Pecker
Starring:Bess Armstrong, Mo Fischer, Edward Furlong, Patricia Hearst, Lauren Hulsey, Mark Joy, Donald Neal, Mary Kay Place, Martha Plimpton, Christina Ricci, Anthony Roger, Jean Schertler, Brendan Sexton III, Carolyn Stayer, Mink Stole, Lili Taylor, Jack Webster, Alan J. Wendl, Judith Knight Young
Studio: New Line Home Video
Product Type: DVD
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Pecker (so named, at least according to his grandmother, because he always pecks at his food) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since this is a John Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Unlike the hero in most sudden-fame stories, however, Pecker, as played by Edward Furlong, isn't exactly an innocent; rather, he takes in the world with his eyes, and his mind, wide open. So instead of suffering a precipitous fall, Pecker eventually turns the tables on his more worldly New York peers.
While not as outrageous as early Waters features such as Female Trouble and Pink Flamingos, Pecker still has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce. The movie is not so much a pointed satire as a gentle teasing of the art world and its pretensions. The all-embracing world of John Waters allows for lovable freaks from the big city, too.
The movie sags a bit when it settles into its plot; it can't sustain the comic inspiration reached in the opening scenes of Pecker's encounters with Baltimore's misfits. But running gags about a sugar-addicted child and a ventriloquist-doll Virgin Mary are hilarious. What ultimately makes the movie such a pleasure, though, is Waters's genuine fondness for all of his characters. Aided by a charming cast, including Christina Ricci and Waters regulars Mink Stole and Patty Hearst, Waters has created a surprisingly touching ode to human eccentricity. --Chris Neman
Average customer rating:
- Close to perfect...
- Good little collection......
- john waters box set
- Not bad, but not great.
- Hilarious
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John Waters Collection (A Dirty Shame NC-17 Version / Desperate Living / Female Trouble / Hairspray / Pecker / Pink Flamingos / Polyester)
Starring: John Waters Collection
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:
- Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
- Lust in the Dust
- Cecil B. Demented
- Divine Trash
- Serial Mom
ASIN: B000929UPA
Release Date: 2005-06-14 |
Description
All new John Waters Gift Set that includes: A Dirty Shame, Desperate Living, Female Trouble, Hairspray, Pecker, Pink Flamingos, Polyester and a bonus disc of extras!
Customer Reviews:
Close to perfect..........2007-05-04
John Waters has been an inspiration, a guide in good (bad) taste and a personal hero since I was 13. 24 years later nothing has changed and this DVD box-set was a joy. It's like being shot in the head by your favourite member of the Manson Family or joining a sickening cult who relentlessly coerce you into getting a life.
I'm biased of course. I think John Water's movies should be obligatory by law. However I do have some questions...like where the hell is Multiple Maniacs and why has Serial Mom been omitted from the list?
What you DO get are classics like Pink Flamingos in which the protagonists struggle to prove themselves to be the filthiest people alive, while Desperate Living has the greatest Backwards Day scene ever filmed while hippies blasted on LSD shove babies into refrigerators. Also you get Female Trouble which is simply Divine's unquestionable masterpiece, while Pecker is just sublime and counts as the most loving tribute to a camera yet put on celluloid. All in all this cannot be missed but where the hell have Cry Baby and all the others got to?
The most series overlook is Multiple Maniacs and I'm still stuck without David Lochary as Mr David. I only have my VHS copy and the tape is wearing out. Please release it on a shiny plastic disk before I do something drastic and saw off my own face.
As Water's commented in Crackpot...much of what counted as showmanship in cinema is now dead. Thank god there is then a record of a man possessed of that vision who (unlike the infamous Jim Rose who once threatened to kill me when I compared his freak show with Water's visionary work) has an eye on the truly depraved. As always that's where the action is and there is no competing with it. A whole truckload of Quentin Tarantino's with their boring, tame, saleable zeitgeist crap have missed the bus. Perhaps you'll be on it with them heading to Retardsville instead of moving here?
I bought this with a Date With John Waters on CD. Great double pick. Still I'm missing the armpit licking and Divine's blasphemous unholy vision.
Water's really is The Pope Of Trash and this box-set will at least partially prove it. It makes me want to hit the banned-list and invite over a few nuns.
2000 out of 10.
Good little collection.............2007-02-26
I sometimes wonder if John Waters should've released two boxed sets. One containing the films prior to Hairspray and one after Hairspray, because it seems that the feel and focus of the films changed with that movie. Besides, that would make for a truly complete collection. However, I still enjoyed the box set. Some films I liked better than others obviously..... Personally, I enjoyed Water's newer films more than some of the old ones. Pink Flamingoes is still great, but some of the older flicks such as Female Trouble and Polyester seemed a bit boring to tell the truth. I highly enjoyed Pecker and A Dirty Shame. All in all, its a decent set. And the extra scrapbook disc adds some extras for die-hards to surf through.
john waters box set.......2007-01-12
this is a must have for any waters fan. the box set "very crudely yours" lives up to it's name.
Not bad, but not great........2006-11-03
The older films were a bit rough, as would be expected. Much of the acting is just awful, but that is the charm of the movies in some respects. I am glad that I got this set, but would hesitate to recommend it.
Hilarious.......2006-08-03
I've only recently discovered Jon Waters' movies. I had seen Pink Flamingos last year and loved it. Now, within the last 2 months I have purchased 5 of the movies in this collection as well as the Divine Trash documentary. I will only review the films i have seen (i have not seen Pecker or Hairspray)
1. Pink Flamingos-this movie is absolutely hilarious and is the best in this collection. Waters could not have cast a more perfect group of people-Divine, Mink Stole, Mary V. Pearce, Danny Mills, David Lochary and the unforgettable Edith Massey are all brilliant in their roles as dysfunctional perverts and freaks. The plot is very simple, the sets are simple...but the film is great. watch it with friends! [A+]
2. Female Troube-comes oh so close to being #1. This was the perfect follow-up to Pink Flamingos. It's not as gross though (which isn't saying a lot, it still has it's uneasy moments!). Divine gives a better performance this time around and Mink is priceless as Taffy. The scene with Divine in her see-through wedding dress had me howling on the floor. This is Waters' second best film. [A+]
3. Desperate Living-I had my reservations before seeing this one since Divine is not in it, but it turned out to be really good as well. I'm almost tempted to say that this one is even more gross than Pink Flamingos! It has a lot of laughs, although i do have some criticisms. The Mole characted was really annoying to me, I don't think Susan Lowe should have played the part. Also, the penis-cutting scene was a bit over the top. But on the better side, Mink Stole deserved an Academy Award for the performance, Jean Hill was a brilliant addition to the Waters gang, and Mary Vivian and Edith Massey were great, as always.Third best Waters film. [A]
4. Polyester-This is considered Waters' "transitional" film from underground to mainstream. It was a little more conventional, but still had enough of an edge to be considered a true Waters film, especially with the return of Divine. Honestly though, it wasn't as good as the previous three films. It had some good moments but it kind of dragged on a little bit. I also wish Mary Vivian would have been featured a lot more. [B-]
5. Dirty Shame-I was looking forward to this one since it was heralded as Waters' return to his nasty roots, but it just wasn't that good. Sorry to say it, but Waters' best days were in the late 60's and 70's. I barely even laughed through this one. I really don't see how it was even rated NC17, it didn't even come close to the filth from his 70's movies. [D+]
I recommend that you just buy the Trash trio: Pink Flamingos, Female Troube and Desperate Living-those are the 3 best he's ever done and ever will do. Cemented in stone as the Filthiest Movies Alive.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting profile and perspective on Baltimore and the NYC art scene
- Outrageous, but full of good will
- Very Funny
- One of my favorite John Waters films
- Very Entertaining
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Pecker
Starring: Bess Armstrong , Mo Fischer , Edward Furlong , Patricia Hearst , and Lauren Hulsey
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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Similar Items:
- Polyester
- A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)
- Cecil B. Demented
- Hairspray
- Desperate Living
ASIN: 0780625528
Release Date: 1999-02-23 |
Amazon.com
Pecker (so named, at least according to his grandmother, because he always pecks at his food) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since this is a John Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Unlike the hero in most sudden-fame stories, however, Pecker, as played by Edward Furlong, isn't exactly an innocent; rather, he takes in the world with his eyes, and his mind, wide open. So instead of suffering a precipitous fall, Pecker eventually turns the tables on his more worldly New York peers.
While not as outrageous as early Waters features such as Female Trouble and Pink Flamingos, Pecker still has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce. The movie is not so much a pointed satire as a gentle teasing of the art world and its pretensions. The all-embracing world of John Waters allows for lovable freaks from the big city, too.
The movie sags a bit when it settles into its plot; it can't sustain the comic inspiration reached in the opening scenes of Pecker's encounters with Baltimore's misfits. But running gags about a sugar-addicted child and a ventriloquist-doll Virgin Mary are hilarious. What ultimately makes the movie such a pleasure, though, is Waters's genuine fondness for all of his characters. Aided by a charming cast, including Christina Ricci and Waters regulars Mink Stole and Patty Hearst, Waters has created a surprisingly touching ode to human eccentricity. --Chris Neman
Customer Reviews:
Interesting profile and perspective on Baltimore and the NYC art scene.......2007-01-18
John Waters portrays the absurd elements of everyday life in his beloved hometown of Baltimore with such relish that it actually makes me want to visit. The highlight of the film is Pecker's grandmother who has a "speaking" Virgin Mary and his older sister who works in a gay stripclub. The NYC art scene is portrayed as cold, calculating and a bit of a leech to Pecker's fresh-faced and unassuming talent, though Christina Ricci's girlfriend character was a bit annoying in her constant complaints against the latter city while extolling the virtue of Baltimore. This is not one of John Waters' best (those would be primarily in the 1970s) but is recommended for anyone interested in Baltimore and an outsider's view of the art scene.
Outrageous, but full of good will.......2007-01-09
This is the movie that redeemed John Waters for me. It's laugh-out-loud funny, totally outrageous, but full of good will and human kindness. It skewers the New York art establishmant most delightfully and casts an affectionate eye on Baltimore and its denizens. An absolute delight!
Very Funny.......2006-08-10
Out of the three John Waters films I've seen (Pink Flamingos, Serial Mom, and this film...In that order), this is definitely my favorite. It's probably Waters most normal film (and even this film has some weird moments);
It's got a great cast, the dialogue is funny, and some of the events play like some weird farce on real life. Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) plays Pecker, a young kid who snaps pictures of everything around him. Graffiti'd walls,
fat women, girls on a bus, a man getting his hat stolen, pubic hair...You name it, he takes a picture of it. Eventually Pecker's photos get noticed by Rorey (Lili Taylor, 'I Shot Andy Warhol') who puts his photos in a gallery to mass acclaim. Eventually, it takes a toll on Pecker's life and everything spirals out of control...In typical John Waters fashion. The movie's plot is pretty simple, but it's hilarious. Example; Pecker's sister Crissy is a sugar crazed brat. A Child Protective Services worker shows up at the house and prescribes Rittalin, which instantly changes her behavior. The way I'm explaining it doesn't sound very funny at all, but if you've had any experience with ADHD...Then you'll get a laugh out of that. Christina Ricci co-stars as Shelley, Pecker's girlfriend who runs a fascist laundromat. I've always liked Ricci as an actress, but her looks kind of come and go in films. She'll look great in one film and then like crap in another. In the movie "The Ice Storm" which came out around the same time as this, she didn't look that great. Here, she looks awesome. Really hot and she adds some fresh bits of sarcasm to the film as well. Am I the only one who thinks Waters could've splurged on a nude scene here. Anyway, as with all Waters films, this movie will not be enjoyed by everybody. However, this film is done in a different style then the other two films I've mentioned...So even if you have no idea who Waters is, this movie isn't something you run and tell your friends about (Pink Flamingos anybody?). It's damn funny, entertaining, and witty.
GRADE: A-
One of my favorite John Waters films.......2006-08-01
Pecker is a true gem for those who like their movies off the beaten path. And when you watch a John Waters movie, that's exactly what you expect. Pecker delivers on that and then some. To me, this ties with Waters' film Serial Mom for his best in my eyes. Pecker (Edward Furlong) has the gift of being able to capture life in a unique way with his photos. He takes pictures of his family and various people going about their lives in Baltimore with his 35 milimeter camera he got at his mom's thrift store. Pecker's family is quite unusual and makes for great photo opportunities. His sugar-addicted little sister, little Chrissy, is perhaps one of my favorites. Or Me-Ma-Ma, his grandmother, and her "talking" Virgin Mary doll. Pecker also has a girlfriend (the always great Christina Ricci) named Shelly who runs the Spin N'Grin laundromat, a sister (Martha Plimpton) who works at a gay bar, a mom who can dress you for under a dollar at her thrift store and a father who's woes include the strip bar across the street running his bar out of business. But what's commonplace for these Baltimore residents is extraordinary to an art dealer named Rorey (Lili Taylor) who discovers Pecker and his pictures while he's showcasing them at the sub shop he works at. Suddenly, Pecker is a star and all of New York is clamoring for his work, thanks to Rorey's exposure, but it soon brings about consequences for Pecker. Part of the fun in this, aside from enjoying all the unusual characters, is seeing what happens next. Pecker is a phenomenal movie and there really should be more movies like this. For those that don't get the humor in dark comedies, you might want to stick to those Julia Roberts movies. For me, any day could be a day to watch Pecker. Absolutely positively recommended!
Very Entertaining.......2006-05-06
This movies is funny, fast moving and you can't guess what is going to happen next. I really enjoyed it and thing that you will too. A movie made outside the box.
Average customer rating:
- FULL OF GRACE! FULL OF GRACE!
- The Two "HAPPY" Movies Of The John Waters' Collection
- John Waters - need I say more?
- Least essential 'Special Edition' release....but fun!
- Hairspray: The BEST Movie EVER NOW on DVD!
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John Waters Collection #1: Hairspray/ Pecker (Special Edition)
Starring: Sonny Bono , Ruth Brown , Josh Charles , Divine , and Jason Downs
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
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Binding: DVD
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- Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
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ASIN: B00005B6OZ
Release Date: 2001-05-22 |
Amazon.com
John Waters made his bid for PG respectability with Hairspray, an enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame.
Pecker (Edward Furlong) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since Pecker is a Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Pecker has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce.
Customer Reviews:
FULL OF GRACE! FULL OF GRACE!.......2003-01-13
I think these two movies are a must have for any Divine or John Waters fan.Even if they are pretty commercial and not as original as "Female Trouble" or "Mutiple Maniacs"(hopefully the latter of the two will be on DVD soon)they are wonderful example of wonderfully talented and sometimes shocking director.The cast in "Hairspray" are great including Debbie Harry,Sonny Bono,Ricki Lake and of corse,DIVINE!! "Pecker" has its moments and will grow on you as any true John Waters will.If you have never seen a Water's flick,this is a good place to start.
The Two "HAPPY" Movies Of The John Waters' Collection.......2002-03-07
"Hairspray" and "Pecker" are the tamest in the John Waters' collection. They are very enjoyable, even though they don't have the shock value that Waters earlier films had. I still absolutely adore both of these films and I'm thrilled that they are together on DVD. "Hairspray" is the last Waters' film that the late Divine appeared in. It showed the potential that Divine had in regards to his acting abilities. The movie is just flat-out fun, I would recommend it to anybody.
"Pecker" is one of John Waters recent films that I thoroughly enjoy. Its a ahppy little story that just floats along on screen, its really a pleasure to watch.
John Waters - need I say more?.......2002-01-19
All Waters fans - this is a no brainer. Two of the master's films for the price of one with a great commentary and an offer for a bonus disc (if you buy all three of the "collection"). I can't wait for Multiple Maniacs and Mondo Trasho! I would love to see some of his early stuff (Eat Your Makeup, Hag in a Black Leather Jacket) if it exists somewhere. Don't hesitate to buy this disc if your a fan.
Least essential 'Special Edition' release....but fun!.......2001-12-05
Of the three John Waters "Special Edition" releases, this is the only one that duplicates previous DVD releases...and thus it's the one collectors may opt to refuse. (...) The bonuses in this package aren't must-haves, though any film commentary with John Waters is a delight.
I guess some reviewers have a valid point about the mainstreaming of Waters' films...and these two films are case(s?) in point. But consider the limitations placed on the writer/director as his core cast was fragmented and the cost of filming movies soared skyward. In both "Hairspray" and "Pecker" I see minor concessions to the bland tastes of Popular culture, but nary a cop-out. (...) the subversive edge of Waters' often brilliant writing/direction is an ongoing exercise in (good) bad taste. If nothing else, his characters never do what you expect of them, quite a virtue in a film world besotted with "accessible" characterization.
Despite some brilliant moments, "Hairspray" is a bit cloying on the whole. This, in my opinion, is largely due to Ricki Lake in the lead role. Despite the usual outrageous Waters' dialogue, Lake delivers her lines with such sweetness and reverance that you just want to backhand her. To her credit, she furthers the old saw about fat girls being good dancers.
"Hairspray" is also a bit overlong with dance sequences, though they certainly lend a touch of authenticity to the production. The central story is roughly linear, though the bit with Tracy in reform school seems like a delaying tactic...especially since Waters' used a similar story device in "Cry Baby". On the plus side, the supporting cast is rich with freakish appeal. Divine's last role for Waters isn't flashy, but his Edna Turnblad is a credible, nuanced piece of work. Longtime cast member Mink Stole gets lots of screen time in a fairly minor role. Lots of silly and/or hysterical cameos: Pia Zadora, Ric Ocasek, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono and a few more. The youth leads (mostly unknowns) are right on target...thoroughly believable in their parts.
Overall, "Hairspray" is probably the most accessible of Waters' latter-day films (...).
"Pecker" is a good choice to complement "Hairspray" in this edition. Both films have youthful leads, and both deal (directly or indirectly) with social issues such as race and class. The appeal of these films is also a bit gentler and good-humored than some of Waters' recent offerings. "Pecker" might take a while to sink in with old-time fans, as it did with me. I don't know if it's because there are other writers and directors actively pursuing the raunch genre that Waters' pioneered, or because "Pecker" has such simple charms.
I grudge the obligatory star power of Lili Taylor and Indie Waif Christina Ricci, low-wattage that it may be. Otherwise, the casting and performances in "Pecker" are on target. Mary Kay Place is fretful and yet blissfully sedate as the thrift store maven; a role that seems an appropriate homage to Waters' long time friend and star, Edith Massey. Martha Plimpton plays the ultimate fag hag ("My life is trade!") with dizzy abandon. Ed Furlong's Pecker (um, keep reading) is the most functional idiot savant imagineable...a tireless servant to the "art" all around, and completely oblivious to social norms and responsibilities.
Despite a feel-good ending that smooths over a fair number of conflicts, "Pecker" is a funny and satisfying film. The rabid idiosyncrasies of Waters' characters play off each other with the kind of manic glee you can find in "Pink Flamingos" or even "Polyester." The 'turnabout' plot actually works, if you take a good look at some of Pecks' pics from his NYC premiere. (...)
Fans who already own "Pecker" on DVD may opt to wait for a single disc release for "Hairspray." Considering how infrequently some of his films have been available on home video, I'm pretty sure longtime fans like myself will snap this collection up on sight. Recommended.
J
Hairspray: The BEST Movie EVER NOW on DVD!.......2001-06-14
I'm not going to bother to review the actual movies themselves, since there is no point in criticizing perfection! I'm thrilled to finally have "Hairspray" on DVD! What I will say is: I find it extremely puzzling that New Line decided to put "Hairspray" out with "Pecker." I totally understand that "Pecker" is probably the tamest (along with Hairspray- "Cry Baby" was released by Universal so New Line probably doesn't have the rights to release it) of the John Waters movies- but I would say that it's safe to say that all of the John Waters fans with DVD players bought "Pecker" the day it came out! (Well, I did!) The "Pecker" DVD IS NOT the same DVD that was out before. It has some new menu screens AND the cast/crew bios are now gone. Everything else is the same. The "Hairspray" DVD is great- the movie has never looked this good before! I've seen the movie hundreds of times, and I discovered things I had never seen before when I watched the pristine DVD. John and Ricki's commentary is interesting but it's glaringly obvious that the two of them did not record the commentary together. New Line has attempted to sort of "paste together" their commentaries to make you think they were there together- but you can tell they really weren't. Ricki's commentary is somewhat limited to her revealing that she was extremely upset about having to dye her hair and she says that she still wishes that she could have worn a wig. She also talks about how she got the part- but it's her comments on her hair that keep coming up! (I guess she really has a reason to complain! They really did a number on her hair!) It would have been nice if John and Ricki could have recorded their commentaries together- to react against what each was saying. Other than that- just about everything is perfection. The packaging for this DVD could have been a little nicer with more pictures (the velcro that keeps it all closed is sort of CHEAP!)- New Line could have come up with something a little more clever- but I'M NOT COMPLAINING! I'm just happy to have "Hairspray" on DVD!
Average customer rating:
- "It's as if the story's already begun."
- Well worth watching
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Trojan Eddie
Starring: Stephen Rea , Richard Harris , Stuart Townsend , Aislín McGuckin , and Brendan Gleeson
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
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ASIN: B0001DCYDM
Release Date: 2004-04-06 |
Description
In Trojan Eddie, acclaimed director Gillies MacKinnon and award winning writer Billy Roche create a strange compelling world on the edge of society - where everyone wants something they can't possibly have. The New York Post calls Stephen Rea's portrayal of the title character "spellbinding," and heralds Richard Harris' performance " as frightening as it is hypnotic."
Customer Reviews:
"It's as if the story's already begun.".......2006-11-13
Trojan Eddie (Stephen Rea) is a talented salesman who's hemmed in--like most of us--by a lack of cash and no opportunities. Set in present-day Ireland, Trojan Eddie is in the pay of local racketeer, John Power (Richard Harris). Power supplies the goods (which seem suspiciously hot), and then Eddie and his assistant Dermot (Stuart Townsend) work the sales miracle, and by putting on an impressive sideshow, manage to sell things to people that they didn't even know they wanted. By all rights, Trojan Eddie should be a successful businessman, but after giving his thuggish boss his cut from the sale, Eddie is left with just enough to scrape by.
Eddie dreams of hitting the big time, but for that he needs cash. He knows he can be successful if he could just find enough seed money to get him on his feet, but that seems unlikely to happen. Thanks to Eddie's philandering wife, Shirley (Angeline Ball), a woman who comes and goes as she feels like it in Eddie's life, Power, and his squad of goons, consider Eddie to be a bit of a joke. As a cuckold, Eddie is the butt of everyone's humour, and since he's a minor, barely tolerated member of Power's team, he's near to the last on the food chain.
But then Power, who's widowed, sets his sights on a young girl named Kathleen (Aislin McGuckin)--part of a tinker family. Power imagines that he can have Kathleen, who is abysmally poor and living in squalid circumstances, quite easily. While Power treats Kathleen with quiet reverence, he makes it clear to her family that she's his for the taking.
Directed by Gillies MacKinnon and based on a novel by Billy Roche, the film explores exactly what happens when Power loses his heart to a much younger woman. By all rights, Trojan Eddie should just be an outside observer of the events that take place, but he's reluctantly dragged into a potentially explosive situation. Stephen Rea is a wonderful actor, and it's a delight to see him in this film as a harmless, small time hustler who's condemned, by circumstance, to rub shoulders with people he dislikes. Just how Eddie manages to maintain some dignity and independence while trying to stay on the good side of his thuggish employer makes "Trojan Eddie" an entertaining film--displacedhuman
Well worth watching.......1999-10-27
It's too bad the celtic tiger government doesn't support its film industry. Films such as this don't make it over here because they're not supported. They don't have that sappy 'lucky charms' and leprechaun lack of mind. "Trojan Eddie" is a tale about the "Travellers" a minority in Ireland whom the Irish don't like to talk about too much.Richard Harris is the Patriarch and Stephen Rea a a bumbling jester type. Both are excellent in their roles and the laughter at the end is warmly chilling.
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely outstanding work
- Total waste of a lot of money!
- Decide Who's Right
- Awful
- What more could one ask for?
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UNIVERSE-The Cosmology Quest
Starring: Dr. Halton Arp , Dr. Margaret Burbidge , Jean-Claude Pecker , Dr. Anthony Peratt , and Eric Lerner
Director: Randall Meyers
Manufacturer: Floating World Films
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- A Science Odyssey - Mysteries of the Universe
- NOVA - Origins
- World Almanac Video - The Expanding Universe
- Hubble: 15 Years of Discovery
- NOVA - The Elegant Universe
ASIN: B0006HU2VY
Release Date: 2004-06-01 |
Description
This feature length presentation is a unique mixture of human interest and science documentary film. As the first comphrehensive documentary to deal with major new approaches in non-bing bang cosmologies, it reveals several deep-rooted theoretical and observational controversies.
This is a fact, well hidden from university students and the general public, which is told with clarity and conviction: and potentially leading to the down-fall of the presiding Big Bang theory.
The story is told by 16 world renown astronomers and cosmologist such as the legendary Sir Fred Hoyle, controversial cosmologists Geoffrey Burbidge and Halton Arp, philosopher and telescope designer John Dobson, astronomers Jack Sulentic, Jean-Claude Pecker, and Margaret Burbidge.
Illustrated with 3D animations and a lush symphonic soundtrack -this film is a scientific and historical "must" for anyone interested in astronomy and cosmology today.
DVD set includes bonus materials! Almost one hour of extra interviews and a short tribute film to Sir Fred Hoyle that is only available here.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely outstanding work.......2006-07-26
I bought this film some time ago and have seen it many times. From the point of view of content it is an absolutely outstanding work. The visuals and artistic structuring also deserve merit, but most of all it is the sociological and scientific messages that are most arresting. I have also permitted myself to read the other articles about this film on Amazon. Of course everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and criticism, but when two different people complain about the lack of English subtitles on "some Norwegian scientists" then I have to laugh. Hey guys maybe you are not acquainted with DVD technology and therefore are not aware that there are different versions of the film on your disks. If you had taken the time and used a little smarts, you would certainly have noticed the "International version", clicked on it and gotten those Scandinavians you so disliked with English (embedded) subtitles - no problem. For me this little slip on your side totally undermines the rest of what you said you saw.
Total waste of a lot of money!.......2006-06-23
I am very interested in the latest breakthroughs and theories of Cosmology, Astrophysics & Astronomy. Most of the DVDs I've bought, as long as they're relatively recent, have been very good. This DVD is one of the biggest let-downs I've purchased, especially when I looked back in my records to see how much I paid for it. Therefore the need to write a review to warn potential buyers. The program was poorly done; disc 1 gave a much repeated, whiny argument by several scientists that all red shift measurements cannot be correlated to distance. No science or alternate theories were offered, just complaining that the prevailing theorists dismiss the discovery that several bodies (galaxies & quasars) in the same proximities in space have drastically different red shifts. The disc 2 gave a very boring, and only half in English, discussion about plasma and its importance in the universe. After some muttering to myself, I nearly fell asleep, so I turned it off. NOT EVEN IN ENGLISH! Some Scandinavian scientist went on and on about the aurora with no translation or sub-captioning. I really couldn't believe I was duped so by purchasing this DVD. BUYER BEWARE.
Alternate DVDs to consider instead of this one:
PHYSICS - The Elegant Universe and Beyond including Einstein's Big Idea and Einstein Revealed.
Mysteries of the Universe - A Science Odyssey
Stephen Hawking's Universe
Decide Who's Right.......2006-06-08
This two disc program makes you wonder who's right, the big-bangers or the steady-staters. I didn't know that there are a number of scientists "today" who question the big bang theory, but there are. This program shows you that some observations actually contradict the big bang theory, like for instance the difference in red shift in quasars, which questions the whole concept of expansion. However, there is no real satisfying explanation for the discrepancy.
Also, the huge adjustment required to make in the temperature of the cosmic background radiation, according to the big bang theory, to match the actual value, is another plus in favor of the non-expanding universe. Another thing that interested me was the argument of dark matter, where scientists are struggling to make sense of it. I personally believe that dark matter is nothing but interstellar light emitted by stars. Light can be seen only if it's coming straight at us, otherwise it's invisible. And since light is a form of energy then it has mass, according to E=mc2. Our own sun emits around 4 million tons of mass every second in the form of light. Combining all this unseen light within our galaxy should account for the extra mass known as dark matter.
I give this program 4 stars not 5 because of the unsatisfactory explanation of quasar redshift mentioned earlier. But the program makes you realize that the big bang is not a scientific fact, but a scientific deduction. It is nice to propose new theories, but it is another thing to stick to these theories even when there are discrepancies.
Awful.......2005-07-08
There are two discs in this series. The first decries the red shift and the persons interviewed are arguably believable. It's ok to question the validity of the red shift but the basis for questioning the theory as presented in this movie is quite weak. The second disc deals with plasma and unfortunately one of the narrators, Hansen, narrates either in Danish or Norweign and cannot be understood.
What more could one ask for?.......2005-03-16
This film is an eye opener! I have always suspected that something was wrong in the logic of the Big-Bangers, but this beautifully executed DVD puts the last nail in the theory's coffin. A scientific revolution is in fact underway, and all the signs point to the fact that the age of dark matter, dark energy, or should we say the "dark age" is about to be illuminated and a new vision of our universe ushered in. I have seen a lot of documentaries about space and cosmology, but I promise - never one like this one, and very few as good. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in the subject.
Amazon.com
Director John Waters breaks new boundaries of bad taste with the six-film John Waters Collection. Waters actually made his bid for PG respectability with Hairspray, an enjoyably trashy comedy about the racial integration of a teen dance show on Baltimore television in the early '60s. Waters, as always, makes a virtue of junk culture and the powerful emotional forces it can represent as kids vie to get on the show. Meanwhile, a parade of former stars (Pia Zadora, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono) and pseudostars (Divine, Ricki Lake) cross the screen, playing freakish characters absorbed by thoughts of fame.
Pecker (Edward Furlong) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since Pecker is a Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Pecker has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce.
In Waters's hilariously trashy tale of suburban misadventure Polyester, his favorite leading lady, transvestite Divine, plays Francine Fishpaw, a dissatisfied suburban housefrau who longs for a little romance in her life because her husband and children drive her crazy. Salvation arrives in the form of Tod Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), a drive-in owner who sweeps Francine off her feet (a mean task, given Divine's girth). But he's not all he's cracked up to be.
Everyone in Desperate Living's Mortville has some horrible secret to hide. The mentally unstable Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole, in a superb display of overacting) and her 300-pound-plus maid Grizelda must take it on the lam after Grizelda smothers Peggy's husband under her elephantine buttocks. They find themselves in Mortville, a shanty fiefdom ruled by the grotesque Queen Carlotta (the incomparable Edith Massey). The evil queen delights in tormenting her subjects, but Peggy and Grizelda soon team up with a pair of lesbian outcasts, and a rebellion is in the air. Notable for the absence of Waters regular Divine, this movie pushes the rest of the cast to their over-the-top best. Nasty, shabby, gross, and hilarious, this is John Waters at his best.
Pink Flamingos is the movie that made Waters famous, and quite possibly the film that made bad taste cool. The plot revolves around two vile families laying claim to the title "The Filthiest People Alive." You've got pregnant women in pits, you've got grown men getting sexual satisfaction from chickens, you've got people licking furniture to perform trailer-park voodoo, and you've got classic lines like: "Oh my God! The couch ... it ... it rejected you!" Waters made this celluloid sideshow with one aim--to make a name for himself. It worked.
In Female Trouble, cross-dressing cult icon Divine is at her most gleefully outrageous as teenage brat Dawn Davenport, who runs away from home and into a life of wanton hedonism all because she didn't get cha-cha heels for Christmas. Almost immediately she's molested by a sleazy motorcycle thug (also played by Divine), but she doesn't let motherhood interfere with her plans of stardom and turns herself into an unlikely fashion statement in an apocalyptic fashion show. Waters's fourth feature is just as cinematically primitive and even more gleefully vulgar, right down to the electric climax of Dawn's road to everlasting fame.
Description
7 DVD gift set contains 6 classic John Waters films plus a bonus DVD with extra features including interviews, deleted scenes and outakes.
Customer Reviews:
Hey C. Lander, go to hell.......2005-04-11
Hey C. Lander, f*** you. John Waters movies SUCK (except Hairspray and Pecker) and Steven Spielberg has a quadrillion times more talent than John Waters.
Ban John waters?.......2004-08-06
Lol One of the reviews blasting waters names Steven Spielberg as one of the greatest directors of all time. Spielbergs movies are all over budgeted crapfests for christian Familys who live in the suburbs. Waters is daring,original and has far more talent than that hack spielberg. Ban movies like Jurassic park instead.
There are two types of people in the world.......2004-06-22
People who like John Waters's movies, and @$$holes. (Note for the humour-impaired: go to dictionary.com and look up the word "joke" - you'll find life easier afterwards.)
This set is remarkable. Not only do we get John's five best movies and Pecker, complete with the maestro's side-splitting commentary tracks, but we get a bonus DVD with all kinds of treasures: clips from unfinished movies, interviews old & new, and assorted relevant weirdness.
If you get John Waters, you need this set. If you don't, well there's plenty of other junk out there.
Trashy Genius.......2004-03-14
John Waters has spent the past 40 years teaching us all the true meaning of filthiness. Finally, New Line Home Cinema has digitalized the biggest of his films. More important still, classics like Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, and Desperate Living are all presented in their entirety (sorry Jack).
The DVDs are beautiful. The commentaries are hilarious. The frames have never been so offensive. As an added bonus, the new 32mm prints are circulating among local (local as in your nearest big city local) theatres for midnite runs. Who'd of guessed?
If you are a new fan, aka Hairspray on Broadway, then perhaps you'd be best renting them first... though you won't find them at Blockbuster. Otherwise, you know what you're in for... buy them already!
John Water's Films Helped Me Survive My Youth.......2004-02-19
As a young teen, I was raised in a terrible town that was obsessed with sports. No efforts were truly put into giving the children culture. If you were a young male, you either played sports or you were odd. I was odd. I was more interested in painting and music. I had to 'culture' myself. I would get on the bus and go to the city to see architecture, museums, plays, and concerts. Usually by myself. This is around the time I discovered the films of Divine. Here was an outrageous figure not afraid to be himself. Surrounded by an entire group of outcasts and misfits. I almost felt like part of the Dreamlanders (the name given to this group of people). I sought out anything by Divine or John Waters that I could get my hands on. That is how I discovered all of these films.
Watching these films helped me to realize there was an entire world outside of my dreary town and its dreary residents.
And the world was filled with all kinds of wonderful, artistic and bizaare people (who actually made me look dull and normal).
Say what you will about Divine and John Waters. But they really helped me survive my youth.
Now as for this box set. You cannot beat this deal. You get the best of John Waters all in one set. If you bought these films separately, you would pay a lot more than this price.
![Pecker [Region 2]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/315CMG7J3EL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
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Pecker [Region 2]
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ASIN: B00004VYD9 |
![Trojan Eddie [Region 2]](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
Average customer rating:
- "It's as if the story's already begun."
- Well worth watching
|
Trojan Eddie [Region 2]
Starring: Stephen Rea , Richard Harris , Stuart Townsend , Aislín McGuckin , and Brendan Gleeson
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
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Similar Items:
- Bitter Harvest
- The Missouri Breaks
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- The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
- William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)
ASIN: B00009PBYR |
Customer Reviews:
"It's as if the story's already begun.".......2006-11-13
Trojan Eddie (Stephen Rea) is a talented salesman who's hemmed in--like most of us--by a lack of cash and no opportunities. Set in present-day Ireland, Trojan Eddie is in the pay of local racketeer, John Power (Richard Harris). Power supplies the goods (which seem suspiciously hot), and then Eddie and his assistant Dermot (Stuart Townsend) work the sales miracle, and by putting on an impressive sideshow, manage to sell things to people that they didn't even know they wanted. By all rights, Trojan Eddie should be a successful businessman, but after giving his thuggish boss his cut from the sale, Eddie is left with just enough to scrape by.
Eddie dreams of hitting the big time, but for that he needs cash. He knows he can be successful if he could just find enough seed money to get him on his feet, but that seems unlikely to happen. Thanks to Eddie's philandering wife, Shirley (Angeline Ball), a woman who comes and goes as she feels like it in Eddie's life, Power, and his squad of goons, consider Eddie to be a bit of a joke. As a cuckold, Eddie is the butt of everyone's humour, and since he's a minor, barely tolerated member of Power's team, he's near to the last on the food chain.
But then Power, who's widowed, sets his sights on a young girl named Kathleen (Aislin McGuckin)--part of a tinker family. Power imagines that he can have Kathleen, who is abysmally poor and living in squalid circumstances, quite easily. While Power treats Kathleen with quiet reverence, he makes it clear to her family that she's his for the taking.
Directed by Gillies MacKinnon and based on a novel by Billy Roche, the film explores exactly what happens when Power loses his heart to a much younger woman. By all rights, Trojan Eddie should just be an outside observer of the events that take place, but he's reluctantly dragged into a potentially explosive situation. Stephen Rea is a wonderful actor, and it's a delight to see him in this film as a harmless, small time hustler who's condemned, by circumstance, to rub shoulders with people he dislikes. Just how Eddie manages to maintain some dignity and independence while trying to stay on the good side of his thuggish employer makes "Trojan Eddie" an entertaining film--displacedhuman
Well worth watching.......1999-10-27
It's too bad the celtic tiger government doesn't support its film industry. Films such as this don't make it over here because they're not supported. They don't have that sappy 'lucky charms' and leprechaun lack of mind. "Trojan Eddie" is a tale about the "Travellers" a minority in Ireland whom the Irish don't like to talk about too much.Richard Harris is the Patriarch and Stephen Rea a a bumbling jester type. Both are excellent in their roles and the laughter at the end is warmly chilling.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting profile and perspective on Baltimore and the NYC art scene
- Outrageous, but full of good will
- Very Funny
- One of my favorite John Waters films
- Very Entertaining
|
Pecker [Region 2]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
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Similar Items:
- Polyester
- A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)
- Cecil B. Demented
- Hairspray
- Desperate Living
ASIN: B00005R6VK |
Amazon.com
Pecker (so named, at least according to his grandmother, because he always pecks at his food) loves to use the camera to capture his fellow Baltimore residents living their daily lives. Of course, since this is a John Waters movie, those daily lives include visits to strip bars, shoplifting, and various other quirky, and frequently hilarious, human activities. When Pecker's makeshift photo exhibit comes to the attention of a New York art agent (Lili Taylor), Pecker becomes the latest sensation. Unlike the hero in most sudden-fame stories, however, Pecker, as played by Edward Furlong, isn't exactly an innocent; rather, he takes in the world with his eyes, and his mind, wide open. So instead of suffering a precipitous fall, Pecker eventually turns the tables on his more worldly New York peers.
While not as outrageous as early Waters features such as Female Trouble and Pink Flamingos, Pecker still has something to offend just about everyone. But those who take the offenses to heart would be missing out on what amounts to a sweet-natured farce. The movie is not so much a pointed satire as a gentle teasing of the art world and its pretensions. The all-embracing world of John Waters allows for lovable freaks from the big city, too.
The movie sags a bit when it settles into its plot; it can't sustain the comic inspiration reached in the opening scenes of Pecker's encounters with Baltimore's misfits. But running gags about a sugar-addicted child and a ventriloquist-doll Virgin Mary are hilarious. What ultimately makes the movie such a pleasure, though, is Waters's genuine fondness for all of his characters. Aided by a charming cast, including Christina Ricci and Waters regulars Mink Stole and Patty Hearst, Waters has created a surprisingly touching ode to human eccentricity. --Chris Neman
Customer Reviews:
Interesting profile and perspective on Baltimore and the NYC art scene.......2007-01-18
John Waters portrays the absurd elements of everyday life in his beloved hometown of Baltimore with such relish that it actually makes me want to visit. The highlight of the film is Pecker's grandmother who has a "speaking" Virgin Mary and his older sister who works in a gay stripclub. The NYC art scene is portrayed as cold, calculating and a bit of a leech to Pecker's fresh-faced and unassuming talent, though Christina Ricci's girlfriend character was a bit annoying in her constant complaints against the latter city while extolling the virtue of Baltimore. This is not one of John Waters' best (those would be primarily in the 1970s) but is recommended for anyone interested in Baltimore and an outsider's view of the art scene.
Outrageous, but full of good will.......2007-01-09
This is the movie that redeemed John Waters for me. It's laugh-out-loud funny, totally outrageous, but full of good will and human kindness. It skewers the New York art establishmant most delightfully and casts an affectionate eye on Baltimore and its denizens. An absolute delight!
Very Funny.......2006-08-10
Out of the three John Waters films I've seen (Pink Flamingos, Serial Mom, and this film...In that order), this is definitely my favorite. It's probably Waters most normal film (and even this film has some weird moments);
It's got a great cast, the dialogue is funny, and some of the events play like some weird farce on real life. Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) plays Pecker, a young kid who snaps pictures of everything around him. Graffiti'd walls,
fat women, girls on a bus, a man getting his hat stolen, pubic hair...You name it, he takes a picture of it. Eventually Pecker's photos get noticed by Rorey (Lili Taylor, 'I Shot Andy Warhol') who puts his photos in a gallery to mass acclaim. Eventually, it takes a toll on Pecker's life and everything spirals out of control...In typical John Waters fashion. The movie's plot is pretty simple, but it's hilarious. Example; Pecker's sister Crissy is a sugar crazed brat. A Child Protective Services worker shows up at the house and prescribes Rittalin, which instantly changes her behavior. The way I'm explaining it doesn't sound very funny at all, but if you've had any experience with ADHD...Then you'll get a laugh out of that. Christina Ricci co-stars as Shelley, Pecker's girlfriend who runs a fascist laundromat. I've always liked Ricci as an actress, but her looks kind of come and go in films. She'll look great in one film and then like crap in another. In the movie "The Ice Storm" which came out around the same time as this, she didn't look that great. Here, she looks awesome. Really hot and she adds some fresh bits of sarcasm to the film as well. Am I the only one who thinks Waters could've splurged on a nude scene here. Anyway, as with all Waters films, this movie will not be enjoyed by everybody. However, this film is done in a different style then the other two films I've mentioned...So even if you have no idea who Waters is, this movie isn't something you run and tell your friends about (Pink Flamingos anybody?). It's damn funny, entertaining, and witty.
GRADE: A-
One of my favorite John Waters films.......2006-08-01
Pecker is a true gem for those who like their movies off the beaten path. And when you watch a John Waters movie, that's exactly what you expect. Pecker delivers on that and then some. To me, this ties with Waters' film Serial Mom for his best in my eyes. Pecker (Edward Furlong) has the gift of being able to capture life in a unique way with his photos. He takes pictures of his family and various people going about their lives in Baltimore with his 35 milimeter camera he got at his mom's thrift store. Pecker's family is quite unusual and makes for great photo opportunities. His sugar-addicted little sister, little Chrissy, is perhaps one of my favorites. Or Me-Ma-Ma, his grandmother, and her "talking" Virgin Mary doll. Pecker also has a girlfriend (the always great Christina Ricci) named Shelly who runs the Spin N'Grin laundromat, a sister (Martha Plimpton) who works at a gay bar, a mom who can dress you for under a dollar at her thrift store and a father who's woes include the strip bar across the street running his bar out of business. But what's commonplace for these Baltimore residents is extraordinary to an art dealer named Rorey (Lili Taylor) who discovers Pecker and his pictures while he's showcasing them at the sub shop he works at. Suddenly, Pecker is a star and all of New York is clamoring for his work, thanks to Rorey's exposure, but it soon brings about consequences for Pecker. Part of the fun in this, aside from enjoying all the unusual characters, is seeing what happens next. Pecker is a phenomenal movie and there really should be more movies like this. For those that don't get the humor in dark comedies, you might want to stick to those Julia Roberts movies. For me, any day could be a day to watch Pecker. Absolutely positively recommended!
Very Entertaining.......2006-05-06
This movies is funny, fast moving and you can't guess what is going to happen next. I really enjoyed it and thing that you will too. A movie made outside the box.
DVD:
- The Big Empty
- Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself
- Female Trouble
- Something Wild
- The Associate
- A Guy Thing
- All I Want
- The Decameron
- Kathy Griffin - Allegedly
- Fake ID
DVD List
DVD
DVD
Inside the Space Station
The Twilight Zone - Vol. 16
Will & Grace: Season Two [4 Discs] [2001] (REGION 1) (NT
DVD: Call Me Madam
Die Mumie - Deluxe Edition
