The Low Life

Starring:Low Life
Studio: Platinum Disc
Product Type: DVD

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

Halloween
THE NIGHT HE CAME HOME.
Halloween Movies
He Came Home
Carpenter's Halloween

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Peter Griffith
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (Divimax Edition)
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ASIN: B00009UW0N
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

Halloween is as pure and undiluted as its title. In the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, a teenage baby sitter tries to survive a Halloween night of relentless terror, during which a knife-wielding maniac goes after the town's hormonally charged youths. Director John Carpenter takes this simple situation and orchestrates a superbly mounted symphony of horrors. It's a movie much scarier for its dark spaces and ominous camera movements than for its explicit bloodletting (which is actually minimal). Composed by Carpenter himself, the movie's freaky music sets the tone; and his script (cowritten with Debra Hill) is laced with references to other horror pictures, especially Psycho. The baby sitter is played by Jamie Lee Curtis, the real-life daughter of Psycho victim Janet Leigh; and the obsessed policeman played by Donald Pleasence is named Sam Loomis, after John Gavin's character in Psycho. In the end, though, Halloween stands on its own as an uncannily frightening experience--it's one of those movies that had audiences literally jumping out of their seats and shouting at the screen. ("No! Don't drop that knife!") Produced on a low budget, the picture turned a monster profit, and spawned many sequels, none of which approached the 1978 original. Curtis returned for two more installments: 1981's dismal Halloween II, which picked up the story the day after the unfortunate events, and 1998's occasionally gripping Halloween H20, which proved the former baby sitter was still haunted after 20 years. --Robert Horton

Description

Divimax is a High Definition (HD) film transfer process that provides state-of-the-art picture quality--and can be viewed on any home entertainment system.

Customer Reviews:

Halloween.......2007-07-03

John Carpenter's first and best entry in a long series, this movie gives the slasher pic a good name (that is, until you sit through all those pale re-treads). This lean feature works because it's both original and daringly basic: Laurie is a young teenage girl up against a monster, with only her wits and her two feet to protect her from the wrong end of a large butcher knife. Will Laurie and her young charges make it to Thanksgiving? You'll remain on the edge of your seat finding out.

THE NIGHT HE CAME HOME........2007-06-23

I just picked up this movie the other day and i have been a huge fan of the halloween series all my life and just never had the original. I never knew how much I lovede it until yesturday. This movie is awsome and John Carpenter and Debra Hill are genuises. Half the movie is shot in mid day and is still as scary as if was shot in night.This is Jamie lee curtis best film and does a great job in it. I also love Michael is this one the way he walks and such. Anyway pick up this movie it's awsome.

Halloween Movies.......2007-06-20

Oh the good old days of the element of surprise and fear waiting for Michael Meyers to jump out and whack you ! I became a fan in 1978 and still get creeped out when I see Michael.

He Came Home.......2007-06-07

When John Carpenter gave form to "The Shape", aka Michael Myers, he crafted a chilling story of suspense around this murderer. Before the stupid "sister storyline", the attempt at turning Myers into some supernatural bogeyman, or the reboot which only tarnished the original further (Sorry, but Jamie Lee has definitely lost what acting skills she once had), there was the tale of a child who simply was...evil. He came home on Halloween night to relive the horror of his first murder. He was not a man. He was, pure and simply, evil. Now why did we need to know more than that?

Carpenter's Halloween.......2007-05-22

The oldest sister of all psycho-thrillers: a modern revision of the boogeyman's myth shot in 1978 by John Carpenter, probably the only horror movies artisan still in action. Although many of the rudiments of psycho movies can be already find in the first italian giallos and, of course, in Hitchcock's "Psycho", its very calculated prologue contains as if it was a manual all the leit-motives of the genre: the use of the subjective camera and the steadycam for supporting the suspense scenes; atmospherical travellings; obssessive and disturbing sound effects and cold-blood murders. Proving once more that to suggest is more effective than to resort to explicit shots, and looking for a pure horror show without gratuitous violence Carpenter reinvents wisely through the tradition in this very smart and stylised horror classic: for example, the suggestion that colour white can hold a devilish connotation is already in Edgar Poe's " The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket". Donald Pleasance plays the psychiatrist Dr. Loomis, a sort of modern Van Helsing and the man who better knows the evil nature of his patient Michael Myers, recently escaped from the asylum Dr.Loomis rules.

Another chance to recover this indisputable classic. Widescreen edition.

Average customer rating:

Such a great value.
Cult classic but probably best if you're on medication of some sort
Funny, But Not Worth The Hype
Highly overrated
A cult classic by Kevin Smith

Clerks (Collector's Series)
Starring: Jeff Anderson , Lee Bendick , Al Berkowitz , Betsy Broussard , and Ken Clark (VII)
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000IQC8
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Amazon.com

Before Kevin Smith became a Hollywood darling with Chasing Amy, a film he wrote and directed, he made this $27,000 comedy about real-life experiences working for chump change at a New Jersey convenience store. A rude, foul-mouthed collection of anecdotes about the responsibilities that go with being on the wrong side of the till, the film is also a relationship story that takes some hilarious turns once the lovers start revealing their sexual histories to one another. In the best tradition of first-time, ultra-low budget independent films, Smith uses Clerks as an audition piece, demonstrating that he not only can handle two-character comedy but also has an eye for action--as proven in a smoothly handled rooftop hockey scene. Smith himself appears as a silent figure who hangs out on the fringes of the store's property. --Tom Keogh

Description

If you're in the market for wildly funny entertainment, CLERKS delivers with wholesale hilarity! It's one wacky day in the life of a pair of overworked counter jockeys whose razor-sharp wit and on-the-job antics give a whole new meaning to customer service! Even while bracing a nonstop parade of unpredictable shoppers, the clerks manage to play hockey on the roof, visit a funeral home, and straighten out their offbeat love lives! The boss is nowhere in sight, so you can bet anything can -- and will -- happen when these guys are left to run the store.

Customer Reviews:

Such a great value........2007-06-15

If you love, like, or kinda dig kevin smith films, or just his style of film making, this edition of clerks is a great buy. They cover almost every aspect of the films making, even listing expenses at one point. talking about cast disagreements, and all with the kevin smith tongue in cheek style. I am glad I bought it.

Cult classic but probably best if you're on medication of some sort.......2007-05-11

Yes, this is deemed a cult classic however, it is full of poorly delivered dialogue and cheesy one-liners. I would imagine it would be far more entertaining under the influence. Silent Bob is the best actor in the whole thing ... imagine that.

Funny, But Not Worth The Hype.......2007-04-07

Clerks has some funny moments, but overall, i felt like it was a bit too long for such a pointless plot (or lack of it). I don't see why this movie is so hyped, i was expecting to get more laughs from it. I dunno, i just didn't find it as hilarious as people make it out to be. It's just an okay, mediocre, decent comedy.

Highly overrated.......2007-04-02

I seem to be one of the few people who didn't like this movie. People either seem to love or hate this movie. It's obvious in the reviews. Those that love it would be more likely to comment, so I suggest that if you are considering seeing this movie, look for the negitive comments to get a balance.
No one talks like they did in the film. I've met a broad spectrum of people from every conceivable profession and, none of them spoke the way the people in this piece-of-crap film do. This movie is so overrated its not even slightly funny.

A cult classic by Kevin Smith.......2007-02-09

If somebody will tell you, that you can not make a good movie without a budget for sets, extras and special effects, show him this movie and proof him wrong.

90%+ of the whole movie happens within or in front of a small service store (just like the gas station stores, without the gas station). The rest happens on the roof of the store, the neighbouring video rental store and If I counted correctly one off site location for a single less than a minute scene.

The humor is hilarious and down to earth. The real aspect of the conversations makes the movie so great. The long awaited sequel Clerks 2 did fall a bit short regarding that.

The Jokes (verbal and practical) are for adults and not kids. Foul language is being used, but last time I checked on the street, it's being used there too :).

Average customer rating:

Halloween
THE NIGHT HE CAME HOME.
Halloween Movies
He Came Home
Carpenter's Halloween

Halloween
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Peter Griffith
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen Terror | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Cult Classics | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

70's Horror Classics | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

Legendary Horror Icons | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

All Titles | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 6305546789
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Halloween.......2007-07-03

THE NIGHT HE CAME HOME........2007-06-23

Halloween Movies.......2007-06-20

Oh the good old days of the element of surprise and fear waiting for Michael Meyers to jump out and whack you ! I became a fan in 1978 and still get creeped out when I see Michael.

He Came Home.......2007-06-07

Carpenter's Halloween.......2007-05-22

Average customer rating:

Such a great value.
Cult classic but probably best if you're on medication of some sort
Funny, But Not Worth The Hype
Highly overrated
A cult classic by Kevin Smith

Clerks
Starring: Kenneth Clark , Walter Flanagan , Leslie Hope , Grace Smith , and Virginia Smith
Director: Kevin Smith
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0002DRDBE
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com

Description

Miramax Home Entertainment is proud to present this amazing, three-disc collector's set that includes two versions of the original indie classic, a killer, brand-new, 90-minute documentary -- "Snowball Effect: The Story Of CLERKS," and more never-before-seen bonus material than you can shake a salsa shark at!

Customer Reviews:

Such a great value........2007-06-15

Cult classic but probably best if you're on medication of some sort.......2007-05-11

Funny, But Not Worth The Hype.......2007-04-07

Highly overrated.......2007-04-02

A cult classic by Kevin Smith.......2007-02-09

Average customer rating:

Pure Camp
Fond memories of a golden era
Nostalgia
Campy bit of disco fluff
"That's Where We Live! That's Where We're From!"

Village People - Can't Stop the Music
Starring: Alex Briley , David Hodo , Glenn Hughes , Randy Jones (II) , and Felipe Rose
Director: Nancy Walker
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Apple

ASIN: B00005RYL7
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Customer Reviews:

Pure Camp.......2007-04-18

"Can't Stop the Music"

Pure Camp

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

"Can't Stop the Music" is a pseudo-autobiography of The Village People. Jack Morell is a struggling composer who is desperate for fame. What he really needs is someone to sing them. Samantha, his roommate and Ron, a lawyer help him to form a group of six guys from Greenwich Village and the movie captures their rise to fame.
This is not a movie to be taken seriously by any means. There is not much plot, much characterization--not much of anything but the music of The Village People. You don't have to think or wonder or worry, you just have to sit back and have a good time. When the move came out in 1980 it was not considered as campy as it is today. The whole thing is silly but not offensive in any way.
In this film everyone smiles all of the time. I wonder if they were smiling because either they had nothing to say or that they realized what they had to say was so mundane. The movie is funny for many different reasons but not because it was meant to be so.
I have read reviews condemning the film and to those people I say, "Ease Up". This movie doesn't have a thing to say but to take us away from the rough side of life and given us an hour and a half of pure fun. So what if it doesn't have a message--it doesn't need to.

Fond memories of a golden era.......2007-03-07

What do you remember about the 1970s? The end of the Vietnam War and the TV footage of the evacuation from Saigon? The Watergate Affair and the resignation of Richard Nixon? The Energy Crisis and the Arab oil embargo? Or do you remember hot sweaty nights on the disco floor and waking up with a different person each morning? For many of us it is the latter. The late 1970s were like a huge party which should have lasted forever. As we all know it didn't, brought to a shuddering halt by Reaganism and AIDS. Can't Stop the Music came out at the tail end of the disco craze and ushered in the 1980s - a campy, over-the-top monument to a golden era. The centerpiece of the film is undoubtedly the YMCA segment, a huge production number featuring attractive young men in the gym, wrestling, working out and performing acrobatics in the pool - a remarkable Busby Berkeley style masterpiece featuring flashes of full-frontal nudity and which was replayed over and over on prime time television in Australia. That was largely the reason why the film was a huge hit in Australia while it bombed spectacularly everywhere else. Most of the other production numbers are entertaining as well - Magic Night, Samantha, David Hodo's solo number I Love You To Death, The Ritchie Family's performance of Give Me A Break, Listen to the Sound of the City (played over the opening titles) and the title track which provides the climax and ends the film. The only poor segment is The Milk Shake featuring kids dressed as the Village People and a boring, almost tuneless song. Believe it or not this was actually used as a legitimate ad for milk on US and Canadian television. The plot of the film is weak, almost non-existent and provides a fictionalised account of the Village People story. The acting is terrible and is merely a method to link the production numbers. There are no (...) references and the film has a sanitised look about it apart from the YMCA segment. Some of the actors are good, others not so good. Olympic gold medallist and all-round hunk Bruce Jenner playing a straight accountant, the buxom Valerie Perrine playing the object d'esire, a young Steve Guttenberg (the only person to emerge from the film unscathed) who went on to have a successful film and TV career, and a rather seedy character who, it is implied, has a coke problem. The Village People themselves were dropped by their record company shortly after the film and moved to RCA where they attempted to change their image in line with the 'new romantic' craze. The album Renaissance was released and bombed badly, costing them their international following. Realising their mistake they told the media that the album was only intended to be a one-off experiment. But it was too late. The group retired to the cabaret circuit and played dinner dates at Hilton Hotels around the world. A word of warning about this DVD - it is in extreme wide screen and much of the action happens on the edge of the picture so zooming in to avoid the thick black bars on the top and bottom is not recommended. It is best viewed on a large plasma TV in a home theatre. The digital transfer is good and is worth buying for the 1970s look more than anything else - Bruce Jenner in a t-shirt cutoff showing his hairy torso must be seen to be believed. Every generation has its classic films - one generation had Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Another generation had Star Wars. The disco generation has Can't Stop the Music. It remains an irresistable snapshot and a faithful testament to a golden era which we all hoped would last forever.

Nostalgia .......2007-02-27

Had this on tape years ago - sure beats some of the shows out there on TV.
Just plain fun and a true history of the Village People who have always been different and diverse from all the others. Disco was an interesting craze and this should be saved as archival information. Especially the first song about New York City-super.

Campy bit of disco fluff.......2007-02-09

This campy bit of disco fluff is widely considered to be the milkshake-lubed slippery slope that guided the Village People's 15.5 minutes of bizarro-world fame to a less-than-dignified crash landing. In the lead role is a miraculously flame-retardant Steve Guttenberg, whose film career survived this Discossault against all logic. The acting career of Bruce Jenner, whose ill-advised sashay through the village in shorty-shorts and a half-shirt will forever live in infamy? Not so much. Hindsight, as poor Bruce no-doubt laments to this day, is indeed a beyotch.

What is perhaps most remarkable about this film (aside from the blizzard of blow that had to have been trucked in for the shoot) is that first-and-last-time director Nancy Walker - yes, THAT Nancy Walker - manages to create what is arguably the gayest film ever made, without ever actually broaching the subject. Indeed, the mind-bogglingly homoerotic YMCA sequence alone has the power to elevate the legendary Walker to the loftiest of honorary homo heights. The sequence, which features all of the can't-even-act-it-away group trying to play it straight in a hot tub with a topless Valerie Perrine, is so queer that if one were to come across a crystalled pink leprechaun face down in a rainbow sling at a Montreal bathhouse, snorting poppers and greased halfway up his back in liquified Crisco, you *might* be in the neighborhood.

Rent, don't buy this DVD, and play with care around small animals, impressionable children, and bi-curious clergy. You can't say you weren't warned.

"That's Where We Live! That's Where We're From!".......2006-08-27

I can't say I'm a big fan of the Village People. I like a few of their singles, but that's about it. Still, I found their "Can't Stop the Music" film, a cheesy, campy musical of sorts to be all right.

Steve Gutenberg plays an aspiring musician in New York, at the beginning of the 1980s. It's time for a fresh new sound on the radio to go with the fresh new decade, he's sure it's time! He's sure he's got that fresh new sound too, in his home studio. Shame he can't sing. His ex-supermodel roomate suggests he gets some singers from the community. There's that guy dressed as an Indian whose a good friend of theirs, for instance, and there's bound to be (and is) others like him with just as much talent. When they all get to their apartment, they can all make a night of it to. And so (according to the plot of the film) the Village People are born, the rest of the film shows their rise to fame, eventually hitting it big in San Francisco. Expect lots of musical numbers, including a couple of big hits like "YMCA".

Now I'm a bit of a fan of tacky and campy, and that's what made some scenes appealing, but other parts of this film was a bit tacky and campy even for me (the whole "milkshake" commercial thing, for instance). Plus, the plot is pretty silly, as you might have noticed. I did like the look of the film though, which is more the style of the time more than anything deliberate. They sure don't make (or can't get away with making) films like this anymore. The music was so so, I was expecting a few more hits, but never mind.

It's no "Hard Day's Night" in terms of a music film, and not quite "Xanadu" in terms of a camp classic, but it's still worth a look if you're at all interested in either of those styles.

Average customer rating:

Stinky man, my name's Stinky.
The last real House Party
da last house party i am ever going 2 watch and attend
House Party Falls Off
Hip-Hop Love Boat

House Party 3
Starring: Christopher Reid , Christopher Martin , Angela Means , Khandi Alexander , and David Edwards
Director: Eric Meza
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Boomerang

ASIN: 0780627873
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Description

Kid 'n Play return to the raucous hip-hop comedy series, but this time Kid's engaged. Play is determined to make him go out kickin', and plans the most outrageous, out of bounds, out of control bachelor party ever to hit the hood!

Customer Reviews:

Stinky man, my name's Stinky........2006-02-03

If you were to ask me how many ways this film transformed into a disaster, I do not believe I would have enough fingers and toes to fully count the ways. From the dreamy beginning of this bland final chapter, until the ending cliché moments, there were probably a million different themes and elements that were utterly pathetic. In fact, I believe that this may be the first film that I have watched which had no redeeming values surrounding it. For any of you that have watched, like myself, the House Party trilogy, there is a level of expectation that follows these films. The first movie set the groundwork. Kid & Play need to get to a party and express themselves lyrically. The sequel finished the shabby generic walls of the house by repeating a similar diagram, while the third film was the demolition team to tear it down. Everything set up from the beginning of this series was destroyed, demolished, decayed, disemboweled by the time that the third installment arrived. We were missing key characters, Kid & Play seemed less excited by this film, and apparently continuity from the second film was not a top priority for director Eric Meza. This film is nothing but trash left in the house for too long. House Party 3 smells, it is attracting too many flies, and mold is the only form of life willing to adapt to it. Sad to see the potentials of a trilogy die because the final film didn't pay respect to its beginnings.

I would like to say that the acting was to blame for such a disappointing ending, but that means I would have to admit to there actually being acting in this film. That is something I am not willing to acknowledge at this time. As our story developed, you could easily see the relief behind Kid & Play's eyes knowing that this was going to be their final jaunt in the House Party line. In fact, you could see the excitement melt away from their characters as the film progressed. It was a headache to watch. Kid was not his typical expression-esque self, but instead, older and more tired? Play was just annoying in this film. Meza decided to completely disregard their passions in the first two films and make them managers instead of performers in this final one. This is what hurt the most, to witness two characters that we have seen grow over time from young idealistic teens ready to lyrically express themselves and go to parties, to old, tired, and boring actors caring less about the music, more about the money, and have the lamest parties imaginable. I thought I would never find myself saying this, but I missed "Pops" from the original. I didn't miss him in the second film, but now seeing this final chapter I missed some of the old faces. This may be the only time you hear me say this, but I missed Martin Lawrence. While I hated his character in the first two films, he was an element missing House Party 3. They tried to cover this by employing Bernie Mac as the annoying Uncle, but it just didn't seem to work. Screaming is not a substitute for acting. Chris Tucker makes a small cameo, and honestly, I could have used more of him. He was a shining bit of light in this dark, damp, disgusting film.

As you read this review, you may find yourself saying, "Andy, you hated the other two films, what made you think this would be any different?" I don't think I was hoping for Oscar nominations, but I did want a strong finale to this trilogy. I worked my way through it, I felt I deserved it. I wanted to see familiar faces, as much as I hated them, I wanted to see a familiar plot (however generic and repetitive it was to be), and I wanted to see a union between two familiar characters, instead of throwing in a random stranger at the end. I feel as if these are very reasonable requests considering nothing lead me to believe this film would end up to be the tragedy it was. After watching this film, no matter how bad it was going to be, I wanted to be able to flip through the channels on TV and see House Party on TBS and find myself reminiscing of the future that I knew. Now, that is never going to happen. If there is one trilogy that I want to put behind me, it is the House Party films. For nearly an hour and a half, we watch unmotivated characters force themselves through cliché urban hip-hop cinema motions. Where were the bad guys? Where were the familiarities of the original films? I hated the first films, but I detested House Party 3. Why bother building a fan base if you are just going to tear it down with the finale. It is somewhat like changing characters midway through a television series. It just doesn't work, and it didn't work in this film.

Overall, this movie was a disaster. While the other two films were never much to write home about, I did want a conclusion. I wanted to finish this series without worrying that there may be more coming around the bend. That was, before I noticed House Party 4 as another sequel. This series should have ended after the first one. House Party is a classic example of what happens when Hollywood notices that small budget films can continue to make money even after they loose their appeal. Take a look at Scary Movie 4 being released soon. Honestly, is it necessary? I do not suggest this film or this entire series. The first one, if you are forced to watch, than watch. Otherwise, don't waste your brain space!

Grade: * out of *****

The last real House Party.......2005-12-01

Unless you count the 4th movie, made a few years ago, 'House Party 3' is the true conclusion to this Kid N' Play comedy series. The good news is that the series goes out with a bang. Too many comparisons have been made between this third film and the first two in the series. However, 'House Party 3' is funny in its own right.

Kid N' Play are back and Kid is getting married. A lot of the movie focuses on all the temptation he faces on the way to his upcoming wedding. Play is one of those helping to tempt Kid. There really isn't a solid story to base the movie around. The bigger picture is that a bachelor party is being planned for Kid. Kid N' Play borrow some money to help fund this party, all the while attempting to sign a rap group, Sex As A Weapon (played by real life group, TLC). The whole movie is centered around this thin storyline.

Some of the supporting cast includes Chris Tucker and Bernie Mac, both of whom went on to bigger and better things. The majority of the characters, including Aunt Lucy, don't contribute to the plot and just happen to be in the vicinity.

Kid N' Play must have knew going in that this would be the last movie in the 'House Party' series. It shows when you are watching this. Nonetheless, there are plenty of laughs. The best supporting characters include Uncle Vester (played by Bernie Mac) and Stinky. While Bernie's character, like many of the others, has little to do with the outcome, he makes the movie much better than it would have been without him.

Kid's dad, played in the first movie by the late Robin Harris, has a cameo as a snapshot. Tisha Campbell reprises her role as Kid's former love interest from earlier in the series. Her role is fairly limited and is just meant to stir the pot a little, adding some tension leading up to the wedding.

The ending is a happy one, a simple party scene involving everyone from the movie together in Kid's house. There was a fourth 'House Party' movie made, but Kid N' Play had nothing to do with it. With the way this one ended, it would really be impossible to do another movie with the same characters. It would be too hard to convince people to come to a 'House Party' thrown by a married man.

This should be a no-brainer for fans of the series. The best thing is that there is a very easy lead-in to 'House Party 3', meaning that you don't need to see the first two from the series to sit down and watch this. However, it is a lot more fun that way. Overall, this is a pretty good black comedy with more than enough funny moments to make this worth at least a rental.

da last house party i am ever going 2 watch and attend .......2005-09-17

this party was getting old because kid and play r now old well in their 20s they don't have enough time 2 fool around and getting into trouble like da first 2 films and tisha campbell isn't in da entire film but chris tucker and benmae mac were very funny u get guess star appearacne from tlc and immature da fourth one i didn't bother watching because it didn't have kid and play because they are now in their 30s too old so but i do see is da r and b group immature not so immature and other people that didn't do anything 2 get my attention of watching this film this was da final house party movie that i watched because of da late cool kid and play and what happened 2 big ear martin l he was surpose 2 b here i saw his replacement which was a guy that almost look like him but had an enough bigger mouth than him but he was kinda of funny Joe Brown

House Party Falls Off.......2005-03-27

This movie was a huge dissapointment. I feel Kid 'N Play peaked with Class Act. House Party I is of course a classic, and I felt it was out done by House Party II (those who say this one is better than that film are our of their minds). This film came out 3 years after that one, so I guess the lack of an immediate follow up may be the first clue that this movie wasn't going to be up to standards. My main beef with this film can probably be contributed to waht was going wrong with hip hop culture at the time it came out. This movie seems slightly more thugged out than the previous House Parties. Those movies had a more pure b-boy feel to them. You can feel the impact of the westcoast gangsta bandwagon in this film. They should've just avoided this and done their own thing reguardless. I doubt this has anything to do with what Kid 'N Play would've wanted, so the blame probably goes on the writer/director/studio. They never got played out as rappers imho. Its just the industry got all messed up by this gangsta bs, and obviously a group with their kind of aesthetic could not surviive. Other things I was dissapointed by was the lack of characters from the earlier two films. Sidney gets a couple of cheap cameos instead of a starring role like she should've had. Other than Kid 'N Play and Pops' photograph, thats all there is that links this to the earlier films. However, Kid 'N Play don't even get a fair shake in this movie because alot of their screen time is stolen by those gimmickly, little midgets, Immature, who I seriously wanted to kick the sh** out of. Bernie Mac, however, is hilarious in this film, as always. Hes one of this film's saving graces. There is also a really funny family dinner scene where the crap hits the fan. Overall though, this movie is boring, unfunny, and lacking the charm of Kid 'N Play's other films. Go check those out instead, only get this one if you're really interested in seeing the duo on screen again.

Hip-Hop Love Boat.......2004-02-03

This movie has a revolving door with LOTS of "characters" who are fun to watch. They must have known the franchise was at an end, and threw in everything but the kitchen sink. No real story to get in the way. But it's fun and can be played (and sort of watched while you read or something) over and over. Why only 4 stars? Because I've been conditioned by The Man who says Citizen Kane is a classic. Yawn. HP 3 is as fun as 1 and 2, if not as "good" by conventional standards of story and character development, or even good laughs. But TLC and Immature and Chris Rock, Bernie Mac and the old guy who says his wife is "MY ho" to Mac, etc... make this one fun. Kick It!

Average customer rating:

Write what you know
Captured Vibe
Latter Baby Boomer me
I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS THE DVD!
This is not the Dvd!

Slacker - Criterion Collection
Starring: Brecht Andersch , Rudy Basquez , Bob Boyd , Jean Caffeine , and Jerry Delony
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0002DB4ZK
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Amazon.com

Richard Linklater's debut feature is a comic kaleidoscopic portrait of the quirky characters stuck in a college town (it's Austin, Texas, but it could stand for hundreds of such places), a devilishly clever and endlessly inventive film that overcomes its nothing budget with scene after hilarious scene of short, sharp cinematic shots. Structured something like Luis Buñuel's The Phantom of Liberty, Slacker is a comic series of character pieces, each lasting a few minutes before the camera picks up and follows someone, perhaps simply an extra in the scene, to the next conversation. Characters spout off theories on everything from JFK and Charles Whitman (we even get an eerie glimpse of the water tower he climbed for his killing spree) to Elvis and UFOs, and more (wanna buy a Madonna pap smear?) on our bohemian tour of a condensed day-in-the-life. Linklater lets the characters set the pace but provides a loose, almost imperceptible rhythm to the film as a whole, giving a kind of structure to what seems like a series of improvisations. But the heart of the film is the freewheeling array of obsessed, self-absorbed, or simply lost souls wandering streets and coffee shops ready to talk your ear off about absolutely nothing. Killing time has never been more fun. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Richard Linklater's Slacker presents a day in the life of a subculture of marginal, eccentric, and overeducated citizens in and around the University of Texas at Austin. Shooting the film on 16mm for a mere $23,000, writer/producer/director Linklater and his close-knit crew of friends eschewed a traditional plot, choosing instead to employ long takes and fluid transitions to create a tapestry of over a hundred characters, each as unique as the last, culminating in an episodic portrait of a distinct vernacular culture and a tribute to bohemian cerebration. Slacker is a prescient look at an emerging generation of aggressive nonparticipants, and one of the keynote films of the American independent film movement of the 1990s.

Customer Reviews:

Write what you know.......2006-06-06

The old adage "write what you know" has been used to good effect here. Richard Linklater, hailing from Austin, Texas, has decided to grace the silver screen with his appealing look at what he and his friends must have spent their days doing, just so that he can make a movie and practice his craft.

The result is something of a movie that, interestingly enough, is almost like a companion piece to Gummo, of all things. These characters wander around a city trying to fill their lives with whatever they can, mostly conversation and the occassional cigarette, kind of like the characters in Gummo crawl over the wasteland that is their hometown. However, these characters mostly succeed and the movie isn't really about emptiness, so while it's apathetic it's certainly not nihilistic. At most the characters are willing to give in to some eccentricities just so that they have something to do.

It seems like something that would be boring, wouldn't it? Following random characters around, watching as they do next to nothing with their lives... kind of like an American Neo-Realism. However it's actually pretty visually interesting, and heck, if you want something to do with the time you can actually listen and think about the things that they're talking about. Indeed it's easier to philosophize and argue subjectivity than it is to actually get up and do anything, but if you're going to wax poetic you might as well aspire something to it, like Wannabe Dostoyevsky and his notebooks, or write a book about what you've managed to distract yourself with, like the guy focusing on JFK's assassination.

It's also kind of a prelude to Linklater's Waking Life, though I'd say that this is better merely because it's not nearly so self-serious as Waking Life is. Fundamentally, these characters don't really mean anything by their conversations, they're just looking for something to do. That makes it a lot easier to engage with, knowing that somebody actually isn't going to base their life around these things.

--PolarisDiB

Captured Vibe.......2006-01-28

This movie perfectly captures the inexplicable vibe of Austin, Texas before the tech boom transformed it into a trendy traffic jam.

Latter Baby Boomer me.......2006-01-02

I am not Gen-X, . . . wasn't really a hippie either, although I liked Led Zeppelin back in 1968. Anyway, what I like about Slacker, the movie, is that it does define Gen-Xers who, to me, are really scary people.

They may have broken boundaries that formerly bound the world to "prehistoric" social-economic cultures (i.e., vertical business structure, white-male dominated government and business, American Imperialism, royal sovereignty, rampant communism, etc.); yet, in spite of all this, they are essentially just a "modern" version of the same-old-sh*t.

I am disappointed in Gen-Xer's lust for status and material things. Moreover, if you don't pay them huge bundles of money, they will not do anything. Does anyone wonder whom it is that writes all those horrible computer viruses? What a waste of genius.

Oppressing/destroying white supremacy, egomaniacal monarchs, egregious sexism, and very steeply tiered business structures is meaningless if you just only change hands and types of oppression and injustice. For example, I feel that Puffy, the fashion designer, both profits from "sweat shops" and overseas manufacturing like any greedy capitalist. Also, is white supremacy really removed from American culture/society? Women may be having a field day economically, but it seems to me that this cannot last forever, as only in America are women tolerated thus, anyway. And women's rights are too politically driven. Not many people really have more faith in a woman's military or business acumen, compared to a man's. It really is a man's world still. Gen-Xers have perpetuated all the dysfunctional systems of old, just thinly disguised

Nevertheless, the surrealistic stream-of-consciousness style of SLACKER is interesting, although the people themselves are not. They are simply scary, and it is no wonder that they are not better than whom they replaced. Everybody before and now are motivated by self and greed, even fame (with few exceptions). This movie is brilliant insight into this problem.

For radical, positive change, I still respect Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Clinton, and William Gates the most, who all are both classic and modern. These men are necessary to ground these ultra-modern slackers.

I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS THE DVD!.......2005-11-05

I don't know what that dude below me is talking about, the whole page says that its the DVD.

ANYWAYS... This is a very cool movie. It starts early some morning in Anytown, U.S.A (ok Austin, Texas; but really, this could be ANYWHERE) with a guy taking a cab home.
It ends about twenty four hours later with some twisted concept and I can't begin to tell you what happens in between.
All I know is that I really like this movie. The first time that I saw it, it took me almost the whole first hour to realize that nothing significant was going to happen at all. NOPE, there is absolutely zero plot to this one, we just go from one set of people to the next around a town for 24 hours.

This was RICHARD LINKLATERS first film, a couple of years before he wrote and directed DAZED AND CONFUSED. Much in the same veign the movie relys entirely on interesting dialouge and zany situations rather than any type of actual plot. Only in this one its much rougher around the edges, it doesn't stop this film from being hillarious and well acted.

I would highly recommend to any fan of RICHARD LINKLATERS or the movie DAZED AND CONFUSED.

This is not the Dvd!.......2005-11-02

Most of the revies here are making references to the criterion release of slacker. This is not the movie but a companion book released at the time of the movies theatrical premiere.

It is, however, intelligent and very funny. It contatins the workprint, or script used on set(it's 4 pages long) and a transcrption of the movie. ALso included are interviews with amny of the actors, and several intelligent essays. Many of the actors interviewed reveal that they are actually weirder than the roles they play.

The essays help explain the meaining of the wokr in context (there's alot about autin broguht up).

If you liked the movie the book is definetly worth reading.

Average customer rating:

High and Low
one of the 10 best classic movies ever made
"It's interesting to make fortunate men unfortunate."
Kurosawa Goodness! Heaven and Hell.
Latter day Kurosawa/Mifune masterpiece

High and Low - Criterion Collection
Starring: Toshirô Mifune , Tatsuya Nakadai , Kyôko Kagawa , Tatsuya Mihashi , and Isao Kimura
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: 0780021509
Release Date: 1998-10-14

Amazon.com essential video

Although best known for his samurai classics, Japanese master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa proved himself equally adept at contemporary dramas and thrillers, and 1962's High and Low offers a powerful showcase for Kurosawa's versatile skill. The great Toshiro Mifune stars as a wealthy industrialist who has just raised a large sum of money to execute his planned takeover of a successful shoe manufacturer. Fate intervenes when he receives a phone call informing him that his son has been kidnapped, and by unfortunate coincidence the ransom demand is nearly equivalent to the amount Mifune has raised for his corporate coup. A philosophical dilemma emerges when it is revealed that the executive's son is safe, and that it is actually his chauffeur's son who has been taken. What follows is both a tense detective thriller, as the police attempt to track down the kidnapper, and a compelling illustration of class division in Japan--the "high and low" of the title. Far be it from Kurosawa to make a mere thriller, however; this loose adaptation of the Ed McBain novel King's Ransom provides the director with ample opportunity to develop a visual strategy that perfectly enhances the story's sociological themes. The Criterion Collection DVD of this extraordinary film is presented in the original "Tohoscope" aspect ratio of 2.35:1. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Toshiro Mifune stars as a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a ruthless kidnapper in Akira Kurosawa's exemplary film noir. Based on Ed McBain's detective novel King's Ransom, High and Low is both a riveting thriller and a brilliant commentary on contemporary Japanese society. Criterion is proud to present High and Low in a luminous new Tohoscope transfer with new electronic subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

High and Low.......2007-06-27

Both a gripping detective story and meditation on the nature of honor and Japanese class differences, "High and Low" ultimately earns high marks, thanks mainly to a snappy second half focusing on the investigative work handled by Chief Detective Tokura (Tatsuya Nakadai), and his idiosyncratic but dogged team of cops. In one of his last signature roles, Mifune is also electrifying as Gondo. Adapted from a novel by Ed McBain, an American writer of police procedurals Kurosawa admired, "High and Low" is an absorbing dramatic thriller by a world-renowned master craftsman.

one of the 10 best classic movies ever made.......2007-05-18

this is a fascinating movie. screenplay, directing, acting, editing, scenario, plot...you name it, all perfect, and all a perfect 10. that's how good it is.
just because you lived at the foothill slum, so cold in winter, so hot in summer, you looked up to the hilltop, saw that great mansion fully air-conditioned....wow, what a story. so many familiar faces appeared again in this great film like meeting old friends. what a thrilling joy by watching this great film. i'd put this 'high and low' next to 'the battle of algiers' as two of the best films ever made.

"It's interesting to make fortunate men unfortunate.".......2006-11-24

Although he is best known for his samurai epics, "High and Low" proves that Akira Kurosawa can handle material of a different nature just as effectively. Helping him out is constant collaborator Toshirô Mifune whose character is also a change of pace from the familiar

Japanese businessman Kingo Gondo (Mifune) is working on a plan to acquire control of a local shoe company. A crisis soon emerges when he receives a phone call telling him his son has been kidnapped. Gondo is devastated because paying the ransom would mean the planned takeover will not go through. The situation then changes when Gondo realizes it was not his son who was kidnapped but rather the son of his chauffeur. Now knowing that the kidnapper has made an error, Gondo must decide whether he will still go ahead and pay the ransom.

"High and Low" not only works as a police procedural thriller but as a philosophical conundrum. Would you give up your dream and endanger the financial security of your family in order to save the life of another? Kurosawa ably examines this difficult question through the lens of Japanese culture and the nuances of its class system. Perfectly channeling all of the conflicting emotions at work is Mifune who turns in an outstanding performance. Although his acting is rather subdued in "High and Low," he skillfully conveys all the pain and agony Gondo goes through via his facial expressions and body language. Fans of both Kurosawa and Mifune who are looking for a story set in more modern times will not be disappointed with this small but satisfying film.

Kurosawa Goodness! Heaven and Hell........2006-07-18

Yes, I am a fan of Kurosawa, but I am also a critic. This film, like some of his others, does seem to wander off from the narrative thread. Focusing on characters that, initially, don't seem as important to the story, for large chunks of film. However, as Kurosawa also often does, when the final scene has played and you are left with what the film is. You realize all of the footage is vitally important to what Kurosawa is trying to show you. As the title suggests, this film is an examination of the human condition and how people can strive to become all that they can or how they can let themselves become much less than they should. The separation of heaven and hell or, of high and low.

Latter day Kurosawa/Mifune masterpiece.......2006-06-04

Like one of the other reviewers said I too was a bit hesitant in seeing this. I had, up to that point, seen only Kurosawa's samurai based films, but then I saw Stray Dog and was sold on the fact that the man truly was a master of not just samurai films, but cinema, as an art form, in general.

I've not seen this film in about 8 months, so it's not exactly fresh in my mind, but there are two things from this film that will always stick with me until my dying day:

-The final shot of the film, of the criminal behind the glass. This was so haunting, so effective that to this day the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. If this was Kurosawa's intention or not, I don't know.
-The first, I think, 45-50 minutes, are based solely in Mifune's apartment. The fact that you can stay in one spot for that length of time and still keep an audience's interest just goes to show the directorial and acting brilliance that Mifune and Kurosawa are so widely reguarded for.

Average customer rating:

Very good Film
From the real Southie
Recommended for Rose McGowen Fans
awesome
Was that me in the movie?

Southie
Starring: Will Arnett , Ericson Balcita , Lenny Clarke , Jeffery Cook , and Jimmy Cummings
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
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ASIN: B00000JQVY
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Customer Reviews:

Very good Film.......2006-03-02

I saw this film about 8 years ago during a film preview and evening with the writers of the film. It has great elements to it and having family from Boston brings it closer to home.

From the real Southie.......2006-01-23

Although while not cinematically the greatest film, this is a good film. I was prompted to review based on other reviewers, particularly those with "close ties" to Southie or who've never been there, regarding the authenticity of the way life is in Southie. This movie is so true to how "died in the wool" Southie Irish families are that I found myself at one point wondering whether I knew any of these characters from back in the day! They certainly reminded me of a lot of the guys I used to date in high school and their families. Also, the Irish mob is very present in Southie and yes, it's mostly backroom stuff. Just ask anyone who plays the numbers! They are a backroom, leather jacket, scully wearing bunch of scary guys. This is a very accurate representation of many of the families and folks in Southie (trying not to generalize of course). Also, the fact that most of the actors are from Boston helped keep the accent believable. Ya, Boston accents are annoying, but they are ten times worse when someone is faking it. So if you are looking for an independent film, a modern day gangster film that will give you a pretty true to life glimpse at the South Boston culture, you'll probably like this film.

Recommended for Rose McGowen Fans.......2005-06-26

After watching 'Southie' I was surprised at its low rating on the IMDb; and somewhat puzzled because almost everyone who took the time to post a comment found it an excellent film. Although in overall effect it is not on the level of 'Mean Streets', it a still a very solid production; on the level of "Monument Avenue" and "The Friends of Eddie Coyle". I suppose that a rather ordinary screenplay and a downbeat ending put some people off.

But this small film did a fine job of presenting a believable (if troubled) family, it utilized some interesting (out of favor) camera techniques to advance the storyline, and it showcased some excellent acting. It is refreshing to watch something without a hint of computer generated crap. If your production fundmentals are sound you don't need that kind of distraction.

There are two diametrically opposite scenes between Donnie Wahlberg and Rose McGowan that work so well that you wonder why they didn't alter the script to expand McGowan's part . One is in an Irish bar where Danny convinces his sister to enter an in-patient alcohol treatment program. The other is a few days later when he visits her in the middle of the program. The contrast between the intensity levels of these two scenes is amazing and McGowan pulls off the dramatic performance of her career. She is great at comedy but in these scenes she shows unexpected dramatic range. 'Southie' would be worth watching for just these two scenes but it is a solid effort from start to finish. Highly recommended.

awesome.......2005-06-15

(i'm 13) i had been wanting 2 see this movie 4 a long time because i was very interested about life in Southie and its Irish roots because i am from a similar neighbourhood on the South Side of Chicago where almost every1 is Irish. but anyways this movie is has a great storyline about a man named Danny Quinn trying 2 escape his violent past and be on the level but is forced 2 kill when he comes home to 2 brothers out of work, his mother dying, and his sister out of control. ya see this 1 guy named joey Ward is a bastard and his dad goes 2 war with a guy named Powers(i forgot his 1st name) and Powers is Danny's Long time friend and so Ward's guys keep killing his friends and then finally threatens Danny's mom one night and thats the last straw. so Danny goes 2 Powers who is the boss ya see and Powers says 2 him "I know how ya feel...i had friend who was killed...it was your father...and i killed the man who killed him..and that man had a brother....so i had 2 go up against him and that man had a friend...and his friend had a friend...so ya see...there is no getting even"

Was that me in the movie? .......2005-02-04

It's ironical because my name is also Joe Ward. I loved this film!!!!! I grew up in Southie, but I saw a lot of myself in Wahlburg's character, and not just because we share the same name. Waste no time in adding this gem to your collection.

J-Double

Average customer rating:

Watch it four times, and it might make sense
Clever, but also a bit narcissistic
brilliant execution, lame story
Blah
Innovative, but more of an experiment than a movie

Time Code
Starring: Xander Berkeley , Golden Brooks , Saffron Burrows , Viveka Davis , and Richard Edson
Director: Mike Figgis
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00004W22E
Release Date: 2000-12-26

Amazon.com

Timecode divides the screen into four parts and follows, in four uninterrupted shots, a series of overlapping stories. There's the wife (Saffron Burrows) of a movie producer (Stellan Skarskård) who's considering leaving him; the producer is having an affair with an aspiring actress (Salma Hayek); and the actress is the lover of a wealthy woman (Jeanne Tripplehorn), who jealously plants a bug in the actress's purse when the actress pretends to go to an audition. Meanwhile, the producer's partners and employees (Holly Hunter, Xander Berkeley, Steven Weber, and others) are trying to cope with the producer's increasing instability. There's a drug-dealing security guard; a dim massage therapist; a temperamental director who can't find the right actress; and assorted other Hollywood types who float in and out of the action. Earthquakes and aftershocks shake things up, a lot of cocaine is snorted, and there's some sex and some violence, all improvised by the actors around a story set up by the director, Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas).

The emotional effect of any story is muted by the constant distraction of trying to take in four screens at once, though at times the stories resonate off each other nicely. It's an interesting experiment, made possible by the portability and longer takes of digital cameras; anyone interested in how digital technology has affected filmmaking will want to see this novel film. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Watch it four times, and it might make sense.......2003-05-27

Timecode is a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood life - the business, the politics, the jealously, and even the drugs, sex, and rock `n' roll. Salma Hayek plays Rose, an aspiring actress who will do anything to get an audition - even if it means cheating on her jealous lover (Jeanne Tripplehorn) with a male film exec (Stellan Skarsgard).

But I said that Timecode is unique, right? Well, it is. It had no script - just a story, four digital videocams, and a bunch of actors who could improvise their way through 90 minutes of filming. The four cameras shot non-stop - no cuts, just one take. The entire film was shot 15 times - and the final one was released. No editing was required because viewers see the footage from all four cameras - simultaneously. The screen is divided into four quarters, and it's up to the viewer to decide which one to watch. Believe me - it's not exactly an easy task. Though you're often given audio hints (the sound of one quarter will dominate for a while), you'll still keep jumping from quarter to quarter, trying to figure out what's going on - and what you've missed. It's definitely not a movie to watch if you're not completely alert. It is, however, very interesting. And while I wouldn't say that this is one of my favorite movies, it's still an interesting experience. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, it's worth checking out.

If you happen to pick up a copy of the DVD, you'll find all kinds of goodies. The special features include the entire Version 1 of the film (and yes, it really is different) and an audio option that allows you to choose which dialogue you want to listen to. Perhaps, then, if you watch the entire movie four times, you'll be able to make sense of it all...

Clever, but also a bit narcissistic.......2002-12-12

Whatever. I mean, I appreciate the experimental nature of the film -- the screen split into four separate-but-interlocking screens, each shot in a continuously-running tracking shot, filmed on digital video. The "action" shifts from scene to improvised scene, and gradually we figure out how each of the characters know each other. Still... did the story really have to be set in (yawn) Hollywood? Can't modern filmmakers think of something else to make movies about? Couldn't the actors improv their way through somebody else's life, for once? Regardless, this is one of the better uses of DVD technology I've seen -- they kept the audio tracks intact on each camera's footage, so after you soak up the edited version of the film, you can go back and see (hear, actually...) what they had to work with... Rarely do we get such a clear-cut chance to get into the headspace of the director and editor, so that at least was kind of cool.

brilliant execution, lame story.......2002-10-02

Timecode is quite simply a well-executed but failed experiment.
The concept is brilliant, but it is not supported at all by a good plot. What we have is basically mindless hipster dross; jet-set stereotypes stabbing each other in the back with their cell phones, and not much else. And yet, I was entertained by the film on a technical level. Certainly worth a look, but I would love to see this idea done again, even by Figgis, with a more engrossing story.

Blah.......2002-08-05

When I rented this, I was under the impression it was a good movie. Well, I was wrong. True, the four-screen idea is innovative and couldn't have been easy to do, so I'll give Mike Figgis credit for that. In addition, the movie was shot in continuous takes, so the actors involved have proved that they have the chops to pull off something like this. And in case you're wondering if you can follow four stories at once, the volume is usually muted for three of the screens, so it's obvious which one you're really supposed to focus on at any given time. On the minus side, any time actors are given the chance to improvise their dialogue, the viewer learns anew that we really do need screenwriters, and this movie is no exception. Most importantly, this movie doesn't have ANY interestng stories or characters. Movies need those things! So, if you're interested in the techniques Figgis used, by all means check this out. But don't expect to be entertained.

Innovative, but more of an experiment than a movie.......2002-04-07

"Time Code" was directed by Mike Figgis, best known for "Leaving Las Vegas." I'm not a fan of his work, but was intrigued by the concept of this movie - it was filmed in one 90-minute take and is told via four cameras shown in different quadrants of the screen. The movie was filmed 15 different times over a period of a few weeks, with the 15th take being the theatrical release. The story (such as it is) concerns 20+ people in Los Angeles who are connected in one way or another to a small indie film studio. The soundtrack is emphasized in certain quadrants at any given time to show you where to direct your attention. I was concerned that the movie would be difficult to follow, especially on a TV, but it was actually fairly easy to watch it and understand what was transpiring.

The technique is innovative and daring, and one cannot help but admire its audacity. It was also interesting seeing how the different stories overlapped. However, there are simply too many weak points for the movie to ultimately succeed. First, the acting and script was largely improvised, and it shows. Selma Hayek has one of the largest roles, and she is simply not up to the challenge. Holly Hunter also comes off poorly with her tentative stuttering character. Second, the plot (which was loosely structured by Figgis) is not very interesting. If this same script was shot in a conventional manner, it would not be worth the price of admission. Third, the concept of the four quadrants is interesting, but most of the time little is happening in any given quadrant. For example, the upper left quadrant, features mostly Jeanne Tripplehorn and she spends a huge portion of the movie sitting in the backseat of a limo or pacing the sidewalk in front of the studio. It just isn't very entertaining.

The DVD includes several interesting features. For example, the full first take of the movie is included. Also, you can remix the soundtrack to hear what is going on in the other quadrants. Overall, I have mixed feelings about "Timecode." I'm glad I saw it and hope that other directors will be inspired by its unusual and daring techniques. However, it was ultimately boring and pretentious.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Mantis in the Monkey's Shawdow

The British Empire In Colour

War and Remembrance, Parts 1-7 [6 Discs] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Framed By Seduction

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