Bellflower (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011)

An abridged version of my review:

Bellflower is badass.

But to go into further detail for those who need more convincing, this film swallows you into a separate existence of envious invention. Shot on a homemade camera, it follows two dudes as they build homemade flame throwers to attach to their reconstructed apocalyptic car, aptly named Medusa. The cinematography is mind blowing, with hazes of golden yellow lurking in most scenes, which perfectly compliments the amount of fire and explosions. In all honesty it's a real bummer that more people haven't seen this, as I fully plan on forcing it onto my friends. The cars, the flames, the soundtrack (!!!!), the painful demise of a relationship, everything about this film is tangible and personal. Initially I wanted to see this because I am a lame girl and I thought it would be an edgy, indie romance sort of vibe, and I liked the homemade aspects of its production. Instead I found out that I want a flame thrower. And a car with a secret whiskey spout for mid-ride pick me ups. But instead I just got the movie on dvd.

BELLFLOWER is a beautifully shot twisted dark love story that has the perfect mix of cars, flame throwers, and blood! I can't wait for the their next film.

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Not only did I absolutely love the movie but the high quality you get with the packaging and case of this Bl-Ray is unmatched! A++++

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As a nearly 50-year-old, and still feeling and thinking at half that age, I am obviously not all that ensconced "in" that age bracket when I see something that grabs my attention as expediently and with such dominion that I sat up and took notice of the immediacy of what I was seeing and hearing in the trailer; Bless the Beasts and the Children, but even moreso the editor of this trailer, as it got my attention so quickly that my Centrum 50s' spilled and scattered over my glass tabletop by my reaction like so many albino hydrocodones falling tragically from a broken Pez dispenser. Once my vitamins (and temerity) had been successfully gathered, I watched it another 10-12X before finding the cheapest Blu-Ray I could find (through Amazon, of course), pushed the "Buy Now" button and awaited it's delivery daily to see if the film warranted my initial reaction. It did. Not since "Searching For The Wrong-Eyed Jesus" has an Indy film had such a complementary soundtrack that both adds to and keeps the viewers on their collective toes to add to the benefit of the film and help to complete it, too. Far too many films today rely on big-budgeted royalty checks and generalized 'guesses' as to "well, this song might sound good dropped in here" in determining their placement, rather than to the overall feel and rhythm of the film, itself. These independent artists were pure fresh air to me, particularly the Small Town Zeros-"Secrets", which lent itself to the apocalyptic subtext succinctly. Let's face it, I was brought up on a diet of the Mad Max films in the mid-80's, where we would have all night Dusk 'til Dawn film festivals in my suburban basement where everyone became suitably lubricated for the festivities as the night wore onthe films' malevolent fight over "the gas", the irrefutably galvanizing car culture with it's host of poor-man's but righteous Bond-gadgets to disfigure and disable, and the man himself, "the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla", Humongous, who led the pack with his choke-hold and "worse then Ahnold" elocution. The inventiveness and damn-straight honesty of the characters and dialogue (of Bellflower) were revivifying most of the time in the "best" way, with only the occasional freshman mistake to intrude. The markedly stylized cinematography was the other half (along with the soundtrack) to keep the audience's interest peaked throughout, and was the reason that my initial reaction was so markedly demonstrative and jettisoned me across the room to the computer to immediately buy the Blu-Ray. So to the cast, crew, and Mr. Glodell, Kudos! ...for getting this prematurely wizening hipster off his a%$Holy carbuncle! And to the rest of you looking for something fresh and engaging, with a little 80's genre thrown in, and with what hopefully will become a new oeuvre unto itself, check it out. OR, if you're just a "car guy", you'll love it, too.

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This moive is perfect, Evan Glodell is someone that I will keep my eye on. I love his work in this. I wish there were more films like this. I will not give any of the plot away you should see it for your self. Just trust me BELLFLOWER IS GREAT.

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Chaos (2008)

According to one reference source, 'The name "chaos theory" comes from the fact that the systems that the theory describes are apparently disordered, but chaos theory is really about finding the underlying order in apparently random data.', and to enjoy the ride in this action film, understanding the chaos theory is helpful if not essential. In writing and directing CHAOS, Tony Giglio (as he explains in one of the featurettes on the DVD) worked to make an action movie that was more than just pyrotechnics and killing (though those are in abundance in this film!), and instead return to the atmosphere of older 'French Connection' type crime dramas. To accomplish this he uses the chaos theory to create just enough twists to keep the audience surprised. If the film doesn't open new doors for the genre, it certainly supplies enough entertainment to make it worth watching.

The film opens on a bridge in Seattle where an incident involving detective Quentin Connors (Jason Statham) and another unidentified detective results in Connors being dismissed from the police force. A sophisticated bank heist ensues and the head of the heist is one Lorenz (Wesley Snipes) who, when surrounded by the police after an explosion jolts the neighborhood, demands to negotiate the hostages situation with Connors: Captain Jenkins (Henry Czerny) and a new police recruit Detective Shane Dekker (Ryan Phillippe) recruit the reluctant, fired Connors to return to Seattle to take charge with Dekker as his partner. From this point on the story is a mélange of mind-bending assaults on the back using the chaos theory to trace the elements of discovery. Just when the audience is comfortable with knowing the good guys from the bad guys, the chessboard turns and surprises occur that leave the story with a sense of incomplete thought on the part of the script, but also an appreciation for the degree of suspense the story has presented.

The strong character in the film is Ryan Phillippe who is able to hold his own with the practiced action hero antics of Statham and Snipes. There are some standout cameos, such as Keegan Connor Tracy who has one of the more sensually seductive roles on film, Henry Czerny as the forceful super chief, and Justine Waddell and Nicholas Lea as the detectives who shoulder the only truth in the tale. Not a great action movie but one with a modicum of intelligence that makes is rise above the many others in this category. Grady Harp, February 08

I enjoyed this movie as it had more than it's share of twists & turns. The action is great, I like the actors & it's less than $10 for the Blu-ray right now, that's even less than the DVD! The video quality looked great on my 106" screen through my 1080p Mits HC5000 projector. Grab some popcorn, your favorite drink, sit back and enjoy the ride....with a little chaos along the way! :-)

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Ok, wesley snipes has done some pretty bad movies lately including this one, but what on earth was Jason Statham doing in this terrible film? even he couldn't save this disaster. This movie is very slow paced and lacks action, It is more of a crime drama than an action movie but even the drama lacked suspense and mystery and i literaly had to force myself to keep watching the movie because i felt bored and uninterested.

This movie has an average star rating of almost 4 starts, don't fall for the hype!, if you want to see a good recent crime drama movie go watch jean-claude van-damme's "until death", Its a much better movie.

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There was much not right with this film. I kept thinking while watching it that it wasn't smooth that the actors were uncomfortable with the screenplay. The dialog came across as clipped too, almost like hearing a joke, and waiting for someone to laugh. And the editing was 2nd rate as well as I noticed a couple flubs. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend spending money to purchase. And it truly doesn't deserve 3 stars (2 1/2 at most). Just run of the mill.

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This crime drama / action movie is surprisingly good. The main and supporting characters do a very good job, Wesley over acts a little but other than that first rate. I liked the ending although some people didnt, I thought it was good.

There are twists, some that arent super surprising, but it does keep you guessing throughout the movie was to who the evil mastermind is. The car chase in the middle of the movie with Ryan Phillipe was garbage though, it detracts from an otherwise smart movie with a very 1980's CHIPs style impossible fake car chase.

Overall well acted , well written with a couple small exceptions, and well done. Sort of like Inside Man meets The Transporter. I would recommend it.

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Lord of the Flies (Criterion Collection) (1963)

`Lord of the Flies' has been made into a movie at least twice since the William Golding novel of the same name became a cult classic / must read volume for high school and college students in the late 1950s. The first version, which follows the novel very closely, was done in black and white by the noted director, Peter Brook in 1963. The second version was done in color by Harry Hook and released in 1990.

Like many remakes in the same language, one immediately wonders why bother, as the original Brook version is more than gripping enough to convey the message of the novel.

To highlight the differences between the two versions, let me outline the story shared by the two versions.

The scene is set when an airplane carrying school children crashes in the South Pacific, of the coast of a remote tropical island. Approximately 30 of the children, ages 6 to 13 make it to shore and gather on the beach to work out how they are to survive and assume that since they are far removed from their original destination and the island is small and uninhabited, there is a good chance it will take a long time, if ever, for grown-ups to find and rescue them. The first two principle characters are Ralph, one of the two or three oldest boys who we meet first, in the company of an intelligent, bespectacled, slightly overweight boy of the same age known as `Piggy'. The third main character is Jack, about as old and as fit as Ralph. Three minor named characters are Simon, who is prone to fainting and `seeing things' and Sam and Eric, a pair of twins.

An early vote sets up Ralph as the leader, with a few rules establishing a conch shell found by Ralph and Piggy in the first reel as the symbol of the right to speak to the gathering of boys. Jack immediately assumes the responsibility as leader of a `gang' (later to become a `tribe') of hunters who will also take responsibility for maintaining a signal fire which Ralph succeeds in lighting by using Piggy's eyeglass lens as a means of concentrating sunlight on a clump of tinder.

Jack's gang gets involved too much in hunting and allows the signal fire to go out just as an aircraft flies near the island. Soon, a story evolves about the presence of a monster on the island. This creates the pretext for Jack to split off from the group with his tribe and create a camp at a more defensible location. As this larger group becomes more and more primitive, they raid Ralph's camp and steal Piggy's specs since it is the only means they have for starting fires. To placate the monster, the head of a killed wild pig is cut from its carcass and stood on the top of a pole near the suspected monster's lair as an offering to the monster.

After a few days, Simon observes this pig's head and its very large collection of flies feasting on the festering flesh and imagines he hears the pigs head speak to him, hence, the source of the title. Simon is then killed when the hunters mistake him in the night for the monster.

When Ralph and Piggy walk to Jack's camp to recover Piggy's specs, Piggy is killed by another `accident' when Jack's tribe members pry a large boulder loose that falls on Piggy. Ralph and Jack fight, Ralph is driven off, and the whole tribe sets fire to the jungle to flush out Ralph and, presumably, kill him. Both stories end as Ralph runs to the beach to find himself at the feet of a very professionally uniformed member of his country's elite armed services.

Hook spices up the dialogue by making the boys much more hip with lots of swear words and references to contemporary popular shows such as Alf and Miss Piggy of the Muppets. Unfortunately, Hook loses the two most important elements of the whole story. In the beginning of the novel and, subtly, in the beginning of Brook's film, we see that the world is once more at war and the boys from several different schools are on a plane to Australia to find relative safety from the coming (nuclear?) conflict. Hook shows nothing of this, giving us simply a group of boys from the same military academy on a trip to goodness knows where. This totally looses the whole allegorical sense of the story where the conflict between the boys mirrors the war in the world at large, especially the sense of the last scene where the world (island) is destroyed by the conflict (fire).

The second major oversight in Hook's rendition is that there is never enough attention given to the significance of the pig's head, Simon's vision, and the sense of `The Lord of the Flies'. A less important point is that the origin of the monster myth is different in the two movies. Brook's film follows the book and has it be a misinterpretation of a billowing parachute from a fallen, dead pilot. Hook creates the myth out of the spasms of the downed plane's delirious pilot as he finds refuge in a cave and is rediscovered by Simon who believes he is a monster.

Both movies do a credible job of depicting the fall of nominally civilized boys into savagery and myth. The combat between Ralph and Jack near the end is straight out of Frazier's `The Golden Bough' on the myth of killing the king. Unfortunately, Hook's version seems as eviscerated as the pig carcass, as all the great allegorical of the original story are totally lost. And, as minimal as they were, I even think the boys' performances in Brook's version are better done, as their initial innocence in the face of this loss of civilization makes their transformation all the more interesting.

Brook's version is highly recommended.

It was a pleasure to see the original version of "Lord of the Flies" again. I'll be interested in seeing the DVD version as well, to see what additional material comes in that format. Having been one of the boys in the movie, I also appreciated seeing the reviews posted by other Amazon customers! I wonder if any of the other cast members have checked out this site...

I confess to liking the original version far more than the remake, but that's not surprising, I guess. I TRIED to keep an open mind when I saw the new version, but, alas, I failed. My recollections of running from the burning jungle, coughing, onto the beach at the end makes a black-and-white rendition seem more real to me.

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I was terribly excited to discover that one of my favorite classic films, the 1963 Peter Brooks "Lord of the Flies" was on dvd. I was even more excited when I saw it had been given a deluxe treatment by some studio called Criterion.

"Lord of the Flies" was the first dvd I bought and it introduced me to the phenomenal Criterion Collection. Every extra on this dvd is fantastic and interesting, there is no filler or meaningless praise. The commentary alone is worth the price of this dvd, it gives a magnificent insight into how this film was made: for instance, the film was one of the first independent productions ever produced. This is one of those rare commentaries that adds to your appreciation and understanding of the film, I rank it alongside "Seven Samurai" and "Grand Illusion" (also both Criterion dvds) commentaries as among the best I have heard.

The film itself looks abolutely fantastic, worlds better than any vhs or laserdisc edition I had previously seen; criterion's produced an amazing, clean image that will be striking on any video set up.

_Lord of the Flies_ is one of my favorite novels; Golding masterfully touched on many themes and concepts about society and managed to capture the essence of humanity in the boyish caricatures he created. For the most part those themes and ideas come across very faithfully in the film. As it is pointed out in the dvd's commentary; there is no screenwriting credit, because there was no script, the production team worked straight from the novel, using it as their sole source of the story. The result is a remarkably clear and coherent adapation of the original novel, brought to life with great faith and startling prowess for a first time filmmaker. Some technical limitations can still be seen in the final product, but they do little to detract from your enjoyment of the film.

In short: a fantastic, dark, and compelling story is brilliantly brought to life in such a stark manner that it feels to viewer at times like an unfolding documentary. Finally, to top it off, the film was given a royal treatment on dvd that perfectly complements and enhances the film itself; in all, very much worth the price of admission.

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This is a thinker's film. If you like movies to sweep you away in a safe adventurous fantasy, get something else. Enjoying this film is contingent upon thinking about it. Like the book, it provokes, and you, being the subject matter, may not like being addressed in such a way.

Whether ir not it lives up to the book is a whole other question. I think it is wonderful in its own right, and that it does a great job of bringing Golding's story to the screen. Whatever.

As a DVD, this Criterion Collection edition is practically unsurpassed. I buy very few DVDs because they are expensive and I see this new medium as an opportunity to build a truly great movie collection. One afternoon I was discussing with some friends what movies we would buy on DVD. I immediately suggested "The original 'Lord of the Flies'. But they won't release it. And if they do it will be a crappy transfer. And there won't be any extras." Oh, how wrong I was! The sound and picture transfers are incredible the film is better than I've ever seen it. And the extras are amazing! The commentary is completely satisfying from a filmmaker's point of view, and likewise a philosopher's interest. The story of the making of the film is worth the purchase in itself.

There's tons of stuff to watch and listen to. It's great. It's totally worth the price. I thought that "The Matrix" was a great value as a DVD (in terms of extras), but this matches it and means a lot more. "Buy it!", I say!

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This movie is a very skillful presentation of William Golding's eponymous, timeless sociological horror story. A group of boys ranging from around 6 to, I would guesstimate, 14 or 15, are stranded on a desert island. Unfortunately for the boys, the general spirit of their story parts ways with the spirit of "Gilligan's Island" immediately, and they end up deteriorating into tribal, superstitious savages, rent with internecine strife, in a matter of (evidently) weeks.

Any viewer out there who plans to see this movie should absolutely make an effort to read the book. You could possibly see the movie first, if you digest storylines more easily through movies than books. But whatever order you carry out the two activities in, you must see the movie AND read the book, if you want a full understanding of what the director was doing here.

Here are a few good things to notice. First of all, you should be aware that this film was shot mostly on the islet of Vieques, off the coast of Puerto Rico. It's hard to believe that this is true, because it's just so perfect -Vieques is the island where the U.S. Navy practices bombing these days, and protesters against war have been getting into all kinds of clashes with the authorities the past few months (spring and summer of 2001). Maybe "Lord of the Flies" was more prophetic than the director, actors and writers ever even realized.

A second thing to notice is the song that is constantly playing, throughout most of the movie. The song is "Kyrie Eleison." At first Jack's choir sings it, and then it sort of becomes general background music. If you happen not to be particularly into going to church, let me just clue you in that "kyrie eleison" is Greek for "Lord have mercy," which I think you'll agree is a chillingly apt refrain for this relentlessly dark movie.

A third good thing to notice is the little boy, who progressively loses his memory of his own identity, over the course of the film. At first, he automatically recites his full name, address and phone number to any stranger he meets, as he was apparently taught to do by his parents. Midway through the film, he can remember only his name, and part of his address. By the end, not to spoil the ending by giving too much away, he cannot even recollect his name. "How quickly," one envisions William Golding bemoaning, "we forget!"

But I'm just pointing out a few minor things to notice. The basic theme is obviously the clash between savagery and civilization, and the tendency for things to fall apart, for the center not to hold... George Washington himself used to say that the job of government has to do with Fear -instilling it in possible malefactors, in enemies of the state, even in respected members of the community, just to keep everyone in line. This movie makes you think about what might happen if that force were removed from society as a whole. If the function of art is to raise awareness of painful truths, as this movie does, then the individual must be sure to bring things other than art into their lives, in order to raise awareness of kinder truths which are no less valid, no less serious, and no less important for being kind. That's what I think anyway.

This is an interesting movie, and it will really make you think. Two thumbs up.

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Che (The Criterion Collection) (2008)

Steven Soderbergh's "Che" is one of those rare films where you'll either like it or hate it. It is not a conventional biography, it isn't even a conventional movie. Soderbergh is not interested in presenting a loud, thundering film about the icon Che Guevara, but instead he wants to provide an almost scientific analysis of a man driven by an idea and the campaigns he engaged in. Like Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette," this isn't a movie interested in bold political statements, it is simply trying to present events as they are known to have happened. It doesn't matter much whether you're a right-winger or a leftist, Soderbergh doesn't champion or attack Che's political views or goals, he simply presents a man's actions.

Benicio Del Toro (Traffic, 21 Grams) plays Guevara with an uncanny resemblance and a powerful presence. We meet him in Mexico City in the 1950s where he meets a group of Cuban exiles plotting the overthrow of the US-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. It is here that Guevara meets Fidel Castro (played by Mexican actor Demian Bichir) who lectures him on the dire conditions for Cuba's poor and convinces him to join the revolutionary expedition sailing back to the island on the famous Granma boat. Soderbergh intercuts the jungle campaign in Cuba with black and white passages capturing Guevara's 1964 visit to the UN General Assembly where he delivered one of the most blistering anti-colonial speeches of the era. This sections feel large in scope while the Cuban scenes feel very intimate as Guevara trains guerrillas, engages in firefights with Batista's troops and brings medical services to poor villages where many people had never seen a doctor before in their lives. Soderbergh captures everything with a great air of authenticity in the accents, settings, locations and anyone who has visited Cuba or the Caribbean will immediately recognize the unique sense of humor expressed by the characters. It is in this first half where we see Che taste victory as the Cuban Revolution spreads and culminates in the battle of Santa Clara. Batista falls and the experience convinces Che of the legitimacy of armed struggle. The second half of the film follows Che into Bolivia, a more arid landscape with an indigenous majority population living under another brutal regime. The Bolivia episode is the other side of the coin from the Cuban Revolution, here the struggle to spread a doctrine of armed revolution runs into various roadblocks due to many conditions including culture clashes, inter-clashes within leftist circles and the heavy involvement of the CIA in tracking down Che's expedition. The Bolivia episode feels more fast-paced than Cuba, but also features a stunning attention to detail. The episode ends with Che's execution at the hands of the Bolivian army and CIA, and in its somber tone, we can still see how the man transformed into legend.

"Che" is first and foremost a document, an attempt by Soderbergh to chronicle in as much detail and realism as possible the EXPERIENCE of being a guerrilla in the field, the long hours of debate and boredom punctuated by moments of violence and danger. Like "The Battle Of Algiers" the film feels almost like a documentary instead of as a dramatic narrative. Those looking for a more romantic, adventurous trip should stick with Walter Salles' excellent "The Motorcycle Diaries" about Guevara's journey through Latin America as a young medical student. Soderbergh's film is more challenging because it doesn't provide easy answers or plot points, it forces the viewers to think for themselves and form their own opinions and conclusions. The film doesn't make bold statements about the Cuban Revolution or socialist politics, and yet it forces the audience to ponder political theories and history more than the average, more straight forward biographical movie. "Che" provides a more challenging discussion about revolutionary politics than "Braveheart," or Andy Garcia's right-wing "The Lost City" which provided a more spoon-fed, almost tabloid take on the Cuban Revolution and its participants. Does this mean the film is simply too academic? It depends on what you're looking for. Che Guevara is one of those historical characters that has become such an icon or symbol that many people wear the t-shirt without ever bothering to read anything about the man, this goes for both those who admire him and those who hate him. Even those who are just used to seeing Fidel Castro as an evening news item waving at crowds in his green fatigues will see the icon stripped down to a guerrilla commander trying to strategize and reconcile various parties, groups and opinions about how to carry out a revolutionary change in government. One value of the script by Peter Buchman is that he doesn't reduce these men to just historical titans spewing grand speeches, we instead see the bare bones of politics and how behind the flashy posters and berets, Guevara and Castro were also debating the hows and whens of everything from land reform to foreign policy.

The look of the film is toned down and yet very lush. Soderbergh used the Red One camera for both episodes of "Che" and the result is very impressive, a visual clarity with some of the same grain and depth as film. There are grand vistas in the Cuba chapter, with lush sequences in beautiful jungle terrains. The Bolivia section looks arid and cold, with rich shadows evoking a campaign headed for a tragic end. It was a wise choice to film the UN sequences in black and white film stock, they feel incredibly authentic.

Without a doubt "Che" features the best performance ever delivered by Benicio Del Toro who fully embodies the character, the fact that he did not recieve an Oscar nomination is a complete travesty. He brilliantly changes looks, physique and switches from a man pumped with the idealism of a born rebel to a man struggling in a terrain that is not bending to his will. He never overplays Guevara and brings a real human dimension to a role which could so easily be overdone. Demian Bichir is impressive as Castro, masterfully capturing the famous accent, the mannerisms and yes, the cigar stance.

"Che" is the kind of bold experiment many directors would be afraid of attempting. It breaks many rules and doesn't bow to the demands of cheap commercialism, and yet is always fascinating. This isn't the kind of movie to watch in order to avoid reading the biography, instead it is the kind of movie that might force you to go out and seek further reading on the man. Both sections come here with brilliant commentary tracks by journalist Jon Lee Anderson, author of the great biography "Che: A Revolutionary Life." Anderson provides excellent analysis and historical information that adds to the fascination of the movie, for those who find it hard to grasp the movie at first, the commentary tracks are of great help. In the DVD extra features Soderbergh laments that maybe the time for a movie like "Che" has already passed because nobody actually DISCUSSES films anymore, people appear to simply seek escapism and nothing more. This is certainly not a film for "Avatar" fans, or at least for those who ONLY like movies in that vein, but for the curious with an eye for excruciating detail, "Che" is an experiment worth checking out.

Steven Soderbergh created one of those movies that is lucky to have been made at all -a four-hour-plus biopic of Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara.

But like most biographical movies, it's something of a mixed bag. Visually atmosphere and low-key in style, the two halves of "Che" focus on pivotal slices of Guevara's life, with an amazing lead performance by Benicio Del Toro as the titular revolutionary. Unfortunately, it's also a very slow-moving affair that brushes past some of the more unsavory facets of Che Guevara's life and personality... and ironically many of the positive ones.

Part 1: In the 1960s, Guevara (Benicio Del Toro) is in New York City for a UN conference, being interviewed by a US reporter about his viewpoints as a guerilla leader and revolutionary. Then the narrative jumps back a decade to when he and others (including Fidel Castro) consider the many injustices over in Cuba and start planning for a revolution. Despite being Argentinian by birth, Che follows them to Cuba and joins the guerilla revolution.

But despite his start as a medic, Che began showing talents in other areas, and becomes a leader of the guerilla outlaws in the Cuban countryside. He grapples with his own ill health (asthma), the loss of his compatriots and the attacks from the military, which also threaten some of the non-revolutionaries -and as time goes on, their revolution gained power and notice, and began the ultimate battle for control of Cuba.

Part 2: Later in life, Guevera comes to Bolivia disguised as a bespectacled bald businessman, with the intent of fighting another revolution in that country. But this revolution doesn't go as well as the Cuban one (for Che): shortages in food, internal betrayal, and one of their contacts (Franka Potente) goofs up royally. As Guevera's health deteriorates, the Bolivian army and the CIA take measures to quash his guerilla forces...

Rather than the usual biographical movie format, Steven Soderbergh approaches "Che" as if he were filming a documentary. There are no scenes of little Che being kicked by a rich guy or melodramatic subplots -it's quite literally a slice of the pivotal point of Che Guevara's life, and a 1960s shakycam interview adds to that feeling. As an added note of authenticity, almost all of the dialogue is in Spanish rather than poorly-accented English, giving a you-are-there feel.

The storyline is rather slow, speeding up gradually as the revolution really heats up... only to slow back down in the second half with Guevera's decline. Most of the story is devoted to the guerillas staggering through the countryside, living in rough shacks and campsites. Even the landscapes reflect the ascent and descent of Guevera's power -the first half is crammed with lush, vibrant jungle life, and the second is a washed-out, grey expanse of scrubby brush. Unfortunately, this means that over four hours, the story often drags like a ripped parachute.

But despite the slowness, each movie climaxes with some revolutionary action. Pinging gunshots, explosions, tanks, tense chases through deserted streets and burning trains all play a part in the harrowing finales of each half, which are all the worst because you know that all this mayhem actually took place.

Del Toro is, to put it mildly, astonishing as Guevara -not only is he a dead ringer physically (with the right facial hair and clothes), but he exudes a quiet charisma, literate intelligence and power that make you see exactly why someone might follow him if they agreed with his politics. No one else in the story really gets to stand out, but Del Toro simply IS the cast all by himself.

Yet ironically it's a piously bland, virtuous portrait of Guevera. Soderbergh wimps out on the cruel, extremist sides of his personality and the regime he helped create; on the other hand, he also brushes over the man's fierce intellect, his writing, and world interests. It feels like we're looking at one mirrored facet of a very complex man, and surely more of who he was -the good, the bad AND the ugly -could have been included.

It's obvious Soderbergh put a lot of heart into producing the raw, realistic "Che," but his glorification and simplication of a controversial figure drags down his labor of love.

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I thought this movie was fantastic. I'm not really into politics and don't really have an opinion if Che was a good or bad person. As far as it being a moviethe story, directing, scenery, actingthis was done with the highest of quality. Non Hollywood-like which what matters to me.

Read Best Reviews of Che (The Criterion Collection) (2008) Here

To get a full picture of Che Guevara the man and icon you should watch the film by Steven Soderbergh and listen to the audio commentary by Jon Lee Anderson, who wrote the book Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life (1997).

The film compares favorably to the epics Lawrence of Arabia by David Lean and Gandhi by Richard Attenborough. It is beautifully filmed and features outstanding acting by Benicio del Toro as Che and a dead-on portrayal of Fidel by Demian Bichir. Although it is 4 1/2 hours long, there are gaps in the film which need to be filled in and Jon Lee Anderson does this, as well as providing a different perspective. I have seen many film commentaries; this is the best so far. Anderson's commentary is deep and as compelling as the film itself. It answers many questions that arise from watching the film.

There are by necessity gaps in all the great film epics. The complete story of Che could not be told in 4 1/2 hours, but in Anderson's commentary much missing information is added. For example, Anderson points out that in Cuba Che was ruthless and made a practice of killing all prisoners, but in Bolivia he did not, and those he released came back to haunt him. He also explains that Cuba was ripe for revolution but Bolivia, which had a long history of unsuccessful revolutions, was not. Also, the leadership in Cuba was united under Fidel Castro but in Bolivia was badly fragmented.

Whether you like this film or not may depend upon your politics, as is evidenced by the reviews written so far. But I think Soderbergh has done his best to provide a fair and accurate portrayal of Che the man, warts and all.

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I stumbled on this movie on cable half way thru the first disc. I knew instantly that I had to buy this movie. This amazingly accurate and well acted biography of Che Guevara is a must have for anyone who either admires Che or just wishes to know more about the Cuban Revolution and the continuing struggles in this hemisphere. Technically it's one of the most beautifully filmed movies I've ever seen.

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The Five Deadly Venoms (1978)

First of all let me tell you how good is this Kung Fu classic. The story is good, about 5 Venoms who live a secret life and are trying to be found by the Poison Clan's master. I think we should all have this fun kung fu flick in our collection but! They have to come out with a better DVD. This DVD has no special features, no original language track, and the image quality has not been restored at all, they didn't even try! So unless you must have it, wait for a better print.

You can add me to the nostalgia group, having seen this movie as an 11 year old in 1981 on a Saturday afternoon matinee. I was quite thrilled to find the DVD a few days ago, having eschewed the then difficult to find VHS version. DVD quality is pretty poor, but they were of course hampered going from a disintegrating master. Ghosting and screen artifacts abound, but hey, that's really secondary to anyone who's been searching for this title for some time. While formulaic in the genre sense, [dying master tells pupil to avenge him / right a wrong using every ounce of technique] the story is carried out in a much more sublime whodunit, as a teasing mystery with spurts of action. The last of the Poison Clan practitioners [dying of course] commands young pupil to find the hidden money cache of an earlier teacher before his boundlessly corrupt former students do. Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, and Toad already have a head start on our last pupil who hasn't mastered any one of the techniques mentioned, but is versed enough in all of them to be effective when combined w/ another. The story progresses as the rich teacher is found in turn by the various factions. Centipede and Snake have teamed up as have Toad and Lizard. The mysterious Scorpion does not make his true intentions known, skulking around in the darkness to pick up the pieces and sow dissent. Slowly through the film, the members become clear and eventually fight one another which are the highlights. Who will prevail, who will our young student pair with during the end game, and what of the Scorpion? All answered in due time, well, actually in long drawn out periods of slack but when it does start cooking it certainly does. My favorite: the fight between my preferred poison The Snake, and the Toad. Watching and listening to the sound effects as the Snake struck, probing for weak points while the Toad would flex and bounce him off 10 feet was fun then and now.. and surprisingly mirrors the battles based on this scenario I would have with my 8 year old sister. Hah hah. This is a definite cult classic, campy enough in later viewing that it doesn't take itself too seriously, but with enough action to satisfy new viewers too. Recommended.

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When it comes to martial arts films, most claim that Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" is the best ever made. I gather because it was a Warner Brothers production with it's producer Fred Weintraub. I also gather it is because it has a "multi-cultural" cast instead of an all Chinese traditional cast. Well, if you believe that to be the case or not, others suggest that "The Five Deadly Venoms" is either the next best thing or the best in and of itself!

No need to go into the story as many are familiar with it. This is one of the few martials arts films that has a decent story, suspense, action and intrigue. A few years ago, I bought the DVD version and I was very disappointed. It looked like a 3rd generation dub of a bootleg VHS tape! I wrote the company and they sent me another film (on a VHS tape!) to make it up to me. From then on, I get very concerned whenever a martial arts film get's released, let alone on Blu-ray.

I read one (non-professional) review and they said it was as good as they have ever seen it and the convinced me to buy it. I made the right call! The picture far exceeded my expectations! It is true HD, crisp, clean, very detailed and looks as if you are watching them film the movie in person! This is no BS! I cannot believe that I could not find s decent copy on DVD, but BD hits a homerun right out of the gate!

From the moment the picture starts and they show the masks and smoke, you know that you are in for something special because you have NEVER seen this film look this good! The whole film just looks so much better, that I would hope that all martial arts films could look this way! It is in mono 2.0, but who cares? Surround would have been nice, but I'll take the high level picture quality over an after-the-fact surround sound.

The only reason I give this 4 stars instead of 5 is becuase there are no extras. I would have at least preferred a trailor. A behind the scenes featurette or an interview with the actors would have been nice. My only other non-Hollywood martial arts film is "The 36th Chamber of Shoalin" which was in 1080i, not 1080P, but that still looked great too. Even "Enter the Dragon" was not encoded right. It has "jaggies" and it must be 1080i converted of something.

If you know what this is about, get this without delay, the picture is nearly flawless!

Read Best Reviews of The Five Deadly Venoms (1978) Here

Like so many others on Amazon.com, I used to watch weekend Kung Fu theatre programs on TV. Many movies I remember fondly (Kid With The Golden Arm and Shaolin Master Killer [aka 36th Chamber of Shaolin] come to mind) but one in particular stands out: Five Deadly Venoms. I caught it one rainy Saturday afternoon as a teenager and it has stayed with me ever since.

Set in "old" China and featuring a suspenseful plot (a mystery, no less), garish (yet not overly lavish) costumes/set design, and some great old school combat/camera work, this may not even be the best film from either the legendary Shaw Brothers or famed director Chang Cheh himself but there's just something about the pacing of the story which is in no hurry to go anywhere too soon. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. It is creepy and the tension builds...perhaps not remarkable qualities for a vintage Kung Fu flick but this picture makes the most of it.

Another thing about the movie deserves praise: the absolutely fantastic score! It is austere AND comical, spare, seductive, and sinister without being cheesy. Extraordinary music! even if it IS "borrowed" from other movies as some say....so be it. To me, the score is what really puts you in the world of 5DV.

PLEASE READ: I own both the DVD and the VHS video (the Steeplechase/Martial Arts Video versions) and they are flippin' LOUSY, with the DVD having a marginally better picture/bad sound and the video having much clearer sound/a horrible picture tracking problem. I could be wrong, but in their mastering of the DVD, it seems that Steeplechase/ M.A.V. simply took a bad widescreen edition VHS tape of the movie and did a poor transfer (although I HAVE seen worse) via the ol' mirror in a shoebox technology. Ha! Typical! The soundtrack is muffled like when you play a non-Dolby encoded cassette tape back with the Dolby switch on. I can't speak for the Front Row Video, Inc. version they're selling on Amazon.com but don't hold your breath. Here's hoping that Celestial Pictures (who now owns the rights to many 1970s Hong Kong classics like this one) get their act together and release a spiffy new version of 5DV. Two essential things for a new release: Original film negatives for a better picture and, for Pete's sake, the original recorded elements for clear, non-muffled sound. Some subtitles would be nice, too. Note to Celestial Pix: Please do it justice, fellers!

The 5 stars given are for the film itself which is remains uniquely satisfying: classic, yet refreshing and timeless. The Five Deadly Venoms is still cool and I've tried to turn friends on to it, usually by forcing them to watch it with me so that I can "re-experience it" thru their eyes! It's hard to define how much unconsciously bigger this movie is than its own genre. But it is. In a way, it stands alone. :-]

Rent it if possible. If not, approach with caution or wait for the eventual "special edition". Good luck.

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This DVD is a poor quality bootleg. A company called Celestial owns the worldwide copyright on ALL Shaw Brothers movies. Their digitally remastered DVD has been available for a couple of years, and puts this bootleg to shame. That catch is that you must purchase it from a Hong Kong based web site. Amazon is not allowed to sell it, so they have listed this bootleg. Find a Hong Kong based web site and purchase the official DVD!

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NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers - Road to XLIII (2009)

The first disc the NFL produced for this season teased us a little, but now we can watch the whole post-season + a great Baltimore-Pittsburgh late-season battle in high-definition. Hopefully the NFL will be putting out their "America's Game" for Superbowl XLIII and that will be when the players tell more of the story of the whole season, these discs only have the games, but what FANTASTIC games they are!

The first disc has Game 15 of the regular season-a hard-fought Steelers-Ravens game for the AFC North title in Baltimore as well as the Divisional Playoff game where the Steelers face off against the Chargers. The second disc has the absolutely brutal defensive fight for the AFC Championship-a grudge match of the Steelers vs. Ravens, followed by arguably the best superbowl, the Steelers vs. the Cardinals in Superbowl XLIII. The under-respected and unexpectedly great Cardinals fight tooth & claw against the Steelers from start to stop. The Steelers show why they are the #1 defense watching Harrison's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown NEVER gets old. The Pittsburgh offense puts together the most memorable finish (maybe the Giants from the year before could lay claim to an equally-impressive run) as they move from deep in their own territory to make a huge last minute drive ending with a Roethlisburger-Holmes reception in the corner of the endzone.

There aren't too many extras (in fact there's only two) but I was really excited to to see that they have an alternate audio track for the Superbowl featuring the WDVE broadcast. So if you've ever enjoyed listening to the Pittsburgh guys calling the games, it might just warm your heart a little to hear the game called by the unashamedly partisan WDVE crew. The only other special feature is a trivia track that pops up during the superbowl. Watching these games in high-def is definitely an improvement and the Steelers look better and better each time I see these games.

I am a diehard Steelers fan through and through. For any Steeler fan this is a must have to your collection of Steeler DVDs. I went to the Steelers Sideline Stores which have it priced the same as Amazon for it. The DVD consists of....

Week 15 vs. Baltimore Steelers clinch division

AFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Diego

AFC Championship Playoff vs. Baltimore

Super Bowl XLIII vs. Arizona

This collection is a near perfect collection...what I don't like is

*You have 2/3 of the classic matchups with Baltimore this past season. EACH game was a classic. Why did they omit the Monday Night thriller against Baltimore? This series has done this before. For the Giants Road to XLII DVD which I have they added the Week 17 loss to the Patriots and the 4 playoff games so the 5th disc has happened and I would have added that game

*You have minor hesistations in the presentation of the Super Bowl and some minor skips in the other games but they are not big enough to complain about but you will notice them (esp. SB XLIII) but it should not disappoint

*There are no special features...which is terrible...what I loved about the Road to XL DVD was the featurettes about the Steelers, the Giants Road to XLII DVD for the Super Bowl had an option of Michael Strahan doing his commentary on the game..there are no Special Features on this DVD

What I like about this....

*Those Steeler fans that bought Road to XL remember the Steelers Radio Team of Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin, and Craig Wofley do the play by play well its not the case, you get the TV annoucers so you get John Madden's last game as an analyst, historic there. NFL Films started this with the Colts Road to XLI dvd

*These are the actual games...not NFL Films cutting material or NFL Films tapes like the "Road to XXXIX Patriots"

Overall If you love the Steelers, if you love football, if you love John Madden this is an absolute must and for $25 $30 you get to relive in my eyes 2 great games with the Week 15 Baltimore and Super Bowl, and two ok games in the AFC Championship (which you can relive the Troy Polamalu touchdown return) and San Diego game.

Buy NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers - Road to XLIII (2009) Now

I'm disappointed with this "Super Bowl XLIII" DVD set. Sure, it contains four football games as advertised, but that's about all the good I can say about it. In almost every way this set is inferior to the "Pittsburgh Steelers Road to Super Bowl XL (Post-Season Collector's Edition)" DVD box set.

The video quality is quite similar and almost exact. However, the video presentation seems quite rushed on the XLIII set, as if the on-field action was cut even shorter than the XL set. (The DVD menus are "flashier" this time around, although you look at them for about three seconds.)

The XLIII audio track features the inferior television commentary as opposed to the superior radio commentary used for the XL set. The XLIII set also uses an audio track that seems to have been mixed in a studio with a four-year-old child constantly pushing buttons. The audio track is very uneven and distractingly so. (The crowd noise keeps rising and falling although nothing is happening on-screen and it occurs too often to be replays on the "Jumbotron".) BOTH sets, XL and XLIII, feature English-only subtitles. (But considering the target audience, I'm not surprised.)

The XLIII set is without any extras. NO extras. None. Zilch. Zip. Nada. This is a major disappointment. The XL set had one documentary per disc.

The packaging is different and less eco-friendly. However, I personally prefer the hard plastic XLIII packaging to the cardboard XL packaging for long-lasting presentation.

Here's the short version:

Super Bowl XL (40) set

VIDEO DVD

AUDIO Radio commentary

EXTRA One documentary per disc

PACKG Cardboard

Super Bowl XLIII (43) set

VIDEO DVD

AUDIO TV commentary

EXTRA None

PACKG Plastic

While I believe that the video quality of the XLIII set "MAY" be better due to the fact that a Blu-Ray version was produced, it's imperceptible on DVD. I also believe the extras were cut to make room on the discs for this imaginary "improved video quality". The audio commentary difference is one purely of preference and is obviously inferior to me. The omitted extras are a disappointment.

Aside from having four more football games on DVD, this set is almost a WASTE OF MONEY. (A DVR-version would be better, at least then I'd have the commercials.) The XL set is far superior. Buy that. (Pittsburgh Steelers Road to Super Bowl XL (Post-Season Collector's Edition))

Read Best Reviews of NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers - Road to XLIII (2009) Here

As a long time Steeler fan, and an owner of the Road to XL dvd set, I was looking forward to getting this set. The quality of the dvd's is great. The video and sound is fantastic. If all you want is the same old, tired commentary of Al Micheals and John Madden, then by all means, buy this set. However, if you have a dvd recorder, you could have done just as well, except for editing of commercials, of course, but I kinda like them

If, however, you are like me, and were looking forward to hearing the Steelers radio announcers, as in the Road to XL set, you will be VERY DISAPPOINTED, as I am. While the quality, as I said earlier, is great, the decision to include NO BONUS MATERIAL...NONE!!!, is a MAJOR disappointment. If you didn't record the games, these are worth having, if you did record them, save your money.

I hope the NFL corrects this mistake soon and releases another set of discs soon. I am sending them a request, and my opinion of this set, tonight.

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this is exactly what i was looking for. four entire games, including the super bowl win. no commercials, just every minute of the games. the win against baltimore to win the division, the two playoff games and the super bowl. every steelers fan will love this.

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The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter's "The Thing" wasn't so much a remake as a reinterpretation of John Campbell's classic short story. Closer in spirit to Campbell's conception of the Thing, Carpenter's film was both critically lauded because of the suspenseful storytelling and critically attacked for the excessive gore. While the gore is at times quite excessive it fits in with the audience expectations after films like "Dawn of the Dead" (the origianl 1979 movie)and other films of the era.

What's amazing is how audiences are drawn into the story despite the fact that there are no characters we really, really like. We admire many of these men and their resolve but we don't like them. They're the product of their harsh environment and isolation. Mac (Kurt Rusell)is the helicopter pilot for an Antarctic science station. Their dull routine is interrupted by a team of seemingly crazy Norwegians pursuing a dog. The Norwegians are killed and the Americans are left without any idea as to what might have driven the Norwegians over the edge.

Blair (Wilford Brimley)pours over the Norwegian journal brought back by Mac and Cooper (Richard Dysart)and discovers that the Norewegian team discovered an alien spacecraft with an occupant that was very much alive. More importantly, it can change into any shape and take over anybody. Mac, Childs (Keith David) and the rest of the crew must destroy the alien before it can spread to the rest of the civilized world.

Previously released as a "Special Edition" in 1998, "The Thing" has been remastered for this edition.The anamorphic widescreen presentation is, I believe, the first time this has been transferred in the anamorphic format. The previous widescreen edition looked exceptionally good and comparisons between the two transfers reveal minimal differences except for the fact that the new edition is presented in anamorphic (i.e. with a higher resolution) picture. There are some minor digital blemishes that occasionally crop up as on the previous edition (which makes me suspect the previous master was digitally remastered vs. creating a new master). The 5.1 Surround Sound mix has tremendous presence and is exceptionally good with crystal clear dialogue. Ennio Morricone's marvelous music sounds particularly rich and detailed. There's no isolated music track which is a pity.

The special features are exactly the same as the 1998 edition of the movie. "Terror Takes Shape" is an 80 minute documentary on the movie that includes both new interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot. Carpenter, Kurt Russell, the other members of the cast,the optical effects and make up crew and screenwriter Bill Lancaster on all phases from conception to post-production. It's an excellent and informative documentary divided into the various phases of production.

We also see outtakes including the deleted stop-motion animation that Phil Tibbert did for the movie. Carpenter cut almost all of it out in favor of the physical effects because they didn't quite mesh as well as they could have. There's substanial behind-the-scenes footage, photos and the work-in-progress visual effects for the film. Essentially, this indepth approach makes "The Thing" as close to a film school as you'll likely find on DVD.

We also get the original theatrical trailer, storyboards and conception art. The "Visual Effects-in-Progress" featurette t gives you a clue as to how the visuals and effects changed during shooting. There's also an annotated production background archive with an essay on the production illustrated with excerpts from the screenplay with photos and production drawings. There's also a brief essay on the casting in text format along with production photos from the film.

The commentary track is the original one from the 1998 release featuring John Carpenter and Kurt Russell. As with the "Escape from New York" commentary track, "The Thing" commentary track is exceptional with interesting and amusing stories related to the production of the movie as well as behind-the-scenes tidbits that fans will find valuable. Both clearly enjoy each other's company more twenty years after their first collaboration.

The packaging has been redesigned. While it is pretty cool, it's not going to be really durable. The exterior plastic cover like that for "Stir of Echoes" looks really cool and wraps around the carbord and plastic inner case. The inner case has photos and images from the movie. The inside, curiously, looks like it was designed for a chapter sheet or booklet but there's nothing inside.

Though The Thing shocked with its new level of gore when it came out in 1982, popular taste has pretty well caught up to the gore factor. Now fans will be able to see it all in Blu-ray high-def.

The Thing takes its title from the influential 1951 sci-fi classic The Thing from Another World, a film it otherwise resembles only in similarity of location and a few plot points. (If you're interested in a less scary, more campy, funnier black-and-white version, with women in it, check out the older one.) The location is an isolated antarctic research station, cut off from radio contact with the outside world, where Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David and several other men unknowingly take in an alien creature that can adopt the form of members of the crew as it destroys them. They quickly find themselves in a desperate and paranoia-inducing situation, each not knowing who among the others might be an alien waiting to kill him. Internal organs are spread into view in various creative ways, while violence and tension build.

Director John Carpenter specializes in gritty, intense, violent suspense, and he doesn't disappoint here. Though it didn't do very well when it came out, maybe because it was up against the much cheerier alien E.T., it has become a favorite since.

The movie has already been released in HD at the same 1080p resolution the Blu-ray will have, so the transfer should be of similar quality. The HD transfer is very good, with strong color and good detail and sharpness, definitely improved over the standard DVD. The sound will be English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, with French DTS 5.1. There will be English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles. *Update* 19 September: The early reviews verify that the transfer is high quality, as expected, with excellent picture and good sound (not much surround in a movie this old).

*Update* Universal has said in its promotional material that this release will include the extra material from the current DVD, but according to the early reviews, that isn't true. First, here are the special features announced in the main press release:

-audio commentary with star Kurt Russell and director John Carpenter

-U Control Picture in Picture

-U Control tutorial

-BD-Live

In addition, most of the 84-minute making-of documentary from the older DVD has been incorporated into the Picture in Picture (PIP) feature, meaning that you watch it in pieces in a window along with the movie. The rest of the special features from the older DVD aren't included. Just as a reminder of what those old features are, missing here:

-outtakes

-deleted stop-motion animation

-work-in-progress visual effects footage

-behind-the-scenes location footage

-behind-the-scenes photos

-storyboard and conceptual art

-annotated production archive

-original theatrical trailer

Again, those are old features that Universal has *not* included on the Blu-ray.

I'm not into gore, but the suspense is well done here, and Kurt Russell is in his element. Fine video transfer and good commentary make for a good package, but the missing features from the older DVD mean you may want to keep the old one too.

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Maybe someone said so in the DVD's documentary: 1982 was the right time for this movie. Nothing like it would be made today, or even a few years after its release. Even if a thematically similar film were made, it's almost a guarantee that it would use digital effects. This movie boasts the most incredible prosthetic effects ever seen, and I know in my gut that if it were made with computer graphics it wouldn't be nearly as good.

Okay, enough about that. I probably don't need to describe the movie itself, at least not from a plot perspective. Let me briefly cover technique: this movie is built for suspense. From the marvelous low-key Ennio Morricone score to the gold-standard cinematography of Dean Cundey, from the scene construction (I love the scene where the dog enters a crew room, and the scene fades out after we see the man's shadow turning no sting, no shock, just a fade out) to the realistic paranoia and fear building in the eyes of the men. I admit that paranoia movies are a personal favorite genre, but there are very few films that I can say made me sweat from suspense, and this is one of them.

One of the film's greatest strengths is the ensemble cast mostly familiar faces, but not TOO familiar, so you feel a kinship and empathy but you're not saying "oh, that's Richard Masur" the same way you would if it were Bruce Willis, for example. Sure, there's Kurt Russell, but he plays his role so perfectly that he just fits right in with everyone else. Then of course there's the ending, something John Carpenter excels at (the ending of his ESCAPE FROM L.A. made the whole movie for me) especially when in the dystopian mode... so here again we can make up our own stories over "what happened next."

The DVD presentation is packed with so many goodies it's hard to know where to start. An excellent documentary, enjoyable commentary, isolated score (selectable during the documentary), even some cut scenes...and so much more. The picture is fantastic, with such wonderful smooth blue hues so prevalent in the movie. For many years laserdisc owners were tantalised by rumours of a special edition with tons of extras, and when we finally got it (on both laserdisc and DVD) we weren't disappointed at all, and it was well worth the years of anticipation.

The movie is absolutely not for everyone, as its level of gore is quite high. Many people say they're distracted too much by the gore, but I seem to immerse myself in the film's atmosphere and it's never taken me out of the experience. An engrossing and extremely well-crafted film, and the same goes for this special edition presentation.

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Long after its debut, THE THING is finally getting the respect it deserves. I'm glad John Carpenter is young enough to be around to see it. This film was unfairly shunned when it came out because E.T. came out at the same time. Nobody wanted to see E.T. killing people, hence no one went to see THE THING.

Along with THE HIDDEN, this is one of the greatest horror/action movies to come out of the 80s. It should be on any serious horror fan's top ten list (it's number two on mine) and it is perhaps Carpenter's greatest film to date. Yes, I think it is even better than HALLOWEEN. This movie sticks closer to the original story ("Who Goes There") that both this and the older movie THE THING FROM OUTER SPACE were based on. The latter was more of a monster movie, whereas Carpenter's version is more of a psychological action film with a great dollop of paranoia. Kurt Russell and John Carpenter work so well together, and Russell does a great job here (along with the underrated Keith David). I hope they make more films together. Wilford Brimley, better known as the Quaker Oats man, is terrific as well. Actually the whole cast puts in amazing performances. On the DVD commentary J.C. says they all were really into their parts, and it shows. The "blood test" scene is a great example of how well they all worked together.

The special effects in this movie still look good. I honestly don't think they look dated at all. I imagine that if they did this today we would be inflicted with some dumb-looking CGI monster that would ruin the film and seem silly in a few years' time.

If you like this one, get the DVD. It has tons of extras and is worth the money just for the commentary by Russell and Carpenter. 10/10

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The movie itself is 5 stars no question. The picture quality on this Blu Ray is amazing. Contrast is consistent and blacks are deep throughout the film with very good detail. Colors are rich and the various hues of blue in the night scenes are pleasing. Greens, yellows and oranges, as well as the important reds (got to have have proper reds in a horror/sci~fi film) are all rendered properly, in this Blu Ray offering. Film grain is not distracting, and chroma noise is not an issue. Unfortunately I have serious issue with Universal for removing features on the Blu Ray that were present on the DVD for US customers, while keeping them in the UK version of the Blu Ray release. The lower stars rating is for this review is for this particular release of it.

I love John Carpenters "The Thing", but Universal Studios should be ashamed of themselves for releasing a Blu Ray version of the film with almost ALL of the extras REMOVED.

Inexcusable.

It's a shame Universal chose to do this, since this Blu Ray's picture quality and sound are both great. Purchase the Uk Blu Ray release instead. It includes the many extras not found in this US version. Does Universal Studios value their UK customers more than their US customers for some reason?

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Samurai 7 - Box Set (2004)

Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film "Seven Samurai" is regarded as a great and influential film that is among the few Japanese films that has captivated audiences worldwide for so long. The legendary film was about a village of farmers hiring seven samurai's to protect the village from bandits has been revamped for GONZO's 2004 anime "Samurai 7'.

First appearing on the anime satellite television channel Animax in 2004 as a high definition CS-Pay-Per-View series, the series was later shown in the US on IFC (International Film Channel) in 2006. Unlike the film which takes place in feudal Japan, "Samurai 7' takes place in a cyberpunk era that blends together feudal Japan with high-technology with mecha robotic suits.

"Samurai 7' also has quite a bit of talent behind it as the series is directed by Toshifumi Takizawa known for directing classics such as "Dirty Pair", "Crusher Joe" and "Big Wars"(and also storyboards for mecha anime such as "Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta Gundam", "Mobile Suit Victory Gundam).

Character designs are by Hideki Hashimoto (known for a lot of key animation work for "Heat Guy J", "Great Teacher Onizuka" and "Mobile Suit Gundam") and Takuhito Kusanagi (known for his mechanical design work for "Blue Submarine No. 6' and "Tower of Druaga").

The series begins with the villagers of the rice village of Kanna. Peasants who are forced to harvest rice for the Nobuseri bandits. The Nobuseri are ruthless as they take nearly all the rice of the villagers and even go as far as taking their women and children.

The villagers hardly have anything to eat but the villagers know they can't live life the way they are living now and so, with the approval of their village elder, three people will take their remaining rice to find samurai's who will fight against the bandits and free the village.

The village send three people to hire samurai's with their rice.

Kirara: The village priestess who has a crystal that can read the hearts of people.

Komachi: The young sister of Kirara

Rikichi: The male villager who accompanies both Kirara and Komachi. Rikichi despises the Nobuseri bandits because they took his wife.

During their search in the city for samurai's to protect the farming village of Kanna, the city's heir to Ayamano, Ukyo, develops a crush on Kirara and wants her to join his harem of women. But each time he tries to kidnap her, the samurai's thwart him and thus leads to Ukyo trying to find ways to kill the samurai's and capture Kirara.

During their search for samurai in the city, the three eventually find the following samurai who agree to fight against the bandits.

Shimada Kambei The great samurai who is emotionless since he has been in so many battles and witnessed so many deaths that he lives in his own shadow of pain, constantly asking other samurai of why they became a samurai. The person becomes the leader of the group. Awesome fighting skills.

Katsuhiro Okamoto The first samurai that is willing to help Kirara and the others. A young and inexperienced samurai who idolizes Kambei and eventually becomes the protector of Kirara. Eventually grows as a samurai after his first major kill.

Gorobei Katayama An entertainer and former samurai from the great war who is good at detecting intruders and also has unmatched defensive skills by catching an opponents weapons with his hands and quick to dodge attacks.

Shichiroji A former samurai who fought alongside Kambei. Now runs an inn and has a fiance but decides to join his friend in battle against the bandits. Fights with a big staff with blades and has a prosthetic hand that is used as a grappling hook.

Kikuchiyo A huge cyborg who is always opinionated and always trying to prove himself as a samurai. Has great strength and carries a big chainsaw word to fight but he is not that smart. A child at heart, Kikuchiyo bonds with Kirara's younger sister Komachi.

Hayashida Heihachi A samurai who is laid back and rather eat or be cool than fight. A former mechanical/combat engineer, his knowledge of mechanics provides useful for the team.

Kyuzo A former bodyguard and talented samurai warrior for Ayamaro, an is an enemy of the samurai's in the first part of the series. Both Kyuzo and Kanbei go into battle against each other and end with a draw. With both men finding enjoyment in their battle against each other, they vow to fight again. Kyuzo eventually joins the team when he finally finds a great opponent in Kambei. Joining the group because he wants to be the person to fight and kill Kambei, so therefore he joins the team and lends them his skills as a talented samurai.

For this Blu-ray disc release of "Samurai 7', the first two discs contain a total of nine episodes each with the third disc containing the final 8 episodes plus the special features.

VIDEO AND AUDIO:

"SAMURAI 7' was originally a series shown in high definition in Japan. So, needless to say, the picture quality is very good as it is in 1080p High Definition, 16×9.

With that being said, it's also important to remind everyone that this is a television series and not an OAV or a film which have a bigger budget and much more detail in the overall animation quality.

In Japan, many of these animators have only a week to get an episode done and often are working on other anime series at the same time, so that being said, "Samurai 7' does have beautiful segments during the CG segments but in terms of the animation, character designs are simplistic, color pallet is solid with not much shading.

And for animation that utilizes less detail, this gives the animator more time to focus on the action sequences which they definitely did for "Samurai 7'.

So, you can expect to see really good detail when it comes to the CG segments especially during the two wars because there is a lot of mecha battles that utilize the CG. And the background renderings often get the most detail. But picture quality is clear and there are scenes that do showcase a lot of vibrant colors. But for those most part, there is a softness in terms of colors. More focus on earth tones and greens.

For some, a drawback is that nine episodes are put on each disc, some enthusiasts would rather have 4-5 episodes with a higher bitrate but with the style of "Samurai 7', this is a television series not an OVA or film, so one can not expect a super-detailed series. The picture quality is a step up from the DVD release but what "Samurai 7' will appeal to are the audiophiles.

For the audio, audio is presented in Dolby True HD 5.1 in English and Japanese. First, I must say that I was impressed by both voice acting in Japanese and the English dubs. For one, rarely do you get the Japanese audio track in Dolby TrueHD 5.1, so I started the series primarily watching it in Japanese and was in awe of the actual mix and the utilization of the rear channels.

You hear the people in the city chatting and talking at a distance. You hear sound of people talking coming from one side and then the other. Especially in the action scenes and hearing the explosions and blasts and bullet shots.

I switched over to the English track in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and the track also displays the same audio which is fantastic. The voice acting was very well done on the English side of things and overall, just impressed with overall audio quality.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

There are a good number of special features included on all three discs. For disc 1 and 2, you will need to go to the episodes listing and you will see episode 1 and episode 14 contain a commentary feature. The commentary is based on the English voice dub, so for example episode 14 would feature the ADR director Christopher Bevins, R. Bruce Elliott (voice for Kambei) and Sean Michael Teague (voice of Katsuhiro) commenting on the various characters and how they enjoyed the vocal performance of their co-actors. Of course, English voice dubs are never going into the technical commentary on the animation and why certain scenes are the way they are. But for those who enjoy commentary by English voice dubs, especially these two talents, then you'll definitely enjoy these two commentary tracks.

On disc 3, there are several special features. Included are:

* Promotional Video In Japan, their promotional videos for upcoming series are quite long and in this case, this five minute video features the CG action-packed battles and also introducing the Japanese cast involved in the overall production. The video is in Japanese with English subtitles.

* Textless Opening and Ending The textless opening and ending theme to Avex artists Nanase Aikawa's opening theme "Unlimited" and Rin's ending theme of "Fuhen".

* FUNimation Entertainment Trailers Trailers for FUNimation Entertainment anime series and film releases.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"Samurai 7' is a pretty interesting take on the Kurosawa 1954 classic but I admit that I totally dig the concept of combining feudal Japan with steampunk technology. For anime, to combine samurai battles with mecha robot suits seems unbelievable, but within the concept of what "Samurai 7' is about and the overall journey of these samurai trying to protect the peasants and their village was quite fun.

The characters all have their own unique abilities and characteristics and the series is just all out non-stop action.

This is my first experience of watching an anime television series on Blu-ray. In the past, most releases were typically film or OVA-based but with "Samurai 7' having the high definition background when initially aired in Japan, the picture quality is clean but at the same time, it's detail is mostly within the CG scenes and the overall animation, relies on simple character designs that is typical with anime television series versus a film or OVA which the animators have much more time to work on.

But like a next gen video game, an anime series is not all about its graphics, for this series, what works is the adventure, the journey, the action and its enjoyable characters but most importantly, a well-crafted storyline. During the first 18-episodes, I really enjoyed the fight for the village but then there was a short lull as the episodes started to focus on twisted, protagonist Ukyo trying to usurp in power and become the next emperor and then suddenly getting back to the action-packed storyline and setting up the ultimate war.

There are some who may not see the need for high definition with their anime, especially if you are going to watch it on a 17-24' computer monitor but for those who want to watch anime in HD on their large television screens (especially using HD projectors) and seeing more detail and of course getting Dolby TrueHD sound in both Japanese and English is a plus.

Overall, I really enjoyed "Samurai 7'. It manages to hold some of the enjoyment that made the original film so classic but the incorporate the adventure and the "other world" type of features you would expect from an anime series. Again, samurai vs. mecha suits? Who would of imagined that?

"Samurai 7' is an enjoyable television series and I'm very happy that FUNimation Entertainment brought this series to Blu-ray!

I own the collector's edition of the original series on regular dvd and I'm not sure yet if its worth getting the new one. Anime is a weird thign to put on blu-ray because it doesn't suffer from the contrast and lighting issues that plague most movies. The sound can be easily bumped up in quality to either 5.1 or 7.1 dolby surround, if thats important to you. I just don't feel that most anime does any better on blu-ray than it does in upconversion.

If you do not own this set yet however and own a blu-ray player, this is a very reasonable price for such an incredible anime series. Being a remake of a classic cultural story from Japan, its already steeped in history, but the reimagining of the series and book is just incredible. I've never fallen in love with a main character like I did in this story. He is simply one of the most tough-A-$-$-ed anime samurai you will ever meet and he is everything that epitomizes the samurai code. The story features many characters that are believable, well developed, and consistent as well as great themes that still hold true today in many respects. Whether your in for the story or the action, it doesn't matter, its worth it on both counts.

The animation technique is much like Burst Angel or the Karas movies in that they combine some cg elements with the anime to create some jaw-dropping scenes which include sword-wielding tough-guys taking down gigantic machines in ways you never thought possible. Far-fetched? Sure, but its some of the most fun I've ever had escaping into an anime world. I highly recommend this series to anime lovers everywhere.

Buy Samurai 7 - Box Set (2004) Now

I'll keep this short and sweet. My boyfriend owns the DVD version and we both fell in love with the show the first time we watched it. As soon as I saw it was going to be on BluRay I knew I had to have it. It is absolutely money well spent! Samurai 7 is by far one of the best animes I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and it holds a firm position in my top 5! You name it and this series has it; action, adventure, comedy, drama, amazing battle sequences, giant mechs and even a little romance. The characters are well developed and I fell in love with all of them (minus Kambei, the hero worship he receives is quite frustrating!). The animation is practically flawless (with the exception of episode 7) and the CG elements are outstanding in HD! The sound quality is what really blew me away though, everything is so crystal clear and I will not rest until I find a bumping surround sound to watch this show on!! Samurai's versus mechs may be a little hard for some people to swallow but trust me when I say, this is hands down one of the best animes ever created and if you have the money and a BR player you absolutely have to buy this BluRay box set!!

Read Best Reviews of Samurai 7 - Box Set (2004) Here

If you have not seen this series, you should have someone slap you in the face. Its really really good. These 7 men from different walks of life that have one thing in common, they're all samurai. If your an anime fan and don't have this in your collection, then your collection will never be complete. When you watch this series keep an eye out for "Kyuzo" he is a beast...hands down the best samurai of the 7. Lets just say if one katana is nice, then two is f***ing AWESOME!!!

Want Samurai 7 - Box Set (2004) Discount?

High quality packaging, slim and neat fit. This story is awesome. It has heart, it has class, it has humor, and most of all it has Samurai. Old school meets new world. The past meets the future. Its a new way to tell an old story and its beautiful. Being on blu-ray certainly helps this classic gain new life. I cannot say enough about this box set.

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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)

Warner Premiere and DC Comics have topped themselves with the Blu-ray / DVD release of "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1." After the release of "Batman: Year One," the only logical choice for the Caped Crusader's next solo animated feature was evident. It was time for Frank Miller's other beloved and critically acclaimed graphic novel to be adapted for the screen.

Frank Miller's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" not only had an effect on the entire comic book industry, it influenced director Tim Burton to make a serious film adaptation based on the super hero that turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Many fans and historians would say it is responsible for the popularity of comic book movies today.

It's been ten years since Batman's last appearance in Gotham City. Bruce Wayne has retired the cape and cowl for a life of tedium and drinking. He meets occasionally with Commissioner Gordon for drinks and to talk about the state of the world. Gordon knows Wayne's secret and is one of his only confidants.

Bruce begins having horrible nightmares about his parents' deaths and witnesses Gotham City digress even further into the depths of depravity at the hands of a new criminal syndicate calling themselves the Mutants. He's driven to suit up once again to take on the homicidal maniacs and show the citizens of Gotham City that they need not live in fear any longer.

"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" is the best animated feature film DC and Warner Premiere have released. There's no other way of putting it. It feels epic and holds a cinematic flare that the other entries in the DC animated super hero movie franchise haven't accomplished. That's not to say they aren't good or worthy of praise. However, this takes the medium to a whole new level.

The animation is top notch and, although it doesn't mimic Frank Millers artwork for the book, there's a certain respect towards the unique style of the illustrations reflected in the film. Batman is larger than life and as bulky as the Hulk, but isn't quite as "abstract" as Miller's interpretation of him in the graphic novel. This is as close to a perfect representation of the book as I can imagine.

My only complaint is that there are a few spots where the plot jumps around a bit and gets a little hard to follow. They jump from one thing to the next so quickly with brief or no explanation. The viewer is left to just keep up and embrace the fast pacing once the movie gets rolling.

Peter Weller does a wonderful job bringing an older and weary Bruce Wayne to life. When he hits the streets for the first time in ten years, you can hear the satisfaction in his voice at re-embracing his long-forgotten mission of ridding the streets of Gotham City of the filth and crime that overtakes it.

The Blu-ray version of "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" consists of quite a few treats for fans. There's a sneak peek of Part 2 and "Batman / Superman: Public Enemies." Two featurettes are included entitled "Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story" and "Her Name is Carrie... Her Role is Robin." There are also two bonus cartoons from "Batman: The Animated Series" featured. A section of the "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" digital comic is found as well.

"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" will be the animated feature all future entries into the DC franchise will be measured by. They've set the bar high with this one. With a spectacular looking and sounding high-definition movie experience and some satisfying special features, this is a recommended purchase for all super hero fans.

I own this blu-ray. Not sure how I got it delivered early from another company but I did and I can tell you that this is the finest Batman film ever made. It is up there with Batman Mast Of The Phantasm.

As a life long fan of Frank Millers Graphic Novel I was excited to see this following Batman Year One which also served the source proud.

There are a few differences from the source. Most notably, Millers trademark voice over narrative of Batman is gone. In the comic we really got into Bruce's head and Batman's. The good news is that I did not really notice this until I got my novel out after viewing. This does not detract from the great story. Another difference is the scene with the general who supplies the Mutants with weapons. There is an additional scene where Batman confronts the general rather than finding him dead.

The film finishes in a perfect place with the fight with the mutant with the incredible line "...this is an operating table and I'm the surgeon."

The voice talent is top notch. I'm a Kevin Conroy fan but Peter 'Robocop' Weller does a great job and its good to hear and see Batman and he truly belongs in the animated universe. The problem with Nolan's live action films is that they are great crime dramas but everytime Batman is on the screen it is embarrassing. It is a man in a suit with a stupid voice. It never worked for me.

This animation however, is a great experience and I cannot wait for part 2.

Extras on the blu-ray include a sneak peek at part 2, a couple of episodes from the animated series (Two Face) and a series of trailers.

Buy it now.

Buy Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) Now

This is a heads up for Daniel the retired cop who will not buy this because it is a scam...Daniel, this is not in any way associated with THE DARK KNIGHT RISES..this is an animated version of the Frank Miller comic book/graphic novel from 1986 that tells the story of Batman who comes out of retirement when he is 55 because Gotham is under seige by a gang called the Mutants...it is not in any way related to the summer film of this year...because as I have said before; is an animated version of the Nineteen Eighty Six comicbook of the same title....ok? You got it? Good...

Read Best Reviews of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) Here

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)For years, shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Brave and the Bold have given us tantalizing glimpses at an animated adaptation of Frank Miller's groundbreaking Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. If you had asked me what comic I most wanted to see adapted into The DC Animated Universe, it would have been without question "The Dark Knight Returns." Now finally, close to thirty years after its publication, I finally get my wish.

And it is ... disappointing.

"The Dark Knight Returns" is one of the greatest American comics ever published. That isn't idle praise. Frank Miller tapped deep into the collective unconsciousness to deliver a myth that continues to be an influence to this day. It is an incredible work of art. And DC had to have known that they needed to treat the story with a little more reverie. I am actually confused at how it got such a poor treatment. There are so many problems with this release, from the main film to the bonus features.

First off, and most obvious, is the decision to split the film into two parts. There is nothing behind that but money. DC knows they have a hot property on their hands, so they want to sell it to you twice. But, "The Dark Knight Returns" is still only a 4-issue comic, only slightly longer than Batman: Year One which was adapted to a single film. In order to justify the two-parter, they pad the story. Every scene of dialog is stretched just a little bit further. All of the conversations have just a few more lines thrown in, a few more long pauses. Not only is this awkward, but it completely throws off the pacing of the story. The scene with Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne sharing a drink occupies half a page in the comic, but here it is stretched out into minutes of dialog. And not good dialog. Boring dialog.

And the bizarre thing is, they cut out much of the actual great dialog already in the comic--or monologue in this case. All of Bruce Wayne's internal monologue, the very thing that drives the story, that gives depth and meaning to the dystopian landscape, that makes "The Dark Knight Returns" rise above, has been removed. All of his comments on his body, on the weight of age--gone. That famous scene where he does the back-kick? "There are seven working defenses from this position. Three of them disarm with minimal contact. Three of them kill. One of them ... hurts." Yeah, we still get that scene, but without the play-by-play. Just Batman kicking the guy behind him.

I really don't understand how that decision could have been made. Was there a meeting? Did someone propose "Hey! You know all of that great, famous monologue in "The Dark Knight Returns? " The stuff everyone quotes when they talk about the book? Why don't we just nix that and write a few more scenes of Wayne and Gordon having drinks?"

Seriously ...

And the voice acting. I had the same problem with "Batman: Year One," which looked great but just didn't have strong voice actors. Peter Weller does Batman, and I think he pulls it off well. Everyone else though ... Ariel Winter doing Carrie Kelly just doesn't sound right. She sounds like a pampered rich kid, with no edge or spirit. And all of the other voices; I know Miller put in some dialog that is hard to pull off. The Mutant-speak isn't exactly normal English. But these actors sound like a bunch of frat guys doing a parody of "gangster talk." It sounds so forced and fake, like they don't believe a word they are saying. When a killer steps up behind you and says "I need you mommie. Make me feel safe." it should send a chill down my spine, not a chuckle.

Art and animation-wise, things look decent. They didn't try to imitate Miller's style at all, but I am OK with that. I think they could have been more creative with the television cut-scenes, and more moody with their use of shadows, as well as making better use of some of the visual impact of the comic. Gone is the iconic scene of Batman holding the flag-covered corpse of the General. Gone is the scene towards the end of Harvey Dent's face "matching." But all in all, the animation is solid, and if this were just a regular Batman animated show I would give it full marks.

Now the bonus features (and I am talking about the Blu-Ray here). This is another "What were they thinking?" moment for me. There is almost nothing here about "The Dark Knight Returns." The Carried Kelly feature is cool, talking about a female Robin. But where is the "Frank Miller and Batman" featurette? Where is the "1986: The Year that Changed Comics" short? Or something like that. Something to show the impact and gravity of the comic they are adapting. Instead there is an (admittedly interesting) piece on "Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story." What? Bob Kane? Umm, that's cool and all, but Bob Kane had nothing to do with this.

I have the 25th Anniversary leather-bound edition of "The Dark Knight Returns," and it is filled with newspaper articles and stories about the impact the comic had, the firestorm of press it created, how it directly lead to the creation of Tim Burton's Batman film. There is a wealth of material available. I am always amazed at how little effort DC spends on these bonus features to lead people back to the source comics. It's like they don't want to acknowledge Miller's contribution at all, or how this single comic revolutionized the industry. Maybe they are scared of leading people to the original "Dark Knight Returns" because then they will see what a poor adaptation this is.

Instead we get "The Bob Kane Story." Which again, is admittedly cool. It's funny how all of these comics professionals try to tip-toe around the truth, and bite their tongues to keep from shouting out "Bob Kane was a jerk!" It's even funnier than not all of them succeed. And to hear Stan Lee call someone an egotistical, self-promoting gasbag without even a trace of irony is hilarious. But still, this is "The Dark Knight Returns." I want to hear about Frank Miller. I want to hear about THIS comic.

And the two "Batman: The Animated Series" episodes included: They are about Two-Face. That's cool. But why not "Legends of the Dark Knight" from "Batman: The Animated Series" or "The Battle of the Superheroes" from "Brave and the Bold" that featured scenes from "Dark Knight Returns?" I don't get it. Even the cover of this DVD. Why didn't they use the famous cover from the comic? Sigh ...

Am I getting Part 2? Of course I am getting Part 2. Am I going to be disappointed? Yes. That seems to be par for the course nowadays.

Want Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) Discount?

No cheap puns. No lousy love story. Just bone-crunching fun.

I'm not a huge fan of comics but I have read the Dark Knight Returns. For the most part the film stays true to the story arc. It isn't a scene-for-scene/line-for-line representation, but it does capture Mazzuchelli's art, mood and style quite well. The fight scenes are fantastic.

The soundtrack is brooding and takes some noticeable cues from Hans Zimmer's musical scores. I enjoyed it and would even buy a few tracks if they were available in mp3.

Peter Weller's low, brawny, full-bodied voice was a perfect choice for Batman. Gordon's performance was a little disappointing and a little wooden in places. The slang from the mutants sounded pretentious and unnatural at times, but the filmmakers did the best they could with Miller's writing. Frank Miller just doesn't have very good ear for dialogue.

Overall, this is excellent for a cartoon though and an improvement on previous batman animations I've seen. And this IS a cartoon intended for teens and adults. I wasn't expecting some of the violence from the comic to be carried into the cartoon. But some gruesome elements may catch you off-guard if you haven't read the book, such as a scene where one of the characters is heard committing suicide off-screen.

Most of the negative reviews come from morons who thought this was live action. Too bad. There's no scam here. And if you can't read or pay attention to what you're buying you deserve to be ripped off by people who are more intelligent. Congratulations, you get the Darwin award.

Otherwise, unless you have some neurotic, emotional attachment to Frank Miller's story exactly as it is presented in the comic, you won't be disappointed.

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