Skinner

Starring:Ted Raimi, Ricki Lake, David Warshofsky, Richard Schiff, Traci Lords, Blaire Baron, Roberta Eaton, Christina Englehardt, Dewayne Williams, Time Winters, Frederika Kesten (II), Sara Lee Froton
Director: Ivan Nagy
Studio: Simitar Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!"
pitiful
Typical
Great fun!
Highly Recommend, Good, Solid Movie.

Notes on a Scandal
Starring: Judi Dench , Cate Blanchett , Tom Georgeson , Michael Maloney , and Joanna Scanlan
Director: Richard Eyre
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NIVJFY
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

Gold stars to all for this taut psychological thriller based on Zoe Heller's novel that that gets more insidiously twisted as it unfolds. Oscar-nominated for her chilling performance, Dame Judi Dench gives a master class as schoolteacher Barbara Covett, a frumpy, friendless, and flinty spinster who lives with her cat. A formidable presence, Barbara is standoffish with colleagues and not one for students to trifle with (not that they'd dare). Cate Blanchett, also an Oscar nominee and winner of several critics society awards for her impassioned performance, costars as Sheba Hart, the new, overwhelmed art teacher who first becomes enthrall to Barbara after she steps in to help Sheba discipline unruly students. Barbara cultivates a friendship, and insinuates herself into Sheba's chaotic life, which includes her older husband (Bill Nighy), teenage daughter, and a son with Down's syndrome. Then, Barbara catches the reckless Sheba in a compromising position with a 15-year-old student (Andrew Simpson). Seizing her opportunity, the calculating Barbara does not turn her in. Rather, she wants to "help" her. "She's the one I've been waiting for," she writes in the journals she meticulously keeps, and which provide, in voiceover, her corrosive commentary. This all sounds very Fatal Attraction, but no boiling rabbits, please; we're British. Philip Glass's Oscar-nominated score accentuates the growing menace. Though there is little in these characters to admire, (one would think GLAAD would have something to say about the predatory turn Barbara's character takes), Notes on a Scandal is a compelling tour-de-force for its Grade-A cast. --Donald Liebenson

Notes on a Scandal Extras

Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench on their characters in the film

Beyond Notes on a Scandal

Book to Movie Adaptations
More Cate Blanchett Films
What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal: A Novel

Stills from Notes on a Scandal

Description

Academy Award(r) winners Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give wickedly entertaining, Oscar-nominated performances * ? one as a woman consumed by her colleague's guilty secret, the other, a victim to her own dark obsessions ? in this sexy, stylish thriller. Dench mesmerizes as Barbara Covett, a teacher who rules over her classroom with an iron fist, yet leads a desperate, solitary life outside it. That is, until she meets radiant new art teacher Sheba Hart (Blanchett). Although at first overjoyed with her newfound kindred spirit, when Barbara discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a teenage student, her jealously and rage spiral out of control.

Customer Reviews:

"You're nothing but waste and disappointment!".......2007-07-03

Cate Blanchett delivers another great performance as a lust-crazed, almost-40 teacher looking for illicit, illegal love in the arms of a 15 yo student. I found the film quite fascinating and very disturbing. The director uses Judi Dench's and Cate's acting brilliance to create a raw intensity that comes from watching adults at their most debased. The magnetism that draws the creepy spinster Dench into an obsessive adulation of Cate's character is true even for the viewer. Blanchett is so beautiful and full of live that the audience can't help but like her. This affection makes her fall from grace all the more shocking. The film was clearly inspired by recent events in America, and the director created a really fine film from such sordid material. Any true fan of Cate Blanchett must see this film!

pitiful.......2007-07-01

An extremely disturbing movie with no clear moral or even comic relief. I can't remember a single character who exhibited good judgement or self-control. Of course with moral relativity in vogue, the suggestion that one should exercise self-restraint or that there even is good and bad is old-fashioned and bigoted.

But if you want to see graphic scenes of Cate Blanchett having sex with a smallish 15 year old boy or an elderly lady lusting after Cate, then this is your movie.

Typical.......2007-06-29

Once again, modern cinema cannot resist the urge to set up and then tear down symbols of moral authority, which this film gleefully does by making a pinata out of Judi Dench's character. Behind every judgmental facade, preaches the movie, lies a twisted and lonely soul who lacks the courage to indulge her passions in the way that Cate Blanchett's character does (and whose atrocious behavior is ultimately portrayed as less culpable than Dench's). Sorry, but no matter how well acted this film was, it's the same old slashing and burning of any remaining pockets of piety.

Great fun!.......2007-06-18

After an uncomfortable hour of Middle Class coffee table navel gazing I decided "Scandal" was best treated as a comedy. A southern gothic like "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" transposed to Blighty.

A hoot!

Highly Recommend, Good, Solid Movie........2007-06-17

This is my favorite movie with Cate Blanchett of all time. She plays the character of a wife and mother of 2, and now a school teacher. The turmoil she creates in her life seems like it is done because she is simply bored, and wants some adventure. She is beautiful, captivating, and sexy.

She becomes friendly with the character Barbara, played by Judy Dench, who is a fellow school teacher. She becomes entranced with Cate. As the movie progresses, she wants more and more of her attention, and the intimate secret they share becomes more and more convoluted.

Judy Dench is wonderful, she is eerie yet something about her character feels so familiar and close to home.

Highly recommend as a good, solid movie.

Average customer rating:

Sweet, Funny, Feel Good
Sweet
Country mouse moves to city and becomes city mouse
Not one for a chick flick...but
Miss Melanie's back, but where is Scarlett?

Sweet Home Alabama
Starring: Reese Witherspoon , Josh Lucas , Patrick Dempsey , Candice Bergen , and Mary Kay Place
Director: Andy Tennant
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007E2F5
Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

As formulaic, utterly inoffensive romantic comedies go, Sweet Home Alabama could be better, and could be worse. It's a variant of Julia Roberts's Something to Talk About, with all the same strengths and weaknesses, and Reese Witherspoon is definitely its saving grace. As an Alabama country girl turned hot New York fashion designer, Witherspoon finds the genuine emotions hidden under a blandly familiar plot, making her character's romantic indecisiveness seem not only credible but disarmingly appealing. She's just agreed to marry the Camelot-bred son (Patrick Dempsey) of New York's no-nonsense mayor (Candice Bergen), but first she has to officially divorce the husband (Josh Lucas) she left behind years earlier... only to discover that their love is stronger than ever. The rest, of course, is a foregone conclusion, but with a sharp supporting cast and a few charming moments, Sweet Home Alabama will satisfy anyone who prefers safe, reassuring entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This delightfully entertaining romantic comedy stars Reese Witherspoon (LEGALLY BLONDE) as sophisticated Melanie Carmichael, a rising New York clothing designer who suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But this is no fairy tale romance for Melanie. She has skeletons in her fashion-filled closet that include Jake -- the backwoods husband she married in high school who refuses to divorce her. Determined to end their marriage and sever all ties with her past once and for all, Melanie returns to Alabama. But home starts to tug at her heartstrings, and what she thought she wanted may not be what she wants at all.

Customer Reviews:

Sweet, Funny, Feel Good.......2007-07-01

Looking for a feel good movie? Here's one. Sweet Home Alabama is just that, sweet.

Sweet.......2007-06-08

Josh is to cute for words - I would pick him every time. I think it would have been better if they kept in the other parts of the film that you can see in the outtakes - it makes it flow better.

Country mouse moves to city and becomes city mouse.......2007-05-23

This movie is your typical country mouse moves to city and becomes city mouse. City mouse goes back to the country and is very "ashamed" of the country where it orginally came from. What makes this story different is the "romantic" side of the city mouse and the realization that the city mouse really isn't a city mouse at all, she is still a country mouse inside her heart. What I really liked about this movie in a whole is the slow realization that one must be honest in one's life to really achieve happiness with one's self and others around them. I don't mean to stand on a "soap box", but this is a story that is very hard hitting in that fact. The story is well acted and presented in a way that you don't quiet know what is coming next. See this movie if you want some laughs and have some good fun. I highly recommend this movie to all comedy fans of all ages.

Not one for a chick flick...but.......2007-05-20

I watched this primarily because of Reese Witherspoons portrayal of June Carter Cash in Walk the Line. Here in Sweet Home Alabama, she is a country girl turned city girl, who is forced to return to her roots in order to get a divorce from her husband that she hasn't seen in 7 years so she could marry another.

But in so doing, she finds that the past life she had been embarrased about wasn't so bad. Forced to slow down, she rediscovers herself, and finds out what true love is all about.

After it was over, it made me want to move from the city to some small town like what I grew up in.

Another show like this one is Doc Hollywood with Michael J. Fox. If you liked one you'll like the other.

Miss Melanie's back, but where is Scarlett?.......2007-05-19

Reese Witherspoon is the main attraction of 2002's SWEET HOME ALABAMA, an almost absurdly formulaic and predictable romantic comedy. Luckily for SWEET HOME ALABAMA, Witherspoon's screen presence lifts this film up from the merely humdrum and makes it watchable, entertaining, and even believable---at least until the last five minutes or so.

Alabama-born Melanie Carmichael (Witherspoon) is one of New York's preeminent fashion designers, engaged to the JFK Jr.-like son of New York's woman Mayor (Candice Bergen) who plays her role as a power-mad politician with an unpleasantly realistic air.

Shortly after the engagement, Melanie travels Way Down South on the quiet to take care of a little unfinished business---including finally dumping the undivorced, plaid workshirt, mullet-headed, ballcap-wearing, chaw-preferring, beer-guzzling husband she's left behind.

Greeted like the Antichrist upon her return home, Melanie's secret life is laid bare, including a teenage pregnancy and an upbringing that was short on Plantation but long on Pickup Truck. As a matter of fact, "Felony Melanie" has quite the past reputation, and it isn't helped by her present City Cousin ways---the locals come to her door with pitchforks and torches and a rail on which to run her out of town. For her part, she can't stand her roots and is embarrassed and humiliated by the metaphorical red clay on the soles of her feet.

Worse yet, her stubborn not-quite ex is dedicated to making her life miserable by not finalizing the divorce papers. Forced by circumstance to hang around the old back forty, Melanie, willy-nilly begins to reconnect with her past life. Things come to a head when her New York fiance shows up, and she is forced to acknowledge the past she's been denying.

As noted, Witherspoon is the best element of the film. She is engaging and likeable, and utterly convincing as the conflicted, emotionally fragile Melanie, so much so that the viewer is compelled to comfort her in her confusion (or this one wishes he had). Witherspoon finds the humor in every situation, and sometimes the tears, playing Melanie with an honesty that is surprising for this genre of film. In short, she acquits herself very well. She can act.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA is warmhearted for the most part, but there's an edginess to the Big City Diva vs. Country Gal elements that's a little discomfiting. The characters, whether urban or rural, all seem ready to strangle their opposite numbers on cue. There's a Civil War of the soul going on here and at stray moments it feels downright ugly in the gut.

The film closes on a totally false, and surprisingly down, note (this reviewer will pass on providing any spoilers), though it is typical for this kind of fluffy comedy.

Watch Reese and suspend your disbelief.

Average customer rating:

Romeo and Juliet
Impression of Romeo & Juliet years after first seeing it.
A Great Love Story
The power of love.
"For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Romeo & Juliet
Starring: Leonard Whiting , Olivia Hussey , John McEnery , Milo O'Shea , and Pat Heywood (II)
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792165055
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com

Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was unique in its day for casting kids in the play's pivotal roles of, well, kids. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting and 15-year-old Olivia Hussey play the titular pair, the Bard's star-crossed lovers who defy a running feud between their families in order to be together in love. Typically played on stage and in previous film productions by adult actors, the innocent look and rawness of Whiting and Hussey resonated at the time with a burgeoning youth movement from San Francisco to Prague. The tragic romance at the center of the story also clicked with anti-authority sentiments, but even without that, Zeffirelli scores points by validating the ideals and passions of strong-willed adolescents. Less successful are scenes requiring the actors to have a fuller grasp of the text, though the best thing going remains the unambiguous duel between Romeo and Tybalt (Michael York). Lavishly photographed by Pasquale de Santis on location in Italy, this Romeo and Juliet brought a different tone and dimension to a story that had become tiresome in reverential presentations. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Romeo and Juliet.......2007-06-28

My favorite version of this oft-filmed classic is Zeffirelli's Oscar-nominated version. Starring two unknowns in the title roles (17-year-old Whiting and 15-year-old Hussey), the movie remains true to Shakespeare, while making the language more accessible to modern audiences. Both Michael York (as Romeo's nemesis, Tybalt) and Milo O'Shea (as Mercutio) lend strong support, while Zeffirelli's unabashed romanticism is enhanced by magnificent period detail and a sweeping score from Nino Rota. The story of youthful rebellion also spoke to basic issues arising in the restive sixties. A top-notch rendering of an eternal classic.

Impression of Romeo & Juliet years after first seeing it........2007-06-16

I first saw the 1968 version of Romeo & Juliet the year it was released.
In our small town, we had only one theatre, and it showed the same movie
for about 5 days. I was studying Shakespeare in college and decided it
might be a good idea to see the film. The first viewing made such an
impression on me that I was left wanting more. I know I went the first
night it opened and then went every night again till it left the theatre.

In the period between 1968 & 2007, I didn't see the movie...even though
VHS & DVD releases made it possible. I'm not sure why I decided to see
it again...by accident, I guess. After so many years, I was surprised
to have the same emotions as I'd felt so long ago. Leonard Whiting &
Olivia Hussey are perfection in their title roles...both in appearance and delivery of the famous lines. If nither of them had never done anything else in their careers, they've left a lasting impression (as teenage actors) which will be ageless. Others may try to better this production of Shakespeare's famous play, but none will ever come even close to equalizing the 1968 production by Franco Zeffirelli. Do yourself a favor and buy the movie in DVD or VHS. You'll want to watch it again and again to see scenery you've missed and understand lines you've heard.

I've read some reviews indicating [...] aspects of the 1968 production.
These people need psychiatric help. Their repulsive suggestions toward
the acting/actors in this production couldn't be more off the mark.
There is nothing [...] or degrading about this movie.

A Great Love Story.......2007-06-08

I saw this movie when I was in High School. I have LOVEd it ever since. The Nurse charater just cracks me up. Olivia Hussy was really beautiful. For you kids out there that think nothing existed before 1980, this version is just as good as the Leonardo DiCaprio version.

The power of love. .......2007-05-25

I only have one thing to say. This movie shows what true love really is.

"For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.".......2007-04-28

I've loved it since I saw it first time - I was 16 and for me, Romeo and Juliet were not the Shakespeare's characters, they were just a girl and a boy who loved each other and died together because they could not live without each other. I did not know the names behind the production but I remember that the costumes were gorgeous (I still remember the red and gold dress Juliet wore in her first scene), the score and song were sweet and tender, and the cinematography brought to life a very real Verona, colorful and violent. Only much later I learned that Nino Rota was the composer, Danilo Donati a costume designer, and Pasqualino De Santis a cinematographer. Both Donati and De Santis won very well deserved Oscars.)

I was absolutely charmed by Olivia Hussey - she could be the most beautiful (and sensual and youngest) Juliet ever on screen. The only other film I've seen her was "Death on the Nile" - and she was not lost among very famous costars (Peter Ustinov, Bette Davis, and Angela Lansbury among others). I also remember that even though I was in love with Leonard Whiting's Romeo, I realized that as an actor he was much less interesting than John McEnry (whimsical Mercucio), Milo O'Shea (Friar Laurence) and Pat Heywood (the Nurse). Zeffirelli came from a successful career as an international opera designer and director in London, New York, and Milan with a reputation for opulent spectacle. It may explain his ability to handle crowds on the screen so effortlessly and skillfully. He also at one point of his career worked as Luchino Visconti's assistant - perhaps he learned a lot from him. In "Romeo and Juliet" he was able to make a very dynamic film that did not feel at all as an adapted play and also was a great romance which made me feel incredibly close to its characters. Four hundreds years seemed to disappear and Shakespeare became my contemporary. I've seen "Romeo and Juliet" many times and I believe Zeffirelli's is the best adaptation of the play. Well, there is of course, the ballet with the Sergey Prokofiev's music - but it is a different story altogether.

Average customer rating:

Good goth flick
A Classic Tale Reimagined...
One of my favorites
Sleepy Hollow
Tim burtons true masterpiece movie

Sleepy Hollow
Starring: Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon , and Casper Van Dien
Director: Tim Burton
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0792164903
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com

The films of Tim Burton shine through the muck like a jack-o-lantern on a foggy October night. After such successes as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands, it should come as no surprise that Sleepy Hollow is a dazzling film, a delicious reworking of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Dark and moody, the film is a thrilling ride back to the turn of the 19th century. Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a seemingly hapless constable from New York City who is sent to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to solve the mystery of the decapitations that are plaguing the town. Crane is a bumbling sort, with a tremendous faith in science over mysticism, and he comes up against town secrets, bewitching women, and a number of bodies missing heads. Christina Ricci, as beautiful as ever, is Katrina Van Tassel, the offbeat love interest who alternately charms and frightens Crane.

The film, while occasionally gory (as one should expect from a movie about a headless horseman), is not terribly frightening, although it is suspenseful. Both Depp and Ricci are convincing, and the art direction and production values give the village its harsh feel. Toward the end, once the secrets are revealed, the film does slow down; however, this stylistic horror film provides many tricks and even more treats. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews:

Good goth flick.......2007-06-13

I like this movie. The atmospherics are awesome, the director is awesome, Jonny Depp is in it...

A Classic Tale Reimagined..........2007-05-26

1999's "Sleepy Hollow" is Director Tim Burton's excellent reimagining of the classic Washington Irving fairy tale. Johnny Depp steals the movie as Ichabod Crane, in this version a New York City police constable with new-fangled and unwelcome investigative techniques who is exiled to Sleepy Hollow by an unhappy magistrate (Christopher Lee in a spot-on cameo). Crane arrives in Sleepy Hollow (authentically portrayed as a post-American Revolution farming community) to find a string of unsolved murders attributed to the headless but ambulatory corpse of a Hessian soldier.

Crane finds also a town full of intrigues and mysterious goings-on, which he will patiently unravel with the help of Katrina Van Tassel (nicely played by Christina Ricci) who turns out to have secrets of her own. A solid supporting cast helps carry the movie.

Burton lays on an escalating series of horrible murders, each with supernatural overtones, that challenge both the investigative techniques and the rational beliefs of Ichabod Crane. Each such scene is nicely creepy without overindulging the gore. As it turns out, a genuine horror has been unleashed in Sleepy Hollow. The betrayal of the long-deal Hessian is at the heart of his current incarnation as a killer. Ichabod will have to dealt with his own bitter experience with witchcraft in order to identify the guilty and save the innocent.

This movie is highly recommended to those looking for an entertaining and well-executed update of a classic fairly tale, featuring fine direction and excellent if sometimes campy acting.

One of my favorites.......2007-05-19

For me everything works and looks brilliant on this film. Great script, wonderful performance by Depp and a surprising choice with Ricci and, even more surprising, she truely delivers. Most important, Burton nails this whimsical gothic tale and, in my humble opinion, created a film classic. Highly, highly recommended.

Sleepy Hollow.......2007-05-13

I bought this for my granddaughter for Christmas in 2006. We all watched it that day, and it was pretty good. The shipping was very quick.

Tim burtons true masterpiece movie.......2007-03-13

Do you love the old cartoon classic tale of icabod crane and the headless horseman? Then sleepy hollow is your kind of movie. A movie with violence gore and more brutal beheadings from the headless horseman. One of the best movies for a good drinking rollercoster ride.

Chef! - The Complete Collection (Series 1-3)

Average customer rating:

Hilarious!!!
A very true to life depiction of an actual chef....and it's hilarious...
Awesome
Brilliant!
Chef! is absolutely delicious

Chef! - The Complete Collection (Series 1-3)
Starring: Jeff Nuttall , Pui Fan Lee , Tim Matthews , Ian McNeice , and Elizabeth Bennett
Director: John Birkin
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009NSCTY
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Amazon.com

Hungry for a laugh? The BBC serves up more than a few chuckles in this engaging sitcom about imperious chef Gareth Blackstock (Lenny Henry), a stern taskmaster who runs his kitchen with an iron fist, a lightning tongue, and a silver palate. The show combines some of the best elements of episodic drama and zany comedy, generously seasoned with sensual splashes of fine French cuisine. (Picture Julia Child crossed with Fawlty Towers' John Cleese following a script by the creators of thirtysomething and you get the general idea.) Blackstock is a brilliant, egotistical black chef running an all-white kitchen--until, that is, his wife maneuvers him into hiring an old school chum. Challenges mount as the restaurant faces bankruptcy and Blackstock decides to risk everything to buy it. Could fulfilling his dream wind up costing the king of the kitchen his home and savings? Supported by a talented ensemble cast, the dramatic story arc develops gradually enough to keep viewers wanting more, while individual episodes rest on more traditional sitcom gags--like when the new apprentice chef loses a Band-Aid somewhere in the kitchen but can't tell which gourmet dish it landed in. Later, Blackstock, the ultimate perfectionist, devises his most perfect mouthwatering meal and scours the shady underside of England's green and pleasant countryside for the perfect closer... the king of cheeses, an illegal unpasteurized stilton. Gradually the supporting characters are given more room to grow--especially charming young Everton (Roger Griffiths), the bumbling, insecure prep cook. When Blackstock's boorish Jamaican father (Oliver Samuels) browbeats the "serious professional" into abandoning haute cuisine for a night featuring Caribbean food, it's Everton's legendary dumplings that save the day. (Watching him carefully prepare his Guinness punch might be worth the price of the set alone.) Those expecting the surreal hysteria of Monty Python or similar classic British comedies might not care for Chef's subtleties, but those interested in quality television mixed with fine food and sprinkled with a few decent laughs will be more than satisfied by what this show has to offer. --Grant Balfour

Description

Meet Britain's finest -- and most ill-tempered -- chef, Gareth Blackstock (Lenny Henry), of the prestigious Le Chateau Anglais restaurant. Each meal is a masterpiece. Just don't ask for salt. Chef Blackstock rules his kitchen with an iron ladle and puts up with no slacking. The trouble is that his underpaid and overworked kitchen staff is littered with slackers. Tuck in and prepare to double over in laughter with this hilarious and much loved comedy series from the BBC!

DVD Features:
Biographies:Cast bios
Interviews:Interviews with Lenny Henry and Caroline Lee Johnson
Other:Appearance by Lenny Henry on "The Good Food Show"

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious!!!.......2007-06-25

I AM A BIG FAN OF BRITISH COMEDIES AND THIS SHOW IS ONE OF THE BEST! LENNY HENRY IS AMAZING IN THIS SHOW. IF YOU LOVE GREAT COMEDY THIS IS THE DVD FOR YOU. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

A very true to life depiction of an actual chef....and it's hilarious..........2007-04-08

This is a masterful comedy, especially the first two seasons. It's probably the only comedy to really ever present a chef as they really are (at least the good ones). The culinary arts are just like any other art forms, and the better the chefs are, the more difficult they can be. It's like working for a great filmmaker, great writer, etc., etc.. Lenny Henry is brilliant as Gareth, the fantastic, yet incredibly tempremental chef. The writing here is first rate, and the best thing about this series is that the lead character is not likeable, yet you enjoy watching him anyway. This is actually a very realistic depiction of what an actual chef would go through. Gareth hardly sleeps, he has little or no social life, he insults his customers as well as his staff, but he knows food, and he's in his kitchen 12-16 hours a day. You can constrast this series with the godawful American sitcom Freddie (with Freddie Prinze, Jr.). He played a chef as well, but in the few episodes that actually made it to air, all he ever did was go to bars and hit on women with his business partner Brian Austin-Green, and spent most of his time in his apartment with his wise cracking grandma and bratty sister. The writers of Freddie didn't do an ounce of research, and it shows. In Chef, they actually did research. It's nice to see a realistic depiction of a chef, and it's still damn funny. The first two seasons are the best in my opinion. The third one isn't as bad, but the first two had better writing, and were shot on film. The third one was shot on video, and Gareth was a little too nice to others in it, like they tried to make the character likeable, which doesn't work. Still, this is still brilliant television.

Awesome.......2007-04-02

One of the best BBC series; certainly the most enjoyable. Third season lacks a bit of the comedy genius of the first, but the entire series is worth owning.

Brilliant!.......2007-03-14

Excellent British comedy? Yes. Excellent writing and acting? Yes, most definitely! But for me, these stories and/or the series I LIVED for 14 years!! These shows (along with Anthony Bourdain or Michael Ruhlman writings) are the most accurate description of what it is REALLY like to work a fine dining restaurant. There is little, in my opinion, that is over-exaggerated. It's funny, yet brilliant and real! Lenny Henry was on his game in this, and I am glad he brought these out so we could all enjoy over and again.

Chef! is absolutely delicious.......2007-01-10

I love to watch these over and over. And, it's the entire series--every episode. Each time I watch them, I hear something I missed the time before. Lenny Henry is brilliant. Many of the lines are worth repeating. When arguing with my husband, I often steal Chef's quote: "Your silence is disturbing eloquent". Five stars!

Average customer rating:

Watch it with your children!
Friendly Persuasion
Excellent Movie
Another gem inside the artistic trajectory of William Wyler
Wonderful Movie!

Friendly Persuasion
Starring: Gary Cooper , Dorothy McGuire , Anthony Perkins , Richard Eyer , and Robert Middleton
Director: William Wyler
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Religion | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Civil War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004XMV9
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Description

For two years the Civil War has been elsewhere. Now Confederate forces are nearby, looting and burning. It is time to fight back, Jess Birdwell's neighbors insist. Yet Birdwell, a Quaker, knows there must be a better way to settle things.

Year: 1956

Director: William Wyler

Starring: Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire

Customer Reviews:

Watch it with your children!.......2007-06-30

I saw this absolutely brilliant movie when I was 12 years old, and it left a lasting impression on me. When my children were young, we recorded the movie from a tv broadcast, and watched it numerous times as a family. So many subtle lessons and joys permeate the movie, from start to finish! Watch it with your children, and talk about it! It is a wonderful thing to share.

One thing becomes increasingly evident, the more often you watch this film: Gary Cooper is one of the greatest screen actors of all time. His comic repertoire of grimaces, twitches, and various other expressions is amazing, yet non-intrusive. He brings a simple integrity to his performance that often makes you forget you are watching an actor. Anthony Perkins is brilliant as the conflicted son. Perkins deserved Academy Awards for this performance and Psycho, and nothing will ever convince me otherwise.

Watch Cooper carefully in this role, and then watch a dramatic performance by Kevin Costner. You'll see elements of Cooper in Costner, and you'll emerge with a greater appreciation of what Cooper was able to do on screen. Cooper is clearly the master, Costner the student.

Friendly Persuasion.......2007-06-25

Based on the popular novel by Jessamyn West, "Persuasion" is a sensitive portrayal of Quaker lifeways with flashes of merry humor, especially around Jess, who can't resist racing a neighbor's buggy or the allure of a new pump organ--both frowned upon by his stoic religion. Blacklister Michael Wilson's progressive-minded script doesn't shy from weighing militarism against Christian love, and Wyler's solid direction of stars Cooper and McGuire makes their love for each other seem unfailingly genuine. Future "Psycho" star Perkins is also excellent as the gangly, intense teen who joins the Union defenders against his parents' wishes. For a quaint, incisive look at old-time Quaker life, try a bit of "Friendly Persuasion."

Excellent Movie.......2007-05-12

This is one of my favorite and I have watched it many times.

Another gem inside the artistic trajectory of William Wyler .......2007-04-12

A Quaker family beset in southern Indiana for the awful reality of a Civil War that was superbly translated to screen by an accurate direction and a fine cast.

You should notice this film won the Cannes Festival as Best film in1957 which additionally must mean something.

Wonderful Movie!.......2007-03-25

One of the best movies ever made! Great story wonderful acting, if you haven't seen it you really should! Loved it the first time and everytime I watch it!

Average customer rating:

Very good 80's comedy-drama!
the wizrad
very good 80s movie
I love the power glove... it's so bad
Super! Nintendo!

The Wizard
Starring: Luke Edwards , Vince Trankina , Wendy Phillips , Dea McAllister , and Sam McMurray
Director: Todd Holland
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000FVQLM0
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Amazon.com

Less raunchy than Tommy and more conventional than Tron, The Wizard also revolves around gaming. There's even a Bridges on board. In Tron it was Jeff, in The Wizard it's Beau. As opposed to the rock opera's pinball-playing "deaf, dumb, and blind kid," however, quasi-catatonic Jimmy (Luke Edwards) is a video game wiz. While the nine-year-old lives with his mother, half-brothers Corey (Fred Savage, circa The Wonder Years) and Nick (Christian Slater, fresh from Heathers) live with their father, Sam (Bridges). When Jimmy, who recently lost his sister, is placed in a home, Corey busts him out for a trip to California. (Today, Jimmy's condition would be labeled post-traumatic stress disorder.) As they're leaving Utah, they join forces with gaming enthusiast Haley (Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis), who suggests LA's National Video Game Championships. So, off they go by foot, skateboard, and the kindness of strangers. Sam, Nick, and obnoxious bounty hunter Putnam (Will Seltzer) are close behind. The outcome may be a foregone conclusion--the fractured family makes their peace--but The Wizard still offers a nostalgic, Nintendo-laden look at 1980s gamer culture (Power Glove, Super Mario Bros. 3, etc.). Plus, sharp-eyed viewers will spot Toby Maguire milling around before the showdown at Universal Studios Theme Park. If not for the hitchhiking, gambling, and reckless automotive destruction--after Putnam takes a knife to Sam's tires, Sam smashes his headlights with a shovel--the movie would be appropriate for all ages. In other words, it earns its PG rating. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Fred Savage stars in this warm-hearted family adventure that features the excitement and thrills of video game competition. Corey (Savage) refuses to let his emotionally disturbed younger brother Jimmy (Luke Edwards) be institutionalized, and the two run away together. They soon join forces with a resourceful girl (Jenny Lewis), who notices that Jimmy has a special talent: he is a "wizard" at video games and gets the high score on absolutely everything he plays. Evading their parents and a sinister bounty hunter, the trio head for a climactic showdown at the video game championships in California. Co-starring Beau Bridges and Christian Slater, it's an inside look at the world of video gamers that will have you cheering the whole way.

Customer Reviews:

Very good 80's comedy-drama!.......2007-06-04

13 year old Corey (Fred Savage) has a young troubled brother named Jimmy (Luke Edwards) who is about to be sent to an insitute and both run away together. Jimmy's special talent is mastering video games and together they join up with a girl (Jenny Lewis) as they must go to California to enter the video game championship.

Highly entertaining and funny comedy drama that has been considered as a 100 minute commercial for Nintendo, Universal Studios and Hostess is quite a blast to watch. The acting is good especially from Beau Bridges and Christian Slater with a cameo appearence by Tobey Mcguire, the film is notable for giving gamers a sneak preview to "Super Mario Bros. 3".

The DVD is pratically bareboned with no trailer or extras at all but that's ok cause the picture is quite good and so is the sound.

the wizrad.......2007-06-02

i was so excited to see that the wizard was on dvd. my favorite childhood film. i love it.

very good 80s movie.......2007-03-25

i bought this movie for my husband cause he already owns all the other movies that fred salvage played in also hes looking for the complete serious of wonder years on dvd but this movie is for kids and also adults so anyone should own this family movie

I love the power glove... it's so bad.......2007-03-19

This is from beginning to end, a Nintendo ad. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great movie, but it is what it is. This movie also debuted one of the best Nintendo games of all time, Super Mario Bros. 3. It was great; you get hopped up on candy and popcorn and coke and then get to watch a huge Nintendo movie AND get to see action shots of the newest Super Mario game. The movie, surprisingly, has a depth to it (despite all the Nintendo references).
The movie is about a little boy who is emotionally scarred from an earlier event (you find out the event later in the movie). It's found out, though, that he's a wizard at video games. Through a series of events, they end up at a video game competition.

Don't miss the best one-liner/Nintendo ad ever: "I love the power glove, it's so bad!"

Bottom line: It's a good movie and I would recommend it to any Nintendo fan or anyone who wants to remember what 80's movies are all about.

Super! Nintendo!.......2007-03-13

If I could have 10 DVDs on a desert island, nine of them would be this movie and the tenth would be Schindler's List.

The Wizard is not the movie about Dorothy and the dwarves, nor is it the movie about Diana Ross and Michael Jackson singing and whooping it up as they go down the yellow block road. It is, instead, a movie about Fred Savage, his goofy little challenged brother, and an awesome Nintendo championship.

This movie pits David against Goliath, in an Orwellian-like fantasyland with Power Gloves, road trips, and the comic stylings of Beau Bridges. But at its heart, this movie is about brotherly love and how fun is it that Fred Savage (who we all adored as the lil' brother on The Wonder Years Show) now gets to turn the tables and be the older brother. Now that is some acting!

As his goofy little brother pines away for California, you'll be pining away for more gritty and romp-filled scenes, and you will get them in spades! This is not just a movie about Nintendo, but really about the triumph of the human spirit (over Luigi and Princess Toadstool).

They have made many movies about Nintendo championships, but this one puts it in a historical context that in no way feels dated today. It is kind of a life-changing film, and if you see it you will probably hate every other movie you've seen before it and every one you have yet to see in your future.

If you don't like this movie, you are probably a sad person with very little prospects.

Average customer rating:

Mr Ed DVD set
Classic humor!
BEST OF MR ED VOL 1
The Best Episode is Missing
Bamboo Harvester sizzles as "Mr Ed"

The Best of Mister Ed - Volume 1
Starring: Leon Ames , Mister Ed , Connie Hines , Larry Keating , and Allan Lane
Director: Alan Young , Jus Addiss , Rodney Amateau , Arthur Lubin , and John Rich (II)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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The Best of Mister Ed - Volume Two
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Adventures of Francis The Talking Mule - Volume 1
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ASIN: B0000V490G
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

"It's been a long time since I was a pony." These immortal words launched one of television's most unlikely, but enduring friendships between architect Wilbur Post and Mister Ed, his talking horse. What better escape from the onslaught of reality television than a thoroughbred example of unreality television? Although, so convincing is Alan Young as Wilbur, and so easy his rapport with his equine costar, that you really do believe a horse can talk (Ed's voice is courtesy of Western character actor Alan Lane). This two-disc set saddles up 21 episodes from the first three seasons of this Golden Globe-winning series, which was recently added to the TV Land stable of '60s retro faves. Director Arthur Lubin knew his way around the barn. He directed the best of the Francis series of talking-mule comedies. While the episode with Mae West is sadly absent, this set does include Ed's memorable encounters with Clint Eastwood (then starring on Rawhide), George Burns (who produced the series' pilot episode), and original diva Zsa Zsa Gabor. Young is a gifted comic actor in his own right, but just as George Burns had his Gracie, Young has his Ed, who gets all the good lines, as when Wilbur congratulates Ed on curing Zsa Zsa's fear of horses. Ed replies, "She cured my fear of Hungarians." But the writers took the show's surreal premise and galloped with it, as when Ed joins the beatnik set in "Ed, the Beachcomber." Sound unbelievable? We'll give Ed the last word, of course, of course. "Don't try to understand it," he advises Wilbur during their first meeting. "It's bigger than both of us." --Donald Liebenson

Description

Saddle up for the most hilarious episodes from Seasons 1-4 of this all-time TV favorite! The world's most famous talking horse, Mister Ed, is back, along with his hapless owner, Wilbur Post (Alan Young), in this collectible DVD giftset. Giddyup!

Customer Reviews:

Mr Ed DVD set.......2007-05-12

I bought this DVD set for my wife. She loves it! She was very pleased with both Mr Ed DVD sets that I bought for her!

Classic humor!.......2007-05-12

Although my mom grew up watching the originals, I had never seen an episode until we decided to purchase the box set...

Obviously, the entire concept of the show -- Wilbur Post and his wife Carol moving into a new home, where the previous owner mysteriously left behind a horse that no one knew could talk until Wilbur came along -- is pretty ridiculous. But, if you can roll with that, the show is humorous in a comforting, everything-wraps-up-in-half-an-hour-minus-commercials kind of way. Ed (who is probably the smartest one in the bunch) is well-read and quick with the comebacks, while Wilbur supposedly works on archetectural projects no one ever sees, and Carol's only obvious purpose is to whine about her husband's attachment to his horse and come out to the barn with the occasional plate of sandwiches. How these people could survive - or how Wilbur wouldn't end up committed - is a mystery. But, nonetheless, it's a fun suspension of belief, a relief in today's world of reality shows and violent, full-of-suspense programs. It's fun to simply kick back every now and then, and pretend there really is a horse named Mister Ed who can regale us with wisdom and quips.

BEST OF MR ED VOL 1.......2007-04-10

WATCHED MR ED ON TV AND WANTED TO GET THE DVD TO WATCH SOME OF MY FAVORITE EPISODES,,JUST WAITING FOR VOL.2 BUT JUST A WORD OF CAUTION U DO NOT NEED TO BUY THE BARNYARD FAVORITES ALL THE EPISODES ON IT ARE ON VOL.1

The Best Episode is Missing.......2007-04-08

I was all excited to get volumes 1 & 2 as a gift. Imagine my disapointment when my favorite episode "Leo Durocher Meets Mister Ed" is not included in the "best of"!!! Nothing beats Ed "working out" with the Dodgers (Herman Munster trying out for them a few years later is also very funny).

Bamboo Harvester sizzles as "Mr Ed".......2007-03-25

The Mr.Ed series is classic early 1960s TV comedy. Talking equine comedy is a niche more or less completely filled by Francis (the Talking Mule) and Mr.Ed. That's about it. And it's a shame. Sophisticated comedy this is not. Nor is there any penetrating social satire. It's just really funny. Of course, not everyone is going to "get it", just as not everyone gets Maxwell Smart, F-Troop or Bugs Bunny.

Alan Young as Wilbur deserves greater recognition as the great comic he is. Being straight man to a horse, ..and Mr. Ed's only human confidant, is surely a tough role for both Alan and Wilbur. Connie Hines as Wilbur's young wife Carole didn't have the greatest role ever written, but she is just beautiful. When I was a kid watching Mr Ed, I didn't realise just how attractive Carole is. The writing and gags of the series are great, as are the supporting characters, the Post's neighbours, Roger and Kay Addison. And let's not forget cameo guest spots from Clint Eastwood, Zsa Zsa Gabor and George Burns.

The strengths of this box set are of course all 21 series one half hour episodes. For my money it's the musical episodes, Ed's forays into the worlds of pop and blues, that are my favourites. Another highlight of Volume One is the great "The Horsetronaut" episode of course. A great retro satire on the era of Sputniks and Muttniks.

It would be great if Mr. Ed's musical moments were put on a CD. Maybe the Tiny Tim version of the Mr.Ed theme song could be added as an extra track, with the rest of the CD being made up of tracks from the Mr.Ed inspired 1984 "Edstock" music festival. Or maybe some tracks could be pulled from Mr.Ed's LP record, "Straight from the Horses Mouth". But, alas, as they used to say if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

The digital reproduction, both audio and video is first class. It's all in magnificent monochrome. The physical packaging is well done and collectible with an attractively produced little booklet. The package uses two dual sided DVD disks. That's a drawback. I don't think dual sided DVDs put up with everyday handling as well as the more usual single sided disks. And as only three sides are actually used maybe it's false economy.

The booklet doesn't include much in the way of historical or shooting notes, or even cast biographies. None in fact. There are no documentaries or commentary tracks. This is a shame. A brief biography of Alan Young would have been a fitting tribute. And what about Allan "Rocky" Lane? He had a long career in B movie westerns and it would be great to learn more about this man behind the horse's mouth. Apparently there was an unaired pilot for the series, unfortunately this never made it to the disks. It would have been great to have added some of the old promotional videos, the government savings bond promotions featuring Ed, as well as his Studebaker TV advertisements.

I have both Volume One and Volume Two of this series. I like them both, but if I had to chose just one, I'd pick Volume Two. I think Mr. Ed started well but by his second series he was taking it all in his stride. Series Two was even more "off the wall" than Series One, but they are both fun. By the way Mr.Ed's real name was "Bamboo Harvester".

Average customer rating:

A TOTAL MINDF**K
American Masterpiece
Watch with a friend in the full light of day.
Intense, but thought provoking...
the devils are really angels

Jacob's Ladder
Starring: Tim Robbins , Elizabeth Peña , Danny Aiello , Matt Craven , and Pruitt Taylor Vince
Director: Adrian Lyne
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 0784011168
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Amazon.com

Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) thinks he is going insane. Or worse. When his nightmares begin spilling into his waking hours, Jacob believes he is experiencing the aftereffects of a powerful drug tested on him during Vietnam. Or perhaps his posttraumatic stress disorder is worse than most. Whatever is happening to him, it is not good. Director Adrian Lyne sparks our interest and maintains high production values, but this confusing film chokes on its "surprise" ending. It owes much to Ambrose Bierce's haunting and more straightforward story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek." Written by Bruce Joel Rubin, who also explored the "other side" in Ghost and My Life, it ultimately feels like an exercise in self-indulgence. A spirited performance by Elizabeth Peña outshines Robbins, who is surprisingly lethargic. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

A TOTAL MINDF**K.......2007-06-20

One quality of a great film is it's ability to make you forget your watching a film. I still remember the first time I saw this film, and initially I thought it was just another war film. Could I have ever been more wrong!!! I was completely consumed by the story, and was totally empathetic to the character Jacob. by the end of the movie, I am not shy to say, I was weeping like a little girl. That's saying a lot because I'm not the type to become emotional while watching films. the story starts off in 1971 during the Vietnam War; We find our main character, Jacob, hanging out with his buddies during some down time. All of the sudden they are attacked by what they think are the Viet-Kong, and needless to say, all hell breaks loose. the camera is very jerky and it's hard to see what's going on. In the ensuing chaos, Jacob is wounded. At at the moment he is wounded, he wakes up on the subway, telling us that it was just a bad dream. When he wakes, Jacob, and the viewer, get the impression that everything is not O.K.. We learn that Jacob is a very well educated man (having a P.H.D.), but after the war, is working at the local post office and living with a women he works with. We also learn that Jacob was married and had three boys; However, one died in a tragic car accident, causing him to seperate from his wife(and perhaps enlisting into the army). As the movie progresses, Jacob is slowly losing his grip on reality, having flash-backs, having paraniod feelings, and finally, having phycotic delutions to the point that he does not know what real time is. And as the viewer you don't know what real-time is either. Some people don't like this movie, for example, I had my brother watch it and he loved it, but my sister-in-law was absolutly pissed of by the end of the movie. IT IS VERY HARD TO WATCH JACOB LOSE HIS GRIP ON REALITY. Like I said earlier, This movie pulls you in and makes you forget your watching a movie. The only words I can use to describe the end of this movie is "HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL". One problem with this movie is; when it was realesed it didn't do well in the theater and soon fell into cult obscurity, while other movies over the years have borrowed (or flat out stole) ideas from this movie. If you watch it, other more popular movies might come to mind(not going to mention them because I don't want to spoil the "hook"). HANDS DOWN THE BEST THRILLER/SUSPENCE MOVIE EVER MADE!!!

American Masterpiece.......2007-05-28

This film is as close to a masterpiece that American cinema has produced. Unfortunately it requires an explanatory companion piece to inform the viewer what is happening. Briefly stated: Tim Robbin's character has been mortally wounded in Viet Nam in the opening scenes and the entire film is about his dreams and visions preceding death on an operating room table. Every person who feels his life is the subject of intense and realistic self examination will recognize pieces and fragments of his own dreams and visions in the film. Not necessarily in the same order or with the same story line, but with the same resistances and the same symmetries. This film is definitely NOT for everybody and it is amazing that it was ever done, especially in Hollywood but there it is,the amazing exception to the overwhelming rule.

Watch with a friend in the full light of day........2007-05-27

I saw this movie probably 10 years ago and refuse to ever watch it again. Don't get me wrong -- it is an incredibly good movie. Absolutely fantastic story telling that any fan of anti-war movies must see. However, it also scared the holy hell out of me like no other movie. And I don't mean that in a "horror" movie kind of way as this is not a horror movie. I swear I started seeing the "demons" from this movie in real life. I've met others with the same reaction -- once and never again.
That being said -- prepare yourself mentally and watch this movie -- you will be changed.

Intense, but thought provoking..........2007-05-22

I remember watching this movie when it came out in 1990, and being very confused. I only watched the movie, instead of viewing the details and listening to the dialogue. It took a couple of viewings, and television interview with the Director, for me to finally "get it".
The basic plot is about a Vietnam veteran who is experiencing various visions of demons and other strange phenomena. Are the visions reality, or did the US government experiment on some of our US soldiers fighting in Vietnam? Hmm, would our government do that in the movies? The movie start off in Vietnam, then fast forwards to the present, and then flashes back to Vietnam at times throughout the movie.
I really enjoyed the acting of Elizabeth Pena and Danny Aiello. I really like Danny, and wish there were more scenes of him in the movie. Ving Rhames is also in the movie, as one of Tim Robbins Vietnam buddies.
I would recommend a couple of viewings, as you will miss things the first time. All in all, I really enjoyed the movie, and learned to appreciate the ending. I know some people do not like it, but I liked the "choice" that Jacob Singer makes on where he ultimately goes!

the devils are really angels.......2007-05-05

Just an incredible movie and as another reviewer said, one of the most underrated movies of our time. I first saw this movie during its theatrical release and walked out of the theater utterly speechless. I've watched it several times since then and am equally amazed at its depth and insight.

My favorite quote from this movie comes from the spiritually sensitive chiropractor (played perfectly by Danny Aiello), who strives to adjust Jacob's paradigm more than his spine. He quotes German mystic Meister Eckhart and tells Jacob: "If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on, you'll see demons tearing your life away. If you've made your peace, then the demons are really angels, freeing you from the earth."

And even the title of the movie has an interesting history. Jacob was the character in the Bible (Genesis 25 and on) who struggled mightily with an angel through an entire night and eventually saw a ladder spanning heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending.

When you watch the movie, you'll understand the full import of this biblical reference.

Average customer rating:

Toby is great - well done, intelligent drama
Happy to own it!
Magnificent!
Loved it!
MEET THE FAMILY

Almost Strangers
Starring: Michael Gambon , Lindsay Duncan , Matthew Macfadyen , Claire Skinner , and Toby Stephens
Director: Stephen Poliakoff
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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MI-5, Volume 1

ASIN: B000FL7CBY
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Description

When Daniel attends an extraordinary family reunion with his parents, he discovers a world he hardly knew existed. Seduced by the allure of this new world, Daniel adopts the role of go-between for his glamorous Aunt Alice and his dazzling cousins Rebecca (Claire Skinner) and Charles (Toby Stephens). But even the most honorable of intentions have the potential to go disastrously wrong.

DVD Features:
Other:2002 Peabody Award
Audio Commentary:Commentary by Stephen Poliakoff, composer Adrian Johnston and Production Designer JP Kelly
Featurette:Making of featurette with writer and cast interviews (17 mins)
Photo gallery:Photo Montage (2 mins)

Customer Reviews:

Toby is great - well done, intelligent drama.......2007-06-06

I rented this to see Toby Stephens - he performs well, looks gorgeous as the glamorous brother/cousin, and does a couple of crying scenes that tear your heart out -- but the series bears a look for far more than that.

The drama is honest and compelling, and unsentimental about families and their connections -- and what rips them apart, and what makes them drift apart. And how the past relates to the present, and can sometimes throw an oblong clarifying light into what is going on. Great stuff -- what all of TV could be if not for the lowest-common-denominator.

Happy to own it!.......2007-05-14

I bought this because I am a huge fan of Matthew Macfadyen and Toby Stephens. Was not disappointed! For certain this film is thought provoking and each character's story adds a little scrap to make this a beautiful family quilt. This reunion story is pure and honest -- and the actors are entirely believable. I didn't give it 5 stars only because it is a bit slow in parts. But because the story is so good, I can forgive that and declare that I am happy to own it!

Magnificent!.......2007-04-24

In "Almost Strangers," Stephen Poliakoff weaves a subtle spell. I recall thoroughly enjoying the engaging story and the superb acting--I mean, one can't beat Michael Gambon, Matthew Macfadyen, and Toby Stephens--when, totally unawares, I had become so entranced with the stories within the story of an extended family, that I had to watch all 237 minutes of it at one sitting.

Since the story is told from the point of view of Daniel (the son of the black sheep of the clan), who knows very little about the rest of the family, the viewer is put into a similar position, first of discomfort, as he moves from stereotypes, finally of fascinated affection, as he slowly unravels the secrets not only of his family but also of his own past.

Nor do the writers disappoint; all the clues deftly planted in the first scenes of the film, are revealed in a magical ending.

Loved it!.......2007-03-15

Matthew Macfadyen played his role beautifully as Daniel. Truly a good film to watch.

MEET THE FAMILY.......2007-01-04

THE MOVIE WAS GREAT. WELL DONE BY ALL THE ACTORS & ACTRESSES. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE MATTHEW MACFADYEN IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MODE THAN THE ONE HE HAD PLAYED IN "PRIDE & PREJUDICE." IT CENTERED ON 3 DIFFERENT FAMILIES AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM AND WHAT EFFECT IT HAD ON THE REST OF THE FAMILIES. I FOUND IT FASCINATING.

DVD:

DVD

The Royal Tenenbaums [2002]

DVD: Vincent Price 2 on 1

Hocus Pocus