Cocktail (1988)

This movie was very entertaining in all ways! I actually learned a lot from this movie as a bartender! Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown worked extremely well together. Get this movie if you want to laugh, feel sad, and then feel good again.

The story behind this film is a real hedonistic example of what most blokes would love to do. Hardly any responsibility being a bar-tender, except to those you tend and all the while having a great time. The plot is thin which is why it is so easy to understand and this is what makes the film the moment you have to think about a film like this, is the moment you miss the point. The soundtrack is great, and the movie soundtrack CD is missing some of the best songs from the film too, the best one when Tom and Elizabeth get frisky under the waterfall in Jamaica (Jimmy Cliff Shelter of Your Love). Overall, most people can relate to many aspects of this movie, and many of the situations the characters are in such as hope, love, lust, vacations to hot tropical places, and of course at the end family.

Great film you must see it if you haven't already!

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Cruise plays Brian Flanagan, I guess because people think he does a decent Irish accent. Nevertheless while under the drink mixing tutelage of "Obi-wan" Coughlin (Brown) he gets involved with Coral (Gina Gershon) later telling Coughlin of their bedroom exploits. To ensure that Flanagan sees the light, Coughlin sleeps with Coral to try to show Flanagan she was no good for him. Why Coral would sleep with Coughlin just because Flanagan said they were making nikki-nikki is a mystery (she's seen sleeping over at the apartment and all cuddily with Tom's character for God's sake). Anyway, what a pal, nice to see Coughlin really cares. Later, actually just a brief dissolve to ocean shores & islands, despite this friendship-ending dastardly deed Flanagan befriend's Coughlin while working in Jamaica. Now that (Brown) has found "true" happiness (Lynch), you'd think he'd want the same for (Tom), right? Wrong. Despite Flanagan's seriously developing affinity for Jordan (Shue), he dares (Tom) to bed the mature, rich and connected Bonnie (Lisa Banes). Of course, this destroys Cruise & Shue's chance for romance, despite his explanation that it's okay because "when a guy lays down a dare, you just got to." What kind of logic is that? Still later trying to make up with her, he claims he got spooked by Jordan, so which one is it? Finally, how nice for Hollywood to wrap everything up with death, attempted seduction, pregnancy, attempted bribery, and Flanagan striking out on his own in one of the riskiest businesses around a "Theme" bar. Although, cute at times, one has to wonder the next time someone dares Tom's character.

Read Best Reviews of Cocktail (1988) Here

This was my favorite movie growing up and I'm glad they made it into a DVD so I can continue watching it!

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Cocktail is an American classic!

Great movie, great cast, great performances!

Who doesn't love this movie?

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Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992)

I've always been a big fan of the Tenchi Muyo cosmos (can't really say world or universe cause that still wouldn't encompass all the different story lines).

I can say without a doubt this very high on my list to purchase. I've watched the fansubs multiple times. The storyline is engaging, the characters are deep and well modeled. The episodes are a satisfying 40 minutes long.

I my only problem is that 130$ (10$ per episode) for both boxes seems to be rather steep. At 70$ I would snatch the series up, but for now, I'll wait and bide my time till the prices drop.

The Thing that this series has linked with tenchi muyo is the name and one or two character references from the other series otherwise its pretty much a stand alone series. I also believe that the animation in this series is the best out of all of the Tenchi series. I wish they wouldn't have split the series up like they did but you can't ask for everything.

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I'll be the first to say this is a great series. However, Funimation's translation contained a number of issues I found extremely frustrating. There weren't too many real errors, but some of the translation choices were annoying or worse. For instance, Funimation sometimes seems to want to overemphasize genre in their translation, made obvious here with their obsessive insertion of "mecha" wherever they think they can get away with it. "Holy Armor" suddenly becomes "Sacred Mechanoid", and "Holy Knight" turns into "Sacred Mechamaster", and largely unrelated devices like Wahan's robot are given almost identical names. The ultimate result to me was to make a lot of things sound silly.

What was far worse was the series description. Where in the world did these people get the idea of the conflicts being "intergalactic"? This'd be the first intergalactic battle I've seen that takes place entirely on one planet, involving people who don't appear to have ever even heard of space flight, with one single boy from another dimension(or something) stranded there whose civilization has barely managed to reach their moon. I've often felt that Funimation's descriptions and advertisements went a little overboard emphasizing specific aspects they thought would sell (in particular focusing entirely on fanservice regardless of the story that goes along with it), showing no interest in anything past the obvious, but this's the first time they seemed to create a description that makes up a completely different story altogether.

Read Best Reviews of Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar, Part 1 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (1992) Here

Kenshi Masaki is the half brother of Tenchi Masaki. Somehow he was summoned to another planet called Geminar. He doen't know why or how he got there though. Fortunately, this planet is mostly inhabited by hot chicks that are all crazy about Kenshi. Kenshi enters a school for young mecha pilots. Part 1 of this series mainly covers his daily life and develops his relationship with the girls at the school. There is, however, trouble brewing on Geminar. A mysterious group has plans that threaten the people of Geminar, and somehow, Kenshi fits into their plan.

I expected a little more action from this series, because of the title, "War On Geminar". I think that the war actually starts in part 2. There are some major differences with this series and the original Tenchi Muyo series that this spins off of. The characters are the main difference. They are all good though. This set has 7-50 minute episodes. So it is actually a long as a 26-episode series if you include part 2. The situations are more suggestive than the original series, but there isn't any nudity. I think it should be rated PG-13, but whatever. The animation, voice acting and soundtrack are all top notch; as you probably expected from the Tenchi franchise. Although different from what I expected, this series did entertain me. I hope it picks up a bit in part 2, and I wish that it was a little cheaper. Other than those 2 little details, I think this is a good buy. If you like the older Tenchi series, you'll probably enjoy this one too.

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I first saw this series at an anime convention a few years back and was excited to see it picked up for official release on Blu-Ray/DVD in North America. I do have a few complaints. The biggest being that the audio mix seemed a bit off. The dialog and music tracks seemed a bit loud, while the sound effects seemed muted. I felt like I was watching the commentary of the episode with all of the action taking place in another room. I tried both the Blu-Ray version and the DVD on different players and audio receivers with the same results. The English soundtrack was a little better. I could hear most of the low range heavy explosions, but the midrange sound effects like gunfire and sword on sword clashing were still not very loud.

I mostly watched it in Japanese, but while comparing the soundtracks, I did notice that some of the English voice actors seemed to ad-lib or babble a bit, like they needed to fill up every bit of screen time with dialog. And some of the terms seemed overly translated like "Sacred Mechamaster" instead of Seikishi. Despite these things, I still enjoyed watching this anime again, and look forward to the second volume, where story plot picks up and the action gets more intense.

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In Too Deep (2012)

Great performance by LL Cool J and Omar Epps. Epps is a undercover trying to bring down a notorious gangster LL who find's himself getting in too deep he forget's who he is. You have some good actor's in this film Nina Long ,Pam Grier ,and apperiences by ,Nas ,Shyhiem ,and Jermanie Dupri. This film is worth getting and for LL fans you get to see a thug side of him.

I am an 18 year old white male from a high-class family.. I loved this movie.. The performance of Omar and ll cool j is just amazing.. i would recommend this movie to anyone who likes suspense movies and doesnt mind a movie about black suburbia

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This is a great movie with a cast of great actors. Omar Epps plays Jeff Cole a rookie detective that goes undercover as J.Reid to capture the infamous drug pusher 'God' played by LL Cool J. As Jeff plays the role he starts to really become J. Reid, his boss notices that he is in too deep and pulls him from the case and sends him away until things cools out. Thats where he meets and falls in love with Myra played by Nia Long. He eventually get put back on the case and proceeds to become J.Reid. Because god's main man crossed him J.Reid becomes his main man and god trust him with everything which brings about his down fall. Omar Epps was so convensing in this movie that I thought he wasn't going to turn him over, but in the end he remember who he is and does. Just all around great

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This film was DEEP. I have not seen it in a while, but plan to see it again. This movie is when I realized LL Cool J would not be a rapper turned actor that would end up in actors oblivion. This man had me HATING him, and I love me some Cool J. Omar Epps plays a cop who goes undercover, and has to gain the trust of a big drug lord (LL Cool J). The movie kind of reminded me of Deep Cover a little. It had that element of is he still a cop or is he a thug now element. The film is not great, but good enough to keep you interested.

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In Too Deep is a movie about a police officer who goes under cover to bust a Drug Lord. What you get in this movie are 2 strong performances by Omar Epps and LL Cool J (who is quickly showing that his greater talent lies in acting). I would recommend renting this before a purchase but this is a good movie.

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Another Cinderella Story (2008)

Usually sequals do not turn out so good (this is not really a sequal) but it was enjoyable to watch... Even though this is completely different than the Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff, it has a similar plot and everything; however I actually liked it better than the "Cinderella Story". It had the masked ball as well but it goes well with the following events and Mary's preparation to go in the path of dancing. This is supposed to be a musical version of the "a Cinderella Story".

Mary (Selena Gomez) works for Dominique, her step mother, and her two step-sisters. She bumps into Joey Parker [the guy she has had a crush on since maybe 11 years old ] several times and dance at the school masked ball. She heads home early so that Dominique will not find out and Joey Parker who is a dancer/singer looks for her.

Mary loves and practices dancing on her own time and basically dancing is what brings Mary and Joey together.

I recommend this movie which is good all the way (music and acting).

I was surfing the internet one day and I came across a plot for Another Cinderella Story.

I thought, imidiatly, oh no! Don't do it! Sequals to happily ever after movies like A Cinderella Story never work! Never.

Boy, was I wrong.

I watched this expecting the worst [and I knew that Disney Channel Stars would, of course, be playing the lead parts] and I was pleasently surprised.

I actually like this movie just as much as the first. I think the fact that it's a Dance movie with lots of plot changes and twists makes it edgey and a good laugh!

I must say, although I wasn't expecting to, I really enjoyed this!

And Selena Gomez is a very talented actress/singer/dancer which I hadn't realised before watching this. I don't think Disney Channel does her justice.

Drew Seeley was also very good and I hadn't realised he could act. I thought he was just a singer.

All in all I loved it and I think it's worth checking it out if you're a Dance movie fan or if you like the first Cinderella Story.

Hayley.

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2008's Cinderella Story is a cute, child-friendly story about a washed up pop-star named Dominique whose deceased dancer left her daughter Mary(Selena Gomez) in her custody, and now of course she slaves away for her doing terrible and ridiculous things like vacuuming the driveway. Mary secretly desires to be a dancer, stowing away to class hidden behind the mirror, where only she can see how good she really is; that is until teen idol Joey Parker(Drew Seeley) comes back to his 'roots' to finish high school and be a 'normal teenager'.

The high school goes crazy when Joey arrives, especially when he announces his upcoming contest for the best dancer to dance with him in an upcoming project. Post the school's black and white dance where Mary and Joey tango together he can't forget about his mystery girl, and is looking for her with her music player she left at the scene of the crime.

I do have a number of complaints, the foremost being the sheer fact that along with the previous 'Cinderella Story' I am not stupid enough to believe that wearing a small mask hides who you are. Last I checked philosophers have always deemed the eyes to be the windows to the soul, and I can see clearly that you are in that spicy red dress Selena. I can clearly see that it is you who is dancing with Drew, it is not difficult. (Same goes for you Miss. Duff!)

Also the fact that Seeley is 10 years older then Gomez freaks me out more then just a little, and no wonder the complete lack of chemistry all together. (What happened there?)

I will admit that some of the songs are cute and catchy like 'new classic' and 'tell me something I don't know'. Although I may be ashamed to listen to them frequently, Seeley's Timberlake-esque vocals plus that typical pop sound are a good(if tired) combination.

Overall it's a cute, predictable movie that is perfect for it's target audience, which can't be said for some of the others in it's category.

Read Best Reviews of Another Cinderella Story (2008) Here

Not an acting wonder but fun to watch. Music good. Hidden humor amusing. Basic Cinderella story. No foul language or sex

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I enjoy this film much more than i probably should for my age. While nothing original, it managed not to feel overly cookie cutter/canned. It's a film that I can watch over and over.

The Stepsister's acting is atrocious, but most of the other main characters did well. Good story.

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Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2012)

[This is a review of the film, not the Blu-Ray itself, which has not yet been released.]

A beautifully shot, deliberately paced existentialist meditation on crime, relationships, and truth. Shot mostly in gorgeous long takes that take full advantage of the widescreen aspect ratio, the film requires (and rewards) patient viewing. The first half of the film, in which a late-night caravan of law enforcement officials drive two murder suspects to a series of nearly identical rural wells, looking for the location of a buried body, is brilliant. It echoes Waiting for Godot, as the seemingly endless search for the body fades into the background, and the focus turns to conversations about personal problems, petty bureaucracy, differing values, and the meaning of life. As the film continues, different members of the caravan wax and wane in importance, each offering a different perspective on life and one's place in the world. The final act of the film -which occurs back in town the following day -drags a bit, but contains powerful revelations.

Despite it's subtle metaphysical explorations, this film is also a highly realistic police procedural. It is very faint praise to say that this film is the anti-CSI, but it's cynical views of truth and justice contrast starkly with TV procedurals. A vain prosecutor basks in his role and makes up facts for convenience, no one has remembered to bring a body bag (or a hearse) for the corpse, the gendarmes are more concerned about where municipal boundaries fall than anything else, a critical medical discovery is fudged, there are rumors the murder victim has been seen alive in neighboring towns, and nothing is wrapped up in an hour, let alone 150 minutes...

This is a film for patient viewers who enjoy the liesurely-paced works of Malick, von Trier, Kiarostami, Tarkovsky or other auteurs of so-called Contemporary Contemplative Cinema.

Anatolia is not an easy film, and those expecting a mystery will probably be disappointed. It is a dark, atmospheric movie--the night scenes are claustrophobic and spattered with little beauties; the dialog is at times funny (especially during a heated argument about yogurt), but as the story progress it becomes oppressive (intentionally, I think). The landscape, which is often mentioned in reviews, is not necessarily beautiful, but desolate and repeating, marked by landmarks which are almost indiscernible from one another, especially in the dark (this old bridge, or that one, this fountain or that one, this plowed field or that plowed field). In the end, I found the movie difficult to sit through, almost exhausting, and I think much of the meaning is to be found the critique of language, and its place in the process of law and order in this small Turkish community. I felt like I was supposed to understand what being a man or woman means in this narrative (gender seems important, and desire), but I come up without any surprising answers to that question. In fact, the film doesn't reach many conclusions, and outside of a scene where the search party is served tea, by the beautiful daughter of a local village head, there weren't many moments in Anatolia where it felt like there was something really glimmering below the surface. It is an interesting film, and all the performances are strong. It is less eventful, grittier, and more cerebral than I thought it would be. I will probably watch it again.

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It is by complete coincidence that only 3 months ago, I watch one of director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's earlier movies, the beautiful "Climates" movie from 2007, on DVD (see my review posted here on Amazon). When I saw that his latest movie hit the theatre, I couldn't wait to see it (saw it the Landmark E Street theatre in Washington).

"Once Upon a Time in Anatolia" (2011 release from Turkey; 150 min.) bring the (apparently based on true events) story of a group of men trying to finish off a murder investigation by locating the body of the victim in the Anatolian region of Turkey. The movie starts at dusk and covers the next 24 hrs. The group (traveling in 3 cars) go from one geographic area to the next as the confessed killer tries to remember where exactly he buried the victim, but he has trouble recalling the exact setting, as he was drunk when he murdered the victim. But eventually, they come to the right spot. The body is taken to the village for a final autopsy. I am leaving some details out, but that is pretty much the main story of the movie. Generally, I don't post the entire plot of the movie in my reviews but I make an exception here, because the story line is not the main point of the movie. Indeed, the movie is instead a study of characters, and simply observes. Check out the scene where, when the group takes a break and has dinner in a local outpost, the beautiful teenage daughter of the houselord brings out tea for the group. That scene alone (which probably takes about 10 min. or so) is worth watching the movie for in and of itself, just outstanding.

I don't know how well this movie will translate onto DVD as seeing it in the theatre transfixes you on the incredible job that Ceylan does in bringing this character study into focus, and the Anatolian scenry plays a huge part in the movie and surely will get lost some on the small screen. With this movie, Ceylan takes "slow developing" to another level, but I thought it worked beautifully. This movie was a co-winner of the Grand Prix at the 2011 Cannes film festival (the other winner being Belgium's Le Gamin au Velo, check out that movie too!). Bottom line, this movie is MILES away from your standard Hollywood fare, and then some. But if you like a good slow-developing character study movie, by all means check this out!

Read Best Reviews of Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2012) Here

A unique group of men with a murder suspect among them are driving together in a car in the middle of the night, just using their headlights to search for a corpse. The murder suspect states that he was drunk, and didn't remember where he buried the body. During the course of the evening, secrets are revealed among the group, bringing many more questions to light after finding the victim. Acting performance is Superb, the mystery of the murder and all evidence found through investigation was very interesting and you waited with a curious mind to find out final conclusions. Thrilling, images are fantastic in scenes, and this is one I'd watch again. Highly Recommended for all mystery lovers!

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I really appreciated the night photography of lights and shadows in the first half of the film. It was beautiful and soulful, though very slow and lingering. This is the photographer in me writing and the main reason for wanting to rate it high. The photography in the second half in daylight was just fine and interesting, but not exceptional as in the first.

This film was very slow and I think culturally imbedded and best for the "foreign film" audience and not just the "art film" audience. I had a lot of trouble relating to small town Turkey and I am sure I missed a great deal that I wanted to understand about the story itself. Part of that was that a lot was going on in people's faces as they talked and I needed to read the subtitles while they were talking and so could not pay as much attention to their expressions as the words were spoken as I felt I needed to.

Yet I think enough did get through about rural Turkish sociology and psychology that the film was satisfactory and instructive even if I missed a lot of the implied reality beneath the surface. And I think that was one point of the film -that there are layers of reality hidden beneath endless formalities and efforts to be polite. As in poetry, a lot is left to the subverbal insights of the reader/viewer. This film was quite poetic in this sense, in my opinion.

People were endlessly preoccupied with the "form" of things and how they should do this and that and what they should say and write and always looking to authority. And yet it was clear, to me at least, that this was in a sense "adaptive" in that it allowed them to just get on with lives that were commonly beneath it all sad, boring, confusing, and uncertain.

I would just be guessing about what actually was going on under the surface in terms of "plot" or "story." Part of my own difficulty is that the interactions were subtle and at critical points I was not sure if I should trust the translations in the subtitles. Maybe all this would not even be clear for all I can say if I were a Turkish viewer. Actually I doubt that even for sophisticated movie-going Turks this is a "mystery movie" in the American sense where a mystery is revealed and clues all fit together by the end, at least with a little thought or conversation over strong coffee after leaving the theatre. So I am not going to share my guesses here, because I am tending right now to think they (any!)would be idle speculation. A Turkish viewer might be able to say for certain that there was an obvious solution to "the mystery."

But I do think -right now -that this was more a portrait and a meditation. I can best appreciate it if I look at it this way. It will stick in my mind as such.

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Gnomeo & Juliet (Gnoméo & Juliette) (2011) (2011)

A wonderful movie that my children loved going to. While maybe not the best animated movie of all times it was cute and explored a story line that was new....not just the villain and the super hero story line. It kept you interested and did not cause me to look at my watch to see "how much longer."

SPOILER ALERT:

For those who are disappointed that it did not hold true to Romeo and Juliet dieing...seriously...do we really need little kids to attach to a character who then in the ends commits suicide and "the love of her life" kills himself. Can't we leave the harshness out of a children's movie and let them laugh and be children.

I was not looking forward to watching this movie, My wife saw it for 8.99 new from a seller and BAM two days later it was in my mailbox!!

I almost threw it away and hope she would forget about ordering......however right when I walked in the door, "did my movie come!?!?!"

As you could guess an hour later I was watching it and to mu surprise this was not a bad little movie. not a great Disney classic but I have seen much worse as of late, very cute movie and would be great for any family or for any couple that like a little goofy in there romance.

I would actually watch this movie again and recommend for others to as well.

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As parents to a six-year-old girl, my husband and I are constantly on the look-out for tolerable kid-friendly shows that we can take her to (at the movies). I say tolerable because quality is often lacking in many of these films and then there's the issue of PG vs. G ratings. Well, when we heard Gnomeo and Juliet was being screened at our local cinema, we decided to give it a try, and to our surprise, our picky 6-year-old loved it!

I have to say that this movie is mainly for young children. It is full of color, which will appeal to most kids, and there are adorable garden gnomes running around. My husband fell asleep within fifteen minutes (to be fair, he had had a long day at work), but my daughter's attention was riveted to the screen from the beginning till the end. Me? I enjoyed the music (thanks to Elton John who obligingly helped with the soundtrack featuring his classic hits his partner David Furnish was a producer on this film). I also sort of enjoyed the silly premise instead of the doomed star-crossed Romeo and Juliet, we have warring garden gnomes, the Reds and the Blues, and two impish and totally cute gnomes, Juliet (a Red, voiced by Emily Blunt) and Gnomeo (a Blue, voiced by James McAvoy) who flirt and later fall for each other despite their differences.

The casting is a sort of coup really given the famous names featured here there's Jim Cummings, Patrick Stewart, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more! The movie is a kaleidoscope of color and at times this can get a tad overwhelming but the children appeared to love it, so my verdict awesome entertainment for the kiddie set!

Read Best Reviews of Gnomeo & Juliet (Gnoméo & Juliette) (2011) (2011) Here

I went to the drive-in to see this movie last night with my 9YO child (at their suggestion) and I would latter find out that was their second time seeing this movie.

5 minutes into this movie I was saying to myself, "this is going to be a LONG 90 minutes and I hope it goes by quickly".

About 15 minutes into the movie, everything started to come together and I found myself very interested.

Then, what felt like the blink of an eye, the movie was over and I found myself yearning for more.

I loved it and I'm typically a critical person. I'm going to purchase it once it comes out.

If you have any expectations of this movie you're going to be disappointed. It's a "G" rated movie with a very simple story line. Considering and stating that, I think all age groups could appreciate this movie.

I found it to be cute and adorable and a tear-jerker at some points.

If you liked Curious George, I think you would like this?

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Took my granddaughter to see this with zero expectation of enjoying it, (SPOILER) but when I saw Jason Statham as the bully and the great Death Race scene, I perked up. A lot of other movie references and great Elton John music (Elton Johns gnome cracked me up) made this the best Shakespeare movie since Shakespeare In Love. A lot of the humor will go right over kids heads, but they'll love the colorful characters and music.

Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

I've read the book and seen the movie. The book will keep you awake at night and the movie will leave you breathless. It's one thing to read the words because you have to rely on your imagination to form the images from the author's words. Seeing those words accurately portrayed on the screen is incredible.

This is, bar none, Gerard Butler's crowning performance. Sam Childers pulled no punches about himself in the book and Butler truly brought the man to life on the screen. He isn't just an actor playing a part; in this movie it's almost as if he *becomes* Childers. The scene where he returns to retrieve the children he had to leave behind is, IMO, mindblowing. The scene in which he confronts and overcomes his crisis of faith is moving in the extreme.

I won't minimize: This story, in the book and on the screen, is horribly disturbing, and I can't stress that enough. However, it is incredibly powerful, thought-provoking, complex and heart-rending. Once you've seen this movie, you definitely won't forget it.

Honestly, I'd give it ten stars without hesitation...

I've seen the film 6 times in 6 different places all across the country, and I saw it with Sam Childers the first time he saw it. It's an amazing story about a nearly unbelievable journey by a man who went from crazy bad to crazy good, 'cos it takes a little crazy to do what he'd done as a young man and what he's done in Africa over the past decade. Fortunately there is less confrontation with the LRA in the area where the Shekinah Children's Village is near Nimule, South Sudan; and Sam Childers is spreading his feeding programs wider across central and east Africa where they're needed so badly, like in Somalia and Darfur. The book Another Man's War, the feature film Machine Gun Preacher and the upcoming documentary film will touch your heart in some fashion. Gerard Butler does a terrific job portraying both the old and new Sam. The Machine Gun Preacher DVD will be my gift for Christmases and birthdays for the next several years.

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I'm giving 5 stars to the trailer. The trailer advertised limited release. All the money spent to produce this film and then limited release? I live in the country in Texas. I will have to wait and buy the movie to see it. I read the book the movie was based on and then bought more books to share with friends.

I saw a review that said the movie under performed. Of course it would under perform on limited release! Then we're stuck with the garbage Hollywood puts out the rest of the year. Maybe it's just because the word Preacher is in the title.

Frustrated with Hollywood!

Read Best Reviews of Machine Gun Preacher (2011) Here

This is one of the tougher movies I've ever tried to rate. It is entirely due to my difficulty in separating the story from the movie.

Here's the scoop. Sam Childers is a bad guy. We meet him as he's getting out of prison. He's a junkie biker. He has no reservations about inflicting serious pain on people. He wants his wife, who has found Jesus and a respectable job, to go back to being a stripper. After a particularly rough bout with drugs he begins to re-examine his life. He goes straight. Finds a job. Builds a church. Starts a construction company. Goes to the Sudan to help out there and finds he genuinely cares about the lives of those people. He's now on a mission.

This is certainly a great story. Here's a guy who's scraping the bottom of the barrel, turns himself around, and becomes a true, moving force in the lives of a tortured people. But I don't know if the movie itself is all that spectacular. The director, Mark Forster, has had some outstanding movies to his credit. He seemed to want to play this one straight, with little razzle dazzle. But it all seemed too familiar. I felt as though I'd seen most of these scenes before in other movies. There was too little here that was fresh. It was all very professional and tight. You could practically set your watch to it it was so evenly paced. Maybe that was the problem. It needed something to shake loose from the normal.

This is by no means a bad movie and it's easy to watch. During the closing credits the viewer is treated to actual footage of Childers and others depicted in the movie. This is a serious plus. Some might take exception to the Jesus thumping, gun toting point of view, but that's how the story goes. It just needed something to take it to the next level.

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I feel very fortunate to be one of the few people who was able to see Machine Gun Preacher in the theater, since it was not shown in very many places!! (For some UNEXPLAINED reason!?!) It was an EXCELLENT movie........very moving, POWERFUL, thought-provoking, and well-acted by everyone.....especially Gerard Butler! He absolutely nailed the character of Sam Childers. He was not a very likeable person in the beginning, as he was just plain no-good....into drugs, crime, etc. After a missionary trip to Africa, his whole focus changed into wanting to save the children from the LRA. It was an AMAZING transformation and one that really should be shared. Although it does have parts that are sad to watch, it IS based on a true story and it does make people aware of the unimaginable atrocities that still occur around the world! I can't wait until it comes out on DVD so that I can watch it again!!

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The Night Porter

"The Night Porter" must have been one of those films that shocked people when it first came out. Directed by Liliana Cavani and sporting a garish cover on the Criterion Collection DVD (yes, the cover image does come from a scene in the movie, but not in the way you would think), "The Night Porter" deals with extremely unpleasant psychological situations stemming from the holocaust. The film is definitely not for everyone, but those capable of keeping an open mind may find much to like about this generally repulsive piece of art house cinema. You have to hand it to Criterion for continuing to release pristine transfers of films considered anathema to mainstream audiences. My experiences with this DVD company have introduced me to such wondrous delights as "Blood for Dracula," "Man Bites Dog," "Peeping Tom," "Hearts and Minds," and several other challenging titles. My only gripe with Criterion concerns the cost of their DVDs, which often seem quite high even for such great movies.

"The Night Porter" is about a night porter working in a fancy hotel in Vienna, Austria twelve years after the end of World War II. If the movie merely touched on the surface aspects involving night portering, it would be a dull affair indeed. How to make a film delving into the multifaceted fascinations of checking in luggage, or taking phone calls from irate customers? No, "The Night Porter" has little to do with the hotel industry and much to do with a hideous relationship between two tortured souls. The night porter at this particular hotel, Max Aldorfer (Dirk Bogarde), was once an SS officer assigned to a concentration camp where he tortured and killed inmates. Post war investigations into war atrocities has Max and his fellow Nazi henchmen on edge; they meet often to discuss their efforts to suppress evidence and other ways to cover their tracks. Max is ambivalent about these meetings, and becomes even more so after a chance meeting with a woman he had a very special relationship with in the camp. This woman, Lucia Atherton (Charlotte Rampling), initially expresses horror at seeing her former lover/tormentor in the flesh after all these years, but then something grim and repellent happens. The sick spark that united victim and oppressor all those years ago blossoms anew. Lucia feigns a lame excuse to her husband about staying behind so she can indulge her desires for Max. And this is only the beginning of the trouble.

Max's friends express great alarm about this relationship. They see Lucia's presence as a significant danger to their yearning for anonymity, and they want Max to jettison the love affair and come over to their way of thinking. Max suspects spending time with Atherton presents a danger to him, but he cannot bear the idea of giving her up again. He secrets her away in his apartment in an effort to hide the relationship from his companions, who warn Max that keeping this woman in bondage will force them to take drastic measures to insure their secrecy. The former Nazi's go so far as to monitor Max's apartment twenty four hours a day, taking pot shots at him whenever he sticks his head outside for even a minute. When Max and Lucia run out of food and drink, they make a terrible decision about their future that will have permanent, unpleasant results for the pair.

It would be easy to write off "The Night Porter" as an exploitation film, a movie in the same vein as Tinto Brass's "Salon Kitty" or "Ilsa: She-Wolf of the SS," two films which borrow themes from National Socialist Germany to make a cheap statement about the nightmare of the holocaust. "The Night Porter" does contain many disturbing images that could rate as exploitation fare: the flashbacks to the concentration camp where Max and Lucia first meet immediately comes to mind, as does the little dance number Lucia performs for her lover and a room full of SS officers. Having said that, I really don't feel this movie is exploitative. There is something more going on here than mere sensationalism, perhaps a statement about the nature of power and how it pertains to love during a horrific event. I would need to watch the film again to examine Lucia's desire for Max, but for the former SS officer I think the need to relive a time when he was a man with position and power is the main reason he rekindles this doomed relationship. Here's a guy who held the power of life and death over thousands of people, and now he works as a lowly hotel clerk. Why wouldn't he want to taste again the rush of power he gets when he dominates Lucia in his apartment? Sure, it is sick, but people do inexplicable things in relationships all the time that are just as disturbing.

A quick note on the performances: Charlotte Rampling and Dirk Bogarde both excel in their respective roles. Rampling especially is always easy on the eyes and has a wonderfully expressive face capable of transmitting complex emotions to the audience without uttering a word. If for no other reason, you should watch this film just to see these two actors turn in amazing performances. Married with a marvelous picture transfer, sumptuous set pieces, gloomy atmosphere, and a great script, "The Night Porter" is a one of a kind film that is sure to make an impression. Thanks again, Criterion, for releasing yet another brilliant cinematic oddity.

Jeffrey Leach has written an extraordinarily insightful review of "The Night Porter," and I just want to add a few lines, as otherwise I'd just be repeating him. I recommend that anyone trying to understand this film read his review for help with the extremely difficult territory it explores.

For those who find the film to be exploitive or perverse (in an unrealistic way), please remember that we now know, as a result of so much information gathered regarding the sexuality of children who were abused during their formative years, that if a girl, young and inexperienced as Rampling's Lucia was when she was in the concentration camp, finds the right combination of emotional tenderness (as in Max's kissing of her wounded arm) and sexual stimulation/initiation, these experiences become so deeply imprinted as to be easily re-awakened in adulthood. After the intensity of such experiences, "normal" sexuality can seem dead and flat, not at all a match for the earlier times of dis-inhibtion. While this may be difficult and even offensive for those who have no similar touchstone of experience, psychologically it is accurate--frighteningly so--and "The Night Porter" shows us just how far it can go. When Lucia puts on the little girl's dress she's purchased, the image is jarring but sums up the truth of her stunted psychological and sexual development. We end up wondering whether she ever had a passionate moment with her oh-so-normal husband. With the experiences of the camp having been the most intense and indelible of her life, how could she not seek to re-create them? And how could Max, who despite his sadistic acts seems to have genuinely fallen in love with "his little girl," not fall backwards himself into the time when they were locked together in the deepest relationship of all--two people may never be closer than victim and torturer, completely dependent upon one another for the only human contact either has. Hence we see the Stockholm Syndrome constantly repeated, abused girls become abused women, etc. As Lucia says to a former Nazi doctor who comes to Max's apt. to check on the situation, "There is no cure." Whether one agrees or not, whether it is true for everyone or not, it is accepted as true by these two, and all their actions spring from this perception.

Liliana Cavani's precise and compassionate direction gives her characters the safety they needed (Rampling is astoundingly courageous in her no-holds-barred performance--most actresses would have run screaming from this role), and Bogarde is memorable as this strange combination of father/lover. Together the three create this dark and disturbing but deeply human story of damaged people who somehow find a way to live fully for a brief time before their end.

One last note: I agree with Mr. Leach that Criterion can be too expensive, but at least they give us what no one else will touch.

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Despite the misleading cover photo, this is not another stab at exploitive and kitschy WW2 sick humor a la "Ilsa:She-Wolf of the SS", but a far more ambitious and artful work of cinema. Disturbing and repulsive, yet quite compelling, "The Night Porter" brilliantly uses a depiction of sado-masochism and pycho-sexual politics as an effective allusion to the horror of Hitler's Germany. Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling are both broodingly decadent as a former SS officer and concentration camp survivor, respectively, who end up in a twisted, doomed relationship years after the war. You would have to search high and low to find two braver performances than Bogarde and Rampling give in this complex story (Harvey Keitel and Holly Hunter in "The Piano" comes the closest). Like the film "Seven Beauties", the "sex" you think you're watching is really a subliminal lesson on the ugly politics of facism and oppression. Obviously, this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but recommended for any cinema buff up for a challenge.

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One of the great cult films of the early 70's, The Night Porter can be viewed as a treatise on the decadence of the Nazi regime or an exploration of the lingering ties between abuser and abused. Gruesome and surreal in some scenes, passionate and haunting in others, it is definitely one you will never forget. The cabaret scene and the final image of the two doomed companions walking along still haunts me today. If you are looking for a great cult movie or just something different, well now you've found it!

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Being 21-years-old at the time of this review, I had never seen many of the decadent films to come out of Europe during the 1970s, let alone any that dealt with the Nazi Party or The Holocaust. After a good deal of reading online, I ordered "The Night Porter" from Amazon, and decided to give it a try.

Needless to say, I've been haunted for days.

Lucia (Charlotte Rampling in an outstanding performance) arrives in 1957 Vienna, along with her composer husband. A Holocaust survivor who has gone on to live quite a comfortable life, her picture-perfect existence is shattered when she encounters Max (Dirk Bogarde), her ex-Nazi captor, tormentor and lover, whom she had an affair with for many years.

Max is hiding out in Vienna, working as a night porter in the hotel and hoping to avoid standing trial for his crimes. A member of a kind of support group for fellow nazis, he and his comrades seekt to eliminate any witnesses who could send them to prison -or even death. Agonized over his love for Lucia and the loyalty to his friends, Max decides to go into hiding, where the sadistic/masochistic nature of his past affair begins to resurface.

Never before had I seen a film quite so dark, so decadent, so psychologically penetrating. Rampling in particular is as beautiful as she is heartbreaking; for only someone who was truly mentally ill would continue a relationship as violent as the one she shared. Bogarde fairs equally as well, portraying Max's feelings of anger and love with an eerie authenticity.

The most disturbing part of the movie is that we the audience *know* there cannot be a happy ending; that disaster looms at any moment and that these two people have been traumatized (perhaps beyond repair) by the events of WWII. In my opinion, this is what made "The Night Porter" so realistic -by showing that the after effects of the Holocaust can and will be felt for decades after the war ended. Perhaps even today.

In sum, if you are in the mood to watch a film that portrays violence and sex as one of the same, withouth the requisite happy ending, than "The Night Porter" may very well be for you. While the film doesn't go into much detail about the Nazi party speciifically, it builds such an aura of tension and doom that it doesn't even matter. This may not be the happiest film to ever be made, but it remains among the most memorable.

Killshot (2011)

This movie with Mickey Rouke and Diane Lane was a super action movie with alot of surprises. Mickey plays a great hire for kill person who surprises you at every turn. Diane Lane was really good in her role.The scene with Rouke where he does something that is totally unsupected was a cool scene. edge of seat movie.

i truelly liked this movie alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! alot of mickey rourkes movies go straight to dvd (blu ray). so when i order one, its sight unseen. and this movie proved to me to be alot better. i loved his character in this. and with that long braid he reminds me of my brother in it. worth it and get it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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good movie keeps you interested all through the movie, both the actors are very good and really do a great job intertaining you

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I was really excited to purchase this film watched the previews couldn't wait to get my hands on it this film was simply awesome

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I don't know if I would have liked it or not, the CD would not play or load on CD player. Hopefully future customers will not have my bad experience!

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Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

When I first read this book,

I was just a tot. So,

I decided to see the movie -

And I liked it quite a lot!

I'll try to keep this short,

but I can't make promises here.

The movie is too great,

your children should not fear.

I know this book;

I can tell you the tale,

and here is that story,

in some minor detail:

The mayor gathers everyone

in town square

But Horton can't tell them -

he's really there.

All of the Who's and Who-ville

are unlike you and me,

They are people whom

we cannot see.

Of course, no one believes Horton,

which is sad -

the Kangaroo is making sure

that it will all go bad,

the animals rally around the kangaroo,

and they would say,

"We don't want Horton in the forest,

at all, to stay."

Horton's an elephant,

living in what we call "our world".

In the jungle of Nool there are animals,

young and old.

Who-Ville is on a flower,

and in it are all the Who.

No one can hear them but Horton,

but still, could you?

A great story, of course,

and as bad it is to say,

such examples of Kangaroos

can be found today.

I love this quote,

when Horton is about to fall,

He shouts, "A person's a person,

no matter how small!".

You should go see this movie,

I'm not afraid to tell,

the acting is great, the animation

is flawless, as well.

I won't ruin the movie,

but let me quote you this now,

although it's not in the book,

it sums up my review; how?

"I meant what I said,

and I said what I meant.

An elephant's faithful,

one hundred percent!"

Update 9/11/2012: A few people have e-mailed me asking where I got this, why doesn't it rhyme properly sometimes, etc. I actually wrote this back in high school after we were required to imagine a Dr. Seuss book as a movie and write a review on it. The quote "I meant what I said and I said what I meant," is actually from the book "Horton Hatches an Egg" by Dr. Seuss. I wrote this. Sorry it doesn't rhyme sometimes! And, for those curious, I received an A on this project in high school, as my review was the only one that rhymed.

Dr. Seuss is like a childhood staple, and it is so wonderful to see the everlasting presence he has on literature, even today. With my unending love for the writer, I'm actually shocked it took me this long to actually see `Horton Hears a Who' but I finally did and I must say that I absolutely loved it.

The film follows the tale of an Elephant named Horton who is a beloved teacher in his jungle town. When he hears a high pitched cry for help on a tiny speck floating in mid-air, he risks his life and reputation to save it. His former friends and neighbors, spurred on by Kangaroo, turn on him and label him a risk to the values of their community. If you can't see it or hear it then it must not be real. Alas, Horton is an elephant, and elephants are faithful 100%, so he presses on in his determination to find that speck a safe home. It's a good thing too, since on that tiny little speck there is an entire world of Who's, tiny people living in a world where nothing bad ever happens. The Mayor of Whoville joins forces with Horton to save his people from destruction at the hands of the mean spirited Kangaroo.

Speaking volumes about acceptance, perseverance and the power of kindness, this wonderful film captures the heart and soul of Seuss and makes it perfectly accessible to your little ones. The films themes can be taken a few different ways (depending on your personal stance), which is quite possibly the point, but the obvious moral here is one that is universally understood.

I loved the animation choices; with rich, lush backdrops elaborating the worlds created here, and I really loved the inserts of Anime inspired segments and even classic Disney'ish moments that add splashes of color and excitement.

The narration is also splendid and adds a poetic essence to the film.

I really commend this film for `going there' without forgetting their key audience. This is an animated film FOR CHILDREN and it remembers that while crafting the sequences of peril. While there are moments of tension, nothing is so extreme that children will lose themselves in fear. As much as I love and adore `Toy Story 3' and many other animated films as of late, it seems all too common to forget that young kids are easily shaken. `Horton Hears a Who' understands the importance of maintaining a certain level of innocence; so when Kangaroo bows her head in shame and then, when prompted, returns a kind deed with another, you can sit back and feel content that this film not only entertained your kids, but it taught them a valuable lesson as well (without giving them nightmares).

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Great fun for Dr. Seuss fans. Animation is top notch. Talent is top notch. Digital Copy works great on my iPhone 3G now I can watch it again wherever I am. I think more movies should include a Digital Copy...great feature. I highly recommend picking this up...you will NOT be disappointed!!

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This is by far one of the best animations ever made. The colors vibrantly "jump out at you" and the cartoon is very entertaining. Horton the playful good-natured elephant protects the microsopic city of Who-ville in the jungle with amusing results. It teaches you that "a person is a person no matter how small." Don't miss this feel-good movie with many laughs for people of all ages.

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I haven't actually watched the movie with my son yet, but the other reviewers that claim no audio CD is included are wrongthe audio CD is in the DVD case. I ordered this as a Christmas present for my son, and everything listed in the item description was included. The stuffed animal is a little larger than a typical Beanie Baby, and the DVD case includes both the DVD and the audio CD.

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Steelbook Blu-ray

I'm a senior citizen who loves Harry Potter. I have read the first 3 books and will purchase "The Goblet of Fire" on books on tape.

I won't go into the plot. Suffice it to say it follows the book. The acting was wonderful by our 3 main stars. There is not enough of Alan Rickman, a truly wonderful actor. Kenneth Branagh was so-so and I don't know the man who played Lucious Malfoy but he was perfect. I hated him in "The Patriot" and hated him even more here. Richard Harris will be sorely missed. What a fine performance for his last film.

I never realized that the film was 2 3/4 hours. The time flew. The special effects are outstanding.

I liked the further character development. You see what a wonderful and loving family Ron Weesley comes from. You find out why Hagrid is the way he is. You also get to realzie why Draco Malfoy is the way he is when you get to see the father.

There was so much to see. So much to enjoy.

For the first movie, I saw the movie first and then read the book. For this story, I read the book first and then saw the movie. Either way, I was thrilled with both movies.

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward the the third movie.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see "The Chamber of Secrets", please go and see it. It's a treat for the eyes, mind and soul.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

"The Chamber of Secrets" novel in the Harry Potter series is generally considered the weakest of J. K. Rowling's books it does not have the joyful discovery of "Philosopher's Stone", the dark twists of "Prisioner of Azkaban" or the epic nature of "Goblet of Fire", but is simply a very good story. However, I predict its relative simplicity will make "Chamber of Secrets" the most successful book-to-movie translation in the series, as it is undoubtably better than the first movie, and it will be a daunting task for film-makers to tackle the intricate plot lines of book three and the collosal book four.

Like all the books, "Chamber" begins midway through the summer as Harry's twelfth birthday is nearing, and again he faces a rather dismal one in the company of his horrible uncle, aunt and cousin. Excitement is already on the move however, as when Harry enters his bedroom the house elf Dobby is waiting for him, who warns him that under no circumstances is he to return to Hogwarts, where a great danger is waiting for him.

But return he does, after being rescued from his family by the Weasley family and the now-famous flying blue Ford Angelia, and indeed finds what Dobby promised something is stalking the halls of Hogwarts, putting all the students in great danger. Taking it upon himself to save his beloved home Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione seek out the clues, and find themselves facing a terrible evil. In a story filled with giant spiders, savage willow trees, magical swords, disembodied voices, mysterious diaries, glorious phoenixes, flying cars and Quidditch matches, the action and excitement doesn't let up until the ending credits.

Once again Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson return as the three main protagonists, and I'm glad to say that while their acting was a little awkward in the first movie (understandable for newcomers) they've mellowed out and are much more natural with their characters and each other. Under-rated actor Tom Felton is again wickedly good, and Maggie Smith (McGonagall), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Alan Rickman (Snape) roll out brilliant performances. Unfortunatly I can't say the same for Richard Harris Dumbledore in my mind is an elderly yet lively and energetic man, yet here I was petrified he was going to kneel over any second.

The best part of any sequel in a series is the myraid of new characters to see, including the afore mentioned Dobby, the mysterious and sinister Tom Riddle, the narcissic Gilderoy Lockhart (played with great pizzazz by Kenneth Branaugh), and pompous Cornelius Fudge, and more of the Weasley family more from Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, an introduction to Arthur Weasley, and from George, Fred and (especially) Ginny.

Three performances stick out though: Lucius Malfoy was great cold, calm and elegant, this guy just *oozed* sinister charm, Moaning Myrtle, with her high-pitched sobs and shrieks was an unexpected surprise and Colin Creevy, the forerunner to Book Four's reporter Rita Skeeter and J. K. Rowling's dig at the media was a small, but essential gem, and I love that split-second scene of horror on his face as the runaway Buldger hurtles towards him!

Finally the sets, costumes and props are lovely, but the special effects are only so-so. The Quidditch game (again more visually exciting than any written account) is very good, as is the 'monster in the chamber', but the phoenix, spiders and Dobby could have used some tweaking.

All in all, a fun, interesting, colourful, sometimes-scary, and faithful adaptation to a beloved book, that (along with the Two Towers) brought 2002 to a fantasy-filled climax in the movie industry.

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The magic is back! Harry, Hermione, and Ron Weasley return to the screen with yet another adventure, bigger and better than ever, as they begin their second year at Hogwarts. With a veritable flick of his magic wand, director Chris Columbus offers up �Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,� the second chapter in the on-going saga of everybody�s favorite young wizard, who is joined this time around by a new instructor (teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts), as well as some formidable new opponents. There�s also a couple of surprises along the way as Harry encounters a rather singular character in his bedroom, and another deep in the Forbidden Forest. And, yes, there IS a Quidditch match.

Harry�s second year at Hogwarts begins inauspiciously with a warning to stay away; someone-or some�thing�-doesn�t want him there. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is undeterred, of course, and is soon back in Gryffindor House along with his friends and fellow students. But the warnings persist, now written in blood on the walls, and they portend an ominous fate for Harry, as well as many of the other students of witchcraft and wizardry. The messages indicate that the �Chamber of Secrets� has been opened, and that dire consequences (for some unknown reason) are about to befall many of those in attendance at the school. And this is serious business; enough to make Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) fear that Hogwarts may have to be closed indefinitely.

So it�s up to Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) to get to the bottom of the mystery. And they don�t have much time; already one of the students has been found literally �petrified� in the hall, and the perpetrator is still unknown and at large. Harry knows the answers can be found in the Chamber of Secrets, but the questions persist: �What� is it, exactly, and �where� can it be found?

As if channeling the spirit and imagination of author J.K. Rowling (in whose heart Harry Potter was born), director Columbus brings this film vividly to life in a swirl of excitement and colorful characters. He sets a perfect pace that will keep even the youngest members of the audience enthralled, and his transitions are impeccable, always moving the story forward with nary a single lull or hesitation. It�s a film that will grab you in the opening frames and sweep! you along to the finish.

Written for the screen by Steven Kloves (adapted from the novel by Rowling), the story is compelling, the dialogue is fresh and crisp and, as expected, the special F/X are the absolute best. And Columbus uses it all to great effect, aided in no small part by the exemplary work of film editor Peter Honess, the original score by William Ross and John Williams, Roger Pratt�s brilliant cinematography, and last, but certainly not least, the engaging performances turned in by his young stars and veteran performers alike.

Young Daniel Radcliffe�s portrayal of Harry is so complete and natural that, simply put, he IS, and will forever be, �Harry Potter.� It�s the kind of definitive performance that will always, without question, be a part of Radcliff�s life, putting him in such dignified company as Sean Connery (James Bond), Leonard Nimoy (Spock) and Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes). And, for better or worse, that�s not such a bad place to be. He has a gift, and if he uses it wisely, he has a long and successful career ahead of him.

The characters of Hermione and Ron Weasley are definitive, as well, but not in the way that Radcliffe�s Harry is, but inasmuch as it would be impossible hereafter to accept anyone else but Watson and Grint as, respectively, Hermione and Ron. Their portrayals are solid, endearing and entirely convincing; who will ever forget Hermione�s adamant stare, or Ron�s bemused expression of befuddlement? Though without a doubt they will always be associated with these characters, they have the kind of talent that should take them successfully beyond their �Potter� personas. And hopefully they will make choices in the future conducive to their auspicious �star-making� turns in these films.

Kenneth Branagh gives a delightful performance as Gilderoy Lockhart, the new instructor at Hogwarts, whose self-importance has made him a legend in his own mind. He is pompous and self-serving, but in a fun kind of way that allows you to see immediately beneath the mask of his vanity and his puffed up ego; he�s the Wizard of Oz revealed as the man behind the curtain. And Branagh plays him perfectly.

In this chapter we�re also introduced to Draco Malfoy�s father, Lucius Malfoy, played with deliciously restrained malevolence by Jason Isaacs. After meeting Lucius, it�s easy to see that Draco (Tom Felton) is an apple that didn�t fall far from the tree.

Also turning in a memorable performance is Shirley Henderson, as the empathetic, disenfranchised ghost, Moaning Myrtle, doomed to forever roam the lavatory in which she met her untimely and premature demise. With very little screen time, she manages to make a decided connection with the audience, which makes her an effective and integral part of the story.

Reprising the roles they established and made their own in �Harry Potter and the Sorcerer�s Stone,� are Richard Harris (Dumbledore); Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid); Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape); Bonnie Wright (in an expanded role this time, as Ginny Weasley); Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley); John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick); Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon); Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia); and Harry Melling (Dudley).

The additional supporting cast includes Toby Jones (extremely effective as the voice of Dobby, the House Elf), Christian Coulson (Tom Marvolo Riddle), Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout) and Sally Mortemore (Madam Pince). Be forewarned, there�s a scene in the Forbidden Forest that will absolutely make your skin crawl; but it�s all a part of the fun, and by the final scene of �Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,� you WILL, without a doubt, believe in magic.

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"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" not only meets but far exceeds the standards set by its predecessor, 2001's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." "Sorcerer's Stone" went on to be the biggest worldwide hit of 2001 (and of all time next to Titanic) due in large part to the popularity of J.K. Rowling's hit series of books that it was based on, but as a film it easily stood up on its own merits combining the right amount of action, eye candy FX, humor and "whodunit" mystery intrigue. "Chamber of Secrets" keeps the tradition going, and then some!

THE STORY:

"Chamber of Secrets" is the adaptation of J.K. Rowling's second book in the landmark Harry Potter series, the story of a boy wizard who through a twist of fate is locked in mortal combat with an evil wizard. The series follows his (and his buddies Ron and Hermione's) (mis)adventures as they progress through 7 years of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Chamber of Secrets chronicles their adventures during their 2nd year at school where Harry becomes the prime suspect in a string of deadly attacks against his fellow classmates as the mysterious Chamber of Secrets has been opened. What exactly is the "Chamber of Secrets" and if it wasn't Harry who opened it, who did?

THE COOL THINGS:

All the stunning visual eye candy from "Sorcerer's Stone" is back, bigger and badder than ever! The world of Hogwarts is once again depicted just as grand as before, if not more so. For fans of the first movie the revamped Quidditch scene will hit you harder than before like a psychotic Bludger. Also, the addition of the new "wizard duel" scene will strike you just as hard as any of the Lightsaber battles of Star Wars fame. Overall, if you're an FX freak you'll love CoS as much as SS, if not more.

The actor's performances in this film are just brilliant. Rupert Grint's Ron Weasley and Kenneth Branagh's Gilderoy Lockheart as well as the Jason Isaac's Lucius Malfoy and Dobby the House Elf easily steal the show and bring Rowling's depictions to life just as you'd imagine it.

BEST SCENES:

Wizards duel

Quidditch Match

Flying car

Harry vs. The "Secret" in the Chamber

THE ADAPTATION:

Fans of the books will once again (or at least should) be pleased with this very true and near perfect translation of book to silver screen. Like the first movie, very little was changed from the book with just a few "minor" deletions of scenes or "rearrangements" from the book. Once again, as movie adaptations of books go, the Harry Potter movies are almost as perfect as you'll get.

WARNINGS:

Readers of the books should know what kinds of things to watch out for in this one. For the somewhat squeamish there are scenes with slugs, spiders, giant snakes and a few other things that may upset you that you'll want to look out for or be mindful of if you are bringing very young children.

THE VERDICT:

Overall, once again, if you are a fan of the series (or even if you are not), "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" should easily top the list of movies you should definitely see. Fans of the book will appreciate seeing everything come to life and fans of great movies will marvel at all the action, humor and visual eye candy this one has to offer.

Can't wait for the "Prisoner of Azkaban" movie and the Chamber of Secrets DVD.

Highest Recommendation. (Like you didn't know...)

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The first movie, #1, had a lot of obstacles to overcome. First, the OVERWHELMING pressure and expectations that were set on it. It, for the most part, past that. It had to introduce hundreds of thousands of people to this wizarding world, and it's hero, Harry Potter, and that took nearly an hour out of its running time. Those were just a few of the many obstacles the Sorcerer's Stone HAD to overcome.

Well, in Chamber of Secrets, people now know the story of Harry

Potter, have lowered (a bit) there expectations, and the entire cast and crew is back with a LOT more experience. All of these advantages over #1 should make this a better movie, right?Thankfully, it WAS. Here's what I thought of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets:

1) Plot: This movie follows the second book in J.K. Rowling's recored-selling book series, and follows Harry throug his second year at Hogwarts. While many have said that this was the worst book of the series, and because of that this might turn out to be the worst movie of the series. I highly disagree! We start out with Harry, back at the Dursleys for the summer...here we go again. They treat him like...a criminal, work him to death, and dont allow him to say the "M word" (magic) AT ALL IN THIS HOUSEHOLD!!! Well, one night, when Harry is in his room, a house-elf, named Dobby, visits Harry. He warns of GRAVE DANGER at Hogwarts, horrible things planned for the following school year! What is this elf talking about? Harry ignores the elf, and goes to school anyway. Everything seems to be going normally (or whatever you would call "normal" at Hogwarts) when Harry finds a cat, Mrs. Norris, hanging upside down...petrified in a hallway. And above, written in what looks like blood, are written the words "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened." What's going on??? No one knows, and within a few weeks, more people have been petrified by an un-known creature. That's when Harry remembers Dobby's comments, that something terrible would be happening that year at Hogwarts...

2) Acting: HUGE improvement. Amazing the difference a year makes...at least for the cast of Harry Potter. There is so much more emotion, drama, suspense. For example, last year, there were perhaps 2 or 3 confrentation with Malfoy the whole movie. In Chamber of Secrets, they really clash! There are wizarding duels, TONS OF QUIDDITCH!, a lot more emphasis on Harry and his friends, etc... Bonds are really made here, and some of the best scenes are when Malfoy's father (a Voldemort supporter) and Ron' s dad (a true wizard) talk... Hermione, Ron, Harry, and the rest of Gryffindor really seem to come together. There is real emotion as well when they defend each other, *example: Malfoy calling Hermione a "mudblood", everyone from both Gryffindor and Slytherin yelling and trying to get a piece of the other! Hermione's tears after the insult, Ron and Harry's support. The entire school welcoming Hagrid back toward the end, everyone cheering Harry on after the Quidditch game, etc... And the actor who played Gildera Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) did a SUPERB job! He was holarious, loved to show off his teeth and get attention, and really played the clueless part well too! The whole movie had some humor in it as well that was lacked in the first one, and it was little things like Kenneth Branagh's GREAT acting and sense of humor that made this one better than the first.

There is a lot more dark acting here too. Voldemort is brought to life in a scary way, and seeing all the petrified people, Harry hearing voices in the wall that NO ONE else can here. Tom Riddle's Hermione like brilliance, all the mystery, suspense, and those spiders...and that snake. All of the acting combining with a suspeneseful story made this a better movie then the last.

3) Graphics: Another huge improvement. Hogwarts, while see ming

confined in the first movie, seems to come alive in this. You learn about the whomping willow, go a lot DEEPER into the forbidden forest, and see those....horrible spiders. The snake, the blood, the Quidditch game(s) (brought together a LOT better than in the Sorcerer's stone. A lot more action!). Even the blood and the big fight against Voldemort is all very exciting....thanks to the graphics. You really feel a lot more like your seeing Hogwarts the way J.K. Rowling saw it. It feels real, not like it came off of a computer program. That helped capture the feeling, and continue the magical flame the first one lit!

4) Problems: It seems like they often go for ALL of the big things, and don't try to ease you in to regular life at Hogwarts. And while this was a great movie, and nearly flawless in a lot of ways, it still lacked that and could still use something. The main problem right now, in my opinion, is the fact that they go for the BIG things. When I read the books, I felt (feel) like I was attending Hogwarts myself, reading about all of the homework and going to all of the classes and Quidditch practice every night and eating breakfast and discussing tactics with Ron in the morning. They seemed

to have still missed that for the most part here. *(They also left a few things out: Deathday Party for example)*

Overall, this is a GREAT movie. It has a lot of action, GREAT

graphics, and superb acting in a lot of ways. It's still not perfect, but I think that by the third movie, "The Prisoner of Azkaban" (set to be released June 2004 as last reported) we may have a 5-star series ! I'd reccomend this to anyone who even thought the books were okay, and who doesn't have an XTREME fear of Snakes and or Spiders *lol*.

Thx!

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Last time around, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) was left home alone (pun intended) by his family in a frantic hurry to get to the airport. And to add insult to injury, he had to deal with a couple of bumbling sillies--burglars who wanted to burglarize his house--who went by the name of the "Wet Bandits." This time around, it's more of the same, but with a slight difference: this time, he gets on the wrong plane, and is left to his own devices in the "Big Apple"--a/k/a New York City.

The plot is pretty similar to the last one in many ways: Kevin gets into trouble due to getting into it with his older brother, and is punished. He gets fed up with his family treating him unfairly, and in the midst of his angst, wishes that he could have a vacation on his own, without any of his family. The next morning, in a frantic hurry, the family rushes to the airport to go to Florida for Christmas vacation. In the airport, Kevin stops to put some batteries into his small camcorder (which will be largely significant later in the film), and as soon as he lifts his head, his family are long gone. He spots an older guy from the backside who looks like his dad, and therefore gets on the same plane as this gentleman, believing that it really was his dad. Needless to say, he was in for a big surprise when the plane landed.

Meanwhile, the "Wet Bandits" (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) escape from jail, and are in the "Big Apple" as well. You know what happens: they cross paths, and these two clowns are looking for revenge. The slapstick craziness that was seen in the last film, is taken up an extra notch, and is made gut-bustingly funnier as a result. (And again, just listening to Daniel Stern's demented operatic-like screeching as he gets his, alone, just slams the wind straight out of me. It's too hilarious!)

As for poignant moments, last time around, the "scary" character was an old man who was rumored to be a murderer. This time, it's a homeless woman who dwells in Central Park, and her companions are a bunch of pigeons.

These Home Alone films are recommended for anyone with a taste for over-the-top, outrageous slapstick humor, added with a large dose of mischief. Also recommended if you want to bring out the kid in you.

I've seen many reviews about this Blu-ray disc, and they say it's a big disappointment when compared to the first Home Alone Blu-ray. Well, I'll be the judge of that (of course, it's my review). Does this Blu-ray look as good as Home Alone? Nope, but it still looks very good on an HDTV. If you stand 1-2 feet from the screen, you will see a lot of grain though, but if you stay at a normal seating distance, it looks great. I compared it to the previous DVD version I have, and there is no comparison. There are simple things you can see now that you could not before like: the note given to Kevin, clear Christmas lights, and the text when Kevin uses his Dad's Visa Card. The old DVD version could not be played properly on widescreen TVs since it wasn't enhanced while the Blu-ray version is 1080p which makes a HUGE difference. The DVD version suffered with Dolby Surround 2.0 while we get DTS-HD sound on the Blu-Ray. There are no extras, but it's a good thing since this was a single layer-disc which allowed for a higher data rate on the picture quality. So, if you're wanting to get the best version of Home Alone 2 or upgrade to a better version, than this Blu-Ray version is it.

Buy Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) Now

What kind of idiots do you have working here?

"The finest in New York."

This is just an idea of the great writing & acting in Home Alone 2:Lost In New York. This is the second of 4 movies by Chris Columbus. Lil' Kevin McCallister gets caught up in more trouble again in this sequel to Home Alone.

Home Alone 2:Lost in New York starts with the Christmas Pageant where young Kevin manages to get himself in a bit of bother with Buzz who manages to make Kevin look like a laughing stock in front of many parents. Buzz then makes a very phony,but convincing apology to the family who accept it (as idiots).As he brings this apology to an end,he calls Kevin a "troutsniffer". The acting in this film is pure brilliance,especially the parts of the two "Wet Bandits" played by Joe Pesci & Daniel Stern.This film is such a hilarious film especially with great actors such as Joe Pesci,Daniel Stern,Catherine O'Hara,Tim Curry,Rob Schneider & not forgetting the fine young actor Macaulay Culkin. If you like Home Alone 2:Lost in New York then you are bound to love Home Alone.Although Home Alone 3 & 4 are not worth seeing as they are not the originals with Macaulay Culkin & the original Bandits

Read Best Reviews of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) Here

I cant really decide which one I like better this or Home Alone 1. They are both awesome. My 6 year old and 3 year old absolutely love this one and watch it everyday! Sometimes we even spot "Harry and Marv in thier van" when we are out and about. A really fun movie, I highly recommend getting it.

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Home Alone 2 is a fitting sequel to the timeless 1990 classic, and this transfer on Blu-ray is great! Most scenes are dazzlingly brilliant, and the bit of grain that shows up from time to time can be virtually eliminated by turning your tv's sharpness setting down to zero. The audio options are many, and the film sounds awesome. I bought this in a 2-pack with Part 1 (which also looks & sounds amazing start to finish). I highly recommend this blu-ray!

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Open Season 3 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011)

We enjoyed Open Season 1 & 2, accepting that Open Season 2 was not voiced by the original actors but still quite enjoyable. Open Season 3 had no redeeming features. The story might have been enjoyable but the voice acting was so horrible we couldn't finish watching the movie. Do not buy this movie, if you must see it, wait for it to be brought to t.v.

The third version was only mildly entertaining. Granddaughter (11) liked it, but again, this is one time rent not buy movie.

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Nothing like the first 2, do not waste your hard earned money on this DVD, wait and see it on TV for free. Story was boring and stupid.

Read Best Reviews of Open Season 3 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (2011) Here

Light years below the first two films in writing, directing and character developement. The movie was filled with holes in the plot that even my 9 y/o could see through. She thought it was funny in some places, but even then, most of the obvious set-ups for jokes where not funny and there where several mis-fires. She hated the spitting Llama who just plain drools and slobbers. Combined the slobbbering with his "South American" accent and it is hard to understand what he is saying most of the time. Elliot the deer is, by virtue of the story, a non-existant factor and the chemistry between him and Boog the bear that helped make the others successful is completely gone. The dialogue is meandering and forced. Don't waste your money. Rent it or wait for it to come out on television.

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We kept yawning while watching this Sony stinker. It's probably the worst digitally-animated movie we've ever seen, and we've seen all the biggies. BUT, we did give it 2 stars and not one because it does have a few fun scenes. But, those fun scenes are too few. It's really lacking adult humor. Kids MAY enjoy it (we've got none so we can't comment). Please, don't waste your money on this movie unless you're sure your little ones might like it.

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Wes Craven Presents: They / Cursed (2012)

This movie is already out for purchase. Found this combo at Walmart for 5 bucks. Wanted "They" only, this is the closest (other release has 4 movies). I found the movie compelling and moves along quite well. Very good cast and acting is convincing. Sleeper movie not many know about. The picture is much better than the DVD, as it should be. Some soft scenes, but it seems to refocus if you will, after each occurrence. Sound says DTS on the label, but plays back DTSMA on my player (Elite 05) which for me is worth the 5 bucks alone as this movie, like many in this genre, relies heavily on the sound to generate suspense and peril. Doesn't disappoint. Very good spacing, detail and dynamics. A super clean version would of had me drop 20 without blinking. As it stands, for 5 bucks, it's a super deal for sure.

Out of a possible 5, I'd rate video a 3.5 and sound a 4.

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King of California (2007)

KING OF CALIFORNIA may not break any records for innovation of thought or script but it is a tightly made little film that allows veteran actor Michael Douglas a lollipop of a wacky role to remind us that he does have comedic talent! It also gives 20-year old Evan Rachel Wood the opportunity to compete with a Pro and come out an equal quite a feat for such a young actress. Written and directed by Mike Cahill the story does have appeal, especially since it is set in Santa Clarita, California, a rapidly developing 'hinterland' that is suffering from the effects of too rapid industrialization, changing from a picturesque remnant of California raw beauty into yet another perky little town.

Charlie (Michael Douglas) has been in and out of mental institutions for his wacky behavior. His life as a jazz bassist and entrepreneur has always veered off the map, leaving him alone with his only daughter Miranda who has survived her father's irresponsible life by keeping the old family home (in the midst of a huge housing development) with the money she makes double shifting at the local MacDonalds. When Charlie is released his focus is on discovering the gold left behind by Catholic priests in the mid 1600s, a fact he has researched while hospitalized, on the Internet, and from the journal of one of the priests. Miranda slowly buys into Charlie's madcap scheme and adventure as a gold hunter and the caper results in a bonding between father and daughter that has been teetering on the brink of disaster for years. The manner in which Charlie, Miranda, and an old ex-con friend Pepper (Willis Burks II) go after the treasure provides most of the energy of the film.

Yes, there are bits and pieces of this project that have been done many times before (and often better), but the pleasure of KING OF CALIFORNIA lies in the bravura and touching performances by Douglas and Wood. This is a pleasant excursion of a movie, worth an evening's gander. Grady Harp, February 08

You can read the synapses above and I can't do any better so I'll just give my opinion.

I enjoyed this movie a lot. The wacky-father straight-laced daughter interactions are what make it so fun. I also loved Michael Douglas' character in this film. His character reminds me a lot of a castaway (both in appearance and in his quirky mannerisms). There are tinges of other movie genres in this as well but the director puts the whole project together in a good way that gives is a fresh twist and feeling.

This is a great movie for a Saturday night with a bowl of popcorn and you'll probably tell your friends about it too (I did).

Buy King of California (2007) Now

These days, the lines between an independent film and a hollywood film are becoming more and more blurred. Films like Little Miss Sunshine and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind boast that indy feel, the themes and look and ideals that come with those trappings, yet they pack some real star power both on and off screen.

Kind of California is another one of those films, but after watching this great little gem of a film, I realized it really doesn't matter if this film is more of an indy flick or a Hollywood flick... in the end, when the movie is this good, who cares?

We could use more films like King of California, no matter who makes them. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood are fantastic here, at times quirky and manic, other times truly sad and tragic characters. I find it hard to believe anyone could not fall in love with these characters, and in turn not completely enjoy this film.

A must-see, and a must-buy, one of the better surprises of the year, hands down.

Read Best Reviews of King of California (2007) Here

Hoping to replicate the overwhelming positive critical response he received for his performance in Wonder Boys, Michael Douglas plays another quirky outsider in King of California. Despite being produced by Alexander Payne (Sideways (Widescreen Edition)), the film enjoyed a brief theatrical run and finally makes its debut on DVD.

Michael Douglas is excellent as the wildly eccentric Charlie. There is a mischievous glint in his eyes when he feels like he is getting closer to the treasure. The older Douglas gets and the more films he does, the more comfortable an actor he becomes. He delivers a nuanced performance that never veers off into showy scenery-chewing territory. With his mountain man beard, Douglas certainly looks the part of an ex-mental patient and, at times, seems to be channeling Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (Widescreen Collector's Edition).

Evan Rachel Wood plays Charlie's extremely patient daughter and narrator of this unusual tale and so, naturally, our sympathies lie with her because she's, y'know, the sane voice of reason. Miranda is the responsible one to Charlie's childish antics. Wood is the ideal foil to Douglas, the straight man to his kooky eccentric.

King of California belongs to Douglas and the film sinks of swims based on how well he sells his character's mad quest kind of like Robin Williams' traumatized bum in The Fisher King. And while Mike Cahill is no Terry Gilliam, Douglas is more than up for taking on this wild ride with the charisma to draw us in, much like Charlie convinces Miranda to follow him.

There is an audio commentary by writer/director Mike Cahill, cinematographer Jim Whitaker, production designer Dan Bishop and first assistant director Richard L. Fox. Cahill talks about how a lack of money forced him to rewrite the opening scene and improve on it. Everyone takes turns pointing out the various locations used in the film which is as boring as it sounds. They also point out dry technical details like the wonders of colour timing. It's amazing that this commentary can be so dull with all of these skilled artists at hand but unfortunately this is the case.

"The Making of The King of California" your standard electronic press kit with soundbites from the cast and crew mixed with clips from the film. Douglas claims that this was one of the best scripts he has ever read and compares his character to Don Quixote. Cast and crew talk about the film's two main characters and gush about the film in general.

"Outtakes" is a fairly amusing collection of blown lines, miscues and goofs.

Finally, there is a theatrical trailer.

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....and find an old dream underneath waiting to resurface.

This bittersweet film about a madman and his long-suffering daughter takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing "development" (ecological destruction) of Southern California, forcing the viewer to wonder: Who are the truly insane in this film?

A lot of humor goes with this grim implication (the scene with the cop on the golf course is hilarious, if short; the filmmakers also shot a funny golf course scene for SIDEWAYS). I also liked the McDonald's shift manager looking over Miranda's shoulder to make sure she assembled a quarter cheese correctly--this actually happened to me when I was sixteen, working in a Southern California franchise. Some things never change. Miranda and her father stand in for everyone who tries but fails to live in peace with the standardization and industrialization going on all around them.

They also have whatever it takes to "follow your bliss" and try to find some sense of meaning in an increasingly orderly and planned and therefore quite insane urbanized landscape literally covering over the once-verdant earth walked by the so-called savages who appreciated and tended it.

Incidentally, although shot as a romp about a parentified daughter trying to give her bipolar father a sense of purpose, the film bears out what I've written about in Deep California: Images and Ironies of Cross and Sword on El Camino Real and in Terrapsychology: Reengaging The Soul Of Place: what happens to traumatize a colonized and paved-over place never goes away until we find some way to heal the recurring themes by understanding them and reshaping them from within them. Costco and McDonald's are but commercialized and updated missions to convert the locals to a globalized existence that eats their souls and landscapes. The counter-mission resides in the loving heart pursuing its dreams or helping others to, as well-named Miranda does in this Californian tempest.

p.s. For those of you with some knowledge of California history: yes, you're right: no Spanish expeditions during the 1620s. After Cabrillo had been by, landing his ships but making no tours through California, Vizcaino did another sail-by in 1602. After that, no known Spanish incursions came through the state until 1769, when Junipero Serra and his merry band came colonizing. "Santa Clarita" got its name from the river they named "Santa Clara" as they marched through. Incidentally, Miranda's mission history lesson was correct, and not only for the Chumash of the Central Coast: most of the Indians who entered the missions never came out again.

p.p.s. The part about how California got its name is true. The bestseller Miranda refers to was called THE EXPLOITS OF ESPLANDIAN. The author's name was Montalvo. He died just before it got into print.

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