Paradise

Starring:Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson, Elijah Wood, Thora Birch, Sheila McCarthy, Eve Gordon, Louise Latham, Greg Travis, Sarah Trigger, Richard K. Olsen, Rick Andosca, Anthony Romano, Timothy Erskine, Chestley Price, Dave Hager, John R. Copeman, Jeff Jeffcoat, Scott Hubacek, Melanie Van Betten, Jason Robert Somrak
Director: Mary Agnes Donoghue
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

A Thinking Hero at Last!
Another Great Movie
what a cliched bore!
Perfect actor plus great character equals TV magic

Jesse Stone - Death In Paradise
Starring: Tom Selleck , Edward Edwards , Brendan Kelly , William Devane , and Viola Davis
Director: Robert Harmon
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Jesse Stone - Night Passage
Stone Cold
Seraphim Falls
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Shooter (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000OVLBG2
Release Date: 2007-06-12

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!

The Jesse Stone Film Collection (Stone Cold / Death in Paradise / Night Passage)

Average customer rating:

The Jesse Stone Film Collection (Stone Cold / Death in Paradise / Night Passage)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

The Shadow Riders: Collector's Edition
Louis L'Amour's The Sacketts
Banacek - The First Season
Eureka - Season One
Foyle's War - Set 4

ASIN: B000RMRV1W
Release Date: 2007-07-24

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:

All stars are for Phoebe Cates
Bad movie
More please
A Softcore Porn Children's Film?!
5 stars for Phoebe!

Paradise Uncut [Import Version]

Manufacturer: Classian
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Private School
Tomboy
Gwendoline - Unrated Director's Cut (aka - The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak)
Cheeky! (Unrated)
Mischief

ASIN: B0007W6HVM

Product Description

Korean Import - Uncut Edition... contains the full uncensored version not available on the U.S. DVD

Customer Reviews:

All stars are for Phoebe Cates.......2007-06-12

I rated this movie with 5 stars not to mention how the story written good or bad, or the performance of actors. But this is the first effort of Phoebe Cates and she shine in whole the movie. She acted very natural as real life, her body was so perfect. In fact, she never be such focus and pretty in other movies later. This movie should be rated as 5 stars if you like Phoebe Cates, a must to all fans.

Bad movie .......2007-01-11

This movie was not what I was told. It is a waste of money and I would not recommend it.

More please.......2006-08-23

This is a blatant rip-off of "The Blue Lagoon," which I would normally find reprehensible. Since Phoebe Cates appears nude in this, however, I will overlook it. The fact she is onscreen most of the time makes this a must-own DVD. There is no reason to sit through the entire insufferable mess, just fast forward the movie to watch the fabulous Phoebe. The Classian DVD has very respectable picture and sound, with removable Korean subtitles. Yes, Aames' Willie is blurred, but again I am not complaining. I really don't know what seven minutes were cut, if any, from the original 100 minutes for this release. I don't recall anything additional from the times I first viewed it about twenty years ago, so it is likely nothing involving the glorious Miss Cates. Perhaps one day the entire 100-minute version, if it exists, will be released. Until then, scrape together $15 to get this Classian DVD and enjoy!

A Softcore Porn Children's Film?!.......2006-08-03

I admit it. I only bought this movie for one reason: the lovely Phoebe Cates is topless in much of the movie. (Okay, so make that two reasons.) On this point, I was not disappointed.

That said, I made the mistake of trying to watch this turkey of a movie from beginning to end. I believe the makers of this movie were confused about who their target audience is.

On one hand, the film contains a lot of nudity and sex. On the other, the film features dumbed-down, bad dialogue and patently groan-worthy attempts at humor, the kind of humor that only 5 year old children would find amusing. Really, the scenes with the monkeys were as childish as they were totally out-of-place in a softcore porn flick.

5 stars for Phoebe!.......2006-02-17

But it's downgraded to four becuase the movie itself is very ordinary.

It starts off interesting, and the first half isn't bad, but it gets more boring as it goes along, and the ending is a bit of an anti-climax.

I have the Korean import, and the only thing censored is Aames's genitals, which concerns me little, and probably doesn't concern you.

It only actually runs for 90 minutes, but there's already plenty of nudity and sex in it (more than I expected), so I'm personally not too fussed about the 'uncut or not' issue...

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
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Angel - Season One (Slim Set)
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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
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Blue Hawaii
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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

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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
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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!!!!!!

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