Other Brother

Starring:Andre B. Blake, Carmen De Lavallade, O.L. Duke, Regina Hall, Ebony Jo-Ann, Gerald Kelly, Tangi Miller, Michele Morgan (II), Mekhi Phifer, Sandra Prosper, Collette Wilson
Studio: Xenon
Product Type: DVD

Description

Like most 12-year-olds, Niles and Holland like to get into mischief. The only problem is when Holland gets into mischief, people have a funny way of "accidentally" dying. Niles knows that Holland is responsible for all the gruesome accidents happening in the neighborhood - the pitchfork hidden in the hay, the severed finger in the box, the baby in the wine barrel. He knows but dare not tell anyone, not even his beloved grandmother Ada (Uta Hagen), that Holland is the evil twin¿or is he?

Customer Reviews:

Creepy psychological horror.......2007-06-27

The Other is a classic horror story that is pure psychological terror. It is slowly paced, but this is necessary for the character & plot development. The story is set in rural Connecticut in the 1940s, and revolves around the Perry clan...the central characters are the young Perry twins, 11-year old Hammond and Niles Perry who frolic in the sun and enjoy games as boys do, but there is more to it than that, of course. Amidst this idyllic setting, a series of family tragedies takes place...the Perry's father has died of an accident, the mother is rendered an invalid due to some sort of mental breakdown, and there are more tragedies to follow. The only adult that seems to have an inkling of what's going on is Uta Hagen's grandmother character, who teaches Niles 'the game' which reveals darker undertones as the story moves along...we see a golden-haired boy who seems harmless enough on the surface but as time progresses, something darker is revealed, leaving us reeling when the truth is revealed [though it doesn't take too long for the viewer to deduce what is actually unfolding here]. Is it a case of evil vs good twin, split personality or unnatural forces at work? Not to give too much away, let's just say that this movie is a first-rate psychological horror movie that has moments that will give you the creeps. The actor who plays Niles Perry does an excellent job of portraying a tormented soul, and Uta Hagen is wonderful as the all-seeing grandmother that is torn between her love for her grandson and the need to put a stop to the horrors unfolding around her. This is a must-see for fans of atmospheric horror with a psychological twist.

Not for the faint of heart!!.......2007-06-23

Not your typical kind of horror movie. This isn't a slasher or gore type of horror movie, but a psycholigical horror movie. The movie gives that 'warm and sunny' feeling like some stories start out as, but as the movie unravels everything begins to turn grey, dark and depressing. Everything isn't as it seems and as the plot thickens you are surprised with a twist.

I'm going to try not to spoil the plot for you, but I urge you not to watch this in the dark or alone. If you are into being scared or psychologically sickened then this is the movie for you. I only gave this movie three stars because the end still makes me sick to my stomach.

Beautiful Horror Film.......2007-04-01

You can tell this film was made by Robert Mulligan. Dripping with atmosphere and timelessness, remember To Kill A Mockingbird. Many people of the younger set will not get the slow pacing and realism. The horror films of today rely very little on actual character development and storyline. They want their blood and they want it now. This film is scary because it never lets go of its innocent eeriness. These two boys? Is he a ghost,is he a psychopath with a split personality? What is this magical power? Is it just a game of imagination or can he become something other? I love this film because of the genuine creepiness.Far superior to The Sixth Sense or even in my mind Psycho. This is what true horror is about, the everyday psychological mystery. Stephen King has yet to write such a work, The Dead Zone comes the closest. This film had an impact similar to Black Christmas and Repulsion but more realistic in tone. In the end, I still am not sure what brother was evil to begin with.

Melo, incredible melo.......2007-02-13

I don't remember this movie (1972) but the theme of Satanic boy (or girl !) is a little "démodé" in your days of innocence lost, but...a good story a little too slow (boring?)....

Don't Read Back of DVD --It's a Spoiler!.......2007-01-12

I generally like this film for its errie atmospheric direction and plot twists, but the pacing is way off. It absolutely drags too much in the first half even though it is laying the foundation for what is to come later. I did find the ending to be predicatable, but, nevertheless, haunting. This is a very odd film and it won't appeal to everyone and that's why you will notice mostly 1 or 2 stars vs. 4 or 5 stars. It's a love it or hate kind of film.

I liked it has I like most slower moving chillers that build suspense and are character-driven like "The Sixth Sense", "The Others" (with Nicole Kidman), and "Burnt Offerings", but this movie moved slower than it needed to. I still gave it three stars as the acting is very convincing by all, especially Uta Hagen and Diana Muldaur whom I've always loved as an actress. She is one classy woman who never got the recognition she really deserved. Most might know her today from her time on "LA Law."

In any event, just remember that inspite of all the reviews here either way (thumbs up or down), this film is a bit odd and not to everyone's liking.

Caillou: Big Brother Caillou & Other Adventures

Average customer rating:

Caillou: Big Brother Caillou & Other Adventures
Starring: Caillou
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Caillou - Caillou's Train Trip & Other Adventures
Caillou - Caillou, The Everyday Hero
Caillou - Caillou's Family Fun
Caillou - Caillou the Creative
Caillou - Caillou's World of Wonder

ASIN: B000BITU4I
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Average customer rating:

The Vertical Ray of the Sun
Beautiful: Lucid Sensual Dream
Human relations and amazing photography
A study in the CALMNESS in Buddhist cultures
"It's Tranquility I Look For In A Photograph" ~ It's All About The Visuals

The Vertical Ray of the Sun
Starring: Tran Nu Yên-Khê , Nhu Quynh Nguyen , Le Khanh , Quang Hai Ngo , and Chu Hung
Director: Anh Hung Tran
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Cyclo
Buffalo Boy
The Scent of Green Papaya
Three Seasons
The Dreamlife of Angels

ASIN: B00005RDRJ
Release Date: 2001-12-18

Amazon.com

The lush, super-chic ambience of Tran Anh Hung's third feature, The Vertical Ray of the Sun, presents a beckoning, irresistible vision of Vietnam. The film opens with a sexy brother and sister waking up to the sound of Lou Reed's laconic voice on the stereo. They stretch, practice tai chi, meander toward a late breakfast, and playfully flirt with each other. This morning ritual--slightly disturbing but mostly alluring--recurs as a quietly resistant motif to the disappointment that awaits each character introduced. Shot on location in an impossibly hued Hanoi (lime green and chartreuse abound), the film trails after three beautiful sisters during the month that separates the anniversaries of the deaths of their mother and father. Attempting to protect the ideal memory of their parents' recently assailed love, the sisters recount kindnesses and joke with each other just as the serene charm of the café they run is to be overturned by an unexpected pregnancy and marital infidelities. Tran's lustrous style of collage is unique, pulling the viewer's attention away from imminent conflict and revelation to completely tactile and isolated moments. As with the titular subject of Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes," the sensual tension lingers on. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews:

The Vertical Ray of the Sun.......2007-03-26

This is one of the most cinematographically beautiful films I've seen. The shots along Halong Bay and within Hanoi are stunning and the lyrical beauty of the opening scenes, with the Velvet Underground's Pale Blue Eyes as the accompanying music, is second to none. The plot moves well and sustains the viewer's interest as it tracks the lives of three sisiters and their brother in contemporary Hanoi. Sensational.

Beautiful: Lucid Sensual Dream.......2007-01-03

This is one of my favoritest movies. The cinematography in this film is visually eloquent, to say the least. The story unfolds hypnotically; its charisma expressed through rhythmic allegory. Simply BeatyFull. Plus, a soundtrack that features Lou Reed and eccentric passionate love scenes.
It is not for those looking for a straightforward climax of sensory overload as we are accustomed to in Holywood theaters. However, it is a nice glimpse at another culture...It makes me wanna go to vietnam and wake up. Maybe go for a bike-ride in the rain. ;P

Human relations and amazing photography .......2006-08-06

A wonderful film by master director Tran Anh Hung who gave us a series of equally well directed productions.
This film is all about human relations blend with wonderful music and exceptional photography.
The actors took up their roles in a balanced way with each one able to show his/her best while at the same time to complement each other in a harmony of acting.
The music is spectacular combining well-chosen western music and Vietnamese.
It is of a particular importance to notice the sound of this film. Background sounds and effects strengthened by spending photography make the viewer to feel the heat of the tropics, the rain and humidity and the coolness of the garden.
But the most important aspect is the human relation, all presented for what they are in real life. While able to strengthen the virtues of fidelity does not condemn infidelity, while praising family ties and values does not shy away from questioning believes.
The photography is superb with the director of photography able to capture the sun, the bright areas and combine them perfectly with shades.
The contrast of the clean spotless dresses in bright colours with the run down walls of a city in the tropics is something one can notice and appreciate.
The collection of small details of the daily life that could have gone unnoticed become through the photography part of the beauty of this film.
The music is acting also as a tool of symbolism and one must pay attention to the beautiful group singing.

A study in the CALMNESS in Buddhist cultures.......2006-01-15

AS a visual artist who spends alot of time in Asian countries, I find this movie very moving...first, the visuals, the orderly square and rectangular compositions, the colours, and the editing, all adding up to catching SO WELL the clamness inherent in Buddhist cultures, (of which there are not as many as most believe).
Amazon accurately delineates what the film is all about. There are surprises,,,hearing Lou Reed, discovering a house in the water of an area considered one ot the most beautiful natural places in the world, not a prostitute to be found, (unlike in the director's earlier movie "Cyclo"), or farmers in straw hats. Just briefly following the lives of 3 male contemporay artistic professionals: an actor, a photographer and a writer, and the five women very much involved in their lives, but it is really more about the three sisters of the 5 women involved.

NOW the important stuff: I viewed this DVD on high end equipment.
Although anamorphic, with this DVD, inorder to read the second line of subtitles when a second line appears, you have to view the movie with the "normal" aspect set on a widescreen t.v., resulting in a much smaller image. Is this bad? No, it is GOOD. This is a very beautiful filmed movie. Here the subtitles are NOT overlayed on top of the image, which is GREAT. So just sit closer. I pity any viewer seeing a pan and scan version of this movie on cable t.v. and thinking they actually viewed this movie. Highly recommend for a terrific character study of three sisters, and the men in their lives, and a perfect tone poem of the calmness that pervails all the characters' lives.

"It's Tranquility I Look For In A Photograph" ~ It's All About The Visuals.......2005-11-21

Note: Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Director Anh Hung Tran's has followed up his academy award nominated masterpiece, 'The Scent Of Green Papaya' and 'Cyclo' with yet another cinematically lush and textured film which relies more on its visual appeal than substance of storyline. Also returning for her third appearance in an Anh Hung Tran film is the exotic and lovely Tran Nu Yen-Khe in the role of Lien, the youngest of three sisters and a brother.

Another gently flowing, beautifully filmed tapestry of color and form weaved seamlessly together in a surreal, sensual tale of Vietnamese siblings, their spouses and families. All seems happy and carefree in the beginning as you view them together planning a ceremonial dinner honoring the birthday of their deceased Mother. They harmoniously interact during both the preparation and celebration of the meal, giving every indication that all is well. However some are secretly harboring personal secrets concerning where they go and what they do when alone. Secrets that exposed would bring turmoil and disruption into their peaceful existence.

Like Anh Hung Tran's previous endeavors you go into the film knowing that it's going to be first and foremost about the visuals. Accepting that premise you will find 'The Vertical Ray of the Sun' a rewarding experience. If however you are more concerned with storyline you should look elsewhere.

Average customer rating:

Electra
"The death of a king is never simple"
Cacoyanis one of the giants directors in any age
those who live greatly ......
Powerful drama

Electra
Starring: Irene Papas , Yannis Fertis , Aleka Katselli , Notis Peryalis , and Manos Katrakis
Director: Michael Cacoyannis
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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Antigone
The Trojan Women
Oedipus Rex (1957)
Antigone (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Medea

ASIN: B00005UJY8
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Description

From "one of the world's most talented filmmakers" (Los Angeles Times) comes this riveting, OscarÂ(r)-nominated* retelling of Euripides' searing classic. Written, produced and directedby Michael Cacoyannis (Stella, Zorba the Greek), and starring legendary Greek beauty Irene Papas (The Trojan Women), Electra is "majestic and awesome" (The New York Times)"a truly powerful and visually impressive picture" (Boxoffice). Desolationand despair reign supreme in the kingdom of Mycenae: The great Agamemnon has been brutally murdered; his son, Orestes, has fled to an unknown land; and his daughter Electra has been imprisoned withinthe very walls of the castle she once loved so well. All hope seems lost until the sacred oracle speaks and replaces Electra's broken spirit with an unquenchable desire for justiceand bloody vengeance! *1962: Foreign Language Film

Customer Reviews:

Electra.......2005-08-11

Bitterness in ancient Greece. If you go for Greek tragedy you'll enjoy this. Agamemnon returns home to Mycenae, is murdered by his wife and her lover, and his daughter Elektra schemes revenge. The real Mycenae stands in for itself and the acting is top-notch. Regarding this DVD: beware of using the dubbed English track - the voices don't always say what they should at certain points. Also, the great Irene Papas' powerful voice is "girlie-fied" by whoever dubbed her. Stick to the original Greek track and access the English subtitles instead. The film is in 16:9 format but is not anamorphic. This is not a problem due to the excellent b & w transfer, and no serious graininess is introduced when it is vertically expanded to fit your widescreen TV screen. Recommended.

"The death of a king is never simple".......2004-08-04

I came to view this film the long way around. I have watched the Richard Straus Opera "Elektra" in which there are people of the same name but different spelling than the film. In the play Elektra the eldest daughter is upset because her mother Klytämnestra and her mother's lover Aegisth killed her father the king, Agamemnon. She calls on her father's spirit, and vows vengeance. Her younger sister Chrysothemis tries to talk her out of it. Her mother comes to here drugged and sleepless asking Elektra what can be done to make amends so her nightmares will end. Elektra tells her that the blood of an impure woman must be shed. Later Elektra is told that her brother, Orest is dead so she tells her sister that she must help kill the mother and lover. Orest turns up alive and is coaxed into killing first Klytämnestra and then Aegisth. So much emotional hate and joy is released that Elektra dances until she falls dead.

Then there are several translations of the play by Sophocles 410 BC.

Now we come to the interpretation for this 1962 film play directed by Michael Cacoyannis of "Zorba the Greek" fame. The film takes 113 minutes; Approximately 15 minutes of dialog, 30 minutes of mime to cut out the bulk of the dialog from the play, and the rest filler of people milling around. I do not mean to sound trite but be prepared for long moments where we have to listen to an off key string instrument or a bunch of horns th keep us focused of where the action should be. There is a moving song and a chorus that speaks out now and them. The set is the Greek landscape with a few structures. It is shot in black and white. This is saved by exceptional acting.

There is a touching scene where Agamemmnon retunes to great his wife and children. Then we watch as Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus net in Agamemmnon for the kill. Orestes gets led out to a foreign land and Electra is under house arrest until she grows up. She cuts off her hair in protest and is married off to an innocuous peasant. Will she ever get revenge? And is Orestes even alive? What ho, strangers approach.

This is a tale of "...A family so noble and so damned at the same time."

To get a different take on the story you can read "Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life" by Thomas Moore, where he tells the story a little different in depicting the role of becoming a mother.

The media itself is a DVD with options of Greek: Mono, English: Mono or French: mono. Then the option also of English, French and Spanish Language Subtitles. The singing is done in Greek only but you can use English subtitles to tell what they are singing. There are no pamphlets with this package.

Cacoyanis one of the giants directors in any age.......2004-05-27

Irene Papas as Elektra gives probably her finest perfomance ever. Cacoyanis made an exceptional translating process with this drama from Euripides.
The fundamental atmosphere of the female chorus and all the haunting drama hidden about the revenge to make justice is told
brilliantly.
Cacoyanis shows us why he was blessed by the Gods .
Acquire this superb masterpiece.

those who live greatly .............2003-12-08

must greatly suffer - something along that line - but that quote belongs to the Sophocles version - this one's a little more method - although slightly too emotional [but then - there goes ther movie and the performances!] Always bearing in mind that these great works were written as rituals - not as .... entertainment. [This version is slightly too close to the kitchen sink - smatters of that great Juliette Greco vehicle "The Crack in the Mirror"].

BUT for what this version is worth IRENE PAPAS is spectacular as the misbegotten daughter seeking revenge - choreography of the chorus is superb as is the bleak, bleak cinematography.

Perfect and no doubt authentically researched costume design.

Powerful drama.......2003-09-16

Interesting that this 1962 film's director, Michael Cacoyannis, also directed Zorba the Greek and that the latter film also starred Irene Papas who plays the title character in Electra. It easily demonstrates Cacoyannis' artistry as a director, for in this film, he does a masterful job of interpreting the Euripides drama.

Filmed naturalistically in Greek settings, Electra does not disappoint. The great hero and king Agamemmnon is brutally murdered near the beginning of the story by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. Electra and her brother Orestes, children of the royal couple, are both thrown out of their palatial home--Orestes is exiled, and Electra forced to marry a commoner and live in a hovel.

The term "Electra Complex" refers to a daughter's unnatural love for her father and while this is not overtly portrayed here, the hints are certainly in place. Even when her mother tells Electra of the king's infidelities the daughter defends him, citing the queen's own as proof of the latter's treachery.

Electra and Orestes take revenge on the couple who have killed their father--not without great remorse.

Cacoyannis' skill is demonstrated in his choice to film this work in black and white, accentuating the starkness of the tale, which contains numerous stretches of silence, an effective Greek chorus of village women (all clothed similarly in black), and an equally effective score by the great Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis who also composed the music for Zorba the Greek. The story is pure drama--the emotional elements are laid bare in the stripped to the bone dialogue that wastes no words.

The cinematography as well emphasizes the basic elements of earth and sky; black and white has seldom been used as well in a drama as it is here. Earth is the land of man where we live and die; sky is the land of the gods to whom we appeal for everything we want that we don't have. And whether or not we get what we want--who can say?

Customer Reviews:

The Gay Philippines.......2007-02-03

"Midnight Dancers"

The Gay Philippines

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Gay life in the Philippines is very different from here in America. It is erotically charged (not to say that we aren't). In the movie "Midnight Dancers" you get a glimpse of the gay world of the Philippines as seen through the story of three brothers who work as erotic dancers and prostitutes) in a gay bar in Manila. We see the emotions, the values, and the quest for survival of these three guys. Not really a documentary, not really a made up story, the film is a combination of the two.
Sonny, the youngest of the three, comes home from his studies at the university, looking for work. What happens is that because of the shortage of jobs, he is eventually forced to join his two older brothers in the back rooms and on the stage of the Manila gay club scene and learn the family profession. Joel, 23, has been working there for several years and wants to quit so that he can spend more time with his wife and... his young gay lover. The other brother, Dennis is a member of a street gang and lives on the street. The three find their world running away from them and they soon are on the run from the law. As they are faced with the harsh realities of life--pimps, crooked law enforcement, murderous gang leaders and jealous lovers, they realize that there has to be something better than the way they were living.
Because of its violent nature and hard look at the "deviant" scene of Manila, the movie was banned by the government of the Philippines. It was deemed to be "immoral, exploitative, and obscene".
On the surface the movie is about call boys, macho dancers, pimps, drag queens, closet queens, b-drinkers, drugs and manipulation and exploitation. Yet beyond the dark and sleazy scenes of life in Manila is a love story that goes beyond gender and class and love and piety. It is only through the strength of the family that Sonny manages to survive. Sonny being as a commodity to be used by men combines with his struggle to protect his family while he searches for intimacy. The movie gives a sordid picture of exploitation in a society that is developing daily and where sexual roles are made unclear by the attempt to survive. Sexuality, eroticism, and choreography unite with violence from the streets to give us a family tragedy shown in docu-drama style.
The backdrop of the film is a series of interwoven characters and we are brought face to face with issues of AIDS, transsexualism, prostitution, drug usage, poverty and familial devotion.
The movie was filmed in the bars of and on the streets in Manila giving it a sense of realism- a realism that is hard. As Sonny reflects, near the end of the movie, on the spiritual coast of selling one's body to strangers, we see the desolation that the young men feel. But the movie shows not only what is lost but also what is gained. Through prostitution the boys are able to keep their family together and prevent it from starving. The money is easy and they are "stars". Even though they consider themselves to be straight, they are objects of scorn in their neighborhood. What they seem to lose is a realistic and healthy perspective on their place in the world. Their mother tolerates their profession because it pays the bills,
The movie combines gay sexuality with social criticism as it dramatizes the lives of the lower class boys who dance in gay clubs and turn tricks on the side. We see both social politics and social history in the film and the story is gripping. As sexy as the film is, there are no scenes of intercourse and the nudity that you see is not complete.
The actors are all new to movies but they deliver fine performances. The camera caresses the boys in the film and they appear as handsome with their almost nude bodies. Beneath the gritty realism and blasé view of sex for cash, there is a sentimental family drama. The brothers are loyal to each other and the movie has a big heart and the vision that it gives is an important one.

Intense, moving experience.........2003-06-17

This film is not a typical Gay & Lesbian-themed film. There are predominant Gay themes in this story, which are treated with dignity and sensitivity. As well, there are some sexually explicit parts and some poorly choreographed violence. Ultimately though, this is a story about survival where people have to look out for their survival and their families by themselves, while they struggle with the unforgiving, decieving reality in which they are trapped. The main theme doesn't use the issue of sexuality as the sole, main backdrop.

Having Filipino background certainly helped in understanding the cultural influences and the dynamics in this film. Main examples are shown in the characters' obligation to family, some of the unorthodox ideas of sexuality and the common cultural clashes between one's common values and survival.. While it's portrayals shouldn't be generalized towards the Filipino culture as a whole, the overall depiction is equal parts honest, disturbing and moving.. and also as one reviewer previously mentioned; ultimately depressing..

With that said, this film is not for everyone. The subtitling is a little bit incomplete in parts, the pacing is a little bit slow and and the Filipino themes may evade some people. If you can get past that, you may find it to be an intense, worthwhile experience..

Depressing Exotica........2002-03-03

It's erotic, it's sexual, it's violent and ultimately depressing.

It's the classic tale of prostitution stealing one's soul in the end--Filipeno style. Three brothers choose to work in a gay bar as male prostitues. They find this is the best way to make a quick buck. Everyone in the family knows about it.
Mom , dad, one of the boy's is married with a wife and kid and she knows about it. And she is fine. She even meets his male lover with open arms. How amazingly accepting to their circumstances.

There is a lot of heartbreak in this movie. The actress playing the mother is wonderful and your heart goes out to her. Much more said would give to much away.

There is a great display of Asian Beefcake-- but since the message is one of prostitution ruining one's life and soul --the erotica goes out the window. Still an interesting honest portrayal of desperate people and male prostitution in the Phillipines.

NEVER SEEN ANY FILIPINO MOVIE LIKE THIS BEFORE!.......2001-07-21

Wow! I would like to thanks first the person ( my friend ) who gave me this movie as a birthday gift. I don't really cares about watching this kind of movie but one day I don't have anything to do at home being alone so I played the movie (DVD) and watched it. I like this movie especially the actor's did a good job even I don't understand the words or the language at least a subtittle movie. I wish I can find more movie like this and I heard that they have more filipino movies made the same but different story. Thank you! Buy this movie very interesting.

An honest film. Marvelous.......2001-03-09

This film is honest to goodness depiction of real life situation of gay men in Philippines. The actors are somewhat handsome although these are just the average actors that are not really famous in their country.

Average customer rating:

Black humour at it's best
very funny movie
What a great treat in the movie theater.

In China They Eat Dogs
Starring: Line Kruse , Kim Bodnia , Nikolaj Kaas , Trine Dyrholm , and Tomas Villum Jensen
Director: Lasse Spang Olsen
Manufacturer: TLA Releasing
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Old Men in New Cars
The Green Butchers
Flickering Lights (Blinkende Lygter)
Pusher Trilogy
The Celebration

ASIN: B0007R4TM6
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Description

The first ever-Danish black comedy gangster film. A rip-roaring tall story packed with armed robbery, explosives and sudden death, all perpetrated with the best intentions because the film is about all the disasters a guy unleashes when he is determined to help other people. Arvid (Dejan Cukic) and Harald (Kim Bodnia) are brothers. But there the resemblance ends. Arvid is a quiet bank clerk. Harald is a tough crook. Arvid is the hero of the day when he thwarts a bank robber but by doing so he discovers that he has tampered with somebody elses destiny.

Customer Reviews:

Black humour at it's best.......2007-01-10

Wonderfully absurd black comedy with a great ending. Fantastic premise for a comedy: no matter what you do in life, it's ok as long as you meant well.

very funny movie.......2006-08-18

as a danish girl i heard about the movie from my brother who lives in denmark. i ordered it and was hooked.. i just LOVE this movie, its funny and crazy.
it has the typical scandinavian humor in it, but i think most people will understand it though.

i can only recommend people to buy or rent this movie, its great, refreshing, funny, no, not funny, hysterical!!

the only thing i dont like is the translation, i believe that its almost impossible to translate the humor into another language. but this is a problem many movies have, not only this one...

What a great treat in the movie theater........2005-09-13

I caught this film at the Nuart theater a fews years back. What a fun and entertaining film. Very nice to see a good foreign film. Rather than a rehash of boring themes.

Average customer rating:

Abandonment and search!
Abouna
Africa of the Heart Shown in "Our Father"

Abouna
Starring: Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa , Hamza Moctar Aguid , Zara Haroun , Mounira Khalil , and Hassan Boulama
Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
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Madame Brouette
Black Girl / Borom Sarret
Xala
Life on Earth
Tsotsi

ASIN: B0007XT7OU
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Description

Eight-year-old Amine and fifteen-year-old Tahir's world is shattered when they awake one morning to find that their father has deserted them and their mother. The brothers leave their poor Chad village and head for the Cameroon border to begin their journey in search of him. Soon after, they are stunned to see what they believe to be an image of their father onscreen at a local movie house. After getting caught for stealing the reel of film, their weary mother sends them away to a Koran school to learn discipline. All the while, Amine and Tahir are determined to escape and continue their search in this devastatingly powerful, magnificently photographed drama from director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. A triumphant follow-up to his international award-winning Bye Bye Africa, the New York Times praises,"Poignant though it is, [Abouna] is the opposite of depressing. There is too much life in it."

Customer Reviews:

Abandonment and search!.......2006-10-06

This is a quite film with beautiful landscape and about people and a culture we don't know much about and filmed in Africa, the city of N'Djamena. Moreso than the theme of abandonment is the director Mahamat Saleh Haroun's importance to bring these images to the screen as he has said, "Otherwise we have a colonization by images." According to the interview extra in the DVD, it was very difficult, with no electricity at times, no official actors in the area, and sending the footage 2600 miles to Paris for processing and then to determine if it was ok to continue.

This is a story of two young boys Amine, 8, and his brother Tahir, 15, who suddenly discover that their father is not at home to coach a game. With no help from their mother, a bitter woman who speaks ill of him, they embark on a journey to understand why he left and to find him.

We don't find out what occurred in the marriage that he felt compelled to leave, but you get the sense it is not unusual in their society to be fatherless since it has endured years of civil war.

During that journey, they find out that their father hasn't worked for two years at the place they believed him to go each day. They soon recognize him in a movie at the theatre and they plan to steal the film from the projector room. Then, they get in trouble, are sent away by their mother, and asthmatic Amine becomes ill.

This is the director's second film, the language also includes French. (2002). There are two short films included which are quite ....interesting???......MzRizz

Abouna.......2006-08-28

I enjoyed this film a great deal. The setting is Chad, I believe. Some place in Africa where they apparently speak a mixture of Arabic and French. The title translates as "Our Father." It's about two boys whose father goes away quite early in the film. They have a mother, but she's mostly a background figure. Quite memorable, though.

2002, subtitles but you don't care because dialogue is minimal. Gorgeous scenery, wonderful colors, not big budget but neither is it one of those shoestring jobs I've been reviewing a lot lately. Great, great story. Fantastic acting, wonderful characters, moving without being overdone, a bit of clever wit, and just an all-around damn fine movie.

Africa of the Heart Shown in "Our Father".......2006-07-06

"Abouna" (translated "Our Father") is, quite simply, an elegant movie in the same way Africa is elegant. Director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun hews to the essentials of visual story-telling to give us a deep sense of the lives of these two boys, 8 and 15, and the place in which they live. The film is in Chad Arabic with English subtitles.

The DVD also features an interview with director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun and two of his film Shorts--"Goi Goi", and "B 400." Phil Hall who writes for "Film Threat" and "Wired Magazine" provides liner notes. He remarks that "Abouna is a perfect film" and explains why. You wouldn't be cheated if you bought the DVD just for these extras.

In his interview (in French with English subtitles) Director Haroun (known for his internatioanl award-winning "Bye-Bye Africa") says that he seeks to keep Africa at the center of things, not at the side-lines. May he continue in this effort of bringing the humanity of Africa to the eyes of the developed world. Not exotic Africa. Not troubled, bleeding Africa. Just Africa of the heart. Just our hearts, beating together, across cultures and worlds.

--Janet Grace Riehl, author "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary"

Average customer rating:

Genesis (La Genèse)
Starring: Sotigui Kouyaté , Salif Keita , Balla Moussa Keita , Fatoumata Diawara , and Maimouna Hélène Diarra
Director: Cheick Oumar Sissoko
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Yeelen
Guimba the Tyrant
Hyenas
Mandabi
Black Girl / Borom Sarret

ASIN: B0000D0YWU
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Average customer rating:

Uneventful
Pretty good
Could have been so much better
The story of Hapless and Hopeless.
Great Movie

Other Brother
Starring: Andre B. Blake , Carmen De Lavallade , O.L. Duke , Regina Hall , and Ebony Jo-Ann
Manufacturer: Xenon
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006676F
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Description

Martin is a good guy whose luck with the women is all bad. Enter brother Junnie, the quintessential "player," who offers to teach Martin how to be a chick magnet, an offer Martin can't refuse.

Customer Reviews:

Uneventful.......2006-08-27

The box cover makes the film look more appealing than it really is. Each scene seems like there could have been more. Even when the director fades out then goes right bakc to the last scene he was filming seemed unprofessional. As a nerd Mekhi isn't bad. Again there could have been more to this, especially with the brother.

Pretty good.......2004-03-17

"The Other Brother" (2001)

The storyline was okay and there were even some funny moments in here. But Mekhi Phifer (Martin) isn't very convincing as a nerd and some of the cinematography leaves much to be desired. I even saw the boom mic in the shot when Martin and Paula went back to the park and saw their favorite artist. This film feels extremely straight-to-video. -EJR

Could have been so much better.......2002-12-30

It is the classic story of the nerd who can't get the girl of his dream. He is helped by a so called player (in this case his brother) and finally get the girl after showing her his true self.
The main drawback of his film is its absolute amateurism in his execution: the actors, the direction, the lighting, the costume, ... .
None of the actors are credible except Michele Morgan, but she play a small role as the hero's neighbour and best friend (she also happen to be his brother ex-girlfriend and from the alternate ending only serious love).
It should have been obvious to the director that Mekhi is not a great actor, but more importantly is not convincing at all as a nerd. He overacts like he is trying to convince him self: nerd are not necessarily hunch back, and they do not keep playing with their spectacles. He would be much better casted as his brother the player.
The actor casted as his brother Andre Blake, despite all his attempt does not look like a player, more like the goofy brother trying/pretending to be a player. I must admit that he is not helped by very bad suits. Suits do not need to be expensive to look good in movies, but it helps if they are the correct size and fit the actor properly. Everywhere at least in London UK, The Miami Vice looks is 'passé' in the 21 century. In my book, extra large suit on a skinny body just look stupid.
I am sure that in all the USA, they should be able to find two actors which are black, good looking and good comedians (Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Gary Dourdan (CSI, Trois, etc), Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Omar Epps, ...).
The direction is uninspired to be polite, some of the steadycam shots are even unsteady. The lighting is so bad especially in the bar scene, you would think they did not review the shots, did not have the money to reshoot or were just blind.
The worst example of that total amateurism is the massage scene where our hero wear a disgusting checked underpants and a tee-shirt. Make him take off his tops and wear some sexy silk pants. The direction and the lighting are so bad, that the scene does not look sexy at all. The music is too loud and does not merge with the picture, it just suddenly scream in your ears.
The shame is that with more realistic dialog and better work on the overall package, they could have had a very good romantic comedy.
If you want a good romantic comedy with african-american, you better with the classic "Boomerang" with Eddie Murphy and Robbin Givens on top of their game for comedy.

For more recent African-American romantic comedies made on a cheaper budget 'Love Jones', 'Love and Basket Ball', 'The Wood', 'The brothers', 'The best Man' have the same appeal story wise, but with the extra quality.
My overall rating, not bad but not good either and with a little more application and talent could have been very good.

The story of Hapless and Hopeless........2002-09-30

THE OTHER BROTHER centers around baby boy Martin Blaze (Hapless), a self-sufficent young man who can handle his business and his close friendship with his brother's ex-girlfriend, Ronnie. His downfall is his attempts to reconnect with the female population after catching his girlfriend having an affair. His style is a little too conservative, bending on a little rude. When he finds a connection with a woman, instead of addressing her, he stares. His courage comes in the form of older brother, Junnie (Hopeless). All that Martin lacks, Junnie has in spades. Confidence overflows with this guy, yet it's his lack of responsibility that makes him a very shallow man. Using his looks for his gain, he is not above sweet-talking the clerk at a dry cleaners to get his attire cleaned for free, and all the meaningless sex he can get by lying his [head] off. Both characters change when Martin meets his dream girl and Junnie hits rock bottom when his lazy ways catch up with him and start to wreck his life. A pretty good movie with an alternate ending that could have been added to the main feature, since it wouldn't have altered the tone of the movie at all.

Great Movie.......2002-07-22

A great movie that features an extended version of the ending and a great performance by Tangi Miller of Felicity.

Average customer rating:

SOUND OF SILENCE
I would give this 4 and a half

Other Voices
Starring: David Aaron Baker , Mary McCormack , Stockard Channing , Campbell Scott , and Michael Harris
Director: Dan McCormack
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008OSDT
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Customer Reviews:

SOUND OF SILENCE.......2005-03-23

Writer/director Dan McCormack's point is pretty obvious in OTHER VOICES. People don't really talk to one another; they don't listen to one another; they don't hear anything that doesn't directly affect them. From the married couple having marital problems to the shrink who pays little if any attention to her client; to all the people who grace this unusual independent film. The movie's pace is slow and methodical, and that would be okay if the end result was worth the wait. To me, it wasn't. David Aaron Baker tells his friend Campbell Scott that he is having an affair, and he also think his wife Mary McCormack is doing the same. Scott recommends the services of a French PI (an incredibly ineffective Peter Gallagher) who can "remedy" the situation with strong arm tactics carried out bny his goon Mink (Rick Aiello, Danny's brother in another ridiculous caricature). McCormack has a brother who for some inexplicable reason has Tourette's syndrome which offers nothing to the story whatsoever, except a chance for Northern Exposure's Rob Morrow to demonstrate his considerable talent in the only interesting performance in the movie. We spend three quarters of the movie wondering who the couple is having affairs with, and when we find out, it's like HELLO....WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON HERE. It's obvious McCormack is driving home his lack of communication point, with perhaps a tragic end result, which doesn't occur either. It's fluffy artistic nonsense. Baker is fairly effective; McCormack does a good job; Scott must like playing drunks (see LUSH, on second thought, DON'T see Lush, it's a real loser, too!). Stockard Channing is the psychiatrist and she should be ashamed of lending her considerable talents to this movie which ends up feeling like a movie done as a class assignment in BS Cinema. I hear OTHER VOICES than this one!!

I would give this 4 and a half.......2004-06-25

I was really surprised how well I liked this film. I liked how it showed how everyone has their own demons and sees what they want to see and hears what they want to hear. Its amazing how many people are on a different wavelength than what we think their on. It seems like time and work have become a twosome and everything is just running away from us. This film illustrates that with alot of cool visual images and a tight storyline. The movie contains quite a few really good pieces of character scenes with Campbell Scott leading the pack, as a unhappy drunk trying to get to his next drink. His friendship with the lead character is so offkey, he just can't understand or hear what his friend needs. He trys. His performance is really outstanding. Check out the scene where he starts laughing, its so real, I think he is such an underrated actor. Rob Morrow does a great job of acting out Tourette's Syndrome and integrating that into his role. The Frenchman also did a wonderful job, considering he is not a Frenchman. It was just an overall good movie. With tension and twists!
Lisa Nary

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