending concerts (probably just a year later) Styx had already ventured off into "Top 40 Land" and I lost interest. I've seen the band numerous times since they re-grouped in 1990. And while every show has been great, none have fully matched my initial infatuation.

For me, this DVD is pretty close to "the Holy Grail." It's the concert I was imagining in the dark all those years ago.

Anyone familiar with these albums already knows that the set list is nothing less than perfect. In this performance, Styx is musically tight and with a majestic sound, looking healthy and happy. Each musician excels, and the Styx signature harmonies are out in force. Great care has been taken to fine-tune everything, even Styx...

Classic performance by a definitive classic rock band
As a writer for a guitar magazine, I got just an advance of the two-CD, single DVD set, ten days before the actual release date. My wife and I caught the show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, four days after the band had videoed and recorded the show at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis for this release.

From a technical sense, this is a masterpiece---filmed in HD w/ 11 cameras, and the accompanying coordinated video that played on the screen while the band is playing live is visible enough to where you can tell that the video production company nailed their assignment in prepping this for the concert
(definitive example: The screen explodes with a "Get up!" graphic when that shout-out line comes along in "Fooling Yourself".

Three of the songs had never been performed in concert before, and the band is in fine form. As for perceived controversies about the lineup, the disproportionate live albums, etc., this is the most stable lineup the...

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Night Patrol

DVD disappointment
so - finally Night Patrol comes out on DVD and what do they do? They mess up the beginning soundtrack by eliminating the extra commentary going on in the background skit, they give no extras or subtitles, they eliminate the bed scene which is the happy ending of the hero/heroine and most of all, THEY DELETE BLAIR COMPLETELY out of the final bed romp and play her giggles while the motion stop image stays there???? AND, to add insult to injury, they eliminate the Blair part of the credit bloopers - what is going on - if i wanted an edited version, i would have waited for it to come back on tv again - what happened to the integrity of original editions? Yeah,I still luv the movie, but what a big disappointment and with no mention upfront (NO PUN INTENDED!)! but, hey, how would it be if all the naughty parts were cut out of dvd reissues of other movies, like dangerfield's "easy money"? the clean - made - 4 - tv edition has no laugh potential at all when he takes the garbage out back...

laugh the night away
They don't make 'em like this anymore:the low budget schlockfest populated with third rate actors(though the Linda Blair cameo was a hoot).I remember this movie airing almost nightly on HBO for two or three years in the mid 80's and I recall watching it most of the times it played.This film is strictly for buffs of Airplane! type goofoff movies loaded with ridiculous sight gags and crude humor.This movie is not to be taken seriously in the least.It has absolutely no social redeeming value whatsoever,and if you are up for a barrage of nonsense then pick this slice of cinematic absurdity for your viewing pleasure.

Remember the Unknown Comic from the Gong Show?
It's him in a low budget but high laughter romp. Langston is a Los Angeles policeman who gets involved in all of the predictable low comedy situations by day and moonlights as the unknown comic with a grocery bag over his head at night. Everything works well for a while, until he's teamed up with Pat Paulsen (in his last notable role, and really his first funny one) on night patrol, when the cops are even less responsible. The humor is rank and generally wedded to sight gags ala Airplane and abundant body function jokes. Actually, I thought Langston's Unknown Comic routine was very funny. The whole movie is if, like me, your sense of humor still functions at an adolescent level. I recommend it, although not for those with sensitive attitudes.

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Joe Somebody [Blu-ray]

Hilarious! I loved this movie! A must buy!
Everybody reading this, I am going to tell you right off the bat, that this is a great family film that needs to be bought. Now for the review:

Tim Allen stars as a divorced father named Joe who is beat up at work in front of his daughter by the corporate bully at his job. But he decides to fight back! So he goes to a martial arts studio and enlists the help of an ex movie star played by Jim Belushi whose work in the K-9 movies (except part one which bored me to death K-9 1-1 and K-9: P.I. were great, made me want to see the movie more). Along the way he falls for the sweet girl at work. Will he fight or won't he?

I will not say more about this movie, because I am known to spoil the plots to movies so this is a movie you just have to rent or buy and watch in its entirety with your entire family, except the little ones (probably ages 5-8) because of the language (there are some objectionable phrases especially from his daughter). Anyway, this is great fun for everybody. Check it...

nice family movie...very enjoyable
Joe Somebody is a pretty good family movie. movie is about an average Joe played by Tim Allen who gets zero respect from his peers and work buddies. after 10 years with the same company, he wasn't given the promotion he wanted, and after getting beaten up and embarassed in front of his daughter and co-workers, he decides to take a stand, and get back what he lost in the parking lot.

i LOVE Belushi's character, Chuck Scarett. he's a former actor who had one good movie, and then his career tanked. he now teaches karate, and as he says, 90 percent of his business comes from people who got their butts kicked. i love the interaction between the Allen and Belushi character.

overall, solid and very enjoyable movie about your average Joe who wants to be somebody.

also includes some special features with a HILARIOUS deleted scene from Belushi's character.

good movie. good father's day present.

OSCAR WINNER NO........ENJOYABLE ROMANTIC COMEDY....... YES!
You know, sometimes you just want to watch a movie that doesn't tax your brain. "Joe Somebody" is a good romantic comedy that has a message I'm sure we can all agree on "Be Yourself"! The cast seems to be enjoying themselves and that carries over on to the viewer. I don't think Tim Allen has ever been more likable and the romantic chemistry between him and quirky cutie Julie Bowen is believable.

Jim Belushi is very amusing as a "has been" action hero star turned boozer Karate instructor, so the next time you wake up in one of those "I don't want to do anything moods" It might be time to watch "Joe Somebody" It just might have the inspirational fluff you need! lol! The DVD transfer is very good and is a worthy purchase. You can find this for under $5.00.

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Leave It To Beaver: 20 Timeless Classics

Toilets FINALLY flushed!
This is one of the classic shows from the olden days.
When I say I grew-up with this show, I mean it literally.
Jerry Mathers and I are the same age. His brother that didn't age much-- I guess --was a highschool student for
WAY-more than four years... on the show.
When Jerry "Beaver Cleaver" Mathers finished the eighth grade, he just wasn't the [same] cute little kid anymore,
and the series was cancelled just like Jay North's DENNIS THE MENACE.
Rumors circulated that Jerry died in Vietnam-- he never even went, but, I made it back okay... as did "Mikey" from
those LIFE CEREAL commercials.
Really GREAT show! A show from the days when you couldn't show a man and woman on a bed together--even if they WERE
married... TWIN/seperate beds... only.
Oh! And never mind the nudity part: didn't happen.
Among other "firsts", the first time we ever saw a TOILET, on television, it was on THIS show.
Innocence, indeed!

Michael "Big...

Good value
This set is a great price. A lot of fun episodes from this series are included. My only beef is that "In the Soup" was not included in this set, and is probably the episode that most people remember.

Always a hit!
Love this classic collection - and it contains my all-time favorite episode when the teacher comes to dinner! I love to watch this as it is a reminder of the manners and respect we used to have in this world.

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Snow Buddies (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Off to Alaska
This direct-to-video movie is a sequel to last year's Air Buddies. In this one, the five pups find themselves in Alaska, where they are soon befriended by Shasta, a Husky pup, and his owner, a young boy named Adam. The boy has big dreams of becoming a sled dog racer, and if the Buddies can get him to the finish line they will be on their way back home. They turn to a wise old Husky for mentorship, but on the day of the race, the Buds unexpectedly find themselves on their own. From what I've been able to see of the film I think many younger kids will love it (the puppies are cute), but adults will be bored.

Here are the bonus features:
* Audio commentary (from the dogs!).
* A blooper reel.
* A hip-hop-style music video of "Lean on Me" by "Hannah Montana" star Mitchel Musso.
* Behind the Scenes "dog-u-mentary," which gives you a tour of the set from the perspective of the video's...

No cruelty involved
I think people need to be aware that the American Humane Society WAS present during the filming of this movie and none of the animals were treated inhumanely. The same person who wrote one of the Amazon reviews also wrote the same review at several other sites and is spouting misinformation.

That being said, the movie is adorable, my child loved it. He's a fan of dogs and of dog sledding and he enjoyed every bit of it!

My Kids LOVE the buddies
My kids loved AIR BUDDIES--they watched it non-stop and are really excited for Snow Buddies. I've already purchased this one for them as a surprise--I'm sure they'll wear it out too!

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level [Blu-ray]

The Next Generation Never Looked this Good!
Let me start by saying Star Trek: The Next Generation has never looked this good! Having seen TNG from the first airing, syndication, and on DVD, I'll say without reservation this is by far the best quality release.

As soon as I started watching Encounter at Farpoint, I couldn't help but stare at the detail. The extra detail is amazing, especially in the effects shots. It's hard to believe that so much was washed out in the lower resolution original. But the new transfer of the film really shines.

The uniforms pop, you can see the detail in the fabric. The Klingon costumes in Sins of the Father really show this. The space aliens in Farpoint look amazing. Until seeing this on Blu-Ray I knew they were both the same color - but they're not! The rebalanced color looks great. It's no longer washed out and it really brings out the details.

The only possible negative I would point out is that you can see some of the imperfections in the makeup...

A word to the wise on ratios and HDTV's...
This is in reply to all the "It's not fair, it doesn't fill my TV... why do I have these black borders at the sides?" people:

The ratio on the Blu-ray discs is the same as it ever was for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Same as it was shot in, same as it was broadcast in, same as it was presented on VHS and the same as it was presented on DVD. Why on earth some people expect Blu-ray to magically alter this situation is beyond me, but you only have to note the two and one star reviews to see they are. The series was filmed in 4:3, a quarter of a century ago, long before anyone envisaged that we'd all have 16:9 widescreen TV's in our homes in the future. "But I could make my Star Trek TNG DVD's play in widescreen", I hear you cry. No, actually you couldn't. What you were doing was stretching or zooming the image to fill your widescreen TV. This is fake widescreen, and something purists never do, but was quite easy to achieve with a standard definition DVD, on a standard...

amazing transformation
The original masters for this show, edited on videotape, were so bad, in my opinion, and the transformation into HD by painstakingly piecing together original film elements and when necessary, recreating the CGI, is being handled so well, that the end result to the eyes, is just stunning. For a fan of TNG, this is really a priceless addition to one's library. I'll be purchasing every season to encourage them to do the same thing with Deep Space Nine.

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Lost Fleet of Columbus

La Isabela
La Isabela

This is a 50 minute DVD that does not just deal with Columbus' ships but his colony of La Isabela. In 1494 Columbus sailed to the new world for the 2nd time, still thinking he was off the coast of Japan. Six ships he had were sunk in the very bay they thought would provide shelter.
This DVD deals with evidence, scant though it might be, that historians have, of a hurricane, crops that would not thrive and most of all Europeans that would not adapt to a new land. Much is a mystery and this film shows 2 teams, one in the bay and one on land investigating into what happened here. Some questions are answered but much mystery remains. The divers are hindered by silty waters and deep white mud that acts almost like wet cement dust. On land there is little evidence left and bones found do not reveal disease that hit their owners quickly.
There is interesting information and scenes for those who are fascinated by archeology, both on land and water. Reenactments...

Interesting -
Columbus returned to the New World in 1494 with numerous ships and a cast of about 1,000 - including some women and a few blacks. Horses, pigs, and rats also were brought with. The Spaniards founded a settlement named La Isabela in today's Dominican Republic. His fort of La Navidad, constructed during his first trip to search for gold, had been destroyed by native Tainos. Columbus hoped to find great amounts of gold, and later desperation over the paucity of the metal drove him and his men to abuse the natives - both imprisoning about 1,600 and taxing the remaining males. Some of the locals were sent back to Spain. Several years later, after losing at least six ships to hurricane storms and about 200 men to what researchers believe was mostly acute native diseases facilitated by starvation and scurvy, Columbus returned to Spain with the remnants of his men and ships. However, this was not before hunger and disease had led to the disillusion and mutiny by some of his men...



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In Time [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital copy]

Entertaining but Flawed
In Time is only the 4th film by New Zealander and The Truman Show writer Andrew Niccol and comes six years after Lord of War (2005) with Nicolas Cage and Jared Leto. While I reserve a special place for Niccol having seen all of his films and being satisfied by every one of them, Niccol has failed to make a film that would put him over the top. His debut Gattaca emerged as a cult classic that failed to find a major audience at the box office. Simone with Al Pacino went largely unnoticed and is never mentioned today. Lord of War, despite its complex setup and departure from Niccol's usual science fiction themes, also was not a major motion picture. In Time may come off as Niccol's most commercial work...

Such A Good Concept... So Poorly Done
I'm a sucker for a good sci- fi / action movie. I'm rather forgiving in just how much I will overlook in the name of quality entertainment.

First, the Good: Some of the acting (Cillian Murphy, Justin Timberlake and a few others) are respectably solid. Also, the overall concept is very intriguing... the world currency is time, and when a person turns 25 their "life clock" actually begins. From the time you are 25, life's objective is to keep your life clock from expiring. If it expires, you die. Not a problem for the rich, who have more time than they know what to do with: a "wealthy" person may have centuries to live, while the "poor" continuously struggle for more time. It's a very interesting premise that becomes more interesting when a poor worker (Justin Timberlake) saves a "wealthy" man from a time stealing mob boss while flaunting his wealth in the ghetto. in return, he gives Justine Timberlake all of his time (over 100 years). In a short but very philosophical...

GOT A MINUTE?
In the future "time is money." Literally. People live to 25 years old, after which time they have one year left, then they die. The good news is that you can buy time and live forever, but only the rich can do that. Everyone else is struggling to stay alive. Currency is done in time, transferred by computer chips installed in the forearm. A cup of coffee will cost you 4 minutes of your life. I kept thinking about "Logan's Run" as I watched this film.

The cliche possibilities are endless and they are not shy about using them. "All the time in world." "Got a minute." "Too much time on my hands" "Who's got the time?" "You must come from time." "Taken years off my life." "Drank his life away." "Too much time in the wrong hands..." "I had the time to buy one of these." "Thank you for your time." "The time he has taken." "It would take a million years." Ouch!

"Hey big spender, spend a little time with me." "I'd give a year of my life just to spend an hour with her."...

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Drive (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]

Stunning; Easily One of the Best Films of 2011
With so many films still to come this year, it can be safely said that Drive is one of the best films of 2011. I am so ecstatic about this film that I'm struggling to write about it with any coherency, afraid that I may stray into ranting and raving about how great it is. Seeing a great film (hopefully) isn't a rarity, but seeing a great film of this caliber doesn't happen too often. Rarely have I left a theater so eager to turn around and watch the same movie again, my only fear being that it couldn't possibly be as good the second time. Drive shares commonalities with last year's The American with George Clooney. Both were wide releases, marketed as action films that completely defied the expectations of their audience. The biggest difference between the two is that people went to see The American expecting an action film and were treated to alienating, slow-moving, art house fare. Drive lacks the art-house pretentions of The American and those who see it expecting an action film...

A film you'll probably either love or loath...just look at the reviews here
Before watching this film you have to understand that this is an arthouse flick masquerading as a Gone in 60 Seconds type of film & if you're expecting Gone in 60 seconds or a Michael Bay type of action film you'll be soooo disappointed...On the other hand if you're looking for a smart superbly crafted methodically paced/shot arthouse film you'll adore this! I love both stupid action films & foreign arthouse fair so this film is a match made in heaven & one of the best films ive ever seen even though ive seen dozens of films like this(every cliché in the genre book is presented here but thats beside the point)...This film is in love with itself...Cant give it enough stars...For the folks who hate "Drive" i understand & i forgive you...lol

An Art-House Actioner That Blends Indie Cool With Mainstream Appeal: Watch Out For Spoilers And Enjoy The Ride
In a year in which Ryan Gosling could do no wrong from romantic comedy (Crazy, Stupid, Love) to political drama (The Ides of March) to this art house actioner--"Drive" stands as the apex of his career-changing film streak. I have, for many years, declared Gosling perhaps the best actor of his generation. Ever since he burst onto the film scene in the controversial "The Believer," Gosling has eschewed being a mainstream "star." Heck, after "The Notebook," another actor might have taken a very different career path. But Gosling, despite a couple of disappointing forays into big budget Hollywood, has remained true to his indie roots. Until now, that is. This year, he seamlessly blended indie cool with mainstream appeal. Of course, in "Drive" he found the perfect filmmaker and artistic collaborator in Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn. The two began a very public bromance and have already embarked on their next film project (2012's Only God Forgives). Winding Refn is an ultra-cool...

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Moon of the Wolf (1972)

How's it bayou?
Based on a novel by Leslie Whitten, this made-for-TV thriller blends a murder-mystery with an old-fashioned werewolf story. David Janssen is the southern sheriff with a string of bloody murders on his hands. An incoherent, bed-ridden old man down on the bayou babbles in a Cajun dialect of something that sounds like "luke-a-ruke." As the victims pile up, the sheriff finally learns that the old man is saying "Werewolf!" (loup garou). This movie is a mixed blessing. Most of the script devotes itself to fathoming the mystery, and red herrings abound. Time is also spent on the subplot of a mild flirtation between Janssen and Barbara Rush. She is of the local gentry, and her brother disapproves of Janssen's attentiveness. About 59 minutes into the 73-minute film, the movie shifts gears and the horror elements finally kick in. The local Larry Talbot suffers a peculiar genetic malady that usually can be controlled by drugs. Things get serious one night when the moon is full, and a...

A CHILLING SOUTHERN GOTHIC
Based on the novel of the same name by author Les Whitten, MOON OF THE WOLF is a surprisingly well-crafted made-for-TV thirller from the 70s. Now available in a number of video versions, this is a little-known but quite serviceable production of some merit. Set in the isolated Louisiana marshland, the story revolves around the local Sheriff's efforts to uncover the truth behind a young girl's mysterious and grisly death. Was she killed by wild dogs, or by an ex-lover's revenge? Acting is very good all-around, with David Janssen well-cast as the no-nonsense but likeable sheriff and Barbara Rush as the Southern Belle with a few secrets of her own. The script is good, and the suspense methodically rises as the story progresses. The only real weakness, as is often the case with low-budget horror films, is the monster make-up. The eponymous werewolf doesn't look anything like the creature in the DVD art, but at least the director has the sense to keep the monster in the shadows most...

Mint Juleps, a Mystery, and Great Actors
Mixed emotions -- fine actors doing fine acting in a surprisingly well-done movie I usualy wouldn't hold still for. Janssen at his classic best a competent sheriff, decent man. Barbara Rush charming as self-confessed heiress raised to do nothing. Well worth watching.

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Dead Hooker in a Trunk

Twisted Twins Kick Ass
Jen and Sylvia Soska kick ass with their feature film debut. Working with a tiny budget but an excess of ingenuity and wicked inspiration, they deliver a fun and twisted ride. It's great to see women who can work in the horror genre without flinching. Raw, uneven, but never dull. Look for their new film American Mary coming out in 2012.

OMGWTF
It's been a long time since a movie was so interesting that I screamed at it and waved my around while trying to watch it.

It's got violence. It's a comedy. It's the bizarreness that gets me though. Things happen, and I don't know what happened, or why. But someone probably lost an eye, or an arm, or a kidney. Or maybe they've been lassoed by a man on a horse. Or the dead hooker sits up suddenly and is beaten to death again.

An Exploitation Masterpiece -- Action, Mayhem, & Black Comedy!
First caught this at the 2010 Drunken Zombie Film Festival, and was blown away by how much friggin' fun this movie is.

Dead Hooker In A Trunk is a modern spin on the exploitation film and will be instantly recognizable to people who want their movies hard, fast, and mean -- with a fistful of black comedy thrown in for good measure. Jen and Sylvia Soska clearly enjoyed the heck out of themselves while putting together this crazy, no-punches-pulled piece of independent cinema, and it shows.

Not a lot of plot involved -- it's a bada**, geek, addict, and goody two-shoes trying to dispose of a dead hooker found in the bada**'s trunk... the origin of said hooker, unknown. On the way, eyes will be knocked out, arms will be yanked off, and even being dragged by a horse won't stop this dysfunctional gang from getting rid of the hooker... and exacting bloody revenge on those who screw with them in the process!

Amoral, vicious, and firmly tongue-in-cheek, Dead...

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5 Star Day [HD]

Probably more of a four star day...but still very good
Though it's not exactly going to blow anyone's mind-"Five Star Day" is still a very thought provoking and smartly made movie. It starts with an interesting premise about astrology and whether or not there is some significance to the astrological circumstances a person is born under or whether it's all just one big crock. In the film, the protagonist (played by Cam Gigandet) essentially takes it upon himself to track down two women and one man born in the same hospital he was who also share his same birth date to see whether or not their collective recent birthday experiences mirror his own. What got me the most about "Five Star Day" was that it seemed to tread new ground and that alone is a commendable quality. It also has its share of likable and surprising characters, most of which I found myself growing easily sympathetic toward. A really good movie should leave you thinking about it long after it's finished. What did it mean? What do I take away from it? That's exactly what this...

An enjoyable and orginal light movie
Warning, firstly, I do a lot of research at work, and often I find myself like this character having data that supports views that I do not like. So I identified with the main character also because I found him to be a nice guy. Maybe that is partly why I liked the movie so much. This may not be the same with you.

Overall, I thought the story was both good and original. The movie starts off that the hero's horoscope predicts he will have a great day, a 5 star day. The day turns out to be a disaster. Needing a subject for his course, he decides his subject will be to prove that astrology is nonsense. So off his adventures start as he goes and interview's people who have the same star sign as he does. It is a light story, but it does have its moments. I did like his speech that we make our own future.

The characters were good, interesting and believable.

The acting, I thought was very good. I liked everyones' performance.

The filming was good...

It makes you wonder
The movie did start a little slow but than started to make sense. It made you wonder about people born at the same date, time and place what there life is like.

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After Fall, Winter

An Engrossing, But Flawed Film
Michael (played by Eric Schaeffer) is a middle aged author who has hit rock bottom - his latest novel is in the process of being rejected by a string of publishers and he is heavily in debt, depressed and suicidal. At the urging of a friend, he leaves New York City for a visit to Paris. Once in Paris, he meets and immediately falls for Sophie (played by Lizzie Brocheré), an alluring 20 something hospice counselor. Initially, Sophie rejects Michael's advances, but after she sees a vulnerability in his macho facade, she decides to give a relationship with him a chance.

As the relationship develops, each harbors an important secret -- Sophie moonlights at a second job as a dominatrix, while Michael frequents dominatrices, where he gets some satisfaction from being physically abused and verbally humiliated. The couple's failure to make these disclosures to each other has disastrous and disturbing consequences.

Much of the film is focused on dialogue...

Mature, Edgy, Challenging... Real.
It is difficult to capture the charm and wit that we all hope we have when we are dating. Let's face it, movies have been trying for years. Typically it is too sacchrine or just completely misses the realism mark. AFTER FALL, WINTER's strength is a tremendous script by writer/director/star, Eric Schaeffer. He is known for his dialogue and his approach to the realities of love / relationsips, and this film is a high water mark.

At times heartbreaking and at other times truly uncomfortable, I found myself both wanting to look away and unbelievably riveted. If you are a student of relationships... If you think the real stories about sexuality aren't told that often... If you like your stories told with a bit of edge and a large dose of realism... AFTER FALL, WINTER will not disappoint!

Recommended.

Spoiler-Heavy Review
I rented this movie because it was supposed to be a frank look at BDSM - the female lead is a dominatrix and the male lead is a guy who goes to dominatrixes whenever he's in a shame spiral, which appears to be constantly. Although this movie does depict some very realistic BDSM, it still falls back on the tired moral saw of portraying this lifestyle as overwhelmingly negative - right up to and including a demented dominatrix character who sets up dungeon in a grimy old warehouse and is perfectly willing to murder a client if he asks. As someone who's admitted publicly many times in the past that he's procured and enjoyed the services of these women, Eric Schaeffer does them a grave disservice with this repulsive idea - and with the idea that BDSM in and of itself is a strong enough dark force to rip these lovers apart the second it rears its head. Every time Eric Schaeffer's Michael experiences a setback - whether it be receiving word that yet another publisher has passed on his book...

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Cold Mountain [Blu-ray]

A poetic tale of love, loss, and the will to survive
"Cold Mountains", one of the best films of the year (it's a crime it wasn't nominated for Best Picture), is beautifully crafted, stirring, poetic tale of love, loss, and the will to survive. Directed and adapted to the screen by the wonderful Anthony Minghella and boasting a stunning cast of Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Jack White, Brendan Gleeson, and Donald Sutherland, this film is truly a force to be reckoned with.

"Cold Mountain" tells the story of Inman (Law), a carpenter working in Cold Mountain, North Carolina in 1861 when the alluring, elegant, and well-educated Ada (Kidman) and her father, Reverend Monroe (Sutherland), move to the Blue Mountains from the city. Inman and Ada, in true Hollywood fashion, are instantly taken by each other and engage in restrained flirtation, Ada's preacher father and their different social classes being the bulwark from romance. Soon the Civil War begins and the entire...

Breathtaking Journey of Love.
Cold Mountain is a beautiful movie set during the American Civil War. A North Carolina town of Cold Mountain has sent it's beloved sons to war leaving behind Mothers and Lovers. Our two main characters are Ada (Nicole Kidman) and Inman (Jude Law) two Cold Mountain residents dedicated to there reunion after the war, but the war drags on and there correspondence is the only thing that unites them in a terrible time of American History.

The movie tells of Inman's journey back to Ada and the parrallel story of Ada trying to survive on her fathers farm. Both characters take a journey in spirit and determination to survive the horror that has become there existance during the war.

I loved the intertwining of music and drama in this movie. Anthony Mingella did, as expected, an excellent job etching the powerful feelings of hope and dismay with haunting music written by Sting and performed by the clear voice of blue grasses own Alison Krauss. I am from North Carolina am familiar with the...

A mournful and beautiful film.
"Cold Mountain," Anthony Minghella's film of Charles Frazier's novel, is a mournful, beautiful and occasionally profound film about the futility of war, the persistence of love and the desperate attempts of people to survive in wartime. The quiet, delicately nuanced performances of Jude Law and Nicole Kidman in the lead roles are deeply moving, and Renee Zellweger brings much-needed comic relief as Ruby, a plain-spoken farm worker. The film's episodic structure may distract some viewers, but the vignettes are extremely powerful per se, and they allow for some wonderful supporting performances--by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eileen Atkins, Kathy Baker, Donald Sutherland, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Lucas Black, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Winstone, Jack White, Ethan Suplee and others--to be placed strategically in the movie like jewels in a crown. "Cold Mountain" makes the sad but undeniable point that at times of national tragedy, all the survivors can do is pick up the pieces, rebuild...

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Chalet Girl

Snowboarding and Romance, English-style
Likeable romantic comedy with beautiful Alps setting, good, mostly English, actors and a fair amount of snowboarding/skiing.

Felicity Jones(the mildly bucktoothed, or is it called an overbite?, star of "Northanger Abbey", "Brideshead Revisited") plays an ex-champion skateboarder, down on her luck, poor girl, Kim, who takes a job as a servant or chalet girl for the ultra rich- Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields- at their posh ski lodge.

Kim knows nothing of snow, but goes about trying to conquer it and learn to snowboard and perhaps win the local competition plus the love of the rich son, Ed Westwick.

There's a lot of if's and maybe's has she struggles to overcome a past tragedy, support her loving but worthless dad, deal with backstabbing cattiness, and, the obvious social class differences.

The filmmakers shoot some gorgeous outdoor skiing and snowboarding, but the true focus of the movie is the relationships. The comedy is lightweight but...

Proved Me Wrong
I thought this movie was going to be really stupid, but it turned out being pretty cute. I just watched it for Felicity Jones because I really liked her in Like Crazy. I only rented the movie, but, if I found it in a bargain bin, I would buy it and watch it again. The plot plays out like you would expect it to. There are no truly original concepts in the film, but it is still entertaining.

fun movie!!
I loved this movie! It is an adorable, fun film. Great scenery and music!! I recommend watching it if you are in the mood for a good, light-hearted romantic comedy.

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The Double

THEN THAT'S ALL YOU'LL EVER BE...
Richard Gere, a retired CIA agent is called back from retirement to find a Soviet assassin believed to have been dead. A senator was murdered with the killer using the same MO as code name "Cassius" a former Russian agent assassin who was never caught. Gere is paired with Topher Grace, a young desk jockey from the FBI. Topher studied Cassius and wrote his thesis on him. He believes Cassius is alive and retired in the US and is the recent killer. Gere claims it is a copy cat killer and does not want to work with Topher.

There is an early plot twist, something we get enough hints to clue us in. Even though Topher lacks field experience he is fairly savvy. As they seek out Cassius, bodies start to accumulate. Martin Sheen plays the head of the CIA. While an early mystery is solved for us, there are others that exist. There are action scenes, killings, and drama. I felt the acting brought the film down. Gere was wrong for that role. I really would have liked a hipper Travolta...

Entertaining, But Far-Fetched
THE DOUBLE is an entertaining, at times far-fetched, espionage thriller in which retired CIA operative Richard Gere joins forces with rookie FBI agent Topher Grace to catch "Cassius," a Cold War-era Soviet assassin who has resurfaced and is now killing more people, including a U.S. Senator.

That's all I'm going to tell you about the plot of THE DOUBLE, because if I reveal more, I will be a Spoiler. There are a couple of surprising plot twists in this film, one of which even surprised me. That's not an easy thing to do.

On the other hand, that final twist is where the believability factor comes into play, but I won't say more.

The cast, which includes Stephen Moyer, and Martin Sheen, is very good and director Michael Brandt, who wrote the screenplay with Derek Haas, keeps the film, apparently shot in Washington, D.C., moving along at a nice pace.

Extras on the DVD from Image Entertainment include producer's interviews, plus audio...

The Double
Richard Gere is certainly one of the good old time movie stars that we still have around. His career has had ups and downs, and I don't know how he will be judged in cinema's history. But he has a charisma that is difficult to ignore, and you wish he could reach greater heights. This is what I felt when I watched "The Double," an electrifying and intriguing film that will keep you glued to your seat until the very end.

The film opens with the assassination of US Senator Dennis Darden (Ed Kelly), who we briefly see earlier on TV arguing with another senator about Russia's resurgence. We then meet Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA agent who is an expert on an extremely dangerous Russian spy by the codename of Cassius, who is suspected to be the senator's assassin. Shepherdson is informed by Tom Highland (Martin Sheen) that he will be partnered with Ben Geary (Topher Grace), who happens to be an FBI expert on Cassius, too. Shepherdson...

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Dog Jack

Great Family Movie
This movie is a great family movie and it also carrys a great message throughout the movie. Loved the story line and would let everyone know that it is a must see.

Great film!
For being an Indie Film and with a limited budget, this film is a Gem!
My brother who didn't want to see it ended up saying he loved it and that Cassey was his favorite character!

Five stars for good family entertainment
This is a good family movie, but with the caveat that there is a degree of American Civil War-type violence in parts. The story is captivating. Also, there is a quiet Christian theme throughout; i.e., faith lost and faith regained. It is not a glitzy movie, but the acting is good enough to hold one's interest in the immensely heart-warming though also sometimes heart-rending tale. The story is actually focused on the young slave Jed, rather than his dog. So it is not really a cutesy movie about a dog. But I highly recommend it.

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Leapfrog: Numberland [HD]

My two year old can count by twos!
Leap Frog is an excellent toy company. All of their products are well made and educational. Our two year old son loves Scout. He has a Scout "leap"top, a Scout stuffed animal, a Scout Tag Jr. reader, and all of the Scout apps available on iTunes. When I saw this video was available, I figured he might like it.

He doesn't just like it, he LOVES it! It is an excellent video. We do not allow our son to watch TV shows or movies that aren't educational. However, many of the education videos and shows out there can be boring. This video satisfies both mom and dad and the kiddo! The songs are cute and catchy (we all find ourselves singing them!), and our son can actually count items (so, for example, if he sees 3 blocks, he can count them, saying "One block, two blocks, three blocks!" How many two year olds can count?!) He can also count by twos. He learned those concepts from this video.

To the parents who complain about the songs being cheesy, well, what do you...

LOVE!
My two year old LOVES watching this.. and he has learned so much from it! I would definately recommend this as it is educational and fun!

My son loves this DVD!
My son loves this DVD!, and it definitely keeps him busy for the time being. He has learned so much from these DVD's and he is very smart in his class. He is counting money and adding and he is just 2 1/2 yrs old!!

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Into The Universe With Stephen Hawking [Blu-ray]

Excellent jumping point for further learning.
This is a fantastic mini-series from one of the brightest minds of our time. It invokes a lot of interesting thoughts concerning where science and technology may take us in the future. Somewhat sobering to realize what has happened to Stephen Hawking throughout his life and yet he still has a fantastic outlook on life.

Hopefully this series will be used in science classes throughout the globe rather than the old film strips I endured as a child. It serves as a great jump off point for further learning, creating a real passion for learning more about the subject matter presented.

This mini-series consists of 3 segments:
Aliens:
This segment takes an interesting look at whether life might exist outside of our planet and what forms it would take. It has a well reasoned approach to theorizing if life could potentially exist elsewhere. The most intriguing part is actually trying to imagine life that doesn't need to resemble anything we are currently...

As he says: check this out...
As he says..."Check this out". I am enthusiastic about the universe, and I own most of the documentaries on this subject,and so far I Can tell you this one, is one of the best.
Stephen Hawking, is truly one of the brightest minds since Albert Einstein. In this excellent series, he uses his genius brain to explain some of the most interesting themes such as alien life, origins, and time travel. I particularly like time travel the most.
You'll be surprised to learn that time travel is not only possible, but even is happening right here, right now on earth.
Every subject is explained with a simplicity and a good sense of humor (Stephen is a surprisingly good-humored person), which does not let you get bored. The images are fantastic in high definition. The best thing, of course is the privilege of seeing one of most intelligent mind in action . THANK YOU PROFESSOR HAWKING FOR THE RARE OPPORTUNITY.

Thoughtful series on Hawking's view of the Universe
This is excellent series of three episodes by Hawking on his analysis and conclusions about the universe - aliens, time travel, and the development of the universe. His style is not flamboyant; the visuals try to make up for this but are repetitive in some instances.

However, his logical approach to these topics, analysis of current research and thought, and his own opinions and comments make this series well worth viewing a number of times.

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Church Girl

Excellent play
I saw this play live in Houston. I tell you the Spirit of the Lord was in the house during the church scenes. I immeidately wrote the playright and begged her to put this on DVD or bring it back to Houston again. It is a must see. I have seen many plays: both live and on video - I repeat this is a must see. It is real reality TV.

I have already ordered my copy. Thank you Ms. Dunlap for allowing God to use you mightly. I pray your continued success.

Absolutely LOVED It!!!
I love love love this play!!! I saw it twice when the tour came to Chicago and absolutely LOVED it!!! It was so real!!! The acting was great and the sanging (yes they were SANGING not singing) was amazing!!! This production was very deep and insightful and had my full, undivided attention the whole time! I've been wanting to see it again for the longest, and I'm so glad it's finally on DVD now! Can't wait to buy it! This definitely one of my favorite plays! :-)

Church Girl
This is an work of art by one of the most prolific play writes of our time. Period. This play is a well orchestrated symphony because it's life, it's love, it's truth, it's deception, it's explosive, it's real, it's comedy, it's tragedy, and lastly best of all it's redemption. Most importantly, it's not that same 'ole boring and predictable story-line that caters to only women but there is something to glean for everyone. Look at the cast..Everything that you need to tell the powerful true-life story is here. Great Job!! A+++

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Archive of World War Two - The Stilwell Road

Stilwell Road
Narrated by Ronald Reagan and produced by the Army Signal Corps in 1945, STILWELL ROAD uses stock footage and the ever-popular animated arrows spearheading their ways across maps of the Far East to tell the story of the Allied Armies' mission to reopen the old Burma Road, the overland supply route from India to China.

The Japanese army conquered and occupied Burma by the time America entered the war. `Reopen' is a misleading word to use. The completed road would contain nearly 1,100 miles of newly constructed road - from Ledo in India to Kumning in China - an engineering marvel completed in the face of a hostile enemy, in a land whose torrential monsoons made road construction, not to mention maintenance, a logistical challenge of the highest order in peacetime.

As usual with the documentaries from this period - at least the ones I've seen - STILWELL ROAD is relevant, coherent, and concise. Although it's a little too sketchily drawn to substitute for the...

Horrific task surmounted by unsubduable will.
An excellent tribute to the 63000 men who constructed the 478 mile road from Ledo, Assam, into East Burma, this documentary depicts many of the extraordinary achievements of military engineering required for the passage's completion, a 26 month ordeal completed in 1945 by bordering massive gorges, overstriding raging rapids and invading some of the world's most impenetrable jungles, with a cost of many lives and 150 million dollars. "We got run out of Burma, and it is humiliating as Hell", early in the film states "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, Commander of troops in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre, and the veteran warrior, serving as Chiang Kai-shek's chief of staff returned with a vengeance at the head of his doughty troops, aided later appreciably by personnel from Australia, New Zealand and India under the leadership of British General Ord Wingate, whom we see just prior to his final, fatal flight. Incisively edited, and briskly narrated by Ronald Reagan, the 51 minute work reveals...

RONALD REAGAN NARRATES THE GRIPPING STORY OF WWII BURMA
Some of the worst fighting of World Ward II occurred in the jungles of Burma. Heat, disease, pestilence worked as allies to the Japanese as General Joseph Stilwell attemped to turn the tide and keep the Japanese out of india, and keep the road to China open.

This gripping story of a great leader caught between an armed and determined enemy and the politics of allied command is narrated by Ronald Reagan

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Paths of Hate

Excellent animation.
This animation has to be the best short animation I've ever seen. As an artist I've seen 100's of animations but this one stands out with it's visual and emotional qualities. I just came back fairly recently from visiting the battle fields of WWI in Europe and it is he best portrayal of wartime hate that I've ever seen. The soundtrack greatly enhances the film. It was a high qualty DVD production to top it all.

Brilliant - gripping and brutal.
When someone can tell a good story unconventionally (i.e., with little or no dialogue), it sets them a step above. This is a perfect example of that rule. It's tough to decide which is more compelling - the story of these two men, or the brutal visual style, but either way, this is a small masterpiece.

One of the greatest shorts I've seen-
I first heard about this from a friend he sent it to me as an inspiration , I'm an animator myself, it's a great story and well worth the investment- its about ten minutes long and a great short I have no regrets.

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Christine

Charming and Quirky British Mystery Series
If you enjoy charming British mysteries, this one has a winsome detective with a kind face whose colleagues are always teasing him. They call him "Dangerous" for sport. They don't let him work on the "tough cases", but Dangerous manages to find his own difficult cases which he solves with sheer tenacity and aplomb.

He has an incompetent boss with a little drinking problem and socially glib and good-looking colleagues who don't seem to do much work but take the good cases for themselves. Dangerous has great facial expressions and is fairly witty when you don't expect him to be.

All-in-all a charming and quirky series that continues to enchant. Great to watch while on the treadmill. The time goes by quickly.

Wonderful series
This series is funny, poignant with real people who are just perfectly cast. Peter Davison is a unique actor that can make you laugh and cry. The series is about a very smart and persistant detective who is always underestimated. He is caring and humble and is usually taken advantage of but when he discovers it he is still a sweet upbeat real person. He is having problems with his wife, played by Emma Amos, a most wonderful actress who plays her part seriously and yet is funny when called for. All the other detectives are great as well, arrogant, condescending and jealous of "Dangerous". The Last Detective" is named such because he is the last detective that his boss wants to give a case to. The only character I didn't warm up to is his best friend who seems a little over the top but I think he is quite popular in England so maybe there's something lost in that translation. His character is Mod....weird name. Anyway, I love this series so much I am thinking of...

I Really enjoyed this British show
The Last Detective is a well-written character driven British detective show. I like the quiet stubbornness of the main character. They call him Dangerous, because he appears to a mild mannered non-violent man. However he is also a very good detective and always solves the crime. Dangerous also has a messy personal life and an odd friend that make the story interesting too.

The crimes are good mysteries that don't always have the obvious solution. Of course I've also been fond of Peter Davison since I first saw him as Doctor Who, so I enjoyed seeing him play this character.

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Aradhana

ARADHANA, AN INDIAN CASSIC
ARADHANA ("WORSHIP") was one of the big flicks of the Golden Age of the made-in-Bombay Hindi cinema of the Sixties and Seventies, which is to say "Bollywood" before the term was actually coined. It was a star vehicle for handsome leading man Rajesh Khanna, often called the "first superstar of Hindi films" and classic beauty Sharmila Tagore who was a top female star of the same time. Sharmila won the FILMFARE best actress award for this performance (India's Oscar equivalent) and when you watch the movie it won't be hard to see why. In the flick Khanna plays a dashing Indian air force pilot (there are at least half a dozen indian movies where the hero is a dashing military pilot) -- who gets killed in a plane crash in part I, but comes back to play the son he fathered before the crash in Part 2. This is is definitely a symphony in two distinct movements Emotion Picture. The film opens when he spots the beautiful Sharmila at a train station, is immediately hit by the well-known...

Not sure how to rate this...
It's an old movie on DVD, so it doesn't have a lot of the technology of today's movies. It works in the DVD Player, so I guess it works as it should.

great songs and great chemistry
Great movie with a tight script, good direction and a good story line. Amazing chemistry between the lead pair and great songs with a timeless appeal make this movie a great watch. Rajesh Khanna really looks georgeous, has really acted well to differentiate between the father and son characters. Sharmila Tagore is a bit artificial and the hairstyles need getting used to (sadly all movies during this time suffered from this!) but as a couple these two are really great together even though this is their first movie, and Rajesh was a newcomer compared to the already established 'glamarous' Sharmila! A really must watch if you like romance!

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The Piano

Exquisite erotic classic
Jane Campion's "The Piano" does what many truly great films do: It inspires fascinating discussion and provokes mixed reactions. The male friend with whom I saw it back in 1993 and I were so enthralled that we kept our significant others waiting to leave for our respective Christmas vacations because we kept phoning each other to discuss symbolism and interesting themes in the movie. While I continue to absolutely love the film, I also recognize why some viewers have not shared my reaction. Perhaps you have to have at least considered a forbidden love affair or perhaps you have to have found yourself trapped in a relationship where you feel you have lost your voice to appreciate what Campion explores.

The story centers around Ada (Holly Hunter in an Oscar-winning performance) and her daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin--who also won an Oscar for her extraordinary performance). They leave their upper-class home in Scotland after Ada's father (apparently) arranges her marriage. Ada,...

Disturbing - Beautiful - Brilliant
I missed this movie in the theaters 10 years ago, and saw it for the first time purely by chance on HBO recently. I was so enchanted that I watched each of the next three showings in the very same day, and then bought the DVD for my collection. It is one of the most unique, truly deep, thought provoking, awe-inspiring, movies I've seen in a while. The drama is almost Biblical, the love story almost Shakespearian in quality (think Othello). I was enraptured by the music, the crashing waves, and the amazing synergy between the players.

And Harvey Keitel - who knew? Those gangster/tough guy roles just don't even touch this man's talent. George Baines is intense, tender, passionate, a total jerk - so it would seem - but underneath the gruff exterior lies the heart of a prince. Keitel really puts it all out there, literally and figuratively. It's a risky role and it works for him.

Holly Hunter was spectacular, as usual, but in this film the fast-talking, high-energy woman you came...

Great Film - Sub-standard Blu-ray
By the artwork I believe this Blu-ray to be an import from Australia and the bad news is that it is a terrible transfer.

Having purchase this disk I offer the following review based on the assumption that it is the same product.

The back cover states that this disk has been mastered to 1080i Standard. Why on earth 1080i???????

Why was the film not re-mastered from film stock and to 1080p Standard?

The interlacing is apparent from the very start. The title sequence background has very obvious horizontal streaking. An ominous beginning.

This Blu-ray suffers from too much green and too much grain. Most of the red seems to have been filtered out thereby making the film darker than it should be. As a result the flesh tones are unnatural. Having seen the film in the theatre, to me this print has been made unusually dark for no apparent reason. The opening sequence where Ada McGrath is looking at the light between her fingers is strange...

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Redneck

STRONG
MARK LESTER, THE YOUNG STAR OF " OLIVER ", IN A SPETACULAR THRILLER, WITH TELLY SAVALLAS AND FRANCO NERO.





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The Thing (2011) (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Many THINGS to consider...
The reviews were very interesting and there are some good points.
I'll start by saying I was only 12 when I saw "John Carpenter's The Thing" in the theater. Obviously it made a huge impression (through slightly closed fingers). I was at that point already a HUGE horror/sci-fi movie fan and even at 12 LOVED the original 1951 "The Thing From Another World". I still love the old B/W movies and it's too bad more people don't appreciate that. With that said movies need to advance...Lord of the Rings, Jurrasic Park...great CGI.

Now if you are a true Fan of JC's version of "The Thing", you will know two main thngs:
1.) This is a pretty faithful version of the short story ALL of them are based on, John W. Campbell, Jr. "Who Goes There?" The original 1951 (although awesome) was not. Keep in mind, JC did a wonderful job giving a nod to the 1951 movie. Not to mention featuring it as the movie the kids are watching in "Halloween".
2.) You will have seen the extensive...

Do you really think thats a good idea??
Thats one of the early lines in the film from Kate, it could also be asked about making a prequel to the much loved '82 classic. Just like in the movie, my answer is "yes I do". Making a film this many years after a classic and trying to make the story before that movie is challenging. When watching The Thing from '82 you had to wonder about the Norwegians and the back story, thats why this film is interesting. I went into the film with an open mind. It surprised me in the amount of detail. They really tried to match this up with the prior film as best they could. With the age gap between the films, I think they did a great job.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Kate a paleontologist, brought to Antartica to help in bringing a frozen "thing" out of the ice. She starts out observing and asking questions while Dr. Halvorson conducts his analysis of the specimen. As the story unfolds however, its Kate that uses her head and leads the group. The question throughout the film is-...

Not a "Thing" wrong with this prequel!
My expectations were low and I was BLOWN AWAY! Great prequel, fills in gaps. Quality, cast, story first rate. Others crying about CGI - they would have cried anyway even if they didn't use it. Get a life. Looked fine to me. If you loved the JC 1982 version, you will love this prequel. Remember to stay for the credits - truly awesome tie-in. Something you don't see much these days.

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Falling Up

Charming Romance
We enjoyed this film. It is hard to do romantic comedy well- and most film makers do not try to do more than provide an adequate workmanlike product following the familiar formulas that have worked before. Some folks would say that this film also followed the formula and to some extent that is true but there were some significant departures that added real poignance to the story. It helps that the female lead was the luminous Sarah Roemer, who also also shined in the fabulous, and literally riotous, Brazilian comedy "Romeo and Juliet get Married" (A romantic comedy that is also the all time greatest satire on soccer fans ever made- and yes I have seen the original English version of 'Fever Pitch'). Sarah has made my personal list of favorite actresses. In this film she continued to display the same sure touch and sense of timing. However, the rest of the cast also did very well.

njce twist on a romance
I bought the DVD because I saw part of the movie on TV, but missed the first half. So wanted to see the whole thing, The relationship of the main characters and the supporting actors intrigued me with the contrast in the 'rich girl - poor man' plot. In some ways it is a bit schmaltzy and you can almost guess what is going to happen, but it takes a while to resolve. In addition to the romance aspect, it is also a story about how folks judge others by their looks and their station in life.

Great
This movie was a very good movie, great for the whole family to enjoy. I had lots of fun watching this movie

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Weekend with the babysitter

Like An Album With A Few Good Songs You Can't Part With
VAN NUYS BLVD.
The best of this bunch, especially if you've ever actually been to Van Nuys, and the theme song is hilarious. It's mostly just a loose collection of scenes, very few of which have anything to do with cruising or Van Nuys Boulevard. It's really more of a California fantasy lifestyle teen flick than anything else, loosely based on car culture, sex in vans, the beach, etc. Director's commentary is only occasionally interesting but at least there is one. Some lame-brain comedic scenarios, a lot of toplessness, and one scene that would be right at home in American Pie. But in spite of product claims to the contrary, Bobby does not 'get involved with topless dancers and bikers'. There is dancing, there is toplessness, there are bikers of a sort, but that's not the same thing.

THE POM POM GIRLS
A fun dumb high school flick that isn't really about the Pom Pom Girls. It's mainly about rebellious football dudes (who are remarkably non-jock types)...

The best of the Drive in DVD Series
The films and picture quality were very wonderful. While the other two box sets had some real duds on them, I am happy to say that every film on this box set was watchable, and enjoyable. While the movies are by no means oscar worthy, they deliver the trashy thrill fans of this genre will love. If you bought the other two, or were holding out, this is the one to grab. Happy Viewings!

Another great set from our friends at BCI.
Here is another fine collection of Crown International Pictures' drive-in movie madness. You get eight classic b-movies all lovingly restored using new film transfers (with the exception of The Babysitter, which was mastered from PAL tape). I won't go into the plots of each film (I figure anyone who is seriously looking at this page already has an appreciation for schlock cinema and can navigate his/her way to IMDb) but I can tell you that the films look great. For example, Blood Mania's crisp, wide-screen picture looks about a thousand times better than its full frame VHS release; there are no scratches or drop-outs and the sound is fantastic.

I constantly look forward to all BCI/Navarre Corporation's releases and it always amazes me that they put out such quality products at a price far less than their competitors. Right now you can order this set for $8.99 brand-new from Amazon; that's $1.13 per film!!! A great deal! Again, the quality of these films is fantastic and it...

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Lofty

A fantastic, high quality series
The Last Detective is a fabulous show that is steeped in charm and class. Peter Davison unobtrusively holds the show together as the decent but overlooked PC 'Dangerous' Daviies who, through unflashy police work and dogged determination reveals important truths in the overlooked and seemingly unimportant.

Davison is assisted in his task by a superlative supporting cast, most notably Sean Hughs as his drinking buddy Mod and Rob Spendlove as his dyspepsic boss.

The production quality of this programme is high and the script and performances sincere and humourous. The dark side of crime is not avoided in this programme and it can enter some dark territory but, like Dangerous himself, you never loose faith in human nature. The enormous affection and popularity of this show in the UK may have much to do with the affection held for the underdog and while this programme plays to this affection you never loose respect for Dangerous. Davison magnificently pulls off...

Very amiable series... The underdog detective is here to save the day... Excellent DVD transfer
I enjoyed this series very much. On the surface it's just another detective show. But it has a wry British twist to it. Based on Leslie Thomas' 4 novels about "Dangerous Davies", a good-natured, comically unfortunate detective, this new Granada/ITV production is a welcome respite from the hardnosed, grimy detective shows which we have become accustomed to of late. DC (Detective Constable) Davies is a very ordinary fellow, middle-aged, unlucky in life and unlucky in love. But he has a ready smile, a friendly word for everyone and most importantly, a kind heart. With Peter Davison at the helm, this makes for a very amiable series, much like its lead character and the actor portraying him. It is as much Davies' interaction with the people around him, his ex-wife, friends, colleagues and witnesses, as the mysteries that he stumbles upon, that make this series so enjoyable. Mostly it appeals to the British sense of cheering on the underdog.

Peter Davison, who for many will...

The Last Detective - Series 1
Delicious. Not one to enjoy the mean and ugly, I'm on constant lookout for entertainment that makes me smile and doesn't gross me out or scare the living daylights out of me. This series fits in perfectly with my taste in entertainment.

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Blackbeard The Pirate - 1952 - Color

Classic Robert Newton Pirate Film
The quintessential pirate Robert Newton delivers an outstanding performance in this classic pirate movie. The DigiComTV transfer is excellent considering the age of the film. A very good transfer encoded at a respectable 6 mbps rate with rich color saturation and good detail. There are some minor artifacts at times but they do not detract from watching and enjoying the action. This is the best transfer I have seen to date, considerably better than the old black and white version I watched as growing up. Kudos to DigiCom for making this hard to find color version available.

The old films
I guess I like Robert Newton in the role of any pirate, he fit the bill. It's not a bad movie, however very off target. Would I recommend it, only for entertainment purpose; not if you want to know the real Blackbeard.

Entertaining
Funny, off-beat, entertaining. Robert Newell seems a bit off at Blackbeard, he appears as if he's acting and isn't quite as believable as I would have liked. Would have been nice to see the bad guy win, since the good guys weren't very likable, but all in all fun to watch, especially on Talk Like a Pirate day.

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The Man from Montevideo

More than it appears
I stumbled onto The Last Detective as part of my exploration of every Britsh crime show I could find. I almost didn't watch beyond the first episode because I favor heavier fare and this felt rather like a redux of the Murder, She Wrote genre--relatively light in tone, a mystery to solve, a bit of humor and on to next week.

But I was wrong. The series *is* rather light. Mod is a gem, the pranks are funny, and we get a steady influx of episodic suspects that range from sinister to clownish. But beyond the mysteries two aspects of TLD make it special: the regular cast is spot on perfect and the writers had the sense to create arcs that continued throughout the series, giving it more than a one-and-done feel.

It is the characters and their relationships that drive the series through four seasons, and that keep the viewer coming back. Sure, the mysteries are fun and often titillating but it is Davies' plight and his relationships with Mod, Julie, DI Aspinall, WPC...

Yet another great Detective.
Peter Davison is superb, in this highly unusual series.

The supporting cast, too, are all highly enjoyable and convincing. The fact that Davison the hard working, plodding but, in the end brilliant detective, is such a wuss regarding his estranged wife, was brilliant in its conception. It is always good to have heroes who have Achilles heels!

This series is brilliant and extremely well directed. Everyone, who enjoys a good detective yarn and a genuine smile, should see it.

The Last Detective - Series 4
Excellent follow-up to previous 3 series. The actors have come to really "own" the roles. The story lines are excellent with a good mixture of mystery, humor and toughness.

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