The Color of Paradise

Starring:Hossein Mahjoub, Mohsen Ramezani, Salameh Feyzi, Farahnaz Safari, Elham Sharifi, Behzad Rafi, Mohamad Rahmani, Morteza Fatemi, Kamal Mirkarimi, Masoome Zinati, Zahra Mizani, Ahmed Aminian, Moghadam Behboodi, GanAli Khorami
Director: Majid Majidi
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The always dependable Tom Selleck returns as Robert B. Parker's small town police chief Jesse Stone in Death in Paradise, the made-for-TV sequel to Stone Cold, his 2005 debut as the character. Stone is a grittier, more human (and vulnerable) role than the one that made Selleck famous (playboy detective Thomas Magnum of Magnum, P.I.), but his tenacity and character flaws (a drinking problem and latent feelings for his ex-wife) seem a comfortable fit for the older Selleck. And the mystery itself--which surrounds the death of a young student whose connections to big-city crime--is crisp and convoluted (if not particularly novel), which provides Selleck with enough action and drama to please his longtime fans. William Devane and Gary Basaraba (Boomtown) are among the guest stars, while Viola Davis, Vito Rezza, and Kohl Sudduth return from Stone Cold as Selleck's police officers. Selleck also contributed to the script and co-produced along with director Robert Harmon, who helmed the other Stone films. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Selleck plays the role of Jesse Stone, a former Los Angeles homicide detective who left California and his ex-wife to become the police chief in a small New England town. Among his many character flaws are his struggles with a drinking problem and lingering feelings for his ex-wife.

Jesse Stone: Night Passage is a prequel to 2005's Stone Cold. Co-starring Stephanie March (TV's "Law & Order: SVU") and Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects), the telefilm depicts Jesse Stone's (Selleck) first days as Paradise, Massachusetts' Chief of Police. He must immediately find the killer of his predecessor, plus investigate a domestic violence situation involving the city's resident hothead (Baldwin), whose ties to a local bank manager expose a money-laundering scheme.

DVD Special Features for Jesse Stone: Night Passage Include: Digitally Mastered Audio and Video, Widescreen Presentations, Audio: English, French, Portuguese, Thai, Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai, Bonus Previews, Closed Captioned

Customer Reviews:

A Thinking Hero at Last!.......2007-07-04

This second Jesse Stone made-for-tv movie again stars Tom Sellect as the flawed but likeable police chief of Paradise, Massachusetts, and an older Selleck proves he owns the role. Anyone who is familiar with Robert B. Parkers novels, Tom Selleck or the first movie will feel like they're visiting an old friend here.

In this movie, the body of a teenage girl is found floating in a local lake. With few clues and a local prime suspect who seems to be a step ahead of him, Stone's investigation eventually leads to Boston where he clashes with a local mob boss who seems to know the answers, but wants Stone to figure it out. Parallel to the murder, Stone also deals with a case of domestic violence that turns turns deadly, his alcoholism and feelings for his ex-wife, and a town council not sure if they picked the right person for the job.

Not to say this movie is for everyone. People who dislike Tom Selleck or the Parker novels obviously won't like it, nor will those video-game-raised folks who need constant chases, CGI augmentation and cardboard characters who don't get in the way of the gratuitous mayhem. Like all the Jesse Stone stories, this one is anchored on and driven by characters - how they interact, fail to interact, and how the weight of their pasts affect them as they try to make their way in the world. And the movie has the courage just to watch people thinking -- a rarity in any entertainment these days.

As of this writing, Parker has written six Jesse Stone novels, and Selleck has made four of them into movies. I heartily recommend you track down each one, buy it, and watch it over and over again. You won't be disappointed!

Another Great Movie.......2007-06-28

Tom Selleck was born to play Jesse Stone. So much so that I can't imagine the character without Selleck. I immediately loved "Stone Cold" when I saw it premiere on TV and I have enjoyed watching Jesse solve crimes ever since.

Death In Paradise is a great little movie with an engaging storyline, believable dialogue (like always), solid production work, and a fantastic cast. I love the theme music for the series and the way that with just a couple simple piano themes so much mood can be conveyed. I've seen all 4 of the Jesse Stone movies and I love them all. I eagerly look forward to more!

I should note that I usually don't watch made for TV movies, I'm kind of a big cinema buff, but I saw "Stone Cold" and I was hooked. It is refreshing when CGI and all manner of film trikery isn't employed and the filmmakers must rely on good old fashioned storytelling. The acting and the writing in this series is tremendous and needs no trickery to succeed.

what a cliched bore!.......2007-06-18

exactly like the novel itself, this movie actually sucked big time. what we got here was a forever look tired jesse stone played by tom selleck, he walked the beat, chewing gum, pondering, walking around, talking around, drinking, looking so depressed and dispirited. a murder case that we might have already seen or read thousand times. boring script with boring cliched dialog such as q and a: q:'how could i compensate...' , a:'you can comensate...by making love to me...' the scearnrio and the storyline were both extremely cliched and formulaic like the novel, there's nothing much to tell, so the space between lines got to be widened a lot, the font size also got to be larger and thicker than regular font, almost reached the size of large print one, so more pages, at lease 100 more pages, could be subtly added. the movie, by the same token, did exactly as the novel: slow paced, lots walk around, talk around, lots sitting down, sipping drinks, pondering, sighing, interviewing, tough talks from some related suspects, some shootings. a lame and bore-you-to-death ballooned tiny murder case, mysteriously added a female school superintendent with foreign accent and so predictably scripted as soon as jesse stone went to school, an inevitable sex relationship was doomed to happen. so, what else is new? and what else you still want to know? for tom selleck himself, it's easy money by just walking around, talking some, chewing some, drinking some for two movies like this in a row.

Perfect actor plus great character equals TV magic.......2007-04-28

Tom Selleck IS Jesse Stone, a character created by the great mystery author Robert Parker. Selleck plays a burned out, alcoholic LA cop who takes a job in the small town of Paradise, Massachusetts as sheriff. "Death in Paradise" is a tale of domestic violence, mob intrigue and the poignant, obsessive quest by the emotionally damaged Stone for the killer of a young girl. This story line actually occurred in the Parker series prior to the novel that was the basis for CBS's fabulously successful "Stone Cold", Selleck's first outing as Jesse Stone. The screenwriters tweaked the plot of "Death in Paradise" a bit to make it a sequel to "Stone Cold" with excellent results. "Death in Paradise" features a powerhouse cameo by Steven Baldwin. In my opinion, Parker's Jesse Stone series is head and shoulders above the famous Spencer books. The Stone made-for-TV movies are quality productions with superb acting, beautiful cinematography and haunting music. Exceptional TV. Highly, highly recommended. You must also get: Stone Cold and Jesse Stone - Night Passage. The latest Jesse Stone movie is "Sea Change" which aired on CBS in May 2007. Can't wait for it to hit DVD!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful film .

Wild Tigers I Have Known
Starring: Fairuza Balk , Tom Gilroy , Lydia Lunch , Kim Dickens , and Malcolm Stumpf
Director: Cam Archer
Manufacturer: Wellspring Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Young Aphrodites
The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
Western Lights: In the Wake of Christopher Columbus
Son's Promise
Tan Lines

ASIN: B000P6R9NU
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Description

Logan is a soft spoken and lonely 13 year old boy with a crush. Unlike his equally lonely friend Joey, who obsesses over the sexual exploits of the popular boys, Logan is fixated on the boys themselves, particularly Rodeo Walker. Logan's infatuation with Rodeo inspires him to create a new persona named Leah. Leah and Rodeo grow close through whispered late night phone calls, and when Leah agrees to meet Rodeo face to face it is Logan who must finally prove that he can ask for what he so achingly wants.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful film ........2007-05-22

Strong Performances and The topic of coming out make this film one of a kind watch now.

Average customer rating:

Weak
A Disappointment. . . .
Funny movie that takes a beating because of the series
I liked it, what's all the fuss
Great fun for the whole family

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Starring: Kristy Swanson , Donald Sutherland , Paul Reubens , Rutger Hauer , and Luke Perry
Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LIRA
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com

Fran Rubel Kuzui's 1992 tongue-in-cheek vampire comedy is sugarcoated horror, an unusual mix of the cute and scary, with a splash of postmodern pop nonsense to give culture critics something to think about. Kristy Swanson plays a Valley Girl who learns she belongs to a line of ancient vampire killers. After training under the watchful eye of a mentor (Donald Sutherland), she becomes a spandex-wearing, kung-fu kicking, stake-stabbing babe and the mortal enemy of a narcissistic master vampire (Rutger Hauer). The accent is all on cheery attitude, though the action can be as authentically unnerving as any other halfway decent monster movie. Paul Reubens, formerly Pee-wee Herman, has a small role as Hauer's fanged familiar. --Tom Keogh

Description

Blonde, bouncy Buffy (Kristy Swanson) is your typical high school cheerleader-- her goal is to "marry Christian Slater and die" and nothing gets in her way when it's time to shop. But all that changes when a strange man (Donald Sutherland) informs her she's been chosen by fate to kill vampires. With the help of a romantic rebel (Luke Perry), Buffy is soon spending school nights protecting L.A. from Lothos, the Vampire King (Rutger Hauer), his sidekick. Lefty (Paul Ruebens) and their determined gang of bloodsuckers. It's everything you'd expect from a teen queen in the Valley.

Customer Reviews:

Weak.......2007-03-19

I first saw this movie when I was 10 or so at a birthday party and loved it! Now 5 years later I went out and bought it, since it was on sale (I would find out why later) and sat down with a couple of friends and got ready for some fun. Well the first thing we both saw was how horrible the dialouge was, the teenage 'slang' is exaggerated as our their actions. Even worse were the jokes, due in part to Kristy Swansons acting. The filming didn't do much justice to it either and the vampires were the most humorous villans I've ever seen.
It only gets 2 stars because of the awesome show that would be made out of it later.

A Disappointment. . . ........2007-02-28

Man, oh man, is this movie ever a disappointment! I started watching Buffy the Series towards the middle of its 7-year run, completely drawn-in by the show's charming mix of drama, horror, and comedy. Unfortunately, this movie has little to offer a fan of the series. The acting is TOTALLY HORRENDOUS (read: VERY CHEESY)--a complete waste of talented actors like Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer, as well as many other big names, like Ben Afleck and Hillary Swank. So many scenes are simpy overdone, and for being a "Romantic Comedy," it's not very funny, and it's hardly romantic (ok, so that's good, right guys?). Paul Reubens and David Arquette are simply idiotic in this movie--the worst of the bunch! I can't say that it doesn't have its merits, though. It was nice to get a little glimpse into the calling of Buffy, as well as her life beforehand. However, many of the ideas placed forth about the Slayer are contradictory to the Series. For those who aren't a fan of the show, steer clear of this steaming pile of crap and check out the third season of the TV series. . . .

Funny movie that takes a beating because of the series.......2007-01-21

This movie is funny. Unfortunately, it is dissected by the hardcore Buffy fans that were lured in by their love of the television series, and subsequently bashed.

I liked this movie back in the day, and I still enjoy it. I never watched Buffy the Vampire slayer on TV, so I don't hold a grudge against this movie as its predecessor.

If you watch this movie expecting what you saw on TV, you will be disappointed, but it's unfair to drag this movie into the mud just because it's not the same thing as the TV show.

Overall, it's a funny movie that will give you a few laughs and that you'll enjoy, as long as you don't watch it expecting Buffy from the WB series.

I liked it, what's all the fuss.......2006-10-18

This was supposed to be a comedy. Many who know the series were disappointed when they rented or bought the movie. We saw the movie first and were skepical about the series. Well, we enjoy both. If you have trouble with the continuity, or lack there of, between the movie and the series, don't watch Star Trek.

Great fun for the whole family.......2006-08-30

This movie is great...a classic. What better metaphor for teenage angst than Buffy?

Average customer rating:

Political and Tragic
A Sad But Timely Movie
Makes you think, but don't forget to consider both sides
Very much worth seeing regardless of your POV
A great and true story

Paradise Now
Starring: Lubna Azabal , Hamza Abu-Aiaash , Kais Nashif , Lotuf Neusser , and Ali Suliman
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)
Capote
Munich (Widescreen Edition)
Syriana (Widescreen Edition)
The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E0OE44
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Amazon.com

Two men, best friends from childhood, are summoned to fulfill their agreement to be suicide bombers for the Palestinian cause. Khaled and Said (Ali Suliman and Kais Nashef, both making striking film debuts) believe fervently in their cause, but having a bomb strapped to your waist would raise doubts in anyone--and once doubts have arisen, they respond in very different ways. Paradise Now is gripping enough while the men are preparing for their mission, but when the set-up goes awry and Khaled and Said are separated, it becomes almost excruciatingly tense. The movie passes no judgment on these men; impassioned arguments are made for both sides of the conflict. This is a work of remarkable compassion and insight, given the shape and sharpness of a skillful thriller. Its psychological portrait goes beyond the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and resonates with fanaticism and oppression throughout the world, be it related to a religious, nationalist, or tribal cause. A stunning film from writer/director Hany Abu-Assad. --Bret Fetzer

Description

"PARADISE NOW" follows two Palestinian childhood friends who have been recruited for a strike on Tel Aviv and focuses on their last days together. When they are intercepted at the Israeli border and separated from their handlers, a young woman who discovers their plan causes them to reconsider their actions.

Customer Reviews:

Political and Tragic.......2007-05-07

This movie brings two very believable characters for the western audiences. The movie has its propaganda aspects to it, but even if one can see beyond the propagandas (and hopefully everyone does), the movie still tells a tragic story of two friends whose life is about to change forever. I just want to emphasize again how believable and relatable the two main characters are despite this being a propaganda movie. It delievers a completely foreign dilemma and translates it very well, and if that's not a masterpiece, I don't know what is.

A Sad But Timely Movie.......2007-04-08

Said and Khaled are young Palestinian friends who are recruited to become suicide bombers against Israel. On their trip to Tel-Aviv, they become separated and their mission gets aborted. These two friends then have second thoughts about their mission, and much of the movie has to do with their struggle of whether or not to go through with their plan. Said says he was born in a refugee camp and has only left that camp once at six for medical reasons. He also bears the shame that his father was executed for being a collaborator. He believes that his life is without hope, that he essentially is already dead. Jamal, one of the masterminds of the plan, assures him and Khaled that upon their deaths they will be picked up by two angels. "This honor is granted to only a few." Said's female friend Suha tries to convince him that nothing will be accomplished by his becoming a martyr.

The acting in the film is superb; the suspense is nerve-racking; the ending will break your heart. The subject matter, of course, is as timely as the evening news. Released in 2005, the movie is in Arabic with subtitles.

Makes you think, but don't forget to consider both sides.......2007-03-30

The film "Paradise Now" presents a compelling story of forty-eight hours in the life of two young Palestinian men who are selected to carry out a suicide attack in Tel Aviv, Israel. The plot focuses on childhood friends Khaled and Said who are living a difficult life under the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The two friends work dead-end jobs at a local auto repair shop and place much of the blame for their difficult situation on Israel. After a long day at work, Said is approached by one of the leaders of the Palestinian resistance and told that he and Khaled have been selected to carry out an "operation" against Israel. As the story continues, the two friends contemplate the ethicality of their decision and struggle to decide whether or not to carry out their mission.
Artistically speaking, this film was done very well. There is excellent character development of the two friends, Said and Khaled. During their struggle to accomplish their mission the two friends question their own motives and the legitimacy of resorting to violence to solve a problem. The arguments posed in the film are also extremely relevant to the current conflict between Israel and Palestine. Through the characters of Said and Khaled, the director, Hany Abu-Assad, discusses controversial issues such as the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the legitimacy of Palestinian suicide bombers. Having recently spent time in Israel, this film provided insight to the struggles of the Palestinian people. Many of the views conveyed toward Israel are understandable considering the low quality of life that Palestinians experience. I appreciated that this film pushed me to re-consider my own opinions toward this issue. Any successful piece of artwork forces audience members to think about the issue, and this film did just that. Having said this, "Paradise Now" also encouraged me to look at both sides of the issue, which is necessary in order to formulate an opinion about any issue.
Where I felt this film fell short was the context, or lack there of, that this story was placed in. Although this film is a good way for outsiders to understand the situation from the Palestinian point of view, my fear is that this fuels ignorance towards Israel and its people. "Paradise Now" provides no historical look at how the situation between Israel and Palestine has come to be. There is no reference to the original U.N. partition plan of 1948 in which the land of Israel was divided evenly between Jews and Palestinians. The only reference given to Israel is that of an occupying force, rather than a legitimate country, which overlooks the accomplishments that Israel has had in the last sixty years. Israel is constantly referred to as being an oppressive society, and at one point that it "has no morals" in terms of its military actions. The only reference given to Israel being provoked by suicide bombers is through the character of Suha. Suha is a moderate-minded young woman that Said falls in love with just before he sets off to carry out the attack. Although Suha does bring up valid arguments about why Said should not carry out the attack, she is in no way the heroine of the film, Said is. There is never any reference to the amount of fighting that Palestinians direct at each other. Much of the instability in Palestinian territories is due to political violence between the rival parties of Hamas and Fatah. It seems as if Abu-Assad has overlooked this issue in order to garner support against Israel. This being said, I don't believe that Abu-Assad's purpose of creating this film was to portray a balanced view of the situation. This film was successful in providing an ethnocentric view of life as Palestinian and the justifications, in their mind, of suicide attacks.
I did find this film valuable for audiences who are educated about the Israel-Palestine conflict and have an understanding of the history behind the situation. I would recommend this film to anyone seeking to understand the daily hardships that Palestinians go through. Even though people might not agree with everything that this film conveys, it is beneficial in that it forces one to reexamine their opinion about a certain issue.

Very much worth seeing regardless of your POV.......2007-03-11

For those viewers who are wondering whether this is a pro suicide bomber movie or not, I can say that it may depend upon who's doing the viewing. Director Hany Abu-Assad, who is a Muslim was born in Nazareth, which is a largely Christian city in Palestine. He moved to the Netherlands when he was a young man and currently lives in Los Angeles. He believes the film presents "an artistic point of view of...[a] political issue."

I tend to agree. The proof perhaps is in the fact that some Palestinians feel the film wasn't fair to their situation while some Israelis feel that the film glorified suicide bombers. Both sides can find evidence in the film to support their point of view, and the arguments can become heated.

Personally I find suicide bombings abhorrent and counterproductive. My belief has long been that the Palestinians would further their cause through a non-violent approach similar to methods used by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Using your children to kill other people's children while committing suicide is not only morally wrong, but not likely to win the hearts and minds of people who can help you. Furthermore the idea (expressed in the film by the suicide bombers and those who exploit them) that some people are superior because they are not afraid to die demonstrates a limited understanding of human nature and ignores history. The Japanese used suicide bombers in World War II for example to no good effect. And those men were not the "humiliated" and "oppressed" uneducated youths typical of suicide bombers in the Middle East. Instead some of them were the cream of the young manhood of a growing nation. Understand also that if the United States had the need it would have no trouble persuading countless Americans to commit suicide for God and country. Some of the combat missions in the Pacific Theater amounted to something close to suicide. No single people have a monopoly on tribalism.

What Hany Abu-Assad shows in the film is that the justification for suicide bombing is at best suspect and at worse without any merit at all. "What happens afterward?" one of the bombers asks, and is told, "Two angels come and pick you up." This is not merely satire, it is a burlesque of the "Paradise Now" reasoning. Indeed the title of the film is itself satirical and ironic. Young men seeing this film will notice that it is THEY who are being used as suicide bombers, not the political leaders and the imams. Also the scene in which the suicide bombers make the obligatory video saying goodbye to family and friends and "I did it for God" with automatic rifle held on high, was played as farce, revealing the empty promise behind being used.

The fact that most of the anti-suicide rhetoric in the film comes from Suha (Lubna Azabal) who is the daughter of a privileged Arab and onetime opposition hero is seen as significant by some because in Arab/Muslim countries the political opinion of women is of scant value, and therefore Suha is seen as expressing a minority or discredited opinion. However, since her expression is so very well articulated and persuasive, it can be seen from the opposite point of view, as expressing reason and moral truth.

Hany Abu-Assad of course had more than an artistic intent in making this film. Clearly he wanted to put the tragedy of the Palestinians upon the silver screen (and DVD) for all the world to see. To be effective he realized that he could not poison the waters of his expression with subjectivity and one-sidedness. He had to work hard to be as objective as possible and to present both sides of the argument. That way his film would be viewed and discussed, and some sympathy and understanding might develop. He had to show suicide bombers as living, breathing human beings. Notice that the two depicted are relatively intelligent young men, not mindless robots.

I share with Abu-Assad the belief that if all the facts about what is happening in the Middle East become widely known and understood (in so far as it is possible to understand the lives of people living in different cultures thousands of miles away) this knowledge and understanding would help to bring about positive change. Ignorance is our only real enemy.

In short, Paradise Now is a work of art and an excellent film that clearly deserved its Golden Globe Award as the Best Foreign Film and its nomination for an Oscar as Best Foreign Film. Kais Nashif who plays Said, one of the bombers, and Ali Suliman, who plays the other, both do an outstanding job, particularly Nashif who manages to combine the look and feel of a disadvantaged youth with the strength of character of a young man who is determined to follow what he ultimately determines is his fate. His motivation goes beyond the ignorant and indoctrinated suicide bomber who is hoping to be rewarded with virgins in heaven. He has personal reasons for becoming a suicide bomber. He is the son of a man who collaborated with the Israelis, and consequently he feels that his fate is to compensate for what his father did.

The film was shot in Nablus and Nazareth and captures some of the atmosphere. The editing is crisp and the story unfolds clearly with a nice tension. The sense that the bomb around the bomber's waist could go off at any moment is one of the devices in the film that maintains that tension in a unique way.

All in all this a film very much worth seeing regardless of how you feel about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

A great and true story.......2007-02-22

This is a great DVD. It show us why people become suside bombers. If anybocy wants to understand the currant situation in the Middle East then you much watch this movie.

Average customer rating:

It was good.
Delivery and condition
Charming Movie
Paradise Hawaiian Style -
Elvis Presley Fan

Elvis Presley: Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Starring: Elvis Presley , Suzanna Leigh , James Shigeta , Donna Butterworth , and Marianna Hill
Director: Michael D. Moore
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Blue Hawaii
Girls Girls Girls (1962)
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ASIN: B00007ELFD
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Amazon.com

Elvis and Hawaii go together like one of Graceland's peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches. To be honest, though, Paradise, Hawaiian Style finds the King looking puffier and sleepier than he did in the salad days of Blue Hawaii. Making matters worse is the song selection and the prominence of an allegedly adorable child actor--always a bad thing in an Elvis picture. Despite all that, there's something casually likable about the film: costar James Shigeta is a welcome performer (he plays the island pilot who goes into business with flyboy Elvis), leading lady Susanna Leigh is an above-average companion, and the location shooting is a big upgrade over the cardboard backdrops of many late-career Presley vehicles. Extended musical sequences take place at the Polynesian Cultural Center--nothing wrong with that, but rock & roll has been left pretty far behind. --Robert Horton

Description

In "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," Elvis plays Rick Richards, an ex-airline pilot who starts a charter helicopter sightseeing service in Hawaii and finds himself surrounded with pretty tourists. Co-starring Suzanna Leigh and James Shigeta, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" features the memorable melodies "A Dog's Life," "Sand Castles" and "Bill Bailey, Won't you Please Come Home."

Customer Reviews:

It was good........2007-02-01

This was the oddest Elvis movie I have ever watched. The whole movie was like a travel guide to Hawaii. It wasn't about the King. He spent the whole movie promising every girl on the islands that he was going to "scratch their back.. if they scratched his" He co-owned a helicopter company that transports people back and forth around the islands. It made me feel like I was at the Tiki-Room in Disneyland. One of my favorite parts was the dog transport. He has 6 dogs that need to get to a dog show. He sings a song about the dogs, it is classic Elvis. It was ok, I think that he had better movies, but it was fun to watch him.

Delivery and condition.......2006-11-06

I am very happy with this product the delivery and condition of was very good

Charming Movie.......2006-10-14

Elvis plays great as always despite what anyone thinks about his movie roles. Can not go wrong with the songs he sings. They are far enjoyable throughout each selected scene. And though our "King" is gone and has "left" the building, he still brings back great memories. It is part of who he was. Wish he made more serious movies been alive to view our reviews of what everyone thought of him. I highly recommend this movie along side his rest of them he made.

Paradise Hawaiian Style - .......2006-07-03

By reviewing the film Paradise Hawaiian Style , I am definitely giving away my age. To pretend that the film hasn`t aged and that that the plot line isn`t thin would be a lie , however this film , like most of Elvis`s films serves as a platform to showcase Elvis the singer. And that he could. With his warm velvety voice and charm he could win over any female heart , add to that his gyrating pelvis and the ladies was screaming for more. The film might have dated but Elvis is as fresh as the day the film was made. For Elvis and all other movie buffs.

Elvis Presley Fan.......2004-11-08

I have seen almost every Elvis movie but I like more of his movies , this movie is great I got more on dvd and vhs if you are a true Elvis fan you should get this.

Average customer rating:

Relating to the Blu-ray release--not the movie itself
Don't even think about hanging up
good idea, bad movie
interesting idea
Interesting

Phone Booth
Starring: Colin Farrell , Kiefer Sutherland , Forest Whitaker , Radha Mitchell , and Katie Holmes
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JLQN
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Amazon.com

By some lucky quirk of fate, Phone Booth landed on Hollywood's A-list, but this thriller should've been a straight-to-video potboiler directed by its screenwriter, veteran schlockmeister Larry Cohen, who's riffing on his own 1976 thriller God Told Me To. Instead it's a pointless reunion for fast-rising star Colin Farrell and his Tigerland director, Joel Schumacher, who employs a multiple-image technique similar to TV's 24 to energize Cohen's pulpy plot about an unseen sniper (maliciously voiced by 24's Kiefer Sutherland) who pins his chosen victim (a philandering celebrity publicist played by Farrell) in a Manhattan phone booth, threatening murder if Farrell doesn't confess his sins (including a potential mistress played by Katie Holmes in a thankless role). In a role originally slated for Jim Carrey, Farrell brings vulnerable intensity to his predicament, but Cohen's irresistible premise is too thin for even 81 brisk minutes, which is how long Schumacher takes to reach his morally repugnant conclusion. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A single phone call can change a man's life…or possibly end it. Colin Farrell delivers a captivating, off-the-hook performance as Stu Shepard, a self-centered New York City publicist who suddenly finds himself on the deadly end of a high-powered rifle scope. Now it's a real-time race against the clock as Stu must outwit a psychotic sniper in a frantic scramble from phone booth to freedom. Directed by Joel Schumacher, this groundbreaking "tightly-made thriller" (Sidekick Magazine) co-stars Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, and Kiefer Sutherland as the crazed gunman calling the shots, literally.

Customer Reviews:

Relating to the Blu-ray release--not the movie itself.......2007-05-16

PHONE BOOTH Blu-ray is packed the way HD movies should come. It's loaded with MPEG2@26MBPS video, which means that everything on the screen looks simply incredible. The colors are vibrant and the images are sharp and clear. At this point in time, picture quality really doesn't get any better.

The audio portion of the disc was treated in the same fashion. The soundtrack as well as the special effects noises were crystal clear and come through a surround sound system gloriously.

Unfortunately, high-tech doesn't improve the movie. It's still a good watch with plenty of tension, but not enough of the story is given. Colin Farrell and Forest Whitaker are the only two given the chance to really act. An argument can be made for Kiefer Sutherland's voice-over work, but he was missing in action when it came to being on-stage. Also, other than the commentary, there were no extras or behind-the-scenes pieces.

But it's top of the line for people looking for the true experience of an HD disc for their home entertainment systems.

Don't even think about hanging up.......2007-03-04

When you're caught in the tactical scope of a 30-caliber bolt action rifle, you most likely tend to pay close attention to what the triggerman is saying. Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is stuck in that predicament. He's trapped in a New York City phonebooth, desperately trading wits with a psychotic caller.
Stu is at the madman's mercy as his life's choices are being picked apart. The majority of this movie takes place in this phonebooth. This confiscating setting really pushes the tension to new heights. Stu slowly unravels as he's forced to look deep within himself.
This cantankerous exchange feels like an old western shootout. The only problem is, Stu is firing blanks.
Phonebooth is so well orchestrated, it makes you dismiss the improbability of certain pieces of the story. This really is an intense psychological thriller, and Colin Farrell turns in a his best performance ever. I also like the fact that the director, Joel Schumacher, kept this film short(81 min). Anything more might have been redundant for this story.

good idea, bad movie.......2007-03-01

I thought the idea of Phone Booth was great, but the movie is just bad. Maybe Hitchcock or Welles could have pulled it off, but this is just plain sad. Skip it.

interesting idea.......2007-02-22

This film had a very unique plot that would either work well or not at all. It actually did. the whole story revolves arould a phone booth andthe hero is not you typical one. More of an anti-hero with vices but you end up feeling sympathy for him. The directing and casting we good and all in alll a good movie to watch

Interesting .......2007-02-13

Larry Cohen's flick Phone Booth is an interesting, not to mention unusual, piece of work. It plays like a vulgar movie length episode of the Twilight Zone. Colin Farrell turns in the performance of his life as the sleazy PR guy. On the other hand, Kiefer Sutherland fails to be a menacing enough phone caller and that dampens the fear factor in this flick.

Given the profound lack of originality in Hollywood, any time a half way original movie such as Phone Booth comes our way, you simply have to at least consider giving it a try.

Average customer rating:

Classic laughs
Club Paradise DVD
wonderful movie
It was great
Overrated? Not if you like Peter O'Toole.

Club Paradise
Starring: Robin Williams , Peter O'Toole , Rick Moranis , Jimmy Cliff , and Twiggy
Director: Harold Ramis
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Captain Ron
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Summer Rental

ASIN: B000BYA4IS
Release Date: 2006-02-14

Amazon.com

Robin Williams went through a period in the mid '80s when he looked like he'd turned into the next Richard Pryor: yet another brilliant standup comic neutered by the script mills of the Hollywood studios. Indeed, Williams seems almost like a spectator in this film, reacting to a supporting cast extremely deep in talent doing what they can with the mediocre script by Brian Doyle-Murray and director Harold Ramis. Williams plays a heroic Chicago fireman, who is injured and retires after saving several lives in a fire. He takes his insurance settlement and buys a resort on a poor Caribbean island (the film was shot in Jamaica). He spends the rest of the time playing straight man to a gaggle of guests that includes such SCTV alumni as Rick Moranis, Andrea Gross, Eugene Levy, and Robin Duke, as well as Jimmy Cliff and Peter O'Toole. Occasionally rising to the level of mild amusement, Club Paradise is, disappointingly, little more than a series of hit-and-miss sketches strung together by the feeblest of plots. --Marshall Fine

Description

Pack your bags for Club Paradise, the Caribbean resort where the good times and laughter come at you in waves. Academy AwardO winner* Robin Williams steers their crazed course of this tropical romp as an ex-Chicago fireman who uses a sizable disability settlement to transform a remote island watering hole into a lucrative tourist waterland. Peter O'Toole, Twiggy, Rick Moranis, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy and other comic cohorts cheerfully cavort (and Jimmy Cliff musically riffs) under the breezy direction of Harold Ramis (National Lampoon's Vacation, Caddyshack) for a lark that The New Yorker's Pauline Kael judged "as pleasant as can be."

Customer Reviews:

Classic laughs.......2007-02-20

I love Robin Williams before he became what he is today. Not to say that he's not a good actor with "range" but who cares when you can put out films like this. This is a good date movie and something that could be watched more than once.

Club Paradise DVD.......2007-02-13

One of my all time favorite movies, A genuine feel good movie that keeps ya laughing the whole time

wonderful movie.......2007-01-05

this was a really funny movie. it is a bit dated for the younger crowd
but I loved it

It was great.......2006-03-18

I think that Club Paradise is a witty movie and well acted. Robin Williams and Peter O'Toole are halarious and are anchored by Jimmy Cliff. I think it is a laugh a minute movie

Overrated? Not if you like Peter O'Toole........2006-03-18

Club Paradise was a film of its time; Robin Williams at the height of his popularity, Twiggy at her most lovely, and Peter O'Toole at his most irascible. A recipe for success surely? No, Club Paradise bombed at the box office. The trouble was that despite a gorgeous location, fine music (and good acting) from Jimmy Cliff, and a strong social message, the film had no unifying theme. It was neither funny enough to exploit the natural abilities of its cast, nor was it serious enough to engage the more sober viewer. However, there are some fine comedic moments in the film, and some simply magical set pieces, especially the scene where Williams and O'Toole meet Twiggy for the first time. The drawback is that all the best scenes contain Peter O'Toole, who with effortless aplomb steals every scene in which he appears, a sort of forerunner to Alan Rickman in Die Hard, Robin Hood, etc. If you like Peter O'Toole, and somewhat heavy-handed humour, you will enjoy the film immensely, as I did. If not, you will spend one and a half hours trying to find somebody else to look at; it is not that the rest of the cast is poor, simply that O'Toole is the shark to the rest of the cast's minnows, and who looks for minnows when there is a shark in the water?

Average customer rating:

great
a stylish rock and roll film from brian de palma
De Palma's finest hour
Should be a classic
EW!

Phantom of the Paradise
Starring: Paul Williams (III) , William Finley , Jessica Harper , George Memmoli , and Gerrit Graham
Director: Brian De Palma
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Phantom Of The Paradise: Original Soundtrack Recording
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Tommy

ASIN: B00005LIRB
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com

Describing Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise as an update of the classic Phantom of the Opera doesn't do justice to this demented movie. While De Palma's Hitchcock homages have sometimes led him into dead ends, this rock & roll remake seems to have liberated De Palma's imagination, and the result is weird and funny, with the scruffy underground spirit of the director's early pictures. The Phantom is one Winslow Leach (William Finley), a nerdy songwriter whose "pop cantata" on the subject of Faust is stolen by a freakish, Phil Spector-like rock impresario called Swan (Paul Williams). After getting his head caught in a vinyl-LP compressor, Leach is transformed into a masked creature, haunting Swan's music palace, the Paradise. De Palma proves how nimbly he can establish narrative rhythm: the story moves like a cannon shot, and the musical numbers (especially in the Alice Cooper-like Paradise sequences) are brilliantly cut. The movie seems to predict the Studio 54 scene, MTV, and punk rock--the last, especially, in the figure of Beef, a screeching singer played by the unhinged Gerrit Graham. The songs were written by Paul Williams, that diminutive '70s music icon (he cowrote the Barbra Streisand wet noodle "Evergreen"), and his performance is a reminder of his peculiar, self-spoofing presence: at one point, the preening Swan announces, "You know how I abhor perfection in anyone but myself." Comedy, musical, horror film, '70s artifact--this movie isn't quite definable, and that's what's wonderful about it. --Robert Horton

Description

Composer Winslow Leach (William Finley) is determined to seek revenge on Swan (Williams), an evil record tycoon who steals his pop cantana of the Faust legend to launch his enemy's palace as the mysterious Phantom of the Paradise and continues to plan his gruesome retaliation.

Customer Reviews:

great.......2007-07-03

saw this movie twice when it came out
have the video cassette and had to buy the DVD
for the better sound

well worth it

a stylish rock and roll film from brian de palma.......2007-05-31

the phantom of the paradise, to me anyways, was a film i had never heard about until i saw the preview for it on another dvd. when i went to look it up to find out more about it i was surprised to learn that it was directed by brian de palma. i rented it shortly after seeing the preview and instantly knew it was something different. my first reaction was how a studio actually made this movie and released it, some of it is so bizzarre. but overall it has a great visual style which is to be expected from a de palma film, and i really enjoyed the acting. william finley is an interesting screen presence. not exactly leading man looks which is probabally why his old friend de palma cast him in one of his only leading film roles. it works anyway, as winslow he is very entertaining. as the phantom his eyes do most of the acting. paul williams as swan is also very good. the short actor with the long blonde hair is fun to watch as the record producer from hell. also giving good supporting performances are george memmoli, jessica harper( her dance is an interesting creation), and gerrit graham as beef. as in any de palma film the visuals are the stars of the film. the music is okay with only the end song " the hell of it" being the only standout. although it is fun to watch a non-singer like bill finley wail over the top during his piano solo in the opening moments of the film. all of de palmas usual techniques are here. many split screens, hitchcock homage,( the shower scene from psycho), and more. overall a fun film. its a good companion piece to the better known rocky horror picture show. both are similar in tone and both released by twentieth century fox. its a great price for the dvd at only five bucks. its certainly not a boring film and unlike any you have seen. if you are a fan of brian de palma or more adventurous films than the norm phantom of the paradise is a good film to see.

De Palma's finest hour.......2007-05-12

Top notch songs, great perfs., beautiful to look at. Right up there with "Rocky Horror" and "Hedwig."

Should be a classic.......2007-05-08

I'm rather surprised that this film is not more popular. It's just brilliant. Sure, it's a parody of The Phantom of the Opera and a few other films, but it's outcome has this movie worthy of the same cult status as The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Single Disc Edition). Sure, this DVD lacks any bonus features, but it's what, five bucks?

EW!.......2007-04-15

DESERVES A PG-13! I SAW IT WHEN I WAS YOUNG THINKING, "OKAY, A PHANTOM OF THE OPERA PARODY CANNOT BE TOO BAD, I MIGHT AS WELL CHECK IT OUT!" I AM VERY SORRY I DID! THE COUCH CASTING WAS SOOOO DISGUSTING AND THE PHANTOM'S MAKE UP GAVE ME NIGHTMARES(PLEASE DO NOT LAUGH!). I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF PAUL WILLIAMS OR ANY KIND OF ROCK-AND-ROLL SO THE MUSIC DID NOT APPEAL TO ME AT ALL. ALL I CAN SAY IS, IF YOU ARE THIRTEEN AND UNDER, DON'T WATCH THIS!!!!!!

Ken Park (Uncut Uncensored Director's Version - Import)

Average customer rating:

A perfect look into a teens life...
Trash movie about life of trashes.
ken park
Riveting and raw
DID NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL.

Ken Park (Uncut Uncensored Director's Version - Import)

Manufacturer: CP Digital
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version
Lie With Me
Shortbus (Unrated Edition)
Bully
Devil in the Flesh

ASIN: B000298WFE

Product Description

This is PAL VIDEO FORMAT (not NTSC and will not play in regular American DVD-player) and an only official release of Larry Clark's "Ken Park" movie on DVD over the world by Russian company "CP Digital". Larry Clark's Ken Park has sent ripples with explicit scenes, and acts, overshadowing other movies on display. The story of four dysfunctional families in the skateboarding hotbed of Visalia, Calif., unspooled in the experimental Upstream competition. "But I didn't want to cut a single frame," the cult film director and photographer told. "All my life I've seen the camera turn away, but these scenes are part of the reality ... of this generation." The film was co-directed by Clark who made the controversial 1995 movie "Kids", renowned cinematographer Ed Lachman, who shot Steven Soderbergh's award-winning "Erin Brockovich" and Todd Haynes' "Far From Heaven". The movie features violence involving not only the restless teenagers in the small town, but also their parents. But Clark says the film is an "uplifting" look at modern youth that shows some of the kids overcoming the odds..."My first film Kids was about the secret world of children, where parents are not allowed. In Ken Park we go inside the houses of four families and meet the parents. Ken Park is the story of children and their parents in Visalia, California, an isolated inland town between Los Angeles and Fresno. The story flows through the lives of three young boys and one girl, all childhood friends, and their parents. The childrens and parents lives are unmasked and you see the ascent of violence, sex, hatred, love and the manic episodes of emotional confusion." - Larry Clark

Customer Reviews:

A perfect look into a teens life..........2007-04-24

I think this person is totally missing the point of Larry Clark and his total body of work. Had you done your homework you would have known that Larry Clark started his career as a photographer. He went underground with a group of kids in the 60' and 70' to photograph how they lived etc. Most were drug addicts and had casual sex (take a look at Tulsa). All of this was boldly documented in Larry's photos. He does not flinch from life as you would seem to have him do. You say that none of these characters are interesting to you. Well would they be if you met them on the street? They are kids. You would ignore them. You have no idea how they live, what they think and what makes them do the things they do. Nor it seems do you care. This is a movie about life. It has not beginning or end, it has not climactic scene, and this is not a Johnny Deep film. Wake up! You may not like Ken Park but despite your shortcomings on understanding film it is and important piece. You should also watch Short Bus. Not buy Clark but an excellent film as well. But watch out it has graphic sex in it. It also has no Disney ending so you might be disappointed with that as well. What did you think of Kids? Gummo? Julian the Donkey Boy? And please list the million other ways in which teenagers can act out their messed up lives. Just a few will do. Do you know any teenagers? Have you talked to them? Guess what. They are lying to you. That is Larry Clark's skill as an artist. His kids tell the truth and some people can't take it, don't understand it or want to ignore it. Where do you belong? I think you should go underground with some homeless kids. Live with them for a year and document what you see. It might just open that closed mind of your and allow you to see what is actually in front of you.

Oh, one other thing, what is this Jerry Springer situation you keep referring to? Were you on the show giving your point of view on this film? If so, I'm sorry I missed it.

Trash movie about life of trashes........2007-03-31

Trash movie about life of trashes. That's all I can say.

ken park.......2007-03-24

Did not receive as banned by Customs in Australia
but have seen movie before

Riveting and raw.......2007-01-15

A minor having sex with a hot 35-year-old? WOW. How'd the kid get that job? The scenes were very explicit. I was shocked, wondering how this was legal. It all seemed so real. Aside from the sex, the movie still had an enthralling story. A real look at teen life, a constant clashing with parents. Larry the legend, comes through again.

Hey Larry, how'd the kid get that job?

DID NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL........2006-12-22

THIS " FILM " IS WEIRD. IT NEVER GAINS ANY MOMENTUM, IF YOU ASKED ME WHAT THE POINT WAS...I COULDNT SAY. IT STARTS OUT WITH A TEENAGER BLOWING HIS BRAINS OUT WHICH GOT MY ATTENTION....AND THEN DISAPPOINTED ROYALLY FROM THERE ON. I DONT LIKE TO KNOCK SOMEONE ELSE'S " ART ", BUT THIS MOVIE, TO ME , HAS NO REDEEMING QUALITIES AND HAS NO MORAL OR POINT. I WOULDNT RECOMMEND IT TO AN ENEMY.

Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

Average customer rating:

Celluloid Propaganda
Compelling and appalling
Haunting
Johnny Cash wore black, but he's considered normal.
must-see

Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Starring: Jason Baldwin , Steven Branch , Christopher Byers , John Mark Byers , and Melissa Byers
Director: Bruce Sinofsky
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000AYEIY0
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Amazon.com

On May 6, 1993, the mutilated bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found in a shallow creek in West Memphis, Arkansas. A short time later police arrested three local teenagers, linking the boys' killings to a satanic ritual. One of the boys confessed. The intriguing court case was about to unfold as filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky ventured forth to make this documentary. They captured footage of not only courtroom proceedings but also interviews with the major players in trial--parents, suspects, lawyers. The documentary filmmakers, whose previous film, Brother's Keeper, is as intriguing of a crime story you'll ever see, tells this story without re-creations or flashbacks. The film makes a clear argument that the court trial may not be about witchcraft but a witch hunt. As with any great drama, the faces and situations are etched upon the viewer; however, we are dealing with real lives and real crimes (told gruesomely and necessarily by police photographs and videotape), and the impact is far greater. And so is the maddening ambivalence of the trial. Like the O.J. Simpson fiasco, a verdict is reached but the truth is questioned. Did police make fatal errors the night of the crime? Do last-minute clues lead to justice? Who's lying on the stand? As with Roger and Me and Hoop Dreams, we have a provocative single incident that holds a mirror to many of society's problems. The results are just more horrifying. The Emmy-winning film was followed four years later by Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. --Doug Thomas

Description

One of the most influential documentaries in recent years, the Sundance favorite PARADISE LOST is an emotionally raw, must-see crime doc from two of today's most exciting filmmakers--Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (the team behind Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Brother's Keeper). This dark odyssey began with the tragic murders of three 8-year-old boys, whose bodies were discovered in a shallow creek in West Memphis, Arkansas. The community demanded justice, and one month later the police delivered: three local teenagers accused of sacrificing the boys as part of a Satanic ritual. Despite overwhelming public antipathy towards them, defendants Damian Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley steadfastly maintained their innocence. Although the trial produced virtually no physical evidence connecting the defendants to the crime, the town, the jury, and the police felt that they had their killers, and used the young men's penchant for heavy metal music and black clothing and a fascination with the Wicca religion as evidence of their guilt. With unprecedented access to all the players, Berlinger and Sinofsky captured the events as they unfolded before their cameras. From actual courtroom footage and clandestine jailhouse interviews to behind-the-scenes strategy meetings and intimate portraits of grief-stricken families, PARADISE LOST is a shocking yet uniquely American real-life drama. DVD Features: Exclusive Trial Footage; Timeline of Events; Trial Updates; Theatrical Trailer; Filmmaker Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Celluloid Propaganda.......2007-05-16

Paradise Lost is an exercise in historical revisionism. Its producers aimed at spinning history with the hope that a trio of clearly guilty murderers would be released. This alleged documentary plays fast and loose with the facts that it presents while leaving inconvenient facts on the cutting room floor to present a false picture of three innocent lads being railroaded for crimes that they did not commit.

Paradise Lost is a dishonest documentary in that while the producers never state their opinions directly, they deliberately omit certain facts while twisting other facts so that they can present a distorted version of what really happened. For instance, the producers want you to believe that the convicted killers were really innocent, that there was no real evidence against them. The makers of this documentary want you to believe that the 3 teenagers were convicted due to their love of heavy metal, the works of Stephen King, the fact they wore black T-shirts and because there was a "satanic panic" in the community.

The documentary producers also use John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the victims, as a red herring. They insinuate that Byers should have been the top suspect instead of the 3 convicted punks. They conveniently leave out the fact that Byers had an airtight alibi and was cleared of suspicion following an intensive police investigation. This so-called documentary implies that since Byers is mentally slow, then he could have been the real murderer.

Paradise Lost was made along the lines of a Michael Moore documentary sans the comedy. Like a Moore documentary, Paradise Lost shows some of both sides of an issue, but upon further examination, it is clearly one sided. In this case, the bias is on the side of the convicted criminals. Facts that point towards guilt are either glossed over or entirely left out. Contrary to the movie, the trio were not convicted just because they wore black or liked heavy metal music. That is a gross distortion of the evidence against them.

Paradise Lost is one of those documentaries where if you do not know much about the subject, your response likely will be that what happened to the 3 convicts was a horrible miscarriage of justice. However, if you actually know a good deal about what really happened, your reaction is that the documentary itself was nothing but a sham and a fraud.

Paradise Lost is a sham and a fraud that is not worth either your time or your hard earned money. It is most definitely not recommended.

Compelling and appalling.......2007-03-02

I saw this movie in a theatre ten years ago and recently saw the DVD version. It's pretty obvious that these boys are innocent. It's even more obvious they never got a fair trial.

I'm impressed by Damien, the young man accused of satanism. He's smart and articulate and he kept his cool.

But what's even more appalling is that, given the publicity attached to this case, the young men remain in prison. Why hasn't the governor commuted their sentences? With so many holes in the prosecution's case -- absence of blood being just one -- why have appeals failed?

Paradise Lost describes a 20th century witch hunt. And that's our justice system.

Haunting.......2007-02-07

This documentary is brilliantly made - no commentary, just footage of the incidents, interviews with the people involved in them, all of which speak for themselves. But it's a haunting message they tell - a haunting, horrific murder and some haunting questions about the justice system's response. The film does not pretend to give answers - it doesn't preach, it just asks questions. Those questions continue to reel inside me, long after viewing - the guilt or innocence of the young men charged with the crimes, the guilt or innocence of others and, perhaps for me the most disturbing question of all: will we ever know for sure just what happened? Like pretty well everything that HBO is involved in, I found this to be really top-shelf documentary production.

Johnny Cash wore black, but he's considered normal........2007-01-23

I'd like to think that people are getting more open minded regarding justice and the law. With the recent explosion of court and police shows on tv, nearly everyone is getting interested in the subject, and tries to be their own detective, figuring out what's right and what's wrong while looking at both sides of the story. Unfortunately, that's only recently, and the events that take place in Paradise Lost were anything but handled that way. I don't think I've ever been disgusted or disappointed when seeing the outcome of a trial for anything, but this one had me shaking my head in disbelief each time the verdict was made. This isn't my own personal feeling on the more southern states, but documentaries like this certainly don't help the more city-slicker's view of that area, seeing how one-sided things can be. The fact that a little over 10 years ago, people were using the "they wear black and listen to heavy metal, so they must be Satanic" really makes me feel sorry for the older people of that age. Let's hope that my generation, as pitiful as it seems most of the time, is more open minded on such subjects. Anyway, Paradise Lost is one of the few movies to really get me. At two and a half hours long, most documentaries would bore you with false info and a one-sided argument, like Michael the Hutt Moore does. Here, everything goes by fast thanks to flawless editing, interesting people, and the best defense attorneys one could ever wish to see.

In May of 1993, 3 small boys were found murdered (amongst other things) in a shallow creek in West Memphis, Arkansas. What was done to them is pretty graphic, so you're better looking up info on that on your own rather than me explaining it here. Seemingly right away, police got a supposed confession from Jessie Misskelley who claimed his friends Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin did it. All three of them were seen as outcasts in school and by the rest of the community for listening to bands like Metallica and Slayer, wearing black shirts, and not being into the typical things people in that area were. So, naturally, the police went after them since they'd be the ones who'd do such a thing, what with being different and all. The problem is, there's nearly no evidence to support that any of the 3 boys were involved. Jessie's confession is filled with holes, and the officer questioning him more or less tells him what the right time was for them to be there, after Jessie changes the time on when it happened more than 3 times in his story. His IQ of 72 doesn't help matters either. The murders were done by a professional, obviously, having no blood, foot prints or anything of that sort at the scene of the crime. The scene was left clean- no teenagers could've done it that well, especially some of the skinning that took place...in the dark, and it would've had to have been underwater since no blood was found. One officer even admits to LOSING evidence later in the trial. But, the city made up their mind before the trial even began. All that mattered to them was that someone was going to pay for a crime, regardless of if they did it or not.

As a few have said, the real heroes here are the defense lawyers. These guys are some of the best I've ever seen, and go into detail as to why the boys are innocent, providing enough proof that it couldn't possibly have been them. I'm wondering why nothing they said seemed important to the jury at all, since everything they said and questioned made 100% sense. One lawyer even comes up with a case that shows that one victim's stepfather could have done it, and provides enough evidence. He admits to beating his son shortly before the murder took place, can't easily explain why his own blood was found on a murder weapon, and changes his mind about what the police asked him and how he answered several times. Again, despite the proof that he's more than likely the real culprit, his case is dismissed after just a few minutes. I don't know if this is as bad, or worse, but some of the parents involved here can easily be seen as just as heartless as the killer(s). One mother is smiling and cheering before she's interviewed by a news station just because she's "on tv". Another more or less makes death threats to all 3 boys if they were ever to be let out of prison, while another pair practices at a shooting range and names the 3 targets after the accused boys. The boy's stepfather who is accused later on even goes on into detail about how he hopes terrible things will happen to all 3, and what he'll do to their graves each year if they die before him. Naturally, most would feel sorry for the parents of the lost children at first, but when everything's almost done here, you realize that they've lost their humanity and only care about revenge. Sadly, Paradise Lost doesn't work out like an episode of Law & Order. All 3 accused boys are still in prison today, DNA testing was only cleared just recently, and the real murderer is still at large. Considering that the 3 families of the victims were involved with a Parents of Murdered Children meeting, seemingly for the state, it shows that the person(s) who did this probably did those ones in as well. A sequel is available right now, and I just read that a third one is in the works. Lets hope that justice is served soon. The movie isn't one sided, but it's obvious that all 3 boys were innocent.

Since this is a documentary for HBO, filmed back in the early 90s, the picture quality isn't going to be that great. There's a lot of grain and out of focus shots, but none of it takes away from the presentation. What do you expect? The audio's just the same, recorded on low-quality microphones. Sadly, there aren't any subtitles or captions you can turn on to help with the heavier accents of some people. But I'm sure you'll want to watch the movie more than once, and you'll figure out any questionable phrases upon the second viewing.

The extras here aren't much, but at least we get something. Damien Echols Trial Testimony is just extended footage of Damien talking about what he's into and why he dresses the way he does. It was summarized already in the movie, but it helps out on showing that the community didn't like him before the trial even began. Timeline of Events is just that, and is represented by screens showing where and when things happened. It's good to check out if you might have missed anything, but not quite necessary. Lastly is a Trial Updates file that you can download from the disc. Though, you'd be best off just looking up any info on the West Memphis 3 and going from there since this file's semi-outdated now.

I know 2 other movies have been made since this, but they could've piled on some more extras. Surely there was some other good trial footage taken out like the footage of Damien explaining his ways and such. The movie itself is amazing though, and really makes you wonder how people can still backtrack from all the proof that 3 boys are innocent, and stick with the whole "they wear black and listen to heavy metal" excuse.

must-see.......2006-04-04

this documentary takes you inside the robin hood hills case, and for me it made me doubt the outcome and imprisonment of the three teenagers. it is honest, graphic and sad, but i think it takes you inside better than most other documentaries i've seen.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Man Show - Girls on Trampolines

Herschell Gordon Lewis Collection

King of the Cage: Road Warriors (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Wildcat Women

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