The Big Town

Starring:Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Dern, Lee Grant, Tom Skerritt, Suzy Amis, David Marshall Grant, Don Francks, Del Close, Meg Hogarth, Cherry Jones, Mark Danton, David Elliott (IX), Steve Yorke, Chris Owens, Sean McCann, Kevin Fox, Marc Strange, Don Lake
Director: Ben Bolt (II), Harold Becker
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Description

You've heard the story of Moses but have you heard it told as a Western?! Meet Moe, a good-natured cowboy living high on the hog out in Dodgeball City, while his kinfolk work their fingers to the bone digging the Grand Canyon. Upset by how his family is treated, Moe stands up to the zucchini mayor and sends him up the river. Well as you might reckon a heap of trouble comes to town. Can Moe help free his people and flee Dodgeball once and fer all? Includes a hilarious silly song - A Mess Down in Egypt - starring everyone's favorite boy band - Boyz in the Sink!

Customer Reviews:

I laughed more at this movie than Little Joe!.......2007-06-12

It's amazing what the creators at BigIdea can do with so many vegetables. My kids and I have been 'fans' of VeggieTales for years and were excited when we finally got Moe and the Big Exit. This movie has some great puns (BigIdea is known for funny puns) and the music lyrics are cute! Just when you think BigIdea couldn't get any better with their vegetables, they have!

Awesome video.......2007-06-02

My son (and my husband and I) love this movie. It is very informative and educational as well. Not to mention this movie is just plain fun to watch.

VeggieTales - they have still got it!.......2007-05-14

For fans of VeggieTales there will not be any supprises, just that the length of the features is gradualy increasing.
Our family enjoyed this title and it is very much a follow on from Little Joe. Our 3 1/2 year old is very much a Bob and Larry fan and had no problems sitting through this and my Father-in-LAw said it was one of the best he has seen!

Keep em comin'

Moe and the Big Exit.......2007-05-10

Another great Veggietales, excellent work and a great learning experience for all kids.

Moe and the Big Exit.......2007-05-09

This is a "sequel" to The Ballad of Little Joe. My husband and I buy VeggieTale movies for our grandchildren to watch. At least that is what we tell everyone. This movie is the story of Moses and the Israelites exodus from Eygpt. Very funny and great story.

Average customer rating:

Did you read the book?
Poor Quality
will this horror ever end?
This is really stupid!
did they read the book??

The Tommyknockers
Starring: Jimmy Smits , Marg Helgenberger , John Ashton , Allyce Beasley , and Robert Carradine
Director: John Power (II)
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Stephen King's Storm of the Century
Stephen King's It
The Night Flier
The Langoliers
Stephen King's: Sometimes They Come Back

ASIN: 1573624098
Release Date: 1998-09-09

Amazon.com

The Tommyknockers is a TV miniseries based on Stephen King's 1987 novel. An alien spacecraft has been buried beneath the Burning Woods near the small rural New England community of Haven for millions of years, but has now by chance been unearthed by Bobbi (Marg Helgenberger) while digging around in the woods behind her house. The structure in the woods begins to exert a glowing-green influence on the town, causing the people to invent Rube Goldberg-like gizmos, develop the gift of telepathy, lose their teeth, and form a hive-mind mentality bent on digging up the ship and revivifying the desiccated aliens within. Luckily, Bobbi's significant other is an alcoholic poet (Jimmy Smits) who needs to learn to face his fears. He also has a metal plate in his head that prevents the hive-minders from reading his thoughts and makes him immune to the neon-green influence of the aliens. Ultimately, it's up to him to save the day. Although the acting is topnotch, especially from Smits and Helgenberger, and there are plenty of gooseflesh moments, there are also enough plot holes here to fuel a very long and enjoyable evening's conversation. Why do the aliens start in at this time, when they've been causing legends in the woods for ages? Where does an alien ship buried for ages get all that dry ice? How does the Smits character make a living as a poet? One suspects that King's fine sense of New England characterizations is given short shrift here, and that the woods in his mind teem with more alien thoughts than the TV miniseries form could embody. Welcome appearances by congenial actors abound, notably Joanna Cassidy, E.G. Marshall and Robert Carradine. And there's a slutty postal letter-carrier played authentically by Traci Lords. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

Did you read the book?.......2007-03-12

Not really worth watching if you read the book. Do yourself a favor and read the book.

Poor Quality.......2006-10-14

I'm not going to waste a bunch of my time or yours giving a personally oppinionated review of the movie plot. It's redundant and unnecessary, and whether someone likes the story or not is irrelavent. Only you can form an opinion of whether you like it or not by watching it yourself. Double that with the fact that most movies hardly ever line up with the book that's based on and well...

My gripe is the transition from putting the movie in it's original format onto DVD was bad. The soundtrack is about 1/2 to 1 second off from the video part of film, therefore the voices don't sync up with the lip movement.

will this horror ever end?.......2006-10-13

Is it generally a rule that miniseries based off books have to suck so badly? I've seen a million TV miniseries based off novels that have sucked so horrendously, but NONE like this. Get this straight before I continue: I LOVE the book version of The Tommyknockers; it's my alltime favorite Stephen King novel (second-favorite: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon... review to come later) and I liked how it took the time to reveal key things about the plot: how Haven got started (and the "sowing and reaping" the itinerant preacher got on with the virgins in the cornfield), how Gard and Bobbi originally got to be such good friends (more than that actually; they dated for some time), and what actually went on in the woods that unleashed the evil. Here... bulls**t. Utter bulls**t. Here is why I think the movie sucked:

- The series is only 2 hours long... what the f**k? A novel the size of The Tommyknockers can't possibly be fit into a 2-hour long series. What about the minor stuff that, although minor, can't be taken out without a serious loss in credibility? Like Hilly. There wasn't much of him or his disappearing act with his little brother David, and there certainly wasn't enough of his tenure at Altair-4 or their frantic search for his body. And what about Gard and how he opened up the hole to suck in his conniving ex-poker buddy after getting cheated on a poker game? That scene would have been amazing in the movie. But no. None of it.

-The changes the authors made in the plotline. Seriously. Get some things at least partially right, then change what you have to in order to fulfill whatever sick and twisted purpose you had in mind when changing the original. But they take it too far. Example: in the novel, Gard and Bobbi's teeth originally fell out because of their "becoming"; now, nothing. And, the aliens themselves have a full set of teeth (that part in the novel)... so why the (insert obscenity here) did they change it?!?!

The only reason I gave this particular hellfest two stars is cause the original was made by Stephen King. No other reason. If you are looking for a good time, buy the damn book. It's the real thing- unlike this piece of s**t.

Overall: 2 stars
Why: for failure to be entertaining

This is really stupid!.......2006-06-12

This has to be Stephen King's worst work adapted. This adaptation is even worse than Needful Things. Children Of The Corn (I am talking about the original and not the crappy sequels) was miles abouve better than this garbage. Just a stupid movie adapted from a lame book. Just plain trash.

did they read the book??.......2006-06-05

while not one of his best novels, tommyknockers was much better than this waste of time! jimmy smits does his best,but the underwritten screenplay does him and this movie about dead aliens and the thought control they have over a small new england town is just not worth the trouble!! SKIP IT!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Brave New Girl
Based on a Book
Brave New Girl
Loved The Movie
Made Me Cry

Brave New Girl
Starring: Virginia Madsen , and Lindsey Haun
Director: Bobby Roth
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Raise Your Voice
Lucky Seven
Broken Bridges
Broken Bridges
She Gets What She Wants

ASIN: B0002S948O
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Product Description

Holly Lovell (Haun) dreams of attending the Havery Conservatory of Music and Dance even though she knows he single mother wand (Madsen) is struggling to pay the bills never mind tuition. When Wanda finds Holly s application in the trash, she secretly records holly s application in the trash, she secretly records Holly s performance at a local competition and submits the application for her. Holly soon discovers that dreams do come true. All you need is hope. And mother s gift.

System Requirements:

Running Time 90 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Brave New Girl.......2007-07-03

Saw the beginning of this movie on TV and never saw it again to see the end. So bought the movie and enjoyed seeing the entire movie without breaks. Everything went well from initial order to watching the movie. Well worth the price.

Based on a Book.......2006-12-14

This movie is based on the book "Brave New Girl" that Britney Spears and her mom Lynn Spears co-wrote. It is actually a pretty good book and the movie dipicts the story well. I think that the book is actually better, and Britney and her mother are pretty good authors in my opinion.

Brave New Girl.......2006-06-01

this is probably the worst movie i've ever seen!i dont know why i even bothered to watch it till the end!first of all its an ugly version of 'raise your voice'.the actors, the script-all ugly!and sooo annoying!this grant guy who is holly's love interest is everything but 'hot'-u cant even see his face under the hair and beard, and actress playing holly gave all the expressions wrong and was so irritating!and the texas accent?they obviously overdid it!the worst thing about the movie?the ending.it could not have been more INAPPROPRIATE!!!i'm talking script-wise.holly had to perform this opera thing and during it i just kept fearing for the worse, which happened:she tore off her dress and took off the hat(she stayed with this skirtand top)and performed a pop version of the opera(which was from carmen by the way)with the cheesiest lyrics EVER!!!one of her music teachers sat with a strict face while all the others got up and cheered(dunno why) and thats how it ended.no style at all.i dont know whether they wanted to end with a cliffhanger but this definitely was the most unstylish way to do it.want a stylish cliffhanger?watch 'the butterfly effect'.this movie is definitely not worth watching.if u want something of this kind then check out 'raise your voice' and dont even bother with this one.this movie is everything but cute.

Loved The Movie.......2005-08-21

I found the movie rather cute. Of course if any movie has dancing or singing, I'll automatically love it. :) But the lip synching was pretty obvious in most parts. And from that, it makes you wonder who exactly can REALLY sing. Oh well, I still love the movie and I think it's worth the watch.

Made Me Cry.......2004-12-17

This is a wonderful movie and I love everything about it. I think it was a great movie for family to see and talk about. That is all I have to say.

Average customer rating:

Interesting Sleeper
Worth a roll of the dice
Big Town, Little Movie
Diane Lane is a feast for the eyes
Dice players rejoyce

The Big Town
Starring: Matt Dillon , Diane Lane , Tommy Lee Jones , Bruce Dern , and Lee Grant
Director: Harold Becker , and Ben Bolt (II)
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Vital Signs
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ASIN: B0002O7XUO
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Description

Matt Dillon stars as a small-time gambler in 1950's Chicago. He moves from rural Illinois to Chicago to pursure his incredible luck at dice. While working for professional gamblers, he falls in love with both a stripper (Diane Lane) and a pretty unwed mother (Suzy Amis). Starring: Diane Lane (2003 Academy Award® Nominee Unfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun), Matt Dillon (Drugstore Cowboy), Tommy Lee Jones (Academy Award Winner, 1994 The Fugitive, The Missing), Bruce Dern (Academy Award Nominee 1978 Coming Home), Lee Grant (Academy Award Winner, 1976 Shampoo).

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Sleeper.......2006-08-10

"The Big Town" doesn't break any cinematic ground but it's more than worth your while. How can you go wrong with a film that sports two Oscar winners(Tommy Lee Jones, Lee Grant) and three nominees(Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Bruce Dern) in the cast? Director Ben Bolt imbues the film with terrific period atmosphere and the selection of rock, rhythm and blues, and country and western music is impeccable. The film has a gritty sensiblity reminiscent of classic film noir. Dillon is fine as the kid from Indiana with a knack for dice rolling who seeks his fame and fortune in the seedy backrooms of Chicago. It's Jones, however, who steals the picture in an understated turn as the film's ostensible villain. Jones doesn't have to say a word. Just a squint of his eyes and a look at his craggy visage says it all. Good character turns from vets Grant and Dern as the couple who bankroll Dillon's endeavors. The two women in Dillon's life, Lane's exotic dancer and Suzy Amis' aspiring DJ are kind of underwritten. These two are kind of cliched in representing the good girl/bad girl dichotomy. The promised showdown between Dillon and Jones is kind of a fizzle. Another disappointment is Lane's less than erotic fan dance.

Worth a roll of the dice.......2006-06-16

The varied reactions to this movie by other reviewers are interesting, but nonetheless surprise me. De gustibus and all that, I suppose.

Released in 1987 but set in 1957, this is a well written and well acted drama with much of the feel of 40s and 50s noir. The look of the film, presumably deliberately, also has the style of an earlier era. The sound track, with Ivory Joe Hunter, Lincoln Chase, Big Joe Turner and others, couldn't be more suitable. The sleaze, of course, is much more advanced than would have been permissible thirty years earlier.

The hero, J.C. Cullen (Matt Dillon), is more complex than a pure country innocent corrupted by a wicked woman Lorry Dane (Diane Lane), a stripper at the Gem Club. A small town gambler trying to make it big in Chicago, he has his own dark, or at least not-so-light, side, which is why he takes up with Lorry so readily. Yet, he at least struggles with his conscience even if he doesn't always do the right thing. Tommy Lee Jones and Bruce Dern are in fine form as villains, Lee Grant has just the right touch, and Diane Lane has never been more stunning or more credible in a role. The Big Town is not a big movie, but it is a good one.

Big Town, Little Movie.......2004-04-13

Matt Dillon stars in this Ben Bolt movie about a young gambler from the 50`s that goes to Chicago in order to improve his life. Diane Lane and Tommy Lee Jones also give standout performances here, and most of the cast is convincing enough. The problem seems to be Bolt`s direction, entirely average and bland, which doesn`t provide any particural memorable moment or scene. There are no impressive camera-angles here, so what counts is really the plot. The worse thing is that the plot is just adequate yet nothing special either, presenting a typical rags-to-riches storyline with cliched characters and unsurprising situations. The acting makes it work in a mildly interesting manner, though, so the movie still manages to be an entertaining pick for a rainy day. "The Big Town" is another average film worth watching once and be done with it.

Not a keeper.

Diane Lane is a feast for the eyes.......2002-12-25

The luscious Diane Lane was the reason I rented this movie (and would buy it as well, should it become available). I was on my Diane Lane binge when I saw this, along with Lady Beware, Priceless Beauty, The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. What can I say? I missed out on her movies as an adolescent. Seeing her in The Perfect Storm inspired me to seek out her earlier work.
The Big Town stands out as one of the better movies she was in, with an entertaining plot of a dice hustler played well by Matt Dillon. It seems they enjoyed acting together as well, having both been in Coppolla's Rumble Fish and The Outsiders.
There are a great collection of other character actors in this film as well, including Bruce Dern, Tommy Lee Jones and Tom Skerrit. Suzy Amis is sympathetic as Dillon's other love interest, but she doesn't hold a candle to the sex kitten Lane.

Dice players rejoyce.......2002-06-19

I first stumbled across this movie on cable in the late 80's. I loved it then and still do today. Great story, great casting, great acting & great period film making. Diane Lane is not to shabby either as a strippin' diva with a taste for the fast life. Matt Dillon plays a complete craps stud who can win any dice game no matter the stakes or cash on the table. Tommy Lee Jones, Tom Skerrit, Bruce Dern & Lee Grant all contribute with awesome performances to this "Gem Club" of a movie. I sincerely hope we'll all be lucky enough for this title to be available soon on DVD. Heck, I'd love to have a DVD with tons of extras too if it was up to me but it it's not. I can always dream though...

Average customer rating:

Veggie Tales: Moe y el Gran Escape
Starring: Veggie Tales
Manufacturer: Big Idea
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Veggie Tales: La Balada del Pequeno Joe
Veggie Tales: Dave y el Pepinillo Gigante
Veggie Tales: Lyle el Vikingo Amable
Veggie Tales: Gedeon: El Guerrero de Las Tubas
Veggie Tales: Minnesota Cuke y La Busqueda del Cepillo de Sanson

ASIN: B000O5B51Y
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Description

( Moe and the Big Exit) Meet Moe (Larry the Cucumber,) a good-natured cowboy living high on the hog out in Dodgeball City while his kinfolk work their fingers to the bone digging the Grand Canyon. When Moe asks the heartless mayor to let his people go, he refuses and a heap of trouble comes to town. Can Moe help free his people from bondage and flee Dodgeball City once and fer all? Saddle up for a rootin' tootin' Bible adventure as VeggieTales heads west and teaches a lesson in followin' directions! But that's not all -- this DVD also features a Silly Song from your favorite (Vegetable) Boy-Band! Yes, it's the Boyz in the Sink doin' what they do best singing, "A Mess Down in Egypt."

Average customer rating:

The beast and the people
One of the best movies EVER

The Big Animal (Duze Zwierze)
Starring: Jerzy Stuhr , Anna Dymna , and Krzysztof Kieslowski
Director: Anna Dymna
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GRUMZK
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

The Big Animal is probably the only movie about a middle-aged Polish couple who adopt a camel, but it's not faint praise to say that it's also the best one. In fact, director and co-star Jerzy Stuhr, working from a script by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski, has made a film that's beautifully shot, well-acted, and whimsically charming. Zygmunt Sawicki (Stuhr) and his wife (Anna Dymna) are bemused, to say the least, when a camel (of the Bactrian or two-humped variety), having apparently been abandoned by the circus it was traveling with, turns up outside their front gate. They soon become quite attached to the big, gentle beast, especially the sweet-natured Zygmunt, who's fond of conducting one-sided conversations with it while they stroll through the small town. The locals, especially the younger ones kids, seem quite taken with this most unusual pet as well--at first, anyway. But petty jealousy, ignorance, intolerance, and greed (a camel in the Polish countryside? Gotta be a way to cash in on that) spoil the Sawickis' idyll, and soon Zygmunt is being interrogated by mealy-mouthed town council members and facing angry picketers in his own yard. The animal is "no use to the community." It's making the children late for school. Why, it's probably carrying some deadly African strain of venereal disease. The camel must go! Zygmunt's reaction to all of this ranges from rage and indignation to confusion and, ultimately, sadness and grief. Along the way, The Big Animal is filled with lovely moments, like the camel "singing" along as Zygmunt practices his clarinet or looming docilely outside the kitchen window as the couple eats dinner. It's also filmed in luminous black & white by cinematographer Pawel Edelman (an Oscar nominee for Roman Polanski's The Pianist); the final wintry sequence at the Warsaw Zoo is breathtaking. A 30-minute interview with Stuhr (in Polish with subtitles, just like the main attraction) is the principal bonus feature. --Sam Graham

Description

THE BIG ANIMAL, scripted by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski (DECALOGUE, THREE COLORS TRILOGY) and shot in shimmering black-and-white by Pawel Edelman (the Oscar®-nominated cinematographer for Roman Polanski's THE PIANIST) is an inspiring film celebrating the most human of themes: love, tolerance and sacrifice.

The film's director (and longtime Kieslowski actor) Jerzy Stuhr stars as Zygmunt Sawicki, an ordinary bank clerk in a small Polish town, who awakens one morning to discover a camel outside his kitchen window. As he and his wife (Anna Dymna) grow increasingly fond of their remarkable pet, the animal evokes their neighbors' jealousy … and greed. Although the Sawickis are determined to protect their cherished friend, the townspeople and local bureaucrats seem bent on exploiting the great beast. THE BIG ANIMAL is a charming fairy tale for grownups - a wise and cautionary parable about tolerance that is at once funny, compassionate and heartwarming.

Customer Reviews:

The beast and the people.......2007-04-25

Most people daydream as children about having an exotic pet.

But in "The Big Animal (Duze Zwierze)," a middle-aged Polish couple discovers that it's not as delightful as it sounds. The movie is a simple, powerful allegory written by Krzysztof Kieslowsk, filmed in luminescent black-and-white, and with a bittersweet message about narrow-minded cruelty.

The middle-aged Sawicki's are silently eating dinner, until Marysia (Anna Dymna) notices something moving out in the garden -- a camel. The next day, Zygmunt (Jerzy Stuhr) proudly parades the camel before the other townspeople, and tries to deal with government red tape -- should the camel be registered as a horse? No, you can't shoe it.

Of course, all the townspeople are initially delighted. But when they urge Zygmunt to cash in on the camel, he refuses -- he and his wife love the camel, and respect its dignity. And so slowly the small-minded citizens turn on the Sawickis and their beloved pet, with devastating results.

On one level, "The Big Animal" can be seen as an allegory for the Communist times in Poland. But it can also be seen as a more universal allegory about the cruelty of many people: a small-minded, cunning, greedy community can wreck something as simple as a childless couple's love for an animal.

And a lot of the movie's sadness comes from that theme, with the poor Sawickis risking everything because they just want to love their new pet. And who could be happy in such a community after seeing its ugly side? But Stuhr highlights the sweet moments as well, such as when Zygmunt plays the clarinet to the camel. There's even some humor, when the poor guy tries to deal with all the red tape -- some sly pokes at restricting governments.

Director/actor Stuhr strips filmmaking to the bone in this -- the camerawork is straightforward without any tricks, rendered in crisp, shining black and white. And Stuhr sticks to the simple images -- Zygmunt taking the camel for long walks -- as well as pretty, bittersweet dialogue ("Nobody will do you harm, because you're free!").

The primary cast is basically Stuhr and Dymna, who convey the innocent kindness of truly good people with amazing skill and depth. Most of the other human actors are playing typical greedy hypocrites -- they think that anything different is wrong, if it's not being used. And though he isn't technically "acting," the camel deserves props for giving the film a center -- serene and dignified.

Bittersweet and charming, "The Big Animal" is an exquisite example of filmmaking at its most simple, with a story that will wring a few tears even from hardened moviegoers.

One of the best movies EVER.......2007-02-05

Clearly a subtitled, B&W, slow moving film is not for everyone, but this is on my Top10 EVER film list. No flash filming here, just timeless story-telling, amazing acting and a camel that will keep you saying "I can't believe it!" Take a chance! You will love this movie and want to share it with lots of other people you know.

Empire Falls (Every Small Town Has a Big Story) Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Vol 2..You'll Wish There Was More

Empire Falls (Every Small Town Has a Big Story) Vol. 2

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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Empire Falls
Empire Falls
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Beowulf & Grendel
Elizabeth I

ASIN: B000G6M3F8

Product Description

A story about the intricacies of small town, blue-collar American life, centered around the misadventures of one, Miles Roby, manager of the Empire Grill. Trapped within the confines of Empire Falls, Maine since the death of his mother, Miles has been unable to sever his many ties to his dilapidated hometown, including his reformed brother, his lay-about father, his soon-to-be-ex-wife, and their intelligent, if awkward daughter, Tick.

Customer Reviews:

Vol 2..You'll Wish There Was More.......2006-07-01

A superb mini-series! This one has the stars shining brightly, and a story that will hypnotize you from first frame to last. It stars Ed Harris, and here's the rest...Paul Newman,who will make you smile in every frame he is in, Joanne Woodward(I only wish those two would have had some screen time together), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Robin Wright Penn, Aidan Quinn,Theresa Russell,Dennis Farina, William Fitchtner and Estelle Parsons...WOW! I would also make mention of the younger stars Lou Taylor Pucci and Danielle Panabaker as the ones to watch for in the future. And oh yeah, all these greats were wonderfully directed by Fred Schepisi(Mr.Baseball/The Russia House). I just viewed it for the 2nd time and loved it as much this time around!

The story, based on the novel by Richard Russo, grabbed me right from the start. A small town in Maine is the setting, but this could be anywhere in America. On one side of town, the rich, powerful owners of what seem to be everything and everybody in Empire Falls. The Whitings. Woodward is the matriarch, and has control over the everyday workers in the town. Ed Harris is Miles Roby, your everyday middle aged man. Mrs Whiting seems to have a particularly tight hold on him. When Mrs. Whiting says jump, he says how high? He's an easy going guy, and seems to just flow with the program, while everyone around him, his father, his ex-wife, his brother, his daughter,the town sheriff, and even the regular customers at the restaurant he's been running for 25 years for Mrs. W., all have some drama going on in their lives.We wonder why he puts up with things as they are? What kind of hold does everyone have over him? His life is a puzzlement, and as he flashes back to his childhood, the pieces come together. What will it take for Miles to become his own man?

The answers to the questions, come beautifully in this film. It seemed to say it's never to late for anyone to bloom. The huge cast worked incredibly well together. Just like real life, it had some of everything. Some humor, some family drama, a tragedy, and of course love. Exquisite photography of the location surroundings, and charming music also added greatly to the series.

This series may be purchased as two separate volumes, or both together. This is Vol 2 only(ASIN B000G6M3F8 ) and it will hook you right away. Vol 1 may be found easily by entering the ASIN of B000G1JXSS into the search or B0009W5IMO to order them both together. You can also just enter Empire Falls into the search and all 3 sites and the book will come up. Check for best prices, to see which way is best to order. Ordering the set from the outside sellers, seems to be the best way to go at this time(plus you would only have to pay shipping once instead of twice). If you decide to go through an outside merchant here, check with them to make sure you are getting the volume you want or the set if that is what you want..

The DVD picture is gorgeous and presented in a letterboxed format(16:9). There is Audio Commentary(on both parts).Vol 2. has a making of featurette as well. The sound is excellent in 5.1 (with the choice of 2.0 in English and Spanish), and there are subtitles for the film only(not the features) in English, French and Spanish. It is rated TV-14.

There are 8 chapters(total for both Discs) and an epilogue, and I tried, but couldn't stop after just one!

Enjoy this fabulous cast and story!....Laurie

Empire Falls (Every Small Town Has a Big Story) Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Vol 1...You're Hooked!

Empire Falls (Every Small Town Has a Big Story) Vol. 1

Manufacturer: HBO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Empire Falls, Volume Two
Empire Falls
Empire Falls
Twilight
Nobody's Fool

Product Features:

Not Rated
Bonus Material: Not Rated or Closed Captioned
Color

ASIN: B000G1JXSS

Customer Reviews:

Vol 1...You're Hooked!.......2006-06-30

What a superb mini-series this was. I don't have cable,and never had the opportunity to view this one. So when I found this at my local video store and saw the cast, I figured it had to be worth a try. Other times, I have bought a film solely on the promise of a great ensemble, but have on occasion been disappointed(anyone remember "Dr T. and the Women?, yeah I thought not!). This one though, has the stars shining brightly, and a story that will hypnotize you from first frame to last. It stars Ed Harris, and here's the rest...Paul Newman,who will make you smile in every frame he is in, Joanne Woodward(I only wish those two would have had some screen time together), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, Robin Wright Penn, Aidan Quinn,Theresa Russell,Dennis Farina, William Fitchtner and Estelle Parsons...WOW! I would also make mention of the younger stars Lou Taylor Pucci and Danielle Panabaker as the ones to watch for in the future. And oh yeah, all these greats were wonderfully directed by Fred Schepisi(Mr.Baseball/The Russia House). I just viewed it for the 2nd time and loved it as much this time around!

The story, based on the novel by Richard Russo, grabbed me right from the start. A small town in Maine is the setting, but this could be anywhere in America. On one side of town, the rich, powerful owners of what seem to be everything and everybody in Empire Falls. The Whitings. Woodward is the matriarch, and has control over the everyday workers in the town. Ed Harris is Miles Roby, your everyday middle aged man. Mrs Whiting seems to have a particularly tight hold on him. When Mrs. Whiting says jump, he says how high? He's an easy going guy, and seems to just flow with the program, while everyone around him, his father, his ex-wife, his brother, his daughter,the town sheriff, and even the regular customers at the restaurant he's been running for 25 years for Mrs. W., all have some drama going on in their lives.We wonder why he puts up with things as they are? What kind of hold does everyone have over him? His life is a puzzlement, and as he flashes back to his childhood, the pieces come together. What will it take for Miles to become his own man?

The answers to the questions, come beautifully in this film. It seemed to say it's never to late for anyone to bloom. The huge cast worked incredibly well together. Just like real life, it had some of everything. Some humor, some family drama, a tragedy, and of course love. Exquisite photography of the location surroundings, and charming music also added greatly to the series.

This series may be purchased as two separate volumes, or both together. This is Vol 1 only(ASIN B000G1JXSS) and it will hook you right away. Vol 2 may be found easily by entering the ASIN of B000G6M3F8 into the search or B0009W5IMO to order them both together. You can also just enter Empire Falls into the search and all 3 sites and the book will come up. Check for best prices, to see which way is best to order. Ordering the set from the outside sellers, seems to be the best way to go at this time(plus you would only have to pay shipping once instead of twice). If you decide to go through an outside merchant here, check with them to make sure you are getting the volume you want or the set if that is what you want..

The DVD picture is gorgeous and presented in a letterboxed format(16:9). There is Audio Commentary(on both parts).Vol 2. has a making of featurette as well. The sound is excellent in 5.1 (with the choice of 2.0 in English and Spanish), and there are subtitles for the film only(not the features) in English, French and Spanish. It is rated TV-14.

There are 8 chapters(total for both Discs) and an epilogue, and I tried, but couldn't stop after just one!

Enjoy this fabulous cast and story!....Laurie

Average customer rating:

History lesson sorely needed
Two good films, in good condition.
Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie
Fun Escapism Through a Western Adventure
THIS DVD IS NEWLY REMASTERED

Santa Fe Trail/Abilene Town
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Raymond Massey , Ronald Reagan , and Alan Hale
Director: Michael Curtiz , and Edwin L. Marin
Manufacturer: Marengo Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Dodge City
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The Prince and the Pauper

ASIN: B00004WL4Y
Release Date: 2001-02-28

Description

200 minute double feature film DVD.

Customer Reviews:

History lesson sorely needed.......2007-06-02

How many school children in 21 st century know about John Brown? How many know about the causes of this horrible war that pitted former comrades against one another? Is this movie entirely accurate and does take artistic license with the characters and storyline? Yes and No, but and so do many contemporary films such as 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Patton' take liberties with actual events. As a number of reviewers have noted, we see events in history through politically correct eyes. My major fault with the movie is that southerners did not have a distinctive regional drawl, especially Errol Flynn's character, Jeb Stuart. Having your children watch this movie will provide them an insight into a forgotten epic American history while at the same time entertaining them with battles and other action scenes. John Brown may have been right in his core principles but he is a prime example of excessive zeal clashing with established law and order.

Two good films, in good condition........2005-11-14

I don't very often write reviews (although I enjoy reading those of others), but I must just tell anyone wondering which version of "Santa Fe Trail" to buy that the Marengo version (the one that includes "Abilene Town" as a bonus) is excellent. I was not familiar with either of these movies before - I don't know why, as they are both really good movies, and better than many others that I have bought individually and paid more money for. "Santa Fe Trail" is a really unusual, and interesting movie. The combination of Curtiz and Flynn gives it something - a depth, or thoughtfulness, perhaps - that most movies just don't have. It is also, IMHO, a better movie than Errol Flynn's other cavalry outing, "They Died With Their Boots On", so I don't know why the former is in the public domain, as if nobody cares about it, with numerous versions available (some of which don't sound very good), while the latter is presumably still owned and guarded exclusively by Warner Brothers, who have recently brought out a lavish DVD version of it, with various "extras" on it.
As for "Abilene Town", that also is a surprisingly good movie, its plot not unlike that of "Dodge City". On a trivial note: it looks to me as if Gary Cooper's famous, iconic "look" in "High Noon" (reproduced in books and posters so often) was in fact inspired by the outfit that Randolph Scott wears in "Abilene Town".

Rousing but inaccurate adventure movie.......2005-07-06

The title may well lead people to expect a Western and indeed this is how the movie has been packaged ,but I would argue it is nothing of the sort .While the Santa Fe Trail is mentioned and the role of the railroad in opening up the West is touched upon the movie is really about the origins of the Civil War .
Flynn stars as J E B Stuart -arguably the most famous cavalry commnader in the Confederate army .We first meet him as a West Point cadet, along with several other men who became prominent in the military in subsequent years chief among them being Custer (Ronald Reagan ) Phil Sheridan ( David Bruce) and George Pickett( Willam Marshall ) .His nemesis at the Academy is "Rader" played by Van Heflin ,a fervent abolitionist and disciple of the firebrand preacher John Brown .The two get involved in a brawl and Rader is sent down for having abolitionist pamphlets in his locker .Already the Civil war is casting its shadows over the military -;we meet Lee and Davis ,men who were to play a key role in events in the following decade .
Stuart ,Custer and Sheridan are sent to "Bloody Kansas" to keep the peace in the face of John Browns agitation for it to become a free state .They clash early on when they foil a gun running bid by Brown and his followers who now number the embittered and mercenary Rader in their ranks (it is made clear he fights for money ,not belief in the cause) .Further confrontations with Brown arise ,culminating in the bloody affray at Harper's Ferry
There is no shortage of movies dealing with the Civil War but very few have adressed its origins which makes this aspect of tghe movie so disappointing .Perhaps mindful of the need not to damage its potential in the South ,scriptwriter Robert Bruckner has come up with an evasive screenplay which sits on the fence politically .Brown is depicted as a fiery psychopath and an irrational madman whose cause is founded on the need for someone to hate rather than any love of the blacks or sense of moral righness ,while the Heflin character is a vain ,envious opportunist who loves only money and betrays any cause he feels does not value his contribution to it .He is shown as interfering in a system which Stuart claims is reforming itself from within ,and by so doing bringing about an avoidable conflict This is a gross distortion of the facts .Thus ,faced with such moral equivocation ,the best thing to do is enjoy it on an action movie level and here it works well .The action is lively and plentiful and the acting is pretty solid .Flynn is ideally cast as the archetypal military man -one who fights nobly for his cause ,despite his own doubts and de Havilland is excellent as the feisty tomboyish Kit Carson Halliday over whom Custer and Stuart bicker .Raymond Massey is hypnotic if hammy as Brown and there is a solid "best friend of the leading man "turn from Reagan ,whose character is allowed a few tentative pro-Brown remarks
One scene stands out -when Custer ,Sheridan ,Stuart and Pickett consult an Indian seeress they are told they will all be generals but will never again all meet as friend ;they react with uneasy laughter but in the scene we see the gathering clouds of the impending war ,
Muddy monochrome photography from the usually dependable Sal Polito does not help while Max Steiner's score is not his best by a long eway
Enjoy it as a vigorous and robust action picture from the great Michael Curtiz and this is okay but as a serious treatment of the issues it is sunk by its own timorousness and refusal to address reality

Fun Escapism Through a Western Adventure.......2005-03-20

Two major strenghts of this film are its character development and plot. Various historical figures are given the "Hollywood" treatment. The storyline unfolds in such a way that the complexity of the pre-Civil War era is addressed. John Brown is the focal point of the forces to be overcome. Harper's Ferry is where the resolution is reached.

Olivia de Havilland's character has to choose between Ronald Reagan's George Custer and Errol Flynn's J.E.B. Stuart. Humor is included in various spots to make for a pleasant occasional break from tension. There's a good flow, nice pacing.

The camera movements are not bad for that era. Since I love the West, I also like the establishing shots. This is a good clean movie for the most part, with the exception of the Indian fortune-teller.

THIS DVD IS NEWLY REMASTERED.......2004-12-25

MARENGO FILMS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT BOTH TITLES ON THIS DVD HAVE BEEN NEWLY RE-MASTERED. NEW SOFTWARE, MUCH MORE POWERFUL AND HANDY THAN THAT AVAILABLE AT THE ONSET OF DVD HAS BEEN USED BY MARENGO. THE FILMS HAVE BEEN COLOR CORRECTED, AND AN ADDITIONAL SOUND DESIGN HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. WE FEEL UPGRADING THESE WONDERFUL PRINTS WAS WELL WORTH THE COST AND THAT COLLECTORS WILL BE PROUD TO HAVE THEM IN THEIR INVENTORY.

Average customer rating:

Successful Formula As Before, Sharply Scripted.

Big Town After Dark
Starring: Phillip Reed , Hillary Brooke , Richard Travis , Ann Gillis , and Vince Barnett
Director: William C. Thomas
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007OP0U4
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Customer Reviews:

Successful Formula As Before, Sharply Scripted........2005-11-30

"Big Town", a shallowly disguised New York City, is of importance in a number of modes for popular United States culture, initially being a radio programme from 1937 until 1962, then on to television episodes, 1952/1956, and eventually as a comic book series. 1956/1958, with the protagonist in each manifestation being Steve Wilson, originally a reporter working for the Big Town Illustrated Press, later becoming its editor-in-chief, and played in this, the third of four films based upon the radio show, by Philip Reed who is featured in all of the four. In the production here, Wilson's almost girl friend and ace crime reporter Lorelei Kilbourne (Hillary Brooke), after her first novel has been accepted for publication, gives him two weeks notice of her resignation from her newspaper position but, to her chagrin, she is almost immediately replaced by the Illustrated Press owner's niece Susan (Anne Gillis), who by appearances also wedges herself into Steve's affections, although in reality he is using her to discover information of crooked Big Town activity involving an illegal gambling ring that preys upon college students. Susan is possibly not what she appears to be, and while Steve explores the girl's connection with local gambling kingpin Chuck LaRue (Richard Travis), owner of the Winners' Club, a night spot for gambling that is near to the campus where Susan attends, Lorelei also investigates her new rival's activities, with her efforts yielding more than she has expected, as all three of them may be in serious peril from the Forces of Evil. This is better than a routine "B" programmer, as it provides some incisive and hardbitten dialogue, a clever subtext based upon poker playing, and a generally edgy quality pervading the characterizations that lifts the work above the norm and, in spite of budget restrictions that rule out retakes, and a necessity for filling demands of its melodrama genre, there is plenty of "business" for a viewer to enjoy. Reed and Brooke make an elegant and worldly pair, veteran charcter players William Haade and Joe Sawyer perform as LaRue henchmen, and Vince Barnett has a substantial part in this Pine/Thomas production with producer William Thomas also directing and capably utilizing a crisply composed Whitman Chambers script in an always interesting, skillfully edited, briskly paced and well-cast film that additionally includes an effective original score by Darrell Calker, Gotham flavoured, of course, although the extensive location shooting is along Normandie Avenue on the east side of Hollywood.

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