Airport

The original airplane disaster movie
This first of the big airplane disaster movies features an outstanding cast, a host of distinctive characters, and a widely interesting web of subplots. While all things lead to disaster in the air, there is a much greater human component to Airport than what you will see in the disaster movies of today. Perhaps the human drama does not play out to perfection on one or two occasions, yet it all kept my rapt fascination even as I wondered why disaster had not yet struck an hour and a half into the film (which lasts for two hours and seventeen minutes). Airport (1970) picked up ten Academy Award nominations, including best picture, Helen Hayes walked away from it with her second Oscar, and a host of sequels followed in its wake, so obviously it did many things right.

The first half of the film actually seems like some kind of 1970s TV pilot. Mel Bakersfield (Burt Lancaster) is the airport manager working himself to death in order to keep the place running smoothly,...

A+ DVD for the GoodTimes
I'm going to do something I thought I'd never do; give GoodTimes Video an A+ for this DVD. They took a step into the 20th century for their Thirtieth Anniversary DVD release of Airport.

I held onto my old Airport VHS tape well after I stepped up to DVDs, because no one had released a widescreen DVD of the classic disaster film. GoodTimes had earlier released a DVD of Airport, but it was in standard aspect ration, so I passed on it. Then last week, there it was, Airport, WIDESCREEN, it said. And when I picked it up to look at the features on the back, I couldn't believe my eyes. GoodTimes not only released it in widescreen, but in anamorphic widescreen, AND in Dolby surround. And the price is more than perfect.

You get no extras, just the movie. But it's beautiful, and it's the original, shown for the first time as it was on the big screen in perhaps thirty years.

If you love classic films, then this movie is probably on your list of must-haves. This is not a perfect...

The Mother of all Airport films is the best one !
Airport is surprisingly faithful to Arthur Hailey's book, with regards to the screenplay. Jacqueline Bisset is perfectly cast as a stewardess, as is Helen Hayes as the stowaway passenger. Van Heflin and Maureen Stapleton share many poignant moments, and a little seen Barbara Hale rounds out the shining stars very well. While I have seen this movie called "slow and plodding", you actually get quite involved with all the characters and know about their motivation before the crucial scene in the air where it all comes to pass. Of course, this huge success at box office has been let down by a... DVD release - it's in Pan & Scan. Why anyone would do this on a DVD is beyond me. Also, it's lacking a lot of extra features that a film of this calibre should have on a DVD. Regardless, the film is an awesome piece of entertainment, faithful to the novel (without the "boring parts") and is supurbly acted by a stellar cast. It deserved to be the runaway worldwide success it...

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Going the Distance

Something New...
Just finished watching the movie.

Short rant:
This film is rated R. I have read through the reviews here, about people only watching 10 minutes of the film and turning it off due to language... If you look at the rating on this page and on the box itself, it is rated R for language, some drug use, and sex. If you are sensitive to the F word, sexual images, drugs, *and* you are trying to watch this movie with your family, then you are doing something wrong. Also the "I expected better of Drew" comments... actors try new things. Yes, Drew Barrymore has done lots of romcom chick flicks that you can watch with your preteen, but you might take notice that they are by and large PG-13, not R. If you are sensitive and/or watching this with your family or young ones, it is *your* responsibility to read the rating, not blindly watch a movie expecting it to adhere to your standards.
/end rant

As for the movie, the beginning introduces us to Garrett (Justin...

This was a great film
Short Attention Span Summary:

1. Guy meets girl.
2. Girl moves away.
3. The two try to carry on a long distance relationship, and the conflict is (of course) the effect of the distance on their relationship.

This movie was good all the way through, and while the content was chick-ish, it did provide many a good laugh. The writing was very good and the characters were well cast.

It would be worth the price of a second hand DVD to me. (As it happens, I saw this film on a plane included as part of the ticket.)

"Going the Distance" Review
I usually do not write reviews on sites such as this but felt like I should for this film (considering that roughly a third of the reviewers have given it a 1). I know that film is subjective but I can objectively say that you are a moron if you gave this movie a 1.

A few reviewers attributed their low rating of the film in part due to the "bad language" in it. Well the film is rated R "for sexual content including dialogue, language throughout, some drug use and brief nudity", can you people read...do you not bother looking at a film's rating before you watch it. If you do not want to watch a film because it has bad language in it then fine, don't watch it, and definately don't give it a bad review for it.

Also, a couple people pointed out that the film was "cliche"...people pointing out how something is cliche has become cliche at this point. Let me tell you something: at this point everything is cliche, everything has been done before. Whether or not it...

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Yoga Journal's Yoga for Morning, Noon, and Night

Three short yoga practices provide nice options for different times of the day
Yoga Journal's Yoga for Morning Noon & Night offers three short (20 minutes each) yoga sequences, each designed to be used at a different time of the day. The practices are led by yoga instructor and Yoga Journal contributing editor Jason Crandell, who provides instruction via voiceover; he also demonstrates the postures along with two additional background exercisers. Each sequence begins with a very brief introduction by Crandell and then flows right into the practice, which features a sparse studio with gentle, non-obtrusive music playing in the background. Although Crandell cues all of the poses in English, both the English and the Sanskrit names appear on screen briefly at the start of each new posture.

The Main Menu of the DVD allows you to select each practice individually or to choose a "Play All" option. I have described each sequence in greater detail below:

MORNING
This practice is intended to boost energy, but it is designed to allow the body to...

Yoga Morning Noon & Night
After practicing along with Jason Crandell's short videos on Yogajournal.com, I was very happy to discover this new DVD! I would say Morning, Noon & Night is geared toward beginners or the perpetually unflexible like me, but I think intermediate students looking for a nice routine will not only enjoy this DVD but will look as good doing it as Jason and his two female students. If you're looking for headstands and upside-down pretzel poses, look elsewhere.

I've been to many yoga classes with different instructors and have purchased several different DVDs for home practice. Each instructor has a different focus, pace and voice and Jason Crandell is my absolute favorite instructor for home practice. His voice is calm and soothing, and his tone is very non-judgmental. His pacing is slow enough that you can a) strike a pose before he moves on to the next and b) hold the pose long enough to get something out of it.

Many instructors forget this. In fact, some of the...

Finally, a DVD I can use
I've tried a bunch of yoga DVDs and videos, but I have trouble watching and doing at the same time--here, the teacher clearly explains what pose to take, and describes how to get into it. He uses the English-language names for the poses, but if you want to know the Sanskrit, that does appear on screen.

I also appreciate the way the sequences can be put together for a longer practice--although I've been using them at the times they're "meant" for... and I definitely feel more energized in the morning after practicing, and more relaxed at night. (I have to admit--I don't often manage to do the noon practice while at work...)

One last thing: I'm not a big fan of music during yoga classes, but the background music that plays during this video is actually a nice addition--very low-key yet appropriate.

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The Mighty

Learning Disabled Students Can Relate
My class of fifteen "learning disabled" students read the book "Freak the Mighty". These are at risk students who for the most part, could care less about reading anything. They absolutely loved the book! Every day at bell time I would hear, "No, we can't stop here!" Some even wanted to take the book home and read ahead! While watching the film, I noticed some 6th grade boys with tears in their eyes and the girls were simply dissolved in tears. This is a wonderful movie for people of all ages but particularly for those kids who sometimes feel like they walk in Max and Freak's footsteps every day. We also read the sequel, "Max the Mighty" and found it equally as absorbing. We are hoping there is a movie sequel! Thank you Rodman Philbrick for writing such a beautiful,memorable story! Kudos to the cast of "The Mighty" for their performances. I intend to buy a copy for myself and several for gifts.

The once and future...Freak the Mighty!
How in the HELL did this movie get lost in theatres? Why didn't every critic in America tell the world to see it?

I remember when I first heard that this book, FREAK THE MIGHTY (by Rodman Philbrick), was going to be made into a movie and that Gillian Anderson was going to play a small role. Well, I went ahead and read the book because (a) I'm an X-Files fan, and (b) I wanted to know what so drew her to the project that she was willing to play a less than a major role.

The book just tore me apart-- it wasn't just that I'd been a misfit myself in my youth, but the fact that it dealt with sometimes amazing, sometimes painful situations in such a clear-eyed way, never pandering to or underestimating the intelligence of the reader.

This film, while not adhering to the book to the letter (but damned close) kept the SPIRIT of the book intact, and for that I credit not only the director and screenwriter but the cast. Everyone involved seems to be most concerned with truth-- not is it...

Buy This Film Now!
I had seen the theatrical trailer for this film when the working title was "Freak the Mighty." I suppose someone thought the term 'freak" to be deragatory; however, after seeing this sleeper, I'd be proud if someone thought I had those rare and wonderful characteristics Kieran Culkin's character, "Freak," displayed in this film. I don't ever remember this movie coming to Honolulu (so much for the "Coming soon to a theater near you" slogan!), but I was thrilled when it was released on DVD. I rented, and sat at home alone watching it one evening after work. I rented it again three days later when my girlfriend was over so she could see it, and loved it even more the next time. I've ordered the DVD from Amazon (it should be here tomorrow!), and plan on sharing it with as many of my friends as possible. This is as touching and heartwarming a film as I've seen in years. It is destined to become a classic -- it has lessons that all our...

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Lantana

Something close to a masterpiece
In this starkly realistic examination of love and infidelity among the thirtysomething crowd from down under we learn that you may desire to cheat on your spouse, but it's better if you don't.

Leon Zat, a police detective played with an original and striking demeanor by Anthony LaPaglia, cheats on his wife and finds that his adultery compromises not only his marriage but his performance on the job. He becomes irritable and flies off the handle at things of little importance, and becomes consumed with guilt.

He is not alone. The marriage of John Knox (Geoffrey Rush) and psychiatrist Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey) is falling apart as Knox seeks something from the outside and Somers is torn apart with the suspicion that he is having a homosexual affair, perhaps with one of her clients. Meanwhile Jane O'May (Zat's adulteress played by Rachael Blake) finds that she needs a man, or maybe two, other than her estranged husband. Even Sonja Zat (Kerry Armstrong)...

Subtle, Affecting Drama
One of the defining characteristics of the human condition is the inevitability of change, both physically and emotionally. Though most would deny it, one is not the same person at forty years of age that they were at twenty; the emotional growth one undergoes over a period of time dictates that it cannot be so. Unlike the changes one experiences during puberty and adolescence, however, that emotional growth is unceasing. It may be said, in fact, that "change" within that context is the only real constant in life; and the effects of this perpetual state of flux on any particular individual is determined by that individual's experiences and derived from a personal frame of reference. And the challenge of coping with the changes in our own lives forms a common thread that binds us together as a species, and it is those challenges and the ways in which we respond to them that forms the basis for director Ray Lawrence's affecting drama, "Lantana," in which he explores the disparate...

C O N N E C T I O N S
The year 2001 will go down in film history thus far at least, as the watershed Year of the Adult Thriller and "Lantana" is the latest example of this sub-genre. Others this year would be "Burnt Money," "In the Bedroom," "Dinner Rush," and "L.I.E." to name several.
All the Adult Thrillers have one or more of the following in common: a crime (usually a murder), several plot lines, mis-connection among the various characters, though they may be connected by marriage or birth and literate scripts involving adult material.
"Lantana's" central character, Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia) is a police detective conflicted about his impending middle age, his marriage and his recent affair ("2 night stand") with Jane (Rachael Blake) who has just broken up with her husband. Leon's wife,Sonja (Kerry Armstrong)knows something is wrong and is seeing a psychiatrist, Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey) who turns up missing one...

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The Crow: City Of Angels

What's everyone's problem with this movie??
I continue to read reviews for this film calling it everything but the actual antichrist itself. I personally found no problem with it other than one line, that's right only one problem with this movie and it's one line. When Ashe pursues Spider Monkey he calls himself "all your worst nightmares rolled into one". Whatever inspired writer David Goyer to sink to 80's horror dialogue I don't know, but anyways on with the review.

This film had incredible production design, great costumes, a superior instrumental score (by Graeme Revell) and an overall gothic feel. I'm not saying it's better than the first film, I am merely saying that if this film had not received so much hype before it's release and people had not panned it for not being Brandon so much than maybe it would have been better received. I for one enjoy this movie very much and hence give it 5 stars

Disgrace of a Memory
This film is straight up horrid. By creating this film, the memory of Brandon Lee, as well as the reason for writing The Crow in the first place, have both been utterly tarnished. The storyline follows that of the first film - a man is killed horribly along with a loved one, and returns from the dead to exact his revenge. I couldn't even bring myself to pay to see this one. I waited until the local library had it and borrowed it for free. Kids, heed my warning and take the advice of one who has seen this trash...avoid this film no matter whatever else you do in life! Let Brandon Lee retain some dignity, and stay away from this one.

Disgrace to Brandon Lee
This movie is a complete insult to Brandon Lee who starred and died in the making of The Crow. The main character is a wimp. He is scrawny and not very intimidating. This movie is a complete insult to the original and should not even be associated with The Crow. Do not buy it! Do not even bother watching it!

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Voices From the Front

it's ok.
i only like the war dairies part as for the beginning it was like loading from u tube videos taken from brave us soldiers/marines.





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