The Young Land

Starring:Patrick Wayne, Yvonne Craig, Dennis Hopper, Dan O'Herlihy, Roberto De La Madrid, Cliff Ketchum, Ken Curtis, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ed Sweeney, John Michael Quijada, Miguel Camacho (II), Tom Tiner, Carlos Romero, Eddie Juaregui, Los Reyes De Chapala, Cliff Lyons, Charles Heard, Randy Sparks, Mario Arteaga
Director: Ted Tetzlaff
Studio: Vci Video
Product Type: DVD

Land of the Giants - The Full Series (The Giant Collection)

Average customer rating:

I'll Pay That!
A GIANT of a show!
Great Show, Terrible Price
GET REAL
Reviewing the project and not the price.

Land of the Giants - The Full Series (The Giant Collection)
Starring: Gary Conway , Don Matheson , Stefan Arngrim , Don Marshall (II) , and Deanna Lund
Director: Sobey Martin , and Harry Harris
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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

Classic Sci-Fi | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3, Vol. 1
Voyage to the Bottom of Sea - Season 2, Volume 2
Bewitched - The Complete Fifth Season
Mission: Impossible - The Second TV Season
Voyage to the Bottom of Sea: Season 2, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000P5FH2Q
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Description

After their sub-orbital space craft is drawn into a space warp, the passengers and crew of the Spindrift, crash into a planet where everything is 12 times its normal size!

Customer Reviews:

I'll Pay That!.......2007-06-21

I can't wait for this box set to come out! Have you all looked at what cool packaging it comes in, not to mention all the other features and gifts that come along with it! For those of you who don't want to fork out for a great piece of classic TV memorabilia instead of bitching about the price why don't you just download the episodes for $1.99 each, that makes getting the entire series only about $50...
Problem solved! As for me, even though I will be paying in Australian dollars which will hike the price up even higher I'll definitely pay that.

A GIANT of a show!.......2007-06-20

This has always been one of my favorite tv shows. Sure, the special effects can't compare to today's sophisticated technology....but for 1968-1970, they were darn good. And to all those naysayers who feel this is Irwin Allen's weakest show, I say baloney! "Lost In Space" got unbearable by its third season (and "Dr. Smith" was way too weird for my tastes), "The Time Tunnel" only lasted one season and "Voyage" also got rather childish by season 4. "Land of the Giants" may not have been perfect, but it certainly did its job of entertaining tv viewers for 2 years.

Great Show, Terrible Price.......2007-06-19

When I saw the amazon price of $149 for this treasured series a couple of weeks ago, I was dumbstruck. I thought, why in the world would Fox put such an astronomical price-tag on a two-season series that has, at best, a cult following after all these years? I decided to pass on pre-ordering at the time, then, two days ago, I thought, well, lets go ahead and bite the bullet. Imagine my surprise then when, on logging in, I now see the price has been ratcheted up yet another $30. Comprehend that a minute: for a full season of a comedy like, say, Frazier, All in the Family, or Mary Tyler Moore, you would spend as much as the price of LOTG WENT UP in just a few short weeks. This is corporate greed at its absolute worst. Fox clearly is NOT trying to mass-market this product. Rather, they feel they have a captive audience, namely, the few buyers out there who constitute the show's cult following. I am ashamed of myself for knowing that I may very well put this ridiculous sum of money down for 51 52-minute episodes of a series the vast public knows nothing about. Shame on Fox for torturing us die-hard fans of the series.

GET REAL.......2007-06-16

Yeah this was a good show and I loved it....but the price is outrageous. I got the entire Star Trek TOS for less as well as the entire collection of Lost in Space and no way is this show even close to that. Fox better wake up and quit robbing people. I wish they would just offer basic, no frills dvd sets also. These kind are strictly for collectors. I just want to watch the shows and dont need all the other nonsense.

Reviewing the project and not the price........2007-06-13

I am violating a reviewer's rule, writing about what I have not read or seen. I have reviewed over a hundred projects on Amazon and am a regular book reviewer for our local paper so I am aware that the reader (or in this case the viewer) should really have seen the book or DVD set from beginning to end before making a judgement. Therefore I feel guilty about making a commentary so early in the game.

However, the three star rating listed with this product on Amazon may seem to some like an indictment of the show. Not the price. I have seen all the episodes many times and love the show. One who has not seen the show could be turned off once they see that three star rating and not bother with reading the reasons for the rating.

Most reviewers have so far dealt with the price, which is high I agree. That didn't prevent me from ordering it as I considered it a great series, better than any of the others by Irwin and one of the best all time shows on television. Sadly none of the original cast gets a dime for this. I don't want to take a chance on Fox pulling the product due to criticism and selling only what they have on hand.

While the price is high, I also know there are collectors who will pay any price for something they really want. I recently returned from AdventureCon, a large toy and comic show in Tennessee. I saw collector cards going for three and four hundred dollars each from various TV shows. People were buying them. I also feel lucky I found my Giants lunch box for fifteen dollars in a flea market as I have seen them priced for $200.00 to $400.00. And they do sell at that price. I confess I have too often paid more for things than I should.

I am puzzled by the price on the Giants set just as so many of you are. I just paid much less for the first two seasons of Veronica Mars with extras. Many of you have bought whole season sets for less I know. I have complete sets of several shows, Sliders, Smallville, Wonder Woman, Home Improvement etc.. Land of the Giants is the one I have wanted most. So I had to budget my fan buying for this set, it will be worth it to me.

The reason I sound off like this is because the star system runs one to five and there is no indication whether that rating is for the product, the show or the price. LOTG has only three and to the new buyer on Amazon this could imply the quality of the show. I gave it five stars because of the series and what it meant to me.

The Land Before Time / Chomper Double Feature (The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure/ The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island)

Average customer rating:

satisfied customer
Great movie
Land Before Time Chomper Double Feature
Chomper Double Feaure
I love this movie!

The Land Before Time / Chomper Double Feature (The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure/ The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island)
Starring: Cannon Young , Miriam Flynn , Jeff Bennett , Tress MacNeille , and Brandon Lacroix
Director: Charles Grosvenor , and Roy Allen Smith
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Dinosaurs | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

The Land Before Time: 2 Dino-Riffic Adventures (The Land Before Time Volume VIII: The Big Freeze/ The Land Before Time Volume IX: Journey to Big Water)
The Land Before Time (Anniversary Edition)
The Land Before Time X - The Great Longneck Migration
The Land Before Time IV - Journey Through the Mists
The Land Before Time III - The Time of Great Giving

ASIN: B0006HBZCO
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Customer Reviews:

satisfied customer.......2007-05-12

got our order in a less then expected time and am very satisfied with the sellers service

Great movie.......2007-02-08

My daughter is 3 years old and she loves this movie. The songs are great.

Land Before Time Chomper Double Feature.......2006-02-25

Great price for 2 movies. My two year old loves them!

Chomper Double Feaure.......2006-02-17

This is a great movie to add to your collection. Mysterious Island made me feel sad, but I got over it. I liked the stupid things Ozzy and Strut did such as leaping off a cliff because they see a sharptooth's shadow, or even trying to steal an egg and accidentally biting into a rock.

I really emjoy this movie, I hope you do to.

I love this movie!.......2005-03-04

This is one of my favorite Land Before Time movies. The only part i don't like about it is those egg stealers especially Ozzy.
But the rest of it is cute.

Average customer rating:

Excellent movie, but there's only one problem with this
"A hard land that the sun has sucked all the good out of"
Feedback from Real Apache "Calculus Wiz"
A Subtle yet Powerful Western
Chato's Land DVD

Chato's Land
Starring: Charles Bronson , Jack Palance , Richard Basehart , James Whitmore , and Simon Oakland
Director: Michael Winner
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Breakheart Pass
The Mechanic
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Lawman
Mr Majestyk

ASIN: B00005LOL5
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Description

Charles Bronson (The Magnificent Seven) and Academy Award(r) winner* Jack Palance (City Slickers) star in a magnificent western as wild and untamed as the Old West itself. Bristling with dynamic action sequences and riveting performances, Chato's Land is a bold, sweeping tale of passion, vengeance and cold-blooded murder. Chato (Bronson) is a half-breed Apache Indian who treads the line between two cultures, balancing allegiance to his tribe with the allure of the white man's world. But when Chato kills a vicious sheriff in self-defense, he finds himselfhunted by a posse led by the ruthless Quincey Whitmore (Palance), a former Confederate soldier who is determined to see him hang. It's 13 men against one, but the odds shift in Chato's favor when he leads his pursuers into Apache territory, where the harsh, cruel countryside can kill as surely as agunman's bullet. *1991: Supporting Actor, City Slickers

Customer Reviews:

Excellent movie, but there's only one problem with this.......2007-03-25

I love this movie. This is a classic Charles Bronson movie. So I was happy when I bought this DVD. But I was a little disappointed upon watching it. Not wanting to spoil anything, so I'll stay vague. At some point in the movie, one woman is assaulted. In the original movie that I remember seeing in a theatre in the 70's, the scene was rather graphic, her clothes being ripped off her, resulting in a short nudity scene. But not here on this DVD. For some strange reason, the scene is still there but not the same. Apparently the film maker shot it twice. Once with full nudity, and once where she still gets assaulted the same way, but keeps her clothes on. We get this censored version on this DVD. It's no big deal since the scene was pretty short. But I still don't like getting a modified version from what I remember. I'm surprised no one pointed that out in the previous reviews. No one has seen this movie in the theatre when it came out? I still recommend it as it's a great movie if you look beyond this fact.

"A hard land that the sun has sucked all the good out of".......2006-12-31

Make no mistake; "Chato's Land" is a sprawling, unforgiving environment that offers little water and no reward. The blistering, sprawling landscape of rock and sagebrush, however, is but a backdrop in this story that shows man at his most ugly of moments.

Charles Bronson stars as Pardon Chato, a half Apache Indian who is enjoying a drink in a saloon when he is antagonized by an arrogant sheriff. Chato goes against the sheriff's wishes to leave because of his heritage, and lets his actions speak for themselves, leaving the mouthy lawman dead on the floorboards. A posse is soon rounded up with a variety of area men, many of them farmers and ranchers. They embark on a trip to find Chato and avenge the death in town, as well as feed some of their own continual hatred towards the Indians in general. Greed, Hate and Perseverance battle Logic, Pride and Tolerance as the group soon start battling each other over what they think is right and wrong when it comes to avenging the death of the lawman.

A great western film from 1971, Chato's land offers a solid and stoic storyline that is wrought with irony as well as themes of loyalty and revenge. Charles Bronson aside, a superb supporting cast is experienced as well. Victor French (later of "Little House" and "Highway to Heaven" stardom) graces the screen as one of the posse members, and with Jack Palance and James Whitmore in tow, its a well rounded cast that never lacks quality in acting despite a somewhat linear storyline.

Palance plays the part of Quincy Whitmore, a war veteran who understands, and sometimes even respects the Apache's actions more than most. His arch-nemesis is Jubal Hooker (played by Simon Oakland) who has the "fever" of wanting to see the Apache man hang, even if it costs them lives which could end up coming down to the last man. Jubal is excellently played by Oakland as a man who is consumed with his own destiny of vengeance. Loyalties loved and lost, a large part of the movie is very emotional in power and prestige as we experience the dismay of the men as they deal with the battles that rage within their very own camp, and minds.

With Bronson portraying a cunning, intelligent and yes even ruthless Apache warrior, Chato's Land is a western that is filled with buzzards drinking blood, the dark side of man, and the notion that if you go to battle with someone in their own back yard, you better think twice about who has the best odds, regardless of how many men you bring with you.

The scenic landscape and the shots taken at night as well as during the scorching hot days are excellent, and the sound quality of this DVD in my opinion is very good if not perfect. If you want a western that gets dirty but portrays a deep story within, see "Chato's Land".

Feedback from Real Apache "Calculus Wiz".......2006-05-11

I saw a few scenes and couldn't even continue watching. I like a lot of Charles Bronson's movies. Examples include "Death Hunt," the 80s "Death Wish" series, and "the White Buffalo." But his acting in this movie is unrealistic. He does not act like a real Apache. Bronson seems to overdo it on being "stoic." A relative and I watched a few scenes and just switched channels. Bronson is out of his element in trying to portray a real Apache. Paul Newman does a much more realistic job when he portrays an Apache-raised white man in "Hombre," which I purchased on Amazon. I do applaud Bronson in trying to portray a movie more sympathetic to the plight of the Apaches trying to avoid reservation confinement in the 1880s. Given the time period, perhaps Bronson should have hired Roman Gabriel instead. He does a realistic job of portraying a Cherokee Indian in the "Undefeated," which was also released around the same time (give or take a couple of years).

A Subtle yet Powerful Western.......2006-03-23

Michael Winner's CHATO'S LAND may seem a bit below standard from other films that he directed but the strength in this film comes from Charles Bronson's stoic performance seen and unseen on the screen. Bronson's presence is there and is inescapable as is the baron land he habitats. The visual forsaken look of the film's characters and landscape makes the viewer wonder what the point of this whole film is. Whatever Bronson's transgressions may really have been the forlorn posse tracking him are representative of the worst qualities of society. I saw this film when first released but with time I see the deeper social implications and commentary on society that director Michael Winner was making. This is a good Western but may be a difficult one to appreciate on an initial viewing.

Chato's Land DVD.......2005-09-16

Excellent film if you think the indians were grossly mistreated by us, and I do. Here they got some much deserved revenge, and justice.

The Land Before Time V - The Mysterious Island

Average customer rating:

Well...
Great songs in this one!
chomper returns
Yawn! B-o-r-i-n-g!
SWEET MOTHER OF THE DEVIL!!!!

The Land Before Time V - The Mysterious Island
Starring: Cannon Young , Miriam Flynn , Jeff Bennett , Tress MacNeille , and Brandon Lacroix
Director: Charles Grosvenor
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Dinosaurs | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

The Land Before Time IV - Journey Through the Mists
The Land Before Time VI - The Secret of Saurus Rock
The Land Before Time VII - The Stone of Cold Fire
The Land Before Time III - The Time of Great Giving
The Great Valley Adventure- The Land Before Time II

ASIN: B000087EY8
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Amazon.com

This fourth sequel in the series finds "leaf gobblers" eating all the vegetation in Great Valley, driving Littlefoot, the young brontosaurus, and the other dinosaur inhabitants out. Arguments break out among the adults during migration, and Littlefoot and his friends decide to take matters in their own hands by crossing the "big water" to an unknown island. There they meet an old friend from The Land Before Time II--Chomper, the T-rex, who has to protect the gang from his own, carnivorous parents. Plenty of drama in this one, and as the series has been wont to do from the beginning, it shows adults as sometimes being less than perfect. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Well..........2006-12-23

I only saw this movie because of Chomper's return. I'm a Chomper addict. Although I don't think this movie had even close to the amount of Chomper needed, I have to say it was a well-done movie. No, it doesn't hold a candle to the original Land Before Time or the second one, but it still deals with a sensitive and possibly disturbing dilemma (the Sharpteeth's eating of the other dinosaurs) in a mature way.

Chomper talks--I wasn't really expecting that. But it was adorable and I love him! He even sings! Eee!

I wasn't disappointed with this movie (I mean, I gave it four stars), but I wasn't too thrilled. More Chomper and it would've been perfect.

Great songs in this one!.......2006-04-14

My son, now three, loves this series beyond all others. This one in particular, due to the songs. 'Big Water' is one of those songs that he will just start singing, out of the blue, weeks after the last time he viewed the movie. Good stuff. As with all movies, watch with your kids. This one has some name-calling dialogue in it that I always point out as inappropriate.

chomper returns.......2005-09-30

chomper is back in land before time 5 the mysterious island after along awaited return i love the songs in this move

Yawn! B-o-r-i-n-g!.......2005-07-09

It is cute, but it's nothing exciteing. I like the fact that they have his parents purr like cats. (Carnivores rock!)

SWEET MOTHER OF THE DEVIL!!!!.......2005-06-19

What is the pure trash? I was just starting to get back into LBT but when my cousins brought me this corny DVD, I just watched with my mouth hung open. Curse you Charles Grossverner or whatever your retarted name is!!!!

Average customer rating:

Good Lassie movie
LASSIE 1994
Great service
Family Entertainment
Great Movie

Lassie
Starring: Tom Guiry , Helen Slater , Jon Tenney , Brittany Boyd , and Frederic Forrest
Director: Daniel Petrie
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Animal Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Lassie Come Home
Lassie Come Home/Son of Lassie/Courage of Lassie
Lassie - 50th Anniversary TV Collection
Courage of Lassie
Lassie

ASIN: B00005V1XH
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

This 1994 update on the Lassie legend stars Thomas Guiry as a troubled city kid whose family retreats to the country, where he befriends the famous collie and changes for the better. Conflict develops when a ruthless sheep rancher causes trouble for everyone. Director Daniel Petrie (The Bay Boy) aims only to revive the healthy spirit of previous Lassie films (and the television series) in a new milieu, and toward those modest ambitions--predictable plot and all--he succeeds. Guiry is unusually good in what many young actors would have taken to be just another blossoming-teen part. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Good Lassie movie.......2007-01-10

I first saw this movie about ten years ago, when it came on TV one day. It's a nice update of the Lassie story - a story about a boy and his courageous dog, Lassie. Definitely recommended.

LASSIE 1994.......2007-01-10

THIS STORY TOOK PLACE IN MY CHILDHOOD HOME. IT WAS LIKE GOING HOME. I SAW IT ON TV CHRISTMAS MORNING AND RUSHED TO AMAZON TO FIND IT AND BUY IT. IT IS SO VERY ENJOYABLE TO VIEW SUCH STORIES.

Great service.......2006-11-04

I received this movie shortly after I had ordered it, and it was in mint condition.

Family Entertainment.......2006-08-23

I liked the movie a lot it is very interesting as of and I recomend it for the whole family, or for kids the age of 13/14 and under. Older kids or grown ups can watch it as well but it could be a little bit slow for them at the beginning.

Great Movie.......2006-08-17

Matt is a journor high student who's family is moving from Baltimor to the country farm in Virginia where his late mother grew up. The bitterness and resentment, as well as the goodness, deep inside of Matt's heart, are realisically portayed as he relates to his Dad, his sister, and Laura, his step-mom. Lassie, a stray the family takes in, soon finds her way into the withdrawn boy's heart, and helps him change into the responsible, intelligent, and warmhearted young man he was meant to be. But their new-life in the country threatens to unravel when the construction job that Matt's Dad moved there for falls through. But Matt encourages his Dad to hold onto the farm, and try raising sheep on their pasture land (which is the best for miles around), with Lassie's help. A touching family movie, with convincing and crisp acting, emotion, and drama. Makes you laugh and cry. The slang has changed a lot since the 90's, however, giving this movie a slightly out-moded feel. Is it just me, or do teenagers really say "cool" anymore? I'm a teenager and I still do, but I think most teengers say "awesome" or "rad". But even if this isn't a classic, it's a show I'll always like.

Average customer rating:

Land of Plenty
Starring: Michelle Williams , John Diehl , Shaun Toub , Wendell Pierce , and Richard Edson
Director: Wim Wenders
Manufacturer: Ifc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Don't Come Knocking
Sorry, Haters
American Gun
Sherrybaby
Half Nelson

ASIN: B000HC2M20
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Description

A darkly humorous and powerful exploration of post-9/11 America. -OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2004 Toronto Film Festival -Films with 9/11 subject matter timely in marketplace: Oliver Stone's World Trade Center and United 93 (DVD 9-5-2006)

Average customer rating:

and they wondered why those hanging chads and butterfly ballots were so problematic
Dumbest thing ever put on film. Absolutely dreadful!!!
Avoiding Sunshine Stereotypes
Heart and home
Excellent but preachy

Sunshine State
Starring: Alex Lewis , Alan King , Cullen Douglas , Clifton James , and Eliot Asinof
Director: John Sayles
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00006L926
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Amazon.com

Writer-director John Sayles weaves together the beauty, grime, and history of Florida in Sunshine State. The rumbling approach of real estate developers on a sleepy island sets the leisurely paced plot in motion. Sayles takes his time introducing his characters, gradually revealing how their lives intertwine, and, as always, teases magnificent performances out of his actors. Edie Falco is quietly brilliant as Marly, running an old-guard motel as progress marches on, and regarding the men in her life with a wry practicality. Mary Steenburgen gifts a small role with marvelous, spoiled humanity in a deft comic turn, and Angela Bassett slowly unfurls her character's depth with the elegance of a true pro. Sunshine State is a simple story, but never clichéd, possessing a glow worth basking in. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

and they wondered why those hanging chads and butterfly ballots were so problematic.......2007-06-18

sayles is one of the most talented underrated filmmakers of our day. it seems to me a film like this should have at least made a hit with the indie-hipster crowd, but i guess the wry humor may be lost on the other 49 states, myself being a third generation floridian. if you plan on visiting florida, you really oughta watch this movie first. you'll appreciate the place better afterwards. the movie is shot entirely on location, a number of places i've been numerous times. he really nailed every beat in this slice-of-life kind of film. (over)developers have come to renovate a sleepy island town and some of the inhabitants are rather reticent about seeing their heritage replaced with convenience stores and condos. this is the premise, and from here, Sayles lets the characters take over, and in no hurry. they are all interesting enough, though, to hold our attention and are extremely believable (they could all be my neighbors). the most endearing character for me, though, is the locale itself, replete with gators, mom-and-pop stores, scars of segregation (people forget mickey's winter home is below the mason-dixon), gators, greedy commercialists, seminoles-gone-redneck, southern rock bands, and retirees. i may be biased, but this film is the transcendance of the mundane at its best

Dumbest thing ever put on film. Absolutely dreadful!!!.......2007-05-01

After reading some truly scathing reviews of this 2002 film (NOT including the word-of-mouth reactions of other movie fans I know), I decided to watch it to see if their opinions were correct......they were. I am a true movie buff myself: I get great satisfaction from settling into my chair (with a good snack of course) and unwinding from daily stress by watching an entertaining DVD.....but my day only got worse when I plugged in the "bordom fest" known as Sunshine State. I forced myself to endure all of it; more than two hours of people literally doing nothing (well, I'm afraid that's not really fair; they DO chat an aweful lot....but thats it). I had read the film was a comedy/drama. Well, besides having to pay real close attention to identify a dramatic moment or two there was nothing even remotely funny about Sunshine State. In fact, you're so disappointed in the film that if there were a humorous moment you wouldn't even feel like laughing. The film makers really did forget to have something happen in this movie. There is no action, no comedy, no art, NO PLOT, just a bland look at ordinary people doing ordinary things in Florida. The most exciting part of the whole movie featured an alligator sitting in a pen...doing nothing. Seriously, you will overdose on bordom if you watch this film. If you have trouble sleeping at night, just watch 15 minutes of this movie....start it from the end if you like (it won't matter). I friend of mine watched this film in a class because it had simularities to "The Grapes of Wrath". He said within 15 minutes half the class was asleep and the other half was wondering about the hallways to escape from this monstrosity of a movie. He even had this to say about Sunshine State: "Every hair on my head was growing in the direction of the exit's welcoming glow". Even the cast from Mystery Science Theater 3000 wouldn't know where to begin making fun of this train wreck. Actually, I am offended this movie was made in my home state. A word to the wise: AVOID SUNSHINE STATE AT ALL COSTS!

OVERALL DOCUMENTED SCORE: F

Avoiding Sunshine Stereotypes.......2007-04-08

This is a relatively plot free movie that is essentially a characters study. In some ways it resembles two other movies of this type: Wilby Wonderful, and The June Bug. In fact Sunshine State and Wilby Wonderful both have a character who wanders through the movie trying to find a way to kill himself. Two threads that run through this story are a town's annual celebration, and the coming of land developers. These are not dominant plot elements, however, rather they seem to flow along under the surface, and break through at odd moments during the film. So we are left mostly to meeting and learning about several of the town's inhabitants. The difficulty in such a movie is to create interesting people who are not just stereotypes.

Edie Falco, as the woman who manages a motel and restaurant for her almost blind father, does extremely well. You catch her frustration in being burdened with a job that she doesn't want. She is an intelligent person who had wanted to be an oceanographer. Her father, who has a small part, is interesting as a man who struggles with his conservative and sometimes racist views in a changing world. Other inhabitants of Sunshine State border on the ordinary. While they provide us with modest interest, scenes often linger too long on them. Other folks who might be interesting are left in the shadows.

All in all I found this movie to be less satisfying than the other two films that I mentioned above: Wilby Wonderful, and The June Bug. The June Bug is an outstanding movie. Could I persuade you to watch those two instead of this one?

Heart and home.......2006-01-21

Sayles produces an ensemble film with lots of characters moving emotionally, and some staying in place. As with many of Sayles's films, it has a mixed-race cast, something I don't see in many films; he makes a point of discussing ethnicity and identity in many ways. The acting is good, based on Sayles's good script. There are a couple character types from classical theater, like the seer (the doctor), and the Greek chorus (the 4 golfers), that I really appreciated. With interludes of these larger-than-life characters, the movie is more than plot- or entertainment-driven. I also found a lot of suspense in the movie, with questions as simple as "Can we go in here?" or "I'm glad you're here, I've been wanting to talk with you" making me wonder where a scene would lead because the characters don't know where it will go.

There are 2 major plots surrounding 2 excellent actors, the beautiful and angry Angela Bassett and the pretty but sad Edie Falco. Desiree (Bassett) appears to be condemned by old friends and her own mom as a teenage runaway returning almost impossibly late to reconnect, when in fact her parents sent her away. Hers is a strong story of the possibility of recovering some good feelings about her childhood home now that she is in a loving marriage with a really mellow guy (James McDaniel - excellent in this film).

The seer talks about history and the vitality of Lincoln Beach (in the movie), a beachfront neighborhood based on and filmed in the real American Beach, which was a resort founded by a black-owned insurance company for its employees during segregation. Sayles's commentary on the DVD covers a lot of historical detail, but there's enough in the movie to be intriguing and provocative. In this context of aging home owners whose kids have moved elsewhere, we meet what you might call a "face man" for development in Lincoln Beach that is a foil of the development happening overtly in the historically white neighborhood next door, in Delrona Beach. Alex Lewis gives a nuanced performance; he is really good.

I found the movie to be visually interesting, for example with the Greek chorus of golfers. Their movements are mundane, yet at times like a dance around the gesturing perorations of Alan King. In his commentary, Sayles talks about how closely he story-boarded much of the film to make economical use of the actors' time; I wonder if this helps explain how carefully positioned the actors were relative to each other and how good the lighting was, throughout the film.

I thought Terrell, the young cousin who lives with Desiree's mom, was a key character in the film, as an ensemble film, very believable in his character, and a good actor. Given how closed off he was for most of the film, he did a really good job relaxing a little with Desiree's husband, and he's perfect when they part.

I think the film did a good job showing the complicated affection people feel about their childhood homes, their aging parents, and perhaps their duty to a place as well as to people. Well, there's always a lot to say about a Sayles film, but I won't drone on. I loved it.

Excellent but preachy.......2005-10-08

This is an excellent film in many ways. The acting is particularly impressive (check out Edie Falco and Mary Steenburgen). There are five stories going at once, and they are treated with delicacy and depth. The pace is brisk and the script is tight. The plot is described in other reviews.

The movie is marred by Sayles's usual leftist preaching style. All of the corporation executives are evil, town officials are corrupt and rude, all of the blacks are good (two hold doctorates), and there are some strong and at times muddled statements about civil rights. Preaching aside, there is a melodramatic aspect to the film that may turn off some viewers. The golfer scenes with Alan King defy explanation, although they are mildly amusing.

Still, on the whole, this is a first-rate film that deserves a lot of attention. It gives one hope for modern films.

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Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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