Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous [HD]

"That dress would be perfect if we were premiering a movie called 'Backdoor Blondes."
I'm betting your liking this film may hinge partly on where you stand on the whole Jessica Simpson thing. Do you love her, loathe her, don't give a dang about her? Me, I don't think much of her singing and I'm leaning towards tepid when it comes to her acting skills. But I think it's beyond debate that she's a straight-up stunner, and my feeling is that she's kind of gotten a bum rap from the press and paparazzi. Acting career-wise, I'm not sure that Jessica Simpson will ever star in a critically acclaimed picture, her best movie so far being Employee of the Month (Widescreen Edition). But that doesn't mean that her cinematic stuff isn't worth checking out. So, yes, I saw PRIVATE VALENTINE: BLONDE & DANGEROUS, and I survived it. Fact is, I even liked it.

Jessica Simpson, minutes into the movie, eventually got on my good side, and she eventually wore down my skepticism. She plays down-and-out actress...

An enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon
Take this movie for what it is....a enjoyable way to kill a few hours if you expected something oscar worthy you shouldn't have picked it up in the first place. While its not near the best of anything it was still made to entertain and that it does if you just watch it for what it is and don't expect a masterpiece. I was entertained and I think Simpson's acting has improved in this movie she was bubbly, cute and ignorant just as the character was. Everybody likes something different and I think this movie is actually enjoyable if your not heading into it already condemning it. I personally love Simpson I think she is an incredible woman with a good head on her shoulders.

Jessica Simpson does Private Benjamin
After "Blonde Ambition", my expectations for this movie were very low. As I started watching it it seemed better than I expected. It was pretty funny at times and Jessica Simpson worked surprisingly well in the lead role. She's helped by some good supporting actors, especially Vivica A Fox and Cheri Oteri. The plot is extremely predictable and taken directly from films like Private Benjamin and Feds. About halfway into the movie, the film started taking itself a bit too seriously and became less funny. Still it's a decent way to spend 90 minutes. Weak 3 star rating. Would have been a solid 3 stars if the second half had been as good as the first half.

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Better Than Something: Jay Reatard

Outstanding
If you're a fan of Jay at all you have to see this film. It's very well made and has some great interviews with his closest friends and family & some great older interviews with Jay and some fantastic footage from shows. I was only a casual fan of Jay Reatard before watching this i've only heard his album Blood Visions. I never knew his discography was so extensive and that he played with so many great bands.
And if you're not a fan of Jays this film will probably make you one, it's freaking awesome. Hopefully Amazon will eventually sell this on DVD/Blu ray, i would love to own a physical copy of this.

Sad and beautiful
This look at Jay Reatard is touching and sad, with some very surprising and insightful moments about his life, his work and his philosophy about music. Some great interviews, and some amazing performances. Even if you only know a little about Jay, it's worth watching.

Great movie about a great talent.
Jay R-word. I felt funny asking the guy at my local entertainment store if he had this documentary about Jay Reatard. With no luck, I decided to rent it on Amazon & watch it immediately. Why? Because I had only been exposed to a few J.R. songs...and I wanted to know more about the late musician. He is now legendary, at least locally. But this film gives a good taste of his shows and what he was all about. After watching this great film, I am convinced Jay had a masterpiece or twelve in his future were he still alive. R.I.P., J. Lindsey.

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A Cat in Paris (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Cool Cat Style: Classic, Hand-Drawn Animation Enhances This Charming French Caper
From the famed French animation studio Folimage comes the charming animated treat "A Cat in Paris." This little film, filled with simple pleasures, was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award and just seems pleasingly different from the increasingly boisterous tone of most U.S. animation. It's a small movie, to be sure, without particularly lofty goals--but that's what I enjoyed about it. It's a flight of fancy, a bit of sophisticated escapism that you don't have to be anesthetized to enjoy with your older children. This is a real family film (not just a kiddie flick). As they enjoy the mischievous feline, you can relish in the Paris backdrop and fondly recall rooftop chases from "To Catch A Thief." This two-pack release has both the DVD and the Blu-ray feature and you may opt to see the film with its original subtitles or with the new soundtrack. For American distribution, Marcia Gay Harden, Anjelica Huston (with a fairly peculiar accent) and Matthew Modine headline the vocal...

Sprighlty tale of cops and robbers, a cat, and a kid
The style of animation is not one I especially appreciate. That's quickly forgotten though as I became absorbed in the sprightly tale of cops and robbers, life and death, a cat and a kid, all set to a vivacious score. There are some dark themes touched on but the story bounces along without dwelling in the dark places for long.

One of the best kids films this decade
------------------------------------------------------------
"A Cat In Paris"
(Folimage/New Arts, 2010/2012)
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A real gem from French animators Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol... This brilliant, stylish, wildly creative thriller has a look and feel unlike anything being produced in the United States these days. Visually the film is gorgeous: the graphic design is odd and angular, with purposeful nods to film noir's camera angles and use of darkness and shadows, along with a color palette that's filled with rich, unusual choices. The delicious graphics are complimented by a slinky spy-jazz score that feels alternately moody and retro.

Thematically, "A Cat In Paris" is practically an anti-Disney kids' movie: it's stylish and unpredictable; there is a dead parent, but it's the kid's dad, not her mother (who, rather than being dead is a strong, no-nonsense police detective... A great female role...

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Programming the Nation

Interesting
I enjoyed this film although it was not as hard hitting as I expected. It presents a balanced view of the use of subliminal messages by those who desire to influence our thoughts, habits, and actions.

A Master Piece
One of the most greatest documentaries ever made, revealing many scary secrets that in my opinion everyone must know about, and the movies proves them too.
To most people,this movie would be like a wake up call, or like a new mysterious door, once its opened, its so hared to close.

Subliminal control
The end is especially good because it starts to examine the government and subliminal influence; everyone should see this movie to stay informed.

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Celluloid Bloodbath

LOTS OF TRAILERS & LOTS OF FUN!
This is the follow-up to the classic horror trailer collection 'Mad Ron's Prevues From Hell' that featured a GREAT collection trailers which were occasionally broken up by cheesy segments with a balding ventriloquist and his lame zombie puppet 'Happy'. Unfortunately the zombie puppet returns here but at least he's not in it much. What you get are another GREAT selection of horror trailers (some with sexual content) that are lots of fun and even though I'm a HUGE horror trailer fan and have seen most of them that exist, there were still some trailers here that are very obscure and it was a pleasant surprise to see them for the first time.

There are frequent short segments between the trailers featuring various people involved in the horror movie industry - mostly on the super low-budget end and probably friends / associates of the people who made this. Some were interesting and informative segments but there were several that I think are guaranteed to grate on most peoples'...

FROM FANS FOR FANS!!!
Gee!...Trash as trash can be!A Trailershow for Trashfans & B-Movie lovers!
Famous People of this genre are the hosts for a bunch of Trailer!
For me,it wasn't enough - sorry.I wish,there was some Interviews of these Genre-stars or some Trailer of her own movies.
Nothing.And so you've got a lot of treasure-trailer,not more.
Nice party-dvd for grindhouse-fans & Drive In lovers!

What's the worst part of "Mad Ron's Prevues From Hell?"
If you answered anytime the trailers aren't on, you'd be correct. While it is a great trailer compilation, Mad Ron's... had too much Happy and Sum-Otha-Dude (not Mad Ron) cracking horrible puns and bad-makeup zombies shuffling around a theater. Celluloid Bloodbath is the sequel and, luckily, they do away with the bad puns and the zombie movie goers. Instead, they try to cram in many b-movie and grindhouse industry vets and scholars introducing single trailers or whole sections of trailers, grouped together by sub-genre. Some are great (Linnea Quigley), others are just as corny as the bad puns from Mad Ron's..., most aren't on screen enough for you to absorb the fact that you saw them, which is a problem for trailer compilations. A trailer compilation is supposed to jump between trailers, not have little interludes of talking heads blurting out little phrases and then jumping back to the trailers. ON TOP OF THIS, the DVD isn't chaptered by single trailer, but instead by the...

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The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour

These are reviews of an older edition
On the preorder page for one of the new 2012 editions of the "Magical Mystery Tour" movie, Amazon is showing old, negative reviews for a now-obsolete(and unauthorized) DVD release. These reports correctly inform the consumer of the poor audio & video quality of that unauthorized DVD, but when the new, high quality DVD & Bluray editions are released in October 2012, consumers who visit the pages for these new editions will see negative reviews of the unauthorized DVD, and possibly think that those reviews refer to the 2012 editions. Amazon needs to correct this situation, so that space is left open so that reviews of the new editions appear on the product pages for those new editions.

Finally!
If anyone should ever doubt the Beatles greatness, this film will NOT be the one to change their mind. It is a silly film. In fact, it is a very silly, very amateurish trifle. In fact it is downright bad. So why do I give it five big ones? Because it's The Beatles, of course. The Beatles were cranking it out for only seven years. There's a limited quantity of Beatles' product and that makes every bit of it precious!

Nevertheless, the casual viewer will probably be quite bewildered by this goofy curio of psychedelia. It has no script, no plot, and no acting to speak of. So, if you've never seen it, go in with LOW expectations. First off, understand that this is not a Beatles feature film. It was originally presented as a one-hour Beatles TV special, nothing more. It is not a "good" film (in fact it is a "bad" film). But it is imaginative and energetic and it has its moments and it is Beatles!

For Beatles fans this lavish-attention release of MMT is way more than...

Movie May be Silly, but Who Cares -- It's the Music THat Matters
Yes, the movie is cheaply made and amateurish, but I really don't care, because spliced in between the poor "acting," silly scenes, blurry photography etc is the pure magic of seeing the Beatles performing some of the greatest music ever written. When, the songs start, my heart still jumps, and I forget about the filler in between. In all fairness, this was an experiment for the Beatles; if the cinematic part of the experiment failed, what matters is that the music succeeded beyond all.

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The Seduction Of Mimi: Kino Classics Edition

The Seduction of Mimi
This broad, clever satire on male hypocrisy and social convention is priceless, if you love the mournful comic countenance of actor Giannini, as I do. His Mimi is an artful creation, an ignorant, impetuous, bumbling fool you can't help but love. The machinations he undergoes to get back at his spouse will amaze and amuse. Don't miss the scene when the fat lady disrobes- it's deservedly the stuff of cinematic legend.

Comical Satire worth 10 points
A man that wants everything, and ends up with nothing. Mimi, the laborer, is seduced into working for the Mafia - which he hates and fears - to pay for his extramarital affairs.

A well made film of high caliber. Thoroughly enjoyable and remarkably light hearted for an otherwise somber topic. A must for the serious movie buff.

Be Seduced!
A comical and satirical tryst! Delight in Wertmuller's trademark themes of politics and sex. This film adds the differences between Northern and Southern Italy and honor to the mix. The seduction is politically oriented, as you will see with the hilariously, ubiquitous presence of the Mafia. Sicilian concepts of a man and his honor is revealed in Mimi's relationship with his wife, his mistress, his wife's lover's wife, which all somehow become convoluted with politics. Wertmuller, Giannini, and Melato have not reached their heights, but all of the elements of their later masterworks are present in this film.

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Mancation [HD]

A Good Movie!
I liked the local area shots in this movie.
It was indeed foul and pushed the envelope a bit too far at the one scene! YUCK!
The story is a love story and the movie wraps up all the loose ends.
I enjoyed this movie.

kick butt
Crazy good movie loved it can't wait for more from this production company
Love it love it love it love it

I LOVE IT
I LOVE IT
AND IT IS A GOOD MOVIE TO
I 'M HAHAPPY YOU HAD IT IN SO I CAN BUY IT

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Holliston: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]

wonderful show, subpar blu ray
Similar to another review posted here, I adore this show. Its fun, quirky, creative and different, a great contrast to the usual painfully artificial shows on mainstream tv. While the other review provides a great overview of the show's merits, my review focuses on the medium choice - my recommendation is to simply buy the standard definition version. I'll grant that this show is not a Hollywood production with those kind of budgets, so I'm thankful for what I get. That said, it would appear almost no work went into engineering the content for blu ray. Unfortunately, the image feels like a photo file unedited from a low quality camera - exposure is off, color saturation is weak, and overall contrast is lacking. Sound is the same, not well engineered and peaky and flat. Again, I adore this show, and you should run, not walk, to own it. Just save yourself the funds and stick with the standard definition (and this is coming from a blu ray addict).

Horror & Humor In Holliston!
"Holliston" is a fearnet original series and hits quit close to home (literally). It surrounds four friends, two of which are aspiring Horror film directors and work at a local television station and have a low budget TV show. During there struggle to make a name in horror, they are faced with alot of life's obstacles and are caught in silly scenarios. Of course there is a love story thrown in for that 'soap opera' effect, which works very well.

If you're expecting this show to be anything like Adam Green's films (Hatchet 1&2, Spiral, Frozen, etc.) then hold your horses. Although this show CLEARLY pays homage to all kinds of horror, it is a very silly sitcom. If you are a big horror fan like I am and can appreciate the comedic aspect of this show, then by all means take a look for yourself.
Another thing I love about this show is all of the "inside" jokes that some people may not understand unless you are from or are familiar with Holliston, for example the hilarious...

Funny Show
Holliston is a great show for fans of sitcoms and horror movies alike. There are so many references to horror movies in each episode, so if you are a die-hard horror fan you will relate to the characters. For me, the funniest part of the show is Dee Snider. Every time he is on screen, the show reaches infinite levels of hilarity. Tony Todd guest stars in an episode, playing a parody of himself. It is hilarious, and shows a different side of himself that we've never seen before. Tony Todd is famous for playing creepy roles like Candyman, and here he plays against type and shows his comedic side. There are also guest starring roles by John Landis, Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Seth Green, and Ray Wise in Season 1. The show isn't perfect as it does get repetitive at times, and I would have liked for there to have been more than six episodes. Still, a very good show!

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Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia

Disappointing, a follow on from Fairtytopia but more about marketing
I should have known when I saw this was a follow on from Fairytopia that I would be disappointed. This is the story of Elina, who in the movie Fairytopia saved her country of Fairytopia and gained her wings. In this she is sent an urgent message from the Prince of Mermaidia (who briefly appeared in Fairytopia) who asks for her to help him. The movie is full of the trials and tribulations she goes through for him, along with his girlfriend Nori. I expect it is deliberate they have named the Mermaid heroine after Japanese Edible seaweed but it seems ill-considered.

Anyway - the good things about the movie, it is brightly coloured, and the costumes for the characters are gorgeous, when Elina becomes a mermaid she looks just stunning. There are really nice messages in this - about overcoming jealousy, selflessness, sharing and the power of team work. Some of these messages are laid on with a trowel, but on the other hand it is for young children and I think the message needs to...

Nothing "fishy" about it
I caught this today with my 4-year-old daughter on the Nick premier, and she loved it. And honestly, it wasn't too difficult for me to sit through either. Having seen, and owning, every Barbie movie that has come down the chute, I can say that this was by far the best of them, and will be picking it up on release day for myself.. er, my daughter.

Not my favorite
After having seen most of the other Barbie movies before I saw this one, I was disappointed. I didn't care for the Fungi characters and all of the Mer-fairies and similar characters were just overboard and cheesy. Some of the voices of these characters were annoying.

My daughter does seem to like this movie, but not nearly as much as the other Barbie movies. This is one that I wouldn't pay full price for if I were to buy it again.

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E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial [HD]

Great movie, great set
Let me explain something that I feel a lot of people are forgetting. This set doesn't only include the new version, but the old as well. That's a great deal, since you can choose which one you would like to see. If you hate the new effects and CGI, don't watch it. It's that simple.

Now don't get me wrong. I think the newer version is very silly, and I wonder if Spielberg really thought it looked good when he did it. Maybe if he were to do it in around 10 years, it wouldn't look so animated.

I did like the deleted bathroom scene though, even though it was done with CGI. It would have been nice to have seen that in the original, but I guess that would be having my cake and eating it too.

There is nothing flawed about this set, it simply just gives some options that not everyone will want to choose. If you enjoy the movie, you will enjoy this set. It's a classic that hasn't lost it's flavor after all these years.

E.T
Both versions of Steven Spielberg's masterpiece are available on this limited edition DVD of E.T- THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL. The original 1982 and the 2002 re-mastered version are equally impressive. The minor cuts and restored footage doesn't add much. Sure, the CG E.T is impressive and there are some great moments put back in that make the film feel more complete. But the heart of the film stays the same. Differing from Spielberg's more strident films (JAWS, the INDIANA JONES films and JURASSIC PARK), E.T is the simple story of Elliot (Henry Thomas) who finds a friend from space and helps him to find his way home, hence the oft-quoted line "E.T phone home!". The iconic image of Elliot riding past the moon is one of the most memorable movie moments in cinema history, accompanied by John William's whimsical score (Another coup-de-grace par-excellence). The film itself is still emotionally involving and the peformances of the principal actors, especially Henry Thomas and Drew...

... ruined a classic
First, I want to make it clear that I'm reviewing the DVD here, not the original film. I liked the original; it's a good movie. Not as fantastic as it is hyped to be, but good enough to have on DVD for an occasional viewing. I give the film 4 stars.

I have BIG problems with what's behind this DVD, and the "special edition" of ET that's on it.

The 2002 edition of ET is just absurd. As others pointed out, CGI ET looks silly, and isn't consistent with the "old" scenes that include ET. His stiffness was part of his physical character. Making him more "jar-jar" just doesn't make sense. It's an example of "lets do it because we can". There are lots of thing we "can" do that we "should not" do, and this is one of them.

But much worse than this is the digital removal of the guns. Not only was this poorly done (from a technical point of view), but it's an example of Political Correctness(tm) gone mad. Guess what: government agents and cops carry guns, and they point them at...

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The Giant Mechanical Man [HD]

Very sweet & true to life love story that deserves to be watched. A date movie that both men & women will like. A-
"It only takes just one person to make you feel special and valid and like you belong in the world." Janice (Fischer) is having a hard time finding and keeping a job not to mention trying to figure out what to do with her life. Tim (Messina) is doing what he wants to do with his life but feels unappreciated and is not making money at it. Both giving up they take jobs working at the local zoo. They strike up a quick friendship and want to develop more, but there are obstacles standing in their way. This is the definition of a sweet movie. I have never been a big fan of the typical love story movies mainly because they are so unbelievable. The "good guys" are overly good and the "bad guys" are way to horrible. While this did have a little of that this one is way more realistic and I would call this a real-life love story. This is a very sweet movie and the type of date movie that both men and women will enjoy. Overall, one of the better independent love stories I have seen. I give it an...

It's a sweet and simply love story.
I really like the characters and the actors. It is a different, unconventional approach of the encounters of two people that are lost in life, philosophically speaking.
THis movie cheered me up. Perfect for when you are in the mood for something mellow and uncomplicated.

Review of the DVD version of this "independent film"
I like small independent films and this one fits the bill. It's not "great" but I felt the time was well spent and it beats 90% of the "relationship comedies" on TV these days.

Actress Jenna Fischer (form TV's "The Office") Executive Produced this film which stars her and actor Chris Messina. As you'll see from other reviews posted here, it's the story of two people trying to find, not only their place in the world, but a person who will understand them. The title comes from Messina's character who paints his face with silver paint and acts as a moving "stature" on the streets of Detroit, MI. (I'll point out here that nowhere in the film are you given a clue as to what "city" the film takes place - until the final credits. Detroit does not have identifiable buildings like New York, Chicago, or San Francisco.).

Both leads are excellent, in my opinion, but the rest of the cast overact as "happy people" in Director Lee Kirk's attempt to make Fischer and Messina's...

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WWE: Cm Punk: Best In The World [HD]

Best in the World
This is the official match listings for the DVD and my own personal reviews for each match. I've been a huge fan of CM Punk from the very beginning, so this set is like a dream come true. The matches on the set are ones that I had predicted would be on this set, which makes it a must have for any true Punk fan!

Brent Albright vs. CM Punk
OVW 3/1/06
This was the finals of the OVW Heavyweight title tournament after the title was vacated. This was a good bout, but I think that their rematch with Punk coming out on top would have been a better choice but either way it's a great opportunity to see Punk pre-WWE.

CM Punk's WWE in Ring Debut vs. Justin Credible
ECW 8/1/06
This match introduces the WWE Universe to CM Punk and give us a sneak peek as to what we would all expect from him as he progressed...

CM Punk vs. John Morrison
ECW 9/4/07
This was Punk's last chance at Morrison's ECW title after chasing the belt the last three...

The "Eulogy" Of Phillip Jack Brooks
I'll be like Punk himself & be blunt honest in that this day & age, WWE hasn't had a good track record of creating & establishing top name main event caliber talent (another subject for another time) but in over the past year, there has been one name who broke through the "glass ceiling" to become currently one of the longest reigning WWE Champions in history & the one guy who actually brought back old fans to the promotion they left once the "Attitude Era" was over for doing one thing...just speaking his mind & being his "straight edged" himself. That man is C.M. Punk & this is his story which he was personally was hands on with in regards to how it would be presented (or as he's called it in interviews, his eulogy) from his childhood to paying his dues, earning his reputation in the independent scene, and fighting for the proper respect in the WWE. This documentary is different than most of the previous WWE sets in that not only was footage used that WWE owns but also footage from...

CM Punk: Best in the World Listing
Disc 1

A New Day

Spaceboy

Backyard Fame

Taking to the Road

Launching Pad

Constantly Learning

Dark Cloud

Not The Prototype

Outcast Champion

Having Fun

A Challenge

Saving Society

Frustrated Beyond Belief

Hometown High-Pressured Situation

The MAN

Special Features

High School Sports

CM Punk - The Name

Scull Fracture

OVW vs. Albright

From Extra to Champion

December to Dismember

The Hat

"The Most Insulting Thing You Could Say To Me"

A Conversation with Liars

Title in the Fridge

Natalie's T-Shirt

"Teenage Anarchist"

Disc 2

Finals Match in the OVW World Heavyweight Tournament
Brent Albright vs. CM Punk
OVW 3/1/06

CM Punk's WWE in Ring Debut vs...

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The Raven

Literary or Thriller Fans This Movie is For You!
On October 3, 1849 Edgar Allan Poe was found wandering the streets of Baltimore, delirious, calling out the name Reynolds. There have been lots of theories as to what Poe died of, from tuberculosis, rabies or to a drunken bender. "The Raven" puts forth a more romantic theory and a detective story for the man who invented the modern detective novel.

"The Raven" as a movie demonstrates that you can make a movie that bridges the biographical facts of Poe's life and its own artistic vision and still make an interesting movie. The movie is driven by the premise, a serial killer starts a series of killings in Baltimore that emulate some of the more gruesome murders in Poe's stories. When the first murder is done inside a locked room, police detective Fields (Luke Evans) recognizes it as the setting of an Edgar Allan Poe story. Fields brings in Poe (John Cusack) at first as suspect, but when another murder occurs Poe quickly becomes the first criminal profiler and consultant. Poe...

Quoth the raven: Wait for the DVD
"The Raven", a fictional horror thriller featuring the non-fictional literary figure Edgar Allan Poe, was well crafted and never less than adequately watchable, but I really expected more. While calling the film cartoony and childish would be way too critical, I thought there was a broadness and simplicity to the proceedings that made the movie veer away from some potentially very interesting waters.

I'm just thinking aloud here, but I would have loved to see a fictional Poe film set in the months prior to his death in 1849, one that made a genuine attempt at showing viewers what Poe was like, what demons bedeviled him, that sort of thing. The device of the fictional detective story involving Poe could have illuminated the non-fictional aspects of his life, aspects that contributed to his tragic, premature death.

But, no, here we get a sanitized, generally likable Poe with only the barest nods to the man's excesses, depression, and hardships. To be fair here,...

Much better than I expected
All of the actors in this do an excellent job!
The story was really interesting, even though I didn't know very much about Edgar Allen Poe to start with.
The movie keeps you guessing through the entire thing. Great story line with great twists and turns.

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Amphibious: Creature of the Deep

I like this movie!
This movie was quite cute. It could have been better with more money put into it, but think all in all, everyone did a nice job with what they had to work with. I liked the story line. The ending was a bit unnecessary, the special effects were pretty good! I would see it again.

No comment
Didn't even finish the movie. Special effects looked okay for what I did see, but otherwise it just wasn't for me.

hilarious!
only made it 30 minutes thru......basically some shirtless girl gets impaled at the start..... then some Asian guy gets stabbed thru the throat..... with a funny expression on his face.almost as bad as sharktopus......almost.

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Rock of Ages

More fun than expected - funny, good singing, and real star power from Tom Cruise
I saw "Rock of Ages" in a sneak preview tonight, and was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. I had not seen the stage production, but I've seen some other stage musicals converted to movies, and have been generally disappointed, sometimes appalled (I'm looking at you, "Mama Mia!")

Set in 1987, the general plot involves a pair of newcomers to Hollywood, trying to become rock stars, but finding the closest they can get is working in the hottest rock & roll club on the Hollywood Strip. From here, the story expands to include the owners of the club, a politician and his wife who are fighting the corrupting influence of rock music, and the biggest rock god on the planet, Stacee Jaxx, played by Tom Cruise.

The movie starts out pretty cheesy, and the first few numbers garnered some giggles from the crowd, but when Tom Cruise arrives, he kicks the entire show into high gear. Say what you will about him off screen, the man is a star onscreen, and does a...

Wow! Cruise, Zeta-Jones and Baldwin Take You On Wild, Funny Musical Ride!
MOVIE REVIEW #38: " Rock of Ages "

The first thing I want to say is that this film is about the Music of the 80's! - Having been a young `whipper-snapper' at the time - what surprised me most about this film - was that it was FUNNY!. Laugh out loud funny. That alone, seems to take the entire audience I was with by surprise. So-much-so, that they applauded and laughed throughout the film out loud. Like me!

Hearing these songs done by Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible, Top Gun) singing Bon Jovi's classic "Wanted Dead or Alive," (YES TOM SINGS AND VERY WELL TOO!) to Def Leppard's hit "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and Guns `N Roses anthem "Paradise City." Along with Cruise then doing duets with Malin Akerman (The Proposal, Watchmen) on Foreigner's power ballad, "I Want To Know What Love Is," and shares the mic with Julianne Hough (Footloose-2011, Burlesque) on The Scorpions' "Rock You Like A Hurricane." ...was a cinematic shock to me. As well as a hysterically performed, yet...

Wow
Fell in love with Tom Cruise! This brought back so many good memories. I went and downloaded the soundtrack. Who knew Tom Cruise could sing!

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Last Ride

Gritty father son drama in the Aussie Outback
Well acted and paced father son drama. Outlaw loser dad takes off on the run with young son. The dad loves his son in his rough way, but he is also endangering his life. Teaches son survival skills, but also by negative example, how not to live.

sound
I was wary when this film started that it would be all machismo and not much else with a poor kid in toe. Last Ride is more than that. The acting is excellent. I loved the music. It got into a little boy's sensabilities in a way that all made sense without sentimentality. The father had a story too. The movie is not about a desperate joy ride. It is more than that because this film is well made in everyway. It has a straightforward simplicity to it; moving and involving, great direction and nice photograhy.

Well Worth Watching
Although mostly sad and grim, this film is engrossing and ultimately very rewarding. However English subtitles to help with the sometimes mumbled Australian-accented dialogue would have been helpful.

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The Brooklyn Bridge - 40th Anniversary Edition

Great Music!
I have always been a fan of the Brooklyn Bridge so it would be pretty hard not to like this. Johnny Maestro still has an amazing voice after all these years. Too bad he has passed away since this was filmed.

Good for a short time
Listened while reading. Got bored after a while and moved on. Makes for good background noise, but that is about all



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O'Jays - Live In Concert

Awesome legends!!!
Grew up on the ojays music. It's always great to watch the oldies but goodies and they still sound the same. awesome performance

Found something
The O'Jays live in concert is great. I would reccomend it for anyones collection. Brings back lots of memories. Its a keeper.

Great concert video
This is an enjoyable concert recording. If you like the OJAYS you will want to play it more than once, as I did.

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Through The Eyes Of A Caddy

The Caddy always knows!!
Very interesting and informative video. Wish there were more videos like this one. Shows how subtle changes can make a big difference to swing but also approach to golf.

Not really instructional DVD
Thought this video dealt with the "man" and his life in golf rather than helping anyone with their game. I learned Carl was a great caddy to have at your side

Interesting info - poorly done
This appeared to be an amateur presentation. Not professionally done at all. That being said, it was at times an interesting video about an interesting man.

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The Advocate For Fagdom

A revolutionary revolutionary.
Finally, the man steps out from behind the camera. NOW, the films make sense. Sort of. The comments of his contemporaries are well selected and honest. Worth a view. Worth owning.





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Chinese Odyssey 1 & 2

Tip of the Iceberg
Stephen Chow created an amazing body of work for the Hong Kong market in the 1990s, and very little of it has trickled to the West. Unfortunately, since since smash hit "Kung Fu Hustle", he has been largely paralyzed into inactivity. What a shame, because as a comedian - and he is primarily a comedian, not a martial artist - he rates among the world's best. Slowly we are seeing some of his classics get English subtitled releases.

'Chinese Odyssey 1 & 2' are two back-to-back movies that are the wildest and most surreal of his career, and that's saying a lot! They tell the story of the Monkey King and are done in a style similar to Terry Gilliam in 'Time Bandits'. Off-the-wall humor and sight gags rule the day. But underneath all the buffoonery and make-up there is a great love story and a plot not unlike "Back to the Future'.

If you like Hong Kong cinema and want to see something more than a little different, I highly recommend these two movies...

Stephen Chow great as always.
These were the first two Stephen Chow movies I saw. I loved them and became a fan. This has to do with the Monkey King. Check them out and his other films.

Great films!
I've always been a fan of the Journey to the West story. Certainly a fantastical foray into it! A must have for Stephen Chow film lovers!

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Crazy Eyes

Young Alcoholics In Love: Amusing, But Not A Particularly In-Depth Character Study
Adam Sherman's "Crazy Eyes" fits squarely into the sub-category of drama that features boozy reprobates as metaphors for the dissolution of the American dream. At best, these character stories can be hard hitting and disturbing. At worst, they can seem tired and self-involved. Truthfully, I'm no big fan of "Crazy Eyes." The movie itself is well made and some of the performances are nice, but what it really lacks (for me) is heart. This tale of wasted potential and unexplained privilege is a familiar one. I don't know why, exactly, I was supposed to care about the principle characters in "Crazy Eyes." They were not particularly likable, nor do they have to be, but they ALSO weren't developed with enough depth to make them compelling. That was the disconnect for me. When I think of the many powerful and challenging movies about alcoholic debauchery and codependency that I've seen through the years, I felt that "Crazy Eyes" just served up a lightweight version of other more...

"CHARMING, ENGAGING, DRAMATIC!"
Zach is currently living what he believes to be the 'Good Life.' He's living the Hollywood bachelor dream-come-true life, and has his own bartender pal right by his side. Top priority for Zach is Party Life with plenty to drink and lots of fun. Then, he meets a woman that he cannot have a relationship with, and the family drama begins, along with issues and challenges. Is he ready to grow-up and step into responsibility as an adult? This film is raw, honest, and entertaining. An Enjoyable love story with Great acting Performance. Highly Recommended!

Good Examination of Alcoholics
As a person who has been around many alcoholics and seen many stories about alcoholics, I do have to say that this movie is the best example of an alcoholic relationship that I have ever seen.

Zach is very wealthy, young entrepreneur that has made a ton of money and does not really have a life. The only life that Zach seems to have is drinking and having sex with women who only date him for his wealth. And along comes Crazy Eyes who Zach decides that he has to have sexually. Rebecca (Crazy Eyes) is determined that Zach will only be a friend and Zach is determined that Rebecca will be more.

What makes this movie interesting are the games that are played by Rebecca as she is determined to have Zach on her own terms. Becca believes that she is the better person because she is poorer than Zach, and as such she thinks she knows more about life than he does. Through the whole movie Becca criticizes and belittles Zach even though she does things that are just as...

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Thomas & Friends: A Very Thomas Christmas

Another Great Thomas Holiday DVD
"Thomas & Friends: A Very Thomas Christmas" is a great holiday dvd for families to enjoy. It features new CGI stories and fun. The episodes on this dvd are "The Christmas Tree Express", "Ho Ho Snowman", "Salty's Suprise", and "Emily's Winter Party Special". There are great stories on this dvd. I enjoy how Edward was so thoughtful by trying to find Salty a christmas present, and great to see a present train with lights. Also we get to see the Blue Mountain Quarry in one of the episodes. During the episodes, Driver Perkins tries to find a place to sleep at the common room. There are two additional Bonus Features on this DVD: "Thomas' Christmas Journey" Game, and more "Guess Who?" Puzzles. This is a great dvd to add to the thomas collection for fans and families. I give this dvd 11 out of 10 stars in my opinion. Hope you all have a great christmas :)

LINDO
AMI SOBRINO LE ENCANTAN LOS TRENES ASI QUE DECIDI COMPRARLE ESTE DVD PARA NAVIDAD JUNTO CON UN TRENESITO ESPERO QUE LE ALLA FACINADO Y DISFRUTADO AL MAXIMO.

Great buy
My 2 1/2 year old loves anything Thomas and this fits right in. Great for Christmas time to watch with him.

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Prometheus (Blu-ray 3D/ Blu-ray/ DVD/ Digital Copy)

4-Disc Collector's Edition Analysis
I'm reviewing the 4-Disc Collector's Edition. I'll go through each disc individually to give you a good idea of what you will be getting, and which version you should purchase. But first, let's briefly discuss the movie itself.

If you haven't seen the film yet, you will still undoubtedly be aware of the polarized reception it received. Some love it, some hate it. Instead of giving you another opinion on why it's the best/worst film ever, let me tell you what to expect. PROMETHEUS is not a horror film. Certainly it has structural similarities to ALIEN, and there is one scene that I would consider very "stressful." But overall, the film is what I would classify as a "concept drama." That is, a drama that doesn't focus on characters, but rather on concept. Don't let any of the tense trailers fool you, this movie was meant as a discussion piece, not an adrenaline rush. You can decide whether it succeeds or fails when you watch it yourself.

Onto the discs...

Take the Scientist's Survival Pop Quiz v2.0!
Are your survival skills as finely honed as the scientists aboard Prometheus? Let's find out...

You, a scientist, have landed on a distant planet with a team of fellow scientists in search of alien life. What would you do in the following scenarios?

1. Upon first arrival and entrance into what appears to be a manufactured cave structure, you deploy very high tech scanning and mapping probes. Do you:
A) Also send out your android crew member to evaluate any possible danger and then wait for the probes to finish scanning and mapping before you begin exploring?
B) Brazenly charge forward into the unknown and maybe consult your equipment's discoveries later, shrugging off any blips of alien life as an equipment malfunction?

2. While traveling through the cave structure on this alien planet you discover the presence of oxygen in the air. Do you:
A) Keep your space helmet secured tightly because there may be any number of unknown elements,...

Technically Fine but Lacks Something
The purpose of Ridley Scott's film "Prometheus" apparently is to explain the origin of what was found on the hostile planet by the group of space travelers in the beginning of the original film "Alien" (1979). The conclusion of "Prometheus" may be rather ambiguous to those not have seen it and seems to be setting us up for yet another sequel.

There are, as expected, amazing optical effects compared to the earlier "Alien" films, but I had difficulty in becoming emotionally involved with the characters in "Prometheus" as I did not in "Alien" and especially in the later film "Aliens." I have had the complete Alien collection for a couple of years now and I still haven't gotten around to watching the third and fourth films in the series and possibly never will.

I'm not sure why, but I am coming to regard "Bladerunner" as my favorite Ridley Scott sci-fi film. In its odd way it perhaps creates characters and a universe you can believe. The Blu-ray release of this...

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Shaquille O'Neal's All Star Comedy Jam-Live From Orlando

Saw this live and it was awesome!
I had the opportunity to catch this taping in Orlando and it was hilarious! I was literally laughing out loud at all of the comedians. Lil Duval and Capone were especially funny. This comedy series gives all of the rest a run for their money.

Hilarious!
Honestly, this is one of the funniest stand-ups I've ever seen years! Tony Roberts, Gary Owen and Lil Duval had me CRYING! Tony Roberts had one of his best performances in this one. He's incredibly funny and I look forward to more of these!

Awesome dvd
Great for laughs! Capone and Tony Roberts are hilarious! Get this dvd and you won't be sorry. Simply awesome and professionally done.

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The Lion of Judah

Misleading Title for a Documentary
Holocaust survivors experienced something so horrible that it takes more than sight trip, dialouge and naive discussions of a dark chapter perpetuated by ordinary humans 70 years ago who are not any different than today. This documentary fall short on many ways how the commentators vaguely response and tries hard to express feelings comparing to the present day situation with the each witnessing of the physical site of holocuast places and the monuments. If you want to understand the holocaust experience deeply in the context of human sufferings and hatred than this is not one of those documentary.....they are others out there and not necessarily it have to be a documentary always, some holocaust fiction movies does a better job.

GREAT
Great movie, documentary, and also show us how antisemitism still exist and how Poland doesn't give a damn for the holocaust

Profile in Courage
A portrait of a proud and courageous man. This is an important film as there are few survivors of the Shoah left. Should be required viewing in schools.
Am Yisorel Chai!

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Sex Pot (2009)

It isn't too bad.
How much you enjoy this 3D sex farce will depend on your tolerance for truly crude humor. This is a really nasty little film with tons of nudity and gross situations. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes it is stupid but it is almost always entertaining. The film was shot using an anaglyphic 3D camera (the same type of process used for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 3D) and it has some scenes that really look exceptional. I'm not sure why the film is made in 3D other than to have an additional gimmick to sell it. Nothing really flys of the screen at you except breasts but I suppose that is okay. Don't expect it to look like AVATAR. This is a good time and if you like really offensive dumb comedy then you are certain to find a lot to enjoy with this silly little movie. It never even rises to the level of an AMERICAN PIE sequel but it isn't entirely awful either. Check it out if you like this sort of thing.

Sex Drugs and Alternative Rock 'N Roll
Starring: Michelle Penick ,Victoria De Mare,Elina Madison& Christine Nguyen
Written & Directed by : Eric Forsberg
[...]
This film is a Mockbuster/or at least a riff on all those National Lampoon movies and generic teen comedies with Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill.
The dope,drugs and marijuana stuff is a amusing,If only as a DIY weekend project for misbegotten teens.
Some of the situations arent that funny,Bro/Sis mistake and Strawberry's extra quality.
Michelle was awesome female lead and has quite a future( Se interview elsewhere).
The others mentioned above stole their moments with great ease,Christine is a SOV legend and very funny and Victoria has a huge list of credits in all genres,Elina redefines MILF !
Some things on road seem out of Scooby Doo mysteries in a SUV and lets ask now....WHERE is the 3-D we were hyped ???

A stoner comedy for the ages...
For the ages of 18-19 who might need to feel better about how bad their stoner, sexless life is turning out. I once again took the risk of ordering another stoner comedy, especially one with a budget this big as they filmed it in 3D. Someone has to do it right?

Anyway, we have a film about two undersexed teen boys left alone for the weekend to smoke dope and have rancid masturbation hallucinations - a lot of them. Upon finding some leftover sexual dope, they decide to partake in a wild party filled with naked women - a lot of them. As the party progresses our two leads find beautiful women who help them lose their virginity. And that covers it. Along the way we are subjected to some of the most disgusting visuals I have seen in a sex farce (not going to bother listing them as the review will never get published).

The supplements include a few minutes of bloopers (funnier than the movie) and a 10 minute making-of. That docu actually covers a legitimate back story...

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Ek Tha Tiger - BLU RAY (2012) (Hindi Movie / Bollywood Film / Indian Cinema ) [Blu-ray]

A Tiger of a movie
I would rate this movie second tier. Very good but not the best. It was a great plot - about half action and about half romance. Both Katrina and Salman handled action and romance scenes equally well. The music video was great, especially Mashallah and Banjaara, but there were not enough songs. I liked the way that they utilized the music styles of the localities - Ireland, Cuba and Middle East. Although not on a level with Wanted and Partner this is still a very good movie.

Great fun!
I was highly entertained throughout this movie. There was plenty of action, some awesome fight scenes, great song/dance numbers, interesting story. And beautiful people. What more could you want??

Super good Movie!!
If you are a fan of Indian Cinema, this is really a must see.
Super cinematography, and characters. Katrina Kaif is terrific.

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Europe - Live! At Shepherd's Bush, London

Awesome
I wish you did more older Europe concert on instant videos. But everything was great and keep up the job you are doing.





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Frame of Mind

a disappointment
My husband and I both found this movie painfully slow and unconvincingly acted. We hung on, hoping that a good story could move it along, but the subplots (or what we thought might be subplots) went nowhere. I normally don't write reviews for Amazon, but I rely on them heavily. Therefore, when I saw that the only 2 reviews written for this item were so glowingly enthusiastic, I felt it my social responsibility to warn would-be customers. If you are curious about this movie, borrow it from the library, or even rent it - but please don't spend 17.99 for your own copy.

Horrible
One of the worst movies I have ever seen, it was so bad I'm actually writing a review and I have never done this before. The plot line was so bad it was actually shocking, but the acting was below the standards of some adult films (mostly the main character). I did not pay anything to see this movie and felt like I was cheated. If you spend $17.99 on it I'm positive you will regret it. I don't know what movie the two people who gave it a 5 star rating were watching, but trust the 1 star people because this movie sucked.

Quite a Fine Little Picture
I was surprised by this one. Almost passed it by when I saw it was yet another spawned by the Kennedy Assassination. It turned out to be a modest production in which most things were done right and done well. Acting was on the mark in character and action creation, actors conveyed their very ordinariness in a melodramatic situation. The police, including the new guy on the block, the hero of the film, act like members of a small town New Jersey force. The villains acted suitably villainous, both the gang members and the big fish behind the scene. Those who were frightened by the set-up were shown to be responding realistically. Some of the action scenes were abbreviated, not I think for lack of money, but because they evoked the appropriate responses without expanding upon them.
I was hesitant to indulge in yet another Kennedy Assassination after-effect. We had too much of that in all media in the years following the murder. The absence of a trial, the dramatic death of the...

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Cybornetics

Very Good Movie
I'm a big sci-fi fan and I can tolerate a lot of absurdity with bad acting and poor special effects so long as the story is engaging. After my initial shock, I'd have to say that this was very entertaining. I'll give this one 3.5 stars. You can't put it in the same box as Robocop,Terminator, or The Matrix. But if you like science-fiction films more for engaging your mind over wowing your eyeballs with visual effects, then this may be a very entertaining film for you. It was for me.

Great film!
I think you'll be hard pushed to find anything close to this in the science fiction movie genre. Cybornetics is a an urban, science fiction, action and drama mix. There are several classic scenes in this movie; the shootout, the main character waking up to find out he is a cyborg. Personally it rates as one of my favorite independent films of all time.



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The Sound of the Spirit

A Nice Jewish Film
Messianic Judaism is a young movement of Jews living as Jews, but have accepted Christ as their savior. They are not generally accepted by traditional reform, conservative and orthodox Jews.

The Sound of the Spirit is about a Jewish teenager brought up in a Messianic Jewish family. Her mother is already deceased, but her father dies of a heart attack. She then moves in with her aunt and uncle, a traditional Jewish family. Here's where the tension and conflict begin.

This is the first film that I know of that deals with the controversy between the Jewish believers in Christ and the traditionally Jewish non-believers. This is something new as Messianic Judaism is only about 40 years old and growing. In the past, Jews who came to believe in Christ simply became Christians, giving up their Jewish identity. Messianic Jews retain their Jewish identity, live and worship as Jews and have introduced the new testament to traditional Jewish worship.

This...

Very Inspirational!
A great story outlining a young girl's struggle with sticking to what she believes in despite the adversity around her.

Interesting Story. I wish they would have gotten professional script writing & acting advice before going public
This was the first movie I have ever seen with this confrontational story line. The part that grieved me was the embarrassment I felt by watching a movie that was sub par in script writing and especially the quality of the acting. The story line kept me watching it, but to be honest it was painful, due to the script and acting. This debate is crucial for Christians around the world to watch. Jesus was a Jew, and just as much as it is hard for Jews to accept Christianity, my heart breaks that many churches turn their nose up at the Jews. I LOVE ISRAEL - my heart will always be connected with its land and people. This movie stirred me in a whole new way to want to see peace between Jews and Gentiles, for that reason I would say watch it. I only wish the movie held to the complete showing of love and peace between both sides. A NOTE TO THE WRITERS, EDITORS AND DIRECTORS: Please if you ever do a movie like this again, take more time to reach out to the Christian Arts. There are thousands...

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Fear Island [HD]

Decent, but felt like a TV movie
I have to be honest, I saw this on my cable TV's on demand. I didn't purchase the DVD. But seeing as how there are no reviews for this here, I thought I'd post my opinion on this movie.

The movie starts out at the end of all the murders. We see on survivor and are told everyone is dead. I hate when that happens in movies because then I know who survives and that everyone else is gonna bite it. It honestly wasn't that big of a deal with this movie though.

The survivor can't remember anything, and its through them that we find out what happened on this island that they were vacationing on with their friends.

The movie is pretty straight forward other then not knowing who the killer is. It really tries to twist everything around a time or two so that it throws you off the scent of the real killer. And for me it did that. I had no idea who or why until a little while before it was revealed. I honestly enjoyed the ending of the film and all the "twists"...

The Ultimate Movie Review! - [...] - @tss5078
For some odd reason I like things that take place on deserted islands. J.J. Abrams has showed us that there are so many ways to go and that the possibilities are endless, but to be honest I didn't expect much from this film. As it turns out, Haylie Duff isn't a bad actress and Fear Island wasn't a bad movie! This film was exciting, engaging, smart, and pretty well written. Many parts of the story, especially the ending were predictable; however it was still a great story. Fear Island is one of those movies you watch because it appears in your instant recommendations and there isn't anything else to watch, so you give it a chance, and what you find is that it's actually a pretty worthwhile film.

Wrong region
I watched this on Netflix and had to have the DVD (movie is great). I ordered it through Amazon and I always look to make sure it's the right region when it is shipped from another country. I did not see anywhere where it said that it was Region 2. After I got the DVD I rechecked and did finally find the Region 2 notation. Unfortunately it will not play on any of the three blu-ray players I have so I don't know if the DVD even works. The company offered to take it back but the shipping costs for me would have been more than the DVD cost.

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Cherry

Fascinating film about love/friendship
CHERRY: THE MOVIE

This is a complicatd and entertaining film about human nature, with a twist. Love Vs. Lust; Friendship Vs. love and good vs evil. A love triangle that keeps you on the seat of your chair....you may know whats going to happen....but find yourself not wanting it to really happen...even tho it is inevitable. A bit of a surprise twist at the end.....

Excellent acting; excellent writing; director Quinn Saunders does an amazing job of developing the characters with the intersting use of color, language, appearance and a set that shows a bit of the "seedy" side of LA that sets the tone for the film. I loved it...and didn't want it to end....
rented from Amazon.

Above average movie, hampered by weak lead
The movie itself is thought provoking and reasonably well written, although Sam's verbal vulgarity at the start was nearly overpowering. It wallowed quite a bit in the middle, but hang in there, the ending was very taught, I truly did not know which way it would go.

I might have stretched and given it 4 stars, but the acting of David Crane as Cherry was ... not very good. I probably acted about as well in high school (and that is not a compliment). The other two leads (Jules, Sam) were both very strong, but that really doesn't undo the damage to my immersion that Crane's acting created. Maybe Crane thought the more he exaggerated Cherry's puppy-dog patheticism, the more "sensitive" the viewer would perceive him? All it did for me was create a growing sense of annoyance, and make consciously wonder, how could these guys have ever become friends? (come to think of it, maybe Sam was played as an extreme caricature too, the non-stop vulgarity at the start in the...



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If You Only Knew

a touching story
it should be shown to kids and young adults so they have a better understanding about the changes of their grandparents when approaching Alzeihmers disease.

Life Changing
This movie is for everyone: those who have dealt with AD closely by watching a loved on suffer the disease, those who work in the healthcare industry, mothers who struggle to give their children more each day, fathers who don't appreciate the family they have, people who let their lives be ruled by Alcoholism ... It will change your point of view for ever!

NICE MOVIE
Anchored by sensitive direction and strong performances, "If you only knew" bring us the human drama as its best. It is a meaningful film that everybody should watch.

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Elvis Found Alive

Great Mockumentary!
I think ELVIS FOUND ALIVE is very much fun to watch.In this faked documentary Gilbert finds out that Elvis is alive. He trackes him down and the King even agrees to do an interview. What follows is a very entertaining mixture of facts, rumors and the authors own fiction. The interview is especially funny, because all kinds of phrases from real interviews and press conferences are used. Besides that the interview is spiced up with pictures (real and fake), movie trailers and 8mm films.

"Elvis Found Alive" is entertaining throughout and I wish I had known about it sooner! Its spellbinding and informative!
We liked this movie because it was completely entertaining as well as being so well done. Its true that the Elvis character sounded like he was reading his lines but then it was just so compelling and everything was tied in exactly in such a way as to leave you with that question mark feeling that this actually; while maybe far fetched, could be real. While it would have been the perfect campaign to use to keep Obama from being re-elected, it would have needed to be seen wide spread, and even then, there would be skeptics. I do recommend it as an entertaining piece of work, and certainly to al Elvis fans. It exceeded my expectations and is a lot of bang for the buck!

Great Movie
This movie will blow your mind away! If you love Elvis Presley as much as I do than this is the movie for you.

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The Forgiveness of Blood (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Fantastic performances and great direction and cinematography
From the first lingering shot of the idyllic Albanian landscape, with majestic mountains in the background and windswept fields in the foreground, director Joshua Marston immerses the viewer in a powerful fictional tale about a very real issue -- the impact on the families who end up inheriting the "sins of the fathers" from violent blood feuds in one of the poorest European countries.

The beginning of the story quickly sets up the jarring contradictions faced by contemporary Albanians -- horse-drawn carriages alongside motorized vehicles, livestock on the soccer fields, adults and elders clinging to ancient oral traditions while the younger generation is wrapped up in videogames, television, Internet-enabled computers, and handheld mobile devices.

The greatest service Marston does is to shed light on this paradox as the Old clashes with the New, placing the seemingly unfathomable tradition of regulated blood feuds in human context. We see it played out to...

Our Story Too
I ordered this film to try to understand more about the cultural background of a story from my own family lore. My grandmother told the story of "Zio Francesco" who was a shepherd in Calabria in the previous century. The local bandits (now they would be called organized crime) would come periodically to take one or two of his flock, but he was a poor man and the result was real hardship. Finally he informed the carabinieri (local police) where they could find the bandits. They escaped, and the man knew that he could no longer leave the house without being killed. So, each day, he would send his small son out with the sheep. One day there was a thick fog, and the boy was afraid, so the man went out hoping to be veiled by the fog. But the bandits caught him and burned him alive.
Albania is the only country that codified in writing the ancient vendetta law, called the Kanon, but it held the force of custom through wide swaths of the Mediterranean. Before Albania was Communist,...

Blood Feud
The concept of blood feuds between families evolving from incidences that in most societies would be handled by an impartial legal system is instead in many parts of the world handled by informal and traditional reparations ranging from money to another life to be taken. Such is the case in Albania, long known as the North Korea of Europe, where some families still utilize a Kanun of traditional oral laws to resolve disputes and save face (honor). That repute is rapidly changing as new generations embrace a more open and communicative society - yet, resistance, as to be expected, still exists from the elders. Thus is our story.

The naturalistic acting which far exceeds what trained and experienced actors would have produced greatly enhances the believability of the story. That, coupled with fine cinematography and research, results in an engaging film experience.

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Kati with an I

Not particularly interesting.
If you're looking for a well-done documentary about an extremely typical teenage girl, this is for you. The film attempts to make this girl's life a lot more interesting than it really is, with minimal success. I didn't really enjoy it. But I didn't really hate it, either. The whole film made me facepalm over and over again about this girl's decisions. Perhaps being farther removed from Kati's age (her and I graduated in the same year) I could look at the film in a more nostalgic way, instead, I just see the type of girl I didn't really like in high school-- the one who spent all of her time thinking about her boyfriend.

Many of the reviews about this film rave over the cinematography and music, which are both really quite great. This is the perfect film to study how cinema verité should be executed, that is, only if you can get past the subject matter.

unlike the other reviewer ...
i found this to be a very touching film and am glad i bought it. it is nicely filmed, intimate, and has cool music too.



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Titanic: A Legend Born In Belfast

About time Belfast took it's credit.
This was a good and thorough look at the Building of the great ship in Belfast and the wonderful people that joined in in its start and finish. So many people from Belfast were signed on back then. It was horrible when the ship sank. Blocks of their city were in mourning. There was some great new info that made this fun reading. I recommend it.

OK
I'm headed to Belfast next month and wanted some background to the Titanic exhibit there. Pretty good for that purpose, but I probably wouldn't have watched it otherwise.

A Comparative Picture
This documentary like film is nothing to amazing, hence the 'it's ok' rating. I fear the only dislike I have for it is that I have either read of or heard most of the information portrayed. This does make a nice travel video though. It was a real treat to learn about the construction of the Titanic memorial and the fact it was placed where the berths were located for Titanic and Olympic.

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Bonnie & Clyde Vs. Dracula [HD]

It's Got a Great Title and a Really Cool DVD Cover
Genre crossovers are nothing new, but with the massive literary success of the novel PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, they're everywhere now and are an entire sub-genre in and of themselves. I like the idea of a crossover. I always enjoyed it as a kid when two or three tv shows would meet up for an episode or a two and would sometimes think of tv shows that would have been neat to see together-how cool would it have been if Magnum P.I. would have visited the mainland and got involved with the A-Team? Therefore, I picked up BONNIE & CLYDE VS. DRACULA just for the title alone. I kept thinking, it would be great to see a couple of gangsters take on the vampire king.

In the movie, Bonnie & Clyde are on the lamb after a bank robbery gone wrong. They are in need of a new car, a hideout, and a way to make some quick cash to get on their feet again. Clyde leads them to an "inn" of disreputable repute in the middle of nowhere where a friend of his is supposed to meet them with...

Better than expected
Let's be clear. This isn't a vampire movie or a Dracula movie. It's a Bonnie & Clyde movie with an appearance by Dracula. If you're looking for a vampire movie (as I was), get over it. The point is, it's a pretty good Bonnie & Clyde movie and also a pretty good mad scientist movie. The acting is decent considering the no-name cast. The story has some interesting twists. What more could you ask for? I knocked off one star because the ending was weak.

It's awful and boring.
Don't waste your time, or your money, on this film unless you are a total Bonnie & Clyde completest, Dracula completest, so and so vs. so and so completest, etc. Yes, the young woman the plays Bonnie is a total hottie; perhaps the film's only redeeming factor, but not worth the price. It's just plain stupid. Personally, I'd like to get a refund, but the seller was not at fault. I'm going to sell it here - "Like New-viewed once and once only!"

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Casino Royale (1967) [HD]

Not one but two versions of Casino Royale
Finally this comedic take on the James Bond series makes its way onto DVD, and for completists and fans of James Bond this 2002 DVD promises not only the 1967 version of Ian Flemings first 007 novel but also an edited down version of the very first James Bond movie, the 1950s CBS TV movie that starred Barry Nelson as James Bond (thats right, Sean Connery was NOT the first actor to portray 007). Made for an American audience, the character of James Bond is a CIA agent in that show and Leiter is the British intelligence agent. That movie, which is listed as a special feature on this DVD, also starred Peter Lorre as the villain Le Chiffre. Made in the days of live television this entertaining oddity is worth watching for the bloopers alone.
Years later, the rights to "Casino Royale" made it into the hands of another movie producer who, convinced that any attempt to make a serious version of "Casino Royale" would be doomed without the talents of Sean Connery, decided to make the...

How Many 007s Does It Take To Change a Light Bulb?
Eon Production's DR. NO was a great hit in the early 1960s, and Eon quickly snapped up the rights to the rest of Ian Flemming's novels about super spy James Bond--except for the CASINO ROYALE, which had already been purchased earlier by CBS for a 1950s television adaptation. When the property wound up at Columbia Pictures, they decided to create the satire to end all satires with a host of writers, five famous directors, and an all-star cast led by Peter Sellers. But Sellers' ego reached critical mass during the production and he was fired mid-way into filming--and suddenly roles that were originally envisioned as cameos had to be expanded to finish the project. The result is one of the most bizarre films imaginable. The story, such as it is, finds James Bond (David Niven) called out of retirement to deal with the sudden disappearance of secret agents all over the world. In order to confuse the unknown enemy, Sir James orders ALL secret agents to use the name James Bond--and...

Excellent '60s Magic; Acid Soaked Bond Spoof
As a '60s afficionado I finally got around to seeing this great psychedelic mindblower of a film. It starts off slow....enter Ursula Andress. There are at least 100 beautiful European girls in this film and I can see Woody Allen's motivation to kill all men taller than him so he can get them all. As the film takes off you realize that you have to be on Acid to understand the plot, as everyone remotely connected with this film must've been. The sets range from a Scottish castle to a Berlin haunted house to Orson Wells' psychedelic torture chamber complete with mod spiral funhouse rooms, and it gets more bizarre from there. Great music by Burt Bacharach (The Look of Love).

Has cameos from practically every British star of the time, has a Spaceship full of Woody's duplicate World Leaders...it has everything. What can I say, if you like the '60s you'll love this if you possess that '60s Psychodelic Consciousness that is.

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Harry Potter Double Feature: The Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2

Finally done buying HP movies
I picked this up early at Target (thanks to the other reviewer who mentioned it was available there) -- a bit more expensive than Amazon, but the long and short of it is I was getting tired of waiting.

First, kudos to WB for including parts 1&2 in one set, and not making us buy another ginormous case for our shelves (although I guess it means one less set of collector cards and books, but I doubt anyone is buying the Ultimate Editions for those). And kudos for not making this only available with the super deluxe, super expensive, re-released set of all the movies AGAIN, which was my fear for a long time.

This is just as feature-rich as the other Ultimates (minus extended versions of the films, but that is a subject already covered exhaustively in all the other sets' reviews). I wasn't keeping track, but there are at least 2-3 extras lasting 40+ minutes, plus a bunch of approximately 4-minute featurettes. Thankfully, they for the most part avoid being redundant...

Not-so-Ultimate: No 3-D version here. But there are Standard DVDs without the second bonus discs.
**Note: This is for the 6-disc Ultimate Edition release of year 7, NOT the 2-disc year 7 release. Amazon is mistakenly combining reviews of all year 7 versions***

We all know the movies, so i will just review this re-packaging. And YES I do have this in-hand for reviewing, I got the early retail release.

The two big disappointments are 1) NO 3-D and 2) NO EXTENDED VERSIONS. O.K., stretching the book into two movies means no extended versions, but there are DELETED SCENES that you can watch outside of the movies.

Even though both movies were filmed in 2-D, Part 2 was released to theaters in 3-D with all of the CGI effects produced in 3-D. So I do consider it an official 3-D movie and a 3-D version should have been included, instead of the DVDs of the same movie. The DVDs do not include the two "Creating The World Of Harry Potter" documentary discs, and that means those collecting this Ultimate series on DVD will lose out.

For those who...

Caution - Received Two Sets of Bonus Material Only
Those interested in this 2 disc set supposedly featuring both parts of The Deathly Hallows may want to wait until a problem I've encountered is resolved (or try buying elsewhere). I ordered a copy from Amazon, received it and found that both discs have bonus material only on them---no feature film. I checked the size of content on each disc and they are only 6gb and 8gb--so obviously no hidden feature anywhere on the disc. I ordered a replacement from Amazon and noted it came from a different location but received the identical set of bonus materials...

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The Funhouse (Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray]

"The Funhouse" (AKA Carnival of Terror)
After the success of the shocking slasher, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and the eerily vampire tale of "Salems Lot", horror master Tobe Hooper came out with one of his most highly anticipated films yet! While being not as popular as some horror movies, this very rare gem was sadly neglected and barely even heard of throughout the years. Heck it may be low-budget, but I think that during its release it proved to be a very original and nightmarish work of art, showing us the more darker side of how a carnival REALLY can be!

Originally released as a motion picture in the theaters back in 1981, "The Funhouse" was quite the treat for the fan of homemade horror movies. (Those are always the best!) The storyline concerns two young couples who decide to spend the night in the carnival funhouse... BIG MISTAKE! They witness a murder from inside and soon are stalked by a bloodthirsty monster that lurks from inside. One-by-one they fall prey to the numerous booby traps and terrifying...

Underrated Early 1980's Slasher
First, this was directed by Tobe Hooper who has had an interesting if uneven career. He's made some great films like Poltergeist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Life Force and then some real duds like The Mangler and Spontaneous Combustion. Funhouse falls somewhere in between with enough good stuff to make it worth a view.

The plot is standard fare...A pair of teen couples Amy & Buxx and Richie and Liz go to the local carnival. They enjoy all the usual carny attractions and then get the bright idea of spending the night in the Funhouse. Amy is the young, pure as the driven snow heroine and at first hesitant but then agrees. The couple hop on the ride and begin going though the funhouse. They hop off the cars while inside and wait for the park to close for the night. Now this is actually pretty cool. Who, as a teen, didn't think it might be cool to do the same thing?

Well while exploring the funhouse the four teens witness a grisly murder by a freak in a...

Pay to get in. PRAY to get out.
"Thet boy just ain't right" If you've seen this movie, then you'll know what I mean. Lately, I've been collecting late 70's, early 80's horror movies and I came across The Funhouse (1981). Directed by Tobe Hooper, best know for 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I thought this movie would be fun and it was.

The movie is slow going for the first hour, and then things pick up from there. This provides a slow build up of the tension, which I enjoyed. Basically you have a small group of teenagers who decide to spend the night in a carnival funhouse, and most don't live to regret it. There are some thrilling/scary moments, but the movie is more low key than The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The gore is very limited, and a lot of it is off screen, but as a choice of direction, I thought it was better that way, for this movie. The settings are very effective, using natural lighting in most scenes, giving the movie a gritty feel. The actors, I feel, did an effective job in...

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Play In The Gray

enlightening, informative and very enjoyable
"Play In The Gray" is informative, enlightening and engaging. It lays the groundwork for discussion and portrays real life stories. it is very humorous, fun and uplifting. it is also intriguing as attitudes shift and people's real lives and reactions are recorded!

"KUDOS" to Kaitlin Meelia for her first Documentary---- her creativity and insight!





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