How The Toys Saved Christmas

could be a classic someday.
I took this video out of my local library, not expecting much. I took a peek at it while the kids were watching, and was pleasantly surprised. It is very well done, with good animation, a clever story line, and a good message.

Loved it!
I bought this for my granddaughters, ages 6 & 10. They loved it! Every holiday season I add a few new movies for the children to watch while the adults are busy. As this was playing, one by one, we all ended up with the kids, watching this movie. It is a very cute story, and a nice addition to our holiday collection.

Pleasant Christmas Movie
This is a cartoon Christmas tale of Granny Rose. Santa is so busy that he enlists the help of Granny Rose to deliver the toys in her town. She has a magic broom she rides while dropping the presents down the chimnies. However, this year Granny Rose has a cold, so she enlisted the help of Mr. Grimm. She doesn't know that Grimm intends to sell the toys and keep the money instead of giving them to the children. When the toys overhear his plan they come to life and try to find the children they were meant for.

This is apparently an Italian production, which was redone in an English version. Mary Tyler Moore and Tony Randall provide the voices of Granny and Grimm, but you would never recognize them, especially Randall.

The toys have fun personalities. There is a conceited French soldier and his troop, a wise Indian chief, two sweet dolls, a train and its crewmen, a scared wizard, a sweet wind-up puppy, and more. My favorite scene is the box of crayons showing...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Modern Family: Cast & Creators Live at PALEYFEST

Modern Family PaleyFest
Really enjoyed this episode of Paleyfest, and I loved that the child actors were included. That being said, there were almost too many people being interviewed for such a short session. Too bad they couldn't have had not only a longer session, but maybe have started with just the adults and had the kids come out a little later.
Best part was we watched it as a perk from our Amazon Prime membership!

It's okay
Was not what I expected at all. I loved to see the interaction between the entire cast as a whole.



Click to Editorial Reviews

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists

Great documentary
I only know the most basics when it comes to computers, for example, I din't even know what 4 Chan was until renting this documentary. But, I must say that this is is an informative and very interesting chronicle. The people chronicled in this work are truly really brave, and dare I say true American heroes. They have stood up for what is right, and in many cases put themselves in serious jeopardy!

Asked almost all the important questions
I am very familiar with Anonymous and have closely followed the news about all the events covered in the video, and I'd say the video did an EXCELLENT JOB. There was nothing I'd take issue with as far as historical accuracy and the individual members that were interviewed, and their mothers, did a great job explaining the technical aspects.
I personally think the HB GARY hacks could merit a documentary in itself. I personally was horrified by the uncovering of HB GARY's talk of weaponizing sock puppets in Operation Metal Gear. To me that sort of manipulation of public opinion is very frightening, perhaps as much so as living in a surveillance state, because that's a form of mind control of the masses. I can't help but think if people understand it, and know about it, they will be more inclined and determined to always think for themselves, so I was disappointed this was not covered in the documentary. I would also have loved for them to have asked Aaron Burr when he said he...

Fantastic!
I love the DVD! it is a well-made movie that explains the whole Anonymous deal to people who do not understand what it is they do.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The X-Files: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

X-Files at the Paleycenter
This was a once in a lifetime panel with the writers and directors behind the X-Files. The panel didn't feature Duchovney or Anderson, but it provides fans of the show with some behind the scenes stories behind the creation of the X-Files in addition to snippets on the Lone Gunmen and Millennium. Paleyfest panels are a terrific resource for show info. My only quibble is that the video seems to have been edited for time, meaning the panel jumps over certain segments. Any true fan of the show would want to see the uncut panel to glean as much about the show as possible. Still, it is a rare chance to view the minds behind "Home" and "Jose Chung's From Outer Space."





Click to Editorial Reviews

Kathy Griffin: Balls of Steel

Kathy Giriffin is my hero
I have never liked stand-up comics. They make me nervous. But that is the very reason that I love Kathy Griffin. She is gutsy, tends to make certain people very nervous (such as my Christian friends), and says anything she pleases. I think she is truly courageous in the field of comedy. I would love to be in the audience of one of her live shows.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Existenz

Another brilliant Cronenberg film
Although eXistenZ came out around the same time as The Matrix, it seems to be a response to that film. Where The Matrix gave you a digital divide between reality and virtual reality, eXistenZ takes place in the gray area between.

But it's not a PK Dick rehash. Cronenberg spends as much time on the characters and their motives as he does on pseudo-intellectual questions of reality. (The film is also a humorous spoof of computer-game devotees.) Although there are a lot of scenes that lay flat --- instead of moving the plot forward --- the actors are so good, everything is easy to watch. Willem Dafoe is charming and scary as Gas, and Jude Law plays a pitch-perfect resourceful sidekick to Jennifer Jason Leigh. (You also have to hand it to Cronenberg for making the central character female without making her a damsel in distress or an masculine action heroine.)

This is a low-key but excellent movie. It's the kind of film you can enjoy over and over, picking up new bits of detail every...

wait a minute is this a game? or is this reality?
Your perception may be altered by this science fiction harbinger of things to come by David Cronenberg.. Continuing in the same vein of films like 'Videodrome' and 'Scanners' Cronenberg examines the effects of scientific progress and the fate of mankind.. It is so often the goal of game technicians, movie makers, and perhaps even the distributors of mind altering substances to create an alternate universe.. the nightmare of such endeavors is that it will lead to absolute confusion.. seperation from self.. it is something appealing yet terrifying.. to lose touch with reality.. this is what makes eXistenZ such an engaging thriller - one of the most thought provoking movies you will ever see.

Cronenberg's Best Yet
I truly feel sorry for anyone who was turned away from this movie by Ambrose's review (Although I doubt any intellegent human being would be). Maybe using spell check for your review and actually paying attention to the movie might make your review a little more credible. Anyway, "eXistenZ" is in my opinion Cronenberg's best film to date. This film is NOT for the typical movie watcher. For The life of me I can't figure out why everyone likes to see movies where you can just sit passively for an hour and a half and not think or learn anything. Just throw in Will Smith, some action, comedy, state of the art CG, and a little brief nudity and the general public will eat it up. "eXistenZ" is definitely not one of these movies. It really does "Make The Matrix Look Like Child's Play!" In fact, it blows all 3 Matrix's right out of the water. For anyone who liked "Videodrome" or "Naked Lunch" this film is not just a must see but a must own. My personal Favorite.

Click to Editorial Reviews

SpongeBob SquarePants: It's A SpongeBob Christmas

Great!
Really cool! I love spongebob and this was a great episode that they made for the christmas season this year.

Fantastic breath of fresh air for spongebob fans !!
WOW!! I was so impressed by the show and just how good the characters made the leap to real life. This was such a needed jolt to
the spongebob franchise. The characters are so charming to see in Claymation style.

A magical transformation of an old favorite!
The stop-motion animation breathes new life into this franchise. You'll be amazed at how well the animators were able to capture these beloved characters in this format. There's also a sense of wonderment as they keep doing the stop-motion animation with each new character/locale in Bikini Bottom. This one is highly recommended!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Jerry Maguire

Much more than just another romantic comedy
Well, I'm incredibly late to the Jerry Maguire party, but I'm glad I finally made it. I thought this was just a comedy, but I should have known better because laughs alone usually don't generate the kind of success this movie enjoyed. This is a wonderful, feel-good movie with a surprisingly effective emotional payoff. Tom Cruise is great, Cuba Gooding, Jr., steals every scene he's in, and that Renee Zellweger is nothing short of perfect. They even threw in a clip of McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O and sent me away with Bob Dylan singing over the credits - in my book, that's going above and beyond the call of duty. And I never tire of seeing someone break away from the cynicism of big business and actually put some heart back into an increasingly heartless way of life.

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is, of course, a bigshot sports agent who has it all - then loses it all. For some inexplicable reason, he develops a conscience late one night, puts together this huge "mission...

Jerry Maguire
This is probably one of the best performances I have seen by Tom Cruise. He portrays Jerry McGuire, a sought after sports agent, that gets a wake up call causing him to reevaluates his priorities in life. Renee Zellweger is cast as his partner and wife. She is delightful and always a joy to watch. Cuba Gooding Jr. commands attention in every scene he is in. He was very impressive in this film. Who couldn't be in love with little Jonathan Lipnicki!

Show Me The Extras ! ! !
This film is definitely what I would call a feel good movie. I came away from it feeling that there are decent people in this world and that we are not all disappearing into the obscurity of just a name on a piece of paper.

The story follows Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, falling from grace working for a sports star agency when he has a flash of inspiration and takes the moral high ground on the way people should be treat within the company. His eventual rise to becoming a better person is aided from the love of woman and her son and the realization that everyone who he represents should be treated with the same respect.

The person that stole the show for me was Cuba Gooding Jr. Every scene he was in made me laugh. This was the first movie I had seen him in and thought he was a terrific actor, deserved of the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor. The "Show Me The Money" scene will have you in stitches.

This is not a DVD that is to be bought for it's technical...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Biker Boyz

Biker Boyz
Don't listen to what some people are saying about this movie. It's great. The fresh faces in this movie really make it about racing and the motorcycle community (and they can really act!). It's fast paced and has great music. It's a must see for anyone that likes a nice ride.

Let's be realistic
The movie for what it is is a good movie. Not everyone rides a motorcycle to know the differences. The movie is just to introduce you to something that non-bikers may not know existed.A sub-culture of people from various lifestyles getting coming together through motorcycle riding. As an African-American it was nice to see a movie that was not a gang banger movie, typical romantic comedy/man bashing movie. If this movie came on tv, would i watch it? More than likely. Will i buy it on dvd? YES. Was it entertaining? To me yes. To crotch-rocket riders, they may no like it, but to the average person that always wanted to ride a bike but never have they make like it. Kind of like the Fast and the Furious, when it came out and people that already where doing there cars like those complained about it being unrealistic, or Barbershop being unrealistic. Just enjoy the movie.

biker boyz
it was hot don't believe what people say the movie that is people should give dereck luke credit they had a nice all star cast and then the music makes it flow even better

Click to Editorial Reviews

Terror in the Shadows

Riveting drama
Based on a true story, this movie was engrossing and kept us on the edge of our seats. When the mother goes after a baby that she gave up for adoption, she tells the people there that the baby was stolen. Without giving away too much, there is murder involved here and the woman ends up in a mental institution. She escapes from the mental ward and plans revenge for what, in her mind, was done to her and her baby. A very twisted person that get's the adoptive father to live in fear for his life. A very scary, chilling and well acted movie.

"His Name Is Timmy!"...
In TERROR IN THE SHADOWS, Marcy Walker plays a severely mentally ill woman who believes that her deceased baby is still alive. She was institutionalized after giving the boy up for adoption, only to change her mind, and kill the adoptive mother! During the melee, she accidentally broke the baby's neck. Years later, she escapes from the mental institution, and heads out to seek revenge on the adoptive father. Can he, along w/ his new wife and son survive? TERROR isn't bad for a made-for-TV production. It does have some sappy moments, but there's just (barely) enough suspense and murder to outweigh the silliness...

Terror in the Shadows
If you like Lifetime movies, you'll enjoy this one. Unfortunately, as with most of these types of TV movies, it is slow and predictable.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Shipping News

My life as a dog......
Although many recollect CHOCOLAT as Lass Hallstrom's "classic" film, longtime fans are more likely to connect THE SHIPPING NEWS with his earlier film MY LIFE AS A DOG. Hallstrom has a gift for eliciting excellent performances from children and oddballs living in northern climates. Like Ingmar in the older "foreign" film from Sweden, Quoyle has much to learn about being an adult.

THE SHIPPING NEWS is a beautiful psychological study about the transformation of a damaged man into a whole human being. NEWS reinforces the truth most of us already know -- unconditional love can heal. The most telling line of the story is spoken by Juliette Moore when she says that when she was at her lowest point, the people in her Newfoundland village lifted her up with their love.

I read THE SHIPPING NEWS (which one the Pulitzer) and I laughed until I cried. It is probably the most humorous book I have ever read. I took my husband who had not read the book with me to see the film...

Headliner
Rarely does a movie adhere to a book's story as well as Shipping News does to Annie Proulx' sparkling literary masterpiece, a novel about time, place, traditions and love.

The big lump of a main character, Quoyle, a sad, pathetic man (Kevin Spacey) is defined by a metaphor deftly recreated in this film: He cannot swim. As the movie opens, we find that he cannot do much of anything else either.

The inksetter for a Poughkeepsie newspaper drives into a gas station in the pouring rain and witnesses a lovers' quarrel between the driver and passenger in the first car. He doesn't get gas. A split-second courtship instigated by Petal (Cate Blanchett) saddles Quoyle with a disastrous marriage--and his child, Bunny--and ends more disastrously than it began. But Quoyle, lump that he is, unwinds after Petal leaves the picture and his parents die.

Quoyle's Aunt Agnes arrives, ostensibly to pay her respects, but with a caper in mind. Our befuddled man Quoyle leaves with her for his family's...

Quoyle is a man who bravely takes charge of his life
Quoyle (Kevin Spacey) is a middle age man lacking in self esteem who is living a banal and unrewarding existence. One is reminded of Thomas Hobbes' famous aphorism that men often are doomed to endure lives of quiet desperation. He falls in love with Petal Bear (Cate Blanchett) only hours after they meet who does nothing to hide her manipulative dark side. They have a daughter Bunny and this selfish woman proves totally lacking in compassion and loyalty to the both of them. The movie industry has rarely put on the screen a more despicable mother in its entire history. It is regretful that Blanchett will not likely receive an Academy Award nomination for her too short time in this film.

The very promiscuous Petal Bear is ultimately found dead in a car accident with a new boy friend. Quoyle's Aunt Agnis (Judi Dench) entices him and Bunny to move back to their ancestral home located in Newfoundland. This is a part of Canada that the tourists make sure they don't visit...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Challenger

A Made for TV Movie with at least some merit.
The Challenger disaster was an emotional letdown after years and years of space successes. Suddenly, what had seemed routine was demonstrated to be not so routine after all.

Roughly four years after the fact this made for TV movie came out and I remember watching it with interest at the time. Peter Boyle's portrayal of Roger Boisjoly, the Morton Thiokol engineer that had opposed the launch of Challenger, was the high point of the movie for me.

Karen Allen played an effervescent Christa Mcauliffe. Upon my first viewing I was convinced that her portrayal was hopelessly idealized portraying Mcauliffe as a self sacrificing super-teacher but I have since learned that in real life Christa Mcauliffe was in fact much like the person portrayed in the movie.

As long as one remembers that this is a docu-drama with some dramatic license employed the movie remains enjoyable in spite of being a bit sappy in places. The subject matter is something I think is very...

Very interesting look into a part of history.
I think this a great movie that gives you a chance to see the crew from a personal point of view. Also all the mistakes NASA and Morton Thiacal made are in this movie. The cast is great and makes me hungry for more information and insite on this tragic event in history.

Best movie about STS-51L
I'm a nasa engineer. This movie although old, is a very good insight into how nasa's shuttle program was run even after we lost Challenger. Some will disagree but there was always some degree of launch fever. Right up thru STS-135. Losing Challeneger and Columbia were preventable accidents if the managers listened to their engineers and this movie gives you a very realistic look at the bureaucracy that has and always will be part of nasa until America accepts some risk in space exploration.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Dilemma

WARNING! This is NOT, I Repeat, This is NOT a Comedy!
Do you ever hear things through the grapevine that make you want to NOT like a movie? "The Dilemma" was one of those flicks for me. I heard so much bad stuff about it, that where I would typically want to watch it just to see how wrong everybody was, I actually didn't want to see it at all.

Quite frequently, problems occur at my local Blockbuster, where titles that are supposed to be on the shelf on a given day, aren't. So when this movie finally made it to the shelf 1 1/2 weeks after its release date (their excuse was that Direct TV bought out Blockbuster, and they were closing negotiation contracts with movie studios), it was the only fairly new release there on that particular day that I hadn't seen. So, I reluctantly picked it up.

First off, this was improperly billed as a comedy. WRONG! It's not even a dark comedy. I laughed all of three times, and only once out loud. It's all about soul searching and trying to decide how to do what is right in an almost...

Not the film it should have been.
Let's face it: Finding your best friend's wife is cheating on him, and then trying to tell him (and then trying NOT to tell him), isn't funny. A great comedic director could take that situation and turn it around, make the serious hysterical. Ron Howard, alas, is not a great comedic directer. He's a pretty darn good dramatic director, however, which ultimately hinders THE DILEMMA.

The problem is, the film isn't funny. Even when it tries, which it rarely does. At moments, the film achieves a certain poignancy that is touching; it examines the crevices of the buddy-buddy relationship (in a much more serious way than, say Judd Apatow usually does), and hits some disturbingly harsh notes. What is most frustrating is that the cast (yes, even Kevin James) is up for the challenge: Vince Vaughn has proven himself a dramatic actor in the past, as has Jennifer Connelly. James holds his own; in fact, when he's at his worst when he's trying for yucks. Winnona Ryder delivers a...

Boring
My boyfriend and I rented this movie the other night out of sheer boredom, boy, was that a mistake! There were maybe two scenes that made us laugh, the rest of the movie we yawned and just commented on how boring the movie is. I personally didn't like any of the characters, and the only one I felt some sympathy toward was Jennifer Connelly's. Queen Latifah had few lines and I think she was the funniest character in this movie. I am not a professional movie reviewer, but I would not recommend this movie to anyone unless you are planning to be bored.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Come Hell Or High Water

Well done independent western
This edited version of "One-Eyed Horse" is faster paced and more dynamic. Mark Redfield and Richard Cutting deliver memorable performances that should launch their careers significantly. This will not be the only time we hear from director Wayne Shipley. He has the touch.

A classic tale of hate and revenge !
A human tragedy set in the old west. This movie is interesting, moves quickly in most places, and reminds us all of the futility of harboring hate and revenge for a lifetime. There are at least 3 of the 7 deadly sins at work in this film. Kick back and enjoy it some rainy afternoon for what it is....entertaining and thought provoking.

Revenge With A Twist
This adult western revenge story with a bit of a twist in the ending is very well acted by all the principal members of a cast of unknowns. It also looks good, especially for an indie. It doesn't have much blood and gore, but if you want an involving western story give this one a shot.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Rabbit-Proof Fence

Courage and determination during a dark chapter of history
Between 1905 and 1971, the Australian government had a horrible policy. They forcibly removed all half-caste Aboriginal children to special training schools. The grown daughter of one of these children wrote a book about her mother's experiences. This film is an adaptation of that book.

The story takes place in 1931, when Molly, then 14, her sister Daily, then 8, and her cousin Gracie, then 10, are literally torn from the arms of their mothers, put in a cage, and taken 1,200 miles away to a school which is actually a sort of prison. Here, they are forbidden to speak their own language, they have to attend a Christian church, and are taught the ways of the white Australian culture around them. Led by Molly, the girls run away. And most of the film is the odyssey of their trek back home, following the rabbit-proof fence that bisects Australia, constructed to keep rabbits out of the pastureland.

The villain is clearly the white director of the school. It is amazing, but he...

Excellent Film about Australia's "Stolen Generations"
Based on (part of) a true story, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" details the long journey that three young aboriginal girls embark on after being forcefully taken from their family in order to learn how to "fit into" a white society.

The story is fascinating, and the execution from director Phillip Noyce is stunning. This is a perfect film for history teachers to show their students. The performances are very natural and winning. Peter Gabriel's score is excellent - with the music playing over the closing credits being some of his best work ever (and appearing in a slightly different form as "Sky Blue" on his 2002 album, _UP_).

If you have seen this movie and enjoyed it, the DVD is a keeper. The audio commentary from Noyce is superbly done. In addition to giving the viewer background as to how and why he did the movie, he also offers up some interesting tidbits about the difference between working on mainstream films ("Clear & Present Danger,"...

Watch the absorbing documentary...
I won't gush on and on about the excellent movie. I want to bring your attention to the "Making of" documentary. So often these are thrown onto a DVD as a "bonus", but amount to nothing more than a refried re-telling of the film. Here, instead, we are treated to forty-five minutes of how Philip Noyce selected his three young actresses, and all the trials and tribulations that entailed. The scene in the film of the three children being taken from their mothers is a very heart-wrenching scene. But, moving beyond compare is that same scene as caught by the "making of" cameras during and after the shoot. Many of the people behind the cameras were in tears during the actual filming of the scene. At the end of the scene, the character mothers are on the ground crying and Noyce yells, "CUT!". He looks down and you can hear the actresses still crying. He looks up and around the camera with a puzzled look on his face to see if perhaps the actresses did not hear him yell, "CUT". They are all...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Minority Report

Superior blu-ray experience
This is a review of the BD version of the film. I am sure most reading know the atory, so I won't get into all of that, though it must be said it is a chliing. exciting, and brilliant vision of the future down to its details. I have seen a couple of reviews that note the issue of "grain" on the image. Here's the deal with that...the grain is supposed to be there. The most common misconception about bluray is that it offers a more enhanced and retouched version of a film. High Definition lets you see the film as it was intended by the filmmakers. Mostb SD DVD has been treated with something called Digital Noise Reduction (DNR). This wipes the image so that it is smooth and waxy. It also distorts the colors, textures, and the original artistic vision. Bluray provides deeper colors, blacks, eliminates edge enhancement, halos, and other issues. Minority Report is intended and was shot to have a gritty feel, hence the grain. This is how the film is supposed to look. It has a...

Critics say this is five stars. For once they're right!
I probably would have waited until Minority Report hit the rental stands if it weren't for all the five-star ratings critics have been giving this movie. After being digitally assaulted by the current crop of high-budget special effects films like Spiderman and Attack of the Clones, I was already weary of acting and storyline taking a backseat to gee-whiz computer graphics. I underestimated Spielberg's ability.

So what is the plot exactly? Well, dear reader, take comfort in knowing I will not spoil the movie for you. In the year 2054, Americans are subjected to Gap clothing stores (that scan your retina and hard-sell khakis by your name) as well as USA Today newspapers with animated front page covers that update in real-time. Tom Cruise is John Anderton, Washington D.C.'s top-cop in the experimental pre-crime unit that seeks out and eliminates would-be murderers through the use of precognitive beings that are able to sense murders shortly before they happen. The premise sounds...

Minority Report - A great Sci-Fi flick!
This is a movie that I was unfortunately unable to see at the theaters and regretted it then and even more so now, seeing how great a movie it is. You can normally expect a Steven Spielberg film to contain; stunning imagery, intense suspense and an overly enthralling film, which he delivers perfectly in this film. Minority Report is an absolutely riveting film that will have you going from the moment the film starts to the very last second. Tom Cruise's more recent films really haven't really lived up to expectations, not so in this film. He seems to be completely in his stride with this role. He performs brilliantly in this film. Nods to Max Von Sydow as well. If you're into action/mystery films with a good dose of Science Fiction tossed in for good measure, this is your film. Minority Report is a must for your DVD collection!

The premise:

It is the year 2054 and the film takes place in Washington D. C. For the past several years, murder is all but a thing of the past...

Click to Editorial Reviews

All I Want Is Christmas

I want everyone to see this film!
It's not totally fair that I recommend this film since I am the director. However, the children, the music and the amazing actors in this movie inspire me. Elijah Nelson is fantastic as Ira and all the kids in this movie really deliver. They all sing, they all act. All the adult actors are wonderful and Elliott Gould and David DeLuise are funny and lovely. I always wanted to make a Christmas movie that was in the tradition of Frank Capra. Growing up and sharing Christmas with my Jewish Neighbors and getting to be a part of Hanukkah inspired me to make this film. It's a little independent film made with a lot of heart. Please watch and share with your friends! Like it on Facebook too. [...]

Exactly what a Christmas Movie should be!
This movie has everything I want in a holiday film: Bright, colorful characters racing through a funny fast-paced story line like a run-away sleigh ride. Dreams pursued, villains foiled, lessons learned, and hearts warmed - plus a spectacular musical finish! Anything missing? Nope. It's the type of movie three generations of family members can sit down and enjoy watching together.

From a true believer...
I am a true believer of Christmas and all it should represent! Sue Corcoran's "All I Want is Christmas" delivers many of the inspirations and smiles I love about "Holiday" films. Not unlike Capra's films, this film makes you travel through a myriad of emotions. It also brings to light several areas where we as "grown ups" can and should make improvements in our life's journey alongside our children. The wonderful talent and professional ability of these young Actors is displayed all through this film. Casting was spot on! The veteran cast members help to make us feel confident of the production value as we share this adventure with Ira and company. As a major fan of "A Christmas Story" 1 & 2, I now have a new film in my top 5 Christmas films to be watched several times every year! Thank you for delivering this production to us Sue!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Equilibrium

A Superb Exercise in Speculative Film Making
I can understand the urge to compare "Equilibrium" and "The Matrix". Both films feature dark, foreboding cinematography. Both films are about rebellion against a warped reality. Both films feature a reluctant, messianic protagonist. And, finally, both films rely heavily on stylistic, hyper-kinetic combat scenes that can only be described as, well, reverent. That is where the similarity ends because while "Equilibrium" has a few moments of slow-motion it's action scenes are much more original than those of "The Matrix Trilogy". No Wires, just pure crazy choreography which makes the action feel all the more authentic. The environment is also a great deal more organic in contrast to the cryptic automaton of the Matrix.

"Equilibrium", in short, manages to be entirely its own movie. Where The Matrix relies on "bending" the rules of physics in an imaginary construct of a world, "Equilibrium" goes the other way and hypothesizes the "Gun-Kata", a martial arts ballet that allows it's...

You Should Not Miss These Sensational Action Scenes
Sci-fi flick with stunning visuals, "Equilibrium" deserves much more attention not only from fans of genre, but also from general audiences. Sure, its flaws are too visible, borrowing Orwellian ideas from other films like, say, "Brazil," but it is not that ideas themselves but the way they are put into practice that really counts, and on that score "Equiliburium" is a winner. (And critics, please let me know, why do you all praise Steven's "Minority Report" which actually borrows ideas from other films of this genre? So, why not give this one a due respect?)

Well, I admit the opening chapter of "Equilibrium" is a bit weak, introducing us to the dystopia world after the WW3, but soon you will forget that. The totalitarian government established after the war decided to eliminate anything that might possibly make humans emotional, forcing the people to inject a certain doze of [chemical substance] to be unemotional every day. Moreover, it decrees there should be no more music (not...

Even my Mom loved it!!!
For action sake why this movie was so poorly received by critics? Ok, I'm a huge action fan. I love watching a movie with well-developed characters, great plot, interesting conversations but when I rent something in the action category I am expecting to see a film where the main character kicks some serious butt. Equilibrium was great! It not only satisfied my hunger to see beautifully choreographed gun battles but it also delivered likable characters and an intense plot. Christian Bale shines in his role as the cleric John Peterson. His expression is so cold, his stance with a gun in each hand exudes extreme power and fearlessness. In fact, he doesn't feel fear because he has to take Prozium, a drug that eliminates emotion. Accidentally, however, one day John misses the dose of his drug and starts feeling the world around himself like a true human. This is where the trouble starts and cool fight scenes begin.

If you are an action fan, you will love the fights in...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Ties that Bind

Ties That Bind Movie Review


Ties That Bind - an amazing film!
I write this review after watching this film for the second time. The first time I watched it was at the TransAfrica Forum film festival in Washington, DC in 2012. I left the theatre with a feeling of having a connection with the characters portrayed. I remember everyone coming out with expressions of amazement on their faces. Some were speechless. This is a movie, an "African" movie that embraces differences in class, background, religious/spiritual orientation, and tradition with a keen sense of purpose, that one cannot help but anticipate what the next conflict will be. The movie portrayed in my view, a realistic picture of the lives of everyday women and the issues of womanhood that they confront. Although set in Ghana, it is really portraying a universal story, as each woman is bound by certain circumstances, but eventually comes to a place of healing. These strong characters, including the neighbor who has to eventually unleash her wrath on her husband, are woman...

interesting movie
i watched this on a sunday afternoon and fell in love with the characters. the story line was deep and the women were amazing.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Velvet Goldmine

Lost Innocence?
I don't know if the point of the movie is so much about the supposed "glam-rock era" as to the idea that parts of history have a certain quality to them where, as important as they may seem at the time, it in the end amounts to only a fleeting transition period, where the world moves on and kind of just forgets about it, while getting caught up in the 'next big thing'.
As far as that goes, if you think of that as the real theme, then it is, I think, very impactful and thought provoking.

No Gold in the Goldmine . . .
I often wonder how movies ever get produced when they are this bad. If the storyline doesn't produce at least one character you care about, it goes nowhere. This is a movie you can multi-task to, you won't miss a thing - Sorry . . .

really entertaining!
Glamrock wannabe's bisexual hedonistic rise to stardom. I love Johnathan Rhys Meyers, he is so talented, so beautiful. I'm not certain if he is singing all of the music in this movie but I did recognize his voice on at least one of the songs. I checked the soundtrack and he is not listed at all. He has a really great voice and I'm wondering why they didn't use it.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Seth MacFarlane and Friends: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Seth McFarlane is Incredible in this DVD!
Seth McFarlane, you are so good at what you do! But thank you Paley Center for holding a panel discussion that isn't all about massaging his ego! The panelists share some really embarrassing (but funny!) stories about him that you won't find anywhere else. I think my favorite part of this DVD was discussion about Family Guy going on and off the air over the years. I've read a lot of articles about its cancellations, but getting the inside scoop from the producers themselves was fascinating, especially because you see it on screen vs. reading it in an article. There's so much more that goes into making a cartoon than I thought, especially ones that can be controversial like Family Guy and American Dad! Totally worth the cash.

Awesome`
I loved this but then again i love anything that Seth is involved in. I cracked up laughing the whole time that I was watching. Very Enjoyable!

Must see for fans of this groups work
Of all the Paley events with this same core of "characters" this was my favorite. Perhaps they have it down after the other shows for each of their various show. This panel or whatever we call it is more generic and broad spectrum. Some of the info has been covered previously yet somehow they find a way to add more details. The whole thing could have gone on for another hour or two and still felt too short.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Electoral Dysfunction

Fun to watch
Although somewhat partisan, once you get thru the liberal spin it was informative. Better than Michael Moore to say the least

Semi-balanced but shallow
Mo Rocca does little more than a shallow news story on top of a civics lesson. The "documentary" begins with an overview of American suffrage history and a decent, high-level explanation of the electoral college and how/why our Founding Fathers created the system. Then the film devolves into a look at one county in Indiana - and how the process works there. Ironically, one of the main subjects of that narrow case is Michael Marshall (a county-level Democrat organizer who has been highly effective at get out the vote efforts), was sentenced to 18 months in prison for voter fraud just after this was filmed. Rocca also covers voter I.D. Laws, which is where the film gets highly unbalanced. In the end, it becomes clear that the film is a propaganda piece advocating a federally standardized, very loose, national popular vote system for electing our President. There is none of the humor promised, and the opposing issue of state's rights is quickly forgotten. Save time, skip the film...

I laughed, I cried
Eye-opening, entertaining, thought-provoking -- Mo Rocca is truly amazing as the host of this road trip, which taught me so much about our voting system without feeling "educational" or heavy-handed. It is full of "aha moments" and a lot of humor, along with strong personal stories and clear examples of reforms that would make our elections fairer and more equitable. Highly recommended! And nonpartisan, too.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Thompson's Last Run

Superb Movie!!
This is a superb movie filmed in the Dallas area that's about an elderly convict (Robert Mitchum) making a daring prison break and being chased down by his law enforcement friend(Wilford Brimley)just before his retirement.A movie very well worth watching!!

Great show.
Wilford Brimley and Robert Mitchum both laid down great performances for this movie. This movie was produced in an era before the time of special effects and CGI, however, it holds its own due to good content, solid and honest acting, and a good story line. It was enjoyable.

Actors carry the movie
Still struggle with the boom mike appearing in some scenes above the actors, making the film obviuosly a bit cheesey. Short on story line but the actors pull it off. Brimley and Mitcheum are great and the supporting actors do a good job given the script.
The acting made the story believable enough to endure. Felt like I was watching a biography where you want to see what happens dispite the quality of the camera and mike work.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dollhouse: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Joss Whedon is my Master Now
If you love Joss and the Dollhouse team, it's a good buy, I love behind the scenes stuff and interviews with the cast. I have also been a big fan of Eliza Dushku since her Buffy days. Basically if you understand my review then you definitely want to check out this video. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then this video is not for you, enough said.





Click to Editorial Reviews

The Mentalist: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Definetely worth it!
I was a bit skeptical at first, because usually those interview things are often pretty boring and technical. And at first glance, the product description of only about an hour's worth of video seemed a bit offputting as well. But boy was I proved wrong.

This is a very nice video of a very rare thing: An interview session with a cast that was FUN to watch and not only gave great insight into the background of the show, but also showed the awesome chemistry between the cast members. First you get about half an hour of questions by the host, which are clever and not just the usual run of the mill (particularly watch out for Simon defending himself by saying "Mate, it was the early 90s....!", it's a riot!!LOL). Then the audience gets to ask questions for another roughly 20 minutes, and there are some sweet moments as well.

This is one interview session I will be watching more than once, in fact I've already seen it five times now and it doesn't become boring at...

Worth Watching But Wish There Was More Depth
Here's my suggestion if you're a fan but a bit cheap. Watch it instantly ($1.99) as opposed to buying the disk.

The conversation is enjoyable and well worth watching but hard-core fans will leave unsatisfied. First, the program appears to have been taped after the first season but before the second, so there are a number of sub-plots (Rigsby and Van Pelt's relationship and Lisbon's one-night stand) that had been filmed but very consciously not referred to. There's no discussion of the subtleties of character development, the balance between Patrick's Jane's charm and (sometimes) annoying arrogance nor most of the other story telling features that make the show pretty sophisticated and standing above what it might have been if the writing and character development weren't so advanced. This would have been much better if taped after the second season and even more so after the third. There would be far more to discuss.

The cast, particularly Tunney and Yeoman,...

Expected more
As a big fan of 'The Mentalist' I expected a little more for my money. Listening to the writer and producer talking about the creation of the show and the different characters is interesting, but I felt a lack of in-depth questions, the same old questions that come up in every interview with the actors about the show. In fact the best questions were the ones asked by the audience at the very end (should of had more of them...).

Click to Editorial Reviews

Americano [Blu-ray]

Family secrets.
A good movie with a decent plot and an unexpected ending.

Martin (Mathieu Demy) lives in France. His mother who lives in California dies and he must travel abroad to take care of her estate. During the first part of the movie we realize that he only has negative memories of his mother after his father took him back to France to live with him when he was younger. A friend of his mother (Geraldine Chaplin) tries to change his negative attitude towards his mother. Slowly everything becomes clear, and he realizes that his mother, who suffered after the divorce, had a close friend that used to be his playing partner when he was younger. He finds a picture of the girl and learns that she is now in Mexico. He travels to Mexico with a red Mustang to find her and he learns that she works in a rundown strip joint. He meets Lola (Salma Hayek) who is supposed to be the lost friend he is looking for. He is losing his passport and all his belongings when his Mustang is stolen. From there...

Its Okay
The cover is what caught my eye. The movie was okay.
Its one of those movies you wish you saw before you bought.

Fabulossssss !
Was a good story, Salma Hayek Amazing, interesting see three places in one movie France , LA, and Mexico .

Click to Editorial Reviews

Parks and Recreation: Cast & Creators Live at PALEYFEST

The cast is phenomenal
The Parks and Recreation cast is just great. If you're a fan, watch this. It's completely worth it. Nothing else to say.

It's awesome
I love Q&As with a group that has a sense of humor. Watching the creator become a politician about not dissing other shows or Amy about arrested development was funny but unintentionally.
No Rob Lowe, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman or Aziz Ansari but its hilarious without

Really funny
For those who love Parks and Rec, it's a great deal and you'll have a great time watching this one.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Mad Men: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Watching the Mad Men cast at the Paley Center
It was informal and some spoke more than others. I was glad that the audience had a chance to ask questions. Even though I have watched all of the episodes, I did not recognize some of the scenes that were discussed.





Click to Editorial Reviews

The Closer: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

I am a Closer fan and was expecting a bit more from this DVD
It's ok but not great. It seems to be a victim of its own format. The way the cast are interviewed and the setting are a bit lacking. I was hoping to have learned more about 'behind the scenes'. It's also unfortunate that several of the actors did not participate. Good to see once.

Great PaleyFest DVD - interesting tidbits and hilarious moments
Watched this on Prime, and I liked it so much I'm buying the DVD as well. The cast pictured are all who participate - noticeable absences were J.K. Simmons, G.W. Bailey, and Corey Reynolds. I only started watching The Closer when Mary McDonnell began to guest star, so I'm biased to like this as she was on the panel. Overall, it was a balanced interview with a majority of the cast and Duff getting to participate. There were some VERY funny moments. All in all, you can't lose if you're a huge fan of The Closer or any of the actors/actresses from the cast.

GREAT to see them out of role
What an fun hour, seeing and hearing these people all as they are in real life! Very interesting anecdotes, and very enjoyable for anyone who loves The Closer!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Fringe: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

2009 Paley Center with Fringe Cast & Creators
Fantastic! Nearly an hour long. I enjoyed the cast members answering the thoughtful questions by the moderator. I also like hearing what was behind the Fringe concept from JJ, Robert and Alex. Great video!

Very disappointed in quality of film & questions / answers
I was very much interested in watching this DVD since I had purchased the one for Castle and enjoyed it very much.

There were 5 crew including J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, but only three actors: Anna Torv (Olivia Dunham), Joshua Jackson (Peter Bishop), and John Noble (Dr. Walter Bishop). I would have liked to have seen Jasika Nicole (Astrid), Blair Brown (Nina Sharp)of whom they did speak, and Lance Reddick (Broyles). They mentioned Leonard Nimoy who would appear in future episodes but this was old news. It was interesting to hear Ms. Torv and Mr. Noble's Australian accents as I had never heard their real speaking voices before.

I wish there had been closed captioning /subtitles as I didn't get a lot of what was said - especially since some comments were in-jokes. The moderator, Ken Tucker, kept touching his (balding) head for some reason -- maybe he was nervous, but he works for Entertainment Weekly and should be used to interviewing...

Interesting follow up o series
This is similar to Inside the Actors Studio, where several of the cast and crew discuss their tie on the show and their characters.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Saving Grace: Holly Hunter Live at the Paley Center

Not boring at all, just too short...
I didn't find this boring at all, if anything it was too short (only 40 minutes) and not enough about Saving Grace. The interview was mostly audience (I assume film students) asking questions. I had read that Holly Hunter is an extremely private person and she says it herself in this interview; she keeps her private life completely private! So don't watch this if you want any tidbits of how she does things at home with her kids and husband.

The questions are not only about Saving Grace, there are several questions about other movies and shows she has been in. I watched all the episodes of Saving Grace and she is phenomenal (the show was ended WAY too soon)!! Now having watched this question and answer interview, I am even more interested in watching and re-watching other things she has done.

Quite Boring
I really like Holly Hunter and the show Saving Grace so I thought I would gain some insight. And I might have if I had watched the whole thing but it was sooo boring and slow that I couldn't stand it any longer. It was not Holly's fault but the set up of the show itself.



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Big Bang Theory: Jim Parsons Live at the Paley Center

Jim Parsons
I thought it was good! I've always wanted to watch an interview with Jim Parsons to hear more about him outside of regular talk shows and to get his perspective about the Big Bang Theory!

I like Jim
Normally I hate seeing my favorite characters outside their role but this really didn't change my opinion of Jim Parsons

Excellent Interview
Wonderful interview!!! Interviewer not so hot, but should appeal to all Jim Parsons fans nontheless. JP very relaxed and easy to listen to.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dexter: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

"Dexter" Live @ Paley
I enjoyed the show but would have liked more interaction with the cast. It was very interesting to hear about how the writers and producers perceive the show as compared to the viewer. I absolutely love "Dexter"....I think that the writers and producers of the show are fantastic. The cast speaks for it's self. Micheal C. is just awesome as Dexter and brings so much to the character.
I am already in mourning for the end of the show.

Out of date
Out of date..was recorded after season 1 and before season 2 started filming. But at the time, it was appropriate.



Click to Editorial Reviews

The Closer: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

I am a Closer fan and was expecting a bit more from this DVD
It's ok but not great. It seems to be a victim of its own format. The way the cast are interviewed and the setting are a bit lacking. I was hoping to have learned more about 'behind the scenes'. It's also unfortunate that several of the actors did not participate. Good to see once.

Great PaleyFest DVD - interesting tidbits and hilarious moments
Watched this on Prime, and I liked it so much I'm buying the DVD as well. The cast pictured are all who participate - noticeable absences were J.K. Simmons, G.W. Bailey, and Corey Reynolds. I only started watching The Closer when Mary McDonnell began to guest star, so I'm biased to like this as she was on the panel. Overall, it was a balanced interview with a majority of the cast and Duff getting to participate. There were some VERY funny moments. All in all, you can't lose if you're a huge fan of The Closer or any of the actors/actresses from the cast.

GREAT to see them out of role
What an fun hour, seeing and hearing these people all as they are in real life! Very interesting anecdotes, and very enjoyable for anyone who loves The Closer!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Vampire Diaries: Cast & Creators Live at PALEYFEST

Great behind-the-scenes stuff with Nina Dobrev and others!
This show is so good and I'm officially obsessed with Nina Dobrev. Although I enjoy Vampire Diaries more than True Blood or Twilight, I always wondered if the show was taking their outside ideas and just adapting them...well, in this discussion Producer Kevin Williamson actually talks about how his show is NOT a knock-off!

Everyone in Vampire Diaries is gorgeous, so it was awesome to hear the cast discuss everything that goes in to vampire make up and sexy abs :) Now that I know just how much work goes into the make up, I don't feel quite as bad about myself! If you're a fan of the show at all, this DVD is a perfect supplement for those annoying days in-between episodes.

Great if you're a fan
I found the dvd really funny actually and as a fan of the vampire diaries it suited me perfectly. I was suprised about the fact that it didn't have a menu and just played by itself so maybe something to work on is have a menu with like extras or something like that. But overall, a great dvd interview with the cast and it only took like 14 days to get to Britain so I was please with that.

intersesting but unfocused a lot of the time
Many of the questions were well thought out. Many of the responses were wonderful and gratifying. But the producers allowed anyone to jump in at any time, and a couple of them did, drowning out the others' responses frequently. You barely get to hear Nina Dobrev at all.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Little Pim: Let's Eat - French For Kids

So far so good
My kids will sit and watch this, so that makes me happy. It just depends what kind of mood they are in. As parents this is good because you don't have to sit next to them while they are watching them!





Click to Editorial Reviews

White Collar: Cast & Creators Live at PALEYFEST

Why I like White Collar
I love the writing, the casting of the actors and the fact that it is a "blue sky" show -- I love the optimism and complexity of the characters -- and I like that there is a positive marriage portrayed on this show. The rapport shows on screen.

Great series
Love the way the different characters develop yet are consistent. Great fun. Looking forward to the new season. Hope the writers can keep up the dynamic and interesting plots and character development.

'liked it
It was fun to watch. The undeniable chemistry between the cast and the crew was in full display. I'll probably watch it again.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Mad Men: Cast & Creators Live at PALEYFEST

It was alright.
Not all the cast was present, most of them were however. I just started watching Mad and this is why I stumbled on this because I was looking for Season 6.

Very Insightful
I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was fun to see an insight to the individual and how he/she portrays the character on the show as well as how they interact with the writer.

Great Show
I love the characters and the storyline.
I am sorry that next year will be its last.
a much watch

Click to Editorial Reviews

Supernaturalz: Weird Creepy & Random

Goofy, silly fun
In the same vein as Scary Movie, comes Supernaturalz: Weird, Creepy & Random, a silly romp of a film that never takes itself too seriously, wrapped up in a Bollywood-style wrapper.

Set in the traditional home to witches--Salem, Massachusetts-this obviously low-budget film had its moments. At times I couldn't help laughing out loud. And it was never predictable.

There are two major plotlines (that eventually intersect). The first involves Dawn (newly out of prison) looking to find her adult daughter, Hope, with the help of the Mighty Sardar. The other is the adventures of the Garter Snakes, a girl gang on the run after committing a crime.

The attention given to the props was obvious, from having the Mighty Sardar reading a comic book in bed to various and sundry dildos dressed up as religious artifacts to a particularly interesting window treatment. The stunts were believable for the most part, rather than fantastical.

There was even Game of...

A Fun Ride
I love this movie!
A bunch of hot bad-girls get trapped in a haunted house, including the gorgeous Lucy Spain. The guy who plays the Middle-Eastern magician is absolutely hysterical.
Me and my friends watched this several times and its the kind of movie that gets better and better, even if you know whats going to happen (and which girls take off their clothes). Defintiely a cult classic in the makeing.

Great movie
I loved this movie, at first it was really hard to fallow but once you get into it its a great film. There so many twists and turns in this movie you will be shocked all the way thru. I wish it was offered on dvd i would totally buy it. The star of the Lucy Spain does a great job in this movie. I would reccomend it to anyone

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Origin of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Omnibus

Amazing Wizard of Oz by Michele Rubatino
I found this animated movie of Michele's research into the mysteries of Oz amazing. Where does the Oz story come from and how can it help us understand ourselves and our humanity? Now we know. This video explains all of it, in a fascinating and educational way, by a lady who has taken this cultural favorite into a dimension that you shouldn't miss. I rented it and watched it, then went back to buy it...its a must for Oz movie fans, biblical scholars, and anyone who wants to be in better touch with their hearts and emotions. Thanks Michele, for this gift to humanity.





Click to Editorial Reviews

The Good Wife: Julianna Margulies & Cast Live at the Paley Center

Smart TV
Intelligent, seasoned actors who can also show personality as individuals. Great writing can't work without the right people to bring these characters to life.

Enjoyed seeing them in "real life"
We have enjoyed watching them as "actors" since their first show. It was so nice to see them in "real life."

The Good Wife @ the Paley Center
The Good Wife is my #1 show on TV . I absolutely love the suspense and unpredictability of where things are going from week to week . This Live Cast
interivew @ the Paley Center was great !

Click to Editorial Reviews

Colossus of the Arena

Sinister Cinema Provides a Great Widescreen Transfer of a Superb Mark Forest S&S Gem!
****** No Plot Spoilers *******

I own a collection of Mark Forest Sword and Sandal (S&S) films. Sinister Cinema's release of "Colossus of the Arena" is one of the best in my collection. Either someone did a terrific job of restoring this film or someone did a terrific job of preserving its original print. "Colossus of the Arena" is presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and was formatted for my widescreen HD television. I didn't have to change the aspect ratio in order to get it to fill the screen like I have done for other S&S films.

Also, the film's quality was excellent; it appeared to have just recently been released at the theatres. There are no dancing horizontal or vertical lines, bleeding spots, splotches, etc. It is the best quality film I have seen that starred Mark Forest. Unfortunately, the DVD doesn't have any extras; mine didn't even have a menu. I inserted the disc into my Blu-Ray player, hit the PLAY button and the film immediately...

A herc- flic with with Mark Forest and Dan Vadis,how can you go wrong
I only recently received this one in the Mail, so I scanned through the DVD ,looked at some of the chapters, looking to see how this one sizes up, Don't think I'v seen it before, Picture quality seems pretty good, It's widescreen, And this one has two of the real names in Sword + Sandal Flics- MARK FOREST + DAN VADIS, MARKs the good guy ,DANs the bad guy, Both do a good job as usual for these guys. Picture Seemed fairly stable with good Color, Clairity, as well. I can't wait now to sit in my Theater room, and see the rest, Good viewing to you....



Click to Editorial Reviews

Pineapple Express Unrated [HD]

Remarkably fun and well-crafted.
A movie like PINEAPPLE EXPRESS should not be expected to be talked about in the same breath as CITIZEN KANE or GONE WITH THE WIND. However, it has nonetheless ascended to near the top ranks in its own particularly little sub-genre: the "pot" comedy.

While Cheech & Chong's UP IN SMOKE will probably always lead the pack, simply for being the first (and for being very edgy...in it's day)...EXPRESS is the first film of its ilk to boast huge laughs, modest thrills, enjoyable lead characters and a narrative structure that doesn't fall apart the further it goes. For example, the HAROLD AND KUMAR films can be greatly amusing, but their "plot" grows more and more flaccid and pointless as they move along. The lead "characters" are hardly believable as people...they are comic devices.

In PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, we have the story of a process server (Seth Rogan) who enjoys doing little else but smoking pot. He is decent at his job, but also spends much of it sitting in his...

Proof that James Franco can actually act
This was another in a long line of funny movies from Judd Apatow, but with a lot more action thrown in for good measure. Seth Rogen may always sound and act the same in everything he does, but that doesn't make him any less funny. James Franco is the real star of the show. I always thought he had great potential, but he just seemed so bland in the Spider-Man movies and Flyboys. This is a well acted and funny performance. I heard some people on the web talk about casting him as The Joker in the next Batman movie. Whether it happens or not, I now think he has a chance to pull it off. All the other cast members are weirdly memorable, especially the cat loving drug dealer who just won't die.

Pineapple Express does get really violent and a little gory towards the end, but it is a good mix of comedy and action. It's just plain fun.

3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars

The muddy moments are forgivably sparse...
Truth be told, there were moments in this film where I died of uncontrollable laughter. I mean, Seth Rogen is hilarious, and James Franco is really transforming into an actor I get excited about watching. What happened there? There was a time when I would intentionally avoid movies starring that guy. I must say, he's surprised me. This film is a little unevenly crafted, but the end result is not anything to be ashamed of. It basically follows some stoner idiots as they run from a corrupt police officer and a drug dealer who they happened to witness kill some guy. The film bounces along nicely, remaining forgivably unbelievable. The ending, for me, was a mess and that whole action sequence overload killed a little of the films `fun factor', but the ending diner sequence was a laugh riot so I forgave it. James Franco owns this movie, playing a mindless stoner to perfection with the right amount of overplayed tenderness to make his character a pure standout. Not much else to...

Click to Editorial Reviews

One Direction: All the Way to the Top

All good and in good condition,
All good and in good condition. As promised, thank you--your teenage daughters, nieces, granddaughters, friends--will all enjoy it very much.

Really Liked it :)
I learned so much about One Direction... and I was already a big fan! Everyone should get this if they want to know more about 1D :D I Love Harry!!!!!



Click to Editorial Reviews

Battlestar Galactica: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

Interesting and entertaining, just not long enough
I think fans of the show will enjoy this. You get to hear about how the actors first heard about the show, the auditions, and some of their own perspectives on the show's story. Unfortunately, with so many important characters, you only get to hear a tiny bit from each actor. It would have been great if this was two or three hours so the actors would have time to get into more detail.

Very Interesting and Humorous
It was great to get the scoop on how the show was developed and how everyone was cast. If you've seen the show, you'll enjoy this very much.

Anything with this cast is great in my opinion...
It's exactly as it seems, them on a panel at a convention talking and then answering fan questions. It's nice to see them act and speak as themselves with no "acting" involved. I never go to conventions, so this was a nice substitute for me.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Bones: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

How to Moderate Like An Oaf 101
DVD releases of the Paley Center series of onstage panel discussions have always served as that extra treat, one more outlet to sate the frenzied fan who can't get enough of his or her favorite show. I had a blast watching the cast of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER talk it up at the Paley Center (2008 PaleyFest: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reunion), and so had no qualms about purchasing this one, featuring the cast of BONES. Except that, at the end, I do have one major, er, bone to pick.

The BONES panel discussion, which clocks in at under an hour, takes place on April 9, 2008 during BONES' third season. It features Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, Eric Millegan, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley, series creator Hart Hanson, and executive producer Stephen Nathan. This is quite a coup as this roster makes up the core actors but for T.J. Thyne. The only other person I wished would've been there...

Worst image quality I have ever seen on a DVD!
Having seen tidbits of this panel online I was intrigued and wanted to see the whole thing, upon finding it available for purchase I was beyond thrilled, even though I didn't particularly care for the price tag. The panel didn't disappoint, but I was utterly appalled by the quality of the footage.

It was heavily pixilated and completely awkward to watch - I've seen home videos dating back to the 80's with better quality - so to be expected to pay 20$ for this and get such crap quality in return is utterly appalling to me.

I can only hope the contribution from me and others who have purchased this DVD will go towards updating the Paley Center's camera equipment so that future panels will be filmed on equipment dating from THIS century. Until that happens I will not be purchasing anymore DVDs from them - it's NOT worth the money.

Loved it!
Enjoyed learning more about the genesis of the show and how the actors interact. Too bad TJ wasn't there but the rest of the cast was great.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Dexter: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

"There are some children on the show. Do they know what it's about?"
Paley Center for Media provides an outlet for those seeking a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite shows. In March 7, 2007, the cast and creators of DEXTER got together onstage in Beverly Hills for a panel interview conducted by that tall drink of water, Kristin Veitch of E! Entertainment, herself a self-professed avid DEXTER fan. Now this took place some years ago, when the show was just entering its second season, and so there's a smidge of a dated feel to this. For one thing, we already know that, from the second season on, the showrunners opted to go their own way rather than follow Jeff Lindsay's ensuing Dexter novels.

The DEXTER panel consists of Michael C. Hall, David Zayas, Lauren Velez, James Remar, Erik King, Jennifer Carpenter, exec. producer/writer Daniel Cerone, and exec. producers Clyde Phillips and Sara Colleton. The interview session presented on DVD runs 66 minutes. For fans of Dexter, this is some good stuff. I wish, though, that C.S. Lee (who plays...

Really Enjoyed Michael Hall in this DVD!
I thought Michael C. Hall was brilliant as David Fisher, but he's even better as Dexter. It was always weird to watch him in Six Feet Under, all conflicted about his sexuality, and then see him as a serial killer on Dexter - it's quite a contrast. During this discussion, Michael C. Hall shares his personal thoughts about Dexter vs. David. Hearing it come straight from him on screen was so much more satisfying than the reviews and producer interviews I've read online. There's just something about seeing all the actors up there describing their characters and relationships that takes the TV experience to a whole new level. Definitely worth the $20 if you enjoy the show at all.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Tsumugi

Sora Aoi!
Schoolgirl Sora Aoi is cute and sexy as Tsumugi in this lightweight fantasy. It's short and uncomplicated. Schoolgirl falls for her married teacher and he falls for her. Trouble soon follows.
Worth watching just to view the lovely Sora Aoi.





Click to Editorial Reviews

Whittle: The Jet Pioneer

Totally Compelling - even if you know nothing about aviation
I watched the TV version of this on History Channel with my kids. We were all totally absorbed with the epic story of Whittle and his underfunded team's battle to get a jet fighter into the air before the Nazis did during WWII. There's a lot more to it than just that, but it really drove the urgency under which this amazing engineering feat was accomplished. Frank Whittle should be a household name for the way that his invention changed the way we travel around the world. Maybe this film will put that right. Highly Recommended.

Jet fuel for the doc fan...
I had the opportunity to see this film while in the U.K. at a friend's home. He's a military history enthusiast. I enjoy docs so...

"Whittle" is an extremely well told story that captures the attention because it covers a multitude of subjects and is layered in a way to keep the pace moving. At the core of the film is the story of an ingenious man who against the odds invented something that truly changed how we perceive the world. So layer #1 is a tale of man's ingenuity. Atop this is the military history that the story plays out against, and the film does so in a way that is uncommon. Many military docs follow the same production format: archive footage coupled with dry narration. In this case, while there is a plethora of archival film, it's not the material you have seen before, and it is well dispersed within the telling of the bigger story. That said, there is no shortage of military history in Whittle so enthusiasts of the genre will certainly find a full plate to...

The story of a man before his time
Frank Whittle was a great man, before his time. He came up with a brilliant idea years before anyone else was able to appreciate it, He was was consistently frustrated and obstructed by bureaucrats but he kept going and in the end delivered the jet engine for the allies. He did so much of this out of a sense of duty that it is therefore shameful the way that his invention was then stolen from him by those same bureaucratic machinations.

For the aviation enthusiast this DVD provides a very watchable biography of Sir Frank Whittle. I had read the book Jet by John Golley, which is a biography of Sir Frank, before seeing the DVD. There was no contradiction between the two and I found it made the DVD better to have read the book first. There are very intersting interviews with Sir Frank Whottle that are part of the documentary. I would definitely recommend this DVD for the aviation enthusiast.

Click to Editorial Reviews

Friends: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

"I initially came in to read for the part of 'Stan the Cop,' and I felt that it was the best character in the show."
That tongue-in-cheek statement above was made by Matthew Perry during the cast of FRIENDS' time in the sun at Paleyfest, and it's only one of the funny comments he drops on that day, on October 4, 1996. This live onstage panel discussion took place when FRIENDS, in terms of name branding and universal popularity, was in its white hot phase, going into the show's third season. Half the cast showed up for this one: Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, as well as creators/executive producers David Crane and Marta Kauffman, executive producers Kevin Bright and Michael Borkow, producer Alexa Junge, and writers Jeff Astrof and Mike Sikowitz. We are informed that Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer had prior commitments. I'm trying to accept that with grace.

It's a no frills DVD, and yet it gives us what we want, full and uncut. Things kick off with the playful onstage panel chit chat already underway with Robert M. Batscha, President of the Museum of...

Best show ever!!
At 62, I still love this show, try never to miss the re-runs. what can I say, still love Joey!! How a u doing!!!!!!!



Click to Editorial Reviews