Unreal

Starring:Robin Barnier, Elizabeth Custer, Jessica Dill, Kate Forsatz, Denise Garvey, Michael Giese, Adam Harris (III), Jim Kaminski, Jennifer Lorch, Alex Mauriello, Sarah Mindlin, JoAnn Nigro, Adam Pearson, Amber Ryan, Irina Sadovich, Jennifer Saltzstein, Brad Schmidt (II), Peter Schuyler (II), Kelly-Ann Tursi
Studio: Lifesize Home Entert
Product Type: DVD

Description

Henry Darger, an elderly recluse, spent his childhood in Illinois's asylum for feeble-minded children and his adulthood working as a janitor. He lived a quiet, nearly solitary existence, but his imaginary life was exciting, colorful and sexually provocative. When he died in Chicago in 1973, his landlady discovered in his room 300 paintings, some over 10 feet long, and a 15,000-page illustrated novel (The Realms of the Unreal), which told the epic story of the virtuous Vivian Girls leading a child slave revolt against the evil Glandelinians. Featuring Dakota Fanning (Hide and Seek) and Larry Pine (The Royal Tenenbaums) as narrators and imaginative animation of Darger's work, Oscar® winner Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons) brings to life one of the twentieth century's greatest self-taught artists.

Customer Reviews:

Darger Inspires, Film-Maker Not So Much.......2007-06-26

Henry Darger is very inspirational. To characterize his art, as some have, as an offshoot of mental illness is insulting to Darger's legacy. Because he was different, solitary, does not make him mentally ill - he seemed to function as a person, hold a job, etc - why does this make him insane? Choosing solitude should not be considered an illness.

The director took too much liberty in the choice to animate his drawings, and did it badly, to add insult to injury. Underemphasis on the Catholicism is also a problem. I hate to bring it up, but perhaps being Asian might be a slight barrier to fully understanding the Catholic aspect.

The little girl voice is especially irritating, as it sounds like she needs to blow her nose really badly throughout all her narrations. I kept wanting to shout "Hey, somebody get the litte girl a kleenex!"

Henry da Man.......2007-05-14

I feel totally inspired by this documentary about Henry Darger, orphaned and victimized by child-slavery. That he could express his innermost needs thru his personal art and writings, never making art because he desired any sort of admiration from others. I find the story so touching, yet funny that he really didn't realize that little girls don't have penises~~or who knows, maybe he fantasized that they did! His art was his own and nobody else's. For those of us who have felt such intense isolation from others, here is a hero!

Unreal world? Or was Henry Darger an Ultra-Realist?.......2007-04-13

This is a fascinating film of one of the 20th Centuries most important artists: Henry Darger. Filmmaker Jessica Yu had some hard choices to make, but presents a Darger self portrait, an observers portrait, and partial exploration of Darger's interior world in the film's three narrative veins.

My own criticism, and this is frankly a minor quibble, is that too little is made of Darger's Catholicism. Henry Darger assisted (read: attended) at Mass sometimes five times a day, this in addition to his life's work, and his job, and his weather observations. Too little is made of this dimension of Darger's self-construct and in the way others saw him.

But this is a forgivable flaw. Jessica Yu's portrait is an excellent first approximation of a fascinating artist and man, and her film invokes the lesson amplified by Walker Percy and commanded by the Church: there is an infinity in any human soul. May we meet Henry Darger in paradise now that we have been given the grace to see his interior world this side of the veil.

Fascinating Study of Adult Sexual Ignorance or Immaturity.......2006-08-26

To me, the most fascinating aspect of this movie is that Henry seemed to be utterly ignorant of the differences between boys and girls. When I was growing up, nudity between the sexes was utterly taboo - we had to be very careful to explore each other without alerting out parents. Those little kids who did not have or take those opportunities invariably said the sexual differences were that boys had short hair and wore pants and girls had long hair and wore dresses. Henry either never was able to see the physical differences between the sexes, or he did so late he was psychologically unable to accept the differences. Thus, he drew his naked little girls as he would have imagined them as a little boy - like his body, but with long hair.

Unable to relate to the opposite sex, which also would have made him an oddity to his own sex, he withdrew more and more into his own imaginary world. In an effort to make sense of his life, and possibly to find some social acceptance, he grew into a faithful Catholic. He might have felt at home in the Church because he learned sexual mores through the Catholic orphanages he grew up in, and then those mores were reinforced through the Church in homilies and other teachings of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.

This movie is a study of this interrelation between his utter lack of knowledge, yet fascination with little girls and his absorption of the catechism of the Catholic Church. To create his own reality since he couldn't comprehend the larger social actuality, he wrote and drew the world as he saw it within this context. The movie, especially to one who is interested in sexual paraphilias or sexual immaturity in an adult, is interesting in this respect.

Very Bizarre..........2006-08-17

Well many people have claimed Henry Darger was retarded which makes no sense considering his achievements. He wrote a 15,000 page plus book withs hundreds and hundreds of paintings for it. Do you know one mentally challenged person who can sit down and write 10 good pages or one good drawing? No but from what I've seen in this film Mr Darger was probably an autistic savant. Savants are very anti-social can't hold up common everyday tasks but are absolute geniuses at subjects like math or drawing. All these things fit Henry Darger's life. Many people claim that he was a genius writer which although he was a good one he obviously didn't set out to write a fantasy novel. Henry Darger was deeply religious but also had witnessed much child cruelty during his early years.
Mostly he set out to tell a tale of how children are abused constantly but sets it in a grand religious style story. As for why he gave girls male body parts. Many people once again make him try to seem like a genius that he was representing that women could be as strong as men by having their parts which is not only absurd but sexist too. Darger simply didnt know that girls had different parts than boys. That is my take on the life of Henry Darger.

PS Many people have different views on his life and many people will disagree on how I explain his story but there's no true answer to his story.

Average customer rating:

Don't waste your money...
One Of The Best Wrestling Documentaries Avalible.
Not very timely, but still a good contemporary documentary
Only a true wrestling fan would have a video like this!
Dont buy this video.......unless........

The Unreal Story of Pro Wrestling
Starring: Hulk Hogan , Kevin Nash , Randy Savage , and Bret Hart
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Beyond the Mat (Unrated Director's Cut) (Ringside Special Edition)
The Glory Days of Wrestling
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro
WWE - Mick Foley Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling (Hardcore Edition)
The Rise and Fall of ECW

ASIN: B00003OSSP
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Amazon.com

"Sure, wrestling is fake," admits narrator Steve Allen. "We wouldn't have it any other way." So much for ripping the lid off pro wrestling, but fear not--there may be no dirty little secret, but there is a colorful history. Digging way back to its roots--when it was a genuine athletic event and not "a soap opera with a referee"--the slow mutation of wrestling is analyzed in generous detail from its height at the turn of the 19th century to its nadir as a carnival sideshow attraction and urban entertainment during the Depression to its phoenix-like rebirth on early television to its modern-day explosion on cable. Interviews with modern stars, such as Hulk Hogan and veterans Classy Freddie Blassie and Killer Kowalski, wrestling historians, and even college professors tackle the subject from all sides, but the commentary is secondary to the spectacle provided by a rich array of clips--everything from prissy Gorgeous George's ringside sashays to midget wresting to a montage featuring the ubiquitous folding chair to the head. The Unreal Story of Pro Wrestling tends to emphasize the freak-show elements of the sport--which, granted, are much of the documentary's fun--but does capture the showmanship and crazy energy that has transformed a sideshow attraction into a gonzo spectacle in a format that manages to be informative and fun at the same time. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your money..........2001-11-09

This title really is a waste of cash. If you saw it
on A&E when it first came out then you will know what I mean.
If not, trust your Uncle Jon here- the stories on here are
mostly fiction, even the interviews they do. The story on
Andre the Giant and Wrestlemania III is laugh out loud for
how little truth there is to it. They focus a little on the
early days (get your truth meter out) and then jump mainly
to the 1990's and the WWF. A man like Ric Flair, who has done
so much for this industry, is glossed over with at most 3
minutes of screen time. Bruno Sammartino is skipped entirely,
as are countless others that are legendary figures in
pro wrestling. Skip this title and go get Beyond the Mat or
even better- Wrestling with Shadows.

One Of The Best Wrestling Documentaries Avalible........2001-08-25

Honestly, if you are looking for a wrestling documentary, if you don't already have it, I would highly suggest getting Beyond The Mat before buying this one, as Beyond The Mat is a much better, much deeper look into the world of professional wrestling. If you already have or have seen Beyond The Mat, this DVD would be an excellent add to your collection. This documentary originally aired on A&E, and is presented in a manner to explain pro wrestling to the non-wrestling fan. For wrestling collectors, this is a must have. For the casual fan, go with Beyond The Mat instead.

Not very timely, but still a good contemporary documentary.......2001-02-27

I saw this premiere on A&E the night before the April 27, 1998, WWF Raw is War/War Zone show from Hampton, Virginia (which I attended). That date is very significant because it was the moment, in my opinion, that the WWF started to soar in mainstream popularity once again.

This documentary premiered the night before that fateful show. It served as a prelude of what was to come over the next couple of years. Basically, it is a pretty-much thorough history of professional wrestling in the United States, from Frank Gotch and George Hackenschmidt to Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Although the most recent stuff that is covered is from October 1997 - just before Bill Goldberg started his meteoric rise to fame and right before the double-cross in Montreal - the documentary is still contemporary enough that you can still relate to it in the present terms.

There are few inaccuracies in this documentary. Pretty much everything is spot-on, history-wise.

I still give it a very high recommendation. If you wish to delve into the history of the grand spectacle of pro wrestling, this is a great place to start.

Only a true wrestling fan would have a video like this!.......2000-10-03

From the wrestling legends, to the their gimmicks and matches, this documentary shows it all. Just be prepared to spend a couple hours in front of the old tube... You can find all of your old favorites from Lou Thesz to Andre the Giant, to Hulk Hogan, and more! I reccomend this movie to any real hardcore wrestling fan who wants to know more about true Sports Entertainment.

Dont buy this video.......unless...............2000-04-05

If you your looking for a video that has a lot of stuff about wrestling today. Then dont buy this video. It has a couple of pictures and stuff but not much. It mostly show footage of past wrestlers that are dead. The story goes from: 1910-1989. I bought this video over a year ago and I only watched it once. Its a pretty bad video unless your intrested in the wrestling back when there was black and white television. Another bad thing is that its over 2 hours long so you cant watch it any time you want you got to plan to watch it and make sure your not doing anything for 3 hours. I hope this helps.

Average customer rating:

a really good movie
Bad, and an ironic title
The Official Handbook For Starting Over
If zero stars were an option, I'd pick that.
unREAL = breakup therapy

Unreal
Starring: Robin Barnier , Elizabeth Custer , Jessica Dill , Kate Forsatz , and Denise Garvey
Manufacturer: Lifesize Home Entert
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Urban | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( U ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Comedy | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0009OUBPG
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Description

In the style of "The Real World", this uproarious romantic comedy captures the heartache of breaking up and the thrill of being single in such a genuine and honest way that it should be the official handbook on starting over. Six individual camera crews follow the new "exes" of three recently broken up Manhattan couples as they are re-released into the wild that is the New York City single scene. With results varying from hilarious to heartwarming and everything in between, UNREAL offers a voyeuristic ride straight through the heart of 21st century romance.

Customer Reviews:

a really good movie.......2006-01-07

unreal is one of the coolest movies i've seen in a while. i don't want to give anything away but it says so much about people and relationships and hooking up, and is so funny, with a really hot cast. i've already watched it a ton of times and all my friends love it too. i bought 3 copies for my friends for christmas. i don't understand how you can't love this movie.

Bad, and an ironic title.......2005-11-08

Unreal is a bad movie. It starts out good, but gets really boring. Then you realize it's a mockumentary and the whole film goes down hill.

The Official Handbook For Starting Over.......2005-09-27

I saw Unreal just after I broke up with my long-term boyfriend and I loved it. I could identify with the characters and what they were going through. The movie was funny and sweet at the same time. I loved how they bashed reality shows in the process. A must see for anyone who has ever battled the single scene!

If zero stars were an option, I'd pick that. .......2005-09-18

"UnREAL" is in my top three list of Worst Movies Ever. My eloquent associate stated that she could take a dump on a piece of celluloid and it'd be a better movie than this. I haven't seen "gigli" but I imagine it trounces "UnREAL" in terms of narrative cohesion and character likeability. You have your main character, "Jake", a sexist oinker who should have his reproductive organs shorn off, and has the charisma of a stagnant puddle of bile. Then you have his ex paramour, "Rachel", a glowing representation of the female gender. She is spineless, whingeing, stupid, and self-absorbed. Also, she can't imagine life without her worthless ex, who is busy in the real world trying to copulate with any orifice that enters his personal radius. There are more ridiculous characters, but I'm wasting brain capacity storing this information. Yeah, yeah. "Clever mock-umentary". Who cares if it's a parody? It's boring and charmless. And if it's satire, it should at least be smart. And trust me, friends, it is not.

unREAL = breakup therapy.......2005-08-23

unREAL - as ironically literal as a title could be - is the type of film with such absolutely relate-able truth that it is the perfect movie to watch when getting through a breakup, or for anytime in a relationship or single life for that matter. It truly has something for everyone, whether you're the sensitive romantic type, or edgier player type. This movie captures the best and worst parts of every aspect of relationships. With that, it even has a twist in the story while poking fun at reality tv. UNREAL has quickly moved into my favs with REALITY BITES, SINGLES, and SWINGERS. It couldn't be more of a perfect breakup therapy!

Charlie Rose with Richard Blumenthal; Ada Louise Huxtable; Ivan Reitman (April 24, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Richard Blumenthal; Ada Louise Huxtable; Ivan Reitman (April 24, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Charlie speaks to attorney general of Connecticut Richard Blumenthal about the his role in state negotiations with the big tobacco companies. Next, architect critic for The Wall Street Journal, Ada Louise Huxtable, tells Charlie how she has influenced architectural criticism over the years and also talks about her new book entitled, The Unreal America: Architecture and Illusion. Finally, filmmaker Ivan Reitman talks about his blockbuster hits this year including Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Private Parts with radio personality Howard Stern.

Average customer rating:

Darger Inspires, Film-Maker Not So Much
Henry da Man
Unreal world? Or was Henry Darger an Ultra-Realist?
Fascinating Study of Adult Sexual Ignorance or Immaturity
Very Bizarre...

In the Realms of the Unreal
Starring: Larry Pine , Dakota Fanning , Frier McCollister , Wally Wingert , and Janice Hong (II)
Director: Jessica Yu
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Henry Darger: Art and Selected Writings
How to Draw a Bunny
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ASIN: B00005JO42

Customer Reviews:

Darger Inspires, Film-Maker Not So Much.......2007-06-26

Henry da Man.......2007-05-14

Unreal world? Or was Henry Darger an Ultra-Realist?.......2007-04-13

Fascinating Study of Adult Sexual Ignorance or Immaturity.......2006-08-26

Very Bizarre..........2006-08-17

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