The Samaritan

A Contemplative Actioner With A Solid Samuel Jackson Lead: Intriguing, But Falls Short In The Final Act
Anyone anticipating "The Samaritan" to be a high octane thrill ride will probably have those expectations thwarted. Truthfully, I also didn't expect much from this Blu-ray and thought it would be an exercise in conventional action mayhem. It is, however, a movie with a lot more on its mind. "The Samaritan" is a surprisingly contemplative film about redemption and second chances. Featuring a solid Samuel Jackson, the screenplay takes its time in building a genuinely interesting story. Jackson gives one of his more complex performances as a man struggling to create a new life, a new identity, and start afresh. He's great and the movie serves up some terrifically unpleasant surprises (the twist at the half way point is a doozy)! But just as the movie approaches the final act, it falters. An intricate con to swindle a crime lord out of millions of dollars is set up with almost zero preparation and back story. If a clever grift is essential to your screenplay, however, it needs to...

Family ties!
This is a very good movie that will keep you guessing all the way to the end. Samuel L. Jackson performance is outstanding as always. Ruth Negga, a newcomer, is also really good.

Foley (Jackson) gets released from prison after serving 25 years for killing his partner. His partner's son wants revenge. Not the usual kind, a different kind of revenge. Then Iris (Ruth Negga), appears and falls in love with Foley. Everything is slow and for a moment we think is a love story or a back stubbing plot. At the 40 minute mark of the movie the plots gets really twisted and then we start guessing all the way to the end which is a surprise.

Four stars for the decent plot and the acting. Look forward to watch more movies with Ruth Negga. She has a great future in the business.

First rate movie for a great price
This movie is pretty good. It really makes me cringe and keeps me thinking about it days after I've seen it. I recommend it to all adults.

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Golden Winter

Golden Winter
Great movie for families to watch. This one movie that is very interesting to watch and enjoy by yourself or with someone.

Great movie
My 8 year old grandson loved this movie. He said it was very funny. He watched it with his mom and she thought it was cute.

Cute movie
Since I love Golden Retrievers so much this is a feel good movie for sure. I will enjoy watching it often.

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The Man from Beijing

Masterpiece of Suspenseful Drama
It is an excellent movie that will help you reflect on one of the current world issues - revenge based on historical injustice. It is masterfully centered around great abuses that ocurred to the Chinese immigrants who came to America in the 1800s, but the revenge for the abuses are being carried out now. The movie involves the last member of a Swedish family, the only member to have accidentally survived the revenge of a Chinese man who is well trained with the sword. Both social realities for how to see historical abuse are represented in the story. It is a drama that is driven along with a tension of suspense, a suspense driven by when is she going to get it. There are many questions a viewer will take from this thought provoker. A question that I took away from the story is how independent should my family loyalty be in light of a government's design to have all people individualized into the government's mode of behavior as defined by the terms "an obedient citizen"...

This Film was a Major Disappointment
After watching the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, which was excellent, I was looking forward to a film with similar qualities. I regret that this film failed on all counts. Although the concept for the plot was good, the script, the acting and almost every aspect of the film failed to meet my expectations. I gave the film two stars and that was being generous.

If all of the judges in Sweden have the same lack of common sense and intelligence as shown by the main character, the country is in serious trouble. The plot failed to meet the "it could happen" test in this regard. The lead police detective character has the same problem. If she is an example of the average Swedish detective, God help the victims of crime in Sweden. A judge that finds themselves in a situation where the lead detective treats the only surviving family member of a massacre in that way would be on the phone to any number of political and judicial connections to get the situation under control...

Good movie. And it is in Taiwan but not China at all..
The 1st part is much better than the 2nd part. The 2nd part is out of the control. The ancient scenes are ok. But the scenes in China are all shot in Taiwan which makes them not real at all. And many scenes in the 2nd Part not really logical.

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Kiss Me

Captivating...
Mia (Ruth Vega Fernandez) announces her engagement to boyfriend Tim (Joakim Natterqvist) at her father's 60th Birthday Party. Her father Lasse (Krister Henriksson) has just asked his partner Elizabeth (Lena Endre) to marry him. When Mia meets Elizabeth's fun-loving daughter Frida (Liv Mjones), she is initially wary. Reluctantly, she agrees to a weekend getaway on the island of Fyn with Frida and Elizabeth. Forced to share a bedroom with Frida, Mia finds herself fascinated by the other woman's free-spirited enjoyment of life. While out walking in the woods, Mia boldly kisses Frida leading to an amorous embrace. Frida is ready and willing to reciprocate and the women soon feverishly make love for the first time.

The weekend over, Mia must return to Stockholm and her life with Tim and Frida to her partner Elin. Both women find it hard to put the intimacy they shared behind them. Escaping into the windswept Swedish countryside, the women shed their inhibitions once more and...

Kiss Me
"Kiss Me" is a critically acclaimed film about lesbian love, and, once you watch it, you'll understand why. It not only addresses the love between two women, but also the emotional impact that it leaves in all the involved parties. It is smart, sexy, authentic - perhaps the best lesbian movie that I have had the pleasure the watch, period.

Mia (Ruth Vega Fernandez) is happily engaged to Tim (Joakim Nätterqvist), and we meet them at the beginning of the film, making passionate love, and then rushing over to Mia's father, Lasse (Krister Henriksson), 60th birthday party. Once at the party, we are introduced to Lasse's fabulous wife Elisabeth (Lena Endre), and her precious daughter Frida (Liv Mjönes). All is well until Mia and Frida later on go to visit Elisabeth at her country house, in a beautiful island. Lasse was supposed to go, but didn't make it. Mia was not happy about it, because she wanted to talk to her father. This situation, of course, forces Mia and...

The Best Lesbian Film Since Imagine Me & You
I was captivated by the intensity and chemistry between the two female leads in this film. Kiss Me is the best lesbian film I've seen since Imagine Me & You. And unlike Imagine Me & You, it not only has a lovemaking scene, but four of them that were so realistically and tenderly done.

While I didn't like that the two women were cheating on their partners, I had to appreciate the romance, great acting, fantastic love scenes, and Swedish countryside in this film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves love, especially between two women.

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Sleepless Night

A Relentless French Thriller That Provides Clever Twists With Non-Stop Action Mayhem
The French thriller "Sleepless Night" is a movie that pulls no punches. It doesn't have lofty goals or meaningful subtext and that's perfectly all right. It aspires to entertain by being a mean and relentless excursion into action movie mayhem and it easily succeeds as one of the year's most exhilarating adventures. By serving up a high octane thrill ride, "Sleepless Night" becomes (for me) one of the year's biggest surprises. In case you can't tell, I really loved this down and dirty film! From a plotting standpoint, you've certainly seen it all before. There are good cops, bad cops, drug lords, and local gangsters all on the prowl for a cache of narcotics. What makes the movie so enjoyably twisted, however, is that most of the action takes place in an immense nightclub on the outskirts of Paris. The various parties collide or evade one another in congested parking lots, busy kitchens, labyrinthine back offices, rollicking dance floors, and bustling pool halls. This is one...

It's like a high tension wire.
This movie really moves! I caught it online because I missed it during the tribeca film festival, but I'm glad I saw it. It's a thriller where a dirty cop's son is kidnapped, and in his pursuit to return to the life he had, he takes paths in which there is no going back. What is refreshing is that this movie "goes there" in that it not so much breaks cliches as ignores them, and as this thriller veers aways from the familiar formula of thrillers, you start to realize that you have absolutely no idea what is going to happen next.

"BRILLIANT, SUSPENSEFUL, THRILLING!"
Vincent is a police officer, but is also involved with drug deals and the mob. His involvement with the mob gets more-and-more dangerous as he makes deliveries, pick-ups, and promises. After he gets into deep trouble from problems with the mob, his son is kidnapped. The clock ticks fast as time is not on his side, and his situation could be tragedy for him and his son. Action-Packed, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and thrilling from start to finish. Highly Recommended!

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388 Arletta Avenue [HD]

388 ARLETTA AVENUE Might Be 'Creepy' For All the Wrong Reasons
On first blush, 388 ARLETTA AVENUE might seem like a clever idea: the motion picture is yet another of the `found footage' flicks, a story edited together from multiple independent cameras videotaping the life and times of a young couple trapped within a curious set of circumstances. However, on closer inspection, I thought much of the decisions made by writer/director Randall Cole were slightly off-kilter to produce anything greater than a bloated vanity project, a curious failure worth watching for curiosity's sake but perhaps little else.

[NOTE: for the record, ARLETTA is one of those films that has an ending that makes it difficult to discuss the plot/premise without some modest spoilers. I've done the best I can with the material, but be warned: there will be minor spoilers contained below.]

James Deakin (played by Nick Stahl) eeks out an existence as an advertising executive. He's married to a lovely woman, Amy (Mia Kirshner), and, while they're not...

Good movie, but viewpoint is getting old.
This is a good movie but I feel it would've been much better if told like a normal movie, rather than only from a voyueristic viewpoint. The 'Blaine Witch Project'/hidden camera viewpoint is getting a little overused and seems like a lazy way to make a movie. It's very restricted and doesn't allow you to follow the storyline in depth, which can be very frustrating. Overall a good story, but the way it was filmed leaves a lot to be desired.

A Voyeuristic Thriller That Remains Far Too Distant To Be Truly Impactful
Randall Cole's "388 Arletta Avenue" is an interesting idea of a movie, but that's about all it is. Beyond the initial premise, the screenplay doesn't even attempt to provide much story and/or characterization for its audience to grasp onto. It is an unconventional choice, but one that left me completely disconnected to any potential tension or thrills in this half-baked and vague idea of a plot. Styled similarly to the "found footage" genre of filmmaking, every scene in "388 Arletta Avenue" is grainy, unfocused, and captured from a distance. As a young couple (played by Nick Stahl and Mia Kirshner) is watched by a mysterious stranger, their lives are being taped and this scrutiny starts to unnerve our pair (and rightly so). Just who is this intruder into their lives and what is his goal? And does it matter? Ultimately, Cole seems to think that motive or ANY type of back story is completely unnecessary--so you'll just have to go with the flow as the unseen villain gets closer and...

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Hard Boiled Sweets

Good film, interesting premise
The first few scenes had such unfortunate musical choices that I nearly stopped watching, but I'm glad I saw it through.
It was a cute premise, and a good film for those who like crime films.

Lacks Substance
This production is slick, but it has very little depth. We have all seen some variation of this movie before: a bunch of lowlifes, who may be wearing expensive threads, covet big stacks of money. All of them have the morality of the proverbial alley cat. This version is set in the seedy underworld of an English seaside city.

A common theme runs through it all: we get to know a character fairly well, for the acting is solid. Then the character gets "popped" at close range or weighed down (in one case, with a car wheel that he is forced to carry) and tossed off the pier.

It's all backed by an effective soundtrack that underscores a spirit of decadence and doom. The cinematography is sound; there are some spectacular shots.

Half-boiled film
The british always have a cool way of doing Lundun villains with assorted wise-cracks of the saucy bastard type. Hard Boiled Sweets started out with alot of promise when it laid the ground-work by introducing a mix of colourful characters. It was amusing to hear them nick-named after a different candy. Incase you americans didn't know - the english word for candy is sweets.
A visting king-pin is visting a sea-side resort to pick up his share of earning from the various gambling and whoring racket run by the local mob, who reckon they want to kill him and take his spoils instead. The spice to the plot is they got the same idea at different times. So the film takes some unpredictable turns. But in the last 1/4, , the film becomes diluted and and unlikely. It was light-fare to begin with, which was amusing as a yarn, but the film could not survive a dose of the unlikelies well. Villains need their integrity. So it ends up as 3 star. The screen-play and plot failed to take up a...

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Lost Lake

Holy OMG!
This is RAD. Starts off FAST and bloody and picks up speed throughout. Insane twist at the end I had no idea was coming. Totally abandoned small town with no cops, no help for the couple. Classic story, crazy twist. So sick. Highly recommended.

Sick movie!!!
This movie was sick! Well executed horror film with great twist and believable performances. Well made, well directed. Highly recommend!



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Halloween H20 [HD]

Cash Grab For Echo Bridge
Attention Amazon.com customers....

1. Avoid this release like the plague. This Blu-ray Disc only has the movie and nothing else. LITERALLY! No subtitles, no trailer, no anything.

2. The picture is subpar for a high-definition transfer. Not to mention, it's not in the original aspect ratio. H20 was filmed in 2.35.1. This version's ratio was changed to 1.78.1.

3. The audio is pathetic. You don't even get surround sound. You get a pitiful DTS 2.0 Stereo track. The DVD at least offered us a 5.1 mix. I thought Blu-ray Disc was supposed to be an upgrade from DVD?

Save your money and avoid this title. Echo Bridge has a reputation for butchering films and they did themselves justice with this one. Until we as consumers stand up and quit buying this garbage of a release, they will never give us the quality that we deserve. The links below will give you a little more information concerning this release.

[...]
[...]

AVOID THIS RELEASE!
Echo Bridge's release of Halloween H20 is severly comprimised and should be avoided.
First, this release is not in the original aspect ratio. Originally released theatrically at 2.35:1 (per imdb), this Blu-ray includes a cropped 1.78:1 aspect ratio
Second, the only audio option is a DTS-HD 2.0 stereo mix, as opposed to the 5.1 mix included as part of the original dvd release from December 1999! Additionally, there are no subtitle options for the hearing impaired.
Lastly, there are no special features whatsoever.
So, let's see, no OAR, comprimised audio, no subs, no special features.

Remind me again why anyone would by this rush cash grab by Echo Bridge?

"H20" and its fans gets the middle finger from Echo Bridge with this ultra-lazy Blu-Ray cash-in
Certainly, after watching "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers", I had little interest in ever seeing Michael Myers again, who over the course of six films had transformed from a mysteriously eerie serial killer into a monolithic, robotic Druid(!) henchman. Amazingly, the next film in the franchise would redeem the "Halloween" name, a rarity for a sequel so late in the series. In fact, "Halloween H20" is probably the best sequel in the Halloween series (I confess to having a soft spot for "Halloween 2", but I freely admit that the film is problematic). Simply put, "H20" is the sequel fans had been waiting many years to see... even if some (like me) didn't know it.

The decision was made for "H20" to ignore the last series of sequels and act as a direct sequel to "Halloween II"; it was a wise decision, freeing the series from the various inane story lines and C-List characters that accumulatively dragged down the series over the years. Pleasingly, "H20" manages to both...

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Losing Control

LOVED IT! ("You don't need proof, you need faith" - Ben)
I'm a 24 year old UCLA grad (class of 2010) and I loved this film. I love how at the beginning, the director shows the audience Sam's life chart--- a chart she made showing what she's accomplished thus far in the field of science and in her personal life(i.e. "first science experiment" and "first kiss" "first breakup" etc). Her life chart also shows what age she would like to accomplish certain goals. Among this list is "get an updated wardrobe," "travel," "get married," "get a pet," "assistant professorship at Harvard," and "tenure at Harvard." I laughed when I saw this chart because I feel like my friends and I have similar charts and even if some of my friends don't have it on paper, I know we have at least talked about what age we intend to accomplish certain things. What I love about this film is its originality. This film is more than just a cute love story. This film is about a woman who has a passion for...

Good date rental
I rented Losing Control in HD to watch with my wife and we both enjoyed it. It was a good choice for a movie rental date. I laughed out loud regarding the bedtime rituals of the main character. I recommend giving it a watch.

Very well done
This is a really great flick. Fun, funny, definitely worth the watch! Writing is solid, directing and acting sells the concept.

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The Man From Beijing [HD]

Masterpiece of Suspenseful Drama
It is an excellent movie that will help you reflect on one of the current world issues - revenge based on historical injustice. It is masterfully centered around great abuses that ocurred to the Chinese immigrants who came to America in the 1800s, but the revenge for the abuses are being carried out now. The movie involves the last member of a Swedish family, the only member to have accidentally survived the revenge of a Chinese man who is well trained with the sword. Both social realities for how to see historical abuse are represented in the story. It is a drama that is driven along with a tension of suspense, a suspense driven by when is she going to get it. There are many questions a viewer will take from this thought provoker. A question that I took away from the story is how independent should my family loyalty be in light of a government's design to have all people individualized into the government's mode of behavior as defined by the terms "an obedient citizen"...

This Film was a Major Disappointment
After watching the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, which was excellent, I was looking forward to a film with similar qualities. I regret that this film failed on all counts. Although the concept for the plot was good, the script, the acting and almost every aspect of the film failed to meet my expectations. I gave the film two stars and that was being generous.

If all of the judges in Sweden have the same lack of common sense and intelligence as shown by the main character, the country is in serious trouble. The plot failed to meet the "it could happen" test in this regard. The lead police detective character has the same problem. If she is an example of the average Swedish detective, God help the victims of crime in Sweden. A judge that finds themselves in a situation where the lead detective treats the only surviving family member of a massacre in that way would be on the phone to any number of political and judicial connections to get the situation under control...

Good movie. And it is in Taiwan but not China at all..
The 1st part is much better than the 2nd part. The 2nd part is out of the control. The ancient scenes are ok. But the scenes in China are all shot in Taiwan which makes them not real at all. And many scenes in the 2nd Part not really logical.

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Traps: The Incredible Story of Vintage

Essential for any vintage drum enthusiast
Kudos to Daniel Glass and Drum Channel for making this its own release and not relegating it to the 'special features' on the Century Project discs. If you have any interest in vintage drums, or interest in the evolution of how drums were made, whatever this DVD costs you will be worth it. The multitude of examples of vintage gear (including gorgeous close-ups), explanations of how things were assembled and how they worked (or didn't work quite right, in some cases), and deep context for why and when some technologies were introduced make this disc a goldmine of information.

Is it instructional? No. But you should know that from looking at the case. Is it educational? Absolutely. The evolution of what eventually became the drumset in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is a fascinating story, and what you get with this 2-disc set is that history told through the drums, cymbals, and hardware across the decades.

A must have for vintage drummers and drum devotees
Being a long time jazz drummer wannabe and one who plays vintage Slingerland and a choice 1938 Radio King snare, this fine DVD by Daniel Glass is a must have; I watched it start to finish when it landed on my doorstep and have gone back to it a half dozen times, so fun and informative this effort is. For those of us who walk into modern drum shops and corporate box music stores, look at the gleaming stacks of new DW, Ludwig, Gretsch, Yamaha, Pearl and other contemporary companies and sigh.........."Nothing here for me" this DVD will only heighten and expand your enjoyment of fine old drum equipment.
Starting with Civil War drums Mr. Glass takes us on a highly entertaining and informative romp up along the time-line of the history of the drum "Kit or Set" to what has become today's modern style drum kit. Daniel Glass's knowledge of the subject is of Master Thesis level and he is incredibly adept at making the presentation understandable and did I mention entertaining as...

A great way to learn more about vintage drums!
I learnt lots of new stuff that had been alluding me for years! Very in depth and information rich.
Including a great bonus section on how to get a vintage sound from modern drums.

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Hellrasier VIII: Hellworld [HD]

Good movie, but not a real sequel to the Hellraiser franchise
Overall, the movie was okay. The plot revolves around a group of friends that have a common obsession, and that is the Hellworld online game, based on, of course, the Hellraiser movies. They go their separate ways after one of their friends dies as a result of his addiction to the game. Flash forward, and the friends are reunited at a party with the theme of "Hellworld", and all hell breaks loose, kind of.

Aside from the last five minutes of the film, this could have been based off a multitude of different backdrops other than Hellraiser, and still been a good movie. This is just another attempt to profit off of the original two movies. The credits should not have read "Starring Doug Bradley", but should have said "Featuring a very brief appearance by Doug Bradley" (he must be charging a budget breaking amount per minute, because his cameos keep on getting briefer and briefer).

See it because it is a decent horror flick, but don't expect a Hellraiser sequel,...





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Death of a Superhero [HD]

Death of a Superhero - worth your time!!!
The plot of the film is integral to the joy of experiencing it, so I will be intentionally vague. The story deals with a teenager who has cancer. How he copes and who goes on the journey with him are the basis of the story. I would say the film is worth watching for that alone!

As far as the technical part - Scenes are shot at home, school, hospital, as well as country and sea side. There is a good bit of animation interspersed into the entire work as well as some very graphic comic style art. Sounds a bit hectic, eh? (Film Festival entries can be a bit of a risk - hand held cameras bouncing up and down and boom mikes in the corner of the picture... :) In my opinion, the director created magic... The timing between dramatic scenes and the graphic was perfect. camera distance and motion were never distracting from the action or dialog. I distinctly noted the stillness and framing of the scenery shots - It has been a while since I have seen a movie where the camera was...

Amazing, insightful, extraordinary
Some may view this as a depressing film- one to avoid. I disagree. This is a film about a very young man 15 years of age, who contracts leukemia. This young man deals with the knowledge that he may soon die, and he reacts at first with anger, depression, and fear. His mother does not know how to deal with the reality that she may lose her son...his father tries with all his power to help his son, but realizes that with all his love and compassion- there is nothing he can do to save his son from the darkness- so he tries to be his friend. His brother and friends try to spur him on with humor - with a single-minded goal not to let him die a virgin.
Along his travels he meets a strong-minded and independent girl at school, who helps him by simply being his friend.
Using his incredible artistic gifts- he often draws very dark, sexually charged comics about himself being a superhero- saving people from the dark forces...but in the final analysis
the end the darkness takes...

Already done
I already submitted a review about this. What I forgot to mention in it is that the coloration of the movie changes with the changes in the mood of the protagonist. When he is in a low or depressed mood, there is virtually no color; when he is happy or satisfied or relieved, the colors are more vivid. Please add these remarks to my prior review.

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Dracula II: Acension [HD]

Confused and Confusing but not bad
I have to admit I got lost amidst the theological and vampire commentaries, but aside from that, it was a pretty good second entry in Wes Craven's Dracula series. The Count's body was discovered by a group of students joined by two adjuncts, so to speak, who set about, ostensibly, to learn what makes him tick in order to discover a cure for vampiredom. There's a Priest involved, too, apparently a World Class Vampire Killer, who has some association with Old Priest, Roy Scheider. Just why a distinguished actor like Scheider made two cameo appearances in the film is something to wonder about. At any rate, there is some decent action and a fair amount of generally meaningless dialogue ending, essentially, (I don't imagine I am giving anything away to anyone who knows that there exists a DVD collection of the three Dracula pictures) ending with a flurry of action and a clearly To Be Continued conclusion. Never fear, there is a conclusion so that one is not left hanging in mid-air...

Meh...
The first movie of this series was actually pretty cool. This is Dracula II--the search for more money. Not as good as the first, but not as bad as, say, Snakes On A Plane. Nuff said. Wake me up when Willow II comes out...



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Air Bud: Spikes Back [HD]

Air Bud Spikes Back
loved it!! They have watched a few times. My kids love the movies with talking animals. They will get future air bud movies

Very cute
I bought this for my granddaughters. It is light and adorable I would recommend it for children. It was very cute.



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Children Of The Corn: Revelation [HD]

It was an end
The people who gave this movie such bad reviews obviously didn't watch it or didn't pay attention to what they were watching. This movie with the title of Revelation was just that for the series. It is a kind of ending which explains where the "child cult" got started. Many of the kids did not have names that is true but the important ones did. This movie went a step beyond the other movies, it takes you back to where it all started and just may be the end of it all. I enjoyed this movie a lot, from the silent scenes full of suspence to the loud scenes full of screaming and children's laughter. If you aren't into this series and haven't watched them and payed attention you will find it to make no sense, but if you have then it will all make perfect sense and you will be glad you watched it.

A good sequel!
BACK OF THE BOX:
Based on the chilling story, 'Children of the Corn' by Stephen king, REVELATION is the next shocking chapter in this ever-poplar series of sspence-thrillers! When calls to her eccentric grandmonther go unanwered, Jamie Lowell is shocked to discover that her grandmother's last known adress is a condemned tenement building overrunned by ncontrolled children! But as Jamie slowly uncovers the truth behind her grandmother's mysterios dissapearance, she merely disturbs a powerful evil that now wishes to destroy Jamie as well!

When I saw this movie for $4.00 on VHS at my local thrift store, I took it home and expected the worst. I popped in the tape and was amazed. This sequel had almost nothing to do with the original, bt it was a great film! The special effects cold have been a bit better, but it is still a good movie! But only rent or buy it if you are a DIE-HARD COTC fan!

I kinda liked this one
After totally going to hell with 5 and the very slight redemption of 6 things kinda get back on track with the CotC series. That said, this film is thoroughly mediocre, but, again, after those last two flicks mediocre is looking pretty good. The plot is your standard CotC rehash, and it is way light on the gore, not that most of these films were usually very gory, but it's a more involving and generally quite nice looking film. Unlike in the previous two entries, one gets the impression that the director actually cared about the film, and tried to make it be good. This films is probably the slickest, sharpest film in the series, and it has some nice creepy looking locales and a lot of fine atmospheric lighting. Quite a bit of colored lighting too, one gets the impression that the director may be an Argento or Bava fan. (Note the pulsing green light, in particular. Very Argento-esque.) Still, after a relatively effective buildup the ending is more anemic than usual. Again,...

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From Dusk Till Dawn III: The Hangman's Daughter [HD]

Pretty Good Third Entry In "Dusk" Series
Third entry in "From Dusk Till Dawn" series is a prequel which has a violent outlaw escaping his execution at the hands of a ruthless hangman and taking off into the desert with his daughter. The two end up at the infamous bordello bar from the first "Dusk" film and it's vampire mayhem galore. This straight-to-video effort is actually very creative with both its direction and general story, not to mention some quality make-up effects from the KNB team. Featuring a strong cast for a video release which includes "Dusk Till Dawn" alumni Michael Parks and Danny Trejo, Rebecca Gayheart, Orlando Jones, and Temura Morrison, just to name a few, this sequel is actually far more solid than one might expect.

Good follow-up is better than second...
"From Dusk till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter" is a mostly fun little movie that doesn't have the memorable quality of the first, but loses the bland delivery of the second. More of a prequel than a sequel, this movie is about a Mexican outlaw who kidnaps an executioner's daughter and finds himself chased by soldiers, criminals and, of course, vampires. The ending is very cool with the action staying pretty solid. A fun hour and a half of nonstop action and humor.

great movie
This movie is great, i saw it three times in the two weeks after it was first released. While the second movie was somewhat of a letdown, this was not. The special effects and acting were as good as they were in FDTD 1. This one may even have a better plot. The best part is how original it is. It isn't your typical vampire movie that takes place in the '90s. This is so different its great. The plot is great, and the acting is too. The very end is awesome. I highly reccomend it to anyone who liked FDTD 1.

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Halloween VI: The Curse Of Michael Myers [HD]

Interesting, but you should check out the Producer's Cut!!!!
An okay transfer of the movie on a bare-bones DVD.

Unfortunately, the makers of this disc decided NOT to include the alternate version that contains VERY interesting deleted and alternate scenes.

Check out the differneces here:

[...]

Hopefully a Special Edition of this film will be released that will feature both the Theatrical and Producer's Cut versions of this film.

A First Rate Thriller. Up There With The Original.
Halloween The Curse Of Michael Myers is my favorite Halloween sequel, and, despite having horrible reviews, is the second best of the series (the first being part 1, of course). The movie realized that the series was getting pretty dull by part 5, so it adds a lot of new plot twists, like Michael being involved in some cult called "Thorn" that makes one person kill every member of his family. You'll also find out in this one who the Man In Black really is (I'll give you a hint, he was in ONE scene from the original).

The movie begins with Jamie Lloyd (no longer Danniele Harris, but J.C. Brandy) having a baby, which is then stolen by the man in black, who is going to make this baby Michael's sacrifice. However, a kind woman working there helps Jamie escape with her baby. This woman then meets her fate, impaled to a coat hanger by Michael Myers, who is now stronger and more enraged than ever!! Jamie does get away, and hides her baby at a bus depot, before she, to,...

Halloween 6, one of two
Many people say that Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers is the worst of the entire series, but I disagree. In my opinion, the worst is Halloween III. This movie originally had a very different storyline from the version that people got to see, and they were severely deprived. The version of this movie that got released was well done, with George Wilbur (Halloween 4) returning as Michael, and Donald Pleasance in his last performance as Dr. Loomis, was well performed, but not very well explained. It seemed to me that Dr. Wynn was attempting to genetically engineer people to have Michael's form of strength, but I could be way off. I also thought the idea of Michael killing his sister's 'extended' family was a clever plot twist. Many people say this is the worst because they don't take the time to really observe the story. However, I think that Dimension Films would be real smart if they released the alternate cut of this movie on video & DVD. There is a summary and...

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Untamed

Great movie!
Great Movie! Great price. Love the old movies. Love Joan Crawford. Glad to see they are releasing the older movies!

Robert Montgomery, one of the best!
At least I'm sure I will love it, since Crawford and Robert Montgomery are two of my favorite actors. I'm waiting to watch it with my granddaughter who also likes watching classic movies. It arrived fast and in great condition.



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Children Of The Corn V: Fields Of Terror [HD]

The last watchable entry
No other author in recent memory has had as much consistent success selling books as Stephen King. For roughly three decades the Maine writer churned out book after book, each one selling more and more copies. He's a world unto himself, the lucky fellow! He's so successful that he could throw out his pens, put away his typewriters, bury his word processor six feet under, never write another word in his life, and STILL have enough money to wallpaper the Great Wall of China five times over. In many respects, it's Stephen King's world and the rest of us are just living in it. But, and this is a gigantic but, an enormous number of metaphysically bad films based on his novels threaten to put a serious dent in his legacy. We all know the good ones, the ones that not only scared audiences stiff but also helped propel King's career to even greater heights. "Carrie" is probably the best example, followed by "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Dead Zone." These are wonderful, magical films that...

boring...
This is probobly the 2nd to worst out of the whole 7 movies. It just aint creepy or wierd enough like "COTC 1" and "COTC 4" They have an adult co-leader and child leader that is about 12 or 13. All the rest of the kids are anywhere between 15-17 years old. This movie didnt show any of thier cult meetings and there was just too much gore in this film, which really was boring cause it was the same kids that killed. If you want to see a decent COTC movie with the kids and the gore, you need to get either "COTC 2" or "COTC 4" They have more of the little kids in it killing or doing thier cult stuff. But this movie was just not needed for the series.

Parental Rule #1: Avoid CornFields
Back to the cornfields with He Who Walks Behind the Rows for another installment of guess with adult's in trouble now. That's right, here's yet another installation in the saga of He Who Preys Upon the Young, this time showcasing the plights of a few rather unfortunate young adults as they wander into the stalking fields. It begins as two cars toting six unwary occupants near a small town where their friend, a victim of an "accidental bungee cord jumping" demise, wanted his ashes to be spread. As these city-dwellers move closer and closer to the prize, however, they blunder into the hands of some rather unfriendly youths looking for some time, and folks they don't seem to appreciate, to kill.

Its strange to say that, in watch the Children of the Corn sequels, I've found very few things captivating and yet I still harrowingly press onward. I'm not certain why that is or what the call the cornfield actually has on a soul, but I know that many of these movies, such as this one, are in...

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May [HD]

Angela Bettis Works Wonders in "May"
I suspect the movie "May" snuck in under most people's radar. In fact, I am not sure many people know about this wonderful little picture even now. I only came across it through pure chance, read a short review about it, and decided to give it a shot. I am certainly glad I watched "May" because this film about a meek young woman with a desperate need to belong really delivers on multiple levels. This movie underscores the fact that there are plenty of films floating around out there that deserve more attention than they receive from general audiences. I cannot say whether "May" got a theatrical release or not, but the film is available on DVD and is well worth picking up if you are a horror film aficionado or if you just enjoy great acting performances.

Angela Bettis plays May, a young woman with several serious mental issues. Her problems started as a child, when doctors diagnosed May with an eye problem that required an eye patch. Of course, the kids at school thought May was a...

A quirky masterpiece that creates its own genre
May is a peculiar sort of movie, part social commentary, part slasher flick. It manages to succeed admirably at both, despite the fact that it's central star is a cute little misfit named May.

May Dove Canady (Angela Bettis) is a sheltered misfit. Born with a lazy eye, she grows up wearing a pirate-like eye patch, only to be teased by children her entire life. Her mother (Merle Kennedy) drives the point home: if you can't find a friend, make one. And May's mother does just that, crafting a doll for her daughter with big, spooky eyes. The catch is that the doll can never be let out of her box.

And thus we have an allegory for May. May tentatively explores her world through her job as a veterinarian's assistant and her interactions with her coworkers, the barely-understandable veterinarian (Ken Davitian) and the oversexed lesbian coworker Polly (Anna Faris). Then May bumps into Adam Stubbs (Jeremy Sisto), a horror movie fan and budding auteur that specializes...

Just friends....
Angelina Bettis stars in this predictable, but creepy and well-made gothic thriller about a very shy and disturbed young woman with a lazy eye. When she's little, she has to wear an eye patch, and no-one wants to be her friend, so her mom gives her a rather disturbing-looking dolly in a glass case and tells her that if you can't find a friend, the next best thing is to make one! Hmmm, I wonder what's going to happen when she takes up sewing and a job at the veterinary clinic. As if that's not enough to telegraph the ending, the first shot in the film is one from the final scene. I guess they figured the audience might get bored if they didn't open with something flashy, I don't know. Non-linear opening shots are kind of cool, when we flash back and towards the end find out the story around the shot, but it would have been more effective left out.

Jeremy Sisto (who fans of Six Feet Under will know can be creepy himself) plays an artist who worships Dario Argento (really!) only to...

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Happy Birthday, Harris Malden [HD]

Don't bother
The reviews for this film are obviously fake, from the film critic blurbs to the over reaching film festival praise.

I watched almost half of this movie, and just couldn't find the will power to subject myself to any more. It didn't draw you in and had no real plot to speak of, which I find totally acceptable in a comedy. Provided that there is a modicum of humor in the film. I'm guessing the director thinks that 'awkward' is the new funny, because that's about all I can say about this film. It's awkward.

~ Nothing is worth 5 stars, save the best

Charming, warm, and hysterical.
After hearing the buzz about this unique movie and its filmmakers (Sweaty Robot), I decided to rent the video from Amazon. Although there was plenty of hype in the movie business about this flick, I remained skeptical that someone could make a witty, engaging film about...a guy who fakes his mustache. It turns out that my skepticism just masked my total lack of imagination. Sweaty Robot successfully took an oddball premise in this movie and related it to the viewer's innate humanity. The camerawork and acting is excellent--I couldn't believe that this was an independent film, when it looked like it had an expensive, dependent budget.

Throughout the film, I laughed, then cried, then laughed some more, then cried, then laughed about how much I was crying. I can't recommend this movie enough, and look forward to Sweaty Robot's future endeavors.

Great For Everyone!
Guys, great film, heard you were at a few big Film Festivals Too!!! Way to go. Keep up the good work.

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From Dusk Till Dawn [HD]

"From Dusk" gets the shaft on Blu-Ray courtesy of Echo Bridge; pick up the Alliance Canadian Blu-Ray, which has way superior A/V
"From Dusk 'Till Dawn" is not a great film by any means, but it is entertaining...up to a point. The first half of the film is an effective, stylish and creepy noir/suspense film, with director Robert Rodriguez showing uncharacteristic restraint in his film direction. Clooney and (surprisingly) Tarantino are good in their roles, and play off of each other well. Unfortunately, the second half of the film becomes increasingly silly, as Robert Rodriguez succumbs to his fetish for over-the-top action and cartoonish violence, quickly undoing all the creepy suspense that was so carefully built up over the film's first half and settling for a parody-like tone for the rest of the film.

If done right, over-the-top horror film parodies can be very entertaining, as the first two "Evil Dead" films show. However, that sort of tone usually works best in a short feature format (such as the "Tales From The Crypt" television series). If the film is to be feature length, then a good deal of...

Great exploitation film. Repeat: EXPLOITATION!
A lot of folks have trouble with this film. They are turned off by the over-the-top violence, mayhem, and sex. What they don't understand is that it is nothing more than a really well-made exploitation film. Remember those? Movies which had no higher agenda than providing plenty of fun, cheap thrills, like gratuitous sex and violence? Many of them were made in the late '60s and throughout the '70s? Like Women In Prison films? Blaxploitation? Car-racing movies? Slasher films? Russ Meyer movies? Anyone? Well, for those who DO remember, and who don't need every flick they see to contain lofty statements about the nature of mankind and the universe, you will love this movie. The cast is great: I mean, come on, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Fred Williamson... even Quentin, who can't act, is utilized effectively. Clooney has a great role which no one seemed to appreciate, Hayek does a lewd dance with a snake which will make your shorts explode, and Cheech Marin is,...

Don't Do "Dawn"
Miserable Blu Ray release of a great movie. The picture is cropped from its original aspect ratio, the sound is sub-par, and the picture quality is all over the map. There are moments when the picture is stellar, especially during the beginning moments of the film in the outdoors. Colors pop and the picture is crisp and clear, but then it will suddenly change to something comparable to VHS.

Extras? Forget it! Nothing...zero...zilch.

It's a shame that one of Miramax's best titles wound up in the hands of this company, who produced such a horribly shoddy transfer of this film. Skip it and stick with your DVD.

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Death and The Civil War

Death And The Civil War During the Sesquicentennial
Without a doubt, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust put the Civil War on the bestseller lists again. Published in 2008, Faust's work illuminated for many a new view of Ken Burns' Civil War 1990 series. Popular culture treats the American Civil War differently than scholars, buffs and reenactors treat the war. For popular culture the market place is a battlefield; products vie for mass attention and sales. Now during the 150th sesquicentennial of 1862, the public will likely take a glance at the Civil War. Ric Burns' Death and the Civil War will premiere on Tuesday September 18th on public broadcasting television. Based upon Faust's bestselling non-fiction work, Death and the Civil War is a sobering reminder that the Civil War was a landscape turned red by 750,000+ deaths in four years.

At 120 minutes, Burns' pace is deliberate and provocative. The opening segment is jarring. A few moments before his death, a Mississippi...

Nothing Civil About It
I had gone to bed & woke thirsty. Grabbing a glass of milk I sat down & turned on the tv only long enough to finish my drink. I saw first the portion describing the movement of the Southern women to reclaim & honor their dead. It progressed more & more into such sadness & despair I could not watch it to the end. The subject matter holds no allegience to North or South...only to the grave.

I've followed Ken Burns long enough to know it will be articulate...hauntingly detailed...& very accurate. I have no doubts it will join the ranks of great American History documentaries particularly in this genre. It will become a valuable addition to my personal library so I can view it again...& again.

Profound and moving
D&TCW is a profound and moving piece of work. In many ways, the style seems similar to the rightfully famous Ken Burns series, "The Civil War" from the 1990s (another must-see classic). Haunting in presentation and heart-wrenching in substance, this documentary goes very far beyond the existential questions of perceptions of death, society's relationship with death, and the ways in which the Civil War turned these values/beliefs upside down. It is a testimony to the depths of humanity (and, sometimes, the lack thereof) of individuals as well as of society.

There's really nothing I can write that will adequatly convey the impact of this documentary. This is a must-see for every American.

Recommneded in the strongest possible terms.

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Mayan Renaissance (Home Use)

A beautiful, Strong Documentary
This documentary really blew me away! With all the 2012 nonsense going on right now, I admittedly was not the most thrilled to watch this movie. But as I began to watch, I saw an untold story of the past, present, and future of the Mayan people. I grew up in Central America and learned so much watching this film.

I actually loved this movie so much I shared it with my church. We do mission trips to Guatemala every summer. We screened it at our church and had all of the young people that have gone or are interested in going to Guatemala watched it. Those that had never been were more impassioned to go than ever before, and those who had already been kept saying how much they learned and how this movie challenged some of the beliefs that they had held about Mayan culture.

A really great documentary and I can't wait to see the other ones that the PeaceJam foundation will be putting out over the years! You've got a fan in me!

Thought provoking
Very thought provoking film. I must say that I found the 'newsreel' section very informative as well. The historical and political views were particulary interesting.

The Real Story
Excellent film, check it out! Makes me want to learn more about the Mayan culture. Enjoyable and informative, well directed!

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Death In Hollywood

R.I.P. Vic Morrow
Wow, still creepy!! I first saw "Death In Hollywood" when it came out in the early 90's with my Dad and all I can say is that the stories and images have stuck with me for a long time. A lot of stars from the old days might not be of interest to the "Power Rangers" generation but this thing is worth the price of admission just for the Vic Morrow footage alone. E's True Hollywood Story about "The Twilight Zone Movie" incident didn't show you the actual footage of the actors demise but this early 90's documentary does, from multiple angles at that. The George Reeves story doesn't run in his favor but this video is old. Splashing into star after star like a Mansion pool party you'll be sucked in wanting more. A mild Faces Of Death have you. I haven't seen "When The Applause Died" but buy it for Death In Hollywood.

Death in Hollywood
The film needed to be more interesting,and improvement was needed in editing and selection of film clips.I expected more from this film.

... And They're Off!
This Daily Double of B (or less) movies/documentaries are stills and movie clips collaged in 1990 by Golden West Films and narrated by some guy (Paul Durris) who, one speculates, is Evelyn Wood's (The Evelyn Wood Seven-Day Speed Reading and Learning Program) ADHD brother. Claiming to "exhume and examine," commentating at a Race Track announcer-like clip, Durris dishes deaths of Hollywood famous and infamous, rarely pausing long enough to smell the roses in the funeral parlor or offer new insights.

There *is* included what turned out to be an ironic public service announcement done by James Dean during a break in the filming of Giant (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Digipack) in which he admonishes teen fans to Drive Safely, and background info to make sense of the death of Thomas Harper Ince aboard Wm Randolph Hearst's (root of...

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MichiGRIM

Creepy Fun!
If weird and creepy is what you crave, then add Michigrim to your list of must have dvds. Three short films of creepy fun!





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Beauty Queens: Estee Lauder

Well done!
I'm Cosmetology instructor and ordered this for my students. It's well written and very interesting. I bought this with the Helena video and again was disappointed it ended.





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388 Arletta Avenue

388 ARLETTA AVENUE Might Be 'Creepy' For All the Wrong Reasons
On first blush, 388 ARLETTA AVENUE might seem like a clever idea: the motion picture is yet another of the `found footage' flicks, a story edited together from multiple independent cameras videotaping the life and times of a young couple trapped within a curious set of circumstances. However, on closer inspection, I thought much of the decisions made by writer/director Randall Cole were slightly off-kilter to produce anything greater than a bloated vanity project, a curious failure worth watching for curiosity's sake but perhaps little else.

[NOTE: for the record, ARLETTA is one of those films that has an ending that makes it difficult to discuss the plot/premise without some modest spoilers. I've done the best I can with the material, but be warned: there will be minor spoilers contained below.]

James Deakin (played by Nick Stahl) eeks out an existence as an advertising executive. He's married to a lovely woman, Amy (Mia Kirshner), and, while they're not...

Good movie, but viewpoint is getting old.
This is a good movie but I feel it would've been much better if told like a normal movie, rather than only from a voyueristic viewpoint. The 'Blaine Witch Project'/hidden camera viewpoint is getting a little overused and seems like a lazy way to make a movie. It's very restricted and doesn't allow you to follow the storyline in depth, which can be very frustrating. Overall a good story, but the way it was filmed leaves a lot to be desired.

A Voyeuristic Thriller That Remains Far Too Distant To Be Truly Impactful
Randall Cole's "388 Arletta Avenue" is an interesting idea of a movie, but that's about all it is. Beyond the initial premise, the screenplay doesn't even attempt to provide much story and/or characterization for its audience to grasp onto. It is an unconventional choice, but one that left me completely disconnected to any potential tension or thrills in this half-baked and vague idea of a plot. Styled similarly to the "found footage" genre of filmmaking, every scene in "388 Arletta Avenue" is grainy, unfocused, and captured from a distance. As a young couple (played by Nick Stahl and Mia Kirshner) is watched by a mysterious stranger, their lives are being taped and this scrutiny starts to unnerve our pair (and rightly so). Just who is this intruder into their lives and what is his goal? And does it matter? Ultimately, Cole seems to think that motive or ANY type of back story is completely unnecessary--so you'll just have to go with the flow as the unseen villain gets closer and...

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The Face Of Fu Manchu

Christopher Lee in his second most famous role
The talented Christopher Lee only occasionally involved himself in a long running character in his movie roles and of course his brilliant portrayal of Dracula in a series of films for Hammer Studios has gone into movie folklore. Another character that he portrayed in a series of films and made his own was the evil oriental mastermind Dr. Fu Manchu.

Made famous in the 30's by Boris Karloff and by a long running series in the 40's here Christopher Lee puts his own original stamp on the evil doctor who was always bent on taking over the world by some fiendish method involving torture, deadly weapons and mind games. "The Face Of Fu Manchu" was the first of the films in this new series and was by far the best. It not only offers a wonderfully sinister character for Lee to sink his teeth into (no pun intended) but offers a lavish production with wonderfully recreated 1920's atmosphere, excellent costumes and a fine supporting cast of veteran performers like Nigel Green in the role of Sir...

The best in the series...thanks for region-free DVD players
So far only available on VHS in Region 1, I picked up the Region 2 DVD release of `Face of Fu Manchu' recently and blessed my region-free DVD player for every wonderful fun-filled moment of this enjoyable fantasy romp.

Based on the character originally envisioned by British author Sax Rohmer, Christopher Lee made a total of five appearances in the 1960s as arch villain Fu Manchu. This entry (the first in the series) is by far the best, closely followed by the second `Brides of Fu Manchu' (another Region 2 only DVD release).

What makes this entry so enjoyable is the wonderful Nigel Green as Fu Manchu's greatest nemesis - Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard. In fact it is in the opening minutes of this movie that we see Smith invited by the Chinese government to witness the execution of Fu Manchu.

Fast forward a couple of months and Smith is sturdy in his belief that Fu Manchu survived and is behind a series of grisly crimes in western Europe. Then when a...

One of the best Fu films
This is a review of the Warner Archive burn on demand DVD.

Fu Manchu plans to dominate the world through the use of the poisonous extract of a rare Tibetan poppy. The only problem is that the extract is unstable above the freezing point. Fu threatens to torture the daughter of a scientist unless he finds a way to stabilize the poison. With Nayland Smith (Nigel Green) on the case, time is running out. This may be the best of the five Christopher Lee Fu Manchu films -- though "The Brides of Fu Manchu" is a very close second.

The film is widescreen (2.35:1) and in very good condition. The DVD comes in a case with a printed cover just like a regular DVD. However, there are absolutely no extras -- the only menu choice is "play"!

Recommended.

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Fly Me to the Moon [HD]

INTERESTING STORY, BUT GENERIC CHARACTERS AND AWFUL 3-D ON THE DVD RELEASE, KEEP THIS ONE FROM REALLY TAKING OFF!
I watched this film in both 3-D and 2-D on the DVD release to compare the two versions. The 2-D version looks very good and although the animation might not match that of Wall E, it is very solid. If only the characters had a little more umm?......character!

The fly's design is a cross between the Smurfs and some discarded character designs from 'A Bug's Life'. The voice work is nothing special either. The story is interesting and overall is a fairly enjoyable film experience, but it just isn't up to the likes of Pixar's efforts.

What is most disappointing is the 3-D version on the DVD. The color is almost non-existent and what color is there is completely off. The Maggot babies are lime green where as in the 2 D version they're pink-ish. If fact most anything with color is lime green and the rest looks like a black and white film or the color is so subtle you have to strain to see what color it is...... it's too distracting and it looks awful!

Also,...

Not to be overlooked!
I had not heard or read too much about "Fly Me to the Moon". But the manager of the local DVD store highly recommended it. I bought a copy and thoroughly enjoyed it! I am a 57-year-old married man that's a DVD collector. I have easily over 1,500 DVDs in my collection. I will buy more copies of this movie to give to my nieces and nephews. It was cute, simple. The CGI was so colorful especially on our 55-inch Sony HD TV.
Give it a try and you won't regret it. Enjoy!

Great Childrens Movie
Great Movie! Our church did a free movie night as an outreach to the community and everyone was extremely pleased. The movie has excellent 3D effects and a great story that was interesting for adults as well as the children. The one DVD has both the 3D and the normal video mode which is also very helpful. Enjoy!

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Blues for Jimi [Blu-ray]

More Moore on Blu Ray is always 5 stars for me....
Even though the program is only a 74 minutes and the stage is obviously not arranged for photo elegance...when Gary Moore plays guitar its always worth a view and a listen. My favorite Gary Moore blu ray is the tribute to Phil Lynott Gary Moore & Friends: One Night in Dublin - A Tribute to Phil Lynott [Blu-ray] and even his last show at Montreux Live at Montreux 2010 [Blu-ray] I would suggest before this if you do not own. If you do own those and are a fan.... there is no reason not to enjoy this rip roaring tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

Gary Moore plays a couple of strats and even a flying V in his tribute and I do prefer the sound of his strats on this program. The few songs where he is joined by original Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and Band of Gypsies bass player Billy Cox (Red House, Stone Free, and Hey Joe) are particular...

Another unique Gary Moore concert
Not too long as 74 minutes but even 5 minutes of gary lasts a lifetime when you see him play. Great versions of the songs in my opinion and voodoo child was a brutal version of all the versions have seen through the years as only gary could pull off....Was a bit confused on the liner and at the show saying he is one of the best british guitar players as he was born in belfast,Ireland?
But realize he lived almost all of his life in England so probably consider him a local no doubt. Another must have for Gary Moore devotee's like myself that play almost every night his concerts after all are asleep and wonder what could have been in the future from the master. A++++++

Definitely better than Gary's Montreux 2010 Blu Ray
If you read my review on Gary's last concert you will see the reasons why this far exceeds that release. Gary looks, sings, and plays better in this DVD recorded three years previous, but released one year after the 2010 Blu Ray. The best songs on here for me (not being super familiar with all of Hendrix's work) are "I Don't Live Today," "Fire," "Red House," "Hey Joe," and of course "Voodoo Child." Kind of depressing that Mitch Mitchell and Gary both died within years following this concert (and both loosely alcohol related deaths), but they really mesh in this concert. Gary knew how to play Jimi's style, and I really don't think they could have picked anyone better for this concert. There is also a CD of this concert, but for me the Blu Ray is the only way to EXPERIENCE this fantastic tribute concert. This is a really a tribute to Gary as well as Jimi, but it any case it rates five stars!

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Marvel's The Avengers

...And there came a day, a day unlike any other...
I am more giddy than my giddy aunt. I saw the midnight showing of the AVENGERS last night and, at the end, my face hurt from grinning so big. I am so wired I can't form a coherent thought, and so here, instead, is a salvo of stream-of-consciousness impressions, in whatever order.

Mark Ruffalo is simply terrific as the Hulk's alter (and calmer) ego. I actually prefer his interpretation of Dr. Banner over Bana's and Norton's. Ruffalo steers away from the deadening angst that made me fidget in earlier Hulk pictures. He finds a balance. This Banner exhibits a dry sense of humor but exudes this quirky, low simmer edginess. And I love Ruffalo's interactions with Downey, Jr., two swaggerful eggheads matching their test tubes against each other and applying big words. I like that there's respect between their two characters. There's an intriguing twist involving Banner's relationship with the Hulk, of which I won't say more. The Hulk - and this seems to be a unanimous impression -...

Love the movie, cheated by 4-disc set.
Don't get me wrong, it's one of my favorite movies and I highly recommend it as a Blu-ray purchase for any action and/or hero fan. The problem is that this 4 disc set is nothing but a sham, and on multiple levels:

Digital Copy:
First, the only supported tablet is the Ipad, so for all of us Android tablet users, don't dream about taking the movie with you on the go through legitimate means.
In fact, even if you choose the WMP version which can only be seen on your computer, you might face difficulties. My Laptop apparently needed a security update (which I couldn't get no matter how much I tried), in spite of the fact that it's running on the latest version.

Digital Music Download:
Why not simply include the music within the set in MP3 files? Here's why. Although you've already paid a higher price for a set that should provide the soundtrack, they feel that you still haven't actually paid enough. After giving my authentication code online, I was...

"Are you sure about this?" "Yeah, it'll be fun."
....And what fun it is.

*Spoilers Ahead*

Marvel's "The Avengers" is an expertly-crafted movie that makes 2 1/2 hours fly by like....well....I don't really know...SOMETHING FAST. My thoughts on seeing this movie--the first time (yes, you WILL go to see this more than once)--were: "This was just as good as 'The Dark Knight'....how is THAT even possible?" Well...consider first that Marvel has always had the best storylines, and the know-how to mix all of their characters' comic books together into one, all-encompassing storyline. Then, consider they decided to apply said formula to their movies. Third, they went out and expertly casted the parts.

How could this NOT be good?

Who else but Robert Downey, Jr could be a multi-billionaire, techno-wizard, armor-wearing snark-artist? Acts like he doesn't care, but is willing to sacrifice his life to save New York.

Chris Evans is Captain America. A 1940s guy living in the present...

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Possum's Tail: Yoga Exercise Story

Great yoga routine for children
I've purchased the Storyland Yoga and Yoga Phonics DVDs for my children, and this one is the best in my opinion. It follows the story of a possum who has no tail and goes in search of her balance. My children really enjoy the story and they benefit from the instruction of an adult while watching children do the routine. I also like the "adventure skills" included in the disc that help to teach the children how to be resourceful and be good problem solvers. I'm looking forward to buying more discs in this series.

School Library Journal Review, December 2011
School Library Journal Review, December 2011: 'ASIN: B004EJTGQW
Scooter & Me: Possum's Tail - Kids Yoga DVD for Balance and Concentration.
27 min. Produced by Move with Me(tm) Action Adventures.
2010- 2011 release. PreSchool-Gr 2.

In this yoga program that helps develop balance, instructor Wendy Phillips Piret,'guides a class of eight ethnically diverse boys and girls through a story in'which they are involved in actively moving through the adventures. After a'brief stretch routine that includes "Head, shoulders, knees, and tails,"'Piret takes the children down south to the Louisiana Swampland where they'meet a little possum with no tail who must learn to balance as she climbs'trees, crosses rivers, and avoids alligators. Children become birds catching'fish, cypress trees balancing, a boy riding a scooter, and a possum'cavorting through the woods as they move through a series of yoga poses.'Along the way they learn to employ two "adventure skills." The first...

A teacher's dream
Move-with-Me's adventure DVDs are a great tool for the classroom! The simple poses, combined with the imagination and adventure as told through the story - a great resource for indoor recess, physical education, or those days when the kids need a little something extra to kick start their brains. Highly recommended!

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Delicacy

A French Charmer About Finding Love When You Least Expect It
The infectious Audrey Tautou takes center stage in this charming French confection about love in its various configurations. Ever since "Amelie," I've been enchanted with Tautou. She is so likable and natural with an intriguing ease on screen. It's almost impossible not to relate to her in some manner, and I think this appeal can sometimes overshadow her talent. And she is a true talent, she just makes it look simple. She goes through a strong character arc in "Delicacy" and is absolutely terrific. From contentment, to loss and withdrawal, to romantic rebirth--Tautou experiences much in this film filled with both melancholy and hope. Billed as a whimsical romantic comedy, I wouldn't discount this movie as merely frothy entertainment (although it surely is). There is a truth and poignancy at the heart of "Delicacy" that really resonates. This isn't pure fantasy. There are real life situations, genuine heart, and a surprising depth beneath the sweet exterior. And I, for one,...

Love souffle
"I could go on holiday in your hair," moons a love struck Swede named Markus (Francois Damiens) to his co-worker, a beautiful French widow named Nathalie. If that sounds like an inappropriate comment to make at the office (to your boss, no less), you're right. Then again, it's not every day that your boss (bearing a remarkable likeness to Audrey Tautou) calls you into her office, springs from her chair without warning, plants a lingering, passionate smooch, then goes back to her desk as if nothing just happened. It's an anomaly that a slovenly nebbish like Markus is going to require a few days to process.

Whether or not you believe that a beautiful young widow who bears a remarkable likeness to Audrey Tautou would even consider throwing herself at a slovenly nebbish who bears a remarkable likeness to a French Chris Elliot is probably a good litmus test for whether or not you will be willing to sit through a romantic dramedy called "Delicacy", directed by siblings David and...

A funny, sad, lovely film by Audrey Tautou.
This film has so many facets- it is not your average rom com or your average Audrey Tautou film. This movie is uplifting, sad, happy, witty, brilliant, awkward, and lovely. A few scenes will require a tissue box handy, such as when Tautou's character goes dancing at a club with her friend (I know it sounds odd). This movie brings you down to the level of a grief-stricken person and takes you along her journey to recovery, to laughter, and to love. Enjoy.

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Eating Raoul (Criterion Collection)

"Tasty Comedy of Bad Manners" Gets a Mediocre DVD Treatment
The 1982 low-budget outré comedy EATING RAOUL from writer/director Paul Bartel, who also stars, is an outrageously funny satire that needles such diverse elements of American culture as the concept of The American Dream, high-society status symbols, overzealous capitalism, racial stereotyping, and sexually deviant subgroups.

Paul and Mary Bland (Bartel and Mary Woronov) are a conservative, happily married middle-class couple who share an interest in fine wine, good food, and sexual repression. They also share entrepreneurial dreams of opening their own restaurant for epicures. Unfortunately, the Blands are flat broke. Paul is an unemployed wine connoisseur, and Mary only makes a pittance working as a Nurse's Aide. To make matters worse, the building they want to purchase for their restaurant has also caught the eye of another buyer, so if Paul and Mary don't raise the $20,000 down quickly, they'll watch their hopes and dreams turn to dust.

Things actually take a turn for...

Great movie, horrible DVD
Talk about cult classics! Paul Bartel's darkly hilarious "Eating Raoul" was the first cult film I ever saw, way back in the early 1980s when the miracle that is cable television arrived at the house. I sat in openmouthed wonder as the movie unfolded, barely believing my eyes were seeing the twisted hijinks floating by onscreen. It's largely due to "Eating Raoul" that I became a Mary Woronov fan, and I also learned to appreciate as well as seek out any films made by Paul Bartel. He's an interesting guy, a man that looks like one of your balding uncles or an out of shape next-door neighbor, but he has a warped sense of humor that fits in well with 1970s low budget cinema. Audiences probably know Bartel, if they know him at all, for several films he made for Roger Corman in the 1970s: "Death Race 2000" and "Cannonball." These two films couldn't be more different in subject matter and tone than "Eating Raoul." The two Corman films deal with car races, crashes, and bloody violence. "Eating...

AVOID: Bad Transfer
This long awaited DVD is an incredible disappointment. The major problem that makes this unwatchable is that somehow this movie has been stretched horizontally to fit a widescreen TV. The result makes everything look distorted. I don't know what the original aspect ratio was but this presentation is an abomination. I tried running it on my computer software to manually adjust the picture dimensions. The film does appear to be wider than the standard screen size but not the ratio as presented on this DVD.

And to top it off the print appears to be something of the VHS quality (i.e. poor) with color and resolution deficiences. There appears to be a gash in the screen as if the video was shot from a movie screen with a tear in the top middle. The sound appears to have been mono that someone has doctored up by added fake stereo and reverb, then steering the dialog from side to side. Warning: Listening to this may cause sea sickness.

Sony should be sued for selling this junk. I...

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Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (Unrated) [HD]

Blu-ray Review: "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us"
Classic Universal Horror films are being honored this October. What better way to do that than to add a new movie to the franchise? "Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" is Universal's newest attempt at giving the tragic hairy monster another chance to shine after the disappointing reaction to "The Wolfman." Don't let the direct-to-DVD tag fool you. This is an entertaining and intriguing addition to the genre of werewolf movies.

I still don't know what there was to be disappointed in with "The Wolfman." It was the perfect blend of two of my favorite horror brands: the gory gothic world of Hammer and the classic Universal look of the monster made famous by Jack Pierce in the 1940s. I am one of the few people who actually loved the film and felt it was a great homage to the classic monster movies of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

"Werewolf: The Beast Among Us" tells the story of a young man (Guy Wilson) in the 19th century named Daniel. His village is being attacked by a...

BORN TO KILL
A group of werewolf bounty hunters, led by a man whose parents were killed by a werewolf in the first scene, come to the aid of an Eastern European town plagued by a super werewolf. In the village lives young Daniel (Guy Wilson) a doctor's apprentice who has studied the werewolf. He joins up with the team of experts to hunt the werewolf.

People who are bit by a werewolf and survive are called "wurdaleks," a zombie looking creature. To make the story interesting Nia Peeples is one of the hunters and Daniel has a love interest in Eva (Rachel DiPillo). Like all good werewolf movies, it has a gypsy.

The special effects are not the greatest, but get a passing grade. The smart storyline is the biggest attraction. The characters could have been better developed with better lines to make the film more interesting. Considering what has come out as late in the horror genre, this one is above the pack.

Parental guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. I watched the...

Werewolf has its moments, but bad werewolf effects and generic storyline hold it back....
I decided to blindly stream this on Netflix (available as of 10/13/12) and enjoyed it a bit. A young doctor decides to join a group of hunters to stop a menacing creature that has been terrorizing his village. It has some decent moments, including scares and thrills, but doesn't live up to it's potential.

The story is fairly simple, as I previously summarized. So, it's easy to follow which can be seen as a plus. But, the characters were very generic and have been seen a dozen times in other films; the mysterious yet cool hunter, the smooth yet annoying hunter, the strong yet attractive female hunter, etc. The dialogue is also littered with one liners, I did laugh at the story of the horse with wheels for legs, though. Also, I heard several different English accents, which didn't really make sense to me. The gore and action effects were actually really good. But, the werewolves felt out of place and the transformations were a little lackluster and disappointing. Also, it's...

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Route 666 [HD]

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS - 3RD TIME AROUND!
Just as entertaining as the 2nd time - still great when "pop" comes across to save his son.

Enjoyed the humor - and the acted characters.

Bought it because of Lou Diamond Philips as I enjoy his acting.

Will watch again [in time] - must be enjoyed for what it is and not for what you expect.

Some gross blood letting but in keeping with the story.

Just a little harry-scarry but beautiful color scenery [if you like the desert]

Definitely recommend for easy enjoyment -- not for children.

Very Enjoyable
Route 666 is a very enjoyable captivating film. It has a good cast, decent story, and an interesting style. Agents Lou Dimond Philips and Lori Petty have to go and track down a federal witnesss who is on the run ( Steven Williams). Then they must get him to court on time to testify. To do this they and four other agents decide to take a supposedly haunted route 666, were a chain gang accident had happend. Through the movie we find out more about it through cool, but bizarre flash backs. Philips is entertaining in his lead role. As is Petty and Williams who are both enjoyable and very funny. It's a very underrated flick that is worth having in your collecton for a rainy day. A must buy.

KEEP OFF THE ROAD
SEE:

*Lou Diamond Phillips drink peyote tea with a bald shaman

*See Steven Williams do his Joe Pesci Lethal Weapon impersonation AND pee three times

*See Dale Midkiff the Human Ham in a terrifically campy performace

*See zombies from the chain gang swing their pick and jam their jackhammer

*See Steven Williams smash a nasty scorpion

*See L. Q. Jones play the crooked sheriff for the 100th time

*See Lou's Dad help his son out when he needs him most

Actually, I have tongue in cheek, but ROUTE 666 is a pretty enjoyable, if sometimes ludicrous, horror thriller. The actors for the most part are sincere, and the muddled pacing doesn't destroy the movie. The jerky camera movements get a little old, however. Not a turkey, but maybe a little pheasant?

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Hellraiser VII: Deader [HD]

This re-release is in fullscreen, 1.33:1 & devoid of extras...
...but the bargain price was right up my alley to see these later Hellraiser films for the 1st time. I only owned the 1st 3 on DVD and saw Hellraiser IV: Bloodline back in the 90's, a title I was initially disappointed with back then but have more appreciation for now despite being not as good as the classic earlier films.

The fullscreen presentation right off the bat cuts off the beginning credits as all the names of the stars & crew get cut off at the sides, such as star of the film "Kari Wu"! She's not even Asian. The sound quality is a bit lacking also as some dialogue is hard to understand versus the music, and there are NO subtitles or closed captioning. No anything on the menu screen except "Play" and "Scene selection".

The previous release of Deader on DVD according to Amazon's page is 1.85:1 widescreen, but I don't own that disc but those out there may want that version if bothered by the boxiness of this newer disc.

not your normal hook and chain
We've all gotten use to the cult classic masterpiece that we know as Hellraiser. Our beloved Pinhead, the beautiful and mysterious puzzle box that gets the ball rolling, and Kirstie Cotton's character going head to head with one of our favorite movie monsters. This story takes a slightly different angle, as does "Inferno" and "Hellseeker" even though one of our favorite heroins reprises her role from the first two films in "Hellseeker". It does get confusing at times but if you pay attention and stick with it, its worth it. The story takes on the journey of others who have the misfortune of crossing paths with the beautiful and mysterious puzzle box that unleashes utter chaos on those who are stupid enough to open it cause it's pretty. The story was interesting and well played and the actors were very good. It pleases me to say how much I enjoyed this movie. It's not our traditional Hellraiser tale but it kinda puts Pinhead's role more in perspective and reveals a little more to...

Hellraiser: Deader
I think if Hollywood were to take anything away from the Hellraiser franchise it would be this: quit being such cheap bstrds out to save a little cash and spring for an original friggin' script! HELLRAISER 7, aka HELLRAISER: Deader (2005) is just yet another in a long line (the third so far) of Hellraiser movies that began life as entirely separate entities. Neither HELLRAISER: Inferno, HELLRAISER: Hellseeker nor HELLRAISER: Deader were written as Hellraiser movies, but Dimension films decided they wanted to make more Hellraiser movies and, to not have to pay for a new, original script, they took some old unproduced scripts off the shelf, did some re-writes to include the Lament Configuration and the Cenobites, and they made their movie. And with each one, they just drive the franchise further and further into the ground. Gone is the once-great mythology, gone is the feeling of menace the Cenobites once inspired, and definitely gone is any of the heart Clive Barker put into his...

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