National Security

Starring:Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Colm Feore, Bill Duke, Eric Roberts, Timothy Busfield, Robinne Lee, Matt McCoy, Brett Cullen, Cleo King, Gerry Del Sol, Ken Lerner, Mari Morrow, Stephen Tobolowsky, Joe Flaherty, Keith Cooke, Mike Brady (II), Troy Gilbert, Anthony G. Schmidt, Joe Bucaro III
Director: Dennis Dugan
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Fay Grim is Hal Hartley's version of the espionage thriller. Consequently, it's more peculiar than pulse-pounding, but that's what makes his films appealing--to those who appreciate their off-kilter rhythms, that is. In Hartley's world, dialogue is often delivered with a straight face, no matter how funny the line or farcical the situation. In Fay Grim, he picks up seven years after Henry Fool left off, but this time the writer/director shifts focus from novelist Henry (Thomas Jay Ryan) to his seemingly scattered wife, Fay (Parker Posey). Their son, Ned (Liam Aiken), is now in his teens, but Henry remains at large, and Fay's "garbage man poet" brother, Simon (James Urbaniak), remains in prison for aiding in his escape. Then two CIA operatives, Fulbright (Jeff Goldblum) and Fogg (Leo Fitzpatrick), inform her that Henry is dead, so Fay agrees to track down his complete set of diaries in exchange for Simon's freedom. Apparently, Henry's incoherent ramblings contain state secrets. Joining forces with stewardess Bebe (Elina Löwensohn), Fay travels from Queens to Paris to Istanbul to fulfill her mission. In the end, Fay Grim resembles Hartley's noir parody Amateur, which featured Löwensohn, more than Henry Fool. It has less to say about talent and celebrity and more about mystery and intrigue. For the filmmaker, it also represents an opportunity to reunite a strong ensemble and to recover, at least for the time being, from a string of disappointments, like No Such Thing and The Girl From Monday. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Very quirky - great fun.......2007-07-01

I loved this movie. I can still not claim to have fully understood the conspiracies and counter-conspiracies, smokescreens etc, but I think that is the whole point.
I recommend this very much!

Parker Rocks!!!.......2007-06-28

Everyone in this film did an awesome job acting the silly yet saavy roles. Great film and had a wild pace and lots of action and Hilarious facial expressions by Posey. Loved it:)

a sequel even better than the first.......2007-06-27

a gorgeous sequel to "henry fool", twists upon twists to the point of non-sense, and yet fully believable (in a "suspension of disbelief" kind of way :), another masterpiece by hal hartley. note: the most important actor in this film is parker posey, not jeff goldblum

Fay Grim and others.......2007-06-27

I ordered this in a batch of 9 items through Amazon. Amazon used and gave out the wrong shipping address for all of the items, although I gave my correct address when I placed the order. I have received nothing that I ordered. A couple of people have issued refunds, but most of them are just arguing with me. I have basically signed up for arguments with 9 separate vendors, all of whom blame me for this incident. I will never place an order through this site again.

Poorly Thought-Out Sequel That Damages Henry Fool.......2007-06-13

I absolutely loved HENRY FOOL, but I wish this film had never been made.

HENRY FOOL, taken on its own, tells the story of a lying, unscrupulous, but literate vagabond (Henry) who challenges the boundaries of friendship, loyalty, love, and redemption.

In its final scene, we see Henry desperately running toward the camera, but we are left not knowing whether he is fleeing responsibility or running back to his family to face his uncertain fate. A beautiful story, amazingly told.

However, FAY GRIM turns that story on its head.

We learn that Henry was not just a lying vagabond, but some kind of secret agent involved in countless international intrigues. Having fled to Europe, he is being sought by the CIA, the French secret service, and God knows who else because his collection of "Confessions" contains a secret code that reveals American military secrets or something.

The problem with this plot is that it does not align with HENRY FOOL.

Here's why: In HENRY FOOL, Henry is profoundly confident in his work of "Confessions" as profound literature.

He asks Simon to judge the work as literature, and is completely crushed when Simon deems the work unworthy of publication.

So instead of being a self-proclaimed genius who is actually a failure, FAY GRIM asks us to believe that Henry is an ACTUAL genius who consistently out-smarts the CIA a la James Bond or something.

But in HENRY FOOL, Henry breaks down and reveals that he wrote his "Confessions" while serving time for statutory rape. (Not exactly a James Bond-style adventure.)

So which Henry Fool is real? The charming, salacious liar or the devious secret agent from FAY GRIM?

What a mess.

Unconstitutional - The War On Our Civil Liberties

Average customer rating:

It's the end of the innocence
Wonderful job documenting frightening loss of our rights
good veiw
Unconstitutional - The War On Our Civil Liberties
Unremarkable

Unconstitutional - The War On Our Civil Liberties
Starring: Colleen Rowley , Larry Thompson (IX) , Barbara Olshansky , Aquil Abdullah , and Laura Murphy (III)
Director: Nonny de la Peña
Manufacturer: The Disinformation Company
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Noam Chomsky - Distorted Morality: America's War on Terror?
Bush Family Fortunes - The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
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Unprecedented - The 2000 Presidential Election - 2004 Campaign Edition

ASIN: B000621NRQ
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Amazon.com

Completing a trilogy that should be required viewing for all Americans, Unconstitutional explicitly reveals how the USA Patriot Act violates numerous civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Following the equally persuasive documentaries Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election and Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War, this film presents powerful and tragic examples of how the USA Patriot Act--passed with virtually no Congressional debate just 45 days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01--has been used to justify the unconstitutional arrest of innocent immigrants based on Arab stereotyping; the illegal detention of vaguely defined "suspects" and their improper treatment (including beatings and torture) during extended confinement; prisoner abuse of alleged terrorism suspects in Guantanamo Bay military prison; the allowance of improper search and seizure without due cause; prohibited travel based on racial profiling; bully tactics employed with impunity by local police in efforts to undermine free speech; and other clear indications of the Patriot Act's unconstitutional enforcement. The more personal these stories of violation are, the more gut-wrenching is the realization that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft--and by extension, the George W. Bush administration--have used the Patriot Act to justify what is essentially a dictatorial police state.

Sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union and full of bipartisan testimony by lawyers, politicians, and victims of Patriot Act abuse, Unconstitutional makes an eloquent case for the careful interpretation of Constitutional law, exploring rising opposition to Patriot Act abuses while exposing how many of our freedoms have been undermined in the name of post-9/11 security. Regardless of your political affiliation, this is a chilling reminder of how seemingly good intentions can corrupt even our most cherished American values. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties is the new, hour-long documentary from Robert Greenwald - one of the most prolific and progressive producers in Hollywood - in conjunction with the ACLU. This new film, written, directed and produced by Nonny de la Peña, details the shocking way that the civil liberties of American citizens and immigrants alike have been infringed upon, curtailed and rolled back since 9/11 and the USA Patriot Act.

Autumn of 2001 brought us assaults against Americans' comfort zone on many fronts. We learned that we could fall victim to attacks on US soil, and we learned that those guarantees provided to us in the Constitution were equally vulnerable.

Unconstitutional is the third in a series of Public Interest Pictures films that follows Unprecedented: The 2000 Election and Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War. True to their legacy, Unconstitutional provides the facts and stories that illuminate administration lies, wrongheaded policies and the real victims of these actions - the American people.

Here, you'll get the real story behind the USA PATRIOT Act and other administration policies and the gut wrenching stories behind those affected - from law abiding sales clerks to United States Olympians unable to travel. It'll remind you of what America used to stand for and what it seems we're falling for now. In short, this film will affirm why you're angry and give you a tool to help others join your ranks.

Customer Reviews:

It's the end of the innocence.......2007-05-11

As with all documentaries I've seen by Robert Greenwald, he enlists experts to give credible testimony to support the information in his programs. In `Unconstitutional' you are able to hear from experts on legal analysis and constitutional law along with counter-terrorism specialists to confirm the disturbing information about our disappearing rights and civil liberties.

Just over a month after the cowardly attacks of September 11, 2001, American citizens were presented with the `Patriot Act' which was, in essence, protections for citizens against terrorism and tools for the war on terror. If it was such a good plan, why did the Bush administration present it to Congress and tell them not to hold hearings on its contents which would then avoid any public input whatsoever? To add insult to injury, this legislative bill was presented to Congress before anyone had a chance to review its contents but it still passed with overwhelming support. It even contained provisions that Congress previously rejected before 9-11 ever happened. Using the cover of terrorism, the `Patriot Act' largely and inappropriately expanded the power of federal law enforcement which may haunt us for many years to come.

Not long after 9-11 occurred, federal law enforcement began to indiscriminately arrest and detain immigrants from Arab and Muslim countries. This sinister trend began to look suspiciously like ethnic or religious profiling not to mention targeting someone because of stereotypes. Those that were victims of the system were subjected to solitary confinement, inhumane treatment, no contact with the outside world whatsoever, and no due process of the legal system. The phrase `guilty until proven innocent' immediately springs to mind and it fits the equation. The Justice Department even coined a term for this nefarious activity. It was the `hold until clear' policy.

A solution was even found to incarcerate those detained (in the interests of the war on terror) outside of the United States. It was in the form of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This opens up a completely new level of questionable legalities due to the known information. First, those confined in this facility are not subject to legal restrictions. Secondly, everyone here is not subject to constitutional protections because they are not being held in a United States territory. Lastly, no one is subject to the Geneva Convention because they are not combatants and therefore are not considered prisoners of war. As the war on terror continues, it becomes readily apparent that the government makes the rules as they go to fit their agenda.

When it comes to your expectation of privacy as a citizen, well, that is right out the window. Without probable cause, federal law enforcement agencies can check your employment, medical, and bank records without your approval. Oh, your email traffic and internet browsing history isn't confidential either. And if that's not enough, the `Patriot Act' also allows for secret search warrants of your home and wiretaps of your phones, again without your permission. Big Brother is not only watching you now, it is smothering you and taking away the protections that the Constitution has promised you for over 200 years.

`Unconstitutional' is a very good documentary, in my opinion, and it relates a very serious message that every American citizen absolutely needs to hear. It can also be interpreted as a warning of sorts of what is to come in the future if no attempts are made to change these dangerous policies. A government for the people, by the people, and of the people should be just that and not an all-powerful administration teetering on the edge of totalitarian control. I highly recommend this documentary to everyone and I commend the producer for his courageous work.

Wonderful job documenting frightening loss of our rights.......2007-04-28

Greenwald does it again. He's produced a well-crafted film showing clearly some of the substantial losses and further threats to our civil liberties by the fiercely anti-democratic Bush administration. You see a wide range of folks who've been personally oppressed by the strong-arm, unconstitutional tactics allowed and encouraged by the Bush administration all in the name of fighting terrorism, but not having much effect on terrorism at all.
For those who can't understand how Germany became as it did before and during WWII, watch this film for how insidious the process of losing civil rights in a democracy can be. Obviously the US today is NOT as bad as Nazi Germany, but there are disturbing parallels. You see how perfectly law-abiding citizens have their civil rights increasingly denied or whittled down and how this threatens the very fabric of our fantastic democracy.
I dare anyone to see this film and not come away concerned for the future of our republic if we do not change course soon.

good veiw.......2007-01-11

Well what can i say if you like seeing your rights vanish then see this dvd you know whos hitting you from in front and behind ....lol.

Unconstitutional - The War On Our Civil Liberties .......2006-08-25

Good movie. A must watch for anti-Bush crowd. Sad direction we're headed with this guy in the lead.

Unremarkable.......2006-06-28

Unconstitutional is a movie about an extremely important topic. It's even more topical now in 2006 than when it was produced in 2004 (with some interviews done earlier than that). Unfortunately I found it overall a less powerful message than Greenwald's previous films, Unprecedented, Uncovered, etc. I think it's unlikely to win over those who support the Bush Administration's actions on its own, but it will provide some valuable tidbits of information for those who are already concerned about the loss of our civil rights.
The main problem with the movie (to me) was that the first half of it illustrates its point with examples of a lot of people toward whom Americans who support the administration's "war on terror" simply are not going to feel very sympathetic: Moslem immigrants from the Middle East, Jose Padilla, etc. It's only the second half of the movie that starts to address how this threatens the liberties of everyday, homegrown, law-abiding American citizens. Of course the revelations of what this administration has done have only increased in scope since the movie was produced. This is a movie worth watching--but don't expect to be on the edge of your seat.

Average customer rating:

Decent movie, if you are into James Bond movies on hyperdrive....
Finally - a movie that doesn't skip past violent or sex scenes...
Exciting and well written action flick
Finally...An exciting action flick
Please! It's Entertainment Not Reality!

XXX (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Leila Arcieri , Asia Argento , David Asman , Joe Bucaro III , and Marton Csokas
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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A Man Apart

ASIN: B00005JL3K
Release Date: 2002-12-31

Amazon.com

Vin Diesel is no James Bond, and he doesn't want to be. That's why XXX announced Diesel as the adrenalin-junkie Bond of the PlayStation generation, copying the Bond formula so shamelessly that this action-packed silliness would be a Bond movie if it starred Pierce Brosnan. Reuniting Diesel with his Fast and the Furious director Rob Cohen, XXX has an attitude (if not a brain) all its own, plucking Diesel's Xander Cage from his celebrity as an extreme sports renegade, recruited by a National Security Agency big shot (Samuel L. Jackson) to foil a nasty Czech villain (Marton Csokas) who's eager to depopulate Prague with remote-controlled biological weaponry. Toss in a sulky, sultry Russian agent (Asia Argento) and you've got extreme Bond-age for anyone who thinks tuxedos are passé. With a handful of eye-popping action sequences, XXX launched a movie franchise with a cool guy, another cool muscle car, and plenty of box-office sizzle. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Decent movie, if you are into James Bond movies on hyperdrive...........2007-05-06

Like the title of my review suggests, this is your classic spy/action/thriller movie that is geared toward the young non-thinking audience.

Having said that, it is still a good movie overall. Now lett's dissect the movie and see how well it does on the essential components of a good spy/action flick.

1. ACTION SCENES: Very good, sometimes bordering into the surreal, like the one in the mountaines where XXX is snowboarding just 30 feet in front of an avalanche, and nothing happens to him but all the bad guys die because they are on slower snow mobiles.

2. CHICK: Yelena (the Russian FSB Agent that is undercover on the Anarchy99 mafia group) is very convencing as a russian agent, a little thin for my taste but quite decent in her "russian accent".

3. THE BAD GUYS: Credible group of ex-Russian Special Forces turned rogue after the Chechen War. The only part that did not fit is at the end, where the leader (who looks like a grunge russian singer from the 90s) turns psycho with his plan to destroy the world's major cities with the "Silent Night" poison gas.

4. THE GUY: XXX does a all right job as the adrenaline junkie that "does not fear death". I find him a little bit too "cliche" for my taste, but I did laugh sometimes with his one liners, like the one when Yelena confesses that she has been undercover with Anarchy99 for 2 years, and he retorts, "what were you waiting for......for them to die of old age".

5. THE BOSS: Standard Samuel Jackson acting of his government agent-supervisor character.

Go ahead, watch it... , decent but not great.

Finally - a movie that doesn't skip past violent or sex scenes..........2007-04-02

I am so sick of movies that skip all the cool stuff! This movie has tons of violence, but not much blood, and LOTS of sex. There's a scene called "Tucking Xander into bed" When he comes in, there's candles everywhere and a drop dead hot prostitute is pole dancing on the bedpost of his canopy bed. Due to a combination of unfortunate and infuriating circumstances, I haven't been able to view past the part when he's walking toward her, taking off his clothes, and she's shaking her butt at him - I can guess what happens. In the next scene, Yorgi's in his room, and there're three naked prostitutes on his bed. They don't cover ANYTHING.

If you like movies that don't hide what goes on behind closed doors and veils, this version of XXX is for you. [I think it would be rated X - it's smart they didn't}

Exciting and well written action flick.......2006-11-19

I saw XXX: State of the Union before watching this, so I wasn't surprised by Xander's death. What did surprise me was how lame "The Death of Xander" sequence was. It made no sense. The way they worked around not having Vin Diesel play the role in the short was creative though.

This really could have been a modern James Bond movie. The opening sequences were exciting and Xander's character traits and growth were developed well. Although incredible, the action sequences in XXX are more credible than some in State of the Union. Sorry they killed XXX off. It would have been interesting to bring him back for a cameo in XXX-3.

I'm not sure how the Uncensored Unrated Director's Cut differed from the theatrical release, but I'd definitely recommend it to all action and secret agent movie fans.

Finally...An exciting action flick.......2006-11-17

The James Bond of the new milliniem, Xander Cage is adrenalin seeking junkie who often finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Persuaded by the US government to participate in a top secret underground mission in exchange for his freedom, Xander is off to Prague to try and foil an attempt by a rogue Russian terrorist to save the world. Sounds simple...it is! Sounds like its been done a hundred times before...it has!
But all the entertainment is in the action and stunts. While they are all unbelievable, Rob Cohen directs a highly addictive action movie that leaves everything else for dead. While Vin Diesel may not light up the screen (females will tend to disagree), most of his scenes are done by a stunt double, his performance as Xander does enough to warm the audience to him. Martin Szorkas plays a very good 'bad guy'. The ending was a bit of an anti-climax but still satisfying.

Please! It's Entertainment Not Reality!.......2006-08-14

There's only one reason to see this movie. Entertainment. It's just that simple. If you're looking for profound, this whole movie genre isn't it. If your looking for fast paced action, witty dialogue, an edgy sound track that compliments the plot... a wild, unique approach to stunts, and a totally unconventional, irreverent "secret agent"... then this movie is for you.
Vin Diesel makes a very entertaining, believable Xander Cage, but give him a break...this isn't a Shakespeare movie! It's a spy movie and does follow the genre rules, but not enough to make it like any other. Don't take it too seriously and enjoy the ride!

Average customer rating:

I liked it!!
Loved this movie! All except the very beginning first 10 mins.
below my expectations
A total waste
Another zanie pic from Martin Lawrence

National Security
Starring: Martin Lawrence , Steve Zahn , Colm Feore , Bill Duke , and Eric Roberts
Director: Dennis Dugan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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Nothing to Lose

ASIN: B00008WI9O
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

Although it's enjoyable as a brainless diversion, National Security is one of those forgettable entertainments that denies its own considerable potential. It's a police action comedy in the mold of Beverly Hills Cop, tailored to the buddy-flick formula and laced with racial tensions of the post-Rodney King era. It's set in Los Angeles, where dedicated cop Hank (Steve Zahn) does jail time for allegedly beating Earl (Martin Lawrence), whose only real assailant was an overzealous bumblebee. As fate and lazy screenwriting would have it, the two adversaries reunite as security guards, teaming up to crack a team of violent smugglers led by bleached-blonde Eric Roberts (further proof that this movie's got nothing new to offer). Routine stunts distract from the comedy's mostly untapped resource: Lawrence pointedly riffs on racial profiling, and his prolific ad-libs play well against Zahn's by-the-book straight man. If their partnership had been allowed to develop more believably, National Security might have been more than a blip on the box-office radar. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Earl (Martin Lawrence) and Hank (Steve Zahn) can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop but now they've been thrown together to bust a million dollar smuggling operation. As hare-brained as their plan may be, these unlikely partners might just solve a crime... if they don't kill each other first.

Customer Reviews:

I liked it!! .......2007-06-28

Martin Lawerence & Steve Zahn make a good team. Martin is very funny!! This film was very entertaining. The funniest parts in the movie are the "its because im black..." jokes. Great moment in the movie was when the lawerence & zahn caracters try and high-jack a ladys car, and she smacks them. Very funny movie. There were moments I was laughing out loud.

Loved this movie! All except the very beginning first 10 mins........2007-03-12

Didn't like the first 10 minutes, but the rest of the movie we liked.
Loved Martin in Police academy, hilarious! Bumble bee incident and the chasing of the semi truck.

Martin ends up woking with Earl to go after the bad guys, but what do you know. The police get in the way of the pursuit. What a surprise.....NOT. Police are never in the right place at the right time, the movies are no different. Crooked cops do exist, not just in the movies.

Very funny... Not a rental but as a purchase..Love this movie.

If you are a cop lover, you won't like this movie.

Martin's comedy rocks! Martin's character and Earl made the movie for us.
Once again the bad guys got caught. See crime doesn't pay! Even if you are on the other side of the law.

below my expectations.......2007-01-25

National Security is a easy-going and light-hearted cop comedy flick with quite a few good laughs. A lot of them, surprisingly, coming from Lawrence himself.

Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn)is a cop who is unfairly thrown in jail for apparently beating a black suspect (Lawrence) who just got kicked out of Police Academy. With his career in tatters he emerges from the slammer with only one job opportunity available; a lowly guard for a lowly security company. Determined to follow up on the big case he was involved with before serving time, he crosses the path of fellow security guard Earl Montgomery (Lawrence again) and the two reignite their old conflict.

The old love/hate buddy thing may be old and the plot may be silly but it's a great excuse for loads of action set-pieces and humor. The potentially dangerous comedy of black vs white never becomes offensive and is handled with such lightness that it never becomes an issue. Both men have their failings and bonuses and are as equal as each other. You really do feel a great partnership between them despite their arguing and fights.
One-time-watch film.

A total waste.......2006-10-23

This movie is really a travesty, because the two main stars are capable of comedy. Martin Lawrence can be hilarious when given the right material. (and I will admit, with some guilt, that I enjoyed "Big Mamma's House" and "Blue Streak") Steve Zahn is a great comedian who keeps finding himself in terrible roles. This, unfortunately, is another one not only for him, but for Martin Lawrence as well.

Part of it is the corncob plot is essentially another white guy/black guy cop movie. This means Martin Lawrence walks around the movie going, "Yeah yeah suckah awe shyeet fo shizzle ma nizzle all up in my grizzle, home-boy!" while Steve Zahn looks on in bewilderment saying, "Rap? What is this rap? I spent my whole life in a cave, I do not know anything about these 'black Americans.'" But in the end they bond and it's all fun and laughs as the two subcultures come together.

Or something like that...mostly I was rolling my eyes everytime Martin Lawrence looks to the camera and says, "What da problem is?" Like most of the lines, it sounds forced and improper. The other problem with this film, you see, is just the fact the script is terrible. Both actors seem to try to make up for it in their own way. Marin Lawrence will try to improve on the script by overacting, saying every line way over the top. Steve Zahn looks pained the entire film, with a look on his face like, "I am so kicking my agent in the balls when I get through shooting this scene."

The final problem is simply the fact the filmmaking is bad. Action scenes are stunts are done so terribly you realize this movie's greatest punchline is the more serious moments. For example, the scene where Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn are falling off the bridge in the van: when you see it up close on them screaming the van is rolling over quickly - but when you cut to a far away shot the van is only slightly rolling over. And that last action scene with the villains...ugh, don't even get me started. You have to see it to understand my pain.

There are SOME funny moments. The sole moment of humor to me was when Martin Lawrence says the CIA is bringing alcohol into the ghetto to subdue the black man. Steve Zahn looks at him and says, "Do you actually believe what comes out of your mouth?" to which Lawrence responds, "I'm not really sure until I'm done talking." There, go ahead and laugh. If you didn't laugh, then don't bother seeing the movie because I just told you the funniest part.

Another zanie pic from Martin Lawrence.......2006-08-10

I only have to look at his face to start laughing. I think they overdid the racist gags in this film but Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn did a great job of acting out this crazy plot. Lots of explosions and shoot-outs. Quite fun really. I think the scene I shall remember most is the dual-control, driving school car that they hi-jacked and then couldn't agree on which way to go. That had me in fits. Good entertainment to see once or twice. Not for the library.

Average customer rating:

Very Interesting
General Information on the FBI - but nothing spectacular.
Great Documentary, Esp. Considering All Others on the FBI
Fairly interesting/entertaining.
Not good, not bad, just average.

National Geographic - The FBI

Manufacturer: National Geographic Video
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FBI Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Landing a Job as One of America's Finest, 2nd Edition

ASIN: B00009Q4XS
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Description

The FBI is struggling to broaden its mission in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Now, enter the inner sanctum of today's FBI, with unprecedented access granted to National Geographic. Witness the Bureau's top-secret Strategic Initiative Operations Center at work. Explore the history of the FBI, from the early days of J. Edgar Hoover's legendary G-men, to the Hanssen spy case and the unique challenges of our modern, high-tech era.

Customer Reviews:

Very Interesting.......2007-06-06

I found the documentary to be very interesting and I was able to learn a lot about the FBI. I do wish, however, that there was signifcantly more informatino regarding agent training.

General Information on the FBI - but nothing spectacular........2007-02-28

This is a great DVD, however do not expect to get very in-depth about the way the FBI works. A brief history of "The Bureau" is given - much is skipped -- last 3/4 of the DVD is more about the 9/11 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon.

While these events of 9/11 are important to show how changes occured in the FBI, very little emphasis is placed on Who the FBI is -- What they Investigate -- FBI Training, etc...

This documentary would have benefited greatly if it could have showed the pre-9/11 FBI and then the post-9/11 FBI, because their mission changed overnight -- and is not even close to being the same.

Buy the DVD if you want some general info. on the FBI - but for research purposes, etc.. (or even for those who wish to join the FBI and get a feel for it) you're honestly better of reading books by former agents, etc ...

As previously said, get the DVD if you want some general info. and a very basic understanding of who the FBI is.

Great Documentary, Esp. Considering All Others on the FBI.......2005-05-15

Considering that there aren't many well put-together documentaries available on the FBI, I thought that this one was excellent. You can only cover so much in two hurs, and I thought that this one did a very good job of it. There is also a very long feature on Hogan's Alley (mock city training center used by the FBI in Virginia) in the Special Features that was shot sometime in the late 80s/early 90s. I highly recommend this DVD if you're interested in a career with the FBI.

Fairly interesting/entertaining........2005-02-04

This is a fairly well-presented documentary on the FBI. The creators of this film did a good job explaining what the FBI's role is, how that role has changed, and what should be expected in the future. It is a fairly superficial documentary, though: don't expect any complex analysis/insights into the operations of the FBI. Nevertheless, the editors did a fairly good job, got some interesting footage, and showed things that rarely are shown.

Not good, not bad, just average........2004-06-26

This DVD was just OK, it wasn't good, and it wasn't bad. It goes in depth about how the FBI works in general, but doesn't go into cases in depth very much (Waco, Hanssen) etc. 90% of the video concentrates on how the FBI works now after 9/11, dealing with terrorism, but there wasn't any piece of it which highlighted thier priorities before 9/11. Some of the material nearly went as far as to being borderline propoganda, but the directors appear to have tried to stay away from that. It highlights some of the FBI's ups, and a few of thier down's. It goes into mostly how the FBI handles security of bigger events, but that was nothing new to me, and shouldn't be for any of you (snipers of roofs, instense screening, gaurds, etc.) Overall, I'd have to recomend you don't watch this, but if you know absolutely nothing about the FBI, this may be a good place to start learning.

Average customer rating:

Decent movie, if you are into James Bond movies on hyperdrive....
Finally - a movie that doesn't skip past violent or sex scenes...
Exciting and well written action flick
Finally...An exciting action flick
Please! It's Entertainment Not Reality!

XXX (Full Screen Special Edition)
Starring: Leila Arcieri , Asia Argento , David Asman , Joe Bucaro III , and Marton Csokas
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

XXX - State of the Union (Widescreen Edition)
The Fast and the Furious (Widescreen Tricked Out Edition)
S.W.A.T. (Widescreen Special Edition)
2 Fast 2 Furious (Widescreen Edition)
A Man Apart

ASIN: B00006WUWM
Release Date: 2002-12-31

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Decent movie, if you are into James Bond movies on hyperdrive...........2007-05-06

Finally - a movie that doesn't skip past violent or sex scenes..........2007-04-02

Exciting and well written action flick.......2006-11-19

Finally...An exciting action flick.......2006-11-17

Please! It's Entertainment Not Reality!.......2006-08-14

XXX - State of the Union (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

High Gloss, Low substance
Low Expections Satisfied
if there would be -5 stars - that would be the rating for this one
It's A "Popcorn" Movie -- Plain And Simple
It seems it'a big turn-on for most people to see a "gangsta" save the United States.....

XXX - State of the Union (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Ice Cube , Samuel L. Jackson , Willem Dafoe , Scott Speedman , and Peter Strauss
Director: Lee Tamahori
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( X ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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XXX (Widescreen Special Edition)
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Guess Who

ASIN: B0009W5JS2
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Description

In this action-packed sequel to the box-office smash xXx, Ice Cube stars as Darius Stone, a thrill-seeking troublemaker whose criminal record and extreme sports obsession make him the perfect candidate to be the newest xXx agent. He must save the U.S. government from a deadly conspiracy led by five-star general and Secretary of Defense George Deckert (played by Willem Dafoe). Only a renegade xXx agent like Stone has the Xtreme skills to stop Deckert's dangerous military splinter group from taking over the government in America's capital.

Customer Reviews:

High Gloss, Low substance.......2007-02-14

Watching Ice Cube play the hard guy would-be spy makes you realise - wow! Vin Diesel actually DID have charisma after all!
All pretensions to the part being about spying and stealth are out of the window - the first movie had an appeal of being like a Bond movie on steroids; This one is just action, and could be any action franchise a few movies in. In fact, in terms of substance this could easily have been direct to video for all the weight the star and story carry... however, there are bangs for your buck on display here.. the actions scenes are as big budget as they are ludicrous. The opening scene has some promise with Samuel Jackson taking on the bad guys in his own headquarters, but when he steps into the wierd custom job car you know there is a franchise identity crisis on the way - is this XXX or Fast and Furious 4??
In short, this is brainless action - budget is on the screen, but not with the script. Ice Cube plods through the role giving it no heart, panache, or even self knowing parody. Daniel Defoe and Samuel Jackson should know better.

Low Expections Satisfied.......2007-02-12

I'm not sure what other people were expecting when I read their reviews. It's a sequel to a bad movie, and it stars Ice Cube, Xzibit and Samuel L. Jackson (who will clearly take any part for the right price). They couldn't even fine semi-famous actors to portray the token "hot chick." What did you expect? Of course the acting is terrible. Of course the plot makes no sense and there are a bunch of ridiculous explosions. Again, what did you expect?

I could have lived my whole life without seeing this movie and I wouldn't have missed a thing, but I happened to catch it on TV, and it's now awful. It is forgettable, but that's not the same thing. The movie is filled with terrible dialog and predictable twists, but who cares? They blow a lot of stuff up, and it will make you laugh--not at the intended jokes, of course--but at the fact that it seems to take itself seriously from time to time. Plus, you have Jackson and Willem Dafoe mailing in their performances, and Ice Cube trying as hard as can be to NOT be tongue-in-cheek and failing miserably. That alone is worth the 90 minutes of your time, especially if you're doing something else and just want the background noise.

if there would be -5 stars - that would be the rating for this one.......2007-02-03

Horrible. While original xXx was may be not the most brilliant movie, but it had decent story and interesting places and acting. This sequel is just horrible thing, full of political correctness, utterly bad storyline and pretty junky stuntworks.

It's A "Popcorn" Movie -- Plain And Simple.......2006-12-12

If you're expecting some big, deep, meaningful morality tale in "XXX: State Of The Union", look elsewhere. This movie doesn't pretend to be a deep psychological political thriller, like the 1962 version of "The Manchurian Candidate" was; it's a fast-paced action flick, and it makes no bones about it.

Rapper/actor Ice Cube is Darius Stone, a Navy Seal who was wrongly imprisoned when he fought a order from his commanding officer to kill innocent people in Kosovo. Stone's former C.O. is now the Secretary Of Defense, and he's got some plans for the nation which aren't too pleasant.

Once again, we have Samuel L. Jackson reprisiing his role as NSA Senior Agent Gibbons, the man who enables Stone to escape from prison after a team of masked (and heavily armed) men stage a raid on Gibbons's NSA headquarters in which several agents are killed. This isn't gonna sit too well with Gibbons, so he wants to know what's going on; hence the need for Stone to do the investigating, and do a bit of butt-kicking along the way.

Needless to say ... a lot of action, including some pretty good stunt work, is packed into the space of 101 minutes, and director Lee Tamahori, who's no stranger to the action movie genre (he directed "Die Another Day" and "Along Came A Spider" -- two other films which fit the "popcorn action movie" genre), and he does a pretty good job of keeping the movie going, even though the plot itself has holes which are big enough to fly a fleet of Blackhawks through.

It's also good to see some familiar faces in this movie, including Willem Dafoe as the Secretary of Defense, Scott Speedman (who's definitely come a long way from his days on the TV series "Felicity") as the NSA agent who always seems to be at least one step behind Stone, and rapper Xzibit turns in a good performance as Zeke, the chop-shop owner who's recruited into the fight to save the nation.

While "XXX: State Of The Union" isn't the world's greatest movie, the DVD has enough goodies to keep you interested, and it's a good companion to the unrated director's cut version of "XXX".

All in all, if you want a movie that's perfect to munch popcorn by, "XXX: State Of The Union" is your kind of movie.

It seems it'a big turn-on for most people to see a "gangsta" save the United States............2006-07-04

This movie is very anti-american, which is unsurprising because gangsta rap is anti-american anyway. Now the movie is simply unrealistic. The fact that they used Ice Cube to play as the protagnist is very disturbing. You will also hear him calling whites "hillbillies" even though all of the whites in this movie are very educated and are not hillbillies at all. I agree with another reviewer when he said that this movie tried to portray what the blacks do in this movie as "cool," who are a bunch of "gangsta" criminals, and if you go to college to enlighten your mind then you are a loser. In one scene, you see a whole army of "gangstas" blow their way past a military roadblock. This is not possible. The US military would not have been outwitted by a bunch of ragtag, drug-dealing parasites. All Americans who are proud of their nation, no matter what race they are, should be offended by this movie.

Average customer rating:

Great mini series
Minnie Series
A do not MISS. This is well worth the investment of time!
Very good series
jeux sans frontieres

The Grid
Starring: Dylan McDermott , Julianna Margulies , Bernard Hill , Jemma Redgrave , and James Remar
Director: Mikael Salomon
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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MI-5, Volume 3
MI-5, Volume 1
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The Unit - The Complete First Season
MI-5, Volume 4

ASIN: B0006GAO4A
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Amazon.com

Broadcast on TNT in July 2004, The Grid is an ambitious, often-gripping miniseries depicting the battle against terrorism in a post-9/11 world. When a terrorist cell's sarin attack in London backfires, an unusual and sometimes-uneasy partnership is formed to anticipate and prevent the next strike. The team consists of counterterrorism analysts and agents from the National Security Council (Julianna Margulies), the FBI (Dylan McDermott), the CIA (Peter Marek), and Britain's MI-5 (Bernard Hill) and MI-6 (Jemma Redgrave). Gradually unfolding over six parts and four and a half hours, the BBC-Fox TV coproduction travels across North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa following not only the professional and personal lives of the "good guys," but also the terrorists' stories. Comparisons will inevitably be drawn between The Grid and 24 (especially considering the latter's terrorism story lines in seasons 2 and 3). The Grid can't compete in terms of sheer thrills, but it's a well-shot, well-cast ensemble drama with an exciting conclusion that takes place simultaneously on three continents.

The two-DVD set is supplemented by a commentary track by director Mikael Solomon and executive producer Tracey Alexander on two episodes, commentary by Margulies on specific scenes from two episodes, commentary by McDermott on specific scenes from two episodes, 13 deleted scenes, and three featurettes. --David Horiuchi

Description

Beyond the politics, beyond the headlines, and inside the hunt for terror - where the enemy is closer than you think. US & UK forces join to combat an intricate organization of international terrorists plotting a set of vicious attacks against the US and UK in an action-packed, edgy, tense & emotional mini-series.

Customer Reviews:

Great mini series.......2007-06-08

It was a smart and enjoyable mini series. Good to have for any DVD collection.

Minnie Series.......2007-03-26

A good example of why I like to watch or buy T.V. shows , movies .miniseries. They contain a minimal amount of swearing and sex. And are just as entertaining as the so called "art forms" of modern moviedom. This comes to the point ,entertains, is never dull, a good job all around .Has a good apect ratio for a widescreen T.V.. Good photography.

A do not MISS. This is well worth the investment of time!.......2006-07-07

This movie came as a real surprise to me as I began my viewing with absolutely no expectations. In fact, I honestly felt I was going to watch the first 10 minutes (which is my threshhold limitation of reject or play) get bored and finish my ebay store items. I finish all 3 discs (265 minutes) and took only two essential personal breaks! This movie really picked up where Sayriana (that I really expected SOOOO much more from) dropped the ball!

On the back cover of the movie it states "A heart-pounding thriller" is an understatement. It is a well thought out, balanced movie that really makes you stop and think about how vulnerable we really are in the US. The director Mikael Salomon paid incredible attention in full developing the charactors and interweaving their relationship which seems to be amiss in most movies these days. Combine this with a large dose of realism and a well-developed plot, you have the making of a 5 star movie.

Featuring a top-notch cast including Dylan McDermott and Julianna Margulies; this mini-series plays out in CSI style with the hi-tech slickness of "24". I have found myself mostly disappointed with movies seen lately; I ranked this as one of the two movies Ihave seen in the "EXCELLENT" category in the last YEAR! Don't miss this one!

Very good series.......2006-04-21

I think this is one of the few movies post 9/11 which takes more realistic view of terrorist activities and their repercussions. Picture quality is very good, direction is top class, and multiple location shooting adds the jazz. Story is tight. If you have some interest in world affairs; I am sure you will be glued to the screen throughout.

jeux sans frontieres.......2006-02-27

This mini-series was one of several referred to in the new Season of MI-5 as one which other customers had bought so I invested in it.

As a drama mini-series there is much to commend it, a reasonable plot, some inter-agency skullduggery and backstabbing, an international cast, some great locations and reasonable dialogue as well as a realistic basis for a story. For the enthusiast this moves along at a good pace, there is action and intigue aplenty and just about everyone can relate to it.

Alas, I do not feel that it is overall a satisfactory mix. It is certainly a good thing to have an element of grittiness about the show. I think that it is admirable that the British are portrayed as the patsies of America and a people who, for being America's closest allies are somewhat cynical about American intentions. It is a good thing too that bureaucracy is seen as stiffling of initiatives and is often caught wrong-footed but overall there is a pevasive nagging of something more.

I am not sure if the issue is really one of just not wringing true. I also feel that there is too much politically correct angles when dealing with what is clearly a complex subject with many levels of meaning and where much is open to debate. The fact that the main villain of the piece is not seen as some sort of idealistic fundamentalist demagogue but as someone who has his own, well-financed agenda, may correspond with modern analysis of terrorists but when we are assailed every day on our teelevision screens with tales of insurrgent attacks, it almost appears that the thorny subject of fundamentalist terrorists does not want to be directly addressed.

I also take issue with the timescales involved. Each terrorist atrocity in real life requires months of patient investigation through dead ends and leads that go nowhere. The most sophisticated spying equipment in history still cannot lead us to Osama bin laden and yet we can track down these people within hours. I am not attacking the lack of realism for realism's sake...I am more concerned that we do not inculcate in the general population's mind that these complex problems are quickly solved when this is far from the case.

The best aspect of this mini-series is the establishment of credible characters with their complex lives and attachments and the constantly changing aspects of personalities. Much more human and much more able to be understood as three dimensional characters rather than stereoptypical beings where we do not need to understand what is going on.

Perhaps the three stars is a little harsh but I think a little more thought going into this show could have brought it into the great category, but nevertheless a good piece of entertainment.

Average customer rating:

On Native Soil
NOT TO BE MISSED!
On Native Soil
Mostly Well Done, but with an Inaccurate Conclusion
disk problems

On Native Soil
Starring: Kevin Costner , and Hilary Swank
Director: Linda Ellman
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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United 93 (Widescreen Edition)
7 Days in September: A Powerful Story About 9/11
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ASIN: B000FWHW7C
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Amazon.com

Almost as frightening as the tragic events it details, On Native Soil is essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand how systemic failures in U.S. national security led to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. By focusing on 9/11 survivors, the surviving family members of 9/11 victims, and their passionate demand for an official investigation into the World Trade Center attacks masterminded by Osama bin Laden, this riveting documentary serves as a remarkable audio-visual companion to the 9/11 Commission's official report (which is included in its entirety on this DVD). Featuring alternating narration by Kevin Costner and Hilary Swank, the film contains much of the same material included in other 9/11 documentaries, but it's informed by an inspiring sense of moral outrage as we learn, step by step, how much the U.S. government and the Bush administration knew about possible terrorist attacks prior to 9/11, and failed to take any significant action against those threats. Beginning with former CNN reporter Peter Arnett's revealing interview with bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1997, and ending with the sobering observation that we're still inadequately prepared for another 9/11-like attack, On Native Soil unfolds with a deeply personal perspective that's dramatically contrasted by the galling audacity of administrative spin control.

As recalled by surviving family members of 9/11 victims, ample evidence existed to prove that the government was aware of terrorist plots on native soil. In light of their research, then-National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice looks particularly culpable: As one grieving widower observes, Rice either lied in her post 9/11 press conferences (when she claimed "nobody could have known of these attacks") or--worse yet--she was unaware of the voluminous evidence of active terrorist plots available in the public record. It goes on from there: interagency communication breakdowns, disorganized response strategies when the attacks occurred, incredibly lax security at airports, and damning evidence of governmental neglect--all leading to the inescapable conclusion that 9/11 might have been avoided had the Bush administration been more attentive to obvious and immediate threats to national security. In driving these points home, director Linda Ellman doesn't flinch from the harshest realities: This is one of the few 9/11 documentaries to show attack victims leaping to their deaths from the burning twin towers of the WTC, and emotional testimony from survivors adds yet another layer of tragedy to these earth-shaking events. As a tribute to the families who confronted a shockingly reluctant administration and demanded the 9/11 Commission Report, On Native Soil serves a noble and timeless purpose: It honors those who died on 9/11, provides a cautionary warning against complacency among government officials and U.S. citizens alike, and reminds us that terrorism on native soil is a constant threat that must not be ignored. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A documentary about September 11, where the 9/11 Commission Report is used to study the attack and the systemic flaws that allowed it to happen.

Customer Reviews:

On Native Soil .......2006-11-11

The best documentary I've seen regarding 9/11! A fair and unbiased report.

NOT TO BE MISSED!.......2006-11-10

IF YOU ONLY WATCH ONE 9/11 DVD, THIS IS THE ONE. WARM BUT NOT SENTIMENTAL. IN A WORD: PROFESSIONAL.

On Native Soil.......2006-11-06

Excellent DVD. Well produced. Great recap of what took place 9/11/01.

Mostly Well Done, but with an Inaccurate Conclusion.......2006-11-03

There is a lot to like about this DVD, especially in the first three/quarters of the film. There is much new footage, including interviews with family members of those lost, as well as harrowing tales from some who narrowly escaped death on that dreadful day. The events of that day are both clearly and sensitively handled by Costner and Swank.

I liked this film a lot right up until the end, when the release of the 9/11 Commission Report was portrayed as a moment of closure and triumph for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11, and who had pushed for the formation of the 9/11 Commission. In fact, the release of the 9/11 Commission Report was anything but closure for these families, and countless others as well. These families had given questions to the commission in the hope that they would make an honest effort to find out what really happened. Sadly, few of these questions were asked, and so most of the families' questions are still as yet unanswered. For a really good treatment of this aspect of the 9/11 aftermath, see the film, "9/11, Press for Truth."

disk problems.......2006-09-21

What little I've seen of this dvd, it looks interesting. The play back is so bad I can't give it more than 1 star.I've tried two disc's same results.How many more people had the same results?

Average customer rating:

Decent movie, if you are into James Bond movies on hyperdrive....
Finally - a movie that doesn't skip past violent or sex scenes...
Exciting and well written action flick
Finally...An exciting action flick
Please! It's Entertainment Not Reality!

XXX (Unrated Director's Cut)
Starring: Leila Arcieri , Asia Argento , David Asman , Joe Bucaro III , and Marton Csokas
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video