K-On! The Movie (2011) (2011)

Alright, those of you looking for a self-contained anime film will be disappointed this was a project that was obviously made for fans of the series. It's pretty much an episode of the series expanded to an hour and forty-five mins. It contains in-jokes from the series and while there is a plot there's no major conflict. In fact, the opening few minutes makes a joke about the lack of real conflict in the film.

Now, if you are a fan of the series, this is a dream come true. The characters are all there, most side characters get enough screen time that you get to revisit just about everyone. The plot is partially about the London trip which was discussed in the season 2 OVA, but it's also about writing the song that they will sing to their underclassman as they graduate. It's sentimental, sweet and everything you've come to expect from the series. As a bonus, just about every song in the series is in it at some point.

The animation is beautiful, and expands upon the already wonderful look of the series. The London trip is well done, and for those who have been there, you'll be sure to recognize some lovingly recreated sights. There are a few moments of CGI that feel a bit off, but that may just be my personal bias against CGI.

The quality of the Blu is wonderful. The animation looks simply breathtaking at times and there are a quite a few special features. As someone who has gotten used to anime discs only containing the opening and closing as special features, this was a treat.

In closing, if you're already a fan of K-On season 1 and 2, this is totally worth a purchase. It's a wonderful closing to one of the most fun anime series to come out in years.

One of my favorite movies based off an anime, You can tell the animators took their time on it. It is cute and the music is great. If you are a hardcore K-ON you'll love this movie ^_^

Buy K-On! The Movie (2011) (2011) Now

[*First off, my apologies for the novel I seem to have written. I tried to strike a balance between short and informative. Anyhoo...*]

The overview below is based off the 2-disc DVD edition (so the content would be the same as the blu-ray but you'll have access to it all on a single disc). I outlined a summary but if you want a super short summary, it's basically: getting this movie gives you almost 2 hours of film and 2 and a half hours of special features.

The movie continues where the end of season 2 was leading into: the 5 members of the Light Music Club are going to London for their graduation trip and Yui, Mio, Ritsu, and Tsumugi plan what to get Azusa before they graduate. If you've watched the series then watch the movie; if you haven't [see my note at the bottom], start here (K-ON!, Vol. 1) or here (K-ON! DVD [Anime Legends).

--DISC 1--

-main feature [approx. 1 hour 50 minutes] *16:9 anamorphic

-audio selection [Japanese w/ English subs or English dub] *English 5.1 / Japanese 5.1

-scene selection

-"Also Available from Sentai Filmworks" [some previews to other anime produced by Sentai Filmworks; they're essentially textless openings]

-DVD credits

--DISC 2--

*note: unless otherwise noted, by "the cast", I mean the Japanese voice actresses for Yui, Mio, Ritsu, Tsumugi, and Azusa*

*the extra features are original content from the Japanese programs so they're in Japanese with English subs*

-Minami Tanaka's Dubbing Investigative Report TBS announcer Minami Tanaka visits the cast at the recording studio and interviews them (they do a little tongue twister activity, they're asked what they're favorite scene from the show is, a message to the fans, etc.) [approx. 23 minutes]

-London bus & Press Conference at TBS a pre-opening press conference with the cast (this was a week before the movie hit theaters in Japan) about their feelings about the movie, the live performances they've done, etc. [approx. 19 minutes]

-Navi Show 1-2-3 is K-On! 2 TBS announcers talk about the show and its characters (I guess this can be thought of as a crash course / refresher of the show) [approx. 24 minutes]

-Movie Premiere Event the cast and director talk to the audience at the movie premiere about their feelings about the show up to that point [approx. 22 minutes]

-Director Naoko Yamada in London the director does some "scenario hunting" in London over 4 days for the movie [approx. 29 minutes]

-Good Luck Music Hall K-On! Music Hall ...umm...I'm honestly not sure how to describe this extras clip...2 TBS announcers talk about K-On's music a bit and there are 3 short message clips about the movie from the Japanese voice actresses for Ui, Nodoka, and Jun [approx. 15 minutes]

-Japanese Trailer not much to explain here [approx. 2 minutes]

-Japanese Teaser a teaser...just a shorter version of the trailer [39 seconds long]

-Japanese Spots short, entertaining tidbits advertising the movie; it's continuous [approx. 3 minutes] but it looks like it's 3 spot shorts...just a guess though...

-Clean Opening Animation title: Ichiban Ippai [around 1:46 long]

-Clean Closing Animation title: Singing! [around 1:34 long]

My personal opinion about the special features: the extras are great! It's nice to see the original voice actresses because nothing like this is available as special features from the series. However, there are interviews from the English voice actresses that were included in the season 1 DVDs and blu-rays but there are none whatsoever here. A bit of a letdown because K-On! is one of very few animes that I can comfortably switch between Japanese dub and English dub so it'd be cool to see how both teams feel about the characters they've grown with and their journey up to it becoming a movie. But hey, you can't have your tea and drink it too...

**Just some extra information for those late to the K-On! [tea] party**

Here is where the anime and manga stand as of near-end May 2013 so you know what you need to catch up on (the following dates are relative and approximate):

K-On! volume 1 (manga): released November 2010

K-On! volume 2 (manga): released March 2011

K-On! volume 3 (manga): released August 2011

K-On! volume 4 (manga): released December 2011

K-On! College (manga): planned release date of July 23, 2013 (K-ON! College)

K-On! High School (manga): planned release date of October 29, 2013 (K-ON! High School)

*manga published by Yen Press*

K-On! Season 1 (anime): available in DVD and blu-ray (the DVDs can be purchased as 4 separate volumes or a 4-disc complete collection and the blu-ray as 4 separate volumes--there's no blu-ray complete collection) in Japanese w/ English sub or English dub; released April 2011, July 2011, September 2011, November 2011 (as the 4 volumes) and February 2012 (as the 4-disc complete collection)

K-On!! Season 2 (anime): broken up into 2 parts (released June 2012 and August 2012, respectively) and available in DVD and blu-ray in Japanese w/ English sub or English dub

K-On! the Movie: available in DVD (2 discs) and blu-ray (1 disc) in Japanese w/ English sub or English dub; released May 2013

*season 1 is produced by Bandai and season 2 and the movie are produced by Sentai Filmworks; the English dubbing is in association with Bang Zoom Entertainment so the voice cast stays the same in both seasons and the movie*

Read Best Reviews of K-On! The Movie (2011) (2011) Here

Has a quick recap of the show in the beginning so if you haven't seen the show you're not completely in the dark. For those of you who have seen it get to have a cute narration by Yui which is why you watch this in the first place. K-On! girls are back, and heading to London, and their typical shenanigans, and fun ensues. Overall it was another good show to see them all again after graduation.

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As a major fan of all things K-On!, I have been waiting nearly 18 months for the English version of this movie; it finally arrived yesterday, and I watched it last night. Suffice it to say, it was well worth the wait!

The movie covers the girls of High-school Tea Time's last few weeks before graduation (except for Azusa, who is one year behind the other four, of course). They decide to go on a graduation celebration trip, and eventually settle on London as the destination (although Yui says she would have preferred to go to England, until the others point out that London is in England!). So, in the week following their finals, and before graduation day, they pile on a plane and head for the UK. I won't elaborate on the details, except to say that the story lived up to K-On! expectations, with Azu-nyan being the most together and organised of the girls, in spite of being the youngest. They visit many famous locations in London, all beautifully filmed and then digitally imported into the proceedings. The only complaint I have is that all the Londoners they speak to (in the English dub) sound like Dick Van Dyke did in Mary Poppins; surely they could have got some real Brits in to speak the parts? They really were awful! But that aside, and it is only a minor point, I loved every minute of it; Yui is suitably nutty as usual, and Azusa gets suspicious and paranoid when the others all stop speaking whenever she walks in the room, but actually they are planning a nice surprise for her!

The movie offers a somewhat different view of the run up to the girl's graduation than the second series did; it is more light-hearted, and not nearly as emotional as the latter, but great fun, nonetheless. If you are a fan of K-On!, just get it; it's wonderful!

One last point; I had puzzled for ages over the actual meaning of the term 'K-On!', but it turns out that it is a contraction of the Japanese word for light music, 'keiongaku' (軽音楽). So now you know!

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The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2010)

Small wonder that after director Kim Jee-Woon's magnificent "A Tale of Two Sisters" and the terrific "A Bittersweet Life" that his next film would be so eagerly anticipated. "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" has won numerous awards in Asia, achieved box-office acclaim in South Korea and has been selected for the Cannes film festival. I've said before that an Asian western isn't exactly an original concept; there was a video game called "Western Samurai", the Hong Kong produced "Peace Hotel" and most recently, Takashi Mike's "Sukiyaki Western Django" from Japan. Well, it seems like South Korea won't be left behind and with Kim Jee-Woon at the helm, expectations are rather high and the man doesn't disappoint.

A two-bit bumbling crook named Tae-Goo "The Weird" (Song Kang-Ho, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) robs a train only to unintentionally make off with a Quing Dynasty treasure map. Everyone wants this map; the Japanese army, the Korean independence group as well as a lot of shady characters. On Tae-goo's tail is a relentless killer named Park Chang-Yi "The Bad" (Lee Byung-Hyun, A Bittersweet Life) who is also after the map and has a seemingly personal reason as to why he wants Tae-Goo's head on a plate. In hot pursuit for both of them is a bounty hunter named Park Do-Won (Jung Woo-Sung, The Restless) who can do nicely with the bounty for Chang-Yi's capture or the treasure itself. Now, these three men are on a collision course--who would win out in the end?

Kim Jee-Woon's "The Good the Bad the Weird" is an extremely well-made film and is a highly entertaining genre-busting affair. This chaotic period similar to the wild west in America, a Machuria-set "kimchi" western (as opposed to "sukiyaki") is a melting pot of all things awesome about westerns and looks like a homage to Sergio Leone's "spaghetti westerns". There's a train heist, lots of shoot-outs in a small town and cool characters. You'll see bits and pieces of "The Good the Bad and the Ugly" (so obvious with the film's title), "A Fistful of Dollars" and even Miike's "Sukiyaki Western Django". The film has a very large budget and it shows, the film is exquisitely shot and the superb style and camerawork reminded me of Ryuhei Kitamura (Azumi). Director Kim definitely knows his stuff in style and with the film's intriguing concept, Asian and Korean cinema fans have reason to see this film, and it is definitely something that a "solid" Asian film fan just can't miss.

The film's set designs and architecture maintain some of that "dynasty-era" Korean period but it does have a strong touch of the old west. It has some rather creative touches; there is some swordplay, knives used with brutality, there's a big guy with a huge hammer, a "sleeping Buddha" under construction, rifles with telescopes, motorcycles and jeeps, saloons and more--all these contribute to the film's "mixing of genres" style. Director Kim also seems to be having a lot of fun with the film, as he never forgets his touches of humor to help the film's pace and his stunning camerawork which proves to be the film`s showstopper. Explosions and gunfire are aplenty; highlights include a very cool town gunfight and a very long chase sequence with the ensembled cast supported by dozens of extras. I've read that Kim actually had cameramen hanging on wires to shoot the desert scenes--Kim Jee-Woon's talent shines through.

The action scenes are very exciting and exquisitely executed. It looks like director Kim took some pointers from Ryuhei Kitamura because they are just so full of "coolness" that can make action scribe John Woo a little jealous. Kim also avoids the use of CGI in the action and depends mostly on elaborate stunts and old-fashioned camera trickey; there is minimal use of CGI enhanced effects but only in the film's set designs. Ok, so some scenes required a large suspension of disbelief, I rather found Jung Woo-Sung's Do-Won's skills with a gun a little too over-the-top especially when he engages a large number of the Japanese army. He never even gets grazed by a bullet so either Do-Won is unbelievably good or these guys just supremely suck. But hey, this is a minor complaint, after all I don't think this film was meant to be taken seriously and more of a homage film. Hey, please take note that Kim doesn't hold back with the blood--and the way he executes it kept the film from having too much of that "comic bookish" feel. There is also a legend of a certain "Finger chopper" that gives some surprises and I felt that the screenplay played its cards well.

Song Kang-Ho's Tae-Goo arguably steals the show and proves to be the film's most interesting character--the actor also proves as to why he is one of South Korea's most sought after performers. The man can act in almost any film I've seen that further cements his reputation in versatility. Lee Byung Hyun does have the most intense presence onscreen, his character along with Song Kang-Ho's Tae-goo are the kind of characters that can elevate the film into "cult status". Jung Woo-Sung's "the Good" character feels a little too cool and lacks precision, but the actor does do the best with what he has. Still, the three popular actors mesh very well and has dynamic chemistry. Oh, the women are also great-looking and serves to titillate the male audience.

"The Good, The Bad, The Weird" is a very polished film that lived up to my expectations. The film's plot isn't too deep, but the film's "wow" factor is just so incredibly impressive that I can look pass the very simple plot which makes it essentially a chase film. It is a solid film, that exudes popcorn entertainment but its characters do carry much of the film's weight. It may be little too pre-occupied in becoming captivated with itself but its small flaws aren't really worth to nitpick. The film is an action-packed affair that action junkies will never become bored--as for the rest, they can find something else to like in the film--its characters, style and performers will definitely impress. I'm happy to say that Kim Jee-Woon's film lived up to the hype.

Highly Recommended! [4 ½Stars]

There are two versions of the film. The International version (the one presented in Cannes) is arguably the better paced, leaner film that maintains a touch of mystery at the end. The Korean 130 minute cut has more development to Tae-Goo's character and an extended climax that answers a lot of questions. The official U.S. version is expected to have the original 130 minute version.

I love this film. I am admittedly a junkie for Korean cinema, and this is one of the better films to come from that country in the past few years. A really exciting, action-filled "eastern" that takes place in the early 20th century in Manchuria. There are some flat-out great gun fights and chases throughout the entire film. Actually, the movie is like one giant chase with ample set pieces. The camera work and pacing is excellent and the performances are quite memorable. The tone is comically light, but never cartoonish. If you consider yourself a fan of action cinema, this is a must-watch.

BUT, the blu-ray is 1080i!! Most of the time when Asian films get a 1080i transfer, it's because that's the only one available and the studio releasing the film is lazy/cheap. Like with some of the HK/Chinese blus. What that means practically is that there was pixellating in the image when the camera panned slowly. Also, in wide shots with lots of little detail, the image gets kinda blocky. This is a particularly unforgivable offense as there is another, apparently great 1080p transfer available in other markets. Very lame IFC. Sorry.

Buy The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2010) Now

Sergio Leone on a bender in 1930s Manchuria.

Almost non-stop action, most of it tongue in cheek but nicely choreographed, lots of color and pizazz, and above all an endearing sense of absurdity make this a pleasure to watch. Director Ji-Woon knows the genre well and delights in subverting it without mercy; the guy in the diving helmet was one of my favorites. Any movie that takes itself this unseriously yet also delivers thrills and humor is a success by any measure; that it's Korean and does Hollywood one better makes it all the more fun.

Some of the violence is a little overdone, but it's all rather comic-bookish anyhow. The real highlight for me were the many incredibly long, tight tracking shots, full of wild angles and unexpected twists and turns of the camera. Shots like that take great care and preparation and for so many of them to work so well is no mean feat (the extras docs show just how wild some of these set-ups were). To have it all be this wacky and light-hearted yet also so breakneck is a real achievement. Plus the acting is both gleefully hammy and surprisingly well done: I never once thought, "What a crappy take." Somehow it all just fits, once again in the spirit of the best spaghetti westerns.

It does go on a little longer than it might have, with too much time spent pontificatin' to no real end, but that and the occasional gratuitously graphic violence were my only qualms. I loved that there was no English-language dubbing (which is so often so bad), just the original Korean and good subtitles full of flavor and colloquial feel. This is how it should be done. All in all, it's an over the top shoot-em-up and delivers on that promise in spades, diamonds and treasure maps.

The blu-ray is very nicely done, not a flawless transfer but very good, and there are a bunch of solid extras, including various interviews and making-ofs; it's a nice package and will no doubt contribute to this film's inevitable cult status. There've been a few other Asian westerns but this one is in a league of its own, and the quality of the image along with the color and the humor make it a real treat to watch. And it's almost all shot outdoors in natural light, often in gloriously huge mountainous wilderness, so it feels very real even with all its goofiness, and the final motorcycle/horse/jeep battle is a true classic.

[A note to any surfers out there: when you see the sea in the distance at 1:18:02, check out those insane, endless tubes peeling off in a perfect set. Surf Manchuria!]

If you like westerns, Asian cinema, great cinematography, nutty genre humor, or/and just a good old-fashioned fun movie, Good Bad Weird is for you.

Read Best Reviews of The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2010) Here

n the surface, Kim Ji-Won's ("A Tale of Two Sisters," "A Bittersweet Life") 2008 film, "The Good, The Bad & the Weird," is clearly a homage to Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns, but it also draws much inspiration, in terms of tone and temperament, from much more lighthearted fare like Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones" films.

Shot in Western China near the Gobi Desert, the film is set in a harsh, flat landscape that could just as easily stand in for the American Southwest circa 1860, as well as Manchuria in the 1930's. Into this inhospitable terrain has come, it seems, every Korean thief, gunfighter and gangster, all fleeing the brutality of the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910-1945), including: a noble, if cold-blooded, bounty hunter Do-Weon ("The Good,") played by Woo Sung Jun (the heroic former slave in "Musa the Warrior,"); a vicious, if terribly insecure, urban gangster turned train robber, Park Chang-Yi ("The Bad"), played by Rom-Com hearthrob Lee Byeong-heon (who surprised many audiences with his portrayal of a young gangster in "A Bittersweet Life"), and Sang Kang-Ho (who has given great lead performances in lauded Korean dramas like "Joint Security Area," "Memories of Murder," and "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,") who carries much of the film with his comedic portrayal of Yoon Tae-Gu ("The Weird"), a doofus of a bandit, who kicks off the action by making off with a priceless Q'ing Dynasty treasure map.

It's the race for said map, by mercenaries hired by proand anti-Japanese forces, as well as local thieves and roving bands of bandits, that drives the story, as seen in lively, extended action-packed set pieces: a bloody train robbery, a crazed gun battle in a sprawling desert marketplace, and a wild horse-motorcycle-jeep & truck chase across miles of territory. There is very little depth here (which is a tad disappointing given the films huge budget and 130 minute running time), but on the whole, the film is an enjoyable ride, loaded with sharp, often funny characterizations, elaborate and intense action scenes, and a general good humor that lends a welcome bouyancy to the often crazed proceedings. The movie should easily sate the appetite of almost all action movie fans, prime yourself for a fun fast moving ride through shallow waters and you should do fine.

Want The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2010) Discount?

This movie has everything! From the very first scene (amazing) to the very last (did NOT see that coming) I was enthralled. A South Korean film set in 1940's Manchuria, this film is the funniest action-packed western you'll ever hope to see. I watched it with my 8 year old son, re-rented it 2 days later at his urging and ordered it from Amazon the next day to save rental fees. With the unexpected soundtrack (I don't want to ruin it for you) play this movie loud. I can't decide if this or Inception was the best movie I've seen all year. The difference is I could watch this movie ten times and not tire of it. What are you waiting for? Click on "Add to Cart"!!

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Paper Man (2009)

I saw this movie at its premiere at the LA Film Festival and I loved it! It is quirky-funny, poignant and melancholy by turns -exactly what I want in a film for grownups. The performances are stellar and the story highly original.

Paper Man is quite simply a fantastic movie. I haven't been this emotionally affected by a film since Gran Torino. Emma Stone and Jeff Daniels' characters compliment each other perfectly. One has seemingly never grown up, while the other has been deprived of their childhood. The way that they form such a truly unique friendship and help each other to find out what's missing inside of them, keeping them from moving on with their respective lives, is amazing to watch unfold. These two characters seem very different at first, but you eventually come to find that they rely on the same type of crutch to help them function, albeit not all that well, in normal society. The movie also certainly doesn't take it self too seriously, with just enough moments of levity to keep the story grounded. The movie is a winner from beginning to end and I can attest to the fact that Paper Man stays great through multiple viewings; with it's top-notch acting and unbelievably gripping ending. The ending is one of the most poignant and moving cinematic experiences I've ever had.

Bottom Line: This is the epitome of a 5/5 movie. Buy the DVD/Blu-Ray, watch it, love it, and spread the word to friends and family about this awesome indie film!

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What an inventive feature debut for this killer directing duo. Paper Man successfully manages to mix big concept with the feel of an intimate character driven film. A fun, inventive, drama told through a comic frame. Great performances from the whole star-studded cast. A wellobserved, tightly knit spiral into a troubled man's psyche, the film takes off fast and doesn't stop until its surprising and tense conclusion. It's refreshing to see indie-style filmmaking coming from such an accomplished cast and crew. Thumbs up for an original and moving soundtrack. Thumbs up for unique concept. Thumbs up for a great, creative partnership from its creators. Netflix it. Amazon it. Enjoy it.

Read Best Reviews of Paper Man (2009) Here

This movie made me think on many different levels. The first time I saw it I wasn't sure I liked it, but it got in my head and I started to relate many of the scenes in the movie to life. So, I watched it again and determined it was much better then I originally thought. Richard (Jeff Daniels) makes his first real friend at almost age 50. And Emma Stone (an actress I wasn't terribly crazy about until I saw this film) makes her first real friend when she's 16. Up until then they've both been doing the best they could not knowing really how to cope with the ravages of life except through slightly delusional and weak self affirmative behaviors. After they meet, they are stronger individuals recognizing they don't need to be what the rest of the world is claiming they need to be or even necessarily and more importantly what they thought they needed to be and they'll be OK.

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A writer (Daniels) trying to start his second book and find himself meets a local high schooler (Stone) and a friendship is born. Richard (Daniels) has always been different, for one he's in his 40's and has an imaginary friend (Ryan Reynolds). His wife (Lisa Kudrow) drops him off at a house alone in hopes he will finally start his book. Not feeling inspired Richard rides to town and meets Abby (Stone). The mis-matched pair become fast friends and discover more about themselves in the process. I can not say enough good things about this movie. Emma Stone stole this movie, her acting was great and I expect to see awards in her future if she keeps this up. This movie has it all, great humor, writing, acting and is also very moving. Almost instantly you feel sorry for Richard and you really root for him the rest of the movie. Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds really make you feel for them and you are right there with them trying to give Richard the push he needs. The ending is unexpectedly touching and I actually got a little choked up. I honestly could go on all day about how much I liked this movie, it's just a shame movies like this one (where the plot and acting take center stage) don't get the audience they deserve while "Yogi Bear" gets all the attention it can get. Do yourself a favor and watch this, you won't regret it. First time ever...I give it an A+

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Cast Away (2000)

If you were expecting another Robinson Crusoe then this movie is not for you. This movie deals with the human aspect of being removed from everything you know and having to deal with not having the familiar around to keep you comfortable. If you are looking for exciting fights with the natives and constructing amazing devices from coconut shells and bamboo then you may want to go watch Robinson Crusoe or Gilligans Island. This was, I believe, probably a very difficult movie to make and probably even harder to sell the idea to a studio. Like I said earlier this is not Robinson Crusoe and you aren't given a lot of action to watch but what you are given is a look at just how man deals with what he's dealt. How many times have you found yourself having a conversation with ,well yourself, when no one else is around? Now take away all that you have and all your family and friends and, for that matter everything you have, how would you deal with it? A volleyball might just become a good friend. I don't think this movie would ever have seen the light of day if it hadn't been brought forward by such box office powerhouses as Hanks and Zemeckis and I don't know anyone else who could have pulled it off better than Hanks. So I recommend that you watch this movie but don't watch it for a survivalist action adventure flick watch it for what it is, a statement on the human condition and just how one man copes with what life throws his way.

Disc One: CAST AWAY

Letterboxed Anamorphic 1.85:1

Audio:

DTS 6.1 ES English

Dolby Digital 6.1 EX English

Dolby Surround English

Dolby Surround French

Additional Release Material:

Audio Commentary 1. Robert Zemeckis Director, Don Burgess Director of Photography, Ken Ralston Visual Effects Supervisor, Carey Villegas Co-Visual Effects Supervisor, Randy Thom Sound Designer

Interactive Features:

Scene Access

Interactive Menus

Disc Two: Bonus Features

Featurettes 1. "The Making of CAST AWAY"

2. "S.T.O.P.: Surviving as a Castaway"

3. "The Island"

4. "Wilson: The Life & Death of a Hollywood Extra"

Special Effects Vignettes with Audio Commentary

Charlie Rose Interview with Tom Hanks

Trailers 1. 2 Original Theatrical Trailers

2. 10 TV Spots

Interactive Features:

Scene Access

Interactive Menus

Text/ Photo Galleries:

Stills Gallery

Storyboard Galleries

Concepual Art

Illustrations

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I own movies in both HD DVD and Blu-Ray formats so I've seen very many HD movies and am well familiar with the formats capabilities.

Being one of my favorite movies, Cast Away's release in Hi-Def got me very excited. I'm a big fan of the movie and give the movie itself 5 stars but am only reviewing the quality of this release here. The opening sequence where the FedEx truck drives up and picks up the package for delivery to Russia looks only slightly better than the standard DVD. When the truck opens up and the Russia scene starts it looks a lot better, but still more like 720p quality. Through the rest of the movie the HD quality stays about the same, decent but not great. It's certainly a step up from DVD but there are a few scenes that seem to be no better than my 2 disc DVD edition. The best looking scenes are the closeup scenes where the HD quality becomes more apparent but it still doesn't look anywhere near as good as other HD titles I own. Some of the best looking HD titles I own are: The Matrix collection, 2001, The Fifth Element, Apollo 13, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pirates of the Caribbean, and number of others.

While watching the movie and examining the quality I came to the thought that it might not be the transfer that's the issue but possibly it was the director of photography's filming. It looks like the DP tried hard to keep a balance of focus between the actor and the background thereby not getting a truly sharp focus. I could be wrong but this is what it looked like. The 5.1 surround sound was fantastic. I didn't notice any difference between my DVD and Blu-ray versions, though I do admit I really didn't examine the audio.

Overall the movie was nice but I was let down as I was expecting better, especially from a movie with such a great environment. If you own the 2 disc DVD keep in mind the 2 disc set has all those extras and this hi-def release does not. So you may want to hold onto your set. Don't go getting Cast Away expecting the same HD quality you see in all those top notch movies that people use to showcase the format. It still looks great and certainly better than DVD just not leaps and bounds better for most of the scenes. Again, I can't say for sure but it may simply have been the way it was filmed.

Viewed on:

Sony PS3 (latest update)

Samsung LN-T5265F 52" LCD 1080P (calibrated)

Toshiba 5.1 surround sound system

Read Best Reviews of Cast Away (2000) Here

What other actor could we spend nearly 3hrs with and never once feel the need to glance at our watch or worry that we're getting to the end of our popcorn? This is not a movie that tricks us into thinking we got our money's worth. No musclebound hero wages a one man war against injustice. Music will not swell at opportune moments coaxing our tear ducts into over-drive. We don't have to take sides and nobody gets naked. Sounds dull, huh? Well, if your interests tend toward pretty/handsome, fast, loud, manipulative and titillating, don't bother seeing this movie. On the other hand, if you prefer substance over flash then this is the movie you'll want to see. In my opinion, Tom Hanks gives a performance that, over time, will come to be known as one of the single most magnificent acting accomplishments ever. It's hard to explain, but somehow Hanks allows us to re-visit and vicariously share the feeling of the first time. His physical and emotional transformation is nothing short of miraculous. You'll want to pay particular attention to his initial reactions to sounds the island makes. I laughed and cried at how he is repeatedly tricked into thinking he is getting the hang of his predicament. Also of interest is his characters' realization that he really doesn't know what he knows. But it's a good thing because it leaves him open to possibilities and ultimate triumph.The rest of the movie and the other performances are incidental. There is just enough of it to make us understand why his not being in that world matters.Don't watch this movie with any expectaions. Erase the blackboard; let Tom Hanks fill it in!

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Many have written great reviews of this awesome movie. I just watched it twice again the last couple of days and have found things I missed in earlier viewings. This film definitely makes my list of films that I can watch again and again.

Its fairly easy to perfunctorily view this film as a simple plot line: that is, man crashes in airplane, survives on island, loses lots of weight, grows beard, builds raft, gets back home, but, alas, not the ending he thought it could be. To view and absorb this movie on this superficial level is a waste of the art and symbolism that it contains.

That's where the spiritual aspect of this film comes in that so many viewers have missed. There is a great deal of spiritual symbolism on a deeper level.

One reviewer thought it was weird that Tom Hanks made an imaginary friend in a Wilson Volleyball. This is not strange at all. I surmise that viewers that think along these lines have never spent great stretches of time alone without human contact. To them I say, go camping alone for a month somewhere where you will not see people and you might begin to understand how "Wilson" helped keep Hanks alive.

SYMBOLISM

OK OK what is this symbolism I am speaking of??? The very last scene of the movie breaks us over the head with symbolism. Hanks is standing in the flattest of the flat parts of Texas at a crossroads. Literally, he does not know what road to take. Figuratively, metaphorically, his entire life is at a crossroads. Chuck Logan has learned something new though. He has been transformed by his experience and has learned how to listen to some voice deep inside instead of rushing around like a Fed Ex mad man. He waits, contemplates until he feels his guide, the inner man, help him on his way. This IN ESSENCE, is what this film is all about.

THE WHALE:

Whats with the whale and the spraying of the water. Some people have missed that the spraying of the water is actually THE WHALE that has followed along with Hanks on the raft and has sprayed him, that is, woken him up out of his coma, at very key moments. Some may think: WOW, that is really far fetched. Well then, I challenge you to go on a whale watch yourself if you have never done so. When a whale comes as close to you as was accurately portrayed in this movie, raises its head out of the water, and its eye looks in yours and your eyes look into its eye, you can only come to one conclusion: you are looking into the eye of an intelligent and sentient being that is quite capable of staying with Hanks. Sailors have reported these experiences with whales time and again.

No one has written about the GOLD WINGS symbol that Chuck Logan says saved his life. Yes, that symbol saved his life but also Wilson saved his life, Kelly saved his life, the watch saved his life, and Chuck Logan saved his life by recognizing his powerlessness and transforming his life.

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Hitman (+ Digital Copy) (2007)

I didn't expect to be impressed with this movie because in my mind it was simply another flick made from a video game but man, I was blown away! In fact it was so enjoyable that ten minutes after finishing it I wanted to see it again, and that rarely happens. Never mind the few geographical errors, this movie is all action and there is no waste of precious minutes on mindless love scenes the one actually has one cut short by the main hero and it was humorous, how he was all business, him being this monk killer for hire who lives a chaste life. In a way it was like a James Bond character who actually didn't try to bed all the babes, impressive. And Timothy Olyphant was flawless, even thought I prefer men with longer hair he looked cool and totally acted the part, mysterious, brooding but with a heart in there somewhere.

Bald and serious, dressed in an expensive suit, red silk tie and an impeccably crisp white shirt the Hitman is a force to be reckoned with. He's not too emotional but rather straightforward with a little bit of a charm threw in as he works his meticulously planned hits until one day everything changes. In a very short time the predator turns into juicy prey and he must use all of his killer skills to catch the bad guys. Trouble is finding out who the bad guys are, I liked watching this movie without knowing anything about it, but I will just say it involved the Russian secret police and the Interpol chasing the Hitman while someone from the inside of his secret agency was trying to put him in the harm's way. The twists and turns, betrayals laced with action and ferocious weaponry all in one were a feast for the mind and eyes.

This movie was like a day at the beach, the bullets spraying the sky like the morning surf hitting the warm sand. Action galore and clever fights using all sorts of guns and ammo , hand combat and even a sword scene all mashed beautifully, it is all art, a ballet almost , full of grace with deadly intentions, I loved it and can't say enough good things about it.

Kasia S.

I really enjoyed this movie....I mean what is there not to like. You have a hitman (the sexy #47) who has been trained from childhood to be the best at what he does. Trained to hold his breath, shoot anything that moves from any distance, armed with sexy weapons and a barcode (tattooed beautifully in his scalp), along with an air of calm (that would make anyone scared who he faces), he is the perfect killing machine and running for his life. Determined to protect Nika, a prostitute to the President of Russia, from who else (her lover), #47 goes about the task of fighting the bad guys and righting what he thinks are wrongs. With a Interpol Cop on his heels, he attempts to uncover the truth about why someone he thought he killed wants him dead and what the whole thing is about. I enjoyed this movie...with its cool fight scenes and nice special effects. It was definitely worth renting on a Sunday afternoon.

Buy Hitman (+ Digital Copy) (2007) Now

I had heard a lot of bad things and bad reviews about this movie. I was suprised when I watched it that it was as good as it was. I thought Timothy Olyphant did a good job and that the girl who played his love interest was also good and HOT. The guy that plays T-Bag on the TV show Prison Break was also good. I have never played this game but I thought the story was pretty solid. It kind of reminded me of The Bourne Identity as he is a trained super assassin from a place that churns them out and he has flash backs of good and bad things.

Anyway, the action rocked and it was exciting and entertaining beginning to end. It was pretty good and fun to watch.

Read Best Reviews of Hitman (+ Digital Copy) (2007) Here

Yet another game to movie adaptation, but this one has a major difference. It's actually pretty damn cool.

Timothy Olyphant fits perfectly into the role of Agent 47, an orphan who is taken in and trained by an agency that trains children to be the most stealthy and deadly hitmen in the world. Agent 47 is the best of the best of all the Hitmen raised and trained by "The Organization." He is called in to perform on a hit on the Russian President Mikhail Belicoff, however the hit is a setup and 47 finds himself on the run from Interpol & The Russian Secret Police.

While on the run, 47 endeavours to get revenge and find the truth about who set him up and why. This unravels a tangled web of lies and deceipt as one by one he kills those who have done him wrong, including those who are also members of "The Organisation."

During his streak he comes across an unlikely companion in Nika Boronina who we come to see gives 47 emotions and feelings that he's never encountered before.

This is a really good movie and something that at times keeps so close to the game that you come to think this is a game in itself. Timothy Olyphant plays 47 incredibly and although 47 is conventionally an emotionless character but within the movie we are given emotion that is being held back. That may be a bit of an oxymoron but the way in which Olyphant portrays it is amazing as it's a character that has all this emotion built up inside but is trying to hold it back.

The action, dialogue and cinematography of this film I found to be incredibly intelligent. It has moments in it that you can identify to the game and there's one point in particular which the game itself is given a nod. 47 breaks through the window of a hotel room and it cuts to a vision of kids playing the video game hitman.

Overall this was a very, very good film which I have to admit I didn't really have high hopes for in the beginning. I am glad to say my preconceptions were changed within the first 5 minutes into the movie and I am sure to watch it again.

You should check it out whether you're a fan of the game or not, it's still a pretty special piece.

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Hitman was an enjoyable movie with references throughout towards to the video game series on which it is based on. They picked a good one (Timothy Olyphant-Scream 2, Live Free or Die Hard) to play the title character and he does so with style but also a fierceness as well. He dispatches any and all that come his way or end up and his already dead marks. From hand to hand combat, guns, sword fights with others like him from the Organization that trained, fed, clothed and made them into the powerful yet deadly freelance agents they are.

It is touched on his background with the organization but hope it might be expanded on in a future movie. Entertaining, action packed and loaded with violence add a little bit of storyline and you have a fun and far more entertaining movie than i thought it could be. Usually i'm not too hyped over video games made into movies, but Hitman isn't like that at all.

Very enjoyable.

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Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile (2012)

If you loved "Romancing The Stone" and can hardly pass the TV without stopping to watch when it's on, then you might want to consider this 2-pack. RTS alone is a five star film on it's own.It is one that is as enjoyable the 50th time you watch as it was the first. Then follow the adventures of Jack, Joan and Ralph to Africa in "Jewel Of The Nile".The only problem is...you'll have a heck of a time trying to decide what genre to put them in. There's something for everybody. Action-Adventure, Comedy, and Romance. It's a Caper and a Cliffhanger.

Here's the story for those that may have missed this gem....

Joan Wilder(Kathleen Turner)is a romance novelist who's hopes and dreams are to be swept off her feet by a man like Jessie, the hero of her adventurous stories. She's about to have her own adventure though, one that includes a man, well... not quite like Jessie,but a hero in his own way, Jack T. Colton(Michael Douglas). He has dreams too. And he's into "short-cuts" to make them come true.

After coming into possession of a mysterious treasure map, Joan finds herself in the jungles of Columbia. She must use the map to bargain for her kidnapped sister's life. Things are not going smoothly though. All kinds of villains are after the map. Enter Jack to the rescue, but are his intentions to help her or is he also after the treasure at the end of the map?? Find out as things go downhill(literally), they are swinging from vines, fighting off crocodiles, and are all the time being chased by bad cops and bumbling thieves, including the likes of Danny DeVito!

"Jewel Of The Nile" is the sequel to this fun adventure, and although a bit on the predictable side, and maybe not one that you'll watch as often as RTS,(I would probably give it 3 1/2 stars on it's own),it's a chance to see these three great stars back in action again,this time being chased and romancing their way across Africa.

Joan and Jack have been living together on his boat for six months already.Jack wants to take off and see the world, Joan has a bit of a writer's block and wants more from life. Opportunity knocks on her door when a powerful Sheik wants her to write his story. She's wisked off to Africa, leaving a brooding Jack behind, and immediately finds herself in the midst of a mysterious,intriguing and very dangerous situation involving an all powerful "Jewel". But have no fear, Jack is warned of the danger his beloved is in and is off to save her. Ralph(DeVito),who has been lurking about and hears the word "Jewel" is not going to be left out this time, and tags along as well. An added bonus to this one are the fabulous Flying Karamazov Brothers juggling troupe, who jazz up this film a little with their entertaining skills.

Finally available in a packaged deal on DVD, it would be nice if the special features were listed, so fans of theses films could decide if it is worth the upgrade to a "special edition".

Also these two "special edition" are both sold separately. It may be worth the time to check the prices from Amazon and the outside sellers to see which way is the best deal(including shipping costs)

Fun, Romance,Adventure,Great Location shoots, and three great stars to spend action-packed hours with....go for it..and enjoy....Laurie

more fun stuff:

Man With One Red Shoe

The Cowboy Way

Goin South

These 2 films are 2 of the most nostalgic films for me from the mid-1980s. It had been a long time since I watched them, but they remain as delightful today as they did when I first saw them on VHS in the 80s.

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner portray a pair of quasi-lovers thrown into rather unpredictable circumstances. Danny Devito plays a loveable bumbling bad guy who is out to convince himself that he really IS a bad guy.

The DVDs contain special features which interview the stars today and all 3 reminisce about the making of both films. The story about how the set-prop of the F-16 nearly caused an international incident is comical. There was just one downside to the interviews, and that was that Kathleen Turner (who SIZZLED in the 80s!) has not aged well @ all. I would have never recognized her. Sadly, I believe Danny Devito has aged more gracefully than she has.

If you grew up in the 80s, I would highly recommend that you pick up this DVD set to re-discover why we all loved Kathleen & Mike way back then. If you're young enough that you were not alive when the movies came out in the theatre, then you're in for a big treat. These are 2 of the funnest adventure movies ever made!

Buy Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile (2012) Now

This review refers to the "Romancing The Stone/Jewel Of The Nile" 2 pack(VHS).....

If you loved "Romancing The Stone" and can hardly pass the TV without stopping to watch when it's on, then go ahead and splurge on this two-pack. RTS alone is a five star film on it's own and worth the price of admission.It is one that is as enjoyable the 50th time you watch as it was the first. Then follow the adventures of Jack, Joan and Ralph to Africa in "Jewel Of The Nile".The only problem is...you'll have a heck of a time trying to decide what genre to put them in. There's something for everybody. Action-Adventure, Comedy, and Romance. It's a Caper and a Cliffhanger.

Here's the story for those that may have missed this gem....

Joan Wilder(Kathleen Turner)is a romance novelist who's hopes and dreams are to be swept off her feet by a man like Jessie, the hero of her adventurous stories. She's about to have her own adventure though, one that includes a man, well... not quite like Jessie,but a hero in his own way, Jack T. Colton(Michael Douglas). He has dreams too. And he's into "short-cuts" to make them come true.

After coming into possession of a mysterious treasure map, Joan finds herself in the jungles of Columbia. She must use the map to bargain for her kidnapped sister's life. Things are not going smoothly though. All kinds of villains are after the map. Enter Jack to the rescue, but are his intentions to help her or is he also after the treasure at the end of the map?? Find out as things go downhill(literally), they are swinging from vines, fighting off crocodiles, and are all the time being chased by bad cops and bumbling thieves, including the likes of Danny DeVito!

"Jewel Of The Nile" is the sequel to this fun adventure, and although a bit on the predictable side, and maybe not one that you'll watch as often as RTS,(I would probably give it 3 1/2 stars on it's own),it's a chance to see these three great stars back in action again,this time being chased and romancing their way across Africa.

Joan and Jack have been living together on his boat for six months already.Jack wants to take off and see the world, Joan has a bit of a writer's block and wants more from life. Opportunity knocks on her door when a powerful Sheik wants her to write his story. She's wisked off to Africa, leaving a brooding Jack behind, and immediatley finds herself in the midst of a mysterious,intriguing and very dangerous situtation involving an all powerful "Jewel". But have no fear, Jack is warned of the danger his beloved is in and is off to save her. Ralph(DeVito),who has been lurking about and hears the word "Jewel" is not going to be left out this time, and tags along as well. An added bonus to this one are the fabulous Flying Karamazov Brothers juggling troupe, who jazz up this film a little with their entertaining skills.

I did not see this set available yet on DVD(although they are sold seperately),I have a feeling it won't be long though. Amazon is sold out of this 2 pack at this time,but there are some reasonable deals here from the sellers if you are interested in the VHS editions.

Fun, Romance,Adventure,Great Location shoots, and three great stars to spend action-packed hours with....go for it..and enjoy....Laurie

Read Best Reviews of Romancing the Stone / Jewel of the Nile (2012) Here

This film really took me back. My mother took me to see it for the first time in the cinema when I was twelve years old. The last time I saw it was on VHS in the late 80's. When I recently viewed the special edition, a whole lot of old memories came flooding back. The film obviously aimed for the Raiders of the Lost Ark crowd with its high-adventure sequences, (Indiana Jones was one of the hottest properties around at the time) but ended up being its own animal before all was said and done, becoming more a romantic comedy than an action-adventure film. This film is something special because as a twelve-year-old who hated all that kissy-stuff I still loved this movie, and to this day I still don't like romantic comedies, but I still love this movie. The story is about a lonely romance novelist who travels to Columbia to bring a map to two kidnappers who have her sister. Along the way she meets Jack T. Colton, a drifter who agrees to take her to meet the kidnappers for $350 some American. Of course, he manages to convince her she should go after the treasure to which the map points (El Corazon, the said "stone" of the title) and a number of misadventures follow. The sequel is almost as good, but added the element of the supernatural, albeit briefly. The bottom line is this: If you like the Indiana Jones films, you'll probably enjoy this. If you've never seen this movie, give it a try.

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I have loved these two movies since I was a little girl and it is so nice to be able to watch them again and again now that they are on DVD. Thank you so much!!!

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Tengo Ganas De Ti - La Historia De Tres Metros Sobre Cielo Continua BLU RAY (2012)

Perhaps I'm the naive one, but I thought that a movie in Spanish sold here would have English subtitles. Most English language movies I've ever purchased have subtitles in Spanish and often several other languages. At a minimum you should have a note on the purchase ad indicating whether it has subtitles. My Spanish is not good enough for me to enjoy this movie without some help so it's pretty worthless to me. My bad, but I won't get burned again by Amazon.

In my opinion this movie is as good as the first part "3 metres sobre el cielo". I most certaily enjoed watcihing it..

Buy Tengo Ganas De Ti - La Historia De Tres Metros Sobre Cielo Continua BLU RAY (2012) Now

the actors (especially Mario Casas)

the story

the setting

just love it all

saw the movie in flight and had to own it and see it again

Read Best Reviews of Tengo Ganas De Ti - La Historia De Tres Metros Sobre Cielo Continua BLU RAY (2012) Here

you have to watch it and begin by watching 3 metros sobre el cielo and it will move every single bone in your body and it will make you love again.

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I loved this Movie!!! Is the best yet!!! AM soo thrilled to find it here in amazon and it being USA compatible!!!! I love that Gin has more courage and lets herself show rather than Babi's character! Anyways if you like the last movie 3MSC than you surely will LOVE this one!

In the Valley of Elah (2008)

There have been many films about the aftermath of war, but never have I seen such a brutally honest and shocking depiction of the de-humanization of soldiers back from war. This is the underlying premise of the new crime thriller from academy award winning writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash).

Hank Deerfield (played by Tommy Lee Jones) is a retired veteran and military police officer searching for his son who has gone AWOL. A detective Emily Sanders (played by Charlize Theron) becomes interested in the case and starts helping Hank outside of her job. When Hank's son's body is found, the search suddenly turns into a search for the murderer.

One of the many aspects I appreciated was that director Haggis did not turn this into a typical Hollywood crime thriller and also not turn it into a political propaganda piece against the war and President Bush. Instead he mixes the two plots together seamless and subtle, letting you decide for your self.

Tommy Lee Jones gives the best performance of his long career as he plays a quiet, emotionless war vet, but still shows tremendous amount of emotion. Just watching his face as he sits in a diner and listens to one of his retired friends tell him about plans to go visit his grandchildren is heartbreaking. We can almost see the internal emotional struggle as he realizes he will never be able to do that. Charlize Theron does a wonderful job as the detective, and despite her small screen time Susan Surandon plays the grieving wife of Jones to perfection.

This film is such a moving masterpiece on so many levels it is simply wonderful to watch. The quiet pacing of the film building up to the climax is captivatingly intense in its own way. I am sure this will be a popular film at the Oscars this year, and if they gave out awards for best scene this would be sure to garner a nomination for a simple, poignant, yet profoundly moving scene when Frank tells the story of David and Goliath (which took place in the Valley of Elah) to the little son of detective Sanders.

First of all, I have no idea why this movie was panned or lauded during its theatrical release as some kind of statement for or against the Iraq war. After having watched it, the political ramifications of that war are, in my opinion, totally irrelevant to this movie as a work of entertainment. There have been atrocities in every war since tribes were clubbing each other with mastodon bones, so let's just put that aside.

Having been raised in the military as an Army brat -and being a veteran myself -I really love movies oriented toward military subjects, and this movie doesn't disappoint. In many ways, it's territory we've explored before in movies such as "The Caine Mutiny", "A Few Good Men", "Basic", "The General's Daughter", "Rules of Engagement" (another Jones movie), and many others. Why this one was castigated as being anti-war in any special way is totally beyond me.

We have a stellar cast in what is essentially a "Courage Under Fire" genre movie, a Rashomon scenario, wherein Tommy Lee Jones -the father of a murdered vet -tries to uncover the details of his son's murder with the help of an outcast female police detective played by Charlize Theron.

Jones is always a marvel to watch, and the supporting cast is also top notch: Josh Brolin, Jason Patric, Susan Sarandon, Francis Fisher (in a gutsy role for a middle-aged woman), as well as the lesser lights.

But in my opinion, Charlize Theron stole this show, hands down.

Having won an Oscar for her incredible performance as the serial killer in "Monster" a couple of years back (and keeping in mind her physical transformation for that role), and also bearing in mind her usual public persona as a beautiful woman gracing the red carpet in a slinky gown, it would be easy to dismiss her as a one-hit wonder who got lucky a couple of years ago.

This movie disproves that idea. Though she doesn't transform herself as grotesquely for this role, it's actually a much more subtle and sublime transformation, which in my opinion makes her success in the role even more difficult. Where in "Monster" she could hide herself behind the grotesquery of the physical transformation, in this movie she simply makes herself...... plain.

How much harder it is to be a distinctive blade of grass than it is to be a toadstool.

I can't believe she wasn't nominated again for this role.

ANYway.... I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, especially for that performance, but it also worked very well on all levels.

Buy In the Valley of Elah (2008) Now

Much has been made of the fact that this movie is based on a true story, the 2003 murder of Richard Davis, a story chronicled by Mark Boal in an extensive magazine article, "Death and Dishonor," that appeared in the May 2004 issue of Playboy (an article that can be found online and that is far more thought-provoking than this film). Some reviews go so far as to say that the film hews closely to the story reported by Boal, but the truth is otherwise. (The film opens with the statement that it was "inspired by actual incidents" a statement that usually heralds significant dramatic license.) Indeed, of adapting his story for the screen, Mr. Boal, who shares writing credits for the story with director Paul Haggis (Mr. Haggis alone is credited with the screenplay), had this to say: "It's a fictional piece [the film], and so at various junctures Paul [Haggis] and I thought we should change Lanny's story to make it feel more universal." The Lanny to which Mr. Boal refers is Lanny Davis, the real-life father of the victim and the model for the character Hank Deerfield, whom Tommy Lee Jones plays. Exactly what was done to make the story "feel more universal"? Be advised that spoilers follow.

Lanny Davis, upon whom Hank Deerfield is based, is, in fact, a 20-year veteran of the Army, 16 of those years with the Military Police. About a month after his son, Richard Davis, was reported AWOL, from his first 2-day pass following his return from six months in Iraq, Mr. Davis traveled to Fort Bragg, where he spent several days trying unsuccessfully to motivate a missing-person investigation into his son's disappearance by either Army or civilian authorities. Failing in that effort, he returned home. About two weeks later he enlisted the support of his congressman, who had the clout to push the Army to investigate Richard Davis as a missing person. At first, the men in Davis's platoon stonewalled. Then, as the Army pressed its cross-examinations, a single soldier repeated a rumor that had been circulating: four members of the platoon had killed Davis and left his body in a wooded area, and he identified both the men and the area. The area fell under the jurisdiction of the Columbus (Georgia) Police Department, which promptly investigated and quickly located remains of the victim. The same day that remains were found, the Army arrested the four members of Richard Davis's platoon identified as responsible and delivered them into civilian custody.

The stories the men told authorities were of an alcohol-fueled night on the town, their first since returning from six months in Iraq, that turned violent. After being evicted from a club, the group was angry with the victim, whose rowdy behavior, it was claimed, was responsible for their eviction, and an argument ensued in the club's parking lot between the victim and one of the group. Then, so their stories went, the group got into their car and left, but as they drove the argument continued. They stopped at an unfamiliar location, got out of the car, and a fistfight ensued between the victim and the fellow with who he had been arguing. But at some point, one of the men pulled a knife and began stabbing the victim. The others claimed to have tried unsuccessfully to intervene. Afterwards, they dragged the body into a more secluded area, and later they returned with gasoline and set it afire. No one involved with the case believes this version of events it is far more plausible that three of the group were active participants in the victim's death but the confessions were enough to secure two convictions: one for murder and one for voluntary manslaughter. (The fourth person, whose presence in the group that night was deemed incidental, received five years probation.) The convictions satisfied authorities but not Lanny Davis, who believes his son was killed because he had knowledge of a rape committed in Iraq by the perpetrators, and he remains angry that has not been investigated.

Throughout the film, the Army is portrayed as impeding the investigation, of covering up, and of not cooperating with local authorities, which, as the record shows, is not true. Neither is it true that the civilian authorities were eager to avoid investigating the case. Lanny Davis did not play Sherlock Holmes and conduct his own investigation; neither did he beat a suspect (he first saw the accused at trial). The civilian detective played by Charlize Theron is fiction. (You'll have to ask Mr. Haggis why her fellow detectives and superiors are portrayed as sexist pigs.) There was no cell phone rich with imagery of soldiers acting badly; no suicide. Richard Davis's only sibling is a sister. (In the film he supposedly had a brother who was killed while a soldier, in a helicopter crash, which plays into an emotional scene in which Susan Sarandon asks Tommy Lee Jones something to the effect of "couldn't you have left me one?", suggesting that the father encouraged both his sons to join the military. In fact, Lanny Davis did not encourage his only son to join.)

Furthermore, the film seems to suggest that the killers were fine, upstanding young men so dehumanized by what they saw and experienced as soldiers in Iraq that not only could they viciously kill one of their own, they could be hungry enough afterwards to require stopping for fast food. In fact, the three soldiers convicted of Richard Davis's death were hardly fine or upstanding, a fact that leads to the more interesting question: what happens when we send misfits into an environment like Iraq. And as for stopping for fast food afterwards, I found nothing in the record to suggest that is anything but dramatic license. (Lanny Davis dismisses the suggestion that post-traumatic stress syndrome played a role in his son's murder.)

Some aspects of the film may be inspired by actual incidents, but incidents that had nothing to do with the Richard Davis case and which were included, depending on your perspective, either to stack the deck against the policies and institutions whom the director targets, or to make the film "more universal." For example, a woman tells Charlize Theron's character that her husband (a veteran of Iraq) drowned their dog in their bathtub, that she's afraid he will hurt her, and she appeals for the authorities to intervene. The response of Ms. Theron's character is to suggest the woman have her husband seek help from the VA. Of course, the woman is later found drowned in her bathtub. To avoid possible ambush, did Lanny Davis's son run over an Iraqi child rather than stop the vehicle he was driving? No. Might these two incidents be based on real events? Yes. Does their inclusion in this story make it more universal? You be the judge.

Tommy Lee Jones's performance has been justly praised, and he is ably supported by others of the cast. But the problem here is not the performances, it's the script. The film touches upon important issues but does so dishonestly in its quest to make the story "feel more universal."

Read Best Reviews of In the Valley of Elah (2008) Here

After his career in the military, Hank Deerfield (Jones) settles down for a quiet life with his wife, Joan. He's not particularly worried at first when he learns his son is AWOL after coming back from Iraq--these things happen.

When the local police call to tell him his son's dead, Hank can't believe it and he enlists Emily Sanders (Theron) a local cop to help him solve his case. He gets his clues from his son's cell phone files, credit card receipts and testimony from fellow troop members.

The story's a harsh reminder that the war does not end when "Johnny comes marching home" and many of our troops and their families need help they're not getting from either the military or local officials. While Jones initially is only seeking to find his son, he uncovers a lot more about the realities of war than many of us would want to see. In my opinion, this is Jones' best performance yet.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2008

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This movie was criticized in the magazine Salon for taking the easy way out and by the Los Angeles Times for incorrectly conveying an important message. In spite of such criticism, the director Paul Haggis won an award given by the SIGNIS at the 2007 Venice Film Festival, and Tommy Lee Jones was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Much as "Crash", the previous movie directed by Haggis, this movie presents a serious, controversial and divisive topic. Certainly it is expected that not everyone in the audience will be pleased by Haggis' strong and straight forward approach.

The plot of the movie is based on the actual experience of Richard Davis, an Iraq war veteran, who returns home in 2003 after he and his comrades participated in the April 11, 2003, "Midtown Massacre," in downtown Baghdad. On July 15, 2003, less than two days after returning from Irag deployment, Davis was murdered brutally outside Fort Benning, Ga by fellow soldiers.

Lanny Davis, the father of Richard Davis and a former military police officer, launches his own investigation to find out what happened to his missing son, because the army wouldn't investigate the case and treated it as AWOL/desertion.

While minor details and the names of the characters have been changed, Tommy Lee Jones is outstanding in the role of the father, who finds out the truth with the help of detective Emily Sanders (Charlize Theron).

While the investigation reveals the details of the murder, it also reveals the emotional and psychological destruction the American soldiers suffered watching innocents being killed by mistakes, women raped, and prisoners tortured. The movie is a close look at the dilemma soldiers face, when they go back to their normal lives after watching war crimes, and the loss of faith and ambivalence Americans feel between their loyalty to their government and the reality they are all faced with during the war.

Tommy Lee Jones out did himself showing conflict and confusion between a father's love and loyal citizen. Also, the ending of the movie is a thought provoking and symbolic one inspired by the United States Flag Code.

Now that president Bush is out of the White House leaving some unfinished business, I recall what Mahatma Gandi once said: "What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is brought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?". Six years after the beginning of the war against Iraq, what justification will we offer the dead innocents? What comfort will we give to the American soldiers who have suffered enormous trauma facing an enemy they don't even know and now question their values?

What brush will we use to paint the canvas of our history in Iraq? Will we use the brush of denial, self justification and delusion or the brush of perspective humility and profound sorrow at an action gone badly wrong?

I don't expect many people to agree with my review, especially because of the way we as a nation continue to hide our heads in the sand and follow with blind faith our sense of righteousness and superiority about the Iraq War. Great movies like "In the Valley of Elah' are the simple impetus that force people to open their eyes to wonder and question their actions and political maturity.

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Punisher: War Zone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008)

For anyone who ever read any Punisher comics growing up, or still are as adults, then they can attest that they are constantly full of violence, blood, guts and gore, and very light on comedy. Fantastic Four, The X-Men, and The Hulk CANNOT be compared to The Punisher in anyway, so if someone watches these other Marvel movies and likes them, then attempts to watch this newest Punisher movie expecting the same lighthearted cartoon violence and humor, then it would have been like going to the polls and actually thinking a vote for McCain would've meant something (oops, too soon?). Getting back on topic, out of the 3 actors who've starred as the title character, Ray Stevenson has looked the MOST like the Punisher during the War Zone story arc. He was big, gritty, gruff, and not clean shaven. He wasn't a pretty boy like Thomas Jane, and he wasn't some eastern bloc pinko like Dolph Lundgren (seriously, who the hell casted him?! Jesse Ventura would've even been a better choice!)

So in short, I'm giving this movie 5 stars, because as a true Punisher fan, this movie is the closest to the comics as any of the movies. The first movie was beyond pathetic. The second was good, in fact much of the plot taken directly out of Punisher comics, but way too much humor injected into it and not enough action. This movie has all the action, blood, and death, plus Jigsaw, The Punisher's arch-nemesis. OH, and by the way, Jigsaw has been around since the 1980s...he wasn't invented after the filming of the Saw movies, so if you think his name was ripped from other movies, well, you're an idiot.

So for those of you who also truly loved the Punisher back in the old days, watch this movie! And you'll know exactly what I mean when I say...until The Punisher throws away his guns and takes on an appeasement approach...MAKE MINE MARVEL!!!

I'd give Punisher: War Zone 3.5 stars if I could, as it is definitely better than the 2004 treatment starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta, and stands as the most faithful screen treatment that good 'ol Frank has gotten yet. Ray Stevenson (HBO's Rome) stars as Frank Castle this time around, who after accidentally killing an undercover FBI agent during one of his latest bullet-ridden sprees, seeks to give up being the Punisher. However, hideously scarred mobster Jigsaw (The Wire's Dominic West) has different plans for Frank, including taking out the late fed's wife (Dexter's Julie Benz) and daughter (Stephanie Janusauskas). Directed by Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans), Punisher: War Zone is ridiculously violent almost to the point of turning into a live-action cartoon, and still manages to retain most of the tone of Garth Ennis' excellent run on the comic. Stevenson is definitely the most physically imposing actor to play the Punisher, and is the best one above all as well. The rest of the acting however is almost comical, with West and Doug Hutchison, who plays Jigsaw's cannibal brother Loony Bin Jim, going so far over the top that you can't help but laugh. The film's dialogue and script don't help matters any, but the bloody action sequences are done well and are worth seeing the film for alone. Despite its flaws though, Punisher: War Zone still manages to be pretty entertaining, and is definitely the most satisfying adaptation that the character has received yet. Fans of Ennis' run on Punisher MAX and action-flick fans will find much to admire here, and in the end, that's really all that need apply here.

Buy Punisher: War Zone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008) Now

I saw this film yesterday and I believe it's the best action film this year. I can't decide which film is best, this one, or the 2004 film with Thomas Jane and John Travolta. But I do know that Ray Stevenson was an excellent choice for this film. I think every actor did a wonderful job with their roles.

I enjoyed the action, could have been a little less graphic, but I enjoyed it anyway. The nearly constant action and blood might sound overwhelming, but it does have some funny moments here and there. I wish the movie focused a little more on the Punisher himself and not so much on the criminals. Bottom line this is definately a must-see for any punisher or action movie fan.

Read Best Reviews of Punisher: War Zone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008) Here

DON'T LISTEN to the negative reviews. SEE THIS MOVIE, although not with kids around that's for sure (Hard R for violence and cursing but no nudity).

If you're an action fan who has been craving for a non stop and over the top intense action movie, say no more and watch this movie!

If copious amounts of gun action blood, guts and gore is what you've been dying to see infused into an action movie, this is your train, GET ONBOARD and don't look back!

This movie kicks other action movies butts and asks questions later! It even has MORE (and well done) GORE than most HORROR movies!

Don't get me wrong, the new Friday the 13th Remake was fun but it can't hold a candle to the carnage that takes place in Punisher: War Zone!

Now, enough talk about the carnage that the Punisher dishes out, how about the rest of the movie.

Mostly based on the Punisher MAX ultra violent comic series, this movie holds true to the grittiness of that series therefore it's no great surprise that the movie is over the top, what is a shocker is that the filmakers had the courage to stick with it and deliver in spades what most Punisher fans were clamoring for! Good story, cool good guys, nasty villians, lots of explosive action and no boring parts! The music soundtrack and sound effects were also very enjoyable.

Put it this way, I'm a fan and I ain't complaining that's for sure. If anything, i'm taking the time to write this wacky review...woot!

The 2004 Punisher was a decent enough action movie however this is THE definative Punisher movie and the one I would take onto my desert island.

The Dark Knight was an excellent movie for adults, Iron Man was an excellent movie for adults and kids, Punisher is an AWESOME BAD *** FUN movie for adults and young adults (if that makes any sense).

That's the big difference for me when compared to The Dark Knight, PWZ (as I like to call it) is a very FUN movie to watch. I forgot what a 100% FUN movie was like until this one reminded me!

Iron Man was also fun, more than TDK that's for sure but Punisher definately has it beat in that department for me.

The Joker would fit in nicely in this movie just as well but he wouldn't be the only nut job, he would be one of many awesome bad dudes in this flick!

It's a shame what happened to this movie in the Box Office, it didn't deserve its fate. It's definately worth spending the few bucks it costs to watch it and I hope that the actors, director Lexi Alexander and Marvel, heck even Lionsgate, recoup their financial and career investments.

Let me end by saying this, I'm not going into detail because my desire is not to ruin this movie for anyone but there are scenes in this movie that are groundbreaking and have never been filmed in the manner they were done here.

When I say that Punisher crosses the line and does stuff which will make your jaw drop, i'm not joking. I wish i could let it out but you'll see for yourselves just how crazy this move is!

Remember, no little kiddies though.

Hey, can you tell that I liked it, and my name isn't even Mikey....go figure.

Good Job Lexi, Ray, Dominic, Doug, Julie, Wayne and Marvel plus Lionsgate....Thanks for a FUN movie, box office be damned!

The Punisher finally.....well, you know...PUNISHES!

Hope you enjoyed this review from the heart.

Hey Lex, Ray..you know...Marvel, call me sometime, we'll do lunch.....LOL!

Peace!

Want Punisher: War Zone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008) Discount?

Ok, lets start off with the fact this is not King Lear or Hamlet. This doesn't go into deep philisophical questions about people's motivations for revenge.

It say what it does on the tin. Man's family is killed, something snaps and he just wants to kill/Punish people who he holds responsible.

Its a kill fest. The scene where the Policeman says "I'm taking him in" and Frank just kills him sums it up. This is gory, violent and takes you to the edge os what is acceptable, but that is what the Comic and the Punisher is about.

Don't waste your time on negative reviews for this film, because the chances are they have never read the comic, or even heard of the Punisher. This is a generational thing. Either you get it, or you don't.

Great Film and defintely worth buying. Much better than the predecessors.

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Find Me Guilty (2012)

"Find Me Guilty" is a comedic take on what was at the time the longest criminal trial in American history, the 1987-1988 trial of 20 members of the New Jersey Lucchese crime family on 76 charges under the RICO Act. Most of the courtroom testimony is taken from the real trial transcripts. The film focuses on Giacomo "Jackie" DiNorscio (Vin Diesel), called "Fat Jack" in real life, who, frustrated with his lawyer, insists on representing himself. Jackie is already serving a 30-year prison sentence for narcotics distribution, so the outcome of this trial is somewhat academic to him. Prosecutor Sean Kierney (Linus Roache) offers him a reduction in his current sentence in exchange for testimony at the RICO trial, but Jackie refuses to rat out his friends. Untrained in the law, Jackie's only defense is to make the jury like him more than they like the prosecutors. "A laughing jury is never a hanging jury," says defense attorney Ben Klandis (Peter Dinklage). "I'm not a gangster. I'm a gagster," says Jackie. And he puts on quite a show over the course of the 21-month trial.

"Find Me Guilty" does make light of Jackie's crimes, presenting him as a loyal, affable guy. It could hardly do otherwise, since Jackie made light of them, and he seems to have been a loyal, affable criminal. (Giacomo DiNorscio died while this movie was being filmed.) This obviously isn't a catalog of the Lucchese family's misdeeds. There were some very disreputable people on trial whose victims were not limited to their fellow Mafioso. "Find Me Guilty" is about Jackie's role in this long, remarkable trial. Vin Diesel does the best work of his career thus far. Perhaps due to his laconic, tough-guy image, Diesel can play Jackie's silliness, foolishness, and melodrama without the audience losing sight of his hoodlum toughness. He's a big presence that carries the film through courtroom testimony that might otherwise be tedious. DiNorscio is an interesting character, whose conviction that he must love his mob family, and they must love him, carried him through the trial and many years in prison. "Find Me Guilty"'s comedic approach to courtroom and mafia dramas is new and entertaining.

The DVD (20th Century Fox 2006): "A Conversation with Sidney Lumet" (5 min) is a series of snippets in which director Lumet talks about meeting the real Jackie DiNorscio, Jackie's motives, and authenticity in the film. There is a theatrical trailer (2 ½ min) and 3 television spots for the film (30 sec. each), as well as a trailer for the 1992 movie "My Cousin Vinny" (1 ½ min). Subtitles for the film are available in English and Spanish.

Fans of "The Sopranos", "Goodfellas", Mafia and courtroom flicks will enjoy this fact-based (but probably not completely factual) look at the lengthiest RICO trail in American history starring Vin Diesel and directed by octogenarian Sidney Lumet.

Diesel plays New Jersey mobster Jack DiNorscio defending himself in the longest Mafia trial in U.S. history. Diesel is effective in the role as a disruptive force in judge Ron Silver's court. Alex Rocco, a Mafioso going back to "The Godfather" and through roles he played in TV's "Kojak", is the ring leader in the trial and the main guy the feds are after. Why DiNorscio became the focus of this movie is a question looking for an answer.

In any event, the courtroom "drama" is unlike most of what you see in this kind of movie. Diesel's character is uneducated, has little or no knowledge of courtroom requirements or decorum, and shows these shortcomings regularly through his inappropriate and often unbearable behavior as a litigator.

The other gangsters on trial turn against him after they come to view him as a force out for himself. Prosecutors too see him as a hazard insofar as his comedy act seems to appeal to jurors. True or not, you've probably never seen an attorney ask these kind of questions in court!

Ironically, the film lionizes DiNorscio as a heroic figure that carries out the Mafia credo of not ratting out a brother. Throughout the film he protests his love for his Cosa Nostra brethren, even when they are working against him, and continually states his case against being a rat. This, to me, was the principal theme of the film -that this lowlife gangster was somehow a hero. The outcome of the movie seems also to support that view.

Several bit players from "The Sopranos", including Junior Soprano's lawyer and one of Tony Soprano's dead love interests, fill out the supporting cast in this New York production. This flick is probably at the level of "The Valachi Papers" but with a far different perspective. It has little of the sizzle of "Goodfellas" but is interesting in its courtroom scenes, where much of the script allegedly mimicked the real trial the went on for more than 500 days.

So fans of gangster and courtroom flicks can cast aside any doubt and go for this movie, which is probably the best characterization Vin Diesel has put on so far. He deservedly wasn't nominated for any awards for this but it shows he can do a bit more than simply play Vin Diesel on screen.

Buy Find Me Guilty (2012) Now

I had the pleasure of watching this film on opening weekend in Times Square in NY. I saw the trailers but wasn't really sure what to expect from Vin Diesel in a very different role. I have to say, that after about 10 minutes, I stopped seeing Vin Diesel in make up and totally bought into his portrayal of "Fat Jack" DiNorscio. There was a good bit of crass gangster humor, but I ate it up in the same way you would a naughty secret. Peter Dinklage was wonderful as a lead attorney (and yes, his height was a non-issue, because he is such a strong actor), Ron Silver's strength and sensitivity as the judge was excellent and Linus Roache as the prosecutor was engaging (I didn't know whether to cheer for or against him and he was the "good guy"). I can't even begin to speak of the supporting actors whose mob idiosyncrisies were wonderfully played. I only wish we could have seen more of Annabella Sciorra and Vin Diesel on screen together. They were powerful and had excellent chemistry. I can't wait for the DVD if only to hope there are deleted scenes of these two! Trust me, they'd be worth the price of the DVD alone.

Read Best Reviews of Find Me Guilty (2012) Here

Vin Diesel plays Giacomo "Jackie Dee" DiNorscio, who in a strange turn of events defended himself in a Gangland Rico trial, that was the longest trial in US history. You can not tell if he is acting or joking thru is role

Sisney Lumet who directed Network, Dog Day Afternoon, The Verdict and 12 Angry Men seems weak in this drama/comedy. He has made the courtroom seem so close and tight, you feel you need a breath of air every ten minutes.

I will say Lumet stocked the deck with great stock actors like Ron Silver (as a no nonsense, by the book judge), Peter Dinklage (as a defense attorney), Alex Rocco, and (the too short a role that needed to be padded) Annabella Sciorra. I just wish the script and direction was as good as the actors

This drama/comedy is strong of humor and weak on dramatic moments. One of the worst when the Judge tells Jackie he lost his mother is so weak for the acting timbers of Diesel and Silver. Lumet seem to have lacked pacing and direction in this film. This film could have been a great film, but it was not.

I give it 3 stars for the acting, it is worth it for that

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

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Find Me Guilty obviously a vehicle for jumpstarting Vin Diesel's "serious" acting career is such an uneven film, and while it delivers up a few good laughs especially in the first act the film is profoundly short on drama and suspense, and it ultimately sinks under the weight of a leaden stodgy script, an overly long third part and an awkward, stilted performance by Diesel.

Part crime story and part-court room drama, Find Me Guilty is the real life story of New Jersey mobster named Jackie DiNorscio (Diesel) already serving time on a drug conviction, who in 1987 refused to turn state's witness against some 20 of his former associates in the Lucchese crime family.

There was obviously no love lost between Jackie and the Lucchese's, but Jackie consistently proves his loyalty and never turns against them. Fed up with his legal representation DiNorscio also chose to defend himself in what would become, at 21 months, the longest criminal trial in U.S. history.

As much of the action takes place within the courtroom the lawyers and mobsters there's a whole table of defendants all jockeying for position in an overcrowded courtroom with the ecstatically inexperienced Jackie mounting arguments based on wily good humor as he tries to win over the jury with his ribald and off-center jokes.

Directed by Sidney Lumet, Find Me Guilty is more intent to let the dialogue move the story along, using satire to present these beloved mobsters. We all know that these men are a bunch of crooks, intent to scam the system and even commit murder from time to time, but Lumet is more concerned with building their case on an amoral smugness, presenting them as a bunch of big, cuddly family men, who in the end, just want to be respected and loved.

There are some good supporting players here particularly Peter Dinklage who plays an eloquent dwarf attorney and who holds the courtroom rapt with his every utterance. And Annabella Sciorra shows up in a quick, charged turn as Jackie's former wife. The obnoxious lead government prosecutor played by Linus Roache injects some much-needed life into the proceedings, especially later on.

Ironically, the prosecutor is more insufferable and loathsome many of the mobsters. I guess that's why the jury reached the verdict they did and it also shows that the government can be just as ruthless as the people they attempt to bring to justice.

I feel a little sorry for poor Vin, he's obviously a competent actor, but in this case an overly talky script hampers him and unfortunately he has a voice that rarely rises about the monotone. He looks good with his hairpiece and you really believe he could be a mobster and there's a priceless scene involving some flatulence and car windows but the courtroom scenes prove that the role may have been just a little bit beyond him.

The script also leaves some important questions unanswered, such as the jury's verdict, and the movie always appear to be true even although much of the courtroom dialogue was taken from trial transcripts, but this doesn't mean the movie always rings true.

There are some fun moments after a heart attack, one gangster attends the rest of the trial in a hospital bed and there's lots of irreverent profanity thrown every which way, but the film, which clocks in at just over two hours comes across as overlong and stodgy a little bit like the trial itself and in the end, you really have to wonder whether these guys were as funny as the move makes them out to be. Mike Leonard June 06.

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