Home Sweet Home

Praise for 'Home Sweet Home.'
I caught this film in Albuquerque (Aliens and Outlaws)...and....it rocks! It's taught, gripping, and beautiful! I have never wanted to visit a locale so badly and steer completely away from it at the same time! (You'll know what I mean when you see the film).

The lead truly morphs before your eyes to rise up to the brutal challenges she faces. The villain is sexy and scary! I recommend this riveting adventure to anyone who enjoys high octane in their films.

'Home Sweet Home' manages to walk the thriller/horror line but remain extremely accessible to many film goers, and doesn't rely on gross outs and gore to keep audiences in their seats. Can't wait to pick up my blu ray of this film and drool over the cinematography on my 62" HD LED monitor! I"m also looking forward to seeing the making of featurette. My son is studying to be a film maker and wants to see how such a film was pulled off at its budget category.

Two thumps up for 'Home...

Suspense Thriller & a good one at that
Pretty good flick & what a badass killer that actress is. Seriously screwed up and entertaining to boot. You can't wait to see that sinister quirk of a smile. You'll like it, it's a decent story - would have liked a different ending. This review is short only because I'm exhausted today - don't let it reflect poorly on the film, it's a good one guys.

WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?
"Home Sweet Home" is another "me too" home invasion film. After getting her third final notice, unemployed Gwen (Alexandra Boylan) at the advice of her brother, (Andrew Boylan) returns to the isolated family home. She is going to fix it up and place it on the market, although it didn't look like it needed much of anything other than a broken bird feeder and who has those in the middle of the desert?

Unfortunately she has attracted the attention of a couple of bad people lead by Kristi (Raquel Cantu). She is your basic soulless Shari Moon Zombie type of bad girl, and the sole reason for watching this film. Other than her character, the film was boring. I fully expected a wicked twist at the end, i.e. her brother hired them to get rid of her so he can have the house himself, but it didn't happen.

The film wasn't particularly bad, but the twist and the interest factor was lame. Recommend as a rental only.

Parental Guide: F-bomb. Brief distant truck sex...

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Letting Go

letting go
Good, sad at times, but also made no sense at times. The dogs were the best part. So a good show for dog lovers.

Honest and relatable drama
This is a heartfelt and unique film about a guy, Joel, who's desperately seeking happiness and satisfaction in his life. His relationship is on the rocks, he struggles to find the balance between his career and his personal life, and on top of that he has three large and high maintenance dogs. I really enjoyed this film for its honesty and relatable material about coming to terms with life.
Source: criticnic.com 19 January 2013
Disclosure: Film sent by Osiris Entertainment

Worth The Watch Deeper Than It Seems
In Letting Go, we meet Joel played by Jake Torem who lives with his super crazy girlfriend April who although played by Shirley Brener, I can't not see Heather Graham's face.

Joel's life is coming apart. Between, his girlfriend, his three big dogs, his boss, his life, everything is insane and he thoughtfully seeks therapy. The therapist helps Joel break down the barrier that has been holding him back from being truly happy with his life.

Looking for something different check out Letting Go. I was surprised to see Peter Brady, I mean Christopher Knight and Bosom Buddy Peter Scolari; faces I haven't seen in forever.

The movie and acting, especially by Torem, is very well done and full of little side stories especially Joel's relationship with his parents, especially his father.

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Lake Noir

LAKE NOIR --- MORE BRAIN DAMAGE
My previous experience with Brain Damage films has been less than memorable: cheap production values, horrible effects and acting, totally reliant on gore, violence, sex and stupidity. When I rented LAKE NOIR, I wasn't aware it's spawn of Brain Damage's seed. Thank God I didn't buy it!
LAKE NOIR does have a slightly better "look" but not significantly. The script is padded with pointless minutes of driving past boring vistas and lengthy diatribes on sexual conquests and the lack thereof. Once again, a group of idiots go off on a weekend getaway to some isolated destination merely to drink, smoke pot and have sex---why not just stay home, save money and your life? And once again, no one pays attention to the local looney who warns them to stay away---haven't these jerks seen a horror movie lately? And the ending is a real hoot, with the final credits warning us of the next LAKE NOIR saga??? Do yourself a favor----avoid this movie and any future Brain Damage assaults!

I really tried to like this movie.
I am sorry to have to say how bad this movie was. The actors were new and/or inexperienced. They were probably just starting out or wanted to be actors. With that being said, I must say the movie was awful!!! I could barely watch it. I skipped through most of it because of the bad dialogue and acting. It was just so bad it was almost funny.

The box, as always, tricked me. I had to throw my copy away. At least, I didn't waste very much money, but I do wish I had it back.

I loved the movie
I for the most part don't enjoy horror movies. In fact it seems to me that most horror movies have a lot of blood and gore and not much of a story line. I enjoyed this, because it had a story line and a surprise twist which I always enjoy. I would recommend this movie to others who enjoy horror or some that just want a fun movie to enjoy. If there is a second movie I will definitely enjoy that as well. At least I will pay good money to buy and watch anyway.

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Vehicle 19

PAUL WALKER IN A CAR
Michael Woods (Paul Walker) is an America on parole in South Africa wanting to visit his wife or ex-wife at the embassy. He picks up vehicle 19 at the rental place and it is clearly not for him. This leads him into a battle with crooked police as the vehicle contains things to implicate them in illegal activity.

This film takes place in the car, and not just just bits and pieces of it, I mean all of it. Paul Walker in the car talking on the cell phone. Paul Walker in the car driving on the wrong side of the street. Paul Walker in the car talking to people outside. Paul Walker in the car being chased by the police. Paul Walker being pulled over. Paul Walker in the car being shot at. Paul Walker in the car going through a car wash. Paul Walker in the car while it is getting painted...seriously. Paul Walker is on the screen so much George Clooney wants to change agents. The plot grew boring with no twists.

Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

vehicle 19 a true review
I was hesitant to purchase this movie because it got so many bad reviews online here. The one review that made me think I should purchase it was because they compared it to the transporter and that was a good film. I went and looked up the trailer and watched it and it looked good. There was a review on here where they said the trailer was good but the film was not. Anyway I purchased it because I like paul walker and I like action movies and the trailer and comparison to transporter all looked good. I must say the movie was good. It kept your attention all the way through it moved and progressed well and was your normal action movie. It may of not had big action but that is because it was a low budget shot in africa film. But the story was good. Paul walker just got out of jail and went to africa to get back with his girlfriend who works at the U.S. embassy there. At the airport there is a mix up with his rental car. As he is driving a phone that is not his beeps with a message on...

Disappointing
I wish that I had read the Amazon reviews for this before paying money for it. On paper the title and plot premise sounded very promising, but the film fails to live up to its potential. The film starts with a car chase then moves into a flashback to show the events that lead up to that moment. I have seen this sort of plot device used really effectively in films, particularly when there are odd elements that precede the flashback that the flashback later explains. However here it really does not add anything - we see the flashback, then the car chase again, and then the conclusion. Not sure what the point of doing it that way is. As other reviewers have pointed out the plot really does not hang together, and the actions of Michael Woods (played by Paul Walker) a damaged ex-con often don't make much sense. The fact that he clearly has a troubled background and seems to have anger management problems, could have made this work, but his problems are underplayed and his response to the...

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Monster Camp [HD]

An interesting look into a misunderstood world.
If you ever feel like you don't belong or are misunderstood watch this film. It takes you to a place where people who just can't fit in with society gather to pretend like they fit in with a society that doesn't exist.

Yea confusing. No matter what you think about these types of people the film makers show an amazing insiders view of this strange and often disdained activity. It was eye opening and hilarious at the same time. If you like documentary on social subsets this is for you.

It's not as hyped, but far superior to Darkon
First a rant on that other LARP Documentary:

I was excited when the buzz about Darkon started. I had played in a LARP one time close to fifteen years ago, and although I was never in a position to ever go back and do it again, I enjoyed my experience so much that I still think fondly of it years later.
Darkon went to film festivals.
Darkon had a neat interactive promotional website.
Darkon was a huge disappointment.

Darkon spent far too much time talking about things that the viewer really doesn't care about, such as the internal politcs of a LARP which even though the players may be enthusiastic about, doesn't translate into somthing interesting for anyone outside of that particular LARP...even to other LARPers. They also spent an extrordinary amount of time outside of the LARP talking about the personal struggles of the players. We get it, they have sucky things going on in their lives...WE ALL DO, YOU AREN'T MAKING A POINT WITH THAT.
So in...

Terrific documentary
This is the best documentary yet made of the Live Action Role-Playing phenomenon. The character portraits captured is very valuable anthropological material for the understanding of sub-cultures. The director successfully emerses the viewer in the world of Live Action Role-Play thoroughly. This point is made clear when the director shoots a short interview of hikers who've stumbled upon the L.A.R.P.ers mid-game. Their questioning of the game seems curiously dim-witted. The director makes the normal people seem like outsiders.

The Special Features on the disc were very good. The deleted scenes were interesting. However, the director's commentary track was not synced properly to the video. This was unfortunate, because it was an excellent commentary with many interesting observations. I would still place this disc on my top 10 list of Greatest Pop-Culture Documentaries.

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Finding Joy [HD]

Hilarious film!
This movie made me laugh and cry too. It was so funny. I loved the characters and the quirkiness of the family. A gem of an indie comedy!

Finding Joy
Fun & heart warming. A great date night movie. The summary really doesn't do it justice. Be prepared to laugh and crying.

So allright i like chick flicks
Sentimental, check, cute lady with terminal disease, check, male in great need of getting in touch with his 'feelings?; check.
Predictable, but still enjoyable. ron wallach www.wholetoothmaui.com

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Hello Herman [HD]

Very Insightful Movie
I really enjoyed Hello Herman. It is a movie that is like no other out there and it's such an important topic in todays society. This movie needs to get out there! And Norman Reedus did an amazing job.

Hello Herman is awesome!
Hello Herman is such an amazing film. The subject that it deals with, bullying, is so important to be informed about now a days. The film is so inspirational and I feel everyone should see this film.
The film features an amazing cast. The most prominent one being Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead). Garret Backstrom is also featured here in the lead role of Herman. Also including Martha Higuereda.
The plot was also incredible. Herman, a boy being bullied in high school by the "cool kids", has finally snapped. He is being interviewed by journalist Lax Morales, asking Herman why he did what he did.
The story is captivating and will keep you hanging on from beginning to end. Sam Kushner from Vanity Fair states: "...HELLO HERMAN is a powerful and important work, a darkly brilliant tone poem about America's tango with violence and fame. Herman will get under your skin. He may even follow you home. What is certain is you won't soon forget him...."

Hello, Herman! Why So Violent?
Full disclosure: My wife (Libertad Green), her parents, and I were among the protesters and mourners in this movie.

That being said, after viewing Hello Herman last night, I can honestly say I was impressed. Professional and realistic enough to keep my interest, this movie suggests numerous factors are influencing people to commit acts of violence now-a-days, including:

Bullies
The parent who abandons his or her spouse and their children
The sibling who would rather play video games alone than go outside to play with their siblings
Religion - especially Islam
Atheism
The economy, which obliges parents to spend more time at work and less time at home
Teachers who care but are unable to help as much as they would like to
Teachers who just need to be shot in the face
Immigrants who take jobs they are obviously not qualified for
Racists
Extremists
Gangsters
Cowards who would rather beat a child with a ball...

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Stranger Things

Lovely
Beautiful cinematography with a real story that unravels slowly like the friendship between two strangers who on the surface seem different, but inside have the same vulnerabilities and energy. A breath of fresh air in this day choppy hectic movies- this one has heart.

"Stranger Things": Compassion works
The little film "Stranger Things" (made in England with IFP New York) certainly shows the hidden rewards of compassion, and a willingness to reach out, that surprises even the heroine of the film. In this movie, simplicity works. Watched on Amazon Instant Video rental, very easy.

very slow movie
It was a decent almost good movie, but there were way too many still pauses. It had a nice story to it, but nothing unusual or out of the ordinary. Just really slow.

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The People I've Slept With [HD]

A Saucy Comedy About Promiscuity? The Supporting Characters Are Far More Appealing Than The Leads
Is it possible to have a frothy romantic sex comedy with characters that have very few redeeming features? I guess "The People I've Slept With" makes the case that it is, indeed, possible. But is it prudent? Attempting to be a pleasing romp, the film presents two lead characters that I did not like at all. That's fine in some cases, I appreciate an antihero or jerk as much as the next guy (probably more). In this type of comedy, however, you're supposed to be charmed and amused by the lead's antics and I simply found them distasteful and insufferable. With a plot straight out of a film two decades ago, "The People I've Slept With" highlights a world of irresponsibility and promiscuity. Strangely, the most traumatic thing that may happen in this life of meaningless and random sexual encounters is an unwanted pregnancy (okay, maybe the plot is from 30 years ago). Of course, life lessons are to be learned as selfishness gives way to elements of maturity--but by that time, this...

So funny
This is a really good movie, the characters were great. If you like to laugh, you'll want to see it,

really funny movie
awesome movie a lot of funny stuff makes the movie well worth the watch, it kind of covers everything and it makes you laugh too

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Oil on Ice

Amazing film about one of the few latest paradises on earth
This film made me want to travel to Alaska and meet the natives and have a look at them one last time in shame. We don't own this land. This land owns us and if we forget that the human race will vanish very soon. A striking photography and beautiful music will make this film an unforgettable experience. The impact of oil drilling on natives is well explained and very well understood after watching this film. The impact on all of us on the long run becomes quite clear after watching the film. This film is a must see.

Wayyy one-sided
Extremely biased. Many beautiful shots of the Brooks Range area nowhere near the proposed drilling area (1%) of the whole ANWR area. Little of the proposed drilling area (and nothing in winter.)

Nothing (!) seen of the existing north slope drilling area to actually see what the effect would be on caribou, polar bears etc...

The Gwich'in natives who don't live in the area (opposed) get wayyy more time than the Inupiat (balanced pro/con) who do live there.

And how about this news item :"The Gwich'in tribal council in the Northwest Territories has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Calgary-based exploration company to search for oil and gas on 350 square kilometres of land east of Inuvik, N.W.T." Of course we don't hear anything about this hypocrisy.

The former Alaska Governor gets a few seconds of airtime. Otherwise nothing from the other 99.9% of Alaskans.

The radical enviromentalists - yes. Regular Americans - no...

Very educational
This is a very good, informative film... it was very good to start a discussion about environmental policies.

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The Girl

A Touching Tale of Redemption
This is a sensitive tale of a woman down on her luck. She ends up trying to be a coyote and ferry people across the border. A young mother dies. Rather than abandon the woman's child, she travels deep into Mexico to return the daughter to her maternal grandmother. The woman seeks forgiveness and receives it. This is a very touching tale of maturation, love and discovery. Abbie Cornish was fantastic. This is a movie I highly recommend, especially for young women and girls, or anyone who also has a daughter. Enjoy.

CAN I HELP YOU?
Ashley (Abbie Cornish/Sucker Punch) is attempting to get her son (Austin West) back from foster care. She has a low paying job supporting herself while living in a trailer. On a trip to Mexico with her dad (Will Patton) she discovers he is making good money transporting people across the border. Ashley has a plan to make a big score doing the same thing, but things don't pan out. She ends up reluctantly caring for a young girl (Maritza Santiago Hernandez) whose mother was apparently killed in the crossing Ashley orchestrated.

The film is well acted. It is heart warming and gritty at times. It is a tale that is more about character than plot. I did not find this "Lifetime" type of film overly entertaining or enjoyable in spite of being well done. I did enjoy the innuendo on her work smock, "Can I Help You?" Perhaps fans of "Lifetime" films can find enjoyment in this feature.

Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity.

Great Movie , lovely scenery of the interior of Mexico .
This a great movie on the trials of a young woman who has lost her way but in her journey thru decisions she makes she is redeemed and gains a new knowledge of life

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Silent Partner (1978) [HD]

Best suspense film you've never seen!
I first saw this movie on HBO back in 1982, and it struck me as the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made. The Silent Partner is a deft mixtue of suspense and humor, with enough twists to keep one guessing until the very end. I used to own it on LaserDisc, and the film was grainy and the colors rather faded. I am pleased to report that the film has aged well, and the colors on this dvd are far richer than they were on Laser or HBO. The grain is still there, but it is not a distraction. If you like suspense films and have not seen his movie, you owe it to yourself to see it.

One last word: I wish Amazon would not allow reviews for a product prior to its release. There are a number of reviews here that were written long before the DVD release ( April 3). The film is, in fact, presented in a widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio. The cover is terrible, and whoever designed it Obviously never saw the film, but what is contained within the case is well worth watching. I wish...

Excellent!
The Silent Partner is a suspenseful, well done thriller with some interesting twists and turns. Guaranteed to hold the attention of the viewer throughout. Very original. Convincing performances by Gould as a milque toast bank manager "gone bad" and his nemesis Plummer, a masochistic killer and bank robber. Nudity and some shocking violence. Highly recommended, but for adult viewing.

Daylight robbery
And the award for most misleading DVD cover of the year goes to Lions Gate for The Silent Partner, which scales new heights of dishonesty in its attempts to sell this very smart 1978 Canadian thriller as a Reservoir Dogs heist movie with its image of three black-suited robbers, smoking gun in hand, striding across a US hundred dollar bill, while below even the still of a huge open bank vault is from a completely different movie. By contrast, the film is set in a small shopping mall branch of a Toronto bank which Christopher Plummer's very unpleasant solo bank robber knocks off disguised as Santa Claus only to find that Elliott Gould's clued-in bank teller has pulled a fast one on him and kept $48,000 of the $50,000 haul himself, cuing an increasingly nasty game of cat and mouse where it turns out that the much underestimated Gould's cunning is more than a match for Plummer's cruelty as the stakes constantly rise. Half victim, half apprentice, Gould's boringly inconspicuous everyman...

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The Bourne Identity (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)

Jason's not paranoid, he's just in a tough spot.
I'll be honest, I haven't read the Robert Ludlum novel, nor do I remember seeing the original film staring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. So I'm not able to point out differences or inconsistencies, if indeed there are any. Having said that, I can't imagine its predecessors topping Doug Liman's version of "The Bourne Identity." This is the sort of film I like to watch pretty often and each time I find something new to enjoy.

The plot, while nothing very original, provides a useful framework around which we get to enjoy some of the most believable action sequences I've seen. Let's face it, an assassin suffering from amnesia is not going to lead a dull life, particularly not after his "friends" decide he's gone rogue. There's only so many ways you can film stunts and action sequences like a car chase but Liman has managed to somehow make the many action scenes seem fresh. I particularly liked seeing what looked like a mini-minor out driving the police using skill and...

Fool me once, shame on yoUniversal Studios
First, I rate the MOVIE Bourne Identity and the older Collector's Edition DVD both as 5-star. I expected the Extended Edition DVD to include all in the older Collector's Edition DVD AND MORE. What you get with the Extended Edition DVD is a FREE TICKET (EXPIRES AUGUST 8th) to MOVIE Bourne Supremacy and a weaker DVD release that is largely a promotion for the new movie.

What you LOSE (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

an extended farmhouse scene; DTS sound; Doug Liman's informative Director's Commentary track.

What you DO NOT GAIN (Extended Edition DVD versus Collector's Edition DVD):

the SAME alternate ending IN ROUGH, GRAINY QUALITY as in the deleted scenes of the Collector's Edition; the SAME deleted/extended scenes (except for the ADDED alternate beginning noted below and the OMITTED farmhouse scene noted above); the SAME Extreme Ways music video by Moby and the SAME DVD-ROM access to web site; no featurette whatsoever...

A skillfully made thriller
THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a tightly conceived, well directed, well photographed and particularly well acted suspense thriller loosely based on the Robert Ludlum best seller. True, many liberties have been taken from the novel, but when you take the time to note that Ludlum himself is the producer, then all arguments are off. Matt Damon and Franka Potente are terrific as the amnesiac agent and his 'only friend' who helps him escape a mad and endless chase from multiple groups of would be assassins. The characters are well developed - Damon gives one of his better perfomances, doing most of his stunt work himself while Potente continues to prove she is an actress worth watching. The supporting cast of such fine actors as Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, etc help propel this movie along. Outside of the French Connection this is one of the best car chases ever filmed - gratefully without the now-boring background of explosions and destruction. In all a fine film that is delivered on DVD with...

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Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright [HD]

Record High
All Scooby-Doo episodes and movies contain promise, but some are better than others; hence, Zombie Island and Witch's Ghost are better remembered than Aloha or Chill Out. Well, when I heard this one looked adventurous and parodied both Phantom of the Opera and American Idol I made the mistake of renting it. By mistake, I mean that I should have bought it to rewatch the multifaceted plot details. Just when you think they solved the mystery, there turns out to be more. Also, the gang shows their talent: Shaggy and Scooby act goofier than ever, Velma coins better one-liners, and Daphne and Fred sing their first duets. The characters are dynamic, especially "Fraphne." They even ponder the self-mimicking question, "Are we the only ones who run into masked crooks?"

It includes a sewer slide, a stakeout, several chase scenes, and a perilous driving scene. But the biggest surprise is how it ends. Some shows have one bad guy in a mask, some have two, some have a...

Scooby Doo
I thought this was a good Scooby Doo movie, more than one villain, Daphne and Fred singing, it was over all enjoyable. I would like to remind people that this is a Scooby Doo movie, made for enjoyment.

great movie!
My five year old lives this movie and my eight year old girl! They say "it's funny because Scooby says Scooby Dooby Doo!"

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Last Night

It's The End Of The World As We Know It And This Apocalypse Drama Feels Fine
This small Canadian picture from writer/director/star Don McKellar came as a huge surprise. As it begins, there are six hours left before the end of the world. It's never divulged just what has transpired to bring about this catastrophe, but that's completely secondary to the very real and human stories unfolding. As people confront the end in different ways (some dignified, some anarchic) this picture connects with quiet moments and believable characterizations.

Far from typical Apocalyptic representations, this is a refreshing story about human interactions. There is some looting and rioting, to be sure, but much of that is a backdrop to normal people facing the inevitable. They all have different ways they want to face the end: attend a last concert, be alone, have an impromptu Christmas, watch home movies, go to a party, have sex. Realistic and gentle observances are what will make this film linger in my mind.

McKellar is great as a man who just wants to be...





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Jack the Giant Slayer (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy)

Lots of Fun
Here's a new take on an old tale. Rated PG-13 and directed by Bryan Singer ("X-Men"), this "Jack and the Beanstalk" is well cast, visually exciting, and lots of fun. Computer Generated Imaging has made fantasy stories more and more fantastical; this one is mind-boggling.

We admire:
* Nicholas Hoult ("Warm Bodies") is resourceful and resolute as Jack, the nice young man who drops a magic bean and... "Uh oh," gets it WET. Later, as he clambers up that amazing beanstalk, he admits he "doesn't much like heights."
* Eleanor Tomlinson ("Alice in Wonderland") is Isabel, an adventurous princess who finds waaaay more adventure than she bargained for.
* Ian McShane ("Deadwood") is the king, ready to marry off his daughter to a much older man in order to achieve peace with a neighboring kingdom. But he pitches right in when his kingdom is under attack.
* Stanley Tucci ("The Hunger Games") makes the perfect bridegroom/villain: ambitious, ruthless and cruel...

This film is fee-fi-fo-FUN - but a little bit too scary for little children...
I liked this film and together with my 12 years old daughter we spend a nice moment watching it. It is however definitely not recommended to little children, like 10 and younger. This review contains limited SPOILERS.

This retelling of old tale of Jack and the Beanstalk is pretty well done, with many key ingredients of fairy tales well in place. There is a brave and ultimately quite clever farm boy (Jack), a cute and quite likeable damsel in distress, a noble king, his brave knights, a vilainous treacherous scoundrel, powerful magic items, a really REALLY BAD giant alpha (and beta) and a whole batallion of other giants, almost as dangerous as their two-headed leader.

Past the first 10 minutes, the film is rather quick paced and visually it is very pleasant: the sky domain of giants, the giant beanstalks and the mighty royal fortress are really impressive. The desperate fight of royal army against the giants besieging the great royal castle is a particularly well...

ENDING MOVIES WITH BIG BATTLES... isn't always the most interesting choice
Rumored that "Jack" was doomed to flop, you may assume that going into the film that it may be terrible. That isn't the case. It was just an expensive film to make, approximately $190 million. Based on the fact, that Warner Brothers Studios has numerous movies ("Harry Potter", "Dark Knight", "The Hobbit") in its pocket that will make up for whatever loss, if any, "Jack" sustains, you should not weep for them. Although, you may consider whether or not to take the time to go see it in theaters or get the bluray/DVD.

Why not! It's a fun movie. Not to mention, it is one of those rare movies that anybody in the family can watch and enjoy. There are some dark moments in the film and some mildly scary moments, but it's all fun. We all know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk and now, with today's incredible technology, we can see this fairy tale, mostly imagined up to this point, in vivid 3-D and live action or CG action.

Director Bryan Singer knows a thing or two about...

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6 Dead Souls

CAVEAT EMPTOR!!! - This is nothing more than a repackaging of Circle (2010)
Again, we are subject to film distribution companies and others attempting to repackage old stuff as new and breathe new life into an older film.

This film is nothing more than a re-packaging of the film Circle (2010) also available here on Amazon, for quite a bit less. Buy that and enjoy the film.

This is a pretty good film, and Silas Weir Mitchell does not disappoint as a genius psychopath.

I am sure Indican Pictures re-released this hoping to cash in in Silas Weir Mitchell's fame from Grimm. He's a great actor, but this sort of stuff is disingenuous without full and fair disclosure to the public of what they are buying.

A campy B movie that had some potential but.....
Premise: A bunch of sex crazed college students staying in an house as a class project. An escaped nut from a mental institution. A cop that captured him years ago. An FBI agent sent to take over the case. Oh yeah, the house the kids are staying in??????.........guess who use to live there? There is another plot twist but I will not spoil.

Acting: The students, typical young actors more likely hired because they look better nekkid than for their acting ability. The cops are better. The crazy escapee, Silas Weir Mitchell (Monroe from Grimm), plays a silent killer named James Bennet.

Scenery/Background: For a house where noone lives, it is clean, the grounds are well kept and there are even a live potted plant. The windows are clean, no cob webs, etc. Its a nice looking house. The cop station is basically empty rooms with a few desks and computers. It's rare to see any other cops in the station.

Family friendly: Not a family movie. Topless female nudity...

6 dead souls
I bought this movie because I am into that kind of flick. What I got was great acting and a great plot. That is all I am going to say I give nothing away. If you want to know why I give it 5 stars watch it best I can do for you it will shock and amaze

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The Last Ride: A Story of Hank Williams

Review of Bluray- Fictional film on country music legend. Worth watching if a country fan
I admit that I'm not an expert on Hank Williams though I think I've reviewed every reissue of his music over the last 15 years and I got the soundtrack CD earlier this year. I missed the film when it played in theaters and was anxious to see it on DVD/BD. Overall I liked it, but don't expect "Oscar" winning performances. It was pretty much independently produced in 2010 but didn't get a distributor (Fox) until 2012. And it took till this year (2013) to get to home video.

You'll hear a lot about Hank Williams in the review but not hear his name mentioned in the film - except on the radio. Even the intro refers to "Luke the Drifter", Williams "alter-ego". And the screen says "Based on a true story" at the beginning but in the bonus feature (more on that in a minute) they say that most of it is fiction. I don't think I'm giving anything away ( I hate spoilers too) by saying that "Luke" dies in the back of his Cadillac, and that is true. Whether anyone else was inside is not...

Wow! What a ride!
The growing relationship between Hank and his driver, Silas was fantastic. The acting was believable, and the story just pulled you along. I have already watched it three times, and I am getting ready for the fourth in a few minutes. Then, I'll probably watch Walk the Line, the The Last Ride again. I HIGHLY recommend this movie for ALL country music fans, fans of the South in the 1950s, and real movie fans. Tim Jackson and Harry Thomason, you've really done it this time. Thanks! More, please!

The last week of Hank Williams Sr.
A 19-year-old guy gets a job to drive a 'Mr. Wells' to Virginia. He is told to not let Mr. Wells drink. If Wells arrives drunk the driver does not get paid. Soon enough Wells (played by Henry Thomas of E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial [VHS]) wants a drink.

This movie reminded me of Collateral with its story of a driver an passenger. All the driver knows is that the passenger is in the music industry. They never say his name. People say they saw him in concert but nobody identifies him. Wells says his name is a traveling name. He also says his name is Luke.

Since there is much driving there are several cars, they are in a 1950's Caddy, it is a character itself. Fred Thompson plays Wells' manager during some phone calls.

When they do not make the show in Virginia they head to Ohio, two times they get fuel...

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We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks [HD]

Entertaining, But Questionable Fact-Checking
Other than seeing the name "WikiLeaks" in news headlines, I previously knew nothing about it. The idea of a "true story" documentary about it was very intriguing to me. As a documentary, it is entertaining, captivating, and left me wanting more.

I went to WikiLeaks.org and found they had posted an annotated transcript of the movie. To my disappointment, the annotations pointed out "The film is filled with factual errors and speculation..." and provided links to all the sources to the contrary facts.

WikiLeaks also states "Neither Julian Assange nor anyone associated with WikiLeaks agreed to participate in this film. Any footage of Assange or WikiLeaks' staff was taken from stock footage. WikiLeaks has, however, co-operated with a film by respected Academy Award-nominated film- maker Laura Poitras, which will be out later this year. Another film, co-produced with Ken Loach's 16 Films, will be released shortly".

After reading the annotations, I felt...

Waiting for a Better Doc
On the good news side, "We Steal Secrets" is fast-paced, engaging and entertaining. It raises some interesting questions -- though more so about the nature of hero worship than about Wikileaks, and that is its downfall. There are so many huge, open questions about Wikileaks, about its ethics and its ongoing impact on the world and this doc really only scrapes that surface, preferring instead to spend its precious time on the prurient stuff about gender dysphoria and broken condoms.

To some degree, Alex Gibney's ability to tell a fully fleshed-out story was limited by who he had access to -- not Assange, not Manning and not anyone who has a current relationship with either of them. One can argue that this was the fault of Assange, who chose not to participate in this film for whatever reason (he tells a different story from Gibney, and there's no way to know what really happened there), or one can argue that Gibney rushed a film that should have taken a more painstaking...

What should have been informative became too personal...
We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks is a mixed bag at best. On the plus side, We Steal Secrets is brilliantly crafted, well-filmed and edited, and fast-paced and as exciting as a Hollywood thriller. On the negative side, the director clearly had a personal vendetta against Assange by the end, giving too much light to fishy stories of assault in Sweden and his melancholy time holed up in various safe houses.

I have no idea why Alex Gibney, obviously a fine director, chose such obviously one-sided sources. We mostly hear from outcasts like Daniel Domscheit-Berg and other "former" WikiLeaks supporters, and too much screentime is given to some extremely questionable stories from the woman Assange allegedly sexually assaulted. Neither Bradley Manning nor Julian Assange were directly interviewed, which is obviously a huge blow to the film. We Steal Secrets starts out hopeful and mysterious, detailing the huge leaks perpetrated by conflicted soldier Bradley Manning, and the...

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Denise Austin: Best Bun & Leg Shapers

A Great best-of exercise DVD
Denise Austin Best Bun&Leg shapers DVD is a selection of Denise Austin's favourite workouts.The duration of this DVD is Approx.70 minutes,broken in 7 different workouts.
These 7 workouts are;

1)Personal Training (lower body high intensity)-10 minutes;
Target you trouble zones by firming up your legs,thighs and buttocks with these high intensity exercises.

2)Hit The Spot:Pilates(buttocks)-10 minutes;
Lift and tighten your glutes with this 10-minutes exercise that will firm and shape your backside while keeping your coore tight.

3)Hit The Spot:Pilates(hips and thighs)-10 minutes;
Trim your waistline with these isolation moves that will melt inches around each thigh and blast away cellulite.

4)Get Fit Fast(legs and buns)-10 minutes;
Squat and lunge your way to strong, lean legs with these sculpting moves that build muscle and shrink away fat.

5)Power Zone Ultimate Workout(lower body level 1)-10 minutes;...

Amazing result
Nothing ever helped me really to shape up my thighs, usualy the fat in my lower body resist to break with regular exercise, I did every day 2 of the work outs on that DVD and i got fantastic result in one month, I am so glade that i bought it i will continue to do it for sure.

Bottom heavy!
This video is really working for me. I have used it between 3 and 5 times a week for about 3 weeks now plans I have noticed a difference in my muscle tone and my love handles are shrinking! I have always been bottom heavy and this is perfect for that body type. The video teaches you the moves so you can do them even if you do not have your DVD with you I hope you find this helpful.

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Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure

Classic but New
I just recently introduced my kids to the original Tom and Jerry show and they were really looking forward to watching their new movie Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure!

They were hooked from their first watch and asked to see it over and over again! I was curious to see what a modern day Tom and Jerry would be like and basically, they are exactly the same! I was worried they could change them to bring them up to date but while the picture is better, the sound effects, antics and appearance of the beloved cat and mouse remain unchanged.

I loved the homage to classic fairy tales that I grew up on such as Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Cow Jumped Over the Moon. My kids actually haven't heard a lot of these stories so they didn't necessarily get all of the history of the movie but they still loved it nonetheless.

I think what made this movie more relatable for them than the original show was the little boy Jack that starred in it...

Very Different from the Usual Tom and Jerry Movies. Definitely Brings Fresh Air
I thought I knew what this movie would be about. I mean, what person doesn't know who Tom and Jerry and their story are? Lady owns a mouse and a cat, and these two adorable creatures fight nonstop with each other, until they get in a big problem, right? Wrong! "Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure original movie" is a fun and adorable adventure for the whole family!

The moment I turned on my TV to watch this move, I could see this would be a unique Tom and Jerry film. It has, of course - comedy, adventure, thrilling action and many more things all in one film! This movie surprises you with a story of a mouse and a cat who at the end are best friends despite their differences!

The fun story begins when a young man wants to open an amusement park. The day it opens he meets a girl and falls in love with her. Years later the park gets run down and there's only a cat, a mouse and a cow left. The man passed away and left behind his son and wife. A man is going to destroy...

Great family movie
Always keeps the kids happy.Very much like the quality of the old MGM shorts of the 40's/50's which in those days cost a fair bit to do.

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Hatchet III: Rated R Version

A sequel that lives up to the original for once.
Let me first say that I love horror films. There have been more duds than successes in recent history, and to a fan of the genre, this fact is extremely disappointing. When I first heard about Hatchet in 2006, I became ecstatic. A film that would solely rely on practical effects opposed to CGI? This seemed like a dream come true, considering that recent films that had the potential to be logged into my all-time favorites list were ruined by computer generated effects (I.e. The Midnight Meat Train). Needless to say, Hatchet blew my mind. The humor was right on point, the acting was grade A, and the gore was both realistic and gut-wrenching. Also, the constant throwbacks to old-school horror films and guest appearances from vintage horror movie actors made a beaming smile spread across my face.
Then Hatchet II came along. The bar was set very high, because I expected a lot from Adam Green and the rest of the cast. Now, don't get me wrong; the movie wasn't terrible. The appearances...

Excellent!
This is an awesome continuation of the first two! Victor Crowley is nasty and brutal as ever! Most sequels tend to lack & by the 3rd, well, not good. This will not let you down!

Great for Hatchet fans
I can't really give a fair review of this because I love the Hatchet series so much. This is a perfect end to the series but I wouldn't mind seeing a fourth one.

I am a huge fan of Danielle Harris so watching her in any role is always a thrill for me. I also loved seeing Caroline Williams, I loved her in "Texas Chainsaw 2" and it was great to see her back in another campy horror film.

If you loved Hatchet and Hatchet 2 then you are gonna love this.

These movies aren't for everyone. My only regret is that I watched this online instead of in a theater. These seems like the type of movie that would be fun to watch in a theater with a bunch of other people.

Also Rileah Vanderbilt must be the most beautiful woman who has ever lived. She needs to be in more movies.

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Hatchet III

A sequel that lives up to the original for once.
Let me first say that I love horror films. There have been more duds than successes in recent history, and to a fan of the genre, this fact is extremely disappointing. When I first heard about Hatchet in 2006, I became ecstatic. A film that would solely rely on practical effects opposed to CGI? This seemed like a dream come true, considering that recent films that had the potential to be logged into my all-time favorites list were ruined by computer generated effects (I.e. The Midnight Meat Train). Needless to say, Hatchet blew my mind. The humor was right on point, the acting was grade A, and the gore was both realistic and gut-wrenching. Also, the constant throwbacks to old-school horror films and guest appearances from vintage horror movie actors made a beaming smile spread across my face.
Then Hatchet II came along. The bar was set very high, because I expected a lot from Adam Green and the rest of the cast. Now, don't get me wrong; the movie wasn't terrible. The appearances...

Excellent!
This is an awesome continuation of the first two! Victor Crowley is nasty and brutal as ever! Most sequels tend to lack & by the 3rd, well, not good. This will not let you down!

Great for Hatchet fans
I can't really give a fair review of this because I love the Hatchet series so much. This is a perfect end to the series but I wouldn't mind seeing a fourth one.

I am a huge fan of Danielle Harris so watching her in any role is always a thrill for me. I also loved seeing Caroline Williams, I loved her in "Texas Chainsaw 2" and it was great to see her back in another campy horror film.

If you loved Hatchet and Hatchet 2 then you are gonna love this.

These movies aren't for everyone. My only regret is that I watched this online instead of in a theater. These seems like the type of movie that would be fun to watch in a theater with a bunch of other people.

Also Rileah Vanderbilt must be the most beautiful woman who has ever lived. She needs to be in more movies.

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Nicky's Family [HD]

Nicky's Family
An astounding and well made documentary which brings a miracle of caring and nurturing of the human soul. It shows the remarkable blossoming of Sir Nicky Winton's effort to save over 600 children from the Nazi regime, into an incredible gift of giving through thousands of people who descended from these rescued children and even further. I praise the man and praise those who brought this documentary to us as a reminder of what simply caring and loving and helping others can do.

Great Story!
This was an amazing, uplifting, and inspiring film! It is a must see for EVERYONE! This a rare film for all generations to see together.

Amazing
Well done documentary about amazing man, who saved 669 children, the end of
the movie is overwhelming
Good film for younger generation.

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The Return of Johnny V

Whaaaaat???
I mean the movie is shot beautifully. The main character Johnny V is hilarious and gritty. I don't think these other reviews gave the movie a chance. Good job Johnny v....look for to the trilogy!

Movie is craze balls!
The last 20 minutes were so action packed. It was like wait did that just happen?!?! Oh no he did not just shoot that many guys?!? The punch bowl humor is funny. Watch out Hollywood...a star is born!

PUNCHBOWLS
This film is a great imdi project that explores the humor of a man kidnapped by the Mayor. In his revenge he bring along a ninja and a hot chick to help him take down the mayor and his goons. I give this film thumbs up....
The acting is over the top and the guns are exaggerated like Tarantino/Rodriguez Film. I hope to see more movies like this because the CG world is getting old.

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SLINK

like the drive-in 70's films
great film that is a little off the wall, and somewhat disturbing and tantalizing. Excellent acting by all the characters, and found the girls and ladies in this film to be quite sexy and very attractive. the storyline of this film is a little hard to fathom and the voyeurism of the tanning booths was something that was very erotically charged. The making of the custom made purses out of human flesh was a little disgusting and a little over the edge. there is alot of suspense, chase scenes, and alot of sexy bikini clad chicks. this film reminded me of drive-in films by long ago movie producers where anything went and there were no taboos as to the sexual content of the film. The film was a little perverse and i guess you could say misogynistic, but it holds your attention, just wish that it were 10 mins. longer and had more of uncut footage of the tanning booth scenes... very alluring and what alot of guys who ever wondered about booths dream of. the ending was really cut off...

Future Pop "Cult"
It was exactly what I expected from a B-rated, corn dog, horror flick. "We could at least give her a free tanning session!" (before killing her) LOL!

For an Indie of this budget - unheard of (watch all)
This is great it won an award at EOTM for an indie - Don't go into this one expecting $1 million budget. Imagining them finishing this and what it took on this kind of budget is exciting in itself.

Watch the entire thing before reviewing and ask yourself could I make this film on this budget with all of the twists, turns, good actors, attractive people, an entire crew to create this...

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Snitch

Dwayne Johnson electrifying in 'Snitch'
In Snitch, Dwayne Johnson stars as John Matthews, a trucking distribution owner that agrees to work with the federal government to be an informant after his son, Jason (Rafi Garvron), is sent to prison for the intent to distribute narcotics. After striking a deal with the DEA, Matthews (undercover) partners with one of his employees, Daniel (Jon Bernthal), an ex-convict with connections to the drug world. Barry Pepper, Michael Kenneth Williams, Nadine Velazquez, Benjamin Bratt, and Susan Sarandon round out this star-filled cast.

Now keep in mind, Dwayne Johnson has been one of my favorite athletes since the first time he won the Intercontinental championship - so I'm pretty biased here. Regardless, to see The Rock come full circle from a young WWE superstar through this role in Snitch is an absolute accomplishment for him, and it's incredibly exciting for all of his millions and millions of fans. Without question, this is by far the best acting performance from Johnson...

WOW!!!
I don't think some of the reviewers of this movie watched the same version I did. I was on the edge of my seat, pushed back in my seat, adrenaline pumping like fresh water from a spring, even a few tears!! I thought this film was superb to say the least. I think all kids should be required to see it. I took my daughter and granddaughter to see it and we all loved it. I was even recommending it to strangers after I saw it. Cannot say enough good about this film or the acting. Totally loved it from beginning to end. The fact that it was based on a true story made it all the better. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie!!! I will definitely add this one to my collection as soon as it's available on DVD. Debbie M.

brains and brawn
Dwayne Johnsonian's new film Snitch is not nearly the generic action-thriller that I was expecting based on the generic trailers that seem so desperate to make you believe it is so. Snitch is surprising in a lot of ways, for one thing it is actually more thoughtful and has ideas and a point of view on current affairs regarding our legal system, it is more powerful than you might suspect and it is an exciting change of pace for a wrestler who wants to be an actor.
Not to make it sound so trivial, this is to be fair Johnson's best work, as of yet. Though he isn't a fully capable dramatic actor, as of now, he is a lot better than you probably have a right to expected and here he gets to flex a different set of muscle than he usually does.
Johnson plays John Matthews, a trucking company owner, who's estranged son, Jason (Rai Gavron) finds himself in trouble with the law, and I mean serious kind of trouble, like ten years behind bars kinda trouble. It seems that Jason foolishly...

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A Good Day to Die Hard

Come On, It's John McClane!
I agree with other reviewers who are wondering where all the bad reviews are coming from! It's a DIE HARD movie so you know exactly what you are going to get when you pay your money at the box office. If you are a DIE HARD fan, this movie gives you exactly what you are expecting... ridiculously crazy action. No way John McClane can survive another bad situation - but you know he will because it's John McClane and you can't wait to find out how bad he gets beat up in the process. If you don't like this kind of action, don't watch it, but for what it is supposed to be, this is a good movie!

Not a Die Hard Movie
This is a difficult film to review.

Die Hard 5 is not going to please you if you are hoping for a film like the first Die Hard: underdog good cop in a situation over his head struggling to make things turn out right while the government/cops etc. try to to handle the situation.

The GOOD:

This film is an excellent action movie with a couple of ridiculous scenes--like the transition from bridge to road below, or from chopper to roof, etc. You'll understand. The action is incredible and beautifully shot. The car chase alone is a new experience, the way the bystanders and cars get tossed about. It's unlike any chase scene I can remember. The only disturbing part is how many innocents John must have killed! lol. His son has a few cool CIA gadgets. There are a few nice plot twists. On it's own, the film is a fun ride, fun to watch, thrills unfolding in a novel way.

But . . . it is not Die Hard. It is a weak reflection of the series we adore...

It's a Good Time To Try Harder
Yes, John McClane is back. That's good, except this particular outing is not exactly the best of the quintet. In fact, at best it probably ranks somewhere around the fourth or fifth of the bunch. The franchise is getting lazy. REALLY lazy, but more on that in a minute.

On the flip side, you probably didn't come to this one to think, anyway.

This time McClane is in Russia: his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) has turned up in Moscow, charged with murder, and he's copping a plea deal by testifying against a highly popular political prisoner whose trial could bring down a (need I say it?) corrupt high-ranking Russian official.

But as always, there are complications. As the commercials tell you, his son is a CIA spy, deep undercover, and the only thing about him that's real is his deep-seated anger at his father. Regardless, John flies out to Moscow (filled in for nicely by shots of Budapest, Hungary).

Given the immensity of the case...

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Harvest of Empire

An excellent look at our "hidden" history and it's impact
As an American who traveled to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Colombia so I could return home to expose the government death squad activities to my fellow citizens, I found this a very powerful look at this hidden history. It is critical to understanding our Latin immigrants to understand the "why" and "where" of this history, their history, our history. This documentary is a powerful and humane exploration of the "roots" of much of this immigration and of the "soul" of our nation.

A lot of people need to see this
I think that if more people were to see this movie then there would be a lot more understanding of why there are so many latino/a immigrants in the US and our immigration policies would take a turn for the better. Everything here is a matter of public record, but most people have not seen it all gathered in one place in a cogent narrative. This movie delivers in that respect. It's also gripping enough that it goes by fast.

I prefered a DVD. I could not show the documentary to my students because of this.
I preferred a DVD. I could not show the documentary to my students as a result. I would like a DVD please. It is a good documentary.

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Oz the Great and Powerful (DVD + Digital Copy)

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, MARGARET HAMILTON IS SMILING
UPDATE (6/14/2013): Refrain from buying the single 3D-disc version, because you have the option of purchasing the 3D disc for $5.99 on DisneyRewards.com with the combo pack. I discovered this when I went online to get the digital copy with my combo pack. It is for a limited time though, so keep that in mind.

WARNING: ***SPOILER ALERT*** Some things discussed in this review could potentially spoil some of the film for those who have not yet seen it. Therefore, if you have not seen it, read onward at your own choice.

Okay, first thing is first: This review is NOT about the packaging decisions made by Disney for this set or their decision to sell the 3D version separately. I agree with most that it is corporate greed and is quite despicable, but that is not what I am here to review because most everyone can come to that conclusion themselves without people ranting about it endlessly in the reviews. No, this review is an actual critique of the film, so if you are...

HOW TO GET THE 2D / 3D COMBO ... AT THE BEST PRICE
For those consumers like myself who want to own both the 3D and 2D versions of this film without spending a fortune, there is an easy way to achieve this goal. Simply purchase either the two disc 2D Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital Copy package (which has a yellow border and pictures a flying monkey, the Wizard, and three witches on the front) ... OR ... the single disc 3D Blu-Ray + Digital Copy (which features the Wicked Witch framed in the letter "O") at the cheapest price you can find from a retailer in North America.

Inside the case will be a special insert that contains information about a special OZ sweepstakes, and which includes a "Magic Code" that can be activated when you join or sign in to the DisneyMovieRewards.com website. This same insert also includes a special offer that will enable you to purchase whichever disc you are missing (either the 3D or the 2D) for $5.99. No additional shipping or handling charges apply. The extra disc should arrive at your home within...

Once in a While a Movie Comes Along...
Making a prequel for such an iconic fantasy and beloved film as the Wizard of Oz at first glance seems like just more grist for the Hollywood mill, but said assumption couldn't be farther from the truth.

Oz the Great and Powerful (aka Oscar Diggs) is a magician in a small, traveling circus who is good at fooling an audience, most of the time, and sweet-talking the local ladies. The latter becomes a source of trouble as an angry boyfriend, who just happens to be the circus strong man, prompts Oscar's hasty departure from the troupe via a hot-air balloon and bad luck turns worse when it flies right into the path of a tornado. By some twist of fate, or divine intervention, Oscar finds himself not only alive but in a strange and beautiful land where magic is more than sleight of hand and its local residents, including three lovely witches, mistake him for a heroic wizard and either a potential savior or threat, depending on the point of view. Many people found in a similar...

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The Hot Flashes

the hot flashes
I thought this would be funnier. but not bad, it was intertaining. Thought with Wanda Sikes it would be a hoot, her character did not fit her usual roles.

GO WITH THE FLO
Burning Bush (both a biblical and sexual meaning- I get it) is an ideal Hollywood small Texan town with no visual Hispanics and apparently one token African-American family. The town's mobile mammogram has run out of funds, so Beth (Brooke Shields) has devised an unconventional way to raise money to save it by having some 50 somethings challenge the girl's basketball team.

In addition to Beth the team has:

Ginger (Daryl Hannah) who is still in the closet in the small Texas town.
Florine (Wanda Sykes) who is running for mayor.
Roxie (Camryn Manheim) a pot head.
Clementine (Virginia Madsen) the town floozie. Her ex-husband in the opposing team coach.

Beth's husband (Eric Roberts) is the town's postmaster who has been making special deliveries...and not to her.

The film is not very funny. It briefly touches on hot flashes in one comedy scene, but that was it. At times it was old vs. young, men vs. women, and church vs. everyone,...

Great Movie
Loved this movie about small town life, growing older, changing, family, friends...Loved all the performances. Funny. Saw it twice. Recommend it.

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Distant Thunder [HD]

A Fair Portrayal
As a registered nurse on a VA psych unit that has an in-patient PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) unit, I have to say this film does a pretty good job of portraying the extreme end of the spectrum of veterans who returned from Vietnam. Most civilians can't begin to understand how difficult it was for veterans to be trained and then expected to kill without remorse, expected to withstand the trauma of fearing death on a daily basis, and seeing death on a daily basis, especially of friends, of men they knew. Trying to live a normal life when they could not live with the guilt of having taken life, with the guilt of having survived when others they were close to did not, was often impossible for many surviving vets. Add to that the treatment many received when they returned home, being reviled and spat upon, and you have a recipe for alienation and dysfunction. It took almost thirty years for society - and the VA - to realize these men needed the help that PTSD programs (too few)...

A Viewer
I strongly disagree with the common perception of people's opinion with this film. To me, this about a psychological side to the "Rambos," and other one man army type soldiers of war. It shows how deeply troubled they are with the world, and other dilemmas that have occurred with their private lives. I think this story is more of a tale between a son with a father who is mentally ill. I think the Vietnam War is just a story that occurred and had a part of the drama. It's something that just makes this man more interesting in his character. The fact that he was a former Navy Seal unfortunately makes him much more dangerous to the rest of society

I think people dislike films like this the most because they feel uncomfortable being in the face of mental illness. I assume it's much more comfortable for them to turn their back.

Been there, done that
Speaking as a disabled vietnam vet with PTSD, I could identify 100% with Lithgow's character. A lot of this acting was wooden...but, that's how some of us are...wooden.

I think this movie leaves with more questions asked than answered. Some of this stuff was typical Hollywood cr*p. But, enough of it rang close to home. Not every namvet goes tripwire. Some integrate totally back into society. Some rejoin partially. Some not at all. This injury affects different people different ways. There is no blanket statement that tell you what it is...and what it is not. Each and every veteran no matter what war is affected by it some way. Directly or guilt by association, we all get tarred with the same brush.

For my generation of Vets, that war will never be over. But,I promise you one thing, I will do everything within my power to insure that these kids coming back don't get put through the same mental ringer that the majority of our friends and families put us...

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21 & Over

DUDE! WHERE'S YOUR HOUSE?
Nicole (Sarah Wright) states the theme when she says, "Oldest friends are the weirdest friends." In this story two "odd couple" friends Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin) decide to take out mutual friend Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) on his 21st birthday to the objection of Chang's father (Fran

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon [HD]

Finally, Transformers as it was meant to be seen!
PLEASE NOTE: This product review is for the 3D Blu-Ray... Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy)

This is the way "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" was meant to be seen: in 3D! I saw this movie in 3D at the theater and I can tell you it was a great experience. The movie itself has some flaws, but the stereo image was simply amazing... say what you want about director Michael Bay, the man knows how to shoot action sequences! This is one of the most entertaining 3D movies to date, and is a no-brainer for anyone with a 3D TV.

Not only is the picture quality top-notch, but the sound is great too. I recently watched an interview with sound mixer Greg P. Russell, and he said that the TF3 blu-ray sound mix was specifically tailored for home video release. Anyone who owns the previous blu-ray release would agree that the sound mix is incredible...

As long as MIchael Bay will see his fans as cavemen, this will not stop.
Sorry with my english for i am from Montréal.

I still do not want to give up on Michael Bay. When i see him in interviews, underneath his condescending tone and his obvious self-love, i see an educated and intelligent man. I still have hope that he will mature eventually and direct a genuine great film. But right now, he is a teenager. He obviously thinks that most of his audience is dumb, sexually depraved and uneducated. The way he films women, the way he portrays the adults, the things he makes them say and do, the "comedy" that he puts in there and that he thinks will make us laugh, all of this makes me think that Michael Bay simply sees his fans as cavemen. And by reading some of the comments here, well my God, he's about right!

It is not a question of putting your brain to neutral in order to enjoy a good old "pop corn" movie. Not all "pop corn" movies are good. "Transformers 3" is a bad movie. Just like the second one. Probably even more. The...

AVOID at all costs!!!
If you like any special features at all do not buy this version. They are doing the same thing as Avatar. This release gets a full price but absolutely zero special features. Not so much as a trailer. They will be putting out deluxe versions toward the end of the year including a 3D combo pack, blu ray combo pack & dvd. ALL will be packed & you will kick yourself for having to buy this a second time. Many people don't care about features but if you do consider yourself forewarned. And it's not like they're giving you a cut on the price for a "movie only" release.

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The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II

enjoyable
Very interesting look at the long reign of Elizabeth II. I enjoyed watching the Queen evolve throughout her 60 years as Queen.

Wonderful Documentary!
I love documentaries about royalty. This "royal doc" was royal indeed. It was a very interesting look at the Queen of England from the eyes of a few in the media there. See more at vyctoryab dot wix dot com slash xplr.

She defines royalty
This is a good movie that simply presents the history of Queen Elizabeth II illustrated by film clips and interviews. I feel like I understand the difficulties she must face daily.

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The Ghastly Love of Johnny X

Juvenile Delinquents From Space!: This Offbeat Parody Combines Music With Sci-Fi
The cult oddity "The Ghastly Love of Johnny X" is one of those rare movies that I suspect will be a complete love-it or hate-it phenomenon. Some will say the movie is a masterpiece of originality while others will decry it one of the worst movies ever made. Just watch, I fully stand by this prediction! For my taste, the movie is neither extreme. This low budget endeavor is an obvious labor of love to its makers and cast, it has some genuinely memorable moments, but it never really comes together as strongly as you might hope. I was really looking forward to "The Ghastly Love of Johnny X" because the idea really appealed to my oddball sensibilities. I have been known to champion cult films of this type (Larry Blamire films, for example, come to mind, especially the sublimely silly The Trail of the Screaming Forehead). Mixing science fiction with musicals with sixties era juvenile delinquents, there is certainly no lack of imagination in director Paul Bunnell's vision. But the...

Ghastly, yes, and a lot of fun, too!
THE GHASTLY LOVE OF JOHNNY X is an extremely entertaining movie, hard to categorize, yet always engaging. Right away we see the main characters are from some distant planet, setting the mood for what is to come. The fun really begins when we discover inner turmoil within Johnny's band of delinquent pals, banished to Earth because they won't play by the rules at home. One of them, the gorgeous and headstrong Bliss, has abandoned the gang and stolen Johnny's Resurrection Suit, and he wants it back. Some cult favorite actors add weight to the proceedings, including Reggie Bannister, Paul Williams and Kevin McCarthy, in his final role. Creed Bratton of THE OFFICE is unrecognizable in his bizarre and very funny turn, and even sweet Kate Maberly gets into the action before things are over.

If you've caught this wacky gem at one of its film festival screenings, then this is the dvd you've been waiting for. If you haven't, do yourself a favor and check it out! I myself was -...

Well that was definitely a thing
A loving homage to both the low-budget B&W SF thrillers of the 1950s AND the low-budget JD films of the 1950s as well as, I guess, Stephen Sondheim? My wife and I watched the first ten minutes of this with our mouths open, thinking, "What the heck are we watching?"

Any movie that has Reggie Bannister, Paul Williams and Kevin McCarthy (wearing a Devo Energy Dome-inspired hat) in supporting roles gets credit just for existing.

This movie has better acting, special effects and cinematography than "Plan Nine From Outer Space", better continuity than "Sharknado", and better dialog than anything ever written by an army of trained chipmunks.

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Dead Souls

Dead Souls
Made for TV movies are tricky business. Those Sci-Fi Channel originals are never going to be confused with quality entertainment, that's for sure. Sometimes it seems like they're reveling in the cheapness of their productions. But what about that other genre channel, Chiller? They're producing their own movies, too. Are they of the same non-quality or have they learned from the other channel's mistakes? The initial assumption would be that, yes, their made for TV movies are going to be just as cheesy. So when I first heard Michael Laimo's novel DEAD SOULS was being adapted for Chiller, I wasn't sure if I my reaction should be "Wow, that's awesome" or if it should be, "Dude . . . Good luck." And while I have the novel on which the movie is based, I haven't read it yet, so I can't speak for the faithfulness of the adaptation, only what I thought of the movie as its own entity.

Not bad, actually. I was somewhat surprised, and at times impressed, by the movie...

Blu-ray Review: "Dead Souls"
When reviewing movies, it's sometimes hard to judge them fairly by the mediums they were created for. For instance, to come down as hard on a TV-movie created on a small budget as you do a bigger one like the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" remake would be unjust. That's how I tried to look at Chiller's "Dead Souls."

Johnny Petrie (Jesse James) inherits an old farmhouse on his 18th birthday from a family he didn't even know he had. Tired of living under the thumb of his overprotective aunt (Geraldine Hughes), he decides to visit his boyhood home and solve the mystery as to who he really is. Upon arriving, he discovers his father (J.H. Torrance Downes) was a local preacher in the small Maine town. He went crazy one night and murdered his entire family, leaving the restless spirits of his mother (Elizabeth Irene) and siblings (Kyle Donnery and Bridget Megan Clark) trapped in the house for eternity.

"Dead Souls" is an effective little supernatural thriller from Chiller...

Another keeper
There's everything in this flick. My opinion though and my taste but it was worth looking at and paying for.

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100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience

Great subject, not a great documentary
I read about this on USAToday and was eager to watch it. I'm a retrogamer so the subject matter was intriguing, and the culture of arcade gaming in Japan is a fascinating subject. Unfortunately, the production value is much lower than I expected, in ways that made it hard to enjoy.

The biggest annoyance is the subtitles. They are in a *very* thin white font, and often appear right over screen titles and names, and over complex light-colored backgrounds. It is a real effort to keep up with them.

There is a lot of stock-looking video shown over and over as people talk -- shots of arcades, some video of people playing, shots of Tokyo at night. I guess that's what you expect for this subject, but it became noticeably repetitive.

And, there is an irritating 8-bit soundtrack that plays under most of the documentary. It clashes with the people speaking, doesn't go with what they're saying (unlike most documentaries where the music supports the video), and...

It was worth every yen !!
If you love Arcades, this is for you. It was awesome to see How the arcade scene is Still Alive and how hardcore the Japanese are. Reading the subs are a but distracting from the great footage but the rest is really good.



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The Hunter [HD]

Underrated Action Dramatic Film with a Tinge of Melanchoy
This is an interesting and highly entertaining film of an actual modern day bounty hunter "Pappy" Thorson played by Steve McQueen in one of his best roles. McQueen gives an excellent performance of the aging bounty hunter that has outlived his usefulness and is out of place in the modern concrete world. One poignant scene has McQueen and Ben Johnson exchanging dialogue between two old lawmen. This was Steve McQueen's last film and you can detect a sense of better days long gone by. Yet he went out in the vein as the cool man of action that he was best associated. This was probably Buzz Kulik's finest directorial achievement as well. Kulik never seemed to live up to his potential, but this is his best effort. Kulik was able to get great performances from the actors and develop a camaraderie that can be felt on the screen. The cast also included Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold and LeVar Burton. Composer Michel Legrand who scored "The Thomas Crown Affair" was brought in to score this last...

" My friends call me Papa- you can call me MR. THORSON..."
This was Steve McQueens' last film and is not generally held in high regard by critics and fans alike. However, it is an interesting mix of comedy and action with an array of memorable characters that the viewer will remember. McQueen plays Ralph "Papa" Thorson, a modern day bounty hunter that will employ practically any means to capture bail jumpers. ( The real Ralph Thorson has a cameo in the film as a bartender) Though McQueen was ill at the time of production,( he allegedly only found out of his terminal condition after checking into the hospital after filming was completed) he gives a multilayered performance which shows his high degree of skill as an actor. There are of course some excellent action sequences, but what is more interesting is the subtle/low key humour that McQueen employs to round out his character: he is shown to be a terrible driver in the movie, while in real life he was near professional level. Also his love of antiques shows his old school obsessions and...

Fitting movie to end a career
McQueen is fantastic as Papa Thorson - a bounty hunter devoted to his family, friends and work. This is Steve McQueen's last film before he died, and rates as one of his best in my opinion, along with The Sand Pebbles, Papillon and The Great Escape. The Chicago chase scene is awesome, and McQueen's acting as the unlikely hunter is very believable. They don't make action flicks like this anymore, with the lead as a real person, not just a macho gun toting hero. Recommended.

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Funeral In Berlin [HD]

The Real Cold War
I served as an army intelligence officer in Berlin and in West Germany during the Cold War. Whenever I'm feeling nostalgic and I want to time-travel back to the Cold War 1960's, I turn on Funeral In Berlin. The film has wonderful shots of the Berlin Wall and West Berlin during this time. Michael Caine's Harry Palmer is a mirror image of thousands of intelligence personnel who have had to battle incompetent bureacracy while still trying to accomplish the mission at hand. Watch this one!

Harry Palmer: The Spy Who Went Into the Cold
Each of these films is a self-contained story but having seen the previous entries does give the central character more depth. "The Ipcress File" introduced Len Deighton's spy with no name as "Harry Palmer" -- a gritty, workaday operative for the British Secret Service -- the polar opposite from James Bond.

(This is even more interesting when you realize the producer of the two series is Harry Saltzman. And the director here is Guy Hamilton who helmed "Goldfinger".)

Michael Caine returns in this excellent second installment of the "Harry Palmer" series. The scene is Berlin in the early 1960s at the height of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was a recent division. The tension between the US and the CCCP caused global anxiety. To see this film is to get something of a feel for the place and the time. The espionage here is thick and the tension is palpable. A series of double crosses lands Palmer in serious trouble. Whereas "Ipcress" had psychological underpinnings,...

Specs,sex,and the Berlin Wall
Len Deighton's working class spy Harry Palmer returns to DVD in the second installment of the series,"Funeral in Berlin".Palmer was created by Deighton as a sort of anti-Bond in a series of books with plots more coplicated than the wiring on a British sports car,Palmer was insolent,insubordinant,and only survived by his wits and intelligence,with nary a gadget in sight."Funeral in Berlin" was the second in the series,and most spy fans consider it the best of them,pretty much neck and neck with the outstanding "Ipcress File".The DVD looks pretty good,the picture and sound are certainly watchable considering the age of the movies,It's also nice to see the movies in their OAR,both movies used the widescreen format pretty creatively,and suffered from being "panned and scanned".Unfortuneatly,"Funeral" doesn't have the excellent extra's "Ipcress" did,the only extra is the trailer.Still,it's an entertaining DVD,both Michael...

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House Arrest [HD]

A Lot of Fun
This movie is a lot of fun. The basic plot is, two kids Grover and Stacey, lock their parents in the basement after they break the news that they are getting seperated. Grover and Stacey think that all they need is time to work out their problems. Soon Grover's friends decide their parents could use some help, and bring them over. The kids try to help their parents as the parents try to escape. A nosy neighbour across the street is constantly watching, but the kids are determined to get their parents back together. This movie is definitley fun for the whole family.

Guilty Pleasure
I am so glad this movie is finally available in widescreen! It has definitely been a guilty pleasure of mine for some time. They really assembled a great cast here. And the premise is cool. Granted it's not really plausible but who cares, it's just a movie!

A very funny and heartwarming family movie!
If you have kids fourteen and under, I think they'll really enjoy this movie. Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Pollak play a couple who get locked in the basement by their children because the children think they need to spend more time together. Soon other kids decide their parents need some "time out" too, which leads to many very funny situations between the kids and their parent-hostages. Our children loved seeing Jennifer Love Hewitt, one of the stars of "Party of Five," and we really enjoyed Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Pollak, and Jennifer Tilly. A lot of fun! END

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