Further DVD & Blu-Ray Combo Pack and FREE Bon Voyage Snowboarding Movie ($30 Value)

Well this defintly is a good movie but there is defintly better like Ski Movie or There's Something about McConkey. This sure is a good movie but it could use some more riders but overall a solid movie and a must get for ultimate skiers.

The catch about this movie is that it is different and it shows a lot more about the adventure side than the technical tricks and flips behind some movies. I know that the riding is very technical, but I enjoyed it more for the back story of how long it took to get to certain places and what conditions they must endure for a unique experience. I found it to really hit a deeper part of the "calling" in me that is the endurance athlete and adventurer and I'm glad I bought the movie. I read that there will be a third movie so I can't wait. One thing I'd like to really also acknowledge is the family sacrifice that Jeremy makes to do these movies. I'm his age and have children that appear to be similar in age and when I see how he stays gone for such a period of time to do these scenes, I really respect that level of commitment. Glad I bought the movie and I can support the continued adventures.

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Further is an awsome movie which has the perfect balance of big mountain and new school skiing. It features some of the years best moments in skiing. The scene where Candide Thovex hits a 118 foot gap or when Tanner Hall hits a rail at the top of a cliff are insane. The heli skiing scenes are breathtaking and the soundtrack rules. Their is also alot of cool park and pipe footage. If you are a two plancker, buy this movie right now!

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This film takes on more of a documentary feel than many snowboard movies, which is a good thing. Jones always find interesting places to ride and interesting people to ride with. His status as a legend is well earned.

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I actually bought this as a gift for my boyfriend who is a snowboard filmer and editor, and he really liked it. I don't personally snowboard, but I found it really interesting and fun to watch. Would recommend to anyone!

Sweetie (The Criterion Collection) (1989)

"Sweetie" is here! A Criterion treatment! The first time I saw "Sweetie" was purely by accident. It was before Jane Campion went on to make better known, bigger budget films--this film was her feature debut in Australia. And while I respect many of her works including "The Piano" and "An Angel At My Table", I don't have the passion for them that I do for this oddball of a movie. Part of the joy of seeing "Sweetie" for the first time was having no expectations. The film surprised me in every regard--it's wickedly funny, yet horrifying and moving at the same time. A few years ago, I found it again and I made my friends watch it, too. I was concerned it might not hold up to memory, but that feeling was short-lived as soon as the wondrous Genevieve Lemon came onscreen as Sweetie.

"Sweetie" is a film that really explores the notion of family. As the titular character, Sweetie is a powerful presence whose very existence has crippled her family and, in many ways, held them hostage. Primarily, we see things through Sweetie's sister Kay and I love that the film introduces us to the peculiarities of Kay without explanation. Then when Sweetie arrives on the scene, things start to become very clear as the family dynamic takes the foreground.

I consider "Sweetie" a comedy, but I'm not sure everyone would agree. But then, I have a bit of a sick sense of humor. Certainly there are many laughs to be had in the film--if only uncomfortable ones. But, make no mistake, there is also genuine and vivid emotional turmoil. The films success is that it balances these elements so well--and, in fact, that brings a bold realism and resonance to the proceedings.

The film is shot beautifully, and always slightly askew (which is perfect for the subject matter). The performances are vivid. Karen Colston is great as Kay, and you won't soon forget Lemon as Sweetie. And as odd as the film is, it will stay with you. And you just might recognize elements of your own family dynamic within the excesses presented! KGHarris, 9/06.

I've seen three Campion movies. It took a long time for me to forgive 'The Piano''s humorless, heavy hands and move on to 'Holy Smoke!'. But HS revealed a comic sensibility that 'The Piano' never suspected. 'Sweetie,' Campion's first feature, is by far my favorite yet.

'Sweetie' is an odd film. Mostly, it's an examination of what it means to be an individual--inside of and outside of the repetitive struggles of family dramas--and the perils and joys of exclusion and elitism. Campion uses her sharp wit to draw blood, and without the comforts of a privileged moral voice (e.g. the competent parent or maternal sufferer of most family dramas), the humor can seem a little mean-spirited at times. But 'Sweetie' tempers its alienated perspective with moments of grace that are as terrifying, joyful and sublime as the dry open spaces of its Australian landscape.

Moving the viewer through a fractured world of beautiful and unsettling images, Sweetie is this director's most richly creative and psychically adventurous work.

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This film is to director Jane Campion's The Piano what David Lynch's Eraserhead is to his The Elephant Man a personal highly stylised experiment before the challenge of the more conventional big budget assignments that would allow for both a controlling of each director's excesses and a streamlining of their obsessions. The parallel between Lynch and Campion can also be extended to their mutual interest in loners, misfits and eccentrics, and they both treat them with piteous dignity, in much the same way photographer Diane Arbus did for her "freaks". Sweetie is similar to Eraserhead also because it's an endurance test for those who hold a high opinion of each director's later work. The fine line between pleasure and pain can be felt with great artists and their fine line between genius and crud. Campion here uses a song "Love will never let you fall" sung by Tony Backhouse and The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation Choir as a backdrop to her tale of two sisters. Campion dedicates the film to her own sister and the screenplay written by herself and Gerard Lee is based on Campion's idea, so we know this is a personal story. (Campion's sister Anna is now also a director). Campion doesn't introduce the title sister until she has established the nature of the first, Kay, but also we don't fully understand why Kay is the way she is until Sweetie arrives, and is soon followed by their father. Sweetie is a monstrous child/woman but when the arguments between sisters begin it's hard to know whose side to take, since Sweetie makes Kay just as dislikable. Perhaps because Campion knew the narrative could be reduced to the domestic struggle of those tied by blood, she employs an expressionist use of framing where the person on view is placed off centre, as well as stop motion footage of the growth of plants, a montage of the workings of Kay's mind when she attempts meditation, and a flashback to Sweetie as a childhood performer with a growling dog as audience. There are also strangely disturbing images 2 men dancing together at a cattle station, and Sweetie bathing her father. However, like Lynch, Campion has a wicked sense of humour and the climactic incident in a tree is equally comic, tragic and metaphoric. As the sisters, Karen Colston and Genevieve Lemon are never allowed to become grotesques they are both given touching breakdown scenes and Campion appears to have a special gift for handling child actors, with the little boy neighbour and the girl playing Sweetie as a child at the end particularly good. And like Eraserhead, once you manage to adjust yourself to the slow rhythms and lower your too high expectations, you find that Sweetie gets better as it goes along.

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Once again, the Criterion Collection's given us a marvelous DVD transfer of a wonderful film that had rather fallen through the cracks -in this case, Jane Campion's haunting feature debut, SWEETIE. Odd and intensely personal, the picture's full of striking images (particularly brilliant use of color in the set design), camera angles that are unusual without feeling forced, subversive comic writing, a wonderful soundtrack and, not least, fearless performances from a talented cast. This is the kind of movie that has such strong interior logic, the audience willingly follows where it leads, no matter how bizarre or unexpected the destination proves to be. I'd vividly remembered many scenes of SWEETIE since seeing it theatrically in its original release; experiencing Campion's vision again today is just as strong. The usual superior Criterion touches -fascinating commentary and student works from this director, insightful essay in the accompanying booklet. If the only Campion films you know are THE PIANO or PORTRAIT OF A LADY, you may find many surprises here. Very worthwhile.

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Sweetie (Jane Campion, 1989)/Passionless Moments (Jane Campion, 1983)

Sweetie is the type of comedy I would write if I wrote comedies-relentlessly black, full of subversive moments, and deeply, deeply twisted. Barrel of monkeys? I scoff at your fun!

Kay (Karen Colston) is rather mousy, introverted, and not terribly happy in her relationship with Louis (Tom Lycos), whom she lands after consulting a fortune-teller. Not the best start to a relationship, one would think (and one would be right). Still, Kay and Louis are content, in their own miserable way, until Sweetie shows up. Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon) is Kay's younger sister, and she's well, I believe the technical term is "crazy as a loon". No one but Kay, however, seems capable of seeing this; her parents just see her as slightly eccentric, though still their darling baby daughter. Louis is oddly entranced by her. Gordon (Jon Darling), her manager/boyfriend, is convinced she'll be the one to finally net him some success, and he's not put off by the fringe benefits of managing her, most of which he reaps between the sheets. Loudly. As Sweetie slips farther and farther round the bend, though, the rest of the family does come to see that, perhaps, there might be something wrong; unfortunately, no one's equipped to deal with this new perception, and anything that can go wrong, etc.

I should probably insert some sort of warning about triggering conversations/behaviors, but that's kind of the point of the movie, isn't it? This is supposed to push your buttons (in much the same way that Very Bad Things did a few years later). And it does a very good job of it; the movie was castigated and/or damned with faint praise when it appeared, though it has since been recognized as a classic in the making given some of Campion's later output (e.g., The Piano). Campion, who both wrote and directed, is a twisted genius with a camera here; all you can do is sit back and enjoy the ride. And I highly recommend you do so.

I wouldn't normally review a thirteen-minute film, but Passionless Moments, which can be found in Sweetie's DVD extras, is on Jonathan Rosenbaum's list of the thousand best films ever made, so I should probably give it a paragraph. A short made by Campion in 1983, Passionless Moments takes a number of disparate scenes and puts them together. Each of them is oddly familiar, things you've done or wondered about yourself, but presented from odd angles, or with weird cuts; it's as if Roald Dahl got inside your skull and started writing Tales of the Unexpected straight out of your subconscious. It's absolutely worth your time, and is worth the cost of buying the Sweetie DVD by itself. **** (for both).

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Monamour (2-Disc Special Edition) (2005)

Tinto Brass' latest US release, 'Monamour', is actually from 2005 (why does it take so long for us to get our sexploitation kicks stateside?), starring Anna Jimskaia, and is a sexual homage to the female form, like many of his films, this time even more so, and Anna is an even greater exhibitionist than any of his other actresses, bless her heart.

The story concerns itself with a newly married couple, Marta and Dario, whose love life seems to have stagnated since they got married only six months ago. Marta chronicles the sordid details in her diary, and Dario is too busy with his work to notice her sexual drifting. While away at a publisher's convention in the beautiful city of Mantua with her husband, Marta meets a Frenchman while looking at ancient frescos in a museum, and he pursues her aggressively and sexually right there. Soon, her adultery, born out of neglect, boredom and frustration, is in full swing, and she's encouraged by a female friend of hers who's also at the convention with her younger lover.

The two women attend a day spa and trade tales of their escapades while being pampered by two Eurovixens employed at the spa, conjuring up all kinds of fantasies for us to ponder over as the women are oiled-up and erotically massaged as though being devoured by their masseuses. Marta is now having sexual dreams and fantasies in addition to her carnal activities, engaging in a variety of increasingly perverse pleasures with Leon, the French lover, and naturally, hubbie Dario finds the diary she explicitly details her affairs in. Now things go from steaming hot to boiling over...it's one of those times when being a perv is a truly wonderful thing.

These are women, not girls, and they flaunt their sexuality proudly, libidinous creatures who have not just been around the block a few times, but have frequented the sewers as well. They are lewd, sometimes vulgar, their appetites voracious and lusts almost limitless. Looking slutty, talking dirty, behaving salaciously what's not to love? Hang on a second, I'm getting weepy... OK, I'm back.

There's nary a 30 second frame within the film when we don't have our heads thrust into the breasts, asses, legs, back or nether regions of some delectable Eurovixen's form this is a voyeur's pastry buffet table, a Lazy Susan of rotating sexual smorgasbords that's guaranteed to delight the demented appetites of undying degenerates everywhere. Tinto Brass knows how to let the camera linger over a woman's form the way Salvador Dali knew surrealism, the way Einstein knew equations, the way Monet knew waterlillies. Uncensored, unflinching, uncut, unyielding, this flick is mandatory viewing for all men who appreciate the female anatomy more than a night of ESPN. Do your self a flavor and savor the juices of 'MonAmour'.

Tinto Brass' latest US release, 'Monamour', is actually from 2005 (why does it take so long for us to get our sexploitation kicks stateside?), starring Anna Jimskaia, and is a sexual homage to the female form, like many of his films, this time even more so, and Anna is an even greater exhibitionist than any of his other actresses, bless her heart.

The story concerns itself with a newly married couple, Marta and Dario, whose love life seems to have stagnated since they got married only six months ago. Marta chronicles the sordid details in her diary, and Dario is too busy with his work to notice her sexual drifting. While away at a publisher's convention in the beautiful city of Mantua with her husband, Marta meets a Frenchman while looking at ancient frescos in a museum, and he pursues her aggressively and sexually right there. Soon, her adultery, born out of neglect, boredom and frustration, is in full swing, and she's encouraged by a female friend of hers who's also at the convention with her younger lover.

The two women attend a day spa and trade tales of their escapades while being pampered by two Eurovixens employed at the spa, conjuring up all kinds of fantasies for us to ponder over as the women are oiled-up and erotically massaged as though being devoured by their masseuses. Marta is now having sexual dreams and fantasies in addition to her carnal activities, engaging in a variety of increasingly perverse pleasures with Leon, the French lover, and naturally, hubbie Dario finds the diary she explicitly details her affairs in. Now things go from steaming hot to boiling over...it's one of those times when being a perv is a truly wonderful thing.

These are women, not girls, and they flaunt their sexuality proudly, libidinous creatures who have not just been around the block a few times, but have frequented the sewers as well. They are lewd, sometimes vulgar, their appetites voracious and lusts almost limitless. Looking slutty, talking dirty, behaving salaciously what's not to love? Hang on a second, I'm getting weepy... OK, I'm back.

There's nary a 30 second frame within the film when we don't have our heads thrust into the breasts, asses, legs, back or nether regions of some delectable Eurovixen's form this is a voyeur's pastry buffet table, a Lazy Susan of rotating sexual smorgasbords that's guaranteed to delight the demented appetites of undying degenerates everywhere. Tinto Brass knows how to let the camera linger over a woman's form the way Salvador Dali knew surrealism, the way Einstein knew equations, the way Monet knew waterlillies. Uncensored, unflinching, uncut, unyielding, this flick is mandatory viewing for all men who appreciate the female anatomy more than a night of ESPN. Do your self a flavor and savor the juices of 'MonAmour'.

The second disc contains the short film 'Kick the Cock' starring Angelita Franco from 2008 (hence the re-release) it's short, but a keeper, and so is she. The 'Spanish Dance' sequence is for viral voyeurs worldwide, and made me want to visit Spain before I die actually, waaay before then. There are two 'making of' featurettes worth a watch also, plus trailers for his other Cult Epic films, but the second disc is the dessert, the real meal here is 'Monamour', IMHO, which truthfully, isn't that humble. Deserving a permanent place in your arthouse exploitation collection for certain. Thank Tinto for having the Brass balls to make these flicks...

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Tinto Brass (who, I think, has two too many letters in his last name), as he does in all of his films, really just made a feature-length fetish picture here. And there are positives and negatives to that. Here are the only things that keep this from being a five-star production:

1. Body hair. The staggeringly-hot Anna Jimskaia (seriously, one of the hottest women I've ever seen on screen...and I've seen A LOT of them) shaves her legs. Why the heck doesn't she shave under her arms?

2. Way too many scenes on toilets. Actually, one is too many if you asked me, and we get no fewer than six in this movie. Again, obviously a Brass fetish.

3. There's a VERY well-endowed chick in one scene in a restaurant and we never get to see any more of her. Highly disappointing because she's a scene-stealer.

Jimskaia obviously is the big seller here, and she NEVER is fully-clothed in this movie...seriously, not a single time. She's not always fully-nude but she never is fully-clothed either. WOW what a fantastic all-natural body, and she shakes and bounces and gyrates through the entire duration. Now if she'll just groom a little more and stay off of the toilet...

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From the reveiws I expected it to be very sexy & arousing. It wasn't much of either. It was very boring. It got a two because of the ample nudity. Nothing else of note to say about this movie other than to say when they do an english version of an italian movie it should should not be cut. I think brass thinks americans would not like the full italian version so he does a toned down english version which takes away from the movies. Do not buy english versions of italian movies.

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Judge William Lee, DVD Verdict-Monamour doesn't have the most original storyline ever, but the audience for this film genre can do without the distraction of dense exposition and complex plot twists. Tinto Brass is exceptionally skilled at making his brand of sex romp and this film is a fine example. The movie's brisk pace makes the rather predictable story go by effortlessly. Plot points and story beats are observed long enough to serve their purpose and we're quickly onto another locale or scene. Each new scene is another chance to observe our beautiful heroine in another barely-there costume. If Brass knows how to keep the story details short and to the point, he also knows how to keep the sex scenes concise and fresh. Where lesser directors run their actors through a tiresome rotation of positions in an effort to make such scenes pay off, Brass is able to establish a slightly different mood for each scene and he's comfortable ending the scene before it runs out of steam.

The art direction is so detailed and deliberate that Monamour looks like the most lavish erotic film ever made but that's typical of the quality of Brass's films. The movie uses some impressive locations, interior sets have a dreamy elegance, backgrounds are filled with extras, and the lighting is as good as any first-rate mainstream production. Mirrors play a large part in the set decoration, which not only act as a playful visual motif, they allow cinematographer Andrea Doria to capture some very interesting compositions.

The accomplished cinematography is well represented by the excellent HD transfer of this Blu-ray disc. The 1080p, AVC-encoded image is clean and sharp. Surface textures are nicely rendered in close-ups and detail is retained in the gentle shadows. A handful of darker shots exhibit some video grain in the blacks but these few instances are not distracting. The 5.1 surround audio with Italian dialogue is a good, standard sound mix. The 2.0 stereo option is also fine, the main difference is the dialogue gets a slight boost. The English language dub, mixed in stereo, is a typical lazy translation featuring amateurish voice work and is the least of the audio options.

Extras for Monamour are limited to a trailer and a making-of featurette running about 16 minutes. In the featurette, you see Brass at work with the actors and get to hear his very precise instructions when it comes to filming the sex scenes. It looks like the actors and crew are having a lot of fun and, not surprisingly, Jimskaia describes herself as an exhibitionist.

On the second disc of this set is Tinto Brass's 2008 short film Kick the Cock (The New Maid). Brass fills roles on both sides of the camera, playing a dirty old man on screen. His character smokes a cigar while watching a maid wearing a fetish outfit cook and clean in his kitchen. At a running time of 16 minutes, this piece feels too long for this simple premise, but those who are into this scenario might argue it's not long enough. Andrea Doria is the cinematographer again and every shot seems thoughtfully composed. My only minor complaint is the flashback sequence, which is distinguished by overexposing the exterior backgrounds. While the light level still works for the subjects, I just found this visual trick to be a little harsh on the eyes. Otherwise, the 1.78:1 picture, also presented in 1080p/AVC, looks excellent.

The short film is accompanied by some more extras. Some poor location audio recording mars the making-of featurette but it's an interesting look at the crew at work. Actress/burlesque artist Angelita Franco speaks a bit on how she conceived the idea for the short film. "Spanish Dance by Angelita Franco" is footage from a burlesque strip tease performed in a club. "Comic Strip by Franco Saudelli" observes Franco modeling in a bondage scenario for an artist. There is footage of Tinto Brass at the 2008 Venice Film Festival and a teaser for the short film.

-Full review at

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Goodfellas - Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta (Region 1 US - 2012) (1990)

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about "Goodfellas"... it's one of the best movies ever. To hell with the AFI, this is arguably one of the top 10 American movies ever made! Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco: five top-notch talents operating on all 8 cylinders in this story about three decades of life in the mob.

Now, you'd think that Warner Brothers would give this movie the most complete Warner DVD release that's ever existed. A fervent popular following, a high level of anticipation for a special edition, and the current booming state of the DVD industry should've made this a no-brainer slam dunk for Warner's marketing and home video departments. And so, after years of having to flip over the old disc, after years of almost crushing that flimsy snap case, after years of listening to that 5.1 surround that sounded suspiciously like 2-channel, should you get this new version?? The answer is a resounding..."maybe".

Arguably the biggest plus to this new edition of "Goodfellas" is the fact that the whole movie is contained on a single side of a dual-layered disc. The "all-new digital transfer", enhanced for 16:9, is only a marginal improvement over the original release (which was also listed as being "enhanced for widescreen TVs" on the package; it wasn't). Strangely enough, in the scene where Jimmy (De Niro) and Paulie (Paul Sorvino) go to convince Henry to go home to Karen, there is a very noticeable screen-split line on the film that sections De Niro's face in half. This isn't the transfer's problem, per se; it looks more like something off the film print. The strange thing is I don't remember this streak being present on the old version. Maybe it's only a minor peeve, but still, this is the kind of thing you'd expect a studio to clean up for a special edition.

The English audio is the same old Dolby-Surround-masquerading-as-5.1 mix used in the old version. The package incorrectly lists Spanish as the alternate language; it's still French. Nothing more to say about that.

The disc menus are static, and they all have this generic-sounding jazz score playing over them. Remember all the jazz in "Goodfellas"? Yeah, me neither.

Of course, the real reason most people are running out to get this new set is to see the special features. This DVD includes 2 commentaries: one with various cast & crew members, the other with Henry Hill & ex-FBI agent Ed McDonald (who plays himself at the end of the movie). Of the 2 commentaries, the track with real-life players Hill and McDonald is infinitely more interesting, even though Hill mumbles more than Keith Richards having an acid flashback.

When I bought this set, I was looking forward to some feature-length Scorsese, Pesci, Liotta &/or Bracco commentary (I didn't dare to hope for Robert De Niro, I mean, be serious), with some funny stories or moviemaking info. Instead, what you get is a few new comments cobbled together with 10-15 year old sound bites from De Niro and Joe Pesci. Basically, the first 90 minutes of commentary is a total strokefest ("oh-this-guy-was-so-great", "oh-she-did-a-really-good-job") with only Scorsese, author Nick Pileggi, Liotta, and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus saving it. It picks up towards the end, though, when Lorraine Bracco (who shoots down the "screen-specific commentary" illusion when she talks about having watched the movie on the morning she's being interviewed) and editor Thelma Schoonmaker drop some funny thoughts.

As for the rest of the extras? There's really no need to have a second disc to contain them; the total running time of all the "documentaries", as Warner calls them ("featurettes", I call 'em), along with the theatrical trailer is less than an hour. Plenty of room for these on the first disc, but then I guess Warner felt they needed another selling point with the whole 2-disc thing. To summarize the 1/2-hour making-of documentary: "Martin Scorsese is a great director." Remember those 6 words and everything else is cream cheese.

The second major documentary, at around 13 minutes long, has interviews with some younger writer-directors who've found themselves influenced by "Goodfellas". Only 5 words to remember this time: "'Goodfellas' is a brilliant movie."

The other two featurettes are about 10 minutes altogether. One is a storyboard-to-screen comparison, the other is a little throwaway piece with some cast & crew anecdotes. 4 words will do this one just fine: "Warner Brothers is lazy."

It's really a shame that Warner Brothers couldn't wait just a tad longer and include some truly special features for one of the best movies their studio has ever produced. With the stellar jobs they've done on their other 2-disc reissues, like "Enter the Dragon", "The Right Stuff", "Singin' in the Rain" --jeez, even "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" has better features than this!!-I expected Warner Bros. to really pull out all the stops for this new edition of "Goodfellas", but it's a big letdown. Still, it is an improvement (no matter how minor) over the previous release, and as it is probably the "best" version we're ever gonna get on DVD, I would have to recommend picking it up.

However, if you already own the movie, keep three things in mind. Ask yourself 1.) if you really mind flipping the old disc over, 2.) if you've got a normal full-screen TV, do you really need a new anamorphic transfer?, and 3.) do you really need to see the special features if they're not exactly top quality? If your answer to any of these things is "no", then I'd think long and hard about shelling out another $20.

**UPDATE 12/31/2010** Having recently gotten a PS3, I've been going nuts updating as many of my DVDs as possible to Blu-Ray, but like most people who've made the switch, I've come to learn that it's not always worth it in every case. I just got the new 20th Anniversary Edition Goodfellas BluRay and I can confirm that it has the same exact lame special features we were issued on the so-called "special" edition DVD six years ago (with two "new" extras; more on that in a minute).

The image upgrade is noticeable to me, but not impressive enough (that line is STILL running down De Niro's face) for me to recommend laying out yet another 20-odd dollars for the same product. C'mon, Warners, all this time and you still haven't learned your lesson? And being that this is Blu-Ray, maybe a TrueHD audio track would be in order? Nope, we get the same old 5.1. Thanks a pantload.

So what's new on this 20th Anniversary release? Well, I'll admit it does have a snazzy hardbound book-shaped case, even if it doesn't have much in common with the film, design-wise. There's also a pretty nice booklet about 30 pages long with stills from the movie. There are also two additional features that weren't present on the original DVD: a documentary on the history of the '30s and '40s gangster movies and a selection of mob-themed Looney Tunes shorts. The problem is, this is recycled content; the cartoons can be found in the Looney Tunes sets, while the documentary is a leftover from a Warner Brothers gangster movie box set released a few years ago. They're both fun, both interesting, but have only the most tenuous connections with Goodfellas. Couldn't squeeze one substantial new extra out of this new release, could they? Once again, all people wanted was a little decent treatment given to one of the best movies ever produced by a major studio. Once again, Warner Brothers has proven they just don't get it. Fair enough, but this is the last copy of Goodfellas I buy. I don't care if they come out with the deluxe 25th Anniversary 3D Super-BluRay Scratch 'n Sniff Edition, I'm not biting.

On a side note, I just want to say thanks to everybody for all the helpful votes and whatnot, glad you found this review useful over time. Take care!

Goodfellas has long been one of my favorite movies. I've watched it many times since I saw it in the theater. I've seen it on tape, on laserdisc, on the original "flipper" DVD and the remastered anamorphic DVD, and now, Blu-Ray Disc.

I'm happy to report that the Blu-Ray is a significant improvement over the remastered DVD. The picture is brighter, the colors are more vivid, and many scenes have much more detail and clarity. Of course, the overall picture is much sharper.

Goodfellas is not the kind of movie that is a showcase for high-resolution video, however. It has a lot of dark indoor scenes; very little takes place outdoors (something I never noticed before). I noticed some graininess, which has a lot to do with how Scorcese shot the picture. It's just more noticeable in the higher resolution.

There are some minor problems with the audio in one scene. The dialogue drops in volume and then jumps back up in the following scene. Other than that, the audio is fine, although I would have liked a more aggressive surround mix, at least in the musical selections. However, there's not much use of the surrounds here.

Also, at one point there's a vertical line halfway across the screen. Why this wasn't cleaned up is mystery to me; it lasts for about fifteen seconds. Admittedly this is a very minor problem, but with expensive new technology flaws of this kind stand out more than they would on tape or standard DVD.

If you're a fan of the movie and are considering upgrading to the Blu-Ray, I'd highly recommend it. It's not an eye-popping effects movie to begin with, so this disc isn't the first one to reach for if you want to show off your system. But it's probably the best way to watch the movie.

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After Godfather I and II, Goodfellas has to be the best "mob" movie out there. But I was disappointed in the DVD for one BIG reason. I had to flip the damn thing over halfway through the movie! I stayed away from laserdisc for this very reason. C'Mon Warner Brothers! There is no reaon that this couldn't have been created as a dual-layer DVD. I'd even spend a couple extra bucks for it.

Read Best Reviews of Goodfellas - Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta (Region 1 US - 2012) (1990) Here

GoodFellas is on top of my "best films of all time" list. I was one of the people who had bought the previous DVD edition, the infamous "two-sided, no features" release that had been one of the first generation of DVD releases, before the medium evolved into what it is today. I had been counting the days until they would re-release this film, so I was first in line to get this new edition.

Unfortunately, though this edition is much better than the previous one, it very much pales alongside most modern DVD packages.

The package aroused many suspicions in me that this was a rush job. Among my dissatisfactions:

There's no booklet, leaflet, film histories, or printed material of any kind which generally supplements a two-disc release like this;

The film is long, but still under the three-hour mark, and the second disc has three short (eight to 20 minutes), unremarkable documentaries plus a storyboard-film comparison. Wouldn't all this material have fit on a single disc? Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story had three times the media and was only a single disc. If they didn't have enough material, why did they put up the illusion that there are two discs' worth?

There are only two commentaries, and one of them isn't even complete. The "Cop and Crook" commentary is interesting, applying the great idea of bringing back Henry Hill (on whose life this film and its source book Wiseguy were based) and the prosecutor who had sponsored his Witness Protection Program, Edward McDonald. It's not a very illuminating commentary, but it's still good to see what Hill is like today. However, the "Cast and Crew" commentary is suspect. Not only does it not cover the entire film, I actually suspect it was not recorded as a commentary, but edited from fragmentary interviews. So rarely do the cast and director on this track comment on the specific scenes, the way a commentary should, that I don't think they were watching the film as they were speaking; I think the production company simply mixed the sound louder and created the illusion that this was a commentary track. I don't know for sure if this is the case, but if it is, I consider it very dishonest marketing. Don't call it a commentary unless it is one!

I found absolutely no new insights into Martin Scorsese or the film from the additional materials. The "making of" documentary is the usual "heap praise upon the director" baloney. Come on, do we actually *need* you to tell us that Scorsese is great? How about giving some anecdotes and insight into the film instead?

All of the above adds up to a very underwhelming DVD release of a film that's possibly the greatest American film of the last 20 years. However, there is still one incentive to own it -the entire film is contained, without interruptions, on one disc. So unlike with the old DVD release, you can actually watch the whole film now without having to turn the disc over. So this is still the best available version of the film out there. However, I remain displeased. After years of waiting, and being disappointed, why does this edition fail to satisfy?

I can only hope that the impossible would happen -that Warner Bros. would let The Criterion Collection take a stab at this film, and do it justice. It will never happen, but the very idea does whet the appetite.

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A contemporary classic stylishly directed by Martin Scorsese, it's among his finest two plus hours (and that's really saying something coming from the man who brought us Taxi Driver & Raging Bull!). He once again teams with Robert DeNiro to bring this seering tale of New York City's organized crime syndicate in the late 70's to life. The supporting cast includes Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Joe Pesci (in the scene-stealing performance that won him the Oscar). Based on the novel Wiseguy by Nicolas Pillegi (who co-wrote the script) Goodfellas follows the life of Henry Hill, a connected guy who lives out his criminal fantasy of being a member of the mob and eventually decends into drugs, which leads to his ultimate demise. The use of the oldies pop/rock soundtrack has often been immitated but never duplicated (though Pulp Fiction would be a comperable comparison). Beware: fans of The Godfather may be distraught in seeing their ideallic vision of mob life torn down brick by brick. Let there be no mistake, this mob movie stands unrivaled (though it's getting a push from the HBO series The Sopranos). I urge fans of this movie to check out The King of Comedy (another DeNiro/Scorsese masterpiece).

GALAPAGOS 3D - Charles Darwin's Big Adventure (Blu-ray 3D & 2D Version) REGION FREE

I have been in Galapagos 2 times many years ago.

It is one of the real paradise area of the world.

You should see there many kindly animals in a touchable distance.

I am looking forward this release because wanna see this wonderful island again!

This movie is about a SEAL named Andres, and while the cinematography is really crisp, I get tired of the Spin Doctors music throughout the whole movie..."Look around your world pretty baby, is it everything you hoped it would be, the wrong guy, the wrong situation, the right time to ROOOOLLLLL to me....to ROLLLLLLL to me."

That song plays about 8 times throughout the movie. There is a dramatic shift at the end of the movie, where one of Andre's friend SEALs (or maybe it was Andre) gets harpooned by a man and woman. The Spin Doctors play again, and the song "Two Princes" plays, and it's like, "If you...want to call me baby, now go ahead, and if you...want to buy me flowers, now go ahead..." and the man apologizes to the woman for philandering, and the two begin kissing in the now-red water, fresh with SEAL blood. You realize that these two are actually vampires, and that Galapagos is actually a documentary mixed with the prequel for Blade.

The SEALs do have some cool gear, and they do talk about how Andre and his fellow SEALs whacked bin Laden, but that's not a major part of the movie. What is a major part of the movie are interviews with the heads of the EPA, HUD, and Homeland Security discussing the serious issue of STDs in Urban housing areas. This was a great message, but a little graphic for children.

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High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition) (2007)

I was amazed by the amount of extras on this 2-Disc DVD set. What a fantastic set--with over 5 hours of bonus material. The story is typically light-hearted fun as you would expect from this franchise. It's the last day of school, and all your favorite East High Wildcats are counting down the seconds for the final bell that tells them it's finally summer! The rousing opening song is "What Time Is It?" and gets the movie off to a high energy start. Troy (Zac Efron), Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), and the gang must get summer jobs; meanwhile, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) wants to get Troy a job at her country club, Lava Springs, so that he can sing with her at the talent show and become her new boyfriend. Unbeknownst to her, the club's manager, Mr. Fulton (Mark L. Taylor), has to hire the entire gang to get Troy...including Troy's girlfriend Gabriella. Sharpay does everything she can to break the two up, including setting Zac up with a sweet college scholarship. Can Zac resist?

Visually, this movie is a technicolor feast that harks back to the Esther Williams/Busby Berkeley musicals of MGM. One of the most spectacular numbers if "Fabulous," sung by Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) as she lets everyone at the pool know that she has impossibly high standards. Her brother, played by Lucas Grabeel, is dolled up like Elton John and plays a pink piano in the shallow end of the pool while wearing a white tux with hot pink lapels. Definitely classic!

Spec-wise, the DVD audio is a speaker blowing Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and the video is full-frame. Sure, for those with 16x9 or widescreen TVs it's a disappointment. However, this movie was originally shown on the Disney Channel, and as you can clearly see in the behind-the-scenes documentaries (as you look over the shoulder of the camera and see the framing), this movie was COMPOSED for full-screen, even though there was spillover frame to fill out a widescreen. Minor quibbling point...still a great piece of entertainment suitable for ALL ages.

Now onto the extras...there's a ton! You get a great sneak-peak at High School Musical 3 (which will actually debut in theaters), which shows that the whole gang is back, along with three newcomers (looks like Sharpay may have some competition in the conniving department from the new girl). There are also some deleted scenes; although they were trimmed for the right reasons, one does explain a little bit of how Gabriela got to the Country Club for the talent show. Backstage Disney also gives you High School Confidential, an assortment of LOTS of featurettes such as:

*Manly the Dog: director Kenny Ortega's dog who has a featured spot in the movie as Sharpay's pampered pet.

*Sharpettes: Sharpay's sidekicks, featured in the "Fabulous" number

*Hilarious one about Ashley Tisdale; all her costars say she is like Sharpay, even though she protests. Very cute.

*Zac Factor: All about Zac Efron

*Special photo gallery where you can guess what baby photos match your fave HSM star.

*The Making Of "HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA'A."

*Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus is actually in HSM2; never knew that until I saw the featurette about her cameo!

*Cast Favorites: The stars dish (except for Zac who is not in this one) about their favorite singers, movie actors, desserts, and more.

*On Location Visit the resort area of St. George, Utah

*In The Kitchen Lucas Grabeel takes fans behind the scenes of the clubhouse kitchen set.

In the Music & More section you get:

*Dance Along: follow along to the moves of "What Time is it?" and "All For One." You'll be doing these dances in no time by following multiple camera angles.

*Music Video "All For One" A special performance of the song is intercut with the cast recording session and behind-the-scenes footage.

And lots more! All HSM fans should add this one to their collections!

This sequel to High School Musical features the same stars as the first film and nearly the same plot. Once again, high school hunk Troy (Zac Efron) ponders whether he should stick to the stuff he knows (in this case, the sweet Gabriella), the conniving Sharpay wants him there beside her, and eventually everyone learns that they're all in this together. OK, that wasn't fair. That's also the plot of "Grease," and for that matter, nearly every other teen musical.

In this case, though, I couldn't help feeling let down. Unlike the original (High School Musical (Encore Edition)), this film breathes not a breath of fresh air. It is, in essence, just a clone of its mama. If you loved the first film you'd like this one -it has the same feel-good bounce -but I bet you won't be watching it as often.

So why four stars? The music. It's better! "You Are The Music In Me" is a sincere, catchy duet by Gabriella and Troy (Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron) that uses a gospel chorus to rise above nearly everything ever cranked out by today's dime-a-dozen pop tarts. "Everyday" (also Gabriella and Troy) is in the same vein, a Britney-esque bouncer with a finale that seems literally straight out of a black church. "I Don't Dance" boogies along like an old big-band number, while the staccato boy-band rocker "Bet On It" (Troy) recalls the best of Michael Jackson. Finally, "All for One" is a hand-clapping shout-out that hints, a little, at Sheryl Crow's "Soak in the Sun." The soundtrack is available here: High School Musical 2.

Why "Extended Edition'? Because an additional music scene has been integrated into the film: the musical number Troy and Sharpay rehearse. The scene features Sharpay playing a pineapple princess looking for her "fresh fish prince" in the Polynesian fantasy "Humuhumunukunukua'pua'a." Bonus features include a sing-along feature, rehearsal footage and music videos.

One final note: Though this DVD is in fullscreen, the Blu-ray version is widescreen.

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I have two daughters (5 & 7) and they love the movie, love the characters and can't stop watching both HSM 1 and 2. For very conservative parents (I kind of consider myself on the conservative side), this isn't all that bad. They do kiss in this one, at the end. Other than that, I can't say there is anything else in the movie that requires explanation to the kids (not that I needed to say anything about "the kiss"). It is actually good, clean fun, unlike many of the other videos that come out nowadays..

Read Best Reviews of High School Musical 2 (Extended Edition) (2007) Here

I really don't understand the negative reviews for this movie as I found it to be really great. As usual, one wonders if they saw the same film. This movie was made to appeal to pre-teen and teen viewers and it's been a hit with them this summer. I'm not a teen, but I've always loved teen movies and I found it terrific. I've had lots of kids say positive things to me about this movie and so I know it was well received. I'm just so glad that musicals are popular again as I've always liked that genre. Music has a way of touching people in ways that a regular film just can't. Yes, this film has been marketed, but I have to say that to market successfully you have to have a good product (which this is).

Ok, we all knew that the movie producers would have a really hard time matching the success of the first movie which was a real classic. This movie came so close to being even better than the first. I think what did this was the outstanding music, vocal performances of Zac & Vanessa, and choreography. Also, the "romantic quotient" is quite high and there are plenty of romantic scenes for those of us who like those kind of movies. Zac and Vanessa have a lot of onscreen chemistry & their real love for each other really shines through on film. I can see that there are a few scenes that are going to get 'stuck' in my dvd player! :) Also, the message is very good about staying true to yourself and making the most of opportunities while you are young. If you go off the track, it means nothing and you can lose sight of what's really important and become someone you don't want to be. There are more positive messages as well, and I think that's one of the things that is so great about these movies.

Extended version? This makes me happy because it seems to mean extra features and perhaps deleted scenes. Yipee! It should be great. December 11th can't come soon enough. Also, the idea of a 3rd movie about their prom in theatres is exciting to me. I say, bring it on...there aren't enough great movies like these.

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Having been a Disney fan all my life, I always look forward to new releases. With the Success of High School Musical I wondered how they could top this production. They did though. HSM2 is thoroughly enjoyable with great acting by all the cast and the musical numbers are out of this world. The energy exibited along with the fun they seemed to have during the production made it even more enjoyable. It is a fantastic production and I recommend it for anybody who enjoys Disney. This is sure to become a classic.

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Nanny McPhee (2006)

That's what Mr. Cedric Brown (Colin Firth), the widower father of seven children who'd take the team Olympic Gold for mischief-making does. Working at a funeral parlor with two silly assistants, Mr. Jowl and Mr.Wheen (Derek Jacobi), he relies on nannies to look after his offspring, but his childrens' antics are all to drive away the nannies; in the case of Nanny Weston, they make as if they were eating the youngest, an infant.

Mcphee (Emma Thompson) arrives at the Brown resident one stormy night, and her profile silhouetted outside the door reminds me of the shudder one thinks when Alfred Hitchcock's profile is shown on his show. If the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins were thrown together, one would get Nanny McPhee. She's clearly no beauty, as she has two warts on her face, a swollen nose, and a tooth that hangs over her lower lip. She also carries a crooked staff which she taps on the floor in order to conjure magic.

She wastes no time in getting the kids well-behaved, especially in a scene where the children have invaded the kitchen in defiance of their father punishing them. Her way is akin to forcing a PS2 junkie to keep playing games until he either gets bleeding controller blisters or his eyes pop out of his skull. Result, he'll have had enough.

Brown is gratified that her only conditions are that she teach his rambunctious kids five lessons and that she requires Sunday afternoons off. The lessons include saying please and thank you, going to bed on time, getting up on time, and doing what they're told. And mysteriously, when one of the lessons are learned, her warts disappear until...

Brown though is quite ineffectual in enforcing discipline in the household, as he is wishy-washy and too busy at his job. It's clear that the death of his wife, whom he still talks to via the empty chair she used to sit in, is still affecting him. His oldest, Simon says that he doesn't care about or spend time with them like he did when their mother was alive. But he is living off an allowance from his forbidding Aunt Adelaide, and if he doesn't marry by the end of the month, she'll cut him off. The children will be sent to foster homes or put to work in the workhouses. He's desperate enough to choose Selma Quickly, a disreputable and loudmouthed woman whose taste in colours are a garish dayglo fuschia and green, as a prospective new wife. Why not Evangeline, the scullery maid who's learning to read and is concerned about the children?

Three performers from Love Actually are reunited. They are Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Thomas Sangster, who played Liam Neeson's son. Thompson provides the film's sole center of stability and rationality, a soothing contrast to the stiff eccentricity of Angela Lansbury's Aunt Adelaide, and Celia Imry's vulgar Quickly.

McPhee's five lessons are values that seem to have been lost on the kids of today's era. In fact, they seem to have more in common with the wild jungle mentality the Brown children have in the beginning. She tells her charges: "When you need me, but do not want me, then I will stay. When you want me, but do not need me, then I have to go." Nanny McPhee effectively joins the ranks of Mary Poppins and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in instilling good manners and values in children.

In the past few years, it seems like all of the movies that are safe to take young children to are computer generated animation films full of adult humor. The kids are entertained by the animation the parents by the adult humor. "Nanny McPhee" thankfully breaks the mold with a sweet story for everyone in the theater. Children identify with the young actors in the film and the story never drags. The six-year old who accompanied me is usually one who loves action cartoons, killing, shooting, etc. When we left the theater he said, "That's the best movie I ever saw!" Thanks, Ms. Thompson, for reminding us about what children SHOULD be watching at the movies!

Buy Nanny McPhee (2006) Now

I saw this movie 10 minutes ago in a hotel room. Immediately, I go to Amazon.com to see if I can buy it. This is how good the movie is. You want to own it and watch it again and again. The story is good (no doubt, if you have read the book). The director is good. Just love it. Highly recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Nanny McPhee (2006) Here

Emma Thompson shines in her wonderful adaptation. Colin Firth, of course, plays the same British befundled love-sick hero he is in every film and Angela Lansbury should NEVER retire. I loved everything about this film from story, costumes, and casting. If you're looking for a fun enjoyable film you can take the whole family to--look no further. Nanny McPhee has just the magic stick for you!

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Colin Firth plays Cedric Brown, the father of seven boisterous and slightly out of control children whose sole mission in life is to get rid of the endless string of nannies that their father tries to bring in to train them. After the recent death of their mother, the children--led by the clever and devious Simon, are sure that their father will remarry an evil stepmother who will treat them badly and further alienate them from the sole parent they have left. In order to avoid this occurrence, and entertain themselves in the process, they think up any number of methods to terrorize each person who comes in to try to bring order to their wayward lives. After the resignation of the 17th nanny, the agency that Mr. Brown uses "Nannies of Distinction" refuses to send him another. A whisper in the air tells Mr. Brown "what you need is Nanny McPhee." Fortunately for Mr. Brown, nothing could be closer to the truth.

Nanny McPhee brings a bit of magic along with a lot of order when she appears in the Brown household. Her mission is simple: teach the children five lessons and ensure that she is no longer needed. She tells Simon, "When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me and no longer need me, then I have to go." She teaches the children to say please and thank you, to go to bed, wake up, and get dressed when their told, to listen, and to love.

A bit of a fairy tale, the magic interspersed throughout Nanny McPhee made it charming and cute. It's not a new tale to have boisterous children in need of control brought to heel by a firm nanny, but the magical elements and transformation of Nanny McPhee from a witchlike hag to a beautiful governess add an unexpected twist. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to parents, children, or anyone in the mood for a bit of fantasy.

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Extraordinary Measures (2010)

This movie motivated me to write my first review.

I read on 'Rottentomatoes' that Extraordinary Measures "never feels like more than a made-for-TV tearjerker." Don't believe it! I am convinced that critics who do critiquing for a living often lose their senses of wonder, along with their senses of humor. After hundreds to thousands of movie viewings, they no longer see the story that makes the acting come alive. They only judge the acting (and that, superficially), and my guess is that most go into the theater with preconceived ideas based on trailers and their personal attitudes toward the actors in the film under review.

So with that out of the way, I will concentrate on the movie which I saw last night.

John & Aileen Crowley and their children, John Jr., Megan and Patrick, are the real stars of this movie. Which tells me that the actors who portrayed them did their job well.

As usual in his serious roles, Brendan Fraser brought to the screen the intensity and humanity and reality of John Crowley's decision/quest/obsession for a medical miracle for his children. Brendan is unique. He has been wise in not being stereotyped. As far as I can see, he has much more to bring to life cinematically. His humor is one of his greatest attributes.

Keri Russell is relatable as Aileen. In this condensed version of this part of Aileen's life, I think Keri allowed us to see into Aileen's emotions and her relationships with her children as well as with John.

The children were played by Meredith Droeger as Megan and Diego Velazquez as Patrick. I was entranced by both children. They were believable and amazing in their mature ability to play children with Pompe challenges, while still showing how the disease does not identify their individuality. I believe both Meredith and Diego have a great future ahead of them regardless of their paths in life.

Sam M. Hall is a delightful young man who, I feel sure, played big brother John Jr. very much as he is supportive, loving and responsible. His own challenges came through often with Sam's expressions and responses to difficult situations.

And, of course, what can you say about Harrison Ford that has not already been said. I watched his interview with Charlie Rose, and he said then that his character, Dr. Stonehill, was a compilation of several doctors the Crowleys worked with. His characterization of the medical research personality was probably not all that far from truth. But he naturally gives his signature personality to the contrary doctor. (I have known some egos like his in the medical field.) In short, he was wonderful. And I truly appreciate his dedication to getting this story to film (along with anyone else involved).

See this film if you have a heart for children. See it if you like any of these actors. (And watch for Dee Wallace. Short but oh so sweet!)

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES

STARRING: Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell, Meredith Droeger, Diego Velazquez, Sam Hall, Jared Harris, Patrick Bauchau, Alan Ruck and Dee Wallace

WRITTEN BY: Robert Nelson Jacobs; based on the book by Geeta Anand

DIRECTED BY: Tom Vaughan

Rated: PG

Genre: Drama

Release Date: 22 January 2010

Review Date: 21 February 2010

I won't even pretend to know the facts about Pompe disease. But what I do know is movies. And I take very much pleasure in squashing the opinions that Extraordinary Measures is a bad film and a cheesy film and that it belongs on a day-time old lady channel like Lifetime, rather than in mainstream theaters across our beautiful nation. It was fantastic.

Brendan Fraser stars as John Crowley, a father desperate to save his two children who are dying from the horrible disease. When he hears of a doctor who's been working on a cure, he attempts to call on him for help. After a very well written scene of him trying to get the hermit of a doctor on the phone, he flies to his hometown in Nebraska for a chance meeting of face to face.

Dr. Robert Stonehill is played by Harrison Ford. He's a man with the letters D and R in front of his name but rather than the victims, it's the scientific structure of the disease he finds a fascination in.

Fraser's character John is supported by his loving wife Aileen (Keri Russell). The film has received some slack in regards to their relationship being two dimensional, but I can clear that up right now with two little words: It's not. The scene they share early on, when they are interrupted by the babysitter, was more than enough to shed light on their relationship. The film doesn't dwell on their relationship, because that's not its focus. The focus is on the disease and their children dying from it.

John sees something in Stonehill regardless of his eccentric behavior and often cold personality. He works relentlessly to get him on his side and eventually it pays off. The two team-up and set forth to find a cure for this God-awful disease.

Fraser and Ford may seem like an odd match, but what they do on film together is amazing. Fraser, who is primarily known for his funnier roles, is a very talented actor. He's never overpowered by the pressure of sharing a scene with Ford and both of them deliver in every scene.

One of the things that make the film so enjoyable other than the great performances is its ability to make us cry and seconds later have us laughing out loud. This was a continuing factor throughout the film, and it's not an easy one to pull off. Extraordinary Measures could easily be the most underrated film of 2009. Don't miss it.

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"Extraordinary Measures" is an inspiring movie. It is based upon the true story of the Crowley family and their struggle with Pompe disease. I rate this movie superior because the tale is vital, the action gripping, and the movie is well acted.

"Extraordinary Measures" presents John Crowley (Brendan Fraser), his wife Aileen (Keri Russell) and their children, John Jr. (Sam M. Hall), Megan (Meredith Droeger) and Patrick (Diego Velazquez). Both Megan and Patrick Crowley have Pompe disease and are not expected to live past their eighth or ninth birthday. John and Aileen decide that prognosis is unacceptable and become determined to find a cure.

The Crowleys learn that professor Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) at the University of Nebraska Is close to finding a treatment for Pompe. They solicit Stonehill's help and form a company dedicated to discovering a cure for this terrible disease.

As I watched the science progress, I began to understand the difficulty of performing biochemical research and the near impossibility of taking a new drug to market. The challenges of financing and the difficulty of getting FDA approval became clear. The dialogue seemed real and the science understandable. The script writers for this film produced a scientifically clear script.

Harrison Ford plays a biochemist who is technically superior, but unable to communicate without creating stress. This is a very different part for Harrison Ford but he presents a believable, old codger academic who struggles with interpersonal communication.

Brendan Fraser is outstanding as a sensitive, persistent John Crowley who gently pushes for solutions. Keri Russell appears a concerned mother desperate to save her children. Meredith Droeger and Diego Velazquez are wonderful as the Pompe plagued children. Unlike many child actors, these two talented youngsters appear natural and convincing in their roles.

This movie tells a good human interest story with excellent characters and a realistic plot. I highly recommend "Extraordinary Measures".

Read Best Reviews of Extraordinary Measures (2010) Here

I'm a father of three adults, grandfather to five girls under the age of 12. All are physically pretty healthy. So naturally, this story of kids with a crippling disease which usually kills them before they are ten got to me. Brendan Fraser is the dad of two victims, and he passionately pursues a path to a cure. Harrison Ford is a crusty, eccentric scientist who has the right idea for a helpful drug for the condition, but who cannot by himself get the funding for the proper tests. When they team up, lots of things happen, some good, some problematic. The road to a rosy resolution is rocky. The film is enjoyable all the way, but have a box of tissues handy. This is based on a true story, and in an added feature you can meet the real John Crowley family. I am very glad to have rented this.

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For those of you who remember December of 2009, and the unbelievable amount of relentless commercials Extraordinary Measures would receive around Christmas that year... you'd understand that it darn well *better* be a good flick, and... it is. Thankfully!!!

It's about Brendan Fraser playing the role of a father who has two children with a fatal disease that leaves them in a wheelchair, and Harrison Ford plays the part of a scientist who actually has the cure.

The storyline mainly focuses around both Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford trying desperately to legalize this special medication but always having to put up with *someone* stepping on their toes in an attempt to try and stop the two of them from making the cure available. It even reaches a boiling point when they eventually turn against each other. As a result, expect both Brendan Fraser and Harrison Ford to travel heavily around the country, mainly from Seattle to Nebraska to Portland, in a desperate search for legalization of this highly advanced medicine.

Now, remembering very clearly that I was forced to deal with the countless amount of advertisements for this film 17 months ago, I had a good feeling it would have a very distinct Hallmark-type style. You know, sort of low budget, with a positive message to send the viewers home happy. Well... it sort of does, truth be told, but honestly the storyline turned out to be compelling enough to keep me totally interested in it from beginning to end, which is sort of surprising to me. So my final verdict is that I can't possibly find Extraordinary Measures overrated and all those commercials I had to put up with WAS worth it after all.

By the way, doesn't Harrison Ford look exactly like Mark Harmon from the hit show NCIS? Even his strick and ultra serious mannerisms in this film were identical.

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Desiree (1954)

Although there are some historical inaccuracies [Napoleon did not surrender his sword to Desiree, and some other small "enhancements"], and Jean Simmons is something of a drawback to the film, it's definitely worth watching. Marlon Brando's performance manages to capture the historical idea of Napoleon very wellthe great intensity of his personality, the underlying brilliance and insatiable ambition. Napoleon is both repellent and fascinating at the same time. One can understand how, at his best, he hypnotized almost the whole of Europe. But he is perfidious also, dismissive of the death and destruction he caused on his way to accomplish his aims. Really, the character of Napoleon and Marlon Brando's rendition of it is the only reason to watch this film. Jean Simmons' Desiree is lovely and winsome, but kind of vapid. One wonders what Napoleon and Bernadotte saw in her. Michael Rennie's performance is very good in his role as Bernadotte, and he is not overshadowed at all by the strength of Brando's performance. His scenes with Napoleon are wonderful. Until something better comes along [unlikely...] this is the one to watch for a period piece about Napoleon.

Having read some of the other reviews of this movie I felt compelled to submit my own. I have long been fascinated by Napoleon and I have read and watched just about everything on his life that I can get my hands on. I found Brando's portrayal of Napoleon subtle and powerful. After having seen at least a half dozen different actors play Napoleon in various movies, Brando's has always stood head and shoulders above the rest to me. The story is not entirely accurate, but all the main elements of the story are pretty close (except Napoleon surrendering his sword to Desiree). The costumes and sets are outstanding in a way that seems to be captured only in old movies. This is not an in-depth analysis of Napoleon's life, rather, it focuses on Desiree, a one-time fiance of Napoleon. While that story is interesting, I find myself waiting for the next Brando scene. Brando does a magnificent job capturing the eneregy and confidence of the young Napoleon, and the fatigue and desperation of the defeated Napoleon. Brando's scene when he considers Bernadotte's request to renounce his French citizenship is brilliant. The movie is almost worth this scene alone.

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NOTE: this is a review of the DVD, not of the film Desiree itself. As a Brando enthusiast, I was desperate to get my hands on this. I coughed up the cost for it because I had been trying to track it down for years. It ended up being obscenely expensive, especially once the shipping came into play. I'm glad that I got the opportunity to see the film, but this is a very bad transfer. The aspect ratio is distorted, the audio track is muddled and the colors are muted and washed out. If you're a big enough Brando fan, you might want to pick this up out of desperation. Otherwise, I'd recommend looking for other alternatives.

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I don't know why this movie is not more famous. The scenery and costumes are beautiful, and the acting is superb. I have never liked Marlon Brando, but he is excellent in this movie, as is Jean Simmons. Michael Rennie, somewhat forgotten nowadays, is good as well. The ending, although not historically accurate, always brings tears to my eyes. Great movie.

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This is my favorite Brando film and basically my favorite movie. The depiction of Napoleon by Brando was excellent. I had read the book Desiree prior to seeing the movie, and felt that the movie was true to the book. It is a very romantic depiction of Napoleon and Desiree, and shows a very interesting side of Napoleon. I recently returned from France and vividly remembered Napoleon as depicted by Brando where ever I ventured.

Evan Almighty (2007)

The review I read in the USA Today suggested that this movie was a stinker. But I think the critics dropped the ball. This was a fun movie, and a great choice for the whole family. Evan Baxter is the former Buffalo news anchor who has just been elected to Congress with the lofty campaign slogan "Change the World."

This inspires God (played by Morgan Freeman) to speak to Evan about building an ark. God is angry that the beautiful Appalachian mountain vistas he has created are being destroyed by those desiring to create huge residential areas. He is upset with those who want to destroy the natural beauty of the world.

Animals start following Baxter around two by two, and (like in the Tim Allen flick "The Santa Clause") he begins to look like his predecesor (Noah).

Evan becomes alienated from his congressional colleagues and from his family, but by this point in the film, he is convinced that he is doing the work of the Lord.

As the plot unfolded, I started wondering, "Were the animals really necessary to the storyline, since the judgment of God was only falling on one region of the world rather than the entire planet?" But my wife told me that having the animals come to Evan from around the world demonstrated to the people that Evan wasn't crazy, and that this truly was a move of God.

Secondly, having the animals come to Evan ties this in neatly with the Noah story from Genesis 6.

The movie is not what I would call laugh out loud funny, but there are plenty of cute and heartwarming moments. The message of the film seems to be that we can change the world with one random act of kindness at a time. Both the message and the movie are winners in my book. Recommended.

This is a GREAT movie inspite of the reviews given to it by certain critics. (especially critics who happened to compete with it's opening debute). This movie is NOT about a man building an ark, although that appears to be on the surface. It is about a man who is forced into circumstances which seem to be unalterable, taking him further away from his own personal aims in life only to find himself again. He must surrender his own life's plans for plans that appear completely incongruent to his own by Divine interference. He is pushed to the edge of his sanity while his stable and well grounded wife watches him hopelessly slip away. Ultimately, when his own strategies fail, he surrenders to his divine mission and plunges into his project whole heartedly at the cost of his job, family, and his reputation. Steve Carell plays the role so beautifully, full of laughs and humor, drama and tears. And Morgan Freeman, who plays God, is so wonderfully warm and true, he touches the hearts of all. And how many times in our real lives are we seemingly pulled off course, away from our goals, only to arrive at the point where we wanted to be made stronger, wiser, and more experienced than if we made a straight line towards our target? (Are the critics so dumb that they cannot see beyond the superficial appearance of this movie? What planet are they from?)

The movie doesn't preach so much as to teach us the importance of our courage, commitment, faith, and love. The movie reveals a core of values and give courage to notice our opportunities to make some difference in life while having the faith to do it when nothing around seems to support us. People who think this movie is about the remake of Noah's ark missed the premise entirely. This movie has a full gamut of emotions and is tenderly linked to the tangibility that makes up our humaness. It is a movie for the whole family to enjoy.

Also, practicing what it teaches, this movie was the first "green" movie ever made. It cost $175 million dollars to make and every scrap of construction materials that were used in the movie (even to make a life size ark) was recycled and given to an earth-conscious charities. It has more heart, soul, and substance than anything out there right now and is the perfect movie for the entire family. Five stars and thumbs up!

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But FINALLY I can watch a movie with my mother! I'm in my mid twenties and our tastes just tend to run so opposite on everything. I saw this and then saw the rating (which suprised me considering Bruce Almighty) and we agreed on it. And it was very entertaining.

I actually enjoyed the fact that cussing was kept to a minimum (if at all) and so was vulgarity. I loved Morgan Freeman's portrayal of God and the fact that they kept the sense of humor.

Steve Carell WAS very restrained in this movie, as compared to his other roles, but I thought he did an excellent job. I've seen more than 1 review stating that it wasn't as good as 40 Y.O. Virgin, but it's a completely different kind of comedy and his character is very different.

I also didn't really find it sacrilegious or making fun of religion. Some people love that type of humor. I find it tiresome. So for me that was a plus.

In conclusion: yes, it can be a family film, but it can also be watched and enjoyed by two adults. If you're looking for another Bruce Almighty with that exact humor, you might be happier just watching Bruce.

(I will admit thoughI was kinda confused about the animal bit, but I think that was just to convince Evan to build the dang thing.)

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As parents of five children, we rarely take our children to see a movie before we've screened it. However, we felt that with the ads, the PG rating, and from seeing the messege from Bruce Almighty, we did. WE LOVED IT!!! We all laughed throughout the whole movie and even our 10 year old son (our oldest) got choked up in certain parts. It was very clean and the writing was sweet. We have always loved Steve Carell and we were not disappointed. It's not perfect, but we feel that so many missed out on the real point of this movie.

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Bruce Almighty (Widescreen Edition) took great pains to revamp the typical comedy film into a new and exciting story. Who knew a movie could take the delicate and often touchy subjects God and religion, and find the humor in it? Unfortunately, Evan Almighty doesn't accomplish nearly as much as it's far better predecessor.

Evan Almighty picks up the story of Evan Baxter (yes, the same news anchor who was a bane to the existence Bruce in the first film) as he and his family move to a new town after Evan becomes a newly elected Congressman. Evan is the perfect picture of consumerism, vanity, and a man desperate for the attention and approval of his peers (while mostly disregarding the opinions of his family). Unfortunately for Evan, God has other plans for him. After instructing Evan to build an Ark and save his family plus two of every kind of animal from the imminent flood, Evan begins to struggle with his desire to continue in his own life plan, or trust in the wisdom of God.

At a PG rating, this movie is fairly appropriate for kids and families. Some of the aspects of the story will tug a little at the heartstrings, but overall it was a little tired and boring. The best thing this movie had going for it was the spot-on entertaining portrayal of God by Morgan Freeman. Steve Carrell has gained a lot of comic success with his hit show The Office Season Three and his hilarious turn in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Widescreen Edition), but I'm sad to say that while he was great as a supporting character in the previous Almighty film, he didn't do so well as the primary character.

Bottom line, while God's warmth and sense of humor is a veritable breath of fresh air in this movie, everything else is a bit contrived and predictable to a fault. It probably would have been nice if the movie had left a little to the imagination, such as keeping the audience in suspense of whether or not the flood was really coming -but for anyone who has seen any of the previews for the movie, that question is already answered. Bummer.

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The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

1994 was a big year for Aussie films. PRISCILLA and MURIEL'S WEDDING came out at the same time, and both earned a cult following because of their over-the-top themes. Also, an ABBA revival was happening at that time, and these films featured ABBA music.

PRISCILLA has many funny moments, but what makes it so special is the fantastic scenery and colours truly showcasing Australia's beautiful outback. Overall, the film is a pleasure to watch again and again. It tells the tale of three drag queens who set out across the Australian outback in an old bus affectionally titled "Priscilla". Along the way, they become involved in many outrageous situations.

DVD SUMMARY Originally released as an awful blotchy pan/scan DVD in Australia, the film recently received the treatment it deserved for its 10 year anniversary! Yes, it was recently in it's correct aspect ratio (2:35) and given an anamorphic transfer. While this new transfer is still not 100% pristine (white flecks here and there), it is still a huge improvement on the original DVD release. It's fantastic to see this film in all its widescreen glory after all these years. The colours and scenery will blow you away. The soundtrack has also been remixed in DTS and 5.1 surround sound. This 10 Year Anniversary also contains lots of special features, which is amazing for a film of its age.

The bad news is that the new DVD (in pink packaging) is only available in Australia. I recommend overseas buyers getting hold of this version over the current American DVD. The American DVD is only letterbox transfer (ie. not anamorphic) and doesn't include the special features.

A film like this sinks or swims with the casting of the leads, and luckily, all three main actors are absolutely superb. I have to confess that I hadn't really liked Hugo Weaving before seeing this film. I disliked his role as "Agent Smith" in THE MATRIX, and barely noticed his "Elrond" in THE LORD OF THE RINGS. But I liked him enormously in this one. Of the three leads, he was probably the best and most enthusiastic drag performer. I had previously seen Guy Pearce in L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, RAVENOUS, and MEMENTO, but I have to say that this is probably his finest performance. I have always been a Terence Stamp fan, and I have to say that, unlike the other two actors, he makes a dreadful looking transsexual. Nonetheless, the quiet self-possession and dignity with which his character conducts herself helps Stamp dominate most of the scenes in which he appears. Interestingly, although he plays a post op transsexual, he continues in his performance to speak in a relatively deep, masculine tone. One of the most enjoyable things about the film is seeing the way that the three performers gradually change in the way they interrelate with the others.

The most brilliant thing about this film is that at no point does it succumb to the slightest tinge of self-parody or irony. The director as well as the three leads all take their characters with the utmost seriousness, so that the film ends up not being a film about drag queens, but about three individual who just happen to be drag queens, a subtle but crucial distinction.

Most of all the film is fun. There are many, many over-the-top moments, and not every one succeeds, but most do. The script is superb, the scenery striking, and the music fun, even if most of the songs are, in one sense, outright wretched.

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Terence Stamp, as a Transexual...need I say more? OK...I will: "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is a wonderful, frollicking (or is it "frocking?") Adventure. Terence Stamp (of "The Hunger") is fabulous as an aging transexual, with bitter views and a sarcastic, biting sense of humor. His fellow(ette) travelers are performers, en route to the show of their lifetime, across the desert land of Australia....bickering and cat-fighting the entire way. Some of the banter is obviously a politically incorrect portrayal of gay men--the lines are often inspired by the worst-case scenario of gay men bickering--yet, I've met a few of those guys, in real life...so, the PC people will need to suspend their sense of appropriateness and enjoy the entertainment. This is NOT just a movie for "gay culture," as some people think. Straight couples enjoy the film and there are many hilarious scenes that couples can appreciate, together. There are some very Dramatic episodes that make the film more than a Comedy and aspire to give you an understanding of the sub-culture and humanity of the characters (despite personal prejudices). Besides, let's put the Anthropological Dissertation aside and get down to the core of the matter.... "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is a great movie!

Wait'll you see what one Lady likes to do with Ping-Pong Balls ; )

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"Priscilla" is now approaching its 10th anniversary. Rather than comment on the movie itself, I'd like to pay tribute to the amazing triumverate of actors at the center of the story. Because as time goes on, it becomes more and more notable that these three appeared together.

Hugo Weaving ("Tick" / Mitzi) Later becomes Agent Smith in "The Matrix" and Elrond in "Lord of the Rings"...i.e., only becomes a central figure in two of the largest franchises in movie-making history.

Guy Pearce (Adam / Felicia) Later becomes Leonard Shelby in "Memento" (and robbed of an Oscar nomination) and Ed Exley in "LA Confidential" (thought he was better there than Russell Crowe). Plus, he's a legend in Australia for his 1986 1990 part in the TV series "Neighbours" (where, most notably) he suited up next to Kylie Minogue).

Terence Stamp (Ralph / Bernadette) Finest actor of his generation? Perhaps. Later becomes Wilson in "The Limey" (don't miss that), Terry Stricter (founder of Scientology-like 'Mindhead' in the under-rated Steve Martin-penned 'Bowfinger'). Also famous to US audiences as General Zod in the Superman series. Career began as 'Billy Budd' back in the 1962 (!) Peter Ustinov classic.

Also here: Bill Hunter, outstanding as usual, as Bernadette's beau "Bob." To me, Hunter was the high point of "Strictly Ballroom" (as Federation President, Barry Fife). Wow, what a great actor.

It's wonderful to see this collection of actors, especially in such risk-taking roles. Especially Stamp, whose career has been hallmarked by intensely masculine roles. He has talked at length in various venues (e.g., 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross) about his trepidation of playing Bernadette & the freedom he felt once he pulled it off.

So, if you've never seen 'Priscilla' before or don't think it would be your cup of tea, hopefully, I've given you four reasons here to rent or buy it today.

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Beyond the campiness of the ABBA tunes, the outrageous costumes, and the superficial drag queen/transsexual jokes is the story of three different stages of life as we encounter them.

We meet Tick/Mitzi, Adam/Felicia, and Bernadette (don't call her Ralph) heading out to the Outback in Australia for a gig. Our heroines have their run of the mill "adventures" on their trip but what elevates this film is the exploration of the needs of each of them.

Felicia is in his mid 20s and all he wants to do is have fun and danger. He doesnt have a problem in the world and he doesnt care to have them. His youth is not going to be wasted.

Mitzi, in his mid 30s is starting to think about being a bit more responsible. We discover that the manager at the hotel where they're due to perform is actually his ex-wife and if that weren't enough, his son is waiting for him as well. Mitzi, like most people in their 30s with children wonders if he'll be a good father.

Bernadette is in her mid 50s. She's gone past the first two ages. Her only concern now is someone to spend the rest of her days with. Luckily, she finds Bob.

In this subtle way, we're pulled in to identify with and feel for these people.

The acting was superb. Although Terence Stamp got most of the accolades, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce were brilliant as well. Despite your opinions on ABBA, you'll probably enjoy the soundtracks as well. Definately required viewing.

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Step Up 3 (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) (2010)

If I were rating Step Up 3D simply based on the acting or writing you know, the usual movie criteria then I'd have to give two stars out of five, at most. Heck, to this day I have trouble remembering the two lead characters' names because they were so bland and had zero personality. The only person I *do* remember clearly is Moose, played by Adam Sevani.

However, no one watches this sort of movie for the stellar acting or plot. There was one reason, and one reason only, why I watched Step Up 3D the dancing! And in that respect, the movie more than delivered. The dancing is absolutely fantastic. It's the sort of movie that makes you want to get up and dance yourself, or attempt to, anyway. And for a dance movie, I don't think there's any higher praise.

Another surprising highlight of this film was the 3d! It might sound laughable, but I think Step Up showcases some of the best use of 3D since Avatar. No, really. I think the difference between Step Up 3D and all of those other post-Avatar movies is that most of the latter were filmed in 2d and later converted to 3d film, whereas Step Up 3D was conceived in 3d and filmed with 3d cameras from the start. With other movies that have been converted to 3d, the 3d seems like nothing more than a dumb gimmick meant to drive up box office receipts. Step Up 3D on the other hand fully utilizes 3d technology in order to make the dancing really 'pop.' Unfortunately, since 3d-capable TVs are still a relative rarity, most people who watch the movie at home won't be able to see Step Up in 3d format.

In short: The acting? Meh. The characterization? Non-existent. The storyline? Trite. The 3D? Surprisingly great! The dancing? OMG COMPLETELY AWESOME I NEED TO SIGN UP FOR A DANCE CLASS RIGHT NOW!! (

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