
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Stomping out their usual cuteness and carbon copying Disney's grand animation style to a T, directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (An American Tail) create a successful musical comedy from the story of the lost Russian princess. Adapting the story of imperialism and revolution is tricky, and subsequently the film's opening is weak. Once Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan, sung by Liz Callaway) is a teenager and on her own (suffering from some degree of amnesia), the film is quite pleasing though never refreshingly new.
Twentieth Century Fox's big-money gamble to horn in on Disney's realm is worthy. The songs, especially the recurrent "Once Upon a December," by Broadway team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are better than Disney's recent efforts. It's worth picking up the soundtrack. The mix of cell animation and computer work is vivid. The collection of vocal talent is also strong, from John Cusack (as Dimitri, who wants to earn the reward by bringing Anya to Paris) to Hank Azaria as an amusing albino bat. Kelsey Grammer helps turn a roly-poly sidekick into a warm and strong supporting character.
The biggest drawback is Bluth/Goldman's insistence on having a typical villain. Surprisingly, the story would be strong enough without one, and the undead corpse of Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) is unneeded and unoriginal. --Doug Thomas
Average customer rating:
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The Abandoned
Starring: Karel Roden , Paraskeva Djukelova , Valentin Ganev , Anastasia Hille , and Carlos Reig-Plaza Director: Nacho Cerdà Manufacturer: Lionsgate ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000OY9V9S Release Date: 2007-06-19 |
Description
An American woman searching for her birth parents learns she has inherited a house in the middle of a forest in a remote area of Russia. It is the house where she was born. Abandoned and uninhabited for 40 years, it stands in total disrepair and neglect. What she finds is more than an old house. She meets a mysterious man claiming to be her twin brother and together they find the house holds dangerous secrets to a past they don't even remember. They are forced to relive a series of horrifying events and shocking murders that occurred just after they were born, and in the place where they were supposed to die.Customer Reviews:
Not a waste of time .......2007-07-09
It was worth it as a movie rental........2007-07-02
A deeper darker look at the Final Destination concept, where death takes the form of an abusive parent........2007-06-30
The Real Deal.......2007-06-25
Abandon all hope..........2007-06-23
Average customer rating:
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The Straight Story
Starring: Sissy Spacek , Jane Galloway Heitz , Joseph A. Carpenter , Donald Wiegert , and Richard Farnsworth Director: David Lynch Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004Z4SD Release Date: 2000-11-07 |
Amazon.com essential video
Throughout The Straight Story, 73-year-old Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) gazes calmly at the night sky, as if the stars were reflections of his own memories. Alvin's eyesight is bad and his daughter (Sissy Spacek) is slightly retarded and unable to drive, so he's traveling from Laurens, Iowa to Mt. Zion, Wisconsin on a riding John Deere lawn mower. It's slow going, so there's plenty of time to stop for the night and ponder the cosmos. Alvin's journeying to visit his ailing brother; they haven't spoken in years, and it's time to make peace. Along the way, he befriends a variety of nice folks, and you have to ask yourself... Is this really a David Lynch movie?It's a miracle that this G-rated Disney film was made by a director whose work is often described as twisted and bizarre. But Lynch is too complex an artist to be labeled, and he brings charm, grace, and kindness to his fact-based telling of The Straight Story--not to mention a serenity rarely found in movies anymore. It's a film of moments--funny, odd, quietly spiritual--and this simple tale of a man, a lawnmower, and rural hospitality becomes a genuine Lynchian odyssey, unlike any film you've seen but as welcoming as a cup of lemon tea with honey. Best of all, it's a fitting tribute to the career of veteran stuntman-actor Farnsworth who, at age 79, plays Alvin Straight to sheer perfection, his face a subtle roadmap to a broad spectrum of emotional destinations. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Based on the true story that captured the hearts of America, THE STRAIGHT STORY is one of those rare films offering powerful, uplifting entertainment for audiences of all ages. Directed by acclaimed director David Lynch (WILD AT HEART, MULHOLLAND DRIVE), this gentle, inspiring film celebrates the human spirit. Richard Farnsworth (MISERY, THE NATURAL) stars as Alvin Straight -- a no-nonsense man who has never been one to lean on others. Now at an age when his eyesight denies him the ability to drive and walking is accomplished only with the help of two canes, Alvin lives a quiet life with his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek). But when the call comes that Alvin's estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton, THE GREEN MILE) has suffered a debilitating stroke, Alvin embarks on a dangerous and emotional journey to make amends. With little money, but plenty of patience and tenacity, he climbs aboard his 1966 John Deere lawnmower and plots the 260-mile course from his small Iowa town to Lyle's home in Wisconsin. Filmed along the actual route that the real Alvin Straight traveled in 1994, THE STRAIGHT STORY is a heartwarming and poignant drama chronicling Alvin's six-week odyssey and the many lives he touches along the way.Customer Reviews:
A beautiful film........2007-06-15
Great Story.......2007-05-26
One of a kind.......2007-05-20
A great movie EVERYONE should see........2007-05-13
The Straight Story.......2007-05-12
Average customer rating:
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Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (New Line Platinum Series)
Starring: Mike Myers , Elizabeth Hurley , Michael York , Mimi Rogers , and Robert Wagner Director: Jay Roach Manufacturer: New Line Home Entertainment ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
Accessories:
ASIN: 6304696221 Release Date: 2004-06-01 |
Amazon.com
If you don't think Austin Powers is one of the funniest movies of the 1990s, maybe you should be packed into a cryogenic time-chamber and sent back to the decade whence you came. Perhaps it was the 1960s--the shag-a-delic decade when London hipster Austin Powers scored with gorgeous chicks as a fashion photographer by day, crime-fighting international man of mystery by night. Yeah, baby, yeah! But when Powers's arch nemesis, Dr. Evil, puts himself into a deep-freeze and travels via time-machine to the late 1990s, Powers must follow him and foil Evil's nefarious scheme of global domination. Mike Myers plays dual roles as Powers and Dr. Evil, with Elizabeth Hurley as his present-day sidekick and karate- kicking paramour. A hilarious spoof of '60s spy movies, this colorful comedy actually gets funnier with successive viewings, making it a perfect home video for gloomy days and randy nights. Oh, behave! --Jeff ShannonDescription
It's a smashing shagadelic party as Mike Myers (Wayne's World 1 & 2, So I Married an Axe Murderer) and Elizabeth Hurley (Dangerous Ground) star in a non-stop, hilarious comedy adventure. Frozen in the 60's, secret agent Austin Powers (Myers) is thawed back into action to once again battle his archenemy Dr. Evil. With his sexy sidekick Ms. Kensington (Hurley), Austin must stop Dr. Evil's outrageous plot to control the world. But first, this time-warped swinger must get hip quick and discover that there's no free love in the 90's! An all-star supporting cast including Michael York, Robert Wagner, Mimi Rogers and Carrie Fisher make Austin Powers a wacky, far-out trip you won't forget.
DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by actor Mike Myers and director M. Jay Roach.
Deleted Scenes
Other:An original animated sequence "Music to Shag to". Spy genre retrospective. Star highlights with scenes (all Letterbox 1.85, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) from Dangerous Ground (1997), Monkey Trouble (1994), Rapture, The (1991) (qv), and Wide Sargasso Sea (1993).
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorite comedies.......2007-04-07
Classic Comedy -- But Don't Waste Your Time with the Sequels.......2007-04-02
Austin Powers, Man of Mystery Indeed!.......2006-11-10
Give your undercarriage a little bit of a "How's your father?".......2006-11-06
FACETIOUS IRREVERENT LIGHT- HEARTED SATIRE & VERY FUNNY TOO!.......2006-05-08
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Eddie Izzard - Circle
Starring: Eddie Izzard Director: Anastasia Pappas Manufacturer: WEA Corp. ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000ALA3P Release Date: 2003-09-23 |
Amazon.com
No one but madcap stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard can spin comic gold out of papal history, monkeys with guns, Jesus preaching to the dinosaurs, and cafeteria food on the Death Star. Circle, taken from his stand-up tour in 2000, doesn't have the astonishingly seamless free-associative flow of Glorious or Dress to Kill, his previous specials--which is to say, he's only intermittently brilliant, instead of supernaturally nonstop brilliant. We'll take what we can get, because Izzard can slip in surprisingly stinging commentary about international politics and religion, yet his impish smile suggests that he's only pointing out the obvious. He tosses out an idea and then plays with it like a cat plays with a mouse, flipping it around, teasing it out, pouncing, and then letting it go, only to sneak back up on it just when you'd forgetten it was there. Cheeky, subversive, and very, very funny. --Bret FetzerDescription
Live comedy with the master of sublime weirdness, Eddie Izzard, recorded in New York, 26 June 2000. Also includes a 30 minute behind the scenes documentary about Eddie's US tour. PROGRAM FEATURES * Circle feature commentary by Eddie Izzard. * Circle trivia track on feature. * Dress To Circle one-hour rough-cut of Eddie Izzard's Dress To Kill show in Paris (spoken in French). Previously released on the Dress To Kill DVD. * Dress To Circle commentary by Eddie Izzard. * 30 minute behind the scenes documentary about Eddie's US tour. * Subtitled in nine languages.TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES
Customer Reviews:
Not up to Izzard standards.......2007-06-12
Izzard Rocks.......2007-04-21
izzard is the wizzard! .......2007-03-27
Eddie Izzard - Circle.......2007-01-15
Very nice, but not quite up to the standards he set for himself..........2006-11-03
Average customer rating:
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The Color of Money
Starring: Robert Agins , Alvin Anastasia , Randall Arney , Elizabeth Bracco , and Bill Cobbs Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
Product Features:
ASIN: B000035Z5G Release Date: 2002-06-04 |
Product Description
Legendary actor Paul Newman (MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE) and Academy Award(R)-nominee Tom Cruise (Best Actor, 1996, JERRY MAGUIRE) ignite the screen in this powerful drama. Brilliantly directed by Martin Scorsese (GANGS OF NEW YORK), Newman re-creates one of his most memorable roles from THE HUSTLER. As Fast Eddie Felson, he still believes that "money won is twice as sweet as money earned." To prove his point, he forms a profitable yet volatile partnership with Vince (Cruise), a young pool hustler with a sexy, tough-talking girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, THE PERFECT STORM). But when Vince's flashy arrogance leads to more than a few lost matches, all bets are off between Eddie and him. THE COLOR OF MONEY will electrify you with its suspenseful story, dazzling cinematography, and dynamic performances.Amazon.com essential video
Martin Scorsese handles directing duties in this 1986 sequel to the classic 1961 film The Hustler, which marks the return of Paul Newman to the role of pool shark Fast Eddie Felson. Anxious to break into the big time again, Eddie finds a talented protégé (Tom Cruise) to groom; but with the addition of the latter's manipulative girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) and the wild streak in Cruise's character, the trio make for a fascinating portrait in group psychology. The cast is brilliant, the script by Richard Price (Clockers) is a paragon of tightly controlled character study and drama (at least in the film's first half), and Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus make an ornate show of the collision and flight of pool balls through space--something of a metaphor for the dynamics among the three principals. The film is generally regarded as weaker in its second half, and rightly so, as everything that was interesting in the first place disappears. Still, Newman won a deserved Oscar for his performance. --Tom KeoghCustomer Reviews:
Great Product.......2006-03-10
Luk itself is an art..........2005-09-13
A great sequel.......2005-05-15
The Color Of Money: The coolest Scorsese flick.......2005-01-04
This DVD needs EXTRAS LIKE THEY DID FOR ROUNDERS.......2004-12-06
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Anastasia (Family Fun Edition w/Bartok the Magnificent)
Starring: Meg Ryan , John Cusack , Kelsey Grammer , Christopher Lloyd , and Hank Azaria Director: Don Bluth , and Gary Goldman Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000CNE092 Release Date: 2006-03-14 |
Description
A spellbinding mix of adventure, comedy, romance and music, this acclaimed animated spectacular tells the thrilling story of the lost Russian princess Anastasia and her quest to find her true identity. When the shadow of revolution falls across Russia, the royal family's youngest daughter barely escape with her life. Years later, Anastasia and a band of heroic companions must battle the evil Rasputin, his sidekick Bartok the bat and a host of ghostly minions in a headlong race to reach Paris, reclaim her rightful destiny and solve the greatest mystery of the 20th century.Customer Reviews:
Smooth Experience from Start to Finish!.......2007-04-04
Excellent.......2007-03-09
I've always loved this movie!.......2007-02-17
Anastasia.......2007-02-08
At the Beginning.......2007-01-20
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Wild America
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas , Devon Sawa , Scott Bairstow , Frances Fisher , and Jamey Sheridan Director: William Dear Manufacturer: Warner Home Video ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: 0790732920 Release Date: 1997-10-22 |
Amazon.com
You wouldn't know it by watching the mostly ridiculous escapades on display in Wild America, but this comedy/adventure for young boys is marginally based on the true story of Marshall, Mark, and Marty Stouffer, three young brothers who successfully pursued their dream of becoming wildlife filmmakers. From their home in the South, the Stouffer boys embark on a cross-country trek to the West, where they hope to get rare footage from inside the dreaded Cave of the Sleeping Bears. Along the way they encounter cute British tourist girls, deadly alligators, a rampaging moose, and an Air Force fighter on a bombing range. In other words, Wild America is about as contrived as it could possibly be and still claim to be based on reality, but it is harmless enough for young viewers with its wholesome message about bravery, hard work, and family togetherness. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (from television's Home Improvement) leads the young cast of adventurers. --Jeff ShannonCustomer Reviews:
Wild America.......2007-05-25
Great adventure.......2007-05-07
Pleasant surprise.......2007-04-03
Wild.......2007-03-21
Wild America.......2007-03-20
Average customer rating:
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Anastasia
Starring: Meg Ryan , John Cusack , Kelsey Grammer , Christopher Lloyd , and Hank Azaria Director: Don Bluth , and Gary Goldman Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UW9T Release Date: 2002-02-19 |
Amazon.com
Stomping out their usual cuteness and carbon copying Disney's grand animation style to a T, directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (An American Tail) create a successful musical comedy from the story of the lost Russian princess. Adapting the story of imperialism and revolution is tricky, and subsequently the film's opening is weak. Once Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan, sung by Liz Callaway) is a teenager and on her own (suffering from some degree of amnesia), the film is quite pleasing though never refreshingly new.Twentieth Century Fox's big-money gamble to horn in on Disney's realm is worthy. The songs, especially the recurrent "Once Upon a December," by Broadway team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are better than Disney's recent efforts. It's worth picking up the soundtrack. The mix of cell animation and computer work is vivid. The collection of vocal talent is also strong, from John Cusack (as Dimitri, who wants to earn the reward by bringing Anya to Paris) to Hank Azaria as an amusing albino bat. Kelsey Grammer helps turn a roly-poly sidekick into a warm and strong supporting character.
The biggest drawback is Bluth/Goldman's insistence on having a typical villain. Surprisingly, the story would be strong enough without one, and the undead corpse of Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) is unneeded and unoriginal. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Great Movie!.......2007-06-14
Have you heard.......2007-01-17
Beautiful animated feature allegedly based on the true story.......2006-09-25
I watched it as a little kid and remember..........2006-09-19
What a Fabulous Movie!.......2006-08-11
Average customer rating:
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The Hole
Starring: Thora Birch , Desmond Harrington , Daniel Brocklebank , Laurence Fox , and Keira Knightley Director: Nick Hamm Manufacturer: Dimension ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000ARD7T Release Date: 2004-10-19 |
Description
This suspenseful psychological thriller features hot young stars Thora Birch (GHOST WORLD, AMERICAN BEAUTY), Desmond Harrington (GHOST SHIP), and a hip, edgy cast! When Liz Dunn (Birch) and three of her prep school friends decide to bail on their scheduled weekend field trip and hide in a long-abandoned bomb shelter, they expect to party and hang out. They don't expect someone to lock them in! As anxious hours turn into desperate days, fear and insecurity erupt uncontrollably as their spontaneous adventure turns into a bloody fight for survival! Also starring Keira Knightley (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM) and Embeth Davidtz (THE EMPEROR'S CLUB, BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY) -- you'll find yourself bolted to your seat as the electrifying tale unfolds through Liz's tormented eyes!Customer Reviews:
An ok movie.......2007-06-10
Impressed but not..........2007-05-13
Possibly The Worst Film Blunder Ever.......2007-01-03
Better Than You'd Expect.......2006-12-23
Great Movie.......2006-09-28
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Alfie (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Jude Law , Renée Taylor , Jane Krakowski , Jeff Harding , and Marisa Tomei Director: Charles Shyer Manufacturer: Paramount ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00077BOFG Release Date: 2005-03-15 |
Amazon.com
Jude Law's Alfie, much like Michael Caine's Alfie in the 1966 original, is what you'd call an unrepentant womanizer. He beds 'em but never weds 'em, and New York provides ample opportunity to continue the process--until reality slaps him in the face. Because Jude Law is, well, Jude Law, you can see why he gets away with it as long as he does, and the actor also pulls off the usually awkward trick of narrating directly to the camera. Neither his Alfie, however, nor director Charles Shyer's remake emerges completely without scra