The Stranger

Starring:David Bond, John Brown, Fred Godoy, Joseph Granby, Billy House, Byron Keith, Ethan Laidlaw, Ruth Lee, Richard Long, Philip Merivale, Isabel O'Madigan, Edward G. Robinson, Johnny Sands, Erskine Sanford, Konstantin Shayne, Pietro Sosso, Brother Theodore, Martha Wentworth, Loretta Young
Studio: Peter Pan
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

Great Wholesome Movie.......2007-07-06

This movie is indeed a rare jewel among jagged stones. So much trash passes off as entertainment these days that it was refreshing to watch a film where slaughter and mindless vulgarity are absent. The hero of this story actually grows inwardly, and NOT achieving his goal was the best thing for him! Why? Because winning the gold would only have reinforced a false sense of self and left him more empty than before. Isn't that the way it works? When we attain something we desire there is an initial thrill which lasts for a day, week, or month followed by an emptiness we often miss as we move on the next desire or dream. In doing that we miss what's happening here and now. Self-absorption prevents self-awareness, and as Socrates (Nick Nolte) sagely pointed out early in the movie, most go through their whole life asleep without ever realizing it. Get this movie and watch it alone or with your family. You will not be disappointed.

Went in with no clue........2007-07-05

A good friend of mine received free tickets to see this movie in the theatres. I decided to go even though I had no idea what the movie was about and ended up being pleasantly surprised.

It was an engaging movie which I actually sat through without wishing I was somewhere else. The only drawback was how far-fetched it seemed. I know it is based upon a true story (the author's) but come on? A mystical gas station attendant who helps the young man come back from a grievous accident? I bet this is more from the imagination of the author than from true life experience.

Eastern religion re-packaged for Western consumption.......2007-07-04

While it was nice to see Nick Nolte working in front of a camera again instead of speeding down the highway blitzed out of his mind on drugs. And equally as nice to see Amy Smart acting more civilized this time instead of being humped like a dog in front of a horde of people on a public street as she did in the movie Crank. This movie, while fun to watch was nothing more than a load of Eastern religious "Self Realization" teachings presented in a way to be palatable to the Western mind. I didn't like it.

If you are into Buddhism and New Age religions. You'll probably eat this up.

How the Other Half Lives.......2007-07-03

Dan Mellman (Scott Mechlowicz) was a golden boy. Having the world at his feet, he enjoyed being the star gymnast on a star team for The University of California, Berkeley. But there was something missing. Going through girlfriends, including stealing his best friend's, Dan had a cocky attitude that kept him empty and up at night. Fortunately, his three A.M. sojourns for snacks at an all-night gas station lead him to a mysterious, older man sarcastically nicknamed Socrates (Nick Nolte) who seems like Yoda, but in all seriousness. In his peace arsenal is the ability to startle someone by getting up on the garage roof when no one is paying attention. Here they meet, and the sage man offers wisdom that is only greeted with a sneer and Dan's smart mouth. Offering more than change for snacks, he also tries to relieve insomnia. ("People are afraid of the inside--That's where everything important is.") The meetings recur, but so does Dan's dream life that bring omens of misfortune. In some of those dreams we see impressive confrontations from two forms of Dan. (One I believe represents his ego, and the other is his spirit, and the unsettling division presented show us the split of a person yearning for the whole.) Dan needs to "let go of his ego". Tragedy then does visit as his unconscious foretells, and he must deal with it. But his recuperation needs more than crutches, he needs a steady guide to cope with his inner fracture as well.

'Peaceful Warrior' is a unique and excellent adventure. It could have been a good as an inspiring sports' film, but it goes beyond that. The sparring between Dan's ego and Socrates' wisdom creates another whole venue, complete with scenes that show Dan coming to grips with himself. Nolte plays Socrates with grizzled beard and gravelly voice, but shows us a peace warrior who is no wimp. Confronting Dan quietly, he gives him the strength to confront himself. Some of the joy of this movie is listening to Dan and Socrates espouse their wisdom, like Greek teacher and student. 'Peaceful Warrior' could have been a hokey failure, but they really deliver in this refreshing film choice. (Based on Mellman's autobiographical account.)

Awesome film.......2007-07-03

I love this film and the book. There should be more movies made with this kind of message and wisdom. This is an ageless coming of age story and it has so much to teach all of us - especially people who are "coming of age," which I think most of us are most of the time! You will love it - whether you read the book or not. It is awesome.

Average customer rating:

A Good Try
Truly delightful
could have been cool
Great Cast-Good Movie
Great Performances

Stranger Than Fiction
Starring: Will Ferrell , William Dick , Guy Massey (III) , Martha Espinoza , and T.J. Jagodowski
Director: Marc Forster
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LXH0AE
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Much was written about Will Ferrell's first "dramatic role" as Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who begins hearing a voice narrating his life. But Stranger Than Fiction is hardly a drama. However, what Ferrell does--like Jim Carrey before him in The Truman Show--is handle a toned-down character with genuineness and affection: you believe he is this guy. Crick leads a lonely life filled with numbers and routines. While at first he considers the voice a nuisance, Crick decides more action is needed when it speaks of "his demise." Enter Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who takes on the absurd notion with revelry, trying to find out what kind of book Crick's life is leading. It turns out that the voice Crick is hearing belongs to Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a very real--and troubled--author who is writing a book in which Crick is a fictional character. As usual with these things, the stuffed shirt learns to live a better life--Crick even falls for one of his audits, a brash baker named Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) has the right tone for the film, using great urban scenes (the unnamed city is Chicago) with interesting visualizations of Crick's world of numbers. He also directs Ferrell, Hoffman, and Gyllenhaal to their most charming performances (plus Linda Hunt and Tom Hulce pop up in two funny scenes). Ferrell succeeds in being a romantic lead you can root for; a scene where he eats Ana's freshly baked cookies is totally delightful without a hint of sarcasm. Screenwriter Zach Helm has two personal traits with his story: like Crick he followed his heart (he stopped rewriting scripts and only worked on his own) and like Eiffel, the final results are not a masterpiece, but good, and entertaining enough. Britt Daniel of the band Spoon worked on the dynamite soundtrack.--Doug Thomas

Extras from Stranger Than Fiction

"Counting Brush Strokes," A featurette

on the filming of Stranger Than Fictionhigh bandwidth

Tax Man!:

A clip from the film

high bandwidth

Queen Latifah on working with Emma Thompson
high bandwidth

Stills from Stranger Than Fiction (click for larger image)

Beyond Stranger Than Fiction on Amazon.com

Comic Actors Go Dramatic
CD Soundtrack
Emma Thompson Essentials

Customer Reviews:

A Good Try.......2007-07-06

You have to love a movie that starts with a
fabulous premise. In this case, the life of
hyperbollically drawn tax auditor is mysteriously
linked with the fate of a character in a
stutteringly produced work of fiction. So far, so good.

We bop back and forth between the accountant
(and his predictable love story) and the tortured,
blocked author. The resolution is not particularly
courageous, but not many movie resolutions are.
(the accountant doesn't die because the character doesn't).

What's daring and admirable is the premise and the
splendid graphics. This is one of the most visually
interesting films to trot through the cineplex in
a long time.

There are also two splendid performances. Emma
Thompson as the author and Dustin Hoffman as the
professor of literature who helps unravel the mystery
are as good as their roles would allow them to be. no,
make that better.
The other actors-Will Farrell, Queen Latifah and
the delicious Maggie Gyllenhaal- seem sadly out of
place and call attention to the fact that they're
merely reading lines.

This quirky plot would have been a lot more satisfying
if the performances behind it had been more convincing.

Truly delightful.......2007-07-03

I fell in love with this movie from almost the first moment and continued to enjoy every minute to the end. I found it to be wonderful, heartfelt and genuine, with superb acting from every member of the cast. This movie is for viewers who appreciate quirky, understated, charming and very funny.

could have been cool.......2007-07-03

i think if this was done by another director it would have been much better. great idea but the execution was only so so.

Great Cast-Good Movie.......2007-06-30

Stranger Than Fiction brings to the screen the unusual story of a very "usual" kind of guy. An IRS agent living a rather uninteresting life for the last 12 years begins hearing a woman's voice narrating his life. It turns out he might be right...
The plot has elements of both comedy and drama making it rather difficult to label it as one or the other; it's actually a bit of both.
Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal (who is GORGEOUS!), Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, and the rest of this AMAZING cast, carry out their respective roles very well.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music are all good.
In a nutshell, though not a masterpiece it will surely provide for an evening's entertainment.

Great Performances.......2007-06-29

First, I'll list what I like about the movie. The casting, the performances and most of the dialogs were very good. I can't think of a bad performance. The dialogs were quirky and thoughtful. Lines within their context are very good indeed. I like "So I decided to save the world one cookie at a time." Within its context, it is a fairly profound line. Ferrell is very good in this. Emma Thompson is awesome.

Second, I'll list what I dislike about the movie. The premise doesn't quite work. Does the Ferrel character hear the voice of the narrator within the novel itself. If he doesn't, I can't see how the author could explain his decisions about changing his life. If he does hear her voice within the novel, the ending does not make any sense. The author changed the ending because the character knew he was going to die in the novel and told her to finish it anyway. You get into the bootstrap problem because the author should have known because she's writing the character. Maybe I missed something? However, my main point is, the story drags because you think you know the character is going to die for most of the story. The plot just plods along setting everything up for the climax. The quaint characters and the spiffy dialog don't quite make for great movie.

I would give it 3 1/2 stars because of the performances.

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF A GREAT DAME!
Not quite what I expected
Bravissima Judi!
Can't help lovin' that dame
The Best of the Best of Judi Dench

The Judi Dench Collection
Starring: Judi Dench , Margery Mason , Michael Bryant , Maurice Denham , and Pinkie Johnstone
Director: Christopher Morahan , Anthony Page , and Richard Eyre
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000LV6OK8
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Amazon.com

To call The Judi Dench Collection a treasure trove is indubitably cliché, but that's so much classier than "Dench-a-Palooza." Essential for fans of the great Dame, theatre buffs, and drama students, this eight-disc set is an embarrassment of riches, with nine BBC productions of classic and original plays, plus three radio plays and excerpts from televised interviews, one of which features her moving rendition of "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (is there nothing she can't do?). They etch an indelible portrait of an artist with a compelling presence and staggering range. Judi Dench is one of those actors who rarely seem to make a false move, handling wrenching drama, madcap farce, and witty comedy with equal aplomb. John Hopkins' Talking to a Stranger (1966) is a British television benchmark that is mentioned in the same breath as Dennis Potter's masterpieces. Dench won her first BAFTA (the British equivalent of the Oscar) for her role as a damaged sibling in a dysfunctional family. Dench stars as Anya in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, a 1962 production translated by, and starring, John Gielgud and, as Madame Ranesvky, Peggy Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a hard act to follow, but Dench pulls it off in a 1981 production in which she assumes the role of the irresponsible aristocrat.

Georges Feydeau's Keep an Eye on Amelie (1973) is a carefree hour in which Dench stars as a coquette who agrees to marry a confirmed bachelor (Patrick Cargill) so he can inherit a million francs. This production is paired on disc 4 with writer Michael Frayn's (Noises Off!) award-winning comedy Make and Break, which unfolds at a trade fair in Frankfort and stars Dench as a devoted secretary to a work-consumed boss. Two powerful dramas comprise disc 8, Going Gently, for which Dench earned another BAFTA as a hospice nurse to two adversarial patients, and Can You Hear Me Thinking?(1990), starring Dench and her late husband Michael Williams (A Fine Romance) as parents whose lives are shattered when their teenage son develops schizophrenia. Ibsen's still potent Ghosts (1981) boasts a stellar ensemble, including Kenneth Branagh as doomed son Oswald and Michael Gambon as Pastor Manders, with Dench as Mrs. Alving, whose respected late husband led a dark, secret life. Anything but, Absolute Hell (1991) is a lost-souls black comedy starring Dench as Christine, the proprietor of a bohemian nightclub in post-World War II London. The cast includes her future Notes on a Scandal costar, Bill Nighy, as a washed-up writer. Stardom in the States came late to Dench. This collection allows her audience to catch-up with these mostly towering performances that established her as one of the premier actors of our time. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Dame Judi Dench is one of the most celebrated stars of stage and screen. She is the winner of an Academy Award(R), two Golden Globes, an unprecedented seven Olivier Awards, and numerous BAFTAs. At the BBC, she has appeared in a dazzling range of material from sitcoms to Shakespeare. This collection contains ten star-studded BBC productions spanning four decades and ranging from the Feydeau farce Keep an Eye on Amelie to Ibsen's Ghosts with Kenneth Branagh, Michael Gambon and Natasha Richardson and Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard with John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Holm. And tucked away among the bonus features is a 1996 interview in which she sings "Send in the Clowns" from her Olivier-winning performance of A Little Night Music, just one of the many gems in this glorious testament to one of the greatest performers of our time.

DVD Features:
Featurette:Judi Dench: My Favorite Things (1985, RT: 30 min) BBC profile of Judi Dench in which she discusses her passions
Interviews:Judi Dench talks to Richard Eyre (2002, RT 59 min)
Other:Three Radio Plays With Great Pleasure (1991, RT: 44 min) Are You Still Awake?(1994, RT: 15 min) Amy's View (2000, RT: 123 min)

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT COLLECTION OF A GREAT DAME!.......2007-07-03

This is an excellent collection of Judi Dench's fine work for BBC Television. It spans her career from the early sixties to the nineties.
You will also get some very nice extras to enjoy.
This is a "must" for every fan of this great actress!

Not quite what I expected.......2007-06-19

I don't need to express how much I like Judi Dench. It would be excessive, and too sickeningly precious.

Although I thought Judi Dench deserved the Oscar for "Notes on a Scandal," (and other past films) this television and radio retrospective is one I could have lived without. It has nothing that remotely comes close to the quality of Ms. Dench's film work.

As for this interminable boxed set of Ms. Dench's dalliances into television and radio, I was never so disappointed. Indeed, to be subjected to two productions of Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard" is enough to free my point of any ambiguity. Simply put, two "Cherry Orchard's" are two too many. Where's my razor blade?

"Talking to a Stranger" was rather more than I could take. Can you say, manic?

The only reason to buy this collection would be for "Make or Break" with a marvelous supporting cast including the great Robert Hardy, (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Elizabeth R, Edward the King, Middlemarch, Bramwell, and Harry Potter). Then there is, "Absolute Hell" with Bill Nighy, (The Lost Prince, The Pirates of the Caribbean II and III), Francesca Annis, (Cleopatra, Lillie, Edward the King, and Under the Cherry Moon) and another equally well rounded ensemble as "Make or Break." Both TV movies are wonderful.

The poetry readings are a nice touch. They are readings before an audience from several well versed poets. Each poem is read by Mr. Michael Williams and Ms. Judi Dench. Michael Williams (Elizabeth R, and Educating Rita) is Ms. Dench's late husband. He also co-starred with her in "Can You Hear Me Thinking?" in this collection. Despite the fact Williams and Dench are both in it don't expect too much viewing this 'illness-of-the-week-movie.' Its teleplay is short on facts and made with typical stiff British upper-lip for its subject matter. There is one exception. Michael Williams plays his role of father with greater depth of character then Judi Dench does playing mother. It remains to mention, Michael Williams played a minor role in the film "Tea with Mussolini." Sadly, the husband-wife team of the smash-hit sitcom, "A Fine Romance" (1981-1984) had no extensive scenes together in the film. Mr. Williams (a gifted actor by reason of his own ability) died of lung cancer shortly after his final TV film "The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns" on January 11, 2001 at Hampstead, London, England.

Judi Dench's portrayal of an actress in the radio play, "Amy's View," is that of another abhorrent virago to utterly despise. If one likes that sort of thing - or simply worships everything Dench - one can engage in uproarious Bacchanalian festivities. Perhaps that was the point. However, an actress playing an actress behind the scenes is rather a bore these days. Dench plays at being a selfish, temperamental, helpless character always in need. She's never happy with what shes got - no, not even with her own daughter. Yet, she's perfectly content living with a swindler - or so she tries to convince herself. Her character exists in a world of her own making and without any redeeming qualities. Compassion, love, and forgiveness do not exist in her narrow view of life off stage. Hence, the feeling that accompanies an experience of a thespian being indulgent exists in large quantities as one listens.

There is also a ghastly aggrandized installment called, "Ghosts" by Ibsen, starring Natasha Richardson (Patty Hearst, and Widows Peak) and the brilliant Kenneth Branagh (Chariots of Fire [uncredited], Henry V, Dead Again, Peter's Friends, Much Ado about Nothing, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Othello, The Proposition, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Theory of Flight, Conspiracy, and Shackleton). Unfortunately, "Ghosts" is a production cooked too long and anything but edible! It is a presentation to the mind in the form of an idea or image of life, which is, in fact, less than anything based in reality. Allow it to be stated, though, it is understood one person's idea of art (whatever the exact definition of art might be these days) can be another person's Grimm's fairytale!

The early interviews with Ms. Dench are charming. Yet, one might wonder about her later interviews before sinking their hard earned pennies into this collection. After all, not all of us live the life of a 'Superstar.' I shall say but this - they are a bit pretentious. One fellow 'board-walker' (acting as interviewer) is befitting those inclined to social exclusiveness, who rebuffs criticism of those considered inferior. His posturing is similar to W.S. Maugham's character 'Mr. Warburton' in Maugham's short story "The Outstation." That interview alone caused me to reevaluate how I view Ms. Dench (the actor) from such a distance. Often distance opens the mind to clarify the difference between falsity and truthfulness. Although I admit I like Ms. Dench's work I do not think I'd care to know her or meet her on the street. No star can sum up the life of anyone on a chance encounter. I've met, worked with (and been around) enough of them to know - ma'am.

Nonetheless, yes Ms. Dench, we know too well how difficult it is to do the work you do. Believe me 'Joe Public' (as you call us) really does understand. Work is work for all of us!

Ms. Dench singing "Send in the Clowns" was brilliant - the TV host sycophantic. At this price, two TV movies, a poetry reading, a song (and a partridge in a pear tree!) from the entire lot, aren't worth it for this Judi Dench fan falling out with the celebrated Dench charm.

With the lack of more recent readings for the BBC such as "Pangbourne," this box set is more like "mother's little helper," - about 40 milligrams forced for several days!

Who knows, I may watch again one snowy night and change my mind - but I doubt it - it doesn't snow where I live!

I don't expect too many positive ratings for this review either. Don't bother please.

Now I feel as if I got my money back - oh how delicious!

Bravissima Judi!.......2007-05-20

Proof that Ms. Dench is one of our finest actresses today. An important set to own and cherish! And as "icing to the cake" her superb rendition of "Send in the Clowns" is included.

Can't help lovin' that dame.......2007-05-14

Absolutely great! Judi Dench is the best of the best, and it's a real privilege to at last be able to see some of her extraordinary early work, along with some of her more recent, highly acclaimed roles as well. The special features are treasures.

The Best of the Best of Judi Dench.......2007-05-06

Fantastic collection of rare Judi Dench films. Keep THE GHOSTS, THE CHERRY ORCHARD (1981) and KEEP AN EYE ON AMELIE. J. Dench is remarkable, excellent dramatic actress and amazing comedienne, as well. Very interesting also the extras.

Average customer rating:

Great intro to stranger safety
Not for my family
Suprisingly entertaining
Great Way to Teach Your Kids About Stranger Safety
My son learned A LOT from this CD.

Stranger Safety
Starring: Angela Shelton , John Walsh , Carol Cordova , Kevin Meier , and Connor Cordova
Director: Douglas Aarniokoski
Manufacturer: The Safe Side
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0009LS9Y4
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Amazon.com

Kid safety is an important, yet often difficult topic of discussion between parents and children. The Safe Side's "Safe Side Super-Chick" is a decidedly zany host who successfully combines slapstick humor with serious, practical safety tips for kids. "Safe Side Super-Chick" breaks the population down into three quickly discernable categories: "Safe Side Adults" that kids know well and can always trust to keep them safe, "Don't Knows" like the mail carrier or the lady at the park and "Sorta Knows" like a coach or a schoolmate's parent. As "Safe Side Super-Chick" interacts with "Don't Knows" and "Sorta Knows", she offers seven specific safety tips to keep kids safe and, with the help of real kids, details simple, concrete actions and phrases that empower kids in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. Best of all, the presentation is never scary, but always extremely funny--that means that kids ages 2 to 10 will actually enjoy learning about safety. Kudos to Julie Clark (creator of Baby Einstein) and John Walsh (host of America's Most Wanted) for creating a safety video that's highly entertaining, informative, and practical. --Tami Horiuchi

Description

A message from John Walsh: I'm the host of a television show that I wish wasn't needed. But it is. Thankfully, 38 missing children have been recovered by our work at "America's Most Wanted." In 1981, the lives of my wife Reve and I were changed forever. Our beautiful son Adam was abducted from a mall in a nice area of South Florida. Sadly, two weeks into the biggest search for a child ever in Florida, our son was found murdered. In my quest to find justice and fight back for victims, I lobbied Congress to change the laws and to change how police search for missing children. I'm proud to say that the movement I started is still going strong. There's a national organization dedicated to helping children (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) and now this country and its media are beginning to understand that our children need to be informed about how to stay safe. In 1981 not much was known about child abduction and exploitation. Parents knew very little and, tragically, children knew even less. Today we're proud of the awareness that children have about the dangers that face them. Children see images everywhere of kidnappings and exploitation. We only need to think about what we've seen in the past year--pedophiles in the clergy, Internet predators, and others who are in positions to take advantage of children's trust in them--to know that kids are still being victimized at an alarming rate. I hope that's about to change. As a crime fighter and host of a popular TV program that has saved lives, I'm proud to be teaming up with a woman who knows how to teach children. Kids want to know what to do, and parents need to be prepared. Like me, Julie Clark is a parent who cares. She has a proven track record of teaching kids. Her passion and experience make this series of safety videos for children something that parents and kids will want to watch. Now parents and kids will do what I've been doing for more than 23 years--they'll fight back.

Customer Reviews:

Great intro to stranger safety.......2007-07-05

My 4.5 year old son loves this DVD! It is silly while talking about a serious subject. He requests to watch it several times a week. It was also nice to share with his other care takers (preschool and grandparents). They can carry over the topic of stranger safety and understand the parenting info we are teaching our son. It was totally worth the money. I have suggested it to other parents with 4-6 year olds.

Not for my family.......2007-06-29

While the overall content is fine - the presentation was terrible. The girl acted like a lunatic (and a very messy one) most of the time, managing to get food all over her face every time she ate anything - GROSS. It may help with strangers, but it's stone age manners. My girls (10 and 12) did laugh once in a while and watch the whole thing, but I didn't have to tell them twice to put it back in the library bag to return it. I'm Very Glad I didn't buy it! The 2yo cried and ran from the room! And they have no desire to check it out a second time.

Suprisingly entertaining.......2007-06-28

I didn't know what to expect with this video. I was told it was pretty good, but really, how can a video about safety keep the kids entertained? This one did. The main character is awesome and zippy and the video moves at a quick pace while keeping things simple. They go back over points and reinforce definitions. My three year old understood it, and asked to watch it two more times. And he isn't a good movie watcher. He wants to watch things about cars or explosions and this held his interest.

Great Way to Teach Your Kids About Stranger Safety.......2007-06-15

We bought this on the recommendation of a friend, and we are very happy with this purchase. The video is really goofy and fun - perfect format to hold our kids' attention. It delivers the important stuff in a fun, repetitive way so it sticks in our kids' minds. They are now openly repeating the video, stating "Grandma is my Safe Side Adult" or "That man over there is a Don't Know." The actor in this video is really talented - I'm surprised she doesn't have her own show (maybe she does?) because she could give The Wiggles, etc. a run for their money.

My son learned A LOT from this CD........2007-06-14

I noticed my son, who's 5, loved to talk to people wherever we would go anywhere. I felt that he had no awareness of the danger of strangers. I bought this DVD and WOW my son "got it" right away. He now asks if its ok to talk to anyone and guides his little sister to do the same. This DVD is a must have for safety reasons. It's fun too!

Average customer rating:

Moving -- Thought Provoking
A bit challenging, neverthless very good.
Powerful Film
Don't listen to the naysayers
The Perfect Stranger rocks!

The Perfect Stranger
Starring: Jefferson Moore , Dennis Martin , Pamela Brumley , Tom Luce , and Stella Davis
Director: Jefferson Moore , and Shane Sooter
Manufacturer: Kelly's Filmworks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EHPXP6
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Description

The movie version of the bestselling novel, "Dinner With a Perfect Stranger" by David Gregory. Capturing the book's wit, intimacy and desire to enlighten almost line for line, "THE PERFECT STRANGER" is a thought-provoking tale of one woman's journey through the realms of doubt and disbelief - with the most unforgettable man she would ever meet.

Customer Reviews:

Moving -- Thought Provoking.......2007-07-04

In a world where Christian theology is often mis-represented (especially by Christians!) "The Perfect Stranger" provides a refreshing look into the tough questions surrounding Christianity. This movie is a must for anyone that has ever asked serious questions about God and is willing to investigate the answers.

The setting of this movie in a resturant provides great freedom for exchange. Perhaps my only complaint is that this dinner is a little slow "getting to the table."

A bit challenging, neverthless very good........2007-06-19

OK the acting was not the best in the world, but unless you are used to turning out trashy Hollywood movies on a nearly unlimited budget, the movie has a good message. Unfortunately, modern man has had his senses bombarded and dulled by the propaganda that God will allow those who believe the liberal church "shades of gray" gospel, salvation. Unfortunately, the Gospel teaches that we must be perfect, in other words, no shades of gray. We cannot achieve this, but Jesus did, and our belief in His perfect works lands us a trip to Heaven. Where does this land the shades of gray "believers" and believers of other false religions? Sorry, a ticket to hell. Jesus Himself said that narrow is the way to heaven and few are those who enter it; while the wide road, with its broad Hollywood-like appeal will land many in hell.

That is indeed black and white; the wonderful thing is that I know that Jesus love me and I know that I will be with him someday soon. For this message I give the movie 5 stars.

True, Christians are not any better than the rest of mankind, we are just better off.

Powerful Film.......2007-06-02

I think the whole point of the story is to portray the Gospel and get people thinking, questioning, reading the Bible and searching for the truth on their own, which in my humble opinion this movie has done just that. I can only hope a lot of people answer the knock at the door. (Rev 3:20)

I just finished watching this movie and I want to see it again. It is powerful! It answers so many questions that people have about God and Jesus. Great for believers, non-believers and seekers. I will be buying an extra copy to share. The ending was great too... so get out the Kleenex and enjoy dinner with "The Perfect Stranger"!

Don't listen to the naysayers.......2007-05-22

This movie was WONDERFUL and any Christian that would knock this movie should be ashamed! It touched me deeply and I have been a Christian for many years.
I plan on buying this movie and watching it again. I saw it on TBN and decided to watch it because my sister had seen it and loved it. I loved it too. More movies should be made with the simple message of God's love for his creatures that are formed in His image!
Definitely watch this movie; you won't be disappointed! Jesus saves, heals, and delivers! Praise be to His Glorious Name :-)

The Perfect Stranger rocks!.......2007-05-16

I really liked this DVD, from the actors to the incredible story line. Some pretty important things stuck in my head, and it reminded me how Jesus hates legalism (how his followers sometimes don't act so Christ-like at times and it confuses non-believers) and it is SO much more important to love people and sometimes uses a tragedy or serious event to turn us to him. I am glad Jesus loves me and reached out to me....what a FANTASTIC tool to witness to others! Thanks Jefferson Moore!

Average customer rating:

Perfect Stranger (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Halle Berry
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Fracture (Widescreen Edition)
Disturbia (Widescreen Edition)
Zodiac (Widescreen Edition)
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Vacancy

ASIN: B000RO9Q7W
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Product Description

When her friend's affair with married ad exec Harrison Hill (Bruce Willis) ends in the woman's murder, investigative reporter Rowena Price (Academy Award® winner Halle Berry; Best Actress, Monster's Ball, 2001) vows to bring the killer to justice. Suspecting Hill of the crime, she goes undercover by posing as two highly alluring women: Katherine, a sexy temp who works within his agency, and Veronica, a seductive temptress he chats up online. Engaging in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, both Rowena and Hill begin to realize things may not be what they seem. For some people will go to great lengths to protect their secrets, even if it means risking everything.

Average customer rating:

Perfect Stranger [Blu-ray]
Starring: Bruce Willis
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000RO9Q7M
Release Date: 2007-08-21

Product Description

Average customer rating:

jesuit propaganda
Wow
Sincere Modern Day Parable
Joshua
`Joshua

Joshua
Starring: Tony Goldwyn , F. Murray Abraham , Kurt Fuller , Stacy Edwards , and Giancarlo Giannini
Director: Jon Purdy
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006IUFW
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Product Description

Based on the best-selling novel by Joseph Girzone that touched the lives of millions, Joshua is an inspirational story about a stranger whose mysterious "supernatural" powers inspire a small town.

When Joshua moves to the outskirts of Auburn, he awakens the curiosity of the sleepy town. The locals aren't quite sure what to make of him. They don't know who he is or where he came from, but no one can shake the feeling that they've known him for years. Known only by his first name, his wisdom and compassion place him at the center of the town's attention. This attention intensifies as Joshua shatter prejudice and misconception, and even seems to perform miracles. Despite this benevolence and selfless work in the community, some remain suspicious. There are those who feat that no one in today's world would do something for nothing. Just what exactly is Joshua up to? In the end, it is the answer to that question which is nearly as extraordinary as the discovery of that same transforming power in each of their own hearts.

Tony Goldwyn, Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham and Academy Award nominee Giancarlo Giannini star in this film, complemented with a film score byiMichael W. Smith.

Features:

Full Screen Version

2.0Dolby Stereo Surround

Joshua Behind-the-Scenes

Joshua Trailer

Joshua TV Spot

Production Notes

Cast and Crew Information

Scene Index

System Requirements:
li>Running Time:90 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The world can be divided into two camps: those who will watch Joshua reverently and gratefully, and those who will not touch it with a 10-foot pole. The reverent probably own Joseph F. Girzone's bestselling novel about a mysterious but friendly loner who shows up in a small American town and blesses every life he touches. Whites and blacks, Catholics, Protestants, and Jews will work side by side as newly recognized brethren; an estranged couple will resolve to save their marriage; the lonely and disconnected will embrace and be embraced by community; etc. The message--the healing power of Christ's love--is beyond reproach, the intentions of the filmmakers entirely benign, but there is not one whit of dramatic tension or narrative complication to any of it. The cast is stronger than usual in such religious projects (Tony Goldwyn, Oscar ^® winner F. Murray Abraham, Giancarlo Giannini as the Pope), but no one has a prayer with a script that posits the hero's Christhood on the fact that 12 people show up for his going-away dinner. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

jesuit propaganda.......2007-06-13

This movie is blasphemous. Jesus Christ doesn't play an electric guitar, and the pope hasn't repented. If the pope repented he would not allow people to bow before him, and he would not teach a false gospel.

Wow.......2007-06-12

For Everybody who likes a movie with a twist, get a copy of the DVD Joshua. The twist in this film is literaly out of this world, or is it? Regardless, the end of this movie will make you think twice about everything.

Sincere Modern Day Parable.......2007-05-31

Joshua is a modern parable; what would happen if Jesus showed up in our time in a small town? Joshua tells the story of Jesus interaction with an average community. He befriends a genuine Catholic Priest in need of His mentorship, a legalistic priest in need of His love, helps to rebuild a Baptist Church, and restores hope and meaning in the lives of all He encounters.

The message of this movie is powerfully uplifting. Joshua does the things that Jesus did during His earthly ministry in a modern, contemporary way. From teaching a lonely and hurting kid to play guitar to teaching a depressed wife to cook to restoring hope and meaning in the life of a young widow, Joshua touches lives in practical and profound ways. Hmmm... sounds a lot like the Jesus found in the pages of the Bible...

This is a down to earth portrayal of the Master of Mercy, Jesus Christ. It is absolutely family friendly and it is very well made with great actors and excellent filmmaking quality. I watch this movie every now then when I need to be reminded of the way that Jesus loved people practically, as a friend, a partner on the journey of life.

Two thumbs way up!

Joshua.......2007-05-27

I have seen this movie 20 times. It is inspiring. When I feel a little lost or down I put on this movie. I recently showed it to 2 of my friends, They loved it and both wanted a copy so I bought 2 more. I have also read the whole book series and love them. My girlfriend is reading them now. The concept of Jesus walking around helping people in here and now is wonderful. I highly recommend the movie and the books.

`Joshua.......2007-03-22

I simply love this movie. The characetrs reflect both the good and bad of what people are. I have used this movie as a topic for a bible study for youth and adults. I think the major theme of this movie can be summed up as, love them like I (Jesus) loved them.

Average customer rating:

Great Suspense Thriller..!!
Film is good, commentary terribly disappointing
Period piece
Great Cast Wasted on One-Dimensional Characters in a Dull Plot.
Brilliant post WW2 psychological thriller

The Stranger (MGM Film Noir)
Starring: Orson Welles
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
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Ace in the Hole - Criterion Collection

ASIN: B000PMFRVU
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Amazon.com essential video

The legendary story that hovers over Orson Welles's The Stranger is that he wanted Agnes Moorehead to star as the dogged Nazi hunter who trails a war criminal to a sleepy New England town. The part went to E.G. Robinson, who is marvelous, but it points out how many compromises Welles made on the film in an attempt to show Hollywood he could make a film on time, on budget, and on their own terms. He accomplished all three, turning out a stylish if unambitious film noir thriller, his only Hollywood film to turn a profit on its original release. Welles stars as unreformed fascist Franz Kindler, hiding as a schoolteacher in a New England prep school for boys and newly married to the headmaster's lovely if naive daughter (Loretta Young). Welles the director is in fine form for the opening sequences, casting a moody tension as agents shadow a twitchy low-level Nazi official skulking through South American ports and building up to dramatic crescendo as Kindler murders this little man, the lovely woods becoming a maelstrom of swirling leaves that expose the body he furiously tries to bury. The rest of film is a well-designed but conventional cat-and-mouse game featuring an eye-rolling performance by Welles and a thrilling conclusion played out in the dark clock tower that looms over the little village. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Great Suspense Thriller..!!.......2007-04-29

Title of this movie is "The Stranger" and stars Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young, and Orson Welles. Robinson plays a Nazi hunter from the war crimes commission who has tracked Welles to a small New England town where he is teaching at the towns college. A game of cat and mouse ensues with the towns people slowly coming to realize that a Nazi has been hiding in their town. A very good movie with the three main actors giving great performances. Well worth seeing..!!

Film is good, commentary terribly disappointing.......2006-12-27

I, as many others do, consider this one of the classics in Orson Welles repertoire of films. Not only is his acting superb, he's young and handsome in it to boot! Loretta Young may get on some people's nerves with her innocent and slow hysterical breakdown, but she's still a great actress in this film and it shows. And of course, Edward G. is fantastic.
Unfortunately, to be blunt, the Jeffrey Lyons commentary blows. He starts out kind of talking about the film and says a handful of facts about the actors, but then he seems to get bored with it and just starts
making wise-cracking jokes throughout the rest of the film that are completely annoying. Why did he bother?

Period piece.......2006-01-19

This movie could only have been made immediately after World War Two. It was already "dated" a couple of years after the war ended. It had to come along as soon as the war ended, at a time when the American people finally knew about the Holocaust but had not yet transfered their animosity from Germany to Russia. Thus the date of the movie - 1946, possibly the only year it could have come out.

This makes it a very specialized movie, one that would only make sense during an extremely short window of time. The villain, Orson Welles, is a Nazi who has every intention of renewing the struggle begun by Hitler. The word "Nazi" inspires horror in Orson's new wife, Loretta Young. Orson is incognito, a secret Nazi with a terrific American accent, a former leader of the Holocaust, masquerading as an innocent schoolteacher.

The movie held my interest. It seemed quaint in its focus on the danger of the Nazi party in post-war America. It seemed like a dusty antique.

Other reviewers on this site point to the connection between director Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock. I can't put my finger on exactly why or how, but this film does feel like a Hitchcock film to some degree. And yes, I did notice the ever present cigar in the mouth of Edward G. Robinson, Nazi hunter.

How did Robinson know that Welles was a secret Nazi? He learned it over dinner, I think. He was asking Welles for his opinion of the German question, just what to do about them, and Welles replied that all Germans should be exterminated because they are simply too dangerous and incorrigible. But then Welles gave himself away, by denying that Karl Marx was a German, referring to him only as a non-German, a Jew. The wily Robinson decided there was something suspicious in that, something Nazi-ish.

The funny part to me is that Karl Marx was being lauded as a freedom lover, a sort of American in his love of freedom. It's hysterical. A few years later, Marxism would be vilified in America.

As I said, this film could only have been done in 1946, a very short window of opportunity, before the McCarthy era, before the arms race with Russia, before America's love affair with Stalin ended.

Isn't it a pity that America and Russia, who both fought so hard and sacrificed so much to win the single most important war in the history of mankind, couldn't come out of it as friends. But keep in mind that Russia originally wanted to be on Germany's side of it, until they were attacked by their ally.

After all, shortly before the war broke out, Russia was sending troops across Poland to split the country with their German allies.

Other than the history lesson, all I can say is that it was a pretty interesting period piece, not a masterpiece, but worth a look.

Loretta Young plays an idiot. It seems like an odd role for her.

Great Cast Wasted on One-Dimensional Characters in a Dull Plot........2005-10-12

"The Stranger" was Orson Welles' effort to show RKO studios that he could deliver a movie on time and within budget. It worked so far as that goes. It was his first commercial success as a director. Mr. Wilson (Edward G. Robinson), an agent of the Allied War Crimes Commission, has decided to let Konrad Meineke (Konstantin Shayne) go free in hopes that the man will lead authorities to his former boss: Franz Kindler, a fictional mastermind of the Nazi genocide. Meineke tracks Kindler to the quiet town of Harper, Connecticut, with Wilson close on his tail. But before he can see who Meineke meets, Wilson is knocked unconscious. Working from a list of men who arrived in town within the past year, Wilson narrows the suspects down to Mr. Charles Rankin (Orson Welles), a professor at the local boys prep school who has recently married Mary Longstreet (Loretta Young), daughter of a famously liberal Supreme Court Justice.

The trouble with "The Stranger" is that we have a bunch of one-dimensional characters in a story that is just plain dull. The great Edward G. Robinson does nothing more than recite lines as Wilson the Nazi hunter. Charles Rankin/ Franz Kindler does an amusing -but implausible- job of deriding Germany while betraying his Nazi ideals all the same. Kindler is so obviously unstable and out of his mind that he's really a cop-out: The Nutty Nazi. An excuse not to write a real character with credible motives. Mary is a nice woman who inexplicably goes along with her husband's bullying and ill treatment of her dog. But Loretta Young is responsible for the only credible emotion in this film: Her hysterical denial when she is told that her husband is a Nazi war criminal. "The Stranger" might work as an unsophisticated thriller, but it is devoid of character writing and interesting plot points. This terrific trio of thespians -Robinson, Welles, and Young- is wasted.

The DVD (Delta Entertainment 2001): This print of "The Stranger" is unrestored but without major flaws. The "delta" logo appears in the lower righthand corner of the screen 3 times during the film, however. The logo appears for less than a minute and then disappears at these points in the film: 51 minutes, 1:11, and at 1:31. There is a "Bonus Trailer" for Welles' 1958 film "Touch of Evil" (2 minutes) and a "Tony Curtis Intro" (3 ½ minutes) in which Curtis says a little about "The Stranger" and about Orson Welles' career. The second feature on the DVD, "Orson Welles on Film" (30 minutes), is a documentary about Welles' films, meaning those he directed. It says a little about Welles' youth and radio days before tracing his career from his 6-picture contract with RKO, though his Hollywood and European periods, until the recognition he received from Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s. The emphasis is on the films he directed, with only brief discussion of each film.

Brilliant post WW2 psychological thriller.......2005-06-20

"The Stranger" is a gripping and tense 1946 thriller directed by the creative mind of Orson Welles who also starred in it. Welles creates a deep feeling of paranoia in his characters throughout this story surrounding the hunting a fugitive Nazi war criminal.

Edward G. Robinson is outstanding as Mr. Wilson, an investigator for the Allied war crimes commission. Robinson has purposely released a Konrad Meinike, a former Nazi concentration camp commandant, in the hopes that he will seek out his superior, the notorious Franz Kindler. Kindler was a prime architect of the Holocaust and had escaped apprehension.

Robinson trailed Meinike, played by thickly accented Konstantin Shayne to Harper, Connecticut, where he makes contact with a professor Charles Rankin. Rankin, played by Welles, we soon find out is really Kindler, He is posing as a professor in a boys prep school above suspicion. Coincidently, he is to be married that very day to Mary Longstreet, daughter of Supreme Court justice Judge Adam Longstreet, and played by Loretta Young. Fearing exposure Welles kills Meinike hiding his body in a shallow grave in the surrounding woods.

Robinson sets himself up in town posing as an antique dealer and eventually befriending the Longstreet family. Robinson reveals his suspicions about Welles to Noah Longstreet, Mary's brother played by a youthful Richard Long. It seems that both Kindler and Rankin both have an obsession for fixing and working on clocks. Rankin has been trying to restore an antique bell tower clock in the town.

Robinson, aided by the Longstreet family reveal to Young their beliefs about Welles' true identity. Young, deeply in love with Welles and in a terrific performance, struggles with incredulity and indecisiveness as to what to do. Welles plots to kill her in a clock tower scene reminiscent of Hitchcock's superb "Vertigo". Welles, the epitome of evil meets an appropriate fate as he is undone by the instruments of his passion, Young and the belltower clock.

Welles and Hitchcock are so obviously influenced by each other as evidenced by their directorial styles, both able to create unease and tension in their plots. They both use camera angles and techniques which are repeated throughout the movie to create dramatic effects. A perfect example involves the pipe smoked by Robinson in the film. In the beginning of the movie he accidently breaks it in a passionate speech to his colleagues. At different points of the film, we see only the pipe, it's stem taped together, to indicate the presence of the relentless Robinson.

Average customer rating:

A Good Try
Truly delightful
could have been cool
Great Cast-Good Movie
Great Performances

Stranger Than Fiction [Blu-ray]
Starring: Will Ferrell , and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000M4RGA6
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Beyond Stranger Than Fiction on Amazon.com

Comic Actors Go Dramatic
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Product Description

An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to effect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Try.......2007-07-06

Truly delightful.......2007-07-03

could have been cool.......2007-07-03

i think if this was done by another director it would have been much better. great idea but the execution was only so so.

Great Cast-Good Movie.......2007-06-30

Great Performances.......2007-06-29

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