The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

If you love classic films and you love special effects, then you are undoubtedly passionate about the films of legendary Ray Harryhausen, and this is one of his best. In this movie, Harryhausen uses his stop-motion technique in color for the first time (and the print here is terrific) to tell the tale of Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) as he sails the seas, forms an uneasy alliance with an evil magician (Torin Thatcher) and battles a Cyclops, a two-headed Roc and a dragon. Other memorable effects include the genie Berani and the interior of his magic lamp, the Princess Parisa being shrunk and the servant woman who is turned into a dancing half-woman, half-snake. The action starts right away and continues throughout the film, and Bernard Herrmann's music is, as always, absolutely perfect.

DVD extras are excellent, and include: a picture of the original poster; trailers from other Harryhausen features; two interview featurettes, each 12 minutes long; a 3-minute featurette about the Dynamation process; and a one-hour feature about Ray Harryhausen. This is a great package -and for you enthusiastic polyglots out there, the film can be heard in English, Spanish or Portuguese, while subtitles are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean or Thai!

Having small children who are becoming interested in "scary movies", I've found that the Harryhausen ouevre is a great way for them to find thrills and chills without gore, and a wonderful way for me to reconnect with my childhood joys as well. The whole family has a great time watching these terrific films. I'm really glad they're being re-released in such high quality and with such interesting dvd extras.

Superb!

This film was always a favorite of mine since the first time I saw it.

Visually the print on this DVD is extraordinary. The colors are vibrant and the images are incredibly sharp, crisp and clear.

In particular, you can really appreciate Ray Harryhausen's Special Effects that he laboriously produced for this film. They don't look blurred or out of focus as they have on previous prints. They are presented here as they were intended to be seen in their entire splendor and brilliance. It is amazing what he did with an eight-inch tall stop-motion model of a skeleton.

Ken Kolb's screenplay elevates this film beyond the boundaries of what could have been just another fantasy monster movie. He brings depth to the characters and uses dialogue to increase the suspense of the story. Along with director Nathan Juran and all the other filmmakers an epic fairytale unfolds and is preserved on film.

Bernard Herrmann's score is a showstopper and as always accentuates the images on the screen adding mood and enhancing the overall visual effect for the viewer. Herrmann went on to score three more Harryhausen films: "The Three Worlds of Gulliver," "Mysterious Island" and "Jason and the Argonauts." Bernard Herrmann's collaboration with Ray Harryhausen and producer Charles Schneer equaled that of his collaboration with Alfred Hitchcock.

Kerwin Mathews is ever so stoically heroic as Sinbad. He is very good in this role as he brings energy and conviction to the part. He is a man with mission and will not bend or be swayed until he brings it to finality. It is a shame that Mathews never went on to greater screen accomplishments.

Trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Shakespearean actor Torin Thatcher is the consummate evil magician, Sokurah. He too brings conviction to his role as he is dedicated to the forces of evil and darkness.

Visually this is far superior to the Laser Disc version. The Laser Disc was issued in full-frame and not quite as sharp. However, the Laser Disc version was issued with the soundtrack in stereo. I was very disappointed that this DVD was not issued in stereo. That would have made it completely satisfying.

However, the images are so spectacularly presented here it is almost a minor point. Thank the gods for Dynamation.

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Matlin's summary above is quite accurate in describing this film.

I first saw this film as a child of 10 at a drive-in theater. The memory of the imagery and the music have stayed with me over the years. I've seen the film since on tv, film festivals, and vhs. None had the clarity of image and sound of this new DVD release.

Columbia has done Harryhausen's film classic proud. The print quality has NEVER looked so good and is presented here enhanced for 16x9!. The original mono sound is also quite good and Herrmann's brilliant score moves the story right along. The extras on this disk are quite good with the lengthy "Ray Harryhausen Chronicles" being the highlight. The added trailers for other Cloumbia Harryhausen films are a treat.

Thanks to Columbia for an excellent presentation! Their DVDs are the industry standard!

Read Best Reviews of The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Here

Just wanted to state this is loaded with extras.. here is a review below of the blu ray version:

The Picture

Filmed in Technicolor and framed at 1.66:1, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad arrives on Blu-ray disc in a transfer that not only shows the effects of its 50-year-old age, but also exposes some of the inherent limitations of the Technicolor format. Let me first start by saying that Sony's AVC/MPEG-4 transfer does well at capturing the source without any visible compression artifacts or processing effects such as edge enhancement and it is as sharp as it can be given the source material. There are also good shadow details, even if the blacks aren't the deepest I have seen. The Technicolor process, however, particularly in 1958, was inherently grainy and often prone to some visible variations in color contrast and density. As such, this transfer is very grainy and does display some of those variations as well as some flickering throughout. One also has to remember that the Technicolor process was known for its hyper-realistic, saturated palette that often yielded something more surreal than realistic. Therefore, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad doesn't necessarily display natural flesh tones, but something more in line with what one would expect from a Technicolor production.

In fact, most of what we see today when Technicolor films are remastered are color palettes that are toned down to be more in line with what audiences today expect to see. I'm not certain Sinbad is even as hyper-saturated as it should be, but it looks well enough reproducing the film's colorful Middle Eastern garb and bright, sunny blue skies.

The Sound

Sony continues their trend of providing multiple language tracks on their Blu-ray releases with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. In this case there are two lossless options in the form of a newly remixed English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack and a French Dolcy TrueHD 5.1 dub as well as the original English mono soundtrack and a Thai Dolby Digital 5.1 dub. The new lossless English 5.1 mix offers a slightly more expansive soundfield that lets the score by Bernard Hermann breathe, exposing more of its intricate instrumentation. The dialogue is well balanced, if a bit harsh, and intelligible while the film's action sequences are lively with subtle use of the LFE to provide some much needed weight to the otherwise thin sound.

The original mono soundtrack is also rather good, if obviously less engulfing. It is well balanced with good dynamics, clear dialogue, and ample low frequencies. Sadly, instead of utilizing soley the center channel for a true monaural 1.0 configuration, Sony has provided the soundtrack in a Dolby 2.0 configuration. Still, it is good to have the original mix represented on this release.

The Extras

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad offers an abundance of exploratory supplemental materials that offer much insight into the work of both Ray Harryhausen and his longtime collaborator, composer Bernard Herrmann. Fans of film history, special effects and Harryhausen should be pleased by the wealth of informative extras available here.

The extras available on this release are:

Commentary with Ray Harryhausen, visual effects experts Phil Tippet and Randall William Cook, author Steven Smith, and Arnold Kunert -The men offer very detailed information on the filmmaking and stop-motion animation process as the film goes by in a very conversational manner. Ray Harryhausen, in particular, offers up many informative anecdotes about the film's production. One interesting bit of trivia that can be gleaned form the audio commentary is the fact that Harryhausen had not actually met the film's young actor Richard Eyer (The Genie) until only a couple of years ago. Because of the scheduling, all of the location filming in Spain, where Harryhausen was, used a young Spanish double in his Eyer's place, while Eyer did all of his filming on the set in the US with director Nathan Juran.

Remembering The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1.78:1/standard definition) -Ray Harryhausen reminisces on the production of Sinbad and his inspiration for doing the film. In the process, he offers up much information on the special effects techniques he employed during the filming.

The Harryhausen Legacy (1.78:1/standard definition)-John Landis and many visual effects artists speak of Harryhausen's influence on their work.

The Music of Bernard Herrmann (1.78:1/standard definition) -Music historian Steve Smith offers up an historical account of the legendary composer's music and tells of how he and Ray Harryhausen first came to collaborate.

Photo Gallery -A montage of stills from The 7th Voyage of Sinbad set to the film's score by Bernard Hermann.

"Sinbad May Have Been Bad, But He's Been Good to Me" Music Video -A promotional 45rpm recording created for the 1958 holiday season release ad campaign for Sinbad. The song is played back to a montage of promotional posters.

A Look Behind the Voyage (4:3/standard definition) -This is an archival television documentary on the career of Ray Harryhausen.

This is Dynamation (Special Effects) (4:3/standard definition) -A classic 1958 promo highlighting the film's special effects.

Ray Harryhausen -Interviewed by Director John Landis (4:3/standard definition) -John Landis interviews Ray Harryhausen in what is am ore a friendly discussion in which Landis it is obvious that Landis holds Harryhausen in very high esteem. Harryhausen once again details much of the techniques he used in the filming of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and many of his other films.

Previews (high definition) -Promotional spots for upcoming and currently available Sony Blu-ray releases:

Casino Royale -Promo for the upcoming 2-Disc Collector's Edition

Men in Black

CJ7

The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep

BD-Live -This disc is BD-Live enabled for users with BD-Live (Profile 2.0) capable players. The BD-Live features available on this release so far are just promos for other Blu-ray releases from Sony, and offer nothing of any real added value.

Want The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Discount?

If you're like me, you remember watching this on Saturday TV in some terrible condition but that was ok because it was quite an adventure. And adventure it was with Harryhausen artistic magic that made this fun and way ahead of its time. When I popped in this Blu-ray I was expecting a sentimental journey, not the rush of the experience I got. I remember watching this and the colors were always faded and the copy grainy at best. I was stunned at the color and for a B-Movie, the High Def comes through more than I was expecting. In all, watching the Blu-ray of this film is a joy and the best I have ever seen it. Bravo!

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Last Chance Harvey (2009)

By no means do I damn with faint praise when suggesting that this is a "small" film. Rather, only to suggest that it covers a brief period of time (a few days), in a single setting (London), focuses primarily on only two characters, and there few plot developments. Briefly, Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is employed by an advertising agency in Manhattan as a jingle writer when we are introduced to him. Almost immediately we sense that he is dissatisfied with both his career (he would prefer to earn a living as a jazz composer and performer) and with the current state of his life (he is divorced and apparently alienated from his adult daughter, Susan, who is about to be married in London). The title refers to both situations: Charley is advised by his boss Marvin (Richard Schiff who played the character Toby Ziegler on the television program, The West Wing) that his job is in jeopardy. After a very brief encounter upon arrival at Heathrow Airport with Kate Walker (Emma Thompson) seeking to obtain travel information from passengers, Harvey is saddened to learn from Susan (Liane Balaban) that she has decided that her stepfather Brian (James Brolin) will accompany her down the aisle. Of course, Harvey encounters Kate again and then....

The acting is outstanding. The setting is especially appropriate for what happens to a troubled New Yorker, among strangers in a strange city, at a time when he is running out of options in all areas of his life. Kate has concerns of her own but seems less troubled, probably because she fulfills at least some needs by comforting and reassuring her mother Maggie Walker (Eileen Atkins) who calls her constantly throughout the day (and evening), concerned about trivial matters. We know almost nothing else about Kate's private life, other than the absence of romance and few (if any) chances of finding it. She clearly does not wish to be hurt and is sensibly reluctant to become involved with anyone, even a stranger who is clearly unhappy, feels rejected, and in need of attention and kindness.

Five Star ratings of films should be reserved for "classics" and that is especially true of romantic comedies such as It Happened One Night, Little Shop Around the Corner, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail. Last Chance Harvey is not in their class. However, I think Hoffman and Thompson are not only superb but have charming chemistry, the film is well-made, respectful of awkward adult situations with potentially serious consequences, and arrives at its happy ending with a pleasing plausibility.

I understand that most people that go to movies are in their early 20's and the movie makers knowing this,aim their films for that audience generally,but this is a wonderful surprise.

A charming story of people at an older age that have hit many dead ends in life but because of chance,they discover that life doesn't have to be done, there can be a future filled with the excitement that you might feel only lived in the past.

With the two great actors,Dustin Hoffman & Emma Thompson and a wonderful supporting cast,this is a very well made movie that I feel has the legs to stand up for viewings in the future and still have that same warmth and heart.

I think that some of the twenty somethings that might see this now and write it off as silly,could very well see this film in several years and view it very differently after they gain some of the experience and disappointments that life brings.

I really feel this could be viewed as a classic in the future,

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For those looking for a fast-paced, ultra-modern, and formulaic romantic comedy feel free to run back to the bad acting, effects-laden Hollywood tripe so often produced for an unimaginative audience. If, however, you are looking for a thoughtful and surprisingly human story, then Last Chance Harvey deserves your attention. Rather than finding this movie slow and boring, my wife and I felt compelled to stay up past our bedtime because we simply couldn't fall asleep until it was over.

Yes, the movie moves at a walking pace--that's part of its charm! We should rediscover the skills of paying attention to a real story that does not require the aide of special effects and heart-pounding action. Simply put, the story itself is beautiful and wonderfully acted. Its true-to-life and a worthy addition to one's movie library if one has an eye for art rather than mere amusement.

Read Best Reviews of Last Chance Harvey (2009) Here

Very slow movie throughout. The plot revolves around a man, Harvey (Dustin Hoffman), a jingle writer. He is about to lose his job and has a difficult relationship with his daughter. He travels to London to attend his daughter's wedding and meets Kate (Emma Thompson) who works for an airline conducting research. They experienced an unexpected and lovely romance. The movie is indeed lovely but so darn slow! Although the acting was amazing; actually, it was phenomenal, I was still falling asleep. I can't help but wonder what this movie could have been in the hands of another, more dynamic director.

I especially like the featurette as it revealed a lot of interesting things about the movie. For example, I though the movie was based on a book. Actually, the screenplay was written especially for the actors Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.

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This movie is wonderful. I have to comment on some of the criticisms I have seen here--if you are looking for belly laughs and lousy computer generated effects,take your short attention span back to your x-box. This movie is a beautiful exercise in real story telling. These two seasoned actors bring incredible meaning and depth to a movie about real things that happen to people in real life. I was touched by the obvious and not so obvious messages in this story and feel it was, for me, a much awaited change from the fast-paced, meaningless bumblers Hollywood keeps ralphing out. Very well done--and thanks to Hoffman and Thompson for taking me along for the stroll. I needed the fresh air...

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (First Contact / Generations / Insurrecti

I just received my TNG Blu-Ray set from Amazon. After the TOS set, which had a decidedly mixed quality, I was ready to give this set some tough scrutiny. Happily, I can report that A/V quality is superior to the previous set, and the extras and packaging share the same quality with that set.

The films:

Generations I find this movie to be underrated. The intro sequence aboard the Enterprise B is just a terrific bit of continuity expanding coolness. The emotional weight of the movie is great, and although it falls into the "big villain" syndrome, the big villain is 1. played by Malcolm McDowell, 2. is realistic in his motivations and his abilities. The only failings in my book are some torpid pacing in the "Nexus" scenes, and some painful Data scenes. Still, this is a movie that I appreciate more each time I watch it.

First Contact this is everyone's pick for "2nd best of all time" (after "Khan" of course). I'm not going to disagree. It's got a whiz bang action story, the Borg, time travel, good continuity, and great effects. I do think the story sullies the Borg somewhat by introducing the "Queen." But, then again, she is played very well by Alice Krige. As far as time travel, while this wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back, it did probably contribute to the trend of too much time travel in Trek.

Insurrection More like an extended episode than a movie, this film has the germ of a good sci-fi story: how much of its scruples will the Federation trade for a technology that could render humanity immortal? Unfortunately, this movie more than most falls prey to the "big villain" syndrome, with an extremely irritating antagonist, the Sona. There is some good fan service, however, with Troi and Riker finally getting together for good. I'd rate this along with some of the so-so two parters in TNG's TV run.

Nemesis Ah, Nemesis. The film that "killed the franchise." The one which necessitated a "Reboot." The one which pooped on several characters and even a few races. This movie is riddled with problems from concept through to execution. It ret-cons the Romulans and adds the "Remans." It brings back Wesley as a Starfleet lieutenant, even though he dropped out of the academy to cross dimensions with the Traveler. It introduces Data's mentally challenged brother "B-4," even though his existence is specifically contradicted by several TNG episodes. It shamelessly rips off a TNG episode in which Troi is mentally assaulted. It posits an outlandish clone plot with Captain Picard, as if the Romulans could both obtain his DNA several decades ago as well as anticipate its usefulness in the future. It kills a main character for no apparent reason. About the only thing worthwhile in this film is the wedding of Troi and Riker. The more I see this film, the angrier I get at the complete lack of care that went into its making.

The Blu-Rays:

Unlike the TOS set, the video quality of these 4 films is in general extremely good, and at times spectacular. Though there is a tiny bit of edge enhancement visible at times (Especially on the sailboat in Generations), Digital Noise Reduction is not obtrusive at any point. Detail is extremely strong for the most part, and colors are absolutely vibrant. Black levels are deep and strong, but detail in shadows is still evident. You will want to be sure to check the calibration of your brightness, contrast, and gamma, to get the most from these films (for those without a disc like AVE, try the THX calibrator on "Star Wars" DVDs for some good brightness/contrast patterns).

I would say First Contact is the best transfer of the bunch, but truthfully, all of the final three films are competitive with the upper tier of Blu-Rays on the market today. Only Generations shows its age a bit, but it still looks very good better than all but ST2 in the TOS set. Insurrection and Nemesis betray a bit of color banding in clouds and space scenes, but it is not oppressive. Some standout scenes from all the films in terms of visual quality: Data and Geordi discussing the emotion chip (Generations). The opening pull-back in First Contact. The establishing shot of the Baku homeworld in Insurrection (known as a torture test for 3:2 pulldown on DVD).

Audio is presented in a set of aggressive 5.1 channel Dolby TrueHD mixes. All of them work well, with lots of surround action, deep bass, and clear dialogue.

Packaging is identical to the previous set, with a slipcase and 5 slim BD cases. Art and inserts are all tasteful and good-looking.

Extras include a plethora of commentaries. The most interesting of these are Ron D. Moore and Brannon Braga on Generations and First Contact, and Jonathan (Riker) Frakes and Marina (Troi) Sirtis on Insurrection. Most of the films have multiple commentaries, some have three! The same amount of detail goes into the extras on each film as did the previous set, with most discs recapitulating all of the DVD extras and adding some new ones (such as the execrable "Starfleet Briefings" from the TOS set). Like the previous set, trailers include the 2009 Trek film and a promo for all the recent Trek Blu-Rays. Thankfully, these are skippable.

As far as deleted scenes go, it seems that the DVD extras have been replicated for Blu-Ray. The most interesting are for Nemesis, the deleted scenes being excised "character bits" including "Wesley's New Mission" and "Crusher At Starfleet Medical" that would have made this film feel a lot less generic. Why Paramount has not authorized an extended edition with this material edited into the film is beyond me. It would certainly take some of the bad taste out of true Trekkies' mouths that their favorite characters got short shrift. Unfortunately, all are presented in non-anamorphic 480p, so they look terrible, for the most part.

The main extra is the bonus Blu-Ray, with 77 minutes of new HD documentary footage split into 7 programs. These include investigations into the evolution of the Enterprise, a spotlight on villains, a piece on the movies' influence on fans and Trek creators, an interactive map of the Trek Galaxy, and three (?!) pieces on the Star Trek Experience from Las Vegas. The Enterprise and Villains segments are the best (though still not very good), and I wish they had been expanded and improved. The other pieces are a bit more frivolous. All told, it's definitely not as impressive as the interview disc from the TOS set, but it still should entertain fans at least marginally.

Summary:

For this price, a Trek fan really can't go wrong with this set. You're getting 4 feature films (two great movies, one good one, and one stinker) with loads of special features and a full disc of (so-so) HD extras. The A/V quality is almost uniformly spectacular, especially in comparison with the TOS set. As far as I'm concerned, this is a must buy for a Trekkie/Trekker with an HD setup. Worth every penny.

**Individual Movies**

This review is for people familiar with the TNG movies in the first place and so I will not touch on them individually, but moreso on the package as a whole. As for the individual movies, in short: "Generations" was cool as it was the first TNG movie and had Picard and Kirk on-screen together, but was overall just OK, "First Contact" is the best Star Trek movie of all time, "Insurrection" is like a long, dull episode, "Nemesis" is OK for action, although lacking overall.

**The Total Package**

The Good:

All 4 Star Trek: The Next Generation movies in one, very nicely priced, collection. "Generations" and "First Contact" both look excellent, with amazing quality, nearly none noticeable film grain, vibrant colors, sound, etc. All 4 movies are just as good as ever, but the higher quality sound/video truly adds to the experience. Most of the extras are nicely done, and include everything from sfx and sound featurettes to top-down maps of the Alpha Quadrant, and although I haven't gone through any of the commentaries, I hear they're all a lot of fun.

The Bad:

"Insurrection" and "Nemesis" don't seem to have received the same treatment as the first two in terms of re-mastering for blu-ray. There is noticeable film grain in nearly all darker scenes (and even moreso in "Nemesis" during the desert scene) -not terrible, but noticeable. It's still higher quality than the DVD's, of course, but you can tell they spent more time re-mastering the first two. Some of the extras are lacking. While there are some really nice ones, for a lot of the deleted scenes and featurretes they've used the exact same featurettes from some of the other Star Trek movies/compilation box sets. This might be nice for people who don't have any of that already, but since it's all still DVD quality or lower (including the deleted scenes), it leaves a bit to be desired.

Bottom Line:

If you like Star Trek TNG and/or are a nerd in general, you'll like this package. It's a ton of fun watching the first scenes of "First Contact" with great picture and sound quality ("We are the Borg..." hell yes!) and Generations has become more enjoyable with the higher quality as well. There are some stunt scenes at the end where you can't help but laugh, knowing when they originally shot the scenes they didn't expect anyone to be watching a higher quality version in the future where you can clearly see stuntmen rather than Shatner, so awesome. Anyways, I hightly recommend it if you're a fan and despite some of the shortcuts, it's a great price for what you get. Heck, I paid more for the DVD's three years ago with an employee discount.

Buy Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (First Contact / Generations / Insurrecti Now

The final bloc of old school Trek films hits Blu-Ray with surprisingly few differences from the standard DVDs. There are no "directors cuts" or variations to make this set a must buy. At the same time, there's little here to make one annoyed at the possibility of a later, better release. Unless Paramount decided to include finished deleted scenes via branching next time around, this is pretty much it. Unless you are bugged by the DNR. Some people are. I'm not since these are the nicest I've seen the films since their first run. However, since they are all recent films, there's little to get excited about in that area. Sounds quality is excellent, I didn't notice anything negative there either.

One really nice thing: they FINALLY provided the trailers to Generations. For some reason, Paramount pulled them at the last minute from the SE DVDs, siting music rights issues (does this make any sense?). Also, the final Nemesis trailer is included on that disc, rather than just the teaser trailer.

Speaking of trailers, the final Star Trek (2009) trailer is on every disc. It is the best of the three trailers, but did we need it on EVERY disc? You can skip right to the menu if you like, and it IS a very nice piece of film. But there you go.

Insurrection was of interest to me as I was excited to finally have a director's commentary by Jonathan Frakes. The SD DVD was lacking one, and since I really enjoyed the First Contact commentary by Frakes, which was informative as well as hysterical, the lack of one on the DVD was a bummer. Becareful what you wish for. Frakes is here, this time partnered with Marina Sirtis. Sadly, it is utterly worthless. She remembers NOTHING about the film and continually asks inane questions about the plot, like a kid seeing it for the first time. Frakes is no better, dropping comments which tell us nothing about the making of the film. Some of it is amusing, particularly when he rags on Sirtis for not remembering a single plot point about the film, but there's a lot of dead air waiting for them to watch more movie before speaking. It's less than two hours; couldn't they watch it once before doing the commentary to refresh the old memory? It's not like Sirtis has a full acting schedule these days. The rest of the time Frakes reads cast and crew credits ("Marty Hornstein...nice guy. Bill Teddmann rest his soul.") or makes jokes about how great his work is (he's a really funny guy, but this was not worth having on the disc).

However, there are one or two moments of refreshing honesty, particularly when Frakes comments on the "British Tar" bit ("this is a long way to go for a gag") and how the ending bugs him, when Data and Artim are in the haystacks ("this is too cute by half"). Otherwise, mostly pointless. There isn't even an alternate commentary like with the other films.

There is relatively little of interest in the new for Blu-Ray features. I found the round table discussions between fans (Larry Nemecek, Jeff Bond, etc.) to be less interesting than I expected. The closing of the Star Trek Experience was both touching and wacko. Do NOT show that to anyone who thinks Trekkies need to get a life and you are trying to convince otherwise. I mean, I hated to see it close too, but I got over it once I left the airport...

Much as I enjoy every Trek film, I didn't get the same excitement with this set as I did the originals. Probably because I wasn't getting versions unavailable since the theatrical run and also because nothing overy exciting was added to the mix. I would love to have seen all of the deleted scenes for Generations and Nemesis finished, rather than work prints (especially since they WERE finished in many cases). The Generations deleted scenes aren't even in anamorphic w/s.

Anyway, I didn't mind the triple dip. I paid only $50 at Best Buy for the 4 movies on BD, which comes to a mere $12.50 per film (less if you count the bonus disc, but I consider it a freebie since I'd never buy it separately). The clarity and sound are much better than standard DVD and since they are pretty recent films, the change isn't that crazy.

Honestly, if you DON'T have a Blu-Ray player, don't worry about it over this set. Aside from the trailers for Generations and Nemesis, you're not missing much. And you can see the trailers on YouTube anytime you like. :-) And if you don't want all of the films, some of them are being released separately. They'll all come out individually, I'm sure. The box set comes with slim cases with sleeves much like the TOS films. The individual BDs are the standard cases with nicer covers. I really an not fond of that, but there you have it.

Read Best Reviews of Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (First Contact / Generations / Insurrecti Here

Got this on the cheap on Amazon. Movies look great, looks like most (if not all) of the content from the DVD releases in included. There are a couple of minor new extras, the best being some new interviews with Brent Spiner, but nothing to really get too excited about. The outer package is good with a holographic Enterprise in a nice box, but I HATE the individual blu-ray case designs. Like the original crew film blu-ray collection, instead of the original poster art you get an extreme close-up of one of the crew members. Didn't like it on the original crew film cases, don't like it here!

The films themselves are a mixed bag. Generations is very mediocre, with your standard mad scientist villian and a downright silly plot device to shoehorn Kirk into the film. Plus the way the legendary Captain Kirk is killed is just insultingly bad (a dummy strapped to a bridge, really?!) First Contact is much better, with the great Borg as the villians. There's a bit of retcon going on with the Borg Queen, but it doesn't hurt the film. Great movie. Then you get to Insurrection... Wow, what a crappy movie. Nothing in this film works. Nothing. Plus didn't we already see this movie in the TNG episode "Who Watches The Watchers"?? Plus I kind of agree with the Admiral, isn't moving 400 non-indigenous people worth saving millions? I mean, didn't those people move there to exploit the planet too?? Bad story, bad villian, bad humor. Bad bad bad. Finally we get Nemesis. Frankly the crew just looks tired here. A decent villian (and future Bane) in Tom Hardy, but the cloning story is hackneyed. The introduction of B4 is just totally unnecessary and actually takes away from the emotional impact of the beginning. However, the final space battle is truly impressive. The Enterprise actually uses battle tactics! Lots of fun.

If you don't have the films this is a good purchase. If you are thinking of upgrading then I'm on the fence. Get it on sale.

Want Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection (First Contact / Generations / Insurrecti Discount?

This collection pack is great for any enthusiast who is obsessed with Star Trek: The Next Generation and wants a Hi-Def remastered set. However, when you deal with remastered editions, you sometimes run into movies who have had their works of art remastered by lazy companies that cut corners. As some of the other reviews have mentioned, the corners and shadows do have some flaws. The largest flaws I mainly saw, which literally annoyed me, was the remastered work on the CGI shots. Some of the CGI shots, compared to the non-remastered editions, seem like they were drawn by a Japanese cartoon artist for the local newspaper. Other than that, the general shots of the characters and the motions between the characters is great. If you are not too concerned with the issue of the CGI, I encourage you to purchase this item.

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Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator (2011)

Randy Orton is one of the most popular superstars in the WWE, but he has never been the subject of a home entertainment release until now. This 3-disc set takes an in-depth look at WWE's Apex Predator from Elimination Chamber through the road to WrestleMania and Orton's brutal bout with CM Punk. Along the way, fans learn about the Viper in and out of the ring as he reflects on his career to date. Family and opponents contribute never-before-seen interviews about Orton's past, present, and future. In addition the set is packed with some of Orton's most memorable matches and moments from his career.

DISC 1 Documentary

I Am Randy Orton

The Road to WrestleMania Begins

Preparing for the Chamber

Embarking on a Path of Destiny

Training Days

The Elimination Chamber

Facing the Media

The Next Diamond

Signs of Trouble

Dealing with Injuries

The Legend Killer

The Man of Destiny

Punked Out

Coming Home

A Hard Lesson to Learn

Evening the Odds

The Mecca

The Price and Reward of WrestleMania

Making a Difference

Dark Days

Madison Square Melee

Randy's Redemption

Axxess to the Apex Predator

Legacy

The Day Has Arrived...

I Won't Be Your Hero

The Evolution of Randy Orton

DISC 2 Matches

Randy Orton vs. Slick Robbie D

OVW Christmas Chaos January 31, 2001

Randy Orton vs. Hardcore Holly

SmackDown April 25, 2002

Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

Unforgiven September 21, 2003

Intercontinental Championship Match

Randy Orton vs. Rob Van Dam

Armageddon December 14, 2003

Handicap Tag Team Match

Randy Orton, Ric Flair & Batista vs. The Rock & Mick Foley

WrestleMania 20 March 14, 2004

Hardcore Match for the Intercontinental Championship

Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley

Backlash April 18, 2004

Intercontinental Championship Match

Randy Orton vs. Edge

Vengeance July 11, 2004

Handicap Casket Match

Randy Orton & "Cowboy" Bob Orton vs. The Undertaker

No Mercy October 9, 2005

DISC 3 Matches

Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle

Vengeance June 25, 2006

Legend Killer vs. Legend

Randy Orton vs. Hulk Hogan

SummerSlam August 20, 2006

Texas Bull Rope Match

Randy Orton vs. Dusty Rhodes

The Great American Bash July 22, 2007

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship

Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena

WrestleMania 24 March 30, 2008

"I Quit" Match for the WWE Championship

Randy Orton vs. John Cena

Breaking Point September 13, 2009

Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship

Randy Orton vs. Sheamus

Hell in a Cell October 3, 2010

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

WrestleMania 27 April 3, 2011

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Randy Orton vs. Christian

SmackDown May 6, 2011

BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVES Matches and Special Features

The Royal Rumble Match

Royal Rumble January 25, 2009

Stretcher Match for the WWE Championship

Randy Orton vs. Triple H

The Bash June 28, 2009

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Randy Orton vs. Christian

Over The Limit May 22, 2011

On the Road with Dad

Randy Orton's Championship Legacy

Randy's Motorcycles

Rhodes Stories

Photo Gallery

The Evolution of Randy Orton's Tattoos

The youngest World Champion in history...The Legend Killer...The Viper. So many alias go along with the third generation wrestler known as Randy Orton & here is WWE telling his story on his own DVD with additional comments from others like his farther Bob Orton jr, Arn Anderson, John Cena, Triple H, Batista, his wife Samantha, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, and Sheamus.

The documentary is setup differently than the usual sit-down interview about his career type that we normally get as it's similar to how Jeff Hardy's "My Life, My Rules" or similar Steve Austin's "Hell Yeah!" where it's based around following him with a behind the scenes look at him during a certain time period while also telling his story. It was the period between the Elimination Chamber & WrestleMania 27 PPV's in this case where we saw Orton on the road, backstage at events, at home with his family, and doing promotional work (radio, Axxess, ect.) while Orton recalls various flashbacks in his career. Orton beings to talk about how he was interested in getting into the business back in 1999 leading to going to OVW developmental territory the same time John Cena & Batista & Brock Lesnar were there along with him having a cocky arrogant attitude that makes Orton himself admit that he was an "jerk." This run in Evolution was discussed from how he was handpicked by Flair & Triple H leading to backstage jealously regarding his spot on the roster before talking about how his own bad attitude got in the way of his success. His successful run as the Legend Killer leading to becoming the youngest World Champion in history was discussed before going back in time to tell the story about how he didn't didn't originally want to follow in his dad's footsteps & the story behind Orton going A.W.O.L. from the military. Orton's drug problem was discussed in heavy detail next from his suspension to what was the one thing that made him turn his life around & how he incorporates elements of this period into his current "Viper" character before going into his run with Dibiase & Rhodes in "Legacy" to being seen as a locker room leader close out the documentary.

Matches Include

vs. Slick Robbie D The video quality here wasn't much as OVW was pretty low budget but it was a quick match to showcase Orton at the beginning of his career.

"OVW Christmas Chaos" Jan. '01

vs. Hardcore Holly This was Orton's WWE television debut that was pretty short & sweet but very impressive for a first showing.

"SmackDown" Apr. '02

[Best Of Smackdown: 10th Anniversary]

vs. Shawn Michaels The was the Orton's first singles PPV match & the beginning of Orton's run as "The Legend Killer." Orton kept getting shown up by Shawn in the beginning causing Orton to attempt to do it himself at one point with his own version of "skin the cat" to get an advantage only for Shawn to return it & gain the momentum back. Shawn ended up hurting his shoulder by hitting the post causing Ric Flair to get his shots in on the outside while Orton also used the ringpost along with working over Shawn's arm with hammerlocks, armbars, and even a single arm DDT. Both men went back & forth with Flair constantly trying to get involved only for Shawn to keep knock him down but unfortunately not out as Flair would get involved towards the end causing a bit of confusion which Orton was able to capitalize on.

Unforgiven '03

vs. WWE Intercontinental Champion vs. Rob Van Dam Mick Foley was not only the special referee in this match but also the co-General Manager at this time while also having his personal issues with Orton dating back months earlier when Orton attacked Foley at Madison Square Garden. RVD was in control during the first half of the match before he "crashed & burned" with a high risk move on the outside for Orton to gain control. Orton grounded RVD with moves like a side headlock before they began to trade momentum with impactful moves like RVD's spinning kick onto Orton on the ringside barrier while Orton later gave a DDT with RVD hanging off the middle ropes. This was a good match that got more competitive overtime.

Armageddon '03

w/Evolution (Ric Flair & Batista) vs. The Rock & Sock Connection (The Rock & Mick Foley) This was The Rock's first match in almost a year while Foley's first in over 4 years. This was just a fun handicap tag match that's not easy to summarize more than to just sit back & watch unfold as everyone here had their moments to look strong as Foley looked like he didn't miss a step, Batista heavily showcased his power, and the biggest highlight being the interaction between Flair & Rock to the point where both men were trading each other's taunts like Flair doing the people's elbow & Rock doing Flair's strut.

WrestleMania XX

WWE Intercontinental/Falls Count Anywhere Match vs. Mick Foley Foley came out under his "Cactus Jack" persona & tried to nail Orton with "Barbie" right away with Orton running for his life before Orton was able to took nail Mick with a trash can to the face multiple times before Orton eventually ended up taking one himself. They took the fight to the ramp where Foley was back suplexed before going back into the ring where more weapons came into play causing Foley to ask the fans if they wanted him to use either "Socko" or "Barbie" on Orton. Foley got more violent as he used "Barbie" to bust Orton open along with using that to give him a legdrop to the groin. Barbed wire boards, cookie sheets, thumbtacks were all used here along with a moment where Orton was thrown off the stage followed by the classic Cactus Jack elbow drop off the stage onto Orton. Foley in this match did what he did for Triple H in 2000 as he heavily put Orton over in his hardcore environment & showed that he can take some serious punishment that most wrestlers can't & still go while telling a good story in the ring as well.

Backlash '04

[Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses: Hardcore Edition]

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match vs. Edge Years before the thought of "Rated RKO," Edge was on a mission to take out Randy Orton & end the longest I.C. title reign in over 7 years. This match had some dull moments (2-3 min. headlocks by Orton) but went back & forth between both guys with an interesting note here being how the fans were divided as half were cheering for Edge while half were getting behind Randy Orton despite being a heel in Evolution.

Vengeance '04

[Edge: Decade Of Decadence & History Of I.C. Title]

Casket Match w/Bob Orton vs. Undertaker As expected in a handicap match situation, the Orton's kept trying to corner & double team Taker while Taker's strategy was to hit & move when both of them were. Taker was able to focus on one man when the other was out of the way for a few moments such as using a chair on Randy while choking out Bob with the triangle choke. Bob resorted to desperate tactics like using a fire extinguisher to blind Taker while Orton was able to knock Taker out with a chair for a victory but it was the aftermath of the match that made the strongest impression on everyone.

No Mercy '05

[Undertaker's Deadliest Matches]

vs. Kurt Angle This was a rematch from the ECW One Night Stand PPV weeks earlier & for those who don't remember, Kurt Angle was part of the ECW brand during this time with WWE treating it as a separate promotion from WWE causing various biased commentary against Angle & ECW from Jerry Lawler causing Jim Ross to even get caught up in it from time to time. Angle outwrestled Orton early to the point where he almost delivered a german suplex from the apron to the floor before eventually just doing it on the floor. Orton attempted to ground Angle with his chinlocks & side headlocks but Angle kept coming with his various suplexes including one off the top rope, repeated belly to belly suplexes, and eight german suplexes in a row. Good match in their series that went throughout the year.

Vengeance '06

vs. Hulk Hogan There really isn't much to say here except this was the typical performance you would get from Hulk Hogan at this "attraction" stage of his career in that he was dominate for a majority of the match with Orton getting somewhat of an advantage by going after Hogan's bad leg for a while & even nailing the RKO at one point but you knew exactly what was going to happen afterwords & who was going to win so this match wasn't much but the politics behind this match (and last year's SummerSlam) also showcase why you hadn't see Hogan wrestle a match or really done much business with WWE since.

SummerSlam '06

Texas Bull Rope Match vs. Dusty Rhodes This was a very short match that served it's purpose in that Randy Orton beat another legend...in this case, the legend who created the event itself. Besides that & Cody Rhodes appearance after the match, nothing noteworthy here.

The Great American Bash '07

WWE Championship Match vs. Triple H vs. John Cena Before I get started, I liked Cena's entrance with the college band playing his entrance music. Well, this was the shocker of the night considering the winner of the match was the person nobody expected just based off 92% of WWE's own poll & a majority the comments in the reviews of Royal Rumble & No Way Out on Amazon itself. As for the match itself, it was your typical triple threat match in which it was non-stop action with each man having their moments at various times along with the various moments of one man stopping another from winning the match before Orton got the biggest win in his championship reign...and for those trivia fans who like to keep score of this type of thing, this was Cena's first WrestleMania loss & the fourth time a heel has walked out of WrestleMania a World Champion.

WrestleMania XXIV

WWE Championship/"I Quit" Match vs. John Cena Due to what happened at SummerSlam, the stipulation here was that Orton will lose the title if anyone get involved. This is one of those matches that's more about "putting over a character" more than actual wrestling quality because the actual physical part of the match itself (haven't seen their matches past this PPV) ranks below their previous two SummerSlam matches but above their other two PPV matches that were also setup to just further a storyline. This match heavily showcased Orton's "Viper" character as being cold hearted & calculating & merciless by just attacking Cena's head with the hanging DDT and weapons like a monitor & steel chair & the steps. Orton also at one point had Cena handcuffed and just beating the hell out of him & so obsessed with having Cena say "I Quit" that he even refused to allow Cena to "get out easy" & passout from the pain while Cena's character was pushed here too as he just kept taking a beating but refused to quit. I'll give credit in that I thought it was a creative way of applying the STF but the finish just came too quick to be believable. In the end, you have to look at this match for what it was in that it was more of a "character driven" match more than anything else.

Breaking Point '09

[Best PPV Matches 2009-2010]

WWE Championship/Hell in a Cell Match vs. Sheamus With their previous matches (Royal Rumble & SummerSlam) not having a clear winner due to disqualifications, this final encounter would determine a clear winner. The match got taken to the outside early with Orton being able to avoid Sheamus' attempt into using steel steps then ramming his back into the cell twice & using the steps on Sheamus himself before Orton ended up feeling the cell himself with Sheamus delivering a shoulderblock that knocked him off the apron into the cell. Sheamus targeted Orton's ribs including dropping him on the steel steps right on his ribs & even countering an attempted RKO with a knee into the ribs. Orton was able to recover with powerslaming Sheamus onto the steel steps & executing the hanging DDT from the apron onto the floor while Sheamus again focused on Orton's ribs using a chair & hitting Orton twice with the Crow Kick. Sheamus attempted a High Cross on the steps but Orton was able to counter with an RKO on the steel steps to finally prove he was the better man in what was definitely the best match in their series.

Hell In A Cell '10

vs. C.M. Punk Orton came into this match with an injured leg & Punk focused directly on it with various stomps, even kicked the steps into his leg when Orton was chasing him on the outside, a modified indian deathlock, and even doing a top rope kneedrop onto Orton who was hanging from a tree of woe. This injury did effect Orton to the point where he wasn't able to push off his legs when Punk had the anaconda vice & even was able to do his punt. Orton was on the defense for most of the match but was able to get offense including an RKO that was one heck of a visual. Good match between both men.

WrestleMania XXVII

vs. World Champion Christian Less than a week after winning the World Championship in a Ladder Match, Christian had to defend the championship here. Orton was in control early with Christian being able to regain control after an Orton clothesline that sent both men over the top rope to the floor with Orton's foot kicking Christian's head on the way down. Both men traded momentum pulling out all the stops as the match went on such as Christian's top rope offense of a missile dropkick & flying crossbody while Orton delivered his snap powerslam & hanging DDT before catching Christian in the middle of one high risk move too many. This was one of the best TV quality matches of the year (so far).

"SmackDown" May '11

(Blu-Ray) Royal Rumble Match This Rumble heavily made up for last years as we got a bunch of welcomed surprises here in terms of either performances or special appearances and at one point, we had the most wrestlers in the ring at the same time during the match that I ever remember seeing. Various highlights include the opening minutes with the young talents getting the spotlight for a while, Cryme Tyme's coin flip, how Mysterio re-entered the ring after being tossed out, the "Rhodes Family Reunion", Rob Van Dam's appearance & "no ring rust" performance including one awesome looking double team move he did with Mysterio at one point, Santino's Rumble performance, "Hi I'm Dolph Ziggler", seeing the 400 pound Big Show "skin the cat" at one point, and the dominance of Randy Orton's Legacy. Great Rumble match overall that delivered.

Royal Rumble 09

(Blu-Ray) WWE Championship/3 Stages Of Hell Match (Regular, Falls Count Anywhere, Stretcher) vs. Triple H Don't let the match "stipulation" fool you as this was really just a stretcher match as the first two falls went by really quick & could have been left out because that ended up hurting this match more than helping in the end. This was your typical Triple H/Orton brawl as it went in the ring, through the crowd, and made it's way onto the stage with a few nice spots with the stretcher with a nice story of Orton focusing on Triple H's bad leg throughout the match. Overall, just like how their WrestleMania match wasn't a bad match but it wasn't at the level you would & should expect for a WrestleMania main event...this was a good stretcher match but a horrible 2 Out Of 3 falls/3 Stages Of Hell match which was the match advertised.

The Bash 09

(Blu-Ray) World Championship Match vs. Christian Both Lawler & Cole left to get ready for their match leaving Josh & Booker to do the commentary. They did some nice early back & forth wrestling with Christian backdropping Orton over the ropes then dropkicking him through the ropes before Orton later came back with a giant suplex from the top rope that ended up hurting his own head in the process. Both men went back & forth with their counters & strikes coming so close with their near falls including one moment with Christian escaping Orton's hanging DDT to later execute a flying headbutt that I haven't seen done since Chris Benoit. The announcers tried to put it over that the crowd was split when you could clearly hear "Let's Go Christian!" as Randy Orton pulled out a new submission in the reverse Boston Crab (or Colt Cabana's "Billy Goat's Curse"). Both men kept blocking each others signature moves & turning them into counters such a Christian's double foot kick in the corner into a hanging DDT, Christian's attempted spear into a snap powerslam by Orton, Orton's punt into a spear, and going back & forth between the Killswitch & RKO. This was definitely the match of the night as these two meshed well together in one of those performances that have both men walking out with more credibility than they did going in as Christian was able to pull more out of Orton than others have been able to.

Over The Limit 11

I like the different approach to the documentary as far as following him on "The Road To WrestleMania" but in doing so, I felt like they didn't cover various & moments about his career like important feuds & things worth mentioning like working with his Dad back in 2005. As for the match selection, I know a bunch of people are upset that his World Title victory over Benoit wasn't on here but we know the stance WWE has in regards to Chris Benoit for the past four years & it isn't going to change so it's really pointless to argue about it but Orton's had close to a decade long WWE career so they aren't going to get every match he's done but some of the matches (Dusty & Hogan) were pointless & could have easily been replaced with more quality matches that haven't been released to a DVD set like the No Mercy '07 "Last Man Standing" match against Triple H. Past those things, I was satisfied with the release overall & it's something Randy Orton fans would enjoy overall.

Buy Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator (2011) Now

I don't usually buy WWE Superstar documentary sets these days, I stick to some PPVs thats about it. However Id been waiting to see a Randy Orton set for awhile so today I went to best buy and bought the Blu Ray set and Im in Awe of how good this set really is. the matchlist imo with the exception of missing his SummerSlam 2004 World Heavyweight Championship Match against Chris Benoit (we all know why) is very good but I loved this set for the Documentary part, it goes through all aspects his childhood, school years, Marine situation, early career, mid career, now. His family is on here and you get alot of good interviews with co-workers like HHH, Cena, I beleive Batista. Just a great great set, usually i ebay or trade in the newer WWE dvds these days however this set is an exception and will stay in my blu ray/dvd collection. I recommend Randy Orton the Evolution of a Predator to any WWE fan and Certainly any Randy Orton fan such as myself. In the end it's a good thing they waited until this point to make this DVD they went through his career which overshadowed events and issues he was going through in his personal life, for example when he was world champ in 2004 and could of had the world by the kahones but wasn't "ready" to take advantage of it, so again I beleive they waited until the right point in his life/career to make this set it feels complete. Again Great set and Enjoy.

Read Best Reviews of Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator (2011) Here

Anyone else think it's weird that the sticker on the front says 3 disk collection but its only 2 disks when you open it. Anyone else see this or am I missing something? I haven't actually watched the movie yet just opened it yesterday and saw it was only 2 disks not 3.

Want Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator (2011) Discount?

Okay, so I am reviewing this DVD set after watching it yesterday. The documentary portion was well done. They had shown some behind-the-scenes footage of Randy's lives both at home and on the road with WWE. I won't get into too much detail for those of you wanting to find out more for yourself... but he brings up his childhood in the St. Louis area, meeting his future wife Samantha, and dealings with all things WWE. Randy does a good job of describing his feelings and actions at several points during his career (the good and the bad), which you can appreciate. Others connected to the wrestling business, such as Triple H, Arn Anderson, Cody Rhodes, and a lot more share their thoughts on where Randy has gone and where he has been. Very entertaining to see these guys break character and just be themselves for a change. Samantha Orton gives a very honest look at Randy and their relationship together over the past many years, which is another good peek at the whole look inside the world of Randy Orton.

I won't go match-by-match, but they are all very solid. Of course, they didn't show the match against Chris Benoit at SummerSlam 2004. That is a shame, but my memories are still very clear from around the time and if you want to see that one, just go look for it somewhere. The rest of them are very good and to me, clearly show the progression from the beginning and middle of his career. Hard to believe that he has been around almost 10 years now... all of us fans hope it will be at least 10 more.

So, I am still giving this RKO collection five stars and it is a must-see for all of WWE fans... not just those of Randy Orton. They did a great job in producing this DVD set and I can finally say it it was well worth the wait. I hope you all will enjoy this one as much as I did.

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An Affair to Remember (1957)

From the beautiful opening song crooned by Vic Damone to the tearful last scene, this movie will have you alternately crying, laughing, and crying again. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are perfection as the two people who meet on a ship and fall in love. Because they are each engaged to other people, they decide to put their feelings to the test of time. They agree to meet atop the Empire State Building in six months if they feel the same. One shows up, one doesn't because of tragic circumstances. When they accidentally meet months later at a ballet, it is awkward, yet the chemistry cannot be denied. A sentimental painting, an art dealer's story of a lady in a wheelchair, and Cary Grant's dramatic opening of a door lead to an ending that requires a full box of tissues but is one of Hollywood's most memorable scenes. In addition, this movie is enhanced by a delighful choir of orphans, a grandmother with an idyllic villa, and Richard Denning in a superb supporting role. Traditionally a movie to watch with the one you love on Valentine's Day, this movie is excellent alone, as a duo, or in a large group. Not just a chick flick, but a movie for everyone who has ever loved or dreamed of being in love.

They say this movie is strickly for the Female population.

They say that no Man on earth could completely "Get" this movie.

We don't have actors like Cary Grant now adays to stick up for us Real men who can comprehend such a deep rich love theme.

And what a shame too....the days of suave gentlemen are gone and replaced by the Brad Pitts.....in reality....I believe women want to see more men become true and romantic gentlemen.

Well "An Affair to Remember" is one of those classics that belong to the tragic love affair file....but with a happy ending.

Cary and Deberah Kerr are a perfect combination for this.

Like Charles Boyer and Irene Dunn before them, Grant and Kerr find even more depth with general facial expressions and gestures, that remind me of Capra-esque qualities in their characters.

The scene where Grant is revisiting the home of his Grandmother who had just passed away...returning to the scene in his mind where Love was new and the sounds he hears of the afternoon when he had much to look foward to.....it's heartbreaking to want to touch something that once housed his affection.....we realise then that Grants love for Kerr is as real to us also.

One note...one perfect reason why this movie appeals to me and why I am writing this review in hopes that more people will better understand this movie....

The End scene....To almost walk away from True love, and taste the sadness and dissapointment, to kiss her hand and to say goodbye forever....and within moments....within its painful honesty ....realize that true love does in fact prevail over obsticals is an overwhelming revelation.

"If it had to happen to one of us....why did it have to happen to you"?......"If you can Paint, I can walk"!

Buy An Affair to Remember (1957) Now

'An Affair to Remember' is a classic film and another great collaboration between Cary Grant and ace director Leo McCarey. As a huge Cary Grant fan this film on Blu Ray was simply a must for my collection and the film itself has many fans worldwide. With that said, this review will focus mainly on the video and audio quality of the presentation and not the content of the film itself.

Is this 1080p presentation with DTS HD Master Audio sound a worthy step up from the DVD and should you really consider double dipping? Read on!

Let me start by saying this Blu Ray release is absolutely the BEST version currently available for home video. It easily bests all previous releases, VHS, Laser Disc and various DVD versions. If you are a fan of Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr or the film itself then upgrading is truly a no brainer and I totally recommend that you do so.

I personally purchased this film with the Blu Ray Book packaging and it is very nice. The text is more glossy and less informative than I would have liked, but the photos themselves are also glossy and that is a plus. Slightly different artwork adorns both the front cover and disc image and it feels solid and well worth any price under twenty dollars. The disc itself sits in a strange cardboard holder within the book which for some may be a slight challenge to remove until you get the hang of it. Replacing it after viewing is much easier. (it is nowhere near as difficult to remove as say the new Star Wars packaging makes things)

I have read many online reviews regarding the image quality of this Blu Ray release. As much as I enjoyed the film on Blu Ray and as good as it looks, I will have to disagree with many reviewers and say this is nowhere near as 'perfect' as I had hoped it would be.

My two MAIN complaints have to do with black level/brightness and DNR. I have read many top reviews that say this title had no DNR applied to it. I respectfully disagree and can not for the life of me believe that this is anywhere near the detail you would have seen on film. While closeups are at a premium in this movie, you just never truly see much facial detail. While fine detail seems to be mostly obscured, I will say in the transfers favor that digital noise has been all but obliterated leaving us with a nice slick looking picture. Don't get me wrong, this is very good effort for the most part, but I am picky and I expected MORE. During the cleaner scenes in 'Charade' for instance, you will find WAY MORE fine detail in the picture. On the other hand, 'An Affair to Remember' boasts a more even transfer with less distractions from bad looking scenes and obvious print damage or transfer artifacts.

After doing a bit of research I have found that most early CinemaScope films suffered from what is called CinemaScope or Anamorphic "mumps" (google it) and as such portions of the image will always be distorted, both the focus and geometry. Apparently it took the advent of a competing widescreen process "Panavision" in 1958 to force CinemaScope into perfecting their lenses and techniques so that these annoying were minimized. But as things sat in 1957 , CinemaScope produced some very annoying artifacts that upon close inspection just MIGHT drive you nuts. Check out any parallel lines on either side of the frame, or watch what happens when Cary or another actor movies to the center of the screen. You will soon see why this phenomenon is known as the CinemaScope Mumps.......It is not a transfer error, but an unfortunate by-product of the early widescreen process. Also, SOME of the lack of detail in this transfer can be attributed to the actual CinemaScope process, widely known to not provide the most detailed renderings.

Speaking of the print itself, it is for the most part pretty darn pristine. There are a few instances of telecine wobble/film warping which are most noticeable during the 'Toast" sequence with Cary's "grandmother". I also detected at least one instances of a couple of missing frames towards the end of the film when Cary is having his final conversation with Miss Kerr in her characters apartment. None of these aberrations are deal breakers and come and go so quickly it is very likely most will never notice them. Unfortunately for me I watch the first time with a critical eye, then afterward for enjoyment. The other thing that bothered me about the video was simply put, a slightly washed out contrast/brightness. Many have written the contrast is spot on, but I have to again respectfully disagree. My display was recently calibrated and what I see is lack of black and a bit too much 'bright' in the transfer overall. A little more care in the mastering process could have easily eliminated this. Of course this also means you will find NO instances at all of black crush, which is nice, but then again I challenge anyone to find absolute black in this either. Color is fine, by Deluxe so although not as pleasing as Technicolor is (at least to my eyes) it is pretty good. In fact, overall color levels and hues are a very strong point on this disc and unlike 'North by Northwest' on Blu, the colors never never look totally unnatural or out of whack.

I have mentioned in a few of my earlier reviews that the films of Cary Grant just don't seem to get much respect as far as their Blu Ray presentations go. I am beginning to suspect that the reason Humphrey Bogart's films are so much better looking has much to do with the care the negatives were shown over the years by Warner Brothers. Cary just didn't fare as well in regards to the studios he worked for as far as keeping the negatives of his films in tip top shape.

STILL, I will say right now that THIS transfer is the overall best for any Cary Grant movie currently in Blu Ray release. I am really keeping my fingers crossed that the upcoming release of 'To Catch a Thief' on Blu next month will make me eat my words and blow me away.

(UPDATE 2-18-12 Just watched 'To Catch a Thief' on Blu Ray and it DID totally blow me away which means it now holds the top spot for the best Hi Def Cary Grant transfer available, pushing 'An Affair to Remember' down to #2, at least in my opinion. My advice it to purchase both and make your own decision)

The sound on this disc is quite good actually. YOU get both a DTS HD Master audio 5.1 mix and a Stereo Mix. I was a bit disappointed the original MONO was not included as a lossless option, but was surprised to find the 5.1 mix was very pleasing overall. Some of the musical numbers were tied to dialogue and could not be separated into stereo, but almost all the score is. The surrounds come in to play for both ambiance and various effects such as birds chirping, etc. Overall the DTS HD Master mix was very good and never took me 'out' of the film with phoney baloney surround activity or odd panning, shrieking musical passages or inaudible dialogue. I liked it. A 1957 film with a decent surround track is a pretty good accomplishment I think.

Extras are plentiful and many are very good. You get 4 shortish, and 3 Medium length featurettes, the films trailer and a nice AMC Backstory special which I found particularly good. All of the special features have been ported over from the DVD release and are presented in 480i.

Cary Grant is at the very top of my short list of favorite movie stars. To me, he was and always will remain the King. I have enjoyed purchasing and watching all his films as they have been released and no more so than when they have appeared in high definition on Blu Ray. This film is no exception. With all my complaints, OCD observations and niggles, it is truly a very good overall presentation and one that is guaranteed to please most every fan of this film or the actors within it. HIGHTLY RECOMMENDED!!

Read Best Reviews of An Affair to Remember (1957) Here

When anyone talks about a favorite romantic drama, this movie always comes to mind. This is such a superb classic with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. No one has the chemistry and on screen presence that they do.

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One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, "An Affair to Remember" is one of the most enchanting love stories ever put on film. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr star in the film, and the two are an elegant pair: Grant's classy wit and Kerr's stylistic charm were made for each other.

Grant is an amorous playboy aboard a ship heading to Europe. Also on board ship is Kerr, an engaged ex-singer. The two meet accidentally and through a series of events, are smitten after a few days. Torn about their own romantic prospects, they finally decide to break off their respective engagements and meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months, when he has collected some necessary funds. But fate intervenes and their planned meeting is jeopardized...

A beautiful blend of script, direction, acting, and cinematography, (not to mention a glorious title song) "An Affair to Remember" is a very romantic, very lovely film that is great for early morning-watching on Christmas Day with a sweetheart. Buy this one and you'll fall in love with it forever.

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Stanley Kubrick Visionary Filmmaker Blu Ray Collection (Region Free) (2011)

Really? I suppose they had to sell them somehow. Hahahahaha I probably would have included Dr. Strangelove or Spartacus or Paths of Glory instead. Still, the rest of the set is brilliant.

I love Kubrick and all of these movies are absolutely brilliant and genius and classic and all the other things people normally say about Stanley Kubrick. This box set is good. The special features on most of the movies are nice and the majority of them have commentary. The two problems I had is that the extra disc is actually the second bonus feature disc for A Clockwork Orange so the menu is A Clockwork Orange's menu which is wierd to me because it is the last disc while A Clockwork Orange is the third disc. The second thing is: Where is Dr. Strangelove. That movie is arguably more important than Lolita. This boxset goes from Lolita to 2001 and I don't know why Dr. Strangelove was excluded. I mainly got it for a cheaper way to get Blu-rays of Kubrick movies and I got exactly that.

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Igor (2008)

I can see why some people hated this film, because if you bought the DVD to keep your young children occupied, you didn't get your money's worth. 'Igor' is really for old horror buffs, but it tried to play both sides of the field. It's too adult for kids and not dark enough for adults.

The animation is very good and looks more than a little inspired by 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. The voice work isn't bad, but the film doesn't have enough inspired characters to keep the momentum going. Most of the comic relief comes from an immortal rabbit who wants to die!

Overall I think if you like old horror films and animated films you'll like 'Igor', but it will not keep the little ones interested. The DVD has an excellent transfer, but not a lot of extras. There is an alternate beginning that is interesting.

I have seen most of the computer generated animated movies. The Pixar ones, naturally, are the best in terms of script quality and overall likability for all ages. The non-Pixar ones are usually pretty good but not up to that quality (Shrek, Over the Hedge, Madagascar, etc.), but some are not good at all in my opinion such as Madagascar 2 and Happy Feet to name a few. It all depends on what you want out of an animated movie. I personaly look for an engaging plot and most of all the funny one-line quips that are a staple of this genre. The main thing for me with this movie was its originality. The plot is really unique and there were tons of funny one-liners that I chuckled at throughout. My kids 7 & 9 also were laughing and we watched it twice. I had never even heard of this movie and just picked it off the shelf at Blockbuster, and I am really glad I did. I would say this is one of the best non-Pixar animated movies I've seen.

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I picked up IGOR at a discount, not knowing anything about it other than what was written on the back of the case. I love old horror movies and I love wacky comedy, so I figured it might be worth it. I've watched it three times now, enjoying it more each time. True, it gets off to a slow start. John Cusack's voice-over back-story opening is very weak. It's not particularly funny and he doesn't do it well. I almost gave up. But I'm nothing if not persistent. The result: It's a stitch! Once Eva, the monster who thinks she's an actress, takes stage, the movie picks up tremendously. There are funny situations, brilliant one-liners, great acting, clever animation. Okay, I admit it: when the message arrives ("We're all born with an evil bone. It's up to us whether or not we use it."), it screams: MESSAGE!!! But that's okay, because the road there is paved with such great stuff. This was an indie production, so without the Pixar-type funding, it falls somewhat short of the visual brilliance of the big-studio animation films. But it's miles and miles above BARNYARD. (Hell, ANY movie is miles and miles above BARNYARD!) I don't particularly recommend this for kids. They wouldn't get through the opening and they wouldn't get 15% of the humor. But for those of us who like ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT, it's a must-see. Oh yes, there's also the wonderful voice of Jennifer Coolidge. Can't go wrong with that!

Read Best Reviews of Igor (2008) Here

I should start by saying that, as a fan of both classic horror films and spoofs of classic horror films, I really wanted to like Igor. I really did. But I couldn't help feeling through most of the movie that the creators _really_ should've spent more time on the script. You can see what they were going for, and you can also see how the concept should have been great. But the execution however, never quite hits the mark.

A big problem is the design. You cannot watch Igor without comparing it to The Nightmare Before Christmas, not only because of the stop-action animation similarity but because the sheer look of the film seems so clearly derivative of Nightmare Before Christmas. Eva is modelled on Sally, and I could swear that they actually reused Nightmare's Mayor action figure for Igor's King Malbert. And even if you can get past the visual derivation, there's the problem of characters seeming derivative. Brain, the classic sci-fi/horror "brain in a jar", has a personality derived from a different source: B.O.B. the Blob in Monsters Vs Aliens.

Only two characters really stand out. Igor (voiced by John Cusack) is clearly drawn and likeable and can _almost_ make you care enough to ignore the film's short-comings. And Scamper (voiced by the inimitable Steve Buscemi) is actually the best thing about the film: an acerbic, immortal rabbit who wants desperately to commit suicide. And who has all of the best lines:

Igor: [shouts] Pull the switch!

[Nothing happens. He looks over at Scamper, standing by the switch]

Scamper: Do *not* yell at me.

Igor: Oh, I-I'm sorry. I just... pull the switch?

[No response]

Igor: Please pull the switch.

Scamper: That's better.

Brain: Our work here is done.

Scamper: 'Our work'? You spent the whole time playing with a piece of ribbon.

Igor isn't a bad film. It's an okay film with occasional moments where it's actually good. But it could've been a really good film if the writers and designers had just given it one more good going-over before putting it into production. Recommended for fans of stop-action animation and of spoofs of horror films with an hour and a half to kill. And for Steve Buscemi fans.

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All Igor(voiced by John Cusack) ever wanted was to be an evil scientist, unfortunately in the kingdom of Malaria(where our tale takes place) that big ole' hunch on his back could only mean one thing, he would always be just an Igor.(If he didn't get recycled for parts first!)

One day Igor gets the chance to prove be can really be an evil scientist when his master Dr. Glickenstein(John Cleese) becomes the victim of his own experiment and Igor decides to take his only chance to fulfill his dreams of winning the evil science fair.

Igor turns to his only two friends to help him, a Brain who named himself Brian on accident(Sean Hayes) and Scamper(Steve Buscemi) who Igor accidentally made immortal and constantly tries to commit suicide. Their plan comes into motion when Igor remembers his blueprints to create life into a purely evil monster, something no evil scientist has ever done in the entire history of Malaria!

Only their plan goes awry when Igor forgets to activate their new creations evil bone, and Eva(Molly Shannon) instead becomes overly kind and instead of destroying cities or killing blind orphans dreams of becoming an actress.

Maybe an homage to Tim Burton, definitely a re-telling of Frankenstein but Igor still carries a completely fresh and poignant look at a beloved genre in the film industry; horror.

Igor is creative, witty and completely different from any animated film that I for one have seen in a very long time. The humor is sarcastic, and a little sardonic and honestly it probably flies right over 80 percent of it's viewers heads.

Maybe I'm biased seeing as how I love pretty much everything Cusak touches, but I for one wouldn't mind adding this one to my dvd collection.

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Monte Carlo (+ Digital Copy) (2011)

This was a really cute movie probably aimed at teens. It was not meant to be high art, so I'm rating it for delivering a good job for what it was intended to be: a cute and well written story about 3 nice and likeable Texas girls, mostly set in wonderful, romantic European settings, and just a lot of fun overall. All three actresses were quite good and this was a nice afternoon escape film. It was nice to see a teen film that was pretty positive and wholesome for a change, not too old for its intended audience. I saw this in a theater mostly full of mid to late teen girls, and they all seemed to be enjoying it a lot.

I don't know about you..but as a mom to a 7 year old girl, I get tired of watching cartoons all the time. Sometimes, I just like to watch a movie with real actors. I saw this movie with my daughter and it was cute and fun! In fact, it sparked a great conversation about Paris and traveling. We made a plan to go there together after she graduates high school! I thought this was a clean movie (other than one of the characters using the word "ass") that was suitable for my daughter. The scenery was breathtaking and we enjoyed it very much!

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A young woman takes her dream vacation to Paris with her best friend and her step-sister. The trip doesn't go as planned, and then she is mistaken for a wealthy heiress. The three go on to connect with hunky guys and vacation in luxury. In the end, they may learn something about themselves. This is a harmless film that just about anyone can enjoy. It is predictable, and does not contain any great dramatic moments, but it has an attractive young cast and the movie's target audience of teenage girls will find it entertaining. I would recommend this one if you are in the mood for some lighthearted entertainment.

Read Best Reviews of Monte Carlo (+ Digital Copy) (2011) Here

Grace (Selena Gomez), a small town Texas girl has been saving up for 4 years through High School to go to Paris. She is excited about going with her friend Emma (Katie Cassidy) who seems to be a bit of a floozyshoes she says, "If they ain't hurtin' they ain't helpin'. However Dad wants her to take along her step sister Meg (Leighton Meester)who is not exactly welcomed as she looks too much like Kristen Stewart with the blood drained out of her and acts about the same.

The three are in Paris having a miserable time because their tour is inanely rushing them. It isn't long before they become separated.

Grace is mistaken for Cordelia Winthrop Scott, British heiress and the 3 Cinderellas end up in Monte Carlo, dressed up and going to a ball. At this point the plot is pretty well established. The acting was less than expected, as was the script. Comedy is very light. This is perhaps a young teen female movie. Originally Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts were supposed to star in this film, but the producers wanted a younger cast...guess how that worked out?

No bad language, so sex, no nudity. Drop the girls off and go.

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I went to see this movie for one reason only: Selena Gomez starred in it! She is a very talented young actress and she plays the double role fantastic! It is a very cute story and fun for girls of all ages! I am buying this movie, and watching it over and over again!

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Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012)

Wow, this has been an exciting fall for literary adaptations! I read Yann Martel's Life of Pi a decade ago and thought it was fantastic storytelling. I cheered when it won the Man Booker Prize. So, I was quite excited to attend an advance screening recently with several members of my book group. I remembered the novel quite well in broad strokes, but not the fine detail. I didn't refresh my memory before watching the film, but was curious enough to reread Life of Pi in its entirety before writing this review. The film is very true to the novel in spirit and tone, but there are small changes, additions (generally positive), and elisions (some noteworthy).

The film opens similarly to the novel. The idea is the same, but the execution is slightly different. Different mediums require different storytelling tools. For instance, I believe most film-goers will readily recognize The Writer (portrayed by actor Rafe Spall, who replaced a distractingly famous Toby Maguire) as a stand-in for author Martel. In the novel, it is Martel himself, in direct address to readers, who fulfills this role, effectively blurring the line between fact and fiction. It is established that this story is being related to The Writer by an older Pi. From there, readers are introduced to a young Piscine Molitor Patel and the world he inhabits. It's a charmed childhood, being raised at the Pondicherry Zoo amongst a loving family and exotic animals--an Indian "We Bought a Zoo." These scenes are as lush and colorful as any Bollywood musical.

I've discussed this novel with other readers countless times over the years. It's beloved by many, but truly hated by a vocal minority. I've never understood the vitriol, personally. Martel writes beautifully and accessibly. His story is fast-paced and yet deeply rooted in character. And it explores the boundless subject of faith through an extraordinary tale--a "story to make you believe in God." But one complaint I've heard from readers is frustration over (or lack of interest in) Pi's religious explorations early in the novel. The young man is a practicing Hindu, Christian, and Muslim. Martel never belabored the point, but those readers will be gratified to see that director Ang Lee has streamlined the beginning of the tale to move more swiftly to the meat of the story.

And that comes about when Pi's family packs up their lives, their animals, and moves the whole kit and caboodle to Canada by ship. Well, that's the plan. Something goes wrong in rough seas outside of Manila. The ship goes down in a haunting scene, and now the stage is set. Sixteen-year-old Pi is shipwrecked in a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a 450-pound adult Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. It's survival of the fittest on the high seas, and things get Darwinian fast. Soon enough, it's Pi and Richard Parker in it together.

When I first heard the premise of this novel, somehow I thought Richard Parker would be some kind of cute, anthropomorphized tiger, and oversized puddy tat. He was not. He was a terrifying predator, and he stayed a terrifying predator, throughout Pi's ordeal. This was much the same in the movie (although not quite to the degree as in the novel, a change commented upon by Martel in the Hollywood Reporter). Richard Parker was scary in the book, but he was terrifying on the screen. I flinched as he snarled and lunged in 3D.

From here, both novel and film take on an episodic or picaresque quality. The film is delightfully dream-like from its opening frames. (An early scene of the swimming pool from which Pi derives his name enchanted me!) But as the days at sea pass, and the ribs of both animals become plainly visible, the film shifts from dream-like to hallucinatory. Episodes and encounters become increasingly extraordinary. Sitting in the audience, I could clearly discern who had read the novel and who had not by the gasps and exclamations. (Among my friends, the film was enjoyed equally by those who had read the book and those who had not.)

Yes, there are episodes that are missing from the film, one of which is quite notable. Fans may miss it. And, yet, I can understand the choices made. Cuts were judicious. As noted earlier there are a few small shifts and changes. But this is a very faithful adaptation of Martel's novel, and I suspect it will please most fans of the original. What is lost is more than made up for by how Ang Lee has brought Martel's fantastic vision to life.

The cinematography and design of this film is exquisitely beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of 3D technology, but once in a while it seems to really augment a film. Such is the case here--all the better to experience a small boat on the vast ocean. And while we're on the subject of technology, the CGI work on the tiger is seamless. None of us could detect where the real tiger ended and the computer-generated beast began. I have heard that young Suraj Sharma never once filmed with the live animal. For safety, their scenes were filmed separately. And I don't know how much footage was of a real cat. All I can say is that the illusion is extraordinarily believable. That a first-time actor could give such a convincing performance playing opposite an imaginary tiger is doubly impressive. The success of the film lies firmly on Sharma's moving portrayal of 16-year-old Pi, but the supporting performances were equally strong. It was Spall's response to Pi's story at the end of the film that actually gave me chills.

I've been circumspect about revealing specifics of the plot. I'll leave all the surprises of Pi's voyage intact for those new to the tale. And readers of the novel can see for themselves what made the cut. About the ending... Those who have read the novel know what to expect. Now film-goers can join the debate we've been having for the past decade. In the end, it truly is all about faith. Which story do you prefer?

This may be the hardest movie review I've ever written, somehow words don't

express it quite right ...

To begin, I saw Life of Pi in 3-D. A week later I went back and saw it again,

because I don't foresee having another chance. I expect the color and detail

will remain gorgeous in 2-D, and I definitely intend to buy the disc.

However the 3-D in this movie is spectacular. The tiger, Richard Parker, is

at the top of the list, but in fact the entire movie benefits tremendously

from 3-D. If you liked Avatar, you probably liked the marvelous animals.

And I'm sure in some scenes, Richard Parker is CGI'd to some extent. But

Life of Pi has a real earthly animal to work with, and you can argue there

is no animal on earth more beautiful or fierce than a tiger. That's part

of the genius of this movie, and I'm sure one reason James Cameron liked

it so much.

That brings me to another point about this movie, its suitability for kids.

Hopefully by now you understand the tiger is not a cuddly pet. Its very much

a wild animal, just like you can see in nature videos. Except in this movie

the tiger is a lot closer. He wants to eat Pi. Pi can't always see the tiger.

The audience knows the tiger is going to try something, but that just makes it

all the more nerve-wracking. Or exciting, depending on the person watching.

This movie made me jump several times, and I was often clutching the arms of

my chair. Its pretty intense in places. More so the second time I saw it.

I kid you not.

"Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the darkness of the night"

William Blake

"Tell me what you see"

Pi

Regarding the story, I will say the movie starts out to establish what kind

of a kid Pi was when he was growing up in India. This helps us know Pi as a

multi-dimensional character. But the beauty of this part of the movie is

the kind you can see every day, not the visionary beauty that comes later.

Maybe it takes more effort to see it, because its a little too much like our

own lives when we were kids. Growing up can seem mundane. But sometimes

it can also be dangerous. Or heartbreaking.

Once the movie shifts to the ocean, its very easy to believe that now we

have our arms around the story. But Life of Pi is one of those movies where

we don't really know the story at all, until the last word of dialog has

been spoken. There's more than one story here, and most of what makes you

think, after its over, comes at the very end. You have to pay attention to

pick it all up. On disc, you may want to re-play a few seconds at the end

of the movie.

Its worth it. If you like to think about a movie, if you have a vivid memory

for beauty, then Life of Pi is one of the easiest movies to recommend. Its the

second masterpiece of 2012.

Buy Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Now

One might watch the trailer and groan at the prospect of another "The Black Stallion," but I have good news: this is not the same. Yes, both involve a ship sinking with one human survivor, and both have the survivor interact with animals while waiting for rescue. There is a key difference, though, that expands drastically with the final minutes of the film. In "The Black Stallion," the animal is a horse, something humans communicate with around the world. In Life of Pi, the tiger gives us something completely different. A natural enemy, very willing to devour. I'll get to the important meaning later.

As is evident from the dramatic trailer, the cinematography is overwhelmingly beautiful. In all honesty, you don't see the half of it in the trailer. While at first, it didn't seem likely to work in 3D, I've put that view aside. It's the best live-action 3D I've ever seen! One of the best scenes (for the full emotional effect), is seeing the ship go down as if you were right there. In fact, more than one scene were so effective in this way that I was physically breathless. A few times during the film, Pi encounters rough storms, and this is where another beauty comes through. The camera captures the movement of Pi and his boat so well, it boggles me. While other movies have moved from cut to cut in moments, giving the impression of a storm, these cuts last much longer and show a lot more. It's as if filmed on location, with no misguiding.

Something you should know before you watch is that Life of Pi breaks into the topic of religion quite a bit at the beginning. Pi follows several religions. First, Hindu, then Catholicism, and Muslim, all at once. After the incident, it doesn't come up much, apart from a few overtones, but it's important to be aware going in.

This is a film for slightly older audiences (13+) for the reasons of the ship's intense sinking, and for the complicated concepts of the film.

To warn you, this last paragraph is a bit *SPOILER* oriented. Near the end of the movie, Pi tells another story, showing what the tiger represents. Suffice it to say that there is more meaning to this than surviving on an island with a horse and winning a race with him later on. I won't spoil any more, though.

In conclusion, this is a beautiful movie about survival and perseverance, in the midst of harsh, beautiful nature.

Read Best Reviews of Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Here

Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is a masterpiece with some of the most beautiful and unforgettable images ever displayed on film. Not only did it give me an experience of the wonder in being alive while moving me to tears, but its story also encompassed a human life from childhood to mature age while dealing with pain and guilt that are part of the human experience.

Ang Lee isn't thought of as an Asian auteur in the class of Wong Kar-wai, Zhang Yimou or Lee Chang-dong. He's actually more of a commercial director than a personal artist, but what he does in transferring the "Life of Pi" from novel to screen is miraculous. Perhaps no director has ever captured the beauty and fear of the power of life, and when you look deep into the eyes of the tiger "Richard Parker", you see what Marlowe saw in Kurtz's eyes in Conrad's "The Heart of Darkness": a power so vast it dwarfs you with an awareness of your mortality, showing you your insignificance beside the powers of all life. What Ang Lee does here in this film will, I believe, remain his tour-de-force, and is a work of art I will come to many times in the future.

The acting is wonderful, primarily Irrfan Khan, one of India's greatest actors who plays the adult Pi. Khan provides an entire acting course just in the way he uses his face, displaying a smile in the film's climax that rivals the Mona Lisa's in its ambiguity. You see the world of pain, guilt, joy and sadness in his delicate expression.

The film is supremely spiritual in every frame, yet, if one is paying attention, it winds up as somewhat of a Trojan Horse in what it ultimate reveals about religion. I'm trying hard not to provide a spoiler here, but there are five words spoken by the adult Pi at the end of the film that viewers seem to miss that spell it out. But moving away from its theme, no film I have ever seen in my life comes close to "Life of Pi" in relating the sheer force of nature (making you experience the beauty and terror in the soul of a tiger) and the cosmic beauty of our world, both inner and outer. Using 3-D more brilliantly (and essentially) than any film to date, this film burned into my mind incredible visual sights impossible to find anywhere else, showing me beauty I will remember the rest of my life.

Highly recommended, and one that truly deserves to be seen in 3-D.

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A 2001 novel of the same name by Yann Martel is the basis for "Life of Pi" and it has been called unfilmable. The movie has been in the works since 2003, but the nature of the film has caused many to think that it would never be possible. See, most of the film involves a boy in a lifeboat with an adult Bengal Tiger. The movie also involves many other challenging things to portray, including a massive shipwreck, an island of meerkats and a strong religious overtone that manages to be fair to all religions. Suraj Sharma plays Pi Patel, a boy becoming a man who challenges all conventional thinking as he leads his life. Curious about religion and religions, he prides himself in knowing not just one god, but all gods. Not to mention, despite its obvious carnivorous nature, he has faith that a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker has a soul and can be befriended.

"Life of Pi" has many levels and as visually stimulating as it is, it is also mentally stimulating and beautiful in its intent. I'm not completely sure it achieved all that it intended but the gist of its message comes across loud and clear. Life is a gift and the days ahead are not guaranteed. Faith is vital in living a rewarding life and in knowing how life is not only to be lived, but to be cherished for each and every moment. I'm pretty sure that was the gist.

Above all, "Life of Pi" is not just a well-filmed movie, but a gloriously well filmed film. The quality levels of the filming are unprecedented and its 3D makes all 3D that has been done prior look like the second and third-rate stuff that it is. The effects used to bring the tiger Richard Parker to life are awe-inspiring. Your eyes widen, as they should, when Parker strikes and when he nears. There has certainly never before been a movie that gives you the impression of what it would be like to be and live in the proximity of such a beast.

"Life of Pi" comes off a little heavy-handed at time and I have to admit that I assumed there would be more to it, but the amount there is to it is in the eye of the beholder. You can look at the movie and say that it wasn't about much, or you can look at the movie and say that it was about everything, because it is. The performances are outstanding, including the Tiger, and the film is without question, one of the best of 2012.

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