Wditgpr Movie: September 2013

Monday, September 16, 2013

Night of the Dead

a horror film by ron jeremy
hmmm! i used to watch alot of adult films with ron jeremy starring in them, and was really surprised to see him start in his own line of making horror / thriller films. this film is alright, but i was expecting a whole lot more. the filming was excellent, and storyline was okay, and the female actresses were somewhat attractive. the whole film looked like it was shot in an abandoned old warehouse, and the girls kept running around in circles and jumping high walls. just another rip-off of the night of the dead movies, but with more sexy actresses. would have been a little better is the chicks had more revealing clothing (or next to nothing) and a scene of the really cute blonde who was bitten on the butt could have been played up a little more. what happened to her and was there a scene that was removed that show more of her demise? Just wondering if we will be seeing more adult/horror/thriller movies coming out of hollywood soon with ex-porn star directors/actors?

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Save the Date [Blu-ray]

Save the Date
A real film about how life sort of just happens. very relatable story and characters. The story plays out like events would in life and that was what made this movie so great. if you enjoy stories that are more realistic then this is for yo Lizzy Caplan and Alison Bree are stellar and you will fall in love with them. The dialogue is key in this film so enjoy and pay attention. i will say the last scene wasnt my favorite but the rest of the story makes up for it

good, honest, more!
Really enjoyed this movie and the dark humor was a nice departure from the standard, cliched romcom. Sad at times and i wish it didn't end where it did (not that i'm always opposed to ambiguous endings), but I'd definitely watch it again! Loved the cast and in particular thought Lizzy Caplan did SUCH a credible job with the role.

Great quirky movie
Lizzy Caplan steals your heart as a complex, self gaurded 30something who has love thrown at her when it's the farthest thing she wants. She most choose between the love she has become comfortable with, and the rebound guy turned soulmate. As well as her sister's (Alison Brie) wedding witch she feels obligated to help with. Great performances from Mark Webber, Geoffrey Arend and Martin Starr also.

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History of Christianity. Lecture 14 of 30. The Christian Roman Empire.

Christianity to Empire
Dr William Neidinger's profound grasp of ancient history, philosophy and archeology is now directed toward the early days of the Christian church, a fascinating yet generally overlooked period. The lectures cover complex and controversial topics with an open-minded historian's professional judgement. This is a valuable tool in filling in the gaps in our education.

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Sunday, September 15, 2013

History of Christianity. Lecture 3 of 30. Salvation and Immortality.

Indispensable History of Early Christianity
Dr William Neidinger's profound grasp of ancient history, philosophy and archeology is now directed toward the early days of the Christian church, a fascinating yet generally overlooked period. The lectures cover complex and controversial topics with an open-minded historian's professional judgement. This is a valuable tool in filling in the gaps in our education.

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Rendition [Blu-ray]

A serious film about a serious topic that will make you cringe
This 2007 film is scary. That's because the theme is about the practice of interrogating suspected terrorists in a foreign country where laws against torture do not apply. This practice is called rendition and this film makes it real. It's hard to watch.

The film opens in an American middle class suburb. Reese Witherspoon is playing with her small son when they get a phone call from her husband, Omar Metwally, an Egyptian citizen who has lived in America for 20 years. He tells his wife and son he is on the way home from a business trip and they plan on meeting him at the airport. All seems well.

When he gets off the plane, however, he is detained at the airport and questioned. He is a chemical engineer and the questioners are asking questions about a terrorist bomb plot. He denies everything. He seems clean but Meryl Streep, playing a high powered Washington decision maker, orders him to be put into rendition and he is whisked away to an unnamed middle...

Guilty by circumstance
This well acted drama is a wakeup call to the horrors of the alleged practice of "extraordinary rendition", where persons suspected of being involved in terrorist activities are apprehended and sent to another country to be interrogated (translate: tortured)

Based upon one cell phone record and an Islamic name, chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) is removed from a flight from South Africa to Washington D.C. and sent to an interrogation centre, where he is questioned, beaten and abused for proclaiming his innocence.

The movie uses flashbacks and lots of switching between characters to illustrate the chain reaction that results, and how it affects not only El-Ibrahimi, but also his wife (Reese Witherspoon), his family, an observing CIA analyst (Jake Gyllenhaal), and even his torturer, Abasi Fawal.

In a gripping sub-plot, Fawal's daughter secretly becomes romantically involved with a young man, not knowing that his brother had perished at...

You Get A Lot For Your Money Here
There's a lot on this DVD, almost all of it interesting and informative.

The movie itself is a dramatization of a composite case in which a traveler with a Middle Eastern name and heritage gets flagged as having possible terrorist ties, is waylaid by US/coalition authorities, and is sent to an "undisclosed location" where he is subjected to brutal bouts of questioning and torture. All this happens because of what might have been a simple cell phone mix-up.

However, to the movie's credit, while making a moving humanitarian appeal against such treatment, it does not foreclose on the possibility that this traveler might have some al-Qaida ties. The movie also tries to give at least some weight to our State Department's arguments for the necessity of extracting information by any means. Meryl Streep makes the Government case with chilling pragmatic efficiency.

So this movie does recognize some of the complexities involved. It is not a simplistic good guys...

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The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg

NEW YORK TIMES
The film at 85 minutes is amazing. The extras at over 6.5 hours are incredible. This DVD set is a source of all things Beat that I will be looking back at for years. It is beautifully arranged so that you can watch many extras on the same disc as the feature and also watch 35 interviews on Disc 2 including so many friends of Allen who also happened and happen to be cultural phenomenon's in their own right including Baez, Beck, Bono, Brakhage, Burroughs, Depp, Glass, Hoffman, Kesey, Leary, McCartney, Sonic Youth, Ono, Patti Smith, Hunter S. Thompson, Andy Warhol and so many more!

Also, Allen reads poetry to the camera for over 30 minutes, talks with Neal Cassidy in the basement of City Light in 1965 for almost 20 minutes, and reminisces with William Burroughs in 1984 at Naropa in Boulder, CO.

I can go on and on but this heartfelt collection made me want to read more of Ginsberg's poetry and remember a man who was truly a pacifist and helped make the world a...

Kaddish & cosmos
There are two features of Ginsberg's personality that come through over and over in this intriguing documentary: he was a deeply wounded man, and he was a deeply lovable one. The two were obviously connected: Ginsberg's wounds made him both vulnerable and compassionate. They could also make him rage against a world that condoned war and injustice, and all of these sides of him come through in his poetry.

Ginsberg's ur-wound was the tragedy of his mother, a remarkable woman who sadly suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, was in and out of institutions during Ginsberg's youth, and finally died in one. As a boy, Ginsberg was frequently charged with her care. As his stepmother says in the film, he was exposed to way too much for a young boy to take in. His feelings of helplessness, frustration, impatience, love, guilt, and fear in the face of his mom's illness and increasingly bizarre behavior marked him for life. Thankfully, his relationship with his father Louis, a...

A 2013 Re-Release Of the Classic Ginsberg Documentary: Same Movie, Same Features As 2007 2-Disc Set
This DVD release of "The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg" might catch your eye if you are a fan of the poet and revolutionary. The film itself premiered as part of the PBS American Masters series in 1994 after its run on the festival circuit in 1993. It has been released in DVD form on different occasions, most recently in 2007 to align with the fiftieth anniversary of "Howl." That 2 disc set combined both the movie feature with over six hours (yes, six) of Bonus features. That edition and the previous ones have been out of print for some time, so Docurama is picking up the mantle and re-releasing the picture. I mention all of this to clarify that this is NOT a new title. You may have seen it and you may already own it. This release is exactly the same in content as the 2007 DVD, so please do not double dip. If, however, you new to the Ginsberg phenomenon or have not seen the movie than it is an easy recommendation.

At 84 minutes, the movie itself is but a snap...

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Vivan Las Antipodas

An Intriguing Example of Visual Poetry: A Sensory Experience As Opposed To A Traditional Documentary
I really liked the idea behind the lushly photographed "Vivan Las Antipodas." Filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky has prepared a study of contrasts when looking at the modern world. An antipode is a place on Earth that corresponds to another location if you travel directly through the planet's diameter. As so much of this world is made up of water, there aren't that many actual inhabited antipodes, but "Vivan Las Antipodas" examines four pairs. Admittedly, seven of the eight areas that we visit are sparsely populated at best. But this is more about examining images, creating a sort of visual poetry. With no narration and very little dialogue, the movie is not for every taste. But I thought it was an effective travelogue that benefited from interesting camera work, intriguing edits and transitions, and a beautiful score.

The four antipodal pairs documented:

1) The rural community of Entre Rios in Argentina is opposite the bustling vision of Shanghai, China...

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Knife Fight

A Political Drama That Wants To Be Shocking And Incendiary, But Plays It Way Too Safe
Part satire, part expose, part commentary, the political drama "Knife Fight" targets some pretty familiar topics. Unfortunately, it doesn't do so in a new or illuminating way. Saying that the American political process is corrupt AND unscrupulous is like preaching to the choir. Is there anyone left with the idealism necessary to make this thought even remotely controversial or incendiary? Just watching the smear campaigns, the Internet rumors, and the negative press during every election season, it seems pretty clear that it is a flawed system (perhaps even irreparably flawed). There is no civility, but a policy of doing whatever necessary to gain the upper hand. That said, there have been some brilliant films to address the subject that were both merciless and unforgettable. "Knife Fight," in the end, doesn't offer anything to the debate. It's pleasant, watchable, and has an attractive and likable cast and maybe that's enough for some. But it lacks teeth, surprise, and true...

don't
looks like it ought to be better than it is. didactic, disjointed, can't decide on a story line, no sympathetic characters. problem is in writing and editing. okay directing, good acting, even a few good scenes.
on the whole this movie asks the question "why bother?" the answer is "don't". better to watch the preview and imagine the movie you would make.
better yet watch a couple of old "west wing" episodes.

Good Movie
I haven't seen the movie yet , But I did enjoy being in the movie and working with the stars.

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H2O: Just Add Water: Mermaid Magic [Season 3 Movie]

Fun for all ages
I am way beyond the age that this show is intended for but I was hooked from the first season to the last. I really enjoyed it. I watched back-to-back episodes and I fell in love with the characters, their struggles and even the annoying minor characters. I didn't expect the ending to be so epic but it showed the growth of the mermaids from the beginning to end (minus Emma, plus Bella). Really lovely and good clean fun.

Innocence factor 90%
I have watched every episode at least 3 times and I'm still impressed. I find it interesting that the show can generate interest without significant violence. I think it can do this for several reasons.

The innocence factor is very high. That is, the main characters are good while still being realistic. Cleo is played as innocent and simple, occasionally she (the actress) seems to over-ennunciate her words, as if she's playing on a stage rather than for TV, but it works well for her character. Ricci is the "straight man", good at scowling when the girls get too sweet, and Emma is the common-sense smart character. Bella, brought in for the third season when Emma leaves, is also good. Even the "bad" characters are played as real people, not evil, but a little too selfish, greedy, or mean while still having some good in them.

The language is clean, and the plots are mostly about how people relate to each other while the main characters try to do good while...

great
Best season's ever I wish there was a 4th season when emma comes back and meets bella and all of them goes for a swim.

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Gilad: Lord of the Abs - Abs on Fire!

Great core & cardio workout
If you like the cardio portion of Gilad's 45 minute Total Body Sculpt series, then you will LOVE this workout. It's all jab, cross, uppercut, elbow, step, kick, etc. I can feel this workout in my abs and back muscles, and it's also a great cardio workout.

This is definitely an Advanced workout!
My husband and I suggest you start with Gilad's "Elite Forces" DVD filmed on the USS Bonhomme Richard amphibious assault carrier as you need to learn the moves and sequences and get comfortable with them before going to this advanced DVD. Gilad is motivating, keeps you engaged physically as well as mentally and does a great job of going over a particular move before integrating it into a sequence. "ABS on Fire" is an Advanced workout so go for it if you love being challenged and as with ALL of Gilad's DVDs this one is well worth the money.

I absolutely love this workout
Amazing workout with Gilad.The sun is setting on the beach as this was filmed. Lovely. Love to work my abs... Thanks Gilad! Definitely worth buying

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The Beat of a Different Drummer: The Story of America's Last All-Female Military Band

Awesome video trip down memory lane!
This is an excellent video on the 14th Army WAC Band. If you remember the WAC band, this will really brings back a lot of memories. Make sure you have tissues while watching all the memories because they will open the flood gates! There are also CDs put out at the Band's reunions. Those are worthy of getting as well!! Hopefully they will be released in MP3 format as well.

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Masquerade

(4.5 STARS) The Man Who Wanted to Be King
"Masquerade" (original title "Gwanghae, Wangyidoen namja") is a 2012 Korean historical drama that became one of the country's biggest hits of all time. Lee Byung Hun ("The Good, the Bad, the Weird" "I Saw the Devil") plays the double role of the 17th century Korean King Gwanghae of the Joseon Dynasty, who is afraid of being assassinated, and a clown named Ha-sun, who resembles the monarch. When the King is drugged and in coma, Ha-sun is secretly whisked to the court, where he is forced to live as the King.

Only a few know the truth, which must be kept from the ministers vying for power. Even the Queen (Hyo-ju Han) devoted to the King must be kept in ignorance of what had happened. Ha-sun at first bumbles through official duties as the "King," but as he comes to notice the corruption in the court, Ha-sun begins to think maybe he can change the country and life of the people.

Some understandably compare the "Prince and the Pauper" premise of the film with that of...

A Fun to Watch Historical Drama
As far as I know the movie was shown at two theatres in my area (SF Bay) for a week, and then it was gone, and I've
been trolling Amazon and other sites since then attempting to buy it so that I can share it with others. Its a fun historial drama, in which an irreverant noncourt jester is forced to masquerade as the king of Joseon when the real king is nonfatally poisoned. He has humorous problems adjusting to life at court, which I don't want to give away, and problems dealing with politics, and in the end, with what will happen when his reign is ended with the return of the real king. Humor, compassion, rightous anger, political intrigue, betrayal, and a beautiful girl make a good mixture.

You'll Never Quite Look At A King And His "Throne" The Same Way
The rags-to-royalty story has been done to death. Still, every now and then, an aspiring actor or actress comes along with the right script and voila! The past is made new again. That's the case with MASQUERADE: THE KING OF FA

History of Christianity. Lecture 7 of 30. Persecution: The Blood of the Martyrs.

Christian Martyrdom
Dr William Neidinger's profound grasp of ancient history, philosophy and archeology is now directed toward the early days of the Christian church, a fascinating yet generally overlooked period. The lectures cover complex and controversial topics with an open-minded historian's professional judgement. This is a valuable tool in filling in the gaps in our education.

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11 Flowers

Incredible
11 Flowers is a beautiful deliberate fantastic film.

Set in China at the end of the Cultural Revolution, the story is told from the eyes of 11 year old Wang Han. The film opens with Wang Han getting ready for school. His family lives in a small village and the apartment is crowded. The opening shots are claustrophobic, with a lot going on in the frame. The world becomes much larger once he rides to school with his father, the framing opens up wide to show a massive poster of Chairman Mao, a scene repeated frequently in the film. Within the first few minutes the stage is clearly set, the main characters of the film are introduced, mother, father, sister, and Wang's three friends.

I was reminded of a few of my favorite films. The relationship between Wang Han and his father is much like the father and son in My Father's Glory. Both fathers say very little in the film, but they have a powerful positive impact on their son. In both films there is a wonderful happy...

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Oz The Great And Powerful

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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I Want My Name Back

Two Legends Fighting For a Comeback
I chose this rating because I thought the movie was excellent. I liked it because it gave a voice to the underdog and it highlighted points-of-view from the top dog. I recommend this movie for everyone who is interested in hip-hop history and music history in general.

them too are real emcee in HipHOP
I THINK ALL HIPHOP need to see this live and learn it worth watching thank u for this peace and blessinghemanifezt.bandcamp.com/‎

Very informative
I never knew Sugar Hill records was this devious. I grew up on this music and as a DJ during this era the Sugar Hill label had major respect. When we saw a new record in that blue sleeve with the trademark Sugar Hill signature, we would buy the records on site without even hearing them first. Wow...eye opening story.

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Men To Kiss

a really wonderful comedy
I just saw the film at the filmfestival in washington. Oh my god, I have to say it's really amazing.

Fresh and funny, this hilarious and touching german film is a fast-paced comedy about how opposites attract.

Serious-minded Earnest has arrived in Berlin to begin his new job at a prestigious bank and a new life in the big city. That new life includes meeting and falling in love with flighty, unpredictable performance artist Tobias. Everything goes well until Earnest's friend Uta arrives, turning an innocent visit into an insidious attack on their relationship.

The story is unpredictable, the acting is excellent (the three leads Frank Christian Marx, Udo Lutz and Alexandra Starnitzky have a perfect chemistry) and the music is classical "hollywood" style. In washington it was a real crowd pleaser.

As I heared the company TLA Releasing is bringing the film to america in 2013.

Watch out for this really lough-out-loud comedy with sexy...

Brilliant walk through comedy from Germany!
I waited with vast anticipation for this movie to come out on DVD ever since I saw and watched the trailers etc as I am a huge fan of foreign film... I was NOT disappointed in the slightest. This film is a maze of fun with some touching moments, it is a colourful journey through the lives of Earnest and Tobi which undulate and romp with a very fresh funny direction.

If you want an alternative jolly which seeps comedy and is an easy on the eye viewing then this is the film for you. I truly recommend it! Fabulous!

German-style joie de vivre
Ernst is a bit conservative. Toby is flamboyant. But it's love at first sight and the two men can't get enough of each other. Ernst believes they are soul mates. But then Ernst's old friend Uta comes to town. If she can't have her gay friend to herself, she's determined that no one else will.

Soon she's plotting to destroy their relationship. But then, Toby, fully aware of the threat to his happiness, has friends of his own. And they know how to get even.

This delightful romp bubbles over with joie de vivre. Frank Christian Marx as Ernst also wrote, produced, and stars. If this is a vanity production, then please give me more of the same! And what delicious eye candy Herr Marx is! He gets wonderful support from Udo Lutz as the campy Tobias, and Alexandra Starnitzky as the beautiful but diabolical Uta.

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Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (Unrated)

You might feel guilty enjoying this.....but don't let that stop you!
Let's start off by clearing the air a little bit: if you are looking for the next best picture nod and/or the next great fantasy epic, this is not it (and, quite frankly, I'm curious as to why you thought this one WOULD be it). If, however, you can enjoy movies without deep character development or scenes of life-changing consequence, then this is a movie that I highly recommend. I can unequivocally state that this movie did not make me re-evaluate my life, nor did I shed a single tear over, well, anything in this movie due to its emotional narrative...but it was so much fun! I'm someone who can watch best picture movies that stretch your brain and emotions and enjoy them intensely - I am also someone who can fall in love with a movie simply designed to entertain, and, well, I fell in love with this one. I felt that each character was played correctly and hit the tones they were supposed to. There was plenty of action and - contrary to popular opinion - there WAS a plot. I went to the...

Hansel & Gretel all grown up
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is like a bloody and F-Bomb filled version of Van Helsing. In this case, that is a good thing. Van Helsing was pretty bad, but they pushed this one far enough with the R rating to please the horror fan inside me. The witches look nice and creepy and most of the CGI is well done. Jeremy Renner (Hansel) is a fantastic actor, though he is mostly wasted here and Gemma Arterton (Gretel) is more of the focus based on her looks and her character's personality. Famke Janssen has fun with the lead evil witch role. This film barely runs 90 minutes and it is light on story and high on action, but I had a good time watching it. Worth a future rental if you don't mind turning your brain off and just enjoy the fact that it is not as bad as you feared it would be.

Oh, the IMAX 3-D was better done than most non-blockbuster type action films.

Edit (7/6/13): I had to knock it up a star after watching the Unrated Cut. Still a very fun movie upon...

Hansel and Gretel the after math!
My grandfather and I saw this film Saturday night. I knew I would enjoyed it but I really loved it! I loved the story line that after Hansel and Gretel encountered their first witch as children they make it their holy mission to be witch hunters. And there was a twist with Hansel and Gretels mom. I also thought they picked great actors for the movie and Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton were of course the ones that shined. I was surprised critics hated this movie but don't go by what they said, if you like magical twists on fairytales go see it. I will warn you that this is not a movie for children. The witches were very frightening and they made me jump. And there's a lot of cursing and violence so it's not for the little ones. I hope you enjoy it like I did. This film I felt kicked Snow White and the Huntsmans butt by far.

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Wild Strawberries (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Review of the 2013 Criterion Blu-ray edition
Along with classics like "Ikiru", "Tokyo Story", and "Umberto D", the 1957 Swedish masterpiece "Wild Strawberries" is one of the greatest films about old age ever made. With Ingmar Bergman's lyrical and sensitive direction and Gunnar Fischer's fairly expressionistic black-and-white cinematography, the film tells the tale of an old man who reminisces about his past that is filled with loss, regrets, and loneliness. The film is in several respects similar to Federico Fellini's 1963 film "8 1/2". Both films open with a nightmare sequence, and mix dreams, flashbacks, and reality throughout the narrative. Both are about a lonely and disillusioned intellectual who embarks on a journey of self-examination. Both men in the films are haunted by the past and tormented by the present, and have to deal with unsettling issues about their lives, their work, and their beliefs. And both ultimately manage to reach some sort of emotional closure.

Criterion's Region-A Blu-ray release of...

Hang in there
This movie can seem depressing and some of the scenes are hard to watch - the mirror scene with the old girfriend, the scene with his wife in the forest, the terrible couple on the road, but the three youngsters, Miss Agda, the nordic beauty of Ingrid Thulin, and Victor's wonderful performance make this a treasure. Beautifully photographed of course.

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Knife Fight

Man of La Mancha / Fantasticks

The greatest madness of all is to see the world as it is
While I understand the spanish gentleman who wrote the first reviews comment about the film not being accurate I must say I find this musical one of the best I have ever watched. The essence of the film is best expressed in the words "The greatest madness of all is to see the world as it is and not as it should be". Thus the film illustrates that Don Quixote is the only sane man in a mad world. He alone sees the beautiful, noble, and serene qualities in everything. He is the last chivalrous and truly good man in a world that no longer has any place for nobility and chivalrous ideals. In this sense it is not important if the film is entirely accurate as Peter O'Toole is brilliant in portraying the haunted blue eyes of a man who will always be a knight in his soul. One has to be a romantic to appreciate this perhaps, but it is a great film. The reason for the story about Don Cervantes being arrested by the inqusition is in my opinion that the Author of the...

A Beautiful Musical
"Man of la Mancha" contains as much of the Don Quixote legend as could be expected in a reasonable-length movie. And it is wonderfully acted. Having taught Theatre Arts for twenty years, I do not understand why people complain that every non-operatic voice isn't looped by Carreras or Brightman. "Man of la Mancha"s actors are just that -- actors. Actors who happen to sing with the appropriate emotion. I'd much rather listen to Peter O'Toole sing "Impossible Dream" with all his passion, than to hear an unemotional operatic version. "Man of la Mancha" is the best possible musical that could have been made from Cervantes' classic.

A Favorite Musical
Generally many people regard musicals as silly, combining the worst elements of drama and song. OKLAHOMA's singing and dancing cowboys, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and other ridiculous productions; even so, there are notable exceptions. JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and MAN OF LA MANCHA are just two of my favorites. The latter was a success because it never lost track of the story and the music was nothing short of inspirational.

The production, rendered only so-so in conversion to DVD, is worth the price of admission, however, because of its excellent acting, subtle humor, wonderful characters and, most importantly, its lofty moral values. The music doen't require great voices to be effective (in fact, it helps if they're a bit earthy). I've read a number of unfavorable professional reviews by writers who were disappointed that the singing wasn't up to par when compared to singing gang members in New York; but it only shows they missed the point.

The...

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View From the Vault II

Dead ahead!
Great vintage Dead concert from 1991 in DC. Bruce Hornsby on keyboards is a nice bonus and this was a long concert.

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Power Rangers Super Samurai: Secret of the Red 4

Power Ranger Julie
I like this movie because its where Lauren comes in. At first i wasn't quite sure if I would like this one or not. I thought Lauren would come in on the first episode. When she didn't, I thought she wouldn't come in at all. I WAS SO WRONG

Super Samurai Vol. 4
The artwork is beautiful, but I don't understand why they keep releasing the separate volumes when there's the complete set that's a LOT cheaper. And the special features are the same.

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The Taste of Money [HD]

Keeping It In The Family: A Korean Drama About Greed, Infidelity, And Duplicity
No one is an innocent in the Korean drama "The Taste of Money" and that's a decidedly good thing. While I was a fan of director Im Sang-Soo's "The Housemaid," it had a chilly remoteness that kept me at arm's length throughout. I had no such qualms with "The Taste of Money." Hard edged, cynical, and merciless, this family saga plays out to almost Shakespearean proportions. There are enough bad acts committed within the central clan of this film to fuel several other movies. From suspicious business deals, to underworld crime connections, to scandalous sexual escapades, the lifestyles of the rich and privileged have never looked so cold hearted or depraved. It's eat or be eaten, any sign of weakness may spell your demise. This is exactly the type of adult soap opera that I crave. And set in the opulent surroundings of luxury, the film has a style and a visual splendor to spare. In case you couldn't tell, I quite liked this one even if I felt a little dirty for doing so.

Set...

Keeping It In The Family: A Korean Drama About Greed, Infidelity, And Duplicity
No one is an innocent in the Korean drama "The Taste of Money" and that's a decidedly good thing. While I was a fan of director Im Sang-Soo's "The Housemaid," it had a chilly remoteness that kept me at arm's length throughout. I had no such qualms with "The Taste of Money." Hard edged, cynical, and merciless, this family saga plays out to almost Shakespearean proportions. There are enough bad acts committed within the central clan of this film to fuel several other movies. From suspicious business deals, to underworld crime connections, to scandalous sexual escapades, the lifestyles of the rich and privileged have never looked so cold hearted or depraved. It's eat or be eaten, any sign of weakness may spell your demise. This is exactly the type of adult soap opera that I crave. And set in the opulent surroundings of luxury, the film has a style and a visual splendor to spare. In case you couldn't tell, I quite liked this one even if I felt a little dirty for doing so.

Set...

Another View Into the Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless
I always find it more than a bit ironic when rich, artsy types feel the need to expose just how far money corrupts. On occasions - such as in Im Sang-soo's stellar 2010 remake of THE HOUSEMAID - it's particularly effective, insightful, and downright scathing. In fact, one has to wonder how these rich, artsy types go about finding the money and the financiers to put together such a visual indictment about how money destroys things, but, thankfully, I'm not a part of that world. All I have to do as a viewer is sit back and watch how the world unravels, confident in my assessment that I'll never have the kind of `scratch' to live the lifestyles of the rich and shameless. I guess it's true that money can't buy you happiness, but, boy, if THE TASTE OF MONEY is any indication, it sure can buy you tragedy.

(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and characters. If you're the kind of reader who prefers a review...

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Friday, September 13, 2013

The Blueprint To The Music Industry DVD

about time
Wow! great dvd. The industry execs breaks it down step by step and now, I understand what it really takes to break into the music biz. Great stuff. Thank You

The Blueprint... "A Resource"
I found it to be a resource for any musician, specifically, hip-hop artist. Each of the presenters were impressively opinioned, content could use more specifics as it applies to music administration and marketing.

My Blueprint to success
When I needed to know the next step in my music career this DVD showed me what to do and how to do it! Well worth the price for the information!

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Ring of Fire [Blu-ray]

An action-packed GEM of an adventure!
I had expected "Ring of Fire" to be another made-for-TV type of (typical) disaster film, but this is really an incredible delight, filled with action, suspense and great acting from the entire cast! With all the oil and gas drilling, fracking, etc. taking place on our planet, "Ring of Fire" is certainly possible, which lends credence to this (potential) end-of-days miniseries. "Alias" star Michael Vartan leads a great cast.

Disastrous Cinematography Kills Disaster Picture
Who doesn't love a good disaster flick? What with the advent of some really high-brow special effects, disaster pictures have grown into a cottage industry. Whether the world meets its inevitable demise by alien invasion, by some five-mile-wide meteor blasting in from distant stars, or by a plague of flesh-eating insects, Heaven knows it'll all look great up on the silver screen or even on the small screen because it'll be heavy on effects. RING OF FIRE - for all of its fits and starts - really wanted to show us one possible future for our planet. So far as this reviewer is concerned, if someone had held the camera still long enough for us to see what it would look like, then it might've been something.

Doesn't anyone look at dailies any more?

(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and characters. If you're the kind of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I'd encourage you to...

Miniseries
saw it on tv and wanted to add it to our collection. Our family enjoys disaster type movies It's great!

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Fred Won't Move Out [HD]

This Well Meaning Indie Has Good Intentions But An Inconsistent Execution
Can a small personal film ever be too small? I suppose the answer may vary for everyone. But in the case of Richard Ledes' "Fred Won't Move Out," my answer is in the affirmative. I thought the premise of the film was solid and I was happy to see Elliott Gould back in a leading role. Ultimately, though, the experience didn't make much of an impact for me. It's actually rather surprising, because the movie examines that difficult transitional period when grown kids must assume the caregiver role for their parents. This is a topic that really resonates with me, something that I have lived through. But in an understated and extremely personal exploration, Ledes scores with some finely realized moments without ever really developing a compelling bigger picture. The movie has a quasi-improvisational feel, more of a pet project than a feature film. I still liked "Fred Won't Move Out" well enough, I just wanted a stronger emotional connection.

The film introduces us to Fred (Gould)...

Good slice of life movie, but not for those who have aging issues
This obviously low budget movie has lots of good, funny and touching moments, all happening in a slice of the life of an aging couple confronted with the need to leave their long-term home. Much of the dialogue appears to be improvisation, well handled by Eliott Gould and the other old pros who make up the cast -- all excellent in their roles. Based, sort of, on the true story of the couple who actually owned the home the movie is filmed in -- and the home is, itself, a character in the movie, a period piece frozen in time.

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'Humph' The Desert Dairy

Humph is great!
I really enjoyed 'Humph, the Desert Dairy'. Never learned so much about camels in my entire life! Well produced documentary. Audio great, interesting subject matter, and would watch it again and again!

Keep up the good work, and continue producing more documentaries like these!

Love Humph, The Camel
Found the subject fascinating, unusual, as well as intriguing. Very well produced. Audio great. Would recommend this video to anyone!

Well worth the watch......

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Labor Of Love

Pick this one up now, and learn about the film behind the film.
Vinegar Syndrome has rescued some interesting films in their short history. Some films that I thought would never see the light of day, and some films that I always hoped would get a better transfer by a company that truly cares. Now they've unearthed a documentary that every adult should see at least once, because it humanizes what a lot of people take for granted as the adult film industry in its' day to day form. "A Labor Of Love" is that documentary, and let's see what really happens behind the scenes of an adult film.

Directors Robert Flaxman and Daniel Goldman tried to make an X-rated movie. In Chicago. In the winter. They failed. What DID happen was this documentary, a true movie about a movie being filmed. In 1975, the directors and crew gathered together in Chicago to create a film to be titled "The Last Affair." They were filming in winter for the simple reason of the money not being available to them until that point. The filming is taking place at a friend's...

Behind the scenes of an independent '70s film
Back when movies about movies were rare this revealing documentary received a limited release. The Last Affair, an art film concerning a childless couple's attempts to secure a baby by way of surrogacy was being filmed in Chicago and Robert Flaxman and Daniel Goldman had carte blanch to document the process. The financial backers requested that first time feature director Henri Charr include explicit sex scene as a way to increase the marketibality of the project. This was during the porn chic era of the mid seventies when films such as The Opening of Misty Beethoven, Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones were all the rage.

A Labor of Love explores the trials and tribulations of an earnest but inexperienced troupe of actors and crew members as they attempted to create a serious film that just happened to include sex. We are introduced to several aspiring thespians who express their confidence, fears and cattiness over filming the explicit scenes. There is drama,...

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Beverly Lewis' the Confession

An amazing sequel that follows right where The Shunning left off!!!
I'm a huge fan of family friend movies and LOVE the Hallmark Channel. Now I've got the perfect review and giveaway just for you. Beverly Lewis is one of the best selling authors on Amish fiction and has been blessed enough to not only have one of her famous series made into a movie with The Shunning but now the second in the The Heritage of Lancaster County Series, The Confession is now ready to be released on DVD on June 11th.

In this latest movie, we once again follow Katie Lapp (Katie Leclerc, TV's "Switched at Birth), who we left off in The Shunning learning that she was adopted by an Amish couple and was born English. Her birth mother was searching for Katie but her Amish parents kept both of them apart. Only when learning that her birth mother was dying of cancer, did Katie's Amish mother tell her the truth. Now we find ourselves at the beginning of that journey for Katie to find her mother, Laura Mayfield-Bennett (Sherry Stringfield, TV's "ER"), a socialite now...

The Confession is a great, family-friendly movie!
I got a DVD copy of "The Confession" in exchange for my honest review. When I got the DVD, and compared the pictures to those on The Shunning DVD, I saw that the actress playing Katie Lapp had changed. That caused me a moment's hesitation, but once I watched the movie, all those doubts disappeared. Katie Leclerc did an excellent job of portraying Katie Lapp in her struggles to do the right thing.

This is an awesome, family-friendly movie. If you haven't watched "The Shunning" yet, you definitely need to watch that first to get the back story. Katie is on a mission to find her birth mother. She doesn't have much more than a name and general location, and she runs into opposition, including an imposter!

Even though I've read the books that these movies are based on, I found myself caught up in the movie, wondering what would happen next, how obstacles would be overcome, and how conflicts would be resolved. The movie went by very quickly, and left me saying "What...

Good clean movie for family
As you know, I'm quite picky with movies. The Confession was a good, clean film. I watched it with my family tonight. There was no bad language or crude jokes. There were no scenes that would cause you to shield your little ones' eyes or ears.

I found it to be an entertaining movie. I wanted to encourage the "good guys", shake a couple of "bad guys" a couple of times, I just wanted to hug Laura and the real Katie Lapp. I thought the head housekeeper was sweet and adorable. We liked the movie very much. But... we didn't know that it would leave us hanging. We found that frustrating because we have to wait a long time to find out whether there will be a happily ever after or not. We are assuming that they will make The Reckoning into a movie as well. If not, well I just might have to buy the book!

It's not the most exciting movie we've seen, but we would watch it again. It will stand alone as a story, but I think you would enjoy it more if you watch...

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History of Christianity. Lecture 17 of 30. Christianity and Islam.

A timely topic
Dr William Neidinger's series on the history of Christianity has filled in the gaps in my knowledge. The lecturer is an archeologist, a historian, and reads the ancient languages of Christianity. He tells the story respectfully and shows no trace of any prejudice. The history of Christianity is far richer than one imagines.

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Fred Won't Move Out

The Magic Flute

Mozart's classic reworked as an anti-war movie
Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry have reworked Mozart's strange but beautiful comic opera "The Magic Flute" as an anti-war story set in the first world war. The music and acting are brilliant: aspects of the revised story are very peculiar (though no more so than the original) but in general it is both beautiful and entertaining.

In the original story, the hero Tamino (Joseph Kaiser) is a prince: here he is a junior officer in the army of some unidentified European power, and at the start of the film he and his men are sent "over the top" in an attack on the enemy trenches.

Where the 18th century opera had the hero attacked by a serpent and rescued by three ladies, in this version the ladies (Teuta Koco, Louise Callinan, and Kim-Marie Woodhouse) appear, initially, as nurses and rescue him from a cloud of poison gas. Recovering consciousness, he finds himself in a slightly different World War One trench system, where he meets the "bird man" Papageno (brilliantly...

A Film That Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Would Be Proud Of. Kenneth Branagh Has Triumphed Once Again.
Based on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's final opera, "Die Zauberflote," renowned actor-writer-director Kenneth Branagh's film is a visual wonder and a musical triumph in every sense of the words.Sadly, this beautiful movie is not available in Region 1, but it should be seen everywhere, and appreciated. For me, it off-sets the semi-disappointment I feel of his remake of "Sleuth." The acting, cinematography and everything else was top-notch. I highly recommend this movie, and would rate it PG for mild violence, both war-related and comic. I have a feeling that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would be proud of this film version of one of his most popular operas.

Wonderful reimagining
The art direction and cinematography are great. But what's really exciting is the emotional depth(lacking in the original fairy-tale libretto) that's added by reimagining the setting as the battlefields of World War I. The libretto is translated (perfectly appropriate for Mozart, who authorized both Italian and German versions of Marriage of Figaro), and the new English lyrics revitalize the story without straying too far from the original. I'm not sure this would be a good introduction to the opera, but if you know it already, each new twist is a delight.
The singing is lovely. It's not world-class opera quality, but it's more than adequate for what this is, which is a great movie rather than a visual record of a great performance.

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Storm Surfers

Loved it!
One of the best surf docs I have ever seen. Exciting and fresh. No surfing stereotypes or rivalries , just pure adventure. Rent it, no, buy it now!

Great sports documentary
This is a great documentary about extreme surfers. Great action, photography! Makes you feel like you are surfing the best global waves.

Amazing, fearless althletes.
I don't know anyone personally, who surfs, but I love to watch videos of the best of the best who surf. The team in this film are awesome.

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Charlie and His New Friend With Benefits

Enjoying and very funny!!!
This is a great show!!! Very funny and a must see if you need a good laugh!!! You will enjoy it!!!

good show
For people trying to get rid of Cable or satellite, Using Amazon to view TV shows is the only way to go!!!

funny funny show.
I liked season one a lot, but the follow up season is very good. I am hooked and watch this on my kindle.

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Gilad: Lord of the Abs - Hard Core!

A mix of standing and floor work
Gilad's core workout is a mix of standing and floor work. At over 1 hour, it is a long and intermediate workout which reminds me a little bit of his earliest shows. The workout has four circuits or cycles which, in general, are variations of one another and is therefore, a little repetitive.

Gilad instructs and works out with three ladies and a gentleman. A healthy and extremely fit young lady from the beach also joins the group. A step is optional and you may need a mat.

Here is the breakdown. Most of the exercises and moves are listed.

Total time (1 hour, 41 seconds)

Warm up (4:26): This is made up of light aerobics, including twists, along with stretches.

Circuit 1 (9:27)

Squat and knee lift, with elbow
Twisting punch

Drop, extend, in
Plank and knee
Side bridge and reach
Crunch, with leg lift

Circuit 2 (11:37)

Squat and knee lift
Twisting punch, with knee...

Great workout!
This is a GREAT workout! If you want to get into great shape I recommend all of the Lord of the Abs DVD's!

It is great work out.
I am big fan of Gilad and this is one of my favouirite DVDs now. First time I couldnt even complete all excercises, it was tough. I am working out with DVDs for the past 5 years and this work out i consider as advanced level, though beginners can do it as well just by adjusting excercises as Gilad suggest through the programm. This work out programm doesnt require any equipment (you can use step but its not really necessary). Basically its just few excercises joined in 4 sessions each one increasing degree of difficulty, so you can even stop at the end of any session and move to cool down part if you cant do whole programm. As you are getting stronger you can do the whole thing with advanced level of excercises.

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Woody Allen: Documentary

A Legacy In Film: A Terrific, Comprehensive, And Thoroughly Entertaining Career Retrospective
Premiering as a part of the PBS American Masters series "Woody Allen: A Documentary" is an impressively scaled and professionally comprehensive project on the enigmatic filmmaker. Allen is a true Hollywood renegade--a man who has followed his passions and interests and made a career out of making the films he wanted without regard for commercial compromise. Such examples of contemporary auteurs are pretty rarified in this business of show, and Allen has become and remained an unlikely and inspirational trailblazer for over forty years. Allen, however, remains an intensely private and aloof persona, so this massive (over 3 hours) compilation of interviews and film clips is a rare treat. While the 2002 Richard Schickel special (he is also on hand as an interviewee for this piece) "Woody Allen: A Life in Film" offered a glimpse of what Allen thought of his film legacy, it lacked the sheer scope of this new documentary. "Woody Allen: A Documentary" definitively showcases the highlights of...

A Writer, and So Much More
After watching this outstanding documentary of Woody Allen's unparalleled career, unprecedented in its access, candor and insight, I was left with an even greater recognition that Mr. Allen is a writer who makes films, not a film-maker who writes. From his earliest one-liners up to the present day, Woody has continued to grow and change, but never at the cost of either his professional integrity or his vision. Perhaps it has served us well that Woody Allen seems to view the majority of his work as either mediocre or as abject failures, for rather than stifling his spirit, such dubious self-analysis seems only to have fueled his ambition and illuminated his vision. And while even I, one of his most ardent fans, would admit that he lost his way occasionally with films such as Curse of the Jade Scorpion or Small-Time Crooks, somehow I always knew that he'd be back. I've come to feel that some of those comparative underachievements were nothing more than the "vacations" of a man who has...

Excellent Overview of Entire Amazing Career
This is an excellent documentary about Allen's entire career. There are many, many film clips and they are all choice highlights from his films. Interspersed with these clips are interview segments with Allen present day and during earlier days. There are also clips of mini interviews with the people with whom he has worked, including Tony Roberts, Diane Keaton, Scarlett Johannsen, John Cusack, Owen Wilson, Mariel Hemingway, Gordon Willis, Marshall Brickmann, Martin Scorsese, his sister Letty Aronson, now his producer, Dick Cavett and so forth. Although Mia Farrow is covered, she does not participate in any way since they have never resumed contact in any way. She was, of course, Allen's other major leading lady but he ended up having an affair and marrying her adopted daughter years ago.

Even though I have seen every single one of his movies, I really liked the choice of film clips presented here. It was very enjoyable to see them and to learn some of the tidbits...

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The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 3 [Blu-ray]

Another Flawless TV Boxed Set From Image Entertainment!
The good folks at Image Entertainment have done it again! This third-season, multi-disc boxed set of CBS-TV's "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961-1966) replicates the outstanding quality and tender-loving-care of its two predecessors.

This Season 3 package consists of five digital discs, each receiving its own "ThinPak" case, with appropriate (and very nice-looking!) high-resolution artwork and accompanying episode information. The outer slipcase features the "old-time TV" look, complete with a "lenticular" (3-D style) image adorning the mock "TV screen". The snappy-looking 3-D image offers up a "motion" picture of Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) falling out of a jury box (from the episode "One Angry Man", which actually was not a Season 3 episode, but rather a program from the first season of the show).

By the way, it's also worth mentioning here that these season-three discs are all "Region Free" (or "Region Zero") encoded. This is a change from the two earlier boxed...

Classic!
The beauty of the age in which we live is that we're able to buy these classic old TV DVDs and simply have "Our Own Network." Shows such as the Dick Van Dyke Show, the Andy Griffith Show, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, etc. constitute our family's "primetime" viewing. When I watch these old Van Dyke shows and laugh, I can't help but wonder if they're still truly funny, or if I'm simply programmed through years of watching them to laugh at the right moments. But in watching with my sons, who are seeing them for the first time, and hearing them laugh and roll on the floor, I realize the humor within these shows is timeless. Van Dyke is, plain and simple, one of the best TV comedians we've ever had. His physical humor, as well as his timing, is sheer perfection.
Season Three of the Van Dyke show had some classics, including the season opener, That's My Boy?? That particular show has a punchline that still, to this day, cannot be seen coming by the first-time viewer. The...

Episodes List
1. That's my boy???

2. The Masterpiece

3. Laura's Little Lie

4. Very Old Shoes, Very Old Rice

5. All about eavedropping

6. Too Many Stars

7. Who and where was Antonio Stradivarious?

8. Uncle George

9. Big Max Calvada

10. The Ballad of Betty Lou

11. Turtles, Ties and Toreadors

12. The Sound of Trumpets of Conscience Falls on a brain that holds it's ears

13. The Alan Brady Show Presents

14. The Thihrd one from the left

15. My Husband is the best one

16. THe Lady and the tiger and the Lawyer

17. The Life and Love of Joe Coogan

18. A Nice, Friendly Game of Cards

19. Happy Birthday and Too Many More

20. The Brave and the Backache

21.The Pen is mightier than the mouth

22. My Part-Time Wife

23. Honeymoon's are for the Lucky

24. How to spank a...

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The Return of Johnny V [HD]

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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Hard

Gay Serial Killers Need Love Too
I actually saw this film in the one theater it was shown at in Los Angeles. It is a nasty little trifle about a gay serial killer torturing and killing young men. A police detective, with a secret of his own (wonder what that could be), becomes involved and entwined with not just the case--but the killer, too.

This is a "gay movie" made for a certain audience. If you're not in that audience, don't bother. You can see the same thing, done much better, in 1 billion other serial killer movies. I do not subscribe, however, to the philosophy of many people who embrace any "gay movie", regardless of it's actual merit, with love and a 5-star rating.

Let's speak honestly. Is this movie very good? No. The acting is amateurish, the police procedural is comical, the killings are typically over-the-top. Wait a minute, didn't I just describe lots of B-movie, straight-to-video clunkers. You bet.

I did appreciate, however, that finally there was a different...

Here's a full description from the distributor.
"Hard," a strident, grisly thriller about a gay serial killer in Los Angeles who plays fiendish cat-and-mouse games with a closeted gay cop assigned to his case, isn't exactly the Jeffrey Dahmer story, although there are some obvious similarities. The killer, Jack (Malcolm Moorman), a handsome super-macho type who preys on young hustlers, drifters and hitchhikers, doesn't store his victims' body parts in a refrigerator in anticipation of tasty cannibalistic treats.

The few victims who aren't garroted and castrated after being tortured and sodomized are transported to the cavernous basement of an abandoned theater where they are bound, gagged and strung up like slabs of meat to await further torture and possible execution.

The movie, directed by John Huckert, might be described as a crude, independently produced corrective to "Cruising," William Friedkin's ludicrous homosexual horror film of 1980. "Hard" isn't ludicrous, just unrelentingly grim and depressing...

Hard is one scary thrill ride filled with suspense!
I really enjoyed the movie Hard. After you see Hard it will make you think twice before hooking up with another hot guy at the club. Hard was very scary and at times very graphic (mostly male nudity). It's not till the end of the movie that you truly realize the movie was not as violent as it seemed while you where watching it. It is very much in the tradition of Silence of The Lambs, Seven and Saw. This movie is at times hard to watch because of the sick mind of the twisted killer. The actors did great and got paid nothing for all the work they did. I will not give away any of the movie, but I will say if you want to watch an edge of your seat thriller check out HARD.

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Illegal

amazing movie
good movie,good picture and good actuations.

the pack arrived in good status and on time
I had never purchased by amazon and is fully recommended.

Icing on the cake for Bordonada
Bordonada grew up in El Paso and started acting with a theater group in church. And when he got out of the military, he moved to New Mexico and began his acting career. He’s been cast in films such as “The Book of Eli,” “The Reunion,” “Jackie” and “Bless Me, Ultima.”

He has three films in post-production — “The Boys of Abu Ghraib,” “Stars” and “Fort Bliss” as well as two films currently in production — “Things People Do” and “Frontera.”

In Luis Bordonada’s case, his role as Ariel Vargas in the film “Ilegales” or “Illegals” had strong correlations with his life.

Newsnote: http://www.abqjournal.com/main/198127/blogs/immigration-film-ilegales-gains-momentum-on-festival-circuit.html

Very Good Movie
I enjoyed this film very much. It touched on many levels from suspense to laughter to drama. All revolving around different characters who seem to be all connected somehow. Great movie. Wish it would have made it into the cinemas world wide instead of just DVD.

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#10: DeSean Jackson: The Making of a Father's Dream [HD]

I Love It!!
This was good and insightful. As the saying goes it takes a village to raise a child, this documentary shows how much that is true and in how many different ways it's true. Team Jackson was awesome and committed and succeeded in reaching their ultimate goal.

Great football and inspirational video!
Just finished watching it and for me, since I play football, it was extremely inspirational. I recommend this to any young football player. Keep believing, have a great work ethic, and you'll get there!

Great documentary!
The documentary was awesome! The end was a bit of a tear jerker but overall it was superb. Very intimate documentary.

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Out with a Bang! [HD]

my network connection is tooo slow to enjoy
nice to try out but my network connection is tooo slow to enjoy giving up amazon prime until it improves

Didn't get to watch it
I love the REal world, & since I missed the episode. It was great to buy it online on sale.

that was AWESOME....you all give it a try
After I watched the whole season up until this episode I thought WOW could it get any better and YES it did this episode was so outstanding..what a wonderful cast and the truth comes out in this last episode that if you seen all of the season then you have to see this last goodbye..I am truly loving this season!!!!!

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Bernard and Doris

Two roles created for two stars that shine,shine,shine!
Anyone who occasionally listens to NPR or watches PBS has heard those words:"...and from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation..."

Doris Duke was the quintessential poor little rich girl, when at a young age,her millionaire father died,bypassing his wife, and leaving his entire fortune to his only heir,his daughter Doris.The opening credits of BERNARD AND DORIS flit by with newspaper headlines with the highlights of Doris growing up,marrying and divorcing numerous times,bailing Imelda Marcos out of jail for $5M,and news of her fortune growing and growing and growing.

Opening scene has Ms.Duke (a very sassy and played to perfection by Susan Sarandon!)casually dismissing her butler because "the cantaloupe is TOO cold"...and there it is!...get ready for a rough and interesting ride ahead that will cover the last years of this world class diva when she hires her new butler,Bernard Lafferty (a role chiseled for Ralph Fiennes) and the "unique" relationship that they...

Gently Riveting
Having just now watched this movie I find it is still with me. Ralph Fiennes does an amazing and subtle acting job with miniscule changes in factial expression and body language....he is barely there and yet his presence is powerful. Susan Sarandon is totally believable in the part of Doris Duke and is drawn in, seemingly, into the vortex that is her butler. This movie is "based on truth" so one cannot assume a totally factual account of this relationship. It is but an interpretation. As such, I choose to believe that at a certain point in the "poor little rich girl's" life she has someone taking care of her in all the ways that matter and maybe for the first time in her life. Someone who honestly wants to be there for her and not her money. I've kept it on my dvr because I have a feeling I'll want to watch it again and purchase the DVD eventually. I gave it 5 stars because I lost track of time watching it and even now I'm not totally back to my world.

Straight To Cable TV ...But Why?
Watching two powerful and exceptionally talented actors play across from each other is something of a marvel, and that is certainly part of what makes BERNARD AND DORIS a great film.

Based around the late history of tobacco heiress Doris Duke (here played beautifully by Susan Sarandon, In the Valley of Elah) and her close relationship with butler Bernard Lafferty (the phenomenal Ralph Fiennes, In Bruges), the film is a fictional take on the pair's relationship. Although no one knows what really happened between them, it is obvious that a friendship of unique qualities emerged. And Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon are to be complimented on their astounding performances. Particularly Mr. Fiennes, who seems to turn every role he touches into gold (he did this, too, with his portrayal of The Duke of Devonshire in...

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

TWO SOLDIERS

WOW
... This movie brought tears to my eyes. Ron Perlman was wonderful as the compassionate Commander. And the guy who was the last adjutent on Jag was well believeable as a real jerk officer.
The best part was the little boy. I reccommended this to ALL my friends.I wish it was not so short. I want to know what happened????

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The Ghost of Saint Aubin

What Independent movies are all about!
Ok, so there's no big stars in it and sometimes you can tell its low budget, but the story WOW! If you're a fan of stuff like DaVinci Code, or Angel Heart or "secret history" stuff you'll love this. It has a really unique combination of combining the post-apocalyptic desolation of Detroit with philosophical conversations. I never heard of any of the actors but almost all of them are very good, and none of them are bad. It's also great to see black actors playing everything from thugs to architects and reporters. If you're a Detroiter, a fan of REAL indie films, or mystery/supernatural movies you'll LOVE the Ghost of Saint Aubin

WE ARE ALL HOSTAGES
This story takes place in Detroit with a plot and subplot. Our Ex-con (Alan Bradley) falls in love with Nicole Saint Aubin (Ashlee McLemore) who then disappears. Alan enlists the aide of a boring pompous psychic Dr. Akbar (Joel Mitchell) a man who stress tests his camel hair jacket as he searches for clues to the past and an acting school.

Meanwhile Benjamin Banneker Smith (Joel Steingold) is greasing the palms of local politicians in order to build Saint Aubin complex a collection of futuristic retail stores, office buildings, and condos in the middle of downtown Detroit. The film was slow and virtually no action. There was no ghost horror and the drama was bad. Classified as a science fiction, it is hardly that. Most movie watches won't make it past 3 minutes of the pretentious talk of Dr. Akbar, a man who apparently learned everything he knows about the occult from watching Saturday morning cartoons.

The two tales come together at the end is a poorly scripted...

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Vietnam War Story

Excellent series with compelling stories
This excellent series was filmed on the same set as the CBS 'Tour Of Duty' series back in 1988-89. Each half hour show is packed with characters that are believable, based on actual events and done with a certain flair that makes this a DVD to grab as it well researched and powerfully acted. Check it out.

Great Show but this is NOT the complete series....
I have waited many years for this great series of made for HBO stories to make the transformation to DVD. I was very disappointed to find that not all of the 'stories' made it to this collection. Perhaps they will release the final two part ending to this great set at a later date, but still I feel cheated a bit.
I still gave it five stars because it deserves five, money grubbing HBO suits notwithstanding...

Powerfull, hard hitting, sad, tragic & heart wrenching drama!!
Very well made HBO mini stories based on real occurances in Vietnam and at home. Brought tears to my eyes even after all these years! Whether you were there or not a must see for anyone who was alive back then and also it can relate to what our troops are going thru today. A MUST SEE!!

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Fright Night

Fang-tastic, Fun and Freaky
The Review:

Hollywood is recycling movies, cranking out remakes, reboots and prequels so fast that Fright Night is just one of TWO remakes released in the same week in August. But unlike the Conan reboot, Fright Night hits it out of the park. I confess to never having seen the original Fright Night, so I'm a tabula rasa so far as preconceptions of what Fright Night should be. I can't tell you how well the new Fright Night stands up to the original. What I can tell you is that this new Fright Night alternates perfectly between funny and thrilling. Starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Imogen Poots, David Tennant and Toni Collette, Fright Night is long on talent and short on filler. It moves at a brisk pace until it turns on pacing afterburners (in a good way!) about halfway through.

Anton Yelchin plays Charley Brewster. He and his single mom, Jane, played by Toni Collette live in Las Vegas and in a nod to the real world the economy is weak resulting in dozens of...

"Welcome to Fright Night...for real......again."
Okay, I am a HUGE Fright Night fan. I even enjoyed Fright Night part II, despite it's weak spots(less threatening and interesting villains, semi-rehash plot line). The original Fright Night has all the things I love about that special time called the 80's in horror; boisterous special effects, tongue firmly in cheek, monsters, and really great make up effects and ever evolving visual effects. It was a love letter to Hammer vampires and a send up of the 80's slasher trend that dominated the era and knocked over the traditional monsters. I had heard about this remake several years ago and was aghast. Nobody wanted Hollyweird to stay away from Fright Night more than me. I was so shocked that the remake turned out to be not only good, but surprising, and totally fun.

Now I know some horror fans, fanboys in general really, automatically hate something when it's remade, and hate something when the remake changes or rearranges things from the original. Let me warn you...

It was o.k!
While I don't share the same enthusiasm as others when it comes to this film that doesn't mean that I didn't like it at all. I appreciate the fact that they tried something new, but I couldn't help but feel like I could have been watching any other vampire movie besides Fright Night. I am an 80's baby, so I grew up a big fan of this movie, and if it were left up to me personally I don't think they should have even bothered with a remake. Remakes only show how unoriginal and uncreative Hollywood has become. With that said, let's discuss what I didn't find interesting, and that's the angle they took with this Peter Vincent. While I appreciate that they tried to make him a modern day version of Roddy McDowell let's keep it real. This guy was more like a rock star than a vampire hunter, real or fake, in my own opinion. You barely see this guy besides on television, and when Charlie finally looks the guy up he does absolutely nothing besides run and hide until the end of this movie. The...

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THE AFFAIR

Awful acting, bad script and an amateurish storyline.
I was going to write an in-depth review of this film but I just couldn't waste any more of my time on this awful film ... please avoid and save your money.

If we only cared about the characters....
Belgian Carl Colpaert has a solid reputation as the founder of CINEVILLE Releasing, as a producer of some very fine small films (Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, Where Eskimos Live, Surviving Eden, Hurlyburly, etc) and has directed and written a few less interesting ones. This film THE AFFAIR (originally titled TOPANGA) tries hard to be a European flavored examination of relationships, but for this viewer it falls short not only in story (scripted by Colpaert and Lisa Larrivee) and in a fuzzy cast of TV actors, but also in the directorial stance of being in control of a story that needs a lot of attention.

Jean (Kelsey Oldershaw) is a bored housewife living in a designer house with her architect husband Paul (Horacio Le Don), a man of success who is so self-centered and controlling that he forgets his relationship obligations to his wife. Jean has residual scars from a traumatic childhood experience and her needs go beyond the wifely role, searching for some degree of...

The most wasted two hours of my life since I watched "The Ice Storm"
Oh......my.......God. What the hell is this movie about? The lead character is completely infuriating. Jesus, woman, if you are so damn bored then go get a job instead of wandering around in your house feeling sorry for yourself and going out spending your husband's money! I have absolutely no connection to this character. Is it too much to ask that she have some initiative, take some responsibility for the state of her life instead of blaming it all on her husband? And then she tries to solve her problem by sleeping with a tatooed, drug-using scumbag with no job, for whom she has to pay the rent on his bathroomless trailer?

Disjointed, badly written, indiscernible motivation for most characters and events, and a really obvious attempt at forcing an unrealistically libertarian philosophy of relationships. Real people do not relate to each other like this, at least, none that I have ever met.

Don't waste your time on this movie.

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