Donkey X (Includes Digital Copy)

Rucio's Unique Version of a Literary Classic
If you're new to my animation feature film review library, I should begin this review by disclaiming a trend in the genre that nearly always ends disastrously: Domestic studios importing foreign films, slapping an English vocal track atop of the material, and claiming it as their own. The list of films guilty of this technique is long and ever growing. Considering Donkey X falls into this category, there was a strong suspicion going in that this one would be a proverbial train wreck. Worse still, the few reviews I was able to track down seemed to confirm such reservations. Fortunately I can begin this critique by assuring prospective viewers that of all the foreign translation jobs, this one is perhaps the most pleasant.

Released in Spain back in 2007, Donkey X (or "Donkey Xote" as it was originally called) tells the tale of a small town (La Mancha) where there resides a dreamer named Don Quixote (voiced by Steve Salazar).

Don is able to convince his close...

A nice, fun, and respectful take on a classic
As a Spaniard I was a little skeptical of retake on the literary classic of Don Quijote. However, the project was dominated by Spaniards who are able to respect the original work and poke fun it at the same time. My seven year old loved it and laughed his head off. I was also impressed with the attention to detail. For example the moon waxes and wanes along with the story accurately. Donkey Xote

H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E
Please don't put yourself through this. Even worse, don't put your kids through this. The movie tries hard to be intelligent but fails miserably. It was difficult to follow the convoluted plot which kids will never figure out. Even IF the dialog was written well, lines go by too fast to make sense of what they are talking about. Maybe it makes more sense in Spanish but I highly doubt it. Do your family a favor and pass on this one because it will be 90 minutes of your life you can never get back ;) Oh yeah, the graphics were decent.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Secret of the Cave

Great family movie - Beautifully shot!
Just purchased and viewed this film for the first time. This will make you want to travel to Ireland! Truly breathtaking vistas are faithful to what we enjoyed on our trip.

The film is an interesting look into the life of a small village that is truly a community. The plot involves a mystery surrounding the death of a local villager, and the strange happenings that follow during and immediately following the funeral. I recommend this for the whole family!

One of the very best family films of the year, maybe the decade.
"Secret of the Cave" is an outstanding film that takes place in Scotland. It was put together as a college project by Southern Adventist University and the viewer will have no doubt that all those connected have a great career ahead of them. It is not a film that pushes any one faith or doctrine other than how we can relate to each other and to God. Unlike so many films made by beginners, this film is very professional and there is no way any thing connected in its making can be faulted. The extras alone are worth the price. I fully applaud this project and hope the school and the young people involved will continue the good work. We need more Christian film makers like this.

Secret of the Cave - fantastic buy
This movie is breathtaking. It's a great movie for children and adults alike. Wonderful plot that keeps your attention all the way through.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Wild Man of the Navidad

Funny
Made on no budget, this was a decent first feature. The genre gets a reboot; this is very grindhouse, go-go 70s-style, so you'd need to be a fan of those to enjoy it.

I love southern horror!
'The Wild Man of the Navidad' definitely has that 70's camp feel to it! When watching it, I could clearly see that it pays homage to such films as: 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'The Legend of Boggy Creek', 'Creature From Black Lake' etc. Even though it does pay homage to those films, it doesn't over do it in such a way that it would be ripping off its predecessors. It is truly original and I can easily see this becoming a cult classic over time. It just has to! Besides this being a low low budget flick, I could tell the makers behind it wanted their legendary wild man to say as campy as if it were depicted in 70's cinema. And by that I mean this isn't the scariest beastly-looking man that is seen by todays Horror movie standards (today being the keyword). Don't get me wrong, this wild man does play out a creepy vibe! I love how the wild man is portrayed. It's realistic. It's believable. Some viewers will not get it. I'm going to go out on a limb and say younger audiences...

arthouse/grindhouse
Not bad for a micro-budget 1st feature...
I'll give it an "A" for ingenuity...
& it really is a nice-looking film...
I like the way they tweaked the digital imagery
to almost fool you into thinking you're looking
at 16mm reversal blown up to 35
to show on some drive-in circuit!

& the thoughtfully cheezy script is nicely whack...
Combine that with a brilliant supporting local cast
& you're in for almost 90 minutes of free wheelin' no budget fun!

the monster suit is pretty much film school surreal...
& I mean this mostly in a positive way...
You know the thing about how seeing the zipper in the monster suit
breaks the spell of our suspension of disbelief...
Well, this monster suit is made of nothing BUT zippers!
The result is a sort of dissociative archetypal thing that ends up
slamming you face first into a real arthouse/grindhouse boogeyman...

More fun than too scarey...which adds to...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Lonely Street

Lonely Street better than expected
Okay, straight to DVD didn't hold much promise, but I couldn't resist the price. The truth is, it's really rather good. I agree with other viewers, the actor playing Elvis was superb. And don't miss the video (under special features) "When the Rebel Comes Home" - worth the price of the DVD alone. Entirely plausible, you could well imagine this is what the King would have looked like if he'd lived and decided to make a comeback - and I'm not even remotely an Elvis fan. P.S. Ignore the review saying Jay Mohr is constantly naked throughout; there is no nudity, male or female.

Lonely Street
If you are looking for a funny movie that has an idea that has not been beat to the ground like so many, this is the one! Cast is good and Robert Patrick as the KING is worth the price of the film alone!

Loved 75 year old Elvis
We saw this movie on the big screen in a theatre in Bartlett (Memphis) Tennessee. We four Elvis fans loved how Robert Patrick portrayed Elvis at 75. The make-up was great, and Robert did a great job of bringing a healthy Elvis to life. The movie was funny, and if you're an Elvis fan, you'll really enjoy how he is represented in this movie.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Fragments

Unpredicted Terror, Unexpected Consequences
FRAGMENTS (AKA Winged Creatures) is an uncomfortable movie: the subject matter of spontaneous unsuspected violence and the subsequent impact on the lives of those who survive a near death situation is terrifying. FRAGMENTS takes a moment in time and then reveals how that moment alters the psyche and behavior of numerous people from children to adults. It is disconcerting to watch, but at the same time it makes us face the possibilities of how isolated cracks in the universe can alter our lives. As the tagline suggests 'You have to lose your way to find it.'

The film opens with a day in a Los Angeles diner where a gunman enters and randomly opens fire on the customers at the tables and the staff serving them and then kills himself. We are forced to watch this happen but through the eyes of the people attempting to dodge the attack. Among these are a waitress (Kate Beckinsale), a man seated at the counter being denied attention as he glances at his new brochures on...

Was pleased with the overall performances...bare bones DVD though
There have been inevitable comparisons to a slew of other films for this one, but in the end it manages to convey its own little message of loss and PTSD fallout (in various age groups).

The four main story lines and one subplot of a restaurant shooting are mixed into a time line of flashbacks and present day tapestry. For me, Dakota Fanning was the central character and had the biggest epiphany moment at the end, so I think fans of hers will be pleased. Forest Whitaker stumbled onto the set from his last four films of a similar nature, so I rate this on a higher element because of the editing alone, maybe the music and the moment of clarity given to the central story at the end. Since Kate Beckinsale's and Guy Pearce's characters were both totally unlikeable and despicable, I have to call this a Fanning film again.

The sound and picture are solid, but the supplement was inconsequential. I did listen to most of the commentary, but it was one of those that...

Worth a Look
Fragments is a similar movie to "Crash" and "Babel" in that it juggles several stories simultaneously. The difference here is that we follow the stories after they diverge from a single violent act.

A man walks into a diner, pulls a gun, and starts shooting people at random. Some are killed. Some are wounded. He finally turns the gun on himself and the episode is over. We follow the aftermath of several of the survivors and how the incident has changed their lives.

This is a fine ensemble cast of veterans who all do a good job with their rolls. It's acted well and directed well. The music is somewhere between spooky and somber and doesn't intrude on the proceedings.

I suppose my problem with the film lies at the script level. We follow several stories but three of them are key and a couple of them I didn't really understand. The third (with Dakota Fanning) involved a particular point that maybe shouldn't have been so devastating to her and might not...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Cravings

WORTH A LOOK
This is a sick little movie. It's not a vampire flick, but it is about some seriously disturbed people, some of whom have a demented addiction to the taste of blood.

A psychiatrist who has recently faced the suicide of his wife and the accidental death of his mother, tries to overcome his deep grief by resuming his activities as a psychiatrist at a local hospital. He is assigned to the case of a teenage girl who has been cutting herself. Turns out she's not only cutting herself, but others as well, and drinking the resulting blood.

The psychiatrist eventually gets involved intimately with the girl's attractive widowed mother, which turns out to be a bad idea.

The progression of the movie wanders a bit, there is a suggestion that the psychiatrist is being haunted by the presence of his desceased wife..., the bathtub she died in keeps mysteriously filling itself up every night. But this part of the movie never fleshes out and is sort of left hanging...

A better film than its dishonest promotion would suggest
This is an interesting little psychological thriller, if more than a bit sadistic, which was unfortunately promoted dishonestly in the U.S. by Lionsgate as a vampire flick. (Lionsgate even changed the title from Daddy's Girl to Cravings.) Many disappointed viewers, taken in by this crooked advertising, hated the film from the get-go.

The movie is about a psychiatrist, wonderfully played by Welsh actor Richard Harrington (Lark Rise to Candleford), who is at an extremely low point in his life. His wife has recently committed suicide by slitting her wrists and his mother is near death from leukemia. Returning to work before he's ready, he takes on a new patient, a teenage girl who likes to cut herself so that she can drink her own blood.

We're told she is suffering from Renfield's Syndrome. (Renfield was the non-vampire character in Dracula who craved blood.) Before long, the psychiatrist learns the hard way that the girl's blood cravings are not restricted to...

Daddy's Girl (Cravings)
I almost didn't watch this film because of the over-abundance of ridiculous Vampire movies, shows, novels, and all else which have flooded the market within the past few months. Personally, I'm sick to death of the entire genre and what they have done to the traditional folklore reguarding Vampires. Yet, it was highly recommended that I ignore the deceptive cover art and watch this particular film. And, I must say that I was not disappointed in the least. The whole product was excellent. The cast, their acting abilities, the story, the realistic quslity of the effects, etc. Wonderful film. Now, I highly recommend that you watch this film.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Gorehouse Greats Collection (12 Movie Collection)

Amazing Value! Even if only a fraction are really good!
The Gorehouse Greats 3-disc DVD collection is a fantastic set if you love horror movies of any kind, including dated, low-budget, drive-in or grindhousey ones, because that's what you get here. This set holds 12 feature films, an amazing amount for the price you can sometimes find this at, considering that these aren't the same public domain horror films that have been on dollar DVD releases for years. These films are all from Crown International Pictures, released by Mill Creek Entertainment in a pretty cool looking case, and are a really nice variety of plots. I'll describe the films below, pointing out my faves. Bear with me though, as I'm listing them as they're listed on the back of the DVD case, and they just happened to list the best ones near the bottom...

"Blood of Dracula's Castle": A young couple inherits a castle in the middle of nowhere, but to move in they have to first evict the current tenants, Dracula and his wife and staff. This ended up being the last...

Good deal for late night horror fans
If you are like me and grew up with late night "creature feature" type programs. You have probably seen at least some of these movies before. None are really that "gory", but all are fun bad movies. There are actually a few actually good little flicks hidden in this collection as well. For this price you can't really go wrong. I have many of Millcreek Entertainments other sets and have been happy with most of them. I'm pleased to say that none of these movies has yet to be repeaded in any of their 20 or 50 movie sets.

Scratchy classics, just like the 70's drive-in
Let me just start off with saying not everyone will go for these movies, but if you were a true drive-in goer from the early days, you'll probably lap these up, scratchy prints and all (I remember some prints at the drive-in were indeed very scratchy)
As this set features everything from Hitlers head, snakes to wax dummies, now how can you beat a collection like that?
I have to take my hat off to Mill Creek, what they can lack in quality and to be fair some prints are quite good, they sure make up in quantity and price, while offering some very rare gems, warts and all.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Delgo

An old story told in a new way
This movie might almost be called "Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) in all-digital form;" as other reviewers have pointed out, it has many of the latter's elements--a naive and reckless young hero, a wise mentor, a mystical system of beliefs and battle skills, a traitor, and a far-distant setting. The planet Jhamora is inhabited by two races, the "barbarian" Lochni and the highly civilized, four-winged Nohrin, who uneasily share what's left of its space after the Nohrins' original country became uninhabitable some 20 years ago. A Lochni youth, Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), unexpectedly meets the Nohrin princess, Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and is drawn into a plot by her exiled aunt Sedessa (Anne Bancroft) to seize the throne from her father, King Zahn (Louis Gossett, Jr.), and destroy the Lochni once and for all. To thwart her, Delgo and his friend Filo (Chris...

Great Movie
My daughter found this movie while looking for movies here on Amazon. She researched it and decided that it looked interesting and would be nice for the whole family. It is a wonderful movie. They love the animation and how it is different than most animations that they have seen. I love the story line. I did think that it could have had a different ending. All-in-all, it is a good movie.

Great family fair
I was really disappointed that this movie was not better advertised when it came out at the theaters. I would have loved to have taken my kids and grand kids to see this. This is great fair. It has a very good story. Great animation and imagination. Get this for yourself or for your family. You won't be disappointed.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Labor Pains

Buy this one!
Whatever her press, Lindsey Lohan delivers a great performance in The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, and now Labor Pains. This is a REALLY smart and funny film--well worth seeing and far better than the usual comedic maternity genre. Rest of cast is excellent, as well. Haven't heard of Lara Shapiro before, but i want to see anything else she's written or directed. Gold!

Labor Pains is a Hoot!
Lindsey L is not my favorite actress, but she really was quite hilarious in this well written and stylish film. I really enjoyed the story and really laughed at a number of scenes, especially the birthing class scene. The supporting cast is suburb and Cheryl Hines is particularly hilarious. Chris Parnell is very strong and the setting is true LA at its best. I particularly loved the sound track and story line. I am now a fan of Lindsey's and highly recommend this fun film for any group of expecting women looking for a laugh.

O.k. But not that funny.
The problem here is that if you go in thinking this movie is going to be slapstick comedy, it's not. The comedy is very low key. Somebody mentioned the humor was like Working Girl which I agree. There are no belly laughs here. If you watch the movie with that mind set, it's an o.k. movie, but it seems more serious than funny. T.C.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Wanted Dead or Alive: Season One

Josh Randall and his "Mare's Laig" Ride Again! ! !
One of the most memorable and famous characters of the '50's Western genre was Steve McQueen's "Josh Randall", who spoke softly (with the Southern drawl he cultivated in his early days roaming around the South, particularly Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and carried a Big Gun, the sawed-off Winchester lever-action rifle then known as the "Mare's Laig". I remember the excitement each week eagerly waiting for each episode of this great Western.

One of my fondest childhood memories was the weekend I spent with my Dad, helping him to hand make my own custom-made leather belt rig from scratch for my toy "Mare's Laig" in time for use as part of a Halloween costume when the plastic original proved to be a poor replica.

With all the second-rate wastage flooding the DVD market lately, it's really great to see New Line Ent. bring back such a great actor in a great Western!

"36 Original Episodes of the King of Cool ~ Steve McQueen"
CBS and New Line Home Entertainment present "WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE", featuring Steve McQueen as the gentleman bounty hunter Josh Randall...a man of few words who carried on his belt an 1892 Winchester lever action pistol, which he fondly called "Mare's Leg"...originally introduced in an episode of the TV Western "Trackdown"...this was the beginning of a beautiful role that lasted for three seasons for Mr. Steve McQueen that catapulted him to stardom.

First time on DVD with all 36 Original Episodes of Season One...loaded with extras.
Disc One (Side A)...with title and directors:
THE MARTIN POSTER (Thomas Carr) (guest star: Michael Landon & Nick Adams)
FATAL MEMORY (Thomas Carr)
THE BOUNTY ( Thomas Carr)
DEAD END (Thomas Carr)
(Special Features...Genesis of Wanted:Dead or Alive...Steve McQueen Bio Part One...Color Episode of "The Martin Poster")

Disc One (Side B)...with title and directors:
PASSING OF SHAWNEE BILL (Thomas...

Fantastic Show-Poopy Packaging!
My wife and I have just finished watching (and reading) everything on these discs. We thought that the episodes looked great, and that the extras were just fine. Really, these studios are not obligated to include any extras, and this is just brimming with them. But, wouldn't you think that such a large amount of effort is a waste when the packaging falls apart to reveal how it was bound together to begin with? (Each disc is housed on their own plastic "pages," or panels, which are bound at the spine; just like a book.) It's not enough that it fell apart, but it's bound with what appears to be packaging tape! Can you believe that? HOW OBTUSE!!! You know that these discs are more than likely going be allowed to slip quietly out of print, which means that long after the incredibly cheap packaging has failed (and judging from the copy I own, it'll probably be sometime next week), we're going to be scrambling for ways to protect double-sided discs; which are difficult enough to care for...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Sunshine Cleaning

Surprise movie
Every review I've read has been quasi-negative but not being one to listen to critics, I took a chance. I was very pleasantly surprised. Depending on why you go to a movie, you may not like this because it is not escapism. It deals with real life issues and things most of us can relate to. I found the movie to be very refreshing and all the characters real to life. The main character is a single mom trying to raise a precocious son. She has to deal with a dead-end relationship and an aging father, an irresponsible sister and a job she hates. How she copes and what she does is more believable than most of the "chick flick" films out today. I think this is one of the better movies in a sea of fluff to spend time and money on. Amy Adams is wonderful and it is always refreshing to see Alan Arkin. Please don't dismiss this film because of iffy reviews. It is worth going to see.

What love is, what love isn't
I cannot understand those who were bored by this film. I was entranced; good performances all around married to a well-developed plot with skillful writing yielded a totally satisfying experience. As one who did not much care for "Little Miss Sunshine", I was certainly not hoping for a repeat. And did not get it.

The guy at my Blockbuster store said "Oh, good movie. My wife and I watched it three times; we really liked it," when we checked it out. Three times may be a bit much, but it held us. The subplots that go nowhere (the blood bank gal, the problems in school) were, to me, perfect expressions of the fits and starts that life endlessly presents. Not everything gets tidied up; not everyone sees our attempted generosity as we do; not all stories have a satisfactory conclusion. Sometimes people are jerks, bad things happen, and we get stuck. One other pleasure was that the two people who seem to be experiencing the first sparks of interest do not hook up. How nice for a...

bringing sunshine to the darkness...
A very enjoyable quirky film which is after alot more then quick easy laughs. This film gets pretty serious at times and what an enjoyable ride it is made easier by the stellar cast. Amy Adams as Rose and her sister Norah, Emily Blunt, tend to Rose's 7 year old son, Oscar and their own cleaning business they are starting. This is no ordinary cleaning business but a crime scene clean up after the bodies have been moved and evidence secured and all that remains are the blood and the remanants of the deceased's life. What I loved about this film is the humanity of the characters, real people, real problems and real situations that have you pulling for them even as you shake your head at their mistakes. Alan Arkin is a joy as the cranky, scheming father of Rose and Norah, he is at a place as an actor that he brings so much of what you expect from him as an actor while also bringing such subtle differences to all his characters that you never feel you're seeing the same character you...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Great Indian Wars: 1540-1890

Really Quite Decent
This collection will probably hold little new to those already familiar with Native American history, but such people are sadly few and far between these days. I picked this set up on a whim, due largely to its rock-bottom price and nicely constructed packaging. And I must say, I've been pleasantly surprised. No, the reenactments are not terribly high budget, but the invective elicited from other reviewers seems largely unmerited.

No, the Native tribes are not depicted as sub-human savages, brutes or monsters. But what seems to anger some people is that the Whites are not dehumanized either. The documentaries take great pains to show the motivations, strengths, heroes, villains, foibles, massacres, and misunderstandings on both sides. Both Whites and Natives attack civilians. Both Whites and Native break treaties. Both Whites and Natives attempt to learn from one another and to live in peace. Both White and Natives engage in raiding, conquest, and slave trade...

AN INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING DVD
Having thousands of books, fiction and non fiction, on the American West resting on the shelves I heartily give this DVD a full 5-stars. Anyone reading my other reviews will know I only allow 4-stars for most other things. This DVD and its low price ($2.50 for me, Wal-Mart) makes this one of unbelievable value.

If you are interested in anything concerning the The Indian Wars of the American West from the 1850s through 1890 this will be of great value to you, the DVD also traces some history too from the 1540s, especially concerning the acquisition by the Indians of the plains of the Spanish horses. Using black and white and color this DVD offers a very effective explanation of those troubled times.

One very, excellent DVD which runs several hours.

Recommended.

Semper Fi.

America Was Theirs First
This series isn't the most entertaining that you'll watch, but it makes up for this in the important story that it tells. I grew up with limited knowledge of the indiginous inhabitants of our Great Land. I knew of a few tales and legends, but didn't realize that a few times, the tribes came close to ousting the invaders from their lands. The problem for them was that their cultures, though some were quite warlike, weren't as greedy and expansionist as the European's culture.

This series attempts to tell some of the "military" history of many of the Native Tribes. I only wish it had been done more cinematically, rather than with still photographs. If you can tolerate the pace and style, it's well worth the time spent.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Adventureland

magical - a more mature Mottola
ADVENTURELAND is magical, a film of honesty, innocence and real life all centered around the coming of age of teen James played by the very impressive Jesse Eisenberg. Many viewers may at first be surprised by this film and find it slow and lacking in the expected hilarity. When the promotion work was done on this film it was a marketing travesty. This film is directed by Greg Mottola of SUPERBAD fame, a film which redefined the comedy genre. When one thinks of SUPERBAD it is associated with KNOCKED UP, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and ROLE MODELS. These films were tender tales told with over the top, in your face hilarity. I adore these films and own them all. They are classics. But ADVENTURELAND was promoted as if it was in this genre and it totally is not. The tender story of James is the center and there is heartfelt drama and emotion wrapped around this unique blend of honest characters and low scored humor. The humor is underplayed and always there but not in an over the top...

Indie-hip comedy goes for warm regard rather than screaming hysterics
Director Greg Mottola famously worked at a run-down amusement park in his younger years, and that transformative experience serves "Adventureland" well. This flick goes for a quieter, deeper humor than Mottola's smash hit "Superbad," but it is no less endearing.

It's somewhere in the later '80s, and James (Jesse Eisenberg) is a smart guy cursed with a) a liberal arts degree, b) parents who are unexpectedly financially strapped, and c) who lives in Pittsburgh. (By the way - is it eerie or cool that Eisenberg stars in two movies with similar one-word titles, "Adventureland" and "Zombieland," that are based in theme parks where he plays the Michael Cera role?) To raise the cash to go to Columbia journalism school, James gets stuck with a terrible summer job at Adventureland - a place that puts the "lack" in lackluster.

The theme park is populated with a range of supporting characters that is as solid and pleasing as any ensemble has a right to be. One of the...

Mismarketed gem
As soon as I finished this movie a few feelings ran through me: I pined for young love, wished to be young(er) again and wanted to watch Adventureland again. I can't remember the last time I wanted to watch a movie a second time.

This story rang true to me, the acting was great and there was enough comedy to keep things interesting. Make no mistake, though, this isn't the Superbadesque comedy it was marketed as. It's an extremely well done coming of age love story with likable charachters with an 80's twist.

(Edited for atrocious English)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Fighting

Fighting deserves a fighting chance...
The main problem with a film like 'Fighting' is the expectations that come with the obvious - fighting, or fight sequences. Although the movie centers on fighting, it seems like attention was spent elsewhere. In other words, the filmmakers did not conceptualize intricate fight sequences that would leave Bruce Lee breathless. On the contrary, the fights here are very low brow, meat and potatoes, bare knuckle, anything goes kind of brawl, which I'm not opposed to whatsoever. Personally, every now and again, the over-orchestrating of fight sequences can be a bit too much for me, but the minimal aspects here lend quite nicely to the main character's plight to survive.

As you've probably read the other reviews, the story surrounds the nicest small-time drifter once could ever hope to meet (quite a stretch I may add). He holds doors for strangers, pays fair prices for goods and aside from the funky smell & shabby clothes, you'd be proud to bring him home to mother for...

Surprised me
Fight films are not my thing. They have been done and done and done. I mostly watched this film because I just saw Channing Tatum in the Eagle (first time ever for this actor) and thought he did well but was curious to see how he might do in a film with some dramatic potential. He did just fine in Fighting in my opinion and showed much more range (because more range was called for) than in the Eagle. I think he has charisma and a lot of potential for good roles in the future.

What surprised me was how good the script was in Fighting and how fresh the acting was of some of the supporting actors. This was more like an indy film than a regular Hollywood or Hong Kong fight film. I especially liked the supporting actor who was a very engaging character.

The dialogue was not lofty, but it was realistic and "authentic" and thus atmospheric. All in all Fighting was a refreshing break from the usual fight films and for me at least, a "real film about people" and not just...

It Tries Hard
This is generally not my kind of movie, but I did like it as it had kind of a Rocky element going. I also thought the actors gave sincere performances and the story was gritty enough to keep your attention - I get bored easily. As I watched it, I really felt this movie had a lot of potential to be great but because it was kind of rushed, it couldn't quite get there. If it could have taken a little more time to develop the characters and their relationships, it might have gotten there. I know that Channing Tatum is always criticized for his non acting ability, but if you really watch this movie, you can sense his potential, there were several times that you got a sincere sense from him that his character really wanted to do the right thing and Tatum does this more with expression than words. The only other thing that I feel could have been better was the connection between Shawn and Zulay, I just didn't get a sense of actual attraction, it really seemed kind of forced, like there...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Love Hollywood Style

Hilarious, long-shelved Indie
The long-shelved, missing-in-action 2006 Indie about a crazy group of insane Hollywooders during a nutty week in Tinseltown: one is a porn star named Johnny (who is played by LA restaurantuer, Emmy nominee and former GENERAL HOSPITAL star Michael Sutton), another is rap star Coolio, one a man in an ape suit and one a man who foolishly buys a blowup sex doll for his insulted girlfriend. The four vignettes are wisely intertwined in this hilarious must-see comedy of goofy but good, crisp writing, directing and acting. And though it played only at a couple of filmfests, it will finally be released this summer after three long years on the shelf!

Fast delivery
It got here really fast and was as described. Helps that I was actually IN the movie, so a great collectors item for my library!
Thank you!



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Swan Princess: The Mystery of the Enchanted Treasure (Special Edition)

Swan Princess and Swan Princess III
The original Swan Princess movie is delightful, for the most part, with catchy music, great voice talent, and an entertaining plot. My 4-year old daughter has watched it many times, role-plays the leads with her dolls, and has asked many questions about the plot which has led to some interesting discussions.

The Swan Princess III, on the other hand, is dreadful. It is actually painful for me to watch. One character, Rogers, who is otherwise rather dignified in the other movies, becomes a love-struck idiot in this one--it's a cringeable performance, especially since the object of his affection, Zelda, is so morally bankrupt.

Therefore, the while I definitely recommend the original Swan Princess, don't waste your money on the third installment.

swan princess 1& 3
had it on 2 seperate vhs's so knew the product, pakage nice, arrive in tack only thing i coud wish for is all 3 of the set in 1 package.,

Princess
I bought it for my 4 yr old daughter. She loved the movie. I got the package 1 day earlier than expected which I loved.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Surveillance

Intriguing, Involving and Suspenseful!!
Some of the previous reviewers are either psychic(s) in terms of their uncanny ability to scope out the plot twists so far ahead of time, or truly veteran film goers of mysteries.....I was able to discern the major plot twist slightly ahead of the actual revelation, and was very satisfied with the way the writer and director decided to unfold their narrative and cinematic processes.....very intelligently done!! i found the dialogue appropriate for each character, and yes, while one must suspend belief as relates to the characters of the rural cops(borders on stereotype), that's okay because no one promised me character development in depth.
This film held my attention all the way through; i found the acting very good (Pullman and Ormond totally believable as FBI agents), and the twist quite satisfying. Overall, quite an entertaining film, good performances, believable, and i might want to see it again to pick up little clues/cues i missed the first time around. As a rental,...

Solid movie
I thought this movie was delivered great. The way it was shot was really gritty and made me think of the end of Se7en and also the cover of latest Slipknot album (I know, really random).

The acting was solid and as usual Pullman played a quirky dude (prob signed on because of David) really well. There were parts where the dialog was a bit awkward and the story stalled but lets be honest, the director is the daughter of David Lynch...you cannot say there have not been slow/awkward scenes in Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, etc.

I thought the twist was great and the ending was fantastic. Not a 5, but definitely something I will recommend to fans of movies like Se7en, 12 Monkeys, Fight Club, etc. Beautifully dirty movies.

deliciously demented
I think a lot of the reviewers missed the point with this film.I believe the director(David Lynch's daughter)simply intended to make a fun,twisted flick with a surprise twist to the end.You may or may not see it coming,but,I don't think you'll get it exactly.I wasn't expecting much,was thoroughly engaged until the end.What more could you ask for?

Click to Editorial Reviews

Short Kut ... The Kon Is On (Hindi Comedy Film / Bollywood Movie / Indian Cinema DVD)

Worth watching
Starring Akshaye Khanna, Amrita Rao and Arshad Warsi and Chunkey Pandey,. Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt make a special appearance. Directed by Neeralj Vora, the movie is produced by Anil Kapoor, while Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics.

Amrita Rao, has really changed in her looks and looks better as she works in each film. Playing the role of an established actress has suited her well and again, she has proved her talent, once again. Akshaye Khanna, is as usual at his best and has also proved that he is able to do both comedy and serious roles at the same time. Arshad Warsi is the same - at his best, while Chunkey Pandey, is also good in a comic role and plays a convincing role of a partner to Arshad Warsi.

Javed Akhtar has penned a couple of very good and memorable songs, while the Director, Neeraj Vora has superbly balanced the story equally between comedy and serious drama and has maintained the meaning that "there's no short cut" in anything.

This is...





Click to Editorial Reviews

The Last House on the Left (Unrated & Theatrical Versions)

Microwaves pop more than just popcorn
Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left was released in 1972 and I heard from many people who were old enough to see it when it first came out (like my dad) that it was the most shocking thing anyone had ever seen. To this day the original is still a raw and often disgusting piece of cinema, so being that in 2009 films can push the envelope even more, I didn't know how far this thing would go.

It's shocking, brutal and gross, but it didn't just go the buckets of blood route. Yes, there is some gore, but compared to films like Hostel and SAW this is quite tame. What does get under your skin is the rape scene. I read that some people witnessed others leave the theater at this point and they never came back. I guess they didn't see the original or read up on what they paid to see before plopping in their seat. It shows little skin compared to the 1972 version, but it's a long scene that is painful to watch.

The cast is quite good, though most are actors whose names...

best re make in years
Watched this picture a few days ago and it is simply facinating in the mood it creates.The original was in all fairness brilliant for it's time but a re make for the new generation was long overdue and boy did they get it right.The rape scene is extremely tough to stomach and the gore factor is certainly not easy on the eyes but the revenge driven parents are a joy to watch for fans of this genre.Very satisfying ending.For the few out there who have not seen the original i would reccommend watching this version and please keep an open mind.To summarize...this picture can be extremely disturbing from time to time but the end result makes the ride worthwhile.Keep a special place in your mind for this style of horror/thriller as it won't leave you easily.Definitely one for the books.

GRITTY...GRAPHIC...BRUTAL...
This is a remake of the Wes Craven's low budget 1972 cult favorite of the same name. I saw the original, and despite its low budget values, replete with grainy film images and bad acting, it was one of the most horrifying and brutal films that I had ever seen. Of course, the reality is that the crimes that were perpetrated in that film were just that, and, consequently, it remains one of the most frightening and shocking films to date. It was truly chilling. When I saw that there had been a remake, I would curious to see how it would compare. I would have to say that in the shock and awe department, the original still holds sway. Still, the remake is an excellent film and, though brutal, somehow less frightening.

The storyline is every parent's worse nightmare. A teenager, Mari Collingwood, goes with her parents to their rural country house. She takes the family car to meet a friend in town. Unbeknownst to them, an escaped killer named Krug is on the loose with his...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Julia

Tilda Is Terrific!
If Tilda Swinton does not get an Oscar nomination for JULIA, there is no justice, because she delivers one of the most remarkable performances that I've ever seen. She is, indeed, one of the finest actresses of her generation.

Swinton plays an out-of-control alcoholic, subject to blackouts, who lies constantly. Nothing that ever comes out of her mouth is the truth.

Desperately needing money, she devises a not-to-well-thought-out plot to kidnap the 8-year-old grandson of an ultra wealthy gent whose estranged, emotionally disturbed mother she met at an AA gathering.

Swinton has no intention of turning the kid over to his mother, but plans to ransom him to the grandfather for two million dollars. Unfortunately for her, Grandpa soon learns her identity and she is forced to flee to Mexico with the boy, who is soon taken from her by some professional kidnappers. Now, Swinton, who has actually become fond of the child, will do everything in her power to...

Wow.
Tilda Swinton easily carries "Julia," with a tour-de-force performance as an out of control alcoholic that gets way, way in over her head when she agrees to get involved in a hair-brained kidnapping scheme, one that goes very badly awry. For charting the lead character's mad trajectory, the director, Erick Zonka, received a well deserved nomination for a best director, at Berlin and Swinton was nominated for the best actress Caesar, for her performance in this film. Inspired by Cassevette's "Gloria," and definitely worth your time.

Tilda Swinton's career best -so far
Wow. This is a dazzling performance in an unusual, disturbing and unforgettable film. I was fortunate to see this at a brief theatrical run in San Francisco. I haven't seen the disc but I'll update this review when I do.
Usually, I get the feeling that Ms. Swinton says "I'll do anything!" but that the people who make her films think she'll do EVERYTHING and show up without the ideas, structure or stamina to support her wild excursions into darkness and beyond. This film gives her a meaty role in a difficult story and gives it room to grow. The film is kind of a long shaggy dog story, rather like John Cassavetes directing a Sam Peckinpah film.
This JULIA is a nasty, promiscuous, unemployable black out alcoholic who ends up talked into a kidnapping scheme by the crazy unfit mother who lives in her building. If you think this might be your sort of film, be aware- she doesn't become a saint- or even much nicer- over the playing time. When most American films would be wrapping...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Wedding Bros.

ROFLMA Funny!
I was fortunate to see this production in pre-release and my wife and I were grateful for the opportunity. We thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The plot is hilarious only bested by the antics of the actors... highly recommended to anyone that's been married or has attended a wedding! Wedding Crashers has some serious competition in the genre! Makes a great wedding gift as long as the happy couple watches it after their nuptials.

Hilarious flick!
My wife and I got see a few clips of this which were shown before another film screening we were attending. I laughed out loud a couple of times! Can't wait to see the entire film.

A Fun Comedy With A Lot of Heart
I also got to see this film at SXSW and was really impressed. In a world where
comedies are dumbed down, this one is character driven and has
lots of heart. Fogler won the Tony Award for his role in "Spelling Bee"
and you can see why in this film. Polito is an actor's actor and it's great to
see him with so much screen time. Kudos to the writer/directors who obviously
created this one from real life experience that they mined successfully for
lots of laughs and some warm smiles.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Golden Boys

simple and sweet story with fabulous veteran actors
It's the "old guys" who make this film worth watching--David Carradine, Bruce Dern, Rip Torn, and in a smaller role, Charles Durning. Carradine (we will miss him!), Dern, and Torn are all fabulous in their roles as old bachelors/widowers who need a housekeeper and decide one of them must take a mail order bride in order to get one. The whole thing is worth it just for the scene in which the woman they see emerging from the train "does not suit." Watching them scamper away and hide made me laugh out loud. Mariel Hemingway, who plays the woman they do like, is also worth watching. She brings dignity and a sense of mystery to her character. I wish we had seen more development of her character in this film--it felt like there was so much more to tell.

The reason that I only gave this film 3 stars is that if it weren't for the actors, I don't think I would have watched it all the way through. It's very light on plot, and entirely predictable. At times, it felt as if...

Grandad's dream come true.
The first third of this film is hilarious. I just love the way the three old timer sea farers reach the conclusion that one of them has to marry in order that they have a housekeeper to share. The best is the hunt for a bride through the lonely hearts column. The lines are perfectly delivered - the facial expressions a scream to watch as the plan is hatched and an ad placed. But after the mail order bride arrives the movie becomes predictable. It is all grandad's fantasy as young women apparantly fall for 2 old men who look like they won't make their next birthday. Just 3 stars - but worth watching for the very funny first third of the film.

Well worth watching. A gentle comedy
Three cantankerous old men and a refined lady. A wonderful comedy set on (and filmed) on Cape Cod. For the locals, a challenge at times to locate set locations, but a lot of fun. I watched this being filmed, saw the film at a special screening and can't wait for it's release. And, I believe it was David Carradine's last film. He is very amusing in this as are the others we remember from their younger days.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Sex Pot in 3-Ddd 2d/3d

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Bridge to Nowhere

Bridge to Nowhere
Four young 20-something men from the rough Upper North Side of Pittsburgh. They are stuck in dead-end jobs and struggle with dysfunctional family lives. The guys, inspired by the images of pop culture and the desire to break away from the neighborhood, regularly scheme to make extra money by running minor underground activities, including: sports booking, poker tournaments and house parties. One night during an evening out the four young men stumble across the "new neighbors", two independent prostitutes, Jasper and Candice, who end up inspiring a new business idea. Trapped in her own existence, Jasper, agrees to join forces with the young men to create, quite accidentally, what turns out to be an empire that launches each of them into financial riches. Along the way each character battles their own demons regarding the choices they have made In the end, however, their world comes crashing down on them in grandiose fashion. It's the city of bridges, where water separates the haves and...

Fast Money Rise - Faster Downfall..
Bridge to Nowhere is a well written story by Chris Guitierrez and directed by Blair Underwood. The main characters are played by Ving Rhames, Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, Ben Crowley, and Daniel London. Ving Rhames steals the show as he usually does in most of his movies.

Four childhood friends who grew up poor in Pittsburgh come up with a get rich hustle. They want to be pimps in a unique sense. Their operation runs like a call girl business. They not only want to sell sex, but crack too. They start with two girls who really show them how the business should go. It made me wonder why did they need the guys, they could have functioned without the guys pimping them. Then enters Ving Rhames' character who is the drug supplier. All is well until one of the girls is murdered. As usual among criminals, when the heat is on, things start to fall apart and the weakest link spills the beans. Friends turn on friends and it becomes business - not personal...

Realism spoilt by Hollywood treatment.
AT times, it seems like the show was glamorizing drugs and prostitution
But in the end, greed took a heavy toll on the 4 guys who decided to become pimps (and made 7.3 million in one year but lost it all)

The generally successful attempts at making this show real were marred by the typical Hollywood treatment - dramatic music at the end and the distant wailing of sirens and cop-car radio despatch when the action was all over

Click to Editorial Reviews

Taken in Broad Daylight

every woman should see this
i watched a whole day of lifetime movies based on real life criminal events (craigslist killer, story of elizabeth smart...) Taken in broad daylight was my favorite. it was great acting that was really eye opening. movies portraying real stories like this really need good actors so more people will see them. i had so many emotions just knowing this all happened in real life. i loved the wit of anne sluti and look up to her for her "matter-of-fact" attitude which no doubt helped to get her out of her situation. if anyone was to be kidnapped, it was her... there is no messing with her and she made sure you knew it. i admire her bravery and the calm and smarts she was able to keep during such a traumatizing time. i am glad her story is out to make other aware. her situation did not happen in vain and i am glad she is alive and well today.

Great Movie
I love this movie in lifetime movie channel. This is a great eye opener incident for all women while they are outside. I will buy this DVD and let my daughter watch the whole movie. One thing is clear everyone in this world got to protect them self.

Great Movie
I saw this movie on Life Time Movie channel and was pleasantly surprised at how good the movie really was. The acting was great and the movie did keep my interest until the very end.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Wide Open Live & More

Jason Aldean "Wide Open Live & More" DVD = An Outstanding Recent Concert DVD & More = A1+!!!!!
This is a outstanding recent concert dvd release by Jason Aldean & his band. It was filmed on March 6, 2009 before a "sold-out" crowd at the Knoxville, Tennessee Coliseum. This is Jason Aldean & his band performing at their best. It proves that he is a "rising star", and a "dang" good entertainer. The concert consists of 15 great songs (including a drum solo), and it has a running time of approximately 83 minutes.

The line-up is as follows:

Jason Aldean - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Tully Kennedy - Bass, Band Leader, Background Vocals
Rich Redmund - Drums
Kurt Allison - Lead Guitar
Mike Frey - Electric Guitar, Background Vocals

The Song Set is As Follows:

1. Wide Open
2. I Break Everything I Touch
3. Amarillo Sky
4. Why
5. Big Green Tractor
6. On my Highway
7. Drum Solo
8. Johnny Cash
9. Relentless
10.You're The Love I Wanna Be In
11.Laughed Until We Cried
12.I Use What I...

Country with Drive
This dvd will always manage to find it's way back into the player, because Jason and his band are having so much fun on stage that you will wish that you were there watching them perform live. Jason Aldean's Wide Open Live and More is just that, it is wide open and it will leave you wanting More. This dvd would be a must have for any country music fan's collection, and it would not be out of place with your Rock collection either. Great Stuff, Keep up the good work Jason.Jason Aldean: Wide Open Live and More

Jason Aldean rocks country!!!
Jason Aldean is an asset to country music. Seeing him perform live is a treat!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Boot Camp

Just had something missing...
Ordered this on the premise of Mila Kunis possibly carrying a film, and they were advertising this as the "unrated" version. But in the end, you are left with feeling disappointment and watching bad storytelling.

Mila plays a troubled young lady who is sent to an island work camp by her parents. The isolated layout of this camp in Fiji could make for a beautiful filming location, but it really only gets used once or twice (coral, white sand beaches, etc.). Peter Stormare (I always remember him the most as Satan in Constantine) fills the role as the camp creator and leader of this paramilitary counseling group. The idiot boyfriend who finds a way to get himself committed to the same camp (yeah right) is played by Gregory Smith (he has a much better role in Closing the Ring).

As more unlikely events occur and an intermittent writing mess unfolds in virtually every scene, the movie strives to falter. Mila tried very hard here, and I have to give her props for taking...

Jim Jones Is Alive And Well, And Running A Boot Camp In Fiji!...
Mila Kunis plays a troubled teen girl sent to a remote BOOT CAMP by her parents (mostly her idiot stepfather). She is abducted, drugged, and shipped across the ocean! Once on the island, Mila's character finds a cultish operation, run by a droning guru played by Peter Stormare (8MM, THE KILLING ROOM). Unfortunately, much of the action is unbelievable, hollywood cheeeze, except for a few scenes in the middle. The whole thing ends in a fiery apocalypse, along the lines of the 80s OVER THE EDGE finale. While not a total disaster, I can't imagine watching it again...

Maybe you should just rent this one
Sophie and her boyfriend are abducted and brought to an island where they will undergo "Boot Camp" for troubled teenagers. The administrator of the facility is ruthless and treats the kids like dirt in order to get them to conform. Several of the teens try to escape, but are caught and brought back having to start all over again. There are even some who do not even survive. Sophie and her boyfriend come up with a plan to regain their freedom.

This movie has an interesting idea, but thats about it. I can't see someone watching it more than once. It has a few good parts, but nothing at all memorable happens. If you are painfully bored I can say that renting this film may help you for an hour or two. Asking more from this film isn't realistic. If you have to see this movie then you should just just rent it. It's not worth more than a dollar and you certainly don't want it taking up space on your shelf.

Click to Editorial Reviews

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson a columnist for Composure magazine. Even though she has a degree from Columbia, she is stuck writing a "How To" fluff piece for the magazine. Her latest assignment is to pick a guy, and do all the stupid things girls do to chase a man away. "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days" is Andie's next challenge to write. Ben is the perfect man for her column!

Matthew McConaughey plays Benjamin Barry an ad executive wanting to break into a market he has never represented before. To market diamonds, his boss believes you have to understand what true love is, so Ben has to make a woman chosen for him, fall in love with him. Of course, Andie is the women Ben has to woo.

Kate and Matthew have so much chemistry on screen that they sizzle. This is such a fun movie. There are many funny moments, and some touching serious ones. You will want to see it over and over again.

very predictable, but also very cute
A film by Donald Petrie

Here's a highly predictable, yet cute romantic comedy. I have to wonder if these sorts of situations actually occur in real life, but they seem to happen all of the time in the movies. Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is a columnist at Composure Magazine. She writes the "How To" column intended for a female audience (Composure is similar to Cosmo or Glamour). The column she agrees to write for the current month is "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days". She has to find a guy and start dating him, but intentionally make all the classic mistakes that women make in relationships. These mistakes will cause the guy to dump Andie in 10 days or less, which is just in time for Andie to finish her column and get it published.

Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) works in advertising. He is very good at what he does, but he is known for working on "guy" related campaigns. Ben wants to land his company's largest client, a diamond company, but he is seen as not having...

Above Average Romantic Comedy
"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is a truly delightful little movie. It's packed full of laughs and fun and boasts a great cast that gives it the edge over the slew of romantic comedies recently released.

Ben (Matthew McConaughey) makes a bet with his boss that he can get a woman to fall in love with him in ten days to land a valuable advertising campaign (don't ask questions, you'll understand when you see the movie). Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) is the "How To..." columnist as the hot new women's magazine, Composure. The topic of Andie's next column? How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, hence the name of the film. If Andie writes the article, her boss, Lana, will give her complete freedom on the topics she writes about Apparently Andie wants to write about "serious" issues. That's great, hon, but why are you working at a glossy fashion mag if you want to write articles on global issues?

Of course, Ben and Andie see each other at a bar and coincidentally choose each other as...

Click to Editorial Reviews

T.V. Sets: Crime and Punishment

Watching T.V. Sets is Fun
I have never had one of these dvds before but I truly enjoyed seeing a series of episodes from a variety of crime shows. From Dexter to Streets of San Francisco to Hawaii Five-0 to a gritty episode of CSI: New York. I think anyone will find these dvds of interest.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Ghost Image

Video Evidence...
In GHOST IMAGE, a woman (Elisabeth Rohm) loses her boyfriend in an automobile "accident". She begins to see her dearly departed in their last party video, and he talks directly to her! She has a history of hallucinations, so is this just imaginary? As the story unfolds, we find out that someone caused the "accident", and now the police suspect Ms. Rohm's character had something to do with it. Roma Maffia plays the highly suspicious cop on the case. Stacey Dash is one of the circle of friends that try to help Ms. Rohm. IMAGE is a decent supernatural thriller w/ an interesting -though somewhat sappy- storyline. Worth checking out...

Great Movie! (But then, I'm biased . . .)
Right up front, I was involved in the making of this movie. Nonetheless, I'd like to share some thoughts and tell you what we've heard from others.
This is an independent movie (a psychological thriller), shot very professionally on 35mm film with lead actors all from Hollywood. The script is very intelligent, and many people like the movie even better on second viewing, as they pick up on clues, foreshadowing, and other subtleties. The camera-work is gorgeous, the settings are all real locations, and scenes are very atmospheric. Most people are surprised and impressed by Elisabeth Rohm's (4 seasons on "Law & Order," "Miss Congeniality 2") emotional performance. Waylon Payne ("Walk the Line"), Stacey Dash ("Clueless"), and Matthew Del Negro ("West Wing," "Sopranos"turn in fine performances, and Roma Maffia ("Boston Legal", "Nip/Tuck") gets the most mixed feedback. Half of viewers love and half hate her performance as a police detective; there's not much in-between. The...

Very shocking and suspenseful!
Great movie if you want suspense and at the edge of your seat the whole time. Acting was very good, well done movie. I highly recommend.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Beginnings

Short-Changed
9 episodes of D&D for $9? Do yourself a favor and fork over $5 more for the complete 27 episode version... unless your a completist, the picture disc IS different for this release (it contains the title "The Animated Series, Beginnings" and has a cool world map, a layout of the land -- Tolkien style). It does not even remotely compare to the $40 BCI edition with all of the extras; and remastered, espcially in comparison that it's missing the other 18 episodes. This introduction DVD version, played on my Blu-ray player couldn't even help color-correct this edition; parts would be 'bright' and then all of a sudden wash-out and get dull; at approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes, it felt awfully compressed. The sound is great; the packaging is ultra strange, a huge clam case that holds... one envelope.

Errr.....???
Why are they releasing this when there's already the Complete Series out?

Honestly.

Oldie but goodie
I use to love watching this on tv when I was lil and now I can enjoy it for a while longer.

Click to Editorial Reviews

American Son

A true heartfelt depiction of a soldier who has 96 hours with family/friends before leaving to Iraq
In 2008, the film "AMERICAN SON", directed by Neil Abramson ("Defining Maggie", "Without Air") and screenwriter Eric Schmid submitted their film to the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the "Grand Jury Prize". The film eventually was picked up by MIRAMAX films and now makes its DVD debut.

The film stars Nick Cannon (husband of Mariah Carey and appeared on the show "All That", "Men in Black II" and "Drumline") as Mike Holland, a 19-year-old who wanted to do something with his life but with no money to pay for college, elected to join the US Marines. After completing boot camp, the young soldier is told that his squadron will be sent to Iraq and have a 4-day vacation (96 hours) before leaving.

So, Mike decides to use his 96 hours and go back home to Bakersfield, California. While on the bus, Mike meets Cristina (Melonie Diaz, "Nip/Tuck", "Be Kind Rewind", "Feel the Noise"), a college student who is also returning to Bakersfield to meet with her...

Four Days Before Iraq
I first saw this film at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with an enthusiastic crowd, and I highly recommend it.

Nick Cannon gives an honest, top-notch performance as a young soldier during his final four days before shipping out to the Middle East. The acting is excellent, the dialogue is real, the relationships are believable and the direction is tight.

Awesome and Heartfelt
Well, As a true Nick Cannon fan... for no reason other than he is a great actor and has a slew of Indie films under his belt, I feel in this film, he definitely delivered as a true soldier. His Chemistry with Melonie Diaz is cute, pure, and fun... It really does remind me of where I grew up, with not too much to do but party, drink, sell drugs or even do them. He's just another Brother who made it out of a "swallow-you whole" environment... the movie is beautifully executed throughout. I'm glad that towards the end of the film, it finally hits (Cannon) on what's about to go down. Please believe it folks, it's real!...

P.S... I cried watching this movie too. :)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Bob the Builder: Call In the Crew

Great Bob movie
This is my 2 year old's favorite movie. He prefers this movie over his other Bob movies. He has memorized the characters and many of the standard lines. Good movie for teaching sharing, team building and working together.





Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: Swamp Robber

Swamp Robber
I was able to attend the world premiere of Swamp Robber at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA and get a sneak peek at the completed film. This is the first movie in the Sugar Creek Gang series.

In this installment we are introduced to the entire gang: Bill Collins, Poetry, Circus, Dragonfly, Big Jim, and Little Jim. We accompany them as they discover a secret map and eventually encounter a bank robber on a late night visit to the swamp. The locations used for filming are gorgeous: from the farms to the forests, rivers, and creeks. You can tell these kids must have had a blast making the movie!

In addition to reamaining faithful to the main story, the film expands the scope of the original book. We get to see a bit of the home life that some of these kids endure, and interesting details are laid out that appear to set the stage for a much larger story arc that will be completed in subsequent films. Also, the stage is set for upcoming confrontations with the town...

Family friendly fun
Kids of all ages will love following the Sugar Creek Gang as they venture out to solve a mystery in the "Swamp Robber". When Poetry finds a hidden disguise in the swamp, the gang investigates and discovers a map that leads them to more than just treasure. This movie is a gem-Kalon Media has done a great job capturing the heart of the book series on film. The cinematography is peaceful and colorful and the characters are earnestly portrayed. The films are very family friendly, though there is one brief scene where a husband and wife are arguing and the husband storms off in a fury, leaving his son running after him, yet the situation is handled gently. The movies seem to have a broad appeal, and my boys (ages 4 through 10) equally loved the DVD. These days, it's not easy to find a movie they can all agree upon, but they've watched it several times and never moved from their seats for the entire movie. Amazing! Whether you're a devoted reader of the Sugar Creek Gang series or never...

The NEW Sugar Creek Gang . . .
While these Sugar Creek Gang movies are not up to the quality of Michael Landon, Jr.'s movies, they do an amazing job with the talent and equipment they have to work with. While at times some of the adults seem to be 'acting,' the kids typically fall right into their roles as naturally as in their real-life pretending. One quality I appreciate in this series is that the kids are not so heavenly minded they are no earthly good at being kids. Too many Christian oriented movies seem to have all the characters think about is their religion, so much so it runs it into the ground. These kids are very much like virtually all children who grow up in Evangelical families. Yes, they think about God and want to be a good Christian, but 98% of their time is spent just being kids. [One reviewer complained that the Christian message was 'watered down.' I'd suggest to that person that they should buy videos of pastors giving their sermons and see how many times their kids ask to see it over...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Sunshine Cleaning [Blu-ray]

Surprise movie
Every review I've read has been quasi-negative but not being one to listen to critics, I took a chance. I was very pleasantly surprised. Depending on why you go to a movie, you may not like this because it is not escapism. It deals with real life issues and things most of us can relate to. I found the movie to be very refreshing and all the characters real to life. The main character is a single mom trying to raise a precocious son. She has to deal with a dead-end relationship and an aging father, an irresponsible sister and a job she hates. How she copes and what she does is more believable than most of the "chick flick" films out today. I think this is one of the better movies in a sea of fluff to spend time and money on. Amy Adams is wonderful and it is always refreshing to see Alan Arkin. Please don't dismiss this film because of iffy reviews. It is worth going to see.

What love is, what love isn't
I cannot understand those who were bored by this film. I was entranced; good performances all around married to a well-developed plot with skillful writing yielded a totally satisfying experience. As one who did not much care for "Little Miss Sunshine", I was certainly not hoping for a repeat. And did not get it.

The guy at my Blockbuster store said "Oh, good movie. My wife and I watched it three times; we really liked it," when we checked it out. Three times may be a bit much, but it held us. The subplots that go nowhere (the blood bank gal, the problems in school) were, to me, perfect expressions of the fits and starts that life endlessly presents. Not everything gets tidied up; not everyone sees our attempted generosity as we do; not all stories have a satisfactory conclusion. Sometimes people are jerks, bad things happen, and we get stuck. One other pleasure was that the two people who seem to be experiencing the first sparks of interest do not hook up. How nice for a...

bringing sunshine to the darkness...
A very enjoyable quirky film which is after alot more then quick easy laughs. This film gets pretty serious at times and what an enjoyable ride it is made easier by the stellar cast. Amy Adams as Rose and her sister Norah, Emily Blunt, tend to Rose's 7 year old son, Oscar and their own cleaning business they are starting. This is no ordinary cleaning business but a crime scene clean up after the bodies have been moved and evidence secured and all that remains are the blood and the remanants of the deceased's life. What I loved about this film is the humanity of the characters, real people, real problems and real situations that have you pulling for them even as you shake your head at their mistakes. Alan Arkin is a joy as the cranky, scheming father of Rose and Norah, he is at a place as an actor that he brings so much of what you expect from him as an actor while also bringing such subtle differences to all his characters that you never feel you're seeing the same character you...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Sonny with a Chance: Sonny's Big Break, Volume 1

Great Show!
This is my favorite Disney Channel show in a long time. The cast is great at playing their characters; especially Demi Lovato, Sterling Knight, and Tiffany Thornton. I have to say the love/hate relationship between Sonny and Chad alone makes this show worthwile and almost gives it a means to reach an adult audience. I'll definitely be buying the dvd.

Highly entertaining and all out fun!
From the writer and producer who has worked on popular animated titles such as "The Fairly Odd Parents", "Danny Phantom" and "Family Guy" comes the Disney Channel series "Sonny with a Chance" starring pop star Demi Lovato.

The series started airing on February 2009 and I have to admit that among the Disney Channel shows that I have watched with my son, "Sonny with a Chance" is actually quite enjoyable and highly entertaining.

The series revolves around an Internet star named Sonny Munroe (Demi Lovato) who is from Wisconsin. She and her mother Connie (Nancy McKeon, "Facts of Life") move to Hollywood for Sonny's first major television role, to be part of the popular sketch comedy show "So Random!". Joining her on the show is the diva Tawni Hart (Tiffany Thornton), the comedic best friends Nico (Brandon Smith) and Grady (Doug Brochu) and the youngest member of the group, and also quite odd at times, Zora (Alllisyn Ashley Arm). Along with the show's producer...

Sonny's Big Break
It took awhile for Sonny With a Chance to grow on me. The humor was silly, but I did enjoy the characters.

The episode on this disc are:

"Sketchy Beginnings",
"West Coast Story",
"Sonny At The Falls",
"Cheater Girls",
Bonus Episode - "Sonny In The Middle"

I wish Disney would release the complete series or more volumes, but they probably never will. At least we have these five episodes on DVD.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Heavens Declare

Excellent
Excellent video. Being an amateur astronomer and a Christian it is difficult finding anything to watch that is from the Christian point of view. Love the DVD.

Excellent and very thorough
I can honestly say that this is one of most thoroughly explained and well-written DVDs out. I highly recommend anyone to get it!



Click to Editorial Reviews

MAKING SOMETHING UP

No one's fault but my own...
I forgot to check the distributor when I ordered this - and once again Vanguard lets out another complete dud made to look like a 1970s TV film. I gave it a fair shot though as I love watching San Francisco films. This disappointed in every way except for the City - but let's make this quick so you can move on.

The picture, sound and DVD quality are all very poor. The DVD menu had spelling errors, there were no special features and the overall look succeeded in appearing older as this was made almost 10 years ago. The acting was laughable, and there were several scenes (edited to look like they were days apart) that were obviously filmed at the same time, except the cast changed shirts (doubt the AMR ambulance rig would stay parked at exact same spot for a week on a busy SF street/park, numerous other background flubs, etc.).

A light evening rental for those that want to see some SF streetscapes from early 2000 time period and reminisce for that Barney...

Old-fashioned Romantic Comedy with Quirky Characters
A charming little award-winning indy film that harkens back to the days of interesting characters with an original plot that has funny and unexpected turns. A great sound track and family friendly, too! But, what do I know, I'm the producer's wife - just being honest.

noise
the music is freaking horrible, & the characters look like they're from the '70s. Could turn out to be good but after 2 aweful songs w/in 10 minutes I couldn't take anymore.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Sugar Creek Gang: Secret Hideout

GREAT FAMILY FILM
I had seen these movies around and decided I would finally watch one. After it was done I knew I had to watch the entire series. It was alot better than I thought it would be. Great entertainment with good moral teaching. It didn't come across as those "perfectly behaved christian children", but rather normal kids and their lives. I liked the way the movie got a message across without "preaching it to you". It wasn't like a "christian movie", rather a great movie that happen to have "christian values". My only regret is that I didn't watch them sooner, and that there isn't more of them other than the five!

Oldy
This series is a must have in book form. The DVD's are excellent as well.

moab lenn
a well made movie very interesting. high quality production and picture quality equal to blue ray because film was not used but digital cameras were used. would reccomend the as a family movie nothing that a child of any age could watch.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!?

A great gift for young children
Joyce Meyer is the voice of Ruby the Lioness in Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!?, a DVD presenting two complete episodes of the wonderful, award-winning new children's series Pahappahooey Island, filled with songs and playful furry creatures. In "What About Me!?", four friends set out on an exciting treasure hunt, but the nefarious Ichabone Slink nudges them to think only of themselves. It's up to Ruby to teach the friends about the importance of working together and respecting one another. In "Hide It In Your Heart", important things suddenly start to disappear - where is a safe place to keep one's possessions, and indeed, what is the nature of the most truly precious possessions of all? An inexpensive, family-friendly DVD with an invaluable message, Pahappahooey Island: What About Me!? is a great gift for young children. 67 minutes, closed captioned.

Lessons
This was a good film. Reminds me of even adults who need a headsup in social circles. The kids will adore the characters. Resembles friends they hang with. Very mind tickling.

Awesome!
Shipping was fast! Product was everythign that it was described as! Kids loved it at my church! Funny and clean! something you can walk out of room while the kids watch it and not have to worry :)

Click to Editorial Reviews

Field Trips With Recess Monkey (Episodes #1-4: Music Videos, Hand Puppets, Field Trips, Dance Party, Fun!)

Another great Recess Monkey product
We have several Recess Monkey cd's. This is our first DVD from them. Highly entertaining for the five year old and his parents. Great group to see live if you have the opportunity. I appreciate just how clever the lyrics and DVD are.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Hannah Montana: The Movie (Two-Disc Edition + Digital Copy)

Blu-ray: For Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Fans, this Blu-ray comes with three discs, a lot of features and awesome picture quality
Since 2006, "Hannah Montana" has not only been a popular television series for the Disney Channel but a series that has definitely made Miley Cyrus, daughter of country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, a bonafide star.

It was one thing to watch this young teenager who was 13-years old at the time, grow up and become a popular television star and music talent that would sell out many concert venues, has had her music on top of the Billboard charts and now has two Disney films under her belt.

The first film from Disney focused on a 3D version of her concert and television show personality but this time around, "Hannah Montana: The Movie" takes to the big screen and takes a more serious look at Miley Cyrus's character as her pop star identity has now affected her family and he friendship and has come to the point that the lifestyle of a popstar has gotten to her head.

The film is directed by Peter Chelsom ("Shall We Dance", "Serendipity" and "Town & Country"),...

MY 600TH REVIEW!!!!!!
On April 25th, I treated myself to a double feature at my theater. I saw this and Crank: High Voltage. I'm really glad I saw this movie. I'm a 19 year old guy, and I enjoyed it! I love when she sings Let's Get Crazy and the Hoedown Throwdown. After upsetting Lilly at her 16th Birthday party, Robby takes Miley back to Tennessee to find her true self. She meets a childhood friend from 1st grade, Travis who still has a crush on her. After having fun in Tennessee with her friends and family, Miley thinks of letting her alter ego, Hannah Montana go for good. I loved when Miley had to be two places at once. What will she choose? I highly recommend that you get crazy, get up and dance, and see HANNAH MONTANA: THE MOVIE!!!

p.s. It's been awesome writing 600 reviews, and can't wait for 600 more!

Hannah Montana The Movie
Good movie for the grand-daughter. I did not particularly care for it as the other Miley Cyrus movies. Not a good role model for young girls.

Click to Editorial Reviews