Single Action (Spanish) (Sub)

Starring:Ã“scar CastaÃ±eda, Raul Falomir, Miguel Gurza, Librado JimÃ©nez, Alejandra Prado, Desiree Rios, Claudine Sosa, Manuel Vela (II)
Studio: York Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)

Average customer rating:

BIG SCREEN SYNDROME [with hd, of course]
A powerfully brilliant film, Lean's great masterpiece from a film renaissance.
I waited much too long
Lawrence has one problem
Experiencing Lawrence Of Arabia DVD on a new 37" TV

Lawrence of Arabia (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: John Dimech , José Ferrer , Alec Guinness , Jack Gwillim , and Jack Hawkins
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006ADD5
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Amazon.com essential video

There's no getting around a simple, basic truth: watching Lawrence of Arabia in any home-video format represents a compromise. There's no better way to appreciate this epic biographical adventure than to see it projected in 70 millimeter onto a huge theater screen. That caveat aside, David Lean's masterful "desert classic" is still enjoyable on the small screen, especially if viewed in widescreen format. (If your only option is to view a "pan & scan" version, it's best not to bother; this is a film for which the widescreen format is utterly mandatory.) Peter O'Toole gives a star-making performance as T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British officer who united the desert tribes of Arabia against the Turks during World War I. Lean orchestrates sweeping battle sequences and breathtaking action, but the film is really about the adventures and trials that transform Lawrence into a legendary man of the desert. Lean traces this transformation on a vast canvas of awesome physicality; no other movie has captured the expanse of the desert with such scope and grandeur. Equally important is the psychology of Lawrence, who remains an enigma even as we grasp his identification with the desert. Perhaps the greatest triumph of this landmark film is that Lean has conveyed the romance, danger, and allure of the desert with such physical and emotional power. It's a film about a man who leads one life but is irresistibly drawn to another, where his greatness and mystery are allowed to flourish in equal measure. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

BIG SCREEN SYNDROME [with hd, of course].......2007-07-03

I am sympathetic with recent reviewers here who have developed BIG SCREEN SYNDROME. After buying a 37 " sylvania w/hd last christmas, I came to realize that my entire vhs library needs to be upgraded. A word of caution-not all dvds are equal. Look for dvds made from high definition transfers or, better yet, remastered prints. Warner Bros disks are uaually excellent or at least acceptable; Paramounts are good to acceptable. Watch out for 20th Century Fox disks; not only are the often expensive, they are almost always simply copies of non-pristine, even damaged prints. [eg. My Darling Clementine, Lifeboat]. My own old vhs copies from tv broadcasts are better! As for "lawrence", I happened to purchase a 'superbit' version last year--let me tell you that is SPARKLES! Unfortunately, this version is no longer available, possibly due to it being 'finicky' to get it to play. I have not seen this 2001 version mentioned above, however, I look forward to a remastered release. mw

A powerfully brilliant film, Lean's great masterpiece from a film renaissance. .......2007-06-21

There is no way that enough could be said about the film "Lawrence of Arabia."
Based loosely on Lawrence's book "Revolt in the Desert," which is and abridged version of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom."
This the definitive classic film from a transitional time just before salacious movies became the norm. It is to director David Lean's credit that he chose patently unknown actors (at the time) for his key roles that truly made this film soar. The fact that they performed so exceptionally is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of those actors.
The contributions of "Lawrence of Arabia" to future films are seen to this day in the cinematographic techniques and similar shots in recent films.
Compared to Lawrence's books, the film, by virtue of its medium can never capture the Shakespearean quality language that T.E. Lawrence possessed. If any book parallels the film it would be Lowell Thomas's 1925 book, "With Lawrence in Arabia," that recounts the journalist's experience as an "imbedded" reporter with Lawrence. Thomas is often credited with spreading the stories of Lawrence's Arabian exploits that made him so popular in the west.
A simply brilliant film on par with Lean's "Bridge on the River Kwai." A motion picture nearly as remarkable as the man himself.

I waited much too long.......2007-05-29

I had never before seen one frame of this film, and now I hope one day to have the chance to see it on a big screen, even a big-screen tv. Wherever this was filmed, it seems no-expense-spared in its lushness, in its sets, in its battle scenes. Lean was at the top of his genius as far as I'm concerned.

O'Toole's performance was, as O'Toole himself, as T E Lawrence was, also, quirky, unpredictable, subtle. His character seems to move from boredom to arrogance to brilliance to cynicisim to sensitivity to near-madness, and then back again. O'Toole's acting outshines everyone else's, even the estimable Alec Guinness, though Alec as King Faisal is fun to watch--he, too, like the British, uses Lawrence toward his own ends. He plays the "noble sheik" who wants to lead his own people, because he is just another power-hungry leader.

The desert scenes are beautiful, the glowing shots almost familiar because we've seen similar movie shots like these, but they were AFTER this film was made--it clearly inspired many imitators. You can almost feel the desert heat and dirt. The film also offers prescient insights into today's sectarian violence where religious and tribal loyalties and feuds are seemngly more important to many Arab leaders than are national agendas or progress for all their people. The history within the film is mostly accurate and there is no neat wrap-up at the end, no ponderous speeches, no stirring conclusion. I waited too long to see this film but now I know why it is a classic.
This is the wide-screen edition, which is essential to appreciating the cinematography.

Lawrence has one problem.......2007-05-25

My VHS tape of Lawrence of Arabia arrived quickly and had no noticable flaws. However, when I viewed the video, I found a 30 second section on the second tape that was damaged. Otherwise, the tape was very good.

Experiencing Lawrence Of Arabia DVD on a new 37" TV.......2007-05-15

Our 2002 JVC recently bit the dust(went DARK)and we upgraded to a 37" Olevia (Best Buy from Consumer reports). We tried our new "Lawrence" DVD and were stunned to see the difference in picture quality, sound and brightness. The desert vistas were breathtaking and it was like being there - - - with a regular DVD.
This picture and the music are as good as they get. A monumental achievement!

Big Trouble in Little China (Single Disc Edition)

Average customer rating:

Best. Movie. Ever. Period.
Cheesy but entertaining!!
One of the greatest movies ever made!
Big Trouble in Little China
May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!

Big Trouble in Little China (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Kate Burton , Kim Cattrall , Chao Li Chi , Dennis Dun , and Jade Go
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000067J1G
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Amazon.com

Once you settle into the realization that this 1986 John Carpenter (Halloween) film is not going to be one of the director's more masterful works, Big Trouble in Little China just becomes a full-tilt comic blast. Kurt Russell is hilarious as a drawling, would-be John Wayne hero who steps into the middle of a supernatural war in the heart of Chinatown. While kung fu warriors and otherworldly spirits battle over the fate of two women (Kim Cattrall and Suzee Pai), Russell's swaggering idiot manages to knock himself out or underestimate the forces he's dealing with. The whole thing is dopey, but it's supposed to be dopey and Russell's game performance brings an ironic edge. Carpenter directs some nifty spook effects (the sudden arrival of three martial arts demigods from out of nowhere is worth applause), and he also wrote the music. --Tom Keogh

Description

Directed by thrill master John Carpenter, this edgo-of-your seat adventrue stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a tough-talking, wisecracking truck driver whose hum-drum life on the road takes a sudden supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancee is kidnapped. Speeding to the rescue, Jack finds himself deep beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, in a murky, creature-filled world ruled by Lo Pan, a 2000-year-old magician who mercilessly presides over an empire of spirits. Dodging demons and facing baffling terrors, Jack battles his way through Lo Pan's dark domain in a full-throttle, action-riddled ride to rescue the girl. Co-starring Kim Cattrall, this effects-filled sci-fi spectacle speeds to an incredible, twist-taking finish.

Customer Reviews:

Best. Movie. Ever. Period........2007-06-12

Just listen to the old Porkchop Express, alright? When you want to get the buddies together on a dark and stormy night and have a great time, all you need is some brews, some grub, and a copy of Big Trouble in Little China. This has got to be one of the greatest examples of a hilarious, great fun, buddy comedy-action flick ever devised. You will not be able to stop laughing. Your significant other will consider dumping you because you won't stop quoting it. You will never be able to stop doing the kung fu hand sign the good guys flash at each other during the flick. The greatest characters, most absurd dialogue, this one has it all. Go to the store right now and tell 'em old Jack Burton sent you for a copy. 'Nuff said.

Cheesy but entertaining!!.......2007-05-14

Cheesy but very entertaining. Very 80s. Not Curt's best stuff but very worth while viewing. His best work.............Captin Ron!!!

One of the greatest movies ever made!.......2007-04-11

Funny, action packed, martial arts, magic, monsters, great (but cheesy) dialogue - truly representative of the Golden Age of Movies (aka, the 80's). The first time I saw this flick, I watched it once a day for 30 days. Did I mention that this is one of many of great John Carpenter films?

Get with it, 'cause for this price, you'll be thanking me for your trip through nostalgia!!

Big Trouble in Little China.......2007-03-29

The name is Burton, Jack Burton. Fun, action, adventure. If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it. Jack Burton belongs up there with Jack Sparrow, Indiana Jones, and Han Solo.
When the movie came out, I had hoped for the futher adventures of Jack Burton. Maybe someday someone will write them, for now, all we can do is keep a list of favorite Jack Burtonisms "Its all in the reflexes."

May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!.......2007-01-25

As many have said before: You either get this movie or you don't. Predating mixed-genre TV shows like 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' by a decade, BTILC was an odd duck in 1986. Comedy, buddy action flick, thriller, drama, kung fu fest, fantasy, parody - it's all over the map and all of it is fun.

Just let it do its thing, sit back, and enjoy. The check is in the mail!

Independence Day (Single Disc Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Just a little anxious to get up there and whoop E.T....
This movie has Hollywood written all over it but it's all good.
I hated this movie
Love It
entertaining annual event

Independence Day (Single Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Will Smith , Bill Pullman , Jeff Goldblum , Mary McDonnell , and Judd Hirsch
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005V9IK
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Product Description

On July 2nd, communications systems worldwide are sent into chaos. A number of enormous objects are on a collision course with Earth that are revealed to be gigantic alien spacecraft. After attempts to communicate with the aliens go nowhere an ex-scientist turned cable technician discovers that the aliens are going to attack. On July 3rd, the aliens destroy New York, Los Angeles and Washington. The survivors devise a plan to fight back and July 4th becomes the day humanity will fight for its freedom. July 4th is their Independence Day...

System Requirements:

Running Time 153 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

In Independence Day, a scientist played by Jeff Goldblum once actually had a fistfight with a man (Bill Pullman) who is now president of the United States. That same president, late in the film, personally flies a jet fighter to deliver a payload of missiles against an attack by extraterrestrials. Independence Day is the kind of movie so giddy with its own outrageousness that one doesn't even blink at such howlers in the plot. Directed by Roland Emmerich, Independence Day is a pastiche of conventions from flying-saucer movies from the 1940s and 1950s, replete with icky monsters and bizarre coincidences that create convenient shortcuts in the story. (Such as the way the girlfriend of one of the film's heroes--played by Will Smith--just happens to run across the president's injured wife, who are then both rescued by Smith's character who somehow runs across them in alien-ravaged Los Angeles County.) The movie is just sheer fun, aided by a cast that knows how to balance the retro requirements of the genre with a more contemporary feel. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Just a little anxious to get up there and whoop E.T...........2007-07-03

This movie as off the charts with the special effects. Not to mention some of the best lines in any movie of the decade in which it was made.

Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith, Adam Baldwin, Judd Hirsh, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Vivica A. Fox, Harry Connick Jr., Brent Spiner and an ensemble cast too numerous to name have come together to create an "end of the world" story that triumphs in the spirit of the American Revolution. (And on July 4th nonetheless).

I'll never forget these words from the president's young daughter...

"Is mommy sleeping now?"

Yes, Mommy's sleeping.

if that exchange did not make you cry, you have no heart.

This movie has Hollywood written all over it but it's all good........2007-07-02

The movie trailer shows a picture of the White House...all of a sudden, its blown into smithereens by a laser blast!!! But then again the jacket to this disc also shows that also.

This popcorn flick was all that I hoped for, nothing but 100% of everything: action, drama, humor and suspense. Many people are justified in stating that the success of "Independence Day" comes from the fact that its nothing more than what its intended to be: FUN, period. However, in this day and age of constant threats to modern society from epidemics such as war and disease, "Independence Day" can suddenly mean more than just a cinematic escape from reality. Perhaps it symbolizes the power and determination of the human spirit to prevail against all odds. Well, I most certainly think so! Just observe the plot and you'll find out what I mean:

Several gigantic UFOs, dwarfing anything which mankind can possibly conceive, suddenly hover above major cities all over the world. Without warning, these alien ships simultaneously strike the heart of the cities with awesome laser beams, causing vast proportions of horrific destruction. Just when it seems that all is lost for the citizens of the Planet Earth, a courageous band of human rebels join forces to combat this seemingly impregnable terror. These rebels come from all walks of life, from the dead serious to the outrageously funny. You've got Will Smith, a fighter pilot with a mouth of a wise guy but having a heart of gold; Jeff Goldblum, the computer nerd who knows how to decode the alien bad guys; and Bill Pullman, the dedicated U.S. president who will stop at nothing to preserve the survival of the human race. Put them together and you have a trinity (respectively the heart, mind and soul) of the ultimate good guys to rally "mankind," a word as Pullman in the film eloquently states, "should have a new meaning to us all."

The spirit of this movie owes much to past multi-character disaster classics such as "Earthquake." If you are an avid fan of sci-fi flicks, the content and material of "Independence Day" might be familiar territory for you, but it's a treat to watch nonetheless.

So, do you feel the need to ignite that "fighting human spirit" in you? Then its time to place this on your cart or rush to your nearest video store and celebrate your "Independence Day!"

I hated this movie.......2007-05-31

This movie sucked big time. It was so Over the Top. One man takes on the galaxy with help from the President and a guy flying a crop duster. Gimme a break. Also, this movie sports some of the worst one liners.

Love It.......2007-05-15

I'm not usually one for action and too much excitement but this movie was exciting and funny and had a great message to it. I loved the movie and I think you probably will too.

entertaining annual event.......2007-05-12

We have been watching this movie almost yearly since we saw it the first time shortly after it came out. We had a vcr version and watched it in our travel trailer. Now with the dvd, we have introduced it to our youngest grandson. For him it is a change from his normal space adventure. And he loves it too.

Average customer rating:

Brash, Class, And a Psychopath
ehh.... not bad
A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ...
Top notch thriller.
Septenary of Horror.

Seven (Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Brad Pitt , Morgan Freeman , Gwyneth Paltrow , Andrew Kevin Walker , and R. Lee Ermey
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00011CZRE
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Description

A retiring cop and his replacement track a psychotic killer who's using the seven deadly sins as a guide. Starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Customer Reviews:

Brash, Class, And a Psychopath.......2007-06-25

Young Det. David Mills(Brad Pitt) and his pretty wife(Gwyenth Paltrow) have just transferred from smalltown USA to the big city. He is eager and rearing to go as he gets assigned to his first murder case("Ladies and Gentleman we have ourselves a homicide").

He is paired up with the reserved, ready to retire Det. Somerset(Morgan Freeman). Somerset wants nothing more than to wrap it up and get on with his life.But this case is not going away so easily, they discover this is just one of deranged serial killer's,"John Doe", long list of victims. The list includes victims that John Doe (can't tell ya who plays him or I'll have to kill ya) deems have committed one of the seven deadly sins.He tortures them first in a style that would be appropriate to their sin.

Mills and Somerset frantically work and research the case as they know there will be at least seven murders. Their research leads them to discover the most disturbed psychotic imaginable. In his apartment they find volumes and volumes of notebooks chronicling his descent into madness. This guy is right up there with Norman Bates, Hannibal Lechter and Jaws!Five murders have already been committed. Will they be able to stop him from committing the last two?? Or are they part of his plan too??

The film is one of the best Psychological thrillers I've seen. It was well directed by David Fincher. If I wasn't on the edge of my seat, I was jumping out of it. Even the title credits are bizarre. Freeman and Pitt were excellent in their roles.

You'll love the DVD.The picture and sound quality are very good .

Get lots of popcorn ready for this one!...........Laurie

ehh.... not bad.......2007-05-14

"Seven" deals with two police officers (played by thespians Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman) who are trying to track down and bring to justice a killer, except this is no ordinary killer. It is belief of the killer that he was sent through divine inspiration to put to death anyone in violation of the seven deadly sins.

A psychological thriller with a shocking ending ..........2007-05-04

This is one of those movies that makes you cower in your seat as you cover your eyes repeatedly while viewing it. Real scary stuff; one of the most frightening in its genre.

This movie was well formulated and the cast well-chosen. Brad Pitt is perfect in the role of the young detective who wears his emotions on his sleeve, while Morgan Freeman is wonderful as the older, more patient but cynical mentor who tries to help the younger man.

Kevin Spacey plays the part of the insane killer who is on a misguided mission to save mankind from sin, murdering sinners to do so. He's great in this role, also, leading the detectives from one bloody, gory crime scene to another and another, until he turns the tables on them in a surprise move.

The ending, though shocking and unexpected, is a brilliant piece of writing, but it ruined the movie for me. I not only gasped at the ending, I cried for both detectives. The movie left me craving a happier, more equitable kind of justice, so I had to lower my rating to 4-star, despite the extremely high-caliber of the acting and the screenplay.

SIDENOTE: You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, especially the review format, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

My e-mail address is at top of this review. Thank you for your time."

Top notch thriller........2007-03-29

If you loved The Silence of the Lambs, 7 will blow you away. The last 30 minutes of this film are incredible. The twist at the end will make you gasp. What a flick. Don't miss it.

Septenary of Horror........2007-01-25

"At first sin is a stranger in the soul; then it becomes a guest; and when we are habituated to it, it becomes as if the master of the house." - Tolstoy.

Although not originating from the bible, the concept of deadly sins is almost as old as Christian doctrine itself. Theologians like 4th century Greek monk Evagrius of Pontus first compiled catalogues of deadly offenses against the divine order, which 6th century pope Gregory the Great consolidated into a list of seven sins, which in turn formed the basis of the works of medieval/renaissance writers like St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologiae"), Geoffrey Chaucer ("Canterbury Tales"), Christopher Marlowe ("Dr. Faustus"), Edmund Spenser ("The Faerie Queene") and Dante Alighieri ("Commedia Divina"/"Purgatorio"). And in times when the ability to read was a privilege rather than a basic skill, the depiction of sin in paintings wasn't far behind; particularly resulting from the 16th century's reformulation of church doctrine, the works of artists like Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder brought the horrific results of humankind's penchant to indulge in vice back into general consciousness with surrealistic eloquence, reminding their viewers that no sin goes unseen (Bosch, "The Seven Deadly Sins") and that its commission leads straight into a hell reigned by gruesome, grotesque demons and devils whose sole purpose is to torture those fallen into their hands (Bosch, "The Hay-Wagon" and "The Last Judgment;" Bruegel, "The Triumph of Death" and "The Tower of Babel").

More recently, the seven deadly sins have been the subject of Stephen Sondheim's play "Getting Away With Murder" and a ballet by George Balanchine ("Seven Deadly Sins"); and on the silver screen the topic has been addressed almost since the beginning of filmmaking (Cabiria [1914], Intolerance [1916]). Thus, "Se7en" builds on a solid tradition both in its own domain and in other art forms, topically as well as in its approach, denouncing society's apathy towards vice and crime. Yet - and although expressly referencing the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Chaucer and Dante - David Fincher's movie eschews well-trodden paths and grabs the viewer's attention from the beginning; and it does so not merely by the depiction of serial killer John Doe's (Kevin Spacey's) crimes, which could easily degenerate into a mindless bloodfest that would defeat the movie's purpose. (Not that there isn't a fair share of blood and gore on display; both visually and in the characters' dialogue regarding those details not actually shown; but Fincher uses the crimes' gruesome nature to create a sense of stark realism, rather than for shock value alone.) In addition, Doe's mindset is painstakingly presented by the opening credits' jumpy nature, his "lair"'s apocalyptic makeup and his notebooks, all of which were actually written out (at considerable expense), and whose compilation is shown underlying the credits. The movie's atmosphere of unrelenting doom is further underscored by a color scheme dominated by brown, gray and only subdued hues of other colors, and by the fact that almost every outdoors scene is set in rain. Moreover, although screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker explains on the DVD that the story was inspired by his observations in New York (and the movie was shot partly there, partly in L.A.), it is set in a faceless, nameless city, thus emphasizing that its concern isn't a specific location but society generally.

Central to the movie is the contrast between world-weary Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) who, while decrying the rampant occurrence of violence in society, for much of the movie seems to have resigned himself to his inability to do something meaningful about this (and therefore seems to accept apathy for himself, too, until his reluctant final turnaround), and younger Detective Mills (Brad Pitt), who fought for a reassignment to this particular location, perhaps naively expecting his contributions to actually make a difference; only to become a pawn in Doe's scheme instead and thus show that, given the right trigger, nobody is beyond temptation. As such, Somerset and Mills are not merely another incarnation of the well-known old-cop-young-cop pairing. Rather, their characters' development over the course of the film forces each viewer to examine his/her own stance towards vice.

Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt perfectly portray the two detectives; while Freeman imbues his Will Somerset with a quiet dignity, professionalism and learning, muted by profound but not yet wholly irreversible resignation, Pitt's David Mills is a brash everyman from the suburbs with an undeniable streak of prejudice, a penchant for quick judgment and a thorough lack of sophistication, both personally and culturally. Notable are also the appearances of Gwyneth Paltrow (significantly Brad Pitt's real-life girlfriend at the time) as Mills's wife Tracy and ex-marine R. Lee Ermey as the police captain. Yet, from his very first appearance onwards, this is entirely Kevin Spacey's film. Reportedly, Brad Pitt especially fought hard for his casting; and it is indeed hard to imagine "Se7en" with anybody other than the guy who, that same year, also won an Oscar for portraying devilish Keyser Soze in "The Usual Suspects": No living actor has Spacey's ability to simultaneously express spine-chilling villainy, laconic indifference and limitless superiority with merely a few gestures and vocal inflections.

While "Se7en" can certainly claim the "sledgehammer" effect on its viewers sought by its fictional killer, the punishment meted out to Doe's victims - taking their perceived sins to the extreme - pales in comparison to that awaiting sinners according to medieval teachings. (Inter alia, gluttons would thus be forced to eat vermin, toads and snakes, greed-mongers put in cauldrons of boiling oil and those guilty of lust smothered in fire and brimstone.) Most serial killers have decidedly more mundane motivations than Doe. And after all, this is only a movie.

Right?

"Sin ... engenders vice by repetition of the same acts, [clouding the conscience and corrupting the judgment.] Thus sin tends to reproduce ... and reinforce itself, but it cannot destroy the moral sense at its root." - Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994).

Average customer rating:

This is Sparta!
Finally!!!

300 (Full Screen Single Disc Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , and Lena Heady
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QXDEDG
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Description

The epic graphic novel by Frank Miller (Sin City) assaults the screen with the blood, thunder and awe of its ferocious visual style faithfully recreated in an intense blend of live-action and CGI animation. Retelling the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, it depicts the titanic clash in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. Experience history at swordpoint. And moviemaking with a cutting edge.

Customer Reviews:

This is Sparta!.......2007-06-30

Frank Miller adaptations are on a roll. First we got "Sin City," and now we have the story of three hundred Spartans who repelled a massive invasion.

And the adaptation of "300" is a stunning one -- literally stunning, since it bombards the viewer with larger-than-life characters, smashing visuals and tight direction. It goes a bit too fast for its own good, but it's a truly epic film that takes the historical war movie to another level -- all the more so because it actually happened.

As the introduction tells us, the Spartans were the ultimate warrior people. Babies were inspected for weakness or faults, and killed if they had any; as they were growing up, they were taught and toughened by a savage regimen. Their only true hope was to "die beautifully" for their land.

A Persian messenger arrives, telling King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) that the god-king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) wants the Spartans to bow to him. Leonidas' response: shove the Persians into a pit. But before he can go to war, he must consult the corrupt priesthood of Ephors and their beautiful Oracle. She predicts that Sparta will fall and the gods forbid war at the approach of the Carneaian festival -- courtesy of a hefty bribe from a Spartan traitor.

So Leonidas takes out three hundred of his best men, along with their nervy Arcadian allies, and begin trouncing the Persians. But they are being sabotaged, both by a hunchbacked outcast and by a treacherous councilor, whom Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey) is battling. And so at Thermopylae, Leonidas prepares for a final battle against the monstrous Persian Army -- knowing that their story of freedom will live on.

This is not a "sensitive" movie where you have any appreciation for the bad guys -- it's a glorification of three hundred soldiers who died for their land and freedom. It just wouldn't work otherwise. It doesn't blindly adore the Spartans -- we see their darker side in their "weed out the weak" policy -- but it does appreciate them. They respect and care about each other, and Leonidas is as kind as he can be even to Ephialtes, the traitor.

And it's done in a manner appropriate to its comic book origins -- grimy, bloody and epic, but with a stylized look that is almost like CGI. The battles are shockingly good, and full of fantasy-ish creations like the monstrous creatures or the silver-masked Immortals. Even a wall of corpses. But we also get some beautiful visuals as well -- roiling seas, sunlit battlefields, Spartan cities, and the drugged Oracle in her white veil.

While the script gets a bit over-the-top at times, it's hard not to be moved by dialogue that can be darkly funny ("It's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare") or stirring ("He did not wish tribute, nor song, or monuments or poems of war and valor. His wish was simple: "Remember us." That was his hope, should any free soul come across that place, in all the countless centuries yet to be").

Butler and Headey are simply great as Leonidas and Gorgo -- they're both strong, passionate and fearless, and they both do a great job in their separate storylines. But the movie is filled with good performances -- David Wenham as the narrator, Dominic West as a disgusting traitor, Santoro as the decadent, arrogant god-king, and many others.

"300" is a unique, stirring, stunning movie that pushes the action-movie envelope, and gives a thrilling edge to a real-life story of overwhelming edge. A brilliant movie.

Finally!!!.......2007-06-25

This is one of the most bad a#* movies of all times! No movie really compares to the level of manlines this movie contains. Awsome!

Average customer rating:

[2.5]--"Make the money, don't let it make you."
AWESOME MOVIE...
Buy to look at Lisa Raye!
Great buy from a great buyer
Entertaining drama

The Players Club
Starring: John Amos , Monica Calhoun , Badja Djola , Judyann Elder , and Jamie Foxx
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305505780
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Description

Ice Cube (Friday) makes his directorial debut with this comedy about the inhabitants and employees of a steamy Los Angeles strip club.

DVD Features:
Music Video
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

[2.5]--"Make the money, don't let it make you.".......2007-02-16

When this movie first came out I thought it was a good flick but when I recently watched it again I wonder why. First-time director Ice Cube makes some pretty bad decisions in this movie, mainly in that his movie is dreadfully dull. You may wonder how a low-rent black version of "Showgirls" could be dull, but then you've yet to see "The Players Club." Personally this movie could have been made over twenty years ago starring Pam Grier. It's like that. Apparently, it's perfectly OK to perpetuate and even celebrate cuttingly negative stereotypes, but only if you belong to the minority you're exploiting.

In here we have Good girl Diana, played by Lisa Raye, who just wants to make enough money to finish college and do right by her baby. So she starts stripping at some sleazy dive. Much to her surprise, not everyone who works (or hangs out) at a strip club is very nice. The slimy owner of the club is played by Bernie Mac, whose back then performance is notable solely and not that funny because during that time Bernie's been great in small roles in his previous films. (Think of him in Friday or as Uncle Vester in House Party 3.) Bernie gets a subplot all to himself! He's a cheap and corrupt individual, so the local mob boss wants him dead.

For some reason, 2 Live Crew shows up at one point, acting like a band that's had a hit record in the past ten years. They must have stopped by to pick up a cup of ice and was invited to be in the movie. To be even a little fair, Jamie Foxx is pretty likeable as the club's DJ, and he gets to work some stand-up type material into his scenes.

The Players Club is a slow-moving and completely unoriginal movie. While some entertainment value could still be gained from a movie like that, no such luck here. You'll know every single plot point before it arrives, and when it gets there it's delivered in a bored fashion.

AWESOME MOVIE..........2005-12-23

I hate strippers, I hate clubs, but this movie was awesome...if you haven't seen it get it!

Buy to look at Lisa Raye!.......2005-11-22

Yo buy the dvd to look at Lisa Rayes fine body.it would have you drooling all day.Whoo.

Great buy from a great buyer.......2005-09-27

DVD is in perfect condition. Will by from this buyer again!

Entertaining drama.......2005-09-18

I don't know why, but I've always liked this film. Yes it's crass and everything that guy said, but it still doesn't fail to entertain. I'm white, sorry.. and bisexual (not sorry for that though hehe) but this is still one of my favorite films, mainly for the beautiful women, good acting, and the different characters. Diamond is beautiful and sexy, but tough and classy, and also smart about what she decides to do and not do. Ronnie is a complicated character because sometimes she is helpful and you almost want to like her, but other times she is lying, coniving, and betrays people who trust her. I think the reason why ice cube "kept it real" is mainly because he is a rapper and because of his image. He played kind of a thug up to no good. What did you think he would play a cop or something? I also really enjoyed the police spanking scene, that was hysterically funny. Another one of my favorite scenes, is when diamond first dances, and the other is when ronnie stands up after ebony gets off her lap and she has on a red cowgirl hat and thong, and as she walks away you see how nice her body is, and how nice her a** is, as well as how tall she is. And i loved her blond hairdo's. Too bad she was one of the crazy strippers that ends up getting her a** whoooped by diamond in the end. Another great scene. Which is why i never understood the term catfight because girls can be great fighters, i've seen some pretty brutal and vicious fights involving girls where fists are involved and broken noses, no nail scratching like most guys think. I once saw a fight between two new york girls outside a club, and the girl's head was being slammed into the cement over and over like a ragdoll. I didnt think a head could handle that much trama. The term catfight, is merely a sexist and stereotypical made up word by men. But anyways, this movie is entertaining, and i never get tired of it. This may be a guy movie mostly, but i'm a woman, and i like it!

Average customer rating:

King Kong (1933)
way better then the other 2 !
way better then the other 2
IT WAS BEAUTY THAT KILLED THE BEAST...
The only one to see

King Kong (1933) (Single-Disc Edition)
Starring: Robert Armstrong , Roscoe Ates , Reginald Barlow , Lynton Brent , and Bruce Cabot
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000EHQTZO
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Amazon.com

"Now you see it. You're amazed. You can't believe it. Your eyes open wider. It's horrible, but you can't look away. There's no chance for you. No escape. You're helpless, helpless. There's just one chance, if you can scream. Throw your arms across your eyes and scream, scream for your life!" And scream Fay Wray does most famously in this monster classic, one of the greatest adventure films of all time, which even in an era of computer-generated wizardry remains a marvel of stop-motion animation. Robert Armstrong stars as famed adventurer Carl Denham, who is leading a "crazy voyage" to a mysterious, uncharted island to photograph "something monstrous ... neither beast nor man." Also aboard is waif Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and Bruce Cabot as big lug John Driscoll, the ship's first mate. King Kong's first half-hour is steady going, with engagingly corny dialogue ("Some big, hard-boiled egg gets a look at a pretty face and bang, he cracks up and goes sappy") and ominous portent that sets the stage for the horror to come. Once our heroes reach Skull Island, the movie comes to roaring, chest-thumping, T. rex-slamming, snake-throttling, pterodactyl-tearing, native-stomping life. King Kong was ranked by the American Film Institute as among the 50 best films of the 20th century. Kong making his last stand atop the Empire State Building is one of the movies' most indelible and iconic images. --Donald Liebenson

DVD features
Not surprisingly, the eighth wonder of the world's DVD treatment is nothing short of spectacular. The newly restored, digitally mastered print of the 1933 version of King Kong is sharp, well balanced, and given that this film is seventy years old, has very few scratches or blemishes. The restoration is nothing short of amazing. What may frustrate some is the audio. Though crystal clear, it is still in 2.0 Mono. The soundtrack on Kong is such an integral part of the film you really wished they could have pulled it out to at least 2.0 Surround; but this is a minor criticism. The bulk of the commentary track is by visual effects veterans Ray Harryhausen and Ken Ralston joyfully discussing the special effects of the film and discussing why King Kong is such a favorite and important film to the community of visual effects artists. Spliced between their commentaries are colorful and humorous anecdotes from director from Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray. The two documentaries on disc two run over three and half hours long. I Am Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper is an engaging documentary on the renegade, Hemingway-like director. It is fascinating to learn that Cooper was every bit the adventurer that the fictional director Carl Denham in King Kong was in the film. RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World is a two and a half hour documentary broken into 7 parts: "The Origins of King Kong," "Willis O'Brien and Creation," "Cameras Roll on Kong," "The Eighth Wonder," "A Milestone in Visual Effects," "Passion, Sound and Fury," "The Mystery of the Lost Spider Pit Sequence," and "King Kong's Legacy." Also included is complete footage of the legendary "The Lost Spider Pit Sequence." Presenting the segments are various film historians and filmmakers including Rudy Behlmer, Cooper biographer Mark Cotta Vaz, the Chiodo Brothers (of Team America: World Police special effects fame), and directors John Landis and Peter Jackson. Here you will learn everything you would ever want to know about the making and importance of King Kong, including that the producer/director team of Cooper and Schoedsack played the pilots who shoot Kong off the Empire State Building. The highly anticipated, long-awaited release of King Kong will meet most viewers' expectations, and exceed everyone's else. --Rob Bracco

Description

Seeking a backer for his movie, Merian C. Cooper approached a top Hollywood mogul. "You know what a 50-foot gorilla would see in a five-foot girl?" the mogul asked. "His breakfast!" The studio chief wasn't buying but the public was. King Kong saved RKO from bankruptcy and became an all-time classic, ranking 43rd on the American Film Institute's list of Top-100 American Movies. King Kong teems with memorable moments: a moviemaking expedition on a fantastic isle filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures; the giant simian's lovestruck obsession with the film shoot's blonde starlet (scream queen Fay Wray); Kong's capture; his Manhattan rampage; and the fateful finale atop the Empire State Building, where Kong cradles his palm-sized beloved and swats at machine-gunning airplanes. "It was beauty killed the beast." But in these and other great scenes, Kong lives forever.

Customer Reviews:

King Kong (1933).......2007-01-04

I now have all three versions of this story. I prefer the 1933 original
version. The last release was OK, but I felt overwelmed by the CGI stuff.
The 1976 version just did not produce. The original, projected the terror
and the love intrest of Kong.

Michael

way better then the other 2 !.......2006-11-29

cool specail effects i seen this movie alot of times cant stop watching it 1933 kong was a toy moved with frams cool movie but 1976 kong was a guy in a gorilla costume now how cheesy is that and 2005 kong was computer animated but still bad 1933 king kong is super cool

way better then the other 2.......2006-11-29

cool specail effects just leave king kong be you cant make it better 1933 was a toy used frams to move it 1976 was a guy in a gorilla costume now how cheesy is that and 2005 was computer animated but still bad 1933 king kong is cool dont say its bad

IT WAS BEAUTY THAT KILLED THE BEAST..........2006-05-29

As a young child in the nineteen fifties, I used to watch this film whenever it appeared on TV on "Million Dollar Movie". I loved it then. I love it now. Time has not diminished the capacity of this film to mesmerize and hold the viewer in its thrall.

The story line is basic. Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong), a filmmaker and entrepreneur, leads an expedition to Skull Island where he discovers its deep, dark secret. It is a land where time has stood still, and prehistoric monsters still hold sway over the island and its inhabitants. There, the natives pay homage to the one whom they revere as "Kong", and who is, indeed, king of the island.

Denham, together with his beautiful, budding starlet, Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), as well as with the crew of the ship that brought him to Skull Island, investigates the strange ritual being performed on the island by its native population. Before she knows it, Ann finds herself captured by the natives. She is to become the bride of the mysterious "Kong".

When Ann discovers who the mysterious "Kong" is, she starts screaming and doesn't stop. The ship's first mate, Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), who happens to be in love with Ann, manages to rescue her from the clutches of "Kong". Notwithstanding the fact that "Kong" has taken a shine to her, Ann is relieved to have been rescued by the man whom she loves.

Denham then arranges to capture the creature, whom he calls "King Kong" and takes him back to New York with them on the ship that brought them to Skull Island. There, King Kong makes his debut, one that movie lovers will long remember.

The special effects of this film were superlative for its time and still pass muster today. The relationship between the beauty and the beast still makes the viewer sit up and take notice. This is an attention grabbing film that is as exciting today, as when it was first released over seventy years ago. It is a truly timeless, cinema classic. Bravo!

The only one to see.......2006-04-27

While the 2005 version is a techno dream, this is the only version really worth watching or having. Never equaled.

Average customer rating:

Good movie....inspirational
Modern Jamaican Cinderella story!
Very Entertaining
Dancehall Queen
Dancehall Queen

Dancehall Queen
Starring: Audrey Reid , Paul Campbell (IV) , Carl Davis (IV) , Mark Danvers , and Cherine Anderson
Director: Don Letts , and Rick Elgood
Manufacturer: Palm Pictures / Umvd
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ASIN: B00049QR04
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Amazon.com

A Cinderella story from the mean streets of Kingston, Jamaica, the alternately comic and gritty Dancehall Queen is an intriguingly dark crowd pleaser. Marcia (Audrey Reid) is a single mom and street vendor barely scraping by even with a financial assist from the seemingly avuncular Larry (Carl Davis), a gun-toting strongman with a twisted desire for Marcia's teenage daughter. Complicating things is Priest (Paul Campbell), a murderous hood who killed Marcia's friend and now is terrorizing the defenseless woman. Facing three big problems--Larry, Priest, and a lack of money---Marcia arrives at an inspired solution: develop an alter ego, a dancing celebrity called the Mystery Lady who can compete in a cash-prize contest and pit both of the men against one another. Which is exactly what she does, and it's great fun watching Marcia instigate her complicated plan with a little help from sympathetic friends. Colorful, rowdy, funny, and dangerous, Dancehall Queen is a clever and ceaselessy energetic movie steeped in Kingston street life and the desire to keep body and soul together at home. Reid is a delight as the everyday figure who transforms into an icon in the evenings, and the dance scenes are amazingly bawdy. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Good movie....inspirational.......2007-03-09

This was a really good movie. Since I've visited Jamaica my love for it has evolved into watching good movies and listening to good music. This movie was really good. You just have to listen close because some of the language is in patios.

Modern Jamaican Cinderella story!.......2007-01-26

I love Dancehall Queen! I lost my first copy (VHS) so I replaced it with a new copy in DVD. I never get tired of watching this movie and I consider it a Jamaican movie classic right up there with Harder They Come, Rockers and Smile Orange. It is a nice twist on the traditional rags-to-riches story. Although her character's morals are somewhat questionable (she practically "sells" her daughter to a high-paying local don), you can't help but root for the protagonist Marcia!

Very Entertaining.......2007-01-04

I loved this movie, even though some of the actors did not sound anything like a real West Indian/Jamaican. I chalked that up to not having enough Carribean actors to fill the roles. Overall though, it was a very entertaining movie, especially the Dancehall Scenes.

Dancehall Queen.......2006-11-04

I loved this movie! A widower uses her smarts to outwit two dangerous men responsible for her husband's death and further abuse to her and her family. She becomes the mystery lady and enter a dance contest which results in the end to all her problems. A Fantastic film! Wonderful music! African accent.

Dancehall Queen.......2006-05-01

Reply to Gail E. Clark "The Jazzy One"

The song is "What's the Move" by Chaka Demus and Pliers - madd-wicked!!

Average customer rating:

In Retrospect, the Father of Modern Comic Book Films
I must have received a bootleg version
Great action film!
An Adventure Movie For The Intellectual
I needs me some Kelsey!!!

X-Men (Single Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Halle Berry , Bruce Davison , Famke Janssen , Ian McKellen , and Patrick Stewart
Director: Bryan Singer
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B00003CX8J
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

In a time when race and religion don't separate people, but extra powers and mutated characteristics do, two longtime friends, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) part ways, only to become rivals over the issue of how much patience they should have with "normal" people. Living lives that scare most humans lacking the "X-factor" (a special power such as telekinesis), they fight over changing the general population into mutants. Xavier decides to help mutants in a special school while waiting for humanity to be more accepting, while Magneto opts to change all "normal" people into mutants in order to create a mutant-only world. Leading a group of four powerful X-Men (and women) to rescue one lost girl (the mutant Rogue, played by Anna Paquin)--and the entire population of New York--Xavier recruits a new member to their group: Logan (Hugh Jackman), better known as Wolverine, joins the team with much reluctance, only to prove very valuable to the rescue effort.

Each member of the X-Men has mastered their special gift--the ability to create a storm (Storm, played by Halle Berry), telekinesis (Dr. Jean Grey, played by Famke Janssen), eyesight carrying laserlike destructive power (Cyclops, played by James Marsden), the ability to heal nearly any wound he sustains (Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman). The chemistry among these four sets the stage for some expert teamwork--and some hidden romance. The mutants' ensemble work drives the action sequences, such as in a train station battle with Magneto's crew--including Sabertooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)--that unleashes a lot of destruction, thanks to the striking special effects.

You don't have to be a fan of the hugely popular X-Men comic books to enjoy Bryan Singer's film, which is loaded with creativity, cool effects, and characters complex enough to lift it above run-of-the-mill action films. And Singer sets the stage admirably for the sequels that could turn X-Men into the strongest comic-book franchise since Batman. --Sandra Levin

Customer Reviews:

In Retrospect, the Father of Modern Comic Book Films.......2007-05-25

The first X-Men film is not really perfect, but in terms of it's timing and what it meant might be coming down the pike with regards to cinematic interpretations of comic books (specifically Marvel comics) it is pretty darn close to perfect. Lets face it, this is the harbinger of the comic book movie age that has, like it or not, made some exciting and high-grossing films. I personally think the majority of comic book movies fail and could care less about how much money they make, but X-Men is a bit more than that. It's a very good movie too.

I didn't get a chance to see this in theaters but that actually served the film well in terms of how I viewed the hype. I didn't care because so many did...that's the old punk in me in guess. So I waited and received the film as an early Christmas gift the following year. I actually watched it Christmas eve and found it to be incredibly refreshing and enjoyable.

It begins by showing us a young boy being separated from his parents at a German concentration camp in Poland. His parents are going into the camp and will be killed. The boy is desperate to save them and as the German soldiers hold him down he reaches out and somehow begins to bend the metal gates that close in his parents before being struck down by the butt of one of the soldiers' guns. The boy is Eric Lehnsherr, one of the great all-time Marvel comic villains known as Magneto. In one fell swoop, Bryan Singer does something that I've always been glad X-Men writers did consistently, and that is allow us to sympathize with this villain.

We are then introduced to the primary plot of a modern day Senator bent on the granting the government the ability to force registration of all mutants. Then it shows how telepathic and mind manipulating mutant Charles Xavier and his old friend and rival Magneto fundamentally disagree on how mutants as a race must react to this oncoming repression. This is followed by the introduction to our primary protagonists; Rogue, a young girl who drains the life of all people her skin makes contact with, and Wolverine, an enhanced mutant with the ability to heal himself enough that his body endured somking of skeletal replacement surgery. His skeleton is made of an indestructible metal and he also has claws made of this metal that break through his skin anytime he wants to kill someone. Great characters that Anna Paquin and Hugh Jackman are able to portray well here. Again, Singer introduces these characters with relatable depth.

In short, Magneto wants to destroy humanity and the X-Men must stop him in an environment where they are not appreciated in the least by the public. Singer attempts to make sociological insights on those terms in addition to bringing great character depth. When you consider the number of characters and the length of the movie, these are not easy tasks to say the least. Then again, when watching the Usual Suspects it's quite obvious Singer has a knack for just this sort of thing.

X-Men is a very good movie but I won't give it five stars because it also contains some fairly annoying dialogue that I absolutely refuse to forgive. For example, the character Storm asks the villain Toad what happens when a toad is hit by lightning and answers her own question by saying "the same as everything else." It's not funny or witty. It serves no purpose other than to make Storm look like a big cheese ball, and that isn't really fair. Not to mention, who really cares what happens to a toad when it gets electrocuted and why is that even a question to begin with? Let's just watch the lightning bolt strike and see toad explode. That is really just a nit-picking though, as X-Men is still a very good movie and it actually gets more and more important in terms of movie history with time.

I must have received a bootleg version.......2007-01-09

The additional features on this disk don't work. When trying to access them, your given a totally different thing. I think this package was actually a bootleg version, cuz the package and other disk features are different from the BlockBuster rental version.

Great action film!.......2007-01-03

No need to go over too much or to spoil anything, because other reviewers have probably already done that. Fast paced, well shot, great acting, wonderful story, and wonderful direction. Recomended.

An Adventure Movie For The Intellectual.......2006-11-27

I saw a picture on a TV guide (I believe) in 2000, with a picture of a man with three blades coming out of his hand. At first, I thought it was an ad for the newest Nightmare On Elm Street installment, until I noticed that it was Hugh Jackman in the upcoming movie "The X-Men". My mind gave the famous line of Emily Litella: "Well, that makes it completely different. Never mind." After all, I had read and loved the X-Men comics when I was younger, and knew enough to know that Jackman was playing the Wolverine.

This movie was as good as I could imagine it, and even better. It had the special effects and action you would expect in a comic book adaptation. But the movie appealed to the mind as much as to the eyes and nerves.

This movie (and actually, the whole series) deals with the issue of prejudice and how to deal with it. In these movies, it is mutants that are the victims of this prejudice. The story line says it is a spurt of evolution; there is nothing to scientifically verify this. Nevertheless, the mutants are feared and persecuted.

There are mutant protagonists, led by Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), and mutant antagonists, led by Magneto (Ian McKellen). The difference between them is the response to the persecution. The protagonists seek to live quietly and peaceably with humans, having Xavier's school as a place for protection and refuge. The antagonists are ready to wage war with the persecutors.

In this first installment, Magneto's goal is to transform humans into mutants, which he does to a Senator who wants to have mutants registered (not unlike the Jews in Nazi Germany, a comparison made in the first scene of the movie). The problem is that humans are unable to withstand the change and end up dying.

I avoid detailed plot descriptions in my reviews so I spoil as few surprises as possible. I will say, though, that Magneto survives the first movie, not unlike Darth Vader surviving in the Star Wars movies. One thing I like about the movie, though, is that Magneto is not the type of villain you want to see killed. Magneto and Xavier are not true enemies, but adversaries who would admit the other is really a friend. I am the type of person who would rather see a villain reformed than executed.

This movie is PG-13. The Senator's death, among other scenes, keep this from being a family movie. However, I have no problem with teenagers seeing this movie.

I needs me some Kelsey!!!.......2006-08-16

It was a lot better than I thought it would be and has definitely raised the bar for all other Marvel movies to come,in every aspect of film making. Sure it was different in someways than the book, but it could stand alone from them and more importantly it was good. As much as I liked the cheesy 70's and 80's Marvel movies(like Dr. Strange starring Peter Wooten in the title roll, thank you very much), Marvel movies to come will have to measure up to this one. And that's a good thing because sometimes Marvel doesn't place as much emphasis on story telling quality as it does on marketing. But they made one stupendous,unforgivable error. They left out Hank McCoy,aka The Beast! Woe betide them! I'm looking forward to a sequal, and I'll really enjoy it more if it contains the only X-Man who can fight crime in his swim trunks,differentiate between Keats & Yeats,type his doctoral thesis with his toes, the thinking man's Tarzan...........The Bombastic BEAST!!!

Average customer rating:

Grand Champion
Great Movie
Good, clean fun for the kids!
One word describes this movie...HOKEY!!!
Don't take it too Seriously

Grand Champion
Starring: Joey Lauren Adams , Emma Roberts , Eloise DeJoria , Brodie Beaver , and Jacob Fisher
Director: Barry Tubb
Manufacturer: Hannover House
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ASIN: B0006HBLLY
Release Date: 2005-01-22

Product Description

In the inspiring tradition of fabulous family films like "National Velvet" and "Old Yeller," "Grand Champion" promises to delight audiences of all ages with its entertaining adventure, star-studded cast and upbeat Texas music. Presented by American Family Movies in conjunction with Rope the Moon and Madrugada Ranch Productions, "Grand Champion" weaves a lively tale of a spunky boy names Buddy and his prize-winning calf, Hokey, as they climb from the underdog position and up through the ranks of several Texas stock shows to ultimately win the title of "Grand Champion." As this hilarious and heartwarming adventure becomes a nationally-covered event, people from all walks of life help Buddy and Hokey make their way across Texas by cheering them on to a surprise ending that is sure to leave "Grand Champion" audiences with their toes tapping and their faces smiling!

System Requirements:

Running Time 98 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Grand Champion.......2005-08-10

Fun Family movie with a great cast. Emma Roberts is a future star and is delightful in this film. If you like the rodeo or want just good clean family fun this is a great film!

Great Movie .......2005-06-22

I thought this movie was GREAT!!!!!!!
My family thought it was cute... they could not resist singing the hokey pokey song and dancing to it :)
Barry Tubb has a great movie.... I hope he does more family type movies!!!!

Good, clean fun for the kids!.......2005-06-04

As I watched this movie I couldn't help but remember my own "farm kid" shock of finding out where most of those calves we raised end up, and this movie kind-of lives out the fantasy of a kid's intervention and everything ending up okay in the end.
Great movie for the kids or family- nice and clean and just plain, simple fun! They don't try to complicate the storyline or adventure- so Mom & Dad, keep that in mind and don't over analyze it. Let the kids smile with the kids in the film as they frolick & play and enjoy the chase scenes with the "bad guy".
For myself, I specifically remember one particular shot of the steer, I believe it was as they entered an arena. Whoever decided on that shot...it was amusing & I liked it- you did good!!
There are movies geared for the younger kids and movies geared for adults- this one's geared for the kids. They'll laugh & they'll enjoy it.

One word describes this movie...HOKEY!!!.......2005-06-03

And no I'm not talking about the steer. I really wanted to like this movie...my two boys (age 6 and 2) really enjoyed it. It's set in Texas, so of course I wanted to love it that much more. There are some serious megastars and old rodeo has-beens, which is another reason I grabbed it at the video rental store. The plot just seems so strained and contrived. No one seems to feel comfortable in their role, which makes it hard to believe. Having to listen to Natalie Maines stutter and fumble as a stock show announcer was a little grating. The girl who plays "Sister" is Julia Roberts' niece, and she seems to sail carelessly through the movie as if that alone will carry her, whether she actually shows any acting skills or not (hint, she doesn't). It's just too hard for me to believe that a kid can drag a big steer through the scrub of West Texas and never be found. I also didn't like the fact that when they were on the run, the boy actually filled up a condom with water and used it to give the steer a drink. They obviously didn't try to be overt about it being a condom and the scene went really quickly, but any adult will catch on. It all comes to a head at the end...when the obviously filthy rich cattle rancher who originally bought the steer at auction for $775,000 flies over, pats the boy on the back, tells his own sob story about his childhood steer who was sold, and tells him to "go ahead and keep the steer and the money too". Yeah...right...

Don't take it too Seriously.......2005-04-25

This movie is all about family and fun, while learning the lessons we sometimes encounter in life. Depending on the age of the viewer, all will take something away from it. My two year old embraces the music, the children starring in the film, and especially "that cow". I was touched by the love of this family working together and learning responsibility, while competing in livestock shows; something that my family does in real life. Take the movie for what it is...good hearted, fun, and sometimes just a little silly!

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