Emma

Starring:Doran Godwin, John Carson, Donald Eccles, Constance Chapman, Ellen Dryden, Raymond Adamson, Robert East, Ania Marson, Fiona Walker, Timothy Peters, Debbie Bowen, John Alkin, Mollie Sugden, Hilda Fenemore, Meg Gleed, John Kelland, Arran Tighe, Yves Tighe, Belinda Tighe, Emma Horton (II)
Director: John Glenister
Studio: BBC Warner
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The key to any Jane Austen adaptation is finding the perfect balance of romantic yearning and savage, satirical wit. Austen's Emma has these two qualities at their most exquisite and tantalizing, and this BBC adaptation from 1972 serves the novel with complete satisfaction. Delightful Doran Godwin captures not only the title character's good nature and resilient will, but also her exasperating self-satisfaction and ungovernable manipulative impulses. Believing herself to be acting in everyone's best interests, Emma takes the lower-class Harriet Smith (Debbie Bowen) under her wing and sets out to find the girl a suitable husband, disregarding what havoc she wreaks along the way. Her foolish father (Donald Eccles) cannot temper Emma's fancies; only the stern Mr. Knightly (John Carson) offers any reason or restraint. This sprightly adaptation is far superior to the mediocre 1996 film (starring Gwyneth Paltrow) and on par with the ingenious Clueless, which cunningly translates the story to a Beverly Hills high school. The luxurious span of a six-part miniseries gives this version the opportunity to revel in Emma's every deliciously misguided moment. --Bret Fetzer

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)
Average customer rating:

I preferred the Wonderworks version

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was

A remarkable film

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships

A beautiful story with something to say

Bridge to Terabithia (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Family Life | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video
All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video
Patrick, Robert | ( P ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
Children | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)

Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)

Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JPL5
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Based on Katherine Paterson's young-adult novel and filmed in picturesque New Zealand, Bridge to Terabithia has lessons to impart about empathy and self-expression, but the tone is never heavy-handed. Jesse (sleepy-eyed Josh Hutcherson, Zathura), a fifth-grade loner, lives in the country with his parents and four sisters, including pesky May Belle (Bailee Madison), who adores him. His strict father (Robert Patrick, The Terminator 2) works in a hardware store. Money is tight and classmates make fun of his hand-me-downs, so Jesse finds refuge in running and drawing. Everything changes when two writers and their daughter Leslie (wide-eyed AnnaSophia Robb, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) move in next door. Leslie is faster than all the boys, which initially puts Jesse off, but the two soon bond over their love of make-believe. In the forest, they find a creek that can only be crossed by rope. Leslie names the land on the other side Terabithia, where they imagine themselves rulers of the kingdom. Jesse and Leslie also connect with their unconventional music teacher, Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, Elf), who encourages their creativity. Despite the tension at home, Jesse's personal life is finally coming together when the unthinkable happens. Will he revert to his anti-social ways or will he grow from the experience? Though aimed at all ages, pre-school students may find Terebithia's creatures frightening. For grade-school kids and up, however, there's much to savor in this smartly written, sensitively acted film. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

The two main complaints about this film seem to be that a) it's depressing and b) the marketing campaign mislead audiences. Well, yeah. It's based on a book, and if they hadn't been faithful to the book's plot, there would have been just as many people complaining bitterly. So in a way, the filmmakers were in a double bind. That said, at least separate the film from the way it was marketed. Give the marketing people two stars and a spanking, since they led lots of people to think the movie was a lighthearted fantasy - but can we try to examine the movie on its own merits?

Many children and young adult classics feature a death, either of an animal or a human. Particularly if the book is a Major Award Winner, it doesn't just show how fun it is to be a child but grapples with serious issues. That's partly why it won the award and acclaim in the first place. The Narnia books are far from lighthearted fantasies either, although they can be read that way. They, too, examine friendship and betrayal. But they are set in a magic land, while "Terabithia" is set in the real world.

The actors in the new version of "Terabithia" all do a fantastic job, particularly the young ones, like Bailee Madison as Jess's spunky younger sister. The movie's storyline stuck so closely to the book that the invented scenes felt a little out of place. Perhaps that when it deparated from just showing the developing of two children's friendship, and put in special effects, it felt false. Even if they were brief, they seemed out of place, like the movie makers were trying to placate their young audience, who would presumably be unhappy without special effects.
The montages also grated on me, because they were so Hollywood and unnecessary. Why must every movie character break into an impromptu song and dance routine? And why did the treehouse have to look like set designers were competing for an Oscar? I don't know if kids still make treehouses anymore, but mine as a kid sure looked primitive in comparision.

In conclusion, it's a lot better than most kids' movies today - with nary a fart joke - but that's not saying much. There's no cussing or drinking, but there is the aforementioned death, which may upset sensitive viewers. I'd recommend talking over the movie with your kids afterwards if they seem upset.

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

now having read the book, i expected to be seeing something along the lines of "Big Fish" or "Hook"..... full of vast fantasy visuals, heartwarming moments and the tear jerker ending.... unfortunately this one really didnt deliver like the others were able to.

the audience was conned into thinking this was the "never ending story" meets "chronicals of narnia". and if done correctly (or atthe very least with an extra half hour of fantasy world), it would have been both visually stunning and one to leave you with a warm feeling in the heart.

...unfortunately it was very badly adapted and as a result EXTREMELY dissapointing. and it fell short on both points

the fantasy aspects consisted of only 20 minutes (generously approximated) of footage spread throughout the middle of the movie in short 3-5 minute incriments.

they simply did not put enough emphasis on the fantasy aspect as you would be led to believe by all the press, and even the disney channel's "commercial break, behind-the-scenes" stuff only focused on the fantasy of it without giving the audience a fair chance to save the 7 bucks.

all they needed to make this movie to the top of the pack was an extra 30 minutes of fantasy footage and a "sensitive content" warning to spare families from the transformers movie fiasco of the 1980's (when the kids left the theater early, crying at the death of optimus prime)

now, it gets credit for following the book fairly closely, but it was without explaination,

they seemed to put in the key elements of the book without giving any exlaination as to why things were the way they were (ie: the teacher bringing him on the spontainious field trip).....they should have made up sometihng like "the kid had been failing and this was extra credit..."etc. instead of making it a sketchy, grey area, uncomfortable situation. in the book there was no question.

i had to explain alot of things to my finacee who had not read the book, and both of us were dissapointed with the whole movie. i was expecting something more along the lines of "big fish" or "hook"

but all we got from it is a potentially epic movie that really was badly made

and a distrust causing me to pay an extra $2 to rent a movie before purchasing it

i only gave it 2 stars for the actual meaning behind the book/movie

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

I watched "The Bridge to Terabithia" on a whim with my wife and daughter with little foreknowledge of the plot. I'd never read the Newbery Award-winning book by Katherine Paterson, and I'd seen only one trailer for the film, which left me with the impression it would be a Narnia knock-off. It's not.

I'm not dissing "The Chronicles of Narnia," which in its way was a remarkable film. But "Terabithia" didn't deserve the CGI-laden marketing campaign it received; far from a fantasy blockbuster, this is a deep and thoughtful movie that places substance over sparkle -- a rare treat in the sprawling field of youth-oriented theater. It ranks up there with one of my favorites, "The Secret of Roan Inish," which accomplished more with no special effects than most family-friendly movies could with a billion-dollar budget.

But I just can't shake "Terabithia" from my head, a fact owed mostly to the performance of AnnaSophia Robb. As Leslie, a spirited young girl with a fiery imagination and endless good cheer, AnnaSophia captured my heart. She's the kind of person you want to know when you're a child and, as my wife remarked midway through the film, she's the sort of young woman you'd be happy to see your daughter grow up to be.

An outsider despite her youthful good looks and family wealth, she finds her perfect match in Jesse (Joss Hutcherson), another outsider who has withdrawn into his art to escape a chilly home life and his own problems at school. Together, they discover a secret getaway that might seem like a fairly ordinary patch of woods to most people; to them, it's a magical world replete with fantastic creatures, hidden dangers and amazing triumphs. It's here the special effects intrude more than accentuate the film; the story would have benefited from a vaguer sense of Jesse and Leslie's own wonder. We don't need to see CGI creatures to believe that these two children do.

The strength here, besides outstanding performances from the two lead actors, is the impact of a story that knows no amount of fantasy can prevent real-life tragedies from occurring. And the tragedy here -- it's hard to write about it without giving it away -- slams into unsuspecting viewers like a sudden kick to the gut.

Parents of younger viewers should be prepared to have a long and serious talk with their children after this movie, but that's not a recommendation to avoid it. "Terabithia" deserves to be seen, discussed and seen again. (Although use some discretion; very young children should wait before seeing this.) My thanks to director Gabor Csupo, as well as writer Paterson, for giving kids something honest and real rather than another serving of high-energy fluff.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships.......2007-07-04

This movie can be very surprising and possibly an emotional tearjerker if you are not familiar with the story or book it was based on. If you don't mind your young children learning about "loss" and the sadness surrounding it, this will also be an uplifting movie that shows the positive nature of fostering good relationships. I thought I was getting a "fantasy" movie to watch with my son -- it was short on fantasy, and was heavy on the theme of "loss" but was still a good movie overall as it really brought out the emotions it intended to bring out. Many parents may argue whether the movie should be watched by their children (depending on what you are willing to teach your children about early.) As an adult, I found the movie of value and entertaining and also feel it is necessary to be present if you allow younger children watch it.

A beautiful story with something to say.......2007-07-04

I have been wanting to write a review for this film since I saw it for the first time, back in February. Though the main praises and controversies surrounding the story have been well covered by previous reviews on this site, this movie holds a personal significance that prompts me to share my own thoughts--although I must admit, I wasn't quite sure what to say about it at first.

I am a huge movie fan and have seen a generous number of them over the years, and for some reason, "Bridge to Terabithia" is--in all genuine honesty--the very best, most beautiful, most heartwrenching work of art I have ever seen. Even if it might sound silly to regard a Disney film as something that profound and meaningful, it is certainly true that this particular movie had more time, effort, and sensitivity put into it than most others from the infamous Walt Disney empire.

After watching this movie a good 13 or 14 times (the sad thing is, I'm not even joking), it is difficult to pinpoint exactly why it has moved me in a way that no other film has. Yes, it has a powerful message, a well-executed emotional undercurrent, and some truly impressive acting, but I have seen other movies with similar qualities. I don't even remember being a HUGE fan of the accompanying book by Katherine Paterson, although my fourth grade teacher did read it to our class twelve years ago, and what I remember of it is the strong development of unique, positive characters who--at the tender age of 11 or so--receive a thing or two to think about concerning the "realities of life," as several of us would call them.

Countless children's books have been adapted for the big screen over the years, among them including "Because of Winn-Dixie," "Madeline," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and "Shiloh." When you are transferring stories like these to film, it is so crucial to do it the right way, and sometimes, the end result doesn't really do much justice to the original author. One of the reasons I enjoyed "Bridge to Terabithia" so much is because it did not feel the need to conform the movie script to the things that today's society often deems as important, such domineering special effects and technology-driven means of having fun. This film allowed the main characters to highlight some of the personal creativity that all of us can take a lesson from, without making it too saccharine or unrealistic.

I have read in previous interviews that Katherine Paterson (who, again, penned the original book of the same name) was concerned about how her story would be portrayed on screen once she signed the rights over. To achieve the goal of making her tale shine through in the movie, it was only fitting that her son David Paterson--a producer of the film, a co-writer of the script and the real-life inspiration for the Jess Aarons character--take part in making it all happen, and he was surely the perfect person for the job.

I don't really want to hash over too much of the actual plot, since I was a little late in writing my review and, as a result, have a slew of reviews before mine that provide those details. However, since the acting in this film was so powerful and memorable, I would like to comment a bit on that. There are very few actors who command a role so well that you cannot imagine another person as that character, but Josh Hutcherson was about as incredible in this movie as anyone could have possibly been. I saw him for the first time in "Little Manhattan" and thought he was a cute kid with a fresh face in the booming child star industry, but he has since metamorphosized into this amazing, amazing young actor. Simply put, he just seems to know what he is doing when he gets in front of the camera, and let me tell you, that can't be taught (and in fact, Hutcherson did not take any acting classes when he started out at the age of 9, and his career launched because he was basically a talented kid with a gift for portraying different characters). I've heard about actors who can indicate so much emotion with just their eyes and facial expressions, but Hutcherson absolutely has it down cold. I give him a lot of props for what he did with his character, and I predict he is going to do extremely well in his career (which should easily extend into adulthood, for a 14-year-old with this much natural talent).

As for the critical role of Leslie Burke, it has been said that child star sensation Dakota Fanning was allegedly offered the role first. I admit that I can envision her as the character (though many of you might disagree), but I also feel that the casting director's final choice was for the best, given the remarkable performance by AnnaSophia Robb. Always capable of delivering a strong acting job, Robb used her trademark charisma, beautiful smile, and ever-sparkling eyes to lend all the right elements to this dynamic character. Watching Leslie's strengths and personalities unfold in the plot, she reminded me so much of a friend I had back in grammar school, who was constantly making up stories and thriving in a rambling imagination that did not require a television set, an I-pod, or just hanging around indoors. You know the actors are doing their craft well when you can compare their characters with figures from real life, and for that, both Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb are outstanding up-and-coming stars for being so young. (The obvious close friendship that they have off-screen is also clearly a contributing factor to what they created with Jess and Leslie in the movie.)

Also noteworthy in the cast is young Bailee Madison, whose performance as Jess's younger sister May Belle is about as refreshing as you could ask for in a movie. To see what I mean, just take a second to think about all the 5-year-old children you have seen in the movies over the years, and then ask yourself how many of them actually act like real kids. With her sweet, boisterous, pesky yet affectionate personality throughout the film, Bailee paints a nearly flawless image of any child her age that I would see in my own life, and I give her a lot of credit for that. In some cases, it's far better for a kid to just be herself in a movie, rather than acting too mature and ten years older than she really is, and that is what brings a sense of magic to Bailee's performance (not to mention the fact that you will be hard-pressed to find at least one scene of hers that doesn't make you well up, especially in the film's last thirty minutes). Zooey Deschanel, too, is worth mentioning for the incredibly positive portrayal she gave of a young, vibrant teacher who gets the very best from her students by being compassionate, energetic, and creative. It's the Miss Edmonds-type of educators in our world that make a difference with these kids, as you can see by the impact that Deschanel's character has in the movie.

Although the climax in "Bridge to Terabithia" packs a punch and will leave older audiences with a question or two to answer for the younger viewers, the culminating themes presented are anything but dark and depressing, as some other reviewers here have indicated. Since when is it not completely uplifting to watch kids overcome emotional hardship, recognize the impact of the friends around them, and use what they have learned to make efforts that they may not have considered before? I don't believe for a minute that Jess would have made the decision he did at the end of the film if it weren't for the "close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open" ideal that Leslie introduced to him in their friendship.

And so it goes. Many people have criticized the phenomenon of false advertisement and the unsettling plot threads that changed the film's originally perceived direction in a matter of seconds. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and their differing feelings about the movie are valid, but it's the idea of this being an inappropriate children's film that makes me want to ask the question: What exactly do we want to be teaching our kids, if not courage and compassion in the face of adversity? If we don't want them exposed to certain things, and if we want to protect them from what might be potentially sad or painful, then what opportunity is there to help them learn some of the life lessons that Jess Aarons did at the conclusion of the story? Yes, I understand that it's just a movie, and no kid is going to have a fully developed concept of reality simply by watching "Bridge to Terabithia." However, before we claim that the chosen themes are too much for children and should be replaced with something more along the lines of "The Chronicles of Narnia," we should consider what Katherine Paterson and the filmmakers are trying to communicate with a story like this. Trust me, the message is intended to be a positive one, achieved by working through the tough stuff and discovering a level of happiness that is different, but every bit as valuable.

This isn't to say that I would recommend showing this movie to a preschooler and eagerly filling her plate with all these ideas, but for a kid around the age of 9 or so, it is very much a "children's film" that can be enjoyed by the whole family and appreciated for occasionally uneasy but always important messages it shares. In addition, I am not trying to speak negatively of "Narnia" kinds of action films for kids. Those are also good movies with positive qualities of their own, and if that's what you like, then there is absolutely no problem with it. For the purpose of this particular tale, however, and what it is trying to say to contemporary audiences, I am just saying that it deserves a shot, and if you are looking for a film with kids who are good role models and creative ways of thinking that are encouraged, "Bridge to Terabithia" is worth your time. If you watched it and didn't like it, or if you were upset by the marketing choices that the studio made with the preview trailers, then hey, what's the worst thing that happened? You spent some money on a movie theater ticket, a video rental, or maybe even a DVD purchase that you weren't completely satisfied with--or maybe you watched it with your kids because you were expecting something else, and you had to have a conversation afterward that you weren't exactly thrilled about. Even then, though, in a situation like that, there are far more positive things than negative to derive from the film's ending.

With that in mind, I would like to give this film my strongest recommendation for at least a movie rental. Setting the plot aside, the DVD does have a nice set of special features, including a commentary by Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb--as well as one of the film producers Lauren Levine--that is both sweet and interesting to listen to, especially if you are a fan of these two stars. There is another commentary by the director, writer and producer; a short featurette about the special effects; and a second featurette where the cast teams up with educators and elementary school administrators all over the country to discuss some of the best reasons to add this book to today's classroom curriculums. Lastly, there is a music video for the song "Keep Your Mind Wide Open," performed by AnnaSophia Robb and sprinkled with some scenes from the movie. Although her actress-turned-singer approach is similar to what young movie starlets like Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan have done in their careers, AnnaSophia is a beautiful girl who, to her credit, appeared to give it her all with this song. Regardless of anything else, it is a nice tune, with lyrics that correlates perfectly with everything that this movie is about. In the above mentioned commentary, AnnaSophia discusses this experience and acknowledges that she isn't planning a singing career, but even so, it is a fun music video to watch, and there's no doubt that she will find great things in her future.

I am writing this because this film has reached me in a way that NO other movie has, and there is just something about it that makes me literally want to watch it over and over (which I have essentially been doing ever since I purchased the DVD). If you have not seen it, or if you are debating whether or not it is the right material for young ones, I really hope that you will at least rent it and give it a chance. Just because it is the best movie I have ever seen does not mean that I expect everyone else to agree, but if nothing else, it is a film with an impeccably chosen cast--a group of actors who obviously grasp the movie's purpose and play it out so effortlessly. When she wrote the book in the 1970's, Katherine Paterson wasn't sure if children could deal with the emotions of the story, but her editor knew that kids could, and she was right on target. Paterson did base the plot on a difficult experience that she encountered with her 8-year-old son many years ago, and after all, what hits home harder than a story that is true?

Average customer rating:

Great movie!
Better than expected
love at first sight
No Holiday
For the romantic!

The Holiday
Starring: Cameron Diaz , Kate Winslet , Jude Law , Jack Black , and Eli Wallach
Director: Nancy Meyers
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

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)
Blood Diamond (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition)
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000MQC9H4
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Amazon.com

As a pleasant dose of holiday cheer, The Holiday is a lovable love story with all the Christmas trimmings. In the capable hands of writer-director Nancy Meyers (making her first romantic comedy since Something's Gotta Give), it all begins when two successful yet unhappy women connect through a home-swapping website, and decide to trade houses for the Christmas holiday in a mutual effort to forget their man troubles. Iris (Kate Winslet) is a London-based journalist who lives in a picture-postcard cottage in Surrey, and Amanda (Cameron Diaz) owns a movie-trailer production company (leading her to cutely imagine most of her life as a "coming attraction") and lives in a posh mansion in Beverly Hills. Iris is heartbroken from unrequited love with a cad of a colleague (Rufus Sewell), and Amanda has just broken up with her cheating boyfriend (Edward Burns), so their home-swapping offers mutual downtime to reassess their love lives. This being a Nancy Meyers movie (where everything is fabulously decorated and romantic wish-fulfillment is virtually guaranteed), Amanda hooks up with Iris's charming brother Graham (Jude Law), and Iris is unexpectedly smitten with Miles (Jack Black), a super-nice film composer on the downside of a failing relationship. --Jeff Shannon

Extras from The Holiday

First Look Featurette
high bandwidth

Film Clip: "Sushi for Two"
high bandwidth

Film Clip: "Oh Brother"
high bandwidth

Stills from The Holiday (click for larger image)

Beyond The Holiday on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray
CD Soundtrack
The Films of Nancy Meyers

Customer Reviews:

Great movie!.......2007-07-05

This movie is great! It is much better than I had expected. I thought it would be a light, cutesy, movie, but the writing and acting was superb! Far better than I had expected. There are many clever lines and the acting including great, subtle facial expressions. It is a very good movie!

Better than expected.......2007-07-03

I rented this movie online not expecting much. Too my surprise it was much better than I thought it would be.

love at first sight.......2007-07-03

There aren't too many movies that I watch and instantly fall in love with but it happened here. I saw the film, fell in love with story and the music, bought the score and had my sister join me for an encore performace... all in a single day! I'm a romantic at heart and this film was all about it. Not only that but every character was brilliantly used. From the adorable old man to the fiesty little children and of course the love story, this film is sure to touch your heart!

No Holiday.......2007-06-27

I own the movies Hitch, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Prime - I am a professional chick flick-er. Jude Law, Jack Black are in some of my favorite films. In my opinion, Kate Winslet is one of the most talented young actresses out there. Therefore this film should've been a perfect film for someone such as me - the film had all the right ingredients but the wrong recipe. I was very disappointed with this film. I agree with the other reviewers that the plot of the movie is not so original and is quite predictable. However, most romantic comedies ARE predictable - but what makes the good romantic comedies good is the presentation and the deliverance of the story. This film failed very much in that department. I blame it highly on the script and the editing process. Even with such beautiful people as Jude Law and Cameron Diaz on the screen, the film drags and become unbearable as it progresses. I was very sad as they had such a great cast. And it was a huge disappointment from Nancy Meyers (whose previous film - What Women Want - I enjoyed immensely).

For the romantic!.......2007-06-25

Though not a heart-wrenching love story, The Holiday is a inspiration for the romantic at heart. It causes room for doubt, then offers hope. It's cute...not too deep but still romantic and playfully pleasant. I enjoyed it...have watched it twice. My 15 year old, however, said it was boring and not worth watching. I attribute that to age and the lack of ability to understand certain innuendos.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Amazing book, mediocre movie
! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well
The Best HP Movie Yet!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Review Harry Potter?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
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

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

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

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Two-Disc Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E6EK3S
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Product Description

When Harry Potter's name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, he becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools - the Triwizard Tournament. But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did? Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. In this fourth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, everything changes as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave childhood forever and take on challenges greater than anything they could have imagined.
Running Time: 157 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The fourth entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. --Ellen A. Kim

On the DVD
The highlight of the two-disc set is a half-hour conversation with actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. They discuss their reactions to the film and other topics with British writer Richard Curtis . Then they answer questions from contest-winning fans, such as what are their favorite kids' books (Watson bypasses the obvious answer in favor of Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman) and what scenes are they looking forward to in upcoming films. More routine extras include the "Reflections on the Fourth Film" featurette (14 min.), though it has comments from some of the other young cast members, and "Preparing for the Yule Ball" (9 min.). The 10 minutes of additional scenes are mostly skulking and skullduggery, plus a long musical number from the ball. The remaining material is grouped along the lines of the Triwizard Tournament, with behind-the-scenes looks at each of the competitions (about 22 min. total), two longer featurettes on He Who Must Not Be Named (11 min.) and the workday of the other contestants (Robert Pattinson, Stanislav Ianevski, and Clémence Poésy, 13 min.), and four games, playable with the directional arrows on the remote control, that can be frustrating to figure out. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Amazing book, mediocre movie.......2007-07-04

There is no comparison to the book. The acting was horrible (kids, Dumbledore) but I assume they were just badly directed - why is Dumbledore raving and out of control? Furthermore, many interesting scenes were cut or shortened - at least give us more world cup quidditch! I love the first 3 movies but this one just didn't measure up. I hope OotP is better.

! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well.......2007-06-30

i have never read any of the harry potter books. the 1st 2 harry potter movies were excellent. you did not have to read the books to follow along and enjoy the movies. most importantly, the movies made sense. i have seen all 4 movies at the movie theater. this movie was horrible. (3rd movie was lousy as well) this movie made no sense. there was no cohesiveness. the movie was all over the place. jumping from scene to scene without correctly explaining the scene that the movie was in. i was very bored. i did not feel a bond with really any of the characters including harry. the guy who plays dumbledorf needs to be fired immediately he has no personality at all. i have tried to watch this harry goblet of fire movie on cable several times thinking maybe i misjudged or overeacted. i was totally 100% accurate. this movie is horribly bad. as other reviewers have said the movie needed to be longer (example stated lord of the rings) i hope harry potter v is much better.

The Best HP Movie Yet!.......2007-06-26

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was an amazing movie. The effects were astonishing, the action was awesome, and the acting was outstanding!
In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers that Lord Voldemort has returned and is trying to kill him. This movie is awesome!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-06-16

First off, I thought this movie was quite entertaining and exciting in a thrill-ride sort of way, but it was the weakest film in the Harry Potter series. Many people will disagree with me, but this film lacked in plot and character development. The Triwizard champions had a total of two or less lines in the movie, and they weren't shown enough to grow accustomed to them. Mike Newell might be a great director, but he didn't capture the mood and essence of the Harry Potter world. Every time I was getting ready to settle with a situation or conflict, the movie took me to an entirely different ball park. The film never settled... it was in a constant rush.
Before the movie premiered in theaters, I remember hearing Newell say in an interview that he took out a few unnecessary subplots. He definitely took out many unnecessary subplots, and he replaced them with some other unnecessary scenes. There was a part in the movie where "Karkaroff" (The Durmstrang Headmaster)is shown secretly entering the lonely Great Hall. It's a very suspicious scene that leaves the audience wondering: What happens?... Nothing... nothing happens. That scene was just placed there for the sake of adding suspense to the story. The Beauxbatons champion, Fleur Delacour, was a very intriguing character in the book, and I was very disappointed when her total screen time added up to about three minutes. I had no complaints about her look, because I think she was as beautiful as they described her in the book, yet the director didn't take advantage of her screen time. In fact, the director didn't take advantage of any actor's screen time. Rita Skeeter, the haughty reporter for the Daily Prophet (played by the talented Miranda Richardson), was a very random character in the film, but in the book, she was a very well-developed character.
I'm sorry to say, but I think this movie would've been better off in the hands of another director. I think Alfonso Cuaron and Chris Columbus captured the true spirit of J.K. Rowling's magical wizarding world. Chris Columbus portrayed the world as colorful, yet filled with hidden dangers; Cuaron made the third film dark and more adult, still maintaining a magical tone; Mike Newell... he created a tone that was all over the place.
I am no director, but I can say that Mike Newell definitely needs to work on character development in his films. I heard he made the film "Mona Lisa Smile", and when I saw that movie, I had the same complaints I had for Harry Potter 4: "It just could've been better". Mona Lisa Smile lacked in proper character development as well. I know we live in a society that demands instant action and conflict in its flicks, but there are ways of doing that without rushing plot or character development. I'm just glad he's not doing the next Harry Potter film.
Although I have some complaints about this film, I still have to say that I enjoy watching it because it is entertaining and it is a thrill ride; so I do recommend it for that purpose. Thank You for reading. =)

Review Harry Potter?.......2007-06-14

Come on. It's Harry Potter. You know you want to purchase it :D

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

I preferred the Wonderworks version
a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was
A remarkable film
Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships
A beautiful story with something to say

Bridge To Terabithia (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson , AnnaSophia Robb , Zooey Deschanel , Robert Patrick , and Bailee Madison
Director: Gabor Csupo
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)
Ghost Rider (Two-Disc Extended Cut)
Eragon (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)
Happy Feet (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B000OYCM5I
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

I preferred the Wonderworks version.......2007-07-05

a potentially epic movie that was very badly made, should have been done as "big fish" was.......2007-07-05

A remarkable film.......2007-07-05

Very Emotional. Surprising. Not About Fantasy, But About Loss and Relationships.......2007-07-04

A beautiful story with something to say.......2007-07-04

Average customer rating:

Hugh & Drew --A Winning Team!!!
Awesome and Romantic
No surprises equal Surprisingly good!
Cute boy meets girl movie!!
my new favorite movie

Music and Lyrics (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Hugh Grant , Drew Barrymore , Brad Garrett , Kristen Johnston , and Campbell Scott
Director: Marc Lawrence (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Because I Said So (Widescreen Edition)
Catch & Release
The Holiday
The Queen
Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JPE3
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Amazon.com

Music and Lyrics is frothy and sweet, like the top of a perfect cappuccino shared a deux. Hugh Grant is a self-professed "happy has-been," playing his befuddled, adorable persona more spot-on than he has since Four Weddings and a Funeral. As Alex, former member of an '80s pop band who years later is playing at water parks and high school reunions, he's settled into a life of lesser expectations. Drew Barrymore, quietly radiant, is Sophie, the underachieving girl Friday who arrives to water--make that overwater--Alex's plants--and to explode him out of that comfy rut. If the plot's a bit farfetched, it matters not, since the two lead characters are so likable--and make such beautiful music together. Big bonus: the supportive role of Kristen Johnston as Rhonda, Sophie's older sis (and longtime Alex fan) whose hilarious performance threatens to steal the show whenever she's onscreen. (The owner of a chain of successful weight-loss centers, Rhonda tries to comfort a rattled Sophie: "Want to do some stress eating?") The film also marks the remarkable debut of Haley Bennett, who plays a pop star of Britney/Cristina proportions with deadpan sincerity radiating through her skimpy outfits and mega-extensions. As Alex and Sophie work on crafting musical magic, something else is taking hold. It's music to the ears of anyone needing a sweet romantic comedy that hits all the right notes. --A.T. Hurley

Description

First you're hot, then you're not...and then you're Alex Fletcher (HUGH GRANT). So when the sizzlingest tween-queen on the charts asks the has-been '80s pop sensation to write her a song, he grabs for another chance at stardom. Problem: Alex can say it with music, but he sure can't say it with words. Enter Sophie Fisher (DREW BARRYMORE), his beguiling if quirky plant lady, who has a green thumb for lyrics. Together, they go after songwriting success -- and discover that if you want to write the perfect love song, it helps to fall in love. With Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore at the keyboard and Marc Lawrence (Two Weeks Notice) directing, Music and Lyrics is a witty, wacky romantic comedy that faces the music...and laughs!

Customer Reviews:

Hugh & Drew --A Winning Team!!!.......2007-07-01

After seeing this movie all I have to say is I hope Hugh and Drew will continue to pair up again in other movies. Their onscreen chemistry was unmistakable. And besides the great music heard throughout the supporting cast Brad Garrett, Haley Bennet, Kristen Johnson, and Campbell Scott was equally amazing. For people who don't like Hugh Grant, this movie will change your mind!!

Awesome and Romantic.......2007-06-30

There are good types of movies you can see. Different types. Not just action/adventure/fantasy films like "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Harry Potter," but there are some comedies like spoof, and others are romantic comedies.

I have to admit that one of the first most calmest things of a movie genre is a romantic comedy. Especially, when there's lots of love songs. So, watching a movie like "Music and Lyrics," perhaps, you should be entertained with lots of love, excitement and joy through a romantic comedy.

"Music and Lyrics" opens up with Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) singing the song with his band in an 80's style music video called "Pop! Goes My Heart." And that's what makes a movie like "Music and Lyrics" shine, and for the lots of its parts, it works.

The movie tells the story about Alex Fletcher, who is in a band. He is one of the most popular bandsman. He one days meets a lovely woman, Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), when Sophie waters the plants in his house. Together, they come for a good song to write for them, as singers, to perform.

But on the other hand, a young pop star, by the name of Cora Coleman (Haley Bennett) wants to have Fletcher write another song for her. Now, see that's one thing for Alex to work it out with Sophie, maybe yeah, along with his businessman, Chris Riley (Brad Garrett). But their work has brought them faith, friendship and love.

Honestly by trying to be a movie critic, I can know of old romantic comedies, like "Meet the Parents" and "50 First Dates," that I found "Music and Lyrics" to be charming. It has plenty of appropriate humor for the teens, yet kids can try to understand the humor at age 10.

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are great together as the lovely romantic comedy couple. They perform a great performance and their singing is incredible. When it comes to music, they are both absolute geniouses, and that's what a type of a movie "Music and Lyrics" should be like. But another great star of the film is Brad Garrett as Alex's businessman, Chris Riley. He sure is funny with his funny humor, and that's another thing that shouldn't stop you from seeing "Music and Lyrics."

If you like romantic comedies, you should definitely enjoy "Music and Lyrics." There's plenty of humor for the teenagers and kids who are older than 10, maybe 8 or 9, should enjoy this movie. I, for one, can take this movie with a lot of movement and feel, and that's what you should get with a movie like "Music and Lyrics."

No surprises equal Surprisingly good!.......2007-06-29

This movie was cutesy, campy and trite. It was a cliche parody of itself from the beginning. And that is part of what makes it so wonderful. It doesn't try to pretend to be something it't not.

Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore are thrown together in the oddest and most unlikely of circumstances when Grant, a throwback to the 80's pop music scene, is offered a chance to write a song for an un-and-coming 21st century teen queen that is an almost annoyingly accurate parody of Shakira, Christina Aguilara and a host of other would be starlets you could name.

When a struggling Grant can't seem to find the words to express his heart's melody, Barrymore walks in completing a pairing that is as wonderful personally as they are professionally.

This is a darling comedy/drama/romance/whatever you'd like to call it... I highly recommend it!

Cute boy meets girl movie!!.......2007-06-29

This is an adorable boy meets girl type of movie. I had heard through friends that this was a great movie but was even more pleasantly surprised after watching it! Great feel good movie and wonderful satire of the 80's music scene.......especially love the opening video clip!!!!

my new favorite movie.......2007-06-28

What's not to love about this movie? It's witty, fun, funny, and a great story. When you break it all down the films just down right entertaining. It is rare, these days, to find a film that has both a captivating storyline and the ability to have you rolling on the ground laughing. It is even rarer to find a movie that you can watch over and over again without tiring of it.

Let me explain; Music and Lyrics is almost exactly like a good song. The first time you hear it, you think 'hey, this is catchy' and you decided that you like it. The next time you listen to it you pay attention to the lyrics, and find out that you love the song even more. I realize I stole a metaphor from the movie itself, but it's true. The first time you watch the film you are sucked into the story; from the very first panel you are captivated. It's just so absurd yet so clever that you can't turn away. The banter in the film is so entertaining, but since you won't catch everything in the first sitting you'll want to watch it again. This time paying more attention to the banter, you'll be busting stitches as you listen to what these people are saying.

Hugh Grant is brilliant and Drew Barrymore pulled off her role flawlessly. The two main protagonists have so much chemistry everything just clicks. They defiantly found all the right people for this movie, even Brad Garrett, who didn't have much of a lime light role, was perfect. Whoever cast this movie is a genius, everything just works.

Music and Lyrics follows the life of a former 1980's pop star named Alex Fletcher. He was a big deal back in the day, but after his boy band broke up he fell out of the mainstream spotlight. Now he works as a 'has-been' act performing in hotel showrooms, state fairs, and amusement parks for his now middle age fan base. However, he won't be able to keep this up for long since new 'old acts' like the Spice Girls are popping up on his territory and stealing the spot light. To reclaim some glory Fletcher teams up with Cora Corman, the current reigning pop sensation, for a duet...only one problem, Fletcher has to write the song by Friday. He teams up with the girl who waters his plants, Sophie Fisher, to write a hit duet that Cora will approve of.

Music and Lyrics is defiantly a worth while investment for any movie lover. I've watched it four times since buying the DVD last week, and every single time I watch I find something new and hilarious that I had missed in the first few sittings. If you love straight face comedy, witty banter, or simply good movies...you must add this film to your collection. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Average customer rating:

Amazing book, mediocre movie
! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well
The Best HP Movie Yet!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Review Harry Potter?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) (Harry Potter 4)
Starring: Eric Sykes , Timothy Spall , David Tennant , Daniel Radcliffe , and Emma Watson (II)
Director: Mike Newell
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

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

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

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 3)
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E6EK2Y
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Amazon.com

The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

Description

Customer Reviews:

Amazing book, mediocre movie.......2007-07-04

! horrible movie - goblet of fire - 1st 2 great 3rd lousy as well.......2007-06-30

The Best HP Movie Yet!.......2007-06-26

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.......2007-06-16

Review Harry Potter?.......2007-06-14

Come on. It's Harry Potter. You know you want to purchase it :D

V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Remember, remember the 5th of November
V
V Is For Very Good.
Totalitarian Dystopia,Huh?
A great thought provocative tale

V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Natalie Portman , Hugo Weaving , Stephen Rea , Stephen Fry , and John Hurt
Director: James McTeigue
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $9.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Two-Disc Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Inside Man (Widescreen Edition)
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000FS9FCQ
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Amazon.com

"Remember, remember the fifth of November," for on this day, in 2020, the minds of the masses shall be set free. So says code-name V (Hugo Weaving), a man on a mission to shake society out of its blank complacent stares in the film V for Vendetta. His tactics, however, are a bit revolutionary, to say the least. The world in which V lives is very similar to Orwell's totalitarian dystopia in 1984: after years of various wars, England is now under "big brother" Chancellor Adam Sutler (played by John Hurt, who played Winston Smith in the movie 1984), whose party uses force and fear to run the nation. After they gained power, minorities and political dissenters were rounded up and removed; artistic and unacceptable religious works were confiscated. Cameras and microphones are littered throughout the land, and the people are perpetually sedated through the governmentally controlled media. Taking inspiration from Guy Fawkes, the 17th century co-conspirator of a failed attempt to blow up Parliament on November 5, 1605, V dons a Fawkes mask and costume and sets off to wake the masses by destroying the symbols of their oppressors, literally and figuratively. At the beginning of his vendetta, V rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a group of police officers and has her live with him in his underworld lair. It is through their relationship where we learn how V became V, the extremities of the party's corruption, the problems of an oppressive government, V's revenge plot, and his philosophy on how to induce change.

Based on the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore, V for Vendetta's screenplay was written by the Wachowski Brothers (of The Matrix fame) and directed by their protégé, James McTeigue. Controversy and criticism followed the film since its inception, from the hyper-stylized use of anarchistic terrorism to overthrow a corrupt government and the blatant jabs at the current U.S. political arena, to graphic novel fans complaining about the reconstruction of Alan Moore's original vision (Moore himself has dismissed the film). Many are valid critiques and opinions, but there's no hiding the message the film is trying to express: Radical and drastic events often need to occur in order to shake people out of their state of indifference in order to bring about real change. Unfortunately, the movie only offers a means with no ends, and those looking for answers may find the film stylish, but a bit empty. --Rob Bracco

On the DVDs
On disc 1 is a 16-minute documentary "Freedom! Forever!: Making V for Vendetta" with discussions on the movie's origin and themes by the principal cast and crew (no Alan Moore or Wachowskis, to no one's surprise, but the graphic novel's illustrator David Lloyd is on hand to call the movie "a very good version"). On disc 2 is a 17-minute production featurette, a 10-minute history of Guy Fawkes, and the 15-minute "England Prevails: V for Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics." Lloyd and others from the comics industry such as Paul Levitz and Bill Sienkiwicz talk about the graphic novel and how it appealed to a different, older audience. The second menu of the second disc also has an easy-to-find Easter egg of a rapping and swearing Natalie Portman on Saturday Night Live. --David Horiuchi

Beyond the Film

The graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
More by Alan Moore
From Graphic Novel to Big Screen

More by Natalie Portman
More by Hugo Weaving
More by the Wachowski Brothers

Customer Reviews:

Remember, remember the 5th of November.......2007-07-05

In my opinion a truly great movie, if you are familiar with 1984 and like this genre ! V for Vendetta lives the modern Distopia and adds a lot of style. You can really feel the Screenplay by the Wachowski Brothers.
The Two Disc Special Edition is okay, but I have seen better ones, for example with a more packed Bonus Disc, a Booklet or a Digipak or at least an Slipon-Case. But anyhow, for a price around ten Dollars it

The graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd	More by Alan Moore	From Graphic Novel to Big Screen
More by Natalie Portman	More by Hugo Weaving	More by the Wachowski Brothers