Grief

Starring:Arquette, Beat, Chester, Douglas
Studio: TLA Releasing
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This B movie with noble aspirations is the work of a gifted filmmaker whose storytelling falls short of his considerable stylistic flair. While addressing crises of faith in the framework of an alien-invasion thriller, M. Night Shyamalan (in his follow-up to The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable) favors atmospheric tension over explanatory plotting. He injects subtle humor into expertly spooky scenes, but the story suffers from too many lapses in logic. The film's faults are greatly compensated by the performance of Mel Gibson as a widower whose own crisis of faith coincides with the appearance of mysterious crop circles in his Pennsylvania cornfield... and hundreds of UFOs around the globe. With his brother (Joaquin Phoenix) and two young children (Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin), the lapsed minister perceives this phenomenal occurrence as a series of signs and portents, while Shyamalan pursues a spookfest with War of the Worlds overtones. It's effective to a point, but vaguely hollow at its core. --Jeff Shannon

Description

From M. Night Shyamalan, the writer/director of THE SIXTH SENSE and UNBREAKABLE, comes the story of the Hess family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who wake up one morning to find a 500-foot crop circle in their backyard. Graham Hess (Mel Gibson) and his family are told extraterrestrials are responsible for the sign in their field. They watch, with growing dread, the news of crop circles being found all over the world. SIGNS is the emotional story of one family on one farm as they encounter the terrifying last moments of life as the world is being invaded. "It's easy for a filmmaker to blow up the world -- but what Shyamalan does is much riskier. He tries to blow our minds. I was engaged by every inch of SIGNS." - Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper.

Customer Reviews:

Are you the type who sees signs?.......2007-06-18

Signs has much more to offer than Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds." In this reality, the world is populated with numerous signs seemingly hidden in plain sight.

Director M. Night Shyamalan divides people into two camps: The type who believes in miracles, sees signs; and those who think we just get lucky.

Shyamalan's carefully crafted universe has creatures that must resort to warring with other planets to survive... and there is us. Shyamalan's war pits technologically superior creatures against an unsuspecting world, and a shattered world occupied by a clergyman who questions his faith following the death of his wife. Shyamalan goes further than the Sixth Sense, the bone-chilling tale of a young boy ("I see dead people") haunted by ghosts who appear regularly in his life to enlist his help. In Signs, Shyamalan declares not only can we help the dead, the dead also help us.

Another way of putting it: There are no coincidences. From the son's asthma and the daughter's dreams to the brother's baseball prowess and the tragic instance in which a veterinarian's momentary lapse at the wheel claims a life. The plot is a masterpiece in misdirection. Signs opens to an aerial view of crop circles. More signs of the impending invasion appear as the story moves forward. But these are not the signs that we should be looking at. In the last reel, the dying wife who has but a moment to tell seems to be rambling. But it turns out, she was staring into the future, not her husband's eyes.

This movie says we are much more than we seem.

Mel Gibson's character, the grieving Rev. Graham Hess finds himself suddenly struggling to make sense of the many odd happenings at his farm. He already has isolated himself following his wife's death. Of course, his guard is up. But he finds himself awkwardly grasping to cling to his understanding of the new reality. He can dismiss the crop circles in his fields as mischief by pranksters. But, he soon can't deny the mounting evidence and nocturnal visits from unseen and unseeable intruders. Edgy, provocative and well-paced, Signs is a multilayered and intricately woven piece to try and digest in an afternoon at the theater.

I was first struck by Shyamalan's study of how his characters cope with the increasingly apparent threat. The no-nonsense son Morgan immediately seeks out a book and a curious and chilling element to this story, a baby monitor. The brother Merrill who has taken a room over the garage to help the family turns to the TV. The youngest, the girl who must be about kindergarten age, believes she is dreaming. It is the father, Graham, who is not coping well living in denial. But who can blame him?

"There is no one out there to help us. We're all alone," our resigned and frockless clergyman declares.

The final scenes are well-constructed to induce fear. Shyamalan masterfully pulls all the pieces together at the end. If you were impressed by Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, you will enjoy this offering... again and again.

An excellent film from theSci-Fi genre.......2007-06-13

This is one of those films that my wife dragged me kicking and screaming to see in the theater, but as has often been the case over our thirty-six year marriage, it turned out to be one that I would end up adding to my collection.

Normally, Science-Fiction films either bore me greatly, or scare me out of my wits, but this story is quite different. Not only is this a well-made, tense and exciting story of an attempted alien invasion of Earth, but it is also a very touching and actually inspirational story. Mel Gibson plays a former minister who totally lost his faith as the result of his wife's tragic death, but eventually finds it once again as a result of an exciting encounter with aliens. Beginning with the appearance of "crop circles" in his corn field, then in other locales around the world, followed soon by other strange "signs," Gibson finds himself trapped by the aliens in his home, with his two small children and his younger brother, played well by Joaquin Phoenix.

If you have not seen the film, do so. If you have not added it to your collection, do so. The climax alone is worth the purchase price, and it is surely a film you can watch with your children.

A wonderful surprise ending........2007-06-08

I just love this movie. I am a big M Night Shyamalan fan as well as a big Mel Gibson fan. This is one of my all time favorite films and the kind of film I can watch over and over again. As with all of the Shyamalan stories their is more going on than the main story and you don't find that out til the very end of the story and then everything make perfect sense to the veiwer. I will not spoil the ending here either. So get the movie and have a wonderful time.

Huh?.......2007-05-31

Not a film for everyone, aliens once again threaten the earth this time broadcasting their arrival through crop circles. I used to live in the area where this was filmed. It was nothing like this. The overpopulated Bucks County seems in this film to lie on the edge of nowhere with people terrified of crop circles of all things as if they had never seen or heard of one before. The setting and dialogue and general character reactions did not seem true even for a moment. This is not to denigrate a fine cast including an underrated Mel Gibson who is always a lot more talented and intelligent than people give him credit for. But the story did not make sense and those wimpy aliens... Grab a big stick and beat them with it and save the world. All the pieces are here. All that was needed was a coherent screenplay.

birthing tales while the aliens circle.......2007-04-19

The opening scenes of this mock-horror film, accompanied by the incessant cawing of crows, are terrifying, reminiscent of Mr Hitchcock's mastery.

Then comes the humor. Rarely has so much ironic, self-deprecating humor been laid down so consistently in the Scary Movie genre.

This is classic Mel the Hilarious, before the establishment painted him Conflicted and Conflictive for daring to portray the violent demise of Jesus and for his gigantic miscalculation while talking to a trooper while quite drunk.

'It was very dark', he and his somewhat perturbed brother played by Joaquin Phoenix, perturbed that is until he achieves his redemption at the end of a baseball bat whose other end was the undoing of an alien. It's hard to describe an alien that makes its appearance by scampering on the roof when it's so inconveniently dark.

Yes, there are aliens in this movie. They are even green and humanoid.

We get to them after the Mel character's tragic loss of a good priest's wife, his near loss of his two children to the hatred that comes when a good father lets the unthinkable happen to Mommy, and the loss of things that Gibson's enormously capable face allows us only to guess at.

'It's not "Father" any more', he insists, in abbreviation of all that has been lost but feels like it's been renounced. It hasn't been renounced, only placed on pause while Gibson deals with the kids, his brother, the aliens, and then the recovery of his faith after angry honesty has run its course.

This is the perfect Sunday afternoon movie, best capped off by a nap and then a 'snacky plate', as Sunday evening hints at a bona fide meal are known in our family.

Who would have thought it? The aliens hate water.

Yes, there are aliens. For an afternoon. Then they go away.

They didn't like the water.

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
Dudley Moore "Arthur"
CLASSIC COMEDY IS STILL GREAT
alert the media
It just doesn't get any better than this-

Arthur
Starring: Dudley Moore , Liza Minnelli , John Gielgud , Geraldine Fitzgerald , and Jill Eikenberry
Director: Steve Gordon
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790731886
Release Date: 1997-07-30

Amazon.com

When you get lost between the moon and New York City (ahem), chances are you'll find yourself taking another look at this hit comedy starring Oscar-nominated Dudley Moore as the charmingly witty, perpetually drunken millionaire Arthur Bach. Arthur falls in love with a waitress (Liza Minelli) who doesn't care about his money, but unfortunately Arthur's stern father wants him to marry a Waspy prima donna. The young lush turns to his wise and loyal butler (Oscar-winner John Gielgud) for assistance and advice. Arthur was a huge hit when released in 1981, as was its Oscar-winning theme song by Christopher Cross. Few remember that the movie was, sadly, the only one ever made by writer-director Steve Gordon, who died less than a year after the film's release. Consistently funny and heartwarming, Arthur was hailed as a tribute to the great romantic comedies of the 1930s. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2007-04-11

Excellent price, speed of delivery, and quality. I am very happy with this purchase!

Dudley Moore "Arthur".......2007-03-28

Dudley Moore makes you just want to crawl up with a warm blanket, hot cocoa and think about what it would be like to have all this and then have it taken away. Great movie.

CLASSIC COMEDY IS STILL GREAT.......2007-03-25

I love this film! The cast's comic timing is so good, you'll be doubled over laughing! The DVD could use an upgrade though. As funny as this movie is, it is amazing how bad the sequel turned out! Lightning in a bottle the first time...I guess?

alert the media.......2007-03-11

I have a friend who looked for a year for this movie on dvd in brick and mortar stores, I ordered it for her and she had it in a week, and by the next week, she'd watched it ten times. Its a very good movie.

It just doesn't get any better than this-.......2007-01-02

This has been one of my favorite movies for a long time. Recently I was happy to see it on DVD which is a relief from watching the old, grainy VHS versions.

I hadn't seen it in years and watched it today to find myself amazed at how well the movie stands up to time. It's one of those rare, perfect storms of comedy where great writing (truly funny line after truly funny line) is paired with great direction and outstanding performances all at the same time.

Dudley Moore got an Oscar nomination for "Arthur" but lost (although John Gielgud won for best supporting actor). If Moore's performance in "Arthur" doesn't win a Best Actor Oscar -it's proof that no comedic actor could ever win the title (another example is Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein").

Steve Gordon crafts the film beautifully keeping true to each of the characters and the warm-hearted tone of the story. Quite simply, IMHO the movie is a rare gem. It's only sad that Steve Gordon passed away just a year after "Arthur" was released.

Regarding the DVD, it's so/so. Although the video quality is a leap over the old VHS copies, there is still no widescreen version available.

The DVD has a few extras that are nice but it's just not enough. One example is commentary from the Director stating how he greatly wished how certain deleted takes and scenes could have been included (because they were hysterical), but that he had to make tough choices for a final edit. The DVD, being the perfect format to include such material, certainly should have offered it as well.

This, the original "Arthur", is a classic comedy that is one for the books.

Average customer rating:

Simply the most wonderful film of all-time!
Brilliant!
Just Beatling along (Inspired by "The Long and Winding Road" - The Beatles)
Girl saves boy
Definitely not a Fiasco

Elizabethtown (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Orlando Bloom , Kirsten Dunst , Susan Sarandon , Alec Baldwin , and Bruce McGill
Director: Cameron Crowe
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000CNESJO
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Amazon.com

Elizabethtown has all of the elements of a great Cameron Crowe movie, but none of the Cameron Crowe vision that made Almost Famous work. It's mostly a series of sweet moments, each capped with the right song at the right time; in fact, the soundtrack is the real star of the movie, and the right song is all there is to piece together a film that is much less than the sum of its parts.

From the start of Elizabethtown, big contrasts are evoked: death and life, success and failure are side by side, so we're told. When the movie starts, Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) is experiencing failure and death in spades: the shoe he spent eight years designing for Mercury (a thinly-veiled copy of Nike) has been recalled, costing his company $972 million dollars. On the verge of a suicide attempt, he learns his father has died, and Drew flies to Kentucky to retrieve the body to Oregon for cremation. On the red-eye to Louisville he meets Claire Colburn (Kirsten Dunst), a perky flight att'ndant with a charming flair for cute lines ("I'm impossible to forget, but I'm hard to remember," she chirps). Once in Elizabethtown, Drew tries to plan a memorial while dealing with relatives who have their own agenda in addition to his manic family back in Oregon, all while facing the reality that in a few days he'll be known nationally as one of his industry's most legendary failures. Yet still he manages to connect with Claire on an all-night cell phone conversation--complete with the requisite watching of the sunrise--and to strike up a furtive romance.

So we now have death and life side by side. But despite these dramatic shifts, what sets up to be a roller coaster ride of a film flattens out to a milquetoast middle ground with no real life of its own. Drew Baylor has suffered two tragic personal losses in the course of one day, but you wouldn't know it from Bloom's lethargic performance. There's not much to Claire either. Her whole character is made up mostly of cutesy quotable lines and mysterious little smirks. In the end, Elizabethtown is a film that doesn't know what it wants to be, and unfortunately there's no payoff, other than a few memorable lines and a great soundtrack. --Dan Vancini

Product Description

From Oscar winner Cameron Crowe comes "a potent blend of rock 'n' roll and classic romantic comedy." Orlando Bloom stars as Drew Baylor, a hot-shot designer whose life becomes completely unraveled when he loses his father and his job on one fateful day. En route to Elizabethtown to visit his family, Drew meets Claire (Kirsten Dunst). She's beautiful, unstoppably positive, and just the gal to guide Drew on his journey back home and to teach him what it means to live and love along the way. Set against the backdrop of an incredible soundtrack, ELIZABETHTOWN is "an amazing trip of love, loss and laughter."

Customer Reviews:

Simply the most wonderful film of all-time!.......2007-06-16

Everyone has a film that comes along once in a lifetime and forever endears itself to their heart. For myself, Elizabethtown was that film. No longer do I have to defend my favourite film selections against comparisons with the golden era classics such as Casablanca and Breakfast At Tiffany's, Elizabethtown in my opinion for it's time is the equal of both. Although director Cameron Crowe's past films include my previous all-time favourite Jerry Maguire, I believe he has raised the bar with Elizabethtown. If ever a movie is to be made from one of my novels, then Cameron Crowe would be the man I would want calling the shots. From it's eclectic yet refreshingly beautiful soundtrack, to the raw emotional presentation of life that exists around us, Elizabethtown rises above. Kirsten Dunst is fabulous as the unstoppably positive airline hostess Claire and although Orlando Bloom starred in bigger blockbusters such as the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and the Pirates Of The Carribean films, I hope he holds the role of Drew Baylor as one of the finest performances of his career. Throw in a talented support cast of Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel, Bruce McGill and Alec Baldwin and you have a highly enjoyable movie. I could spend the rest of my life waiting for a film to top Cameron Crowe's loveable walk through Louisville, Kentucky only to be disappointed when all others fail to compare. So it's safe to say I'll leave Elizabethtown in a class of its own, as a stand alone masterpiece!

Brilliant! .......2007-06-15

When I first heard about this movie, I thought I would hate it because it was "about death" but the reality is that this is a movie that celebrates life. I know. That's an incredibly cliche opening line, but when I saw this film, I was mesmerized by it. I recently watched it again with a friend who'd never seen it, and she had the same reaction I did. It was simply an amazing movie. I've read the reviews here, and all I can say is some of you have seen a completely different film than I did. Having lost my father at a stressful period in my life, so much of this movie struck me as true--the family members you don't know, the overwhelming number of decisions and plans that must be made, and the sudden realization that the grieving doesn't truly begin until the funeral is over. Orlando Bloom played this perfectly.

I found nothing confusing about the subplots, which to me weren't really sub, but part of the overall plot. I thought the actors, especially Orlando Bloom as Drew Baylor, were perfect. Bloom's portrayal of a man on the edge, a man making the decision to end his life, and oddly and in great and giddy underscore to the career ending opening of the film, FAILING, is absolutely enchanting. He so beautifully shows us a man so completely overwhelmed by events that he doesn't know what to do, and yet he has to step up and take care of things because there is no one else to do it. So what does he do? He copes...which is just what he thought he couldn't do!

The scene where the truth of his father's death is finally a reality to him is touching and well done. It was the kind of scene that could easily be "over the top" but Cameron Crowe and Orlando Bloom somehow managed to avoid that and give us honesty and depth instead.

Kirsten Dunst was also a delight. Her character, Claire Colburn has such a positive approach to life that it seems at odds with Bloom's character's negativity, but it is this that makes it work. She's so positive, and so determined to cheer him up, that her being there for him seem completely natural. They're growing relationship becomes more and more a lifeline to both characters making the audience realize there are similarities beneath the surface.

The ending is brilliant. The road trip was a perfect way to bring this film to an emotional close. It put Drew Baylor in touch with life, with himself, with his father, and with the world, shifting things into perspective and making the eventual choice he has to make obvious to him and to the audience.

The music was inspired and inspiring! I bought volume one of the soundtrack and I fully intend to go back and buy every other related CD. All in all, this film is going on my list of all time favorites. I'll watch it again and again.

The only thing wrong with the DVD is the lack of extra scenes. Why we got more of Rusty's Learning to Listen rather than more of these amazing characters is a bit perplexing.

Just Beatling along (Inspired by "The Long and Winding Road" - The Beatles).......2007-06-10

This long and winding film
That was hard to endure
It just wasn't that great
I've seen better before
It'll make you shed a tear
It may make you snore

The hyped but ugly shoe
That the world laughed away
That left Drew unemployed
Wasting all those years
And then his father died
Left him with no tears

Many times he'd sketched alone
The shoe that was his pride
By Friday everyone'll know
That his career was fried

But still he wandered back
To the place he'd called home
He'd left there once before
A long, long time ago
On route he met a girl
Too perky to ignore

And then she led him back
In a long winding plot
She taught him to enjoy
What he before had not
She taught him how to feel
The things that he'd forgot

Many times Orlando bloomed
While Kirsten wore a smirk
Many scenes just went too long
As with that Baldwin jerk

Why did I watch this one?
As if I were inspired
In truth it was the fact
That I was just too darn tired
To get up from my chair
With the effort required

Amanda Richards, June 9, 2007

Survey on the sidebar:

You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

Thank you for your time.

Girl saves boy.......2007-05-22

A portrayal of one man (Bloom) questioning his will to live after a major work failure. He goes through the motions of life and is "saved" by an angel (Dunst works up in the air) as she extends her compassion for his situation and employs her charm and feminine creativity, and waits for his spark for life to return.

Definitely not a Fiasco.......2007-05-14

Reading previous reviews, one who has not yet viewed "Elizabethtown" may be tempted to, well, not see it. I would have to say that most of the previous viewers had good points, but did not stand back and take a good look at the movie and appreciate how truly wonderful it was.
I saw this movie in the theater. And I loved it! I haven't seen any earlier Cameron Crowe (yeah, yeah, I know), but if anything was to convince me, this sure would.
"Elizabethtown" is the story of Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom), inventor of the Spasmotica shoe. The Spasmotica is not a failure; it is a fiasco. He is fired by Phil, then goes home and assembles a device with which he intends to kill himself. Shortly before he does, however, his sister (Judy Greer, who is absolutley wonderful in her part) calls to say that his dad has died.
Drew must now go to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to settle everything. He goes by plane, where he meets flight attendant Claire Colburn (Kirsten Dunst, with a funny Southern accent). And, yes, romance does follow.
This movie has so much in it. It might sound depressing, but I would call it sweet melancholy. And there are so many funny moments in it. Oh, and the music! The music is, in a word, phenomenal. Also included in the movie: a beautiful tap dance scene, a great "Free Bird" moment, and a road trip(!!). Let's just say, the movie is worth watching to get to the road trip scenes.
Overall, this is a feel-good movie. I agree with another reviewer in saying that there are some unresolved themes, but unless you have heard that said, you really don't notice it.
NOTE: This is one of my favorite movies ever, so perhaps I'm partial. See it anyway.

Average customer rating:

There is Always Hope
Message in a bottle
paul newman/kevin costner fan
A great love story with a tragic ending!!!!
DVD as a Christmas gift

Message in a Bottle
Starring: Kevin Costner , Robin Wright Penn , Paul Newman , John Savage , and Illeana Douglas
Director: Luis Mandoki
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JGPC
Release Date: 1999-08-03

Amazon.com

If, as they say, you're in a certain mood, Message in a Bottle can be just the ticket. Based on Nicholas Sparks's bestselling novel, this handsome but overly calculated romance tale stars Robin Wright Penn as Theresa, a Chicago Tribune researcher who finds a note encased in a green bottle that has floated onto a Cape Cod shore. The message within is a heartfelt, yearning declaration of love to a woman named Catherine, but the author is unknown until Theresa (rather improbably) tracks him down in North Carolina. He's Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), a taciturn builder of sailboats and a grieving widower whose late wife, poetically speaking, was the intended recipient of the seafaring note Theresa found. Theresa, a divorcée with a son, decides to meet Garret, only to find him as bottled-up as his message. Nevertheless, a romance blooms on the strength of quality time in a sailboat and lots of cuddling, though the script tosses in bits of conflict to keep their relationship spicy. Directed by Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman), this love story is entirely by the numbers, with Costner inhabiting (rather than performing) a stock fantasy of a man perfect in every way save his broken heart. Penn brings more vibrancy to her equally predictable part, but fortunately for all, Paul Newman, John Savage, Robbie Coltrane, and Illeana Douglas are on hand in nicely textured character parts. Sometimes predictability is exactly what one wants when settling in for an evening of home video, and this movie fits the bill nicely. The appealing cinematography is by ace cameraman Caleb Deschanel. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

There is Always Hope.......2007-04-05

If you drop messages in a bottle, you never know who might get them. In the case of this story, one sailor's messages cause a woman to fall in love with him.

Message in a bottle.......2007-04-03

The disc you sent to me, could not be played in the U.K

The screen showed a message saying this product may not be played in your zone !!!

I still want a disc that will play this moviein the U.K

.Can you help ?. Lawrence Barr.

paul newman/kevin costner fan.......2007-03-18

ive always loved this movie because it shows that love is precious. it was nice to see a man love his wife through it all by expressing his love for his wife through all the little and big things that made her special in their lives together. at the same time, it shows how love can change people and perhaps love can move mountains and sometimes, we just have to take chances in life and in love.

A great love story with a tragic ending!!!!.......2007-03-10

The novel by Nicholas Sparks, Message In a Bottle, has been turned into a wonderful movie about loss and new-found love. It stars Kevin Costner, Robin Wright Penn and Paul Newman. The story begins when Theresa Osborne is jogging on the beach in Cape Cod and finds a corked bottle half buried in the sand with a rolled up note inside of it. She takes the piece of paper out of the bottle and discovers that it's a love letter written to someone named Catherine. Divorced and raising a son on her on, the letter touches something in Theresa's heart that's totally unexpected. She returns home to Chicago and to her job at the Chicago Tribune, where she works as a researcher. Theresa decides to share the letter with her friends at work and an article is written about the letter. This results in a ton of responses from the female readers of the newspaper. Two more discovered letters are eventually added to the one Theresa has, and she begins a search to find out who the author of the letters is. This leads her on a journey to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Garrett Blake, a boat builder. Garrett lost his wife two years earlier to an illness and has never recovered. He still loves her and has kept their house the same since her death, refusing to allow her memory to fade. When Theresa Osborne enters his life, however, Garrett begins to believe that it might be possible to love again.

Message In a Bottle is a beautiful film with magnificent shots of the Outer Banks (though most of the movie was filmed on the coast of Maine) and powerful performances by Costner, Penn, Newman, and John Savage. Though the movie has a tragic ending, its message is still poignant in that it's possible to love again, even after you've lost someone close to you. Oh, boy, is the ending of the movie a real tearjerker. This is another 10-rating on the "Boohoo Scale." The music to the film by Gabriel Yared is lovely and heart moving, and you may want to buy the soundtrack after listening to it. Nicholas Sparks' Message In a Bottle is a great romantic novel and a wonderful movie about love that will have the eyes of most viewers brimming over with tears. This is the kind of cry that's good for the soul.

DVD as a Christmas gift.......2007-01-18

The DVD/Movie arrived quickly, packed well and the wrapper was unbroken. My wife has not watched it yet, but she really wanted this film.

Average customer rating:

Sam has done much better
Save Your Money.....
The Desperate Trail
GOOD GRIEF - I MUST HAVE SEEN THE WRONG MOVIE!
very cool western

The Desperate Trail
Starring: Andrea Camarena-Lindsay , George Cook (II) , Sam Elliott , Linda Fiorentino , and John Furlong
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007OY2NU
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Amazon.com

Though The Desperate Trail is hardly a modern Western, this mixture of frontier adventure and con-man conniving is inflected by the plot twists that have driven the post-Tarantino era of low-budget crime thrillers, at least through the first half of the film. It opens with a stagecoach ride that becomes a thrilling runaway escape from bandits, but the passengers are not what they seem and the films spins into a game of one-upmanship between a pair of slick outlaws thrown together by fate. Craig Sheffer, a con man duded up like an Eastern hick and smiling like a chump, spars with lady outlaw Linda Fiorentino, a tough gunslinger with a gift for bluff, while she eludes driven lawman Sam Elliot, whose passion for justice is personally motivated. Through a series of schemes and ambushes (including a Wild Bunch-inspired free-for-all where the posse hits more civilians than criminals), the bickering duo slowly reveal their secrets as the posse closes in. Elliot is perfectly cast as the hate-filled marshal, whose burning dark eyes and simmering persona are unleashed in his ruthless villain with a personable drawling manner, and director P.J. Pesce stages fine action scenes. If there are no surprises in The Desperate Trail, neither are there any lulls--it's a fun ride right to the satisfying if predictable conclusion. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Amiable con man Jack Cooper is on a westbound stagecoach, headed for the next batch of suckers who will mistake him for an easy mark. Fiery Sarah O'Rourke rides the same coach, handcuffed to lawman Bill Speakes and headed for the hangman. In a few hours, all should reach their destinations. But the trail they travel takes an unexpected turn: Cooper and O'Rourke are soon off the stage and running for their lives. The law ends and the chase begins in a very alive tale of wanted-dead-or-alive fugitives (Linda Fiorentino and Craig Sheffer) pursued by a marshal (Sam Elliott) who's a law unto himself.

Customer Reviews:

Sam has done much better.......2007-03-13

Please all this is far from Sam Elliot's better Westerns. See "The Sacketts', "Conagher", "The Shadow Riders", or "The Quick and the Dead". This is far less a believable Western. Few if any women did what this woman did let alone the whole storlyine reeks of trying to be modern, not authentic. Sorry but no character development in my book does not make a good movie. Not to mention these were not exactly the kind of characters I would want to see developed.

Save Your Money............2006-03-02

This film is just awful. The plot seems to suggest that if your husband abused you, you're entitled to rob a stage and pistol whip any man who abuses women, and if you caused an accident that crippled your brother, you are also entitled to steal money to give your brother what he wants. Linda Florentino plays an abused wife who becomes a gun toting stage robber with a very sarcastic mouth, bad dialog, and a silly looking outfit, and she is the heroine. Craig Sheffer steals money, sleeps with whores, wears a silly looking hat covering a silly haircut, and he is our hero. Sam Elliott looks like he'd rather be somewhere else, and he should have been. All in all, a very poor western.

The Desperate Trail.......2005-10-08

A Western with Sam Elliott, it can't possible be bad. Actually, my husband and I both enjoyed this movie and it had some surprises in it.

GOOD GRIEF - I MUST HAVE SEEN THE WRONG MOVIE!.......2005-06-04

I will admit that I bought it for Sam Elliott -- but what a disappointment.
He is great in the character that he portrays, Bill Speakes, a Marshall? He is apparently blinded to the true character of his son.

Sarah O'Rourke, was she married to the Marshall's son? Hot Diggity to the black eyes given to the character on the stage who bullies his wife.

Jack Cooper was a plausible con-man - Did he and she come out of the shoot-out alive?
With Cooper looking out for his brother and generally acting honorable to Sarah, he came out almost decent in character.

Could have done without the poor gal who did the bare top scene - nothing alluring there!
Not one of the better westerns that I have seen. And I know that Sam Elliott has done better. [I hope]

Ah well, don't waste your money on the DVD -- no extras, no intel on the actors and their characters.
See it if you must!

very cool western.......2001-09-28

striking and original western with Fiorentino and Sheffer putting in exceptionally fine performances.

Amazon.com

Lightly enjoyable but a disappointment in the context of author Leslie Charteris's popular character, the Saint--who has been played by several actors, most notably George Sanders--this 1997 film is more in keeping with the requirements of high-octane contemporary action than it is the requirements of a particular legacy. Val Kilmer plays Simon Templar, the mercenary spy, who is hired to steal a fusion formula but falls in love with the scientist (Elisabeth Shue) who cooked it up. Kilmer's portrayal bears little resemblance to Charteris's rakish hero, and the film itself becomes increasingly improbable and ponderous the longer it goes on. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Good "spy" movie.......2007-06-29

The romance between Kilmer and Shue is extremely believable. The spy games and the basic plot are absurd, but the observer is able to suspend disbelief and join characters and creators alike on an imaginative journey of Intrigue, deception and discovery.

In Val Kilmer's repetoire, this is probably one of his most overlooked, if brilliant performances. Too, I think Shue is not given the credit as a serious actress that she deserves. Between her performance in this and Leaving Las Vegas, people should learn to take note of her.

A brilliant film that should have spawned a decent sequel but never did.

Val Kilmer is so smooth!.......2007-04-27

I loved this movie. It is not complete fantasy though, Val Kilmer's character is not your average untouchable action hero. He does make mistakes. He is one of the world's top thieves and is also a master of disguise, but this causes trouble for him early in the movie. He steals a cold fusion formula from a scientist played by Elisabeth Shue and has to choose stealing the formula over his love for Shue. He has to steal the formula because she would be hunted down if a humane person like Kilmer didn't steal it. After he sells it to the Russians they find the formula incomplete and he has to give them the missing link before they kill him. He also has to save Elisabeth Shue since they are back after her. There is much more going on in the movie and it is one wild ride!

4/5

The DVD from Paramount has good picture and sound quality. There is a director's commentary.

Not great ,just very good........2007-03-09

I found this movie fun to watch and thought Val Kilmer did a nice job. THis isn't as bad as you may have heard and not as great as some reviews would have you believe. This is one to catch if you can but don't spend all day looking for it!

excellent.......2007-03-08

I think this movie is one of those movies that is always overlooked. It is a wonderful movie. Everytime you watch it you will "discover" something new.

A Truly Amazing Adventure .......2007-02-12

The Saint is an amazing adventure with a true heart and soul. My wife and I watch it several times a year and it always captivates us. Unlike the Hollywood schlock of late the Saint truly delivers thrills and adventures with a soul and emotion, something missing in the films of today. I traveled through out eastern Europe quite alot in the time period portrayed in this film and can say that it is bristling with true accuracy and atmosphere.

This is by far one of my favorite films. This film brings me back to some personal grand adventures a decade ago. The music is great, the cinematography is phenomenal, and of course there are two endings !!

Yes the Saint has an alternate ending in which Simon Templar fights Tretiak's son to the death in the Tretiak mansion as the Russian military launches a full on attack onto the manor with tanks. A spectacular ending I saw in a European version. Hope to God that Philip Noyce will grace us diehard fans of this wonderful film with a deluxe DVD. I would pay $100.00 for that.

THE SAINT IS A TRUE CLASS ACT !!! Val Kilmer is a genius and Elisabeth Shue is a world class charming cutie

Average customer rating:

Great horror flick
a Horror Classic
The template for intelligent scary movies to follow
Dark Secrets and Spirits that won't stay buried
the scariest

The Changeling
Starring: George C. Scott , Trish Van Devere , Melvyn Douglas , Jean Marsh , and John Colicos
Director: Peter Medak
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Legend of Hell House

ASIN: 0783116926
Release Date: 2000-09-12

Amazon.com

When a recent widower (the wonderfully overemphatic George C. Scott ) moves into an antique Washington mansion, his realization that he may not be the only resident leads him toward a deadly secret that refuses to remain buried....The best haunted-house film since the legendary Haunting, this potent, classy combination of the mystery and horror genres eschews explicit gore and dumb shocks in exchange for a subtle creepiness that occasionally builds to a terrifying peak (watch out for that seance scene!). The result is a satisfyingly intelligent horror film with an intriguing dash of Watergate-era paranoia. Director Peter Medak went on to direct the considerably more gratuitous and somewhat less effective Romeo Is Bleeding and The Krays. --Andrew Wright

Description

George C. Scott becomes the unwilling instrument of a ghost's revenge in this supernatural thriller. ' 'A superior haunted house thriller.' ' (Variety)

DVD Features:
Biographies
Interactive Menus

Customer Reviews:

Great horror flick.......2007-06-14

I love this movie. It's one of the creepiest haunted house movies I've seen, and it has a great plot. Highly recommended for any time of the year, Halloween especially!!

a Horror Classic.......2007-05-20

A long time favorite without flashy special effects. Even my kids loved it.

The template for intelligent scary movies to follow.......2007-05-17

If you enjoy movies which have historical color, and are more than just surface blood and guts, then this movie will satisfy your non-mainstream movie soul. Set in Seattle in 1980, the surroundings have been selected to enhance the nostalgic, longing quality of the child entity who haunts the mansion digs of the main character.

The Changeling is almost at the level of a Hitchcock film - in terms of setting the iconic standard for the scary movie genre to follow. As the plot unfolds, you will spot devices now copied in newer movies - the child ghost and the wheelchair, the innocent ball being bounced down the stairs by a playful unseeing hand, the erratic movement of the camera as the policeman's car overturns, the haunting music box tune layering the musical score - the list just goes on and on.

The viewing is enhanced by the great acting of George C. Scott and the palpable chemistry between Scott and Trish Van de Vere, the female lead.

Can you tell this is one of my favorite movies? For study of film to sheer viewing entertainment, this film cannot be equalled.

Dark Secrets and Spirits that won't stay buried.......2007-05-12

George C. Scott was a fantastic actor, and this quiet little "ghost story" once again proves it. As a family man who in the opening of the movie watch on as his family is killed in a traffic accident, you can feel the pain drip off the screen. He moves into a large house and slowly begins to believe that he may not be alone in the house. As he starts to hear and see things he can't explain he begins to unravel a 70 year old murder of the young child that lived there, which leads to a long hidden secret and a very powerful Senator(well played by Melvyn Douglas).
This film makes some leaps of faith at the audience, such as you have more than a [...] education and that the power of a ghost isn't in seeing but in hearing and feeling. Not for all taste, but if good non-gory thrills are what you want, this "chiller" fits the bill.

the scariest.......2007-04-11

Scariest movie I ever saw. Maybe it was the mood I was in during my first watch, but I still get goosebumps on several scenes. The story ties together well and you can watch with teh family; no gore, no swearing. An absolutely haunting movie.

Average customer rating:

Pleasant love story
Shadyac, take it from me and TLC, don't go chasing waterfalls.
Dragonfly
I'll admit it... (possible spoiler - don't read if you haven't seen it)
Good Family Movie

Dragonfly (Widescreen)
Starring: Lisa Banes , Kathy Bates , Kevin Costner , Matt Craven , and Kathryn Erbe
Director: Tom Shadyac
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Mothman Prophecies
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ASIN: B00005JKZH
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Amazon.com

"Belief gets us there," explains nun Linda Hunt to grieving widower Kevin Costner, an emergency room doctor whose ordered world is startled by "messages" from his dead wife. She's talking about the journey from life to death, but it describes the doctor's road from fact to faith equally well as he puzzles out the otherworldly events of his life. Costner's mourning comes off less lost and sad than simply emotionless and inert, but he finds good support from Kathy Bates as his sassy neighbor. Her appearances, along with a few startling horror-movie-type shocks, energize a film otherwise shrouded in loss, grief, and the hushed mood of supernatural spookiness. It's like a fusing of Ghost, The Sixth Sense, and The Mothman Prophecies, a New Age melodrama in a sentimental key that works through a rather contrived mystic mystery to a glowing climax. This is less a ghost story than a modern twist on the old-fashioned miracle. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant love story.......2007-06-21

First, I do have to say I like Kevin Costner is just about any movie, but this brought out a very gentle side of Costner.
The movie is part spiritual, mystery, thriller, romance and love. It is definitely, "what would and how far would you go to unearth a mystery and give your love and life for the one you were meant to be with."
I really like the movie-I own the movie (B)

Shadyac, take it from me and TLC, don't go chasing waterfalls........2007-05-19

The concept of death surrounds me recently. Not that friends and/or family or passing away, but with the films and television programs that I have been watching recently, it seems to be a common occurrence. I am in the middle of viewing full seasons of "The 4400" which deals with the death of some to cause a "ripple effect" that would heal the world, "Monk" - which in each episode someone dies and it is up to Shalhoub to solve the mystery of the dead person, and surprisingly I am trying to figure out "Lost", which is teetering on the exploration of the possible death/purgatory of its central characters. So, with all this "death" surrounding me, why not pick up a film that may give me a chuckle (due to the director's prior comedic turns) as well as give me a new insight on the unknown explanation of the death phenomenon. One would hope that this would be the case with "Dragonfly", but upon a second viewing - as well as the voice of director Shadyac informing us that he didn't enjoy the final cut of this film - it was only discovered that Kevin Costner cannot paint us a picture of death - nor should we ever ask him to.

To be utterly up front with anyone reading this review, I am not going to paint a pretty picture of what I witnessed with this outing. There was nothing, I repeat, nothing of value with this film that tried to blend the teary eye of Costner with that of "The Sixth Sense". First time drama director Shadyac (who would be better known as the founder of "Ace Ventura"), cannot seem to grasp this film as he continually combines cliché elements from other films, random occurrences that never quite link us to the ending, and a complete waste of actual talent. He has the blocks to build the story, but instead he just tosses them into a waterfall hoping that they will land upright. Was this a supernatural thriller, was it a romantic drama, or was it just another venue for Kevin Costner to attempt to apply his "leading man" status to? For me, I couldn't quite see where Shadyac was going or what genre he was interacting with. The trouble begins with the story, of which couples with soul-mates, dragonflies, and coming back from the dead, as well as what a popular majority thinks. Listening to the commentary, Shadyac explains that his cut of the film wasn't as received as the final cut because too many people knew the ending prior to it happening. In my eyes - that is worthwhile if the story continues to attract us - but in "Dragonfly" that is not the case. The story is trite and quite dull, leading to an ending that surprises mainly because you don't care any further. Joe Darrow lost his wife, cannot cope even months later, and begins to think that she is contacting him from the dead - but for what reason? If you weren't pulled in by my synopsis, then I do not suggest viewing this film because in 22 words, I have probably told you everything.

The acting is atrocious, possibly the worst roles created for two very talented actors. I am speaking of both Costner and that unknown talent that normally reverberates from Kathy Bates, but seemed to be missing this time. Perhaps it is the tone, the vague symbolism, or just the fact that these two needed paychecks that soured this film, but instances were not connecting. By the big "surprise" at the end, we are either so tired of the events or have (in my case) forgotten them, that there is no "gasp" or shock, merely just excitement to have a finale to this horrid broadcast. Shadyac has talent as a director, I even find myself laughing at "Bruce Almighty", but drama is not his cup of tea. This film was too dark without any signs of light, which can be a good thing for skilled directors, but not for first-time Shadyac. He needed a blend of comic with the eerie unknown, which would have offset the disaster this train was headed towards. Costner couldn't carry Shadyac's work, and became murky and muddled through the middle. He had no central focus, so we - as audience members - didn't know who he was. Was he crazy or just in love? How come we never saw his love for his wife? Unanswered questions that Shadyac and Costner never allowed anyone to answer.

To add to my disgust was the filming overall of this movie. Just as I was confused as to the real ending to the film, I am sure that those involved were equally as confused. We move, rather quickly, from children seeing the dead, to dragonflies, to white water rafting, all the way back to some native tribe in South America. It just seemed like we were jumping rather quickly, but in the wrong direction. Without giving it away, I had forgotten the main element to the ending when we got to it because we were muddled with so many other un-needed moments that the ending just seemed watered down and dull. Honestly, I was bored with this movie because it lead us down one path, somehow jumped to another, and tried to make it back to that original path that was already lost and forgotten. The music didn't match with the actions or emotions of the characters, the hints were hidden and expected, there was no moment of self-discovery. There wasn't a scene in the film where I suddenly went, "oh, I get it" -- and that is sad. "Dragonfly" had the potential, I just felt that Shadyac was behind the wheel of a vehicle that he couldn't control, and as you listen to the commentary, you can sense (and at times hear) that he didn't want to be behind the wheel at all.

"Dragonfly" is a pointless corporate film driven to bring in more money while capitalizing on the income produced by "The Sixth Sense". There are borrowed elements that Shadyac cannot control as well as actors that walk through their scenes wondering when the paycheck will arrive at their doorstep. This is the worst film to see Kathy Bates perform, and Costner continues to dig himself a bigger hole. As you listen to the commentary, this film underwent quite a bit of changes due to viewer issues and response, which I think is the worst way to edit a film. Shadyac has no problems saying that he edited this wrong, and that he didn't like "x" scene, and that he felt this was completely amateurish - which only helps solidify a inner feeling of disappointment with the film. He selflessly promotes "Bruce Almighty" during this film, which drove the nail further into the already built "Dragonfly" coffin. I do not suggest this film to anyone unless you like your water from the tap, meaning that if you don't mind drinking muddled, tainted, and possibly poisoned liquid - than "Dragonfly" will be the film for you. It was that bad.

Shadyac, take it from me and TLC, don't go chasing waterfalls.

Grade: * out of *****

Dragonfly.......2007-05-08

Very good movie. Most interesting as it starts as sorta very sad when the doctor loses his wife while she was on a missionary trip. Couple of weird and a little scary movie until the end which is a heartfelt surprise. The doctor (Kevin Costner) wins something most beautiful. It's definately worth watching.

I'll admit it... (possible spoiler - don't read if you haven't seen it).......2007-05-06

At the end of the movie, I get all choked up and some wet brinely-like substance drips onto my face out of the corner of my eyes. I first rented this movie when it came out a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I tend to leave it on whenever I see it on any of the cable channels that show it often. The last scene in the jungle of Venezuela is just beautiful and, seriously, being the father of a baby boy and a 3 year old beautiful little girl, I can never get enough of that scene. I completely feel Kevin Costner's emotion come through in this scene and the whole movie as well. Great acting, very nice plot and an awesome soundtrack make this well worthwhile. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because, for as enjoyable as it was, the only movies that get 5 stars for me are the classics like To Kill A Mockingbird, Blazing Saddles, Schindler's list etc.

Good Family Movie.......2007-04-02

It's not a great movie, but is good. I especially enjoyed the fact that there was no profanity, nothing gory, etc. I wish other "new" movies would learn from this. It's not necessary to use foul language three times per sentence, nor to show limbs being chopped off to provide entertainment.

Average customer rating:

Halle Berry at her best!
Oh, come now....
holly berry, is the main atration
best part of the movie was Halle Berry
You Get What You Need

Monster's Ball
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton , Halle Berry , Taylor Simpson , Gabrielle Witcher , and Heath Ledger
Director: Marc Forster
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00005YU1M
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Amazon.com

The unflinching realism and searing performances of Monster's Ball are stunning in all the connotations of the word. Hank (Billy Bob Thornton) and Leticia (Halle Berry) inhabit stark, queasy realities of the contemporary South, he as a death row corrections officer and she as the soon-to-be widow of an inmate (Sean Combs) whose execution Hank helps conduct. In the aftermath of the execution, both lose their children to tragic deaths and they form an unlikely bond. In the hands of lesser participants, the fateful plot might strain credibility and seem tailored to allow for liberal sermonizing about the obvious wrongs of our legal justice system, but director Marc Forster and cinematographer Roberto Schaefer balance the contentious nature of the film's issues--the death penalty, racism both overt and subtle, interracial couples--with a flawless attention to character and visual detail that completely convinces. The moral ambiguity of both central characters is given full voice as our sympathy is drawn out reluctantly at first but all the more resolutely in the end. Thornton draws from seemingly limitless resources to deliver yet another outstanding performance, but it is Halle Berry who is a revelation as she sustains throughout the complex tenor of brutality witnessed and raw courage defined. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews:

Halle Berry at her best!.......2007-06-26

I saw "Monster's Ball" in the movie theatre. I felt then that it was a good movie, but the key reason I even went to see it in theatres is because Halle Berry, one of my all-time favorite actresses, was starring in it. I have seen most of Halle's movies, and I can attest to the fact that this is, acting-wise, her best film. Halle is an outstanding actress, but I have never really seen her give her all, until now. Halle really went all out for this movie, and she deserved the Oscar. Although I don't think it's fair that so many African-American actresses before Halle have done phenomenal jobs in movies and never received an Oscar, but Halle shined in this film and that Oscar had her name on it as far as I'm concerned. The ranting and raving about Halle had to be foremost, however, the entire cast did a great job. Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Mos Def, and Diddy all showed their acting abilities, and I was impressed.

This was not an easy film to watch. It didn't have a Hollywood ending or cheesy subject matter. The film shows us three generations of corrections officers, a grandfather, a father, and a son. The father and grandfather both have prejudiced mindsets, however the son doesn't. We learn that the father (Hank) doesn't love his son, and his son does an unlikely thing to show how upset he is about that, commits suicide in front of his father.

We meet Leticia and her son Tyrell. Leticia's husband is given the death penalty, and she's naturally on-edge. She attempts to relax her nerves by smoking, drinking and lashing out at her obese progeny. As the movie progresses, Tyrell is tragically killed in a hit and run. From what the movie implies, all Leticia had was her son. She was never seen with parents or friends. After her husband and son die, she's all alone in life, until she meets Hank. Hank sees Leticia and her dying son on the side of the road and decide to stop and offer aid to them. He rushes them to the hospital, and from there, the two of them build a friendship, and then a relationship.

Hank and Leticia both feel vulnerable because of the unfortunate occurrences they both lived. Their relationship, from the outside looking in, resembles two people who are yearning for a happiness they'd seemingly never come across and hoped to find in one another.

The irony of Hank and Leticia's relationship is that Hank was one of the correction's officers who helped kill Leticia's husband, but she is oblivious to this.

This motion picture will totally lure you into it's painful plot. Other reviews that I've read on this movie said that it was boring, and perhaps to some, it is; but if you give this movie your undivided attention from start to finish, there is hardly a boring moment in my opinion.

I DO NOT recommend this picture for the faint of heart. It includes some of the most graphic scenes cinema has ever seen, and some of them are not easy to stomach. Also, that oh so popular sex scene...very candid and graphic. However, if you can handle it, by all means take a look at this heart-wrenching film.

Oh, come now...........2007-06-13

This is one of the most over-rated movies I've ever seen. It is too contrived in plot and too manipulative, particularly with respect to the sex scene between Thornton and Berry. Consider the following:

Billy Bob Thornton plays a racist prison guard who takes a sort of military pride in the structured electrocution of condemned prisoners. His son, a non-racist guard under him, is not up to the same standard. A condemned prisoner, the husband of the woman played by Halle Berry, is put to death.

Through a convoluted set of circimstances, Thornton takes up with Ms.Berry, after Thornton's son commits suicide and Berry's overweight son is killed in a car accident. Neither knows of their connection to the electrocuted prisoner until the end of the movie. The device used to reveal the connection should be obvious to any viewer Are you following this?

For some reason (perhaps the fact that Halle Berry is drop dead gorgeous) Thornton gives up his racism and has an extremely steamy sex scene with the beauteous widow. Well, that's understandable, but the fact that she is magnificent to look upon is grossly manipulative. Would Thornton have been so solicitous of her if she had been an average looking African American woman? I doubt it. Beauty trumps racism.

Several movies have been made, through the years, about a racist white becoming liberalized by association with an African American, and in virtually every case the device for attaining this has been so contrived as to make a viewer groan. In one case a blind white girl falls in love with a very nice black man. In another case, a racist white is chained to a black man and they have to cooperate to escape pursuers. In yet another, a white girl brings a black man home to meet her upper class parents--but the black man is a handsome Ivy League surgeon. Sidney Poitier, a fine actor, was in all of these.

In all of these, including Monster's Ball, the devices are just too heavy handed and obvious. The acting in Monster's Ball is OK, but the story is the problem. For example, I never believed for a second that the Halle Berry character would have said, "Make me feel good" and seduced Thornton. Why? I don't object to sexy scenes, per se. I object when sex scenes are included to titilate the viewer, and that was exactly the case in Monster's Ball.

holly berry, is the main atration.......2007-06-08

seeing Holly in action is cool . Billy bob is p[retty good Too.

best part of the movie was Halle Berry.......2007-03-09

This movie was boring, it was like one of those sundance films, interesting enough to watch once, then put it away forever. The best part of the movie was Halle Berry's sex scene's they were brief, and tastfully done, however if it wasn't for her I never would have watched it. If I ever watch it again, it will be to get my Halle Berry fix......Keith

You Get What You Need.......2006-11-30

This is a different sort of movie; a sort of mixture of "Affliction", "The Green Mile" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". The characters are difficult to warm up to which may have been the writer and director's point. We get plenty of love stories that lead us down the primerose path. What about a love story about two people who never should have been associated with each other. Two people whose stars not only didn't cross, they were magnetically repelled from ever even nearing each other. This is what "Monster's Ball" is to me. In that sense, it is an interesting movie.

The characters are rather extreme but, then, that's in keeping with the extreme nature of the message. Still, it's hard not to be put off a bit because of how disfuctional the main characters are. By the mid-point of the movie, we know who we DON'T like and the rest of the movie tries to salvage two out of those three. This change of direction would seem impossible except for the introduction of exteme crises that alter the lives of the people we are reluctant to care about. We reach the end of the movie shaking our heads but relizing that, in some perverse way, there's someone for everyone. I'm reminded of the Rolling Stones's song with the lyrics "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need." Not inspiring but a reminder that even scoundrels need someone to hold onto from time to time. I found that the premise worked well enough for me.

Average customer rating:

Does Philip Glass make films now?
99.9% Cocoa
I love George Clooney
Sci-fi for the thinking person
Far Inferior to the Original

Solaris
Starring: George Clooney , Natascha McElhone , Viola Davis , Jeremy Davies , and Ulrich Tukur
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009ATIX
Release Date: 2003-07-29

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A curious mix of science fiction and metaphysical love story, Solaris centers around Chris Kelvin (George Clooney), a psychologist sent to investigate why a space station orbiting an alien planet has stopped communications. The planet has the power to delve into human psyches and re-create lost loved ones--in Kelvin's case, his dead wife (Natascha McElhone), whom he then wants to bring back to Earth. Director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich) fills almost every shot with faces and bodies, as if to emphasize the human soul rather than outer space as the movie's true subject. Unfortunately, the vagueness of the environment--combined with a script that implies more than it shows--serves to dislocate our ability to engage with the characte