Sunday, October 13, 2013

Balanced Assets with Gin Miller



Unique workout incorporating optional use of balance/toning-type footwear
NOTE: I received a free copy of this DVD to review for the web site Metapsychology Online Reviews; you can read a more complete version of my review on that site.

In this DVD, veteran fitness instructor Gin Miller has incorporated a relatively new type of fitness gadget into the workout. Miller and her accomplice (Sharon Seagrave, a former Olympic athlete who shows modifications of the exercises), are wearing MBT shoes, a type of sneaker with a rocker sole which provides a balance challenge (e.g., MBT Sport Womens Fitness Shoes Grey 35 2/3 6)--I actually wore my Skechers Women's Shape-Ups Toners-Ultra-Brite Sneaker for this workout).

Not only does Miller emphasize that she is not being paid to promote MBTs, but also she maintains that the shoes are not necessary for the workout. In her brief Introduction, she offers...





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Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh!



A collection of short, computer-animated stories with common theme of adapting to difficult weather
Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh! is the latest children's DVD in the widely beloved Thomas the Tank Engine series, in which Thomas and his friends embark on rainy-day adventures. A collection of short, computer-animated stories with common theme of adapting to difficult weather, Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh! is a cheery and upbeat video sure to delight young people. Bonus features include "Counting with Thomas" and a "Lift & Load Crane Game". 46 min., closed-captioned, full-screen, English/Spanish/French language options.

Fun, Animated Thomas fun!
My sons and I love this DVD. First off it is full screen CGI Animation, which means it contains 3D computer graphics. This Thomas DVD is actually animated rather than its usual its usual live action and models show. Aidan really got a kick out of it because it was different than the other Thomas DVDs we have. Splish Splash Splosh also features a new host, Driver Perkins, who can only be seen on this DVD so it was nice to see a new train character. Throughout the DVD, there is lots of excitement, great morals, and wet fun! Overall, this DVD is definitely our new favorite Thomas adventure mostly because of the awesome animation. It is 46 minutes of Thomas fun and was just released earlier this month. Great DVD for new or old Thomas fans, but once you watch the animated Thomas DVDs, the old ones may seem a little boring.

I'll soon need a wash!
Splish! Splash! Splosh! I'll soon need a wash!

That's the one line you will remember after watching this DVD! Thomas learns how to splash in mud puddles. (You're kids will know now as well. Mine did, and sploshed the wife, who was not too happy...)

This DVD is CGI, with live-action interludes. You will watch an episode, then cut back to Knapford Station with Mr Perkins, then head out on another journey.

Personally, I liked Mr Arkwright better than Perkins. Arkwright had more energy and emotion. Perkins, well, just seemed to be earning a check really.

Oh, and hope you like opera. I won't spoil it for you.

This is a good addition to your kids' Thomas library.

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The Ministers [Blu-ray]



Overall a Disappointment. Worth a dollar at RedBox.....maybe
Considering the two major stars and intriguing plot synopsis, I expected a lot more from this movie than it delivered. It had a low budget feel and many technical errors in plot and editing that were confusing and amateurish. John Leguizamo did a good job with the dual part of twins, one disfigured by fire, both on a quest for revenge against slumlords and crooked cops, but they hardly represent a "secret shrouded religious order" as promised in the plot synopsis. Instead, they are merely two bickering brothers living in a crummy apartment, occasionally "shrouding" their faces with ridiculous fright wigs. Harvey Keitel does a fair job with what he is given, but he isn't given much. This is miles away from his performance in "The Bad Lieutenant", and not all of the blame lies with Harvey. Indeed, the character he portrays and his overall performance are entirely forgettable.

Why is the "dirty cop" part necessary? It has no bearing on the story. Why is everyone always angry,...

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.
This little indie is the second movie John Leguizamo produced and stared in for Franc Reyes, the other being Empire, Reyes first film.
When I first saw the movie poster...I though...meh...they are trying to capitalize on the Boondock Saints 2 that hit theaters around the same time, but because I love Johnny Legz and Harvey Keitel...I figured I would give this a shot. While there are slight similarities between the two films THE MINISTERS is no Boondock Saints..and that is a good thing. It is original, and visceral in it's own right. The story is a large one that spans decades but is crammed into a one hour and twentyfive minute film, because of this it seems like the writing is rushed...or perhaps it is the editing which makes the film feel a bit rushed... I guess Reyes does not have the clout to pull of a 3 hour flick yet in his career...this film could have been allot better with more time spent on character development and story arch. That being said I do not think this...

Modern Day Robin Hood
From the box @ the rental store, I'd assume that this was about intrigue within the church. However, the story is quite different. John Leguizamo turns in a solid performance as two twin brothers, Dante and Perfecto Mendoza. Orphaned due to a landlord's placing assets over people, they embark on a vigilante mission against wrong-doing fat cats. There's a bit of a modern-day Robin Hood feel, albeit the brothers execute rather than rob. Celeste Santana plays a cop whose policeman father was gunned down. She falls in love with the brother who was not disfigured by fire. The story unravels bit by bit as the hidden relationships and conflicts bubble to the surface. Harvey Keitel plays the partner Joe Bruno. Wanda DeJesus gives a nice performance as Captain Diaz. While not a classic, this is a strong character-driven crime drama. Enjoy!

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Deadline



You Can't Look Away
For one thing, this must have been one of Brittany Murphy's last movies (and in knowing that, she appears to be very ill.) There is a memorable scene where she looks through a glass door and pauses for a moment in closing it, and there is just this very final, haunting look on her face. If you like spooky, morbid, suspenseful thrillers that are more about making you jump than grossing you out with blood and gore, you will love this movie! An author, Alice goes to stay at an old house for one week to write. Her friend, Rebecca drives Alice to the house and takes the car back with her. Later, Rebecca lets Alice know that her violent ex-boyfriend, Ben is out of jail and may be looking for her. Alice begins hearing noises in the house and comes across some videotapes in the attic of a disturbed couple (Lucy and David.) She becomes absorbed in their story. When she finds the last tape and Rebecca tells her that Lucy and David were never found and are considered missing, Alice suddenly...

Strictly a Genre Flick
"Deadline" is a dark atmospheric thriller, recalling "Skeleton Key" and "A Haunting." Brittany Murphy plays a somewhat young and out-of-sorts artist who moves into a large, empty house with a dark creepy past. She moves there alone, conveniently, to escape a past abusive boyfriend.

ALl goes well for a few hours, then strange noises begin to happen. Objects move about with no explanation. Video footage of the young couple who once lived in the house is found by Murphy in the attic of the house. It is eventually revealed in flashbacks that there was some sinister activities in the house in the years that had passed. Surprise!! The 'twist' in the end is not much of a twist at all, and Murphy looks spaced out and dazed throughout the film (kind of how she looked in "Don't say a Word," only a decade or so older.) Needless to say, this role is no stretch for Murphy.

Thora Birch is creepy and believable as the ghost woman in the flashbacks, and her performance creates...

Decent but Flawed
I didn't go into this movie expecting much considering the cover and it seemed the same as a million other ghost movies I have seen in the past 10 years. Throughout viewing this movie I was dissappointed and entralled.

Brittany Murphy plays as a screenwriter who has just moved into a creepy, old mansion to complete her new script. The movie is filled with odd sounds and bumps in the night, which was glorified in the original Shirley Jackson classic, "The Haunting".

About less than midway in the film Murphy finds a collection of home videos of the previous owners. Of course she watches her find and becomes obsessed. On tape is the documentation of a disgruntled married couple, played by Thora Birch and Marc Blucas. Quickly, she discovers there are frightening similarities between Thora and herself. Brittany discovers later that Thora is murdered and her ghost still haunts the estate.

At first, this movie moves like an Asian horror film, its creepy and...

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Robbie Williams Show



ok.
Very good!!! Album came sealed! Everything is perfect! I am your buyer! Was a good choice! Happy Easter! yours Radu

Robbie does it again
I have always been a fan of Robbie Williams . This dvd has some wonderful songs that I really like. Any DVD from Robbie is always great as he is such an amazing entertainer. Too bad he never made it big in the US.



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Modern Marvels: Saloons



Very Nice
Very nicely done and very informative. It contained more information than we expected it to. You don't realize how little you really know about a subject until you watch one of these.





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Johnny Test: Extreme Johnny



Great cartoon. But we're getting ripped off with these short DVDs
Johnny Test is one of the better cartoons to come along in the last decade. And there's a dearth of good cartoons that aren't just for little kids. (I hate the dumbed down stuff, it is unwatchable)

But we're being ripped off by Warner Brothers on these DVDs.

They only hold 6 "stories" which is 3 episodes. Johnny Test ran for 3 seasons of 13 episodes, so it will take us forever to get a complete set.

But wait, there's more. In the UK, they've already released the complete first season, or 13 episodes (26 "stories"). This is more than they've released in the US!!

You can't play that on a US DVD player, you'd have to have one of those special DVD players that plays all "regions".

Those crooked corporations did the same thing to Jane and the Dragon. They can get an entire set Down Under, but not here.

I hate big corporations when they do this. Amazon should use their buying power to beat up these corporations until...

purchased for grandson
He really enjoyed it, watching it several times. He enjoys the action in the dvd and really likes the Johnny Test character.

Great!
Came in record time. case was busted, but I only paid $3 for the movie so didn't expect it in perfect condition. I would def buy from them again.

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Rescue Me: Season 5, Volume 2



Best Show On TV
I was kind of worried after watching season 4 it wasn't as good as the first 3 seasons. I feared the show had reached it's peak. Season 5 shot that idea down quick,fast,and in a hurry! I am currently working in Iraq (not in the milatary)so I don't get to see them til they come out on DVD. I was disappointed when I saw it was only 1 of 2. But I got the first so late I didn't have too long before to 2nd was out. Back to the review everything you loved about seasons 1-3 is back. The action,drama,and most of all comedy is back and better than ever. You will be glad you didn't give up on the series. A must have for anyone who likes a show.

Best show on fx
This season has to be my favorite so far. I loved the sheild and 24 but this show and hbo carnivale have the best writting ever. Get the dvds and you will see what I am talking about.

rescue me season5 volume2
I really enjoy this series. This dvd came in great shape,and in a timely manner. was very pleased with this purchase.

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Thomas & Friends: Carnival Capers



DVD fine...service stinks!
The Thomas DVD was as expected, our 2 year old grandson loved it. But the vender left much to be desired. The shipment toke an unacceptable amount of time to arrive, almost 2 weeks. It missed the intended birthday altogether. To boot...the vendor combined 2 shipments into one undersized package but stil charged us two full shipping charges. Made a "note to self",never deal with them again!!





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Clifford the Big Red Dog: Be My Big Red Valentine



not the best clifford
My daughter loves the clifford books. I thought this one had an odd story line. Not my favorite of the ones we have.





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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Wanted Dead Or Alive-Season 1 Volume 1



Bounty-ous!
MILL CREEK's WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE (Season !, Vol. 1) consists of two discs stored in black paper sleeves with round glassine windows on one side for easy viewing. Both DVDs are single-side recorded. They're housed in a sturdy plastic case. No episode titles or details given and no booklet insert included.

Transfers are fine quality and not over-compressed. Opening and closing credits, plus original theme music are intact. Shows run consecutively, beginning with the CBS-TV premiere half-hour.

If this collection pleases you, there's more good news. MILL CREEK has made available WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE: THE COMPLETE SERIES. That's 40 hours of classic TV westerns for one incredibly low price!

PROGRAM:
(Episode #, title, original airdate, guest stars)

[_#1] The Martin Poster (9/6/58) - Nick Adams/Michael Landon/Jennifer Lea/Dabbs Greer
[_#2] Fatal Memory (9/13/58) -...

Steve McQueen is a classic
I enjoy old westerns and Steve McQueen is a classic and always a pleasure to watch. I'd recommend this anytime veiwing.



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Prince & The Surfer



A wickedly entertaining update of Twain's classic story!!!
Went to a screening of the movie with my two kids (my daughter(age 7) and my son (age 11) and we all loved it!!! It is funny, touching and reminded me of the kind of movies I loved as a child. Robert Englund is excellent as the bad guy and former screen icon, Jennifer O'Neal is touching as a queen from a magical country. After the movie, I told my children about the original Twain classic and they immediately wanted to read it themselves. Let me say that anytime a movie makes children want to read the source material, it makes a movie worth watching. Go see it!!!

Fantastic entertainment for the whole family!
For those who are looking for classy family entertainment that still includes fun, adventure, and a healthy dose of romance, this is the movie for you! This is so much more than a simple "remake" of the Twain classic. In this story, the expected switch between the Prince (a teenaged visitor from the country of Gelfland) and the Surfer (Cash Canty, a rambunctious yet thoroughly modern Southern California kid) is just the beginning. Director Arye Gross and writer Gregory Poppen then thrust our heroes even deeper into the other's world by adding two key characters: Lady Galina, the spoiled young woman betrothed to Prince Edward, and Melissa "Mel" Hendon, Cash Canty's beautiful but tough-as-nails friend on the boardwalk. In addition, there is a "Roman Holiday"-like romance that blossoms between Cash Canty's father Johnny (Timothy Bottoms), and Edward's mother Queen Albertina (Jennifer O'Neill). And finally, an insidious traitor (Minister...

Way cool fun!
I rented this movie for my whole family to watch, because there aren't too many opportunities for some wholesome family fun anymore in this crazy, violent world. I gotta say, it was hilarious! Mark Twain would be prouder than a peach! My two little girls thought the star was quite a hunk, and little Donnie talked like a prince for a week. I hope the star takes up a modern send-up of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" next! In two words, this movie was "Toooootally rad!" Surfers definitely rule!

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Broken Arrow



Travolta's Ultra-Cool Villainy
A vast improvement over "Hard Target" (1993), director John Woo finds his Hollywood niche in this fast-paced thriller. Though it doesn't match the kinetic flair of Woo's Hong Kong epics, "Broken Arrow" (1996) delivers plenty of serial-style action while utilizing the Southern Utah landscape to striking effect. The film's raison d'

Barney: Please & Thank You



Great
It is clear and concise for the young ones. My grandaughter absolutely loves it. She's learnt alot from this dvd.

Excellent!
This Barney is great. It is a couple of segments put together. My 2 year old and I love it!

Love the music!
Now my 3-year old definitely does not like Barney as much as Gavin, my 18 month old. Gavin loves the music and singing and I love the great Barney themes. He teaches the importance of manners, playing nice with others, and more! There are 19 Barney songs throughout the DVD, with my favorite "Clean Up." Honestly, Barney is not one of my favorites to watch, but he does teach good values and the music is catchy. It is also cute because the DVD begins with Baby Bop forgetting her manners, and Barney teaches the importance of being polite. I think this DVD would be great for kids as young as 1 years old and it is basically a great collection of Barney favorites. It is 65 minutes long which I think is just right.

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Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus



Barbie is back to simpler story lines - kind of mix of Rapunzel/swan lake
How wonderful this movie is out in New Zealand already! This was good on two levels, my 3 year old daughter was entranced by it, and it had a clear story line to follow. It reminded me a bit of Rapunzel and Swan Lake maybe it was the flying horse? But a strong heroine again - it also returned to the use of classical music which I enjoyed listening to in the background.

All Princess Annika wants to do is skate, but her parents don't approve. Even so she sneaks out and does it - only Wenlock, an evil wizard hears about her beauty and comes to find her to take her for his bride. She resists and to force her to marry him Wenlock enchants her family setting them in ice as statues along with all the villagers. Annika is saved by a winged horse (her sister Brietta under enchantment). She has three days to try to find the key to breaking the spell - or the people and her parents will stay as statues forever. Along the way she finds love (in the form of the penitent Aidan who has...

Worst of the Barbie movies
This is definitely the worst of the Barbie series. I was leery at first about any of them, but the first three (Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Rapunzel) were good. A bit sugary but nothing offensive in them. This one however ... The heroine sneaks out and deliberately disobeys her parents on several occasions, yells at them disrepectfully and is generally smartmouthed. The hero (Aidan) is just as bad. Even the animated looks they give sometimes, turns my stomach as a mom. I wouldn't recommend this movie to little girls ... especially if they like to repeat what they hear! Screen it first.

YES! YOU DO HAVE THE OPTION OF TURNING OFF 3-D effects!
SUPER SUPER movie. My nieces love it! YES! YOU DO HAVE THE OPTION OF TURNING OFF 3-D effects!

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Sing Along With Barbie



Barbie "Phones it in"
Pro: Three stars because my daughter loves this and anything Barbie

Con:

Given this DVD costs as much as any Barbie Movie I was really disappointed.

I expected Karaoke style music videos. Instead the first 2/3rds of the DVD is simply clips from the movie with words.

By clips I don't mean that the DVD strings together clips of the movies to make a music video. That's what I expected and there are some videos like that on the last part of the DVD.

Instead Barbie exerted as little effort as possible and just copied the section of the movie with the song. The problem with this is that the non-song parts of the movie are also included. For example if anyone was speaking during the singing in the movie, they are speaking during the video (complete with text on-screen). This is very disconcerting to be singing the song with barbie and then all of a sudden the DVD is telling you to say whatever the evil Witch or two alternate life style...

Fun with a Few Quirks
I love the Barbie DVDs so when I was given the new "Sing Along with Barbie" DVD to review I was excited! Though not put together as well as it could have been, it still is entertaining.

Twelve Barbie songs comprise this DVD which is basically 12 scenes ripped from some of our favorite Barbie movies like "The Island Princess," "Barbie and the Three Musketeers," "Barbie and the Diamond Castle," "The Princess and the Pauper" and a few more.

My seven year old daughter was able to follow along with the purple highlighted words, like you'd do in karaoke, though we did notice when there was a duet, it was harder to follow. We did figure out that the second singer's lyrics were on the bottom, but my son pointed out it would have been better if the words were highlighted a different color. One negative is that since the songs are scenes from the movie, there is talking involved and that talking is also highlighted across the screen as if the subtitles were just turned on,...

Barbie DVD's Are Incredible
It was a great idea, putting many of the songs on one DVD. My granddaughter sits and watches and sings for long periods of time. She loves all the songs from the movies and practically has them all memorized, so even though she can't read yet, she still knows most of the words. Nothing compares to the Barbie movies in creativity, vidid, beautiful color and characters.

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Barney: Be My Valentine



Barney!
Barney always keeps the kids occupied!!! Love how they use their imagination! My four year old daughter loves this Valentine's Barney movie!

Great movie
My kids love Barney and this movie did not let them down!!! They watched it over and over again, and stayed entertained everytime!



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Thomas & Friends: Engines and Escapades



Cute
I like the new setting in the mountains for this "alternate" "indie" :-) railroad for the narrow gauge engines! it's fun and well made altough my toddler misses more appearances of the traditional engines.

If you are a thomas fan you will love it.
My son loves it because he likes thomas stories they are short and there are 3 or more stories in one dvd. He has a thomas train track and table set. so he totally love and enjoy watching the dvds.

a must have
A traditional Thomas DVD that's a must for the Thomas lover... No scary episodes, and not computer animated... Too cute...

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I Can Do Bad All By Myslf Film



I Can Do Bad All By Myself (Full Screen Edition)
When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April's basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith and even true love. I have all of Tyler Perry's movies and plays, and this movie is very entertaining. No one does it better but Tyler Perry.

Loved It
Once again Tyler Perry has blessed us with another screen banger. I love Tyler Perry because he is always able to bring it home. I can't even began to put in words how much I love this move.
Twisted Obsession

Good Story, Same Perry
This is another excellent movie in the Tyler Perry collection. While it keeps you pulled in, you can't help but to realize that the story is similar to most of the other Perry movies. There's always the abused woman who finally realizes how bad her life is, takes action and ultimately finds true love. The rest of the intense moments and story are just padding for the rest of the movie.
Don't get me wrong, they're great movies, but they're starting to become predictable due to the same direction they always seem to go. It's definitely worth a watch and is way better than some of the other trash out there in the movie store.

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Ca$h



Most Fun Low-Budget Movie in Years
If you're looking for great acting and amazing dialogue, this movie isn't for you. But if you're looking for a kick-ass black comedy reminiscent of the earlier work of Robert Rodriguez and Guy Ritchie, this is a must-watch.

When I read other positive reviews about this movie, shot with a budget of only $50,000, I was convinced that people were paid to compare it to Tarantino's first movies. Now, I'm a true believer in Director Sam Akina, who was in his late 20's when shooting Ca$h.

I think all of us are used to being let down with low-budget movies a la Redbox. But keep in mind that El Mariachi, the film that launched the career of Robert Rodriguez, was shot for only $7,000 back in 1992. Ca$h has the same visual style as El Mariachi, including the well-choreographed gunplay scenes. It also reminds me of character-driven movies like Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Mexican bosses, Vietnamese gangsters, Mafioso and Jewish wiseguys create a...

Kudos to the director for a fun film & good laughs!
I recorded this off of Encore thinking my roommate would like it, and we laughed our arses off at the totally gratuitous violence, campy dialogue, and fun story. Rather watch this kind of thing than slick Hollywood special effects any day! Do yourself a favor and rent or buy this, then get your friends together for a meal, lots of beer and smokes and you'll have a great time! Props Sam Akino!

OOPS. THIS THING HAS A HAIR TRIGGER.
Thom Doty stars as Cash in this improbable grindhouse. Cash, who was a "throw away baby" gets released from jail. His sole purpose in life is to get revenge on drug czar, club owner, and bad guy Hector Gonzales (Jerry Lloyd) who had double crossed him during a bank robbery. Meanwhile Gonzales is in a turf war with other syndicates.

Cash stops at nothing to get his revenge, killing and destroying everything in his way. The acting was typical grindhouse with the usual fun tough guy statements such as "What are you going to do? Kill us all?" The film includes plenty of killing, blood, and a decapitation. For those who like inane grindhouse action, this one has it. Doty has the toughness of Seagal, but the delivery of Austin. How tough? Check out his shoulder after he was stabbed and walked around with a knife in it. Looks like a small healed scar.

F-bomb, n-word, implied sex, no full nudity (dancers, g-strings, pasties).

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Amreeka



Incredibly Accurate
For someone who grew up in the West Bank and moved to Illinois, I was amazed at how accurate this film is and how it included so many little details that were right on the money. This movie was able to capture so many emotions and the humanity of this entire experience. Honestly, I have never seen anything so close to my experience. This essentially is the story of my life. This accurately describes my experience and journey from the West Bank to Chicago.

every high school teacher should see this!
As there is so little responsible, empathic depictions of Arabs and especially Palestinians in the current media, this movie is a breath of fresh air. It accurately and endearingly shows the adjustment struggle of an Arab family to North America. I thought the high school scenes were poignant reminders of how high school classes need to be taught as if they were representations of the outside/"real" world - not free for all zones where you can say anything and not be held responsible! Everyone needs to learn "civilised" behavior,or else we all pay the consequences. I liked that they spoke real Arabic in Amreeka - did you know that alot of Hollywood Arabic is just gobeltygook? How disrespectful! Maybe we can start actually seeing Arabs in film as people, and not the stereotype that gives us permission to project our disowned feelings onto - what a concept! This movie moves us forward!

Charming, Funny and Genuine, but Ends Abruptly
This is a movie about a middle-aged woman from Palestine whose husband has abandoned her and their teenage son. Realizing that her working life in Palestine is a dead-end, and worrying about her son's prospects for the future, she decides to move to America. Most of the movie is spent following the main character's life in the United States.

The characters are absolutely believable. Bravo to the actors, old and young, who brought these characters to life. The writing avoids the obvious stereotypes which plague Hollywood productions, and provides a rich mixture of humor and drama. Obviously, the situation in Palestine is a foundation for this movie, but other themes are well-explored: being middle-aged and underestimated by others, the tribulations of adolescence, and the difficulties faced by anyone who finds themselves in a new homeland.

The one failing of this movie (and the only thing preventing me from giving it 5 stars) is that its plot has a beginning...

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Friday, October 11, 2013

Fame



Really only a tease..
I was excited to go see this movie, and really did not know what to expect.
This would have made a much better new TV series than a movie. I would love to see it fleshed out as a TV series and get some real developement in characters and plot.
Unfortuntely it fell into that unsasifactory category where you saw most of the best dancingsinging parts on the theatrical teasers so you are left with virtually no WOW factors sitting and watching it in the theatre.

I was expecting more dancing and singing in the movie as a whole, but found that aspect to be disappointingly skimpy, with few actual "full" musical numbers.

I do not think they fleshed out any defining plot and came across aimless. I do not think they developed any one set of characters enough to hook you into any of the many moments they crammed into one film. They also Cliched too much in this movie. The Characters, the "hardships" the hook-ups most of which felt forced to fit a formula for...

A pleasant and entertaining film but nothing memorable
When I think of the movie "Fame", I think of the song that still lingers in my mind from the original 1980 film. All I remember about it though was that it was about teenagers coming of age at the High School of Performing arts in New York City.

Yesterday I saw the 2009 version in a theater. The story was familiar but it seemed rather sanitized. And the only modern touches it had were some slight references to YouTube and texting. The stories of the individual students seemed stereotyped and have been done a million times before. There were a few poignant moments and some of the actors, although excellent, seemed a little old for their roles.

I spent the entire film waiting to hear the song "Fame" which still lingers in my mind after all these years. I had to wait until the very end, during the credits, to hear it though. And even though there were good production numbers throughout, there was nothing else memorable that I would feel like humming. I...

Good But Not As Good As The Original
The remake was good but I didn't enjoy it as much as the original movie. I cared about Coco, Leroy, Doris, Bruno and the other characters in the first movie. I also bought the soundtrack. But I didn't get so caught up in the new characters lives while trying to become famous. I didn't even buy the new soundtrack.

However, it was worth seeing just to see/hear Megan Mullally sing. She is very talented, not only as an actor but a singer. It was good to see Debbie Allen again. She was in the original movie and TV series.

There were some great actors to watch, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth, who outshone the young cast. I found myself wanting to know more about them than the students.

The dancing was fun to watch and the music was good but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did the original. Sometimes, a remake just isn't as good.

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Halloween II (Theatrical Edition)



Laurie's crazy and someone even hits a cow
The Amazonites have spoken and this movie got killed, lambasted by some as 'the worst Halloween movie', though there's no way it can approach the horror of the botched Curse or the Busta-Rhymes-was-the-best-part Resurrection.

I'm still not sure why this was given an August '09 release rather than...October/Halloween. Presumably, they didn't want to run up against the latest Saw offering, and perhaps they sensed the buzz of Paranormal Activity. Instead, they ran it against The Final Destination 3D, which still fared better.

Folks seem to love or hate the Rob Zombie Halloween excursions. Say this about Zombie...he is a horror movie fan and he tries something more personal this time around. Yes, we all know and (presumably) love the original Halloween II, where Michael Myers stalks Laurie in the eerily empty corridors of Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. And yes, we all know that it was revealed that Laurie was, in fact, Michael's sister, a plot twist conceived by...

Unrelenting and Brutal
So much hate against this movie, and why? The theatrical version may be a little soft but this unrated cut is the most unrelenting and brutal movie Ive ever seen. There is nothing nice hiding in this movie. And I love it! In this version Laurie is messed up beyond repair and a total bitch to everyone she loves. More realistic considering what she went through in the first movie. Michael has been living off the land recovering from a gun shot to the face for the last 2 years until Baby...Mom says its time to go home. This is the way Michael was destined to be portrayed. Forget the naysayers who think they know good horror. They probably gave garbage like The Ring 5 stars. So anyways give it a shot and be prepared for a look into true evil!

Rob Zombie's rambling fan-fic continues...
First we are treated to a 20 minute psych-out as Zombie creates a homage to Rick Rosenthal's original sequel, leading us to think this may be another rehash, but no it's all a dream. Boo.

However, you think things might be ok, since Zombie appears to be wanting to go his own way this time and create something original. Unfortunately he has almost nothing original to add.

Zombie tries to go artsy with these visitations from Myers dead mother. (glowing white like some sort of angel and being followed about by a white horse) I'm assuming this is just Myers mental state and not a real ghost...since I have no idea why Myers mother would come back and direct her son to kill people...unless Zombie just couldn't help channeling Jason Voorhees once again into this thing. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it seems that Zombie really should have done a Friday the 13th reboot. He seems to love those mother-son/abusive childhood elements.

Otherwise he...

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Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You Special Edition



For parents looking for a valentine's based video for their children, this is a good/safe release for them!
With "Valentine's Day" just around the corner, "Winnie the Pooh - A Valentine For You: Special Edition" is a re-release of the previous 2004 DVD "Winnie the Pooh - Un-Valentine's Day/A Valentine for You" but this time around, new to DVD comes the episode "My Hero" from the animated TV series "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" and Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Piglet Valentines day cards (six total). Also, this new 2010 release does not include the bad menu selection and introduction to the episodes that many were dissatisfied with in the 2004 release.

The first episode "A Valentine For You" (duration: 22:06) was a Valentine's Day special from 1999. In the 100 Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh and his friends watch Christopher Robbin writing a Valentine's Day letter to a girl. When owl tells them that he is love sick and has the love bug, Winne the Pooh and friends misinterpret owl's explanation as if Christopher is sick and now they feel that they must help him through his...

Short, Sappy, and Missing Something
This video is long on sappy and short on time. Pooh and his friends struggle to let Christopher Robin grow up when they discover he is writing a valentine to a GIRL! Will Christopher Robin still love Pooh and his friends? You'll have the answer in about 15 minutes.

Too short for the price
It seems that the advertisements at the beginning of the video are longer than the movie itself! You have to like the story, as cheesy and silly as it is, as it is Pooh. However, for a story that lasts only about 20 minutes, it seems silly to pay such a price. It is enjoyable but may not be worth the buy.

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Brothers at War



Best War Documentary I have seen...and more
This movie was simply amazing...a must see. I saw Gary Sinise being interviewed on Jimmy Fallen's late night show and learned about his support of this film and then caught the Director being interviewed the next day on the news...seemed like a cool movie so I caught it in the theater. Amazing and insightful portrayal of a family's experience with the war. The great thing about this film is that it is unbiased and real from many soldiers and a soldier's families experience...I think anyone that wants to learn more about what our soldiers are sacrificing and what their families are sacrificing to have our soldiers fight for our country should see this film. It's unlike anything I've seen before and is highly entertaining (although it is a documentary). It covers family and soldier struggles and doesn't take any political angles. Overall, a great film. Definitely a top 3 in my book for documentaries...and I've seen a lot.

The real thing
My wife, who kept up the home front as this Career Marine went three more times to Viet Nam (went once before we married), is convinced that this is the best movie made about the home impact of war. We forget that, while we soldiers can lose ourself in the arena of combat, family and loved ones have to mix their fears and concerns against living in an environment that most of the time doesn't seem aware that there is a war. This film should be a must see for all Americans and especially for anybody thinking about marrying a career military person. I bought it and it is now in my DVD library.

Must see!
Everyone needs to check out this gritty, unbiased look at the affect war can have on us all. Plus you get to see a great piece about my brother, Jason Grundy, in the video. Check it out!

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Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper



Great, even if you are a manly man.
When my wife called me to ask if I minded her getting this video for my three-year-old daughter, I of course told her that it was fine. I knew I would be stuck watching it over and over because my little girl loves to watch things with her daddy. We sat down before bedtime and popped it in the VCR, and I committed myself to being a good daddy and to spending some quality time with my little one. The movie opened with a rip-roaring musical number, and the quality of the computer animation was very impressive. Being a Mark Twain scholar (I did my thesis on Twain), I was expecting a goofy, silly movie adaptation of the story. After all, Barbie is about as interesting to me as fly vomit. However, what I found was a wonder. The story was excellent, but the songs were the best part of the film. The quality of the musical numbers rivals that of any Disney production. The VHS tape came with a CD with all of the major songs on it. My little girl sits and sings them to me and even...

Nicely Done
I just saw this one and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I knew my daughter would love it, but I didn't expect to like it as well. The story was sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My daughter was particularly delighted with the singing. She loves to sing, and musicals lend themselves for repeated encores by my daughter who learns songs faster than I ever could. If you have never watched a Barbie movie, I would recommend you give them a try, especially if you have a little girl in your home. They are much better than what most people who have not watched them think they are. The messages in the movies are positive, and the movies themselves are captivating and well made. As a parent I can say that I do not get as tired of the Barbie movies as I do of most other cartoon movies when forced to watch them repeatedly by my child. That is a big plus in my book. Barbie Princess and the Pauper is a nice follow up film to the other Barbie movies. We look forward to the next...

27yr old Barbie Fan
I am 27 yrs old and i dont have any kids, i am still a kid at heart and I loved Barbie Growing up, in 2001 when the Nutcracker came out i thought wow that looks so cute and the animation looks adorable, and since i grew up w/ Barbie I had to have it. I was hooked after watching it and have been collecting all of the movies. Its so nice to sit in bed and watch a really cute animated barbie movie and it makes u feel like a kid again. I feel so happy at the end of the movies just like i did as a kid. The Princess and the Pauper has a GREAT story to it the characters are adorable, I just loved it. Young or Old everyone can enjoy these movies.

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The Riverman



An Intriguing Look Inside the Mind of the Campus Killer
Recipe: Take Carry Elwes, Bruce Greenwood and Kathleen Quinlan, then add an interesting plot, stir all together for about 90 minutes and then enjoy the end product--a surprisingly good and tasty morsel of a movie.

"The Riverman" is based upon a well written fact based book by Robert Keppel, PhD, the man who interviewed Ted Bundy with the hopes of getting inside Bundy's mind in effort to help find the infamous Green River Killer. The interviews aided the Washington state authorities in the apprehension of Gary Leon Ridgway for nearly 50 murders to a point, however, Keppel's talks with Bundy actually achieved more success in attaining Bundy's motives for his own killings, along with getting Bundy to add closure for several Washington families by confessing to several of the Seattle area's unsolved murders.

This movie could easily have been called "The Campus Killer Interviews" or "A Brief Look Inside the Mind of the Lady Killer" since it was more about Bundy's...

Cary Elwes better than Anthony Hopkins?
From what I remember, it was Ted Bundy who coined the name "Riverman" for the killer of prostitutes in the Seattle area during the 70s and 80s. I guess the name derived from the fact that the then unknown post-Bundy killer liked to dump his victims in the Green River.

Not a bad name given by not such a good guy, but Cary Elwes is fantastic here as the supposedly nastiest serial killer in US history: Ted Bundy. Sure, there have been those that have killed more people, such as Gary Ridgeway -- the actual Riverman himself -- but few that have killed in such a violent fashion such as Bundy. But while Bundy was indeed bad, Mr. Elwes is not, never devolving into caricature as he seems to invade the true psyche of Bundy in this film. I gave the film "Silence of the Lambs" five stars, but I believe that Mr. Elwes was given more realistic dialog here than Anthony Hopkins in that award winning film, and this lesser known actor took advantage of it.

I read the book...

Loved it...
Very creepy and well written, I thought. Cary Elwes was excellent. I haven't read the book, but it is on my wishlist.

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Frontrunner



Dr Massouda Jalal (Frontrunner)
Very interesting film about Dr Massouda Jalal from Afghanistan.

Dr Massouda, an elected delegate from Kabul, has the support of at least 10% of the delegates to stand as head of state and her
candidacy has opened up the election.

An independent woman is standing against the sitting head of state, who has gained the backing of most of the influential civilian figures and the armed factions.

She says that after such a long and bitter civil war, Afghan women form two-thirds of the population.

Two million of them had families and they have suffered the most from the fighting.

She says it is their right to vote and to stand as candidates at the highest level.





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The Hurt Locker



Let's make a realistic movie about real life and see how many people watch it?
Normally I feel this would be irrelevant but in this case I should point out I am a veteran. I should also point out many people tend to exaggerate their combat expertise and experience and just because you wore a uniform doesn't make you an expert on all things military. As I read these reviews I can't help but laugh. Sure, some movies tend to go way over the top in regards to what's realistic or even plausible but there is one caveat that all of the people who are lambasting the movie based on realism are failing to grasp. Realism doesn't sell; if I were to make a movie about the average day for an average soldier no one would watch it. So you say, what about these documentaries that do well financially following soldiers in war zones? Have you ever met anyone who ever acted one hundred percent natural and themselves when they know they are being filmed? I watched this movie and I think it was a very good, entertaining movie and that's what movies are supposed to do, ENTERTAIN. The...

Taut war drama exploring the psychology of soldiering
The movie opens with the quote - "the rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug" (a modern paraphrase of Churchill's older and more famous maxim - "there is nothing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result")

This is a thriller of a movie about a U.S. Army bomb disposal unit in Iraq and their daily grind in dealing with the IEDs and insurgents there.

This movie does have several stars - but Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pierce, and Evangeline Lilly all have fairly small roles. Blink, and you'll miss them. Their presence in this movie is more a testament to director/producer Kathryn Bigelow's status in the entertainment industry than anything else.

Jeremy Renner is Sergeant James, a bomb tech. Unlike his affable predecessor, he is a wild man. He seems not only indifferent to the dangers of his job, he absolutely revels in the dangers. It is the ultimate in thrill seeking behavior, getting that dopamine surge in his...

Brilliant performance by Jeremy Renner
I wasn't familiar with director Kathryn Bigelow's work prior to watching Hurt Locker (she directed Point Break, K-19, and others), but I am now a convert. She directed a brilliant and visceral Iraq war movie, which unlike many of its peers, is also apolitical. It's not overly preachy (In the Valley of Elah or Stop Loss) or pure action (The Kingdom), but manages to strike its own ground. The scenes are gritty, shaky; thankfully the shaky cam/documentary style footage is tastefully done here. The movie was filmed on location in Jordan, lending to the film's authenticity and immersivity. The viewer can almost taste the dust in the air, and feel the stares from the unwelcoming populace. It's the first mainstream movie to highlight the work of bomb defusal technicians , and it's a thankless and extremely hazardous job. The movie is Black Hawk Down good, albeit on a more intimate level.

The movie follows three members of Bravo Company's Explosive Ordanance Disposal (EOD)...

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BRAINY BABY: BABY IQ - Counting



4 1/2 month old girl captivated.
My 4 and 1/2 month old daughter, has become completely captivated by these DVDs. She has been listening to classical music for some time now. We even purchased the belly audio system, when she was in the womb. Over the past weeks, she does not wake up crying. It took about 2 or 3 weeks of rotation, now she is hooked, while rocking in her Zen swing or jumperoo. We rotate between calling out the colors, but it seems she much calmer now and is just taking it all in.

Educational DVD
My toddler absolutely loves all of the Brainy Baby IQ DVD series. Although there are not any words being spoken, the classical music and high quality images are great. The Baby IQ series encourages my toddler son to talk more. He says a lot of words when he's watching like colors, numbers, shapes, or just plain words. I also talk about on screen images when watching the DVD too. The DVDs encourages curiosity from my son and he's constantly asking "What is that?" while watching. Often times he's giggling and pointing to the TV while entranced with this DVD. This is such a great educational buy and I wish that I'd found it during his infancy. Excellent buy and I highly recommend this to those who have babies and toddlers!

disappointed in purchase
This was my fault.. I didn't realize this video was just music! I needed a more advanced video for 1 year old!

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The Brothers Bloom



"The best con is one in which everyone gets what they want"
Whimsical, sentimental, colorful, and both funny and awkward, THE BROTHERS BLOOM is original in its context and characters even if the plot itself is relatively predictable. The tale of two brothers who learn at an early age their skill at pulling off confidence schemes (all in the film's well designed and funny first 10 minutes). They continue to run cons into their early thirties when Bloom (Brody), the younger of the two, is faced with a bit of a quarter-life-crisis and decides to quit conning alongside his older brother Stephen (Mark Ruffalo). Of course he returns on the premise of helping Stephen carry off 'one last job,' the most glaringly cliched element in the entire film. All is forgiven however as the cast of characters unfolds, and director Rian Johnson rolls out more story arc. We meet Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), a semi-mute Asian woman with a penchant for blowing things to pieces and Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), a billionaire heiress & collector of strange hobbies. Weisz...

Neat fun little film
This is a fun little film. The idea that a story of control and bigger issues was written around a con is a interesting story line. The movie itself is a cute con with fake endings and lots of fun. It does take on some life issues. Is your life being controlled by someone who loves you or do you enjoy the freedom and pain of writing your own script. The idea that the writer of the script (older controlling brother) having to die to free his brother is intriguing. I am sure deeper stuff is present in this movie and a thoughtful person can have loads of fun just trying to pick up the angles in the picture. It is just a fun movie more than all. The "mark" is well played by a zany Rachel Weiz. Brody and Ruffalo do a great job too.

"The best con is one in which everyone gets what they want"
Whimsical, sentimental, colorful, and both funny and awkward, THE BROTHERS BLOOM is original in its context and characters even if the plot itself is relatively predictable. The tale of two brothers who learn at an early age their skill at pulling off confidence schemes (all in the film's well designed and funny first 10 minutes). They continue to run cons into their early thirties when Bloom (Brody), the younger of the two, is faced with a bit of a quarter-life-crisis and decides to quit conning alongside his older brother Stephen (Mark Ruffalo). Of course he returns on the premise of helping Stephen carry off 'one last job,' the most glaringly cliched element in the entire film. All is forgiven however as the cast of characters unfolds, and director Rian Johnson rolls out more story arc. We meet Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), a semi-mute Asian woman with a penchant for blowing things to pieces and Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), a billionaire heiress & collector of strange hobbies. Weisz...

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Breaking Point (2009)



Visually Pleasing but Weak Story
Breaking Point was only given a limited theater release in New York, so for all intents and purposes, it's a straight-to-DVD movie. Despite this, I thought it was much better than most dollar-rental fare.

There are two things that set this movie apart from others that don't succeed at the box office: cinematography and score. I was really surprised at how artistic scenes were framed and shot, the quality of filming locations, and the overall production quality (looks terrific on an HD screen). Director Jeff Celentano has only shot a handful of other movies whose names you wouldn't recognize, but I was impressed with the job he did on Breaking point. Add to the visuals a terrific score by composer Pinar Toprak, and you've got a movie that's a treat for the eyes and ears.

Where the movie falls flat, however, is the cliched storyline. There's really nothing original about it, it seems to cobble plot pieces from Face Off, Beyond a Resonable Doubt, and From Hell...

it was okay. That's it.
I watch any movie Tom Berenger is in, no matter the size of the role or what the plot of the movie is, because of him.

Tom Berenger Movie
Always been a fan of Tom Berenger. Appreciated the part he played and the excellent presentation of the roles played by the other actors.

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Post Grad



Sorry You Didn't Understand The Movie
I don't understand the low reviews! I loved this movie, and people seemed to have completely missed the point of the movie. The movie wasn't about life after college, it was about life in general and how there is no certain plan for life, you just have to go with the flow, i loved the crazy family, it would really be boring if the family was just like alexis character wouldn't it! I thought this film was so endearing and held me to the end! I agree it was all over the place but it wasn't hard to follow unless you're stupid. I thought this movie was funny but i felt they weren't trying to be funny, it just was. I really liked the message of this movie, people are so busy trying to make life fit into their little plan that they are missing the fact that this is life, it's happening while you're busy trying to make things happen that just aren't meant to be. Give this movie a try if you liked whip it, martian child, new york minute, uptown girls. I guess people just have different tastes...

2.5 STARS
I'm not sure why this movie didn't turn out better - it had a great cast and a good storyline. Dealing with what happens after you graduate from college and before your adult life begins is a tricky time period. This movie half heartedly addressed this along with other issues, the other half went for cute romance. The end result? It was too all over the place and ended up a slightly less then average movie.

I liked all of the characters except for the cheesy south american soccer player across the street but hey, his type exists. The female lead (Ryden) is part of a goofy but lovable family of self titled losers: Michale Keaton was the father full of losing money propositions, the mother was low key and the younger oddball brother was cute but the family star was Carol Burnett as the wacky grandmother. Enter the love interest who has been Ryden's best buddy all through college but would like to be more. I'll sum up the movie for you: guy follows girl around like a...

Feel Good Movie That Gives Some Life Guidance
Post Grad is about a girl who is just like many others at this time. She graduated after trying really hard in college and unfortunately finds herself boomeranged back to her parents house, jobless. She is a doer and an achiever and tries to find a place to start her life, even if it means working in jobs that may or may not require a college degree. She, perhaps like a lot of graduates, was so sure of where she was going with her life. She was thrown off course when things didn't work out and along the way she made some right decisions and some wrong ones, but she lived and learned about what is important to her. It is about finding out whats important in life and going after it; whether it be in the work life or the love life. I think that it is a beautiful and uplifting story. Alexis Bledel was the perfect young actress to pick for the part and she did a superb job. I admit that there was some ridiculousness and silliness with her family, but I think it help make the movie...

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BRAINY BABY: BABY IQ - Colors



Captivating, to say the least
My great grandson can barely tear his eyes away from the screen. When he hears the music now, he immediately looks at the TV. It's amazing how much babies crave mental stimulation. He's a very smart guy, and adding this DVD to the tools we use to keep his wheels turning has been a joy to experience!

4 1/2 month old girl captivated.
My 4 and 1/2 month old daughter, has become completely captivated by these DVDs. She has been listening to classical music for some time now. We even purchased the belly audio system, when she was in the womb. Over the past weeks, she does not wake up crying. It took about 2 or 3 weeks of rotation, now she is hooked, while rocking in her Zen swing or jumperoo. We rotate between calling out the colors, but it seems she much calmer now and is just taking it all in.

Educational DVD
My toddler absolutely loves all of the Brainy Baby IQ DVD series. Although there are not any words being spoken, the classical music and high quality images are great. The Baby IQ series encourages my toddler son to talk more. He says a lot of words when he's watching like colors, numbers, shapes, or just plain words. I also talk about on screen images when watching the DVD too. The DVDs encourages curiosity from my son and he's constantly asking "What is that?" while watching. Often times he's giggling and pointing to the TV while entranced with this DVD. This is such a great educational buy and I wish that I'd found it during his infancy. Excellent buy and I highly recommend this to those who have babies and toddlers!

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Book of Songs



wonderful movie
story line is wonderful..great family and youth/teen group movie...well written...so coooool...God is in the mix....good movie....... enjoy and share as a gift.

DFS
This was a very inspiration movie it gets the interest of the young and old. We watch it doing a family event, all the children sat quietly and watch the whole movie. They truely enjoy it they dance to the music. It is a very good family movie.

Book of Songs
Hey everyone I just checked this movie out over the weekend and its a wonderful film. Its so inspirational. Its a great spiritual story of how misguided youth can turn their lives around with faith.

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Theory of Everything



"The Things That Define Our Lives" ~ Faith & Higher Mathematics Merge Under The Aurora Borealis
Synopsis: Elderly man living alone searches for proof of God's existence within the scientific discipline of mathematics. Dying of an incurable disease, his time is short so he calls upon the child he gave up to adoption years ago. Now a grown man with a family of his own he decides to meet his birth Father for the first time in the hope that he can help him out of a bad financial situation. An unlikely familial bond is formed and the race to find the divine equation is begun now pursued by both father and son.

`The Theory of Everything' released in '05 is one of the better Christian movies available today. The gospel message is present but it's not overpowering so the movie can be watched and enjoyed without feeling pressured to convert. It also provides a nice, basic introduction to the world of quantum physics, particle theory and the concept of a ten dimensional universe.

Love the Other Review, Here Are Links that Support
I am really beginning to like the Christian family-focused DVDs. As the other reviewer has summarized this movie perfectly, I am going to just say this one leaped into my hand as I was waiting for my youngest to pick a game at Blockbuster and it was toally satisfying.

Links to DVDs that also inspire:
Tibet - Cry of the Snow Lion
The Snow Walker
Peace One DayJoyeux Noel / Happy Christmas - Signature Collection (Original English Version)
Left Behind - The Movie

Links to Books on Faith and America
God's Politics...

The film is inspiring, heartwarming and though-provoking , you will in no doubt feel touched by it's message
The Theory of Everything" is a wonderful Christian film. The film is inspiring, heartwarming and though-provoking that by the end of the film, you will in no doubt feel touched by it's powerful message.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"The Theory of Everything" is featured in 1:78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. Picture quality looks slightly compressed as you will notice some compression artifacts and for a 2005 film, the PQ doesn't look as clear as I would have hoped. There is a fine layer of grain which is fine but for the most part, picture quality for the film is good.

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital English and also Spanish and Portuguese Stereo. Dialogue is clear and can be heard clearly through the front channel speakers. For those with a modern home theater receiver and setup will probably want to have audio settings on stereo on all channels for a more immersive soundtrack but overall, audio is clear.

Subtitles are in English, English SDH, Spanish...

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Diagnosis: Death



Highly enjoyable quirky fun
I highly enjoyed this film. In short, this is a New Zealand film that tells the story of experimental drug test subjects and their experiences locked up in a facility for a weekend. Its a comic-horror that supposedly spoofs other notable New Zealandish films. The patients are told the drug can have hallucinogenic side effects, and the movie presents amusing sequences of the patients attempting to differentiate reality from not, along with a nurse who very effectively maintains an ambiguously nefarious demeanor.

Its a cute movie. The story is interesting, but not overly incredible, and much more comedy than horror. However, the characters really made the story. A particular male and female meet at the drug test and develop an interesting, and somewhat heartwarming relationship, while also being effectively amusing. The production values are very high, and the acting is good as well. Very highly recommended.

GENRE MIXING
The movie has a simplistic plot, perhaps as a spoof of horror movie plots which have all blended together. It is basically a comedy with a horror background. I enjoyed the role of Nurse Bates, using the infamous Bates surname. Suze Tye has a really gorgeous set of eyes which come through even as an evil nurse. The animated skeleton with smoke love making scene was original, but not clever or well done. They could have placed the animated characters into impossible positions. The beginning scene of parents attempting to bribe the teacher reminded me of the movie "Serious Man" where the bribe became a moral dilemma for the Jewish teacher, unlike this movie. The movie has sexual scenes, no nudity, and Suze Tye's eyes. I think they should use Jackie Chan and Lindsey Lohan for the American version.

not bad
Don't be tricked by the description- Diagnosis: Death is not a comedy. It's more like a light horror film without much in the way of suspense. Despite that, the film works because it does actually feature a decent (though extremely low budget) storyline and an eerily quiet atmosphere.

It's about a man and a young girl (a school teacher and student respectively) who are both dying of cancer, so they stay inside an experimental hospital that specializes in research that helps people in their situation.

Well, upon entering the hospital, there's basically only four characters for the entire duration (the other two being a nurse and a doctor). It makes the entire film feel exceptionally quiet and feeling like it severely lacks at least one more character to really give the film that extra spark it needs to truly be great.

The storyline is probably an extremely weak attempt at giving the viewers something in the way of actual horror, but the atmosphere is...

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A Perfect Getaway (Theatrical/Unrated Director's Cut)



I'm just difficult to kill...I guess
"I'm just difficult to kill, I guess..." - as soon as one of the main characters of A Perfect Getaway utters these words, you KNOW someone will try to prove him wrong. And they DO (try ;o) ). The story seems simple at first: a couple is honeymooning in Hawaii, while news spreads thru the Islands of a brutal murder of another newlywed couple. The suspected murderers, a man and a woman, are still at large and likely still in Hawaii. As our city-dwellers hike thru the Park, alone and out of their element, can they trust the strangers with whom they inevitably cross paths? (OF COURSE, NOT!) And that's when an interesting twist takes this story from predictable to... well... no spoilers here! ;o)

I did not have high hopes for this flick...I went to see it mainly because I have a secret crush on Milla Jovovich (if I were a lesbian, Milla and Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order would be my dream dates ;-P...). Was the film perfect? No. Nonetheless, to my utmost surprise, I enjoyed...

"OutStanding"
I have watched this movie 4 times now and always catch something I missed the previous time.
When I heard there was a twist I guessed it just by watching the Trailer.
That being said ,it didn't matter it was still a great action film.Nick played by Timothy Olyphant being the stand out with the most interesting character. His famous line "Outstanding" is priceless as is his girlfriend Gina played by Kiele Sanchez's "WooptiTa".Whether they're catching and gutting wild goats for dinner or taking a relaxing nude swim under the waterfall while sharing Nick's wild stories of survival that sound like they could be from an Indiana Jones movie to Nick pretending to leave his drink in a jewelery store so he can go back and buy an engagement ring for Gina,I fell in love with them.
A first rate thriller with a first rate cast,Mila Jovovitch always shines and Steve Zahn is cast against type but pulls it off really well.I think the reason I am able to watch this movie so many times...

Suspense slowly played out.
Being that I like Tim Olyphant I put this on my list and I'm glad I did! The movie moves slowly to build the suspense of who the murderers are. It introduces several couples that you think might fit the bill then at the end, whoa! It kept me guessing and changing my mind and even after the movie was over I kept going over some scene's! My husband and I really enjoyed this one!

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Half-Life



Amazing Film
The movie is amazingly sophisticated, complex, and multifaceted, and yet its many story threads were woven masterfully together with an underlying unity and beauty.

I loved this film.
This film was one of the most imaginative films I've seen recently. The animation and cinematography were beautiful. Thought provoking themes and powerful acting.

A Beautiful Film Full of Life..
I saw this film at Sundance earlier this year and it quickly became one of my favorites from the festival. Ms. Phang deftly handles drama, comedy science fiction, and animation by weaving them into a vivid and imaginative tale of love, lost, and hope. The main characters in the film are finely crafted, exuding a sense of life, beauty and desperation that radiates the realism of how a family losing its grip on life and reality would react in a decaying world. The films Waking Life by Richard Linklater and The Ice Storm by Ang Lee quickly come to mind in describing Half-Life. This is truly inspired film making that is not only bold and daring, but of great depth. I highly recommend Half-Life to anyone who still believes in the power of film. I hope to see more from this director in the future as she has proven with her debut that the spirit of independent film making is alive and well.

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Casualties of War & Black Hawk Down



Pretty self-explanitory.
It comes with the two movies on two DVD's. If you happen to like those two movies (or just one of them) check it out. It's pretty cheap and is a decent product.

John du Prey - Classical Review
Crank up your volume and prepare for an adrenlin rush in the classic war movie "Black Hawk Down". This original, superior telling of a true 'capture & extraction" mission - conducted by Delta and Elite Army troops - shows us what it takes to capture a Somali warlord and his entourage. It is as much battleground reality as most viewers can handle. The realism is so profound and the exchange of heavy fire between the calibers of war is so ear-deafening - that by the time we realize that we are on the ground or in the air - we are engulfed. We are in the flames of battle hell, and what perceptions we brought to this brilliant film: may now be altered forever. Our emotions, our sense of compassion and support to the troops (who protect our freedoms with their lives) - is now grounded in their heroism, sacrifice, hardship on and off the battlefield, and when one of our own falls dead in battle (KIA) - we are anything but indifferent. Our empathy is strong going in and coming out of the...

Good movies
These are two good movies. Great movie to watch if your are into the history of war. I personally not, but my hubby is. My fav. out of the two is Casualties of War. I have a lot of anger for the soilders who rapped the young lady and killed her. It was sad that after so many stabbings she was still fighting to stay alive. Ericson was probably haunted by her spirit after leaving the war. With thoughts of ways he could have done to saver her. I am happy he didn't let the other guys scare him to be quite about the young girl. He fought for them to be punshed for her killing.

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Emily of New Moon: The Complete Second Season



Not as good as the first season
The first season was passable, though straying from the book's story often. The second season is very scary and not suitable for some children at all - or adults! Some of the characters such as the gypsy, Uncle Thom, Mrs. Kent and others are very scary. The story line strays so far from the actually books it is astounding. Though there are a few episodes which are not this bad, some are absurd such as the final episode with the all the varying ways Aunt Laura's wedding might turn out but we don't know which it is. I guess this is to get people to "cliffhang" until the 3rd season. It's really a shame because the books themselves are so classy.

Fun show to watch with your daughter!
My daughter loved Anne of Green Gables so we gave this show a try. I really enjoyed watching each show with her. The only downside to this would be the mystical aspect. Emily has visions of the dead and can communicate with them. It is rather strange and sometimes eerie. Other than that, she has a lot of spunk like Anne did, but she is definitely not a people pleaser. I did have my husband and son watch for one show and they didn't seem to enjoy it. This is definitely not a timeless masterpiece like Anne of Green Gables is; however it is highly enjoyable. We are looking forward to the release of Season 2.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASON THREE!!!
I loved Anne of Green Gables, which I've watched many times, and fell in love with PEI when I visited for the first time in August 2007 (a highlight was our visit to the house on the north central coast (no tour buses here!) where Lucy Maude Montgomery lived and where we met one of her descendents). So when I saw this new series by LMM, priced relatively inexpensively, I decided to purchase season one. I loved it enough to purchase season two, which I just finished watching. I didn't want it to end! Although I was getting impatient with Laura's decompensation after the death of Elizabeth for the first two or three episodes of season two, I also realized that such a reaction was understandable and realistic, given her character. Nevertheless, I was relieved when she rebounded and, although I disliked Isabel ("Lucifer") at first, as the ice in her melted I grew to appreciate her just as I grew to appreciate Elizabeth as she warmed up to Emily. Each episode was different and kept...

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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Kids Who Saved Summer



Great Family Movie Against Corporate Greed!!!
This is a great family movie about kids fightng against corporate greed in order to save their town park.It's a must see!!!





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Weather Girl



Hilarious, touching and well-written script!
Enjoyable all the way through. Mark Harmon plays the guy women love to hate and I enjoyed seeing Jon Cryer's performance, too. Tricia O'Kelley is always a pleasure to watch. I highly recommend for a great date flick!

Very well-scripted and entertaining comedy based in Seattle
This was a very well-written production. The actors are very convincing in their roles, and the comedy is very sophisticated. We really enjoyed it a lot. If you know Seattle, you will recognize the usual landmarks, and the walk below the Pike Street Market.

Good Script.
This independent film is very entertaining, funny, romantic, solid script, good performances. Mark Harmon gets to play a completely different type of character instead of the tough guy and does well. My wife and I both enjoyed this film.

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Paranormal Activity



Be Prepared To Use Your Imagination
A well-written review of any film should never label its subject "good" or "bad". Rather, it should give you an idea of whether or not you can expect to enjoy it, based on your own preferences and expectations. Paranormal Activity is a particularly controversial film when it comes to the potency of its terror. Most reviews either complain, with great disdain, "I hated it - it wasn't scary at all" or exclaim in total satisfaction, "It scared the pants off me - I loved it". There seems to be little in-between.

I saw the film today, having read enough reviews to know pretty much what to expect. But before I reveal my own reaction to Paranormal Activity, I would like to offer a few ideas that those who know little about this film may find helpful.

Alfred Hitchcock, the celebrated director who was known as "The Master of Suspense" held many interesting theories about what frightens an audience. Hitchcock believed that, when properly stimulated, the viewer's...

Good Scary Movie - Rent, Don't Buy
Paranormal Activity is a film about a couple, Katie and Micah, and their experience being haunted by a demon. Although the film starts off slowly as the plot is sketched out, about a third of the way into the film (when you start witnessing the paranormal activity for yourself) you are drawn into the film and can really enjoy it. The film is based on the "found footage" premise made famous my The Blair Witch Project. The viewer is told that this is a true story at the beginning, which adds to you caring about the characters and events in the film. The film is legitimately scary with a terrific ending...if you can get past the 30 minute mark you will enjoy it, but if you have a short attention span or need a whole lot of action, then avoid this movie - it's a character centric movie rather than action or special effects focused.

While I enjoyed the movie, the extras were simply non-existant. The only extra was an alternate ending. This film could have used a commentary...

Paranormal Activity Review
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

STARRING: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat and Mark Fredrichs

WRITTEN BY: Oren Peli

DIRECTED BY: Oren Peli

Rated: R
Genre: Horror
Release Date: 16 October 2009

Several movie advertisements have used this line for years and I have never found it to be even remotely true until now; so I'm going to use it: Paranormal Activity is the scariest film since The Exorcist. There, I've finally been able to use it!

Now that I have your attention, let me save half of you the three minutes that it will take you to finish reading this review and the roughly 90 it'll save you from actually watching the film. If you hated The Blair Witch Project because you thought it was stupid, then you will inevitably despise this film as well. There. See how nice of a guy I am? Now you can spend those 90 minutes doing something you enjoy.

For those of you still reading, I will take it that you appreciated the...

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The Missing & The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada



clasic westerns
This is a great dvd with two great movies in my criteria TOMY LEE JONES in those films deliver great actuations and original talent, high recomended entertainement.

The Missing, excellent viewing
Love Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones in this movie. Ron Howard has outdone himself again in directing this movie, one you can watch again and again. I loved it so much I wore out the first disc, if there is such a thing, had to order another, highly recommended.

If you haven't seen it, YOU MUST!
Great Movie! I never heard of it, but my husband had seen it and it wasn't on Netflix, so I bought it and now I make all of my friends watch it!

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Glee: Season One, Vol. 1 - Road to Sectionals



Love the show.. but not this release
My rating does not pertain to the show itself, I actually love the show, but this release is a waste of money and manufacturing resources. This set was originally planned earlier this fall when Glee was only going to have 13 episodes for the first season, but then after having such good ratings, FOX added NINE more episodes to the first season. This is a redundant release because FOX has said they will also release an actual COMPLETE first season after the show finishes airing the last 9 episodes starting in April. It will come with a coupon to save on the complete season, but unless that is $30 of more, you'll end up paying more for both releases than if you just wait and buy the complete season. Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but this is just a get money fast scheme and I will not support volume releases. Don't waste your money on this, wait for the full season. Let's make the studios realize they can't screw us over with these types of releases just so they can make more...

One of the Best Shows on TV/One of the Worst Scams in History.
I love "Glee." Seriously. I have loved "Glee" since the first episode aired back in the Spring of 2009 and I dreaded waiting until the Fall for new episodes. I buy all of the songs from the show off iTunes and I watch every episode live. I really do recommend "Glee" to everyone because it is such a unique, enjoyable, enthusiastic, and downright fun show! The singing's always great, the dancing is a thrill, the comedy is a riot, and the drama is powerful. I have no issues with this show outside of the fact that it doesn't always let the minor characters have their chance with the microphone that often (specifically Tina and Puck). I'm itching with excitement over the back nine episodes and am eagerly waiting for them to start airing in April.

HOWEVER, with all of that said, I urge everyone NOT to waste their money on this boxset. It seriously is a scam. Originally, an interview with a producer on the show said that this first volume - containing the 13 episodes of "Glee"...

Never expected it, but I love Glee, and so does my family
When I first heard of Glee, about a group of outsider high school students who find something to care about as they take part in glee club, I thought for sure it was going to be a "high school musical" type sap-fest, and that I'd hate it. Still, we happened to catch the second episode on television and after that we were hooked. We caught up, and kept watching and now we can't wait until the second part of the first season this spring. My early teenaged kids purchased and listen to the music on their ipods, and love to sing along. In spite of my early reservations and expectations, I found the show taking me back to my own high school days when I played minor roles in a few community musical theater shows and loved it even though I instinctively knew it wouldn't win me any popularity contests among my fellow students.

There's an infectious joy to the musical numbers, and the story has the poignancy mixed with darkly hilarious viciousness and acts of deception between...

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