Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992)

I've always been a big fan of the Tenchi Muyo cosmos (can't really say world or universe cause that still wouldn't encompass all the different story lines).

I can say without a doubt this very high on my list to purchase. I've watched the fansubs multiple times. The storyline is engaging, the characters are deep and well modeled. The episodes are a satisfying 40 minutes long.

I my only problem is that 130$ (10$ per episode) for both boxes seems to be rather steep. At 70$ I would snatch the series up, but for now, I'll wait and bide my time till the prices drop.

The Thing that this series has linked with tenchi muyo is the name and one or two character references from the other series otherwise its pretty much a stand alone series. I also believe that the animation in this series is the best out of all of the Tenchi series. I wish they wouldn't have split the series up like they did but you can't ask for everything.

Buy Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992) Now

I'll be the first to say this is a great series. However, Funimation's translation contained a number of issues I found extremely frustrating. There weren't too many real errors, but some of the translation choices were annoying or worse. For instance, Funimation sometimes seems to want to overemphasize genre in their translation, made obvious here with their obsessive insertion of "mecha" wherever they think they can get away with it. "Holy Armor" suddenly becomes "Sacred Mechanoid", and "Holy Knight" turns into "Sacred Mechamaster", and largely unrelated devices like Wahan's robot are given almost identical names. The ultimate result to me was to make a lot of things sound silly.

What was far worse was the series description. Where in the world did these people get the idea of the conflicts being "intergalactic"? This'd be the first intergalactic battle I've seen that takes place entirely on one planet, involving people who don't appear to have ever even heard of space flight, with one single boy from another dimension(or something) stranded there whose civilization has barely managed to reach their moon. I've often felt that Funimation's descriptions and advertisements went a little overboard emphasizing specific aspects they thought would sell (in particular focusing entirely on fanservice regardless of the story that goes along with it), showing no interest in anything past the obvious, but this's the first time they seemed to create a description that makes up a completely different story altogether.

Read Best Reviews of Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992) Here

Kenshi Masaki is the half brother of Tenchi Masaki. Somehow he was summoned to another planet called Geminar. He doen't know why or how he got there though. Fortunately, this planet is mostly inhabited by hot chicks that are all crazy about Kenshi. Kenshi enters a school for young mecha pilots. Part 1 of this series mainly covers his daily life and develops his relationship with the girls at the school. There is, however, trouble brewing on Geminar. A mysterious group has plans that threaten the people of Geminar, and somehow, Kenshi fits into their plan.

I expected a little more action from this series, because of the title, "War On Geminar". I think that the war actually starts in part 2. There are some major differences with this series and the original Tenchi Muyo series that this spins off of. The characters are the main difference. They are all good though. This set has 7-50 minute episodes. So it is actually a long as a 26-episode series if you include part 2. The situations are more suggestive than the original series, but there isn't any nudity. I think it should be rated PG-13, but whatever. The animation, voice acting and soundtrack are all top notch; as you probably expected from the Tenchi franchise. Although different from what I expected, this series did entertain me. I hope it picks up a bit in part 2, and I wish that it was a little cheaper. Other than those 2 little details, I think this is a good buy. If you like the older Tenchi series, you'll probably enjoy this one too.

Want Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992) Discount?

I first saw this series at an anime convention a few years back and was excited to see it picked up for official release on Blu-Ray/DVD in North America. I do have a few complaints. The biggest being that the audio mix seemed a bit off. The dialog and music tracks seemed a bit loud, while the sound effects seemed muted. I felt like I was watching the commentary of the episode with all of the action taking place in another room. I tried both the Blu-Ray version and the DVD on different players and audio receivers with the same results. The English soundtrack was a little better. I could hear most of the low range heavy explosions, but the midrange sound effects like gunfire and sword on sword clashing were still not very loud.

I mostly watched it in Japanese, but while comparing the soundtracks, I did notice that some of the English voice actors seemed to ad-lib or babble a bit, like they needed to fill up every bit of screen time with dialog. And some of the terms seemed overly translated like "Sacred Mechamaster" instead of Seikishi. Despite these things, I still enjoyed watching this anime again, and look forward to the second volume, where story plot picks up and the action gets more intense.

Save 8% Off

Raging Phoenix (2009)

I wasn't expecting much from JeeJa Yanin's original film ("Chocolate"), but her physical talents were showcased in spectacular fashion and won me over despite the shortcomings in terms of scriptwriting. That film grew on me more and more after repeat viewings, but there still was room for improvement in the pacing and storyline elements. Enter "Raging Phoenix", which not only avoids a sophomore slump for JeeJa, but actually surpasses "Chocolate" in total entertainment value.

One way it does this is to allow JeeJa to express her camera presence and charisma. This was surprising to me personally, because her previous role in "Chocolate" was so introverted and robotic that it was essentially impossible to determine whether or not this girl could steal a scene without beating someone's brains in. In "Raging Phoenix", however, she really cuts loose during the opening half as she jokes around, engages in some funny dialogue, and participates in some light-hearted fight scenes involving drunken styles of martial arts. That one-vs-many boat brawl is now wait for it a boat-load of fun. JeeJa exhibits a natural likability that her fellow countryman Tony Jaa severely lacks. Don't misunderstand me, because I am a fan of Tony's films, but he has some serious limitations as all of his screen presence is earned through his (phenomenal) physical skills. JeeJa, on the other hand, portrays her character in a way that is very endearing. In other words, I'd love to have her as a younger sister. This charm is a major reason why this film is so entertaining. When the action scenes are bridged by good "non-action stuff", that's a huge plus.

The mood gets more serious when the kidnapping plot line is fleshed out more, but even here the film stays attention-grabbing with an interesting twist involving drug dealing. Now, I'm not saying that the script is incredibly strong. It's not going to win any awards in that realm, nor is it as strong as more dramatic action films like "Kill Zone" (2005), but it does build anticipation for the finale and establishes characters a bit more than usual. In addition, "Raging Phoenix" one-ups "Chocolate" by introducing a very strong lead antagonist during the latter half (played by Roongtawan Jindasing Asian Pacific Women's Bodybuilding Champion). This lady is one tough son-of-a-gun who proves incredibly difficult to take down, which automatically makes things a bit more exciting than having JeeJa beat down random stuntmen the entire time.

Which brings us to the action scenes. There are some one-vs-many scenarios early on, but that shifts decisively towards one-on-one and two-on-one battles afterward, which results in some outstanding fist-a-cuffs. The cavern hideout finale lasts a solid 30 minutes, and Roongtawan Jindasing hands out a great deal of damage to JeeJa and her buddies. It escalates to the point of making one's hairs stand on end, especially when JeeJa gets her second wind and slugs it out in EPIC fashion. That sequence must be an instant classic (at least in terms of girl vs girl mayhem). Heck, this entire film is an instant classic.

If you liked "Chocolate", you need to see this. If you didn't like "Chocolate", you need to see this anyways. It's truly an excellent action film, and quite possibly the best girl fighting movie ever made.

To sum up the film: Very cool action set pieces; bloody awful story. We knew there was gonna be imense pressure for Jeeja Yanin's sophomore work to equal or surpass her debut film CHOCOLATE and, to be honest, RAGING PHOENIX carries a whiff of trying too hard. Jeeja Yanin in CHOCOLATE played a mildly autistic debt collector and so it makes sense to have her switching it up in this one. She plays Deu, one of those party girls who have too much free time on her hands. The film opens during a spectacularly bad series of moments for Deu. She gets kicked out of her rock band, gets spectacularly liquored up, and then gets abducted by a girl and by and I guess this is the Thai sense of humor at work a chubby transvestite. She's saved by a melancholy dude named Sanim who along the way fends off a bunch of goons on pogo stilts sporting wicked sharp blades this, by the way, doesn't at all seem contrived. Really. Deu ends up joining Sanim's tiny band of inebriated martial artists, and these guys specialize in "Meyraiyuth," a form of drunken Muay Thai boxing which incorporates breakdancing. We learn along the way that Sanim and his friends are seeking an elusive organization of kidnappers. It's not too long before Deu picks up drunken Muay Thai boxing. In fact, it may be best to overlook the inordinately short amount of time it takes Deu to pick up impressive fighting skills. Personally, it's even more challenging for me to buy into Jeeja Yanin's pretending to be this girl who, at the start of the film, can't fight at all.

Likewise, it's best not to dwell too much on the kidnappers' target victims. It all has to do with certain women exuding a particular scent, and these women are taken so that their tears could be extracted and sold as a curative for staggering sums of money. It's all pretty "What the f---?"

Like in Tony Jaa's movies and I wonder if we'll always be comparing JeeJa Yanin to Tony Jaa? RAGING PHOENIX has a sketchy plot which is there solely to frame the crunching slugfests. What sort of sinks the picture is that things often get bogged down in superfluous plot exposition and forced melodrama. When no one is getting a sharp knee to the face, the pace slows downs to a snail's pace. There are also times when our girl sounds really shrill and when I was thinking that maybe she was better off in CHOCOLATE when she barely had dialogue. She's not as wooden as Tony Jaa. In fact, Jeeja does demonstrate expressiveness and personality (dug her drunken Muay Thai when she first goes off on her own). I blame a screenplay that's listless and the shoddy direction and the fact that this is a Thai martial arts film, a genre which tends to ignore trivial details like good acting and fine execution of story.

We're here strictly for the martial arts stuff, so how was that? Just when I was thinking that THE REBEL's Veronica Ngo was the new lady sheriff in town when it came to buttkicking heroines, here's that wisp of a girl Jeeja Yanin once more kneeing opponents in their painful parts. There are several fight sequences here, and the first two has our heroine taking a back seat to French-Vietnamese martial artist "Kazu" Patrick Tang.("Sanim") and his crew (comprised of members of a B-Boy band in real life). These sequences are really nifty, if unrealistic. The first fight, against the pogo stilt henchmen, demonstrates Kazu's athleticism. The second is the big drunken Muay Thai boxing showcase, and it's cool to see our guys popping and locking and breakdancing while handling their business against some more evil henchmen. The music playing in the background amps you up, too.

Jeeja Yanin gets in the act in later encounters and her character even challenges one of Sanim's guys into a duel by the beach but, really, it's not until the final 30 minutes that the real Jeeja Yanin comes out to play. Her brutal beat down of two formidable martial artists is an electrifying highlight. But then to top it off, she takes on the menacing female leader of the kidnappers in a rematch (her previous tussle with her, over a lattice of shaky wooden bridges, ended somewhat in a draw). The film's Big Bad is played by Roongtawan Jindasing who is a champion body builder in real life, and she looks mean enough to wipe the floor with you and me and Shaquille O'Neal (and while she's wearing a bikini bra, no less). And, in the department of "That's Really Gonna Leave A Funky Bruise," JeeJa Yanin's devastating finishing move on Jindasing will drop your jaw. Yanin does her own stunts again, and it's crazy insane to see her acrobatic moves and observe the impact her blows have. Just when I'd thought I'd seen everything Muay Thai had to offer, Yanin demonstrates a series of electrifying maneuvers. I almost don't mind the sometimes glaringly obvious wire work.

This rating thing is pretty subjective. I'm compelled to give this film 3 stars out of 5 (breaks down to 5 stars for the fighting, 1 star for the crappalicious story content). Except that if you already knew going in that the story would get the back seat treatment and you only showed up to see JeeJa Yanin pummel thugs anyway, do you then only rate this for the action bits? I dunno. I say, 3 stars.

Last thing for me. Seriously, what awful ungodly brew was in that jug that everyone had to drink to cement their team membership? It's got me curious.

Buy Raging Phoenix (2009) Now

When Tony's away, Jeeja will play...or at least try to take over the title of best international action hero, a feat which seems wholly obtainable with Thai cinema gurus Prachya Pinkaew and Panna Rittikrai on her side. Not since the advent of Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock has it seemed feasible for a lady to establish herself over the top stars of the day in the realm of martial arts films, but not only did the petite powerhouse Jeeja Yanin draw considerable first blood with her debut in Chocolate a few years ago, her follow-up film here may very well be the single best entry to fill the void of the Jaa-free landscape. Is it without flaws? of course not. But it's still one of the most exciting features I saw during the year of its western release.

The story: troubled indie rock & roller Deu (Yanin) is rescued from the Jaguar Gang an underground circuit specializing in kidnapping young women by the leader of a small opposing gang (Patrick Tang, Bangkok Adrenaline). Trained by him and his colorful cohorts in their unique style of martial arts Meyraiyuth Deu is recruited as a member of a counter-effort to find out where all the other kidnapped young women disappear to and what fiendish purpose they are used for...

The movie's glaring fault is its narrative. Though it evens itself out as the film goes along, the opening 35 minutes or so are an unwelcome rush of events, happenings, and information that could have easily been spread throughout the first half of the picture. Viewers not devoted to action are likely to turn the movie off before the plot even gets rolling on account of this overload. Additionally, the film's 'twist' what the kidnappees are used for elicits a resounding "yeah, right" from all but the most passive viewers, considering how the movie delves into sci-fi territory after more or less playing it straight for the first hour. Production values are pretty strong for the most part (some of the 'underground' sets aren't entirely convincing) and the acting's about as strong as it's going to get for this movie, so count your blessings.

Yes, do count them, but people who appreciate raw physical talent will run out of fingers to list the highlights of the film's ample fight scenes. Love or hate choreographer Panna Rittikrai but don't ever say his work's unoriginal: the man who made his name finding ways to kick butt in manners audiences have never seen outdoes himself yet again with roughly eight jaw-dropping brawls. The fighting style alone is worth the rave: calling the fictional Meyraiyuth method a synonym for capoeira is nonsense, considering its evolution throughout the movie beginning as a crass mixture of drunken boxing and breakdancing, it takes on elements of capoeira for the middle act before becoming a completely untaggable hodge of muay Thai, kung fu, and judo. Jeeja struts her stuff, but she's perfectly complimented by the likes of Patrick Tang and first-time stars like Nui Saendaeng, Sompong Leartvimolkasame, and ex-policewoman Jindasing Roongtawan as the evil mastermind all of whom deserve their own starring vehicles as far as I'm concerned. Up until now, I was convinced that the Cynthia Rothrock/Karen Sheperd encounter in Above the Law constituted the single best fight between two women in all of cinema, but the Yanin/Roongtawan finale easily puts that one to the test: what we have here is a new standard that will be very, very difficult for other movies to live up to.

I could go on about this one, but it eventually boils down to this: casual viewers will probably hate the plot and deride the length of the fight scenes, while action appreciators who aren't intimidated by the sight of a woman kicking butt will have plenty of reason to cheer. Fans who lament the loss of Tony Jaa will, in a pinch, find a suitable replacement in this young lady from Bangkok and her new vehicle; if you sat through the silliness that was Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, you can certainly stomach this one.

Read Best Reviews of Raging Phoenix (2009) Here

Okay, I'm going to get straight to the point. The first 15 min or so starts off kind of corny and slow but let me tell ya, after that, your mouth will drop to the floor. The action is so intense, I'm talking no wires no stunt people. This is real kick but action folks. So, if your into the real thing, check this dvd out. Every bone in Jija's body should've been broken! Jija is for sure the next female Ong Bak. Can't wait to see her in more serious rolls though.

Want Raging Phoenix (2009) Discount?

I liked the funky twists and turns of the story line. Its contempory style of young actors.. I have to give it to the actors and actresses in this for their MEGA contribution of athletic ability, coreography and staminia. Liked the parkour freestyle, not a CGI movie If you ejoy martial art scenes....You will enjoy this movie!

Save 30% Off

Father Goose (1964)

If you liked the original The Odd Couple slob and compulsive neatnik thrown together in the same apartment or Heaven Knows Mr. Allison tough guy WWII Marine marooned on an enemy-held South Pacific island with a pretty nun, then you should enjoy FATHER GOOSE starring Cary Grant, Leslie Caron and Trevor Howard. I saw it once again on the telly this past weekend while doing the ironing, and I'm fortunate to be old enough to have an appreciation of all three films.

Grant is Walter Eckland, an antisocial, unkempt escapee from "civilization" that spends his time bumming around the South Seas on an old yacht. At the start of WWII, he's coerced into service as a "coast watcher", an observer stationed on a remote island as a lookout for Japanese planes or ships, by the wily and dry-witted local Royal Australian Navy authority figure, Comdr. Houghton (Howard). Eckland is bribed with booze to perform in His Majesty's service. One of his first assignments is to boat over to another island and rescue a fellow coast watcher. But, on arriving, he finds only his colleague's grave and the Caron character, Catherine Freneau, the daughter of a French government official, who's been stranded with a bevy of underage schoolgirls of which she has charge. Walter naturally takes them back to his island and his hovel, where the differences between the two adults soon surface. To Eckland, Freneau becomes "Goody Two Shoes", while, to the latter, her knight in stained armor becomes the "Filthy Beast".

While admittedly silly entertainment, FATHER GOOSE is a delightful romantic comedy that doesn't, like some of the current Tinseltown offerings, rely for laughs on sensitive body parts being caught in zippers, bodily fluids masquerading as hair gel, or carnal knowledge of apple pies. This film has Class, chiefly due to the presence of Grant, who character demonstrates more suavity unshaven and without socks than any one of today's crop of male actors dressed up in a tux. (Perhaps only Sean Connery, Robert Redford and Paul Newman are close to being in the same league.) Caron's strong-willed and very feminine Freneau is more than a match for Eckland's obstinately boorish masculinity a pairing made in heaven, or at least Hollywood.

Perhaps my high esteem for this film is more a function of nostalgia. But there're a lot of other films from that same period of my youth that are eminently forgettable, so I have to think that FATHER GOOSE is a cut above.

Cary Grant is cast as Walter Eckland in this very funny classic comedy. His normal sexy leading man characteristics are downplayed to let his comedic genius shine through. He stars opposite Leslie Caron cast as Catherine Freneau. They are an accident waiting for a place to happen at their first meeting, and it just gets worse from there. Walter is bribed and threatened into service as a watcher in WWII. Catherine is a diplomat's daughter given the responsibility of escorting several school children into a safer area. When they are all stranded together, the hilarity, and battle of the sexes begins.

This is one of my favorite comedies, and one of Cary Grant's last movies. No one does it like he does. A great film that the entire family can enjoy together.

Buy Father Goose (1964) Now

One of the immortal Cary Grant's last films, this particular one is a romantic, witty little gem. Well-scripted, well-acted, and full of really weird humor, this is one to treasure.

Walter Eckland has no intention of getting himself involved in World War II -no intention, that is, until he is "drafted" into service to the Allies. Basically he needs to keep an eye open for the Japanese. He reluctantly obeys, but his mission suddenly takes a weird turn when he rescues a slew of civilians: the prim, devious schoolteacher Miss Freneau, and her seven little girl charges. Before Eckland knows what's happening, they've taken over his little house, his clothes, his food -and his whisky. (It's the last one that really makes him nuts) To his horror, they won't be picked up for at least three weeks.

An extended, very witty battle of the sexes takes place, as Miss Freneau dodges and weaves around Eckland, and Eckland tries to retain some mastery over his domain. But a series of crises (comical and serious) force Eckland and Freneau not only to deal with the Japanese, but also with each other.

Cary Grant shows more of his versatility in this film, since his comical talents are usually passed by in favor of his rugged sexiness. That sexiness is buried in this one, under the scraggliness of a beachcomber who is rebelling against the world with alcohol. Revelations about his past are somehow quite appropriate; as a character in another of Grant's movies said, "you have unexpected depth."

Leslie Caron, whom I had previously seen only in "Gigi," is also in rare form here. She makes Miss Freneau both sympathetic and mildly repressed, with a dry wit and a very devious mind. She also manages one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in a movie, where Miss Freneau gets drunk after being bitten by a snake. Her acrobatics ("Ooooooh, is it getting hot in here?"), weird confessions ("I'm a picture straightener!") and the occasional lapse into insanity ("Tell me, I want to know, what did my blood taste like?") are too funny for words.

Other highlights include the chaplain and the accordian player, and the delightfully deadpan Trevor Howard as a Navy commander who's not afraid to play dirty. The writing is excellent; the mutual realizations by Freneau and Eckland may seem a little hasty and contrived, but that can be easily passed by.

This is fine to watch with the kiddies -there is virtually no profanity, no smut, a little non-bloody violence, and children will probably enjoy the antics of the seven little girls (such as the of-repeated whine "I wanna go home!"). There is one scene of drunkenness, however, and we are treated to sly indicators of more mature material ("he... he made a GESTURE, sir!" "Oooh, he called the captain a dirty name"). The little girls themselves are remarkably well-acted by believable child actors, except for the oldest one. One particular highlight is the little girl who keeps biting Eckland's hand.

Recommended especially for romantic comedy fans, and for fans of Caron and Grant. Or simply watch if you're in the mood for fun.

Read Best Reviews of Father Goose (1964) Here

"Father Goose" is one of my all-time favorite movies. Made in 1964, it's a warm, slightly off-beat romantic comedy, starring Cary Grant and Leslie Caron.

Walter Eckland (Grant) is an irascible, middle-aged, slightly besotted curmudgeon sailing the South Pacific during World War II in search of...well, something...anything! After getting caught "borrowing" some gasoline from the British Navy for his boat, he's blackmailed into serving as a plane spotter. Resentful after being stranded on a tiny island, he misses his liquid companionship, which the Navy has taken from him and hidden. So, Walter vows not to lift a finger to help the Navy. He relents, though, (after being promised some liquid refreshment) and motors on over to a neighboring island to rescue a fellow plane spotter in danger of capture by the Japanese.

Alas, the fellow plane spotter is dead. Walter instead finds Catherine Freneau, a very proper, teetotaling, but attractive French schoolteacher with seven young girls in her care. Stranded on the neighboring island, she asks Walter for help. He reluctantly agrees, and they all return to Walter's home base. And then...

Well, I won't give the story away. Needless to say, fireworks erupt between Catherine and Walter, and the classic battle of the sexes is on!

This is a very funny movie, although it's probably better for the guffaw and the bellylaugh, rather than the outright howl of laughter. Grant is superb in his role as the gruff but kind-hearted Walter (a refreshing departure from his usual role as a romantic "smoothie"), and Caron nearly steals the show with her comic portrayal of the equally warm-hearted schoolma'arm hiding behind a facade of old-fashioned primness.

If you like a good old-fashioned romantic comedy with great action, a superb plot, sparkling screenplay, lots of laughs, AND featuring your favorite stars...you'll love Father Goose!

Want Father Goose (1964) Discount?

"Father Goose" is a lot of fun and is arguably Cary Grant's funniest and finest film. Yes, he was great in "Charade", "North by Northwest", "Notorious", etc -but here his honed skills and comedic timing pay off in this very funny film and makes it well worth seeing. You don't have to be a Cary Grant fan to enjoy this film -but after seeing it, you will be.

"Father Goose" was nominated for Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) by the Golden Globe and won an Oscars for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen in 1965. The cast, production, direction, photography, story -all are top notch.

The film looks terrific on DVD with an aspect ratio of 1.85. The South Pacific cinematography adds greatly to the visual impact of this film. There are brief bios and filmographies of the priniciples. That's all. No further extras. This film is 16x9 enhanced.

Highly recommended!

Save 28% Off

The Vampire Lovers (1970)

I can't remember the author of that quote, but it fits this film well. A classic of latter-day Hammer Horror, The Vampire Lovers is a very good adaption of LeFanu's pre-Dracula vampire story, Carmilla (1870s). The aristocratic and drop-dead hot Ingrid Pitt plays the tortured vampire who not only lusts for blood, but for the love of young women--both forbidden to her, of course.

Peter Cushing adds his usual stoic, stiff-upper-class persona to the proceedings as he marshalls the fathers and male suitors of the victims against the power of the lovely undead. The wide-eyed innocent that falls under Carmilla's sway is played by Madeleine Smith--Mmmmm. Hammer gets the seduction scenes just right, mingling horror and eros with unexpected skill and taste. The sexual tension is high, and the scenes of bosomy women in bodices bearing huge fangs has always been a Hammer staple. I love it, myself.

The Vampire Lovers is competently acted, with a nice turn by Pitt especially, showing how unhappy she is and how she what she wants--love--will always elude her; what she needs--blood--will always cause death. Not that the movie gets too heavy into Anne Rice territory, but Pitt definitely brings some shading to her character. The atmosphere and sets are top-notch, and the story moves along at a leisurely pace, obviously holding to the original story.

I recommend this film highly to fans of softcore erotica, vampire films, and of course the tiny subgenre of lesbian vampires. You really could spend an hour-and-a-half watching far worse films. For $12, this is a real treat. Ingrid Pitt, Ingrid Pitt, where art thou?

This edition of the movie contains two scenes that have been previously deleted from other releases. The first scene is in the prologue with the decapitation of the vampire woman. The second scene is at the climax with several cuts reinstated between Peter Cushing and the demise of Carmilla. With these scenes finally added and a reproduction at standard play, this video is a must for any serious Hammer horror film fan.

Buy The Vampire Lovers (1970) Now

"The Vampire Lovers," directed by Roy Ward Baker in 1970, is the first in the Karnstein trilogy of Hammer films, all based quite loosely on Joseph Sheridan LeFanu's story "Carmilla." The Karnsteins are a clan of vampires, represented in this version by a bunch of scantily clad women. Ingrid Pitt stars as Carmilla, who also goes under the anagram names of Mircalla and Marcilla at various points in the story (yes, there is a story). The last of her clan, Carmilla is trying to rebuild, turning first to Laura (Pippa Steele), the daughter of General Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and then Emma (Madeleine Smith), the daughter of Roger Morton (George Cole). Along the way she turns Mademoiselle Perrodon (Kate O'Mara) into a sexual slave. In the great tradition of Dracula and most other vampire films, Laura dies before anyone recognizes the marks of the vampire and then the goal is to save poor Emma from the same fate.

There is a lot in "The Vampire Lovers" that never makes much sense. Who is the countess (Dawn Addams) who travels with Mircalla? What is up with the black-clad vampire (John Forbes Robertson) who keeps hanging around? Supposedly Mircalla is the last of her clan, but maybe not. Mircalla keeps saying she loves her victims, but they all end up dead, which certainly does not help out her clan much. In the end it is clear that Hammer, aided and abetted by American International in this instance, was making a flat-out lesbian vampire film. As such, I can honestly say that you are not going to find a better one out there. Ironically, "The Vampire Lovers" ends up being more erotic than the vast majority of films featuring heterosexual relationships between the undead and their victims.

Read Best Reviews of The Vampire Lovers (1970) Here

This film is based on Sheridan LeFanu's "Carmilla", which had noticeable sapphic and surrealist elements. The lesbian theme is here reproduced, going as far as a PG (I presume it was released with that rating) would allow in 1970. It is in that and other aspects fairly typical Hammer: enjoyable, slightly exagerated,with some sense of atmosphere and fairly busty females. The interiors are colourful verging on lushness, with some of exteriors obvious sets. Peter Cushing gives his usual professional performance. Hammer films were derided by purists when they appeared in the 50s and 60s, but had a certain standard now appreciable.

Want The Vampire Lovers (1970) Discount?

The Vampire Lovers

'The Vampire Lovers' is the first of the Karnstein Trilogy, and in my opinion the best. The film captures love, unhappiness and evil, which makes the film brilliant.

'The Vampire Lovers' is based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Brilliant Vampire story 'Carmilla'. The Novel, and the film, is set in the Austrian Province of Styria.

The 'Evil' of this story comes in the form of Ingrid Pitt, who plays Mircalla Karnstein, a centuries old Vampire. Mircalla travels around Styria looking for 'fresh meat' (e.g Beautiful young females!) under Pseudonyms

of her real name, Marcilla and Carmilla.

She seems very lonely in the film. She wants Emma to be with her, I am not saying she isn't evil but there is a certain sadness about her character. I think Ingrid Pitt played the part well, some people say she was just good in 'nude' scenes but I think she is a good actress and especially good at facial expressions and showing emotions.

The cast of this film include Peter Cushing as General Spielsdorf, Madelyne Smith as Emma Morton, Pippa Steele as Laura Spielsdorf, George Cole as Mr Morton, Douglas Wilmar as Baron Hartog and a virtually mute John Forbes-Robertson as The Man in Black aka Count Karnstein.

'The Vampire Lovers' is a surprisingly close adaptation of Le Fanu's 'Carmilla and a ground breaking film for Hammer, as it was the first Hammer film to have nudity and first to get an X rating. After this film Vampire Films were very erotic and female Vampires made appearances in more and more films, including films by Jess Franco and other 'Euro-trash' film directors. This film did very well in the theatres and even spawned two sequels.

This film has a lot to offer the main character, as stated before, is very interesting. Though Mircalla is clearly 'Evil', you (the viewer) do sympathise with her. I love the funeral scene it is very effective and once again, as I have commented on before of times Ms Pitt uses her facial talents to good effect. I also liked the Bath scene (not just for the nudity) because there is a great chemistry between Carmilla and Emma, and until the end of that scene, Carmilla seems just like an ordinary girl.

Peter Cushing acts brilliantly, as usual, his General Spielsdorf is a very interesting character. Cushing portrays a devastated man very well.

There isn't a lot of gore but, in my opinion, too much gore would ruin the plot. Fans of Vampire films will not be disappointed.

Thank you for reading my review, I hope you find it helpful.

Save 25% Off

Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection (2009)

Update: This film has one big problem. The third film, A Close Shave is in the 16:9 format on this disc while the original was in 4:3. This means the original film has been cropped to fit a widescreen TV. Pretty upsetting that they wouldn't include the three original videos in their original form. The first two, A Grand Day Out and The Wrong Trousers are in their original 4:3 format.

This is a great collection of the Wallace & Gromit films. The films all look excellent in HD and the behind the scenes features and commentary tracks are wonderful to listen to and really provide a lot of insight into the creation of the films.

For example, the commentary track for A Grand Day Out, the first film, talks about its production over about 6 years and the tricks that Nick used to film each shot. I'm pretty sure that these commentary tracks are taken from the DVD release, so they are nothing new if you have that version. The film also has several behind the scenes features which are also a lot of fun to watch and give good insight into the animation process, Nick Parks career, and the growth of the Wallace & Gromit franchise.

The packaging consists of a standard blu-ray case with a paper sleeve that has the same art as the case. There is no booklet with the film, just the disc.

I think the only thing missing from this collection is the full length feature film, but I think Wallace & Gromit works best in this shorter format.

I would recommend this collection to any Wallace & Gromit fan. The noticeable improvement in quality when viewed in HD and the behind the scenes and commentary tracks make it a joy to re-watch these excellent films and notice all the little details in the sets and animations.

I'll leave for others to talk about Wallace & Gromit themselves and focus here on the Blu-Ray offering.

There are four "movies" included on the disc. Each of these is about 30 minutes long. The first three were previously included on the DVD, "Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures." Also included on the BR disc are the features that were on the DVD. New to this release are the short "A Matter of Loaf and Death," the episode of Shaun the Sheep, "Off the Baa!," and at least one of the short features. A game demo is also included, but you need a BR player on your computer (PCs only) to play it. The first two features are full frame and the second two are widescreen. The features all look great on BR (though I don't know if they were remastered for this release).

The disc doesn't include "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit," so one might quibble that it doesn't include all the W&G material, but it does include all the shorts (including the two that won Academy Awards).

Overall, I thought this was a very good presentation for a very funny duo and well worth the price.

Buy Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection (2009) Now

I have always been a fan of the intelligent wit of Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit. I did not expect to see the series on blu-ray, but it is a joy that we now have 4 of their exploits on high definition. I had to travel over 30 miles to find a store (Best Buy) with the item in stock and was able to price match Wal-Mart, making each movie just $5.

I've watched two of the films so far (A Close Shave and A Matter of Loaf and death) and Wallace and Gromit has never looked or sounded better than on blu-ray. I can give a hearty thumbs up on this collection it is well worth owning.

Some items of note: This is a 1 disc blu-ray release, not 4 discs (which would not make any sense). This collection is also not "complete". We are missing Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Curse of the Were Rabbit has to be their best film, so it is sad that it is not included here. The films we do get are great.

Movie: 5.0/5.0

Video: 4.5/5.0

Audio: 4.0/5.0

Extras: 3.0/5.0

Overall: 4.5/5.0

Read Best Reviews of Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection (2009) Here

This looks to be the best collection of Wallace and Gromit short films yet. First off all of the films will have a commentary by Nick Park. This should be a treat for fans. You also get a number of documentaries:

"Amazing Adventures of Wallace & Gromit" featurette

"Inside The Wrong Trousers" featurette

"How It Was Done" featurette

"How They Donut" The Making of A Matter of Loaf and Death featurette

You also get an episode of Shaun the Sheep: "Off The Baa" and all ten of the Cracking Contraptions shorts that aired on the BBC website and AtomFilms back in 2002. Technical aspects include MPEG-4 AVC video in 1080p with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio.

Just a little bad news. It looks like it's confirmed that the short film "A Close Shave" is the altered version that doesn't have the Happy Birthday song in it. Instead of that song another one is dubbed just like in the WB DVD release. Kinda sucks that they won't pony up the royalties to make this disk as true to the original broadcast as possible. Oh well... it's a small detail.

If you like Wallace and Gromit and have any of their previous disks this collection may be worth the double dip.

Want Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection (2009) Discount?

Pay no attention to the negative reviews for this movie. Most of them are referring to the DVD version. Three of the movies are in widescreen HD format, and A Grand Day Out is presented in fullscreen. I don't find this to be an issue since this stays true to the original format. Would you expect to watch Casablanca in widescreen?

Seeing these old favorites in HD is simply amazing. It's so clear you can even see the fingerprints in the clay. A great deal of time and effort was put into the visuals for these films, and finally, seeing them on the widescreen can do them justice. The sound is another great attribute. Hearing the sounds of Wallace's lab in surround sound really puts you in the moment. Bottom line, even if you have these movies on DVD, seeing them on Blu-Ray feels like a whole new movie.

The extras on this disc aren't much to brag about (the drawings are kind of lame) but I really enjoy the "Cracking Contraptions" and more so, I'm glad they filled the disc with special features as opposed to just the 4 films.

Chicken Run and The Curse of the Warerabbit were enjoyable, but can't hold a candle to these four movies. Any Wallace and Gromit fan should definitely pick up a copy of this, and those new to Nick Park's work will really enjoy seeing these classics in HD.

Save 2% Off

The Aggression Scale (2012)

A mob boss (Ray Wise) wants his stolen money back and everyone who might be involved, killed. He also wants proof which requires the use of a Polaroid (seriously?). After 3 people are snuffed we switch to the subplot. A family of four...recently married move into a new home. The son Owen is creepy and silent. He is interested in things that kill. Lauren (Fabianne Therese) is his 17 year-old step sister who showers with her back to the camera...end of eye candy.

It isn't hard to figure out how this grindhouse plot and family drama come together. When Owen gets a chance to escape, rather than take it...cue heavy metal music as the quiet teen opts to fight 4 grown armed men. In this "Home Alone" tale, Macaulay Culkin is a psycho, who, like a cat, likes to play with its prey before the kill.

Derek Mears, one of the bad guys has that creepy Michael Berryman look to him, but acts more like a pansy. I found his character to be darkly comical as things happen to him. Dana Ashbrook comes across as George Cloony light. Good old fashion home break-in with some new twists. Excellent blood splatter. "B" movie fun. I would have given the film 5 stars had they played Talking Heads "Psycho Killer."

F-bomb, no sex, no nudity (Fabianne Thereseside breast). pot smoking

No two ways about it, this movie was awesome. I'll even say from start to finish on this, because the opening scenes definitely get your attention. Basically this movie is what Home Alone would have been like had Macaulay Culkin's character failed some anger management classes. Add to this premise one Dana Ashbrook who plays a menacing (and menaced!) villain and the ever awesome Ray Wise and the situation is complete. There's not much to say about creative camera angles, scrupulous sound editing, and innovative lighting. No, reader, this movie's strength is in the sheer cat-and-mouse suspense that inevitably and irresistibly builds, and yes, the ending is totally worth it.

Buy The Aggression Scale (2012) Now

I'm going to try to NOT oversell the gritty indie "The Aggression Scale." This is a small, low-budget endeavor that succeeds on its own modest terms. But it is really best to keep your expectations in check, that way you might be pleasantly surprised. A hit at this year's SXSW Film Festival, "The Aggression Scale" tells a fairly simple story, allows for a slow build tension, and then packs a few terrifically unpleasant confrontations into its final act. But the less you know, the better. The movie is already being compared to another prominent and beloved film (both by the media and with other reviewers here). I'm not mentioning which movie, though. I happen to think that making this comparison devalues the twists that develop in the film's second half. I had been aware of this prior to seeing the film and as I watched the movie, I wished I hadn't known where exactly we were headed. In fact, I screened this with a friend and kept all secrets to myself. When things started happening, it had much more impact for him because he wasn't expecting anything in particular.

Truthfully, there's not much plot to director Steven C. Miller's third film. But guess what? It doesn't really matter. It's best not to scrutinize the film from an intellectual level, just hang on for the experience. I was no fan of his last movie, The Scream of the Banshee, which took a good idea and turned it into a most generic thriller. For me, "The Aggression Scale" definitely is a step in the right direction, but it's still quite rough around the edges. In this case, though, that works well for the movie which has a seventies exploitation type ambience. It's a gritty Grindhouse type of movie with loads of violence, a fascinating hero, menacing bad guys, and an occasional lapse of logic. But it works. "Twin Peaks" veterans Ray Wise and Dana Ashbrook join forces as the primary villains in the piece. Wise, a crime boss just out of jail, enlists his henchman (led by Ashbrook) to recover some stolen money. This leads to general murder and mayhem.

You want more story? Too bad. Nothing is particularly explained beyond this cursory outline. The bad guys soon go after a family at their desolate country home. And the rest of the story plays out as a cat-and-mouse game of survival. As I said, there are some nice surprises and much brutality. It's always good to see Wise although he doesn't have much to do here. The break-out performance is young Ryan Hartwig, who conveys a lot without saying anything. I liked "The Aggression Scale" for exactly what it is. It's not a great movie by any means, but it is an effective one on a visceral level. With moderate expectation, there's plenty to enjoy here as a guilty pleasure. About 3 1/2 stars, I'll round up for Hartwig. KGHarris, 5/12.

Read Best Reviews of The Aggression Scale (2012) Here

"We don't have to do this clean, you go down this list and kill them all, then you find my money. You got 48 hours." When a recently released criminal gets out of prison and returns to his life he notices that $500,000 of his money has been stolen. After finding out who took it he hires a group of hit men to get the money back. Things go fine until they reach a house with a boy who fights back. Based on the preview I was intrigued at this. It seemed like a movie I would like but thought it could go either way. I have to say this was a huge surprise to me. This is not a movie for everyone because it is very bloody and violent. The best (and only) way to describe this is that this is an over the top extreme violent version of "Home Alone". If that doesn't want to make you watch it then I don't know what else to say. To me this movie was very fun to watch and I really liked it, it a morbid way. These revenge movies like this are one of my favorite type of movies. Overall, a very over-the-top violent version of "Home Alone" that I loved but is not for everyone. I give it an A...I know but I really enjoyed it.

Want The Aggression Scale (2012) Discount?

Home Alone meets Rambo.

Steven C. Miller's "The Aggression Scale" starts with "bang!" as hitman Lloyd (Dana Ashbrook) sends a message with his shotgun.

We quickly learn that Lloyd has been sent by mob boss Mr. Bellevance (Twin Peak's Ray Wise) to find a large sum of stolen money. Lloyd and his fellow crew Chissolm (Derek Mears from Friday the 13th), Freddie (Jacob Reynolds from Gummo) and Wydofki ("the knife man" played by Jospeh McKelheer from The Hamiltons) kill a handful of people before finally arriving on the new doorsteps of the Rutledge family.

Bill (Boyd Kestner) and Maggie Rutledge (Lisa Rotondi) are recently married, each with a teenager from a previous relationship. Lauren (Fabianne Therese) is Maggie's troubled daughter, angry at having to move across the country to a new house with people she barely knows. But it is silent Owen Rutledge (Ryan Hartwig) who has the bigger issues...a fact that Lloyd and his boys are soon to discover for themselves when they kick in the door.

Dread Central.com calls The Aggression Scale "one of the more unusual and clever games of cat and mouse fans have ever experienced before."

Save 50% Off

Coyote Ugly (The Double-Shot Edition) (2000)

"Coyote Ugly" has to be the best romantic dramedy this year, even though this year has had it's share of bad romances-Autumn in New York, Down to You and The Next Best Thing just to name a few. The bar dancing scenes are incredible accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack including one of my favorites, "Pour Some Sugar on Me". Plus there are two new great songs from LeAnn Rimes,who is also in the movie, but I'm not reviewing the soundtrack so I'll skip this. And that's just the stuff you see in the previews. What you don't see on the surface through the previews are the great performances from newcomer Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia and the always great John Goodman. the story is mainly about Piper Perabo's character, nicknamed Jersey, who goes into the big city trying to get someone to perform her well written songs. She runs into several problems with a new boyfriend, some disagreements with her father, and many crazy encounters at the bar "Coyote Ugly". The title is explained in the movie to mean when you go home with a one night stand after a night of big drinking and you wake up with someone so ugly that you would rather chew your arm off than wake them up to know you're leaving. Believe me, you're not going to feel that way leaving this one! BUY THIS MOVIE!!!

A talented young woman from New Jersey, filled with hope and desire, moves to New York to chase her dreams of becoming a songwriter in "Coyote Ugly," directed by David McNally and starring Piper Perabo. Against the wishes of her father, Bill (John Goodman), but with his acquiescent approval, Violet (Perabo) begins her quest and soon learns what every aspiring newcomer to show business discovers: It's tough out there. Soon, in order to pay the rent and keep the dream alive, on a tip she seeks employment in a bar called Coyote Ugly; the owner, Lil (Maria Bello) lets her "audition (work one night)" to see if she can handle their kind of action. It's a tough gig, but Violet knows she's going to have to make certain sacrifices if she's to succeed. And that is really what this movie is all about: Personal character, having the tenacity to maintain ideals and dignity, and deciding what and how much one must be willing to sacrifice to achieve one's goals; and most importantly, having enough heart to see it all through. Perabo gives a winning performance as Violet; she's fresh, somewhat naive (but not entirely), and the way she presents her character makes it easy to connect with her right away. She becomes someone you care about quickly, and there are moments early on, especially when she first arrives in New York, that allow you to emphasize with her immediately. There's a fragility about her, but at the same time she exhibits a strength of character and sense of morality that is becoming; and being able to convey this level of complexity convincingly is a tribute to her ability as an actress. John Goodman also does a good job as her father, a caring bear of a man who obviously has nothing but the best intentions for his daughter at heart. His performance, and the way the situation of his having to let Violet go is handled makes it believable, and helps create an emotional bond between them and the audience. It's something with which many will be able to identify, and it becomes one of the underlying strengths of the film. One of the weaknesses of this project comes, not from the movie itself, but from the "promotion" of the movie; in this case the theatrical trailer, which is a gross misrepresentation of what "Coyote Ugly" really is. Certainly the "coyotes" and the bar are a significant part of the film, and it's all exceptionally well and tastefully done, and is a fun part of the movie and definitely gives it some life; but I think the presentation in the trailer will do more to alienate a cross-section of audience that ultimately would appreciate this movie, but initially at least will not even see it, and only because of a misconception caused by the preview. It must be noted that this is a PG-13; there is nary a profane word, and no sex or nudity in it. It is an upbeat, entertaining film that should be readily embraced by a much wider audience than one would expect simply from seeing the trailer. The excellent supporting cast includes Adam Garcia (Kevin), Izabella Miko (Cammie), Melanie Lynskey (Gloria), Bridget Moynahan (Rachel), Tyra Banks (Zoe) and LeAnn Rimes (In a cameo as herself). Hopefully, if only by word-of-mouth, this movie will gain the audience it deserves. Reminiscent of "Flashdance," there is a universal theme here of having a dream and going for it. In the final analysis, "Coyote Ugly" is a decent film that will appeal to anyone who's ever had or pursued a dream. Do yourself a favor, put any preconceived notions aside and check this one out; I think you'll be glad you did.

Buy Coyote Ugly (The Double-Shot Edition) (2000) Now

Let's begin with what this movie is NOT: It isn't Academy material nor is it a cure for cancer. It IS a fun, romantic (and yes, sometimes cliched) fairy tale about attractive young people pursuing dreams. The performances are credible and the music propels the story along at a pace that keeps you from concentrating too much on the paper-thin plot line. For those gray days when you need entertainment that lifts the spirit even if it doesn't tax the mind, this movie fills the bill. Remember "Dirty Dancing", "Footloose" and "Flashdance"? If you like these movies (and I do), sit back, dispend disbelief and just enjoy the exuberant show!

Read Best Reviews of Coyote Ugly (The Double-Shot Edition) (2000) Here

This "Coyote" ain't "Ugly"! Actually the thing that you may mainly be fooled by is the trailer-"Is this a plotless, PG-13 version of "Showgirls"?" Actually it's not. The people that actually decided to see it(which was no small amount-$60 million worth) found that it was about a young female songwriter,played exceptionally well by rising star Piper Perabo, who moves into the big city trying to sell her music and finds herself working and the craziest bar since the Ti--y Twister in "From Dusk Till Dawn". Of course the men will be more than entertained by the hot, dancing barmaids which make some great "action" scenes for the film, but what for the women? The women actually get more out of it than the men. A great plot-the storyline mentioned earlier plus getting rid of stage fright, setting things straight with her father, finding how far a true love would go. Great overall movie, good characters, good acting, good setting. Truely a good movie for everyone. Just go see it! Deserves at least a rental but my DVD collection wouldn't be perfect without it! "Coyote Ugly"!!

Want Coyote Ugly (The Double-Shot Edition) (2000) Discount?

The girls of COYOTE UGLY were terrific. I only wish we could've seen more of them. The story revolves around PIPER PERABO who is an aspiring songwriter in new York with no money. Her dad in Jersey (John Goodman) wants her back home. She meets a guy, of course, and it revolvs around them two and her trying to get her music career started.

The scenes at the bar are of course the best....lots of fun and sexy scenes. While this is rated pg-13 so there is no nudity or sex scenes...there are some scenes at the bar and with the two main leads that are pretty hot....a CAMEO by Patrick SWAYZE too, you'll see what I mean.

Also Leanne RIMES who did the voice of the lead when she sings is awesome. . . where did the little country girl go....you'll see her in the film as well...she's hot!

Save 28% Off

Mummy Trilogy Box (2009)

This review is for the Blue Ray collection. Picture: Pristine. Sound: Great. Movies: I & II Grand Entertainment. Universal successfully resuscitated it's venerable monster genre and transformed it into bigtime Tentpole event movies and produced two very good action adventure rides to take with the kids. III Phoned in. Brendan collects huge paycheck and goes home. Rachel wisely stays away in the first place. Kid being groomed to carry on the poor man's Shia (and I didn't think much of him either). Jet Li stony and morose. Story is flat. Use of China as a backdrop secondary and poorly executed (nothing new or breathtaking here). This truly is the sin we're actually IN China for heaven's sake and there is no grand vista, no expansive shots to dazzle us with the landscape. In watching the nightclub scenes I kept expecting Kate Capshaw to step out and start singing it's that derivative. Everything else is CGI. No overall quality to raise it to the level of the other two. But the kids will like the ride none-the-less...and yet...Worth the upgrade? YES for the first two alone.

This set appears to have been intended for sale in Europe one of the ratings labels on the cover appears to be for the Irish Film Censor's Office. Being that I live in the US and was aware of the regional coding issues present with a lot of DVDs, I was a little nervous about buying this. I read up online about region coding on Blu-Rays and apparently it's used a lot less than in the DVD era and one source indicated that Universal doesn't region code their Blu-Rays at all.

I decided to try this set out due to the price difference between this version and the US labeled one. I use a PS3 for a Blu-Ray player and the discs work perfectly. I have a TON of language choices I'll only use one, but that may be helpful to others out there. Other than that, absolutely no difference as far as the movie content and special features.

I'm glad I took the gamble.

Buy Mummy Trilogy Box (2009) Now

I love the Mummy movies. A trilogy box set was perfect....as long as they don't make a fourth. After watching ' The Mummy; Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. they better not. The action was great in the aforementioned movie, the chemistry was not as good, and some of the acting weak....but hey it was still fun. If you love the Mummy movies and don't have them all, this is a great deal for the price.

Read Best Reviews of Mummy Trilogy Box (2009) Here

I have loved the original 'Mummy' since it came out, and have had the dvd since its release. I have been waiting for the new movie and the blu-ray versions to become available, and have not been disappointed. This was a great package deal for an awesome trilogy!!

Want Mummy Trilogy Box (2009) Discount?

When I bought Van Helsing which had the monstrous trio of Dracula, Frankenstein and the Werewolf, I realized the Mummy was missing from the monster squad. So when I had the opportunity, I bought the Mummy trilogy blu-ray boxset. I wasn't disappointed as the 3 films provided thrilling entertainment with the highest audio-visual quality. The 1080p high definition graphics brought out the sharpest and minutest details. For example, you can see the fine sand particles blowing as the Mummy transforms himself into sand and then disperses at will. Each film also comes with plenty of extra features, showcasing the movie-making processes, special effects secrets and deleted scenes etc. All 3 films are encoded with DTS-HD audio which brings the action sequences to life with booming bass.

Amongst the 3 films, my favourite is Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Probably because it was the latest in the franchise, the visuals and audio are the most pristine. This movie also transplants the Mummy mythology into other civilizations (in this case, terracotta warriors) and takes the audience out of Egypt for a refreshing change. The Yeti monsters were very well done and animated; the avalanche scenes were breathtaking; the Dragon Emperor was probably more fearsome than Imhotep had ever been.

I highly recommend this blu-ray boxset to HD movie buffs. Although the franchise is very heavy on CGI (not surprising, being Stephen Sommers films), each film offers 2 hours' money worth of entertainment for the action-adventure fan. Until Universal Pictures makes the 4th film, this boxset offers the best collection of Mummy adventures money can buy,

Some Like It Hot (1959)

To correct the technical info above, this DVD (both the special edition and movie-only edition) DOES HAVE an English monophonic soundtrack that was originally used in the film. Also included is a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but one wonders if a dialog-heavy film like this should really need a surround soundtrack. Dialogs in both the mono and the 5.1 tracks sound perfectly clear and understable. The surround sound only comes into use during the occasional music and gunfight sequences. I do applaud the inclusion of the original mono track, which quite a few recent DVDs of older movies do not provide in the hope of enticing new DVD owners with 5.1 audio.

The video transfer looks great -images are sharp, levels of black look realistic (you can clearly see and feel the velvety texture of a black robe Monroe wears), signs of wear and tear are virtually non-existent. The picture aspect ratio is 1.66:1, which is not the 1:85:1 ratio used for the original US theatrical release and for all previous US letterboxed laserdisc releases. The 1.66:1 ratio adds a little picture to the top, but doesn't really affect the composition. The video is also non-anamorphic, so the resolution is not as high on a widescreen TV as it would be with an anamorphic DVD. There is also no English optional subtitles, but there are yellow optional French and Spanish ones.

I would have gladly paid a higher price if they had included better supplementary material on the Special Edition DVD, such as the audio commentary and home movies that were put on the Criterion laserdisc made in the early 90s. The extras on the Special Edition DVD include a lively but superficial 30-minute new interview with Tony Curtis reminiscing about the film, a rather uninteresting 12-minute interview with the actresses who played the girl band members, a segment called "Virtual Hall of Memories" that is essentially a still gallery, and trailers of 7 Wilder films including SOME LIKE IT HOT; all the trailers are in poor video condition. The most interesting extra is a reproduction of a pressbook for the film, but the pictures are blurry and the smaller text is illegible. I am disappointed that we never get to hear from Jack Lemmon or Billy Wilder, both still alive, on this DVD. These extras are not impressive, so one may consider buying the movie-only edition for a cheaper price.

Billy Wilder's most popular comedy finally receives the deluxe treatment it deserves. MGM previously released this classic comedy in a nonanamorphic widescreen version a couple of years back. While that edition looked pretty decent this anamorphic transfer puts any previous editions (including my much favored laserdisc edition) to shame. Wilder's comedy operates as a spoof of gangster films and a comedy about gender roles. Jerry (the late Jack Lemmon) and Joe (Tony Curtis) are two musicians on the lam when they witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. With Spats Columobo (George Raft) and his men looking for the duo they go undercover as musicians cross dressing and joining an all female band headed for a gig in Florida. Becoming a woman allows Joe/Josephine to spent time with Sugar (Marilyn Monroe) the latest woman that catches Joe's fancy. Jerry/Daphne on the other hand finds himself romanced by a rich man (Joe E. Brown) who won't take the hint as Jerry tries to blow off his advances.

And you thought the 50's were tame. One of Wilder's richest 50's comedies "Some Like It Hot" continues to be very funny inverting our expectations constantly and playing with the roles that Jerry and Joe take on with their new identities. Joe's eyes open the most as before he was a pretty ruthless womanizer. Becoming a woman puts him in the crosshairs of every male insight and he's on the receiving end of all the smirks, comments and passes that he would have used with Sugar before his change. Wilder mixes social commentary so deftly with comedy (like Hitchcock's work with suspense and social commentary) that at his best--and he's at his best here--it reminds us how entertaining a movie can be without being heavy handed. It's also filled with some marvelous in jokes (for example Colombo played by George Raft observes a thug flipping a coin and comments, "Where did you pick up that cheap trick?" Raft of course did the exact thing in one of his signature roles in "Scarface" from 1932).

A great movie looks even better in this sharp looking transfer. The black and white imagery of the film looks gorgeous. Originally Marilyn Monroe lobbied to have the film shot in color which Billy Wilder felt wouldn't work for this comedy (he persuaded her to agree to shoot in black and white when he showed her make up tests for Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in color where their make up as women made them look slightly green) while the film certainly would have looked great in color the sumptuous cinematography by Charles Lang ("The Magnificent Seven", "Wait Until Dark") looks extremely good in this wonderful looking transfer. Detail is quite good and blacks are solid with a nice array of different textures evident in the transfer. Audio is presented in the original mono and sounds fine.

For those that are into such things the special features here are a huge improvement over the previous edition. We get a commentary track compiled from comments by the late Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and I.A.L. Diamond's son (working with the comedy writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel--honestly I could have thought of better writers to pair with Diamond's son). While the insights aren't exactly a revelation it is an enjoyable commentary track.

We also get two terrific documentaries on the making of the film. The first features a mixture of new and older interviews from the cast and crew. The second documentary "The Legacy of `Some Like it Hot'" is packed with trivia about the making of the film, Wilder & Monroe's relationship on the set and the difficult time Wilder had making the film with his leading lady including footage shot in the 80's of Wilder and Diamond.

Finally we get "Memories from the Sweet Sues" featurette with members of the women who played in the band, an interview with Tony Curtis entitled "Nostalgic Look Back" where Curtis reveals that actor/voice artist Paul Frees did much of his voice as Josephine because he had difficulty reaching the high voice. We also get the imaginatively titled but unimpressive "Virtual Hall of Memories 3-D Tour" The original pressbook appears on the DVD as well and we get reproductions of various lobby cards. Finally we get previews and the original theatrical trailer.

Far more impressive than the lackluster previous DVD releases "Some Like It Hot" looks solid in this re-release although the film could look a bit more vibrant. The featurettes are, for the most part, very good and the compiled commentary track adds loads of trivia (some of which is duplicated in the featurettes) about the making of the film. I do wish that a film historian such as UCLA professor Howard Suber had been involved in some way to help provide context for the movie but that's just personal preference. A fine release that could have been great with a wee bit more effort on the part of Sony/MGM.

Buy Some Like It Hot (1959) Now

In 1929 during the St. Valentines Day massacre, two traveling musicians, witness one of the hits initiated by the mob. The only way the duo can think of to avoid being discovered is to join an all female band playing in Florida as women. Joe is looking forward to the gig, so that he can spend more time with Sugar while Jerry is horrified to find himself fighting off the advances of a rich suitor. Joe the consummate womanizer finally gets to see what it is like to be on the other side of the coin to see what he has been dishing out for years.

Many see this as a ground breaking movie especially for the 1950's with the theme of cross dressing and gender roles, but I just enjoyed Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon giving some of the best comedic performances of their careers, and Marilyn Monroe shining her brightest. It is laugh out loud funny, and a movie you will watch over and over again.

Read Best Reviews of Some Like It Hot (1959) Here

With its pseudo-homoerotic undercurrents, I sometimes wonder how this film got past the 50's-era censors. No matter. Writer-director Billy Wilder, and leads Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe dazzle with their comic genius.

You can watch this movie over and over and it always seems fresh. Perhaps it's the realization that Monroe and her alter ego Sugar Kane are far more intelligent than they first appear. Seeing gold-digger-with-a-cause Sugar and faux oil magnate Joe (Curtis) manipulating each other is a hoot. Or perhaps it's Jerry's (Lemmon) gender crisis when he realizes that being a woman, even in a man's world, does have some perks to go along with the headaches.

In any case, the fun lies in seeing three tangles of lies and deceit growing ever bigger and out of control, like a comic Gordian knot, only to be cut at the last second with what's perhaps the funniest yet most anti-climactic punchline in film history. Between the sight gags, the slapstick, and the witty banter, you can't help but feel good watching this movie. There's really nothing bad to say about it; even the draggy parts are far more entertaining than what passes for comedy in most movies.

Want Some Like It Hot (1959) Discount?

Suppose YOU witnessed the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Would you go to the police? Maybe. Would you go into hiding? Probably. Would you change your name and move to Russia? Why not? But would you don a dress and wig and catch a train to Florida with an all-girls band? Well, that's what Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis do in this incredibly riotous and timeless comedy from hit-after-hit producer Billy Wilder, and this is his hottest hit! En route to Florida Jerry, er, Daphne (Jack Lemmon) and Joe/Josephine (Tony Curtis) encounter a ditzy ukelele player named Sugar Kane (it used to be Sugar Kuvulchek) who moves "like jello on springs!". Any guesses? Of course it's Marilyn Monroe. And while Daphne is being whooed by an eager millionaire (Joe E. Brown)Josephine takes on a third personality as a Cary Grant imitating-upper class millionaire to impress an even more eager Sugar! A fabulous script, (maybe even more fabulous actors!) and the direction of Billy Wilder come together to make "Some Like It Hot" a greedily enjoyable movie for anyone! Don't miss it and don't worry: Marilyn never cools off for a moment.

Save 25% Off

Cop Land (Collector's Series) (1997)

Sylvester Stallone can act. There. I said it. And as ridiculous as that statement may appear to some readers, you really do owe it to yourself to take a look at "Cop Land," and see just how good of an actor Sylvester can be!

Who would believe that Stallone could appear on the same screen as Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, and Robert De Niro, and hold his own? Certainly not this viewer, and I admit that when I originally went to see the film it was BECAUSE of Keitel, Liotta, and De Niro. So you can imagine just how surprised I was that Stallone wasn't blasted off the screen by the combined talent of his heavyweight co-stars.

Stallone plays "Sheriff Freddy Heflin," the law in the small, New Jersey town of Garrison, just across the George Washington Bridge. What makes Garrison special is that a large percentage of the residents are cops who work the other side of the bridge; hence the nick-name of "Cop Land." There are very few burglaries in Garrison, in fact, there is very little CRIME in Garrison period, so Freddy's days seem to be an endless round of completing paperwork for littering violations, cautioning the occasional drunk, and rescuing children's soft toys from being run over in the road.

This is a shame, because Freddy wants to be a REAL cop, he wants to work the other side of the bridge, but an injury sustained when he saved a women who's car ended up in the river has left him deaf in one ear. Poor Freddy would never pass the physical, but the town showed its appreciation by allowing him to be the Sheriff... kind-of a consolation prize.

But all is not well, there's something rotten in the town of Garrison, a corruption that's eating at the towns soul, and this corruption is personified in the character of "Ray Donlan," played by Keitel. When a fellow cop is involved in a questionable double homicide, Donlan initiates a cover-up that will have explosive consequences for the quiet town of Garrison, but especially for himself and Sheriff Heflin. The fall-out will also engulf the Sheriff's best friend, "Gary Figgis," played by Ray Liotta, another "real" cop, but one who's sick of the corruption and is getting out. Also involved is IAD staffer "Lt. Moe Tilden," played by De Niro, who's been tracking Donlan and his team, and is determined to bring them down.

This is an excellent ensemble cast that really shines in their roles, and Stallone, as I said before, is a revelation. He piled on about 40lbs to play the part, so what we see is not the pumped-up, testosterone driven action man we have come to know and love, but a quieter, humbler, slightly "slow," kind-a bumbling character. Sad and ineffectual, he's barely tolerated by Donlan and his cronies, who's company he so desperately wants to keep.

The story is tight and economical, the dialogue has the ring of authenticity to it, and there's a bitter-sweet romantic sub-plot between Freddy and one of the town's residents that works perfectly within the story. There's a scene where he's asked, by the woman he secretly loves, why he didn't marry, "All the best girls were taken," he replies, and you can practically see the big guy's heart breaking in two!

Don't be put off because Stallone has top billing, this is an excellent film that works on many levels, with a clutch of superbly realistic performances driven by a well constructed story, I would recommend it highly.

I've seen this movie a couple of times and it still gets me.

Its the best dramatic performance by Sly he's ever done. He plays a pathetic wanna be cop who idolizes

the real cops around him who he knows are corrupt and don't take him seriously.

Then he's approached by an internal affairs cop ( played by De Niro) and asked to help bust the corrupt cops.

Its been said that the mark of a good actor is when you can

look at his face and tell what he's thinking.

Anybody who ever wondered if Sly is a real actor and not just a movie star like Arnold should see this.

A great movie with a great cast with a real story about trust, betrayal and redemption.

A must see.......

Buy Cop Land (Collector's Series) (1997) Now

Cop Land is a homage to police corruption films like Sidney Lumet's Serpico and Prince of the City. In many respects, Cop Land is also a modern western, complete with a High Noon-style showdown. Miramax previously released this film on a movie-only DVD. This new version is a huge improvement but is it worth the upgrade?

Definitely.

"Cop Land: The Making of an Urban Western" is an excellent retrospective featurette. Stallone to be interested in the role but the actor wanted to something different, to go back to his starving actor roots. After him, came De Niro and then everyone else followed.

Next, there is a "Storyboard Comparison" that allows one to watch part of the film's climatic shoot-out simultaneously with the storyboards for it.

There are two deleted scenes with optional commentary.

Rounding out the extras is a solid audio commentary with director James Mangold, producer Cathy Konrad and actors Sylvester Stallone and Robert Patrick. Not surprisingly, Mangold and Stallone dominate this track. Stallone comes across as a very humble and gracious guy. Mangold keeps everyone talking, acting as an informal moderator and asking everyone questions. This is a really good track and definitely worth a listen if you're a fan of this movie.

Cop Land features a killer cast and allows them to flex their acting chops with a top-notch screenplay. This DVD is a definite improvement over the previous bare bones edition and is worth the upgrade. Miramax has finally done this film justice with an excellent special edition.

Read Best Reviews of Cop Land (Collector's Series) (1997) Here

This is a terrific cop flick and crime drama with a glittering cast. And, this brand new blu ray release is far superior to the Canadian blue ray release of a few years ago. The print has been scrubbed of all artifacts and blemishes. Well done!

Want Cop Land (Collector's Series) (1997) Discount?

Cop land looks great on blu ray.This film is very underrated.I was very pleased with the picture quality of this blu ray.

Save 47% Off

Imagine That (2009)

As a teenager over 20 years ago I remember laughing long and hard at "Beverly Hills Cop" and even Eddie Murphy's generally irreverent and profane humor. But as a parent I am glad to see him using his talents in a more family friendly way, even if it usually borders on slapstick or over-the-top humor like Jim Carrey (this one didn't quite go that far). And I must admit that the commercials featuring that stupidly annoying kid throwing plastic balls at him in the playground didn't put this one on my "must-see" list. But my wife rented it one night and I was pleasantly surprised.

Murphy plays Evan Danielson, an aggressive workaholic investment consultant with no time for family in fact, he's divorced and has no connection with his daughter, Olivia (about 6 years old, I think). But when he's forced to care for her for a week he's insensitive to her security blanket and imaginary friends... until he realizes that these friends are giving surprisingly accurate investment advice. And thus begins a relationship with his daughter that, although not initially based on the right reasons, opens his eyes to what he's missing out on.

I'm not exactly a devotee of this type of movie and haven't really seen any of Murphy's films since Disney's "The Haunted Mansion" (which was very disappointing compared to "Pirates of the Caribbean"), but my kids and I really enjoyed this one. I didn't notice any foul language and any crude jokes must have gone right over my head. Yara Shahidi was perfectly cute as his neglected daughter, and Thomas Hayden Church was particularly funny as Johnny Whitefeather, his main competition at work with phony Native American investing advice. The plot-line may be formulaic and in some ways the moral-of-the-story done a bit too Hollywood-ish, but I thought the movie was quite fun, and definitely better than I expected.

Eddie Murphy is a long ways away now from his box office days, which goes to show just how hard it is to stay on top and to stay relevant. IMAGINE THAT follows his trend of starring in kid-friendly flicks, except that this one isn't as good as the SHREK films, as as good as DR. DOLITTLE or even DADDY DAY CARE. That IMAGINE THAT is watchable at all is due to some nice interplay between Murphy and the little girl who plays his daughter in the movie.

The story elements couldn't be more trite or unoriginal. Workaholic investment adviser Evan Danielson (Murphy) is intent on climbing that corporate ladder and barely finds time for his 7-year-old kid Olivia. When his separated wife sticks him with babysitting Olivia, Evan agrees after all, he does love his daughter but Olivia, cute but peculiar, is no match for his work portfolio. Olivia's favorite thing in the world is her googah, which is this blue security blanket and also her portal to an imaginary world and her invisible friends.

For Evan, it's hard to do work when your kid is incessantly talking silly nonsense to herself. But is it really nonsense? When Olivia's make-believe princess friends end up dispensing savvy investment tips, Evan decides that he ought to spend more time with his daughter. Er, because he loves her.

Kids may like this, probably, because Yara Shahidi is cute and earnest and simply very good as Olivia. But the story follows a predictable path. Its payoff is weak and involves Murphy's character having to get to his daughter's big school concert. Not that it matters, but we never do learn for sure if the fantasy element really is of a magical nature or rooted in a more earthbound explanation. There's an attempt near the end to suggest that maybe, just maybe Olivia's imaginary friends are real but, like I said, it's weak. Eddie Murphy does his usual enjoyable fast-talking thing, and actually he tones down his brand of silly even more in favor of constructing a more affecting emotional core to the story. It's a good move because the father/daughter moments are the best parts of the movie.

Thomas Haden Church will either make you laugh or exasperate you with his interpretation of a smarmy rival of Evan's who applies his part-Native American heritage and some weird New Agey philosophy to get the jump on our guy (Church's character is labeled a "Man Whisperer"). Stephen Root, Martin Sheen, and Ronny Cox are here, too, and so what?

The thing about cameos featuring current famous people is that, sometimes, they fall out of relevance or their situations change, and this has the effect of dating the movie. Allen Iverson is long gone from the Denver Nuggets and now back in Philly, something which jarringly took me out of the movie's story. If you're not a basketball fan, then this probably doesn't bug you.

IMAGINE THAT isn't too horrible a choice if you're looking for something to divert the kids. It's not exactly top shelf material, but there's nothing objectionable in it, other than its sin of sticking to the formula. It's certainly loads better than NORBIT, which is objectionable on so many levels.

Buy Imagine That (2009) Now

This was a different Eddie Murphy movie and one that should have done better in the ratings than it did. I bought it for family members who are very particular as to what they allow children to watch. It was funny, had a message regarding a father's need to

take time to be a real father. The little girl in movie was excellent in the part. I have bought this movie for future viewing.

Read Best Reviews of Imagine That (2009) Here

I wasn't sure if this movie was going to be corny or not being a childrens movie and all but I was surprised at how funny it was! I loved Eddie Murphy in "Daddy Day Care" and loved him in this movie equally as much! This movie isn't appropriate for younger ages (it's rated PG) and I believe it's PG because of some adult humor but it's nothing you wouldn't see on TV and no foul language is used! "Imagine That" has a really cute message for all ages!

Want Imagine That (2009) Discount?

A powerful financial executive whose career was sent spiraling down the drain due to sudden lack of confidence finds the answers to his inexplicable setback in an imaginary world dreamt up by his young daughter. This movie is very enteraining. Eddie Murphy is a very talented actor. I hope he continues to do more movies like this one.

Save 57% Off

Surf's Up (2007)

If you still have a bad taste in your mouth from Happy Feet, which to me was somewhat creepy and not very entertaining, then take a swig of the minty freshness of Surf's Up. This is not so much a penguin movie than a knarly surfing gig. Animated in documentary style, the directors keep the basic, feel good about yourself story line, fresh with graphics that are extremely eye popping. Real life emotions are plainly shown and understood in the facial expressions and body language of each character.

Cody wants to 'get away' and takes his chance in a surfing contest at a beautfiul rendered island scene that gets more WOWs from me then such films that go for reality. Polar Express comes to mind. This movie hits every mark that I can think of. Children and adults will enjoy this. I am 41 and when Cody is making his board with the father figure Geek, I turn back into child working with my father's help building ANYTHING. You will see. Shia Labeouf the voice of Cody is an exceptional find. As Steven Speilberg seems to understand since he will be in 2 of his movies that are coming out. And Jeff Bridges as Geek...Well what can you say. GREAT.

'Surf's Up' is one of the best animated films I have ever seen or at least in the CGI era of animation. The Mockumentary style and incredible animation keep the story fresh, funny and amazing to look at! Even if your not a fan of animated films, this one may change your mind. The film also has a hip and appropriate soundtrack. The DVD transfer is excellent and this is a must see movie!.....Cowabunga!

Buy Surf's Up (2007) Now

When trailers for this movie were being shown in theaters, I groaned and felt that this would be a film riding on the success of the fantastic Happy Feet film. I was sure that it wouldn't stand on it's own, that it had no soul to it, it was just going to be fluff.

And I was proven wrong, and I'm glad for that. Surf's Up really makes itself stand on it's own, it truly is an individual in the penguin movie crowd. It doesn't NEED to ride on Happy Feet's coattails, it creates its own beautiful world and really stays strong throughout the (sadly short) film.

I was struck with how beautiful the scenery was, and how alive every character was. It's completely fantastic how real and believable everyone is, and that is thanks to the documentary style, without a doubt. The documentary style is a true asset to this film's heart and soul. You're not just watching events unfold, you feel like this actually happened, the filming, the location, the Pen Gu contest, that they're living and breathing. It's really impressive.

I watched Surf's Up three times while it was in the theaters, and I can't wait to own the DVD. Don't listen to yourself if you think it's just another penguin movie, it isn't.

Beautiful, beautiful movie, as Cody says "You'll wanna watch it over and over!"

Read Best Reviews of Surf's Up (2007) Here

I've watched this movie at least a dozen times already, in English as well as in Spanish and French. The foreign language voice-over work is excellent, and these scenes are funny no matter what language you see it in! In the DVD extras, the film-makers talk about what a major role improv played in the making of the movie, and it really shows. All the actors have a very comfortable dynamic with each other, and the sense of friendship and camraderie feels genuine. The sledding through the mountain scene was a little too reminiscent of Ice Age for me, but I guess it's probably a fun concept for animators to work with (and show off their skills). The documentary concept was clever and well executed, and I thought Chicken Joe was hilarious as well as Cody's mother. (And who doesn't love Shia LaBeouf & Jeff Bridges?) The surf scenes are just fantastic and the characters are surprisingly well developed. Every time I watch it, I catch more nuances on each character. Last but not least, the killer soundtrack contributes to making this movie one of my favoritest animated films of all time (tied for first with Finding Nemo).

Want Surf's Up (2007) Discount?

This was more thoughtful and appealing than I ever expected. And the colors and animation were gorgeous, especially in 3-D. TV Eyes 3-D Glasses: Watch any movie in 3-D Everything was more vivid and impressive. Penguins on a tropical island should have been ridiculous, but it wasn't. It was a very lovable, heartwarming story. The settings and background were very lush and detailed and the ocean scenes, sunsets and waves were all rendered fantastically well. There's one scene at the end where the young penguin finally gets to go "in the tube" that mystical experience that all surfers long for where you are actually inside the wave, with the water rising up as a wall beside you and arching over your head, completely encasing you in an enchanting microcosm of water and light. And this looked great in 3-D! It really enhanced it. I saw the movie first in 3-D then went back and watched it regular to compare. There was no comparison, the scene and the visuals are much more powerful in 3-D. At least to me.

This is really a coming of age story. The usual "young man finding his own path and strength" type movie. It's done so well you don't even notice they're penguins half the time. But there's also loads of laughs. Chicken Joe is worth seeing this movie for all by himself. He's your typical, mellow, surfer dude. Even down to the slouch and the language. But unlike most TV "dudes" he's not at all irritating. In fact, he's wonderfully funny. He's so calm and unruffled that he even takes being kidnapped by cannibals in stride. (And rememeber, he "tastes like chicken") But he's a great friend, and his adventures alone in the jungle are hysterical.

The one group of people who also contribute greatly to this movie, are one's you never see, the camera crew. They follow Cody and Chicken Joe around all over the place "filming" for posterity. And they come in for their own portion of abuse in the antics they are observing. Even the cameraman is not immune to cannibals. And a lot of their "off camera" comments are totally funny.

This was a good hearted, thoughtful, feel good movie, mixed in with lots of pratfalls, goofy takes and unlikely adventures that keep it fun for the kids and the young at heart. The scenery is beautiful, the characters are diverse (they're not all penguins) and the surf culture background is well researched, even down to giving some of the penguins Hawaiian tattoos.

It's those kind of details that make it great. Definitely worth a watch. (Warning! You may never get your younger kids to STOP watching it.) And definitely see it in 3-D, it adds a lot. This is not just another Happy Feet (another great movie that you should also see in 3-D, very cool.) The two movies are far apart in tone, but should definitely sit side by side on your shelf. Great fun!

Save 46% Off