Search for the Great Sharks

Okay documentary, nothing spectacular though!
I consider myself a documentary, "Discovery Channel" freak, and of the many topics and themes which interest me the most, sharks in general rank among the top 10.

So my review of this DVD may be viewed as biased from the start, hence a high 4 or 5-star rating may be expected. Unfortunately, I've seen the disc and am somewhat disappointed. For one, how can you call a disc "Search For The Great Sharks" when you essentially featured just two species (the whale shark and the ever crowd-pleasing great white)? Nothing about hammerheads? Makos? Tiger sharks?

Nevertheless, I give it 3 stars if only for the overall audio and video quality (expect nothing less from IMAX - I own a couple others myself). Also interesting trivia which would probably please an audience of all ages. The film, unfortunately, is only 46 mins long (how come all IMAXes are this short? grrr!), with nine chapters as follows: 1. Domain of the Shark; 2. Behavior; 3. Steel Cage; 4...

Nothing special. Imax deserves something better.
This documentary needs badly a better direction and focus. There's nothing here we have not seen in the Discovery Channel. Furthermore the pace is slow, the story bland and repetitive (how many times must we show wonder for a senior cientist?)and the resources such as Imax film are wasted. If you want to watch something spectacular, try Ray Macgillivray's The Living Seas, Imax-Alaska or Africa-The Serengeti. Buy this only if you want to complete your Imax Dvd Library.

Too much above water filming
Although the shark footage is great. I was hoping that there would be more actual footage of sharks. Much of the movie seamed to focus upon the researchers looking for the sharks, instead of the sharks themselves.

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Beneath the Blue

Good, but not great
Beneath the Blue was a good, clean, family movie. The underwater filming was great and as someone who knows of a teen who died of a blackout I appreciated the warning about free diving.

I rented this movie because I volunteer a lot with ocean conservation efforts. Apparently this is a sequel to "Eye of the Dolphin" which I will watch soon to better understand some of the character backgrounds. There were definitely a few moments when I felt like the third person left out of insider information. But, overall, I enjoyed meeting the characters and thought all the acting was well done. Some of the lines made me roll my eyes, but I assume the target audience is young teens. I did wish some of the scenes between Alyssa and Craig would have been longer to flesh out their attraction to each other (I wanted to know what was going on in their heads more). Also, I had no idea how old Alyssa and Craig were supposed to be... originally I thought teenagers, but Craig is in military and...

Good Clean Fun
My younger daughters watched this and loved it. They are in their younger teens. No inappropriate themes or language. The movie seems to be (among other things) about choices and the fall out of those choices.

It was just okay
It isn't anything earthshattering, but it was mildly entertaining. It almost seemed like it was an after school movie or something like that.

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Miss Nobody

Climbing The Corporate Ladder On Rungs Of Blood--Lightweight Black Comedy With A Winning Lead Performance
Nobody enjoys a light and frothy comedy about murderous machinations more than I do. And "Miss Nobody" is a particularly bubbly addition to the genre. It is about the lightest and breeziest black comedy that you're likely to encounter. And yet, while I enjoyed the film to a large degree, I just wish it contained a few more surprises. Set in the corporate world, the plucky heroine (Leslie Bibb) advances through the ranks through the most unorthodox and unpleasant of means. While her exploits might be fun and amusing--you can't help but feel that you've seen this all before. Not nearly edgy or original enough, though, I'll still recommend the film for fans of the genre for one big reason. Leslie Bibb gives a winning comedic performance that oftentimes seems fresher than the material she's given. Bibb has been kicking around for quite a few years, it's time she got a chance to shine (she takes an executive producer credit here as well).

Bibb starts out as a secretary...

Climbing The Corporate Ladder On Rungs Of Blood: Lightweight Black Comedy With A Winning Lead Performance
Nobody enjoys a light and frothy comedy about murderous machinations more than I do. And "Miss Nobody" is a particularly bubbly addition to the genre. It is about the lightest and breeziest black comedy that you're likely to encounter. And yet, while I enjoyed the film to a large degree, I just wish it contained a few more surprises. Set in the corporate world, the plucky heroine (Leslie Bibb) advances through the ranks through the most unorthodox and unpleasant of means. While her exploits might be fun and amusing, you can't help but feel that you've seen this all before. Not nearly edgy or original enough, though, I'll still recommend the film for fans of the genre for one big reason. Leslie Bibb gives a winning comedic performance that oftentimes seems fresher than the material she's given. Bibb has been kicking around for quite a few years, it's time she got a chance to shine (she takes an executive producer credit here as well).

Bibb starts out as a secretary of a...

Miss Nobody
I happened to catch this one on TV, and it was definitely interesting. Not a typical boring cliche movie. It has a pretty original story line, and Leslie Bibb does a great job playing this character. She comes off as playing a sexy character but still somewhat awkward at the same time, and she makes it work. The only thing I really "disliked" about the movie was the apparently rampant amount of perverts and sexual harrassment at her work, and how everyone was in on some big secret plot. Aside from that, it was good and had a good ending.

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Shelter Me

An Uplifting PBS Documentary Special: Great Personal Stories Involving Shelter Pets
The PBS documentary special "Shelter Me" is rather straightforward in its goal. Director Steven Latham wants your next pet to be adopted from a shelter. And why not? Every year, several million animals are put down in American shelters. There simply isn't enough room or sufficient resources to house these animals indefinitely. And yet, the demands for pets has never really wavered. From a personal standpoint, I've never understood this disconnect. It would never occur to me to NOT reach out to a shelter. These creatures need a home. The twist in the two part "Shelter Me" is that not only do those profiled rescue the animals, but in many ways these abandoned pets go on to rescue their new owners. It's a lovingly created film that will inspire and touch you. While there is much unpleasantness in the topic of animal shelters, this 57 minute feature focuses on some specific and positive personal stories. And if you love animals, this is certainly a must-see endeavor...

A Must To Watch
This movie is a must watch one. Especially with all the family present. It really touches your heart and makes you definitely want to make a "life-long" commitment. Yep folks, if you adopt a pet, whatever it is, please, please remember that for the life of that animal it's YOUR responsibility to love, feed, and take care of it. In turn it gives you love, protection, and commitment. I especially believe in animals touching those people in desperate need of both physical and mental support. You will definitely enjoy this movie. A definitely buy for my DVD collection.

Very touching tribute to newer avenues for shelter dogs
I wanted to see this show on PBS but I couldn't figure out the viewing schedule on the station in my area. I am highly into anything that is dog related so I had heard of all these different programs mentioned in this special before. It was still very interesting and moving to view these individual programs that were featured. What struck me as always was how deep an impact each of these dogs had on the trainers and then again on the people they were placed with. I definitely needed my Kleenex during the last part of the program-PTSD soldiers and their dogs.

I did buy the movie for download. I think just a rental would have sufficed unless I wanted to share the film with a friend.

So happy there a shelter dogs getting a chance to change someone's world.

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Greatest Places

A Short Tour Of Planet Earth
An Imax film with no real plot or story, its a short tour of some of "The Greatest Places" on Planet Earth. (I would have given the film an extra star if there had been some sort of "connection" for the audience). There are some truely stunning wildlife and location images in the films 40 minutes and because of that it really needs to be seen either at an Imax cinema or on a large sceen TV, but even on my TV at home it looked incredible. The film visits the Amazon, Namib, Greenland, Okavango, Greenland, Tibet, Iguazu and Madagascar spending differnt amounts of time at each. Some of the places visited deserved a bit more time spent on them while others could have been a bit shorter. An interesting feature of this DVD that I'd like to see more of is the seperate Music and Ambiance track. You can turn off the narration, (which is a bit corny at times), and just listen to the music and natural sounds. The only problem with this feature is that the music...

A way for people to travel without spending alot of money
I don't get to travel, so this is my way of experiencing other lands and cultures. I have a friend who has a large screen projector home theater system. This DVD was excellent for this type of viewing and listening experience. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the DVD movie. It was like taking a space ship to another world and having a narrator explain it to you. Colors were clear and vivid, background music was soothing, I found it to be relaxing, and a way to escape the stresses of life.

It's not great but good.
It's not one of the best IMAX movies out there. But is very interesting and very well presented. The audio and video are of great quality. The only reason I couldn't rate it great was because 40 min. is too short a time to cover 6 great places in the world. I wish they made it at least 60 min.

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Pitch Perfect

Aca-mazing!
If you read a synopsis of Pitch Perfect, it just sounds like your typical rom-com, coming-of-age, singing movie; but I swear to you it's not. After being forced to see it by my stepbrother and his girlfriend, I was very, very pleasantly surprised. Pitch Perfect is probably one of my favorite movies ever now. As soon as the credits started rolling I knew I was in love and I needed to see it again. So I did, a week later. The music was aca-mazing! The soundtrack is absolutely off the charts! I am obsessed! My favorite song from it is the Bellas finals. The plot was a bit cliché, but good. The acting wasn't fantastic, but the goal here clearly wasn't to try and get nominated for an Oscar. They just wanted us to like the movie, and I more than liked it, so they succeeded.

Anna Kendrick played Beca, an amateur DJ who wants nothing more than to leave college and move to Los Angeles, causing her to be miserable all the time and shutting out everyone who cares about her. Her...

Action movie manly man who loved this film
I'm not a Ron Swanson, but I am a beer drinking, boot wearing, steak eating Die Hard loving guy. In other words, I was pretty much not the target audience for this film. But enough of my lady friends convinced me to give it a shot. I got these girls into Sons of Anarchy and Spartacus: Blood and Sand respectively so I figured I owed it to them to take their word.

I loved this film for a variety of reasons. I remember seeing the trailer and rolling my eyes and assuming it was some kind of terrible Glee era product trying to capitalize on the success. And honestly it could have been, but that still didn't detract from my enjoyment.

First, so far as I can tell this is an original script/film etc. And whether that's good or bad doesn't detract from my appreciation. So already points for being something new, even if the story is as predictable as you can kind of guess it is. But I've seen Die Hard tons of times. It's about the journey not the destination...

"Glee" and "Mean Girls" have a baby named Pitch Perfect
Definitely a PG-13 flick, this over-the-top story of a talented DJ who discovers the Accapella Diva within is well worth adding to the DVD library. Crazy talented men and women, some sweet relationship development and just enough raunchiness from the ladies to to keep any viewer on their toes, this is a movie that one will watch over and over and over again. Sure, it's a movie with a bunch of pretty people set at a college that looks nothing like reality, but hey . . . stranger things have been made believable on the silver screen.

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Hello I Must Be Going

Cure for Agoraphobia
This is pretty standard romantic comedy fare; the most amusing part is the May/December romance (well, not really December...) which features a (sorta) older woman and a younger man.

A recent divorcée has to move back home because her husband wanted the divorce and she has never held a job. Now she is caught in a spiral of embarrassment, ennui, and agoraphobia. Her well-meaning parents are anxious for her to get out and start to take an interest in life: she hasn't left the house for three months. They decide to throw a party for one of Dad's clients to pave the way for his possible retirement, while at the same time, to motivate their daughter to change out of her old t-shirt and meet some new people.

We meet:
* Melanie Lynskey ("Ever After") is Amy, sorely in need of an antidepressant; she mixes her metaphors and says, "I had the rug pulled over my eyes."
* Blythe Danner ("The Lucky One") is Ruth, her mother, who reads Dr. Seuss to her...

Engaging divorce and family drama
"Hello I Must Be Going" (2012 release; 95 min.) brings the story of Amy (played by Melanie Lynskey), a thirty-something who has just moved back into her parens' house after her husband left and divorced her. Amy hasn't legt the house in three months and doesn't get up before noon. In other words: depressed. Amy's dad, who is a lawyer, is trying to woo a potential new client, and at a dinner party with the potential new client and his extended family including his 19 yr. old stepson Jeremy (played by Christopher Abbott), Jeremy and Amy develop an instant crush on each other. Soon therafter, they have a fully blooming affair. Inevitably, one day, they get found out. To tell you more of the plot would ruin your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Several comments: (1) it must be Melanie Lynskey weekend for me here in Cincinnati: I just saw her yesterday in a (much smaller) role in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and now today she...

All Of Life's Little Curves At One Time
Although this film might be seen as formulaic, it's the two female leads that make it work. Amy is quirky & slightly puzzled & lost in wonder. Her mother is so grounded she can't seem to ever get off the ground. There are dreams & nightmares but they are real life for the characters in this movie & you get to watch how they deal with those moments because like all dreams & nightmares, they tend to come to a quick end. I wouldn't call this a slice of life but compressed life. I'm really glad I watched it & I'll watch it again. Melanie Lynskey is a wonderful actress & she has a natural beauty that reminds me of Kelly MacDonald & Emily Mortimer. Although I know it will not impress her to find this out, she has added another fan to her circle that I am certain is very wide & quite full.

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Ring of Fire

Good Imax Film
I have purchase several Imax DVD'S. I would rank this film better than most(Grand Canyon and Niagra) and below (The Liveing Sea and Alaska. It is more educational but it does not lack spectacular photography. That is one of the reason I buy Imax is to see thing's you do not ordinarely see. Some Imax films try to tell two to four short stories in a film; to me those film's don't work. I do not buy Imax to see pedestrian plot's; I buy to learn and enjoy the photography. This film fits the bill. If your interested in volcanoe's I do not think you could buy a better film.

Ring of Fire
I actually bought this for my 4 and 6 year old sons. They love it and it made them interested in volcanoes and earthquakes. They quote it! It is informative and shows more than a US perspective, although a lot of time is spent on San Fransisco, Mount St. Helens. and Hawaii. It also covers a Japan and Indonesia. It entertains and informs. The trailers included are good too.

Very educational, not so entertaining.
The standards for documentaries nowadays are very high. You need to succeed not only in the educational side of the story but also in entertaining the viewer. As an example, Greg Macgillivray's work in The Living Seas, Stormchasers or The Magic of Flight does everything in order to keep you on the edge of your seat without loosing the story's edge. Here, you can learn a lot from the sysmic and volcanic activities that determine most aspects of the people that live inside the Pacific Rim. Nevertheless, you never feel quite engaged and/or commited to the story as you do with the formerly referred work. The story starts with a visit to Chile's newly born Navidad crater and leads us through a journey that involves San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, the coasts of the former U.S.S.R., Japan, Hawaii and Indonesia. Anyhow, some shots are impressive- like San Francisco's earthquake recordings- some are really dull. The video and audio quality are very good, though not impressive. Unless you...

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My Own Love Song

The Good, The Bad & Healing
I rented this movie for $2.00 from a Red Box because I love Renee Zellweger. I had never heard of the movie, so I was surprised to see it for rent. My sister and I love watching movies - both at the theater and at home. As I told my sister, "this movie is a keeper!"

This movie is odd, quirky, and musically haunting. It is a lovely story of how our lives can touch other lives in big and small ways. The reality of broken lives all around us is too true. The times of hopelessness and loss are too true. And the possibility for anyone of us who have been desperately hurt physically, emotionally or mentally to find acceptance, healing and/or love from another person - even someone other people dismiss as "crazy" or too strange - is also real. This is the foundation of this story.

The main characters are Jane, a white quadriplegic (Renee Zellweger) and Joey, a mentally unstable black man (Forest Whitaker). They are the unlikeliest of friends. Jane is singer whose...

Liked it and didn't.
I had mixed reactions. Yet this film is not just another journey story; but uniquely different and probably so simple that one can easily miss the meaning because of all the details. It says what it says including a sequence of unusual animations in the form of giant drawings of colorful birds with narration. That is just one of the "different" parts!

Basically the story line involves a woman(Renee Zellwenger) who, having been injured in an accident and now in a wheelchair, had to give up her baby son seven years hence, because she could no longer care for him. This runs along side the antics and compassion of her schizophrenic and very supportive(He calls himself her 'bodyguard') friend.(Forest Whitaker) Together and joined by two more (Nick Nolte in a wonderfully supporting part..alone worth the price of renting the DVD) in which on a trip to attend a first communion, each one seeks resolution from past taumatic wounds such as: the car accident; great losses,...

An "independent" film with BIG stars - and a Bob Dylan soundtrack to boot.
I don't think this "little" film played many theatres when released in 2010 but it sure has GREAT credentials and star power. Just look: We have Academy Award Winners Renee Zellweger and Forest Whitaker in the key roles, Academy Award nominee (twice!) Nick Nolte (in a brief role similar to what Jeff Bridges has been doing lately) and it was directed by French Director Olivier Dahan (who won Academy Awards for the French film "La Vie En Rose" (the Edith Piaf story). Oh yes, did I forget to mention that it includes original songs and music by Bob Dylan???

With all that said, the film is really a "small quiet film". It's the story of two "friends" - one the crippled Zellweger (who used to be a singers-songwriter - with a vinyl Lp to her name!) and Whitaker - who has some mental issues (and sees angels!) and cares for - and transports Zellweger They set out on a journey to attend her (now adopted) son's Communion in New Orleans. You've seen these films before and this has a...

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Money Shot

One of the Greatest Indie Comedies I've seen in a long time!!
I've had the pleasure to stumble onto Money Shot just out of curiosity. I love great comedies such as Animal House, Porky's, Airplane and Naked Gun. What they have in common is that special gift of staying with you in your memories and movie conversations. Remember that scene? Remember that joke? Remember that boob scene?

Certainly Money Shot has the funniest boob scene I've ever seen. I couldn't stop laughing. Money Shot has so many secret jokes that it will take you at least 10 views to get through the tip of the ice-berg. I won't spend time on the story but the characters deserve all the praise.

Aside from Jason Mewes who I thought did bring a very subtle and heartfelt performance and Epic Wrestler Al Snow intimidating role the rest of the cast is a top notch list of indie actors who I believe are slowly getting their name out there on other quality projects. Jessica Sonneborn is super sexy as Lena Starr and completely with no boundaries. She enjoys eating her...

Kevin Smith comedy with Jason Mewes in it.... ????
This movie is released by Kevin Smiths Smodcast pictures and had Jason Mewes in it... I had to check it out.

I wasn't dissapointed. It's really ridiculous and had some really funny moments. I'll just say it has one of the most over the top nudity scenes I have seen in a while.

Jay is a secondary character, but he has a great part as the pimp and is funny as usual. Wrestler Al Snow is in it and plays a great mobster.

The other characters are all pretty good, too.

It's about a group of people trying to make a horror movie.

If you want to laugh, have a watch.

what the h*ll did I just watch
This is a movie about a group of struggling filmmakers who have a small budget to make a movie, lose it after a night of partying, and decide to make a horror movie instead of facing the mobster that lent them the money. It's a ridiculous concept, but it works... This isn't a big budget blockbuster, but a really fun, funny low budget comedy. I would recommend grabbing a beer, a toke, and not taking this watch too seriously.

The first part of the movie is kinda long and that's why I gave it a 4 out of 5.

The characters are really really out there from the director character, Billy Sham to his band of misfits: Out of work actor: Lake, Party girl and Paris Hilton wanna be: Lena, and spoiled brat, teenager, Piper. The girls are really cute together and sexy. I found myself laughing out loud during many parts of this movie. Many of the scenes of this movie are like sketches, some being better than others, but for the most part they are really really funny...

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Tiger Woods: Prodigy

not fully. expose
Their more to Woods that it was shown on documentary. I'm ok with what it was presented. But being a sport men follower like me..would love to as him train.





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Primer

The Permutations are Endless
The "whole package" is what this movie is about. It would seem that the intangibles combined with the intentional-create a synergy that captivates the mind!

"The permutations are endless" well sums up the movie. What would you do...if you could have perfect hindsight and foresight-how long would your altruism and your noble idealism last?

It's so dimensional you will watch it over and over. I read where some feel they have it figured out, but the sage advice comes from a fan that says "stop reading and keep watching!"

The low-budget while evident at times, actually adds to the mystique. I found myself annoyed by the slightly muffled and sometimes garbled soundtrack-which incidentally improved towards the middle (probably as Shane developed his prowess with audio and the actors begin to project a bit more). The graininess of the film shows through at times, but once again- it sets the mood and actually looks very intentional. Yet, that very tension...

Unconventionally Fresh
I saw this film on a whim with little knowledge of the story or acclaims. My physics background definitely helped me get a better grasp of the complex subject matter. Don't get me wrong, I left the theatre as dazed and confused as most people did. But, it was somewhere along the lines of complete awe.

This film is probably one of the best films I've seen dealing with time travel. The grainy, washed out quality of the film gave it a realistic documentary style. I didn't see the comparisons with Memento that most people refer to. The feeling I got from the movie was closer to the intesity I felt when I watched The Insider. I just felt tense and uneasy as the characters fiddled with their new "toy". The soundtrack had a very good ambient touch that helped add emphasis to the seriousness of the film.

So, in short; if you like intellectual, intense, dramatic, sci-fi movies, then you'll like this film. And, yes it may be a little to artsy for some. If Timecop...

It's Supposed to Be Confusing
Plot Summary Two friends and research entrepreneurs serendipitously develop a time travel machine. Thankfully free from an overt attempt to try to articulate the technical solution to time travel, the movie deals with the progressive temptations the friends face as they plunge deeper into a dizzying map of future-past interdependencies. They make the expected exploitation of the stock market but their dabblings with the relationship between future and past and present begin to be concerned with friends and family. As they do this, the movie becomes increasingly confusing due to the complexities of the causalities and changes they are working in the lives of other people.

Script The script is pretty solid, especially considering the complexity of the story line. The dialogue is natural, to the point where I wondered if most of it was improvised.

Acting and Character Development Surprisingly good. The two primary characters play off each other well. Their...

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We Are United: Manchester United

5 Stars From a City Fan
This, an 'unauthorized history' of Man United is very enlightening. I just really got into football over the past couple of years and desired to get up on my history of the sport. This filled me in on the storied history of United and. if I weren't a City fan, I'd probably support this club. But, that won't happen. I do, however, support this documentary. It's brilliant and I recommend it to anyone who wants to be filled in on the history of United, and doesn't have the time to read a book on it.

Marketing Fluff Piece
15 minutes in and not a word about soccer. This just discusses branding, marketing, revenue, and profits. I think it is literally some sort of investor presentation. for real. Do not watch this if you are interested in the club, the game, and its history



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Blood Brothers

This took me by surprise!!
I came in with low expectations for this movie and came away pleasantly surprised. Very good and consistent storyline. Clark Johnson was, as always, a delight to see.

i like movies
sometimes i judge whether or not i might enjoy the movie by the cover, the title or the synoposis written on the back, oftentimes i am correct and sometimes as i was with this movie i was wrong, but it was still a pretty good movie

killer movie
this film is about a group of young people in deep city life doing what ever to whom ever and killing when they feel the time is right

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Struck By Lightning [HD]

Witty and Heartfelt
A coming-of-age movie for all ages, Struck by Lightning is filled with dry humor and a message for anyone who watches it. Carson Phillips makes for a dynamic, morally ambiguous main character whose story strikes as realistic, emotional, and ultimately uplifting for a boy caught in a small town with little hope of escape. The supporting characters are just as fascinating, from Rebel Wilson's portrayal of Malerie, the high school student who records everything on tape, to Allison Janney's heartbreaking rendition of a struggling single mother trying to cope with depression and anxiety while raising her son. Heartfelt and filled with intertwining storylines that combine to a greater picture that is far larger than the sum of its parts, Struck by Lightning is the perfect film for anyone who has ever felt a little ostracized, a little hopeless, a little too small for their dreams.

Amazing.
I've been waiting... I don't even know how long anymore to see this movie, and I'm so glad I finally have been able to see it. Chris Colfer did a flawless job, and I highly suggest you watch this movie. Right now. Click rent. You won't regret it, I promise.

Struck By Lightning (non-spoilery review)
This movie was written by and stars Chris Colfer, best known as Kurt from "Glee." It is an absorbing study of an overachiever and how - whether or not you want it to - the way we live our life, our choices, our decisions and our drive effect the others around us in both positive and negative ways. The acting in this movie is stellar, filled with both present and future stars (Rebel Wilson for one, filmed a year before she exploded) and the writing keeps you engaged from the first (literally shocking) first minutes until the end of the movie. I highly recommend this movie, for the smiles and for the moments that make you wince and for the way it makes you feel when it is over. Overachievers - they rock.

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The Things We Carry

Amazing
Truly an amazing movie. The Things We Carry is an independent film about Emmie (Alyssa Lobit) returning back home from traveling around Asia to hear her drug addict of a mother, Sunny, has died. As the film goes on, we learn of Emmie's volatile relationship with her mother and older sister. The flashbacks of Emmie and Sunny's relationship frequent blowups were disturbingly candid. Practically everyone can relate to this movie because of that familiar sense hopelessness when we watch our loved ones destroying themselves (like in this movie, with drugs). All we want to do is help them, but in such a way that reassures them that they are not in this life alone, and shouldn't resume destroying themselves.
What I loved the most about this movie is that it covers an Asian- American family (Korean) where generally having a mental disorder or anything out of the 'ordinary' is never spoken of. If it is mentioned, people gossip about it. I don't understand why it's not allowed to say,...

Intense and beautiful...
We can all relate to the differing experiences of siblings, and this film envelopes you with its vision of one family. The characters are brought together, from extremes of steadfast loyalty and adventurous escapism, to pick up the pieces of their shared past. Memories return, the kind which make your chest ache and put a lump in your throat and make you want to scream and cry at the same time. I found it effortless to get into the emotions portrayed, as though I were right there, like an unseen little brother, following Alyssa Lobit as Emmie into scenes both heart breaking and beautiful. Open a bottle of wine, and enjoy a film that might make you want to call your family and catch up.

I loved it!!
I have never written a review for amazon before but this movie affected me so much, I absolutely had to write one! Being an Asian American woman, there were just so many things I could relate to in the movie. It was a very emotional movie, don't forget the tissue box!

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No Rest For The Wicked

Foreign Action Film
This is a lone wolf action flick. It is a different style than standard Amerian police drama. American heroes especially police don't usually force their way into bars or night clubs extorting free drinks and threatening. The subtitles slowed the action fo me but I reviewed several sections to catch where the action was going. The compostion and shooting style was gritty and raw and helped to convey the desperation in the lead character. Although the protagonists seemed to be to easily followed and eradicated, the real conflct as always is man against himself.

The Right Thing for the Wrong Reason
I've seen my share of crime thrillers and this is about as original an idea as I've come across.

Here's the scoop. This film is set in Spain. Santos Trinidad is a greazy police detective with some serious baggage. One night he makes a bar stay open past hours by flashing his badge. He just wants to drink his rum and Cokes. You get the feeling he's been drinking all day. The three working the club try to play nice but it ticks him off and he shoots all three. What he doesn't realize is that there's a fourth person upstairs who beats a retreat. Now he needs to hunt this person down before his dirty deed is exposed. As a judge and senior detective get involved in investigating the triple murder some surprising things come to light.

This is a clever, densely plotted flick with a nifty twist. There's no way to say it without spoiling so I'll leave the twist out of things. But this involves some good police work on both the side of the detective as well as the judge...

(3.5 STARS) No Rest for the Wicked: Spanish Dark Crime Drama Centering on a Very Bad Cop
With the biblical title inspired by verses in the Book of Isaiah, "No Rest for the Wicked" ("No habrá paz para los malvados") follows the story of Santos Trinidad (Jose Coronado), a grizzled police detective of the Missing Persons Unit, who has shot three persons to death while drunk in the bar.

While chasing the witness who ran away, Santos stumbles upon a major criminal plot. Unbeknown to his fellow officers, Santos, once a highly decorated intelligence professional, embarks on his own investigation, but the official investigation into HIS murders, led by Inspector Chacon (Helena Miquel) and aided by his former fellow officer Leiva (Juanjo Artero), slowly catches up with Santos.

There is something subversive about this Spanish noir directed by Enrique Urbizu ("Box 507"). Santos is not just a bad cop; he is repugnant and obnoxious. The film refuses to explain what drives Santos, perpetually drunk and ill-tempered, to behave as he does. To call him an...

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Jekyll and Hyde

Excellent!
The script for this story adds a few more human elements than the other versions. The tensions between Dr. Jekyll, his father-in-law and his romance with his sister-in-law along with the Hyde conflict adds to a complex drama. Michael Caine and Cheryl Ladd were both excellent in these roles. When I saw this movie, I had to go out and buy it then I had to read the Stevenson book!

not worth watching
the movie stunk!!
the movie moved so slow and was very boring, don't bother getting this , you will be disappointed!!

Good Movie for What It's Worth
Great actors, every single one of them. Nice story too, though I personally wish that the movie would have focused a bit more on the actual concept of Jekyll and Hyde. If you haven't read the book or aren't at least familiar with the story it leaves much to be desired and explained. Still, I'd recommend it.

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The Words

A film about writers for writers
Lay aside the critical reviews that have filleted this movie, and perhaps even your friends and family that didn't get it.

If you are a writer, you will get it.

The meat of this movie is as much about the struggles living up to expectations as it is about plagiarism. The pressures to have a "real job" and the approval you seek from those around you and what price you are willing to pay to hang on to that approval. When you feel it is your calling to be a writer, you constantly are filled with self doubt. Will I ever be good enough? Will my writing ever be good enough?

Because these are the driving forces of the film, of course it isn't some after-school special aimed at bringing an end to plagiarism. It is structured around the choices we make in building our lives. What are we willing to sacrifice for success?

While the nested stories could have gone very wrong, the film is well-executed and not hard to follow. And while Dennis Quaid...

Literary lovers delight, my wife and I enjoyed it on the screen
Already my wife wants another viewing. I'm prone to agree. We're 2 book addicts, drama film lovers, and this film's depth is not often seen in big screen theater. It's about sacrificing integrity for fame and money. It details how an unscrupulous decision can implode and create collateral emotional damage to cherished people. The Words is presented in storyline layers, woven together like literature, not easily tracked by those simply looking at action, FX, and adventure. THE WORDS is intellectual with a capital WOW.

Hammond (Dennis Quaid) writes a story about an ambitious, but not stellar, young writer Rory (Bradley Cooper) who has ripped-off an unpublished manuscript written by an old man (Jeremy Irons) over 60 years earlier. If you don't understand `plagiarism', stop here and don't bother viewing. It's the entire plot in one word. The story progresses in the same fashion as a bestseller novel, layers woven together, scenes jumping from 2012 to 1940 Paris, and back, from...

'The Words' will speak to you
In The Words, Bradley Cooper stars as Rory Jansen, a struggling writer that stumbles upon a briefcase which contains a story that holds the key to launching his career. Shortly after publishing the story, success launches his career. However, an old man (Jeremy Irons) confronts Jansen about publishing this 'thought to be' lost story and from there a plot line within a plot line within a plot line unfolds - all of which revolves around the overlying theme: fame/success vs. choice/consequence. Yes, there's also some romance. Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, and Dennis Quaid co-star.

It's easy to say the plot becomes predictable about half way through the film (and it does), but films don't always have to be about the sudden 'twist' ending that nobody saw coming. Sometimes it's nice to watch a film and think about the meaning behind the story - in this case it's about the choices we make that affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. It's especially interesting...

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Guns, Girls and Gambling

A good Okay.....
Not one that I would care to watch again but do not feel my time was wasted for watching it once.

It was surprisingly entertaining - but you have to watch the entire film
Lots of twists and turns. Not knowing who was doing what and why was the best part of ths film as it gives you one appearance, then the ending clears it all up into something much worthwhile.

WE'RE HUNTING ELVIS'S
This is a wannabe grindhouse. It has all the style, but not the substance. John Smith (Christian Slater) is at an Indian casino and participates in an Elvis impersonator contest. One of the contestants steals a rare mask from the casino which culminates into a hunt for Elvis impersonators.

"The Blonde" (Helena Mattsson) recites Edgar Allen Poe poetry and rather badly as she too hunts for the mask. This grindhouse aspect of Poe reading was done rather well by Daryl Hannah in "Eldorado in 3D." The fact is that they stole the idea and could not improve upon it.

Be warned that Christian Slater performed as well in this one as he did in "Hatfields and McCoys: Bad Blood" and "Soldiers of Fortune."

The film has some twists, but lacks any serious clues, so don't look for any. The dialouge and jokes become stale as we get a constant barrage of Native American vs. Indian or midget Elvis vs. little person Elvis humor. The Asian listing the stereotypes wasn't...

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Done the Impossible

Firefly Fans Rule!
First, I have a confession to make. Unlike many "Firefly" fans, I had never even heard of Joss Whedon when the show premiered on Fox in the Fall of 2002. I was not a member of the existing "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" fan base that anxiously awaited Whedon's latest offering--I had never seen either show. I did enjoy "Firefly" for the brief time that it aired (although I missed a few episodes), but I didn't really appreciate it until it was too late. I didn't get hooked until after I bought the complete series DVD set and saw "Serenity" on the big screen.

I was a little hesitant about buying "Done the Impossible" at first, since I didn't think a "fan-produced" DVD could possibly have much to offer. Was I ever wrong! Every "Firefly" fan should have this. It may be a little too deep, esoteric or complicated for a casual viewer who just happened to catch a couple of episodes, or for someone who went to see "Serenity" for lack of something else to do. But if you've...

a Great DVD for the fans
Don't let the fact this is a 'fan produced' documentary about the Firefly/Serenity phenon. put you off.

This is a high-quality dvd, with good special features too boot. It has interviews with a large number of fans who were touched and worked not only to get the cancelled series to the big screen but also worked for charities along the way. Most of the members of the cast are part of the DVD, as well as the creator, Joss Whedon.

If you love the series, you owe it to yourself to check this out - you'll probably find it emotionally moving. If you've only caught a couple of episodes of the show, or just the movie - you'll still want to check it out, because this is a compelling story about fans keeping a show they love alive, and something that's never been done before - EVER.

Bringing a cancelled TV show to a major motion picture.

Man, I miss the show.

Excellent Documentary about a Fan Family
Excellently written and edited documentary. Professional quality video and audio all the way through. Moved along swiftly with chapters starting with clever and appropriate series quotes in white print on full black screen. For example, Jayne's "Time for some thrilling heroics". Almost no duplication of special features from the Firefly and Serenity DVD to the best of my recollection. Adam Baldwin was surprisingly easy to believe as a serious host even though his character in the movie is very different. I had to laugh when he says that some "fan fiction is kind of creepy". Could he mean some of the Jayne/Mal or Jayne/Simon "slash" fiction out there? I am also wondering why "Simon" and "River" didn't appear more.

The DVD-ROM special features require Apple Quicktime. That's a shame, because everytime I've installed quicktime, I've regretted it when I tried to remove it. It's like a boot sector virus and won't go fully away. I don't install it anymore regardless of the...

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Sleepwalk With Me [Blu-ray]

Excellent film full of bittersweet comedy
I've seen Mike Birbiglia in a few stand up broadcasts, but really knew nothing about him, except that I liked his laconic, stutter-step approach to delivering his material. He seemed like a funny guy who also happened to be sorta nice too. I knew nothing about his book, Ira Glass appearances or one-man off-Broadway show. That's probably a good thing, because I was able to enjoy SLEEPWALK WITH ME pretty much on its own terms.

Apparently this movie is quite autobiographical, even though Mike has changed his character's name to Matt. But Mike/Matt frequently talks directly to the camera, and we're assured the story is true...so it's almost impossible not to assume that we're basically seeing a (perhaps exaggerated) take on Birbiglia's life. But it doesn't really matter either...the story is compelling and says some interesting things about relationships and about how a stand-up comic builds their career literally from the ground up.

Matt is in an 8-year...

Bitter-sweet and funny at the same time
"Sleepwalk With Me" (2012 US release; 90 min.) brings the story of Matt (played by Mike Birbiglia) as he struggles with a sleep disorder and tries to salvage his long-time relationship with Abby (played by Lauren Ambrose). Abby wants to get married, badly. Matt, not so much. Abby is looking for any sign from Matt that he will propose, which he eventually does, after an emotional side trip that makes him feel guilty and ashamed. Parallel to all of this, we see Matt getting his start on the stand-up comedy circuit, and barely hnaging on. Then, one day, he makes a funny quip about his failing relationship with Abby, and wouldn't you know, the audience eats it up! I don't want to give more away, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Several comments: first and foremost, even though he plays a character called "Matt", this story is based on Mike Birbiglia's own life experiences (in fact, before this became a movie, this was an unexpected off-Broadway hit...

Sleepwalk With Me.
A funny comedy about a man with a serious medical problem while we get observe his life. It's something to watch before considering marriage.

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WWE: Survivor Series 2012 [Blu-ray]

Can Punk Make It To One Year As Champion?
It should be noted that Jerry Lawler returned to the commentary booth earlier in the week on RAW while J.B.L. is officially now a SmackDown commentator once again leading to a three man announce team with Michael Cole with everyone (including Lawler himself) making jokes about his heart attack weeks earlier. WWE would read The Rock's tweet in regards to the WWE Championship match throughout the night along with show Touts from fans about who would win since The Rock has the WWE Title shot at the Royal Rumble.

Elimination Match: Brodus Clay, Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Tyson Kidd, Justin Gabriel vs. Tensai, Primetime Players, Epico, Primo - A bonus traditional elimination match here with four established tag teams & two of the biggest men in the WWE that had various highlights such as the crowd not forgetting Tensai's past, the team work between the teams of Mysterio/Cara & Kidd/Gabriel, the Clay vs. Tensai showdown, and the standout performance of Tyson Kidd, and the finishing...

Match listing on the back is wrong
This is not a review of the Pay-Per-View Event itself but is more of a review of the match listing shown on the back of the DVD/Blu Ray case. I just wanted to point out to anyone that has this WWE Pay-Per-View on DVD or Blu Ray and everyone that is going to buy it in the future that if you look on the back you will or might notice that one of the matches listed says Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs The Prime Time Players (Titus O Neil & Darren Young) however when you actually watch it you will find out that that match is actually supposed to be a Tag Team Elimination Match between Team Mysterio (Brodus Clay, Sin Cara, Rey Mysterio, Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel) vs Team PTP (Tensai, Primo, Epico & The Prime Time Players Darren Young & Titus O Neil. And on the back of the case of the Blu Ray version/edition the case does not have the Exclusive Blu Ray Bonus Features shown/listed like most WWE Blu Rays do.

Survivor Series 2012
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
CM Punk(c) vs. John Cena vs. Ryback
- 3.5/5 stars. Good triple threat here. Loved the debut fo the Shield. CM Punk pins Cena for the win after Ryback hits him with his finisher.

TEAM FOLEY(Orton, KIngston, Miz, & Team Hell No) VS. TEAM ZIGGLER(Ziggler, ADR, Barrett, Otunga, & Sandow)
5 ON 5 TRADITIONAL SURVIVOR SERIES TAG TEAM ELIMINATION MATCH
- 4/5 stars. Easily the match of the night. Fun match. Ziggler gets the win for his team after a superkick on Orton, and he is the sole survivor.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Big Show(c) vs. Sheamus
- 3/5 stars. Wasn't as good as the HIACPPV match, but still good. Sheamus wins by DQ.

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Antonio Cesaro(c) vs. R-Truth
- 2.5/5 stars. This was an alright match here. Nothing that exciting Cesaro picks up the win on Truth.

DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP
Eve(c) vs. Kaitlyn
- 2/5 stars. Just a normal...

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Sleepwalk With Me [HD]

Excellent film full of bittersweet comedy
I've seen Mike Birbiglia in a few stand up broadcasts, but really knew nothing about him, except that I liked his laconic, stutter-step approach to delivering his material. He seemed like a funny guy who also happened to be sorta nice too. I knew nothing about his book, Ira Glass appearances or one-man off-Broadway show. That's probably a good thing, because I was able to enjoy SLEEPWALK WITH ME pretty much on its own terms.

Apparently this movie is quite autobiographical, even though Mike has changed his character's name to Matt. But Mike/Matt frequently talks directly to the camera, and we're assured the story is true...so it's almost impossible not to assume that we're basically seeing a (perhaps exaggerated) take on Birbiglia's life. But it doesn't really matter either...the story is compelling and says some interesting things about relationships and about how a stand-up comic builds their career literally from the ground up.

Matt is in an 8-year...

Bitter-sweet and funny at the same time
"Sleepwalk With Me" (2012 US release; 90 min.) brings the story of Matt (played by Mike Birbiglia) as he struggles with a sleep disorder and tries to salvage his long-time relationship with Abby (played by Lauren Ambrose). Abby wants to get married, badly. Matt, not so much. Abby is looking for any sign from Matt that he will propose, which he eventually does, after an emotional side trip that makes him feel guilty and ashamed. Parallel to all of this, we see Matt getting his start on the stand-up comedy circuit, and barely hnaging on. Then, one day, he makes a funny quip about his failing relationship with Abby, and wouldn't you know, the audience eats it up! I don't want to give more away, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Several comments: first and foremost, even though he plays a character called "Matt", this story is based on Mike Birbiglia's own life experiences (in fact, before this became a movie, this was an unexpected off-Broadway hit...

Sleepwalk With Me.
A funny comedy about a man with a serious medical problem while we get observe his life. It's something to watch before considering marriage.

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Trouble with the Curve (UltraViolet Digital Copy)

I liked it
Your one surviving parent is slowly losing his sight. You have a very difficult relationship and, at the same time, are coming to a turning point in your own career. What do you do tend to, your career or your family?

Gus Lobel (played by Clint Eastwood) is a scout for the Atlanta Braves and has resisted the change occurring in his business and the world around him with every fiber of his being. While his immediate superior and longtime friend Pete (played by John Goodman) values Gus's opinion and defends him against his detractors, one of them is Pete's boss and Gus's ultimate superior. That man, Pete Silver (played by Matthew Lillard) is determined to fire Gus even though he is completely unaware of Gus's failing eyesight. To Silver, a man who relies on statistics and equations over experience and first-hand observation, Gus is a relic of a time gone by. Gus is given one chance, scouting a highly-coveted player in North Carolina, to prove his value to the organization...

Eastwood's Well-Rounded Return To Acting
After starring in the remarkable "Million Dollar Baby" in 2004, then following it up with the gritty "Gran Torino" in 2008, Clint Eastwood announced his "retirement" from acting, instead focusing on on directing/producing films. When the script for "Trouble with the Curve" came along, though, Mr. Eastwood decided that it was too good of a vehicle to pass up. Thus, in his return to leading-man status, the 82-year old thespian proves that his filmmaking (or film-choosing) instincts are as solid as ever.

For a basic plot summary, "Trouble with the Curve" focuses on Gus (Eastwood), an aged baseball scout who relies on his eyes, senses, and gut feelings to scout the top prospects. The trouble is, his eyes are failing and his job is on the line. As such, Gus's friend Pete (John Goodman) is concerned about him and gives a call to Mickey (Amy Adams), Gus's daughter. Predictably, the father-daughter duo do not share a strong relationship with each, and that is tested on a road trip...

Clint Eastwood May Be Slowing Down But He Can Still Hit The Curve
I have to say up front that I like baseball movies, a lot. Add that to my lifelong admiration for Clint Eastwood and the fact that I find Amy Adams to be absolutely charming and very easy on the eyes makes "Trouble With The Curve" a true home run for me.

It's obvious that Clint Eastwood is slowing down a bit with age, but that just makes him the perfect fit here for the aging baseball scout who scouts for the Atlanta Braves but is having vision problems. Since it's hard to actually scout anything without proper vision, his estranged daughter, played by Adams, who is a hot-shot lawyer on the partner path decides to join him out on the road for his latest scouting mission.

"Trouble With The Curve" is a quiet little movie that may telegraph its pitches a bit, but for me that just added to the charm of the movie. There are no major twists and turns, just a simple and heartfelt story being told with grace. Adam's character wants to know why her dad abandoned her...

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Wildflower

A heart-warming tale....
Well, I first saw this movie on TV when I was a little girl... it made such an impact on me that I checked the TV Guide for years to come waiting for it to be shown again. Finally, about 5 years later, it was and I managed to get it taped on VHS. This week, 10 years after I first saw it, I now have the DVD.
I love this absorbing film with the old-fashioned story-telling and the way the movie un-folds. We watch the characters develop as they grow within themselves (the acting is absolutely superb by everyone). There is a lot to learn from this story - which is a heart-warming gentle story about love, passion, friendship and family. There are a lot of sad moments yet this film also makes you laugh out loud at times too. This film is quite powerful in a naive sort of way. The ending is satisfying and you feel like you have also grown-up with the characters - in this romantic adventure of human spirit. A family film mainly directed towards girls - it'll make you want to go and hug...

Reese and Patricia, and how
There were a couple of aspects of this movie that were a little too neat and packaged, like how Reese'es character's dad changes overnight and such. But I have to say that this movie was riveting to me. I have never before seen Patricia Arquette and I was just astounded. Her performance is absolutely superb. To me, a book or movie is great, when I literally feel like I have become a person in the story, and feel everything that person feels. That is why this movie is so great. Patricia's character is that person in this movie, at least to me. I am an absolute fan of Reese Witherspoon, so I couldn't be too objective as I love everything about her and she is great in this movie as always. Her character really shows the love of a true friend to the abused girl. I cannot imagine anyone watching this movie and not enjoying it. It is a truly heartwarming story. I will watch it again and again. If you like it, check out "The Man in the Moon."

You have to see this movie!!!!!!
I first saw this movie when I was about twelve years old and all I remember thinking was how brave Alice was. This is the type of movie that can really teach you something about never giving up on hope. I highly recommend WILDFLOWER to everyone and anyone, even kids. I would give ten stars if amazon allowed me to but since they don't go that high I will give my highest rating of five!

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A Second Son

Very Watchable
IMDb says: A domestic drama of underage pregnancy soon turns into an extraordinary record of international significance. ......... A Second Son presents the ultimate, highly controversial 'what-if' scenario with a gripping climax." and summarizes it pretty well.

I enjoyed the 'what if' theme of the story and was engaged throughout. I agree with the previous reviewer that some of the lesser parts' acting leaves a lot to be desired and that the main character, Emily played by Hollie Sullivan, was excellent and did a great job.

An innovative and provocative take on the Second Coming.

Interesting twist
I had no idea what this film was about so wasn't sure what to expect. It starts off a bit screechy but the main actress is amazing and worth watching for this alone. I love the twist at the end and couldn't see it coming at all. Not a five star film under any stretch of the imagination and some of the lesser parts' acting leaves a lot to be desired, but the story is very good and the character Emily is very watchable. One to watch if you fancy something a little bit different from the glossy Hollywood films.



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The Rundown

You Have Two Options: Option A- Go See The Rundown.
Option B- I MAKE YOU go see The Rundown.

The Rundown marks the arrival of Dwayne Johnson, A.K.A. "The Rock" as a bona-fide movie star. As Beck, a "Retrieval Expert" who longs for a simpler life as a chef, he displays for the first time on film the humor and charisma that won him "Millions....and MILLIONS!" of fans in the WWE. Dispatced to the South American town of El Dorado (Called Hell Dorado by the locals) to fetch Travis Walker (Seann William Scott), the wayward son of his shady boss, Beck gets more than he bargained for. He finds Travis easily enough, but getting him home might pose more of a problem. Not only does Travis not WANT to go home, but local land baron Hatcher (The hilariously nutty Christopher Walken, at his eye-popping best here) won't LET him go...At least not until Travis finds a mythical golden idol for him. The Rock vs. an army of gun-toting slave-drivers......Place your bets!

As I said earlier, The Rock is awesome in his role, bringing a mix of...

Much better than you'd expect
Well, I wasn't expecting a great deal from this film. In fact, I probably wouldn't have seen it at all if it hadn't gotten surprisingly good reviews. The Rock was pretty forgettable in 'The Scorpion King', although not terrible, but he puts in a great performance here. Tasked with the retrieval of a wayward son, he ends up in a three (or four) way hunt for a mysterious golden idol, along the way enountering everything from homicidal gold miners to jungle rebels to packs of angry monkeys. It is one funny movie, and the action scenes are great. Most importantly, the cast has both charisma and quality, and the dialogue isn't nearly as stilted as you'd expect in a typical action film. You can tell they all had fun making the movie, perhaps because it was actually filmed in Hawaii. Regardless, you should check this out even if you have doubts about it, because it will win you over.

Neat Action Flick Shows The Rock's Stuff!
This movie is truly Rock-solid; the inimitable pro-wrestler turned actor admirably struts his stuff here in terms of sheer muscular star power and heavyweight charisma, and proceeds to turn the Amazonian jungle upside down in the process. This is certainly no dramatic masterpiece, but all of the cast are excellent in this incredible action movie, especially Christopher Walken, doing a turn as a witty yet egomaniacal villain who simply isn't prepared for the consequences as `Beck' (the Rock) arrives on his doorstep in his part of the jungle to retrieve the errant son of a gangster he is indebted to. The murder and mayhem that ensue make up two hours of first class entertainment as we find Rock against the world, and the world getting the worst part of the deal.

The movie is wonderfully photographed, and the comic moments flow from the opening sequences, when Beck step into a crowded bar to retrieve a debt from a pro football player. The ensuing madness is so well choreographed and...

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Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch Extended Cut vs. Theatrical Cut Differences
The extended cut of Sucker Punch adds approximately 17 minutes and 45 seconds of additional footage, and is R-rated. The extended cut is much darker than the theatrical cut; while not necessarily being more visually explicit, previously implied suggestions are now explicitly overt. The violence and action scenes have also been extended as well, with two re-inserted battle sequences, one with the orcs at the castle (arterial spurts of green orc blood), and the other with the German World War I zombies.

I don't think I quite understand Snyder's multi-layered metaphorical comparisons between the brothel, asylum, and Baby Doll's fantasy worlds, but I will say that the movie (especially the action sequences) are visually stunning, and the colors beautifully contrasted. Credit especially to the actresses for their proficient firearms handling (but where exactly did they store all those extra magazines I wonder?). However, it would be superficial to suggest that Sucker Punch...

Took me three watches to finally really get into it, but it's more than worth it.
This has future cult favorite written all over it. Complex, awesome special effects, and a fun cast to boot. If you didn't enjoy it the first time, I definitely recommend watching it again. Zack Snyder really shows off his skills with this film and I can officially call myself a big fan of his work now. So enjoy and make sure to go in with an open mind.

Blu-Ray Review (Updated: July 6th)
Note: I wrote an original review for the film only way back when I saw it, which was actually on opening day. Now that I have acquired the Blu-Ray version of Sucker Punch, I will write a review. My consensus though is to purchase the Blu-Ray package over the DVD, so if you just want to read my thoughts on the movie, skip this section. I will review the Blu-Ray. If you are wanting to know everything about the layout and the general features, Amazon is correct with both product descriptions, so you can trust them.

When I first saw Sucker Punch in theaters, the art direction, CGI, and the colors was absolutely jaw dropping; this was one of the movies that I could see blasting on my TV screen. Well, I am happy to report that Sucker Punch looks and sounds terrific on Blu-Ray. Given the sensory overload Sucker Punch provides, one can only imagine how the potential of the , and the transfer does its justice and brings Sucker Punch to complete life upon your HD TV. The...

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Jacqueline Kennedy: In Her Own Words

Behind The Walls of Camelot: Intimate Conversations With Jackie Kennedy from 1964
From a historical perspective, our interest in the Kennedy administration has never waned and probably never will. So one of the major news stories from 2011 was when taped conversations with Jacqueline Kennedy surfaced and were made available for the public to finally hear. Made just months after the President's death in 1964, Jackie sat for a series of interviews with Arthur Schlesinger Jr and made several hours worth of taped conversations. These are the basis for this enlightening and intimate ABC Special hosted by Diane Sawyer. Caroline Kennedy had held this material, and reputedly it wasn't to be released until after her mother's passing. Caroline has discussed the fact that she contemplated editing the tapes before letting them go but, in the end, allowed Jackie to speak for Jackie. We're the better for it. Despite their prominence and popularity, the Kennedys have also been somewhat enigmatic to me--especially Jackie. This special gave me a greater perspective into the...

Amazing
Jacqueline was a very intersting lady. It was fascinating to hear her talk and hear the culture as far as where woman were supposed be in society.

Very interesting
I enjoyed this and it encouraged me to go on to purchase the actual book that Caroline Kennedy published based on the actual tapes that her mother recorded. Hearing what Jacqueline Kennedy thought about the things going on during that period of time was just amazing to me since it was history in the making that I was living through too. It was a period of time that contributed to my life to a large way.

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Brooke Burke Body: 30-Day Slim Down

AMAZING WORKOUT
This is the best at-home workout I have done in years. I am an advanced intermediate fitness level, and I was sweating, breathing hard and working hard. HOWEVER, this workout would be fine for beginners - the moves are very easy to do/learn and are easily modified for your comfort. Brooke is an excellent host. I am normally not a fan of at home workouts because I get bored very easily, but this workout keeps moving, is fun, and interesting. The best $10 you will spend, trust me. Plus, you get two workouts in the same video to do on alternate days - one is cardio and the other is toning/strength - both are 30 minute workouts and easy to fit into my day. Wonderful workout, thank you so much Brooke!





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Baby Let Your Hair Hang Down

one of the most lovely documentaries out there
I can't even begin to explain how beautiful and inspiring this little film is. Georgia is the most remarkable human being for everything she's done - I couldn't even begin to fathom what it would be like to be in her shoes. It was probably... really a scary thing to go through. But somehow she was able to turn that around and make it into a real gift instead of a detriment. For that, I just feel the utmost respect and adoration for her. Although this documentary is about a condition, it's still uplifting and warm, and I feel really blessed to have watched it. When it was over I got this feeling like, anything is possible - and anything can be made into a positive experience with the right attitude. Thank you, Georgia Van Cuylenburg, for sharing your world with us. You're my hero!

A moving portrait...
A moving portrait of a beautiful person with a little-known condition. Looks at alopecia from all sides, and I particularly like the human element and the strength of character that Georgia finds in herself and from people around her. Note that there is also a physical version you can purchase on the film's website.

Amazing!
I saw this documentary at a film festival and was so drawn to the story I couldn't wait to have my own copy. Even if you don't have Alopecia you need to see this story. You will shed a few tears have a few laughs and you learn a great lesson in the human spirit and how resilient we can be in the face of diversity.

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Love Actually

"Love actually is all around..."
"Love Actually" is just the right mix of romantic comedy and drama to leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling as you leave the theatre. It's an ideal Christmas movie for moms and dads who want to see something else while the kids venture into more PG films.

Writer/director Richard Curtis enlists a plethora of some of the finest British actors (and a few noteworthy Americans) to tell several different love stories. While it seems that there may be a few too many characters at first, the overall flow of the film allows the viewer to keep track quite easily. The cast is led by the ever-so-charming Hugh Grant as the British Prime Minister. While some critics have called this casting unbelievable, Grant actually pulls it off by portraying a more human, but yet stronger PM that we would all love to have leading us. His dance to the Pointer Sisters' "Jump for My Love" borders a bit on ridiculous, but it is nevertheless fun to watch. In the film, the PM is caught between leading his...

The Perfect Stocking Stuffer
This is the perfect Christmas gift to get any member of the group of free-loading moochers you call your friends. It's the perfect excuse to have a movie night at THEIR house, and make them ante up some wine, cheese, grapes and lots of chocolate, then hunker down for an evening of cornball romantic comedy with a difference.

Chances are, with Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Alan Rickman on show, you won't even notice that the storyline is hardly Pulitzer Prize material, but you do stand the chance of busting a seam when Hugh does his Footloose/Saturday Night Fever/Risky Business impression at Lot 10 Downing Street, and Bill Nighy makes like Robert Palmer for a video shoot of the worst ever chart topping Christmas song. There's also the incomparable Rowan Atkinson, making like Mr.Bean at appropriately inopportune moments.

In case you think it's all about the guys (it is - but one can't take sides) there's a brilliant performance by Emma Thompson, and...

(4+) Actually Quite Entertaining but Definitely Deserves "R"
My rating is based on my enjoyment of this film. It has both major strengths and serious weaknesses, and as other reviews indicate has fostered very strong reactions, both positive and negative. Its format is somewhat disconcerting if you are not prepared for the methodology of the director. It contains nudity, profanity, sexual situations, and several situations that are very suggestive and some moviegoers may consider to border on the obscene. However, the situations that some people may consider offensive actually serve a purpose in developing the overall theme of the film.

Love, in all its manifestations - wonder, joy, pain, happiness, passion, grief... is the theme of the film. A very talented ensemble cast is utilized to tell several somewhat interrelated stories concerning the emotional lives of the various characters. The cast includes Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, Kiera Knightley and Alan Rickman. There are also telling cameos by Billy...

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Get Smart Again

Barbara Feldon returns to help Don Adams in "Get Smart,Again!"
The original "Get Smart" tv series was broadcast on NBC 1965-69 and CBS 1969-70. Starring Don Adams as "Maxwell Smart" (Agent 86) and Barbara Feldon as "Agent 99".Get Smart - Season 1 (The Original TV Series)
10 years later, Don Adams returned as "Maxwell Smart" in the motion picture, The Nude Bomb (1980). Other original cast memebers returned, but without Barbara Feldon and the late Edward Platt.
In 1989, Don Adams and Barbara Feldon reteamed for the new tv-movie, "Get Smart, Again!".
Also returning, David Ketchum as "Agent 13", Dick Gautier as "Hymie", Robert Karvelas as "Larrabee", Bernie Kopell as "Siegfried" and King Moody as "Shtarker".
C.O.N.T.R.O.L suspects their is a double agent in their organization. Someone else is working for KOAS. The only man capable of investigating on this case is ex-Agent 86,...

Get Smart Again
This is an excellent DVD. "Get Smart Again" is a reunion movie starring most of the original cast of Get Smart (Ed Platt had alredy passed away). Maxwell Smart gathers together the agents of Control for one more confrontation against Kaos. If you liked the tv series you'll like this movie.

The Best Reunion Movie Ever!!
Yes, it's that simple. Get Smart Again is just the best TV reunion movie ever made. With most of the original cast, a pitch-perfect script from one of the original writers of the classic television show, and a tone and feel right out of 1968, this movie deserves a place right beside the coming DVDs of the series, which will be out in the fall.

Most TV reunion shows are disasters. The actors look different, fresh blood behind the scenes are all trying to put their stamp on the thing... the result is usually painful to watch if you are a fan of whatever show is being remade.

Not so with this movie. Every, and I do mean EVERY, aspect of the timeless series is recreated here. After the dismal Nude Bomb, they got it right. Max and 99 have the same chemistry. There are a plethora of the same bad (meaning laugh out loud funny) jokes. And for the show which took the term catchphrase to unparalleled heights, they manage to weave ALL of them into this movie. And, if you...

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Art Car: The Movie

A fun, feel good film about a little known piece of Americana.
An insider look at one of those uniquely American forms of sub-cultural art and the genuine characters who shape and mold its existence. Art Car is more of a film that examines the individual component of an offbeat art movement than a strict expose on the mechanics of medium. Art Car follows the story of Rebecca Bass, a charming teacher who motivates her students to participate in Houston's annual Art Car Parade. The filmmakers use her story as a centerpiece to the story of Art Car, and branch out to examine both the history and future of Art Car community. The film spends an adequate amount of time tracing the history of the movement, paying close attention to those hard to categorize moments that occur in Art Car's early stages. Bass, like many of the other artists in the film, becomes the real focus of the story. These quirky, kind-hearted groups of artists are the types of characters we want to find in the pockets of American society. People who seem to have found a way to live...

Art Car: The Movie
Finally the "art car" phenomena is explained from the indiviual interest to the fraternity of contributors. Most amazing is the use of the art car as a teaching tool. Rebecca Bass taps into her students talents. This is a great effort in production of a story within a story.

giant sigh
The subject matter of this movie was so interesting, this movie however, was not. The filmmakers use the same sound bites from interviews over and over again. Dan Aykroyd is in the film for about 30 seconds (he is the grand marshal for the art car parade). There are a lot of neat art cars in the film, I would much rather know about them, how they were built, considerations when building an art car, the people who build them, than the sort of half-assed nonsensical story of a high school class building an art car. To clarify, the class's story was compelling, interesting, all that jazz, just SO poorly told... When you first see them they are throwing out ideas six months before the competition, next time you see them they're building the car. There is no explanation of how they arrived at their theme, designed the car, etc. This film tried to do too much (maybe?) and ended up not doing anything well.

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The Lady From Shanghai

Misunderstood Masterpiece
The most tragic aspect of Orson Welles' career is the accepted wisdom that he only made three good films. In fact he made 13 films in a 40 year career (a tragically small number in itself) and ten of them were arguably masterpieces. That's a track record that bears comparison with anyone.

The Lady from Shanghai is a classic example of a misunderstood Welles masterpiece. The studio didn't understand the plot and the film got buried; in addition it was put forward that Welles intended revenge on his ex-wife Rita Hayworth by casting her as the bad girl (in fact Welles only interest was in making a great film and Hayworth's astonishing performance merely consecrates his success).

Welles fully understood the attractions, both of film noir themes (jealousy, greed, paranoia) and the mandatory visuals that go with the genre. The great cinematographer Stanley Cortez once said of Welles that he understood lighting better than anyone in the Cinema. Many scenes stand out as examples of...

"Innocent is a big word--Stupid is more like it"
Stupidity--not innocence, not heroism, not any virtue at all--is the major theme of *The Lady from Shanghai*. Therefore, to some viewers this film will appear to be a stupid movie. That's unfortunate, but that's Orson Welles.

Everybody--EVERYBODY--is stupid in *Lady*! The Welles character, Michael O'Hara, admits he is stupid right off the bat. Elsa, played by Rita Hayworth, seems to be the cleverest of them all until the end...when she and her husband Arthur Bannister die together in the Crazy House, her husband gasping at her, "For a clever girl you make a lot of mistakes." Arthur, "the world's greatest lawyer", obviously has brains and knows what's going on through the whole story, but he's so grotesque (practically crawling through his scenes like a daddy longlegs spider) that his intellect is self-defeating: he's just one of the sharks that Welles describes in the beach scene, ravenously devouring himself. And the Grisby character...take one look at this guy and it's hard...

"Black Irish and a Blonde Bombshell"
What was once considered Orson Welles' most notorious failure is now regarded as a classic by movie buffs. THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, the story of a man driven to obsession and murder by a beautiful blonde temptress, is filled with striking imagery and amazing performances. Based on a novel by Sherwood King, the story focuses on world-weary crewman Michael O'Hara (Orson Welles) who literally stumbles across the path of beautiful Elsa Bannister (Rita Hayworth), and almost on the spot he's invited to join the crew of her yacht, about to set sail on an international cruise, that soon dissolves into murder and mayhem. The plot plays like classic film noir, with many twists and turns. The film is highlighted by the famous `Hall of Mirrors' finale where Welles demonstrates the whole idea of the unknown enemy.

Rita Hayworth is sensational in one of her best roles. It is a very famous story that she was personally recommended for the picture by her then-husband Orson Welles, but...

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Trouble in the Heights

I'M NOT DIRTY HARRY
Diego (Rayniel Rufino) is an honest struggling Latino, working as a cook at an upscale restaurant. He wakes up one day and finds his whole world coming to an end. His girlfriend Ana (Alexandra Metz) is pregnant. His 8 year old brother Javy (Antonio Ortiz) is wanted by the mob in a bad sort of way. It seems Javy and his friend Robbie (Cruz Santiago) decided to score some fireworks, but ended up stealing cash, and a lot of it. They also caused other problems that can not be fixed. Diego must now try to figure out what to do, because they never call the cops in these stories.

This is a story that holds your interest in spite of what seems to a be a slow pace. You want to see Diego succeed. The acting was done so well in this indie, you keep watching. Worth a view if you like the urban crime dramas that is bigger on drama than action.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, N-word. No sex or nudity.

Nice!
Watching Trouble in the Heights felt like seeing Washington Heights from a hole other perspective with out loosing the very essence of this neighborhood. It was good to see the streets I grew up in a way, that I have yet to see. I like that the cast and crew are Latinos in the Arts. Overall, I enjoyed watching.

Refreshing and honest little film
This is an old-fashioned film set entirely on location in NYC's Washington Heights, which has been home to a Dominican population since the 1980s. Pitting ordinary working-class folk against nefarious drug lords and gangs, Trouble in the Heights's charm is rooted in character rather than in its fairly outlandish story line. Talented unknown actors bring this urban tale of good vs evil to life -- the acting is terrific -- and I really did care about our very likeable neighborhood heroes. Unlike most current movies, Trouble is refreshingly slow-paced: shots last more than 10 seconds; conversations are real-time, not shorthand. So the plot's suspense feels plot-driven rather than manipulated by lightning-fast cuts. Try this little indie -- you won't be sorry.

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Mambo Italiano

My Big Fat [Homosexual] Gay Life!
I read some reviews about this film when it was released that called it the [homosexual] "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". And while it plays a little too heavily on the Italian-american stereotype, it is a charming film about a young man coming to terms with who he is and his neurotic family's response.

Angelo is a nice young man who was always picked on in school, even by his one-time closest friend, Nino. As adults, Nino and Angelo are reunited and become lovers. Everything is perfect for the young couple until Angelo decides he wants to come out to his family. Once Nino's mother finds out, things begin to unhinge. It is easy to root for the once ostracized Angelo, who always took the abuse of others while keeping his sexual orientation private. Anyone who has felt outcast or different in their lives will be able to understand his situation and determination to live his life honestly and openly.

This is not a perfect film but it does have its touching moments and enough...

Very entertaining!!!
This does remind me of "My Big Fat greek wedding" without seeming like a ripoff to me. My friends and I were very entertained and laughed out loud several times. I cannot imagine anyone not liking this movie unless you were looking for a political statement or some deep message. It is just a cute well-acted funny movie with a "coming out" theme among all the other relationships, and sometimes that is enough!

Mambo No. 1
Gay Italians coming out of the closet? Dysfunctional Italian families? Sound all too familiar? Well, what surprised me the most about Mambo Italiano was its uniqueness and originality. Granted, there is nothing new under the sun, but Mambo combines elements of Maurice (gay men trapped by social convention), Moonstruck (Italians in love), and even The Way We Were (unrequited love) in a manner that is fresh and fun. Billed as a comedy (and funny, indeed), Mambo never forgets its fundamental and powerful messages: the importance of family, of being oneself, and of fighting social convention.

Angelo, our lovable lead, grew up in a stereotypical Italian family. At school, he is taunted for being a "fag" and even abandoned by his best friend Nino. At that point, his only joy in life is his Aunt Yolanda. Years later, he becomes a travel agent and does what no single Italian does: move out of his parents' home. By chance Nino, now a hunky policeman, re-enters his life. Nino moves in...

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