Eddie

Starring:Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Langella, Dennis Farina, Richard Jenkins, Lisa Ann Walter, John Benjamin Hickey, Troy Beyer, John Salley, Rick Fox, Malik Sealy, Mark Jackson, Dwayne Schintzius, Greg Ostertag, Vernel Singleton, Marv Albert, Chris Berman, Aasif Mandvi, Johnny Williams, Albert Pisarenkov, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Director: Steve Rash
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Once intended as a feature for Johnny Depp, the long-germinating feature film adaptation of Marvel Comics' cult title Ghost Rider stars Nicolas Cage as motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who transforms into a skull-faced angel of vengeance to battle the forces of evil. Though perhaps a bit too mature for the role, Cage brings a degree of humor to the outrageous proceedings; he's well matched by the Easy Rider himself Peter Fonda, amusingly cast as Mephistopheles, the demon with whom Blaze strikes a bargain to save his father, and in turn, causes his transformation into Ghost Rider. Wes Bentley is also fine as Blackheart, the rebellious offspring of Mephistopheles, and Blazes' chief opponent in the film. They're joined by a solid supporting cast which includes Donal Logue, Eva Mendes, and Sam Elliott, but their participation and a relentless barrage of CGI effects can't hide the fact that the story itself, though largely faithful to its comic origins, is rife with clichéd characterizations and glum B-movie dialogue. Fans of the venerable title may cry foul over this adaptation (as they did over helmer Mark Steven Johnson's previous comic-to-movie feature, Daredevil), but less stringent viewers may enjoy the fiery visuals and Cage's typically quirky performance. --Paul Gaita

Extras from Ghost Rider

Visit our Exclusive Ghost Rider Microsite
Visit the Site

Beyond Ghost Rider at Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation

Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

I loved it.......2007-07-04

I'm a comics fan. I started reading comics in the 1950s.

I wondered how they could pull off this one... The more I thought about it, the more Nicholas Cage seemed perfect for the part. (He's a comics fan.)

I loved the story & special effects.

This was a good portrayal of a man who finally discovered the consequences of his deal with the devil. Nicholas did a good job of a man slowly discovering his abilities, coming to terms with them, and doing his best to make his own relationship with the devil.

It's not easy to make such a movie. You must deal with "old fans" like myself, and with new ones who are not familiar with the character.

I loved the movie.

Its a Sleeper.......2007-07-04

I really enjoyed this movie. I was surprised and pleased that I had bought it. I didn't hear much buzz on it when it came out. It has a good back love story and I enjoyed the build up to the ending.

Mediocre to the Max!.......2007-07-04

Ghost Rider certainly isn't the worst movie I've ever seen, but it is just about the most disappointing. I have to commend the advertising team, though, because they really sold me on the movie, and I went to see it despite the horrid reviews.

The movie ended up making $$$M in the US alone (according to Yahoo! Movies), so I'm obviously not the only person who went into the theatre expecting the movie to live up to its previews.

The movie started of strong; gripping opening credits and score. From there on out, it went straight to average. And I mean AVERAGE. It's almost as though they made an extraordinary effort to make sure that this movie would be as un-memorable as possible. Every time there's a scene that excites you about what's to come (the arrival of the three elemental bad guys was quite sweet), there's a reciprocating let down (I won't give away what happens, but let's just say that their encounters with Ghost Rider were less than impressive).

But there's great special effects, right? Hhhmmmm, yes and no. What was in the previews was pretty awesome, and all that stuff is in the movie, but most of the CGI looks half done, as though they ran out money half-way through post production.

I don't think anyone was really expecting a great plot, and I certainly wasn't, so the predictability of the film isn't one of my complaints, but the dialogue did suffer from a certain amount of cliche-itis.

So the bottom line: For what it is, it's not bad. There's no nudity and very little bad language or innuendo, so I'd say that this would be most appreciated by a younger audience looking for a neat action flick (under 16).

Ugggh Nicolas another bomb?.......2007-07-03

Cage -- you either love his movies OR hate them. I hated this. Typical comic book turned into movie. Read the comic and save your money on this one.

Ghost Rider.......2007-07-03

great movie and the etras and nice. i watched in the movie theather but it was better at home.

Average customer rating:

Ghost Rider (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Matt Long (II) , Raquel Alessi , Brett Cullen , Peter Fonda , and Nicolas Cage
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OVLBF8
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com

Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)

Beyond Ghost Rider on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation

Graphic Novels

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"Remember, remember the fifth of November," for on this day, in 2020, the minds of the masses shall be set free. So says code-name V (Hugo Weaving), a man on a mission to shake society out of its blank complacent stares in the film V for Vendetta. His tactics, however, are a bit revolutionary, to say the least. The world in which V lives is very similar to Orwell's totalitarian dystopia in 1984: after years of various wars, England is now under "big brother" Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in the movie 1984), whose party uses force and fear to run the nation. After they gained power, minorities and political dissenters were rounded up and removed; artistic and unacceptable religious works were confiscated. Cameras and microphones are littered throughout the land, and the people are perpetually sedated through the governmentally controlled media. Taking inspiration from Guy Fawkes, the 17th century co-conspirator of a failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605, V dons a Fawkes mask and costume and sets off to wake the masses by destroying the symbols of their oppressors, literally and figuratively. At the beginning of his vendetta, V rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a group of police officers and has her live with him in his underworld lair. It is through their relationship where we learn how V became V, the extremities of the party's corruption, the problems of an oppressive government, V's revenge plot, and his philosophy on how to induce change.

Based on the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta's screenplay was written by the Wachowski Brothers (of The Matrix fame) and directed by their protégé, James McTeigue. Controversy and criticism followed the film since its inception, from the hyper-stylized use of anarchistic terrorism to overthrow a corrupt government and the blatant jabs at the current U.S. political arena, to graphic novel fans complaining about the reconstruction of Alan Moore's original vision (Moore himself has dismissed the film). Many are valid critiques and opinions, but there's no hiding the message the film is trying to express: Radical and drastic events often need to occur in order to shake people out of their state of indifference in order to bring about real change. Unfortunately, the movie only offers a means with no ends, and those looking for answers may find the film stylish, but a bit empty. --Rob Bracco

On the DVDs
On disc 1 is a 16-minute documentary "Freedom! Forever!: Making V for Vendetta" with discussions on the movie's origin and themes by the principal cast and crew (no Alan Moore or Wachowskis, to no one's surprise, but the graphic novel's illustrator David Lloyd is on hand to call the movie "a very good version"). On disc 2 is a 17-minute production featurette, a 10-minute history of Guy Fawkes, and the 15-minute "England Prevails: V for Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics." Lloyd and others from the comics industry such as Paul Levitz and Bill Sienkiwicz talk about the graphic novel and how it appealed to a different, older audience. The second menu of the second disc also has an easy-to-find Easter egg of a rapping and swearing Natalie Portman on Saturday Night Live. --David Horiuchi

Beyond the Film

The graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
More by Alan Moore
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen

More by Natalie Portman
More by Hugo Weaving
More by the Wachowski Brothers

Customer Reviews:

V.......2007-07-02

loved this DVD. Very haunting. Hard to get out of my head.

Leaves other similar classics such as Phantom of the Opera, in the dust.

V Is For Very Good........2007-06-29

I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I thought I would have. It Really is worth viewing in my humble opinion and is nowhere near as bad as some professional critics claim it to be. I thought V was a very good character and Hugo Weaving did a great job of portraying him on screen. It's taken me awhile to get around to this movie but now I've watched it it's on my "to watch again" list for sure. Great stuff!

Totalitarian Dystopia,Huh?.......2007-06-29

Wow! It's all here...a vigilante(and failed government experiment gone rebel)waging war on a "totalitarian" society wreaking of the "fascism of Christianity", religious/cultural bias, and outright intolerance in the name of God. V's objective? Freedom by any means necessary...a donning of the mask to unmask the monstrous hypocrisies of a world under the iron curtain of a particular faith. A message shouted a million times before and a keeper for atheists and agnostics...by the way, I'm a born again Christian who's secure enough in his faith not to be offended by the portrayal of faith in this film...so if my applause is rubbing any religious heads the wrong way...grow up.

A great thought provocative tale.......2007-06-26

I loved V, I would classify it as a thriller and a "what if". The stage is set in London, England but this tale could really be set in any society that once had a democratic government. It shows the horror of what could happen if a society freely gives up freedoms for protection. I also really enjoyed the message of freedom and the power of ideas that were throughout this tale. A must own!

A movie that invokes thought and emotion.......2007-06-26

Scanning the other reviews it's obvious that this is a movie that will affect you one way or the other. I'll avoid the political and social commentary and diatribes in my review.

The acting was exemplary in my opinion. Portman did a great job (as usual), but I have to tip my hat to the actor who had the task of playing the role of V. It has to be difficult to use purely gesture and voice inflection to play a part, and he was excellent! I could imagine the emotions hidden behind the mask.

Yes, the film could be interpreted as being somewhat "preachy" and portraying a transparent political and/or social agenda, but it makes one think. It can evoke strong emotion. To me those are things that can make a movie great.

I could've used less gore in the final battle scene between V and the bad guys though. Really wasn't necessary.

Average customer rating:

I loved it
Its a Sleeper
Mediocre to the Max!
Ugggh Nicolas another bomb?
Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Matt Long (II) , Raquel Alessi , Brett Cullen , Peter Fonda , and Nicolas Cage
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Shooter (Widescreen Edition)
Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)
Deja Vu
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000OVLBEY
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Amazon.com

Extras from Ghost Rider

Visit our Exclusive Ghost Rider Microsite
Visit the Site

Beyond Ghost Rider at Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
Ghost Rider: Road To Damnation

Stills from Ghost Rider (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

I loved it.......2007-07-04

Its a Sleeper.......2007-07-04

I really enjoyed this movie. I was surprised and pleased that I had bought it. I didn't hear much buzz on it when it came out. It has a good back love story and I enjoyed the build up to the ending.

Mediocre to the Max!.......2007-07-04

Ugggh Nicolas another bomb?.......2007-07-03

Cage -- you either love his movies OR hate them. I hated this. Typical comic book turned into movie. Read the comic and save your money on this one.

Ghost Rider.......2007-07-03

great movie and the etras and nice. i watched in the movie theather but it was better at home.

Average customer rating:

Excellent mix of old and new
Love it
Pretty Neat, Ending a Letdown
Loved it, amazing
Pure magic

The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Edward Norton , Paul Giamatti , Jessica Biel , Rufus Sewell , and Eddie Marsan
Director: Neil Burger
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Prestige
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Flags of Our Fathers (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000K7VHQ4
Release Date: 2007-01-09

Amazon.com

First screened in Europe and scheduled for limited release in the U.S., The Illusionist offers welcome proof that "arthouse" quality needn't be limited to the arthouses. Set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, this stately, elegant period film benefited from a crossover release in mainstream cinemas, and showed considerable box-office staying power--granted, teenage mallrats and lusty males may have been drawn to the allure of Seventh Heaven alumna Jessica Biel, who rises to the occasion with a fine performance. But there's equal appeal in the casting of Edward Norton and Paul Giamatti, who bring their formidable talents to bear on the intriguing tale of a celebrated magician named Eisenheim (Norton) whose stage performance offends the Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), a vindictive lout who aims to marry Duchess Sophie (Biel), Eisenheim's childhood friend and now, 15 years later, his would-be lover. This romantic rivalry and Eisenheim's increasingly enigmatic craft of illusion are investigated by Chief Inspector Uhl (Giamatti), who's under Leopold's command and is therefore not to be trusted as Eisenheim and Sophie draw closer to their inevitable reunion. Cleverly adapted by director Neil Burger from Steven Millhauser's short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist," and boasting exquisite production values and a fine score by Philip Glass, The Illusionist is the kind of class act that fully deserved its unusually wide and appreciative audience. -- Jeff Shannon

Beyond The Illusionist

"Eisenheim the Illusionist" and Other Stories

Paul Giamatti in a More Loveable Role
Magic Kits & Accessories

Stills from The Illusionist

Description

Unlock the mysteries of the year's most spellbinding film from the producers of Crash and Sideways! Oscar(r) nominees Paul Giamatti and Edward Norton lead an all-star cast in this "stunning" film (USA Today) that conjures an exhilarating blend of suspense, romance and mind-bending twists. The acclaimed illusionist Eisenheim (Norton) has not only captured the imaginations of all of Vienna, but also the interest of the ambitious Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). But when Leopold's new fiancée (Jessica Biel) rekindles a childhood fascination with Eisenheim, the Prince's interest evolves into obsession...and suddenly the city's Chief Inspector (Giamatti) finds himself investigating a shocking crime. But even as the Inspector engages him in a dramatic challenge of wills, Eisenheim prepares for his most impressive illusion yet in this "mesmerizing" (Entertainment Weekly) and "beautifully acted" (Good Morning America) film that "teases you until the very end!" (The New York Times).

Customer Reviews:

Excellent mix of old and new.......2007-07-04

Old time drama comes alive with this exceptional performance of magic and love. The actors are exceptional and make you believe you are really back in the day of magicians and when people truly believed witchcraft may be at hand.

I will not spoil the ending, because it is a good one. The progression of the movie included a demonstration from Ed Norton to Paul Giamatti on how a simple magic trick is really done. This sets you up to wonder about the rest of the magic. Is it so simple or is Norton MORE than an illusionist?

The romantic side of the story has been done so many times; childhood boys loves girl, meets her later in life, still loves her. However, it is integrated in this movie so well that it makes the movie into a romance you really buy into.

This movie is worth beyond a rental, because I am making a bet, you'll lend it to someone else raving over how good it is!

Love it.......2007-07-03

This is a great film! Edward Norton is incredible as usual. A lot of people have been comparing this to The Prestige since both were released around the same time and are about illusionists, but that's about it. I think both movies are excellent but each has a life of its own. The Illusionist is a modest yet extraordinary love story that happens to be centered around true magic. Definitely worth a look. Enjoy.

Pretty Neat, Ending a Letdown.......2007-07-03

This movie has 'surprise ending' written all over it, but when it comes, well, it's not really a surprise. It's the one you see coming a mile away, from the movie's first flashback of Ed Norton's childhood. That was a bummer. Also a bummer was how cursory the explanation was, just a 10-second montage including nothing you couldn't have guessed quite easily. In fact, Paul Giamatti comes off as really stupid for not having guessed it earlier, especially having examined the blonde's body. It was a cool movie up to that point, but as a con movie, it needed a really cool ending to truly succeed. Also, the writer selectively imbues the protagonist with supernatural powers periodically throughout the film, especially toward the end. However, he uses his powers merely to pull off a hokey con, that's it. It's a shame to see two such great actors and such a promising script all be let down by this bland, facile ending. I can't help wondering if the original script included a much better ending but had it's originality filed down or excised by studio executives.

Loved it, amazing.......2007-07-01

I rented this at Blockbuster the other night and all I have to say that this is an amazing movie. Check out Prestige too which in my opinion is even better. This movie really had my brain thinking hard near the ending and after it. It has an interesting plot and his magic tricks are interesting. You have to watch this...a great movie that will give your mind a whirl.

Pure magic.......2007-07-01

Rarely does a film so magically project so many fantastical tricks (within a fictional story so expertly presented as to appear historical). In the end, of course, all tricks are exposed as the smoke and mirrors expected from the beginning--but in such fine detail and complexity as not to disappoint.

The film's strength rests on that of "Eisenheim the Illusionist," Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Steven Millhauser's 1990 short story (from Barnum Museum), but also resides in Dick Pope's cinematography and Neil Burger's adept direction. It is quite amazing to watch magical tricks for so long propel the tale, as if real--and then to view the delightful unraveling of the story's entwined, sinewy web of script, image, characters and score (Philip Glass), like the finale of a perfectly executed pas de deux. It flows gracefully through to the last second.

The movie begins as Vienna's Chief Police Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) recounts the life, to date (1900) of a carpenter's son, a forbidden friend of Countess Sophie von Teschen, (Eleanor Tomlinson) for whom he carved a magic locket and with whom he had planned to flee. They were discovered and forcibly separated.

The boy departed Vienna and toured exotic countries in Asia, acquiring extensive magical knowledge. He arrived home 15 years later as the performer "Eisenheim" (Edward Norton), and with the help of theatrical manager Josef Fischer (Edward Marsan), he immediately attracts an enormous following. Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell), determined to prove Eisenheim a fraud, attends a show arm in arm with his gorgeous fiancée--Countess Sophie (Jesscia Biel). The Crown Prince volunteers Sophie for an elaborate stage trick. Eisenhem instantly recognizes her and pretends not to know her; Sophie realizes more slowly. Naturally, they reunite romantically.

But that is far from the end of the magic, or the mystery encompassed in this engrossing film. Norton's Eisenheim characterization grabs viewers and balances equally against Biel's angelic portrayal of Sophie. Giamatti's Inspector Uhl, an ambitious, devious, outwardly crusty official controlled by the Prince, also demonstrates a weakness for magic, and beneath that layer, a tenuous warmth that slowly takes root and grows.

One viewer claims the film is too long on time and too short on romance. I disagree. The level of intrigue was exactly perfect for a film of this kind, enough to draw us in, but not so much as to detract from the other, far more magical aspects of the story.

This film is a crowd-pleaser--pure magic.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

Average customer rating:

Funny Stuff fromThe Great Eddie Murphy
Hmmmmm
Just Terrible
Another pathetic eddie murphy vehicle
Its been a while...

Norbit (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Eddie Murphy , and Thandie Newton
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000PATZK6
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Amazon.com

Eddie Murphy stars and stars in this very broad and raucous comedy that finds the Oscar-nominated Dreamgirls actor revisiting the multiple-character shtick that worked so well for him in Coming to America and The Nutty Professor. The latter's makeup-effects artist, Rick Baker, once again transforms Murphy into a variety of grotesques and caricatures, including the hugely fat, monstrous Rasputia, the Asian Mr. Wong, and the timorous Norbit, a nervous orphan raised by Wong and married to Rasputia. The latter, a member of a construction family with a plan to turn Wong's orphanage into a strip club, is a relentlessly narcissistic shrew who puts the screws on Norbit at every turn, especially when he rediscovers his love for an old friend, Kate (Thandie Newton). Kate's wish to buy and maintain the orphanage herself is secretly compromised by her fiancé (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who is in cahoots with Rasputia's family and using Norbit to further their agenda.

Extraordinarily silly, frequently crude and mean-spirited to an extreme, Norbit is far more sour than The Nutty Professor. But there are moments of inspiration, especially a wedding interrupted by wannabe pimps who launch a profane gospel groove, and a dog that talks to Norbit while he is semi-conscious. For the most part, though, Norbit impresses as a technical marvel utilizing careful shot design and skillful editing. Murphy participates in several remarkable, three-character scenes in which he happens to be all three characters, and those moments move so briskly it's easy to forget one is looking at a comic stunt. --Tom Keogh

Stills from Norbit (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Funny Stuff fromThe Great Eddie Murphy.......2007-07-01

I grew up laughing to Eddie Murphy. I liked his SNL skits such as "Mr Rogers Neighborhhod" and his excellent early movies like "Trading Places. But most of all I loved his often crude but always hilarious stand up routine. The album that included "Ice Cream Man" is my all time favorite comedy record. There are other comics, like Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce, that may be considered more important in terms of social commentary. But, for me, Murphy is the king of funny and when it comes to comedy funny is what it's all about.

Norbit is not an Oscar winner. But rather the simple story of a nerd named Norbit. He is trapped in an unhappy marriage to the obese and ugly Rasputia. But when his childhood sweetheart, Kate, returns he finds the courage to begin a new life. Sure there is alot of gross out humor and this might not be the best movie to take children to. But hey funny is funny and watching Rasputia shoot down a water slide is flat out funny. The story is also a likeable one, as the nerd and the nice girl triumph over the bad guys. If you want some good laughs this is a movie to check out.

Hmmmmm.......2007-06-30

After Eddie Murphy's masterpieces the Clump movies, I was rather looking forward to seeing "Norbit" and seeing a different take on the suited-up Murphy and his comic genius. "Norbit" just did not measure up to previous movies with Murphy, and it seemed just another shallow attempt at exploiting something that was already done well: the Clump movies.

While it is definitely not a kids' movie by any stretch of the imagination, it just was not all that funny. At most, I would call it amusing, and some parts were genuinely so. The scenes of Rasputia shooting down the slide, running over the dog and so on were relatively funny. Her conversation with Kate about feeling sorry for Kate's skinny little body was also a highlight. Also, the pool attendant asking Rasputia if she is wearing bikini bottoms was a laugh. Beyond such scenes, there was little that could be called truly funny, just amusing.

The movie rarely varies the tone, and sticks rather rigidly to the usual romantic comedy formula. In that sense, it is a predictable one and nothig makes it standout from others of the genre.

However, I have to add one thing: the suit that Murphy wore in the role of Rasputia was very realistic. It was almost disturbing in the realism that it managed to attain.

Although a fan of Murphy's movies, and Murphy in general, I cannot really get myself all that enthusiastic about "Norbit". I would suggest hiring it before you go and buy it.

Just Terrible.......2007-06-30

Eddie Murphy plays three characters in "Norbit." That in itself is not surprising at all considering his acting talent and brilliance of Rick Baker's make-up. One of the characters is called "Rasputia," the lady on the DVD cover and as you can see, like his funnier "Nutty Professor," Eddie Murphy's new comedy "Norbit" has plenty of fat jokes, fart jokes, gross-out jokes, etc, (and I don't disagree with these jokes themselves). But this time they are mostly unfunny.

Well, some may laugh seeing a fat lady like Rasputia slide down a water slide and dive into a swimming pool - yes, I did laugh - but I don't think many people would find it funny seeing a fat lady trying to run over a neighbor's pooch. And the same fat lady happens to be a shrill, mean-spirited wife of a mild-mannered accountant Norbit (played by Eddie Murphy again) and she cheats on his husband with Marlon Wayans' dance instructor. I still don't know what part of this he found that funny.

Here you don't find even a message like "Be yourself" or self-parody of the first "Nutty Professor" film, which is not best Eddie Murphy film, but still is more entertaining. Watching "Norbit" made me rather sad, not only because it is a recycled standard romantic comedy with lots of familiar physical jokes, but the impressive cast including Thandie Newton, Marlon Wayans, Clifton Powell, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Eddie Griffin are all wasted among this uninspired plot. It's more like "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" with Eddie Murphy's multiple roles.

Another pathetic eddie murphy vehicle.......2007-06-28

eddie should retire. he comes bringing us garbage like this.
I had to suffer thru 30 minutes of this vulgar movie. a new
low for out of work cuba gooding too.

Its been a while..........2007-06-26

...since I laughed this hard! By far, this is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. From start to finish, never a dull moment. I didn't have very high expectations based on other reviews, but, Eddie Murphy flawlessly pulls this off. It's a light hearted comedy that is fun to watch, easy to laugh at and hard to turn off. Enjoy!

Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)

Average customer rating:

Best Picture
And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!
A must see and own for any Supremes Fan
Expected More After All of the Hype
Good Movie

Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Eddie Murphy , Jennifer Hudson , and Beyoncé Knowles
Director: Bill Condon
Manufacturer: DreamWorks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000O174CM
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.

Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart

On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim

Beyond Dreamgirls

Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack

Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)

Product Description

Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.

Customer Reviews:

Best Picture.......2007-07-01

I just watched this movie an hour ago. Obviously the folks who vote for the Oscars were incorrect. Well, consider the fact that Jennifer Hudson was voted out pretty early in American Idol. That was a precedent. I knew how good Hudson was back then. Well, at least Hudson deservedly has an Oscar now but the movie should have won Best Picture simply because it WAS.

As a biracial person, I love how this was a Black movie. The producer/director did not find the need to put in a white character that the wider/whiter audience could relate to. If the movie was released even 10 or 15 years ago that may have occurred.

The movie didn't need a white character because anyone can relate to the various themes that the movie covered: ambition, love, entrepreneurship, exploitation, drug use/abuse, family, hurt, pain, pregancy, welfare/unemployment, fame, racism, fatphobia/sizism and of course, music - from the chitlin' circuit through disco.

And Eddie Murphy. Unbelievable. I haven't been a fan of his for YEARS - since SNL circa early '80s - so I was stunned to see his performance. Wow, what a stroke of genius in casting Murphy in that role!

Jennifer Hudson's "And I Am Telling You" was incredible. It may wind up being a landmark in movie history just as we remember how Jennifer Holliday made the song famous in the Broadway version.

And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!.......2007-06-28

Our last Musical movie was the Phantom of the Opera.That one was spectacular, but this one will absolutely take your breath away. It's wide open sets, and absolutely lush voices will have you dancing in your underwear.
Henry Kreiger's amazing musical about three, well four girls, who have a dream is heartbreaking, and moving. The plot is not very rich on the surface, but like an ice cream cake. THe heart of the story is what really matters most.
Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles, and Anikki Nonni Rose Are astouding. They lay thier notes out better than anyone in the odern world of Motown. And as Jennifer said "Simon, YOU WERE WRONG." and actually,(and almost eriely) Her (Jennifer's) storie mirror's her character very well. And so does Beyonce's caracter.
Jamie Fox, and Eddie Murphie are both astounding. And the man who plays James Thunder Early's Producer (and later Effie's Helper) is wonderful and fatherly. The Language is abounding, but it is not overbearing, like in Black Hawk Down.
So I give a 857345793453 stars out of 5.
WONDERFUL BUY IT AND THE DELUXE CD AND DRTEAM ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

A must see and own for any Supremes Fan.......2007-06-28

I have watched this movie 6 times, and never get tired or bored with it. The music/score is great, Jennifer Hudson shines, as does Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.
This is one of my favorite films ever.

Expected More After All of the Hype.......2007-06-28

After all of the hype surrounding this movie before it even came to the theaters, I was expecting to be wowed. Instead I was sorely disappointed. I just wasn't feeling it the way that I felt movies like The Five Heartbeats, The Temptations, and Lady Sings The Blues. I watch these movies over and over. The acting in Dreamgirls was so-so. Jennifer Hudson did just okay, nothing spectacular. Beyonce did all right. Annika Rose is a very good singer and actress, but everybody seemed to be focused on Jennifer Hudson, because of the American Idol thing, and on Beyonce just because she is Beyonce. Out of all of the songs from Dreamgirls, I think that Beyonce's "Listen" is the best. I could listen to it over and over. I own Jennifer Holliday's CD, and I listen to her version of, "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going," but I doubt if I would listen to Jennifer Hudson's version over and over again. Not that I'm dissing Miss Hudson. She is a good singer, but just that...nothing spectacular. I've never seen the Broadway version of Dreamgirls, but I'm hoping that maybe it has more of an edge to it than the movie.

Good Movie.......2007-06-27

I saw the broadway play and compared with it, the movie has done a good job of putting forth the story of Effie White. Eddie Murphy was at his best in this movie.

Average customer rating:

Best Picture
And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!
A must see and own for any Supremes Fan
Expected More After All of the Hype
Good Movie

Dreamgirls (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jamie Foxx , Eddie Murphy , Jennifer Hudson , and Beyoncé Knowles
Director: Bill Condon
Manufacturer: DreamWorks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

The Queen
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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ASIN: B000O1799U
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Amazon.com

Beyond Dreamgirls

Other Musicals on DVD
More Motown on DVD
The Soundtrack

Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

Best Picture.......2007-07-01

And I am Tellin' You You are Going To LOVE this film!!!!.......2007-06-28

A must see and own for any Supremes Fan.......2007-06-28

I have watched this movie 6 times, and never get tired or bored with it. The music/score is great, Jennifer Hudson shines, as does Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.
This is one of my favorite films ever.

Expected More After All of the Hype.......2007-06-28

Good Movie.......2007-06-27

I saw the broadway play and compared with it, the movie has done a good job of putting forth the story of Effie White. Eddie Murphy was at his best in this movie.

Average customer rating:

sweet
A CLASSIC MAKES IT'S WAY TO DVD!
"Your wife's a bigfoot Gus"
I laughed
Loved it!

Eddie Murphy - Delirious
Starring: Eddie Murphy , Brian O'Neal , Gus Loundermon , Kevin O'Neal (II) , and Clint Smith
Director: Bruce Gowers
Manufacturer: Entertainment Studio
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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ASIN: B000KG4BTU
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com

Light years before political correctness--1983 to be exact--or his comeback in tame Disney comedies, Eddie Murphy was a charismatic, wonderfully offensive, egocentric 22-year-old black comedian known for crude celebrity impersonations and often shockingly frank diatribes on racial and sexual politics. Dressed in a skin-tight red leather suit and delivering endless streams of obscenities faster than Richard Pryor ever did, Murphy is captured in this raunchy HBO special (a filmed document of his Grammy-winning album, Eddie Murphy, Comedian) at his confident, swaggering, comedic peak--a posture that soon disappeared after a string of bland Hollywood comedies. Here, however, his energy and sheer virtuosity command complete control over the audience for 107 minutes, whether he's mocking personalities like Elvis, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder, or spinning long, gag-filled personal anecdotes about the ice-cream man or dysfunctional family barbecues. There's no apologizing for the immature stereotyping, blatant homophobia, and sexism (though Murphy did so several years later) that surface during the routine. But, then again, unlike his much nastier, one-sided concert film, Raw, no topic here is safe from Murphy's uproarious tongue-lashings--including the comedian himself. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

sweet.......2007-06-24

you need manpons when you watch this. you might cr*p in your pants. this is what pluto nash would have been like. if it was awesome. you need to do another standup eddie.

A CLASSIC MAKES IT'S WAY TO DVD!.......2007-06-24

This is an extremely funny set! It has been imatated so many times it's to believe it is still watchable!

"Your wife's a bigfoot Gus".......2007-06-21

My favorite aunt and uncle rented this when I was 11. I don't know if they thought Eddie would be like "O-Tay" or had a clean act like Bill Cosby but thank God he didn't. What followed were some of the funniest, raunchiest, most quoted lines of comedy of my childhood. From the ice cream man to Aunt Bunny to G.I. Joe and all of the classics, they make you laugh just as much as they did 20+ years ago. I'm glad it's FINALLY out on DVD!

I laughed.......2007-06-10

I laughed, I cried, I give 2 thumbs up!!! Funny as can be, and a classic!!! I recommend this to all comedy lovers!!!

Loved it!.......2007-05-17

I watched this when I was younger, maybe 14, and loved it; didn't get some of it then, but still loved it. Every now and then, I would think of it and wish I could see it again. I am so glad it's been re-released and is on DVD. Eddie Murphy is a funny man no matter what he is doing. I love all his movies. This is when he is only 22 years old and maybe some of his first work, but it is well worth the price to see it.
It shouldn't be seen by younger veiwers because of graphic language, but adults everywhere SHOULD see this and just have a laugh.

Average customer rating:

Equal to or better than the first
Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it)
THE GREATEST!
Very funny and well composed story line
Do not like being forced to sit through other movie previews

Shrek 2 (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Mike Myers , Eddie Murphy , Cameron Diaz , Antonio Banderas , and Julie Andrews
Director: Andrew Adamson
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Animated
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005JMQZ
Release Date: 2004-11-05

Amazon.com

The lovably ugly green ogre returns with his green bride and furry, hooved friend in Shrek 2. The newlywed Shrek and Princess Fiona are invited to Fiona's former kingdom, Far Far Away, to have the marriage blessed by Fiona's parents--which Shrek thinks is a bad, bad idea, and he's proved right: The parents are horrified by their daughter's transformation into an ogress, a fairy godmother wants her son Prince Charming to win Fiona, and a feline assassin is hired to get Shrek out of the way. The computer animation is more detailed than ever, but it's the acting that make the comedy work--in addition to the return of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, Shrek 2 features the flexible voices of Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), John Cleese (Monty Python's Flying Circus), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), and Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) as the gleefully wicked fairy godmother. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Equal to or better than the first.......2007-07-03

This movie was very hilarious. It had the same gags as the first one did, but with many more characters and with a much deeper plot.

This time, Shrek and Fiona are married. They get an announcement from "mom and dad." (That being FIONA's mom and dad) that compels them to journey to the land of "Far Far Away..."

Donkey's back, as is Gingey and the whole crew. Here, we meet Puss, Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and we get a glimpse into Fiona's true heart.... a glimpse that makes Shrek question his own existence. Honestly, this movie is very well done. The animation is sharp and bright. The motivation and the plot are both believable, even amid the backdrop of purest fantasy.

Who is Fiona's true love? It's no secret that, by the end of the movie, we learn that Shrek is just THA MAN! (Or is that THA OGRE?)

I really enjoyed this movie. I think it has something for every age.

Shrek 2: Possibly the Worst Movie in History (and I didn't even see it).......2007-07-02

Shrek 2 is one of the worst movies in world history, possibly the worst ever. The jokes, parodies and gimmicks were boring, dumb and retarded, and I wouldn't even let myself fall asleep to this movie because I wouldn't want to have a dream about it, God forbid--watching it while awake is bad enough.

Oh, btw, I didn't actually even see this movie--I just knew that it was awful, so I was intent on never, ever seeing it as long as I live.

I liked the reviewer who suggested we should lock this film up in a secret government facility and away from the outside world. A better idea might be holding a special witch trial and burning the Master Print at the stake.

Btw, I HATED the first Shrek, which I actually did see, and I already HATE Shrek 3 and Shrek 4-1000, or 4-1,000,000, or however many of these monstrosities they force on us.

The main reason I hate Shrek so much is the ridiculous premise of the movie--that "looks don't matter", it's all about "love" and "character". Yeah, right. As if 99% of everyone on Earth doesn't marry partly for looks and attraction (as long as you're not living under the Taliban or The House of Saud)??? Duh! OF COURSE looks matter, they've mattered since Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Marie Antoniette, Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, right up to Scarlett Johanssen, Julia Roberts, and "the girl next door".

The moronic, retarded, absurd idea that it's somehow "bad" to like women because they're beautiful strikes me as everything that's wrong with America today--this society is all about denying Reality and living a lie, all for the sake of "getting along", and not "offending anyone". I find the idea that feeling thinking human beings should be prevented from being offended or made to "like people" they don't, by force, to be terrifying. It's literally Orwellian.

The fact that millions of Americans fall for this lunacy, this illogic, frightens me. What is this country coming to?

Please, save us from Shrek, the people who make these sick films, and all the other body snatchers running loose.

THE GREATEST!.......2007-06-28

This Shrek production is FABULOUS! You simply can't improve on PERFECTION. The script, the animation, the MUSIC -- all great. Although I'm not a kid, I thoroughly enjoyed the child-like balance of animated characterizations that took me back some years, but an excellent story line, as well. This is a definite Collector's Item. Everyone, young and old and inbetween, should own SHREK 2. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a "12"!

Very funny and well composed story line.......2007-06-27

Love this one too although I think the first one is a little better but this one has a tons of fun also. Watched several times.

Do not like being forced to sit through other movie previews.......2007-06-24

I like this movie, but I'm giving the DVD a bad rating because this DVD forces you to watch two other pixar video previews and does not allow you to go straight to the disk root menu. Nearly all DVD's allow you to either fast forward using your chapter forward button or your menu button so that you can go straight to starting the movie instead of watching other promos. This DVD forces you to sit through Ben Stiller promote Madagascar... which you can handle once, but not over and over and over.

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