Harry Potter Double Feature: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban/Harry Potter and the Goblet o

I did not intend to upgrade my Harry Potter collection from DVD to Blu-ray until this "Double Header" collection came along. This is such a great bargain; why do they even still offer the films separately? These editions contain all the special features found on the two DVD editions.

I'm sure you're familiar with the films themselves, but if not: Prisoner of Azkaban is my personal favorite. Werewolves, time-travel, shape-shifters, wrongfully imprisoned convict escapes ... what else could you ask for? This duo of films marks the transition within the Harry Potter series from children's stories to something more sinister.

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Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (2008)

My wife and I took a chance on this and rented it when we couldn't find anything else. We haven't seen any other Apatow films -they all looked a little too adolescent for our tastes. We had read some good reviews of this, though, so we gave it a shot. It was a real surprise -very clever, well-written, and genuinely funny. Great cast, and all give excellent performances. Lots of real talent went into this. A very enjoyable movie.

"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is another smashing success brought to you by Judd Apatow and friends. This time it is Jason Segel's turn to shine and he certainly does not dissapoint with a script that is both laugh out loud funny and emotionally honest.

While one has come to expect Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, and even Segel himself to be on point because of their past turns in other Apatow produced comedies, it is the newcomers that really impress.

Like Christpher Mint-Plaisse as Fogel in "Superbad" it is the ability to find new and original comedic voices that have largely contributed to the success of past Apatow movies like "Superbad", "Knocked up", and even "40 year old virgin".

"Sarah Marshall" introduces the british Comedian Russell Brand to American audiences as Aldous Snow the ultra-ridiculous british rockstar/new boyfriend of Sarah Marshall. Brand has dynamite comic timing and is certainly willing to do anything for a laugh. His interactions with Jonah Hill whose character is obsessed with him are both creepy and laugh out loud funny.

the other real suprise is Mila Kunis. While I enjoyed her as jackie on "That 70's Show", her work here is truly relevatory. While she is essentially playing the requiste "dream girl" she is able to give the part some real depth while giving the movie a real warmth.

The other standout for me was Bill Hader who is funnier everytime I see him. Most will probably recognize him from his work in Superbad as Seth Rogen's partner and in this he plays segel's step-brother who is not afraid to tell Peter exactly how it is.

I also feel I need to mention Kristen Bell who plays Sarah Marshall. While the role is rather thankless she is quite funny and gives the character real bite. She also nails perhaps the most honest scene I have ever seen in a romantic comedy when she finally tells Peter why it didnt work between them. Both actors shine in the scene, but her work is both honest and heartbreaking and gives her character a depth that I certainly was not expecting.

This one is highly recommended

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Partway through this movie I was tempted to stop it, but I'm glad I didn't. This is a movie that starts good, has a wandering middle section, but a strong, satisfying finish. The story is one most people can relate to a guy gets dumped, tries to forget his ex but can't get away from her, and manages to find someone else. The part where I almost gave up on it was around where Jason Segel's character was breaking down in scenes which were intended to be funny, but at times just felt sad. I enjoy comedies which include their share of drama, but these scenes felt too forced. It seemed like some of those scenes stretched on for too long or borderline-funny gags were repeated too much. The movie does still have its share of funny scenes, like most of Apatow's films.

The scenes with the Dracula puppet musical were quite funny and the ending was rather touching. I will also give the movie credit for being one of the few daring enough to include male frontal nudity. Movies have no problem with having all the violence in the world but shy away from any nudity except graphic sex scenes. Here's an example of where nudity can be used in a story without being gratuitous.

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The story line of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is nothing completely new or all that complex. The movie starts off with Peter Bretter, played by Jason Segel, who ends up getting broken up by Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell, his celebrity girlfriend of 5 years. I thought that I was going to see a movie that has been done a million times and will laugh at a few dirty jokes. Surprisingly enough, Jason Segel knows his way around writing and acting. For a man who has never played a lead character or written his own screenplay he was very impressive.

One thing that not everyone realizes is that the full frontal nudity scene was not in the movie just for laughs. We have him nude in the beginning because Sarah has completely stripped him of everything and she couldn't accept who he really is, his true nakedness. And if you watch the movie (I don't want to spoil it too much) you will see this motif happen again later in the film. Yes, it is very funny to see Peter standing naked while he is getting dumped, but it also served a purpose.

Throughout the film we get witty and fresh characters that continue to make us laugh. The bar tender from South Central always stirs up laughs and the Christian couple on their honeymoon will have you grabbing your sides. Not to mention the incredible character of Aldous Snow played by Russel Brand. I know many people are not a fan of Brand, but my friends and I just can't get enough of him. His amazing improv throughout the film and ridiculous attitude is all part of his humor.

If some of you are asking how it stands up to the other comedies of the year, I must say FSM trumps all. Tropic Thunder is a close second for me, but the closeness that this will have with people that have gone through difficult breakups will have them laughing a bit more.

Last thing I want to say is the three disc collectors edition is well worth every penny. All the special features are hilarious and definitely worth the view. They share stories of Russel Brand's first audition to how Jason felt watching his nude scenes with his mom and little sister. We also get some insight from Nick Stoller and how he felt directing his first film and being part of the Apatow gang. The best part about this DVD, and should be true about all other Unrated editions, is that you can choose to watch either the unrated or theatrical version. Personally I prefer the theatrical version because it flows better, but give the unrated a view for their extra jokes. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is a film that will not soon be forgotten.

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When you hear the phrase "date movie", most people usually think "chick flick", a movie that's pleasing to the female on the date yet only passable at best for the guy. Something like The Wedding Planner, 27 Dresses or the most recent chick-centric movie to be dubbed "the perfect date movie", Made of Honor.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall blows all those flicks right out of the water. This movie is a rare occurrence. It's a movie that has the right amount of romance for the ladies and an abundance of raunchy jokes for the guys. Kristen Bell is especially good in her role as the title character. She's come a long way since Veronica Mars. She proves that comedy is her real forte.

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The Secret of Santa Vittoria

If you loved Anthony Quinn in "Zorba", you will adore him in "The Secret of Santa Vittoria". This gem from 1969 is a serio-comic look at the Nazi's occupation of a little mountain village in Italy during WWII.

The people of Santa Vittoria have a treasure, and it is so dear to them, they will protect it at great lengths. The treasure... well over a million bottles of the special wine, the little town of grape growers produces to deal with the "Cinzano" wine company. This business is all they have to keep their little city alive.

Having just learned from Fabio, the only University student from Santa Vittoria, the the Fascist regime has just fallen, the villagers now learn of a new problem..The Nazi's will be coming to occupy their little town, and more specifically, they will be confiscating the wine.

They turn to the newly appointed, and constantly drunk Mayor..Italio Bombolini(Quinn). How can these simple people outfox the Germans? Where, Mathamatically, can they hide a million bottles of wine? And how will they move it all? Watching it all come together is a captivating, moving and fun view.

Bombolini is the perect name for this bumbling fool. It is an absolute thrill to watch this performance of Quinn's, as he turns from the town clown to a hero of great esteem. His antics will have you laughing out loud, his loyalty to his people will paste a smile on your face, and his bravery as he stands alone against the Nazi's threats and retaliations will have you rooting for him and Santa Vittoria all the way. We are even treated to a bit of his wonderful dance. Quinn is not alone in making this film a must see, Anna Magnani adds her special talents as well. She is magnificent as Rosa Bombolini, the long suffering wife of the town clown. When it comes to Italio, her tounge is as sharp as her aim, as Quinn ducks the insults and the pots and pans coming his way as well. Virna Lisi adds her beauty and turns in a fabulous performance as the "Contessa" and Directed by the great Stanley Kramer, it is simply perfection. The cinematogrpahy and the music by Ernest Gold(nominated for an Oscar) also add greatly to the total feel of the story.

The comedy is wonderful, but there is also a serious side. The little town must make sacrifices, as they are also subjected to the brutalities of the war.

The film, by the way, took home a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture(Musical/Comedy). At nearly two and half hours,it's a feel good film, and I didn't want it to end. Hopefully this film will be restored and transfered to DVD soon. In the meantime, try and catch it on Turner, or look for a good deal on the VHS.

Get the pasta (or popcorn) and a glass of wine, and enjoy Italy for a while!.....Laurie

I read the book as well, and this one breaks the usual "the-book-was-better" pattern. The movie replaces the allied bomber crew member, who bailed out of his plane, with the Italian army deserter, a great improvement for the plot. Being a third generation Italian who has seen the first generation who came to the US before 1920, I can say, the director must have gone to great lengths to find a village and extras to fit the story because I have seen them and they are priceless.

PS. And in the book, the Germans were more ruthless.

Update: It has been issued on DVD, and I obtained a copy from amazon in March of 2008.

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I saw this film in the 70s and it still remains with me. It's World War II and an Italian village famous for its wine is celebrating the overthrow of Mussolini's government. Villagers arrest the local fascist officials and, in a silly mood, elect the town drunk Bombalini, played brilliantly by Anthony Quinn, to be mayor. Later the party is spoiled when German army move in to occupy the territory. The occupiers want to steal the village wine supply and send it to Germany for the enjoyment of the Nazi officer troops. Bombalini must now rise to the challenge of taking his job seriously in order to outsmart the Germans and protect the wine -his town's livelihood. This is a charming and inspiring story and telling of Italian ingenuity. Other cast members are Giancarlo Giannini and Sergio Franchi.

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This is one of the most memorable movies of the 1960's. The performances are outstanding Quin and Lisi are an excellent combination. I am watching Amazon for the release of this movie on DVD but to no avail. PLEASE make it available in dvd. It will be a trip down memory lane.

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Wine enthusiasts will enjoy this movie as will those familiar with small town politics whether in the USA or abroad. This movie features a top flight cast in a unique story. It falters only near the climax if the viewer cannot ignore the probability that real life Nazis would have been more ruthless in their pursuit of one million bottles of wine the villagers are attempting to hide. Still, it's worth the trip for the performances of Anthony Quinn, et al. A shame that this film is no longer available on VHS.

NEW C.r.a.z.y. - C.r.a.z.y. (blu-ray) (Blu-ray)

I had the pleasure of seeing this award-winning French Canadian film at the 2005 Toronto Film Fest. I would dearly like to see it again -even at the exorbitant price of $45 -but I have to refrain for the time being. The reason: the details don't specify whether or not this film has ENGLISH SUBTITLES, and I strongly suspect that it DOESN'T. (It's been my experience with Quebec DVD films in the past that if they don't specifically MENTION subtitles, there ARE no subtitles.) I've inquired about this to Amazon, but have not received the courtesy of a reply yet. So, much as I would like to recommend that you check out this amazing character-driven film right away, I can only suggest that you hold off for the time being, until the issue is cleared up. (Unless you SPEAK French, of course ... then go for it!)

* Update: Thanks to another Amazon user, I found out that the DVD was available from an alternate source for a lot less money and definitely DID have English subtitles. I strongly believe that it's the same version that Amazon is offering. Why they refuse to update the details is a mystery, but you can now consider it safe to purchase if you don't speak French.

I rarely review items on Amazon, but I just saw this film and believe it deserves far more attention than it is getting in the U.S. If you like movies about people, family, and relationships and don't like Hollywood's oversimplified characters and facile plots, this film is for you.

The story in a nutshell: lower middle class parents raise 5 sons in suburban Montreal from 1960 to the present. There are 2 main themes: the father's relationships with his sons, and the struggle of one of the sons to reconcile his identity with his parents' expectations.

While I was watching this film, I kept waiting for one of the usual missteps: a character simplified to keep the story moving, an action or phrase that isn't genuine, an actor briefly stepping out of character. It didn't happen! This 2 hour movie was flawless in how it portrayed this family and the times they lived in. But don't get the idea this is some french version of Forest Gump. This movie encapsulates a time and place by focusing on the individuals and letting their unique lives tell the story of the generation.

I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the superb acting from this cast you've probable never heard of (I sure hadn't). If this film was in english the actor playing the father would be a slamdunk for the best supporting actor Oscar. The portrayals of the mother, the eldest son as an adult, and all the sons as children were superb. Finally, I would call the lead character's performance a Tour de Force if it weren't for the fact that this somehow implies it was overdone. It wasn't it was just perfect!

A word of warning. These characters speak Quebecois. Don't expect your high school french or even your college french/english dictionary to let understand the dialogue without subtitles. This is a shame because the color imparted by language is part of the story, especially the French Canadian swear words based on the Catholic liturgy.

Go out of your way to see this film. It's a gem.

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It's already Canada's official entry at the Oscars and has been distributed in 50 countries. It also boasts one of the most enthusiastic ratings response on the IMDb () and it's just been made available on DVD on Amazon. See:

It's a coming-of-age story set in Quebec in the 60's, 70's and 80's in a suburban family of five boys. It's been variously acclaimed as the "Best Canadian Film ever" and the "Best Quebec Film of the past 20 years", which is not surprising as the best Canadian films are almost invariably from Québec.

I personally think it deserves all the accolades. On top of good acting, a gripping story, gut-wrenching situations, a wonderful recreation of the era, and a very real Québec atmosphere, it offers visual explosions of pure cinematic genius. It it doesn't get the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar let alone the nominationthere is something seriously wrong with America!

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C.R.A.Z.Y. is a rare film. Wonderful, comic, beautiful, poetic, tragic, and moreit effectively captures the cultural norms and social atmosphere of Montreal in the late 70s. More importantly, it tells the story of a suburban, working class family and their confrontation with the most formidable of challenges that could threaten any family's stability.

Brutally honest, morally visceral, and cleverly presented, C.R.A.Z.Y. will alter the meaning of the word, permanently, for anyone who is willing to accept that the most important foundations of family are love and acceptance.

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This could be the best foreign film and for my money one of the best films at the 2005 Oscars.

My wife and I still talk about the film. It is a story about a Quebec family (French) with the focus on the coming of age/coming out story of one of 5 boys. Well done and sensitive, it follows the boy from birth to middle age providing a real insight into what it was like for this person discovering his homosexuality. While the story focuses on his relationship with his father, his mother's role is priceless and the music was exceptional.

A French Canadian masterpiece.

Pandorum (2009)

So many people these days want to do movie comparisons with just about every new title that's released...here is another one getting that same treatment. These are the movies I have seen this one compared to: "Alien," "Solaris," "Event Horizon," and "2001: A Space Odyssey." This flagrant need to compare movies is largely due, in my opinion, to Hollywood's decade long quandary with not being able to come up with much new material...everything has already been done...and everyone has been conditioned to not expect anything new from that corner of the planet. Well, I'm not buyin' it! Books pour out of author's imaginations and onto the shelves of our local bookstores on a daily basis, and they are ALL different from the next. If book writers can do it, then I'm sure movie writers can do it as well. And this movie is no exception. It has plenty of newness to it. As a matter of fact, once you get through the creepy and atmospheric body of "Pandorum," which takes place on a spaceship meant to transport everything needed to start anew on another planet much like Earth, and finally reach the climactic ending, the breath of fresh air is resultant of a movie that never let on where it was going, reveals a story that has never been told (even remotely), and leaves the watcher with good feelings in their hearts...feelings of hope and reverie. The acting is superb by all in attendance, although, I believe Ben Foster should have gotten top billing, not Dennis Quaid. The vast majority of the time spent here is centered around Ben's character, whereas, Dennis' character doesn't do much more than try to stay connected with him from another part of the ship. All in all, "Pandorum" delivered on all eight cylinders. It had suspense, tension, depth, a well-thought-out plot, exceptional acting, production, and direction, creepiness, absorption, and reward. If you like the sci-fi/horror type thing, DON'T MISS IT!!!!!

Five Stars *****

See the movie BELOW, about the WW2 submarine? A sleeper right? Seeing this with low expectations reminded me of seeing that with low expectations. Especially when the ending credits came up and I realized that they made it all the way to the end without losing it.

When I first saw the trailers for Pandorum I said (as it seems a few others did), well, I gotta see it but it's probably another Event Horizon or an Aliens(1 or 2) ripoff attempt or a space zombie "bug hunt". (And I joked with my wife that Quaid must need some quick cash to re-do his basement or something, and he'd probably be killed off in the third scene when it's too late to get your ticket money back.)

Not that there's anything wrong with any of those things, Event Horizon was good for the first half till it overexplained the obvious, Aliens 1/2 were classics that deserve homage and Resident Evil (1 and 3) were great zombie fun with excellent fight dancing. (And every actor is human with human cash needs.)

I missed this in the theatre and forgot about it till I went looking for MOON on DVD and noticed this came out at the same time, MOON was out of stock so I got this.

It's good, I have to say it's really good. Like all science fiction / horror fans I pride myself on being able to guess the inevitable twist and I'm pretty good but not this time. Not for the multiple twists.

After being SOOOOOOOOOOOO INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTED by Avatar's ripping off Every Lousy children's use-syfy-to-cover-the-stinking-preaching storyline, this Pandorum film was a refreshing fun adult Action/SF flick.

Good multiple ending twists, fun and toe-curling fight scenes with well done good-olde "bug hunting" ;-) and a final ending that while "happy" actually worked well and satisfied without feeling like it was tacked on just because it tested well.

Glad I bought it, it's a keeper. Cudos to the crew and cast. Remember guys, the good SF usually doesn't do well at the box office but eventually rises to the top in home sales.

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Some of these reviews are very eloquent and seem to be written by people with a great deal of entertainment expertise. All I can say about this movie is that I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. It was a complete surprise. I thought it might be just another cheap sci-fi dud like we've all seen. Not so! If there was a negative I would say it leaned a bit toward the gory side. Not gratuitously though. And what a complete twist at the end! I think this movie deserves a solid "A".

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"Pandorum" was one of those rare films that blew me away and exceeded every expectation I had for it. From the mysterious opening to the horrific finale, this film is a work of carefully constructed perfection. Was it dark? Yes. Was it violent? Yes, but not gratuitously so. Was it tasteful? Totally! That's where this film succeeds where so many have failed. The STORY is the forefront of this film, and it really comes through.

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I caught this on cable and thought I'd watch a few minutes and then try and find something else. That never happened, I was on the edge of my seat for most of the movie. This film came as a complete surprise, and a good one at that. I'd never heard of this movie, and having grown tired of cheesy science fiction wanna be films that are mostly rip offs that fall short of being entertaining, was expecting this movie to be more of same. it wasn't.

This film straddled a couple of film genres quite well, bringing something new to the table and had enough twists in the plot to keep the viewer guessing, and it even fooled me in the end. The story holds up well, and isn't filled with holes like so much of what you see today.

Well done.

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The Three Stooges (2012)

Amazon notified me via email that the new Farrelly Brothers' "The Three Stooges" was ready to be pre-ordered, so I linked over to do so--I hadn't had that much fun in a movie theater in a long time, and couldn't wait to re-visit the film at home along with the usual bounty of DVD extras the Farrellys usually provide (I hope). Imagine my shock when I read the supposedly authoritative "Amazon.com Editorial Review" posted at the film's page with the reviewer saying it was the Farrellys' "weakest effort to date" and "terminally unfunny." Look, I'm smart enough to know one review is just one person's opinion, and that comedy is very personal and a heckuva lot harder to pull off than drama (what's funny to one person is often simply irritating or annoying to another), but when the review is posted on a film's page as the authoritative last word, I have to put my two-cents in. Here's my short review: I either smiled, chuckled, or laughed out loud through the ENTIRE running time of this film, and that very rarely happens for me, hence my 5-star rating. Most comedies, even the best, have slow spots you wait out until the next laugh--it's often the natural flow of a film to have peaks and valleys, but this film had none for me--it was all peaks. Every scene had something for me to at least smile at, whether it was the Stooges themselves, Jane Lynch as a Mother Superior (!), Larry David as a cranky nun (!), Lin Shaye showing up out of the blue in a small role (I love her), Sofia Vergara gamely sparring with the guys, or small touches, surprises, and sight gags that flew by so fast you knew you'd be laughing all over again when you saw it a second time (if we'd had the time we would've gladly stayed to watch it a second time the day we saw it--the friend I saw it with had as much fun watching it as I did). The three leads were perfectly cast, and if you know the Stooges, you'll appreciate even more how perfect they are. It's uncanny how close they are to the originals, and the entire production feels like a respectful and loving homage to them. There is no doubt in my mind the film will spark even more appreciation and discovery of the original Stooges and their huge body of work, and that's exactly what you hope for: that the new film not only succeeds on its own but sparks viewers' interest, appreciation, and respect for the originals.

The Three Stooges started out as short subject films before a feature film, and it's good to see The Three Stooges back on a theater screen.

"The Three Stooges" doesn't have an involved plot or great subtle nuanced acting, it doesn't need it. The plot is pretty basic, the stooges are dropped off at an orphanage some time in the late 70's and as they grow up they wreak havoc on the nuns running the place and of course they're unadoptable. After they grow up Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes), and Curly (Will Sasso) still live at the orphanage and wirk as handymen. Yes, I spelled it wirk because they aren't the brightest bulbs in the socket although they may stick their fingers in the socket! When the orphanage runs into financial problems the boys are sent out into the world to raise $830,000 to save it (shades of the Blues Brothers). Out in the world they're instantly picked by Lydia (Sofia Vergara) and Mac (Craig Bierko) planning to murder Lydia's husband. They give the trio a song and dance of wanting the stooges to kill Mac, but the story is a ruse to get the stooges to kill her husband. In all their bumbling good intentions to collect the $830,000 they foul up the murder plot, and provoke the ire of the murdering couple. All standard stooge fare.

There are a lot of good actors and actresses in "The Three Stooges", Jane Lynch, Brian Doyle Murray, Larry David, Stephen Collins, Sofia Vergara, but Diamantopoulos, Hayes, and Sasso are rightly front and center as the stooges and they do just about every classic stooge bit including a few new ones. And the usual foils of cops, doctors, lawyers, and high society matrons are the brunt of the stooges antics. A note, Moe becomes a reality star on Jersey Shore and its worth the price of admission to watch him dole out some well deserved punishment to the Shore cast.

The movie is episodic to recreate the feel of the original stooge shorts and directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly realize less is more and don't try to make this movie anything more than it is, good popcorn munching fun! Yes, it is violent, but some of the routines seem more intricate than dance routines and the violence is very cartoonish. If there are some of you out there that still aren't convinced, there's a postscript demonstrating how all the hammers are rubber, and how the eye poking is faked.

There are chick flicks and "The Three Stooges" may be a dude flick. I'm not a huge Stooges fan but the movie made me laugh and it was a lot of fun.

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The Three Stooges, and their unique brand of slapstick humor, are an American comedy institution. The trouble is, you are either rolling on the floor laughing at them, or you think there material is the dumbest shtick in the world. If you fall into the latter category, stop reading this review now, as you will hate this movie with a flaming passion. If a Stooge appreciator or connoisseur, however, then this big-screen adaptation will have you short of breath once again!

For a basic plot summary, this movie follows the head-slapping, hair-pulling, eye-poking adventures of Larry (Sean Hayes), Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), & Curly (Will Sasso) as they try to raise money to save an orphanage. In typical Stooge fashion, they bumble around for awhile and engage in the sort of hijinks one would expect from the trio. Along the way, they run into the cast of the Jersey Shore, Moe becomes a famous reality star, and the gang even have to mend a relationship issue stemming from their collective past.

This film is a rousing experience because it works on two (well, three, really) levels...

1. It serves as an ode to the original Stooges. Though nothing will ever quite be the same as old Howard, Fine, & Howard, this movie captures their subtle nuances as best as humanly possibly. The original sound effects are used, the casting is spot-on (especially with Moe...one could close their eyes in the theater and think it was Moe Howard himself), and the physical comedy is at its best. Besides the actors themselves, though, some of the plots, music, and camerawork itself honors the original shorts. The movie is split up into three "shorts", the music is the same cackling Stooges theme heard countless times throughout the ages, and some of the cut-aways feature easily-identified dummies being hurled or pummeled in obvious fashion (as happened frequently in the original slapped-together shorts).

2. It is also a re-imagining of the Stooges for a new generation. Instead of re-treading the same old material, the Farelly brothers put the trio in today's time period, what with its similar Depression-era themes and new technological gadgets that befuddled the bumblers even further. The directors even add a bit of a backstory to the characters that actually works pretty well in the context of the overall plot. You can't say this film is utterly devoid of sense or emotion.

3. Finally, in keeping with the hearty Stooges tradition, this movie is just plain funny! As a huge Stooge fan, I came into it with a healthy mixture of excitement and doubt. It vastly exceeded even my wildest expectations and had me belly-laughing throughout. Does every single scene work for everyone? Of course not. However, enough DO work to keep you yuking (or nyuking, if you will) it up for ninety minutes.

Overall, the bottom line for this flick is this: If you enjoy Stooge-type humor, give this one a shot...I think you'll be glad you did! If you don't care for the slapstick style, than stay away or prepare to be bored. This is also a very child-friendly flick that can be enjoyed by literally all ages.

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When hearing about the making of this movie, I had mixed feelings. You see, my father is a huge Stooge fan and owns about every episode of the three bone heads. While I usually take my mom's side of the entertainment boat, I have always found myself enjoying the Stooges. It's more than just smacks and puns. It's the characters, their history, and their ability to make you laugh.

So when this movie came out, I was worried. Hollywood has a tendency to.....how do I put this.....slaughter TV history's most lovable characters. And when the trailer was realized I was also a little worried because of the dreaded and unneeded "bikini nun" scene.

But during the time of the release my father was very stressed. You see, he is a pastor and a police officer. Both jobs don't really fall under the "fun" category. Some things popped up at the church and county work was starting to get to him. So I thought it might be good for us to wing a visit to the local theater and take in an hour and a half of the Stooges.

Grabbed my popcorn, sat down, and my fingers were crossed....Either this movie would do justice or ruin the Stooges for everyone.....and before I could even finish my first handful of popcorn I started choking on it....from laughter....

Another fact you may want to know is that my father doesn't laugh much. He's got a gift for making people laugh and he's got an amazing sense of humor. But, he doesn't laugh that much. Well, as soon as the movie started that all changed. I have never, repeat, never heard him laugh so much. This movie left you with a huge smile on your face. They did the Stooges, they weren't just doing them, they WERE the stooges. The quirks, the gags, and the "NUKS" were all there.

It took me a full day to get rid of that stupid smile I had on, but that didn't stop me from seeing it again (mom dodged it the first time, but the second my dad MADE her see it). He now calls it his "Favorite movie".

I'm a pushover for movie with good writing....and that's not really what I saw here, there were more slaps than words. But to see the Stooges after all these years come to life again, that was priceless. Would I recommend this movie? That depends. If you loved the Stooges, you need to see this film. If you didn't, then don't torture yourself. But again, for those people who know them, and enjoy them. This movie will make your day and always bring a smile to your face when you think about it.

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How did they do it? How did they manage to revive the Three Stooges in such a flawless fashion? They even divided the movie into 3 episodes (Which all follow the same plot, but still!), making it like as if they had created new episodes of the classic slapstick comedy! Believe it or not, this movie fits right into the days of old!

While the plot may have a bit of seriousness involved (The Stooges are trying to save an orphanage where they had spent time there due to them never being adopted as kids And there's sorta more to it, such as attempted murder), it was easily overshadowed by numerous comedy bits (Which come around just as often as in the original show), tons of clever moments, and even the casting alone (The Stooges look EXACTLY like how they were back then, and I didn't think it'd be possible!)!

There is so much to like about the Three Stooges movie that it's impossible to tell it all under this one little review. I recommend you go watch the trailers online. Or better yet, you may as well just go watch the movie right now! You will NOT be disappointed! My little brother, my dad, and I went to go see it just today. We each had enjoyed it GREATLY. I hope you will enjoy this movie as much as we did (And maybe you'd get the same kind of nostalgia my dad did).

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Vamp

Yes, I'm reviewing an extras-loaded blu ray edition of a film barely anyone has ever seen, especially if you were born after the 80's horror heydays! I am so pleased to have found this gem at AmazonUK.com on blu ray, with brand new special features, cheap, and on a region free disc courtesy of Arrow Video.

Firstly, the film itself is pure fun horror-comedy. It never takes itself too seriously, but doesn't skimp on the villains ability to kill, bite, and tear the hero's limb from limb. This is basically the same premise of Martin Scorsese's great black comedy After Hours mixed with EC style vampirism, and John Hughes-like teen comedy. And it totally works. Hell even a star of John Hughes' Sixteen Candles(Gedde Wantanabbe) plays one of the main characters. The big draw of this film at the time, at least for the low budget studio behind the film, was getting Grace Jones to play the main vampire Goddess Katrina. She was showcased in all the tv adds and most of the poster artwork. Was it worth it? HELL YEAH! While she has little-to-no dialogue in the film she is quite striking while she is on screen. Even without her Nosferatu-inspired vampire make up on she's still strange and menacing. Plus, she has one of the most interesting and weird strip-teases ever committed on film. This film has a similar tone to the equally great Fright Night. If you dug that one, you may just be seduced by Vamp.

Now onto the new Blu ray. It is really good with only minor complaints. The transfer is probably as great as it's ever going to be. Even better than the already very good Anchor Bay release. There's some grain scattered about, the film takes place mostly at night. But the very EC/early Dario Argento-inspired light schemes that dominate the second and third acts of the film are even more striking in Hi-Definition. It's worth the upgrade for sure.

The brand new special features are great as well. We get a new audio commentary featuring co-star Robert Rusler(Weird Science, A Nightmare on Elm. Street 2) and film critic Calum Waddell(he's written pieces for Fangoria magazine). They seem like old pals and laugh it up as they talk about what's on screen. We also get some scandalous details regarding Rusler's night life while working on the film accompanied by Grace Jones, and a great story about how Dolph Lundgren wanted to kick his butt. "Vamp it up-Dedee Pfeiffer Remembers the After Dark Club" is a talking heads interview with the actress with footage, behind the scenes and other, cut into her conversation(which is the case for all the special features). It's fun and she comes off very personable and cute. Makes one wish that she showed up in more stuff. The last time I saw her in anything outside of her Playboy pics(which if you haven't already, check them out immediately) is that horrible sitcom Cybil. Next we get "Vamp Stripped Bare-an interview with Richard Wenk" a great piece talking to the director about his inspirations and the wranglings it took to make the film and keep Grace Jones on set. This feature does repeat some of the next features material, "Back to the 80'S-Producing a Campy Cult Classic that interviews producer Peter Borscher. This is the best of the interview section of special features in my opinion. It goes over all the details of how the film got off the ground, the actual production, and the release and eventual cult status of the film. Most interestinly is Borscher's story about how he was approached in the 90's by Robert Kurtzman(the K in KNB Effects) and then unknown Quentin Tarantino about a script they wanted him to produce called From Dusk 'Til Dawn. They wanted him to produce the film just so they could avoid legal problems with the fact that both films had very similar premises, but really are nothing alike in the long run. He did produce Dusk. Never knew that. Borscher isn't dry and talks straight to the point. "Scrapbook of Scares" is a fun featurette with director Wenk showing off some of the memorabilia he kept from the Vamp shoot. It's neat and worth a look. We also get rehearsal footage, bloopers, original theatrical trailer, and Richard Wenk's student film Dracula Bites the Big Apple-all of which were ported over from the original Anchor Bay DVD release.

You also get a double sided poster featuring brand artwork for the film. The Blu Ray sleeve itself is really fun. You can flip it to appear as any poster design you prefer. There's the two new artworks, which is what the double-sided poster consists of, or two original posters. Very neat. Finally, you get a 7 page booklet featuring an essay by critic Jay Slater that is fun and nostalgia fueled recollection of a film he obviously loves.

Now the only downside of this package that I can muster is the abscence of the Anchor Bay DVD's audio commentary featuring stars Mark Makepeace, Dedee Pfeiffer and director Richard Wenk. I'm assuming it was a rights issue and the commentary strictly belongs to Anchor Bay, otherwise I can't think of a good reason not to include it. If you can pick up a copy of the American DVD release, it's worth a listen. But that's it. I'm a very happy customer with a film that I've loved since gradeschool.

The mid to late 80's birthed a lot of suped up and alternative vampire flicks. Vamp, The Lost Boys, Near Dark and my personal favorite Fright Night(which now that it's being remade the chances of that classic getting a special edition blu ray are very good-YAY) all had one thing in common beyond the time period that they were made, they involved teenagers as their main characters. How else in the 80's would dusty old and totally been-done-to-death horror characters such as vampires be relevant and more importantly profitable. This films I mentioned were all good films to boot. So enjoy....this movie doesn't SUCK.

Not really sure what this movie is trying to be. Most people read the review before purchasing. However most reviews are misleading or waste time describing the technology used in the presentation.

Fraternity pledges looking to find a cushy environment decide it is easier to provide a hooker than to hand themselves. The recruit a local geek (Gedde Watanabe) with money to travel to the seamy side of town to procurer their quarry; however when they meet Katrina (Grace Jones) who is the quarry?

I only saw the Blu-ray so I cannot compare media. However this is not one of those movies that need any special media unless you are looking for something on Grace that I missed. Naturally voice over comments add another dimension.

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Nijinsky (1980)

This film is a jewel to own for our private collection! Alan Bates performance as Diagalev coupled with a magnificent performance by De La Pena as Nijinski makes for great viewing! Wonderful costumes and stage settings brings out the time frame of that era.

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Black Christmas (1974)

There is no need to discuss what a classic the original Black Christmas is. That has been done at length by reviewers for other releases. This review is specifically for the Black Christmas [Blu-ray] edition.

The transfer and sound are great. There are still some traces of foreign matter visible from the print used, but this is the nicest copy you'll probably ever see on a home edition. I believe it is the same transfer used for the Special Edition in 2006.

The features are identical to the Special Edition release:

12 Days of Black Christmas featurette

Midniht Q&A

Interviews ( Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and Art Hindle)

'Uncovered' Sound scenes

My only complaint is the lack of subtitles or commentaries, and for that reason I only give 4 stars. Apparently space limitations were the problem on the Special Edition. That would not be a problem on blu ray. It seems the rights to the commentaries from the 2002 Collector's Edition are owned by another company so those were not available, but it seems that new actor commentaries might have been obtained for this edition.

Sadly, Bob Clark was killed by a drunk driver in 2007. For fans wanting the director's commentary, the collector's edition is the only option and will become increasingly harder to obtain.

If you have the Special Edition and an upconvert dvd player you might give this one a miss, as there are no new features to speak of. If you have a blu ray player and don't already own the special edition, the Blu-ray edition is the way to go. Of course, you can hold out for a "Definitive Edition". There's always next Christmas...

I am 35 years old and I remember when this first came out on HBO back in the early 80's. I believe I was either ten or eleven when I first saw it. My parents went to sleep right before it came on and I stayed up to watch it (which they wouldn't have let me in any way if they knew this movie!). This was the movie that put a deep dread AND fascination in me for horror movies and suspense/thrillers. It terrified me beyond words, yet as good horror movies do they take you for a ride that thrills you to your core. Man, I remember the unbelievable dread at the end of the movie and after it was over I remember saying to myself "That was the most scared I've ever been".

There have been times as an adult that took me back to the horror that this movie implanted in me as a child....One night, sleeping in my apartment alone, I was suddenly awoken by my door opening. I slept in almost complete darkness at the time. I jumped into the "fight or flight" mode and the flight took control...I screamed and screamed like a little girl throwing my pillow at the unseen attacker! I was able to turn on the lights and I came to find out that the wind (during the summer with windows open) was responsible for pushing my door open when it wasn't shut all the way. I woke up my neighbors with the screams and commotion I made and they called the cops thinking I was being murdered! LOL Man was I embarrassed! But after it was over I remembered that that fear I felt was so similar to the fear I first felt when I watched Black Christmas all those years before.

Another instance when, I was a teen, I remember watching a news broadcast which told of a stranger living in the basement of a family's house for several months before the family found out. I believe the man was insane and would come upstairs in the dead of night to sneak food and use the bathroom. Apparently he would go upstairs while everyone slept and watch them. He didn't hurt them, but MAN! That gave me the same creeps that this movie did. It made me search every square inch of my house, during the day with a shotgun! I guess it just goes to show that a truly good scary movie like this one can really get under your skin!

Some folks give this movie a four, three and even two star rating, which amazes me. There really is no film that compares with this one for the creepiness and dread. I think that the younger folks who are more used to the modern horror movies just can't appreciate, I believe, the genius of the suspense, dread and insane-ness of this movie. We will see the same reaction with the new re-make of this movie coming out in theaters this Christmas (2006). I've seen the few teasers and trailers for the new movie and it looks awful compared to the original. They have to include such gore and what I call "flesh shock" to try to make something out of the new movie which tells me that the terror isn't there. Movies like Black Christmas, Halloween and TCM never relied on blood or gore for its horror, and I believe movies that do, generally speaking, just aren't good horror movies. Its the psychological horror that counts, not the blood or gore.

If you are twenty five and younger, try watching this movie by yourself, alone in the dark of night. You'll then understand that feeling of deep dread and "creepiness" that will make you stop the movie, turn on all the lights and re-check the windows and doors and the closets and under the bed...and maybe even the attic if you have the strength to do so!

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We talked her into taking us to see this when it came out and she has never let us forget it. At the time, they even gave out little badges to the audience that said: It's Going to be a Black Christmas this Year. Wish I still had that!

Anyway one of the first, best slasher horror films ever. Halloween can say thanks. When a Stranger Calls can say thanks ... This is one scary flick. Sorority girls on campus over Christmas are, unknowingly, being slaughtered one at a time by a menancing stranger who will not stop calling their house.

Cast is fine re: suspects and gals in peril. Margot Kidder is very funny as the bad girl and the ending is, well, great! A classic.

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Oh man, where do I start? This film is one of my favorite horror films. It has the right mixture of horror, suspense, and comedy. It also has small amounts of gore (well, by today's standards) which is a good thing to some viewers.

The plot of the film is simple. It takes place at a sorority house/boarding school around Christmas time. A crazed killer finds his way into the attic of the house and starts making obscene phone calls from the second phone line. Then, he starts offing the inhabitants of the house one by one. Olivia Hussey stars as the film's heroine and Keir Dullea co-stars as her misunderstood love interest... but Margot Kidder steals the show as Hussey's drunken, foul mouthed friend. A very young Andrea Martin (of SCTV fame) is also in the film.

This film inspired elements of the Scream movies, When A Stranger Calls, and countless others. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good scary movie.

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I saw this film when it first came out years ago. I have never forgotten it. In fact, whenever I discuss horror films with horror film fans, I need only describe the plotline about "the guy in the attic movie with Olivia Hussey" everyone knows exactly what film I am talking about. To a man or woman the response is the same "it scared the hell out of me".

Its' hard to believe that Bob Clark made this film as well as the Porky's trilogybut hey, comedy and horror both take talent.

Halloween, Friday the Thirteenth, Nightmare on Elmstreet,et al, all copy elements contained in this truly frightening film.

It takes place at a off-campus house over Christmas break. It involves a group of young college women who, unbeknownst to them, have a visitor. Thats all I'll say. I've never forgotten this film.

Even after buying the DVD (and its' great with lots of extras), and having Bob Clark explain exactly how he made this film, it still scares me. Hardly any blood or gore-just incredibly imaginative,intense, film making. Just try watching it alone.

As the saying goes "you won't sleep through it", in fact you might have a hard time ever sleeping again, at least in a house with a large attic in it.

The surprise ending still works. Oh yea, it still works-"Agnes, its' me, Billy"................................

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Diary of a Chambermaid (1946)

A mystery to audiences because its equivocal moralism when it premiered in 1946, "The Diary of a Chambermaid" is now considered one of Jean Renoir's key works for unlocking his contemplation of the many facets of human nature. This film is a faithful adaptation of the spirit of Octave Mirbeau's novel, exhibiting decidedly French sensibilities because of its expatriate director, cinematographer (Lucien Andriot) and composer (Michel Michelet). For that matter the novel had been a play written by Andre Heuse, Andre de Lorde and Thielly Nores, although actor Burgess Meredith had a hand in writing the screenplay.

This film is most reminiscent of his examination of the dark, sinister and ugly side of life as in "La Bete Humaine" and "La Chienne," that manages to be both a social satire and a perverse tragedy. Renoir's moralistic tone comes through, even with the surface levity of the characters, portrayed by an international cast. Celestine (Paulette Goddard) the chambermaid has a new job in the country estate of the Lanlaires (Reginald Owen and Judith Anderson), where she hopes to use her beauty to seduce a wealthy man. Three men from three different social classes with three different perspectives on the world vie for her attention: Young Georges Lanlaire (Reginald), who has come back home; one of the neighbors, the ex-officer Captain Mauger (Burgess Meredith); and the Lanlaires' depraved valet Joseph (Francis Lederer in the film's most memorable performance).

"The Diary of a Chambermaid" is filled with disquieting moments, such as when Mauger crushes his pet squirrel to death or Joseph kills a goose with a long needle, while Madame Lanlaire frets possessively over the family silver. Meanwhile, Celestine's doomed love life continues on the path to degradation. This is clearly the best of Renoir's efforts in America, although it does benefit from being considered in context with the larger body of his work. Final Note: look for Irene "Granny" Ryan as fairly young "Louise."

A much-praised and criticised film. Goddard is an enterprising young chambermaid who wants nothing more than to wed a rich man. As love would have it, a penniless valet becomes enamoured of her; he tries to win her the only way he can....France's great director, Jean Renoir (son of the immortal impressionist painter Augustus) was known for his realism in his French films. This picture, however, done during the director's Hollywood years reeks of artificiality. Upon its release in 1946, it met with disapproval with the studio system, and it was shunned by his French patrons. Perhaps egotistically, but most likely, they insisted that his best work was done in France, which is probably true. However, Renoir was unique and his humanism and morality breaks through here; a brilliantly oddball film which blends the serious and the comic. Francis Lederer is menacing as Joseph, Burgess Merideth is amusing as the eccentric Captain Mauger and Irene "Granny" Ryan has a memorable cameo as Louise, the timid maid.

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50 First Dates / Click (2010)

Love 50 First Dates. one of my favorite movies! Click is another great one. Funny!! As always, the music is great.

My hubby loves Adam Sandler movies, so I added these to his Valentine's Day gift basket. I'm sure we'll see them over and over and over again!

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the movies were a gift and they seem to be happy with the quality and choice of selection. Thank you

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Rags and Riches: The Mary Pickford Collection (The Poor Little Rich Girl / The Hoodlum / Sparrows /

Gladys Marie Smith, better known as Mary Pickford (1892-1979), was one Hollywood's first female megastars, a Canadian actress which would be known as "America's Sweetheart." Throughout her life, she starred in 52 films, ending her acting career in 1933, after the arrival of sound, to which she could not adapt. She was also called "The Girl with the Curls," which allowed her to play children, even in her twenties. Her power and popularity in the industry was also a key in her being one of the founders of United Artists, together with actor/comedian Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks (her popular actor and husband), and director D.W. Griffith. She was also one of the original founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "Mary Pickford Rags and Riches Collection" is an awesome collection that comprises three of Pickford's best films, and one of her movie shorts. In them, you will witness the greatness of her acting and extreme charisma in the high quality images of the Blu-ray. This is one remarkable and historically important collection that brings America's Sweetheart back to life, thanks to the gigantic effort from the folks at Milestone Film and Video.

"Mary Pickford Rags and Riches Collection" includes three Blu-ray discs. The first one presents "The Poor Little Rich Girl" (1917), which opens with "In the house of everything, except the love she longed for, dwelt Gwendolyn, the poor little rich girl." These words perfectly describe, in the shortest way, what the film is about, in which Pickford plays Gwendolyn, daughter of a wealthy businessman and a mother that is too busy socializing to pay attention to her. She desperately wants to experience the world outside their big house, and finds ways to do just that, only to be punished for being a free little poor girl, telling her dad, "I had lots and lots to tell you, daddy. I'm so lonely, I..." This is a heartbreaking story with lots of funny moments. Disc Two includes "The Hoodlum" (1919), featuring Pickford as Amy Burke, a spoiled, rich girl who inherited her grandfather's "tyrannical temper as well as his money." Her father, on the other hand, is an intellectual, described as a "sociological writer," who lives in a poor immigrant neighborhood, doing research and writing a book. Her grandfather goes for a vacation to Europe and invites her to come along, but she chooses to stay with her father. Little did she know about the big change in lifestyle that she was going to experience. Here, Pickford shines with her natural ability for slapstick comedy my favorite of the three films. This disc also features "Ramona," a 17 min short done in 1917, starring Pickford. In Disc three, on the other hand, we have "Sparrows" (1926), perhaps the most serious and dramatic film of the collection, which opens with, "The Devil's share in the world's creation was a certain southern swampland a masterpiece of horror." In this film, Pickford stars as Molly, the oldest of a group of children which have been stolen from their parents and/or been allowed to be cared of by a man named Grimes. Sadly, the children parents' don't know that Grimes is a mean-spirited, abusive old man who treats the kids as slaves and starve them to death, if possible, stealing the money that the parents send for their children's welfare. Grimes, his wife, and his wife's son have the perfect criminal operation running, at times "shoving" the kids that they didn't like in the swamp. So, as you can imagine, is up to Molly to find a way out from their misery. This movie has a dose of Christianity and hilarious moments created by Pickford, who, once again, proves why he was so talented.

Each film in this collection has an introduction for kids, in which Pickford, as well as B&W silent movies are introduced to them in a very smart way. In addition, there are commentaries by film historians; home movies on Pickfair, Pickford and Fairbanks' home, featuring Charlie Chaplin and others; outtakes; trailers; and much more. This is one truly wonderful collection that makes a great Christmas present for all family, in which all will enjoy and perhaps discover the talents of one of the best actresses of cinema's silent era. Great job, Milestone, for your hard work in releasing this collection! (USA, The Poor Little Rich Girl, 1917, 75 min, B&W or tinted; The Hoodlum, 1919, 92 min, B&W or tinted; Sparrows, 1926, 90 min, B&W or tinted) Reviewed on December 10, 2012 by Eric Gonzales for Milestone Film and Video Blu-ray

This is a wonderful collection of Mary Pickford films, and it's a shame that the rating has been spoiled by two rather querulous reviews. All three films are classics of the silent era and among Pickford's greatest. In fact, this set serves as a splendid introduction to Pickford's work as all three films represent different aspects of Pickford's cinema persona.

"The Poor Little Rich Girl" is the first film in which Mary Pickford plays a little girl over the course of an entire film, and it remains one of her best. It also marks the first time she works with screenwriter Frances Marion, who would become Pickford's closest collaborator over the next several years. "The Poor Little Rich Girl" is a remarkable evocation of childhood, capturing the wonder, the terror, and the ludic abandon of being a child more successfully than any film of its era.

In "The Hoodlum," Pickford plays a girl several years older than Gwendolyn and decidedly more tomboyish. Amy Burke is similar to many of Pickford's other high-spirited characters like Tess of the Storm Country, and, "The Hoodlum," like many of her other films, presents the disparities between the lives of the rich and those of the poor. I had never seen this film before viewing this DVD, but I was definitely pleased to see it at last as it is one of Pickford's finer efforts.

"Sparrows" is commonly cited as Pickford's masterwork, and in terms of the overall aesthetic quality of the production it very well may be. It definitely is a must-see for any fan of Pickford or silent film in general. In this film, Pickford plays a mother of sorts; in fact, her character is called "Mama Molly" by the children of the baby farm. (Indeed, the three films of this collection neatly represent three different ages in the life of a woman: girlhood, adolescence, and finally motherhood.) The supporting cast is wonderful as well, and all of the children deliver very realistic performances. "Sparrows" is a beautifully acted and directed film and represents silent film at its peak.

There are some bonus features to the set, including two very informative audio commentaries for "The Poor Little Rich Girl" and "Sparrows," the D.W. Griffith-directed short "Ramona," some home videos of Pickford and Pickfair, and three "kid-friendly" introductions to the films (with the sort of embarrassingly bad acting you would expect). While I appreciate the wish to impart Pickford's legacy to the next generation, it's hard to see how these intros wouldn't turn off any young viewers.

Another reviewer states that the films display in "pseudo-widescreen," and while I really am no expert, I think that what Hugh Munro Neely says in the comments to that review is actually correct. As he states there, the films appear slightly wider than the traditional 4x3 aspect ratio because more of the original negative is included. I don't see why cropping the negative to adhere to rigid 4x3 would be better. I have played the DVDs on a 4x3 and 16x9 TV screen, and while there is windowboxing on the 4x3 TV, it is not as severe as others make it seem. The films all display correctly on my 16x9 TV, slightly wider than traditional 4x3 as more image is included. I for one applaud Mr. Neely's decision to include all of the image on the negative.

I am so glad that Milestone Films is continuing to release Mary Pickford's films on DVD, as they do a wonderful job. I doubt Criterion could present the films any better, and all three films look beautiful in this set. I can't wait for future releases! (Maybe "Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall"?)

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This collection is beautifully restored and the optional introductions are extremely valuable if you wish to introduce a young person to this era of film making.

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I was extremely disappointed upon receiving this collection. These movies, all obviously from the pre-widescreen era, have been either formatted or encoded to display in a pseudo-widescreen format (meaning that they aren't 4:3, and display on my widescreen television not quite to either outer edge of the screen). I can only assume, based on this format, that some information has been lost top and bottom, as these movies were released in a 4:3 format.

I wrote to Milestone and they responded by telling me that the authoring was done to accomodate the needless "kid friendly" introductions. This makes little sense, as every other classic movie release is formatted such that the display quickly changes from widescreen for the FBI warning and/or menu, to a correctly formatted movie. There is no reason they couldn't have done that here.

Given that Milestone simultaneously released their Charley Chase collection formatted correctly, I can't understand why they put this Mary Pickford collection onto the market with this major error.

This is no reflection on the films themselves.....just on Milestone's release of the films. Also, this comment applies to the DVD ONLY! I do not have, and cannot comment on the Blu-Ray release of this collection.

As much as I hated to have to do so, I sent this one back for a refund. Maybe someday some studio will release these films correctly. I'll try again then.

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While I am always happy to see any collection of silent films, I'm a little disappointed here. Flicker Alley put together a great collection of films by Douglas Fairbanks. Kino did the same with his features. Where are all the Pickford films? This collection is only a starting point. Buy if you are curious, these are great films. All others will agree we need more attention to this great lady of the silent film.

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Pierce Brosnan 007 Ultimate Edition James Bond Collection (Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough, Die

While it's really hard to say who is the best James Bond ever, I know who my favorite is. While I freaking love Sean Connery and Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan is my favorite James Bond mostly because he was the one I grew up with. His movies exposed me to the 007 movies and I've been a fan since. So I owe Pierce (and my Dad who's a huge bond fan) for introducing me to the series. Ever since MGM came out with the Sean Connery 007 collection. There was no doubt they would come out with a collection of the Pierce Brosnan films. It's great that they finally came out with it, but the only include three of his four films. The film that is missing from this collection is "Tomarrow Never Dies" which was a great movie. Still, the three movies that are in this set are great movies and they are worth it.

Goldeneye (1995)Possibly the best movie of this set. Goldeneye was Pierce's first time as Bond and he does a great job stepping out of the shadow of both Connery and Moore. This film was also directed by Martin Campbell who would later direct Casino Royale which ironically would be Daniel Craig's first Bond movie. This was the first Bond movie I saw in theaters and it holds a good place in my love for the bond films. From the begining of the film where 007 and 006 infiltrate the Soviet chemical weapons facility to the climax where James and Alec fight on the hidden satellite dish, this film is a BLAST!!! The action scenes are fantasic and creative. The characters do things you wouldn't count one like Bond driving a tank in a great car chase scene. All the actors do a fine job as well. Sean Bean was great as Alec Trevlyan, the 00 agent gone bad. He was like a mere shadow of Bond and Alec gives you the impression of what it could be like if Bond worked for the terroists. It was rare to see a Bond villain end up being an old friend of James Bond and this film pulls it off well. Of course we have the Bond girls as well. Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova was really good. She was a strong woman who knew how to follow her instincts and she made a good par to go along with Bond. Famke Janssen as the sadist Xenia Onatopp was darn crazy in a good way. She was a character who enjoyed pain in that werid sort of way. She may rank as one of the best evil Bond girls along with Caroline Munro's Naomi (The Spy who Loved me) to name a few. But my favorite character was Boris Grishenko played by Alan Cumming. A crazy and slezy hacker who was a a former co-worker of Natalya and now works for Alec. His line "I AM INVINCIBLE!" always caught on to me and I always found myself saying that line anytime I beat a hard game.

The World is Not Enough (1999)This was actually the third James Bond film to star Pierce Brosnan. This film was also unfortunately the final time Desmond Llewelyn would play Q before his death. After this film, John Cleese (who appears in this film as well as R) would fill in the role in the next flick. This films had a really great revenge story to it with the main villains trying to take down MI6 after previous unseen mission. Sophie Marceau was fantasic as Elektra King, young woman who was once innocent but is now twisted thanks to her former captors and MI6's previous use of her. She has that innocent look in her eyes that make you want to hug her, but holds a dark secret behind those eyes. Robert Carlyle was also great as Renard, the main villain. He plays a man on the verge of death trying to give the world one last punch to the face before he dies with the bulliet that's stuck in his brain. Denise Richards was decent as bond girl Dr. Jones (Not Indiana Jones). She was a character that was able to hold her own in certain events, but I couldn't really see Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist. Hey, it's more believeible than Tara Reid as a scientist in "Alone in the Dark." Once again, the action scenes are fantastic. The begining boat chase was possibly my favorite action scene in the movie with Bond pretty much destroying everything with Q's boat. I also loved the action scene in the nuclear plant with Bond barly esacping an expoltion in the tunnel.

Die Another Day (2002)This film seems to get a very bad rep by many critics and fans. I'll admit, it's possibly the cheeseist of the Pierce Brosnan films and it has some silly moments like the main villain who changed his appearance from a Korean to a British man and it's over use of CGI. But personally, I actually enjoyed this film for some of that stuff. It was almost like a throwback to the classic Bond films. Most notibly the laser torture scene was a tribute to Golderfinger. The opening scene was also very shocking to me because I've never seen James Bond get caught and tortured the way he was in this film. It's also crazy how that was all at the start. But othe main attraction in this film (and was the most marketed) was Hallie Berry as the led Bond girl, Jinx. She was a spanky and smart woman who truly knew how to handle herself without Bond. Hallie Berry was great in the role (great looking too) and I think she should go down as one of the best Bond girls. Rosamund Pike as also fine as evil Bond girl Miranda Frost, but the twist of her character wasn't shocking since it almost became a tradtion at this point with the Brosnan films. Two Bond girls, one good and one bad. Toby Stephens was fine as the led villain, but he was possibly the most cartoony of the Brosnan films with a cartoonish method of his plans. The action scenes are always worth it alone with the car chase in the middle of the ice lake being the main highlight.

Overall, this is a must buy collection for those who don't own any of the Pierce Brosnan 007 films. The only real downside is the fact that they didn't include "Tomarrow Never Dies" which was the 2nd film of this series. If you are a fan of Pierce Brosnan's 007 films like I am, ths is for you. I also recommend getting both of the Sean Connery and Roger Moore 007 collections if you don't already.

How can this be Pierce Brosnan ULTIMATE if it doesn't have all the movies? It's missing TOMORROW NEVER DIES. Someone didn't do their homework.

Buy Pierce Brosnan 007 Ultimate Edition James Bond Collection (Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough, Die Now

Brosnan's Bond is credited for saving the franchise from the malaise that the series suffered from "Moonraker" through "Licence to Kill". Welcomed enthusiastically by the public and widely mourned when he departed the series, "The Billion Dollar Bond" brought fun, menace and presence to the all-but-dead series in the form of four (yep, that's FOUR) terrific movies. As good as "Goldeneye is (and it is very good), it was the second Brosnan film, "Tomorrow Never Dies", that returned the series fully to its former glory. A crazy villain, evil henchman, some of the best chases in the series, fun rapport between Bond, Moneypenny and Q, a more fully realized relationship between Bond and M, an ultra-cool bad guy lair, noirish segments, a great score and real Bond girls in Teri Hatcher and Michelle Yeoh. So, why is this movie missing from the set? This is no "ultimate" set at all, but a slap in the face to Brosnan's considerable Bond legacy.

Read Best Reviews of Pierce Brosnan 007 Ultimate Edition James Bond Collection (Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough, Die Here

Awsome to have these movies packaged together and the quality is very good on High Def even though it is not BluRay. Great sound. My only beef is why leave out a film? The other Bond collections are in order with one missing on the end, but this set is missing one in between movie one and two. Strange to do it this way. Other than that, great item.

Want Pierce Brosnan 007 Ultimate Edition James Bond Collection (Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough, Die Discount?

This edition of James Bond favorites follows in the fine footsteps of previous releases in the "Ultimate" series.

Picture quality has been enhanced digitally and the sound quality of this series is superb.

For those of you who have Blue Ray players, good sound systems and are watching these "Ultimate" Bond films, your

experience will be comparable to the Blue Ray format.

The first Sean Connery set of three films in this series does have an additional disc for each of the titles in the set that

explains more fully all of the work that has been done to enhance the viewer's experience when watching this new "Ultimate"

series. More supplemental material would have been a nice bonus, but the films are fabulous!

A Hollis Frampton Odyssey (The Criterion Collection) (1979)

Many Criterion Collection fans have wondered when the company would release more anthology collections featuring avante-garde filmmakers.

We have seen the release of films by Stan Brakhage via two anthology volumes on Blu-ray but yet, fans have hoped to see an anthology or special release showcasing the work of Maya Deren, Kenneth Anger, Ernie Gehr, Andy Warhol, Marie Menken, Pat O'Neill and Hollis Frampton, to name a few.

With the support from those who enjoyed the "Stan Brakhage Anthology" release, Criterion Collection has chosen some of the best work of avante-garde filmmaker Hollis Frampton, in order to help introduce Frampton's oeuvre to curious cineaste but also please a following who have wanted to see a more thorough collection of his hard-to-find films.

Hollis Frampton is one of the most unique and talented filmmakers, especially when you follow his career as a student at Harvard University and Western Reserve University who was looked at by his peers as a genius but at the same time, he was also the type that walked the beat of his own drum and while taking a lot of classes that he wanted to take, he never graduated.

But it's the third of learning of art that inspired Frampton. From his friendship with painters Frank Stella, sculptor Carl Andre to developing a correspondence with modernist poet Ezra Pound, Frampton would take an interest in photography documenting Carl Andre's work.

And with his pursuit of creativity, Frampton would explore his ideas through filmmaking and showcasing his experimental use of film, audio and also digital art through the use of computers during that time of his life.

While creating a plethora of films, some to have been shown in museums and galleries, the film that he is best known for is his 1970 experimental film "Zorns Lemma" but like a painting, many have had their own take and perspective of Frampton's work. He would later follow up with the Hapax Legomena films and many more that would follow, including what would have hoped to be his magnum opus, the Magellan films.

But unfortunately, Hollis Frampton's life was cut short at the age of 48 due to lung cancer and for many avante-garde and fans of Frampton's work, his ultimate project "Magellan" would never be completed. Yet, Frampton still leaves behind a body of work that is celebrated to this day.

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" features the following 24 films which were selected by film preservationist Bill Brand and Frampton scholars Bruce Jenkins and Michael Zryd, in consultation with Frampton's former partner, Marion Faller:

EARLY FILMS

Hollis Frampton's most successful film "Zorns Lemma" (1970) is included.

Manual of Arms (1966 * 17 minutes, 10 seconds * Black & White * Silent)

Process Red (1966 * 3 minutes, 37 seconds * Color * Silent)

Maxwell's Demon (1968 * 3 minutes, 44 seconds * Color * Mono)

Surface Tension (1968 * 9 minutes, 30 seconds * Color * Mono)

Carrots & Peas (1969 * 5 minutes, 21 seconds * Color * Mono)

Lemon (1969 * 7 minutes, 17 seconds * Color * Silent)

Zorns Lemma (1970 * 59 minutes, 51 seconds * Color * Mono)

FILMS FROM HAPAX LEGOMENA

Within Frampton's oeuvre, "Hapax Legomena" is the only multi-part set of films that was completed.

(nostalgia) (1971 * 36 minutes, 7 seconds * Black & White * Mono)

Poetic Justice (1972 * 31 minutes, 28 seconds * Black & White * Silent)

Critical Mass (1971 * 25 minutes, 11 seconds * Black & White * Mono)

FILMS FROM MAGELLAN

Hollis Frampton began working on his "Magellan" movie back in 1972 and would continue to work on it until his death in 1984.

The goal for Frampton was to create a film that was 36-hours long and it would be shown for 369 days (369 because the first two days of the cycle overlaps the last two days of the preceding calendar year and the last two days of the cycle overlaps the first two days of the following calendar year, source: Brian Henderson "Propositions for the Exploration of Frampton's Magellan", note: You will also see the figure of 371 days used.). At the time of his death, Frampton had completed around 7-8 hours.

The schedule was planned around Ferdinand Magellan's annotated calendar and the film would feature 1,000 films, divided into 24 sections, some films would allow for a few minutes of screenings while longer works would be featured during equinoxes, solstices and other specialized dates.

The Birth of Magellan

The Birth of Magellan: Cadenza I (1977-1980 * 5 minutes, 41 seconds * Color * Mono)

Straits of Magellan

Pans 0-4 and 697-700 (1969-74 * 1-minute each * Color * Silent)

INGENIVM NOBIS IPSA PVELLA FECIT, Part I (1975 * 4 minutes, 48 seconds * Color * Silent)

Magellan: At the Gates of Death, Part I: The Red Gate 1, 0 (1976 * 5 minutes, 10 seconds * Color * Silent)

Winter Solstice (1974 * 32 minutes, 36 seconds * Color * Silent)

The Death of Magellan

Gloria! (1979 * 9 minutes, 36 seconds * Color * Mono)

VIDEO:

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey The Criterion Collection #607" is presented in Black and White and color. And because a lot of these films were low-budget and experimental, quality varies for many of the films featured in this collection.

According to the Criterion Collection, the films are presented in their original aspect ration of 1:33:1. These new high-definition digital transfers were created on a Spirit 2K Datacine from original 16 mm A/B/C/D rolls, internegatives and prints.

"Critical Mass", "Gloria!", "Lemon", "(nostalgia)", "Poetic Justice" and "Zorns Lemma" preservation film elements courtesy of Anthology Film Archives, New York.

"INGENIVM NOBIS IPSA PVELLA FECIT, Part I; Less; Process Red; The Birth of Magellan: Cadenza I" and" Winter Solstice" film elements courtesy of the Film-Makers' Cooperative, New York.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey The Criterion Collection #607' showcases films that are silent or have audio.

According to the Criterion Collection, the original monaural soundtracks were remastered at 24-bit from original optical and magnetic tracks. Clicks, thumps, hiss and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was attenuated using AudioCube's integrated workstation.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey The Criterion Collection #607' on Blu-ray comes with the following special features:

Hollis Frampton Interview (20:08) 1978 interview by Adele Fried for the Video Data Bank at the School of Art Institute of Chicago.

A Lecture (23:04) A lecture given by Hollis Frampton on October 30, 1968 at a college in NYC.

By Any Other Name Featuring a gallery of artwork by Hollis Frampton.

Please note that the following narration or commentary is also included for the following films:

Remarks by Frampton (Maxwell's Demon) (2:48)

Remarks by Frampton (Surface Tension) (:54)

Commentary 1977 Interview for TV series "Screening Room with Robert Gardner" (Lemon) (7:17)

Remarks by Frampton (Zorns Lema) (5:58)

Remarks by Frampton (Films for Hapax Legomis) (2:32)

Remarks by Frampton (nostalgia) (2:56)

Remarks by Frampton (Poetic Justice) (2:47)

Remarks by Frampton (Critical Mass) (4:12)

Remarks by Frampton (Films for Magellan) (2:17)

EXTRAS:

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey The Criterion Collection #607' comes with a 46-page booklet with the following essays: "Nostalgia for an Age Yet to Come" by Ed Halter (critic and curator), "Early Films" by Bruce Jenkins (writer and media historian), "Zorns Lemma" by Bruce Jenkins (writer and media historian), "Hapax Legomena" by Ken Eisenstein (writing his dissertation on Hollis Frampton in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Chicago), "Magellan" by Michael Zryd (teaches cinema and media studies in the Department of Film at York University in Toronto) and "Notes on Preserving and Presenting the Films of Hollis Frampton" by Bil Brand (owner-operator of BB Optics, which specializes in the preservation of films by artists).

JUDGMENT CALL:

"A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" is a fascinating collection of works from the avant-garde filmmaker Hollis Frampton. Intellectual, witty and creative, there was no doubt that there was no limit to the creativity of Frampton's work and perhaps the work on "The Magellan Films" would have been his magnum opus if he did not die from cancer.

But I do know that for years, there have been a group of Criterion Collection fans who absolutely adored the release of the "By Brakhage Anthology" and many have been clamoring for a release of may it be Maya Deren, Andy Warhol, Kenneth Anger and Hollis Frampton, to name a few.

And fortunately, the Criterion Collection will be bringing out 24 of his films on Blu-ray and DVD titled "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey".

First, it's important to note that "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" and its films are not as easily reviewable for the public because it's subjective. What I find fascinating, it would be a disservice to say that these films are easily accessible especially those who are expecting films that they hope they can understand.

In fact, the beauty of Frampton's work is that even if you look online, everyone including those who research Frampton's work have their own perspective of what they think the film is about. The good news is that there are "remarks by Hollis Frampton" giving insight to why he made the film. But Frampton is not the type to tell people what the film is about, he can tell why and for what purpose but not how one should react to it.

Starting off with the "Early Films", "Manual of Arms" is a black and white, gritty silent film as we see images of Frampton's friends with various sources of lighting. Then we see one smoking, one cutting his nails, one sitting down and fascinating editing of back-and-forth images, short images unlike Andy Warhol's "Screen test" which fixates the camera on an individual for minutes and letting the individual play with the camera with a variety of emotions. With "Manual of Arms", it's frenetic, gritty and this style of editing would be a signature style for Frampton for his films.

"Process Red" is a short three minute film which one can picture being shown via a loop at a museum or gallery. Another silent film which goes from white images to red, but this time, instead of the back-and-forth imagery, it's a loop of moving images, sped up and then repeated.

For "Maxwell's Demon", the film is another three minute short which has audio but it features buzzing to go along with the colors and a man exercising. According to Frampton, this film was to pay homage to James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish physicist and mathematician. While known for his work on electromagnetism, Maxwell was also involved in teh field of optics and the study of color vision. In fact, the first color photograph was taken by Maxwell and for Frampton, as a photographer and filmmaker, his goal was to create a short film based on the imaginary and pure energy of James Clerk Maxwell.

In the film "Surface Tension", it's a three part film that deals with the passage of time (a sped up film of a man playing with a clock while a telephone is ringing), the passage through space (featuring a sped up tour of the city but audio featuring a man speaking in a foreign language) and the third part, a disregard of time and space featuring a goldfish caught in an aquarium as the beach tides roll in, and titling is seen on the clip.

For the short "Carrots & Peas", we see visual images of carrots and peas in this five minute short, while a voice is played backwards. Where in "Lemon", we see an image of a lemon as light goes around it and then focuses on the background, turning the lemon to a silhouette. Interesting commentary included as Robert Gardner and Hollis Frampton discuss the lemon, while Gardner goes into discussion if the film is mean to be a symbol of eroticism. Is the lemon a breast and the end, a nipple? Once again, the beauty of Hollis Frampton films is one's ability to have their own perspective and opinion.

Hollis Frampton's most recognized work "Zorns Lema" is a 1 hour film in which Frampton came up with the idea of what he was unable to capture on actual photo stills while showing people, he can go in different order and loop through film. So, what we have is moving images combined with video stills of titles, brands, etc. I will say that when I first watched this film long ago, my perspective was a counterculture film about America being eaten away by corporations. Money that is often spent towards corporation branding or material things. So, that was my perspective when I first watched this film back then. But it turns out that the film was an "open allusion" to alphabetization and the encyclopedic tradition.

This leads us to "Hapax Legomena", where there are seven films, only three are presented. According to Frampton, each film is interrelated but are detachable parts and my favorite shorts included on the Blu-ray and possibly the most accessible.

For "nostalgia" (the first film of "Hapax Legomena), this film is a story about Hollis Framptons photos. Narrated by artist Michael Snow, each photo has a story behind it, and while Snow is telling the story, we see the photos being burned.

The second film of "Hapax Legomena" is "Poetic Justice", a half hour film about a filmed script. What we see on the table is a cactus, a cup of coffee and a script/screenplay and the pages changes.

The third film of "Hapax Legomena" featured is "Critical Mass" , this is a witty film made during the time that Hollis Frampton was teaching at the State University of New York, Buffalo. He brought in two individuals who are great at improvisation and can be volatile in a story about a couple who live together, but the young man disappears for two days and returns. What we get is a 25-minute argument but edited in a way that that each word is repeated and audio that plays in black and then we see video in which the video, similar to the audio is cut and replayed throughout the argument.

And the final films are "The Films of Magellan", possibly the most complex work of Hollis Frampton that was not completed. Broken down to "The Birth of Magellan", "Straits of Magellan" and "Death of Magellan", this was part of the work that was done by Frampton, worked on since 1972 up to 1984, the year he died.

Footage that ranges from a flickering cloud, a watch swinging back and forth to images of a naked woman walking, stretching, fiery embers leaving and returning and many more visual images. These were films designed to be shown via a cycle of films for 369 days (or 371 days) with differing lengths, each day. While the film ends with "Gloria!", it was not supposed to be the final film but it was the latest film of the Magellan cycle to be completed.

But the film is not easy to be explained, but for Frampton, the films were a study of the way humans perceive experiences, the relation of the mind and the "metahistory of film".

And with that being said, this leads me to the question that I have been asked, "is `A Hollis Frampton Odyssey'" worth buying? And it's important to note that as a cineaste, I am intrigued and fascinated by avante garde works of filmmakers in various parts of the world. I'm intrigued by the most abstract, complex, comprehensible and incomprehensible work, even if these films range from the 1890's to the present, I watch these films to observe of what was the intention of the filmmaker. Granted, earlier works were done for the sake of experimenting with new technology but with Hollis Frampton, this is an intellectual that saw life much differently than the average person.

He made his films not following any traditional path but creating films of his own accord, but with purpose.

I often hear a joke about artistic, avante-garde films that if one would throw a splatter paint on the wall, avante-garde cinema fans will have an interpretation of it. And that is how I enjoy Frampton's films, like a painting that I can sit and observe for many minutes at an art museum, "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" is a release where one can sit and observe and come up with their own opinion.

And if Hollis Frampton was alive today and was able to continue his work, using today's technology, I often wonder what kind of work he would create. Similar to Chris Marker, Frampton would later incorporate digital artwork in his films, but with today's Internet age, I wonder if he would be satisfied with the human experience through his film "Magellan" if completed.

I think of these things and once again, I'm rather fascinated by avante-garde films, may it be comprehensible, accessible, boring or fascinating, and yes...even incomprehensible and complex. And by saying that, I know these type of films are not for everyone.

For Frampton's films, it's about illusionist complexity as a whole and Frampton even said, "the trained eye and the trained mind will respond in the way that he indicates". Some may find these films redundant, didactic or effete, but others may find it complex, surreal and cerebral. As a fan of avante-garde films, I was fascinated by its complexity and audaciousness. These films are about how you interpret it on your own, through your own personal experience.

Overall, "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" is a wonderful collection of the best of Hollis Frampton (not a release of his complete work), but it's a long awaited release that Frampton fans have wanted to see for a very long time. Not only do you get 24 films but you also get a good number of include remarks by Frampton and fascinating special features as well. On Blu-ray, as expected, various footage ranges in quality and for now, this Blu-ray release is the definitive version of Frampton's work in one collection.

For avante-garde and Hollis Frampton fans, "A Hollis Frampton Odyssey" is highly recommended!

Hollis Frampton's films are certainly not for everyone. In fact, Nostalgia and Zorns Lemma are the only ones I got any real "enjoyment" out of (make no mistake, I'm glad I saw everything). I would strongly encourage you to check out some of Frampton's work on Youtube before you buy this set.

The video quality on these films varies quite a bit. The earlier films look a bit rough, but Zorns Lemma, Nostalgia and The Magellan Cycle all look quite good. Criterion, I'm sure, has done the best they could with what they had.

Sound quality fairs the same. Many of these films lack a soundtrack, but when it's present, sound effects and dialogue come across well.

The extras are actually a fairly big draw to the set. Most of the films come with remarks by Hollis Frampton himself. He doesn't have the most engaging delivery, but his comments are interesting and provide some much needed insight into these films. A 20-minute interview with Frampton included, as well as a lecture by Frampton narrated by Michael Snow, and a collection of product labels designed by Frampton.

A terrific set, but not for the unconverted.

Buy A Hollis Frampton Odyssey (The Criterion Collection) (1979) Now

There seems to be two kinds of film buyers: those that have a good idea of what they like and can tell from synopses and reviews whether something will be for them, and those who like to cast their line out and see what they might find. For those latter kind, A Hollis Frampton Odyssey might be a disaster of rather comic proportions, but for the people who come to it with some idea of where they're going, they might find a wonderful surprise. Expect to be challenged to the utmost of your intellectual faculties. Frampton may even evince some kind of sadomasochistic verve in torturing his audience, but hey, no pain, no gain. Challenging, delightful, witty, confusing, hypnotic, beautiful are all adjectives that I think may apply. So now you know, the rest is up to you.

Read Best Reviews of A Hollis Frampton Odyssey (The Criterion Collection) (1979) Here

After much anticipation, I received this item two days ago and have made my way through most of the films it contains. While it's not fair to compare two different artists, my previous experience with experimental film came through Criterion's "By Brakhage," a collection of the films of Stan Brakhage. Whereas Brakhage's films are often loaded with engaging visual material, Frampton's films, however lofty their intellectual conceits, are often far less visually stimulating. The product description describes the work as "thrilling" and "captivating." Almost without exception, this isn't true. "Carrots and Peas," for example, culminates with a five minute static shot of, well, carrots and peas, with a backwards vocal playing in the background. "Lemon" is nothing but a single shot of a lemon being very subtly lit from different angles. Interesting in concept, but watching it is a different matter. There are highlights "Surface Tension" features a hyper-speed walk through New York and an interesting shot of a goldfish, and the "Magellan" films are sporadically interesting.

I realize I open myself up to ridicule from genius film historians who will snort derisive laughter at my inability to "get it," and who will gleefully explain why these films are the greatest things since the invention of the motion picture. And that's fine. This isn't for them it's for the adventurous home viewer who is considering a purchase of "Hollis Frampton." To each his own, but I can see this one gathering all sorts of cobwebs on my shelf for years to come. If you took a shot on "Brakhage" and found yourself pleasantly surprised, you may still find "Frampton" dry as dust. 35 minutes into "Zorns Lemma," you'll either be pleasantly hypnotized or itching to switch it off altogether. It doesn't matter how brilliant a film is if it's not engaging or remotely entertaining. My suggestion would be to check out as many of the films as you can on YouTube before making a purchase.

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