Three Kings [Blu-ray]

Jul 31, 2010 05:30:10

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A confident hybrid of M*A*S*H, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and Dr. Strangelove, Three Kings is one of the most seriously funny war movies ever made. Improving the premise of Kelly's Heroes with scathing intelligence, it explores the odd connection between war and consumerism in the age of Humvees and cellular phones. Writer-director David O. Russell's third film (after Spanking the Monkey and Flirting with Disaster), it's a no-holds-barred portrait of personal conscience in the volatile arena of politics, played out by one of the most gifted filmmakers to emerge in the 1990s.

George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze (director of Being John Malkovich) play a quartet of U.S. soldiers who, disillusioned by Operation Desert Storm, decide to steal  million in gold hijacked from Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's army. Getting the bullion out of an Iraqi stronghold is easy; keeping it is a potentially lethal proposition. By the end of their mercenary mission, the Americans can no longer ignore wartime atrocities (and neither can we--the film is boldly unflinching), and conscience demands their aid to Kuwaiti rebels abandoned by President George Bush's fickle wartime policy. This is serious stuff indeed, but Russell infuses Three Kings with a keen sense of the absurd, and the entire film is an exercise in breathtaking visual ingenuity. Despite a conventional ending that's mildly disappointing for such a brashly original film, Three Kings conveys the brutal madness of war while making you laugh out loud at the insanity. --Jeff Shannon

Three Kings [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

I really don't understand the people who don't get this movie. God forbid a war movie isn't about shooting and killing but about saving the people of the nation you've invaded. This film is true to life: it's dramatic, sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, and in the end is about people. Life seldom fits into a single category so why should film?

This is a film about four soldiers who choose to save the lives of refugees over money and military orders. It shows the desert storm conflict from all sides: the military, the enemy, and the innocents caught in the crossfire. For another great film about desert storm I recommend Jarhead by Sam Mendes.

Moralism colliding with Comedy - Jean E. Pouliot - Newburyport, MA United States
Set at the end of the first Gulf War, what started out as a great caper film got bogged down with cheap moralizing and maudlin touches. Three (our four, depending on how you count) soldiers find a map to treasure that the Iraqis have looted from Kuwait. Determined to grab their share of the loot, they take off on a cross-desert excursion. But soon they are face with Conscience-Awakening Situations -- in the shape of Iraqi townsfolk beset by the Saddam's rapacious Republican Guard. They must decide between keep the swag, or being good guys.

The film had great potential as a military black comedy. But like the more maudlin episode of MASH, it preferred to ascend the bunghole of its own self- righteousness. A disappointment.

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Three Kings (Snap Case) - Arnita D. Brown - USA
A small group of adventurous American soldiers in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War are determined to steal a huge cache of gold reputed to be hidden somewhere near their desert base. Finding a map they believe will take them to the gold, they embark on a journey that leads to unexpected discoveries, enabling them to rise to a heroic challenge that drastically changes their lives. This movie is extremely funny at times, graphically violent at times, but always on target. A very intelligent script make this a must see movie.

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This one HAS to be a Blu-ray version sooner, not later! - Leebo - Kyoto, Japan
I've loved this movie since it came out on DVD. Years ago I had the chance to see it with a friend at a cineplex here in Japan, but he was from England and pushed to see a Pierce Brosnan "007" movie instead!?? HUGE error on my part - I should have pushed back harder! BUT now there's some possibility that a Blu-ray version of THREE KINGS will eventually be published, I HOPE. I mean, other good war movies are getting the Blu-ray treatment (Saving Private Ryan, Hurt Locker, Band of Brothers, etc.), so I certainly hope that this one makes the cut. I'm ready!

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Sacred Mt. Ali and the Forest Railway [Blu-ray]

Jul 30, 2010 01:00:07

Brand : Allegro

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Taiwan, originally named "Formosa" by the Portuguese in 1544 to mean "beautiful island," is the fourth tallest island in the world. Located in the center of Taiwan, Mt. Ali towers the highest of 2,663 meters (about 8,736 feet). Mt. Ali is world famous for its five rare sites including the Sunrise, the Ali Mountain Forest Steam Rail, the famous Mt. Ali Sacred Tree, the Grand Sea of Clouds, and the Flamboyant Cherry Blossom. The narrow-gauge forest steam rail was constructed during the early period of Japan's 1895-1945 occupation of Taiwan. Its tracks have a gauge of only 762 millimeters, with an average gradient of 6.25%. By journey's end, the train will have climbed to an elevation well above 2,000 meters, trundling through 55 tunnels and across 77 ridges that afford breathtaking views of deep ravines and distant peaks. It is one of the most famous alpine railways still operating in the world today.

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker (Marinsky Theatre) [Blu-ray]

Jul 29, 2010 00:39:25

Brand : GERGIEV,VALERY

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Filmed in the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg where the ballet was first performed in 1892. The production, by world-renowned avant-garde artist Mikhail Shemiakin, is a more mature, "adult" version of The Nutcracker, highlighting many of the darker themes. The eye-catching costumes and scenery help create the surreal atmosphere. The dancing, led by Leonid Sarafanov and Irina Golub, is of the highest quality and displays the very distinctive and exacting qualities of the Mariinsky Theatre. Valery Gergiev conducts the complete, un-cut version of Tchaikovsky's most popular score. With an image up to six times sharper than conventional DVD and superior high-definition sound, Blu-Ray lets you watch opera and ballet performances from the front row of the theater. Experience every detail, no matter how small, in the highest quality possible. With five times the memory of standard DVDs, Blu-Ray is a completely new way to experience the theater at home.

Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker (Marinsky Theatre) [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

Some say that the music of a country is best performed by artists in that country and this brilliant effort supports that view. The dancing, lavish and colourful sets, orchestral playing under maestro Gergiev, are all top notch. The choreography by Krill Simonov is new and different to that seen in most productions and this gives a freshness to the production. Quite a few dances are traditionally performed by solo artists but here are danced by two or three together. Many of the presentations have new, elaborate and effective staging with great effects. The music is very familiar to me and the overall result in 24 bit surround sound is both entertaining and musically satisfying. A 12 year old ballet student and her family looked at it with us and everyone voted it "great". Thoroughly recommended.

Ugly - Larry R. Coffman - Reno, NV USA
I guess the Russians have succomed to the same silliness. Why production designers have to take traditional works (yes they are museum pieces, but museums exhibit many beautiful things) and make them ugly is easy to understand. They want to be "different." Tchaikovsky's music does not go well with this production from the Marinsky (formerly Kirov)ballet. Yes, I know that E.T.A. Hoffman's original "Nutcracker" is darker than what has traditionally been presented, but Tchaikovsky wrote the music for a lighter, brighter production design. If you think giant houseflies, snow maidens dressed in black, and choruses of dead, pale childred are beautiful, you will like this atrocity. The blue-ray technology is good, but what a waste of technology!

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An absolute delight - John Chandler - Melbourne, Australia
I cannot imagine a better Nutcracker than this. It is a delight from beginning to end. Wonderful sets, costumes, and superb dancing. The picture and sound quality are just wonderful. Do not hesitate. I personally prefer this to the recent San Francisco Blu ray but that is also pretty good but not as traditional as this production. I rate this as one of the best ballet discs in my collection.

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Die Hard Collection (Die Hard/ Die Hard 2: Die Harder/ Die Hard with a Vengeance/ Live Free or Die Hard) [Blu-ray]

Jul 27, 2010 23:24:49

Brand : Fox

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Disc 1: DIE HARD BLU-RAY Disc 2: DIE HARDER BLU-RAY Disc 3: DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE BLU-RAY Disc 4: LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD BLU-RAY

Die Hard Collection (Die Hard/ Die Hard 2: Die Harder/ Die Hard with a Vengeance/ Live Free or Die Hard) [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

Great movies, fantastic collection. Clear quality. I think better than Blu-Ray. DVD makes it still look like a movie. Blu-Ray makes it look like you are there behind the camera, as the director yelling cut. I prefer to have the glamour of being at the movies. Buy it and you will be happy with it.

Great buy for Die Hard fans - D. Santiago -
I got this collection set for my father for Father's Day. The next day we sat down and watched all the films. It makes a great gift. You can get a sense of how the franchise has evolved throughout the years.

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Die Hard FTW! - A. Engle -
I loved this movie series, and now am loving it on blu-ray thanks to GoldBox. These classics never looked so good.

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Movies are great but this set not so much - Synkhara-JW - Arizona USA
This review is more about the set than the movies. I bought this set at the store last year (so too late to return it), but only got time to watch them today. I'm not that much of a stickler when it comes to quality as long as it's not so bad that I really notice, which I didn't.
However I had 2 problems with this particular set. First, half of the little tabs that are supposed to hold the DVDs in the cases were broken so all the DVDs were loose. And second, all 4 of the movie discs had one place during the movie where it skipped to the next scene (the 1st one actually had 3 skip places). Cleaning the disc and the lens on the player didn't make any difference.
The movies of course are great action flicks, but people who don't like a lot of explosions and violence should stay away. Just wish Bruce Willis hadn't been bald in the final movie, he looked ridiculous. And also that the set didn't have these little flaws.

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The Mummy [Blu-ray]

Jul 26, 2010 19:54:06

Brand : UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)

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Deep in the Egyptian desert, a handful of people searching for a long-lost treasure have just unearthed a 3,000 year old legacy of terror. Combining the thrills of a rousing adventure with the suspense of the legendary 1932 horror classic, The Mummy is a true nonstop action epic, filled with dazzling visual effects, top-notch talent and superb storytelling.

The Mummy [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

I didn't see all of this movie until recently-- only snatches. When it originally came out in the theaters in 1999, it looked like a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" rip-off and the reviews were bad. Then, as now, I considered "Raiders" to be the closest thing to a perfect movie there would ever be, so I wasn't about to entertain lesser imitators. 11 years later, having let down my guard a bit, I have to say The Mummy was an awesomely good time. Brendan Fraser is a sweet hero. There's an openness about his Rick that you don't usually see in action leads. Rachel Weisz is perfect as the plucky, klutzy smart girl, in classic movie actress fashion. There's a lot of humor, which I believe is the only way to make an action movie click. I'm sorry I was such a snob. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In the DVD extras, please don't miss the behind the scenes look at the battle between the mummy army and Rick as he saves Evelyn. The chorography involved in the scene is amazing, since there is no one there for Brendan Fraser to play against. It's an unbelievable solo dance that worked perfectly once the CG monsters were added later. You just have to see it to understand how improbably, stunningly good it is.

I can't believe it is ten years since I purchased this DVD! - Vivek Gupta -
I bought this DVD 10 years ago and still enjoy it today as much as I did back then. This is a movie that has a lot of fun characters going for it and even with some of the silliness it makes it an entertaining movie to watch. This dvd was a good quality transfer that scales well with modern DVD players that handle the upscaling of the resolution. If you're looking for something entertaining to watch that provides action/comedy and haven't seen this, now is the time.

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Wrap it up and stick it back in the sarcophagus. - William Sommerwerck - Renton, WA USA
The original "Mummy" with Boris Karloff was not so much a horror film (though it had horrific elements) as a drama about a dead Egyptian trying to bring his belovéd back to life. Karloff's performance is typical of his work, with strong characterization and a refusal to overplay. Karloff was at his most menacing when he was at his most subtle. *

Universal's attempt to reboot the "Mummy" franchise (the original series having produced some of the most God-awful films I've ever seen) is a major misfire. Stephen Sommers talks of "honoring" the earlier films, but he dishonors the original with a "remake" that isn't remotely as good.

Rudely stated, Sommers has no idea of how to make an effective horror and/or action film. You can't expect to frighten the audience with a persistently tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top tone. This tone is set at the beginning when Rachel Weisz knocks over a dozen huge bookcases, and never recovers. (The film, not Weisz.) It's there merely for the sake of a laugh, and has nothing to do with Weisz's character (who is /not/ portrayed in the rest of the film as clumsy or ineffective). There's nothing wrong with humor as a tension-breaker -- but it has to be /earned/, by actually /establishing/ tension in the first place. This problem could, in principle, be fixed with a rewrite -- but not when the director is also the writer.

What's far worse is that Sommers has no understanding of "pace" or "focus". If you want to genuinely thrill the audience, you have to at least /occaisionally/ slow down so that you can build up again. A roller coaster that's /always/ fast is no fun. Whatever "The Mummy" is, it's /not/ a roller-coaster ride.

Like too many films, "The Mummy" moves at a persistently brisk -- and ultimately boring -- speed. This results in Sommers glossing over moments that ought to have the audience on the edge of its collective seat. For example, when Weisz opens the Black Book and reads the invocation that inadvertently reanimates Imhotep, IT IS NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER MOMENT IN THE FILM, when it /should/ be played up for all it's worth. You can't do this without preparing the audience, and that isn't possible when you're rushing along. I've never directed a movie, but I know /exactly/ how to do this -- with the appropriate dialog, camera angles, use of close-ups, music, etc., because I've seen it done many times by infintitely-better directors. **

Sommers rips off Ray Harryhausen, but apparently has never bothered to study Harryhausen's films. RH believed in the "slow build", both in the film as a whole, and within sequences. In "Jason and the Argonauts", seven skeletons pop out of the ground to wreak havoc. Harryhausen slowly /builds/ the scene -- and ratchets up the tension -- until it explodes. In "The Mummy"'s comparable scene, with priest mummies popping out of the ground, there is no tension and release. They just pop out.

Stephen Sommers is an incompetent director, the 0M gross of this film notwithstanding. "The Mummy" is a film to be watched once, as an object lesson in how /not/ to make such films, then put aside.

* When asked if he was bothered at being typecast, William Henry Pratt replied that it assured him of a paycheck. He earned that paycheck with performances he never needed to apologize for. Who says that because you're starring in a horror film, you're not obliged to act well? Pratt did.

** Hitchcock comes to mind. In "Psycho"'s shower scene, Mrs Bates doesn't just pop in and knife Marion -- the sequence /builds/ to the murder. Similarly, the scene in which Marion's sister enters the fruit cellar, walks over to Mrs Bates, and puts her hand on the old woman's shoulder, has a terrific payoff that /the entire film/ has been building up to.

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Great Movie!! - W. M. Bell - Little Rock, AR
Its just too bad that they will never be this good again until they start writing script that are better (and make sense) and bring back Rachel Weisz. She and Fraser MAKE THESE MOVIES.

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2012: Doomsday [Blu-ray]

Jul 25, 2010 18:18:08

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The Mayans predicted the destruction of the world, but it is we who must survive it.

In the days leading up to December 21, 2012, four strangers, all for different reasons, are mysteriously drawn to an ancient temple in the heart of the Mexican jungle. What they witness along the way is awe-inspiring, terrifying, and unexplainable. It is also just the beginning...

Special Feature(s): Full High Definition 1080p; 16x9 (1.78:1); English 2.0 Stereo; Smart Menu Technology: Browse the menu, on screen, without leaving film

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/Blu-ray packaging) Blu-ray Region A / DVD Region 1 & 4

Jul 24, 2010 16:23:01

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Please Note: Packaging has Spanish writing on it as it is not available in USA as of yet.

Product Features

• Blu-ray Region A / DVD Region 1 & 4
• Original Language English/Spanish in both discs
• Dolby Digital
• Subtitles English/Spanish
• Slipcover packaging with clear Blu-ray case

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray/DVD Combo w/Blu-ray packaging) Blu-ray Region A / DVD Region 1 & 4 Reviews By Customers

After waiting a long time for seeing Dumbo being given the treatment it deserves, that day finally arrived. Dumbo Blu-ray combo pack is a must own for any fan of this masterpiece. First let me tell you that this title had regretably being delayed in the United States but overseas (I live in Ecuador) it arrived on February 10 as expected and will arrive in the UK tomorrow March 22. The picture is perfect and the sound is really crisp. Of course don't expect things like The Lion King but this score is excellent. The film is presented in fullscreen as it was originally released. The DVD looks excellent too. I owned the 60 Ann. Ed. DVD and the differences are like night and day. This new restoration of Dumbo makes the film look as sharp as Snow White or any other Platinum/Diamond title. It also has a Disney Enhances Home Theater Mix that really adds to the film. Both the Blu-Ray and the DVD contain the following bonus features:

Backstage Disney:
Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo which is a excellent documentary about the making of this film.
Magic of Dumbo: Ride of Passage
Sound Design Excerpt from "The Reluctant Dragon"
Original Walt Disney Television Introduction

Deleted Scenes:
Deleted Scene: The Mouse's Tale
Deleted Song: "Are You a Man or a Mouse"

Exclusive to the Blu-Ray are:
DisneyView / Cine-Explore
Art Galleries
Featurette: "Celebrating Dumbo"
Bonus Shorts: "The Flying Mouse" and "Elmer Elephant"
Games: "What Do You See?" (Family Play) and "What Do You Know" (Smart Play)

Whatever the format you choose (of course the combo pack is the best way to go), Dumbo is given a Diamond/Platinum treatment with a fantastic restoration and new bonus material that adds to the film value. I totally recommend this film. Sadly is not available on the US but try getting it from Mexico where is available or from Amazon because if not, you'll have to wait another year until they release this masterpiece there.

Unfair Review. - oliver -
Obviously the previews reviewer missed some part of the DVD description.
I have one and it is an authentic Disney.
Like it says: "Authentic Disney with all chapter inserts (Blu-ray is Region A and DVD is Region 1 & 4) plays on ALL US PLAYERS. Audio is in ENGLISH AND SPANISH. It just released in Mexico. It contains BOTH the Blu-ray version and the DVD version."
It isn't a FAKE CHINESE COUNTERFEIT. People should be more careful when leaving their comments.

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Excellent responses to questions, quick delivery - Mary E., Tobin - Bethel, CT
When I asked a question, I received almost an immediately response. Item received quicker then expected

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Starcrash (Roger Corman Cult Classics) [Blu-ray]

Jul 23, 2010 10:36:31

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Starcrash (Roger Corman Cult Classics) [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

This film simply lacked passion and seemed from the outset to be nothing but an awful Star Wars (1977) copy. I was hesitant to go as high as 5 stars but I suppose the basic premise of the film is acceptable enough, it is an enjoyably awful, cheese space film.

I find Starcrash (1978) very stirring and exciting. At its heart, it is a close relative of the klutzy Italian giallo films, a swashbuckling Star epic full of political space color, ridiculous special effects, dumb intrigue, and moral danger in space. Christopher Plummer emerges as a memorable villain, and David Hasselhoff's presence is enough to further increase the mystique of the Hasselhoff cheese legacy. I sense some unbalance in this movie. The script is so bad that it makes Marjoe Gortner and Joe Spinell look lame but Caroline Munro wearing a bikini is hot.

Starcrash (1978) is underrated cheese and more imaginative than most cheese space films ever shot.

Not only does this movie entertain kids of all ages but it holds up well to repeat viewings and earns the right to be called a cheese space classic.

Cheesy space opera coming to Blu-Ray - SRFireside - Houston, TX United States
I remember seeing this movie on many a Saturday afternoon when I was young. Back then I loved it. Today I am fully aware of its shortcomings. That being said I still enjoy it, only this time the "cool" factor has dropped down several notches since I was a kid and the "cheesy" factor has kicked in. This movie might be fun for different reasons than I had before, but it's still fun.

I find it interesting that this movie is being released under the Roger Corman's Cult Classics moniker considering Corman had NOTHING to do with it. It was directed (and written) by Luigi Cozzi. It was originally conceived as a Harryhausen Sinbad type adventure in space rip-off, but then Star Wars came along so Luigi upped the production schedule and added George Lucas' classic on the list of stuff he borrowed from.

Bear in mind this is one of those Italian-made productions and it was obviously trying to capitalize on the success of Star Wars. Starcrash is definitely along the lines of a classic space opera, and when I say that I mean everything including tiny budgets and short production schedules. Star Wars it aint, but if you think about it Starcrash is truer to the genre.

The movie takes ideas from a lot of places. Of course there is the aforementioned Harryhausen ideas when "borrowing" concepts for their stop motion model work. The sword fight with the robots and the giant Amazon robot are direct rip offs of two notable scenes by the master Harryhausen himself. Of course Star Wars got milked too, but not nearly as much as you might think. Most likely the light sabers were ripped off and that villain's name, Zarth Arn, sounds way too close to not be derivative of Star Wars' Vader. The plot kinda sits there and some of the scenes make very little sense. I guess that's okay since the script throws out some major cornball dialog.

Production values are abysmal in this film. The spaceship models look like they are various household items glued together with parts of model kits (including the plastic frames you pull the parts off of). The stop motion animations are extremely choppy. The laser effects... well they are kinda cool, but definitely dated. Everything about the special effects scream college film project.

The acting varies from good to hammy. Caroline Monroe is known for doing roles like this one and she pulls it off just like she always does. Christopher Plummer... man that guy can make the worst lines ever written sound noble and poignant. That's exactly what he did here. David Hasselhoff is in this one as well and he doesn't do a bad job if you can get around the eye makeup.

Now this movie has gotten the DVD treatment before and now Corman is releasing it on his Cult Classics collection as both Blu-Ray and DVD. That's about all the information that has been released so far. No news on whether or not this will be a remastered edition. No word on what features and extras will be included. Best I can do is let you know what's out there, and so far the best model to go on is the Collector's Edition DVD.

The Collector's Edition actually had 5.1 DTS audio, however the caveat to that is it's a 5.1 digital master of a monophonic movie. Take that however you like, but the CE audio wasn't all that amazing. Will this Bly-Ray do anything to improve that? The Collector's Edition also has some interesting features such as a making of documentary that I think came from a television program that was released in Italy way back then. It also has a documentary/interview with director Luigi Cozzi. Will this Blu-Ray have any of this stuff and/or more? I'll update this review as I learn more.

I know I make it all sound pretty bad, but when you put it all together the movie does have its charm. Cheesy charm and some authentic movie charm as well. I'm surprised Mystery Science Theater 3K didn't do a number on this movie. Watch it with some friends and you will all have a great time poking at it. For you classic space opera fans this movie is a hoot as well. Especially if you are very forgiving of all the limitations I mentioned. Definitely worth a look for any science fiction fan with an open mind.

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Worst movie ever - James E. Bullard - St. Petersburg, FL
As others have stated here, this waste of celuloid was rushed out to cash in on the science fantasy/Star Wars craze. It had horrible acting. Horrible special effects that make the old Buster Crabbe serials look like high def masterpieces. A horrible plotline. It was so bad it doesn't even work on a Troma level (and I've seen many of their films). Starcrash (the Adventures of Stella Star) doesn't even qualify as a B-film (more like a Z film?) it was so bad. Save your money!

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Mr. Brooks [Blu-ray]

Jul 22, 2010 09:36:06

Brand : COSTNER,KEVIN

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Consider MR. BROOKS. A successful businessman. A generous philanthropist. A loving father and devoted husband. Seemingly, he's perfect. But Mr. Brooks has a secret... he is also the notorious Thumbprint Killer and no one has ever suspected it... until now.

Mr. Brooks [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

Sorry so late with the review (just saw it last night)...Costner is refreshingly diverse, the best he's ever done...even William Hurt is more multi-dimensional than I've viewed of his work over the years and the chemistry between the two is excellent. Dane Cook is surprisingly good, not great, though, and the film would have benefited from a deeper actor and I would have to say the same for Demi Moore.

The film is shot/directed and written well.....as long as the self-indulgences of the writers' comments in the Special Features interviews aren't swallowed. It is a nitpicking on my part, but here goes: the writers refer to Mr. Brooks' being "desperate" in dealing with his problem....eh, not quite. Where there is a fascinating view into the facets of his struggle, "desperate" is not an adjective I would use with confidence...that conjures up a greater complex approach to his crimes and the "voice" and so forth, i.e. what Hurt's character says to him at the A.A. meeting regarding Brooks' dishonesty or even William Hurt's comment in his interview regarding Brooks' strategy of attending an A.A. meeting to deal with his psychopathology as being "absurd". I mean, let's be real here!

IF the writers' opinion of "desperation" were infused within the storyline as to sell us on a greater compassion towards Mr. Brooks with no accompanied complexities of that "desperation", then I would level a low rating. The film does not do that. It depicts the twisted/despicable acts on its face without minimizing his darkness or simplistically converting him to the light. So, my reference to the writers is in the end....nitpicky. I recommend the film.

Mr. Brooks - T. Seel - everywhere, USA
This movie was well written it was very entertaining and I enjoyed watching it. It was worth my purchase.

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Bloodspeak - Strawgold - Wyoming
His name was Mr. Brooks, not Mr. Hyde - but you get the idea. In the supporting role, William Hurt sets aside his romantic image and is very effective as the conniving, master-of-detail alter ego who directs Mr. Brooks from the "back seat" of his mind.

Suspenseful, well written, well bloodied (a must, of course) (-) and very well done overall if you're into murder mysteries - and with 186 reviews explaining it, you don't need a long one from me - but I did wish to rate it for "posterity".

I enjoyed every gory minute of it. Another one that might be equally recommended along these same lines is "Matchpoint" with Scarlett Johansson.

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To What End? Other Than To Reflect Who We Are and What We've Become. - Yasha Banana -
Is the purpose of this movie to "enlighten" the audience?

No.

Is the purpose of this movie to help us understand a social, political or personal situation?

No.

Is the purpose of this movie to challenge a thought, an institution, a way of life?

No.

The sole purpose of this movie is to entertain.

It entertains the audience by taking a serious subject, a gory, violent, *brutal* subject, the life of a serial killer, and does so in nothing more than a tittalating, voyeuristic way.

It's not enough in movies today for two or three million dollars be be robbed from a banl. Now it has to be 50 or 100 or 800 billion dollars.

It's not enough in movies today to blow up a building. Now it has to be the whole block, or if not the whole block the whole town.

It's not enough in movies today for someone to be shot or stabbed, they have to be shot or stabbed in the most gory, graphic way possible. And then the photos of the dead, mangled bodies have to be shown to the audience slowly and in lingering close-ups.

What does all this say about us as a culture?

Specifically, whaty does it say that where once the United States led the world in manufacturing, today the only two things the US exports are fast food and Hollywood movies -- the more violent, the more juvenile, the more meaningless the better.

It's not just that Hollywood today makes gory, violent, pointless movies. It's that they *also* assiduously avoid making movies about real people in real life situations.

The fact that over the past 40 years the living standards of people in the United States have declined *dramatically* doesn't find its way into the dramas created by mainstream filmmaking. Instead they go looking for dramas elsewhere. As for example in the lives of serial killers. Who, the the case fo "Mister Brooks" also happen to be loving fathers and devoted husbands.

Id this wasn't so pathetically idiotic it would be laughable.

By contrast, back in the 1930 and 1940s, Hollywood had writers and directors who posed first-order challenges to the stauts quo. While, "back in the day" the left-leaning writers and directors who saw their work come to the screen didn't advocate overthrowing the capitalist system, they were part of a broad-based movement that resulted in the enactment of major social reforms all throughout the 1930s and 40s.

Presently, the political climate amongst mainstream filmmakers is either reactionary (e.g., nonsense "action movies" such as "Mr. Brooks," along with the usual Bruce Willis/Slylvester Stallone crap) or else are work of "soft-left liberals" that far from promoting social change n fact hold back, given their lack of commitment, the struggles of workingclass activists to effect any significant changes to the status quo.

Many of the people who made movies in the 30s and 40s -- along with the audiences who viewed their movies -- were greatly influenced by not just working class struggles but, more generally, by the growing influence of the socialist and revolutionary movements in the early 20th century. Whereas today mainstream filmmakers, insulated as they are from the felt lives of millions of people, have virtually no contact (and certainly no great concern) for the livesa lived by the people in their audiences.

In short, none of what comes out of today's mainstream filmmaking is in any way subversive. Nothing challenges the status quo. Nothing rocks the boat. Insulated, rich and self-satisfied, today's filmmakers have no interest whatsoever in raising the consciousness of the general public.

In the past 40 years, the financial domination of big business and Wall Street have coincided with a staggering growth of social inequality and a dramatic decline in the living standards of workingclass Americans. And yet nowhere in mainstream media is there even a *hint* that such an anti-democratic political and economic domination exists!

Instead we get movies about serial killers ... buildings exploding ... billions of dollars robbed from banks ... cute, ditzy employees in cute albeit unrealistic economic situations ... and befuddled couples endlessly trying to figure out how to "relate" to each other (with, if all else fails, Oprah waiting in the wings to straigthen them all out.)

Modern days mainstream movies are in no way related to or sympathetic with the plight of working class people -- whereas back in the 20s and 30s and 40s, even amongst mainstream filmmakers, there was a sympathy toward socialist and even revolutionary ideas. For example when Mister Smith went to Washington, even its right-wing director Frank Capra questioned, via the film, whether democracy can co-exist with political and financial injustice.

By contrast, nowwhere today are there films coming out of mainstream Hollywood today that defend the notion of democracy against economic inequality, financial domination by the ruling elite or (get this!) honesty in government.

Not even from the soft left in Hollywood.

Instead we get people like the people who made "Mr. Brooks" telling us in the DVD commentary -- and, mind you, in the most *profound* tones of voice! -- how fulfilling it was to make this movie, how much they "put into it," how simply *marvelous* it was working with such *marvelous* people!

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Crank 2: High Voltage [Blu-ray]

Jul 21, 2010 08:18:33

Brand : LIONS GATE HOME ENT.

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The critics have not been very kind to Crank: High Voltage. But what do they know? Here’s what this movie has going for it: gratuitous nudity, mindless violence, constant profanity, and a ridiculous storyline. Add to that stereotypes galore (gay, Asian, Latino, the neuropsychiatrically disabled, you name it), strippers with guns, a strike by porn actors (with a cameo appearance by Ron Jeremy), and a guy who refers to his heart as a "strawberry tart," and one can only wonder what’s not to like. In fact, writer-director-producers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s sequel to 2006’s Crank is an absolute hoot, a non-stop assault of crazy sights and sounds that will leave you breathless and laughing. As the action starts, Jason Statham’s Chev Chelios has not only survived the fall from a helicopter that ended the earlier film, but is now on the operating table, awake and watching as some Chinese villains harvest his "tart" in order to implant it in their aging leader (a wacky turn by David Carradine). Chev quickly dispatches the bad guys, but the fun’s just starting; the mechanical ticker they’ve put inside him needs constant recharging, so as Chev pursues the real organ, he must use whatever’s available (jumper cables, a police taser, a car cigarette lighter, high voltage power lines) to keep the fake one going. Storywise, that’s about it. But it’s plenty, as the filmmakers’ ultra-kinetic style--with its manic edits, cartoony subtitles, and other envelope-stretching effects--and amusing performances by Amy Smart (as Chev’s girlfriend), Dwight Yoakam (as a "doctor" who helps him figure out what’s happening), and others keep things going. No, Crank: High Voltage ain’t exactly Masterpiece Theater, but this is without a doubt one of 2009’s most entertaining films. --Sam Graham

Crank 2: High Voltage [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

Jason Statham has been in his share of odd movies and this ones no exception - most people even looking at this title have seen the first one and have an idea of what to expect - an over the top, "extreme" movie with a ridiculous story and some crazy action sequences. If that's what you want, this is the movie for you to get. If you're looking for a masterpiece movie with a serious story, step away now!

(Possible spoilers for the first 5 minutes of the movie (including the end of Crank 1))

The first movie ends with Statham falling out of a helicopter and smacking the concrete below, and that's just where this one begins (literally!) - being Crank, he lives and just gets up to walk away from it. He's quickly taken away to have his heart removed to be implanted into someone else (if he can live through everything in the first film, it's gotta be something amazing!). With his heart gone, he's living off a very-poor-quality artificial one.. with a low battery which he constantly needs to power (and as you can imagine, that includes all sorts of nonsense methods) - he goes on a search to get his heart back. While all this seems crazy, this is just the first 5 minutes - along the way he runs into every odd person you can imagine. If this seems like the stupidest movie you've ever heard, stop reading now! If you're interested in that much, I think you'll enjoy the movie. It's a crazy ride, but an entertaining one (definitely not for kids).

The blu-ray is one of the best looking ones I've seen. I believe it was filmed with the RED cameras, and has a very sharp image throughout. This makes a wonderful demo piece for a nice HDTV!

Audio is also top notch - DTSHD 7.1 Master Audio. Crank it up! (no pun intended)

The extras are also very good - including a nice behind the scenes piece and even picture-in-picture commentary. Everything in HD, along with a digital copy for your ipod/iphone/ipad/itunes.

If you can enjoy the over-the-top movies like Deathrace, Smokin Aces and Gamer, this fits right in.

A complete waste, nothing like the first film. - Puzzle box - Kuwait
While the first film was outrageous and over the top, the sequel to Crank attempts to bring the whole thing up a notch and not in a good way. There were way too many ridiculous and idiotic scenes. The first one managed to take an insane concept and turn it into an enjoyable, over-the-top action movie which would have Quentin Tarrintino enjoying his QT pants off! I loved the first one, it was quirky and did not take itself seriously at all yet you got this sense of danger from Jason's character which kept the pace going nicely and had you on the edge of your seat. Yes it had fast in-your-face editing but it worked for the most part and wasn't done too much. Now comes the sequel, the director definitely knows how to mess up a sequel and does it with complete disregard for a proper storyline or script. Chev Chelios survives a fall from the sky, sort of. He's in an unknown location, sedated, while various Chinese gang members are harvesting his organs. His heart is gone, in an ice chest; a temporary in its place. Chev escapes, knowing only the name of the guy with the ice chest. He calls Doc Miles, an unlicensed cardiologist, who tells him there's only an hour's life in the artificial heart so he has to keep it charged. I must admit I did laugh a couple of times, but there were several scenes within the film that were truly awful like the bizare Godzila fight and a chat show with Geri Halliwel!? in a flashback sequence and a sex scene in the race tracks (not funny this time) that did not make any sense but was just there for young adolescent boys. If you have 90+ minutes to waste, go for it. Otherwise I cannot recommend watching this.

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Did someone owe someone a favor? - Roland A. Cordar - CA
This movie seems thrown together and dialogue written by a 16 year old. This franchise died 5 minutes into this sequel. Does Jason have no shame?

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Predator 2 [Blu-ray]

Jul 20, 2010 02:39:27

Brand : Predator

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Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: R
Release Date: 9-JUN-2009
Media Type: Blu-Ray

Predator 2 [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

I always love watching danny glover act because he has this fragile calmness about him, i mean one wrong move and he snaps like crazy on whoever's making him mad! In this instance it's a predator monster (with a side of Gary Busey)! Now I love the first predator, Arnold's acting is amazing and it would be hard to cast anyone that comes close to topping it. Mr. Glover comes very close because his delivery of his one liners. i laugh out loud at the first scene hes in where hes blowing gangsters away with a shotgun up until hes sarcastically prepared to battle 6+ predators when they come at the end. When I was younger these movies were kinda scary to me. Now i watch them for comedy, then action, because they've got both and they're great movies. If you are a fan of blu ray, get this movie on amazon cuz i saw it at FYE for like 26 dollars, and i think i got it for like 17 here so i saved 9 bucks on one movie, not bad.

"damn birds.... All I need is birds" lol

Predator II - Mark J. House - USA
Although not as good as the first, this is certainly not a bad movie. It is very good, actually. This will please more of the Dark Horse comics fans than the Arnold Govinator or Jesse "pro-wrestling" Ventura fans. The first is comparable to Terminator in fan base popularity. The second, although very good, did not have Arnold as a star so was immediately labeled as bad by most critics. Danny Glover is nothing to sneeze at or underestimate and Gary Busey is not either. Underrated by most critics, period. If you like Predator, Terminator, or Aliens vs. Predator(look for an Alien skull in Predator 2 on the spaceship wall; it is there!), you will like Predator II!

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Skip the First Hour! - Andrew Shaffer - Davenport, Iowa
The first hour is terribly written and acted; the last 45 minutes almost make up for it. Almost. Since we--the audience--have already seen the Predator, why hold him back until the second half of the movie? No idea. The producers and director Stephen Hopkins thought it was better to follow the lead of the first film, when all fans wanted from this go-around were moneyshots. (I'm sure they talk about it in the two separate audio commentary tracks, but I don't know if I'm willing to put that kind of time into PREDATOR 2.) The film expands on the Predator mythology of the first film nicely, though, introducing a larger cast of the alien hunters and some wicked weapons. A nice distraction while waiting for PREDATORS to debut this weekend.

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Battlestar Galactica: The Plan [Blu-ray]

Jul 19, 2010 00:36:56

Brand : Universal

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The Cylons began as humanity's robot servants. They rebelled and evolved and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when their devastating attack leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

It seems each successive incarnation of Battlestar Galactica becomes more adult-themed and less suitable for children. This is probably for the best, the show matures as the audience matures. The original BSG circa 1980 was like a comic-book sci-fi story adapted for the big screen; questionable special effects mixed with simple dialogue. Then came the re-do by the Scifi channel with its overt themes of religious conflict, social justice, family breakups, divorce, etc... Now we have BSG: The Plan. This movie clocks in at just under 2 hours, and is a recap of seasons 1 and 2 of SciFi's BSG as told from the point of view of the cylons. Featuring almost all of the known cylon models, this show emphasizes personal drama more than anything else. It features nudity, sex, swearing, suicide, murder, and betrayal all up close. There is almost no humor so the show's tones are quite dark. The central message of the movie is love, and how the effects of love can screw up the best laid plans. Specifically, the various cylon sleeper agents embedded in the colonies have fallen in love with humans and hence foil their own plans to wipe out mankind. All told, a good movie that completes the BSG saga.

A disgrace to BSG - Gregory Bartz - San Jose, CA
Sometime toward the end of Season 3, the showrunners of the new BSG had started to lose track of what they were doing; season 4 saw the series painfully collapse under the weight of its own mythology, with the writers unable to come up with a more satisfying conclusion to the story than "God did it and the characters are angels". "The Plan" is the recycled vomit of that mythology, explaining things that were better left unexplained while failing to explain the things that really needed to be clarified. And, as can be expected from a group of people who had completely lost track of what they were doing, it contradicts previous canon. If the Cyclons' "Plan" was little more than "exterminate humanity", then why did the phrase "And they have a plan" continue to appear during the opening for season 3, during which the Cylons wanted to peacefully coexist with humanity and find Earth? All of this, plus a total lack of emotional depth, make "The Plan" a disgrace to the new BSG.

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Best of the Battlestar movies - D. Porter - Coeur d'Alene, ID
For me this movie was more engaging than either Razor or Caprica. The plot line and acting had more depth. Like all the movies, one has to be familiar with the series to fully comprehend what is going on, but as an adjunct to the series I think it added better understanding to the evolution of the Cylons as the war progressed.

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As a director, Olmos is a fine actor. - Richard Walden - Portland, OR
If you're a BSG fan, you're going to watch this, regardless of what anyone says. If you're NOT a BSG fan, steer clear of this, go watch season 1. Battlestar Galactica - Season One

There is actually an interesting story in here, that if you're a fan, you have to watch. (that's right, have to...it's an order)

Be warned though, that there is way too much recycled footage, the pacing feels wooden and pedantic, and in his directorial debut, Edward James Olmos proves which side of the camera he belongs on.

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Street Kings (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray]

Jul 17, 2010 18:18:17

Brand : REEVES,KEANU

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Disc 1: **Widescreen Feature Film **Commentary by Director David Ayer **Commentary by Forest Whitaker and Keanu Reeves **15 Deleted Scenes **10 Alternate Tracks **5 Vignettes **4 Behind The Scenes **Street Rules: Rolling with David Ayer and Jaime Fitz Simons **La Bete Noir: Writing Street Kings **Street Cred **Under Surveillance: Inside the World of Street Kings **HBO First Look- City of Fallen Angels: Making Street Kings

Disc 2: Digital Copy

Street Kings (+ Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

I rented this movie after deciding that it might not be the worst thing I have ever seen. After watching it I had to buy the Blu-ray!!! It is a GREAT movie with a lot of action and gunplay and many great actors (Forest Whitaker is especially great in this one) I'm not the biggest Keanu Reeves fan but he is actually quite good in this one too. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat and ranks right up there with Training Day. If you enjoyed the good cop/bad cop characters in Training day the BUY THIS MOVIE!!!!!!

Excellent LA Police Action/Drama Film - Elizabeth -
This is an Excellent LA Police Action/Drama Film that showcases Keanu showing a range of emotions and talents with a wonderful cast, Great film.

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Awesome - Deezy - Dover, DE
This was a great movie, one of my new favorites, I remember when it came out, I thought it looked stupid, then one day I was reading reviews and everyone said it was great, so I gave it a shot, I am glad people submit reviews, I own almost 300 Blu-Ray movies so far, at first I made some big mistakes buying movies that had good trailer's or looked cool, I learned my lesson, and another lesson is wait for a decent price or shop around and price match.

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Cle Sloan and Keanu Reeves in the same room an hour into the movie. - Cleo - USA
Neither Common nor the movie delivered the desired sinister and palpable menace of Training Day. I tuned in to see Cle Sloan because Bastards at the Party was so worthwhile otherwise I would never watch a movie where Keanu Reeves plays a purported tough guy. There are some things Keanu Reeves can't do.

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Elizabeth [Blu-ray]

Jul 16, 2010 14:18:07

Brand : UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)

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Academy Award® winners Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Richard Attenborough lead a distinguished cast in Elizabeth—the critically acclaimed epic of the queen’s turbulent and treacherous rise to power. Before the Golden Age, Elizabeth was a passionate and naïve girl who came to reign over a land divided by bloody turmoil. Amid palace intrigue and attempted assassinations, the young queen is forced to become a cunning strategist while weighing the counsel of her mysterious advisors, thwarting her devious rivals and denying her own desires for the good of her country. Relive the majesty and drama of one of history’s greatest monarchs in this stunning production that was honored with 7 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture!

Elizabeth [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

All hail the Queen! All hail Cate Blanchett! To me, she's the new Meryl Streep. I was mesmerized by her performance. I love Queen Elizabeth and I remembering seeing this in the theatre and thinking to myself, "who is this incredible actress with this intense presence?" We all know Queen Elizabeth as a hard ruler. However, in this film, you see her as a person, both cold and passionate, hard and soft, independent yet yearning. You feel the tug and pull within her character and you feel for her predicament. This was a tour de force performance. It's a brilliant start for this amazing actress. It is outrageous that Gwenyth Paltrow won the Best Actress Oscar that year. But then again, we know that the Oscars are very political. Paltrow's performance was good, but not glorious like Cate's Elizabeth.

I wish I could have given it 0 stars - Mina Hart - USA
I really wish I could have given it negative stars.

This movie is terrible. Others have pointed out the many, many, many historical inaccuracies so I won't bore you with them yet again. The costuming was even more inaccurate.

Simply awful.

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Elizabeth - the Edited Version - V. Tillman -
While the DVD was of excellent technical quality and arrived earlier that expected, scenes that I would have enjoyed --like the Spanish Armada's attempt to invade England-- were edited out. This should have been made clear to the purchaser.

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The Lives of Others [Blu-ray]

Jul 15, 2010 12:18:11

Brand : KOCH,SEBASTIAN

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This critically-acclaimed, Oscar®-winning film (Best Foreign Language Film, 2006) is the erotic, emotionally-charged experience Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) calls "a nail-biter of a thriller!" Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, East Germany’s population was closely monitored by the State Secret Police (Stasi). Only a few citizens above suspicion, like renowned pro-Socialist playwright Georg Dreyman, were permitted to lead private lives. But when a corrupt government official falls for Georg’s stunning actress-girlfriend, Christa, an ambitious Stasi policeman is ordered to bug the writer’s apartment to gain incriminating evidence against the rival. Now, what the officer discovers is about to dramatically change their lives - as well as his - in this seductive political thriller Peter Travers (Rolling Stone) proclaims is "the best kind of movie: one you can’t get out of your head."

The Lives of Others [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

A rare peek of life under a communist, socialist government, in this case in 1984 East Germany. East Germany was in the World's spotlight, due to which it had the highest standard of living and the most freedoms of all other European communist block countries. Further, by 1984 things had improved to a considerable degree.
This film is a great achivement, a must see film. The writing and acting are exceptional and the twist in the plot is masterful.
However, to those who know and study this dark period in human history, there has not been other such "good" men.

Accurate Portrayal of East German Life - Book Worm - Oklahoma City, OK USA
This movie is a very accurate portrayal of life behind the iron curtain. There is no question of right and wrong. Instead, every decision is either for the state, or against the state. If you make a decision against the state, you risk detection, imprisonment, and death. The harsh realities of life in the Eastern Block are poignantly portrayed.

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Incredible! - T-Bone - Portland, OR
What a fantastic movie. Superb acting & direction. And an ending that left me speechless. Wow. Loved it, loved it, loved it!

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Excellent Prouuct - Frederic G. Vater - Glenbeulah, Wisconsin
Very good movie, and I received very fast shipping. Will do business with these folks again.

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The Prestige [Blu-ray]

Jul 14, 2010 11:36:42

Brand : Prestige

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Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johansson are pure magic in THE PRESTIGE on Blu-ray Disc®. Dubbed "wildly entertaining" by Rolling Stone, this riveting tale is more astounding than ever in this dazzling new format. Two young, passionate magicians are friends and partners until one fateful night when their biggest trick goes terribly wrong. Now the bitterest of enemies, they will stop at nothing – including deceit and sabotage – to learn each other's secrets. Experience their obsessive rivalry in eye-popping 1080p and resounding 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. But remember, nothing is what it seems, so be prepared to watch over and over again as Blu-ray™ High Definition teases and tantalizes your senses!

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• New Blu-Ray Blu Ray Disc
• Christian Bale Hugh Jackman Michael Caine Scarlett Johansson
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The Prestige [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

I just saw this movie last night and it is now my favorite! It has your eyes glued to the tv the whole time wondering what will happen next! You have to watch closely not to miss any clues because it is a mystery what the secret is! BUY IT NOW!

Such a Headache I Got From this Movie! - Yasha Banana -
Vat's with this facockta movie already? Now he's over here, now he's over there. Please, another headache I don't need.

This one in the movie has a twin brother. And they're both in business together. ... Big mistake. ... I went into business with my brother-in-law. We opened up a kosher delicatessan in Scrotumville, South Dakota. Goyim for as far as the eye could see. But, what the hell, we took a chance.

One day -- talk about your "Transporter Man" -- my brother-in-law absconded with all the funds, *and* the aitress and transporter himself, *and* the money, to Prickly Heat, Ecuador. This was some feency-schmeency transporter, I wanna tell ya.

So anyway, what do you care about my problems. About me, Yasha J. Banana, the oldest living Amazon reviewer (if you call this living), you could care less. Am I right? Have I struck the nail on the head?

I must say that although I didn't care for this flicker, I was intrigued by the fact that twin brothers were romancing two beautiful women at the dame time, and both gals thought it was the same guy.

Or was it one guy romancing two women? Or were the two women schtupping each other on the side?

Who knows with this cockamammie movie! What do I care about magic tricks? They couldn't have let us at least *once* have a good look at Scarlett Johannsen's tukas? Put a G-strong on that shiksa, brother, and I'm a happy nonogenarian!

Personally, when it comes to schtupping though I, Yasha J. Banana -- flute-tuner, hat blocker and one-time towel boy at Plato's Retreat -- I recommend full disclosure. You have a twin brother, you make sure your girlfriend knows who's who. Either that or establish an odd day/even day arrangement. Or you both eat onions.

Now on with my review ...

See, this one magician gets a machine that he uses to clone himself. Once this happens, *everybody* in the film gets so excited! The director can't believe it -- a machine that can close one of my actors. He goes nuts. Rather than tell the audience in clear, simple language: "This guy has a machine that clones himself" --no, this mensch of a director keeps us guessing for the entire movie.

If I could I would have given him such a kick.

Can you imagine if I had such a machine -- a machine that could clone 97-year-old Jews. Yasha J. Bananas all over the place! Ho boy!

What a comeback the Catskills would make.

Depends' stock would go through the roof.

On every street corner you'd hear people say: "Yasha, boychick, so nice to see you. ... Again."

I'd clone myself night and day and day and night. And have each of my clones do the same thing.

Pretty soon there'd be a Yashaville. Then a Yasha County. Then they'd have to recognize me, Yasha J. Banana, as a sovereign nation. ... Yasha Congo. (On account of I once danced with Sophie Tucker in the Congo Room back in '36.)

Then there'd be spinoff nations -- Inner Yasha Congo, Outer Yasha Congo, Upper Yasha Congo.

Pretty soon I, Yasha J. Banana, would go global. I'd start moving into your neighborhood, knocking on your door asking if you want to give to the U.J.A.. And if you refused, I'd be back, and back, and back.

There'd be so many of me, I'd be able to elect politicians, fill stadiums, surround the Rockettes.

I, Yasha J. Banana, would be everywhere. Eventually I'd go into business and make a fortune selling myself whatever crap I wanted to sell myself. All sales final.

I'd start a religion. The entire congregation would be me, Yasha J. Banana. We'd all walk to services on Saturday singing, "We Are The Jews! We are the world!"

I'd have a fund-raising drive. Another fortune! I'd make those ganefs at the 700 Club look like pikers.

Of course, naturally, at 97-years-old, all us Yasha J. Bananas would, alas, be dying off. But think of it, the morticians would be in heaven! Little kids would beg their parents to send them to morticians school. "Eulogies 101" would become a require course in all colleges and universities. Goddamnit, we'd be dying like flies!

(As I said to Sophie Tucker when I asked her to stand on a mirror back in 1937), I can see it all now -- traffic jams filled with hearses and grieving widows. All over the world, hundreds of thousands 97-year-old Yasha J. Bananas clutching their hearts, rolling their eyes to the heavens -- "This is the Big One, Elizabeth!") The smell of Ben-Gay mingling with rotting flesh. Shuffleboard courts littered with 97-year-old carcasses. Social Security belly up.

Of course naturally you might say, "But Yash, bubi, wouldn't you want to use your ability to clone yourself for the good of others? What about the brotherhood of man? What about uplifting the human condition? What about everyone, not just Yasha J. Banana clones, but *everyone* holding hands and singing Cumbaya. Yash, come on now, what about justice, what about ... the people?"

And do you know what I say to that -- FARK THE PEOPLE! Where were the people, where were the customers when I opened up my kosher delicatessan in Scrotumville, South Dakota and nobody went for my "Sheep Dip Surprise"? Or my "Gourmet Goyim Gefilte Fish." Fark the people. And the cavalry they rode in on. Let 'em get their own cloning machine.

Before long Yasha J. Bananas will be ruling the world! Uber Yasha! Viva La Revolution! Pastrami on rye for all you Bananas!

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Dark Magic That is Hard to Understand - - Loyd E. Eskildson - Phoenix, AZ.
"The Prestige" was made in 2006 and the time the action starts is the dawn of the 20th Century. The story is about the obsession between rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) who endeavor to reveal each other's secrets. The competition escalates and the two illusionists start performing riskier tricks that turn deadly.

The ending is just not expected or satisfying. The complexity of the movie requires the audience to hang on every word and scene. Overall the movie is interesting, sometimes thrilling and exciting, and worth the watch. Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine and David Bowie also star in this movie about the dark-side of magic

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Wild Things: Foursome (Unrated Edition) [Blu-ray]

Jul 13, 2010 08:38:37

Brand : Wild Things

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Wild Things Foursome is the seductive next film in the hot and sexy Wild Things series. Hotel magnate Ted Wheetly is tough on his arrogant hard partying son, Carson (Ashley Parker Angel), who believes his wealthy, womanizer father drove his mother to her death. When Ted is killed in a speed boat accident, Detective Frank Walker (John Schneider) is assigned to investigate the case. As he digs deeper into the death, he becomes more and more suspicious of the scheming, seduction, greed, double-crossing, and possibly even cold blooded murder.

Yeah, I knew it would be bad - ninjasuperstar - Iowa
The series of Wild Things movies wants desperately to be a part of neo-noir cinema, yet the characters are so cartoony, the audience doesn't really care what happens to them. The plot holes are so large that the director decided that the end credits should double as five minutes of filling in the narrative gaps. The movie is of course about greed, and there's a large amount of money at stake. It's not particularly clear how the people who end up with the money could actually access it legally. It's not worth thinking about though.

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Dog Soldiers [Blu-ray]

Jul 12, 2010 03:57:12

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A band of soldiers is dispatched to war games deep in the woods. When they stumble across a rival team slaughtered in camp, they realize they're not alone. Something deadly waits in the darkness; something not animal and not human. Holed up in an abandoned farmhouse, the soldiers start a bloody battle against the beasts. Dawn is only a few hours away, but they may not live to see it.

DOG SOLDIERS is a terrifying chiller in the tradition of Predator and An American Werewolf in London.

Dog Soldiers [Blu-ray] Reviews By Customers

What can you say. There aren't many really good NON B type werewolf films.

There is the origianl classic wolfman, the howling, an american werewolf in london, underworld series (altho it shares its stage with vampires), and then theres DOG SOLDIERS.

I would say Dog Soldiers actually rand like #3 of top werewolf films of all time being The Wolfman, The Howling, and Dog Soldiers.

Oddly enough its mostly low budget but has a good mix of action, suspense, and werewolf gore to keep you on you interested.

It is one of the few werewolf movies i watch a few times a year it just stays fresh if you give some time between viewings.

Great Movie - Anthony Harrington - Amery, WI USA
I really like this movie. If you enjoy the British dry sense of humor, you will enjoy this movie.

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Good even if not entirely original - Aaron Harper - Michigan
This reminds me a lot of Aliens, but that's not a bad thing. The werewolves look awesome although their faces are what's most impressive. The rest of their bodies isn't anything special. I like the characters though and the story is simple but well done.

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Not so scary - kat kring -
Typical ...possibly more gory than some in this genre-
A 'once is more than enough to view it' movie-

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