Epidemic

Starring:Allan De Waal, Ole Ernst, Michael Gelting, Colin Gilder, Svend Ali Hamann, Ib Hansen, Anja Hemmingsen, Kirsten Hemmingsen, CÃ¦cilia Holbek Trier, Gert Holbek, Claes Kastholm Hansen, Udo Kier, Jan Kornum Larsen, Joergen Christian Krueff, Gitte Lind, Leif Magnusson, Gunner Ottesen, Susanne Ottesen, Lennart Pasborg
Studio: Homevision
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

British horror/comedy Shaun of the Dead is a scream in all senses of the word. Brain-hungry zombies shamble through the streets of London, but all unambitious electronics salesman Shaun (Simon Pegg) cares about is his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield), who just dumped him. With the help of his slacker roommate Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun fights his way across town to rescue Liz, but the petty concerns of life keep getting in the way: When they're trying to use vinyl records to decapitate a pair of zombies, Shaun and Ed bicker about which bands deserve preservation--New Order they keep, but Sade becomes a lethal frisbee. Many zombie movies are comedies by accident, but Shaun of the Dead is deliberately and brilliantly funny, while still delivering a few delicious jolts of fear. Also featuring the stealthy comic presence of Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and some familar faces from The Office. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Even better the 3rd time........2007-06-29

I liked the movie a lot when I rented it. After seeing "Hot Fuzz" by the same team, I knew I had to see the movie again. It's just as good as I remember it and I caught new things watching it again. I invited a few friends over to watch it and they liked it too.

English Humor And Zombies! What a Combination!.......2007-06-28

I was never a huge fan of Zombie flicks. George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead scared me so bad when I was eight years old that I didn't sleep for the next decade. So when it comes to the lurching, head-snacking undead, I tend to steer the other way. Well, too many of my friends have commented on Shaun Of The Dead, so I had to take a look for myself. I'm a big fan of dry British humor and Shaun Of The Dead is packed with that as well as flesh-scarfing zombies. The entire scene where Shaun goes to the liquor store to by his morning drink and completely ignores all the signs (the bloody handprints on the glass of the cooler door, the dead bodies sprawled in the yards and streets) that the zombies have come to roost. Hysterical! Along with his slacker cohort Ed, Shaun decides to go over to his mum's house and rescue her, while taking care of his zombie-bitten step-father with a cricket bat. The laughs, entertwined with the gore, make for one trippy movie. Filled with absurd situations, Shaun Of The Dead will have you rolling while you flinch. Great!

Dig it!

A Somewhat Dissenting Opinion.......2007-06-05

Yes. Rent it or buy it. It's not a bad movie, rather entertaining in fact. You know the plot - standard (by now) end of the world flesh eating zombie flick with a double dollop of dry British humor and sufficient gore. Good script. However, I had a few problems with this movie. First off, it's amusing rather than roll on the floor hilarious as others have stated. Secondly, it is extremely derivative of Romero's films - so much so, that I found it both distracting and a little annoying. Simply, Romero did all the heavy lifting laying the groundwork in his initial trilogy, and this film apes rather than adds like 28 Days Later. This one borders on plagiarism. Goes to the well too often with the overly used "loved one is bitten by zombie and now we have to kill it..." cliche. And, while the production values are surprisingly good, the direction is at a banal TV movie level. You've heard this from critics before - "doesn't know what kind of movie it wants to be..." Imagine if Monty Python and the Holy Grail flip-flopped between a silly spoof of the legend of King Arthur and a serious treatment of the mythology like John Boorman's Excalibur. Or, if "Crusher" lops off Curly's head with an ax as The Three Stooges are being chased around haunted mansion, and Moe pauses for a few minutes to tearily weep and grieve the loss of his brother before Crusher sneaks up behind Larry, Moe tells Larry to quit breathing on him, Larry gives his pateneted, "Nyaaaaahh" and they resume woop, woop, wooping in circles around the halls again, stepping over Curly's "corp-us" ; ) to escape Crusher as he weilds his ax.

Entertaining, worth a watch, but to call this derivative work a "homage" is being too kind, it's not as funny as its hype, and it simply flip-flops between horror and comedy to often, too severely, and too jarringly. The direction is also mundane. This one was saved mainly due to its energetic cast and a good script. Still, these criticisms aside, I couldn't say I wasn't entertained.

Shaun of the Dead.......2007-05-30

Consistantly funny, yet amazingly believable, take on a zombie invasion. Characters well drawn and full of subtle details that make rewatching fun.

Shaun of the Dead.......2007-05-28

I originally saw this movie because the previews looked undeniably hilarious. I waited of course until the movie was available to rent because I was cautious regarding the type of humor that might be in the film. I was pleasantly surprised to find the movie wildly entertaining with very little gratuitous humor. This British movies' premise is a spoof of the many American zombie movies (and the single British one), where the main character Sean finds himself battling zombies with presumably his best friend and roommate in order to save his as of recently ex-girlfriend. The mild manner of lead character Sean is ultimately what balances the hilarity of the movie, creating a sense of seriousness on the part of the characters, one which is ultimately the catalyst of humor. It is classic British humor and very enjoyable indeed.

Average customer rating:

The dawn of Shaun!

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
Starring: Bill Nighy , Penelope Wilton , Lucy Davis , Jessica Stevenson , and Kate Ashfield
Director: Simon Pegg , and Edgar Wright
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000R8YC3G
Release Date: 2007-07-31

Customer Reviews:

The dawn of Shaun!.......2007-05-27

Zombies are one of those horror staples that have gotten putrid, after one too many idiotic blood'n'gore-fests with a revolting script. Like poor Dracula, they run out of things to do.

But zombie films are revitalized by the wickedly funny "Shaun of the Dead," a tale of music, love, pubs, and the slobbering undead. In the vein of Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive," it's full of twisted humour, funny dialogue and plenty of gore.

Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) are the poster boys for adolescentus slackeritis, living in a London flat with their peeved roommate Pete, who has actually grown up and gotten a real job. Ed plays video games all day, and Shaun's immaturity has just gotten him dumped by his long-suffering girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield).

Wrapped up in his love life woes, Shaun fails to notice a little news item: Human beings all over London are transforming into zombies. At first, Shaun obliviously drowns his sorrows, and has a nasty encounter when he goes to pick up a soda. Now he must mend his relationship with Liz and defend himself and his family from the hordes of ravenous zombies... by barricading them in a pub.

"Shaun" makes the whole genre seem fresh just because it doesn't take itself seriously. The heroes don't even have guns (since the UK public don't get them), and so our heroes fend off the zombies with vinyl records, shovels and cricket bats. That gives an idea of how serious this movie is.

"Shaun of the Dead" isn't so much a zombie movie as a love story with zombies -- a very funny one, with lots of gore. We're treated to slackers in love, Shaun drifting obliviously around London withoutn noticing the undead, and some very entertaining dialogue ("Just look at the face: it's vacant, with a hint of sadness. Like a drunk who's lost a bet...")

Later on, he's forced to shake off his obliviousness in order to save his loved ones, with a bat as his only weapon. And maybe some commandos in a tank. It's gory, and the ending gets a bit cliched and overserious, but the ride up until then is wonderfully scripted and full of hilarious crude comic moments. Not sex-organ/bathroom humor, but definitely not highbrow.

Everybody knows guys like Shaun and Ed. Pegg perfectly plays a slacker with a heart of gold, who would like to be more than he is, but doesn't have the slightest clue how to go about it. Frost is a good annoying sidekick for Shaun, and Ashfield does a good job as the long-suffering girlfriend.

As a bonus, music geeks will laugh themselves silly over such important decisions as: which albums should our reluctant heroes throw at the zombies? "Stone Roses?" "No." "...Second Coming?" "I liked it." "Dire Straits?" "Chuck it!" Good choice, Shaun m'boy.

While it's a hilarious movie, it's not a spoof -- rather it's a zombie movie with wit, love and comedy. By not taking itself too seriously, "Shaun of the Dead" ends up revitalizing a genre that seemed like it was... well, almost dead.

Average customer rating:

Wow!!!
28 Days Later
28 days later is a great movie
AMAZING!!
Awesome movie.

28 Days Later (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Alex Palmer , Bindu De Stoppani , Jukka Hiltunen , David Schneider (IV) , and Cillian Murphy
Director: Danny Boyle , and Toby James
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Pan's Labyrinth (New Line Two-Disc Platinum Series)

ASIN: B00005JMA8
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com

The director/producer team that created Trainspotting turn their dynamic cinematic imaginations to the classic science fiction scenario of the last people on Earth. Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up from a coma to find London deserted--until he runs into a mob of crazed plague victims. He gradually finds other still-human survivors (including Naomie Harris), with whom he heads off across the abandoned countryside to find the source of a radio broadcast that promises salvation. 28 Days Later is basically an updated version of The Omega Man and other post-apocalyptic visions; but while the movie may lack originality, it makes up for it in vivid details and creepy paranoid atmosphere. 28 Days Later's portrait of how people behave in extreme circumstances--written by novelist Alex Garland (The Beach)--will haunt you afterward. Also featuring Brendan Gleeson (The General, Gangs of New York) and Christopher Eccleston (Shallow Grave, The Others). --Bret Fetzer

Description

Hailed as the most frightening film since The Exorcist, acclaimed Director Danny Boyle's visionary take on zombie horror "isn't just scary…it's absolutely terrifying" (Access Hollywood).

An infirmary patient awakens from a coma to an empty room…in a vacant hospital…in a deserted city. A powerful virus, which locks victims into a permanent state of murderous rage, has transformed the world around him into a seemingly desolate wasteland. Now a handful of survivors must fight to stay alive, unaware that the worst is yet to come…

Customer Reviews:

Wow!!!.......2007-07-05

This is one great movie. I lived in London for several months and watching this great European city devastated in a so visually convincing manner was a unique experience to me.

The acting is superb, particularly that of Cillian Murphy who portraits Jim, a humble delivery man who had had a traffic accident, who is the film's main character. (On a personal note, I think Murphy is soon to be recognized as the first-caliber actor he is.)

In several days, 28 Days Later is also a breakthrough movie. Unlike past zombie movies who heavily relied on actors moving awkward and slowly, this movie makes them FAST and all of preternatural stamina. They "infected ones" also cough large amounts of blood, which can infect other people's membranes. By adding this new, well-thought, the film makes the zombies waaaaay scarier. Also, while the latter can barely think, they capable of enduring virtually any kind of pain --- including running with their bodies on blames. Also the reason they became zombies (or, more appropriately, "infected") is because their bodies has a rare, experimental virus called the Rage Virus. This man-made microorganism is transmitted in a matter of seconds by bites or by contact with membranes --eyes, mouth, and so forth.

All characters are deep, contrasting, and utterly convincing. Jim is an idealist, ready to die for his love ones; Selena begins a pessimist who thinks humankind doomed, someone who would kill her own father, mother, or best friend to remain "in the blink of an eye" to remain alive for just one more day. As time pass by, Selena is transformed by Jim's upbeat demeanor. They meet a caring, generous man called Frankie and his obedient, timid daughter Hannah, who had survived against all odds because they have one another. The four then decided to go near Manchester, where a cure has apparently been found . . .

I agree with many of the reviewers: this is not really a horror film. It's a tragic, deeply moving film with great innovations for the zombie genre. Highly recommended.

28 Days Later.......2007-07-04

This is a great movie. But you can't take it as how they advertise it, as a horror film. It isn't scary, although there are a few scary scenes. 28 Days Later isn't just another zombie movie in many ways. For one thing, there aren't zombies. Zombies are the living dead, the monsters in 28 Days are living humans, infected with a virus. This means they can die any way a human would, making a more believable story. On a whole, the movie is more of a mystery than a horror film. Throughout the story your trying to find out more about the virus. In the beginning you see how it is released but you don't know that much about it or how it spread. And besides the question of what the virus is there's how far it has spread. The film takes place in England, and is thus isolated from the rest of the world leaving the question of whether or not the rest of the world has been ravaged. The acting is great as well, while the story revolves around the main characters fight for survival their emotions and relationships are clear. This movie is much more believable than movies like Day of the Dead or Resident Evil, and in my opinion much better as well.

28 days later is a great movie.......2007-06-27

I like horror movies a lot. That's why I bought 28 days later. It's a great great zombie movie.

AMAZING!!.......2007-06-15

This movie is so creepy, so fantastic, so brilliant, so phenomenal! And the sequel is JUST as good, which is an azaming feat in and of itself! A must see for everyone who loves crazy action movies and getting scared out of their wits!!

Awesome movie........2007-06-15

This series has always been my favorite of the whole "infection/undead epidemic" type movie genre. You're also very fortunate that this review is for the product, and not the shipping quality (Hint; paying extra for faster shipment doesn't work).

Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Fundamentally, just a plain bad movie with a deeper let-down for the series.
the best animated movie ever
I always buy from amazon
Amazing...
Brings Back Memories of the Series

Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Takahiro Sakurai , Ayumi Ito , Shotaro Morikubo , Maaya Sakamoto , and Keiji Fujiwara
Director: Tetsuya Nomura , and Takeshi Nozue
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AMJG4Y
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

The question facing any viewer of the Japanese CG feature Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is: do you have to know the games on which it's based in order to understand the film? And the answer is: it certainly helps. But even complete novices (i.e., most parents) in the Final Fantasy world will find some entertainment in its wealth of fantasy-based action, and the animation never fails to astonish. Picking up two years after an epic battle between the forces of good (represented by brooding soldier Cloud) and evil (Cloud's former general, Sephiroth), FFVII opens in the devastated city of Midgard, whose youthful occupants suffer from a ghastly disease known as Geostigma. A trio of brothers arrives with what appears to be a cure for the plague, but their gesture conceals a more sinister purpose: to revive Sephiroth and bring about the end of the world. Cloud and his companions must once again rise to the occasion to stop the siblings and the revived Sephiroth from unleashing total destruction. Complex and self-referential to the point of occasional incomprehension, Final Fantasy VII will definitely be most appreciated by fans of the game series, but if others can look past the numbing dialogue and frenetic action (which is a bit too intense for very young children), the film offers a carefree and action-packed viewing experience. The two-disc set contains the original Japanese language version of the film as well as an English-dubbed edition (Rachel Leigh Cook and Christy Carlson Romano, among others, provide the vocal talent) and a version edited for the Venice Film Festival. A 30-minute featurette that recaps the Final Fantasy story up to VII, as well as a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, and promotions for future Final Fantasy VII games and products round out the extras. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Continuing the storyline based on the hit Playstation game Final Fantasy VII, two years have passedsince the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who walked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forwardyet again . . .

System Requirements:

Running Time 101 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Fundamentally, just a plain bad movie with a deeper let-down for the series........2007-07-04

First of all let me just say that my expectations were not too high for this movie. I, as we all should, have considered that this movie is a sequel to one of the most renowned games of our time - Final Fantasy 7 - and as such I didn't expect it to surpass any such kind of sparkling record.

However, even with my lenient expectations for this film, I found that I was thoroughly disappointed with it. And anyone should be, because the simple movie fundamentals that we all would normally expect to see in a film (i.e. feasible plot, character development, sensible dialogue, ...) were not to be found here. It should always raise a red flag when the dialogue seems to be more about getting to the next fight sequence than about the actual plot or related to the plot. And when the preceding plotline of Final Fantasy 7, which this film is supposed to follow, is taken into consideration the more complex, series-related inconsistencies add a deeper confusion to the already fundamentally underdeveloped film.

As I feared would happen, this movie most seems like a final attempt by Square to squeeze all the money from the Final Fantasy 7 fanbase for all it's worth while riding off the fame Final Fantasy 7 the game has brought them. In other words, this film resembles the infamous "filler" episodes that we all fear, but even worse since it is a poorly developed filler.

As you will see, this film captures its audience purely with it's magnificent graphics. While I too agree that the graphics used to render this film are absolutely astounding, I am inclined to remind the human race that there is more to life than the "shiny shiny!"

Additionally, I expected at the least to enjoy some original, and generally absolutely beautiful, masterpieces of music from famed Final Fantasy 7 game composer Nobuo Uematsu. But even here I found that I was disappointed and thoroughly surprised at the same time. The music in this film, again composed majorly by Nobuo Uematsu, did not reach or even get near the quality of the classic compositions from the Final Fantasy 7 game. An entirely new sort of emotional quality was present in the Advent Children soundtrack - one which resembles a typical poor quality action movie.

Folks, I'm sorry to break it to you, but this is why Nobuo Uematsu is leaving Square. In his own words, Mr. Uematsu has revealed that the company is moving too quickly for his taste. And to that, I salute you Nobuo Uematsu. Always revel in quality, not quantity.

the best animated movie ever.......2007-06-28

This is the kind of movie that you will want to watch more than once - at times, the action goes by quickly, and people that played through the Playstation game will probably pick up on more than other viewers ... there is so much incredible detail that was put into this movie that it's hard to appreciate it, or even pick up on all of it with just one viewing

I disagree that watchers who haven't played the game won't necessarily be interested in this - I agree that there are plenty of tie-ins to the game, but it's not that difficult for viewers to figure out what's going on, and the complex relationships between the characters become obvious as the movie plays out ... this movie is so well made and complete that it's easy to become attached to the characters without knowing them from the game

The sound track is superb - the use of heavy metal all the way to opera and how it's all used together in ways is just amazing ... and the clever use of a few FFVII game sound effects at perfectly placed times was hilarious in one scene, (for those who haven't played the game, listen for one of the main character's cell phone ring tone)

I can't say enough good things about the story line and the `acting' - the voiceovers are second to none ... the action sequences are just breathtaking and the plot progresses evenly, quickly and with a lot of detail (knowing the back story isn't necessary, but is helpful to fully understand the relationships)

I've watched this in both the English and Japanese versions, and both are excellent - once you see it a few times in English, give the Japanese a try

I would highly recommend this to anyone ... and like another reviewer of this movie, I also downloaded it before it came to the US - but, I also suggest anyone who DL's this to buy the DVD to support Square-Enix - this is revolutionary movie making, and we need to show our support so they continue to produce titles like this ... plus, the original DVD has deleted scenes and trailers that are well worth the small price

So, as stated earlier, even if you downloaded this, BUY THE DVD!

I always buy from amazon.......2007-06-27

products from amazon are always topnoych quality. Its just like walking into a department store.

Amazing..........2007-06-18

If you have ever played the game, you probably had a few questions at the end. This box set contains some of the answers...a must for any fan.

Brings Back Memories of the Series.......2007-06-08

I just ordered this set and can't wait to get it. Anyway, this is a great set for those who love Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy VII in particular as this is part of that series. I already have the game, Dirge of Cerberus, a figurine, now this and the set. It's a great series for fans and the movie itself is great. I have the standard one of the movie and watch it all the time. I highly recommend this to Final Fantasy or just FFVII fans or those who like action movies...though I highly recommend playing the game first so you know what's going on or read about the events of the game.

Average customer rating:

Christy - Return to Cutter Gap
DIsappionting
CHRISTY-RETURN TO CUTTER GAP
miscast mess
A different Production of Christy. But a nice One

Christy - Return to Cutter Gap
Starring: Lauren Lee Smith , Stewart Finlay-McLennan , James Waterston , Bruce McKinnon , and Andy Stahl
Director: Chuck Bowman
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Inheritance

ASIN: B00005LQ10
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Amazon.com

Based on Catherine Marshall's beloved novel Christy, this PAX Television adaptation features Lauren Lee Smith as the 19-year-old schoolteacher who flounders and perseveres in an isolated mountain community in the early 1900s. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Great Smokey Mountains, this 89-minute film begins with an elderly Christy returning to the long-abandoned mission where she once taught. Her memories center around a time when change was coming to Cutter Gap--some for the better, some not, and all of it resisted by the locals. The reverend is building a new road, poachers are afoot, and a fetching aviator makes an emergency landing outside of town. Meanwhile, Christy is pushing a young student to study for medical school against the wishes of his father. Mission funds are cut, townsfolk revolt against her, and she suffers the loss of support from her mentor and mission director (Diane Ladd), and Christy must do some soul-searching. Excellent family viewing for ages 6 and up, the film does have some gunplay, a violent injury, and talk of lynching--all revolving around the poaching subplot. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Customer Reviews:

Christy - Return to Cutter Gap.......2007-06-11

As I had watched the original series, the differences were very apparent in the change of actors, location and characters and even the theme of the story. It would have been nicer to have had the ending of the original series as the flow wasn't good. I was very disappointed with their new take on the original series.

DIsappionting.......2007-05-24

I was rather disappionted with this addition to the Christy series. Not only were hardly any of the original actors in the movie, but the story went over ground already covered in the original series. I found it redundent and annoying. The girl who played Christy tried her best but I don't know how you can top the original. Plus in the end it does not let on to who (the doc or the minister) Christy ends up with. Read the book for the full story, it is definetly worth it!

CHRISTY-RETURN TO CUTTER GAP.......2007-05-15

I LOVED THAT A GREAT MOVIE FOR ALL YOUR SUNDAY FAMILIY

miscast mess.......2007-04-30

These three tv movies is just horribly miscast. The actor that played Neill is too old, Christy is played horribly, and Alice doesn't capture the Quaker spirit.
To say nothing of the script...which could of used a major overhaul, before production.
In these movies Christy is immature, snobbish, and somehow holier than thou...
The actor's Scottish accent is good, but a six year gap between the tv show and the tv movie was too long. Perhaps a younger actor would of been better. He'd of been a good Dr Ferrand, perhaps.
And as some have mentioned Alice's thee's and thou's seemed forced...perhaps the script was bad.
Only the last of the series was passable, only to find out who Christy marries...but by then you lose interest and could care less about the characters.
The old woman playing the aged Christy was very good. And I could almost buy the change of location...with a better cast and more tightly scripted teleplay. But as it was I'd suggest skip this version and watch the tv series instead...
In fact, I prefer the tv series that had more wit and more class and where you have to use your imagination as to who Christy choses to marry. But curiosity won out and I came out disillusioned with this miniseries.

A different Production of Christy. But a nice One .......2007-03-09

This movie is not like the TV series that we all know and come to love.
It is in my view stand alone movies not relating to the TV series at all.
If you approach the movie not comparing it to the TV series, you might actually enjoy this movie and the other two that follow.
This might not be a 5 star production but in my view it is a wholesome production with reference to God and the Bible.

Average customer rating:

A noble but ultimately flawed effort
A timeless classic of growth and transformation.
Thank God for sick days!
Beautiful Movie
THE MOVIE BEHIND THE MOVIE

Little Women (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Winona Ryder , Gabriel Byrne , Trini Alvarado , Samantha Mathis , and Kirsten Dunst
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767851013
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Amazon.com essential video

The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics and conclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life's little accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh, so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into a modern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. Kirsten Dunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The young ensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a role akin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of an Oscar. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

A noble but ultimately flawed effort .......2007-05-22

I was fortunate to recently have seen both the 1949 version and then this modern adaptation a short time apart. The first time I saw this version I liked it well enough; however, after seeing the 1949 version and then watching this one again, I was reminded how superior the former version is in both cast and content.

I didn't find myself identifying nearly as strongly with the characters as I did in the older films. Here we have a waif-like Winona Ryder, who portrays a delicate, frail-looking, and far-too-feminine version of Jo. Counter these distinct contrasts with June Allyson's rough and tumble, tomboyish portrayal of Jo that was much closer to the book for accuracy. (In the novel, Jo is described as 'very tall' with 'big hands and feet' and coltish in appearance). The only thing the fictional Jo has in common with Winona is brown hair.

Susan Sarandon is a great actress in her own right, but for some reason she overwhelms the role of Marmee. All I could see here was "Susan Sarandon". I think a lesser-known actress may have been more effective here. Mary Astor's performance in the older movie seemed more believable. Not that Sarandon doesn't act sincere or warm, but she seems somehow miscast anyhow.

One especially notable difference is that Margaret O'Brien's portrayal of Beth in the 1949 version is much stronger and more heart-rending than Claire Danes' modern interpretation; Danes makes Beth appear whiny or as another reviewer noted, possibly even dim-witted. This Beth wasn't a particularly sympathetic character. I never felt her character was developed enough to be interesting. Another reviewer noted that Danes has that big strapping farm girl look, which doesn't mesh with the book's image of a frail and fragile Beth. I agree. Danes' pinched, flared-nostril expressions are strange and at times downright scary.

There are some other diversions from the original text and older movies that make this version a paler shadow. There are the laughable injections of politically-correct speeches and feminist rants that other reviewers have noted, but the real travesty I thought was in completely omitting the very special relationship between the grandfatherly Mr. Laurence and Beth.

In the book this unfolds as the terribly shy Beth is coaxed over time to go over and practice her music on the grand piano in the elder Mr. Laurence's house. By way of thanks, Beth knits the lonely old gent a pair of house slippers, which he later returns a gift in kind in the form of the beautiful piano. He asks her to play it and keep alive the memory of the little granddaughter he lost. It's a heart-wrenching scene in the book and earlier films.

Yet in his version, the piano simply appears as a surprise joint Christmas gift from the whole family to Beth with no explanation, and that special relationship between Mr. Laurence and Beth is never truly acknowledged or shown. I feel this is an example of one of the sadder oversights of this version of "Little Women".

It's true there is artistry in the scenery and the costumes, but the special magic or chemistry is missing from this film. I suspect the miscasting of major roles has much to do with it, but if you can enjoy the movie without looking for authenticity to the book, it's still a fine way to while away an afternoon.

A timeless classic of growth and transformation........2007-05-21

Little Women is a timeless classic. Written by Louisa May Alcott, this novel was first published in 1868. This novel is about a New England family composed of a mother... "Marme" played by Susan Sarandon, and four daughters growing up during the American Civil War.

The author wrote about her own experiences as a child in Concord, Massachusetts, where she lived with her three sisters, Anna, May, and Elizabeth.

Their father is away fighting. Times are tough, money is scarce, and needs are many. But these women valiantly work hard at continuing their studies while trying to survive.

Louisa May Alcott wrote about young women overcoming character flaws. The March girls are: Meg, who is vain, Jo who is hot tempered and stubborn, Beth who is introverted and shy, and the youngest, Any who is selfish and vindictive.

Jo, played by Winona Ryder, is an outspoken, vivacious, playful dreamer, who wants to become a writer. A very young Kirsten Dunst plays the part of the younger daughter, so selfish and vindictive that because she does not have a ticket to go to the theatre with her sisters, she destroys a story her sister Jo was writing.

The movie is set in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the scenic beauty of this film is magnificent. During the course of the story, these girls become friends with the next door neighbor, who soon joins them in their intricate games and character reproduction of the writings of Jo.

The twists and turns of the lives of these women are simply a rare joy to watch.

Thank God for sick days!.......2007-05-05

I first saw this version of Little Women years and years ago, when I was staying home from school with the flu. My mom had bought it, and she left it out for me to watch. I fell in love with it, and have since learned the entire movie word for word.

I've never read the book, but I know that I would most likely enjoy it.

It's appropriate for absoloutely any age level, and the costumes and sets are extremely accurate to the period. I would highly reccomend this film to anyone and everyone!

So stop reading reviews and buy it! You will not regret it.

Beautiful Movie.......2007-04-21

The lovely sets and costumes make this a joy to watch. And though there are some changes from the book it sticks pretty close to Alcott's story which I admittedly was obsessed with as a child. I took one star off for Winona Ryder's performance since to me she was a bit too pretty and socially polished to be the Jo the book portrays. Still this is a great movie for family viewing or for anyone who likes nostalgic movies set in the 19th century.

THE MOVIE BEHIND THE MOVIE.......2007-04-06

I was a little anxious before the projection of Australian director Gillian Armstrong's LITTLE WOMEN. I vaguely remembered the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor as Amy and that was about all I could say about that classic of American literature. Two hours later, everybody was happy, my wife and my daughter had their share of emotions and Kleenex and I had at least understood why such a smart director as Gillian Armstrong who directed MY BRILLIANT CAREER and MRS. SOFFEL, two movies about strong women characters, got interested in directing LITTLE WOMEN.

In my opinion, the director wished, by describing the lives of these four sisters, to portray four historical phases of the status of the women in the western society. Claire Danes as Beth is the model of these women who, for centuries, waited that their family chose a husband for them and, often, didn't marry because they were too poor or because they had to take care of their aging parents. Meg portrays the woman who has the chance to marry the man she's in love with, a man accepted by the family even if he doesn't give to Meg the possibility to rise socially : it's the classic marriage who's gained more and more popularity from the mid XIXth century. The third phase of this allegory is portrayed by Amy, a woman who knows from the start on that she will marry a wealthy man who'll support her and, at least, we have Jo who doesn't care to marry a poor man as long as this man won't stop her doing what she wants during her life. In this perspective, LITTLE WOMEN can provide some pleasure even to those of us who don't specially like this kind of classic family movie.

A DVD zone use your head.

Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set)

Average customer rating:

Fundamentally, just a plain bad movie with a deeper let-down for the series.
the best animated movie ever
I always buy from amazon
Amazing...
Brings Back Memories of the Series

Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set)
Starring: Takahiro Sakurai , Ayumi Ito , Shotaro Morikubo , Maaya Sakamoto , and Keiji Fujiwara
Director: Tetsuya Nomura , and Takeshi Nozue
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000K4WLXA
Release Date: 2007-02-20

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Stills from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (click for larger image)

More Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children at Amazon.com

Final Fantasy VII The Game
Final Fantasy VII Sephiroth Action Figure
Final Fantasy VII The Soundtrack

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Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Limted Edition Collector's Set)

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children(Limted Edition Collector's Set) includes:
• Theatrical Trailers • Bonus Script • Bonus Book • Bonus Postcards

Product Description

Now available on 2-discs, in a Limited Edition Collector's Set, this CG-animated action-packed feature film continues the storyline based on the Playstation hit Final Fantasy VII. Two years have passed, and the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made in order to bring peace. However, the world will soon face a new menace. A mysterious illness is spreading fast. Old enemies are astir. And Cloud, who waked away from the life of a hero to live in solitude, must step forward yet again... Special Features Disc One: Feature Film Reminiscence of Final Fantasy VII Story Digest Disc Two: The Distance: Making-of featurette with all-new English voice cast interviews. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children: Venice Film Festival Footage. New Anime Feature: Last Order Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Trailers Deleted Scenes Sneak Peek of upcoming Final Fantasy VII games Collector's Set Includes: 10 postcards Script in English (116 pages) Booklet including side stories of each character (72 pages) 101 minutes Audio: English, Japanese, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Thai, Mandarin (Traditional), Cantonese

Customer Reviews:

Fundamentally, just a plain bad movie with a deeper let-down for the series........2007-07-04

the best animated movie ever.......2007-06-28

I always buy from amazon.......2007-06-27

products from amazon are always topnoych quality. Its just like walking into a department store.

Amazing..........2007-06-18

If you have ever played the game, you probably had a few questions at the end. This box set contains some of the answers...a must for any fan.

Brings Back Memories of the Series.......2007-06-08

Average customer rating:

Closer to reality than you might think
An unoriginal adaptation of "Logan's Run" meets "The Fast & the Furious Furious".
Nice Effects and Music
So so
Could have been a great movie

The Island
Starring: Ewan McGregor , Scarlett Johansson , Djimon Hounsou , Sean Bean , and Steve Buscemi
Director: Michael Bay
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BO0LH2
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Amazon.com

When you add up all the best things about The Island, you might just conclude that there's hope yet for Hollywood's most critically reviled hit-maker, Michael Bay. Recruited by Steven Spielberg to direct this lavish and often breathtaking sci-fi action thriller, Bay rises to the occasion with an ambitious production that is, by his standards (and compared to Bay's earlier hits like The Rock and Armageddon), surprisingly intelligent as it explores the repercussions of cloning in a sealed-off society where humans are cultivated for spare parts, surrogate parenthood, and full-body replacements for wealthy clientele. But when two of the clones (Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johanssen) begin to question their fate and the motives of their keepers, they escape into the real world and The Island becomes just another Michael Bay action extravaganza, albeit an impressively exciting one. With elaborate chase scenes and a high-tech feast of CGI to dazzle the eye, The Island recycles much of the plot from 1979's Clonus while borrowing elements from Logan's Run, Gattaca and Minority Report, and while it's not as smartly conceived as those earlier films, there's no denying that, in many ways, it's Bay's best film to date. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Closer to reality than you might think.......2007-06-30

One of the great untold tragedies of the 20th century was the prevalence of medical testing on unwitting subjects. Some Americans have probably heard of the Tuskegee airmen, black American servicemen who became unwitting test subjects for medical experiments. But how many people are aware of the medical testing performed on ignorant prisoners, on poor people on various Caribbean islands, or the large-scale testing of vaccines on African villagers throughout the latter half of the 20th century. The latter tragedy was the background for the movie "The Constant Gardener" but it was kept in the background. This movie takes medical experimentation and puts it front and center in the middle of America.

The plot is simple; two clones discover that they were created to have their organs harvested. They then fight to escape, and then to help others like them escape. The story takes on the issues of cloning, genetic engineering, mind control, and even the power of corporations operating in the medical sphere. Yes the story has the requisite action scenes and love scene needed for any Hollywood flick, but it also has enough scenes to explore the medical and moral issues involved. We have Lincoln's real counterpart, a rich, spoiled yuppie who needs replacement organs because his are suffering from STD's he has picked up from various women. Then there is the scene when Scarlett Johansson's character sees the son of her real counterpart. And then there is the scene where Djimon Hounsou's character parallels the medical cloning with the atrocities he witnessed in his homeland in Africa. All in all, this was a great action movie with heart and a meaning. A great watch.

An unoriginal adaptation of "Logan's Run" meets "The Fast & the Furious Furious"........2007-06-23

How disappointing & predictable. The entire premise is a poor "clone", pun intended, from a story about clones. "Logan's Run" is one of my ATF's. Michael York played Logan 5. In "The Island" Ewan McGregor character's name is Lincoln 6 Echo. In "Logan's Run", Jenny Agutter played Jessica 6. Scarlett Johannson's character is Jordan 2 Delta. Oh yeah, Richard "Jordan" was the antagonist in Logan's Run. Coincidence?

The premise of both stories is that an past cataclysmic atomic event requires everyone to live underground. Logan & Jessica are destined for "renewal". After "decontamination", Lincoln 6 Echo & Jordan 2 Delta were promised life on "The Island". In the finale, the destruction of the underground complex & subsequent exodus scenes are almost identical to "Logan's Run". Frankly, I do not recall so many car crashes in a Sci-fi thriller. They were obviously miniaturized. "The Island" is an embarrassing blotch on McGregor's & Johansson's otherwise stellar careers.

Nice Effects and Music.......2007-06-14

I don't think there was anything really innovative about this movie. It has the same feel as Minority Report as far as the special effects and mixing technology into our modern urban landscape. Ewan and Scarlett give believable performances as naive individuals with the minds of 15 year olds. They movie is overall enjoyable and I think the score is beautiful.

So so.......2007-06-08

Good special effects and interesting storyline. Unfortunately nothing that I'd recommend for anyone that is not a sci-fi aficionado.

Could have been a great movie.......2007-05-25

This movie has a really interesting concept of human clones being made so people can extent their life by replacing their aging body parts with cloned ones. The clones have memory imprinted in them so they are pretty stupid and just believe what they are told. But some of the clones got smart and began to question everything about their existence. Ultimately, two escaped from the facility that housed the clones. The company that makes the clones must stop them at all cost. This is where the movie falls apart with one car chase after another. At this point the whole movie turns from an intellectual and intriguing one to the a mindless action junk filled explosions and car chases. Unless you are a testosterone-filled teenager, there is not much to see in here.

Average customer rating:

"Who says who're the good guys?"
Fantastic
Clean fun
"You do throw like a girl"
We need some more inspirational movies like this!

Sahara (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jude Akuwidike , Mark Aspinall , Rakie Ayola , Christopher Bello , and Nicholas Beveney
Director: Breck Eisner
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UC7H0
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Amazon.com

It took more than 25 years for another Clive Cussler novel to come to the screen after the financial and critical disaster of Raise the Titanic. Based on Cussler's oddly landlocked adventure, Sahara finds the author's hero, Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey)--a sort of all-American, high seas variation of James Bond--in Africa looking for a Confederate ironclad ship that impossibly might have ended up there. Soon he and his faithful sidekick Al Giordino (Steve Zahn) are lost in another adventure, discovering a deadly contaminate being tracked by a beautiful doctor (Penelope Cruz). The results are checkered: there's no one outstanding sequence, but the action is enjoyably varied, while the thrills are mild yet not bombastic or gratuitous. The cast are all adept in their roles, yet the only one who sparkles is the scene-stealing Zahn, cast against type; McConaughey, who also produced, knows he might be starting a franchise character and plays it safe. He's never as dangerous as Cussler's hero is on the page (except in his introduction), and in fact, the whole movie plays towards comedy, infused by a soundtrack of 70s FM radio monsters. Cussler fanatics may not like this lighter fare, especially with the archeological portion (a Cussler strong point) not fully embraced, but with a very, very likable cast and colorful settings, Sahara is a kindler, gentler action film that has all the elements in place for a better, more memorable franchise if anyone cares to attempt it. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

"Who says who're the good guys?".......2007-05-20

Sahara brings to the screen two main stories, which are unfolding simultaneously: On the one hand, the spread of a deadly plague and its effect on the people in the region of northwest Africa, and on the other, the treasure hunt for the Civil War era CSS Texas and its legendary cargo of gold.
In short, the acting is pretty good (Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penelope Cruz carry out their performances well, though by no means are they the performances of their lives) while the plot, the music, and the action/special effects are very good.
In a nutshell, it's probably not a movie you would want to add to your collection, but it will provide for an evening's entertainment. 3.5 Stars

Fantastic.......2007-05-17

I watched this movie at the movie theater and bought it when came on video. It's just a great adventure movie with action all the time. Those two guys played perfect together. The story is funny and serious at the same time. They are just not afraid of the danger. You laughed at their attitude toward the danger, but it's beautiful, even in places not all that to look. Very good. No sex scene, no bad language. It seems like watching Indiana Jones in a different situation. I recommend it.

Clean fun.......2007-05-07

It is sort of movie that you watch once and have fun during. Good action scenes, stretched out fantasies.

"You do throw like a girl".......2007-04-30

Based on a Clive Cussler novels. Civil war Virginia the ironclad "The Texas disappears. Present day Africa there is a plague outbreak. Dr. Eva Rojas (Penélope Cruz) while investigating the plague is perused by people with ulterior motives. She has to be saved and assisted by treasure hunters including Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey in green contacts and dark hair) looking for the misplaced "Texan."

Othern than standard Indiana Jones formula the most annoying part is the loud background music that overwhelms the scenes. However they were clever with the use of "Magic Carpet Ride" at the appropriate time. Everyone except Penélope was hairy faced.
Passes time well. However nothing exceptional.

We need some more inspirational movies like this!.......2007-04-20

This movie is JAM PACKED with adventure. The photography was advanced, the music was beautiful and rhythmic. There was violence, blood, adventure and the point of the movie was very intelligent! Trying to save our environment before something like tis happens. I think the movie needed a little moe profanity to add to the realism, but I loved it very much. I have no complaints with this movie. I could sit and watch it over and over again! (If I wasnt chasing my children... ).

Average customer rating:

Good Story, Wooden Characters
Riveting Science Fiction Thriller
Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ?
Even better than I remembered it
Dated, but still a good movie...

The Andromeda Strain
Starring: Arthur Hill , David Wayne , James Olson , Kate Reid , and Paula Kelly
Director: Robert Wise
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008438U
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Product Description

Directed with clinical precision by Academy Award winner Robert Wise, this compelling account of the earth s first biological crisis is perhaps the most chillingly realistic science fiction thriller ever made. After an errant satellite crashes to earth near a remote New Mexico village, the recovery team discovers that almost everyone in the town are victims of a horrible death, with the mysterious exception of an infant and an old homeless man. The survivors are brought to a state-of-the-art laboratory descending five stories beneath the ground where the puzzled scientists race against time to determine the nature of the deadly microbe before it wreaks worldwide havoc. A trailblazer in the areas of special effects and inventive sets, The Andromeda Strain is based on Michael Crichton s best-selling novel that created national paranoia for its topical relevance to the first moon landing.

System Requirements:

Directed by Robert Wise

Running time: 2 Hours 11 Minutes

Amazon.com

The best-selling novel by Michael Crichton was faithfully adapted for this taut 1971 thriller, about a team of scientists racing against time to destroy a deadly alien virus that threatens to wipe out life on Earth. As usual with any Crichton-based movie, the emphasis is on an exciting clash between nature and science, beginning when virologists discover the outer-space virus in a tiny town full of corpses. Projecting total contamination, the scientists isolate the deadly strain in a massive, high-tech underground lab facility, which is rigged for nuclear destruction if the virus is not successfully controlled. The movie spends a great deal of time covering the scientific procedures of the high-pressure investigation, and the rising tensions between scientists who have been forced to work in claustrophobic conditions. It's all very fascinating if you're interested in scientific method and technological advances, although the film is obviously dated in many of its details. It's more effective as a thriller in which tension is derived not only from the deadly threat of the virus, but from the escalating fear and anxiety among the small group of people who've been assigned to save the human race. The basic premise is still captivating; it's easy to see how this became the foundation of Crichton's science-thriller empire. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Good Story, Wooden Characters.......2007-06-05

The Andromeda Strain is one of the must-see movies I missed in high school when it was first released and one that has remained in the back of my mind as one to see eventually. So, when I saw it on special recently at a local book emporium, I snapped it up.
Well, believe it or not, this is my first experience with an adaptation of the work of Michael Crichton. He has been so hyped over the years, I've ignored him. Imagine my surprise to discover that the Andromeda Strain is based on one of his early novels.
He definitely fed public paranoia here with this one. This was the age of the Vietnam War, when fewer and fewer people believed what US leaders told them. Additionally, there was much general unease about secret projects of the Defense Department and NASA. Agent Orange was just becoming an issue and there was some fear of outside contamination after the recent moon landing. Many wondered what other lethal agents were being concocted in secret, and what could happen if those with oversight lost control of them? Justified paranoia had many thinking the worst and made the Andromeda Strain so credible to many. When viewed today, with the benefit of three decades plus worth of biological and technical crises behind us, many would say that such paranoia remains justified.
I found The Andromeda Strain to be a good story clothed in a language of science that is a mystery to most people. But the characters are largely one-dimensional and the acting itself often very wooden. The worst of these is the female scientist dragged from her lab to participate on the team assigned to save humanity from the mysterious and putatively extraterrestrial plague which had already nearly wiped out the inhabitants of a fictional New Mexico village. Her wise-cracking character reminds me of "Maude" with an education. Then there were the various military men whose dialogue is so lame and stilted as to induce wincing.
However, the story itself helps the viewer overlook the undistinguished cast and gives the viewer cause to reflect on the what-ifs of an actual biological emergency. Only an early form of the virus of political correctness that manifests itself on occasion detracts from an otherwise interesting movie. There are many parts of the film where you will be spellbound. Younger viewers may be blase about the technological marvels revealed in the film, but those over fifty may still find wonderment in what was on the cutting edge for its day.
I recommend the Andromeda Strain as a good specimen of early 1970s science fiction film-making. It isn't the best sci-fi movie I've ever seen, but its far from the worst.

Riveting Science Fiction Thriller.......2007-05-27

There are several types of science fiction movies. The rarest, and for some of us, one of the more interesting types, is one where the focus is on the science rather than the fiction and the hype. There a no big, exciting monsters, but the science is readily evident along with state-of-the-art technology for 1971.

The U.S. government launches a satellite into space to gather material from space. When the satellite returns, it has brought more than just inert matter from space; it has brought something that lives. Unfortunately for the town of Piedmont, the thing that lives is hostile to human life.

The U.S. military gathers scientists from around the country at a secret laboratory called Wildfire to analyze the satellite and to determine whether they can stop the organism from destroying all life on earth. In the meantime, the organism, now called the Andromeda strain, has moved from the town of Piedmont and has killed again.

Though the movie heightens tension by focusing on the threat the organism places on mankind, the real tension is in the laboratory. We learn the foibles of each of the characters and we are pulled into their tension as they attempt to find the organism and try to figure out how to stop it - if they can.

One of the issues that face the team of scientists in the underground laboratory is the nuclear bomb that will destroy the laboratory if an organism should escape. It is the responsibility of one of the scientists to deactivate the bomb. However, not all the deactivations stations are working, and if you are caught in a section where there is a non-working station when all the doors are sealed, the only way out is through the laser-filled core.

"The Andromeda Strain" boasted excellent technology. The graphics showing the underground laboratory were superb for the era. The graphics of the organism replicating were also phenomenal. The setup of the underground laboratory and the decontamination procedures were excellent. If you love the science in science fiction, you will find that this movie is the movie for you. If you prefer action and fiction in your science fiction movies, then you may want to pass this classic by.

Enjoy!

Bug, bug, whose got the Bug ?......