Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July

Starring:Red Buttons, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Alan Sues, Jackie Vernon (II), Shelley Winters, Paul Frees, Billie Mae Richards, Harold Peary, Shelby Flint, Don Messick, Darlene Conley, Nellie Bellflower, Steffi Calli, Howard Shapiro, Eric Hines, Cynthia Adler, Bob McFadden
Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Long, long ago, the North Pole was ruled by the good fairy Lady Boreal and her enemy was the wicked wizard Winterbolt. To protect Santa Claus from Winterbolt's foggy fury, Lady Boreal grants Rudolph the Reindeer a magical, glowing nose. Years later, Rudolph and his friend Frosty the Snowman are called on to save a needy circus at a special 4th of July benefit. But their big-top act turns to big-time trouble when Winterbolt appears -- with a plan to steal Frosty's magic hat and extinguish Rudolph's legendary nose! Brought to shing Animagic life with the voices of Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Red Buttons and Shelley Winters, this feature-length fable is a must-see for all seasons.

Amazon.com

Given that Office Space is a bona fide cult classic, it comes as some surprise that Mike Judge's follow-up wasn't more heavily promoted. Granted, this live-action comedy is a darker, more pointed proposition, but it's unfortunate that few theater patrons got the opportunity to, well, judge for themselves. In Idiocracy, the King of the Hill creator visualizes what would happen if Devo's proposition--that mankind is in the process of devolution--came to pass. The catalyst: the overeducated start having fewer children while the undereducated have more. Enter Joe (Luke Wilson), a military librarian with no family and even less ambition. The Pentagon chooses him for a top-secret hibernation project due to his extreme "average-ness." They select Rita (SNL's Maya Rudolph), a prostitute, for the same reason. When the experiment goes haywire, the two emerge 500 years later--rather than one. Now it's 2505 and they're the brightest people in the over-polluted land. Everyone else is, basically, Beavis and Butt-head. Yes, the satire couldn't be less subtle, but the premise gives Judge license to make as much fun of junk food pop culture as dystopian classics like 1984 and Planet of the Apes. Wilson wisely plays it straight, even if the actors who surround him sometimes succumb to excess. And the effects may be cheesy, but that just adds to the fun. Idiocracy features former footballer Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris) as President Camacho and Dax Shepard (Punk'd) as Joe's futuristic friend Frito. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

From Mike Judge, one of the creative minds behind Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill and Office Space, comes an outrageous sci-fi comedy that'll make you think twice about the future of mankind.

Meet Joe Bowers (Luke Wilson). He's not the sharpest tool in the shed. But when a government hibernation experiment goes awry, Bowers awakens in the year 2505 to find a society so dumbed-down by mass commercialism and mindless TV programming that he's become the smartest guy on the planet. Now it's up to an average Joe to get human evolution back on track!

Filled with razor-sharp sarcasm and outrageous sight gags, Idiocracy will make you laugh out loud whether you're an absolute genius or a complete idiot!

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2007-07-08

This is a very good movie very in the flavor of what Mike Judge usually does. It contains a lot of social satire and a funny view of the future. Also how Dax Shepherd ever did such a voice is beyond me. This is a very quotable movie. It is sad this movie never came to theaters nor was it ever advertised so it is very easy to overlook this very good movie. My only complaint is that the film is a bit on the short side.

Smarter Than the Audience..........2007-07-06

...but that's not saying much, is it? It reminds me of another box office bomb, American Dreamz, in that it's ahead of its time...if only by a few years. Perhaps Fox should have held onto it for a few more years before releasing it?

But I think the movie has deeper problems than being "lost" on audiences unwilling to accept satire. Look at Talledega Nights--a mockery of Nascar, which was accepted by Nascar fans in red states.

It's not that IDIOCRACY is not funny--much of it is hilarious. There are little nuggets here and there that will stay with you forever, particularly the bit about feeding Gatorade to plants because "it's got what plants crave!"

The story never really gels, though, thanks in part to a screenplay that relies on voice-over narration to carry the viewer from one scene to the next. And every second that Maya Rudolph's one-joke character struts in front of the camera is another second of your life that you'll never get back.

Laugh out loud funny.......2007-07-05

It's funny in the sense of Dumb and Dumber. But this movie is absolutely hilarious. Luke Wilson plays his normal whimsical average guy, but only now he is the smartest man on earth.

Great Movie.......2007-07-03

After seeing this movie at a friend's house I had to have it. Mike Judge again creates a very underrated but hilarious movie. I sure do hope the world does not turn out like this. Not an over abundance of special features, but this wasn't the most hyped movie either. Good addition to any collection.

You Can't Play Dumb, Dumb.......2007-07-02

The great sin here is that the film makers didn't see the irony of making a movie as moronic as the society they tried to parody. Judging from most of the reviews here society may already be further gone than we feared.

Average customer rating:

Das Boot
Great combat movie.
Gripping epic of war at sea
Jurgen Prochnow excellent. Oscar-worthy performance.
THE KING OF ALL SUBMARINE EPICS!!!

Das Boot - The Director's Cut
Starring: Jürgen Prochnow , Herbert Grönemeyer , Klaus Wennemann , Hubertus Bengsch , and Martin Semmelrogge
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0767802470
Release Date: 1997-12-10

Amazon.com essential video

This is the restored, 209-minute director's cut of Wolfgang Petersen's harrowing and claustrophobic U-boat thriller, which was theatrically rereleased in 1997. Originally made as a five-hour miniseries, this version devotes more time to getting to know the crew before they and their stoic captain (Jürgen Prochnow) get aboard their U-boat and find themselves stranded at the bottom of the sea. Das Boot puts you inside that submerged vessel and explores the physical and emotional tensions of the situation with a vivid, terrifying realism that few movies can match. As Petersen tightens the screws and the submerged ship blows bolts, the pressure builds to such unbearable levels that you may be tempted to escape for a nice walk on solid land in the great outdoors--only you wouldn't dream of looking away from the screen. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Das Boot.......2007-07-06

Originally a 210-minute German mini-series edited down to feature length, "Boot" is haunting and works as an anti-war piece precisely because it is seen from the losing side. German actor Jurgen Prochnow turns in an intense portrayal of the boat's desperate captain. The film's other star--Peterson's camera--roves through the sub fluidly, never allowing the viewer a breath of escape or boredom.

Great combat movie........2007-07-01

I've heard it said that combat is long periods of boredom, punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Well, this movie has it in spades.

From what I know of WWII history, this movie is accurate. Beyond that, you spend hours in the confined quarters of desperate men making the best they can of a bad situation.

Naturally, the movie ends on a down note.

Quite a ride. Loved it.

Gripping epic of war at sea.......2007-06-28

This is the model for films about war at sea. The direction and photography are expert: there are very few scenes that look like model work, and you have no trouble believing you are on board the U-boat under the most perilous of conditions. I did think some of the depth charge explosions were too close to be survivable, but I'll accept that as arising from the film's need to get explosions and submarine into the same frame. The crew show a believable and gripping range of characteristics and emotions, including courage, desperation, and ingenuity. These men believe in their country but have little time for ideology. They have a bond that holds them together under the worst of circumstances, and the first-rate acting makes that very real. The ending brings home the cost and futility of war.

Jurgen Prochnow excellent. Oscar-worthy performance........2007-06-12

I only wish some of these long-winded reviewers would stop trying to be Roger Ebert.

Film is terrific. Must see. Fine writing/direction. Walfgang Petersen is another A-list director, no doubt about it.
The only quibble is this: film is on the looong side. Saw the original version in a theatre way back when it came out--and it was just about right. This version, though, just might leave your poor backside aching after a while.

Definitely worth getting. Might be the BEST submarine film ever made.

THE KING OF ALL SUBMARINE EPICS!!!.......2007-06-03

This is the type of movie that you watch when you are really longing for a submarine movie. This is a well-made and very realistic epic of a real life German U-boat in WW II Be prepared to spend the whole day watching because it is very long but very worthwhile. It is a must see!

Noel Serrano

Average customer rating:

Fabulous Swan Song to a Great Show!
Altman's mildly amusing homage to the radio show
A Prairie Home Companion
If only negative stars were possible
Great Movie if You Like PHC, Folksy Things, or Minnesota

A Prairie Home Companion
Starring: Woody Harrelson , Tommy Lee Jones , Garrison Keillor , Kevin Kline , and Lindsay Lohan
Director: Robert Altman
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000H6SXYM
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

Robert Altman and Garrison Keillor combine reality and fantasy in this smooth, ebullient take on the long-running Prairie Home Companion radio show. Set during the show's fictitious last broadcast--the host station has been bought--the film has plenty of elements from the real PHC radiocasts, including a live audience and the sensational Shoe band. The onstage program is mostly music numbers, a beguiling mix of standards and old-style country. However, the show's usual comedy sketches are never presented, save for the commercial parodies--this may be a PHC show, but Lake Wobegone is never mentioned. Instead, the sketches are played out as backstage banter that feautres the Johnson Sisters (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin), a harried stage hand (Maya Rudolph), a former listener turned angel (Virginia Madsen), and Keillor himself (a crusty alter-ego named simply G.K.). A few characters from the real PHC are given life: the singing cowboys Dusty and Lefty and gumshoe Guy Noir are embodied by Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, and Kevin Kline, respectively. Old flames are fanned, stories are spun, new talents are found (Lindsay Lohan has a chance to shine as Streep's daughter) and everyone wonders if G.K. will do something to ebb the tide of cancellation (personified by Tommy Lee Jones as the corporate Axeman). All of the actors do right as singers, and seem to be having the time of their life. Keillor's screenplay is perfect fodder for Altman's usual brand of storytelling, as characters babble on with the camera picking them up often in mid-thought. The film appeared a few months after Altman received an honorary Oscar, and the director is still at the top of his game, creating this smile-inducing, song-filled time, ending with an ethereal last musical number. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous Swan Song to a Great Show!.......2007-07-08

I am very critical of movies and rate them on three components; good acting, a believable story, and a great ending. This movie pushed past the 'great' peg on the dial. I LOVED this movie, and watched it six times this weekend. Each performer was great. Each duet was great. Every time I see a Woody H. movie, I become more and more impressed with that man's talent. The ending where the angel of death shows up still has me wondering whom she came for.

I have been married for 32 years and now have employment that has me working hundreds of miles from home. My wife and I have been seperated by this employment for 9 months. Every night we talk on the phone, and at it's end, I sing to her a song. From now on, I will sing to her, "Goodbye to Momma". I just wish I could speak to any of the performers to thank them for this pearl.

Having read just now that there are two A.P Carter songs in this movie, I realized that this movie follows the Carter/Cash world somewhat. The PHC is folksy and lots of fun, and so were June and Johnny. Clearly there was lots of love in the court of Cash with many many performers and friends visiting the Carter/Cash home for friendship and mothering. There seems to be a lot of that with the actual PHC as depicted in the movie and the list of actors in the movie. The movie played two of Mother Maybelles songs. The PHC came to an ubrupt end. The home of June and Johnny burned to the ground just after it was sold to Mr. Gibbs.

Thanks everyone. I bought the sound track and the movie DVD.

Altman's mildly amusing homage to the radio show.......2007-07-06

"Prairie Home Companion" is director Robert Altman's homage to the long running radio series. The (fictional) action unfolds during the last performance of the show, which is being shut down as the radio station has been bought by some Texans who have other plans.

"Prairie Home Companion" features many of the real stars of the radio show as themselves including the show's driving force Garrison Keillor. Sadly Keillor is no screen actor and the scenes with him bring the film to a grinding halt.

Much of the dialogue in the underdeveloped plot appears to be improvised and leads nowhere. Many of the characters are also underdeveloped - especially Kevin Kline as "Guy Noir" the bumbling security man and Virginia Madsen as the "Dangerous Woman".

The only thing that perks this film up are the musical numbers - especially the ones with John C. O'Reilly and Woody Harrelson as the singing cowboys Dusty and Lefty.

"Prairie Home Companion" is somewhat of a disappointment to fans of the radio show and may actually appeal more to those who are not familiar with it.

Although mildly amusing, one can't help but ask the question - what exactly was the point of all this?

A Prairie Home Companion.......2007-07-04

If you except to find the dumb comedy that's on TV today, you will not enjoy this movie. Otherwise it is very funny and entertaining.

If only negative stars were possible.......2007-07-01

This movie is horrible. It's like sitting with your elderly relatives who talk of nothing but the way things used to be, except the reminiscences in the movie hold none of the value that your relatives' stories carry. Layered on top of the endless "remember whens?" is mediocre singing performances and Virginia Madsen wandering around the set like she's got amnesia. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

Great Movie if You Like PHC, Folksy Things, or Minnesota.......2007-06-30

Robert Altman, Merryl Streep, Garrison Keillor, Lilly Tomlyn . . . Great cast and crew. True to the spirit of the radio show, with a clear Minnesotan spin on reality.
(Look for me in the shadows when Kevin Kline first enters the theater!)

Average customer rating:

First, best of "McHale's" four seasons
Really Funny
good ol TV show
The gang's all here!
Anchor's Way Aweigh!!!!

McHale's Navy - Season One
Starring: Ernest Borgnine , Joe Flynn , Tim Conway , Carl Ballantine , and Gary Vinson
Director: Earl Bellamy , Frank McDonald , Charles Barton , Norman Abbott (II) , and Oscar Rudolph
Manufacturer: Shout Factory Theatr
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000M8N412
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Description

THE ORIGINAL 36-EPISODE FIRST SEASON STARRING ERNEST BORGNINE, TIM CONWAY AND JOE FLYNN

From 1962 to 1966, McHale's Navy was ABC's must-see comedy series. With an amazing cast, including Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine ("Lt. Commander McHale"), comic genius Tim Conway ("Ensign Parker"), the one-of-a-kind comic talent of Joe Flynn ("Captain Binghamton") this series remains second only to M*A*S*H as a truly funny military sitcom.

Veteran seaman Quinton McHale is commissioned into the Navy Reserve at the start of WWII. He becomes Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed on the island of Taratupa in the Pacific. Assigned to his command are six free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies who love to have fun. McHale and his men are constant irritants to their base commander, Captain Wallace B. Binghamton. Binghamton is forever trying to find a way to get rid of McHale and his rule-bending crew, while McHale & Co. are forever scheming to keep him from succeeding. Despite their hilarious party-boy shenanigans and utter disregard for Navy regulations, when duty calls, the crew of PT 73 does its job and does it well.

With its talented stars, great writing and solid supporting cast, including Gavin McLeod (Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat), McHale's Navy is classic television at its finest and funniest.

Special Feature:
THE CREW REUNION - Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Carl Ballantine, Bob Hastings and Edson Stroll reunite and share their memories of the show.

Amazon.com

Something of a cross between M*A*S*H* (it's set in wartime) and Sgt. Bilko (the emphasis in on ensemble acting, with a ringleader and his band of merry pranksters), McHale's Navy isn't on a level with those two immortal sit-coms. But this amiable show, debuting on DVD with all 36 black & white episodes from its first season (1962-63) on five discs, stands the test of time surprisingly well. Not that there's any important new comedic ground broken here. These half-hour episodes are pretty much all about the same thing: Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (the always reliable Ernest Borgnine), skipper of Navy PT boat #73, and his crew are stationed "somewhere in the South Pacific, 1943." They're capable sailors, engaging the Japanese enemy when duty occasionally calls, but most of the time they hang out on their own private island and have a good time--much to the chagrin of their blustery commander, Capt. Wallace Binghamton (Joe Flynn), who's constantly trying to rid himself of the regulation-defying McHale and his fun-loving band of miscreants. In that respect, McHale's Navy is much like Bilko. But unlike the latter show's brilliant Phil Silvers, Borgnine isn't really a comedian; with his unmistakable cackle, the actor's McHale, while not above taking part in a good-natured prank, is a less a Bilko-esque con artist than a regular guy, a kind of cheer- and ringleader intent on looking after his boys. The real laughmeisters on this show are Tim Conway, who brings his whole bag of shticks to the role of the bumbling Ensign Charles Parker, and Flynn, who's consistently hilarious. Among the crew, Carl Ballantine stands out as fast-talking Brooklyn native Lester Gruber; TV lovers will also recognize Gavin MacLeod in his first extended TV role before moving on to The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat.

It's always a bit strange to see war scenes played for laughs--the Pacific Theater in World War II was hardly comedy central, after all. But they are pretty funny. And while the Japanese characters are treated fairly stereotypically, it could have been a lot worse, considering the show's pre-political correctness provenance; hell, many of the roles are actually played by Japanese actors, which was not a given (then or now), and in one episode ("Movies Are Your Best Diversion"), they speak un-subtitled Japanese. Fact is, McHale's Navy is just too mild and good-natured to offend anyone. The sole bonus feature is a dull reunion interview with Borgnine, Parker, and some other cast members.--Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

First, best of "McHale's" four seasons.......2007-06-30

The early episodes of Season 1 of "McHale's Navy" are more low-keyed than the remaining three years would be, showing some traces of the show's origin as a 1961 Alcoa Theater drama "Seven Against the Sea" that featured Ernest Borgnine as McHale, but none of the other cast members (though some of the same character names). Watching Season 1 in order you can see the show focusing more on the strengths of the slapstick comedic relationship between Tim Conway and Joe Flynn as the year goes on, but the opening season's shows overall are really no more silly/serious than the plots for the first two seasons of M*A*S*H (and in fact, M*A*S*H's Season 2 opener, "Five O'Clock Charlie" was liberally taken from a Season 1 "McHale" episode "Five O'Clock Charlie" and coincidentally features Mike Farrell in a brief role). Season 1 also features stories from some fairly prominent writers for TV and elsewhere, including the pilot episode by Gene L. Coon ("Star Trek") and others by Danny Arnold ("Bewitched", "Barney Miller"), and Joseph Heller ("Catch 22").

Picture quality is decent on most of the episodes, though there are a few scratches here and there that show the 45-year-old age of the source material. Sound quality is also good, except for the muffled opening scene and titles from "Movies are Your Best Diversion" (the original episode had a slightly jazzier version of the opening theme on the main titles, and someone apparently decided to dub the more familiar version back on and did so -- badly). Definitely worth getting, though if you're looking for the Conway-Flynn slapstick antics "McHale's Navy" is most remembered for, you might want to start with Disc 3 in the set, or pick up the Season 2 DVD of the show first.

Really Funny.......2007-06-22

This is one of the all time greats. You can't stop laughing. McHale, Parker and Binghamptn are great! When is the second season coming out ????

good ol TV show.......2007-06-09

I remember when tv was fun to watch, well here it is. These shows are fun to watch. Good clean silly fun. I always lasugh when I watch these episodes. I can't wait for the next season to come out.

The gang's all here!.......2007-06-01

What a pleasure to relive the zany exploits of McHale and crew! Great clarity and focus on the black and white pictures. I wish that all DVD's were created with the quality of effort and end result that is evident in this first season of McHale's Navy. Outsanding value!

Anchor's Way Aweigh!!!!.......2007-05-25

This series was so inspiring, I had to join the Navy to find out if it was anything like the series...and much to my chagrin, for the most part. IT WAS.....Clean humor, political incorrectness, Very well cast, great acting. It was believable. They just do not make them like this any more. Buy it or I'll put you on report and you will have to stand at Captain's Mast in front of Captain "Leadbottom"...."Waaaahat...Waaahat...Waaaht...I could just scream"

The Number 23 (Unrated Infinifilm Edition)

Average customer rating:

I'm 24...One Year Ago I was 23. *GASP!*
Humorous parts, but Jim Carrey is still amazing!
Read this, no matter what anyone told you.
-COLDPLAY- under the surface trying to break through dechipering X&Y codes in you...
I'm at a loss.

The Number 23 (Unrated Infinifilm Edition)
Starring: Jim Carrey , Virginia Madsen , Logan Lerman , Danny Huston , and Lynn Collins
Director: Joel Schumacher
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000OYC7BW
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Amazon.com

Jim Carrey as a schizophrenic murderer isn't convincing, in this melodramatic film about a man obsessed by the Number 23. Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever, St. Elmo's Fire) has unintentionally managed to make a comedy of horrors that really is quite humorous in parts. Walter Sparrow (Carrey) becomes engrossed in a homespun novel about Detective Fingerling, whose life degrades into mayhem because of his obsession with 23's esoteric numerical puzzles. Sparrow's preoccupation with the book follows his botched attempt to catch a nasty dog that bites him, leading one to believe that Sparrow's contraction of rabies might be the cause for his mental degradation. As the story progresses, Sparrow retreats further into Fingerling's world, rife with suicidal sexpots and hardboiled detective sleuthing. His wife, Agatha (Virginia Madsen), also plays Fingerling's girlfriend, sex-crazed Fabrizia, who taunts Fingerling until he stabs her. Back in reality, Walter aims to solve the unresolved crimes in the book, taking it as a murderer's diary rather than as an imagined work. The story is half-baked, though Carrey's portrayal of a mentally disturbed person is what makes The Number 23 comedic. Long, contemplative stares, and over-dramatized acting renders Sparrow a clichéd character, rather than one odd enough to engage viewers. For a better version of almost the exact plot but with a terrorist's twist, see Thr3e instead. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

I'm 24...One Year Ago I was 23. *GASP!*.......2007-06-05

I am not one to be spooked by a numerical digit, so I could never really understand what the big deal was. I didn't understand why Jim Carrey's character Walter was freaking out about every "coincidence" involving the number 23 as he read the novel in a weird Zoolander-like voice. I kept thinking 'maybe there's more to it...maybe there'll be a twist in the end that will shed new light and then everything will make sense...maybe...' The film tries to be tense but is at times laughable; one scene comes to mind where Walter, who is now convinced that his problems began because one day a dangerous dog bit him, sees the dog in the road. He turns the car around with his family in it and begins a ridiculous ("dramatic") face-off with the dog in the street. Throughout the entire film, I kept trying to come up with a reason for what the bigger picture was behind the whole thing, but by the end, I realized there isn't one at all. A huge disappointment.

Humorous parts, but Jim Carrey is still amazing!.......2007-06-02

Yes, everyone was scratching their heads when they heard that Jim Carrey was going to be in a psychotic thriller. But, with everything Jim Carrey has been in, it's about time he try something COMPLETELY different. I will admit, there were times then I had to laugh at the ridiculous lines, but I don't think it's Jim Carrey's fault. The line was bad, that's all that was wrong with this movie. Jim Carrey took the character and made the best of it. So, I enjoyed this movie and I'm excited to own it on DVD.

Read this, no matter what anyone told you........2007-05-18

Before I say anything I want you to read this before you read the other negative comments about this movie. Despite the reviews of the bad plot and blah, blah, blah horrible and judgemental reviews from the magazines.. This movie is one of my Top 5 movies of all time. Finally a mystery movie that I cannot predict what's going to happen next. No bad acting in this movie and the plot and the story are perfect the way they are.. If people were bored while they were watching this movie, then maybe they need help, because this movie is anything but boring. The way the number 23 shows up in various criminal names, bombing dates and even the characters birthday and time. Carrey plays a man that becomes obsess with the number 23 and finds out when he reads the book that it sounds like the author is talking about him and maybe the book was meant to find him. The wife thinks he's crazy, having read the book herself, she thinks it's just another book that leaves an impact on a person. However, his 13 yearold son believes what his father is saying.. Overall, the only thing I would change is to have more information on how to get the number 23 from names, dates, and words. There is many twist and turns in this movie and the story presented by Mr. Fingerling in the book is amazing and the characters are classic and realistic like the conniving people populating the world today. Buy this movie, it is worth every penny.

-COLDPLAY- under the surface trying to break through dechipering X&Y codes in you..........2007-04-29

-OASIS- I'M NO STRANGER TO THIS PLACE WHERE REAL LIFE & DREAMS COLLIDE EVEN THOUGH I FALL FROM GRACE I WILL KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE DON'T BELIEVE THE TRUTH...
I'm a sucker for art reflecting/imitating my status-less existence. I believe certain famous musical bands have written songs about me, so instantly once I found out about this film, I paid full price, watched it ASAP & was NOT disappointed. Infact the last stanza, I wanted to cry, but my male cousin was with me. One message of this film is not to take art too seriously, as it can lead to obsession, isolation, hero worship: almost idolatry. I'm am so disappointed with the negative reviews of this film. Jim Carey's performance reminds me his role in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind: & is a continuation of his alternative 'struggling artist' persona roles. Hmm maybe The Number 23 is based on my life, as sometimes in the 'fever' of loneliness I thought my house had hidden cameras aka Carey's The Truman Show: oh bless the synchronicity & sparks. The number symbology is on par with The Davinci Code & Pi: but is explored vividly & with resounding depth. The soundscape of this film is stunning, the audio really utilises modern cinema's surround sound. There are suicide themes in the film, & some really disturbing/gloomy scenes. If you are into 'esoteric' films that have meaning in this secular pragmatic, soul-less western society inc-corp, then this is the film for you. It caters for a select 'niche' of film lover, whose interests lie in the sublime & 'existential' angst...PS Will deFINitely buy the DVD when it comes out...but I believe this is the type of film that can only be fully ascertained & appreciated when watched on the big screen, soundtrack pumping & no interruptions.
-NEIL FINN- MY JOHN LENNON LIKE SECRET GOD UNDISCOVERED WAS BORN ON 1958: 1+9+5+8=23 TALES FROM MY HEAD CAN'T BUY THE BOOK NO-ONE LISTENS BUT I GUESS YOU COULD...

I'm at a loss........2007-04-28

I don't understand what people are not seeing in this movie. The story was unique and complex, changing directions on a dime to gripping effect. The main characters were appealing and the performances excellent - Jim Carrey's portrayal of Walter Sparrow was first-rate. His character begins with an almost surprisingly familiar personality, emanating Carrey's trademark humor and quirks. This makes his character arc all the more dramatic as Walter sinks into obsession and paranoia. The visuals were stunning, the mood was appropriately tense, and the twists (even if you managed to predict some) were highly effectual.

I have to say I really get aggravated with people who give bad reviews to films and describe them as confusing. This is not a legitimate criticism. I've never been confused by a movie. These people just don't seem to get that the answers are not supposed to be obvious, and any outright exposition is supposed to appear at THE END.

I can't think of anything that this film didn't do right. I suspect a considerable portion of the bad reviews are the result of the discomforting feeling of being unable to pigeonhole a film that, in a traditional genre, has the nerve to display such far-reaching ambition and achieve its goals. I actually read a review complaining that the story goes beyond the character's obsession with the number- a professional film critic complaining that the film contains too much plot, too much clarifying history where it was needed. Please explain to me what people are looking for.

Average customer rating:

intense, fast paced, a mind flip
How did this poorly acted and directed movie get 4.5 stars?
6 Stars Out of 5! The Most Creative and Brilliant Movie Since Godard's Breathless in 1960
Lola's Running
Lola runs well

Run Lola Run
Starring: Franka Potente , Moritz Bleibtreu , Herbert Knaup , Nina Petri , and Armin Rohde
Director: Tom Tykwer
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000021Y77
Release Date: 1999-12-21

Amazon.com essential video

It's difficult to create a film that's fast paced, exciting, and aesthetically appealing without diluting its dialogue. Run Lola Run, directed and written by Tom Tykwer, is an enchanting balance of pace and narrative, creating a universal parable that leaps over cultural barriers. This is the story of young Lola (Franka Potente) and her boyfriend Manni (Moritz Bleibtreu). In the space of 20 minutes, they must come up with 100,000 deutsche marks to pay back a seedy gangster, who will be less than forgiving when he finds out that Manni incompetently lost his cash to an opportunistic vagrant. Lola, confronted with one obstacle after another, rides an emotional roller coaster in her high-speed efforts to help the hapless Manni--attempting to extract the cash first from her double-dealing father (appropriately a bank manager), and then by any means necessary. From this point nothing goes right for either protagonist, but just when you think you've figured out the movie, the director introduces a series of brilliant existential twists that boggle the mind. Tykwer uses rapid camera movements and innovative pauses to explore the theme of cause and effect. Accompanied by a pulse-pounding soundtrack, we follow Lola through every turn and every heartbreak as she and Manni rush forward on a collision course with fate. There were a variety of original and intelligent films released in 1999, but perhaps none were as witty and clever as this little gem--one of the best foreign films of the year. --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews:

intense, fast paced, a mind flip .......2007-07-02

What a great movie? I've loved it since the first time I saw it... eight years ago or so. The sound track gets repepetitive at times .. but it's still a wonderful film.

How did this poorly acted and directed movie get 4.5 stars?.......2007-03-23

Since I'm not a customer here I'm using this kid's forum. I'm not a kid by the way.

Anyways, I don't get why this movie is so highly regarded. It was just the most annoying movie I've ever seen. Basically it's the same story about retrieving a lost bag of money repeated three times. It's not like we needed to see shots of Lola running all the time. There are too many crazy cuts between events that don't seem to make much sense. Also, what's with all those cuts when Lola runs past or bumps into any bystander on the streets? How can she have any insight into the pasts of these people and seriously why do we need to know about them? They're not essential to the story. One more thing is why does Lola scream like such a maniac and why does it shatter glass? These are all just failed attempts to make a good arthouse film. It's a poorly acted and directed film unworthy of the praise it gets.

6 Stars Out of 5! The Most Creative and Brilliant Movie Since Godard's Breathless in 1960.......2007-03-23

There are very few films that become instant cult classics such as Godard's 1960 Breathless and the less-than-brilliant Pulp Fiction by Tarantino. Run Lola Run in many aspects tops both these movies in its ability to take an incredibly simple plot and turn it into an exgtravaganza of motion, sound and film-making showmanship that redefines filmography and becomes a genre of its own.

Run Lola Run is a brilliant combination of a very talented cast, extremely creative writing and masterful video and sound editing, which results in one of the greatest masterpieces in modern moviemaking history. I am not getting carried away!

Although the movie is sparse with words, it does an incredible job at providing a unique perspective into the characters lives, sometimes with a single sentence or even just a sequence of camera snapshots:
Lola's mother's only sentence in the movie while holding a glass of wine at home: "clearly, I knew your ascendant was Sagittarius.... But you are married too".

Lola's relationship with her father:
Lola: "if I can't get the money, Manni will die".
Father: "Who is Manni?"
Lola: "My boyfriend for a year now".

We also get a glimpse into random characters' lives through a sequence of camera snapshots, sometimes in a humorous way, all interweaving into the main theme which is the stage and play that we're all part of and how sequences of events change the outcome of the end of the play.

Along the plot line there are several humorous winks and tributes to other movies and books which arguably provided some inspiration to parts of the movie. For instance, Lola's ability to shatter glass with her voice is a direct tribute to German author Gunter Grass's The Tin Drum. A silent scene at the casino provides a tribute to Apocalypse Now. The 3 tries plot may have been inspired by Fritz Lang's 1922 Der Mude Tod, etc.

Regardless if you recognize these tributes, Run Lola Run is a captivating movie where every frame and every note of sound seem to be perfectly orchestrated by a maestro who is conducting this fast paced, brilliant symphony.

Film making at its best! Savor it!

Lola's Running .......2007-03-09

I thought this product was awsome, a classic, cheaply priced, and I recieved item way before the delivery date. Recommend buying movies from this seller. This movie was creative (although it was in subtitles), and equally unique from any of the other movies I found over the internet.

Lola runs well.......2007-03-09

Most of the movies I buy from Amazon are sale priced gems I've seen already. They're additions to a burgeoning home library. As I add additions I screen them to make sure the DVD plays properly. In this instance I screened the movie for co-workers during lunch and dinner breaks. "Lola" was well received by those who had not seen it before. I think it's a terrific example of an alternative (foreign or otherwise) to mega budget (or even mid to low budget fodder) movies especially those with huge stars, and an over abundance of special effects, which play as if they were written for and by marketing robots.

If you can get "Lola" on sale do check it out

Average customer rating:

I really liked it, even more so in HD
Swordfish
Swordfish
Miss Direction Stan
Not worth the price of the breasts

Swordfish
Starring: Carmen Argenziano , Halle Berry , Scott Burkholder , Don Cheadle , and Dean Duval
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CY0V
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Amazon.com

Swordfish is a superficial movie, so let's address the superficial facts: Halle Berry was well paid to bare her breasts in this gratuitous cyber-action thriller, and while Berry's many fans will enjoy a cheap drool at the actress's expense, her brief topless scene doesn't justify this insipid parade of glossy violence from the director of 2000's Gone in 60 Seconds. Add yet another notch in John Travolta's bad-movie belt, and you've got Hollywood bankruptcy in full blossom. Go ahead, marvel at director Dominic Sena's biggest money shot--a 360-degree pan as a robbery hostage is blown to bits by a bomb that pelts a surrounding SWAT squad with deadly ball bearings.

The plot, as if it matters: Travolta's a slick, self-appointed antiterrorist who recruits a top-flight computer hacker (Hugh Jackman) to transfer a $9.5 billion government slush fund into a cluster of secret accounts. Berry's the curvaceous bait who lures Jackman into the scheme; Don Cheadle's an FBI agent hot on their tails; and an obligatory subplot turns Jackman's daughter (Camryn Grimes) into an innocent bargaining chip. By the time a hostage transport bus is airlifted in the film's not-so-thrilling climax, Swordfish will hold your passive attention or put you to sleep--it all depends on your tolerance for Sena's brand of derivative bloodlust. It's pornography of a sort, and efficiently mechanical, but you can bet good money that Berry and her costars didn't cash their paychecks proudly. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

I really liked it, even more so in HD.......2007-06-14

I thought this was a great movie anyway, in HD it's even better.

Swordfish.......2007-06-08

Another great job by John Travolta and Hugh Jackman, both are great in this movie... John play such a bad boy so good...

Swordfish.......2007-06-02

Travolta is absolutely insane in this movie. He acts like a psychopath. He is crazy. The other actors aren't fit enough to hold Mr. Travolta's coat. He outperforms them all!! Pure evil genius!!

Miss Direction Stan.......2007-03-29

This movie is great. For one, there is no clear cut good or bad guy. To be honest I believe the reason I like this movie is because I identify with some of the thoughts portrayed by John Travolta's character. With terrorism on everyones mind, Swordfish gives an aggressive response to would be terrorists and those who wish to do harm to America and our interests. To often we trade security for sheer diplomacy, this film shows another way. The acting is great, and panning special effects are stunning. Computers, Robbery, Corrupt Politicians, Fast Cars, Explosives, Big Guns, and ... Halle Berry

Not worth the price of the breasts.......2007-03-09

Well given performances by Don Cheadle, John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry, breasts notwithstanding (the woman does have undeniable sex appeal, and it's in full swing in this flick). The story does have a flaw when Travolta's character interacts with a certain governmental agent - it just doesn't work for me as a motive. Travolta's greed would have been a much better plot line. Jackman gives a fun performance as a dancing (!) hacker who wants to get his daughter back from, for all you Soprano fans, a very drunken and drugged out Drea. I love the music - Paul Oakenfold, who perfectly catches the action and the drama as it unfolds into the magic of misdirection.

Average customer rating:

How about the PBS version
Yes disappointing print, but.......
Night Music smiles....
a little night music
Keep your VHS.

A Little Night Music
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor , Diana Rigg , Len Cariou , Lesley-Anne Down , and Hermione Gingold
Director: Harold Prince
Manufacturer: Henstooth Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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