Baby Boy

Starring:Tyrese Gibson, Ving Rhames
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
A worthy companion piece to 1991's Boyz N the Hood, John Singleton's Baby Boy expresses compassionate but unforgiving criticism of young, African American black men who lead reckless, irresponsible lives while blithely blaming racism for their chronic disadvantage. That's already enough to make this a provocative and emotionally challenging film, but Singleton injects his drama with such passionate vitality that it never seems inflammatory; instead, in presenting this portrait of a confused and conflicted 20-year-old black man named Jody (Tyrese Gibson), Singleton is both affectionate and accusatory, lending Baby Boy an edgy, timeless wisdom that other, less courageous films could never hope to offer.

Amazon.com

A worthy companion piece to 1991's Boyz N the Hood, John Singleton's Baby Boy expresses compassionate but unforgiving criticism of young, African American black men who lead reckless, irresponsible lives while blithely blaming racism for their chronic disadvantage. That's already enough to make this a provocative and emotionally challenging film, but Singleton injects his drama with such passionate vitality that it never seems inflammatory; instead, in presenting this portrait of a confused and conflicted 20-year-old black man named Jody (Tyrese Gibson), Singleton is both affectionate and accusatory, lending Baby Boy an edgy, timeless wisdom that other, less courageous films could never hope to offer.

Customer Reviews:

Good movie.......2007-05-28

The rating of 5 stars does not go to the movie but to the way the purchase was handled in a timely manner. The movie itself was about 3 stars. I liked Tyrese in his acting debut along with the other stars but I mainly purchased the movie just to have around when I felt like watching it. I especially liked the part where Ving Rhames was in the kitchen and he asked Tyrese if he wanted some breakfast. If you have not seen this part or the movie at all, your in for a laugh. NEO_SOUL_06

Fast delivery.......2007-03-26

I was very satisfied with how fast we received our movie and the great condition it was in. Would definately order more movies from vendor.

ROOM FOR DEBATE!!!!.......2007-03-13

THis movie by John SIngleton has a number of different imbalances in it but it also has some continuity in it as well. I didnt like the fact that Jody played by Tyrese Gibson was always made to say "Mama this" and "Mama that" in the movie especially being a very athletic and muscular big guy like he was. ALso in Los Angeles, there are many guys who grow up in the same situation as Jody did, but that do not have a close relationship with their mother, at least Jody did continue this relationship with his mama, whether he was freeloading or not. John Singleton did a good job in this movie, and you have to experience SOUTH los angeles to really appreaciate the value and circumstance of this movie. You cant be in NEW YORK or Chicago. Tyrese always seems to make movies based on how his surroundings are and were so in that aspect he is not forgetting where he comes from. The movie was kinda long and at times had a comedic aspect to it, but overall it has continual interest sparked by whoever watches it. There are sexual situations that make for catchy and racy material, and most of the dialogue discussed in the movie is portrayed by rappers in todays hip hop scene anyway. ANd i do NOT think SIngleton was making this an attempt at family viewing, he already did that in BOyz in the Hood.

It's dehumanizing: assuming Jody can only be a good person - if he's able to see himself, in the shoes of his potential victim.......2007-02-03

I was amazed by Baby boy. I was totally amazed by this film.

Baby Boy is a bit unflinching. For one thing, as the movie goes along, Jody, the protagonist of the movie, begins to seem vaguely unlikeable, perhaps even down-right bad. He does, perhaps, redeem himself by the end.

There's a lot of conflict in the relationships in Jodys life. Too many people trying to live in too small a space with probably not quite enough money. I think I saw his mom as a victim and Jody as a bad-guy. Really, maybe it would be helpful if his mom were a more compassionate person too. Perhaps Jody is taking after his mom in the first place. . . donno

I could see myself in the role of his moms' new boyfriend. A friend of mine was talking about something like this awhile back. He was saying, "You know, if I ever do get married, the lady's going to have kids of her own already." I swear; they based the guy in the movie 'The 40 Year Old Virgin' on my friend. I'm pretty much in the same situation - I mean - about dating ladies who already have kids.

Baby Boy seems to lose something with repeated viewings tho perhaps it's the editing for TV. I was put off some by the moral tone of the movie. . . It seems somehow dehumanizing to assume Jody can only be a good person - if he's able to see himself in the shoes of his potential victim. It's not dehumanizing, tho, to point out this facet of the movie. Heavens No. At least, it's not for me.

Great DVD, it was replacement of one i damaged........2007-01-31

Great DVD, seller was wonderful. exceeded expections. DVD was in perfect condition, I give high praise.

Average customer rating:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?
I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen.
POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!
I wasn't scared
Pointless

The Omen (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Predrag Bjelac , Carlo Sabatini , Bohumil Svarc , Liev Schreiber , and Giovanni Lombardo Radice
Director: John Moore
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
An American Haunting (Unrated Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Silent Hill (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000HCO87W
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

If you can overlook its glaring redundancy, The Omen is a faithful and well-crafted remake that does adequate justice to Richard Donner's popular 1976 original. It's a completely unnecessary film, given that David Seltzer's original screenplay wasn't even rewritten (as would normally happen with a Hollywood remake), but when viewed with fresh eyes, or by anyone who's unfamiliar with the original, it retains most of the serious, intelligently plotted chills that made Donner's horror thriller a box-office sensation. It skews to a younger audience (of course), with Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles in the roles originated by Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. As newly-promoted U.S. Ambassador to England Robert Thorn and his troubled wife Katherine, they grow increasingly suspicious that their young son Damien (Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick) may be the devil incarnate. An anxious Roman priest (Pete Postelthwaite) and a freelance photographer (David Thewlis, in the role memorably originated by David Warner) are equally terrified of this Satanic scenario, and Damien's new and eerily protective nanny (played to perfection by Mia Farrow) adds further evidence of Damien's malevolence, as Vatican prophesies of Armageddon are rapidly fulfilled. Director John Moore (who also remade The Flight of the Phoenix) offers a few minor improvements in suspense and gruesomeness (including a more graphically inventive death for a prominent character), but he's also hampered by the weaker presence of Davey-Fitzpatrick, who's not nearly as creepy as the original film's Damien. Otherwise, this copy of The Omen justifies its existence as a worthwhile diversion for stormy-night viewing.--Jeff Shannon

Description

In this chilling remake of The Omen ? that is even more terrifying than the original ? man's darkest fears are manifested as an unspeakable terror is unleashed on the world! U.S. diplomat Robert Thorn (Liev Schreiber) substitutes an orphan for his own stillborn baby in order to spare his unknowing wife (Julia Stiles). But after a series of grotesque murders and dire warnings, the Thorns come to the horrifying realization that their child is the son of Satan!

Customer Reviews:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?.......2007-06-08

Once again, the supremely wooden Liev Schreiber essays a role set in the high echelons of government. Playing an update on the Laurence Harvey character in "The Manchurian Candidate" he showed as much emotion as one of those My Buddy dolls that single women keep in their cars to scare away carjackers. Mr. Schreiber is similarly emotive in his update of the role originated by Gregory Peck in the 1976 classic. To attempt to take over a role from the inimitable Gregory Peck is either incredibly brave or incredibly insane. Mr. Schreiber is no Gregory Peck. Audiences accepted Peck as a senior statesman because the man looked the part and certainly had the voice for it. In this version, Liev's Robert Thorn comes by his post of US Ambassador to Great Britain by dint of being the President's godson, and not his own personal charisma or ability. Nepotism is about the only 'update' this 'update' manages, and it's called for, because besides being absent a personality, Mr. Schreiber is too young to have risen so high in the diplomatic corps on his own merits.

Julia Stiles also struggles in her attempt to reprise Lee Remick's role as the doomed Mrs. Thorn. I have always liked Ms. Stiles as one of our most promising young actresses, but this part does not serve her at all. At 25, and looking more like 16 with her round face, despite the matronly hairdos and outfits meant to give her sophistication, she is not credible either, as the wife of an ambassador.

The supporting roles fare better, particularly Pete Postletwaite as the doomed priest, though one scratches her head at the presence of David Thewlis. Mr. Thewlis is a pretty hefty star nowadays & thanks to Harry Potter is well-known even to Americans. His slacker photographer character has a tiny role and could have been played by anybody. The standout is definitely Mia Farrow, having some campy fun as the nanny/guardian. She appears to be the only one having any fun.

Seamus Whatisname as the kid is adequate. Since the poor kid never has any lines but is only called upon to stare at the camera with big blue eyes, he can hardly be faulted for bad acting. He fufills the requirement for a black-haired, pale creepy-looking kid with big blue eyes well enough, though one would think the son of Satan would have a bit more charisma.

I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen. .......2007-05-21

Michael Gambon was better than Leo McKern? I want some of the drugs that you are taking! That is a ridiculous statement. BTW--the remake stinks.
Richard Donner isn't losing any sleep.

POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!.......2007-05-14

The remake is not as creepy or as good as the original. It is a complete waste of time. This film adds nothing new or does anything better than the original. Why???

I wasn't scared.......2007-05-13

When I first saw previews of the Omen, I thought it looked like a decent horror movie along the lines of the Exorcist. Unfortunately, all the scary moments turned out to be nothing but short little rushed moments of action scenes involving Damien (the child who's Satan) killing people (or trying to kill them) in different ways. There was almost no build up or suspense whatsoever.

Damien didn't really strike me as much of a scary child, either. More like a normal quiet kid who just preferred being by himself. Maybe his acting could have been better too.

I was a bit scared when the dogs that were hanging around Damien suddenly started growling whenever the father entered a room. I guess that's a secret fear I have of vicious dogs.

Overall, I wasn't scared. The movie didn't deliver the type of fear that makes you think about bad things, and instead was just one action scene after another. It was almost like a made for TV movie, the more I think about it.

UPDATE- ONE WEEK LATER-

Okay, I rewatched the movie, and enjoyed it more the second time. A movie that probably deserves closer to four stars. It STILL drives me mad that there's hardly no build-up to any of the scary moments, and that things just "happen out of nowhere". I guess in some cases, such as with the dogs in the graveyard, this can be a very scary thing (especially with the volume on the TV up really out).

The ending was good too. It was very surprising. I also should have mentioned I had never seen the original version from the mid 70's. I guess I should have seen that and compared the two, since almost everyone agrees the original was better.

Oh, another thing about this movie I liked was the same thing I liked in that movie Final Destination 3- I enjoyed seeing "weird" things in the backgrounds of the photos the photographers were taking. You'll see what I mean (I don't want to give anything away).

Oh, and can't forget about the guy who loses his head near the end of the film. Good entertainment there. He must have been a Beatles fan "When I get old I'm losing my head!" Oh wait, Paul McCartney says "hair". Well, the jokes works anyway because I said so. :)

It's not a bad movie to rent if you want to watch something scary for a late Friday or Saturday night.

Pointless.......2007-05-11

The original 1976 film wasn't exactly a classic, in my opinion, so why on earth bother to do an almost shot for shot remake of a mediocre film? Perhaps it is the (mostly American) obsession with the Apocalypse and the End of Time (just read one of those dreadful, poorly written LEFT BEHIND books) that caused FOX to think this might be a money maker. It is slow, boreing, breaks no new ground and is an insult to the intelligence of the audience. A complete waste of time.

Average customer rating:

Laughter and tears
EXCELLENT CHAPLIN FILM - THE BEST BY ALL ACCOUNTS
A masterpiece
Chaplin's first masterpiece
Wonderful edition of The Kid

The Kid (2 Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Albert Austin , Beulah Bains , Nellie Bly Baker , Henry Bergman , and Charles Chaplin
Director: Charles Chaplin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

City Lights (2 Disc Special Edition)
The Circus (2 Disc Special Edition)
The Gold Rush (2 Disc Special Edition)
Modern Times (2 Disc Special Edition)
Limelight (2 Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00017LVNC
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Amazon.com

The Kid is one of the purest expressions of Charlie Chaplin's art on film. It unites Chaplin with a boy he had spotted in a vaudeville act, 6-year-old Jackie Coogan--whose life would lead to the child-protective Coogan Act and a role as Uncle Fester on TV. The story has the Tramp adopting an abandoned waif and teaching him streetwise survival skills. The gags are flawless, but for Chaplin the huge advance (other than a running time longer than his two-reelers) was the exploration of a rich vein of sentiment; the emotionally wrenching separation of the Tramp and the Kid is probably the most Dickensian sequence ever captured on film. Chaplin drew on his own rough childhood for the material (and may have been inspired by the death of an infant son immediately before beginning the project). Jackie Coogan's gift for mimicry allowed him to replicate Chaplin's exacting direction, making him the perfect Chaplin co-star. --Robert Horton

Description

For the first time as a filmmaker, Chaplin stepped into feature-length storytelling with this tale of the down- but-never-out Tramp (Chaplin) and the adorable ragamuffin (6-year-old Jackie Coogan) who, rescued as a foundling and raised in the School of Hard Knocks by the Tramp, is his inseparable sidekick. Memorable scenes include a lesson in table manners, the bully brawl and the Tramp's angelic dream. The Kid earns its wings.

Customer Reviews:

Laughter and tears.......2006-10-21

Chaplin is a rare gem. I don't give five stars lightly, and I don't give them to praise old respected classics. Citizen Kane deserved less. A Buster Keaton silent film was nothing compared to Chaplin. He makes you laugh and cry. What more could you ask for in a movie?

There are some similarities to another Chaplin gem, City Lights. He liked to put comic boxing scenes in his movies. He also liked beautiful and loving women. And the cops are always bad guys giving the tramp a hard time.

The Kid, the title character, is very cute, and very well played by Jackie Coogan. He helps to make it a precious film, and I mean that only in a good sense.

I like happy endings too, and Chaplin is happy to oblige. But one thing I'd really like to see is the sequel to this one, to see how the lives of the three main characters develop.

This film is so far superior to almost every movie coming out today. And I'm not one to praise the old simply because it is old. If an old movie is terrible, I'll say so. But this movie right here is far superior to almost every movie in the theatres right now.

EXCELLENT CHAPLIN FILM - THE BEST BY ALL ACCOUNTS.......2006-09-14

take a look at this film. The extras are unnecessary. Even back then the state could take a kid away from a loving and kind caretaker, but mainly because they were swindling people by breaking windows. BUt hey it was a living and keeping stacks of pancakes on the table.

THe state back then was beatable. Not anymore, and the two are reunited. THis film is really great, but would likely be condemned as kiddie pern nowadays when we no longer give our kids a kiss goodnight or share a cot, or sacrifice all to care for them.

Especially interesting in this film is something unique at the time to Chaplin: the depiction of passing African American characters without racial jokes, but reality. CHaplin is almost alone in this. Stepin Fetchit was making a good penny with racist depictions of Black people. Chaplin dares present real people with wiles and intelligence.

Check out this movie. It has all the classic Chaplin bits, plus the incredible Jackie Coogan (later TV's Uncle Fester) under Chaplin's fine direction. Well-written. Not too much bathos and sentiment and melodrama but just enough to keep things moving. THe scene where the mother and the kid unknowingly see each other at a doorstep is great and classical irony, not overdone. IT must have been a scream in a movie theatre long ago.

You must get this movie. Then get A King in New York to see how the elder Chaplin directed his own son as well years later.

A masterpiece.......2006-07-01

In an era when silent films were cranked out quickly and were far from an art form, Chaplin decided to take a new approach. Although this film started out as another short film, by the time it was done, Chaplin had spent a year on it, and had taken more shots and retakes than perhaps had been done for any film in history. By completion, it had grown into a six reel feature film.

I hesitate to use the word artistry, because it sounds like one of those words used for films that only critics tend to appreciate. But this film is both artistic and accessible. If you are not used to silent films, or the ones you have seen either lacked continuity or were hard to follow, you will find this as easy to watch as any modern film, and find that it tells a story as well as the best of films.

This edition features the musical score written by Chaplin, which underscores both the comedy and the drama of this movie. A host of features on the second DVD give you a feel for the background and the era.

If you are a Chaplin fan, this movie is a must have. If you are not a Chaplin fan, but are curious what all the fuss is about, this movie will let you know.

Chaplin's first masterpiece.......2006-02-12

This was Chaplin's first feature-length film, and it's a beautiful work of art. Chaplin is the tramp who finds an abandoned baby in an alley with a note attached pleading for the finder to care for and love the child. Some inventive scenes of Charlie learning the rudiments of baby care follow, and then it jumps ahead five years. Jackie Coogan is now the kid and it was not only his greatest role, but perhaps the best appearance on screen of any child star until Tatum O'Neill in PAPER MOON; he might also be the best character Chaplin ever worked with. Coogan throws rocks through windows while Chaplin, a glazier, appears on the scene to make repairs: it's a living. In one astonishing scene, officials from the county orphanage come to take the kid away, and Charlie puts up a fight to keep him - racing over rooftops to catch up with the truck with Coogan inside until Chaplin leaps into the truck and rescues him: it's a brilliant piece of moviemaking and was copied a thousand times in westerns with a horse replacing the truck. There is a dream sequence near the end that is very strange and somehow seems out of place. But the movie is a great one. It took one whole year to make at a time when Chaplin was cranking out two-reelers by the week for National and Essenay.

Wonderful edition of The Kid.......2005-10-05

This MK2 edition of The Kid has to be the best available. Beautiful picture quality and great extras, the best in my opinion being another silent starring Jackie: My Boy (1921), which I like as much as The Kid (despite its being completely silent, even devoid of a musical score). All in all, a great package and worth every cent of its price.

Average customer rating:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?
I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen.
POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!
I wasn't scared
Pointless

The Omen (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Predrag Bjelac , Carlo Sabatini , Bohumil Svarc , Liev Schreiber , and Giovanni Lombardo Radice
Director: John Moore
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
An American Haunting (Unrated Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Silent Hill (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000HCO87C
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Is Liev Schreiber Breathing?.......2007-06-08

I also think that Michael Gambon was the better Bugenhagen. .......2007-05-21

Michael Gambon was better than Leo McKern? I want some of the drugs that you are taking! That is a ridiculous statement. BTW--the remake stinks.
Richard Donner isn't losing any sleep.

POINTLESS REMAKE WATCH THE ORIGINAL!.......2007-05-14

The remake is not as creepy or as good as the original. It is a complete waste of time. This film adds nothing new or does anything better than the original. Why???

I wasn't scared.......2007-05-13

Pointless.......2007-05-11

Average customer rating:

"I used you as a love toy."
Step Away from the Implausible Plot, Enjoy thisTour de Force
Uneven comedy-drama sends mixed message to gay viewers
A so-so film about a man questioning his sexuality in Madrid

I Love You Baby
Starring: Jorge Sanz , Santiago Magill , Tiaré Scanda , Verónica Forqué , and Marta Suárez
Director: David Menkes , and Alfonso Albacete
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

City of M (Sub)
A Love to Hide
Breakfast on Pluto
Volver
Third Man Out

ASIN: B0000B1OFG
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Description

In this delightful, irreverent romantic comedy, where boy meets boy who then meets girl and all become more confused than ever, sexually ambiguous Marcos arrives in Madrid looking for love. He soon meets a struggling actor named Daniel, and the two start a whirlwind romance. One night, the lovers head off to a local bar for a spot of karaoke. While dueting on "I Can't Take My Eyes Off You," Marcos is struck, quite literally, by a falling disco ball. Recovering from this bizarre accident, he starts to question his newfound sexuality and begins to date the fiery female Marisol, who has had her eye on Marcos for awhile. Unable to be consoled, Daniel, in a moment of Boy George inspired behavior, dyes his hair, applies lipstick and frocks up, determined to win back the confused Marcos.

Customer Reviews:

"I used you as a love toy.".......2005-08-26

In the film, "I Love You Baby" Marcos (Jorge Sanz) moves to Madrid and works in his Uncle's small bar. He meets a young Dominican single mother, Marisol (Tiare Scanda), and more or less ignores her. He also meets actor Daniel (Santiago Magill), and after a heady romance, Marcos and Daniel move in together. They have some fundamental differences--Marcos, for example is an ardent soccer fan (Daniel isn't), and Daniel drags Marcos off to the ballet (where Marcos falls asleep).

One night, Daniel and Marcos attend a Karaoke bar, and a disco ball falls on Marcos knocking him down. When Marcos wakes up, he begins to act differently, and soon his romance with Daniel is over. Marcos then begins seeing Marisol. Daniel turns to his best friend, the chatty Carmen (Almodovar's Veronique Forque), and he comes up with a plan to win Marcos back by dressing up as a woman.

With an ongoing Boy George theme, this light, frothy romance never quite takes itself seriously. With a good natured, forgiving view of the foibles of human nature, and the dirty tactics sometimes used in romance, the film offers nothing too heavy here. The characters are great fun--Carmen, for example, is another lost and lonely soul who is about to take a huge leap into responsibility and stability. Local disco Romeo Luis (Joel Angelino) operates from a local Dominican nightclub, and provides a few laughs. The implausible plot and sentimental ending are forgivable thanks to the film's light touch and joie de vivre. In Spanish with English subtitles--displacedhuman

Step Away from the Implausible Plot, Enjoy thisTour de Force.......2005-03-29

I LOVE YOU BABY is light and fluffy and for all its faults, bounces around like a parody of American chick flicks and retro TV shows. Even the soundtrack is primarily well-known songs from the US and despite some of the criticisms of the rather implausible plot, the story is powered by some very talented and energetic actors who make us want to go along with the silly but sad tale.

Marcos (Jorge Sanz) enters Madrid to make money to support his family back home and to pursue his dream of owning a big restaurant. Asking directions to his aunt and uncle's cafe, he incidentally queries Marisol (Tiare Scanda), a Dominican beauty who likewise has moved to Madrid to make enough money to support her five-year-old daughter back in the Dominican Republic. Marisol flutters; Marcos obliviously plunges on to his destination. Once ensconced in his relatives gracious little home, Marcos begins to work in their cafe and Marisol quietly stalks this 'ideal' man of her dreams. Marcos soon becomes bored with his evenings at home and ventures out in Madrid where he encounters the gay, handsome would-be actor Daniel (Santiago Magill, a personality to watch!), shares coffee, and they agree to meet the next day. Meet they do and the sexually ambivalent Marcos finds himself in his first affair with a man!

Daniel is a charming and romantic idealist who is madly in love with Marcos and finds his support for his quasi-successful ventures into film from Marcos' presence and the warm friendship he has with his long-term female, gay supportive friend Carmen (Veronique Forque) who accepts her life as a wallflower and sublimates her fantasies in Daniel's love affairs. The three (Marcos, Daniel, and Carmen) visit a gay club where during a karaoke number a palladium ball falls striking Marcos on the head. He recovers but finds his sexual orientation changed and when Marisol's endless pursuits continue, he bonds with her.

Marcos must now decide between Daniel and Marisol and Marisol wins. Not one to give up on love so easily, Daniel decides that if a hit on the head can change his new lover's preferences, then he (Daniel) will simply dress as a woman to gain him back. How this all plays out - the triangle of two men and a woman influenced by the close friends of Daniel and Marisol - is the unfortunately corny part of an otherwise lighthearted comedy romance. The resolution offends some by its apparent inference that 'straight relationships' are more valid than 'gay relationships', but that can be in how you choose to view it. The fault of the film is not the resolution of the triangle: the fault is in the realm of the absurd that the last five minutes takes us. Rather unforgivable - or is it a taste of Latin magical realism?

The film has some fine moments and the acting of Santiago Magill and Veronique Forque is first rate. The supporting cast is excellent and the tastes of Madrid at night are beautiful. Not a great film, but certainly one with enough entertainment to make it worth your time. Grady Harp, March 05

Uneven comedy-drama sends mixed message to gay viewers.......2004-04-27

I LOVE YOU BABY (Spain 2001): Struck by a falling disco ball while singing karaoke in a Madrid nightclub, a gay country boy (Jorge Sanz) wakes to find himself inexplicably 'straight', alienating his devastated boyfriend (Santiago Magill) who surrenders him to a relationship with a beautiful single mother (Tiare Scanda). But Magill is unwilling to relinquish Sanz so easily, and makes one last desperate effort to reclaim him...

Taking its cue from a real-life incident in 1999 when Culture Club frontman Boy George was almost struck and killed by a falling disco ball, this uneven Spanish 'dramedy' features a miscast Sanz (popular in Latin countries since his appearance in AMANTES and BELLE EPOQUE ten years earlier, but past his prime here) and Peruvian TV star Magill (one of the most astonishingly beautiful men this reviewer has ever seen!) as the lovers torn apart by an extraordinary twist of fate. And 'extraordinary' is the word, since Sanz plays a dull, ungainly character who warrants none of the attention he receives from both Magill and Scanda (a rising star in her native Mexico), and who seems to be conflicted about his sexuality even before the incident with the disco ball, rendering the film's central conceit almost entirely pointless. When Magill drags up as a winsome, blonde-haired woman in an effort to regain Sanz's affections, the narrative invites comparisons with some of Pedro Almodovar's more outrageous offerings, but the film - co-written and directed by Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes - is a lightweight mix of inoffensive drama and half-hearted comic relief, and there's a couple of outlandish plot developments which stretch the limits of believability. In fact, whether intentionally or not, the film reinforces unpleasant attitudes about the 'second-class' status of gay men by depicting Magill as a desperate character unable to compete with his heterosexual counterparts without humiliating himself in the process. This dubious premise might have been informed by the macho tradition inherent in Spanish culture, but coming from directors with a track record of gay films (including I WILL SURVIVE and NOT LOVE, JUST FRENZY), the notion that heterosexual love is inherently 'superior' to any other and that gays should 'know their place' rings more than a little hollow. The surprise ending is also a little awkward, due to a REALLY bad performance by the person in the very last shot of the film...

That said, however, there's still much to enjoy in I LOVE YOU BABY, not least the handsome production values and sincere performances, especially from veteran Spanish actress Veronica Forque as an eternal wallflower whose gay friends are the only source of comfort in her life. But the film belongs to Magill (also the star of an earlier - more explicit - gay film, DON'T TELL ANYONE), who carries the script's emotional burden with effortless grace; his brief love scenes with Sanz are entirely natural, and completely unaffected. However, it must be said: Though attractive as a woman, he looks MUCH better as a man!

Strand Releasing's no-frills DVD offers an excellent widescreen version of the film, but the theatrical Dolby Digital soundtrack has been downmixed to 2.0 stereo surround. Granted, this isn't the kind of movie which relies on dramatic effects, but the disc represents a compromised version of the original soundtrack. The packaging is a little bland, too, and appears to downplay the gay elements - much like the film itself, actually. A trailer for this movie is included, along with trailers for other gay-themed entries from Strand's DVD catalogue, including the must-see masterpiece BURNT MONEY.

NB. This film is not to be confused with an unrelated German production, I LOVE YOU BABY, directed by Nick Lyon in 2000.

102m 38s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
DVD soundtrack: Stereo surround 2.0
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital
Spanish with optional English subtitles
All regions

A so-so film about a man questioning his sexuality in Madrid.......2004-03-22

Handsome Marcos moves to Madrid with the hope of earning enough money to open a restaurant and settles in with his aunt and uncle. While out on the town, he meets Daniel in a bar. Under the watchful eyes of a Boy George poster, they strike up a friendship which quickly turns into romance.

One night while they are on stage at a karaoke bar, the disco ball falls from the ceiling, striking Marcos on the head and changing him from gay to straight. Within a few months, he's fallen for Marisol, a young Dominican woman trying to earn enough money to bring her daughter to live with her in Spain. But Daniel isn't ready to give up on his love and will use any means to win him back.

The big problem with this movie is the story itself. What starts out as a promising romantic film turns odd and illogical. I just couldn't believe that getting hit on the head with a disco ball would change one's sexual orientation. And, the film didn't even expand upon the change. Simply, 'poof, I'm straight!' At another point, Daniel says something so out of character -- which has a major impact on the story's outcome -- that I started open-mouthed at the screen, wondering what just happened.

The only saving grace of the film is the acting, especially bySantiago Magill as Daniel and Tiaré Scanda as Marisol who play their roles as the love interests with ease and believability. Jorge Sanz is quite wooden and wishy-washy as Marcos, and by the end of the film, I didn't feel that he was worthy of either Daniel or Marisol. But Verónica Forqué steals the film as Daniel's single friend Carmen. She's full of quirky wisdom and the friendship he needs to face his problems. And she's quite funny.

Amazon.com

This mystical film from Danish director Jannik Hastrup tells the story of a polar bear couple who, after losing their stillborn cub, steal a baby boy to raise as their own. Mother bear names him "Little Bear" and, in time, teaches him to survive in the snow, catch fish from the river, and defend himself against wolves. The mother knows, however, that the happiness they share will not last forever--that eventually the boy's father will search for, and find, his son. When the father finally does "rescue" his son, returning him to the company of humans, the boy unwillingly lives with them as a wild misfit who struggles with his dual identity. Finally, he escapes to make a journey to the Spirit of the Mountain to determine who he really is. On one level, this is an enchanting story of a mother's sustaining love, yet the stronger message underscores the fragility of the relationship between man and beast. The stunning animation resembles watercolor paintings in motion, and the haunting musical melodies add a dialogue of their own. (Ages 10 and older) --Lynn Gibson

Description

Customer Reviews:

One of a kind!.......2007-06-30

Beautiful film! My 4 and 5 year olds loved it. I loved the cultural aspect to it that is so hard to find. In reference to the violence, it's not any more violent than Disney's Lion King.

This Storyline Makes No Sense.......2006-06-01

Okay, so Momma polar bear has a stillborn cub at the same time Momma Indigenous Woman has an Indigenous live baby. Momma polar bear is grief-stricken and Papa polar bear is beside himself, because she is in such a great valley of depression. So Papa bear makes a visit to the Indigenous Woman's house and takes Indigenous baby to give to Mama bear.

So the boy gets raised as a polar bear until Papa Indigenous Man hunts down all the polar bears, including Mama Bear (after he leaves Mama bear with the human kid, Papa bear leaves the plot. If he was so concerned about Mama bear, why did he leave?)

Anyway, the boy wants to be a bear, and in the end (SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!) he becomes a bear.

The film never focuses on the fact that the Indigenous mother and father lose their son, and their grief is downplayed. It's all focused on the silly female bear.

In my opinion, it was a poor way for Papa and Mama bear to deal with her grief. But maybe I'm just ignorant on the ways of polar bears.

The animation isn't too happening, either.

Definately not a Disney Move.......2005-05-04

Very surreal and dreamy picture about a boy taken from his parents by grief stricken bears who want to raise him as their son. He grows up, his Father reclaims him, and his struggle to become part of the wild again begins. A fantastic film, probably a little better for older children.

A Mythic Tale about Choices.......2005-02-27

"The Boy Who Wanted to be a Bear" is one of the most engrossing and magical animated feature-length films of recent memory. It's the story of a wild boy caught between two opposing worlds -- the village of men and the land of animals. In each, there are reasons to stay and reasons to leave, but the power of love helps to lead him toward his ultimate decision.

The soundtrack is marvelous (composed by the artist who scored Winged Migration and Himalaya), and helps to give the film some additional spirit. The animation is simple, yet powerful and rich -- the scenes have the youthful look of magic marker imposed over watercolor backdrops, and yet, because of this, the characters feel more real. The pace of the story is perhaps a bit too brisk at times, but overall this is a masterful film. I think that you and your children will enjoy this as much my the folks in our house did.

A word to the wise: purchase the Collector's Edition so that you'll have the option of the English audio track as well as the beautiful, original French audio track. It's a shame when studios consider original languages to be "extras."

The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear (Collector's Series Edition)

Average customer rating:

One of a kind!
This Storyline Makes No Sense
Definately not a Disney Move
A Mythic Tale about Choices

The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear (Collector's Series Edition)
Starring: Marlon Vilstrup , Joachim Boje Helvang , Otto Brandenburg , Paprika Steen , and Tommy Kenter
Director: Jannik Hastrup
Manufacturer: Central Park Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Porco Rosso
Old Yeller 2-Movie Collection (Old Yeller/Savage Sam)
The Brothers Grimm
Hoot (New Line Platinum Series)
James and the Giant Peach (Special Edition)

ASIN: B0006JML2A
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Amazon.com

Description

A mother bear's cub dies in the Arctic wild, and her mate steals a human boy to be their son. The mother bear loves the child more with each passing day, and he grows as wild and free as the strongest bear. When the boy's human father arrives to take him back, the child must choose his own destiny. Can he return to humankind, or will his heart forever be the heart of a beast? Collector's Series Edition DVD Features: Anamorphic Widescreen Format, Interviews with the English Language Cast, Original Theatrical Trailer, The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear Background Information, Arctic Trivia Quiz, English & French whth English Subtitles, and more.

Customer Reviews:

One of a kind!.......2007-06-30

Beautiful film! My 4 and 5 year olds loved it. I loved the cultural aspect to it that is so hard to find. In reference to the violence, it's not any more violent than Disney's Lion King.

This Storyline Makes No Sense.......2006-06-01

Definately not a Disney Move.......2005-05-04

A Mythic Tale about Choices.......2005-02-27

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Top Gun (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)

Robin Of Sherwood - Series 2 - Episodes 1 To 4 : Video

The Good Son [1993]

DVD: Pokemon 3 - The Movie

Guyver 5-8 - Anime