Dance of Death

Starring:Karloff, Julissa, Garcia, Hill
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Yuck!!
Suspiria
Fearing Fear Itself
Classic Horror Flick
Interesting But Not Great

Suspiria
Starring: Eva Axén , Joan Bennett , Miguel Bosé , Flavio Bucci , and Stefania Casini
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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ASIN: B00005ASOI
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Amazon.com

Outside of devoted cult audiences, many Americans have yet to discover the extremely stylish, relentlessly terrifying Italian horror genre, or the films of its talented virtuoso, Dario Argento. Suspiria, part one of a still-uncompleted trilogy (the luminously empty Inferno was the second), is considered his masterpiece by Argento devotees but also doubles as a perfect starting point for those unfamiliar with the director or his genre. The convoluted plot follows an American dancer (Jessica Harper) from her arrival at a European ballet school to her discovery that it's actually a witches coven; but, really, don't worry about that too much. Argento makes narrative subservient to technique, preferring instead to assault the senses and nervous system with mood, atmosphere, illusory gore, garish set production, a menacing camera, and perhaps the creepiest score ever created for a movie. It's essentially a series of effectively unsettling set pieces--a raging storm that Harper should have taken for an omen, and a blind man attacked by his own dog are just two examples--strung together on a skeleton structure. But once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. --Dave McCoy

Customer Reviews:

Yuck!!.......2007-06-28

Too much blood and guts for me...plus the acting left little to be desired. A waste.

Suspiria.......2007-06-28

I must not be a fan of the old Italian thrillers. I read reviews from others about this movie, and thought it was just what I was looking for. Boy was I wrong. You can't hear the characters whispering unless you crank up the volume, then the music comes blaring in. You never see the murderous beast in the first attack, just a hairy arm with long talon-like fingernails, yet when the beast kills the female victim, it repeatedly stabs her with a knife.?? Then there's the scene where the seeing-eye dog attacks it's master. It knocks him down and supposedly tears his throat out, but when you see a close up of the dog ripping at flesh, the flesh is attached to something below the letterbox frame of the film. You never see a body with the live dog. Not to mention the stuffed dog's head that the blind guy is wrestling with on the ground. Too fake for my liking. The girls spend a lot of time staring into nothingness, and listening to haunting sounds that you cannot hear, and you are left staring at them until something else happens. Sometimes for several minutes. They have one bikini scene that's not really worth mentioning. Not sexy, not thrilling, not scary, not horrifying. Someone wrote, "The only thing scarier than the last 17 minutes of this film, are the first 80 minutes". Unless you are really into weak thrillers, and cheesy effects, don't waste your time on this movie.

Fearing Fear Itself.......2007-04-12

"Suspiria" is a well-guarded secret among the intelligentsia of horror fans. If you aren't part of the Algonquin Round Table of literate fright freaks or clued in to the subtle genius of its palette, then you will probably be one of those people who watch it, scratch your head, and then say, "I thought this was supposed to be one of the greatest horror films of all time."

It's not, let's be clear. It exists, now, as a relic of what may once have been frightening (I have the impulse to debate that, but we'll skip it), a fossilized remnant of a time when sheer style and technique were enough to sow, grow, and harvest goosebumps by the bushel. Fans of this film point at the subtle interplays of the editing, the almost painfully raw use of color, the "greatest horror movie score of all time," provided by "Goblin." Although there's a lot of room for interpretation in the term "horrific," it is clear to see the eye of a maestro at work in "Suspiria." The directing, cinematography, and editing are indeed eloquent. The primal color scheme -- while over-the-top -- denotes an eye for craftsmanship, its unrealistic and powerfully savage primacy as tangible in the movie as any character or prop. But there are problems here, too. Lots of them. Not the least of which being the story.

Suzy Bannion (played by Jessica Harper, a woman whose fine features and big, beautiful eyes make her look like a Japanime character) travels to Germany to start her schooling at one of the most celebrated ballet academies in Europe. Before she's even walked in the door, strange things occur, and it is up to Suzy to figure out what is going on ... before it's too late! The elements that are intended to multiply the movie's horror tend (at best) to confuse and (at worst) to bring the pace of the film to a withered crawl. Statues disappear, animals become strangely aggressive, footsteps clack off to rooms unknown, and eyes hover in the dark. Meanwhile, there's stilted dialogue to be endured, and long, trawling shots of people walking...very...slowly.

I consider myself a patient man, especially with things like movies. And the opening murder sequence leads one to expect from the rest of the film a slow, hissing reveal (it also sets the tone for a fever dreamish reality; the building in which it takes place looks like it was designed by a post-mortem Erno Rubik, and all of the blood involved appears to be sherbert-colored poster paint). But by the time maggots and strange bats begin to haunt the school, it was clear that not nearly as much effort had been put into the story as had gone into its well-lit props.

Still, I can appreciate serious stabs at serious art, and I was sorely tempted to give the film a four star pat on the back (a round up from the C+ I feel it deserves), if it weren't for one thing: the score. That's right. In every glowing recommendation I ever read, in every Top Ten Scariest Movies Of All Time list in which "Suspiria" is listed, I heard about this supposedly powerful and unparalleled musical soundtrack to horror. Call me uncultured. Call me short-sighted. But all I heard was an obtrusive, inconsistently employed, and unnecessarily shrill series of screeches and moans. Normally music to movies is like salt to soup. "Suspiria"s soundtrack is so grating and weirdly wielded that it seems like it's trying to be its own story altogether, forget highlighting or intensifying the movie to which its attached. There are moments when it works (the opening driving sequence and the final "battle"), but many more when it doesn't.

Fear is a sticky wicket; there's no accounting for tastes. One thing I do know: if you are a buff of the horror movie genre (or a film student) and you haven't seen "Suspiria," I recommend you watch it, if for no other reason than to see the trippy tricks that are possible when a director gives the screen his undivided attention. But don't expect to be scared or disturbed. And to the rest of you, I'd say steer clear. It's true that there's a lot of visual art to this movie, but much like the art you hang on your wall, this flick goes nowhere.

Classic Horror Flick.......2007-04-04

I hadn't seen this classic horror movie since it was in the theatres in the 70s. Still a classic! "So you think you can kill Elaina Marcos?"

Interesting But Not Great.......2007-03-08

Yes, the lighting and photography are different from other films though I kept imagining the colored lights off camera. The acting and script are pretty good as is the general production design but as a classic horror film, Suspiria rates rather low in my opinion because the blood just doesn't look at all real and if the blood in a horror movie doesn't look real, the film has failed. That's a shame too since I loved the surround soundtrack.

A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Cinderella Story
The Story of The Cinderella
One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!
Very pleased customer!

A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Hilary Duff , Jennifer Coolidge , Chad Michael Murray , Dan Byrd , and Regina King
Director: Mark Rosman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000324Y98
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Amazon.com

If you are one of Hilary Duff's most ardent pre-teen fans, chances are you'll find something to enjoy in A Cinderella Story, but everyone else should proceed with caution. It's an updated fairy tale for the age of instant messaging, which is how Sam (Duff) develops a crush on Austin (Chad Michael Murray) before realizing that this Tennyson-quoting poet-at-heart is actually her San Fernando Valley high school's star quarterback and most desirable hunk. In a role that squanders her proven comedic gifts, Jennifer Coolidge is Sam's Botox-injected evil stepmother, and lame attempts at comedy turn her dimwitted stepsisters into buffoons, like many of the other cast members who struggle to find anything funny in the screenplay. So we're left with the bland, blonde charms of Hilary Duff, who fared better in The Lizzie McGuire Movie, but manages to salvage her mainstream appeal in a comedy for which "cute" is not necessarily a compliment. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Meet high school student Sam (Hilary Duff), who scrubs floors at a diner, copes with her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, and all the while dreams of Princeton (the perfect spot for a would-be princess to find a prince). But maybe she has a Prince Charming already: her anonymous e-mail buddy (Chad Michael Murray), who arranges to meet her at the Halloween dance. Sam panics when Mr. Anonymous turns out to be the coolest guy on campus. Can he love a girl who isn't part of the in crowd? Can fairy tales come true? Sure - but only if Sam stands up for herself and turns her dreams into reality.

DVD Features:
Additional Scenes
Audio Commentary:Hilary Duff and other castmembers
Challenges:Find Your Prince/Princess Challenge: See video clips and answer questions to see who your true love is.
Featurette:Cinderella Couture: The Making of a Fashionably Modern Fairytale: A featurette on the costumes and makeup that at first "made under" and later made over Hillary Duff.
Music Video:"Our Lips are Sealed" by sisters Hilary and Hallie Duff
Other:PRE-SELL DATE TBD

Customer Reviews:

Cinderella Story.......2007-06-29

An entertaining story for Hillary Duff fans...or not. Purchased as a gift for twin 10 year old girls who enjoyed the movie.

The Story of The Cinderella.......2007-06-20

I first watched this movie when it came into theatres, and I actually talked my friends into watching this instead of another movie, which was a hit thriller.

The main reason why I chose this over the other movie was not because of the cast members. Though i admit that I admire the beautiful Miss Hilary Duff and Mr Chad michael Murray as many teenagers do out there(hey! I'm only sixteen myself!), I watched the movie because I was attracted by the story.

Cinderella is one of my favourite fairytales since I was a kid, and I am really glad that it's made into a comedy telling the story of a girl. A Cinderella Story illustrates many aspects of lives of teenagers; family, school, friends, part-time job... and it's shouting out to every teenager out there: never give up. Cling onto your dreams. Eventually, everything will be alright.

Fairytales are like dreams of every person out there, no matter you are a kid or you are an adult. Many say that they are like perfections that don't exist. Well maybe they don't. But if you really look and you really try to see, they are there, waiting for you to explore.

One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-27

This is a great movie! About a girl named Samantha [people call her Sam]attending high-school.She has two mean step-sisers and a mean step-mother. Sam meets a boy through her cell-phone and they start chating.They don't know who they are talking to,so Sam calls him "nomad.'' She is really talking to Austin Ames,a populer boy in school.They talk through their cell-phones and computers.Then Austin askes Sam to go to the dance at the high-school with him.Sam's step-mother forbids her to go,but Sam, with the help of some friends,gets out of he house,and gets a lovely dress to wear.The party is a costume party,or a halloween party.Sam gets dressed like Cinderella,with a little white eye mask.Her and Austin dance the whole time,but Austin still dosen't know who she is.DON'T MISS HIS FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-27

Very pleased customer!.......2007-03-23

I was very pleased with the products condition and delivery on it-- Thank you very much!

Average customer rating:

Walkabout
mesmerizing
Please Return Australia to the Noble Aborigines
My favorite film of all time and I love movies.
Great film, poor transfer to DVD

Walkabout - Criterion Collection
Starring: Jenny Agutter , Luc Roeg , David Gulpilil , John Meillon , and Robert McDarra
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0780020847
Release Date: 1998-05-06

Amazon.com

Very few films achieve a kind of subliminal greatness with cross-cultural impact, but Walkabout is one of those films--a visual tone poem that functions more as an allegory than a conventionally plotted adventure. Considered a cult favorite for years, Nicolas Roeg's 1971 film--about two British children who are rescued in the Australian outback by a young aborigine--was originally released in the U.S. with an R rating, edited from its European length of 100 minutes. In 1997, the film was fully restored to its director's cut, and in its remastered video and DVD release, it's now wisely unrated (as Roeg had always intended) but still suitable for viewers of all ages. For parents this is a rare opportunity to treat well-supervised children (ages 5 and over) to an adventure that won't insult their intelligence, presenting scenes of frontal nudity and the hunting of animals in a context that invites valuable discussion and introspection. Through exquisite cinematography and a story of subtle human complexity, the film continues to resonate on many thematic and artistic levels. Roeg had always intended it to be a cautionary morality tale, in which the limitations and restrictions of civilization become painfully clear when the two children (played by Jenny Agutter and Roeg's young son, Lucien John) cannot survive without the aborigine's assistance. They become primitives themselves, if only temporarily, while the young aborigine proves ultimately and tragically unable to join the "family" of civilization. With its story of two worlds colliding, Walkabout now seems like a film for the ages, hypnotic and open to several compelling levels of interpretation. In addition to presenting the film in its original 1.77:1 aspect ratio, the Criterion Collection DVD of Walkabout includes a variety of bonus features, including a full-length commentary by Nicolas Roeg and Jenny Agutter, original theatrical trailers, and an essay by critic Roger Ebert. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Nicolas Roeg's mystical masterpiece chronicles the physical, spiritual, and emotional journey of a sister and brother abandoned in the harsh Australian outback. Joining an Aborigine boy on his walkabout-a tribal initiation into manhood-these modern children pass from innocence into experience as they are thrust from the comforts of civilization into the savagery of the natural world.

Customer Reviews:

Walkabout.......2007-07-06

This visually ravishing, often surreal story put Roeg, a highly accomplished cinematographer, on the map as a director. Interlacing jarring, primal images of the otherworldly Outback with the narrative story of three innocents in the wilderness, "Walkabout" is at once art film, nature documentary, and mesmerizing fable. David Gulpili, playing the kangaroo-spearing, boomerang-slinging native, is arresting to watch--especially when he performs a bizarre mating dance for Agutter. Roeg works in scenes of joy and tranquility that also highlight her budding sexuality, a powerful undercurrent in this fascinating Australian drama.

mesmerizing.......2007-05-14

This film is a classic. It is one of those rare artistic statements that is bigger than the sum of its parts. I don't know why, exactly, I was so impacted by it, but I was. And I find I don't want to analyze why as, it doesn't deserve to be tampered with. It deserves to be seen and enjoyed, repeatedly.

Please Return Australia to the Noble Aborigines.......2007-03-04

I can't believe some people have dared to criticize this film and even give it one star. How can you criticize a film which has such politically correct credentials? It does a great job contrasting the insanity of the evil white invaders (typified by the brutal father who tries to kill the kids and then shoots himself) with the kindness, humanity, and true civilization of the Aborigines (in the person of the Aborigine boy who helps the kids to survive in the outback).

When I see a film like this I think it's time all the Whites were kicked out of Australia and the land returned to its rightful owners.

My favorite film of all time and I love movies........2007-02-11

My family and I saw this at the movies when it came out in 1971. I was 17. It has stuck with all of us since and gone on to be my single most enjoyed film. Before it came out on VHS much less DVD I was only able to see it at the local art house movie theatre. The good part was that, of course, I could see it on the big screen. I always made it a point to invite someone I knew who had not yet seen it. They would always be amazed at the beauty, the uniqueness of the story, the tone of the film and the emotional music. My wife bought me the VHS tape a few years ago and it was the perfect gift. I've listed my favorite 280 films and it remains firmly entrenched as #1 despite other great films being made over the years.

It should probably be rated PG or PG-13 due to two scenes, neither of which are graphic but place the film above the level of an otherwise excellent movie for the family. I'd say any kid over age 12 would be appropriate.

I never tire of seeing this movie. It reminds me of a film version of reggae or of listening to Ray Charles with the distinct tone he can set, particularly in his early years of heartache songs. This takes you instantly to a different pacing of life once the characters are out of the city and in the outback.

At the core of the film is the merging of two very different cultures. What becomes clear when this happens anywhere on earth is what we share in common with each other, regardless of our upbringing. Australia is also revealed in all its raw beauty, enough to be a major element of the film, almost another character. The director's sense of his subject, of the proper tone to be set for this film is very evident. He is in control, he is our guide into this world and, trusting him, we are rewarded with a story of love, loss, cultures clashing, wild Australian outback, native Australian merging with UK root Australians and all in the hands of three individuals who are a child and teenagers.

The innocence of the boy is a great treat in this film. He is able to be a bridge between the two cultural worlds with little effort while his teenage sister and the aboriginy youth are virtually unable to cross that divide.

I've just ordered the Criterion DVD and can't wait to see the director's cut. I can't recommend this film enough for anyone 12 or older. It's a filmed snapshot of our world, fresh in 1971 but all the same lessons fully applicable to today. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Great film, poor transfer to DVD.......2006-11-27

I won't go into the movie's worth as entertainment here - suffice to say that I think it's awesome and well worth 5 stars. But in this review I'm focusing on the technical aspects which I feel detract from the DVD.

This DVD features a transfer that is known as 'matted widescreen' which works fine on smaller 4:3 TVs, but which looks awful on larger screen or widescreen TVs. I believe that every DVD today should be made in 'anamorphic widescreen' format so that the image is enhanced for viewing on a larger screen. If it's not then I think that the low image quality should be clearly marked in some way, as the lack of an anamorphic transfer makes a big difference in quality. In the case of this particular movie the image is very poor mostly due to the matted widescreen format that results in what's known as 'gutterboxing' (black bars all around the image) when the movie is played on widescreen TVs. Some TVs allow zooming in to fill the screen in cases like this, but then the image becomes very grainy - so much so that it's probably better to watch it in the 'gutterboxed' mode.

So in conclusion, those with the older standard 4:3 TVs under 30 inches probably won't notice any loss of resolution. But for folks like me with big screen TVs I advise waiting until this movie gets an updated DVD treatment. Alternatively, if you own a DVD player that can play region 2 discs, the German "MC One Classic" version (available from Amazon.de) is an anamorphic transfer.

Save the Last Dance (Special Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

some hesitations
Making a trip to the dawn!
Chuccii
AWESOME MOVIE!
Memory Lane

Save the Last Dance (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Julia Stiles , Sean Patrick Thomas , Kerry Washington , Fredro Starr , and Terry Kinney
Director: Thomas Carter (II)
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000H7JCBY
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Description

Sara (Julia Stiles) wants to be a ballerina, but her dreams are cut short by the sudden death of her mother. She moves in with her father (Terry Kinney), who she has not seen for a long time, in Chicago, mainly in the ghetto. She gets transferred to a new school where she is the only white girl there. Her life takes a turn for the better when she is friends with Chenille (Kerry Washington). Later, she falls in love with Chenille's brother, Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas).

Customer Reviews:

some hesitations.......2007-06-01

first--despite The New Yorkers vulgar description of Miss Stiles as "The reigning teen queen" I find her an intelligent actress willing to take on challenging roles. Second I hope folks have noticed that many of the "teen" remakes of classics--I'm thinking of Shakespeare and Jane Austen --have been quite well done, and often much better than laborious efforts to film the original.

This film "pace" the younger sets comments seems to me a thoughtful piece of work. The director is taking on a rather delicate problem--and I don't mean interacial romance. What troubles me in this film is the relationship between the sexes. I want to be careful here because I do not mean to be preaching some "sexist" agenda--however I am troubled by the treatment of black men in this film who because of what I regard as a feminization of the west that began some thirty five years ago--largely for economic reasons men--especially black men (though in this film ironically most particularly a white man) are become economically marginalized. Another of Miss Stile films--a remake of Taming of the Shrew makes passing reference to this. Good for her!

OK--the dancing was great and the film is well worth watching--I paid attention and thought it worth sounding pompous and longwinded to say whay I felt about it.

Making a trip to the dawn!.......2007-02-04

I definitely tired when the people do this kind of stuff. And think they can get the cheese before the mice, that bother me a lot, I so hard, but since I'm not making a copy-cat of another comercial of a quality product, like those crazy bees, Gosh I hate those utterly insane bees but I absoultley concur about the made statement a week before about the problems of you can have if you think milk is the solution to the problem, I know Albama is a great place but I think it will get more overrated with that poor scale made by sea people.

Chuccii.......2007-02-02

Save tha Last denace was an Awsome movie... I agree Julia Stiles did a great jo abd played it well... I thought that this movie was very inspiring basically 2 different ppl in 2 different worlds findin luv in eachother... IT was a Truely an AWSOME movie....

AWESOME MOVIE!.......2007-01-30

Great dancing & music. I thoroughly enjoyed it. All the actors and actresses did a great job. They worked well together and probably had a great time; it comes through on film. It's probably a chick flick, I'm a chick, I thought it was slammin'!

Memory Lane.......2007-01-08

Now for kids review I got to say your so wrong. This movie rocks just tell that to all the people who loved and am sure still love it. YOu really must not go out at all. This movie is a hit on my list. So to hell with you Kids review.

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School

Average customer rating:

Great story, but they needed a dance coach!
This is the worst dance movie ever filmed.
Simply Marvelous
Good art film
Not what you would expect!

Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School
Starring: Robert Carlyle , Marisa Tomei , John Goodman , Mary Steenburgen , and Sean Astin
Director: Randall Miller
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FDFSGI
Release Date: 2006-07-04

Amazon.com

When lonely hearts want to connect, is there any better way, really, than dancing? Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School is a sweet indie valentine to dance, and to the connection of lost, broken souls. The stellar cast is led by English Everyguy Robert Carlyle, a widower who believes he's fulfilling a dying man's last wish--to find a long-lost love--by showing up at a Thursday night dance class. Carlyle is by turns awkward, warm, sincere and bewildered, perfectly believable as a man awash in grief yet hoping to rejoin life. It turns out that dance class, led by the theatrical Mary Steenburgen, holds his lifeline. Other strong performances come from Marisa Tomei, Sean Astin, John Goodman, Ernie Hudson, David Paymer, Camryn Manheim and Sonia Braga, all of whom play people yearning for something, some one. Viewers may get distracted early in the film, seeing Carlyle in a dance venue and secretly hoping the soundtrack would queue up "You Sexy Thing," to get to see Carlyle reprise some of his fabulous shtick from The Full Monty. But it turns out Carlyle is just as winning performing the Lindy Hop or waltz. And, the film suggests, once the body moves and the soul is stirred--can love be far behind? The answer is: May I have the honor of this dance? Extras include the short 1990 film this feature was based on and an audio commentary. --A.T. Hurley

Customer Reviews:

Great story, but they needed a dance coach!.......2007-05-10

The movie is beautiful. I loved it. Really! The story line (described above) is pretty far-fetched, but the characters are believable and call our deep compassion and understanding into an active participation. Aristotle would have loved the possibilities for catharsis in this film!

My only lament is that they desperately needed to hire a good dance coach. The dancing is mediocre--at best. Even worse, there are many obvious errors a good dance coach would have caught: teaching triple rhythm swing and calling it Lindy-hop; teaching slow waltz, and then playing a Viennese waltz while they danced slow waltz; etc. I'll stop picking at it before I ruin it for you...

Two points of redemption keep this high on my dance movie list: The characters find and vocalize a passion for dance. Every serious dancer or dancer want-to-be will identify with the "I need my dancing" aspect of this film. Second, there is a wonderful picture of a go-a-second-mile sort of forgivenness that calls us all to be gracious and good to one another.

This is the worst dance movie ever filmed. .......2006-12-25

Don't get this movie expecting to see any good dancing. Even the supposed dance teacher can't dance. Rather, she dances as if she had at most 1 or 2 lessons. In the opening dance scene, where she is supposedly teaching the main character "Lindy Hop," she instead teaches East Coast Swing. . . and teaches an underarm turn as being "the basic." Such nonsense.

So, if you are interested in watching beginners trying to dance, and can ignore that their characters are supposed to be actually able to dance, by all means, watch this movie. Otherwise, use the hours that you would have spent on this movie dancing yourself! It will be a much better use of your time.

Simply Marvelous.......2006-11-28

"Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School," a 2005 Sundance Festival entry now available on DVD, is one of those independent films that make you wonder why you might ever waste even another five minutes on the drek the major studios put out these days.

Several stories are perfectly wrapped into this quiet, unassuming film, and, while each is inviting and engaging in its own right, together they form an exquisite package that charms and captivates, yet always maintains an underlying innocence and wit.

"Steve," played masterfully by John Goodman, is a man on a mission, hell-bent to make it to an appointment he made with his childhood sweetheart 40 years ago. With the innocence of first love, they had promised to meet on the fifth day of the fifth month of the fifth year of the new millennium, and, moreover, to meet at the same dance school where they had once learned to waltz across the gulf that inescapably separates the genders. Sadly, when he is injured enroute in a traffic accident, it looks as though Steve might not make that appointment after all. But a passing Good Samaritan, played with understated perfection by Robert Carlyle, promises to fulfill Steve's mission, and so opens the rest of the film.

In keeping his promise, Mr. Carlyle's "Frank," a man with more than his own share of regrets, stumbles into a world of which he never dreamt, and possibilities he never suspected. And through his influence, in turn, a dozen other lives are similarly changed for the better.

The all-star cast, which in addition to Goodman and Carlyle includes Marisa Tomei, Donnie Wahlberg, Camryn Manheim, Ernie Hudson, Mary Steenburgen, Sean Astin, David Paymer, Adam Arkin, and Danny DeVito, is perfect. Little more need be said.

There are those who will dismiss this rare gem as either a chick flick or "just another dance movie." It is neither. Rather, it is a quiet surprise that inspires without contrivance, entertains effortlessly, and tells a number of stories worth remembering. It is not to be missed.

Good art film.......2006-11-10

This is an art film, destined for the Sundance and IFC channels. And it's better than most. The story is extremely odd and is presented chronologically backwards, causing some confusion throughout. But the acting is superb. Mary Steenburgen and John Goodman are their usual dazzling selves, and Robert Carlyle is impressive. There's nothing here for teens, but sensitive and intelligent adults should not miss the film.

Not what you would expect!.......2006-11-05

This is a gem of a movie. It is more than just about ballroom dancing and
is charming. A great cast (Marisa Tomei, John Goodman, Adam Arkin, Mary
Steenburgen do a great job in this film about dance school, a lonely widower, therapy meetings and a date with destiny. There is a lot going on, following the adult counterparts of the children who attend Marilyn
Hotchkisses ballroom dance and charm school. For those who are looking for something different, a little romance, comedy, drama, this overlooked
movie is for you.

Average customer rating:

Cinderella Story
The Story of The Cinderella
One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!
Very pleased customer!

A Cinderella Story (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Hilary Duff , Jennifer Coolidge , Chad Michael Murray , Dan Byrd , and Regina King
Director: Mark Rosman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B0003JANM8
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Cinderella Story.......2007-06-29

An entertaining story for Hillary Duff fans...or not. Purchased as a gift for twin 10 year old girls who enjoyed the movie.

The Story of The Cinderella.......2007-06-20

One of my faves!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-27

Very pleased customer!.......2007-03-23

I was very pleased with the products condition and delivery on it-- Thank you very much!

Average customer rating:

Fantastique !
Excellent movie
Save the last dance
Interacial relationship?
film of the year

Save the Last Dance
Starring: Terry Kinney , Julia Stiles , Garland Whitt , Fredro Starr , and Sean Patrick Thomas
Director: Thomas Carter
Manufacturer: Paramount
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ASIN: B00003CXTS
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Amazon.com

Save the Last Dance enjoyed a profitable release in early 2001, with box-office earnings that exceeded anyone's expectations. Its performance illustrates the staying power of a formulaic movie that avoids the pitfalls and clichés that would otherwise render it forgettable. Since there's nothing new here, you'll appreciate the original quirks in a character-based plot that's just around the corner from Flashdance, and just as familiar. Sara (Julia Stiles) gave up a promising ballet career when her mother was killed while rushing to attend her daughter's crucial audition to Juilliard; Sara blames herself for the accident, and at her new, mostly African American high school in Chicago, she's uncertain of her future.

Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas) has no such doubts; his own future is bright, and his attraction to Sara is immediate; they connect (predictably), and Sara's dormant funk emerges, with Derek's coaching, as she learns hip-hop dancing in a local club. Obligatory subplots are equally routine: Derek's sister (Kerry Washington) is a single mom struggling with her child's absentee father; Derek's best friend (Fredro Starr) feels trapped in his gangsta lifestyle; and Sara's once-estranged father (Terry Kinney) is doing his best to correct past mistakes. Within the confines of this standard follow-your-dream drama, director Thomas Carter capitalizes on a script that allows these characters to be real, intelligent, and thoughtful about their lives and their futures. It's obvious that Stiles's dancing was intercut with that of a professional double, but that illusion hardly matters when the rest of the movie's so earnestly positive and genuine. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Fantastique ! .......2007-02-08

J'ai regardé ceci avec ma fille et c'est un remonte très le film. Il a multi l'appel intergénérationnelle. (I watched this with my daughter and it is a very uplifting movie. It has multi generational appeal.)

Excellent movie.......2006-06-22

This is one of my favorite movies. I love the plot, the characters and just about everything about the movie. I didn't care for Derek's friends though, and was glad when he didn't join them in their antics. I loved Julia Stiles and Sean patrick Thomas together. They both came across as real. This is a definite 5 star movie.

Save the last dance.......2006-06-20

My friend made me watch this movie, and after watching it, it became one of my favorite. The story of the movie is new and interesting. Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas are awesome. The movie is worth watching. Great dancing.

Interacial relationship?.......2006-04-24

Ok, get with the times. Same race relationships are something of the past. Quite frankly there aren't a whole lot of people that care about interacial relationships anymore, and these couple certainly don't. They do run into some who do however, which puts a twist in the story. But it does take two to tango, right?

It's a great movie, with great actor\actress'. Must see. Julia's dancing is wonderful. He was there to back her up all the way, even when she didn't want him to be.

film of the year.......2006-04-05

By the title it doesnt seem too convincing to watch this film but oh my god, this film was a masterpiece.Julia Stiles as one of the main character here.This film is full of comedy, dancing and romance.Its up there on my 10 faveroute movies list.It is defenitly for me the film of the year.This fantastic will get you upbeat and you will be dancing on the edge of you seat.

Average customer rating:

Marie Antoinette - 1938
A Living Emotion
Could almost see the color
Norma Shearer - Perfect
COULD ONLY BE BETTER IF COLORIZED!

Marie Antoinette
Starring: Norma Shearer , Tyrone Power , John Barrymore , Robert Morley , and Anita Louise
Director: W.S. Van Dyke , and Herman Hoffman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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Marie Antoinette: A Film by David Grubin
A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
Marie Antoinette: Queen of Versailles
Marie Antoinette
The Heiress (Universal Cinema Classics)

ASIN: B000GRUQKG
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

The lavish, overstuffed house style of MGM in the 1930s gets a fluffy showcase in Marie Antoinette, a preposterous epic about the pampered Queen. One of MGM's longtime queens, Norma Shearer (who had been married to head of production/wonder boy Irving Thalberg until his death in 1936), plays the young Austrian girl imported to marry the man who would become Louis XVI of France. The film covers Marie's girly youth at court, through an affair with suave Tyrone Power (then in his early, dewy prime) and finally to the dark days of the Revolution. Like Sofia Coppola's 2006 version of the Queen's life, this film emphasizes glitz, and leaves the Royals mostly innocent of blame for what happens to the starving peasants. Unlike the Coppola picture, this one takes Marie and diffident husband Louis (Robert Morley, his film debut) through their imprisonment and all the way to the guillotine. The parade of enormous sets and opulent gowns contributes to the general sense of stodginess, even if one might pause to note the rather continental attitude toward Marie's extramarital needs. John Barrymore plays the declining Louis XV, but it's the childlike Morley that steals the show. Shearer's glamorous star turn might leave some viewers puzzled as to her appeal, although the very ordinariness of her personality actually works in concert with Marie's out-of-her-depth character. The project had been a pet of Thalberg's, and MGM went ahead with the film after his death, but it marked the end of Shearer's period of major stardom. The opposite of this film's highbrow literary approach can be found in Josef von Sternberg's The Scarlet Empress, with Marlene Dietrich, a delirious and cinematic treatment of a Queen abroad. (This DVD includes overture and entr'acte music.) --Robert Horton

Description

Her eyes shine as brightly as the diamonds at her slender throat or as the countless candles that turn the Palace of Versailles into a light-drenched fantasy world. She is Marie Antoinette, Queen of France: beautiful, imperious, headstrong...and doomed. With an opulence exemplifying Hollywood's Golden Era at its most glamorous, the grandeur and revolutionary fervor of 18th-century France sweeps across the screen in this nominee for 4 Academy Awards?.* Elegant Best Actress Oscar? nominee Norma Shearer stars in the decades-spanning title role, Tyrone Power plays her ardent beloved, John Barrymore is crafty Louis XV and debuting Robert Morley portrays timid Louis XVI. From ballroom to boudoir to guillotine, Marie Antoinette is regal romantic adventure.

DVD Features:
Other:1938 MGM Shorts: Another Romance of Celluloid Hollywood Goes to Town Vintage Short Another Romance of Celluloid Goes Behind the Scenes on This and Other Studio Productions That Year
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Marie Antoinette - 1938.......2007-06-07

An excellent overview of the fall of the French monarchy, taking you all the way from before her arrival in France, through the death of Marie Antoinette. The recent, and in my opinion also excellent, film version with Kirsten Dunst was probably more historically accurate in many ways, and showed that there were definite pitfalls in being part of a royal family. The 1938, Norma Shearer version probably reflected, more intensely,the disgust felt by the French citizens as the monarchy appeared oblivious to their desperate plight. Both portrayals did offer the viewer a bit of insight into the long-standing, passionate, and often snippy relationship between the United States and France. All performances were stellar, however, Robert Morley stood out as the perfectly out of touch, short on smarts, and definitely to be pitied, King Louis XV. While appearing much older than the 19 year old king, he gave a most sympathic performance. This film offered the perfect role for Tyrone Power - he never appeared as handsome or sexy as in 1938's Marie Antoinette.

A Living Emotion.......2007-06-05

If you are reading these reviews I assume that you are trying to decide whether or not to purchase this film. What I can tell you is this: if my house were on fire, of the over 1100 videos and DVDs therein, this is the one I would rescue. I first saw MA in 1957 and fell in love with Norma Schearer because of it. It was the film that defined my standards for films and started my life-long love affair with the movies. If I were teaching film to students, this would be required viewing because even today, the technical standards remain the finest. It is the apotheosis of the art of film making and should be cherished just for what it is. This is a "prestige" film from MGM, and this type of film was made to increase the prestige of the studio with little regard for the expense, or concern for return on investment. They didn't care if it would be popular. What did happen was film magic, and without computer-generated imagery. It should also be appreciated for the many-layered delineation of the title role by one of Hollywood's most capable actresses--Norma Schearer, who had been in films almost from their very beginnings. This is her tour-de-force performance; she IS Marie Antoinette. I am always amazed that she is more well-known for her role in THE WOMEN, since this is a much more demanding, and riveting endeavor. Near the end of MAYTIME, John Barrymore says to Jeanette MacDonald, "Tonight you surpassed even yourself; they are calling it a 'living emotion'". And that's what happened here. It is rare magic to see such delineation of a character by an actor; at the moment I can only recall Vivien Leigh's Scarlett, and Bette Davis' Charlotte Vale (NOW VOYAGER) for being as textured and defined. Norma worked very hard on this part--she wasn't known as "queen of the lot" just because she had been married to Irving Thalberg. She had to work at overcoming a cast in her left eye, that is never apparent even in her close-ups, and she had to get it right the first time, because Van Dyke (not her choice for director) did not coddle female stars, and was known as "one-take Van Dyke". Of course the concert of artists and technicians contributed their expertise to this period piece too. Costumer Adrian had been in Europe for 3 years searching for authentic materials for her gowns and even when he did find some, since they were silk, they had rotted on the bolts and had to be rewoven. (There was no polyester in the 18th century!) Adrian also refused to use rhinestones on his headpieces and gowns. When Power sees Schearer standing on the stairs of the gaming house (for the first time), those are real diamonds in her hair and on her gown! Only a few select seamstresses were trusted in sewing on those diamonds, and in removing them from the dresses when the film was finished--and they were counted both ways. Such extravangances were not seen again until 1963's CLEOPATRA, when Sharaff made the cloth of gold gown for Elizabeth Taylor, and is unlikely to happen ever again. This film is a true classic and my definition of a "classic" is any film you can watch over and over and it is just as good each time. Schearer's Antoinette is a magic carpet ride to the 18th century and now you can go there any time you want.

Could almost see the color.......2007-05-23

After seeing the "new version", I knew there had to be more. Couldn't find this older version for rent anywhere, and am very glad I bought it. It provided the complete story. The acting, story line and photography were excellent! Just wish it was in color....For all the money that must have been spent on costumes and sets, it would be WONDERFUL to see it in color...Please..please...please..........

Norma Shearer - Perfect.......2007-03-28

I first saw this film on T.V a long time ago in the wee hours of the morning...... What really impressed me was Norma Shearer. I knew who she was and heard she was a great actress but not until I saw this film did I believe it! One of the finale scenes in the movie I've never forgotten, when Marie Antoinette played by Norma Shearer has to say good-bye to her son. It is devastating; the vast array of emotions she portrays ,the depth of sorrow soo real it had me crying yet it wasn't a manipulative performance. It was genuine and heartfelt. She was a revelation to me as an actress,definetly worthy of respect as one of the great actress' of her time,and this film is worth seeing. *****

COULD ONLY BE BETTER IF COLORIZED!.......2007-03-13

My husband attended the MGM Auction and we actually have a piece of furniture used in this movie.....it was fun to be able to "pause" and view it.

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn

Average customer rating:

A sensual joy
Better than the play . . .
Sound Quality
Historically significant
The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me

Romeo and Juliet (Royal Ballet)- Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn
Starring: Margot Fonteyn , Rudolf Nureyev , David Blair (VI) , Desmond Doyle , and Julia Farron
Director: Paul Czinner
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00003M5GE
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Amazon.com

It's not a stretch to call Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn the most sublime of all dance partners and Sergei Prokofiev the most gifted 20th-century ballet composer. And so it goes without saying that the 1966 film version of the Royal Ballet production of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet featuring Nureyev and Fonteyn as the star-crossed lovers is an absolute must-have for anyone who cares a whit about the art. Director Paul Czinner has made all the right moves, alternating between full shots of the performers with long shots that accentuate how Kenneth MacMillan's fastidious choreography is inexorably linked to the characters, their story, the elaborate sets, and the viewer. Nicholas Georgiadis's costumes are sumptuous without being overdone, the supporting dancers and ensemble are as exquisite as the leads, and John Lanchbery conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House with just the right mixture of joviality and tragedy that Prokofiev's classic score needs but doesn't always receive. --Kevin Filipski

Customer Reviews:

A sensual joy.......2007-04-11

This is an extraordinarily enjoyable spectacle, a true feast for the senses. First of all, the sets and costumes are beautifully formed and colored. Then, the music by Prokofiev is perfect, exquisiely toned to evoke love, excitement, sorrow; it's as excellent as the play or the ballet. And the protagonists are perfectly cast, with an added poignancy coming from what one knows of their tragic personal lives, doomed lovers indeed: Nureyev dying from AIDS, Fonteyn descending into poverty and loneliness (see Tony Palmer's excellent bio), David Blair (the perfect Mercutio) dying suddenly at 43.

There are many truly memorable moments: the formal stepping out of the males and then the females at the grand ball, the High Renaissance itself; the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio, and the latter's dying moments; the exuberant mass dances in the marketplace. I especially liked the three harlots for their devil-may-care elan..

Better than the play . . ........2007-01-10

This film by Paul Czinner dates from 1966 and was the first time he used his new technique of filming a live performance. Although these roles became synonymous with the two legendary principals, this ballet was actually created on Lynn Seymour and Christopher Gable, two of the Royal Ballet's rising young stars of the era. Seymour, however, took ill right before the premier and Fonteyn took over - and when she took over, Nureyev naturally became her partner. It was bitter for Seymour and Gable, but they had no choice but to become the second cast. Although Fonteyn was about 46 at this time her technique was still equal to the choreography, and although she does not look young, her ability to project the gamboling, youthful character of the young Juliet is remarkable. For this feat alone, the film is worth having. Nureyev was at the height of his powers, only 6 years past his defection from the Kirov Ballet, and his passionate response to Fonteyn is also one of the strengths of this performance. I must acknowledge here that he has never been one of my favorite dancers and his self-involvement on stage is one reason why, but here credit must be given where it is due. The blending of his passion and Fonteyn's dramatic and lyric gifts make this familiar story riveting. The supporting cast is no less extraordinary in dramatic conviction, and they could serve as a lesson in dance-theater to today's young dancers who seem to rely on mime and broad gestures when not moving on stage. Although past his technical prime, David Blair is superbly cynical as Mercutio, and Derek Rencher brings deadly purpose to Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Without exception, this is a cast that brings the characters to life and whose attention to dramatic values honors their country's literary as well as balletic heritage. I enjoyed Nicholas Georgiadis's sets, although they came in for some criticism at the time as being "heavy". This is most definitely worth seeing and keeping - it was probably one of the last performances of Fonteyn's where she was still fully in command of her technique and did not need choreography tailored to what she still could do. And as a personal note, I prefer this ballet version of "Romeo and Juliet" to all the others I have seen, and that includes the legendary one produced by the Kirov in the 1930s, for which Prokofiev wrote this score, and which starred the immortal Galina Ulanova (this is also available on film, I believe).

Sound Quality.......2006-03-13

The dancing was as expected wonderful, but, unfortunately the sound quality was not. I tried playing it over my amp,no way, so normal sound was called for, also very shakey, not what I had hoped for !!

Historically significant.......2006-01-29

Overal excellence by two of ballet's stars. Prokiev's music may be difficult for some to enjoy compared to Tchaikovsky. Choreography just so so.

The Ballet That Spoiled All Other Ballets For Me.......2005-04-30

Tonight I watched Romeo and Juliet again, this time with two of my granddaughters. I have seen it with my parents, with my wife and three children, and now with my grandchildren. I attended the movie in Washington, in Boston, and in Albany, NY many years ago. This version has become part of my life, as have its stars, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Why I have not reviewed it before, I do not know.

This Royal Ballet version of Romeo and Juliet is so fine, so spectacular, so moving, and so incrediblly beautiful that in my opinion there is no other ballet that can compare with it. First there is the poignantly tragic love story of Shakespeare. Add to it the hauntingly expressive, classic-yet-modern music of Prokofiev. Stir in Kenneth MacMillan's sensitive and exuberant choreography. And as the supreme touch, have it danced by the most exhilarating male dancer who every performed, in partnership with the most delicate and vulnerable ballernina of the past century. Here you have the masterpiece of all masterpieces. A ballet that puts other ballets to shame with their weak plots and lack of emotional substance.

My two favorite scenes are the balcony scene, and the scene where Romeo dances with a lifeless Juliet. The first exudes love and passion, as Nureyev and Fonteyn are transported by their new-found love to a height beyond all measure. In the second, your heart freezes and you strain to hold back tears as Romeo tries to coax the life back into Juliet by dancing with her limp but still graceful form. There are no touchingly valid moments such as these in any other ballet I have seen.

The superb costumes are worthy of a Zefferelli production, although this is not one, of course. The scenery is adequate but not impressive. But most important, all the dancers communicate a vitality that is convincing and contagious. The swordplay is amazing in its complexity and realism. Tybolt's death and his wife's grief are overdone with just the right touch of modernity.

But mainly, Nureyev and Fonteyn bring each scene they dance into brilliant flower. And when they dance together something of the mystery and tragedy of their two very different lives comes to the surface and animates their performance, giving it a realism that communicates their deep emotion for each other.

This is heartfelt and heart-wrenching art. When it finishes, one is exhausted and drained, but also inspired and delighted that this one-of-a-kind performance was recorded so that one may enjoy it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

After Life Review
AN UNFORGETTABLE FILM!
enchanting movie
This is a beautiful film.
After Life - dir. Kore-eda Hirokazu

After Life
Starring: Arata , Erika Oda , Susumu Terajima , Takashi Naitô , and Kyôko Kagawa
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
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Nobody Knows
Maborosi
The Eel
Shall We Dance?
Fireworks

ASIN: B00004U1F9
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Amazon.com

This unpretentious, endearing film is a modest triumph. Based on interviews with more than 500 people about the one memory they would choose to take with them to heaven, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-Eda has modeled a unique blend of documentary and fiction that addresses the vagaries of memory but also what it means to make films. After Life transpires in a sort of way station where the dead must select one memory to be re-created on film and taken on with them forever, relinquishing everything else. Over the span of a week, a dedicated group of caseworkers tease out self-deceptions as well as real epiphanies from 22 different lives. An old woman remembers reuniting with her husband on a crowded bridge after World War II; a man recollects the breeze felt on a tram ride the day before summer vacation; a successful man faces his own treachery. Remembering becomes a courageous act in the casual exposition of this lovely film. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews:

After Life Review.......2007-07-04

I didn't even finish watching this movie. So the rating of one is based on the 40 minutes I saw. Maybe if I had finished watching the movie I would have rated it more but I never felt the urge to continue. This movie was recommend to me by someone who said it was very good.

AN UNFORGETTABLE FILM!.......2007-06-19

I JUST WANT THE READER OF MY REVIEW TO KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF VERY FEW FILMS MADE THAT COULD BECOME LIFE-CHANGING FOR THOSE WHO SEE IT - IT IS THAT PROFOUND. BUT, I'M AFRAID THAT IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, THIS MOVIE MOVES SLOWLY, HAS SUBTITTLES AND IT IS HARD TO GET THROUGH THE NON-STORY PLOT PLAYING BEFORE YOU. BUT IF YOU GIVE IT TIME AND STICK IT OUT, YOU WILL FIND A UNIQUE FILM CAPABLE OF CHANGING YOUR LIFE! THERE IS A CARACTER IN THIS MOVIE, AN OLD MAN, WHO CAN'T THINK OF ANY MEMORY FROM HIS LIFE THAT IS WORTH KEEPING WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY. WHAT A WASTED LIFE! TOO MUCH WORK, NO HOBBIES, NO REAL LOVE, NO EMOTIONS. HE WAS LIKE THE LIVING-DEAD. IT MAKES US THINK OF OUR SOMETIMES UNEVENFUL, PITIFUL AND MISERABLE LIVES --- BETTER CHANGE OUR WAYS!
BE WARNED THAT THIS FILM WILL MAKE MOST OF YOU CRY. IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU REVIEW AND EXPLORE YOUR OWN LIFE LIKE NO OTHER FILM YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.

enchanting movie.......2007-05-29

watched the movie a few years back, and was really touched. definitely one of my favourites.

This is a beautiful film........2007-01-12

The performances are nuanced and articulate, the emotion delicate. This film will encourage you to think about your life in a new context. A very intelligent and evocative piece.

After Life - dir. Kore-eda Hirokazu.......2007-01-10

This is a sensitive film by a Japanese director on the subject of life and death. Its pace is gentle and contemplative, it is charmingly, sometimes playfully acted and envelopes the audience in an aura of peace and respect. Hirokazu examines the greatest mystery with which we all have to deal some time or other in our lives - what is death, and consequently what is life and what is the value of life, or rather each of our own lives? There is no overt influence of religion, philosophy or other grand ideas or theories, rather we are left to draw our own conclusions based on the experiences of real people which are presented to us.

Because of the occasional almost banal nature of stories related by certain of the protagonists I got the impression that the film had a tendency to meander, but this hardly detracted from depth of thought behind the ideas and the sincerity of the acting.

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