Identity

Starring:John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Amanda Peet, John Hawkes, Alfred Molina, Clea DuVall, John C. McGinley, William Lee Scott, Jake Busey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Rebecca De Mornay, Carmen Argenziano, Marshall Bell, Leila Kenzle, Matt Letscher, Bret Loehr, Holmes Osborne, Frederick Coffin, Joe Hart, Michael Hirsch
Director: James Mangold
Studio: Sony Pictures Home E
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

After creating the last great traditionally animated film of the 20th century, The Iron Giant, filmmaker Brad Bird joined top-drawer studio Pixar to create this exciting, completely entertaining computer-animated film. Bird gives us a family of "supers," a brood of five with special powers desperately trying to fit in with the 9-to-5 suburban lifestyle. Of course, in a more innocent world, Bob and Helen Parr were superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl. But blasted lawsuits and public disapproval forced them and other supers to go incognito, making it even tougher for their school-age kids, the shy Violet and the aptly named Dash. When a stranger named Mirage (voiced by Elizabeth Pena) secretly recruits Bob for a potential mission, the old glory days spin in his head, even if his body is a bit too plump for his old super suit.

Bird has his cake and eats it, too. He and the Pixar wizards send up superhero and James Bond movies while delivering a thrilling, supercool action movie that rivals Spider-Man 2 for 2004's best onscreen thrills. While it's just as funny as the previous Pixar films, The Incredibles has a far wider-ranging emotional palette (it's Pixar's first PG film). Bird takes several jabs, including some juicy commentary on domestic life ("It's not graduation, he's moving from the fourth to fifth grade!").

The animated Parrs look and act a bit like the actors portraying them, Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter. Samuel L. Jackson and Jason Lee also have a grand old time as, respectively, superhero Frozone and bad guy Syndrome. Nearly stealing the show is Bird himself, voicing the eccentric designer of superhero outfits ("No capes!"), Edna Mode.

Nominated for four Oscars, The Incredibles won for Best Animated Film and, in an unprecedented win for non-live-action films, Sound Editing.

The Presentation
This two-disc set is (shall we say it?), incredible. The digital-to-digital transfer pops off the screen and the 5.1 Dolby sound will knock the socks off most systems. But like any superhero, it has an Achilles heel. This marks the first Pixar release that doesn't include both the widescreen and full-screen versions in the same DVD set, which was a great bargaining chip for those cinephiles who still want a full-frame presentation for other family members. With a 2.39:1 widescreen ratio (that's big black bars, folks, à la Dr. Zhivago), a few more viewers may decide to go with the full-frame presentation. Fortunately, Pixar reformats their full-frame presentation so the action remains in frame.

The Extras
The most-repeated segments will be the two animated shorts. Newly created for this DVD is the hilarious "Jack-Jack Attack," filling the gap in the film during which the Parr baby is left with the talkative babysitter, Kari. "Boundin'," which played in front of the film theatrically, was created by Pixar character designer Bud Luckey. This easygoing take on a dancing sheep gets better with multiple viewings (be sure to watch the featurette on the short).

Brad Bird still sounds like a bit of an outsider in his commentary track, recorded before the movie opened. Pixar captain John Lasseter brought him in to shake things up, to make sure the wildly successful studio would not get complacent. And while Bird is certainly likable, he does not exude Lasseter's teddy-bear persona. As one animator states, "He's like strong coffee; I happen to like strong coffee." Besides a resilient stance to be the best, Bird threw in an amazing number of challenges, most of which go unnoticed unless you delve into the 70 minutes of making-of features plus two commentary tracks (Bird with producer John Walker, the other from a dozen animators). We hear about the numerous sets, why you go to "the Spaniards" if you're dealing with animation physics, costume problems (there's a reason why previous Pixar films dealt with single- or uncostumed characters), and horror stories about all that animated hair. Bird's commentary throws out too many names of the animators even after he warns himself not to do so, but it's a lively enough time. The animator commentary is of greatest interest to those interested in the occupation.

There is a 30-minute segment on deleted scenes with temporary vocals and crude drawings, including a new opening (thankfully dropped). The "secret files" contain a "lost" animated short from the superheroes' glory days. This fake cartoon (Frozone and Mr. Incredible are teamed with a pink bunny) wears thin, but play it with the commentary track by the two superheroes and it's another sharp comedy sketch. There are also NSA "files" on the other superheroes alluded to in the film with dossiers and curiously fun sound bits. "Vowellet" is the only footage about the well-known cast (there aren't even any obligatory shots of the cast recording their lines). Author/cast member Sarah Vowell (NPR's This American Life) talks about her first foray into movie voice-overs--daughter Violet--and the unlikelihood of her being a superhero. The feature is unlike anything we've seen on a Disney or Pixar DVD extra, but who else would consider Abe Lincoln an action figure? --Doug Thomas

More Incredibles at Amazon.com

The Incredibles Toy Store
CD Soundtrack
The Art of The Incredibles Book

Game Boy Advance
On VHS
The Essential Guide Book

The Pixar Feature Films

Toy Story, 1995
A Bug's Life, 1998
Toy Story 2, 1999

Monsters, Inc., 2001
Finding Nemo, 2003
The Incredibles, 2004

More Animation DVDs

Favorite Animated Performances
Previous Animated Oscar Nominees
If You Like The Incredibles...

Our Disney DVD Store
Looney Tunes Golden Collection
Walt Disney Treasures

More Superheroes on DVD

Batman
Blade
The Hulk

Justice League
Robocop
Space Ghost

Spider-Man
Superman
Teen Titans

Wonder Woman
X-Men
Also see our Comics & Graphic Novels Store

Also from Filmmaker Brad Bird

The Iron Giant (Writer/Director)
"Family Dog" on Amazing Stories (Writer/Director)
Batteries Not Included (Cowriter)

The Simpsons (Director/Consultant)
King of the Hill (Consultant)
The Critic (Consultant)

Description

From the Academy Award(R) winning creators of FINDING NEMO (2003 Best Animated Feature Film) comes the action-packed animated adventure about the mundane and incredible lives of a house full of superheroes. Bob Parr and his wife Helen used to be among the world's greatest crime fighters, saving lives and battling evil on a daily basis. Fifteen years later, they have been forced to adopt civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs where they live "normal" lives with their three kids, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack. Itching to get back into action, Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment. He soon discovers that it will take a super family effort to rescue the world from total destruction. Exploding with fun and featuring an all-new animated short film, this spectacular 2-disc collector's edition DVD is high-flying entertainment for everyone.

Customer Reviews:

Pixar Makes Another Hit!.......2007-06-14

The Incredibles is a fun story about a family of super heroes and how they try to integrate back into society once super heroes are outlawed due to lawsuits. (Some people just don't want to be saved!) A funny concept! Great characters, a great villian, a great family movie!

Among my favorites, animated OR live-action........2007-05-22

This is, hands down, my favorite animated film. But more than that, it's one of my favorite movies of all time. Not only is the look gorgeous (at once modern and retro), but it has one of the most emotionally complex storylines of any "kids" movie I've seen - dealing with mortality, family dynamics, and more. The filmmakers get a lot of mileage out of an extraordinary family having to deal with ordinary situations, and some of the dialogue to that effect is truly thought-provoking. In addition, for comic book geeks, there are some great bits poking fun at the habits of superheroes and supervillians. All in all, a brilliant, touching, and hilarious movie that most everyone can enjoy on many different levels, though it's not a film I'd recommend for very young kids.

Jack Jack Attack.......2007-04-27

i think the incredibles is a great film, my baby girl has seen it like a hundred times, and i'm still not as sick of it as blues clues.
though the main character, mr incredible, in the beginning of the film, is pompous and perfect, it then reflects the problems with our society as a whole, how we mistreat those who sacrifice themselves for us, how good, honest people, even perfect people, can get screwed and spend 15 years of misery, struggling to survive...subjecting themselves to complete diminishment by other evil and vindictive people, reducing their lives to near nothing...but good people will only let ya push 'em so far...
try to harm their families... and they will fight back, and win.
and i love the adult humor within, like when middle-aged mom sees the reflection of her bottom and then desperately sighs. too funny. :-)

i especially like the short film on the second disc called "jack-jack-attack"....it shows what the babysitter kara had to go through while everyone was away...incredibly funny.
wake.

Great Movie.......2007-04-25

Another great movie that we have watched with our 3 yr old over and over.

Damaged.......2007-04-22

When I played it there were skips and and freezes and read all kinds of errors, pixeles. I am requesting a replacement.

The Bourne Identity (Widescreen Extended Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Bourne Identity - A Truely Awesome Movie!
Bourne Identity
Shame on who made this
Action packed and re-watchable!
Though not a masterpiece, a movie worth watching

The Bourne Identity (Widescreen Extended Edition)
Starring: Matt Damon , Franka Potente , Chris Cooper , Clive Owen , and Brian Cox
Director: Doug Liman
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Extended Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Bourne Supremacy (Widescreen Edition)
Ocean's Eleven (Widescreen Edition)
Ocean's Twelve
The Italian Job (Special Collector's Edition)
Casino Royale (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00023B1LC
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Amazon.com

Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity. While his CIA superior (Chris Cooper) dispatches assassins to kill Bourne and thus cover up his failed mission, Bourne exercises his lethal training to leave a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Director Doug Liman (Go) infuses Ludlum's intricate plotting with a maverick's eye for character detail, matching breathtaking action with the humorous, thrill-seeking chemistry of Damon and Potente. Previously made as a 1988 TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain, The Bourne Identity benefits from the sharp talent of rising stars, offering intelligent, crowd-pleasing excitement from start to finish. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Bourne Identity - A Truely Awesome Movie!.......2007-06-14

Hip, clever, well written/acted/filmed/directed! A visual feast from start to finish! Matt Damon is Jason Bourne! A must own for all action fans! A truely awesome movie!

Bourne Identity.......2007-06-11

Great fast-paced action, lots of special racing scenes. Great, but simple plot which is vastly improved by Matt Damon's acting. I would recommend this movie to anyone's DVD library.

Shame on who made this.......2007-06-10

This is a great movie but whoever made the dvd really messed up the captions. The extended version has no captions and the other it is more subtitles and difficult to turn on. If the extended has no captions someone tell me the point of buying this dvd?

Action packed and re-watchable! .......2007-05-26

I don't know about this extended version, I saw the movie in the theater and then on pay per view several times. Great suspense, excellent fight scened, Matt Damon at his, in my opinion, best. Great editing and direction, this movie does not slow down and is one of my all time favorite action suspense flicks.

Though not a masterpiece, a movie worth watching.......2007-05-20

The Bourne Identity brings to the screen the story of a young man dragged out of the Mediterranean Sea and without a clue as to who he is. His only lead is a bank account in Zurich. His problems, however, have only just begun...
Matt Damon is amazing in his respective role though the rest of the cast fail to follow with the exception of lovely Julia Stiles who seems to have quite a bit of potential.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, and the music are all good, but nothing extraordinary.
In a nutshell, it's probably not a movie you would want to add to your collection, but it will provide for an evening's entertainment.

Average customer rating:

Best of the Remakes
Family Fun
Great Movie
Cutesy
Great transaction

The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
Starring: Lindsay Lohan , Dennis Quaid , Natasha Richardson , Elaine Hendrix , and Lisa Ann Walter
Director: Nancy Meyers
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

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

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Parent Trap (1961) and The Parent Trap II (1986): 2-Movie Collection (2-Disc Set)
Freaky Friday
It Takes Two
The Princess Diaries (Special Edition)
The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B0007LXPBI
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills--it's as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy--about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents--out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly '90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad's impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. --Marshall Fine

Description

What makes the Special Edition of THE PARENT TRAP so cool isn't just that you get to enjoy Lindsay Lohan's amazing theatrical debut, but that's it's filled with bonus materials you've never seen before. Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss (both played by Lohan) are identical twins who don't even know each other exists -- until they accidentally meet at summer camp. Now they're up to their freckles in schemes and dreams to switch places, get their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) back together, and have the family they've always wished for!

Customer Reviews:

Best of the Remakes.......2007-07-02

Lindsay Lohan made her first appearance in this latest remake of the Disney classic based on the German children's book. Two girls meet at summer camp. Other than their styles, they look exactly the same. When their hatred of each other forces them to be isolated together they learn the truth. They are sisters. Their parents split up and each took one of the twins and never mentioned the other. Wanting to see their other parent, the girls switch places. When the parents find out about the switch they will have to get together to make an exchange of siblings.

But there is a snag. The father is about to get remarried. Now everything has to be sped up if there is any hope of getting the parents back together again. Revelations and madcap hijinks make up the rest of the film as the twins do everything in their power to stop the wedding and reunite their parents.

Much better than the Olsen Twin remake. While much of the story is very close to the original, it has been properly updated. The parents were a shipboard romance that failed. Newer technology has Lohan beside herself even more than Hayley Mills was. The rest of the cast is excellent and Quaid (the father) really shows he is a better actor than he is usually given credit for. Even the extras are entertaining. A fun documentary about making Lindsay twins and an extra scene involving the Queen of England. Fun for the whole family. Check it out.

Family Fun.......2007-06-08

As with the original version of this movie with Hayley Mills, this is a nice movie despite the premise being so horribly ridiculous. What nice divorcing parents would separate their twins, each take custody of one and never mention or attempt to see the other for 12 years? I did thoroughly enjoy Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson in their roles. There were several differences between this movie and the 1961 version, actually enough to make this enjoyable. I didn't feel like I was watching different actors play the parts and recite the lines of the same characters from that movie.

Great Movie.......2007-05-21

Great funny movie, perfect for the family. Everyone will like it!! get the soundtrack too music is great. Awesome movie.

Cutesy.......2007-04-18

I vaguely remember the 1961 version of The Parent Trap. I say vaguely because that version of the movie was apparently as equally compelling as the 1998 version...which isn't that compelling. But...my kids enjoyed it thoroughly.

The movie takes place way before Lindsay Lohan's pics could be spotted...or should I say pics of Lindsay's privates could be spotted...all over the Internet. Lindsay plays (both) twins separated at birth by their divorcing parents. When the twins meet up by chance 10 or so years later they come up with a diabolical plan to reunite their parents.

Anyone not familiar enough with the story has been under a rock...perhaps since 1961. Anyone that missed the movie deliberately because it sounds too cutesy and far-fetched has done himself or herself a favor. This is a movie for kids. Adults will be more entertained watching their kids interpret the themes in the movie.

So if you're over the age of 14 and you've somehow found yourself contemplating The Parent Trap as the next movie that you just have to see among all of the other available titles...I would say that life under that rock has taken its toll on you in a most severe way.

If you're looking for a decent movie for your age 6 - 14 year old(s)...this could be the one if your kids can handle a couple of smooches (no...none by Lindsay...Dennis Quaid gets a few kisses from Elaine Hendrix and Natasha Richardson). Oh, and I would be remiss not to warn, I'm not sure that the Speedo that Simon Kunz appears in for a brief scene is suitable for viewing by anyone!

Great transaction.......2007-04-11

The product was exactly what we ordered and arrived in a timely manner. It was even on sale! A first-class transaction from beginning to end.

Average customer rating:

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

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

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

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

Mars Attacks!
Mystery Men
Evolution
Independence Day (Limited Edition)
The Last Starfighter

ASIN: B00003CXDV
Release Date: 2000-05-02

Amazon.com essential video

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Why review it before you've even seen it on HD?
The only things preserved are a few names

The Bourne Identity [HD DVD]
Starring: Chris Cooper , Matt Damon , Tim Dutton , Walt Goggins , and Orso Maria Guerrini
Director: Doug Liman
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Shaun of the Dead [HD DVD]
Hot Fuzz [HD DVD]
Heroes - Season 1 [HD DVD]
The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition) [HD DVD]
Shooter [HD DVD]

ASIN: B000QEIOTO
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Customer Reviews:

Why review it before you've even seen it on HD?.......2007-06-13

[...]This film has believable action compared to the last few Bond films before Casino Royale and has some great set pieces, this is what action films should be like, great acting from Matt Damon and supporting cast, I even love the music as well and cant wait for this to come out on HD DVD as the 2nd film looks awesome on it. [...]

The only things preserved are a few names.......2007-06-04

As far as a shoot-um-up with the obligatory car chase goes, this movie did it quite well. And like many of the other "1984" (book by George Orwell in which to satisfy the proletariat they had a machine mass produce formula pulp fiction) type machine churned out films for the proletariat, the title and a few names bare the only resemblance to the Ludlum story. Quite a few of the characters that give this story depth and mystery are left out of the movie completely.

Fortunately or unfortunately it is easy to get wrapped unpin technology as assume that high definition (HD) or even 3Dis going to take the place of Carlos and the search for his real identity.

Now let's not compare this quickie in shoot-up land with the well thought out book "The Bourne Identity" by Robert Ludlum or the much better portrait of the story portrayed in the Mini-Series "The Bourne Identity" (1988) starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith; then we can enjoy what is left.

A sailor on a fishing trawler spots a human body in the water. After retrieving it we find it is alive. Helping this stranger back from the near dead we find a couple of bullet holes and a mysterious capsule under his skin. The capsule displays what the fisherman recognizes immediately as a Swiss bank account. The man can not remember who he is. Now we follow along with his journey to Switzerland and find out if he will recover. In the mean time someone is out to kill him. Why?

Average customer rating:

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

Dave
Starring: Kevin Kline , Sigourney Weaver , Frank Langella , Kevin Dunn , and Ving Rhames
Director: Ivan Reitman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $5.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

The American President
Sabrina
The Fugitive
French Kiss
Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition)

ASIN: 6304907613
Release Date: 1998-04-29

Amazon.com essential video

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

Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen...
one of the best Superhero movies ever.
Batman, as it should be
The Best "Batman" Movie
The mask of Zero

Batman Begins [HD DVD]
Starring: Christian Bale , Katie Holmes , Michael Caine , Liam Neeson , and Morgan Freeman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

General | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

Science Fiction & Fantasy | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Fantastic Four (Widescreen Edition)
War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000E1MTY0
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

Batman Begins discards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-parody by 1997's Batman & Robin. As the title implies, Batman Begins tells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it. But are there forces even more sinister at hand?

Co-written by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan (Memento), Batman Begins is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of Spider-Man 2 (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane. --David Horiuchi

Batman at Amazon.com

All Batman DVDs
Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer
Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?

All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels
Batman Toys
Batman Begins Soundtrack

Stills from Batman Begins (click for larger images)

DVD Features

The first disc is filled out by the theatrical trailer and a Jimmy Fallon-starring Batman Begins spoof from the MTV Movie Awards. The second disc consists of eight featurettes (about 105 minutes total) on a variety of topics. "The Journey Begins" covers the early stages of the movie, including the casting and how director/co-writer Christopher Nolan brought in co-writer David S. Goyer for his comic-book expertise. "Shaping Mind and Body" covers Christian Bale's fight training, and other featurettes discuss the sets (the Batcave is shown being constructed out of wood and sheets), the Batman costume, the Batmobile, the monorail sequence, and the hazards of filming in Iceland. All the behind-the-scenes featurettes are solid but somewhat routine, and while "The Journey Begins" is the widest overview, there's not really any centerpiece documentary (all are 8 to 15 minutes, and there's no Play All option). Interviewees tend to be the same throughout: Nolan, Goyer, Bale (the only cast member to get much face time), and other crew members (it's nice to hear from the stunt people).

Potentially more interesting to fans is "Genesis of the Bat," which covers the comic books that influenced the film, including The Long Halloween, Neal Adams's Ra's Al Ghul from the '70s, Dennis O'Neill and Dick Giordano's The Man Who Falls, and Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. Interviewees include DC Comics editor Paul Levitz and artist Jim Lee, but the latter's involvement eventually degrades the featurette into a pitch for DC's All-Star Batman line. A nice bonus to the Deluxe Edition is a mini comic book (DVD case-sized) that has Batman's first appearance (Detective Comics #27), The Man Who Falls, and a 48-page excerpt from The Long Halloween. (Once you get a taste of Halloween, you'll want to pick up the full-length, full-size version.) Filling out the disc are overviews of four gadgets and eight characters, DVD-ROM features, and a variety of poster-art concepts. To get to the features menu, you have to scroll through a multi-page Goyer-scribed comic book, which is a good read, but you can't skip it the next time you want to watch the second disc. Note that the comic book is also viewable in French, and the second disc offers a French menu and French (but not English) subtitles for the featurettes. --David Horiuchi

Description

Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Customer Reviews:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen..........2007-07-05

One of the biggest surprises in cinema that said year, `Batman Begins' proves to be everything one could ask for in a superhero movie. It's got some breathtaking action scenes, some great fight scenes and some amazing special effects. What takes this film over the edge though, making it far removed from the previous efforts is that the script is tight, the acting is superb and the characters are so well fleshed out that they become three dimensional. We, the audience, feel like we know Bruce Wayne inside and out and we understand where he's coming from. We don't get that feeling from the previous films. Christian Bale does such a brilliant job with his character that I'm tempted to say he was snubbed come awards season. He truly did deserve some recognition for his work here. He took a character that has been played before with no real depth and transformed him into someone we could relate to and cheer for. He did for Batman what Daniel Craig did for James Bond.

The film may start on the slow side of things as has been commented on before. It's a general retelling of The Dark Knights origin so it's bound to be a lot of story telling versus an over abundance of action. The action does come, just not right away. I actually enjoyed watching Wayne's story slowly unfold. It's very interesting to see where he got his start since the concept has not been pursued in any of the Batman films before this one. The film explores the training Wayne undergoes after his parents are murdered and he flees the country. Upon returning some years later to a city overrun by criminals Wayne makes it his personal agenda to rid Gotham City of the waste and filth that permeates the streets. After returning though, and donning the cape, Bruce finds that struggling to keep a firm grasp on his two personas may be his biggest challenge.

Like I mentioned, Bale does a fantastic job with tackling both Bruce Wayne and Batman, two separate characters who both need delicate attention. He's cocky and self-sure, doubtful and reserved, distant and egotistical, responsible and afraid, all of these things and sometimes all at once, and he handles his emotions so effortlessly he completely sinks into his character and becomes the Bat. Another standout performance comes from rising star Cillian Murphy who devours his role as Jonathan Crane or better known as `The Scarecrow'. He's splendidly evil, the type of character that gets right under your skin and festers. He's perfectly cast. Michael Caine is perfectly cast (and I was skeptical) as Alfred, the family butler and Liam Neeson is always good, and as Wayne's mentor Henri Ducard he's especially effective. Katie Holmes is decent, but her role is somewhat thankless, as is Morgan Freeman's but he still delivers. And let's just say that while Ken Wantanabe kicks butt as Ra's Al Ghul he's no where near as awesome as Neeson as the film comes to a close.

So, with all this talk of actors pulling out the stops I need to mention the brilliance that was and is Christopher Nolan who was, I'm sure, very close to Oscar consideration for his direction here. He effortlessly staged this entire film and delivers wonderfully, from his script to his finished product. The set pieces are fantastic, the action scenes are well choreographed and the pace of the film, the editing is all fantastic and close to perfect. The props, everything from gadgets to the new and totally improved Batmobile, are brilliantly modernized and dare I say "oh so cool". The film deserves our attention and will garner repeat viewings. I'm tempted to say it's better than Sam Raimi's `Spider Man' Blockbusters, but that's open to speculation. With a cast this huge, and equally impressive, and a director this in tune with his subject, `Batman Begins' never falters and remains one of the best films of 2005.

one of the best Superhero movies ever........2007-07-05

Batman Begins is one of the best super-hero movies of all time. I'm a fan of superhero movies and I've seen all the Superman, Spiderman, and Batman films. But I'm not a fanatic. I don't read the comics or know about the "true" stories of these characters. I don't care about that. I just want to see a good movie. Batman Begins was a summer blockbuster in 2005 and it actually tried to do something none of the other summer blockbusters ever do. It tried to tell a story.

From the title, you learn this is a story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. Probably the first hour of the movie is spent developing the character of Bruce Wayne, showing how he suffered after his parents were murdered, how he abandoned the privelege of his birth for a live of crime and self-inflicted punishment. The first part of the movie works in part because of the great cast. Christian Bale as Wayne is incredible. Other greats such as Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and a menacing Cilian Murphy make every moment on screen enthralling.

Equally enjoying is the transformation of Wayne into Batman. It is portrayed as realistic as it can considering it is a superhero movie. Wayne uses the recources of Lucious Fox at a secret R&D section of Wayne Enterprises. There, he finds all the tools he'll need as Batman, including an incredible Bat-Mobile.

If you are like me, the George Clooney batman movie kind of soured you on the story of Batman. If so, you must watch this movie. The acting is great, the story is crisp, the action and characters are gritty and real. I can't wait for the upcoming sequel in 2008.

Batman, as it should be.......2007-07-04

This movie did a great job at illustrating the origin of Batman, and portraying him as the Dark Knight.

The movie did a great job of overcoming the campiness of some of the earlier Batman movies.

I hope they produce more Batman movies like this one.

The Best "Batman" Movie.......2007-07-02

Excellent movie depicting how batman became batman. Excellent storyline, you're always thinking what's going to happen next. Great acting. This movie should definitely accelerate Christain Bales career. Good action sequences!

The mask of Zero.......2007-06-28

Apparently, the only path to wisdom and a life packed with acts of kindness is arse freezing and sword and/or kickboxing tricks.
Ridiculous movie designed for brainless pimpled teenagers.
Nauseating philosophy wrapping grandiloquent dialogues.

At least the Rambo suite was honest entertainment.

Fight Club (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

I dislike violent films, and I love this movie
Bad
This movie kicks....
Anarchy anyone?
If you are ready to wake up and do more than just behave ...

Fight Club (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Edward Norton , Brad Pitt , Meat Loaf , Helena Bonham Carter , and Zach Grenier
Director: David Fincher
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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

American History X
Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Seven (New Line Platinum Series)
Snatch (Special Edition)
Reservoir Dogs (15th Anniversary 2-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B00003W8NM
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Amazon.com essential video

All films take a certain suspension of disbelief. Fight Club takes perhaps more than others, but if you're willing to let yourself get caught up in the anarchy, this film, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk, is a modern-day morality play warning of the decay of society. Edward Norton is the unnamed protagonist, a man going through life on cruise control, feeling nothing. To fill his hours, he begins attending support groups and 12-step meetings. True, he isn't actually afflicted with the problems, but he finds solace in the groups. This is destroyed, however, when he meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter), also faking her way through groups. Spiraling back into insomnia, Norton finds his life is changed once again, by a chance encounter with Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), whose forthright style and no-nonsense way of taking what he wants appeal to our narrator. Tyler and the protagonist find a new way to feel release: they fight. They fight each other, and then as others are attracted to their ways, they fight the men who come to join their newly formed Fight Club. Marla begins a destructive affair with Tyler, and things fly out of control, as Fight Club grows into a nationwide fascist group that escapes the protagonist's control.

Fight Club, directed by David Fincher (Seven), is not for the faint of heart; the violence is no holds barred. But the film is captivating and beautifully shot, with some thought-provoking ideas. Pitt and Norton are an unbeatable duo, and the film has some surprisingly humorous moments. The film leaves you with a sense of profound discomfort and a desire to see it again, if for no other reason than to just to take it all in. --Jenny Brown

Product Description

2-Disc set is loaded with Extra Punch!

Bonus Features

Four audio commentaries by the cast and crew, including David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter.
Five deleted scenes and outtakes.
Original sketches, oil paintings, storyboards, publicity stills and lobby cards.
17 behind-the-scenes vignettes.
Anamorphic widescreen format
Languages:English 5.1 surround; English and French Dolby Surround

And much more!

System Requirements:
Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Jared Leto, Van Quattro, Markus Redmond, Michael Girardin, and Rachel Singer. Directed By: David Fincher. Running Time: 139 Min., Color. This film is presented in "Widescreen" format. Copyright 2000 Twentieth Century Fox.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

I dislike violent films, and I love this movie.......2007-06-25

Fight Club MUST be seen twice to be truly understood. Can't say more than that, it would ruin the fun.
This film was way ahead of its time in its devastatingly exact portrayal of the emptiness of its time. Give this puppy a few decades and it will be seen as perhaps the finest celluloid expression of millenial ennui/nihilism. The violence is entirely necessary to the experience, and this isn't the standard defense-industry-sponsored Hollywood Gun Porn; it's straight-up bare-knuckle brawling, and its visceral point hits home hard. In the anesthetized homogenized consumerist vacuum of a culture that we call home, it takes at least a few solid shots to the jaw to begin to wake up from our American Dream/Nightmare.
Fight Club was widely panned upon release, and no wonder. This is one of the most subversive major studio films of all time, intelligently deconstructing modern film and the entertainment/distraction industry in general. Fight Club's heroes blow up the headquarters of credit card companies (!) in a decidedly unapologetic way...not really the message our Feudal Lords wish us to ponder while being entertained. Why not buy a copy on your Mastercard just for kicks, but whatever you do don't burn it for everyone you know just because the message of this film is more important than making money for the system this flick slams at every turn.
So many hidden details, so much black humor (the Ikea lifestyle catalog scene is brilliant), three excellent lead performances, tremendous writing (Palahniuk must have been thrilled with the adaptation), a wild score, state of the art editing, sets, and direction, and so much more.
But, and this can not be overstated, you absolutely have to see it twice; the second viewing is a completely different animal, and will make you realize how thoroughly manipulated we are by modern culture, no matter how above and beyond it we think we may be.
For a culture constantly and adoringly staring up its own ahole, Fight Club is a satisfyingly violent enema.

Bad.......2007-06-24

I was like ok, everyone talked about fight club likes its the greatest movie of all time plus I am a huge Brad Pitt fan so let me just buy it without ever seeing it. Big mistake. The only interesting aspect of this movie is the ending revelation of the relationship between Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. Other than that, it was a waste of a lot of time. This movie was no short. But, than again, I am hard to entertain but I suggest that before you buy it, bit torrent it first!

This movie kicks...........2007-06-17

Fight Club....so fresh when it came out, and still so. Man, the action, the comedy, the drama.....and so so so so well put together. Ed Norton has a very controlled, boringly normal, compulsively square life. Then he joins a fight club, and Brad Pitt (smokin hot in this movie...it had to be said) steps into his life. I don't want to give away any twists or turns, but I will just say that while a little violent, the movie is amazing to watch. It's so well acted, and adventerous, and like nothing else you'll see.

Anarchy anyone?.......2007-06-15

Fight Club is a crude raunchy slugfest that knocks the wind out of you like an unsuspecting kick to the balls. Edward Norton a mealy mouthed insurance inspector runs into his antihero, a wise smart mouth punk, who knows what ails today's men. They have lost their animal instinct, the bloodlust, and their will to survive. The two start up a clandestine bare knuckle fight club. Surprisingly clubs spring up everywhere. The members begin to worship Pitt and Norton like gods. Things take a turn for the worse as the fight clubs turn its energy on society. Norton slowly but surely begins to realize that there is something really familiar about Pitt. This is really a great film if you're planning to be part of the new revolution; of course we all know the first rule.

If you are ready to wake up and do more than just behave ..........2007-06-14

I loved this movie. It give a much needed message while providing excellent, though dark, entertainment. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to grow a pair!

Average customer rating:

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

Memento
Starring: Jr. Mark Boone , Russ Fega , Jorja Fox , Joe Pantoliano , and Stephen Tobolowsky
Director: Christopher Nolan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Neo-Noir | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video

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

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

Requiem for a Dream (Edited Version)
Seven (New Line Platinum Series)
The Usual Suspects (Special Edition)
Donnie Darko - The Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B00003CXZ4
Release Date: 2001-09-04

Amazon.com essential video

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

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Great movie; unusually prescient commentary
extended scenes already in the origial cut
One of my favorite movies
GREAT MOVIE!!!!
Donnie rules! Three thumbs up.

Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
Starring: Al Pacino , Johnny Depp , Michael Madsen , Bruno Kirby , and James Russo
Director: Mike Newell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Grenier, Zach | ( G ) | Actors & Actresses | S

The Incredibles Toy Store	CD Soundtrack	The Art of The Incredibles Book
Game Boy Advance	On VHS	The Essential Guide Book

Favorite Animated Performances	Previous Animated Oscar Nominees	If You Like The Incredibles...
Our Disney DVD Store	Looney Tunes Golden Collection	Walt Disney Treasures

The Iron Giant (Writer/Director)	"Family Dog" on Amazing Stories (Writer/Director)	Batteries Not Included (Cowriter)
The Simpsons (Director/Consultant)	King of the Hill (Consultant)	The Critic (Consultant)

All Batman DVDs	Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer	Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?
All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels	Batman Toys	Batman Begins Soundtrack