White Squall (1996)

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

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

A

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

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

Mat Perrin, esq.

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

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The Girl Next Door (Unrated Edition) (2004)

There is a point in "The Girl Next Door Unrated Edition' (which I received and promptly devoured, extra's and all, in one sitting) where the movie is in danger of changing in tone and focus from American Pie to Showgirls, but luckily for the movie and viewers it recovers itself and ends in a definite teen comedy spirit.

I never saw this movie in the theater so I cannot comment on what has been added to this "unrated edition" but there is certainly quite a lot of nudity, but nothing involving the main actors. There are some graphic scenes at a strip club (including lap dancing) and we get shots of one of the main actors watching a porn video at home. There are some nude scenes from behind of both principal actors Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert, but as Hirsch points out on Side B of the disc (where most of the extras are located) the movie used a stand-in for those shots.

I have a word of caution regarding the list of extra's on the Amazon page. One is titled a scene specific commentary by Hirsch and Cuthbert. What we have here though is not a commentary for the whole movie from the two stars, but rather several scenes on the flip side of the disc in which the two actors both give separate commentary.

Largely (and unjustly) ignored at the box office this teen comedy starts of really well and within the first few moments had me rolling with laughter. The movie starts with a montage of sorts, we see the jocks, brains and cheerleader-types all stating, for their entry in the yearbook, what they "will always remember."

Then there is Matt (played by Hirsch) who is pondering this question. Sure, he has had a successful academic career as illustrated by his acceptance to Georgetown but he really hasn't done anything memorable in his senior year of high school.

That's about to change for Matt though with the arrival next door of Danielle (played by Cuthbert), who plays a breathtaking beauty house-sitting for his neighbors.

Entranced by her Matt is unable to stop himself from watching Danielle undress in the window opposite his bedroom but he is spotted. From that moment he is on a rollercoaster ride. Danielle, amused and evidently attracted to Matt, shows him the excitement of living on the edge, from running naked through the streets to moonlight skinny dipping in his school principal's pool.

Just as everything seems to be going so well between Matt and Danielle, Matt is shocked when one of his best friends Eli (who is a connoisseur of porn movies and full of in-experienced sex advice) shows one of his porn movies in which Danielle is the main star.

Foolishly following some of his friends advice, the two part company and moments later the movie changes tack and takes on a decidedly darker and more serious tone as Matt becomes sucked into the shadowy world of the pornographic movie industry.

What follows is both inventive and highly amusing. How will Matt afford to get into Georgetown? What will become of Danielle? These are just some of the questions in this entertaining movie that borrows heavily and liberally from a number of the John Hughes movies of the 1980s and the AMERICAN PIE movies of more recent years. The movie ends on a high note in a conclusion that is both satisfying and enjoyable.

Now onto the part that most readers of this review are more interested in the extra's. On Side A of the disc we have an OK director's commentary from director Luke Greenfield and an at times amusing and at other times fascinating trivia track.

Then on Side B of the disc we have the aforementioned seven to eight scene specific commentaries from Hirsch and Cuthbert (Hirsch curiously has one more) and deleted and extended scenes with optional directors commentary. None of these scenes are of any particular value to anyone but completists or fans of the movie. They add nothing to the feature, but do have a curiosity factor to them. They also chose the better of the two endings also.

Of more interest is an amusing featurette in which actor Chris Marquette (who plays Eli in the movie) poses as a porn producer and lures in all too interested men (there'e a cute blonde on the bed afterall) who get decidedly less interested (for the most part) when the girl is replaced by a big burly guy.

We are also offered a stills gallery and a VERY short gag reel as well as trailers for a couple of other like-minded movies in addition to one promotional trailer for several other Fox titles. There is also a trailer for THE GIRL NEXT DOOR with the subtitle `Dirrrty,' which in reality isn't really that much of a big deal.

All in all, this is a good and entertaining movie, it seems to lose its footing half way through but successfully and engagingly returns to top form before the final credits roll. This is a definite must-buy for fans of the movie and the genre and certainly great entertainment

The honest answer is no.

And that is extensive to the unrated version of the movie.

Why? Ok let me se...

For a movie that is only 5 or 6 years old, the transfer shouldn't look older than it does. The transfer is just a modest upgrade of the less-than-reference quality picture included on the original DVD.

Too much noise/grain and inconsistent color levels are the main offenders here, with the occasional edge enhancement creeping in as well. Night time and indoor scenes have the most issues, but our first reveal of Cuthbert in a wet, white shirt looks near-perfect, picture-wise. Colors are mostly set to a permanent dull hue, and in some instances are muddy, which is surprising given the quality of most Fox offerings. Trust me, this isn't blu-ray quality.

So if you have the DVD version of it, stick to it and don't change it for the Blu-ray version, you can even find a DVD unrated adaptation of it, plus you won't loose money on it!

As for the extras and unrated part:

The 16 Deleted or Extended Scenes are definitely worth watching. You have a play all option with commentary from director Greenfield. One scene featured actress Amanda Swinton losing it when she had to put a condom on Klitz, who wore a fencing mask to do the scene. She struggles to keep a straight face and loses it at the end. Most were cut for pacing purposes, which is a shame, because a lot of these scenes had moments of genuine emotion that really humanized the movie. We also get the original ending that get this Greenfield cut because people at the test screenings thought Matthew was in the White House when he's standing in front of the Capitol Building...anyways...

The movie's first trip on Blu comes with most of the bonus content present on the unrated SD release.

* Audio Commentary by Luke Greenfield

* Scene Specific Commentary by Emile Hirsch

* Scene Specific Commentary by Elisha Cuthbert

* "The Eli Experience" Featurette

* "A Look Next Door" Making-Of Featurette

* Gag Reel

* Deleted and Extended Scenes (Including the Original Ending)

* Theatrical Trailer, "Dirty" Edition

The only extra missing from the previous SD release is the Pop-Up trivia track, but viewers aren't missing much. The stand-outs here are the director's commentary and "The Eli Experience" featurette. The unrated version is nine minutes longer, but they are nine minutes that do nothing for the movie but increase its running time, and pad it out with an extra few seconds of nudity. So for you people, that means the disc gets the DVD equivalent to a Cable Ace award.

"The Eli Experience" is a riot. Chris Marquette, who plays Eli, goes to the Adult Industry Expo, held during CES, and mingles with the porn stars. In a Howard Stern moment, hulking ex-pro wrestler Matt 'Horshu' Wiese walks up to men at the expo asking them if they want to make out with him. Man this has to be seen!

As for "A Look Next Door" is a standard making-of EPK, and the Gag Reel runs three minutes long as features many on-set screw ups. It's funnier than most gag reels, but it's not worth a repeat viewing.

The movie isn't awful, but you would think the Blu-ray version is better than it really is. The direction is component, but unremarkable, the performances are fun but not unified, and the Blu is one of the weakest catalog titles Fox has released on the format so far. Watch the movie; it's acceptable rainy day entertainment. But don't trade in your DVD for the supreme BD experience, because it is not there. Ironically, most of us wouldn't have seen the movie in the first place if they didn't agree to casting Elisha Cuthbert.

Buy The Girl Next Door (Unrated Edition) (2004) Now

Teen comedies always turn up big business at the box office, this is generally due to the fact that the creative forces behind these movies include plenty of crude humor, sex, and nudity as can be allowed under the MPAA ratings system. Most of the time these teen comedies are a dime-a-dozen, opening big and fading shortly thereafter, with little lasting appeal with audiences. However, there have been some successes in the genre that have had more staying power than others, examples would be "Animal House", the `Scary Movie' franchise, and the `American Pie' series. With those examples of successful teen comedies, they all have some common traits in which they share, basically they are packed full of sex, nudity, and crude humor and language. However, one thing these examples of successful teen comedies, and even the unsuccessful ones lack is any amount of heart or soul in the story. In 2004, Fox Studios produced yet another teen comedy to appease the masses for a short while, "The Girl Next Door". Starring Elisha Cuthbert (TV's "24") and an unknown lead actor named Emile Hirsch, "The Girl Next Door" would stand out from the other teen comedies that have come before it or even after it, for this movie contained the one thing that I said was lacking in those others, that is heart and soul.

"The Girl Next Door" is the story of 18-year-old Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch), a straight-laced, overachieving, good boy who has never really lived life to the fullest. That is, until he spies his incredibly sexy neighbor (Elisha Cuthbert) changing in the window, and finds that through his desire to be with her, he will do anything and everything to be with her. But, Matthew gets thrown for somewhat of a loop when he discovers that his perfect `girl next door' is actually a former porn star, who is trying to forget about the life she used to lead. Now, Matthew's sheltered life quickly begins to spin out of control as he attempts to help his new girlfriend leave the life she knew to embrace the life she longs for.

The reason I feel this movie is far and above those other teen comedies I listed, some of which I enjoyed by the way, is like I said earlier "The Girl Next Door" contains plenty of heart and soul in its story. This movie isn't simply about having sex, yes there is that obligatory teen comedy element in this movie, but this movie is actually about the discovery that sex isn't the only thing to look for in a relationship with someone. To prove that point the main character in the story, Matthew, who by the way is played perfectly by Emile Hirsch, is forced to learn that to have a true meaningful relationship with a woman, he must get past his lustful desire to only want the physical body, with no regard for the emotional side of the woman. A lesson he has to learn the hard way, and it forces his character to mature throughout the story, until finally he is able to have a committed relationship with this `girl next door', as he discovers that she is more than just a beautiful woman, and former porn star, and in fact that she is a person with real feelings. And all she asks of Matthew is that he move past her former life and see her for who she truly is.

The writing in this story is better than most contained in this type of movie, generally the story is fairly thin, and is pretty much there to link each crude joke to the next or to bridge the gap between sex scenes; however, in this movie the story is the main focus, yes there are the crude jokes and a couple of sex scenes, but the story isn't simply a minor plot device to get the audience to these obligatory teen comedy sequences. The actors all do a very good job of bringing their characters to life, and appear to be enjoying themselves immensely with the roles they've been given. Elisha Cuthbert and Emile Hirsch share a great chemistry that helps to elevate this movie to almost a romantic comedy level, instead of just teen comedy. Timothy Olyphant ("A Man Apart" and "Scream 2") makes several appearances throughout the film as a shady porn producer, and he manages to steal almost every scene that he's in, and actually provides Matthew with some rather sage advice, though inadvertently I might add.

If you are a fan of teen comedies, but are perhaps tired of the same old thing, then check out "The Girl Next Door", I promise you it is more than your average teen, gross-out sex comedy.

"The Girl Next Door" is available in both rated R and Unrated editions, both contain language and sexuality/nudity.

Read Best Reviews of The Girl Next Door (Unrated Edition) (2004) Here

this movie is the perfect blend of teenage immaturity and perversion we have all come to love thanks to movies like american pie and likes. it has your average high school student makes good grades, president of the student council, etc. who falls in love with the lady who is housesitting his neighbors house...he falls in love with her only to find she is a porn star, and things go downhill for him from there. this is a movie to be watched not as a teenie bopper flick but seriously, it has a perfect blend also of comedy and drama. fans of the american pie type of movies, and fans of porno both should love this one, it will go down in history.

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Before I saw The Girl Next Door, I expected it to be a typical raunchy teen sex movie. After watching it, it has become one of my favorite movies, if not my favorite. It is a love story and a comedy rolled into one.

Emile Hirsch plays Matthew Kidman, a high school senior who is an excellent student and all-around nice kid, but he's kind of nerdy and hasn't really done anything memorable all throughout high school. This changes when he meets his new next-door neighbor Danielle, played by Elisha Cuthbert. Danielle is gorgeous and Matthew instantly falls for her. Soon after spotting her, he sees her undressing through his window and can't help but watch. Danielle catches him watching her and becomes angry at first, but soon it seems as though she has fallen for him too.

Danielle is a former porn star, which Matthew does not find out until his friend Eli (played by Chris Marquette) shows him a video with her in it. To further complicate things, Danielle's former producer/ex-boyfriend Kelly (played by Timothy Olyphant) shows up one day and wants Danielle to return to the adult film business. Kelly and Matthew get along well at first, but this changes when Matthew tries to get Danielle to leave the porn industry, which Kelly does not like one bit.

Eli and Kelly are two characters that really steal the show in this movie. Eli is Matthew's nerdy high school friend who is horny all the time and obsessed with sex and hot women. He had some of the funniest lines in the whole movie. Kelly (the porn director who used to work with Danielle and also used to date her) is the cool, wise-ass guy who cracked me up in just about every scene he was in. I couldn't decide whether to love him or hate him-he is a cool, funny guy when him and Matthew are friends, but when Matthew makes him angry, he becomes psycho and violent.

I do not want to give too much away in this movie, but Danielle gets Matthew to do things that he never imagined he would do. It really is a case of opposites attracting: Matthew falls for Danielle's wild adventurous side, and Danielle falls for Matthew's innocence and purity. In several scenes, you can tell deep down that Danielle really is a good person, she doesn't really want to be in the porn business, and she really cares about Matthew. Matthew feels the same way about Danielle and puts himself in many risky situations for her. This movie was so touching that I cried in a couple parts, and I don't cry easily. Yet there were also parts so funny I couldn't stop laughing (mainly the scenes with Eli and Kelly.) Definitely worth watching and way under-rated.

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Maverick (2011)

As of this writing (May 28, 2011), Best Buy exclusively sells the Blu-ray release of the 1994 western/comedy/action movie "Maverick"--and the BD is definitely a huge improvement over the DVD video and audio. If you own the DVD of this movie (and have watched it on a large-screen, HD TV), you know that the DVD transfer was simply awful--almost unwatchable due to the heavy grain and other video defects.

The upgrade to Blu-ray is definitely worth the additional purchase price (less than thirteen dollars at Best Buy). It's like watching a totally different movie. The BD video is sharp, skin tones are perfect, and the color saturation is rich (but still looks natural). I rate the video transfer as 8/10--a solid transfer, especially for an "older" film. The audio is equally impressive--almost like watching a new release.

The film itself is, of course, quite entertaining--wonderful cast (Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Colburn, James Garner, Graham Greene, and Alfred Molina), breath taking cinematography (filming took place at a number of scenic locations in the American West including Yosemite National Park, the Columbia River in Oregon, and the Arizona desert), a crazy plot (it's basically a comedy involving a big poker game aboard a fancy river boat--but there is plently of action), cameos by a number of country western singers (who perform a fantastic rendition of "Amazing Grace" as the ending credits roll) and a PG-13 rating, so the whole family can watch it.

This upgrade to Blu-ray is highly recommended!

Maverick is a hilarious, enjoyable and fun film to watch and bears well over several viewings. Of course, how could this film have missed given its cast; Mel Gibson, James Garner, Jodie Foster, James Coburn and a whole slew of other stars to include an outrageously funny cameo by Danny Glover. The more interesting thing here is that James Garner played Brett Maverick when it was a television series many moons ago and he had turned down many film scripts for this one where he didn't even play the lead. Maverick is a big hit and all involved in making this fine western/comedy deserve all of the accolades they received for it!

The premise:

Bert, oops I mean Brett Maverick (Mel Gibson) is a card playing and fast drawing hustler who is on his way to good old St. Louis for a huge poker tournament. His main problem is that he's three thousand dollars short of the entry fee so he decides to stop in another town and play another round of poker in the hopes of picking up some of the three thousand he needs. This is where he meets Annabelle Branford played by the ever beautiful Jodie Foster. Mrs. Branford's beauty is matched only by her desire to pick up the money to enter the big poker game as well. Not too long afterwards we meet Zane Cooper (James Garner) who is a lawman of some fame and he just happens to be going the same way as Maverick and Mrs. Branford. What follows is most definitely one of the most hilarious westerns ever made. I would highly recommend this film to any and all fans of the stars and this genre.

Special Features:

Production notes: This particular DVD is "all" about the film itself as there is very little in the way of special features. The production notes are of course in text and somewhat interesting. {ssintrepid}

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Mel Gibson's Maverick is somewhat goofy but charming, sly, and fairly humorous.

A number of excellent cameos provide some comic relief, especially Danny Glover near the beginning of the movie. The biggest surprise for me was Jodie Foster, who, in an impressively rare comedic role, thankfully discards her repetoire of facial tics for a much more natural performance here.

The plot is kept pretty simple until near the end -and the end has a great twist, which I won't divulge. Suffice it to say that your time will be well spent.

Recommended rental for sure, but also consider buying this excellent DVD because this comedy does well with repeat viewing.

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Maverick DVD

Mel Gibson stars as a bumbling gambler who is trying to join a poker game. The movie is based on a TV series. Jodie Foster co-stars as does James Gardner who was in the original TV series, as Bret, I believe. Bart was his Brother. Highly recommended for fans of Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster and fans of the original TV series.

Gunner April, 2008

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'Maverick' is by far the best western movie ever! Fast paced, action packed, suspenseful, and funny (very funny), Maverick keeps you on your toes and leaves you screaming for more!

Mel Gibson kicks butt (literally) as Bret Maverick, a handsome, slick and roguish card player trying to win enough money to enter the biggest card game of the year. While trying to win some dough, he meets the scheming thief, Annabelle Bransworth (played by Jodie Foster). I love Jodie Foster in this movie, I never knew she was such a comedian!

'Maverick' is a witty, charming, and hilarous western comedy. A must-see.

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Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ DVD Packaging) (1999)

I took my Niece to see it and expected it to begood but I was not prepared for what followed. What a terrific movie.Woody and Buz have worked through the problems that existed between them in the first Toy Story and have become the best of friends. I laughed throughout the movie. What humor, I loved the scene where Mrs. Potato Head is packing Mr. Potato Head for his trip to save Woody and she packs his angry eyes "just in case". The depth of the personalities, the humor and thoughtfulness of each of the characters makes me feel as though these are real people. I have put this movie on my list of "All Time Favorites" My Niece is 5 and I am 47 and we both loved it. I am eagerly waiting for it to be available for home viewing so I can own my own copy. Hats off to Disney and Pixar for a job well done.

My wife and kids (11 and13) actually kind of dragged me to see this one in the theater. Boy was I happy that they did! Toy Story 2 is really a great movie that had us all laughing a lot. It also provides for some very emotional moments (Jessie's song remembering her time as a favorite toy, among others). Many of the jokes refer to the first Toy Story, so it really helps if you know that one. What I personally liked best, though, has become a great "habit" with Pixar: The end trailors where the "stars" get to be their "own self": Here especially "Tour Guide Barbie" was a blast!

Enjoy... I can't wait for it to come out on DVD to once again enjoy the great graphics AND sound effects that so impressed me in the theater last week!

Buy Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ DVD Packaging) (1999) Now

It is rare for a sequel to surpass the original movie artistically as well as commercially. One of those rare sequels is "Toy Story 2". I didn't think it was possible for Disney and Pixar to create a sequel as good as the first "Toy Story" but they did. "Toy Story 2" is that rare treasure.

In "Toy Story 2" Woody is stolen by Al, the toy collector who plans on selling his collection of Woody and the Round Up Gang to a Japanese toy collector. With Woody kidnapped, Buzz Lightyear, Ham, Slink, Mr. Potato Head, and Rex sets off to find their kidnapped companion. There are three new characters in the movie, Stinky Pete (voiced by Kelsey Grammar), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and Bullseye the horse. The writing and animation is superb. I really enjoyed the scenes with Woody, Jessie, Stinky Pete, and Bullseye. One of my personal scenes is when the toy collector calls in the old man to fix Woody's arm. The details in the animation is amazing and very realistic. I also loved the scenes when Jessie reminisces about her former owner Emily. It was very poignant without coming off as drippy. Sarah McLachlan's song added a melancholy feel to the scenes. Another great moment in the film was when Buzz and the gang were in the toy store looking for Al, the toy collector.

"Toy Story 2" is one of my favorite Disney/Pixar collaborations. This is a film that can be enjoyed by all ages. It is also one of the best films ever, animated or not. The writing in this film is simply too good to ignore. I still enjoy watching this movie to this very day and not get tired of it.

Read Best Reviews of Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ DVD Packaging) (1999) Here

In November 1999, the sequel "Toy Story 2" was released in theaters and the $90 million dollar film like its predecessor did extremely well in the domestic and worldwide box office making over $485 million.

What is interesting was that the film was originally not intended for a theatrical sequel but a direct-to-video release. When Disney execs were pleased with the results, Pixar Animation Studio staff literally were on overdrive as they had only 8 months to finish the film, when the usual animated film by the company takes four years. Needless to say that while the making of the film was stressful and even some the film's animator's suffering repetitive stress injuries for working nearly 40-straight hours (rarely any sleep) shifts, the company made what was impossible...possible.

And now with a third film to be released in the Summer of 2010, 11-years-later, both "Toy Story" 1 and 2 films will be released on Blu-ray.

VIDEO:

"Toy Story 2" is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1). The first thing one will notice (especially after watching "Toy Story 1") is how much detail is included in "Toy Story 2" (and after watching the special features, you'll see how much have improved over a decade later with the sneak peak of "Toy Story 3").

For the most part, "Toy Story 2" has improved animated-wide by including much more detail and textures as seen during the close-ups of Mr. Potato Head (you can see the texture as you would see from the actual toy), the plastic covering on the package of Stinky Pete, the detail of Rex the Dinosaur, more shading and the scenery of the outdoors, from vehicles to the store, the trees, the ground and everything you can think of, looks much better than its counterpart.

And of course, on Blu-ray, you see the detail and the amazing clarity. Colors are absolutely vibrant, you can see details and textures which come alive on HD and for an animated film that came out in 1999, even over a decade later, this animated film looks much, much better than a few of the animated TV shows and films that we today.

Also, the movements of the characters are just well-animated. From the characters of "Woody's Roundup" dancing, the toys and their walking movements. The movements were very good on the first film but they improved on it for the sequel. Very impressive.

Overall, wonderful picture quality for this sequel.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Toy Story 2 " is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Maser Audio and English 2.0 DTS-HD, English DVS 2.0 Dolby, Spanish and French Dolby Digital EX and I was amazed by the lossless audio quality for the first film on Blu-ray but for this sequel. WOW! Lossless audio is amazing. Just the first few minutes of the beginning of "Toy Story 2' as we see the Buzz Lightyear video game sequence, we are treated with an immersive soundscape with the center, front and surround channels being utilized as well as LFE. The film has a good amount of action sequences as Buzz Lightyear #1 takes on Buzz Lightyear #2 along with Emperor Zurg. We hear the Cheetos snap when Woody steps on them and much more.

Sound is crystal clear and overall, another impressive lossless soundtrack.

As for subtitles, subtitles are presented in English SDH, French and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Toy Story 2' includes the following special features:

* Characters: An Exclusive Sneak Peek At Toy Story 3 (4:00) A sneak peek at the new characters and the talent voicing the new characters for "Toy Story 3'.

* Director Commentary

* Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs:

o Episode Two: International Space Station (3:43) Buzz reports back about his adventure to the International Space Station.

* Paths to Pixar: Technical Artists (4:24) In this series of shorts, Pixar artists talk about their career path and share advice to aspiring filmmakers and animators.

* Studio Stories: A series of amusing anecdotal shorts about life at Pixar.

o "Toy Story 2 Sleep Deprivation Lab" (1:25) This short featurette gives audiences an inside peek into the intense time pressures under which the Toy Story 2 editors found themselves.

o "Studio Stories: Pinocchio" (2:15) This short featurette shows an impromptu competition between the animators to decorate their workspace by throwing toys into the ceiling.

o "Studio Stories: The Movie Vanishes" (2:32) This short featurette tells how a mischievous technical error almost erased all of Toy Story 2 from the computer system.

* Pixar's Zoetrope (1:58) A look at the creation of the live-action zoetrope that Pixar created to capture the principles of animation in a live sculpture.

* Celebrating our Friend Joe Ranft (12:46) A tribute to beloved Disney and Pixar story man Joe Ranft, regarded as one of the industry's most gifted story artists.

* Making Toy Story 2 (8:10) A featurette on the making of the film, talking with director John Lasseter, crew and talent.

* John Lasseter Profile (3:02) Crew and talent talk about working with John Lasseter.

* Cast of Characters (3:28) A featurette on how the talent bring the characters to life and the new talent who provide the voices for the characters of "Toy Story 2'.

* Toy Box This section features outtakes (5:27), Jessie's Gag (1:00), Who's the Coolest Toy (3:19), Riders in the Sky Music Medley (3:11) and autographed pictures (:45).

* Deleted Scenes (4:11) Featuring deleted animation intro (:47), Godzilla Rex (1:28) and Crossing the Road (1:56).

* Design A featurette on the design of each character (Galleries), the 3D-Visualization and the colorization of the characters.

* Production Featuring Designing Woody's Past (2:50), Making Woody's Roundup (1:51), Production Tour (2:31), Early Animation Tests (3:04), Special Effects (1:38) and International Scene (1:47).

* Music & Sound Featuring Designing Sound (5:38), Making the Songs (3:25), Woody's Roundup" Music Video (2:17) and "Jessie's Song" Randy Newman Video (2:48).

* Publicity Featuring Character Interviews (2:05), Trailers (3:24), TV Spots (2:12), Posters (:50) and Baseball Woody (:18).

EXTRA:

Included in the "Toy Story 2" Special Edition is a DVD of "Toy Story. The DVD is featured in Widescreen (1:78:1) Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions and is in English 5.1 EX with English SDH subtitles.

JUDGMENT CALL:

Having gone crazy for the Blu-ray release of "Toy Story 1", I can easily say that this Blu-ray release for the sequel is equally impressive and a title definitely worth owning and worth having in your Blu-ray collection.

Although, I enjoyed the storyline for the first film much more, I enjoyed the second film because of the additional characters and the animation showed great improvement nearly five years after the first was made. But since the release of the film on VHS and on DVD (multiple times), I have owned each release because these films are both magnificent.

The voice talent and acting is top notch, the storyline is well-written and Pixar Animation Studios set the bar higher then and they continue to set the bar higher now when it comes to CG animated films.

And so far, every Pixar Animation Studio release on Blu-ray have been nothing short of magnificent. From the Blu-ray releases of "A Bug's Life" and "Monster's Inc." (and yes, we are still waiting for that Blu-ray release of "Finding Nemo" and "The Incredibles") and their releases from "Cars" all the way up to their 2009 film "Up", when it comes to new releases that are Pixar related, so far we have been given awesome picture quality, awesome lossless audio and plenty of special features. "Toy Story" 1 and 2 are among those films that just look and sound fantastic but also additional content to keep any animation fan happy.

I will say that if you own the "Ultimate Toy Box Set" that was released in 1999, you will want to hang on to that set because although the Blu-ray's do have new additional content, a lot of content from the Ultimate Toy Box Set are NOT included on the Blu-ray release.

"Toy Story 2" is just an enjoyable family film that holds up well today, over a decade later and will still produce plenty of laughs and even in today's world of awesome CG animation, you can't help but see this vibrant film and just enjoy it on so many levels. Just seeing the detail and texture and how much the film had improve within the last five years from the original film is incredible. And the fact that the employees busted their heart and soul to get this film done in eight months vs. the usual four years is equally impressive.

With the release of both special edition "Toy Story" films on Blu-ray, these are the definitive versions of the film to own and for those like myself who have owned several versions of "Toy Story", the upgrade to Blu-ray is definitely well worth it and highly recommended!

Want Toy Story 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/ DVD Packaging) (1999) Discount?

This has GOT to be on the short list of movie sequels that are superior to the originals. First off I felt that an entirely digitally animated movie was incredible to begin with, and when I finally saw the original 'Toy Story' I was in awe of not just how technologically incredible it was, but how GOOD it was as well. Forget for a moment we are talking about ANIMATION...I think too many people believe that just because it wasn't live-action it simply wasn't worth an adults time. Thank heavens I have little children who want me to take them to these kinds of films so I won't feel embarassed as an adult walking into a so-called 'Children's movie'...but it just DOESN'T matter in the case of 'Toy Story' and this particularly amazing sequel. I have to hand it to the producers and writers for coming up with such a great story! First off you have to put yourself into the role of a toy, and think to yourself, "IF it WAS true that toys were alive, what kinds of problems might they encounter?" They certainly did come up with a plot that seems a perfect natural for this scenario. All of the voices do a superb job of giving life to these animated toys we see, so good in fact that I watched the entire film without once thinking to myself, "Hey, that's Tom Hanks and Tim Allen talking there!" You find very quickly that you are enveloped in this creative and might I add VERY FUNNY story which moves along at a great pace and well, even if you have seen it before, it is definitely worth another look...and if you have put off seeing this because its a 'kids film' get OVER it and see it. Good stuff no matter HOW old you are.

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Clue: The Movie (1985)

Clue is Paramount Pictures' comedic film rendering of the classic Parker Brothers board game of the same name. But don't let that dissuade you from seeing this one. Although you'll recognize the chromatic character names, unlikely murder weapons, and Victorian mansion settings, tracking down the murderer in the movie version of Clue requires a good deal more than a deck of cards and a notepad. (It's a lot more fun this way, too.)

Involving the talents of seven of Hollywood's funniest funny people, including Madeline Kahn as Mrs. White, Christopher Lloyd as Professor Plum, and Tim Curry as Wadsworth, the requisite butler, the film is guaranteed to keep you laughing. The script is packed with sparklingly witty exchanges, such as this one between Wadsworth and an angry Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull):

Mustard: Are you trying to make me look stupid in front of the other guests?

Wadsworth: You don't need any help from me.

Mustard: That's right!

Later in the picture, as the by-now-blasé guests glance down at the most recent victim, Mr. Green (Michael McKean) updates the count to "Six murders." Wadsworth's grave response? "This is getting serious." And Wadsworth's explanation of "who killed whom where and with what" at the end of the picture is packed with the impersonations, facial expressions, and things not-quite-British that rank Tim Curry among the funniest Britons ever to defect to Hollywood.

Madeline Kahn, too, liberally sprinkles commentaries, both vocal and facial, into any and all situations, the sheer spontaneity of which make one wonder whether or not they're actually in the script. The line in the show which had me laughing the hardest, anyway, was not really a line at all, but rather a high-pitched, yodeling scream from Mrs. White. (You'll know it when you hear it.) And her operatic descant over the guests' chorus of "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow" had me rolling in the aisle.

Another facet of the movie, disguised by the humor, but every bit as important to one's enjoyment of the film, is the maze of leads, lies, and leaps of logic which ultimately culminates in not one, but three possible answers as to "Whodunnit." And here's the amazing part: each of the three endings (I checked) stands up to close scrutiny of the clues provided earlier in the film. From the time Wadsworth verifies Yvette's mysterious "instructions" until the last pull of the trigger, each minute detail is essential to the plot. A word of warning to the dedicated popcorn-munching detective: the guests at this dinner party are all experts at using comedy to distract. While you're busy laughing at Miss Scarlet in the ballroom, a desperate dinner guest wielding a monkey wrench is hurrying through the secret passage to the study, trying to silence that unfortunate motorist before he says too much....

The film isn't perfect-the physical humor becomes strained at times, and there are a very few lines whose comedic and textual value I question. Still, the film bears enough good comedy and old-fashioned mystery, garnished with a sound track that adds just the right spice to the flavor of both humor and suspense, to earn a "five-star comedy" rating from me.

This is one of my favorite films of all time. It's loaded with outragous, silly slapstick humor and the entire cast is superb! You'll be amazed at how many of the lines and gags get stuck in your head. I'll never be able to forget the flusterd looks of Mrs. Peacock, the wit and charm of Wadsworth or the subtle facial expressions of Mrs. White. Thankfully I'll be able to see all this and more as Clue is finally presented in anamorphic widescreen! The picture is the best yet of this film since it's initial release, but there are moments when the image appears too soft and the entire presentation leans to the dark side (no Star Wars pun intended). The darkness though, does help to heighten the mystery/suspense aspect of Clue. From a purists point of view it's good that the soundtrack is kept in it's original mono, still I'd greatly enjoy hearing a stero or, even better, a surround sound version in the future. Unfortunately there are only 13 chapter stopsincluded on the DVD. Any film requires at least double this amount to be really effective.

Without a doubt the best feature of this DVD is the multiple endings feature. After you select "play" you will be asked if you would lilke the player to randomly choose one of the three endings for you, or see all three of them at the end. Whoever thought of this feature deserves a raise as it greatly enhances the longevity of the disc and brings the film closer to it's board game roots. Now you have the option of really not knowing who did it until the final scenes play bringing suprise into the untold repeat viewings that are sure to occur.

The technical imperfections mentioned before are slight and I believe are primarilly due to original production decisions and the films age. To make a long review short (too late), this is a must own for any fan of one of the numerous stars, comedy or film firsts. You won't be disappointed.

Buy Clue: The Movie (1985) Now

Almost everybody has played the game Clue. We all have heard of Mr.Green, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlett, Col.Mustard, Mrs.White, and Mrs.Peacock. Now we actually get to see the game on screen.

The story to Clue is a great mystery. Six individuals Mr.Green(McKean), Mrs.Peacock(Brannen),Col.Mustard(Mull),Mrs.White(Kahn), Miss Scarlet(Warren), and Pro. Plum(Lloyd) have all received invitations to a mysterious house. They all have been invited to dinner and have no idea while they are there. When they reach the house they discover that the master is not there, but his butler Wadsworth(Curry) and Maid Yvette(Camp) are the only poeple there. The guests are informed that they are there by the invitation of Mr.Boddy. Mr.Boddy is blackmailing them all and thats the only thing in common the six people have. Then people start dying in the home and now it's up to the whole group to see who is doing it and to see if they can get out alive.

This really was a great cast. It had a bunch of big stars from that day. All have pretty good performances in there roles as the character from the game.

Tim Curry gives the best performance of the movie. Curry is a very talented actor. He's been quite underrated in Hollywood. He really takes the role as Wadsworth the Butler and runs with it. He is such a weasal and nobody plays a character like Curry can.

The other actors in the movie really do give good performances in the movie.

The movie is quite funny and has a bunch of slapstick in it. Mull as Col.Mustard is the funniest out of the six characters because he sets himself up to be made fun of so well. The dialogue is also quite funny and when the characters start ranting it gets quite good. John Landis(Blues Brother, Animal House) wrote the story with Johnathan Lynn writing the screenplay. They've combined for a fantastic written movie.

It's a great mystery and the three different endings are fun. You get all three of them on the DVD and all are enjoyable though some are better than others. You really are kept quite clueless as to who has killed who and that again is credited to the writing skills of Landis and Lynn.

Thi is a funny movie. If you like to play Clue the game then you will definetly enjoy this movie. If you like slapstick comedies you will definetly enjoy the movie as well. This is a funny movie that can be watched by the whole family. So go get Clue and be prepared to laugh and have a good time.

Read Best Reviews of Clue: The Movie (1985) Here

Of all the `80s comedies to apparently generate some kind of cult following, you wouldn't have imagined Paramount's holiday `85 offering "Clue: The Movie" to be one of them yet this box-office disappointment arrives on Blu-Ray this month, in a solid presentation from Paramount that suffers from the same primary issue as its DVD predecessor.

Originally a John Landis vehicle (he's still listed as an executive producer and receives co-story credit), director Jonathan Lynn's "Clue" is a fast-paced, wacky whoduneit with all the principal characters from the famous Parker Brothers board game assembled for a night of murder and mystery. The cast tries their hardest to make the frantic shenanigans of Lynn's script come to life (Tim Curry is terrific as the Butler, while Martin Mull and Michael McKean provide some laughs as iconic characters from the game), but the problem with the movie is that it often tries too hard to be funny leaving you exhausted by the time the outcome is revealed.

"Clue" was shot with three different endings (A, B, and C) and was originally released that way to theaters, with multiplexes advertising the specific version of the movie they were showing. On its initial video releases, all three endings were clumsily assembled to create a disjointed finale that didn't really work too well.

For the Blu-Ray much like the DVD Paramount has taken the three endings and presented them in a frustrating manner: you can either choose to watch the movie with all three finales (as it was released on video), OR you can choose to watch the film with a random ending selected from all three conclusions. Good idea, right? Well, not if you've seen the movie once, played one random ending, and then viewed the same finale again the next time out! A better idea would've had the viewer select which ending they'd like to see, but alas, once again that didn't happen.

One area, at least, where the Blu-Ray improves upon its predecessor outside of its generally pleasing, AVC encoded transfer which hasn't been doused with DNR is that all of the different endings (including the home video "trilogy" compilation) are available to view separate from the film in the supplemental section, along with the theatrical trailer (in HD). The DTS MA mono audio is fine for what it is (I haven't looked it up but you'd imagine this was one of the last big studio releases to be released in mono), with John Morris' score working as hard as the ensemble cast.

Want Clue: The Movie (1985) Discount?

OK...I've seen this movie like a million times so I feel that I can offer a fair review:

Clue is probably one of the funniest movies I've ever seen in my life. And yes, it has some plot holes and other problems, but who cares? It offers safe, intelligent fun; quick pacing, and all around murdurous laughs. The cast is perfect chemistry (Curry as butler Wadsworth is satisfying enough alone"there was a rumble of thunder and a crah of lightening") and the ensemble is great: Warren as Miss Scarlet is perfect in the role because of her laid back reactions and fun head-bobbing ("I enjoy getting presents from strange men...") ; Brennan plays the perfect neortic Mrs. Peacock ("and oh my, this soup is delicious, isn't it?"); Kahn shines as the black widow, Mrs. White ("is that chair for you, Mr. Wadsworth?", McKean plays the perfect quasi-homosexual ("we have to find out which one of YOU did it..."), Lloyd masters the uptight Prof. Plum ("What's the phone number?") and Mull personifies Col. Mustard ("I can't take anymore scares!")

This movie is quick-witted, well acted and well-paced. The physical comedy wears a bit thin at times, but is compensated by the actors abilty keep the attention of the viewer. Just as a good mystery should, the movie hides details so that watching it just once won't ruin it for the rest of the time. Pay attention to the clues in the rooms (such as the picture in the dining room, and the picture in the pile that gets thrown into the fire in the Study)and details in the dialouge, not so much to figure out the murder, but to grasp a full knowledge of the era, each characters background (such as the connection between Scarlet and the maid) and hidden tidbits of fun.

Keeping true to the format of the boardgame, there are such lines as "We have to find out who did it and where and with what", the placement of the rooms (although the movie adds 3 more floors to the housethe basement, the upstairs and the attic; and the secret passages (we know these cant really exist because of the house's floor plan, but who cares, they're essential to the movie. Watch for goofs, such as the order of the women changes when they enter the study to find mr. boddy missing, and the diappearing/reaapearing pot on the stove in the kitchen.

Iwas dissapointed, however, when the DVD came out and there were no deleated scenes included. There has to be, the choppy editing in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd ending suggests that it was edited for time, plus the trailor includes scenes that are definatly not in the released version of the movie.

Enjoy!

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Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012)

Wow, this has been an exciting fall for literary adaptations! I read Yann Martel's Life of Pi a decade ago and thought it was fantastic storytelling. I cheered when it won the Man Booker Prize. So, I was quite excited to attend an advance screening recently with several members of my book group. I remembered the novel quite well in broad strokes, but not the fine detail. I didn't refresh my memory before watching the film, but was curious enough to reread Life of Pi in its entirety before writing this review. The film is very true to the novel in spirit and tone, but there are small changes, additions (generally positive), and elisions (some noteworthy).

The film opens similarly to the novel. The idea is the same, but the execution is slightly different. Different mediums require different storytelling tools. For instance, I believe most film-goers will readily recognize The Writer (portrayed by actor Rafe Spall, who replaced a distractingly famous Toby Maguire) as a stand-in for author Martel. In the novel, it is Martel himself, in direct address to readers, who fulfills this role, effectively blurring the line between fact and fiction. It is established that this story is being related to The Writer by an older Pi. From there, readers are introduced to a young Piscine Molitor Patel and the world he inhabits. It's a charmed childhood, being raised at the Pondicherry Zoo amongst a loving family and exotic animals--an Indian "We Bought a Zoo." These scenes are as lush and colorful as any Bollywood musical.

I've discussed this novel with other readers countless times over the years. It's beloved by many, but truly hated by a vocal minority. I've never understood the vitriol, personally. Martel writes beautifully and accessibly. His story is fast-paced and yet deeply rooted in character. And it explores the boundless subject of faith through an extraordinary tale--a "story to make you believe in God." But one complaint I've heard from readers is frustration over (or lack of interest in) Pi's religious explorations early in the novel. The young man is a practicing Hindu, Christian, and Muslim. Martel never belabored the point, but those readers will be gratified to see that director Ang Lee has streamlined the beginning of the tale to move more swiftly to the meat of the story.

And that comes about when Pi's family packs up their lives, their animals, and moves the whole kit and caboodle to Canada by ship. Well, that's the plan. Something goes wrong in rough seas outside of Manila. The ship goes down in a haunting scene, and now the stage is set. Sixteen-year-old Pi is shipwrecked in a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a 450-pound adult Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. It's survival of the fittest on the high seas, and things get Darwinian fast. Soon enough, it's Pi and Richard Parker in it together.

When I first heard the premise of this novel, somehow I thought Richard Parker would be some kind of cute, anthropomorphized tiger, and oversized puddy tat. He was not. He was a terrifying predator, and he stayed a terrifying predator, throughout Pi's ordeal. This was much the same in the movie (although not quite to the degree as in the novel, a change commented upon by Martel in the Hollywood Reporter). Richard Parker was scary in the book, but he was terrifying on the screen. I flinched as he snarled and lunged in 3D.

From here, both novel and film take on an episodic or picaresque quality. The film is delightfully dream-like from its opening frames. (An early scene of the swimming pool from which Pi derives his name enchanted me!) But as the days at sea pass, and the ribs of both animals become plainly visible, the film shifts from dream-like to hallucinatory. Episodes and encounters become increasingly extraordinary. Sitting in the audience, I could clearly discern who had read the novel and who had not by the gasps and exclamations. (Among my friends, the film was enjoyed equally by those who had read the book and those who had not.)

Yes, there are episodes that are missing from the film, one of which is quite notable. Fans may miss it. And, yet, I can understand the choices made. Cuts were judicious. As noted earlier there are a few small shifts and changes. But this is a very faithful adaptation of Martel's novel, and I suspect it will please most fans of the original. What is lost is more than made up for by how Ang Lee has brought Martel's fantastic vision to life.

The cinematography and design of this film is exquisitely beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of 3D technology, but once in a while it seems to really augment a film. Such is the case here--all the better to experience a small boat on the vast ocean. And while we're on the subject of technology, the CGI work on the tiger is seamless. None of us could detect where the real tiger ended and the computer-generated beast began. I have heard that young Suraj Sharma never once filmed with the live animal. For safety, their scenes were filmed separately. And I don't know how much footage was of a real cat. All I can say is that the illusion is extraordinarily believable. That a first-time actor could give such a convincing performance playing opposite an imaginary tiger is doubly impressive. The success of the film lies firmly on Sharma's moving portrayal of 16-year-old Pi, but the supporting performances were equally strong. It was Spall's response to Pi's story at the end of the film that actually gave me chills.

I've been circumspect about revealing specifics of the plot. I'll leave all the surprises of Pi's voyage intact for those new to the tale. And readers of the novel can see for themselves what made the cut. About the ending... Those who have read the novel know what to expect. Now film-goers can join the debate we've been having for the past decade. In the end, it truly is all about faith. Which story do you prefer?

This may be the hardest movie review I've ever written, somehow words don't

express it quite right ...

To begin, I saw Life of Pi in 3-D. A week later I went back and saw it again,

because I don't foresee having another chance. I expect the color and detail

will remain gorgeous in 2-D, and I definitely intend to buy the disc.

However the 3-D in this movie is spectacular. The tiger, Richard Parker, is

at the top of the list, but in fact the entire movie benefits tremendously

from 3-D. If you liked Avatar, you probably liked the marvelous animals.

And I'm sure in some scenes, Richard Parker is CGI'd to some extent. But

Life of Pi has a real earthly animal to work with, and you can argue there

is no animal on earth more beautiful or fierce than a tiger. That's part

of the genius of this movie, and I'm sure one reason James Cameron liked

it so much.

That brings me to another point about this movie, its suitability for kids.

Hopefully by now you understand the tiger is not a cuddly pet. Its very much

a wild animal, just like you can see in nature videos. Except in this movie

the tiger is a lot closer. He wants to eat Pi. Pi can't always see the tiger.

The audience knows the tiger is going to try something, but that just makes it

all the more nerve-wracking. Or exciting, depending on the person watching.

This movie made me jump several times, and I was often clutching the arms of

my chair. Its pretty intense in places. More so the second time I saw it.

I kid you not.

"Tiger, tiger, burning bright

In the darkness of the night"

William Blake

"Tell me what you see"

Pi

Regarding the story, I will say the movie starts out to establish what kind

of a kid Pi was when he was growing up in India. This helps us know Pi as a

multi-dimensional character. But the beauty of this part of the movie is

the kind you can see every day, not the visionary beauty that comes later.

Maybe it takes more effort to see it, because its a little too much like our

own lives when we were kids. Growing up can seem mundane. But sometimes

it can also be dangerous. Or heartbreaking.

Once the movie shifts to the ocean, its very easy to believe that now we

have our arms around the story. But Life of Pi is one of those movies where

we don't really know the story at all, until the last word of dialog has

been spoken. There's more than one story here, and most of what makes you

think, after its over, comes at the very end. You have to pay attention to

pick it all up. On disc, you may want to re-play a few seconds at the end

of the movie.

Its worth it. If you like to think about a movie, if you have a vivid memory

for beauty, then Life of Pi is one of the easiest movies to recommend. Its the

second masterpiece of 2012.

Buy Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Now

One might watch the trailer and groan at the prospect of another "The Black Stallion," but I have good news: this is not the same. Yes, both involve a ship sinking with one human survivor, and both have the survivor interact with animals while waiting for rescue. There is a key difference, though, that expands drastically with the final minutes of the film. In "The Black Stallion," the animal is a horse, something humans communicate with around the world. In Life of Pi, the tiger gives us something completely different. A natural enemy, very willing to devour. I'll get to the important meaning later.

As is evident from the dramatic trailer, the cinematography is overwhelmingly beautiful. In all honesty, you don't see the half of it in the trailer. While at first, it didn't seem likely to work in 3D, I've put that view aside. It's the best live-action 3D I've ever seen! One of the best scenes (for the full emotional effect), is seeing the ship go down as if you were right there. In fact, more than one scene were so effective in this way that I was physically breathless. A few times during the film, Pi encounters rough storms, and this is where another beauty comes through. The camera captures the movement of Pi and his boat so well, it boggles me. While other movies have moved from cut to cut in moments, giving the impression of a storm, these cuts last much longer and show a lot more. It's as if filmed on location, with no misguiding.

Something you should know before you watch is that Life of Pi breaks into the topic of religion quite a bit at the beginning. Pi follows several religions. First, Hindu, then Catholicism, and Muslim, all at once. After the incident, it doesn't come up much, apart from a few overtones, but it's important to be aware going in.

This is a film for slightly older audiences (13+) for the reasons of the ship's intense sinking, and for the complicated concepts of the film.

To warn you, this last paragraph is a bit *SPOILER* oriented. Near the end of the movie, Pi tells another story, showing what the tiger represents. Suffice it to say that there is more meaning to this than surviving on an island with a horse and winning a race with him later on. I won't spoil any more, though.

In conclusion, this is a beautiful movie about survival and perseverance, in the midst of harsh, beautiful nature.

Read Best Reviews of Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Here

Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" is a masterpiece with some of the most beautiful and unforgettable images ever displayed on film. Not only did it give me an experience of the wonder in being alive while moving me to tears, but its story also encompassed a human life from childhood to mature age while dealing with pain and guilt that are part of the human experience.

Ang Lee isn't thought of as an Asian auteur in the class of Wong Kar-wai, Zhang Yimou or Lee Chang-dong. He's actually more of a commercial director than a personal artist, but what he does in transferring the "Life of Pi" from novel to screen is miraculous. Perhaps no director has ever captured the beauty and fear of the power of life, and when you look deep into the eyes of the tiger "Richard Parker", you see what Marlowe saw in Kurtz's eyes in Conrad's "The Heart of Darkness": a power so vast it dwarfs you with an awareness of your mortality, showing you your insignificance beside the powers of all life. What Ang Lee does here in this film will, I believe, remain his tour-de-force, and is a work of art I will come to many times in the future.

The acting is wonderful, primarily Irrfan Khan, one of India's greatest actors who plays the adult Pi. Khan provides an entire acting course just in the way he uses his face, displaying a smile in the film's climax that rivals the Mona Lisa's in its ambiguity. You see the world of pain, guilt, joy and sadness in his delicate expression.

The film is supremely spiritual in every frame, yet, if one is paying attention, it winds up as somewhat of a Trojan Horse in what it ultimate reveals about religion. I'm trying hard not to provide a spoiler here, but there are five words spoken by the adult Pi at the end of the film that viewers seem to miss that spell it out. But moving away from its theme, no film I have ever seen in my life comes close to "Life of Pi" in relating the sheer force of nature (making you experience the beauty and terror in the soul of a tiger) and the cosmic beauty of our world, both inner and outer. Using 3-D more brilliantly (and essentially) than any film to date, this film burned into my mind incredible visual sights impossible to find anywhere else, showing me beauty I will remember the rest of my life.

Highly recommended, and one that truly deserves to be seen in 3-D.

Want Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) (2012) Discount?

A 2001 novel of the same name by Yann Martel is the basis for "Life of Pi" and it has been called unfilmable. The movie has been in the works since 2003, but the nature of the film has caused many to think that it would never be possible. See, most of the film involves a boy in a lifeboat with an adult Bengal Tiger. The movie also involves many other challenging things to portray, including a massive shipwreck, an island of meerkats and a strong religious overtone that manages to be fair to all religions. Suraj Sharma plays Pi Patel, a boy becoming a man who challenges all conventional thinking as he leads his life. Curious about religion and religions, he prides himself in knowing not just one god, but all gods. Not to mention, despite its obvious carnivorous nature, he has faith that a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker has a soul and can be befriended.

"Life of Pi" has many levels and as visually stimulating as it is, it is also mentally stimulating and beautiful in its intent. I'm not completely sure it achieved all that it intended but the gist of its message comes across loud and clear. Life is a gift and the days ahead are not guaranteed. Faith is vital in living a rewarding life and in knowing how life is not only to be lived, but to be cherished for each and every moment. I'm pretty sure that was the gist.

Above all, "Life of Pi" is not just a well-filmed movie, but a gloriously well filmed film. The quality levels of the filming are unprecedented and its 3D makes all 3D that has been done prior look like the second and third-rate stuff that it is. The effects used to bring the tiger Richard Parker to life are awe-inspiring. Your eyes widen, as they should, when Parker strikes and when he nears. There has certainly never before been a movie that gives you the impression of what it would be like to be and live in the proximity of such a beast.

"Life of Pi" comes off a little heavy-handed at time and I have to admit that I assumed there would be more to it, but the amount there is to it is in the eye of the beholder. You can look at the movie and say that it wasn't about much, or you can look at the movie and say that it was about everything, because it is. The performances are outstanding, including the Tiger, and the film is without question, one of the best of 2012.

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Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony (Extended Interviews Only) (2013)

I was shown this by someone who supported the kickstarter. It's an interesting watch, although the intro is quite lengthy, and it took me a few minutes to figure out how the documentary would pan out. I found the pacing outside of the intro, very good, and the information they presented very welcoming.

If you had told me this came from a kickstarter, and was funded by bronies, i'd be shocked.

I'm shocked.

This documentary was funded by a Kickstarter project razing over $322,022. I was one of the supporters of this just received my copy in the mail today.

The production quality was very good and the animation for then segment transitions was show quality and made me laugh. I would recommend this to anyone concerned and wanting to know what this fandom is all about. It doesn't cover everything but shows the hardships and ridicule some of us face in the fandom. This also shows the creativity of the fandom and just how much we take the lessons to heart. I know these people, I know this community and glad to be apart of it.

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I watched this last night with my family, and they loved it. It really is nice to see people come together, especially when they do so much for charity. This sort of thing wasn't possible twenty years ago.

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Sure it has it's flaws, and the shrinks they brought on had a problem with putting their foots in their mouths, but if you look past those minor flaws to it's core, it's really enjoyable. Just seeing everyone involved have fun, and enjoy themselves together is so powerful and heartwarming it's almost like being at the con yourself.

I urge everyone to just forget the needless drama, forget the complaining, and enjoy the movie for what it is: a film showing the loving and fun part of the fandom.

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John de Lancie, Michael Brockhoff and Laurent Malaquais tried to make a Documentary to introduce and explain to people the phenomenon of bronies. They wanted to make an insightful, respectful and entertaining piece of media, where people who watched it would say: "Huh, that's actually pretty neat, now I understand."

I think they definitely succeeded! And they did an amazing job.

Even if some people weren't completely satisfied with what they were given, it was still a good documentary. (Is there even such a thing as perfect?)

The team had a clear vision of what they were trying to accomplish, and if you take that into account, the documentary was heading just the right direction.

Also:

As far as I know, they said they weren't going to include extended interviews because of piracy (read the Kickstarter page for more info)...

I'm very glad they decided to include them despite what has happened. Please show the team that you appreciate their work by NOT downloading this somewhere on the Internet. Buy it, it truly deserves every cent you pay for it.

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Klown (+ Digital Copy) (2010)

There are several funny movies made in 2012. From a handful I have watched, this one is on Top for laugh-out-loud fun and entertainment throughout. Frank Hvam, a comedian, plays the role of a guy who wants to prove that he could be a good father to his pregnant girlfriend. In order to prove his fatherhood challenge, he decides to kidnap a child to impress his girlfriend that he has good fatherhood potential. Trying not to give away too many Spoilers here. The two of them venture out through the Danish countryside, not conforming to the standards of society. Their friendship is not the normal, and the young boy has a mind of his own with weird sexual encounters. They run around as if they own the world, and trouble is waiting. Some raunchy moments, but many very funny moments. A Good comedy, Acting Performance Superb, and a Great summer movie to get a few laughs. Highly Recommended!

Klown is one of the raunchiest, crudest, funniest movies I've watched in a long time. This movie is not for everybody. Anybody that is easily offended should avoid this movie. The jokes are foul.

Frank and Casper are married buddies that go on an annual canoe trip. Casper is the slick, charming, cool guy that gets away with everything. Frank is his clumsy, socially inept buddy that says things most people might be thinking, but would never say out loud. One of the few examples that can be mentioned, Casper and Frank belong to a men's book club. Frank tells Casper he hasn't read the book. Casper admits he hasn't read the book either. During the book discussion, Frank pipes up immediately and says, let's get this taken care of immediately, I haven't read the book. The answer is for him to leave the meeting. Frank says, others haven't read the book either. The leader asks who hasn't read the book, Casper doesn't raise his hand. The point, Casper goes through this movie getting away with everything, and Casper manages to admit to the wrong thing all the time.

This is a crude road movie. It isn't funny over the top like The Hangover. It is a more subtle comedy with more graphic humor. After all this is a Danish film, and their sense of acceptable jokes is much further out there than Hollywood. I really enjoyed this film. It is a blending of a scripted film, a documentary, and a television series. The director has taken the best of these styles to make this film.

The two lead actors also wrote the script. They oddly use their real names in the movie. Both men are not afraid to show off their naked bodies or wandering around in whitie tightie underwear. The young boy that played Bo was the butt of many bad jokes. The film is an hour and a half and about the right length. There was enough time to get to know the three males and care about what happened to them.

The film is rated R, and deserves this rating for language, nudity, and drug use. The old Jack Valenti led MPAA would have probably given this an NC-17 rating. There are no two ways around it; this is a very crude film. There are more penis jokes than I've seen in a long time. The film is presented in Danish with English subtitles that cannot be turned off. Younger viewers need not apply to watch this film.

The DVD is chock full of special features. Probably best to watch them after the movie. The alternate opening scene is pretty darn good it is almost a coin toss to use the out take or the one used in release. I really liked the 30 minute episode of the Danish television program Klovn. Apparently there are more episodes of this series. The episode focuses on Frank and his wife. He finds out that she goes to a friend's house to learn how to masturbate. There are other related threads through the episode. The blooper reel is not very good actors flubbing their lines and laughing gets old after thirty seconds. All in all, there is about 40 minutes of bonus materials.

This film is not a date movie, it is ultra-crude. Some of the jokes are cringe worthy, but most are genuinely funny. This is a Danish road movie in a canoe.

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There is something truly appalling about this movie, and yet it is truly hilarious so I guess those two factors balance each other out. I mean, the extreme nature of the comedy here is something that cannot be shaken. From giving his mother-in-law a pearl necklace (don't Google that) to making fun of a young boy's anatomy, this film is full of some of the most obnoxious and explicit moments of `adult' comedy I've seen in a film. I know that I should be repulsed, but I don't think I stopped laughing once. It's extreme, but that's the point of it all. It holds fast to this awkward sense of honesty and so it never feels like it's too much. To be honest, it kind of all works.

The film, apparently inspired by a television show of the same name, follows two lovable fools who are far too immature for their own good. Frank's girlfriend is pregnant and he's trying to prove to her that he's responsible, but his lack of good judgment leads to some pretty awful results and he winds up kidnapping her nephew in order to prove to her that he can take care of a kid. He takes the boy, Bo, on a `guys weekend' with his buddy Casper, who is not happy about the extra passenger because he feels like it will dampen his chances at getting laid. Traveling by canoe, the two chase High School girls down a river in pursuit of a famed brothel that Casper thinks he can get into. Along the way, Frank grows up (sort of) and Casper shows his true colors (sort of).

The finale pretty much sums up the whole movie; disturbing and repulsive and yet you can't look away or stop laughing long enough to turn the movie off.

Read Best Reviews of Klown (+ Digital Copy) (2010) Here

Very quirky in the best of ways and among the funniest movies I've watched. I think the previous reviews sum it up, some also finding it incredibly funny, one finding it "crude and awful". "Crude and awful" to one can be funny to another; I'd only recommend this movie if you are among the latter. It is hilarious if you're not easily offended.

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This film is hilarious but also has a wonderful human interest story to it as well. I really delves into what a man should be to his son or what a father figure should be to a boy. A wonderful film on a serious subject.

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Sunflower: Sophia Loren Award Collection (1970)

Vittorio De Sica's Sunflower is one of those nice ideas for a love story that doesn't really pay off. Sophia Loren is the devoted wife who refuses to believe missing husband Marcello Mastroianni is dead on the Russian front after the end of the Second World War and determines to find him. Unfortunately the stars never really convince, playing almost parodic working class characters who are more mildly irritating than engaging with his exaggerated nasal accent and her bad wig they just remind you of one of those couples who you end up constantly sharing a dinner table with on holiday despite all your best efforts not to. It's a slave to clichés not one, but THREE railway station separations! but despite the sizeable budget often feels too rushed and half-baked to allow many of them to work even as a production line tearjerker. There's even some surprisingly poor camerawork at times in the Italian scenes that makes you wonder if anybody was that bothered about the final result. A few moments stand out, like the cabin packed with soldiers sleeping on their feet in the Russian winter or a field of sunflowers that are the only marker for the graves of unknown soldiers and peasants, and the last half hour is fairly effective, but it doesn't add up to much.

This is another title that has had a troubled history on DVD, from a decent transfer as part of Lionsgate's Sophia Loren 4-Film Collection (Neapolitan Carousel / Attila / Madame Sans-Gene / Sunflower) to a dire public domain release from Jef Films. Kino Lorber's US DVD and region-free Blu-ray release is certainly the best of the bunch, with a good widescreen transfer in the original Italian with English subtitles, stills gallery and Italian trailer. That edition is also available as part of the Sophia Loren: Award Collection [Blu-ray] (Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow / Marriage Italian Style / Sunflower / Vittorio D / Boccaccio '70) with Boccaccio '70, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style and feature-length documentary Vittorio D.

[SUNFLOWER (1970) Directed by Vittorio De Sica Widescreen Italian w/ English subtitles 107 min.] During WWII, a new army recruit, Antonio (Mastroianni) and his lover, Giovanna (Loren) wed and enjoy the marriage furlough awarded him before he's shipped off to the Russian front, never to be seen or heard from again. After the war is declared over, and fraught with despair upon hearing that he was last seen on a frozen battlefield attempting to return against impossible odds, Giovanna promises Antonio's mother that she will set out on an odyssey search for him, and won't return without knowledge of his fate. It's critical to them both to know, despite the outcome. Their mourning may never cease, but they may take dark comfort in closure.

She searches and searches, showing his picture to scores of women who don't even understand her language, in relentless pursuit of a possible lead to his whereabouts, even after being led to a site of unmarked graves acknowledged solely by wooden crosses that stretch out forever. She eventually discovers he's alive and where he is currently dwelling, but their reunion is anything but blissful. Why didn't he return to her after the war? Who is this person he currently resides with? Why wasn't there even a letter sent? Did he no longer love Giovanna, his family, friends and homeland? The answers to these questions aren't easy to comprehend.

As always, the pairing of Marcello and Sophia on screen insures a cinematic event not to be missed by lovers of world cinema, and adding the brilliant directorial skills of De Sica is more than just icing on this multi-tiered cake, it makes for mandatory viewing. At the time of its release, its lack of a Hollywood (read: cop-out) ending insured it dismal box-office receipts and lukewarm reviews due to it going against the grain of what was then the contemporary film trend America was (for the first time) seriously anti-war thanks to Vietnam, and almost all portrayals of WWII were of the 'MASH', 'Kelly's Heroes' or 'Catch 22' variety, unless we're speaking of 'Patton'. But this film seriously demands careful reconsideration now, as it showcases a heart-wrenching performance by Sophia Loren, the always understated brilliance of Marcello Mastroianni, and the keen, mindful eye and expertise of Vittorio De Sica.

A great, gripping drama that doesn't dwell too long in its melodrama, and a bittersweet ending that's thought-provoking long after the end credits roll, 'Sunflower' is a film about life, war, marriage, love and loss, even if there's a twinge of belladonna in the air. Highly recommended.

The Lorber Films blu-ray release offers a stunning print with exceptional colors and great audio quality, and there is a stills gallery and trailers for a few other Loren/Mastroianni must-see films.

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Beautiful movie..i love sophia loren! Living legend..very sexy and elegant. I wish i were more like her! Ahaha well sbout the dvd, i was happy to watch this beautiful movie in my blueray :] came just in time!

Read Best Reviews of Sunflower: Sophia Loren Award Collection (1970) Here

I am so HAPPY WHEN I GOT THE BLURAY! I have been looking for this movie to many years.

LOVE IT!

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When Amazon.com a couple of years or more ago released the normal nstc version of Sunflower, I immediately Bought it, but when I tried to watch it, there was nothing to watch except grey grains. I'm still expecting Amazon to conpenate me. I hope that when Amazon.co.uk release a decent copy of Sunflower, they will send me a Blu-Ray copy free of charge.

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Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)

We all have certain films that really resonate with us, that we remember distinctively and decisively for any number of reasons. For me, Masaki Kobayashi's 1962 classic "Harakiri" is one of those experiences. I didn't know anything about the movie before I sat down to watch it, and it absolutely blew me away. A quiet morality play that really challenges the notion of what honor means, "Harakiri" has a power, honesty, and emotional impact that is earned through a surprisingly understated narrative device. Instead of explosive dramatics, the screenplay takes its time in unraveling. And this focus on character development makes the ultimate confrontation both heartrending and harrowing! When I heard that prolific Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike was on board for a remake, I had feelings of both optimism and apprehension. I think the original holds up quite well and there is little to improve. But I've followed Miike for years and loved much of his work. Though, to be fair, I don't know that I've ever considered him understated in his projects! However, my worries were unfounded. Miike approaches "Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai" with a real sense of respect, restraint and maturity.

In many ways, maybe our era of financial turmoil is the perfect time to resurrect this story. "Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai" tells of a time when many legendary swordsmen found themselves struggling to get by. These ronin, having no house or master, were left with little but their honor and their swords to survive in economically challenging times. As "Hara-Kiri" opens, a samurai named Hanshiro (Ebizo Ichikawa) approaches the house of the ruling lord to request the opportunity to commit ritual suicide (considered an honorable death) in the courtyard. This has become somewhat of a trend, though. Desperate samurai are reported to be proffering these noble requests in order to save face but actually secure a position or at least a few coins from the wealthy estates. In an attempt to discourage Hanshiro, he is told an unpleasant tale of the last samurai who made such an offer in this house. But Hanshiro is undaunted and seems to have an agenda of his own. As the personal tale unfolds, "Hara-Kiri" becomes a slow burn morality play about suffering, sacrifice, and real honor.

Miike really takes his time in "Hara-Kiri," and this may be off-putting to those anticipating a traditional Japanese epic with plenty of sword play. The opening sequences in the movie provide at least one unforgettable scene that Miike draws out beyond all reason for the exquisite anguish of it all. Truly remarkable. And the end is fully satisfying as well. But most of "Hara-Kiri" is an extremely intimate story. A tale of family, young love, and sacrifice that is bleak and unforgiving. Ichikawa is absolutely fantastic as Hanshiro, and Eita is terrific as the young samurai who initiates the tale. I'm pleased that Miike has brought this classic tale back into the spotlight. The original (available in the Criterion Collection) is still one of my all time favorites, but this update is certainly worth the time for adult audiences. Remember, though, this is not a frenetic Miike actioner. It unfolds like a good book. Patience is both required and rewarded with this story, it is not for those expecting non-stop carnage and mayhem. KGHarris, 1/13.

Takashi Miichi's remake of the iconic 1962 "Hara Kiri," directed by Masaki Kobayashi, in color and 3-D for theater-goers, would surely be acclaimed as a near masterwork, a return to the cinematic artistry that made Kobayashi and Kurosawa sublime in their time. Unfortunately for Miichi, too many of us remember the original in all its black-and-white starkness and moodiness. Remaking Hara Kiri is as presumptuous as rewriting Hamlet or recomposing The Marriage of Figaro. The good news is that Miichi follows the script and the ineluctable timing of Kobayashi's classic almost scene for scene... until the climax, the furor that erupts in the last ten minutes. To compare the climactic scenes would constitute an atrocious spoilage, so I won't. But I will say that Miichi's finale discards the profound historical significance of Kobayashi's. Both films are quite worth seeing, believe me, even on successive evenings.

The most salient difference, nevertheless, needs to be expressed. The original starred Tatsuyo Nakadai, whose ferocity and intensity made him the Dark counterpart to the lustiness and mirth of Toshiro Mifune. Nobody could match Nakadai in this role; Ebizo Ichikawa earns my admiration for trying.

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The movie is not spectacular, but like "the twilight samurai", it moves at a slow pace presenting an intimate view of the life in the lower strata of the samurai caste.

Using an intense story for an exploration on the nature of that culture's concept of honor.

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This movie was terrific. Some may not understand it, but for those who understand the way of the samurai and Japanese honor, you will really enjoy this movie. Not to give spoilers, but keep in mind during watching this that the main character isn't out for just revenge, he's out for honor and you will understand how it ends a lot more. Every flashback is important and every part of the storyline that is explained contains pertinent information. This is not a movie where you can not pay attention and grasp the full meaning. This being said,it is also not for the light of heart. You will be saddened, you will be shocked and let down at things. But all these elements combine to make a solid movie. If you study their culture and understand the Japanese, you will absolutely understand and honor this movie for the work of art it is. The cast and crew were chosen very wisely, and each plays their role greatly. Please enjoy !!

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WOW just wow what a great film. I saw the 1962 Hara-Kiri and I was dying to see this one. (haha)

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