Masters & Legends Series 3 Vol Set

Starring:Primary American, Oriental Masters of the Martial Arts
Director: George Alexander
Studio: Yamazato
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

shiny black armour
Could've Done Better But An OK Attempt
Long live Skeletor!
Pure Fun
Great cheesy eighties fun

Masters of the Universe
Starring: Dolph Lundgren , Frank Langella , Meg Foster , Billy Barty , and Courteney Cox
Director: Gary Goddard
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005MHOD
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Description

Planet Eternia and the Castle of Greyskull are under threat from the evil Skeletor who wants to take over the planet. A group of freedom fighters, led by the heroic He-Man are accidentally transported to Earth by a mysterious Cosmic Key which holds the power to make Skeletor all-powerful. Once on Earth, He-Man joins alliances with two teenagers as they attempt to find the key and return home.

Customer Reviews:

shiny black armour.......2007-05-17

Wow this movie is.. Interesting.

I bought it just for completeness really, its nothing like the tv show. Pretty much the only good thing in the entire film is the dudes with the shiny black armour, I think they're skeletors minions or something and they're cool. Pity he-man kills like 500 of them at a time.

Could've Done Better But An OK Attempt.......2007-05-07

Masters of the Universe. A movie with He-Man in it would have been something beyond my wildest dreams. I'm saddened to say I was fairly disappointed with this live action version. The plot line was alright, scattered at best but okay. Some of the new characters brought in were atrocious. Gwildor I am sorry to say could have been left out of it. But considering back when this version was made, the special effects and the budget just wouldn't allow for the inclusion of Orko. Blade was cool in the fact it gave He-Man another swordsman to duel with. Karg should have been left out of it.

He-Man was definitely not a role meant for Dolph Lundgren I'm sorry again. Lundgren did fine in Rocky 4 but when it came to something like this where He-Man's speech should have been constant throughout the movie, just dimmed it. Lundgren spoke little if nil throughout the picture.

Frank Langella stole the whole show as Skeletor and rightly so. It's fairly disconcerting when I actually dug the bad guy more than my favorite good guy. A great choice by director Gary Goddard not to hinder Langella's acting by making him wear a flat out mask. Incorporating the prosthetics into his facial features was monument in making Skeletor a memorable baddie.

Meg Foster, whom folks may recognize from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, I thought did exceptional as Evil Lyn. My only complaint about the Evil Lyn character was that she never that I could see, showed her powers in the movie. Skeletor at least got to perform that sick looking wound thing as well as his "Godlike" powers towards the end of the movie, but nothing for Evil Lyn??? For shame Goddard, for shame!

Of course we have Courtney Cox Arquette now, who just recently gained fame for her role as Monica on Friends, debuting as Julie Winston. James Tolkan who people saw in Top Gun, playing Det. Lubic. Robert Duncan Macneill who folks remember as Tom Paris in Star Trek Voyager, playing Kevin Corrigan. Chelsea Field who folks saw in movies such as Andre, playing Teela. Christina Pickles, whom we saw in George Of The Jungle and The Wedding Singer, played the Sorceress. And of course Billy Barty, whom we saw in movies such as Legend and the Weird Al movie UHF.

In other aspects I must say the Power Sword looked brilliant, the laser effects and the final duel between He-Man and Skeletor had a decent amount of zing. And the graphics and music that were associated with the Cosmic Key were interesting and appropriate I think. Kudos to Bill Conti of Rocky fame who contributed to the orchestral soundtrack and themes for the movie.

All in all with a movie like this I can understand why studios and distributors now tend to shy away from a more updated telling of the He-Man lore. With the re-release of the cartoons on DVD and the popular demand that followed, the reigniting flame for the He-Man film has never been more warranted. This movie is still no matter what worth purchasing because of it's part in the He-Man movie/cartoon legacy and collection, but it's not an extremely good movie in my opinion. Maybe he should have gotten a few more pointers from Superman director and savior Bryan Singer.

Does Dolph Lundgren truly have the power???? I dont think so.

Long live Skeletor!.......2007-04-10

Wow! I remember this movie. I saw it as a kid, huddled in a friend's house and it was the best thing ever! As an adult, I admit, it's cheesy. Well, so was the cartoon it's based off of. But it's a good kind of cheese.

I never watched it for He-Man, Man-at-Arms, Teela, or any of the good guys. Heck no! I was a fanatic over the bad guys. Skeletor was my hero. Growing up, I didn't want to be She-Ra or Teela or anyone like that. I wanted to be Evil-Lyn.

In that aspect, this movie didn't fail. With the PG rating, Skeletor was able to be far eviler then his cartoon counterpart. He was no longer the fumbling fool and comidic device that we saw on Saterday morning. This was who Skeletor was meant to be; evil, cunning and down-right sadistic. He outshone He-Man and the other Masters. He was the best part of the movie!

Also, the audio commentary on the DVD is great and really helps understand what was going on back then and give you an insight in the mind of the creators.

Pure Fun.......2007-04-01

I dont remember watching He Man growing up, but I think I saw this movie. I watched this movie without thinking it would be anything speical, and I was wrong. The preview really drew me into the movie before I watched it. It was pure fun, and an excellent sci fi movie. Dolph Lundgreen was the main source for finding this movie, thanks Dolph! Where the heck are you these days? I didnt check all reviews but at the very, very end of the movie Skeltor comes on and says "I'll be back". Ha! Guess that movie never happened.

Great cheesy eighties fun.......2007-03-26

Heman, one of my favorite childhood cartoon heros brings the battle to earth on the bigscreen. Fun movie, not a great work of art, but good cheesy eighties fun. Plus, Courtney cox when she was actually pretty hot.

Don't expect an epic, this is Conan the Barbarian for kids.

Average customer rating:

Midnight Cowboy
Oddly touching
Texas meets New York on a crash collision course!!!
My favorite movie
Dustin collection

Midnight Cowboy
Starring: Dustin Hoffman , Jon Voight , Sylvia Miles , John McGiver , and Brenda Vaccaro
Director: John Schlesinger
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0792833287
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Amazon.com

The first, and only, X-rated film to win a best picture Academy Award, John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy seems a lot less daring today (and has been reclassified as an R), but remains a fascinating time capsule of late-1960s sexual decadence in mainstream American cinema. In a career-making performance, Jon Voight plays Joe Buck, a naive Texas dishwasher who goes to the big city (New York) to make his fortune as a sexual hustler. Although enthusiastic about selling himself to rich ladies for stud services, he quickly finds it hard to make a living and eventually crashes in a seedy dump with a crippled petty thief named Ratzo Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman, doing one of his more effective "stupid acting tricks," with a limp and a high-pitch rasp of a voice). Schlesinger's quick-cut, semi-psychedelic style has dated severely, as has his ruthlessly cynical approach to almost everybody but the lead characters. But at its heart the movie is a sad tale of friendship between a couple of losers lost in the big city, and with an ending no studio would approve today. It's a bit like an urban Of Mice and Men, but where both guys are Lenny. --Jim Emerson

Description

Daring. Provocative. Shocking. Compelling. Nearly thirty years after its original release, "Midnight Cowboy is still heartbreakingand timeless" (The New York Observer). This Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay also boasts OscarÂ(r)-nominated** performances by Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, neither of whom have "ever been better on screen than they are here" (Chicago Tribune)! When Joe Buck (Voight), a good-looking,naively charming Texas "cowboy" makes his way to the Big Apple to seek his fortune, the only wealthhe finds is in the friendship of Ratso Rizzo (Hoffman), a scrounging, sleazy, small-time con man with big dreams. Living on the tattered fringe of society, these two outcasts develop an unlikely bond one that transcends their broken dreams and get-rich-quick schemes and makes Midnight Cowboy "that rarest of things: [a film] every bit as moving now as it was when it was [first] released" (Premiere). *1969 **1969: Actor

Customer Reviews:

Midnight Cowboy.......2007-06-28

Two years after "The Graduate," Hoffmann transformed himself into an ailing derelict in director Schlesinger's dark, intense "Midnight Cowboy." A story of friendship born of desperation in Manhattan's grimy underbelly, "Cowboy" was at the vanguard of a new kind of Hollywood movie in the late '60s--gritty, complex, and unidealized. Despite an initial "X" rating, the film won Oscars for best picture, director, and screenplay, and both Hoffman and newcomer Voight were nominated for their gutsy, raw performances. Hoffman's Rizzo is particularly astounding.

Oddly touching.......2007-06-12

This movie brings the viewer to the places that people like to ignore. What it ultimately shows is that there is humanity and empathy to be found in even the most jaded of individuals.

Texas meets New York on a crash collision course!!!.......2007-05-28

Even though this movie is old, it's still could have been relevent today. A young John Voigt plays a Hustler from Texas who's just too nice. Dustin Hoffman plays Ricco, a petty thief from the streets of New York. Both from many miles apart, but with the same disease, lonelyness. With many classic 60's scenes, and plenty of character development, this film has it all. Rent it, buy it, but make sure you have seen it. A classic.

My favorite movie.......2007-04-25

I saw Midnight Cowboy, in 1969, and was greatly moved. It's a sad but very worthy film, which left me feeling somewhat wiser. I would particularly recommend it to those who came of age in the late sixties. The party scene might look like farce to someone who didn't experience that period. One of my favorite things about this movie is the Toots Thielmans harmonica in the Midnight Cowboy instrumental theme. It's beautiful. I also like "Old Man Willow" by Elephant's Memory.

Dustin collection.......2007-04-11

What a classic!! Good sound and picture, and if you want to see Jon and Dustin starting out, get this dvd!!!

Average customer rating:

Lions DO NOT sleep at night!!!
great
The Man-eaters (lions) of Tsavo...thrilling movie
Kilmers best
BEFORE DAKTARI

The Ghost and the Darkness
Starring: Michael Douglas , Val Kilmer , Tom Wilkinson , John Kani , and Bernard Hill
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: 6305181926
Release Date: 1998-12-01

Amazon.com

Val Kilmer stars as Lt. Col. John Patterson, a 19th-century Irish engineer drafted by Britain's railroad bosses to build a trestle bridge over an African river, thus expanding the empire a tiny bit more. In Tsavo, Patterson is instantly hailed for killing a man-eating lion that had been making life hell for native workers. But morale sinks when a pair of unstoppable big cats devour more men and destroy the project. Along comes an Ahab-like, expatriate American hunter (Michael Douglas) to help Patterson face the almost preternatural powers of the two killers. The script by William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) is based on fact, though the film owes more to Spielberg (specifically to Jaws) than history. There are also suggestive echoes of Kipling and Conrad in the material and characters, and there are hints of emotional complexity and psychological nuance that make one wish this could have been a great film instead of a merely fun one. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Lions DO NOT sleep at night!!!.......2007-06-29

Saw this movie from Netflix and have now decided to buy it. I've just returned from a safari to Namibia where we heard the lions roaring in the night not far from our camp. NOTHING puts the fear of God into you more than that, all that separates you from them is your puny canvas tent. Our safari guide had seen the movie as well and we talked about it that night around the fire. He is himself a lion tracker in that if his family ranch is threatened by a lion, they do track it down. When Kilmer and Douglas are sitting at night listening to the lion still roaring and laugh about it, you just know that something more is going to happen. And boy does it ever!!! The music soundtrack is great, I especially like the interaction between Kilmer and the guy who played Shaka Zulu in the mini series. ALso the innocent Scottish missionary's part is rather poignant. I don't care if it is hokey, or a typical Hollywood production, the story IS real, the lions ARE on display in the Field museum in Chicago and it evokes the feel of the African savannah perfectly.

great.......2007-06-16

Movie was great. I would highly recommend this for any movie waycher.

The Man-eaters (lions) of Tsavo...thrilling movie.......2007-04-28

I was merely 12 years old way back in 1950s when I first read the book: The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by Lt.Colonel J.H. Patterson, DSO. Later in life, I wished this book could be made into a movie, and my dream really came true when I purchased the DVD. This movie is based entirely on the book by English railway bridge builder, John Patterson.
Ironically, the pair of male lions as depicted in the movie was borrowed from a zoo farm in Alberta, Canada. These lions were fully mane. But in the book, John Patterson described those two lions as lean and maneless...! As factually, most lions in Tsavo of Kenya don't have the beautiful mane unlike their cousins in other parts of Africa. This is unusual, maneless male lions because only females don't spot a mane. The movie will keep you on the edge of your chair from the beginning to the end - never a dull moment. I consider this as the best thrilling movie ever made in the wilds of Africa, especially at this time when the public is conscious about nature conservation. Too bad that when the movie was made in early 1900s, surround sound was not a popular feature and therefore not included, otherwise the roars of these two persistent man-eaters in the dead of the African night would be very nighmarish in our den when we watch the movie...! Yes, these two lions did chomp more than a hundred railway workers that at one stage they were compelled to quit until the pair was finally hunted down. John finally skinned the two man-eating lions and sold their skins and bones to the field museum at Springfield, Illioness. This pair of mounted, maneless notorious man-eating lions are still there for everyone to see and contemplate.
This classic movie depicting a strange aspect of yesterday-Africa is historically true and thus highly recommended. So go for it while it is still available. Cheers...!

Kilmers best.......2007-04-14

This movie is a very good movie.One of Val Kilmers best not to mention it is based on a true story. About two man eating lions of course there is some blood so don't let little kids watch this. A very suspensfull film a lot of good action and it is not slow either

BEFORE DAKTARI.......2007-04-13

William Goldman, the screenwriter of THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS is a novelist who also writes for Hollywood for more than 40 years now. His most known original screenplays are those of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Special Edition), Marathon Man and Maverick. When you see the name of William Goldman on the list of credits of a film, you know for sure that there will be more in the movie than meets the eye.

Now, when I read here reviews that destroy the GHOST AND THE DARKNESS by pointing out that the lions in the film don't act like real lions, I feel sad and sorry for these reviewers. It's like hating a Picasso painting because the faces of its characters are misshappen. The characters or events pictured in a fiction movie have a life of their own that should convey the artistic vision of the director or the screenwriter. If the lions don't act like in a documentary film, it's simply because the authors of the film wanted them to be larger than life.

THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS is one of the best adventure movies I've seen in a long time. Lavishly photographed by the multi-awarded Vilmos Zsigmond, with an effective musical score by Jerry Goldsmith, the film shows the duel that opposes two highly symbolic couples. This duel quickly overshadows the subplots such as the difficulties to build a bridge in the African savanna or to maintain order in a multiethnic team. Two solitary lions, without any links with a herd, fight two men, away from their family or, for Charles Remington, without any family at all. And now you can try to figure out what the movie is really about : is it a film about the couple civilization/nature or a film dealing with some of our most ancestral fears ? or is it even about something else ? If a film can raise such questions, it surely deserves a little consideration.

A DVD for your library.

Masters of Horror: Season One Box Set (Ws)

Average customer rating:

Masters of Horror: Season One Box Set (Ws)
Starring: Masters of Horror
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Heroes - Season 1
Dexter - The First Season
Zodiac (Widescreen Edition)
Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Sixth Season
Hot Fuzz (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000RIWAV2
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie for real golf lovers
Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius
Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius
Stroke of Genius
bobby jones, stoke of a genius

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius (Special Edition)
Starring: James Caviezel , Claire Forlani , Jeremy Northam , Malcolm McDowell , and Aidan Quinn
Director: Rowdy Herrington
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00062IVOY
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Amazon.com

Anyone who's ever been passionate about golf will find something to admire in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, a staidly reverent biopic about one of the game's greatest champions. In the title role, Jim Caviezel suffers almost as much as he did in The Passion of the Christ, portraying Jones--who made history by winning golf's elusive Grand Slam (four top tournaments in less than four months) in 1930--as a passionately committed golfer who silently endured chronic pain (a spinal disorder prompted his early retirement at age 28), stomach ailments, emotional torment, and borderline alcoholism while maintaining amateur status in the sport he so magnificently dominated. Jeremy Northam brings much-needed levity and rakish style as Jones' friend and rival golfer Walter Hagen, and Malcolm McDowell adds colorful character as Jones' friend and biographer O.B. Keeler while Claire Forlani suffers the typical biopic plight of the hero's wife, who offers compassionate empathy while wishing Jones had more time for family. With repetitive golf scenes and a somber tone of martyrdom, Bobby Jones was partially financed by Jones' estate, which may explain its respectable dullness and instant fate as a box-office dud. Still, director Rowdy (Road House) Herrington is clearly enamored of his subject, and some of that enthusiasm shines through the gloom. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie for real golf lovers.......2007-03-19

My husband, an avid golfer, has watched this movie several times.

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius.......2007-01-27

A great golf film ... if one loves golf you have to enjoy this movie ... the critics bashed it for the usual reasons .. story line, acting, etc., and true, there are NO car chases or car crashes, no buildings get blown up, and there are few if any four letter words ... but a very enjoyable movie .... which the whole family can watch in comfort ... highly recommended for the golf "nut" in the family.

Bobby Jones, Stroke of Genius.......2007-01-03

Excellent movie; my husband and I already owned the movie. Being raised in a golfing family (my dad and his brothers played with Sam Snead when they were kids), and went to see Bobby Jones play. We are golf fanatics, and have always been great fans of Bobby Jones. This movie is a very realistic interpretation of his life. I bought another copy to give to my remaining uncle (he's 90!) and he has watched it 5 times since we gave it to him. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in a TRUE legend of golf whose talent outshines all there is today. Jim Caviezel gave a spectactular performance!

Stroke of Genius.......2006-08-20

I'm not a golfing buff, but found the story and golf very good.
I enjoyed this movie very much.

bobby jones, stoke of a genius.......2006-07-25

Great movie about golf. Just wish the language would have been cleaner.

Masters of Horror - The Screwfly Solution

Average customer rating:

The Sci-Fi Problem to the Screwfly Solution
A LITTLE BIT SCREWY
Pest Control-and Man is the Pest
Chances are this Flick won't make it to "Lifetime: Television for Women"
A Great Premise And Intelligent Plotting Bring New Life To The End Of The World

Masters of Horror - The Screwfly Solution
Starring: Elliott Gould , and Jason Priestley
Director: Joe Dante
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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ASIN: B000OYCMO4
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com

Director Joe (The Howling, Gremlins) Dante helmed one of the more daring episodes of Masters of Horror to date--Homecoming-- and his second go-round for the cable anthology series is another thought-provoking chiller with real-world overtones. Here, Dante and screenwriter Sam Hamm (who also penned Homecoming) adapt James Tiptree, Jr.'s 1977 noted short story of the same name and concoct an alarming nightmare scenario in which men are suddenly and brutally attacking women when sexually aroused. The solution to this sudden wave of violence falls to scientists Jason Priestley and Elliott Gould, but the situation rapids erupts into a global epidemic, and Priestley's wife (Kerry Norton) must fend for herself and their daughter in a world that wants her dead at all costs. Dante and his capable deliver the terror with a straight face, and if Hamm's script strays too often into tangents about environmental responsibility, the abundance of suspense and outright violence offers a balance to genre fans that are less interested in social issues. The DVD includes commentary by Dante and Hamm, featurettes on the episode's production and special effects (by KNB), and the shooting script in DVD-ROM format. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

The Sci-Fi Problem to the Screwfly Solution.......2007-07-03

Joe Dante is one of my top favorite horror directors. Because I think he keenly understands how to make a really intense horror film. His thing is that he mixes the horror with humor so that you're expecting the entire film to be a fun breeze... and then: HE HITS YOU with straight-up, pure horror in one key scene. And when it comes, it packs a serious punch, and from that moment on, you have to hold on to your seat because a Joe Dante film is an unpredictable ride of crazy, quirky horror.

But... he hasn't made a horror film since the exquisite Gremlins 2. Maybe he's rusty.

This Masters of Horror thing hasn't been a very good gig for Joe. Of course, maybe he'd tell you different since he's been very enthusiastic about finally getting to direct 2 projects he's been wanting to do for some time. In his interviews for Homecoming, he mentions that Masters of Horror is pretty much the only place he could make a horror flick like Homecoming. And in interviews for Screwfly, he mentions that he's been trying to do The Screwfly Solution since the 1980's. But his trademark style of horror has been stifled by the ambitiousness of his chosen projects versus the limitations of the Masters of Horror format.

Quite frankly, to make material like The Screwfly Solution really work... the man needs MORE TIME. The Masters of Horror shooting schedule allows for 10 days. That's it. I honestly doubt that is enough time to fully form and organize and work out a story like this to make it horrifying enough for maximum impact. And this is a subject that deserves maximum impact. I'm sure Joe did the best he could, but unfortunately all he had time for was to project the idea of what would happen if this situation were to come upon the human race while deciding to use the Science Fiction genre to explain everything.

I don't think The Screwfly Solution is a horror that should be or needs to be explained rather than shown. The only way to feel this intensity and learn from it, to have it truly affect us, there has to be less focus on telling a story in the traditional method. And instead, show it to us raw. Allow us to feel it in a way that will leave us really questioning how much of a problem this is. Because it's obviously a subject of great interest.

The specific problems with Screwfly are that the men, who are the killers in the film, aren't scary. They are merely shown as frustrated and annoyed. But that's what we experience every day from men. And it's not really all that horrifying. We see territorial man, road rage man, military authority man, and the standard pig-headed man. But are we afraid of these men? And how much do we fear them? We fear that they will set us back, irritate us, and make us late for a dinner appointment. The man Screwfly completely forgets to show us - is Serial Killer Man. This of course might have something to do with the movie's decision to make the men killing women kill them because of sexual arousal.

For instance, there's a scene in the movie where a man stabs with his knife aimed at the level of his crotch as he kills a woman in a rhythmic manner. That is pretty much as disturbing as this movie gets. I'm not kidding. It's another Joe Dante Masters of Horror tale that implies horror and refuses to show it. This could be considered compensation for the fact that Dante's trademark satire-humor is completely missing from Screwfly. And in its' place is a full dose of science fiction. Which also helps to ensure that Screwfly is merely intriguing, not horror-enducing. Dante's usually usually depends on 1 key scene as an accelerator. Unfortunately his work in this series only has 1 key scene each.

In Homecoming, it was a wonderfully threatening and unexpected moment where a zombie actually kills a human being. In Screwfly, it's when we see a man kill a woman with the force of his sexual frustration.

In many science fiction films, the theme is invasion. Disease isn't uncommon to horror either. 28 Days Later, for instance. Maybe the appeal of making Screwfly a disease-horror film has to do with the fragility of our psychological stabilities. That we can be easily overrided by our own bodies. Just a twist of a few chemicals in our systems or hormones in our brains and we could be manipulated into becoming killers.

The last remaining bit of horror in Screwfly involves an escape for (apparently) the last living woman on Earth. Which I think brings the viewer to the best part of the movie, the ending. The ending a lot of people have remarked is terrible. However, I think it's far-fetchedness is exactly what makes it a happy ending. It's a cop-out in a way. Depending on how you look at it. But it's also a sign that getting rid of women wasn't the real objective. One of the greatest horrors I can think of is that men as a race will suddenly physically decide to wipe out an entire group of people for an arbitrary reason yet unknown to us. So maybe a story like this needs an unrealistic ending to help us sleep better at night.

In short, either you'll like just the ending (like me) and reject the majority of the episode. Or you'll somehow be pulled along the episode's trail but be disappointed by the needlessness of the ending. A lot of movies have had endings that feel like different movies altogether. I wouldn't have rather watched the kind of Screwfly Solution that would have been made based on expanding the ending here by itself. But I think the ending here actually adds a tone to the episode. The episode itself lacks a true tone. It's certainly not very disturbing. In fact, I think, save for nudity and language (and a little blood in 2 scenes), this is exactly the sort of thing that would show up on Lifetime. It has that characteristic Lifetime flatness about it.

The idea is horrifying. I think women will understand it without becoming confused as to what the filmakers were trying to accomplish. For instance, it's silly to assume that just because women die in Screwfly Solution while men call them horrible names and assault them sexually, that women will be offended by it.

Here's a trick question: how many times did you think about sex while reading this?

A LITTLE BIT SCREWY.......2007-06-14

This entry in the compelling MOH series is a little strange, mixing social commentary with a small dose of horror. The world is suddenly going mad, at least its male population...sexual arousal is leading men to murder the woman responsible...and soon it's just men murdering women. Two scientists offer a solution, as evidenced by the control of the dangerous screwfly population. But no one listens, and of course disaster ensues.
Director Joe Dante doesn't do anything compellingly different, and the acting by Jason Priestley and Elliott Gould is merely adequate. Not a sterling entry in this otherwise good series.

Pest Control-and Man is the Pest.......2007-06-06

I expected this to be good because I know that Joe Dante is an excellent director, but when I saw that it was based on a story by James Tiptree Jr., I sat up, because I knew this was going to be something REALLY extraordianary.

James Tiptree Jr. is one of the greatest science fiction writers of the latter part of the 20th Century. James Tiptree Jr. was also the nom de plume of Dr. Alice Sheldon (look for Tiptree's books on Amazon). Her writing was always psychologically complex and surprising. And this installment of MASTERS OF HORROR captured that, thanks to Dante's brilliance and Sam Hamm's great script.

It's made clear from the beginning that there is a parallel between our decimation of the screwfly/pest insect populations by disruption of their sexual cycles, and what is occuring to the human population in this story (at least it's clear to us, the audience). So this naturally begs the question: If we did that to the insects, who or what could be doing this to us?

The conclusion of this story is set up right from the beginning, is deepend, enhanced, and made more apparent throughout the telling of it. There is no cheap ending here. It is logical, inevitable, and horrible. Horrible for humans, anyway.

The dogs seem to like it.

It's important to keep in mind that this isn't a chainsaw hack-'em-up-er, or blood drinking beast fest, or a vengeful ghost mind twister. This is a story about the most terrifying monsters in the world: ordinary people who give in to the worst within themselves, thinking they're right, and good, and normal. Men who don't see other people (women) as human. And you have to pay attention.

Personally, this is my favorite episode so far in the series.

Chances are this Flick won't make it to "Lifetime: Television for Women" .......2007-06-04

In the 1950's 2 American Entomologists (Dr. Raymond Bushland & Dr. Edward Knipling) developed the "sterile insect technique",
to control the population of the screwworm fly. In this technique the male screwworm flies were exposed to radiation, thus rendering them sterile. They were then returned back to the wild, to mate with other wild female screwworm flies. The result was a reduction in the amount of eggs being laid inside American crops.
Now someone or something is applying the same technique to mankind.
A new form of sterilization, characterized by sexually driven bloodlusts.
At first it appears to be a few random mysoginistic slayings.
But as the numbers grow, so does the concern.
With the possibility of an epidemic, whole areas are soon quarantined.
No women are allowed in for they're own safety.
They're being forced to stay away, because women of all ages are being wiped out by men who seem to believe that what they're doing in natural & rational.
In countries around the world it's occuring on such a massive scale, that whole rivers are being damned by the steady influx of bodies.
But who is causing this, and why?

I watched this episode with my wife, which almost never happens as a result of her being female, and hating horror movies.
So, after an unnatural amount of coaxing, I finally got her to sit down and watch one with me.
And of course, it was an apocalyptic horror movie concerning the erradication of women.
Suffice it to say, she will never be watching another horror movie with me, for as long as we both shall live.
Obviously, this movie had a much greater impact on her than it did on me.
And rightfully so,
I'm not a woman, who in most countries (and maybe even in this one),
have to live in fear of men every day.
(Hell, in Japan, groping is so bad, women have their own subway cars.)
(And let's not even get started on the Middle East)
This flick is the cinematic embodiment of every woman's fear.
Namely, Men.

With all that being said,
this film deserved more time to explore it's subject,
a bigger budget to employ more extras & horrific scenes,
and a much better ending that doesn't blow the whole premise.
(Nothing ruins a good horror movie more than a really cheap twist ending.)
All in all this was an enjoyable film, that could have been memorable, had it been alotted the time to go the extra mile.
As a result, the films story suffered, often taking huge leaps in time, giving it an incomplete feeling.
But if you really wind up liking it, I have a suggestion.
A better, modern example of "gendercide" is depicted in Brian K. Vaughn's monthly comic series, "Y: The Last Man". Pick up the trade-paper-backs, you will absolutely not be disappointed.

In closing,
If you're a horror-buff you'll enjoy this movie for what it is,
But do yourself a favor and don't watch it with your female,
She won't look at you the same way, for like a week.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
A world without women
is not a post-apocalyptic world I would want to live in.

A Great Premise And Intelligent Plotting Bring New Life To The End Of The World.......2007-04-18

Joe Dante's "Homecoming" for Showtime's "Masters of Horror" anthology series was easily the controversial high point of Season One. Alternately described as "brilliant" and "complete trash," there were very few who straddled the middle on this political zombie satire. Needless to say, this intrigued me to contemplate how Dante would follow up this divisive little tale. Well, for Season Two, Dante clocks in with "The Screwfly Solution." It certainly has a provocative topic, and is the ultimate battle of the sexes--but I suspect that it is a lot less likely to engender the passionate debate of "Homecoming." That is not a criticism, however, as I think this episode stands as one of the more sophisticated entries we've seen so far!

Contemplating the end of the world, "Screwfly" offers a new take on the apocalypse genre. A virus affecting men is discovered where if the man is to become sexually aroused--his feelings end up turning to a murderous rage. Needless to say, this doesn't bode well for the women of the world--as this rage is directed at them! While this may, on the surface, seem to be a bit (or a lot) misogynistic--the disease is handled well and its repercussions are real, unpleasant and not taken lightly. The principles include Jason Priestly and Elliott Gould as researchers trying to combat the virus, but this just may take the ultimate toll on their families.

"Screwfly" may not be scary in the traditional sense if you're looking for quick thrills, but the premise is chilling and disturbing and it leads to appropriate gruesomeness. The tale is well acted and sometimes harrowing, with an emotional context I haven't found often in the "Masters of Horror" series. In fact, through most of the film, I thought I might be scoring this episode at 5 stars--that's how pleasantly surprised I was by this tale. The end scenes, however, may be a bit prolonged for some viewers. That didn't bother me as it brought the real domestic dilemma of this story to the forefront. But, at the last minute, the film provides us with an unnecessary explanation for the whole catastrophe which was both unnecessary and not worthy of what has preceded it. This terrific tale went wrong in the end, but that doesn't keep it from being one of the best this show had to offer! KGHarris, 04/07.

Annie Duke's Advanced Texas Hold 'Em Secrets - How to Beat the Big Boys (Masters of Poker)

Average customer rating:

Put up yer Dukes...!
Good tips, Good Value
Informative but difficult to watch
good but too short
A Very Good DVD for Intermediate Players Looking to Improve

Annie Duke's Advanced Texas Hold 'Em Secrets - How to Beat the Big Boys (Masters of Poker)
Starring: Masters of Poker
Manufacturer: Big Vision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Masters of Poker: Annie Duke's Beginner's Guide to Texas Hold'em
More Secrets of No Limit Hold 'Em
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Harrington on Hold 'em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame

ASIN: B000A2UBNY
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Description

World Renowned WSOP Tournament of Champions winner Annie Duke shares her inside secrets on how to master Texas Hold `Em. For the first time ever, Annie reveals the advanced poker strategies that have earned her millions of dollars. Learn how to "Beat The Big Boys" and compete like a true professional poker player. Go beyond the other poker videos available and get inside the mind of a World Champion! Learn Annie's trademarked FBI Profiling Techniques to be able to easily read your opponents. Learn advanced techniques from bluffing and tells, determining pot odds instantly to playing position and MUCH MORE! ALL IN magazine has named this the "BEST ADVANCED INSTRUCTIONAL POKER DVD EVER RELEASED!"

Customer Reviews:

Put up yer Dukes...!.......2007-05-17

Nice, direct approach to the genre of teaching video, Duke's vulnerability in from of the camera is a perfect foil for her strength of character at the poker table. Concise, witty and fun, the video is full of gems that I believe will help me relieve the donkeys of their hard-earned money..!

Good tips, Good Value.......2007-05-10

"Advanced" can mean different things to different people. Let me start by telling you what it means here. It means you already know how to play the cards. This DVD will not tell you when to raise with pocket 7s or how to play when you flop a straight. This DVD is about what you need to know after you already know that. This is not about the "advanced" secrets of playing your hand. If you are looking for advice on how to play your two cards, this is not your DVD.

So what does it cover? The main claim to fame is the section on Tells. Annie covers techniques that the FBI uses to know when someone is lying for example. She emphasizes that you need to watch your opponents before you end up in a hand with them to get a baseline. For example, rapid blinking can be a sign of lying (bluffing), but if you haven't noticed the player before now, how do you know if he is blinking a lot? Some people just blink more than others. Also included are sections on playing against certain types of players (the maniac for one) as well as things like figuring pot odds and so on.

Yes the production values are minimal. Yes, Annie sits at the same table the entire DVD, but the advice is good and there is nothing to distract you from getting it.

If you already are confortable with playing your two cards then this DVD is a good way to help you move to the next level where what happens above your cards is just as important on what is on them.

Informative but difficult to watch.......2007-04-25

I purchased both of Annie Duke's DVDs. The information is valuable but as a No Limit player, I found the discussion of both Limit and No Limit distracting.
My BIGGEST COMPLAINT is that the setting is identical to a funeral home, including the crimson velvet curtains framing an urn. Ms. Duke wears the same ugly shirt throughout both videos.
I would really enjoy these DVD's if they were produced in a visually appealing setting, and if Ms. Duke changed her peasant blouse. It is unfortunate that so much good information is wasted by poor production.

good but too short.......2007-03-17

great advice on tells, but it is way too short. She spends a lot of time explaining why this dvd is only for advanced players but doesn'tgo through many topics that an advanced player thinks about. What she is good at are seeking "tells", and pretty much thats all she delves into.

A Very Good DVD for Intermediate Players Looking to Improve.......2007-02-02

Let me first start by saying that I have been playing hold'em poker for 3 1/2 years, the last 1/2 year of which has been for a living. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who, like me, is a visual learner. I personally get a lot more out of watching a lesson than by reading about one. But, that's just me. Anyhow, Annie (who happens to be one of my favorite players), does a fine job of covering all the major topics that an intermediate player needs to learn in order to move up the limits or simply to improve their profits at their current table limits.

No, this DVD won't make you the next World Champion, but it will teach you some very solid higher-level poker fundamentals if you are in the intermediate stage of your poker career, and it will be a great refresher course for experienced players who want to quickly brush up their skill set.

I especially like the way that this DVD is arranged into cogent chapters which you can easily jump to through the main menu. If you want a quick lesson on how to play position, for example, you go right to that chapter on the DVD. If you want tips on reading people's tells, based on FBI interrogator research, you can quickly get a nice lesson on that...and so on. It is not a video that has its information strewn about randomly throughout. In short, this DVD is very well laid out, and that is one of the things I really enjoy about it. I still go back and review sections every now and then to reinforce certain skills.

In closing, this is a good DVD and Annie Duke does a good job. Though it's only shot with her sitting at the table in a studio, she is charismatic and fun to watch. Will you learn the deepest, darkest secrets of world-class Texas Hold'em -- of course not. Would KFC ever publish their secret blend of 11 herbs and spices for anyone to buy? Same logic here, but I bet you will gain from this DVD.

That's my small blind (2 cents). Thanks for reading my review.

Average customer rating:

Good film not great
Classic
You Must Have This In Your Collection.
7 grand masters
All time favorite

7 Grand Masters
Starring: Li Yi Min , and Jack Long
Director: Joseph Kuo
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
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Five Deadly Venoms
The Buddhist Fist
Shaolin Wu Tang
Invincible Armour
Magnificent Butcher

ASIN: B0001610QQ
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Customer Reviews:

Good film not great.......2007-05-25

I purchased this film based on the high rating the other viewers gave this film it's action packed and the Jack Long was good as the old Master. But to see so many 5 star ratings you would expect to see excellence which I did'nt I have purchased several movies that recieved low ratings that in my opinion where very good. To me the fight scenes were basic and the story line was typical done before but dont get me wrong this is a good film and well worth pocessing but not a 5 star.

Classic.......2007-04-24

I just wish I could see it for the first time again.

This movie is great. We all know Kung Fu movies typically have plots you skip after the first viewing, since they are a) convoluted b) corny as hell or c) stupid. 7 Grandmasters, however, doesn't suffer this pitfall; it has a minimalist storyline that's somewhat archetypal and fun to follow (especially when they use visual comparisons in fights between the new student and the Master). You know exactly what's going on, and enjoy the journeys of the two main characters.

Mainly, though, Jack Long steals the show. You have to expect great things from the brother of Ghostface Killer, and he doesn't disappoint. His martial and acrobatic skills are awesome to behold, and his dignified presence as a confident and reserved Grandmaster of Kung Fu is iconic.

Even if you think Kung Fu movies are all kitschy crap, try this out. You'll at least enjoy some of the great coreography. And if you're a kung fu addict, this is as good as they get.

You Must Have This In Your Collection........2007-04-20

I saw this gem in a Downtown Chicago theatre when I was a shorty. Downtown may be different today but 7 Grand Masters will always be one of the best kung fu flicks ever. You must have this in your collection if you are a true kung fu movie fan. This is a timeless classic.

7 grand masters.......2007-04-02

This is the "Gone with the Wind" of kung fu movies. This one is action packed and shows different styles of Kung Fu. Highly recommended and you'll be hard pressed to find a better movie.

All time favorite.......2007-03-12

I bought this one for my other half just on a whim. This is his all time favorite movie int he martial arts department.
The item was also in great condition!

Average customer rating:

"Right To Die" Masters Of Horror
Ghastly, Ghostly, & Satisfying, Mostly
Kill Me, Love Me--"Right To Die" Advocates Never Anticipated This Dilemma

Masters of Horror - Right to Die
Starring: Corbin Bernsen , Martin Donovan , and Robin Sydney
Director: Rob Schmidt
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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Masters of Horror - Family
Masters of Horror - The Screwfly Solution
Masters of Horror - Pro-Life
Masters of Horror - Pelts
Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's Tale

ASIN: B000NY0YJA
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Amazon.com

Though one might question the legitimacy of director Rob Schmidt being named a Master of Horror after his previous effort, the odious Wrong Turn, with Right to Die he turns in a watchable episode for the horror anthology series that combines the standard hardcore gore with a dose of social commentary. Indie stalwart Martin Donovan is top-billed as a philandering dentist whose wife is left disfigured and near death after a fiery car wreck. As a debate rages between Donovan, his wife's family, and various factions of the "right to life" community, the wife's spirit wreaks gruesome vengeance on those seek to exploit her agony for their own purposes. Exceptionally gruesome at times, and well-played by Donovan and Corbin Bernsen as his shady lawyer, Right to Die is one of the more ambitious episodes from MoH's second season, and if its mix of chills and politics isn't as satisfying as Joe Dante's first season episode, Homecoming, it still aims higher than most mainstream genre efforts. The DVD includes commentary by Schmidt, featurettes on the episode and its grisly special effects, and the shooting script in DVD-ROM format. -- Paul Gaita

Description

Late at night on a lonely country road, Cliff Addison (Martin Donovan of THE DEAD ZONE and WEEDS) and his wife Abby are involved in a fiery car wreck that leaves Cliff unhurt and his wife hideously burned. As Abby lies comatose, kept alive only by life support, her charred spirit seeks vengeance on those who profit from her plight including a slick attorney (Corbin Bernsen). Amidst a storm of angry relatives and pushy reporters, a controversial issue is about to take a horrific turn: Even if Cliff can now find a way to keep his wife alive, will a monstrous secret condemn him to a living hell forever? Features: Also on DVD, Right to Die Script Audio Commentary featuring Rob Schmidt Burnt Offerings: Making of Right to Die Flay-O-Trish Photo Gallery, Motion Menus

Customer Reviews:

"Right To Die" Masters Of Horror.......2007-05-18

"Right To Die" is an interesting and entertaining episode. Directed by Rob Schmidt, who is responsible for the suprisingly good horror movie "Wrong Turn", proves here he does have some skill. The episode doesn't try to deliver any major gore or scary suspense, but it does make you think about if someone is in a vegetative state or permanent coma, who decides if they have the right to die?

What saves this episode from being boring is the great acting from every character in the movie and the mystery that builds up towards the second half of the story about who is actually going to live and who is actually going to die.

Ghastly, Ghostly, & Satisfying, Mostly.......2007-05-09

Though Rob ("WRONG TURN") Schmidt probably qualifies more as an 'apprentice' of horror (not quite a 'master', yet, is he?), his MoH entry "RIGHT TO DIE" is pretty neat.

Dull dentist Dr. Cliff gets caught up in a media-blitzed Schiavo-esque scenario when his wife Abby turns into a deep-fried human nugget after a car crash. Too bad, though, since shapely Abby (fake chest and all) was pretty attractive beforehand. For that matter, Cliff's uber-trashy, sexpot office assistant ain't half-bad, either. Could there be more to this lil' love triangle than meets the eye? *sarcastic, feigned gasp*

Cribbing her appearance from "HELLRAISER II", Abby is all bloody skin and sinew and bandages and glaring eyes as her incorporeal spirit (not quite dead, or living) wreaks havoc on those who've crossed her - not even co-star Corbin Bernsen is immune to her fury. If you thought a woman scorned was bad, wait 'til ya see a woman scorched. Eww. Not exactly shocking or particularly scary, "RIGHT TO DIE" still succeeds largely based on on some gruesome burn & skin peeling-fx and an absurd, dry humor-laced finale. Although I question the scientific logic in the 'hyper-magnetized MRI room' sequence, I suspended disbelief long enough to enjoy the film.

As someone who just plain despises overbearing media coverage of things like the Terry Schiavo case, I found "RIGHT TO DIE" a little bit too topical (even several years after the fact), since it already feels dated based on the subject matter. The reeeally good horror flix are timeless, and thusly I don't think "RIGHT TO DIE" will make anyone's 'Top 8' anytime soon. But it's still an interesting piece of work in it's own right, in or out of context, simply as an unassumingly fun, quickie horror fix. All in all, I'd recommend it as one of the better recent 'Masters...' episodes.

Kill Me, Love Me--"Right To Die" Advocates Never Anticipated This Dilemma.......2007-03-11

Just what qualifies someone to be called a "Master" in the horror genre? That's a question I've asked several times in the two seasons of Showtime's "Masters of Horror" anthology series. Looking at their slate of directors, there are some obvious choices--but disappointingly the undisputed "Masters" haven't necessarily turned in the best episodes of this show. Rob Schmidt is, perhaps, one of the more dubious choices to fulfill a "Masters" criteria--his most notorious horror work is the film "Wrong Turn." And while I'm sure that film has its admirers, it is ultimately just another of countless derivations of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" complete with young couples isolated in the woods being stalked by hillbilly murderers.

"Right to Die," however, is not a bad entry in the "Masters of Horror" series. In fact, it's rather solid with an unexpected and appreciated cleverness. Martin Donovan, an indie film stalwart whose deadpan delivery I have always admired, stars as the film's protagonist. Existing in a troubled marriage, Donovan's situation goes from bad to worse as a horrible car accident puts his wife in a coma. Covered in burns, unrecognizable, and not able to live without technological intervention--the episode wrestles with whether or not Donovan should humanely let her die. Oh but there's one complication, his wife's spirit is restless. Every time her heart fails, but before she is revived, her gruesome specter is on the move seeking retribution on those that have wronged her in life.

I particularly liked the juxtaposition of the traditional horror story with the "Right to Die" political debate. That's what makes this episode unique, and there is genuine humor that is mined from this topic. The horror sequences are effective enough--if somewhat familiar. Borrowing elements from the tepid "What Lies Beneath," and even "Hellraiser," the scariness of this episode is far less inventive than the shrewd appropriation of the Right To Die controversy. But for an hour, you could do worse. The acting is solid, the effects are good--all in all, I found this to be a worthwhile episode. About 3 1/2 stars (for me, the most enjoyable episodes have only been 4 stars), this is better than you might expect from someone with such an undistinguished horror resume. KGHarris, 03/07.

Average customer rating:

Chickens
I Know This Mudge Is True
Not as promising as I thought
Emotional/Social Isolation meets Child Abuse: result is disturbing interaction
A sensitive story well told

The Mudge Boy
Starring: Emile Hirsch , Tom Guiry , Richard Jenkins , Pablo Schreiber , and Zachary Knighton
Director: Michael Burke (IV)
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Before the Fall
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ASIN: B000EGEKRO
Release Date: 2006-05-09

Customer Reviews:

Chickens.......2007-06-19

Plot of the Mudge Boy- Duncan lives on a farm.. the kid loses his mom when she falls off a bike one day. He loves chickens and raises chickens on a farm. He makes his chicken his best friend and carries him around everywhere he goes. He meets a group of friends and this one guy who he develops a crush on. The guy has interest in him too but continually denies it and acts like he hates ''gays'' but then tries to do something to Duncan 'the mudge boy' and succeeds. Soon hes after Duncan and they confront him outside their truck and he bites the head off his beloved pet chicken and everyone is shocked - THE END.

Thats basically it. It had atmosphere, it was decent to watch but very odd and the ending leaves you like, what?

I Know This Mudge Is True.......2007-04-08

In viewing the difficult-to-stomach "Mudge Boy", I was reminded of one of acclaimed author Kurt Vonnegut's Rules for Writing Fiction: "Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them." Well, writer/director Michael Burke must have had that rule etched into the arm of his director's chair, since this movie's adorable and engaging main character has a most difficult time of it, to say the least. (And I'm not even talking about the Duncan Mudge character, by the way - I'm talking about the chicken!)

But the guileless and grief-stricken Duncan doesn't have it too easy either; struggling with the recent loss of his mother in a rugged and rural environment that seemingly has no place for him, and a reticent father who just wishes the boy would "grieve like a normal person" (i.e. start bonding more with the local kids instead of with mom's pet chickens, and stay out of her fur coats and wedding dresses while you're at it, Dunc).

"People do weird stuff sometimes," says Duncan to his only friend (and possible love interest) Perry, and this line could work very well as a thesis statement for many of its characters actions. 'Cause even though Duncan (played with striking bravery and purity by Emile Hirsh) is known as the local weirdo, the randy farmhand Perry (played with much swagger and bravado by Tommy Guiry, who up till this film had taken more docile and sensitive roles, so really is impressive with the level of latent menace he brings to the role) doesn't exactly keep to the straight and narrow himself.

Early on in the film, in providing two chickens for father Edgar's helper friend, Duncan says to him (about the chickens): "These are good layers." Which also struck me as being a good comment about the film itself, since this mood piece of pain and redemption is all about layers - and not only the chicken kind.

There are the competing layers of guilt and lust in the lonely rural young men who are so desperate to connect that they flirt dangerously with the lines of taboo within their machismo posturing (or expectations thereof). There are the layers of love and scorn in the brilliant Richard Jenkins as Edgar, not approving of his sons choices but not withholding love just because he holds back his approval. There are the layers of connection and betrayal, especially in the brutal and infamous Mudge packing scene, where Perry defiles both Duncan's sacred place and his physical space as well.

Then there are the visual layers, the spectacular cinematography with its carefully composed shots consisting of frames within frames - shots through doors and windows, and wide, layered shots with natural motion, all nestled comfortably beneath a plaintive and spare mostly-acoustic soundtrack.

There is almost a pugilistic poignancy to the "Mudge Boy" - a poetry without words that hits you hard in the heart and in the gut. And even though there's so much malice in the film, there is at least the attempt at a tender - if not completely happy - ending. But, for this viewer, that attempted uplift came just a little too late (and after a few too many shocking moments) to be truly soothing - it's kind of like a band-aid applied to a gushing wound.

Still, there is at least some degree of catharsis and understanding amidst the bloodletting. In the director's commentary track, he spells out what the game plan was for himself and his DP: "Let's be bold in our choices. Let's just go for it. Let's not go halfway. Let's make strong decisions and take risks and stand behind them." And to that I feel they succeeded and remained very true to their vision. And in "The Mudge Boy," we get an uncomfortable up close look at how American rural men sometimes have to subvert their sensitive side in order to thrive, and how those who cannot manage this subversion must somehow struggle to survive.

Not recommended for those who like feelgood films, lots of plot, and snappy dialog. Highly recommended to those who enjoy long, visually meditational and lyrical scenes of life at its most harrowing, where freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose.

Not as promising as I thought.......2007-03-09

The story of a young farm boy who recently lost his mom basically falls for a friend of his who's another farm boy in the same location. It showed promise in the beginning but it honestly failed way short of a decent movie. The relationship between the main charachter and his friend should have been able to deepen a bit more especially after what his friend did to him toward the latter part of the movie. But by the time the relationship finally came to abroad, the movie was over and you were left wondering what was to come. As a TV show, this would have been a good show to watch since you'd be tailhooked into watching what was to happen next week. As a movie however, it was definately not worth it.

Emotional/Social Isolation meets Child Abuse: result is disturbing interaction.......2007-02-17

There have been some very good reviews written giving the synopsis so I won't re-hash that. This is a very disquieting movie - social isolation in rural isolation, and themes of not fitting in. No emotional attachment/connections are apparent until the 2 main characters meet. It is interesting how the relationship develops - being to referred to as a friend by Perry (even as a throw-away line) starts the "relationship".
The wedding dress/barn scene is truly disturbing. And yet the reaction of Duncan is not what you expect (was he into it or not?) - unless you have had anything to do with abondoned youth that are desperately seeking a connection in any form. Perry is a sad one and yet he reacts to the gentleness and innocence in Duncan as one would expect from a victim of child abuse (who react to positive attention and adoration and recognise those that are not a threat)...he has compassion in the scene with the chicken, returning it to Duncan. However, WARNING, if you don't like sad endings or disturbing ones DON'T GO BEYOND THE RETURNING OF THE CHICKEN. It was hinted at in other reviews but I didn't realise that the giving back of the chicken was not the end of it for the chicken.
I saw hope of acceptance of self and others in the scene at night in the truck with the kiss. Watching Perry give the boy what he thought he wanted even though he was angry that he did want to give it to the boy - and the gentleness and courage of the boy to change it into what he wanted causing a momentary softening in Perry. The outcome of that brief softening was that of a door slamming on possibilites (and a fist slamming from an abusive father), to be opened near the end (before the chicken scene) showing Perry could be saved from his wretched spiral given the right stimuli. There are some issues with the movie but I am not one of those techno-buffs that pick holes in production, or a critic of writing or acting - I just love movies that express love in its various forms. Do I wish I hadn't bought this? No. Am I recommeding it? Yes, however the chicken scene needs to be rated as disturbing - but then I love happy endings and I didn't get one.

A sensitive story well told.......2007-01-19

This well judged and unusual tale remains engaging right to the end. The directing is spot on being sypathetic to the characters while Emile Hirsch and Tom Guiry are both excellent in their roles. They flesh out the hidden agendas and nuances in a totally believable manner.
The film is great to look at and accomplishes atmospheric scenes with excellent photography. This is an easy four stars for me.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Gnoo Zoo: In Search of the Great White Tiger

Death Metal - a Documentary

Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series [6 Discs] [2001] (REGI

DVD: Queen of the Damned/Interview with the Vampire

Der Typ mit dem irren Blick I + II