The Blues Brothers (1980)

Let's get this straight -this blu-ray contains both the theatrical AND the extended cuts, for the misguided soul here (obviously NOT on a mission from God) who says stick with the 25th Anniversary edition.

And let's get this clear as well -the quality of the picture is superb, much MUCH better than the DVD. Older films have issues when you transfer them to blu-ray, no question about it, but this image is as good as it can possibly get (don't believe me? Check out Blu-ray.com for a review of it).

On the extended version the extended scenes aren't as good a quality -the source material there wasn't available and they probably transferred it from the DVD master. But it's not WORSE than the DVD, only not improved.

And on that note, IMHO the theatrical version is the one you want anyway. This is a film that does not get better when the timing gets slower -and at nearly 2 1/2 hours the extended version just drags. Watch the theatrical version first and if you are still jonesing for some more Brothers you can pop on the extended version (my guess is you will have gotten full -satiated and satisfied. And if times were different you'd kick back, light one up, pull down your shades down over your eyes and watch the cool, blue smoke drift hazily towards the ceiling and dream about getting the band back together).

Just buy it. If you say no, Elwood and Jake will come to your house for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week.

I've read the reviews on Amazon but wanted the blu-ray upgrade. Amazon's details may not be complete. The blu-ray I purchased has theatrical and extended versions on a single disc. There is a banner at the top front on my cover with says "Includes Theatrical and Extended Versions" and it is also mentioned again on the back cover. The DTS sound is outstanding on my Polk 360 home system and I don't think I am missing anything by not having lossless DTS sound. This movie looks and sounds great on blu-ray and the price is affordable. I found myself enjoying the movie and singing along with the sub-titled songs. I saw it in the theater when it first came out and here it is over 30 years later looking and sounding just as good if not better.

Buy The Blues Brothers (1980) Now

What a let down! The promise of "never before seen footage" turns out to be the same "never before seen footage" from the last DVD. The bonus materials on this disc are a joke (and not in a funny "ha ha" way). The special "Introduction to the film by Dan Aykroyd" is 23 seconds long. The "Day on the Blues Brothers Tour" is nothing more than a lame performance by the current Blues Brothers at the House of Blues. But the real insult is the featurette called "Remembering John: An ultimate portrait of John Belushi." It clocks in at 9 minutes long (including credits). Ultimate?? This is John Belushi, not Garrett Morris!

You might be reading this wondering, "So what was this guy expecting?" Well, how about an audio commentary? Perhaps some outtakes? Bloopers? Maybe concert footage of the REAL Blues Brothers on tour with Steve Martin? Why not include Blues Brothers performance footage from SNL? How about revisiting the locations made famous in the movie (the abandoned mall is still standing and still abandoned)? Instead, they chose to include John performing as the Killer Bee on SNL. Instead of a track listing booklet inside the case, they'd rather you have an ad for other "great" DVD titles available from Universal. Instead of never before seen footage, you get the same documentary, the same production notes/pictures, and the same interviews that were included in the previous release.

It's obvious that this was thrown together with little thought or effort. The Chicago Sun Times did a better tribute piece to the anniversary of the Blues Brothers than Aykroyd did for his own film.

Oh well...only five more years until the 30th Anniversary Edition comes out.

Read Best Reviews of The Blues Brothers (1980) Here

I love The Blues Brothers. This is one of the all-time great comedies; a truly epic comedy. In it's original form, it is flawless from beginning to end. Five Stars easily.

Unfortunately, this "Special Edition" dvd includes 15+ minutes of scenes. Not under a "deleted scenes" section, which would have been appropriate and very welcome, but inserted into the movie itself. To be fair, the extra footage doesn't really hurt the music scenes. But did we really need to see Elwood at his place of employment? Did we really need to see where the Blues-mobile is stored when not being driven? None of the extra footage adds anything to the movie. In fact, it really ruins the perfect pacing of the regular cut.

I truly hope Universal sees the error of their ways and reissues this film on DVD with the original cut. They could even make the added footage viewable within the movie, through seamless branching, but for the love of Pete, give us the option!!!

Want The Blues Brothers (1980) Discount?

The Blues Brothers is a true classic movie, one of the few SNL movies that is actually a good story. Joliet Jake is recently released from prison and picked up by his brother Elwood. The two discover that the orphanage they grew up in is going to be sold to the Board of Education unless they can raise $5,000 to give to the State Assesors office. The Blues Brothers try to get the money by putting their band back together and doing a few gigs. Along the way, they anger the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Nazi Party, the owner of Bob's Country Bunker, and a band from Nashville, the Good Ole Boys. This movie is great from beginning to end. The musical numbers are all great including Jake's revelation in the church, Ray Charles singing Shake Your Tail Feather, Aretha Franklin singing in her soul food diner, the peformance in Bob's Country Bunker, and finally the concert at the end including two of their best songs. As well, there is action galore from Elwood jumping a bridge with their 1974 Dodge Sedan to their chaotic ride through a crowded mall to the police chase at the end through the streets of Chicago( especially Lower Wacker Drive) and the chase up the staircase to the Assessor's office. The Blues Brothers has something for everybody and should not be missed.

The Blues Brothers are played to perfection by John Belushi as Jake and Dan Aykroyd as Elwood. The two actors are hysterical together throughout as they anger just about everybody in the city of Chicago. There are far too many lines to mention, but it is obvious that they had fun making this movie. There are plenty of musical cameos also including Cab Calloway, James Brown as a preacher, Aretha Franklin as the owner of a Soul Food diner, Ray Charles as the owner of music store, and John Lee Hooker as a street peformer on Maxwell Street. The film also stars Carrie Fisher, John Candy, Kathleen Freeman, Henry Gibson, and many more. Also look out for a very funny cameo by Frank Oz and a short appearance by Steven Spielberg. Also worth mentioning is the Blues Brothers band including Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Murphy Dunne, "Blue Lou" Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone, Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, Alan Rubin, and Willy "Two Bits" Hall. The Collector's Edition DVD offers widescreen presentation, the original theatrical trailer, a making of documentary with interviews with the cast and crew, and footage not seen since the original release in 1980. This is a great movie that all viewers will find something to like in it. Do not miss this classic!

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WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century

Like the previously released Greatest Stars of the 80's & 90's sets, here we get mini-biographies of 20 superstars who helped shape the first 10 years of the 21st Century and also a collection of matches featuring some of them, including some never before released on DVD. Its also neat how when each superstar is introduced they show some of their accomplishments, such as title wins, etc.

Disc 1

-Chris Jericho: We see how he evolved from early Y2J, his beoming the first Undisputed champion and how he's won more Intercontinental Titles than anyone in history. His return in '07 is talked about and his heel turn that revived his career.

-Edge: His run with Christian as multi-time tag team champions and winning many ladder matches is talked about, which also saw his comedic side come out. How he evolved into a singles wrestler, winning the first Money In The Bank match and cashing it in on John Cena and how he became the Ultimate Opprotunist, winning numerous WWE and World Championships.

-Triple H: How the McMahon/Helmsley era brought Triple H to new heights, his rehab from his potentially career ending injury, which led him to winning the Undisputed Title at Wrestlemania X8. His run with Evolution and how it helped him and new superstars get established and of course the revival of DX in '06. Also how he earned his spot as the main event in this decade.

-JBL: After the disbanding of the APA, JBL was born and the fans had a new villain to jeer. He quickly won the WWE title from Eddie Guerrero and held it for almost 10 months. Also how he had many controversial moments including even running some illegals from the border. How he had a run as a great commentator and that his attitude in character carried over into the locker room.

-Kane: From the moment he debuted in '97 he dominated and destroyed everyone in his path. His unmasking in '03, which led to many great moments in the coming years including his marriage to Lita and his ruining Edge and Lita's wedding in '05. Also how his in ring character helped him land the role in "See No Evil", which fit him perfectly.

-Kurt Angle: Despite his accomplishments I was a little stunned about him being included given his ties to TNA. In his first year in WWE he won the European, Intercontinental and WWE titles. He also had many entertaining moments, though there were a few too many of em like they were in my opinion burying him just a little bit. He had many great matches though including his classic against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XIX.

-The Rock: His ability to command a crowd with his persona, how he went Hollywood and became a big success. How his matches against Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania X8 and against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XIX were legendary.

-Randy Orton: How he has lived up to being a third generation superstar and how he was elevated by being part of Evolution. Shockingly they showed his winning his first world title, though his Legend Killer gimmick is mentioned more as is the group Legacy. Also how he's evolved over the years as an in ring performer.

-Brock Lesnar: From his debut to winning the King of The Ring crown to becoming the youngest WWE champion in history, all within the first 5 months. How he accomplished more in his 2 yeear run than most do in their careers.

-Decade of the Divas: Footage of Lita, Trish Stratus, Torrie Wilson, Stacy Kiebler is shown along with comments from current divas like Melina, Alicia Fox, Natalia and the Bellas. A good trip down memory lane for sure.

-Jeff Hardy: His transition from being a tag team wrestler to a singles superstar and how his risk taking moves brought him respect from the fans and fellow wrestlers. How his hard work paid off with him winning multiple world championships from late '08-the summer of '09.

-Big Show: How he was able to move very well for his size and how he just commanded the attention of fans and wrestlers alike. He's the only man to win the WCW, ECW and WWE titles. How his sense of humor is very likeable for a man as big as him.

-Eddie Guerrero: His becoming the Latino Heat character shortly into his WWE run and how fans just took to him whether he was a good or bad guy. How the "Lie, Cheat & Steal" gimmick made him even more popular with fans, and his victory over Brock Lesnar at No Way Out '04 made everyone so happy for him to win his only WWE championship. How his sudden death led to him being inducted into the Hall of Fame in '06.

-Shawn Michaels: Coming back from his back injury after 4 years, he beat Triple H in his first match back and won the first ever Elimination Chamber and also the World Title. How he continued to perform at a high level and again the revival of DX in '06 is shown. Also how he proved once again that he was Mr. Wrestlemania in all his matches from this decade.

-Booker T: His debut in WWE and how the crowd did take to him right away. How the King Booker gimmick revived his career and how he captured the World Title from Rey Mysterio shortly after.

-Stone Cold Steve Austin: The age of Austin carried over from the '90's into the early 2000's as he won the Royal Rumble in '01 for the third time then beat the Rock at Wrestlemania X7 to win the WWE title and also turning heel and joining Vince McMahon, much to the shock of the fans. After he retired from the ring he became a re-occuring general manager/hell raiser. His hall of fame induction is also shown in clips.

-Undertaker: How he has continued his undefeated streak at Wrestlemania even to this day, including winning the World Title at Wrestlemania's 23 & 24 and that his character really resonates with the fans.

-Rey Mysterio: After the close of WCW, Rey debuted in July of '02 and instantly wowed all the fans with his arsenal of moves. He also accomplished many things, including the Royal Rumble in '06, along with title wins including winning the WWE Tag Team titles with 4 different partners and the World Championship at Wrestlemania 22.

-Batista: His presence was felt almost immediately after his debut and ran through many superstars including anyone in his way at the Royal Rumble in '05 as he won it and faced his former Evolution friend Triple H to win the world title. How his rivalry with the Undertaker in '07 helped cement him as a main event mainstay. He continued to win big matches and more World titles throughout the decade.

-John Cena: From his debut match against Kurt Angle, to Thuganomics to the Champ Is Here, he has been for better or worse, the main event talent since Wrestlemania 21, beating everyone in his path and winning multiple world and WWE titles. Also how his passion for the business makes him what people tune in for, whether they cheer or boo him. He is basically, this generations Hulk Hogan.

Disc 2

-8/19/01, Summerslam, WCW Championship Match: Booker T (Champion) vs. The Rock: These two had quite the rivalry from the moment Booker T debuted in WWE and this match has a good big match feel to it. There was plenty of back and forth action and also some interference by Shane McMahon, but he gets a Rock Bottom for his troubles. The crowd is also on fire throughout the whole match, Booker does the Spin-a-Roonie but Rock hits a Rock Bottom for the win to become the WCW Champion. 8/10.

-9/16/02, Raw, Intercontinental Championship Match: RVD (Champion) vs. Chris Jericho: This was when both were in their prime shape and having the I.C. title up for grabs added a little spice to this match. RVD used his unique set of kicks, while Jericho worked on RVD's back with backbreakers and a double arm superplex. RVD goes for the frog splash, Triple H runs down and gets a top rope splash to the outside for his trouble. RVD got caught in the Walls of Jericho and tapped out and Jericho becomes the I.C. champion. 8/10.

-6/23/03, Raw, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H (Champion) vs. Kane: This was all about if Kane lost then he would unmask and he did come out full of aggression taking it to "The Game" early on. It was a good main event, though it never seemed like Kane would win the title. Randy Orton hits the ring and nails an RKO, Triple H nails the pedigree to retain his title. 8/10. The aftermath where Evolution beats down Kane, then RVD makes the save. We do end up seeing Kane unmask and he's so enraged he chokeslams RVD, which started one of Kane's best runs in WWE.

-9/18/03, Smackdown, Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship: Kurt Angle (Champion) vs. Brock Lesnar: This was easily one of the best TV main events in wrestling history and should've been the headline match of a PPV. Both of these men left it all in the ring and gave the fans something to remember for a long time. Lesnar used his power and amateur background while Angle used his obvious amateur abilities to counter Brock's moves. At 5-4 falls in favor of Lesnar, Angle has the ankle lock on Brock as the clock ticks down, but he doesn't tap out and becomes the new WWE Champion. 10/10.

-3/18/04, Smackdown, WWE Championship Match: Eddie Guerrero (Champion) vs. Rey Mysterio: These two have always meshed well together and know each other very well. Early on there's good counter wrestling and then things get a little aggressive as the tempers flare up. Eddie works on Rey's shoulder with armbars grounding Mysterio. Rey does take to the air and almost wins the title but Eddie hits a roll-up pin to retain his title. 9/10. General Manager Paul Heyman comes down and runs down both men, The Undertaker makes an appearance and ends up hitting the Tombstone on Heyman.

Disc 3

-12/12/04, Armageddon, Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship: JBL (Champion) vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Booker T vs. The Undertaker: This was the sole reason to watch the Armageddon '04 PPV and what a match it is. These 3 men had all faced JBL in the past and his actions in those matches and leading up to this one came back to bite him as each man took a turn beating up JBL early on. The rest of the match is great back and forth action as they kept making everyone wonder who would win. The only thing that brings the match down is near the end Heidenreich makes an appreance and hits a black hold slam on Taker, and pulls him to the outside locking on a cobra clutch. JBL hits the clothesline from hell on Booker for the win to retain the title. 10/10.

-1/30/05, Royal Rumble, Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship Match: JBL (Champion) vs. Kurt Angle vs. The Big Show: This match was very well done and really gave each man a chance to shine. In the opening minutes Show beats up on JBLand Angle even hitting a couple of loud loud chops in the corner. The pace really doesn't slow down, except when Show spears JBL through the barricade. There's interference from JBL's cabinet and Angle's henchmen Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns, JBL gets rolled back into the ring somehow hits a clothesline from hell on Angle to retain the title. 9/10.

-2/7/05, Raw, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H (Champion) vs. Edge: Taking place in Japan this was quite a good match, as the very beginning was actually wrestling based as both men reversed each others moves and put on a good clinic. Edge works on Triple H's back, while Hunter worked on Edge's shoulder. While the ref is down, Batista hits the ring and nails a spinebuster on Edge, then Triple H hits the pedigree to retain. 8/10. The post match segement where Batista holds up Triple H's hand and looks at the World title and stares down Hunter is total gold.

-9/17/06, Unforgiven, WWE Women's Championship Match: Lita (Champion) vs. Trish Stratus: Trish's final match and it's a good one. Lots of "Thank You Trish" chants. The match itself is a fitting end to Trish's career, good back and forth offense, by both ladies. Trish makes Lita tap out to the Sharpshooter in about 12 minutes. Major league pop for the move and the finish. Good post match with the fans and WWE staff around the ring thanking Trish and her thanking her all of them. 9/10.

-2/5/07, Raw, Triple Threat #1 Contenders Match: Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels: A good solid main event that had a good feel to it as Orton and Edge try to take Shawn out early in the match. This was more about Shawn getting his chance to again be in the main event of Wrestlemania and he gets his chance when Edge hits the spear on Orton then Shawn superkicks Edge for the win to become the #1 Contender and thus facing John Cena at Wrestlemania 23. 8/10.

-2/15/07, Raw, Eight Man Tag Team Match: Batista, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker & John Cena vs. Mr. Kennedy, MVP, Edge & Randy Orton: Multi-man matches are hard to pull off but this is an exception as it flows very well and really established the main event title matches for Wrestlemania 23 even more. In the end Shawn hits Sweet Chin Music on Orton for the win. 9/10. The aftermath where Taker and Batista beat up both Shawn and Cena is quite good too.

-4/1/07, Wrestlemania 23, World Heavyweight Championship Match: Batista (Champion) vs. The Undertaker: Wow how this wasn't higher on the PPV card I'll never know but these two delivered big time in a match where the animal gave it his all to end the streak but in the end Taker hits the Tombstone to become the World Champion. 10/10.

Whats on this set is good but WWE dropped the ball big time not including more matches or moments on the first 2 discs, especially when disc 1 only had like 100 minutes of footage. But the matches on here are quite good, nice to see rare ones from Raw and Smackdown, I just wish they had filled up the discs a little more.

The 21st Century (so far) has seen a bunch of changes in the "WWE Universe" from the name "World Wrestling Federation/WWF" not longer existing to WWE not having direct competition from WCW/NWA for the first time in decades but one of the biggest thing is the arrival of new superstars along with the elevations of others which WWE put together what they see as the top superstars in the past decade here. Now this release is no different than their previous DVD sets in this format (Top 50 Superstars, Greatest Stars Of The 80's & 90's) where WWE has a list for the subject at hand with various talents from the past & present commenting on the superstar's careers while showing video packages of their career but this DVD set doesn't have a host & is only narrated by a voice over while showing a list of what their top 3 highlights of the previous decade were before their chapter. It should also be noted that all the interviews & comments on here were taken for this set with none being reused from previous projects as we hear from various people such as Josh Matthews, Santino Marella, Billy Kidman, The Miz, John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingson, Arn Anderson, Matt Striker, Melina, Alex Riley, Alicia Fox, The Bella Twins, Kaityln, Natayla.

Here are some highlights from the profiles on this DVD:

Chris Jericho Becoming the first Undisputed Champion, record breaking reigns as Intercontinental Champion, his heel turn in 2008, being "the best in the world at what he does."

Edge The innovator of the tag team ladder matches, his ability to entertain, the first Money In The Bank winner & becoming the "Ultimate Opportunist", WWE's own "rock star."

Triple H The McMahon/Helmsley Era, his quad injury in 2001, returning from injury to win the Royal Rumble & the Undisputed Championship, his runs in the groups Evolution & D-Generation X

John "Bradshaw" Layfield His ability to be hated as a heel, being the "Wrestling God", being the longest reigning WWE Champion in SmackDown history, becoming a color commentator

Kane His dominance after debuting, his infamous unmasking, being a monster, the "See No Evil" movie.

Kurt Angle Wrestling's first Olympic gold medalist, his successful rookie year, the ability to entertain, being a wrestling machine, his WrestleMania matches against Brock Lesnar & Shawn Michaels

The Rock His crossover appeal leading to a Hollywood career, his WrestleMania matches against Hollywood Hogan & Stone Cold, his level of charisma & ability to entertain

Randy Orton A third generation wrestler, his run in Evolution, becoming the "Legend Killer", being the youngest World Champion in history, The Legacy with Ted Dibiase & Cody Rhodes, becoming the new anti-hero as "The Viper"

Brock Lesnar Winning King Of The Ring & the WWE Championship, being "The Next Big Thing", his athleticism with his size & strength

Divas Various highlights & discussion of Trish Stratus, Lita, Torrie Wilson, and Stacy Keibler.

Jeff Hardy The Hardy Boyz tag team, his daredevil in-ring style, unique charisma, winning the WWE/World Championships

Big Show Being a dominate giant, his multiple singles & tag team championships, being the first to hold the WWE & WCW/World & ECW Championships, his humorous side

Eddie Guerrero His "Latino Heat" character, "Lie, Cheat, Steal", multiple championships, winning the WWE Championship, his death, WWE Hall Of Fame

Shawn Michaels His return in 2002, winning the first Elimination Chamber match & becoming World Champion, best in-ring performer, D-Generation X, "Mr. WrestleMania", WWE Hall Of Fame.

Booker T Ending WCW as World Champion, winning King Of The Ring, rebirth as King Booker

Stone Cold His dominance in the 90's, 3 time Royal Rumble winner, WrestleMania X-7 vs. The Rock, his feud with Mr. McMahon, WWE Hall Of Fame

Undertaker Resurrection at WrestleMania XX, winning his first Royal Rumble, the WrestleMania streak, ability to captivate the audience

Rey Mysterio Innovative lucha libre offense, biggest underdog, multiple title reigns including World Championships

Batista His run in Evolution, winning Royal Rumble & World Championship, "The Beast Unleashed", WrestleMania 23 vs. Undertaker

John Cena His "thuganomics" character, facing all the top stars, mixed audience response, his crossover appeal.

Matches Include:

WCW Champion Booker T vs. The Rock This was The Rock's return to PPV since his WrestleMania match months earlier. Both men traded momentum back & forth with Shane McMahon trying to get involved early on only for it to work against Booker as the fight went to to the floor & into the crowd at one point. Booker was able to gain the advantage & kept breaking the momentum whenever Rock tried to build it. Shane kept getting involved which finally caught up to him thanks to some people who's business he got involved in earlier in the night before Rock took care of Shane himself. This was a fun match to watch.

SummerSlam '01

[The Rock: The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment]

WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho Jericho dominated early before RVD was able to catch him in mid-air with a dropkick & his "vintage" legdrop over the top rope. RVD's back was worked on by Jericho with such moves as the double arm suplex off the top while RVD kept resorting to his kicks. They've had better matches (check out Unforgiven '01) than this one was this was still a nice encounter.

"Raw" Sept. '02

World Champion Triple H vs. Kane Kane was the most dominate that we've seen on him in a very long time here as he had control over Triple H including throwing him into the steps at one point while constantly sitting up from Triple H's offense & even able to fight off interference from Ric Flair as well. This was another case where they've had better matches but this was still a nice match but what happened afterwords is what this match is remembered for more than anything else.

"Raw" June '03

Iron Man Match: WWE Champion Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar Before I get started, it should be noted that this match is completely unedited which means that we get the complete match without the commercial breaks from start to finish. Brock Lesnar made his intentions clear in the first few minutes from attacking Kurt before the bell, faking injuries to get cheap shots in, the way he lost his first fall but gained a heavy advantage throughout the rest of the match because of it that he was going to do anything to regain the championship. Kurt stuck to his gameplan of out-wrestling Brock which we saw early as he kept tossing Brock to the outside only to get him more frustrated each time while during the match & later even going out of his usual playbook with aerial offense such as a missile dropkick from the top. Both men started to get more aggressive with their various moves as the match went on such as Brock using Kurt's own anklelock & Angle Slam while Angle later executed an F-5 of his own into the ringpost, an F-5 on the floor, back to back german suplexes including one release one that flipped Brock inside out, the steel steps coming into play at various times, and Brock's impactful powerbombs & superplex. This was a wrestling clinic & one of the best ironman matches (if not THE BEST) in WWE history.

"SmackDown" Sept. '03

WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio It should be noted that Rey had just finished wrestling two previous matches before getting his title shot against Eddie. Rey was able to use his speed to keep an advantage over Eddie with monkeyflips & head scissors along with an aerial assault of a springboard moonsault to the outside. Eddie focused on Rey's arm with an armbar & various hammerlocks along with other impactful moves like the superplex & tilt-a-wirl backbreaker. This was definitely a great quality match for television but stay tune afterwords as the then-SmackDown General Manager Paul Heyman had some words for the entire roster that didn't set well with one "deadman."

"SmackDown" Mar. '04

[Viva La Raza: The Legacy Of Eddie Guerrero]

WWE Champion J.B.L. vs. Undertaker vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Booker T This was J.B.L.'s worst nightmare as he had to face everyone that he cheated out of the WWE Championship throughout the year as champion at the same time & knowing he was the "odd man out", he tried to avoid everyone early & sneak in when he was able to steal a pin before eventually getting caught & everyone took turns beating on him while Eddie & Booker were working together during the match before one decided to go for pin. This match had it's highlights such as Eddie bringing a ladder into play, Booker side kicking everyone in sight, all four men brawling on the outside, people being put through the announce tables, Eddie's back to back to back frog splashes with the third one being off the ladder, and the appearance of someone who had a big issue with another person in the match. This was a very fun fatal four way match.

Armageddon '04

WWE Champion J.B.L. vs. Big Show vs. Kurt Angle Angle & J.B.L. were both walking into the match sore from competing against each other in a Last Man Standing match on the previous SmackDown and knowing this, Kurt stayed outside early in the match so Show could focus on J.B.L. while Kurt would only get involved when breaking up a pin. Show would eventually get his hands on both men & dominate causing Kurt & Show to resort to other tactics like teaming together & brawling on the outside including putting Big Show through a table and later delivering the biggest angleslam ever seen. This was a good triple threat match that was full of non-stop action.

Royal Rumble '05

World Championship Triple H vs. Edge This was Edge's first World Title shot after turning heel months earlier in what was a rare "heel vs. heel" match during WWE's first RAW from Japan. Triple H worked over Edge's shoulder after throwing it into the post twice followed by an armbar takedown while Edge countered by attacking Triple H's back with a suplex on the floor, backbreaker & a unique submission called the "Edgecator." The pace picked up as the match went on with counters like Triple H countering the spear with his high knee & a chair being brought into the ring before fellow Evolution member Batista came out and taking the chair out of the ring before he became the deciding factor in the match. This was a good quality match here as it's rare that Triple H & Edge meet in a one on one match.

"Raw" Feb. '05

WWE Womens Champion Lita vs. Trish Stratus This was held in Trish's hometown of Toronto & made it clear that this was to be her final match before going into retirement causing the crowd to heavily react to chants of "Thank You Trish." Trish took the fight to Lita right away including doing her vintage Air Canada off the apron to the floor & pulling off her handstand head scissors various times on Lita. There was one point where both women were fighting on the top turnbuckle only to fall with both landing hard on the floor while Trish took another nasty bump to the floor later on with Lita was able to counter the Stratusfaction before Trish ended the match with a move that always sparks a reaction in Canada before Trish ended her career & walked out of WWE as the champion (where have I seen that before?)

Unforgiven '06

Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge This was to determine John Cena's challenger for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 23 while it should also be noted that Shawn & Cena defeated Edge & Orton the week earlier to win the World Tag Team Championships. Orton & Edge, also known as Rated RKO, worked together against Shawn with the only way for Shawn to survive was attempting to divide & conquer with one guy being tossed out of the ring while Shawn fought the other causing moments like Orton to keep being knocked into the announce table. Edge & Orton's alliance eventually fell apart when both men broke up the others pin attempts allowing Shawn to capitalize on it. This was a good TV match for RAW.

"Raw" Feb. '07

John Cena, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker vs. Rated RKO, Mr. Kennedy, M.V.P. This was an usual setup as the babyface team were opposing tag teams for the main event of the upcoming No Way Out teamed up here...with each member of the tag teams set for the PPV were actually the champion & challenger for the WWE/World title matches at WrestleMania. This was a fun 8 man tag match as there was non-stop action & everyone in the match having their moments to shine but the part to pay attention to was toward the end where the eventual miscommunications between the partners caused "all hell to break lose" after the match.

"Raw" Feb. '07

World Champion Batista vs. Undertaker Taker's Undefeated Streak vs. Batista's Title and I'll be point blank honest, this was the match that should have ended the show. This was Batista's best showing since he returned from his injury as he stepped up his game & didn't show any lack of effort like most of his previous performances. This was a classic "big money" WrestleMania match & the match of the night for me as you saw the crowd off the chain throughout the bout & even moments where it looked like Batista was going to end the streak & one spot to look out for would be Undertaker's big dive onto Batista. It's ironic that this was the 20 year anniversary of WrestleMania 3 but Undertaker walks out of his WM the same way he did 10 years earlier...as a champion.

WrestleMania 23

(Blu-Ray) WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H vs. J.B.L. A great main event as I personally like the elimination rule in triple threat/fatal four way matches more than the "first one who gets the pin/submission wins" stipulation. This match started off wild with all four men facing off against each other but after the first two eliminations in Cena & JBL, Triple H & Orton delivered a match that rivals their No Mercy encounters as their best match against each other before the King Of Kings went back on his throne. Moments to look out for here was JBL & Orton trying to "out heel" each other from the opening with Orton & the World Title to when each guy was in a submission hold while the other taunted him.

Backlash '08

(Blu-Ray) World Championship/Scramble Match: Batista vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kane vs. J.B.L. vs. Chris Jericho This was really just an average match with everyone getting their typical spots in throughout the match with the only noteworthy performance being Batista's as he stared with J.B.L. & once again showcasing effort into adding to his wrestling style by working on J.B.L.'s knee & even using the figure four. The ending however saw Batista pinning Kane to become the "temporary" champion before he turned his back to counter an attack from Mysterio while Jericho sneaked in a pin over Kane after Batista did all the work & win the title after the time expired. Although some people would say it's stupid for Jericho to win the title right after losing a match because he was knocked out, if you actually watch how the ending happened...it all makes sense.

Unforgiven '08

(Blu-Ray) T.L.C. Match: World Champion Jeff Hardy vs. C.M. Punk This match was very similar to how Edge & Jeff Hardy had their ladder match months earlier in that this wasn't a non-stop spotfest more than a match where they used the weapons to make moves more high impact & trying to tell a story. It's a TLC match so all elements were used as expected along with various moments such as Punk slamming Hardy onto an open chair to the backrest hit his spine, Hardy missing a splash & crashing through a table on the outside, Hardy reversing Punk's running knee kick/bulldog combination into a toss to the outside table, and of course Jeff Hardy being the human highlight reel with the swanton bomb that you have to see to believe...and I still didn't believe I saw it when I was there. This was a great one on one TLC match from both men while what happened to end the show was probably just as shocking as we saw another WWE return & great way to end the show.

SummerSlam '09

[Best PPV Matches 2009-2010]

The only feedback I have on the documentary is that the "divas" chapter shouldn't have been limited to just those four girls because you can't deny that females like Victoria & Mickie James & Melina & Beth Phoenix had made their presence felt in the "21st Century" as far as the divas go but past that, it was what you would expect for this type of project & well put together. The other things I was very disappointed with the bonus extras or lack of as normally on a 3 disc set, you get around 8-9 hours total of everything but this presentation only ran for around 6.5 hours which is around the length you would get for a 2 disc set so WWE had plenty of space on this set to add stuff that they didn't do in favor of the Blu-Ray release. Normally we get either bonus footage of interviews or segments but we didn't get any of that here while there were no matches featuring two of the profiled wrestlers in Steve Austin & Jeff Hardy when, again, they had plenty of room to add them (Austin wasn't even added on the Blu-Ray). If you look up the time length for the Blu-Ray presentation, it equals the amount of time you normally get for the 3 disc set. I'm happy we got some rare unreleased matches from free TV with a small amount of repeats from other sets on here but in the end, normally you get a great presentation with the normal DVD release & get more bang for your buck with the Blu-Ray edition but this is a case where it seemed like WWE put more effort into the Blu-Ray than the regular edition so the Blu-Ray is what I would go look for as your getting your money's worth & more.

Buy WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century Now

Disc 1

Signature Open

Ground Breaking Superstars

Chris Jericho

Edge

Triple H

JBL

Kane

Kurt Angle

The Rock

Randy Orton

Brock Lesnar

Decade of the Divas

Jeff Hardy

Big Show

Eddie Guerrero

Shawn Michaels

Booker T

Stone Cold Steve Austin

The Undertaker

Rey Mysterio

Batista

John Cena

Disc 2

WCW Championship Match

Booker T vs. The Rock

SummerSlam 19th August, 2001

Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam

Raw 16th September, 2002

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Triple H vs. Kane

Raw 23rd June, 2003

60 Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship

Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar

SmackDown! 18th September, 2003

WWE Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio

SmackDown! 18th March, 2004

Disc 3

Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE Championship

JBL vs. The Undertaker vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Booker T

Armageddon 12th December, 2004

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship

JBL vs. Big Show vs. Kurt Angle

Royal Rumble 30th January, 2005

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Triple H vs. Edge

Raw 7th February, 2005

Women's Championship Match

Lita vs. Trish Stratus

Unforgiven 17th September, 2006

Triple Threat Match Winner Faces John Cena For The WWE Championship At WrestleMania 23

Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge

Raw 5th February, 2007

8 -Man Tag Team Match

John Cena & Batista & Shawn Michaels & The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton & Edge & Mr. Kennedy & MVP

Raw 15th February, 2007

World Heavyweight Championship Match

Batista vs. The Undertaker

WrestleMania 23 1st April, 2007Great listing! I am excited for this release!

Read Best Reviews of WWE: Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century Here

I enjoyed the 80's and 90's one. but this one is a good one to get if you grew up with the 2000's wrestlers and like to see matches from that time again.

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This movie is great! :-)

We enjoyed watching it and there were lots of great superstars. The title says it all.

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Bridget Jones's Diary (2011)

Dissatisfied at age 32 with the direction her life is taking, a young woman vows to make some changes, and to keep herself on track she decides to start a daily journal, hoping it will make her toe the line, in "Bridget Jones's Diary," directed by Sharon Maguire and starring Renee Zellweger. Bridget (Zellweger) begins with some New Year's resolutions that include no more drinking or smoking, not being paranoid about her weight, and developing poise. And-last, but not least-to avoid any romantic attachments to alcoholics, workaholics, peeping Toms or perverts. Of course she promptly falls for the one man she knows who embodies all of those characteristics: Her boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). In the meantime, her mother, Pam (Gemma Jones), continues to play matchmaker for her daughter. At a holiday gathering of friends and family, Pam nudges her in the direction of an old childhood chum, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), now a respectable attorney, and recently divorced. Their initial meeting, however, proves to be a less than monumental event, further complicated by the fact that Cleaver was Darcy's Best Man at his wedding, and has some tales-out-of-school to tell about the subsequently ill fated marriage that puts Darcy in a rather bad light. But Bridget could care less; she thinks Darcy is rude and a bore, and anyway, Daniel is her guy. Work is good, her life is going well and-as she is about to wake up and realize-she hasn't kept a single one of her resolutions. And, oh! she should have.

First time director Maguire proves with this auspicious debut that she certainly knows her territory and how to negotiate it. She has the touch and the eye for detail of a seasoned professional, and her sense of timing is impeccable. She successfully avoids a major pitfall that do in many rookie directors right out of the chute, by never fishing for the cheap, forced, disdainfully pretentious or concocted laugh. Everything in this film, especially the humor, flows freely and naturally from the circumstances of the characters and the story, which makes it all real and believable and allows it to be readily embraced by the audience. This is a funny, often hilarious movie, but it's also very warm and at times poignant, and for handling it so sensibly, and with such sensitivity, Maguire deserves to be granted even more kudos. It's quite simply an exceptionally well made film, presented with a style and grace that reflects that of the director herself.

Of course, having a superlative leading lady was certainly not disadvantageous to Maguire's efforts, either, and Renee Zellweger has never been better than she is here as Bridget. With her quirky good looks, personality and charisma, she is endearing, and she invades Meryl Streep territory by affecting a perfect British accent. Whether she's lip-syncing to a Celine Dion song, doing karaoke at an office party after having a bit too much to drink, or battling with a blender, it's easy to believe that someone would like her just the way she is. Even with her hair mussed, or in a somewhat disheveled state, she's alluring, and it all has to do with who she is deep down inside; Zellweger makes it clear that this is a woman of substance, and it's easy to like her. There's a down-to-earth honesty and accessibility about her that makes her appealing, and she's someone to whom many in the audience are easily going to be able to relate. For her portrayal of Betty in "Nurse Betty," Zellweger received a Golden Globe; "Bridget" should land her smack in the middle of Oscar territory.

As Bridget's smarmy boss, Daniel, Hugh Grant turns in a noteworthy performance, putting a rather tarnished sheen on his natural charm that works so well for this character. It's a nice departure from his usual bumbling, reserved Mr. Nice Guy routine he perfected in such films as "Notting Hill," and "Four Weddings and A Funeral." With this role he challenges Greg Kinnear's part in "Someone Like You" for the top spot in the Boss-You-Should-Never-Date category. And Firth does a memorable turn as Darcy, fairly reprising his role of the same name in the PBS miniseries, "Pride and Prejudice," from which this story is loosely derived. Initially appearing a bit sullen, he gets the chance to develop his character as the story unfolds, and he does it quite nicely, ultimately revealing Darcy's true nature.

In a supporting role, Gemma Jones gives a performance that deserves mention, doing a good job of fleshing out Bridget's mother in the brief time she is allotted. Rounding out the supporting cast are Crispin Bonham-Carter (Greg), Jim Broadbent (Colin Jones), James Callis (Tom), Sally Phillips (Shazzer), Honor Blackman (Penny), Embeth Davidtz (Natasha), Shirley Henderson (Jude) and Celia Imrie (Una). A warmly humorous, uplifting film, "Bridget Jones's Diary" is a delightful and satisfying experience with more than a touch of magic in it. Not only is it an entertaining showcase for Zellweger's many talents, but heralds the arrival of a director from whom we can expect great things in the future, Sharon Maguire. A well crafted, reality based comedy/drama that is enjoyable and refreshingly devoid of inane nonsense or gross jokes is a rare find these days, and this is one of the best to hit the screen in a long, long time. It's a film to be heartily embraced, and one I guarantee you'll want to see more than once.

Renee Zellweger does a fabulous job of portraying Bridget Jones. You would never guess that this great accent came from a Texan. At the age of 32, she is unhappy with her unmarried status, and everyone constantly throws it in her face. She is interested in her boss Daniel Cleaver, but knows he is not the type of man that she should see. When she meets Mark Darcy (a set up by her mother), they dislike each other immediately, and the fact he hates Daniel is just a bonus. The comedy that follows is just hilarious.

This is a very entertaining movie. Hugh Grant sheds his normal good guy persona to be the guy you love to hate. He is very effective in the role switch. Colin Firth is just plain loveable. This is a movie to pull out and watch again and again.

Buy Bridget Jones's Diary (2011) Now

I saw this movie, kicking and screaming, when my younger sister foisted it upon me. Thinking that it was going to be another Gen X piece of claptrap, I gritted my teeth and prepared myself for what I erroneously thought would be a waste of time. Was I ever wrong! It turned out to be a sublime cinematic experience.

Renee Zellweger is definitely the star of this film. She positively twinkles! She is absolutely marvelous in the role of Bridget Jones, our single, thirty something, English Holly-Go-Lightly. Employed as a somewhat graceless publicist, the plump and perky Bridget enters into an affair with her caddish, handsome, sexy boss, winningly played by the ever charming and debonair Hugh Grant.

Meanwhile, her mother has introduced her to an attorney, the stiff-necked Mr. Darcy, played to taciturn perfection by Colin Firth. Even though they were once childhood playmates, he and Bridget do not initially click, and it is not love at first sight, as Bridget's mother had so hoped. Bridget goes on her merry way with her boss, unaware that he is two-timing her. When she discovers his perfidy, it is too late, as she already fancies herself in love with him.

Mr. Darcy, however, re-enters the picture, and what happens is a thing of beauty to watch. The film is very funny. Rene Zellweger as a Brit is totally believable. She is so good that she would even fool the Queen into believing her to be one of the Queen's own subjects. Without a doubt, this is one of Ms. Zellweger's best roles to date, and she is positively delightful. Moreover, Sharon Maguire's directorial debut is certainly noteworthy, as she shows signs of a deft comedic touch in her direction. This is simply a terrific film. Bravo!

Read Best Reviews of Bridget Jones's Diary (2011) Here

I cannot rave enough about 'Bridget Jones' Diary'! It is so marvelous that finally there is a woman conveyed on film who's got a real body and has problems she's trying to control, and she can still get the man of her dreams.

Renee Zellweger does excellent as a thirty-two year old singleton who is having problems with cigarettes, alcohol, and men. Her mother is constantly trying to set her up and the latest is Mark Darcy, who has recently gotten a divorce. But Bridget has other ideas and is soon flirting with her boss (not to mention making a total fool of herself, but that's why we love Bridget!)

Nonetheless, the story is very sweet and enduring. And it is HILARIOUS! I haven't laughed this much at a movie since 'Meet the Parents'. I just loved the fact that this movie had a smart heroine who wasn't afraid to mess up and to just be herself. And it's nice to finally see Hugh Grant as a real bad guy instead of his usual roles. And I loved Colin Firth. This movie is definately a must-see! Bridget rocks!

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American Renee Zellweger did it. She made a convincing Brit. She also looked fabulous, even though she had to gain weight for the role. I loved this movie. The script was a well-done adaptation and it is very fun to watch.

I was very surprised by the performance of Hugh Grant. He typically gets cast in the romantic lead role, playing some sort of charming, bumbling idiot that you can't help but fall in love with. This movie, he actually tries something different. He still plays an idiot, but this time he's the sort of idiot you love to hate. It's a nice change. And, if there are any of you out there who hate Hugh Grant, this is the movie for you--there is a particular scene that you'll love (but I don't want to ruin it for you).

Colin Firth also does a marvelous job. His character is probably one of the most interesting in the movie (aside from Bridget herself). He progresses in a way that you don't really expect from the beginning, and it's rather nice. I love Colin Firth.

If you're in a bad mood, this is a great movie to see. It fits the romantic comedy mold, but it's good to watch even if you're not a fan of that genre. It's great fun.

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Manilow Live

Can't say that I was a big Manilow fan. Bought this DVD because I enjoy all kinds of music, and the other reviews sounded good. The surprise for me, was how many of the songs I knew, but had forgotten. The quality of the DVD, both sound and video is very good, and Barry Manilow does put on a great show! Almost felt like I was at in Vegas. I recommend this one highly. If you're over 50 you can't go wrong. If you're younger take a listen, and enjoy someone who really does know how to "write the songs that make the whole world sing."

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Repo! The Genetic Opera (2009)

This movie is amazing! The scenes are very creepy and unsettling, but at the same time very appealing and artistically beautiful. Even if you hated the music or plot, which I didn't this movie alone for the scenery is worth a buy.

Now about the music. At first I was uncertain of how to feel regarding their musical numbers, and by the third song I was hooked. The lyrics in this are comedic at times, other times serious, and actually nearing the end there is a song that I think is pleasant, "I Didn't Think I'd Love You This Much," is the name of the song I believe. The vocals of lead Alexa Vega are great, strong, and defined. Even Paris Hilton surprised me as this is the first time I have heard her vocals, and it reminded me some some old school goth rock cd I'd listen to in high school. Finally, Sarah Brightman. What can I say about Sarah that anyone doesn't already know? Musical Wise, she was nothing short of spectacular.

Acting wise, I'm a big junkie for Bill Mosley and it was fun to see him pull off the comedic cult character he portrayed. Paris, actually did great acting, it surprised me how great Alex Vega did considering I had never seen her attempt anything like this, and I was surprised that Sarah Brightman could be as dark as she was in this movie. The casting meshed well and it was fun to see such big names in a movie that hadn't hit theaters in my area.

Art wise, the scenes were mind-blowing. There are scenes where there is much cgi used, but overall it looks good, and that's saying a lot for me considering I hate cgi. Also, the make up was great with good effects, example, if the box hadn't said Paris was in this I doubt I would have recognized her until the end.

Overall, I rarely say this.... But I wish I could give this a higher rating then a 5 star. I will be buying the soundtrack as soon as I complete this review. Repo! Will be played a second time tonight for my posse... Yes, it was that good.

Three, count 'em, three (!) songs from Repo! The Genetic Opera are being considered for Academy Award nomination. That shows how amazing this film is. Sadly, Lionsgate does not consider this film to be all that amazing, and is not doing anything to support this nomination. Generally, a film company would send letters and sample DVDs to the Academy members, promoting their film. Lionsgate, however, is run by a bunch of idiots and they are not doing this. So, it is up to the fans to promote Repo! Here are the three songs that are up for the nomination:

"Zydrate Anatomy"

"Chase The Morning"

"Chromaggia"

Set against a futuristic backdrop where an epidemic of organ failures is plaguing humanity, people turn to the unscrupulous Geneco Corporation to purchase replacements for their failing vitals. Not everybody makes good on their payments, however, which is where Nathan Wallace (Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) goes into action as one of Geneco's "repo men", brutally reclaiming defaulters organs at scalpel-point.

I loved it! It's basically a very stylized, horror rock opera. I was a little worried about Alexa Vega and Paris Hilton being lead characters in it, but Alexa Vega was marvelous, and Paris Hilton was basically being herself (an heiress to a multibillion-if-not-more-dollar company who's obsessed with fashion and thinks she's capable of singing), so she couldn't really go wrong. Her character didn't sing much either, so you don't really have to hear much of her voice. The songs are incredibly catchy and well written, and the actors had the voices that really brought the songs to life. Imo, the best songs are "Zydrate Anatomy," "Infected," and "Legal Assassin." There wasn't as much gore as expected, but the gore in the movie was great. Lots of someone being cut open and then the Repo Man reaching into his/her abdomen and taking various organs.

I've read/heard a lot of complaints about the film saying "oh the story's too complex and weird!" or "the lyrics were awful and poorly written!" You know what? The movie's called Repo! The Genetic Opera. "Opera" being the key word here. The melodrama and crazy story lines are a staple of classic operas! The story line is just like many classic opera story lines. I read someone's comment that the only opera aspect missing is a mistaken identity, which I find to be totally true. Weird lyrics are also a staple of classic operas. I mean, come on, they sing EVERYTHING in operas. Even "oh no, I've dropped my hat" gets turned into a ridiculously emotional song.

Overall, I loved this movie. The cast was great, the songs were great, and the style of the film was really interesting. I loved the nods to classic opera as well.

Final Verdict: 10/10

Buy Repo! The Genetic Opera (2009) Now

Seemingly forever destined for cult status, Repo! The Genetic Opera is something you have to see to believe. A Goth-themed rock opera directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, & IV), Repo! tells the tale of a future, Blade Runner-inspired world where massive worldwide organ failures have led to the rise of GeneCo; a biotech company run by Rotti Largo (Paul Sorvino) that lends out organs to those that need them. Failure to pay in full however results in a visit from the Repo Man (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Anthony Stewart Head), who has no qualms about getting his hands dirty (and bloody) as he takes them back. As the story moves on, we learn of Repo Man's sickly beloved daughter Shilo (Alexa Vega) who learns of some deep buried secrets, and Largo's heirs Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton), Luigi (Bill Moseley), and Pavi (Skinny Puppy's Ogre) who are all warring to be left in charge of their sickly father's empire. The film moves along at a pretty brisk pace, even though its story doesn't always manage to catch up to it. The film's music is spectacular, and the cast (even Paris Hilton believe it or not) is wonderful as well, as Bousman quickly shines well above anything he's ever done with the Saw series. Also featuring Sarah Brightman, Repo! stage vet Terrence Zdunich, and a quick cameo from Joan Jett; Repo! The Genetic Opera is made to be a pure cult classic through and through, and though it definitely isn't for all audiences, the film stands as being something special regardless, and is wholeheartedly worth a look at the very least.

Read Best Reviews of Repo! The Genetic Opera (2009) Here

A few years ago I went to see Rob Zombie's directorial debut "House of 1000 Corpses" and I remember driving home not knowing what the hell I just watched. I wasn't sure it was actually any *good* but I knew it was different. I had that same feeling tonight after watching "Repo! The Genetic Opera."

It is what it is, operatic but with a distinct goth/rock feel. Very little of the dialogue is spoken, it's mostly sung. The look of the whole thing was a mishmash of "Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Moulin Rouge," "Blade Runner" and the Nine Inch Nails music video for "Hurt." So visually it was arresting to be sure.

I didn't like it at all at first, the first 20 or so minutes was pushing me to just turn it off but it grew on me......somehow.

The film's plot (if you can call it that) is we're in the not-too-distant future where the world has seen an epidemic of organ failures and one company offers something of a cure-all. They specialize in organ donors but the catch is if you fail to make your payments, they send a repoman to reclaim the heart, kidney, whatever from you....forcibly.

Obviously there's a strong horror movie vibe going on here with some macabre imagery (and a dash of sci-fi thrown in) and having everything played out in these grand operatic gestures dressed up in trashy goth outfits.....well......it's different. Certainly not something for everyone but I'm willing to bet "Repo! The Genetic Opera" will find a very loyal cult following.

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Everything the acting to costumes and songs are fantastic!

This film is wonderfully paced and a bunch of the songs like Chase the Morning and At the opera tonight are really catchy! another highlight would be Sarah Brightman's role as Blind Mag! Her Performance is so subtle yet very convincing you can't help but feel for her character!

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Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Movie Only Edition Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is the fourth feature film by British director Stephen Daldry. Daldry emerged in 2000 with his beautifully written drama Billy Elliot. He followed with progressively less impressive efforts (The Hours and The Reader) but still gave a decent effort with every new try. This film is written by Eric Roth (the writer of Forrest Gump and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and produced by mega-producer Scott Rudin (No Country for Old Men). The film is based on the book of the same name (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Movie Tie-In): A Novel) by Jonathan Safran Foer and stars Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman and Jeffrey Wright. The film centers around a young boy who lost his enigmatic father during the tragic events of 9/11 and his meticulous search for the lock a key found in a vase belonging to his father opens.

The film opens with a jumper off the twin towers referencing the tragic leaps to death made by people as they grasped a hopeless situation. Oskar Schell, the son of a jeweler (played by Tom Hanks), remarks throughout the film, his experience of "The Worst Day." Thomas Horn, the young actor who plays Oskar, does a more than admirable job with his performance. He gives emotional bursts of energy with each new scene, giving off the shattered hope and sky-rocketing guilt of his fruitless searches to become closer with the memory of his lost father. Sandra Bullock gives one of the most honest performances of her career as a wayward mother searching for her composure of an out of control situation. Max von Sydow, a seeming vestige of hope, breathes new life into the film halfway in with his muted dialogue disseminated by pen and pad. Tom Hanks, great as always, plays a dynamic and involved father.

The emotional depth of the film is immense with every heartache truly felt especially with just one image of the towers collapsing. Stephen Daldry weaves together his most compelling drama since 2000's Billy Elliot and in much more morose surroundings. Very few, if any, document that tragic day with such intensity and shows what it means to be affected by the day that will truly live in infamy. The criticism of the film demonstrates that some people may not be receptive to the material because it's too difficult to revisit or possibly too melodramatic to tolerate. Understanding that every filmgoer's experience is fundamentally different, I couldn't help but be affected by the film possibly in a way that the people next to me or the people who have watched the film had not been. At first I didn't not understand it especially as the elephant of the room seemed to be based on an unfair estimation.

The elephant in the room with this melodramatic rendition is that question of exploitation. Some critics and Amazon reviewers have voiced the opinion that the film exploits the events of 9/11 for financial gain and cheap dramatic effect. The problem with such logic is that several films have been made over the years depicting real life tragic events such as Titanic, Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, and many of these films were not viewed as exploitive. Did depicting the tragedy of Pearl Harbor or the Titanic soil the memory of those who died? Were the sacrifices made by the servicemen in World Trade Center and members of flight United 93 trivialized by depicting them in World Trade Center and United 93 respectively? Absolutely not. What those films did as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close does, is to put the viewer in the shoes of those experiencing the tragedy and giving a greater understanding of what that event was like not to mention what it meant to those involved.

Criticize the film if it's too melodramatic or if the young actor is too annoying. Maybe the tone is uneven or the premise is emotionally manipulative. However, calling the film exploitive applies a double standard not applied to films of the same nature making the whole argument flimsy at the least. If unable to understand that, realize that the film sets out to present 9/11 through the eyes of a young child and demonstrates the psychological, sociological and emotional confliction not to mention the guilt involved with the main character who is a de facto representative, emblem or figurative reference of surviving family members of 9/11 victims. It gives those who didn't truly experience the event for what it was a chance to understand it in both the short and long-term sense. And sometimes, cinema is a medium for emotion and can be as this film proves, as powerful as the human heart allows it to be. My understanding of the criticism of this film is that there are some hard hearts and closed minds on the issue of 9/11 and ability to express it in a cinematic setting, which is unfair.

I'm a born and bred New Yorker. I was five months past my 13th birthday on September 11, 2001 and the event went completely over my head. I was too young to understand the magnitude of the event and what it meant for the country or even the world for that matter. It was something I was unaffected by. I knew no one who was in the tragedy, affected by the tragedy or killed in the tragedy. I even knew of no one who knew of someone who was remotely related to the tragedy. In many ways, I did not feel it because I was a kid who could not relate to death as a concept or tragedy as a reality. Ten years later, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close brought me to the tragedy and allowed me to the first time relive the event and process it emotionally, something I couldn't do ten years ago. Despite the unpleasantness of it, I truly appreciate the film for allowing me to relate to the tragedy in a way I never could have under any other circumstance. If this film can do that for one person, then it's less exploitive than you think.

A Boy's Quest in EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE

Ambitious in concept, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the love story of a troubled boy whose bond with his father transcends death and events beyond his understanding. Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliott, The Hours) has put together an interesting study in post trauma and rediscovery. It doesn't always work, but it still registers on an emotional level.

A funeral signals the death of a family member and a boy's alienation to the world. In flashbacks, Oskar (Thomas Horn), who has trouble communicating and may have Asperger Syndrome, adores his father (Tom Hanks) who challenges him with riddles and treasure hunts to meet people outside his apartment. Both father and mother (Sandra Bullock) are loving parents, and the world becomes an interesting laboratory for exploration and discovery. Life is idyllic until 9/11 when everything changes and Oskar is witness to his father's last moments trapped in one of the Twin Towers. A year later, looking in his father's closet, he discovers a key in an envelope with the letters `black'. Who or what does the key belong to? Oskar sets out to find out by systematically tracking down every `Black' in the phone book and visiting each person for a clue. This big scavenger hunt is at best a daunting task.

His grandmother who lives across the street has a mysterious renter (Max Von Sydow) who does not speak and can only communicate by jotting on a note pad or displaying `yes' and `no' written on each hand. The renter takes a liking to Oskar and accompanies him on his quest. This is a search that proves overwhelming as each person they find has a story too. When all hope seems lost, the road leads back to that fateful September morning and opens Oskar to the truth about his parents and himself.

At first you wonder if this hunt will be meaningful and be rewarded or if it is a waste of time. Oskar's obsession keeps him connected to his father; to fail is to lose whatever he has left of that relationship. In a way, it is about trying to make sense of his father's death and coming to terms with it. It is also about the forgiveness of guilt that nearly consumes Oskar.

You kind of think that at some point a miracle may occur or that something profound may happen, but what does reveal itself does not quite answer all the questions, and maybe that's just the point to the film, that life is part mystery and we never truly understand its riddle.

When you take stock of all the people that Oskar encounters, you realize that every one of them can sympathize or has suffered some kind of loss, and how they react to that in relation to Oskar shows how the trauma of loss can be a common bond. You wish you could learn more about some of these people.

Von Sydow gives a memorable performance without uttering a word as the renter who has a personal, family secret. Why does he remain mute? Was he a survivor of something so traumatic like the concentration camps of Europe that he does not speak? In a supporting role, Viola Davis is effective playing a character who figures prominently at the beginning and the end.

In the end, Oskar has learned something about himself and his family, and through his journeys, he has matured in a new post-9/11 world. Ultimately, the revelation at the end is bittersweet and that without the power of forgiveness, closure is incomplete. It also speaks to a part of humanity that we all share.

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Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) shares an incredibly close relationship with his father, Thomas Schell (Tom Hanks). Oskar is an extraordinary child who has some very particular social quirks. His list is rather extensive and it's revealed that he was once tested for Asperger's Syndrome. However, Thomas Schell spends a great amount of time with his son and does everything he can to help him overcome his fears. However, on September 11, 2001 as the world changes forever, tragically so does the life of Oskar and his mother, Linda (Sandra Bullock), as Thomas was in the second tower of the World Trade Center when it fell. Linda attempts to move on with life, but Oskar refuses to move forward. A year later, he accidently destroys a blue vase while rummaging through his father's closet and discovers a key in an envelope simply marked "Black". Thomas constantly played games with Oskar and led him on journeys around the city, hiding clues and prizes in the most unexpected places. Oskar is convinced the key is a gift left behind by his father to send him on one last adventure. Determined to find the door the key unlocks, Oskar begins a systematic search of the city, trying to locate the person with the last name "Black" who will be able to help him solve the mystery. Along the way, Oskar becomes acquainted with a man his grandmother has been renting a room to. The man seems to have no name and is simply known as "The Renter" (Max Von Sydow). The Renter is a survivor of WWII and reminds Oskar of his father. The two become unlikely companions and friends as they search the city to unravel the mystery of the key.

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE is based upon a 2005 novel by Jonathan Foer. I've not read the novel, so I can't compare the movie to the book.

The movie is an extremely moving piece of cinema. It goes to places that the audience might not suspect. The movie has a satisfying ending, but it's not necessarily a happy one. Like life, Oskar's journey doesn't turn out exactly as he had hoped. However, like all journeys, it changes his life forever.

The acting in EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE is amazing. Tom Hanks plays a small, but important role. Newcomer Thomas Horn is so powerful that it's difficult to believe this is the first time he's ever acted on film before. Sandra Bullock has a strong supporting role that is worthy of a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Max Von Sydow speaks no lines, but his eyes speak more and convey more emotion than the most well trained politician. John Goodman has what is basically a cameo as Stan the Doorman, but it's always a joy to watch Goodman perform, even in a role such as this. There are numerous smaller roles in the various Blacks that Oskar meets. Most of these characters are only on screen for a few brief moments but each of them ground their scenes in realism. EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE is a good movie that is made great by the acting performances. If for no other reason, it's worth watching for the acting alone.

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE is a very emotional movie. For Americans, particularly those who lived and worked in New York on September 11, 2001, it will probably have a different kind of reaction. However, though the story is told through the lens of September 11th, the film is really a story about a young man coming to grips with the unexpected death of his father. It's a film that will probably resonate with anyone who has lost a parent they were close to. I cried several times and the film really made me think about my own Dad and his untimely death. I left the theatre thinking about many of the memories I have of my Dad. It made me a little sad, but very grateful. In the future, I'm sure that EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE is a movie I'll watch whenever I'm sad and thinking about my Dad because I know that though it might cause a few tears, it'll cheer me up in the end and, like Thomas Schell and my own father, encourage me to not stop looking for whatever adventure life holds.

Read Best Reviews of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Movie Only Edition Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Digital Copy) (2012) Here

Most of us in this country, indeed most of those in the civilized world, has a memory of where they were and how they felt on September 11, 2001. Many, of course, have painful and permanent losses to deal with. For myself, we were far from home on that day, and I truly felt that something of our world had ended. Which, in fact it had. So when it was announced that there would be a movie, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which would touch on those tragic events, our first response was, "No, we don't think so." Then we learned who was to be in this movie, and the cast included so many of our favorite actors: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Max von Sydow, John Goodman, people we felt we could trust to do such a subject justice, and we said, "Well...." Then we learned more about the story of the film (and story is everything, to us) and we asked ourselves, "How could we not see it?"

And I'm so very glad we did. Everyone is predictably excellent. The story is beautifully done, and at the same time simple and deeply layered. The child actor makes you believe he is dealing with the personal problems of the child character. These problems would be unique and difficult enough, if they did not also include the loss of an incredible father under horrific circumstances, and you share the pain of this family of grandmother, mother and son, while the story is told from so many different directions. Being one of those who cry at Hallmark commercials, I am always loathe to see any movie or play or read any book that wants to make me cry. But this movie is not like that. I did just fine throughout the entire story, experiencing it intensely but dry-eyed. Until the end. Until I got to the point where I could fully appreciate the efforts this family made to move forward, the grace with which they and the families they represented dealt with what they were given. Until I could see the wonder of the story.

It was terrible in the parts that invoked the events that we already knew had happened; it became wonderful beyond my power of description because of a boy on a swing. And then I wept.

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I rented this movie with some trepidation. I read the book several years ago and it was one of my all-time favorites. I was afraid (especially with the negative reviews here on Amazon) that it would not only fall below my expectations but it would ruin the beautiful story I remember from the book. I was so wrong. This was a great movie!

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Dead Man (1996)

How unfair is it that Tim Keogh of the Amazon.Com organization gets to lead off the list of reviews for this movie by stating "This disappointment from Jim Jarmusch stars Johnny Depp in a mystery Western about a 19th-century accountant named William Blake, who spends his last coin getting to a hellish mud town in Texas and ends up penniless and doom struck in the wilderness." I don't know if Tim was busy stuffing his face with popcorn but he makes three erroneous statements in this first line of his totally off-base review.

1) This movie is not a mystery! 2) Johnny Depp spends his last coin buying whiskey. 3) The "hellish mud town" of Machine is on the West Coast not Texas. (After all, it would take a while to ride by horseback from Texas to British Columbia where the Coastal Indian Tribes were located).

You may be asking yourself why I take issue with such mundane details? The answer is obvious to prove the point that Tim Keogh wasn't even watching this movie, and therefore, has no right to review it. Simply put, Dead Man is a cinematic masterpiece! Jim Jarmusch has made a number of strong movies, but Dead Man surpasses the others as a brilliant work of art.

You can see by reading the other reviews that support for Dead Man borders on fanatical. There are few movies that I have watched repeatedly but I continue to see this one over and over again. Everything about the film is different from the conventions of Hollywood mass consumption "fast-film". The story unfolds in a slow and methodical manner and requires much attention on the part of the viewer. If you invest in it, Dead Man will repay you many times over.

If you liked Forrest Gump and The Sixth Sense then you can go see another mindless mainstream movie with Tim Keogh and the majority of the ignorant American public. If you need more than that . . . buy Dead Man. I'll bet you watch it more than once!

I'm not allowed to refer to another person's review here, but at the time of this writing, Amazon.com was posting a review of this movie that was clearly written by a person who was raised in Disneyland. This is one of the best movies ever made. Chicago Reader calls it an Acid Western and rates it "masterpiece". It compromises to no filmmaking convention. It's hardly possible to review it without giving away important aspects of the film the viewer should experience for her/himself. The movie is not a story, even though it's told through a story. The evolution of William Blake from innocent Cleveland accountant to a symbol (for English-educated Native American reject Nobody, played by Gary Farmer) for poetry itself; the tiny little worlds of late-19th-century white Western of-necessity survivalists, and the effects these little worlds had on Blake; the hilarious campfire scene with Iggy Pop and Billy Bob Thornton (and a third person -can't find out who), and the dying beauty of the natives; the brutal innocence of the disenfranchised Nobody whose illusions (or were they?) propelled Blake to his -future ... I was completely immersed. There is only one thing wrong with this movie. I love Neil Young, but, unless I'm missing some important symbolism, his score could have been more, well, varied. There are not many movies I want to own but this is one.

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I did not see Jim Jarmusch's "Dead Man" when it first played in theaters, in large part because of the many negative reviews it received. Roger Ebert (who I admire) all but dismissed the film with his lowly *1/2-star rating. Ebert was a champion of Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise", so I trusted him and avoided the movie. But now, having seen "Dead Man" on video, I feel many of these critics (who may have been expecting a traditional Western) were unfair in their judgements. This is a movie serious filmgoers should not miss.

Johnny Depp stars as William Blake, an accountant from Cleveland who travels west with the promise of a job. This westward journey the basis for so many other movies is not, however, seen as something positive (Blake, in fact, is warned early on that the Western town of Machine will only offer him a grave). Things do not start off well. He arrives to find out that the accountant position has already been filled. He tells the office manager (John Hurt) that he wants to speak with the owner. The owner (played by the late Robert Mitchum) is, unfortunately, no more sympathetic and forces Blake to leave.

Without enough money to return, Blake befriends a young woman who (like him) has had her romantic notions of the West crushed. She makes paper flowers, because a real flower would never be found in the ugliness of Machine. She shares her bed with him and is shot by her lover (Gabriel Byrne). Blake is also shot, but kills Byrne and escapes on his horse. He is soon found by an Indian named Nobody (Gary Farmer) who tells him that the bullet is close to his heart, so he is already a "dead man". The two take off together and Mitchum (Byrne was his son) places a bounty on Blake's head.

"Dead Man" is an anti-Western, in the same tradition as Robert Altman's "McCabe & Mrs. Miller". But the film, which is shot in beautiful black and white by Robby Muller, is unlike any Western I've ever seen. There's a poetic quality to the film. Blake is told that he shares the name of a great British poet not by any of the white people in the film, but rather by the Indian Nobody (who believes he IS the poet).

The movie is very much pro-Native American and I admired the film for pointing out some unpleasant facts: like the fact that a million buffalo were slaughtered as a means of wiping out Indians (buffalo was one of their staples). Blake witnesses such a slaughter even before he's left the train.

And while I suppose this message could be found in "Dances With Wolves", I found "Dead Man" to be the better film.

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Every time you watch this film, it reveals some more of its character. Is this a western, a road movie, a black comedy, surreal art or just something to look at while you listen to Neil Young's eerie sound track? To find your own answers you must watch it yourself.

Set in the late nineteenth century, we see Johnny Depp playing William Blake, a young accountant who gives up his sheltered life in Cleveland to head out to the Wild West. He has a job offer from a manufacturing company owned by John Dickinson (Robert Mitchum) in a lawless town called Machine which is literally, "the end of the line."

The film starts with his train journey out to the west and we see him becoming gradually more uneasy as the civilised East turns into the rough and dirty West. All too soon he is in Machine where he finds out that the job has gone to another man bacause Blake took too long in getting there. Out of money, he ends up in bed with Thel Russell (Mili Avital) the prettiest girl in town. When her boyfriend arrives, Blake's troubles get worse. After the ensuing gunfight, Blake flees, mortally wounded and leaving two bodies behind him.

The father of the dead boyfriend, Dickinson again, hires a group of killers to catch Blake. Also, he calls in the Marshals and posts public rewards. Since this is a road movie, Blake needs a buddy and he teams up with Nobody (Gary Farmer) an outcast Native American who just happens to have a passion for the poems of the more famous William Blake. Nobody accepts Blake as the embodiment of the real poet and assumes, because the the poet had already died and the man he sees now is slowly dying, that Blake must seek a place to die and return to the world beyond.

Nobody sets out to help and guide him on his journey. They must dodge the bounty hunters, marshals and citizens who want the reward and along the way, Blake turns into a man who can kill without remorse.

Surreal barely describes the people that they meet and, generally, kill on the way. There is a lot of humour ranging from Nobody's observations of European "civilisation" to the constant sniping (figurative and literal) between the three bounty hunters sent to kill Blake.

Shooting the film in black and white and using a soundtrack that is just a constant guitar presence rather than a set of songs, gives the film a outward appearance that well matches the content.

Many people will doubtless find this film deeply unappealing or offensive but they will be missing a movie that is as refreshing and stylish as anything else from the nineties.

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... but it's obviously not for everybody. I, for one, found the acting, cinematography, setting, soundtrack and story to fit perfectly. This film just falls into place. It's most definately a sum of its parts. My favorite thing about this movie, is that it's filmed in black and white. I read one review where they wrote "filmed in black and white for no reason". Wrong:

1) As cliche' as it sounds, it adds to the films ambiance.

2) It's a film that takes place in the early 19th century. It captures the vintage setting. Schindler's List was filmed in black and white for this same reason.

3) It's haunting. The whole film is surreal, and the black and white helps set the mood for isolation.

But, whatever. It boils down to this: Ignore all the reviews here. Even the good ones. Rent this movie, at least, then see if you like it or not. I can promise that the good majority of you will love it.

Contempt (Le Mépris) (1963)

This is,without a doubt, one of the best films ever made by Godard and his cinematographer, Raoul Coutard.

The Criterion Collection transfer is impeccable sharp focus, well-balanced primary colors, great sound.

The Blue-ray disc (not from Criterion but Lionsgate's Studio Canal label) is a major disappointment on just about every level especially with the color levels. There appears to be a yellowish cast to everything. No hard reds, blues, yellows or greens.

Skin tones are dull and gray. It seems to have been made from completely different elements, with no reference to the original intent, or even the Coutard approved transfer.

At least it was not panned and scanned, about the only thing in it's favor.

If you have the Criterion version already keep it.

The "up grade" to Blu-Ray is NOT an improvement.

One of Brigitte Bardot's few high brow films is an amazing modern Space Age parable of the Homer's "Odyssey" in which innocuous writer Michel Piccoli allows sleazy creep producer Jack Palance (his best film, hands down) have his way with wife BB...she feels nothing but contempt for Piccoli for his apathy... I'm with her...the screenplay to the proposed film is supposed to be about the death of romance between Ulysses and Penelope in Homer's "Odyssey", but life imitates art when the romance between BB and Piccoli rots away due to Piccoli's wimpy attitude toward Palance's lecherous advances towards his wife...then again, Palance clearly reperesents commerce......

This is a superior film to "Breathless", IMHO, .. the film is total eye candy, if not due to the awesome BB, then by the gorgeous locations...

Godard really deserves more credit, he's a consummate filmmaker......Breathless, Alphaville, First Name Carmen, Band of Outsiders...

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Camille: "Then you love me totally."

Paul: "I love you totally, tenderly, tragically."

Such is the story of Camille and Paul, whose lives we watch slowly unravel in tender tragedy. This is a movie to be watched and to be felt; to be understood by the part of you that has struggled to change an unchangeable love or the part of you that has felt the urge to desecrate your own life simply out of restless need to feel something new or understand something raw.

To begin with, Godard takes insoluble feelings of love/hate/restlessness/desire/contempt and weaves it under a thin layer of lives, which as you watch, cannot be seen directly but is clearly felt. He foregoes standard cinematic technique/storytelling criteria as he drops changing color filters over Bardot's introductory nude scene and compares the raging emotions of man against the widescapes of the still ocean and skies (as is seen in particularly breathtaking shots rotating around Greek statues with eyes painted in bright red against a backdrop of bluish white skies and a tortuous finale to which Godard himself yells "Silence!" and cuts to the motionless sea).

On top of this, the musical score done by Georges Delerue has been called the most beautiful score ever heard. It is repeated throughout the movie and it comes and goes unpredictably, like the asthmatic attacks that life often unveils at times not necessarily warranted. Altogether, this movie is an honest replication of feelings that course through all of us during the best of times and the worst of times.

Read Best Reviews of Contempt (Le Mépris) (1963) Here

"Contempt"(1963) is directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film is interesting in that it encircles a given second in time when Camille Javal (Brigette Bardot) looses her love for Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli), unlike most films that would follow a linear progression from love to contempt. When Paul realizes his error it is too late and from then on he is constantly seen out of sync with Camille.

As with many of Godard's films this one is also about a film within a film, or a film about film. Fritz Lang (Metropolis, M) acts the part of a director late in his life who is forced to compromise himself to commercial film in order to make a living. Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) is the American producer who is only concerned with making money and showing off his female actors assets just as Godard was asked by his producers with respect to Bardot. The movie Fritz Lang is making is an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey that Paul is hired to rework so as to make it more commercially viable. The classical characters of Penelope, Odysseus and Poseidon parallel Camille, Paul, and Jeremy. Paul seems to understand and relate his predicament with Camille to Penelope interpreting that Camille has lost her love for him because she believes that he has tried to leave her, just as Odysseus left Penelope for many years to journey the world because he was possibly trying to avoid her. Whether this is true or not, Paul only half heartedly tries to regain her love for him which only serves to further widen the rift between them. Camille never really comes out and says why she has lost her love for him and we are left trying to put the pieces together wondering if this is merely a lover's game or not. There is a curious balance between Paul's interest in her, and his indifference to her, that inevitably seems to push her away from him. Maybe she is just too young for him, or he is not stimulated intellectually by her, we don't know, but she is instinctively repelled by this indifference which crystalized at that moment, that second, when Paul seemed to push Camille to ride alone with Jeremy on the short drive to his house.

This is the French release of the film which is multilingual with English subtitles, as opposed to the American or Italian releases which were dubbed. This is also the full 103 minute version, whereas the Italian version was cut down to 82 minutes. The restored print looks very good overall with only a few blemishes. The blu-ray disc is in 1080p with CinemaScope 2.35:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 may sound a bit brash to some ears but this is evidently how the film has always sounded, and I merely had the volume adjusted down a bit from where I normally watch a film. There are many special features, such as an introduction by Colin MacCabe, and a couple of documentaries about the film: "Once Upon a Time There Was...Contempt", and "Contempt...Tenderly". There is also a conversation with Fritz Lang, and in "The Dinosaur and the Baby" a discussion between Fritz Lang, and Jean-Luc Godard, as well as a booklet with an essay by Ginette Vincendeau.

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What a great movie that is and i saw it 20 times. This is a great transfer with the original movie opening (credits) for me this is the perfect movie ever made, Brigitte Bardot is rather gorgeous and plays Camille in a very passive way, the movie is full of rich colourRed Blue and White, a very intelligent movie and i like the movie inside the movie, A great Cast too Michel Piccoli playing Brigitte husband, Fritz lanf playing himself as the great Film director and Jack Palance playing the american producer . The movie was shot in Capri and the music is simply

haunting. For me this is the perfect movie, and it feeds all my senses, great photography by Raoul Coutard, stunning Location and a very stunning Brigitte Bardot who can prove that she was rather a good actress.THE EXTRAS ARE AMAZING TOO, A VERY RARE DOCUMENTARY MADE ABOUT BB "PAPARAZZI" SHOWING A PURSUED Brigitte. and a couple of interesting interviews of Fritz Lang and Jean Luc Goddard. IF YOU MUST BUY A GODDARD MOVIE THIS IS THE ONE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION. SIMPLY INTELLIGENT AND THE OPENING SCENE Of BB AND Piccoli (when she asked him if she likes her body and ...) is a very arty nude scene added by goddard to please the american producer.One of BB BEST MOVIE ALONG WITH THE TRUTH (Made by Clouzot).I LOVE IT !!!

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