Jeffrey

Starring:Steven Weber, Peter Jaconson, Tom Cayler, David Thornton, Lee Mark Nelson, John Ganun, Michael T. Weiss, Joe Dain, Jeffrey Ross, Irma St. Paule, Patrick Stewart, Nicky Paraiso, K. Todd Freeman, Robert Klein, Patti Ann O'Connell, Patrick Kerr, Peter Bartlett (II), Christine Baranski, John Seidman, Victor Garber
Director: Christopher Ashley (III)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
Surprisingly lighthearted and witty, Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey (based on his off-Broadway play) was one of the first films to tackle the AIDS crisis without patting itself on the back or offering everything up in a sobering movie-of-the-week scenario. The titular Jeffrey (Steven Weber) is a happy-go-lucky gay man who suddenly comes face to face with the fact that AIDS has turned sex into something "radioactive." Paranoid in the extreme, he vows to become celibate--at just about the same time that hunky Steve (The Pretender's Michael T. Weiss) saunters into his life, eyes twinkling and hormones raging. The only problem is that Steve, for all his muscles and charm, is HIV-positive, thus setting Jeffrey's deepest fears into motion. When it was written in 1995, Jeffrey struck a nerve in mining the fear that a number of gay men felt during the height of the AIDS crisis. Even just a few years later, though, Jeffrey's paranoia (what, he's never heard of condoms?) seems dated, and his behavior more self-damaging than self-aware--basically, he needs a slap upside the head as opposed to therapy. Still, Rudnick (who went on to pen the more mainstream In and Out) is never one to pass up a witty one-liner or an opportunity to poke fun at anyone, and Jeffrey now stands as a hilarious, sometimes poignant portrait of gay single life and the perils of dating in a paranoid time. Weber's Jeffrey is simultaneously open to the possibilities of life and fearful to embrace them, and Weiss is, well... gorgeous and funny and sexy beyond belief. Still, it's Patrick Stewart, as Jeffrey's interior decorator best friend, who effortlessly steals the film with his cutting wit; in his mouth, Rudnick's lines are priceless gems. With a host of amazing cameos, including Sigourney Weaver as a conceited New Age maven, Kathy Najimy as her sad-sack follower, Christine Baranski as a high-society hostess for a roundup-themed charity dinner, and a top-form Nathan Lane as a gay priest who seems to have discovered the meaning of life--literally. --Mark Englehart

Breach (Widescreen Edition)
Average customer rating:

Exciting and entertaining

Intelligent Dialog

Very Well Made

I appreacited the way the movie doesn't provide a pat answer about Hanssen's motivations

To Catch a Spy

Breach (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Chris Cooper , Ryan Phillippe , Laura Linney , Dennis Haysbert , and Gary Cole
Director: Billy Ray
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OYAT3U
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Customer Reviews:

Exciting and entertaining.......2007-07-04

We rented this movie just to have something to watch over the weekend. It was fantastic. We loved it so much that we watched it again the next day and then went out and bought a copy. Chris Cooper is phenomenal. I highly recommend it.

Intelligent Dialog.......2007-07-03

This movie is an excellent charecter study of two men: the spy and the clerk who help bring him down. The dialogs are intelligent. The whole sting operation to catch Hanssen is good. All the performances are top notch. Cooper potrayed Hanssen very well. Not much real action happens during the movie. The suspense is whether spy Hanssen will figure out the sting before they can catch him in the act.

The movie does not give easy answers to the motivation of Hanssen, which is very good. The man has complexes on top of his complexes. O'Neill's motivations are complex as well. He wants to protect his wife, serve his country, but he has some respect for Hanssen as well. Hanssen has many dark sides, but his wife and his grand kids love him. Hanssen is honestly concerned about O'Neill career and marriage.

I have one small problem. They keep talking about all the technology they are using to catch Hanssen and really, they did not use it to catch him. However, they don't show any whiz bang stuff in the movie. I mean one episode of CSI has more technology exhibited. This is a very small point. Somebody mentions Hanssen mumbles a lot, which thwarts their use of all their monitoring equipment set up in the office.

The movie is thoughtful look into the world of spies. It is very reminscent of the "The Falcon and the Snowman." and is on that level.

Very Well Made.......2007-07-03

While this may not have the glamour of a Bond-esque spy adventure, this will certainly be regarded as an important and possibly classic spy movie. While I wont go into detail about the story line, which is easily found on the back of the cover, I will say it was paced perfectly and didnt drag on with filler and useless B.S. It is true that you kind of know what happens even before you put in the DVD, however the fun with this movie is watching to see how we get there. I gave this only 4 stars simply because I dont regard it as a "perfect" movie, and for the $20 price tag. I rented this for a buck at redbox and although I liked it, it wasnt enough to compell me to "have" to own it.

I appreacited the way the movie doesn't provide a pat answer about Hanssen's motivations.......2007-07-02

While all movies based on historical subjects must fictionalize events and compress timelines, it is how they do so that matters. Do they still tell the underlying truth of the story? Do they distort the substance of the story? Do they dumb it down so much that it transforms the story into something else? If it does any of these things, I tend to dislike it to the extent it does so. While this movie does make up scenes that never happened and puts actions into the hands of people that didn't do them, it still tells the truth of the story quite well for a Hollywood movie. You can read about the reality and the movie at chasingthefrog under their reelfaces link for this movie. It is quite interesting.

The movie is told through the eyes of the FBI operative who was put close to Hanssen and who was very important during the last two months of the investigation that finally caught him. This person is quite real and his name is Eric O'Neill and is played very well by Ryan Phillippe. The focus of the movie is the spy and traitor Robert Hanssen. The performance given here by Chris Cooper is superb and I hope it is recognized when awards are handed out. Chris Cooper is a fantastic actor whose range of characterizations in his many performances is breathtaking. Not only in the type of character, but their ages, in how they look, their intelligence, their moral make-up. He has it all and I enjoy everything I have seen him do.

Hannsen's wife, Bonnie is played very well by Kathleen Quinlan, and it is her devout faith that adds such a contradiction to Hannsen's character and motivation. It would be easy to paint Hannsen as using his religion cynically. However, while he certainly violated the tenets of his faith, it is clear that he holds his faith close, even while engaging in many seriously bad and compromised behaviors (beyond the spying). O'Neill's immediate superior and FBI handler Kate Burroughs and played very well by Laura Linney. She is tough enough to use O'Neill unsympathetically and yet has enough sense to know when she is pushing too hard and when to take a different tact with her inside guy.

I enjoyed this movie very much. It is smart and doesn't cheat by giving us a simple answer to the puzzle. Just as in real life, we do not know Hanssen's true motivations. Even Hanssen may not understand them. We do know he cost real people their lives and compromised the United States in profound ways. He is justly spending 23 hours per day in solitary confinement.

To Catch a Spy.......2007-07-01

Powerful performances by Cooper and Phillippe bring this rather intense film to life. Based on a true story, it offers a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes operation to catch one of the most dangerous spies in recent history.

When Eric O'Neill (Phillippe) is assigned the job of spying on his new boss Robert Hanssen (Cooper), he at first believes that he is digging up the dirt on the man's deviant tendencies, but eventually learns that Hanssen is in fact a spy for the Soviet Union, and later Russia for the last fifteen years.

Cooper is extremely believable as the devout Catholic FBI double agent who is transferred to headquarters on the pretext that he is heading a department to ensure the confidentiality of classified information. O'Neill and Hanssen eventually develop a mutual respect, but when the latter gets up close and personal with O'Neill's personal life, O'Neill finds himself taking the heat both at home and at the office.

Recommended for fans of espionage movies and thrillers, but may be a little slow for action/adventure buffs.

Here's a summary to the tune of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by The Beatles

Picture O'Neill as a mole on a mission
With off the rack suits and nondescript ties
FBI calls him, he answers quite slowly
His role's to go ferret out spies

Surveillance cameras always on the scene
Panning right over his head
Look to the boss for the secrets he hides
But there's none

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Follow him down to a church with a steeple
Where Hanssen communes with deities high
Everyone smiles as he meets with the family
There's no way this guy is a spy

Agent Kate Burroughs appears at the door
Takes him and shows him the way
Goes in the room with his head full of clouds
Now they're gone

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Picture O'Neill with his role in the mission
With downloaded folders from palm pilot files
Suddenly Hanssen suspects that it's over
Gets ready to say his goodbyes

Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia
Hanssen is a spy for Russia

Amanda Richards, July 1, 2007

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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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)

Beyond Casino Royale on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Why We Love Daniel Craig

The Amazon.com James Bond Store
Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?
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.

Average customer rating:

Superb Film
Becket
Becket
A classic
Becket

Becket
Starring: Richard Burton , Peter O'Toole , John Gielgud , Donald Wolfit , and Martita Hunt
Director: Peter Glenville
Manufacturer: MPI Home Video
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Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00007G1WH
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Amazon.com essential video

Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman

On the DVD

The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ("The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it."), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ("We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.") and professional ("he had an astonishing presence on the stage"). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.

Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ("He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows. But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant."). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics. --David Horiuchi

Beyond Becket

Other Peter O'Toole Films
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Stills from Becket (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

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

With all the junk movies in the theaters and out on the store shelves, I am relieved & happy to see such a classic film re-released on DVD. This is a superb film by any standard! Watching Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole perform together -- two of the greatest actors who ever lived -- is a magnificent experience. It reminds you of how numbed out we have become by bad acting and bad writing. Do yourself a tremendous favor and buy it.

Becket .......2007-07-02

I loved this movie. Why we have had to wait so long for the DVD release, is the real question I would like answered. This is one of the great films of all time and perhaps because it came out the same year as My Fair Lady, in which it lost most of the awards it was nominated for, it may have been forgotten. I think MPI deserves a lot of credit for finally putting this out. I only wonder why Paramount didn't do this a long time ago.

Becket.......2007-06-29

Becket is a powerful movie. Great content, educational and with excellent play by two great actors.

A classic.......2007-06-28

I have waited a long time for this movie to come out on DVD. I'm so glad I now have both of Peter O'Toole's portrayals of Henry II. He looks so young here! He and Richard Burton work so well together. It's wonderful sometimes to watch a movie with no special effects that relies on story and acting alone.

Becket.......2007-06-27

There is no substitute for great casting, script and polished direction and acting. This is a golden oldie, worth revisiting time and again.

Average customer rating:

Schoolboys In Disgrace
IF only I could decide...
Just one of the Greatest Unknown Films of the 20th Century
Don't forget the music!
Much anticipated!

If... (Criterion Collection)
Starring: Malcolm McDowell , David Wood , Richard Warwick , Christine Noonan , and Rupert Webster
Director: Lindsay Anderson , and Guy Brenton
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: B000OPPAEW
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Description

Lindsay Anderson's If.… is a daringly anarchic vision of British society, set in a boarding school in late-sixties England. Before Kubrick made his mischief iconic in A Clockwork Orange, Malcolm McDowell made a hell of an impression as the insouciant Mick Travis, who, along with his school chums, trumps authority at every turn, finally emerging as violent savior against the draconian games of one-upmanship played by both students and the powers that be. Mixing color and black and white as audaciously as it mixes fantasy and reality, If…. remains one of cinema's most unforgettable rebel yells.

Customer Reviews:

Schoolboys In Disgrace.......2007-06-27

The exclusive private school portrayed in "If.." serves as a scathing metaphor of class and privilege in the United Kingdom. What makes the statement that director Lindsay Anderson is trying to convey more stinging is that he treats his subject matter as dark comedy. What I also found interesting is that Anderson doesn't direct most of his criticism at the school administrators, whose crimes are allowing such a stifling atmosphere to perpetuate. Rather, the worst criticism is directed at the Whips, the sniveling fascist students who are given free reign to terrorize and subjugate their fellow students to the worst kind of torment. It's easy to criticize authority but our worst enemies are our peers who will later become the leaders of our world because that's the way it is. The film is anchored by a mesmerizing performance by Malcolm McDowell who portrays rebel iconoclast Mick Travis. Travis belongs in this stifling environment as much as he needs a hole in the head. Travis serves as everyman and reacts to the inanity around him with a knowing smirk. In one memorably hilarious exchange with a Whip Travis accuses him of serving Coca-Cola to the underclassmen while expecting them to lick his fingers for the rest of their lives. What gives this scene more power is that Travis says it knowing it will subject him to a more severe beating. If you could best describe "If..." I would say it's a dark comedy with dramatic and surreal elements. It would serve as a good double bill with another indictment of English classism, Peter Medak's "The Ruling Class". On a final note will somebody, Criterion or Warner Brothers, release "O Lucky Man" on disc.

IF only I could decide..........2007-06-21

In high school in the middle 1970s we never could get to see this movie but we all owned a copy of the screenplay. Finally I saw the film at a university showing in 1978 or 1979. I hadn't seen it since. From the reviews since 2000 it appears some people in the US had it on VHS or DVD but I don't know how that was possible. I never could find it. I assumed it was being surpressed out of political fear. Anyway, all these years later, I'm still not sure I like how the movie slips the bounds of reality to the point where you're not sure this isn't supposed to be just a fantasy (the vicar in the drawer, the main characters not speaking the last 15 minutes of the movie, the charage across the clean quad that in the previous shot was battle strewn). This shift to fantasy is jarring because up to the last half hour of the movie it is as brutally naturalistic as This Sporting Life (except for the fantasy sex sequence - clearly meant to be fantasy - in the cafe). Am I wrong to find this shift to fantasy an artistic capitulation? Am I the only one who thought the lads burning the stuffed crocodile meant this was all to be seen as something like the collages with pictures from Africa? Nevertheless, I know I'll be watching this DVD many times.

Just one of the Greatest Unknown Films of the 20th Century.......2007-06-18

I first saw "If..." during its original release in the late 1960s in a theater in Pittsburgh. I saw it several times then ...which was not the easiest thing to do as a grad student. Maybe it had something to do with having attended a New England prep school and my brother about to start one.

I have owned a copy on VHS, I own a book with the script and commentary by Lindsay Anderson, and I am ordering a copy of this DVD.

Most reviewers talk about the theme of rebellion due to repressive conditions and such. The concern ... I want to say fear ... that it will trigger more school tragedies is misplaced. What Lindsay Anderson has done is help us explore the challenges that are faced by young men coming of age so that as a society we can learn how to respond to those challenges. Why today do schools still tolerate bullies?

When I saw the movie "Animal House" a few years later, my immediate reaction was that it was an Americanized version of "If..." but with more humor. I am amazed that no other reviewer has spoken of the parallels. I have never read that Landis or the writers of Animal House were even aware of the film. Maybe that speaks to the timeless theme of the film.

This may not be an easy movie for many to watch, but the Missa Lubba soundtrack is unforgetable and continually brings you back into the film.

Enjoy.

Don't forget the music!.......2007-06-10

I have waited years for IF to be released on DVD - I trust that the amazing MISSA LUBA that was used as the sound-track will also get a new release.

Much anticipated!.......2007-04-24

I've been waiting for a release of If... for a long long time, and it is so good to see it will be given the deluxe treatment with Criterion. Lindsay Anderson created a landmark film which captured the talents of a young Malcolm McDowell at his best. You get the feeling that Wes Anderson took his cue from this film when he made Rushmore, but what sets If... apart is the surrealism that creeps into the movie and eventually takes it over, resulting in its wildly hallucinogenic climax. All the extras will make this anxiously awaited DVD a real treat, as hopefully we will be able to get a peek into the mind that created this film. The addition of Thursday's Children certainly makes this deluxe package worthwhile.

Average customer rating:

Worth viewing once.
Happy Feet
Happy all over
Crappy Feet
Creative and Thoroughly Well Done

Happy Feet (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Carlos Alazraqui , Lombardo Boyar , Johnny A. Sanchez , Robin Williams , and Elijah Wood
Director: George Miller (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Animals | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
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ASIN: B00005JPCF
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

For anyone who thought the Oscar-winning documentary March of the Penguins was the most marvelous cinematic moment for these nomads of the south, you haven't seen nothing yet. Happy Feet is an animated wonder about a penguin named Mumble who can't sing, but can dance up a storm. George Miller, the driving force behind the Babe (and Mad Max) movies, takes another creative step in family entertainment with this big, beautiful, music-fueled film that will have kids and their parents dancing in the streets. From his first moment alive, Mumble (voiced Elijah Woods) feels the beat and can't stop dancing. Unfortunately, emperor penguins are all about finding their own heart song, and the dancing youngster--as cute as he is--is a misfit. Luckily, he bumps into little blue penguins and a Spanish-infused group (led by Robin Williams) and begins a series of adventures. Miller has an exceptional variety of entertainment: Busby Berkley musical numbers, amusement-park thrills, exciting chase sequences (seals and orca lovers might like think otherwise), and even an environmental message that doesn't weigh you down. Best of all, you don't know where the movie is going in the last act, a rare occurrence these days in family entertainment. A fusion of rock songs, mashed-up and otherwise, are featured; this movie is as much a musical as a comedy. Mumble's solo dance to a new version of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" by Fantasia, Patti, and Yolanda may be the most joyful moment on camera in 2006. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD
There are two new animated sequences, which aren't incorporated into the film. One's a half-minute hackysack-themed bit, but the other is a good-looking, two-minute scene featuring the late Steve Irwin as an albatross, who, with Mumble, encounters a blue whale. "Dance Like a Penguin: Stomp to the Beat" is hosted by Savion Glover, whose dancing was motion-captured for the film, but other than a couple basic tips, it's pretty much a demonstration rather than a lesson. In addition to the two music videos (Gia's "Hit Me Up" and Prince's "The Song of the Heart"), "I Love to Singa" is an appropriately matched 1936 Merrie Melodies cartoon in which a young owl ruffles feathers by wanting to sing jazz for his classical-music-loving family. --David Horiuchi

More Happy Feet

Blu-ray
Combo HD/DVD
More Penguin DVDs

Description

In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you're nobody unless you can sing - which is unfortunate for Mumble (ELIJAH WOOD), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune...tap dancing. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria (BRITTANY MURPHY), happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange "hippity- hoppity" ways. Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins - the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon (ROBIN WILLIAMS), the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble's cool dance moves and invite him to party with them. In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by ROBIN WILLIAMS), a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life's questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world.

Customer Reviews:

Worth viewing once........2007-07-05

I have to say, after reading previous reviews, the quality, or lack thereof, of this movie, I was not really surprised when I finally watched this movie. It was a less than subtle attempt to present an environmental message, disguised as a children's movie. While some of the music was enjoyable, the actual plot was not well developed, and seemed to utilize excessive and blatant stereotyping of religious conservatives. The characters did not prove all that endearing, and the environmental message grew to an extreme at the end, rather than presenting a more realistic solution to the problem at hand, which was also overdone in its presentation. This is supposed to be entertainment directed at children, I believe, and in that, it only partially succeeds. It was a good idea, in a general sense, but the specifics were poorly handled, and came across as an alternatively weak and heavy-handed attempt to present a political message in what should have been a cute children's movie.

That said, I would definitely recommend this movie be viewed once, as it works better when watched for what it comes off as, rather than for what it is. It works much better if viewed as a comedy, somewhat in the vein of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail;" specifically a comedy that mixes the painfully inept with the corny to create a movie so pathetic it is funny. With that in mind, and a readiness to ignore the heavy-handed message, this movie can be quite enjoyable, once.

Happy Feet.......2007-07-04

Happy Feet (Widescreen Edition)
very enjoyable and would be a great movie to have for a whole family.

Happy all over.......2007-07-04

Our granchildren love to watch this DVD as often as they can. Thank you Amazondotcom for continuing to offer great deals on children-friendly movies!

Crappy Feet.......2007-07-03

I'll try not to say much, because I don't want to waste much time on this terrible film. First, let me say that this is the worst movie I've ever seen from start to finish. Usually if a movie is this bad I simply get up and walk out. I saw this at the theater with my 4 year old son, and he even asked if we could leave halfway through the film (and he loves movies)... for some stupid reason, I insisted we stay (probably the $15 bucks I'd spent)

The problem? Weak character development and a terrible story line. The characters are simply forgettable and the story is regretable. The environmental agenda while commendable, comes across as pathetic (this is a kid's movie, right???)
I've read in other reviews that the animation is good, even amazing - but that's not really true. It's average if you compare it to today's standards. If this movie had been released ten years ago, yes - the animation would have been amazing - but at this point it's completely average.

So - the only reason I am wasting more time on this film is to beg those of you who have not seen it - please take my advise and skip it! It's not worth the time it'd take you to watch it - really, it's that bad!!!
(if I had the option, I'd give it no stars)

Creative and Thoroughly Well Done.......2007-06-30

Memphis sings, dances and speaks like Elvis.

Norma Jean comes complete with a well-placed mole and Marilyn Monroe's accent.

Mumble's wide-eyed, upbeat nature can't be beat.

Robin Williams' Lovelace is warm and smooth.

And of course there is Savion Glover's happy footwork!

I loved this movie and continue to watch it over and over again, when I need something sweet and uplifting without the calories.

Average customer rating:

Blu-Ray Heaven
Best Bond I've Seen
Good movie, if your not a bond fan
Best Bond Flick!? Definitely best Bond in Audio-Video!
Casino Royale sets a new standard for modern Bond films

Casino Royale [Blu-ray]
Starring: Daniel Craig , Jesper Christensen , Isaach de Bankolé , Judi Dench , and Jeffrey Wright
Director: Martin Campbell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

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The Departed [Blu-ray]
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The Prestige

ASIN: B000MRA5NS
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

Stills from Casino Royale (click for larger image)

Beyond Casino Royale on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Why We Love Daniel Craig

The Amazon.com James Bond Store
Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?
Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale Book

Product Description

Casino Royale introduces James BOond 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:

Blu-Ray Heaven.......2007-06-30

I must sympathize with the makers of this movie as it must be one of the hardest BD titles to sell. Don't get me wrong it is reference quality in video and audio but with Sony's marketing ploy of giving this title away with every sale of a PS3, really the market has been saturated with freebies. I know a lot of people have received 2 or even 3 free copies of this BD movie and they are themselves giving their free copies away on forums.

Best Bond I've Seen.......2007-06-23

I've seen it about 5 times now (2 in theaters, 3 at home) and I still get into it. The quality of this film on Blu-ray is spectacular and I'm continually impressed. I'd suggest that everyone watch it at least once, even if you're not a fan of the 007 series

Good movie, if your not a bond fan.......2007-06-14

I was very dissapointed when I saw this movie. Not because it is a bad movie it is actually a really well made movie, but because it isn't a good James Bond movie. It doesn't contain the witty dialect and sexual tension that we have come to expect and love from 007. And Craig, although attractive, doesn't posses the Bond charm or larger than life quality. So if your looking for a good shoot em' up movie this is a great movie for you, if you want "Bond, James Bond" go for the classics.

Best Bond Flick!? Definitely best Bond in Audio-Video!.......2007-06-03

I don't know why but Bond films always are very entertaining to me, even several times around. The storyline here is great, following the original by Ian Fleming story well (unlike the funny spoof from a long time ago that is also well worth watching). And Daniel Craig is a near-perfect 007 for this "first Bond film" (could perhaps be "elevated"). Eva Green is luscious and the rest of the cast (miss "Q"!) is superb...interesting to see Giancarlo Giannini (see Lina Wertmuller films)! Even if you don't like Bond films in general and feel like some action or a storyline with twists, this is simply a classic to watch. The audio and video quality is excellent as well, showing off Blu-ray HD...if your audio system actually goes down to the bottom in sub-bass (e.g., see Buttkicker), you'll also get extra enjoyment. BUY IT!

Casino Royale sets a new standard for modern Bond films.......2007-05-26

Casino Royale raises the bar for modern Bond films. I must admit, I was a bit disturbed upon hearing Daniel Craig would play the role of Bond. He was blonde (we had never had a blonde bond before) and didn't really seem to fit the part based on previous works of his that I had seen. Now after seeing the film, I can safely say he was a great choice and my fears were not necessary. The film is full of great characters, exotic locations, and everything else that makes a true 007 film.
Buying this film on Blu-ray should be a no-brainer considering you have a Blu-ray player. Myself, I have a Playstation 3 console which according to reviews on the internet and in magazines is the best Blu-ray player on the market. It played Casino Royale beautifully on my HDTV in 720p and 1080i. The scenes are full of detail, I even paused the movie on a scene that had a large crowd. You could make out all of the faces and every detail about them. You can't see that kind of detail on DVD! Bond fans must buy this!

Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show

Average customer rating:

Talk About An Overlooked Series!
Almost the best.
Below average production quality and not as funny as I remember
you may be satisified, but i am not
unbelievable extras; great dvd

Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show
Starring: Garry Shandling , Jeffrey Tambor , Rip Torn , Wallace Langham , and Mary Lynn Rajskub
Director: Todd Holland , and John Riggi
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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The Larry Sanders Show - The Complete First Season
Extras - The Complete First Season
Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Widescreen Edition)
Seinfeld - Season 8
Children of Men (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000MTFDB0
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

Garry Shandling wraps up the run of his groundbreaking HBO comedy series in definitive yet nostalgic fashion in this boxed set, wryly titled Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show. Now there's truth in advertising. Along with 23 of what Shandling felt were the best episodes of the show's run (89 episodes from 1992-98) comes eight hours of newly produced material, including a feature-length "making of" documentary, cast and star interviews, deleted scenes, commentaries, and footage of Shandling on personal visits with stars like Alec Baldwin, Jon Stewart, and Jerry Seinfeld. The personal visits are some of the most interesting moments (a breakfast with Sharon Stone is so strained and forced it's hard not to laugh) and the new features bring so much of Garry's personal thoughts and feelings into play that maybe this set would have been better named Being Garry Shandling. But it seems only fair to get such a subjective and in-depth personal view on the series from the man who made awkward self-consciousness a comedic art form.

The Larry Sanders Show was at the forefront of changing the genre of TV comedy, and influenced the development of many shows to follow, like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, and both versions of The Office. The source of that inspiration is on full display here, as talk-show host Larry Sanders (Shandling) along with his producer Artie (Rip Torn) and his "poor deluded bastard" sidekick Hank (Jeffrey Tambor), struggles to keep his late-night talk show on the air despite dropping ratings, absurd notes from the network, and a hilarious tendency to self-sabotage his personal life. His guest stars, including some of the biggest names in show business, seem to enjoy lampooning their images and provide some of the sharpest comic moments. It's great stuff, and it's too bad all six seasons are not scheduled to be released on DVD. Shandling reportedly went this route with the release, rather than continuing with complete seasons, because of a desire to wrap it all up at once after a long legal battle with producer Brad Grey. While many fans might bemoan the fact that there will be no complete-season sets of The Larry Sanders Show released after this, there are episodes from all six seasons here to enjoy, including the first and the double-part finale. With a gem like this, it's better to savor what's available than to lament what might have been. --Daniel Vancini

Product Description

Undeniably the hippest show to air on cable in the 1990s, The Larry Sanders Show takes you backstage at a fictional late night talk show with real-life guests from movies, music and television. The Larry Sanders Show was ahead of its time, becoming an immediate critical and audience hit for its satirical, tongue-in-cheek look at Hollywood. The series that combined documentary-like camerawork with a clever blend of fact and fiction set the standard of quality for HBO and influenced the development of shows like Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Office.

Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show features more than 8 hours of newly-produced material including Garry Shandling in personal and intimate visits with friends like Alec Baldwin, Tom Petty, Sharon Stone, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jon Stewart and including the compellingly entertaining, feature-length documentary, "The Making of The Larry Sanders Show."

Customer Reviews:

Talk About An Overlooked Series!.......2007-07-02

I'm what you might call a Seinfeld-fanatic. I pretty much have thought of it as the pinnacle of TV comedy for years now and Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm came in a close second for the longest time.

But you know what? That was before I watched The Larry Sanders Show. I never even knew of its existence up until a couple months ago and Garry Shandling was just some weird looking unknown comedian in my mind. Imagine my surprise when I learn that not only is Shandling very funny, but that Rip Torn and Jeffery Tambor are in the show as well...AND even funnier! By the end of this boxset I was eagerly looking forward to picking up Season 1 of the show. I was even thinking this show MIGHT be better (overall) than Seinfeld.

Don't get me wrong though, it's not like this way of thinking happened instantly. In fact, at first glance, the show is kinda underwhelming. None of the characters are zany and goofy (even Hank Kingsley isn't a goofball idiot all the time) and it really isn't like any other comedy you've seen. It even does a better job of one-camera use than Arrested Development (a show that relies heavily on narration to create humor) and once you start to focus on the nuances of the show, you'll see that this was not some cheesy Friends or Will & Grace show that was thrown together two minutes before filming.

The characters are great, the acting is dead-on, the jokes are hilarious and even though the show has a "Dramady" feel to it because of the off-screen documentary style of filming, you never get sappy "Full House" or "Friends" moments. This is a comedy series through and through and is one of the very best shows I have ever seen...and I've seen a lot.

Almost the best........2007-06-27

Having seen the original series on HBO and not having seen it again until now, the show itself still gets 5 stars. Among a cast of great actors, Rip Torn is still our favorite. We also enjoyed the behind the scenes commentary from various actors on the show (some are better than others). I docked a star because the extra current interviews Gary does with actors that were once guests on the show are interesting but a little tedious. You gotta be a die hard fan to get through them, we are and did. If you're not a big Shandling fan you might just want a DVD of the shows themselves.

Below average production quality and not as funny as I remember.......2007-06-21

I recalled the laughs I got from the Larry Sanders Show when it originally aired and looked forward to this DVD. As mentioned in other reviews, the picture quality is unexplainably poor, but it doesn't detract too much from the viewing experience. However, I found quite a few of the shows to be not nearly as funny as I recall; in fact some episodes are real duds. The selected episodes in my opinion don't reflect the best the show had to offer. Some of the special features are interesting, such as the breakfast with Sharon Stone. But, by and large, this DVD is a bit disappointing.

you may be satisified, but i am not.......2007-06-21

it is because we are such huge fans that we are so disappointed. you don't have to explain how well the show has aged - most people posting these messages own the first season and have been waiting for the rest of the episodes for several years. i see zero benefit in some "lovingly-prepared best-of" - save the fluff and nonsense and give me the complete set of episodes. i agree with other fans here who say save your money and send them a message. in a day when the worst series of all time get complete releases, to not have a complete larry sanders is a sad joke. i will be waiting for a complete release - period.

unbelievable extras; great dvd.......2007-06-12

Some people gave this dvd a bad review, but only because they're mad that the entire seasons aren't being released. I'm upset too-- but as far as rating this dvd individually goes, it's awesome. Garry shows sides of himself in the extras that he never shows publicly. Of course, all the episodes are incredible because this is one of the best shows ever.

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Shawshank brilliance
The Shawshank Redemption
Great Movie
Hope
Great move

The Shawshank Redemption (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Tim Robbins , Morgan Freeman , Bob Gunton , William Sadler , and Clancy Brown
Director: Frank Darabont , and Andrew Abbott
Manufacturer: Castle Rock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002J4ZWS
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com essential video

When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, some critics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker--a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Shawshank brilliance.......2007-07-04

If you've not seen this movie, you're long overdue. It's a wonderful movie with moving performances by terrific actors. There are lots of good extras on this Special Edition.

The Shawshank Redemption.......2007-06-08

Order was received sooner than expected ... in excellent condition. Was very pleased.

Great Movie.......2007-05-28

I bought this movie because I read the book Differnt Seasons (by Stephen King) that has this story in it. The book was great and so was the movie. The plot is the same but the story is a little differnt in the movie. This is one of the few movies as good as the book. My only complaint is that the movie would mot play on Windows Media Player on my computer, instead I had to install InterActual Player. I personaly did not see the point of that.

Hope.......2007-05-23

As Tim Robbins' character writes in this movie "Hope is a good thing...", and this movie gives us hope that intelligent movies might still be made in Hollywood.

Great move.......2007-05-16

Hd to get it in DVD I had vcr put there out dated. This is one move we can watch over and over thank you

Average customer rating:

Rocketman
Hilarious!
A MUST HAVE!!!!!
Rocketman
Rocketman!!!!

Rocketman
Starring: Beau Bridges , Blake Boyd , Jeffrey DeMunn , Jessica Lundy , and Peter Onorati
Director: Stuart Gillard
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CEPE5A
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Product Description

Blast off for outrageously funny space travel in this screwball comedy that spins wildly out of control all the way to Mars! Though he's a whiz with computers, accident-prone astro-nut Fred Randall (comedian Harland Williams - "Dumb And Dumber") is the last guy on Earth you'd want on the first manned mission to Mars. But as bad luck and poor timing would have it, that's exactly what happens and Fred undergoes rigorous, if not hilarious, training at NASA. After that, it's t-minus a reality check as Fred blasts off with the rest of the space shuttle crew: a cocky, non-nonsense Commander, a sexy Mission Specialist and a mischievous space chimp named Ulysses. From the dizzying preflight foolishness to the even loonier landing, Rocketman is the out-of-this-world hit comedy that's more than go for launch, it's go for laughs!

Customer Reviews:

Rocketman.......2007-06-08

This movie is just a funny movie. You wont grow as a person. It doesn't solve any world problem. It doesn't have a social agenda. This is just a movie you will enjoy.
One criticism is that the movie does not have any chapter selection.
You cant jump to a favorite part or start later in the movie.
That is my only complaint.

Hilarious!.......2007-06-08

My family and I are not avid movie watchers, but when we first saw this movie we absolutely could not stop laughing. We rented it before buying it, and had a seven day rental - during which time we watched the movie 10 times! There is something to be said when a family that does not watch movies much, watches a single movie that many times in that brief of a time period. Watch this movie once, and you will only want to see it again and again!

A MUST HAVE!!!!!.......2007-06-07

Rocketman is one of the funniest movies you will see. Harland Williams is just great here. He is a great comedic actor and it shows. This is a must have in your dvd collection and I thank Disney for finally putting it in this format.

Rocketman.......2007-06-01

The only bummer is that there is no skip function on the disc but it was a funny movie!

Rocketman!!!!.......2007-05-28

I got the DVD like a week or two after I ordered it! It got to me so fast!
I absolutely love this movie...it's HILARIOUS!!!!

Average customer rating:

You've got OSCARS!!!
Very Good Date Movie
Again and Again!!!
Tom and Meg...
You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail
Starring: Tom Hanks , Meg Ryan , Greg Kinnear , Parker Posey , and Jean Stapleton
Director: Nora Ephron
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition)
While You Were Sleeping
French Kiss
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Sabrina

ASIN: 6305368171
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Amazon.com essential video

By now, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have amassed such a fund of goodwill with moviegoers that any new onscreen pairing brings nearly reflexive smiles. In You've Got Mail, the quintessential boy and girl next door repeat the tentative romantic crescendo that made Sleepless in Seattle, writer-director Nora Ephron's previous excursion with the duo, a massive hit. The prospective couple do actually meet face to face early on, but Mail otherwise repeats the earlier feature's gentle, extended tease of saving its romantic resolution until the final, gauzy shot.

The underlying narrative is an even more old-fashioned romantic pas de deux that is casually hooked to a newfangled device. The script, cowritten by the director and her sister, Delia Ephron, updates and relocates the Ernst Lubitsch classic, The Shop Around the Corner, to contemporary Manhattan, where Joe Fox (Hanks) is a cheerfully rapacious merchant whose chain of book superstores is gobbling up smaller, more specialized shops such as the children's bookstore owned by Kathleen Kelly (Ryan). Their lives run in close parallel in the same idealized neighborhood, yet they first meet anonymously, online, where they gradually nurture a warm, even intimate correspondence. As they begin to wonder whether this e-mail flirtation might lead them to be soul mates, however, they meet and clash over their colliding business fortunes.

It's no small testament to the two stars that we wind up liking and caring about them despite the inevitable (and highly manipulative) arc of the plot. Although their chemistry transcended the consciously improbable romantic premise of Sleepless, enabling director Ephron to attain a kind of amorous soufflé, this time around there's a slow leak that considerably deflates the affair. Less credulous viewers will challenge Joe's logic in prolonging the concealment of his online identity from Kathleen, and may shake their heads at Ephron's reinvention of Manhattan as a spotless, sun-dappled wonderland where everybody lives in million-dollar apartments and color coordinates their wardrobes for cocktail parties. --Sam Sutherland

Description

Neigborhood bookstore rivals unwittingly become e-mail pen pals in this charming remake of The Shop Around the Corner

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary with N. Ephron & L. Shuler-Donner
DVD ROM Features:N. Ephron Audio Bytes "Sounds of NY" (10:07) Interview Gallery - Individual Clips (12:00) Comparison Scenes (38:00)
Featurette:HBO First Look Special: "A Conversation with Nora Ephron" (14:39)
Other:DIscover NY's Upper West Side" - 11 Selectable Clips (15:00)

Customer Reviews:

You've got OSCARS!!!.......2007-07-03

I absolutely know why the academy went nuts over this one. It definitely graduated magnum cum laude in my opinion!!!

The chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan is out of this world! Sleepless in Seattle was good, Running in Circles was great, and You've Got Mail was phenomenal!!!

I loved that one part when Tom Hanks sells the dictionary to that one guy!!! It was so funny. I heard that most of this movie was unscripted... just a testament to these actors' abilities to light up the Silver Screen.

Before I write more about this movie, I think it would be a good idea JUST TO THANK these wonderful actors for their contribution. I heard that AOL didn't even exist until after this movie was made!! Talk about defining popular culture, huh?

So back to the movie. Greg Kinnear is in it.

RENT IT.

Very Good Date Movie.......2007-07-03

Very Good movie based on the start of the cyberdating era. Good storyline, very believable. It is cute, it is entertaining, it's a little funny! You root for the success of the romance!

Again and Again!!!.......2007-06-27

I LOVE IT! It could be called a chick flick but even a guy would be able to find something to love. It leaves Shop Around the Corner (the orginal You Got Mail) in its dust. I orginally had you got mail on VHS but I watched it so much the picture was starting to look pretty bad. But I didn't mind having to buy it again. Hanks and Ryan work perfectly together! And the music isn't that bad either. It's most definitely one of the best romantic comedies EVER! And anyone that says differently should feel shame.

Tom and Meg..........2007-06-16

...is there a better pairing? Lovely film! Be sure to watch it again with Nora's commentary.

You've Got Mail..

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