Amy

Starring:Alana De Roma, Rachel Griffiths, Ben Mendelsohn, Nick Barker (II), Kerry Armstrong, Jeremy Trigatti, William Zappa, Torquil Neilson, Sullivan Stapleton, Mary Ward, Susie Porter, Frank Gallacher, Malcolm Kennard, Jan Friedl, Jeremy Kewley, Osvaldo Maione, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Kym Gyngell, Leon Teague, Steve Brown (XX)
Director: Nadia Tass
Studio: Peter Pan
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Eastern religion re-packaged for Western consumption
How the Other Half Lives
Awesome film
Great film that follows the book
"Take Out The Trash Dan" ~ There's No Higher Purpose Than Service To Others

Peaceful Warrior (Widescreen)
Starring: Scott Mechlowicz , Amy Smart , Nick Nolte , Ray Wise , and Karen Landry
Director: Victor Salva
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QEIOSU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Customer Reviews:

Eastern religion re-packaged for Western consumption.......2007-07-04

While it was nice to see Nick Nolte working in front of a camera again instead of speeding down the highway blitzed out of his mind on drugs. And equally as nice to see Amy Smart acting more civilized this time instead of being humped like a dog in front of a horde of people on a public street as she did in the movie Crank. This movie, while fun to watch was nothing more than a load of Eastern religious "Self Realization" teachings presented in a way to be palatable to the Western mind. I didn't like it.

If you are into Buddhism and New Age religions. You'll probably eat this up.

How the Other Half Lives.......2007-07-03

Dan Mellman (Scott Mechlowicz) was a golden boy. Having the world at his feet, he enjoyed being the star gymnast on a star team for The University of California, Berkeley. But there was something missing. Going through girlfriends, including stealing his best friend's, Dan had a cocky attitude that kept him empty and up at night. Fortunately, his three A.M. sojourns for snacks at an all-night gas station lead him to a mysterious, older man sarcastically nicknamed Socrates (Nick Nolte) who seems like Yoda, but in all seriousness. In his peace arsenal is the ability to startle someone by getting up on the garage roof when no one is paying attention. Here they meet, and the sage man offers wisdom that is only greeted with a sneer and Dan's smart mouth. Offering more than change for snacks, he also tries to relieve insomnia. ("People are afraid of the inside--That's where everything important is.") The meetings recur, but so does Dan's dream life that bring omens of misfortune. In some of those dreams we see impressive confrontations from two forms of Dan. (One I believe represents his ego, and the other is his spirit, and the unsettling division presented show us the split of a person yearning for the whole.) Dan needs to "let go of his ego". Tragedy then does visit as his unconscious foretells, and he must deal with it. But his recuperation needs more than crutches, he needs a steady guide to cope with his inner fracture as well.

'Peaceful Warrior' is a unique and excellent adventure. It could have been a good as an inspiring sports' film, but it goes beyond that. The sparring between Dan's ego and Socrates' wisdom creates another whole venue, complete with scenes that show Dan coming to grips with himself. Nolte plays Socrates with grizzled beard and gravelly voice, but shows us a peace warrior who is no wimp. Confronting Dan quietly, he gives him the strength to confront himself. Some of the joy of this movie is listening to Dan and Socrates espouse their wisdom, like Greek teacher and student. 'Peaceful Warrior' could have been a hokey failure, but they really deliver in this refreshing film choice. (Based on Mellman's autobiographical account.)

Awesome film.......2007-07-03

I love this film and the book. There should be more movies made with this kind of message and wisdom. This is an ageless coming of age story and it has so much to teach all of us - especially people who are "coming of age," which I think most of us are most of the time! You will love it - whether you read the book or not. It is awesome.

Great film that follows the book.......2007-07-02

Nick Nolte was superb in this film as was the entire cast. The film follows the book and gives a good account of a wisdom not often found in our contemporary culture. As Nolte notes in the film "there is no higher purpose" than service to others. This type of wisdom is not something one finds in the modern world where the bottom line generates astonishing selfishness and promotes an attitude best characterized as 'Get yours while the getting is good!' This film is inimical to that standard, so if you are looking for something that puppets the American Dream, this film is probably not for you.

Millman's book advocates for an engaged spirituality and empowered life without rationalizations or excusses. What you will find in the film is more of the same. Nolte's character Socrates refuses to hold Millman's hand, as Millman navigates these mysterious contours of spiritual awareness found in the depths of the human pysche.

When the book came out over twenty years ago it asserted itself as "a book that changes lives." To what extent this is true is difficult to say. As someone whose life was radically changed, I suspect the effort to embody the wisdom teachings had more to do with change, than simply reading the book. But if you take these propositions to heart and embody them into your lives, I suspect you will find significant tremors of change emerging out of the depths of your own unconscious.

These types of changes rarely provide comfort - at least at first blush. A threshold must be passed through, but it is in the passing that the attributes of a warrior emerge into the light of day and take hold of the personality. The film demonstrates the passage of transformation which - in my view - makes it entirely worthwhile and timely to our contemporay moment. In this sense, the film presents a right-of-passage that these propositions hold for a contemporary audience.

What could be more important?

"Take Out The Trash Dan" ~ There's No Higher Purpose Than Service To Others.......2007-07-02

Based on allegedly actual events chronicled in Dan Millman's book `Way of the Peaceful Warrior' the film `Peaceful Warrior' released in `05 takes the audience on a shamanic spiritual journey in the most unlikely of places, a twentieth century urban center, more precisely, Berkley, California.

Synopsis: Dan Millman is a top gymnast at U. C. Berkley yet despite his many successes he feels empty and incomplete inside. Plagued by dreams of failure Dan is unable to sleep and finds himself wandering the streets in the early hours of the morning. When he stops at an all night gas station and service mart he meets a man of unconventional wisdom who begins to instruct him on the process of clearing his mind of all the useless garbage it contains in order to view himself and the world around him in a brand new way.

`Peaceful Warrior' is one of those rare films that both entertains and teaches without sacrificing one for the other. The production values are high, the dialogue believable and the performances strong. Scott Mechlowicz was definitely the right choice to play the role of Berkley gymnast Dan Millman and Nick Nolte delivers one of his best performances in years as the mysterious Socrates, garage attendant and "New Age" Zen Master. Add to the mix Amy Smart as Dan's love interest Joy and you have a little romance as well. I did find the film to be slightly uneven here and there, the best moments taking place whenever Nick Nolte (Socrates) is on screen. However the message is so well presented and the actors so amiable any minor gliches are forgivable.

My Rating: 4 1/2 Stars.

Average customer rating:

Oh, Grow Up...
"I aim to cure you of your wickedness"
Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey
The Best Film I've Seen in 2007
Different and Refreshing

Black Snake Moan
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson , Christina Ricci , Justin Timberlake , S. Epatha Merkerson , and John Cothran Jr.
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PY52EU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

The lurid scenario--a nymphomaniacal white trash nymphet (Christina Ricci) is held prisoner by a bitter bluesman (Samuel L. Jackson)--gives way to an affecting tale of redemption in Black Snake Moan, writer/director Craig Brewer's follow-up to the acclaimed Hustle & Flow. Lazarus (Jackson, Jungle Fever, Pulp Fiction) finds Rae (Ricci, Monster, The Ice Storm) beaten unconscious on the road in front of his backwoods house. After bringing her inside, he learns of her wanton ways and decides to exorcise his own demons by curing Rae of her sexual compulsion. Black Snake Moan could have been terrible, but Brewer takes his story seriously enough to dig into the genuine emotions of such a situation (though along the way he certainly flirts with sexploitation overtones--several scenes look like they were plucked straight out of a hitherto unknown 1970s trash classic). Ricci, Jackson, and the supporting cast (including pop star Justin Timberlake, giving a surprisingly good performance as Rae's boyfriend) treat the characters with respect, honesty, and humor. The result is off-kilter and maybe a little too fond of its sleazy cinematic forbears to truly hit the emotional notes it's after, but Black Snake Moan has considerably more substance than its marketing would suggest. --Bret Fetzer

Beyond Black Snake Moan

The Soundtrack
More Music Stars on DVD
More DVDs with Samuel L. Jackson

Stills from Black Snake Moan (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Grow Up..........2007-07-04

It's like a bright 12th-grader, having read a little Welty, O'Connor and Faulkner, somehow snagged a budget for a Hollywood film. The images are all there, but there's no feeling for what they really mean, so it's all surfaces, explicaton and cliches. We get Nobody Grows Them Butterbeans Like Ol' Lazarus, Who Don't Play Them Blues No More, and a gaggle of characters wanting to seem deeper than they really are.

Just for starters, Samuel L. Jackson is a foot taller than Christina Ricci. One of his button-down shirts would cover her up, but that doesn't happen for more than an hour, because this is a film, landscapes only go so far, and there needs to be some eye candy to set against all that preachin' and standin' around. Okay, fine, it's a fable--I mean, after all, that chain is over the top, and it would never, ever happen that way--but then in the extras, Craig Brewer, the writer/director, asserts that the radiator is a metaphor for basic values that ground us.

Um, no. Mixing fable with dirty realism isn't new, but it doesn't work here, because Brewer hops lazily between the two genres rather than fusing them together. Brewer might have wanted more, but to the viewer, the radiator is just the radiator, and for all the staging, the attempt at a story of love and redemption really doesn't lift beyond a fairly creepy madonna/whore redemption fantasy. For better examples of what Brewer was trying to do, take another look at two Jim Mangold films: Walk The Line, which merged fable and biopic, and Heavy, which essentially takes Black Snake Moan north to New York state, and packs a bigger punch.

Lots of aspirations in Black Snake Moan, some good acting, and very good cinematography, but immature writing kills the film.

"I aim to cure you of your wickedness".......2007-07-04

Read it an weep, and with that one line of absolution spoken by Sam Jackson, Black Snake Moan takes you on a journey of faith, salvation and redemption of the two main characters Lazarus and Rona, two people who have suffered and endured hard times throughout their lives. Lazarus is trying to come to terms with his wife of 12 years leaving him for his younger brother. Rona is a woman who has suffered unmentionable sexual abuse since her childhood and therefore acts out the part for others to prey upon her. One night after a night of hard, careless partying she is beaten and left for dead on the road near Lazarus's house. Not knowing what to do but help her, Lazarus takes it upon himself to bring Rona back to health, only to discover that she has far deeper scars and problems than the physical ones left on her face. He is then determined to make her well, and through faith and the belief that "God saw fit to have us cross paths" he does so the only way he knows how. The two ultimately develop a friendship under unusual circumstances, and through music which Lazarus has sworn off for so long, the two heal one another unknowingly. The cords struck by Sam Jackson playing "Black Snake Moan" will resonate through you and send chills down your spine, which also turns out to be the turning point between the two characters in the film. This was a fantastic film I thoroughly enjoyed with Sam Jackson and Christina Ricci. My only disappointment was that Justin Timberlake was cast in this film, but fortunately with his roughly 10 minutes of screen time I can tolerate it. The soundtrack is phenomenal, and if you are as big a blues fan as I am, both the soundtrack and DVD are well worth purchasing. Black Snake Moan delivers superb acting by Jackson and Ricci, a fantastic and originally written story with a soundtrack to carry it every step of the way. I highly recommend this film, seeing is believing.

Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey.......2007-07-04

"Black Snake Moan" is a sticky, gooey, sizzlingly hot erotic mess that doesn't make a lot of sense, but its raw sexuality is so rare in movies that it's damned welcome. This is a movie that brings new meaning to the expression "Chain her to the kitchen".
Samuel L. Jackson has to fight the temptation to guzzle demon whiskey and play even more demonic slide guitar, Christina Ricci has to fight the temptation to bang anything in pants and Justin Timberlake has to fight the temptation to act badly.
I enjoyed the silly Jim Thompson-styled pulpy vibe of the film and loved the dirty electric slide guitar playing in the bar scene. Jackson isn't a bad blues singer, not bad, he's alright. I thought this was one of the best films with blues taking center stage. Excellent!

The Best Film I've Seen in 2007.......2007-07-03

From the writer/director of "Hustle & Flow" comes "Black Snake Moan," the best film I've seen in 2007. It's a unique film that features two terrific performances by Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci, both delivering their best performances in years. It also features another star-making performance by Justin Timberlake (who recently impressed me in "Alpha Dog"). The film stars Ricci as Rae, that girl that lives in every city in America and is usually referred to as "the town slut." After her boyfriend Ronnie (Timberlake) leaves her for a stint in the Army, she begins getting more and more destructive; eventually, she is almost raped, beaten, and tossed out in the road. Lazarus (Jackson) has recently been left by his wife for his brother and when he finds the young girl lying in the road he takes responsibility for curing the "sickness" she has.
So, naturally, he chains her to his radiator. When she finally wakes up, she's shocked at first but eventually grows to love Lazarus...And soon, they realize that Lazarus is not just helping her but they're helping each other. This is a great film and, as a result, it's been hailed around the world as such...But it hasn't quite garnered commercial attention and this is sad. It may not sound like the kind of movie that will appeal to a massive audience, but it's a movie that I think people will find themselves enjoying. It's a fable about love, redemption, and sex...The story could've gone in many different directions, but writer/director Craig Brewer keeps it all together and takes what could've been a completely meaningless story and makes it almost life-affirming. Jackson is an actor who never fails to impress, but he's an actor who has made more bad movies than good ones. Here, I'm not going out on a limb by saying it could be his best performance (and maybe even his best film) since "Pulp Fiction." Ricci has always been an actress that's impressed me, but she hasn't done much worth noting over the past 5 years. That makes her comeback here all the more impressive. She combines all the right notes of vulnerability and sexual animosity to make this performance incredibly believable. As for Timberlake, he didn't impress me as much here as he did in "Alpha Dog" but he definitely leaves me asking where he got his acting chops? If he chokes a pretzel and ruins his vocal cords or something, acting could definitely be a fall back for him. Brewer is quickly joining the ranks of great writer/directors and his 2nd film is even stronger than his first.

GRADE: A

Different and Refreshing.......2007-07-03

Black Snake Moan sure has a weird hook. Setting: Deep South. An older black man who plays the blues keeps a white nymphomaniac on a chain to cure her of her horniness. About half-way through, my husband turned to me and said "And why exactly did you think I would like this movie?" I winced and said I thought it would have blues as more of a central theme. But guess what, he stayed around and pronounced it a good movie after all! His summary is the best: "everyone has their struggles, and you are never really free of them."

The performances are exceedingly strong, the setting of Tennessee bucolic and beautiful. You really feel as if you are in this small, rural town where everyone knows each other.

Black Snake Moan is bold, and really gives you a sense of empathy for the different characters. Most importantly, it provides hope that if you have your own struggles, someone will be out there for you as well, not to judge you or cure you, but to love you.

Average customer rating:

Looking Forward to Seasons Two, Three, and Four
Ground Breaking Show (really)
Almost as I remembered it...
Rome and Boston - World's Apart
Picket Fences Season 1 DVD

Picket Fences - Season 1
Starring: Zelda Rubinstein , Don Cheadle , Denis Arndt , Roy Dotrice , and Leigh Taylor-Young
Director: Michael Pressman , Dennie Gordon , Martin Davidson , Jeremy Kagan , and Arvin Brown
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000K7VHJ6
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

While Ally McBeal garnered more attention, Picket Fences garnered more acclaim. It was justified. Set in Wisconsin, the Emmy-winning drama plays like The Andy Griffith Show by way of The Commish. The focus is on small-town life from a law and order perspective. The action revolves around Sheriff Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerritt), his physician wife Jill (Kathy Baker), and their children, Kimberly (Holly Marie Combs), Matthew (Justin Shenkarow), and Zack (Adam Wylie). Storylines alternate between personal issues, like puberty and pre-marital sex, and criminal cases. As Matthew quips, "Things happen around here." At city hall, Jimmy works with officers Kenny (Costas Mandylor) and Max (Lauren Holly), dispatcher Ginny (Zelda Rubinstein), and coroner Carter Pike (Kelly Connell), who likes to exclaim, "Let me exhume the body!" Judge Henry Bone (Ray Walston) and attorney Douglas Wambaugh (Fyvush Finkel) dominate the courthouse. Cases include such tragi-comic crimes as a serial bather ("Frank, the Potato Man") and a cupid killer ("Be My Valentine"), but serious issues also come into play, such as assisted suicide ("Sacred Hearts") and incest ("Nuclear Meltdowns"). Unlike Twin Peaks, to which it was sometimes compared, Picket Fences could be heavy-handed, but piety never trumped entertainment, and Baker, Skerritt, Walston, and Finkel all won Emmys for their work.

Notable guests are a hallmark of every David E. Kelley production, from Chicago Hope to Boston Legal (and beyond). The first season attracted Carnivále's Michael J. Anderson ("Mr. Dreeb Comes to Town"), Evening Shade's Michael Jeter ("Frog Man"), and Man of La Mancha's Richard Kiley ("Thanksgiving"). The series also features one of the last of the old-fashioned orchestral scores, Stewart Levin's distinctive piano theme. Picket Fences ran for four seasons on CBS (when Kelley left between seasons three and four, ratings took a nosedive). Afterwards, Combs joined Charmed, Baker joined Kelley's Boston Public, and Holly joined NCIS. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

PICKET FENCES Season 1 is the first season of the critically acclaimed series from creator David E. Kelly ("Ally McBeal", "Boston Legal") starring Tom Skerrit and Kathy Baker, in the story of a sherriff and his family in Rome, Wisconsin, a town where things never seem to be business as usual. This long-awaited fan favorite is available on 6 discs.

Customer Reviews:

Looking Forward to Seasons Two, Three, and Four .......2007-07-04

Whew - I'd forgotten how good this show could be sometimes! A quirky show for its time, tackling alot of issues and willing to take a stand on the said issues, more or less allowing viewers to form their own ideas. I watched a good part of the first season but then started to lose track with the following seasons so I'm definitely looking forward to coming DVD releases - this DVD set does feature a short featurette, featured on the last DVD disc - interesting to see everyone at the present.

Ground Breaking Show (really).......2007-07-01

Many other reviewers have covered the various aspects of the main players. So I won't rehash them in my review.

I missed the majority of the first season, picking it up when whatever it was that ran against it went to reruns. I entered Rome WI without any idea of the towns history or the background of the characters.

Without this history, the story lines and characters seemed very odd, but also very entertaining. I stayed with Picket Fences when the other show returned and picked up the earlier shows over the summer.

What first fascinated me was the complexity of the characters and bold daringness of the topics the show addressed. Later, in his other shows, David Kelly's penchant for interesting quirks and humor have become standard fare. But 15 years ago, there were so few quality shows tackling sensitive issues without resorting to such black and white positions. David's risks were indeed groundbreaking.

I must state that I am a life long liberal, and like most people who accept a "label" my positions on a number of issues are black and white to me and I can't understand those whose views are counter to mine. However, David's writings and the actors hired to flesh out the characters did give me a greater understanding on such issues as anti-abortionists, proponents of hand guns, and other social issues. While they didn't change my view, they did take the vitriol out of my arguments and allow me to "hear" what the other side was saying. All the while providing an entertaining median.

If you're a recent David Kelley fan, or one who picked him up with Allie McBeal, Boston Public, The Practice, or Boston Legal, you should take a trip to Rome WI where you will see the seeds sown for his later shows. While I enjoyed all of the shows referenced in this paragraph, (and being a Bostonian, it kills me to say this) I'd prefer to be back in Rome, with Judge Bone, and the edgy fresh writing I discovered there.

One final thought. If you've not seen Picket Fences before, give it a chance into Season Two before you write the show off.

Almost as I remembered it..........2007-06-27

I was so pleased to see the release of "Picket Fences" on DVD. I have been waiting years for this release. I have tried to watch Kelly's "Boston Legal" and I see so many of the themes (and, sometimes, story lines) from "Picket Fences" being recycled. Yes, "Picket Fences" does play as an overdramatized version of 'The Andy Griffith Show' at times. The stories are strong. The acting, almost always, spot on. I've watched a few episodes I haven't seen since the show first aired... I'm happy to be returning to Rome, WI.

Rome and Boston - World's Apart.......2007-06-25

Being such a huge David E. Kelley/Boston Legal fan and seeing the extraordinarily high ranking Picket Fence held on the Amazon pre-order list, I thought that I was in for a huge treat.

Needless to say, although Mr. Kelley plays a predominant role in both shows, Picket Fences is definitely not his best work. Boston Legal is both hilarious and brilliant. He deftly weaves in an out of current issues while consistently making you laugh and, occasionally even shed a tear. Picket Fences, on the other hand, is rarely funny, is especially heavy handed with issues/preachy, and, although it may not have played this way at the time, compared to the hard hitting/off the wall shows of today, it comes off as incredibly quaint. Matlock quaint. Senior citizen quaint.

15 years is an epoch in TV land. There's not a lot of 15 year old TV that I'm running out to watch/buy. I may have loved/waited with baited breath to see certain shows then, but now, I'm off to bigger and better things.

Historically, Picket Fences is well situated. Picket Fences fits in very comfortably with the shows of it's age. A little too comfortably, I think. In some ways it feels like an amalgamation of other shows from that period. Here's my best guess at how it breaks down.

10% Family Ties
50% Northern Exposure
30% Degrassi
10% Matlock

If you're yearning to wax nostalgic, give this set a shot. If, on the other hand, you're looking for entertainment that can stand up to the scrutiny of the present day, you might want to look elsewhere.

Picket Fences Season 1 DVD .......2007-06-25

Thank you David E Kelley for finally getting Picket Fences on DVD. If your a fan - this is a definite GOOD BUY.

Waiting for 2nd and future seasons to be released.

Average customer rating:

Almost exactly like the book
Fresh Eyre
Jane Eyre
The Best Ever Jane Eyre
Can't get enough of this dvd...

Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006)
Starring: Ruth Wilson (II) , Toby Stephens , Amy Steel (II) , Jacqueline Pilton , and Anne Reid
Director: Susanna White
Manufacturer: WGBH Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LPQ6DE
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

You may think the world doesn't need another adaptation of Jane Eyre--but you're wrong. This new and wonderfully lush Masterpiece Theatre version, directed by Susanna White (who directed the equally sumptuous miniseries of Bleak House starring Gillian Anderson), contrasts Jane Eyre's vivid inner life with the harshness of her outer life; both Georgie Henley (The Chronicles of Narnia) as the young Jane and newcomer Ruth Wilson express the inner vitality of the outcast orphan girl whose spirit captures the heart of the rough, charismatic landowner Mr. Rochester (Toby Stephens, Die Another Day). Stephens, it must be said, is far too conventionally handsome for the part, but he makes up for it by capturing Rochester's abrasive and mercurial temperament. (Wilson's looks are perfect; at one moment she seems awkward and homely, at another utterly luminous.) Jane Eyre is so often remade because the story is so potent; this production brings all of the novel's juice and passion to the fore, emphasizing the characters' sensual experience while staying true to the restrictions and mores of the period. All in all, exceptional. --Bret Fetzer

Amazon.com

After a wretched childhood, orphaned Jane Eyre yearns for new experiences. She accepts a governess position at Thornfield Hall, where she tutors a lively French girl named Adele. She soon finds herself falling in love with the brooding master of the house - the passionate Mr. Rochester. Jane gradually wins his heart, but they must overcome the dark secrets of the past before they can find happiness. When Jane saves Rochester from an eerie fire, she begins to suspect that there are many mysteries behind the walls of Thornfield Hall. Her fears are confirmed when Rochester's secret past is revealed, destroying her chance for happiness, and forcing Jane to flee Thornfield. Penniless and hungry, she finds shelter and friendship in the shape of a kind clergyman and his family. But she is soon shocked to uncover the deeply hidden truth of her own past. This lavish and sensual new version of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel is modern and moody, timeless and romantic. Starring Toby Stephens as Mr. Rochester, Ruth Wilson as Jane, and Francesca Annis as Lady Ingram.

Customer Reviews:

Almost exactly like the book.......2007-07-04

I enjoyed this version of Jane Eyre the most compared to the 1996 and 1997 versions. The Mr. Rochester is perfect. Although the actress who played Jane Eyre wasn't very believable I expected her to have a stronger presence. This movie pretty much met my expectations.

Fresh Eyre .......2007-07-04

This is the most enjoyable "Jane Eyre" I have seen. The dialogue is good and it is very well paced. There is a definite chemistry between the two principals (which make it a success) along with an excellent supporting cast. Jane and Rochester are attractive and appealing, despite the premise that they are both not physically good looking. Most versions of "Jane Eyre" work on some level,to me, this works on all levels.

Jane Eyre.......2007-06-27

I saw it on TV and had to buy the DVD
somewhat modernized, romantic tale
probably the sexiest Rochester ever

The Best Ever Jane Eyre.......2007-06-22

I have been a huge fan of Charlotte Bronte's novel since I was a teenager, and have seen many interpretations of the story over the years. I did not believe it was possible for the 1983 miniseries starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke to be improved upon - but I was wrong. This is the most involving, passionate Jane Eyre I have ever watched. Ruth Wilson is staggeringly good - utterly believable. Initially, I thought Toby Stephens would not fit the image I had of Edward Rochester, but the nuances and intelligence he brought to the role made him the most romantic, beguiling Rochester ever. You could feel the two characters falling in love and every step of the way it made perfect sense that they do so. The `updated' screenplay captured the essence of the story and made it more accessible for a modern audience than any other film or television version I have seen - it was sheer perfection. I know I will watch this DVD again and again and again.

Can't get enough of this dvd..........2007-06-19

Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time. I love this adaptation. I also own the William Hurt movie version which I also adore but have always regretted the detail it omits. This Masterpiece Theatre version captures the passion of the book, especially highlighted in the encounter between Mr. Rochester and Jane following their fated wedding which was not meant to be. It is very well cast though I found the choice of little Adele a bit odd. You will love Ruth Wilson as Jane. I have few criticisms of Jane Eyre. I thought the first meeting between Jane and Mr. R was a bit too harsh. Didn't love the occult board game addition. I also wish the childhood portion of the movie could have developed the relationship between Jane and Helen a little better. I also missed Miss Temple. While these are shortcomings in my opinion, they do not significantly detract from the overall beauty of this film. It is EXCELLENT!

Average customer rating:

one of the best
Great Movie, Whats with the Bad Reviews???
Ferrell and Heder are good for a few laughs, but ultimately crash to the ice!
Blades of Glory
The best stupid/spoofing/subtle comedy in years!

Blades of Glory (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Will Ferrell , Jon Heder , Will Arnett , and Amy Poehler
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Wild Hogs (Widescreen Edition)
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Hot Fuzz (Widescreen Edition)
Shooter (Widescreen Edition)
Premonition (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000R7I3XM
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Amazon.com

Take two male figure skaters, throw in a preposterous storyline, and you've got Blades of Glory, a surprisingly funny film that almost makes you forgive Will Ferrell for his back-to-back 2005 clunkers Kicking & Screaming and Bewitched. This time around, Ferrell eats the scenery in his role as a sex-addicted, cocky skating champ named Chazz Michael Michaels. When he gets into an on-podium fight with his nemesis and co-gold medallist Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite), both skaters are banned from competing in men's figure-skating events. Forever. Their fall from grace is brutal. Chazz is forced to work for a D-list skating show, while pampered Jimmy is disowned by his wealthy and cold-hearted adoptive father (excellently played by William Fichtner), who only wants to be around winners. When Jimmy points out that he tied for gold, his dad cruelly says, "If I wanted to share, I would've bought you a brother." Flash forward 3-1/2 years and Jimmy's No. 1 stalker Hector (Nick Swardson) says he's found a loophole. Jimmy's been banned from men's singles events, but there's nothing that says he can't compete in pairs skating. After a chance meeting with Chazz, mayhem ensues as the two rivals team up to go against the brother-and-sister team of Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (played by Will Arnett and his real-life wife, Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live and Mean Girls fame). The Van Waldenbergs will stop at nothing to beat the competition, even if that means literally beating up the competition. They have no qualms manipulating their sweet little sister (Jenna Fischer, The Office) to seduce both men to try to break up the team.

The finale will be no surprise to moviegoers who know that comedies like this aren't set up to make its leading men losers. But there is one brief skating sequence set in North Korea that will surprise (and shock) many viewers because of its brutality. Ferrell and Heder make a great comedy team. Though he has been accused of playing the same role since his breakthrough performance in Napoleon Dynamite and, to a certain extent, plays a similar type of role here, Heder is spot-on as Jimmy. He manages to convey innocence, bitterness, and longing--all within the span of a few seconds and while wearing a peacock unitard (You can understand why Hector is so enthralled with him). Look for guest appearances by real-life skating champs Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Nancy Kerrigan, and Sasha Cohen, who gets to sniff Chazz's jockstrap. --Jae-Ha Kim

Beyond Blades of Glory

More "Blades" on DVD
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The Soundtrack

Stills from Blades of Glory (click for larger image)

Product Description

"Blades of Glory is pure hilarity, a gold medal comedy winner" staring comic superstar Will Ferrell (Talladega Nights) and John Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). Bitter figure skating rivals Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Heder) brawl after tying for the gold medal at the world championships. Banned for life from men's competition, these archrivals beat the system thanks to a loophole that allows them skate again--in pairs competition! Co-starring Crag T. Nelson, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler and Jenna Fischer.

Customer Reviews:

one of the best.......2007-07-03

i thought this was one of the best comedies i've seen. the casting was superb and acting was absolutely brilliant.

Great Movie, Whats with the Bad Reviews???.......2007-06-19

I loved this movie and I thought it was one of the best blockbusters so far. I don't understand why people on Amazon hate it so much. It is funny, it tells the story of two competing rival ice skaters who get eliminated from the competition due to a fight, and the only way they can get back in the ring is to ice skate together. They even learn the forbidden Korean ice skating move which has decapitated all who have tried to master it. This movie is very fun and I reccomend it to anybody.

Ferrell and Heder are good for a few laughs, but ultimately crash to the ice!.......2007-05-28

BLADES OF GLORY is most certainly not a perfect 6.0, but there are enough laughs available to make it worth a one time see!.Chazz Michael Michaels (Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy ( Jon Heder) once shared a Gold Medal in Men's Figure Skating, but both have been banned for unbecoming behaviour by the National Figure Skating Association.Both skaters have drifted in and out of cheesy ice shows and sports sales shops for three years until Coach (who else but Craig T. Nelson in a VERY bad toupee) espouses that both men can reenter the world of skating competition as the first male couple team in history.That is essentially it.We watch Jimmy and Chazz learn to skate with one another and that is where the few laughs that exist actually are (and they are funny!); but ultimately that really is about all you will get as the rest of the film falls pretty flat like a failed triple axle!

Figure Skating fans will ultimately either get all of the inside jokes or be completely insulted; but the film never intends to be anything more than a spoof and for that a few laughs is worth the $3 I paid to see it at a second run movie house! Cameoes by Dorothy Hammill, Brian Boitano,Peggy Fleming,Nancy Kerrigan,Scott Hamilton and a jock-sniffing Sasha Cohen prove that the finest skaters in the world were all in to simply have a good time and poke fun at themselves.Relax with this film, have a good time, a few laughs and never watch it again!

Blades of Glory.......2007-05-28

I tend to enjoy Will Ferrell as an actor, although I am always very cautious about seeing his movies because much of his humor tends to be more gratuitous than actually funny. However, I was encouraged by the previews, his costar Jon Heder, and my imminent boredom to see the movie. I certainly found a few parts of the movie entertaining, particularly the character of Jon Heder and the scene of their first skate as a couple. As a whole I would venture to say that the first half of the movie was very entertaining while the second half was only mildly (if at all) humorous. All the same, I would probably recommend the movie to someone who liked movies such as Nacho Libre or Night At The Roxbury.

The best stupid/spoofing/subtle comedy in years!.......2007-05-08

Will Ferrell is a rock 'n' roll ice-skater with a whirlwind sex drive, a heavy-lidded gaze and an ego twice the size of his brain. Banned from skating after fighting with his by-the-book rival (straight man Jon Heder), they are forced to become a pair in order to continue. Several skating luminaries appear in cameos. First-time directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck can't quite balance their spoof of the skating world with the "inspirational" story, the villains and the love interest, but Ferrell makes up for everything with his flawless delivery, both subtle and outrageous. He has by now established a bona-fide comic persona -- a deadpan channeling of the adolescent id -- that ranks him alongside Harry Langdon and the other great screen clowns.

Note: It appears that Ferrell and Heder did a little of their own skating, but the very difficult stunts were apparently done by body doubles with the stars' faces digitally grafted on.

Average customer rating:

Oh, Grow Up...
"I aim to cure you of your wickedness"
Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey
The Best Film I've Seen in 2007
Different and Refreshing

Black Snake Moan [HD DVD]
Starring: Jr. John Cothran , Samuel L. Jackson , S. Epatha Merkerson , Christina Ricci , and Kim Richards
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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Music Video & Concerts | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000Q6GUWU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Beyond Black Snake Moan

The Soundtrack
More Music Stars on DVD
More DVDs with Samuel L. Jackson

Stills from Black Snake Moan (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Grow Up..........2007-07-04

"I aim to cure you of your wickedness".......2007-07-04

Hot, Sticky, Slimy, Gooey.......2007-07-04

The Best Film I've Seen in 2007.......2007-07-03

Different and Refreshing.......2007-07-03

Average customer rating:

Great Movie
Immpressive!

Black Snake Moan [Blu-ray]
Starring: Jr. John Cothran , Samuel L. Jackson , S. Epatha Merkerson , Christina Ricci , and Kim Richards
Director: Craig Brewer
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Music Video & Concerts | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
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Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
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ASIN: B000Q6GURU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Beyond Black Snake Moan

The Soundtrack
More Music Stars on DVD
More DVDs with Samuel L. Jackson

Stills from Black Snake Moan (click for larger image)

Customer Reviews:

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

If you love Samuel L Jackson you'll love this.
The music is fantastic & the whole cast even Justin Timberlake surprised me. The Blu Ray format gives a fantastic picture & the extras are worth watching too.
What you waitin for BUY IT !!!

Immpressive!.......2007-06-30

Black Snake Moan is not just a great movie but it looks fantastic on blue-ray. Anyone who owns a blue-ray player or ps3 should buy this film!

Average customer rating:

What more do you need?
Brillant
John Waters Best Movie! A Must Have For all Rockabilly's and Squares!
can't recommend a purchase
"You got it baby, you got it raw."

Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
Starring: Johnny Depp , Amy Locane , Susan Tyrrell , Polly Bergen , and Iggy Pop
Director: John Waters
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009IOR6Q
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Amazon.com essential video

John Waters's goofy, 1990 comedy about a Baltimore girl (Amy Locane) who can't decide if she should remain "good" in her 1954 world or hang out with the motorcycle boys is funny in a scene-by-scene way, but doesn't quite gel into the grand piece the director was hoping for. The cast is exceptionally likable, however, including Johnny Depp as an Elvis type and Iggy Pop as a chattering loony. The best material is set in a fringe world of bikers and losers on the outskirts of town, and Waters writes some hilarious sardonic dialogue for the characters. Cry-Baby is the last of Waters's more undisciplined features; he followed it with the glossier but no less perverse Serial Mom. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

What more do you need?.......2007-06-17

Being written and directed by John Waters and Johnny Depp not playing a gay drunken pirate is all this movie needs to be good. Add the fact that Cry Baby is an original version of the cliched movies that have the same plot as Grease. John Waters is a modern day critic of American society and his movies add comedy to the criticism. All his movies are classics and Cry Baby is no different.

The DVD features Commetary by John Waters, deleted scenes, and "It Came From Baltimore" which is a behind the scenes Featurette. The price is good the movie is great, what is stopping you from buying this?

Brillant.......2007-06-13

Great movie. Really Enjoyable. Got my 15 year old cousin to watch it and she loved it. Great cast.

John Waters Best Movie! A Must Have For all Rockabilly's and Squares!.......2007-06-01

This movie holds a special place for me. The fact that my grandpa in the 50's lived in Baltimore and he was a Drape! That man had alot of wild stories. Drapes as John Waters talks about was a gang in Maryland and term used for juvenile delinquints. Suffice to say I often wonder if John and my grandpa ever crossed paths. In fact the character Crybaby is alot like my grandpa he was white trash, he'd been to juvie, he rode a motorcycle, had a leather jacket and a greasy ducktail. He used to swipe cars and get into fights. He also was a musician with band called Rich Rocket and the Automobiles. It was a Rockabilly band he did a song called "Shaking my Dice" a euphemism for you know what, after watching a film warning about the solo act him and his buddies came up with this song as a joke. My Grandpa said they did a 45, the flip was a cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" they pressed copies only for the band and after he died I looked all through the attic to find it to no avail I was pretty pissed and sad. His stories and bravado made me want to be a Drape and Rockabilly greaser.
Your probably wondering what this has to do with the movie. Alot, when I was a kid me and my grandpa watched this movie in theatres. He snuck me past my parents who wouldn't let me ever set eyes on a John Waters film. I had a good time and so did my grandpa. He thought the movie vulgar and little stupid because he had become a born again Christian but overall I saw that gleam in his eyes and he said it brought back memories. This movie is hilarious and some of the music in this film is really hokey and corny. The Rockabilly stuff is pretty good since Rockabilly veterans Dave Alvin and James Intveld worked on those numbers. Its pretty surreal and crazy overall it is a mind trip and a delightful one. My grandpa if he was alive would recommend this movie. The DVD has interviews with John Waters, the cast and crew. Waters talks in length about the real Drapes which I found interesting and there is commentary. Some of the musical numbers could've been done a little better, but all in all as my grandfather said after leaving the theater with a smile on his face: "Swell, pretty swell."

can't recommend a purchase.......2007-05-24

Even though Cry Baby is an above-average comedy movie, the thing is, more often than not the storyline is more *silly* than it is actually funny. Johnny Depp's character was pretty good, but he wasn't as much of a bad guy or rebel as you'd believe. Just because he goes around driving a motorcycle and taking a few punches in the face doesn't mean he's a believable bad guy. His character was lacking in that area, in my opinion.

I also felt that the grandmother of his girlfriend (the GOOD girl who sings happy 50's-style rock tunes, instead of the more loud and outrageous Elvis Presley-like rockers intended for the troublemakers) wasn't entirely in character for the majority of the film. I mean, she tried so hard to flat out HATE teenagers who rebel against their parents to the point where she actually stood up to a crowd and mentions how she will not be brought down by them. But then, a short time later when Depp showed up to her granddaughter's musical thing in a motorcycle, for some reason the grandmother forgot that she was supposed to strongly dislike teens who rebel and didn't mind at all that her granddaughter opted to drive away with Depp. Strange.

The musical parts were okay, but most of them were 50's style rockers. You know how the music sounds. No need to elaborate on that.

A pretty decent movie with a few flaws in the way. Pick up some of Depp's other superior movies, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Secret Window.

"You got it baby, you got it raw.".......2007-05-24

Cry-Baby is a hilarious, campy musical that pokes fun at some classic musicals. The movie takes place in Baltimore and is named after its main character Wade Walker (Johnny Depp) who is nicknamed Cry-Baby because of the single tear he's able to shed at will. This unique ability and his devilish good looks drive the ladies wild. He even has Cry-Baby tattooed on his arm under Depp's real Cherokee chief head tattoo and scripted across the back of his leather jacket.

Cry-Baby is a drape, a leather wearing, motor cycling bad boy who hangs with a bunch of other drapes made of up of his pregnant sister Pepper (Ricki Lake), Hatchet-Face girl (Kim McGuire), Wanda Woodward (Traci Lords), and Milton Hackett (Darren E. Burrows); all delinquents in their own right.

One day one of the "square" girls takes notice of Cry-Baby. Allison (Amy Locane) decides she doesn't want to be so good anymore and encourages Cry-Baby's advances. Cry-Baby crashes a square party and takes Allison for a ride on his bike back to the drapes hang-out where his troupe gives her a makeover reminiscent of Sandy in Grease. They sing a duet together and there's a memorable make out scene with everyone wet French-kissing. Cry-Baby teaches Allison the basics of how to French Kiss ("Kiss Me, kiss me hard") which was both sexy and pee your pants funny. Everyone is interrupted when Allison's jilted boyfriend and his gaggle of goons pay a visit and set Cry-Baby's motorcycle on fire. A fight breaks out, the police show up and Cry-Baby is arrested and sent to a detention center until he's 21. There are some songbirds singing in jail reminiscent of Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock but perhaps less choreographed. But bars, conniving girls and angry mothers can't separate Cry-Baby from his true love for long.

Acting wise it is really hard to judge. Everyone was over acting to make a point and these roles are really tongue-in-cheek. As far as I'm concerned this film proves Johnny Depp can do just about anything and still be sexy. Johnny already had a huge following with his success in 21 Jump Street. As for fat girl, Ricki Lake, this came after Babycakes and Hairspray which I think were better roles for her. It looks like she's sporting a pregnant breasts and tummy body suit for her role. I didn't notice any fat stereotypes. She already has two illegitimate kids and gets just as much make-out time as any of the other characters. Even the somewhat deformed Hatchet Face girl gets a lot of action. Special appearances by Willem Dafoe (Batman) as a mean guard and rock star Iggy Pop as Uncle Belvedere round off the cast.

Cry-Baby was written and directed by John Walters who is also the writer and director of the Hairspray musical. You really have to have an open mind for comedy to enjoy this film. I thought it was hilarious, going in with the perspective of not taking it seriously. There are a lot of great one-liners. Would it be on my favorite movie list? Probably not, but I'd watch it again and recommend seeing it at least once. Reviewed by M.E. Wood.

Average customer rating:

Benny and Joon
This is an absolutely wonderful movie!
fun and fluffy film
Happy! Wonderful love story of a brother for his sister
Delightful, Whimsical Comedy/Drama

Benny and Joon
Starring: Johnny Depp , Mary Stuart Masterson , Aidan Quinn , Julianne Moore , and Oliver Platt
Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000053VAZ
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Amazon.com

An oddball love story about a fey loner named Sam (Johnny Depp), who falls in love with the mentally unbalanced Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), who lives in the care of her protective brother Benny (Aidan Quinn). This 1993 story is hard to swallow, with its message that love can conquer a brand of mental illness that manifests itself in pyromania: Joon has a bad habit of going a bit around the bend and setting fires, but Sam's tender care apparently has the cure for what ails her. Still, if you want proof that Depp has significant chops as a physical comedian, give this film a try: He does note-perfect renditions of slapstick routines made famous by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Benny and Joon.......2007-06-14

Product arrived on time and was in very good condition

This is an absolutely wonderful movie!.......2007-05-31

Johnny Depp is a wonderful character actor, with such a wide range of ability. This is, hands down, the best movie he has ever made. I loved him as Capt. Jack Sparrow, and he was fantastic in The Secret Window, as well as his many other roles, but he is just phenomenal as Sam, a quirky young man who falls in love with a mentally ill young woman. He brought such warmth and humor to the role. I can't see anyone else playing sam.

fun and fluffy film.......2007-05-14

Taking a break from my usual fare of foreign films, mainly French and Japanese New Wave films, I decided to check out this film which I was familiar with because of the song "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Scottish band The Proclaimers. A number of my friends recommended me this film because of Depp's performance, but, for some reason or another, it never crossed my mind to actually watch the film until a student of mine gave me the film a couple of weeks ago.

The film follows the daily lives of Benny and his sister Joon. Benny spends most of his time either working as a mechanic or looking after his sister who, although a gifted artists, has a few mental issues such as hearing voices and lighting random things of fire. Benny is able to some relief from worrying about his sister when he is at work and she is being cared for by a housekeeper, but Joon normally runs off her new housekeeper very soon after she is hired. Because of these circumstances, Benny has to take her along to his poker games. On one such occasion, Joon plays cards with Benny's friends and because she loses, they must take Sam, one of the player's cousins home with them. Sam is a bit off himself, but unlike Joon, he rarely becomes frustrated and takes everything in stride. However, he, like Joon, also possesses an artistic gift. Whereas Joon devotes her energies to painting, Sam is a born actor and mimics the style of Buster Keaton. With his simplicity and gentleness, San eventually wins Joon's heart, but at what cost?

I have read a few reviews about this film and for the most part many disagree with the way Joon's mental instability was handled because it was never outwardly expressed what was wrong with her. Also, it is criticized that her mental instability was handled in a cute, fluffy way and that it does not truly come to the fore until a moment of "drama" is needed close to the end of the film. I really do not have much to say about this situation myself, but I believe Chechik handled it in a decent way. Joon is not insane. She does have issues, but she is able to cope with them for the most part. It seems to me that the film is more concerned with the families of those suffering from mental instability than the depiction of the instability itself. In a way, the film tries to humanize those who suffer such problems and show the viewer that there is more to them than their handicaps. This might be nothing more than hogwash, but it does make a light, comedic film a bit more thoughtful.

Happy! Wonderful love story of a brother for his sister.......2007-05-14

What a great film this is! The acting is superb and the story line believeable, interesting and fun. A great love story of a brother for his sister, and then to let her go when she finds a hansome fun character who idolizes Buster Keeton. They fall in love and live a life of deep caring and fullfillment in a way not thought possible in the beginning of the film. The music is great too.

Delightful, Whimsical Comedy/Drama.......2007-05-08

"Benny and Joon" is a great film for fans of romantic comedy looking for something different. This movie is different. Very different.

Benny is a car mechanic who has been looking after his mentally ill sister Joon since their parents died. Benny has tried hiring housekeepers to look after Joon, but they all quit in frustration. Benny cannot bring himself to start a relationship, for fear of how Joon will take it, though the viewer gets the impression that he may be using his sister as a crutch to avoid a relationship. Anyway, during a high-stakes poker game between Joon and some of Benny's friends, she loses, with the stakes being that the eccentric Sam must live with them. As it turns out, Sam, with Keaton-esque antics and eccentric nature, is just the housekeeper that Joon has been looking for, and they fall in love.

Don't be expecting a realistic solution to mental illness, because it's not here. Furthermore, I thought that the resolution of the rifts between Benny and his love interest and Sam & Joon was a little too easy. Nonetheless, the movie feels like a fairy tale, and if you just sit back and allow yourself to enjoy it, it's definitely worthwhile.

Average customer rating:

Great film, interesting commentary
Quirky love story with panache
Terrible!
Heartwarming
Probably the best movie I've seen in the last year...

Garden State
Starring: Zach Braff , Christopher Carley , Amy Ferguson , Jill Flint , and Gary Gilbert
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

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ASIN: B00005JNC2
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Product Description

Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers an Oscar®-worthy performance (CBS-TV Chicago) opposite a wacky and endearing (Newsweek) Natalie Portman in this quirky, coming-of-age comedy. Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew Large Largeman (Braff) hasn t been home to New Jersey in nine years. Now, as Large attempts to re-connect with a variety of odd acquaintances including his father he decides to risk getting high on the most potent and unpredictable drug there is life! Co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, Garden State is marvelous fun (Rolling Stone)

System Requirements:

Running Time 103 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Zach Braff (from the TV show Scrubs) stars in his writing/directing debut, Garden State--normally a doomed act of hubris, but Braff pulls it off with unassuming charm. An emotionally numb actor in L.A., Andrew (Braff) comes back to New Jersey after nine years away for his mother's funeral. Andrew avoids his bitter father (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and joins old friends (including the superb Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry) in a round of parties. Along the way he meets a girl (Natalie Portman, Beautiful Girls) with demons of her own; bit by bit the two offer each other a little healing. Plotwise, Garden State is familiar stuff, a cross between The Graduate and a Meg Ryan movie, but Braff has an eye for goofy but resonant visual images, an ear for lively dialogue, and a great cast. The result is surprisingly fresh and funny. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Great film, interesting commentary.......2007-07-02

In addition to enjoying this film immensely, one of the things I like about DVDs is the addition of commentary. On this DVD, I found it interesting to learn how Director Zach Braff used different brands of film (Kodak or Fuji) in different homes to get a "cooler" or "warmer" feel. Little details like that make the picture even more enjoyable on repeated viewings.

Quirky love story with panache.......2007-06-06

This is a triumph for Zach Braff who directed, wrote, and also stars as Andrew Largeman who finds that love beats the holy heck out of lithium and assorted drugs bizarrely prescribed by his unfeeling father who just happens to be a shrink. Ladies and gentleman never let your father be your shrink.

I was quite taken with Natalie Portman who plays Sam who turns out to be Large's true love, and such a kinky, quirky, beautiful true love she is. Portman eschews beauty in every scene but manages to be cute and sweet and very emotionally evolved, which I liked. She is of course beautiful and brilliant as everybody knows, but here she tries something different. She strives to be ordinary and slight but with great emotive power. Nice performance.

The sound