Big Trouble (2002)

Starring:Tim Allen, Lars Arentz-Hansen, Zooey Deschanel, Omar Epps, Dennis Farina, Ben Foster, Janeane Garofalo, Heavy D, Jack Kehler, Johnny Knoxville, Jason Lee, Daniel London, Michael McShane, Andy Richter, Rene Russo, Tom Sizemore, Stanley Tucci, SofÃa Vergara, Patrick Warburton
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Once you settle into the realization that this 1986 John Carpenter (Halloween) film is not going to be one of the director's more masterful works, Big Trouble in Little China just becomes a full-tilt comic blast. Kurt Russell is hilarious as a drawling, would-be John Wayne hero who steps into the middle of a supernatural war in the heart of Chinatown. While kung fu warriors and otherworldly spirits battle over the fate of two women (Kim Cattrall and Suzee Pai), Russell's swaggering idiot manages to knock himself out or underestimate the forces he's dealing with. The whole thing is dopey, but it's supposed to be dopey and Russell's game performance brings an ironic edge. Carpenter directs some nifty spook effects (the sudden arrival of three martial arts demigods from out of nowhere is worth applause), and he also wrote the music. --Tom Keogh

Description

Directed by thrill master John Carpenter, this edgo-of-your seat adventrue stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a tough-talking, wisecracking truck driver whose hum-drum life on the road takes a sudden supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancee is kidnapped. Speeding to the rescue, Jack finds himself deep beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, in a murky, creature-filled world ruled by Lo Pan, a 2000-year-old magician who mercilessly presides over an empire of spirits. Dodging demons and facing baffling terrors, Jack battles his way through Lo Pan's dark domain in a full-throttle, action-riddled ride to rescue the girl. Co-starring Kim Cattrall, this effects-filled sci-fi spectacle speeds to an incredible, twist-taking finish.

Customer Reviews:

Best. Movie. Ever. Period........2007-06-12

Just listen to the old Porkchop Express, alright? When you want to get the buddies together on a dark and stormy night and have a great time, all you need is some brews, some grub, and a copy of Big Trouble in Little China. This has got to be one of the greatest examples of a hilarious, great fun, buddy comedy-action flick ever devised. You will not be able to stop laughing. Your significant other will consider dumping you because you won't stop quoting it. You will never be able to stop doing the kung fu hand sign the good guys flash at each other during the flick. The greatest characters, most absurd dialogue, this one has it all. Go to the store right now and tell 'em old Jack Burton sent you for a copy. 'Nuff said.

Cheesy but entertaining!!.......2007-05-14

Cheesy but very entertaining. Very 80s. Not Curt's best stuff but very worth while viewing. His best work.............Captin Ron!!!

One of the greatest movies ever made!.......2007-04-11

Funny, action packed, martial arts, magic, monsters, great (but cheesy) dialogue - truly representative of the Golden Age of Movies (aka, the 80's). The first time I saw this flick, I watched it once a day for 30 days. Did I mention that this is one of many of great John Carpenter films?

Get with it, 'cause for this price, you'll be thanking me for your trip through nostalgia!!

Big Trouble in Little China.......2007-03-29

The name is Burton, Jack Burton. Fun, action, adventure. If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it. Jack Burton belongs up there with Jack Sparrow, Indiana Jones, and Han Solo.
When the movie came out, I had hoped for the futher adventures of Jack Burton. Maybe someday someone will write them, for now, all we can do is keep a list of favorite Jack Burtonisms "Its all in the reflexes."

May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!.......2007-01-25

As many have said before: You either get this movie or you don't. Predating mixed-genre TV shows like 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' by a decade, BTILC was an odd duck in 1986. Comedy, buddy action flick, thriller, drama, kung fu fest, fantasy, parody - it's all over the map and all of it is fun.

Just let it do its thing, sit back, and enjoy. The check is in the mail!

Average customer rating:

Definitely controversial. Interesting original story, but pretty graphic.
sensationalistic nihilism
Realistic niew of adolescence
where are you
Eh. I got fooled by the hype.

Kids
Starring: Leo Fitzpatrick , Sarah Henderson (II) , Justin Pierce , Joseph Chan , and Johnathan Staci Kim
Director: Larry Clark
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004YA6G
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Amazon.com

Larry Clark's controversial film about New York City adolescents walking the AIDS tightrope is also an unblinking look at the dehumanizing rituals of growing up. But it really doesn't add up to more than the sum of its various shocks--virgin busting, skinny-dipping, male callousness--overlayed with middle-class disapproval. Clark is hectoring us for cutting kids loose at a terrible time in modern American history, but so are a lot of other people, who also offer alternatives and ideas. The film does nothing to push us toward new thoughts, new solutions, new dreams. It is more like a window onto our worst fantasies about what our children are doing out there on the streets. --Tom Keogh

Description

Powerful and passionate, colorful and compelling, Larry Clark's KIDS is 24 frenetic hours in the life of a group of contemporary teenagers who, like all teenagers, believe they are invincible. With breathtaking images from one of the world's most renowned photographers, KIDS is a deeply affecting, no-holds-barred landscape of words and images, depicting with raw honesty the experiences, attitudes and uncertainties of innocence lost. KIDS gets under the skin and lingers, long after it is viewed. The kids at the core of the story are just that: teenagers living the urban melee of modern-day America. But while these kids dwell in the big city, their story could, quite possibly, happen anywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Definitely controversial. Interesting original story, but pretty graphic........2007-07-02

I remember when this came out, and I was just a few years older than the kids portrayed in this film, and I thought this was just crazy, nobody I knew ever did this junk. But, older and wiser looking back, and looking at kids these days, I am guessing that this kind of stuff does take place, I just am sheltered. This movie has the HIV scare tied into it, teen sex, and rampent drug use, stuff people, myself included, don't often associate with young to mid teen-agers. But, bad habits start somewhere, and this film portrays it well. As I now now, this behavior is more common than I ever could have immagined. Just speaks volumes about maintaining a good relationship and communication with your children, and maintaining a solid household. Check it out, still eye opening to this day.

sensationalistic nihilism.......2007-05-29

WOw, I would say that these kids are a carefully selected bunch of losers. They have nothing going for them but their reckless youth, meaningless promiscuity, and semi-affluence, combined with indifferent parents and a complete lack of interesting minds, not to forget low self esteem. Those are all the buzzwords designed to shock: all of the buttons are pushed, even rape and violence. Oh, then there is HIV/Aids. The execution of this film is also clunky, while some of the acting is good, though I suspect the actors may be exctly what they are portraying.

While there are certainly subcultures likes this - pseudo-sophisticated, selfish, and arrogantly fearless - I must admit that I doubt my kids hang out with kids like these or ever would. Of course, there but for the grace of God go we all, but we listen to our kids, they enjoy achieving, and they are developing interests that possibly are pointing in career directions; they rebel, they experiment, and we talk with them.

So I don't think the sick kids here reflect much about the youth of today, except for a very small group. Most kids understand basic limits, and it is our job as parents to make sure they do.

Not recommended, except for those parents who need this kind of shock, utterly lacking in nuance and subtlty as it is.

Realistic niew of adolescence.......2007-05-21

Ever wonder what your kids are doing when they say they're staying at a friend's place over the weekend? Ever think to yourself "Im sure i had another $10 in there"....This movie is not only entertaining, but educational to both parents and adolescents. My only quam is that in some cases it glorifies the life these kids are living. No doubt in their own mind they are living in glory, however, the stark reality is quite the opposite, and i think this message gets blurred at times.

where are you.......2007-05-16

this what happens when kids have no parents to raise them . all parents should see this if they have the guts

Eh. I got fooled by the hype........2007-05-12

Kids (Larry Clark, 1995)

Once all the furor has died down, Kids will be remembered as the movie that started the careers of Chloe Sevigny and Rosario Dawson. Of course, it's been twelve years, and the furor hasn't yet died down. I'm a little confused as to why.

The story, though it takes Clark a while to get around to it: Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick) and Casper (Justin Pierce) are skate kids in New York. Jennie (Sevigny) is a girl Telly had had sex with in the past. She accompanies her friend Ruby (Dawson) to the clinic so Ruby can get an HIV test; Ruby turns out negative, but Jennie is positive. The rest of the movie is Jennie trying to track down Telly before he can sleep with anyone else and tell him.

First off: watch the movie with subtitles on. It won't offer a complete translation, but it'll probably help. Telly and Casper's dialogue is often unintelligible. It may lend credibility to the characters, but sometimes you have to sacrifice a bit of credibility so as not to lose your audience. (Interestingly, almost every male in the movie talks in the same odd patois; I can't remember a single female in the movie doing so.) Second, the pace here is all over the map; it seemed as if Clark were working entirely without an idea of pace until the main story starts up (which happens far enough into the film that it seems as if it's going to be a plotless slice-of-life flick for a while), and once the main story does appear, the movie wanders off into tangents that sabotage the pace even more. Parts of the film that should have been minor scenes to advance the plot are dragged out, while valuable character-building scenes are jump-cut.

I got the feeling I was supposed to be shocked by the ages of the participants, as well. First off, that's a gimmick at best, and a transparent one; second, are there really people who don't know what teenagers are like these days? (And "these days" is a misnomer-- it's been a long, long time since I was a teen, and we were like this then, too.)

It's not bad, and does contain some good performances, but it's certainly not the groundbreaking masterpiece I'd been expecting given the twelve years of raves I'd heard about it. ** ½

The John Wayne Film Collection (Without Reservations / Allegheny Uprising / Tycoon / Reunion in France / Big Jim McLain / Trouble Along the Way)

Average customer rating:

Awesome
Diverse collection
A Centennial Birthday Present for John Wayne Fans!
The John Wayne Film Collection
the Duke pays his dues

The John Wayne Film Collection (Without Reservations / Allegheny Uprising / Tycoon / Reunion in France / Big Jim McLain / Trouble Along the Way)
Starring: John Wayne
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000O599XA
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Amazon.com

Pilgrim, let's talk. John Wayne starred in something like 150 feature films, and the most loyal Duke devotee cannot insist that all of them were U.S. Grade A, even if the man himself never stinted. So what we have in this boxed set--now that the classics have been corralled in previous collections--is a mixed bag. A couple of these movies should be happy discoveries. A couple are honorable misfires. A couple are downright (to borrow a disturbing word from McLintock!) unprepossessing. But all are new to DVD and all are welcome, because there's no such thing as a John Wayne movie that isn't worth checking out.

The likable Allegheny Uprising (1939) was made at RKO half a year after Wayne achieved stardom in Stagecoach. It's an odd little picture: a "Western" set in Pennsylvania, a "forgotten footnote of history" about a rebellion against King George III's forces a decade-and-a-half before the American Revolution, and a basically B-movie production (over and done with in 80 minutes) with some middling-large action scenes and lots of fresh air and sunlight. Wayne plays a thoughtful fellow named Jim Smith who leads his "men of the Conococheague" in a brief shooting war in which they scrupulously strive not to kill anybody; they're still loyal British subjects, for all their buckskinned orneriness. Just as buckskinned and just as ornery is love interest Claire Trevor, and George Sanders gives yeoman service as the obdurate Brit officer responsible for a lot of the civil unrest.

Reunion in France (1942) finds Wayne out of his element at chintzy MGM in a Parisian-set WWII melodrama conceived for and dominated by Joan Crawford--the only occasion these stars worked together. She's a cosseted but curiously principled fashionista shaken by the Nazis' inconsiderate invasion of France--and still more by the willingness of her millionaire industrial designer fiancé (Philip Dorn) to collaborate with Hitler's war machine. The Duke makes a delayed entrance as a Yank whose RAF plane has crashed in the French countryside. Crawford shelters him, against her better judgment, then begins to be drawn to someone with even more imposing shoulders than her own. In later years everybody involved in this film preferred to forget it had ever happened, but its wackiness can be endearing.

In Without Reservations (1946), the Duke again is essentially a featured player in a woman's picture, with Claudette Colbert as a novelist searching for "the Man of Tomorrow" to play the main character in the film version of her visionary bestseller. That turns out to be the Marine she bumps into on the transcontinental train taking her to Hollywood. The script, like their much-interrupted journey, is all over the map, and the comedy scenes are shockingly mishandled--though it looks as if director Mervyn LeRoy was trying to imitate Preston Sturges in some of them and Ernst Lubitsch in others. Cary Grant has a charming cameo, as himself.

Tycoon (1947) inspired a sublime one-sentence review from James Agee: "Several tons of dynamite are set off in this movie; none of it under the right people." Wayne's an engineer trying to drill and blast through the Andes, and his worst obstacle is the aristocratic railroad magnate (Sir Cedric Hardwicke) he's working for--chiefly because Wayne and the magnate's daughter (Laraine Day) have fallen for each other. The script spins its wheels (the film runs two hours plus), and neither the corporate politics nor the romance makes a lick of sense, but fans of vibrant Technicolor will O.D. on this movie's psychedelic palette. The supporting cast (able but wasted) includes James Gleason, Anthony Quinn, Judith Anderson, and Paul Fix, and the Andes are played by the Alabama Hills at Lone Pine, Calif.

The kindest and most damning thing to say about the 1952 Big Jim McLain is that it's a Cold War artifact, a snapshot of that American moment when Sen. Joseph McCarthy could pass for a patriot and a hero. Wayne, companioned by equally big Jim Arness, actually plays an investigator for McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee, searching out Commies in Hawaii. The Red agents on view are a robotic bunch who look as if they couldn't menace a dog pound, but that was consistent with such contemporary portrayals of fifth-column lifestyle as the TV series I Led Three Lives. Latterday liberal sentimentality about the Party can be as absurd as '50s paranoia was, so the point here is not to condemn Wayne's politics, but to deplore how completely he lost his moviemaking savvy whenever he set out to crusade. This personal production of the actor's own company is an embarrassingly shoddy piece of work. Still, it is a window into its time.

Even John Wayne fans have tended to skip the dubious-sounding Trouble Along the Way. Well, don't. This comedy-drama about a former big-time football coach signing on at a venerable Catholic college turns out to be an intriguingly complicated entertainment. The title invokes the sentimental classic Going My Way, with the great Charles Coburn taking the doddering-but-sly priest (and school administrator) role. Besides the threatened shutdown of the college, there's the vicious campaign of Wayne's ex-wife Marie Windsor to regain custody of daughter Sherry Jackson, who pretty much lives out of the bar where her disreputable dad runs a bookie operation. Donna Reed plays a social worker who has to make the call in this contest. The script by future Bob Hope writers Melville Shavelson and Jack Rose and direction by Michael Curtiz combine to scuff up Wayne's heroic image, and instead of the sappy big-game climax we think we see coming a mile away, the movie veers toward a finale in which several "happy endings" are put on hold. For his part, Wayne gets to deliver more syncopated dialogue than usual, and seems both refreshed and startled by the experience.

The packaging of the six feature DVDs falls a mite short of the wraparound "Warner Night at the Movies" extras in other collections: one live-action short, one cartoon, and sometimes the movie's trailer. The cartoons are fine, and the live short packaged with Allegheny Uprising is one of those Technicolor history lessons featuring studio contract players that Warners used to win awards for--the 1939 "The Bill of Rights." There are no commentaries. --Richard T. Jameson

Studio description

Includes: Without Reservations (1946), Allegheny Uprising (1939), Tycoon (1947), Reunion in France (1942), Big Jim McLain (1952), Trouble Along the Way (1953).

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2007-06-28

It got here in a timely manner and was a great gift for my dad!

Diverse collection.......2007-06-26

This is a welcome release from WB, 6 very different films. The quality overall is good, although I do not think any of the films have been fully restored they are all reasonable prints. All discs have a period related extra and some have trailers. I would have liked to have seen the colorized version of Allegheny Uprising included as a bonus. The box set discs are identical to the individual releases at a good saving in price.

A Centennial Birthday Present for John Wayne Fans!.......2007-06-19

As part of the celebration of John Wayne's 100th birthday, "The John Wayne Film Collection" offers an unusual but fascinating collection of titles without a cowboy hat in sight...and while not his best, all are worth watching!

"Allegheny Uprising" (1939): While under contract to Republic, much of Wayne's value was as a loan-out to other studios; when United Artists' March release of John Ford's "Stagecoach" was a hit, RKO snapped him up, re-teamed him with Claire Trevor, and prayed for 'Colonial' lightning, as the film was released a week after Ford's "Drums Along the Mohawk", in November. While only a modest hit, Wayne received good reviews, and Republic prepared it's own big-budget 'debut' for the new superstar, "Dark Command". This is an important title in Wayne's emerging career...(4 stars out of 5)

"Reunion in France" (1942): With most of Hollywood's leading men in uniform, Wayne's availability and rising popularity made him a very hot commodity, and MGM was quick to 'borrow' him for Joan Crawford's first 'war-themed' drama. While in a supporting role, he received billing above Crawford's actual leading man, Philip Dorn, and Wayne's image was LARGER than either Crawford or Dorn in much of the film's advertising! A routine film, but Wayne's presence guaranteed box office... (2 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Without Reservations" (1946): Released just months after the war's end, this RKO-Claudette Colbert vehicle, while not top-notch, was directed by the legendary Mervyn LeRoy, and provided the Duke a chance to do his first service comedy...and he was excellent! Teamed with veteran comic actor Don DeFore, he'd offer intellectual author Colbert a taste of the 'real world'; their growing romance, if convoluted, was charming...and don't miss Cary Grant's brief 'cameo'! (3 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Tycoon" (1947): Most of Wayne's films of the late forties were westerns, and this inept 'action/drama' may be a reason why! As an engineer dynamiting a railroad tunnel through a mountain, he steamrolls through romance and friendships to become the 'heel' he perfected in "Pittsburgh", and neither critics nor fans liked either him, or the film. It would take Howard Hawks to make Duke's 'dark side' believable, and sympathetic, in "Red River". (1 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Big Jim McLain" (1952): Wayne's 'love letter' to the House Un-American Activities Committee, and proof that "Homeland Security" isn't the first time the government has trampled on civil liberties in the name of patriotism. Duke attempted to justify the 'witch hunt' with this flag-waving piece of propaganda; Commies were all secret agents of the Kremlin, and Duke, at his brawling, romancing 'best', was the Committee investigator out to stop them, in Hawaii. It's sad, it's silly, but it does reflect the paranoia of the times...and offers a warning for today. (2 stars out of 5)

"Trouble Along the Way" (1953): Released 8 months after "McLain", this delightful comedy/drama, offering one of Wayne's most rounded performances, was largely ignored by critics. As a disgraced college coach who uses illegal methods to attempt to save a small Catholic school, and retain custody of his daughter, Wayne is completely natural and believable, with a first-rate cast and legendary director Michael Curtiz, in a small gem...(4 stars out of 5)

If you want a more 'complete' view of the Duke, 'warts and all', away from his westerns and war movies, you'll never find a better collection!

The John Wayne Film Collection.......2007-06-13

This collection of John Wayne movies comes out right in time for the 100 year anniversary of his birth. He stars with Claire Trevor in Allegheny Uprising, his costar in Stagecoach. This was made in 1939 as he was beginning his rise to super-stardom. Reunion in France was made in 1942 and costarred Joan Crawford. Without Reservations was made in 1946 with Claudette Colbert. Tycoon came out in 1947 with Laraine Day as his costar. Big Jim McLain released in 1952 saw Wayne fighting a Communist espionage ring in Hawaii with James Arness as his partner, who Wayne would later recommend for the part of Matt Dillon on TV's Gunsmoke. Trouble Along the Way teamed Wayne with Donna Reed and had Wayne as a win at any cost football coach who reforms in the end to keep from losing his daughter. Three decades of movies that demonstrate the range of an actor that still ranks as one of the top three actors of all time. And he did not play the cowboy in a single one. A must have collection for anyone who has ever seen the great man's movies.

the Duke pays his dues.......2007-06-11

This six disk collection gathers together some of John Wayne's movies that have not been available on DVD or VHS before, and for that reason alone deserves space in the collection of Wayne fans. John Wayne made over 100 movies, yet the same twenty or so keep getting release while the bulk of his work is ignored, so it is nice to see some of his "forgotten" movies seeing the light of day.

These movies are from an interesting period in John Wayne's career. They were made as he was transitioning from a second-rate actor into a star. The first - "Allegheny Uprising" - dates from the same year as his breakout hit "Stagecoach" which elevated him from a low-rate cowboy serial actor into a hot studio property. It is interesting to note that in both movies, Claire Trevor actually had higher billing than John Wayne - something that seems odd to those of us who grew up watching movies in the years when he was a superstar. "Allegheny Uprising" is probably the best movie in this collection.

The second movie in the collection "Reunion in France", from 1942, is from the War era, when John Wayne was one of the few movie stars who did not join the armed services, as a result he found himself in demand both as a supporting actor and leading man and, as he said in interview after the war years - he started making money for the first time, and had a family to support. "Reunion" is interesting in that Wayne is, once again, not the star of the movie, and seems to be hired mainly for his rugged good looks rather than his acting ability. He doesn't even get the girl.

The third movie in this set is a romantic comedy "Without Reservations", from 1946, and is one of the last few movies Wayne made in which he did not receive top billing. It is one of a handful of comdedies John Wayne made over the years, and people who were surprised at his comedic performances in "True Grit" and "Rooster Cogburn" probably weren't paying attention. The Duke had a gift for dry comedy, which is demonstrated in this film.

The fourth movie in the set is "The Tycoon" and is the first in which he has top billing. It is an interesting railroad story burdened with an added-on romance that makes the movie drag. Movies like this were probably one of the reasons John Wayne began to want full control over his career. That would come a few years later after he starred in John Ford's cavalry trilogy, which turned him into a star who could write his own destiny.

The fifth movie in this collection is "Big Jim McLain" fromn 1952, and is an early product of John Wayne's Batjac Productions. It is one of two pure propaganda films that he made in order to put his personal political opinions before the public. This was made during the Macarthy era, when the House Unamerican Committee, under the leadership of Joseph Macarthy, was trampling citizen's rights and accusing anybody who disagreed with them of being a communist. Many Holliwood actors, directors and workers ended up being blacklisted because they refused to testify before the committee. John Wayne supported witch-hunt looking for commies under every rock, and this film was his way of trying to turn people who were trampling human rights and creating hysteria for their own political ends into heroes. "Big Jim" is actually much more watchable than his second propaganda film - The Green Berets - in which he tried to portray the Vietnam war as a "Good War" like World War II and utterly failed. "Big Jim" is worth watching as a warning against those who tell us "If you are not with us, you are with our enemies" and then try to subvert our constitutional rights.

The final movie of the set is "Trouble Along the Way" - the second comedy in the collection. This 1953 gem was made after Wayne finally became a first rate star and could write his own ticket. The great Cavalry Trilogy is now behind him, and his best work (as well as some of his worst work) are yet ahead of him. Wayne plays a single father and defrocked football coach who is called upon to rescue a failing Catholic college by turning a pathetic football team into winners, while trying to keep custody of his tomboy daughter and romancing the girl's social worker (Donna Reed). Sherry Jackson, playing Wayne's daughter, steals the show and turns what might have been a second rate movie into a little gem.

This collection is worth adding to your library because the films fill a void in available Wayne movies. But the extras - a featurette and cartoon or comedy short of the same vintage as each film, are icing on the cake. They bring back the days when you went to the movies for fifty cents and got a B-movie, a featurette, a cartoon and a main feature for your money. None of the movies are great, but they are all worth watching.

Average customer rating:

Not as good as the book, but still very funny
funny, funny
Silly + Idiotic = Classic Dave Berry Video
More like Big Fun!
Big Trouble - funniest movie in years!

Big Trouble
Starring: Tim Allen , Lars Arentz-Hansen , Zooey Deschanel , Omar Epps , and Dennis Farina
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Big Trouble

ASIN: B00006ADFN
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Amazon.com

The frantic pacing of Big Trouble is surely intentional, but the movie leaves you wanting more of... something. Not more characters--it's got plenty of those--but more room for them to breathe in a top-heavy plot that recalls Get Shorty (also directed by Barry Sonnenfeld) without reaching those heights of ingenuity. Based on the bestseller by syndicated Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry, this Miami-based mayhem bears the distinct imprint of Barry's humor, in which absurdities pile up like rush-hour traffic, involving a former journalist (Tim Allen) connected by circumstance to a wealthy schemer (Stanley Tucci), his bored wife (Rene Russo), Russian mobsters, mismatched cops (Janeane Garofalo, Patrick Warburton), power-crazed FBI agents (Heavy D, Omar Epps), a Frito-loving drifter (Jason Lee), cretinous criminals (Tom Sizemore, Johnny Knoxville), and a gigantic toad that shoots hallucinogenic saliva. Culminating in an airport bomb smuggling (prompting the film's delayed release after the tragedy of September 11, 2001), Big Trouble needs the brilliant cohesion of Dr. Strangelove; what it gets is Sonnenfeld's knack for sustained chaos, and a few decent belly laughs. --Jeff Shannon

Description

The laughs come fast and furious as Tim Allen (JOE SOMEBODY, GALAXY QUEST) and Rene Russo (SHOWTIME, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR) star in a film from Barry Sonnenfeld, director of GET SHORTY and MEN IN BLACK. Based on humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, BIG TROUBLE follows the comedic chaos created when a mysterious suitcase that threatens the security of Miami changes the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, 2 hit men, a pair of street thugs, 2 love-struck teens, 2 FBI men, and a psychedelic toad. There is something for everyone no matter who is looking for BIG TROUBLE -- and in the end, all-star comedy conquers all.

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as the book, but still very funny.......2007-03-19

This is a funny movie! If you haven't read the book, see the movie, then read the book. But do both!

funny, funny.......2007-02-12

This movie has it all. Dave Barry, Tim Allen, Florida, crooks, bozos, cops, bozos, goats, a bomb and Martha Stewart (NOT like you would expect - trust me).

Silly + Idiotic = Classic Dave Berry Video.......2007-01-16

The book "Big Trouble" was Dave Barry's first novel and was his first effort into 'full length' literature. Of course, Dave Barry had already been writing for several years before he penned "Big Trouble" but most of his works up to that time had been ten-minute stories for the Miami Herald. Even his many books were little more than compilations of his weekly newspaper pieces. But "Big Trouble" was different. It had a story to tell. It was a funny story (how could Dave Barry do anything else?) and I enjoyed it tremendously!

But now, "Big Trouble" has been made into a movie and like all other movies-from-books, I expected "Big Trouble", the movie, to have very little in common with "Big Trouble", the book. But I was pleasently surprised because the movie followed the book very closely! Everything that I thought was funny in the book was repeated, mostly word-for-word, in the movie. The producer and director aparrently didn't feel that they could improve on Dave Barry's writing style and the video audience is so much the better for it. (Now if we could only convince other movie producers to follow the original books more faithfully...)

Anyway, my wife and I (both big Dave Barry fans) watched the movie on a quiet evening during the Christmas holidays and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We didn't expect the movie to be a statement on any current politics (the Iraq War, The Bush Administration, Britney Spears nekkid internet pictures, etc) nor did we expect the movie to solve any of mankind's problems (world hungar, disease, Britney Spears, etc.) What we got was what we expected - silly, corny humor and a good reason to sit on the couch and wolf down a bucket of popcorn. If it's something important and meaningful that you crave, forget this video. Watch a Britney Spears video instead.

More like Big Fun!.......2007-01-12

This is a great movie! Everybody and their mother is in it and it is just full of funny stuff! Even if you don't like Tim Allen, you will like this movie!

Big Trouble - funniest movie in years!.......2007-01-04

Big Trouble based on the novel by Dave Barry that i read first and probably the book is a little , just a little bit funnier. The actors are amazing (Dennis Farina and the seat belt, gators fan!), all duets are so funny that everybody will find their favorites!

Big Trouble in Little China (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Best. Movie. Ever. Period.
Cheesy but entertaining!!
One of the greatest movies ever made!
Big Trouble in Little China
May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!

Big Trouble in Little China (Special Edition)
Starring: Kate Burton , Kim Cattrall , Lia Chang , George Cheung , and Chao Li Chi
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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Army of Darkness

ASIN: B00005A3KU
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Best. Movie. Ever. Period........2007-06-12

Cheesy but entertaining!!.......2007-05-14

Cheesy but very entertaining. Very 80s. Not Curt's best stuff but very worth while viewing. His best work.............Captin Ron!!!

One of the greatest movies ever made!.......2007-04-11

Big Trouble in Little China.......2007-03-29

May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!.......2007-01-25

Big Trouble in Little China (UMD for PSP)

Average customer rating:

Big Trouble in Little China (UMD for PSP)
Starring: Kate Burton , Kim Cattrall , Lia Chang , George Cheung , and Chao Li Chi
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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Accessories:

Sony PSP PlayGear Amp
Sony PSP Comfort Grips Black
Sony PSP Psyclone Nodus Sound System
Sony PSP Travel Case

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Directed by thrill master John Carpenter, this edgo-of-your seat adventrue stars Kurt Russell as Jack Burton, a tough-talking, wisecracking truck driver whose hum-drum life on the road takes a sudden supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancee is kidnapped. Speeding to the rescue, Jack finds himself deep beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, in a murky, creature-filled world ruled by

ASIN: B000AQ691S
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Description

3-2-1 Penguins!: Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn

Average customer rating:

3-2-1 Penguins!: Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn
Starring: 3-2-1 Penguins
Manufacturer: Big Idea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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3-2-1 Penguins - Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt

ASIN: B00062IVC6
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Average customer rating:

Behind-the-scenes info for Cass buffs
Falk and Arkin Can't Miss. Be Prepared to Laugh
Cassavetes fans, don't bother.
hilarious...on the order of "The In-Laws". Falk/Arkin great!

Big Trouble
Starring: Peter Falk , Alan Arkin , Beverly D'Angelo , Charles Durning , and Robert Stack
Director: John Cassavetes
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Big Trouble
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ASIN: B00009OOFJ
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Amazon.com

The last film directed by John Cassavetes, Big Trouble reteamed some of the creators of the much funnier The In-Laws. But despite another script by Andrew Bergman, and a cast that reunited Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, this comedy doesn't live up to its predecessor. A spoof of Double Indemnity, the film casts Arkin as a nervous insurance agent faced with huge college tuition bills for a trio of sons headed for Yale. To make extra money, he gets involved in a scheme with a woman (Beverly D'Angelo) trying to kill her husband (Falk). That the whole thing turns out to be an adventure in insurance fraud shouldn't come as a surprise. Despite an inconsistent script, the chemistry between Arkin and Falk can still produce the occasional laugh. --Marshall Fine

Description

Alan Arkin and Peter Falk star in John Cassavetes' comedic homage to Double Indemnity. When lovely Beverly D'Angelo convinces insurance man Arkin (who is desperate to send his triplet sons to Yale) to kill off her husband, things get progressively stranger ... and funnier.

Customer Reviews:

Behind-the-scenes info for Cass buffs.......2005-01-26

For a fascinating behind-the-scenes info about Big Trouble and a list of books about Cassavetes' work, go to Ray Carney's website dedicated to John Cassavetes (found through any search engine).

Falk and Arkin Can't Miss. Be Prepared to Laugh.......2003-03-29

The In-Laws is the standard, but there are scenes in this one that I still can't get through without choking laughter 15 years later. This movie goes beyond off the wall in some spots, and the cast gets it done. It's all about Arkin, Falk, and of course, Richard Libertini in an "In-Laws" like wacky role. No cerebral stuff going on here, but you'll laugh throughout. Find this movie somehow. You won't be sorry

Cassavetes fans, don't bother........2000-11-02

This film, as far as I know, is the "real" last film Cassavetes directed -- not LOVE STREAMS, alas, though that makes a much more fitting final movie. Cassavetes was probably trying to generate funding for a film biography of Django Rheinhardt he was preparing to make (which, of course, he never did get to); either that or he was doing a favor for his friend Peter Falk. In any case, the film has NO bearing on Cassavetes other work. You'll see no sign of his touch at any point, and little sign that he particularly cared about the project. It plays through as a mediocre commercial comedy, poorly written and not very funny. It's professionally done -- but that's about it. Don't even be curious.

hilarious...on the order of "The In-Laws". Falk/Arkin great!.......1998-11-27

A follow up (but not a sequel) to the comedy "The In-Laws", Peter Falk and Alan Arkin pick up where they left off. A lighthearted comedy about an insurance salesman (Arkin) who unwittingly gets caught up in a scheme by Falk and his wife, played by Beverly D'Angelo. Many twists and turns in this classic! You will long remember the highway scene, the nose reconstruction, the drink, the kidnapping, the drugstore, the train, the homeless man, the adjuster. 4.9 stars

Average customer rating:

Crime Doesn't Pay
Fairly entertaining East Side Kids Film
One of the better Alpha/Gotham Transfers
East Side Kids back in reform school. Gabe Dell joins cast.
Mr. Wise Guy

East Side Kids: Mr. Wise Guy
Starring: Leo Gorcey , Bobby Jordan , Huntz Hall , Billy Gilbert , and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams
Director: William Nigh
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008J2GB
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Customer Reviews:

Crime Doesn't Pay.......2007-06-27

This film opens with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. The East Side Kids are hanging out in the street. An alarm sounds - someone has escaped from Blackwell's Island (the prison). The boys fool around with a truck, unknowingly helping an escaped convict. Bill wants his younger brother to get a job to keep him off the streets (and Reform School). But its too late, they are pinched. There is new management at Wiltwyck now. [The film reminds us how men would worry about being underweight!] Bill Collins stops for cigarettes, there is a holdup and shooting. Bill's car is hijacked by one of the robbers and he is blamed unless he can prove his innocence.

The boys are sentenced for stealing that truck, and are working in the barnyard. Danny Collins learns of his brother's tragic fate. Charley tells Mr. Barns about his suspicions, but is punished for informing. Charley has more trouble with Muggsy. While watching a newsreel they see a face they recognize, and they learn more about the Luke Manning gang. The boys escape to track down Dorothy, the girlfriend of Luke Manning. There are some funny scenes here. Of course there is a happy ending to this more serious film in the series. It tells about big city life as seen by Hollywood. Has much changed since then?

Fairly entertaining East Side Kids Film.......2005-02-26

This is one of the Monogram cheapies that the kids so frequently did but it's not bad. Typical of their films of the 40's, a little grittier and more dramatic and less slapstick than they would become in the 1950's. In this one the kids are convicted of stealing a truck and sent to the Wilton Reform school. There they learn that Danny's brother has been sentenced to be executed for a murder he did not commit. The Kids now have to bust out of the reform school and capture the real murderer to save bill.

As noted this early Kids film is a much crime drama as it is comedy but the comedy bits are funny and the dramatic parts done as well as any B movie of the day. Well acted compared to many Monogram pictures and the film looks good, too. The reform school guards are you typical uncaring fellows who don't believe anything the kids say.

Well done Kids movie.

One of the better Alpha/Gotham Transfers.......2005-02-15

I disagree with the other revewier, the copy I got from Alpha/Gotham is fairly sharp (only 16mm prints exist on the East Side Kids films) with decent contrast & a good soundtrack. yes there are some film slpices, but I have seen much worse from Alpha.

East Side Kids back in reform school. Gabe Dell joins cast........2004-03-19

Now that the East Side Kids (Leo Gorcey, Bobby Jordan, Huntz Hall, Sammy Morrison) are done chasing spooks (SPOOKS RUN WILD [1941]), they get silly talking to mannequins. Someone escapes from prison on Blackwell's Island, so the boys go to investigate at the dock on West St. The police think the prisoner has drowned, but has not. By stealing a truck they helped the convict. The kids end up in reform school (again). Danny's (Bobby Jordan) brother, Bill, is wrongfully accused of murder. The real murderer is the same convict that got the boys in reform school. Within two days, the kids must break-out of reform school to save the life of Danny's brother before he is executed. Ann Doran is in this one and Bobby Stone too. Gabriel Dell who was over with Billy Halop, Huntz Hall and Bernard Punsly helping the Little Tough Guys joins the East Side Kids films too. The next film in the series: LET'S GET TOUGH! (1942).

Mr. Wise Guy.......2003-11-07

This is another DVD distributed by Alpha Video.Unfortunately the transfer to Dvd is horrible, I dont Know where they get their source material, but this Dvd is as bad as their other Bowery boy Dvds.Save your money, I wish I had.

Average customer rating:

(Um, I think it is 5 stars) 3-2-1 Penguins, Episode 1
Simply Awesome!
A household favorite
Creatively Different !!!!
Zany fun that gets better with every episode

3-2-1 Penguins - Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn
Starring: 3-2-1 Penguins
Manufacturer: Big Idea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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3-2-1 Penguins!: Moon Menace of Planet Tell-A-Lie

ASIN: B00006FDCW
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Amazon.com

After seven years of talking vegetables, the creators of VeggieTales give us... flying penguins. A new mix of wackiness on a Christian-lite theme is dished out in this brightly colored, computer-animated show--the first in the made-for-video series. Siblings Michelle and Jason are not looking forward to a summer with grandmama in the Poconos. Luckily the attic provides a world of wonder, from the giant telescope to gadgets that their late grandpa kept. After an impatient Jason fights with his sister, toy penguins--in their mod spaceship--seemingly come to life, taking Jason on their adventure. Captain Zidgel, engineer Midgel, scientist Fidgel and, well, Kevin are four penguin space cadets who rush to planet Wait-Your-Turn to figure out why the planet is in chaos. A bebop score, dazzling animation, and catchy humor (Looney Tunes is definitely an inspiration) inject this show with the same good-natured vibe as VeggieTales. The Christian slant is a bit lighter (prayers instead of Bible stories) but the subtext is still centered on how kids can be more virtuous (patience is the topic this time). Not as fully formed as VeggieTales, but heck, it sure shows a ton of promise in this first 30-minute episode. (Ages 4 and up) --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

(Um, I think it is 5 stars) 3-2-1 Penguins, Episode 1.......2005-07-20

Hi, it's me, StoryMaker. I THINK it's five stars...I can't think of any complaints except one, and ONE meezly complaint isn't enough to knock off a star ussaly! Anyways, 3-2-1 Penguins is VERY funny, and episode 1, Trouble on Planet Wait-Your-Turn is one of my favez. We got all our episodes from the library in the Church, so far we don't own any. We watched 1, 2, and 3. My only complaint is how Zidgel said, "They're all cutting in line! THEY'RE BARBARIANS! Back to the ship!" because once I axadently cutted in line. Except that, funny & excellent. Here's a funny part: Jason puts the toy penguins in the toy ship and trys to get Michelle to let him have his turn for the telescope early and makes spaceship noises..."Eurrrrr...Eurrrrr..." Finally, he yells in Michelle's ear, "EURRRR!" It looks funny! And another: Since they're twins, Grandma pertends she can't tell them apart. "Just remember, I'm the cute one!" says Michelle. "And I'm the one who's supposed to be at space camp..." says Jason in a dull voice. NO MORE FUNNYPARTS! I can't deside...Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

Simply Awesome!.......2004-11-15

I just can't say enough good things about Zidgel, Midgel, Fidgel, and Kevin. These four space traveling penguins team up with two great kids, Jason and Michelle Conrad, to tackle a tough mission: People (vacuum cleaner people that is) on Planet Wait-Your-Turn are refusing to politely wait-their-turn! Oh, the humanity! LOL...the movie is a blast! The graphics are great.

Michelle and Jason have the typical brother and sister relationship, and they manage to make me laugh quite a bit. I'm sure you will enjoy their banter too.

Big Idea is such a great company. There have only been a few times that one of their products has failed to meet expectations (the 2nd 3-2-1 Penguins "The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka") was not up to par, but hey, only one person is perfect - I think we all know who that is.

If you haven't seen the 3-2-1 Penguins, I suggest you check them out. The dialogue is really great, especially the first one!

See ya next review!
www.therunninggirl.com

A household favorite.......2003-07-18

We have a lot of Vegetales videos, as well as Barney, Blue's Clues, Dr. Seuss, etc. My 3 1/2 year old daughter picks this 3-2-1 Penguins video more often than any of the rest. Sometimes she'll watch it over and over.

Like we've come to expect from Big Idea, this video has a creative and humorous story that appeals to all ages, including adults. I have put a Vegetales video in for a group with toddlers, a first grader, a 13 year old, and an adult. All four were equally entertained, and nobody got bored. How many movies can you put in to entertain that kind of mix? Not very many!

Any Vegetales or 3-2-1 Penguins that I've seen, I recommend wholeheartedly!

Creatively Different !!!!.......2002-10-04

At first I was a bit skeptical and even reluctant about 3-2-1 Penguins because I was just a fan of Veggie Tales, and wondered why Big Idea would want to venture away from what was already a good thing going. But 3-2-1 Penguins indeed shows the creative potential Big Idea has. The lesson of being patient is taught in a humorous and imaginative way that stands out in the mind. Characters like Jason and Michelle make the connection to the story an easy one. Because about any person can relate to the common quarrels that occur between siblings and how sometimes adults can seem strange to kids.

Like the previous productions of Big Idea, I had to watch Trouble on Planet Wait You're Turn a couple of times to take in all the details and catch that sometimes fast dialogue. Then after a short while I found that the Penguins where starting to grow on me! I'll agree with the fact that they seem to lack a certain something when compared to Veggie Tales. The differences are light years apart! But the Penguins are just as entertaining, memorable and unique. Well worth a closer look.

Zany fun that gets better with every episode.......2002-07-29

"3-2-1 Penguins" is the second series from Big Idea, the creators of "VeggieTales." The series has the same Bible messages but lacks a lot of the spark that keeps the Veggie characters growing. The series is a cross between the zaniness of Looney Toons and the science fiction of Star Trek. The first episode in the series spends too much time introducing the human characters of Jason and Michelle spending their summer at their English grandmother's house learning her ways. It starts off a little slow but gains momentum when the "penguins" come into the episode. The second episode, "The Cheating Scales of Bullamanka," gets better, but the hilarious third episode, "The Amazing Carnival of Complaining," is the best so far with the penguins finally become memorable "character" (looking forward to the fourth episode, "Runaway Pride at Lightstation Kilowatt," which is way too late, coming in September!). The DVD's are a bit disappointing though. To say the least, the extras are full of kid's stuff. Even the commentaries are just for kids as they are from the penguins in character (not the voice actors). I found them to be on the dull side. Also, the retail price of around [$$]is a bit steep for what is basically a 30-min cartoon. But, the quality of the DVD over the VHS makes a huge difference! So, if you are looking for some family values with positive messages, look no further than "3-2-1 Penguins."

DVD:

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A Brilliant Madness

American Werewolf in Paris

Die Hard / Die Hard 2: Die Harder [1989]

DVD: Pieces

Donna Leon - Venezianische Scharade