Smoke

Starring:Giancarlo Esposito, JosÃ© ZÃºÃ±iga, Stephen Gevedon, Harvey Keitel, Jared Harris, William Hurt, Daniel Auster, Harold Perrineau, Deirdre O'Connell, Victor Argo, Michelle Hurst, Forest Whitaker, Stockard Channing, Vincenzo Amelia, Erica Gimpel (II), Gilson Reglas, Howie Rose, Ashley Judd, Mary B. Ward, Mel Gorham
Director: Paul Auster, Wayne Wang
Studio: Miramax Home Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Based on a couple of short stories (from The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven) by Sherman Alexie, Smoke Signals is a lean and assured feature that speaks well of its lengthy, rich evolution, including a development stint at Sundance. The first feature made by a Native American crew and creative team, the film concerns two young Idaho men with radically different memories of one Arnold Joseph (Gary Farmer), a former resident of the reservation who split years before and has just died in Phoenix. Arnold's strapping, popular son, Victor (Adam Beach), remembers him best as an alcoholic, occasionally abusive father who drove off one day and never came back. By contrast, Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams), whom Arnold had saved from certain death years earlier, has chosen to exaggerate the man's life and deeds in a mythmaking fashion that drives Victor crazy. Circumstances bring the two together, however, in a bus ride to retrieve Arnold's ashes. There, in Phoenix, a confrontation with the reality of the dead man's fullest legacy has a profound effect on both characters. Alexie, who wrote the script and was personally involved in all aspects of the production, and first-time director Chris Eyre are so polished in their approach that you can barely feel the cinematic engine at work here. This is the kind of movie in which the characters seem to be driving everything forward, a captivating and pleasant experience that gets a little too tidy at the end (can we call a moratorium on scenes of human ashes lovingly disposed to the winds?), but which is undeniably moving. The cast, including Irene Bedard (the voice of and physical inspiration for Disney's Pocahontas) is outstanding. --Tom Keogh

Description

Critically acclaimed as one of the best films of the year, SMOKE SIGNALS was also a distinguished winner at the Sundance Film Festival! Though Victor and Thomas have lived their entire young lives in the same tiny town, they couldn't have less in common! But when Victor is urgently called away, it's Thomas who comes up with the money to pay for his trip. There's just one thing Victor has to do: take Thomas along for the ride! You're in for a rare and entertaining comic treat as this most unlikely pair leave home on what becomes an unexpectedly unforgettable adventure of friendship and discovery!

Customer Reviews:

Perhaps the Best Native American Movie.......2007-06-27

I have been acquiring all of the movies I can find by and about Native Americans and their culture. This one is among the best if not THE best.

Very funny, in a Napoleanic way.......2007-05-22

This is one of those quirky sleepers I just love to see. No big name stars, just pure entertainment...a gem. I believe that this movie accurately depicts life on the reservation. It's a mixed bag, just like everywhere else in life, but the people are good , and struggling together with all of their strengths and flaws.

I've had frybread as a guest of the Navaho in Gallup, and this movie made me yearn for more. Don't miss it!

Very charming.......2007-04-19

This is a charming movie, very funny, but with statements on family and unsuspecting friendship that cut across all cultures. The only real problem is the WIG. Buy it and watch, you'll see what I mean. The WIG is, in itself so hilarious that it's worth buying the movie. Poor Adam Beach, to be subjected to that!

Put this in your pipe and smoke it.......2007-04-10

If only movies like "Smoke Signals" were box-office hits, the world would be a better place. Sundance Films recognized this movie's brilliance, so that is something. This movie of friendship and family is both incredibly moving and incredibly funny. I had no idea who the actors (Adam Beach, Evan Adams) were when I rented this movie. I think I was intrigued by the fact that it was a Native American film, and I have an interest in Native American art, literature, music and film. You will be even more touched if you happened to have grown up with an alcoholic father. I rented the movie twice, heard one of the songs from the film, "John Wayne's Teeth" on the radio this past Thanksgiving, and ordered the DVD online the next day. It is one of my favorite movies ever!

Good, but flawed.......2007-03-22

I see all these five-star reviews and wonder if I was the only one who found this move overwrought and a little bit corny? Overall I really enjoyed it, but it was sort of obtuse. I heartily enjoyed "Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" and when I viewed Smoke Signals I thought "Whoa! They must have pried this from Sherman Alexie's hands and ran with it! I'm surprised he didn't insist on having his name taken off it!" I was surprised to find out that he co-produced it and wrote the screenplay!

The acting could have been better, although I thought Thomas Builds-the-fire was very cute with his braids and big smile. It bothered me that the characters in this movie were constantly expounding on the fact that they were Indian. They brought it up every couple of minutes! Somehow, I doubt that that is what real Indians do. We know you're Indian, you don't have to state it. "What are you going to trade us? Because we're Indian, remember? We barter!" I would think that most Indians don't see a lot of novelty in the fact that they are Indian and these characters certainly did. This made it seem like the film was presenting "Indians" in third person rather than letting them be themselves. It would have been improved if it had been a little more natural and less self-conscious.

Over all, though, it's worth seeing despite its corniness for its powerful message and, of course, the cuteness of smiley Evan Adams.

Average customer rating:

A Classic!
i haven got this yet
A must have!!!
Cheech & Chong's first movie goes out with a bang
Best Movie Ever

Up in Smoke
Starring: Edie Adams , Marian Beeler , Pam Bille , Michael Caldwell (III) , and Tommy Chong
Director: Tommy Chong , and Adler, Lou
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004YNIU
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Amazon.com

Cheech & Chong's first cannabis comedy is also their best, a souvenir from the more carefree days before "Just Say No," when people did not feel so defensive about inhaling. In 1978, the prevailing spirit was more like "Just Say Blow." Even New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael liked it (the movie, that is), adding that it was "an exploitation slapstick comedy, rather than a family picture, such as Blazing Saddles or High Anxiety--which means that it's dirtier, wilder, and sillier." The story has to do with bumbling potheads Cheech & Chong searching for primo bud, while being tailed by a team of inept law-enforcement officers, led by Sgt. Stedenko (Stacy Keach). Sample dialogue: When a cop pulls them over to ask if they are any illegal substances in his vehicle, Cheech replies: "Not any more, man." Up in Smoke is an irresistibly silly and charming movie that--despite, or perhaps because of, the national furor over drug use--plays today like a relic from a bygone era, a sweeter, more open, more innocent period in our history. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

A Classic!.......2007-03-22

This is one of those movies you can watch and enjoy over and over.

i haven got this yet.......2007-03-11

all is great but this movie i haven't got it yet .... but all the other movies are great. amazon is great.

A must have!!!.......2006-10-23

One of the funniest movies ever made. I'm still using references from this movie to this day. The real sad thing is, with the PC world we live in today, we may never see another movie like it.

Cheech & Chong's first movie goes out with a bang.......2006-05-23

Cheech & Chong already had a bunch of albums under their belts since 1971, so they weren't exactly new when Up in Smoke hit the theaters in September, 1978. I had often seen this movie on network TV, unfortunately, it was so drastically butchered because they had to censor a lot, not to mention all the commercials. But of course I had to get this movie on VHS or DVD. I ended up with the DVD, which has some bonus features, including a bunch of unused clips, and even audio commentary from Lou Adler and Cheech Marin about the movie, and I actually got some useful info from them about the movie, and some trivia along with it (like the VW Beetle Tommy Chong was driving with the Rolls Royce radiator strapped on the front near the beginning of the film actually belonged to Jack Nicholson).

It seemed only natural Lou Adler would direct this film, after all, the Cheech & Chong albums were produced by Adler (and released on his Ode label, which included various music acts like Carole King and the psychedelic band Spirit). And it's a fantastic film full of laughs. Much of what I want to say I can't say here because it won't get posted (because of the content), but it's basically two hippies trying to escape the law, get deported to Mexico, return to America in a van made of marijuana, and enter a rock band contest. Speaking of which, there is this scene during the "Rock Fight" (where these punk rock bands play) there was this one singer who so badly wanted to be Mick Jagger, it about hurts, and the audience started throwing beer cans at him (and the music sounded like a Stones ripoff). But of course, at the end was Cheech & Chong performing "Earache My Eye" (as Alice Bowie in this movie). This cut originally appeared on their Wedding Album (1974), but of course it's only the musical part that was included on this film. And speaking of the music, while Saturday Night Fever capitilized on the disco craze, Up in Smoke seemed to pick up on the punk rock craze. Both styles of music came out around the same time (though disco was much more popular in America because it was the moneymaker) and pretty much brought an end to the prog rock and psychedelia that came before it. What's really strange is Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were quite a bit older than the real musicians involved in the punk rock scene.

Up in Smoke is truly a great movie, and so is its following, Cheech & Chong's Next Movie, so make sure you get both.

Best Movie Ever.......2006-03-09

I love this movie. This has got to be one of my all-time favorites. It's hilariously funny and every time I watch it I get this fuzzy feeling inside and it makes me go 'Squee!'

Sally Lockhart Mysteries - Ruby In the Smoke (Masterpiece Theatre)

Average customer rating:

The smoke's a little thick...

Sally Lockhart Mysteries - Ruby In the Smoke (Masterpiece Theatre)
Starring: Billie Piper , Matt Smith (XXXII) , Sian Thomas , Kay Lyon , and Robert Putt
Director: Brian Percival
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NIBUP8
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Fearless young Sally Lockhart (Billie Piper, Doctor Who) has a mind for numbers and for sleuthing, and in Phillip Pullman's quartet of novels, set in Victorian London, she is put through the paces of melodrama and mystery. In this vivid adaptation of the first book in the series, recently orphaned Sally Lockhart, armed with a pearl-handled pistol and her keen mind, uncovers the secrets of her father's death aboard the sunken schooner Lavinia, discovers hidden cursed jewels, and faces England's deadliest villains with bold courage. Sally's friends, the street-smart Jim and besotted photographer Frederick, help her expose the truth - no matter how dangerous. Sally navigates through the constantly twisting plots with the savvy dexterity of a sharp-eyed detective.

Customer Reviews:

The smoke's a little thick..........2007-06-14

This show, based on the first in a series of books, seems a little like the start to a series itself. It's rushed, awkward, with little character development and less real emotion. The evil old woman is the best of a bad lot, as far as characters go; at least she gets to play with her false teeth. Billie Piper is a terrific actress but she's all wrong for this part. I really wasn't thrilled. I'll stick with Dr. Who and Jayne Eyre, thanks...

Average customer rating:

A neatly pulled-together story
Harvey Keitel... as a GOOD guy!
A small urban tale featuring OUTSTANDING acting talent
Quick Comments
Fun and Entertaining

Smoke
Starring: Giancarlo Esposito , José Zúñiga , Stephen Gevedon , Harvey Keitel , and Jared Harris
Director: Paul Auster , and Wayne Wang
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
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ASIN: B000089770
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com

It's refreshing to see a film in which the writer receives equal credit with the director, showing that the dialogue actually means something. So it is with Smoke, a film about a New York quilt of contemporary characters who cross paths in a corner smoke shop, told in straightforward way by a talented acting group. Author Paul Auster and director Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club) worked on the story for years before it reached the screen. Their characters include Paul (William Hurt, in a good role again), a grief-stricken novelist; Auggie (Harvey Keitel), the shop's owner with a secret passion; Ruby (Stockard Channing), Auggie's long-ago girlfriend; and Rashid (Harold Perrineau Jr.), a teenager who is befriended by Paul and seeks his estranged father (Forest Whitaker). All the characters are great storytellers, whether it be out of loneliness, necessity, or just nature. Like Auster's The Music of Chance, the movie has accomplished an amazing feat: it makes us feel as if we are reading a serious novel, not watching a movie. --Doug Thomas

Description

In the tradition of THE BIG CHILL, William Hurt (TUCK EVERLASTING, CHANGING LANES) and Harvey Keitel (PULP FICTION, U-571) head an all-star cast in this unforgettably fun and entertaining motion picture! A group of people's lives intertwine when a New York cigar store manager, Auggie (Keitel), befriends them. Among them is a writer who can't write (Hurt), a reluctant father hiding from his past (Forest Whitaker -- PANIC ROOM), a streetwise teen with an unusual identity crisis, and Auggie's long-lost ex-girlfriend (Stockard Channing -- TV's THE WEST WING), who returns with some surprising news! Critics and audiences hailed SMOKE for its offbeat humor, unexpected wit, and dazzling performances -- you'll cheer it too!

Customer Reviews:

A neatly pulled-together story.......2007-05-07

I tried to rent this from three separate video stores. No luck. What a shame; more people should have the opportunity to see this movie. Paul Auster and Wayne Wang have a curious treatment of race, but I otherwise enjoyed this well-thought-out film.

Harvey Keitel... as a GOOD guy!.......2007-01-04

Smoke (Wayne Wang, 1995)

Wayne Wang has had a kind of up-and-down career over the years, but Smoke is definitely one of his up moments. Not to say there couldn't have been some things done better here, but Wang takes Paul Auster's script and a fantastic stable of actors and just lets them loose. By all reports, Auster's script ended up taking quite a beating at the hands of the actors-- how much of the movie's dialogue is improvised has been a hotly-debated topic for years, but even the most conservative figures are pretty high-- but the end result is worthwhile.

The movie focuses around Auggie Wren (Harvey Keitel), the owner of a cigar store, and his customer/friend Paul Benjamin (William Hurt), a writer trying to overcome the recent death of his wife. In the main storyline, into their lives steps Rashid Cole (Lost's Harold Perrineau), a kid on the run from a couple of gangsters. The movie then spins off onto tangents involving Rashid, Paul, and Auggie separately-- Rashid finds out his father (Forest Whitaker) is alive and living outside the city, Auggie's ex-girlfriend Ruby (Stockard Channing) shows up to tell him he's got an eighteen-year-old daughter, Paul; of course, is still dealing with his wife, and the resulting writers' block.

With all that Wang tries to fit into a surprisingly short movie, some of the plotlines get short shrift. Especially puzzling is the minuscule amount of screen time given Ashley Judd, who plays Auggie's daughter; their brief conversation opens a lot of doors into a lot of different places this movie (or a sequel) could have gone, and there's no follow-up. But still, what's here is grand, and well worth watching. *** ½

A small urban tale featuring OUTSTANDING acting talent.......2006-12-07

There are movies for all moods, for all tastes, for all
occasions. Some emphasize the dialogue, some the special
effects, others the story.

In this movie, there's a wide range or aspects that are
keep the viewers keenly watching the unrolling of the
movie, such that time passes quite quickly, and we get a
glimpse of a microcosm, surrounding the customers of a
small 7-11 style store in a major city.

William Hurt, plays a character that seems quite his own,
and natural, as does Harvey Keitel who reprises the
tough-guy with a big heart role.

The movie is not a chick-flick like many other movies,
such as Ashley Judd's SOMEONE LIKE YOU/ ANIMAL ATTRACTION
but it does have a very soft or human side to it, that
will appear perhaps to older audiences, meaning, those
over 23 ...since the emphasis is on the various tones of
human interaction, the small and introverted lifestyles
that sometimes people have in large city neighborhoods.
The key here, is showing people their human sides, and
willingness to grow, help their neighbors, and life in
peace with one another, responsibly.

Clearly, these types of movies, showing nostalgia, mixed
with urban living, realism, drama and responsibility in
each moment, are not the norm, considering the "fantasy"
or "unreal" stories often chosen by Hollywood, that target
the below 17 age bracket.

Perhaps, at the end of the day, everyone will learn to
enjoy this small urban tale featuring OUTSTANDING acting
talent of William Hurt, and the legendary Harvey Keitel.

As for Ashley Judd, an extremely versatile and one of my
favorite actresses, she really does a shocking role in
this movie, playing a delinquent adolescent girl, not
unlike the other movie, NORMAL LIFE. This is the old Judd
that we used to see, in other movies of the same period,
such as Ruby in Paradise, or the Passion of Darkly Noon,
or a Time to Kill, or the Locusts, all great performances
with Judd. The later movies, seem to show a Judd in a
different phase of her life than before, but in
SMOKE, Judd's 5 minute performance will surely grab your
attention.

In terms of the DVD edition, the colors, sharpness of the
picture and audio, is top-notch.

Quick Comments.......2006-09-12

First, don't let the sophomoric picture on the box (two attractive cigar-smoking women flanking a self-satisfied-looking guy) mislead you: this is an art film - and a good one.

Second, I think I may be the only one to have noticed that the plot of this film is "inspired" by a line from My Dinner With Andre - though the line itself was quoted almost verbatim in the trailer.

At any rate, this film is well written and well acted, though one may be forgiven for some serious eye-rolling as regards the subplot in which a white man "saves" a troubled black youth - I'm all for Liberal Guilt, but please, filmmakers, give us a break!

Still, if you're into thoughtful films, check out Smoke with some of your film-buff friends - it'll be an evening well spent.

Fun and Entertaining.......2006-07-05

I love this movie. Yes, it is a bit off-beat, but I think that just makes it all the more fun. The cast is one of those rare combinations of individuals who seem to bring out the best in one another, like a good rock band. As with any great film, it is a story well told. It's a feel-good movie that avoids being sentimental, or overly simple. The characters are believable and the story is entertaining.

So, why three stars for a great movie? Because, at one time, it was even greater. When first released to theaters and then to VHS, it was a different film. It began with a Jerry Garcia video that just set the tone for what was to come. I also remember more cameos in the film. So, it was better, it got butchered, but it's far from dead.

Average customer rating:

Blue Smoke
Starring: Blue Smoke
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Carolina Moon
Angels Fall
Montana Sky
Silver Master
Babylon 5 - The Lost Tales

ASIN: B000S1KUME
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Product Description

Blue Smoke features a strong cast, including Alicia Witt (The Upside of Anger, Two Weeks Notice), Matthew Settle (TV's Brothers & Sisters, ER), four-time Emmy Award® nominee Scott Bakula (TV's Enterprise, Quantum Leap), and two-time Academy Award® nominee Talia Shire (The Godfather Part 2, Rocky), in this suspenseful tale rife with passion, family, food and fire.

After her family's pizzeria burned to the ground when she was 11 years old, Reena (Alicia Witt) decides to become an arson investigator. Now an adult, she visits her old neighborhood and finds love with Bo Goodnight (Matthew Settle). But danger lurks when a mysterious stalker from her past resurfaces and Reena must use her sleuthing skills to snare the psycho before her life goes up in Blue Smoke.

Average customer rating:

Outback Love
"The Meaning Of The Word, Choice" ~ A Modern Tale Of Shamanic Transformation
Excellent Film
Good premise, poor execution
Holy Smoke This ending sucked!

Holy Smoke!
Starring: Paul Goddard , Pam Grier , Harvey Keitel , Genevieve Lemon , and Tim Robertson
Director: Jane Campion
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003CWRC
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Amazon.com

Aussie director Jane Campion's one of a kind. Forget money and fame; she's inspired by the pleasure of sharing her cinematic dreams with friends and film audiences. Her globetrotting heroines (Angel at My Table, The Piano, Portrait of a Lady) may be willful, crazed, self-absorbed, wrong--but who can resist joining these passionate women on their voyages of self-discovery, whether they lead to safe harbor or dead end?

Holy Smoke opens deliriously in a magical India, saturated with light, color, sensuality. Celebrated by Neil Diamond's anthem, "Holly Holy," Ruth Baron (Kate Winslet, delivering a breathtakingly luminous performance) explores a world that encourages spiritual epiphany--and falls hard for the cartoonish guru who opens her "third eye." Back home in Australia, her hilariously dysfunctional, distinctly down-to-earth family hires hotshot deprogrammer PJ Waters (Harvey Keitel, his dyed hair and cowboy boots telegraphing desperate machismo) to cure Ruth. In an isolated Outback shack, Campion's duo wrestle each other for control of their souls--and bodies, too. This duel's in deadly earnest: Ruth assaults Waters's petrified masculinity; PJ aims to strip this radiant girl of her unexamined faith.

Their wild ride--funny, brutal, erotic--toward brand-new selfhood is punctuated by indelible images: Ruth dancing in a white sari beside an emu corral; naked in the night, Ruth offering her lush body to her tormentor; lost in the desert, cross-dressed in red gown, PJ "saved" by a golden vision of Ruth as a magnificent Indian goddess. For those who love the way movies can sometimes project truth and beauty, Holy Smoke is a feast for the eyes--and for the mind. --Kathleen Murphy

Description

Kate Winslet (TITANIC, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY) and Harvey Keitel (U-571, PULP FICTION) add scintillating performances to a seductive, darkly hilarious motion picture that's met with overwhelming critical acclaim! While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barroin (Winslet) falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire PJ Waters (Keitel), a macho cult deprogrammer, who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But PJ quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent, and iron-willed Ruth! Another memorable motion picture directed by Academy Award(R)-winner Jane Campion -- you'll feel an undeniable comic charge from the sparks that fly as PJ and Ruth face off in an electric battle of the sexes.

Customer Reviews:

Outback Love.......2007-05-13

Australian film is a great source of fresh innovation. Harvey Keitel and
Kate Winslet with a fine supporting cast tell a story; simple on the surface but jaw dropping as it unfolds.

"The Meaning Of The Word, Choice" ~ A Modern Tale Of Shamanic Transformation.......2007-05-10

Synopsis: While on vacation in India with a girlfriend Aussie Ruth Baron (Kate Winslet) experiences a profound spiritual awakening and decides to stay with her new guru and his community of believers. Tricked by her Mother under the false pretense that her Father is dying, she returns home only to find a professional deprogrammer, PJ Waters (Harvey Keitel) has been hired to bring her back to her "senses." Whisked away against her will to a secluded farmhouse in the Outback, a three day confrontation ensues between the two. By the end of the allotted time you're left to wonder who's deprogramming who.

I had no expectations concerning the film `Holy Smoke' yet it still took me totally by surprise. Kate Winslet not only demonstrates once and for all how talented an actress she is but displays a sensual side that left me speechless (well nearly anyway). Harvey Keitel also delivers an excellent performance perfectly capturing the subtly of a man slowly moving beyond his clever facade and revealing who he really is.

`Holy Smoke' is definitely a movie in a genre of its own making. What begins as a journey to spiritual self-realization slowly evolves into a psychological tale of sensuality, eroticism and obsession. Add to the mix several intermittent epiphanies reminiscent of a `60's psychedelic voyage through inner space and you have before you a unique one-of-a-kind film. Expect the unexpected when watching for just when everything has fallen apart and lays in shambles the story returns its audience back to the spiritual path and reconciles the combatants for an unexpected conclusion. This film is surely a shamanic tale in a twentieth century setting encompassing the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Truly an amazing accomplishment, thank you Jane Campion (director) for this absolutely brilliant film, I love it!

Excellent Film.......2007-02-07

Kate Winslet's incredible talent shines in this film. Sexy, thought provoking, and comical. I would recommend to anyone.

Good premise, poor execution.......2006-12-28

I always enjoy watching Kate Winslet because she accepts daring roles and gives her all in very uninhibited performances. She is one of those young, very talented and oh so beautiful actresses, who isn't afraid to risk being taken seriously by appearing nude. Keira Knightley is another terrific young lady in this category. In this film, Kate plays a wayward young woman, Ruth, who has fallen under the spell of a religious cult guru in India. Her family tricks her into returning to Australia and then hires an expert cult "exiter" to deprogram her. In a role very unlike his role in Campion's "The Piano," Harvey Keitel looks very much in shape and turns in a decent performance as PJ, the deprogrammer. PJ is very impressive as he demonstrates to Ruth that he is very knowledgeable about her idol and his teachings. Unfortunately, the time spent on this display of his religious prowess is entirely too brief. Rather than focusing on Ruth's deprogramming and taking the time to make her transformation believable, the film begins to concentrate primarily on their relationships. To me, it would have made for a more interesting film to delve into the reasons why Ruth and PJ believe what they do. Was PJ in a cult earlier in his life? If so, what brought him out of it and drove him to become a deprogrammer? Why was Ruth initially so drawn to this guru that she packed her bags and moved to India? Is she philosophical, or is she as gullible and shallow as the film makes her appear? Instead of exploring these, the film takes the easy way out, and both Ruth and PJ change very abruptly after only a little conversation. Both are allegedly strong-willed; yet, both too easily forego their convictions. Ruth watches a video about cults while catching glimpses of PJ being fondled by her sister-in-law. Suddenly she breaks down. Are we supposed to believe it had never occurred to her she might have been drawn into a cult? She seems entirely too clever for that. Or, perhaps she has lost faith in her deprogrammer and begins to see him either as a common man or even the object of her jealousy? Neither seems likely, and I'm not certain the Campions knew either as they wrote the script. In fact, the entire movie seems as though it cannot decide what it wants to be: a comedy, drama, romance or something else. Ruth never really seems to love PJ until after he professes his love for her, and even then it is not convincing. Perhaps they are two of a kind, motivated by a search for love (or fulfillment of some sort). Who knows? The film starts out well, but becomes fairly unpersuasive by its finale. Ultimately, it is a good premise that goes astray, though you might want to watch it for good performances from Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel.

Holy Smoke This ending sucked!.......2006-10-06

I liked this movie thru out the entire time... up until the end. I won't give it away or add any spoilers but Harvey Keitel was perfect in the part of the 'deprogrammer' and Kate Winslet was very good as the 'brainwashed' cultist. I also liked the Neil Diamond music and how it was used in the movie.

Its not a bad flick and it has a good message but boy they blew it in the end.

Average customer rating:

there is no DTS on DVD
Great for the Concert Library
If You Missed The Concert, This Is The Next Best Thing
hip hop head
Sweet

The Up In Smoke Tour
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Eagle Vision USA
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Eminem - E

ASIN: B0000524DX
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com

They may be every parent's nightmare, but the rap all-stars that comprise the 2000 Up in Smoke tour (smoke, as in blunts and chronic--or marijuana, for the uninitiated) are incredibly popular with a surprising cross-section of young music lovers today. This two-hour-plus DVD captures most of one concert by the four rappers who joined together for this tour: Ice Cube, Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. If you aren't a fan of the music, don't expect this to change your mind or even to help you understand these rappers' appeal. For the devoted, however, you get heaping doses of four of the hottest acts working, in a show that includes lavish production values as well as plenty of backstage footage and photographs as extra features. Given the slice-and-dice editing (no shot, it seems, is allowed to last more than two seconds), it's hard to get a fix on them or a true picture of what the show looked like if you happened to be sitting in the audience. --Marshall Fine

Description

The smoke hasn't settled yet, but there can be no doubt that this summer's "Up In Smoke" tour had the biggest fire of any touring music show. This Hip Hop All-Stars show features Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Eminem, Ice Cube and other special guests in a program offering many surprises, from onstage to backstage to scenes from the road shot by the artists themselves on home video cameras.

Customer Reviews:

there is no DTS on DVD.......2007-05-16

Tour is super, great tracks but no DTS sound, although on the dvd box it (DTS sound) typed with big letters.

Great for the Concert Library.......2007-03-24

this Concert was one of the best ever and the DVD works well I have heard way worse concerts on DVD and the camera does not go out of control like most other DVD's I hate that. good solid 5 stars

If You Missed The Concert, This Is The Next Best Thing .......2007-02-19

If you were like me and missed the actual show when it was in your town, this is the next best thing, they show the concert and backstage footage.

Even if you did go to the actual show, still buy this DVD.

hip hop head.......2006-03-11

I actually seen this tour live and it's just as good the second time around on DVD.

Sweet.......2005-08-26

This DVD is fantasic. I have enjoyed watching it time & time again. The backing music for the Ice Cube freestyle was "Whoa" by Black Rob. W.C. almost stole the show & for people who saw it you know what I mean. It has some rememerable backstage scenes that are absolutly halirious like The cockroache or the P.S.A. (Public Service Announcement). All the performances were extremely enjoyable & we have a very explicit shot of the crowd in 1 of Dre's songs (i cant name it because of the actual title itself but everyone knows what song im on about). All the guest appearances are: Westside Connection, Ms. Toi, Warren G, Xzibit, Nate Dogg, D12, Devon The Dude, & anyone else ive missed. I recomend this to anyone who loves these artists & definitly DO NOT & i repeat DO NOT recommend this to anyone getting started in Hip Hop because most likely you will be turned off & disgusting. Only people who know what to expect should buy it. Peace

Average customer rating:

WONDERFUL
Tony Sterart
Tony Stewart DVD
A New Fan
Great insight into a driver's passion!

NASCAR - Tony Stewart - Smoke
Starring: Kid Rock , and Tony Stewart
Manufacturer: Dreamworks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Auto Sports | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Fan Accessories | Fan Shop | Categories | Sports & Outdoors
Similar Items:

NASCAR - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Any Given Day
Tony Stewart: 2005 Nextel Cup Champion
NASCAR - The IMAX Experience
True Speed: My Racing Life
Tony Stewart

Product Features:

Classic DVD
Exclusive interviews, highlights, and behind the scenes coverage
DVD's main menu allow you to jump directly to the action
Presented in full-screen digital video

ASIN: B0000ZMFDA
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Product Description

Tony Stewart: Smoke will take fans through the past, present, and future of the career of this NASCAR Superstar. This DVD produced by NASCAR Images features stories told by 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion himself, as well as his family, friends, rivals, and teammates. You will hear Tony discuss his temper, his relationship with the media, and his lifelong drive to reach Victory Lane.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL.......2007-06-29

if you love Tony Stewart this is the DVD for you. the best NASCAR driver does sit down interviews and you get to see his childhood pictures and videos. LOVED IT!

Tony Sterart.......2007-01-10

A pretty good insight into one of NASCAR's most contraversial driver's.
It truly gives great background on "Smoke", and how he has become such a great all around race car driver.

Tony Stewart DVD.......2007-01-04

The DVD is fairly good. The downfall is that it is a slick, run-over of a championship season and lacks some of the real Smoke. the dvd would be a little better with more "behind the scenes" of NASCAR life. But if you are a tony fan, you'll enjoy it.

A New Fan.......2005-08-28

I've been watching NASCAR for a few years now and have really become a fan. I never followed any one driver. Not being that familiar with racing, the only driver I knew anything about was Jeff Gordon. But in the past couple years I've really started to pay attention to the races and the drivers. One of them was Tony Stewart. The one thing I really knew of Tony was that unbelievable crash at Daytona.

Everything that had been written about him was his aggressive attitude. As I've read more about him and watched him race, what I've discovered is that aggressive attitude is an amazing passion for driving, be it stock cars, INDY cars, or midgets. This DVD points that out. I rented it last week and have already watched it three times. I will be adding this to my sports media collection.

Great insight into a driver's passion!.......2003-12-03

This DVD has actually been available for a couple of months and parts are already being televised on Speed channel. This is a great way to gain insight into a driver's life. The interviews with his family and the old photos are terrific. You realize that Tony had a passion for all things racing since he was a baby. His generous spirit in regards to his charitable works is admirable. I would love to see more of these DVDs of other drivers. FYI-Dale Earnhardt Jr's DVD is being released by the same company around February 2004.

Average customer rating:

there is no DTS on DVD
Great for the Concert Library
If You Missed The Concert, This Is The Next Best Thing
hip hop head
Sweet

The Up in Smoke Tour (DTS)
Starring: Dr. Dre , and Snoop Doggy Dogg
Manufacturer: Eagle Vision USA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

The Anger Management Tour
Live at the House of Blues
Bigg Snoop Dogg's Puff Puff Pass Tour
Jay Z - Fade to Black
Eminem - E

ASIN: B000063UQR
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

there is no DTS on DVD.......2007-05-16

Tour is super, great tracks but no DTS sound, although on the dvd box it (DTS sound) typed with big letters.

Great for the Concert Library.......2007-03-24

this Concert was one of the best ever and the DVD works well I have heard way worse concerts on DVD and the camera does not go out of control like most other DVD's I hate that. good solid 5 stars

If You Missed The Concert, This Is The Next Best Thing .......2007-02-19

hip hop head.......2006-03-11

I actually seen this tour live and it's just as good the second time around on DVD.

Sweet.......2005-08-26

Mel Bay Peter Bernstein Trio Live at Smoke

Average customer rating:

Excellent
very good
Bernstein/Goldings/Stewart

Mel Bay Peter Bernstein Trio Live at Smoke
Starring: Peter Bernstein
Manufacturer: Mel Bay Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Mel Bay Rodney Jones: Live at Smoke
Deep Blue Organ Trio - Goin' to Town, Live at the Green Mill
Mel Bay presents Randy Johnston Live at the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe
Saudades
Apparitions

ASIN: B000A3DFUO
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Description

Captured at the New York jazz club Smoke, the Peter Bernstein Trio featuring Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart clearly demonstrates why the group is considered one of today's premier guitar/organ combos. An important figure on the international jazz scene since 1989, Peter Bernstein has played on over 60 recordings and has made numerous festival, concert and club appearances with musicians of all generations. Live at Smoke, his first release on Mel Bay Records, is his sixth recording as a leader.

Tracks:
1. Dragonfly (Peter Bernstein)
2. Jive Coffee (Peter Bernstein)
3. Spring is Here (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart)
4. Puttin' on the Ritz (Irving Berlin)
5. Bobblehead (Peter Bernstein)
6. I Should Care (Cahn/Stordahl/Weston)
7. The Acrobat (Larry Goldings)
8. Night Mist Blues (Ahmad Jamal)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-04-26

My favorite current working group. This is often called the Larry Goldings Trio, and could just as well be called The Bill Stewart Trio. Each player is outstanding and has a uniquely identifiable voice on his instrument. These guys often remind me of Wes Montgomery's or Bill Evans' Trios, or Jack McDuff's/Jimmy Smith's groups. The tunes and arrangements are superb, the audio is fine. I don't believe there's any lack of bass in the organ. The stage and lighting at Smoke are very plain, so don't expect fancy visuals. Just be thankful there are still some places like this club where such master jazz musicians can play. If you like any of the classic organ-guitar jazz groups I think you'll love this DVD.

very good.......2006-03-19

it is the new way for play jazz music, with guitar, organ and drums , the drummer Bill Stewart is excellent

Bernstein/Goldings/Stewart.......2005-10-22

Peter Bernstein consistently has one of the nicest sounds in jazz guitar these days. That fact is easily heard on this DVD recorded live at NYC's Smoke. The tunes are varied and although this is Bernstein's gig both organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart get ample space. Actually, this group has been more of a cooperative since its early days playing in small clubs near NYU beginning in the mid 1990s.

While Bernstein's wonderful sound and phrasing has been well recorded the same can't be said of Goldings B3, which is a shame considering how important he has been in steering the instrument's practitioners away from Jimmy Smith's long time influence. Golding's library of unique sounds isn't well captured here plus his low end work is almost aurally non-existent. But, the real deal here is Bill Stewart. His drumming, which starts very much in the background on the DVD, revs up nicely three tunes in and mid-way through he has picked up the entire group.His solo on "Acrobat" is particularly impressive.
All in all a wonderful recording.

DVD:

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