Three Kings (2010)

THREE KINGS is not for everyone. And it's not easily pigeonholed. Fans of categorization will hate it. :)

"What's it like?" they ask. You can't say it's a comedy, because plenty of people won't find it funny. Can you say it's a heist film? Only if you're narrow-minded. An action movie? Yeah, maybe, but this isn't comic book action here.

Soldiers at the tail end of the Gulf War get a lead on a hidden stash of gold and decide to find it and take it home. What happens to them along the way changes their objectives and changes their lives in profound ways. Director David O Russell has crafted a movie that SEEMS to be aimless, changing directions with the wind, but is actually a movie with a certain destination, taking a more realistic approach to arrive there. A good example of this narrative philosophy is pointed out by Russell in his excellent and illuminating commentary track: in one scene Clooney is rushing pell-mell through an underground bunker and collides with another man rushing to get out. There's no "point" to it other than that these distracting things happen in real life all the time, just not usually in the movies.

The DVD's price is good and it's PACKED with so many extras (all of them interesting and worthwhile, too) that it's hard to pass up THREE KINGS for purchasing. Very much recommended.

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I was expecting a fun in the sun with guns and gold kind of movie. Boy was I surprised! This ranks up with movies like Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line as a really intelligent "war like it really is" story.

It starts off fairly simply. At the end of Desert Storm a group of soldiers find a map showing where stolen Kuwaiti gold was being kept so they go get it. What was extraordinary was the way that the Iraqi soldiers actually helped them but would not let them help any of the locals. Orders from Saddam they said.

However, seeing the injustice being meted out by the Iraqi soldiers our four heroes (Clooney, Wahlberg, Cube and Jonze) decide to intervene. Things do not go well as Wahlberg is captured and tortured and all their vehicles are destroyed.

The torture scene is poignant. Wahlberg and his torturer have much in common: they are fathers, they joined the army to give their families a better standard of living, except that the torturer's one year old son was killed in a US bombing raid and his wife lost her legs. When later on Wahlberg is rescued and he has a chance to kill his torturer, his decision adds all the more depth to the story.

Although Saddam is villified in this movie, the story seems to take no sides. This is not about heroes and glory but about the struggle that everyone has with their own oppression whether it is a tyrant, a poor job or dumb bosses. There are some very touching moments and some great humour. All the actors are very convincing (including all the Iraqi extras) and portay the ambiguity of people caught up in something out of their control.

This is a very good movie and will keep you thinking. The anatomical "shots" are an interesting feature but are insignificant against the storyline. A good movie to add to your collection and talk about with your friends. Loads of extras on the DVD too!

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I'll admit the first time I saw this movie in the cinema; I didn't like it that much. Then again, I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't sure whether it would be a comedy, a drama, or an action film etc. So when the movie was finished and I was walking out of the cinema, I wasn't too sure what to make of it.

I didn't watch the movie for another few years until my friend got it on DVD and having nothing else to do, I decided to watch it again, hoping I would have a different point of view after watching it for a second time. And boy, am I glad I did!

Three Kings is a great movie with; I believe, a deeper meaning. The basic plot is about 4 soldiers in the Gulf War who discover a map on a prisoner after the war is over. It turns out that the map shows the location of $23 million worth of Kuwaiti bullion stolen by the Iraqis. So these 4 soldiers set about getting themselves a nice little bonus. However, upon retrieving the gold, Sgt. Archie Gates (Clooney) and his men are faced with a dilemma: take the gold and allow innocent Iraqi people to be slaughtered by the Iraqi soldiers OR take the gold, try & save the Iraqi people. Obviously the second option comes along with a lot more risk. Gates' moral conscience takes over and he decides upon the latter, citing that "necessity had just changed" and so on goes the movie.

I think David Russell did a fantastic job directing the movie, and getting his message across, which I believe was that President George Bush (Sr.) left the Iraqi people to die.

When America won the Gulf war, President Bush told the people to rise against Saddam and that they would have the full support of the United States of America. Whereas in reality, Bush didn't give a rats a@! and innocent civilians were getting slaughtered while Bush felt he had done his part and `won the war'.

Overall, I believe Three Kings would be an excellent addition to anyone's DVD collection. Clooney, Ice Cube & Mark Wahlberg are all superb in their roles and it makes for a highly entertaining film.

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This is like no other war movie I have ever seen. It was not your typical blood and guts tragedy that drags on. The camera work in this movie was unbelieveable! And the story line kept my interest all the way through the credits. What sets this apart from other war movies, is that Three Kings was about post-war and the after effects. Dealing with refugees and stolen goods. Say no more...I do not want to spoil anything. Check this movie out, you will NOT be disappointed.

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Looked great, was exciting and original, and was one of the most visually imaginative movies I have ever seen. With this and Out of Sight under his belt (and the Coens' "Brother Where Art Thou" and Wolfgang Peterson's "Perfect Storm" on the way) George Cloony could turn out to be a really great cool actor, and Mark Wahlberg proves once again (see Boogie Nights) that he is more than just a singer who drops his pants. Ice Cube and Spike Jonze were great as well, I might add. The best part about this movie is that it doesn't abandon intelligence like most action movies do these days, and preserves a strong political viewpoint throughout. The footage of the bullet entering the body was unlike anything ive seen used in film, and the gunfight scene in the villaige was great. I think the most important part of the movie however was the long running scene in the bunker between the imprisoned Wahlberg and his captor, who lost his wife and child in one of the US's air strikes. It shows that both sides have something to lose, and offers the fact that the US can't always be seen as the only side fighting for a richeous cause in a war. By the way: I am not one who likes to pass judgement on other peoples' movie opinions, but I must say that anybody who gives Ace Ventura precedence over this masterwork has more than a few screws loose. I can't wait for the DVD.

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Go (1999)

Doug Liman follows up Swingers with a very funny and well-written movie, with a fresh-faced cast. The story is enjoyably unpredictable, going back and forth in time, yet this is never confusing quite the opposite, as you happily know that when something rather unexpected happens it will be explained later in the film. Katie Holmes is as appealing as ever, and the pairing of Jay Mohr and Scott Wolfe creates a very amusing partnership. The star is William Fichtner, who creates one of the oddest characters that I have seen for some time, as you can never quite work him out but Desmond Askew is very annoying with his horrible 'cockerney' accent. Some of the lines are very sharp, and it's nice to know that not all American teenagers spend their time worying about who's going to take them to the prom. The extras on the DVD are extensive, with a wealth of very interesting deleted scenes (when there are two pages of them, you know that you're onto a good thing) including a very funny improvisation. The commentary is interesting if you can bear the two rather dull voices on it, and there's a nice selection of music videos. The trailer's suitably eclectic, mixing all types of music to the mad goings-on that are on the screen, and only the featurette is disappointing, being a short and useless 'press-kit' promo with nothing of substance. Altogether, a very nice package Go and buy it. Sorry...

Loved Pulp Fiction? Then you will most likely enjoy a fun-ride called GO, directed by Doug Liman who also did Swingers and is currently attached to direct Bourne Identity with Matt Damon. I went into this movie expecting a typical teen comedy but I walked with my jaw dropped. I could not remember the last time I have seen a movie that was this much fun. This flick is pure example of how much fun a story can be. An intelligent, balls-out entertainment for everyone who enjoys fun movies. Most people tend to praise movies with a 'message', Go has no 'real' message but it does show how much fun something can be. Most people will try to live this story out on their own because it's just that good. Everyone, in some weird way, would love to experience what these bunch of people experienced in this movie. Comedy, sex, guns.. I can go and on.. but who can forget this fun cast who made the movie oh-so-memorable.

Here we have three separate stories that take place the same day/night. It's one of those things that shows you that everyone you meet has a story to their name, and what fun stories do these character have! First up we have Ronna Martin (Sarah Polley) who goes a bit too far and tries to screw a local drug dealer over, we all know how those stories end up but you'll never guess what turn this one takes. Ronna is a work related friend to Simon Baines (Demons Askew), a (...) British dude who just so happens to be friends with the drug dealer who is out to find Ronna. Simon decides to take some vacation time to Vegas with his buddies Marscus (Taye Diggs), Singh (James Duval) and Tiny (Breckin Mayer). Next up we have the third story that just barely fits into the loop. A story of Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr), two guys who have been busted by a cop named Burke (William Fichtner) for a drug possession. Adam and Zack just so happen' to be friends with Simon, who use to hook them up with the right stuff thru the drug dealer Todd (Timothy Olaphant) who just so happens to be out to find Ronna who screwed him over. See how much fun this sounds like? Well, it is. I have seen this movie over thirty times and I am yet to get bored with it, every time I watch it, I get more and more entertained. It is just that much fun!

Go reminded me why I love movies so much, the fact that I can sit down and watch this movie over and over and not get bored. We rarely find movies such as this and it would be shame for any movie fan not to see it because it is a real treat. Older folks will not be drawn to this movie one bit because this movie will simply give them fuel for their fire. An excuse to rip the younger generations apart, so to say. However I will go as far as to say that if this movie was ever brought back to the big screen, I would definitely go back and see it again.

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Once you get over the Tarantino thing, Go becomes quite a ride of its own. Darkly funny, twisted and at times really sweet, Go makes for a good couple of hours of entertainment. Polley is terrific her character reminds me more of Griffin Dunne's in After Hours. Holmes is cute, the guy trio on their Vegas jaunt are fine and Fox and Mohr are great together in this. In fact, all the roles are cast quite well. Kind of After Hours meets Pulp Fiction without the pedigree or historical significance.

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"Go" is most assuredly an oddity. I remember a review for "Go" back in '99 that states something like, "'Go' is a much better film than it has any right to be." My feelings exactly.

The mark of a good director is being able to construct a good film translated from good script material. However, Doug ("Swingers") Liman's sophomore effort ably demonstrates that with style, intuition, and -above all -energy, he can craft a magnificent film from shoddy script material. In Hollywood lingo, this is damn near impossible to accomplish. So, thanks to Liman for smashing that preconception.

EVERYONE that reviews this mentions "Pulp Fiction" for obvious reasons, so I'll be no different. Yeah, it owes a lot to it. But PF owes big debts to other films, as well. Don't look at this as derivatives of derivatives, although some films definitely are. Try to view "Go" as something more cunning and sneaky than one might first think. First of all, attempting to find depth, soul, and social philosophy inside a movie entitled "Go" seems like a moot point to begin with. So roll with me here. That title itself should suggest that it's less likely to offer humane insight and is more concerned with feeling, sensations, adrenaline -all of which wrap around the present moment: RIGHT NOW. This here is "Go"'s priority. And it's executed to exhilirating effect.

The stories go:

RONNA needs extra shifts at her grocery store in order to make rent money this month. She takes amateur drug-dealer Simon's shift after a 14-hour stint, so he can go to Vegas with his buddies. But Zack and Adam (Jay Mohr and Scott Wolf), two soap opera actors, come calling on Simon but hook up Ecstacy through Ronna (Sara Polley) instead, Ronna dealing in hopes of closing that rent gap. She needs to get pills from Todd Gaines (Timothy Olyphant), but she leaves her friend and coworker Claire (cutie-pie Katie Holmes) with Todd as collateral while she goes off to deal with Adam and Zack. Ronna's "sale" goes dead-wrong, the stash gets flushed, so she opts for selling naive ravers allergy medicine and chewable aspirin to make up the difference, stalling Todd long enough not to find out. But he does. Complications ensue.

SIMON begs Ronna to cover his shift at the "SONS" grocery store, and she accepts. He wakes up in a trunk, on the road to Vegas, and later acquires the location of a rowdy strip club from Todd over the phone (this phone conversation is the chief link between the first two stories). Simon (Desmond Askew) and pal Marcus (Taye Diggs) leave their gutter-butt friends in the room while they scope out this "Crazy Horse". A lap dance and a gunshot later, and the four guys have two pissed-off bouncers on their heels. Complications ensue.

ADAM & ZACK are in trouble. Legal trouble, apparently a charge of possession. They decide to play ball and assist undercover Officer Burke (a disconcertingly funny William Fichtner) in busting Simon to clear their record, but Simon's in Vegas. They arrange a deal at the store later with Ronna, and setup the sting house, Burke being the principle dealmaker. At the deal, Ronna senses she's been had after a remark about orange juice, and Zack clues her to book out of there. The stash gets flushed, Ronna bullies her way out of there with a beer they offered her (she's only 17), and the "sale" ends. But Zack and Adam are NOT out of the woods yet. Though they've done what they were instructed, Burke has ulterior motives for the two and invites them over for an early Christmas dinner. Do they really have a choice? Complications (yes, that's right) ensue.

As long and arbitrary as those descriptions are, that is not even a half of what happens in the movie. All the surprises and shocks I left out, but there are many. The timeline jumping and reworking irks QT fans, but that trick's been employed since at least the '50s, so gripe elsewhere. "Go" illustrates how Generation Y (man, I hate these vague labels) is not about planning for the future, but trying to survive this very second. Liman's immediate and flashy camerawork (accompanied by "Traffic" Oscar-winner Stephen Mirrione's gifted editing) accurately captures those sheer moments of frenzy. Rent, sex, drugs, street justice -all these are the impetuses to shoot the characters through this rollicking 24 hours across Los Angeles and Las Vegas just days before Christmas, and Doug Liman can handle these two Dystopias better than anyone out there, see "Swingers".

But "Go" is no "Swingers". It's darker and edgier, much racier -a thrilling danger zone in which the viewer doesn't expect a stop in the action, and there isn't one. Though I saw "Go" twice in theaters 5 years ago, I could never pinpoint exactly what was the Main Attraction for me. 5 years later and wiser, maybe I figured it out. There is such earnestness and attitude, especially from the near-flawless ensemble of actors, in Liman's guidance that I conceive of him directing the film as if he were sitting three seats down in that dark auditorium watching the story unfold for the first time, right along with us.

This is a movie I should be discrediting for its lack of substance (even though it's mainly about ingesting substances), but I'm not. "Go" is just too damn fun: guilty-pleasure filmmaking of the highest order. Sleek, funny, sexy, shot full of vitality, don't ever hesitate to "Go" for broke.

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First thing I want to say is that THIS IS NOT A TEEN MOVIE. These are young adults doing young adult things-going to raves, experiencing the joys and not so many joys of being an adult. Definitely a slacker movie, and it has really no redeeming characters or morals, which is fun. The only things to learn is not to take too many Ecstacy pills and what not to do in the Champagne Room at a strip club (oh, and don't eat the shrimp at a buffet).

It's more the ride than the destination. I've tried to set my DVD player to shuffle to see if it will work, but this movie already so crazy you won't need it.

Take a Magic Carpet ride and GO!

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Hellraiser (2008)

Be forewarned that this review is primarily for the DVD release of Hellraiser, not the film itself. It's no secret that Anchor Bay has done an excellent job bringing classic and cult horror films to DVD, even if it's over and over again. The 20th Anniversary Edition of Clive Barker's Hellraiser adds a few new extras, while bringing over the same extras that were available from the older DVD release of the film. What's new here are the interviews with the film's stars Doug "Pinhead" Bradley, Andrew Robinson, and Ashley Laurence. Other than that, it's the same stuff that we had before, including the interesting commentary by Barker and Laurence. If you already own the previous release of Hellraiser, the new interviews alone aren't any reason to go out and pick this up whatsoever. Anchor Bay has quite a habit of double and triple dipping their DVD's (there is yet again another edition of the original Evil Dead on the way as well), and the 20th Anniversary Edition of Hellraiser is no different. As for the film itself, it's an excellent and original exercise in violent horror that still holds up 20 years later, and remains Clive Barker's crowning film achievement. If you don't already own Hellraiser on DVD, then by all means pick this edition up, but as said before, if you already own it, there's no reason to pick this edition up too.

Hellraiser is an extreme horror lover's dream come true. Clive Barker's unique vision marked a virtual rebirth of the genre at a time when slasher sequels were the fun, yet predictable, norm. Although the premiere setting for viewing this movie is a crowded theater of screamers (and sick puppies like myself who find humor in gore), one can still achieve a quite satisfactory effect watching this movie alone in the dark. Some horror creators rely on blood and gore for its own sake, others rely on the story itself to produce the desired effect. Clive Barker is one of the few horror geniuses who can make copious amounts of gore an integral and necessary part of the story. Hellraiser can be deliciously gross, so those with weak stomachs should beware. It features rats; decayed, maggot-infested meat; and copious amounts of blood--and that's just the teaser. Later there are acts of cold-blooded murder, human dismemberment by arrays of chains, a partially formed, pus-dripping, oozing carcass, and then the incredible Cenobites themselves.

The movie at its simplest level is a retelling of a story that goes back to Goethe's Doctor Faustus and beyond--when you sell your soul to evil forces, you will regret it. Frank Cotton is a despicable, uncaring man who has grown bored with life's most extreme pleasures. When he hears about and eventually acquires a puzzle box which can open the door to a new world of perverse pleasures, he finds out that one man's pleasure is another man's pain under the tutelage of the Cenobites. Somehow, he manages to escape the other world, and when his brother's blood is spilled in his chamber of horrors, his body begins to reform itself. More blood is required to complete the job, and his brother's wife Julia supplies it by picking up men at bars and bringing them home for Frank's nourishment. The prim and proper Julia was ravaged by Frank soon before her wedding to Frank's brother Larry, and she enjoyed the experience so much that she will do anything to get Frank restored to vaguely human-looking life. Larry's daughter Kirsty, played by Ashley Laurence in her motion picture debut, discovers what is going on and manages to get her hands on the puzzle box. When she is introduced to the Cenobites, the fun truly begins.

The Hellraiser series degraded into a sad mimicry of itself in later movies, but the original vision personally sculpted by the masterly hands of writer and director Clive Barker is a horror masterpiece. The Cenobites are one of the most unusual, fascinating "bad guys" ever dreamed up in the imagination of man. They really don't appear too often in this film, and Pinhead (played by the great Doug Bradley) is never referred to by this name even in the credits. When they do appear, with Pinhead enunciating such great statements as "No tears, please. It is just a waste of good suffering" and "We will tear your soul apart," they are truly horrifying, mysterious, and larger than life. Less is definitely more when it comes to the prominence of Pinhead and his demonic associates in the movie.

Those who dislike horror probably have sense enough to stay clear of Hellraiser. Those of us who revel in extreme horror delight in watching it. If you are an intermediate-level horror fan initiated by the Scream and Freddy/Michael/Jason movies, here is your chance to really test your horror mettle.

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In 1986, Clive Barker wrote a novella called "The Hellbound Heart" which was and by all means still is a brilliant example that in a space of roundabout 160 pages a skilled horrormaster like Barker can convey horror and suspense enough to shock and scare the reader. Barker is the same one who says that there are no new stories, only new ways to tell. It is a refreshingly original story rich in gruesome details. Then, in 1987, Barker himself got the opportunity to adapt his novel to the screen. This film immortalized the legendary villain called Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley. The film is just as gruesome as the book if not more. I'd say that I had no doubt the film would be faithful to the novel because after all it was the novel's writer who was directing the movie in the first place! I just rewatched Hellraiser last night and I reread the book today. It's short enough to be read in one sitting...and compelling enough, too! To me this film is a contemporary masterpiece of the genre. It's not only an excuse to show flayed, skinned glistening on screen, no. Unlike what others say, there is a story here too, and to me at least, it's a very original one. Andrew Robinson, Claire Higgins and Ashley Laurence give very good performances to back up this film...but the real heros behind it are director/writer Clive Barker and the special effects creator, Bob Keene. The scene with Frank's reanimation has got to be one of the grossest and most stunning effects I've ever seen. And also, considering this film only cost one million dollars to do, I think that that price was a bargain. Congratulations to all!

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I watched this Blu-ray last night and the picture quality is amazing and definitely on par with Anchor Bay's previous releases (Halloween '79, Dawn of the Dead '78, Day of the Dead '85 and Masters of Horror Season 1). I haven't checked out the special features yet, but this release is worth the price for picture quality alone. Anchor Bay have really set the bar. Now I wish they'd announce release dates for Hellraiser 2, Creepshow 2, The Hills Have Eyes ('77), the Phantasm films, Sleepaway Camp and Masters of Horror Season 2, not to mention Near Dark (which I think might now be licensed to Lionsgate). Thanks for a great job AB!!!

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Clive Barker's 1987 masterpiece, "Hellraiser," is a little more challenging than your average Freddy Or Jason movie. It bears little resemblance to what was popular in horror at the time, and yet it's still a hit, and still strikes a chord with a massive audience. If you've ever seen it, you can't forget it. As many times as I've seen it, I still get uncomfortable (in a good way) and find new things to appreciate.

"Hellraiser" is an extremely well made, mature movie that isn't for everyone, not even for every horror fan. There is no campy humor to it, no relief from the drama. It digs deep, and really brings to light just how ugly the world can be, and how cruel and senseless people can be, often under the spell of love. This is all performed, of course, by Julia and Frank (Claire Higgins and Sean Chapman), two very intense lovers who find themselves in a bind. See, it's not bad enough that Julia is actually married to all-around nice guy Larry (Andrew Robinson), who is in turn, Frank's brother, but apparently uncle Frank has a taste for the spicier things in life and finds himself in Hell after playing around with a puzzle (Pandora's Box, anyone?). In order to resurrect Frank, who is all but a mass of bloody tissue and bones, hiding out in an empty room in Larry's house, Julia lures innocent, albeit, horny men inside with the promise of a good romp. What they get, however, is usually a hit to the head with hammer, often repeatedly, and a visit with Frank, who sucks their blood from their body, which in turn makes him stronger and glues him back together, so to speak. However, there's a race against time here, as the Cenobites -grotesque creatures of Hell who inflict unimaginable torture on anyone who solves the puzzle -are looking for Frank after he escapes their clutches. Add to that, Larry's snoopy, attractive and intelligent daughter Kirsty (played by Ashley Laurence) is onto their scheme. Things get very dirty, very gross, and very bloody in the 93 minutes this movie runs. However, the gore (which is well acheived for it's time) is not what makes the movie crawl under your skin. It's the horrible things that Julia does for Frank, for her forbidden love. Just the fact that humans can be this ugly in real life is enough to make you uneasy. Aside from the far-fetched situation, this movie isn't that far removed from the real world. This vision, unfortunately, took a backseat in later sequels (starting with Part 3) to the character of Pinhead (whose name actually isn't mentioned in this installment) and the attempts to turn this into another "A Nightmare On Elm Street" type franchise failed miserably. I usually don't look down at horror sequels, I love 'em, but the only other installment that holds up as well as the original is part 2. But I digress.

"Hellraiser" is a fantastic film, one that any genre fan should see at least once. It's different, it's bold, and it's risky, but it works. It's very gloomy, so I recommend you put yourself in the right mood before watching it. Clive Barker crafted the perfect horror film here, and considering the current horror movie climate, this history lesson is worth repeating. It won't exactly "Tear your soul apart," but it will make you very uncomfortable.

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Shorts (2009)

I thought this was a really good and very funny movie that the whole family will love! It has an awesome plot, funny situations, and lovable characters. The movie is told out of order in a series of 'short' episodes! In the town of Black Falls, all the adults work for Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated. Toby Thompson is a lonely kid who gets picked on gets picked on by Mr. Black's kids, until Toby finds a Rainbow colored wishing rock that will grant his every wish. Toby is just one of the many kids who have found the rock, like Nose Noseworthy, Loogie, Cole, and Helvetica Black. When Mr. Black gets ahold of the rock, he uses it for world domination. Can the kids of Black Falls stop him before he becomes mad with power? I highly recommend SHORTS!!!

A cute family movie geared towards the younger generation! It was fun to watch with the children though.Mostly clean with a little crudeness.

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My daughter saw this movie in the theatre a few years ago and just wanted to see it again. Not as good as the SPY KIDS brand which Rodriguez directed as well.

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Robert Rodriguez does not dissapoint my kids! Creative and funny. Like all the Spy Kids movies, my kids were entertained!

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my kids 3 and 5 really enjoyed this movie. they watched it 3 times in 2 days. a good movie the whole family will enjoy. kept the kids laughing till the end.

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Chaplin (15th Anniversary Edition) (1992)

If you're anything like me, the almost semi-annual relapse and recovery of Robert Downey Jr. has been an interesting periodic feature of the morning news. After a while one begins to question why does Hollywood put up with him when there is no shortage of talented actors desperately trying to make it in Hollywood? Why would producers and studios, who are so financially dependent on their productions going off without a hitch, take yet another chance on Robert Downey, Jr? Then I saw Chaplin, and I understood.

The intensity and power of the Robert Downey's performance in this film is the stuff of Oscars and true movie legend! It's both a beautiful performance and a beautiful film!

Somehow Sir Richard Attenborough got out of Downey the kind of performance that can sustain a career, and a legend. But Sir Richard's mastery didn't stop there. He got spectacular performance out of everyone, including a young, pre-X-Files David Duchovny. (I know I misspelled that. But you know who I mean.)

In summation, Robert Downey's performance is every bit the equal of James Dean's in Giant, East of Eden or Rebel without a Cause, and maybe that's what we should keep in mind. For unlike Dean, another self-destructive personality, Robert Downey has not driven off the cliff yet, and hopefully he never will.

Charles Chaplin was one of the pioneers in film who brought us classics such as The Kid (1921), Gold Rush (1925), Modern Times (1936), and Great Dictator (1940). His many successes are still to this day considered masterpieces which he created, acted, directed, and edited. He had a brilliant eye for what the human mind was observing and he could make comedy out of almost anything. However, despite Chaplin's great sense of humor the recurrent theme in his life seems to be surrounded by sadness and loss where his escape was to help others feel a sense of joy. Chaplin is a brilliant cinematic story that has a fantastic cast and where the lead as Chaplin is managed brilliantly by Robert Downey Jr.. In addition, the story weaves in moments out of Chaplin's life where he got his ideas in an ingenious manner which displays the superb directing in the story. When the audience sees everything put together they will experience a dazzling cinematic experience.

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Excellent biographical epic, with inspirational, amazing acting from Robert Downey, Jr., and the rest of the cast. Charlie Chaplin was truly a genius, and a beautiful human being. Robert Downey, Jr. "becomes" Chaplin and the story of his life draws you in so completely, you will find yourself wanting to watch it again and again. When you hear the beautiful song, "Smile," you will always remember who wrote it, and the life of its author, Charlie Chaplin. Robert Downey does a great job on his own rendition of playing piano and singing Smile both on the soundtrack and his later released cd in 2006. For any serious movie lover, you must own this one. Check out the rest of the great cast!

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The star of this film is the amazing replications of Chaplin's use of physical comedy and intense passion for filmmaking the "tramp" had for his craft. Robert Downey, Jr. literally steals the show away from such heavyweights as Anthony Hopkins and the film's director, Richard Attenborough.

Though Attenborough, he himself an Oscar winning director, does some clever things to draw you into the world of Chaplin (making the film look old and distressed, using the same shakey "hand-cranking" speeds for action sequences, and use of moody, uneven lighting), his tempo for the film seems painfully slow at times, and at over two hours, the picture feels much longer.

The film is packed with stars in small roles, as everyone plays second banana to Chaplin--Marisa Tomei, Milla Jovovich, David Duchovney, Dan Akroyd, Moira Kelly, and Geraldine Chaplin, just to name a few. The period accuracy is well done, and the acting is superb, however, the direction is heavy-handed--a major fault of Attenborough's other films, too, and leaves you feeling frustrated--just show more of Chaplin doing what he does best--making people laugh!

To his credit, however, the director does show Chaplin as the social activist who had an FBI file close to 2,000 pages in length. The drama, at times, seemed a bit much for someone known for bringing joy to so many...perhaps, therein lies the irony of Chaplin's life. See this film to be educated, and see it to see Robert Downey, Jr. in top form in this Oscar nominated performance and ode to one of cinema's greatest artists who was the forerunner for such "control freaks" as Warren Beatty and Orson Wells. Writer, director, actor, producer, editor...Chaplin did it all!

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Robert Downey Jr. shows, in his brilliant portrayal of Charlie Chaplin, why he is without peer among his contemporaries and a national treasure. This performance puts him up there with the Al Pacinos and Gene Hackmans of the world who have the ability to astonish with their brilliance! Nuff said! Henry Gross

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The Baytown Outlaws (2012)

Great movie! Great acting. Loved everything from the creative storyline and direction to the bits of humor among the intensity. Language and graphics aren't for weak stomachs, but it needed raw for impact and was very engaging. I'm going to keep my eye out for anything else Barry Battles creates. This was fresh and super entertaining.

Had a GREAT time watching this movie! If you love a shoot em' up then give this one a try. The action is non-stop and the characters are just plain fun to watch. The language us really rough, but if you can overlook that you'll have a great time.

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The Oodie brothers are three redneck hitmen living near Montgomery Alabama. They are in cahoots with the local sheriff (Andre Braugher). When Celeste (Eva Longoria) offers them $25,000 to retrieve her godson (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) from crime boss Carlos (Billy Bob Thornton) they free lance.

The boys are Brick, the leader (Clayne Crawford); McQueen, nearly illiterate (Travis Fimmel) and Lincoln aka The Dixie Reaper (Daniel Cudmore). Carlos is the "Walf@#$ing Mart of crime." Once the godson is taken, he sends out gangs to retrieve him, including a gang of biker prostitutes. Meanwhile the sheriff is being hounded by a "Yankee ATF" (Paul Wesley) who is putting the pieces together.

This is a great shoot 'em grindhouse film. If you are not a grindhouse action fan, then don't bother with this film. This production includes colorful characters, a great soundtrack, and an improbable plot...everything we want in a grindhouse except Danny Trejo.

Parental Guide: F-bombs, brief rear nudity, brief sex on a video.

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No idea where this movie came from, but it completely exceeded expectations. Great action, totally solid work from everyone involved... completely fun and campy... ridiculous without being annoying. If you're the type of person who likes this kind of movie -you know who you are -then you should totally watch Baytown Outlaws.

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I just finished watching this movie & felt compelled to right a review of it.

I rented this expecting to see a stereotypical grindhouse flick. I was wrong & can admit it! Lol. I was very surprised. This movie was at least 10 times better than I expected. Lots of laughs.

Loved how the three Oodie brothers took care of Rob and loved him like a brother. The lengths they went to in order to protect him, was amazing. The amount of compassion the brothers showed Rob, had me choked up a few times.

The profanity didn't bother me. Almost no nudity in the movie.

This is a movie that needs to be seen to be appreciated. It is beyond me how anyone cannot like this movie.

I rented & watched the movie...now I just put the DVD & Blu-ray discs in my Amazon shopping cart.

If you want to watch a good, surprising movie....watch this movie.

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National Treasure / National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets (Amazon.com Exclusive)

Never a serious movie, just fun, action and escapist tales.

We love the set !

And it's not easy to please us. I only write reviews for excellent or

horrid things, and this was the former!!

Have been a fan of these movies since the first. Probably the only movies Disney has put out in the last 30 years that are worth a squat.

DVD is good, but BlueRay just puts the icing on it.

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People who don't like Nick Cage need to get over it...he and the rest of the cast do a great job putting together an exciting film for both kids and adults.

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I was so excited to get this combo and getting it on blu-ray was fantastic. It really seems to make the movies come alive. I bought the second movie without having seen it previously, and I am so thankful I did. The price was also great (I purchased as a pre-order). If you liked the first one, you will enjoy the second one as well.

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I have enjoyed these movies very much. Looks great in Blu-ray format. And Amazon is the place to buy!! Have had no problems what so ever in buying fron Amazon.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2010)

The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is based on the light novel by Nagaru Tanigawa. *note, I have seen it, and will try not release spoilers on this post* This is a continuation of the Haruhi series. Clocking in at almost 3 hours long, it is one of the longest anime movies Ive seen. This takes place around the middle of December where Haruhi is planning a Christmas party for the SOS Brigade.

About a day later (end of the prologue) Kyon wakes up and finds out that everyone except him, has forgotten Haruhi even existed. It is a world where Haruhi never existed. He has no idea what caused it, or what he's suppose to do to fix everything. Yuki, who in this is a scared timid girl, who smiles when happy, and even cries. A certain character makes a return appearance. A person other than Haruhi also goes missing. And everyone thinks Kyon is crazy when he lashes out about Haruhi.

It is truly an excellent film, and was HIGHLY rated among anime communities. Note that to understand alot of this movie you have to have seen seasons one and two, lest you be lost in the multiple references to earlier episodes. Personally I bought the movie with English subs, and watch it multiple times. I cant wait for this release (disregard this statement after its release).

This movie keeps your attention throughout the whole thing, and when you think its over, your only half-way through, with a very satisfying end. This movie delivers exactly what Haruhiists have been hoping for since its announcement.

I realize that there are many other Amazon reviews for "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya," so I'll be brief:

THE FILM:

I enjoyed watching this high-end production of one of the most interesting story arcs in the "Haruhi Suzumiya" light novel series. The movie is slow-moving at first, but it really picks up half-way through. The animation, story adaptation, music, and character development are top-notch, and Kyoto Animation obviously put a lot of effort into the making of this film. It seems that this was their "love letter" to the fans of the Haruhi Suzumiya series (and, perhaps it can be seen as an "apology note" for making many people frustrated over the infamous "Endless Eight" episodes). However, if you're a newcomer to the series, it would be best to watch the TV series beforehand (or read the manga or light novels, if you prefer). Unfortunately, this film isn't very accessible to newcomers, and it's almost required that you recall and understand certain events from the series in order to fully enjoy the story. If you're new to the series or if you're a fan who needs a little refresher on the plot, the most important episodes to look over are "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" (Parts 1 through 6) and "Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody." Although a bit slow paced and lacking accessibility to new fans, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film. {Film Rating: 4.5 out of 5}

Bandai's DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack Release:

As for Bandai's release, the voice-acting for the English dub is excellent, and once again, Crispin Freeman's performance as the brooding protagonist, Kyon, steals the spotlight. The picture quality of the Blu-Ray looks great on a big High-Definition Television. There's a fair amount of extras included on an extra DVD disc, although I wish they also included the extras together on the Blu-Ray disc. The packaging feels a bit "bare-boned"---for one of Bandai's most highly anticipated releases of the year, I wish they put a bit more effort into making the packaging feel a bit more special and attractive. Overall, this is another high-quality release by Bandai, but I wish they put more effort into the packaging to showcase this special movie. {Bandai's Release Rating: 4 out of 5}

BOTTOM LINE:

If you're a fan of the series, save up your pennies and buy this. If you're a newcomer who's interested in getting into the series, go and watch the TV series first. You'll certainly not be disappointed about this purchase.

Buy The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2010) Now

Kyon wakes up one day to find his whole world has changed. None of his friends recognize him, not even the unflappable NAGATO Yuki. What's more, Haruhi is no where to be found. So starts a clever twisting, turning story in the Haruhi Suzumiya universe. And it is one of the best. If you are a fan of the original television series, this show is an absolute must. But even if you aren't, or have never seen anything Haruhi related, this film can stand alone and is a joy to watch. The art is crisp, the story-telling is compelling, the drama with all the twists and loopholes is engrossing, and you get the chance to see Yuki with a more rounded personality! Sadly, to say much more about the story would give too much away. Suffice to say, Nagaru Tanigawa somehow keeps his overlapping stories straight, no matter how many times Kyon time travels.

Among the stories that Nagaru Tanigawa has penned in the Haruhi series, this is among the very best. On top of that, the production quality of the film is top-shelf. If you own a Haruhi anime, this should be it. If you are an anime collector, this should be in your collection. I would say more, but I am usually critical and this time have nothing to be critical about.

Read Best Reviews of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2010) Here

Anyone who has seen the first 2 seasons of this anime needs to experience this movie if you have not seen them, please do or read below. Clocking in at over 2 hrs 43 min, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a faithful representation of the novel, but in my opinion, conveys the message more effectively than the source material. It is a masterpiece that had me endure almost every human emotion at one time or another.

For anyone who is not familiar with this, the Haruhi Suzumiya saga (Suzumiya Haruhi in Japanese) is an anime adapted from a series of light novels by Nagaru Tanigawa. (PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS AS SPOILER FREE AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THE MOVIE, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE PREMISE OF SEASON 1 AND 2 VERY LIGHT TO NO SPOILERS WILL BE REVEALED ABOUT THE MOVIE.)

It is the story of a sarcastic young man named Kyon who tells us early on that he has put away childish heroes and myths and is ready to experience the real world. On his first day of school he meets a beautiful yet interestingly bored young girl named Haruhi. Yet, unlike a "normal" female student who is interested in dating, sports, or joining school activities, she announces to her class that her only goal is in meeting "aliens, time travelers or espers (psychics)." Pretty weird to say the least!

However, the plot quickly jolts when Kyon unwittingly inspires the melancholic Haruhi to create her own club which she dubs the SOS Brigade (Spreading excitement all Over the world with Suzumiya haruhi brigade or S-O-S for short). The now spirited, eccentric, and almost intimidating Haruhi forcibly drafts Kyon and 3 other students into her club and sets out on a mission to find these supernatural beings and help other students who have dealt with mysterious happenings.

Of course, this would not be a unique anime without using sexy bunny costumes to advertise the club, blackmailing the computer club to set up the brigade's computer network, and students trying to kill Kyon to see how Haruhi's attitude will change...What???...just stay with me for a moment. Also, everyone has to keep Haruhi happy all the time because she has the power to destroy the universe if she gets angry or bored...YES THAT'S RIGHT! Ms. Suzumiya, unbeknownst to her, has supernatural powers that can recreate the entire universe or even destroy or change reality itself!

Another catch...the 3 other SOS club members soon reveal to Kyon that they are in fact the beings Haruhi has been searching for a time traveler, alien and esper who were sent by their respective organizations to keep an eye on Haruhi while preventing the end of the world. To top it off, Kyon is not allowed to tell Haruhi and has to pretend that life is peaches-and-cream, while he experiences giant crickets and lasers shooting out of people's eyes...just to name a few bizarre happenings. And of course, who is behind it all...you guessed it...Haruhi! So how does our cynical and want-to-be normal Kyon feel about this...NOT TOO HAPPY!

Many adventures take place in the first 2 seasons, which is why I heavily recommend watching them before this movie which is in fact the 4th novel in the series. In addition, there are character development and plot elements that rightfully set the viewer up for what happens.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya takes place during Christmastime and the SOS Brigade (really Haruhi) plans to throw a Christmas Eve party in the club room. Kyon, still furious over Haruhi's hi jinx and the fact that he cannot experience a normal life continues to pout over his ridiculous reality...that is until he wakes up one morning and finds out that everything he knows changes. Students and classrooms are missing, sickness is plaguing the school, SOS brigade members have no idea who Kyon is and most importantly...Haruhi Suzumiya disappears!...and no one even remembers who she is!

In a hybrid of "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Back to the Future," Kyon is given a rare perspective of how things can be without the supernatural chaos that has plagued him for the last few months. Be prepared to undergo numerous emotions as we see Kyon diagnose this new world without Haruhi Suzumiya and even contemplate if this is a reality he secretly desires to remain in. Of course, he still does not know how Haruhi could do such a thing...or is something else pulling the strings of the universe...? Kyon, who has wanted no part of any of this, is now in the driver's seat and is forced to make decisions that will change his life and the world's forever.

This Blu-ray is the Hong Kong version Region A and is compatible with US players, including the PS3. It is well made with the box art being the graphic shown on this page. The disk includes pop-up menus you would expect from a Blu-ray interface and fans of the series will immediately recognize the main menu song "Bouken Desho Desho?" (the opening for Season 1). I will mention that there is an animation of images from the film that could be a little spoiler happy, but nonetheless is still beautiful to see and did not ruin anything for me. The special features are only the trailers, but the real special feature is watching this in High Definition.

The English subtitles are in a crisp white (no yellow -italics garbage) and the animated visuals are gorgeous. There are a few spots where the color seems a bit washed in certain bright scenes but this might appear differently for people's televisions. In addition, it is true that people can watch this movie on the web, but there is no comparison to watching it in 1080p in your living room.

The movie is currently being dubbed in English and should be coming to our shores later this year (which I too will pick-up). However, if you cannot wait, pick up this Japanese language/English Subs edition.

In conclusion, in my opinion, this is the best anime movie that I have ever seen. What Season 1 and 2 did in comedy and suspense, Disappearance bridges into seriousness and contemplation. The soundtrack, produced by Satoru Kosaki, sounds simple yet magnificent especially the track "Ready." Although the movie is lengthy, it always captures my attention in all the right places and I am left wanting more. You will laugh, you will cry...you will reflect even after the movie finishes. For those who have seen both Season 1 and 2, you will love and feel for characters even more. For all, I hope you will walk away with an assessment of your own life...and as Kyon has to do, realize just how important your decisions are to yourself and to the world around you.

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This disc won't play in all Blu-ray players.

It will not play in my Denon BDCI 3800 Blu-ray player I bought 2 years ago. I contacted Denon tech support and after 2 months of research they discovered the problem. This disc which was manufactured in Blu-ray Profile 2.0 only which means it will only play in newer Blu-ray players. Most discs created in Blu-ray Profile 2.0 are backwards compatible with older Blu-ray 1.x Profile players. This disc is not backwards compatible.

The Blu-ray Profile (1, 1.1 or 2) is the actual hardware of the player and no firmware update can change a Blu-ray Profile 1.x player into a Blu-ray Profile 2 player.

Blu-ray Profiles explained:

Blu-ray Profile 1 Has simple menu items like a DVD menu.

Blu-ray Profile 1.1 Has pop-up menus like most Blu-ray discs.

Blu-ray Profile 2 Also known as BD-live with the ability to access content from the internet and 1GB of internal storage.

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King Lear

Ian McKellan totters into a circle of light and raises his palsied hands to command his court into prostrate submission. McKellan's Lear has a despot's easy authority that effortlessly requires obedience. Aged, infirm and bright-eyed, Lear enjoys humiliating those who doubtless wish him dead so that they may inherit. McKellan's Lear is a sly-suave tyrant reminiscent of Olivier. There are other fine Lears the brutally hostile Ian Holm (the boss from hell), James Earl Jones' as a cranky African tribal chief, or Orson Welles' nightmare fury. All are excellent. Welles, Olivier, and McKellan are more cinematic whereas Jones and Holm are filmed versions of stage productions. Welles and Holm provide a strong dose of Sturm und Drang melodrama the volume is turned up so high, it is hard to tell when catharsis hits. Olivier and McKellan are beautifully acted and nuanced. Jones has an amazing voice and his presence overwhelms the cast except perhaps Raul Julia's wonderful plotting, evil Edmund.

Of the directors, Trevor Nunn is the best and most experienced interpreter of Shakespeare to cinema. He is faithful to the text, (cuts are logical and keep the action moving) but with contemporary Hollywood fit and finish. It helps that Nunn takes care of details that Shakespeare neglects. For example, he shows us exactly how Goneril poisons Regan. When Lear complains that "my poor fool is hang'd," it refers to an earlier scene where the Fool is actually strung up.

The part of Lear demands a strong actor who can easily dominate a production. Only Olivier and Nunn balance the King with a strong supporting cast. Appearing opposite Olivier are John Hurt as the brilliantly sarcastic Fool, Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey) as a pompously lecherous Glouster, and Diana Rigg as the blindingly beautiful Regan.

Trevor Nunn's outstanding cast boasts Romola Gerai as a sensual Cordelia upswept hair, wearing a strapless, white satin, wedding gown, and a simple gold chain necklace, that accents her flawless profile, neck, shoulders, and decolletage. Nunn's inspiration for Cordelia is a mystery, but to me she looks like Sargent's sensational painting of Madame X, with the black dress changed to white. She speaks from the heart, clear-eyed, like a child, rejecting Lear's incestuous demand that his daughters love only him and pays a price for her honesty. Sylvester McCoy's amazing performance as the bitter fool -who alone speaks truth to power without punishment rivals John Hurt's. Where Hurt practices wicked satire as a sport, McCoy is a disappointed romantic, his cynicism mixed with sadness.

Once again, Trevor Nunn has created an excellent film version of Shakespeare. If only more of his works were available for north american viewers.

I had the privilege of seeing this production performed live in LA. It was an incredible experience slightly marred by the fact that the concert hall was clearly a larger space than these actors were used to filling with their voices, and for those of us stuck under the balcony, it was not always possible to hear everything over the ambient noises around us. So I was thrilled when I heard that they were taking the production into the studio to trap it for posterity, and I immediately bought the (region free) Blu-Ray edition from the UK.

I don't regret the purchase, but I was somewhat disappointed. Outdoor scenes are all filmed against a blue screen that poorly simulates sky, giving all the outdoor scenes a certain cheese factor. On a stage we suspend our disbelief the lighting changes and we believe we are now out of doors, but on a screen we expect a little more realism.

Likewise, I found the sets of the stage performance more effective as well. They had a grandeur and later in the play, a decay that was really missing from the sets used in the studio. I understand that the studio was aiming for more realism, so you wouldn't have the same backdrop for a whole act when the scenes shift and so on. But they didn't manage to replace the missing set with anything more effective dramatically.

Furthermore, the cinematography was very heavy handed in terms of constantly flashing from one actor's face to another to make sure no reaction is missed. It was at times very jarring. On a stage, one of the interesting dynamics is that each audience member can choose where to focus attention, and so each person walks away with a different experience. Here in an attempt to capture the richness of each scene, the camera tried to show everything, and the result wasn't pleasant. O.K. The camera didn't show EVERYTHING. The infamous scene were Lear strips down is trimmed by the frame of the camera for modesty. So if such things as male nudity bother you, this is a production you can watch with your kids.

But if you get over the cheese factor of the camera work and sets, this is still Trevor Nunn, Ian McKellan and the Royal Shakespeare Company doing their thing. You'll hear Shakespeare's words interpreted and performed with great skill.

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This is a superb but ultimately disappointing production of Shakespeare's greatest play. How can it be both? It is superb for several reasons. Ian McKellen is one of the great Shakespearean actors of his generation, and he here delivers a masterful Lear, moving and credible and utterly faithful to the character in the text; if there are a few too many of the familiar McKellen mannerisms, who's to complain--they work as well here as elsewhere. The rest of the acting is at a very high level indeed; there is not a single performance I would fault, and I couldn't say that of any other video "Lear". The dialog has been intelligently edited, and clearly and audibly recorded; for once in a production of Lear there are no "What did he just say?" moments, not even with the Fool's dialog. Logic and clarity are equally evidenced in Trevor Nunn's direction. A small example: in this production, the disappearance of the Fool midway through the play is explained dramatically, as we witness his hanging by forces pursuing Lear, something not in the stage directions and only vaguely supported by the text. It's dramatically satisfying; we need not ask "What happened to him?" Another example: the poisoning of Regan by Goneril occurs on stage, and is thereby made genuinely horrifying instead of being a bit of off-stage melodrama. The initial displeasing of Lear by Cordelia and his instant, irrevocable rage, which are hard to make credible in performance because of the compressed stage-time, are easier to believe in here; they come off as (perhaps) some good-natured teasing gone horribly awry (though I'm not sure that's what was intended, and if so that it is faithful to the text). So why is the production nevertheless disappointing? When a great actor takes on a great character of Shakespeare, we want to come away with something new and great--some new understanding, some new emotion, some new experience of the play which will change forever our relationship to the text. Here, alas, there is nothing new. No new sense of Lear as an individual, as in the Olivier video, or of his relation to his daughters, as in Ian Holm's version. Just a very straightforward, highly competent rendition. Superb, but disappointing.

Read Best Reviews of King Lear Here

Not surprisingly from a Royal Shakespeare Company production, the emphasis in this rendering of King Lear is placed on acting. Potential viewers should therefore not expect a filmed theatrical performance with the energy it entails from the interaction with the public nor a truly cinematographic piece with sophisticated sets, sound and lighting à la Kenneth Branagh.

There are no subtitles to make the text easier to follow and given the movie's very considerable length, close to three hours, a significant effort is required from the watcher, despite the actors' undeniable talent.

Accordingly, this work is recommended to Shakespeare cognoscenti who are already familiar with the play and willing to explore acting subtleties.

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I don't know of a perfect film adaptation of "King Lear"; perhaps there's no such thing. In my mind's theater I amalgamate elements from different productions: the spectacle of Kurosawa's "Ran," the performances of Diana Rigg (Regan), Leo McKern (Gloucester), and John Hurt (Fool) in Olivier's version. Other reviewers have astutely pointed up the values in different modern interpretations of the play's leading figure. On balance I'd say that McKellan's Lear is as fine as any we may expect in this generation. He's a soldier, bully, a bastard (not in the Edmundian sense), a fool, a maniac, and finally a very pathetic man who cannot comprehend, any more than we can, the scope of the tragedy that has overtaken him. Lear is a role that tempts the ham in even the best actors (see Olivier); McKellan is not once porcine. The actors surrounding him are uniformly fine; in particular, the three sisters are sharply delineated (and sexed up in ways that, while not gratuitous here, are often missing in the play's production). Trevor Nunn's staging remains on an interior set, as was Olivier's, though Nunn's are better interiors, with less cheesy production values. (The "Howl, wind" scene rains such buckets that you wonder how the studio was ever drained.) Nevertheless, this is not a filmed version of a play; the camera is used intelligently for close-ups. The disc's single special feature is a delightful interview of McKellan, who speaks very insightfully about the challenges presented by Shakespeare's masterpiece.

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A Simple Twist of Fate & Unstrung Heroes - Blu-ray Double Feature

I bought this because I like "A Simple Twist of Fate." I had never seen the other movie but liked it too.

I thought both of these movies were poignant and fell in love with them both. This is so different for Steve Martin and I loved it, adopting the little girl in need and the funny things they do as father and daughter and even get through when the secret of the lost girl's parents, loved watching A Simple Twist of Fate the other movie Unstrung Heros is so great, a boy learning his way in a very bumpy road with his two excentric Uncles showing becoming unlikely comforting to him during the problems at home.

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I bought this for the movie "A Simple Twist of Fate". It was on TV but I missed the last half of the movie. Its a wonderful story line and Steve Martin was as incredible as usual.

Read Best Reviews of A Simple Twist of Fate & Unstrung Heroes - Blu-ray Double Feature Here

Mill Creek does it again, this time with two dramedies, BOTH of these are PG-13.

Both are in thier original widescreen ratios, and have optional english captions.

The PQ and AQ are great with this release.

A Simple Twist Of Fate stars the great Steve Martin.

Unstrung Heroes stars Andie McDowell and John Turtorro.

Mill Creek is really releasing some stellar products lately!

Recommended!

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Story of a guy who is kind of lost until he finds and adopts this infant girl. She is very bright and recognizes who her "real" father is when her biological father tries to take her away.

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UFC: Ultimate Royce Gracie (2011)

Just got the Ultimate Gracie Blu Ray and watched both discs through. Ultimate Gracie is the same doc that was aired on Spike TV and if you missed it, it was one of their best docs the UFC has done on a fighter. From Royce's childhood all the way to about present day is told about the first UFC legend plus fighters that fought Royce talk about being submitted by things they never knew existed and present day UFC fighters talk about the first time they saw Royce fight and instantly wanted to train jiu jitsu. The only thing I was disappointed in and gave it 4 stars was there was not enough extra features that I thought were going to be there like the advertisement said( I guess all the behind the scenes and interviews are just in the doc). The extras included are Royce's induction to the UFC Hall of Fame and just about all of Royce's fights in the UFC and in PrideFC, which is nice but the hardcore MMA fan probably already own most of the UFC and Pride DVD's. All in all I do suggest this to any Royce fan or MMA/UFC fan to see where it all started.

For those of you that have followed UFC from the start like I have, this set is MUST have. Royce is the guy who started it all, and even if you just started watching UFC this is a good way to see how the UFC got started. I don't wanna spoil it too much but it's definitely is worth having.

Buy UFC: Ultimate Royce Gracie (2011) Now

For generations upon generations, sporting enthusiasts have debated the eternal question of: "Who could beat who in a fight?" Would it be the boxer, kickboxer, karate champion, strongman, or even sumo wrestler? In the early 1990s, the Ultimate Fighting Championship set out to answer that formidable question. With the addition of one Royce Gracie to that tournament, they had their answer: Brazilian Ju-Jitsu ruled supreme.

In the main documentary portion of this film, the life of the youngest Gracie brother is succinctly chronicled. From his family legacy (which ultimately birthed UFC) to his younger years spent in training to his MMA dominance and even his passing of the torch, the documentary covers all the main portions of Royce's life and is extremely interesting for fight fans.

Also included in this set are all of Royce's UFC bouts (including the latest foray against Matt Hughes) as well as some "bonus" fights in Japan's PRIDE league. For UFC fans who remember those "early years", those UFC 1-5 matches will bring back a wave of nostalgia.

Perhaps the most interesting theme of this whole set, however, is the "contradiction in terms" that Royce was to the UFC. On one hand, his family almost single-handedly created the sport and defined its submission-style fighting that is still widely in use today. On the other hand, however, Royce's pure style (staying in the guard position waiting for a mistake to capitalize in) actually ushered in a system of rounds and stand-up rules to the UFC, as the rowdier-than-the-most-of-us fans of the sport did not appreciate the "ground & pound" fights.

Simply put, if you remember (or especially were a fan of) Royce Gracie or the early UFC whatsoever (or are just looking for a history lesson), this is a must-own collection. You really won't need to own anything else of the kind.

Read Best Reviews of UFC: Ultimate Royce Gracie (2011) Here

First off I'm a HUGE fan of the UFC have been since I was a kid and Royce Gracie was the first fighter I was in awe of. I was shocked at how a relatively slender man, only 176lbs, could destroy his competition! Men who looked twice his size and with patience and skill he dispatched them one by one including Ken Shamrock, Kimo, Keith Hackney, Pat Smith, and Dan Severn. It's because of this man and his family that the UFC even exsists today and it's great to hear from him about each of his fights, his mindset, and what it meant to represnt his Family's Legacy!

This Blu-Ray set is loaded with extras, not to mention most of his fight including his Pride FC fights! Definitely brought back fond memories of when I watched it on VHS. It's also packaged as a Digibook and has many colorful pages, photos, and facts about Royce. If you're a fan of the UFC I can't see how you can't love this Blu-Ray!

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Awesome doc! I can't believe even all his NHB/MMA fights are here! I only have a problem with the packaging for this set. I feel that every time I take the discs out, they get more damaged or get more scratches.

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SHANGHAI BLU-RAY (Region A) (NTSC) Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li, John Cusack, Ken Watanabe (2010)

"Shanghai" is set in the exotic background of China's great international city of Shanghai--the "Paris of the East"-on the brink of Japanese takeover in the weeks leading up to Pearl Harbor. It seems to have been filmed mostly in Thailand, but with CGI and a great ensemble cast headed by John Cusack, Chow Yun-fat, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe, it convincingly recreates Shanghai in 1941. Viewers familiar with Shanghai's wonderful heritage-listed architecture in the Waitan-Bund area, and the former international concessions, will see much that they recognise.

This may be the highest standard and most entertaining international movie production set in Shanghai in the inter-world war era since Spielberg's Empire of the Sun [Blu-ray]. It is a pity that the production could not resolve issues with the Chinese authorities, who at the last minute revoked permission to complete the production in China. It is unclear whether this was due to China's difficulties confronting historical and fictional depiction of its painful past, or some other causes. In any case, the film is listed for release in China.

The success of the film in recreating an impression of old Shanghai seems to owe much to the vision of producer Mike Medavoy, who was born in Shanghai in 1941. It is a romantic spy story, based on a credible premise that people with their wits about them in Shanghai in 1941 might have picked up intelligence about Japanese intentions to attack Pearl Harbor. The premise of the plot is especially credible because, as other folk with an interest in Chinese history will know, the Imperial Japanese Navy used aircraft carriers in both the "January 28 Incident" (Shanghai War of 1932) and the "Battle of Shanghai" (Aug-Nov 1937). The city was a hotbed of international espionage through the 1930s. By odd and little-known coincidence (maybe maybe not a coincidence), Nomura Kichisaburo Japanese Ambassador to the US when Pearl Harbor was attacked was an IJN admiral with a lot of Shanghai time. He commanded the Japanese forces which attacked Shanghai on 28 January 1932, including the first major aircraft carrier action in the Far East.

The main characters of the film, John Cusack's US Navy intelligence officer, Chow Yun-fat's Shanghai tycoon/crime boss, Gong Li as his wife and a secret Chinese resistance operative, and Ken Watanabe as an astute but conflicted Japanese counter-intelligence officer, are well cast and well played, and appear to be fictional characters drawn partly from composite historical figures. Among the strong supporting cast, Franka Potente has a cameo role as the bored and ignored wife of a German diplomat that is an interesting contrast with her well-known roles in "Run, Lola, Run" and two "Bourne" movies.

The simple title, "Shanghai", for English-language release, relies on the mystique wrapped up in the location name for much of the international audience. The Chinese title is more complicated and colorful: Die Hai Fengyun 谍海风云. The characters literally mean "espionage sea wind cloud", with the second character meaning both "sea" with a hint of the naval intelligence plot, and the second character of the name of Shanghai in Chinese, and the final two characters, being a compound meaning storm, a synonym for "fast-moving situation". The Chinese movie title therefore may be freely translated, unfortunately without the layers of meaning in the Chinese, as "Shanghai Spy Thriller", "Spy Storm In Shanghai" or "Naval espionage in the city on the sea".

The region A Blu-ray release by CN Entertainment is a high-quality video transfer. I found the English soundtrack level a bit low, but this was easily compensated for.

I was first attracted by this movie with the international casting. John Cusack is an actor that seems to show up in all kind of movies and comes out great. In this voice over story telling of an american spy in trouble days of Shangai 1941 when Japan invades China. As explained, China is divided in different sectors which justify the all international casting. Gong Li, David Morse, Franka Potente, Ken Watanabe, Chow Yun-Fat to name a few. The director Mikael Hafström has given a very plausible movie about what it might have been going through these times. Director of photography Benoit Delhomme also as rendered an excellent job of dark days.

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I have a simple rule for reviewing movies, I'll either watch it again or I won't. I would definitely watch this again.

I'd seen this on IMDB and been looking for it for a while. I was happy when I saw it on Amazon and ordered it. When it arrived I got nervous since it came from overseas, I wasn't sure if it would play on my Bluray player or not. I was thrilled when it worked!

Cusack does an incredible job but I'm a big fan of his ever since Better Off Dead.

Read Best Reviews of SHANGHAI BLU-RAY (Region A) (NTSC) Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li, John Cusack, Ken Watanabe (2010) Here

Fiddler on the Roof (Two Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011)

The Film:

Fiddler on the Roof is based on the tales of Russian Jewish life written by Shalom Alechem in the 1800s, with music scored by John Williams. Directed by Norman Jewison, it's widely acknowledged to be one of the best musicals ever made. Tevye, played by the famous jewish actor Topol, lives in the enclave of Anatevka with his wife and _6_ daughters. Insulated & protected by their Orthodox traditions, Tevye must face, with a poignant combination of humor, sorrow and acceptance, the marriage of his three eldest daughters in a series of increasingly unacceptable unions. How far can tradition be bent and still maintain the center of his family and his community's existence? Do we place tradition over family? Oswald Morris' beautiful cinematography and Jewison's compelling film-making pursue these questions both for the residents of Anatevka and for us in our ever-changing worlds.

The DVD:

A marvel, this film has never looked or sounded better for home viewing a remixed Dolby 5.1 soundtrack and crystal-clear picture on a double-layer disc make this a contribution to your film library you'll not regret. Jewison & Topol's commmentary give you some ideas behind the making of the film, what the director was trying to achieve, and how Topol moved his character from stage to screen. Director's full use of the 70mm aspect ratio demands the anamorphic widescreen format used in this printing.

Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof features Topol as Tevye the Milkman, a poor Jewish husband and father living in pre-revolutionary Russia. His story is inevitably tragic, but humorous and touching along the way.

The movie is filled with asides from Tevye, as he reveals his thoughts to the camera. He is forever quoting "the good book," sometimes correctly, sometimes not so correctly.

As was tradition during this time, the matchmaker sets up all marriages. Tevye's daughters aren't too happy about this (as is shown through the famous song, Matchmaker, Matchmaker), and the older three eventually set up their own marriages.

Tzeitel, the oldest, falls in love with Motel, the poor tailor, and they ask Tevye's permission to marry. He finally relents and they have a proper Jewish wedding. Hodel falls in love with a revolutionary who has been staying with Tevye and Golde and their family. She leaves her family to follow him in the heartbreaking song, "Far From the Home I Love." Chava, the delicate middle daughter, falls in love with Fyedka, a Russian. Tevye forbids this marriage, for he cannot turn from his faith. Chava chooses love over family as shown through ballet, and Tevye has no choice but to count her as dead.

Tevye's story ends as the Jewish community is forced from Anatevka. Even in this hard time, Tevye is faithful that everything will turn out all right in the end.

The music in this movie is absolutely beautiful. You'll tap your feet to "If I Were a Rich Man," and "Miracle of Miracles." You'll find tears in your eyes during "Sunrise, Sunset," and "Far From the Home I Love." You'll laugh at Yente and during the dance at the bar.

This is a movie that belongs in everyone's movie collection. It is a story that will last forever.

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Despite the reviews of others that noted the audio syncing problem on the Blu-ray disk, I purchased it anyway thinking it may have been resolved. No such luck. It is almost unnoticeable during the first part of the movie, though I found myself questioning whether the audio and video were in sync or not or if it was just me. Halfway through the movie there was NO DOUBT. The lips of the actors were WAY out of sync with the video. Long past distracting, it became unwatchable. I had to take the Blu-ray disk out and put in the standard DVD in order to finish watching the movie. Now I know why they include both DVDs!

What a disappointment. What a Shame. What a waste of money, I already owned the standard 40th Anniversary Edition. Amazon should pull this off the "shelf." This wasbad enough to make me write my first review... I feel cheated. And it is NOT my Blu-ray player. My Blu-ray player is a high end Samsung and it plays all of my other Blu-ray DVDs perfectly.

Read Best Reviews of Fiddler on the Roof (Two Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011) Here

I'm not about to review Fiddler on The Roof or a give a complete history of all its various incarnations like other reviewers have. We all acknowledge it's great. One of the best, if not THE best, musicals ever. I'm here to write about this particular packaging of the "DVD with CD". I don't know about you, but I naturally thought the CD was a CD of the soundtrack so that you can then listen to the songs while driving in your car or hanging around the house. No it's not a soundtrack CD, which explains the relatively low price it's a CD of 70's songs. While some are great (Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye and ABC by the Jackson 5), what the heck does "The Night Chicago Died" have to do with Fiddler on The Roof? Or "Reunited" by Peaches and Herb? Maybe they thought Herb worked in the deli down the street!?!?!

I'm not sure if the same CD is included in everyone's package, but here's the listing for my CD:

Billy Don't Be A Hero-Donaldson & The Heywood's

Maggie May-Rod Stewart

The Night Chicago Died-Paper Lace

ABC-Jackson 5

Ant No Mountain High Enough-Diana Ross

Lets Get It On-Marvin Gaye

War-Edwin Starr

ReunitedPeaches&Herb

To paraphrase Edwin Starr, "What is this CD good for?" Almost absolutely nothing as everybody should already have Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and Rod Stewart on their Ipod already!?!?!? If you want a DVD of Fiddler on The Roof and another version is cheaper go for that version. Don't think you're getting anything special with the bonus CD.

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The new blu-ray version arrived, and my first watch was with some mixed emotions. Colors are strong, but it seems to be a bit on the dark side to me. It is also not as sharp as I expected, and seems to be a bit soft on focus. I think I read some time ago that the film was shot through a nylon stocking which gives it an overall cast of a flesh tone, extremely subtle, but it is there. You get a brief view of the stocking in one musical number when the sun hits the camera from the front, just for a few seconds. The package says it is widescreen, 2:35/1, but it seems to be more like 1:85/1. It hurts in some musical scenes, when you get an impression that you are not seeing all the action. The only thing that is 2:35/1 is the image shown while the intermission music is playing. I suspect this was not made from a new Hi-Def master. I was hoping for the improvement that blu-ray made to "An American in Paris" and "Gigi", but it is not here. I am a big believer in wide screen, and want to see all of the director's creation, and not some cut off version.

As to the performance, this is one of the all time best musicals, superbly cast & photographed. I really caught the moment in time perfectly, while delivering some superb entertainment. It's just too bad it isn't all there.

Overall, it is well worth the price, especially with the enclosed DVD version included.

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