Fortress [Blu-ray]

Reaching for the sky
I normally prefer to review the disc release and not the movie but, obviously, this disc is not yet available and the movie is enough of an unknown quantity (evidenced by this being the first review) that it seemed an exception was due this time.

I came across FORTRESS by accident. I had not seen any publicity for it and I follow movie releases fairly closely. It is apparently a low budget, independent production. It is pretty ambitious for such a film. To recreate the large bomber formations, fighter plane attacks and even the base camp it uses a lot of CGI.

So, I have seen FORTRESS and I very much enjoyed it. Sure, the visual effects are sometimes a bit crude, but most of the time they are pretty effective and certainly good enough to support the story. I'd say the visual effects are a bit better than those in the TV series DOGFIGHTS (which were pretty good) but not up to the standards of RED TAILS (a high bar, IMO). The movie was well written and I was...

About as good as Memphis Belle
I too saw this movie at the store so I picked it since I collect WWII movies. I'll try to break this review down into several things.

The actors did an okay job. Remember that most air crews, especially replacements, in WWII were very young. If you were 25 years old you were considered an "old man". The crews in this movie are a lot younger than say those in Memphis Belle which gives it some credability. Remember our grandfathers were just young kids barely out of high school who fought WWII. There were not 40 year old Hollywood A list actors like in Saving Private Ryan.

A few people have ccomplained about the drinking in the film. Again, having served myself in the Army in the GWOT, I think the drinking is right on. Everyone deals with things in their own way. For many they turn to alcohol.

As far as no threat or fear, obviously the other reviewer has not done any history research about the air crews in WWII. The threat of death that ground...

Fortress Fan
While this movie is a low budget independent film, it has true heart! The Director and Director of Photography did an excellent job!
The actors, while somewhat unknown (becoming more known, post the making this film) bring believability and passion to the screen!
BTW, the same CG company that worked on "Red Tails" did the CG work for "Fortress" and the original music was written by multiple award winner, Chris Ward!
What I know is that a band of young creative artists came together and brought their heart and soul and did what aspiring film makers only dream of doing....they made an overall entertaining nostalgic WWII movie! No easy feat!!
Congratulations!!!

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Moss Two-Disc Special Edition (or Iggi)

A Dark and Immersive Mystery-Thriller
Moss is a mystery/thriller from South Korea. A young man is called into a small village to settle the estate of his dead father. He gets suspicious of the villagers as they quickly and anxiously try to push him to leave as soon as possible. When he decides to stay, he uncovers the dark truth...

Although it is a very long film (over 2hr and 40 min), it kept me entertained and captivated through its immersive dialogue. I don't watch mystery films often, but this one kept me guessing until the end. It's not a complete mystery film though, it also has some dreadful suspense and thrills; he's often snooping around and you can't help but grip your seat or clench your fist as you fear for his safety. I really liked the way the film moves forward as he moves deeper and deeper into the mystery; the main villain has several henchmen and they help push the movie forward with some thrills/action. You really wonder: who killed his father? (whodunit?) Also, the whole mystery is...

Atmospheric, claustrophobic Korean thriller with a surprise ending worth getting to (more like 3-1/2 stars)
In this South Korean mystery thriller, a young Korean man receives a call that his father - leader of a small village whom he'd become estranged from years ago - has died. Visiting the village, the son quickly becomes aware that not only do mysterious circumstances surround his father's death ... but that the quirky and somewhat menacing villagers in no way want him to stick around anywhere long enough to discover the truth. A long film (over 2-1/2 hours), with some nice twists and turns, and although never truly scary the atmosphere is creepy and sinister up until the end (where one final surprise awaits, literally within the last few seconds of the film). Nicely done!



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Hell (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Decent, If Not Great, Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
The year is 2016. Because of the increasing solar activity, the earth's temperature has become higher by 10 degrees Celsius. The land has dried up and crops have perished. Modern civilization has collapsed and the earth has become an uninhabitable place for humans. Few survivors keep travelling under the scorching sun, looking for water. Two young sisters Marie and Leonie are among them, travelling with a man named Phillip driving around in a dust-covered car.

Executive-produced by Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day" and "2012"), the low-budget post-apocalyptic thriller begins with an interesting premise, but without developing the sci-fi theme, "Hell" quickly shifts into a familiar formula about the travelers and their predicaments in the backwoods. In short, you have seen this in "The Road" or other horror films.

Tim Fehlbaum's direction is slick once action gets started, but details of this catastrophic disaster remain vague at best. The cinematography of the...

Great post-apocalyptic story
With no opportunities to rent this film, besides iTunes, I decided to purchase the film on the strength of the trailer. These days I seem to be a good judge of what I will like based on a trailer.

Hell is a post-apocalyptic film set in the near future 2016. Solar flares have caused mass overheating of our planet laying waste to the environment. With no way to sustain plant or animal life and with natural water supplies all but gone; people will now do anything to survive.

Visually the movie sells the idea the earth is burnt out and desolate. The acting is good, albeit this american version defaults to an over-dubbed english soundtrack. I suggest watching it with subtitles.
For a film like this simplicity is important. All our characters need to do is survive. There are a few little twists and turns that keep it interesting.
Overall a fan of films like this will be more than entertained. And I'm happy to add this film to my collection.

Don't go in expecting a timeless piece of cinema and you'll have a good time with it.
Hell (Bright) (Tim Fehlbaum, 2011)

Hell reminded me a great deal of another, even lower-budget, German film for no real reason I can put my finger on, Jens Wolf's Noctem. While this one has more plot, better acting, and an even bleaker outlook on life, while I was watching it, my mind kept stealing back to Wolf's 2003 effort, which I found quite good given its lack of professional talent both in front of and behind the camera; "a labor of love" is, at least when I use it, often a synonym for "unrepentantly amateur", but Wolf transcended that and came up with something, if not deathless, quite watchable and a good deal of fun. I got that same vibe from Fehlbaum (Nicht Meine Hochzeit)'s second feature, though I rush to add that with both of these films I'm using the word "fun" in a rather loose sense.

Fehlbaum's movie gives us a makeshift family--Tom (Unknown's Stipe Erceg), Marie (The Reader's Hannah Herzsprung), and Leonie (Hanni and Nanni's Lisa Vicari)--living...

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Chico & Rita

The ups and downs of love: In memory of Chano Pozo vaya!
Chico and Rita is the third Latin movie throughout the last two decades(after Buena Vista Social Club and Estudio 54), inspired on Latin music, but unlike the previous ones it's much more ambitious about its proposal.

Fernando Trueba made an amazing journey through some unforgattable moments and first-rate figures of jazz to tell us a love story thatlooks like a tragic bolero sprayed with this bitter ending cadence ruptruras, troubles and nostalgia.

Both are from humble origin, but each of them bursts on stage and shine like a star for its own account. And despite the conflicts come and go the love never does.

A memorable tribute to Chano Pozo, Gillespie, Parker, Casablanca, Boggie, Tito Puente, Miguel Valdez and Tito Rodriguez, among other ones. Interesting artistic proposal and refreshing gaze to the Latin Universe.

Havana, Cuba in 1946 with warm colors and hot music
I love good animation, I love great music, and I love a good movie.

Three for three on "Chico and Rita". Two Afro-Cuban musicians who meet in classic "cute" movie fashion and then have an on-again, off-again, love affair in various locales (Havana, NYC, Las Vegas, etc.), and always, there is wonderful music (mostly jazz and Latin jazz) in the forefront or the background.

Let me pull on your coat about something here - the guy who plays the original piano pieces for this film is 93 years old. He's also playing the piano and conducting the Havana ballroom orchestra present in parts of the soundtrack, albeit when he was much, much younger as those recordings were made in the 40's and 50's. His name is Bebo Valdes, and he is as old-school as it gets at 93, but, man, that cat can still play.

I've ordered this film in advance as I know I will want to watch it at least a few times, and therefore I have no hesitation in recommending that you watch it at least...

Music And Passion Are Always In Fashion: A Cuban-Set Animated Treat For Adults
Watching this nostalgic love letter to Cuba, jazz, and enduring passion unfold, I was struck by how little the medium of animation is used to tell serious adult stories. "Chico & Rita," therefore, benefits greatly from this straightforward and unorthodox approach. Had the exact same screenplay been filmed with live actors, I think the tale might have been equally compelling. But there is something about the simplicity and beauty of the hand drawn passages that really evokes an artistic vibe. And as the movie is an homage to an era, a culture, and an art form, it's fascinating to see this world come alive as if from thin air. "Chico & Rita" was Oscar nominated as Best Animated Feature in 2012, and it is truly a must-see for lovers of quality adult entertainment. A visual treat with its earthy pallette, the movie also boasts an impressively colorful soundtrack that recalls the jazz age in vibrant detail. Lushly romantic, I think those that adore "Chico & Rita" will be rapturous...

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The Aristocats

The approach Disney seems to have forgotten
Considering Disney's recent track record, it would appear that they think the average kid is maturing faster than before. Thus, they seem to put out movies that are dark and inappropriate for the average kid. The only exceptions to this trend are the wonderful Toy Story movies and A Bug's Life. Flash back a decade or two, and you'll find a different Disney, a Disney that made movies everybody could enjoy. Aristocats comes from that era. True the animation from this decade is weak, and the story loses a few points in some areas. The villain is also quite tame. All of that, however, disappears under the movie's charm, upbeat attitude, and general fun. It's certainly more fun than Hercules. People looking for something intense should avoid this. Families with small children and those who love adorable cats will love this movie. From this era, I also recommend Robin Hood. As I've said before, you just can't beat old school Disney.

Wonderful film!
I'm so glad that Disney made this film. I much prefer the more innocent Disney movies of the past. Movies like Lady and the Tramp and The Aristocats are truly fun, wholesome entertainment. Don't get me started on the new Disney films which are way too interested in pushing hit pop songs and attracting adults with more action, violence, and suggestive dialogue. I know things can't stay the same so I'm glad we have this film from a more innocent era. I particularly like the fact that the pacing is relaxed and the villain is not very scary. I'm always looking for what I call "calm" movies and videos for my 2 and a half year old. I don't want him seeing frightening or fast-paced images. Lady and the Tramp and Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas are other great shows for young viewers. Unlike the sterile environment of the Teletubbies, these movies are full of wonderful images and interesting music. I find the backdrop drawings extremely interesting and stylized...

Fine Family Fun, but: All Reviews for Previous Editions Lumped Together
There are over a hundred reviews for The Aristocats as of this date. They all refer to the previous edition (Disney Gold Classic Edition or whatever they called it years ago when it first came out on dvd).
So now we will have those reviews mixed up with new reviews for the Feb 5, 2008 version which offers more extras and a different aspect ratio. This may make things a bit confusing.

Moving on...
People compare this film to 101 Dalmations. This is Disney's "cat" movie, they say. You can't compare them; they're too similiar somehow.
But they are both decent, cute family films.
Yes, Cruella is scary compared to the bumbling butler Edgar. There is a sense of jeopardy but Dalmations is much stronger in that sense.
Both films were made using the 1960's Xerox method where the resulting animation is more sketchy looking and more close to the original animator's drawings.
The Aristocats is more of a musical, definitely. A few forgettable songs, but...

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Mallrats [Blu-ray]

"That Kid Is Back On The Escalator!"
Well, folks, it's been ten years since the would-be cult classic "Mallrats" bombed both critically and at the box office. To celebrate such failure, director Kevin Smith and company have erected a brand new double-dip...errr...I mean special edition DVD. Aside from the usual distractions (i.e. featurettes, commentary), the main attraction is an all new extended-cut of the flick, done by Kevin Smith himself. This new cut (don't fret, the original remains intact on the opposite side of the disc) integrates deleted footage and alternate takes into what ends up being a sprawling two hour and three minute epic. Think James Cameron re-editing "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Ok, maybe not that big of a deal, but it's still cool, nevertheless. The "Extended Version" is (as Smith describes it in his introduction) basically the script put to screen. The "new" film is just as funny, and actually, better. I never had a problem with the original "Mallrats," but for some reason, this version feels...

"Okay Lunchbox, let's try this again"
Mallrats, to me, has always been an excellent and hilarious movie bordering on "comedy classic status". Not until watching the bonus material included on this Anniversary Edition DVD did I learn that it was basically a critical failure.

The quotable lines are countless. The talent found in casting is absolutely outstanding. The dialogue is quirky, thoughtful and biting, etc., etc... It's difficult to attribute the movie's failure to anything other than poor marketing and it not being properly prioritized by Rogue Pictures. But, whatever the cause, Mallrats has found it's cult following in the years following its release. It's too good a movie to have remained unnoticed and unappreciated for too long.

The 10th Anniversary DVD includes an extended version of the movie, as edited by Kevin Smith himself, while pleasuring himself so that he could truly "enjoy" his work (as revealed in the bonus interview). This version is hilarious and it gives you a slightly...

Ahead of its time
I think it's safe to say this movie is a cult classic; my friends and I have seen it countless times.

Kevin Smith's follow-up to 1994's "Clerks" was not-so-well-recieved by the critics.

The box-office numbers didn't treat the flick too kindly, either.

See? The stuff cult classics are made of.

The critics were wrong and the movie goers must have been napping in late 1995, because this film is hysterical from start to finish.

Buy this one, folks. You can't go wrong with a Kevin Smith movie. Buy it for the commentary, buy it for the deleted scenes (over one hour's worth), buy it for the witty dialog of Jason Lee, buy it to laugh at Jeremy London's acting skills; but most of all, buy it for the movie itself.

While you're at it, buy "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," too. And get a copy of "Dogma" (the best of the four) when it's released on DVD on May 2.

Remember: Kevin Smith is the best screenwriter out there, so buy it. You...

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When Death Calls

Just watched when Death Calls
I just watched this movie and I really have nothing bad to say about it. It was obviously done on a limited budget but that just means a person has to work harder to make things work rather rely on the effects to save the show. The stories were quite good and had a nice twist to them that sets them apart from many other shows in this genre. One of the things I really liked about this movie was that the actors look like real people, folks we work with and talk to in everyday life, this makes the film more believable and realistic to me.

My best to Director: Jim Haggerty and Actors: Suzi Lorraine, Tina Krause, Nathalie Bryant, Jae Mosc, Pooya Mohseni for a cool movie. I am looking forward to the next one.

"When Death Calls" is a winner in my opinion, I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes a good suspenseful scary movie.





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Black Metal Veins

A monkey let loose on a cell phone camera surounded by morons
This movie is unbelievably annoying to watch, given the cuts and clips mentality of filming. So that you really never get a chance to view or hear any complete conversation or dialogue. The "characters" and I use the term loosely are sad, depressing and after about 15min of viewing i hoped they would all overdose and save the world from yet another whining bunch of degenerates that contribute nothing to the world except there own self loathing. The funny part of this film is when the one female whom i assume is at the sexual call to every male holding a whiff of dope, goes on to explain that she had a "Great child hood" but than not more than 5 frames later she confesses to being raped, not knowing her real dad, and pregnant at age 15, sounds like a fantastic childhood to me. Than her male counterpart says he also had a good childhood, but watched his dad shoot himself. For a movie entitled black metal veins these people sure like to put themselves upon any cross in the vicinity and,...

shoot it into my neck...
talk about a squirming in your armchair kind of cinematic experience... this tale follows the exploits of a group of crazy young adults who like to shoot smack, smoke crack and snort synthetic heroin... it's pace gruelingly and well-edited... extremely disturbing in most cases... if you want to see what drugs can really do to ruin a person, check out Black Metal Veins.

What a disappointment!
I pre-ordered a copy of Black Metal Veins as I was so entirely impressed with the previous (far better) Vomit Gore Trilogy. But BMV is a huge disappointment. We get 90 plotless minutes of watching extremely unattractive addicts sit around b*tching, nodding off together and having rather boring sex with each other. Even the scenes that are supposed to be ~shocking!~ drag and appear staged as all hell. Also, where the hell is the black metal? Long story short, BMV disappointed me in every way I can think of. And that's a huge shame coming from a director who has the talent to make much, much better films than this.

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Home Run Showdown [Blu-ray]

Great Family Movie
This is a great family movie! Not sure why it didn't get a wider theater release! Story was sweet, the kid actors are incredible! Especially Kyle Thomas, he's a very cute kid and his potrayal is tender and sweet! Very convincing. I will definitely be giving this as a gift this Christmas!!
Highly recommend!

A Great Movie!
This was a fun family movie that reminds me some of the bad news bears (at least in some ways), but really is a story of determination to overcome adversity not only for the character of Lorenzo, but also for Joey DeLuca. Both have a journey that as a viewer of the movie you get to see and experience and it is through this journey that they grow and learn. The movie was fun, but also had a number of meaningful messages within it that brought out some great conversations within my home after we watched it as a family, and it can do the same for your own family. Good acting and character development throughout, which led to a movie that I am proud to have shared with the family!

Good Movie
I enjoyed the movie,but, i wish they had explaned more of why Michelle was so overprotective over her son.
But, for me, its rated PG-13, there was language not just by some of the adults, but the kids as well. But, with that being said, i did enjoy the movie, but, its in the spirit of Badnews Bears and Mighty Ducks, so, it would be better for older kids.

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Let Go

A fantastic movie
An amazing cast. A wonderful story. Technically beautiful. A remarkable first film for Brian Jett that restores your faith in movie-making. I hope there are many more.

Enjoyable Movie
What a truly refreshing movie. It is well-paced, thoughtful, visually stunning with great acting. It reminds me of a movie from a long ago era, when movies told stories and weren't relient on special effects and hip soundtracks. Anyway, for something different, definately check this movie out.

Fantastic First!
I really enjoyed "Let Go" by Brian Jett! The cast is fantastic and the story line is wonderful! Actually many stories within the major plot. A wonderful first movie,...what fun to see Ed Asner again.

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Joysticks (1983)

Oh the memories!!! A fun little 80's exploitation gem finally on DVD!!!
What a great little gem of a film!!! Greydon Clark's 80's exploitation flick starring the one and only Joe Don Baker(Walking Tall,Mitchell,Final Justice,Cape Fear,Goldeneye) is finally on DVD!!! My VHS of this film wore out ions ago so I was thrilled find this classic now on DVD!!! If you like classic video game footage along with good comedy and nice heaping of T&A for good measure,than this movie is for you!!! Yes this is a low budget independent film,so the image and sound quality are a but rough,but I believe that's part of it's "charm",to clean it up too much would ruin the "feel" of the film!!! A true blast from the past!!! PS,If only "Tilt" (the pinball movie,NOT the TV show!) were available on DVD,hey maybe one day!,until then we now have this clasic to enjoy again!!! Two thumbs up!!! Way Up!!! Five stars!!! A+

Memories of many summers ago
was great seeing this again and how video games were back then and Corinne Bohrer with her Valley Girl type accent,she later was Bobcat Goldthwaits GF in Police Academy 4 Citizens on Patrol

also great seeing Joe Don Baker also a great stage actor as well

brought back some great memories and games i was great at back in those days, and they teams together

Scorpion Releasing: Yes! it's worth the upgrade
I owned the Liberation dvd for a couple years, and this new release from Scorpion Releasing is worth buying it again. I hate re-buying movies, but the upgrade in color and picture are worth it. The Liberation dvd is hardly even watchable. with the new dvd, it's like watching a whole new movie......a movie thats actually good!

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Chimpanzee

A beautifully done movie/documentary, emotional and educative for all
Just got back from seeing "Chimpanzee" with my girlfriend and our two young boys. They loved it, and so did I. The first viewing in a long while that received a standing O. I cannot wait till the Blu-Ray transfer.

This is the story(narrated by Tim Allen, "Toy Story", "Home Improvement")of a newly born chimp named Oscar. We watch him grow up with his Mother and the other Chimps among the clan. Freddy, the Grandfather-leader is my favorite.
You cannot watch this without thinking of how unbelievably human they are. Look at their eyes, their communication and feelings; its all on caught on film and wonderfully done. I loved the footage of their tool and decision making, so, so human. Though the story of Oscar is its focus, other stories such as Scar and his clan who are at a territorial war over food sources and the communication and the execution of hunting their prey is genius.
Wonderfully told by Tim Allen as he takes us through the story of the chimps with his...

Both kids and adults were fascinated although the movie had some very slow moments, distracting narration
This review is based on the Instant View version of the film. . I don't know if it differs from the DVD sets which are available for purchase.

Please note that I DO give away some of the plot details, although this info is also included in nearly every advertisement or trailer for the film. If you haven't seen those, you may not want to read the rest of this review but I think those with young children might want to have enough information to decide if their children are ready for the film.

Before getting into the basics of this movie, I do want to note that it is probably best suited for older children since it does have some sections that could be frightening to younger ones, including the death of a baby chimp's mother (although this is not shown but rather narrated by Tim Allen).

There are also other events which involve violence, including attacks by rival groups of chimpanzees, but - as with the death of the mother chimp - most of the details...

Heartwarming
This was really a great movie! I got it for my 6 year old (he loves nature documentary type movies) and we both loved it. It was a little sad, but it was really neat to see what happens and how Oscar perceivers. I would recommend this to anyone who likes nature movies. I've read reviews putting the narration down, but I honestly liked it.

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The Littlest Horse Thieves

"Vintage" Disney Classic
This is the sort of quality family fare that will rarely, if ever, be made again. Produced in the mid 70's when 'The Waltons' was popular and America wasn't so afflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder, it earns its place as one of the best in Disney's period piece library. The cinematography is excellent with many colorful landscape panoramas and some choice episodes including a dog racing event in the Yorkshire countryside, visually interesting shots of old-fangled colliery machinery, worklife inside the coal mines, and an honest rendering of family life inside the village homes.

The characters of the story are all cast with competent actors, both child and adult. The films' action derives from the resourceful efforts of the kids to save the colliery ponies whose fate is a grim one in the face of production efficiencies soon to be installed by mine owner Alastair Sim-(played Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol') The film has an innocent charm, although a little dated in both the period...

Wonderful movie for horse lovers of all ages.
The last time I saw this movie was in 1976 at a movie theater. I was 9 years old. This movie has been stuck vividly in my mind since the first and only time I saw it. I have been looking to rent and/or purchase a copy ever since. It is a movie set in (wales?) before the turn of the century. Around the advent of the steam engine. It centers around the lives of the "pit ponies" used to pull coal trolleys in the deep dark mines, and the local children who rally to save them from certain death when the mine owner decides to dispense the "pit ponies" and replace them with steam engines. It is a great story, I think, albiet dark, much in the same way as Oliver Twist. I highly recommend this movie, I can't wait to get my copy in the mail! Thanks to AMAZON for carrying this little known gem!

a surprising little gem
Its odd how the most underated films can really surprise you. I saw this film for the first time recently, and I regret now not seeing it as a child, I had put off seeing it for such a long time. I did not expect to get too involved about the welfare of a few pit ponies; but honestly the film; inc story; performances and attention to detail are so well done that it almost has a timeless quality about it. Modest as it is; be warned the happy ending only comes with a rather surprising price unexpected for disney in the 70s. Rosemary Anne Sisson,wrote the screenplay also penned 'Ride a Wild Pony' for disney which came out around the same time; also recommended as a companion to this film, hopefully one day that film will be released as well.

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The BIG Renovation

Good visuals and narration... interesting
My 3 1/2 year old really loves this video. I have several littlemammoth videos (the publisher). They are well written, use children as narrators, and are very educational. The tape discusses the entire process of rebuilding a smaller home and modernizing it. It's begun with an architect drawing the plans, the demolition of the portions of the home that will no longer remain. Later aspects of framing, sheetrocking, following up by the architect and finish work. Damaged wood due to termites is discussed as well as an interesting visit to a university for a look at how termites follow smells. I have a deep respect for littlemammoth videos as they don't get "silly" and maintain children's attention throughout the movie. I refrained from a top rating primarily because of the ~5 minutes of advertisements in the beginning of the tape.





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The Devil Makes Three

Berghof
I mainly purchased this movie because it was the last film of Hitler's Berghof before the Bavarian government demolished it. The movie is pretty good on it's own merits with the winter scenes of the Berghof a visual bonus.

My second favorite Gene Kelly Movie
There's only one Gene Kelly film that I like better: "The Happy Road" (1957) which is finally out on DVD since last year.
I don't know how often I have watched "The Devil makes three", but it must have been 5 or 6 times over the past 4 decades.
This movie has been filmed after WW II in Bavaria (Berchtesgaden and Munich).
It's very dramatic and suspenseful. Pier Angeli was never better in another role.

Also I can highly recommend:
1. The 4 Musketeers (1948, with Lana Turner)
2. Cover Girl (1944, with Rita Hayworth)
3. Les Girls (1957, Mitzi Gaynor and Kay Kendall)
4. On The Town (1949, Vera-Ellen and Frank Sinatra)

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE: An Underestimated Postwar Thriller
It's a shame this film took so long to make DVD release---it's an ambitious piece of filmmaking. Sadly, the premise of a neo-Nazi resurgence in postwar Germany had been pretty well worked over by 1952, when the film was released. Still, it's got a lot going for it; Gene Kelly gives a respectable dramatic performance, as does beautiful newcomer Pier Angeli. The Bavarian and Austrian locations, along with the winter weather, lend the film an undeniable authenticity(which almost overcomes some of the plot's sketchier elements). The climax of a mountainous chase between a ringleader (played by German actor Claus Clausen) and US/German military police was in fact filmed in the ruins of Hitler's retreat at Berchtesgaden. Director Andrew Marton made an impressive, entertaining job of this film---recommended.

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The Edge

Back to Siberia....
This movie is about an isolated labor camp in Russia. A war vet chooses the camp because he wants to continue to pilot trains, but he has been deemed unfit by his superiors. Out in the middle of nowhere, he figures he'll find his last chance. He does and that's what this movie centers around. Of course they try to squeeze in a bit of romance, but the whole premise is boring. I did watch the entire film. Its ok for what it was. The only Russian language film I have ever seen. It's probably the only one I ever will see.

builds steam but.....
The characters are two-dimensional for my taste. However it is no worse than many other american films with the focus on what's going on than a relationship.That it is full of colourful Russian characters makes up for it somewhat.
Despite this complaint it is more likely to be a 4 star film as it is well made with good photography and direction. This is a solid film with great scenes of snow bound forests and an iron beast ( - the steam train and a pleasing spirit-mascot in a large bear)
Thankfully it is not a depressing film about camps and broken spirits but about endurance and care.

Well worth watching
I didn't know what to expect with this movie. I was very pleasantly surprised. I rated it 5 stars and hopefully this will attract some attention. It is probably a four star movie, but given that it is up against all the popular Hollywood fare, it is not unreasonable to give it a bit of a push. First of all for train fans, it does have trains. They are a central part of the story. Set in Siberia, in World War II, refugees of all types try to find their way. A romantic triangle of sorts, with individual Russians and Germans trying to find their ways through the mess they are in, provide the raw materials for this reflection on life, war, and morality or more accurately, the making of ethical decisions. And there are some great scenes of the beauty of the countryside, mixed in of course with the brutal conditions under which people are trying to survive. I am not a film critic, but the directing, story line, acting, etc., all seemed to be top notch.

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Girl Walks into a Bar

A funny & fast paced comedy that is brilliantly written and is very fun to watch. I liked it. I say B.
"Sometimes we find ourselves in an unbearable situation and our options dry up and we resort to drastic measures. It's called survival." A dentist (Quinto) wants to have his wife killed. When the assassin (Gugino) shows up all she want's is the money. Nick says it will take a two hours to get it and he will be back. Nothing is ever that easy though. Even though it may not sound like it this is a comedy, and a pretty funny one at that. The dialog is great and the fast paced line delivery really makes it enjoyable and fun to watch. I laughed quite a bit in this and the story moves from bar to bar in a way that makes sense and is very entertaining. The cast in this is pretty impressive and everyone really pulls off their part well. There really isn't much to this movie and it's not all that of an original idea but the way it's presented makes it seem fresh. I really enjoyed this more then I expected and this makes for a good watch. Overall, a funny and entertaining movie that is well...

An interesting journey you don't want to end
Girl walks into a bar kicks off with an intriguing conversation and seemingly take you on a wild ride. It was filled with humor, fast talking and great interaction between the characters! My only gripe it ends abruptly but the end scene goes through the credits, so it's only a small gripe.

Made for U-tube??
This movie was very cute with some decent acting and a fun plot - I hope to see more like this - it reminded me of Altman's
Short Cuts.

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Superheroes

A Surprisingly Effective Look At A New Breed Of Hero--Fighting Apathy In A City Near You
When you think about it--you probably have definitive feelings when it comes to ordinary men and women masquerading as costumed superheroes. I'm not quite sure what I expected when I sat down to this lively documentary feature, but I have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the subject matter than I did going in. I'll just be honest and say it, I found the whole idea a little silly. And yet, to a large degree, I am a convert. The world would undoubtedly be a better place if more people took such an active and participatory role in civic events and community. This spirited movie has so much heart--with a fair share of comedy and even thrills--it becomes strangely irresistible, thought-provoking, and oddly touching.

First and foremost, I would commend director Michael Barnett with his even-handed and well balanced approach. He introduces a diverse cross section of superheroes for this piece. Major characters tend to come across in one of three...

Sequel, please
I was fortunate to attend a premier for this film before final edits, so it was incredible to watch the films growth. I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. This is a great, fast moving movie. You really come to connect with this group of "superheroes". Some more than others. It's interesting to think that one of the superheroes featured started his journey based on a brutal crime that happened over 50 years ago in NYC.
I would recommend this film based on it's entertainment value alone, but am even more supportive of it knowing that the featured heroes are now out on the streets trying to help the homeless with food and provisions, as well as by trying to keep those streets safe. I would love to see a follow up to learn what has happened with the main characters since the films final release. Kudos to the director and producer on a heartfelt movie that brings great insight into the lives of these ordinary people with extraordinary aspirations.

Real Life Superheroes
I enjoyed this movie a whole lot. In fact I am mad 'cause my daughter lost the dvd so I can't watch it again. I wish they could have spent more time in Utah covering the Black Monday Society, but at least they did get covered. I am fascinated by this Thanatos from Britsh Columbia and I am really into how this is about Charity work, not fighting supervillians. I thought the team in New York were off because they had the leader dress up like a very muggable guy but then they got no takers cause the cameras were there the whole time and then he wants to know why no one tries to mug him. Anyway I am so happy about this charity work angle that they made sure to focus on and the producer had the right point of view and mindset, there is nothing more meaningful than people being cared about and helped and they feel like they are worth helping! Life is hard, it's great to see helping for once!!! <grin>
This is a serious documentary and it does raise awareness of an odd phenomenon in...

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Veggie Tales: The Penniless Princess

My new favorite Veggie Tales for my sweet Princesses!
I was able to take my 4 year old daughter to see an early preview of this movie and I loved it! My daughter did too of course. The story is based on the Little Princess and has an excellent message about being God's Princess no matter how much wealth you have. Every girl is a princess to God and my daughter left the movie understanding that. The little friends that the Princess Sarah makes are charming and the little song in between about BFF friends will give more laughs to the adults watching. I am so excited to get this movie for my girls to watch during their young years and I look forward to watching the positive message over and over again.

Best Veggie yet
I have been doing reviews for Veggie Tales for some time now. My family owns every single dvd (& some old vhs). For a while, Big Idea has been struggling after Phil Vischer lost control of the company but they have been coming back strong in the last few years. ( I HIGHLY recommned his book, "Me, Myself & Bob that tells the story.)

Anyway, back to the Princess. This is a retelling of "The Little Princess" which is a hard story to do. Since this is for children you have the option of allowing the father to live, which is what they did with Shirly Temple & just really ruined the whole story or try to tell it in a way that children will not come away too upset.

They just went beyond all expectations with this one. It is a perfect retelling. What surprised me was while they did take some artistic liberties, they stayed very true to the story....you know as well as you can with vegetables. The message of always staying kind through all of your struggles was just...

Cute movie!
I won a copy of this movie and received it a few weeks before it was released. My husband, 6 year old daughter, and I really enjoyed it! Cute movie, good songs, and a good message.

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Johnny Tremain

A wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day any day!
In the city of Boston in the 1770's, Johnny Tremain is an apprentice silversmith who is a bit too confident for his own good. When his master is offered a job that is too difficult for his aged skills, Johnny jumps at the opportunity to prove himself to the important customer, Mr. Lyte. But with the job, a deadline is also given, and to do the work in time, Johnny finds himself, along with his master's wife and daughter, breaking the law by working on a Sunday. While pouring molten silver under panicked conditions, Johnny is pushed into it and his right hand is badly burned.
Time passes, and Johnny must unwrap his burned fingers and get back to the work he is bound to do, but upon discovering that his fingers have healed and grown together, making his hand somewhat useless, he is cast out into the street to find a new home. But no one will hire a boy with one good hand, when there are plenty to be had with two. Johnny soon finds himself desperate, and goes to the home of rich...

What happened to Forbes' story?
Esther Forbes' "Johnny Tremain" is one of the greatest books ever written for young readers. The story is about a young silversmith apprentice who is finds himself swept up in the events of the American Revolution. Johnny participates in the Boston Tea Party, spies on the British, and mingles with such patriots as Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere.

Like most movie versions of famous books, Walt Disney's "Johnny Tremain" takes many liberties with the story. In the book Johnny takes no part in the fighting at Lexington or Concord; in the movie Johnny is in the thick of the action. This would be forgivable had the film version been faithful to the message of Forbes' book which is the ideal of the American Revolution- "that a man can stand up"- came with the sacrifice of blood and young lives. It is here that the movie completly misses the mark. The book shows that war could extinguish the young lives of the best and brightest; the...

An enjoyable Disney rendition of the cause of the Revolution
This is an enjoyable Disney rendition of the causes of the American Resolution. No, it may not be faithful to the novel, and some of the historical events may not ring true to how they actually happened, however I am sure Disney did not intend them to be. This movie was made in 1957, the same time frame that Davey Crockett played by Fess Parker was made, America was caught up in patriotic fever and Disney was more than happy to serve this up to the viewing public. I did enjoy this movie, and the overall theme it was trying to portray, such as freedom from tyranny, the rights of every man from the wealthy to the silversmiths apprentice. This may not be a movie to analyze the Revolutionary War with, however it is a great starting point to discuss the Revolution with young ones, and those who do not know very much about the American Revolution. An enjoyable film that is recommended to those who like Disney and "light history".

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Shaft [Blu-ray]

Cool Music
Shaft DVD

As far as I know Shaft broke new ground as a movie starring a black man in 1971. Shaft was the perfect example of a rogue cop, taking orders from no one and tracking down the crooks no matter where they hid in the city.

Recommended for fans of Richard Roundtree and quality jazz.

Gunner February, 2008

Pan & Scan
Just a note to buyers:
All three SHAFT films presented as this triple feature are NOT the widescreen versions. Case cover lists them as "Full Frame."

5 stars is not enough!!
"Who is the man who would risk his neck for his brotha' man? SHAFT!!"
Blaxploitation? That's like calling "Bullit" 'Cracker-jacking' [I rate Bullit a 2/5 stars] or 'The Godfather' "Wopploitation' [am Italian myself-so clearly my criticism is the asinine labeling of SHAFT as an "exploitation film" simply because a strong lead character is a black man-but he is FIRST a strong MAN]
I LOVE this film; saw it prior to teen years and was a wonderful "adrenaline pump" WITH A STORY. Violence? sure; gratuitous? no; the mean streets of Harlem are a turf war NOT driven by racial hatred but by MONEY [via heroin trade].
A unique [and I have never read it mentioned] is that this film is an "equal opportunity offender"; the mob-white crooks, want to sell heroin in New York turf and have to overpower the long-time "crime boss" of the area- "Bumpy", a black career criminal whose CV reads from the petty[numbers] to the Class A felony[murder], who besides being a "crook" has a downright...

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Jaws

5 stars and the dvd is a bargain
Well, I bought the DVD dts and I think you'll like the extras such as the outtakes, deleted scenes, and especially an excellent documentary. You'll get the behind the scenes from Spielberg, the actors, photographers, and the producers. In today's film world this movie could be made rather easily, but back then you'll see the tremendous undertaking that went into this production. The movie itself, of course, is just amazing. At one point Spielberg says that the shark is the star, but the scenes on the boat will show you 3 stars at the top of their game. The sound quality is outstanding and exact, but I do have one complaint.... on the 5.1 DTS their isn't much activity from the back 2 speakers. The sound coming from the front 3 is great, but they could have done more. This movie is just as suspenseful as when I saw it in the mid-seventies. I hadn't really watched it in awhile and I had forgotten the outstanding acting performances by Scheider, Dreyfuss, and Shaw...

Finally On DVD
Jaws was Stephen Spielberg's first hit and after his initial reluctance to release his movies on DVD, it finally makes its DVD debut. We all know the story, a great white shark terrorizes the waters off of Amity Island. The movie is based on Peter Benchey's best-selling novel. This is one of the rare instances where a movie is actually better than the book it was based on. In Mr. Benchey's novel, there is are some extraneous sections such as an affair between Ellen Brody and Hooper that really don't add to the story. The movie streamlines the book and the changes made bringing it to the screen actually improve on the book. The performances of three stars are superb. Roy Scheider plays Chief Brody as an everyman. We can all relate with him as he is just trying do his job and the right thing but is caught in the middle. He wants to close the beaches to catch the shark, but the people he is protecting want them opened as the water is the source of their livelihoods...

JAWS Dazzles on Blu-Ray
The original summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg's JAWS quickly became my favorite film growing up, having devoured it on VHS and on ABC's Sunday Night Movie presentation (the one with the added footage) so many times I could recite dialogue before I was out of grade school. Over the years I've been able to see it on the big screen (thanks to a visit with Lukas on Martha's Vineyard back in `96 or so), but despite that - and having reviewed numerous laserdisc and DVD releases over the years - only now with Universal's Blu-Ray edition do I feel like I've really, completely seen "Jaws." This is a spectacular HD presentation on every level and is sure to thrill fans of this classic 1975 screen adaptation of Peter Benchley's bestseller.

There's not much I can say about the movie that hasn't been written or documented - from behind-the-scenes books to countless documentaries - since the film's 1975 release date. Spielberg's miraculous direction took advantage of every difficult...

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Jurassic Park

The 3D is great with a couple cautions, TIP:deactivate BD-live to avoid BD advertising spam Aaarrgh
***This review really is for the 3D Blu-ray version. I preordered it and it arrived the day before official release :) ***

My wife and I watched it and the 3D is very well done, they clearly did full 3D mapping with curved shapes for faces and pixel infill behind things when you can now see around them. My wife found it as good as 3D gets. As an engineer with image processing background I noticed a few things like artifacts around fast moving stuff and places where (of course) things would not be in focus that were not originally in the plane of focus. I think if you don't go looking for flaws it will just be a great 3D experience, this isn't a cheap cardboard cutout change to 3D, it's the good kind.

The Bluray took a while to start up and then would repeatedly get stuck showing "downloading new attractions from BD-live"; until I turned off BD-live for the Bluray player. .... Update on BD-Live: It would seem that getting stuck at "downloading" was likely due to...

Jurassic Park Is Ageless...and in 3D It Deserves Six Stars!
I am writing this review after having seen the 3D-IMAX version of this movie yesterday at the theater. I can only hope this is the version being released later this month (April 2013).

All I can say is WOW! I and my family were immensely pleased. This is every bit as amazing as I remembered it, and then some.

The 3D was definitely a benefit here, and it heightened my appreciation of the movie. While of course Spielberg had no inclination that this would eventually go 3D, the movie has several sequences that really seem to have been made specifically for it. As anyone who has seen the movie can guess, there are all sorts of scenes that almost literally jumped out at the audience in the original, and they're even more super-charged here.

While this has to be one of the most-watched movies ever, I'm sure there are many who have never seen it -- in fact, I could tell there were a few in the audience nearby me, as they jumped more than a few times at key...

Probably the best 3D Blu-ray Available. Stunning.
My review pertains to the quality of 3D:

As someone who loves home theater 3D, I have probably every major 3D Blu-ray release, and I'm pretty sure this tops them all.

Literally every scene has been remastered for 3D conversion, and it shows. Its a beautiful, fun, and awesomely entertaining 3D showpiece. Exceeded my expectations in every way.

Also, the "Extras" has an overview of how they spent 9 months transferring the source material to 3D. You really can't go wrong with Jurassic Park 3D.. get it now.

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Double Indemnity

A classic film but an appallingly bad DVD transfer.
Double Indemnity is obviously a classic film but this DVD transfer is appalling. Almost every scene is incredibly grainy, the source print is obviously not in very good conditon (perhaps needing to be refurbished), and to top it off, there are no deluxe features and the extra packaging is rather inadequate(with no information booklet or history of the movie).

This would be frustrating for any film but is downright shameful treatment of a cinema classic. We can only hope someone will spend the time and money necessary to restore the print for a new theater run, as has been done with other older films. Perhaps then, DVD buyers will get the version of this classic they deserve.

Univeral's math 1+0 = 2 DVD set....
this is a 5 star movie....

this review is of the NEW Universal 2 dvd set.

Typical of Universals crappy Deer Hunter 2 DVD set..we've got a classic movie....with extras that could easily fit on one DVD...but Universal tries to make this into a bigger "ticket" by stretching it out.

The movie....its a classic...I've got the original release on DVD. The EXTRAS are

1) an introduction by Robert Osborne, nothing special and watched once you'll be irritated having to see it again every time you hit PLAY..

2) commentary tracks by the usual suspects (including the king of bloat Richard Schickel) and Universal has two so they put two more extra features on their package for these..

3) a half hour film noir primer , that's been done better on the WB noir sets and again features the same film professors etc that we are growing all too familiar with.

4) a 1 hour and 15 minute TV version from the 70's...

Could Restored 35mm print be on the horizon?
oops, 5-star is obviously for the movie, not the current very poor presentation on DVD.

But this September the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC screened their newly restored 35mm print of this film. It was stunning gorgeous B&W imagery (think the 2-disc special edition of Casablanca which came out last year). I'll be checking Amazon every few weeks to see if its release has been scheduled!

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Lovely Molly

NOT IN MOM'S KITCHEN!
The movie cycles back and forth between a home movie video that displays the time and date and a bad hand held camera that doesn't. Tim (Johnny Lewis) and Molly (Gretchen Lodge) get married in 2010 according to the camera, but don't move into her parent's home until a year later in 2011. We know that her parents, Ben and Tammy are deceased...in heaven watching the ceremony.

Tim is a truck driver who travels. He has installed an alarm system, one that goes off on occasion as if someone inside the house unlocks and opens the door. But they seemingly own no gun living in a rural area. Hannah (Alexandra Holden) is Molly's F-bomb dropping, pot smoking, blond sister. There is a mystery concerning the house and its past that Molly doesn't recall. She is creeped out by being alone in her childhood house. All this adds up to only one thing to horror genre fans who have seen this recently in too many films. However this film doesn't care if you gather this clue early as there is much...

Slow, gloomy, creepy
Spoiler free

This is a compelling horror movie for a few reasons. I am not claiming this is the most amazing movie in the world, but it ended up affecting me more than expected and for that I will give it a tip of the hat.

Why i liked it:

- Creepy throughout vs jump scares and gore.
- Events of the movie open for interpretation.
- The movie showed you things without context that just seem random, but later bring those scenes into context.

These things left me thinking about it long after the movie was done.

The found video parts were a mixed bag but in the end I decided that they were an asset to the presentation. there were a few really good video scenes while others were kind of pointless.

In the end I would reccomend people who prefer creepy over slasher type movies. The movie feels very depressing and thus it is not a very good date movie. I was in the right mode to let myself get absorbed by the movie,...

Slow-Burn
Sometimes the best horror movies only reveal their chills on repeated viewing. That's why, for me, atmosphere and creep are more effective than explicit gore and jump-out shocks.

"Lovely Molly" is like that. The first time I watched it I thought it was OK. Nothing too impressive, but certainly something I would pull out again on a lazy afternoon. The second time, I was amazed at how the whole thing seemed to fall into place for me. If anything, I found it more suspenseful and disturbing than I had the first time around. That's the mark of quality.

Huge praise to the actors, particularly Gretchen Lodge who does a fine job as Molly. Alexandra Holden is even better, I think, in the role of Molly's increasingly worried sister. And Johnny Lewis is excellent as Molly's husband. Such a sad thing that this likeable actor and talented young man (Johnny, not the character) was unable to counter his own real life demons.

One tip: make sure you have the...

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Godzilla Vs. Megalon

Just because its not Blu Ray doesnt mean you shouldnt own it
For the first time ever Godzilla vs. Megalon has an official DVD release. Yes, DVD, not Blu Ray. If youre going to wait for the Blu Ray, that is your choice, but for someone like me, a lifelong die hard Godzilla fan who flew to Burbank to meet Godzilla ( Harou Nakajima) this was a no-brainer pick up for me.
The plot is very simple. Most of you reading have seen this in some form be it VHS, TV, MST3K etc..The underwater world of Seatopia decides now is the time to strike back against Japan for all of its nuclear testing. They steal an inventors Robot named Jet Jaguar to guide the great beast, Megalon to destroy the Earth. The inventor is able to get control of Jet Jaguar just in time to get Godzilla. What we get in the payoff is Megalon and Gigan vs. Godzilla and Jet Jaguar in a tag team WWE/UFC fight.
As most of you know, the film is considered one of the, if not, the worst due to the juvenile feel this movie has, clearly made for kids. And to save a few yen, the film also...

UPDATE AUG 2013: Godzilla vs Megalon IS coming on Bluray/DVD
THIS INFO IS ACTUALLY FROM MARCH 22ND BUT IT GOT BY ME - HAD A BUSY SUMMER!

Media Blasters licensed both GODZILLA VS MEGALON and DESTROY ALL MONSTERS in 2011, with MEGALON initially planned for both DVD and Blu-ray last November. But after Toho complained about some of the extra features Media Blasters included on their DESTROY ALL MONSTERS discs, MEGALON was put on hold while Toho went over the bonus content prepared for that film.

Toho has a mountain of material -- including trailers, stills, publicity art, a feature length audio commentary by film historians Steve Ryfle (Japan's Favorite Mon-Star, BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE, ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION) and Stuart Galbraith IV (The Toho Studios Story, INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER DVD, TORA-SAN COLLECTOR'S SET), and an interview with English dub voice actor Ted Thomas -- to review, and the approval process has moved very slowly. With no end date in sight, Toho has authorized Media Blasters to release a...

Scoop dis nugget!
First off I am sick of clowns trying to break this film down like they are Roger Ebert. If you are a fan of the genre you know what your getting yourself into. Who cares about the plot and how loosely written it is. I don't care how the monsters get into the ring or why Jet Jaguar can change like Ant Man and grow like a Giant. I just want to see a Monster Street Fight and watch Godzilla throw the leg drop on Meglon! I also want to see an Ultraman knock off who backs up his boy who happens to be a Giant Firebreathing lizard he just met. Hey for all I know this robot is just playing the role of a good Samaritan and preventing a monster from getting jumped by 2 punks. Anyway you try to spin it, just sit back and enjoy the mullet infested Carnie fair ride for what it is.......a ride on the Gravitron!

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This Boy Can Fight Aliens [Blu-ray]

Not into yaoi, but I love this movie nontheless.
This movie was pre-viewed at the New York Comic Con / Anime Festival. Probably 600-700 saw it, and I was one of them. There. That gets the whole "How can you review something that isn't out yet" problem.
The story revolves around Kakashi, a boy with no memory of his past. The only thing he has from his past is his cell phone, but it is broken. In the time/planet (never states what planet or where they are)they live in, aliens come everyday to fight someone, a single, random person. Of course, the aliens are super strong, and no one is a match. But then they fight Kakashi, who, for some reason, can take on the aliens. So, from that day on, a single alien comes each day to fight him.
Kakashi lives in a house with two other men. One, about Kakashi's age, is called Arikawa. He is best friends with Kakashi. The other is Shiro, who is something of a father for both of them. They both know of the alien fighting, and give him moral support.
Overall, it is a great movie. The...

Great value for the genre
This Boy Can Fight Aliens features a 30 minute length anime short that has action, drama, suspense, and friendship/love elements. The anime experience is quite good for the genre mixing these things in a unique HD package that is visually amazing and sounds excellent. Dub actors are excellent for their roles and the quality subtitling of the text on screen makes it worthwhile and enjoyable. Ultimately I really did end up loving this feature and the dedication to actually having some boys love elements, like the handholding or sleeping together and a good nice end.

There are other shorts here from the same creator with Robotica Robotics having an additional boys love/friendship focus their or even more than that as two robots Haru and Natsu explore their relationship with each other and with the person who adopted them Masa, and the meaning of love. It was really emotional and touching and quite memorable.

The other shorts dwell on the question of the world ending...

"This Boy Can Fight Aliens" is a worthy Blu-ray release for the anime fans who are appreciative of independent talent from Japan
Back in 1999, a young man in Japan named Makoto Shinkai who worked for video game company Falcom, would go to work on a five minute animated piece titled "She and Her Cat" and would eventually win a major animation contest. The young man would then go to work in creating an animated OVA titled "Voices of a Distant Star" created by himself on a Mac.

And since then, Makoto Shinkai has become one of the rarities in the anime industry, who used the current technology available in software and home computers, to create his own anime. And while he won awards, many people in the anime industry warned that this is rare and not anyone can just go and create their own anime OVA like Makoto.

CoMix Wave Films, who are known for their distribution of Makoto Shinkai's work have featured another young anime creator, who has literally created anime shorts by herself and also was inspired by Makoto Shinkai.

Her name is Soubi Yamamoto, a manga and anime fan, a big fan...

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So Dear To My Heart

Nostalgic Disney film highlighted by Burl Ives' songs.
"So Dear To My Heart" is a lesser-known Disney film released 3 years after "Song Of The South". It's one of Walt's loveliest films, with several scenes combining live-action with animation, just like the previous film. What I love and remember most about the film is Burl Ives and his singing voice. His songs here include the Oscar-nominated "Lavender Blue" and his duet with Beulah Bondi "Billy Boy". Bobby Driscoll (Jeremiah) is now close to being my favorite child actor of the past. This film, along with "Treasure Island", showed him real talent. Walt Disney discovered him and Luana Patten in the '40s, and they starred together in "Song Of The South" and this film. They were the first child actors put under contract at Walt Disney's studio. Interesting bit of trivia for film history buffs, huh? Anyway, I think "So Dear To My Heart" should be more widely seen by Disney film buffs.

Family Charmer
Even among Disney films there are few that absolutely everyone in the family can watch without provisos of some kind. This movie is one of those. Fans of classic film stars will find this charming family film to be filled with several actors in the prime of their lives.

Jeremiah Kincaid (Bobby Driscoll, who voiced Peter Pan in the animated Disney movie, as well as appearing in "Treasure Island" and "Pecos Bill" and numerous other films as a child star) lives with his Grandma Kincaid (Academy Award and Emmy winner Beulah Bondi). Jeremiah's best friend seems to be Tildy (Luana Patten, who also appeared in "Pecos Bill," "Johnny Tremain" and numerous other films). Another important character in this movie is Jeremiah's Uncle Hiram (Burl Ives), who sings the Academy Award nominated song "Lavender Blue" in this film.

Jeremiah sees a beautiful and famous race horse near the beginning of the movie. Since Jeremiah and his grandmother are poor, owning such a horse is...

Filled with valuable lessons................
We borrowed this from the library. Although it has cartoon sequences with live action I think that this movie appeals more to the older child and adults. The scenery is beautiful. The cartoons are great with wonderful songs. The actors are great also. Burl Ives does a wonderful job as Uncle Hiram. His natural, effortless, singing ability jumps up through out the film.
The story is about a young boy being raised by his grandmother in the early 1900's. His dreams of owning a champion race horse change when a black lamb is born and is not accepted by its mother. Jeremiah soon falls in love with the lamb and dreams of taking him to the state fair. Without any extra money for train fare Jeremiah must raise money to pay his way.
Strong emphasis placed on faith in God and doing the best with what you got.

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Jurassic Park III

Surprisingly good sequel is full of action and humor!
"Jurassic Park III" attempts to pull a new twist on the source material of the first film, taking us to a new place where new dinosaurs will soon be wreaking havoc on human kind. Does it work? Completely! Combining some very effective action sequences with some of the bets humor for a movie of this genre, "JP3" is a thrill machine that doesn't portray itself as anything more or less. One might sneer at the drawn-out franchise, but there's no denying how much fun this film can be on many levels.

The movie brings back the original character of Alan Grant (Sam Neill), who is now a college professor of paleontology. He hopes that his new theory of raptor intelligence will inspire his students as well as earn some funds for his research, though his students seem more interested in his experiences at Jurassic Park so many years ago, experiences he would rather put behind him than rehash to the world.

That is, until Paul and Amanda Kirby (William H. Macy, Tea Leoni)...

Odds are we won't leave this island alive
It would be nearly impossible to trump the first Jurassic Park film. People were blown away by that movie. The technology was cutting edge and the premise was nearly magical in its element of fantasy. Making a third installment to the series presents an obvious challenge. How do you uphold the level of entertainment set by the first two films? The answer: new dinosaurs...

In this film, we get the addition of a few new dinos. The Spinosaur, being even bigger and badder than the T-Rex, is the "guy on the block" now. Flying pteranodons are introduced on Isla Sorna, where they were once housed in a huge cage, now left to patrol the skies freely. The Velociraptors have also gotten an upgrade. They look a bit more menacing than the Raptors from the original Jurassic Park. These new additions are what make this film what it is.

The first film was set on lush pastures of modeled prehistoric land. The setting for this film is far more delapidated. This is the...

It's the sequel of a sequel, what did you expect?
Let's face it, 80% of us will go watch this movie if only because we want to recapture the thrill of the first (and still the best) Jurassic Park. Scenes of the the scientists Grant and Sattler meeting their first live dinosaur on Isla Nublar as well as the way T-Rex gobbled up the lawyer will always be remembered as the gems they are. Plus it had a great storyline to go with it (the book was better, tho).

Which brings us to JP3, the third instalment of the JP series. Sam Neil is back as Dr. Alan Grant, so is Laura Dern (in a minor role), and of course T-Rex. Grant accompanies two 'extreme adventurers' played by Tea Leoni and William H. Macy into Isla Sorna otherwise known as Ingen Corp.'s Site B. Their plane crashes (of course) and they are left to their own devices on the island battling the dinos. Like most sequels, the plot is minimal. "Build them dinos and they will come." must have been their motto. It was as if they didn't have a screenplay to begin with and...

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Piece of Cake - A Belly Dance Workout for Beginners, with Neon: Bellydance instruction, Beginner how-to, complete belly dance fitness class

Great Resource for Beginner Level Dancers
Neon leads a 50 minute workout of beginner belly dance moves using short, easy to follow combinations to build sequences. Viewers have the option of watching the workout with voice cues from Neon or with just the music and dancing. There is also 25 minutes of technique breakdown at the end.
What I Loved About this DVD

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS DVD

This is a great resource for beginner dancers because it teaches while moving. The majority of DVDs break down technique first before offering real practice to music. While this can be one of the best ways to learn the dance I think it's beneficial to include different approaches too, and there really aren't many DVDs that can offer this alternative. A well balanced student should have experience learning movements on the fly, and be comfortable trying steps they might not have seen before. Neon does an excellent job of building combinations to give viewers a chance of working up to the full range of movement. For...

Perfect for Beginners
Belly dancing is the loveliest form of exercise I know of, and it is also a beautiful art form; it is so graceful, and tones and strengthens your muscles while also gently stretching your body and giving you agility. It is perfect for all ages, and this DVD is a great start for beginners. If you've never danced a step in your life, or if you're a once active senior who wants to get rejuvenated and moving again, this DVD won't overwhelm you with complicated choreography and difficult workouts. It's also terrific conditioning for someone who is further along in their studies.

The workout is excellent, set to a variety of rhythmic music, and with Neon's detailed instruction to help you with each step. Once you learn the instructions, there is the option of practicing the steps with just the music. The steps are basic and can easily be followed, and Neon is assisted by Teena Ray and Elisheva in this portion.

For learning all the basic positions and techniques, Neon...

Piece of Cake
Piece of Cake is an enjoyable way to wind down and get some movement in after sitting at work all day! It is a great beginner dvd. After work I often don't feel like a strenuous workout, but I do want to get some movement in..... this is great for that! So if you don't want a meat and potatoes work out, get a Piece of Cake. Have fun! Belly dance!
I like to rotate my dvds so that it is not repetitive. I use beginner dvds on days that I just don't have enough "oomph" to put into the others. Shimmy on!

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One Little Indian

Support Your Local Camel Jockey
One Little Indian is a late entry from the Golden Age of Walt Disney, but it's an engaging and enjoyable film. James Garner was in a transitional period here, dabbling with TV and high-grade B-movies like Those Daring Dobermans. He's just as charming as ever, which seems out of place since he IS a deserter. However, as the script is a timely one, his only "crime" was disrupting a massacre of a peaceful Indian camp. So perhaps for the only time in history, we have Viet Nam, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and Jodie Foster coinciding in spacetime.

Several things make this a good movie. An early tip off to the quality is a first-rate Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack. Next, and most important, Clay O'brien is a very appealing child actor. Add Jodie Foster to the young'un cast and you've got a nice set of kids. Not only that, but the supporting cast is loaded with familiar faces if you're a Western fan. The only shortcoming is there are too few scenes with Vera Miles. I wish the...

What a hoot!
I loved this film.

What an absolutely hilarious movie. There are scenes that are so unforgettable.... like in the first place.... what is James Garner doing on a camel in the old west?!?!?

But it makes sense as the film goes along. And the scenes between James Garner and the little boy Clay O'Brien are often comical. They work great together. You'd never know that the "Indian" boy in this film is the same blonde-haired, blue-eyed youngster in John Wayne's classic film, "Cahill, U.S. Marshall".

I enjoy a good comedy film, and this one is near the top of my list. James Garner is always so believable in whatever role he plays.... and if being a camel-riding, orphan-toting, short-tempered cavalry-escapee is his role, only James Garner can make it seem believable (in the comedy role that it is).

If you wish to view a simple, rural, 1800's-style comedy film that is sure to be enjoyed.... this is one I'd certainly recommend.

Family movie with favorite actors
I remember seeing One Little Indian as a kid so I picked it up. There's not much action but a long traveling story. The interesting thing is the list of up and coming stars that were in it.

Jay Silverheels (Tonto), Jim Davis from the tv show Dallas

Robert Pine from CHIPS, James Garner from Rockford Files and of course Jodie Foster.

As many Disney films there's some action and sad events in the story. A white boy (Clay O'Brien)who was captured by the indians as a child. Then taken away from his indian "mother" whom he wants to get back to. This is a fine family movie for the younger set and for those who want to see the actors before they were famous.

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Starship Troopers: Invasion [Blu-ray]

CG Animation Film from the Director of "Appleseed"
"Starship Troopers: Invasion," fourth feature film of the series, is a computer animated film directed by Shinji Aramaki, a Japanese animation director, best known for "Appleseed" (2004). Three principal characters from the Starship Troopers series, Carmen Ibanez, Carl Jenkins and Johnny Rico appear, but their roles are relatively small, in the film's first half in particular.

The story goes like this. Earth Federation Force troopers led by Lieutenant Tony Daugherty (Sam Roman) are sent to Federation's outpost Fort Casey that was attacked by bugs. One of the survivors is Carl Jenkins (Justin Doran), ministry of Paranormal Warfare, who takes over the command of the Starship John A. Warden from Carmen Ibanez (Luci Christian), and leaves the bug-infested base without telling what happened.

After the mission, Johnny Rico (David Matranga) - he is General Rico now - gives a new assignment to Carmen and the trooper team on the fast attack ship Alesia. John A. Warden is...

Follows It's Previous Movies
Not bad. It's all CGI. I sort of liked how they worked at getting the action and such to flow. It's hard using CGI to do this and they pretty much made it work.
As far as the story goes, it follows the Starship Troopers story line pretty good. I think that made Carl a bit more sinister than the previous movies but I guess that's OK, as I guess if you had his mental "gifts" you might be too. I noticed there was a good job of using the stuff from the previous movies too. (One note: They really must make their starships really well to have that ship go thru what it went thru an still crash in one piece!) Anyway, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one.

Superior animation, great story line, great entertainment
Some of the best animation I've encountered. The video was just plain fun. On the down side, the story continues the characters developed in earlier films, but their appearance is totally changed. It would have been better to use the animated likenesses of the original actors.

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Living Dead Girl

From naked female vampires to naked female zombies...
Yet another well-done, beautiful-looking Jean Rollin film. Some workers storing chemical waste in a crypt decide to moonlight as grave-robbers and open a coffin containing an astonishingly well-preserved young woman. But oops, there's this earthquake, y'see, and chemicals spill and o' course this brings the girl back to life and she starts killing (sharp fingernails!). Then she wanders off to a large chateau, of which her undead brain contains vague memories. There she meets her best friend, who's so glad to see her back among the living (sort of) that she decides to help her get the blood she craves by luring in victims. This leads to some pretty heavy gore - more graphic than what you usually see from Rollin - and o' course there's plenty of nudity, all of it beautifully, poetically filmed. Pretty extreme in all counts, and has that dreamlike suspension-of-logic that'll make you not worry about details (like why didn't the girl decay at all? and is there anything...

Great French Gore Romp
THE LIVING DEAD GIRL is easily my favorite of the 7 Jean Rollin DVD's released thus far by IMAGE on DVD and it's the only one in my permanent collection. If you like your euro-horror a little sexier, a lot GORIER, and even quite humorous, you cannot go wrong here. From the opening scene with the graverobbers being disfigured by toxic vapors (hilariously fake) to later ultra-gory scenes as our tragic zombie-female-vamp dispatches one victim after another with her long sharp fingernails or devours their necks in extra-long munching scenes, this one DELIVERS the goods! It has a very euro-horror feel to it and is not as esoteric and heady as some of the other Rollin films. Although french, it easily would appeal to fans of italian horror as well...so if you're not a big Rollin fan, you may want to give this one a chance anyway. The DVD looks great and includes a trailer with ALL the highlights of the film in it (so watch the movie first). Check it out!

An antique morality tale that manages seriously approach what some thought would be a lesbian zombie exploitation flick
God forbid...the utilization of nudity as an artistic mechanism--and by a pornographer, no less! An odd, happy little find from the antique horror section, this film manages to take a serious approach at what may be prematurely deemed a lesbian zombie exploitation flick.

Our story is about a young woman (Catherine) who rises from the dead after an earthquake causes a small toxic waste spill. Completely undecayed and looking quite lovely, she stabs two guys in the eyes and throat with her apparently deadly fingernails in some ultra-campy gored up scenes that should please with broad smiling Oh Gods. She then finds her way to a castle in which she once lived. Now this may feel like the beginning of some classic, trashy, Euro-horror smut with excessive gore, but this film actually offers us a lot more than that and shouldn't be prematurely judged.

She sheds a few tears--as zombies do, if indeed that's how we're to classify her--as the house stirs up some...

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Street Fight

A Pseudo-Microcosmic Political Race That Everyone Should Be Aware Of
Most politically charged films focus on corruption at the higher levels of state, but STREET FIGHT gives us a curb-side view of something much smaller ...and much more important.

The 2002 Newark, New Jersey Mayoral race is something most voters in the U.S. could care less about. Why should someone in, say, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pay attention to Newark's voting issues? Or someone in Fort Worth, Texas? Or San Francisco, California? Realistically, none of them would. But Newark is New Jersey's most populated city, and those in San Francisco and beyond might want to take a peak at what's happening to our democracy on a pseudo-microcosmic level.

The film's primary focus is on Cory Booker, a Newark city councilman with his eye on the mayor's office. He's a Stanford and Yale graduate who lives in a slum within Newark. He's an idealist who's grown tired of his city's poor schools, poorer neighborhoods, and rising jobless rate. To get into the mayor's office, though,...

The Candidate Returns
Q: Why should anyone west of the Delaware River care about the Newark, NJ mayoral race of 2002? A: For me, this was an edge-of-the-seat suspenser that wouldn't let go long enough to let me take a phone call. If you don't know how it ends, see it for the cliffhanging story it tells. For anyone else, this compact little documentary should be seen for its relentless journalistic energy. As American politics becomes more and more dominated by fear tactics, the corporate-owned news organizations have abdicated their duties as the Fourth Estate of our republic, leaving independents like Marshall Curry to take up the mantle. STREET FIGHT compares favorably with the classic MEDIUM COOL, and entertains like a latter-day version of THE CANDIDATE.

We see Sharpe James, a six-term incumbent, try every dirty trick in the book to hold on to his office: he threatens business closures for those who put rival Cory Booker's sign in their windows; he smears the Booker campaign with...

Riveting! - The "real deal" on politics in a major urban city!
This film had me glued to my TV set for it's full 90 minutes. Though I don't live that far from New Jersey, I was unaware of the political campaigns for the position of Mayor in Newark, NJ. At first I noted that this was about a campaign four years ago and thought it was an old film. But it's not. It goes right up through 2006.

One of the marks of a great documentary film is that you feel you are really there. This was shot on video and makes it even more realistic (well, it IS real). I find it hard to believe that this Director Marshall Curry's first full-length feature. It's that gripping. And the lead "characters" of Cory Booker and Mayor Sharpe have such distinct personalities that, as the film progresses, you can't help but take sides.

The film was shown on PBS's show P.O.V. but that is usually aired at very oddball, times - and rarely repeated. And the 20-minute interview with Director Curry helps flesh out some of the details and explains why he became the...

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A Beginner's Guide to Endings

Sitcom Contrivances Fuel This Quirky Tale About Facing Mortality
There is an appealing cast and a number of great ideas inherent in Jonathan Sobol's film "A Beginner's Guide To Endings," so I was really hoping for a deliciously dark comedy. But instead of focusing on the cleverness of the set-up, the screenplay opts for the slapstick choice at every opportunity. Thus, the film often feels like a live action cartoon when it might have been so much more. Purposefully over-the-top and unrelentingly quirky, the film never really develops its characters in a way that might connect you to their wacky antics. With the actors involved, the potential for this film to be really solid is apparent. And the bits that do work make me long for a more cohesive end product, one that was reliant on heart and smarts as opposed to the easiest laughs. Still "A Beginner's Guide to Endings" is amusing enough, if overly contrived, it just doesn't connect on the emotional level that it seems to desire.

The movie begins with Harvey Keitel in full suicide...

Sitcom Contrivances Fuel This Quirky Tale About Facing Mortality
There is an appealing cast and a number of great ideas inherent in Jonathan Sobol's film "A Beginner's Guide To Endings," so I was really hoping for a deliciously dark comedy. But instead of focusing on the cleverness of the set-up, the screenplay opts for the slapstick choice at every opportunity. Thus, the film often feels like a live action cartoon when it might have been so much more. Purposefully over-the-top and unrelentingly quirky, the film never really develops its characters in a way that might connect you to their wacky antics. With the actors involved, the potential for this film to be really solid is apparent. And the bits that do work make me long for a more cohesive end product, one that was reliant on heart and smarts as opposed to the easiest laughs. Still "A Beginner's Guide to Endings" is amusing enough, if overly contrived, it just doesn't connect on the emotional level that it seems to desire.

The movie begins with Harvey Keitel in full suicide mode. As...

Saw this at the film festival
I have been waiting for this to come on DVD for 2 years after I saw it at a film festival. It was worth the wait. Super funny movie, got a copy for all of my friends.

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