The Italian Job

Starring:Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley, Rossano Brazzi, Margaret Blye, Irene Handl, John Le Mesurier, Fred Emney, John Clive, Graham Payn, Michael Standing, Stanley Caine, Barry Cox, Harry Baird, George Innes, John Forgeham, Robert Powell, Derek Ware
Director: Peter Collinson
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Though it bears little resemblance to the original 1969 thriller starring Michael Caine, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honor and dishonor among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham, and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlize Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers play a pivotal role in director F. Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!.......2007-06-15

The Italian Job brings to the screen the story of a group of thieves bent on revenge on one of their own who betrayed them by murdering their leader and running off with the gold.
Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sunderland, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Seth Green, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are commendable to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few thrills, not to mention a few laughs.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all wonderful!
In short, The Italian Job is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!

The Italian Review.......2007-06-03

I live right around the corner from a Mini Coop dealership and I'm an Italian-American, so I thought it fitting that I finally rented this movie. It's a remake of the 1969 original starring Michael Caine. Whereas that film took place in Italy, the remake stays there only for the introduction and then swiftly moves to California.

I love heist films. Like Ocean's Eleven or Heat, it's all about the cast. You can see a pattern in the characters:

THE WHEELMAN: This is the guy who mans the getaway vehicle, be it helicopter, jet, or car. Handsome Rob (Jason Statham, my favorite action hero) plays a decidedly scrappy, suave wheelman. This also happens to be almost the exact character from The Transporter. Hopefully, Statham will move beyond this type of character, but it's a testament to action tropes that he can actually be typecast as "the wheelman."

THE TECH: This guy is almost always a nerd and usually the comic relief. Lyle (Seth Green) nails this role and actually steals the show with his jokes. One ad-libbed sequence of Lyle mocking Handsome Rob is the funniest part of the movie. Of course, the challenge with this sort of character is that he needs to be able to pull off seemingly magical feats of technological wizardry without overshadowing the expertise involved. When Lyle manages to take control of the entire traffic system, you really have to wonder if he couldn't be better off striking out on his own. He's almost too good for the movie.

THE DEMOLITIONIST: The demolitionist's job is to blow things up. Sometimes he's a homicidal maniac, other times he's cool and collected. Left Ear (Mos Def) is a cool customer. And he doesn't like dogs. He gives Lyle competition for the funniest line in the movie:

Left Ear: This dude got dogs. I don't do dogs... I had a real bad experience, man.
Charlie Croker: What happened?
Left Ear: I had. A bad. Experience.

THE OLD MAN: You've seen this guy before. He's probably the former leader of the group. He's seen too much, been around the block too many times, and he knows his days are numbered. He just wants one last, big heist so he can retire forever. He almost always dies in the film. That pretty much sums up John Bridger (Donald Sutherland).

THE HOT CHICK: A recent invention, the hot chick's purpose is to keep men interested. She can have a variety of roles (tech, wheel-err-woman, demolitionist). Sometimes she has her own unique set of skills as safecracker. That's John's daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron), who competes admirably in the sea of testosterone.

THE LEADER: Handsome, smart, a safecracker himself, this guy is the one who pulls off a sneaky job right under the bad guys' noses. Unfortunately, Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) is more narrator than anything else. He seems to have very little to do, and that's a shame, because Wahlberg's talented enough to do much more.

The villain is Steve (Edward Norton) a thief turned bad. He knows all of our protagonists' tricks, so he knows how to counter them. And since he stole the gold from the original Italian Job, he's the perfect foil. Norton plays him with just the right amount of shifty-eyed sleaze.

The Italian Job has lots of cool car chases, lots of near misses, and a lot of twists and turns (literally and figuratively) that make it a brisk, entertaining movie. You get quickly caught up in the machinations of the characters, which allows the film to get away with a lot of unbelievable nonsense. But who cares? From the funky flashbacks to the quippy asides, it's clear that Italian Job doesn't take itself too seriously.

Although it's more Job than Italian, the Italian Job is still a fun ride.

Great Caper Film.......2007-05-14

This is a good cast and a fun story, and what I really like about it is not everything they do works for them the first time, so it seems more realistic that way. There's suspense and action and great characters. Theron and Wahlberg play off each other well and are both great actors as is most of the cast. I highly recommend this if you are into the "root for the theif" type of movie. It's one of those movies where everyone's a bad guy and you get to root for the anti-hero. Oh and Edward Norton plays a great bad guy. You really love to hate this jerk.

Nothing unique, but loads of fun.

A F.I.N.E. Movie.......2007-03-14

The Italian Job was fun to watch. It was a good double-cross/revenge story that kept me thoroughly entertained all the way through.

Kudos to Director F. Gary Gray for making such a good feature film when his directorial resume mostly consists of rapper videos. Gray's other most recent notable feature films were 2005's flop sequel to the classic Get Shorty (1995) and 2003's A Man Apart (which I have not seen).

Storywise, The Italian Job really worked well. It had a good flow that kept you interested. There were way too many of the typical over the top Hollywood action film sequences that are just plain old unbelievable: cars driving down busy sidewalks at high speed; driving through a busy subway; people surviving sure-death situations; absolutely zero police response to what would realistically summon a cavalry of cops...these kinds of surreal action take a bit away from the movie.

The cast is pretty good, and the acting is very good. The story is familiar enough as it is popular throughout the history of film: A heist is made by a group of thieves/one of the crooks goes rogue/the group seeks revenge.

So if the genre is up your alley, then by all means The Italian Job should work for an evening of entertainment. And if you like it, you're in luck....A sequel has been announced for 2008 called The Brazilian Job with (mostly) the same cast and director (the most important aspects in a recipe for a successful sequel).

Let's hope in the sequel that Gray keeps a better handle on reality. I'm sure that it'll be F.I.N.E.

steadily satisfying entertainment.......2007-03-11

As a veteran action-flick fan, I found this film very satisfying on all fronts: the plot was believable and coherent, the bad guy was compellingly evil and arrogant; the technology was current and appropriate, the settings - specially Venice - were interesting, the female lead (Theron) was sexy and a nice mix of feminine, seductive, vengeful, and hard-nosed; the main and suppoorting characters were clearly-drawn, human, and interesting, the violence/action scenes were well spaced and paced, And the (classic) ending was predictable and still satisfying. I commend the writers, producer, and director for maintaining a steady level of "What's going to happen next?" suspense throughout the flick. Worth investing in, if you're an action fan!

Average customer rating:

A classic, but...

The Italian Job [HD DVD]
Starring: Gregory Scott Cummings , Seth Green , Olek Krupa , Boris Krutonog , and Mary Portser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000GX57YK
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Description

The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that, he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Now he wants more than the job's payoff...he wants payback. Mark Wahlberg is electrifying as Croker in this "fast and furious action-adventure."* Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles. With an ensemble all-star cast that also includes Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Franky G and Donald Sutherland, The Italian Job is "Hot!"

Customer Reviews:

A classic, but..........2007-06-23

I love this movie, I had it on DVD and I got it on HD DVD recently. My only gripe is the quality of the video transfer. There is a lot of graining and artifact noise, especially on dark scenes. The blacks on the DVD version look better than the HD DVD version's blacks...

Average customer rating:

Mi first movie in HD
Excellent movie
Great Movie, lousy transfer.
Great Movie, Terrible Video Quality
Italian Job - Blu-Ray, Great Movie, poor quality video

The Italian Job [Blu-ray]
Starring: Gregory Scott Cummings , Seth Green , Olek Krupa , Boris Krutonog , and Mary Portser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000IOM0WY
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Description

Customer Reviews:

Mi first movie in HD.......2007-07-03

Hi, everybody i saw the movie with my girlfriend and it was perfect,
We love the story and the color of the minis stunning.

We recomended this movie by far.

Excellent movie.......2007-07-01

I love this movie and I really don't know why so many people are complaining about the quality of the transfer. I thought it was quite good. Not perfect, but good. Much better than the standard def DVD upscaled.

Great Movie, lousy transfer........2007-06-23

I have this movie on regular DVD and the quality far exceeds the Blu-ray version. As another reviewer wrote, I have so much noise and a line through the center of the screen, that the movie is not watchable. These things should be recalled.

Great Movie, Terrible Video Quality.......2007-06-17

Regular DVD in upscale player is better than Blu-ray. For some reason there are a significant amount of artifacts to the point of a distracting line in mid-screen. If you haven't trashed your regular/upscale DVD player, then buy the regular DVD and save some money. Don't get me wrong, the movie itself is fantastic...just the quality of its current Blu-ray version is sub-par. I'd return it, if I could.

Italian Job - Blu-Ray, Great Movie, poor quality video.......2007-06-02

I recently rented this movie from Netflix and I'm glad I didn't buy it due to the poor video quality. The picture is grainy at 1080P like others described especially at low light levels. When you spend the money upgrading to Blu-Ray, there is a certain expectation that the quality will be substantially better, and in this case it is awful. A pity since this is a great movie. Paramount, shame on you.

Average customer rating:

The Italian Job (original version)
The ORIGINAL Italian Job
Snappy Action; Great Car Chases
All time classic car chase!
Wow

The Italian Job
Starring: Michael Caine , Noel Coward , Benny Hill , Raf Vallone , and Tony Beckley
Director: Peter Collinson
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000AUHPB
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com essential video

Internal countercasting is a big plus in this caper comedy: where else are you going to find Benny Hill and Michael Caine in the same movie? Peter Collinson directs those two as well as Noel Coward, Raf Vallone, Rossano Brazzi, and Irene Handl in a story about the effort to steal gold bullion from the town of Turin. Screenwriter Troy Kennedy Martin eschews heist film tradition by placing more emphasis on the gang's getaway than on the complex robbery itself. The film's main claim to comic fame is a wild chase scene set against an enormous traffic jam. The rest of the movie is less memorable, but that extended action sequence is well worth the wait. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Italian Job (original version).......2007-06-27

Terrific Brit movie starring Michael Caine. Apparently one of the most popular Brit movies ever. Mini Cooper enthusiasts will really like it. The recent remake is also worth having.

The ORIGINAL Italian Job.......2007-06-18

As always the first is always best - the new version has all the slick tricks and action but the original had acting and real action. I enjoyed every minute of the movie.
Always good to see the oldies in perspective to todays virtual world

Snappy Action; Great Car Chases.......2007-06-12

This heist movie starts out feeling a little dated, with Michael Caine playing another so-many-birds-so-little-time Alfie-type character - in this case just released from prison and transplanted to Italy. But I was soon swept up in the spirit of the armored car robbery caper he orchestrates. And even though I'm usually bored by car chases, I found this movie's get-away sequence to be ingenious and almost thrilling. It's off and running through impossibly narrow archways, down steep staircases, over bridges, with one literal cliffhanger along the way. A great music score adds to the bounce and jounce of every hurdle that's overcome.

As an additional bonus for foreign car buffs, the DVD includes an out-take sequence with the robbers' cars and the police cars doing an extended, elaborately choreographed minuet in a marbled ballroom. The director rightly decided that this surreal episode didn't fit in with his generally realistic picture. But it's good that the dance was saved.

The DVD bonus materials are overall as interesting as the picture itself. The director's commentary is especially worthwhile, because he recorded it relatively recently, so he was able to reflect backwards and forwards over each actor's career. You get to hear "whatever became of..." Everyone knows what Michael Caine has been doing. But Peter Collinson recaps the careers of Noel Coward, Raf Vallone, Benny Hill, and others who also star in the movie.

This director commentary is like falling into convivial conversation with a master filmmaker. I only disagreed with one opinion he had about his finished picture. He said he didn't like the way Benny Hill's infatuation with LARGE women had been scripted. I think Collinson felt the character's on-screen enthusiasm, with Hill frequently managing to bury himself in some woman's abundance, was in bad taste.

But I personally found Hill's irrepressible enthusiasm rather appealing. It's as irresistible as this movie itself. I didn't see the recent re-make of "The Italian Job," but I have a hunch this original is the version to get.

All time classic car chase!.......2007-04-02

This is the kind of movie that you see once by chance, then you have to see it again. There is so much more character development in this original version than you find in the 2003 remake. I recently bought both versions from Amazon, as they each have their own "style", but the original is from a time when there was no senseless violence, over-the-top graphics, or requisite vulgarity. A great bonus on the original DVD is the theatrical trailers, and documentatries on the making of the movie.

This is a great Sunday afternoon "fun" car movie!

Wow.......2007-03-20

This movie, is an incredible light humored film that is filled with great lines and action.
after watching the remake i had to see this. The cinematography is breathtaking and the cars make you want to cry when they crash. and for being a british film it is amazing

Average customer rating:

Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!
The Italian Review
Great Caper Film
A F.I.N.E. Movie
steadily satisfying entertainment

The Italian Job (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Charlize Theron , Donald Sutherland , Jason Statham , and Seth Green
Director: F. Gary Gray
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000B1OFN
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Good Cast-Good Movie, BRING ON THE SEQUEL!.......2007-06-15

The Italian Review.......2007-06-03

Great Caper Film.......2007-05-14

A F.I.N.E. Movie.......2007-03-14

steadily satisfying entertainment.......2007-03-11

Average customer rating:

The Italian Job (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Gregory Scott Cummings , Seth Green , Olek Krupa , Boris Krutonog , and Mary Portser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
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Sony PSP Travel Case

ASIN: B0009W5JAA
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Product Description

The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Now he wants more than the job's payoff...he wants payback. Mark Wahlberg is electrifying as Croker in this "fast and furious action-adventure."* Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles. With an ensemble all-star cast that also includes Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Franky G and Donald Sutherland, The Italian Job is "Hot!"

Average customer rating:

Italian Job (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Gregory Scott Cummings , Seth Green , Olek Krupa , Boris Krutonog , and Mary Portser
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009NSE2E
Release Date: 2003-10-07

The Italian Job Gift Set (includes 1969 and 2003 Versions)

Average customer rating:

Exceptional combo
Sucks
Two Very Different Movies with minis
THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHICH ONE I LIKE MORE.
Brill Film

The Italian Job Gift Set (includes 1969 and 2003 Versions)
Starring: Michael Caine , Noel Coward , Benny Hill , Raf Vallone , and Tony Beckley
Director: Peter Collinson , and F. Gary Gray
Manufacturer: Paramount
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You and Your New Mini: Buying,enjoying, maintaining, modifying (You and Your)
The Italian Job
Mini - The Complete Story
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ASIN: B0000BV1YE
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

The Italian Job (2003)
Though it bears little resemblance to the original 1969 thriller starring Michael Caine, the 2003 remake of The Italian Job stands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles job--but the action's just as exciting as it propels a breezy tale of honor and dishonor among competing thieves. Inheriting Caine's role as ace heist-planner Charlie Croker, Mark Wahlberg plays straight-man to a well-cast team of accomplices, including Mos Def, Jason Statham, and scene-stealer Seth Green in a variation of the role originally played by Noel Coward. As the daughter of Croker's ill-fated mentor (Donald Sutherland), Charlize Theron is recruited to double-cross a double-crosser (Edward Norton in oily villain mode), and once again, speedily versatile Mini Coopers play a pivotal role in director F. Gary Gray's exhilarating car-chase climax. It's perhaps the greatest product placement in movie history, and just as fun the second time around. --Jeff Shannon

The Italian Job (1969)
This little-known cult caper is about as depraved as they come. Michael Caine, ever the enterprising swinger and swindler, has an ingenious plan to steal a huge cache of Chinese gold to be shipped to Turin as collateral for a new Fiat plant. Since the Italy-Great Britain soccer match is being played at the same time, Caine wants to create a diversion in the form of a monumental traffic jam. For financing, he turns to Noel Coward, who directs British criminal enterprises from his jail cell. A motley crew is assembled, including Benny Hill as a computer expert with a fetish for large-breasted women. It's all a nasty and fun parody, with the most memorable robbery-chase sequence in the history of the caper genre. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional combo.......2004-03-17

With a common deminator of Morris Minors these two movies reflect the entertainment of their day. The original, starring a ridiculously young Michael Caine, remains fresh despite its age. Filled with irepressible Cockney humor it moves between the comic moments to the final 'cliffhanger' leaving us all hanging. With appearance by Noel Coward, Benny Hill (in true form)
The new version is much more a thriller of today. superbly fast paced, a truly rotten villain (a great performace as always from Edward Norton) and some brilliant heist scenes this ranks up there with the Rock, Con Air and the like for excitement. Mark Whalberg shines and Charlize Theron is so much more than joyous eye candy here.

Sucks.......2003-11-25

If you want the same old, bang bang rob the bank, movie then go ahead and by this low brow movie. Take it from me it sucks.

Two Very Different Movies with minis.......2003-11-19

One cannot compare the two movies because they are only somewhat similar.
I love Michael Caine. He's always at his best. The movie seems to be the spoof of the newest one.
The American version has more action, suspence, great lines, and some fab actors. Jason Statham is one hot actor, who can say anything and it is so well done.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHICH ONE I LIKE MORE........2003-11-02

This is the right way to make a remake: fun, clever, and full of great stunts (as opposed to unbelievable CGI effects a la Charlie's Angels).
The old version is pretty good too, I bought it without having seeing it before and it didn't dissapoint. It doesn't always make sense (just what the heck did the Minis climb that huge roof for ?) but then again, who cares ?!?
Great movies which make your DVD player a great reason to exist!

Brill Film.......2003-10-16

If your a Italian Job fan of not get this this is one of the best films i've ever seen much better than 1969 version so BUY IT NOW

Average customer rating:

Better than 3 stars, maybe not really 4

Ferdinando and Carolina
Starring: Sergio Assisi , Gabriella Pession , Nicole Grimaudo , Adriano Pantaleo , and Lola Pagnani
Director: Lina Wertmüller
Manufacturer: Koch Lorber Films
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ASIN: B000EMGF1W
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

In the dazzling court of 18th century Bourbon Naples, against their wishes young King Ferdinando of Naples will wed Carolina, the sweet, 16 year-old daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

As the monarchies of Europe hold their breath, something unexpected happens. King Ferdinando and Carolina share one common interest - a rollicking, orgiastic celebration of the senses and plunge with gusto into the silken bed sheets to uphold their regal duties. As the court of Naples continues on with magnificent splendor and sumptuous pleasure, the sovereigns continue to reign, oblivious to the revolutionary tides that are on the verge of tearing France apart and overtaking all of Europe.

Customer Reviews:

Better than 3 stars, maybe not really 4.......2006-11-11

I purchased this DVD because I found it for a bargain and I had really loved Ciao, Professore!, which is perhaps Wertmuller's best known film. I should also note that I have more than a passing interest in Italy and my review may be more favorable because of that than it otherwise would have been.

There are a couple of things you just have to get over if you're going to enjoy this one. First, the sound. Something about the voices sounds super big and exaggerated, almost as though the voices were all dubbed (I'm referring to the Italian track). Visually, this does not appear to be the case. But if you think of the priest in Cinema Paradiso and how his voice was always doing a tremolo and everything he said was highly inflected, then amplify that effect several times and apply it to the majority of the cast, that about describes the sound here. It seems bizarre.

Second, the story line has several false starts. It's set up as a flashback, but Ferdinando, who is doing the remembering, is dying and is having a difficult time following the thread of the plot.

But just when it seems that the meandering scenes will never fall together, the film develops into an intriguing power struggle between Ferdinando and Carolina.

So as much as it was difficult for me to get in to this film, when the story line hit, there was great political intrigue and life-threatening rage and ambition. And it was highly engaging.

And then it ended. Somewhat abruptly. I didn't think the whole story was told.

And yet I have to say I enjoyed it more than a little.

Take it as you will. I'm not rushing out to make all my friends see this one. It wasn't developed enough, and it was certainly too over the top. But for me it was fun. I loved the scenes with the Austrians who have to speak Italian, I loved the treatment of the superstitions the royals nursed, and I loved getting reeled in just when I thought it was too late. For some, it would be a dealbreaker, but I enjoyed enough of it to mark it overall as a pleasant movie.

Average customer rating:

The Italian Job (original version)
The ORIGINAL Italian Job
Snappy Action; Great Car Chases
All time classic car chase!
Wow

The Italian Job [Region 2]
Starring: Michael Caine , Noel Coward , Benny Hill , Raf Vallone , and Tony Beckley
Director: Peter Collinson
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UO5L

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

The Italian Job (original version).......2007-06-27

Terrific Brit movie starring Michael Caine. Apparently one of the most popular Brit movies ever. Mini Cooper enthusiasts will really like it. The recent remake is also worth having.

The ORIGINAL Italian Job.......2007-06-18

Snappy Action; Great Car Chases.......2007-06-12

All time classic car chase!.......2007-04-02

Wow.......2007-03-20

DVD:

DVD

Beethoven's 3rd [1999]

DVD: The Blue Kite

Casper - Der freundliche Geist