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9/30/2011
Peter and the Wolf (1996) Review
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(More customer reviews)As a musician I mourn the loss of music as an auditory art. But the fact remains that music videos have changed the way we listen to and learn music, so we must work with it. This video is a wonderful way to introduce children to classical music and the orchestra without them thinking that it's boring, or not worthy of their time.
Kirstie Alley plays the mother of a 12-ish boy who travels back to the home where she grew up to visit her father (Lloyd Bridges). The boy has never met his grandfather. They spend some time visiting and the topic turns to "The Story". The story is, of course, "Peter and the Wolf". Kirstie Alley narrates the story, dramatized by animation done by Chuck Jones (Bugs Bunny). The animation is wonderful, the characters are endearing and funny (with Kirstie Alley doing excellent voice-overs for the hysterically dizzy duck and the cat). The part when the duck is eaten by the wolf is handled very subtley, and, unlike the original story, has a happy ending for the duck, making it appropriate for very young kids. I teach K-8 and have shown it to all grades, who have enjoyed it. I personally have seen it about 30 times, and it remains fresh and entertaining. A nice feature for music teachers is that the animated storyline is 30 minutes long, allowing you to show just that portion of the video within a class period. I highly recommend this video for parents and teachers alike who want to introduce children to classical music. They'll be learning without them even knowing it!
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PETER AND THE WOLF - DVD Movie
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Running Scared (1986) Review
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(More customer reviews)Before the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series, there was Running Scared. Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal turn in a wisecracking performance right up there with Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Bruce Willis. Two of Chicago's top plain clothes detectives, Ray Hughes (Hines) and Danny Costanzo (Crystal) have been duking it out with the bad guys for a long time. Their latest nemesis is Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits, excellent in his movie debut), a drug dealer looking to become Chicago's "next Al Capone". As they pursue Julio, a situation gets out of hand and our boys have to be rescued by a couple of undercover cops, convincing their Captain that Hughes and Costanzo need a break. Next things you know, they're in a bar in Key West, trying to break out of their funk. As they walk out to the beach, there is a crowd of people staring out into the ocean. Danny asks a beautiful woman: "What's going on - did a ship sink or something?" "No.." she replies, "We're watching the sun set." Danny gives her an incredulous look : "The sun sets every day!" She smiles: "Yes - and we come down to watch it every day." Looking back at the ocean, he retorts: "Well, this had better be good!" As they skate, fish and sunbathe the days away (not to mention enjoying the company of a variety of gorgeous bikini-clad babes), they start to enjoy themselves and end up buying a bar ("We'll have wet T-Shirt nights for women over 60!") in preparation of retiring when they return to Chicago. (After seeing these scenes, I just had to visit Key West and have been going back each year ever since!) Relaxed and ready to retire to the good life, they return to Chicago and give their 30 days notice. Upon learning that Julio is continuing his rampage, they vow to put him away before they retire. Many chases (including one on the "el" with a priest and nun as suspect drug couriers), gunfights and general mayhem ensues, leading to the final showdown in the capitol building against incredible odds (after all, what fun is it if the heroes aren't massively overmatched?). I think this is one of the big underrated movies in that it's got lots of action and laughs from this wise-cracking duo. I'm thrilled that this is coming out on DVD as I've worn out two VHS tapes of this flick. If you liked Lethal Weapon and Die Hard, then buy this DVD. You'll enjoy it again and again!
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Dynamite screen team( CBS Morning News ) Gregory Hines (The Cotton Club, White Nights) and Billy Crystal (City Slickers) star in the motion picture that asks the question,How come the bad guys always drive the good cars?The answer has them Running Scared in this lightning-paced comic thriller. Ray and Danny are the wild men of the Windy City's police force. The pair's unorthodox methods get results in a tough townuntil they come up against Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits,NYPD Blue ), a smooth-talking drug dealer who is bucking to become Chicago's first Spanish Godfather. Trying to nail Gonzales, they blow a delicate undercover operation and are sent on a forced vacation to Key Westwhere they discover the good life of warm weather and warmer women. The new locale makes them decide to retire but not before putting Gonzales behind bars first!
Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story (2007) Review
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(More customer reviews)This documentary on the Stax soul powerhouse is very well done. Fine mix of rare performance clips and interviews that puts the story in full perspective. Those who have seen the documentary on PBS may be disappointed in the small number of extra features (just a rehearsal cut of the surviving MGs, William Bell, and Isaac Hayes done earlier this year), but that's okay, as the documenary itself does such a brilliant job.
The scenes where Stax was temporarily ruined by gangsters is an eerie foretelling of the Suge Knight/Death Row saga involving rap music in recent times. At least Stax and Motown never had shootouts with each other in spite of their rivalry (the Motown musician's snobbish comments about Stax and Otis Redding in particular will shock and anger many fans today).
Miraculously, the documentary ends on a high note in spite of the thuggery, mismanagement, and failure to read the fine print that doomed the label for a number of years. The scene of Booker T. and the MG's perfoming "Time is Tight" (trust me, you'll know this if you hear it) as the label's fortunes crumble is a masterpiece of editing.
On the whole, this documentary is as entertaining and inspiring as it is informative. However, their rivals in Detroit (Berry Gordy and co.) need to get with it and put some of their stuff on DVD as Stax is doing such an excellent job with this, the Otis Redding documentary, and the 1967 Live Stax-Volt Tour DVD.
Support these so that more classic soul can at long last be available on non-bootleg DVD in America.
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Funky. Emotional. Raw. Powerful. That was soul music in theCivil Rights era; and Stax Records did it like no other.Stax quicklybecame a hit-making machine, producing a massive catalog of Top 100 recordsthat defined the "Memphis Sound;" such as "Soul Man," "(Sittin On) TheDock Of The Bay," "Green Onions," "Midnight Hour," "I'll Take You There,""Respect Yourself," "Theme from Shaft" and many more.Stax alsolaunched the careers of a who's-who of soul music greats: Otis Redding,Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, Carla and RufusThomas, Albert King and Booker T. and the MGs, to name just a few. Now, with the release of this exciting new DVD, Grammy-nominated filmakersRobert Gordon and Morgan Neville ("Muddy Waters Can't Be Satisfied")present the first comprehensive look at Stax, the greatest soul label ofall time.
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Creation (2009) Review
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(More customer reviews)I have a standing rule not to pay more than $23 for any Blu-ray movie (no need to encourage Hollywood marketeers). That said, I broke that rule for this movie after hearing an interview with the writer and producer on NPR (National Public Radio) then discovered that this disc was worth every penny. One thing you will come away with is the fact that there were many similarities between life in 1859 and today. For example, people of both times were split between theism, deism, and atheism. (Contrary to popular belief, Darwin was somewhere between deist and theist). So does "Darwin's Theory do away with God" as Huxley said, or does it "replace the Genesis story with something more pragmatic"? I prefer to believe that later but you should make up your own mind.
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From director Jon Amiel ("The Singing Detective," ENTRAPMENT) and writer John Collee (MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD) comes CREATION. A psychological, heart-wrenching love story starring Paul Bettany (A BEAUTIFUL MIND, MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD) as Charles Darwin, the film is based on 'Annie's Box," a biography penned by Darwin's great-great-grandson Randal Keynes using personal letters and diaries of the Darwin family. We take a unique and inside look at Darwin, his family and his love for his deeply religious wife, played by Jennifer Connelly (A BEAUTIFUL MIND, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM), as, torn between faith and science, Darwin struggles to finish his legendary book 'On the Origin of Species," which goes on to become the foundation for evolutionary biology. The film co-stars Toby Jones (FROST/NIXON, INFAMOUS) and Jeremy Northam (GOSFORD PARK, AMISTAD), and was produced by Jeremy Thomas (THE LAST EMPEROR, SEXY BEAST) at Recorded Picture Company with BBC Films and Ocean Pictures.
9/29/2011
Peter Pan (Special Edition) (1953) Review
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(More customer reviews)I can't add anything to the praise for this film. If you love Disney films, this is considered one of the classics. I just wish to briefly comment on the criticism of the lack of a widescreen version. The first widescreen film, The King and I, was released in 1956. Previous to this all films were full screen. Peter Pan, released in 1953, and a good many of the Disney classics are only available in full screen aspect. This is not the Pan and Scan alteration of an original Widescreen format. The way this film is presented on the DVD is the original aspect ratio; Nothing has been altered. I have seen this so called criticism leveled against many Hollywood classics such as Casablanca, Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Please, get off your high horse and stop whinning about how Disney or whatever movie company is ripping you off. None of these films ever had a widescreen version to begin with. Do a little research and you could be content to enjoy these classics in the aspect ratio they were orginally presented in. Thats all I wish to say.
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Teach Me Tonight (1999) Review
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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for best screenplay candidates, thisprobably isn't it. If you are looking for hot, soft core sex withattractive actresses, this is probably more up your alley. Judy Thompson is gorgeous and seems more believable in her sex scenes than pretty much any other actress I've ever seen on Cinemax. Great sex, gorgeous actresses, a couple of great lesbian/threesome scenes, just enough plot to get from one sex scene to the next without dragging on or seeming forced.
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Item Name: Teach Me Tonight; Studio:Monarch Video
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Short Circuit 2 (1988) Review
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(More customer reviews)I just watched the DVD today, and I have to say it's EXCELLENT! The picture quality is EXCELLENT, and so is the sound. I'm really impressed with this DVD. Sure, it doesn't have many extras (just a few "bonus trailers" and very short featurette), but the quality of the DVD itself is astounding.
I'm glad I've finally been able to watch the movie again in widescreen. I've seen Short Circuit 2 recently on HBO (a few times), and I didn't notice that in the full screen version that I was missing so much going on in the movie.
If widescreen isn't your thing, you still have no worries. The DVD comes with the "full screen" version as well. The disc is a flipper, meaning one side is widescreen while the other is fullscreen, thus satisfying both crowds.
As for the movie itself, I love it. I've always loved this movie. I like it more than the first Short Circuit, and mainly because this one focuses more on "Number Five" (Johnny Five) than the first movie. It's funny at times, and there's even one part of the movie I get teary-eyed, no joke. I think this movie teaches many important things, such as building and strengthening friendships (through the interaction between Johnny Five and the other characters), and it shows how to break the boundaries and treat everyone as equals. It also shows you the delicacy of life.... (later in the movie--I won't SPOIL IT for you!).
I recommend this DVD for anyone that might need a good laugh here and there. There are a few "cuss words" in the movie, so I don't know if I would recommend this for children that are too young.... but I would hate for children to miss such a movie. I saw it when I was 8, and now I'm 21 and I still love it. That says a lot for a movie that's now "old."
If you decide to not buy it, then please at least rent it. I think you'll find it to be a charming movie that most people will get something out of.
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Item Name: Short Circuit 2; Studio:Sony Pictures
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Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) Review
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(More customer reviews)This is a made-for-TV movie which has now been released by Sony Pictures on DVD in 2010. It won multiple awards as a TV performance. Joan Allen BECOMES Georgia O'Keefe, the way George Scott became General Patton--I think now I will always see her as Georgia O'Keefe. Jeremy Irons gives a great performance (as usual) as her much older husband, Alfred Stieglitz. I have always admired Georgia O'Keefe but did not know details of her life until I watched this documentary. It's a great look at her development as an artist, her personality, and her marriage. Stieglitz was a pioneer of American photography, and his last great photographs seem to be his series of photographs of O'Keefe.
The film is 1.5 hours long. Subtitles are available in multiple languages and also (unusual for a TV-to-DVD production) there are previews of other films (most of them not so well-matched to this documentary) and a short "making of" special feature. The film is not rated but if it were, it would probably rate a PG-13 for occasional partially-nude scenes.
The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is high-quality, the dialog is good and of course, the paintings are beautiful: I just wish there had been even more examples of her art in the movie. If you're interested in Georgia O'Keefe in the slightest, you will enjoy this film. I recommend it.
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Star-studded movie about the famous artist. Celebrated photographer and art impresario Alfred Steiglitz (Jeremy Irons) is shocked to learn that the extraordinary drawings he has recently discovered were rendered by a woman. Deciding to display the work of then-unknown artist Georgia O'Keeffe (Joan Allen) in his gallery without her knowledge, the fiercely private artist orders him to remove the collection. Once Alfred convinces her to allow him to become her benefactor and to champion her artistry, their relationship evolves as they fall deeply in love. Alfred leaves his wife for Georgia, but soon finds her rising star is poised to eclipse his light. As their relationship suffers, Alfred finds twisted ways to emotionally wound her, including taking a younger lover. Georgia's search for solace moves her west, where she finds new inspiration for her paintings – and ultimately her own voice – in the New Mexico landscape.
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40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) Review
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(More customer reviews)I've found the greater amount of movies disappoint me, but Josh Hartnett has proven himself to be one of the rare actors of Hollywood, who takes risks and can laugh at himself. This movie was upbeat, snappy writing, although not as hyperactive as "The Gilmore Girls" and moved at a great pace, not too slow, not too fast. I laughed out loud often, along with the rest of the audience.
The theme exposes how young, hip, single men look at thier own sexual needs as opposed to how we woman view sex. A handsome hunk who apparently has no problems attracting woman, Josh's character is carrying around self-imposed sexual performance baggage after being dumped by a longtime girlfriend. His humorous, Catholic roots influence his choice to vow to 40 days of total sexual abstinance for Lent, in an attempt to once again attain control over his "issues".
I thought Hartnett and his co-stars did a terrific job of portraying the real but laughable status of men's basic sexual
needs/desires. This plot plays on the recent study that revealed how men think about sex every few moments. Yes, LOTS of guys watch porn, read Playboy and gratify themselves. This is no secret, and certainly easier to hear mention of than the perversions portrayed in so many other movies.
Unknown to him at first, Hartnett's co-workers and friends take the abstinance ball and run with it as a sub plot, while we watch Josh start to suffer. Throw in a tempting and available new love interest to test his will and the sexual tension heats up.
I found this movie far less offensive than most of the regularly available crud on prime time TV and more tame than you might expect, in terms of sexuality, language etc. Each character was developed enough to make the viewer believe them.
I suppose you could call this a guy movie, but any of us women who have lived with a man, will recognize the dilemma and actions of the main character and his cohorts.
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An outrageously sexy comedy starring Josh Hartnett (PEARL HARBOR, BLACK HAWK DOWN) and Shannyn Sossamon (A KNIGHT'S TALE), 40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS is another hilarious hit from the producers of NOTTING HILL and BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY. On the heels of a disastrous breakup and a string of unfulfilling romantic conquests, Matt Sullivan (Hartnett) yearns to become a better, more complete person. In the midst of his despair, he chooses to test himself by making a vow of no sex whatsoever for 40 days and 40 nights! With everyone betting he won't finish ... and a seductive new girl in his life (Sossamon) ... it's all Matt can do to just hold on! Fun, fresh, and wildly entertaining -- you'll agree with critics everywhere who found this sexy comedy adventure totally irresistible!
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9/28/2011
Alice in Wonderland (2007) Review
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(More customer reviews)Bravo to Subversive Cinema for finally bringing this gem to DVD. And to Amazon for making it widely available. This DVD contains both the X-rated and the XXX version of this infectiously happy little porno. A true classic from the Golden Age of porn.
This Alice is for adults only. The story is straight out of Lewis Carroll. Except that Alice is older. She's a small town librarian. A 20-year-old virgin and a prude. But Alice is the hottest prude you'll ever meet. Kristine DeBell was the Playmate and Playboy Centerfold for June 1976. She is the cutest little hottie, with her tiny upturned nose, petite body, all natural assets, and neatly trimmed bush (this was the 70s).
After a tiff with her horny boyfriend, prudish Alice learns all about sex in her daytrip to Wonderland. Her guides are Lewis Carrol's famous cast of characters. With a twist.
The Mad Hatter is a flasher with a 9-inch schlong. Humpty Dumpty falls off his wall and needs Alice to "blow" him up again. The White Rabbit is a perv who likes spying on Alice as she plays with herself. Tweedledum and Tweedledee are incestuous twins who can't get enough of each other. They show Alice how to get it on. The King's knights are Gay. The King is a Bongo playing African who speaks in painfully tortured rhyme (70s rap?). The Queen is a leather clad Dominatrix who takes a liking to Alice. And enjoys having her eat at her box. Alice is finally deflowered by the Texaco pump attendant (her boyfriend). It is a total laugh riot.
It may be porn but it's not like any porn you've ever seen. With fully choreographed song and dance numbers. Broadway Style and performed with gusto. A constant stream of witty one-liners. And naked flesh galore. Don't know if Kristine does her own singing but she sounds great. Just imagine, a singing, dancing Playboy Bunny. What more could you ask for. If you want sleaze, this is not for you. It is not nasty sex. It is just pure fun. Innocent fun. Even with the hardcore footage restored it remains sweet and innocent. And the cornball jokes never stop coming. Sample:
Alice eyeing the Mad Hatter's shrivelled dick with horror: "Oh my goodness... Are you alright? ... I thought I'd broken it."
Scrug to a wet Alice: "We don't have any towels. We had one once but a hotel stole it away."
Alice, as the Muggie licks her all over: "It feels good... If it feels good, there's a good chance it must be bad."
Humpty Dumpty falls and breaks his balls and everyone sings: "He can't get his ding-a-ling up." (Song)
Queen to Alice: "I don't want to cut off your head, I want you to give me some head."
Alice to girl impaled on Knight: 'What's a girl like you doing on a Knight like this?" (Song)
King to Gay Knight on Horseback: "Stay on the Nag, Fag."
King to Alice: "May My Rod and My Staff Comfort thee."
This Limited Storybook Edition DVD (30th Anniv.) contains the 72min X-Rated Theatrical cut (softcore) and the complete 81min XXX original (hardcore). It also comes with a 37min documentary featuring interviews with Adult Film practorian, Bill Margold, Porn Star and Feminist Critic, Lena Ramone and Larry Gelman who played the White Rabbit. Sadly Kristine DeBell was not involved. The films are presented in their original 1.85:1 widescreen (enhanced for widescreen TV). The X-rated version (softcore) has been fully restored and is as near perfect as you'll probably ever get to see Alice. The XXX version (hardcore) varies in quality depending on the state of each restored hardcore element. Multiple defects still remain. But it's more than acceptable. Sound is in the original Mono. Worth the price? Absolutely. Alice is delightful. It's light and breezy. It's full of fun. It'll leave you happy and smiling. It'll have you humming along with its silly tunes. They just don't make shows like these any more. And Kristine DeBell never looked more adorable than here.
Note: No other Extras are included. The originally proposed soundtrack audio-CD has been axed. The Limited Storybook Edition which I bought from Amazon doesn't have any storybook. Just the single DVD.
PS. Kristine does indeed do all her own hardcore scenes. All except the final deflowering. The defloration closeup uses a body-double. Apparently Kristine did sing all Alice's songs as well. An amazingly multi-talented girl.
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One Special Night (1999) Review
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(More customer reviews)Julie Andrews and James Gardner are at their very best in this charming holiday tale of two lonely people finding their way to each other after the loss of their respective spouses to Alzheimer's and heart disease. Julie plays a fiesty surgeon who values her independence. James plays a construction foreman with a few old-fashioned notions about what women can/can't do, and the clash is inevitable! It's hilarious, sweet, and funny all at the same time. You'll LOVE watching this video and will surely want to add it to your personal collection. It's a classic for Julie Andrews fans!
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Reunited for the first time since "Victor/Victoria," Academy Award winner Julie Andrews and Emmy Award winner James Garner portray two strangers who take refuge in a small cabin during a stormy winter night and, despite their differences, or because of them, they are undeniably drawn to one another in this holiday classic that demonstrates once again the charisma that has made them two of the world's most beloved stars.
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Cat in the Hat: Tales About Tails Review
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(More customer reviews)Since "The Cat in the Hat" first appeared on PBS, my boys have been hooked. It is such a simple show but has fun characters, colors, and rhyming. This DVD is just about an hour long and contains five episodes. I love that know we can watch "The Cat in the Hat" anytime or bring the DVD in the car with us, as before we had to wait for it to be on PBS. Since it is a PBS show, it is very appropriate for young kids and my 2 and 4 year old love the different episodes. It is a show about two kids, one boy and one girl, who are best friends and go on crazy adventures with the Cat in the Hat to discover new things and answer simple questions.
Episodes:
* A Sticky Situation
* Trees Company
* Rain Game
* You Should Be Dancing
* A Tale About Tails
Mom and More Disclosure: I was sent this DVD to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
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RV (Widescreen Edition) (2006) Review
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(More customer reviews)Okay, I actually loved this movie...I thought it was funny and entertaining and just what I needed to see, something pointless and yet does the trick perfectly. You can always rely of Robin Williams for that. No, it's not the smartest comedy but it's not like we thought we were walking into 'Fargo' people, we were walking into a family vacation comedy that's full of slapstick laughs and gross humor, and that should be what you expected. Robin Williams plays Bob, a man whose a slave to his job, a job he's afraid he may lose. He's so afraid that he actually cancels his family's vacation to Hawaii and takes them on an RV trip to Colorado with hopes to sneak off to a meeting with his germaphobe boss in order to keep his job. Along the way (of course keeping his true intentions secret) he tries to recreate the bond he once had with his family. This of course starts of shakey since neither his wife (Cheryl Hines) nor his children, teenage daughter Cassie (JoJo) whose going through her rebelous "i hate mommy and daddy" stage and his young son Carl (Josh Hutcherson) whose insecure about his small size, are supportive. But after all the problems with sewage, weird hillbilly RV neighbors the Gornicke family (led by Jeff Daniels and Kristin Chenoweth) and some pesky racoons their is a family bonding moment that is shattered by a bowel problem (sort-of) a sinking RV and the exposure of Bob's secret meeting. In the end, RV may be predictable family fun, but the point still remains that it's family fun, and that's gotta amount to something.
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RV - DVD Movie
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Tarzan, The Ape Man (2010) Review
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(More customer reviews)If you grew up in the early 80s, it was hard to ignore Bo Derek. She was everywhere. On talk shows, posters and magazines - and mostly unclothed. These two films represent her true arrival on the scene. She had made a minor splash as the gal who gets her leg bit off by "Orca," but who can rememeber a pretty woman in the wake of a Killer Whale rampage? But who can forget Bo bouncing on the beach with her hair in beads? "10" was one of those films that you conspired to sneak into at the multiplex. And it was the reason some of us put up with irritating guys so we could get a second shot of seeing it on HBO (or was it Showtime?). Bo was hot and the rest of the movie was there for the old people.
Tarzan, The Ape Man was Bo's attempt to turn her star power into cinematic gold. She wasn't merely going to be an actress, she would produce "Tarzan, The Ape Man" along with her husband John directing. And it's not that bad of a Tarzan film - with the great John Phillip Law (Danger Diabolik) and Richard Harris along with Miles O'Keeffe as the Ape Man. And in order to keep people sitting in the theater until the last frame of the film runs through the projector, Bo remains topless for the end credits - don't cut this DVD off early.
The only other DVD that you need to truly lust for Bo's glory days is "Bolero."
I wouldn't recommend these films to someone who doesn't have a lust for Bo. But the price of this double feature is just right for me to put it on my guilty pleasure shelf - and I do have one.
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9/27/2011
L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment) (2003) Review
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(More customer reviews)In the tradition of many French films, L'Auberge Espagnole is a warm,well written, coming of age and semi autobiographical movie that is guaranteed to stay with you long after you watch it.Cedric Klapish does a wonderful job in telling a story that at first look does not seem to say much, but hides many realizations, which the viewer will subtley unravel one by one. The plot seems simple enough: Xavier a young French student (played wonderfully by Roman Duris)is preparing his future life and career in the EU commision thanks to his father's connections, provided that he acquires a masters degrees in Spanish economics. He goes to Barcelona,leaving his girlfriend behind (Amelie's Audrey Tatou),and after staying with a French couple he meets at the airport, he finally gets a room in a flat he shares with others European students,from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and England.He is estatic about his new lodgings and the good vibes he gets from it, little does he know that his life is about to change forever from that moment on.
His plans for a secure career, and his mundane and sheltered life comes gradually under attack from his experiences with his roommates in a foreign city he comes to love: An affair with the wife of a French doctor (the excellent Judith Godreche)the same couple he stayed with on his arrival,his lesson of seduction by a lesbian (the gorgeous Cecile de France),who becomes his best friend, a friendship first sealed by their common love of the music of Ali Fakre Toure (I thought what an original way to seal a friendship!),and the love of life in all its colours he soon discovers.
The core of the film is not about some Europeans getting together in the spirit of a new Europe, with all their cultural differences and habits, it is rather about a young man who finally discovers who he really is and what he wants from life! Barcelona could be London or Paris or anywhere else for that matter, and the students could have been from any nationality, it does not matter as much as the fact that it is about a journey of self discovery and change, this is what makes the film a masterpiece.
I first thought that there were too many characters in the film which could have easily done without, especially that some students, like the Italian, German and Danish characters are more than extras and not quite developped, but by the end of the film, you do understand why Klapish wrote them all.
Apart from Duris's charater, I thought the English characters were well written and provide most of the humour in the film (brilliantly played by Kelly Reilly and Kevin Bishop).It is always interesting to see how the English are seen and portrayed in French films, and vice versa-The love/hate relationship of the two countries is legendary ever since William the Conqueror woke up one morning and decided to have Fish'n'Chips for lunch-but Klapish,although falling slightly in the cliche of the heavily drunk who can't take his drink, he has a sympathetic eye for the 'neighbors across the channel'.
Klapish's aversion of bureaucracy is very well emphasized: the fast camera shots of the EU corridors, the endless forms he has to fill, the men in grey suits who think they can tell a joke, a world that Xavier realizes he does not belong to.
So L'Auberge Espagnole is a movie about friendships, about self discovery and it is about rebirth, a film that should on no account be missed.
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Seven sexy co-eds. One Spanish apartment. No rules. A single year of learning turns into an outrageous adventure of a lifetime in this "fresh, captivating comedy" (Newsday) that has audiences and critics cheering around the world! Xavier (Romain Duris) is a straight-laced French college senior who moves to Barcelona as part of a exchange program, much to the dismay of his beautiful Martine (Audrey Tautou). But sharing cramped quarters with students from all over Europe quickly leads to multi-cultural chaos as Xavier gets a hilarious, eye-opening lesson on how to live, love, laugh?and party!
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A Far Off Place (1993) Review
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(More customer reviews)A Far Off Place is the sequel to the bestseller by Laurens Van der Post, 'A Story Like The Wind'. Hunters Drift is a farm in Matabeleland (today part of Zimbabwe)
It is the home of Pierre Paul Joubert known affectionately by all who live there as 'Ouwa', where European, Matabele and Bushmen live in harmony with each other , and with the great flora and fauna of Africa.
This is before the forces of destruction and death, Marxist terrorists, massacre the whole population of Hunter's Drift , as they carve a path of blood through Southern Africa.
The only survivors are Ouwa's teenage son, Francois, Nonnie, the young daughter of a colonial governor and his Portuguese wife, both murdered by the terrorists and Francois' beloved hunting dog, Hintza. They are joined by a young Bushman, Xhabbo, and his wife, Nuin Tarra.
The four young people and brave dog , must pass through bush and desert , to safety , while pursued by the cold-blooded killers.
'A Far Off Place' is a heartwarming story of love hope and courage, and of survival against overwhelming odds. It is about the fine balance between all living creatures.
Not least it highlights the death and suffering caused so many times by those forces of evil that hide behind the slogans of revolution and 'Liberation'.
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Walt Disney Pictures and Amblin Entertainment team up to deliver a thrilling story, action-packed adventure, and breathtaking scenery! Thrown together under incredible circumstances, two strangers must discover courage and strength when they begin a journey across the treacherous African desert! Equipped with only their wits and the expertise of a native bushman who befriends them, they are determined to triumph over impossible odds and reach their destination. But along the way, the trio face a primitive desert wilderness teeming with deadly obstacles, including wild animals, ruthless poachers, and severe weather conditions!
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