The Black Book

Starring:Robert Cummings, Richard Basehart, Richard Hart, Arlene Dahl, Arnold Moss, Norman Lloyd, Charles McGraw, Beulah Bondi, Jess Barker, Anthony Sydes, Mary Currier, Georgette Windsor, Sayre Dearing, Clancy Cooper, Frank Hagney, Ralph Brooks, Victor Kilian, Shepperd Strudwick, Colin Kenny, Boyd 'Red' Morgan
Director: Anthony Mann
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

I've got a Jones in my bones!
I got a Love Jones
"A great ear for POETRY"
Love is in the air and in words.....
Love Jones

Love Jones
Starring: Larenz Tate , Nia Long , Isaiah Washington , Lisa Nicole Carson , and Bill Bellamy
Director: Theodore Witcher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000JGHO
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Amazon.com

Boy meets girl, and boy loses girl--no more and no less than that--in this romantic story of young, upwardly mobile African Americans navigating through Chicago club culture to the perilous shores of a relationship. The film was surprisingly popular at a couple of key film festivals in 1997, but there isn't anything particularly noteworthy about it aside from its rare emphasis on a love affair between black urbanites. Larenz Tate and Nia Long are fine in the leads (Tate makes a convincingly self-centered boy-man), and director Theodore Witcher aims for his small target and hits it squarely. --Tom Keogh

Description

Say hello to Darious Lovehall (Larenz Tate) and Nina Mosley (Nia Long), two confused lovebirds who discover that you can never underestimate the power of a love jones.

DVD Features:
Music Video
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

I've got a Jones in my bones!.......2007-05-28

What can I say about this movie that has not been said? This was one of the best love stores (next to Pretty Woman) that has ever been made. If you have not seen this movie, you need to purchase it now, lock yourself in front of the television and don't make any plans for the next two hours because it WILL NOT disappoint! Enjoy!! NEO_SOUL_06

I got a Love Jones.......2007-05-07

This is my favorite love story of all time! Larenz Tate is gorgeous and Nia Long depands your attention. I was swept away the first time I saw this movie back in 1997. Watching it reminds me of how in love I was when this movie first came out. New love is a beautiful thing! Nia and Larenz show you that.

"A great ear for POETRY".......2007-03-29

This was a great movie. It had some "Very Good" actors & actresses that starred in it. I was very pleased. The poetry and story line was *GREAT*!!!

Love is in the air and in words............2007-02-27

"Love Jones", I must say was more than a movie. It had everything: romance, friendship, heartbreak, and poetry. Larenz Tate and Nia Long were a perfect match. I just love the movie!

Love Jones.......2007-02-14

Love Jones is my favorite movie. It shows an unique side to black love. The characters seem well rounded and "deep".

Average customer rating:

Watch "Being John Malkovich" first
Clever blending of reality and fiction
A movie about trying to make a movie?
Very clever, mind-boggling movie
A Nappaland.com Review

Adaptation (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Jim Beaver , Nicolas Cage , Chris Cooper , Brian Cox , and Gary Farmer
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JLRE
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

Twisty brilliance from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze, the team who created Being John Malkovich. Nicolas Cage returns to form with a funny, sad, and sneaky performance as Charlie Kaufman, a self-loathing screenwriter who has been hired to adapt Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. Frustrated and infatuated by Orlean's elegant but plotless book (which is largely a rumination on flowers), Kaufman begins to write a screenplay about himself trying to write a screenplay about The Orchid Thief, all the while hounded by his twin brother Donald (Cage again), who's cheerfully writing the kind of formulaic action movie that Kaufman finds repugnant. By its conclusion, Adaptation is the most artistically ambitious, most utterly cynical, and most uncategorizable movie ever to come out of Hollywood. Also starring Meryl Streep (as Susan Orlean), Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, and Brian Cox; superb performances throughout. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Customer Reviews:

Watch "Being John Malkovich" first.......2007-06-24

A follow-on to "Being John Malkovich" Being John Malkovich, this film also explores the nature of reality, but goes one step further and considers the nature of the creative process. As the film proceeds, the viewer is constantly exposed to comments about what is happening on the screen (e.g., "Never use voice-overs") which are amusing but also distracting. Viewers interested in the nature of the creative process, especially screenwriting, will find this technique interesting, others will find it distracting.

In any event, rather than being a follow-on in the conventional sense, this film contains actors and sets from Malkovich, which means you will understand it better if you see the earlier film.

After appearing in "Being John Malkovich," Cameron Diaz reportedly said, "There are 14 standard plots in Hollywood. This is the 15th.", suggesting how unusual these two films are.

But they are also different. While "Being John Malkovich" has an ending that fits the film, here the ending is contrived, which fits the overall plot but is likely to leave the average viewer dissatisfied.

In fact, the entire film is likely to leave the average viewer dissatisfied.

Clever blending of reality and fiction.......2007-05-08

I preferred the way this film blended reality and fiction over the way it was done in "Being John Malkovich" (Which is by the same writer and director).

This is one of those movie experiences where you know the flim's creators want you to know they are trying to play mind-games on you. ;)

The filming of "Being John Malkovich" is part of this film's story-line, so it does help to have seen "Being John M." before seeing this film.

A movie about trying to make a movie? .......2007-05-01

Look, I understand very well that I'm supposed to find this thing "brilliant, innovative, unique" and so forth. But to begin with, the storyline of making a movie about making a movie is old, tired, and absolutely lackng in originality. This yawner wastes a good cast in telling a ho-hum tale about a mediocre writer. By the end of this thing, I really wanted those 90 minutes of my life back. The humor is lame, the situations are absurd, and the plot is devoid of interest.

Very clever, mind-boggling movie.......2007-02-16

I enjoyed Adaptation a lot. It is very very clever and very funny. Nicolas Cage, Chris Cooper, and Meryl Streep all do a great job and bring it together into one coherent (sort-of) ending.

The movie is about the process of writing a screenplay from another source, but turns into an examination of the creative process, and how it relates to the creators (writers). Nicolas Cage plays the inhibited, smart, unhappy screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann, who is charged with turning "The Orchid Thief" into a film. He also plays Charlie's identical twin brother, Donald, who is everything Charlie is not, but also aspires to be a screenwriter. Charlie Kaufmann, btw, is the real writer of "Adaptation," but it is credited to both him and Donald (who is a character in the film, and not a real person). In fact the film is dedicated to Donald (Donald Kaufmann, btw, also has an entry in IMDB as a screenwriter).

Also writing is Susan Orlean (played by Meryl Streep), whose book "The Orchard Thief" Charlie is working to adapt for film. Susan has her own struggles with the creative process. The focus for all this creative energy is LaRoche, the Orchid Thief of the title, whose obsession with collecting orchids is at the heart of the movie. I think it is pretty interesting how LaRoche is the character who feels the most strongly about his passion, while the two writers circle around him and try to find something in their own lives they feel strongly about. Chris Cooper is completely convincing as LaRoche, and it is a relief to see him playing something besides a government bureaucrat or a military officer.

I laughed a lot at the scenes where Charlie attends a seminar on screenwriting. I actually use some of the "tips" to judge movies (for examle, never ever use a voiceover ...)

Although I had fun watching this movie, I am not sure that I would call it a really good movie (definitely not a great movie). Behind all the amusing connections and intricate story lines, I am just not sure that there is all that much there. I enjoyed it a lot, although I doubt that I will remember much about it a year from now.

A Nappaland.com Review.......2006-12-31

Plot Summary: Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) struggles to adapt a book into a screenplay.
Reason for the Rating: Language, sexuality, some drug use, and violent images.
Bizarre. Crazy. Zany. Quirky.
Any of these words accurately describes Adaptation, so be prepared to pay attention when you're watching this one! Charlie Kaufman is a real-life screenwriter with several television series to his credit, and the also quirky and bizarre film Being John Malkovich. Adaptation picks up with the filming of Being John Malkovich, showing Charlie on the set of that movie. He's a man who loathes himself, who cannot complete a thought, and who is bound by fear.
Charlie is hired to adapt the real-life non-fiction book, The Orchid Thief, into a movie. The author, Susan Orleans, is a real person portrayed here by Meryl Streep, and the book is about an ego-centric real-life orchid expert named John Laroche (remarkably played by Chris Cooper). This much is all true. The rest...who can say? Charlie labors over the screenplay, and bits of what he writes are interspersed with sections where he laments his loser status in life. Mixed into the plot is Charlie's twin brother Donald (also played by Cage, but who does not exist in real life, and who, despite the tributes in the end credits of the movie, never did exist) who can't seem to get a job so tries his hand a screenwriting, and, despite his blithe oblivion to the realities of life and Charlie's expert advice, succeeds.
At times Adaptation is slow and filled with voice-overs to convey Charlie's thoughts about life, the evolution process, and how, according to Darwin, we've all adapted to various situations to become who we are today. At other times it's shockingly violent, absurdly funny, and down-right sad.
Besides the violence, sex, and drug use, Christians may find the message of evolution and adaptation offensive. Yet there is truth that we do adapt to the situations of our lives, and that these changes define us. The movie also encourages viewers to consider the passions of our lives. While the passions of those in the movie may seem bizarre, they demonstrate the meaning people find in life through what they love and pursue--and how futile these passions are outside of knowing God.

Nappaland.com Recommends: Adaptation is only for mature viewers who want to think about what they've seen. Even though there are plenty of funny moments, this one could spark serious discussion about pursuing our passions and facing our fears.

After the Show...If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:
---Consider each of the main characters in Adaptation. What is the passion of each one? How does pursuing these passions change the lives of these people? What are you passionate about in your own life? How do you pursue this passion, and what difference do your actions make?
---When Donald and Charlie are hiding in the swamp they have a discussion about love. What do you think of Donald's views of loving others? How does what Donald shares change Charlie? How could embracing this view change your relationships?
---Charlie is a recognized screenwriter and appears to be successful to those in his business. But in reality he's filled with doubts and fears that keep him from growing and enjoying life. In what ways are you like Charlie? How can you move beyond the fears that might be trapping you?

AN

Average customer rating:

The Best part.....the whole movie was done with thought-out class.
The Best Man
"Friends to The End"
One of my top 5 movies of all time!
Good MOVIE! Who has Slept with you WIFE ?

The Best Man
Starring: Doug Banks , Jarrod Bunch , Monica Calhoun , Willie C. Carpenter , and Morris Chestnut
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783240201
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Amazon.com

A glossy romantic comedy, The Best Man centers on four college friends and the women in their lives, all brought back together for a wedding. Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) plays the title character, a young writer whose first novel is a barely fictionalized account of his college days, featuring barely fictionalized versions of all his friends. This novel hasn't yet been released, but ambitious TV producer Nia Long (Soul Food) has snagged an advance copy in the hopes of getting an early interview with Diggs. Unfortunately, when this advance copy begins circulating among the college gang, they discover it reveals some secrets that may have a disastrous effect on the wedding. The Best Man features a handsome, charming cast and a propulsive story, but the female characters are poorly developed and the male banter is, to say the least, chauvinistic. This banter is mostly to comic effect, but by the end it still leaves a sour taste that the movie's happy ending doesn't counter. With a particularly strong performance by Terrence Howard as an aimless but relentlessly honest member of the college quartet. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

The Best part.....the whole movie was done with thought-out class........2007-06-20

The beauty of this movie is that it truly likes and cares about the people inhabiting it. There are no cheap jokes or sight gags. The humor develops from real situations and real characters starting with Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs). Life is good for Harper. His first novel is about to be published. He is in a comfortable two-year relationship and it is the weekend of the wedding of Lance (Morris Chesnut) and Mia (Monica Calhoun), two of his closest college friends. The bad news is his novel is a thinly veiled account of his college years and an advance copy of the book has found it's way into the hands of another college friend, Jordan (Nia Long). Jordan has in turn read the book and passed it along to Harper's inncer circle of college freinds. The really bad news is now the advance copy is in the hands of the groom, Lance. And Lance will not be happy by what he reads.

The film is well performed across the board although special mention needs to be made of Taye Diggs in the lead. Diggs perfectly captures the arrogance and the fear of commitment that makes the character of Harper work. Morris Chesnut is also quite good as the groom Lance. Lance is a star running back who is torn by his love for Mia and all the oppurtunies his "star" status provides. Mia really has become the rock in this world, his key to becoming a better man and Christian. When Lance finally gets to the chapter that Harper has been so afraid of him reading his entire world is shaken and nothing is on solid ground. Chesnut nails the sense of frustration of a man who all of a sudden finds his house is build on quicksand. Powerful stuff and again, none of it seems forced or pushed. The victory for virtue as defined by this film, however, is not easy and does not rely on conventional finger waging notions and stereotypes. In fact, the most interesting and best acted character is Quentin (Terrence Dashon Howard). He slyly and wisely presents the argument that we are not meant to be monogamous, but he is consistent in not expecting men and women to live by a double standard. He is in many ways correctly cynical about all of his friends and the rest of us. It is a testament to confident story telling when a character presents a contradictory position so well. In addition, Quentin is hilariously madcap with his quips.

When we finally get to the wedding and hear the vows of the groom and bride as a celebration of their commitment and union, the movie literally blooms with sweetness and beauty. This may sound corny, but when it is well done as it was here, we have insatiable appetites for seeing people face their selfish expectations and hypocrisy to become true partners in love and life. It is of note that Spike Lee's company produced this movie. Apparently, the able writer-director, Malcolm D. Lee, is a relative. The setting is affluent, literate, intelligent, success driven, neurotically yuppie and entirely African-American. (We don't recall seeing a white face on the screen.) In this, Best Man offers a refreshing and powerful diversion from the heaviness of urban blight and racial oppression as the world of blacks on film. As real as these phenomena are, blacks are diverse in their accomplishments and social strata.

The Best Man.......2007-06-15

Great Movie! I am glad to have it as part of my collection!

"Friends to The End".......2007-03-28

The Best Man is a movie that shows the true bond, of being a friend to the end. Even though the times get tough you still know were you stand.
It's the truth of being genuine.

One of my top 5 movies of all time!.......2006-08-31

One of my top 5 movies of all time!

Good MOVIE! Who has Slept with you WIFE ?.......2006-06-08

The movie has very traditional format. The movie was done very well.

The plot was good.

There were twists, and turns. Friendships challenged, Pretty women with emotions running wild.

3 friends supporting their best friend getting married. There are couple big secrets shared before marriage. One is one his best friend have slept with his future wife.

good romantic comedy you will be happy.

Jubril
[...]
Teenage Business Phenom

Average customer rating:

THE ALL-TIME AMERICAN UNDERDOG
Movie About A Persistent Egomaniac
An offbeat movie about an offbeat kind of man
Pretty good movie
ordinary hero

American Splendor
Starring: Chris Ambrose , Nick Baxter , Vivienne Benesch , Shari Springer Berman , and Earl Billings
Director: Shari Springer Berman
Manufacturer: HBO Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000U0X20
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com

One of the most acclaimed films of 2003, American Splendor is also one of the most audaciously creative biographical movies ever made. Blending fact, fiction, and personal perspective from the comic books that inspired it, this marvelous portrait of Harvey Pekar--scowling curmudgeon, brow-beaten everyman, insightful chronicler of his own life, and frustrated file clerk at a Cleveland V.A. hospital--is an inspired amalgam of the media (comic books, TV, and film) that lifted Pekar from obscurity to the status of a pop-cultural icon. As played by Paul Giamatti in a master-stroke of casting, we see Pekar and his understanding wife (played by Hope Davis) as underdogs in a world full of obstacles, yet also infused with subtle hope and (gasp!) heartwarming perseverance. We also see the real Pekar, and this multifaceted commingling of "reel" and "real" turns American Splendor into a uniquely cinematic celebration of Pekar's life and, by extension, the tenacity of an unlikely American hero. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Based on the life and work of underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar- a prickly poet of the mundane who knows that all the strategizing in the world can't save a guy from picking the wrong supermarket checkout line.

Customer Reviews:

THE ALL-TIME AMERICAN UNDERDOG.......2007-06-18

PAUL GIAMATTI STARS AS THE OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE HARVEY PEKAR, A WORKING CLASS HERO WHO BECAME A NATIONAL SENSATION DURING THE 80'S WITH HIS REALISTIC CARTOONS DEPICTING HIS OWN DAILY ROUTINE.

BY: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

From the streets of Cleveland, OH, emerged the legend of "AMERICAN SPLENDOR", a comic book which faithfully depicted the ups and downs of a man who represented an entire generation of blue-collar workers in an America increasingly dominated by the yuppie ideology of the 80's. Our hero was a former V.A Hospital file clerk named "Harvey Pekar", a middle aged, self-loathing character who suffered from intense depressive compulsions which would constantly keep him in a state of intense negativity. Everything, from his attitudes to his dressing code, would illustrate his total lack of self-esteem. Such careless conditions would lead Harvey to undergo two failed relationships, which would end up taking a severe toll on his personal life.

As of the second rejection, Harvey starts looking at life with different eyes. It's when he has an epiphany and decides that he will make the most out of the ordinary. Tired of the childish thematics of super-hero and animal cartoons, he decides to create a comic book in which the main character is no one but himself. He then starts to narrate his own real life experiences through his stories, using the cartoon media as his vehicle. Illustrations are crafted by underground comic artists such as the legendary Robert Crumb, a personal friend of Harvey's which he met back in the early 60's in Cleveland. Everything which happens to Harvey's life has the potential to become comic book material.

As soon as the comic books hit the street they become a major sensation, and do a great deal to help Pekar's personal life. Through his own gloomy vision of the world which sorrounded him, Pekar was able to generate a very refined form of dark humor which conquered a series of fans throughout the nation. One of these fans ended up becoming his loving wife, Joyce Brabner.

On the screen, faithfully portraying Pekar, is Paul Giamatti. His impersonation is so near perfection, that even when Pekar himself appears in the movie it is quite hard to tell who is who. Giamatti's acting is superb. He fills Pekar's shoes with no difficulty and feels quite comfortable in them. Giamatti demonstrates great easiness in playing the self-loathing, all-time loser type. Similarities between his character "Miles" from "SIDEWAYS" and "Harvey Pekar" are quite obvious. Both share these common personality traits, which Giamatti so authentically delivers through his acting. In a supporting role is actress Hope Davis, playing Harvey's wife, Joyce. Both Paul Giamatti and Hope Davis, in addition to their phenomenal acting skills, are aslo very noticeable for their physical similarities to the original Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner.

Another strong point which comes to the aid of this motion picture is its cartoon-like form of narrative with shots which very much resemble a comic book. Boxes and dialogue balloons are carefully inserted in certain moments through-out the movie as to enhance the look and feel of this cartoon-driven plot. Animated drawings of Harvey himself interact with Paul Giamatti's character, a graphic resource which adds much credibility and interest to the picture as a whole.

With an interesting solid plot and grandiose acting by Paul Giamatti, "AMERICAN SPLENDOR" is destined to become a cult classic. It is one of those movies which so brilliantly deals with the weaknesses of human character and the possibilities of turn-arounds in life. Finally, it also explores a genre which many times can become dull by the exaggerations and misconducts which are so common when exploring biographies. In this case, the theme was sharply conducted by director Robert Pulcini, who did a great job in leveling the characters' virtues and limitations without letting one overshadow the other.

***** A CULT CLASSIC !!!!
All Rights Reserved - 2007 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

Movie About A Persistent Egomaniac.......2007-03-21

Harvey Pekar is a man of marginal talent who, through sheer bloody single mindedness aka persistent egomania, has made something of a name for himself. Working with his significantly more talented friend R. Crumb, Pekar has put out a number of "underground" comic books about his mundane life as a working stiff.

One of the more unusual features of this unusual movie about an unusual man has Pekar writing for his comic book commenting on Paul Giamatti's performance as Pekar. This movie is quite unpredictable and as such is quite unlike anything that you have ever seen before.

An offbeat movie about an offbeat kind of man.......2007-02-17

This is really a great film about Harvey Pekar, the underground comic book writer who created the comic book series "American Splendor". I'm surprised this movie hasn't garnered more critical attention than it has. The movie basically takes you from the end of Harvey's second marriage up to the point of his retirement as a file clerk. Pekar is living a life of quiet desperation - everything in his life is generic. The film lends a dingy quality to Pekar's surroundings that really gives it that "garage sale" look right down to the light fixtures in his apartment. Even the supermarkets and restaurants Harvey frequent make K-mart look classy. Unlike his friends and coworkers though, he is painfully aware of the reality of his life. He has a moment of clarity one day while waiting in line at the grocery store behind a woman who is arguing over why she should pay 1.50 for six glasses that are marked two dollars, when he thinks of a way to strike out at all of this - he decides to document his feelings in a comic. Unfortunately, Harvey can't draw. He comes up with the narrative, but is only able to show stick figures as the actual characters in the drawings. Harvey's big break is that he has become friends with underground comic Robert Crumb before Crumb was famous and the two were just a couple of "ordinary" guys looking for bargains at Cleveland rummage sales. Crumb is impressed with the statement Harvey is trying to make and agrees to do the illustrations, thus the comic "American Splendor" is born.

To me, the best part of this movie is the love story between Harvey and his third wife Joyce. These two people are just weird enough to make it work. What makes it work is that they have staked out their own individual claims to different enough territories in the land of weird that their respective neuroses don't bump into one another too badly, as had happened in Harvey's past marriages. Harvey is a man who has very un-mundane statements to make about his mundane world, but doesn't have any real illusions about changing it. Joyce is a self-diagnosed depressed anemic who has memorized the DSM 3 and is therefore happy to diagnose people with personality disorders and then pretty much takes them as she finds them, in spite of her claims of being a reformer. Because neither one wants to change the other, the relationship works.

The film is really cleverly done, with comic book illustrations showing what Pekar is thinking in various situations along with narration and a couple of interviews with the actual Pekar and his wife interspersed throughout the film giving it a real feeling of authenticity. Paul Giamatti is simply marvelous as the caustic "warts and more" Harvey Pekar. How often do you see an actor share the screen with the person he is playing, as happens in this film, and not even notice a blip in continuity? His performance is that good. Giamatti certainly deserves better than playing supporting roles in films like "Big Fat Liar". Kudos also to James Urbaniak for his small role as artist and illustrator Robert Crumb. For the small amount of time he is on the screen he really captures the essence of the guy.

Pretty good movie.......2007-01-26

This guy IS my brother. Got it for him for a gift; I hope he likes it.

ordinary hero.......2007-01-25

Based upon the real life story of Harvey Pekar. Pekar spent most of his life as a file clerk in a VA hospital in Cleveland, then became the most unlikely celebrity when he created the comic series American Splendor. Clearly, this quintessential misanthrope could write about what every day people experience. The film intersperses the drama with real interviews with Pekar, his wife and colleagues, along with animated comics.

Average customer rating:

Too dark a movie for preschoolers
Love it
Made for commercial use, but teaches lessons
Care bears are great!
This movie helped me as a teenager

The Care Bears Movie
Starring: Mickey Rooney , Jackie Burroughs , Georgia Engel , Sunny Besen Thrasher , and Eva Almos
Director: Arna Selznick
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000LP6KM6
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Amazon.com

The Care Bears were a line of multicolored teddy bears that racked up more than $200 million in retail sales in 1984. The Care Bears Movie was essentially a 75-minute commercial to introduce the new Care Bear Cousins, disguised as a smarmy story about sharing feelings. The film earned $23 million theatrically and ushered in a spate of cheap animated films created to sell merchandise to children. The plot interweaves the stories of Kim and Jason, two lonely orphans who have given up caring, and of Nicholas, a friendless magician's assistant who's seduced by an evil spirit. The Care Bears resolve everyone's problems. Years later, the Care Bears' popularity has waned and the film stands as a reminder of one of the less admirable uses of animation. The stars, hearts, rainbows, and saccharine songs can't disguise the barefaced commercialism behind the threadbare story. --Charles Solomon

Description

The World is in trouble...and it's up to the Care Bears to save it! Starring everyone's favorite animated characters and featuring the voices of Mickey Rooney and Georgia Engel, as well as songs performed by Carole King. The Care Bears Movie will dazzle and delight viewers of all ages. Way up high where the clouds and rainbows live, the Care Bears watch over the Earth and make sure everyone is kind and friendly to one another. So when they see an evil spirit trick a lonely boy into helping make people mean, the huggable heroes jump into action! They come to the rescue with the animals from the Forest of Feelings...but it's going to take an awful lot of love to defeat the spirit's powerful spell.

Customer Reviews:

Too dark a movie for preschoolers.......2007-06-19

My son, who is 3 1/2, actually likes this film, even though it really scares him. He still asks for the movie, but I don't really want him to see it again. I don't like the emphasis on "Evil Spirits" and spells. I don't feel this film is appropriate for young children. It is so unnecessary to make a movie like this for little ones. My 3-year-old already has enough fears, and doesn't need to have anything else added to it.

Love it.......2007-06-03

Used to watch this movie when I was younger, loved it then and love it now. I was ecstatic to find it on dvd.

Made for commercial use, but teaches lessons.......2007-05-31

I totally agree that Amazon's review is VERY sarcastic! It's not right to degrade the movie that teaches children lessons in caring, sharing, and friendship. I watched this as a young child and remember my parents taping it for us to watch. Sure, the animation may be a little sketchy, but who doesn't love the Care Bears? They teach you lessons on friendship and that caring is not something to be forgotten. I loved the care bears and the cousins and wouldn't trade them for the world!

Care bears are great!.......2007-05-05

I have heard that this is way too scary for kids. I watched it when I was a kid, and I really don't think so. I have a feeling people are sheltering their kids more these days than they did in the past. Even so, I thought it was a great movie then, and it's a great movie still today. Amazon claims it's a vapid attempt at hiding a commercial for the new Care Bear Cousins.. but I thought meeting the Cousins one by one was the best part! I have seen this film a million times. I have younger sisters, but I bought it for MYSELF. :P

This movie helped me as a teenager.......2007-04-24

When I was 13 I was depressed. When I saw this film, I realized I was holding my sadness inside which is what Tenderheart sings to the two orphans not to do, and I realized that I promised myself when I was younger I wouldn't do that.

Also, I saw that I was becoming exactly like Nicholas, that I was becoming a bully myself because I felt isolated. I'm now fine, and taking medication for my depression. It's interesting, most people don't belive me when I say this film helped me realize I was going down a bad path when I was a teen. It happens to be true, that the messages in this film really are important and transcend time. That being in a downward spiral, is very much like how Nicholas wasn't able to close the evil magic book. I wish there were more intelligent writers out there, like the people who wrote this film.

Average customer rating:

An anti-climactic swansong for Hammer horror
Another Minor Classic from Hammer's Final Days
The Film Itself -- Ehh. The "Making-Of" Documentary -- Outstanding
Hammer's Final Throw Of The Dice
Yeah, it is just Okay

To The Devil A Daughter
Starring: Anna Bentinck , Honor Blackman , Denholm Elliott , Derek Francis , and Michael Goodliffe
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005UW7N
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Customer Reviews:

An anti-climactic swansong for Hammer horror.......2007-06-19

To the Devil a Daughter was Hammer's last horror film, but it makes for a less than grand slice of guignol and pales in comparison to their earlier Dennis Wheatley adaptation, The Devil Rides Out. Richard Widmark is the imported American star battling Christopher Lee's Satanist while trying to protect Nastassja Kinski from becoming host to a demon, but despite a few good scenes the film never really makes much of its premise and the ending is one of the biggest anticlimaxes in the history of horror.

The best part of it is the excellent documentary on the Anchor Bay DVD, which is surprisingly frank about the film's shortcomings - including that non-ending - and Richard Widmark's tantrums on the set. Anchor Bay's transfer is also surprisingly good: unlike the cold and slightly shoddy looking TV prints, this really does David Watkins' cinematography a great service.

Another Minor Classic from Hammer's Final Days.......2007-05-25

"To the Devil..." is marred by a clumsy, rushed ending, but prior to the final four minutes, it's fairly stunning stuff. Hammer films were going out of fashion in the 1970's, but not necessarily for lack of quality. Some of the most experimental, daring stabs at literary, gothic horror came from this era of the studio. This film boasts a nice cast and is one of few films to explore black magic in a detailed and accurate manner. Based on the Dennis Wheatley novel.

Recommended for companion viewing to:
The Devil Rides Out
The Wicker Man (original only)
Demons of the Mind
Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter

The Film Itself -- Ehh. The "Making-Of" Documentary -- Outstanding .......2007-05-09

Occasionally I'm in the mood for an occult mystery/horror film like "Bay Cove," "The Devil Rides Out" (AKA "The Devil's Bride"), "Race with the Devil and (to a lesser extent) "Rosemary's Baby," which explains why I recently picked up this 1976 Hammer film "To The Devil A Daughter" (which was Hammer's answer to American horror hits like "The Exorcist" and "Rosemary's Baby"). Hey, with Nastassja Kinski, Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee and Honor Blackman in the cast, how can you go wrong?

THE STORY: In London, Richard Widmark plays an occult novelist who is asked to protect a man's daughter, a young nun (Kinski), from a cult of satanists led by a malevolent Christopher Lee, who possesses supernatural powers. They need her for some diabolical ritual.

The story is loosely based on the Dennis Wheatley novel. Wheatley was furious with the numerous changes and called the film "obscene."

WHAT WORKS: The picture pretty much maintains your interest as the mystery slowly progresses.

The London (and Germany) locations are excellent. They seemed to have more money to work with in this regard than most Hammer films. Speaking of Hammer, "To the Devil a Daughter" doesn't FEEL at all like a Hammer picture. Don't get me wrong, I love the unique, colorful ambiance of Hammer films, but this is a nice (and unsuspected) change.

For those who care, Kinski is shown completely naked from the front. Unfortunately Lee is also show in the nude, albeit from behind. One thing I never cared to see in my life was Christopher Lee's butt.

There's a fairly shocking, obscene "devil baby" sequence. I'm not sure yet if this scene fits or even makes sense (I'll have to see the film again to decide) but they did a good job with the infant F/X, at least for 1976.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Like I said, the mystery has a fairly good build-up but the ending somehow doesn't quite work. Yes, they throw in some bizarre things -- the aformentioned "devil baby" scene and a wild satanist orgy (which is more silly than shocking) -- but, I don't know, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. It should have ended with a bang (at least I expect it to), but it doesn't.

COMMENTARY: This was Hammer's penultimate film and their final horror picture. Surprisingly, "To the Devil a Daughter" was a hit and made lots of money (at least in Europe), but Hammer Studios had debts to pay and the film's success couldn't save them.

BOTTOM LINE: The film itself is just okay, so I can only barely recommend it to those interested in occult/mystery stories, Hammer and the actors involved. What makes this DVD worth picking up, believe it or not, is the excellent 24-minute "making-of" documentary that discusses the film and the demise of Hammer Studios; it's called "To the Devil... The Death of Hammer." The documenary includes interviews with Lee, Blackman, the director, the producer and many more. It's very informative and entertaining. By all accounts Widmark was arrogant and a real bastage to work with. The Hollywood star frequently insulted the English filmmakers (calling the picture a "Micky Mouse production"), walking off the set, arguing, brawling and kicking over expensive equipment (!!). Every aspect of the film is addressed, including changes from the novel, Wheatley's objections, the ending's failure, etc.

Hammer's Final Throw Of The Dice.......2006-12-27

It would be fair to say that Hammer were a little late catching the modern horror train in the 1970's. There response to such progressive films as "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was a series of curiously flat gothic retreads and a bungled attempt to place gothic iconography and characters in a modern setting. Horror continued to thrive in the UK in the first part of the 1970's despite the financial shortcomings of the British Film Industry and Hammer's total failure to tap into the modern zeitgeist beggars belief considering how well they did it in the late 1950's. Mismanagement aside their final horror entry returned them to the stuffy bourgeious world of Dennis Wheatley and like their previous adaptation "The Devil Rides Out", "To the Devil: A Daughter" just about succeeds. It succeeds because it is trading in a crisis in Christianity which had been highlighted in two huge commercial hits "The Exorcist" and "The Omen". The subject matter was popular amongst audiences, the treatment by Christopher Wicking is typically convoluted (as anyone who has seen "Scream and Scream Again" will testify). Director Peter Sykes however shoots some impressive London landmarks and proudly pushes Hammer into the modern world. Rather than being anachronistic, Christopher Lee produces one of his most consistently chilling performances which is important because Richard Widemark is terribly miscast as occult novelist John Verney. The film generally suffers from visual flatness which makes the occasional burst of violence and special effects more impressive. The films conclusion however is something of a let down.

Yeah, it is just Okay.......2006-08-19

Richard Widmark and Nastassja Kinski do a very good job in their respective roles and the pacing creates some decent tension throughout most of it, but it does fall a little short of succeeding as Hammer's rival to "The Exorcist" or "Rosemary's Baby." There are a couple scenes that more or less ruined this for me: 1) The Satanists' orgy scene in the graveyard has not held up well and is more amusing than terrifying; and, 2) The climactic scene at the finale features some not-so-special effects, which really detracts from much of what had been established in the movie. Recognizing their limitations, the filmmakers should have been more judicious in planning this scene. I have nothing against a film attempting to cash in on the success of another as long as the result at least as good as the source. What might have looked good on paper did not translate very well to film in a couple places. Overall I actually like the movie; I just wish those couple instances had been executed better.

Average customer rating:

Black Mask...
Not Jet's worse, but man was that bad
good action with a dash of plot.
Hong Kong Superhero movie done good
wow

Black Mask
Starring: Jet Li , John DeMita , Matt McKenzie , Ching Wan Lau , and Karen Mok
Director: Daniel Lee (II)
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005OOQ1
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Amazon.com

Take the art direction and set design from The Crow and Batman. Add a male-bonding element reminiscent of The Killer or Hard-Boiled. Stir in a plot line about some top-secret near-invincible bionic-man superwarriors taking over the drug trade in Hong Kong, with only one man who can stop them. Season with a high body count, lots of explosions and running gun battles, and spectacular hand-to-hand fight sequences. Top off with a soupçon of cheesy comic relief and a generous helping of atrocious dubbing. Bake for too long, then remove from oven and allow to cool until thoroughly stale. The result: Black Mask. Sure, it's a preposterous recipe (bet you didn't know that LED readouts will show up on an X-ray), but it's stylishly prepared and presented, with high-octane editing, wild camera angles, and a neo-Goth feel all around. Of course it's all about the remarkable Jet Li, the fight scenes, and the postindustrial art direction. Those who come expecting a high-concept, intelligent thriller will be left with indigestion, but Hong Kong action fans who live and die for insane stunts and head-spinning martial arts scenes will have their appetites sated by this dish. It's very interesting to see the influence that John Woo's hand continues to have on American and HK action thrillers, years after his seminal films with Chow Yun-fat. It'll be even more interesting to see how films like Black Mask hold up in the future. Just don't take it too seriously and this movie works just fine. Oh, and the title? It comes from when Jet Li switches from his mild-mannered librarian persona to butt-kicking superhero, complete with mask and hat à la The Green Hornet's Cato. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews:

Black Mask..........2006-12-21

I enjoyed Jet Li in this movie...never mind the dubbing, I can look past that and enjoy the move for what it is...fantasy/action. Four stars...

Not Jet's worse, but man was that bad.......2006-07-08

Now obviously the new rap music and great american voices they put on make it as bad as possible. But then again, the movie certainly is no gem in it's original language version, that is for sure.

The whole movie had above average action sequences, but the story was unbearable. Not the story itself, but the execution of it is the worst possible. It goes from sickening moments to almost little kid parts between Jet and teh girl. Just freaking horrible.

So the dvd is full screened, music is stupid, voice dubbing is almost as bad as the "jet li collection" movies, but you will get a few good points one or two good laughs, and a decent finale.

good action with a dash of plot........2006-05-23

First off, the action in this film is great. Jet Li can kick some major butt, and the scenes with him and Françoise Yip are very good.

The detective friend is funny, the dub is amusing, they went with a kind of Bogart vibe on the voice.

The dub for the girl Tracy is annoying... high pitched and whiney, but she's a plucky enough character to not be completely irredeemable.

All in all, good action movie, and Jet Li is pretty studly as the Black Mask. (although corrugated cardboard is not what I'd have pictured as good mask material)

Hong Kong Superhero movie done good.......2006-03-10

I can’t remember ever seeing a superhero Hong Kong action movie. You would think it would be something obvious to do considering the dynamic action styling of Hong Kong action films. Sounds like a good idea? Well The Black Mask delivers on that idea. Combine insane stunt work and martial arts choreography along with a masked crime fighter and you get a superhero movie with action that will put Hollywood to shame.

As with many superhero movies the plot isn’t what you call complex or involved. It is just a simple super-villain-with-a-master-plan kind of affair here. The interesting thing about Black Mask is what they do in between the fight scenes and evil plots. You get a good look at the relationships between our hero and his friends and co-workers. Things like a fledgling romance and conflicts of interest with friends actually work here. After a bit of character development the plot thickens and the bullets start to fly. This isn’t high art on the script side, but then again if you shouldn’t be expecting that in the first place. Hong Kong action films aren’t known for gripping stories, just high-flying action. At least here you get a solid story, solid back story, with all the action goodness.

Okay lets get to the nitty gritty. The Black Mask is a martial arts film at its core, and I gotta tell you the martial arts rock. The choreography done in the fight scenes are not only tight but they are fast and furious. Jet Li definitely shows his stuff on this one along with a few other martial artists. It puts just about every fight scene from Hollywood to shame. This movie obviously pays homage to Bruce Lee’s Kato character from the Green Hornet television shows. The special effects do go crazy at times with all the explosions, blood and body parts flying around. Even crazier are seeing some things like colored smoke for no reason and Silly String (yes… Silly String). The English dubbing isn’t great, but to be honest it’s not any worse than your average foreign film dub.

Basically this movie is for action fans and fans of Hong Kong martial arts movies. It’s an entertaining blend of science fiction, police drama, kung fu and of course superhero genres that make this an enjoyable popcorn movie. Granted it’s not going to look polished for the average viewer, but if you like martial arts and cool superheroes I recommend The Black Mask.

wow.......2005-10-10

i'm shocked that this movie is rated only three stars here on amazon. it might be the greatest action movie ever. it's one of jet li's finest. the action is unbelievably good.

Average customer rating:

Good plot and characters, but...
You'll never get this time back, so take my advice and don't do it
Fairly well executed formula entertainment
Doesn't go to where the romantic comedy convention says it should...
A Surprising Twist Into Ruthlessness

Little Black Book
Starring: Brittany Murphy , Holly Hunter , Kathy Bates , Ron Livingston , and Julianne Nicholson
Director: Nick Hurran
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006D3HCE
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Amazon.com

Half screwball romance, half television satire, Little Black Book follows insecure Stacy Holt (Brittany Murphy, Uptown Girls, 8 Mile), who has an idyllic relationship with a great guy named Derek (Ron Livingston, Office Space) and a job as an associate producer for a daytime talk show that fuses Jerry Springer and Ricki Lake. Then a cynical co-worker named Barb (Holly Hunter, Broadcast News) persuades Stacy to delve into Derek's Palm Pilot to learn more about his ex-girlfriends--which sends Stacy into a spiral of ever-increasing paranoid compulsion. Little Black Book takes some unexpected plot twists that some viewers will find inexplicable and others will find weirdly fascinating. The movie's split personality makes it unsuccessful as a whole but compelling in parts. Hunter steals the show, in more ways than one. Also featuring Kathy Bates, (Misery, About Schmidt) and Julianne Nicholson (Seeing Other People). --Bret Fetzer

Description

A young woman's life begins to resemble the daytime TV talk show she works for after she is persuaded to snoop through her boyfriend's Palm Pilot and discovers more than she wants to know about his past - and present.

Customer Reviews:

Good plot and characters, but..........2007-01-29

Little Black Book stars Brittany Murphy and is about a woman (Stacy Holt) who starts to snoop around to find out more about her boyfriend's previous relationships.

The cast as a whole is good and performed well, the plot by itself is full of potential and much of it used with great success here, but as a whole I wil not be watching this movie again.

The reason for that is because the TV show that Stacy Holt is exective producer for is a Jerry Springer type talk show and much of the story revolves around that show. I personally don't like Jerry Springer and thought they used that setting way too much. Also, the style used for the entire film was just a little too disjointed. The plot was good, yet they did not use it as well as they could have.

Finally, no review for this movie would be complete without a comment regarding the ending. While some found the ending depressing I actually thought it was one of the better moments. I prefer realistic endings and this one fit that, at least until the last few minutes where it went back to being corny.

Like I said previously, I think the cast did a great job and the plot has a lot of potential but the shooting of the film and the use of the talk show in it just left me watching the clock waiting until it was over so I could watch something else.

You'll never get this time back, so take my advice and don't do it.......2007-01-29

Brittany Murphy and Holly Hunter star in this way below mediocre "romantic comedy" about two producers at the Jerry Springer-esque Kippie Kann show. Kippie Kann (Kathy Bates) is supposedly losing viewers and they want to give the show a new twist. Accordingly, they take all sorts of new ideas for shows to make Kippie a bit less trashy. One of them: Little Black Books, or electronic ones like Palms and Blackberries. After her boyfriend lets it slip that he used to date a well-known model, Brittany Murphy's character, Stacy, takes her work home with her when he goes out of town and she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the Palm he left at home. Before you know it she's contacting all of his exes under the guise of getting them to be guests on the show, but in reality just because she can't trust her man.

This movie was tedious in a way that I can't even put into words, but I think it's enough to say that the hour and a half of my life that I will never get back will be sorely missed. The plot hinges on the idea that if you're dating someone who doesn't tell you every single minute detail of his dating life before you got together, that it's okay to snoop through his belongings and use duplicity and manipulation to find out the things you want to know. It paints a dreary picture for the state of true love, and it doesn't even do so with good acting or a strong plot. In fact, the only reason I gave this movie two stars instead of one is because Gavin Rossdale has a cameo and I just don't see enough of him these days. Take my advice and stay far far away from this stinker. If you want to be depressed about the state of relationships in today's world rent Closer, at least then you'll have some good acting to enjoy with the movie's pessimistic view of love.

Fairly well executed formula entertainment.......2007-01-28

A TV talk show is having trouble coming up with new controversial entertainment. In the midst of ideas someone suggests that one can tell all about someone by reading their little electronic black book. The new girl on the block Stacy (Brittany Murphy) realizes that she does not know anything about her boyfriend Derek (Ron Livingston).

With the help of friends and co-workers they help Stacy exploit Derek's "Little Black Book". She may find out more than she wants to know. And to what end?

The story has a shackle takeoff a predictable middle and trouble wrapping up after the climax.

Doesn't go to where the romantic comedy convention says it should..........2006-11-30

I wasn't very keen on seeing "Little Black Book" since it has suffered very bad reviews. Finally, I rented it and it wasn't a disappointment at all. The story is quite basic: Stacy (played by Brittany Murphy) is a TV producer for a well-known talk-show. Things are going great for her, and she doesn't mind that her boyfriend never discusses his old relationships - well, until her new co-worker Barb (Holly Hunter) suggests she should do some research. It's not long before Stacy stumbles upon her boyfriend's little black book, a.k.a. his palm pilot.
First of all, "Little Black Book" is NOT a regular comedy. Sure, there is plenty of dialogue to keep you smiling and a few laugh-out-loud moments, but the whole concept is just not of the comedic type. At least not in the script, but Murphy's amazing comedic talent (also shown in "Just Married") is evident here and it breathes life into the story.
Second, "Little Black Book" is NOT a ROMANTIC film. It starts off like that, but it crosses the finish line as a coming-of-age story. The publicity for this film didn't do it justice - the trailers showed a hilarious romantic comedy, spoiling all the jokes and sending a wrong impression. This is not, by any means, a perfect movie. However, Brittany Murphy, Holly Hunter and the considerable talents of Josie Maran and Julianne Nicholson make sure it's not mediocre, either.

A Surprising Twist Into Ruthlessness.......2006-10-12

When my wife rented this movie I thought, 'Oh great, another chick-flick'! Boy was I wrong. Brittany Murphy carries the film quite well. Holly Hunter provides a great supporting roll while Ron Livingston's very small role was nothing more than a necessary prop to the plot. Sometimes digging for the truth can lead you down a tormented path. I found the movie interesting, moving and surprising! Recommended!!

Average customer rating:

Too dark a movie for preschoolers
Love it
Made for commercial use, but teaches lessons
Care bears are great!
This movie helped me as a teenager

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ASIN: B000068TPH
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Amazon.com

Product Description

This is a Care Bears The Movie DVD. In this Care Bears The Movie DVD, the Care Bears live in their sky dwelling of Care A Lot, spreading joy and light throughout the world. And they give special attention to those who particularly need affection, like orphans Kim and Jason. But Evil Spirit does not approve of all this sweetness and kindness, so with the help of a lost, lonely little boy named Nicholas, he launches a nefarious plot to rob the world of love. Down go the numbers on the Care-o-meter. And down to the Forest of Feelings go the Bears, ready to battle Evil Spirit and make the world safe for happiness and good feelings once again.

Customer Reviews:

Too dark a movie for preschoolers.......2007-06-19

Love it.......2007-06-03

Used to watch this movie when I was younger, loved it then and love it now. I was ecstatic to find it on dvd.

Made for commercial use, but teaches lessons.......2007-05-31

Care bears are great!.......2007-05-05

This movie helped me as a teenager.......2007-04-24

Average customer rating:

"He's ...uh . . .gone Blank, ma'am."
They Were Onto Something...
Piece of crap
Blankman
Funny

Blankman
Starring: Jason Alexander , Gerry Black , Simone Brooks , June Christopher , and Nick Corello
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005T30A
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Customer Reviews:

"He's ...uh . . .gone Blank, ma'am.".......2006-03-31

When watching this movie you have to get rid of all your brain cells for the moment and prepare yourself for a goofy ride through a geek's fantasy of becoming a superhero.

Kevin is the one brother who is heavily into reality with his job at HARD EDITION, a low-level journalist news station that makes up the news as it goes along.

Darryal, on the other hand, has not grown up at all and although he is brilliant in his own way he still has wild-eyed dreams of constantly inventing helpful things. Sadly, all of his inventions are either too good to be true or simply aren't interesting to the public eye. One day, (as in many superhero stories.) a subtle accident at his workplace involving a fly catcher that can fly around the room crashes a combination of chemicals onto darryal's lab coat. This makes the coat and anything that is mixed with the checmical impervious to bullets and knives.

True, there are many flaws with this picture. The story is somewhat tongue and cheek and there are some moments where the humor is corny and overdone but damon wayans plays such a believable geek that it is absoluetly hard not to enjoy watching him struggle to become a bumbling superhero of the streets.

Some of this movie pays homage to the 1960's version of batman and robin. There is also one scene where they mimic the arrival of a villian via an explosion underground which is a nod, or you may think of it as ripp off, to BATMAN RETURNS.

The one thing that I liked about this movie was that DAVID ALAN GRIER plays the perfect straight man to DAMON WAYANS' goofy persona.

The Adventures of BLANKMAN and THAT OTHER GUY is what this movie should have been called. But, all in all, the movie is not groundbreakingly good but it is not that bad. Give it a look.

Enjoy!

They Were Onto Something..........2005-08-11

This is definitely one of the strangest superhero movies I've ever seen. Daryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin (David Alan Grier) are two brothers who grew up on watching "Batman"...and nothing else is explored with that opening scene.

Kevin has grown up to be an writer for one crazed editor. Daryl, on the other hand, is an inventor who, of course, has dozens of ridiculous gadgets that will somehow pay off...or will they? Yes, his tools are creative, but they serve no purpose other than comic relief, which I didn't find funny except for Daryl's embarassment.

Sadly, the two brothers' grandmother is killed because she works for a City Mayor nominee who ticked off a cliched mobster (Jon Polito). Daryl swears revenge by dressing up in a ridiculous costume and using those odd gadgets to fight crime and build a secret hideout (which I'm surprised nobody finds since it's at the end of a train track).

Let me make this clear - there are some hysterical moments in this movie. The bickering between straight-laced Kevin and wannabe idealist Daryl is side-splitting. In fact, just about every scene with these two is very funny. The problem with this movie is that it has such a dark, dramatic tone in some scenes that just doesn't fit. For example, Blankman takes a reporter (Robin Givens, who's basically a black version of Lois Lane - that's not a racial slur) to this hideout, but there is some music that reminds me of a despressed version of Danny Elfman's score of "Edward Scissorhands," and some comedic actors trying to be serious about the world and love. That scene is absolutely disastrous.

There's another scene when the Mayor is going to publicly open a bank and asks Blankman to be present for the dedication. But then Polito's mobster and several thugs chain him up and set off a time-bomb that kills the Mayor, and possibly other people. THIS IS NOT FUNNY! The movie is not trying to have a dark sense of humor at all, but instead goes for laughs that seem like they belong in "Don't Be A Menace In South Central..."

The contrast of tones and themes don't work. Another case in point, Blankman fights crime on his first night out and confronts a pimp slapping a woman around, but then Blankman's genius idea is "Slap me around and call me Susan!" The scene is funny, if improbable...but seeing a woman slapped around and turned into comedic violence feels wrong to me.

Maybe I'm taking this movie too seriously, but when I see some jabs at classic superheroism that make me laugh uncontrollably (Daryl's inability to face life seriously instead of as a TV show is priceless), and then see some drama that is not only misplaced, but also horribly filmed and acted, then the potential hides itself underneath a movie that's trying to be a superhero comedy "PLUS" an urban drama "PLUS" a hip-hop flick.

This movie has a serious case of split-personality with no hope of control. I really want to like this movie, but it strikes so many wrong notes that I can't quite recommend it.

Piece of crap.......2005-07-14

Everone says this movie is very violent and funny but it is the least violent and funny movie I have ever seen.

Blankman.......2005-01-09

BlankMan is a laugh out loud riot for the entire family to enjoy. The film is about a nerdy African American, Daryl Walker, living in the New York area, suffers a tremendous tragedy when his grandmother is killed by a corrupt mafia leader; Michael Spinelli. Since then, inspired by the old Adam West T.V. show Batman series, Daryl dons the disquise of Blankman to fight crime to avenge her death. If you can imagine Steve Urkell from Family Matters pretending to be Batman, then you should have a good idea on who BlankMan is. The movie is simply hysterical and makes fun of all the typical super hero movie cliches. I loved how they used the old fighting sequences from the old Batman T.V. series to make fun o