In the Line of Fire (2008)

Clint Eastwood, in his first film after completing his masterpiece, UNFORGIVEN, chose a winner with Wolfgang Petersen's suspenseful IN THE LINE OF FIRE. As 30-year veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan, Eastwood had the misfortune of protecting President Kennedy, November 22, 1963, and the specter of not reacting quickly enough has never fully left him, through the subsequent years. At the other end of the spectrum is ex-CIA assassin Mitch Leary (brilliantly portrayed by John Malkovich), who had become 'excess baggage' for the intelligence community, due to budget cuts. After surviving a bungled attempt to kill him, Leary decides to vent his rage at his 'betrayal' by assassinating the President. In his research, he discovers that the only agent still active from the 1963 team is Horrigan, and, deciding they shared a kinship, he begins to tease Horrigan with clues about himself, and how he'll kill the President.

The film builds up a 'head of steam' from the very first scene, as Horrigan and his partner, Al D'Andrea (Dylan McDermott, long before television stardom in THE PRACTICE) take down a band of counterfeiters, and the edginess never lets up, as Leary, introducing himself as 'Booth', begins his series of fateful calls to Horrigan. Facing mounting opposition from the head of the Presidential Secret Service team (Gary Cole), as well as the White House Chief of Staff (future Senator Fred Dalton Thompson), Horrigan badgers, insults, and belittles everyone's work, knowing the potential assassin will find any crack in the security, and take advantage of it. Only his boss, Sam Campagna (FRAZIER star John Mahoney), his partner, D'Andrea, and fellow agent Lilly Raines (Rene Russo, in another star-making performance), take him seriously, with Raines soon falling in love with the cantankerous agent.

The plot is full of twists and turns, as Horrigan barely misses capturing Leary, twice, and Leary, at one point, actually saves Horrigan's life (while ending D'Andrea's). Strung so tightly that he starts making bad 'calls', Horrigan is finally removed from Presidential security...just as Leary is about to make his move...

IN THE LINE OF FIRE does for the Secret Service what BACKDRAFT did for firefighters, and television's NYPD BLUE did for policemen; it shows the organization not as a group of faceless supermen, but as dedicated people performing an essential service, protecting the lives of others. As Leary sneers to Horrigan, "I'm the offense, you're the defense," and that analogue truly describes the difficulty of their job; they must find the means to protect the President against whatever misdeed a perpetrator can concoct. While Clint Eastwood's Horrigan may be far more of a 'lone wolf' than the Agency would, in real life, tolerate, his dedication to his job reflects well on those unique individuals who would 'take a bullet' for the President.

It is an excellent suspense film, and a worthy addition to any Clint Eastwood collection!

This review refers to the Special Edition DVD(Columbia)......

He was there when Kennedy was assassinated. It still haunts him 30 years later. If he had moved a fraction of a second sooner he may have saved his beloved president, But a what cost to him? He is Frank Horrigan(Eastwood), an aging Secret Service Agent, trained to do whatever it takes to protect the President of the United States. Now he has a chance to redeem himself in his own eyes.

A psychotic, but very clever, would be presidental assassin is on the loose. He calls himself Booth(Malkovich), (Because Booth had so much more "panache" then Oswald). He taunts Horrigan about the day Kennedy is shot, through phone calls. Lets him know that he intends to assassinate the president,even if it means dying himself, and taking Frank with him.

Frank does everything he can to track down this killer and save the president. Most of the other agents feel Frank is too old to keep up the pace of the Presidental Campaign trail,but he feels he must persue this case.

A deadly cat and mouse game ensues, and we are kept on the edge of our seats throughout the movie,waiting to see what Booth's next move will be, and if Horrigan will be a part of it. It's thrilling and chilling.

Eastwood as always gives a brilliant performance as the aging agent,(He always seems to be an aging something lately,cop,thief, astrounaut,reporter, but he's sooooo good at it)and Malkovich is outstanding as the mysterious, chilling assassin. Also contributing greatly to the film are Rene Russo, as the field agent Horrigan takes a shine to and Dylan McDermott as his young partner, and we all know by now that it is not healthy to be Clint's partner in any film! Directed by the great Wolfgang Petersen( Das Boot, Air Force One), and scored by Ennio Morricone, you wont want to miss this thrill ride.

The DVD is top quality. It is in widescreen(Anamorphic),with the sound choices of 5.1 dolby or 2 channel surround. Either way you will be happy with the sound.For me sound is one of the more important features in an action film. Great picture and colors, lots and lots of special features, I checked out a couple of the featurettes, very entertaining and informative. I'm saving some for the next time I watch it. There are subtitiles in English and several other languages for those needing it. If you are a fan of Eastwood, Malkovitch, Petersen or are just in the mood for an action thriller this is a great one!

Would you take the bullet???? Laurie

more Clint stuff:

The Gauntlet/True Crime

Clint Eastwood Selection: Dirty Harry/The Outlaw Josey Wales/Unforgiven

Music for the Movies of Clint Eastwood

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"In The Line of Fire" is a thinking person's movie with lots of action, suspense, and brains as well! It gets better and better every time that I watch it! Clint Eastwood gave a superb performance as Secret Service Agent Frank Horrigan, a man who is haunted by a loss. In 1963, he was guarding President John F. Kennedy when the commander-in-chief was assassinated in Dallas, TX. Horrigan's inability to divert the tragedy has wreaked havoc on his personal life, making the aging agent socially reclusive and chagrined at his own failures. "A living legend; the only active agent who ever lost a President", says Horrigan of his soiled reputation. His chance to redeem himself comes soon enough, though.

A meticulous psychopath named Mitch Leary (John Malkovich in a outstanding and frightening performance) is threatening the current president, and Horrigan is back on the case. Leary identifies himself as John Booth, an eerie reference to President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Leary taunts Horrigan for his failings, and his pranks become more dangerous as he gets closer to his endgame.

Wolfgang Petersen ("Das Boot", "Air Force One") directs this super-slick thriller with sheer intensity and explosive action as well. Two powerhouse actors, plus a great supporting cast (Rene Russo, Dylan McDermott, John Mahoney, Gary Cole, Fred Dalton Thompson) make "In The Line of Fire" one of the absolute best suspense films of 1993!

Read Best Reviews of In the Line of Fire (2008) Here

Movies about presidential assassinations (whether fictional or non-fictional) are usually lame. They follow the same formula and they always end the same. I guess, technically, "In the Line of Fire" is nothing new for this kind of movie but it's got an exciting plot, awesome acting, and well basically...Despite the familar formula, it's a damn good movie. Clint Eastwood plays a Secret Service agent named Frank Horrigan, who is still haunted by the fact that he could've saved Kennedy from being assassinated had he reacted quicker. Since this incident, Frank has been reduced to a drunken under-cover Secret Service agent who longs for something meaninful to happen. It does in the form of Mitch Leary (John Malkovich, in an Oscar nominated performance). After Frank follows up on a tip that Leary may be up to something, he recieves a phone call from Leary who tells him that he is going to assassinate the Presidents. It seems doors are re-opening for Frank. As Frank and Leary begin talking to each other over the phone, while Frank and the rest of the agents descend upon the case it becomes clear that Leary is no ordinary crazy assassin. Rene Russo co-stars as Lilly Raines, a female Secret Service agent and the love interest of Frank. Dylan McDermott also co-stars as Frank's partner Al. Anyway, the plot is good...It has its moments of predictability, but I actually must admit that Leary's decision at the end genuinely surprised me. Anyway, I don't watch many Eastwood movies (I've only seen some movies he's directed, Any Which Way You Can, Escape from Alcatraz, and that's about it); I think, in all, I've seen 5 movies he's acted in. But I can honestly say that this is, probably, one of his strongest performances. Malkovich is what made me want to see this movie, the man is an amazing actor folks. Every film I've seen him in, he fascinates the viewer. Here, the casting doesn't get much better for his role. I can't think of another actor who could play Leary as well as Malkovich. I'm not sure if it was Tommy Lee Jones (The Fugitive) or Martin Landau (Ed Wood) he lost the Oscar to, but this is a completely Oscar worthy performance here. Russo is good (she has the strong look of a career woman, but can be vulnerable to Franks "charm."), as is the rest of the cast.

But, Eastwood and Malkovich are the core of this film. Out of all the films I've seen by director Wolfgang Petersen (I've only seen The Perfect Storm and Poseidon), this is definitely his best.

GRADE: A

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Review Clarification: This review is based on my viewing of this movie in the theater, and on Laser Disc. I have not viewed the DVD (any version).

This is my favorite Clint Eastwood movie of all time, better than all the Dirty Harry, Spaghetti Western, and Sci-Fi/Space movies.

I first viewed this movie in the theater, and I was completely blown away. I am disappointed that John Malkovich has chosen not to be in more mainstream movies, because I immediately wanted to see everything he was in, after watching this movie. (I immediately rented "Being John Malkovich" when it became available, and was quite disappointed when he was not the protagonist.) John plays a brilliant Psycho in this movie, and plays it very well. In fact, I actually changed my image of him after this movie. If I were to see him on the street, this is the only memory I would have of him.

I recommend this movie highly. One of my favorites.

MC White said: Check it out!!!

EDIT: Why list the director's name first, Wolfgang Petersen, instead of Clint Eastwood? Stupid!

Redline (2012)

Look. I understand. "Anime" isn't a cool thing to most people, not even most self-described "geeks." These days, "anime" is commonly used as shorthand for a particular type of storytelling, characterization, or visualization...and the people who do so NEVER mean it as a compliment. Maybe you're one of these people yourself.

Or maybe you used to watch anime and no longer really do because you've got music, videogames, and regular movies/TV to watch instead. Maybe you used to watch stuff like Cowboy Bebop or FLCL on the Cartoon Network, but never really saw anything else that you liked as much. Maybe you end up spotting some anime that is on Netflix or Hulu, but you don't feel like watching them all the way through.

Does any of that sound like you or someone you know? Then watch this movie.

There's no TV show or comicbook with hundreds of episodes you have to know about first. There's nothing "Final Fantasy" or "Kingdom Hearts"-like about the story or characters. There's no harem of girls surrounding some loser guy. There are no "jokes" involving giant sweatdrops or accidentally copping a feel. This is different from all of that.

Redline is visually astonishing with a soundtrack to match, but contrary to what is often said Redline's strong points aren't JUST those. This movie has great characters, each of whom is memorable in their own way. There's a lot of humor, and the film's comic timing (and restraint!) is spot-on. The story isn't shallow or even minimal. By the time everything ends, you'll know all that needs to be known about who these racers are and why they're doing what they do.

I don't care about racing or cars. But I totally dig Redline. I think you will too.

I watched this when they were showing it as a part of a limited theater release, and I've been aching for it's blu-ray release since! There are few words that can describe how awesome this movie is. The animation is beyond top-notch, with an art style that pops with every frame and keeps your eyes watering from not blinking.

The best way I can describe this film is that its like taking the visual flourish and high-adrenaline action of the live action Speed Racer film, smashing it against the entirety of what made Gurren Lagann one of the most beloved Japanese anime series of the past decade, mixing the two together and cranking all of that up to 11, and then condensing it into an hour and a half experience of visual and aural orgasmica with all of the goodness, none of the filler.

Plus, there's a cute love story in it for those so inclined.

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This is one of the most important anime to come along in years. Not only is it visually stunning, but the music and sounds make it truly brilliant. The styling of it makes it so appealing to watch that you won't want it to end. Combine that with an amazing soundtrack, and you will be glad you own it. If you have a home theater system, it will shake your walls.

This is one of those movies that even if you aren't an anime fan, you will love it. All I can say is if you are uncertain about buying it, don't be. Here is the official story synopsis since Amazon doesn't have anything up yet.

REDLINE is about the biggest and most deadly racing tournament in the universe. Only held once every five years, everyone wants to stake their claim to fame, including JP, a reckless dare-devil driver oblivious to speed limits with his ultra-customized car all the while, organized crime and militaristic governments want to leverage the race to their own ends. Amongst the other elite rival drivers in the tournament, JP falls for the alluring Sonoshee but will she prove his undoing, or can a high speed romance survive a mass destruction race?

Read Best Reviews of Redline (2012) Here

Going against modern conventions of animation, Redline was created using hand-drawn sketches over 100,000 of them rather than computer graphics. The result is a film of gorgeous style, setting, colour and visual complexity. The extraordinary level of detail isn't restricted to the visuals; every sound has been painstakingly mapped onto the film, while the backing soundtrack (which sounds like a Japanese version of Ministry's 'Psalm 69') was custom-created for the scenes, ensuring that the music always fits the action.

The story centres around Redline, a once-every-five-years racing event with no rules except the winner being first one across the finish line. Most vehicles are heavily armed (à la Mad Max or Death Race 2000), but the main protagonist an adrenaline-junkie racer named JP refuses to carry weapons, instead insisting that he has the talent to win on speed alone. JP's pacifist attitude has earned him the outstanding nickname of the Very Sweet Weaponless Prince. Visually, JP is a likeable anime hybrid of John Travolta in Grease crossed with James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. His friendship with (wonderfully named) fellow racer Cherry Boy Hunter Sonoshee McLaren, develops into a love interest which runs parallel to the main story of the race. On the surface, Redline is a high-octane, heavily stylised mixture of the movies Death Race 2000 and Mad Max, the cartoon Wacky Races, and the computer games Total Wipeout and Unreal Tournament. Look deeper than the high-speed races across sweeping vistas and rocky mesas, however, and you'll find more going on. There's a backdrop of military tyranny that parallels our modern world, with corrupt forces masquerading as the 'good guys' while attempting to silence the voices of freedom. Additionally, a Cinderella story develops between Sonoshee and JP. When Sonoshee drops an earring, JP mounts his supersonic motorcycle and goes for a midnight ride, just to leave the earring and some flowers on Sonoshee's doorstep. The futuristic race is simply the context against which the plot is set. The real theme of the film is a timeless one: love and friendship can conquer all.

Redline is a meticulously crafted work of art. It has both style and substance. Rich in allegorical elements and moral themes, the film is a masterwork of anime.

Viewers can have additional fun by comparing the English voice-over with the subtitles (which seem to be direct translations of the original Japanese). The differences are sometimes considerable and often amusing.

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Public service announcement before I begin review. Toonami is back!!! Airs on Saturday Midnight, well technically Sunday, from 12:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., with an encore beginning at 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Tune in and support it. Now on to my review.

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**Brief Review Of Anime**

Bought this from FYE for 9.99, marked down from 22.95!!! Quite a deal. I have been wanting to watch this for some time and now I finally have.

Do you have to like racing to like this Anime? No, in fact I HATE racing. I have never watched Nascar in my life. And I live in West Virginia, where Nascar and beer are almost prerequisites to live here, that and 'Dukes of Hazard'. No, my reader you do not have to like racing to like this movie. You do though have to be a fan of Anime, as this is one of the more stranger ones...

**Some Spoilers Ahead**

The film centers around "Sweat JP", a human racecar driver. He is one of the few humans in the movie. The rest of the characters are aliens, cyborgs, etc. While all other racers drive weird things, like rocket cars, hover-crafts, and robots, Sweat JP drives a trans-am. Wow those things really hold up... It's actually neat to see one normal looking vehicle in the movie.

The racing in the movie is like watching 'Death Race' meets 'Speed Racer', while droping acid. When Sweat JP starts to go really fast the screen will stretch and distort. This movie is quite a trip to watch, and I was sober when I watched it. I can only imagine what watching it drunk would be like. I'll try that on my 2nd watch of it.

Anyway, by a stroke of luck JP is eligable to enter the Redline, the most ruthless race in the galaxy. Taking place on Roboworld, the race is practically suicide, Roboworld vows to kill all racers who come to the planet.

Sweat JP has more problems than this though. He and his partner are in debt to the mafia and JP routinely throws races in order that the mob can place fixed bets and win big. So not only does he have the cyborgs of Roboworld riding his ass, he also has the space mafia on his back like a monkey as well.

The film only gets stranger from here. Funkyboy, a toxic weapon of some kind breaks out causing havoc. This coupled with many other things make the race quite an edge on your seat experience.

--Pros--

Good animation. Racing is actually exciting to watch, not dull at all. Some fan service for the guys. Sonoshee, a female racer, is topless for like 5 minutes, tee-hee...

--Cons--

Fan service. While I like a naked lady as much as the next guy, this scene was totally out of place. No reason why she's watching tv naked, she's just doing it. This kind of knocks a film/movie down a peg when this stuff happens.

Weird factor. Funkyboy, the cosplay racers, machinehead, the list goes on of weird things in this movie. Eventually you just have to accept you are watching one of those weird Animes and quit trying to figure things out.

I personally thought Sweat JP's hair looked stupid. He looks like Brad Pitt from 'Johnny Suede'. That's not a good look.

--In Conclusion--

Really good Anime. I plan to give this a 2nd view very soon. While this Anime is weird at times, it does stay on track and delivers quite a thrilling ride for us the viewers.

Is it worth buying? Yes, I say it is. But this is a hardcore Anime, so if you are not into Anime, or have just dabeled in it, you make not like it. This film is going for a decent price on Amazon right now. If your near an FYE, check there, it could still be on sale for 9.99 new!!!

Well, that's my thoughts. Now if you'll excuse me I am going to go buy myself a trans-am and start street racing. On second thought I'll just watch 'Redline' again...

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Journey: Live in Manila (2010)

I will not discuss the price of the DVD as part of this review, since the DVD is a Walmart exclusive and the only way to get it for the tagged price is if you go direct to merchant.

With this DVD, Journey marks the first time it tops the Billboard's Top Music Video Sales chart. Their 2005 release Live In Houston 1981 The Escape Tour peaked at number nine. Also, Live In Manila has the second best DVD debut sales week of 2009, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

This concert was indeed shot at 4K resolution, but you are not getting that kind of resolution except nothing different from the regular DVD quality movies you have in your home. The quality is actually limited by the DVD format.

The concert was made by the team from "Wizard", who brought with them an army of "Red Cameras". They shot at 4K, beyond high definition of display resolution. Even Blu-ray cannot touch the hi-res of a 4K. OK, it is a DVD, and for now it does not mean anything. But somehow, it is nice to know that maybe, hopefully, sometime in the future, there will be a chance to see it in its full lifelike resolution.

The first thing that will catch your eyes is the nice art work. Classic 80's, psychedelic, LSD inspired :), both inside and outside, a magnificent showcase of album art. It is a nostalgic trip back to one of the golden eras of music. It includes an 8-page brief retelling of the succession of events that lead to this historical concert. Journey stayed for 2 weeks in the Philippines. Their new lead singer brought them to see his humble beginnings; his old neighborhood, his old school where he was forced to drop out for lack of money. Homeless at the age of 13, he brought them to the park where he used to sleep at night, often in an empty stomach.

No doubt, this live performance (March 14, 2009, in front of close to 30,000 fans) is one important piece of history for the band. As we know, the band had their ups and downs, the break up, the succession of singers, and even a scandal. Journey is one of the monster melodic rock bands in the history of rock & roll. 80 million records under their belt, including their last album, "Revelation", which is now a cinch to become double platinum. The "Journey: Live in Manila" debuted at the Oprah Winfrey Show, which made a lot of people searched the internet to find out who the hell is Arnel Pineda. That special appearance propelled Arnel Pineda's name to #8 in Yahoo's top ten searches the next day.

The concert is very special to Arnel. 2 years ago, he was virtually unknown. Then Schon's discovery on YouTube, and then everything happened so fast that even Arnel admitted that all the blessings that he has received has not sunk in yet. A story that reminds you about the movie Rockstar, but this time it is happening in real life.

24 songs, the 2-DVD package is a 2 hours and 25 minutes of classic Journey hits including 7 songs from their last album. You can really feel Arnel's emotion and happiness performing in front of his fellow countrymen. He is bouncing around, jumping, covering every inch of the stage. Guitar god Neal Schon never fails to amaze the audience which is why he is one of the greatest living guitarist of our time. At the same time, he is showering the front stage with his signatured picks as fast as a ninja throw his stars. Jonathan Cain and his multiple level of keyboards still hammers those keys like he used to in the MTV version of "Separate Ways". Ross Valory always is the band's clown, making as many faces as Jim Carey can in his "Dumb and Dumber" days. And lastly, Dean Castronovo (who used to play with Black Sabbath) provided well appreciated respite for Arnel by belting out "Kepp on Runnin'", "Mother Father" and "Still They Ride". An incredible singer/drummer combination.

As a longtime Journey fan, I think "Live From Manila" holds its own against any other live Journey performance. The band continues to sound great, the playing is top notch all around, and I think Pineda embodies what the rest of the band wants and needs in a front man. He's energetic and lively, plus playing in front of his hometown probably amped him up a few more levels for this performance. My only knock against the package is that there's no backstage/interview type of feature. Especially considering Pineda has been in the band about 2 years now, I'd thought this would have been the perfect opportunity to get some one-on-one face time with him. But still, it's 2 hours and 25 minutes, and it's $10 at Walmart. That's just simply an unbeatable deal. (And I realize some people outside the US may not have easy access to a Walmart location, in which case I would say, $20 would not be too much to pay for this package. Any more than that............ you're on your own.) If you're in the US, there's no good reason to be buying this package from online sellers here at Amazon or anywhere else. All the hits are here, as well as a few deeper cuts from the late 70s and early 80s. (As always, one of my favorites "Girl Can't Help It" is not included, but that's happened so many times, I can't/don't hold that against them.)

And finally, this last part is just a rant. Feel free to skip it if you'd like. Arnel Pineda is a great singer, and he covers Steve Perry's voice nearly flawlessly. Despite what some angry, bitter people type on places like this, yes, THIS IS JOURNEY. Just because the band doesn't have the same lead singer anymore, it's still Journey. (And for the record, Perry was Journey's 3rd or 4th lead singer, depending on whether or not you count Fleischman). People usually decide what "their" version of a band is based upon what they grew up hearing, and anything that isn't that exact same version is "fake". That's simply not correct. This DVD (along with their album "Revelation") is Journey since 2007. You can feel free to not like this version of the band, but yes, it's Journey, whether you like it or not. Plus, these people don't even listen to the music. They just want to complain. (For a good example, read some reviews for Foreigner's new album "Can't Slow Down" or Skynyrd's new album "God & Guns").

As far as this DVD goes, the newer songs are good, and the classic songs sound true to the way you remember them. Congrats Journey on another great offering!

Buy Journey: Live in Manila (2010) Now

I agree with the other reviewer that all new DVD releases should offer a Blu Ray version because Blu Ray would offer both enhanced sound and picture quality.

The concert in Manila was very special because it was the hometown for Journey's new lead singer, Arnel Pineda. Arnel and his bandmates did not disappoint the fans. Arnel has a great voice and sings with a lot of heart. This DVD provides a great selection of Journey's hits and also quite a few of their new songs.

Running time 2:25:25

With regard to purchasing at Wal-Mart, not everyone lives close to one. Especially Journey fans who do not live in the U.S.

Read Best Reviews of Journey: Live in Manila (2010) Here

OK, fellow Journey fans! YES...This does exist!! Mine showed up today...This is an ALL Region Blu-ray with 3 different Audio options and the full concert on 1 Blu-ray disc opposed to the 2-disc DVD set. Awesome picture and audio as you would expect from a blu-ray! Must have!!

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I just viewed the concert on the HD concert channel, "Palladia". I have read all of the reviews of the poor video quality but it was crisp and clear on Palladia.

My complaint is it sounds like Neil Schon did the final audio mix and mastering. I tried listening in 5.1, stereo and other settings with the same results. Schon's guitar dominates the mix way way way too much especially on the right channel. The drums are lost and muddy and the keys are almost nonexistant. "Seperate Ways" is a keyboard driven song and I couldn't even hear them over the guitar.

The new singer sings great but even his vocals are overshadowed by the guitar and like another review said the backup vocals were weak.

I was wondering if others noticed this on their DVD copies of the concert before I make the decision to buy or pass???

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The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (Two Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2004)

Relentlessly optimistic, drunk and defeated, man-child, sponge-man -this movie has it all. Most of the parents in the audience didn't get it. But I've been an outspoken SpongeBob fan for years. Hell, I'll bet I like the television show even more than my children do -and they like it a lot.

It's hard to describe this film, at least in a way that will do it justice. Is it great? In it's own twisted, surreal way, sure. It's littered with double entendres, to be sure, and a few nautical butt cheeks, too. I suppose the studio insisted on the latter. The bottom line is that we need SpongeBob, maybe more than we ever did. His good cheer in the face of disaster is downright inspirational. Plus, he can blow bubbles with the best of them.

The evil villain, Plankton, speaks for all of us when he says, "His chops are too righteous!"

The controversy over SpongeBob's sexual orientation has been quite absorbing but nowhere near as involving as this very funny movie based on the popular TV series on Nickelodeon. Just in case you've been living under a rock for the last five years, SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and all the residents of Bikini Bottom have become the most hip (and funny) half hour this side of "The Simpsons". More importantly, it's a program that almost all family members can watch without becoming offended (well, except for those folks wondering about SpongeBob's sexuality). It's a fun way to spend an hour and a half with the kids. After losing a treasured promotion to manage the Krusty Krab 2 restaurant because he's just a kid, SpongeBob is the only person who can stop Plankton from taking over Bikini Bottom. Plankton resorts to Plan Z (having used every other plan in the alphabet) to frame Mr. Krabs for the theft of King Neptune's crown. The diminutive Plankton hopes to discover the secret to the Krabby Patty and ultimately rule the undersea world! Meanwhile, Spongebob and his dim witted friend Patrick must travel to the dreaded Shell City to recover the King's crown and stop Plankton before it's too late.

Featuring a marvelous cast of guest voices including Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), Scarlet Johansson ("Lost in Translation"), Clancy Brown ("The Shawshank Redemption"), Alec Baldwin and, of all people, David Hasselhoff, the film may lack the sparkle of the best episodes of the series but it more than makes up for this shortcoming with a number of witty gags. Kids will enjoy the antics of SpongeBob and Patrick while adult males will empathize King Neptune's attempts to hide his bald spot with his crown (he's desperate enough to resort to Hair in a Can at one point although that doesn't quite work out as planned) and envy David Hasselhoff as he uses his pecs to launch the duo back into the sea. There's also a serious message as Mindy the King's daughter encourages SpongeBob and Patrick to be kids and be OK with it.

Featuring a great transfer with bright and vivid colors, Bikini Bottom has never looked so, well, animated. A very sharp transfer with few digital artifacts to distract viewers from the absurd images, "Spongebob" looks better than any sponge has a right to. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix is used to good and sometimes very comic effect.

The 20 minute animatic segment gives viewers a peak into all the preparation work that went into producing the movie. Director Hillenburg's comments provide interesting and sometimes funny insights into the challenge of producing a movie much less a TV series as funny as this. The behind-the-scenes featurette is both charming and quite funny with a glimpse into everything from creating the absurd story at the heart of this film to the hilarious recording sessions featuring the voice cast. There's also a featurette The "THQ" game demo is actually quite fun but doesn't really provide that much of a taste as to what the game could do. The Case of Sponge "Bob" features Jean-Michel Cousteau in a tongue-in-cheek short documentary. We see an informative and fun discussion of real sponges with undersea footage narrated by Cousteau with writer/director Hillenburg. "Saving the Surf" features Chad Nelsen, Matt McClain and Steve Pezman founders of the Surfrider Foundation discussing the importance of keeping our environment clean and the impact of our pollution on the ocean and our beaches. The teaser trailer for "Submarine" features footage of "Das Boot", "U571" and "The Hunt for Red October" intercut with footage created for the cartoon trailer for "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie". There's also previews for other Paramount family friendly titles as well.

A funny visit with the denizens of the deep, "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" will keep you and the kids entertained. The film doesn't pander to kids and has just the right level of slapstick humor to keep adults entertained as well. Although it does have a serious message at its core, the film is a lot of fun.

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The plot (no spoilers (well, sort of, but not really)): Plankton (once again) formulates a plan to steal the Krabby Patty Secret Formula. He realizes that he has gone through plans A through Y. Karen, his computer wife (going mobile this time around) asks about Plan 'Z'. Plankton finds the plan, and he starts to scheme. His plan: Steal King Neptune's crown, and make Mr. Krabs take the blame. It all goes along well, and Mr. Krabs becomes frozen in ice, and SpongeBob and Patrick must venture to Shell City to get the crown before Mr. Krabs is executed in 6 days. While they are away, Plankton sneaks into The Krusty Krab, and gets the formula, hatching his diabolical scheme to enslave all of Bikini Bottom! It's all up to SpongeBob and Patrick to "Get The Crown, Save The Town, And Mr. Krabs"!

I really hoped to enjoy this film when I heard that it was coming out. I have been a big fan of the show nearly since it started, and there was no doubt I was going to see this.

November 19th came, and it was time for the movie. My friend and I went with his little brother and sister. We watched the film with high expectations (not always a good thing, I know), and we all loved it! The characters were great, the humor from the show is more present than most of the new episodes, and it is a flat-out great movie for the fans.

Many people have complained that the humor is a little too grown-up for the kids, and is considerably crude at times. Obviously they must not watch the show, considering the humor is as blatantly obvious in the show as it is in the movie. Some of the jokes in the film, I highly doubt little kids would understand, anyways.

This film was definitely an enjoyment for me, from start to finish. It had great moments of humor, both crude and clean, and even had some bit parts that were sad (wait until the 'Shell City' scene). Definitely a pleasure for the fans of the show, and maybe even people who are just discovering it.

Read Best Reviews of The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (Two Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2004) Here

Having watched this with my child & company at the theater (and then at least 10 times at home), I can't escape putting a review here. All of the familiar slapstick absurdities of Spongebob are here. The joys of Bikini Bottom (yes, that's the name of the town!) are present as well. Mr. Krab's Krusty Krab fast-food joint (where Spongebob works as fry cook), Spongebob's bosom best buddy Patrick Star (as in starfish, 'though I've yet to see a pink one in nature), the square, schadenfreude-laden Squidward (cashier at the Krusty Krab).

Others have mentioned it and I can't deny--it's difficult to take a 30 minute show broken down into two segments and weave a cohesive plot over an hour. This film manages to make fair go of it, keeping the laughs flowing with new material, situations and an actual (*gasp*) plot. There are new characters, especially the pride-filled King Neptune and his thoughtful daughter Mindy...but then again, Spongebob afficianados will remember the phrase uttered by Spongebob on many an occasion, "By Neptune's Crown!". This movie gives some life to that phrase, as the plot revolves around a dastardly plot by Plankton to steal Neptune's crown and Rule The Undersea! He's apparently moved on from coveting merely the Krabby Patty secret sauce by now.

Positive messages about teamwork, friendship, not giving up, setting goals and then achieving them. Not too scary for the wee-wee ones--even scary put-ons end with a chuckle. Two thumbs up for me, this is a funny family film grown-ups with a quirky sense of humor will enjoy watching with their little ones. At least the first 11 times!

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Okay, maybe my hopes were a bit high, but I thought Spongebob was going to be one of those rare feature-length NickToons that I'd actually love. While it beats "Jimmy Neutron" or something like "RugRats" or "Wild Thornberrys", it's still hard to banich the idea that plagues all of those movies that they didn't exactly develop a movie-length plot to go with the script. I liked "SpongeBob", but the movie gets more mileage out of his charm than the fact that it's a movie, and even my kids were visibly disappointed (my 7 year old insisting she saw the funniest parts on internet trailers).

The story Spongebob gets a nasty surprise when he's NOT picked to manage the new Krusty Krab opened up by his boss, the money-hungry Mr. Krab. In the hopping sea-scape of "Bikini Bottom", where life is care-free, Spongebob wants nothing more than to prove he's man enough to run Krab's new restaurant (located conveniently next door to the old one). Unfortunately, Plankton Krab's nemesis has a plan to steal the formula to the "Krabby Patty", Krab's secret recipe, as part of his larger plan of world domination. Though embittered at Krab for not getting the top job, will Spongebob put it aside and save Krab's restaurant? Worse, as part of his evil plan, Plankton frames Krab for stealing the crown of King Neptune. The King is sensitive about his crown, both because it is a symbol of his power and because it covers a nasty bald spot. Persuaded by his spunky daughter Mindy (Scarlet Johanson), the enraged Kind gives Spongebob and his trusty if dim friend Patrick 10 days to find the crown (Patrick bargains it down to 6). Along the way, Patrick and Spongebob share many adventures, and learn to find their inner strength as they battle biker-fish, hatchet fish (bearing ice-cream sundaes), an assasin fish sent by Plankton and the compulsion to dance like a baby whenever somebody plays the "Goofy Goober" song.

Like I said, it was fun, but no laugh riot not even for my 7 and 5 year old. Neither knew who David Hasselhoff was (though I appreciated the joke); My normally brave 5 year old had to be taken out at one scene (the ice-cream bearing hatchet fish scared him to tears). he was okay for the rest of the flick, but everybody came out feeling as if they missed something.

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Bronson (2009)

Charlie Bronson/Michael Peterson is quite a character. I'm told that the events and details in this film stray a little here and there from the truth, but all in all it makes for a quite entertaining look at one of the most violent prisoners in the UK's history. Actor Tom Hardy, who got amazingly buffed-up for this role, brings the right amount of humor, pathos, and dangerous zaniness to the title role.

You can't help but cheer for Charlie Bronson, though you will be glad you are doing it from a safe distance.

Bronson the man has quite a story. "Bronson" the movie is a tour-de-force of bravura and playful acting by Tom Hardy, and deserving of all its accolades. No one I have spoken with who saw this movie failed to be entertained by it.

Buy it, rent it, I don't care. Just watch it. [Big grin]

To say that lead actor Tom Hardy is gonzo-brilliant is nearly as understating as the complete overlooking of his performance throughout award season. Director Refn's approach here is as viscerally punctuated and artistically daring as anything in his excellent "Pusher Trilogy."

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Everyone has heard of Charles Bronson. Well, THAT Charles Bronson anyway, the title character here is definitely a far cry from the hardened film hero of the same name. This Charlie Bronson was originally born Michael Peterson, who despite having a decent upbringing, grew up to be a criminal, and much, much more surprisingly. Known as Britain's most notorious prisoner, Bronson manages to capture the ferocity of the man with tongue-in-cheek humor and sheer unpredictable moments. Tom Hardy, who has been in quite a bit ranging from Star Trek: Nemesis, Layer Cake, and Rocknrolla among others, gives a star-making performance that should be seen to be believed. Besides undergoing a physical transformation in bulking up, Hardy's performance may very well be akin to what Eric Bana managed to do some years ago with Chopper, in which he ironically enough, played famous prisoner Mark "Chopper" Read. All in all, though it definitely isn't for everybody, Bronson is wholeheartedly worth your time, mainly thanks to the ferocious performance of Tom Hardy, whose stardom should most definitely (and deservedly) be on the rise.

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"Bronson" is based on the real life of a man often referred to as "the most violent prisoner in Britain". "Charlie Bronson" is a moniker the prisoner (real name: Michael Peterson) assumed as a sort of stage name. According to the film, Peterson desired to be famous and went about garnering that fame by perpetuating heinously violent actions against other prisoners and prison guards.

The film is bloody, violent, disturbing, and incredibly effective. Tom Hardy is a powerhouse in the role in every sense of the word. He's an imposing figure to start. His powerfully built wrestler's physique makes the improbabilities of his physical altercations believable. He captures the audience's attention in a stranglehold of a performance, playing straight a role that could have easily turned into an insane human cartoon. Instead we watch a credibly complex sociopathic character unfold who is apparently choosy about upon whom he will wreck his carnage (primarily the heavily armed and numerous prison guards). His mirthless laughter at the beginning of the film puts the audience off-kilter, not quite able to regain balance until some time after the end credits roll. You're never quite sure what Hardy's Bronson is going to do next. He's so pitch perfect throughout the film, it's hard to take your eyes off this living disaster.

The film is essentially presented from Bronson's point of view, which lends itself to some strange storytelling considering his sociopathic bent. Some self-narrated fantasy asides are at first quite bizarre as they're occurring with Bronson telling his story on stage in full makeup. There is a heavy dose of A Clockwork Orange-style cinematography, especially when Bronson is committed to a truly bizarre mental institution. Again, this could be interpreted as Bronson's views of the situation, not how they actually were. There's also an odd measure of homo-eroticism in the film -Bronson seems to attract the attention of gay men, albeit never has any semblance of romantic reciprocation -and you'll see more than one fully nude shot of Tom Hardy's man-bits including a scene where he commandeers a male prison librarian to give him a full-body butter rubdown to make him more difficult to handle in the upcoming fight.

I couldn't quite put my finger on whether or not director Nicolas Winding Refn finds Bronson to be a sympathetic character (a little off-putting in itself), but it's obvious that Refn is fascinated with Bronson's complexities. One can't help but feel that Bronson deserves every last brutal beating he receives at the hands, feet, and batons of the prison guards, as he is presented as the exclusive instigator of each outpouring of violence. The last image of Bronson, bloodied and confined in a solitary cage, whimpering like a wounded animal, is bound to stick with you for a while.

Bronson is brutal, but fascinating to watch, walking a thin line that dispassionately presents a violent life without glorifying the perpetrator. It'll most likely make you uncomfortable, but then again, how else would you portray a guy who wanted to get famous by fashioning the persona of Britain's most violent prisoner?

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The best way to begin this review is by stating the overall feeling I got from this movie. In the hands of any less an actor than Tom Hardy, and with any less perfomance form his supporting cast, this movie probably wouldn't have been very good at all. But fortunately, every person rises magnificently to the task of filling the story with its offbeat, sleazy, and sometimes criminally dangerous characters, and turns this from a self-indulgent gore porn to something fascinating, a trip into a broken from birth mind.

Bronson is insane, haughty, and completely in love with himself. And while this isn't a new concept in movies for an antagonist, the strange wonder of this film is that Bronson is our protagonist (anti-hero, whatever you want to call him). But the kicker is that when you delve into his mind the way this film does, you realize two things: first, that there is no deep-seeded reason why he acts the way he does outside of making a name for himself and the sheer jollies he gets from it, and two, you don't really hate him for it. In fact, you feel like all the character wants is for you to hear his story and know it, and not going beyond that makes you able to make a lot of decisions on your own.

The pacing is good, the story told linearly, but its bizarre. In a good way, of course, but very very bizarre and violent, and darkly comedic. Bronson is a complex character who seems unreal, but still gets grounded in his own humanity form time to time, especially as he ages.

This movie is a must-see for Tom Hardy fans, but is not for the feint of heart. If you do watch it, be preparred for lots of violence, lots of really foul (to the point that it makes you laugh then feel bad about laughing), and LOTS of seeing Tom Hardy naked. Lots of it.

All in all, if you can take the brutal nature of this film, give it a shot. Not for everyone, but it was definently a movie for me.

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Lawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector's Edition) (1962)

** UPDATED NOV-15-2012 **

An extraordinary film has now become an extraordinary Blu-ray. David Lean's 1961 desert epic film about the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence and his successes and struggles in the Arab countries during the early 20th Century remains (sadly) as relevant as ever regarding the Western world's unending struggles in the Middle East regions. The Oscar-winning classic is also a landmark event in film history, as it set a very high standard in epic film-making, acting, and, for the making of this Blu-ray, in film restoration as well. Director Lean and then-unknown actor Peter O'Toole's contribution in this film remain influential in the five decades since the film's initial release. And if it had not been for the efforts of restorers Robert A. Harris and Jim Painten, who discovered the film's original negative inside crushed and rusting film cans in Columbia's vaults in the 1980s, and proceeded to restore it to its original glory, we would not have had the pleasure of holding this Blu-ray in our hands. This 2-disc Blu-ray exclusive (no corresponding DVD is available) and a 4-disc (3 Blu-rays plus CD soundtrack) box set are the result of multi-year efforts on the part of the best professionals in the film business.

The aforementioned restoration by Harris & Painten, completed in 1989 and yielding a 227-minute director's cut, was the basis of this Blu-ray release. The running time is sometimes erroneously printed as 217 minutes, but that is actually the shortened running time of the PAL version with the typical 4% speedup. The restored version has always run 227 minutes in a 24-frame-per-second presentation. Older DVD editions may show a 217-minute run time, but be assured that this Blu-ray is not gaining an extra 10 minutes.

With a great film restoration as the basis, a digital scan in 4K resolution of the negative, and the great capacity and superior video & audio specs of a Blu-ray disc, this Blu-ray is unsurprisingly the look and sound of perfect, to borrow an old phrase. The picture is across-the-board perfect. Colors, brightness, contrast, and the amount of details are presented in demo-perfect levels, making the gorgeous deep-focus photography by Freddie Young an absolute pleasure to look at. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless English track, also based on material gained from the 1989 restoration, in which the restorers went to such great lengths as having the actors re-record missing dialogs, is the best this movie has ever sounded on home video. Dolby Digital 5.1 French and Japanese tracks are also included. Subtitle options are English, French, Japanese, Arabic, and Dutch. Those who need a Spanish audio track would need to get the region-free UK Blu-ray to get it, as the US Blu-ray does not have it.

The term "4K scan" refers to the 4096 horizontal pixels, a scanning density that is believed to be required to capture all the details of a 35mm film frame. Since "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed in 65mm, almost twice as wide as 35mm film, it is apt to call this an "8K scan". Hence, some publications refer to this as an 8K scan, although 4K is a correct term as well if you talk about scanning density.

All 227 minutes of the film were put on a single Region-free dual-layered Blu-ray disc, hence no disc break as in older DVD editions. The overture, intermission, and the exit music are all played to a black screen, as per director David Lean's original wish.

Regarding bonus features, the movie disc also contains a "picture-in-graphics track" that is vaguely similar to a DVD-ROM feature (remember PCFriendly?) of the 2001 DVD edition, in which the movie playback is accompanied by on-screen trivias, stills, and maps. But fresh material seems to be used for this Blu-ray. The interface could be a little unwieldly, as the screen is divided into four areas with smallish navigational controls.

A second Blu-ray disc contains more bonuses, which include all featurettes (but not the trailers) found on the 2001 DVD edition. A couple of surprises here. Two vintage shorts, "In Search for Lawrence" and "Romance of Arabia", which were presented in crappy black-and-white on the 2001 DVD, are in glorious color on the Blu-ray, and in nice 1080p HD to boot. A nice brand-new extra is a new 21-minute interview, in HD, of Peter O'Toole, accompanied by film clips and stills.

All other extras on the 2001 DVD are presented unchanged on the Blu-ray, except that all have English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai subtitles. These features include an hour-long making-of documentary, a Steven Spielberg interview, a newreel of the New York premiere, a montage of publicity material, and vintage shorts "The Camels Are Cast" and "Wind, Sand and Star".

** REVIEW OF 2001 2-DISC DVD EDITION BELOW, POSTED APR-06-2001 **

Apart from the slightly soft, washed-out picture quality during the opening credits of the movie, the DVD edition of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA is superb. The movie itself is spread onto 2 discs, with the disc break occurs just before Intermission. The Overture, Intermission, and the exit music are all played to a black screen, as per director David Lean's original wish. The picture quality looks as fresh and clean as, quite frankly, any film made in the 90s. In the dramatic shot where Lawrence appears on the far horizon after he rescued his Arab companion, the higher picture resolution of DVD makes it possible for us to notice his tiny figure whereas on VHS tapes or laserdisc it is so small it is almost impossible to see. Anyone who is serious about watching this film should get this DVD instead of any other version in order to appreciate the opulent cinematography and majestic atmosphere of this epic.

The disc has over 100 minutes of old and new documentaries and news footage about the making of the film, plus two well-designed DVD-ROM features (for Windows PC only): a interactive map showing the various journeys undertaken by the real T.E. Lawrence, and a "split-screen" feature that simultaneously plays the movie and shows you text of behind-of-scene information of the particular chapter of the movie that is playing. Since the DVD lacks a second audio commentary, being able to watch the film while reading facts about it is not a bad substitute.

The included "booklet" is a reproduction of the 1961 program given to theater goers, we are told. A nice touch: the disc case resembles Lawrence's diary in the movie.

It is unsurprising to me that some people find Lawrence of Arabia boring. If you have the attention span of a hummingbird, this is not a film you will enjoy. It has no car chases, no bikini-clad supermodels, and nary a kung-fu move to be seen. Instead, all it offers is tortured respect for everything it touches. Lawrence of Arabia is a film that elevated the art of cinematic storytelling to new heights, and it shows. It is the journey, not the destination, that the viewer should focus on. In order to enjoy this film, you must make a commitment to watch it. Get comfortable, have something to drink on hand (you'll know why about halfway through), turn off the phone, and put the remote under a pillow. I've seen a lot of films, and some I've liked to varying degrees, and others I've simply been satisfied that Hollywood didn't butcher the underlying work or premise too badly in pursuit of the lowest common denominator. Lawrence of Arabia is different. It is one of those truly rare films that makes you feel grateful for having seen it, for the efforts of all those involved to craft, create, and perserve over the years just so you might have the chance to see it. It is such a fine film that its merits are obvious, and negative statements about it tend to simply reflect back on the critic.

Why? Many reasons. The actors are likewise gifted with rare talent, and superbly cast. The settings and scenes are invariably breathtaking. The plot is engrossing and entertaining without ever becoming heavy-handed. Film students will while away hours discussing everything from the Christ imagery to the undercurrents of homoeroticism, but they do that with every film. I suggest you simply kick back and enjoy an excellent, time-honored epic about a stranger in a strange land. It is a harrowing, draining journey, but one you will not regret.

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Dear Amazon,

Please stop posting reviews for films that are, essentially, written for another version of the DVD's (and cd's) and not the one posted.

There are several DVD versions of Lawrence of Arabia. They all differ wildly from each other in picture and sound quality.

How do you expect us to chose which is best for us if you post the same review from the 2001 version over and over and over again?

"Best dvd version yet."

Yeah, right in 2001 that may have been true. But Amazon, you've posted this review for every version of this DVD even though the review was for a DVD originally released in 2001!

Lawrence of Arabia has been remastered twice since then, and the subsquent versions are very, very different.

Please stop this and take some responsibility and post reviews ONLY for their specific versions or at least specify that the review was written for another version.

Read Best Reviews of Lawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector's Edition) (1962) Here

For me this epic film is tied with "A Bridge On The River Kwai" as the best movie ever made. This film had everything & more. The peerless acting of Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Omar Sharif, Jack Hawkins, & Anthony Quinn were perfectly cast for their respective roles. Fine cinematography, direction, action, suspense, special effects, & musical score made this a mammoth production that took two years to complete.

Set in world war one in the turbulent middle east, T.E.Lawrence attempts to unite the Arabs to overthrow their Ottoman Turkish rulers. He starts as a mapmaker for British intelligence in Cairo. From the very first frames you can feel the extraordinary WILL of this man. He burns himself with matches saying to his comrade "the trick is not to mind that it hurts." He is sent to spy on King Feisal{Alec Guinness}, but he soon finds that he identifies more with the arabs than with his fellow Brit's. His brutal journey to the king under the scorching desert Sun alone is worth four stars. He develops an unexpected & intruiging relationship with an arab chieftain Sherif Ali{Omar Sharif}, that moves the film ever forward. Without orders he crosses the desert to lead a motley group of fifty men joining Auda Abu Tayi{Anthony Quinn}, to attack the Turks at Aqaba. With the victory comes his fame as US reporter Jackson Bentley{Arthur Kennedy}, brings the story to the media's attention. He moves from one gruelling adventure to another showing an indomitable will that encourages his men to fight above what they thought their own abilities were. Lawrence Of Arabia is an epic that celebrates the empty silence of the arabian desert. the vast clips across the glowing desert show a tiny rider approaching, mesmerizing sunsets, battles, & camp details make this a masterpiece. Peter O'Toole gave the greatest performance ever in this film. I'm not saying that Gregory Peck did not deserve the Oscar for "To Kill A Mockingbird," just that O'Toole deserved it a little more. The former still has never won the Oscar, which for me is an unpardonable sin!

Want Lawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector's Edition) (1962) Discount?

There are actually 4 versions of this movie on DVD:

1. Bare bones single disc version (don't bother; I agree with reviewer)

2. 2-disc limited edition (which has lots of extras but the film quality is not the best of the versions out there) 2001 release

3. 2-disc superbit edition (which doesn't have the extras but the film quality is superior to the limited edition) 2003 release (out of print but can get on amazon marketplace or ebay)

4. 2-disc collector's edition (which has the extras and the superbit version of the film which is an excellent version also) 2008 release

Hope that helps.

PS I would only recommend #3 or #4 as the film quality is better on these version than #1 or #2.

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Moonstruck (1987)

When MGM first released Moonstruck on DVD they inexplicably did so with an inferior pan and scan transfer. They've rectified this situation with a new deluxe edition that restores its proper aspect ratio and with a collection of new extras. Moonstruck was the My Big Fat Geek Wedding of its day only infinitely better and about an Italian family as opposed to a Greek one. Watching Norman Jewison's film again, you realize just how much Nia Vardalos' film is heavily indebted to it. If Moonstruck is La Boheme than Greek Wedding is Tony and Tina's Wedding.

It's time to use your old disc as a coaster as this edition is definitely worth the double dip. MGM has taken TBS' dinner and a movie to the next level by including three recipe cards with fine Italian meals so that you can do your own cooking and eat it while watching the movie.

Carried over from the previous edition is the audio commentary by Cher, director Norman Jewison and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley. Both Jewison and Shanley talk about their fascination with death while Cher talks about the importance of costume and how it helps her get into character. This is a solid commentary with smart observations and excellent anecdotes from everyone.

"Moonstruck: At the Heart of an Italian Family" takes us through the genesis of the film mixing interviews done at the time of filming (Cage and Cher) and new ones (Aiello and Dukakis). There is great, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage as Jewison and Shanley take us through the film telling several entertaining anecdotes.

"Pastas to Pastries: The Art of Fine Italian Food" is a tour of some of the best restaurants in Little Italy, in particular on Mulberry Street. You have six different places to choose from and their chefs demonstrate how to make a few choice foods guaranteed to make you hungry. If you love to cook and eat than this extra is for you.

Finally there is the "Music of Moonstruck" that examines the role that music plays in the movie. The first screening went badly because the music was all wrong.

Despite comments by previous reviewers this video is not pan and scan, it is cropped. There is a difference although I can understand how people could confuse the two. Moonstruck was originally shot with the intention of a 1:85 aspect ratio for theatrical screenings and 1:33 for television. The tops and bottoms of the frame were cropped to give it the widescreen ratio in the theatre. When films are shot for cropping they are essentially composed by the DP for both for 1:85 and 1:33 ratios simultaneously. Full frame video versions simply remove the cropping bars and show you more than you would have seen in a theatrical presentation. Pee Wee's Big Adventure and The Shining are two other films that utilized this (relatively uncommon) process. While one would still prefer that these films be cropped so as to provide a more "theatrical" feel it is incorrect to call this pan-and-scan because there is no panning and the viewer isn't losing any of the original frame information.

Pan-and-scan is when a film is shot in a widescreen format such as cinemascope, panavision or Super 16 and then transferred to video full-frame. In this case you actually are losing the material at either side of the film frame and you get that notorious back-and-forth panning as the transfer people try to focus the viewer on what they consider the "important" part of the frame. This injustice is still perpetrated for a majority of VHS releases but DVD producers for the most part have caught on that people "want widescreen". So yes, most of the time a full-frame release does indicate the pan-and-scan process but not with this film.

Buy Moonstruck (1987) Now

First off, this is a brilliant movie. Absolutely wonderful, delightful, funny, romantic, and magical. Divine. Worth a cosmos of the brightest, most glorious stars, but I guess in this case a mere five will do.

But I'm sure you've heard what a great film this is by now, if you haven't seen it already and found out for yourself. What I want to address is the controversy regarding the new widescreen transfer on the deluxe DVD. It is indeed true that you see more in the original MGM pan & scan release--but this is still a legitimate widescreen presentation, and the way this beautiful movie was originally intended to be seen. There are many different ways to shoot film in widescreen, and one of these involves shooting onto 1.37 ratio film (pan & scan ratio) while composing it for theatrical widescreen with the aid of two lines representing the "bars" you see on a TV on the monitor. This how "Moonstruck" was filmed, and it is done so that the director can have control over how the film will look both when seen in a theater and when cropped for viewing on a conventional television. Thus, the film is shot with more image on top and bottom than you actually end up seeing in the theater, but although you are technically seeing more in pan & scan, the widescreen is still really the "definitive" version.

Anyway, I hope this review helps those who may be debating between which version of this wonderful movie they ought to buy. Both are legitimate--I've seen the pan & scan and it's lovely (it clearly was carefully composed for both aspect ratios) but I'm going to buy the widescreen version. Thanks, and hope I could help!

Read Best Reviews of Moonstruck (1987) Here

(formerly a THREE-STAR review)

GOOD NEWS AND ALTERED COMMENTS!! BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT!!! "Moonstruck" is a fabulous modern comedy/romance, a classic!! I LOVE this film, and you will, too!

I had complained in my previous comment about the lack of widescreen theatrical release format in the previous release of this film, but I have just received word straight from the horse's mouth (MGM, via e-mail at their website) that the re-release of 'Moonstruck' on DVD (Nov.) will be available in either full-frame or (finally!) widescreen. AND they told me, in answer to my direct question, that 'Moonstruck' was shot in a full-frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio; theatrical presentation was 1.85:1. (Huh?)

I found out that most 1.85:1 aspect ratio movies are actually shot in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, with the intention that the top and bottom of the frames will be trimmed (matted) for 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical presentation. The cinematograper and director frame the shots with this in mind. The result of this is that the movie can be transferred easily to video without doing a pan-and-scan treatment of the photography for full-framed TV presentation. In other words, you're not missing anything in the full-screen framing. This is much preferred by the director, but still not ideal.

In fact, you get MORE than the director and cinematographer intended you to see, so the framing of the shots is a bit tall, less subject-focused than intended for cinematic presentation. This is by far a better compromise than a pan-and-scan transfer: rather than losing portions of the picture and ruining the framing, you just get some extra film that the director considers superfluous. It's still a compromise, and as you watch the film, it could mean the difference between a great shot and merely a good one.

So I personally still prefer theatrical release format, but I don't begrudge those who dislike widescreen their full-frame option, especially if they're not missing parts of the picture. I must say though that it surprises me how many people out there are bothered by widescreen movies on the normal 1.33:1 television. You get used to it quickly, unless you LET it bother you. (Have you noticed all the commercials and TV programs shot in widescreen recently? You probably haven't, so look for them!) As an owner of only a 27" TV (new), and a 20" before that, I say you can enjoy widescreen on TV!

I would now buy this DVD even if it were only full frame. GEORGE'S RECIPE FOR INCREASED DVD AND VHS SALES: the movie studios should inform us on the back of all video releases as to what alterations have been made for the video release. If it says it's pan-and-scan, I won't touch it, but if it's this other method, I might. Many feel the same as I.

I have many DVDs with widescreen on one side and full-screen on the other: the perfect compromise!

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Like the Movie, this soundtrack offers the perfect setting for Romance. With Some traditional Italian Music, you also can taste a bit of Puccini's La Boheme. The Opera was perfectly added to the rest of the album. The perfect Romance atmosphere is set. Good Luck !!!

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Bait 3D (2012)

Lets start with the good, interesting original concept, well written, good solid acting with familiar if not very well known actors Julian McMahon of Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four, Phoebe Tonkin of the Secret Circle, Xavier Samual of the Twilight Series, among a few others. The use of 3D in this movie is spot on lots of things coming at you nice use of depth, even some minor but important details in the water are done very well like sea snakes coming at your or jellyfish. Good Character development combine with a movie that takes itself seriously and never winks at itself gradually builds in the excitement and scares, very entertaining. Now the bad could it have used better CGI Special FX yes but considering what the budget for this movie was you will see it rises above itself much better than some of those Saturday Night Creature Features, yes I bought the blu Ray.

Going into this I thought I was going to be watching some SciFi original film. But it actually was pulled off rather well and made some sort of sense. It wasn't cheesy like I expected.

The movie was filmed for 3D, which I did not get to see it in, so some of it is CGI. The worst CGI is probably right in the beginning of the film, so don't let that sway you into shutting it off. The movie has decent gore that is not CGI, and they do use a prop shark here and there.

Overall, I liked it. I was entertained and would give it 3.5/5 stars. A point off for some slightly bad CGI, but if you've seen the recent remake of Piranha then this is a masterpiece when it comes to CGI.

For more of an official review visit my horror movie/book review blog, Shivers of Horror.

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Australian film. Lots of action, believable CG, and good acting! 3D was awesome! If your looking for some 3D fun at a great price...this is it.

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"Bait" is a really unjustly neglected gem of a horror movie. The sharks look real and are cunningly menacing and truly frightening. The 3D effects are startlingly good, with plenty of pop-outs and realistic depth throughout.

The movie is an extremely lean and taut suspense thriller. This is a real sleeper!

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I have to admit, going into this movie I was very doubtful it would be good. To me, the only good shark movie( until I watched this) was Jaws(1st one). Although, in my opinion, it is not as good as Jaws, it was good! I was surprised to see that it had a decent storyline. I love action films, so this one did not dissapoint. I thought the use of 3d in this film was done very well! Some movies only have the 3d effect when they feel the movie calls for it, but this film has it from start to finish. I own an LG 55 inch passive 3d tv and I can tell you from watching it on my set, the 3d is wonderful! Especially the pop out scene in the begining, of the shark coming out of the screen!

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Battle Royale (2012)

With the emergence of "The Hunger Games" phenomenon of the last few years, the inevitable comparisons between that franchise and the cult novel "Battle Royale" by Koushun Takami have been plentiful. Sure, the two do share strong thematic and narrative similarities, but each has a distinctly unique vibe and explores the back story behind the violence in a different way. The film adaptation of "Battle Royale" by director Kenji Fukasaku garnered almost instant international notoriety in 2000 for its disturbingly bleak portrait of kids set upon one another in a violent death match. Despite being banned and reviled by many, the story's visceral and emotional punch was hard to deny. It was nominated for numerous Japanese Academy Awards including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay and won that country's "Popularity Award." The rumor that Hollywood was flirting with an American remake has been circulating for years, but some seem to think that the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games" might have hurt the likelihood of this occurrence. In any event, I never had high hopes that an American interpretation could rival the original.

"Battle Royale" is being released in two incarnations, a film only DVD/ Blu-ray or "The Complete Collection" DVD/Blu-ray.

Film Only: This includes the Director's Cut of the film. First, the story is about a future Japan whose economy is in collapse and whose crime rate is spiraling out-of-control. In an effort to temper this uptick in violence by the juvenile population, the government has sanctioned an annual contest. In the movie, forty-two middle school aged students are dropped off and left to battle one another for survival. They are armed and coerced into fighting, for there can be only one winner left alive. As often as I've seen this movie, it never fails to shock and disturb me as it is exceptionally intense and powerful. Some complain that it isn't as "good" as the source novel (which is a pretty common argument with most translations from the page to the screen), but I think this is a daring and audacious film that succeeds fully on its own merits. I'm not, however, a huge fan of the Director's Cut. I don't think the extra footage adds appreciable value to the movie and I don't love the extended finale. This version has no special features.

Complete Collection (4 discs): The four discs are (1) Director's Cut of the film (see above), (2) Theatrical Cut, (3) 2003's "Battle Royale II" and (4) Bonus Content Disc. While I would certainly consider the original "Battle Royale" as a classic, its sequel is less so. It carries the same concept over to a new class with some variations on the original theme, but the major difference is that an underground plot by an unexpected terrorist cell plays a large part in this year's action. It's solid enough, I like it. It just lacks the emotional kick of the first film.

Bonus Disc Content included in Complete Collection only. This is on a standard DVD even in the Blu-Ray set (but all three films are on Blu-ray). The Making Of BATTLE ROYALE, BATTLE ROYALE Press Conference, Instructional Video: Birthday Version, Audition & Rehearsal Footage, Special Effects Comparison Featurette, Tokyo International Film Festival 2000, Battle Royale Documentary, Basketball Scene Rehearsals, Behind-The-Scenes Featurette, Filming On-Set, Original Theatrical Trailer, Special Edition TV Spot, TV Spot: Tarantino Version. It's a lot of Bonus Material, but it has been used on Special Edition International versions of the DVD and is not new to this set. Blu-Ray films have 1080p video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtracks. KGHarris, 1/12.

Before you type out a retaliatory positive reviewread on!

I want to start off by saying I absolutely LOVE Battle RoyaleIt is most certainly on my list of favorite movies. HOWEVERthis 'Director's Cut' is total garbage.

Sadly, as with the case for many 'Special Edition' DVDs, Battle Royale: Director's Cut adds unnecessary footage that does nothing to enhance the film. The end is extending by 8 minutes or so and delves into a sort of epilogue and series of dream sequences.

The Battle Royale wiki explains the changes here: (...)

No attempt was made to clean up the subtitles: I can ignore misspellings and incorrect conjugations however at one point the subtitles ran off the screen. The subtitles in the added scenes were far worse than that of the rest of the movie.

I am not bashing Battle Royale; I want people to buy the regular version and forget that this Director's Cut is even an option.

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(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)"Battle Royale" is a superb film, subtle and sad and over-the-top and loud all at the same time. The story is often compared to "Lord of the Flies," but that is a bit of a misnomer. "Lord of the Flies" was about reverting to primitivism, whereas "Battle Royale" is a futuristic cautionary tale in the tune of "1984" and "Brave New World." The caution at work here is the threat of absolute bureaucracy, and the dangers of the loss of the value of life and respect in a rules-dominated society. This is a threat quite apparent in modern Japan.

The actors in "Battle Royale" all deliver excellent performances, including the amazing talent "Beat" Takeshi Kitano playing the appropriately named "Kitano." The film was not directed by Takeshi however, so it lacks his beautiful visual style. It does however feature one of his riveting paintings. There is a good range of responses from the various actors playing the students, from outright suicide, to panic, to a drive to win to a drive to help. Unfortunately, the character of Kazuo Kiriyama (the machine gun boy) is woefully underdeveloped, and instead of the fierce, cold genius of the book he is a somewhat characterless villain.

While a violent film, I wouldn't characterize "Battle Royale" as an action film per se. Anyone looking for a Hong Kong-style action film should realize that Japan and China are quite different countries with different approach to movies.. "Battle Royale" retains the quietude and patient pacing that is the hallmark of Japanese cinema, and which leaves some viewers bored, who are used to a quicker pacing. The bloodshed, while in great quantity, is also more cartoony in nature, which is also more typical of Japanese films, which does not favor a naturalistic approach.

I think some familiarity with problems in modern Japan (ie: school violence, overwhelming bureaucracy) gives some necessary perspective to this controversial movie, and helps frame it as more than exploitation. It is a political statement, with a subtle message underlying the overt violence. Along with this, knowledge of Japanese culture deepens the understandings of certain scenes, such as when Kitano performs the prescribed exercises, and the training video shown at the beginning. Without understanding, these scenes might come off as merely quaint or odd.

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Very good movie. I strongly reccomend this movie to anyone who enjoys strange movies, because you've never ever seen a movie like this.

It's the future... Kids have stopped going to class, and are becoming pests. So the government has started a new program called the "BATTLE ROYALE SURVIVAL PROJECT." What happens is that one class of 9th graders a year is chosen by impartial lottery to go onto a deserted island. The kids then get 'voted off' the island. And by 'voted off' I mean they kill each other. Each kid gets a bag, inside is food, water, a map, and a random weapon. With this weapon, they are ordered to kill each other until one remains.

This movie has everything. Violence, plot, character development (somewhat -enough to satasfy me), and an amazing story. It'll keep you on the end of your seat, or couch, or whatever.

Oh, and if you go out and see the new Tarantino movie, KILL BILL, the actress that plays Liu's bodyguard is one of the kids from Battle Royale.

Buy this movie. I can't stress it enough.

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this movie has alot of qualities that i liked from the start. the way the students tried to find a way around the game, the social interactions of the students, and the question of could you kill your best friend. the movie goes smoothly from the start, with everyone on the bus, and then comes to on the island. i even have a soft spot for kitano, the cookie eating teacher. the cast did a superb job giving the book characters life and keeping to the plot. and the fact that it didnt save characters that you get to like made it sad, yet, gave the sense that the students really were trying to survive. the one thing i like to point out is the way the students' clicks fell apart after one or two days. some worked better as a team, while others got ripped apart at the seams.

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Sweet Karma

If you are looking for a movie with strippers that also has a good story and good acting, Sweet Karma is for you. I also recommend this movie to people that are tired of the same old Hollywood movies. Sweet Karma is like a blend of the movies Eyes Wide Shut and Taken.

This movie is excellent movie enjoy but you need a strong stomic to watch so be a wear of the movie it is very sexuality not for kids at all do not bring kids only adults you need a good head to focus enjoy no girl friend recommended enjoy if girls watch it remember its only a movie not real life . Very power full

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YES I WOULD THIS MOVIE HAD A LITTLE PIECE OF EVERYTHING IN IT IF YOU LIKE A STORY OF A GIRL IN THE SEARCH TO FIND WHAT HAPPEND TO HERE SISTER.

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Sweet Karma is one of those movies that has a certain ambiance; it sets the mood for the viewer as soon as it comes on. This movies takes you all the way through Karma's killing spree and search to find out about her sister and who was responsible for her sister's death. The movie does an excellent job showing how close the two sisters were and how much they loved each other. This movie was not predicable to me. It served up the best twist in the end.

I always find that independent films and lower budget films have the best story lines and they know how to execute them well. If you like action and a little bit of mystery along with your suspense Sweet Karma is provocative eye candy that won't let you down.

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I found the movie highly entertaining and engaging. I think the poor camera quality (whether intentional or not) ADDS to the realism. As a matter of fact, it was the overall realism of the movie that attracted me to it. The acting by the lead was amazing even though she didn't say a single word. The plot was not at all predictable. Sure, she is taking revenge, but how she goes about it and how not everything turns out perfectly is what made it unpredictable. Some say that this plot has been done to death that is probably true, but since I haven't watched that many movies of this type, then it is new to me. The look into the sex slave trade is also quite important. The movie is VERY graphic and raw. It has a well deserved R rating. Not only for the rape scenes but for the blood and violence this is not a movie I would recommend for the faint of heart.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2012)

This is truly one of the best animes I have ever watched,the intensity and emotion behind each of the characters and their actions is overwhelming at times and these emotions certainly won't fail to move any person who has had any relation to love, loss of someone important or simply just a person who has the felt the warmth of motherly love. Story is great and I like the fact that it doesn't beat around the bush but it constantly keeps focusing on the most important aspects of the movie. The development of the main character, Asuna, and her relationship to the other characters as we move forward in the movie.

The art was what was truly amazing about the anime and definitely its selling point. Nearly every scene involving the environment or the atmosphere around our characters was simply breathtaking and almost without comparison. In addition to these scenes being absolutely amazing there weren't just a few of them but this movie was filled with beautiful landscapes and sky sceneries. Especially the night skies are particularly beautiful. The sound was almost as amazing,fitted perfectly with the sceneries and the movements and expressions of the characters.

I was really entertained throughout the whole movie and it kept moving me.Great story, beautiful animation, perfectly fitting soundtracks and very enjoyable characters. Apart from a this, the movie had a lot of touching morals and enlightening views on life and death. Two very heavy subject which were handled with grace.

Makoto Shinkai, the former Falcom graphic designer, who took the anime industry by storm back in 2001 when he released his anime OVA titled "Voices of a Distant Star", which he created on his Power Mac G4 and using several software and voice acted by he and his wife Miko and music provided by his friend Tenmon.

The OVA inspired many for the fact it was independent, created on a small budget but looked significantly better than some major anime series by well-known animation studios.

Suffice to say, the person who grew up inspired by Miyazaki films was now given a chance to create more animated films and he would eventually achieve success with "The Place Promised in Our Early Days" (2004) and "5 Centimeters Per Second" (2007).

In 2011, Shinkai returned with the animated film "Children Who Chase Lost Voices ("Hoshi o Ou Kodomo") which he directed, wrote and produced.

And now the film was released in the U.S. on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"Children Who Chase Lost Voices" is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen and English and Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 with English subtitles

It's important to note that if you want the best picture quality for this animated film and also the best audio, there is a Blu-ray release for this animated film that will be released on the same day of the DVD.

As far as the DVD is concern, the film has the trademark of a Makoto Shinkai film. Beautiful, well-detailed clouds. Characters that almost have a Studio Ghibli look and scenery that is lush and well-detailed with animation design that is shaded, colorful but art backgrounds that are just stunning to look at.

Personally, this is one film that would look amazing via HD on Blu-ray but for DVD, picture quality is very good.

As far as the soundtrack is concerned, the audio is very good. Not only do you hear the ambiance of bugs, outdoor environments such as Asuna running on the grass and the roar of the gatekeepers and izoku, the audio is well-done through the surround channels. But no doubt, I can't help but think how much more impressive the soundtrack would be via lossless (Blu-ray). But those who purchase the DVD should be pleased by the overall soundtrack. As for voice acting, both Japanese and English soundtracks are well acted.

As for subtitles, the subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Children Who Chase Lost Voices" comes with the following special features:

Audio Commentary Featuring audio commentary by Makoto Shinkai, Asuna voice actress Hisako Kanemoto and the "Hoshi o Ou Kodomo" production crew.

Interviews with the Staff and Cast (55:40) Featuring interviews with the voice talents Hisako Kanemoto (voice of Asuna), Miyu Irino (voice of Shin/Shun), Kazuhiko Inoue (voice of Ryuji Morisaki) and filmmaker Makoto Shinkai.

A Brief Interview with Makoto Shinkai A text based interview with the director/writer/producer Makoto Shinkai.

The Making of Children Who Chase Lost Voices (45:18) Similar to previous Makoto Shinkai releases, a making of diary of the creation of the animated film, discussion with the cast and crew and overall making of the film.

The Works of Makoto Shinkai (7:26) A look at Shinkai's previous work.

Japanese Promotional Video (5:04) Japanese PV for "Hoshi o Ou Kodomo".

Japanese Teasers (2:26)

JUDGMENT CALL:

If experience is a factor of determining a person's ability to create amazing work, with only three major films under his belt, there are still some who claim that Makoto Shinkai has many years to go to prove he is the real deal.

After watching "Children Who Chase Lost Voices", I have to differ. As filmmaker Jean Vigo had done in France, creating only three films in his career but yet his life was cut short of tuberculosis, cineaste yet consider Vigo as one of the great French filmmakers of all time.

Makoto Shinkai may have gotten into the industry through a different process than other veterans but there is no doubt that his talent is a rarity. As Shinkai was influenced by the great Hayao Miyazaki, many who have watched Shinkai's work continually grow within the last decade, can't help but be amazed of his accomplishment with three films and the growth as a director, writer and producer.

Shinkai has been a rarity in which he works with the people that he wants to work with, he creates and writes anime the way he wants to do it and so far, many people all over the world have been overjoyed by his work because its not more about creating animated films for the sake of commercialism or the sake of getting something out there to make profit for a major studio. He creates a film because of his passion for it.

Prior to watching "Children Who Chase Lost Voices", I have always felt that Shinkai's "5 Centimeters Per Second" is his true masterpiece. A gorgeous animated film that was not only heartbreaking but also beautiful and touching. It was a film about life and love that many people have experienced. Love, heartbreak but people moving on.

With his latest film "Children Who Chase Lost Voices", you can apply the same idea of love, heartbreak and people moving on but in a context of alternate worlds and one wanting to bring back a deceased loved one.

The film looks absolutely gorgeous from its animation to its art backgrounds. Each scene can be appreciated for its beauty and for anime fans, Shinkai's films are almost like a painting that you just loved to look at over and over again and sometimes after looking at it, you have a different interpretation. This is not a film that is commercial or quickly made. It was well-planned and perfectly executed.

The characters of "Children Who Chase Lost Voices" are all characters who have lost a loved one and no doubt has altered or changed their lives. Asuna, losing her father and having to grow up in order to prove to her mother that she is old enough to take care of the house while her mother works. But then seeing that side of her that wants that peace and serenity and take out this radio which reminds her of her father. It's her time of remembrance but also her time of reflection.

The two other characters outside of the protagonist are quite different. With Mr. Morisaki determined in bringing his wife back, part of us can't call him an antagonist because we know that a man who found love, lost his one true love, will do all he can to bring his love back to life if he can. It's hard to dislike a man with those intentions, but at the same time, we know that his actions are against people who live in Agartha.

For Shin, he lost his brother, but he hasn't had the time to mourn. If anything, he is conflicted of his goals to save the one girl that his brother saved, despite her being a "top-dweller". But knows that by assisting her, he himself can be banished from Agartha.

While the film may seem complex with its concept of hidden worlds, Quetzalcoatls (gatekeepers) and people who are trying to protect their land from the top-dwellers, the storyline is easy to understand.

Like previous Shinkai films, people trying to seek resolve may be disappointed. There are no easy answers to the storyline of Shinkai's films. Like in reality, things happen and people must live life by adjusting to their new environments and the new people that they are with.

I'm sure the gate is still open for more stories that involve Asuna, Shin and Mr. Morisaki but similar to "5 Centimeters Per Second", I looked at the film as we experience life with the people we love and as we get older or years pass by, some lose those people they were once close with. Fall outs of relationships or by unfortunate circumstances including death. There is no going back to the past nor is there reviving the deceased, one must move forward.

As for the DVD release of "Children Who Chase Lost Voices", as mentioned, if you want the best in video and audio, the Blu-ray is the way to go. But as for the DVD itself, the DVD looks good and fortunately the special features were put on a second DVD disc.

Overall, Makoto Shinkai once again has created a masterpiece and another film added to his oeuvre of magnificent animated films created within the last decade. "Children Who Chase Lost Voices" is a gorgeous, touching animated film worth watching, worth owning and is highly recommended!

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First, I want to comment on the dvd itself. This dvd was from Malaysia. Before I ordered, I was concerned about that quality and that it might be a bootleg. I'm still not 100% sure, but it played without problems on my region 1 player. The video, audio and english subtitles were all perfect. So all-in-all I'm satisfied with the product.

Now onto the movie itself. I purchased this simply due to the fact it is a Makoto Shinkai film. I'm a big fan of his work. I wasn't disappointed. The animation is beautiful and vibrant as expected. This story is more of a "fantasy" film than some of his others. Without going into detail, it's basically about a girl who embarks on a mysterious journey with many weird, scary, dangerous, touching, happy sad events happening along the way. It's an interesting journey. Something along the lines of a Miyazaki film ala Spirited Away. Will the girl survive the perilous journey and make it home safely? Better find out for yourself.

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I really love anime movies, and I was super excited when I saw a release of this movie. (No spoilers) I liked it, and glade i bought it, but i miss my Miyazaki films.....

The GOOD:

-The art/animation is great. It has a Miyazaki feel to it.

-The Story was pretty and a nice idea. I've read/heard allot about mythology stories, and it was nice to see anime take up this idea and make it their own.

The BAD:

-The plot. It was pretty choppy in some places, and you left with a few questions at each main point. (Kind of like in "Tales from Earth Sea") I felt like the story could have definitely benefited from having a smother plot.

-Not really a kids film. It's fairly graphic (not graphic like a horror movie), but you see a lot of blood at some points and some detached body parts.

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I have never once witnessed this man's work before and for that I am dearly sorry. I did however buy the manga adaption to one of his films, but anyway this one in particula Children Who Chase Lost Voices In The Deep I believe is it's full name.

To say that I enjoyed it is an understatement...It was thrilling and beautiful and had everything I look for in anime. I was captured by his gorgeous coloring and different fighting style. I fell in love with our main character, a hard working girl who lost her father long ago and now works to help her mother out. She in herself is amazing and makes me want to get up and do the dishes for my mom.

When I first bought it I bought it with the thought that this would be a kids movie, like Miyazaki. There's blood, fighting, and a little bit of gore and I was surprised but honestly it didn't bother me.

So be warned parents but still this movie is a great addition to my collection and I would reccomend it for nearly everyone.

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