Nobody's Daughter - Rare Hungarian Film Review

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(More customer reviews)An orphaned girl of approximately 8 years of age, is horribly abused by various foster parents. With the first family, all the children are clothed but her, and while the other children play, she is made to do chores and if the other kids do something wrong, of course they blame it on her and she is beaten. Mind you, the movie will make you, as it did me, want to reach through the screen and choke the foster parents to death. They are at best Cruel to her until finally she runs away only to end up in an orphanage where yet again, abusive parents carry her to their home. The girl is totally sweet, one any loving family would want. One who truly is innocent, but being raised in households where she is constantly met with violence. The ending to the movie is even more heartbreaking, and of course I wont reveal the ending to you, you'll need to see the movie first. But its her words in the end that will solidly bring anyone with a heart to tears. I gave the movie 5 stars for one reason only, so that anyone who has a kind heart would want to watch the movie and be inspired to adopt a boy or girl themselves to keep the child from perhaps living the life this sad little girl lead in the movie.

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Western Lights Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent portrayal of a group of young French boys who travel by way of a small schooner along the general route believed taken by Christopher Columbus when he made his maiden voyage to the New World. The film features the boys as they work aboard the sailing vessel, explore, & generally have fun during their expedition.
This movie is well worth the money.

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Elina: As If I Wasn't There ( Elina - Som om jag inte fanns ) Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw this at a foreign film festival several years ago. It is a really fantastic movie. I have been trying to find it in region 1 with English subtitles ever since. Amazing movie about the power of childhood, strikingly beautiful scenery.

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Tiger Bay (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)I first saw this movie at Goose Bay AFB in Labrador on a cold winter's night at the base theatre. I had no idea what was being shown, nor had any of the other GI's who attended that evening. Near the end of the film there is a particularly exciting moment and the entire audience - well over a thousand guys! - gasped with astonishment! At the end there was applause and shouts of "Great movie!" Several of us followed the movie as it wound its way to the many theatres on the air base, and we took others who hadn't seen it who were also deeply moved by the story. Over the years, now on video tape and DVD (Hurrah!) this "little" movie never fails to deliver its huge emotional impact. Hayley Mills (pre-Disney) and Horst Buchholz (pre-Magnificent Seven) will break your heart and then restore it. A truly great motion picture, one once discovered is never forgotten! If you haven't seen it you are missing one of the all-time classic films!

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The Other Side of Sunday (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)The movie tells the story of a sixteen (?) year old girl, growing up in the cold environment of an orthodox, Norwegian church as the vicar's daughter. She is a very contemplative teenager, looking through the hypocrisy of the peolple that surround her. She strongly feels that the 'God' these people worship is a god that squeezes the life out of everyone who is trying to follow his heart. Her rebellion against this only grows by every question she poses against this rule-based Christianity that remains unanswered. It takes a lot of nerve and character strength to stand up against the prevailing morals in such a small community as she is living in, but at the end of the movie she has gathered enough courage to do so. By that time, this oppressing envinronment has cost the life of the only person in church she really could talk to. But saying more would be giving it all away. Though somewhat exagerating in black-and-white oppositions, this movie still tells a beautiful tale!

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Item Name: The Other Side of Sunday; Studio:Fox Lorber

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The Sixth Sense (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)Have you ever watched a scary movie in the dark, and almost swore you saw someone moving out of the corener of your eye? I have, and after seeing this movie it happened a lot more.
"The Sixth Sense" has great performances from Bruce Willis (who plays Malcolm, an emotionally wounded psychologist)and Haley Joel Osment (who plays Cole, a little boy with a remarkable gift:he sees dead people) The screenplay is wonderful.
"They don't know they're dead," laments Cole."They think they're alive.They see what they want to see." Malcolm is determined to help him. His marriage has been failing ever since an old case that showed almost the same symtoms shot him in the side and then killed himself.Malcolm is determined not to let that happen to Cole.
This is a remarkable movie with a Hitchcokian twist at the end.Watch it, and you'll be doing double takes next time you feel that strange presence behind your back.

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Hollywood superstar Bruce Willis (ARMAGEDDON, THE SIEGE) brings a powerful presence to an edge-of-your-seat thriller from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan (Oscar(R)-nominee for Best Original Screenplay and Best Director) that critics are calling one of the greatest ghost stories ever filmed. When Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Willis), a distinguished child psychologist, meets Cole Sear (Oscar(R)-nominee Haley Joel Osment, Best Supporting Actor), a frightened, confused, eight-year-old, Dr. Crowe is completely unprepared to face the truth of what haunts Cole. With a riveting intensity you'll find thoroughly chilling, the discovery of Cole's incredible sixth sense leads them to mysterious places with unforgettable consequences!

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David Copperfield (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)A sumptuous, wonderful adaptation; unexpectedly and disarmingly excellent.
I was a little hesitant going into this: having read the novel a couple of times and declared it my own, I had long fondly imagined the scenes and characters without any need for assistance, thank you very much.
Consequently, I felt the way many Tolkien fans must have felt before those three recent movies came out: leery that my coveted imaginings would be sullied by what might prove to be a jarrring and irreversible contamination.
These fears were misplaced, however. The full vitality of Dickens's bittersweet classic -- all the heaping joys and sorrows of life -- comes through quite powerfully in this handsome BBC version. After about 25 minutes I was literally on the edge of my seat.
Oh, and speaking of this version: they spent some money on it, you'll be happy to know. It's not one of those innumerable stuffy BBC dramas that take place (for budget considerations if nothing else) in an intolerable series of drawing rooms and antechambers. No, they did this one right: the blokes went outside and built some proper sets, and it shows.
Yes, though fully prepared to dislike it, I find myself here with little ammunition for complaint. I wish Traddles hadn't suffered deletion; he is one character I have difficulty picturing and could have used some help. Also, the actress who played Dora was not exactly my conception of her . . . but this is nitpicking.

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The classic David Copperfield was not just Charles Dickens' favorite work. It has been the most popular of his books since it was first published 150 years ago. Micawber, Peggotty, Betsey Trotwood, Uriah Heep, Mr. Creakle, Mrs. Crupp, and Mr. Dick... never were so many of Dickens' famous and vest-loved characters gathered together in just one of his works.They are all brought to life by a world-class cast including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Oscar-winner Maggie Smith (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Bob Hoskins (Hook), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Bullshot) and Pauline Quirke (The Elephant Man) in this sparkling adaptation.The most autobiographical of Dickens' work, David Copperfield often echoes the writer's own life. It tells a moving story of David's journey from birth to maturity, a journey which inextricably links his life with some of Dickens' most colorful and extraordinary families.Special DVD features include: Cast list; Masterpiece Theatre poster gallery; access to David Copperfield Web site featuring production notes, interviews with the cast and crew, a Dickens timeline, a guide to the featured characters, and more; scene selection; English audiotrack; and closed captions.One one DVD9 disc.Region coding: All regions.Audio: Dolby stereo.Screen format: Widescreen (Anamorphic)

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First Love and Other Pains (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)You don't need flashy direction and big budgets when you have interesting characters, tangible dilemmas, and troubled human relationships. Here is a good example. A quiet love story taking place in Hong Kong between Hugh, a 49 year old professor of English literature and his Chinese student, 19 year old Mark.
The two men are from very different worlds. Hugh is a neurotic character, sensing that his life is slipping away from him. He is writing a play about a long-lost love-affair, but can't get it published. This frustrates him no end, and he has problems concentrating on his job at the University.
Into his life enters Mark, a polite, intelligent Chinese boy, very Confucian, but he seems more sure of himself. He wants Hugh badly, but Hugh is keeping a distance. The key scene happens near the end, when a failed phone-call proves critical.
This film benefits from several viewings. The people grow on you, and what seems like stiff acting is actually restraint, modesty, a reluctance to let themselves go. The good manners of Chinese culture is very much in evidence in Mark and Hugh. Yet, this doesn't retract from the movie, it merely allows you to project you own emotions into the characters. Very Checkovian, you might say.
As for the gay content, expect nothing explicit. But other than that, this is very good indeed.
Note: The film lasts 50 minutes.

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Delighting gay festival-goers around the world, the two audience favorites FIRST LOVE AND OTHER PAINS and ONE OF THEM explore the phenomenon of first love - the discovery, the thrill, the fear, and the heartache. In FIRST LOVE AND OTHER PAINS, student Mark (Alex Wong Shing-yip) begins an English Literature course under British professor Hugh Graham (Edmund Strode). Mark is one of the few bright lights in Hugh's class and, in truth, his life. Depressed by his inability to get his play published in the UK, while also suffering creative burnout and a feeling of increasing irrelevance, Hugh seeks solace from the bottle - and young men he picks up in bars. Mark, who has lost both of his parents and lives with his aunt, follows Hugh one day and discovers that his teacher is also a playwright. The youth catches one of the two performances the play receives (the actors on-stage are Wes Wong and Oliver Williams from STANLEY BELOVED) and begins to seek Hugh out--visiting his office, inviting him out for drinks--until one of these meetings ends with the two sleeping together. From the co-directors of the camp hit Desperate Remedies comes ONE OF THEM. Set in the 1960s, two gay teens grappling with their mixed-up emotions and emerging sexuality strike up a friendship fortified by frank talk about fashion design and ogling cute boys, all to make the taunts and boredom of small-town life almost bearable.

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In Praise Of Older Women Review

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(More customer reviews)In this movie, a young Tom Berenger portrays a young man in Post-World War II Hungary who falls in and out of love with numerous older women. His character's infatuation with older women begins as a child during the war, when he loses his virginity to a middle-aged prostitute. From there, he moves to Budapest to go to college, and moves in with an older woman, portrayed by Karen Black. They fall in love with each other. Then the woman's best friend, portrayed by Canadian stage actress and artist Marilyn Lightstone, joins them in social events. Eventually, Ms. Lightstone's character seduces Berenger's character, and in a memorable scene of seduction, she entices him to have sex with her on the living room floor. But Ms. Black's character catches them in the act, and she breaks up with Berenger's character and kicks him out. Berenger then falls in love with a female resistance leader during the 1956 Hungarian Crackdown by Russian troops and tanks. She departs for deep cover, and Berenger's character emigrates to Canada. It is there that he begins a relationship with a woman more closer to his age, portrayed by a young Helen Shaver. Eventually they engage in a erotic strip scene before having sex together. But they end up breaking up also. At the end of the film, Berenger is now a teacher, who sets up a date with a younger female student, and the film ends. The eroticism is very good in this film, but it leaves you wanting more. For me, Marilyn Lightstone, despite her little screen time, stole the spotlight with her eroticism and her sexy body. Helen Shaver shows that she is willing to put out in a movie, also. She would go on to even greater levels of eroticism in the movie "Desert Hearts". Unfortunately, Tom Berenger never lived up to the potential to be a "leading man" actor that this film showed promise of when it was made. Instead, he was confined to character roles, such as in the movie "Gettysburg". But this film gives the viewer a glimpse of what Tom Berenger could have been had mainstream Hollywood had given him his chance to shine.

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The controversial, ground-breaking film based on the best-selling novel by Stephen Vizinczey
Andras (Tom Berenger) has always been surrounded by sex. After spending his teenage years procuring prostitutes for soldiers, he meets Maya (Karen Black), an older married woman, who teaches him about lust and desire. As Andras grows more experienced, he continues to pursue older women, learning more about life with each erotic conquest.
BONUS FEATURE: Making-of Featurette

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Hana & Alice (Widescreen) (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, this is another product review. I really do like the movie, and love it more each time I've watched it.
I would have given this release a 5/5 star count, if I hadn't had the pleasure of viewing this with subtitles that were better suited, in my opinion. I could point out a scene where it took me off the film, when Miyamoto said something that was translated as a "doppelganger" - now, it might be nitpicking, but I don't think normal 15-year-old teens speak with such words...
Now, onto the stuff on the DVD. Though the TV Spots on a DVD are always filler content... the best part of the extras in here was the Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, which gives you a +1hr. look into what went into the making of "Hana and Alice". It was not only interesting because you get to hear from Shunji Iwai where the idea of the film came from, and how it developed. We also get to see how some of the scenes were shot, and small tidbits of Anne Suzuki, Yu Aoi and Tomohiro Kaku on their characters... and there's also cute funny moments too.

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Texas Lightning (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I heard that one of my favorite B movies from the 80's was coming out on DVD I was happy!! I ordered this DVD from MEDIA BLASTERS / GUILTY PLEASURES (known as RAREFLIX on EBAY) for a reasonable price. After quick delivery I anxiously put the disc in to watch!
Well.... first the good news. The old saying "Better to have something than nothing" is true. The Bad News? To start the source print is less than spectacular. The film is dirty, grainy at times. Multiple splices throughout disc. Full Screen transfer, no widescreen. Extras include 4 trailers from other films. There is a 'promotional' trailer of "Texas Lightning" on disc which is nothing more than the montage of scenes from the film's end made up as a teaser trailer.
Also to squash any rumors that might be floating about regarding the 'MAUREEN MCCORMICK NUDE SCENES', Uh.. They don't exist. At least not in this DVD version. Yes she does have a fling in a motel with one of the central characters but nothing more. I do recommend the VHS tape from MEDIA HOME VIDEO if you can locate it. Their transfer was from a better quality 35mm print. However if you are dying to see this film and do order the DVD, don't say I didn't warn you.


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Item Name: Texas Lightning; Studio:Guilty Pleasures

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Straightman (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)A rare find in today's film world "Straightman" shines as an independent film. While the film was done for very little money and it does show the movie works incredibly well on an emotional level. It also breaks new ground in the world of gay cinema in that it is one of the few films that deals with older men who are very blue collar. (why do 99% of gay films deal with impossibly beautiful young men?)
The story traces the friendship of two friends after their breakups with their girlfriends. After moving into together one begins to explore his gayness. This takes the friendship on some interesting turns especially when dealing with the first romance and heartbreak. While the plot is thin at times the film really is more of a character study between to friends as they come to terms with growing and changing. There are too many things to say as downsides to the film other than to point out some of the problems due to budget constraints - i.e. some minor sound and lighting problems. Over all I would say this is must see film.

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Jack and David are good friends, so when both are dumped y their girlfriends, they move into an apartment together.David looks forward to their shared bachelor life.Then Jack works up the courage to come out to his friend.Things change.How these two different but similar men deal with that change and how their friendship and their other relationships fare in the midst of it all is the heart of this authentic and sharp humored film.

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The Last Year (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)What a lovely discovery! This bittersweet little film by Jeff London
examines the lives of three young gay men at various stages of being
out, attending a 'Christian' college.
Hector (Merrick McMahon) has been outed, is being persecuted by the
Dean and his jock henchmen, and shunned by classmates. Alex (gentle and
winning Mike Dolan) is new at the school, though a senior, because his
father hopes the religious environment will cure him of 'a certain
young man' from home. Beautiful and troubled Paul (played perfectly by
Ron Petronicolos) is deep in the closet after being compromised in a
library restroom over the summer. He hides his homosexuality at first,
but soon tells his room-mate and best friend Robby (Patrick Hoesterey).
Robby is straight, and unpleasantly surprised, but quickly overcomes
his reservations because of his love for Paul.
The four boys become a little family and try to protect each other from
the violence, intolerance, hate, and hypocrisy that surrounds them.
Each character is lovingly drawn, and they all change in remarkable
ways. Alex falls in love with Paul and leads him towards the light of
self-realization and personal commitment. Hector, unfortunately, is not
so lucky. They are all watched over by St. Jude, who appears briefly in
one of the dearest moments in the film.
There are flaws and stretches of credulity in the story, but the
overwhelming sincerity and heartfelt nature of the writing and acting
negate such quibbles.
The outtakes are serendipitous, nicely edited and really funny --
happily so after the seriousness of the film. The interviews reveal the
actors to be just as sweet, supportive, humorous, and genuine as they
are on screen.

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Junior Pilot Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie was a lot of fun. The characters were likeable and the story was told with plenty of humor. Of all the movies I've ever seen that take place on an airplane (including all of the Airplane series and Soul Plane), this one is my favorite. The main character is a boy who day-dreams a lot and who must overcome this tendency to save the day. To add to the value of this DVD is a behind the scenes piece which is about an hour long. Also the commentary (featuring the lead actor and the writer/director) was enjoyable. Since the lead actor is a child, the commentary would be most appropriate for children. The director explains many aspects of movie-making in a many fully comprehensible by children over eight years of age.

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Devil in the Flesh (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)The story: A girl and a boy fall madly in love , even though the girl is promised to another guy. That's it. There is not much more of a story. So why did I rate this film with four stars? It is is absolutely worth your time. It lives, like many italian films of that era from the expectation, that something will happen. Nothing does, really. If it were not for the absolutely beautiful Maruschka Detmers. She alone makes the film worthwhile. The way she looks, the way she is dressed, her laugh and, yes, the sex-scenes. Very nice. And, yes, the explicit oral scene is included.
The picture of the DVD is perfect. Good remastering. The only language offered is italian, but that's fine with the english subtitles. Unfortunately I did not purchase the No Shame-version. This edition has no extras, except a trailer.
So, enjoy!

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All My Loved Ones Review

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(More customer reviews)All My Loved Ones is the story of a young Czech boy named David Silberstein and his large 'family'. At the start of the movie, we meet David's family, such as his best friend Sosha. During the course of the movie, we see how, little by little, the nazis begin to take control of the Jews life, starting with small things such as cars, and working up to David's father's (Dr. Silberstein) job. At long last, The Silbersteins make a last attempt to save David by putting him up for adoption in Great Britain, thanks to English stockbroker Nicholas Winton, who saved hundreds of children through this method.
This movie is very historically accurate, and is also a very good story.
But, I must warn you, be ready to cry your heart out!!!

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Friends Forever (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)'Friends Forever' (Danish, with English subtitles) is a 1980s coming-of-age film concerned with growing up and friendships. The principal character is Kristian (about 15 years old) who arrives at a new school and is initially drawn to an outsider, Henrik, who is - as always - taunted for his difference. Fearing that this friendship will be a liability, Kristian falls in with the 'in group', led by Patrick (14/15 years old), who quickly becomes his best friend. The film then follows the inevitable ups and downs of this friendship, applying the full gamut of coming-of-age experiences: first crush, homosexuality, alcohol, first sexual experience with an older woman, student rebellion, and so on.
While this probably sounds a tired theme, it is actually one of the better films of its genre. Absent the puritanical values that usually stem from mainstream US-made films, 'Friends Forever' has a relaxed, non-judgemental feel. In particular, it avoids gay/straight stereotypes, and certainly does not shy from male nudity (although the full frontal shots are the preserve of a couple of 20-something characters). The acting is well-done, and the characters come across as highly plausible; the soundtrack and production values are unmistakably mid-80s, which adds a additional ambiance. There is a great deal of humour in the film (not least the 1980s hairstyles and roll-up jacket sleeves / shiny short-shorts apparel ! - which, admittedly, only comes to us from our retrospective vantage point) and it ends with a hilarious French-farce-style song-and-dance number, involving the entire cast.
Whilst not emotionally challenging, or dark in any way, 'Friends Forever' is a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good film which easily bears more than one viewing. It's great to see it finally brought to DVD, along with some of its peers (see, for example, 'Lakki'). Definitely one for the collection.

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Kristian is a shy 16-year-old starting at a new school.Like all boys his age he is uncertain of his new environment.He is drawn to to Henrik an androgynous, charismatic and independent older student, a warm friendship slowly develops.On the other side of the school s spectrum and Ktistian s radar is Patrick, a bully and troublemaker who stirs another kind of feeling in Kristian.Kristian's world gets turned upside down when Patrick introduces Kristian to his boyfriend. This leads Kristian to his first sexual encounter, but does not lead him to the man he really desires, Patrick. Friends Foreveris over 20 years old but still rings true today as a positive and potent film about growing up and coming out.It is a classic time piece from Denmark, a must for all DVD collectors.

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