Rambo (Extended Cut) (2010)

Well I must admit I had to have this, cos let's face it, it's Rambo. I'm a huge fan of the original trilogy and was a huge fan of Stallone's recent revival of the character in 'John Rambo' which i thought was a raw and gritty supercharged action film yet with depth of character and story that easily surpassed any of it's disposable contemporaries. Make no bones about it; "the expendables" sticker on the front the "expendables" trailer; the trailers of films from all of the actors in the "expendables" this is a pure money making and marketing combo to tie in with the release of Sly's latest actioner. BUT, I have to say, what whilst expecting nothing more than the all new "Rambo to hell and back" production diaries special feature, and maybe a couple of extended scenes in the movie, I was actually really surprised at just how different this new cut of the film is.

This is not just the theatrical cut with a couple of extra bits, this is a true director's cut style extended edition with a completely re-edited opening, many extended takes, many alternate takes, and whole new extra scenes that all blend seemlessly to really compliment and add much to the film. A lot of this really helps to elaborate the story, and really flesh out character and themes that whilst hinted at in the original, were never really fully explored. When Rambo says in the original "no, what you're trying to do is change what is", and Sara asks him "and what is?"; he just says "go home". I always used to wonder, "yeah, what is??". Well, a whole knew alternate take here reveals all, and also a few real home truths about his real feelings about war and regret. And that's not all, you find out so much more about the characters, their relationships, motivation, and so many tiny insertions of lines here and there, very subtle shot changes, alternate dialog, black and white flashbacks, that it's almost an entirely new take on the film. It's all great stuff!

A word of warning tho, there do appear to be a few cuts and alterations to some of the more violent and extreme/controversial scences. Some of these bits are alternate takes (when the main bad guy leader takes delivery of the young village boy for example), but others are just plain removed, or cut short. The child being stabbed in the attack on the village is missing, the guy flying though the air with both legs blown off is cut short, the bearded mercenary stabbing the solider under the hut is removed, and a few other bits that seemed slightly shortened. I should add that these alterations are VERY few, I probably counted 5 or 6, and doubt that this was a censorship issue as the majority of the blood soaked limb exploding violence is completely intact. I'd imagine this was purely a directorial/artistic decision, (a lot of the excised scenes were digital effects, some of which don't stand up quite as effectively as others). Something to bear in mind though before you buy!

The stunning MPEG 4 AVC encoded 1080p picture and 7.1 dts hd master audio remain, giving an blu-ray experience of reference quality, just like the original lionsgate release. People may hesitate to buy this, thinking that they're not really getting much for their money, but trust me this is FAR from a lazy release to steal your money, this is a superb director's cut edition that totally delivers. Also, for any foreign buyers, the blu ray is officially ABC encoded, so it will play on any blu ray player. Enjoy an all new Rambo!

I must admit, that as of recent I have enjoyed current mainstream movies regardless if they are released to the theater or directly to video so I can abase them. In other words, I truly find pleasure in ripping movies apart. It has been my perception, my perception, that about 70% of movies made in the past 5 to 6 years are horrid.

One might ask why I feel this way, well it is rather simple. Most movies are a plug in for a new phone, car or maybe to promote a soundtrack. These movies also rely more on special effects and visual stimulation, where acting, directing and story take the backseat. Therefore, movies (for the most part) in modern times are nothing more than a 90 to 100 minute commercial.

Then of course there are the movies that are so over the top they are just down right silly. This is the perception I had when I saw the trailer for "Rambo" (it was titled "John Rambo" when I first viewed it on the internet). I thought, "What the hell is Stallone thinking"? I didn't see the most recent "Rocky", but I heard it wasn't any good. I didn't really care too much about the quality of a new "Rocky" movie, but I felt like there was nothing else to do and all doors were closed when "Rocky 5" was made. Why was Stallone going back to Rocky? Was there a point to it? Now he is going to make another Rambo movie, why? Both these characters whose names start with "R" make a return after not being seen for almost 20 years?

I digress to the trailer for Rambo I saw on the internet. I was laughing so hard I couldn't take it. The way this movie was presented was comical. I had said to my brother and some friends, "I can't wait to see this movie, I need a good laugh". Then the day came, it was a work night (the same as a school night, but you go to work early the next day instead of school) and I went to a 9:40pm showing with my brother and two of our friends. I was so pumped and all four of us were ready to laugh very hard. As a side note, this is the first time I had been in a movie theater to watch a new release in a very long time.

We watched and we absorbed this movie and when the end credits rolled and the lights came back on in the theater we were speechless. I thought this was the first wonderful and moving film I had seen in a long time. (So did everyone else in my view party.) I couldn't believe it. I have seen all the other Rambo films and yes they were entertaining, but I wouldn't say they were deep or compelling pieces of cinema. This new Rambo movie had something to say.

It followed a different format, it seemed more dramatic and the violence (there was plenty of it) was brutal and candid. When I say candid, I mean that many of things that happened in this movie, happens in the real world.

The plot of this film is rather simple, Rambo now lives in Southeastern Asia near Burma and some American humanitarians need a guide and ride by boat to provide health care, food and education to the poor people in the area. They find John Rambo and after some persuasions from a female team member (Julie Benz) Rambo signs on.

Consequently, there is a large militant and fundamental group that has nothing better to do than torture and massacre the less fortunate people in their country. It doesn't take a wizard to figure out what happens next, Rambo, guns, violence, death, and blah, blah, blah. However, the violence doesn't seem to be moot or without justification if that makes sense. The best comparison I can make is to "Saving Private Ryan", the violence in that film was graphic and at times over the top, but made a point to portray the reality that was World War 2. "Rambo" has the exact type of feel to it with respect to violence being graphic, over the top and making a point. Mind you I am not saying that "Rambo is a better film or as good as "Saving Private Ryan", but it was used more as a frame of reference. Oddly enough, "Saving Private Ryan" came out in 1998 and "Rambo" came out ten years later (2008), perhaps in 2018 there will be another violent film with a message.

Stallone did a good job too in this film he gave a rather minimal performance, not much dialogue but did display a level of dichotomy towards his emotions to events in the plot. I felt the story was also simplistic, but it worked, the movie didn't need a multi-leveled storyline. I also felt the direction of the film was very good too; by the way Sly wrote and directed this movie.

"Rambo" was a motion picture that stirred myriad thoughts in my head when it was over. It made me think how revolting and disgusting it is that there are still countries in the world that can't get health care or are being "controlled" and/or restricted to certain living conditions by a dictatorship or totalitarian government that results to violence or casualties of human lives. It also made me think how insane it is that U.S. presidential candidates are able to raise thousands, if not millions, of dollars for their campaigns, but when they get into office, it then becomes difficult to "raise" money for the things they promised before they were the incumbent. Then I thought about how everyone wants to go "green" and save the environment, yet it costs more money and there is less tax breaks to "go green". Not to mention Earth Day is only one day a year, rather than year long recognition. What about relying on fossil fuel when there are other forms of fuel for our cars/machines? Or that many people are more up to date with Reality Television than what is going on in the world.

In conclusion, I am not sure this was Sylvester Stallone's intention to stir the pot of modern social sciences or in my case promote schizophrenia when making this movie. However, I felt this film didn't pull any punches and says a lot about the world we live in, on many levels. I recommend this film to anyone who wants an eye opening experience. This is a lot coming from a person who thought this movie was going to be the number one unintentional comedy of 2008 and now believes it was one of the best movies made in a very long time.

Sly, I commend you.

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Of all the Rambo movies this one is the best. The most violent, brutal stunning movie I have ever seen. Emotionally draining story of some do gooders that want to take medicine and help to a group of poor opressed people in Burma. They are under control of the brutal military that wants no one to hear this story let alone help these people. The do gooders talk Rambo into taking them up river to the settlement. He is reluctant to take them but the woman with the group talks him into taking them. Of course they are taken by the military and most everyone in the village is slaughtered. Someone from back home comes looking for them when they never return home. Rambo takes a band of merceneries to the settlement to bring them back. The do-gooders are held captive and tortured. It's nonstop heartpounding action after Rambo gets there.

Iv'e never seen anything like the violence in this movie. It's incredible.

It's filmed in Burma and the cinemaphotography is outstanding. Beautiful scenery. Good use of light and dark and camera angles. Very well done.

Be prepared for the violence because it is extreme. What's shown in this movie is going on there as I speak. We don't hear the story in the media. Stallone made this movie with Burmese people as actors and they were all at risk making this movie. Stallone still has it at 61 years.

If you don't like Rambo then don't bother. Otherwise it's highly entertaining!

Steve

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Ignore the fact that this is a Rambo movie and some have the audacity to say that Stallone is past his prime. This Rambo movie is not only the best in the Rambo series, but it's also one of the best action movies of all time.

Did you think that Commando had a lot of killing? BAH!

Did you think that Saving Private Ryan had the most gruesome injuries? Hardly.

This movie is saturated with arms being cut off, legs exploding into bloody stumps, heads popping like over-inflated balloons, and enough gun-play to satisfy even the most hardcore, extremist gun-enthusiast. If it isn't an arrow evenly dividing a man's skull, or someone's intestines being spilled on the ground, then it's an extreme amount of people being sawed in half by high calibre machine gun fire. There's even a crazy-intense seen in which Rambo basically pulls off the throat removal move from Roadhouse, only with a little slower satisfaction to it. About the only thing lacking is a Colombian necktie.

The story itself plays second-fiddle to the incredible amount of action. A church-group from Colorado is doing peacework in Burma, bringing medicine and religion to people oppressed by a militaristic regime intent on genocide. To make their way into hostile territory, the church-goers ask for Rambo's services as a river guide. At first he is hesitant, but the kind-hearted but deadly Rambo eventually consents.

Sure enough, after Rambo drops them off for their jungle-trek to the villagers, the church-group gets caught in the middle of chaos, as the evil military members are senselessly slaughtering every villager in sight. Once they are captured, it's up to Rambo to save the day.

The rest of the movie is a whirlwind of action, as Rambo leads in a hardened group of mercenaries for an extraction mission. They plan on sneaking into the compound, killing anything and anyone that gets in their way, and saving the prisoners. What transpires is carnage the likes of which I have never seen before.

This version of Rambo is an incredible movie if you're looking for pure action and entertainment from beginning to end. I haven't been more entertained by a movie in a very long time.

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The box cover says Rambo, but the title for the extended cut has been restored to the original JOHN RAMBO title.

The four-movie BluRay Box Set DOES NOT include the extended John Rambo.

Basically Stallone added nine minutes back into the movie, and most of it is dialog INCLUDING the Rocky Balboa style monologues.

There's a quick new scene on the boat in the beginning with the snakes.

Rambo has a big monologue along the same lines of Rocky's speech to his son in Rocky Balboa. It's in the rain when he's convinced to take the boat up river.

There's more dialog on the boat while he's taking the missionaries.

The pastor has more lines when he comes to get Rambo.

Going back to watch the theatrical cut makes it seem like an edited for TV version where they had to cut out big story bits. The extended cut feels more like an end for Rambo along the lines of Rocky Balboa, and restoring the John Rambo title makes sense.

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White Squall (1996)

Jeff Bridges is very believable as Captain Christopher Sheldon, the skipper of the good ship Albatross. His mission is to teach a group of high school boys the way of the sea and of life. All of the boys have problems and, as written and portrayed, some are real heartbreakers. And director Ridley Scott has collected a handsome group of teen hunks to portray them. There is not a false note in any of their performances. Ryan Phillippe particular continues to surprise and impress me with his versatility. Whether it be the sensitive gay boy in T.V's "One Life to Live" or the overly confident and cocky jock of the film I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER he is always convincing. Phillippe is truly an actor that bears watching. Kudos also to John Savage as the ship's English teacher. It's nice to see this underrated actor try a different sort of role for a change.The cinematography is splendid but to appreciate it fully you must see a wide screen edition of the film. If not on DVD, perhaps there is a wide screen edition on tape somewhere. But the cinematography and sound are both worth buying a DVD player, if you haven't already done so, and purchasing this disc. This reviewer is always wary of films which are advertised as coming-of-age movies, but this one fits the bill. And everyone, including the skipper learns from their experiences. For that reason alone the film is film is worth owning. And who knows, you might just learn something from Captain Sheldon and crew of the Albatross! I know I did!

I was lucky enough to see this film on the big screen when it was released. It is very unfortunate that this movie did not achieve the box-office success that it deserved. Jeff Bridges gives a strong performance(does he ever give less) in a role that is not as large as one might predict. Everyone else surrounding him on the ship gives strong performances as well. This film was based on a true story, and is never boring and is always beautiful to look at. Not to mention a beautiful and amazing score that fits the mood and setting perfectly. This movie has everything that a great film should. Ridley Scott impresses once again.

A

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With classics like Alien, Blade Runner and the underrated but superb 1492: Conquest of Paradise, I'm a huge Ridley Scott fan. White Squall is a disappointment by comparison, but is still a compulsive and entertaining rite of passage drama that should not be overlooked and certainly deserved better than its disastrous performance at the box office. The film's main flaw is that it all too closely resembles Dead Poets' Society, (especially the coda, which copies Oh Captain, My Captain) Unusual for a director who usually sets the standards for others to follow rather, than the other way round. However all this is partly made up by the excellent performances from a talent set of youngsters and the ever-solid Jeff Bridges who at first resembles a Captain Ahabesque cliché but finally exudes sympathy. Scott's stunning visuals are present and correct and the sequences at sea truly convey the power of the sea, even in calm weather, as Scott revels in the rolling of the waves, lurching the ship up and down, like no other film. The breathtaking storm of the title stands out not only as a technical tour de force but also as an intense and moving climax.

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13 Kids, 3 Adults, The adventure of a life time. Those of you who are looking for an adventure of epic proportions that will take you over two oceans and dozens of islands with a group of equally interesting and at times disturbing characters, buckle up because you're in for one hell of a ride. This film was done perfectly, for once the film is better then the book (or so I've heard) and the final outcome can bring any minority, peoples of all ages and all professions to tears. The first time I saw this I was probably six years old and by the end of it my eight year old brother had become claustrophobic and huddled himself in a corner and my mother was crying. If I hadn't had been so busy laughing at them, I would have probably done the same. What happened out on the sea to those boys over forty years ago can only be described as a tragedy. A tragedy after finding themselves and the meaning to many things that they left on shore. This film truly honors those months that they spent together out on the crest and the weeks in which they were interrogated and put to trial after losing their friends in helpless cases. Shocking and worthy of such honorable men.

Mat Perrin, esq.

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Director Ridley Scott is a cinematic artist, painting a very striking, strong, and beautiful visual experience. The locations, from seaside slums to life aboard ship to the storm, are all wonderfully displayed. The compelling visuals enhance the real-life based story. It is a multi-layered tale, part coming of age, part bonding friends, part action drama. No one theme overwhelms the others. As an extra on this film, it was a privilage to meet the real Chuck Geig and Tod Johnstone. Hearing them tell of their actuall experience and then seeing it displayed on the screen lead me to believe that they must be very proud of the results.

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A Monster In Paris (Blu-Ray + 3-D Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2011)

When I first saw clips of this movie on YouTube, including the by-now-famous song "La Siene," I was so impressed that I immediately began scouring the Internet for a US release date for the movie. When I learned there were no plans for a US release, I was rather disappointed, but I wouldn't let that deter me from seeing this movie. In the end, I splurged and purchased two copies of the DVD (one for myself, one for our local library) from Amazon's Canadian store.

Now seeing that there's an upcoming US DVD release, I'm kicking myself for not being more patient, but I don't regret having purchased this. It's a beautiful movie, and while maybe not quite Pixar quality it's adorable and charming in its own right.

"A Monster In Paris" takes place in 1910 Paris, during the flooding of the Siene river, and focuses on a short, shy theater worker named Emile and his eccentric, bombastic friend Raoul, a delivery man who fancies himself an inventor. While dropping off a package at a scientist's home, the two break into his laboratory and accidentally create the titular monster -a seven-foot-tall, anthromorphic flea who can only communicate via singing. Said "monster" is taken in by Lucille, a nightclub singer who names him Francoer and disguises him as a musician, and soon it falls on her, Emile, and Raoul to protect him from a ruthless comissioner who will stop at nothing to rid Paris of the creature.

While the animation of "A Monster In Paris" isn't quite Pixar quality, I would put it on par with a Dreamworks movie, and it's certainly a cut above the animation of "Ice Age" and "Despicable Me." The scenery shots of early 20th century Paris are gorgeous, and I never once saw a lapse in animation quality that was significant enough to jar me out of the story. And the characters, with the exception of the appropriately villainous commissioner, are likable and quirky, with Francoer himself stealing the show -who knew a giant flea could be so adorable? The story of a group of people hiding a not-so-threatening monster from the authorities might not be the most original one in the world, but it doesn't seem old and tired here -the new setting and the characters kept it from feeling stale.

By far the best feature in this movie is the music. I LOVE the music. Renowned French singers Vanessa Paradis and M provide the vocals, and do a magnificent job. It was a song that led me to find and fall in love with this movie, and the music that remains the best part for me.

I watched this movie in the original French, with English subtitles (I always prefer to watch a movie in its original language), so I can't comment on the English dub. I'll leave that for another reviewer. UPDATE AS OF 1/28/13: I recently re-watched this movie, this time in English. The English dub is passable, but I highly prefer the French version. The French voices sound more natural, and M makes a better voice for the monster than Sean Lennon.

Wonderful movie, with gorgeous music and little to no adult humor or innuendo. I would recommend it for children 5 and older (due to some scary scenes) and anyone who loves musicals, animated films, or even lighthearted monster movies.

A Monster In Paris (Un Monstre à Paris) is a 2011 French animated film by former DreamWorks animator Bibo Bergeron (director of Road to El Dorado, and more embarrassingly, SharkTale). Yes, that's right, 2011. The film first released theatrically in France in October 2011, and then in the United Kingdom with the English dub in January 2012.

In April of 2013, OVER 16 MONTHS LATER, the United States is just now receiving an official release.

Which is utterly baffling, considering that even before the film's French release, A Monster In Paris went viral and gathered a cult following on the internet, with a large percentage of these fans American (myself included), due to the film's beautiful animation and music.

The music in this film is by Matthieu Chedid, better known by his stage name -M-. I became a fan of -Mand his music through A Monster In Paris. I now own three of -M-'s albums, having imported the CDs from France.

So you can imagine my disappointment when after over a year of waiting, I finally receive my official American release of A Monster In Paris on Blu-Ray/DVD, only to discover the original French language track is not included.

While I have nothing against the English dub, in fact the English versions of the songs are quite well done, the English songs swap out -Mfor Sean Lennon.

Again, nothing against Sean Lennon, he does a fine job with performing the songs in English, but having become a fan of -M-'s music through this film I want to watch the version with -Mperforming.

I ideally hoped to be able to watch this film in its original French with English subtitles, which I expect is how many others will want to view the film as well. Yet even though including the French language track in addition to the English dub and English subtitles seems like a no-brainer, Shout! Factory's failure to include such a simple but incredibly important feature is not only disappointing, but after a 16 month wait, is also unbelievably frustrating. I will without a doubt be sending in a complaint to Shout! Factory regarding the absence of the French language track, and I advise if you were also expecting to be able to watch the film in its original French with English subtitles, you do the same.

I love A Monster In Paris. It is an absolutely wonderful film that I highly recommend to anyone who loves animation, but because of Shout! Factory's negligence, I can only advise purchasing the American release of the film if you are fine with only the English dub (hence the 3-star rating). While the English dub is alright, I personally believe the ideal experience of this film should be in its original French with English subtitles. Unfortunately, the only way of doing this appears to be through importing the French Blu-Ray/DVD and then downloading English subtitles online, as the French Blu-Ray/DVD does not include English subtitles. Keep in mind however that due to region coding, the French Blu-Ray/DVD WILL NOT PLAY on most American Blu-Ray/DVD players. It will only play on a region free Blu-Ray/DVD player or a computer with region decoding software.

UPDATE: I've been informed that the Canadian DVD is multilingual, containing both the French and English tracks with English subtitles. Since Canadian DVDs are also Region 1, they WILL PLAY on most American DVD players. So importing a Canadian DVD would be a more simple, viable option for those who want to watch the film in its original French with English subtitles. Sadly for those of us who like our animation in high definition, there is no Canadian Blu-Ray, only a DVD. Importing the French Blu-Ray, finding a method of bypassing the region coding and then downloading subtitles still seems to be the only way of watching the film on Blu-Ray in French with subtitles.

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I am a French teacher and I can't wait to use this movie as a culmination of our study of Paris (I teach younger children). Vanessa Paradis has an angelic quality to her singing that fits this role perfectly. I appreciate the innocent storyline, there are no adult references or innuendo as there are in so many Disney movies.

Read Best Reviews of A Monster In Paris (Blu-Ray + 3-D Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2011) Here

Why don't more people know about this movie?!? I didn't know what to expect when I first heard about it. A movie about a singing giant flea in Paris? Not exactly a crowd bringer that's for sure. But if Pixar has thought me anything, it's to not underestimate a seemingly ridiculous concept. Plus I love animation and fell in love with the design of the female lead ♥Lucille♥, so I gave it a shot.

The movie is fun to watch and an absolute joy to listen to. The music is phenomenal, mixing both the english and french languages. The animation is on par with anything from Dreamworks or Pixar and the characters, specifically ♥Lucille♥ and Francoeur (the flea) are cute and at times mesmerizing.

If you're hunting for a new animated movie that's very easy on the eyes (and ears), give this one a go.

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The story is good, the animation is good but the Music will melt your heart.

This little movie will make the big studios very jealous. Who knew that the story about a giant singing , guitar playing FLEA would be good. Its not perfect, but by the end of the movie you will be satisfied.

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The Devil's Rejects (Unrated) (2006)

Devil's Rejects is amongst my favorite films, for it's great mix of humor, action/violence/gore, and character development. Most people looking at this review already know all about this movie.

The Picture on this movie doesn't seem to be all that much of an improvement. I've seen VAST differences on Blu-Rays vs DVD (Unforgiven especially!!!), and this movie just doesn't seem to have all that much extra when watching it in Hi-Def.

There are no new special features in this release, so if you already own this title on DVD, I would advise against upgrading like I did.

It's the 1970s all over again. If you're obsessed with the 1970s, like me, especially 70s drive-in classics, like me, The Devil's Rejects is a must-see. It's probably the closest thing to a 70s drive-in horror flick that's been made since the 70s. This is either a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. If you hate tasteless, gory, low-budget B-movies, then you would do well to skip The Devil's Rejects. If, however, you are passionate about Ford Administration-era low-budget flicks, then don't hesitate: see this movie.

The Devil's Rejects is Rob Zombie's spin-off/sequel to his 2003 directorial debut, House of 1000 Corpses. That film was famously dumped by its distributor, Universal Studios, and then picked up by Lion's Gate. Then upon release it was scathed by critics, but not surprisingly, managed to connect with a cult audience. Personally I found it to be the most sensational, joyous horror film I had seen in ages. It reveled in its depravity and had the ability to be both hilarious and disturbing at the same time. The Devil's Rejects is up the same alley. Not as much of a horror movie as its predecessor, The Devil's Rejects is more of an action-horror-road movie. It looks like a 30-year-old drive-in movie. If you didn't know any better, you could swear that it was filmed on a shoestring budget in the late '70s. It captures that feel extraordinarily well. The movie gets it down from the start and never strays from it, right down to the soundtrack. The first song that you hear in the movie is The Allman Brothers Band classic "Midnight Rider". The soundtrack also features Joe Walsh, Terry Reid, James Gang, Elvin Bishop, Otis Rush, etc. Not to mention a very memorable use of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird".

If House of 1000 Corpses was Rob Zombie's homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Devil's Rejects seems almost like an homage to Tobe Hooper's 1986 sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The similarities are certainly there. William Forsythe's Sheriff Wydell is not far from Dennis Hopper's Lieutenant Lefty Enright, who maniacally pursues the family of killers to exact his revenge. The whole film reeks of Tobe Hooper worship (but not in a bad way).

The Tobe Hooper element is certainly there, but another director sprang to mind as I was watching the film. The Devil's Rejects is almost like the horror equivalent of Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino's retro-martial arts-spaghetti western masterpiece. Upon seeing the film a second time, I was reminded of the work of yet another director: Sam Peckinpah. I don't know if Rob Zombie was directly influenced by Peckinpah (it's certainly likely), but all thoughout The Devil's Rejects I was reminded of films like The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs and The Getaway. The first time I saw it, all I really thought of was Tobe Hooper, however I now see that The Devil's Rejects may be a bit of a Peckinpah homage as well. This certainly gives the film an element of style and class to contrast the otherwise trashy material.

Rob Zombie, just like Quentin Tarantino, is passionate about this genre of film and tries to make the ultimate drive-in homage. Just look at the roster of horror film veterans that Zombie assembled: Ken Foree, P.J. Soles, Mary Waronov, Michael Berryman, and Steve Railsback. If you know who any of these people are, then you are definitely part of the target audience for this film. Not to mention Sid Haig and Bill Moseley returning from House of 1000 Corpses.

Ahh, yes... Sid Haig and Bill Moseley. This movie absolutely belongs to them!! Haig and Moseley own the screen! These two actors alone make the film a must-see. They are awesome! If you liked Sid Haig's Captain Spaulding character from the first film, you will be delighted to know that he plays a much bigger part in this one. Sid Haig is a devilish delight as the mad clown, Captain Spaulding. Bill Moseley simply rules as Otis! He is a bad M.F. These two awesome performances carry the movie. Also worth mentioning is William Forsythe who is excellent as Sheriff Wydell, the obsessed lawman who is trying to track down Captain Spaulding and his cohorts. Next to Sid Haig and Bill Moseley, Forsythe gives one of the best performances in the movie. However, I really miss Karen Black as Mother Firefly. Not to say that Leslie Easterbrook isn't good in the role, but I think she goes a bit over the top. Karen Black would have brought a graceful sensuality to the character, and probably a bit of restraint.

So, is The Devil's Rejects a good movie? Well, that's not an easy question. The short answer is probably "no, it's not". By the conventional definition, it would probably not be labeled a cinematic triumph. However, Rob Zombie does a fine job directing and his dialog is deliciously profane. For those who like this sort of thing, the movie is a blast. Finally, allow me to state a blunt warning: If you are looking for a good, scary horror movie, The Devil's Rejects is probably not what you're looking for. If you like horror movies like The Ring and The Grudge, The Devil's Rejects is DEFINITELY not what you're looking for. Simply put, if you like modern horror movies a lot, you will probably not like The Devil's Rejects. On the other hand if you recognize Ken Foree from his roles in George Romero's Dawn of the Dead and Stuart Gordon's From Beyond, and you know Michael Berryman as the "freaky-looking guy" from The Hills Have Eyes, then yes, The Devil's Rejects is certainly for you. If you treasure your copy of VideoHound's "Cult Flicks and Trash Pics", then yes, this is for you. If you're not too squeamish, you'll probably have a bloody good time.

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The Devil's Rejects, Rob Zombie's follow up to his surprise hit House of 1000 Corpses, is one of the few horror sequels that manages to not only live up to the original, but it also manages to surpass it. Influenced by the classic exploitation/horror films of years past (Last House on the Left, the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Zombie has given the Devil's Rejects a much grittier look than his last film, as the story picks up with the homicidal Firefly family on the run from the law. Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), Otis (Bill Moseley), and Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) are on the lam from a revenge driven and slightly deranged sheriff (William Forsythe) who plans to give the killers a taste of their own medicine. Along the way, the trio adds more to the body count, resulting in a climactic bloody showdown that is surprisingly well weaved. While it doesn't necessarily offer anything new to the horror genre, it doesn't try to, and the cast that Rob Zombie has assembled here does great work. Haig walks the line between frightening and hilarious as the clown faced Captain Spaulding, while Moseley is less over the top this time around as Otis, but he is all the more subdued and terrifying. Leslie Easterbrook (replacing Karen Black) as Mama Firefly is a bit overacted, while Moon is once again seductively scary as Baby, while Forsythe almost steals the entire movie. Zombie has again assembled a supporting cast of older horror film and cult favorites, including the original Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree, Hills Have Eyes icon Michael Berryman, Danny Trejo, PJ Soles, Priscilla Barnes, Steve Railsback, and former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Paige; most of which are pretty memorable. Pushing the limits of it's R rating, the Devil's Rejects is not for the faint hearted, and while it may drag a bit towards the end (you are guaranteed to never listen to "Freebird" the same way again), this is a real treat for older horror fans looking for a film that recaptures the unpredictability and tension of the genre.

Read Best Reviews of The Devil's Rejects (Unrated) (2006) Here

You would think that killing plus Rob Zombie, plus cool music, plus lots of long greasy hair, plus funky clothing and unshowered bodies, plus blood guts and gore would equal a pretty cool movie but in this case, it just equals a stinker!

The movie looks cool but it has NO PLOT! Sure, old slasher movies are violent (and had cheesy effects and didn't look as good) but they had more story and they were scary. This movie wasn't scary, suspenseful or eerie, it was just violent and relied so much on shock value that it failed to be shocking after a while. I would tell you fine readers more about the story but there isn't much to tell. Psychotic and sadistic killers go on a killing spree, there is lots of cool music and it's filmed like a music video, the end. Now maybe you won't have to waste your time watching it!

I thought the ending fell flat and I just didn't care what happened to any of the characters. I am all for gore and violence but please, Rob (though you are awesome and talented) next time make it have a point! Personally I think Rob Zombie needs to stick to music and leave acting and screenwriting to people who can actually act and write. I might have liked this if it had more 'meat' to the story, I felt something was missing.

I know a lot of people liked this movie and I will say it has some visual elements which are pretty cool so I did give it an extra star for ambiance and appearance. It also had a fast pace and that was good. It wasn't my thing but if you like senseless killing, tons of gore and don't care about the lack of story, you might like this.

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In a film world overrun with "torture cinema," Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects" both embraces this current trend and hearkens back to a more innocent time--the exploitation era of the seventies where films of this type found underground success. Following up the chaotic, and not very satisfying, "House of 1000 Corpses"--"The Devil's Rejects" continues the saga of the murderous Firefly clan. But where "House" was an amped-up, kaleidoscopic music video of carnage and macabre humor with no particular plot--at least "Rejects" has Zombie embracing aspects of legitimate film technique and story telling narrative. Much more accomplished than its predecessor, however, doesn't make it much more entertaining. To be clear, I am not one who thinks that violence in films is the end of our society. I have embraced many films within this genre for various reasons, I just happen to think "The Devil's Rejects" commits the greatest sin of all--it creates no suspense.

The film's plot, as if it matters, revolves around the Firefly family as previously mentioned. Their home, and the site of countless previous murders, is raided by the police in the film's opening moments. A close knit group, to be sure (especially for psychopaths), brother Otis and sister Baby escape and arrange to meet up with their father Captain Spaulding who runs around like a maniacal clown. First stopping at a desolate motel to murder and torture at random, and later moving on to a house of ill repute--mayhem follows this wacky bunch! Hot on their trail, however, is Sheriff Wydell--who has a personal agenda of his own.

I credit Zombie for effectively recreating the gritty feeling of a seventies exploitation flick. The setting and mood are spot-on. I, also, enjoyed some of the cameos from a roster of forgotten or B-movie stars that populate the picture. I think there was fun to be had here--I just didn't have it. The humor fell flat, the brutality felt familiar, and the lack of dramatic tension left me feeling nothing. A film of this type needs to generate suspense to be successful and through all the bloodlust, nothing approximating real emotional consequence evolved until the film's ending. I credit William Forsythe, as the sheriff, for this last minute reprieve of excitement. His performance hits all the right notes in an over-the-top spectacle of madness and revenge.

This endgame, only the final 20 minutes of the film, really does ramp up the tension. The sadistic retribution and raw power within this segment is so much more satisfying than anything that has preceded it--for the first time, the film connects at a visceral and emotional level. But, alas, it's too late to salvage the picture. A 4 star ending on a 1 star movie--I can only round up the overall score to 2. I know that this film has its admirers, I just didn't see anything particularly new. But more critical was the sense of apathy I had throughout--who knew that vicious serial killing could be so flat and uninvolving? KGHarris, 03/07

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America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (Head / Easy Rider / Five Easy Pieces / Drive, He Said / The

The film opens with Nicholson in a tight shot talking to someone. We aren't sure at first to whom he's talking or why. From that opening scene I was hooked. Nicholson is a radio personality (David) who one day gets a phone call from his brother Jason (Bruce Dern) who is in jail. Jason is basically a big-time loser who has been trying all his life to make something big happen. His latest scheme is to encourage his brother to join him and his female companions (played by Ellyn Burstyn and Julia Anne Robinson) in Atlantic City while contemplating the purchase of an island near Hawaii. Many strange events happen along the way, not the least of which finds the two women competing for Jason's affection. A very strange scene occurs involving a fire on the beach. Without giving too much away, I will say that this is a turning point that has tremendous impact later in the story. So few films today have even slightly interesting characters. These characters are so vivid and interesting that you can't help but be intrigued, wondering what's going to happen next. Each scene seems to have no rhyme or reason, until finally the pieces fall into place. When the pieces do come together, you realize that you've witnessed something very unique, original, and haunting.

The four leading actors are all at the top of their form. I have never seen Nicholson timid, unsure, or at a loss for words before. Dern is hopelessly reckless. Robinson is an innocent in an evil environment. Burstyn is perfect as the key to the whole story, which is one that I'll never forget. You'll think about this quiet little film long after the credits are over.

Since I am mostly commenting on the "HEAD" portion of this set, I should include that already having "Five Easy Pieces" in a restored version on DVD and "Easy Rider" has been reissued numerous times with not much bonus material here, this print of "HEAD" is from the original 35mm negative! Where-as the awful DVD release from Rhino, who lies in a leader frame that the Full Frame format is how the film was meant to be seen! I beg to differ and bow to Criterion for releasing this incredible movie in glorious widescreen and in a true 5.1! Don't worry, those purist that still listen through a Stereo Reciever (because MOST humans only have 2 ears),like myself..the stereo seperation will blow you away, especially if you have the inferior RHINO release, you need not do a side by side comparison! Not only are the songs in true stereo but the entire soundtrack through-out the entire movie. Including the closing credits (Known on the Colgems soundtrack as "PLus Strings") by Ken Thorne. Which also gives RHINO another bad mark. In October, RHINO released a "HEAD Deluxe CD boxset" and list the "Plus Strings as "stereo" and they are most certainly not, yet Criterion goes the extra mile and finds true masters to all the Stereo songs plus Ken thorne's excellent incidental music! "Porpoise Song" has the nice deep low ends and crystal clear highs. Special credit with the live "Circle Sky" and "As We Go Along" where the vocals were burried on the RHINO release. Not so on this print. You feel as if the movie were filmed yesterday! Not bad for a 42 year old film! The colors are vibrant and the print is so sharp you may want to keep your hands away from the screen! Criterion deserves an award for thier excellence!

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With so many surprising and great releases, I've come to take Criterion for granted. But then comes the announcement of "America Lost and Found: The BBS Story" and I'm like an excited kid on Christmas morning. Amazon has done a comprehensive job listing the contents of this impressive set, so I'm going to direct my comments at the eclectic mix of films provided. The BBS story is no less than a film revolution that occurred in the late sixties to try to foster younger artists to the industry and cultivate younger, more adventurous film goers. All films within "America Lost and Found" were produced between 1968 and 1972 and represent a challenge to the conventional film narrative of that period. In retrospect, some of the films have been proclaimed classics while others have become somewhat obsolete. But all are fascinating examples of an artistic rebellion that influenced the film industry for years to come (all the more astounding as much of the company's financing came from the funds generated by the Monkees).

My personal favorite within "America Lost and Found" is Peter Bogdanovich's "The Last Picture Show" which has been begging for a better DVD release. An evocative look at a dying small town, this gorgeous black and white film is supremely entertaining and boasts a spectacular cast. Desolate and spare, the film tells the story of Sonny and Duane who as they approach manhood must face the harsh realities of life, love, and friendship. Nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture, the film won supporting statuettes for Ben Johnson (a career high) and Cloris Leachman. Jeff Bridges and Ellen Burstyn also received nods as did Bogdanovich for Directing and Screenplay (which he co-wrote with the incredible Larry McMurtry).

Two other undeniable classics in counterculture are Dennis Hopper's "Easy Rider" and Bob Rafelson's "Five Easy Pieces." "Easy Rider" picked up two Oscar nods (including Jack Nicholson's first) and tells the simple story of two motorcyclists' journey across America. Capturing a specific time so perfectly, the film seems to embrace the anti-establishment freedom of its leads (Hopper and Peter Fonda) while making the compelling argument that ultimate freedom is an illusion and that choosing to challenge societal norms thus becomes the norm. And "Five Easy Pieces," another of my all time favorites, was nominated for 4 Oscars (including Jack Nicholson and Karen Black). Another journey picture (both in physical travels as well as in the spiritual/psychological realm), Rafelson's landmark has one of Nicholson's most iconic performances in a film that is immensely angry and riotously funny by turn. The chicken salad sandwich scene is an undisputed classic in American cinema!

Bob Rafelson's well regarded "The King of Marvin Gardens" is also included. An underrated gem set in Atlantic City, this tale of brotherhood and dreaming big casts a realistic light on a get-rich-quick scam gone wrong. Nicholson and Burstyn are on hand, as is Bruce Dern--and this compelling quasi-masterpiece shows the three on disparate (and times desperate) paths toward redemption. Rafelson also supplies this collection with the bizarre "Head," a meandering and psychedelic excursion into the minds of The Monkees. With a documentary feel, the film follows The Monkees on numerous and random musical encounters and celebrates their celebrity while at the same time seeming to indict the culture who embraces such excesses. Jack Nicholson makes his directorial debut on the uneven "Drive, He Said"--noteworthy mostly for the Nicholson credit. Depicting the college experience in the sixties, "Drive" tells the story of a disaffected basketball player. Introducing many plot threads, the film fails to follow an effective through line and is a fairly disjointed (though interesting) effort. And lastly there is Henry Jaglom's "A Safe Place," another oddity of interior monologue with Tuesday Weld descending into a world of fantasy.

Many of the films in "America Lost and Found" share a thematic connection. The films eschew conventional plot driven narratives in favor of character study. These directors wanted to present a realistic portrait of the era in which they lived and not an idealized film world. And many of the central characters in all the works are seeking to identify their place in the modern world or, indeed, determine if they have a place at all. The BBC story, through film, is an intriguing and progressive one in that it functioned in the studio system. Independent cinema of today still reflects many of the same ideals. A must have collection for film lovers. KGHarris, 10/10.

Read Best Reviews of America Lost and Found: The BBS Story (Head / Easy Rider / Five Easy Pieces / Drive, He Said / The Here

I hadn't heard about this collection until i ran a search for Head on Blu Ray here at Amazon. At first I was ecstatic that it was on Blu Ray but dismayed that it was only available as part of a collection. When I saw the other films included coupled with the price being right i decided to buy it. I have now watched all the films and wasn't disappointed. Criterion does an excellent job with the HD transfers and the extras on each film.

Head was a lost gem I first saw on the CBS Late Movie in the early 1970s. To understand it, it helps to have some background about the Monkees and the myths surrounding them, as well as their desire to be taken seriously as a 1960s rock group. I already owned the Rhino DVD version, which professed that the 1:33 to 1 aspect ratio was original intended version. Nothing could be further from the truth; here it is presented in its original 1:78 to 1 aspect ratio (16:9 in the parlance of our times). The extras are very informative as is the commentary by Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. Finally, an honorable version of this wonderful cult film!

I have seen Easy Rider several times over the years; the last time I saw it was a DVD presentation and I found it to be somewhat dated. However, due to the excellent HD transfer I was less focused on the lingo of the day and more on Laszlo Kovac's excellent cinematography. It's amazing how great the film looks with a proper transfer and it gave me a greatly renewed interest. Again, the extras are top-notch and very informative. It's equally impressive how much "bang for the buck" BBS got from all their films.

Five Easy Pieces was another film I already owned on DVD but again, this version looks wonderful.

The Last Picture Show is one of my favorite 1970s films and I never owned it before now. Again, the extras are excellent and the transfer is impeccable.

I had never seen the remaining films. A Safe Place and Drive, He Said were my least favorites though they are certainly interesting curious from the era. Sometimes films like these require repeated viewings to be fully appreciated though the acting in each were superb and both were original and imaginative. The King of Marvin Gardens was excellent and I'm surprised it didn't do well in its theatrical release years ago. Still, Criterion gave all the Class A treatment with high quality HD transfers and informative, interesting extras.

Criterion must be commended for their great efforts on this set. It's well worth purchasing and will provide several hours of viewing pleasure.

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This film really is spectacular. From the very opening(which is slightly disorienting-but becomes clear quickly), it weaves a tale filled with some very odd and fascinating characters. Nicholson plays a radio deejay of sorts that spouts some fictionalized, but engrossingly told tales. The story itself deals with his visit to his brother-played by Bruce Dern, who he must attempt to talk out of some financial scheming. Dern turns in a fine performance-comparable to his performance in SMILE(very different characters, both great performances). Ellen Burstyn is also terrific. Photography by Laszlo Kovacs ranks up with his best. A welcome follow-up to Rafelson's FIVE EASY PIECES(a follow-up that doesn't get the press it deserves). Looks beautiful on dvd!

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Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2011)

This movie starts with everyone in the Soul Society suddenly forgetting Rukia. Rukia was the Soul Reaper that gave Ichigo (the main character) his powers. No one would know Ichigo if not for Rukia, so everyone forgets Ichigo. The fights between Ichigo and the Captains are amazing. The Mystery of why everyone has forgotten Rukia and Ichigo is very well thought out. I watched this movie when it first came out with English subtitles so I can tell you. This buy is totally worth it even if it is a random buy. Bleach is an amazing series. I would highly recommend that you buy the boxsets for the series as well. With Cool epic fights, a very well thought out story, and very interesting characters developments and types you love this series and all four of its movies that are out. I hope this helped your decision.

I love Bleach and I happen to be a very, very fussy person if the story doesn't hook me in the first few minutes, it loses me. I've seen every Bleach episode, plus the OMAs, fillers, and read the Manga, so that should tell you how good the story is. Since I haven't seen the latest movie yet in order to rate them I can only stand this one up against the first two, and of the three, this is the best of them. So to make it brief IT'S ABOUT ***** TIME!!!! I'll be getting this one the second it's released!

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Fade to Black is the third of the Bleach full length movies and an improvement over Diamond Dust Rebellion. While I still think Memories of Nobody was the best of the movies, this one offers a few reasons to watch and enjoy. As with the other movies, Fade to Black brings in your favorite characters, an interesting enough plot, and a step-up from the series in terms of art and fluidity of the animation. Fans of the series will find this to be a welcome addition to the Bleach universe, particularly as Rukia plays a central role in the film. Aside from her added screen time (which I loved, as she was one of the reasons I started watching the series to begin with) there are bits and pieces of her background that are filled in throughout the story. All this and her "transformation" make this a film well crafted for its faithful audience.

That being said, I do have a few gripes that don't necessarily take away too much (and are rather characteristic of the series in general) but that bug me nonetheless. First, as in Diamond Dust Rebellion (and to a lesser extent in Memories of Nobody), there is a bit too much overly-emotional sermonizing. While the core canon of the Bleach series (those episodes based off the manga) contain little of this, the side stories and movies seem to add it for filler. Again, this is nothing new, but it steals a little from the drama. Second, this film sets up interesting questions about the limits of "humanness" (or, personhood might be a better term) on par with those that Kube brings out through Memories of Nobody and through the Arrancar and their seeming humanity, but just as in that narrative arc there is little down to delve into the question. It is presented (imaginatively so) to the viewer, but is left to hang their unexplored and unresolved. Again, this doesn't hurt the quality too much, but once I would like to see Tite Kubo raise the dramatic tension a bit more.

Oh, and the fights are awesome. But you knew that already.

Read Best Reviews of Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black (2011) Here

An explosion destroys the center of the Seireitei. Afterwards Rukia disappears and looses her memory. Kisuke sends Ichigo to find out what's wrong. Nobody in the Seireitei knows Ichigo or remembers Rukia either. Even close friends like Renji and Captain Kuchiki are baffled by Ichigo's claim to be their friend and his insistence that Rukia has disappeared.

This is a great movie. It's as good as the 1st Bleach movie. It is a very tragic story of Rukia's past. The action and drama are very good in this movie. The Seireitei send all the Captains and Lieutenants after Ichigo, and Rukia confronts her heartbreaking past. Bleach the Movie 3 is awesome!!!

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you either love Bleach or you hate Bleach. thankfully im one of the people that LOVE Bleach.

the story (from the beginning) is amazing, and the movies are always well done. this one is the better of the 3 ive seen so far, although theyre all good.

if you love Bleach youve already seen this movie or are about to buy it.

if you dont love Bleach...why are you standing close to me? ^^

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Les Miserables (1998)

If Victor Hugo were alive today he would be a multi-millionaire considering how many times his most famous novel has been filmed by Hollywood over the years. It took him 17 years to write the novel and it's still in print so he would also have a steady income. Overall I think he would have liked all the film versions of "Les Miserables" going all the way back to the earliest known silent version released by the Fox Film Co in 1919. There have been many film versions since, both English and French productions. I've always liked this 1998 version starring Liam Neeson(Jean Valjean) and Geoffrey Rush(Inspector Javert) ever since I saw it during it's original release in the theatre. I was hoping that it would someday be released on blu ray and got my wish earliar this week. I can only assume it's because of the new musical version that's hitting the theatres with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the leads. I have both the 1935 and 1952 B&W versions that 20th Century-Fox released a number of years ago and have seen the current Broadway musical twice so I'm very familar with the story. I won't go over it but it's the ultimate story of redemption, faith and love which is something that everyone needs in these troubled times. Those themes are certainly brought out in this beautifully restored blu ray film directed by Bille August. Jorgen Persson's cinematography looks stunning on blu ray(aspect ratio: 2.40.1) and the Paris and Czech Republic locations have never looked better. The audio is superb too. The folks at Sony deserve a lot of credit for making this blu ray pop off the screen. The principle actors(Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes) give some of the best performances of their careers. The scenes between Neeson and Thurman's characters are both touching and heartwrenching. I've always thought that this was Uma Thurman's best performance and seeing it again after all these years only confirms that. Neeson's scenes with the young Clare Danes are equally touching and he more than holds his own whenever he and Rush on screen together. Geoffrey Rush's unsympathetic portrait of Javert will send chills down your spine. This version is 134 mins long and contains the following subtitles: English, English SDH, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish. Audio is: English, French(PAR), Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Portuguese Dolby Surround. There are no special features except the original trailer. This Sony blu ray release gets my highest recommendation.

"Les Miserables", the popular musical and play that has entertained many since its premiere in London back in 1985.

But "Les Miserables" (which translates to "The Wretched" or "The Poor Ones") goes back even further. More than 100 years into the past, when it was first written by Victor Hugo as a French historical fiction novel in 1862. Considered as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, the film has been entertaining generation after generation from its first film ("Victor Hugo et les principaux personnages des misérables") back in 1897 courtesy of the Lumiere Brothers and countless adaptations since.

But its first big budget film adaptation was in 1998 courtesy of a film directed by Billie August ("House of the Spirits", "Pelle the Conqueror") and a screenplay by Rafael Yglesias ("Fearless", "From Hell") which was loosely based on Hugo's popular novel. As the film adaptation was similar to Hugo's novel, some characters who had a more prominent role in the book were removed entirely or their presence lessened in the film version as the primary focus is on the character of Jean Valjean.

In December 2012, a new British film for "Les Miserables" was released in theaters, but where this version of the film was a musical, the 1998 film was not. And now, the 1998 version of the film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

VIDEO:

"Les Miserables" is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:40:1). Part of me was wondering if this film would look soft and how the clarity would look compared to the original DVD release. And I was quite pleased with how the film looked overall. During the outdoor sequences, especially during the parade, the scene looked vibrant and colorful. Indoor scenes were well-lit, even though the film was trying to capture certain scenes with less lighting, I didn't see any noise during those scenes. Closeups on the faces of the characters were well-detailed and clarity was much more apparent in the closeups of the scenes vs. its older DVD counterpart. Cinematography by Jorgen Persson ("My Life as a Dog", "The House of Spirits") was beautifully done!

Overall, picture quality was very good and I noticed no artifacts, banding or aliasing.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Les Miserables" is presented in English, French and Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD MA and Portuguese Dolby Digital Surround Sound. The film is not a musical, so dialogue the film is primarily dialogue driven. Until the film gets to the scenes of the parade and revolt, the surround channels are then utilized for crowd ambiance but also gunfire. A musical score by Basil Poledouris ("Starship Troopers", "The Hunt for Red October", "Conan the Barbarian", "Robocop") is also featured throughout the film. But for the most part, the majority of the film is dialogue driven through the front and center-channels.

Subtitles are in English SDH, English, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Les Miserables" comes with the following special feature:

A First Look at Les Miserables (3:39) A short special feature featuring interviews with the cast of "Les Miserables".

EXTRAS:

"Les Miserables" comes with an UltraViolet code which allows you to download the movie to your computer and select Apple and Android devices and stream to computers, tables or smartphones.

JUDGMENT CALL:

I was very fortunate to be introduced to "Les Miserables" back during my high school years. As a person who took part in theater and one who enjoyed singing, I fell in love with the "Les Miserables" soundtrack and of course, the musical itself.

But when I heard that "Les Miserables" was being adapted into a film, I didn't know how they could do it. As TV series before (and after) the 1998 film had to be shown as a mini-series because of its number of characters and how big the story is, there was just not much you can do with a 2 hr. film, unless a lot of storyline is cut out of the film.

But upon watching the film for the first time, many years ago, the focus on the character of Jean Valjean would make sense. Eliminating the musical segments, Cosette not playing a major role, until she is older was a major change, not showcasing Eponine or Azelma changes the story a lot and most importantly, by not focusing too much on the love between Marius and Cosette especially the involvement of the Thernardiers towards the end. The story has changed a lot for the film adaptation.

While I know purists who loved the musical or the novel may have cried foul that the story was changed, I felt that to make "Les Miserables" to a film without any sequels or to make it last over 3 hours long, to keep things within budget, important decisions of what trim had to be made. And in order to create a modified storyline of the novel without these characters, major changes had to be made. And for that, screenwriter Rafael Yglesias was able to successfully write a film that tries to keep the heart and soul of "Les Miserable" but also to keep the image of Jean Valjean as not only as a hero but a compassionate man who was able to change his life from an ex-convict to a mayor and as an industrialist who gave people a chance., because even he himself was given a second chance to change his life.

Liam Neeson did a wonderful job of playing the former convict, turned good guy and later on, father. This was a complex character which Neeson played with efficacy. But with Neeson highlighting his skills, you need an antagonist to match up with him and Geoffrey Rush played the role of Javert amazingly well. A conceited man, a stubborn man and a driven man, obsessed with catching Valjean, Rush did an amazing job portraying this role.

While hardcore "Les Miserables" fans may also be ticked that the storyline of Cosette and Marius was changed drastically, writer Rafael Ygleasias was able to show that the two characters love one another, but also to show the relationship between Cosette and her papa Valjean. But the changes made for this film adaptation was to inspire hope but also to bring things full circle with a new storyline that shapes the final half of the film. But Claire Danes was able to take Cosette's character and showcase a teen who has found love, while Hans Matheson was able to portray the role of a young man, so much in love, but also a man dedicated to the revolution.

Sure, it's sad that the revolution, Eponine, the Thernardiers play a smaller or non-existent role in this film adaptation. But once again, considering the changes that had to be made in order to keep the film to a little over two hours long, major cuts and restructuring of the plot to fit this duration had to be made.

As for the Blu-ray release, compared to its previous DVD outlet the film looks better on Blu-ray but the noticeable aspect of the film in HD is its lossless soundtrack and bringing the ambiance of crowds and gunfire to this film, made things much more enjoyable this time around. I do believe that if you enjoyed this film and own it on DVD, it is worth upgrading to Blu-ray! Special features only feature the one "A First Look at Les Miserables" featurette and that is it.

Overall, the 1998 film "Les Miserables" may not be the same storyline that people watched in a musical, nor is it exactly what the original Victor Hugo novel had featured with its many characters and longer storyline. But to create a film adaptation of "Les Miserable" for a two hour film, it' s not an easy task. Yet, filmmaker Billie August and writer Rafael Yglesias were both able to create a film that may be different from the original novel but yet manages to be exciting and compelling.

"Les Miserables", the 1998 film adaptation is recommended!

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This is the best of all of the Les Miserables movies that have ever been done. Liam Neeson is more believable and compassionate as the main character. The entire cast of actors is awesome. The storyline stayed very close to the book which I feel is very important in making a good movie.

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I have seen the play on Broadway, and several versions of the movie (most notably, the Liam Neason one), and have enjoyed them tremendously. This version, however, is not in that category. The singing was terrible and off-key. The dialog was all sung(?), if you want to call that singing. The acting was even worse than the singing. If I could have rated this in a negative, it would have been a -10.

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Only the background sounds are on this copy.. I am disappointed. I have been very busy lately and havn't had the chance to send back.. probably missed the time limit.. Make sure you check the sound on your DVD's the day you get them in and return ASAP. Amazon has always been good about exchanging for a good one. I just missed the opportunity this time.

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Wyatt Earp / The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2011)

I bought this set primarily for the 'Jesse James' movie, which is dark, slow paced and cerebral, and features fine acting by Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. This film may bore you if you are looking for action or plot twists, and you'll know if it's right for you after about the first 15 or so minutes. If you can stick with it, Casey Affleck's smoldering performance is a revelation.

I had not seen "Wyatt Earp" before and it proved to be quite a pleasant surprise. It came out a year after "Tombstone" and wasn't as successful I guess, but this film strikes a good balance between being too violent or too fawning/watered down. It pretty much follows the same main storyline as "Tombstone" with the addition of showing events that mold the younger Wyatt into the man he becomes by the time he arrives at Tombstone.

Dennis Quaid does a good job with the Doc Holliday role, but Val Kilmer's performance will always be more memorable.

The movie clocks in at a bit over three hours, however it never dragged for me.

The cinematography in "Wyatt Earp" is beautiful, and the Blu-ray transfer is excellent there are many dark/shadowy scenes that are rich in detail and have very little or no noise. The frequent daytime panoramas are gorgeous. Warner did a wonderful job here.

If you want to add two very different, good westerns to your Blue-ray collection, this combo set is a steal.

Held off buying this for a long time since Tombstone is my favorite but it was worth watching a more thorough historical account of Wyatt Earp. Haven't watch "The Assassination of Jesse James" yet, but 2 for the price of one is a good deal.

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Wyatt Earp is a bit overlong but a well done western..Costner tries to ce real Earp...there are so many stories about the legendary lawman. One isn't sure what to believe...gene hackman is great as earps strict dad.....the other western, with the overlong and thoroughly forgettable title is average at best..Brad Pitt is the films only asset

Read Best Reviews of Wyatt Earp / The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2011) Here

I think I paid 12 dollars for this when I got it. What can you say about 2 of the greatest modern westerns based in history? Wonderful cinematography.

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Two classics that are deep and well made films. Can't go wrong with either one. Expert filmaking at a fantastic price! I love both these films!

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Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection (2012)

Since people are asking about which movies are included, I did some internet research. The list of movies is:

1. Dr. No*

2. From Russia with Love*

3. Goldfinger*

4. Thunderball*

5. You Only Live Twice

6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

7. Diamonds Are Forever

8. Live and Let Die*

9. The Man with the Golden Gun*

10. The Spy Who Loved Me

11. Moonraker*

12. For Your Eyes Only*

13. Octopussy*

14. A View to a Kill

15. The Living Daylights

16. Licence to Kill*

17. Goldeneye

18. Tomorrow Never Dies

19. The World is Not Enough*

20. Die Another Day*

21. Casino Royale*

22. Quantum of Solace*

*Already available on Blu-Ray

Never Say Never Again is not included since it is not part of the "series," being produced independently. Likewise the David Niven spoof of Casino Royale. Also, there was a British TV version of Casino Royale that is not included.

Just some notes on the various blu-rays. This could have and should have been a perfect set, but it's not. MGM doesn't care..they know you'll buy anyway...

Dr. No Overall nice quality blu-ray. Colors have been driven more towards naturalistic than originally done

From Russia With Love Overall nice quality blu-ray. Colors have been driven more towards naturalistic than originally done

Goldfinger The gold is gone. Why screw with the color? The scene where she's painted gold has lost its golden touch and has been moved towards a more natural color. Yes, she's gold, but the original scene had a golden tint all around

Thunderball Some color changes and slight damage, DNR, fake grain

You Only Live Twice Original colors are lost and it's largely brown.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Contrast boosted way too much. Also, original colors are lost and it's largely brown. Audio issues on both the mono (Muffled in spots) and remix.

Diamonds Are forever Changes in color and lack of detail. Original colors are lost--it's lost its "glimmer" and is largely brown now. Desaturated. Also, the scene where a cigarette is put out in Bond's chest isn't supposed to show the ashtray until he stands up, as seen in the original theatrical prints--the scene is supposed to be much darker

Live and Let Die Okay blu-ray

The Man with the Golden Gun Okay blu-ray, colors off

The Spy Who Loved Me Excellent blu-ray

Moonraker slightly squeezed and window-boxed main title sequence, okay otherwise

For Your Eyes Only Fine blu-ray

Octopussy Excessive edge enhancement

A View to a Kill Image is misframed/cropped. Also, during an earthquake scene, the image/camera was supposed to shake. Lowry stabilized the image so that it doesn't shake anymore--poor attention to what they were doing. Too much DNR.

The Living Daylights Excellent blu-ray.

Licence to Kill Decent blu-ray

Goldeneye Extreme use of DNR takes away the film grain, and therefore the detail contained within the grain. MGM used an old, outdated master from a few years ago. Think of how bad the original release of Patton looked... the line "You were expecting someone else?" missing from trailer

Tomorrow Never Dies Excellent blu-ray

The World is Not Enough Excellent blu-ray

Die Another Day Excellent blu-ray

Casino Royale Excellent blu-ray, but it's the North American edited version, not the uncut version

Quantum of Solace Excellent blu-ray

Buy Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection (2012) Now

Received, today. Pre-purchased on Amazon.

There is no point in reviewing the films. You either like them or you don't. You know what they are. The films, together, have 120 hours of special features, so there is enough here to take a couple of weeks of essentially non-stop viewing (with sleep, of course). Most has been released before. There is a bonus disc of new content. As others have said, the non-franchise films are not included and there is no reason to have expected them.

I like the packaging. The discs are divided in two hard-back books, with stills from the films on the opposing pages. There are two discs per page, one disc per film, with a picture of a relevant "Bond Girl" next to the release date beside each disc. The two books are slip-cased. It is a classy looking and sturdy package.

I have no trouble removing them from the pages, and have yet to have to touch the surface. None of the ones I received had any fingerprints on them, so I have no idea what the other reviewer is speaking of.

Read Best Reviews of Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection (2012) Here

This review is about the standard DVD set, not the Blu-Ray. I've always loved the Bond films, but have never made getting them on DVD a priority. Now that my kids are older and of an age to watch them, I found out this set was coming out and eagerly awaited it -how awesome is that, ALL of the Bond films in one box set, for a great price! (Do the math; if you bought all 22 films individually, averaging $25 per movie, that would set you back a whopping $550 compare that to the $100 sale price for this set.)

HERE'S WHAT YOU GET:

A large box about 11 inches by 7 inches by 1.5 inches. Inside the box are two beautiful "hardcover books" (book one is 1962-1981, book two is 1983-2012). Inside each book are six heavy pages. Each page holds two discs that slide into a half-moon slot that secures the disc to the page, and beside each is a photo of the "Bond Girl" from that particular movie. It's not ideal packaging for discs if you intend to get them out and watch them frequently, but if you are like me and just want them on DVD with the intention of watching them occasionally, it's fine. Besides, empty DVD cases are a penny a dozen online these days if you want to change packaging.

BOOK ONE:

1. Dr No

2. From Russia With Love

3. Goldfinger

4. Thunderball

5. You Only Live Twice

6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service

7. Diamonds Are Forever

8. Live and Let Die

9. The Man With the Golden Gun

10. The Spy Who Loved Me

11. Moonraker

12. For Your Eyes Only

BOOK TWO:

13. Octopussy

14. A View to a Kill

15. The Living Daylights

16. Licence to Kill

17. Goldeneye

18. Tomorrow Never Dies

19. The World is Not Enough

20. Die Another Day

21. Casino Royale

22. Quantum of Solace

WHAT YOU DON'T GET:

1. Any non-Eon (non-canon) Bond films. So, if you're looking for the Barry Nelson "Casino Royale" or the David Niven/Woody Allen "Casino Royale" or the Sean Connery "Never Say Never Again," sorry, they're not here. They're not part of the Eon Productions "canon" of Bond films, so they're left out in the cold, and, IMHO, good riddance to them. (I'm pro-Eon, can you tell?)

2. Extras. I haven't checked each disc out individually, but nothing in the marketing or the packaging indicates there are any extras in the standard DVD set. This is a set of no-frills, feature-only discs as far as I can tell. But I just wanted these films, not a bunch of extras, and that's what I got. See what I mean about this being the perfect set "for certain people"? (I'm told that the Blu-Ray set has a bonus Blu-Ray disc of extras, if that's your thing. That's the new trend in DVD releases; the extras go on the Blu-Ray version, the standard release gets the shaft.)

Finally, one weird (kinda stupid) thing about the set. It includes "a disc holder for Skyfall coming on DVD in 2013." In case you didn't know, Bond #23 ("Skyfall") hits theaters in December 2012. Obviously, they expect you to buy it on DVD in 2013. So, in preparation for that, on the last page of Book Two instead of there being half-moon slots for two discs, there's only one empty half-moon slot that says "This space reserved for SKYFALL."

Um... if I buy Skyfall, isn't it gonna come in it's own DVD case? What are we expected to do, put the Skyfall disc in the book and... throw away the case it came in? (Please don't; please recycle!)

If you don't want any extras, and you don't plan on getting these discs out of their sleeves with any regularity, it's an awesome set for an awesome price if you don't have these on DVD already!

Want Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection (2012) Discount?

I own the regular DVD editions of all the Bond films to date and I was hesitant to purchase the Blu-ray disc set. Let me tell you the Blu-ray boxed set is well worth it. The sound and picture quality are much better on the older films. I am not sure if anyone has mentioned in other reviews but there is a bonus disc which is actually great. It goes through a lot Bond history and I found it to be fascinating. There is also behind the scenes stuff from Skyfall. Anyways, if you are a James Bond fan do not hesitate to buy this Blu-ray set even if you already own the regular DVD versions!

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Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Blu-Ray + DVD) (2010)

Looking for something off the beaten path this Christmas season? The Finnish oddity "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" might just be the cure for your holiday blues. Part fantasy, part horror, part black humor--this delightful film manages to adhere to traditional Christmas movie conventions while upending them at the same time. It's an unusually deft balance that makes this both hard edged and heartfelt. While not a perfect movie--once the main action begins, things fall rather too conveniently into place--it is distinguished by its brilliantly bold concept. And despite minor reservations, I have to award "Rare Exports" my respect for its unorthodox story line and wickedly acerbic sense of humor. Destined for cult movie status, I have no doubt that this film will perplex some viewers. But for adventurous movie lovers, I can't think of a better antidote to typical holiday fare.

Set in north Finland, the reindeer population is found dead by local herders . Maybe it has something to do with an American work crew excavating a nearby mountain. There is a disturbing legend about Santa in these parts. It seems that the jolly old fellow wasn't so jovial, but instead was quite evil. He was killed and buried in these hills according to lore and it seems that the Americans might be looking for the genuine Santa Claus. As with any good Christmas story, the protagonist is a spirited boy with a hard scrabble life. Spying on the dig, he can't believe what is discovered. But when strange and scary happenings start to consume the town, will he be able to make anyone understand the evil that has been unleashed? It's such a terrific premise, done with slow burn precision. As opposed to an all out assault on your senses, this sly film methodically ratchets up the creepiness and the macabre humor.

This is a bizarre and highly original winner. The plot twists and turns and the climax is refreshingly satisfying. The wintry locales, the propulsive soundtrack, and the good effects add weight to the narrative. But perhaps the film's greatest asset is in its lead performance. So self assured and polished, it's easy to envision this alternate world through his eyes. His relationship with his father is sweet and realistic despite the surreal feel of the picture. I loved this movie, truly, and have no doubt that it will continue to captivate more adventurous audiences as word spreads through the DVD release. For those looking for family entertainment, I would not recommend this to small children (hopefully that is already clear). But for anyone looking for a new holiday viewing tradition, check this out. This will join A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life as our yearly favorites. It's not perfect--but its sheer inventiveness makes up for any shortcomings. KGHarris, 8/11.

We saw this film at our local cinema, not knowing anything about it. From the opening moments we were gripped and engaged by a wonderful combination I have never experienced in a movie before: interplays of mythology, environment, politics. We left the film with our jaws still dropped. It's beautifully produced, amazingly authentic acting, and like nothing else you will see. The story line is very human and ultimately inspiring. I'm sorry that many people missed it at the cinema, so do get the DVD!

Buy Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Blu-Ray + DVD) (2010) Now

First I saw the trailer. Then, I saw the movie in the theater. Then, I joyfully bought the Blue Ray/DVD, which comes with both Blue Ray and a regular DVD, which I gave to a good friend of mine from Finland.

Rare Exports is a rather tense thriller/black comedy. I wouldn't recommend for children even though the movie has brilliant child actors in it. The cool thing about this film is that it wipes away the gloss and pizzazz of today's Coca-Cola Santa, and brings back the true meaning of "..you better watch out, you better not cry...". At first I was apprehensive about watching a foreign film, but after a few minutes I found reading the subtitles easy because there wasn't that much to read. A lot of action takes place with suggestion at every corner. I hate to give away any spoilers, except that you will love this cult classic and beware of shopping mall Santa's.

Thank you Amazon for shipping it quickly!

Read Best Reviews of Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Blu-Ray + DVD) (2010) Here

Looking for something off the beaten path this Christmas season? The Finnish oddity "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" might just be the cure for your holiday blues. Part fantasy, part horror, part black humor--this delightful film manages to adhere to traditional Christmas movie conventions while upending them at the same time. It's an unusually deft balance that makes this both hard edged and heartfelt. While not a perfect movie--once the main action begins, things fall rather too conveniently into place--it is distinguished by its brilliantly bold concept. And despite minor reservations, I have to award "Rare Exports" my respect for its unorthodox story line and wickedly acerbic sense of humor. Destined for cult movie status, I have no doubt that this film will perplex some viewers. But for adventurous movie lovers, I can't think of a better antidote to typical holiday fare.

Set in north Finland, the reindeer population is found dead by local herders . Maybe it has something to do with an American work crew excavating a nearby mountain. There is a disturbing legend about Santa in these parts. It seems that the jolly old fellow wasn't so jovial, but instead was quite evil. He was killed and buried in these hills according to lore and it seems that the Americans might be looking for the genuine Santa Claus. As with any good Christmas story, the protagonist is a spirited boy with a hard scrabble life. Spying on the dig, he can't believe what is discovered. But when strange and scary happenings start to consume the town, will he be able to make anyone understand the evil that has been unleashed? It's such a terrific premise, done with slow burn precision. As opposed to an all out assault on your senses, this sly film methodically ratchets up the creepiness and the macabre humor.

This is a bizarre and highly original winner. The plot twists and turns and the climax is refreshingly satisfying. The wintry locales, the propulsive soundtrack, and the good effects add weight to the narrative. But perhaps the film's greatest asset is in its lead performance. So self assured and polished, it's easy to envision this alternate world through his eyes. His relationship with his father is sweet and realistic despite the surreal feel of the picture. I loved this movie, truly, and have no doubt that it will continue to captivate more adventurous audiences as word spreads through the DVD release. For those looking for family entertainment, I would not recommend this to small children (hopefully that is already clear). But for anyone looking for a new holiday viewing tradition, check this out. This will join A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life as our yearly favorites. It's not perfect--but its sheer inventiveness makes up for any shortcomings. KGHarris, 8/11.

Want Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Blu-Ray + DVD) (2010) Discount?

Well made fantasy/dark comedy in true finnish style. The 2003 and 2005 shorts made to obtain the funding for this movie are true comedic gems and really need to be seen in order to appreciate the Finns sense of humor. Little blood and no horror. You are buying for the beautiful scenery and a taste of nordic humor.

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