.: Movie DVDz :.

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire (2009)

2010-03-08T08:11:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique
Directors: Lee Daniels
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
Run Time: 109 minutes

Product Description
Forgotten inner-city girl is given a second chance at life.
Amazon.com
Not every movie can survive the kind of hype--multiple awards at Sundance and other festivals, rapturous reviews, the promise of Oscars to come--that greeted the release of Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, but this extraordinary piece of work is more than up to the task. What's particularly notable about the film's success and acclaim is that in the beginning, at least, it presents one of the grimmest scenarios imaginable. The scene is Harlem, New York, in 1987. Teenager Clarisse Precious Jones (played by newcomer Gabourey Sibide in an absolutely fearless performance) is dirt poor, morbidly obese, semiliterate, and pregnant for the second time--both courtesy of her own father (the first baby was born with Down syndrome). Her home life is several levels below Hell, as her bitter, vengeful welfare mother, Mary (Mo'Nique, in a role that has generated legitimate Oscar® buzz), abuses her both physically and otherwise (telling Precious she should have aborted her is only the worst of a relentless flood of insults and vitriol). Yet somehow, the young woman still has hopes and dreams (depicted in a series of delightful fantasy sequences). She enrolls in an alternative school, where a young teacher (Paula Patton) takes her under her wing and even into her home, and visits a social worker (an excellent Mariah Carey; fellow pop star Lenny Kravitz is also effective as a male nurse) who further helps bring Precious out of the darkness. Incredibly, Precious's circumstances deteriorate even more before showing the slightest sign of improvement, and a climactic confrontation with her mother is one of the more wrenching scenes in recent memory. But against all odds, director Lee Daniels, screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher (working from Sapphire's novel), and especially the wondrously affecting Sibide have managed to make Precious a film that will lift the viewer far higher up that one might ever have thought possible. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews
- It's rare that a movie matches its hype, but this one did. The story is believable, real, and downright compelling. The acting is incredible, especially that of Monique. I cannot imagine how anyone can give this movie less than five stars.

- This is such a wonderful film. The performances are out of this world. I can't say enough good things about it. I hope all the cast and crew take the Oscars by storm!!! If you want to watch a movie that will move you, this is the safest bet for that.

- In Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, inner city life for a desperate teen is portrayed as a hopeless cycle of poverty, neglect, and despair. As envisioned by director Lee Daniels from the adaptation by Geoffrey Fletcher, life is hard and only redeemed by people who care and are willing to nurture the abused victim. This is a harrowing look at a dysfunctional family and one girl's hope for a better life, and it benefits from towering performances by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique who bring home this heartfelt, slice of life.

The story opens with a pleasant, idyllic family setting with a teenager, Precious (Gabourey Sidibe), and the fantasy turns suddenly into a stark reality. It is 1987 Harlem where Precious lives as a cook, gofer, and almost as a slave to her domineering, abusive mother (Mo'Nique). Together, they are poor, always hungry and living on welfare. She hopes for a normal existence and is always beaten down verbally, physically and emotionally by her mom and the neighborhood gangs. She was pregnant at age 16 by her abusive, absentee father and already has a small, mentally challenged child by him. To escape her despair, she daydreams of a loving and supportive storybook world.

Switched to an alternative school that specializes in troubled youth, she meets a disparate group of girls and a disciplined teacher, Miss Rain (Paula Patton). Precious learns to read and understand a world beyond the confines of her existence. She begins to trust her teacher, and her support group is this motley group of classmates. This support comes into play when she gives birth to her second child and when her mother attacks her.

Her mother is so manipulative that she wants to stay on welfare, and she makes no secret of her distrust of white people. She even puts on a pretend act for a visiting social worker. At the welfare office, another social worker (Mariah Carey in no makeup) learns the horrible truth about Precious' home life. Before long, Precious receives bad news that rocks her world and sets up a confrontation with her manipulative, con-artist of a mom and determines an uncertain future for herself and her children.

Daniels lends a very sure hand in directing this powerful story. Even as a novice director, he grabs his audience and keeps you involved in a very interesting tale based on truth. He offers a fresh perspective and after a success at producing (Monsters Ball, The Woodsman), is a talent to watch. The film is shot in almost a handheld semi-documentary manner. The budget must have been modest which suits the setting and story. Its technique and exposition belie an independent film (Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey are executive producers).

Sidibe and Mo'Nique carry the show, but Patton and Carey are quite good as supportive characters. Singer Lenny Kravitz has a small but effective part as a male nurse who befriends Precious.

The only real negative is that the film ends abruptly which may be just the point-that life does go on and it does so on Precious' own terms. This is no Hollywood ending, that's for sure. Also, repetitive use is made of Precious' daydream fantasies of a happier life. It almost veers to self parody although there is an excellent moment where she dresses in front of a mirror and sees a well dressed white woman; so much for visual statements about self image.

So good are the portrayals of Precious and her mom that the other characters are given only marginal exposition. We want to learn more about her teacher and her classmates, but this is, after all, a story about Precious. For her first acting gig, Sidibe does a remarkable job, and Mo'Nique is so convincing as a maternal monster, that Oscar beckons. For a film based on real life experiences and truths, this one is hard to beat.

- PRECIOUS is the most powerful film that I have seen this year. It is a film that I will never forget as long as I live. It is a film that pulls you deep in to hell and then, right when you least expect it, pulls you out of the abyss to show you the light. It is the story of a young black woman - the miraculous Gabby Sidibe - who is morbidly obese, impoverished, pregnant with her second child, and the subject of much abuse and ridicule. Most of the abuse comes from her mother, who is content to emotionally tear down her daughter while living off of a welfare check. She is a monster, plain and simple. Hope comes in the form of higher education, as Precious scores into an advanced educational program at school and, unbeknownst to her mother, starts classes with her new teacher, Ms. Rain. There, she learns to read and write, and through the encouragement of her teacher, starts to keep a journal of her daily life. At the school, Precious develops friendships and starts to grow intellectually. Little do her classmates know about the abuse at home, and the fact that Precious is pregnant with her father's child. Despite everything, she is determined to better herself, and retains a hopeful spirit.

It is NOT a film for children. It is NOT a film for prudes. However, it is a film that most Christians should see. This is the real world, folks. This is the reality that many "Christian" films gloss over, or ignore entirely. This is a story of real pain and real hope. Most have criticized this film for being overly depressing. I didn't find it to be so. I came out of the film not knowing what to say, but I felt joy for the main character in the film, and I was happy for her.

The performances in this film are amazing all around. Mo'Nique makes you believe in the darker side of humanity, and her performance is horrifying. Deserves many nominations come awards season. It is sad that most of the Christian viewers have chosen not to focus on the films positive content, but on the alleged "gay agenda" that some believe the film promotes. This is hogwash, and couldn't be farther from the truth. Yes, there are two lesbian characters. Get over it. Such is life. Gays and lesbians walk amongst us, and it is our job to show them the love of Christ and, as artists, reflect the truth of the world by giving them a part in the worlds that we create. Aside from that pointless bit of controversy, the film is a milestone. What could have been a boring cliche is actually one of the most rewarding films of the year. By no means entertaining, it is a film that needs to be seen.

Graphic scenes of rape and pervasive language make this a hard-R film that is entirely inappropriate for children. Surprisingly, at the screening that I attended, five and six year olds were present.

- Gabourey Sidibe, a first-time actress with no previous acting experience,

walks into an open casting call for a film based on a book she'd never read before,

and on the sheer strength of her personality and intuitiveness about the character

which she is reading for...she lands the leading role, Precious, in one of the most

powerful and talked about films of 2009!

That in itself sounds like a treatment for a screenplay, but it's all too real

and a star was truly found in this huge untapped talent.

But she shares this breakthrough performance with another amazing performance

which alot of people didn't see coming...

The damaged, sick, and downright evil character who is Precious' mother,

played with scarry intensity and zeal by comedienne / actress / talk show host MONIQUE!!

WOW!!---She scared the crap out of alot of people with her absolutely despicable

potrayal of a character who has been so kicked in the head and wounded by life

that she has become a warped monstrous shell of a human being!

Her Golden Globe, SAG & Brit wins as well as her Oscar nom for best supporting

actress is well deserved and many expect her to win the Oscar on March 7, 2010.

Gabourey Sidibe, despite turning in a great performance and being nominated

in all of the same awards, has yet to score a win as of this review.

I must say that this film wouldn't have flown as high as it did without

the stellar & soulful direction of Lee Daniels, the supporting cast, or the

production power players that are Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey!

This movie was so heart-wrenchingly raw and filled with such emotional angst

that there were times that I found myself clinching up in my seat or covering

my eyes or mouth in disbelief at the harrowing abuse and circumstances which

Precious has to endure at the hands of her mother, her father, and just life in general!

I found myself asking why do some people have to go through such things in this life,

and yet they go on with their heads held up as best they can!

It also made me appreciate the fact that though many of us have had struggles

in this life, there is always somebody else's story who comes along to make

us say "Well, my god!--At least I didn't have it THAT bad!!--I should be thankful!"

This story would just be too painful, too deep, too unbearable to watch,

if it weren't for the levity of the supporting cast, mainly Lenny Kravitz's

portryal of a compassionate (and hot!) male nurse, and of course the teacher

at the school for wayward girls that Precious has to attend,

played beautifully by actress Paula Patton. What else can I say, other than

this is a very special film which may be too strong for some people,

but I think it's brilliant and worth having in your collection in the same

way that movies like "The Color Purple", "Bastard Out Of Carolina" and others are.

Up in the Air (2009)

2010-03-08T07:57:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton
Directors: Jason Reitman
Writers: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Walter Kirn
Producers: Ali Bell, Daniel Dubiecki, Helen Estabrook, Ivan Reitman
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 9, 2010
Run Time: 109 minutes

Amazon.com
Up in the Air transforms some painful subjects into smart, sly comedy--with just enough of the pain underneath to give it some weight. Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) spends most of his days traveling around the country and firing people; he's hired by bosses who don't have the nerve to do their layoffs themselves. His life of constant flight suits him--he wants no attachments. But two things suddenly threaten his vacuum-sealed world: his company decides to do layoffs via video conference so they don't have to pay for travel, and Bingham meets a woman named Alex (Vera Farmiga, The Departed), who seems to be the female version of himâ¦ and of course, he starts to fall in love. Writer-director Jason Reitman is building a career from funny but thoughtful movies about compromised people--a pregnant teen in Juno, a cigarette-company executive in Thank You for Smoking. George Clooney has a gift for playing smart men who aren't quite as smart as they think they are (Michael Clayton, Out of Sight). The combination is perfect: Bingham is charming and sympathetic but clearly missing something, and Up in the Air captures that absence with clarity and compassion. The outstanding supporting cast includes Anna Kendrick (Rocket Science), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Danny McBride (Pineapple Express), Melanie Lynskey (Away We Go), and others, each small part pitched exactly right. --Bret Fetzer

Stills from Up in the Air (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews
- UP IN THE AIR is one of those small, quiet films that builds up impact, and then hits you over the heart with everything it's got. The film follows Ryan Bingham (no relation to the country singer/composer of CRAZY HEART, by the way) as he flies across the nation firing people. Ryan doesn't care much for love and marriage (despite his kid sister's upcoming wedding), but he falls hard for Alex, another frequent-flier. The biggest thing in Ryan's life is his job; but that's all about to change.

Okay, the plot for UP IN THE AIR sounds rather tedious. And, in lesser hands, it would be. The film isn't a romantic comedy; nor is it a serious contemplation on the redemptive/destructive power of love. It's a commentary on the current economic status (most of the people getting fired in this film are non-actors reliving the moment they lost their job); and yet it never takes itself too seriously. It features stellar chemistry from the two leads (George Clooney and Vera Farmiga, both deserving their Oscar nods and more), as well as strong support from Anna Kendrick (also deserving that Oscar nod), Jason Bateman, and cameos from J.K. Simmons, Sam Eliot, Danny McBride, Zack Galifianakis. The directing (courtesy of Jason Reitman, surpassing his previous films JUNO and even THANK YOU FOR SMOKING) is top-notch, and the script is stellar; if the film has any flaw, it's that it comes off as a bit over-polished. And yet, with such a likable and enigmatic cast (boldly led by Clooney at his finest), this film also feels organic and natural. UP IN THE AIR is proof that serious filmmaking still exists in Hollywood.

- Up in the Air is a timely story about the frontline, corporate downsizers who terminate workers across the country. It's an unpleasant job with emotional backlash, and George Clooney's performance as a top gun terminator is exemplary. Abetted by assured direction by Jason Reitman (Juno), this is a film for our times.

Ryan Bingham (Clooney) is very good at what he does, and he has the mileage to prove it. You see, corporations hire him to fly across the country to fire their employees. So good is Bingham that he has a perfect response for every possible reaction or objection. It is an art, and he has honed his skills over the years while living an insulated life of perks and frequent flier miles without any emotional attachments or long term plans for the future. He is even distant from his family. He has his routine down and lectures as a motivational speaker. Ah, what a life.

During a layover, he meets another frequent flyer, Alex (Vera Farmiga), who, like him, jets cross country and lives on her corporate credit cards and comps. So begins their jet setting affair and multi-city rendezvous. When Ryan's employer decides to streamline expenses, a new hired gun, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), brings big changes including cutting down travel expenses and relying more on a telemarketer setup to conduct the corporate firings. This is a direct threat to Ryan's lifestyle and he proposes to show her the ropes and what it is like to personally fire someone. It is a sobering, learning experience for Natalie as Ryan mentors her and espouses his words of wisdom and his hands on approach compared to her more empirical, scientific methods. It becomes apparent that they have differing values and philosophies on life. When Natalie tries to do a firing, it becomes a game changing event with severe ramifications for all. She is the young, wide eyed idealist, who learns about life the hard way.

At the same time, Ryan's sister calls about a wedding that he is reluctant to attend. While most people go home for the holidays, he feels the opposite. He grudgingly takes pictures of cardboard replicas of his sister and fiancé in his travels since they can't afford the trips. He even uses his powers of persuasion on his sister's fiancé who has second thoughts about marriage. It is in this moment that Ryan has an epiphany and learns about himself and what's important in life. As Ryan begins to have feelings for Alex and sets about to make his future, he discovers some startling, harsh truths that will alter his outlook on life forever.

Based on the novel by Walter Kirn, Reitman has created a smart, engaging film whose subject of corporate firings amid an economic downturn is quite timely. It is those scenes that are fascinating as they are heartbreaking, and Clooney's Ryan is a master at finessing verbal interplay. This film puts faces and souls on the nameless whose lives are destroyed. A scene where a fired employee (J. K. Simmons is excellent) is inspired by Ryan to try something else is masterfully written.

Clooney's Ryan is a distant cousin of sorts to his recent standout job in Michael Clayton. Rarely has he been more charming! His character lives in airport terminals and judges his success by his independence and frequent flyer miles. When Natalie, Alex and his own family converge on his life, we see him change, and that is what makes the film so special. To see someone whose outlook on life is changed forever is a rewarding, enriching feeling. When Ryan and Alex talk about life from their experiences, it is in stark contrast to the neophyte Natalie. What is refreshing is to see how Ryan becomes genuinely affected and how in the end he does the right things to correct an injustice.

Farmiga (The Departed) registers strongly as the mysterious lover, and Kendrick (Twilight) shines as the naïve Natalie. Jason Bateman (Juno) re-ups with Reitman and scores as a corporate manager. A note of interest is that many of the fired workers are played by actual, laid off employees so that their scenes do take on a sense of immediacy and realism.

This is one of those films that makes all the best lists of the year because it's smartly written, well acted, and leaves you with that aftertaste of time well spent.

- Director Jason Reitman, the director of Juno, has given us one of the best films of the year with Up In The Air, a superb character study about the meaning of life. Both heartbreaking and hilarious, this is a culturally relevant and timely film that is not easily forgotten.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who fires people for a living. He basically executes what the big bosses are too timid to carry out themselves, and he has it down to a science. On the side, he is a motivational speaker who encourages his listeners to get rid of the excess baggage in their lives, in an effort to reach their personal goals and make their dreams a reality. The only problem is that Ryan does not have much of a life to speak of. He lives out of his suitcase, and has distanced himself from his friends and family, and has given himself over to casual relationships instead. His personal goal is to reach ten million frequent flier miles, and he is almost there. On one particular business trip, he meets and becomes close with a fellow frequent flier named Alex. They instantly hit it off, and begin an affair.

Meanwhile, back at the company offices, Ryan meets his new colleague, Natalie Keener. She is young, headstrong, and ultimately determined to work her way up in the business. Ryan feels threatened by the young lady, and insists that she is too naïve to carry out the demands of the job. It is at this moment that the boss suggests that Ryan take Natalie along with him on his travels to show her the ropes. She goes along with Ryan, and sits beside him as he brings in numerous unsuspecting individuals, and informs them that their jobs have been terminated. He asks each individual to see the situation in a positive light. It's not a termination so much as it is an opportunity to begin again. Ryan is a master of persuasion, and some people step away with a hopeful outlook. Others break down in shock - angry, frustrated, and confused. After a particularly disturbing encounter, Natalie begins to examine her position from an ethical standpoint. Of course, Ryan is there to soften the blow, as he tries to put things into perspective for her, with ambiguous results. Natalie returns to the main office, where she formulates a system that will allow her to fire people via the internet, rather than having to do it face to face.

Alex meets up with Ryan shortly thereafter, and their relationship grows from casual to something a bit more serious. Ryan invites Alex to his sister's wedding, and she accompanies him. It is during this time that Ryan's journey really begins. Will he remain an avid frequent flier, living in isolation, bouncing from hotel room to hotel room, or will he grab hold of the life that he has left and find true meaning? This is the existential dilemma that drives the film.

The performances are excellent all around. George Clooney plays Ryan, and totally becomes the character. This is his best performance in years. It's Clooney as you have never seen him before. Vera Farmiga plays his love interest, Alex. She may receive an Oscar nomination for her work here. Anna Kendrick plays Natalie, and she is simply breathtaking. She has come a long way since Twilight.

Jason Reitman proves once again that he is a director to watch. This film is just as strong as Juno, and just as important.

Rated R for language and adult content.

The Hurt Locker (2009)

2010-03-08T07:48:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce
Directors: Kathryn Bigelow
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Summit Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010
Run Time: 131 minutes

Product Description
Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war an elite army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (summit) Release Date: 01/12/2010 Starring: Jeremy Renner Run time: 131 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
The making of honest action movies has become so rare that Kathryn Bigelow's magnificent The Hurt Locker was shown mostly in art cinemas rather than multiplexes. That's fine; the picture is a work of art. But it also delivers more kinetic excitement, more breath-bating suspense, more putting-you-right-there in the danger zone than all the brain-dead, visually incoherent wrecking derbies hogging mall screens. Partly it's a matter of subject. The movie focuses on an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, the guys whose more or less daily job is to disarm the homemade bombs that have accounted for most U.S. casualties in Iraq. But even more, the film's extraordinary tension derives from the precision and intelligence of Bigelow's direction. She gets every sweaty detail and tactical nuance in the close-up confrontation of man and bomb, while keeping us alert to the volatile wraparound reality of an ineluctably foreign environment--hot streets and blank-walled buildings full of onlookers, some merely curious and some hostile, perhaps thumbing a cellphone that could become a trigger. This is exemplary moviemaking. You don't need CGI, just a human eye, and the imagination to realize that, say, the sight of dust and scale popped off a derelict car by an explosion half a block away delivers more shock value than a pixelated fireball.
The setting may be Iraq in 2004, but it could just as well be Thermopylae; The Hurt Locker is no "Iraq War movie." Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal--who did time as a journalist embed with an EOD unit--align themselves with neither supporters nor opponents of the U.S. involvement. There's no politics here. War is just the job the characters in the movie do. One in particular, the supremely resourceful staff sergeant played by Jeremy Renner, is addicted to the almost nonstop adrenaline rush and the opportunity to express his esoteric, life-on-the-edge genius. The hurt locker of the title is a box he keeps under his bunk, filled with bomb parts and other signatory memorabilia of "things that could have killed me." That none of it has killed him so far is no real consolation. In this movie, you never know who's going to go and when; even high-profile talent (we won't name names here) is no guarantee. But one thing can be guaranteed, and that is that almost every sequence in the movie becomes a riveting, often fiercely enigmatic set piece. This is Kathryn Bigelow's best film since 1987's Near Dark. It could also be the best film of 2009. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews
- what a glorious piece of film. don't miss the movie of the year

- This wasn't my favorite movie of the year, but I did enjoy it on its own terms: as a taut, suspenseful action thriller with a level of psychological insight that was at least a little deeper than most movies of this genre.

What bothers me is the amount of vitriol leveled at this film by actual soldiers who served in Iraq. A movie's primary job is to entertain. Inevitably a few--or perhaps many--actual facts are omitted, fabricated, bent, or altered for the sake of a compelling narrative that should at least convey an emotional truth about the very human characters they represent. I believe this film achieves the "emotional truth" part at the expense of the facts. I'm fine with that, especially if you consider the following:

Bigelow and her crew made several requests to the U.S. military for assistance and consultation and were repeatedly and categorically refused on each occasion. Given this lack of access and the budget limitations, Bigelow was forced to sacrifice some accuracy in regard to the soldiers' equipment and, perhaps most glaringly, in the implausibly small number of men on the EOD unit.

Ironically, the U.S. military DOES frequently lend assistance and consultation to bigger budget--and more blatantly untrue--escapist popcorn movies like G.I. Joe or Transformers.

I have a couple of soldier friends who loved the Transformers movies and hated The Hurt Locker. I can only shake my head. I have the utmost respect for their service, but not for the type of cognitive dissonance they exhibit in (some of) their movie preferences.

- Wow not only best director but best picture as well. Love the movie. Job well done.

- I will start with something positive. Catherine Bigelow is stunning. But the film? So far The Iraq War has not translated well into compelling fictional accounts on television or on film and this is no exception. I will cut right to the chase. This film is boring. You are basically going from one IED deactivation to the next, kind of wondering the whole time why they don't just blow them up to avoid the risk to the bomb squad. I tried to like this, I fell for the hype before seeing it, but ultimately I didn't care enough to even finish watching it and I wanted my $3.99 back from Comcast.

- wow.just finished watching this film about an hour ago,and i'm still trying to put it into words.it's basically about an elite military bomb squad unit in Iraq,whose job is made tougher because they are still very much in a combat situation.this a very powerful moving experience.riveting right to the last frame.nail biting suspense.great acting.sometimes the quite moments speak louder and more clearly than any words can.the movie is very well constructed.its all so eloquent,like a poem,a ballet.the running time may just be shy of one hundred and thirty minutes,but it sure doesn't feel that long.i could watch this film again without hesitation.war themed movies are not everyone's cup of tea obviously,but if you are a fan of the genre,you owe it to yourself to check this film out.i haven't seen a film this good in a long time.for me,The Hurt Locker is a 5/5

Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred (2007)

2010-03-03T08:12:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Jillian Michaels
Directors: Andrea Ambandos
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: March 18, 2008
Run Time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews

- This workout is AWESOME!!! I've seen a lot of reviews here that mention this workout destroyed their knees or having already had bad knees, it made them worse. Listen people!!! I bought this fully aware that I *DO* have knee problems. I've had 2 knee surgeries already. But seriously, DON'T BE STUPID! Jillian has a girl on the video doing the low impact version of these exercises. WATCH HER! Don't push yourself further than your body can go. If you feel pain or feel that inner voice telling you, "hmm...you're a wimp, don't do this," listen to it!

I've done this workout every day for 2 weeks now, using all the low impact versions of the exercises and it's been KILLING me. I love it! It gets my heart rate up and I am very sore the next day. I'm a moderate size with a good 15-20 pounds to lose so I'm very pleased to already have lost 5, plus I see a huge difference in my muscle strength.

I must mention, for those with knee problems, she does not have modifiers for jumping jacks (though sometimes if I'm feeling achy there I will just step rather than jump). So if your knees are bad enough that you can't do a *little* bit of jumping, you might not want this video. Just walk or swim. When she does the deep knee lunges, I modify it DEFINITELY.

But otherwise, this workout is fabulous! I really feel a huge difference in my arm muscles, back, abs and even legs. It is truly a FULL BODY workout!!! FIVE STARS!!!

- Whoever said that level 1 was easy must be an Olympian, a personal trainer, or someone who's already in excellent shape. I watched this DVD first before doing it (to make sure that I could actually do this), and Jillian did make the work look easy.

Until I started to do the exercises along with her.

A great butt-kick (literally) workout. I am glad that the series is divided into three circuits, because it's probably going to take thirty days for me to get used to doing the first one! LOL I suggest starting at level one and working your way to the other levels, just as she recommends. It's the best way to prevent injury.

- This video is a nice short workout, but is still very effective. I'm only on day 8 and I've lost 3 pounds. I like that it doesn't take me an hour or more to workout my whole body. I would recommend this to my friends.

- I wanted a good workout DVD to compliment my regimen and for the days I can't fit in a whole cardio workout. I work out 3-4 days a week so I'm pretty fitness minded and not new to working out. I was a little skittish about ordering this one because I thought it might be a little bit basic for my level of fitness but based SOLELY on the feedback others have left I decided to give it a try. All I can say is O M G ... it totally kicked my butt and I only did level 1 ! At the end, I was crawling on my hands and knees. This is NOT your grannie's workout by any means ! It's for anyone who want to seriously get in shape. Jillian Michaels is definitely no-nonsense but you can also take it down a notch and make it more basic by doing alternative movements and aerobic levels if you are just starting out. Somehow Jillian manages to capture an all-encompassing, total butt-kicking workout for every level regardless if you have never worked out in your life or if you are at the top of your fitness game. I also really loved that the only things you need to workout to this DVD are hand weights and a floor mat (optional if you work out on carpet). I loved it so much I bought two more in addition to this one, and I can't wait to see what Jillian's new Yoga Meltdown workout is all about too. Definitely give her a try if you are looking for a great workout - you will NOT be disappointed ! Oh ! And I should mention the lightening-fast delivery too. "Anticipated SHIPPING date" was March 1st but it was at my door for DELIVERY on February 26th, only 1-1/2 days after I ordered it. I was pretty amazed it got here so soon. All the way around, it's a straight-up bargain.

- I recieved my order in a timely fashion, and I love this video...The workout is only 20minutes but you really "feel the burn."

The Princess and the Frog

2010-03-03T08:01:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Bruno Campos, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, Jim Cummings
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010
Run Time: 98 minutes

Amazon.com

After the visual bombast of many contemporary CG and motion-capture features, the drawn characters in The Princess and the Frog, the Walt Disney Studio's eagerly awaited return to traditional animation, feel doubly welcome. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), The Princess and the Frog moves the classic fairy tale to a snazzy version of 1920s New Orleans. Tiana (voice by Anika Noni Rose), the first African-American Disney heroine, is not a princess, but a young woman who hopes to fulfill her father's dream of opening a restaurant to serve food that will bring together people from all walks of life. Tiana may wish upon a star, but she believes that hard work is the way to fulfill your aspirations. Her dedication clashes with the cheerful idleness of the visiting prince Naveen (Bruno Campos). A voodoo spell cast by Dr. Facilier (Keith David) in a showstopping number by composer Randy Newman initiates the events that will bring the mismatched hero and heroine together. However, the animation of three supporting characters--Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a jazz-playing alligator; Ray (Jim Cummings), a Cajun firefly; and 197-year-old voodoo priestess Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis)--is so outstanding, it nearly steals the film. Alternately funny, touching, and dramatic, The Princess and the Frog is an all-too-rare example of a holiday entertainment a family can enjoy together, with the most and least sophisticated members appreciating different elements. The film is also a welcome sign that the beleaguered Disney Feature Animation Studio has turned away from such disasters as Home on the Range, Chicken Little, and Meet the Robinsons and is once again moving in the right direction. Rated G: General Audiences, suitable for ages 6 and older: violence, some scary imagery, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Stills from Princess and the Frog (Click for larger image)

Product Description
Disney celebrates a modern-day classic from the directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Discover what really happened after the princess kissed the frog in an inspired twist on the world's most famous kiss. This hilarious adventure leaps off the screen with stunning animation, irresistible music and an unforgettable cast of characters. Enter Princess Tiana's world of talking frogs, singing alligators and lovesick fireflies as she embarks on an incredible journey through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Spurred on by a little bit of courage and a great big dream, these new friends come to realize what's truly important in life...love, family and friendship. Overflowing with humor and heart, The Princess and the Frog is an incredible motion picture experience your whole family will want to enjoy again and again!

Bonus Content Includes: Deleted Scenes, The Princess Portraits Game, Audio Commentary By Filmmakers, Music Video By Ne-Yo

Customer Reviews
- What's not to love? GREAT message, WONDERFUL animation, GOOD music, ENTERTAINING wit. I agree with some of the other reviewers that it is not in the same league as Beauty and the Beast, but so? You can't just have one DVD! I hope Disney sticks with this old-school animation. There's beauty and fun here that computer animation can't match.

- Great story, animation, music, characters! I went to see it and was wowed at how much I loved it. It has a lot of great messages, working towards your dream, but don't forget the important parts of life, things don't always turn out the way you see them, at least not on the timeline you expect, and yay Disney for creating a black princess and for bringing some

American black culture from New Orleans. It was a rich movie all around!

- I was a bit of a skeptic when it came to this story and this film. I have a 4 year old daughter and she LOVES Princesses. I was absolutely thrilled to see an African American girl as the main character of this ilm and that it was set in the burgeoning period of jazz in New Orleans. The GREAT things about this film are too numerous to mention; the songs are ALL fantastic (they get stuck in your head and my daughter's head); the animation is absolutely beautiful and, for someone who likes to spare his kid from nightmares, I found the evil Dr. Facilier to be one of the better bad guys Disney has ever created. The shadows are a bit scary for the young ones, but no more scary than Ursula from Little Mermaid or the old hag from Snow White.

The thing about this film is that it is infectious through and through. The characters are hilarious and wonderfully rich, the music is full of New Orleans flavor, and the message is one that Disney has been lacking for years...wishing upon a star only gets you half way to your dreams, you have to work hard to get what you want. Tiana is a spectacular role model for young girls while Naveen, Louis and the Cajun firefly, Ray, are thoroughly entertaining.

Your kids will LOVE it!

- Most of the reviews both by Disney fans and critics alike are all focusing on the wrong viewpoint of this film.

The point is not that Tiana is African American (my children don't notice because children don't see "colors"on skin) or that this is not exactly traditional Disney fare. The point is that a modern character faced modern problems and that love and the timeless story of The Princess and the Frog prevailed. Tiana is a frog for nearly the entirety of the film because that is who she was in life. In fact, she's a frog from the beginning until the last 15 minutes of the film and becomes human long before the surprise ending of the Dr. Facilier's frog spell. True it was Prince Naveen who "transformed" her but Tiana's refusal to see love or friendship was caused by ambition. This ambition wasn't bad or for selfish reasons, but in pursuit of her fathers dream she ignored everything he had tried to teach her. If you look past the political correctness or the "coloring issues" within the movie you can see this clear as day! My four year old got it and when Tiana goes in search of Naveen to tell him that she's fallen for him, my son declared loudly in the middle of the theater, "he love her mama!". When the Charlotte tries to break the spell without "getting her prince" he was ecstatic and when he saw the impostor prince "marrying" Charlotte he was heartbroken.

The magic is not Disney fare but it fits in perfectly with a cultural immersion of New Orleans. It goes without saying that the animation is GORGEOUS and the music is good too. The gospel number with Mama Odie is by far my favorite!

The secondary characters almost steal the show. Charlotte in all her spoiled glory is actually a big-hearted, cute and hilarious Southern Belle. Mama Odie is lovable and zany and goes around nearly killing her beloved pet snake and smacking "young 'uns" on the arm for their "stupidity". Big Louis is funny and gives the movie a faster pace. Ray is by far my VERY favorite "supporting actor" and will belong in the same pantheon with Jimminy Cricket and Tinker Bell. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it, but Disney's second star to the right will be immortalized forever thanks to Ray.

All in all the modern retelling of the fairy tale is needed for this generation. Times are hard, we have to work harder and our dreams may not come true in the way we thought they would, but LOVE is still worth fighting for. Disney thinks that Love is worth the revival of hand drawn animation, actual orchestra's composing the soundtrack and YEARS working on a modern story board.

This is not the revival of hand drawn animation, it is the revival of the Love story for a generation who forgot how to fall in Love. It's a modern example of what poets, writers and legends have been in pursuit of for centuries. The idea of Love without bounds that can defeat any obstacle.

- I was excited for my little girl to see this movie, but was greatly disappointed. The movie has alot of very dark magic, not the cute disney magic but dark and evil and scary. (They had to get blood from the prince for the magic to work, and they brought back spirits from the dead.) My daughter got scared and had a hard time understanding the movie. The princess part of the movie was cute, but almost half the movie was the evil magic. We will not be watching this movie again.

The Blind Side (2009)

2010-03-03T07:51:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins
Directors: John Lee Hancock
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 23, 2010
Run Time: 128 minutes
ASIN: B002VECM6S

Amazon.com

The Blind Side takes the true story of a young man who went from abandonment to success as a pro-football player and treats it with respect. The movie doesn't oversell what is, on the face of it, already compelling. It's almost impossible to describe the plot without sounding painfully inspirational: Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron, Be Kind Rewind), a hulking but gentle African-American teen in Tennessee, gets taken in by a well-to-do white family; the mother, Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock), pushes and mothers the boy, who eventually wins a football scholarship to the University of Mississippi. In the wrong hands, this could have been maudlin, manipulative, and condescending. To the credit of writer-director John Lee Hancock, adapting Michael Lewis's acclaimed book, the result is intelligent, genuine, and alternately funny and moving. Leigh Anne could easily have been grandstanding and virtuous, but Bullock doesn't shy away from her vain and domineering side. The football scenes will be gripping even to non-sports fans because they've been so successfully grounded in Michael's emotional life. The all-around solid cast includes country music star Tim McGraw, pint-sized Jae Head (Hancock), and Kathy Bates as the tutor who guided Michael's academic success. Don't be surprised if you can't keep yourself from watching all the real-life photos of Michael, Leigh Anne, and the rest of the family that are featured in the credits; by the end of the movie, you will care about them all. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

- I first saw a preview of this movie on the Apple website & have been looking forward to seeing it ever since! It certainly didn't disappoint! A lovely story of a mother who sees a child in need & welcomes him into her home & family without thought or pretense. Watching him rise above aversity & shine. Quniton Aaron is great as Michael, Sandra is terrific as always as Leigh-Anne with Tim McGraw as a light foil as her husband Sean. Then we have Kathy Bates as Miss Sue, Michael's tutor( someone who's spiritual but with doubts & a Democrat). Lastly the Tuoeys children - Collins & S.J., played by Lily Collins & Jae Head respectively. S.J. is priceless, adding a lot of light humour to the situation. All the cast put in terrific performances, each working off each other effortlessly.

Then the bonus, seeing various images of the real Michael Oher, the Tuoeys & Miss Sue.

If you're looking for a moving, light-hearted and inspirational family film - this is one I would highly recommend you check out.

- If you know me well, you know that I hate football. Heck, I loathe sports in general. So you can imagine how I felt when the family unit suggested that we see THE BLIND SIDE for our annual Christmas movie night. In a way, I was curious. I mean, Sandra Bullock isn't a bad actress, and her performance in this film has been all the rage lately, so there was at least one draw for me...just one. I hate inspirational sports films. I struggled through REMEMBER THE TITANS. I barely survived all 116 minutes of RUDY. We'll just say that this was not a film that I had anticipated.

And for all of my reservations, it was pretty good.

See this film for Sandra Bullock's amazing performance. It is a career best, and should not be missed. She lights up the screen, playing one of the most positive Christian characters ever seen in a mainstream Hollywood film. You only ever see slanted portrayals of Christians onscreen - and no wonder - if more Christians would walk the walk and talk the talk, this would not be a problem - however, Bullock gives a performance that dismisses all of that for now, especially given the fact that we are dealing with material that is based on real situations.

The film tells the true story of All American football player, Michael Oher, and the family that took him off of the streets of Memphis and adopted him. Bullock portrays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a devout Christian woman who convinces her husband to take a chance on the young black man. Being that she is a strong willed woman with a sharp tongue and a no-nonsense attitude, it's not long before shes purchasing a bed set and escorting Oher to the store to buy new clothes. She soon adopts maternal feelings for the boy, and becomes his legal guardian. She loves him just as if he is one of her own children. Michael looks after the younger kids and takes care of them, and Tuohy's youngest son becomes a permanent fixture at his side. Bullock's performance is the driving force behind the film. Her craft is impeccable. It's too bad that the film falls short dramatically at times, often resorting to Disney-esque sentiment while it abandons the harsher realities of life in favor of a family friendly PG-13 rating. Some of the minor characters come off as token caricatures, such as Kathy Bates' tutor and Michael's younger brother.

Weaknesses aside, while this may not be the best film of the year, it is definitely a touching story that tries its best to keep away from the temptation to manipulate the audience emotionally - and it is because of this film that I have a renewed faith in Sandra Bullock's abilities. See it for her performance alone, if you must. The other actors aren't bad. Tim McGraw is exceptional as Tuohy's supportive, submissive husband. Then again, he has nothing on Bullock. She steals the show.

A note to "Christian filmmakers" in the industry: take a lesson from THE BLIND SIDE. Here is a film that promotes Christian themes while avoiding the mistake of cramming a sermon down your throat. Remember, when it comes to film, we'd much rather hear a story than a sermon. If we want to hear the latter, we can go to church on Sunday. Remember, story over sermon. Anything other than that becomes propaganda. You lose 90% of your audience that way. Well, at least I start tuning you out, but that's just me.

- I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. Great movie, very moving, the wife cried the whole time. Well done!

- A great movie movie for the whole family, with a great message.

Why don't they make more movies like this???????

- THE BLIND SIDE

STARRING: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Sharon Morris, Omar J. Dorsey, Kim Dickens, Tom Nowicki and Kathy Bates

WRITTEN BY: John Lee Hancock; based on the book by Michael Lewis

DIRECTED BY: John Lee Hancock

Rated: PG - 13

Genre: Drama

Release Date: 20 November 2009

At last Sandra Bullock has finally gotten the praise she has been so deserving of since the early 90s. Thanks to her wonderful performance in The Blind Side, she has received her first Oscar nomination.

She plays Leigh Anne Tuohy in this heartfelt true story. Leigh Anne and her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) live in a big house, have a lot of money, and a terrific family. Then, things get even better for them when a troubled young man named Michael comes into their lives.

Michael is played by Quinton Aaron. This kid has a look to him unlike anything you have ever seen on the face of anyone in Hollywood; he has the kindest eyes you could imagine and just looking at him you want to be his friend because he seems like the nicest person you will ever meet. It is no wonder Quinton Aaron was cast for the role of Michael, because his character is the exact same way.

The Tuohys first meet Michael when he is walking home in the rain from a high school volleyball game that their daughter was playing in. He's a very huge guy you see, and you just can't miss him. He is completely drenched to the bone when they pull over to see if he needs a ride.

When Leigh Ann asks him if he has a place to stay for the night and he says no, Sandra Bullock sealed her Oscar nomination with one of the best delivered lines of the year: "Don't you dare lie to me."

He in fact was lying as he does not have a place to stay. Nor does he have a change of clothes or a family of his own or even so much as a loyal friend to talk to. Michael has nothing.

Leigh Ann is destined to change all of that. She invites him to stay the night on the couch and soon enough he is living with them. Eventually she gives him his own bedroom and learns that he's never had a bed to call his own before. It's hard for her to hear this, but he has one now so she accepts that, as Michael has had to.

The film is called The Blind Side for two reasons. One is because Michael is black and the Tuohys are white and everyone in town except for them seems to notice this. The second is because as well as being an emotional drama, it's also a very good football movie; referring to the blind side of the quarterback.

Leigh Ann narrates parts of the film and beefs us up on our knowledge of the world of sports. She tells us the story of how Michael came to love the game of football and how it changed all of their lives.

Michael tries out for the team and isn't exactly the best and doesn't necessarily love football at first. With a little help from Leigh Ann, he learns that he can use his incredible size to protect the quarterback. Leigh Ann explains to him that the team is his family, and asks him if he would protect her and her family. Michael takes this very seriously and makes her and us believe that he would do absolutely anything for her and the family.

That's pretty much all it took to turn Michael into an unstoppable machine on the field. Before long, colleges are beating down their door with offers. Leigh Ann has even gone so far as to hire a private tutor to help Michal with his grades. There are some very good scenes here, with the always enjoyable Kathy Bates, playing the tutor.

Surprisingly, the film is also very laugh-out-loud funny through its entirety. This is particularly thanks to the fine acting of Jae Head, who plays Leigh Ann and Sean's goofball son, S.J.

One of the things that could hurt the film for others, I actually found to be one of its greatest assets: It doesn't feel like a film. There are no real over the top dramatic performances and character arcs and plot twists in the film. You can really tell that the filmmakers were trying to be as true to the story that actually took place, as possible.

Sandra Bullock is astonishing. You will notice the accent that she perfected flawlessly and that as she has done in so many other films; she adds a unique physical posture to her character. She walks and physically moves like someone else and you can really notice it. She also looks a great deal like the real Leigh Ann, as can be seen in photographs at the end of the film.

This movie doesn't pull any fast ones on us and it never pretends or wants to be anything that it's not. It simply tells its marvelous story: Michael was a great kid that nobody gave a chance to and everyone gave up on; until he met Leigh Ann Tuohy.

This film truly moves you because it shows you that no matter the size of a person, they have feelings; and the slightest gesture of kindness can change someone's life forever.

Sorority Row (2009)

2010-03-02T08:48:00.001-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis
Directors: Stewart Hendler
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Summit Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010
Run Time: 101 minutes
ASIN: B00275EHDM

Product Description

A GROUP OF SORORITY SISTERS TRY TO COVER UP THE DEATH OF THEIR HOUSE-SISTER AFTER A PRANK GONE WRONG, ONLY TO BE STALKED BY A SERIAL KILLER.

Customer Reviews

- PEOPLE THIS IS A SLASHER MOVIE!!! AND A GOOD ONE!! GOOD KILLS!! GOOD LOOKING WOMEN!! SEX!! A LOT OF PARTY SCENES!! yeah the story line is a cross between I Know What you did last summer and the 80's sorority but what fool went into this movie looking for a great story line, A LAME ONE

- Hey World,

When I fast forward through a horror movie thats pretty bad, I see around 80 a year. This is one of many remakes were they should leave the original alone! If your a spoiled brat college chick you'll prob love this mess.

- I didn't know what to expect when I tuned in to Sorority Row on pay-per-view. I wasn't expecting an oscar worthy triumph, yet I was hoping for a good suspense slasher such as in the "Scream" series.

What I found were film highlights that surprised me in a good way and some lows that were irritating and maddening.

The surprise? Usually what is bad in a slasher flick? The acting of course! Actually, I was taken aback at the director, the script, and the lead actresses to blend a menagerie of personalities into a believable group of stalked and terrorized sorority sisters.

*Spoilers if you don't want to read on*

Leah Pipes, who plays the witchy Jessica, made my jaw drop a couple of times during the movie with her dialogue and the dead-pan serious way in which she conveyed it. She has great fun with the self-obsessive, downright cruel sorority "leader". Margo Harshman, who plays Chugs, the beyond sexually promiscuous one, comes across with such a matter-of-fact I'm a tramp and I know it--whatever. The scene where she toasts herself in the mirror and ridicules herself with a self-admitting this is what I am statement is both saddening but amusing. Rumer Willis, who plays Ellie, covers the emotionally distraught one more than sufficiently. My only fault with Rumer and it isn't so much her fault, perhaps the director, is that she goes through the entire movie near hysterics and at the end in the blink of an eye does an about face into "I'm a brave person now" seriousness. It seemed very hollow, there should have been more of a cue in metamorphosis where the viewer could see the character of Ellie moving toward the change.

The other actresses did well too and the cameo performance by Carrie Fisher as the tough as nails house mother makes me want to purchase this movie.

I also give credit for creativity-I never saw a tire iron made up like that into a weapon, yikes. The beginning prank resulting in death was a bit stretched too long, but I'll give it an A for originality. The resuscitation scene was a little gross though, have to admit.

The lows:

1) WHY is it in most slasher movies that when there is a group of people trying to escape from a slasher, they DON'T run, no, they all go back into the house where the killer is and THEN they split up. Well, maybe if they do that, there's no story or movie. :)) Still, there has to be a different way.

2) A very aggravating scene was where the biological sister of the sorority sister killed in the prank is wandering through the downstairs calling for her sister who may still be alive, but her calls were not emotional, desperate, or really full of anything. She might as well have been calling out "I think it's going to rain today" or "I have some letters to put in the mailbox after class".

Aaarrrrgh!

3) The ending, or so-called sequel hint of an ending. Enough said.

4) I guess I'm more of a suspense fan. Like the "Scream" series, I like action-slasher films. There's no chase scenes, only "oh now where are you killer" moments and then he's there and it's done. And it's too reminiscent of the "Black Christmas" movie for those of you who have seen it who can recall the house fire at the end of that movie. Just because it's a sorority house doesn't mean it HAS to catch on fire! In closing, the confrontation scenes really were just the heroine hitting the killer over the head and walking away, the heroine hitting the killer over the head AGAIN and walking away. I just wish I had director skills for I believes an audience deserve something to "chew on", hold them in the moment, create suspense not just clobber-pause, clobber-pause, etc.

All in all, I'm very surprised to be wanting to get this movie for the acting and not the script content. To the actresses-way to go ladies!!

William

- Sorority Row was more of an Homage to "The House On Sorority Row" than a remake..

There were a couple of elements from the original like the cane and the guy that yells "I'm a Sea Pig".I found it to be an enjoyable fun slasher and I actually didn't peg the killer right away as I usually do.

The effects were good ,the gore was about a 6 out of 10, it had a couple of really inventive kills as well..Carrie Fisher was great as the ballsy house mother and the other actors did a good job as well.It was good to see Jamie Chung who is a former Real World cast member actually acting.Leah Pipes as Jessica was the stand out of the sorority sisters she made being a bitch look effortless.It's definitely a re-watcher due to good story,colorful characters and for the guys T and A..It didn't disappoint..

- If the Slasher movies of the late 1970's and early 80's were designed to accommodate to what young Males wanted to see in this type of stuff (nudity, funny scenarios, beer drinking, a crazy killer and tons of gore), then this remake of THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW is a modern day social equivalent in the opposite fashion. SORORITY ROW is essentially catering to the female Horror audience and not in a good way. This is a Slasher movie designed to look pretty for young College girls who don't want all the insane gore of something unrated. Yet, it's also "adult" enough not to bore it's desired target audience. Thus, giving way to some really cool death scenes and a whole bunch of stupid nonsense in between.

The basic story behind SORORITY ROW is a simple one that tries to be more complex than it needs to be. In an elaborate joke on one of the Sorority sister's little Brother, a bunch of girls decide it would be funny to stage a fake death of a fellow Sister and make said Brother think it was his fault. In short, he thinks he over drugged this girl with roofies ("killing" her) when in actuality she was okay. They drive her body to this empty rock quarry, taking the joke far beyond it's limit of believability, in an attempt to further scare this guy by telling him they have to cut the body to pieces. The younger Brother of this Sorority Sister jumps the gun on the dirty work, shoving a tire iron or some other tool into her chest (which doesn't make sense if they're just going to cut her up, she's not a Vampire after all), accidentally killing her in the process. After they realize what happend (and after some really bad over acting) they decide to dump the body, take the oath and hope for the best. If any of this sounds familiar, thats because it is. Faster than any of you can say, "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER", the bodies start piling up and the mystery begins. Then again, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER rips off THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW to some degree itself.

This isn't a very fun Slasher movie. Normally when your watching someone like Jason Voorhees from FRIDAY THE 13H or "Leather Face" from TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, it's a fun little cheesy shock fest. With this SORORITY ROW remake, all the fun has been sucked out and replaced with annoying fashions, annoying people and annoying music. This movie is definitely a sign of the times. Some times that can work with a Horror movie, in this case it does not. SORORITY ROW is loud, bright and annoyingly out of touch with what makes a good Horror remake. Half the girls in this movie look like rejected members from the PUSSY CAT DOLLS, while all the guys are idiotic jock push overs. This isn't gritty "old school" Horror. This isn't a good remake like the 2006 reimagining of THE HILLS HAVE EYES. This is nothing more than "glam" Horror. The bottom line, it's a Slasher film designed for girls.

Gore wise, some of the scenes are pretty cool. People get stabbed, chopped and hacked with despicable glee. Gore Hounds, check it out for an interesting scene in which a bottle is shoved down some ones throat! The killer in this movie looked pretty cool (a long black graduation cloak) and his weapon of choice was a sharpened tire iron tool, which was also cool. He was actually a very menacing killer until they revealed who he was at the very end. The "twist" was obvious for anyone who's seen a Horror movie in their life. Talk about paint by the numbers.

If only the director of this movie could have fixed some of the blunt problems, made better choices in terms of plot and spiced up some of the cinematography, SORORITY ROW might have turned out better than it did. Instead, this movie is just a product catering to it's audience and in terms of that, it works. Hot girls looking hot when they're in peril, and death scenes making them look good in the process. They even use classical music during parts (like when they drop the girl in the well), in an attempt to fool it's audience into thinking they're getting a classy, all woman fronted Horror movie. Don't buy it folks. These movies are only for laughing at while drinking at a party with friends. That might be giving the movie too much credit for some.

I've said my bit. Over and out.

The Informant! (2009)

2010-03-02T08:39:00.000-06:00

Product Details

Actors: Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey
Directors: Steven Soderbergh
Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 23, 2010
Run Time: 108 minutes

29 Reviews
5 star: (7)
4 star: (11)
3 star: (3)
2 star: (5)
1 star: (3)

› See all 29 customer reviews...
ASIN: B0031OCY2E

Product Description

A RISING STAR AT AGRI-INDUSTRY GIANT ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND WHITACRE SUDDENLY TURNS WHISTLEBLOWER. EVEN AS HE EXPOSES HIS COMPANY'S MULTI-NATIONAL PRICE-FIXING CONSPIRACY TO THE FBI, WHITACRE ENVISIONS HIMSELF BEING HAILED AS A HERO OF THE COMMON MAN AND HANDED A PROMOTION.

Amazon.com

Steven Soderbergh's The Informant!--like the director's one-two Oscar® punch, Erin Brockovich and Traffic--is an energetic exposé of corporate/criminal chicanery with wide-ranging implications for life in these United States. Not so much like those movies, it plays as hyper-caffeinated comedy. At its center is Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a biochemist and junior executive at agri-giant Archer Daniels Midland who, in 1992, began feeding the FBI evidence of ADM's involvement in price fixing. Mark's motive for doing so is elusive, sometimes self-contradictory, and subject to mutation at any moment. To describe him as bipolar would be akin to finding the Marx Brothers somewhat zany. His Fed handlers, along with the audience, start thinking of him as a hapless goofball. Then they and we get blind-sided with the revelation of further dimensions of Mark's life at ADM, and the nature of the investigation--and the movie--changes. That will happen again. And again. It's Soderbergh's ingenious strategy to make us fellow travelers on Mark's crazy ride, virtually infecting us with a short-term version of his dysfunctionality.

Props to screenwriter Scott Z. Burns for boiling down Kurt Eichenwald's 600-page book The Informant: A True Story without sacrificing coherence. And Matt Damon, bulked up by 30 pounds and spluttering his manic lines from under a caterpillar mustache, reconfirms his virtuosity and his willingness to dive deep into such a dodgy personality. On the downside, despite a small army of comedians in cameo roles, The Informant! has nothing like the rich field of subsidiary characters encountered in Erin Brockovich and Traffic. That lack of vibrancy is aggravated by the dominance of prairie-flat Midwest speech patterns and cadences (most of the film unreels in Illinois), and the razzmatazz score by veteran tunesmith Marvin Hamlisch sounds like pep-rally music on an industrial film. Soderbergh also photographed the movie (under his pseudonym Peter Andrews), and his decision to show everything through a corn-mush filter turns it into a big-screen YouTube experience. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews

- THE INFORMANT! has an exclamation point after the title for a good reason - it suggests that even the writers and actors as well as the usually superb Steven Soderbergh had a tough time figuring out how to make this story into an entertaining while quite implausible movie. Though based on a true story the movie is basically a running monologue by the hyperkinetic Matt Damon in a role that suits him not at all. At moments it seems like an outrageous comedy, then at others it appears as yet another appalling exposé of how big business and big politics intertwine to the detriment of our environment and moral deterioration. No one seems to know how to treat this piece, and maybe that is just as well. Keep the exclamation point after the title - that sort of tells it all. Side step this film if you are a fan of Soderbergh or Matt Damon. Grady Harp, February 10

- MY SCIENCE TEACHER MR. CARLISLE TOLD ME I HAD TO SEE THIS FILM, SO I GOT ONE OF THE LADIES IN MY CHURCH TO SHOW ME HOW TO SIGN UP TO THE AMAZON AND ORDER A DVD. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS AT FIRST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T WORKED A COMPUTER FOR THAT LONG AND I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING OUT MY DEBIT CARD INFORMATION, BUT BEA TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT SO I TOOK THE PLUNGE. IT WAS EASY! FIRST I SIGNED ONTO TO THE AMAZON AND ENTERED THE NAME OF THE MOVIE IN THE RECTANGULAR BOX NEXT TO THE WORDS "ALL DEPARTMENTS" THAT COMES UP ON THE FIRST WEB PAGE. THEN THE SCREEN CHANGED AND THE NAME OF THE MOVIE CAME UP, ALONG WITH ITS PRICE AND THE AVAILABILITY INFORMATION. AFTER A BIT OF SEARCHING, ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, I FOUND A BUTTON THAT SAID "ADD TO CART," SO I PRESSED THE BUTTON, AND WHEN I DID THAT, THE SCREEN CHANGED AGAIN AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ITEMS CAME UP THAT WERE RECOMMENDED TO ME BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO'D BOUGHT THE SAME MOVIE BOUGHT THESE OTHER ITEMS TOO. NEAT! WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME, THE AMAZON THOUGHTFULLY SUGGESTED OTHER SELECTIONS I MIGHT HAVE AN INTEREST IN. MY BANK ACCOUNT'S A LITTLE LOW, SO I PASSED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS (FOR NOW) AND FOUND A BUTTON TELLING ME TO "PROCEED TO CHECKOUT," JUST LIKE IN A WAL-MART! THEN WHEN I DID THAT, I HAD TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT AND TYPING IN MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. ONCE AGAIN I HAD SOME MISGIVINGS, BUT BEA WAS RIGHT THERE BY MY SIDE AND PROMISED ME IT'D BE OKAY. AFTER I GOT THROUGH WITH THAT, ANOTHER SCREEN CAME UP ASKING ME TO PUT IN MY SHIPPING ADDRESS. SO I PUT IN THE ADDRESS TO THE HOUSE WHERE I'VE LIVED WITH MAMA FOR THE PAST SEVENTEEN AND A HALF YEARS. BUT THAT WASN'T THE END OF THE STORY. NEXT I HAD TO SPECIFY THE METHOD OF SHIPPING. AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO SEE THIS MOVIE, I WASN'T IN ENOUGH OF A HURRY TO PAY EXTRA SHIPPING, SO I WENT WITH THE STANDARD SHIPPING OPTION RATHER THAN THE TWO-DAY SHIPPING OR THE ONE-DAY SHIPPING CHOICE. THAT'S WHEN THE SCREEN CAME UP ASKING HOW I WANTED TO PAY FOR IT, AND I GOT ALL NERVOUS AGAIN. I HESITATED FOR A FEW MINUTES, BUT BEATRICE TOLD ME IT'D BE OKAY AND HELD ONE OF MY HANDS WHILE I TYPED IN MY DEBIT CARD INFORMATION WITH THE OTHER. I SAID A QUICK PRAYER AND HIT THE CONTINUE BUTTON AND THEN I CAME TO THE LAST SCREEN, WHERE I WAS ASKED TO PLEASE REVIEW AND SUBMIT MY ORDER. I READ IT OVER THREE TIMES, THEN PUT THE ARROW ON THE YELLOW "PLACE YOUR ORDER" BUTTON, CLOSED MY EYES, AND CLICKED THE MOUSE. AFTER THAT I WAS TOLD MY ORDER HAD BEEN PROCESSED.

NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T ORDERED ANYTHING FROM THE AMAZON BEFORE, YOU PROBABLY THINK THAT WAS THE END OF THE STORY, BUT IT WASN'T. WHEN I CHECKED MY GMAIL ACCOUNT THE NEXT DAY, I SAW THE AMAZON PEOPLE HAD SENT ME A FRIENDLY E-MAIL TELLING ME MY ORDER WAS BEING PROCESSED AND WOULD SOON BE SENT. IN THE MESSAGE, THEY TOLD ME I COULD GO ONLINE AND TRACK THE SHIPMENT SO I'D KNOW WHAT STAGE OF THE SHIPPING PROCESS IT WAS IN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SO I DID THAT FOR THE NEXT FIVE DAYS. I WOULD SIGN ONTO THE AMAZON, ENTER MY PASSWORD, AND CLICK ON THE "TRACK MY SHIPMENT" OPTION. YOU GUESSED IT. THIS TOOK ME TO ANOTHER SCREEN. HERE I LEARNED IT WAS BEING SHIPPED OUT OF KENTUCKY AND WAS COMING VIA THE US POSTAL SERVICE. FOR A COUPLE DAYS I DIDN'T SEE ANY CHANGE, BUT ON THE FIFTH DAY IT TOLD ME THE SHIPMENT HAD BEEN DELIVERED!

WHEN I GOT DONE WITH SCHOOL THAT DAY, I RAN HOME AND FOUND MY PACKAGE WAITING FOR ME, JUST LIKE THE AMAZON HAD SAID! I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE OPENING THE CARDBOARD CONTAINER THE MOVIE CAME IN, BUT THE DVD WAS SAFE AND SOUND INSIDE A BUBBLE OF PLASTIC WRAP, ALONG WITH A PACKAGING SLIP TELLING ME WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING. NOW, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D EVER BOUGHT A DVD, AND YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW HARD IT WAS TO UNWRAP THE PACKAGING THAT SUCKER CAME IN! FIRST IT HAD THE TOUGHEST LAYER OF SHRINKWRAP I'D EVER SEEN, BUT ONCE I GOT THAT OFF, I STILL COULDN'T OPEN THE DVD CASE. ON THE TOP AND ALONG THE SIDES OF THE CASE THERE WERE LABELS AFFIXED THERE THAT KEPT THE CASE FROM OPENING. THIS WAS TOUGHER TO GET OFF THAN YOU'D THINK BECAUSE THE GLUE ATTACHING IT WAS SUPER-STRONG, AND THE LABELS THEMSELVES WERE FLIMSY, SO YOU'D START TO GET PART OF THE LABEL OFF AND THEN THE PIECE YOU WERE HOLDING ONTO WOULD BREAK OFF, AND YOU'D HAVE TO START OVER. I GOT MAMA TO HELP ME OUT, OR I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE EVER GOTTEN THOSE THINGS COMPLETELY OFF. ANYWAY, ONCE THE CASE WAS OPEN, I INSPECTED THE DISK AND FOUND IT TO BE PERFECT SHAPE. NO SCRATCHES OR ANYTHING! SO IF YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO'S ALWAYS WANTED TO ORDER SOMETHING ONLINE BUT IS AFRAID TO, TAKE IT FROM CUBBY. IT'S EASY AND SAFE!

I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO WATCHING THE MOVIE YET.

- This was a good based-on-a-true-story kind of film, with good performances from Damon, Bakula, Lynskey, Brown, and company. Soderbergh did another fine job of directing it, with a tight screenplay by Scott Burns. I won't spoil it by telling you what's really going on with the main character; you need to sit and watch it so you can get full satisfaction in that regard.

I just can't fathom why there are no extras on this DVD, as there are on so many others--unless they're really horrible. And this one certainly isn't horrible. It's puzzling.

- Napoleon Dynamite + Cheesy 70s Movies + Steven Soderbourgh

This movie has me in stitches. From the music to the hillarious asides to the cinematography. It's wall to wall dry humor.

- In some ways this is an ideal film. It does something new and pushes boundaries without resorting to the blunt instruments of smut or abstraction. By casting the ADM scandal in terms of a "dramedy", the filmmakers here have set the stage for Matt Damon to give a strange yet wonderful performance. But in other ways the film acts like an eccentric boyfriend a granddaughter brings home to grandma's house at Thanksgiving. Both mean well, but their light treatment of serious themes can rub the wrong way certain people who don't share in their kind of humor nor understand their disposition. For myself, I liked the film a lot despite its occasional tendency to stretch its zaniness too far for its own good. I'm rather of the opinion that we need more films whose makers are willing to creatively realign genre boundaries and present fresh material by uniquely blending what is already there. If the film pushes just a little too hard in certain odd directions, it at least entertains in the process.

Ponyo (2008)

2010-02-23T08:21:00.000-06:00

Ponyo (2008)

Product Details
Actors: Noah Lindsey Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English, French, Japanese, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 103 minutes

Amazon.com

Ponyo confirms Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki's reputation as one of the most imaginative filmmakers working today. Loosely based on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid," Ponyo is a magical celebration of innocent love and the fragile beauty of the natural world. The daughter of the sea goddess Gran Mamare (voiced by Cate Blanchett) and the alchemist Fujimoto (Liam Neeson), Ponyo (Noah Cyrus) begins life as an adventurous little goldfish. Chafing at her father's restrictions, she goes in search of adventure and meets Sosuke (Frankie Jonas), a good-natured 5-year-old who lives by the sea. Sosuke adopts Ponyo and quickly wins her heart. Fujimoto uses magic to bring her back, but Ponyo's love for Sosuke proves stronger than his elixirs. She transforms herself into a human girl and returns to him during a spectacular storm at sea, but her metamorphosis upsets the balance of nature, precipitating a crisis only Gran Mamare can resolve. Ponyo contains fantastic moments that suggest dreams-- and reassert the power of hand-drawn animation to create memorable fantasies: No effects-laden Hollywood feature can match the wonder of Ponyo running along the tops of crashing waves on her way back to Sosuke. Ponyo is closer in tone to My Neighbor Totoro than Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle, and will appeal to audiences of all ages, including small children. The #1 film in Japan in 2008, Ponyo earned more than ¥14.9 billion (over US$155 million) to become the 8th highest grossing film in Japanese history. (Rated G: A few scary moments, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

Welcome to a world where anything is possible! Academy Award winning director Hayao Miyazaki (2002, Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away) and legendary filmmaker John Lasseter together with Disney bring to life a heartwarming and imaginative telling of Hans Christian Andersen s classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid. A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they embark on a fantastic journey of friendship and discovery before Ponyo s father, a powerful sorcerer, forces her to return to her home in the sea. But Ponyo s desire to be human upsets the delicate balance of nature and triggers a gigantic storm. Only Ponyo s mother, a beautiful sea goddess, can restore nature s balance and make Ponyo s dreams come true. Ponyo will delight your family with its magnificent animation and timeless story.

Customer Reviews

- This is the first film in quite a few years that I have so thoroughly disliked. Many admirers claim "it's hand-drawn, not the cold, heartless work of computers!" or "the symbolism is so important and you obviously don't get it," or "Miyazaki's a master!" or "you need to attend to what's not being said as much as what IS being said." I still say any film that has a father-figure dressed like a bad drag combo of Ann-Margaret and Cher, any film that has a mother ignore warnings and outrace a flood in her crappy car and then LEAVE her very young child alone (with a strange fish!) in said flood in order to check on a bunch of old folks who are in an institution miles away with other guardians, any film that allows 5-year-olds to determine their destinies in love, and any film that so clearly wimps out at its climax is hooey. Enjoy the magic! Revel in childhood innocence! Accept the unacceptable! Yep, heard and read it all before. Ponyo's annoying and endless repetition of "Sosuke" and "ham" is grating (not cute), and the ecological message is heavy-handed. Miyazaki is more interested in emotions than conflict; yet, without conflict, emotional impact is lost. Again, I'm supposed to believe that this boy and fish are drawn (pun intended) together? Are fated soul-mates? Kids, get back to me in 20 years and let's see how you're doing. Yes, I hear the collective intake of great indignation, but for me, this was an exercise in tedium and sappiness. I only wish the cat had fished Ponyo out of the bucket and made a meal of her....

- This movie was just plain weird. Freaky and a bit scary for kids (I have both a 5 and 6 yo). Very cheap animation, nothing like any animated movie nowadays, very old-school looking. I can get over that, no big deal. But the fact that the human mother in the movie got mad at her husband and called him a jerk, slammed down the phone and chugged a beer, is not my idea of what to portray to a 5 year old. The fish/man/freak father in the movie was a bit scary, following them around and making waters flood the lands, etc. Kids don't understand that kind of thing. Oh, and the 5 year old fish and human boy in the movie have to decide if they are true loves. Really?? Yes, lets leave that decision to a five year old-quite normal. These writers ought to be slapped.

- Ponyo (ÑÂ¤ÎÉÏ¤Î¥Ý¥Ë¥ç, Gake no Ue no Ponyo?, literally "Ponyo on the Cliff"), initially titled in English as Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, is a 2008 Japanese animated film by Studio Ghibli, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is Miyazaki's eighth film for Ghibli, and his tenth overall. The plot centers on a goldfish named Ponyo who befriends a five-year-old human boy, S¨suke, and wants to become a human girl.

The film has won several awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.[2] It was released in Japan on July 19, 2008 and August 14, 2009 in the US and Canada,[3] where it reached #9 in the box office charts for its opening weekend.[4]

I first when I found out who was doing the english dubbed I was a little worry. Cause like for totoro dakota fanning didn't do such a good job as for the orginal cast. I love the movie so much. I been waiting when this was going to be realse. If you worryed wheather it good or not. You should buy it. by the way studio ghilbi is making a new movie

The Borrower Arrietty

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The Borrower Arrietty

Poster advertising The Borrower Arrietty in Japan.

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Produced by Toshio Suzuki

Written by Hayao Miyazaki

Music by Cecile Corbel (theme song)

Cinematography TBA

Editing by TBA

Studio Studio Ghibli

Distributed by Toho (Japan)

Walt Disney Pictures

Release date(s) July 17, 2010 (2010-07-17)

Country Japan

Language Japanese

The Borrower Arrietty (½è¤ê¤°¤é¤·¤Î¥¢¥ê¥¨¥Ã¥Æ¥£, Karigurashi no Arrietty?) is a 2010 Japanese anime film to be produced by Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli, based on the fantasy novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton.[1][2]

The upcoming film is slated for a July 17, 2010 release in Japan and will mark the directorial debut of Studio Ghibli animator Hiromasa Yonebayashi, who will be the youngest person to direct a film for Ghibli. Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki will be supervising the production as a developing planner

- As a long time fan of Hayao Miyazaki, I was overjoyed when I learned that he had created yet another one of his masterpieces, and now it's going to be released at the beginning of next month!

I actually had the chance to watch the full movie before I bought it, and I have to say it's just as charming, sweet and at the same time entertaining as any other of his masterpieces. In fact, I am in college and I'd rather watch this movie than Princess Mononoke sometimes (even though Princess Mononoke was a stellar film also). Once again we see that he has placed an ecological lesson for us in the guise of a children's movie which is wonderfully delightful if you're a grown up kid as well. That's perhaps the best part of this movie: it doesn't just entertain, but it brings up important issues that we in the real world cannot afford to ignore.

Ponyo is not only irresistibly adorable, she is a very determined little goldfish whose desire is to be human, which I think too many people take for granted. FIve year old Sosuke is beyond precious in his efforts to take care of Ponyo, and both children can bring you back to a time when everything was much simpler.

And then of course, there's the part that Miyazaki-sensei is known for more than anything: the sheer beauty of his work. Even though this is a children's movie, no corners were cut in the animation of this film, in my opinion. Just the opening scene alone of the jelly fish rising in the ocean is mesmerizing to say the least.

Now having said that, I only have one warning: DON'T LISTEN TO THE DUB!

Well, the Disney dub was at best OKAY, but it was certainly no substitute for the original actors.

To conclude without revealing too much, this movie is a must have for any Hayao Miyazaki fan, or anybody who's never even heard of him before.

- The following was originally posted to the Ponyo Theatrical Release:

First off, let me say that Miyazaki is one of my favorite directors and animators. Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Whisper of the Heart are just some of my favorites.

The problem I had is two-fold: 1) The animation was, IMO, sub-par. As another reviewer mentions Miyazaki aimed this movie at 5 year olds, well I'm not letting them have all the fun in what may be his last movie, so 1 ticket please! But I digress, Lisa's character (voiced by Tina Fey) was not well drawn, Look at her body symmetry, specifically her legs, as an example. I've seen art for children and frankly it can be done better or worse, depending on the illustrator. Since I've seen most, if not all his previous work, I guess I was expecting better. The attention to detail found in previous works was missing here. 2) The story was simple enough, again aimed at 5 year olds. But, in addition to being somewhat slow, it begs the question: What value did Sosuke's Dad bring to the story? He could have been left out completely as far as I can tell. Also, compared to Chihiro, I think Sosuke's test was simultaneously anti-climactic and daunting. In order to bring balance to the world's oceans a 5 year old is expected to love someone he has just met? I mean, a test of bravery would have been better, again IMO, to show his true character. I also think the audience might have responded to this a little better. Finally, such a star-studded cast. Wow, talk about wasting talent. I'm sure the fact that Miyazaki's films haven't done well in US theaters might be part of the motivation, and it did work, but unless you are good at picking out voices, most of the characters don't get enough voice time to matter much. Now granted, I didn't go to the movie to hear Cloris Leachman or Lily Tomlin, but I was expecting a little more screen time for Liam Neeson's Dad.

I've been waiting for this movie to hit theaters for a year, and this might be the reason I'm being a little hard on the movie, but Miyazaki is not getting any younger and I'd like to think he plans on going out on a high note.

I know that what I've done is probably equivalent to punching a kitten, and I'm likely to get roasted by my fellow reviewers, but this was not my intention, just my opinion, so spare me the righteous indignation please. BTW, my 9 year old daughter loved the movie and wants to see it again.

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

2010-02-23T08:14:00.000-06:00

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Actors: Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener
Directors: Spike Jonze
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 101 minutes

Amazon.com

Through his handcrafted ode to the trials of childhood, Spike Jonze puts his own unique imprint on Maurice Sendak's enduring classic. In the prologue, 9-year-old Max (Max Records) stomps around the house, feeling neglected. When his mom (Catherine Keener) sends him to bed without supper, Max runs away (something he doesn't do in the book). He finds a boat and sails to a distant land where fuzzy monsters are raising a rumpus in the forest. Since his wolf suit allows him to fit right in, he joins the fray, catching the eye of Carol (James Gandolfini, excellent), who notes, approvingly, "I like the way you destroy stuff. There's a spark to your work that can't be taught." With that, they pronounce the diminutive creature king, hoping he can bring cohesion to their fractured family. After Max comes across Carol's scale-model town, he decides they should build a real one, but the project stalls as Alexander (Paul Dano) and Douglas (Chris Cooper) mope, Judith (Catherine O'Hara) browbeats Ira (Forest Whitaker), and Carol pines for K.W. (Lauren Ambrose), who prefers the company of owls Bob and Terry. Max realizes he has to make a choice: stay with the wild things or return home, where he has to keep his aggressive impulses in check. For readers of Sendak's slim tome, his decision won't come as a surprise, but Jonze ends the story on a lovely grace note. Until that time, the squabbling is a bit much--these monsters never stop talking--but Jonze, cowriter Dave Eggers, the Jim Henson Company, and singer/songwriter Karen O. have gone all-out to re-create the inner world of a child with as much empathy as was mustered for the inner adult world of Jonze's Being John Malkovich. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

- Growing up, this was my favorite book. Spike Jones has made two of my favorite movies of all time, but I'm afraid to say this missed more than it hit. I only give it three stars because it had a few magical moments. I was very disappointed.

- This was playing on our airplane flight coming home from the East Coast. My 9 year old son was so excited. After about 15 minutes I couldn't even watch it anymore and took my headphones off. About 5 minutes later he took his off and told me he didn't like it at all. After we landed my husband who was sitting across from us said he made it 10 minutes into it and thought it was one of the worst movies he had ever seen. Don't waste your time or money!

- Picture every single indie rock cliche that ever existed, and put them in a blender, and voila! Karen O and the kids. VOMIT.

- this is different by the waa of the wild things (how they look)the talkers seem to act like a group of people with lot of comedy if you can pick up on it and its different its not really an adult or teen movie but all ages could like it.

- If you took your kids to see this and though or have heard from other parents that this movie is inappropriate for children, then go ahead and continue to make movies like G-Force and Alvin and the Chimpmonks top grossing movies, because that's what you're looking for. You're not looking for a movie tailor made to make you actually have to discuss with your kids what they saw. You obviously are looking for giant commercials to flash in front of your children that will sell them toys and music so they are distracted long enough for you to have some "peace and quiet". I mean, god forbid you would have to actually TALK to your children about what they watch and what it means or what lessons the main character learned and what deep seeded actual EMOTIONS your kids go through every day. Or ask your children if they have ever had to imagine they were somewhere else to make sense of the incomprehensible feelings they have and don't understand.

This is the most realistic interpretation of what REAL kids feel and think since, well forever. And if you think the subjects, actions, and feelings are unrealistic to how kids all over feel today, then seriously start being a parent and actually talk to your kids.

Good Hair (2009)

2010-02-14T21:47:00.000-06:00

Good Hair (2009)

Actors: Chris Rock
Directors: Jeff Stilson
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 96 minutes

When one of Chris Rock's young daughters asked him an innocent question about having "good hair," the comedian probably had no idea just how complicated the answer would be. Fortunately for us, he decided to find out, and the result is this funny, informative, and highly entertaining documentary of the same name. Turns out that for a great many African-American women (and quite a few men, too), "good hair" means "white hair"--i.e., straight and lanky--while the natural or "nappy" look is bad. And oh, the lengths and expense women will go to in order to get "good hair"! In the course of the film, which was directed by Jeff Stilson and cowritten by Rock and several others, Rock first travels to Atlanta, home of the Bronner Brothers Hair Show, where thousands of folks buy and learn how to use new products (the show is also the site of the outrageous and climactic Hair Battle Royale, in which four stylists compete for money and fame). It's there that he learns about sodium hydroxide, better known as hair "relaxer," the "nap antidote," or the "creamy crack" (as effective as the chemical substance is for straightening hair, it can also be highly dangerous). In Harlem and Los Angeles, he investigates the extraordinary popularity of hair weaves, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars annually to create and maintain; Rock even goes to Madras, India, source of most of the hair used in weaves (for Indian women, tonsure, or shaving their heads, is a ritual act of self-sacrifice). Along the way, Rock interviews a great many young women with fabulous hair (including actresses Nia Long, Raven-Symoné, and Kerry Washington, and rappers Salt-N-Pepa), but he also talks to the esteemed poet Maya Angelou, as well as men like rapper-actor Ice-T and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton, who is very amusing (he's referred to as "the Dalai Lama of relaxed hair"), is about the only celeb who touches on racial issues, pointing out that while it's African Americans who use the overwhelming majority of these hair products, the companies who sell them tend to be owned by Asians. Some viewers may object to the film's lack of a strong socio-political stance, but others will no doubt prefer the lighter touch, including a hilarious discussion at a barber shop about dating women with hair weaves (basically, it's "hands off the hair, pal").

Product Description

Chris Rock visits beauty salons and hairstyling battles, scientific laboratories and Indian temples to explore the way hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of the black community in this exposé of comic proportions that only he could pull off. A raucous adventure prompted by Rock’s daughter approaching him and asking, "Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?”, GOOD HAIR shows Chris Rock engaging in frank, funny conversations with hair-care professionals, beauty shop and barbershop patrons, and celebrities including Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Dr. Maya Angelou, Salt-N-Pepa, Eve and Reverend Al Sharpton – all while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter's question.

2012 (2009)

2010-02-12T02:08:00.000-06:00

2012 (2009)

Actors: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson, Tom McCarthy
Directors: Roland Emmerich
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures
DVD Release Date: March 2, 2010
Run Time: 158 minutes
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Now this is how you destroy the world. Roland Emmerich's 2012 pounces on a Nostradamus-style loophole in the Mayan calendar and rams the apocalypse through it, gleefully conjuring up an enormous amount of Saturday-matinee fun in the process. A scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) detects shifting continental plates and sun flares and realizes that this foretells the imminent destruction of the planet. Just as the molten lava is about to hit the fan, a novelist (John Cusack) takes his kids on a trip to Yellowstone; later he'll hook up with his ex (Amanda Peet) and her new boyfriend (Tom McCarthy) in a global journey toward safety. If there is any safety. The suitably hair-raising plot lines are punctuated--frequently, people, frequently--by visions of mayhem around the globe: the Vatican falls over, the White House is clobbered (Emmerich's Independence Day was not enough on that score), and the California coastline dives into the Pacific Ocean. Unlike other action directors we could name, Emmerich actually understands how to let you see and drink in these vast special-effects vistas--and they are incredible. He also honors the old Irwin Allen disaster-movie tradition by actually shelling out for good actors. Cusack and Ejiofor are convincing even in the cheesiest material; toss in Danny Glover (the U.S. president), Woody Harrelson (a nut-bar conspiracy-theorizing radio host), Thandie Newton, and Oliver Platt, and you've got a very watchable batch of people. Emmerich hasn't developed an ear for dialogue, even at this stage in his career, and the final act goes on a bit too long. This is a very silly movie, but if you've got a weakness for B-movie energy and hairbreadth escapes, 2012 delivers quite a bit of both.

Product Description

From Roland Emmerich, director of THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW and INDEPENDENCE DAY, comes the ultimate action-adventure film, exploding with groundbreaking special effects. As the world faces a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions, cities collapse and continents crumble. 2012 brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. Starring John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Woody Harrelson and Danny Glover.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

2010-02-11T08:21:00.000-06:00

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Actors: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Leslie Bibb, Viola Davis, Michael Gambon
Format: Color, Widescreen
Language: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Overture Films/Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 108 minutes
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

The legal thriller meets the serial-killer shocker in Law Abiding Citizen. The story begins when home invaders kill Clyde Shelton's wife and daughter. The bereaved father (played by a thoroughly unsympathetic Gerard Butler) looks to slick Philly prosecutor Nick Rice (a low-key Jamie Foxx) to see that they receive the maximum sentence. Instead, the murderer, Ames, testifies against his accomplice, Darby, who gets the chair, while he gets 10 years. Upon his release, Ames' mutilated body turns up in an abandoned warehouse, and all roads lead to Shelton. Rice attempts to defend him, but his client makes it impossible--Shelton wants to go to prison--so he does time, but then members of Rice’s legal team start to die. The attorney suspects Shelton, but can't connect him to the crimes, so he races against the clock to save the lives of his assistant, Sarah (Leslie Bibb), D.A. Jonas (Bruce McGill), and his own wife and child. The movie may sound like a Yank reboot of the Japanese chiller Cure, in which an inmate kills from inside institutional walls, but plays more like a mash-up between The Silence of the Lambs, without the psychological complexity, and The Devil's Advocate, without the cynical giggles. F. Gary Gray got his start with hip-hop videos and urban action flicks, like Set It Off, until he hit the big time with his remake of The Italian Job. Law Abiding Citizen is a disappointing muddle from a director who's done better in the past and will surely do better in the future.

Product Description

Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is an upstanding family man whose wife and daughter are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When the killers are caught, Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), a hotshot young Philadelphia prosecutor, is assigned to the case. Over his objections, Nick is forced by his boss to offer one of the suspects a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his accomplice. Fast forward ten years. The man who got away with murder is found dead and Clyde Shelton admits his guilt. Then he issues a warning to Nick: Either fix the flawed justice system, or key players in the trial will die. Soon Shelton follows through on his threats, orchestrating from his jail cell a string of spectacularly diabolical assassinations that can be neither predicted nor prevented. Only Nick can stop the killing and finds himself in a desperate race against time facing a deadly adversary who seems always to be one step ahead.

Couples Retreat (2009)

2010-02-11T08:05:00.000-06:00

Couples Retreat (2009)

Actors: Jason Bateman, Charlotte Cornwell, Jon Favreau, Amy Hill, Faizon Love
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Run Time: 114 minutes
Genre: Comedy

Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau team up after their '90s career-making hit, Swingers, to write and costar in Couples Retreat, a romantic comedy that's heavy on the satire, but is also knowing and wry, as Swingers is at its best. Vaughn and Favreau are joined in the top-notch cast by the always engaging Kristin Bell (whose appearance with Vaughn, in a romantic tropical setting, may remind viewers of Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), Faizon Love, and Jean Reno. Fans of romantic comedies, and comedies of manners, will be delighted at the snappy interaction among the actors, and the zingers delivered by the script.

"You are not buying some 20-year-old broad a motorcycle!" yells Vaughn's character, Dave, to Love's character, Shane, who's having an early midlife crisis. "She's a kid! Buy her a Hello Kitty book!" Turns out that all the couples in Dave and Shane's circle are having issues, and decide to take a group tropical vacation. Ah, but there's a catch: the island getaway comes with mandatory couples counseling and bonding events. Most of the film's laughs come from cringe-worthy fish-out-of-water moments, though there are some pretty great fish-in-water moments, too: Dave begins to panic during a test involving swimming with sharks. "It's time to get the gun, and shoot some fish!"

Reno is also a standout, as the unctuous New Age-y director of the retreat, fearless in spewing half-nonsense yet having the almost admirable courage to stand behind his convictions. The film was directed with a light hand by Peter Billingsley, who starred as young Ralphie in A Christmas Story, and who has acted with Vaughn in Four Christmases and The Break-Up. And somehow, among the lunacy and the beauty of nature, friends and soulmates may just find the way back to each other. Just steer clear of the Jet Skis.

Product Description

Vince Vaughn leads an all-star cast in the laugh-out-loud comedy about eight friends whose vacation in paradise is one they’ll never forget. Their group-rate vacation comes at a price when they discover that participation in the resort's unconventional couples therapy activities is anything but optional. Co-starring Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, Faizon Love, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell and Malin Akerman, Couples Retreat is a hilarious party in paradise, loaded with laughter and fun!

A Serious Man (2009)

2010-02-11T07:53:00.000-06:00

A Serious Man (2009)

Actors: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Aaron Wolff
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: February 9, 2010
Run Time: 106 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Joel and Ethan Coen make movies like nobody else's, but even by their standards A Serious Man is in a class by itself: a complete original that's one of the brothers' best. After a deeply weird Yiddish folk-tale prologue set in 19th-century Poland (and framed in the old 1.33:1 format), the picture shifts to the region and era of the Coens' own upbringing, a Minneapolis suburb in 1967. Larry Gopnik (a superbly concentrated portrait in comic anguish by Michael Stuhlbarg) is a college physics prof facing a welter of crises and distractions: review by the tenure committee, son Danny's bar mitzvah, a cryptic-verging-on-sinister protest from a Korean-American student, the alienation of wife Judith's affections by widower Sy Ableman, the ongoing encroachment of brother Arthur and his sebaceous cyst--and don't even mention the proto-Nazi who lives next door. All these, and more, form a screenplay of such intricacy that the blackly comic tensions of one shaggy-dog narrative strand leap synapse-like to another; the movie becomes a symphony of metaphysical dread. Working again with world-class cameraman Roger Deakins and editing, as always, under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes, the Coens maintain impeccable control over the movie's look and timing. This is more crucial than ever, given that in the precarious universe they define, "actions have consequences." Then again, so does nonaction; not ordering "the monthly main selection" from the Columbia Record Club means you've ordered it. The main-title credits almost flaunt the fact that most of the cast members will be unfamiliar to us (though they all deliver); best known are Richard Kind as Arthur, Adam Arkin as Larry's divorce lawyer, and Michael Lerner (the studio boss in Barton Fink) doing a hilarious, wordless cameo as Solomon Schlutz. Special praise is due Fred Melamed, seizing the role of a lifetime as the unctuous Sy Ableman; Amy Landecker as Mrs. Samsky, the multifariously zoned-out siren who's Larry's other next-door neighbor; and Ari Hoptman as Arlen, Larry's mealy-mouthed academic colleague who can't resist hinting at the latest rumblings from the tenure committee, even if he can't really say anything.

Product Description

Academy Award®-winning directors Joel and Ethan Coen return to their comedy roots with this original and darkly humorous story about one ordinary man’s quest to become a serious man. Physics professor Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) can’t believe his life: His wife is leaving him for his best friend, his unemployed brother won’t move off the couch, someone is threatening his career, his kids are a mystery and his neighbor is tormenting him by sunbathing nude. Struggling to make sense of it all, Larry consults three different rabbis and their answers lead him on a twisted journey of faith, family, delinquent behavior and mortality in the film critics rave is “seriously awesome!” (Michael Hogan, Vanity Fair)

Black Dynamite (2009)

2010-02-11T07:34:00.000-06:00

Black Dynamite (2009)

Actors: Michael Jai White
Directors: Scott Sanders
Studio: Sony Pictures
DVD Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 90 minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy

When drug dealers take out his kid brother, ex-CIA agent Black Dynamite (Spawn's Michael Jai White) makes like a karate-chopping dynamo to track them down. Armed with a .44 Magnum, a set of nunchucks, and a sexy 'stache, Big D starts out in the City of Angels, where his buddies Cream Corn (In Living Color's Tommy Davidson), a hustler, and Bullhorn (co-writer Byron Minns), a club owner, offer to lend a hand. The deeper Dynamite digs, the more endangered his life becomes as he uncovers a conspiracy to keep the black man down by flooding the streets with malt liquor and filling the country's orphanages with smack. Since the smooth operator has a way with the ladies, he also enlists Gloria (I Am Legend's Salli Richardson-Whitfield), a socially-conscious soul sister, to aid in his clean-up campaign. Director Scott Sanders and White, who co-wrote the script, collaborated on 1998's Thick as Thieves, and their chemistry shines through. If the supporting cast can be a little wooden, White gives Shaft's Richard Roundtree a run for the money with his cool-cat charisma. Set in 1972, Black Dynamite doesn't just act like a movie from the Superfly era, it looks and sounds like one, too, courtesy Adrian Younge's old-school funk score, Shawn Maurer's 16mm cinematography, a cartoon credit sequence, and some carefully choreographed boom mic appearances. And dig those crazy cameos: Arsenio Hall as Tasty Freeze, Brian McKnight as Sweet Meat, and NBA veteran John Salley as Kotex.

Coco Before Chanel (2009)

2010-02-10T07:24:00.000-06:00

Coco Before Chanel (2009)

Actors: Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde
Directors: Anne Fontaine
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 105 minutes
Genre: Biography, Drama
Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code, Amélie) shines in this intriguing portrait of the early life of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, the orphan who would build a fashion empire and be known universally by her nickname, Coco. She journeys from a mundane seamstress job to boisterous cabarets to the opulent French countryside, possessing little more than her unwavering determination, unique style and visionary talent. Also starring Benoît Poelvoorde (In His Hands) and Alessandro Nivola (Junebug). Featuring lush settings and stunning costume design, Coco Before Chanel is the gripping and dramatic story of an icon who defied convention and defined the modern woman.

Halo Legends (2010)

2010-02-09T18:33:00.000-06:00

Halo Legends (2010)

Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 16, 2010
Run Time: 119 minutes
Actors: Andy McAvin, Deke Anderson, Chris Patton, John Swasey, Chris Ayres
Directors: Daisuke Nishio, Frank O'Connor, Hideki Futamura, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Koji Sawai

This 8 episode anthology of 10-15 minute length each, explores the origin and historical events of the HALO universe, and various characters inhabiting the world. Like Animatrix and Batman Gotham Knight, each of the 8 episodes will be created by a separate prominent Japanese anime producer.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

2010-02-09T07:19:00.000-06:00

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

After finally catching serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball (2010)

2010-02-08T18:18:00.004-06:00

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball

Genre: Action
Rate: R
Release Date: 19 January 2010 (USA)

The director of Smokin’ Aces and Narc brings you back into the adrenaline-pumping world of blood, bullets and badasses. Packed with insane mercenaries, sexy assassins, and more of the fan-favorite Tremor family, this all-new explosive film tells the story of a low-level FBI agent with a high-price on his head! May the best hit man survive!

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

2010-02-08T05:24:00.002-06:00

The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

When Henry DeTamble meets Clare Abshire in a Chicago library they both understand that he is a time traveller, but she she knows much more than this about him as he has not yet been to the times and places where they have met before. He falls in love with her, as she has already with him, but his continuing unavoidable absences time travelling - and then returning with increasing knowledge of their future - makes things ever more difficult for Clare

WWII in HD (2009)

2010-02-08T02:52:00.002-06:00

WWII in HD (2009)

Follow the lives of soldiers who lived Wold War II, through previously unseen color footage.

Emma (2009)

2010-02-08T02:37:00.003-06:00

Emma (2009)

Emma Woodhouse seems to be perfectly content, a loving father whom she cares for, friends, and a home. But Emma has a terrible habit - matchmaking. She cannot resist finding suitors for her friends, most of all Harriot Smith. Emma is desperate for Harriot to find happiness, but every suitor she finds for her friend ends up attracted to Emma herself. But is Emma so focused on Harriot's happiness that she is not considering her own happiness in love?

Michael Jackson: This Is It (2009)

2010-02-07T23:04:00.003-06:00

Michael Jackson: This Is It (2009)

The film opens with a short text introduction stating the purpose of the footage and its intent "For the fans...". After short dialogues from various dancers, Kenny Ortega is heard talking through the original concert opening sequence involving a body suit made from screens which display fast clips and images with bright intensity from which Jackson emerges on stage. Immediately after this, Jackson begins "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" first solo, which pauses half-way through and a small snippet of Jackson singing his song "Speechless" acapella is shown. Jackson is then joined by dancers and completes the first number. A short clip showing rehearsals of the "toaster" mechanism is shown before rehearsal footage of "Jam" is played. This plays directly into the green screen adaption of soldiers dancers for "Bad" which are also used for "They Don't Really Care About Us" which is shown next. From here, the film shows Michael directing Ortega and his band for his solo rehearsal performance of "Human Nature" which he performs acapella, then acoustic and finally with full band. Green screen rehearsals for the video vignette for "Smooth Criminal" come next, with dress rehearsals of the song following, including parts of the vignette intertwined with the dancing. Jackson is seen next directing his musical team for the cues in his song "The Way You Make Me Feel." Jackson then performs a rehearsal with dancers which he alters and changes as he goes. A small animatic introducing the Jackson 5 is shown afterwards, and Michael then rehearses "I Want You Back", "The Love You Save", "I'll Be There" and "Shake Your Body." Jackson stops only to report problems with his earpiece. After this, Jackson sings with one of his back up singers on his duet song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" in which he sings at full strength, directing his partner as he goes. The filming for the "Thriller" vignette is then shown with Jackson and Ortega watching with 3D glasses. Jackson is then seen rehearsing "Thriller" with the vignette intertwined like that in "Smooth Criminal." During the dance sequence, puppets are suspended in the audience aisles while Jackson emerges from a robotic spider originally seen in the vignette. Jackson and Ortega rehearsing the cherry-picker is seen next, along with Jackson rehearsing "Beat It." Jackson creates the ending he wants for the song, a long drum build up in which he tears off his jacket and burns it. Footage of the show's aerialists rehearsing to the instrumental of "Who Is It" is shown next, followed by the Jackson and his band rehearsing "Black or White," in which he allows guitarist Orianthi Panagaris to take center stage to finish with a high guitar rift. The video-sequence for "Earth Song" is shown next, featuring a small girl who wanders through an abundant forest, falls asleep, and wakes up to find the forest destroyed by man. Jackson then performs the song both onstage and using the cherry-picker, with his voice being heard at the end telling of the dangers of Global Warming and the lack of reversible time left. Afterwards, Michael is seen conversing with Ortega, his dancers and band about the shows, trivial dance moves and his hopes for the concert series. He then performs a quick version of his song "Billie Jean" featuring an extra dance sequence. Michael is then seen talking to all crew members and wishing everyone the best for the London performances. At a sound check, Jackson performs "Man In The Mirror" with strong backing vocals. The film ends with Jackson with his arms extended on stage with the message: "Michael Jackson King of Pop Love Lives Forever

Zombieland (2009)

2010-02-07T21:52:00.010-06:00

Zombieland (2009)

The horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss -- but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying' bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

2010-02-07T19:51:00.016-06:00

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost claimed her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella's blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens, who decide to leave the town of Forks, Washington for Bella and Edward's sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even-closer friendship with Jacob Black. Danger in different forms awaits.