Maggie & Annie

Starring:Amy Thiel, Joy Yandell, Adam Knox, Jennifer Steele (IV), Lizzie Peet, Shannon Rossiter, Andrew Hamling, Paul Vito Abato, Jake L. Johnson, Johnny Rey Reyes, Ben Bar, Kenna Beauregard, Ali Weiss, Geoff Pearlman, Alison Mezey, Barbara Benner, Shari Kimberlin, Mati Ron, Lora Sarkis, Dave Bryan (II)
Director: Kimberly K. Wilson
Studio: Ariztical
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

underrated
Subtle film, but good.
Spellbinding
A moving story of estrangement & reconciliation...
Excellent!

The Painted Veil
Starring: Naomi Watts , Edward Norton , Liev Schreiber , Toby Jones , and Diana Rigg
Director: John Curran (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000NOIX48
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

Produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts, The Painted Veil works well as a movie--even better as an actor's showcase. The year is 1925. When her domineering mother pressures her to marry, Kitty (Watts) settles for shy bacteriologist Walter (Norton). Then Walter is transferred from London to Shanghai and the lonely and bored Kitty drifts into an affair with married diplomat Charlie (Liev Schreiber). When Walter finds out, he makes a startling proposition: either Kitty accompanies him to the cholera-infested countryside or he'll divorce her. With no other prospects, she comes along on what looks like a double-suicide mission. Based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil was adapted by Philadelphia's Ron Nyswaner (who knows a little something about infectious diseases). As two previous versions made little impact--despite Garbo's presence in the 1934 melodrama--John Curran's film is sure to stand as definitive. Interestingly, Norton, who studied Chinese history at Yale, chose Watts as his co-star, while Watts chose Curran, for whom she appeared in 2004's underrated We Don't Live Here Anymore. Filmed on location, the handsome production is, in many respects, just as old-fashioned as its source material--sex is merely suggested and Kitty is shocked that their English neighbor (Toby Jones) has a Chinese lover--but the ending packs a feminist twist. Mostly though, The Painted Veil is about the acting, and Watts and Norton, along with Diana Rigg as a disillusioned Mother Superior, have rarely been better. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham, "The Painted Veil" is a love story set in the 1920s that tells the story of a young English couple, Walter, a middle class doctor and Kitty, an upper-class woman, who get married for the wrong reasons and relocate to Shanghai, where she falls in love with someone else. When he uncovers her infidelity, in an act of vengeance, he accepts a job in a remote village in China ravaged by a deadly epidemic, and takes her along. Their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth.

Customer Reviews:

underrated.......2007-07-03

The Painted Veil is another gem to come out this year that was not widely advertised. I found the cast, the scenery, and the story to be different and entertaining. This is not an extremely fast-paced movie, but it was produced with some serious craftsmanship by the two main actors. They did a great job and Liev Schreiber was a nice added touch.

Subtle film, but good........2007-07-03

A bit underwhelming in terms of script, but the acting is superb. The lighting is also excellent.

Spellbinding.......2007-07-03

I have watched this movie three times in the last 24 hours. Everything about it is beautiful and tragic and haunting. I have always been a fan of Edward Norton's, but beginning with The Illusionist and now with this movie, I see how powerful and deep the emotions he portrays are. Both he and Naomi Watts are so perfect for this story, I literally cannot stop thinking about it.

A moving story of estrangement & reconciliation..........2007-07-01

This is a slow paced but beautiful film about marital betrayal, estrangement, reconciliation, forgiveness and love. The cinematography is spectacular, as most of the movie was shot on location in China. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts do a good job as the couple with the tortured relationship. Its pacing and theme will prompt many to dismiss it as a "Chick Flick," but that label does not do justice to this fine movie.

Excellent!.......2007-07-01

I just wanted to give this movie the 5 stars it deserves. I absolutely loved this movie - everything about it was perfect, even it's slow pace which some complain about. Sometimes a movie has to move slowly in order to evoke a certain sense in the viewer. If you want to be totally transported to a different and interesting time and place, then see this movie.

Harry Potter Years 1-4 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / Chamber of Secrets / Prisoner of Azkaban / Goblet of Fire) (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Harry Potter Movies
Good
Disappointed customer
First Four Harry Potter Films on DVD: A Great Gift Idea!
Harry Potter DVD Boxed Set

Harry Potter Years 1-4 (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone / Chamber of Secrets / Prisoner of Azkaban / Goblet of Fire) (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Richard Harris , Maggie Smith , Robbie Coltrane , Saunders Triplets , and Daniel Radcliffe
Director: Chris Columbus , and Alfonso Cuarón
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B000E6UZZK
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Description

The Harry Potter Years 1-4 includes each of the four 2-disc sets of Harry Potter 1, Harry Potter 2, Harry Potter 3 and Harry Potter 4 (all widescreen versions).

Customer Reviews:

Harry Potter Movies.......2007-07-04

The movies are very entertaining and a must see for all who have read the books. I recieved my movies on time and am so happy with the service.

Good.......2007-07-01

I love the books, so the movies are never as good as the books, but they are good. They are fun and interesting and go quickly but keep true to the story. Good films that are fun. This is the order of the BEST FILMS (1 being best...4 being worst)
1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Sorcers Stone
3. Chamber of Secrets
4. Goblet of Fire

Disappointed customer.......2007-06-24

Very disappinted with my first buy from this seller.
Movies arrived on time, but it wasn't what I ordered or expected.
I bought a Box Set of Harry Potter, years 1-4, but 4 separated movies arrived, not a Box Set. Besides, the seller claims that he has the only Full Screen versions available on the market, one of the movies, Goblet of Fire, is NOT a full screen version, the box is a full screen version, but the DVD inside is marked and it is a Wide Screen version.
I would really like my money back !!!!!!!!!!!
Very, very disappointed indeed.

First Four Harry Potter Films on DVD: A Great Gift Idea!.......2007-06-21

In 1997, a children's book written by a then little-known author, J. K. Rowling, began to gain popularity in Britain. Entitled "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", the book's title was changed when it was released in the U.S. to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". A year later, children who had been mesmerized by the first book got to read its sequel, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets". Though a seemingly darker book than the first, more and more children (as well as adults) began to take interest in the amazing stories a boy name Harry Potter, who is also a wizard. As J. K. Rowling wrote each additional book, interest continued to rise as bookstores began to open at midnight upon each book's release date to the throngs of children and their parents anxious to read the next installment of Harry Potter's adventures at the magical Hogwart's School of Wizardry Witchcraft with his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they battle the evil Lord Voldemort. To date, five books have been written. The third, fourth and fifth books are respectively entitled "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". And, the soon to be released seventh & final book is called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

With so much popularity, it was only natural that film producers would approach J. K. Rowling about transforming her wonderful books into big-screen films. The year (2001) following the release of her fourth book, the first film adaptation of her first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was released in theaters. This was followed by the subsequent releases of the film versions of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002), "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004) and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005).

Starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, each of these four films is quite good. Also starring in all four films are Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom, Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon Dursley, Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia Dursley, Harry Melling as cousin Dudley Dursley, Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, legendary actress Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall and the wonderful actor Alan Rickman as the shadowy potions professor Severus Snape. Sadly, the brilliant actor Richard Harris (1930-2002), who played Professor Albus Dumbledore, died shortly before the second film opened in theaters. Stepping into the character in the third & fourth films was veteran actor Michael Gambon, whose seamless & identical portrayal of Professor Dumbledore was a true credit to his excellent acting abilities; though some were not as pleased with Gambon's performance as with Richard Harris.

A brief summary of each film follows:

1. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

At 11 years of age, Harry Potter has been taken care of from the time that he was only one year old by his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, who have a child of their own named Dudley. They have taken care of Harry because his own parents, James and Lily Potter (Lily was Petunia's sister) were killed by the evil wizard Lord Voldemort. The Dursleys want nothing to do with magic, and since Harry may be a wizard, they have not treated him very well. However, just before Harry's 11th birthday, he received a letter from the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft; but the Dursleys won't let him read the letter. More & more letters from Hogwarts arrive until out of desperation, the Dursleys attempt to run away with Harry; but they are easily found and on Harry's birthday, a huge man by the name of Hagrid arrives to personally deliver Harry's invitation from Hogwarts to study magic. It is only then that Harry finds out that he's a wizard and that the Dursleys had lied to him about how his parents died. Harry leaves with Hagrid and begins his first year at Hogwarts, where he makes his first true friends: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. It's an exciting story as Harry learns to play quidditch, learns potions with the unpleasant Professor Snape and becomes entangled in some secret affairs at the school. He may even have an encounter with "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".

2. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

At age 12, Harry has been treated slightly better by the Dursleys over his summer holiday, but things begin to turn sour when an elf named Dobby suddenly appears in Harry's bedroom to give him a message: that he should not return to Hogwarts this year. Not accepting the warning, Dobby makes mischief while the Dursleys are entertaining. Uncle Vernon puts bars on Harry's bedroom window and refuses to let him return to Hogwarts, but a flying car carrying Ron Weasley and his brothers Fred and George arrive and rescue Harry. Harry's does finally get to Hogwarts, but students begin to be attacked by an unknown force and Harry starts to hear strange voices. That's when they learn about a legendary part of the castle known only as "the chamber of secrets", in which a horrible monster is said to dwell. Will Hogwarts get shut down, or can Harry and his friends figure out where the chamber is? Look out for Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (the brilliant Kenneth Branagh) and Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson).

3. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

At age 13, after Harry accidentally causes one of his other unpleasant muggle aunts, Aunt Marge (Pam Ferris), to inflate like a balloon, he runs away from the Dursleys and encounters a large black dog before a magical bus appears. Harry has a wild bus ride to "The Leaky Cauldron" where he meets the Minister of Magic himself, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), but he doesn't' get in trouble for inflating his aunt. Instead, there is something far more ominous: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), a very dangerous prisoner and convicted murderer, has escaped from Azkaban prison. Everyone at Hogwarts must be on guard, especially with the dreaded dementors on the prowl looking for Sirius. While Ron & Harry can't understand how Hermione is getting to all of her classes (some classes at the same time), Sirius Black is looking for Harry. When Harry finds out who Sirius Black is, he goes ballistic; but things may not be as they appear.

4. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

This is an unusual year at Hogwarts: instead of the usual quidditch matches between the four houses, an international Tri-Wizarding Tournament is to be held. Limited to only upper-class students that are at least 17 years old, everyone is shocked when Harry (14 years old) is named to be one of its contestants. The Tri-Wizarding Tournament is somewhat dangerous to its participants, but Hermione finds herself in an affair with a world-renowned quidditch player, Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), who is representing his school in the Tournament. In the meantime, Harry is attracted to a girl named Cho Chang (Katie Leung), but his life is complicated when he begins to experience strange visions of snakes and "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named". What is "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" doing? Harry will no doubt be caught in the thick of it and it may interfere with the Tournament! Keep a close eye on Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), who is at Hogwarts by invitation of Dumbledore himself!

Overall, I rate all four films together with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend them. In case you have a friend or family member that wants to watch/own all four Harry Potter films, but doesn't yet have any of them, the "Harry Potter - Years 1-4" DVD collection would make an excellent gift.

Harry Potter DVD Boxed Set.......2007-05-31

First four Harry Potter movies special wide screen edition. Each movie comes with a second disc with special features. Movie one and two come with "special edition" case.

If you like the books then you'll enjoy the movies, although they are sometimes very different from the original writings.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 1)

Average customer rating:

Great fantasy for children and adults too!
Great movie for all!
Pretty Good Movie
Faithful Book Adaptation
HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERERS STONE

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 1)
Starring: Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Richard Griffiths , Ian Hart , and John Hurt
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Scary Movies & Mysteries | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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Accessories:

LEGO Creator Harry Potter

ASIN: B00003CXI1
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Product Description

The beloved book about a young wizard named Harry became a huge hit as a big screen feature and now makes its debut as deluxe DVD. In the film Daniel Radcliffe portrays the young orphan who gets invited to attend the exclusive Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after years of living with his horrible aunt and uncle. At school he discovers his true heritage as the son of a witch and wizard, and faces a daunting force of evil. Get ready for fun, adventure, and action with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Special Features Include:

Never-before-seen-footage.

A 360 degree tour of Hogwarts controlled by the viewer's remote.

New interviews with the director and producer.

Learn how to play Quidditch.

Catch a Snitch with your remote.

Have a wand choose you at Ollivander's Wands.

Meet the ghosts who live at Hogwarts.

Cast a spell over a scene in eight languages.

Create potions.

Face challenges to reveal the secret in the Mirror of Erised.

Transfigure objects.

DVD ROM Includes:

Get sorted by the Sorting hat.

Collect wizard trading card.

Receive owl emails.

Lots of game demos...and more!

System Requirements:
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, and John Cleese.
Directed By: Chris Columbus.
Running Time: 152 Min., Color.
This film is presented in "Widescreen" format.
Copyright 2002 Warner Home Video.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com essential video

Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Great fantasy for children and adults too!.......2007-06-30

Chris Columbus directed "Young Sherlock Holmes". If you saw that movie, you would not be surprised at Harry Potter. He puts all the visual stage elements that it takes to mesmerize audiences. The book is not able to give this clear picture. You must have a producer who can nail it on the head to make it in the film industry.

The color, costumes, makeup, stage design, and everything all the way down to the wire was perfected to make sure this movie had a lasting effect on the audience. Hats off to the author for the creation, but definitely to the produccer for bringing it to life on film.

Great movie for all!.......2007-06-22

"Harry Potter and SS" is the best fantastic movies I have watched so far. Together with the excellent skills of director Christ Columbus and well-done acting of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as three main characters, and other stellar casts, "Harry Potter and SS" has becomes one of the most-watched movies once it's first released in the threater. The plot mainly focuses on the friendship between Harry and his two best friends, Hermione and Ron, and how they struggle throughout the movie to make the stone protected from the Lord Voldermore, an evil darkwizard. As the movie begins, Harry Potter, portraits by Daniel Radcliffe, a 10-years-old wizard is being treated so badly by his mean uncle and aunt. The Dursley's family has been concealing the fact that Harry doesn't belong in this Muggle world, and try all attempts to block all the invited letters from Hogward, a magical school where all young wizards go. It all changes, however, until his eleventh birthday when Hagrid, a giantkeykeeper of Hogward, comes and directly give him a letter, which simply says that Harry has been acccepted to attend to Hogward. Leaving the Dursley's family to go to Howard, Harry learns all about the death of his parents and begins to feel himself important as every wizard eagerly wants to shake his hands wherever he passes by. He also learns that the scar on his forhead, which makes him invulnerable from LV when he was a little baby, has made him the most famous wizard in the Wizard World. Once Harry sets foot on Hogward, a school full of matric spells, he struggles to make himself adjusted to the new World; he befriends with Ron and Hermione and other young wizards as well. Ron, who is Harry's closest companion, keeps Harry reasonable at all times and is willing to risk his life and everything he could for friendship. In the movie, you will witness how he sacrifies himself in the magnificently dangerous chessmatch in order for Harry to keep going. On the other hand, Hermione is a sensitive and very intelligent girl who really helpful throughout the movie. Thanks to her knowledgable tips, Harry could be able to choose the right potion and move on to the next door. Perhaps, that is their friendship which makes the movie go smoothly and held my interest and curiosity 'til the end, when Harry is face-to-face with LV.......
This movie is highly recommended for all, especially for youths who are searching for adventure and fantastic movies.

Hung Duong

Pretty Good Movie.......2007-06-13

I liked this movie. It was pretty funny. It was little bit scary, but great other than that. The parts I saw was good, only that I didn't see the full movie. I was outside in the hall doing POS (Parts of Speech). I watched this movie in class. It was pretty good.

NOTE: Rated PG. Parental Guidance Suggested--Some Material may not be suitable for children.

Rated PG for spooky moments and mild brief language. This movie may not be appropriate for younger kids under age 8.

Faithful Book Adaptation.......2007-06-06

Now here's something you don't see every day - a movie that is faithful to the book.

11 year old Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is an orphan living with his uncle and aunt. They treated him barely better then a servant.

All that changes one day when he finds out that he's a wizard. Suddenly, he's introduced to a world that he doesn't know yet where he's famous. Before it all really sinks in, he's off to Hogwarts for his first year of schooling in the art of magic.

There, he makes friends with Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). But he also makes enemies in the form of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), a snobbish student. He evens seems to have attracted the negative attention of one of the teachers.

But under all the fun, a serious danger lurks. And Harry is stumbling upon the pieces. Will he figure it out? What can an inexperienced wizard do against overwhelming powers?

This movie was my introduction to Harry's world. Now I'm going back and watching it again after having read the books. I was pleased to see just how faithful it really was to the story. It tried to stay as true as it could to the book. The set, costumes, and special effects all worked well to bring the world of the books to vivid life.

But that faithfulness is also the movie's downfall. Outside of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, none of the characters get much in the way of development. Additionally, the story takes a while to really get going. This is a flaw with the book as well, so I can't blame this only on the movie.

Even with those complaints aside, it's wonderful to see this imaginative series brought to such vivid and accurate life. Fans of the books will be pleased.

HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERERS STONE.......2007-05-31

GREAT MOVIE. FUN TO WATCH AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE GOOD.

Average customer rating:

Truly delightful
could have been cool
Great Cast-Good Movie
Great Performances
Will Farrell's best work so far

Stranger Than Fiction
Starring: Will Ferrell , William Dick , Guy Massey (III) , Martha Espinoza , and T.J. Jagodowski
Director: Marc Forster
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000LXH0AE
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Much was written about Will Ferrell's first "dramatic role" as Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who begins hearing a voice narrating his life. But Stranger Than Fiction is hardly a drama. However, what Ferrell does--like Jim Carrey before him in The Truman Show--is handle a toned-down character with genuineness and affection: you believe he is this guy. Crick leads a lonely life filled with numbers and routines. While at first he considers the voice a nuisance, Crick decides more action is needed when it speaks of "his demise." Enter Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who takes on the absurd notion with revelry, trying to find out what kind of book Crick's life is leading. It turns out that the voice Crick is hearing belongs to Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a very real--and troubled--author who is writing a book in which Crick is a fictional character. As usual with these things, the stuffed shirt learns to live a better life--Crick even falls for one of his audits, a brash baker named Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) has the right tone for the film, using great urban scenes (the unnamed city is Chicago) with interesting visualizations of Crick's world of numbers. He also directs Ferrell, Hoffman, and Gyllenhaal to their most charming performances (plus Linda Hunt and Tom Hulce pop up in two funny scenes). Ferrell succeeds in being a romantic lead you can root for; a scene where he eats Ana's freshly baked cookies is totally delightful without a hint of sarcasm. Screenwriter Zach Helm has two personal traits with his story: like Crick he followed his heart (he stopped rewriting scripts and only worked on his own) and like Eiffel, the final results are not a masterpiece, but good, and entertaining enough. Britt Daniel of the band Spoon worked on the dynamite soundtrack.--Doug Thomas

Extras from Stranger Than Fiction

"Counting Brush Strokes," A featurette

on the filming of Stranger Than Fictionhigh bandwidth

Tax Man!:

A clip from the film

high bandwidth

Queen Latifah on working with Emma Thompson
high bandwidth

Stills from Stranger Than Fiction (click for larger image)

Beyond Stranger Than Fiction on Amazon.com

Comic Actors Go Dramatic
CD Soundtrack
Emma Thompson Essentials

Customer Reviews:

Truly delightful.......2007-07-03

I fell in love with this movie from almost the first moment and continued to enjoy every minute to the end. I found it to be wonderful, heartfelt and genuine, with superb acting from every member of the cast. This movie is for viewers who appreciate quirky, understated, charming and very funny.

could have been cool.......2007-07-03

i think if this was done by another director it would have been much better. great idea but the execution was only so so.

Great Cast-Good Movie.......2007-06-30

Stranger Than Fiction brings to the screen the unusual story of a very "usual" kind of guy. An IRS agent living a rather uninteresting life for the last 12 years begins hearing a woman's voice narrating his life. It turns out he might be right...
The plot has elements of both comedy and drama making it rather difficult to label it as one or the other; it's actually a bit of both.
Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal (who is GORGEOUS!), Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, carry out their respective roles very well.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music are all good.
In a nutshell, though not a masterpiece it will surely provide for an evening's entertainment.

Great Performances.......2007-06-29

First, I'll list what I like about the movie. The casting, the performances and most of the dialogs were very good. I can't think of a bad performance. The dialogs were quirky and thoughtful. Lines within their context are very good indeed. I like "So I decided to save the world one cookie at a time." Within its context, it is a fairly profound line. Ferrell is very good in this. Emma Thompson is awesome.

Second, I'll list what I dislike about the movie. The premise doesn't quite work. Does the Ferrel character hear the voice of the narrator within the novel itself. If he doesn't, I can't see how the author could explain his decisions about changing his life. If he does hear her voice within the novel, the ending does not make any sense. The author changed the ending because the character knew he was going to die in the novel and told her to finish it anyway. You get into the bootstrap problem because the author should have known because she's writing the character. Maybe I missed something? However, my main point is, the story drags because you think you know the character is going to die for most of the story. The plot just plods along setting everything up for the climax. The quaint characters and the spiffy dialog don't quite make for great movie.

I would give it 3 1/2 stars because of the performances.

Will Farrell's best work so far.......2007-06-27

I am not a fan of little movies that have a weak plot and clobber you over the head with a message, which I assumed this movie would be. However, I am a fan of Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah. The strange thing is (no pun intended), while they are both as good as ever, the actor who is stunning is Will Ferrell. He pulls you in almost immediately and you follow along because you care about him (and 'watch', lest we forget). I don't think this movie would work at all without him or that anyone else I can think of could have played Harold. (DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE.) That said, I also have to disagree with the reviewers who have had a problem with the ending. The ending is exactly right because everyone's priorities finally get straightened out and because the ending fits with the point of the story. The ending is the message. I loved it, watched it immediately a second time to notice things I'd missed the first time and will buy a copy to keep.

Average customer rating:

Best of the Remakes
Family Fun
Great Movie
Cutesy
Great transaction

The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan , Dennis Quaid , Natasha Richardson , Elaine Hendrix , and Lisa Ann Walter
Director: Nancy Meyers
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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The Parent Trap (1961) and The Parent Trap II (1986): 2-Movie Collection (2-Disc Set)
Freaky Friday
It Takes Two
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ASIN: B0007LXPBI
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills--it's as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy--about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents--out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly '90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad's impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. --Marshall Fine

Description

What makes the Special Edition of THE PARENT TRAP so cool isn't just that you get to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's amazing theatrical debut, but that's it's filled with bonus materials you've never seen before. Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss (both played by Lohan) are identical twins who don't even know each other exists -- until they accidentally meet at summer camp. Now they're up to their freckles in schemes and dreams to switch places, get their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) back together, and have the family they've always wished for!

Customer Reviews:

Best of the Remakes.......2007-07-02

Lindsay Lohan made her first appearance in this latest remake of the Disney classic based on the German children's book. Two girls meet at summer camp. Other than their styles, they look exactly the same. When their hatred of each other forces them to be isolated together they learn the truth. They are sisters. Their parents split up and each took one of the twins and never mentioned the other. Wanting to see their other parent, the girls switch places. When the parents find out about the switch they will have to get together to make an exchange of siblings.

But there is a snag. The father is about to get remarried. Now everything has to be sped up if there is any hope of getting the parents back together again. Revelations and madcap hijinks make up the rest of the film as the twins do everything in their power to stop the wedding and reunite their parents.

Much better than the Olsen Twin remake. While much of the story is very close to the original, it has been properly updated. The parents were a shipboard romance that failed. Newer technology has Lohan beside herself even more than Hayley Mills was. The rest of the cast is excellent and Quaid (the father) really shows he is a better actor than he is usually given credit for. Even the extras are entertaining. A fun documentary about making Lindsay twins and an extra scene involving the Queen of England. Fun for the whole family. Check it out.

Family Fun.......2007-06-08

As with the original version of this movie with Hayley Mills, this is a nice movie despite the premise being so horribly ridiculous. What nice divorcing parents would separate their twins, each take custody of one and never mention or attempt to see the other for 12 years? I did thoroughly enjoy Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson in their roles. There were several differences between this movie and the 1961 version, actually enough to make this enjoyable. I didn't feel like I was watching different actors play the parts and recite the lines of the same characters from that movie.

Great Movie.......2007-05-21

Great funny movie, perfect for the family. Everyone will like it!! get the soundtrack too music is great. Awesome movie.

Cutesy.......2007-04-18

I vaguely remember the 1961 version of The Parent Trap. I say vaguely because that version of the movie was apparently as equally compelling as the 1998 version...which isn't that compelling. But...my kids enjoyed it thoroughly.

The movie takes place way before Lindsay Lohan's pics could be spotted...or should I say pics of Lindsay's privates could be spotted...all over the Internet. Lindsay plays (both) twins separated at birth by their divorcing parents. When the twins meet up by chance 10 or so years later they come up with a diabolical plan to reunite their parents.

Anyone not familiar enough with the story has been under a rock...perhaps since 1961. Anyone that missed the movie deliberately because it sounds too cutesy and far-fetched has done himself or herself a favor. This is a movie for kids. Adults will be more entertained watching their kids interpret the themes in the movie.

So if you're over the age of 14 and you've somehow found yourself contemplating The Parent Trap as the next movie that you just have to see among all of the other available titles...I would say that life under that rock has taken its toll on you in a most severe way.

If you're looking for a decent movie for your age 6 - 14 year old(s)...this could be the one if your kids can handle a couple of smooches (no...none by Lindsay...Dennis Quaid gets a few kisses from Elaine Hendrix and Natasha Richardson). Oh, and I would be remiss not to warn, I'm not sure that the Speedo that Simon Kunz appears in for a brief scene is suitable for viewing by anyone!

Great transaction.......2007-04-11

The product was exactly what we ordered and arrived in a timely manner. It was even on sale! A first-class transaction from beginning to end.

Average customer rating:

Some plays should just remain in the theater
Rubbish (Well, it is an English movie!)
Excellent film--but let's clarify something
Love it!
Although DVD is no subsitute for live theatre, this is still a gem

The History Boys
Starring: Samuel Anderson , James Corden , Stephen Campbell Moore , Richard Griffiths , and Frances de la Tour
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Notes on a Scandal
The Queen
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
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Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)

ASIN: B000NIVJFO
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Amazon.com

The play's the thing in The History Boys. Unlike most stage-to-screen transitions, Nicholas Hytner assembled the entire original cast for the celluloid version of Alan Bennett's award-winning work. (The two previously joined forces for The Madness of King George.) As in Hytner's National Theatre production, a group of Sheffield sixth-form boys, Timms (James Corden), Lockwood (Andrew Knott), Rudge (Russell Tovey), Scripps (Jamie Parker), Crowther (Samuel Anderson), Akhtar (Sacha Dhawan), Posner (Samuel Barnett), and Dakin (Dominic Cooper)--the latter two standouts--spend an extra term in 1983 preparing for their Oxbridge exams. Hector (Richard Griffiths) and Dorothy Lintott (Frances de la Tour) are their regular instructors (both performances garnered Tony Awards), while Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore, Bright Young Things) is the enigmatic new history teacher. The Headmaster (Clive Merrison) brings him on board to lend the precocious lads "polish." Irwin, however, is more interested in encouraging them to think creatively--not merely to recite facts. The boys just want to get into Oxford and Cambridge. If that means withstanding the occasional grope from Hector and harsh word from Irwin, so be it. In the end, which boy gets in where isn't insignificant, but Bennett's greater concern is what they learn along the way. If Hytner isn't always successful in reconciling the intellectual with the more earthbound, The History Boys is one of the funniest films yet about Britain's educational system--and education in general. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from The History Boys

Description

From award-winning playwright Alan Bennett (The Madness of King George) comes this delightfully witty comedy of eight boisterous-yet-talented schoolboys hoping to gain admittance to England's most prestigious universities. They're aided on their quest by two teachers, a shrewd young upstart and an inspiring old eccentric, whose opposing philosophies challenge the boys to confront the true meaning of education and the relative values of happiness and success.

Adapted from the original Tony Award winning play and starring the original Tony Award winning cast, The History Boys is an engaging, thought-provoking, and wickedly funny look at history, the pursuit of knowledge, and the utter randomness of life.

Customer Reviews:

Some plays should just remain in the theater.......2007-06-29

I thought this movie was okay and could have been better even with its funny and touching scenes (brief encounter!). Set in Yorkshire, England in 1983, and centers around a handful of boys in their final year of high school. The boys represent a rather interesting and eclectic mix: there's one who's gay, another who loves sports more than school, and another who is the valedictorian but who acts more like the class bully. Nevertheless, they're all brilliant students who are particularly apt scholars of history and the French language. When news circulates that they have a chance at getting into Oxford and Cambridge, the headmaster (Clive Merrison) hires a young Oxford graduate (Stephen Campbell Moore) to temporarily teach the kids for the "big test" and make them more well rounded students and optimum choices for acceptance, all while intruding upon their favorite History teacher's (Richard Griffiths) class time.He's obese, challenging, and eccentric. He also rides a motorcycle and endlessly quotes great poetry. He firmly agrees with A.E. Houseman who wrote: "All human knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use." If Hector were around today he might be on the endangered species list. But Hector also has a dark side. He seems to get a sexual charge out of taking students out for intimate rides on his motorcycle, and his inappropriate behavior eventually becomes an issue in the film. His job is to prepare some promising but uncouth students for Oxford. He uses creative teaching methods and actually encourages them to think for themselves.

"The History Boys" is also very hip to British pop culture, with numerous '80s rock songs throughout, and very intellectual, with poignant poetry found in nearly every scene. Those two points alone should give anyone a solid idea what to expect going in. There's even a metaphor about relationships and sex in relation to war in history. The focus of the film is purely on the linguists and dialogue in order to drive the story and does not call on any physical or visual imagery at all; this is great on stage, but ineffective on film. The film winds down by telling a lengthy story instead of ending when it should have. Although it gets into the lives of the students and teachers well, it is not as deeply gripping as a film like this should have been.

This film does feature some incredible performances such as Rudge (Russell Tovey), who is the one with the most troubles and breaks the most bounds, also stands out the most. He's supported strongly by Posner (Samuel Barnett), an incredibly talented actor and singer who plays the homosexual boy, and Dakin (Dominic Cooper), who is the cigarette-smoking, sporty, attractive guy you don't want to mess with. The rest of the boisterous cast of students have amazing chemistry, but look like they are acting on stage and not for the camera. One last thing--I really have to mention Frances de la Tour (plays Mrs. Lintott), is practically the only woman in the film with a speaking part. She adds a lot--even more acerbically in the film. Her character has a lot to say--and anyone seeing the film would be wise to listen very closely to her precise words. Other then that, "The History Boys" should have been left untouched in its natural on-stage format and not converted to the screen.

Rubbish (Well, it is an English movie!).......2007-06-25

This movie was totally, mind-numbingly, boring! The movie was a study in character (and motives), and the relationship between teacher and student. I get that. Please don't high hand me with your intellectual reprovals. The movie was littered with references to high brow literature and poetry (most of which I have read and enjoyed) to the point that it came off sounding like an intellectual version of name dropping. I don't think the comparison to Dead Poets Society is accurate. Dead Poets Society was a much better film, in my opinion.

Anyway you slice it, though, the movie was long, laborious, and boring. I won't even go into the weird sexual overtones.

Excellent film--but let's clarify something.......2007-06-16

I've watched this film twice and enjoyed every minute of it and the finely tuned performances. Still, I feel compelled to respond to the reviewer here from England. Your review is well written and astute--until you get to slamming Dead Poets Society. To be blunt, you don't seem to grasp the reality of that milieu any more than the Americans who don't "get" History Boys. DPS presents a very accurate depiction of the claustrophobic environment at an all-boys boarding prep school in the East in that period of American history. The film accurately depicts the obsession with control and tradition at snobby, East-Coast prep schools and the teenagers' rebellious, atavistic response. It is NOT a Hollywood fabrication. We have a suicide at the end and the loss of the boys' only inspiring teacher--made a scapegoat by the administration and parents: if you think that only happens in Hollywood, you're sadly mistaken. Also, while I like History Boys a great deal, Weir has crafted a much more artistic work in DPS; it has a beautiful, at times haunting, aesthetic. The druidic scenes in the woods alone are worth the price of admission. And it may be a vehicle for Williams but even he is real, the inveterate performer loved by the students but resented by his colleauges. At the end he too is nothing but a victim of the school's warped value system and inabilty to progress. Two fine films--very different--each capturing a moment in history and both doing an excellent and entertaining job of it.

Love it!.......2007-06-06

This is truly a brilliant film, I have not watched the stage version although I have read the play (and screenplay) and the stage version does seem more fleshed out, but that does not mean that the film is 'lousier' in any way. I won't bother with the usual themes of homosexuality, education etc. as I feel that most reviews have already mentioned this. Rather I have been reading a lot of reviews about this film (I love this show) and I thought I'd just share my opinion of some of the problems that others have raised about The History Boys.

One thing raised was the apparent lack of direction in the film. If you're looking for a film that raises questions about education, or homosexuality etc. etc., forget this show. I don't think this is Alan Bennet's objective in writing the film. Unlike, say, Top Girls by Caryl Churchill which she wrote to raise questions about feminism and socialism (just an example), The History Boys isn't so much raising points about controversial issues but experiencing it. This isn't a show with a definite objective, it does not seek to judge but rather, ponder. Something like an intellectual bildungsroman.

Many people were also offended by the apparent nonchalence at Hector's indecent groping. I think to be hung up over this issue is to fail to see what the story is driving at. This isn't really a play about homosexuality. Homosexuality within the context of the film is really just another one of life's problems and issues, not much different from socially disadvantaged boy trying for oxbridge. I don't think the boys were ever 'exploited' by Hector, in fact they seem to have the emotional upperhand over him. They treated his groping of them with disinterest, boredom and an attitude of couldn't somewhat care less distaste.

Apart from Posner I don't think the other characters are truly 'homosexual' in the context of the word. Hector is just plain lusty. Irwin and Dakin are really more pansexual than homosexual. They're attracted to one another because of the chemistry they spark off one another, gender was never really a consideration.

The film though, is set in a rather unbelievable context and has the characters spout lines that you don't hear spoken on a normal basis by normal people, but that shouldn't detract you from enjoying the show. However if you're not the typical anglophile this show may be quite hard to follow due to the multiple cultural references and the wry british wit (the latter of which seems very unappealing to americans, although I can never understand why, slapstick never seemed funny in the least.) I remember reading an article where Samuel Barnett said most of the audience at broadway didn't understand the part about sheffield (when Posner is confiding in Irwin).

Lastly the cast had an excellent chemistry and camaraderie. I'm a bit sorry I never had the chance to watch the stage play with the original cast so it would be nice if the producers release a DVD of the original stage play.

Although DVD is no subsitute for live theatre, this is still a gem.......2007-06-04

There are a few things potential viewers, particularly American viewers, need to know about this movie. It focuses on a class of young men who are trying to get into some of the finest British schools. I note this only because there are key differences between British and American schools as well as teaching methods and this may be confusing to some viewers.

I would suggest focusing on the themes of this movie as you watch it, particularly various teaching styles, the role of history in education and, specifically, what a "good education" is. Among other things, the film grapples with issues of
what the students produce, both in their written work and in their classroom discussions. Should an original paper, which is full of cleverness but not much depth, be rewarded more than a solid paper which rehashes conventional wisdom? Those are the types of dilemnas that come up, among others.

If this review hasn't led you to the conclusion that this movie is thought -provoking and geared to making one think about the role of education and styles of learning and teaching, I apologize - because that is what this film does.

Having said that, I think this film suffers from not being presented live, on stage.Often film enhances a Broadway play but I didn't find that the case here. Some of the "students" seemed to be too old and a certain intensity and spontaneity was lost. I would strongly suggest getting a copy of the play in book form and doing a comparison. Better yet, see a live performance.

Still, I think this is worth seeing on DVD, especially since it has extra commentary by Nicholas Hytner and Alan Bennett. There are a couple of featurettes about making the movie and the History Boys around the World.

I can't give a top flight rating to this because it fell short of what I'd experienced of this play before....but it shows effort, is far above the typical fluff shown in theatres and is certainly timely, focusing on education and its role in one's entire life. It is also an excellent introduction to comparing one educational system (British) with other systems, changes and all. The History Boys: A Play

Donnie Darko - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

dvd
'Through a Glass Darkly'
Holy Cow!
i liked it a lot
Gift for My Son

Donnie Darko - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal , Holmes Osborne , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Daveigh Chase , and Mary McDonnell
Director: Richard Kelly (II) , and Dee Austin Robertson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Requiem for a Dream (Edited Version)
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ASIN: B0006GAOBI
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Amazon.com

This unclassifiable but stunningly original film obliterates the walls between teen comedy, science fiction, family drama, horror, and cultural satire--and remains wildly entertaining throughout. Jake Gyllenhaal (October Sky) stars as Donnie, a borderline-schizophrenic adolescent for whom there is no difference between the signs and wonders of reality (a plane crash that decimates his house) and hallucination (a man-sized, reptilian rabbit who talks to him). Obsessed with the science of time travel and acutely aware of the world around him, Donnie is isolated by his powers of analysis and the apocalyptic visions that no one else seems to share. The debut feature of writer-director Richard Kelly, Donnie Darko is a shattering, hypnotic work that sets its own terms and gambles--rightfully so, as it turns out--that a viewer will stay aboard for the full ride. --Tom Keogh

Description

During the presidential election of 1988, a teenager named Donnie Darko sleepwalks out of his house one night, and sees a giant, demonic-looking rabbit named Frank, who tells him the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. He returns home the next morning to find that a jet engine has crashed through his bedroom. As he tries to figure out why he survived and tries to deal with people in his town, like the school bully, his conservative health teacher, and a self-help guru, Frank continues to turn up in Donnie's mind, causing him to commit acts of vandalism and worse. The new Director?s Cut includes a production diary of the film (with optional commentary by Director of Photography Steven Poster), a story-board to screen featurette, the Director?s cut theatrical trailer, They Made Me Do It Too ? The Cult of Donnie Darko and the #1 Fan: A Darkomentary.

Customer Reviews:

dvd.......2007-07-04

i rated this a 3 because the quality and packaging was good but the movie was lame, very boring.

'Through a Glass Darkly'.......2007-06-22

It is hard to describe the plot of 'Donnie Darko' without making the movie seem repellant. 'Donnie Darko' is purposely ambivalent, and the causality of bizarre events is intriguing from the very start. The journal development is a retro trip in itself. Using footage of the Dukakis and Bush (I) debates before the 1988 election, the movie authenticates its setting of a high school near the end of the eighties. How they manage to mix nostalgia with an eerie tale with dark manifestations is a mystery, but they pull it off. Uniquely enigmatic with the memories they elicit, the movie has the effect of being a 'Twilight Zone' manifestation of 'Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion.' (Aptly, the soundtrack draws from "Tears for Fears" instead of "Bow Wow Wow".)

Now about the story. Our titled tortured protagonist (Jake Gyllenhaal in another talented role) is undergoing psychiatric care complete with medication. The first hint we have that things aren't going well is when an ominous voice summons Donnie out of bed to meet him somewhere in the dark. What we discover there on a golf green is a six-foot rabbit, who, if his processed voice weren't so menacing, could only be dismissed with chuckles. (One can only describe the creature as a rabid or demonic 'Harvey'.) And, indeed, our best evidence of a demonic presence is when Donnie asks him later, "Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit?" To which the voice quickly replies, "Why are you wearing that stupid human suit?") Here he announces to the disturbed adolescent that the world is going to end in approximately a month--Halloween 1988--to be exact. After that we get varying degrees of maladjustment with some foreboding events. Upon his return home he discovers he narrowly escaped death when an airplane part fell through his bedroom, leveling much of the house. A grateful Donnie will do anything for "Frank," who saved him from the debacle. From there a series of inexplicable events take place that leave one glued to the screen with magnetic interest.

'Donnie Darko' is a mysterious and disturbing alternative movie. Some of the draw comes with the acting. Keeping it real is no short order. The scenes of hypnosis are mesmerizing with Dr. Therman (played with expert delicacy by Katherine Ross) who tries to uncover Donnie's pathology. But it isn't that easy. In the meanwhile, Donnie, himself, seeks a teacher at his private school and an elderly woman down the road who has written a book about time travel. Dabbling with penetrating thoughts about predestination and the occult, Donnie's predicament is fascinating. Drew Barrymore, whose mere presence could singularly bring flashbacks of the eighties, is the producer and plays lively English teacher, Karen Pomeroy, a character who provides a pivotal place for social commentary. (Besides a mysterious mood piece, some satire is accessible.) On the staff is stalwart moral zealot, Mrs. Farmer, who is almost painted in clown white during her ignorant tirades. There's also preacher-like motivational speaker, Jim Cunningham (Patrick Swayze who makes his character creepy enough) who has a few skeletons in his own closet.

'Donnie Darko' deserves accolades for being so original. With effective performances that include the delicious novelty of having Donnie's sister played by real-life sister Maggie Gyllenhaal, the elements speak for themselves. Nevertheless, the overall effect is not a satisying as the creativity, and the story leaves some gaping holes that, while like real life, are unsettling nonetheless. 'Donnie Darko' will fill a black hole for teenagers who will relate to some of Donnie's difficulties that beg for meaning. (Recommended for a different sort of movie adventure.)

Holy Cow!.......2007-06-14

Well, I was not expecting this when I watched it! It's amazing. It's not actually horrific, there's little blood and almost no violence. This movie is something amazing, something a little creepy and sweet that gets into you and makes you bawl like a baby... ok, makes me bawl like a baby, but hey, I was really tired, ok? It's complicated adn strange and surreal and beautiful and follows an inevetable chain to the end. You really have to pay attention and think - it's not gonna let you space out for a couple hours or miss bits and coast along. But it's easy to pay attention, it's so beautiful.

So - one of my favorite movies.

i liked it a lot.......2007-05-15

it is a very moving film about a troubled boy, but at the same time it is all in his mind. i found it very interesting.

Gift for My Son.......2007-05-15

Excellent buying Experience - gift was greatly appreciated. Highly recommend seller.

Average customer rating:

Propaganda done nicely
Hero with Jet Li
An incredible film
Liked But Didn't Love...
'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'

Hero
Starring: Jet Li , Tony Leung Chiu Wai , Maggie Cheung , Ziyi Zhang , and Daoming Chen
Director: Yimou Zhang
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

House of Flying Daggers
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Kung Fu Hustle (Widescreen Edition)
Memoirs of a Geisha (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00030590I
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Description

Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO -- starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

Customer Reviews:

Propaganda done nicely.......2007-06-22

When ordering House of Flying Daggers/Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon I got a recommendation for this film and as the majority of the comments I read were quite favourable, I decided to give it a try. I'm not absolutely dissatisfied with the film as I did like the dresses, colour design, and the visual harmony, however the message of the film, and the whole plot is subordinate to it, is completely unacceptable to me.

The film puts the empire ideal on pedestal, which I know is fashionable nowadays even in wealthy democracies, but we have to see that this film is a clear answer to criticisms about the Tianmen square massacre and the cruel oppression of Tibet. The choice of warring kingdoms versus one big peaceful empire is itself a misrepresentation as it neglected the third most obvious possibility: making peace, which I must agree might not have been an option 2000 years ago at the birth of the Chinese Empire but should be now.

All in all, the film is watchable, not because of its intellectual level, which could hardly be lower, but because it is just beautiful, the actors and actresses look marvellous in their garbs the colours and styles of which always perfectly match (or harmonise with) the set and the background.

Hero with Jet Li.......2007-06-08

Great movie, a classic for all times, done with exceptional grace and style. The story, direction, talent, and cinematography are top notch; a must for any Jet Li fan or fan or martial arts films.

An incredible film.......2007-06-04

The first time I saw this movie I wasn't sure whether or not I thought it was as good as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", or "House of Flying Daggers". I liked it but it took time to sink in.

By the second time I watched this I loved it. The cinematography is outstanding. The use of special effects are very good, they don't get in the way, but simply add to each scene. The music is good. And the story itself is told in an interesting way.

There is much more, there is a metaphoric use of colors in each scene. And there are plenty of impressive things from warriors so powerful they do battle within their minds, to a wise character named Broken Sword, who fights with just that. All of them have names except the main character, Nameless. And when watching the movie you will understand why.

If the movie has any weakness in my opinion it's that the ending with a couple of the characters is just a bit drawn out and could have been shortened and still retained the same effect.

There is a lot more, but really everyone who likes movies should watch this and see for themself.

Liked But Didn't Love..........2007-05-28

Although I enjoyed this film way better than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," I didn't enjoy it as much as "House of the Flying Daggers." I'm not a big fan of the far-fetched fighting sequences. I can go along with them to a point, but I can't not question how someone can fight off thousands of arrows with just the long sleeves of their outfit and not only survive, but without a scratch basically too. All that aside, I enjoyed the multiple versions told of one story. And the imagery was really beautiful at times.

'Rashomon' + 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' = 'Hero'.......2007-05-22

The film takes place 2,000 years ago when China was split into seven feudal kingdoms. The tyrannical but shrewd and insightful King of Qin (Chen Dao Ming) who wants to unite seven kingdoms in one powerful country, is the target of three legendary assassins: Sky (Donnie Yen), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung) and Broken Sword (Tony Leung), accompanied by Moon (Zhang Ziyi), his devoted servant. The titular Hero, the man without the name (Jet Li), who defeated the assassins, receives as an award a unique private audience with the King of Qin in his Royal Palace...

I believe that this is an amazing film which has everything working perfectly: great story which is told in the manner of Kurosawa's Rashômon, romance, action (and what the action it is...), political intrigue, suspense, fantasy - and if this is not enough, 'Hero' is one of the most visually stunning films I've ever seen - Christopher Doyle's cinematography, jaw - dropping use of colors, costume design, Tan Dun's musical score, and artfully choreographed fighting sequences leave you breathless.

Average customer rating:

The Bird Man of ... San Fran....
A Helping Hand in Friendship
Touching Tale of Parrots
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The Rain Forest comes to the Bay

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Starring: Charles Mingus , Gary Scott Thompson , A. Pushkin , Claude Picasso , and Helen Olive
Manufacturer: NEW VIDEO GROUP
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000BB1534
Release Date: 2005-12-26

Amazon.com

Quiet patience and an observant eye turn a seemingly unpromising subject into a rich and fascinating movie. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill captures the life of Mark Bittner, a gentle homeless musician who's befriended a flock of wild parrots in a neighborhood of San Francisco. Following Bittner, the

camera zooms in on individual parrots, revealing their individual personalities and the traits of their species. This leads to Bittner's own life, the network of friendships that support him, and the ways in which the parrots--a non-native species--interact with both the natural ecosystem and the city government; just about every topic opens up another until a flock of colorful birds represents a microcosm of nature and society.

Filmmaker Judy Irving has created an exemplary documentary simply by paying attention to the details of the world around her subject.

Everything you expect from a Hollywood blockbuster--romance, violence, humor, sorrow, strong personalities in conflict--is here in spades, except that the heroes and heroines have bright red and green feathers. Utterly rewarding. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description:
An "engrossing, delightful film" (The Washington Post), The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the bonafide sleeper theatrical hit of the year. The film's endearing guide is Mark Bittner, an aging bohemian, but the supporting cast members, a rambunctious flock of urban parrots, are the true stars, and their surprisingly humanlike behavior makes for a wondrous and rare experience. The film follows the ups-and-downs of these wild birds within the green niches of San Francisco as Bittner befriends, feeds, and names the members of the flock. Along the way, we meet many unforgettable characters: among them Connor, the grouchy yet lovable outcast of the flock, crying for a mate but luckless in his pursuits, and "the lovers," Picasso and Sophie, inseparable until Sophie is forced into mourning when Picasso disappears. More than a mere birdwatcher, Bittner finds solace in his immersion with these strikingly beautiful creatures - but how will he cope when he's evicted from his sanctuary and forced to live away from the parrots? Packed with romance, comedy and a surprise ending that "makes you feel like you could fly out of the theater" (San Jose Mercury News), The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill shows just how wondrously similar the human and animal worlds really can be.

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Description

An "engrossing, delightful film" (The Washington Post), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL is the bonafide sleeper theatrical hit of the year. The film's endearing guide is Mark Bittner, an aging bohemian, but the supporting cast members, a rambunctious flock of urban parrots, are the true stars, and their surprisingly humanlike behavior makes for a wondrous and rare experience. The film follows the ups-and-downs of these wild birds within the green niches of San Francisco as Bittner befriends, feeds, and names the members of the flock. Along the way, we meet many unforgettable characters: among them Connor, the grouchy yet lovable outcast of the flock, crying for a mate but luckless in his pursuits, and "the lovers," Picasso and Sophie, inseparable until Sophie is forced into mourning when Picasso disappears. More than a mere birdwatcher, Bittner finds solace in his immersion with these strikingly beautiful creatures - but how will he cope when he's evicted from his sanctuary and forced to live away from the parrots? Packed with romance, comedy and a surprise ending that "makes you feel like you could fly out of the theater" (San Jose Mercury News), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL shows just how wondrously similar the human and animal worlds really can be. DVD Features: Origins of the Flock; Urban Legends; Update: Mingus at the Oasis; Parrots Music Video; Mark Bittner's Home Movies; Flock Updates; Deleted Scenes; Theatrical Trailer; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; California Quail Bonus Short; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

The Bird Man of ... San Fran...........2007-07-04

Mark Bittner, a semi-homeless Jerry Garcia look-alike befriends a flock of wild parrots and becomes obsessed with them. This short movie is an engaging

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (book)	March of the Penguins	Grizzly Man
Winged Migration	Best Documentaries of 2005	Nature & Wildlife DVDs