Lilo & Stitch Disney Read-Along

Starring:Walt Disney Records
Studio: Disney
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Warm, funny, and imaginative, Lilo & Stitch is the best animated feature the Walt Disney Studios have produced in years. On the planet Turo, mad scientist Jumba Jookiba (voice by David Ogden Stiers) has created a miniature monster programmed for destruction. When the monster escapes to Earth, it's adopted as a pet and named "Stitch" by Lilo (Daveigh Chase), a lonely little Hawaiian girl. Lilo and her older sister Nani (Tia Carrere) have been struggling to stay together since their parents died. Stitch and Lilo share some hilarious adventures, evading welfare officer Cobra Bubbles (Ving Rhames) and galactic police agents. They learn the timely lesson that a family can be something you're born into--or something you assemble. A warmth and sincerity that recall The Iron Giant and the films of Hiyao Miyazaki make Lilo a delightful fantasy adults and children can truly enjoy together. --Charles Solomon

Description

"As Elvis might put it, you can't help falling in love with LILO & STITCH." -- Claudia Puig, USA TODAY. Out-of-this-world storytelling, stunning Disney animation, and wild and irresistible characters are at the heart of Disney's hilarious new animated adventure. This worldwide box office sensation is a heartwarming comedy about the power of loyalty, friendship, and finding your place in the world. On the lush and tropical Hawaiian Islands, an independent little girl named Lilo adopts what she thinks is an innocent puppy, completely unaware that he is a mischievous creature who has escaped from a faraway planet. Stitch takes Hawaii by storm, wreaking havoc and hanging ten while he evades the alien bounty hunters who are bent on recapturing him. It's an action-packed comedy the whole family will enjoy over and over again.

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your time.......2007-05-17

This movie is a piece of junk. A "ET" that looks more like a demon is the hero?....COME ON!!! Don't lose your time over it.

Colorful.......2007-03-25

"Lilo and Stitch" was pretty colourful and suprising, I thought. Bit of a treat to watch, actually. Wasn't quite like a Disney, and yet it was. Sees an experimental alien Stitch lifeform crashland with a single mother and her daughter, Lilo. Worth a look for fans of unique animation.

My review on a animation Sci fiction !.......2007-03-17

I watch Lilo and Stitch last night on My computer for the first time !
I love the storyline of an alien and Lilo and funny movie , good idea !
The extra bouns feature that I watch last night was good talking about Lilo and stitch ! Great marriage with animation and scifiction in this flim !
visual more then 5 stars defenity on this animation flim scifiction !

Good movie, some mature content.......2007-03-13

Overall the DVD was good and very much appropriate for young children. However, after a couple of weeks it had fallen to the back of his preference list. We've not watched it in over a year now. I guess this isn't so different from any other DVD we have.

I would recommend this for young children. It does have a few concepts that are not appropriate, but are presented in a way that is way over the heads of children adn does have a few scenes that very concervative parents may term violent.

A child at heart............2007-02-24

This is one of Disney's more captivating modern movies. My husband and I don't have children, but we wore out the first VHS watching it. The acerbic nature of that little blue outcast is captivating. The basic morals that the story plays out are good for kids. But the humor keeps me buying copies as I burn them up.

Average customer rating:

The Best I've Seen in a Long Time
Not bad, but disappointing after the book.
Interesting, provocative and powerful!
Heart-wrenching
A disappointment

The Devil's Arithmetic
Starring: Kirsten Dunst , Brittany Murphy , Paul Freeman , Mimi Rogers , and Louise Fletcher
Director: Donna Deitch
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CX1NY
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Amazon.com

Executive producers Dustin Hoffman and Mimi Rogers present the truth of the Holocaust so a new generation can understand why it must never be forgotten. Kirsten Dunst plays Hannah, a modern teen more concerned with trends than history. During the traditional Passover dinner, she zones out as her relatives harp about concentration camps. But then Hannah passes through a portal to the past, where she becomes her own ancestor in Poland during the Nazi persecution of the Jews.

Director Donna Deitch provides an infinite library of Holocaust detail, re-creating the period with minute dedication. Haunting images, every costume, every hair, every light and shadow conspire to maintain a sense of desolate desperation. Suspense pervades as escapes fail and mothers with newborns are taken away. Only the magical context of the story, taken from the original children's novel by Jane Yolen, allows for a life-affirming ending. The performances may not be multifaceted but, considering the single-mindedness of the tale, the deep commitment of the actors makes every moment real and meaningful. Dunst seems able to carry a movie herself, and Brittany Murphy is mesmerizing as Hannah's sweet cousin Rivkah.

The message is powerfully direct, but the film avoids extreme violence in deference to young audiences. The theme is enshrined in the Rivkah's words: "We must stay alive to tell everyone what we've been through." Indeed, when Hannah returns to the present, she is a new woman, with a profound love of her culture and a religious respect for the value of all human life. --Lloyd Chesley

Description

Based on the popular novel by Jane Yolen, a typical American teenager gets transported back in time and experiences firsthand the horrors of the Holocaust and discovers the meaning of her family's heritage.

Customer Reviews:

The Best I've Seen in a Long Time.......2007-06-27

The Devil's Arithmetic is one of the most inspiring movies that I have seen in a long time. If you want to know about the Halocaust, then this is the film for you. Be sure to have a tissue handy, for you will be blessed thru tears and laughter.You'll learn to love God's people, the Jews, as I have.

Not bad, but disappointing after the book........2007-06-18

I purchased this movie to go along with my sixt[...] Holocaust unit, in which we read the Jane Yolen novel on which the movie is based. The changes were a disappointment to both me and my students. In fact, of my 60 students, 59 wrote they were disappointed with the movie version after reading the book (they enjoyed the book a great deal). While the movie is not poor, it doesn't measure up to the book, but that seems to be the norm. It provided a great assignment of comparison/contrast, as mentioned by J. Potter "Teacher with a Mission".

Interesting, provocative and powerful!.......2007-05-09

I was born years after the holocaust occured. Decades after.

What I know of it, I know of books, movies and stories told to me by those who lived through it and experienced it first hand (or even second hand). To that end, I have no true reference point to say whether or not this movie was true to life. What I do know is that it stayed true to the horrors that were the holocaust. What I do know is that it runs parallell to virtually every story I've ever been told about this horrific series of events.

The images are powerful and stark, but not so disturbing that a Junior High child will be scarred for life. I do believe it will move them. I do believe it will give them their first real glimpse into this horrifying period of Mankind's history. It will give them a tiny glimpse into the heart of true EVIL. I do believe it will cause many inquisitive children to want to learn the truth about this tragedy. It will give them pause to talk to Grandma or Great Grandma about what they experienced as a child. It will breed empathy and sympathy. I know this because I've seen it have this effect on kids.

The movie itself takes a fantasy approach to a real world, historical event. You're carried into the dream world of Hannah, (Dunst) who is somehow magicaly transported back to the days of World War 2. What she experiences transforms her from a typical "apathetic" teen to a wisdom-possessing child on the verge of womanhood. It grants her an understanding of the world few children can ever truly possess. Through this dream (or is it a dream?) her eyes are opened to reality. The line between good and evil becomes a bit more clouded, though the truth about Mankind's existence becomes all too clear.

A great way to introduce children to this disturbing period of history. a strong story, worthy of praise. Contrary to what some others have felt, I felt as though it was a decent adaptation of the book.

Heart-wrenching.......2007-04-07

We had a week long study of the Holocaust. We watched this movie with 7th and 8th graders. I think it was the first time that you could hear dust fall in the classroom. It is meaningful and heartwrenching and is a good starting point to discuss persecutions that are happening around the globe today.

A disappointment.......2007-03-23

If you have ever read the book The Devil's Arithmetic then you know that the movie is by far a disappointment. I ended up using it as a teaching lesson and helping my students learn to compare and contrast. However I really expected more from the movie. It was such a great opportunity for the film makers to help teenagers of today make a real world connection to the atrocities of the Holocaust. Instead they changed the plot around only keeping the main idea of the book, cut essential characters, changed the main characters age and her relationship with a significant minor character, added a poor sub plot of a love interest, and the list goes on. The book itself is so powerful that I can not see how the author was not repulsed by the drastic changes made to such a well thought out and organized novel. I would not recommend this movie to anyone unless they were looking for a movie with some big names and terrible acting.

Average customer rating:

Very fine acting...but a flawed movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
"Any Man's death diminishes me "
Excellent Hemingway historical fiction
for whom the bell tolls

For Whom the Bell Tolls
Starring: Gary Cooper , Ingrid Bergman , Akim Tamiroff , Arturo de Córdova , and Vladimir Sokoloff
Director: Sam Wood
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783229488
Release Date: 1998-11-17

Customer Reviews:

Very fine acting...but a flawed movie.......2007-07-03

Review of DVD: This is a nicely restored version of the film, with reasonalbly good color (a bit contrasty sometimes), with good sound. DVD extras are adequate, but sparce by modern movie standards.

All the principles did give fine performances. While Katina Paxinou gives a fine, Oscar winning performance, I believe Akim Tamiroff as the undependable and annoying Pablo is the finest in the cast. But Pilar is a much more likable character.

Discussion of the movie: Cooper and Bergman are fine, independent of each other. But the romantic attraction did not seem believable to me, especially how quickly Bergman's character was smitten by Cooper's. Cooper looked, well, middle aged, when younger men were available (a rivalry might have added something here). Fortunately, while young, she doesn't look 19 (oooh!). Remember, her character is falling for Robert Jordan, not Gary Cooper. There was absolutely no suspense in what was going to happen between these two. For me, the romance story simply got in the way of action, and the Pablo/Pilar conflict. What was Pablo going to do? Can he be trusted?

For Whom the Bell Tolls.......2007-06-22

A splendid adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's novel, this rousing, romantic adventure tells the tale of a love between a Spanish-born guerilla and an outsider who's joined the cause out of political solidarity. Featuring solid performances by Cooper and the ravishing Bergman--who gets off one of cinema's most famous kissing lines ("I always wondered where the noses went")--Wood's film is an absorbing treat. Katina Paxinou even picked up an Oscar for her fiery performance as de facto rebel leader Pilar. This "Bell' tolls for thee.

"Any Man's death diminishes me ".......2007-04-01

"Because I am involved in mankind;
and therefore send to know
for who the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee."

Spain 1937. Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper) came to Spain o fight for "The Republic" (a nice way to say for the commies) and against nationalists. He also had a dislike for Germans and Italians. His assignment was to go behind the nationalist lines and blow up a bridge at a strategic moment. There this stoic hero meets a peasant girl (a much too young for Gary, Ingrid Bergman) with a bad haircut and that barely escaped a train ride. They naturally fall in love which complicates things. Will this jeopardize the mission? Do we care?

Along with this we have the classic mixture of characters that you can not tell if they are the good guys or the bad guys. The two that stand out besides the hero and his girl are Katina Paxinou (sort of a female Antony Quinn) as the doyenne, and Akim Tamiroff as the once good guerilla who may be bad or just self-centered. Who they were and how the acted was quite a predicable formula.

The story is an adoption from the Ernest Hemingway novel. Of course they could not put everything in the story and too a few liberties. We also miss the dialog that people read Hemmingway for.

The initial credits are in some annoying script (Parchment) make it hard to read at a glance.

Excellent Hemingway historical fiction.......2007-01-13

This movie was very well done in all respects. The two main actors, Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman, were chosen by Ernest Hemingway, whose novel was the basis of the movie, which followed closely to the book. It received several Academy Award nominations in 1943 and the Oscar was presented for Best Supporting Actress. The acting, direction, screenplay and setting contributed to excellent character development. The intrigue of the story kept your attention throughout the film.

for whom the bell tolls.......2006-11-10

A hollywood classic at it's best. Ingrid Bergman displays innocents, warmth and the sincerity of a woman coming to terms with the cruelity of war. Gary Cooper is the hero, brave true and uncompromising in the face of danger...Their love story is beautiful to the eye and raises the spirit of human courage to new heights...

Average customer rating:

My review on a animation Sci fiction !
boring
Back To The Magic
Equal to the First "Lilo and Stitch"
so0o0o0o0o sweet

Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch
Starring: Dakota Fanning , Jillian Henry , David Ogden Stiers , Jennifer Hale , and Chris Sanders (III)
Director: Anthony Leondis , and Michael LaBash
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007Z9R0M
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Product Description

The unforgettable story of Stitch and Lilo continues in Disneys hilarious all-new movie LILO & STITCH 2. Your favorite characters return in this heartwarming comedy about bringing friends and family together even when they seem worlds apart. Before the other 625 experiments land in Hawaii, Stitch is living the good life. He helps Lilo follow in the footsteps of her mother as she prepares for the big island hula contest, but when Stitch gets a glitch, their perfect world goes haywire. Now its going to take Lilo, Nani, Jumba, and a whole lotta "Ohana" for them to save their funny little friend. With three classic Elvis Presley songs and exclusive bonus material, LILO & STITCH 2 is a whole new wave of fun and excitement for the entire family.

Amazon.com

Familial love proves all-powerful when Stitch gets a glitch that encourages bad behavior and threatens his relationship with Lilo in Lilo and Stitch 2. Like the first Lilo and Stitch, this straight-to-DVD sequel focuses primarily on Stitch, Lilo, and Lilo's sister Nani. Stitch's nightmares about misbehaving prove prophetic when he begins experiencing moments of uncontrollable badness. Unfortunately, Stitch's unruly actions always seem to interfere with Lilo's important preparations for the May Day hula competition--a competition that Lilo desperately wants to win in her mother's memory. Jumba goes to work creating a fusion chamber that will re-charge Stitch's molecules and purge his badness, but he can't seem to build one that works. In the end, it's Lilo's faith in herself and the power of Ohana that offer the only chance to cure Stitch and fill his goodness level to the top. (Ages 3-12) --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

My review on a animation Sci fiction !.......2007-03-22

Lilo and Stitch 2 was the greatest bouns features and excellent visuals ,
great storyline of a funny scifi carttoon !

boring.......2007-02-18

Didn't like this one to much starts off ok and take a nose dive. The ending was crapping were stitch all of a sudden is well when he was dying. I like the first one much more than this one.

Back To The Magic.......2006-09-07

"Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch" picks up the title as a worthy sequel to the original Disney masterpiece, in the stead of the somewhat-dissapointing "Stitch! The Movie". Though this film never made it to theatres for reasons unknown, it goes all the length to reinvigorate the specialness of the original film, supplying us with the original animation and voice cast (with the exception of Dakota Fanning replacing Daveigh Chase as the voice of Lilo...but more on that, in a moment).

L&S2 supplies us with a story that's more of a drama between the characters, rather than the comedic space opera that the original one was. Nonetheless, despite the lack of space battles and Captain Gantu, the film more than qualifies by supplying the viewer a story of Stitch and Lilo's conflict with the blue alien's mysterious malfunctions, filled with many traditional-L&S wittisisms (without falling back on pop culture references), music by Elvis Presley, and touching/amusing/priceless Stitch/Lilo interaction.

Staying true to its originality and presentation is a feat undaunted by switching voice actresses for Lilo; fans need not worry, for Dakota Fanning fills her shoes with all the heart and emotion needed to make her come alive as she did in the original film. Within five minutes of watching the film, viewers will most likely forget to notice the transition, or at least cease to be troubled by it.

Doubtlessly the only true and worthy successor to the original "Lilo & Stitch", "Stitch Has A Glitch" goes all the way to touch upon the audience the meanings of friendship and Ohana, all whilst ingesting the brash-yet-delicate humor that served to make the original film just so good.
"Lilo & Stitch 2", plainly said, is a more-than-worthy sequel. All fans of the original film or franchise should be sure to see it.

Equal to the First "Lilo and Stitch".......2006-08-30

I was very impressed with this movie! "Lilo and Stitch" was very well done, but the quick follow on of "Stitch: The Movie" was not as well funded and the graphics of the movie showed this.
I am happy that all of the same characters reprised their voice-over roles and the quality of the movie was equivalent to the original. I did not like the remake of "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" as the original was a favorite of mine. Otherwise, there was a very good plot and this movie ties up the Disney series of the same name with the awards to all for finding uses for all of the previous experiments causing the group to be separated.

so0o0o0o0o sweet.......2006-08-08

i'm thirteen and i still love these disney movies (even though they all end the same). it's so sweet and the scenery is beautiful...but it and watch it a day when you feel depressed :) i'm sure it'll make you happy

Average customer rating:

"Women ... 1 of them can ruin 10 men and still survive."
Martha in reverse
"Women ... 1 of them can ruin 10 men and still survive."

The Stationmaster's Wife
Starring: Elisabeth Trissenaar , Kurt Raab , Bernhard Helfrich , Karl-Heinz von Hassel , and Volker Spengler
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Manufacturer: New Yorker Video
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ASIN: B0009WIE8Y
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Amazon.com

The Stationmaster's Wife, a drama of post-WWI Bavaria based on Oskar Maria Graf's novel Bolweiser, was originally presented as a three-hour-plus event for German television. In preparing his theatrical cut, director Rainer Werner Fassbinder shaved away the subplots and supporting characters to focus tightly on the story of railway stationmaster Bolweiser (Kurt Raab) and his philandering wife Hanni (Elisabeth Trissenaar). Set in late-1920s Bavaria, Bolweiser is a Nazi party man surrounded by grotesque, toadying underlings at the station but is pathetically servile to his increasingly frustrated, unhappy wife. Disgusted by her weak-willed husband, she finds passion in the arms of the butcher. Bolweiser ignores the town gossip and even perjures himself to defend his wife in a trial--an act which later dooms him. Exquisitely photographed (by Michael Balhaus) and beautifully designed, Fassbinder's lush, romantic style suffuses his caustic portrait of the self-destructive Bolweiser (a painfully perfect performance by Raab), and the petty small-town citizens who seal his fate. Even as Bolweiser sinks to the depths of self-pity, Fassbinder's gorgeous, shimmering canvas makes the small-minded doings look so much more tawdry. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

"Women ... 1 of them can ruin 10 men and still survive.".......2006-05-12

Fassbinder's masterpiece, "The Stationmaster's Wife" is set in Bavaria in the 1920s and explores one of Fassbinder's favourite themes--the exploitiveness of relationships. The stationmaster, Bolwieser (Kurt Rabb) is basically a good, but boring, man--he occupies a position of some importance in a small town. He bosses around his underlings who clearly have the stationmaster's number. They scurry around when he shouts at them, but behind his back, they ridicule him. Bolwieser's relationship with his wife, Hanni (Elisabeth Trissenaar) doesn't exactly help matters. Hanni brings some family money to their relationship, so there's an imbalance of power within the structure of the marriage. Bolwieser's dog-like worship of Hanni does little more than grate on her nerves, and soon she takes a lover--Merkl, the town butcher.

Naturally, everyone in the town is well aware of Hanni's relationship with Merkl, and the affair soon becomes a matter of gossip. And this is the fascinating aspect of this film--many would depict the cuckolded, spineless Bolwieser as an object of pity, or we might even expect him to exact revenge. In Fassbinder's hands, Bolwieser becomes the object of humiliating, collective ridicule, and once he's the town's laughing stock, Hanni manipulates Bolwieser into suing the gossipmongers for perjury. Bolwieser's weak character ensures that he will take the path of least resistance, and whatever Hanni dictates, Bolwieser does.

Fassbinder's film is based on the novel by Oskar Marie Graf. Originally, Fassbinder created "Bolwieser" as a 2-part television play. After concluding the play, Fassbinder cut down the material he had and created the film version. "The Stationmaster's Wife" has an episodic feel to it--perhaps this is due to the fact that several scenes were cut for the film version.

Fassbinder's depiction of the pathological aspects of the Bolwiesers' marriage is a searing, brutal and brilliant portrayal of the subtle power structures within the marriage. There are moments when Bolwieser has the upper hand--temporarily, and then he lavishes his drooling and unwelcome attentions on Hanni--often humiliating her while he has the chance. The ugliness and pettiness of small time life is emphasized through the perversity and grotesqueness of most of the characters. There's one scene, for example, when several characters read a newspaper story about a mother who tries to drown her child. The characters find this story immensely entertaining and amusing, and they all have a good laugh. In other scenes, the camera emphasizes the grotesque qualities of the characters--the only physically appealing characters are Hanni and her lovers. If you enjoy this film, I also recommend, "The Marriage of Maria Braun" and "Veronica Voss." Fassbinder is one of my favourite directors, and "The Stationmaster's Wife" is one of his greatest films. In German with English subtitles--displacedhuman

Martha in reverse.......2005-12-06

By 1976 Fassbinder had perfected his unique visual style. Michael Balhaus, the virtuosic director of photography, was at his peak and he seemed more in tune with what Fassbinder was trying to convey in his cinema. 'Stationmaster's Wife' would be one of Fassbinder's hardest hitting films of the period. The look of the movie anticipates the dark soft lighting of Berlin Alexanderplatz, yet uses the same successful plot techniques of earlier gems like 'Martha', 'Merchant of Four Seasons', 'Ali', etc. The final scenes, in particular, remind me of the first scenes of 'Berlin Alexanderplatz' in which Franz Biberkopf is released from prison after 4 years (Bolweiser is also sentenced to 4 years) - and somehow I can imagine Bolweiser having an equally difficult time returning to society. This is clearly the beginning of Fassbinder's final phase as a director. He is starting to confront Germany's past in a way that had not been done since Luchino Visconti's 'The Damned' (one of Fassbinder's favorite movies).

"Women ... 1 of them can ruin 10 men and still survive.".......2004-05-10

Fassbinder's masterpiece, "The Stationmaster's Wife" is set in Bavaria in the 1920s. The stationmaster, Bolwieser (Kurt Rabb) is basically a good, but boring, man--he occupies a position of some importance in a small town. He bosses around a number of underlings who clearly have the stationmaster's number. They scurry around when he shouts at them, but behind his back, they ridicule him. Bolwieser's relationship with his wife, Hanni (Elisabeth Trissenaar) doesn't exactly help matters. Hanni brings some family money to their relationship, so there's an imbalance of power within the structure of the marriage. Bolwieser's dog-like worship of Hanni does little more than grate on her nerves, and soon she takes a lover--Merkl, the town butcher.

Naturally, everyone in the town is well aware of Hanni's relationship with Merkl, and the affair soon becomes a matter of gossip. And this is the fascinating aspect of this film--many would depict the cuckolded, spineless Bolwieser as an object of pity, or we might even expect him to exact revenge. In Fassbinder's hands, Bolwieser becomes the object of humiliating, collective ridicule, and once he's the town's laughing stock, Hanni manipulates Bolwieser into suing the gossipmongers for perjury. Bolwieser's weak character ensures that he will take the path of least resistance, and whatever Hanni dictates, Bolwieser does.

Fassbinder's film is based on the novel by Oskar Marie Graf. Originally, Fassbinder created "Bolwieser" as a 2-part television play. After concluding the play, Fassbinder cut down the material he had and created the film version. "The Stationmaster's Wife" has an episodic feel to it--perhaps this is due to the fact that several scenes were cut for the film version.

Fassbinder's depiction of the pathological aspects of the Bolwiesers' marriage is a searing, brutal and brilliant portrayal of the subtle power structures within the marriage. There are moments when Bolwieser has the upper hand--temporarily, and then he lavishes his drooling and unwelcome attentions on Hanni--often humiliating her while he has the chance. The ugliness and pettiness of small time life is emphasized through the perversity and grotesqueness of most of the characters. There's one scene, for example, when several characters read a newspaper story about a mother who tries to drown her child. The characters find this story immensely entertaining and amusing, and they all have a good laugh. In other scenes, the camera emphasizes the grotesque qualities of the characters--the only physically appealing characters are Hanni and her lovers. "The Stationmaster's Wife" is in German with subtitles in English. If you enjoy this film, I also recommend, "The Marriage of Maria Braun" and "Veronica Voss." Fassbinder is one of my favourite directors, and "The Stationmaster's Wife" is one of his greatest films--displacedhuman

Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures DVD Game
Average customer rating:

The best game ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" Episodes & A Board Game

amazing

A fun family game

Bad Sound

Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures DVD Game
Starring: Disney Game
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000BWVA9
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Description

Family entertainment reaches a cosmic new level with this ever-changing island adventure that you don't just watch, you play! LILO & STITCH'S ISLAND OF ADVENTURES includes two full-length Lilo & Stitch adventures and a revolutionary new DVD game that takes you inside the world of Lilo & Stitch -- it continues the story of your favorite Disney movie and expands the home entertainment experience on DVD. Get ready for an all-new experience, because you've never watched a DVD like this before!

Customer Reviews:

The best game ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-01-21

I begged and pleaded for my mom to get me the lilo and stitch and game and she did! I tried it out right away and I loved it! It is the best game that I had ever played. I was a little dissapointed that it wasn't two new lilo and stitch movies. If it was I would be watching it and playing the game at the same time (DAH!). But I still love this game. Whenever my cousins or friends come over we just play this game for hours. The lilo and stitch episodes on this dvd are great too. I love the lilo an dstitch movies and the series!

Two "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" Episodes & A Board Game.......2004-09-29

This is a review of this product: Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures DVD Game. Amazon may display this review on the page of another version of this product, for which this review may not apply. After reading this review, please click on the link so that you can be assurred that the product this review applies to is the same one you thought it was for.
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The board game is interesting, but even playing it with my family, I found parts of it to be rather embarrassing. If you don't have a problem getting up in front of people and doing goofy things, then this probably won't be much of a problem for you.

The two "full-length Lilo & Stitch adventures" advertised are really two complete episodes of Lilo & Stitch: The Series: "Mr. Stenchy" and "Clip". Since the series is not otherwise available on DVD, if you're a big fan, you may want to buy this game just for them. Of course, it's rather expensive for just two 23 minute episodes.

amazing.......2004-08-04

Im 11 and this is one of the most fun games I have ever played in my life. I highly recommend it.

A fun family game.......2004-02-07

This game is great for the entire family. My 5 year old loves it. Lilo & Stitch's Island of Adventures DVD Game has you singing, dancing, guessing and running around the house on scavenger hunts with its myriad of minigames. It has been a big hit. I am glad we bought it.

Bad Sound.......2004-01-19

My 8 year old really enjoys this game. However, the sound quality of many of the instructions is unintelligible and very annoying for an adult.

Average customer rating:

My all time favourite
And Now the 20th Century.
A Man and A Woman
And I think the ending is still charming!
DVD Version Disappointment!

Toute Une Vie (And Now My Love)
Starring: Marthe Keller , André Dussollier , Charles Denner , Carla Gravina , and Charles Gérard
Director: Claude Lelouch
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
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And Now Ladies & Gentlemen

ASIN: B0000E69JB
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Description

Internationally renowned director Claude Lelouch intimately explores destiny and true love in this romantic delight. Admired by movie lovers around the world, this fascinating film encompasses a variety of filmmaking styles and illustrates the 20th century through the intertwined lives and destinies of three generations. Marthe Keller (Marathon Man) is magnificent in multiple roles, and André Dussollier (Amélie) shines as her soul mate. A film that can be enjoyed again and again, Toute une Vie is fated to be one of your favorites. Academy Award® Nomination: Best Original Screenplay, 1975.

Customer Reviews:

My all time favourite.......2007-01-26

I first saw this film in London in the '70s and loved it then. The DVD release has preserved it, although I would agree about the ending. The additional scenes were unnecessary. As they said in Mozart ... "too many notes".

And Now the 20th Century........2005-07-16

Marthe Keller stars in "And Now My Love," a sweeping examination of French life during the 20ths century. The film opens in black & white, tracing the beginnings of film and cinema. A multitude of stories are told in brief snippets before the focus settles on one family - a French Jewish mogul and his daughter (Marthe Keller). A parallel story is interspersed into the action as well, telling the story of a young criminal, Simon (André Dussollier), who later discovers photography and filmmaking. The story builds toward a rather predictable climax, but with some unexpected stops along the way, including a bizarre trip to 1990.

Director Claude Lelouch, who is still making movies today, is considered one of the geniuses of French cinema, and this film is certainly impressive. I particularly appreciate his music selections - along the way, the music tells perhaps a stronger story than does the actual plot. Ultimately, "And Now My Love" is truly a filmmakers' movie; it reminded me of "8 ½" and "Day for Night" in that respect.

French films of this period often focused on politics, workers' unionizing, and class - "And Now My Love" is a model of that theme. As a result of the material's focus, I didn't particularly enjoy the film; however, I respected its vision and execution. Everything about it is top-notch; the directing, acting, and cinematography particularly deserve praise. In addition, the screenplay, which was written by Lelouch and his long-time collaborator Pierre Uytterhoeven, was nominated for an Oscar. I just didn't enjoy the plot and themes explored. Viewers with a special affinity for European politics of this era will likely enjoy this movie more than did I. If you really loved movies like "Z" or "Weekend," then you'll probably adore "And Now My Love."

A Man and A Woman.......2005-03-22

Claude Lelouch's "And Now My Love" is the story of two people. One who has nothing but wants everything and one who has everything but wants nothing.

Simon, has been in prison twice, one for theft and once for making pornographic films, he then decides to go straight and make conventional films, to great success. Sarah, was born in luxury. After her father's death she has so much money she doesn't know what to do with it. Money or men do not bring her happiness, only problems. In movie terms these people were made for each other.

"And Now My Love" could also be described as the story of the 20th century. It starts off in the early 1900s and we meet Sarah's grandmother and mother. Than the Simon character is introduced. It goes through much of the events of world history including WW1 & WW2, Kennedy's assassination, Vietnam, Marliyn Monroe's death and the Nixon administration.

I could see why some would not like this movie. They may feel "And Now My Love" is too political. Lelouch is injecting his beliefs on us too strongly, too forecefully. This also happened to Jean-Luc Godard's "Tout va Bien". But I disagree up to the point where I'd call both films masterpieces. One of the reasons I like both films so much is because they have ideas and stick to them. They are about something. And that's what the best films do. They have an opinion - there's nothing wrong with that. Whether I agree with people like Lelouch or Godard I find immaterial. You don't have to agree with a film or book 100% to respect what it has to say. Just because some may disagree with the philosophy of Descartes or Hume doesn't mean they are ignorant. Or is Freud stupid because you find Carl Rogers more stimulating? I don't think so. It takes a lot more than that. Say, oh, I don't know, lying about Iraq? (Just kidding)

One of the film's flaws is it goes on too long. The movie is 2 hours and 30 minutes. It could have been 2 hours and still be just as pleasing, charming, intelligent, enetertaining, and emotionally involving.

Claude Lelouch, for those who are unfamiliar was quite the craftsman. Not to imply he's not now. Have you seen "And Now Ladies & Gentlemen"? It's just that he no longer draws much of an audience or conversation. He has though made some great works including "A Man & A Woman", "Les Miserables" and this film.

Bottom-line: One of the most pleasing films I've seen by Claude Lelouch. A movie with lots of ideas and a definitive viewpoint. Should please those with an open mind.

And I think the ending is still charming!.......2004-04-20

I, too, had only seen the American "video" version (not sure what version that would be, as I understand there to be more than "two" versions of this film) and was all jazzed by the final meeting in the airplane ending. But let me say that I think the "future" ending that everyone is all riled up about is quite charming and harmless. I mean, the set design is most impressive and there must be a cast of hundreds. And the music by Francis Lai is most appropriate: a show-y, operatic, future opus played out in its entirety without dialog.
So, vote one viewer here who thinks the "future" ending is darn cool and a welcome "addition" (though, again, I am not sure that this is even an "addition", but part of the original French version, which should be preferred).

DVD Version Disappointment!.......2004-01-04

My absolute all-time favorite film, which I've watched countless times over the last 20 years (taped from a televised version from the Bravo channel). Nothing could surpass the story of the inevitable meeting of the two primary characters of the film. And when they finally do meet - it has been a moment that has always given me the cold chills (in a good way).

With that said, this new DVD release is a thorough disappointment. Claude Lelouch, with all his lifetime of experience of film making has inexplicably chosen to restore nearly 20 minutes of footage that was edited out of the version that was generally released on video tape years ago. Thus making this current DVD version an over-bloated affair, ending in a mind-numbing 10 minute "life-in-the-future-unless-we-do-something-about-it-now" sequence. Sure, you can give some allowances that this film was a product of its time (originally released in 1974). But for Lelouch to self-indulgently insert back footage that completely destroys the momentum of what should be that "cold-chill" scene - well, I think I've said enough. Suffice it to say, a good film editor is worth his or her weight in gold.

Other "restored" scenes are fairly short, and don't really detract from the film; however the new English subtitles supplied with this release are questionable.

Amazon.com

Rainer Werner Fassbinder paid tribute to his mentor, Douglas Sirk, with this loose adaptation of All That Heaven Allows, the classic American soaper of a widow falling for younger man to the disapproval of family and friends. Fassbinder combines the Sirk melodrama with the story told in his own The American Soldier. An aging, lonely charwoman (sweet old Brigitte Mira) befriends a Moroccan guest worker (El Hedi ben Salem) at least 20 years her junior. Finding comfort and happiness in one another's company, they suddenly marry. Her kids are aghast, his friends appalled, and the neighborhood turns its back, so the two pull together for support. Their relationship ironically begins to unravel when the pressure of community prejudice eases and they must confront the gulf between them. Combining melodrama with social commentary, Fassbinder offers a sharp, incisive portrait of prejudice in modern Germany grounded in contemporary social conditions. Mira delivers a tender, vulnerable performance and Fassbinder molds Salem's stiffness into a distinctive character trait of a man ill at ease in German society. It's an assured and beautiful film, full of gliding camerawork and evocative images, and invested with intimacy and gentleness. Even Fassbinder's characteristically grim conclusion defies tragedy for a glimmer of hope, a welcome and affecting rarity in his career. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Rainer Werner Fassbinder, already the director of almost twenty films by the age of 29, paid homage to his cinematic hero, Douglas Sirk, with this updated version of Sirk's All That Heaven Allows. Lonely widow Emmi Kurowsky (Brigitte Mira) meets Arab worker Ali (El Hedi ben Salem) in a bar during a rainstorm. To their own surprise (and to the shock of family, colleagues, and drinking buddies) they fall in love. In Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (Angst essen seele auf), Fassbinder expertly uses the emotional power of the melodrama to underscore the racial tensions threatening German culture.

Customer Reviews:

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.......2007-07-03

A scathing satire on romance, racism, and German-Arab relations, Fassbinder's "Ali" is a brilliant reminder that love can soothe only when it is sanctioned by a social community. Inspired by Douglas Sirk's 1955 "All That Heaven Allows," the film deals with human vulnerability and the alienating effects of isolation due to age, class, and one's skin color, glimpsing a tender but troubled relationship between two outcasts. Mira, one of Fassbinder's favorite actresses, is simply heartbreaking as Emmi, a 60-ish woman with a realistic outlook on sex and love. Achingly intimate and peppered with poignant humor, "Ali" is one of the writer-director's most soulful works.

"The story of impossible love".......2007-01-12

This powerful and gentle film tells the story of love and marriage of Emmi, a 60+ widowed German cleaning lady and Ali, a Moroccan immigrant mechanic who is more than 20 (I think close to 30) years her younger. Their affair and the decision to marry shocked everyone who knew Emmi: her grown children, her neighbors, coworkers (mostly, middle-aged widows as herself) and even the owner of a neighborhood grocery shop where she has been a loyal customer for years. The way clever and observant Fassbinder looks at their struggle to keep the relationship is deeply pessimistic - the couple could survive the obstacles that society would create for them. They can survive disapproval, misunderstanding and prejudice but at the very moment they think all problems are in the past, they find the emptiness inside and two lonely hearts together are even worse than one. The more I think of it the more I realize that "Ali: Fear Eats the Soul" is among the best, the most poignant, gentlest and heartbreaking descriptions of unavailability for happiness ever filmed. What makes the movie even more poignant is the fact that both Fassbinder and El Hedi ben Salem, the man whom Fassbinder loved and who played Ali committed suicide in the same year, Fassbinder - a few weeks after El Hedi. The film is also a love letter to El Hedi. In one of the film's most moving scene, Emmi looks at the man with whom she so suddenly and desperately fell in love with admiration, longing, and wise sadness while he dries himself after the shower. It is not only Emmi looks at Ali, it is Rainer looks with love and affection at the man he loved through the lenses of his camera.

4.5/5

Two generations from Hitler.......2006-10-13

The movie is misnamed. The title makes you think that it is a horror flick, but there is little fear and no soul-eating going on.

A dark skinned Arab man from Morocco lives in Germany in the 1970s. The German people, just one or two generations from that happy Nazi Generation we were all so fond of, detest all foreigners and call most of them Ali. The greatest shame would be for a German woman to marry one, God Forbid. That would make her a whore.

Enter Emmi, a middle aged German widow. Enter Ali, a young Arab man who turns out to like middle aged German widows who are nice. They dance, they talk, they go to bed, they get married. It is an impulse marriage. They hardly know each other, and the engagement is a matter of hours, not months.

Much of the impact of the movie comes from the reaction that Emmi's neighbors, co-workers and children have to her apostasy. They shun her. One of her sons kicks her tv set in. It really doesn't pay for someone to be non-German in Germany. It gets you despised. A generation or two after murdering every Jew in sight, these lovely people are two minutes away from doing it again, to other foreigners in their midst. It reminds me of how proud the German people are of themselves in those beer commercials, and those car commercials, as they boast of their German heritage. I've never once seen a Toyota commercial boasting of its Japanese origin. On the contrary, many Toyota commercials are more American than apple pie, French fries and baseball.

It surprised me that a German language film would be propaganda against the German people. I'm not exaggerating. For half the film, you can't help but hate Germans because of how they are portrayed here.

The movie takes a sharp turn later on, and stops being a propaganda film against the German people and their racism. It starts to be about our happy couple, Emmi and her forbidden husband Ali. Each of them begins to show a fault or two, like Emmi's crotchety ways, bullying Ali about not eating couscous and becoming more German, and Ali's reaction, to seek out some solitude and an old girlfriend.

As for the German people, they stop being "haters" and start being "takers", as they decide to stop harassing and shunning poor Emmi because after all, they need a favor or two. For example, the son who kicked in her tv set now needs babysitting services, so he apologizes to mom. The store owner who threw the apostate couple out of his store changes his ways after realizing that he sure could use her patronage.

This is an eye opening movie. I had heard that the German people are extremely racist still, and hate Turks and other foreigners, and in fact attack them every chance they get, like German shepherds who were brought up badly. Well, now we get to see it, and from a German director no less.

I think it is an interesting touch that Fassbinder has his heroin Emmi going to Hitler's favorite restaurant. This is symbolic of the whole movie. She really has no aversion to Hitler, though she is warm and tolerant of foreigners if they just ease up on the couscous.

Touching Tale.......2006-09-23

The influence of director Douglas Sirk on the output of Fassbinder is notable. Like Sirk, Fassbinder utilised the melodramatic form (a form often dismissed by critics) to take apart and satirise the society he was a part of. "Fear Eats the Soul" is one of Fassbinder's more transparent efforts, as he shows the prejudice and jealousy eating away at the heart of society. But unlike "All That Heaven Allows" Fassbinder's subject matter deals with a very sensitive and touchy issue in German society at the time. The racial bigotry evident in the film is particularly disturbing, for it shows that the foundations of Nazism, which were after all based initially on racial prejudice are still very much alive. Interweaved into these concerns is a very human tale, which is very affecting on an emotional level. Relationships in Fassbinder films are regularly flawed and miserable prospects and he takes this to an extreme in this film, a doomed quality permeates every scene as does the decadence and apathy, reflected in the dull décor and sleepy character behaviour. The two central performances are touching and affecting, this is probably Fassbinder's most accessible and rewarding of films.

Deeply moving and touching. .......2006-07-21

This is a deeply moving and touching film about an odd-couple living in extremely racist society. I highly recommend it if you can find it. The film may bring many people to tears.

Average customer rating:

so realistic it's scary
"He's more the quiet type."
Powerful and Darkly Comic Early Fassbinder
Exquisite Fassbinder demands repeat viewings
mesmerizing

Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?
Starring: Lilith Ungerer , Kurt Raab , Lilo Pempeit , Franz Maron , and Harry Baer
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder , and Michael Fengler
Manufacturer: Fantoma
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ASIN: B0002VEVDO
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Amazon.com

Rainer Werner Fassbinder turned to color for his fourth film, a bleak portrait of middle-class banality. Kurt Raab, the plump, baby-faced art director usually cast as the director's most pathetic characters, stars as Herr R., a seemingly successful middle-class professional and happily married family man who stumbles through life like a grinning zombie. As one might guess from the title, Herr R. (an appropriately vague, undistinguished character that Fassbinder leaves unnamed to better stand in for a German everyman) is about to go over the edge, and the film shows us why in relentless, numbing detail. At work he's an insignificant figure of ridicule; at home he escapes into endless hours of TV when not killing time with empty small talk (largely improvised by the cast), and he soon slips into a listless depression compounded by constant headaches. Fassbinder and codirector Michael Fengler don't make the experience easy for us. The film is as purposely banal as the chatty droning of the soundtrack, shot in a hypernaturalistic approach with a palette of muddy, dull colors that give the picture the quality of a faded Polaroid. There's a genius to the gesture, and the film marches inexorably to a harrowing climax, but it's not for all tastes. Even Fassbinder fans admit that this is a tough film to get through. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

so realistic it's scary.......2007-03-09

why does herr r run amok is not a typical fassbinder movie - and it stands out stylistically from the other 50 or so movies he made... It is shot almost like a documentary.. improvised scenes that bring so much realism to the screen.. it is an interesting look at the german middle class of the time period.. and what it takes to drive a man insane... it is the realism that is so consistently presented throughout the film which makes the climax so unnerving.. it is like real life in the moment.. there is no escaping the images on the screen.. in most movies we are shielded by a sound track (which tells us how to react) or by visual cues like cutting back and forth or zooming.. there is nothing of that here no visual safety net.. This is a young and talented cast and director.. one of the early antitheatre films which would eventually evolve into a more cinematic melodramatic style.. but it are these early groundbreaking works that would set the framework for an inspired and all too brief career..

"He's more the quiet type.".......2005-06-18

What makes a mild mannered, introverted man suddenly go berserk one day and bludgeon three people to death? German director, Rainer Fassbinder asks that question in his film "Why Does Herr R Run Amok?" The film records the mundane existence of Herr Raab (Kurt Raab) through a series of scenes. These scenes include Raab's tedious mind-numbingly boring job, a social visit with Raab's elderly parents, and a meeting with Raab's son's teacher.

In each scene, Raab appears trapped, alienated and disaffected. While Raab's beautiful and engaging wife (Lilith Ungerer) attempts to entertain and charm her in-laws, Raab sits immobile amidst the superficial exchanges. He's not participating, and he doesn't even seem to be listening. He's under a great deal of pressure--there's talk of a promotion at work, and there are hints of financial constraints. Through it all, Raab acts like a zombie--with little display of emotion or interest in his surroundings. But he does suffer from headaches and is told by his doctor to take a holiday.

Fassbinder goes to incredibly intricate lengths to establish the sheer boredom and triviality of Raab's bourgeois life. While this is achieved, the viewer must, by necessity experience the details of Raab's life second hand. Raab's boredom and frustration becomes our boredom and frustration. Fassbinder's skill as a director is admirable, and the awful essence of Raab's mediocre life is transmitted through the screen, but this does not create an enjoyable viewing experience. After watching Raab's visit with his parents, I was ready to start smashing some furniture.

Fassbinder is a fascinating director--always provocative and controversial. His greatest films include "The Marriage of Maria Braun" "The Stationmaster's Wife" & "Veronica Voss". If you are new to Fassbinder, start with one of those three films. "Why Does Herr R Run Amok?" is recommended for hardcore Fassbinder fans. In German with English subtitles--displacedhuman

Powerful and Darkly Comic Early Fassbinder.......2004-09-21

This is one of those movies that you'll either love or hate I imagine. I loved it but I am a HUGE Fassbinder fan so I am a more than a bit biased. Kurt Raab's performance in this is nothing short of revelatory it also contains some witty dialogue and two of the greatest scenes in a film I have ever seen (i.e. scene w/ raab in record store and the shocking ending). The cinematography is cinema verite in style and gives hints of what was to come (i.e. dogme 95, the digital indie movement). In a weird way you might call this the granddaddy of those films. I am very much looking forward to the release of this film on dvd.

Exquisite Fassbinder demands repeat viewings.......2004-06-05

This film requires concentration and repeat viewings. Fassbinder employs exceedingly long takes and a relatively still camera to portray a man slowly being led to the end of his tether.

Herr R (Kurt Raab, a Fassbinder regular) is everyman. Indeed, each scene conveys the sheer drabness of his daily routine. Work, wife, in-laws. None of it registers. Despite the perfect middle class life--emotionally, he's stone. It has been said that he is invisible in this film. Certainly, he is not seen as something particularly dynamic or magnetic. He doesn't attract people, none of his co-workers seem interested in him personally. Likewise, he doesn't seem interested in them.

But he does feel. He's passionate about music, sings a gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad that causes him to sigh slightly and look even more wan and dejected than usual. His wife bores him, her friends irritate him. Work is a release of sorts, but he's not making any progress there. He tries to impress the right people but he ends up making a total ass of himself.

All of these factors lead him on a particular course. Hence, the title of the film. The key to answering it is careful, patient viewing. This is a brilliant example of building up evidence to support myriad theses about the motivations of a fundamental character. Just be focusing on Herr Raab's face provides essential clues as to the forces that drive him towards his destiny. Great film.

mesmerizing.......2001-06-11

This is a film that should not be too thouroughly explained prior to watching. Mostly it is a series of the every day happenings in the life of Herr R, a reticent underachiever. He is the child of a certain spiritless bourgeois existence. We watch him at his job, not quite making points with the boss, not quite winning the favour of his coworkers. We watch him try to teach his average, but slightly dreamy, son to pronounce properly. We watch his wife hosting the self-absord and catty neighbors to tea. In short, we watch an unextraordinary bit of an unextraordinary life, which is somehow familiar and for some reason completely entrancing. As one watches it can't helped but be asked why wouldn't Herr R run amok?

Average customer rating:

Multidimensional drama!
Compassionate study of a woman, and a scathing social satire
Excuse me, can I exploit your personal tragedy?

Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven
Starring: Peter Bollag , Karlheinz Böhm , Margit Carstensen , Ingrid Caven , and Peter Chatel
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
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ASIN: B00008L3WC
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Amazon.com

When Hermann Kusters goes berserk at his factory and murders his manager before killing himself, a media blitz descends upon his middle-aged wife (Brigitte Mira) and her adult children. Her daughter attempts to use the situation to improve her cabaret singing career, but Frau Kusters remains distraught that her husband has been depicted in the papers as a boozing maniac. Her search for some solution leads her to the communist party, then finally to a group of anarchists who take drastic action. While Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven isn't one of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder's more lively films--the pace is almost monotonously steady--but Fassbinder's eye for selfishness, hypocrisy, and manipulation remains sharp. The movie shifts from a darkly comic tone to a deep sadness; perhaps unable to decide which mood to commit to, Fassbinder shot two strikingly different endings, both of which are presented. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Multidimensional drama!.......2006-01-13

A German factory worker kills his boss and then commits suicide. His widow will have to face the ulterior aftermath of this unhinged and convoluted act. Tense and potent drama politically charged; banned by the Berlin Film Festival. One of the most devastating works of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the tormented conscious of the German nation.

Compassionate study of a woman, and a scathing social satire.......2003-08-23

Like all of Fassbinder's best films, Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven (1975) is many things at once. It is simultaneously a deeply compassionate portrait of a working-class woman and a scathing satire of her exploitation by the media and political factions, as she tries to clear the name of her dead husband, branded "the factory murderer." It is emotionally rich but intellectually dense, filled with arguments and counter-arguments galore; psychologically astute yet highly stylized and visually lush. It is a comedy, a drama, and much more. It is also an excellent example of how Fassbinder uses image and sound, often in subtle ways, to develop - and play with - his themes. A unique feature is that he wrote and shot two strikingly different endings (both are included on the excellent DVD), one for Europe, and a more hopeful one for the U.S. They provide two very different ways in which the title character "goes to heaven."

The character of Mother Kusters is remarkable for several reasons. Although Fassbinder often has a tendency to allegorize his characters (albeit in fascinating ways), even as he does here, Emma Kusters (Brigitte Mira) is both a potent symbol of The Mother and, simultaneously, a flesh and blood woman. When so many of his characters, not to mention people in the real world, are destroyed by their rigidity, her willingness to explore new ideas - to incorporate an increasingly complex view of the social world, her family, and even herself - seems a genuine form of optimism.

The film's literary roots also connect with Fassbinder's aesthetic and political aims. Although he attributed its inspiration to an obscure story, the key cultural "mother" is Gorky's in his 1906 novel, Mother (an indomitable Russian peasant woman, after having her political consciousness raised through a family tragedy, joins the Russian revolution). It was also dramatized by Brecht, whose theories of how to engage the audience's mind as well as emotions were a crucial early influence on Fassbinder. But sure to raise the hackles of his Leftist predecessors, Fassbinder takes some hilarious jabs at Communists and anarchists, not to mention right-wing journalists. With so much humor, many people consider this an outright comedy.

But Fassbinder also raises many serious, and still-relevant, social issues - about the nature of mass media and politics - even as he returns to one of his perennial themes, exploitation. And although he satirizes most of the characters, except Mother Kusters, he never dehumanizes them. Take the photographer/reporter Niemeyer (Gottfried John). He is tall, lanky, almost vulture-like, yet he comes across as sincere and likeable, even as he wheedles the most intimate details out of Emma Kusters - and even beds her crudely self-promoting daughter Corinna (Ingrid Caven). It would be easy to reduce Niemeyer, for cheap laughs, to a one-dimensional stereotype. But Fassbinder gives him considerable emotional, even moral, depth. And he is defended by Mother Kusters herself: "It's his job to create sensations. Everybody has to make a living." Fassbinder is merciless, and witty, at condemning the institution; but he ekes out some sympathy for the employees.

Fassbinder uses visual design to make his themes still more complex and involving. He begins not with an expected establishing shot, to show us where we are, but by holding on a closeup of Mother Kusters' hands, as she screws a round brown part into a small white plastic box, one after another after another. Eventually he reveals that she is working not in a factory but at her kitchen table, as she laments, "I'm getting slower." The routine is efficient, even graceful, yet dehumanizing. Not only does this establish her socioeconomic status and long-suffering character, it indicates the same type of repetitive work which drove (the never-seen) Mr. Kusters to murder and suicide. Throughout the film, Fassbinder also uses color in fascinating ways, contrasting the unfulfilled lives of the Kusters with bright primaries - blues, yellows, and especially reds. This is simultaneously satirical, poignant, and even beautiful. He also makes achieves visual coherence and thematic resonance through the use of shape. In contrast to the often comic tone, the dominant visual motif is oppressive, of narrow openings (in doorways, halls, corridors) between stark walls, often shot from twisted angles and in shadow.

Although I don't want to give away either of the surprising endings, I believe both are effective. Each gives characters and themes closure, albeit in dramatically - or comically - different ways, even as they bring to mind Mother Kuster's bittersweet key line: "As my [husband] used to say, you have to see the good in all people." Fassbinder understands that simple, but difficult, maxim too, as he explores the emotional complexity of characters and their lives, in a film without any villains, but with one extraordinary woman at its heart.

Excuse me, can I exploit your personal tragedy?.......2002-04-13

A bitingly clever film from Fassbinder. It apparently offended a lot of Germans when it was initially released, but is quite interesting to watch now as a document of Germany in the `70s. No one is the "good guy" here - the newspapers, the Communists, and the anarchists all want to use Mrs. Kuster's tragic story to their own benefit. Even the laughably ignorant Mother Kusters fails to become a sympathetic character. The woman just doesn't have a clue.

As in all Fassbinder films, the regular actresses steal the show. Ingrid Caven is lovely as the aloof nightclub singer. Irm Hermann isn't quite as strong as she is in `Bitter Tears of P.V.K.'