Mafia!

Starring:Jay Mohr, Billy Burke, Christina Applegate, Pamela Gidley, Olympia Dukakis, Lloyd Bridges, Jason Fuchs, Joe Viterelli, Tony Lo Bianco, Blake Hammond, Philip Suriano, Vincent Pastore, Marisol Nichols, Carol Ann Susi, Gregory Sierra, Vera Lockwood, Martin Charles Warner, Joseph Jumbo Rufo, Tyler Daniel Wenz, Jason Davis
Director: Jim Abrahams
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

Francis Ford Coppola took some of the deep background from the life of Mafia chief Vito Corleone--the patriarch of Mario Puzo's bestselling novel The Godfather--and built around it a stunning sequel to his Oscar-winning, 1972 hit film. Robert De Niro plays Vito as a young Sicilian immigrant in turn-of-the-century New York City's Little Italy. Coppola weaves in and out of the story of Vito's transformation into a powerful crime figure, contrasting that evolution against efforts by son Michael Corleone to spread the family's business into pre-Castro Cuba. As memorable as the first film is, The Godfather II is an amazingly intricate, symmetrical tragedy that touches upon several chapters of 20th-century history and makes a strong case that our destinies are written long before we're born. This was De Niro's first introduction to a lot of filmgoers, and he makes an enormous impression. But even with him and a number of truly brilliant actors (including maestro Lee Strasberg), this is ultimately Pacino's film and a masterful performance. --Tom Keogh

Description

This brilliant companion piece to the original film continues the saga of two generations of successive power within the Corleone family. Coppola tells two stories in Part II: the roots and rise of a young Don Vito, played with uncanny ability by Robert De Niro, and the ascension of Michael (Pacino) as the new Don.

Customer Reviews:

The Hardening of the Idealist.......2007-04-01

Most critics and the Motion Picture Academy agree. Godfather 2 is a worthy sequel to the blockbuster movie, The Godfather.

If you think that the Godfather saga is only about Organized Crime, you are wrong. It is about Family dynamics in a Sicillian family who's business just happens to be Organized Crime.

Michael is the quintessential Idealist. Whereas his father was a pragmatist bound in honor, and his brothers were respectivly a loose cannon and a milquetoast, Michaels idealism turned out to be his downfall. Whereas a pragmatist can be flexible, an idealist always insists that he is right all the time, and he runs his life in such a manner. When your life involves the Underworld, all your ideals will morph you into a pillar of granite. This is what Godfather 2 is all about.

In it we see two stories running paralell tracks. The first story is of Don Vito choosing to be a strongarm to protect his Family, his friends and his honor. Then we see Michael trying to do the same thing, but his ideals get in the way and he chooses to abandon them. He drive his friends and family away from himself by his sheer heartlessness and ruthlessness. In the end of Godfather 2, he has no honor, for he kills everyone in his way. Even his own brother, Fredo! We see in the end him sitting alone on a bench with an icy stare. But after all, he believes that all his actions were not only neccesary, but RIGHT!!! Michael tells Tom Hagen: "I dont feel that I have to kill everybody! Only my enemies." Yet to Michael, in the end, all those who do not agree with him are enemies!

To see Michael deal with his sins and attempt to buy his redemption, you must purchase Godfather 3 from Amazon.com!

Wonderful sequel to the Godfather.......2007-03-30

This is as fantastic a movie as the first part. The Metamorphosis of Michael Corleone which started in the first part reaches its completion in this sequel. He is so besotted with power that he does not want any one opposing him be it his wife, brother, or anyone. This movie shows us how life can change a "War-hero" to a power-drunk godfather.

Great sequel.......2007-03-12

Even better than the original - because it probes deeper into the personalities, especially of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and his obsession with family and loyalty and snubbing out his enemies. He is quiet, educated, and coldly calculating. The movie traces his dealings in the 1950s-60s, set mainly in Nevada. Interspersed with these developments is the story of the rise of his father Don Vito Corleone in Little Italy in NYC in the 1920s, with Robert De Niro doing a brilliant job in that role. Both stories are excellently told. Despite my never quite understanding America's obsession with the mafia and its ilk, it's not hard to conclude that this is a major movie achievement.

A Good Follow up.......2007-03-10

a good movie that explains the first one a little more

Quality .......2007-02-26

I'd read that Godfather II was a worthy sequel, so I was desperately hoping that this would be true - and, oh, how it was! Although the movie was only filmed two years after the Godfather, about 7 years have gone by in the timeline of the story. The Corleone family, under the guidance of their new leader Michael, have moved to Las Vegas to make money from gambling. At the same time, the film also steps back into the past to show how Vito Corleone, Michael's deceased father and former Don, came to America and made his fortune.

As with the first film, the performances are incredible. The standout actors are Al Pacino as Michael and Robert De Niro as the young Vito Corleone. Both radiate power and dynamism the entire time they are on screen. De Niro looks regal (as befits the older man played by Marlon Brando in the first movie) whilst Pacino smoulders, somehow looking much more mature than the Michael from the first film, with his eyes practically burning holes in the TV screen. Some of the most moving shots were when Michael's face faded into Vito's, seeming to represent how the two characters were inextricably linked through time.

To watch the continuing transformation to Michael's character is both heartbreaking and fascinating. At the start of the film we see how the Corleone family are falling apart - Connie has become wild and cold-hearted to punish Michael for her husband's murder, Fredo is as hopeless (although well-meaning) as ever and Kay has pretty much stopped hoping Michael will ever turn into the 'good' man she hoped he would. Michael is also about to make some important business decisions, which cause tension and rivalry with other businessmen who don't want him to succeed. This all creates a power keg of anger, violence and emotion that explodes across the next few hours with shattering consequences. I thought it was a masterstroke to intertwine the present day happenings with the old story of Vito growing up. The history of the family explains and enlightens so much.

There are too many great performances by secondary characters to mention. Robert Duvall is sensational in his reprisal of the role of Tom Hagen. Diane Keaton completely nails the part of Kay - even when she reveals something completely shocking to Michael it is believable and her gaunt face seems to show all that has gone before.

The ending is completely satisfying, if indescribably tragic. I was torn between hating Michael (particularly after he ordered a murder in the last minutes of the film that completely shocked me and showed how he has changed irredeemably) and yet I wanted to sob for him and for the loss of what his life might have been. The final few minutes bring the stories of Michael and Vito together and leave you feeling like you've been punched in the stomach.

Overall, the Godfather II is just as iconic as the Godfather. It's great to watch a sequel that continues the story so well and is faithful to the characters. I have never seen a pair of films that so hauntingly and movingly trace the destruction of one man's soul and conscience.

Boondock Saints (Unrated Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Driving a point home
One of my all times favorite flicks!
Derivative, Pointless, and Insubstantial
Has become one of my favorite movies
excellent

Boondock Saints (Unrated Special Edition)
Starring: Willem Dafoe , David Ferry , Brian Mahoney , Billy Connolly , and Ron Jeremy
Director: Troy Duffy
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IY04Q8
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Description

Explore the harrowing world of The Boondock Saints as never before in this Unrated Special Edition! Digitally remastered for extraordinary picture quality and exploding in 5.1 EX Dolby Surround Sound, this definitive two-disc edition of the cult phenomenon features deleted scenes, outtakes, two audio commentaries, a printable script and more!

Hot on the trail of the assailants behind the brutal murder of Russian thugs, FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) is surprised to discover the killers are Irish twin brothers (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) who believe they've been chosen to rid the world of evil. But as they unleash more brutality on the criminals of Boston's underworld, Smecker finds himself torn between busting the vigilantes...and joining them!

Customer Reviews:

Driving a point home.......2007-06-05

I am in total agreement with Michael on this one.

First of all, Pulp Fiction? Where does that come from? Yes, Saints may feature some glorified violence, but beyond that it resembles in no way any of Tarantino's flicks, be it Pulp Fiction or Resevoir Dogs. I think the closest it could resemble Tarantino otherwise is in the the little funny moments that Duffy includes, like the cat scene. Otherwise, the plots are completely different, the characters are in no way similar, nor are the endings.

Secondly, what kind of person would see the previews for this and walk into it expecting something on par with Fight Club? If you know anything of the background of Fight Club, noone could put it in the same genre or say it has similar features as Saints. Fight Club is a psychological mindbender of a flick based on a book, and it is very faithful to the novel. Boondock Saints is a pure action flick that allows you to analyze moral issues if you feel like it without forcing it on you.

Now, a couple of small points. Willem Defoe's character: Flamboyantly gay, yes. Homophobe, no. He, like many men just wants to love 'em and leave 'em. He doesn't fear gay people in the least.

And lastly, the F-word laced dialogue. If you have ever been to Southy in Boston, you would know that the F-word is as common there as the word 'the.' When you throw a mass of working class people into below-code housing, multiple pubs and a low literacy rate, what else would you expect?

All in all, Boondock Saints is a UNIQUE, well-made movie, that while not groundbreaking, is an excellent movie considering its lowish budget and modest support from major studios (which by the way is one of the main reasons it became a cult hit.)

One of my all times favorite flicks! .......2007-06-03

I had to write this review just to bury the arrogant, nasty cockroach beneath me. Have you ever heard the saying, "if you ain't got nothing positive to say, keep it to yourself"? Not denying your right to an opinion but you've based yours on such a shaky, ignorant foundation you come off as daft. (You alternately claimed it was a Pulp Fiction rip off - which is so out in wonderland I must ask what you were smoking - and that you thought you were getting a version of Fight Club, while praising that tepid piece of manure.)

The movie is certainly one of those, "you like it or you don't" kind of flicks. If you follow the movie's premise of vigilantism and accept that you are going to have a great time. If you gag on the premise, you'll likely spend too much of your time going over your philosophical and moral objections to taking the law into your own hands to enjoy a second of it. And how you would have wasted your time - the movie is just as great as simply a piece of entertaining fluff while munching on popcorn in your living room or bed late at night

Derivative, Pointless, and Insubstantial.......2007-05-22

This Pulp Fiction knock-off was dropped by Harvey Weinstein for good reason; this film is big on fluff but lacks any substance. Even the stylized/romanticized over-the-top violence in this film is done without any aesthetic flare or sincerity. The dialogue is uninspired, the plot is contrived (oh my, the mysterious, impossible-to-kill uber-hitman is the protagonists' long-lost father, I didn't see that one coming!), and the thematic concepts are lazily presented, if at all. One cares so little for the characters, who are little more than set-piece fillers, that watching the film becomes an exercise in waiting to see if some thug will put them out of their misery.

This film was written and directed by an arrogant, self-absorbed, and ultimately self-destructive Tarantino wannabe, who deservedly fell out of favor with Mirimax after haphazardly riding the hipster-action flick wave to get any sort of attention in the first place. The documentary Overnight is a much more enjoyable film that depicts director Troy Duffy's decline while filming this Reservoir Dogs clone. You can almost detect his seething arrogance and malignant self-love while watching this film. If only he had the story-telling skills to back his ego.

If only Duffy had actually explored the tacked-on religious symbolism featured in the film, or if he actually discussed the justification for vigilante justice or the origins of crime and punishment, we would have a film that was, in some small way, relevant. But instead we are presented with a fraud, a Blockbuster-engineered "cult" film that hopes to convince the audience that lacing screaming dialogue with the "F" word and including a flamboyantly gay homophobe in the picture makes it cool.

I cannot understand why this film has achieved cult status other than the simple fact that it did not have a wide theatrical release and Blockbuster Video promoted it as part of its direct-to-video marketing gimmick. Before I saw this film, I had assumed that it was a "Fight Club"-esque film that was bold, stylish, and daring. Instead, this film is an irredeemable waste of time with tiresome action, no plot, mind-numbing dialogue, and a deluge of clichés. What a rip-off. Even the local library refused to take this DVD off my hands...

Has become one of my favorite movies.......2007-05-22

Okay, so I heard all of the hype surrounding this movie when it was being created and was preparing for release and this normally is enough to make me not want to see a movie. I did, however, rent it on a whim early this year and was absolutely hooked! The mixture of hilarity and bloodshed paired with a fabulous cast make it a must see. The deleted scenes contained on the second disc, in my opinion, should have never been cut. They either explain a few things or add to the content in general so be sure to watch them all. Make no mistake though, as much as I personally love it this movie is not for the faint of heart. There are quite a few rather gruesome scenes where blood and gore cover the screen, it is a vigilante movie after all.

excellent.......2007-05-14

It was really easy to order the movie. I love this movie and am happy with the condition, it was like new.

Average customer rating:

Great movie; unusually prescient commentary
extended scenes already in the origial cut
One of my favorite movies
GREAT MOVIE!!!!
Donnie rules! Three thumbs up.

Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
Starring: Al Pacino , Johnny Depp , Michael Madsen , Bruno Kirby , and James Russo
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004XPPB
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Amazon.com

Based on a memoir by former undercover cop Joe Pistone (whose daring and unprecedented infiltration of the New York Mob scene earned him a place in the federal witness protection program), Donnie Brasco is like a de- romanticized, de-mythologized version of The Godfather. It offers an uncommonly detailed, privileged glimpse inside the world of organized crime from the perspective of the little guys at the bottom of Mafia hierarchy rather than from the kingpins at the top. Donnie Brasco is not only one of the great modern-day gangster movies to put in the company of The Godfather films andGoodFellas, but it is also one of the great undercover police movies--arguably surpassing Serpico and Prince of the City in richness of character, detail, and moral complexity. Donnie (Johnny Depp, a splendid actor) is practically adopted by Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), a gregarious, low-level "made" man who grows to love his young protégé like a son. (Pacino really sinks into this guy's skin and polyester slacks, and creates his freshest, most fully realized character since his 1970s heyday.) As Donnie acclimates himself to Lefty's world, he distances himself from his wife (a terrific Anne Heche) and family for their own protection. Almost imperceptibly his sense of identity slips away from him. Questioning his own confused loyalties, unable to trust anybody else because he himself is an imposter, Donnie loses his way in a murky and treacherous no-man's land. The film is directed by Mike Newell, who also headed up Four Weddings and a Funeral and the gritty, true crime melodrama Dance with a Stranger. --Jim Emerson

Stills from Donnie Brasco (click for larger image)

Beyond Donnie Brasco on Amazon.com

DVDs starring Al Pacino
More Gangster Movies
The Memoir

Customer Reviews:

Great movie; unusually prescient commentary.......2007-06-19

It is hard to believe the best organized crime movie set in the U.S. would be directed by a British director, but that is exactly what you find here. Donnie Brasco eschews the melodrama of lots of mafia films and creates a personal, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and social film all in one--and to top it off it's aesthetically brilliant, and Al Pacino reaches somewhere (not sure where) and creates the most on target portrayal he or just about any actor has done on film. I say this as an actor--and serious actors can tell when an actor 'gets it' or not. It's not clear whether Mike Newell helped him, but Newell provides a min-course in film directing through his commentary--it's the best commentary I've ever heard--and demonstrates, despite what critics don't like to admit (or perhaps don't want to know)that an articulate artist can explicate a work of art better than a critic who is not an artist. This is not an anti-critic rant; just an observation I've made from reading both sides of the equation.

extended scenes already in the origial cut.......2007-06-18

5 stars for better picture quality. Very clean picture quality. Great sound mix.
3 stars for the new cut. Prefer the original cut.
2 stars since the deleted scences are already in the original cut
1 star... No new features. Missing commentary.

One of my favorite movies.......2007-06-17

This is an all around outstanding film. The script is great, the acting is great. The scenery and costumes all feel very real. It's a violent subject (and not one I normally like for a movie) but the film makes you feel for the characters, especially Donnie Brasco/Joe Pistone. And, even though he's the bad guy and I know he got what he deserved, I couldn't help but feel something for Lefty Guns, too.

The film interested me so much that I bought both the book that it was based on and Joe Pistone's follow up book, "Unfinished Business." I highly recommend both of them. Joe Pistone is a true American hero.

GREAT MOVIE!!!!.......2007-06-13

LOVED THIS FILM.IT IS TRULY A MASTERPEICE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.

Donnie rules! Three thumbs up........2007-05-17

It's a good freakin' film, fuhgedaboudit! If you love Goodfellas, you'll really like Donnie Brasco.

The Sopranos - The Complete Seasons 1 - 6

Average customer rating:

Bootleg DVDs
Bad transfers
Great show, lousy package.
A good deal

The Sopranos - The Complete Seasons 1 - 6

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

The Sopranos - The Complete First Five Seasons
The Sopranos - The Complete Seasons 1 - 5 & Season 6, Part 1 (6-Pack)
Disturbia (Widescreen Edition)
The Sopranos - Peppers and Eggs: Music from the HBO Series
House, M.D. - Seasons One & Two

Product Features:

International Edition
Region Free
Region 2

ASIN: B000OGFR2G

Product Description

The Sopranos - The Complete Seasons 1-6 Show in English. International Edition, Region Free, NTSC & PAL, Works in any DVD Player.

Customer Reviews:

Bootleg DVDs.......2007-06-22

These are clearly bootlegg copies. They say "region free" I checked and HBO has only made Soprano's DVD for Region 1. Also, HBO states they have never issued the box set of all DVD in one box. They are good buy if your not too worried about quality. But don't pay anymore than $100 for the set, they usually only cost $25 - $50. There are some buyers selling them for around $90.

Bad transfers.......2007-05-30

The discs look like originals but the transfers make awful viewing. Artifacts and blocking makes these look a though they were copied from
a low resolution source. The sort of images associated with boot legs.

Great show, lousy package........2007-05-24

The show is great. My issues are with the discs and the package. First of all, the printing on the box says French and Spanish subtitles. The discs actually have Asian language subtitles I don't recognize. Second, there is nothing in the box other than the discs. Not even a list of episodes. Finally, the transfer is horrible. The compression is so bad just about all scenes display continuous visual artifacts. I love the show but only buy can't recommend this package at all.

A good deal.......2007-04-12

This is a definite must have for fans of the series. The packaging is great. Found the price was very reasonable. Can't wait for the final installment

Average customer rating:

cohen bros EPIC gangster flick "millers crossing"
bored me to death
Excellent in all respects
Please enter a title for your review
Wonderfully ambivalent in every respect

Miller's Crossing
Starring: Gabriel Byrne , Marcia Gay Harden , John Turturro , Jon Polito , and J.E. Freeman
Director: Joel Coen , and Ethan Coen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B00008RH3L
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Product Description

Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (Barton Fink, Fargo) create a complex and graphic vision of gangsterism set during Prohibition and featuring a riveting rouges' gallery of killers and con men.

Leo (Albert Finney), a likeable Irish gangster boss, rules an Eastern city along with Tom (Gabriel Byrne), his trusted lieutenant and counselor. But just as their authority is challenged by an Italian underboss (J.E. Freeman), Leo and Tom also fall for the same woman. Tom, caught in the jaws of a gangland power struggle, walks a deadly tightrope as he tries to control and manipulate its violent outcomes.

System Requirements:
Starring: Albert Finney, Gabriel Byrne, John Turturro, Jon Polito, Marcia Gay Harden, J.E. Freeman.
Directed By: Joel & Ethan Coen.
Running Time: 115 Min., Color.
Copyright 2003 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Arguably the best film by Joel and Ethan Coen, the 1990 Miller's Crossing stars Gabriel Byrne as Tom, a loyal lieutenant of a crime boss named Leo (Albert Finney) who is in a Prohibition-era turf war with his major rival, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito). A man of principle, Tom nevertheless is romantically involved with Leo's lover (Marcia Gay Harden), whose screwy brother (John Turturro) escapes a hit ordered by Caspar only to become Tom's problem. Making matters worse, Tom has outstanding gambling debts he can't pay, which keeps him in regular touch with a punishing enforcer. With all the energy the Coens put into their films, and all their focused appreciation of genre conventions and rules, and all their efforts to turn their movies into ironic appreciations of archetypes in American fiction, they never got their formula so right as with Miller's Crossing. With its Hammett-like dialogue and Byzantine plot and moral chaos mitigated by one hero's personal code, the film so transcends its self-scrutiny as a retro-crime thriller that it is a deserved classic in its own right. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

cohen bros EPIC gangster flick "millers crossing".......2007-06-27

i looked everywhere for this movie retail and amazon was the only one who didn't let me down. millers crossing is everything you need in a gangster movie. plenty of characters you love to hate (caspar, the DANE, the Shmatte) and characters you hate to love (verna, leo, and of course the rogueish Tom). this movie has firepower and surreality. the cohen bros. redefine the genre with a emotional tale of love, betrayal, loyalty and brutality and of course "ETHICS". BUY IT, WATCH IT AND WATCH IT AGAIN.

bored me to death.......2007-06-01

there's nothing i could say to this boring gangster movie, so cliched and deadbeat, lotsa blah, blah this and blah, blah that from several mouth-tough guys. the storyline couldn't be more boring. guys who played tough guys didn't bring out any credible toughness in this film, didn't know what those guys yammering about, didn't seem to be too big deal important and interesting. after tried 45 minutes with mucho yawns, still failed to get connected, so i ejected the dvd, cursed all the way to the video store and returned it. well, same as usual for a boring rental, lost money, time and gas again.

Excellent in all respects.......2007-05-12

Hard to find faults; only nits, like the fact that the many injuries Byrne should accumulate thru film should hospitalize him. Great acting, photography, the usual Coen kinkiness (not overdone), and a deliberate pacing that is nearly perfect. Characters are clearly defined and credible, even when their personalities are eccentric. The only thing missing is the lack of a feature-length commentary on the DVD.
I highly recommend this movie.

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-05-06

The kind of movie where the relevence of one scene to the next and even one line of dialogue to the next is often unclear. I don't understand how they can get made. I watched the first 20 minutes optimistically, and the next 20 in a catatonic state of dumbfounded frustration. If there was any story developing I couldn't tell you a thing about it.

Wonderfully ambivalent in every respect.......2007-03-09

Tom Reagan either sees the whole board like nobody else can, or he is an idiot of the first order. Either seems equally possible to me, as he engages in every double-cross known to man, for reasons which are never made entirely clear. Along the way, he is beaten up seemingly by nearly every inhabitant of the unnamed city's criminal underworld, but seems to accept his lot with resignation.

This movie had so many twists and turns that it required two consecutive viewings to insure that I had it right. One could watch it a million times and still never know exactly what Tom Reagan's motives are. The Coens certainly have no problem leaving the ultimate outcome somewhat unresolved, which always entertains me. Neat, tidy endings are rarely a reflection of real life.

One will find great performances throughout, particularly those of Albert Finney & Gabriel Byrne. The typically twisted Coen humor is on abundant display in the snappy dialogue, sometimes so snappy that the viewer can hardly follow along (Steve Buscemi speaks at such a blistering pace that I had put on the subtitles to make sense of it all).

As other reviewers have said, you either love the Coens or hate them. The surreal, ambivalent qualities which delight some will drives other crazy. I have found both to be true...by the time "Barton Fink" was over, I had no idea what I was even watching anymore, and wondered what the ballyhoo was all about. However, "Miller's Crossing" is a good example of all the best Coenesque qualities falling nicely into place, resulting in a movie which is hugely entertaining without being nearly as frustrating as some others.

Average customer rating:

A must see
There's no love in your punches at all!
bunch of weenies acting tough
Ultra Violent Madness, For Better or Worse
I like it.........

Ichi the Killer (Unrated Edition)
Starring: Tadanobu Asano , Nao Omori , Shinya Tsukamoto , Paulyn Sun , and Susumu Terajima
Director: Takashi Miike
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000CABGW
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Customer Reviews:

A must see.......2007-06-27

If you are a fan of Audition, then you must see this movie. Its brutal, but in a beautiful way!

There's no love in your punches at all!.......2007-06-15

Koroshiya Ichi is probably the ne plus ultra of violent movies that makes A Clockwork Orange like The Sound of Music. The last time I saw something so gruesome was Ilsa-She Wolf of the SS.

A mob boss named Anjo disappears along with 3 million yen, and his devoted lackey Masa Kakihara, a scar-faced blond-haired yakuza with piercings sporting a flashy purple trenchcoat, with two slits on either side of his cheek, takes it upon himself to find out who kidnapped him.

Kakihara is quite the sadist, but just as equally a masochist, as he even cuts off his own tongue to apologize to a syndicate boss. Given a tip by Jijii, one of a group of Chinese immigrants eking out livings doing dirty jobs in Shinjuku, he kidnaps Suzuki, a yakuza boss, strips him naked, hangs him from the ceiling with hooks, and pours boiling hot oil over the guy's back! Yakuza tempura, hmmm....He also has his trademark long pins, which he uses to deadly affect, resulting in human pincushions.

The mastermind is Jijii. His killer is Ichi (Japanese for one), a mentally fragile guy who dresses up in a black rubber suit with a day-glo "1" on the back. His goal is to wipe out the yakuza in Shinjuku. And he persuades the easily swayed Ichi that they are like the people who bullied him in high school, and that it's his role to rid the world of bullies. "They beat upon the weak and pretend to own the world. Vengeance is yours. If you don't kill the bad guys, who will?" However, Jijii doesn't hesitate to use Ichi to get rid of his helpers, who are just tools for his crusade against the yakuza.

Ichi is so extreme in his killings that the people who witness what he has done see a mass of blood, entrails, splattered walls and ceilings, and at one point a human face that has been sliced off. "As gross as ever," says one of his cleaners, who has slipped on the scarlet mess on the floor. In fact in one scene, Ichi kicks down a door, jumps inside a room filled with yakuza. We then hear screams, then yakuza blood and guts flying out the door. A repeated motif is his slicing the carotid artery, and then fwoooshhhh, out comes, as Alex from A Clockwork Orange would say, the red red kroovy.

This movie is very very sadistic, meaning those with a weak stomach watching this during dinner will find themselves emptying breakfast stuff! Although given the comic-book like depictions of mutilation, it will also garner some laughs for the really twisted--the drug-addicted Kano in the TV set for example. But the scene of a pimp savagely beating one of his prostitutes and then violating her ranks high on the cruelty list. Don't worry-he gets his from Ichi and how! And a prostitute is not only beaten but has her nipples sliced off by Kakihara! Ouch!

After being expelled from the syndicate, Kakihara continues the search for Anjo. With him are tough guy Takayama and a disgraced ex-cop Kaneko, who looks a bit like Barack Obama. Kaneko's probably one of the more decent characters, he's just had rotten luck. In fact, he is one of the few genuinely nice to Ichi, as he's reminded how Anjo took him in after he was expelled from the police force for losing his gun, something that even Jijii recognizes. Then there's Karen, a Chinese call-girl who speaks heavily accented Japanese and English. Her anecdote of her wishing someone's dog dead is funny. Note: in that story, she mentions a nawatobi rope which is merely Japanese for a jumprope.

This is kind of a departure from Asano Tadanobu's usual roles. This actor, the Johnny Depp of Japan, normally has a soft-spoken undertone, but the blond hair, scarred face, wicked smile, and slits that cause his mouth to open extra wide, make this one of his more memorable roles.

With a soundtrack veers from weird gibberish techno to a slow synth score, and a kind of retro-70's style cinematography, liking Ichi the Killer depends upon your stomach, and an open mind to extreme violence.

"Listen, when you're hurting someone, don't think of the pain that he feels. Only concentrate on the pleasure of causing him pain. That's the only way to show compassion to your partner."---Kakihara to Karen.

bunch of weenies acting tough.......2007-06-12

not a single frame of celluloid that is believable here. bunch of puny little wimps acting tough. oh yeah. so bad, so ridiculous...and, ultimately, so moronic.

the reason this "director" (I use the term loosely) tries to "shock" (and can't even do that very well, by the way) is because he lacks true talent required to tell a great crime story.

Let's hope he didn't give himself hernia while straining to disgust us with this pile of vomit.

Ultra Violent Madness, For Better or Worse.......2007-05-11

Live Action Anime...yes it is an oxymoron, but it's one way to describe what Director Takashi Miike has done with Ichi the Killer. It's like a live action version of Akira or Ninja Scroll.

The film's plot is secondary so I won't dwell on it here, but if you have never seen Miike's films, get ready for a ride through the imagination of a complete mad man. The best part about the film is that Miike and his team are actually outstanding technically, and his sense of humor is both original and in my opinion hilarious.

Ichi the Killer is as glossed over and stylized as it is sadistic and violent, and believe me when I say that this film is violent. It's sexually violent content is out of whack as well and alone might earn Ichi an NC-17 stamp but it's violence is so fantastic it almost seems cartoon-like. If you didn't find humor in films like Dead Alive, Robocop, Evil Dead 2 or Kill Bill pass on Ichi, but if you like those films like I do, give Miike a chance, you won't regret it.

I like it................2007-04-03

Very humorous take on the trials of the yakuza. the only thing i didn't really care for was the way Kakihara died....it was sort of sad considering the whole movie was building up to his confrontation with Ichi. Kakihara had been waiting all this time for Ichi...getting all excited for a final bout. Waiting for Ichi to kill him. Then he ended up falling from a stairwell. Which is why it got the 4 star instead of 5 star rating.

Average customer rating:

GOOD ACTION FILM MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE
Disappointing
Paul Walker best action Movie !
Good, but still Paul Walker...
Bizarre and Surreal ... But Also Corny

Running Scared
Starring: Paul Walker , Cameron Bright , Vera Farmiga , Chazz Palminteri , and Karel Roden
Director: Wayne Kramer
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000F5WR4W
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Amazon.com

Trying to explain the wildly accelerated plot of this non-stop action thriller would be like convincing Quentin Tarantino to retell the saga of The Sopranos in 15-minutes or less. Don't misunderstand, Running Scared wastes little time on the nuanced details that make the violent, narratively precise, and intricately characterized world of The Sopranos so stylish and compelling. But boy, does it have style to spare, not to mention plenty of violence, narrative, and a cast of characters that all engage in a heady battle for your attention. Paul Walker has the unenviable task of fleshing out the role of a low-level mob flunky who's assigned to get rid of a gun that was involved in a bloody drug deal gone bad. When he botches even that little job, it's not just his wife who gets mad at him. Creepily threatened kids, put-upon women who save the day, and an array of pimps, hookers, sleazy gangsters and dirty cops straight ouuta central casting are all part of the intricate jumble of the story (not to mention bullet-time close-ups and a nifty scene that imparts the inherent danger of hockey pucks in a whole new light). It's hard to believe this outlandish piece of ultraviolence came from writer/director Wayne Kramer, the same creative mind that gave us the smooth little caper flick The Cooler. Don't think about that too hard though. Considering the madcap rush of Running Scared's wicked fun and inspired lunacy, you won't have the time to anyway. --Ted Fry

Description

Slick, fast-paced and brutally shocking, this gritty actioner will jolt your senses like nothing else you've ever experienced. Struggling mob hand Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) finds his life turned inside-out when a "hot" weapon he's in charge of concealing goes missing. With two mafia families and a team of crooked cops watching his every move, Joey sets out on a chilling, bloody pursuit, maneuvering his way through a horrific web of creeps and criminals, praying he can retrieve the gun and make it home to his family -- alive.

Customer Reviews:

GOOD ACTION FILM MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE.......2007-05-31

This movie is way better than I expected.The action never stops and the story is interesting enough to keep you in the groove. The DVD transfer is excellent and is a worth a look for sure.

Disappointing.......2007-05-28

I don't know why I expected more out of Running Scared, but I did. The film is written and directed by Wayne Kramer, the same guy who brought us the surprisingly good and stylish The Cooler, but when watching Running Scared, you'll never think that this movie can come from the same guy. Paul Walker plays Joey, a low level mob hood who is charged with the disposal of a gun that was used to ventilate a cop. Next thing you know, his kid and neighbor Oleg (Cameron Bright) discover the weapon which Oleg later uses on his abusive stepfather (Karel Roden). Now Joey has a barrage of mobsters, crooked cops, pimps, drug dealers, euro-trash, and more on his tail. Yeah, the story itself takes a back seat to Kramer's ultra stylish and ultra violent set pieces which continuously up the ante in terms of bloodshed. One scene in particular involving hockey pucks is worth the price of admission alone, but as a whole Running Scared fails. While Kramer's got style to spare, his leading man is what ultimately ruins the film. Paul Walker is not a good actor by any stretch of the imagination. His frequent over-acting is nerve grating, while Kramer's script features plenty of corny dialogue and an abundance of swearing that would make a sailor blush. The rest of the cast, which includes Chazz Palminteri, Johnny Messner, and the Departed's Vera Farmiga, are also wasted as well. All in all, Running Scared may be worth a look for action and adrenaline junkies, but don't expect much from it at all.

Paul Walker best action Movie !.......2007-05-10

Creo que una de mis peliculas favoritas de este actor, complementado con la belleza de Vera Farmiga hacen que esta pelicula de accion te haga permanecer sentado y agitado. creo que la historia esta bien estructurada y contada magnificamente... no dude en comprarla !!

Good, but still Paul Walker..........2007-04-28

I was actually very surprised at enjoying this movie . There are a hand full of seens that are really, really good . The plot is good enough to hold your interest, and the climax is worth the wait. I never had any interest in Running Scared , because it stars Paul(worst actor in the world) Walker . He is one of a increasingly large number of talentless actors who I can't stand to watch . In the spirit of that theme, I will note that he adds nothing significant to this movie. Actually I could think of many actors who could have done a better job with the role . His character, Joey, spends the majority of the movie evading multiple groups of dangerous people who are looking for him , and trying to find a gun that was in his care and was used in two seperate crimes . I would recommend seeing it, and I will probably watch it again myself .

Bizarre and Surreal ... But Also Corny.......2007-03-21

Bottom line: If you're looking for a good popcorn action movie, pick this up ... now! There is no reason to give this movie a bad review, so I'm not going to. It's obvious that the director valued style over substance. But there's nothing wrong with that ... after all ... it is a very visually stylish movie. The ending WAS pretty corny, unecessary, unrealisting, and dragged on for about 15 minutes too long ... but, again, I really think the director was just openly and unabashedly toying with the audience at that point.
Other than that ... there IS a scene in this movie that's so good it also makes the movie a must-see. I wont go into great detail, but it is one of the eeriest scenes I've seen in a film in a long time ... and yet somehow (especially given the graphic nature of the rest of the film) subtle. I mean, Kubrick would have loved this scene ... and so did I, especially because Paul Walker wasnt in it.
Check it out.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Mafia Movie
The Last Don by PK Reyes
I've got space for this
The Godfather it isn't....
Love "Godfather" type movies

Mario Puzo's The Last Don
Starring: Danny Aiello , Joe Mantegna , Daryl Hannah , Jason Gedrick , and Penelope Ann Miller
Director: Graeme Clifford
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Last Don II
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Mobsters
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ASIN: 6305214530
Release Date: 1998-12-22

Amazon.com

If you have an appetite for Sicilian soapers, then you're like all those other people who made Mario Puzo's The Last Don the highest Nielsen-rated show for the week in mid-May 1997 when it originally aired. And who could blame you, since the story line of this TV miniseries is chock-full of all the familiar elements that make up a bestseller--power, money, sex, murder, gambling, madness, fame, Hollywood, loyalties made and broken. The story proper begins with a little Romeo and Juliet when Rose Marie, daughter of Don Domenico Clericuzio (Danny Aiello), falls for the youngest son of the warring Santadio family. On their wedding night, Rose Marie's new husband and the entire Santadio family are slaughtered by the Clericuzios to avoid further conflict between the two families, and Rose Marie goes completely insane and grows up to be Kirstie Alley. But not before she gives birth to another Santadio, Dante (so named because he has to live in Hell), in whom she invests all her hatred for her own family. So he grows up to be a psychotic hitman, played with sly and sadistic ingenuity by Rory Cochrane. The Clericuzios' chief executioner, Pippi (played with smooth aplomb by Joe Mantegna), is responsible for killing Rose Marie's husband, and wants his own son, metaphorically overburdened with the name "Cross," to follow in his footsteps. The sins of the fathers are visiting all over the sons in this picture, and naturally the two kids will have to resolve this inheritance. The acting is the main attraction here. Aiello in particular invests The Don with a stately grace that is just right. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Mafia Movie.......2007-06-09

I saw this on tv, and bought it as a gift to a Mafia fantatic, and he loved it!

The Last Don by PK Reyes.......2007-05-13

Now this was a good Mafia Movie! Action, Action, and more Action. The acting was supuerb! Danny Aiello out done himself in this. This movie is about a mafia family, how father finally wanted the family to go legit. They were too far in to get out. Movie not for anyone under 13. The movie is rather long, but it won't matter because the action, drama, story keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time! This movie has a great group of actors. The movie is long, but the actions seems to never end. I tried to find this movie in the library, video stores, I had difficulty finding it. Oh I found the book, but I remember seeing the movie years ago as a mini series.Thank you Amazon for having it available. What other little treasures do you have??

I've got space for this.......2007-04-26

Kept in suspense every minute. Danny Aiello finally displays his finer talent as the Don. Has the required skill. Kirsty Alley portrays dreadful hate and darkness toward the Don, the Clericuzio. Jason Gedrick, innocent from the start, a given for the future. Serious family business headed toward the flame. Ruthless to the point, perhaps wiser.
Never cross the Don. Ever.

The Godfather it isn't...........2006-08-07

I remember this movie from when I was a kid...was a television min-series type deal. If you really like mafia movies, this one is adequate, but not spectacular. The characters come off almost goofy at times, and the acting is a bit over dramatic. It's certainly not close to Godfather quality...but taken for what it is, I've definitely seen worse movies too.

Love "Godfather" type movies.......2006-07-04

I love these types of movies. To update the "Godfather" bring the family into the techno age, I like it.

Average customer rating:

Donnie in HD Glory
Excellent movie... and it just got better
SENSATIONAL MOB FLICK...GRIM AND GRITTY...

Donnie Brasco (Extended Cut) [Blu-ray]
Starring: Gerry Becker , Johnny Depp , Paul Giamatti , Zach Grenier , and Anne Heche
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000NQPZCO
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

Stills from Donnie Brasco (click for larger image)

Beyond Donnie Brasco on Amazon.com

DVDs starring Al Pacino
More Gangster Movies
The Memoir

Product Description

Posing as jewel broker Donnie Brasco, FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (Johnny Depp) is granted entranceinto the violent mob family of aging hit man Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). When his personal and professional lives collide, Pistone jeopardizes his marriage, his job life and, ultimately, the gangstermentor he has come to respect and admire. From acclaimed director Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral), and featuring an extraordinary supporting cast including Michael Madsen, Anne Heche, BrunoKirby and James Russo.

Customer Reviews:

Donnie in HD Glory.......2007-06-17

Great film, in the clearest picture yet. Buy it you won't be let down. Oh yeah the audio quality is pretty good too!

Excellent movie... and it just got better.......2007-06-08

I loved this movie when it originally came out. The casting is spot on and this Blu-ray edition shows it off like it was meant to be seen. A definite must have for any fan of Depp, Pacino, and mobster flicks.

SENSATIONAL MOB FLICK...GRIM AND GRITTY..........2007-03-26

This griity and grim mob flick, deftly directed by Mike Newell, is based upon the true story of FBI undercover, Joe Pistone, who. as his alter ego "Donnie Brasco", infiltrated the mob for a number of years, resulting in its eventual decimation. So artfully did the real Joe Pistone infiltrate and so well did he do his job, that he and his family were obliged to enter the witness protection program for their safety, as a contract was ultimately put out on Joe Pistone's life.

Here, Johnny Depp, plays the role of Joe Pistone/Donnie Brasco. He is terrific in the role, and the viewer watches him become absorbed by the lifestyle of the mobsters with whom he associates. He is befriended by "Lefty" Ruggierro, artfully played Al Pacino. Shifty and
common, "Lefty" typifies your low level made guy, the guy on the fringes doing the dirty work, a real bottom feeder. He is the guy who does the hits, and he is the guy the higher ups look to whack when something goes wrong. It is not an enviable or glamourous life, as has been made out by other films, such as the "Godfather" and "Goodfellas". The existence of "Lefty" and the legions like him is gritty and grim, always a bridesmaid and never a bride.

"Lefty" takes Brasco under his wing and vouches for him. He shows Brasco the ABCs of becoming a "made" guy. "Lefty" himself wants to move up in the mob hierarchy. It soon becomes painfully obvious that that ain't gonna happen. One cannot help feel a little sorry for "Lefty", so limited is his world view and so at the mercy of others. Still, "Lefty" gives Donnie some invaluable lessons on mob etiquette. He also unburdens himself to Donnie, treating him as if he were his adopted son. The bond between the two men grows. As this happens, Donnie finds himself being pulled more and more into the world of mobsters, until his old and new reality begin to merge.

As he distances himself drom his wife (Anne Heche) and family, Brasco is thrust into a maelstrom of mob violence that threatens to tear him apart and consume him. He tries to get "Lefty" to go straight and retire, in hope of avoiding his betrayal. It is to no avail. Brasco, in for a penny, in for a pound, now stands to become a "made" guy himself. It is only at the eleventh hour that an intervention set up by the FBI plays itself out, setting up the betrayal of "Lefty". It is a sad moment for Brasco, as he knows that "Lefty" has just been handed a death sentence at the hands of the mob for vouching for an FBI agent. It is Brasco's ultimate salvation, however, as he was on the brink of committing an unpardonable act, one in which he would have crossed the line and from which there would have been no turning back. It is a decision that was, luckily for him, taken out of his hands.

Al Pacino gives the defining, superlative performance in this film. Anne Heche is sensational as the put upon, concerned wife, who watches her husband change into someone she can barely recognize. Johnny Depp, likewise, gives a stellar performance as the angst ridden FBI undercover agent. All in all, a terrific film with a stellar cast and well worth having in one's collection.

Average customer rating:

Great Kids Movie
A Breath of Fresh Air -- underwater!
Shark Tale
WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE
Why are people comparing this to Finding Nemo?

Shark Tale (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Will Smith , Robert De Niro , Renée Zellweger , Jack Black , and Angelina Jolie
Director: Bibo Bergeron , Rob Letterman , and Vicky Jenson
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0006JMLRK
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Amazon.com

When a shark accidentally clobbers himself, a small fish named Oscar (voiced by Will Smith, I, Robot) just happens to be around, prompting everyone to believe that he killed the shark himself. This lie soon makes Oscar a celebrity, worshipped by the general mass of fish, wooed by a glittering golddigger (Angelina Jolie, Girl, Interrupted), missed by his best friend (Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain)--and hunted by the godfather of great whites (Robert De Niro, Goodfellas). Can a vegetarian shark named Lenny (Jack Black, School of Rock) get Oscar out of this mess? The formulaic story of Shark Tale never reaches the giddy heights of Pixar's output (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Toy Story) or the freewheeling comedy of Shrek, but it's capably told and impeccably animated--the sheer technical skill is stunning. Kids won't get the mobster jokes or the other pop-culture references, but they'll enjoy it nonetheless. --Bret Fetzer

Description

A comic catch from the studio that brought you Shrek, Shark Tale is a hilarious hit and "a wonderful under-the-sea adventure for movie lovers of all ages!" (Clay Smith, Access Hollywood)

Oscar (Will Smith), a lowly tongue-scrubber at the local Whale Wash, becomes an improbable hero when he tells a great white lie. To keep his secret, Oscar teams up with an outcast vegetarian shark, Lenny (Jack Black), and the two become the most unlikely of friends. When his lie begins to unravel, it's up to Oscar's loyal friend Angie (Renée Zellweger) and Lenny to help him stand up to the most feared shark in the water (Robert De Niro) and find his true place in the reef.

Customer Reviews:

Great Kids Movie.......2007-07-02

Great kids movie teaches a lesson on streching the truth. Really cute plot the movie.

A Breath of Fresh Air -- underwater!.......2007-07-01

I can't figure out why people comparing this to "Finding Nemo." They are not alike, and comparisons really are pointless. In fact, Shark Tale is stylistically distinct from most other animated films of recent years. It also has its own brand of humor, which is funny in ways quite unlike the typical Pixar/Disney offering we've gotten used to.

Shark Tale is informed by urban culture, which is why *this* reef is traversed by buses (whales) and police cars (orcas), and has a giant screen TV above it all, featuring live news feeds, commercials, and so on. It's much, much closer to the "real" world of humans than one is used to seeing.

In Finding Nemo, one can't recognize the face of Albert Brooks in Marlin the cartoon fish. But in this movie, Oscar is physically reminiscent of Will Smith, Don Leno really reminds one of Robert DeNiro, and Sikes is, somehow, a dead ringer for Martin Scorsese.

In my view, this adds to the humor and the fun. Don Leno is written as a broad cariacature of Mafia dons, and DeNiro has of course played the ultimate human version -- Don Corleone, in the Godfather trilogy. There are other movie in-jokes all over the place.

A gang of shrimp, formerly destined for Don Leno's dinner, escape -- and when they later find a chance to attack Don Leno, the head shrimp says "Say hello to my little friends" -- a line from Al Pacino's famous turn in Scarface, made hilarious by the oddball new setting.

When Oscar defeats Lenny in a staged fight, and poses for the news cameras to publicize his new role as the Sharkslayer, he recites other movie lines that are inane, even surrealistic in this context, like "You can't handle the truth" (Jack Nicholson's line from A Few Good Men), and then "You had me at hello" (Renée Zellweger's line from Jerry Maguire).

The latter line demonstrates just how shallow Oscar is (he can't even come up with original words to boast with), while showing how mindless and uncritical the crowds are (they cheer the line despite its nonsensicality). Meanwhile, it's an inside joke for movie viewers who note that Ms. Zellweger is in this film, too, playing Oscar's "true" love interest, Angie.

Sikes' henchmen are two jellyfish, and the filmmakers depicted them as Jamaican rasta men, with tentacles in lieu of long dreadlocks. They then typecast reggae stars Ziggy Marley and Doug E. Doug in the roles. They're perfect as the character voices, while also providing great music for the soundtrack.

The film's distinctive style may cause one to overlook the skill that must have been required to depict all these characters as fish, with more-or-less realistic swimming motions, who nevertheless manage goofy slapstick right out of vaudeville. If you pay attention you notice Don Leno's consigliere, Luca, pouring a cup of tea -- which, of course, flows out of the cup and into the surrounding water before Luca can drink it. I mean, this kind of stuff is silly, but (in my view) is funny mostly because nobody in the film calls attention to it.

So: great voicework, a fun story, romance plus suspense, lots of sight gags and other humor, fine animation and a great soundtrack.

The ONLY reason I held back from five full stars is because it really isn't appropriate for the very young -- like, under six or seven at least (in my view). I find it frustrating at how hard it is to find a good animated film that doesn't have a lot of violence or adult themes. There is a fair amount of fighting and other types of conflict, which some kids might be used to -- but in any case, now you know.

Bottom line, it's a fun film that stands up to repeat viewing, and if the parents approve it for their kids, it's perfect for whole-family movie nights. Hint: get ready to dance when the music rolls over the end credits!

Shark Tale.......2007-05-23

Oscar is a fish who works in a "whale wash", like his Dad did. He wants to be a somebody, but without much money there's not much chance of that. In fact, he's in a bit of debt with the owner of the whale wash, and he ends up being tied up underwater, left to the sharks. When a shark looking to feed on him accidentally is killed by an anchor, Oscar takes the credit as a "shark slayer". Maybe he'll be a somebody then...

"Shark Tale" is pretty smoothly animated, but the plot isn't quite that engaging. Two and a half stars.

WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE.......2007-05-08

NOW I COULD EASYLY SAY THIS WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GRATEST MOVE EVER MADE IN THE WORLD THAT IS SO FOR SHORE

Why are people comparing this to Finding Nemo?.......2007-04-24

This movie is great. It's very funny and gives a good message. Like Dreamworks other movie, 'Madagascar,' it becomes too mature for its target audience, therefore this is not really a film for small children. In fact, adults and teenagers will like this one the most. I think Will Smith is very funny as Oscar - his expressions were priceless!

Now why do people think this is some kind of rip off of Finding Nemo. Lets take a look at the similarities and differences:

Similarities:

*They both had vegetarian sharks.

*They both take place under the ocean.

Differences:

*Finding Nemo is more realistic and takes place on a reef with natural colours. Shark Tale tries a more artistic approach, making it more like a city with shops and apartments. The characters use phones, order pizzas etc.

*There are no humans in ST (apart from an anchor). Whilst with FN, humans were a main part of the story.

*ST is slightly more aimed at older children, teenagers and adults.

*The plots are totally different.

Comparing these two is like comparing apples and oranges. To be honest, I prefer Shark Tale over Finding Nemo. That's just my opinion. I think it is unfair to give Shark Tale a bad review just because it is something it was never intended to be.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Frank Sinatra - The Man and the Myth

Perfect Witness

Stark Raving Mad (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Destination Tokyo

Die Mumie - New Edition