It Happened In The Park (villa Borghese)

Quirky, but you might like it
This is a decidedly quirky film, not to everyone's taste for sure, but has some very enjoyable moments. It's a series of vignettes, set in the Roman park known as the Villa Borghese, and taking place during a single day. The director, Vittorio De Sica makes an appearance in the most farcical of the pieces, as a middle-aged womanizer, tripped up while attempting to slip away for an afternoon seduction. There are some touching moments as well. Very enjoyable if quirky is your cup of tea.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Tug

Background Type Movie
This movie didn't get off to a great start plot wise or actor wise. I ended up using it to watch while I worked on some paper work. It was a good movie to have on for multi-tasking with a movie. Playing in the background was good enough to glance at and listen to off and on to keep up with the plot. This could've been made a lot better if it had different writers. The plot had some potential and unfortunately the actors did not.
OK if you want a very little entertainment that is not music in the background but have things to get done.

Okay
In my opinion the movie is okay to watch once. It keeps you interested on how a guy thinks, and their definition of a good girlfriend and bad girlfriend. The ending could have been better. I did like however how they explained the movie title. "Tug"

Do not waste your time.
This could have been a good movie if it had been handled right. It was not, "Tug" was not worth the time or the money to watch. The blame is not with the actors, but the script.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Gay Sex in the 70's

Recommended Documentary About 70s Gay Scene
The documentary Gay Sex in the 70s examines the lifestyle and culture of gay men from 1969 to 1981--the dawn of the AIDS era. The documentary was produced by former ABC Producer (20/20)Joseph Lovett. Gay Sex in the 70s is an excellent film.

The film primarily focuses on the disco era. Various gay men describe their lives and how things happened during that era. There is also a great deal of archived footage incorporated into the film. From back rooms at clubs to wild scenes in semi trucks at the docks things were definitely wild and free during that era.

Gay Sex in the 70s is a great historical film. The saddest part of the film is when the early 1980's are discussed. The dawn of the AIDS era really impacted the gay community in a major way. One man shows a pile of pictures of all of his friends who died from the disease. Another man tells a story about how one of his patients called him when he was hospitalized for what he was told was a strange cancer. One...

"New York was a constant cruising opportunity."
For a micro-budget documentary this is a good introduction to the gay scene in the 1970's, butt the title is misleading since it only tells the story of gay men in New York City in the 70's. There is absolutely nothing about anything outside of NYC which is sad because I was hoping this would talk some about gay oppression in other countries. Butt, oh well, I still enjoyed the film and was amazed by all the archival photos and video, especially the gay docks, "the trucks" and St. Mark's Baths! That was some crazy [...]!!! The St. Mark's Bath sounded awesome! Why can't there be something like that for heterosexuals nowadays?! I'd be there every weekend.

My main beef though is there just wasn't enough meat to the story. Yea, everybody is [...] and [...] and [...] nonstop, butt hearing about it over and over chafed me kinda raw. I wanted the film to penetrate deeper into the story. Instead it just poked around the rim. I wish there had been some interviews with somebody other...

Limited scope, but still worth a look
While I was only a kid during the 70s, this documentary provides a fascinating, bittersweet snapshot of the "golden age of gay sex," i.e. after Stonewall and before full-blown AIDS - along with Friedkin's "Cruising," this doc shows us what NYC must have been like if you were young, hot, and single - and even if you weren't you could score, too. Hard to believe that this time period is only two decades ago, but it seems like a distant world, a long-lost era so alien from out contemporary culture. I wish the film had made an attempt to also cover other area around the nation like SF, LA, etc. but this insider glimpse of NYC nostalgia makes you pine for "the good old days" even if, in tragic hindsight, we know they could literally kill you.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Feeding The Brain

The Sane Makers
The main focus of the film is a handful of people who were able to turn their lives around using nutrition. These were not marginal people who only had to improve a little to function. A few lost portions of their lives to the pharmaceutical industry's treatment of their mental illness. One person spent time so heavily medicated that she would sit in a chair and drool. If she fell out of the chair, someone would pick her up and put her back in the chair. That was her life.

Using sound nutrition, everyone involved in the film was able to turn their lives around and become normal, functioning members of society, throwing their meds in the trash in the process. The person mentioned above went on to have three more children and is healthy and happy.

Nothing about the film is bad, but it is a little short and could have stood to get more in depth. For those wanting more information on the subject, I recommend the book
"Food & Behavior: A Natural Connection," by...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Ultramarines: Warhammer

Not For 40K Fans
This review is bound to inflame other Warhammer 40,000 fans but I feel like I would betraying the franchise not to express my opinion. The Ultramarines movie was a big step for the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and it generated a lot of excitement. When I found out about the movie I was ecstatic. At one point in time I even had the special edition box set pre-ordered from the official website. Fortunately for me funds ran low and I wasn't able to make the purchase. A month later I watched the movie with a friend who had gotten the movie and I couldn't have been more disappointed.

A lot of the excitement around the Ultramarines Movie project came from the announcement that mega author Dan Abnett would be writing the screenplay. First let me say that I have nothing but respect for Dan Abnett. I cannot name a single Warhammer 40,000 book he has written that I have not enjoyed completely. And I've read them all. Dan Abnett is by far the best author in the ranks of the Black...

A Good First Step for 40K Cinema
Ultramarines deals with - yes - a squad of Ultramarines who are sent to investigate a distress beacon on the planet of Mithron, home to an important imperial shrine. Without giving too much away, this hardy bunch of the Emperor's finest soon discover that the sinister forces of Chaos are at work. From there, the movie proceeds according to standard Space Marine codex operating procedures, i.e., burn the heretic! Ha! This straightforward plot is largely executed by the numbers, something that, unfortunately, leaves little room for surprises or plot twists. As a result, the plot is ultimately little more than a pretext for the Space Marines to do their stuff.

However, having said that, Ultramarines deserves high praise for faithfully - an important term when it comes to 40K - delivering a movie that truly does capture the essence of 40K. This is no small feat seeing how so many other studios could have - nay, would have - over-simplified and butchered the complex lore...

Releasing a bad movie on Blu-ray does not make it better.
I have been playing / collecting WH40k for 23 years and I have read all the books....I really find it hard to believe Dan Abenet wrote the script I think he just wrote the name of the movie on a piece of paper and some one else wrote it. Dan is a GREAT Author and his name on it is what sold the movie. The animation was really bad and jerky the Dawn of War trailers were 1000% better than this movie. I went to the New York City showing of this movie on the big screen and it was even more horrible to watch. During the Q&A after the movie the producer admitted to not knowing anything about 40K saying "well I may have painted 1 or 2 figurines for my brother when I was younger but I never played the game and I have not read any of the novels." OOOOO KAY buddy no wonder this movie is horrible because the guy had no love nor passion for the game and its history he was just out to make a quick buck.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Monsters, Inc. (Three-Disc Collector's Edition: Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)

Beautiful in Bluray
Before anyone starts saying this has not been released yet and there cannot be a review of the Bluray edition let me tell you this, this movie has been available in Japan and Mexico for quite some time now, and I was able to get a copy of the Mexican edition, which was at one time, identical to the one to be released in the US. It is a 3 disc edition (2 BD plus DVD copy of the movie), this has now been changed to a 4 disc set in the US to include the additional digital copy.

Disc one starts with an intro by director Pete Docter, in which he pretty much explains all the contents in this 'glorious' high definition version of the movie. A mini documentary on the 'Monsters, Inc: Ride & Go Seek ' ride in Disney Japan is also included. The highlight to me was the creators 'Round table' in which they talk about the process of creating the movie, some deleted scenes not included in prior DVD versions are shown here and they finally explained to me why is it so difficult to get a...

Pixar has done it again!
Admittedly, I am a fan of Pixar's work. Their artists have done some incredible animated features over the years. Between the "Toy Story" movies and "A Bug's Life," they have managed in a short time to build an impressive track record. Their shorts are also among the best ever produced. So my expectations going into this movie were very high.

The story concerns the monsters in your closet. The theory being that their world runs of the energy produced by children's screams. Sulley (John Goodman) is number one at getting screams. His main rival (Steve Buschemi) will do anything to gain the top spot. Oh, and they consider the touch of a human child to be toxic.

While not as instantly relatable as "Toy Story," the movie builds on the talents of Goodman and Billy Crystal (Mike) to bring you into this make-believe world as Sulley and Mike try to get little Boo back through the closet door to the safety of her bedroom.

Disney/Pixar has presented this well on DVD. Both Widescreen and...

The best movie I've seen in YEARS!
If you look at my other Amazon[.com] reviews, you will notice that I don't review movies and truth by told, I watch very few movies. Perhaps 2-4 per year, including both in the theater and at home on video or DVD. I'm just not a movie fan.

But tonight, we rented the Monsters Inc DVD and I absolutely loved it! Clever, hilarious, touching, innovative, unique, imaginative - those words don't begin to tell about this movie! You just have to see it.

It's such a pleasure to see a G-rated movie doing so well, both at the box office and also sales of the products for home viewing. This movie is totally free of sex, profanity, and substance abuse. Some of the action could be called violence, but not in the sense we usually define violence in movies! This movie might scare a 4-year-old, however. You need to know your own child to know if he's ready for this action-packed, laugh-a-minute masterpiece!

I watched this with my husband and two of our older kids (ages 19 and 21). We all...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Big in Bollywood

Loved it!
I kinda like Bollywood movies, so I thought I'd check this out. I was surprised that it was a documentary. Not really my thing, but this was great! Omi is just your typical struggling American actor who gets a call to go to India to do a big Bollywood movie. His friends (smart move guys) decide to film everything. Omi is so REAL and natural. The movie becomes a huge hit and the population in India goes crazy for Omi. I love his reactions, and I loved watching how a different culture treats their movie stars. VERY entertaining and interesting!

A pleasant surprise
I took a chance on this movie, having just read the summary. So glad I did.
This is an unpretentious documentary film about "working actor" Omi Vaidya making his big Bollywood break. We witness his obscurity to fame, in just a month's time.
Omi is so likeable and humble about the whole thing that sometimes his awkward self promotion leaves us feeling a little uncomfortable.
(Kudos to his good wife who takes the frenzy that ensues in stride.)
Great film, shot mostly by Omi's pal's. Brings a different perspective to becoming an overnight sensation, Mumbai style.

Tikka MasalAwesome!
Was curious about this movie since we (husband and I) live in LA and have lived in India. WE were delighted by the show and recommend it to anyone wanting to watch a fascinating documentary- it follows a struggling actor in LA as he becomes HUGE in Bollywood.
Loved the pace of the show (not your usual sloooow mover low-budget film), it was well produced and truly a movie made with heart.
Watch it!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Saigon Electric

Highly Entertaining!
I usually can't watch a foreign film all the way through but I do like dance and/or singing oriented movies. I loved Pitch Perfect, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Drumline . . . you get the idea. Teenagers finding themselves while they put it all on the line in a final performance. I love that stuff. So I tried this one out and it blew me away. I thought it was going to be some cheesy, off-the-wall, over-the-top Asian film like Hong Kong flicks but instead I found its various characters and storylines totally engrossing. I have been telling everyone I know about this film. I saw it on a weekday night and it made my week!

Good Movie!
I found this movie with a random search. My wife and I loved it. She understands Vietnamese and I thought the subtitles were well interpreted! It's kind of a Viet version of Save the Last Dance.

saigon electric
Strong dance film from stephane gauger (award winning film, owl and the sparrow) that has classic coming of age tropes and done really well with great performances from mostly non-actors. Showcases a vibrant, modern day vietnam that is not not really seen in film.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Vanished: Girl in the Woods

3 1/2 stars - A good asian horror tale
This obscure asian thriller is well directed and features a complexly presented, convoluted narrative(as is common in many of these films). There's moments of 'what's real? what's not?'. The movie comes into a powerful conclusion, drawing it's strings together as a chilling morality tale. A good, solid film, by no means extraordinary and timeless but good nonetheless and quality entertainment when you're looking for something to rent.

it was ok
it was ok it was creepi and i like the atmospheric thing but i was confussed about some parts and the ending was crazi cool

Entertaining at the end
Vanished: Girl in the Woods is a movie about a seven year old girl disappearing after going into the woods to play with some friends. There is much about this movie that doesn't make sense until the end. It is told in a rather discombobulated fashion. Going from Sakura's disappearance, to another girl in church. Another girl getting kidnapped. Then suddenly onto a movie set. I found this hard to follow since there didn't really seem to be any connection between these different stories. That is until the end when the movie finally comes together and we find out what really happened that day in the woods.

Since the storyline was so disconnected I never really got into the movie. Aside from that it is a decent movie though. The plot is well thought out, just takes a while to make sense. The actors were good. And the story does have a cool little twist at the end. Overall it was an entertaining film.

Click to Editorial Reviews

High Octane USA

cool video for lovers of hotted up japanese imports
Two hours of fun with videos of cars racing in the streets and on the tracks, even a Viper flying off a cliff. Also a few of the hottest girls thrown in for good measure. Car buffs of all ages will love this DVD.

Spudley
Dated video with a lot of falsies and a jerk for the host. Old drag cars, old show cars and horrible interviews.

From Back Cover
WRX vs. GTR
Willow Springs Track Test
Sema I.A.S.
Abel Ibarra's RX7
Road Car Battle Day in NZ
Import drag racing in Texas
Drift Action
Hot Import Nights San Mateo
Viper vs. Ferrari 355

Click to Editorial Reviews

Tokyo Playboy Club

Awesome Movie
I've been wanting to see it since the Rotterdam Film Festival and I was surprised it made its way onto amazon. The movie is about a seedy club that is long past its heyday and the characters the interact within it. It has a heavy slice of comedy but it is also a crime film. I am reminded somewhat of Tarantino when I watch this film; any fan of his will most certainly enjoy this movie.

Not good
Terrible plot. Sad. Bad Camera work. Just not a good flick at all to watch. Suggest you pass on this one.

Great acting & storyline. Very entertaining.
After recently going to Japan, I've become obsessed with watching movies in Japanese. I gave this one a shot simply because it was in Japanese and was available on Prime free. Wow! This turned out to be surprisingly very good. It's set in Tokyo and is about how a few different people's lives (a few ex-thugs who own a club, one of their low life employees, his girlfriend, and some members of the Yakuza) cross paths over the course of a day or so, and a few small actions turn out to have huge and unexpected consequences. It sort of reminds me of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but it's much different too. It's engaging from start to finish, and the acting is top notch. I'd love to find more movies with this cast. I'd definitely recommend watching it!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Headache Remedy

Suzanne Andrews takes the Stress out with Headache Remedy
Wouldn't you invest a half hour in losing stress, tension, and then your headache, rather than spending time, money and energy, dealing with doctors? This was my attitude as I discovered Suzanne Andrews' new video, "Headache Remedy."

Another in the Functional Fitness Series, this is the gentlest of the exercise tapes. It is entirely focused on releasing stress and tension in the upper body, accomplished through stretching, breathing and gentle movement. One does not have to be able to stand or move about much at all to gain benefit from these exercises; both standing and sitting versions are demonstrated.

Here is my experience: I started the routine thinking I was a fairly relaxed person yet as I moved through the exercises I found flexibility increasing and as this happened, my tension decreased and my headache just melted away. Headache Remedy is better than taking pills. It is certainly worth trying first...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Siamese Outlaws

Disappointed
This movie was awful. I was really disappointed. Nothing in this movie made any sense to me and the actors were not that great.

A good 'shoot 'em up.'
This Thai movie is a pretty good outlaw gang movie. The loosely formed bad guys gang kills lots of people in their attempt to rob almost every store in a whole Thai village. The head bad guy's part is kind of ruined by giving him kung fu flying ability, which has absolutely no place in this film. The part of the head of a subset of the gang is the 'man with a conscience,' and is played very well.

Okay
This movie was interesting in a cultural way. It gives you a glimpse into the way crooks do business in Thailand.

Click to Editorial Reviews

4 Assassins

Yes
I thought this was a great drama, but it was not an action film by my standards. I still liked it anyway. I'm a fan of Will Yun Lee.

Great service! Great movie!
Received my DVD very promptly, great service there!

Haven't had a chance to watch the movie yet, but hey, it's Miguel Ferrer! That's a guarantee right there, I've never seen him fail.

Interesting
This is a good first big screen debut by director/screen writer Stanley Orzel. You will be disappointed if you are looking for an action film-this is more of a "psychological" action film with the 4 assassins coming together for some unfinished business. Great concept,directing and cinematography. Had some very funny lines and I might have added some more and took it in the direction of a campy film (considering the low budget) that could entice a cult following for future encounters with the 4 assassins.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013: Live Action [HD]

definitely worth the money
It's great that I got to see all the nominated movies for about half of what I'd have paid in the theater. And I didn't even have to trek out into the snow! The features are all pretty good. My favorite is probably "Henry," which is an original take on a man's battle with Alzheimer's disease. "Curfew" is about a suicidal drug addict whose estranged sister needs him to babysit for an evening and it's probably the most accessible of them all. "Asad" is about a boy in a fishing village in Somalia whose friends have all turned to the pirate life while he's trying to break his curse and catch some fish. "Death of a Shadow" is a strange little movie about a man who goes around with a photo contraption that captures the shadows of people as they are being murdered. "Buzkashi Boys" is about two impoverished boys in Afghanistan who dream about growing up and becoming heroes of the local sport, which seems to be like polo, but with a headless goat carcass...

Worth going out of your way to find - Shows why short films are an art
Given how difficult it is to find markets - let alone audiences - for short live-action films, you could wonder why the people make them even bother. But if you're lucky enough to see some, then you quickly understand why. Short films are the movie equivalent of short stories, and the challenge is to tell a complete - and hopefully engaging - story in a limited amount of time. Like short stories, short films are an art in and of themselves, for like short stories, they require greater discipline than one would need for a longer work.

These five short live-action films were the ones nominated for the Academy Award in that category for 2012.

"Death of a Shadow" - A man, whom we later learn is - or was - a soldier killed during WWI, travels through time to photograph people's deaths with a highly unusual camera that captures their shadows at the moment of their death. He then brings these captured shadows back to the man he works for, a mysterious...

Excellent
I highly recommend this. All the films are wonderful, and collectively make for a terrific viewing experience. Great stories, great casts, great tech.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Japanese Tattoo Masters

Fascinating documentary about Asian tattoo designs.
I don't even have tattoos, but found this to be a very interesting documentary with in-depth explanations behind the different styles of Japanese tattoo designs. Really enjoyed watching it.

impressive
corePhenomenol artwork and amazingly humble tattoo artists. I thoroughly enjoyed their philosophy and perspective. It was refreshing. Although tattoos have become more fashionable in Japanese society, their culture still remains at the core.

very cool
loved it.very informative,amazing art.a beautiful piece to add to your Asian studies material.some very talented people featured here,worth the purchase.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle

A mother's love
`Le Grand Chef 2, Kimchi Battle' begins its story in Japan (dialogue is in Japanese with English subtitles in these scenes) where Jang-Eun (played by Kim Jang-Eun) has spent the last 10 years becoming a master chef with an aptitude for creating fusion cuisine. Jang-Eun utilizes these skills in preparing "Korean" dishes for a Korean diplomat and his wife. Upon their sampling the dishes, the Japanese host declares that these delicious dishes originated in Japan. So begins the Kimchi battle, restoring Kimchi to its rightful place in Korea.

Although the Kimchi battle is the premise of the film, it all really boils down to a mother's love and the most valuable gift she can give you that feeds and nourishes both your body and soul. This is particularly poignant when you consider the struggles on the Korean peninsula in the relatively recent past.

Additionally, for those who are familiar with the 2008 Korean drama...

good movie
Just like the first one, good movie and good story. I really love their presentation on Korean food, look so nice.

Best Korean chef movie ever
Loved vignettes throughout the character development. It will make a great Mother's Day movie! If you don't love kimchi after this, you have no seoul.

Click to Editorial Reviews

La Virgen Negra (The Black Virgin)

Funny movie - Love Carmen Maura !
This is a funny, guilty pleasure film which is great for a pick me up.
Full of great actors and a quirky spoof on common Latin superstitions - not meant to be taken seriously.

Unusual
Positive:
It's hard to describe this movie especially if the viewer's understanding of European settlement of the central and southern Americas is limited. A spanish matron settles into and develops a small Americas' fishing village and witnesses the interplay of folk religion with Christian Catholicism; black with white culture; contemporary hedonistic morals with traditional principled morals; superstition whether it's magic or faith and the consequences of pursuing one vs. the other.

Negative:
The narration of the story comes largely from the youngest members of the village; the outside threats of violence; the sunset and birds symbolism and ending made the story a little too obtuse and difficult to follow.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Time Traveller: Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Different from American Movies, but Good
I love the concept of the original story called "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" by Yasutaka Tsutsui (the book from which this movie jumps off). I've read the book and seen the manga version of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" that was released in 2006.

Unlike the anime, the protagonist in the movie doesn't play around much. She is on a mission to find someone from her mother's past. There are, of course, complications, but what good story doesn't have any? The movie has a really good ending, but I wouldn't necessarily classify it as happy. That's one key way in which Japanese movies can differ from American ones.

As another reviewer said, the quality isn't perfect, but I think the story and the acting is good enough that watching this movie is totally justified. There are plot twists that I never saw coming, and it kept the movie very interesting. I highly recommend it!

NOT a remake
Funny, sad, and interesting throughout. No hesitation recomending this to anyone, simply put just an excelent drama with likable characters, good acting and a satisfying if somewhat sad ending.

Time Traveller
not bad worth the watch solid story line acting was good some parts might need a little more explanation but over all a good watch

Click to Editorial Reviews

Beware of Mr. Baker

An amazing film.
I loved this documentary. Ginger Baker is both a crazy genius and a train wreck. Nevertheless, this film humanizes the Cream drummer, warts and all. You end up both loving and hating him, yet you can't look away. His musical genius is readily apparent. What is unique is that the filmmaker got as close to him as anyone could. The interviews with Baker and his family and friends are wonderful. The editing of the film is superb. Great use of animation in moving the story forward plus tons of archival footage and great music. If you're a music fan of a certain age, don't miss this film!

Real and vivid portrayal of a great drummer but a flawed personality
This documentary does not hold back; you get to see the man himself just the way he is and was (I met him once myself and would prefer not to repeat that experience). By far the most influential drummer in Rock of all time, even though he is not a "rock" drummer. His Jazz credentials alone are stellar and equal to the best of his generation, and when you mix that with his astounding intuitive understanding of African rhythms, he has no peers.
Wonderful interviews with Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and others.
Only wish they showed him playing more full pieces on his drums.

When Rockers Ruled the World
Heard about this documentary months ago and couldn't wait to see it; I was not disappointed. Excellent overview of the career of a true legend, and one of music's most compelling and contemptible characters. There was a time when rock stars like Ginger ruled the earth, leaving a path of dysfunctional destruction in their wake, while producing some of the greatest music the world has ever known.

Click to Editorial Reviews

My Girlfriend is an Agent

Fairly funny on the airplane
I saw this movie on a long haul flight with English subtitles over the Atlantic. This was such a funny movie I was cracking up in my seat, then I told my wife to watch it and she thought it was really funny as well. It's a comedy action flick with slapstick style Asian humor. I thought the acting and directing was actually pretty good. Since I was on a long flight, maybe this movie seemed better than it really was, but I did thoroughly enjoy it. Wish the Amazon title would spell "Girlfreind" correctly.

Amazon's review system STRIKES again!
After researching this title, I found that there are two versions of this on Amazon. The negative reviews on this product apply to the one titled MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN AGENT (STANDARD EDITION). The DO NOT apply to the one titled "MY GIRLFRIEND IS AN AGENT [2009, Korea][Official All-Region DVD]" This edition is the one with the slipcase and the large diagonal English lettering on the cover. The subtitles, picture, audio and overall quality of this version are perfect. Amazon links both products to the same reviews, which is messed up. But anyway, rest assured, if you want to see this movie, just make sure you purchase that version.

Almost Five Stars
Having watched the Korea drama inspired by this movie, it only made sense to find and watch the film. I wasn't disappointed. While not quite slap-stick, it's definitely a tongue-in-cheek spy thriller. I've watched the female lead in other projects and enjoyed her role equally here. Though comedy, the characters were still drawn in a believable fashion and the plot was interesting. The translated title is a bit off base, it should have been 7th Grade Civil Servant, as was the title of the (previously mentioned) series. But I'll excuse that since marketing demands are different for film and television.

Overall, I was pleased with the movie and enjoyed the storytelling. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a few laughs and a relaxed viewing experience.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Esposito

Great! Funny, Quirky Rom-Com
If you're in to movies just off the beaten path, this quirky romantic-comedy is for you. Before Storage Wars was even a household name, this movie showed the world what storage auctions were all about. The soundtrack is also both original and amazing. Definitely worth checking out.

A must see if you like romantic comedies
A very entertaining film with a moral to the story - great performances by independent actors. Excellent story writing, directing, photography and all original music.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Twilight In Volterra

Thanks for creating this superb film. I want to visit even more now!
As a 66-year-old Twihard great-grandmother, I love the Twilight books (read 16 times, so far) and love Stephenie Meyer for writing them. Nearly two years ago a friend and I visited Forks, a lovely town with wonderful residents who enjoyed having Twilighters there. It appears the residents of Volterra have also graciously welcomed the many Twilight fans from around the world. Learning about the real Volterra (3,500 years old) was an absolute treat for me. Now I have to have the DVD. Thanks, Amazon, for making it available.

Beautiful adventure!
"Twilight in Volterra" whisked me away from my living room to the beautiful world of Volterra, Italy. The Volturi are such a mysterious part of the Twilight universe that it was wonderful to see the heritage of their base city revealed. I loved to see the inhabitants of the town, speaking about the books that are now a part of their lives. The HD looked amazing on my monitor and I can't decide if my appetite for visiting Italy is sated or if I just want to go NOW!!!

The real Volterra
A fun documentary about the real city of Volterra, Italy. Fans of "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer will enjoy seeing the "home" of the Volturi and the different areas where the characters could've actually been.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Highway Star

Sweet. silly, and fun
A few weeks ago I was searching Amazon Prime for a movie to watch and stumbled across a Korean action movie and decided to give it a try. I'd never watched a Korean film before and I was impressed with the production, cinematography, and acting so I decided to search for more Korean films and came across this little gem. It's the story of the lead vocalist in a struggling rock band who is recruited by an entertainment company and trained to be a Trot singer (apparently a very popular genre in South Korea). If I had to compare Trot to something American, I'd say it's pretty similar to the stuff that you see on stage in Las Vegas, crooning while wearing glitzy outfits. This movie is a sweet, fun, little romp - it's funny and light-hearted without being too ridiculous. This is the fourth Korean film I've watched in the last few weeks. South Korea is producing some very entertaining films. Don't believe what people say about humor not translating well to other cultures, it really...

Amazing and funny!
I love Korean movies and this wasnt an exception. I wanted to watch this movie for a long time but i didnt have a chance when i found it here in the Amazon Prime Videos I was so excited!! I highly recommend this movie. For anybody who likes comedy movies but want to try something new, this is the perfect movie! I love the actors and music!! Thank you so much for adding it!!

A really sweet Rise-To-Fame story
Great little story about a young man trying to "Make it" in the music industry: Even if he has to change over to another type of musical style to do it! Twists and turns along the way all work out to create a fusion of musical and entertainment styles that is a winner! The underlying story of Boy-meets-girl is what makes the entire story so understandable and enjoyable. (Great ending!)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Look, Stranger

Original movie, superb actress
There was only one review when I got here and it was a one star. However I saw the star was Anamaria Marinca. I saw her do an excellent job in the European movie Storm as a victim of the war in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. So I figured it would be worthwhile just to see her again. It was.

This is an indie picture and the approach is experimental. Marinica is in a war zone but there are only small groups of fighters involved and there are not many sounds of war. Though the movie was shot in Serbia there is no reference to any particular war or location. I believe the intent is to show the emotional experiences of this woman as universal to civilian women in a war zone. We need to get in her head to some degree. I admit I've never been good at getting into a woman's head even when I'm furnished with a lot more dialogue than is contained in this entire movie - which is not much.

However it is usually quite clear what pain she is going through. Her...

Awfully disappointing
This is up there with the worst movies I have ever seen. There was maybe 25 lines in the whole movie. I watched the whole thing and am still wondering what the heck this movie was about. Not worth a 20 cent rental.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Troy

Director's cut gives additional depth and scope to an impressive looking film
Features 2 new extras: "Troy In Focus" a 23 minute interview and a new 5 minute introduction by Wolfgang Peterson. Most of the other special features have been ported over from the previous edition.

First the most important question is whether or not this double dip is worth it? Absolutely because the additional footage only enhances the film giving it additional depth. The transfer is striking (regardless of which format)as well. In many respects this isn't a double dip because we get a film that is superior to the original version.

Unlike "The Illiad" Wolfgang Petersen's film "Troy" seemed too short and for good reason; Petersen had to trim the film down to a shorter length for its theatrical release. Luckily Warner gave Petersen the opportunity to revisit this epic film and add more meat to the bones of a film that had the look of an epic but was missing much of the emotional depth.

Petersen restores roughly 32 minutes to the film giving additional...

Brad Pitt might be Achilles but David Benioff is no Homer
As a teacher of Classical Greek and Roman Mythology I was looking forward to "Troy." In the past I have put together a unit on the Trojan War that included not only Homer's epic poem the "Iliad," but also the plays of Euripides and Aeschylus and other ancient works on the stories of these characters. In other words I am familiar with this story to the extent that when Briseis showed up wearing a garment with long sleeves I was upset that we did not get to see the lovely arms that were part of her usual epithet. So, suffice it to say, that when characters who survived the Trojan War started dying in this film, I was not exactly happy. Consequently, the truth is that the less you know about the Trojan War of classical mythology, the more you will enjoy Wolfgang Petersen's "Troy."

I have no problem with the idea that Homer and the other ancients have to be adapted in making a modern motion picture about the Trojan War. The decision to eliminate the gods is appropriate,...

Director's cut improves on the original...worth the $ 14.99 price tag!
When I saw TROY in the theaters, I wasn't expecting much. After that first viewing, I knew there was something missing; the screenplay just didn't grab me, it failed to immerse me on the scenes. I am quite familiar with GREEK myths, also both Norse and Roman mythology. Well, I managed to purchase the director's cut of Troy, and although it is not as great as KINGDOM of HEAVEN Director's cut, it is a better cut of the film.

I presume that most of the folks who'll be interested in the director's cut are fans or at least the ones who saw it in theaters as I did. ONE OBVIOUS improvement this version has over the previous dvd is the PICTURE transfer. The Video this time out is more vibrant, sharper and cleaner. Another difference is the SOUNDTRACK on certain scenes; the training scene of Achilles and his cousin, the duel between Hector and Achilles. Also, the music is improved with added bass during the siege at the beach and on the gates of Troy. The music sounded more...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Kids Are All Right

A good slice of life film - and topical.
The Kids Are All Right is a thoroughly entertaining slice-of-life domestic drama about two kids who look up their sperm-donor father, causing cataclysmic changes in the family dynamic. Not a unique premise save that the parents of the kids happen to be lesbians.

The entire cause célèbre for this film is to show straight America how "normal" gay families are and that they shouldn't be afraid of "gay marriage" or "gay parenting," thus it doesn't delve too deep or wander too far off topic. Political film making is a tricky business. You'll remember the Tom Hanks drama Philadelphia was maligned by the LGBT activist fringe for all the issues it didn't address; to which my answer has always been: it's a two hour film, if you add too many spicy issues you're left with an unpalatable polemic.

The script and direction by Lisa Cholodenko (High Art) are tight, well focused and only occasionally heavy-handed. Her characters are fresh, while being...

I Liked Overall, But Had A Problem With A Few Things In The Story...
I found this movie to be very well-acted and well-directed.
The sexual scenes didn't bother me not one bit, like some of the other reviewers.
I mean, COME ON!!---This is life in the 21st Century!--Grow up already!
People get naked and they interact, okay?---Thank goodness that computers and gadgets
haven't spoiled that for us (yet!), as it has with basic conversational skills and other forms
of by-gone or slowly dying human interaction.

I actually know both a lesbian couple, as well as a gay male couple who
are living similar circumstances as in the premise of this movie.
I found it very modern, refreshing, and mature in it's approach to the subject matter.
I have long been a fan of Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore and Annette Benning's work,
and I also thought "the kids" themselves did an excellent job at portraying their roles.
My problem was in that I felt like the Mark Ruffalo character kind of had his once happy
and...

Entertaining but flawed indie comedy/drama (3 1/2 stars)
Yes, this movie is probably being at least a little overpraised by the critics. I suspect many of them consider it "brave" for a film to depict an ordinary American family, whose parents just happen to be lesbians. Let's face it, awards voters and critics love anything that deals with race, homosexuality, or any of the other hot-button social topics (witness the dreck known as "Crash" winning Best Picture a few years ago).

None of which is meant to detract from The Kids are All Right, which is still quite an enjoyable small film. The acting especially is uniformly good. Annette Bening is sure to receive an Oscar nomination (well deserved), for her fantastic performance as Nic, the tightly-wound, more responsible half of the married couple formed by herself and Julianne Moore. Moore is also excellent playing Jules, a more aimless free-spirit type - their differences are a source of much of the comedy in the film. In all respects but their sexual orientation, they are a...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Monster From Bikini Beach

THAT THAR IS A REAL LIVE DEAD BODY
This feature is a campy romp. The description on the reverse of the DVD leads one to believe the film contains outtakes from older films. That is not the case. The coastal town of Camaroville is plagued by a campy sea monster who does Troma style killings and has an insatiable appetite for bra tops. The cast includes a detective who works for the mob and a newswoman with skin issues who needs to shower. About halfway through the film a Randy Quaid type noodler is introduced. He says about his craft, "Some call it foolish, others call it plain stupid." His niece is a combination of country goof and rocket scientist.

The film is low budget and campy. What makes a film such as this enjoyable outside of the topless women is the dialouge. In that regard the writers did a good job in creating puns, you just have to listen up.

"Monsters are for reels."

Parental Guide: ample nudity, f-bomb, no sex. Some full frontal nudity on background centerfolds.

Stoners only.
This has got to be the worst movie I've ever seen. I suppose if I was still a pot smoker, which I'm not, this movie might be fun. The so-called reptilian monster looks more like a cheesy fish costume with a man inside manipulating the mouth. The girls are not very attractive, and the acting and photography are very amateurish..

Fun
Ok, this is an interesting one, several sub plots mixed into one movie, very sad acting and one of the worst monsters ever but fun music and dancing. The last 35 minutes are the best part, you just have to last that long.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Holy Motors

BEWARE: VOD Version is CENSORED
I am appalled to discover that Amazon censors movies on VOD. And I thought censorship was dead. Well, it's not. It's alive and flourishing at Amazon!

Knowing little about the scene in question, I initially thought the blur was the director's choice, perhaps to suggest that Mr. Merde had no genitalia. But, now, I understand differently and I am rather disappointed in Amazon and will AVOID RENTING R, NC-17 or unrated titles through their VOD service in future. They may not require membership, but they still charge a fee, so shouldn't their VOD be treated similarly to NetFlix, who I can confirm appears to not be constrained by FCC rules and regulations for TV/cable broadcast?

At any rate, I'm going to be more cautious now when renting streaming movies from Amazon.

UPDATE: I can't hold Amazon completely responsible, anymore, though they should be aware of any censorship in their streaming titles, and I would expect them to refuse titles from companies who...

"Being an actor is the loneliest thing in the world." James Dean
Enter at your own risk. This movie is quite capable of confusing you and making you angry. It could delight or overwhelm you, win you over or enrage you. It could make you feel like cursing and truly hate all art-house in general, French art-house in particular, and Leon Carax, and his collaborators, specifically.

For me, "Holy Motors" is very interesting, unpredictable, shocking and ever-changing. It is my kind of movie in which the writer/director expresses his admiration for cinema as an art form. I've always felt a deep respect for the filmmakers who use in their original and unpredictable pictures the references, allusions, and direct calls to the other movies and to film creators who inspired them. "Holy Motors" is one of those pictures - about film and film-making.

Our life - is a (movie) theater, and we are actors in the movie that plays in the theater. For me, it is the first thing to keep in mind when you try to make sense of what is actually...

True work of beauty (differs for every beholder)
Some movies are made for a very specific audience. The kind of audience that yearns for a creation that has never been tried before and when transformed into an audio-visual format, leaves you speechless and spellbound once you have had the luck and the pleasure to view it. That's Holy Motors for you. There are quite a few actors in the movie. And kudos to the director for extracting every bit of acting abilities from each one of them. Be it the lead protagonist or the assistant of the photographer who gets shocked when trying to interrupt him from admiring beauty or even the kid playing his teenaged daughter. No matter how big or small the size of your role or your screen time, everyone did an amazing job - thanks to the director.

It is not very often that you get the opportunity to watch a movie that has almost no relationship to anything you might have seen before on the big screen or has any association with life as it exists (for the most part) and yet is not about...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Night Visitor

Details down to the last thread
This is a thinking mans movie. Keeps you on the tips of your brain stem. If you liked the TV series "Mission Impossible", because of the technical details, you'll love this movie. Reason is, the man that created those details for TV, also created the escape scenes in this movie. Everything is thought out and shown in major detail, except one. What is that one mistake? You won't hear a peep out of me!

Near perfect thriller
This is an excellent European thriller, with a cast culled from both Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) and England.

Max von Sydow as Salem, the inmate in an asylum for the criminally insane, does a fine job as the lead, (supposedly) unjustly accused and sentenced for a crime he--maybe--didn't commit. Liv Ullmann (who's Norwegian, not Swedish as some people may think) is just as good as his sister, married to a doctor played by Per Oscarsson. The two of them, with the help of a greedy lawyer and a conniving sister, managed to have Salem convicted of the murder of an innocent farmhand. And Trevor Howard plays the investigating inspector who is equally strong--and certain there's more to the case than meets the eye.

Now someone is killing off the people who had Salem committed. Who could it be? Salem himself is locked away in the asylum, surely one of the dingiest and most desolate institutions ever shown on film. But the doctor shows some loopy behavioral tics, so...

Cold suspense on DVD-R
This obscure, Poe-esque revenge picture recalls some of the better Hammer horror in its excellent usage of gothic sets (and in this case, stark locations in Sweden and Denmark) and colorful character parts to create a rich and memorable, if minimalist, atmosphere of suspense. Max von Sydow as the 'innocent' institutionalized murderer and Trevor Howard as the skeptical detective make for formidable, stoical oppononents in a slow-paced (at 106 minutes) but rewarding chess game of wits. Note, however, that the VCI pressing I received (release date 2008) is a DVD-R, which may not be compatible with all players and is prone more readily to data loss than fully mastered DVDs; and although the package specs indicate a 'letterboxed' presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio), the print appears to be fullscreen. Video quality is decent, audio somewhat variable (exacerbated by heavy overdubbing). Still, a worthwhile chiller in any format. 3 1/2 stars overall.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Wan Chai Baby

Review Wan Chai Baby (Craig Addison)
Tess (Chanel Latorre) is a young girl from the Philippines, who comes to Hong Kong in search of work as a so-called amah (maid). She leaves her family and her little son back in the Philippines. Tess did not come to Hong Kong voluntarily but her poverty forces her to do so. At first, Tess works for Jenny (Ines Laimins), a western woman whose husband often leaves for business in mainland China. Jenny eventually introduces Tess to Hong Kong's glittering nightlife - they spend one night in Wan Chai. Jenny, however, dies tragically not at least due to the consumption of alcohol and drugs. Tess starts again to look for employment on Hong Kong's domestic helpers market. Finally, she is engaged by a Chinese family. Her Chinese boss mistreats Tess. Consequently, Tess terminates her contract. Terminating a contract in Hong Kong implies a monetary penalty to be paid to the Employment Agency for Maids. Tess starts cleaning public toilets and works full time in order to guarantee financial...

What goes on in Honk Kong doesn't necessarily stay in HK!
The story depicted in Wan Chai Baby is believable. I could relate to the sad plight of Tess and what some Philippine women go through to send money home. Chanel Latorre as Tess was sensational not only in looks but very convincing in the role of a downtrodden Filipina housemaid. The actress playing Jenny (Tess' employer) was OK considering what her part was but not nearly as convincing as Tess. Craig Addison's men were less accomplished save for Prince Charles and his "cameo" appearance during the televised coverage of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. Danny, Tess' boyfriend, grew on me as the movie went on. While I didn't find much chemistry between Tess and Danny initially, this seemed to change as love between them seemed to start to bloom.

The film looks beautiful and captures the color and verve of Hong Kong very nicely. The photography was flawless. Impressive in every way. The depth of field is tremendous and very effective considering all the close-ups of...

Wan Chai Baby - Review
Wan Chai Baby, a drama with documentary features, focuses on the vexed issue of domestic workers from abroad, coming to Hong Kong to work as cheap labors. Craig Addison - producer, director and writer of this work - casted Chanel Latorre in the lead-role of the 24-year-old Tess from the Philippines who comes to Hong Kong in 1996 to work as a maid for Jenny starring Ines Laimins. Jenny, an American woman married to a most-of-the-time absent Chinese businessman, sees in Tess not only a help but also a friend substitute. Due to the absence of her husband, she feels lonely and neglected and drowns those feelings with drugs and sex with other men. One night, she takes Tess with her to the amusement district of Hong Kong, Wan Chai. In a nightclub, Jenny finds a man to satisfy her sexual needs and Tess meets Danny, played by Aaron Palermo, who gives her his number, urging her to call him some time.
Some days after their night trip, Jenny dies unexpectedly from an overdose. After Jenny's...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Martin Luther

The Classic
This is the classic black and white movie on Luther's life, shown in nearly every Lutheran church basement! It takes the viewer from Luther's entry into the monastery to around 1530, when the Augsburg Confession was presented to the Emperor. For many years, this was the best film on Luther. Unlike Luther (1973, with Stacy Keach) which showed only Luther's struggles, this movie shows his triumphs and successes, and the support he had from others.
This DVD has several good features. Several languages are supported, Spanish, German, Korean, and a few others. Unfortunately, the film was not digitally remastered-- but the picture quality is still not that bad. An interesting documentary is included on how the movie was made and the reaction when it was shown. It also includes a slideshow of Luther sites.
This movie can't compare with the new movie (Luther, 2003 with Joseph Fiennes) as far as presentation is concerned. Yet it is still inspiring, and a faithful presentation of...

Thumbs up for Martin Luther!
For those who prefer your history acted out on the screen rather than read from a book, I highly recommend Martin Luther. The movie stays painstakingly close to the actual historical record (at least the record in Protestant history books). It begins with Luther as a young man studying for the legal profession and ends with him as the embodiment of the Protestant Reformation. The movie contains many details of his life, including his days as an Augustinian monk and his great struggles of faith. The story goes on to detail Luther's eye opening trip to Rome, the nailing of the 95 Theses, the Diet of Worms, his protective custody in the Wartburg Castle, a happy marriage to Katherine von Bora, his opposition to the Peasant's Revolt and almost every other major events of his life. The motion picture concludes with his best-known hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." All of the major characters are depicted from Eck and Melanchton to the drunk who purchased his indulgences in advance...

Overall, a well done movie
This movie was a well done, reasonably accurate, portrayal of Martin Luther. It touches upon most, but not all, the major areas of his life. It does a good job of showing how he went from law school, to Augustinian monk, to a pilgrimage to Rome, to protesting the excesses of the Vatican. It captures his stormy personality well. To get some historical insight, it is an excellent movie. It is not Terminator, no buggy chases or bow/sword fights. I doubt seriously if Hollywood could make a film like this today that actually told a story without adding excessive violence, sex, or somehow making him a new age evangelist...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Mendy

Honest and insightful. Also, very entertaining
I watched this movie in the Manhattan theater in June of 2006.This is one great movie that you will fall in love with. Although it's my belief that some knowledge (of) and/or Jewish background is necessary in order to grasp the meaning of the movie and not to misjudge the characters and the plot. Otherwise, you'd be asking (just like Bianca in the movie did) "So, your G-d is a racist then".

I think that this is a very honest movie and raises some important issues that we don't usually want to deal with or even admit to ourselves (well, this does apply to me) they (issues) exist and affect us in one way or another.

Excellent film, not very accessible
Firstly, I thought that the depth of this film lay primarily in the portrait of its three central characters. It does not have a particularly compelling narrative, but then my spouse likes to point out that I am attracted to films that lack a clear narrative. It is beautifully acted.

I should add here - and this point is really why I bothered to write this - that the film is not terribly accessible to an audience that is not acquainted with Chassidic culture (or at least Orthodox Jewish culture). Unlike in cheesy movies like "A Price Above Rubies", in Mendy Chassidic culture is neither spoon-fed to the viewer, nor is it avoided. It simply textures most of the film, which is exactly how it functions in real life. (A brief aside: I am an Orthodox Jew, very familiar with the culture being portrayed on screen, and I have never seen it more convincingly portrayed. Neither in English language or in Israeli cinema. The actors' command of Yiddish (in Hungarian dialect) is...

Hard to say...
As a non-Jew I was hoping for a way to learn more about the orthodox life, but I'm not at all sure I found it in this film, interesting though it was at times. I certainly appreciated hearing Yiddish...something I had never been exposed to at all and was thankful for the subtitles.

I think some of the meaning and the questions presented were sincere and reasonably well conceived, yet the obvious effort to be edgy and raw with ugly street language, doping, sex, etc. made the film into something rather mundane. The acting was okay, direction okay, production in general okay...but overall, at least for me, it was disappointing and no better than two stars.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Surviving New Year's

Excellent Improvised Independent Movie
The cast puts in a wonderful performance. The director keeps things moving skillfully. For a bunch of young performers creating an improvised film, they do an fantastic job!

Great story - lots of action and drama!
Really great storyline and talented cast of actors. It was a bit reminiscent of a Big Chill-esque type of story which I really dig so this film had a lot of appeal for me. As the drama unfolded through the film, I was at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. A very emotional and real story of friends, family, love and heartbreak. 2 thumbs up!

Good character study that doesn't get too ambitious
For a low budget, indie drama/comedy, this movie shows the potential of truly outside the box film making. It's definitely character driven so if you don't like movies about people, relationships, love and sex then this movie isn't for you. (Sex is just simulated - sorry no nudity) Surviving New Year's raises more questions about it's central characters than it can possibly answer - which may weaken it as a drama but not as a search for truth. Although this movie moves away from conventional story telling, it still serves well as an inspection into the lives and truth of these people. However, the tension was so thick at one point I wasn't sure if somebody was going to have sex or get stabbed in the head with a screwdriver. Director David Beatty delivered an uncharacteristically smart comedy with surprising dramatic turns, avoiding cliches and excellent performances across the board. An encouraging sign for the potential of low-budget digital video movie-making.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Women Do It Better

Take Notes, Ladies!!
Derrick Simmons gets five stars and two thumbs up on this hilarious follow up to his first comedy "Jump Offs" - "Women Do It Better". All of your favorite guy players are back in this film, still trying to get one over on their female counter parts. Derrick not only returns as "Malik", but also takes on the remarkable task of playing three additional character roles, of which my own personal favorite is "Oops". Oops is a somewhat unattractive guy you might expect to be a bit awkward with the ladies, but instead; he will reassure you he has earned and is very deserving of his "player" stripes. Watch as these slick and relentless lady players turn the table on the guys time after time. For all accomplished "players" out there, you may find yourself taking notes in between laughs!! This movie is hardly a chick flick, but instead, an...

Cold gettin' dumb...
I would advise anyone looking at the reviews of this movie to tread with caution. There are some truly surprising gems out there in the land of B and C and D movies. Then there are the underachieving antithesis for even those subgrade made for DVD/web. I was expecting to see a movie along the same line as 'How to be a Player' from the women's perspective or '2 Can Play'. However, what I found in this was truly debauchery but without any sense of direction. It wasn't too ghetto...(haha..you betta check yourself, respect yourself, you betta go for self, because I flow for self). No but really...BAPS was ghetto but held its own in a good way! The title 'Women Do It Better' captivated my attention and after weeks of procrastination I finally gave in and was prepared to be entertained by some hood rats showin' how they could be a hip to the rare true playa for real female mack layin' back steelo. Unfortunately, it missed the mark with the raunchy and bunchy less than clever hit me on the...

Very fast delivery
Super fast delivery & the DVD arrived in the condition stated. It plays well although I didn't care too much for the movie (low budget).

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Mesmerist

"Yes I'll pray for Daddy"
This little movie caught me off guard and had me rolling in the floor with laughter. Howard Hesseman(Head Of The Class, WKRP) is a riot as a father who is just a little past Attila The Hun and he rules over his daughter with a ruthless hand. He is about to die and as his daughter arrives with boyfriend in tow(Neil Patrick Harris), he swears in no small measure that he will never let Neil have his little girl. Enter the quack of the title who plans to hypnotize the old boy so that his last moments are pain free. Problems is he dies while he is still in the trance and things become very strange after that.
The comedy of horrors is very well made and the cast is great, but make no mistake Harris and Hesseman are the show here as they square off over the girl. Hessemans final threat to Harris and Harris' "prayer" for Hesseman are side spliting fun and will have you backing up to hear them more than once.
Very much worth your time and sure to make you smile.

movie
I love this movie! I try to watch it as much as I can. I love watching Jessica Capshaw and hope to get more of her movies

I'm reminded of Mel Brooks
It might be George Wyner, but this movie had a very Brooks style sense of humor.
It's not for everyone, but if you like dark comedy and Neil Patrick Harris, you will really like this movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Palms

From a foster kid...
Being a child in foster care myself, It really rang true about how it feels to want a family. I liked the cinematography. I liked the music and I loved the message and the analogy of the palm tree.

Inspiring
Wonderful short film. Adopting foster children never looked so good. More movies should be as uplifting as this movie. I loved it!



Click to Editorial Reviews

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

Beyond The Camp: A Documentary Feature (With Nice Extras) Examining The Rise And Fall Of An Unlikely Phenomenon
Here they are! The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are back in the pleasing documentary "GLOW." In the mid-eighties, the campy idea of presenting lady wresting to the masses swept the world. This television endeavor established a colorful cast of characters (aligned into appropriate good versus evil camps) and made them entertainers, products spokespeople, and (oh yeah) athletes. The girls came from different backgrounds and had varying expectations, but were soon bound together in a one-of-a-kind phenomenon that no one could anticipate. This brief film (run time is only 76 minutes) can't hope to unravel the entire story behind this unprecedented journey, but it is good at highlighting the experience from the vantage point of the girls involved. Almost all the content is provided from the GLOW girls themselves and, as I said, that makes some of the more interesting aspects of the story left to speculation and rumor. But as a tribute to this new breed of entertainer, "GLOW" should...

Awesome for Nostalgia
I used to love watching this growing up. Hearing the stories, seeing all the bonus features and watching the reunion brought back SO many memories. Love this documentary.

Well done doc, paid homage to the people involved
I may not necessarily recommend this doc to people who had no recollection of the show (unless you are a fan of 80s pop culture or pro wrestling in general), but then again I watched it with someone who wasn't even born when it was on the air and she thought it was great.

As someone who watched every Saturday morning on WPIX New York in syndication, I thought this is a well-done film that gives fans a fun glimpse into what it took to produce the show and how hard the talent worked to make it a success. Special thanks to the stars and the filmmakers in case they read this.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (Hindi Movie / Bollywood Film / Indian Cinema DVD)

Whacky absurd intelligent insight!
I like Vishal Bhardwaj's films. I believe it can be said that he is an intelligent director. MAQBOOL, OMKARA and KAMINEY are very impressive compelling films with wonderful actors who obviously love to have the chance to work with Bhardwaj. Wiki says that Bhardwaj came to Mumbai to become a music composer; he took to directing films only to create the opportunity to compose music. He collaborated with Gulzar, the Indian poet, lyricist and director.

Interesting that Bhardwaj began in music, he also sings and his wife Rekha Bhardwaj is a wonderful Indian 'playback' singer with her own recognizable, haunting and soulful sound. Musicians don't often possess a keen visual ability, but Bhardwaj's painterly frame compositions and use of color transfer his films' feelings beautifully.

Although MATRU KI BIJLEE KA MANDOLA does not hold together as well as the other three I mentioned, what did interest me is that Bhardwaj is using this film to expose the use of bank loans...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Scooby-Doo: Mask of the Blue Falcon

A great Scooby-Doo movie paying tribute to some classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons
I was born in the late 70s and have fond memories of watching various Hanna-Barbera TV shows. Scooby-Doo has been a long time favorite of mine that I'm happy to share with my own kids now that I'm a dad. I was excited to see that Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. team have a new adventure with the Blue Falcon and (more or less) Dynomutt.

I was really surprised when I noticed all the cameo appearances in this movie from other Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Space Ghost, the Herculoids, Captain Caveman, Speed Buggy, even Elektra from Teen Force (although she is humorously misidentified in the movie). I felt like a little kid again while watching this movie and the fact that my 3-year-old son and my 6-year-old daughter loved it too was just icing on the cake.

If you grew up during the 80s (or just love watching old 80s cartoons) then I highly recommend watching this feature-length Scooby-Doo adventure.

This is how it's done
Considering that they somehow created an entire season of Mystery INC without any direction and screwed it up, and that Big Top wasn't half bad but not the greatest, Mask Of The Blue Falcon hits the spot nicely.
It's certainly better than Music of the Vampire.
It's a worthy purchase, and i'd say feel free to stream it on here and buy the disc, you should want this one in your collection.
It's hard to top Camp Scare or Witch's Ghost. .
Camp Scare, Legend Of The Vampire, Zombie Island, Cyber Chase, Alien Invaders, Legend of the Phantosaur, and Witch's Ghost finally have some company in terms of quality. 2013 is starting out right for Scooby after a ho hum last year.
As long as I never see another Arabian Nights, i'll be fine. NEVER spend money on Arabian Nights, it's the one scooby you'd only have for completeness.

Another Great Scooby-Doo movie
I was so excited when I heard about this movie, and it did not disappoint! It was packed full of action and mystery - in the traditional Scooby-Doo kinda of way.
Loved it - has all the Mystery Inc characters and some other ones that have popped up here and there throughout the Scooby shows. We watched the Amazon Instant Video, and already pre-ordered the DVD.

Click to Editorial Reviews

El Moro de Cumpas

Very Funny movie. Beautiful Horses. Lot's of Corridos.
It's one of Antonio Aguilar's best movies. Even the author of the famous "corrido" makes a couple of short appearances. The story takes place in the small Mexican town known as Agua Prieta, home of "El Zaino" who is a regional race horse champion, and in Cumpas, home of the other regional champ known as "El Moro". Both horses start gaining fame as they go through a winning streak that lasts for several months. Several attempts are made to organize a race between the two champions. Negotiations always break off in satirical violence in which people fight with their chickens, sombreros, and mariachi instruments. When the race finally takes place, Agua Prieta is filled with visitors from all over the region, including several towns of the USA. Everybody wants to bet their life savings, their horses, their cows, their houses, and even their sombreros. Even though "El Zaino" or "El Relampago" is a fine thoroughbred horse, some...





Click to Editorial Reviews

Barbie in the Pink Shoes

A Great Barbie Ballerina Movie with Great Classical Music!
My two daughters (ages 3 and 5) really love Barbie. They have plenty of the toys and movies. This is a great new movie that seems to keep their attention very well. My oldest has been doing dance for several years and she was really excited to see this movie. Overall they loved it and it is a great addition to their collection.

This movie is a fantasy style movie where Barbie plays the main ballerina character named Kristyn who is in dance school with big dreams. After ripping her shoes in rehearsal, she has to find a new pair in the costume department. She ends up finding a pair of magical sparkling pink shoes that send Kristyn and her friend Hailey into a ballet world. There they find an evil Snow Queen. The storyline goes that the girls must dance their favorite ballets to defeat the evil queen and find a way home. There is some mild conflict with the Snow Queen, but nothing too upsetting for little ones. The best part about this movie is that your children are...

The return of the 'classical' Barbie.
Barbie is back in 'Barbie in the Pink Shoes', a return to the classic music and storytelling that put the Barbie movies on the map. I love ALL the Barbie movies from Nutcracker to Princess and the Popstar, but like most fans, I far prefer the earlier classics. In this movie, Barbie (as Kristin) and her friend Hailey are magically transported into a living ballet world where they meet characters from Giselle and Swan Lake, confront the wicked Snow Queen and of course, dance. This movie, while providing a good balance of fantasy and humor, has a mature, almost subdued quality all its own. Possibly because the classic music and dance are such a contrast to the newer Barbie movies. Many children have grown up with these movies, and this one seems to have grown up with them. There has been a conscious effort on the part of the filmmakers in recent years to steer Barbie into a more modern rock-n-roll world, but they don't seem to realize that younger audiences tend to follow their own...

Barbie in the Pink Shoes, Perfect for a dancer
I bought this movie for my daughter's Kindle so she could watch it this weekend as we traveled to her dance competition.. She is 9 and loved it!!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events

Very good interpretation of Snickett's superlative books
It's somewhat difficult to review this film. Any adaptation of a book sets certain expectations for those who are seeing the movie - and the most common expectation is that the movie is going to parallel, as accurately as it can, the books.

Does this do that? Yes and no.

The central plot elements of the books are there: the greedy Count Olaf who wants to steal their fortune; the bumbling Mr. Poe who can't seem to understand anything; Uncle Monty, who makes them feel at home for the first time since losing their parents; and their Aunt Josephine, who is afraid of so many things - radiators, ovens, falling refrigerators, and, of course, realtors.

However, the movie moves rather quickly to the second book, skirting swiftly around the first book and inserting a segue that didn't happen in any book to cause the movement. I was puzzled by this. There were other liberties taken, but as I ruminate over them, they seem rather insignificant. The resolution of...

A Wonderful Wonderful Movie!
Alot of people are going to hate me after this, but the worst problem with "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" is Jim Carrey, but I don't think the role of Count Olaf was meant for him. I like Jim Carrey, and I think he's very talented. He proves he can do great comedy, like in "The Mask" and "Bruce Almighty," and he proved that he could great do drama, like "The Truman Show" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," but he is just too big of a star for this movie. He was doing his own thing throughout, and while everybody else was on one level, he was on another, and the two didn't mix very well. I mentioned in my review for "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" that the second half of 2004 has been great visually. "Hero," "House of Flying Daggers," and now "Lemony Snicket" have great things to watch, and I think this movie actually requires a second viewing so you can look around and find all the little visual quirks you might have mixed. Look around the front hall...

Better than I expected!
I have recently seen this movie, and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. It was filled with jokes and laughs, but don't worry, the jokes don't steer away from the story. I was quite doubtful on the fact that Jim Carrey would be playing the part as Count Olaf. Jim Carrey is usually in Comedic Films and I thought that he would not fit this character, because in the books, the count isn't supposed to be funny, but cruel and greedy. But, it turned out fine. In fact, I felt Jim Carrey was a big plus to the movie, and the rest of the cast was picked perfectly. I highly recommend this movie to the fans of the series!( also, you Harry Potter crazies)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Letters From the Big Man

A Beautiful Movie
I love this movie. Beautifully written. Beautiful directed. Beautifully acted. The music is absolutely lovely too. The story really touched me.

This year's must-see, feel-good Bigfoot movie (so far).
If you are a Sasquatch (or just a Sasquatch aficionado), I think you are really going to appreciate this movie.
The creators did a great job of researching and incorporating lore into this film.
I wish more films about Tsi?a'tqWu could be this well made.

Loved it!!!
This was a great movie and well worth the money. I think it portrayed how I like to think of Bigfoot. I only hope they are able to stay hidden from us.

Click to Editorial Reviews

A Thousand Cuts

Just smoke and mirrors!
This movie is long on conversation, acting and drama. To spice things up a bit, the viewer is lead to belive that there will be some violence, torture, gore and even nudity happening soon. If you are hoping to see any of those things in this movie, you will be disappointed. This is more of a slow paced psychological drama centered on the morality of making movies nowdays that are "slasher/torture/porn" type. It is a good movie with good coversations dealing with this subject, but has little action, yet alot of anticipation.

CLIFF NOTES AREN'T BOOKS?
This is NOT a slasher film, it is a psychological thriller/drama. Lance Ross (Michael A. Newcomer) is a shallow Hollywood horror film director/writer who loves his sister. He has made a film franchise known as "A Thousand Cuts" based on an ancient oriental torture technique. As life imitates art, so it was. Oklahoma rube Frank (Michael O'Keefe) had a daughter who was a victim of the technique. He blames Lance and decides to have his revenge.

What I liked about the film was the crisp dialouge during the party. The characters were colorful. Frank, who comes across as a rube, has done his homework as he plans ahead. I expected a twist at the end more complex than what I got, i.e. Frank really being an actor hired by Lance's sister (Olesya Rulin) as that is where it appeared this thing was going and wish they would re-shoot the ending to suit me...but that won't happen.

The film does not contain any real torture scenes. There are glimpses of a torture victim (Madi...

CLIFF NOTES AREN'T BOOKS?
This is NOT a slasher film, it is a psychological thriller/drama. Lance Ross (Michael A. Newcomer) is a shallow Hollywood horror film director/writer who loves his sister. He has made a film franchise known as "A Thousand Cuts" based on an ancient oriental torture technique. As life imitates art, so it was. Oklahoma rube Frank (Michael O'Keefe) had a daughter who was a victim of the technique. He blames Lance and decides to have his revenge.

What I liked about the film was the crisp dialouge during the party. The characters were colorful. Frank, who comes across as a rube, has done his homework as he plans ahead. I expected a twist at the end more complex than what I got, i.e. Frank really being an actor hired by Lance's sister (Olesya Rulin) as that is where it appeared this thing was going and wish they would re-shoot the ending to suit me...but that won't happen.

The film does not contain any real torture scenes. There are glimpses of a torture victim (Madi...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Chariots of the Gods

Ever questioned how we got here?
Chariots of the Gods has changed my life. It has opened my eyes as an inhabitant of this planet. I always wondered about the gap between our ancestors who supposedly had just learned how to refine metals and the Megalithic era. Just as we start to explore the solar system with our own space craft do we begin to appreciate the possibilities of our own beginnings as a species. Only now, in our modern era can we understand with all our advances over the last 50 years or so, how this documentary makes so much sense to the human journey and all our questions regarding our early beginnings as a race. Once you watch it, and then again and again as I did to really absorb some of the singular facts in it, it is impossible to forget, much less the realisation that the way we view our short, finite time on this blue and green ball has changed for ever. Buy it.

A Real Gem and Fun to Watch!
A film that makes you go 'Hmmmm'.

I first saw Chariots of the Gods in a theater as a kid when it was re-released back in the mid Seventies. I remember having trouble going to sleep that night! Since then I have attained a degree in science, and still think that it has much merit.

Sadly, this is a film that few people seem to be able to see anymore, at least I haven't noticed it making the rounds on mainstream television or cable in the last twenty five years or so.

The transfer was excellent and made from a well-preserved print. I noticed few flaws in this thirty-five or so year old film. There is an extra of pictures, but there are only like eight pictures? Why bother? That part was like a carnival sideshow ripoff. Also, the bio on von Daniken is a short text of one page and was not informative at all. There are scene selections and true to their word a movie trailer.

The film is an interesting whirlwind of exotic location shots...

YES!
Eric is a very interesting man to say the least! I know that it may seem as though he RAMBLES on and maybe he does, BUT, it make you THINK! and REALLY is that not the point when all is said and done? I think he is a very interesting person above all else and his work is EXCELLENT!

Click to Editorial Reviews