The Guru

Starring:Jimi Mistry, Heather Graham, Marisa Tomei, Michael McKean, Dash Mihok, Emil Marwa, Christine Baranski, Ronald Guttman, Malachy McCourt, Ajay Naidu, Anita Gillette, Pat McNamara, Dwight Ewell, Parul Shah, Omar Rahim, Douglas Dolan, Bina Sharif, Sakina Jaffrey, Susham Bedi, Sinia Jane
Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The Day-Glo delights of India's Bollywood musicals collide with the crossed-love conventions of Hollywood romantic comedies in The Guru. Jimi Mistry, a young Indian named Ramu who wants to live the American dream and become famous, moves to New York and finds only menial work in restaurants. But when he mistakenly gets cast in a skin flick, he meets a sweet and thoughtful porn star (Heather Graham) whose philosophical mix of sex and spirituality come in handy when Ramu has to pretend to be a swami for an upper-crust birthday party. The birthday girl (Marisa Tomei) seizes upon Ramu's cribbed aphorisms and leads Ramu into a career as a sex guru. The Guru's uneven script squanders much of its comic potential, but the stars have charm to burn--and when the movie launches into its glorious musical numbers, it enters a realm of delirious glee. --Bret Fetzer

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
Average customer rating:

The dawn of Shaun!

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
Starring: Bill Nighy , Penelope Wilton , Lucy Davis , Jessica Stevenson , and Kate Ashfield
Director: Simon Pegg , and Edgar Wright
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000R8YC3G
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Customer Reviews:

The dawn of Shaun!.......2007-05-27

Zombies are one of those horror staples that have gotten putrid, after one too many idiotic blood'n'gore-fests with a revolting script. Like poor Dracula, they run out of things to do.

But zombie films are revitalized by the wickedly funny "Shaun of the Dead," a tale of music, love, pubs, and the slobbering undead. In the vein of Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive," it's full of twisted humour, funny dialogue and plenty of gore.

Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) are the poster boys for adolescentus slackeritis, living in a London flat with their peeved roommate Pete, who has actually grown up and gotten a real job. Ed plays video games all day, and Shaun's immaturity has just gotten him dumped by his long-suffering girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield).

Wrapped up in his love life woes, Shaun fails to notice a little news item: Human beings all over London are transforming into zombies. At first, Shaun obliviously drowns his sorrows, and has a nasty encounter when he goes to pick up a soda. Now he must mend his relationship with Liz and defend himself and his family from the hordes of ravenous zombies... by barricading them in a pub.

"Shaun" makes the whole genre seem fresh just because it doesn't take itself seriously. The heroes don't even have guns (since the UK public don't get them), and so our heroes fend off the zombies with vinyl records, shovels and cricket bats. That gives an idea of how serious this movie is.

"Shaun of the Dead" isn't so much a zombie movie as a love story with zombies -- a very funny one, with lots of gore. We're treated to slackers in love, Shaun drifting obliviously around London withoutn noticing the undead, and some very entertaining dialogue ("Just look at the face: it's vacant, with a hint of sadness. Like a drunk who's lost a bet...")

Later on, he's forced to shake off his obliviousness in order to save his loved ones, with a bat as his only weapon. And maybe some commandos in a tank. It's gory, and the ending gets a bit cliched and overserious, but the ride up until then is wonderfully scripted and full of hilarious crude comic moments. Not sex-organ/bathroom humor, but definitely not highbrow.

Everybody knows guys like Shaun and Ed. Pegg perfectly plays a slacker with a heart of gold, who would like to be more than he is, but doesn't have the slightest clue how to go about it. Frost is a good annoying sidekick for Shaun, and Ashfield does a good job as the long-suffering girlfriend.

As a bonus, music geeks will laugh themselves silly over such important decisions as: which albums should our reluctant heroes throw at the zombies? "Stone Roses?" "No." "...Second Coming?" "I liked it." "Dire Straits?" "Chuck it!" Good choice, Shaun m'boy.

While it's a hilarious movie, it's not a spoof -- rather it's a zombie movie with wit, love and comedy. By not taking itself too seriously, "Shaun of the Dead" ends up revitalizing a genre that seemed like it was... well, almost dead.

Average customer rating:

BRILLIANT!
Ram Dass Fierce Grace
A Place of Grace
Stroke of genius
Outstanding

Ram Dass: Fierce Grace
Starring: Ram Dass , Mark Matousek , Timothy Leary , Abby Reyes , and Rosemary Woodruff Leary
Director: Mickey Lemle
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008DDV1
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Description

Harvard professors Richard Alpert and Timothy Leary made countercultural history in 1963 when they were fired from that institution for conducting controversial psychedelic drug research. In the purple haze aftermath, Alpert journeyed to India and found his guru Maharaj ji, who renamed him Ram Dass ("Servant of God"). Best known for his 1971 bestseller BE HERE NOW, which was a spiritual touchstone of the era, Ram Dass became an inspiration to people across the globe. Filmmaker Mickey Lemle--who has known his subject for more than twenty-five years--intersperses vivid archival footage from hippiedom's glory days with intimate glimpses of Ram Dass today, as he continues to remake his life since being--in his words--"stroked" in 1997. Named by NEWSWEEK as one of the Top Five Non-Fiction Films of 2002, RAM DASS FIERCE GRACE is an engrossing, poignant meditation on spirituality, consciousness, healing and the unexpected grace of aging.

Customer Reviews:

BRILLIANT!.......2007-04-12

This is one of the most moving and meaningful documentaries I have ever seen. Mickey Lemle has done a magnificent job of blending all of the significent aspects of Ram Dass' life together into a beautiful tapestry that is at once touching, profound, insightful, hilarious, and heartbreaking. Ram Dass' characteristic willingness to be totally vulnerable, open, and honest, to explore the spiritual challenges inherent in the after-effects of his life-changing stroke, and to continue to share his own magical blend of extraordinarily wise, compassionate spiritual truths is refreshing, delightful, and heart-warming. BRAVO! Thank you for creating this precious gem!

Ram Dass Fierce Grace.......2007-04-10

Very inspirational with highs and lows. Great for any person who has had a stroke. I totally enjoyed it. Recommended

A Place of Grace.......2007-01-23

I don't know if it was just me or what, but when I was fifteen, I thought I was somehow going to be the one that magically escaped "old age". But then I got to be in my twenties and I still clung to a shred of hope that maybe I could still escape it. After my thirties I knew I was going to be no different than all the others that preceeded me, age was inevitable, but getting old was entirely up to me.

In this exceptional movie, Ram Dass shows us that even though the body may betray us, the Spirit that is within is always willing to make all things new. He is a "true" Spiritual teacher. He lives what he talks about. I was always kind of suspect of those "teachers" who claimed to be so exalted and beyond this world. What makes a "true" spiritual teacher is someone who shows us the we are in the world, but we are not of it...that our limitations are not here to thwart us, but are given to us so that we may get the opportunity to prove that our soul/our spirit is infinitely stronger than any situation we may be going through.

I have to admit, I've done my fair share of pouting the last few years. My body has had its share of trials and tribulations to overcome and after seeing Fierce Grace, I was actually embarrassed about my physical complaining. Ram Dass has faced his physical limitations with an even greater willingness to "serve God". He truly is the embodiment of Love, Compassion, and Service.

We can all learn from this beautiful movie. Do we curse the things that we are given or do we realize that even the so called difficulties that are in our lives are blessings? We really don't know what is for our Highest Good, but there is something that does and it is that something greater that we need to continually surrender to moment by moment by precious moment.

Every moment of our lives has gotten us to right here and right now and where we will eventually end up will be determined by what we predominantly used our time for. Did we use our time helping others or by seeing what we could get from others? Did we use our time for celebrating or for mourning our losses? Did we realize the amount of grace that is available in each and every moment or did we argue that life isn't fair? We may not be able to escape age, but we can use it to our greatest advantage.

This movie is a blessing. You will feel blessed just by watching it.

Peace to all...

Stroke of genius.......2007-01-22

This documentary-biography is presentations by Ram Dass helping us cope with aging and bringing us his experience with a stroke.

The presentations not well focused; however it is much better than many of the sound bite presentations produced now days. There is no way to come from ground zero and bring you to today's view in the few minutes of this presentation. In many ways this viewing this can be quite emotional.

This also helps fill in his life from childhood as Richard Albert and the many people he came across that changed his views through out life. We also get introduced to his books as "Be Here Now" and "Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying".

The DVD I viewed has many scenes tat did not make it into the original film. Do not over look the extras.

Outstanding.......2007-01-19

This DVD transports the viewer to a sacred space where the events in life make sense from a higher perspective. Ram Das still has the great gift to move people to their higher purpose in life. This is a DVD which I will watch whenever I need to be reminded of this higher perspective. Not only does this include a biography of Ram Das' life including his present struggles with aging after his stroke, but it also includes three incredible people who share about their tragedies and how they use their experiences to attain a higher perspective.

Average customer rating:

"Gurubhai. Gurubhai. Gurubhai."
"We are 50% partners. Wherever we go, we go together."
A Bollywood Gem

Guru (Double Disc)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Features:

Double Disc
Free Surprise CD

ASIN: B000OAXL7K

Product Description

BUY THIS PRODUCT AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE A FREE SURPRISE CD WITH THIS ORDER!!! Limited Time Offer!

Customer Reviews:

"Gurubhai. Gurubhai. Gurubhai.".......2007-04-21

Guru is a story about a man called Gurukant Desai. In his late teens, Gurukant moves back from Turkey to India in hopes of doing business. Despite family/society norms, he maintains a very entrepreneurial instinct at business. He gets married and starts a business with his brother-in-law. Things are not going too well and times are bad just like they always are but Guru knows there's nothing to lose and no looking back. He breaks the laws of the land, his individual grows and in a few years from when he started, he is one of the richest men in the country.

The reason Guru was as impacting as it is is simply because of a two word name, Mani Ratnam. The direction is thrilling to say the least. You will not forget Abhishek Bachchan and his performance in a hurry. I struggle to compare his stellar performance with the a few others I have seen over the last decade or so. Aishwarya Rai was decent in this film. Overall, Guru reminded me most of Aviator but the latter is better.

Anyhow, watch this film. Easily the best I've seen so far this year. The music will not leave your mind for years to come. Abhishek Bachchan stuns me yet again.

"We are 50% partners. Wherever we go, we go together.".......2007-04-21

I've seen Abhishek Bachchan in several Bollywood flicks now and, in the viewing of them, have become a fan. His father is the distinguished actor Amitabh Bachchan; his grandfather was a celebrated poet. So, Abhishek definitely has potential and has shown flashes of acting talent in several of his earlier films (Yuva, Kuch Naa Kaho (2 Disc Set), Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke). Really, it was only a matter of time before Abhishek broke thru with a truly memorable performance, and, indeed, GURU proves to be the platform for Abhishek's best work yet.

Somewhat based on the lifestory of influential Indian entrepreneur Dhirubhai Ambani (now deceased) who founded India's largest private company, GURU chronicles the decades-long story of Gurukant "Guru" Desai (Abhishek Bachchan), a man of humble beginnings, whose unquenchable drive and ambition elevate him to the forefront of India's corporate powers. But, somewhere on his path to success, Guru develops underhanded means for advancing his company. The film's conflict surfaces when Manikdas Gupta (Mithun Chakraborty), Guru's mentor and owner of an independent newspaper, finally decides to expose Guru's shady business dealings. As years pass and his empire begins to crumble from the press's onslaught and he teeters on the brink of an investigation, Guru remains outwardly cocky and defiant, even though his health shockingly declines. But, with the steadfast support of his loving wife Sujata (Aishwarya Rai), Guru perseveres...

Abhishek Bachchan powers this film with his multi-layered and most mature performance. This really is the best I've seen him. Bachchan himself admits that Guru is his most challenging role yet. Abhishek is magnetic in his depiction of the bold, ferocious, and unbending Guru. But what I enjoyed most are the intimate moments Guru has with his wife Sujata and his twin daughters. In fact, in his loving and playful interactions with Sujata, Guru is at his most likable.

Aishwarya Rai, whose beauty is undeniable even if her acting sometimes raises eyebrows, perfectly complements Bachchan as the willful but loyal Sujata, whom Guru initially weds for her financial dowry (and, oboy, imagine the fireworks when she finds this out). While her scenes as a young woman shows off her looks, Aishwarya seems even more radiant when portraying Sujata as a middle aged woman. The courtroom scenes are great and very moving. I don't just mean Guru's speech, but the scenes leading up to it, wherein Sujata plays a significant role. GURU also gets noteworthy efforts from Mithun Chakraborty and Vidya Balan as the lively but wheelchaired Meenu.

The musical numbers are engaging. The first one is a specialty item titled "Mayya Mayya" which guest stars the sinuous Mallika Sherawat. The playful "Barso Re Megha" introduces Aishwarya Rai's character while the gentle "Tere Bina" is a tuneful love ballad and displays more of Rai's captivating dancing. But the most touching musical moment occurs when the twin daughters sing to their bed-ridden father.

This 2-disc dvd set comes with a skimpy booklet which has info on the film characters, as well as Guru's mantra. Disc 2 presents 13 minutes of deleted scenes (worth watching, but there's no sub-title option on the menu), a 20-minute-long "Making of the Movie" featurette, and the "Making of the Music" featurette, which, basically, is a promotional event moderated by Abshishek's famous dad Amitabh and containing brief cast interviews and a live performance by the music contributors.

By no means is GURU a perfect film. Characters show up, only to abruptly vanish halfway thru (Guru's disapproving father and Guru's disillusioned best friend). The fictional biographical story, while overall effective, does stumble in spots and, in fact, shines best when focusing, not on Guru's entrepreneurial conquests, but on his and Sujata's relationship. But GURU's biggest flaw may be that it chooses not to show Guru's shady business dealings on screen, making it that much harder for the viewer to emotionally connect to his more despicable side. We detachedly learn of Guru's unscrupulous acts thru the verbal spoutings of the newspaper owner and his editor and via their accusatory headlines. This doesn't work as well as if we'd seen his misdeeds firsthand.

Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed GURU. This fictional biopicture of an ambitious, larger-than-life clothing and chemical magnate was a triumph in the Bollywood universe as it was received very well and drew critical acclaims for Bachchan's powerhouse depiction. Director Mani Ratnam figures to infuse an undercurrent of national relevance into his picture by juxtaposing Guru's rapid escalation to success with India's progression as a power in its own right, both of which take place in the same time span (from the 1950s to the '80s and beyond). Guru himself touches on this parallel in his bravura courtroom speech. Make of that what you will; certainly, it'll resonate more with those of Indian heritage. Irregardless, GURU is a wonderful movie experience. With wondrous cinematography, first rate acting, a dramatic score, well executed musical numbers, and a quiet but effective love story as brought to life by two of Bollywood's royalty, there's much to revel in for fans of Bachchan and Rai.

A Bollywood Gem.......2007-04-17

Guru is one of the best that came out of Bollywood in the recent years. The acting is superb and Abishek excels all his previous performances with his sensitive portrayal of Gurukant Desai, proving that he is indeed a talented and a versatile actor. Aishwarya's stellar performance completes the picture as Guru's devoted and loving wife, enriching the plot. It's a classic rag to riches story, intelligently done and true to real life. It's a must see for Bollywood fans.

However, there is a major problem with this DVD. Although it states that it's "all regions" on the cover, including "NTSC", it does not work on regular DVD players. Only the second disk with "Special Features" works. Unless you have a free range, code free DVD Player you're out of luck. I had to invest into one but to no avail. Picture quality left a lot to be desired and sound was disappointing at best. Which is a shame for it's a great movie and it should be seen at its best.

Average customer rating:

its one of the best but the rest is just history.
A Sweet, Funny Sleeper
More of Sharonna, please!
A funny version of "Grease"
"Follow Your Inner Beat" ~ "I Think It's One Of Those Dervish Spiritual Trance-Dance Things"

The Guru
Starring: Jimi Mistry , Heather Graham , Marisa Tomei , Michael McKean , and Dash Mihok
Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Guru
Monsoon Wedding
Bride and Prejudice
Touch of Pink
Slums of Beverly Hills

ASIN: B000092OME
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Amazon.com

The Day-Glo delights of India's Bollywood musicals collide with the crossed-love conventions of Hollywood romantic comedies in The Guru. Jimi Mistry, a young Indian named Ramu who wants to live the American dream and become famous, moves to New York and finds only menial work in restaurants. But when he mistakenly gets cast in a skin flick, he meets a sweet and thoughtful porn star (Heather Graham) whose philosophical mix of sex and spirituality come in handy when Ramu has to pretend to be a swami for an upper-crust birthday party. The birthday girl (Marisa Tomei) seizes upon Ramu's cribbed aphorisms and leads Ramu into a career as a sex guru. The Guru's uneven script squanders much of its comic potential, but the stars have charm to burn--and when the movie launches into its glorious musical numbers, it enters a realm of delirious glee. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

its one of the best but the rest is just history........2007-06-03

it starts out to be just another movie but as it goes on you just get into it more & more until its really turns out suprisingly funny and really good.

A Sweet, Funny Sleeper.......2007-05-24

So many wonderful actors and performances! Such funny lines and bits! Bollywood via Hollywood succeeds brilliantly in this winning farce. The tall tale it tells has many elements of truth in it, but then something completely outrageous happens. In typical Bollywood fashion, people burst into song and dance in the middle of a scene, except that we're in New York City, not Bombay. The Indian star, Jimi Mistry, is adorable. Marisa Tomei demonstrates wonderful comic gifts. The biggest surprise is Heather Graham, whose porn-star-with-a-heart-of-gold love interest is clever, smart and sincere. She and Mistry demonstrate real chemistry, and provide the movie with a genuinely romantic, sweet center. Why this movie wasn't more successful at the time is a mystery to me. Certainly not deep stuff, but delightful just the same.

More of Sharonna, please!.......2006-10-22

A very good romantic comedy, Guru, brings to the screen the story of an immigrant man from India who arrives in the US with dreams of becoming a big star. Once in the States, however, he realizes that the "American Dream" is not as easily achieved as he originally thought. In his search for stardom he will stumble upon Sharonna, a beautiful porn star, and his life will never be the same again...
It is a film about human relations, hope and second chances, but most importantly about trust, love, and inner strength.
Jimi Mistry, Heather Graham (who is GORGEOUS!), Marisa Tomei, and the rest of the cast, have outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)!
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the MUSIC (!!!) are all wonderful!
In short, Guru is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!

A funny version of "Grease".......2006-09-18

I liked the movie so much, I bought it in VHs format. Now I want to buy it in DVD. Heather Graham is a "babe". My friend Dr. Roman loves this movie too. This movie could receive "The doctor's award"(!). Anyway it was fun to watch. It has a little of everything. If you are looking for porn...GO GET THERAPY!!!! But if you want to enjoy a beatiful movie with your teenagers (17 and up), then this picture is for you. PS-Heather do not worry I will not forget to email you. Enjoy the show.

"Follow Your Inner Beat" ~ "I Think It's One Of Those Dervish Spiritual Trance-Dance Things" .......2006-01-06

Newly arrived Indian immigrant Ramu Gupta (Jimi Mistry) hopes to discover his own piece of the American dream in the urban sprawl of New York. It doesn't take long for Ramu to discover that opportunities are not easy to come. However events take a sudden and hilarious turn for the better when he is embraced by high society as an enlightened sex guru which leads to instant fame and fortune.

Lots of silliness but lots of fun too! Jimi Mistry is absolutely delightful as Ramu. Also wonderful performances by Heather Graham as the the streetwise yet vulnerable porn star Sharonna and Marisa Tomei as the insecure, obsessive socialite Lexi.

The storyline is a bit uneven here and there, but the cast is so endearing and the music so infectious you won't care. If you are uninitiated into the wonderful music and dancing to be found in Indian films 'The Guru' will definitely serve as an enjoyable and insightful introduction into this genre of cinema. Once the music takes you over you'll be hooked for good.

-5 Stars- for the Music and Dancing / -4 Stars- for the Storyline = -4 1/2 Stars- Overall!

Average customer rating:

Substitute 2: School's Out
Treat Subs For Tom
SUBSTITUTE 2 Review!
ALMOST AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL
A pointless sequel

Substitute 2: School's Out
Starring: Treat Williams , Edoardo Ballerini , Christopher Cousins , Chuck Jeffreys , and Susan May Pratt
Director: Steven Pearl
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00005O5B4
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Amazon.com

The delicate issue of student discipline becomes dangerously pointed when a vengeance-seeking mercenary (the perennially underrated Treat Williams) sews a couple of tweed patches onto the elbows of his flack jacket and proceeds to add a few chalk outlines to the blackboard jungle. Although the premise of this intermittently entertaining sequel can't match the goofy novelty of the 1996 original, it does sport a couple of effective action scenes (the teacher's demonstration of the yo-yo's history as a lethal weapon is a highlight), and a talented cast (including Broadway star B.D. Wong as a shop teacher who cares a little too much about his tools) that's fully aware of the numerous absurdities depicted herein. An occasionally effective lowbrow action flick that, at the very least, sure beats the heck out of study hall. --Andrew Wright

Customer Reviews:

Substitute 2: School's Out.......2006-07-06

The whole series of Substitutes are excellent movies. Really like Treat Williams in the title roll, but would have loved to see Tom Berenger in more than just the first.

Treat Subs For Tom.......2004-11-25

Treat Williams steps into the role of mercenary-turned-vigilante in Substitiute 2. He plays a guy who's worked with Tom Berenger's character before(or at least has mutual friends). I've always liked Treat Williams. He's one of those actors that's actually very good, yet seems to get thrown into these movies all the time. You'll catch him once in awhile in major motion pictures as a supporting character, but in B flicks he's the star! He seems a little too nice to play the cold hearted mercenary type, but does it well. The plot's similar to the first film in the sense that he goes undercover at a New York high school to find out who killed his brother, get revenge, and take care of his niece. Along the way he brings a fellow merc, teams up with the half crazed Vietnam vet janitor and discovers a chop shop operation going on in the school. Nothing terribly groundbreaking, but it's fun to see Williams slapping up the gang banger students who think he's just some pushover teacher. Good mindless action fun if you like that sort of thing.

SUBSTITUTE 2 Review!.......2004-04-26

As is the case in just about every straight-to-video sequel, the original star is out and a newer somewhat lesser known star is in. Treat Williams does the series justice as a mercenary who fills for his slain brother's history class in a mean Brooklyn high school. It wouldn't be a "Substitute" film if he wasn't kicking and punching his students through the halls with the help of a few unlikely faculty members. Good straight-to-video fare with a decent cast featuring B.D. Wong, Michael Michelle, Eugene Byrd, and a few others but Angel David taking over Raymond Cruz's "Joey Six" role is about easy to believe as Tommy Lee Jones filling in for Billy Dee Williams. Oh wait! Anyways, you get what you pay for.

ALMOST AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL.......2003-12-19

ANOTHER MERCENARY [TREAT WILLIAMS] BECOMES A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT A SCHOOL IN WHICH CRIME IS RAMPANT. NOT TOO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL, BUT IT'S ALMOST BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL! TREAT WILLIAMS MIGHT NOT BE AS MEAN AS TOM BERENGER WAS, BUT HE'S STILL A PRETTY INTRIGUING ACTOR FOR THE ROLE THAT TOM BERENGER PLAYED. THIS IS DEFINITELY WORTH WATCHING. THE ACTION SCENES ARE PRETTY CLEVER. EVEN FEATURES AN APPEARANCE FROM GURU, WHICH IS THE MC FOR GANG STARR.

A pointless sequel.......2003-10-31

The original "Substitute" starring Tom Berenger and Ernie Hudson was an over-the-top but admittedly clever take on the "tough teacher/tough class" sub-genre started by "Dangerous Minds". Unfortunately, such movies typically spawn mediocre sequels to capitalize on even moderate interest, which leaves us with "Substitute 2: School's Out", starring Treat Williams instead of Berenger.

To say that this movie is unoriginal is an understatement. It more-or-less puts us into the exact same situation as the first film, only done worse than before. When his brother is murdered by a violent street gang called the Brotherhood in a carjacking, mercenary Karl Thomasson (Williams) decides to take on two roles. The first is to take care of his brother's daughter. The second is to become a subtitute teacher for his brother's Brooklyn high school class, which some of the Brotherhood thugs attend. He suspects that the school's auto shop teacher, Warren Drummond, is involved in a car-stripping operation with the Brotherhood and its violent leader, Lil' B. Naturally, it's up to Thomasson to teach the tough class while working to take down Lil' B and Drummond's operation with his mercenary pal Joey 6 and a janitor named Johnny Bartee.

The most dissapointing aspect of this movie is the acting. Before you say, "It's a B movie, so what do you expect?", consider the cast involved in this film. Treat Williams may be a direct-to-video actor for the most part, but considering his number of Emmy nominations and his achievements in "Everwood", you'd expect a little more from him. He simply comes off as too nice a guy to be a hardened merc. Longtime Broadway actor and recent "Law & Order: SVU" cast member B.D. Wong doesn't fare much better as Drummond; he's either over-the-top or very dull. Michael Michelle ("ER") as teacher and love interest Kara Lavelle and Angel David ("The Crow") as Joey 6 are both OK, but wasted for the most part. Daryl Edwards, who plays Johnny Bartee, ends up becoming very annoying in this film. And while rapper Guru (of Gang Starr fame) is one of the most gifted hip-hop lyricists around, he's no actor, and he really embarrasses himself as Lil' B in this movie.

Aside from the weak acting, the movie doesn't really do much with its characters or plot. The relationship between Thomasson and the gang-bangers in his class (one of the better points of the original film) never works at all, especially his attempt to connect to Mase (Eugene Byrd of "8 Mile" fame). At one point, Thomasson throws Mase's stereo out the window because he's playing rap music really loud in class. Mase gets angry and attacks him with a switchblade, but after Thomasson subdues him and leaves him in charge of the class for a moment, Mase later apologizes for what he did. In the space of one class, Mase changes from "I'm-a cut you up real good" to "yeah, I was wrong". Right.

There are other problems, too, including some ridiculously unrealistic action sequences. How does somebody manage to survive an attack by gang-bangers firing automatic weapons at them from BOTH SIDES of a narrow corridor? Beats me, but Thomasson, Joey 6, and Bartee do somehow. Equally bad is the scene where Drummond kills Lavelle by shooting her at point-blank range and then wipes her blood off his hands on a stuffed teddy bear AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. Oh, yeah, and I'm still very puzzled as to how they got that laser trick to work on the Brotherhood when laser sources are very easy to spot at any range. The hoods in Brooklyn may not be Ivy League material, but I really didn't think they all have the intelligence levels of rodents.

Description

Ashtanga, NY was originally intended as a concert film celebrating the Ashtanga style of yoga, now wildly popular in the United States and around the world. It follows the aging yoga guru Sri K. Pattabhi Jois as he gives his final North American workshop in New York City in September 2001. Devotees were arriving from all over the world to partake in a rare opportunity to practice with the 86 year-old Jois. The 9/11 terrorist attacks took place in the midst of this celebration, and dramatically changed the meaning and purpose of this yoga gathering. In the difficult weeks that followed, Jois used the Ashtanga practice to help heal and fortify his diverse followers. This is no intructional video, and these are not your garden-variety contortionists. Ashtanga, NY is a real look into the intersection of ancient practice and modern life, New York-style.

Customer Reviews:

Cool movie if you are into Ashtanga yoga.......2007-06-10

the film portrays Guruji's month long workshop in NYC. Right in the middle of it was Sept 11th. The film touches that pretty deeply and this gives an emotional component to it that wouldn't have been there if the workshop had taken place at any other time. some of the interviews are a little trite and pretentious, but it gives a nice up close look at Pattabhi Jois, Sharath, and the rest of his family. It also does some justice to the benifits of Ashtanga yoga. It's worth watching. I enjoyed it, but it's not something I'll watch again and again.

ashtanga inspiration.......2007-06-08

This short documentary reveals a lot about the heart of Ashtanga yoga practice.

More Than Expected.......2007-01-13

This movie really touched me. I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered it because I don't know much about Ashtanga yoga. Not only do you get a glimpse of one of the greatest gurus of our time at work, but you hear how this practice affects those who do it on many levels. It shows not only the physical side of yoga, but the community of yoga. I've seen it 4 times, and am still moved when I watch it.

Insightful.......2006-05-01

You won't walk away with the specifics of Ashtanga, but rather, a deeper appreciation of the physical practice as well as a spiritual understanding of how the lives of people who practice Ashtanga have been transformed. There was very little talk about what Ashtanga really is, so if you're looking to find out more about it, you won't find it on this video.

This documentary provides a glimpse into the world of Pattabhi Jois ("Guruji"), his lifelong commitment to teaching Ashtanga, and his trip to New York for a month-long yoga workshop with members of his family.

There a few celebrity appearances and a LOT of "how I feel" from "normal" people whose lives have changed because of Ashtanga. Although I could relate to these people, it began to get tiring after awhile.

What was refreshing was how Ashtanga and Guruji helped people in the classes to cope with the Sept. 11 attacks, including the ritual they conducted to honor those who perished in and affected by the attacks, that as one person said was thousands of years old and not something that was specially planned for the tragedy.

I've been practicing Ashtanga for 6 months and after watching this video, I suddenly felt connected to something that was older and so much larger than what I do on my sticky mat every week.

Deepened my understanding of this ancient practice.......2005-05-08

My daughter Wini who practices Ashtanga yoga gave me this DVD to watch. She wanted me to understand exactly what it was that has challenged and inspired her so much for the past few years. Last night I watched the DVD. And I must say that I do now understand.

This is a short documentary, only 41 minutes. And yet, it managed to captivate the essence of what the practice of Ashtanga yoga is. It was shot in September of 2001, during a period of time that Sri K Pattabhi Jois, the 86-year old Indian yoga teacher affectionately know as Guruji, came to New York to hold a large group class for devotees. Every day that month, 250 of his followers practiced yoga at dawn under his watchful eye in a huge room at Chelsea piers. Yes, there were some celebrities there, namely Willem Dafoe, Gwyneth Paltrow and Beastie Boy Mike D, but I only recognized Willem Dafoe who made a comment at the beginning about his need to practice yoga to be able better function in the stimulating atmosphere of New York City.

The practice of Ashtanga yoga is intense. It requires almost daily attendance as well as extremely demanding physical exercises. But whoever practices it seems to come away with a cult-like devotion to it and a feeling of camaraderie with the people who practice it alongside each of them even if they do not know their names or who they are, and a sense of spirituality and well being.

During the period of time this documentary was being made, New York experienced the horrible attacks on 9/11. I remember the feeling of living in New York at the time. I remember the deep sense of sadness and mourning. This comes across quite clearly during a ceremony held by the yoga teacher. And the DVD certainly depicted how the devotees' practice of yoga helped the get through this terrible time.

I was fascinated throughout at this very thoughtful and reverent documentary. And although I knew that my own daughter was not in this particular film, I thought a lot of the yoga students looked a lot like her. It was probably because all of them had lithe, lean and flexible bodies.

Before I saw this film I thought I understood what Ashtanga yoga was about. But seeing it with my own eyes certainly deepened my own understanding.

Recommended.

Average customer rating:

Great Show - Terrible DVD Setup
Absolutely FUNNY!
Kung Faux is Cutting Edge Comedy, Classic Cuts, & Kung Fu!

Kung Faux - Vol. 1
Starring: Queen Latifah , Afrika Bambaataa , Elephant Man , Fatman Scoop , and The Guru
Director: Mic Neumann
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Kung Faux, Vol. 2
Kung Faux, Vol. 3
Kung Faux, Vol. 4
Kung Faux, Vol. 5
Kung Faux - Volume 1

ASIN: B000C6NP9A
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Product Description

The Tommyboy label is one of the oldest, most established, and respected hip-hop labels around. KUNG FAUX see's some of the labels greatest MC's taking the mic and overdubbing some of their favorite kung fu movies, with spectacular results! Originally shown on Comedy Central and Much Music, the MC's participating in this innovative show include Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Prince Paul, Force MD's, and many more!

System Requirements:

Running Time 100 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Great Show - Terrible DVD Setup.......2007-04-11

There's no doubt that you will almost die laughing while watching these Kung Faux DVDs. They're smart, witty, and so unexpected. However my main complaint is that there are COMMERCIALS! Yes, commercials! Advertisements for various products run two to three times within one episode and then there's about 5-10 minutes of commercials between each episode. Another problem is that there is only two episodes on each DVD, which would be extremly pricey if you paid the full $17.99 Amazon asks for each of the 5 DVDs. I suppose you could say the many extras on the disc make up for there only being two episodes but spending $90 to own the complete series is outrageous!

Absolutely FUNNY!.......2006-06-20

When I was first introduced to this DVD, as a birthday gift, with the disclaimer: 'You're going to really dig this', I was instatly hooked the moment the first episode started. After the first 2 minutes I was laughing so hard, tears streamed from my eyes. The hip-hop element and street slang, wrapped around a kung fu movie is brilliant! This is the MOST "original" display of cinematography I have ever seen. The video game setting, mixed with a comic book style and the re-telling of classic karate flicks is something to see! I'm hooked! The first episode "Ill Master" is so funny, that I have watched this no less than a dozen times; only to see/hear something I missed previously. THANK YOU Tommyboy Films for an awesome product!

Kung Faux is Cutting Edge Comedy, Classic Cuts, & Kung Fu!.......2005-11-26

Man if you love comic books, classic cuts of music from the golden age of hip hop, kung fu flicks, & video games,
this TV series will put you on seventh heaven for real.

The dialogue is so fresh and so funny and so fly with bumping tracks, it feels like something that has been around for years while also feeling somehow new each time I watch it, and I can't say that about much of anything except maybe the movies "Sin City" or "Kung Fu Hustle", but "Kung Faux" kills them when it comes to scoring with massive tracks from artists like "De La Soul", "Grooverider", & "Stetsasonic".

I can't wait to own the whole seires on dvd and I love that is finally being released.

Now they just need to start releasing some soundtracks on CD from the series for me to be ready to die happy.-chuuurch!

Average customer rating:

Train Ride Is The REAL DEAL!
Train Ride
DUKE UNIVERSITY RIGHT NOW!!!!
colorblind drama to be lauded
not just important for females to see

Train Ride
Starring: Sean Anderson (VII) , Thomas Braxton Jr. , Joe Clair , Rel Dowdell , and Egypt (IV)
Director: Rel Dowdell
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Back in the Day
Book of Love: The Definitive Reason Why Men Are Dogs
Fair Game
Lift
Truth Be Told

ASIN: B00079Z9S2
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Description

A riveting thriller that follows the harrowing events surrounding a brutal attack on a college campus. Staring: Wood Harris(HBO The Wire, and Remember the Titans) and Hip Hop Star Mc Lite.

Customer Reviews:

Train Ride Is The REAL DEAL!.......2006-08-14

This movie was an excellent tale of the reality happening on college campuses and other venues as well. It is a true eye opener that tugs at the heart and made me very concerned about the lack of morality among this generation and the need for more positive role models. I am going to spread the word because everyone needs to see this movie, especially teens and young adults. There is a great lesson to be learned and I pray that someone will take heed. Carolyn aka Bunny in Philly

Train Ride.......2006-07-09

Everyone should see this movie. Especially if you have young children who are 'growing-up' in this crazy world. It was an eye-opener for me, in fact after watching the movie, I had this feeling of concern. Concerned if my nieces and God Children and friend's kids are actually aware of what is happening out there, just by hanging out with your friends. Friends who you thought you knew and trusted. I'm not going to give the story away, just BUY and WATCH this MOVIE.... Rel Dowdell and his team did a great job of 'telling it like it is' with taste. A very educational film.

DUKE UNIVERSITY RIGHT NOW!!!!.......2006-05-06

Yo! The filmmaker of this joint had some serious foresight. EVERYONE AT DULE UNIVERSITY should be made to watch this. This film could have saved them much embarassment and shame. Now that school's reputation will never be the same. People don't think that the things that happen in "Train Ride" can happen anywhere else, but it does. "Train Ride" takes place at a fictional black college, but as you can plainly see with the current scandalous events that took place at Duke University with the WHITE lacrosse team and the BLACK female dancer from nearby black college North Carolina Central, it can happen anywhere. Gotta give the writer/director props for making a super universal film that is more than in tune with current events than anything else out there. Duke University, R. Kelly, Mystikal, Kid Rock, Jayne Kennedy, Snoop Dogg, Rob Lowe, Paris Hilton, the wrestler Chyna, Pamela Anderson, Colin Farrell, the rapper Eve.. all have elements of "Train Ride" scandal somewhere in their lives that has made the world have a lesser opinion of them. Notice the diversity of the races of the names just mentioned. It happens to all races and classes. Get this joint and see the present day, the past, and the future of sexual relations gone terribly wrong, exploited, and untimately destroyed by greed, lust, and power.

colorblind drama to be lauded.......2006-05-06

This film is like being a fly on the wall watching lives unravel in an unfortunate and sad way. You feel compelled to watch. The ending surprised the crap out me. It had a new twist on what could have been old hat. In fact, it's the kind of ending that you have to see again to believe. I'm talking about the scene in the alley with the three male principals. Wood Harris yells, "We got options! We can run if we want too!" In reality, too much damage is done to ever turn back. The train went off the track and lives were destroyed forever because of insensitivity and selfishness. This film blows the lid off of any college drama done before, especially "Higher Learning." The casting was right on the money as well. Singleton's film may have had more money behind it, but definitely not more skill. Good job all around.

not just important for females to see.......2006-05-06

Females and males alike can get a lot from this film. One of the biggest problems in society today is the lack of respect that the current generation has for one another, especially on the dating tip. The characters in the film are not just black characters, they are any character u.s.a. I know the things that go on in this film are going on everywhere in this country, people are just scared to talk about it. This film is going to hit real close to home for many people for men and women. This is a great thing, because in the end, this film can help people heal or deal with this kind of ordeal, or better yet, it could save someone's life who may have been naive. The money is costs to check out this film is a bargain compared to years of therapy if the things in this film really happen to someone. That's the truth. Flick of choice for 2006.

Average customer rating:

I Got's FOUR now gimme more!

Kung Faux, Vol. 4
Starring: Queen Latifah , Afrika Bambaataa , Elephant Man , Fatman Scoop , and The Guru
Director: Mic Neumann
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Kung Faux, Vol. 5
Kung Faux, Vol. 3
Kung Faux, Vol. 2
Kung Faux - Vol. 1
Kung Faux - Volume 1

ASIN: B000E5KQKA
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Description

The "Kung Faux" TV series can be described as a "REMIX" of classic kung fu films from the 1970's which have been cut down to half hour length then re-combined with new music and voice over dialogue from classic hip hop artists & pop culture icons. This is Volume 4 of this hot series!

Customer Reviews:

I Got's FOUR now gimme more!.......2006-03-15

I love this whole dang series and now that I have copped Volume 4 I just need you all at Kung Faux to make me some more!

Average customer rating:

Yo! That's My Word!
Twice as nice for half the price!

Kung Faux, Vol. 2
Starring: Queen Latifah , Afrika Bambaataa , Elephant Man , Fatman Scoop , and The Guru
Director: Mic Neumann
Manufacturer: Tommy Boy Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Kung Faux, Vol. 3
Kung Faux, Vol. 4
Kung Faux, Vol. 5
Kung Faux - Vol. 1
Kung Faux - Volume 1

ASIN: B000CSUNSY
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Product Description

Kung Faux is a series of classic kung fu films that have been individually re-cut down to half hour lengths, re-scored with hit music, re-dubbed with comedic voice overs of hip hop personalities, and re-combined with comic book style graphics and video game theme pacing for a completely sensory blast! Volume Two has the episodes 'Pinky' & 'Mini Lee', plus hit video from NZ number one Hip Hop Artist, Scribal.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Yo! That's My Word!.......2006-06-12

Let me preface this by stating that I grew up watching the films of the Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest, so I am a major Kung Fu movie fan and collector. Kung Faux however is not traditional "chop socky" fair. It actually makes fun of some of the less than excellent flicks that I saw as a child in the "grind houses" and on television in the late 70's and early 80's. So if your looking for traditional Old School Kung Fu movies, you must look elsewhere (many of the Shaw Brothers classics have been remastered by a company called Celestial Pictures and are available from various vendors online. You will need a multi-region DVD player to view them though as the ones with English subtitles are produced for regions other than region 1).

Now that that's out of the way, let me tell you, I've been waiting forever for this particular volume of Kung Faux to drop. Outside of "Box Cutta", "Pinky" is my favorite episode of Kung Faux. Not only is "Pinky" funny but it is also daring. They took a big chance with that episode by calling a character a Spanish slang term for the female anatomy (which somehow got by the censors). It adds a whole other level of humour if you get the in-joke but it's still funny if you do not. Jean Grae is excellent as the voice of Pinky as well. If you are a fan of the Old School Kung Fu flicks and don't mind laughing again at some of the bad ones, get this. THAT'S MY WORD!

Twice as nice for half the price!.......2005-12-30

I have been waiting for this damn release of Kung Faux Volume 2 for over two years and I even resorted to buying a copy off of some questionable website for about twice the price in what was obviously a tv to pc "do it yourself" copy job that someone did of the episodes featured on this volume, but man I just couldn't wait that long for another dose of "Mini Lee", but i am making up for it by buying this official copy as soon as it hits the streets.- Now if they would just hurry the hell up with Volume 3, 4, & 5 so I can fix my jones for these damn things!

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

The Windsors - A Royal Family

The Stranger

Last Days of Frank and Jesse James (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Boiler Room/Sleepers

Amelia Earhart - Der letzte Flug