Chico & Rita Collector's Edition (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/CD Soundtrack Combo) (2012)

Chico and Rita is the third Latin movie throughout the last two decades(after Buena Vista Social Club and Estudio 54), inspired on Latin music, but unlike the previous ones it's much more ambitious about its proposal.

Fernando Trueba made an amazing journey through some unforgattable moments and first-rate figures of jazz to tell us a love story thatlooks like a tragic bolero sprayed with this bitter ending cadence ruptruras, troubles and nostalgia.

Both are from humble origin, but each of them bursts on stage and shine like a star for its own account. And despite the conflicts come and go the love never does.

A memorable tribute to Chano Pozo, Gillespie, Parker, Casablanca, Boggie, Tito Puente, Miguel Valdez and Tito Rodriguez, among other ones. Interesting artistic proposal and refreshing gaze to the Latin Universe.

I love good animation, I love great music, and I love a good movie.

Three for three on "Chico and Rita". Two Afro-Cuban musicians who meet in classic "cute" movie fashion and then have an on-again, off-again, love affair in various locales (Havana, NYC, Las Vegas, etc.), and always, there is wonderful music (mostly jazz and Latin jazz) in the forefront or the background.

Let me pull on your coat about something here the guy who plays the original piano pieces for this film is 93 years old. He's also playing the piano and conducting the Havana ballroom orchestra present in parts of the soundtrack, albeit when he was much, much younger as those recordings were made in the 40's and 50's. His name is Bebo Valdes, and he is as old-school as it gets at 93, but, man, that cat can still play.

I've ordered this film in advance as I know I will want to watch it at least a few times, and therefore I have no hesitation in recommending that you watch it at least once. Even if you don't particularly like jazz or animation, it stands on it's own as a great little movie.

Just a heads-up though there are some adult moments and some animated nudity in the film, so bear that in mind if you're considering watching it and you've got children around the place.

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Watching this nostalgic love letter to Cuba, jazz, and enduring passion unfold, I was struck by how little the medium of animation is used to tell serious adult stories. "Chico & Rita," therefore, benefits greatly from this straightforward and unorthodox approach. Had the exact same screenplay been filmed with live actors, I think the tale might have been equally compelling. But there is something about the simplicity and beauty of the hand drawn passages that really evokes an artistic vibe. And as the movie is an homage to an era, a culture, and an art form, it's fascinating to see this world come alive as if from thin air. "Chico & Rita" was Oscar nominated as Best Animated Feature in 2012, and it is truly a must-see for lovers of quality adult entertainment. A visual treat with its earthy pallette, the movie also boasts an impressively colorful soundtrack that recalls the jazz age in vibrant detail. Lushly romantic, I think those that adore "Chico & Rita" will be rapturous in their praise. But it isn't necessarily a movie for everyone as it unravels as much from mood as from the actual story.

The actual plot spans many decades from the streets of Cuba, to the clubs of New York, to the movie sets of Hollywood, to the seedy motels of Las Vegas. Seriously, I had no idea that the movie would have such a grand scope or such a broad narrative. An elderly Chico, a former piano man, hears one of his songs on the radio and it causes him to reflect on a long and tumultuous relationship with his true love Rita. Rita, a sultry singer, worked with Chico before setting upon a life of fame and glamour--but their two paths were constantly intertwined. Although madly in love, the two never seem to connect in any meaningful way for an extended period. But despite all their mistakes and the physical obstacles in their path, there is always an underlying hope for a happy ending. The two seem fated to be together, but fate may not be enough to overcome tragedy. Melancholy, sweet, and unrelentingly romantic, the film still maintains a refreshingly hard edge throughout.

Spanish director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) has a sure handle on the tone and cadence of the movie. As I mentioned, the mood of the piece is just as important as its narrative. And the music really helps to capture the spirit of the story telling. From genuine jazz riffs to English language ballads, everything fits perfectly. Although I did love the movie, it does tend to get a bit rushed as the years spiral by in quick fashion. So after a detailed beginning, certain sequences can seem a bit choppy. The pace is so luxuriant and leisurely, I thought some of the time shifts were a bit jarring. But it's a small point in the grand scheme of things.

Limited Edition Collector's set: This 3 disc compilation has the DVD, the Blu-ray, and the soundtrack. If you love jazz, I suspect you'll be interested in purchasing the soundtrack so this might be a convenient way to get both the movie and the CD at a combined price point. Also included (and quite fascinating) is a sixteen page excerpt from the source material, which happens to be a graphic novel. It's a cute, if not particularly substantial, addition. I'd have loved a bit more, but I guess they didn't ask me. Overall, though, an easy recommendation. About 4 1/2 stars, an impressively adult endeavor. KGHarris, 9/12.

Read Best Reviews of Chico & Rita Collector's Edition (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/CD Soundtrack Combo) (2012) Here

Chico & Rita is a beautifully animated film, with an excellent storyline. It creates an ambiance the viewer wants to be part of, and expressive characters we can almost touch. It is a love story that follows a young pianist and a young singer starting from the late 1940s Havana. The film takes us many places geographically and emotionally. The situations and dialogs are very real and sharp. The film is happy and tragic, just like life itself. One needs to be a certain age to understand the motivations and emotions within, therefore I would recommend it for viewers 18 years of age or older.

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I rarely watch animations and almost never review movies. This one is so exceptional that I feel compelled to gush a little so forgive me in advance.

First, this movie weaves in factual events with a great storyline. For example, the circumstances leading to Chano Pozzo's actual death are portrayed, as is the overall allure to many Cuban musicians of what musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and their New York peers were creating. In real life Dizzy did as much as any major jazz musician in NY to include the Afro-Cuban rhythms into bebop and beyond.

The music itself is a character in this movie. What a feast! It inspired me to start listening to pure Cuban music by some of the pioneers cited in the movie. Consequently, I have fallen in love with musicians to whom I would have never paid attention like Machito (a good starting point is Ritmo Caliente), Cachao (start with Master Session 1) and a plethora of others who pioneered this music.

Of course the animation simply beautiful and the storyline that is gritty, musical and touching are reasons enough to watch this movie. Like the music, both Havana and New York City are also characters in this movie. The scenes are period-correct and the colors are also consistent with the era. It's uncanny how well the essences of both cities are captured and personified.

Do be aware that some scenes are explicit, making this an adult movie in every sense of the word. It's also a love story. And a musical.

If you love music, and especially Afro-Cuban influenced jazz that came out of the late 1940s/early 1950s, you will love this movie. Heck, if you are a sucker for a great love story you'll also love it.

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WORLD AIRPORTS : Sexy St Maarten (2011)

I almost don't know what to say about this one. The Blu-Ray quality is excellent. They alternate between airport views of takeoffs and landings, and in air footage, which is unique for Just Planes. And, they do what I have wanted them to do for a while in the Blu-Rays, which is take us on whole flights from one angle, instead of cutting in and out. So we fly in Twin Otters from island to island, sometimes in the cockpit view, sometimes hanging outside the aircraft, sometimes in the cabin. All good.

We get every Boeing jet model except early 737 and 777. Lots of 737 variations, 717, 727, 747-400, and 767. Airbus 320, 330, and 340. Brazilian too. Plus many different prop planes including a former Eastern Air DC-7, and a former Western Air as well. All good.

The runway ends at the beach, as in you could throw a shot put from the beach to the runway, the aircraft pass less than 50 feet over the beach on landing, and the jet blast on takeoff literally blows people away.

Try this:

to see a photo of what you'll see. The aircraft landing: good, particularly the KLM 747-400 landings and takeoffs.

On the other hand, we get lame classical music instead of ATC on the cockpit portion of the in flight. And, about half the time the runway video is watching the fools on the beach. Fun the first couple of times, but mostly a waste as the video goes on. Bad.

And the ugly. There are numerous cheap shots of women in and out of bikinis on the beach, and fat guys in speedos. There is actual nudity at least three times, and not of Playboy model cute women, this being a topless beach. There is a gratuitous shot of a bent over woman from behind with small bikini bottoms. You might not want to show this video to your kids. It's at least PG-13 if not R rated.

Arthur & the Invisibles 2 & 3-New Minimoy Adventur (2012)

I just saw these available today on amazon on demand (Roku). We really enjoyed the first one, but I was a bit apprehenvise since these were direct-to-video releases. However, the cast and the production (effects) quality were very good. Some of the voice cast changed, but Freddie Highmore and Mia Farrow are back as the main Human characters. Actually, we saw part 2, and rented it on demand and watched it before we realized there was a third part! Luckily Part 3 was also available so we watched it right after Part 2. So if you liked the first one, I recommmed these.

My daughter loved the Arthur first so I bought her 2 & 3. She really liked them although she liked the first one better. Overall these are great movies for the price.

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Good movies, but not as good as the first,as far as the story. Excellent animation and live action combo.

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This double-feature continues the story of the original very well. The spunk of the Princess is missing from the second movie, but then she is a prisoner of Maltazar. But have no fear, it returns in full in the third movie. -All the characters are there and share great adventures to the completion of the story.

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My kids and I loved the first movie but these two are ok. I think I was bored with part 2, otherwise, the kids liked it.

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16 Wishes (2010)

This is a very good and funny movie with a heart-warming storyline and a great message. Abby Jensen has been making a secret wish-list for her Sweet 16th Birthday ever since she was a little girl. Her and her best friend, Jay run into a mysterious woman named Celeste. Celeste gives her candles with numbers on them. Everytime she makes a wish, it comes true. Abby makes a wish that everyone treats her like an adult, and it comes true as well, but not the way Abby wanted. She turns 22 and loses all her friends and her parents kick her out. She must figure out the rules of the wishes and tries to become 16 again before midnight, or else the wish becomes permanent. I highly recommend 16 WISHES!!!

I normally don't watch kids movies, but there was nothing on and so, I decided to give it a watch. I actually became a bit glued as the story really caught my attention. It's not a great film, but it's a feel good film. It definitely makes you appreciate what you have.

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Girl gets wishes granted, but then regrets them and learns to appreciate her life. It's a pretty old story and has been reused in hundreds of teen girl movies. Still, 16 Wishes isn't a bad retake for the intended audience. It's a bit unrealistic and tough to suspend disbelief during some scenes (like when the girl suddenly becomes an adult). A bit more time with the script would have helped. The better moments are more of a take on Dickens' Christmas Tale. It's certainly not a classic in the genre but should entertain young girls for a while.

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This movie was perfect for anyone who has had their 16th birthday or almost ready to celebrate their 16 th birthday. The young man star I was used to seeing in another weekly show that had been discontinued Kyle XY. I was disappointed when it went off the air. The girl I had also seen on Disney shows of course. She is really cute and appears to be sweet.

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My 17th wish is more Debby Ryan. From Jessie to Radio Rebel to this classic, this Disney star has never been better!!!!

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Lost Boys Triple Feature (The Lost Boys / Lost Boys: The Tribe / Lost Boys: The Thirst) (2012)

I REALLY LOVE THIS TRIPLE FEATURE DEAL! I'M GOING TO BUY MORE.. WELL ACTUALLY I HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE ALREADY. NOT OF THIS ONE I MEAN OTHER ONES. ANYHOO! I'M SLOWLY TURNING ALL MY REGULAR DVD'S INTO BLU RAY AND IT HELPS SO MUCH MORE TO HAVE THEM LIKE THIS! YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH ROOM I'M GETTING BY DOING THIS! AND I LOVE THEY PUT ALL THREE MOVIES ON THEIR OWN DISC AND ANY SPECIAL FEATURES ARE STILL ON WITH THE MOVIE IF THEY CAME WITH ANY! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE SET AND ANY OTHERS!

I initially only wanted The Lost Boys... but after some perusing I found that it was being sold in blu-ray as a triple feature for less $ so I said why not besides Cory Feldman is in all three and that works for me.

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Because the movie was a Blu-ray and it had all the upgrades from the standard DVD and huge upgrades from the older VHS tapes; "The movie picture and sound was Grrrrrrrreat!!!! Their speedy service was awesome and as such, I hope to purchase more from them in the future too!

Read Best Reviews of Lost Boys Triple Feature (The Lost Boys / Lost Boys: The Tribe / Lost Boys: The Thirst) (2012) Here

Who doesn't love the lost boys... So the others arent as good as the first but fun entertainment and worth it for the original, which is one of my favorite movies.

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I would recommend to others! I really enjoyed watching them because I like to watch scary movies sometimes. Great Storyline!

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Heavyweights (1995)

This is by far Ben Stiller's best performance ever, and if you can't appreciate it you obviously haven't seen it enough times. These people who give the movie one star, spouting non-sense about it putting skinny people in a false light, are simply incompetent. I'm skinny and when I sleep I make a very disturbing sound don't be alawmed I'm fine, and my feelings aren't hurt by this movie. These critics are spreaders of negativity and I won't have them corrupting my cult movie. How would their fathers like to know that their children are destroyers. Here is a suggestion for watching the movie...watch it in a large group of people who truly appreciate it and can quote it, fast-forward till Ben Stiller arrives, watch the movie fast-forwarding through the sappy fat kid moments like the go-cart and dock ("keep your washboard stomachs and oily muscles") scenes and press stop when Ben Stiller leaves. You will learn valuable lessons like regardless of whether or not it will "smush" always have crazy guys locked up in cages through over hershey's kisses making your queen proud, and that lunch can be cancelled due to lack of hustle. In closing I have one final thing to say "Come on you devil log."

This movie is hilarious!! Someone reviewed this movie on cd now and said that the messege to the movie is that fat kids are better then everyone else and all the healthy kids are stupid, and that it's full of stereotypical stuff. Well, if you happen to pay attention to the movie a little then you'd see that the messege to the movie was that over weight kids can do just as much as skinny kids and it also says that you shouldn't make fun of someone just because they are bigger and more heavy. It also says to be happy for who you are, even if you are a big kid. Anyway, I love this movie, I watch it whenever it is on and I end up telling my self, "I gotta buy this movie". So I'll have to buy it sometime. Ben Stiller is hilarious in "Heavyweights". Ben Stiller Plays the new owner of Camp Hope, and he puts all the kids on really unsafe diets. Like 20 mile hikes, food deprevation, and more. All the kids at the camp decide to rebel against him! I'd give this movie more stars if I could. Really great movie!!

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Pulsating under multiple layers of make-up, Ben Stiller's portrayel of camp owner Tony Perkis is one of the finest performences in cinematic history. While critics will say this film hits you over the head with mindless fat jokes and a mediocre message, the underlying reality is that somehow Stiller overcame what, at one point, must have been an inane Disney script. This movie is a triumph mixing pre teen psychological angst, satirical anarexic paranoia, sentimental summer hijinks, and subtle detailed infomercial insanity. From the "blob" to the black kid, the underlying themes of society's acceptance and approval bubble through the seemingly unilayered comedic glory. "I rise, I rise, I rise" sings the movie's spirit between the wonderfully chosen songs on its soundtrack. (Keep an eye out for who's REALLY playing "Papa" at the end--wink wink). This movie could not be improved. Now that Kubrick is gone we have one name to look to. Bravo, Mr. Stiller (either one) Bravo!

Read Best Reviews of Heavyweights (1995) Here

Disney strikes again, ruining another

classic with a DVD sanswidescreen format,

remastered video, or special features.

I'm not arguing against the fact that

Heavyweights is a masterpiece but...

If you can put 5.1 on a movie that lends

itself to 2 actual surround sound moments,

then consider adding the following on the

10 yr Anniversary Edition:

commentary by stiller and cast

original marketing stills

"Oh, WowGoKarts" an original feature documentary

Papa Perkis' Recipies for Dieters

Leah Lail on finding the infirmary

"Cody Wants to Have Fun" a featurette by Cody Burger

"Tranformational Facilitators and Me" promo

until then Disney Classic DVD's,

You stink, you stink, you stink, you stink!

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This is one of my kids favorite movies. They have watched it more than 5 times. Therefore, it is a BUY and good value. This is not one of those dvd's they play once and then it gathers dust forever....

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Pinocchio (1940)

I just saw a special engagement of this latest 70th Anniversary version of Pinnochio at Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in advance of the DVD re-release. Though I am happy to see the movie be given public exposure on a big theatrical screen, over the years I have seen many theatrical screenings of the movie on at least 12 different occasions including an original nitrate 3-strip Technicolor studio vault print in the early 1980's (before the studio dismantled its last nitrate screening room) and non-digital film restorations and was shocked to see that this latest restored version has digitally tampered with the film's original color palette for no justifiable reason.

Some of the chosen character hues are modern day, popular color hues, but look out of place in this early animated classic including certain pinks, reds and blues which are reused so often in identical shades that to classic animation buffs it becomes distractingly noticeable. For those animation buffs who know about Pinnochio, Walt intentionally muted colors in some of the scarier or sadder scenes. In the restored version, for example, when Pinnochio gets locked in Geppetto's "birdcage" the nighttime scene is bright and garish where it should intentionally be darker and muted.

The original movie had hand inked character outlines in colors that matched the interior ink colors, none of that is apparent in this restoration. The characters, though admittedly sharper and clearer, look color-wise like they were electronically tampered with, then reinserted in front of the original backgrounds.

At this point, the damage is done and obviously this restoration was "stylistic." But in any case, it might be compared with someone redoing the Mona Lisa with more modern color hues for the purpose of improving the artwork or making it more modern day acceptable. Either two things, perhaps no one at Disney was knowledgeable enough to notice what the outside restoration company was planning to do with the film in early test segments or maybe they figured that modern day DVD audiences would not know the difference or care, but this is the first "DIGITALLY RESTORED" classic Disney film that I have ever taken issue with. What a let down since it is my very favorite Disney film of all!!!

P.S. I was the founder of the former, long time Disney employees' Animated Film Club (later referred to as the Disney Film Club) which included Disneyland and Walt Disney Studio employees. It was founded in 1976 and continued on and off for many years afterward with visits from surviving original Disney animators, screenings of rare Disney footage and more.

The one-two whammy of audience and critical indifference to "Pinocchio" and "Fantasia" killed Walt Disney's desire to experiment with the limits of animation in the 1940s. From then on, play it safe was his motto. This may be one of the greatest tragedies to beset popular American culture in the 20th century; despite the depths of pretension and kitch in "Fantasia," it was at least evidence of a spirited mind in pursuit of the unattained -but "Pinocchio" must have broken old Walt's heart. There are visual effects in this movie that remained unchallenged until the digital age, and it's worth recalling that every single one of them was drawn by hand. It has one of the most beautiful and exciting musical scores in the history of the movies (I can't hear Cliff Edwards' high, pure falsetto holding that final note of "When You Wish Upon a Star" without chills), a deeply plangent sense of emotion that never tips over into bathos, and a wealth of detail that is still staggering after 65 years. But it may be too dark a movie to attain the popularity of more cheerful Disney cartoons like "Snow White" -although even that one can frighten the tots. Now: where is the double-disc Special Platinum Edition???

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Disney has restored this all-time classic to its original brilliance. The universal themes of love, family, friendship and good vs. evil make this educational and enjoyable. Yes, there are some quite scary scenes and evil is shown for what it is. However, just as in most fairy tales, good triumphs over evil in the end.

The story is told by Jiminy Cricket and the start of the movie is peaceful. He arrives at Geppetto's home where there are music boxes, toys, amazing clocks and a puppet who is just "all strings and joints." Geppetto is just painting on the finishing touches before he heads off to bed. The "cutest" black and white cat named Figaro adds warmth and amusement to the story. The sassy fish Cleo is a visual delight.

As the woodcarver drifts off to sleep, he says: "Wouldn't it be nice if he was a real boy?" He then sends Figaro to open the window and sees a wishing star. He makes a wish and while he sleeps, the Blue Fairy brings the Marionette Pinocchio to life. He then must learn to have a conscience, so it is decided that Jiminy Cricket will be his guide so he will know what is good and what is evil.

Pinocchio begins his journey to become a "real boy," but first he has to learn to be brave, loyal and honest. He is kidnapped after he joins a traveling show so he can become a famous actor, but escapes with the help of the Blue Fairy. She is the most beautiful animated fairy I have ever seen. Pinocchio then must learn to survive on his own. He takes a trip to Pleasure Island. This is a place where children go and they are allowed to play and never work, but the sinister truth is that they are all changed into donkeys and end up being shipped off to the salt mines. While he seems to keep making the wrong choices, once he realizes he will be turned into a donkey (his ears and tail already have grown), he goes back home. (Not unlike the prodigal son in a way, yet he is so young.)

When he arrives home, he finds cobwebs and the house has been empty for some time. A note arrives that tells him where he can find his father, so he jumps into the ocean to find Monstro the whale, where his father, Geppetto is trapped. Once under the sea, things get a bit scary and the whale is quite evil, not unlike other creatures from the sea in Disney's movies. Will he find his father? I won't give the ending away.

This is about the magical power of believing in your dreams and also will teach children to be moral and choose the good in life. I have to wonder if some politicians forgot to watch this movie as children. It teaches that lying is wrong and that a lie keeps growing and growing once it is told.

There are messages that reading is good and education is something you should strive for. The illiterate Red Fox is hilarious as he tries to read the ABC book upside down! The fox tries to tell Pinocchio that education is not good for him. I also noticed that because Pinocchio could not read (because he didn't go to school!), he could not read the note about his father and therefore, Jiminy Cricket had to read it for him. See a similar scene in "Mulan" where the lucky cricket in that movie types out the letter like a typewritter, which is also a beautifully animated movie with snow scenes similar to the wave scenes in this classic. I could see many details in this animation which have carried over into other movies.

There are many messages for adults in this movie....I doubt children will pick up on (Note the song that talks about "There are no strings on me!." This seems to be talking about our responsibility to others.)

As an adult, you will find them amusing and thought provoking. I had to laugh when I heard the Cricket say: "What does an actor want with a conscience anyway." That hit the mark! I would like to see more actors develop a conscience.

One of my favorite quotes by Jiminy Cricket is: "A cricket can't be too careful you know." It is laugh out loud funny when he says it.

The first part of the movie is hilarious, the middle is a big adventure and the ending is a wonderful surprise for children. There are a few politically incorrect items, but they are almost tongue-in-cheek and you have to think about when this movie was made!

If you have ever wished upon a star, or a falling star, this is for you! I agree, this is a masterpiece of animation....unlike anything you will find today. It is so detailed and moves at a pace where it is comfortable to watch. This is a thoughtful movie, unlike some of the more fast paced extravaganzas you see today.

~The Rebecca Review

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I am 70 yrs. old, and saw all of the great Disney movies on their original release as a child. Lest my qualifications are questioned, I have TWO PhD's, and am a retired professor who at the moment am building computers and reading at least 2 books a week. I've travelled all of the "lower" 48, and visited over 20 (again) in the last 3 years.

We have become a nation so frightened and split into groups that teach children fear and hatred. I'm afraid of what the children will become. I have a dozen grand children (at the moment) and have bought them all copies of the my fovorite Disney movies, with Snow White, Pinnocchio and (original) Fantasia at the top. Neither I, nor any of my friends my age, thought of those early movies as anything but what they were--wonderful stories. An example of the worst of our society is Eisner--a monster who takes movies off the market for years, and has stated he won't release the great folk tale "The Song of the South" because it MIGHT be "politically incorrect," an ugly concept that divides our country into "clans" walking on eggs in fear of "offending" some other group. I have watched most of the movies with each of my grand children, and SURPRISE, they loved them and are growing up to be intellegent and open minded, without fear or hate or whining. They learn their values from parents,grand parents and friends, not from movies and not from the twisted ideas of people they are pushed to associate with.

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A timeless classic that has been entertaining audiences for 70 years, Walt Disney's "Pinocchio" gets the High-Definition treatment and with Disney's classics on Blu-ray known as "reference" disc's among high-definition fans, "Pinocchio" is the second animated film from Walt Disney to hit theaters (back in 1940) and the oldest Walt Disney animated film to be released on Blu-ray. This Blu-ray disc comes with two Blu-ray discs plus a DVD disc of the film.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

So, far the Walt Disney Blu-ray disc animated (as well as theatrical) releases are among the best in picture and audio quality.

With the 2008 Blu-ray disc release of "Sleeping Beauty" (1958) which definitely benefited from the High-Definition remastering and many videophiles putting it among their top 10 of "reference" Blu-ray discs for picture quality, "Pinocchio" (1940) is a much older release, this film presented in multiplane Technicolor just looks absolutely fabulous on Blu-ray.

For nearly a year, an expert restoration team digitally scanned 380,334 frames of four and half miles of 71 year-old film negative, cleaning 126,778 frames, realigning each scene, removing dirt, scratches and dust and matching colors to the original cels and backgrounds. The clarity of "Pinocchio" is just amazing and I was just impressed how clean the animation was.

From the details of the backgrounds to the vibrant colors used, picture quality was just spectacular.

And the audio is no slouch either as the audio is featured in English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (48 kHz, 24-bit) or a restored original theatrical soundtrack. Of course, the film is primarily a dialogue based film but also a classic known for its music.

So, for those who have been enchanted with songs such as "When You Wish Upon A Star" to "I've Got No Strings", fans of Disney composer Leigh Harline, Ned Washington and Paul J. Smith are going to enjoy how beautiful the music sounds on their home theater setup. The music from "Pinocchio" earned the film two Oscars in 1941 for "Best Music, Original Score" and "Best Music, Original Song" for "When You Wish Upon a Star" which would become Disney's anthem.

For those wondering if there are any audio tracks in any other languages, unfortunately there is not. Although the bonus features do include English, French and Spanish 2.0. The same can be said for subtitles featured in English SDH (for the film) and the bonus features in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Pinocchio" is just loaded with special features. Here is what is included:

Blu-ray Disc 1:

* "When You Wish Upon a Star" An all-new music video starring Meaghan Jette Martin (Camp Rock) performing an all-new version of "When You Wish Upon A Star!" Obviously a version to bring any the younger listeners but really, nothing can beat the original version sung by Cliff Edwards.

* Pinocchio's Matter of Facts Learn fun facts about Pinocchio and other related subjects as you watch the movie.

* Optional Video/Audio Commentary An all-new audio commentary with Leonard Maltin, Eric Goldberg and J.B. Kaufman. A very informative and also enthusiastic commentary in which the three discuss their feelings of the film, what scenes touched them and also some informative facts about the film. The optional video commentary allows people to have a picture-in-picture display in which you can watch the three discuss the film and then also some interviews with the original crew involved with the film.

* Disney Song Selection This section allows the viewer to listen to the music portions from the film.

Blu-ray Disc 2:

* No Strings Attached: The Making of Pinocchio Witness the behind-the scenes magic that transformed Carlo Collodi's popular book into a classic animated film. About an hour long and very informative featurette about how the film cost Disney over $2 million to make but the film didn't do well in the box office until later as the music became a big part of Disney and people started to discover it's technical, artistic and musical merit and having become a Disney masterpiece.

* Deleted Scenes In the Disney vault, storyboards for deleted scenes and an alternate ending were found. Without spoiling any of these, the following scenes are:

The story of the Grandfather Tree Kindly Geppetto tells Pinocchio about the Great Pine Tree from which Pinocchio is descended.

In The Belly Of The Whale The most elaborate of Pinocchio's deleted scenes that remain in the Disney Archives, these recently discovered storyboards reveal a different version of Geppetto inside Monstro.

Alternate Ending A recently uncovered set of small storyboard panels reveal plans for a different version of Pinocchio becoming a real boy.

* The Sweat Box The Sweatbox was a small projection room at the Disney studio where Walt critiqued story reels, rough animation, and dailies of films in progress with his anxious artists. This piece traces the history of the Sweatbox and brings to life this important part of Walt Disney's artistic process.

* Geppettos Then And Now A look at the art of toymaking as it has evolved into the 21st Century. A fun featurette showcasing those who make toys, those who still carve wooden puppets to those who have created the Wall-E robot toy and I-Sobot.

* Live Action Reference Footage Older footage of how live action was used in the film, especially with the movements of Jimini Cricket.

* Pinocchio Art Galleries The hand-drawn conceptual art of "Pinocchio" is fantastic. Absolutely beautiful!

* Pinocchio's Puzzles Hosted by Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio's Puzzles is a multi-tiered Puzzle game that contains six unique wooden puzzles for the viewer to assemble. Each puzzle forms an image from the film that comes to life once they are complete.

* Blu-ray Exclusive Bonus Features -Includes all DVD Bonus Content (*BD-Live not available in Canada)

* Disney BD-Live Network The Disney BD-Live Network is just one of the many ways movie lovers, families, and loved ones can continue to stay connected and engage in their favorite movies.

* Movie Chat Communicate with your remote friends on-screen while in a synchronized viewing party using your remote control or any text enabled device such as a laptop,

desk top or any PDA device such as a Blackberry, iPhone or most other regular cell phones. Your chat session will appear over the movie and occur in real-time while watching the movie together.

* Movie Mail Blu-ray owners will be able to record a personalized video message of themselves, superimpose that capture onto one of many pre-selected clips of the movie, and send it off to a friend, colleague, or relative. This specific feature enables Pinocchio Blu-ray Disc owner to personalize a very special greeting as never before.

* Disney Movie Rewards Live Pinocchio Blu-ray owners will be able to accumulate Disney Movie Reward Points by participating in many Disney BD-Live Network activities. In return, viewers can redeem points for exclusive content such as Avatars, downloadable extras and many more exciting possibilities.

* Disney View A new viewing experience for future generations of home audiences, Disney View brings classic Disney films to the modern era of widescreen high definition viewing by allowing the user to expand their viewing experience beyond the original aspect ratio of the film. Utilizing Disney Blu-ray(tm) technology, artists are able to `draw' beyond the borders of classic full frame cinema and fill the otherwise dark edges of the screen with beautiful original imagery, giving audiences a new view on their animated classic favorites. Legendary artist Toby Bluth is the first artist's work to be featured on Disney View. I hope "Disney View" is a continuous feature because instead of watching the black bars on the sides of your widescreen TV, by having these borders and have it match with the scene was well-done!

* Cine-Explore

* Pinocchio Knows Trivia Challenge 1 to 4-player trivia game that can be played locally or online with your friends. Try to be the first to shrink Pinocchio's nose by answering challenging questions while watching the film.

* Pleasure Island Carnival Games Best the Evil Coachmen at four challenging Carnival games to earn your freedom and escape Pleasure Island.

Also, included is a song that was not used in the final cut for the film and more!

Again, another Disney masterpiece that has its definitive release via High-Definition on Blu-ray. This release is absolutely wonderful!

I was awestruck by how brilliant the film looked and how clean and pristine this 70-year-old film was on Blu-ray. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment really showed us how brilliant their restored films would look on Blu-ray starting with "Sleeping Beauty" but since "Pinocchio" was a much older film, it wasn't known if it could benefit from the restoration but sure enough, this release is yet another "Grand Slam".

To have a such an important classic animated film released on Blu-ray to look this spectacular is impressive but to go back into the sealed archives of Disney and to find any video or any type of existing artwork or storyboards was just amazing. This release is just jam packed with special feature and you learn so much about the behind-the-scenes making of the film from the artistic and musical direction, to casting and even Walt Disney and his involvement as well.

Learning how Walt Disney wanted to immediately change his version of "Pinocchio" from Carlo Collodi's original 1911 story "avventure de Pinocchio" (which featured an unlikeable, wiseguy Pinocchio and dark stories about abductions and murders) to learning also how strict Walt Disney was in making sure his staff knew what he wanted and did all he can to bring the best out of them.

Now, as a parent, I did watch this film with my child. For those who are not familiar with the classic Disney films, although Disney films are rated G, Disney films from the past versus a Disney film like "Wall-E" or a modern Disney animated film that is generally fine for children will need to know that back then, Walt Disney's animated films were created for people of all ages and not just children (which was discussed on the commentary).

So, therefore Walt Disney's first film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" had dark content. Disney's second film "Pinocchio" has its share of scenes that may make some parents uncomfortable. For example, in one scene, Pinocchio follows a wiseguy who likes to smoke and thus Pinocchio starts smoking a cigar (and of course getting sick by it), scenes with beer drinking and then of course, a scene where the word "jackass" is used a few times. Some may feel the content is inappropriate for their children, so I will leave that up to your discretion.

But overall, there's really nothing negative that can be said about this Blu-ray release. It's everything that a fan of the film can ever want with a High-Definition release. Digital restoration of video and audio, informative commentary, special features and much more!

Absolutely wonderful! Highly recommended!

Milk (2008)

Gus Van Sant has always been an excellent if somewhat eclectic director. Although I have enjoyed his previous efforts, I was somewhat apprehensive when I heard he was undertaking a film biography of Harvey Milk. A gay figure of this importance, I thought, should be handled by someone a little more mainstream. Like many gay people, I am weary of gay-themed films that reach no one beyond a gay audience, and the message I would want to emerge from a film about Harvey Milk should be heard by everyone.

As if reading my mind, Mr. Van Sant has fashioned a film that is accessible to all, while approaching his subject with sharp focus and a singleness of purpose that is at once definitive and topical. A stunning achievement, MILK manages to make its point without ever being preachy or trite, while remaining as true to the facts as any film bio could ever hope to be.

The film opens with snippets of gay history that many young gay people, let alone a straight audience, may be shocked to discover. During the opening credits, a barrage of vintage film clips remind us that a scant 50 years ago, gay men, lesbians and transsexuals were subjected to violence, harassment, physical abuse, arrest and humiliation by the very people that most citizens look to for protection; i.e. the police and judicial authorities. The newsreel images of gay bar raids that open MILK project a surreal yet somehow eerily familiar atmosphere that seems to alternate between the bizarre and the barbaric. Many people today are not aware that, in the 1940's and 1950's, right here in the USA, gay people were arrested for simply patronizing a gay bar (newspaper headline: "Den of Perverts Busted"). Many of those arrested had their names and employers published in the morning paper (!), and often found themselves unemployed and unemployable, branded with the label of "deviate". It is this chilling fact of social injustice that clears the way for the film's swing into a very important piece of gay history.

Skillfully telling us the story of Milk's rise as a leader in the Castro Gay Community of San Francisco, Harvey Milk is seen throughout the film as a living, breathing flesh and blood person. Van Sant adroitly propels Sean Penn through a warts-and-all portrayal of a frail human being with an idealistic bent and a politician's savvy. As with any good film, it is difficult, if not impossible, to discern which is more impressive the balance of a perfect cast and lovingly detailed direction weave their way through a seamless portrait of an important historical figure, yet we are somberly reminded that many people remember Harvey Milk solely for the "Twinkie" defense of his star-crossed killer. The end result is that gay audiences emerge from seeing this film with a sense of pride and purpose, while straight audiences leave with a better knowledge of who we (gay people) are, what we want, and what we are struggling for. By word of mouth I expected a thrilling cinematic experience; what I got was a surprisingly near-perfect motion picture and some of the best acting I've ever seen. I heartily recommend MILK to any straight person who wants to get a grasp on what the last 30 years of gay history were really all about, and any gay person who wants to feel good about themselves. MILK is a triumph. See it.

There's not much I can really add to the reviews that have already been given to this movie, so I'll simply echo its brilliance and importance and the way it grabs onto your attention, and your emotions, and never lets go. There is some amazing acting to be found here and no one over-acts or under-acts. Sean Penn was extremely deserving of his Oscar; I can't tell you how happy I was when his name was called, as when as when best original screenplay one the Oscar.

I really hope more people will give this movie a chance now that it's out on DVD. There are no more excuses to be made!

Buy Milk (2008) Now

I have noticed that the "1" and "2" starred reviews for "Milk" have been deleted and that disturbs me. Even if some ignorant pinhead writes something predictable such as "Sean Penn is a traitor" or "Hollywood is shoving the gay lifestyle down our throats" or "this goes against American values" there is such a thing as freedom of speech and even the simple minded have a right to be heard.

That being said "Milk", the latest movie by gifted director Gus Van Sant, is a success in every way. The movie tells the story of Harvey Milk, a man who ran for San Fransisco city supervisor several times, and lost, but eventually won an election in 1978. The reason why this was such a controversial election, of course was that Harvey Milk was a gay man who made no apologies for his sexual orientation. Although Milk is by no means a perfect human being he fights of challenges from the religious and conservative right who believed homosexuals were deviants and should not be allowed to be school teachers or belong in a 'civilized' society.

Harvey Milk is presented not as a man who is trying to shove anything in anyone's face, but as a man who is sick of being told there is something wrong with him and who wants the freedom to live without being told he is sick or he has some disease.

They key to the movie's greatness is, of course, Sean Penn's performance as Milk. Never once did I think I was watching Sean Penn pretend to be Harvey Milk. I was watching Harvey Milk the entire time. The key to a great performance is when you can forget this is an actor playing a character, the rest of the cast, including James Franco and Josh Brolin, also do an outstanding job.

"Milk" is not gay cinema. It's just great cinema.

Peace

Read Best Reviews of Milk (2008) Here

Milk is an excellent movie. Sean Penn gives a moving performance as city supervisor and gay rights activist Harvey Milk. I love Gus Van Sant's direction. The shots of San Francisco's Castro district in the seventies. look very authentic. I love the candlelit vigil shot at the end of the movie. The performances by everyone in this movie are so good. I love James Franco in his role as Harvey Milk's boyfriend. Josh Brolin plays rival Dan White perfectly. I love Danny Elfman's score and the songs "Everyday People" and "Rock The Boat". Everything about the film is flawless. I can't wait for the DVD.

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"Milk" stars Sean Penn in the title role of Harvey Milk, a closeted gay man who moved from New York to San Francisco in 1972. There he came out of the closet and opened a camera shop in the Castro District, an area experiencing a huge influx of gays and lesbians. He ran for political office unsuccessfully several times on a platform that included workers' issues and education as well as the rights of gays and other minorities, and finally won an election for city supervisor. He led several battles against anti-gay initiatives in California.

Penn presents Milk primarily as outspoken activist, community organizer, and champion of civil rights for gay Americans. Director Van Sant combines actual news and archival footage with footage of his actors to illustrate seamlessly the 1970's era that saw the birth of the gay rights movement in the United States.

"Milk," however, is more than just the tale of a firebrand working up the populace into action. It's a movie about one person spearheading a movement to give voice to a minority that had been forced into hiding. By fighting for the right to live without persecution, the gay community became a visible, political force that voted its mind at the polls. Milk worked to organize and inspire his constituency out of complacency and acceptance of intimidation to active protest and demands. It started in California, but quickly spread across the country.

Mr. Penn does some of his finest work in "Milk." From his slicked down hair to his softly Brooklyn-tinged voice to his self-assured swagger, Penn provides an amazing characterization of a man who, in his 40's, finally found a purpose and the wherewithal to achieve it.

There is a self-deprecating facet to Penn's performance. His Harvey can make jokes at his own expense while taking his cause seriously. Mr. Penn captures the folk-hero quality of Milk while never losing sight of Harvey the man. We see him as a flawed individual, not happy in his previous pursuits and as terrified of discovery as most gay people of the time, but ultimately inspired by injustice to be the voice of protest and change.

The movie shows how that change comes in stages. What starts as periodic clashes with the police leads to grass-roots organization for the purpose of declaring themselves to the larger society and persuade the world that they are entitled to the same rights as anybody else. Milk recruits average folks -mostly gay -who can summon a crowd of 1,000 protesters on a moment's notice or get endorsements from local newspapers.

Among these associates are Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch), Anne Kronenberg (Alison Pill), and photographer Danny Nicoletta (Lucas Grabeel). We're also introduced to two of Milk's boyfriends, Scott Smith (James Franco) and Jack Lira (Diego Luna).

Scott seems to be the inspiration for Harvey to embark on a more meaningful course. Franco is entirely believable in some intimate scenes with Penn. It's in the early scenes, in his conversations with Scott, that we see Harvey's frustration at approaching his 40th birthday and not really having done anything significant. He's ready for a change. They leave New York together to resettle in San Francisco only to find a not-too-welcoming introduction to the Castro District's businessmen.

Josh Brolin plays Dan White, a fellow city supervisor, who shares an unusual collegial relationship with Milk. Staunchly in favor of preserving "family values" and blocking any pro-gay legislation, White is an enigma. As portrayed in the movie, he doesn't have many friends, appears uncomfortable at the inroads the gay community is making in California, is dissatisfied with his job as city supervisor because of its low pay, and ultimately is jealous of the media attention Milk is getting while he remains anonymous. Brolin continues to associate himself with top-quality motion pictures. Excellent in "No Country for Old Men," "American Gangster," and "W.," he continues his winning streak in "Milk."

Rated R, "Milk" won the Best Actor Academy Award for Penn, and was nominated for Best Picture. The script by Dustin Lance Black moves quickly and presents the events of Milk's life in dramatic, fascinating fashion. The film is extremely timely in light of California's passage of Proposition 8, which bars same-sex marriages. Though Harvey Milk fought vigorously thirty years ago for gays to receive the same rights as all other Americans, it seems the fight isn't over.

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Frankenweenie (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2012)

Our children, ages 6 (daughter) and 9 (son), are typically scared or upset fairly easily. My son generally shields himself from upsetting or frightening things by covering his eyes and ears or walking out of the room. Our daughter usually tries to be brave, but regrets it and has nightmares. For example, the Disney version of "A Christmas Carol" is way too much for them to endure. However, even certain "tense" portions of otherwise harmless fare such as the Tinkerbell films can cause them concern. (Not sure why... they are just really sensitive that way.)

At any rate, we thought for sure that this film would be a "no go" for our kids because of the themes surrounding the death of the young boys dog, as well as the "monster-like" animals brought back to life and the overall creepy vibe of the film. However, while at a recent trip to Disneyland, we took them into a special Tim Burton/Frankenweenie exhibit which gave an overview of the film and showed some of the sets used in the actual picture. To our surprise, our kids expressed interest in seeing the movie. Because our son especially loves stop-motion films and even makes his own, we thought we may try to go ahead and take the kids.

Anyway, to bring this long story to an end... OUR KIDS ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! In fact, it's all they talked about for the next week. They were not frightened or upset by it at all. It is not overly creepy or macabre, neither is it a horror film on any level. Still, I was unprepared for how much of a liking our children took to it. Maybe seeing the sets in person, and being aware of some of the behind the scenes stories helped. However, I can say that this movie has TONS of heart. And, it is absolutely a modern day classic. My wife and I enjoyed the film as much (or more) than the kids because of how well it is made along with the fun references to other classic films. (How many can you pick out?) :-)

Seriously, this is one of the best films we have seen in a long time. It's a shame it didn't do as well as it should have at the box office. However, we're certain that it will find a following on video. It is an absolutely charming film, impeccably crafted, and infused with tons of heart and soul. It is certainly a piece of work the filmmakers should be proud of. And, it is definitely a gift to audiences around the world.

We give it our HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. Enjoy!!!

"Frankenweenie" is Tim Burton's first stop-motion animated film in seven years, his first film not to feature Johnny Depp in nearly a decade, and his first film not to feature his wife Helena Bonham Carter since "Sleepy Hollow" back in 1999. There also aren't any big musical numbers or songs in "Frankenweenie," which seems a bit odd after watching the Tim Burton produced "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Corpse Bride." It's also a massive improvement over Burton's other film released earlier this year; the remake of the TV series from 1966 "Dark Shadows."

"ParaNorman" seemed to beat "Frankenweenie" to the punch by nearly two months, but the main difference is that "ParaNorman" is centered around zombies where "Frankenweenie" is more "Frankenstein" influenced. There are countless horror influences in both films, but "ParaNorman" is a bit more adult in comparison and makes you laugh out loud more often whereas "Frankenweenie" mostly just makes you snicker but certainly has a lot more heart.

This is the first time in a long time that Danny Elfman's score for a Tim Burton film doesn't feel overly cliché or obnoxious. Maybe it's because this is coming from a dog owner and from someone who loves dogs, but it was really easy to relate to Victor (voiced by Charlie Tahan) and his relationship to his dog Sparky. Tearing up is also something that doesn't happen very often, but it occurred every time Sparky was brought back to life while that somber piece of Elfman orchestration tenderly picks its moment to sucker punch you in the chest. Boys that age often look to their dogs as their best friend, but in this case Sparky is Victor's only friend and they're inseparable. Sparky's never ending energy, his ability to amuse himself, and the way he dances whenever he's happy only makes you feel for the character even more.

Most of the characters in "Frankenweenie" have these really tiny mouths and it's kind of boring to watch them talk. Victor's next door neighbor and mayor of New Holland Mr. Burgemeister (voiced by Martin Short) has this incredibly animated mouth though. His round shape helps, but his mouth movements are so extreme and fluid. The same can be said for Victor's new science-obsessed teacher Mr. Rzykruski (voiced by Martin Landau). Similar in appearance to Vincent Price, the outstretched shape of his head along with his long and awkwardly shaped teeth have you fixated on him the entire time. His eccentric speeches about lightning and the townsfolk being too stupid to comprehend science cements the fantastic nature of Mr. Rzykruski.

The classic horror movie references are all over the place; "Pet Sematary," "An American Werewolf in London," "Dracula," and countless references to the original "Frankenstein" including author Mary Shelley. You also can't go wrong with a "Gamera" or "Godzilla" reference.

The frustrating part of "Frankenweenie" is that there are many factors that feel like a safe zone for Tim Burton since he's done them so many times in the past. While the Danny Elfman score only enhances the experience, many may think otherwise since Elfman has been Burton's go to musical director for his entire career. Many of the secondary characters in the film are really familiar, as well. When you first see Mr. Burgemeister's niece Elsa Van Helsing, she looks exactly like Lydia from "Beetlejuice" so you automatically know it's Winona Ryder before she even speaks. The black cat that shows up at Sparky's grave looks exactly like the Keith David voiced cat from "Coraline." A rat is brought back to life with electricity and turns into this monster that looks nearly identical to the werewolf in "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

There is this fantastic story about the relationship between a boy and his dog at the center of "Frankenweenie," but a lot of people won't be able to look past what they see as typical "Tim Burton fluff" to fully enjoy it. If you enjoy it and your friends don't, just ask them, "When was the last time Tim Burton had a cat in his movies who could foretell the future with its poo?"

"Frankenweenie" isn't as good as "ParaNorman," but it's certainly more charming. Tim Burton has created an enchanting animated film that is suitable for all ages that is quite possibly his most accessible film in the last decade. Amusing from beginning to end, a heartwarming relationship at its core, and its love for classic horror worn on its sleeve, "Frankenweenie" is one of Tim Burton's best.

Buy Frankenweenie (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Now

There are already nearly 30 reviews of the film here on Amazon but this will be the FIRST one for the DVD and BD version. A few folks asked about whether the original 30-minute "live action" film version will be on the DVD. Let me state up front that YES it is on both the 2-Disc Blu-ray combo pack and the 4-Disc Combo pack (which is exactly the same as the 2--Disc one except it adds a 3D BD you need a 3D TV and player to use this an a digital copy)! This is a wonderful bonus because it's never been on DVD format before (and for some like me it was something completely new.)

Before I provide some more details, I'll state that I've not seen very many Tim Burton films so I came at this one different than those already big Burton fans. I did enjoy it a lot and I'm not a fan of horror films (I love Mel Brooks but "Young Frankenstein" is one of the few Brooks films I don't care for.) Now on to the info you can use.....

At times this film looks like it is CGI animated but it is actually a stop-motion film done with puppets. While the first 20 minutes maybe even 40 are "cute" and might appeal to all ages the original death of Sparky no spoilers here, you know he is going to die so he can be brought back to life is even done "off screen". But then things get , well, I'll say, creepy. And very young children might get scared. Let's just say that if they are old enough to be able to watch the original "Frankenstein" they'll be fine with this. But I'm not a parent, so I'm only giving guidance here.

The score by Danny Elfman who does nearly all of Burton's films provides most of the soundtrack. There are quite a few scenes with no dialogue; the animals (dogs and cats) don't talk like they do in Disney films. The film is in "black and white" but I'd define it better as "grayscale" and the images on my MUCH older TV were crisp and sharp on the BD.

Now to the bonuses of which there are five:

First comes an "original short" ( 2 ½ minutes) titled "Captain Spraky vs the Flying Saucers". Cute but virtually a throwaway

Next is "Miniatures in Motion" a really interesting "making of" featurette that runs 23 minutes.

Next comes a 4 ½ minute featurette on the touring exhibit of Art from Tim Burton films. Okay but more of a promo

The other great bonus comes next. The aforementioned original FILM version of "Frankenweenie" directed by Burton and starring Shelley Duvall and Daniel Stern. It runs 30 minutes and is great to see after the stop-motion 80 minute film.

Last comes the "music video" of the song "Pet Sematary" by the band Plain White T's. Okay only cause it's there.

Well there you have it. If you saw the film in the theaters and really liked it, you'll find the "making of" and "orifinal film" nice bonus features. If you haven't seen the film, these bonuses will add to your understanding and enjoyment of the film. It did mine.

I hope you found this review both informative and helpful.

Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"

Read Best Reviews of Frankenweenie (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Here

Probably best viewed during the Halloween season, this movie is a hoot. whoo, whoo whoo. I viewed this movie while down with the flu, it made me laugh and cough. Oh, and maybe leaky in the eyes.

Want Frankenweenie (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Discount?

I just went and saw this and enjoyed it so much that I'm writing my first ever review on Amazon about it. Check out C. Sawin's review (no affiliation) for a more in-depth look. From a personal perspective, I found it touching, funny and done in classic Tim Burton style (great story, great visuals, faceted quirky characters who are lovable because of their quirks). It definitely feels more like -himat his truest nature and has his own funny quirkiness all over it, much like Nightmare, Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, and his Vincent short (vs. Alice, Batman, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). At its heart is a sweet story of a boy's love for his dog, Sparky. Around that is an array of characters that reference horror movies, a tribute to Vincent Price (whose brief monologue at the town meeting is hilarious), mainstream townspeople who end up coming to Sparky's aid, and a delightfully odd girl (seems like Luna Lovegood done in Tim Burton style) with her even more odd cat (who has fortune telling poop). I went to see his artwork exhibit at the MoMA and LACMA and this movie is very much along the lines of his drawings and doodles, which is what I consider to be classic Tim Burton, like who he is as an artist for himself. I highly recommend you go see this movie.

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The Big Heat (1953)

In spite of the low profile it got at its initial release in the 50's, in spite of the modest budget and production value, THE BIG HEAT, with his already highly acclaimed M, is Fritz Lang's greatest film, and one of the highest achievement of cinema. The stunning opening sequence, depicting a police officer's suicide and its aftermath, is a great example of efficiency cinematic narrative, so are the 85 minutes that follow. Lang fills this film with powerful shots and speedy editing, never afraid to show heightened violence when the story needs to. Many heated action sequences are handled with impressive masterly. Unlike in the movies in which Lang used famous Hollywood star (and the majority of them could not cope with the severeness of his direction), Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame show powerful, convincing performances fused with emotion. Also featured are Lee Marvin and Janet Nolan, as the "bad guys" and are equally great. But what makes THE BIG HEAT such a great film is the fact that it is a profoundly humanist and moral film. As many of Lang's American films does, THE BIG HEAT depicts the corruption of the modern society. In fact, he never been as good as this in showing the system of how our society functions: a newspaper headline, or even a telephone call may be more powerful than guns and bullets, punches and tortures. The sophisticated syndicate functions not with violence, but with the information of violence. At the same time, Lang chose the protagonist of the film to be a truly good human being, not a perfect super hero, but a cop who is convinced to do an honest job, and ready to fight for this cause in spite of all the corruptions that surround him. At one point of the story, he is almost convinced that he is set alone against the entire world which is corrupted. He comes very close to be obsessed by hatred towards other men. But then he finds out that he can believe in people, that in spite of the harsh reality of the world which obliges them to lie, to play D-and-D, to be corrupted to save their own neck and wealthy life, in most people there are also a desire to be a good human being. THE BIG HEAT marks the almost only occasion that Lang, the master of pessimistic visions of 20th century, is himself not at all a pessimist, but a believer in human kind.

"The Big Heat" is a good-cop-vs-city-corruption story based on a serial by William P. McGivern that ran in the "Saturday Evening Post". Police Sergeant David Bannion (Glenn Ford) becomes suspicious while investigating the suicide of a police officer when the dead man's girlfriend is murdered shortly after she speaks to him. But Bannion is ordered to lay off the dead cop's sinister widow, Bertha Duncan (Jeanette Nolan), and to leave the murder case to another jurisdiction. He pursues the case anyway, confronting a prominent businessman named Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby) who built his fortune on crime and to whom all roads of corruption in this town lead. Lagana's violent reprisal further provokes Bannion into an obsessive campaign to bring down the entire corrupt network of criminals, politicians, and complicitous cops.

Glenn Ford and director Fritz Lang give us a complicated picture of David Bannion, a man who is kind and devoted to his family, but whose obsessive pursuit of justice leaves a trail of death and destruction. The crusading cop who risks his life to combat the violence and corruption that permeate his town is, at the same time, generally unconcerned with the human cost of his pique. Bannion's single-mindedness is understandable considering his circumstances, but this good guy with admirable ambitions has the flaws of a self-righteous crusader. And that's a lot more interesting than a man who's all good.

Gloria Grahame gives a memorable performance as Debby Marsh, the girlfriend of one of Lagana's goons. She is the antithesis of the smart, literate Laurel Gray, whom Grahame portrayed in "In a Lonely Place". Debby is an unsophisticated-but-savvy, happy-go-lucky woman who tries to enjoy life in spite of depending on sadistic gangsters for her livelihood. And she suffers for being caught between the conflicting obsessions of two men: her boyfriend Vince and David Bannion. Debby's childlike voice and chin-up demeanor in the midst of moral chaos really make an impression.

The DVD (The Columbia/ Tristar 2001 release): Bonus features are "Vintage Advertising", which is a slideshow of some posters for the film, and Theatrical Trailers for "The Big Heat", "The Lady from Shanghai", and "Suddenly, Last Summer". Subtitles are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Dubbing is available in French.

Buy The Big Heat (1953) Now

Exciting, violent and downright wild for its time, Fritz Lang's THE BIG HEAT kicks off Twilight Time's releases for the month of May, and for film noir fans, this crackerjack thriller never ceases to disappoint.

Glenn Ford plays the dogged (and, at times, almost too determined) cop who, upon investigating the apparent suicide of a fellow police officer, finds out that corruption exists at nearly every level in his county, all of it stemming from a local crime boss named Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby) calling the shots. Lagana's web extends down to Ford's own bosses, hindering an investigation that takes the family man down a dark path at a personal cost to his own wife (Jocelyn Brando) and the women who aid him in his pursuit of justice, including Gloria Grahame in a fine performance as one of the gangster's molls.

"The Big Heat" is sensationally entertaining for its genre, and also extremely, notably nasty to virtually all of the film's female leads. The ladies in Sydney Boehm's screenplay are burned, scarred, murdered and blown up a litany of body bags that accentuates the horror of the film's villain, who also uses a henchman played by a young Lee Marvin to carry out the unpleasantness. Ford's alternately earnest and tough delivery makes his detective sympathetic to a degree, though his almost fanatical desire to see justice carried out ends up making his misery something of his own personal doing.

Lang's visuals in particular his trademark use of shadows bring the punchy material to life in a film that deservedly ranks among the best of its genre, and it's certainly one of the more memorably violent pictures of the `50s as well.

Twilight Time's Blu-Ray boasts a crisp 1080p AVC encoded transfer layered with fine grain and detail. This is one of those titles you ought to drag out as a demo disc for any friends who don't think there's anything to be gained from watching old black-and-white movies in HD. The full-bodied DTS MA mono audio is effective as well sounding almost stereophonic at times while an isolated score track of Henry Mars' efficient underscoring (credited to Mischa Bakaleinikoff) and a re-issue trailer put the cap on a must-have disc for noir buffs.

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"The Big Heat", Fritz Lang's concise, hard-hitting Noir drama, both defines the genre in it's 'mature' form (with the obligatory black and white, high contrast photography, a short running time, a hero, portrayed by Glenn Ford, who teeters between justice and vengeance, and villains, particularly Lee Marvin, every bit as shaded and complex as Ford), and tosses in, almost casually, a fascinating subtext, that the three central female characters of the film are, in fact, as essential as their male counterparts, and even more interesting! Portrayed by Jocelyn Brando (Marlon's older sister), Jeanette Nolan, and the fabulous Gloria Grahame, they are not only pivital to the plot, but actually become the characters you're most likely to leave the film talking about.

Beginning with the suicide of a cop 'on the take', who leaves a letter exposing the mob's connections with the police and local government, the film first introduces Nolan, as a less-than-grieving widow, who steals the letter, and uses it as leverage to enjoy 'the good life'. An underrated actress, usually cast in sweet-natured supporting 'grandmotherly' roles, Nolan here gets to cut loose, blackmailing the mob while tossing false 'leads' to cop Ford, and adjusting her 'image' to suit whatever situation she faces. Her portrayal, alone, would make this an extraordinary film!

Ford, the dedicated, honest homicide detective, has a history of ruffling official feathers to find the truth, and much of his strength comes from the love and support of wife Brando. Not your 'traditional' 50s wife, she 'samples' his drinks and food, hints at her satisfying sex life (remarkable, in itself!), and casually smokes while preparing dinner, sweetly bantering with her husband. In the smallest of the central female roles, it is easy to 'lose' her, between the flashier performances of Nolan and Grahame, but, in fact, she is the catalyst of the plot, whose untimely demise would set the chain of events in motion.

Then there is Gloria Grahame, the 'party girl' mistress of enforcer Lee Marvin...wisecracking, and blissfully ignorant of the risks she takes in verbally 'jabbing' her boyfriend's relationship to mob boss Alexander Scourby, she grabs the screen, each scene she's in, and makes Marvin's performance, as a genial yet psychopathic sadist, even better. When she warms up to Ford, she is rewarded with a pot of scalding coffee in the face, disfiguring her, and providing the hook to blow things wide-open...

Three powerhouse performances, by three terrific actresses!

Fritz Lang's American film work was always remarkable, and "The Big Heat" showcased him at the top of his form.

The film is, deservedly, a classic!

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Basically a tough and compelling police melodrama. Lang adds tension and some scenes have become little gems, but he doesn't capture the atmosphere and essence of 'Noir'. The plot about corruption and greed is very tame by today's standards and time has taken away much of the impact. This will always be remembered as the film where Lee Marvin threw boiling coffee on Gloria Graheme's face. Glenn Ford gives his best performance as the tough-as-nails Bannion. Lee Marvin is also superb as the sadistic Vince. But Gloria Graheme is the one who gives the most memorable performance as Vince's moll who gets horribly disfigured and ultimately saves the day but with tragic conclusions. The final shoot-out sequence is memorable and Graheme's last speech is touching. Works better as a police drama than a definitive 'noir'. From a scale of 1-10 I give this film a 7!

The Four (2012)

This movie is an unapologetic Wuxia film; swordsmanship, kung-fu, and magic on very side. It doesn't transcend the genera, but it is among the very best examples of it. Other reviewers have noted that there is some skimping on the character development, and that is true, but Wuxia is not a style that goes in for much character development beyond certain basic archetypes. Furthermore, as the Wikipedia entry on the film notes, the novels this film is based on have already been adapted to television several times, in Hong Kong, so the target audience already knows these people. We Westerners are just going to have to catch up.

If you are looking for historical accuracy, or realistic fighting, or shakespearean eloquence, then you have come to the wrong place. But if you are looking for top-flight fantasy fun, well shot, well acted, with thrilling fights and glorious special effects, then by no means pass this one up.

I frist saw it on Youtube. I like the story. I grew up watching this type of movie. It is based on a book. The movie was well made. The price is good as well.

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Was well worth watching. Effects are very well done and the acting was just as good.

For comparison sake I would have to say this movie is equal in production to movies such as "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" and "The Forbidden Kingdom"... etc.

Though the fist half of the movie jumped right over character development(Lacked in good introduction), it did not take away from the overall experience.

Glad I took the chance with this one.. "thoroughly enjoyed it".

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This is a decent "quy type" Action film. Men will get into the action, the martial arts and the story line.

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This is based on the Manhua (Chinese Comicbook) The Four Constables. This movie was very well done. What holds me back for giving 5 stars is that its hard to tell their story in just one movie. Also they changed one of the main characters to a woman. This change actually destroys 2 of the main heroes back stories in a bad way. If you want to see a better adaption get TVB TV series... also named "The Four" but I also suggest the comicbook. Its just awesome!!!

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Mystic Pizza (1988)

I first saw this movie after seeing Pretty Woman in the theater back in 1990, I instantly became a Julia fan. This is great movie with a great cast, the only thing I don't like about the DVD is it doesn't have the original cover/poster that has most of the cast on it. I think it's a better cover because this isn't just a Julia movie, and I know she would say the same.

Julia stars as Daisy, a girl who's never been able to live up to her mothers expectations so she only lives for herself, and is happy with it, until a rich young boy named Charles shows up at the local pool hall. He instantly falls for her, but Daisy is afraid that he is just using her to get back at his snobbish parents. "Bring home your poor Portuguese girlfriend, shake up the family a little bit." But Charlie isn't like that, and it isn't until Daisy discovers more about herself that she realizes this. Then there's her younger sister Kat(Annabeth Gish), whom her mother is so proud of because she will be attending Yale. Kat has never been in love and ends up falling for the married father of the young girl she babysits for; in this short time she gets to expierience the joys of love and the pain of being heartbroken when his wife returns.

Their friend Jo (Lili Taylor) is another story altogether. She loves her boyfriend Bill (Vincent Denofrio), a local fisherman, but every time she tries to walk down the isle she pictures herself fat and ugly with all these kids hanging around and ends up passing out.

In the end they all pass major milestones that come with life, and the movie ends with the girls looking into the stars. This wasn't a starting point for Annabeth Gish whom had already appeared in many movies, but was a bit of a launching pad for Julia who dyed her hair black with mouse just to audition for the role (and walked home in the rain ruining her blouse). This was only her third feature film, and she seems to grow in this role. It's no surprise she received an Oscar nomination for her next role in "Steel Magnolias."

Since Matt Damon has become a household name, I've seen this movie mentioned some places as starring him as well as the main actors, but I must advise that if you're renting it JUST for Matt, you're in for a big disappointment. Matt is only in one scene and only utters the lines "Mom, do you want my green stuff." So, it really isn't HIS film, but he is in it.

What makes the DVD special is being able to see the film's actual trailer and watch the movie in widescreen.

Julia has a line at the beginning of the film that kind of makes me smile:

"Don't worry about me, I'm not going to be slinging pizza for the rest of my life." Words that ring so true, if only she knew then the big star she would be.

It's hard to believe that this little 1988 film has endured in popularity for so long. It is a simple story of three 'sisters' in the small fishing village of Mystic, CT who have just graduated highschool, work as waitress in the town Mystic Pizza parlor, and face decisions about the future of their lives. There are three less than fairytale romances with three male characters of varying potential as partners and it is the 'coming of age' in a small Portuguese clan that sparks the tenderness and the sadness of this story written by Amy Holden Jones and directed by Donald Petrie.

One of the most interesting aspects of this low budget film is how it catapulted Julia Roberts and Matt Damon (who plays such a bit part he nearly goes unnoticed) to fame, reinforced the careers of fine character actors Conchata Ferrell, Lili Taylor and Vincent D'Onofrio while pushing the then promising Annabeth Gish, William R. Moses and Adam Storke over into TV land roles.

The film is a bit of nostalgia for a better time, has charm and innocence, and will always be one of those movies everyone who is a film collector will keep in their library for times when a return to simple little movies just makes you feel good. Grady Harp, January 06

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Watched the 1988 movie "Mystic Pizza" today. It was one of the first movies for the female leads Julia Roberts , Annabeth Gish (native of Cedar Falls, Iowa), and Lili Taylor. Interestingly, Gish's name appears before Roberts in the credits at the end. Gish has gone on to a productive career, mostly in television, Taylor has moved into a career in more independent, quirky movies while Roberts has gone on to...well, you know.

I read Roger Ebert's review and he gave the movie 3 1/2 starts (out of 4) when it came out. I wouldn't rate it that high (maybe 2 1/2 or 3 out of 4), but the movie has kind of a comfortable feeling to it and gets better as it goes along. You don't see many movies about work & work environments these days and I think the scenes in the Mystic Pizza Parlor are pretty good. The romantic storylines are pretty standard and as Ebert says, "The movie isn't really about three girls in love; it's about three girls discovering what their standards for love are going to be." All-in-all I liked the movie. Oh, and watch carefully for Matt Damon in his big-screen debut!

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There's a line from American Pie in which one of the young guys declares, "Women are like fine wine. They just get better with age." So true. All of the women in this movie are living proof of that, especially Annabeth Gish, who went from being merely girl-next-door pretty in Mystic Pizza, to the mature goddess we have seen on the X-Files.

Mystic Pizza is very much an ensemble movie, with no one person standing out above the rest. A very strong female cast is counterpointed by some solid male performances, such as that of the always superb Vince D'Onofrio also check out The Cell, with Jennifer Lopez.

Beautifully filmed in Conn. New England, the movie is also a visual delight, and captures the reassuring simplicity of life in an Atlantic fishing community. I love Nova Scotia and Maine for the same reason. The original Mystic Pizza restaurant is still going strong and their website is well worth a visit.

All in all, a very sweet movie about real people and real family situations, and it remains one of my favorite movies of all time. I literally never tire of this modern classic. My only quibble is that the last spoken line is disturbingly unimaginative and anti-climactic. After crafting such a superb screenplay, the writers just seemed to run out of inspiration at the last hurdle. As Mr. Spock would say, "Fascinating."

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Good but by no means great. I am not really a Julia Roberts Fan and it was the fact that this is one of Vincent D'Onofrio's first films that made me watch it. Early on the film drags but about halfway through I began to find it absorbing. My plroblem in the early part was that the three women characters seemed like such airheads that I really did not care what happened to them. I give all three actresses credit for giving performances that kept me fairly interested until the mid-part of the film. There are two surprises at the end of the film that really made me glad I stuck with it. This really is a "Girl Movie" and the men in it are mostly wasted. Especially Mr. D'Onofrio. None the less it is worth watching.

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Santa Sangre (1989)

After over 20 years, Severin Films announces the release of Alejandro Jodorowsky's internationally acclaimed 'SANTA SANGRE'. The 1989 production, rarely seen since its U.S. theatrical release, comes to Blu-ray and DVD featuring a restored print of the film's European version as well as 5 hours of Bonus Material.

Jodorowsky exploded onto the international scene in the early 70's with his bizarre sensations 'EL TOPO' and 'HOLY MOUNTAIN'. Endorsed by John Lennon, who released 'EL TOPO's soundtrack on the Beatles Apple label, and embraced by underground culture worldwide, these films redefined movies as both art and entertainment while almost single-handedly creating the 'midnight movie' genre. Legal frustrations with the films' owner (and Beatles' disreputable manager) Allen Klein, as well as a failed attempt to direct a 14-hour movie adaptation of `Dune' starring Orson Welles and Salvador Dali, kept Jodorowsky from making films for 16 years until his triumphant return with 'SANTA SANGRE'.

Blanca Guerra, Guy Stockwell and the filmmaker's sons Axel and Adan Jodorowsky star in this surreal epic about a young circus performer, the crime of passion that shatters his soul, and the macabre journey back to the world of his armless mother, tattooed-strongman father and deaf-mute lover. "This is a movie like none I have seen before," wrote Roger Ebert in his original four-star review, "a wild kaleidoscope of images and outrages, a collision between Freud and Fellini." It contains blood and glory, saints and sinners, drug addicts and dealers, pimps and prostitutes, side-show freaks and the disenfranchised, circuses and churches, the pious and the perverse, as well as other unspeakable secrets of the night. And it's delivered to us wrapped in a parade of bold and flamboyant imagery, with Alejandro Jodorowsky as the circus ringmaster. SANTA SANGRE is a movie in which the inner chambers of the soul are laid bare.

A bizarre love triangle turns deadly when a circus strongman, Orgo, is caught fooling around with a tattooed woman by his wife, Concha, an aerial performer. Incensed, Concha throws acid on him, and Orgo retaliates by sawing off her arms before killing himself. All of this transpires before the eyes of their young son, Fenix (Adan Jodorowsky), who goes insane and is sent to an institution.

Years later, Fenix (now portrayed by Axel Jodorowsky, Adan's older brother, in a fantastic performance) is rescued by his armless mother and returns to the circus. Embittered by the tragic events, Concha now plans revenge, but needs assistance from her emotionally broken son. Violence spawns more violence in this terrifying, color-saturated psychedelic and unforgettable film by a master visionary who is worthy of more recognition than he's ever received. Maybe now?

Bonus Features on the Blu-ray and two-disc DVD include deleted scenes, domestic and international trailers, an audio commentary with Jodorowsky, multiple documentaries, new on-camera interviews with the majority of the film's cast and crew, and the 81-year-old Chilean-born filmmaker/playwright/graphic artist/shaman.

This film must be seen several times to be believed I have never viewed a nightmare brought to life with such conviction, beauty or perversity.

What is a movie? Is it an entertainment? A work of ART? Is a motion picture only a lure to get you to engage in a mass spectacle of consumerism? Is it the catharsis of a crowd in the dark?

Are you an intellectual? Are you passionate? Have you even been interested in Archetypes and Collective unconscience? Do you know that when you take the journey with a story--that that story will always stay with you?

In 1989, a lot of things changed in my life. I really can't explain what they all were, but between August and December of 1989, my hair went from black to white, and I started on the life that I lead today. Then came Santa Sangre.

Allesandro Jodorowsky is what is frequently called a 'visionary' film director. What he is is a wizard and a shaman. Jodorowski is a Jungian psychiatrist who writes comic books and directs movies. He started way back in the sixties, and was actually the first person to direct for the beatle's Apple Corporation. As a result his first film (El Topo) is almost impossible to acquire or see. Like everything from Apple--there is an immense legal battle over it's soul.

And this guy's work has got SOUL that won't quit. Take the little number we are discussing today. Here you have the story of Fenix, raised in a circus by his parents Orgo (a hypnotic knife thrower played by guy stockwell) and Alma(who hangs by her hair and worships at the shrine of HOLY BLOOD hence the film's title.) Fenix cries as his pet elephant dies, gets a tattoo with a bowie knife from a quart jar of ink while biting on a stick,cavorts with a little girl mute tightrope walker, sees his mother's cult of blind women being driven away as their 'shrine' is demolished, and, finally, witnesses his own parents murder suicide over an affair with a tatooed woman. That's all in the prologue..

Vaudeville. Strippers. Murder. Clowns. Dwarfs. The Invisible Man. Chuco hoods. Illusion. Mime (mime?) Chemistry. Madness. Denoument. Samba-ing Down's syndrome children. Reincarnation of painted corpses as ducks or swans. ritual crucifixion. Taxidermy. Every bottle of booze has a dead crow on the label (just something I personally noticed) Ventriloquism. Symbolism.

And it's based on the stories of a real serial killer.

Jodorowski is not slick (although this is by far his slickest work) He is in no way pretentious. This film is bone deep and meant to stop your cognitive process, to derail and reboot your mind.

Allessandro Jodorowski is what we get less of in today's cinema--it is the real deal. A human soul laid bare by art. You might cry when you watch this. You will probably laugh. But if you know what's good for you, you will watch it again.

persevere,

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Alejandro Jodorowosky has been making films since the 1960s.Though he has made only a handful of films(7 in all),given the quality of "Santa Sangre",a visionary and haunting work,one wishes he was more prolific.It is not possible to describe "Santa Sangre" with due justice within such a small review;the only succinct way of describing it:it as if Pedro Calderon had written "Psycho",or that Alfred Hitchcock had directed "La Vida es Sueno".Influenced by Freudian and Jungian psychoanalysis,the mordant satire and wit of Luis Bunuel and the beautiful baroque pageantry of Fellini,"Santa Sangre" tells the story of a reluctant serial killer(!) controlled by his dominating and insane mother and details his struggle to be liberated from her.The mother worships an imaginary saint,whose hagiography and devotion entails repression,guilt and false self-sacrifice.The son's attempt to attain romantic and sexual normalcy achieves(surprisingly,given the subject matter)much pathos.The ending is transcendent and the film contains many memorable images.Despite the criticisms leveled against the film's violence,"Santa Sangre" is not gory-it artfully suggests rather than explicates.However,if your idea of cinematic excellence are movies like:"The Towering Inferno","Terms of Endearment" or "Ghost"-then probably this film is not for you.However,if films like:"The Exterminating Angel",Satyricon",The Devils" and "Wild at Heart" are for you compelling and important works of art,then "Santa Sangre" is definitely to be experienced.

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Wow,this film blew me away the first time I saw it. It is 10 times easier to watch than El Topo and 1000 times easier to watch than Holy Mountain (by the same director). Although as disturbing as the aforementioned, it maintains a discernable plot along with the surreal imagery for which Alejandro Jodorowsky is best known. It is a strange story with bleeding elephant, circus performers (i hate clowns and the circus, but the presentation in this film made it easy to watch), a fully tatooed woman, cult religion which worships an armless saint, a crazed mother with a son who is obviously too attached to mama, and a visually disturbing rite of passage into manhood. All of the nightmarish scenery is somehow manipulated through the camera by mr. jodorowsky to bring us a beautifully disturbing film with a wonderful story and a great plot twist ending. Not for all people, but if you are sick of the loads of big-budget schlock that really has no redeeming value like I am then this will come as a nice and refreshing suprise to you.

I am also a big Evil Dead fan so I must be right about this one! (Evil Dead is in no way similar to this film with the exception of maybe the gore)

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The first time I watched this film I was completely taken aback by something that has never happened to me before while watching a movie: at the midpoint of the film I could not guess what was going to happen next! In every other film I had seen to that point I could always make a good guess on where the plot was going, and what could be expected of the main charater(s). Not in this movie! And that alone to me made the movie that much more worthwhile and enjoyable. I am a great fan of what little work of Jodorowsky's that I've seen and read, he has an insight on humanity that would frighten many, but the truth will do that.

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