The Red House (1947)

I first saw this film on the late show back in the 50's when I was a mere child. It scared the pants off me then, and pretty much does the same now. This is what I call staying power. Too bad more people aren't aware of this film. The sad thing about the presentation of this film (I have both the VHS & DVD) is that the sound recording needs definite restorative work. This would really be disturbing if the film itself wasn't so compelling. The production values as well as the production team are all A-List, from the fine direction of Delmer Daves to the outstanding mood-setting score of Max Steiner to the casting of pro stars like Edward G. Robinson & Judith Anderson sharing the screen with teen magazine heart-throbs Rory Calhoun and Julie London. Lon McCallister is fine in what is really the lead role, and a very fine performance by young Allene Roberts (whatever happened to her!). The DVD is pretty much of the bargain-bin variety, though there are a couple of little extras on it...most notably explaining that Robinson's career came to a standstill after this film because of the Hollywood blacklist. The suspense factor is among the highest I can recall (EVER!); the script is literate and clever; characters are well-defined; and the creepy mood is consistant. See this film and tell all your friends; you will NOT be disappointed.

An underrated psychological mood piece directed with great skill by Delmer Daves, it is best watched in the dark with no interruptions so that its full power can be realised. I did not go down in the woods for quite a while after watching this film and gained an added appreciation for the work of Edward G. Robinson and that great actor Judith Anderson (see also Hitchcock's REBECCA). From one of the greatest periods of Hollywood movie making.

Buy The Red House (1947) Now

The Blu-Ray is the edition to snag for this fine psychological thriller. There are so many poor public-domain transfers of The Red House out there that it is a relief to finally see the film in a decent presentation. The downside to this purchase is the commentary by William Hare. He may be a fine author (he is listed as having written several film books), but this is undoubtedly the worst film commentary I've ever heard. Hare's commentary is "scene-specific," but he merely restates what is happening on the screen. When I choose to listen to a commentary, I expect to learn something beyond what I've already observed, not to be provided a verbal summary of what is happening on the screen. I found the commentary insulting to the viewer's intelligence and suspect that Mr. Hare simply "didn't do his homework." This is a real shame because there's a lot of meat in this film to dig into. The Miklos Rozsa score alone is a marvel, to say nothing of Edward G's outstanding performance. A real missed opportunity in the commentary department, but certainly worth the purchase for the much-improved image.

Read Best Reviews of The Red House (1947) Here

Edward G. Robinson is fantastic as the man with the dark secret, in this excellent thriller! I bought it expecting to be either bored or amused. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised! The Red House is actually pretty creepy. Robinson plays a farmer who is not what he appears to be. There's a red house in the woods where something terrible happened many years earlier. His daughter (Arlene Roberts), and his sister (the magnificent Judith "Mrs. Danvers" Anderson) live with him. A boy comes to help out on the farm and the web of mystery slowly unravels. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves thrillers, chillers, or just plain good movies...

Want The Red House (1947) Discount?

Many of the reviews I read about this April, 2012 Blu-Ray/DVD combo release were positive regarding the restoration; however, at least one review was negative.

I've been an Amazon purchaser for 10+ years and have bought every DVD of this movie hoping to get a decent copy. Until now, my best copy was from Critic's Choice their DVD copy is far from perfect. Since I have yet to purchase a Blu-Ray player, I've only experienced the DVD disk from this set. I'm amazed at how clear the film is from start to finish this is the video set to own! The only negatives are that the sound, although improved, could be a tad cleaner (perhaps I need a better sound system) and there are slightly faded right and left boarders of some of the frames that were shot in darkness (night scenes): to me these are minor issues. I now can relax and enjoy this movie as I've always wanted to. I sincerely appreciate HD Cinema Classics and those who restored this film for their wonderful work.

Save 36% Off

Night Riders (1939)

As a kid, I would sit for hours and watch old westerns on TV on Saturday morning. My favorite was "The Duke". The 3 Mesquiteers films, he made 8 of them, were the best. I loved the music. It was just fun, silly fun, but fun.

Olive Films has been releasing a number of early John Wayne Republic B westerns, ifrom fine quality prints on DVD. This one packs all the action that old cowpokes enjoy. Good quality print. Recommended.

Buy Night Riders (1939) Now

1. Nothing derogatory about the movie in itself. Just be aware that it is in Italian ONLY. No English language or sub-titles.

2. The advertisement lists 2 movies titles, "The Night Riders" and "Lone Star Bullets". This is untrue. There is ONLY one movie, "The Night Riders".

Read Best Reviews of Night Riders (1939) Here

I like John Wayne movies and collect all the movies he made. This was one of his early movies, which all are about the same stores as many silent movies done before sound. They changed the people appearing in the movies and sometimes the name of the movie. But if you are a John Wayne fan it does not matter you just like watching his movies.

Want Night Riders (1939) Discount?

I'm most delighted to see John Wayne's old classic movies being preserved onto DVD and even happerier that there are merchants who sell such product.

Save 3% Off

Flashdance (2013)

Of the top five or so movies that have had the greatest impression on me, no movie had the personal impact as did "Flashdance." I was going through, what I like to call, a "character building" period in my life after having moved to California a little less than a year before this movie came out. Long story short: no job, no car, no money when a friend of mine called and said he wanted me to go see "Flashdance," with himhis treat. After a little coercing, I gave in.

Yes, the movie has a typical or predictable plot, but I would not call it weak because of the actors and the memorable characters they created. The viewer is bonded to the characters in this movieone cares what happens to them. The cinematography in this movie is great, especially the opening credit scenes of Pittsburgh as Alex is riding her bike to work. No, this movie doesn't have "5-star" acting... I think that would have ruined this whole movie. It has, what I would call, "real-life" acting: not that polished and maybe stumbles a bit here and there. It gives this movie its strength, not a weakness.

Not only are the musical scenes great, the background musical interludes chosen also help set the feeling in many of the scenes... "Lady, Lady, Lady," sung by Joe Esposito playing during a tender romantic scene between Alex and her boss, andmy favorite"I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is," sung by Kim Carnes played during one of Alex's low-points in the film.

The highlight of the film is its finale when Alex is auditioning in front of the Pittsburgh Dance and Conservatory Company's selection committee. I would call it one of the greatest movie moments of all time. I stepped out of the theatre feeling I was walking three feet above the ground back to the car. I have never left another movie sensing that level of enthusiasm, exhilaration, and energy. I made myself a promise at that moment that things would get better... and they did too... in ways I never could have imagined at the time. Thank you, Jennifer Beals, for the motivation and inspiration you gave me at that time in my life!

This was one of the most influential movies of the '80's. The DVD picture is clearer and the sound incredible compared to my ol' VHS tape. GREAT movie! If you haven't seen it, buy it and see what positive effect it has on you!

You just keep waiting for that Oscar-winning title song to come around again; it's gotta be the most joyful, uplifting, foot-stompin', head and hip swinging tune ever written for a movie. Jennifer Beals works as a welder by day, but does sexy dancing in a club at night, practicing constantly for a chance to audition for the formal dance school, tho she'd never had formal training and feels inferior to the others in the audition lines.

As reality, it won't float. But as an energetic and boisterous vehicle for a sweet story and some of the best music and dancing ever seen on screen, it's a five-star winner.

Buy Flashdance (2013) Now

This movie has some good music and dancing, in a sappy plot. But the music and dancing are not integral to the plot development; they do not carry the film in the way dancing carries "Dirty Dancing" or "The Turning Point" (both of which have better dancing, by the way.)

But it's one of my favorite movies. Why? The director, Adrian Lyne, got his experience directing TV commercials, where the entire message has to be conveyed in 60 seconds, and in Flashdance every moment is contributing something. The key is the cinematography. Leonard Maltin calls Lyne a "visual stylist", and he is, but he's more. He takes Roman Polanski's cinematographic innovations and pushes them to new limits; the camera tells the story.

When you watch "Flashdance", watch how light and camera angle are used. Light: Pittsburgh light, hazy, smoky, dull, reflecting off puddles, blazing from lamps, dim, bright, strobe, whatever; lighting carries the mood of each scene. As for camera angle, in most movies we are observers, outside the movie, watching the actors. In some of "Flashdance" that is also true, but then in many places the camera angle shifts so we are inside the movie, seeing what one of the actors, or several of the actors, see at that moment. It just pulls you in. If you're not familiar with the film, the first time you watch it wait for the final "audition" scene, and watch how the camera is first an observer, before the dancer enters the audition room, then sees from the dancer's view as the audition begins, and then shifts to show us what the judges see, as the dancing becomes compelling. I don't know about you, but this grabs me and pulls me in; I could watch that scene five times running. And there are many other scenes in which camera angle is used similarly but not quite as obviously. I give this movie four stars; I would give it five if the music and dancing were as well integrated with the plot as in some other movies.

Read Best Reviews of Flashdance (2013) Here

Although I've long known, generally speaking, what this movie is about, I never saw it when it came out in 1983, because I was too busy "living my life" in the 80's during my preteens. But I just saw it recently, in its entirety, and thought it was pretty decent.

I don't know, maybe it's the current sorry state of affairs of the world today that made me want to watch this film, just so I could revisit the "Happy Days(?)" of the eighties, when, although the world was also in a sorry state of affairs, at least there was an underlying pretense of hope and glory, a pervasive (albeit childlike) adherence to the belief that wishes DO sometimes come true, miracles CAN happen, and for every ugly frog there IS a beautiful princess waiting to kiss him...

Many viewers commented that this film is very dated, but not necessarily bad. It was looked upon as a bit of fluff that was very successful in the box office. So now, it would come across as nostalgic (in the same vein as "Dirty Dancing"). But the thing I do like about it, is just that. Adrian Lyne perfectly captured the time, a post disco era when Break-dancing and Synth Pop were all the rage Who could forget the FANTASTIC theme song, sung by Irene Cara (Fame) and composed by Synth Pop genius Giorgio Moroder ("I feel love" Donna Summer among many others).

So what if Jennifer Beals wasn't a great actress? So what if it wasn't her dancing? (Think one of them was a break dancer from "The Rock Steady Crew" see? All about the era!) she was just a pretty woman who done a harmless bit at the time. If you love movies and music(especially from the 80's), then this is for you. This movie deserves a bit more credit (in my opinion), as it is a movie that can easily be enjoyed.

Want Flashdance (2013) Discount?

Simply the best movie of our generation! When was the last time a movie inspired you to not only realize your dream, but tap your feet until you do so?

Did "Gladiator", "Saving Private Ryan", or "Castaway" motivate you enough to at least THINK of what it takes to realize a dream?

No? Then "Flashdance" should do the trick. If not, then you must lead a pretty fulfilled life!

"Flashdance" may at first look like a softcore porn set to music, but look--listen--deeper; you might find a little inspiration, if not through the movie itself then definetly through its music.

Save 25% Off

Jazz Singer (2013)

Almost immediately after Warner Bros' huge financial gamble premiered in Oct 1927, other studios' concerned bigwigs frantically ordered their studios to immediately equip themselves to do sound movies. New careers were made -and shattered -overnight. If you haven't seen The Jazz Singer, considered the first "talking movie" (even though there actually were some earlier sporadic experiments) this is a video worth not only seeing but OWNING for several reasons: a)You see Al Jolson at his height. He was one of the first half of the 20th century's biggest stars and some of his stage charisma comes through in this movie's songs. Most of the flick is actually silent except for the songs. Originally he was only supposed to sing, but he ad libbed a few lines and the response was absolutely electric when audiences heard and saw him say these few words on the screen. b)The story's value: a Jewish religious leader's son, torn between tradition (using his voice for religion and following in his dad's footsteps) or to please the masses (as a jazz singer in vaudeville). Follow family tradition or national culture? c)The historical show biz value: the Warner brothers put everything they on the line in doing this flick and if it had failed sound movies would have been set back about 10 years (or more) -and maybe Bugs Bunny wouldn't have been invented. d)Technical show biz value: The Warners used Vitaphone, which was basically sound on disks synchronized to the film's action. You also get a nice zippy period musical score throughout the movie. f)American history historical value: Note long shots of the Jewish ghetto. They were actual shots of a New York street taken through a window -NOT extras on a movie set. And the theater in which Jolson sings was the Wintergarden, a theater in which he often performed. g)Cultural historical value: even though Jolson's belt-em-out vocal style (effective in theaters without mikes) is part of the reason you don't hear about him anymore, a MAJOR part of his vanishing public historical profile is because he did some of his stage act in "blackface" and minstrel shows were viewed a bit differently in those days. You will SELDOM EVER see this film aired on television due to the fact that blackface is so obviously politically incorrect (understatement!). Does this hold up? YES, it is corny but it is also deeply touching and Jolson's stage pizazz reaches across nearly a century on most numbers (one or two now are almost "camp" but weren't back then). Advice: it won't be available on video forever as the 21st century advances. And you might not find it at your local rental store. Get it now. It's the movie that forever changed Hollywood -and it's still entertaining.

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I watch it at least once a month and each time I see it, there's something fresh to savor. Al Jolson is just one of the major attractions of this part-talkie, part-silent. You've got this powerful, knock-out film score that enhances tremendously the intense emotion of this drama. I don't know if this score was the one first heard by movie-goers in l927 but if it was, one can only imagine the extraordinary impact it had, along with that new-fangled invention called "Talkies." Throughout this gripping drama, the musical score soars and throbs, nearly sobbing and then laughing with each scene. Eugenie Besserer is unforgettable as the Jewish mother who never gives up loving her Jazz Singer. Besserer specialized in playing mothers during the silent era. As far as I can tell, she never appeared in the talkies so perhaps her voice didn't measure up. You hear just hints of it when Jolson is singing "Blue Skies" to her. In his memoirs, he said that Besserer helped him out tremendously in this--his first full length film. When he felt exhausted and despaired, Besserer came and cheered him up. I get so terribly sick of these politically correct reviewers who harp and whine about the scenes of Jolson wearing black face. This was l927, you idiots! Minstrel Shows and black face were an accepted theatrical institution during this era. It was meant as homage to the great black musicians and performers and was never intended to be a slap in the face to these artists. So view this classic in the framework of the time it was made. This movie can be maddening because just when you're enraptured by hearing the actual voice of Al Jolson, then the sound stops and the music begins again. This is a fascinating journey back into time, when singing jazz was the hottest thing to do in the Jazz Age!

Buy Jazz Singer (2013) Now

In 1926 Sam Warner of the Warner Brothers decided to invest in the Vitaphone sound system. Don Juan was their first Vitaphone film, but it only contained music and sound effects. In 1927 Warner adapted the Samson Raphaelson Broadway hit The Jazz Singer into a movie and, this time, they incorporated vocal musical numbers in what was still a silent film for all but twenty minutes. Contrary to popular belief, audiences had heard music on film before, and they had heard dialogue on film before. What they had not heard or seen before were either of these things being particularly entertaining. When Jolson sings "Blue Skies" to his mother while adlibbing humorous comments, it all came across as so completely natural that people suddenly realized that sound on film could be entertaining and not just some novelty act. Despite its many shortcomings, including the predictable storyline, The Jazz Singer was a box-office success and a cinema milestone.

This new 80th Anniversary Edition of the Jazz Singer due in October 2007 contains three discs of extras and appears to be just as much a tribute to the birth of the talking picture as a fully digitized release of the Jazz Singer. Disc 1 is dedicated to the film itself, and includes a commentary track. "A Plantation Act" is also included. This is a 1926 Vitaphone short also starring Jolson. Disc 2 is dedicated to the silent to sound transition and includes a documentary on this subject along with shorter featurettes. The real jewel in the crown of this disc is the excerpt from "The Gold Diggers of Broadway". That was the top-grossing picture of 1929 and is an example of a very good all-Technicolor musical of the pre-Depression era. Unfortunately, it was considered lost for years and only a little over two reels (about 20 minutes) survive. Disc 3 contains almost four hours of Vitaphone shorts. These films run the gamut from musical theater legends and vaudeville acts, to dramatic vignettes and classical music performances from the most prestigious artists of the era. Most of these were shorts considered lost for decades, until a consortium of archivists and historians joined forces with a goal to restore these time capsules of entertainment history. Up until now, contemporary audiences have only been able to see these shorts via rare retrospective showings in a few large cities, or through the limited release of a restored handful of the earliest subjects, which were part of a 1996 laserdisc set. This new collection will finally make these films available on DVD. The actual Vitaphone shorts are included in the product description. Seems like a must buy for anyone interested in the film itself or the dawn of sound.

Read Best Reviews of Jazz Singer (2013) Here

First, ignore the old comments in this string that refer to the old VHS release and have nothing to do with this truly awesome new 3 DVD set. The content is awesome. Even if you have no interest in the feature (which has been completely restored with sound direct from origina discs and a new print). The fact this set contains 26 early, never on DVD (most never on video) Vitaphone vaudeville and music shorts from 1926-30, a new feature length documentary on the coming of sound, a dozen more shorts, and loads more extras ---for less than $30 on Amazon --makes this a must have for any film buff.

Recognize that NO other studio is releasing this kind of early talkie material, nor shorts. WHV is to be congratulated for assembling a first class package in a first class way. Please spread the word on this set. If it does well, perhaps more early stuff will emerge from the vaults!

Producer George Feltenstein deserves special recogition for sticking his neck out and producing a stellar set. Thanks!

Want Jazz Singer (2013) Discount?

Many others here have eloquently extolled the virtues of this incredible DVD release. I echo their laudatory comments. Jaw-dropping is the right word to describe the overall presentation.

I always thought THE JAZZ SINGER was a 'good' film, but not a masterpiece of cinema. The amazing energy of Jolson, and knowing its place in film history earned it my respect and admiration. My assertion was likely due to the limited quality of the image and audio. The resoration here takes the movie out of the gauze and lets you appreciate the film in a way that people couldn't even in 1927. The projection quality and the speakers back in 1927 couldn't even deliver the amazement that you see in this DVD restoration.

The film gets a sterling commentary from two noteworthy scholars who impart enormous background on the making of the film. There are many rare shorts featuring Jolson, the Lux Radio Adaptation, a Jolson trailer gallery, and the great Tex Avery cartoon parody I LOVE TO SINGA.

But wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothin' yet.

Altough the restored feature and the supplements alone are worth the very reasonable price (along the Criterion level, and with equal, if not superior presentation), there are TWO more discs, stuffed with amazing things.

Disc Three has two dozen (24) rare VITAPHONE shorts. Incredible glimpses of vaudeville performers, mostly forgotten, who hopefully will now be remembered.

Disc Two has a myriad of vintage shorts, but its highlight is a terrific feature-length documentary called THE DAWN OF SOUND: HOW MOVIES LEARNED TO TALK. This documentary is not recycled, and was not made for TV. It was made for this release... No one has ever made a definitive documentary on this period, and now it's been done, and done beautifully.

Now, we get to the packaging. The gorgeous sturdy box opens to reveal a beatiful three-disc layout with an original theatrical release one=sheet poster as its centerpiece. How cool is it that Warner Bros. re-created VITAPHONE DISC labels for the DVD labels. Only WB would know to do that!

Inside are numerous rarities, still reproductions, and a copy of the original souvenir program.

I'm buying a bunch of these to give as gifts. This is an overwhelming release, and it's the pefect gift for anyone who loves motion pictures

A DVD release like this 3 Disc set for THE JAZZ SINGER shows that the current Warner Bros. staff respects its company's history. A rarity these days. That's why they are the best company in the industry.

Bravo, Warner Bros., Bravo!

Save 25% Off

The Ledge (2011)

"I have to stay up here until noon and then jump, if I don't someone

else is gonna die." Hollis (Howard) job is to talk down suicide

jumpers, after finding out that his kids may not be his he is sent out

to talk to Gavin (Hunnam). But there are always two sides to every

story and Gavin is not on the ledge by choice. This is the type of

movie that you watch because of the cast and end up being blown away.

While the movie is a little slow in parts the message, acting and plot

are great. All four main characters in this movie are all conflicted

and each have their own choice to make in order to move on with their

lives and it is intriguing to watch all of them handle it. At it's core

this is a movie about faith and morals and will leave you questioning

yourself as to what you would do in each position. That is the sign of

a good movie, one that makes you look at yourself in a way you may not

have before. Overall, I highly recommend this movie. More movies should

be like this. I give it a B+.

Would I watch again? I think I would in order to catch everything,

there is so much to take in you may not be able to get it all the first

time.

*Also try Last Night

Gavin (Charlie Hunnam) is a faithless jumper on a ledge. Terrence Howard plays Hollis, a police officer whose job it is to talk him down. The story as to how he got to the ledge is a flashback and the main part of the movie. This is interrupted by scenes of Hollis confronting his wife, which we don't know if these are flashbacks or if this is something he is thinking about doing.

Gavin is a hotel manager. His roommate is a gay Jew and HIV positive. Liv Tyler plays his mousey neighbor married to an unlikable Christian who wants to convert gays and atheists. Liv gets a job working for Gavin, who wants to liberate her from Mr. Joe Christian. I grew weary of the stereotyping of both Christians and atheists before this thing was half over... Catholics burn in hell and atheists are atheists because of some event in their life to make them hate God. Later the movie deviates from the stereotypes. Christians are not always good and atheists are not always bad. They are both human. Ho-hum.

Joe Christian treats his wife like dirt. Liv Tyler tells a far fetched story on how she met Joe, who as it turns out is a bit psychotic. The movie starts out slow and draws you in to where you have to see what happens. It doesn't make any definitive statement about God or atheism.

F-bomb, sex talk, sex, nudity (Liv Tyler)

Buy The Ledge (2011) Now

Matthew Chapman both wrote and directed this film that relates a fine little suspense thriller along with an ongoing debate between atheism and fundamental evangelical Christianity. As back ground it is of interest to note that Chapman has written two books 'Trials Of The Monkey An Accidental Memoir', an account of the Scopes Trial told in the form of a road trip Chapman took to the town where the trial took place, along with a memoir of his childhood growing up as a descendant of Charles Darwin, and '40 Days and 40 Nights Darwin, Intelligent Design, God, OxyContin, and Other Oddities On Trial in Pennsylvania', that tells the story of a small town ripped apart when fundamentalism and science came in conflict. It is obvious that Chapman is concerned about the dichotomy of faith and belief in God and the polar opposite, atheism: this theme is an important part of the impact of the story of THE LEDGE a title that not only explains the place where the tale takes place but likely also explains the stance of Chapman in the process of deciding his own belief system.

The film begins with a young man Gavin running up to the top floor of a building to stand on a ledge in order to commit suicide. A policeman is assigned to talk him down: the story is told in flashbacks. Gavin Nichols (Charlie Hunnam) is a likable guy who is in hotel management. Quite by accident he encounters a beautiful but shy Shana (Liv Tyler) on the bus only to discover that Shana is applying for work at this hotel as a housekeeper to make extra money to afford school. There is an attraction but Shana quickly lets Gavin know that she is married: her husband Joe (Patrick Wilson) is a evangelical fundamentalist who orders his and Shana's life according to Bible teachings. By chance Shana and Joe live in the same apartment building and the same corridor as Gavin: Gavin's roommate Chris (Christopher Gorham) is gay and is HIV positive and Gavin has taken him in when his family and friends deserted Chris. Joe and Shana invite Gavin and Chris to dinner where it becomes painfully obvious that Joe, thinking that both men are gay, finds their lifestyle abominably sinful. There is a fiery discussion about Gavin's disbelief in the things Joe believes in. Gavin leaves in disgust but the gentle Chris stays a bit longer until he discovers that Joe wants to convert him so that he can change his life and avoid damnation.

Gavin and Shana have an affair, Joe learns about it, and threatens Gavin that by noon either he will kill Shana or Gavin can jump to his suicide death. We gradually discover Shana's dark background which explains why she stays with Joe and Gavin's equally tortured background which explains why he has lost all semblance of faith and only sees the need to care for his fellowman. And we learn that detective Hollis (Terrance Howard) assigned to talk Gavin down from the ledge has his own personal failure to have faith due to newly discovered challenges to his concept of his home life. It is this struggle among the five characters and the way that destiny has thrown them together that brings a very surprising end to this film.

There is a lot to digest in this tense drama. At times the role of fundamental religion threatens to over take the film (Patrick Wilson plays his role of a reformed sinner to the hilt), but due to the cautious writing of the script combined with the spot on acting skills of each of the five leads the audience is left to draw their own conclusions about the atheism/ fundamentalism debate. Grady Harp, July 11

Read Best Reviews of The Ledge (2011) Here

Writer/director Matthew Chapman had a terrific idea for a complex movie dealing with faith and sacrifice set in a neo-noir framework. I absolutely love the idea of "The Ledge" and its intriguing premise earns it some merit. But if I'm being honest, the themes that Chapman wants to introduce and wrestle with are largely undermined by a screenplay that presents some of the most awkward dialogue and contrived settings that you're likely to encounter in a serious picture with this much talent involved. Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, Terrence Howard and Charlie Hunnam are all actors that I have connected with in the past. It's easy to see the attraction that this type of movie would have held for them. But aside from one great scene near the end for Wilson, the rest of the cast flounders with the clunky script and overwrought ideology. The film bludgeons you with its many debates on religious notions by forcing characters together that would never expend so much effort in the real world attempting to communicate. Sadly, it's a near fatal flaw.

The plot of "The Ledge" is exceedingly strong. Hunnam starts the movie by climbing out onto a ledge (no big surprise considering the title) with the intent to jump. Howard, as a cop having a bad day, is on the scene to talk him down--but instead is the recipient of a story of why the potential suicide may be more than it seems. Hunnam relates a tale that involves adultery and religious debate with his new neighbors (Wilson and Tyler). Both have had a challenging past, but they've settled into a life as fundamentalist Christians. Their friendship with the atheist Hunnam is an opportunity for basic debate. And while it's always nice to have a movie that is unafraid to tackle religious themes overtly, there is a clumsiness to these scenes that can be difficult to handle. Neither party is particularly likable, have nothing in common, would never develop a relationship more than to say "hi" in the hallway--but the movie consistently puts them together for meaningful dialogue. There is nothing natural about the flow of the film.

I'm not going to discuss more of the plot so as not to give anything away--but it is these central conflicts that eventually drive Hunnam to the aforementioned ledge. The film could easily have been turned into a nifty little thriller with more realistic character development. Hunnam's character is blatantly unprofessional and inappropriate at work. A good actor, here he is stranded in a thoroughly unappealing and unbelievable character. Seriously, his seduction scenes with Tyler made me alternately laugh and cringe with some of the silliest dialogue I've encountered this year. Tyler, for her part, plays one emotion. It's hard to see what is supposed to be so alluring about this expressionless character. Howard is undeveloped. His plot thread is conveniently tacked on to heighten the drama and for him to be the recipient of the piece's deep philosophical lessons. Wilson, one of our most underrated actors, is turned into a zealot--but has one scene that sticks out in a refreshingly riveting way.

It was, ultimately, the characters that left me cold as well as the heavy handed message. For example, Christopher Gorham is on hand as Hunnam's homosexual Jewish roommate. Why? As a plot device, of course, so Wilson can scorn homosexuals and Hunnam can challenge religion (he can quote from the Talmud, naturally). At one point, Gorham is bathing the apartment in blessed Temple water. Really? It's overdone and obvious. With a bit of subtlety, Chapman might have scored a real triumph. I loved the idea, I like the actors--but (for me) little about the movie worked. Good ambition, but lacking in the execution. KGHarris, 9/11.

Want The Ledge (2011) Discount?

Enjoy my video review of this thriller. Here are the highlights:

What I liked: Thought-provoking questions about atheism and Christianity. What happens when the two fight head-to-head? The soundtrack was beautiful.

What could have been improved: The dialogue felt a bit forced. Cinematography left a bit to be desired.

The Ending: I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but it made a profound statement.

All in all, I enjoyed the movie. It opened a pathway of communication between my husband and I about our differing beliefs. (He's a Catholic. I am an atheist.)

Save 67% Off

Hairspray (Two-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition) (2007)

`Hairspray' is a non-stop, exhilarating song and dance extravaganza. This exuberant remake of the John Waters' musical is funny, fast, and fabulous. Adam Shankman's direction is appropriately lilting in the right measure, but balanced with social commentary highlights. Unlike 'Dreamgirls,' there are no Oscar worthy performances, but the production is so fun there doesn't have to be. The entertainment is winning on every level, and, as for the songs, it never goes limp.

Once again we are transported to the early sixties in Baltimore, where flannel is uniform, Blacks and Whites are segregated, and beehives are in fashion. The plot is fairly simple: Overweight teen Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) wants to break the mold on her favorite TV program "The Corny Collins Show" (an "American Bandstand"-like feature) while discovering a more urgent need to end segregation on a show that only sometimes features "Negro Night". She gets her big break when teen singing sensation, Link Larkin (Zac Efron) makes advances that bring her to the stage floor. In the meantime, her success is challenged by the show's program manager, (played with overbearing skill by Michelle Pfeiffer) and her daughter, Amber, the show's reigning "Miss Teenage Hairspray," a nasty nemesis . Joining forces with her Afro-American friends, especially Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah) and dancer Seaweed (Elijah Kelly), she works for equal time on the dance floor.

`Hairspray' is set as perfect entertainment. John Travolta provides likable loopiness as Nikki's mother while he dances and cross-dresses his way into our hearts. The villains are nasty enough, and the sweetness pervades even amongst important demonstrations on key social issues. When it all comes down to balance, 'Hairspray' fills the bill.

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) This is the sort of brassy, candy-coated musical to which you either give yourself entirely or not at all because there is little room in between. First, there was the edgy 1988 John Waters comedy followed years later by the sunnier 2002 Broadway musical version. I thoroughly enjoyed the elaborate stage version thanks mainly to Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's ebullient music and sharp lyrics and stellar performances from Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur as a most unlikely mother and daughter in 1962 Baltimore. That most of that high-kicking, watusi-gyrating spirit remains intact is quite an accomplishment for director Adam Shankman, whose previous track record consists of mediocre studio comedies. Adapting Mark O'Donnell's stage book, screenwriter Leslie Dixon seems equally unlikely of pulling it off. Yet, somehow they do and even bring a deeper sense of gravitas than the previous incarnations with the heavier elements of racism and segregation. Starting out his career as a dancer and choreographer, Shankman provides the energetic, in-your-face choreography that is appropriately applied here.

The story centers on Tracy Turnblad, a genuinely optimistic teenager, a bouncing bundle of energy obsessed with the local Corny Collins dance show. Living in a working-class neighborhood with her agoraphobic, self-consciously plus-sized mother Edna and her congenial, novelty store-owner father Wilbur, Tracy only wants to dance on Corny's show. Standing in her way is the malevolent Velma Von Tussle, an aging beauty who owns the TV station, and her equally venal daughter Amber. Once a month, the station allows the dance show to have a co-host, blonde-tressed Motormouth Maybelle, who holds a "Negro Day" to allow the local black kids to dance on their own. These kids seem to end up in detention a lot since Tracy finds them there and learns new dance moves from them. She realizes the world would be a better place if black and white kids were able to dance together on Corny's show. This sets up the story's central conflict, which comes accompanied by romantic complications among the various characters. All of this ends with the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant and naturally a pull-all-the-stops production number.

The casting is inspired. Following Divine and especially Fierstein in the cross-dressing role of Edna is no easy task, but John Travolta brings a surprising delicacy to the character. The novelty of his casting never wears off, but he also does not stoop that much to parody either. Even with a slightly garbled Baltimore accent, he is convincing as a woman who has accepted life's compromises for the sake of her family. Alternating quickly between clever and broad, Michelle Pfeiffer has a field day playing Velma, though she has precious little opportunity to show off her long dormant singing talent. As Maybelle, Queen Latifah seems to be cornering the market on musical earth-mother types and gets her shining moments on "Big Blonde and Beautiful" and especially on the gospel-flavored "I Know Where I've Been". Christopher Walken has comparatively less to do as the put-upon Wilbur, though he shows off his singing and dancing skills on his sweet pas de deux with Travolta on "(You're) Timeless to Me".

For all the veteran talent on display, it's Nikki Blonsky who carries the heart of the movie as Tracy, and her sunny demeanor and "American Idol"-caliber talent keep the story aloft. The other teens Zac Efron as singing heartthrob Link, Amanda Bynes as devoted best friend Penny, Brittany Snow as spoiled Amber, and Elijah Kelley as Maybelle's son Seaweed are all played with energetic adolescent brio. Complementing the principal cast are James Marsden as the perpetually smiling Corny and Allison Janney as Penny's Bible-thumping mother. Everyone is in the right spirit, and the pacing and tone are spot-on. The film's one weakness is a certain lack of energy in the camera movement around the production numbers, as Shankman's tendency is to film key dance sequences intermittently at mid-waist level. The net effect is a reduction in the overall energy level at key moments such as Travolta's Tina Turner-style turn at the end. Regardless, this is fun stuff for those open to this genre.

Buy Hairspray (Two-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition) (2007) Now

Information below was found on another site I hope it's accurate. If Amazon wants to add this to the description and delete this comment it's fine with me.

Single-Disc Edition:

* 16×9 widescreen version of the film or 4×3 fullscreen version of the film

* English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound

* English & Spanish subtitles

* Closed captions

Two-Disc "Shake and Shimmy" Edition:

* "Behind the Beat" picture-in-picture option allowing viewers to watch behind-the-scenes footage and on-screen commentary concurrently with the running feature (HD Exclusive)

* All new musical number, "I Can Wait"

* Feature-length audio commentary from director and choreographer Adam Shankman, star Nikki Blonsky and producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron

* Deleted scenes with audio commentary from director and choreographer Adam Shankman and star Nikki Blonsky

* "You Can't Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of Hairspray" documentary

* "Step By Step: The Dances of Hairspray" featurette offering how-to dance instruction

* "Hairspray Extensions" featurette, giving viewers dance breakdowns

* Jump to a song with optional sing-along feature

* "The Roots of Hairspray" featurette

* Interactive menus

* Theatrical trailer

* 16×9 widescreen version of the film

* English 2.0 Stereo Surround

* English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (on feature, deleted scenes and interactive menus)

* English & Spanish subtitles

* Closed captions

Read Best Reviews of Hairspray (Two-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition) (2007) Here

Any film that features a touching love scene shot in a Baltimore backyard with laundry hanging on the line (as Moms used to say) between Christopher Walken ( Wilbur Turnblad) and John Travolta (as an almost scary Edna Turnblad) is OK with me. That that scene may also be one of the most romantic scenes of this or any year is crazy on the one hand and perplexing on the other. With that being said, director Adam Shankman has magically turned the stage musical into something that is more full of life, more effervescent than either the play or the John Waters slight, though terrific film of 1988.

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky who almost makes us forget Rikki Lake from the film) is a Baltimore teenager: chubby of body, colossal of hair and bubbling over with good cheer and ironclad self esteem. The year is 1962 and the signs of change are everywhere Tracy goes foremost of which is the "Corny Collins Show," an American Bandstand-type show which features a "Negro Day" once a month: a situation that Tracy and her friends Penny (Amanda Bynes) and Link (Zac Efron) are desperate to change into an everyday occurrence. Edna, who hasn't left the house since 1951 and therefore very much aware and embarrassed of her size discourages Tracy from auditioning as a dancer for the show but Tracy, to her credit, feels confident enough about her dancing does so anyway and is finally accepted into the Corny Collins fold much to the chagrin of both Velma Von Tussle ( a gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer) and her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow).

"Hairspray is also very much a capsule of its time and place: pregnant women smoking and drinking martinis, children in cars without seat belts buckled, boys and girls hair greased and sprayed to within an inch of its life (Tracy is accused of having a "hair-don't" at one point) and bigots spouting the kind of gunk that bigots do.

"Hairspray" is ultimately a big, calorie laden birthday cake of a film: you know you shouldn't imbibe but you can't help yourself. But along with the sugar rush of this spectacle there lays some lumps based on reality which point out, not only how much has changed since 1962 but more importantly how much has stayed the same.

Want Hairspray (Two-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition) (2007) Discount?

I enjoyed this movie more than I can say. I felt happy for hours after watching it. It was energetic, happy, sweet, funny and delightful. The casting was perfect. Everyone seemed to give it there all. The songs and dance sequences were very entertaining. I especially loved the innocent chemistry between Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron. They are both very talented. I would highly recommend this movie. For those of us over 40 the energy of these kids is invigorating! I hope this movie succeeds beyond all expectations so that they will make more like it in the future.

Save 37% Off

Stealth & Vertical Limit - Blu-ray Double Feature

Both of these movies are presented on one blu-ray disc, which essentially defeats the purpose of watching a film in this format. The audio and video quality is near-terrible; the distributors of this product clearly have little respect for their consumers.

picture quality unacceptable considering that it is a blu ray copy as identified by amazon. this is the lst time that i ordered a copy of double feature movie. i have no other choice but charge it to experience. hoping that others wlll not be fooled also.

Buy Stealth & Vertical Limit - Blu-ray Double Feature Now

2 movies on 1 BRD. No special features ( deleted scenes, how to, etc) Vertical limits seems grainy at best, esp on those dark scenes and I dont think the audio part, on both movies, if you have a home theater system (HTS) like me were decoded with DTS. The paper cover says DTS, but I dont think so.

Read Best Reviews of Stealth & Vertical Limit - Blu-ray Double Feature Here

I don't think the picture quality on either movie is outstanding.

I would have to compare a true single disc blu-ray version of Stealth to make the call.

This review of the original BD suggests it's very high quality:

It seems as thought that movie was shot recently enough to produce a blu-ray version that really looks like HD when it plays.

Five dollah you get what you pay for.

Want Stealth & Vertical Limit - Blu-ray Double Feature Discount?

I brought these movies for one reason, to see both in Blu ray. I was disappointed in anyway. The Transfer was very well done even for a heap 2 movie Blu ray. I will admint i wouldn't have paid full price for the 2 seperate movies ( I have them both on DVD ) The transfer was worththe on sale cost. I'm not big on more then one movie per disc but this was well done and a good match ...............To all the Vets thank you and welcome home....

Save 50% Off

DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Comb

I received this today and watched it just now. Watching both presentations, then the extras, I have came to my conclussion on this product.

Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury Review:

I'm not going to give away the story, only what I liked and what I didn't. First, I'm a huge fan of the movie, I actually enjoyed Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (contrary to other reviews on here), and I think it's the most original family flick to come out in years. So when I heard that they were releasing two new features, I was excited, but can I say that now?

The Good:

The first movie I watched was Gift of the Night Fury and in the previews they made it look like that Dreamworks really pinched the penny on the animation, but looks are deceiving, and in all reality it actually wasn't bad. The story, though short, was enjoyable and had a lot of good comedy parts as well as some good action. I like it how they gave Fishlegs a bigger role than in the movie. Oh and yeah, I do got to admit, the baby dragons were cute...there I said it.

The Bad:

(Updated 11.17.11):

Too short! I know they have a budget though, but come on guys, two movies (one 22 minutes/one 18 minutes...correct me if I'm wrong), but it just feels a bit too short.

I rewatched it again and now I really don't mind Toothless appearance. I thought he looked weird, but after I watched it again, they were only a few parts where I thought he looked kind of odd, but I take back what I said. If anything, I didn't like how they had a lot less of Toothless, but it makes sense considering the ending.

Astrid was another problem. She didn't have the girl power like she did in the movie and seemed more like a very watered down version. She didn't have the attitude and seemed to me she was brainwashed by Disney. Yeah, she just acted way too happy for my taste. *Update* After watching this a few more times, meh, it's actually kind of cute in a way, but I still miss the girl power Astrid.

Final Rating: 4/5 Stars I actually found myself laughing a lot more watching it the second time. There were some problems, but it's worth a rewatch.

-----

Book of Dragons:

The Good: It was basically profiling all the dragons that live among the people of Bourke which made it seem fun. The dragon ideas were creative and hopefully some of them will make an appearance in the sequel coming out in 2014.

The Bad: Although some parts were amusing in humor, they weren't laugh out loud funny. I really can't say more about it, because it was more of a movie profiling all the dragons that are known in Bourke and nothing else really.

3/5 Stars: It did what it was meant to do and that is tell you the different species of dragons. Nothing too special.

------

Extras:

This is probably the main reason why I gave it one less star was because I was dissapointed with the extras. They were okay: they had deleted scenes for Gift of the Night Fury, they had Gobber's Dragon Training, but other than that the rest wasn't really worth it, I guess. I'll be honest, I haven't checked them all out yet, but the rest seem more generated towards kids, and that's fine. But I think something on the sequel would be cool, maybe an interview with one of the directors or what have you talking about the upcoming sequel. An interview with the actors would've been great as well.

Dreamworks could of done better, but it wasn't all that bad I suppose. I'm going to rewatch it tonight and see if I can see something I didn't before, but for right now that's the first review out there on this.

I wasn't expecting a lot from these shorts; I knew they'd be around 20 minutes each. The Book of Dragons was pretty much exactly what I expected. It showed you a lot about the different types of dragons, but it had no real story. Gift of the Night Fury, on the other hand, was pretty good! They managed to pack a lot of story into a relatively fluffy and short time span. It's hard to put real conflict into a holiday short. It's supposed to be cheerful! I started to play the game, and it's pretty fun! If you or your kids are a big fan of the movie, you should definitely buy this. Also,

(SPOILERS)

(SPOILERS)

(SPOILERS)

I've heard some people say Astrid was out of character in the short, but I disagree. Astrid's still hardcore. The thing is, there's not a lot of actual conflict in this short. Hiccup gets the real angst, and Astrid is sort of the harborer of cheer. I don't think that necessarily makes her out of character. She did call the other Vikings out on their crap several times. And there's Astrid/Hiccup! Really ADORABLE Astrid/Hiccup, in fact.

Buy DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Comb Now

Not sure where the confusion comes in play -these are movie shorts; not full-fledged movies; one could easily check out the time duration posted on the back of the DVD/BD. The material adds to the universe; and I'm thankful for the releases. "The Gift" has top notch production, just like the theatrical movie; it's set up like a 22 minute Christmas special, if one were to add in 7 minutes of commercials as network television, I could easily see this being played down the line on TV as a yearly holiday special, and I hope it does. I thought "Dragon" in general was robbed of it's Oscar last year; and I'm just happy more material is being released. There's a plethera of special features, and all combined easily makes up for a short animated movie in ways. Well worth the $15 it is being sold for.

Read Best Reviews of DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Comb Here

I had previously loved the original "How to train your Dragon" Since I had seen it number of times, I have not

checked new one ordered. BUT I expected the new double pack to be movies. Instead they were around 20 minutes each

& one did not even seem to have continuity. I seldom return things because it is too much trouble but should

probably return these.

Want DreamWorks Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury / Book of Dragons Double Pack (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Comb Discount?

Everyone loves Toothless. These two shorts were awesome and I can never seem to put them away becuase I'm always watching them. The Gift of the Night Fury is a cute movie and sure brought tears to my eyes in certain places. I can't stop watching it. Book of Dragons is also a good short. Good humor as usual. Has a fantastic end.

I think I have dragon fever becuase I have now started this pak to own as much as I can that's dragon themed.

This was an awesome purchase and you'll enjoy them too!

La Femme Nikita (1991)

Some of the greatest French movies have been remade for US audiences and no one knows about it: Trois hommes et un couffin/Three men and a baby, The Talented Mr Ripley/Plein Soleil (With Alain Delon where do you think Matt Damon got his pointers?), Le Retour de Martin Guerre/Sommersby... among others. La Femme Nikita is yet another that is way above its American counterpart, The Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda, and deserves its own spot in your movie collection. The TV series doesn't count.

Nikita was written and directed by an (at the time) up and coming Frenchman by the name of Luc Besson (Subway, The Professional, the Fifth Element...) who has fantastic mind for action, eye for cinematography and sense for musical scores (Nikita has some great industrial sounds which you can also find in the Fifth Element). Released in 1991, this film pre-dates the canonized litany of films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

More importantly, and as some reviewers have noted, Nikita combines thrilling action and tension (without expensive FX) with a very touching sense of humanity. Here you have this junkie social reject turned into a well behaved, proper, yet deadly government agent. It's interesting how the government selected someone about to go to jail rather than picking from a horde of eager, patriotic young recruits that would beg to do the job. Their fault is that they assume that this reject is just effectively a machine and has no redeeming human qualities. As the film progresses, you see that Nikita yearns for intimacy and love it's what makes her vulnerable and it's also probably what makes her so good.

Anne Parrillaut plays an excellent Nikita crazy, kind, warm, insane, feminine, athletic, anarchistic and maternal. Quite a walking contradiction.... yes.

Joining Parrillaut are great performances by Jean Reno (The Professional, Ronin, Le Grand Bleu) as Le Nettoyeur (the cleaner) and Marc Duret as her instructor and mentor. Jeanne Morreau also brings a very human element to the

Some criticize the ending for not been satisfying... Fair enough, it's clearly a "French" ending, but I think it's the right ending. The governments wants her to be an obedient machine, her boyfriend wants her to be a nice little wife and nurse. Neither of those are really who she is and that's the ending is such.

As for the language issue... The French or subtitled version is the only way to go. So much of acting is in the speech and delivery that accepting a dubbed version basically says that you think actors are just pretty faces. The great thing about the DVD is that you have the French, Subtitled and English version all in one. Granted, I speak French. But I hate watching American movies dubbed in French just as bad.

La Femme Nikita is/has become somewhat of a cult classic in the US (already is in France)and is one of the movies that put Besson on the map. Regardless of that, it stands on its own as a great movie. Highly recommended....

The movie gets five stars, but this new special edition disc gets one. I own the previous MGM release of this movie which was widely known to have many picture and subtitle problems. I loved the movie enough to purchase this new version. With my fingers crossed, I popped the disc in...

...zut alors! The anamorphic widescreen picture quality is still lousy. Grainy, occasionally pixelized. Look at patterns in the background during the movie and the problems are quite evident. For example, in one scene when Nikita is in training and chatting with her trainer Bob in her room, a grill on a piece of furniture on the left side of the screen creates a hugely distracting pattern that always diverts my eye.

But we get some special features with this special edition, right? Only with the most liberal definition of "special." These empty chats and documentaries are considered standard features for most other DVDs, so I'm not sure what we're supposed to think is special. There's even an easter egg, though it's not hidden, so I guess it's just an egg. But since it's just a short set of film clips, not all that exciting, I guess it's a rotten egg.

There are a few improvements. The English subtitles are better less distracting to those of you who speak French. The 5.1 soundtrack is still solid, though not noticeably better than the one on the original MGM disc. I'm not sure if it was remixed. If you don't own a copy of this movie, by all means buy the special edition. If you own the previous version, learn from my mistake and either keep you original version or sell it and buy a used copy of the special edition. Or lobby MGM for a real "special" edition.

Buy La Femme Nikita (1991) Now

The "Nikita" hardcore can celebrate MGM's rerelease of the French action film, a single-disc affair that should erase memories of the studio's botched first DVD, from three years ago.

The initial "La Femme Nikita" DVD failed director Besson miserably, with visuals just a step up from the VHS. The new special edition looks a lot better, although some digital artifacts remain. Flesh tones seem true and the handsome French interiors get back their luster. Audio wasn't bad on the first disc, and it sounds about the same on the new DVD. The film comes widescreen only (2.35:1), with the 16x9 enhancement.

A new 20-minute featurette interviews the key actors, but not Besson. The director's music man, Eric Serra, has his say on an interesting 5-minute extra, "The Sound of 'Nikita.' " An easter egg reveals one of Besson's working methods.

Ann Parillaud, who played Nikita, looks a lot more relaxed these days. The actress recalls training with weapons and martial arts for a year before filming began. She found karate "violent, painful and scary," but became obsessed with the firearms. Jean Reno, who went on to international stardom, says he played his popular Victor the Cleaner character without reading the script -Besson had him walk right into the film.

The DVD also includes a pointless "interactive map" that explores Nikita's habitats. A goofy trailer and a poster gallery complete the package.

Read Best Reviews of La Femme Nikita (1991) Here

I'm not going to say anything about the film itself because we all know how good it is. It's Besson's best ever.

What I will say is that watching it in High Definition on Blu-Ray is a real treat. Picture and sund are truly amazing and blow away the prior DVD's, all of which had lackluster picture quality at best.

And yes, this release has the properly translated subtitle track. Some DVD releases had a word for word transcription of the terrible English dubbed track. Not so here, so no worries.

However, extras are nowhere to be found. Is it too much to ask that this film finally receives a special edition?

Want La Femme Nikita (1991) Discount?

I was worried this Blu-Ray would be "so-so" in the sharpness department.....but not worry: it looks just fine! It will be in my collection shortly.

This 1989 French film was justifiably so popular that an American re-make followed later and then a cable television series followed after that.

In this the original you see "Nikita" at its beginning and, most people agree, at her best. Anne Parillaud, an actress I've always found fascinating, is riveting as the lead character. Jean-Huges Anglade, Tcheky Karyo and Jean Reno provide a very strong supporting cast.

The characters were believable and it was refreshing to see a no-nonsense approach to a murder story, meaning if someone had to be killed, they were shot quickly with no questions asked. Some of the action scenes are brutal.

Parillaud's character is memorable. She can change appearances, from a hardnosed hysterical animal to a real lady. It's also interesting to see Reno in a familiar role as a "cleaner," a role he made famous four years later in "Leon: The Professional."

The DVD provides either easy-to-read subtitles or a well-done dubbed version. As mentioned, the Blu-Ray version is a definite step up from the last DVD.

Save 44% Off

The Resident Evil Collection (Movies 1-4: Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse / Resident Evil

They're ridiculous, they know it, and they don't give a damn what you think. In point of fact, they prefer if you don't think.

Let's get one thing straight, I am a huge fan of the game series. I own Resident Evil 1-5, and I'm probably going to buy 6 soon. I am fully aware that these movies deviate from the games in every way, but for some reason I still love them. They're dumb, stupid fun.

Resident Evil is actually a great movie in and of itself. It's suspenseful, and well made. I appreciate the fact that zombies and other monsters aren't introduced till late in the movie.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse is actually my favorite of the bunch. It's a good action movie, and I think they really captured Nemesis. Great movie, and awesome action.

Resident Evil: Extinction is a little slow, but is ultimately a good movie. The story of this series has never been cohesive, but the plot of this one in particular is just ridiculous. At this point the movies have become self aware and every subsequent sequel is even more bombastic and ridiculous. Awesome...

Resident Evil: Afterlife is a little weird. Kind of strangely paced, but still a solid action movie. I love how they don't even try to explain how the zombies got Las Plagas virus. Just go with it.

Resident Evil: Retribution. Holy hell. What a strange ride. It's a top notch comedy, I'll say that much. I, personally really liked this movie. It's just so... ridiculous. Like I said, these movies have become self aware, and are now just trying to one up each other. This one does a hell of a job.

Milla Jovovich is hamming it up with every single movie. It's really funny. She's always this hardcore action star with a little bit of an emotional side. I also think she's just gorgeous, so that's alright.

These movies aren't oscar winning classics. They're like every cheesy 80's action flick that you love. Keep that in mind if you are looking to buy these films. As for this collection, they are all the individual releases with no added special features other than the ones that are included with the individual release. Good for the price.

This review is going to focus more on the quality of the blu ray transfer rather than evaluating if the movies are quality works of art. For zombie action movies, I think they're pretty good. Anyway, the audio quality on all of the movies seemed pretty outstanding to me; got to love the lossless audio you get with most blu rays. There was a lot depth to the audio track, especially during action scenes (which there are a lot of), that really engrossed me into the film. The overall video quality I would describe as average for blu ray for the first 3 movies, while I would describe Afterlife as above average. There were some scenes that really looked good in that last movie. There was one big issue with the video quality though, black levels.

Black levels were not consistently black during the movies. I didn't notice it during the first movie, but during Apocalypse it was almost unwatchable without adjusting my television. Almost that whole movie takes place at night, so when black is showing up as moderately dark gray, there is an issue. I had to turn the brightness way down on my television to compensate, at which point the movie was watchable. The problem with doing that is black crush, now everything that is supposed to simply be dark gray is black as well. But that's better than everything that is supposed to be black or dark gray being shown as dark gray. The black levels weren't as messed up for Extinction or Afterlife, but they were off a little as well. Especially since more of the movie takes place in light environments, I didn't bother to adjust my television for those.

Overall, I would recommend these if you are a fan of the series and don't have any of the blu rays. I gave the package 4 stars with great audio tracks, good video for the first 3 and great video quality for Afterlife, and the entertainment value of the movies helping and only the black level issues bringing it down. I could have gone down to 3 stars because of the brightness issue, but since you should be able to adjust your television to compensate, it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

EDIT: I stumbled upon Resident Evil: Apocalypse on tv and noticed that the black level was totally off there as well. I decided to dust off my old DVD for that film and yet again black was gray. So it seems that, at least for that movie, the black level issue didn't arise from the Blu Ray transfer, but probably resides in the studio master. I never acquired DVDs for the other RE films, so I can't check those out.

Buy The Resident Evil Collection (Movies 1-4: Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse / Resident Evil Now

Blue ray is the only way u should watch these movie.i have only one word for this collection.....have to have it

Read Best Reviews of The Resident Evil Collection (Movies 1-4: Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse / Resident Evil Here

the 5 movie boxed set has all the resident movies but there is supposed to be an ultraviolet code in the box, didn't come with one. I am waiting for a prepaid return label to send it back I can get the same boxed set w/the ultraviolet code and could then watch on my tablet any time any where

Want The Resident Evil Collection (Movies 1-4: Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse / Resident Evil Discount?

I rated this 5 stars, because it is a really good franchise that is worth watching. Non stop action in all of these movies! If you like Sci-Fi with action, then buy this set.

Save 63% Off

The Lost City

In watching The Lost City, you have to evaluate it on two levels. One is the purely cinematic approach, or simply is it a good movie, and the other is from a historical/political statement point of view.

As a movie the best parts are the beautiful photography, locations, costumes and music. It really is a treat for the eyes and the ears. Is it long? yes it's long. But after seeing the film for the second time, I can't see where there was room for a lot of trimming.

Overall the acting in the film was good, with some weak spots. As a movie it's definitely worth seeing and the film doesn't deserve a lot of the negative reviews it's gotten. I suspect those have more to do with the political/historical aspects of the film which I referred to before.

This film will offend a lot of people that have bought into the idea of Fidel Castro as a benevolent dictator and Che Guevara as a righteous revolutionary. This film exposes them for the cruel opportunists that they are/were.

The film makes no bones about the need to remove the (then) dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista but also unequivocally shows that what happened next was far worse for all involved.

Some have criticized this film for not showing "the grinding poverty" of the masses in pre-Castro Cuba. There's a reason for that. There wasn't that much of it back then. The Cuban revolution was one led and funded by the middle and upper classes and supported by intellectuals throughout the island. They wanted democracy not a totalitarian dictatorship.

Cabrera-Infante, the screenplay author does a great job in showing us the differing approaches to getting rid of Batista by putting one of Fico's (Andy Garcia) brothers in the 26th of July movement (Castro's group) and another in the Revolutionary Directorate (a competing revolutionary group). In the end Castro's group seizes power and squashes opposition. In other words, the bad guys won.

You'll need to see the movie to judge it's value as a work of art, but this movie goes a long way toward telling the untold (or rather unlistened-to) story of what happened and is happening in Cuba.

This is an artistic masterpiece, in terms of the story, the plot, the music, cinematography, fashion of that epoc in Cuba, settings sceenery,etc. The blend of the background-forground music with the action is amazing. Even though fiction, the historic value is remarkable: representation of events, sequence of events, magnitud of events, vingnets of issues and characteristics of the process, representation of the Cuban spirit, etc.

I'm a 65 year-old Cuban woman who lived through that historic time. I'm a psychologist, mother of seven children , all successfull college graduates and grandmother of 19 children.

I'm very greatful to Andy Garcia for the gift of this movie.

Maria T. Carbonell, Montgomery Village, Maryland

Buy The Lost City Now

For many of us who have lived through our own "Lost City," watching this film was a bittersweet experience. Andy Garcia has given us an artful, albeit realistic and truthful expression of the tragedy that befell the people and beautiful Island of Cuba. Not only was the movie entertaining and captivating, it was beautifully filmed, evoking images of a time and place we can never go back to. The casting was brilliant and the acting very compelling---you could tell that for many of them the movie was "personal." Amazing that this film made it to the screen given its honest portrayal of the brutal architects of the Cuban revolution, particularly Hollywood's darlings, Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. I can't help but laugh (although I should cry) every time I see the blissfully ignorant adulation for Che and company...perhaps if more people see the movie they might think twice before sporting their ugly mugs on their t-shirts....way to go Andy!

Read Best Reviews of The Lost City Here

Andy Garcia's Lost City is very much a tour de force on the Cuban Revolution of 1958 and how that country "achieved" the condition it's been in ever since. In this respect, the film compares very well with David Lean's treatment of Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago. Apart from the obvious differences in time and place, Garcia's work centers its setting on the lost Cuban cabaret scene, with musical and dance numbers that will almost certainly never be matched. This fills the same function as Lean's majestic cinematography of Moscow and the Urals in Zhivago and in each case the focal point really is the film.

That isn't to say though that it is lacking in fine performances. Most of the Hispanic actors other than Garcia may not be particularly familiar to North American audiences, but the acting is excellent in a project where many of them worked for scale plus in a labor of love. As might be expected, director/star Garcia leads the way with a performance full of subtleties of expression that I quite frankly thought was beyond him. By way of comparison, the very best aspects of his performance in the last third of Godfather III are distilled to quality and sensitivity a hundred times better than he showed there.

Ordinarily, I would expect such a fine performance to be a launching pad for many more mature roles than he's played to date, but this doesn't take into account the great risk Garcia took in producing a film hostile to Castro and communists. Undoubtedly this puts him at great risk in the Twenty First Century world of Hollywood, where those figures are considered heroes, if not secular saints. In fact, Garcia is quite open in stating that he was forced to go outside of the normal Hollywood funding sources in order to finance The Lost City. One can only hope that such a finely crafted film and performance will be appropriately recognized and not punished in the Marxist milieu of the American film industry. The Lost City is a product of great courage of conviction, which is rewarded in almost every aspect of the performances.

Want The Lost City Discount?

Andy Garcia does a superb job of telling the story of Cuba from the perspective of one family caught in the turmoil of the revolution.

(Spoilers!)

It is the story of one family composed of 3 brothers, one is a musician whose life revolves around his family and his music lounge;one brother is a student at university--it is not clear what the other one's occupation is. Their father is a university professor who believes in Ghandi's philosophy of passive resistance. But one brother is captivated by Fidel Castro and joins the rebels. The other brother is also lured into the political fray and only Andy Garcia's character,

Fico, is apolitical.

There is a parallelism in the break up of the country with the break up of the family. Family affinities are either strengthened or discarded depending on which side of the revolution one chooses to ally one's self with. This is the tragedy that is Cuba--it deposed a bloody dictator with a bloodier one.

Similarly, Fico's love for Aurora (his brother's widow) parallels his love for his Cuba. He loves her and he will love her forever; yet, he has to go away. Aurora chooses to stay in Cuba--she believes that communism is the the road to follow; Fico chooses to leave for New York--freedom is non-negotiable--it holds the highest value in his heart.

Wonderful story telling and directing from Andy Garcia. He presents this heartbreaking story with passion and understanding of its turbulent history. The poem at the end of the film is equally haunting in its beauty...to quote a portion:

"Todo es hermoso y constante, Todo es musica y rezo, Y todo, como el diamante, Antes que luz, es carbon."

(Everything is beautiful and faithful, Everything is music and prayer, And everything--like the diamond, Before it sparkles, is coal.")

Forgive me if I translated it wrong; maybe someone can translate it more accurately and lyrically. But you get the idea.

I really loved watching this film!

Save 29% Off

Brothers Five

Good news! This disc is very close to perfect. I and other reviewers experienced some technical issues with the Delightful Forest blu-ray disc, but the Brothers Five blu-ray disc that I received today has no flaws that I can see on my initial viewing.

The colors are vibrant, the swordplay is flashy, and the detail is excellent as viewed on my Sony BDP-S370 and Hitachi 42HDS69 HDTV. Anything that was not perfect (lighting, darkness, no steadicam on long sweeping shots or zooms) was obviously there in the original film because it is all so crisp and clear. The picture is really beautiful. There were no artifacts or skips or stutters. Having watched these films in various incarnations over the years (theater, TV, videotape, dvd, and now blu-ray) I can honestly say they have never looked or sounded better.

I have seen a few comments about the subs and if that bothers you then you will probably not be pleased when a character's dialogue is rendered as "I want make a stab." Frankly, it's part of the whole experience for me so I have no problem with it. I should have continued studying Mandarin when I had the chance if I wanted to truly appreciate these films. And unlike the Delightful Forest blu-ray disc, there is no English dub for you to fall back on.

The prices on these recent releases from Well Go USA are great in my opinion. YMMV!

Next up this weekend the Heroic Ones blu-ray disc. What a great time to be a fan of classic Shaw Brothers martial arts films!

The Delightful Forest (Shaw Brothers) (Blu-ray)

The Heroic Ones [Blu-ray]

I bought this Blu-ray as part of a Shaw Bros. three-pack, where it was bundled with THE HEROIC ONES and THE DELIGHTFUL FOREST. I'd seen BROTHERS FIVE (1970) on Celestial Pictures' Region 3 DVD and liked it a great deal, but it looks just magnificent on Blu-ray. It helps that the frequent action scenes tend to be shot outdoors in broad daylight amid picturesque Taiwanese settings or on large well-lit interior sets, such as the one where the climactic showdown between the Brothers Five and the lead villain is played out. The action directors stage the fights so that they play out in long takes with the camera placed at medium long shot, capturing all the combatants in frame from head to toe and moving with them as they fight. This means the performers have to show some actual skill as they are called on to execute a series of intricate maneuvers in real time and shift their attention from one opponent to another, since most of the fight scenes involve multiple combatants. It's all quite spectacular and looks great on a widescreen TV. This is the way such action scenes should be shot.

The film features a large cast of top Shaw Bros. performers on both the hero and villain sides, led by female star Cheng Pei Pei (COME DRINK WITH ME, GOLDEN SWALLOW), who plays a swordswoman who seeks to reunite the five brothers (separated since childhood) and teach them "Five Tigers with One Heart" kung fu so they can successfully defeat Master Long Zhen Feng (Tien Feng) who'd killed the brothers' father and taken over his estate, known as Flying Dragon Villa. The brothers are played by Yueh Hua (COME DRINK WITH ME), Chang Yi (BELLS OF DEATH), Lo Lieh (FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH), Chin Han (LADY GENERAL HUA MULAN), and Kao Yuan (THE JADE FACED ASSASSIN). Each uses a different weapon in battle, with Yueh Hua favoring a metal ring with sharp edges that doubles as a hat, Lo Lieh wielding a black whip, and Chin Han swinging a blacksmith's hammer, to name three. (The villains also have unusual weapons.)

The simple plot has no room for the moral complexity, emotional interactions and conflicts of loyalty you'd get in a Chang Cheh epic from that period (e.g. THE DUEL, BLOOD BROTHERS). Here the good guys and bad guys are all clearly marked and the script sets them in motion against each other with unabashed regularity. The film was directed by Lo Wei, who worked regularly at both Shaw Bros. and Golden Harvest and made Bruce Lee's first two starring films. The action directors are listed as Hsu Erh Niu and Chu Yuan Lung, better known, respectively, as Simon Hsu and Sammo Hung. Mr. Hsu is one of the unsung geniuses behind Shaw Bros. swordplay movies of the late 1960s and early 1970s and his work can be seen in quite a few above-average entries in the genre, including THE SHADOW WHIP, DUEL FOR GOLD, BLACK TAVERN and FLYING GUILLOTINE. Mr. Hung, of course, went on to become a major director and star of Hong Kong action movies in his own right, co-starring frequently with Jackie Chan, and he continues to direct action scenes in Hong Kong movies (including IP MAN and IP MAN 2). He plays a small, but noticeable fighting role in this film as a guard working for one of the brothers when their caravan is attacked by the bad guys.

The only problem I have with the Blu-ray is the blurriness of the image whenever there's a long panning shot by the camera, a move favored in many old Shaw Bros. movies. I suspect that this would not be such a problem in an analog format, although I don't have a 35mm film print or VHS copy of BROTHERS FIVE with which to compare.

Buy Brothers Five Now

Very cheesy fight scenes, and an even more simplified plot. The "big" special technique used at the end looked like a cheerleader pyramid. Would def. not suggest this movie to anyone unless you are into really old kung fu flicks.

Read Best Reviews of Brothers Five Here

wazup homy, yo dis movie be all dat and a bag of chips with jalapenos...This is just straight gangsta beat down one right after the next.. The highlight of this movie has to go to the beautiful, and sexy legendary actress, Pei Pei... She is so freaking hot!!!! I'd buy the bluray alone just for her!!!! Definitely a worthy Shaw brothers film, and I advise you to go seek this mutha out!!!

Want Brothers Five Discount?

Any Day Now (2012)

I saw this movie about a month ago at the Landmark E Street Cinema in Washington, DC. Glad to see this now finally has a DVD release date.

"Any Day Now" (2012 release; 94 min.) brings the story of Rudy (played by Alan Cumming) and Paul (played by Garret Dillahunt), how they meet in California in 1979, and fall in love. Rudy comes to care for his neighbor's teengage boy with Down syndrome (Marco, played by Isaac Leyva), as Marco's mom is a drug addict and in any event doesn't care for Marco one bit. Eventually Rudy wants to adopt Marco and Paul (an attorney) tries to build a legal case for it. This of course creates all kinds of problems, as the justice system is not designed/prepared for a gay couple to adopt. To give away more of the plot would ruin your viewing experience so you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out, although I will just say that I did not see the end coming AT ALL.

Several comments: first, while this movie is about a gay couple, please don't call it 'a movie about gays', as "Any Day Now" simply uses these circumstances to showcase the absurdities and shortcomings in the California legal system of 30 years ago. Second, Alan Cumming gives a brilliant performance as Rudy, and confirms yet again what an enormous talent he is (watch him sing "I Shall Be Released"!). Third, the movie is a great time capsule of the late 70s/early 80s, with remarkable attention to the visual details of those times. Last but certainly not least, the 'disco' soundtrack to this movie is a lot of fun, I heard songs I had not listened to in many, many years and while there are a couple of disco staples (Marty Balin's "Miracles" and Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way"), there are a lot of other less obvious nuggets as well such as France Joli's "Come To Me" and Betty Padgett "It Would Be a Shame". The closing credits bring a brand new song from Rufus Wrainwright, a very nice "Metaphorical Blanket". Bottom line, this is one of those "little" movies that could, and I far more enjoyed this movie than I thought I would. "Any Day Now" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Saw this movie with my boyfriend in the theater, it was a change of pace from mainstream Hollywood. It touched on a topic that is usually left alone. It was a risk that the directors and writers took but a rewarding one. I was impressed and recommend it :)

Buy Any Day Now (2012) Now

The film takes place in West Los Angels 1979, but clearly it is about legal cases currently in the system.

Rudy (Alan Cumming) is an out of the closet female impersonator,and not a very good one. While on the job at Fabio's he meets Paul (Garret Dillahunt) a man who looks like Jon Voight out of "Midnight Cowboy." They become an item. Rudy lives in a run down apartment next to a coke-prostitute named Marianna (Jamie Anne Allman). She has a son, Marco (Isaac Leyva). Marco has Down Syndrome and Marianna is a terrible mother.

When Marianna gets busted for prostitution and drugs, Rudy cares for the child in order to keep him out of a foster home. Paul joins the family as they become the emergency legal guardians of Marco. When Paul's lifestyle becomes exposed, prejudices abound and lives change dramatically.

The film is well acted. The action moves slow, but steady. The film contrasts the gay care free disco music of the era to the angst of our gay couple. Make no mistake about it, this is a pro gay adoption movie. I am sure this film will convince anyone that we need to allow gay couples to adopt kids with Down Syndrome nobody else wants...and as the title suggests, 14th amendment equality will come any day now.

Parental Guidance: F-bomb. no nudity. M/M implied oral car scene, 2 men in bed hugging/kissing.

Read Best Reviews of Any Day Now (2012) Here

Just finished this movie and it is heart wrenching to see two people who love a child with disabilities be discriminated against because of their personal sexual orientation. Love comes in all forms but people are too worried about sex between two men, focusing on their moral beliefs, even though it will keep this child safe from harm if they allow the child to remain with the men.

Want Any Day Now (2012) Discount?

Any Day Now is a sad, poignant, brilliantly made film that is so relevant for the issues we face today. Alan Cumming gives an unforgettable performance. Garett Dilahunt is transformed and Issak Leyva is a star. My friend Don franklin kills it as their lawyer.

This is a film everyone MUST SEE!

Save 22% Off