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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Mr. Bean's Holiday

Great Compilation!! *and a warning to parents about content on an extra*
I viewed all the episodes and they seem to be in working order. Glitch free and the picture looked good. Sound was fine. I report this because it seems that a lot of dvd releases of tv shows are done crappily that there are lots of justified complaints.
The extras on the 3rd disc of the tv show series were worth viewing. The documentary about how Mr. Bean started was especially cool to see. **The warning to anyone who would like to know, especially maybe for parents, is that the documentary has shots of female frontal nudity that come up without warning.** That footage is from an opening from a comedy series Rowan was a part of in his earlier career. Thought I'd mention it since no other reviewer commented on this. And no, I don't need someone getting smart at me about how other countries are liberal with their tv programming and nudity. I know. I just didn't expect that material on a Mr. Bean dvd set and thought others might like to know.

They used to make them like this
The Dick Van Dyke Show. The Lucy Show. The Odd Couple.

What on earth do these wonderful old T.V. shows have to do with Mr. Bean's Holiday?

Well, not a whole lot thematically, but there is one very significant tie between them. The classic shows mentioned above were not children's programs. They were prime-time comedy series aimed at adults. They were clean as a whistle for the most part, as shows then tended to be, but the subjects of the shows revolved around divorce, marital troubles, problems at the office etc.

Unfortunately, modern entertainment equates "adult" with sex and violence. In other words, the word adult has been appropriated. Nothing could possibly be funny, clever, inventive or exciting if there isn't at least some sex or controversy right? It's a pretty sad state when "adult" has come to mean "15 year-old boy" :/

Now before you roll your eyes, I am as far from being a prude as you can get. I own and admire scores of R-rated...

Paradise for Mr. Bean Fans
"Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection" is a seven-disc box set featuring the antics of Rowan Atkinson's alter- ego, the long-legged, goofy-looking guy who manages to create comic mayhem wherever he goes. Mr. Bean, whom Atkinson describes as a child in a grown man's body, was created when Atkinson was a student at Oxford University. Borrowing from silent film techniques, Bean never speaks, relying instead on facial expressions, sight gags, and slapstick to milk laughs. Atkinson is Chaplinesque in the way he sets up gags, plants them, and then illustrates his mortification at how badly things have gone. We feel sorry for his sad-sack ineptness, but still manage to laugh at his constant penchant for getting into awkward, frequently embarrassing fixes. I was reminded of Buster Keaton and even Lucille Ball, two folks who knew how to incorporate and use props comically. Atkinson cites Jacques Tati's earlier character, Mr. Hulot, as another influence.
The box set contains all...

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Megamind

What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?
Megamind is something of a mix, but a good one. On the one hand, it takes the existing traditional tropes of comic-book superhero and supervillain and works within them, but at the same time it ventures into territory that one rarely sees, going one step beyond the traditional to answer two questions: (1) What really makes a supervillain truly 'bad'? and (2) What happens when the supervillain unexpectedly wins?

The film starts off with a traditional hook - Megamind apparently falling to his doom - and then flashes back to the beginning, with the origins of the two classic protagonists, superhero Metro Man and supervillain Megamind, each sent out as an infant in a spacepod from their respective doomed homeworlds. From there, however, things begin to take a twist. Megamind is the supervillain, but more from bad luck than anything else (Metro Man's pod lands in a mansion where he is adopted by rich parents who give him everything, Megamind's pod on the other hand lands in a...

3D Review by a 3D Connoisseur
My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

There are about 173 out of screen effects that extend about 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer. 22 made it to 15%, 19 out to 20%, 36 more at 25% and 2, 30-35%. That's a lot of OOS effects. In addition there are quite a few quick 25-40% effects piled near the title scenes but the 3D in them is a somewhat flawed. However, very few 3D flaws elsewhere in this film. I would have to say my favorite effect is the baby juggling / drooling sequence around 30% approximately 10 minutes into the film.

This movie earned a 4 way tie for the # 2 position on my shelf. For 3D quality and humor, it ranks right up there with the 3 other animated greats, Open Season, Rio and Ice Age.

*** Another Must see ***
*** Add it to your list ***

MY 3D RATING = EXCELLENT (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes...

A complex plot with an exciting ending...
"Megamind" is the story of good vs. evil - or is it? The movie starts out with a very cute blue baby being sent to earth in a rocket by his parents to save the infant from the destruction of the planet. As the little blue child is rocketing toward earth, a another child (who is very handsome) is also heading toward earth in a similar rocket. Both children crash land on earth, but to different fates. The beautiful child crash lands on a big estate where he is adopted by a rich family and given everything. While the little blue child crash lands in a prison and is adopted by the prisoners who teach him the ways of evil. Both children are highly intelligent, but due to their circumstances, one grows up to be a superhero -Metroman (voiced by Brad Pitt) and the other a supervillain - Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell).

Metroman and Megamind spend their lives locked in the classic battle of good vs. evil with Megamind always losing and ending up in jail. Until one day, Megamind's...

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127 Hours

A Powerful, Impactful Story
"127 Hours", director Danny Boyle's ("Trainspotting", "28 Days Later") follow-up to "Slumdog Millionaire" is a near great film. I honestly can't tell you the last time I was so moved by a piece of celluloid. "127" has created both pleasant and nightmarish memories, memories that will stay with me for many, many years to come.

Aron Ralston (James Franco) quickly grabs some supplies and heads out to his favorite spot, the canyons near Moab, Utah. As soon as the sun rises, he jumps on a mountain bike and heads out to explore and enjoy the great outdoors, heading to a spot some twenty miles away. He crosses paths with two young women, Kristi (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn) and agrees to show them the way to their destination. Once there, they swim and dive and have fun. After a few hours, they head on to complete their individual journeys. As Aron navigates a narrow crevasse, a small boulder comes loose, causing him to fall and wedging his arm between the wall and the...

Resourcefulness And Perseverance--A Harrowing, Yet Life Affirming, Struggle For Survival
From the macabre paranoia of "Shallow Grave" to the comedic debauchery of "Trainspotting" to the disturbing creepiness of "28 Days Later" to the fanciful romanticism of "Slumdog Millionaire," director Danny Boyle has made kinetic films that really connect to the viewer at a visceral level. Very much a visual stylist, Boyle uses every tool at his disposal--quick cut editing, frantic camera movement, fantasy sequences, jarring music--to really delve into the emotional core of whatever story he is telling. At first glance, "127 Hours" would seem an odd follow-up to the Oscar winning "Slumdog." Stripped down to the most primal level, "127 Hours" is one of the simplest, most straightforward narratives you're likely to encounter. And yet, through the technical bells and whistles and an earnest James Franco performance, you are immersed in a world of madness, desperation, perseverance, hope, struggle and ultimately survival. And there is no denying that this very matter-of-fact tale...

Resourcefulness And Perseverance--A Harrowing, Yet Life Affirming, Struggle For Survival
From the macabre paranoia of "Shallow Grave" to the comedic debauchery of "Trainspotting" to the disturbing creepiness of "28 Days Later" to the fanciful romanticism of "Slumdog Millionaire," director Danny Boyle has made kinetic films that really connect to the viewer at a visceral level. Very much a visual stylist, Boyle uses every tool at his disposal--quick cut editing, frantic camera movement, fantasy sequences, jarring music--to really delve into the emotional core of whatever story he is telling. At first glance, "127 Hours" would seem an odd follow-up to the Oscar winning "Slumdog." Stripped down to the most primal level, "127 Hours" is one of the simplest, most straightforward narratives you're likely to encounter. And yet, through the technical bells and whistles and an earnest James Franco performance, you are immersed in a world of madness, desperation, perseverance, hope, struggle and ultimately survival. And there is no denying that this very matter-of-fact tale packs a...

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The Snapper

"We all do stupid things when we're drunk, don't we?"
Soon after a wild night at the pub, twenty-year-old Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) finds herself expecting a little "snapper" by a man she loathes. Her refusal to name the father sets in motion a family drama involving her three brothers, two sisters, and her parents, along with her employers and all her friends. Kellegher, playing the role as a coarse, earthy, yet remarkably sensible young woman (with the exception of her excessive drinking during her pregnancy) soon discovers who her friends really are, as some people tease and torment her, some make remarks to her siblings, some force her father to take direct action in her defense, and all spread gossip.

Des Curley (Colm Meaney), Sharon's father, shows the whole world in his face, his emotions ranging from outrage toward Sharon for embarrassing the family to tender concern as her time draws near. As the eight-member family trips all over each other emotionally (ironically symbolized in their battles for the one...

Wickedly funny
Based on the second book in Roddy Doyle's Dublin trilogy, The Snapper is a wickedly funny glimpse into the lives of a working class Irish family. The eldest daughter of a large family becomes pregnant and refuses to name the father. Not your traditional comic premise, but in this case it works beautifully. The characters are fully developed and presented in such a manner that you care deeply about them, and experience their pain as well as their joy. Veteran actor Colm Meaney (Star Trek DS9), who appears in the other two films that make up the trilogy (The Commitments and The Van), masterfully carries the story as the father of the unruly brood. He comes across as a good man who tries to do the right thing and loves his family, but is painfully human at every turn. The rest of the cast is mostly unknown but very believable and capable. I highly recommend this film (and the books, too). It may be the closest you ever get to Dublin without actually crossing the...

A realistic view into an Irish home.
No other film has ever captured the zeitgeist of Irish life as well as the snapper. Roddy Doyle was teaching in a North Dublin working class school when he wrote this book. Much of the dialoge that you hear in the film is directly out of the mouths of his students.

What you see in this film is as close as an outsider is ever likely to come to an understanding of working class Irish life. The unmarried daughter giving birth accounts for 1 in four of all children born today in Ireland. This is as real a situation as you can have. The language, the wit, the sarcasm and the lifestyle are all iminently recognised by Irish people as being true to daily life.

The bonus of the Snapper is that you get a bellyaching laugh at the same time. There are few films as funny as this.

Absolutely brilliant!

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Airspeed

"It's not good or bad, it just is."
Well, if you are looking for a good movie to make fun of, this is certainly it. The plot is rather ridiculous, and lacks realism to the max. Somehow a plane is struck by lighting, and this destroys several control components, and injurs the pilots. Somehow, the lights and radio are still functional, but a hole has been ripped in the side of the plane. But it's a good thing that the hole only sucks things out at oppoutune moments, but allows the girl to walk by without flying out of the plane on several occasions. And it's a good thing she has a cell-phone on board, for when the radio mysteriously explodes. And since there was no "do not attempt these stunts at home" disclaimer, I think I'll try jumping off the back of a refueling plane onto the landing gear of a nearby plane, hopefully suffering no personal injury, despite the high velocity at which I would be traveling.

Yes, a bad movie, but definitely worth seeing, it's a good laugh.

Oh yeah, and the box...

Elisha Cuthbert is great!
Elisha Cuthbert, the lead, is one of the best child actresses i have seen! I love this movie and hope it makes it to DVD!

Not Bad.....
A by-the-numbers thriller aimed at the family market (no real violence, the lead is a teenage girl). Familes concerned with what their kids get exposed to won't mind it. Anyone else will find it satisfactory, in that it keeps moving and usually keeps things in order:no outlandish plot twists or exasperating acts of stupidity to keep the suspense going. However, it is rather perfuctionary and, inevitably, disposable entertainment.

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Challenge To Be Free

Challenge to Be Free
This is an excellent true story, one of the gems of mountain man folklore, set in 1930's Northern Canada. This Mike Mazurki version is however, a rather sterile version, of the story. Made in a style akin to an early Walt Disney movie.

When you get passed the large animal cast. It's still a passable enough version of the mystery of the "Mad Trapper".

Outstanding
I have watched many many movies but this one, I've watched over and over again to the point of almost wearing out my VHS tape..

Here is a story about a man who just wanted to be left alone, to live his way, as god intended, but was interrupted by someones greed.. Put yourself in this man's place and see what you would have done...

This is an EXCELLENT movie to watch...

An all-time classic
As much hype and hoopla movies like A Bug's Life and Alladin carry with them ... movies like Challenge to be Free tend to fall to the side as unimportant figments of a different decade. This movie is not unimportant by any means ... it takes you on a wonderous journey ... leaving you in the end to realize the importance of trying to respect and understand the ways of not only the people around us, but the people we identify as our foes.

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Proof

Riveting drama
Proof of a mathematical equation and proof of madness are the two driving forces in John Madden's film. Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) who cared for her brilliant mathematician father Robert (Anthony Hopkins) is afraid that she's inherited his other "gift"-mental illness. Catherine cared for her father Robert during the end. When Claire (Hope Davis) Catherine's sister arrives home for the funeral she expresses concern for Catherine's mental state. Catherine begins to doubt her own teetering sanity. Robert's assistant Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) rummages around Robert's papers the night before and after the funeral trying to find an important equation her father was working on before he died. Featuring a group of strong performances, "Proof" is a compelling drama about grief, madness and emotional seclusion. Although Madden's drama suffers from the stage origins of the play but the emotional high wire act the cast performs makes it worthwhile. Whether or not there's "proof" of this film being a...

appreciate it for the writing.
It's interesting that most people tend to have a problem with the screenplay for this movie, when it is almost word for word the stage play, which is renowned for its elegance and simplicity. Perhaps the issue comes up in the flashbacks and the ending, both of which disagree with the play. Still, as a stage adaptation to film, Proof does the job beautifully. The characters remain true to their original 2-dimensionality; it is the apparent lack of emotion that actually lends itself to intense feelings from the viewer.

A Perfectly Integrated Film, Played as a Fine String Quartet
PROOF is one of those rare films that transfers a superb play directly to the screen without losing a bit of the power of the play, but enhancing the story with the advantages of the camera. With a tough story like this one it takes a brilliant cast and director to fine-tune the work and in this instance it all works to perfection.

The story is well known from all the PR of the theatrical screening: recounting it in a review does not add or subtract the importance of the film or the experience of the viewer. The premise, mathematician Robert (Anthony Hopkins) and his caretaker daughter Catherine (Gweneth Paltrow) who also is an uncommonly bright 27-year-old mathematics mind and has spent the glowing years of her youth caring for her recently deceased father. They converse in flashbacks, a means of realizing the closeness of their bond emotionally, mentally, and probably parallel mental illness proclivities. Robert left notebooks filled with thoughts and clues to a...

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The Million Dollar Hotel

Beautiful journey into the souls of madmen
There's been a lot of debating over whether or not this film deserves its Berlin Silver Bear award. In my mind it deserves more than that, for this is truly a remarkable film.

The Million Dollar Hotel is a home for outcasts and mentally unstable people. Once it was probably a high-class place, but time has taken its toll and it is now merely a parody of itself. Inhabitants include a mad Indian Chief wannabe (played by Jimmy Smits), a guy who thinks he's a member of the Beatles (hilariously played by Peter Stormare) the retarded "hero" of the story Tom Tom (Jeremy Davies) and the shadowy, silent Elouise (Milla Jovovich) who he has a serious crush on. One day Tom Tom's nearest friend fall off the roof of the hotel, and foul play is suspected. It is then up to an FBI Special Agent (Mel Gibson) to find the murderer. This is no easy task indeed!

What sets this movie apart from the mainstream is that it oozes atmosphere and that is dares to be *different*. Director Wim...

The Million Dollar Hotel
This is a wonderful movie, made with love. The score is haunting and and sweet, yet not obtrusive. The colors and the photography are stunningly beautiful. This is not a thriller; rather, it is a love story played against a background of cynicism, delusion, betrayal, fraud and brutality. This film demands the viewer's undivided attention, as much is going on in the background of almost every scene. This film is also an ode to a hotel in Los Angeles, one of two built in the 1920s by two brothers. One would not think such a tribute could be paid to an old hotel, but "The Million Dollar Hotel" is just that, as the varying and lovely shots of the hotel bear witness throughout the film. Mel Gibson delivers his best performance to date as the brutal, threatening FBI agent Skinner, who has a change-of-heart. Jeremy Davies is incredibly winning as Tom-Tom, the border-retarded unofficial "butler," full of wisdom, humor and insight, for the hotel's residents. Milla...

intriguingly wonderful
million dollar hotel is one of those films that seem to grab you by the senses and make you fall in love with people who live in a sort of loonie bin.

million dollar hotel is a film about an old dilapidated hotel whose residents are mentally unstable. they find themselves in a bind when they find out one of them has been murdered but no one knows who did it.

tom tom(jeremy davies) is a character you instantly feel for from his the first scene when he jumps off the building in spectacular fashion and says, "after i jumped, i realized...life is the best." in some respects, you almost envy him for realizing this, but pity him at the same time for finding this out too late.

milla jovovich has an equally curious role. she plays a strung out woman who finds herself reading romance novels all day at a used bookstore and prostitutes herself at night. jovovich plays almost the same role as davies, but at the same time, much different. it's no wonder he finds himself...

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Welcome To Sarajevo

Extraordinary reel life
As a journalist familiar with Yugoslavia and the tragedies of its breakway states, I was prepared to dislike this movie about foreign journalists working during the siege of Sarajevo. I thought, here goes Hollywood exploiting an abomination of the 20th Century. What I saw, in fact, humbled me and moved me to many tears. Director Michael Winterbottom takes an unflinching, docudrama approach, integrating real news footage of atrocities with his no frills production. There is no exploitation of suffering here. Winterbottom has an unabashed agenda: to shock, inform, educate and enlighten. It is hardly entertainment. The result, devoid of sentimentality, glamour and a neatly-packaged denoument, is refreshingly un-Hollywood. The characters played by Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei in a small role, Kerry Fox, Stephen Dillane and the fine Croatian actor Goran Visnjic, examine dilemmas journalists habitually face in war zones or not: how to remain objective, whether compassion is appropriate and...

A Balkan Tragedy
In the spring of 1992, news correspondents from around the world descended upon Bosnia to document the most horrific conflict Europe had seen since World War II. WELCOME TO SARAJEVO is the story of those correspondents and the surreal world they entered when they checked into their rooms at the Holiday Inn (which, as fate would have it, was located right on the infamous boulevard known as Sniper Alley; they couldn't have found a better place to view the action if they tried).

One of those correspondents, Michael Henderson (Stephen Dillane), has very little patience with colleagues like Jordan Flynn (Woody Harrelson) who always find ways of involving themselves in the stories they're covering. "We're not here to help - we're here to report," he says. But Henderson finds it increasingly difficult to remain detached from the carnage around him, especially when Serb artillery and Serb snipers start targeting Sarajevo's children. Frustrated by networks (who would rather...

Great movie
As many have said, this movie is perhaps not the best film of all time. But let's get realistic, this movie took the atrocities of the Balkan wars and presented it in such a way that normal viewers could feel outraged without feeling numb (like CNN made us feel during the siege of Sarajevo.) After watching this film I volunteered my services as a physician in Bosnia. After returning to America and watching it again I cried. I finally understood (1%) of what they went through. I recommend this movie to all, but watch to be informed not necessarily for cinematic excellence.

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Botched

Not My Genre, But So Funny I Bought It!
I saw this late one night on cable. I stopped to see it for Stephen Dorff, but soon recognized other actors and kept watching. This is so not my genre, but it was so far fetched and absolutely hilarious that I ended up watching the whole thing! Then I got online and purchased a copy. My friends and sis laughed their heads off! It's a spoof of all those other horror films you've either seen (or in my case, heard of).

Damn funny stuff!!!
It seems there has been a lot of bad reviews about this film. I think most of the reviewers here wanted a classic, instead got a lemon instead. I never heard of it, until I bought it for $3.00 at Big Lots on a whim. And it was worth it. This film is funny as hell and just as over the top. Sure, this film is B-movie level, but it is fun to watch. I have been watching horror films for 30 years, and I've seen many bad movies... and "Botched" is not that bad. Somewhat cheesy, but still worth a view and a few chuckles... Check it out, you won't regret it!

Don't Bother if You Don't Have a Sense of Humor
First off this movie isn't to be taken seriously. It's a quirky, silly horror-comedy so if you expect something serious then you don't need to bother with this film.

Botched is about an American thief in Russia (Stephen Dorff) who teams up with two Russian brothers to rob a highrise. They soon get trapped by who they think are the cops but when heads starting flying off and people start getting hacked they realize they've made a mistake.

While trying to devise a plan of escape the three robbers meet up with an elevator of people who they take hostage. After that some of the hostages are picked off one by one by a crazed barbarian serial killer and from there this cute comedy springs some surprising and hilarious twists.

I was shocked I enjoyed this movie because I didn't expect much. I love to laugh and this film got some good chuckles from me. It's not award-winning material of course but it keeps you entertained. This is one of those films just to...

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Tovarisch, I Am Not Dead

surprising, fascinating
A WWII story that is more nuanced than the stories of Nazis, refugees, heroes or death camp victims. It was fascinating. I will definitely be watching again.





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Fun And Fancy Free

Only the best movie that I have ever seen
Okay, I have been reading the other reviews on this movie, and they all say things like "went on for too long"..."Way overhyped"...and things like that. I beg to differ. The two movies in this wonderful DVD, Bongo and Mickey and the Beanstalk, are two family classics. As a child, I watched these two movies (on VHS, of course) over and over and over again. Willy the Giant characterizes my childhood in three words..."Potroast! Chocolate potroast!" And now, I know for a fact that my two little brothers have memorized the whole movie of Mickey and the Beanstalk. I don't want to ramble on forever, but I just want to say that these two are the best movies that I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of movies.

One of Disney's most under-rated classics.
Actually, unknown might be a better word to use. This movie is rollicking fun from beginning to end, and features some wonderful animated moments. This is the original home of the featurettes "Mickey and the Beanstalk" and "Bongo", which are presented in their entirety. If you're looking for something a little different... an alternative to the animated Broadway musical... this is it. Highly recommended.

Might not be the version you remember...
If like a lot of people you first saw "Mickey & the Beanstalk" not in theaters but on television (usually preceding a feature, like "Dumbo") you are in for a bit of a surprise.

This DVD contains the theatrical version, where the animation is interspersed with live-action footage of people at a party, who are "telling" the story. This also means the wonderfully soothing TV-version narration (provided by Sterling Halloway, also voice of Pooh) is gone. The end result is that the cartoon drags on unnecessarily as the action is constantly interrupted by the live-action segments. Additionally, the live actors tend to get a bit chatty with their narration, and some of the humor they try to inject hasn't aged well. With the capacity of the DVD medium, why couldn't the TV version be tacked on as an extra?

Still worth owning (the beautiful animation and music can't be derailed even by the mediocre live action footage)--but be warned.

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8:46

A Well-Intentioned 9/11 Short That Juggles A Lot Of Characters Affected By Tragedy
With the best of intentions, it's almost impossible to be critical of Jennifer Gargano's short feature "8:46." Documenting a diverse cross section of characters on the day before, as well as the morning of, the tragic events of 9/11/2001, the film seeks to be a tribute to everyone affected by that fateful day. It's a lofty goal for such a small picture! Lacking any real budget and running shy of an hour, the film boasts an impressively large cast. We meet dozens and dozens of characters (some we revisit, some we don't) for one to three minute intervals of everyday life on September Tenth. Then everyone is reunited for the tragedy at 8:46 the next morning. Police, Firefighters, workers in the first tower, workers in the second tower, people on the planes, relatives with family members in peril, people in neighboring areas--just about everyone gets a bit of screen time. It's an interesting approach, but also somewhat distancing. Gargano attempts to juggle a lot in fifty...

A DIFFERENT WAY OF SEEING 9-11
At first I thought that this was going to be one of the eyewitness accounts of that day, but instead it was a movie. I really liked the way it was done.
I think that it just shows how it affected so many innocent people just going about their daily lives and then normal was over.
It just shows how something or someone can be taken from you in the blink of an eye and when you least expect it.

Completely and totally missed the mark
I know it isn't okay to give a movie about 9/11 a one star rating but this movie is so bad I had to. I get what the writer/ director was going for, she obviosly wanted to portray victims of the attacks in their final moments, illuminating the horror and tragedy of that morning. However, this movie reads like a cheesy, true a amateur attempt to play of the shared experience of anyone who remembers that day. The acting is bad, the writing is worse, and the passing is painfully slow. I honestly don't understand how this movie received the acclaim it did, except that it isn't okay to give bad reviews to movies about 9/11. I'll be brave enough to say it: this movie is awful, just awful.

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Endurance

An Enduring Story
Endurance is not a movie about distance running. While many people, especially runners, would disagree with this statement, a critical look reveals a simple, multi-layered film that deals with the universal story of a hero overcoming hardships and obstacles to achieve a dream.

What makes Endurance most satisfying, however, is that this is no myth. Haile's life is shown from childhood to adulthood through the use of simple, stark images that vividly portray the elements that melded together a man of uncommon focus, faith, and yes, endurance. We understand the how's and why's of Haile's development without being didactically bludgeoned by the director.

The use of Haile and his family as actors lends not only a certain authenticity to the semi-documentary look but also adds an endearing naiveté to the performances. We see people who have actually lived the roles they are playing. And Bud Greenspan's scenes of the 1996 10,000m Olympic final are surely the best...

Inspiring true story
This is the story of Haile Gebreselassie, considered by many in distance running circles to be one of the best distance runners of all time. It does a great job of showing what life was really like for Geb as a child in Ethiopia and where the work ethic that took him to the top came from. Many people wonder why the Africans are so far ahead of the rest of the world in distance running. I think this shows that it is about the culture. Geb looked at Miritus Yifter, another Olympic gold medalist from Ethiopia, as a hero when he was a kid. He then took the work ethic instilled in him as a kid and used that to chase his dream of becoming Ethiopia's next hero.

Many runners were eagerly anticipating this release. However, I think it has a great story for everyone, whether you are the next Geb or you have never run a step. It is a true story of a man overcoming difficult circumstances to become the best in the world.

Real Runners Will Love This!
This is about the life of one of the best distance runners of all time! It is great because Haile Gebreselassie plays himself. Anyone who is serious about running will really enjoy this inspiring story. It is great for all ages. Since Haile plays himself, the acting is slow in some places. However, the clips of the 1996 Olympics 10,000m makes the entire movie worth it!

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Gas Pump Girls

Best GPG transfer ever from Amazon and MGM
I am the director of this movie.From the time of its original release on VHS in 1980.it has been hard for me to enjoy it....bad transfers from from 16mm print...Even the laser disk looked like mud. I obtained a good copy a few years ago when it showed on cable ....but the dvd was 1.33 instead of the theatrical release 1.85.....This new release is a perfect transfer in 16.9 (for widescreen tv) with rich colors and and perfect sharp picture quality that enhances the film.The sound has also been enhanced and adds to the experience...If you like 70s drive in movies that are funny and kinda sexy..you finally have a copy of Gas Pump Girls that looks even better than it did on screen in this transfer Joel Bender PS its the new release DVD from Amazon and mgm ...with the three girls with their back turned bending over a car....and the mgm limited edition logo center top.Now you wont have a heart attack .It looks great.Sorry some of the other reviewers didn't get this transfer first.

Finally a DVD release of a drive-in exploitation classic!!
I first saw this film at a drive-in theatre in Georgia in 1979. The original pre-release title was to be "Super Duper Service Station". I also owned the VHS video release at one time. I never thought it would finally ever be released on DVD!! It stars Kirsten (not Kristen as it says on the front cover of the DVD's sleeve!!) Baker who was later seen as "Terri", one of the short-lived summer camp counselors in "Friday the 13th Part 2". It co-stars three old familiar faces, Huntz Hall of "The Bowery Boys", Joe E. Ross from t.v.'s "Car 54 Where Are You?" and Mike Mazurki. The film is fun and pleasant to watch. If you love the old drive-in exploitation films, then I can highly recommend "Gas Pump Girls". Three stars for the film but I am afraid only one for the quality of the DVD transfer. Could and should have been much better. A real shame.

Giggles and Jiggles from the 1970's.
I know in the IMDB this movie is listed with a release year of 1979 but plenty of the jokes are from the early 20th century. The story and dialogue read like the producers hired some dirty old men who had once possibly worked in a vaudeville theater, possibly as janitors, to expand a porn script into a full length feature film suitable for drive-in theaters. Seriously, many of the jokes sound like something your creepy Grandpa Joe would tell down t the VFW post when Joey Heatherton would pop in on the Merv Griffin Show.

That might explain why there are so many dirty old men in the beginning of this movie. In one scene, during a high school graduation ceremony, a bunch of girls have their gowns torn off as part of a prank, revealing their Good & Plenty's. All the guys in the audience start hooting and hollering, even the old dudes. This means that even if they weren't hooting at their topless daughters, they were still hooting at their topless daughters topless best...

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