Adventure

Starring:Adventure
Studio: Platinum Disc
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

No Sniping About This One!
WATCH THIS SHOT
Shooters DVD review
Did I Mention The Exploding Heads? Hard-Ass Action Escapism
Refreshingly Right on Target...

Shooter (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Michael Peña , Danny Glover , Kate Mara , and Elias Koteas
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000Q6GUTI
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

A movie that would not have been out of place in the run of paranoid-political thrillers of the 1970s, Shooter works an entertaining variation on the assassination picture. Mark Wahlberg, carrying over good mojo from The Departed, slides neatly into the character of Bob Lee Swagger, master marksman. Swagger has retreated from his duty as an off-the-books hired gun for the military, having become disillusioned with his government (switching on his TV at his remote mountain cabin, he mutters, "Let's see what kind of lies they're trying to sell us today."). Ah, but the government needs Swagger to scope out the location of a rumored attempt on the life of the president, so a shadowy government operative (Danny Glover) begs Swagger to use his sniper's skills to out-fox the assassin. From there--well, spoilers are not fair, since the movie has a few legitimate shocks and a very nice wrong-man scenario about to unfold.

A novel by the Washington Post's Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Stephen Hunter gives the movie a logical spine, even if the premise itself is the stuff of conspiracy theorists. Wahlberg gets support from Michael Pena, as a skeptical FBI agent; Kate Mara, as a trustworthy widow; and Ned Beatty, trailing along memories of Network, as a supremely cynical Senator. Along with the well-executed action sequences (the previously unreliable director Antoine Fuqua gets it in gear here), the movie includes a few potshots at the Bush administration. No, that doesn't put Shooter at the level of The Parallax View or All the President's Men, but it provides some tang along with the flying bullets. --Robert Horton

Beyond Shooter

More Sniper / Hit Man Movies on DVD
More DVDs with Mark Wahlberg
The Novel

Stills from Shooter (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

No Sniping About This One!.......2007-07-04

Mark Wahlberg is great in this movie about a sniper who worked for the government being called out of retirement, allegedly to do a job in the interests of national security. Something goes awry, and suddenly Wahlberg's character (Swagger)is a fugitive. There is a nice plot here with a well-timed twist. There is also plenty of action with car chases, gun fights and explosions galore. It ends in a most satisfying way. Danny Glover and Michael Pena also star, and give solid performances.

WATCH THIS SHOT.......2007-07-02

SHOOTER (DVD).

Shooter is based upon the novel Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter. I enjoyed the novel some years ago; I enjoyed the movie last night.

Gunnery sergeant Bob Lee Swagger( Mark Wahlberrg) is a sniper. He's been recruited by Spooks to a special mission that only he is good enough to do. He gathers up his trusty .50 caliber Barrett sniper rifle and takes a couple of practice shots, then agrees to do the mission. Of course since Spooks are involved he is set up for something that he didn't do, Spooks are notorious for weaving a web of deception and double crossing.

The movie follows Swagger across the country making one outrageous shot after another. In the end Swagger pulls off a twist, gets the girl and saves the day. All in all a very satisfying movie.

Gunner July, 2007

Shooters DVD review.......2007-07-02

This was the single worst adaptation of a good action novel into an incomprehensible film I've ever seen! Ghastly in every way, the producers and director chose to ignore the book's excellent plot, change the venues and the characters, mess up the action scenes and obfuscate the story line. The casting was terrible with Glover as the Colonel, a young chick as the love interest, and a Hispanic as the FBI agent. Most of the dialog was impossible to follow and the whole script failed. Wahlberg was especially bad as the hero and the film was filled with mistakes and hardly rates a single star. Avoid it unless you want to watch total confusion and the destruction of the story line in a good book.

Did I Mention The Exploding Heads? Hard-Ass Action Escapism.......2007-07-02

"Muscles bulge and heads explode in "Shooter," a thoroughly reprehensible, satisfyingly violent entertainment about men and guns and things that go boom (heads, mostly). Did I mention the exploding heads? It is an admittedly primitive pleasure, but I do love watching stuff blow up in movies (heads, not so much). There is something unaccountably gratifying, at times reassuring about watching the screen -- the bigger the better -- become engulfed by surging waves of liquid orange, in the image of a car exploding into the air like a rocket, in a room, a building, a boat, a truck, you name it, shattering into confetti."
Manhola Dargis

Mark Wahlberg plays Bob Lee Swagger, (whoever thought up that name is a genius) a former Marine sniper. He is a loner and probably emotionally wounded by the death of his partner on a failed mission in Africa. Bob Lee Swagger takes off with his dog to a mountaintop ranch where he can live alone. Retired Col. Isaac Johnson, played by Danny Glover comes a calling one day, and causes Swagger to come back into the game when the colonel plays the patriotism card. There appears to be a plot to kill the President, and the colonel needs Bob Lee to predict how it will happen before it happens so he can stop it. In no time Swagger is on the run as the most hunted man in America. "Shooter" reminds me of the old Hitchcock films of a wrong man fingered for a crime. In this instance, the guy is framed and can only clear himself by hunting down those actually culpable.

Plot holes are too numerous to mention. The characters are all stick figures. Good guys do good, bad guys do bad, and there is little about motives, sentiments, emotions, backgrounds or beliefs that would allow the actors to build a character. The villians rely on physicality, and at times it is laughable. mark Wahlberg plays a clean, decent, good old loner, 'Shooter'. Wahlberg also could use a few more lines. The movie has an ending that we can guess at the get go. Do the good guys win?

I am from the live-free-or-die State and this movie reverberates with that philosophy. There are more weapons, bullets, fire, burned bodies, blown off heads, exploding houses and heads than seems possbile for one movie. But, there is something in this movie that attracts me and held my attention. Was it the bad guys were so bad, or the good guys were so bad? Entertaining, gritty and laughable in parts, but the parts equal a sum and a whole. The scenery was gorgeous and the filming extraordinary.
Recommended. prisrob 7-01-07

The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Refreshingly Right on Target..........2007-07-01

I almost dismissed "SHOOTER" as another film w/out any coherent plot and a straight-to-dvd snooze, however, there's something a bit more subversive at work in this latest action thriller from director Antoine Fuqua(Training Day). The film is based on Washington Post film critic Stephen Lemkin's novel, Shooter greatly surprised me, I ended up really liking the film.

The story is about an ex-gunnery sergeant (awkwardly)named Bob Lee Swagger (Mark Wahlberg), who is a die-hard american patriot, proud and willing to lay down his life(if needed) in the service of his beloved country. Trained as a covert scout sniper, Swagger's got an eye for laying waste to targets that are far beyond the range of most normal riflemen. Disgraced during a black-ops mission in Africa that gets his best friend/spotter killed, Swagger retreats to the mountains of Wyoming, only to be lured back into service by the shady Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover, whose braces provide the most unintentional hilarity in Fuqua's film; the lisps are priceless). Asked to map out a hypothetical assassination attempt on the president's life, it's not long before Swagger finds himself framed for a murder he didn't commit and on the run from the long arm of the corrupt, morally twisted law.
Swagger is aided by his best friend's widow, Sarah(super-hottie Kate Mara)and a rookie FBI agent(Michael Pena) to try to uncover the truth and to clear his name. Ned Beatty star as the manipulative U.S. senator and super-babe Rhona Mitra also stars.

Although there are jabs a-plenty aimed at the current Bush administration, the film unfolds like an old-school action flick; replete with stylized walks filmed in slow motion. Plenty of stuff gets blown up big time; Wahlberg gets to mutter plenty of giggling-inducing lines--" I don't think you understand, these people killed my dog" is one of the more amusing lines. Fuqua shows off what he does best in this flick: making frenetic action scenes that look unbelievably sexy but brutally violent, mostly at the same time(with style).

Shooter rages against the political machine beneath it while appearing mindless on the surface. It comes off as a blend of slightly lefty agitprop while at the same time it maintains some deeply red state beliefs about, among other issues, the right to bear arms. It's an adrenaline pumping, widely entertaining big-budget shoot-`em-up that delivers the goods.

PICTURE: 2.35 ratio ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN. The PQ is near-fllawless--you can see every scrap of debris and flaming body(parts) in every detail. Colors are radiant, sharpness is impressive and blacks are very crisp. There are minor instances of enhancements but it doesn't ruin the presentation.
AUDIO: 5.1 Dolby Digital English rack delivers the right punch for the job while the dialogue has absolute clarity. There is the option of a French track w/ removable English subtitles.
EXTRAS: Director Fuqua sits for an informative commentary track that walks the viewer through everything from the visual effects and the film's realism to the politics of the film and his reactions to the material. The featurette "Survival of the Fittest: The Making of Shooter," details the creation of the film, while the second featurette "Independence Hall," features the film's military advisor talking about the film's pivotal assassination sequence.
There are 7 deleted scenes that are playable separately or all together.
Trailers for Zodiac and Black Snake Moan complete the disc.

Overall: Despite its jabs at the government, and the occasional macho-cheesy(if funny) dialogue, SHOOTER comes out as a highly entertaining action thriller that every action-buff will want in their collection. It delivers what it should, pure popcorn entertainment w/ a touch of a political conspiracy that is a good diversion from a day's work.
RECOMMENDED! (Highly Recommended for action fans)4 1/2 stars!

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships
Terrible and Completely Pointless
Great Fun! Good Story
Warning - sad movie, too sad for kids
Kooky and mildly pointless....

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JPL5
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Based on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships.......2007-07-04

This movie can be very surprising and possibly an emotional tearjerker if you are not familiar with the story or book it was based on. If you don't mind your young children learning about "loss" and the sadness surrounding it, this will also be an uplifting movie that shows the positive nature of fostering good relationships. I thought I was getting a "fantasy" movie to watch with my son -- it was short on fantasy, and was heavy on the theme of "loss" but was still a good movie overall as it really brought out the emotions it intended to bring out. Many parents may argue whether the movie should be watched by their children (depending on what you are willing to teach your children about early.) As an adult, I found the movie of value and entertaining and also feel it is necessary to be present if you allow younger children watch it.

Terrible and Completely Pointless .......2007-07-04

Boy am I sorry I just wasted an hour and a half watching this movie, and I'm even sorrier that I let my kids see it.

This is not a movie for children, it is far too slow, boring, and sad. Its not a movie for adults, it is far too juvenile and, well, dumb.

I kept waiting for the movie to get to a point - and it never does. It meanders around in the very sad lives of two different adolescents - both terribly neglected by their parents in very different ways, both bullied, both living pretty sad lives. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, or for the film to reach some pinnacle where it all came together, and it never did. Totally pointless.

The "fantasy" bits of the film [and they are *tiny* bits - not really worth even mentioning] are poorly done and just awful.

There is really nothing redeeming about this film, other than the fact that the two young actors who play the main characters do a good job acting - they just have pretty lame characters. ALL the characters in the movie are really just characateurs - with no depth or meaning. And most of them are "bad" in some way or other, from the insanely neglectful mother to the nasty abusive father to the mean bullies who beat up the other kids.

Anyway, its just a terrible movie and not worth anyone's time or money. And please, parents, if you think you *might* want to show this movie to your children, preview it first. I sure wish I had done that.

Great Fun! Good Story.......2007-07-04

It seems a lot of people were expecting a lot more "fantasy" world in this film and have judged it accordingly. Personally, I love the "simplicity" of the fantasy as it really gives adults a reminder as to what children see when they play make believe.

The fantasy is supposed to be secondary to the plot and it's very well done. I was very pleased when I watched it and had a good cry at the end, not once but twice.

Warning - sad movie, too sad for kids.......2007-07-03

I wish someone had warned us! My daughter and I balled our eyes out. Other than that really sad part, the movie was great, but just to forewarn you...bring your tissues!

Kooky and mildly pointless...........2007-07-03

Yes, I get it. Kids are supposed to be imaginative. Okay so why wasn't the story? You have AnnaSophia Robb staring (brilliantly I might add) in a flick about an adolescent with an overactive imagination... yet her imagination is depicted for all of 20 minutes in a 90 minute flick. The creatures are mindless cardboard cutouts, meant to represent real-life characters in their everyday world, but they wind up being boring parodies of themself.

The movie had great potential. Lots of area for conflict, what with a controlling "down on his luck" deadbeat dad and all. But in the end, the film would have been better if it had gone unmade. Or perhaps benefitted from about another half hour actually IN Terabithia.

300 (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

I loved this movie!
Have never enjoyed so much going to the movies, I couldn't care less about what anyone else says about the film, it ROCKS.
Running with Kings
Easily ...
Entertaining!

300 (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Gerard Butler , Lena Headey , David Wenham , Dominic West , and Vincent Regan
Director: Zack Snyder
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JPLW
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Amazon.com

Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.

More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi

Description

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

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Director Zack Snyder, Writer Kurt Johnstad and Director of Photography Larry Fong
Deleted Scenes:with Introduction by Zack Snyder
Featurette:The 300- Fact or Fiction? (RT: 24:31 Historians, authorsÂ and filmmakers reveal how much of the film was based on fact.); Who Were The Spartans: The Warriors of 300 (RT: 4:24 Touches on the customs and ways of life of the Spartan that werent explicitly shown in 300 but were used by the actors and filmmakers Ã,Â to help build their characters.); Frank Miller Tapes (RT: 13:00 Ã,Â We'll show how the outspoken Miller continued to push his limits to realize his epic graphic novel in the world of film
Other:Webisodes: Behind the scenes peeks on the set of 300 (RT 20:00)
Photo gallery:RT 3:39 Rapid fire stills from the first day of production to the last.

Customer Reviews:

I loved this movie!.......2007-07-04

I thought this movie aesthetically amazing. Being a classicist, you have to try to overlook the historical inaccuracies in films like this (I was ranting and raving upon leaving the theater after seeing Troy). At first I was skeptical when the commercials starting airing on TV, but the more they aired the more the film intrigued me. The plot and dialogue was enough to hold my interest, but I'm a sucker for action sequences. Again, I thought this movie was great. To me, it combined the aesthetics of Passion of the Christ with Gladiator and even a smattering of the Lord of the Rings.

Have never enjoyed so much going to the movies, I couldn't care less about what anyone else says about the film, it ROCKS........2007-07-04

It was one of those weekends where my girlfriend and I wanted to go to the movies but didn't knew which one to see.
Out of being totally uninterested in all the other ones showing we went to see 300.
After seeing it I felt like the entrance fee was totally paid back to us in entertainment, we were rocked, thrilled, it was one of those movies were everything just clicked from the visuals to the sound track and the action... whoa, the action of the movie... awesome. Even my girlfriend kept talking about it for weeks...
After that day I measure how much I enjoyed a film comparing it to 300.
Pirates 3, Shrek 3, Spidey 3, transformers, the simpsons... they all pale in comparison to 300, the real winner of this movie season.
Don't listen to people that talk about how it is not historically true, or that just complain about smaller stuff in the film.
It is just pure entertainment, you will hardly take your eyes of the screen, buy it...
I know I will.

Running with Kings.......2007-07-04

Rather than going into another detailed description of the film I would prefer to give my responses to the underlying strata of the story. When I left the movie theater many quetions came to mind, such as: What are my own 'Hot Gates', at what point of difficulty would I draw an invisible line in the sand with the words: 'This is where I stand, This is where I fight?', even though the odds at winning or survival are a million to one?

What in my life would be valuable enough to defend with my life 'to the last breath?'. How many souls before and after King Leonidas had the same vison of the dawning of a new age, an age of freedom? And has this age really arrived? And would it not be preferable to die a glorious death at the prime of life, still with strength and capabilities, instead of 'rusting away' slowly?

I also though of the loss of an era when there was beauty and honor in war and battle, when the rules of engagement were adhered to. Or, perhaps, as P.D. Ouspensy once wrote in one of his books, when the Devil smilingly said to the protagonist: 'The stake is on nobility' as they watched men marching off to yet another war, perhaps I am too caught in the same illusion?

And yet I know, that so many individuals, the great - and the unknown small, were and still are - willing to lay their life down, and fight to the last breath, for something they themselves strongly believed in.

The overall whole of the film left a deep impression on me, the dreamlike atmosphere of the colours, the formations, the suggested inner strength of the men and woman, and the feeling of one-ness and unity among the warriors, the bond between King and Queen.

It reminded me of the mysterious force that the Andalusian Poets spoke of, the invocation of the 'Duende' the mystical force that comes to the poet, the musician, the Bullfighter, when death is a strong possibility, 'the mysterious power which everyone senses and no philosopher can explain, the spirit of the earth...he exhausts, he burns the blood..with ideas, sound or gesture, the duende enjoys fighting the creator on the very rim of the well'

King Leonidas - we will remember you.

Easily ..........2007-07-03

... the most disappointing film of 2007. Proves that style does not substitute for content.

Entertaining!.......2007-07-02

Filmed in similar fashion to Sin City but in my view this is a far far better film. Good story, good character's and good acting too. Sin City certainly lacked in those areas to my mind. Anyhow, back to 300. In a nut shell I highly recommend the movie and enjoyed it a lot more than I expected, lives up to the hype and has the edge over the similar movie "Troy" also.

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Mel's Done It Again!
Great director
Gruesome
Superb
Mel Gibson Really Outdoes Himself With this One!

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Rudy Youngblood , Dalia Hernández , Jonathan Brewer , Morris Birdyellowhead , and Carlos Emilio Báez
Director: Mel Gibson
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NOKFHQ
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Forget any off-screen impressions you may have of Mel Gibson, and experience Apocalypto as the mad, bloody runaway train that it is. The story is set in the pre-Columbian Maya population: one village is brutally overrun, its residents either slaughtered or abducted, by a ruling tribe that needs slaves and human sacrifices. We focus on the capable warrior Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), although Gibson skillfully sketches a whole population of characters--many of whom don't survive the early reels. Most of the film is set in the dense jungle, but the middle section, in a grand Mayan city, is a dazzling triumph of design, costuming, and sheer decadent terror. The movie itself is a triumph of brutality, as Gibson lets loose his well-established fascination with bodily mortification in a litany of assaults including impalement, evisceration, snakebite, and bee stings. It's a dark, disgusted vision, but Gibson doesn't forget to apply some very canny moviemaking instincts to the violence--including the creation of a tremendous pair of villains (strikingly played by Raoul Trujillo and Rodolfo Palacias). The film is in a Maya dialect, subtitled in English, and shot on digital video (which occasionally betrays itself in some blurry quick pans). Amidst all the mayhem, nothing in the film is more devastating than a final wordless exchange of looks between captured villager Blunted (Jonathan Brewer) and his wife's mother (Maria Isabel Diaz), a superb change in tone from their early relationship. Yes, this is an obsessive, crazed movie, but Gibson knows what he's doing. --Robert Horton

Beyond Apocalypto

More films directed by Mel Gibson
Apocalypto soundtrack by James Horner

Stills from Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (click for larger image)

Description

From Mel Gibson, director of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and the Academy Award®-winning BRAVEHEART (Best Director, Best Picture, 1995) comes the thrilling historical epic APOCALYPTO. This intense, nonstop action-adventure transports you to an ancient South American civilization, for an experience unlike anything you've ever known. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Driven by the power of his love for his wife and son, he makes an adrenaline-soaked, heart-racing escape to rescue them and ultimately save his way of life. Filled with unrelenting action and stunning cinematography, APOCALYPTO is an enthralling and unforgettable film experience.'

Customer Reviews:

Mel's Done It Again!.......2007-07-04

A powerful commentary on the strength and weakness of society and religion.

Without giving too much of the plot away, one sees a stark contrast between the beauty, parity and unity of a humble tribal village and the prejudice, oppression and fear that rules the grandiose Mayan empire.

As has come to be Mel style, there are layers of meaning and powerful parallel relationships that have didactic purpose (kind of like the Father and Son theme that ran throughout Braveheart). One can see the other parallels he draws between today's 'Superpowers' and their attendant ostentation, control and fear mongering.

He manages to make concentric layers of meaning from the individual to the family the tribe and the nation and their indivisibility.

The ending will stun you, awaken you and make you question the status quo as well as Gibson's intentions when one considers his own religious background. It made me respect Gibson as a man who can see the the broader picture of what really matters in life and faith.

The imagery is stunning and, without knowing the historical accuracy, one is brought to a time and place without the Hollywood fanfare. Despite it's intensity Gibson manges to make you laugh as much as you cringe.

Well worth it.

Great director.......2007-07-04

The movie was done so well - a little too violent, but Mel Gibson did an excellent job.

Gruesome.......2007-07-03

I enjoyed the historical aspect of this film but felt it portrayed only the gruesome side of the civilization.

Superb.......2007-07-03

the movie was fantastic in the theater and just as wonderful at home . a Great DVD , a must have .

Mel Gibson Really Outdoes Himself With this One!.......2007-07-02

The Amazon "Plot Synopsis" above asserts that this film should only be watched "by people who enjoy exaggerations of history," but the only thing that Mel Gibson is guilty of, with regards to historical accuracy, is a blurring of Mayan and Aztec cultures. It was the Aztecs, not the Mayans, who were kidnapping, enslaving and sacrificing minority tribesmen in the years before the Spanish conquest. The Mayans had been gone for centuries by the time Cortez arrived.

The human sacrifices that are depicted in Apocalypto are not an "exaggeration" of history. The law of the Aztec Empire, for example, mandated a thousand human sacrifices to the god Huitzilopchtli in every town with a temple, every year. The largest mass sacrifice that was documented by the Aztecs themselves occured in 1487, just a few years before the arrival of the Europeans: On the occasion of the dedication of the immense Temple of Huitzilopochtli in Tenochtitlan (what is now Mexico City), eighty-thousand men were killed over a four-day, four-night period. By all accounts, sacrifice victims had their "heart torn out while still beating and held up for all to see," and their "body was kicked over the edge of the temple platform where it bounced and slithered...down the steps." The only detail that Mel Gibson leaves out is the cannibalism.

But Apocalypto is about a lot more than the slavery and genocide that preceded the European conquest. It is an action adventure thriller like no other.

When a Central American village is raided for slaves and sacrifice victims by Mayans, one of the villagers, Jaguar Paw, hides his pregnant wife and child in a deep hole in the ground. Jaguar Paw must then escape from his captors and return to save his wife and children before they die from exposure and starvation.

Mel Gibson usually makes great movies, but he really outdid himself with this one. Apocalypto is his geatest film to date. It is sad that many will miss this film because of the unfortunate drunk driving incident. Many are intent to boycott Mr. Gibson, and, in a free country, we should be free to watch or not watch movies for any reason we choose. But if you don't watch this one, for any reason, you're really missing one of the most affecting and exhilarating films of all time.

Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Good movie, not historicly correct
Worst I've seen by Clint Eastwood
generational
boring unwatchable nonsense
It was okay but not as good as I thought it would be

Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Ken Watanabe , Kazunari Ninomiya , Tsuyoshi Ihara , Ryo Kase , and Shido Nakamura
Director: Clint Eastwood
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)
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ASIN: B00005JPKE
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Critically hailed as an instant classic, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima is a masterwork of uncommon humanity and a harrowing, unforgettable indictment of the horrors of war. In an unprecedented demonstration of worldly citizenship, Eastwood (from a spare, tightly focused screenplay by first-time screenwriter Iris Yamashita) has crafted a truly Japanese film, with Japanese dialogue (with subtitles) and filmed in a contemplative Japanese style, serving as both complement and counterpoint to Eastwood's previously released companion film Flags of Our Fathers. Where the earlier film employed a complex non-linear structure and epic-scale production values to dramatize one of the bloodiest battles of World War II and its traumatic impact on American soldiers, Letters reveals the battle of Iwo Jima from the tunnel- and cave-dwelling perspective of the Japanese, hopelessly outnumbered, deprived of reinforcements, and doomed to die in inevitable defeat. While maintaining many of the traditions of the conventional war drama, Eastwood extends his sympathetic touch to humanize "the enemy," revealing the internal and external conflicts of soldiers and officers alike, forced by circumstance to sacrifice themselves or defend their honor against insurmountable odds. From the weary reluctance of a young recruit named Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) to the dignified yet desperately anguished strategy of Japanese commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi (played by Oscar-nominated The Last Samurai costar Ken Watanabe), whose letters home inspired the film's title and present-day framing device, Letters from Iwo Jima (which conveys the bleakness of battle through a near-total absence of color) steadfastly avoids the glorification of war while paying honorable tribute to ill-fated men who can only dream of the comforts of home. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
Like the film itself, the two-disc special edition of Letters from Iwo Jima is predominantly Japanese in content, and that's as it should be. Disc 1 presents the film in a flawless widescreen transfer, with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack that perfectly captures the film's wide dynamic range. The optional subtitles can be turned off for those wishing to immerse themselves in a completely Japanese viewing experience. Disc 2 opens with "Red Sun, Black Sand: The Making of Letters from Iwo Jima," a 20-minute behind-the-scenes documentary that concisely covers all aspects of production, from director Clint Eastwood's initial decision to create a companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers, to interview comments from principal cast and crew, the latter including Flags screenwriters Paul Haggis and Letters screenwriter Iris Yamashita, costume designer Deborah Hopper, editor Joel Cox, cinematographer Tom Stern, production designer James Murakami (taking over for the ailing Henry Bumstead), and coproducer Rob Lorenz. "The Faces of Combat" is an 18-minute featurette about selecting the Japanese (and Japanese-American) cast of Letters, and how they were chosen through the international collaboration of Eastwood's long-time casting director Phyllis Huffman (who turned over some of her duties to her son while struggling with terminal illness) and Japanese casting associate Yumi Takada, who filled important roles with Japanese celebrities (like pop star Kazunari Ninomiya, who plays "Saigo") and unknown actors alike.

"Images from the Frontlines" is a 3.5-minute montage of images from the film and behind-the-scenes, set to the sparse piano theme of Eastwood's original score. The remaining bonus features chronicle the world premiere of Letters in Tokyo on November 15, 2006. The premiere itself is covered in a 16-minute featurette taped at the famous Budokan arena, where we see the red-carpet procession, a full-capacity audience despite cold November weather, and introductory comments from the film's primary cast and crew, many of them quite moving with regard to the satisfaction of working on a film that helps Japanese viewers come to terms with a painful chapter of their history. The following day's press conference (at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel) is a 24-minute Q&A session covering much of the same territory, with additional testimony from principal cast & crew. Throughout this two-day event, it's clear that Eastwood (referring to himself as "a Japanese director who doesn't speak the Japanese language") was warmly embraced by the Japanese, and that Letters from Iwo Jima had served its intended purpose, reminding us of the horrors of war while uniting both Japanese and Americans in somber reflection, 61 years after the battle of Iwo Jima. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima tells the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima itself, the unprecedented tactics of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai) and his men transform what was predicted to be a swift defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat. Their sacrifices, struggles, courage and compassion live on in the taut, gripping film Rolling Stone calls "unique and unforgettable." It is the powerful companion piece to Flags of Our Fathers.

Customer Reviews:

Good movie, not historicly correct.......2007-07-04

Not as good as Flags of Our Fathers, it doesn't show the true brutality of the Japanese. Its view is very sympithetic to the Japanese, but still a good movie.

Worst I've seen by Clint Eastwood.......2007-07-04

Watched for 1hour 14 minutes in disappointment. The script is terrible. Don't make the mistake of watching this movie. Why all the hype? How can this be a Clint Eastwood directed movie? Firstly, this movie makes fun of sacrifice. It makes fun of the Japanese commitment to Japan. For sure I do not know precisely what happened at Iwo Jima, all I know is that 22000 fought till only 216 remained. That is a victory. As big as the firefighters of 9/11. It is something, it seems that Clint Eastwood, that willingly directed this movie, will never understand. Having no choice in life but to die honorably.

Iwo Jima was a last-stand before the enemy reached Japan, much like the Alamo. Soldiers don't harbor anti-war sentiment when your home and family is threatened - you pull together. Fight and die together. I didn't get the idea that there were 22000 soldiers on the island. The enemy forces were realistically depicted. This is a clear anti-war movie - only problem is that it makes fun of the commitment of a die-hard enemy facing destruction.

generational.......2007-07-03

I watched this beautiful movie with my 86 year old Father who had served in WW11. We both felt it was a beautiful movie and were not aware of the subtitles.Ken Watanbe is an exceptional actor!!! mpn

boring unwatchable nonsense.......2007-07-01

, June 29, 2007
By Robert I. Bloom (brooklyn, ny USA) - See all my reviews

more boring bad filmmaking from this over rated stoic and sadly incompetent director-- i grant you- million dollar baby was great-- i guess because hillary swank was in it and even clint eastwood couldnt ruin her incredible devotion to perfection---but yet another movie by this untalented excuse of a director dispLays eastwoOds usuaL MISSTEPS -CAMERA ALWAYS IN THE WRONG PLACE-- NO BUILDING OF TENSION--hence NO RELEASE OF TENSION-- WHICH I THInK HE STRIVES FOR BUT ALWAYS MISSES --- HE CANT TELL A STORY AND APPARENTLY HAS NO CLUE HOW TO DIRECT ACTORS ---IF HE CASTS A GENIUS LIKE SWANK HE MIGHT GET LUCKY W THEM AND NOT RUIN THEIR WORK--OTHERWISE HIS INCOMPETENCE IS OVERWHELMING--NO PACE NOT A CHARACTER THAT ISNT WOODEN--LIKE HIMSELF--the whole movie every pathetic scene is claustrophobic feeling-- I FOUND this movie and its partner movie flags --LITERALLY UNWATCHABLY BORING AND ILL CONCEIVED----so many american movies are so bad its doubly pATHETIC that this untalented guy is raised to such a high level by so many but understandable i guess when u consider the competition---are there any consistently great american directors anymore----w clint eastwoods paultry talents on top its a sad commentary indeed ---I LOVE WAR FILMS--- ARMY MOVIES I USED TO CALL THEM-- GUNS OF NAVARRONE-- DIRTY DOZEN-- BACK TO BATAAN---PEARL HARBOR !!!!LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ! BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI--- THE STORY OF GI JOE COMING HOME APOCOLYPSE NOW BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY IN COUNTRY JACKKNIFE--- BLACK HAWK DOWN AND THE MASTERPIECE OF THEM ALL-- THREE KINGS !!!! AMONG MANY MANY OTHERS-- MADE BY TALENTED FILMmAKERS WHO KNeW WHAT THEY were DOING-- I HAD GREAT EXPECTATIONS W THESE TWO MOVIES--- BUT THE LACK OF PACE, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT STORY LINE art direction editing !!--ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE MOVIE MAKING COMPELLING-- ALL ABSENT HERE---- MORE DRIVEL FROM THIS PATHETIC DIRECTOR !!!! I SAY TAKE HIS LICENSE AWAY !!!!!! who can sit thru such interminably dull efforts from this guy !!!??? dont believe the hype-- monkeys could direct his movies better-- in fact he once hired a monkey to do just that-- and the monkey was in the movie too--- and he wasnt bad--- but clint?? retire dude !! please !!

It was okay but not as good as I thought it would be.......2007-07-01

No one can deny that Clint Eastwood is a good filmaker. But all of his films are so dark (literally and figuratevly) that it kind of bores me. LfIG was no different. It was an "inspirational" film that did make you think and makes a good discussion to have with your father, but I found it way too slow. It was relatively long and they were in a cave most of the time. It was okay but in the end, I say it was too long and boring. But good acting and writing and directing

Average customer rating:

I loved it
Its a Sleeper
Mediocre to the Max!
Ugggh Nicolas another bomb?
Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Starring: Matt Long (II) , Raquel Alessi , Brett Cullen , Peter Fonda , and Nicolas Cage
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OVLBEO
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com

Once intended as a feature for Johnny Depp, the long-germinating feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' cult title Ghost Rider stars Nicolas Cage as motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who transforms into a skull-faced angel of vengeance to battle the forces of evil. Though perhaps a bit too mature for the role, Cage brings a degree of humor to the outrageous proceedings; he's well matched by the Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda, amusingly cast as Mephistopheles, the demon with whom Blaze strikes a bargain to save his father, and in turn, causes his transformation into Ghost Rider. Wes Bentley is also fine as Blackheart, the rebellious offspring of Mephistopheles, and Blazes' chief opponent in the film. They're joined by a solid supporting cast which includes Donal Logue, Eva Mendes, and Sam Elliott, but their participation and a relentless barrage of CGI effects can't hide the fact that the story itself, though largely faithful to its comic origins, is rife with clichéd characterizations and glum B-movie dialogue. Fans of the venerable title may cry foul over this adaptation (as they did over helmer Mark Steven Johnson's previous comic-to-movie feature, Daredevil), but less stringent viewers may enjoy the fiery visuals and Cage's typically quirky performance. --Paul Gaita

Extras from Ghost Rider

Visit our Exclusive Ghost Rider Microsite
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Beyond Ghost Rider at Amazon.com

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CD Soundtrack
Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation

Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

I loved it.......2007-07-04

I'm a comics fan. I started reading comics in the 1950s.

I wondered how they could pull off this one... The more I thought about it, the more Nicholas Cage seemed perfect for the part. (He's a comics fan.)

I loved the story & special effects.

This was a good portrayal of a man who finally discovered the consequences of his deal with the devil. Nicholas did a good job of a man slowly discovering his abilities, coming to terms with them, and doing his best to make his own relationship with the devil.

It's not easy to make such a movie. You must deal with "old fans" like myself, and with new ones who are not familiar with the character.

I loved the movie.

Its a Sleeper.......2007-07-04

I really enjoyed this movie. I was surprised and pleased that I had bought it. I didn't hear much buzz on it when it came out. It has a good back love story and I enjoyed the build up to the ending.

Mediocre to the Max!.......2007-07-04

Ghost Rider certainly isn't the worst movie I've ever seen, but it is just about the most disappointing. I have to commend the advertising team, though, because they really sold me on the movie, and I went to see it despite the horrid reviews.

The movie ended up making $$$M in the US alone (according to Yahoo! Movies), so I'm obviously not the only person who went into the theatre expecting the movie to live up to its previews.

The movie started of strong; gripping opening credits and score. From there on out, it went straight to average. And I mean AVERAGE. It's almost as though they made an extraordinary effort to make sure that this movie would be as un-memorable as possible. Every time there's a scene that excites you about what's to come (the arrival of the three elemental bad guys was quite sweet), there's a reciprocating let down (I won't give away what happens, but let's just say that their encounters with Ghost Rider were less than impressive).

But there's great special effects, right? Hhhmmmm, yes and no. What was in the previews was pretty awesome, and all that stuff is in the movie, but most of the CGI looks half done, as though they ran out money half-way through post production.

I don't think anyone was really expecting a great plot, and I certainly wasn't, so the predictability of the film isn't one of my complaints, but the dialogue did suffer from a certain amount of cliche-itis.

So the bottom line: For what it is, it's not bad. There's no nudity and very little bad language or innuendo, so I'd say that this would be most appreciated by a younger audience looking for a neat action flick (under 16).

Ugggh Nicolas another bomb?.......2007-07-03

Cage -- you either love his movies OR hate them. I hated this. Typical comic book turned into movie. Read the comic and save your money on this one.

Ghost Rider.......2007-07-03

great movie and the etras and nice. i watched in the movie theather but it was better at home.

Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Sooooo disappointed...so NOT James Bond!
An Edgier Bond Than We've Never Seen
Back to the basics
Crackling Good Bond Flick
The best Bond movie, bar none

Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Daniel Craig , Eva Green , Mads Mikkelsen , Judi Dench , and Jeffrey Wright
Director: Martin Campbell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Babel

ASIN: B000MNP2KI
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

The most successful invigoration of a cinematic franchise since Batman Begins, Casino Royale offers a new Bond identity. Based on the Ian Fleming novel that introduced Agent 007 into a Cold War world, Casino Royale is the most brutal and viscerally exciting James Bond film since Sean Connery left Her Majesty's Secret Service. Meet the new Bond; not the same as the old Bond. Daniel Craig gives a galvanizing performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, yes, but also a "blunt instrument," reckless, and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. In classic Bond film tradition, his global itinerary takes him to far-flung locales, including Uganda, Madagascar, the Bahamas (that's more like it), and Montenegro, where he is pitted against his nemesis in a poker game, with hundreds of millions in the pot. The stakes get even higher when Bond lets down his "armor" and falls in love with Vesper (Eva Green), the ravishing banker's representative fronting him the money.

For longtime fans of the franchise, Casino Royale offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, Casino Royale is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, now I know what I've been faking all these years. --Donald Liebenson

Stills from Casino Royale (click for larger image)

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Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale Book

Product Description

Casino Royale introduces James Bond before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status. "M" (Judi Dench), head of the British Secret Service, sends the newly-promoted 007 on his first mission that takes him to Madagascar, the Bahamas and eventually leads him to Montenegro to face Le Chiffre, a ruthless financier under threat from his terrorist clientele, who is attempting to restore his funds in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. "M" places Bond under the watchful eye of the Treasury official Vesper Lynd. At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond's interest in her deepens as they brave danger together. Le Chiffre's cunning and cruelty come to bear on them both in a way Bond could never imagine, and he learns his most important lesson: Trust no one.

Customer Reviews:

Sooooo disappointed...so NOT James Bond!.......2007-07-04

No longer suave, no longer sophisticated.

Would have been a good movie if it hadn't been labelled as Bond

An Edgier Bond Than We've Never Seen.......2007-07-04

It took me a while to actually sit down and watch CASINO ROYALE, but I finally got the chance to see it. Now, I wish I would have saw it in the movie theater and I would have gotten a better effect. This one, I would have to say ranks up there as one of the best BOND films. Just love OCTOPUSSY and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.

Daniel Craig shines as the new 007. He's edgier and charasmatic. This Bond is pretty good. After hearing that he will be in the upcoming new BOND film (that will be directed by Marc Forster), I think it's safe to say that people are going to slowly embrace Daniel as the new Bond and CASINO was a great jumping off point. He carries this film with ease and it's fun everytime that he is on the screen.

My only trouble with this film was the female lead, Vesper Lynd (played by Eva Green). She's beautiful and all, but I felt that she wasn't a strong choice as a Bond heroine and not to mention there's another female character that looks just like her in this film and there was no uniqueness about each woman. The acting was one dimensional for me. But, then again, this is mostly an action film and he delivered on the action. It is definitely an edge of your seat type thriller.

Overall, this film is great - there are some parts of it storyline wise that I wish were stronger, but it still delivers on all levels.

Back to the basics.......2007-07-03

While Pierce Brosnan is still one of my favorite 007s, there's no doubt that each of his portrayals of Ian Flemming's legend was unfairly hindered by progressively more idiotic and inferior production and scripting. Fortunately, someone at EON Productions woke up and realized that they were running the James Bond franchise into the ground faster than the new Aston Martin DBS, and taking note of the recent success of THE BOURNE IDENTITY and BATMAN BEGINS, dialed back the stupidity (Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist) and pumped up the adrenaline (Daniel Craig as 007).

Those who enjoy the slapstick, tongue-in-cheek Roger Moore Bond pictures will no doubtedly find CASINO ROYALE to be a major shock to their system. It's more violent, it's grittier, and Q and Miss Moneypenny are nowhere to be seen. There are no invisible cars, nor are there satellite superweapons. The villain isn't bent on world domination, but merely saving his own hide after he makes a mistake with a lot of his clients' money. And Bond isn't a debonair Navy commander, but instead a former SAS commando, hardened and in need of polish. In this sense, ROYALE isn't faithful to what 007 has become, but is (relatively) closer to what it should have been.

As a film, ROYALE is extremely similar to director Martin Campbell's previous outing in the world of 007, GOLDENEYE: about 20 minutes too long, and chock full of incredible stunts and physical pyrotechnics. Like GOLDENEYE, CASINO ROYALE starts strong and rocks right through the second act only to lull as it enters its third act before going nuclear for a hugely violent finale. Though written by the same duo that gave us the lackluster THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and the mediocre DIE ANOTHER DAY, ROYALE is a much better film in writing quality, a fact that can probably be credited to the fact that the writers are working more closely off of Flemming's original story and characters rather than simply trying to top the last film with "bigger, better, louder" villains and action (the polishing rewrite from Paul Haggis probably didn't hurt either). While some of the dialogue is still a little flat, the majority of it is sharp, with some conversations being downright superb.

Also superb is Craig, whose casting caused an internet uproar. Still, anyone still thinking "CraigNotBond" is an idiot, as he dispenses with one-liners and gives 007 back his balls. This man is a killer, a soldier, who must evolve into the sophisticated 007, and his angry evolution is what makes ROYALE the joy that it is. It doesn't hurt that the rest of the cast is fantastic. Also fantastic is David Arnold's score, which for the first time since TOMORROW NEVER DIES doesn't just sound like it's going through the motions to collect a paycheck. New themes, careful placement of light motifs, it all comes together perfectly.

The opening titles may suck, but like BATMAN BEGINS, CASINO ROYALE treats its material with the utmost respect and as a result ends up being a film worthy of respect. These are great characters, and it's wonderful to see them finally done justice. And Campbell's physical direction hasn't lost one bit of its edge, as the stunts and action set pieces here are easily among the best in the entire series. ROYALE works because of an attention to the right details, proof that in making great movies, if you look after the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves.

Crackling Good Bond Flick.......2007-07-03

The James Bond spy film franchise is reborn with this movie. Lets you forget all those awful Bond films with Roger Moore. Not just a first rate acting performance by the new Bond but a much better and more credible story line. Truly a worthy successor to the Shawn Connery classic Bond movies. Definitely worth the money.

The best Bond movie, bar none.......2007-07-01

Having seen all Bond movies several times and formerly thinking that Sean Connery's Bond portrayal would never be bested I now realise that I was completely wrong. Daniel Craig portrays Bond as the author wanted, and the film itself was a full (long, but not too long) experience for Bond fans and now-fans alike.

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

This was funny
Interesting and humorous
Great special effects
fun movie
Decent movie for everyone's entertainment

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ben Stiller , Dick Van Dyke , Mickey Rooney , and Bill Cobbs
Director: Shawn Levy
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000NOKJC2
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

An irresistible concept meets computer-generated wonders in Night at the Museum, inspired by a 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc. Ben Stiller stars as Larry Daley, an underachieving inventor waiting for his ship to come in while getting evicted from one apartment after another for lack of funds. Larry's son needs some stability, so the well-meaning ne'er-do-well takes a job as night watchman at New York City's Museum of Natural History. What the soon-to-retire guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs) don't tell him is that an ancient pharaoh's tablet in the museum causes everything on display to come to life at night. Thus, Larry meets representations of Teddy Roosevelt, Attila the Hun, fire-worshipping cavemen, and Roman Empire soldiers, and learns to cope with an excitable T-Rex and man-eating, ancient animals. The film might have left things at that, but an added story element gives Night at the Museum some extra urgency and excitement, especially for kids: Larry becomes responsible for keeping this nightly miracle going and preventing anything in the museum from dying due to exposure to sunrise. Computer effects, as well as wildly imaginative costumes and makeup, help make the film appeal to the 8-year-old in everyone. Director Shawn Levy (The Pink Panther) works with a hugely talented cast, including Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Carla Gugino, and Steve Coogan. --Tom Keogh

Night at the Museum Extras

Ben Stiller on Director Shawn Levy
Ricky Gervais on the size of his trailer and eating cheese.

Beyond Night at the Museum

See What DVDs Meant Special Effects to Amazon DVD Editors As Kids
More Adventure Films for Kids & Family
The Night at the Museum Paperback Book

Stills from Night at the Museum

Description

Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast including Robin Williams and Dick Van Dyke in this hilarious blockbuster hit. When good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face-to-face with a frisky T. rex skeleton, tiny armies of Romans and cowboys and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But with the help of President Teddy Roosevelt (Williams), Larry may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes. Boasting jaw-dropping special effects and laugh-out-loud moments, Night at the Museum is your ticket to nonstop fun!

Customer Reviews:

This was funny.......2007-07-04

I'm more of an action, adventure type person, but I throughly enjoyed this movie. It was simple, funny and well done. It wasn't silly. It made you wish that you were there at the museum with Ben Stiller.

Interesting and humorous.......2007-07-03

Robin Williams MAKES this movie. His interpretation of good ol' T.R. might not exactly be "Spot on" But it's hilarious nonetheless. I'm not a huge fan of Ben Stiller but he surprised me in this movie with how good he is at physical comedy. (If you can get past his annoying performance in Dodgeball, he does similar physical comedy there.)

In this movie, he just plays a normal guy, turned nightwatchman for a museum. He's warned about "strange happenings" by elderly nightwatchmen played by Dick VanDyke, Andy Rooney and Bill Cobbs. But even their dire warning can't prepare him for the life that is literally breathed into that place come sundown.

The story itself is what keeps this movie from being dull and idiotic. The story is very smartly written as comedies go. It's very action-packed and silly but entertaining from beginning to end.

There are a few subplots that get in the way here and there, but luckily they're minor annoyances to an otherwise funny flick.

Owen Wilson as Jedediah may be the second best performance of this movie (The first being Robin Williams)

Great special effects.......2007-07-03

Great show of special effects and Robin Williams does a very good job as Teddy Roosevelt! The plot with the humans is a bit lame, but the rest makes up for it. And to see a dinosaur playing fetch is funny.

fun movie.......2007-07-02

this is a good movie for the family, althought idk it wasnt quite as good as i expected. it did have funny moments, and is great for kids

Decent movie for everyone's entertainment.......2007-06-30

This is a good movie for the whole family. It probably won't hold a child 5 and under attention the whole time.

Average customer rating:

No Sniping About This One!
WATCH THIS SHOT
Shooters DVD review
Did I Mention The Exploding Heads? Hard-Ass Action Escapism
Refreshingly Right on Target...

Shooter (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Michael Peña , Danny Glover , Kate Mara , and Elias Koteas
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Breach (Widescreen Edition)
Deja Vu
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000Q6GUT8
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Beyond Shooter

More Sniper / Hit Man Movies on DVD
More DVDs with Mark Wahlberg
The Novel

Stills from Shooter (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

No Sniping About This One!.......2007-07-04

WATCH THIS SHOT.......2007-07-02

Shooters DVD review.......2007-07-02

Did I Mention The Exploding Heads? Hard-Ass Action Escapism.......2007-07-02

Refreshingly Right on Target..........2007-07-01

The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Scenes were deleted :(
Truly Deserving of its AFI Top Movie List Ranking
Indiana Jones DVDs
The ride of your life
First class, all the way.

The Adventures of Indiana Jones - The Complete DVD Movie Collection (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Harrison Ford
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Back to the Future - The Complete Trilogy (Widescreen Edition)
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Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition)
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Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

Accessories:

Indiana Jones - Giftset (Widescreen Edition)
Raiders of Lost Ark: Mighty Ch (Mighty Chronicles)
King Solomon's Mines (1950)
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981 Film)

ASIN: B00003CXC5
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Product Description

Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, and Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.

All three films in their original format, restored and digitally remastered, plus a fourth disc featuring 200 minutes of extras including never-before-seen footage from all three films.

System Requirements:
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Denhom Elliott, John Rhys-Davies, Kate Capshaw, Jonathan Ke Quan, Amrish Puri, Sean Connery, River Phoenix, Alison Doody, Julian Glover.
Directed By: Steven Spielberg.
Running Time: 540 minutes., Color.
These films are presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2003 Paramount Pictures.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

As with Star Wars, the George Lucas-produced Indiana Jones trilogy was not just a plaything for kids but an act of nostalgic affection toward a lost phenomenon: the cliffhanging movie serials of the past. Episodic in structure and with fate hanging in the balance about every 10 minutes, the Jones features tapped into Lucas's extremely profitable Star Wars formula of modernizing the look and feel of an old, but popular, story model. Steven Spielberg directed all three films, which are set in the late 1930s and early '40s: the comic book-like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the spooky, Gunga Din-inspired Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and the cautious but entertaining Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Fans and critics disagree over the order of preference, some even finding the middle movie nearly repugnant in its violence. (Pro-Temple of Doom people, on the other hand, believe that film to be the most disarmingly creative and emotionally effective of the trio.) One thing's for sure: Harrison Ford's swaggering, two-fisted, self-effacing performance worked like a charm, and the art of cracking bullwhips was probably never quite the iconic activity it soon became after Raiders. Supporting players and costars were very much a part of the series, too--Karen Allen, Sean Connery (as Indie's dad), Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, Denholm Elliot, River Phoenix, and John Rhys-Davies among them. Years have passed since the last film (another is supposedly in the works), but emerging film buffs can have the same fun their predecessors did picking out numerous references to Hollywood classics and B-movies of the past. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Scenes were deleted :(.......2007-07-02

I watched the entire DVD version and unfortunately, the entire movies are not there. A couple scenes were deleted from all 3 movies.

Probably my favorite scene that was deleted was in Temple of Doom, during the dinner scene. The part where the monkey's scalp is pulled off and it shows the monkey's brain, was deleted from the DVD version.

This was an absolute waste of money. I want the ENTIRE movie!!!

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