Monday, September 30, 2013

Extreme Horror 8 Movie Collection



Plastic is Perfect for a Hot Summer Night
Last fall I saw the movie Plastic in Chicago. It's perfect for the summer of 2012 - it's set in the suburbs during a record-breaking heat wave. The story grabs you right away, the horror could be real, and it could take place next door to anyone. It's a movie I couldn't forget. So glad to find it available in DVD.

extreme horror 8 films
good collection films that not published and unknown modern horror...high quality of second degree films..who like thrillers and ugly and gore horror it's good for the general horror shelf

Just plain bad movies.
Before purchasing this I looked up the movie plots. Most if not all looked to be quite interesting (to a horror fan at least). I watched the first two and found them to be pretty dang bad. I wasn't expecting Oscar worthly films but these are even too bad for someone that likes bad movies. Avoid.

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Bill Bellamy: Crazy, Sexy, Dirty



I'M CAT DADDY
Bill Bellamy performs original material. His topics include:

Michael Jackson
Rappers
California
White People News
Dogs
Atlanta strip club
Taking a bath and oral sex

His humor uses the F-bomb, but unlike so many of his counterparts does not rely on it. What Bill failed to do was to "bring it home" with the big laugh at the end. Comedians normally try to end on a big laugh by using earlier material and connecting it to the final laugh.

An Engaging And Amusing Storyteller: Bellamy May Be Older, But He's Still Got Charm To Spare
I really like Bill Bellamy. I'll just get that out of the way. I've watched him develop into a pretty good actor through the years (I can't believe Fastlane was a decade ago), but I haven't seen him do stand-up in a very long time. So I was excited to check out this LOL Comedy Showcase filmed at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Shot before an enthusiastic audience, "Crazy Sexy Dirty" is not as crazy, as sexy, or as dirty as its title might imply--but it is still a thoroughly entertaining hour. Bellamy is no longer a brash young comic, and his performance is flavored with a maturity and a middle-aged viewpoint that works perfectly. This solid set is more about storytelling than about quick one-liners, and Bellamy is an engaging host. His material is not wholly original in concept, but his tales twist around to very unexpected places. One tale of chatroom experimentation has put me off Apple Jacks completely. Thank goodness he stayed away from Sugar Smacks.

Whether he's...

Mad funny
Bill Bellamy is hilarious. Of you need a good laugh this is it. He takes everyday topic and finds the humor in them. If he does a show near my city I'm there.

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How to Have Anal Sex: Insider Porn Star Secrets to Amazing Anal Sex



Honest and informative from someone who knows!
First of all, this isn't porno.

What it is, is more than mere mechanics, mere info.

She tells the straight version of how to have anal sex, man to woman. She also, from a womans point of view, explains how to stay 'turned on' and enjoy it.

She covers std's, condoms, lube, ect., and also ends the talk with the frank admision that it's not for everyone.

Try it, and if you like it, good. But if it doesn't fit, don't force it.

Stupid
I hated this was stupid I found that it was a waste of time did not view all, only saw a few minutes. I feel I would get a lot more or even better information in a book.

Putting me at ease
Excellent material, well presented. Kelsey is clearly very intelligent, informed and experienced. I'm looking forward to sharing the video with my husband. We've tried anal sex before, and I'd like to do more, but the insertion point has been a problem with pain (I enjoys fingers, but hasn't yet enjoyed my hubby's penis). Thanks!

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The Fairy



Craziest movie ever
My wife and I saw this move at the theatre and thought it was the craziest movie ever. It is almost a silent film - a lot of physical comedy - a lot a small clever details - and romance. There are a few times when you are sure what is going to happen next but it doesn't happen. Something else heppens instead.

Enchanting
This is a small pearl of a film - crossing through ballet, wordless acting, strange figures, peculiar storyline, wonderful acting and very memorable. It is full of humour and aesthetics - a different film experience - in a good way. It was like a blind date for me when I went to the movies to see this film - and I was pleasantly surprised. Just sit back and let yourself enjoy - highly recommended.

About the film:
"Dom is a night watchman at a small hotel in Le Havre, France. One night the mysterious Fiona appears, shoeless and without any luggage. She tells him she is a fairy and that he can have three wishes come true. The next day two of them are fulfilled and Fiona has disappeared. But Dom really wants to find her as she has opened a new world to him, a world crowded by fantasy and love."

Hilarious urban fantasy
Fiona Gordon, just to look at, isn't who you might have cast as the fairy. You know, cute, young, ethereal, squeaky clean, pert'n'perky - she's not that. That's OK. Dominique Abel, as the mortal to whom her three wishes are given, isn't much of a Prince Charming character, either. Fiona (in the role of Fiona) and Dom (in the role of Dom) have a wonderful, quirky chemistry, though. Her odd ways of making wishes come true, her penchant for shopping without the bother of payment, and his chronic lack of ambition play off each other nicely, with occasional caroms off the enjoyable supporting characters.

A few surreal moments pop in, like the two dance numbers (one underwater, the other with her rotundly pregnant) give plenty to laugh at, as do the moments and characters in the psych ward. This doesn't have the wacked-out frenzy or continuous patter of some other comedies I've enjoyed. It has a quiet charm all its own, though.

-- wiredweird, reviewing the release to...

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Camelot



"Mark me well - I will tell you, sir!"
Yes, 'Camelot' is a flawed movie, but a MAGICAL one, nonetheless. It is too long, and Franco Nero's dubbed singing voice as 'Lancelot' is laughable, and YET! Yet, we have RICHARD HARRIS, so perfect as the failing King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave, never lovelier than in her role as the torn Guinavere, and David Hemmings, a dastardly 'mod' Mordred reeking havoc on the troubled Kingdom. Franco Nero (dubbing notwithstanding) brings a wonderful comedic touch to Lancelot, and with the sumptious sets and costumes, 'Camelot' really is a BEAUTIFUL film. It has been critisized for having a 'Sixties' feel to it, but the somewhat hippy-ish design just adds to the pleasure; and it REALLY doesn't matter that Richard Harris is wearing WAY to much blue eye-shadow - we're in CAMELOT, for goodness sake! There may very well be a 'legal limit to the snow' there, but when it comes to make-up, no holds are barred! Oh, one can pick a MILLION holes in 'Camelot' - but why bother? It's better just...

It's the Music that Really Counts Here!
In the annals of musical theater, there are more than a few great scores. Among them is Lerner and Loewe's "Camelot" which has more than its share of great songs that shine away from the musical play.

In 1964, Jack Warner produced "My Fair Lady" at Warner Brothers. It was an excellent film, if a bit too cautious. The play was a phenomenon and Jack didn't want anyone mucking about with it. Going to see it was almost as exciting as going to church, even though the film itself was entertaining and beautiful to look at.

Four years later, Warner attempted to do the same thing with "Camelot." In many ways, he failed, but in a couple of others, he outshone "My Fair Lady" and many other fine movie musicals. First, but not foremost, he enlisted the talents of John Truscott to design the film. No medieval tale has ever benefitted from so fine a vision. His sets and costumes are among the finest -- yet most realistic -- ever created. Second, and this is...

If Ever I Would Leave You
In this lavish adaptation of the Broadway musical based on T.H. White's modern classic "The Once and Future King," the music of Frederick Loewe and Lyrics of Alan Jay Lerner weave this story into an intricate tapestry of unforgettable heart-stirring emotions. The emotions are quite overpowering and you almost have to watch this movie three times to fully appreciate the texture and detail of the 45 sets and 3,500 costumes.

Camelot is a timeless romantic drama that takes us to a medieval world that could only be imagined in your most romantic fantasy. The humor is witty, the music is unforgettable and the world of Camelot has castle scenes that are beyond compare. In fact, if you love castles, you will see scenes from dreamy castles in Spain. The Castle of Camelot is modeled after the Castle of Coca. The architectural details in the design are partly Romanesque, Norman, Viking and Gothic. The decorations have a "fantasy" medieval flavor.

The movie is at first...

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Intruders



Creepy.... and I loved it!
I haven't gotten the chills watching a scary movie since I was a kid, and that darned clown from Poltergeist scared the jeebers out of me. The movie did a fine job of scaring, with no blood, faces jumping at the camera, which seems to be the only way Hollywood can think to scare anyone anymore. The tone and pace were perfect, and the girl playing Mia was just brilliant. Clive Owen, as always, was absolutely great and you could see real terror and belief in their faces. Best scary movie Ive seen in quite some time.

"CHILLING TO THE BONE!"
It doesn't take very much for this one to send chills up your spine. All horror lovers will enjoy the thrill ride as faces are jumping about, the hot water Mia gets herself into, not knowing if there's any turning back allowed. The acting performance of Clive Owen is impressive. Be careful and look all around, the air is filled with fear and terror. Scary and Haunting!

Anything but Hollow
Two children in two different countries with one thing in common, every night a weird being with no face comes to take possession of them. Despite this no one can appear to see this being named Hollow Face who does want to be loved but only can cause pain and many other harmful emotions. Hollow Face makes his way to the U.S. where a father named John Farrow (Clive Owen, "Children of Men") must turn back this being when it targets his daughter Mia.

Despite attempts to keep his family and home safe, Hollow Face's continued pursuit forces Farrow to get more desperate to solve the mystery and save his family. Its not a horrid film as far as one that deals with spirits though Mia writing Hollow Face's story and her narration at times early on in the movie is a nice touch.

It does have some creepy elements to it thanks in part to director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later) who directs the U.S. and especially the Spanish speaking parts quite well. Its not really a...

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

High Noon



New High Noon 2-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition due out June 10th, 2008!
Lionsgate has announced a new DVD release of High Noon with new special features. There is what appears to be a reliable report, though unconfirmed, that it will include a new transfer of the film, restored by Paramount. The current and older DVDs are only of average video and audio quality.

This a true classic, combining traditional Western themes with contemporary concerns about popular acquiescence to evil, done in a gripping, unusual (nearly real-time) way, with great actors.

Town marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is caught between his new pacifist Quaker wife Amy (Grace Kelly) and a felt duty to face down evil men coming on the noon train to take revenge on him (and presumably cause whatever other trouble they please). Most of the drama takes place in the lead-up to a climactic battle, as the townspeople choose whether to support Kane with action or to let him stand alone. Amy too must choose between her spouse and her own moral beliefs. The tension...

Masterful filmmaking
"High Noon" is frequently mentioned among the best Westerns and even among the best films ever made. It is rated #33 by the American Film Institute on their top 100 of the 20th century. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including best actor for Gary Cooper, best song and best editing. But, was it really that good? After all, it was a bare bones black and white Western in an age of Technicolor spectaculars.

It was that good and more. "High Noon" was not really a Western as the genre had been defined to that point. It was more of a character study of the human condition. It just happened to be set in the American West. Westerns at that time were action films with white hats and black hats. There were fistfights and gunfights throughout the entire film. They clearly differentiated good guys, on the side of justice and righteousness, from bad guys who spurned laws and sneered at those who obeyed them. The heroes were always noble and fearless, typified...

Cooper Against The Clock
High Noon is a classic tale of a man who is torn between his duty and love. Gary Cooper stars as Will Cain, a sheriff of small town Hadleyville, NM, who has just gotten married to Amy played by Grace Kelly. Amy is a Quaker and in deference to her pacifist beliefs, Will is turning in his badge. But just as the newlyweds are preparing to leave town for a new life, Will learns that a criminal, Frank Miller, he put behind bars is being paroled and arriving in town on the 12 noon train for a showdown. Tension fills the air as the anticipated showdown draws closer. Amy begs for Will to leave with her, but he knows he can't run away. He must stay and defend the town and his honor. Will finds himself alone in the battle as everyone in town, including his deputy sheriff Harvey Pell, played by Lloyd Bridges, have turned away from him. The film is just a little over 80 minutes long and it unfolds in essentially real time on the screen. Director Fred Zinnemann effectively uses clocks to...

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Storage Wars: Volume 3



Sixteen More Episodes From Season Two: About Six Hours For A Half Season Price
Admittedly, I was extremely critical when A&E switched marketing tactics midstream in its releasing of Storage Wars. The first season was released in a full DVD set. But the next release was branded Volume Two and only consisted of the first fourteen episodes of the second season. In truth, though, I have nothing against the idea of volume releases (especially for shows that aren't held together by continuing plot threads) as long as three things are clear:

1) They need to be priced according to content and no more expensive individually than a season set would be.
2) Don't start releasing Full Seasons and then confuse unsuspecting buyers by changing things up.
3) If it isn't a season, all content needs to be disclosed on the DVD packaging so the consumer knows what they are getting!

While Volume Two of Storage Wars disappointed with rule number two, its most egregious error was also disregarding rule number three. Nowhere, in any of the marketing...

Not what I expected
I love the show Storage Wars, but was surprised when I bought "volume 3" only to find that it is really the second half of Season 2! I made the incorrect assumption that Season and Volume would mean the same thing. This review is a warning for others before purchasing.

Awesome
Love this show. Much better on dvd then television. No commercials. Can't wait for more volumes to come out. Great price.

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Jiro Dreams of Sushi



Amazing spirit
This quiet, low-key documentary describes a most amazing man, Jiro. For more than half-a-hundred years, this octagenarian has devoted himself to one thing: perfecting the art of making sushi. His restaurant might not look like much. You pass through a subway turnstile on the way there, then find just ten seats in the cramped space inside. A lot of the time, staff outnumber customers. You need a reservation a month in advance and expect to pay US$375 minimum, but I assume it goes up from there. In return, you get a Michelin three-star experience - according to Michelin, the third star means it's worth visiting the country just to experience that one restaurant.

In some ways, Jiro-san seems a throwback. He expects a ten-year apprenticeship from his students (some of whom last only one day). His ethic resembles a samurai's, in its single-minded, lifelong devotion to perfecting his craft. When he passes the baton, it will be by primogeniture. The younger son will need to make...

Perfect. Just spectacularly good.
This movie is about sushi, but also really not at all about sushi. An 80-something master sushi maker is still at work, striving to make perfect sushi. The wonderful second story line here is: how can children live up to such great parents? How can we come into our own in the shadow of greatness? This theme is beautifully explored in this documentary. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is terrifically moving & inspiring, while also peppered with several really funny moments. The father and son are rich material for this story. Watching this is time well spent.

An exceptional glimpse into the world of sushi
What was attractive about "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" is that it already has this massively positive reputation. That's one of the more exciting aspects of being a critic; stepping outside of what you know, are familiar with, or expect to enjoy to find great films that weren't even on your radar. The title of the film is pretty straightforward about what to expect from the film. The documentary follows Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi restaurant owner. Jiro's restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, is extremely popular, has its fair share of accolades and is extremely well merited, and is known to be one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo; sometimes considered the best by a good portion of his customers. You're shown Jiro's undying devotion to his job as he works with his 50-year-old son Yoshikazu, who is expected to take over the restaurant once his father decides to retire.

Even after watching the film for its 82-minute duration, Jiro is still kind of a mystery. He is completely...

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Acrobat



Very moving.
I thought this program showed the challenges of coping with becoming paralyzed in a very unique way. It was evident this man, Fabrice Champion, had to make an enormous change emotionally as well as physically and mentally , particularly because he was so amazingly invested in using his body as a trapeze artist for so many years. To fly for so many years as he did and then to simply not be able to move even to take a single step must have been like being in a different reality. Many find it difficult to cope with paralysis even with never having known the freedom of flying as a trapeze artist does. This film depicted this man's struggle to cope with such a life-changing experience while at the same time giving the rest of us a glimpse of the courage and strength of spirit it took Fabrice in his attempt to recover some portion of his previous life. One can't help but root for him to establish a life with which he can be happy. By the end, you witness his metamorphosis and you are...





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Thriller Four-Pack (Beyond A Reasonable Doubt / Lies And Illusions / Not Forgotten / The New Daughter)



Four different movies.
The first, Beyond a reasonable doubt was the best and really had a surprise ending. Good cast. Nice to see Orlando Bloom with a bit bigger role again. Lies and Illusions was entertaining. In think I had seen it before but didn't remember any of it till close to the end or it has a some similar scenes at the end to something else I saw years ago. I actually got the set for the Simon Baker movie to see what he was like in a movie and not the TV show The Mentalist. He seemed about the same but the dark aspects of the movie got old very quickly for me. The final movie was really dark a a scary movie more than a thriller. Not for young kids that's for sure. interesting premise. Not something I would normally want to watch.m I had to see it through to the end though to see what happened.





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Futurama: Volume 4



An Unfortunate End to a Great Show
Very little on television could match Futurama. At it's height (seasons 4-8) the Simpsons squeaked a narrow lead in the laughs-per-minute category, but it was also allowed a better chance to grow and mature than Futurama did.

Futurama, quite obviously, takes place in the future. And while it has sci-fi themes and many references to "classic" sci-fi, it's more a show about the pop culture of our time. Pop culture references are mostly endless, and always very, very sharp. One needn't appreciate science fiction in order to adore this show.

This season gives us the following:
- Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch - Not one of the best episodes, but still quite humorous. As the name implies, Kif finds himself pregnant. 6/10

- Leela's Homeworld - Slightly better than the previous episode, this explores Leela's past, and how she came to the orphanage. 7/10
- Love and Rocket - A Bender episode, and a high quality one. Bender woos the new AI in the Planet Expresship. We all...

Robots Rule!
I have never laughed so hard as I have at the Planet Express crew. Matt Groening pokes fun at everything imagineable and it all adds up to absolute hilarity!

You've got a displaced human, a one-eyed alien love interest, a homicidal robot, a scientist boss with a love of sending his crew on hopeless missions... and, of course, I can't leave out Kif, the straight guy to Zapp Brannigan (an even more arrogant send-up of Captain Kirk). In other words, great characters with equally funny storylines. The writing is absolutely brilliant and never underestimates the audience's intelligence.

You just can't go wrong with this set. I have pared down my DVD collection, but couldn't bring myself to part with ANY volume of Futurama. In my opinion, it outshines The Simpsons by far. So do yourself a favor... order all four volumes and sit back and enjoy!

GREAT SHOW
Futurama is a really cool and funny show and any one that's a fan of almost any Fox cartoon show will like this. There are a few Easter eggs (secrets) in this DVD set. I don't know what they are yet but I'll have to buy it to find out.

Here is a list of the episodes in SEASON 4. If it has a * beside it has a commentary included, if it has a - beside it has no commentary.

*Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch (deleted scenes)
*Leela's Homeworld (deleted scenes)
*Love and Rocket (deleted scenes)

*Less Than Hero (deleted scenes)
*A Taste of Freedom (deleted scenes)
-Bender Should Not Be Allowed on TV
-Jurassic Bark
*Crimes of the Hot (deleted scenes)
*Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles (deleted scenes)
*The Why of Fry (deleted scenes)
*Where No Fan Has Gone Before (deleted scenes)
*The Sting (deleted scenes)
*Bend Her (deleted scenes)
*Obsoletely Fabulous (deleted scenes)
*The Farnsworth Parabox (deleted scenes)
*Three...

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Todd Barry: Super Crazy



i loved Medium Energy and Falling of the Bone, but Super Crazy was a miss.
If you're a fan of Todd Barry, then you're no stranger to Todd's delivery style and "gay timing." However, his material in Super Crazy wasn't doing it for me. It's not that you won't laugh at all because it's still Todd and you can't beat his raspy sarcasm. But the jokes didn't go far enough and stayed too linear to get the big laugh. It's all pretty much new material, but i didn't take away the jokes like i did with his classics previous bits such as the Ramada In, i <3 roe vs wade, sisqo's bidet, and Coke vs. Pepsi. Which is ironic because i looove Todd Barry, but i didn't love Super Crazy.

...I can hear it now how Todd might complain about this review on stage, "i was reading the first and only review on amazon for the last special i did, it was 3 stars, and the guy used the phrase "too linear"...

Anyways, if you're a fan you should buy it and support him. If you're new to Todd, i would start with his earlier albums because those are his masterpieces.

Medium energy x4
His first album nailed his approach and this album parodies it with more of the same. I love it and can't get enough of it. He can't write fast enough. It is comforting to know he's such a good actor and equally hilarious.

Todd Fan
I have every Todd Barry CD , DVD and this was the weakest of them all.
Having said that it still had enough laughs and Todd Barry to be a hit.
If you like this you;ll love Todd's other CDs.

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Boss: Season 1



Power, Corruption, And Ruthlessness Define Eight Episodes Of This Epic Adult Soap Opera
The world of Chicago politics takes another savage beating in the sharp and cynical Starz original series "Boss." Really, the city needs to get an expert PR firm on the case immediately! Any TV show or movie that features Chicago invariably paints its city offices as a hotbed of corruption and malfeasance. But that's okay Chi-Town, I won't hold it against you if it keeps producing top notch entertainment like this unexpectedly rewarding drama. In truth, I had absolutely no interest in following Kelsey Grammar into this den of inequity. I think it's fair to say, that while I think he's talented, Grammar is not a particular favorite of mine. But I'm glad I gave the show a shot. After finding the early episodes intriguing, if somewhat unfocused, "Boss" brought all of its disparate plot threads together in almost operatic fashion to provide some of the year's most intense drama. As all the political machinations, plotting, and back-stabbing reached fever pitch proportions--"Boss" grew...

More than just promises
We are now into the fourth episode of this ongoiing new series for television BOSS and while the entire series for the DVD cannot be reviewed as yet, t seems only fitting that the public be alerted to a show that is far above the usual series dramas made for television. It boasts some brilliant writing by Farhad Safinia, who was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1975 and left Iran with his family at the age of four to live in Paris, then London. At King's College, Cambridge, where he studied Economics, he directed and acted in a number of stage productions for the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club and other theatre companies. After graduating, he moved to New York City where he studied film at the New School University and at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His only other screenplay to date is 'Apocalypto' but he clearly is someone to watch. The production company includes Gus Van Sant and star Kelsey Grammer and Mario Van Peebles, and the work of some extraordinary...

Brilliant, Shakespearean
Everything about "Boss" is great. I had no idea that Kelsey Grammer is such a fine actor - he's up there with Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman. I'm from Texas and believe that LBJ was the most ruthless politician to ever claw his way to power. Mayor Cain is just as ruthless. But he has enough good qualities and Grammer is such a nuanced actor that we empathize with him, the same as we did for Vito Corleone in The Godfather. The plot is a Shakespearean tragedy like Macbeth or King Lear, the dialogue, photography, cinematography and the supporting cast is wonderful, especially the actors who play the consigliere Ezra Stone, Cain's wife and daughter. There's a scene in the last episode where Cain is standing in front of a mural that I won't describe so as not to spoil it that shows his true character. There's also a hit man that is scary as hell. If you like intelligent, adult drama like The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, and Breaking Bad, you'll love Boss.

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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen [Blu-ray]



Nice Surprise
The Yemen is a river in the country of Yemen, which occupies the south-western corner of the Arabian Peninsula. As we know, that entire middle-eastern area is hot, dry, and arid. In this Lasse Halstrom-directed dramedy, an oil-billionaire sheik from Yemen owns several estates in Scotland and has developed a fondness for fly fishing. He dreams of a way to bring the sport to his homeland and at the same time encourage his fellow countrymen to upgrade their way of life with an improved water supply.

We loved this cast (mostly) from the UK:
* Emily Blunt ("The Devil Wears Prada") is the first person contacted by the sheik. Her job is to research the practicality of the idea and make a recommendation. To complicate matters, her fiancé is soon reported missing in (military) action in Afghanistan.
* Ewan McGregor ("Beginners") is a mid-level bureaucrat with a touch of Asperger's who loves fly fishing on weekends. When approached about the feasibility of this...

A character-driven human comedy about faith, passion and fishing
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a hard film to categorize. Directed by Lasse Hallström, with a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy adapted from the novel of the same name by Paul Torday, you could nominally call it a romantic comedy, but it's actually far more than that. A character-driven human comedy about faith, passion and fishing comes closer. Add in an absolutely scene-stealing performance by Kristin Scott Thomas as the Prime Minister's take-no-prisoners get-it-done-yesterday! press secretary and you've got Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

The film begins with Dr. Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor), the British government's leading expert on fisheries, receiving an inquiry about the feasibility of introducing salmon fishing to the Yemen. Jones quickly dismisses the possibility, responding that it is simply impossible for salmon - a fish that thrives in cold fresh-water streams found in northern latitudes - to survive in a hot and arid environment like the Yemen. The inquiry, it...

First, shut down your critical faculties.....
If you're going to see this delightful movie, the first thing you need to do is to shut down your critical faculties. Don't ask questions about the state of Ewan McGregor's marriage, or the logic of moving thousands of salmon, or the likelihood of a woman hugging an Arab sheikh in a Muslim country, or the ease with which people travel long distances, and so forth. It doesn't matter because the gentle tone of the movie - even with the satirical edge of Kristin Scott Thomas' extremely obnoxious but funny Assistant to the Prime Minister - just carries you away. It's sweet, it's charming, it's not cloying and it definitely draws you in to the story. This is the first movie I've been in a long time where the character of a Scot is a key plot element. [What was the name of the wonderful one years ago with Peter Resier (?) and Burt Lancaster as Texans looking for oil off the cost of Scotland?] Ewan McGregor gets to use his own Scots accent and is just wonderful and appealing in his...

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The Hearse / Blood of Dracula's Castle (remastered/ the werewolf version)



Love "The Hearse", the other movie terrible!
4 Stars cause the second movie sucked bad. I bought this double movie for "The Hearse", great movie. "Blood Of Dracula's Castle was one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life. Horrible acting, (no joke) and the scary vampire couple? Overly polite, non-threatening, wimpy, etc. I've seen butterflies more scary than this couple. I read the other reviews about the second movie, everyone said it was great. WRONG!

Blood of Dracula's Castle
Good transfer of "Blood of Dracula's Castle," and includes an interesting interview with a member of the production team. Katarina is trying to do the "Elvira" thing, but she does an OK job of making it interesting, and she seemed to at least have watched the movie.

This is the "werewolf version," a little longer than some of the prints that have been bashed around on TV for years.

It's an entertaining 2-AM movie.

"A HEARSE RIDE TO TERROR PLUS A TOUR OF DRAC'S HOUSE!"
Here we go! Dim the lights, dim your mind and allow me to submit to you 2 Chiller Thrillers that offer tricks on your mind in Movie #1 and a Monster Parade in Movie #2! For the price, it's a Double-Feature with more than One Creature! So you have a creepy stalker following a woman in an old dark hearse and Monster Mayhem to follow...Ahhh, it feels like old times and good scares.

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Jiro Dreams of Sushi



Amazing spirit
This quiet, low-key documentary describes a most amazing man, Jiro. For more than half-a-hundred years, this octagenarian has devoted himself to one thing: perfecting the art of making sushi. His restaurant might not look like much. You pass through a subway turnstile on the way there, then find just ten seats in the cramped space inside. A lot of the time, staff outnumber customers. You need a reservation a month in advance and expect to pay US$375 minimum, but I assume it goes up from there. In return, you get a Michelin three-star experience - according to Michelin, the third star means it's worth visiting the country just to experience that one restaurant.

In some ways, Jiro-san seems a throwback. He expects a ten-year apprenticeship from his students (some of whom last only one day). His ethic resembles a samurai's, in its single-minded, lifelong devotion to perfecting his craft. When he passes the baton, it will be by primogeniture. The younger son will need to make...

Perfect. Just spectacularly good.
This movie is about sushi, but also really not at all about sushi. An 80-something master sushi maker is still at work, striving to make perfect sushi. The wonderful second story line here is: how can children live up to such great parents? How can we come into our own in the shadow of greatness? This theme is beautifully explored in this documentary. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is terrifically moving & inspiring, while also peppered with several really funny moments. The father and son are rich material for this story. Watching this is time well spent.

An exceptional glimpse into the world of sushi
What was attractive about "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" is that it already has this massively positive reputation. That's one of the more exciting aspects of being a critic; stepping outside of what you know, are familiar with, or expect to enjoy to find great films that weren't even on your radar. The title of the film is pretty straightforward about what to expect from the film. The documentary follows Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi restaurant owner. Jiro's restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, is extremely popular, has its fair share of accolades and is extremely well merited, and is known to be one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo; sometimes considered the best by a good portion of his customers. You're shown Jiro's undying devotion to his job as he works with his 50-year-old son Yoshikazu, who is expected to take over the restaurant once his father decides to retire.

Even after watching the film for its 82-minute duration, Jiro is still kind of a mystery. He is completely...

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Masterpiece Mystery: Endeavour



An inspiring prequel to the classic Inspector Morse series
This single 98 minute DVD plots out Morse's early police career as a young rookie detective on assignment to Oxford in 1965 tacking his first big case searching for a missing 15-year old girl .
Shaun Evans does a superb job, in what must have been a tough role to cast, following in the late John Thaw's classic role. Overall the acting is excellent, with Roger Allam playing an especially good supporting role as Inspector Fred Thursday.
The production team certainly achieved the feel of the old Inspector Morse series, with sweeping shots of Oxford colleges and the local surrounding area. This is an excellent stand alone British drama, but for those Inspector Morse aficionados there are many references to his future character that we see being developed, including a particularly poignant ending.
Endeavour [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - United Kingdom ]

Great prequel!
I just finished watching this video and was stunned at how wonderful it was. Having watched all of the Morse videos and being a big fan of them, I was sure I was going to find that Endeavour was "different" or not up to the standards set by the original videos.
Endeavour has the same complex plotting, the same haunted characters, the same flavor, the same bureaucratic conflicts with other police personnel, and even more continuations from the originals. It is apparent that they deliberately worked very hard to retain the true ambiance of the Morse videos.
The actor playing the young Morse I was prepared to not like but came away thoroughly impressed by how well he captured the character that was well-established by John Thaw. It was a hard act to follow but he did it impressively well. By the end you just knew you were watching the young Morse and it was a joy. You even see the Jaguar at the car dealer and you just know he is going to go back and buy it and drive it for the...

More Please
A first rate production and a good beginning to the Morse "saga", which still continues now with the "Lewis" series. (If young Mr. Fox continues as he has so far, may we be treated to a further continuation of the Morse story after "Lewis"?) The producers have caught the essence of Morse in this initial (I hope) episode of the story of his early life as a detective. The lead actor's appearance is a jolt at first but by the end of the show one forgets that initial experience and sees the young Endeavour Morse as "Morse", and not just in the rear view mirror. Well done!

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Great Women of Islam



great story telling
It was my daughter's request - she is 7- to purchase this DVD. She had the other DVD about Islam & the prophet Mohammed( صلى الله عليه وسلم ) and she needed the other group of DVD's. the delivery took two days from the order time- great- and the story itself is true story of Nusaiba & Asmaa. she liked it & also I purchased Salman al Farisi DVD... not opened yet.

The great women of islam
Beyond my expectation! Every house must have it! My family would love to watch it again and again. since it arrived we have watched it many times.

Short but inspiring!
My children love this movie. I only wish it had of been longer than 30 minutes. I felt it was too short and more footage should have been shown on the many many other great women in Islam. I hope they will remake this or add to the series.

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Otoboku: Classic Collection



Great series but discs are a bit buggy.
I really enjoyed this series. One of the best romantic comedies/harem animes I have seen in a long time. If you don't mind a bit of trap/cross-dressing/gender-bending I highly recommend this series.

The down side is though that the subtitles have to be turned on manually on each disc and on disc 3 the everything in the trailers menu doesnt highlight properly so you can't tell which trailer you are selecting.

But as long as you have a subtitle button on your DVD remote and you don't care for trailers too much you should be just fine

Packaging review
Overall a good anime, but i'm not so pleased about this set.... first is that the inside of the case where the discs are housed is extremely thin & they can barely be held in place. Second are the discs themselves & probably why this set only cost me $9, they are so CHEAP! All they did was just slap a plain white sticker with some black text over it, that's it. It's quite sad because i've seen bootleg's that look more convincing and this isn't a bootleg release.

Good anime for a good price, but not so good packaging.

A break from the anime routine
This is one of the few animes series without the bad guys continually getting off of torturing their victims. The humor is light, but picks up a lot in the last chapter, a fairy tales parody. The central character, Mizuho, has very high standards and develops high confidence without becoming arrogant or aggressive, the ideal of the Eastern ideals and values, so soothing...which are not quite commercial.
No wonder why this series didn't make here in the West. Even in the East plenty of the public enjoys quite the opposite characters. At least it fared better in Japan where they recently released the second season with new characters.

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Joint Body



a must-see for Mark Pellegrino fans
A slow-paced slice of life drama, "Joint Body" is the sad tale of Nick Burke,
a man who just can't seem to stay on the right side of the law.

Newly-paroled and forbidden from contacting his ex-wife and daughter, Nick tries to move on with his life,
only to risk everything during an impulsive decision to help Michelle,
a troubled younger woman who seems just as jaded and desperate as Nick himself.

Daunted by the prospect of returning to prison, Nick sets out to escape with the ambivalent Michelle,
who hasn't decided for herself yet if she either wants or deserves to be saved by Nick.
Only after a heartbreaking final attempt to see his daughter do we realize just how he may enact that escape,
for as Nick puts it, he was always guilty of "taking the easy way out."

Alicia Witt gives a convincing performance as the skittish and bitter Michelle,
and the ex-con Nick would most likely be less sympathetic in the hands of...

Really entertaining and well acted independent Thriller!
Enjoyed this well crafted movie with wonderful performances by the whole cast -- especially Mark Pellegrino, Alicia Witt, and Tom Guiry. Engaging dramatic thriller for an adult audience. This movie is definitely worth checking out! Would agree #JointBody is a winner.



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Hunt to Kill / The Stranger (Steve Austin Double Feature) [Blu-ray]



Steve Austin at His best
This is a double feature movie and let me tell you I love Steve Austin. To me his movies are right up there with the Rock,& John Cenna. His premire movie was Condemed. Now he he is the Star.





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Footnote



outstanding Israeli character study and family drama
"Footnote" (107 min.) is a 2011 movie out of Israel. It brings the rather complicated but intruiging story of a father and son who both are scholars and researchers at the Talmud Department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. As it happens, the son is actually more successful and the movie starts out with the son's acceptance speech upon getting elected into the Israeli Academy of Science and Humanities. Remarkably, we don't actually see the son but instead the camera focuses the entire sequence (probably 3-4 min.) only on the father, who seemingly is shell-shocked and/or confused and/or resentful at the ever-growing successes of his son. Then, about 30 min. into the movie, the father gets the call from the Israeli Department of Education that he'd been waiting to get for 20 years: he's been chosen to receive the prestigious Israeli Prize. Happiness turns to potential disaster when the son gets called by the Israeli Prize Committee the very next day with the bombshell that due to a...

Role Reversal and Time Lapse
FOOTNOTE is an appropriately titled sparklingly intelligent and entertaining film written and directed by Joseph Cedar. With a small cast and a focused story this little film form Israel is not only a pleasure to watch as a story performed as shared by brilliant actors, but it is also one of the most visually artistic and creative venture of cinematography to be on the small screen in a long time: the genius cinematographer is Yaron Scharf. Add to this a musical score that enhances every moment of the story - courtesy of composer Amit Poznansky - and the film simply succeeds on every level.

In a most ingenious way we are introduced to the two main characters - father and son, both professors in the Talmud department of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The film opens on the confused and somewhat unattached facial expression of the seated father Eliezer Shkolnik (Shlomo Bar Aba) as he listens to his ebullient son Uriel Shkolnik (Lior Ashkenazi) being inducted into the...

Very fine film - only flaw is an unsatisfying ending
This bittersweet comedy from Israeli is set in the rarefied world of academia and is a fine, interesting movie about the bitter relationship between a father and a son who both happen to be Talmudic scholars working at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and how their rivalry finally overcomes their filial obligations.

Eliezer Shkolnik (a terrific performance by Shlomo Bar Aba) is the father, and he seems a personification of male old age grumpiness. He looks at the at the rest of his colleagues with an insufferable air of intellectual superiority, and believes he hasn't been recognized to the extent that he deserves, yet the movie hints he is a bit of a fraud himself, his main claim to academic fame is having been thanked in a footnote in a book by a famous Talmudic authority. The more successful Uriel (Lior Ashkenazi, who usually plays young macho men, but here plays a middle aged academic against type), is the son. The film lampoons him for being a lightweight scholar and...

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Life [Blu-ray]



A serious movie that also happens to be pretty funny
Yes, this movie has plenty of funny moments, but there is a very real and sometimes rather touching story that takes precedence over everything that happens. You can't get through the most serious of situations without the palliative of laughter now and again, and Life actually does tell a serious story. Eddie Murphy proves once again that he is a great actor, and Martin Lawrence was surprisingly good as the more serious of two men sentenced to life in prison for a murder they didn't commit. One night in 1932, fate brought Rayford Gibson (Murphy), a smooth-talking hustler with big dreams, and Claude Banks (Lawrence) a respectable fellow about to start a good job, together in a New York nightclub. For entirely different reasons, both guys have to face the displeasure of the club owner's wrath; and so it is that Gibson and Banks end up going on a bootlegging run to Mississippi. One dead man later, and both men are sentenced to life in prison for murder. Since Banks blames Gibson...

One of the very best comedies of '99
I've seen "Life" twice thus far, and I must concede that it has to be one of the best films to ever cast Eddie Murphy. He and Martin Lawrence are just as emotionally poignant as they are downright hysterical in this memorable comedy/drama of two Prohibition-era guys from Harlem NYC who inadvertently become framed for murder in the Deep South while on a bootlegging run for the local crime boss they each owe debts to back home. They are soon enough sentenced to life imprisonment in a Mississippi chain gang where they share a "Felix and Oscar"-esque relationship that spans 65 years through thick and thin times (including numerous escape attempts). However in the end, they literally become friends for life as they come to terms with their imprisonment. The make-up done by 6-time Oscar winner Rick Baker to transform Murphy & Lawrence from young to old over the course of so many years is the true showstopper of "Life". I wouldn't be the...

DON'T LISTEN TO THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS...TRUST ME!!!
If you're expecting a staight-up comedy movie, then you probably will be disappointed. This movie mixes drama and comedy in the most perfect way. Anyone that says this movie is not good, obviously missed the whole point of the movie. The movie takes place during the 1930's...the set and costumes were great. I feel that the chemistry between Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence was superb. Kudos to Rick James as his roll of 'Spanky'...he played the role well.

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Calling Wild Bill Elliott/Bordertown Gun Fighters



One of my favorites.
Anything Wild Bill is in is super and top rated for me. He is such a great actor and I love the old westerns. Guess I am just old myself but this is one of those that even my teenage grandsons have enjoyed with us. Good time movie.





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Genetic Chile



Very interesting
It was an eye opener. I did not know GM products were mostly made to make money for big agri-business. I though GM foods were to produce better crops.

Roulette, Inc.
If you believe Big Business and Big Government don't get along, as the Conservatives (?) and the Liberals (?) would have you suspect, you might want to view this film. It deals with GMO, the modified foods that are being foisted off on us whether we want it or not, sans labeling, and hand in glove with both sides of the Hall. Is this "progress", or it something else?

Without getting up too high on my soapbox, I'll just recommend (highly) this no-nonsense documentary to anyone interested/ concerned about our future food system, the future of small American farmers, and the future of our Health Care system that might be more closely linked right now than we suspect.



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The Island of Dr. Moreau (Unrated Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]



Tragically underrated
I can't stress enough how important it is for anyone considering seeing this movie to ignore the heaps of negative reviews here. Most justify their opinions by calling this film strange, grotesque, or both. Both are fitting, but there's alot more to this film than that, and those two things in themselves are not necessarily reason to dislike a film. Quite the contrary, when Hollywood is so overrun with unchallenging, unoriginal fodder.

I could praise the movie on any number of levels. Every actor here carries his or her eccentric role with a perfectly tasteful care not to go over the top or become too cartoonish. The dialogue is free of fluff and carries quite an element of eloquence, which is fitting when considering the overall dramatic intent. On a more basic level, the creature effects used on the half human, half animal hybrid creations inhabiting Moreau's Island are handled by none other than Stan Winston and done very well, and the soundtrack is appropriately eerie,...

Col. Kurtz IF he had survived "Apocalypse Now"
Ever wonder where Col. Kurtz would've ended up if he had survived the end of "Apocalypse Now"? Well, now we know: He exiled himself to a deserted island to create humanimals -- the horror, the horror.

In light of all the bad press one would really think this is a lousy movie. And I can see WHY some people don't like it, the main portion of the flick is really INSANE. However, if you're a sucker for lost-on-an-island type yarns and appreciate the heavy mood & insanity of "Apocalypse Now," you'll probably like it. I'm not saying it's anywhere near as great as "Apocalypse Now" but Marlon Brando and the jungle insanity make the comparison inevitable.

WHAT WORKS: The title sequence is great, perhaps one of the best in all of cinema (another Amazon reviewer noted this, so I'm not alone); the soundtrack is phenomenal ('nuff said); the plot is intriguing; the humanimal make-up is fine ('Hyena' looks especially horrific); the film possesses an undeniable creative pizzazz...

The line between animal and man has been evolutionized.
An ocean plane wrecked diplomat (David Thewlis) is rescued and brought to an island inhabited by a Nobel winning now reclusive scientist (Marlon Brando) and his children; the animals he has been genetically manipulating with human DNA in an attempt to create his vision of a pure species.

When this film opened it was panned by the critics. I was never sure why. It opens strong, both visually and musically. The locale is beautifully claustrophobic, appropriate for a secluded tropical island. Stan Winston's creature make up is excellent. The body language of the "humanimals" is very interesting. The underlying commentaries on the savagery of society and the morality of biological scientific experimentation are intact. Performances are excellent (Brando makes a daring, and critics said poor, choice in his interpretation of Moreau in that he plays him like an effete, physically feeble, unbelievably polite British University English Professor, more eccentrically insane instead of...

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The Last of England (Remastered Edition)



(3.5 stars) "The Last of England" is cinema that is meant to be experienced but it may not be for everyone...
During the 1980′s, there was a prevailing sense of anti-Thatcher that was permeating through youth culture but also among adults who have had enough of what England was becoming.

From the music of the Clash to The Smiths, to the punk music of the Sex Pistols, there was a feeling that England has gone awry and chaotic.

For filmmaker Derek Jarman, he was a man who felt that English culture was dying and he has had his feelings of the descent of English cultures as early as the 1970′s. An experimental filmmaker who wanted to inject a synergy to art cinema but also to use his films as a platform to show his fight for gay rights and homosexuality, his personal disdain towards English culture was the subject of his films.

From his 1978 film "Jubilee" featuring Queen Elizabeth I of England being transported to a wasteland, Jarman created the first punk movie. But through the '80s, Jarman felt that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was hurting...

The Last Of England
Seen this before many many times before so it's not new at all, not even close. I would have like more Voice Over, but that wasn't happening after 10 minutes. The overall theme is sell indulgent and boring. I waited four so long for Tilda, and then her talent is wasted in this film. I love creative art films, but this just one didn't work. Plus why do I have light up a joint, or be on acid, or whatever just to come up with some idea WTF this director is trying to say.



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Butterfly



SCARY!!!
I love scary movies and this one kept me on the edge of my seat...with a rapidly beating heart!!!
Don't watch this alone...unless you're brave!!!
Excellent direction, acting, cinematography plus an awesome soundtrack featuring the band Jed's Dead!
Perfect for my upcoming Halloween party!!

BUTTERFLY
I loved the DVD. The behind the scenes "extra feature" was especially fun. Mandi Kreischer and Jay Laisne are both fantastic in this film. Eileen Dietz, Ron Rogge and Garrett Penwell all give stellar performances as well.

Not a horror flick fan, but I loved this movie!
Excellent independent film! I am not a horror film fan; yet I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. This may be a work of fiction; however, it is very plausible to see this plot line explode on the six o'clock news one day.

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Friday, September 27, 2013

Kunoichi



Soso
The action is decent with good fight choreography. Rina is hot. However, it lasts about 1 hour and ends abruptly as if there's a sequel I'm not aware of...

Kunoichi
I am a big fan of Rina Takeda,and this was a fun film, though too short, and needed more action. But my friends and I did enjoy the film and hope Rina will get better film roles,she is very talented. So if you are a fan of her, then this is for you.

good movie
rina takeda is beautiful and deadly in this just great like the other movies with her in them just beautiful

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Salman The Persian



Description is misleading
The description listed on Amazon is misleading. It seems to be confusing two different people: Salman the Persian, who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); and the Prophet Solomon, who was a king of the Israelites. The subtitle on the box art looks correct from what I can tell. I haven't been able to watch the video yet. Hopefully the content is correct, and the only issue is the Amazon description.

Quality animations
Very good animation with Hollywood standards. We need more animations like this. Thanks to Fine Media and its sponsors. These films need to be advertised.

Daughter loved it.
Short film but very good and nicely done. My daughter really enjoyed the movie. She gives it five stars for a movie.

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Dark Measures: Gang Warfare



k7
The main character is awesome. Shes what all gals hope they would be like if confronted with the same situation...brave, & surprisingly capable, & ridiculously good looking. Great flick.

shane
Recently I have seen a few indie movies that production values are just at another level. Really good to see movies like this pushing the envelope. Going to watch it again soon.

Beat down central
I really dig action movies and this is definitely a good one. Hot chick to boot. Can't go wrong there. Check it out you won't regret it.

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Theatre Of The Deranged



Cool indie horror anthology
This is a really excellent low budget compilation that is really quite good. If you want to see the cream of indie horror this is your ticket to a good time.

Today's best indie filmmakers deliver!
This is an awesome collection of tales from some of today's top upcoming indie filmmakers, the Adam greens & Tim Sullivans of the future are right here, with the comeback of the Great Horror anthology with films like Nightmare Alley & Chillerama, Scarlet Fry's Junkfood Horrorfest & Theatre of bizarre, this is one of the better ones i've seen in a long time, I cant wait to get my hands on the official DVD. Features Shawn C. Phillips. Also check out Treasure Chest of Horrors which is another awesome anthology that coming in june from the same producers. These are not films you want to miss especially if you love stuff like Trick or Treat, The Basement, Creepshow, Its got all the Gore, Horror & Humor you could ever want. A+

k7
A complete work of art! Good indie horror compilations like this are hard to come by. So glad I found this one! It's everything you'd hope for in a campy good times horror flick, and I loved the host!

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Atom Nine



A fine film that's lots of fun !
I like to support independent film makers and low budget films. Sometimes on rare occasions I come across one that's pretty darn good. Too often they're laughably bad. Still I suppose even those can be worth my time for a good laugh. This film was a rarity, it's VERY good, and a perfect example of what can be done with a small amount of money combined with a large amount of talent. Big film makers can learn a lesson from films like this one. What they spend on a making a film is almost obscene. According to the IMDB the estimated budget on this was $20,000. I'm guessing many films spend more than that much on food catering or perks for the pampered stars. The man responsible for this gem is Christopher Farley. His name seems to be everywhere in the credits. He wrote it, he directed it; he did the visual effects, produced it and even played the lead character Atom Nine for crying out loud! He probably even did other jobs I missed. Even some family members were extras based on...

Suprise!
This movie was a very independent project and was done surprisingly well. It was entertaining even if a bit corny. I would recommend it for the comic book lover.

A Well Done B Movie
Well written, good dialogue, well-acted. Of course, the special effects were not top-notch. Too costly, I'm sure. A few errors related to the physics of the effects, but overall a very satisfying movie. Would love to see a sequel.

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Big News



Rare, early Carole Lombard film
BIG NEWS is a 1929 sound film starring Robert Armstrong as a drunken newspaper reporter caught up in big city crime and corruption. The film itself is no great shakes, but the real reason to watch this DVD is to see a very young Carole Lombard. Lombard plays Armstrong's supportive, put-upon wife.It's not much of a role, but Lombard does a decent job. However, she is far from the mid 30's Lombard that most movie fans are familiar with. This film is so early in Lombard's career that she is billed as "Carol" instead of "Carole". Lombard developed an interest in numerology and added an e to her first name soon after this film.
As for Alpha Video's DVD---the print is pretty bad. The framing is not very good--there are several scenes where the top of the characters' heads are cut off! The DVD clocks in at 66 minutes. I have a book on Lombard which lists the film's running time as 75 minutes. Having only seen the film on this DVD, it's hard to say if this is a complete version or not...

"Big News" = Big Disappointment
I was really looking forward to watching this 1929 early talkie starring a very young Carole Lombard. However, I could only get through the first thirty minutes of the film before I had to give up and stop the DVD. The movie itself was okay, but the transfer was terrible.

The whole time that I watched the film, most of the actors' heads were cut off at the shoulders. This went on scene after scene. Talk about bad framing of the picture that appears on your TV screen. Come on, Alpha, you can do better than this.

There are lots of B-movie and Poverty Row movie fans who depend on Alpha for its vast catalog of quirky, obscure, and mostly public domain titles in many different genres. Alpha does a great job with its colorful and well-designed DVD cases. So how about putting that same amount of time and effort into the picture and sound quality of the movie that's inside the case.

Is it really big news?
A little slow, but still interesting. Mobsters and newsroom action that you have to follow through to the end. There are some interesting characters along the way too, especially the guy from the DA's office. I think this is Carol's 2nd major movie role, so she is quite young.

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Goldberg - P.I.



it was ok, goofy
It wasn't laughing funny. The acting was good, and so was the set and camera work but the story/writer were lacking. It wasn't boring but I won't bother to watch it again

A bit of fun
Some silliness to make you laugh. Typical Jackie Mason humour. Cameo by Davy Jones (his last appearance on film). He always did a hilarious Jackie Mason impersonation during his stage shows, so it's a real treat to see him in this movie. Ride on Cowboy!

the movie
The monie was ok. The only reason I bought it because it was the last movie Davy Jones was in.And like al;ways even the small part he was in ,He was great.

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Seven Hills of Rome



Bella Roma, si', but what about a decent story?
I'm probably being a little generous in giving this film three stars. After all, it's undoubtedly Mario Lanza's weakest movie effort. The fault isn't his, but rather the meandering script and lack-lustre direction. To make matters worse, there is very little in the way of substance for Lanza to sing. Still, there are a few compensations along the way...

Lanza's previous film, the much underrated Serenade, was a poor performer at the box office in 1956. Nervous producers decided that Lanza's next movie should shift the emphasis away from the drama and solid operatic selections to a much lighter presentation of the popular tenor. Unfortunately they went too far, reducing Lanza to just one aria (Questa O Quella from Rigoletto) and a fragment of another. Instead of his usual role as an opera singer, Lanza is merely a TV/nightclub performer this time, and his selections include the pretty Arrivederci, Roma and a handful of largely forgettable popular ballads. Ironically, the biggest...

a great Mario Lanza film.
'Seven Hills of Rome," was Mario's later film but great as well. It's beautiful locate din Rome and Mario sings a lovely repitore of songs. It's romantic funny, and will really hold your interest. A must for all Mario fans.

Could Have Been Better
I have watched this and the other Lanza films many times over the years. The question that keeps arising whenever I view "Seven Hills of Rome" is, why isn't it better? When it first came out, I was in 8th grade, and I remember a review in Highlight, a magazine for kids. The review was glowing, recommending it for all audiences as a family film with gorgeous footage of Rome and a wonderful story. Well, it is an absolute gem of a travelogue presenting (especially in its wide screen version) a panorama of all things Roman in 1958...from a helicopter.

I saw the film with my Dad in its first release in Philadelphia, Mario's home town, and the theater was packed. People responded favorably throughout the flick. The famed imitation sequence was especially appreciated with much laughter and applause. Mario has his vocal exercises interrupted by a bunch of (Italian) teens jitterbugging out on the patio. He steps onto his balcony to see what the din is all about. The kids ask, "You...

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Indie Game The Movie



Interesting Movie
Not being a "GAMER" is probably a good thing when watching this movie. I never knew what it took to develop a video game. I'm a bit of a "Old Head" so I don't react to games like the younger generations. As far as the movie goes, I liked it. It was informative and funny. I thought the characters were sincere and quirky. I always like a movie where the little guys win.

Fun movie showing the trials of do-it-yourself videogame making
I really enjoyed watching this movie. Also being a child of the 80's it really helped me understand their passion to continue to push through developing these games even though they were almost broke and their social lives became non-existent. I believe that someone who is not from that generation or not a gamer will still find it interesting to see how much work goes into creating the games especially when only one or two people are involved.

These guys really think they have it bad
I should first mention that I do like some indie games, primarily "Journey", "Limbo", "Alien Hominid", and "Castle Crashers". Unfortunately, nobody who worked on any of those games is in this documentary.

It was hard for me to find a person in this movie with whom I could empathize. The one guy who had redeeming qualities was the developer who was working on "Super Meat Boy", and he seemed to be genuinely grateful for the opportunity to pursue his life's passion of creating a game. He was the ONLY person in the movie who was happy at any time... the others were consumed by narcissism, intolerance, insecurity, delusions of paranoia, and delusions of grandeur. They were determined to project an image of being miserable, no matter what happened. At first, they claimed misery due to the lack of opportunities that were made available to their vision. Then, once they were given that (enormous) opportunity by Microsoft (for the Xbox platform), they proceeded to complain about how...

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Project A [Blu-ray]



Project D
In my opinion the original Chinese language version of Project A is one of Jackie Chan's best films. A film full of great stunts and some of the best fight scenes of any Jackie Chan movie. This version however is extremely poor. I was very excited when I saw this release in the video store on DVD. I have a subtilted video tape and I have been waiting for it's release on DVD. However I became leary when I recalled the recent release of Jet Li's Fist of Legend and other recent English dubbed Hong Kong action movies like Iron Monkey, Police Story 1 and 2 and Black Mask. It seems to me that the people involved in these re-releases have no respect for these great movies. It many cases, especially Jackie Chan's movies, scenes are edited out, the original score is replaced by inferior music, profanity is added and the English duubed voices are just horrible and at times downright goofy. The English language versions are so inferior to ther originals that it is not even...

Great Movie - The DVD is a Disaster!!
First of all, I love the original Project A, which I have seen in full on our local Multinational TV Channel (with great subtitling I might add - SBS do a great job). The two stars are for the DVD. If you want the real Project A, then don't get this DVD. I thought Jackie dubbed it, the main reason I bought it - but after seeing Legend of Drunken Master (which he did dub) I have my doubts. The voice sounds very fake. All the rest of the actors are obvious dubs. Some scenes have been cut - especially the scene in the Mah Jhong parlour introducing Sammo Hung. They cut the shower scene and other bits when the marine police are in training, as well as other bits and pieces. Picture quality is superb - the only bonus. The music is awful, doesn't keep pace with the action at all and is totally different to the original. All in all, a disappointment, especially when I have to order from overseas, which costs a fair bit. This DVD is in my JC collection, but I much prefer my video...

Great Movie, subtitles option missing
First off this movie is great, it is truly one of Jackie Chan's classics. The stunts and action scenes are fantastic, and the plot moves along nicely. The DVD is good for the most part, the picture and sound are both good.

But one negative side is the lack of subtitle and language options. With a movie like this it would be nice to be able to turn off the english dubbing and instead have the original chinese soundtrack with english subtitles. But this option is not presented, which really annoys me when you consider the fact that it could have been easily put on the DVD. The english dubbing isn't bad (Jackie Chan does his own voice, and i believe Samo Hung does too). But sometimes the orginal chinese soundtrack can make the movie seem more legitimate and less cheesy, and i like to have the option.

But all in all this really is own of Jackie's finest movies. Samo Hung is very good as well. I took off one star just for the lack of subtitle options, but that isn't the end of the...

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Gypsy Vanner Horse



Enjoyable horse documentary
This is a well made documentary about a rare horse breed. It is a lift to the spirit to see these animals in action. One of the better parts of this film shows an owner washing and cleaning up the massive feathering, mane, and tail hair on the horse. The horses are beautiful and have a great personality but they do require a good deal of maintenance to keep fit. We also get a little history on the animal and see it in its native Ireland. A really fun forty minute film for anyone who loves equines.

Beautiful animals
I had never heard of this breed of horses before. For anyone even mildly interested in horses this is a must see!

I learned a lot!
I love horses but had never heard of this breed, theGypsy Vanner. They are breathtakingly beautiful. I am so glad I watched this program.

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Alien Zombie Invasion



Zombie sex makes it worth the rental.
This movie was made pretty well. It looked great and the sound was good. Good zombie make up also. There are father and son characters that are really fun but then there are four d-bag campers who are very annoying. I wish the movie would have been 20 minutes shorter and cut the campers out completely. What really makes this movie shine though is the hot zombie sex scene. Rent this movie just for that!!

don't say I didn't warn you
I don't know what movie the other reviewers watched, but this was a horrible movie. A waste of $1.99- "I could've had a V8".

good movie
awsomeness thats all i have to say.. the zombie ith the texas hat is my favorite. oh and the girl with the tattoos.

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Patriocracy



Wonderful Nonpartisan look at politics and media
I teach Media Literacy and it is incredibly hard to find current, nonpartisan films to use in my classroom. This film was exactly what I needed to support discussion on the current state of politics and how it is portayed in the media.

Fantastic!
Finally , a political documentary that has the refreshing air of balance. My hobby is watching political documentaries and this is the most fair and intelligent one I've ever seen.

Bandaids
I enjoy their message: that partisanship isn't benefiting us. I disagree with their methods. The first thing they did was explain that watching political commentary (they use Sean Hannity and Kieth Olbermann as examples) is dividing the nation; creating "hyper partisans." They accuse such commentators of "fear mongering" and "using fear to create division." I wish I could make this stuff up, but they follow that segment with the inevitable doom and destruction that awaits us all if we don't do as they say. They then pontificate at length on the current political climate (apparently their political commentary isn't to be feared). Their discussion of Citizens United should make anyone familiar with the decision cringe. Their analysis and conclusions are nothing short of outright distortions. After discussing how "labels" are the problem they discuss how the "far right" and the "far left" (both labels) are the real problem. They present this "center" that can and will solve all problems...

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Busty Bookworm Babes



Cute Women Display Themselves - After a Sexy Strip Tease
The "Busty Bookworm Babes" features EIGHT amateur actresses in SEVEN scenes. They appear SOLO and in character in SIX of `em. And TWO of them make out in the SEVENTH interlude.

Here are the six sultry solo roles they play: an Executive, Librarian, Grad Student, Nerd, Teacher and Secretary. Two of them assume the persona of a Boss and her Assistant, and they make out together in the shower - as all assistants do with their bosses, right?

All of the women start out fully or partially clothed. Then they do a sexy strip tease - and they ALL end up totally nude. Sometimes the camera rewards us with a nice all over view. Many start off wearing glasses, hence the "Bookworm" title. How many? To be quite honest,I really didn't notice. That wasn't where my attention was focused.

All of the women play roles that you might encounter through the course of your daily life. If you've ever tried to undress them with your eyes, then this movie makes it...

not worth it
not worth it, didnt keep my intrested . aaaaaaaaaaand was not worth it at all.
only 1 woman had the busty brest that it speeks of.
the rest were B & C cup women.



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Hard to Kill [Blu-ray]



Worth seeing...and you can take that to the bank
This movie is worth seeing for five reasons:

1) Emotional storyline. Kill a guy's family, put him in prison, and you've got the making of a high-octane story. Yes, maybe it's not CASABLANCA but it taps into our deepest emotions and desires. Including trying to get your son back.

2) Martial arts. Love the sequence where Steven Seagal is training. Very Eastern. Very authentic.

3) William Sadler as Senator Vernon Trent. Hollywood's most underrated character actor and villain turns in an understated performance. Very smooth and slick.

4) Seagal's romance. Yes, it's cheesy, but I'm a chick. Sue me.

5) The hot tub scene with Sadler. Again, sue me.

Bone Crunching action
Being a huge fan of action films, it's hard to critique them because this genre of movie making has one purpose...to give viewers an escape from reality and a sense of enjoyment in seeing scumbags and criminals get what they don't get in the real world: The sh-- kicked out of them. For this reason, I rate films of this nature on production values and good action and effects, not necessarily the script or character definition. Most of Steven Seagal's films are better-than-average and this one rates near the top because the action is top-notch and the choreography of the hand-to-hand scenes is truly believable. His aikido skills are remarkable. There's even a little pathos and some humor thrown in to give viewers a little more than just bone-breaking fun. This is a good movie if you remember not to take it too seriously and just have fun and watch the bad guys get theirs in painful quantities.

Steve At His Finest!
This was definitely one of Steven Segal's finest films. Playing the role of a policeman Segal video tapes a crooked politician striking a deal with underworld elements. This causes hired killers to invade his home. This invasion causes the death of his wife and places our hero in a 7 year coma. His son is raised by a fellow policeman. Segal comes out of his coma and narrowily escapes being killed again. The pretty nurse takes him to an isolated retreat where he regains his health. The crooked politician has now become a U.S. Senator. Through the efforts of our hero the politician is brought down and our hero gains revenge. This is a must see video.

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The Blood Beast Terror (Remastered Edition) [Blu-ray]



This Is A Cushing Film
Let's face it, this movie was a low-budget horror film with bad special effects. But, it does have one saving grace; Peter Cushing is wonderful as a police detective trying to follow the trail of a blood-feasting (totally ludicrous and campy) giant moth woman.

The picture quality of the DVD is fairly good, and the sound is fine. It is presented in letterbox, which is much more pleasing to view then the Pan-and-Scan vhs copy that I first saw this picture on. The setting is Victorian, and having a British cast, the performances are believable and elegant (even if swallowing the idea of a giant Deaths-Head moth makes you gag a little). If your after a film of the quality of "Horror of Dracula", or "Curse of Frankenstein", then don't bother. But if your a die-hard Peter Cushing fan, like I am, you'll probably enjoy this movie, as I do. There's not much suspense, but there is plenty of dry British humor, and some fine performances. Just don't expect to be dazzled by the special effects...

The Vampire Beast Craves Blood!
At least that was one of the more lurid titles this picture was shown under, here in The States. Peter Cushing is a Victorian police detective investigating a bizarre series of bloody murders; Robert Flemyng is an entymologist who has somehow created a gigantic vampire moth who can masquerade as a beautiful woman. If you get past the laughable concept of a humanoid moth, the movie's not bad, and benefits greatly from Cushing's presence.

Atmospheric Chiller With An Unusual Central Creature
"The Blood Beast Terror", is a very enjoyable and well constructed little horror tale which suffers because of the weakness in the appearance of the monster of the title which is a giant Death's Head moth that takes human form. The lack of imagination used in its construction detracts from what is otherwise a very atmospheric and beautifully filmed story which may not certainly be the most frightening tale ever filmed but still has alot to commend it. Peter Cushing one of England's foremost horror movie performers lends his usual dignified presence to the proceedings here and helps lift this 1967 Tigon productions feature at times almost up to the same level as his great accomplishments with the famed Hammer Studios horror efforts.

Despite this films quite sensational title, the storyline once you get past the idea of the Giant Moth Creature, is actually an evenly paced mystery drama that takes its time to reveal all the secrets of what is occuring. Along the way we are...

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