Nathalie

Starring:Roger Beach
Studio: Jef Films Inc.
Product Type: DVD

Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Great way to waste your money !!!
Kingdom of Deeez
Outstanding!!!
And then some
Well worth it.

Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Martin Hancock , Michael Sheen , Nathalie Cox , Eriq Ebouaney , and Jouko Ahola
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EHSVQ4
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Amazon.com

It's hard to believe Ridley Scott's handsome epic won't become the cinematic touchstone of the Crusades for years to come. Kingdom of Heaven is greater than the sum of its parts, delivering a vital, mostly engrossing tale following Balian (Orlando Bloom), a lonely French blacksmith who discovers he's a noble heir and takes his father's (Liam Neeson) place in the center of the universe circa 1184: Jerusalem. Here, grand battles and backdoor politics are key as Scott and first-time screenwriter William Monahan fashion an excellent storyline to tackle the centuries-long conflict. Two forward-thinking kings, Baldwin (Edward Norton in an uncredited yet substantial role) and Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), hold an uneasy truce between Christians (who hold the city) and Muslims while factions champ at the bit for blood. There are good and evildoers on both sides, with the Knights Templar taking the brunt of the blame; Balian plans to find his soul while protecting Baldwin and the people. The look of the film, as nearly everything is from Scott, is impressive: his CGI-infused battle scenes rival the LOTR series and, with cinematographer John Mathieson, create postcard beauty with snowy French forests and the vast desert (filmed in Morocco and Spain). An excellent supporting cast, including Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and David Thewlis, also help make the head and heart of the film work. Many critics pointed out that Bloom doesn't have the gravitas of Russell Crowe in the lead (then again, who does?), but it's the underdeveloped character and not the actor that hurts the film and impacts its power. Balian isn't given much more to do than be sullen and give an occasional big speech, alongside his perplexing abilities for warfare tactics and his wandering moral compass (whose sole purpose seems to be to put a love scene in the movie). Note: all the major characters except Neeson's are based on fact, but many are heavily fictionalized. --Doug Thomas

On the DVD
The Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut is truly a DVD set of biblical proportions. If you are familiar with Ridley Scott's excellent, albeit massive, extended DVD sets for Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, you have a pretty good idea of what you are in for with this set. The biggest difference--unlike the Gladiator Director's Cut, which had some nice new scenes that really didn't add much to the film--is that this cut of Kingdom of Heaven is a drastic improvement over the theatrical release. This extensive 194-minute version brings the film back to Scott's original vision, maintaining an impressive balance of history, plot, and believable period reenactments and battle scenes. The best way to describe the improvements on the extended version is the film is now able to breathe a bit more, it's less choppy, and it has stronger character development. In addition to the extended scenes (which now span two discs in a clunky Road Show presentation), there is an exhaustive three-hour, six-part documentary detailing every aspect of filmmaking from the development of the "idea" through post-production and release. Also included are three feature-length commentary tracks, the best being the first with Ridley Scott, writer William Monahan, and actor Orlando Bloom. Included on the original release but missing from this set are the A&E/History Channel documentaries, the theatrical cut of the film, and "The Pilgrim's Guide," the fantastic text commentary which pointed out the historical anecdotes as the film played. Fans of the film and completists will probably want to hold onto both versions. However, those picking up Kingdom of Heaven for the first time need only to look to this definitive version. --Rob Bracco

Description

Among the best directors of our time, Ridley Scott (Gladiator), contributes generously to this extraordinary Collector?s Edition of Kingdom of Heaven. Featuring his Director?s Cut of the film and hours of fascinating extras including a six-part tour from conception to completion of filmmaking this definitive set makes what Variety called a "genuinely spectacular" film even more so!

An epic marvel that's as beautifully acted as it is visually awesome, Kingdom of Heaven stars Orlando Bloom as Balian, a Jerusalem blacksmith who has lost his family and his faith. But when his father (Liam Neeson) shows him his destiny, Balian vows to defend his country, and in the process, falls in love, becomes a formidable leader, and steps forever into history

Customer Reviews:

Great way to waste your money !!!.......2007-06-28

This is one of the worst films ever made, maybe even worse than "Waterworld," if that's possible. The scenery is excellent, the costumes are great; but it all goes downhill from there. The story is this convoluted ridiculous farce about a blacksmith who suddenly becomes a knight and then falls in love with the Queen of Jerusalem...um...I think. Actually the story is so poorly told it's not clear who is who...but more importantly, I don't care because the story and the acting is so superficial I ended up hoping everybody would end up dying in a mass apocalyptic attack on the walls of Jerusalem. The script read as if it was written by a 7th grader who read a couple Skakespeare plays, looked at a couple "Medieval History" websites one night, and wrote a script, full of the most predicable trite cliche's ever written. The director has NO understanding of the crusades, and what they were about. He has the main character saying some trendy politcally correct jargon like "Jerusalem does not belong to one religion, but to all." There is not a single crusader who would have said that! And then at the end he vows not to surrender to the invading army, and then goes out and surrenders, and then everyone hails him as a hero because he surrenders. This movie is indicative of the whole mindset of the country where giving up fighting for something noble is better than fighting for what you believe in. Total trendy liberal ideology disguised as a historical epic. Don't waste your time or money on this silly over rated farce.

Kingdom of Deeez.......2007-06-27

The amount of development that went into this movie was amazing. I thought this movie was good in theaters...until I saw the directors cut which should have been in theaters...As a whole the movie made more sense in the directors cut...it made a good movie even better...longer but better... If you are into these types of films this is a must have...
Check it Fooo!

Outstanding!!!.......2007-06-27

Absolutely amazing! The Director's cut is like an entirely new movie!! It doesn't matter what faith you claim, this movie does not choose sides. Truly one for the shelves.

And then some.......2007-06-27

When I saw this movie for the first time un cut it was fantastic. The HD version is far more than I had anticipated. The story is much more complex and makes much more sense. It seems the original release was a dumb-down version of the real story. Picture quality is amazingly clear with lush colors. Even if you have this movie on DVD it is worth getting for Blu ray. You dont know what you are missing

Well worth it........2007-06-27

The addional footage makes this a whole new movie. It explains the ties to Balian and the village better. The queen and her son. Much, much better!

Average customer rating:

A true classic!!!
I <3 Lestat! I <3 this movie!
The Movie That Introduced The World to the Modern Vampire
A Masterpiece
An erotic vampire tale!

Interview with the Vampire
Starring: Tom Cruise , Brad Pitt , Kirsten Dunst , Stephen Rea , and Antonio Banderas
Director: Neil Jordan
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00004RFFS
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Amazon.com essential video

When it was announced that Tom Cruise would play the vampire Lestat in this adaptation of Anne Rice's bestselling novel, even Rice chimed in with a highly publicized objection. The author wisely and justifiably recanted her negative opinion when she saw Cruise's excellent performance, which perceptively addresses the pain and chronic melancholy that plagues anyone cursed with immortal bloodlust. Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst are equally good at maintaining the dark and brooding tone of Rice's novel. And in this rare mainstream project for a major studio, director Neil Jordan compensates for a lumbering plot by honoring the literate, Romantic qualities of Rice's screenplay. Considered a disappointment while being embraced by Rice's loyal followers, the movie is too slow to be a satisfying thriller, but it is definitely one of the most lavish, intelligent horror films ever made. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A true classic!!!.......2007-06-04

I just want to go on record and say, this is my favorite movie of all time! (Based on movies I have seen.) I saw this movie when it was first released back in 1994, and being as young as I was, I didn't understand it.

Flash foward to now. After buying and reading all of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, I was instantly heel-bent on getting my hands on a copy of this movie! I was able to watch it again, and I must say I believe this movie is a true work of art, and an instant classic.

The adaptation from the novel to the on-screen story is changed ever so slightly (omitting some parts as most book-to-movies often do) but keeps the whole thing flowing seemlessly together, while also maintaining the substance the viewer needs to fully appreciate the film.

The acting is beyond amazing. Many people called into question Tom Cruise playing the character of Lestat (I am not a huge Tom Cruise fan either) but I can honestly say he did an amazing job with such an important role. Having Brad Pitt play alongside Cruise as the character of Louie only caused Cruise to step his game up as well. Pitt was still fairly young in this movie and he shows a dark energy about him that gelled naturally with the movie.

Who can forget the young Kirsten Dunst, as the loveable and innocent Claudia! A break-out role for the (at the time) young star that propelled her to future A-list status. (What if Leelee Sobieski had gotten the part?) Dunst plays her role so well, you do actually forget that she is just a child in the movie! Add the incredible acting by Antonio Banderas, and you do have a young all-star cast!

The story itself remains true to the novel. A tale of lonliness, friendship, immortality, loss, grief, and acceptance. This movie never over-does the story to make it more "Hollywood," they just seem to let the movie take a course of its own and let the characters do the story-telling. This movie will leave you with many questions, as well as a feeling that everything is settled and the end course has been set.

This movie is well worth every penny you spend to rent or buy it. I whole-heartedly recommend this movie for any and all movie fans! A true 5-star classic.

I <3 Lestat! I <3 this movie!.......2007-06-01

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt dont suck in this movie so dont let them scre you off. Stays true to the book and characters. I really love Lestat but Rice is a ***** that sues her fans.

The Movie That Introduced The World to the Modern Vampire.......2007-05-20

Anne Rice created the modern vampire with her novel, and the movie did it justice. Brad Pitt is definitely what makes the movie, he plays the role of the depressed vampire Louis perfectly. This the movie also has the very young Kirsten Dunst playing the role of Claudia, and she is an amazing actress for one her age at the time. The overall film is just perfect, from location to wardrobe, it feels like a trip through time. It's just a shame that the second movie wasn't as good as this movie. The movie "Interview With the Vampire" will go down in movie history as a classic and won't be forgotten any time soon if ever.

A Masterpiece.......2007-04-10

"Interview with the Vampire" is bar none, one of the best vampire films ever made. Based on the first novel in The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice...Interview is directed by Oscar winner Neil Jordan ('The Crying Game') and scripted by Rice herself. I remember the first time I saw this movie, 6 years ago, and immediately reading the first book. Not only is it a great vampire film, but it's also a terrific literary adaptation. Rice only removed things from the novel that weren't completely necessary and, in doing so, created a brilliant, passionate script. The film stars Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas, and Christian Slater. Seeing these names doesn't really shout "masterpiece." Incredibly, every actor is suited very well for their role.
The film opens in modern day New Orleans, where a vampire named Louis (Pitt) has agreed to give a reporter (Slater) an interview. The story then jumps back to the late 1700's, where Louis was a 24-year-old, suicidal plantation owner who had recently lost his wife and child in childbirth. His invitation to death is open to anyone, but it is Lestat (Cruise) who accepts his offer. Lestat kills Louis and, before he dies, offers him the chance to live forever. Louis accepts. This offer means that Louis will live forever and stay eternally youthful, but must stay away from sunlight and must feast on the blood of others. Unable to take the lives of humans (something Lestat does with ease), Louis begins feasting on rats and other animals; When Louis ends up taking the life of a young girl, Lestat turns her into a vampire and she becomes Claudia (Dunst), the daughter/lover of Louis and Lestat. Louis and Claudia become a kind of Romeo & Juliet type, but they remain complete opposites. Claudia is more like Lestat, deadly and cruel...Odd, since she hates Lestat. Jumping ahead a bit, Louis and Claudia eventually end up in Europe where they meet Armand (Banderas), the self-proclaimed "oldest living vampire" and head of a theatre troupe called The Theatre de Vampyre. I don't want to say much more about the plot to avoid spoilers. When Cruise was cast as Lestat, Rice publicly critisized the decision but later recanted her comments when she saw the film. On the DVD, in the bonus features, she rants about how good Cruise was. And he is incredible, this is one of his best performances. I've only read the first book (I'm currently reading "The Vampire Lestat"), but Cruise captures this character so well. He's charismatic, good-looking, but capable of being cruel and evil as well. Pitt delivers one of his best performances too as Louis. Louis is a complex character, who needs to a complex performance to really capture him. Pitt handled that completely; Watch his eyes throughout the film and watch how they go from young and youthful to world weary and sad. Dunst, who was thirteen when she made the film (I think), also delivers a spectacular performance. Since the character begins as a child and, by the end of the film, is still a child but with an adult mind; Dunst showed incredibly maturity in the role. Few child actors could have captured the emotion she did. I can not rave enough about this movie. Vampire/Dracula movies are the most cliched and overly used stories out there, but "Interview with the Vampire" is bursting with originality. It's not a horror film, despite it's subject matter. It's really a drama and much of Louis's story is heartbreaking. The gothic look that Jordan gave the film works very well to set the tone and atmosphere of the film. Even if you're a person who despises horror films or movies about vampires, I highly recommend this movie.

GRADE: A

An erotic vampire tale!.......2007-04-07

This is one of my all-time favorite vampire movies. The cast led by Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat, and Brad Pitt as the vampire Louis does an excellent job of bringing to life Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. The costumes and sets are evocative of the respective eras the vampires live through, and the cinematography is lush and sensual, evoking the decadent lifestyle that Lestat leads...even Kirsten Dunst has a role here as a child vampire, and her famous line "I want some more" has been rendered immortal in movie history. The chemistry between Lestat [Cruise] & Louis [Pitt] is believable and in fact, they give one of their best dramatic performances in this movie. All in all, a cinematic treat.

Average customer rating:

Great way to waste your money !!!
Kingdom of Deeez
Outstanding!!!
And then some
Well worth it.

Kingdom of Heaven (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Orlando Bloom , Michael Sheen , Nathalie Cox , Eriq Ebouaney , and Jouko Ahola
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AARKOO
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Amazon.com

Description

From Ridley Scott, the visionary director of Black Hawk Down and Gladiator, comes this spectacular epic of courage, honor and adventure. Orlando Bloom stars as Balian, a young Frenchman in Medieval Jerusalem during the Crusades, who, having lost everything, finds redemption in a heroic fight against overwhelming forces to save his people and fulfill his destiny as a knight.

Customer Reviews:

Great way to waste your money !!!.......2007-06-28

Kingdom of Deeez.......2007-06-27

Outstanding!!!.......2007-06-27

Absolutely amazing! The Director's cut is like an entirely new movie!! It doesn't matter what faith you claim, this movie does not choose sides. Truly one for the shelves.

And then some.......2007-06-27

Well worth it........2007-06-27

The addional footage makes this a whole new movie. It explains the ties to Balian and the village better. The queen and her son. Much, much better!

Average customer rating:

"How to properly bake a cake. First, shoot the baker"
A last drug score that gets bungled in drouble crosses and misinformation, as expected
Miller's Tale
SLICK GANGSTER THRILLER WITH COLORFUL ACCENTS
Nice surprise

Layer Cake (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Daniel Craig , Tom Hardy , Jamie Foreman , Sally Hawkins , and Burn Gorman
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B0009X7BDC
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

As its title suggests, Layer Cake is a crime thriller that cuts into several levels of its treacherous criminal underworld. The title is actually one character's definition of the drug-trade hierarchy, but it's also an apt metaphor for the separate layers of deception, death, and betrayal experienced by the film's unnamed protagonist, a cocaine traffic middle-man played with smooth appeal by Daniel Craig (rumored at the time of this film's release to be on the short list for consideration as the next James Bond). Listed in the credits only as "XXXX," the character is trapped into doing a favor for his volatile boss, only to have tables turned by his boss's boss (Michael Gambon) in a twisting plot involving a stolen shipment of Ecstasy, a missing girl, duplicitous dealers, murderous Serbian gangsters, and a variety of lowlifes with their own deadly agendas. As adapted by J.J. Connolly (from his own novel) and directed by Matthew Vaughan (who earned his genre chops as producer of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch), Layer Cake improves upon those earlier British gangland hits with assured pacing, intelligent plotting, and an admirable emphasis on plot-moving dialogue over routine action. Sure, it's violent (that's to be expected) and not always involving, but it's smarter than most thrillers, and Vaughan's directorial debut has a confident style that's flashy without being flamboyant. This could be the start of an impressive career. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Planning to retire and begin a new life, Mr. X (Daniel Craig, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), a successful West End drug dealer, has been asked for one last favor: to negotiate the sale of one million hits of Ecstasy. Unfortunately for Mr. X, the pills were stolen from a Serbian drug lord who'll cut off his head if he sells them. And with a London crime czar (Michael Gambon, Open Range & The Insider) promising to retire him permanently if he doesn't, Mr. X may be rightfully concerned about his future. Nothing worth losing his head over.

Customer Reviews:

"How to properly bake a cake. First, shoot the baker" .......2007-06-27

"Layer Cake" was slightly entertaining but fell flat for me. I still have to give credit to film director Matthew Vaughn for his first feature film. He made a name for himself producing the crime-comedy classics "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch". Vaughn abandons the cheeky and comedic nature of those two films and attempts to make a serious crime film. The results are decidedly uneven, as the movie is a stylish but hollow outing.

In here we have XXX (Daniel Craig) who is a man who wants to get out of the game when he reaches the height of his success. He finds forces that he can not control pulling him towards the life is trying to leave. He solves his problem and feels like he has won when suddenly there is one last surprise. Matthew Vaughn guides the film in a cool, professional manner but it lacks the needed energy. This film lacks the vitality, humor and whiz-bang camera work of the aforementioned Guy Ritchie crime flicks. It also lacks the character development and drama to work convincingly as a straight-faced crime thriller. The problem is that XXXX as presented here simply isn't an interesting protagonist. Make him likable or make him detestable, but don't make him bland and anonymous. The side characters, with the notable exception of the commanding Eddie Temple played by Michael Gambon, are similarly underdeveloped.

All this is particularly disappointing given that J.J. Connolly himself adapted his novel for the screen. I read this novel a while back and thought it was a great piece of pulp writing. Not only is the nameless narrator a distinct and dynamic character, he is surrounded by other well-defined characters, and the story includes heavy doses of humor and great intrigue and plot twists. Director Matthew Vaughn stated that many of the funny scenes from Connolly's screenplay were omitted in an apparent attempt to distance himself from "Lock Stock" and "Snatch". Additionally, some of the best characters from the book like Morty and Gene are underdeveloped stock characters in the movie, although both George Harris and Colm Meaney do as good a job as could be expected with what they're given. One issue I have is that if Vaughn was so dead set on making this a serious movie there was plenty of material to draw from in order to do a better job of developing and fleshing out the characters.

"Layer Cake" clocks in at about an hour and forty minutes and easily could have been a half hour longer, which would have provided ample time to build drama and make the characters more interesting. Certainly watch able but by no means remarkable so one slice of cake is more then enough for me.

A last drug score that gets bungled in drouble crosses and misinformation, as expected.......2007-06-18

In Layer Cake, Daniel Craig plays Mister X, a top drug dealer roped into one last score before retirement. As last scores tend to go, the deal gets bungled in double crosses, misinformation, and the conflicting motives of the different players. In the end, Mr. X pulls of an impressive stunt to satisfy the good guys, the bad guys, and the law, but otherwise, there isn't much to set this movie apart from the pack of crime and drug-score flicks. You've see this movie before in a couple other incarnations.

Miller's Tale.......2007-05-19

Good showcase for Daniel Craig, but those of you who come to LAYER CAKE hoping to see something of Sienna Miller, beware, she's in it for about 5 minutes despite her prominent placement on the DVD case. However she's nearly naked so that might be worth it for Miller fans. First she appears in a club, acting wild, clumping up and down on the dancefloor while Daniel Craig and his buddies look on. She's more Edie Sedgwick in this than she was as Edie Sedgwick, and introduced to Craig, she leans over him and slips her phone number into his breast pocket. Hugging her naif boyfriend, she mouths "Call me" to Craig, silently, but you could read her lips from fifty miles away. She's not much of a dancer, is she, but who cares.

The plot of LAYER CAKE is extremely convoluted and I expect that few people who watch it will be able to catch all of it. Even J J Connolly, who wrote the novel the movie's based on, and the screenplay, has said that a few of Matthew Vaughan's directorial tricks have left him befuddled and he forgot who did what to whom by the end of the movie. I think he also forgot to give Sienna Miller much of a part. Next time she runs into the film it's to have sex with Daniel Craig, which she begins with great abandon by pushing him down onto a set of satin sheets, then wriggling off of him to run into the bathroom and dress herself even more provocatively, with silk stockings and garter belt, than when she came in. It doesn't take her long, but by the time she gets back into the bedroom Daniel Craig's been kidnapped and stuffed into a laundry cart by two goons masquerading as Room Service. The look on her face is priceless as she surveys the mussed up bed and the empty room, disappointed in love again. "She's quite a ball of fire, isn't she?" my wife commented, with that tone of voice I always decipher as either deep fascination or absolute repulsion.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say," I countered. Finally Sienna Miller returns for her final scene which I won't spoil except by hinting that she begins the scene elated and "up," and ends it with a cry, thus proving she's capable as well as an eternal tabloid grabber. The rest of the picture is a good showcase for Daniel Craig, a sort of Scarface meets Memento.

SLICK GANGSTER THRILLER WITH COLORFUL ACCENTS.......2007-05-13

Don't you love films where the hero is in fact an anti-hero with no name or backstory? Right, nor do I. But this import from the land of pies and porkies is a sparkling romp through the seedy shenanigans of the drug mafia. I see several viewers likening it to Guy Ritchie's black-humor capers, but I suspect that's chiefly attributable to the theme (underworld) and the accents (the many colors of London).

Layer Cake thumps about on its business from the get-go and fritters no time on any buffoonery. Empires clash against rival empires, men are no superstars and bleed when their nose gets punched in, and the scuzzy cat and mouse game leaves little room for escape; only moments of courage, grit, and luck. Luck, most of all.

A pre-Bond Daniel Craig glitters as the glib man-with-the-plan, a rapid social climber in his industry forced to learn the cruel lesson that drug dealing cannot be quite the methodical, low-profile business that he has always wanted it to be. That treachery and even murder are occupational hazards of his world, and yuppie overconfidence its principal sin.

The script is punchy. Non-fat. Memorable lines. The music is pitch-perfect, and lends beautifully to the tension. Expect to have densely exciting layers created and then unraveled as you go along, not knowing exactly what will happen next. Right until the very denouement, which some may find contentious but one that I think installs just the kind of moral hook that seemed to have been missing from the entire film. I've always believed that the ending can make or mar a film, and this one here is a classic.

A fine production, as foxy as they come. What Lord of War was to gun running, this is to the dreary world of drug dealing. Highly recommended purchase. This one will stand to repeat viewings. The special edition DVD also has some excellent outtakes and deleted scenes.

Nice surprise.......2007-05-07

I purchased this movie based on several peoples recommendation. It was a nice surprise. The only down side is trying to hear all the dialog with the heavy English accents. I will need to watch it again.

Catch Me If You Can (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Features)

Average customer rating:

The cast is exceptional with a counterfeiting, identity theft script.
scamming & scheming for fun & profit
REALLY GREAT
Terrific fun plus more
entertaining and intelligent

Catch Me If You Can (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Features)
Starring: Frank Abagnale Jr. , Jim Antonio , Candice Azzara , Nathalie Baye , and James Brolin
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Terminal (Full Screen Edition)
Road to Perdition (Widescreen Edition)
Cast Away (Special Edition Steelbook)
Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JLSB
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Product Description

Inspired by the extraordinary true story of a brilliant young master of deception and the FBI agent hot on his trail, Catch Me If You Can stars Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio and two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks in one of the year's most acclaimed hits! From three-time Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg, Catch Me If You Can follows Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. as he successfully passes himself off as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor - all before his 21st birthday! Joel Siegel of Good Morning America declares, "Movies don't get much more fun that this!" while The Associated Press hails this incredible tale as "the most flat-out-fun movie of the year!"

Amazon.com

An enormously entertaining (if somewhat shallow) affair from blockbuster director Steven Spielberg. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr., a dazzling young con man who spent four years impersonating an airline pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer--all before he turned 21. All the while he's pursued by a dedicated FBI agent named Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), whose dogged determination stays one step behind Abagnale's spontaneous wits. Both DiCaprio and Hanks turn in enjoyable performances and the movie has a bouncy rhythm that keeps it zipping along. However, it never gets under the surface of Frank's drive to lose himself in other identities, other than a simplistic desire to please his father (Christopher Walken, excellent as always), nor does it explore the complex mechanics of fraud with any depth. By the movie's end, it feels like one of Frank's pilot uniforms--appearance without substance. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

The cast is exceptional with a counterfeiting, identity theft script........2007-05-26

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, is a movie partly about rehabilitation of
addicts to check counterfeiting, identity theft, and similar acts, so
suceeding in reforming what some may see as a character flaw of
individuals who are compelled to that behavior. Indeed, much like the
majority of day traders on the stock markets), their luch will
eventually catch up with them, in terms of the odds the long term.

A major weakness in this movie, is the dated time frame in which the
activity was perpetrated, coupled with a lack of discernment in the
choice of the soundtrack, (chosing stereotypical, cheesy numbers from
the 60's and 70's). There is also a flawed filming technique, camera
work by the Director, that not everyone will agree with. In fact, ET,
Jurassic Park showed horrifically poor filming and presentation, yet
they made a ton of cash, were crowed pleasers and major attractions.

Another downfall is the script, and its flawed tendency to make
comedy and clownish characterizations of a very serious matters that
affect the financial markets, human lives, entire industries and
markets, which is counterfeiting, impersonation of other people, many
of wheom laugh all the way to the bank.

Aside from those aspects, I won't hold it against the director, to
release a movie that exceeds 2 hours vs. the standard 90 mins,
considering the difficulty in telling the story contained in the
book, encompassing a number of real life, biographical aspects.

It's clear that the cast was exceptional, played by Di Caprio who
brings plenty of world class acting, as does Martin Sheen, Chris
Walken, raising the movie up a notch or two in quality.

Reverting to the filming, there are just too many blurred, unsharp,
poorly selected lighting situations for this aspect to pass
unnoticed, or unannoying, suggesting a TV-like technique by the
technicians. The DVD transfer was not a real wide-screen release that
viewers were expecting, either. Also, the filming angles are much too
predictable, yet the movie does redeem itself in the odd moments
from its comical moments, that will show a split reaction.

The final surprise, is the rhetorical matter of how someone can take
tens of millions, and after 10 years or more, have nothing to show
for, as all has vanished in thin air.

scamming & scheming for fun & profit.......2007-05-12

if not for the miscasting of leonardo dicaprio in the lead role this could well have been a near-great movie. unfortunately leo (who i will admit does look better here than at any time since "titanic") gives yet another of his oh so obvious acting jobs: his attempt at a suburban new york accent is as painful as his vocal tricks in "gangs of new york" -- where does this guy get off trying this stuff, as if he were a classically trained brit actor? now to the good: tom hanks offers his most ingratiating performance in years (ever since he started to specialize in being tom hanks) as the sullen fbi agent who tracks down master forger leo; christopher walken is at his wierd best as the fallen idol father; the john williams score grabs you from the opening and never lets go. while the story requires a bigtime suspension of disbelief, it IS fun to imagine someone getting away with some of this stuff (as skewed thru the young mans eyes) rather than the reality of the desperation which compelled him to live his decade on the run.

REALLY GREAT.......2007-03-22

I've always liked wathing movies and with amazon you've made it great I am very pleased thank you

Terrific fun plus more.......2007-03-07

I avoided this movie for a long time, thinking it was a grim cops-and- robbers crime thing. Well, it is a crime thing and Tom Hanks is the cop (FBI) and Leo DiCaprio is the robber. But it's anything but grim! Speilberg chose to tell this story, which could have been tragic. in a completely light hearted way. The only terrible scene is in the beginning when DiCaprio is languishing in a French prison. From there on, it's all up. The colors are bright, the atmosphere is light. And yet there's a lot of depth to it, as well. It talkes a really good director to pull it off so well.

First of all, the story is amazing! We all know it's true; no one would make something like that up! Then, the cast is all-star! DiCaprio shines as a complex, tortured kid who is, at the same time, having the time of his life! The relationships are touching and so well handled. Christopher Walken is superb as the dad. Tom Hanks plays the 'alternate" father---as serious and humorless as the first one was charming and irresponsible. Hanks, DiCaprio and Walken, directed by Speilberg, in this terrific story---how can you miss?

The DVD I saw had a bonus disk with great extras---including lots of footage of the original Frank Abegnale. After seeing the movie, I really wanted to see the real deal and he is obviously quite the guy!

entertaining and intelligent.......2007-02-05

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is definitely one of the most entertaining and intelligent films I have seen in a long time. This is based on the real life story of the life of Frank Abagnale, Jr. A con man who impersonated an airline pilot, doctor and lawyer, all before the age of 21. He came by it honestly because his father was a businessman and con artist, who helped teach him everything he knew.

Leonardo DiCaprio is boyishly handsome, engaging and diabolical as Frank Abagnale, Jr. Due to an unfortunate turn of events in his life (which I won't elaborate on, to spoil the plot), the young man turns to a life of pulling con job after con job, at just age sixteen. Not only does he manage to make close to $2.5 million, but he finds love, fame and notoreity in the public eye, all the while eluding the advances of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI investigator hot on his trail.

This film is intelligent, original and just superb (from the very engaging title credits, down to the intriguing conclusion). You will definitely be entertained.......

Average customer rating:

~Bully~
When you give up and murder your tormentor, how should you be punished?
Frightening and Real
Educational, but not entertaining.
pretty good film

Bully
Starring: Ed Amatrudo , Judy Clayton , Irene B. Colletti , Elizabeth Dimon , and Leo Fitzpatrick
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005U14H
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Description

Acclaimed director Larry Clark delivers his most powerful film since KIDS. Marty (Brad Renfro) is a tormented surfer who relies on his longtime pal Bobby (Nick Stahl) for rides to the beach and South Florida bars despite vicious abuse. But when Bobby turns his unwanted attention to Marty's new girlfriend Lisa (Rachel Miner) and her best friend Ally (Bijou Phillips), Lisa decides Bobby's reign of terror must end. Assembling a crew of alienated suburban teens, she forms a deadly plan to get Bobby out of the way once and for all, turning friends into enemies and casual acquaintances into co-defendants in a murder that rocked America to its core.

Customer Reviews:

~Bully~.......2007-05-10

The first time i saw this was on HBO. I knew i had to show it some friends of mine. Its a true story about what some kids do to a Bully. This Dvd is very good.

When you give up and murder your tormentor, how should you be punished?.......2007-04-24

Bully is based on a true high school crime which took place in Cooper City, Florida. Boyhood friends Marty Puccio (Brad Renfro) and Bobby Kent (Nick Stahl) traveled in the same circles of casual drug use and loose women with a group of friends who rarely attended high school classes. Bobby bullied Marty their entire lives, raped both Marty and their girl friends, and pulled aggressive stunts such as capturing a local drifter and forcing him to perform homosexual acts on camera. Director Larry Clark presents a gripping portrait of bullying and submission, and of how hard it is to stand up to the bully when he's been in power for a good sixteen or more years.

With the high school sexual acts and drug use, this film will inevitably be compared to Clark's earlier work, Kids. Bully, however, is based on a true crime with copious court records, confessions, witness statements, and a non-fiction book about the subjects. Any reviewer who attacks the plausibility of the film needs to look no further than Martin Puccio, vs. State of Florida, Appellee. No. 86,242; November 20, 1997. Clark takes the facts of the case and presents a movie which illustrates the fear and loathing of someone who submits to a bully, and makes the viewer understand how hard it is to stand up and change the status quo.

Bully is told from the point of view of the teens involved in the group murder of Marty's tormentor. The question of ultimate responsibility for the crime is answered only in the court sentences, not by the filmmaker. This is a great discussion piece--does bullying invite crimes of self-defense? Was Lisa Connelly the ringleader or did Marty grow a backbone? Was Marty manipulated by yet another bully, Lisa, when he went along with her plan? Did an atmosphere of money, drugs, and plenty of free time create the perfect storm for a mob-mentality murder? How much do absent parents play into a tragedy of this proportion?

Larry Clark has no simple Hollywood answer to any of these questions. Therein lies the beauty of this film.

Frightening and Real.......2007-04-23

"Bully"

Frightening and Real

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

While not a horror film, "Bully" is one of the scariest movies I have seen and the reason that it evokes such fear is that it is a true story. Larry Clark directed this movie that is about teenagers that have absolutely nothing going for them. They have sex all of the time, they drink to excess, they smoke pot and drop acid and their lives are reckless and meaningless.
I am sure that many who see this movie are outraged and that seems to me to be warranted. To see kids behave like this is certainly not the norm. Marty (Brad Renfro) is the central character and he is involved in a sado-masochistic relationship with his "best friend", Bobby (Nick Stahl). Then there is Lisa (Rachel Miner), Marty's pregnant girlfriend. Marty is an average surfer bum and high school drop-out and Bobby constantly picks on him and rides him all the time. Lisa soon tires of Bobby's abuse to Marty and she tells Marty that he should kill Bobby. They go and see a hit man (Leo Fitzpatrick) and ask him to help put an end to Bobby and from that point on the kids start out upon a new path--one of lies, deceit, boasts, and guilt-ridden feelings about the deed they are about to perform. In the end, the teenagers get their just rewards but the cinematic buildup is highly intense.
The movie is accurate and true to life. Based on an incident that took place in Florida in 1993, it is an authentic retelling of what went on. The cast is sheer perfection. When the kids agree that Bobby has to die, the movie reaches its heights. Bobby was a bully and a rapist and an all around loathsome character. He seems to be somewhat of a closet homosexual as reflected by his obsession with gay porn. He drags Marty to a gay bar and forces him to dance onstage. His violent way of dealing with his own gayness is probably how he chose to deal with his repressed desires. He is a psychotic sociopath who has extended the limits of being tough. But his homosexuality is not the reason he is to be killed. There is no clear reason to why he must die. The actions against him are not motivated by revenge but by jealousy. He is due to go to college and to take over his father's business.
The movie utilizes a great deal of potent imagery as the film explores the youth of today during dark and troubling times. It hurts to watch kids behaving the way they do here and we hope they get what they deserve.
The movie will weigh on your mind mainly because it really happened. It is bleak and dark and extremely depressing. It is meant to shock and shock it does.

Educational, but not entertaining........2007-04-17

I have heard about Bully for a long time, and finally decided to watch it. It's a well-acted, well-directed, and powerful movie.

Bobby Kent's behavior goes beyond that of a bully- he's a borderline sadist/sociopath. He constantly verbally and physically (and possibly sexually) abuses his best friend, Marty Puccio. In addition, he is beginning to develop a taste for rape, and calls whatever girls he's with demeaning names. When Bobby rapes Marty's new girlfriend Lisa and her best friend Ali, Marty and Lisa decide to kill him. They take Ali and four other friends and lure Bobby to the swamp, and stab him. They try to keep it a secret, but the psychological consequences of killing someone are more than they bargained for, and most of them tell someone. Eventually, someone makes an anonymous phone call, and all 7 of them are arrested and convicted.

Bully is educational, but hardly entertaining. To elaborate, it shows what happens when kids have no direction in their lives, and no sense of right and wrong. Neither Marty nor any of the other main characters appear to have any kind of goal and direction in life. Marty especially didn't seem to have any kind of standards about how to act towards others (he physically abuses Lisa at one point) or how he expected others to act towards him, which makes dealing with bullying more difficult. All he knew is that Bobby made his life miserable. They didn't even try to bring charges against Bobbby, or deal with him in any kind of legal way. Bobby is a vile individual, but he doesn't die because of his sins, but because his killers live in a moral vacuum. In addition, Bully shows the tragic results of apathetic parenting. For example, towards the beginning of the movie, Bobby punches Marty in the face several times after he runs his car on the curb. Marty then asks his parents if they can move, and his father tells him, "we can't all quit our jobs just because our son is having problems." His parents show no interest in calling Bobby's parents, the police, or helping Marty with the problems at all.

Be warned though, there's not one scene that is not disturbing in one way or another- be the scene about the bullying, nudity, rape, or psychological/emotional distress- this is a movie only for strong-stomached viewers, and hence is not entertaining. Watch at your own risk.

pretty good film.......2007-03-15

i like the actors in this movie..they portrayed the real people very well i thought..the movie could have been better overall..however it was still worth watching

Average customer rating:

Excellent Movie
And the Band Played On Played it RIGHT!
This is a weird movie
Good Movie
very educational

And the Band Played On
Starring: Matthew Modine , Alan Alda , Patrick Bauchau , Nathalie Baye , and Christian Clemenson
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005AQMJ
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Amazon.com essential video

A superior, made-for-cable film, this Home Box Office adaptation of Randy Shilts's chronicle detailing the emergence of AIDS in America and the fight against bureaucracy and society for a cure is a taut, outrageous, and affecting true-life drama. Matthew Modine (Birdy, Married to the Mob) is featured as a doctor with the Centers for Disease Control at the time when the first reports of a disease plaguing the gay community were heard. Modine and his colleagues embark on an investigation that resembles a compelling detective story as they try to track the source of the disease and discover a cure. Their efforts are thwarted by an ambivalent government and a turf war between French physicians and a celebrated American researcher (Alan Alda) who seems to place his own glory above the dead and the dying. Featuring heartfelt performances from a stellar cast including Richard Gere, Glenne Headly, Anjelica Huston, Steve Martin, Ian McKellen, Saul Rubinek, and Lily Tomlin, this impassioned film stands as an impressive and important document of one of the darkest eras in modern human history, and a tribute to the spirit of those who sought to save lives. --Robert Lane

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Movie.......2007-06-27

This is a wonderful, fact based movie about the initial public awareness of HIV. The acting is superb and the cast list reads like a WhosWho of Hollywood. I use this movie for one of my college classes in order for students to see how callous political maneuvers in the 1980s delayed the recognition and testing for HIV, and as a result, many innocents died.

And the Band Played On Played it RIGHT!.......2007-06-17

I saw the movie first and I cried. To think that millions of people had to die,( or at the time thousands)before someone would get off the pot and do something. I read the book afterward, many times and was moved even further. We're not out of the woods yet, but we're a heck of a lot further along than we were...THANK GOD! Randy Shilts would be pleased at the screen adaptation of his book!

This is a weird movie.......2007-05-11

primarily because it doesn't take a stance. It argues neither in favor of the homosexual rights groups most heavily hit by AIDS at first, nor Reagan and the Republican Party who refused to allow AIDS to enter the media- it demeans such tenants of modern science as the scientific method and its inherent refusal to practice medicine off emotionalism while having a lot of fun giving people who work off emotionalism grief. It's one long, tortuous "I told you so."

However, everything else about the movie excelled enough to compensate. The actors, choreography, music, filming, and directing more than make up for a script centered heavily around "Whose fault is it?" And keep in mind- the subject is AIDS in the 1980s, when inaction made a disaster a pandemic. Maybe we should be asking "Whose fault is it?"

Good Movie.......2007-02-01

The movie was for my 11th and 12th grade classes to see how and when the HIV/AIDS was brought to national attention. Very interesting and good movie. The movie proves that AIDS has no boundaries on those who suffer from the disease. Education is our best ally.

very educational.......2007-01-09

i bought this movie for a friend,she is doing a paper on aids,and it was very helpful to her,a great cast very well done

The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

great third!
THE BEST OF ALL THREE!!!
Fun Movie, Great Demo Material
Missed Opportunity
Best movie ever!

The Fast and the Furious - Tokyo Drift (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Lucas Black (II) , Damien Marzette , Trula M. Marcus , Zachery Ty Bryan , and Brandon Brendel
Director: Justin Lin
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000HA4WT8
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift has all the elements that spelled success for its predecessors: Speed, sex, and minimal dialogue. The plot doesn't need explication; it's a nonsensical series of confrontations and standoffs that serve to get us from one race to another. Tokyo Drift can most accurately be described as a visual poem about screeching tires, crunching fiberglass, and sleek female skin, set to a killer soundtrack of Japanese pop and hip-hop. The actors are only needed for tight close-ups of narrowed eyes or sweaty hands tightly gripping gearshifts, though Sung Kang, Better Luck Tomorrow, stands out as a vaguely philosophical hoodlum with deadpan charisma. The curved bodies of the cars and the luscious flesh of the women are both shot with a fetishistic hunger. The "drift" style of racing--in which the cars are allowed to slide in order to take sharp turns at high speeds--grabs your eyes; there's a strange, spectral beauty to rows of cars sliding sideways down a mountain road at night. Also starring Lucas Black (Friday Night Lights) as our wheel-happy hero; Bow Wow (Roll Bounce) as the scam-artist comic relief; and martial arts legend Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill) as a yakuza big shot. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

great third!.......2007-06-18

The Movie was great considering it didnt have Paul Walker in it!I loved the end with an old member watch it yourself!!!!!!

THE BEST OF ALL THREE!!!.......2007-06-13

Yes, I loved this movie and it more of true style of racing me and my brother are interest in. Yes, I know... the first one is good cuz of Vin Diesel andf Paul Walker. But this is still the best of all 3 F & F series! The ending is awesome and I knew it, I've read that part a long ago before this movie came out in theatres! I enjoying watch this movie, over over over over and don't get tired of it... mmmm, safe to say I've watch this HD-DVD like 7 times and 3 times in theatres. Anyway, the picture and sound are amazing and wicked awesome!

Fun Movie, Great Demo Material.......2007-06-08

Although the movie may be regarded as a mediocre movie by some, let's face the facts here: Tokyo Drift ain't no Schindler's List. It's an all round fun ride and the Drift sport was well translated into this movie. For sports car fanatics, this may well be in one of your collection as the cars are highlighted in a way that they have their own characters and could very well be the actors of this movie. Not to say that the actors are shabby, though. Although there are no Oscar nominated performances here, the cast have chemistry and are entertaining enough to keep you glued to the story, albeit predictable.

As for the disc itself, Tokyo Drift on HD DVD paves the way for future titles to include the U-Control feature as one of a powerful, interactive tool to play with. Tokyo Drift has the Picture in Picture feature, where a 'behind the scenes' featurette plays throughout the movie; Set Pictures; Tech Specs where car characteristics or damage specs pop up during certain scenes; and Storyboards - all at your control. You can bring it up or switch it off whenever you want (only for the PiP. Other features have the option to pop up during certain scenes), without returning to the main menu. Besides the U-Control feature, you also have other staples such as deleted scenes, commentary, etc. There's even a garage mode where you customize (with a limited set of colors and designs) Han's car and actually see it in the "Doughnut" scene from the movie. Pretty useless, but cool nonetheless.

Overall, Tokyo Drift is a fun, fast paced adventure with a predictable storyline (as well as a sweet cameo) and seeing it on HD DVD is a totally new experience. Have a new HD DVD Player and Plasma/LCD? This is what you should play to demo your rig!

Missed Opportunity.......2007-05-28

Like many "Japan Movies" however, this is not a movie about Japan as much as Japan serving as an exotic location against which Westerners have their own adventures. There was a period around the turn of the century when most Western books and movies about Asia were simply exotic backdrops for stories about Europeans, and it appears 100 years later we are not completely out of that era yet.

Not, I hasten to add before I get too high on my liberal horse, that there is anything inherently wrong with that. For that matter, Japanese media often employs the same device, and Japanese comics and movies are often filled with stories of Japanese people going to America and having all sorts of bizarre adventures.

But it is noticeable that none of the main characters in this movie are Japanese. The hero is a white American, the best friend character is a black American, the mentor is a Chinese American, and the love interest is an Australian of indeterminate ethnicity. A multi-cultural cast certainly, but the rest of the Japanese characters are mostly reduced to the background. More is the pity because the producers were able to get a few of Japanese most recognized television talents to make cameos on this film, and then only gave them bit parts.

In fact the only Japanese who figure into this story at all are the villains. I remember thinking the first film in the series, with its Chinese bad guys, was drifting dangerously close to reviving the old stereotype of the swarthy Asian villain. This film again has chosen to focus on a white protagonist battling slimy Asian gangs.

However I am hesitant to call racism too quickly, especially since the director of this film and many of the crew are Asian American themselves. Instead, let us just say that the film has some unfortunate missed opportunities, and it could have been a lot better if it had done a better job of integrating its Japanese cast.

As for my critique of the film's portrayal of Japan:
The entire film is set in Tokyo, which I have thus far spent appalling little time in, despite my 5 years in Japan (mostly due to my hatred of crowds). Tokyo is to some extent almost a separate country, and the rest of Japan views it in much the same way we Midwesterners view California, as that crazy place where anything goes, fashion and youth culture are at their cutting edge, and nobody has any morals.

If you watch the DVD, the director's commentary is pretty interesting, because he talks about some of the things he exaggerated, and some of the things he didn't. (For example, given the fact that Tokyo is one huge traffic Jam, most of these car racing scenes that take place in the movie are pretty laughable).
Also it turns out that, like "Lost in Translation", this film was apparently plagued by Japan's restrictive rules regarding film permits, and a lot of the Tokyo footage they either had to take illegally, or film in L.A. on sets that recreated Tokyo.

The school uniforms, school slippers, and look of the school was all pretty much dead on. However in my experience, a tall white guy cannot walk into a classroom in Japan without causing, if not massive disruption, at least a considerable show of interest and questions. I found it slightly surprising that he could simply walk into the classroom and be accepted as a new student, but then I live out in the countryside in Kyushu. I'm sure Tokyo is a lot more sophisticated and international.

Of course, the big point of this movie is not Japan or the cast, but the cars.
I will say this though, I now have a whole new appreciation for "Crash" by J.G. Ballard. When he I read his book about sexual eroticism and car crashes, I thought he was only being metaphorical about our society's addiction to automobiles. 15 minutes into this movie, I realized that some people, like the target audience for these films, do seem to literally equate huge car crashes with pretty girls and sexual arousal.

Best movie ever!.......2007-05-19

Apart from Edward Scissorhands, this is my favorite movie. I never thought I'd find a better movie than 2 Fast 2 Furious. I didn't expect Bow Wow to be a very good actor, but he proved me wrong - he acted Twinkie's part very well. The acting is all good, but Brian Tee and Sung Kang especially stand out. The drift scenes are really something else - they just get your adrenaline pumping and it doesn't stop!
The best characters were DK and Han - Han was played really well and he was kinda witty, and DK was just soooooo evil!

This movie is the one that got me addicted to action flicks, so you'll be mad if you miss it. This film is the best!

Average customer rating:

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dirty, Rotten , and Fabulous
One of My All Time Favorite Movies!
Only gets better with time!
One of the best movies of all time!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Starring: Steve Martin , Michael Caine , Glenne Headly , Anton Rodgers , and Barbara Harris
Director: Frank Oz
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005PJ6O
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Amazon.com

Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) is a crass, loud American. Laurence Jameson (Michael Caine) is a suave, urbane European. Their common ground is that they both are confidence men, and they meet in a train compartment as Benson is scamming his way across Europe, taking advantage of women's generosity. The two are forced into a rivalry, which culminates in a wager to see who can be the first to bilk $50,000 out of American heiress Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly). Their game of one-upmanship is, of course, brought to ridiculous heights as things progress. Written by Paul Henning (the mind behind such TV shows as Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an uneven but funny mix of Martin's physical comedy and Caine's oily charms. Martin's first role as cohort is to assume the persona of Ruprecht, the "special" younger brother intended to scare off potential brides. As Ruprecht, he comes off as a cross between The Andy Griffith Show's Ernest T. Bass and Jerry Lewis; hilarious as it is, it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the film. Once the wager is on, though, Martin slips into his overly earnest mode as an American military man suffering from hysterical paralysis, with Caine as a psychologist who takes on his case. All in all, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (a loose remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando) is a droll, intelligent comedy, short on knee slappers but long on comic situations and characterizations. --Jerry Renshaw

Description

One's got a sophisticated, suave and debonair con act. The other's got...well, an act. Together, Steve Martin and Michael Caine are Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and they're absolutely ruining the Riviera in this "hilarious battle of wits and double-crosses" (Boxoffice) that "couldn't be more delightful" (The Wall Street Journal)! Martin is Freddy Benson, a smalltime conman sleazing his way through Europe on whatever handouts he can scam. Caine is Lawrence Jamieson, an impeccably dressed and high-minded artiste who thinks Freddy is giving himand all con mena bad name. At first, Lawrence agrees to help Freddy spruce up his talents and his wardrobe. But when it becomes apparent that the Riviera isn't big enough for the both of them, they make awinner-take-all wager over the fortunes of a naive American soap heiress (Glenne Headly): the firstone to "clean her out" can make the other clear outand keep the Riviera and its unsuspecting tourists to himself!

Customer Reviews:

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.......2007-03-24

I am not a huge Steve Martin fan, but I have thoroughly enjoyed two of his films, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," and this one, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." I think this is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It ranks up there with "The Odd Couple," and "Grumpy Old Men." How can you get much better than that?
The movie portrays everyman's fantasy of manipulating women. I emphasise the word "fantasy" because it's not very realistic. Our wives will keep us aware of that. And of course there is the surprise ending. If you haven't seen the movie, we'll keep it a surprise.

Dirty, Rotten , and Fabulous.......2007-03-22

This comedy has been one of my personal favorite funniest movies of all time. I love the way the surprising twists and turns create hilariously funny situations which are the reflections of two characters' personalities. I think Michael Caine and Steve Martin were perfect for this type of humor; they are great together on the screen.

Lawrence (Michael Caine) and Freddie (Steve Martin) are con-men who live off women; the former - big-time, pretending to be a King in the Exile and residing in a charming Mediterranean French town, the latter is good conning women into giving him small sums of money or buying him a dinner. The town is not big enough for them to work together. They agree to a "winner stays, loser leaves" bet. Enters American visitor - rich heiress Janet Colgate (Glenn Headly), sweet and naive young woman.

Glen Headly - an intelligent, attractive actress more than held her own opposite Caine and Martin. It is easy to first overlook her work but after the movie is over, you realize how effortless, artful, and complicated her performance is. Last time, when I watched the movie, my husband joined me and watching Glen Headly on the screen for what could easily be the tenth time, he asked how she did it. Perhaps, the art of How they do it not only What they do keeps me glued to the screen every time Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is on.

Highly enjoyable, sparkling, witty, and hilarious gem of the movie.

One of My All Time Favorite Movies!.......2007-02-07

I love this film! I have watched this film numerous times over the years and still find it funny as ever. It is a comedy that keeps you laughing and also keeps you guessing as to what will finally happen at the end of this movie!

Only gets better with time!.......2007-01-24

I love this movie. Steve Martin and Michael Caine each bring thier own brand of comedy to this delightfully funny movie. Steve Martin is Freddy Benson a loud mouthed obnoxious American and Michael Caine is a suave, sophisticated frenchman. They way they play off each other is genius. Steve Martin preformance is especially great with all of the ad libbing he does, especially when he plays at being Caine's half witted brother "Ruprick". I don't think I will ever get enough of the Steve Martin as Ruprick. This movie is a must for any Steve Martin fan, or Michael Caine fan, or anyone who just like a good laugh.

One of the best movies of all time! .......2007-01-23

This movie is awesome! I saw it as a kid and will never forget it. I've seen it many times since. Steve Martin (Freddie) and Michael Caine (Lawence) play con men who swindle money out of rich women. Steve is the younger, much less sophisticated crook who barely manages to con a dinner and 20$ out of a woman, while Michael Caine is the older, professional con man who cons woman out of millions. Lawrence is afraid the bumbling Freddie will 'scare big game' away from his hunting ground so he decides to get rid of Freddie all while pretending to be teaching him. Things get even funnier when the two make a bet to con an innocent beauty queen and they end up with some very unexpected results! I loved the acting in this, loved the humor and most of all loved the ending. Of all the sequals which should have been made, this is at the top of my list!

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This DVD does a Gran Jete
The history of the companies calling themselves Ballet Russe after Diaghilev died in 1929
A Balletomane's Treasure
Ballets Russes
best ballet movie

Ballets Russes
Starring: Nini Theilade , Tatiana Stepanova , Marc Platt , Alan Howard (IV) , and Rochelle Zide
Director: Daniel Geller , and Dayna Goldfine
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Ballet & Dance | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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