Mistaken Identity

Starring:Melissa Gilbert, Rosanna Arquette, David Andrews, James McCaffrey, Mary Mara, Susan Barnes, Ron Snyder (II), Joe Ivy, Bruce Burkhartsmeier, Robert Blanche, Sharonlee McLean, Raissa Fleming, Lester B. Hanson, Peter Lohnes, Rob Stockton, Kelly Wilson, Marilyn Faith Hickey, Sam A. Mowry, Sharon A. Mitchell, Ted Roisum
Director: Douglas Barr (II)
Studio: Good Times Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Loved It.
Excellent Star Trek Spoof
Good for a Laugh
A geek's treasure.
Hilarious parody of "Star Trek" et al.

Galaxy Quest
Starring: Patrick Breen , Jeffrey Howard , Kevin McDonald , Alan Rickman , and Sam Rockwell
Director: Dean Parisot
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXDV
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Amazon.com essential video

You don't have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy Galaxy Quest, but it certainly helps. A knowingly affectionate tribute to Trek and any other science fiction TV series of the 1960s and beyond, this crowd-pleasing comedy offers in-jokes at warp speed, hitting the bull's-eye for anyone who knows that (1) the starship captain always removes his shirt to display his manly physique; (2) any crew member not in the regular cast is dead meat; and (3) the heroes always stop the doomsday clock with one second to spare. So it is with Commander Taggart (Tim Allen) and the stalwart crew of the NSEA Protector, whose intergalactic exploits on TV have now been reduced to a dreary cycle of fan conventions and promotional appearances. That's when the Thermians arrive, begging to be saved from Sarris, the reptilian villain who threatens to destroy their home planet.

Can actors rise to the challenge and play their roles for real? The Thermians are counting on it, having studied the "historical documents" of the Galaxy Quest TV show, and their hero worship (not to mention their taste for Monte Cristo sandwiches) is ultimately proven worthy, with the help of some Galaxy geeks on planet Earth. And while Galaxy Quest serves up great special effects and impressive Stan Winston creatures, director Dean Parisot (Home Fries) is never condescending, lending warm acceptance to this gentle send-up of sci-fi TV and the phenomenon of fandom. Best of all is the splendid cast, including Sigourney Weaver as buxom blonde Gwen DeMarco; Alan Rickman as frustrated thespian Alexander Dane; Tony Shalhoub as dimwit Fred Kwan; Daryl Mitchell as former child-star Tommy Webber; and Enrico Colantoni as Thermian leader Mathesar, whose sing-song voice is a comedic coup de grâce. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Loved It........2007-05-24

This was just plain outright funny. Pokes fun at the Trekkies out there. Tim Allen is super as is Sigourny Weaver. Two thumbs up.

Excellent Star Trek Spoof.......2007-05-16

Tim Allen mocking Captain Kirk, Sigourney Weaver repeating everything the ship's computer says, classic. Bored, bitter and alcoholic from touring the conventions, the washed up has beens are suddenly beamed onto a ship modeled on their TV series and expected to defeat a formidable foe. The problem is -- even though their hosts expect them to know how to do everything (after all, they did on the show) -- they initially can't even perform basic tasks. This is a silly movie, but if you liked Star Trek and can handle some silliness, this is among the best you can get.

Good for a Laugh.......2007-05-13

Personally, I think this movie is pretty cheesy, and it isn't one of my favorites. My husband, however, thinks it is a riot. He loves it. He laughs out loud every time he watches it. For me, it is worth watching it just to see my husband's reaction.
We both like the characters and how it plays off of Star Trek. I think the acting is good.

A geek's treasure........2007-04-16

Excellent and funny movie that pokes fun at "Star Trek". If you like sci-fi and funny movies you will like this one.

Hilarious parody of "Star Trek" et al........2007-04-08

The humor in this movie works on two levels. First is the comedy that results from the movie's basic premise: a bunch of TV actors suddenly find themselves in exactly the same sorts of adventures they used to act out on screen, only now it's real. But second, and even funnier in my opinion, is the humor derived from parodying the entire world of science fiction, and its all to often rabid, religiously devoted fans.

It also showcases the darker side of being involved with a pop-culture phenomenon: actors who become so closely identified with their roles, they find they simply can't get work doing anything else. I imagine the real cast of "Star Trek" could feel how close to the mark this hits (and George Reeves, TV's Superman of the 1950s, may have even killed himself in despair at suffering this fate). The most memorable scene in the movie for me was Alan Rickman's delivery of the line "By Grabthar's Hammer, I've never seen such savings." His rigid posture, hesitant speech, and stony facial expression are hilarious. He's a classicly trained actor who's become pigeonholed in a role he considers beneath him, and he has been reduced to the humiliation of uttering childish drivel at store openings. For all that much of the movie is made in the spirit of William Shatner's famous SNL "get a life" skit, the movie takes an affectionate look at fans, and two sci-fi geeks even provide indispensible help to the heroes in the end.

Average customer rating:

A funny movie about a serious subject.
Feel good movies
A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie
wonderful movie
Good fantasy fun

Dave
Starring: Kevin Kline , Sigourney Weaver , Frank Langella , Kevin Dunn , and Ving Rhames
Director: Ivan Reitman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: 6304907613
Release Date: 1998-04-29

Amazon.com essential video

A heartwarming story of mistaken identity and idealism, director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) takes on the political establishment in this fresh, funny comedy. Kevin Kline (Sophie's Choice, A Fish Called Wanda) plays Dave Kovic, a sweet man with a big heart running an employment agency. Dave happens to be a dead ringer for the current president of the United States, and he hires himself out as an impersonator for parties and mall openings. When the real president has a stroke while in bed with an aide, his ambitious chief of staff (Frank Langella) decides to hold onto the White House by appealing to Dave's sense of patriotism and having him pose as the president. Soon, however, Dave is running the country in a way contrary to what the chief of staff would like, even as he finds himself falling in love with the unsuspecting first lady (Sigourney Weaver). The movie's unbridled optimism is its best asset, and it makes this a pleasant comedy worth seeing. --Robert Lane

Description

Just who runs this country anyway? For comedy fans, the answer is - Dave. Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out) and Sigourney Weaver (Working Girl, Ghostbusters) star in this box-office winner about an uncanny Presidential lookalike named Dave, who's recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States. However, things don't turn out exactly as planned and Dave finds himself continuing his masquerade as Chief Executive indefinitely. Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters and 6 Days, 7 Nights) directs and supporting players Frank Langella, Ving Rhames, Ben Kingsley and Charles Grodin supply more reasons to stand up and cheer. Many real-life Washington politicos and pundits join the fun as Dave uses ordinary-guy savvy to deal with the extraordinary responsibilities of the Oval Office.

Customer Reviews:

A funny movie about a serious subject........2007-06-30

Dave is hired by the Secret Service to double for the president. Mr Kline, as Dave, could impersonate the president very well. Not hard, since he played the president, too. While he is acting as president the real president has a stroke. Dave is rehired to continue his impersonation until the president recovers, 'to protect the office'. He finds that the presidents aides are not really honorable men. He takes over, firing the bad guy and pushing through a bill to 'help the children'. Meanwhile, Dave and Mrs. President are getting along very well. I have to catalog my movies so that I can find the one I want. I'm not sure if this movie is a) Comedy/Romance or b) Drama.

Feel good movies.......2007-05-28

DAVE is a wonderful movie. Anyone who wants to see the tables turned on the crooked politicians in Washington must see this movie

A feel-good, way-it-oughta-be, movie.......2007-05-14

"Dave" was a pleasant enough movie the first time I saw it, in 1993, with the good guys winning, and with superb acting performances by Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Ben Kingsley, and particularly Ving Rhames and Kevin Dunn in supporting roles. In a very small role, Charles Grodin does his best work that I've seen him do, and has one of the outstanding lines: "Who DOES these books?" Langella is quite believable as the astute, scheming politico who has never been bested; Dunn develops his character's moral conscience as we watch him on screen; and Rhames balances perfectly his character's initial distrust of the faux-president with his growing admiration of--and loyalty to--the kind of integrity so many of us wish we could find in "the leader of the free world."

When I decided to see it a second time, I viewed it as a movie or literary critic would, and found that it held together structurally, it developed organically, and it balanced some pretty heavy duty themes with good humor and almost-perfect timing. We have nearly worn out the original VHS tape that we bought, watching it whenever we want a "feel-good" movie, especially after seeing or reading about too much national and international news. Each time I watch it, I see more complexity to the character development and to the plot intricacies (which at first seem to be pretty straight-forward but, upon reflection, are not quite so simple).

"Dave" grows on its audience, appealing initially because it does represent what so many Americans would really like our government to be like; but it invites repeated viewing because of its texture, its acting, and so many of its memorable lines. How often, for example, can you imagine laughing at, "I once caught a fish THIIIIIISSSS big!" In the context of this movie, however, it is funny repeatedly while contributing seriously to character development. And how touching is the simple statement near the end of the movie, "I woulda taken a bullet for you," spoken quietly though in turbulent surroundings.

Even the ending, sappy though it may seem to be, holds open a subtle promise for the future when it is viewed in the light of the early political career of the movie's Vice President. "Dave" has risen steadily to become one of my five or six favorite movies, with "8 1/2," "Inherit the Wind," "Rear Window," "Tootsie," and "Blazing Saddles." I heartily recommend it: for a good time, call "Dave." Really.

wonderful movie.......2007-03-11

The stars in this movie do a great job it's like it's for real it's a movie a family could watch and thats something good

Good fantasy fun.......2006-12-20

I disagree with the reviewer who said s/he was apprehensive about all the brief cameos of journalists. Maybe I'm just a news junkie, but I LOVED seeing all the brief clips of the usual pundits and broadcasters supposedly reporting on the events in the movie. It was hilarious! Overall, this film gets an A-, and is one of the funniest, most good-natured political satires I've ever seen.

Average customer rating:

You may want to watch it twice
Meeker Review
I never thought this could be done
Intriguing
Memento: The Freshmaker!

Memento
Starring: Jr. Mark Boone , Russ Fega , Jorja Fox , Joe Pantoliano , and Stephen Tobolowsky
Director: Christopher Nolan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B00003CXZ4
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com essential video

Guy Pearce (L.A. Confidential) and Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix) shine in this absolute stunner of a movie. Memento combines a bold, mind-bending script with compelling action and virtuoso performances. Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, hunting down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The problem is that "the incident" that robbed Leonard of his wife also stole his ability to make new memories. Unable to retain a location, a face, or a new clue on his own, Leonard continues his search with the help of notes, Polaroids, and even homemade tattoos for vital information.

Because of his condition, Leonard essentially lives his life in short, present-tense segments, with no clear idea of what's just happened to him. That's where Memento gets really interesting; the story begins at the end, and the movie jumps backward in 10-minute segments. The suspense of the movie lies not in discovering what happens, but in finding out why it happened. Amazingly, the movie achieves edge-of-your-seat excitement even as it moves backward in time, and it keeps the mind hopping as cause and effect are pieced together.

Pearce captures Leonard perfectly, conveying both the tragic romance of his quest and his wry humor in dealing with his condition. He is bolstered by several excellent supporting players, and the movie is all but stolen from him by Pantoliano, who delivers an amazing performance as Teddy, the guy who may or may not be on his side. Memento has an intriguing structure and even meditations on the nature of perception and meaning of life if you go looking for them, but it also functions just as well as a completely absorbing thriller. It's rare to find a movie this exciting with so much intelligence behind it. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews:

You may want to watch it twice.......2007-05-23

Every so often, there's a movie where the hero has amnesia. Even with amnesia, a person can establish an identity in a few weeks, judge new people and surroundings, and function. In addition, such movie heroes are easy to identify with, because the audience seems to know as much as the hero.

Well, in this movie, our hero has the opposite problem, an inability to make new memories. And that kind of problem is indeed rare, and it merits some discussion.

What would you do if you couldn't form new memories? Well, you would probably be institutionalized, or cared for by family or friends. Without that, it would be important to be in familiar surroundings as much as possible, ones you would remember. You would remember your old house, your old car, and, of course, your old acquaintances. But you would not remember new possessions or friends. And you would be totally lost in a new town, while in your old one, you would know where your friends' houses were, where your bank was, where the restaurants were, and so on.

You would need to avoid strangers. And you would need a way to take notes, read and understand those notes, and keep a rough diary. Probably you would need to trust a few friends to keep a few key documents and help you update them occasionally. And you would also need a safety deposit box for notes, diary entries, money (even with a bank account, a safety deposit box would be very useful), and so forth.

The key problems would be taking notes, figuring out how to make sure you could and would read and understand those notes, going on "missions" (even a short errand would be a major event), and keeping your privacy.

For any important task, you would almost surely need to be backed up by a trusted friend, known by you from back when you were able to make memories. That friend would need to be with you at such occasions or as a minimum constantly available by phone.

You could write cryptic notes that only you could decipher, using your earlier memories. But it would be hard to be sure just what secrets you had divulged. Basically, you could keep your ideas private only by making sure nobody else saw them. And that would be tricky. That's one more place where a safety deposit box could help somewhat.

I'm writing all this in order to explain just how weird the situation is for our hero in this movie, who is basically, um, "open loop," and cut off from almost everything that is familiar. It's a fascinating and suspenseful movie, but one can see that the hero is at a tremendous disadvantage.

On the other hand, there are some things the hero knows quite well, and that makes the movie work. Rather than offer a spoiler, let me just say that I highly recommend it.

Meeker Review.......2007-05-12

This movie was great! Absolutely crazy but awesome at the same time. You have to pay attention to what happens because the plot goes from past to present alot but its a great movie. You'll enjoy.

I never thought this could be done.......2007-05-08

Time goes backwards but the plot goes forwards.
I think that only because of its unique structure, this movie would deserve 5 stars.
Appart from that, the production, acting, scripting, filming, etc. are very good.

Intriguing.......2007-04-27

Memento is a remarkable, one of a kind film that bears (and probably requires) multiple viewing. This film is utterly fascinating for its ability to put the viewer into someone else's head.

The DVD packaging is a bit too clever for those who just want the movie and supporting features, but it is well worth having.

Memento: The Freshmaker!.......2007-04-14

Having recently seen and enjoyed "The Lookout", another film which features a character trying to piece together his life after a traumatic head injury leaves him memory-challenged, I was inspired to go back and see its cinematic sire of sorts - the now-classic mindwarp that is Memento. And though I bought this DVD when it was released and had watched it twice (which is the minimum number of recommended viewings for this film), it's just collected dust for five years and I hadn't returned to it since.

Aptly enough, I had forgotten much of it, making much of Memento seem newly fresh yet oddly familiar, much like most of its main character Leonard's daily doings. Leonard, as we pretty much all know by now, is trying to get revenge for the killing of his wife, which is made somewhat more challenging (to say the least) by the fact that he suffers from extreme short-term memory loss and can't remember any more than ten minutes at a time. As Leonard himself will tell almost anyone he meets: "I can't make new memories - everything fades."

All of which would in itself make for an interesting movie. But what makes this film truly ingenious is the way it is constructed and edited. You know, one of my dearly-departed favorite author Kurt Vonnegut's Eight Rules for Writing Fiction is: "start as close to the end as possible." Well, Memento takes this rule - written by one of the ultimate storytellers - and pushes it to its extreme, actually starting AT the end and then working backwards - which makes for one of the all-time greatest stories.

Now, a lot of movies that are assembled in this kind of non-linear time-jumpy kind of way are gimmicky to a fault, and confusing for no good reason. But in Memento, this style of editing actually serves the story and makes it better, because - by showing us Leonard's perpetually-perplexing world out of sequence - it forces us to experience the movie in the same disoriented way that Leonard experiences the world. So as Leonard puzzles his way through his life, so do we. This makes us empathize and connect with the film's central character in a way few other movies have ever been able to achieve before or since (whichever way you happen to travel through time in your search). Of course, the fact the Guy Pearce's performance is so riveting helps us enormously with our empathy as well.

Anyway, there are about a thousand (or so) other reviews here that will tell you more about what happens in the movie, but I think that this story - more than most - relies on the surprise that each new/past detail reveals, so I don't want to ruin any of this film's revelations if you are lucky enough to be contemplating seeing this movie for the first time.

And if you are considering watching this picture for the first time (or even if you've already seen it), I would definitely encourage you to buy this DVD. Because the great thing about owning a movie like Memento, as my experience will attest, is that it rewards multiple viewings. And the depth and the detail (in addition to the design) of the film ensure that each viewing is made fresh with new insight and understanding.

In the end, Memento is so much more than just a non-linear, well-crafted crime thriller. It's also an exploration of what makes up a person's identity, and an examination of the malleability of experience. Ultimately, Memento shows us how all our memories are fallible, and - to some degree - we all have to use devices like Leonard uses to remember things: whether it's jotting down phone numbers, taking pictures on our vacations, or (in my case just now) watching a DVD to remind you of all the things you loved about a movie in the first place.

Average customer rating:

Yes, yes, yes...
A victory for Peter Sellers
brillant writing
A Masterpiece
Sweet Satire

Being There
Starring: Ruth Attaway , Richard Basehart , Fran Brill , Alfredine P. Brown , and Oteil Burbridge
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000056WRD
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Amazon.com essential video

Thanks to an extraordinary, delicately balanced performance by Peter Sellers, Being There received mixed reviews during its theatrical release in 1979, but has since become a celebrated comedy with a loyal following. It's one of the most unusual black comedies ever made, simply because it stretches a simple premise over 130 minutes of straight-faced, strangely compelling commentary on politics, media, and celebrity in media-savvy America. Adapted by Jerzy Kozinsky from his own novel, the movie's about a simple-minded, middle-aged gardener who, after a lifetime of seclusion and safety in a Washington, D.C. townhouse, gets his first exposure to reality beyond the walls of his sheltered existence. His only reference to the world is through his childlike addiction to television, and when a chance encounter brings him into the inner fold of a dying billionaire (Melvyn Douglas), he suddenly finds himself the toast of Washington's political elite. His simple phrases about gardening are misinterpreted as anything from economic predictions to sage political advice, and under the sharp direction of Hal Ashby, Sellers has the audacity to take this comedic conceit to its logical extreme. Being There is not for all tastes--especially not for those who don't appreciate comedic subtlety. But as a showcase for the daring genius of Peter Sellers, this is a classic movie in a category all its own. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Peter Sellers triumphs in his Award-winning role as an illiterate gardener hilariously catapulted into the fast lane of political power. Shirley McLaine and Academy Award(R) winner Melvyn Douglas co-star. Year: 1979 Director: Hal Ashby Starring: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Yes, yes, yes..........2007-07-04

I can't believe it but somehow this movie got right by me, and today, 07/04/07 I finally caught the dvd.

A masterpiece, and Sellers at his finest. I wept, I smiled, and I loved...I expect that's what they all had in mind.

The dvd has its choppy, clinky moments but one can overlook them...

A victory for Peter Sellers.......2007-06-20

After learning the Biography of Peter Sellers, I think I understand why he wanted to do this odd ball comedy, that sort of mocked his real life, or how he felt about it. While it was meant to be part of the subtle humor in the end, that Chauncy Gardener (really Chance) was being consider as a presidential candidate, that humor rather became a bad joke which maybe helps explain how a young Bush could get into office.

I loved Sellers as the fumbling chief inspector, who was a genius playing a fool mistaken for a genius, where our commander in chief would be.... Well, I was glad Amazon had this movie. It's meaning is somewhat deeper I think, if you also know more of Sellers' biography, or so that's my take on it, and why I gladly bought it.

brillant writing.......2007-06-15

BRILLIANT writing and food for thought in this crazy mixed up world of ours. Refreshing, fun, hilarious and thought provoking. A must have.

A Masterpiece.......2007-06-13

Jerzy Kozinski's brilliant novel is brought to life in a nearly flawless adaptation. Peter Sellers' finest moment as an actor comes about by his playing a completely blank slate, a man who makes no decisions himself, but rather floats along the river of life, periodically spewing quotes and catchphrases he's gleamed from television, all the while being mistaken for a messianic genius by all who encounter him.

One could argue about what the true meaning of the film is. Is Chance someone to look up to? A sort of idiot-savant guru?
Or is he merely a comic foil used to bring to light the foolishness associated with "cults of personality"? A disgusting byproduct of a media-saturated culture?

Either way, the film is a treasure.

Sweet Satire.......2007-06-07

Peter Sellers stars as Chance, a learning disabled man who is evicted by lawyers from his landlord's estate after his benefactor dies. Simple, yet dignified, his only recourse is to leave with nothing but his umbrella and a suitcase with his sparest belongings. He comes across tough neighborhoods asking people for food and a place to stay with a garden until he has a minor accident where a limousine backs up into his leg. Passenger Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) is so taken in by him, she offers to bring him to a hospital. Seeming so innocent, she takes him instead to their estate where her husband tycoon, Ben (Melvyn Douglas) is bedridden with a blood disease often associated with children. Knowing nothing much more than what he sees on television and his own gardening skills, Chance (renamed Chauncey Gardener by his own conversational mishaps) talks about seasons and gardening growth until he meets the President of the United States (Jack Warden) who visits Ben seeking his economic advice. Once able to impress the President, everyone (including a television audience) thinks they're hearing profound financial advice from an inside man. In the meantime, Eve becomes infatuated with someone whom she only half knows to rejuvenate her life from her older, sick husband; while the rest of the world tries to figure out the identity of this new, stellar personality.

`Being There' is so sweet it takes off any of the cynical edge of the satire. Hardly plausible, the actors and script do well enough to suspend our disbelief, nevertheless. The movie is quirky and innovative for its time. Afterall, when the world waits to hear each work (literally) uttered from Chance's mouth, we know that they had first dibs before 'Forrest Gump'. Shirley MacLaine and Peter Sellers show a diversity in their acting range that is genuine and refreshing.

Average customer rating:

A GREAT CLASSIC
Charade
Excellent all-time favorite! Incomplete transfer though. Read on.
Charade
Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn Spectacular!

Charade
Starring: Grégoire Aslan , Paul Bonifas , Thomas Chelimsky , James Coburn , and Colin Drake
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005LC4A
Release Date: 2001-07-31

Amazon.com essential video

Audrey Hepburn plays a Parisienne whose husband is murdered and who finds she is being followed by four men seeking the fortune her late spouse had hidden away. Cary Grant is the stranger who comes to her aid, but his real motives aren't entirely clear--could he even be the killer? The 1963 film is directed by Stanley Donen, but it has been called "Hitchcockian" for good reason: the possible duplicities between lovers, the unspoken agendas between a man and woman sharing secrets. Charade is nowhere as significant as a Hitchcock film, but suspense-wise it holds its own; and Donen's glossy production lends itself to the welcome experience of stargazing. One wants Cary Grant to be Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn to be no one but Audrey Hepburn in a Hollywood product such as this, and they certainly don't let us down. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT CLASSIC .......2007-06-27

Charade is a great classic for any age group. Picture quality was excellent. Whenever you have Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, George Kelly, James Coburn and Walter Matthau in the same movie how can you go wrong. I rate this movie 10 stars.

Charade.......2007-06-27

This Hitchcock homage provides a last glimpse of Cary as leading man. At sixty, the actor still brings off his trademark persona superbly. Hepburn is also in top form as the put-upon damsel in distress. Deftly combining mystery, romance, and humor, director Donen creates a chic, sophisticated mood via gorgeous Paris locations and a smooth Mancini score. The villains are mean enough to be taken seriously, but exhibit enough idiosyncrasies to seem human (Coburn has particular fun as Tex). As top-drawer entertainment, "Charade" is the real thing.

Excellent all-time favorite! Incomplete transfer though. Read on........2007-05-29

I didn't want to write a complete review of the movie. No need, as so many have echoed my sentiments in previous reviews that this is a first rate movie, with first rate comedic/romantic actors. Hepburn, Grant, Matthau, Kennedy, and Coburn are superb. The dialogue is fun and campy. The plot twists are classic, and the great 60's feel, helped mightily by the amazing Henry Mancini score and Parisien setting are unforgettable and unmatched since. I must point out to buyers, and I likely am repeating other collectors' comments (I didn't read down far enough), that the hi-def digital transfer is incomplete in some places. The first instance I notice this is during 'Bartholomew's' (Matthau's) first meeting with Mrs. Lampert (Hepburn) at the embassy (20:20-30), when he is cleaning a stain from his tie. The image goes inexplicably from clear and warmly lit, to grainy and out of contrast, then back again in the next scene. A very short interval, but strange for a Criterion disc. The other instance of note is right at the end when the last few seconds of the final scene morph with the visuals and credits, not serious, but still odd. There were likely some other spots. I didn't go back and micro-analyze the DVD frame by frame. But, for the serious Criterion fan, it is worth noting. I apologize if such has already been pointed out. It still does not change the fact that this is one of the best comedy/mystery/whodunnits of all time. Enjoy!

Charade.......2007-05-13

I'm a Cary Grant fan so I natuarally think this is an enjoyable movie.

Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn Spectacular!.......2007-05-06

Audery Hepburn stars as a neurotic but lovable woman caught up in murder, mystery and intrigue following her husband's untimely death. Enter the straight laced Cary Grant and hilarity ensues!
This is a must have for fans of classic movies, comedies, mysteries, or anyone just looking for a few hours of good clean fun!

Lucky Number Slevin (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Interesting concept fails in execution
Things to do in NYC when you are out of luck.,
I Can't Think Of A Reason To Rate It Under 5 Stars
Willis at his badest
Overdone revenge

Lucky Number Slevin (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Josh Hartnett , Bruce Willis , Lucy Liu , Morgan Freeman , and Ben Kingsley
Director: Paul McGuigan
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FKO5QK
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Amazon.com

How boring it is to label a movie Tarantino-esque anymore. The thing is, when it comes to an offering like Lucky Number Slevin, the shoe fits, and the result is anything but boring. Gruesome killings, arid wit, self-reflexive pop culture references, an A-list cast, and style-heavy production values abound, which gives the proceedings an epoxy bond that seals the Q.T. homage factor. Josh Hartnett--who spends a lot of buffed-up time with his shirt off--is Slevin Kelevra, a hapless fellow visiting his New York friend Nick. But Nick has disappeared, which sets off a mistaken-identity thrill ride when two goons grab Slevin (he's in Nick's apartment so he must be Nick) and take him to their crime lord boss, the Boss (Morgan Freeman). The Boss doesn't care about Slevin's wrong-man protests; he just wants the $96,000 Nick owes him. In one of many offers he can't refuse, Slevin has to agree to murder the son of the Boss's felonious arch rival, the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) or take the bullet himself. But Slevin turns out to be no ordinary patsy. Thrown into the ingeniously designed production, clever plot twists, and academic nods to Bond, Hitchcock, and obscure old cartoons are Lucy Liu as a sexy coroner, Stanley Tucci as an obsessed cop, and Bruce Willis as a wily hit man with his finger in many pots. With so much visual and narrative trickery, there's almost too much to absorb in one viewing of this convoluted jigsaw puzzle of revenge and entertaining mayhem. Lucky Number Slevin isn't quite up to par with similarly brainy thrillers like Memento and The Usual Suspects, but the prospect of seeing it again in order to get your bearings is just as appealing.--Ted Fry

Description

Down-on-his-luck Slevin stumbles into a running feud between two New York gangsters, The Boss and The Rabbi. Tracked by the mysterious assassin Goodkat and distracted by his flirtatious neighbor, Slevin must use his wits to cheat death.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting concept fails in execution.......2007-06-29

a bit of Internet sleuthing reveals that this is a remake of the Kurosawa film "Yojimbo".

This movie appears to have a lot going for it at first. A classic story borrowed from Kurosawa. An all star cast (Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, Lucy Liu, Josh Hartnett and Bruce Willis). A Guy Ritchie esque plot with confusing changing alliances in the gangster world. And Tarantino-esque dialogue.

Unfortunately its a real stinker.

Let's start with the dialogue. The film wants to pick up the torch of "Pulp Fiction" and "Seinfeld". At key dramatic points characters will stop to have mundane discussions or discuss semantics, etc.

In addition to the fact that we've all seen this a million times before, the film's writers can't quite pull it off. The whole script just comes off sounding like someone who's trying way too hard to be funny. Most of the time I was watching this film I was cringing out of embarrassment for the writers. Part of the blame lies with the uninspiring delivery of the main actor Josh Hartnett, who's no Jerry Seinfeld. But most of the blame must go to the writer. All the rest of the actors sound just as corny when trying to mouth this dialogue.

There are a few surprise plot twists in this film and a few characters who are not what they seem at first, but that is almost to be expected in these kind of films.

The two rival gangsters in this film are Morgan Freeman as "The Boss" and Ben Kingsley as "The Rabbi". The Jewish mobster faction under "The Rabbi" are such a cliche collection of Jewish stereotypes as to further add to the embarrassment of this film. (Hasidic dress, a Rabbi who quotes scripture and talks about the Kosher ways to kill people, an alert button in the shape of a Star of David).

Admittedly I'm being slightly hypocritical now in that I've forgiven other films for a lot worse when it comes to Jewish stereotypes. But in the past I generally thought that the films had a satiric point to make, or were being deliberately irrelevant of everything (South Park, Family Guy). I guess you could argue that this film as well was satire, but you can't tell me it is good satire. It's just plain dumb.

Things to do in NYC when you are out of luck., .......2007-06-25

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

If you think you may have a bad day, consider the day Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett) is having. He's just lost his job and his apartment, and found his girlfriend in bed with another man all on the same day. To top it off, he gets mugged, has his nose broken and loses all his ID cards when he comes to New York City to stay with his high school friend Nick Fisher who fails to meet him at the airport, disappears in the thin air and leaves Slevin stuck in a mafia-war between two families respectively headed by the Rabbi (Ben Kingsley, and he is the Rabbi and the gangster) and The Boss (Morgan Freeman as regal as usually. OT: just before we began watching "Lucky Number Slevin", we returned from "Evan Almighty." It was a double treat to see Morgan Freeman playing God and the mafia boss at the same day). A mysterious assassin Mr. Goodkat (Bruce Willis) seems to have plans on how to use Slevin as a "body" (does not sound too promising for Slevin if you ask me) for his present job. A tough NYC cop (Stanley Tucci) does not want a wild card Slevin in his city. The last thing Slevin needs is a romance with the Nick's next door neighbor Lindsey (Lucy Liu) who happened to word as a coroner for NYCPD while he tries to turn the tables on the gangsters. Yes, of course, the movie brings to mind the classics like "North By Northwest" with the case of a mistaken identity, "Pulp Fiction" (with its style, coolness, and sharp dialogs, and with the small details like a family watch with a long history, and three stars of three Tarantino's movies), "Usual Suspects" (with the way the story has been presented), and "Professional" (well, sometimes the world class assassins have hearts and feelings that they are not supposed to have) but the movie is very entertaining - it is paced extremely well, the use of flash backs is most effective, and the actors, all of them bring style and grace to their roles. Just to see the only scene between Freeman and Sir Kingsley is worth the price of renting. Between my husband and myself, we figured out the story and the secrets behind the lucky numbers rather early into the movie but we still enjoyed watching it and were riveted to the screen until the very last moment, and that's the sign of a well crafted and interesting movie for me.

I Can't Think Of A Reason To Rate It Under 5 Stars.......2007-06-15

You know I gave no attention to the previews for this movie at all. I'm pretty sure that I just didn't take it seriously. The preview portrays it too much in a comedic genre. What it really is a smooth assassin film with some comedy. The film starts out in a terminal with a man just sitting and waiting until an old man in a wheelchair (Bruce Willis) appears out of nowhere. The old man looks harmless of course and starts telling the guy about the story of a Kansas City Shuffle.

The story is based in 1979 and is about a fixed horse race and how everything goes wrong and people end up getting hurt. The purpose of the shuffle is actually to make someone look in another direction. What Willis does after he tells this Kansas City Shuffle tale well you'll have to watch and see. After this a man in present day named Sleven (Josh Hartnett) is introduced. He came to town to meet his friend but before he gets there some bad things happen to him. First he gets kicked out of his apartment, he catches his girlfriend cheating on him, and then he gets mugged.

He didn't have a rough week he had a rough day and so much more is coming for him. After he arrives a cute but annoying neighbor (Lucy Liu) greets him. She just won't leave him alone or stop asking him questions. While sitting in his friend's apartment in a towel someone knocks on the door. It's two guys coming to get him and take him to The Boss (Morgan Freeman) who is well the boss of a mob. The Boss informs him that he can't find his friend and because of this he owes him money. After Slevin is dropped off not too much later two men knock to take him to The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley). The Rabbi is well a Rabbi who also happens to be a boss of a mob.

What may be one of the longest synopsis ever or a least that I've ever had to write this film is definitely worth it. All that and that's only half of the movies story. So many things happen in this film that make it a bit predictable but exciting. The story was done nicely from the pace to the order of the events. It starts out sort of cool with Bruce Willis in the opening scene but then it goes into a bit of comedy. So already you don't really know what to expect from it. Then Lucy Liu is thrown into it and I'm thinking it might go more towards a comedy cause her character was wacky.

I was surprised because the twists were woven in perfectly. Lucy didn't mess with it at all and Hartnett did a nice job. Bruce Willis made the film, well him, Morgan, and Ben. I love the back-story, which was very original. The action or gunplay was just enough to give the movie a bit of a grimy feeling to it. Though this movie is predictable or at least some people will get it quickly I like how it was done. It makes you believe one thing never totally letting go of its seriousness and then they go a little deeper. This had a great cast, it was well written, and I would recommend this to anyone who just wants to see a good film.

Willis at his badest.......2007-05-13

This is what Willis does best, play cool, and as the character that sets the stage for everything that unfurls, he is at his peak. The movie reads like its another professional hit man flick but it goes way beyond that with some nice twists and refreshing plot threads. If Sean Connery's Bond set the mark for suave then Willis sets the bar for cool with this film.

Overdone revenge.......2007-05-05

I liked the acting was good; no wonder as they are talented actors. I did particularly like Lucy Liu effort that I thought was a nice touch in the story. The characters well several are overdone but it made for interesting stories. I was wondering how they all were to come together but when they did the stories with there twists were good. It was over the top but then that is Hollywood.

Average customer rating:

Monty Python is always a pleasure to watch.
Funny, funny, funny
Monty Python
First Try At Python....What Took Me So Long?
Controversial?

Life of Brian
Starring: Terence Bayler , Peter Brett , John Case , Graham Chapman , and John Cleese
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305388458
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Amazon.com essential video

"Blessed are the cheesemakers," a wise man once said. Or maybe not. But the point is Monty Python's Life of Brian is a religious satire that does not target specific religions or religious leaders (like, say, Jesus of Nazareth). Instead, it pokes fun at the mindless and fanatical among their followers--it's an attack on religious zealotry and hypocrisy--things that that fellow from Nazareth didn't particularly care for either. Nevertheless, at the time of its release in 1979, those who hadn't seen it considered it to be quite "controversial."

Life of Brian, you see, is about a chap named Brian (Graham Chapman) born December 25 in a hovel not far from a soon-to-be-famous Bethlehem manger. Brian is mistaken for the messiah and, therefore, manipulated, abused, and exploited by various religious and political factions. And it's really, really funny. Particularly memorable bits include the brassy Shirley Bassey/James Bond-like title song; the bitter rivalry between the anti-Roman resistance groups, the Judean People's Front and the People's Front of Judea; Michael Palin's turn as a lisping, risible Pontius Pilate; Brian urging a throng of false-idol worshippers to think for themselves--to which they reply en masse "Yes, we must think for ourselves!"; the fact that everything Brian does, including losing his sandal in an attempt to flee these wackos, is interpreted as "a sign." Life of Brian is not only one of Monty Python's funniest achievements, it's also the group's sharpest and smartest sustained satire. Blessed are the Pythons. --Jim Emerson

Description

The Gospel according to Monty Python: In Judea, a boy is born in a manger a short distance from and about the same time, as Jesus Christ. Three wise men from the East are for a time deceived by this proximity into believing that he is the promised Messiah, but it soon becomes apparent that he is, in fact, only a hapless peasant named Brian. However, the "Life of Brian" causes plenty of commotion for the Roman Empire and leaves him desperate to escape his burgeoning popularity.

Customer Reviews:

Monty Python is always a pleasure to watch........2007-05-26

The cast of The Life of Brian seemed to have as much fune making the movie as I did watching it. There is always a touch of the sacreligious in th e work of the Monty Python team and the Life of Brian can strik some people harshly. But as in most of their works the tewam seems to be having fun with a story that could have been.

Funny, funny, funny.......2007-05-24

A slight bit of deep tongue-in-cheek stupid slap stick humor, but, hey, that's what these guys are all about. Laugh a little, laugh a lot.

Monty Python.......2007-05-07

at their best. a Laugh out Loud movie. Irreverent, yet pleasing.

First Try At Python....What Took Me So Long?.......2007-04-23

On a friend's strong recommendation, I just got done viewing the Life of Brian. I am glad I did. He had raved about how funny the movie is, so I finally relented and gave it a try. There are many laugh out loud moments in this film. Very witty and smart dialogue, and satirical looks at the way people donduct themselves when in a large group of people. From Brian's "mom" to the song that closes the movie, this film boasts some sheer hilarity. I enjoy smart films, even when the smart is in the form of satire. A movie like the Lif of Brian further illustrates how mediocre many of the new Hollywood comedies are (Talladega Nights, R.V., etc.).

I recommend this movie. Granted it can be described as an acquired taste, yet I found the taste fast to acquire. Four stars.

Controversial?.......2007-03-26

With by far the majority raving over this trite and predictably British schoolyard humour since its release, I would hardly ever have called it 'controversial'.
Seems the vocal Christians were surprisingly mum over this one. Could have sent this 5 star rating down a few pegs if they'd spoken up against what they would have called mockery and blasphemy.

Average customer rating:

Forget the feature, watch "The Dot and the Line"
Check out the U.N.C.L.E. cameo!
The Glass Bottom Boat - Doris Day
My Favorite Doris Day Movie...
Funny Movie

The Glass Bottom Boat
Starring: Doris Day , Rod Taylor , Arthur Godfrey , John McGiver , and Paul Lynde
Director: Frank Tashlin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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With Six You Get Eggroll
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ASIN: B0007QS2ZC
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Customer Reviews:

Forget the feature, watch "The Dot and the Line".......2007-05-21

I have a soft spot for silly 'sixties comedies, but not this one. It's too long. The script is weak and not very funny. The direction is often sloppy. Worse, a very good cast is given very little to do.

If I were judging this DVD just on the movie, I'd give it one star.

However, this DVD contains Chuck Jones' Academy Award winning cartoon
"The Dot and the Line". That's worth a few extra stars.

Check out the U.N.C.L.E. cameo!.......2007-04-25

In the party scene, there was a cameo that had me on the floor -- watch closely when Paul Lynde (in blue sequined dress and towering red wig) is on his way to the bathroom. He passes, of all people 'Napoleon Solo' of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." played by Robert Vaughn! UNCLE was a huge hit at the time, and no doubt this was an in joke, as the company that made 'boat' also made 'UNCLE'---You even hear the UNCLE theme music as Solo turns around! Now if only they sneaked Ilya Kuriakin in there!

Great, silly movie, Doris is fab as always, and Rod Taylor is as sophisticatedly sexy as ever!

The Glass Bottom Boat - Doris Day.......2007-03-13

excellant movie, funny, entertaining - good family movie - just can't beat a Doris Day movie - she is one of a kind and my personal favorite - really charming, the movie - just great ..........quality of the DVD was very good............MaryEllen Cassidy

My Favorite Doris Day Movie..........2007-03-03

This is a truly great comedy, with great supports from Paul Lynde, Dick Martin, John McGiver, and Edward Andrews. Rod Taylor is also one of my favorites. Everyone shines in this. Practically every scene is a gem!! Classic. DVD quality is great and a few extras. Don't have these type of great comedians anymore.

Funny Movie.......2007-02-22

My husband and I happened to catch this movie on PBS about 1 year ago and laughed so much we had to own it. Doris Day and Rod Taylor are so much fun to watch in this movie. I highly recommend this if you like old romantic comedies.

Average customer rating:

This movie actually made me mad
good movie
The Original
Few redeeming factors
freaky. kinky. and weird.

Eating Out
Starring: Rebekah Kochan , Scott Lunsford , Jim Verraros , Natalie Burge , and Adrienne Pearson
Director: Q. Allan Brocka
Manufacturer: Ariztical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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Just a Question of Love
Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds
Latter Days (Unrated Edition)
The 24th Day
Mysterious Skin (Deluxe Unrated Director's Edition)

ASIN: B00099415C
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Product Description

Set in the Arizona Sonoran desert, Caleb (Scott Lunsford), is a hunky straight college student who has just been dumped by his slutty girlfriend. Caleb then meets Gwen (Emily Stiles) and falls head over heels for her, the only problem is that Gwen is only attracted to gay men. In an attempt to help Caleb with his plight Kyle (Jim Verraros, American Idol ), Caleb s gay roommate, hatches up a plan to get Caleb closer to Gwen and in turn he can also get closer to Marc (Ryan Carnes, Desperate Housewives ), Gwen's gay roommate. The plan seriously backfires when Marc develops a major crush on Caleb and Gwen decides they make a perfect couple.

Customer Reviews:

This movie actually made me mad.......2007-06-24

I went into this movie not expecting anything deep or meaningful, how could you with that soft-core DVD cover? What I was hoping for were some cheap thrills in seeing guys naked and maybe some laughs. The movie is not well written, acted or filmed. As I said, I wasn't expecting much so all that I could forgiven. What I can't forgive is the depiction of the main female character, Gwen. It seems that everyone (the actress, writers, director) was doing their best to make Gwen into the most unlikable, detestable character in the world. They might have been going for a character that was "quirky" and "honest" and "fun." Instead we got a girl that came off as nothing less than rude, tacky, horny and dumb.

Of course the worst part was that every other character was so willing to put up with her crap. I kept wondering, "Why does Caleb want this girl? Dude, you're not the best actor, but you can do better." But EVERYONE in this movie seemed to love her. The biggest offence happened most of the way through the movie, Gwen betrays another character in the most reprehensable way. And when they find out about it at the end of the movie...it's shrugged off two seconds later as an "Oh well" type moment. I got up and screamed at my TV then. These guys all needed to get some balls b/c Gwen obviously had them all in her purse.

In the end, I was just confused about what I supposed to be routing for in this movie. Was I supposed to route for Caleb to give into his possible gay urges and go all the way with Marc? Was I supposed to want this ruse to work and for Gwen and Caleb to get together? Or was I supposed to want Kyle (Jim Veraros in the only decently acted role) to find love somehow? In the end, the only thing I was hoping for was for Gwen to fall into a ditch and die.

This type of dumb movie isn't really worth this much thought. But I don't think I have ever been angered so much by one character in a movie. Of course, everyone else in the movie kept talking about how awesome she was so they're idiots,too. The fact that she's in the sequel just makes me want to steer clear.

Shut up, Gwen.

good movie.......2007-06-12

great movie
very funny
kinda cliche ending
also cute, and very hot

The Original.......2007-05-18

"Eating Out"

The Original

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

Now that "Sloppy Seconds: Eating Out II" is out, I thought it would be a good idea to go back and look at the movie that brought about a sequel.
"Eating Out" (Ariztical Entertainment) is cheesy but very funny and enjoyable. It is upbeat and had me laughing and that is good. The dialog is smart; the film is well cast and well acted.
Caleb is not a happy man. He constantly strikes out with girls so he decides to take a tip from his gay roommate and pretends to be gay because, as we all know, don't we, that girls love gay men. After all, it is easier for a gay man to score with a woman than a straight man. When Caleb is suddenly outed, he becomes the object of a sex hunt by gay men and fag hags (I hate that term but it fits). What follows is ridiculous situation after ridiculous situation. Ultimately Caleb is outed to his parents at a diner party but as the whole thing begins to overwhelm, there is resolution and a happy ending.
The two leads are very good looking and hot men but the reviews for this film have not been kind. Maybe a light, fluffy movie is not to be considered worthy of a good review. It reminded me a bit of the teen comedies of the 60's and 70's (yes I can remember them) but with a gay twist--boy-wants-girl-who-wants-boy-who-wants boy.
There is a phone sex scene that has received a lot of hyped and indeed does make the audience squirm. Even though it is a bit long, it is very sexy." Eating Out" is one of those films that look good with young hunky actors who look good on camera and give decent performances. The film takes place basically indoors so there is not a lot of external photography.
I suppose if I have to pick fault with the film. It is with some of the inane dialog. There is a lot of slang used and it is annoying and with coming out of some of the mouths of the good looking characters, it makes the cast look a bit superficial. There are also some really bad jokes and one-liners, one about HIV that is somewhat appalling.
With that said, I, by and large, enjoyed the film but I will add that I do think it could have been much, much better.

Few redeeming factors.......2007-01-14

There are funny moments. There are dull moments. There are bad moments. There are far to many bad moments. Overall this movie is really bad, but I can't say that it's not acted well. I enjoyed the acting, but the writing was terrible. My partner and I decided to give it a try, and were both so sorry we had. I busied myself doing some housework while it played out. The best part(s!): Ryan naked.
(Un?)Fortunately, there's a sequel that he's not a part of.

freaky. kinky. and weird........2007-01-04

It is very obvious, as soon as you start watching this movie, that this is a low-budget kind. Yet, despite its cheap quality, it's somewhat funny and plain weird. Just be in the mood to watch something zany before you pop in this DVD.

First of all, this movie carries the message that gay men are often surrounded by women. Not only that but that gay men and women friends share affection, which can lead to sex. O.....k!

So, the movie opens with Caleb and his girlfriend Tiffani. At first, it looks like they must be acting for a porn film. Actually, they were just role-playing. Tiffani isn't impressed with Caleb and dumps him.

Dejected, Caleb goes home to his gay roommate, Kyle (Jim Verranos). (What ever possess Jim to do this film?) From Kyle, Caleb is led to believe that sex sometimes happens between gay men and their women friends. So, Caleb decides to declare himself gay so he can land himself a woman.

Next to enter the picture are Gwen and Marc. Gwen and her gay roommate, Marc, are hosting a party at their apartment. Gwen has just been dumped by her obviously gay boyfriend after coming out to her. Kyle likes Marc but feels he's out of the league for Marc to notice him. Caleb sees Gwen and immediately desires her.

A perfect opportunity opens up for Marc, Gwen, Caleb and Kyle to meet and introduce each other. Kyle and Caleb agree Caleb will create an opportunity for Marc to notice Kyle. Kyle, on the other hand, will try to connect Caleb to Gwen.

Immediately, a date is set up for Marc and Caleb. When the day comes, Caleb heads over to Marc's place. While Marc is getting ready, Gwen checks him out and discovers he's a gay virgin which just turns Gwen on.

After the date is over, they go back to Marc's place. Gwen is somewhere else. Marc wants to jump into bed ith Caleb but without any pressure. Nothing is happening. Gwen calls and discovers that the date is platonic. She speaks to Caleb and initiates phone sex. Meanwhile, Marc takes advantage and works on him.

Kyle discovers what happens afterwards and is disappointed in Caleb. Caleb decides to solve this whole mess by inviting Gwen and Marc over for dinner. Kyle makes it worse by inviting Caleb's parents over. Everything just goes wrong.

When the night is over, the truth comes out among the four of them. All I can say is that it's a happy ending for all of them.

*Eating Out* is cheesy funny, weird and oddly kinky. If you like zany films, then go ahead and watch this low-budget movie. Just don't expect to be impressed.

Average customer rating:

POD clone can't match the original for sheer, icy terror.
No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic
Good Effort
The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows.
Chilling And Moody Remake Of The 1950's Sci Fi Classic

Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Starring: Brooke Adams , Maurice Argent , Veronica Cartwright , Sam Conti , and Tom Dahlgren
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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Soylent Green
The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
The Day the Earth Stood Still

ASIN: 0792838416
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Amazon.com

Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel has been the basis of three big-screen adaptations, beginning with the 1956 chiller Invasion of the Body Snatchers and most recently as 1994's underrated Body Snatchers. This acclaimed 1978 version from director Philip Kaufman (The Right Stuff) is every bit as creepy as the '56 original, and it fits perfectly into the cycle of paranoid thrillers that thrived in American movies of the 1970s. Kaufman stylishly directs from an intelligent screenplay by W.D. Richter, while Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams lead a distinguished cast (including Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy, and Veronica Cartwright) and must fight for survival as the population of San Francisco is systematically cloned by alien "pods" from a distant, dying planet. The atmosphere of dread and paranoia grows increasingly intense as the complexity of the alien invasion is gradually revealed, until nobody can be trusted to be who they appear. Finely tuned performances enhance the film's eerie atmosphere, highlighted by moments that will lurk in your memory long after the movie's over. MGM's DVD release includes a full-length audio commentary by Kaufman, a "pod culture" retrospective, Body Snatchers trivia, production notes, and the original theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon

Description

When filmy spores fall from space and take root in San Francisco, the city is beautifully transformed by spectacular and exotic flowers. But these lovely extraterrestrial blossoms have gruesome plansfor their earthly admirers: to slowly clone their bodies

Customer Reviews:

POD clone can't match the original for sheer, icy terror........2007-06-18

Irony in this first sequel to the greatest NIGHTMARE movie ever made is ...like self-consciously hip San Francisco it's filmed-in...the project is RETURN to POD CITY USA~more like a POD itself than the reel deal.IV/BS-2 is triumph-manque of style over substance.There is battle-array of classy (show-off)camera angles and smoke-and-mirrors lighting effects.Ensemble acting is okay to good with admirable,non-ironic POD:purity of d'part.But even quirky...PET/POD SOUNDS effects-laden...music is only a clone of the BxW original's id-chord spine chilling Snatcherscore.Veronica Cartwright's character is shrilling reprise of her ALIEN lost-soul crewman shtick;not a viewer whose seen SPOCK Trek or original BODY SNATCHERS even winces in surprise that Leonard Nimoy is The Snatch Master.

Maron County--Invasion's HQ,second or third Yuppiest in USA,whose capital is SF--forte is PSYCHIATRY/PSYCHOLOGY[one out of 2&1/2 residents is a shrink]is Pod land uber alles.The City itself is King-of-Queens satrapy of male homosexuality in the US~ergo:the Podsters had a huge jump-start in their Space-AIDS attack.The remake of INVASION of the BODY SNATCHERS is not bad;it's simply not scary.(Even typical"surprise ending"is POD bogus). See the original...before Daniel Craig bring his 007 version to IV-BS 4. This 1978 clone can't match the original for icy terror.I'm betting "Pod, James Pod," can't either.(3 & 1/2 pods)

No frills release of a Philip Kaufman classic.......2007-06-01

Director Philip Kaufman cooked up this thoughtful (and thought-provoking) rendition of the original shocker from Jack Finney. Adding post-modern existentialist tones, utilizing the trippy, post-hippy psycho-babble that was rampant in San Francisco after the Summer of Love, the idea of people 'changing' suddenly takes on new resonance. The sound design, and music by avant-garde jazzist Denny Zeitlin, is superb. Note that you hear sirens and hear screams from the get-go, adding to the paranoia. Donald Sutherland gave a perfect pitch performance as the ambivalent, emotionally strapped Matthew Binnell, Brooke Adams as his unavailable love.

I took a star off of this beloved film, as the print isn't anamorphic, and the sound is only Dolby Surround 2.0. The reverb bass that I enjoyed so much in the theater (during the discovery of the body in the bath house, and the "Amazing Grace" scene) really deserves a DD 5.1 mastering. -

Good Effort.......2007-03-30

Though I will always be a huge fan of the original, I did like this remake(the first of 2 with a 3rd coming up). Though it does touch upon some of the same plot points as the original, it does change things up enough to keep it interesting. With Sutherland, Nimoy, Goldblum you certainly have a lot of interesting actors. The new ending is terrific. I found the picture transfer a little dark at times, but overall it seems to be a good print. The film and the scares hold up well after nearly 30 years. A good one to add to your science fiction collection.

The Seed is Planted... Terror Grows........2007-03-04

Every so often a movie comes along where I think, "How the heck have I not seen this before?" Invasion of the Body Snatchers falls into that category. It is, of course, not to be confused with the original 1956 film of the same name.

This version stars Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, and Leonard "Spock" Nimoy. I originally saw it when I was flipping around the channels on a Sunday afternoon, and ran across the ver