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Download The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu Ipod.
Movie Title: The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu |
Almost 20 years later, this is still a great movie with an amazing soundtrack! A must see movie!
I didn’t notice the import when I ordered this item, it’s factory made and is poor quality. The Big Blue: Le Grand Bleu (Director’s Cut – Import)
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Download Cross of Iron Xbox.
Movie Title: Cross of Iron Cross of Iron is available for streaming or downloading. |
Cross Of Iron is one war film that will take repeat viewings to truly absorb all the material. With that said, I won’t elaborate on the film’s strong points since they’ve already been mentioned by many before. And this DVD release from Hen’s Tooth is not the one to view this film from. It is a shortened edited version and the transfer is Full-Frame, it doesn’t even appear to be Pan & Scan…simply a dead shot down the middle of the film. The quality of this Hen’s Tooth release is absolutely atrocious for the DVD format. It appears as though it’s almost a VHS transfer, or a heavily worn film transfer at best. There are numerous scratches and dust artifacts, and the color saturation is very faded in many scenes. The sound on the DVD is equally terrible during the entire movie, it’s very hard to understand much of the dialogue at times.
I’ve purchased bargain DVD’s for $3 before that are 100% better in quality than this! Just by the sheer fact that the film is edited would have Peckinpah rolling in his grave. Hen’s Tooth knows and have admitted that the transfer is horrible, yet they still charge $30 retail nearly 4 years after their DVD release?!?? There is no way that this disc is worth that much money. I would gladly pay the price if it was a Criterion edition, but not this poor edition.
If you have the technical capability I recommend ordering either the UK DVD or Japanese DVD of Cross Of Iron. It won’t cost you much more (perhaps less) than this unworthy Region 1 DVD release. The imports both present the film in it’s original anamorphic widescreen format, with vastly superior picture and sound. If you don’t have the technical capability, then buy a VHS edition of Cross Of Iron.
5 stars for the film itself, 0 stars for the Hen’s Tooth DVD…hence my 4 star rating.
Cross Of Iron is a masterpiece, one of the greatest anti-war, anti-authoritarian movies. It is one of director Sam Peckinpah’s two finest works — the other being The Wild Bunch. It deserves to be ranked in the same great war movie company as Apocalypse Now, Das Boot, Full Metal Jacket, Paths Of Glory, Saving Private Ryan, Seven Samurai, and Zulu. Its setting on the World War Two Eastern Front, its gruesomeness, and its risk-taking viewpoint on ugly combat from the German side, have tended to count against fair assessment of its considerable artistic achievements. Viewers wary of the morality of its German viewpoint and its explicitness might find that it is fundamentally about humanity in general as a victim of war. The film reflects on the humanity which may be found on all sides of conflict–including Russian humanity portrayed variously as relentless, innocent, brave, and feminine.
Cross Of Iron opens with an intense, chilling montage of nursery rhyme, propaganda, combat newsreel and atrocity. By the end of the main title the montage subtly introduces the central characters, a German reconnaissance unit patrolling on the 1943 Russian front.
This 1977 film set rarely matched standards of cinematic mayhem. Cross Of Iron explosions don’t look merely like pretty fireballs — they blast fragments, rocks and debris, leaving no doubt as to why blood gouts from stumps of limbs and shrapnel-shredded entrails… Amid the screams of wounded and dying, as dust subsides from a mortar barrage, an artillery piece shorn of its crew by a near hit swings across a pocked battlefield, its traversing wheel spinning under its own momentum. The carnage occurs in the choreographed slow motion which Peckinpah made his signature.
James Coburn turns in one of his finest roles as Rolf Steiner, a highly decorated NCO who leads a German reconnaissance squad. Steiner fights less for his country than for his comrades. He has low opinions of class and rank distinctions. He is contemptuous both of Nazism and the aristocratic Prussian arrogance of his new superior officer, Captain Stransky, played with great style by Maximilian Schell. But there are hints of a dark side. Although Steiner is articulate and philosophical he has no answer when his love interest during an enforced break from battle, nurse Eva (Senta Berger), bitterly accuses him of being afraid of what he would be without the war.
Among the many fine supporting performances, James Mason plays the war-weary Colonel Brandt. He sees the immorality and futility of German war aims, but his sense of honour and duty about the prevailing struggle makes ceasing to fight unthinkable. David Warner plays Brandt’s out-of-place and out-of-time adjutant, Captain Kiesel, who represents to his colonel the hope that a more enlightened postwar Germany might arise from the ashes of inevitable defeat.
War movie buffs irritated by the technical inaccuracies common in many examples of the genre will find some satisfaction in attention to authenticity of weaponry. A range of genuine WWII German and Russian small arms appears. The T 34/85 tanks are real, although the very picky might argue that this is at least six months premature, and that for the summer of ‘43 they should be T 34/76. Tactics at times deviate from the textbooks, but this is a drama, not a combat manual.
Cross Of Iron is a five-star movie. The Hen’s Tooth Video release is a two-star DVD, with sub-standard picture and sound. But it is worth owning while this great film of a great American director lacks the high quality collectors’ edition Zone 1 DVD release it deserves.
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Watch Pokemon the First Movie – Mewtwo vs. Mew Movie Online.
Movie Title: Pokemon the First Movie – Mewtwo vs. Mew Pokemon the First Movie – Mewtwo vs. Mew is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Pokemon the First Movie – Mewtwo vs. Mew |
My review is purely from a parent’s perspective:
I have twoboys, 9 and almost 11. They love Pokemon. They loved Ninja Turtles,Power Rangers, Star Wars, etc. so you know they are prone to being led by commercialism. Pokemon encourages nurturing, caring, and ideals like honesty, acceptance, and forgiveness. The good trainers protect and care for Pokemon. The bad guys exploit them and put their own selfish motives ahead of the Pokemon. The middle-can-be-turned-around characters learn from their mistakes and are forgiven by the main characters. Even Jessie and James occasionally show remorse and are treated with compassion.
Do Pokemon battle? Yes. Unlike Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, and Star Wars, however, a Pokemon doesn’t have to be hurt or killed to be defeated. Their weapons are inner strengths that they are born with. And no trainer worth his salt lets his Pokemon get injured. It’s not hard to take the lessons from Pokemon and apply them to the reality of the child.
It’s like Beanie Babies — I know they’re making a fortune leading our kids around by the nose. But it’s relatively benign and I watch every video with them to make sure nothing changes. On a long trip in the truck, I let them play the two CD’s — the music is actually very enjoyable for me (and I’m 46!) and contains no bad language.
And I liked Pikachu’s Vacation film much better than the actual Pokemon movie… but my boys loved both!
This movie is exellent! I loved it at the theaters. It was so cool watching Mewtwo and Mew fight it out. Another thing that was cool is Pikachu Vacation mini movie. I got some real laughs over there though their really was just only pokemon. The best part is when Raichu and Pikachu battle it out in a race. It also showed some pokemon from Gold and Silver. But even if you saw it at the theaters… STILL BUY IT. Chances are that you didn’t get a card but when you buy the VHS or DVD you get the Mewtwo Promo card (I think it’s a promo card. If not just know that it is a Mewtwo, and it has the same attacks of the promo Mewtwo.) with a different picture. You also get both Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pikachu’s Vacation and a bonus….. A PREVIEW OF THE SECOND MOVIE!
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Download Street of a Thousand Pleasures / Way Out Topless PS3.
Movie Title: Street of a Thousand Pleasures / Way Out Topless Street of a Thousand Pleasures / Way Out Topless is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Street of a Thousand Pleasures / Way Out Topless |
Street of a Thousand Pleasures is basically one long excuse to gaze naked women, which it allows the viewer to do very well. The status is very thin, an American (played by John Tull of Sassy Sue and Midnight Plowboy fame) saves the life of a sheik, who in gratitude reveals his harem, which is basically a hundred girls standing around naked. It seems like the film was originally intended for 3-D, as the camera zooms in and apparently up against breasts, belly buttons, etc. This film does have some simulated sex, with tons of frontal nudity. Despite this, it eventually gets humdrum, Tull’s character wanders from one room to another looking at the girls, which he’s more involved in than actually having sex with the girls throwing themselves at him. Uschi Digard and Michelle Angelo are in the film briefly, the rest are a mix of cute and skanky. Mondo Topless is your basic 60’s T&A, with no frontal nudity and not grand in the scheme of situation to recommend it. The extras are advantageous if sometimes a small exclusive, mostly 60’s nudie type stuff. Breast Orgy does have some fat nudity although like Thousand Pleasures gets dreary after a while.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Street of a Thousand Pleasures / Way Out Topless! Click HereIs the guy who wrote the previous review tedious or somethin’? How could looking at hundreds of different naked women ever be dumb? Street of a Thousand Pleasures has some of the most pleasing women you’ll ever survey in a movie, period. I was expecting Map Out Topless to be more like Russ Meyer’s Mondo Topless (a classic of the genre) so I was a itsy-bitsy dissapointed but there’s plenty of vintage teasin’ action to be seen. Pasties and g-strings are the thing here, bub!
Be positive to check out the extras too! Lot’s more action on tap here also..
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Download Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection – 15 Winners, 26 Nominees PS3.
Movie Title: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection – 15 Winners, 26 Nominees Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection – 15 Winners, 26 Nominees is available for streaming or downloading. |
Don’t you just hate it when the description of one of these classic cartoon sets doesn’t include a description of the cartoons? In this case, they are really worth mentioning, as some, such as Disc Two’s “Peace on Earth,” aren’t exactly kiddie fare, and many others are true animation classics (I’ve starred the ones I think best earn that honor). With that in mind, here’s a description of each cartoon, written as I watch them:
DISC ONE
Each of these was honored by the Academy as the Best Cartoon of the Year:
1. THE MILKY WAY* (MGM, 1940)
Clear color, great clarity and a nice period song highlight this restored cute classic. When three little kittens lose their mittens, they’re sent straight to bed — where they dream that they sail a hot air balloon up into the Milky Way, a land overflowing with milk geysers and springs. The cartoon was the first Oscar winner that wasn’t produced by Disney.
2. YANKEE DOODLE MOUSE* (MGM, 1943)
Typical Tom and Jerry antics doused in patriotic instrumentals such as “Anchors Aweigh” and “Over There.” Dynamite, egg grenades and champagne-bottle corks are the weapons of choice. I’ll admit I’m not the biggest Tom & Jerry fan, but my 13-year-old daughter loves this one.
3. MOUSE TROUBLE (MGM, 1944)
Tom’s the one in trouble as he attempts to rid the house of Jerry, using the ideas in a book called “How to Catch a Mouse (A Random Mouse Book).”
4. QUIET PLEASE* (MGM, 1945)
Even I like this one. In fact, I LOVE this one! Though it’s directed by Hanna and Barbera, Tex Avery’s jaw-dropping influence is all through it. Funny gags, great character expressions! When a sleepy Spike threatens to kill Tom if the cat doesn’t keep quiet (”If I hear one more sound I’ve gonna skin you alive, get it?”), Jerry tries to make as much noise as he can. Optional audio commentary by animator Mark Kausler highlights the contributions from many former Disney artists.
5. THE CAT CONCERTO* (MGM, 1947)
When Jerry disrupts Tom’s grand piano performance of Liszt’s Second Hungarian Rhapsody, Tom fights back while never missing a note. Optional audio commentary by animator Eric Goldberg. You know, I’m really starting to get into this Tom & Jerry stuff!
6. TWEETIE PIE* (Warner Bros., 1947)
A cat (here named Thomas, later known as Sylvester) uses a variety of screwball techniques as he tries to catch the little yellow bird in a series of short sketches. Vivid color! The first Sylvester and Tweety cartoon, and the first Warner Bros. short to win an Oscar.
7. THE LITTLE ORPHAN (MGM, 1949)
Tiny mouse Nibbles is always hungry, which causes trouble for Jerry.
8. FOR SCENT-IMENTAL REASONS* (Warner Bros., 1949)
The debut of Pepé Le Pew (my favorite Chuck Jones character), an amorous skunk who mistakes a black female cat for a potential mate. Pepé’s influence can be seen in the Disney characters Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast as well as Capt. Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Optional audio commentary by animator Greg Ford.
9. SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE (Warner Bros., 1949)
This 10-minute animated PSA won the 1949 Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Its point: how federal public-health services can keep babies healthy and free from diseases. Cute, and better than it sounds, though scenes include such things as “untreated sewage running into our pretty creek.” Optional audio commentary by animation historian Jerry Beck.
10. THE TWO MOUSEKETEERS (MGM, 1951)
Musketeers Jerry and Nibbles cause trouble for Royal Guard Tom at a king’s banquet. Routine.
11. JOHANN MOUSE (MGM, 1952)
Tom learns to play the piano in an effort to catch Jerry, who can’t help but dance whenever he hears a Johann Strauss waltz. MGM debuted a new-look Tom with this short, in which he first appears without the grey stripe between his eyes.
12. SPEEDY GONZALES* (Warner Bros., 1955)
They couldn’t make this one today! To help his starving friends, the Mexican Don Juan mouse must sneak past makeshift border guard Sylvester and raid a U.S. cheese factory. When one of the friends proclaims “Speedy Gonzales a friend of my sister!” another replies “Speedy Gonzales friend of everybody’s sister. Optional music-only audio track.
13. BIRDS ANONYMOUS (Warner Bros., 1957)
Sylvester tries to break his addiction to feathered food by joining Birds Anonymous, but the temptation of Tweety is too much. Includes the first appearance of Sylvester’s fellow feline, Sam.
14. KNIGHTY-KNIGHT BUGS (Warner Bros., 1958)
On a quest for a Singing Sword, Bugs Bunny sneaks into the castle of the Black Knight, where he meets a fire-breathing, but sneezing dragon. Song: “Cuddle Up a Little Closer.”
15. THE DOT AND THE LINE* (MGM, 1965)
A line loves a dot, but she’s hot for a squiggle in this charming, colorful and witty 10-minute Chuck Jones gem. Subtitled “A Romance in Lower Mathematics,” it’s based on the 1963 book by architect and children’s author Norton Juster. Optional audio commentary by Eric Goldberg. Optional music-only audio track.
DISC TWO
1. POPEYE THE SAILOR MEETS SINBAD THE SAILOR* (Paramount /Fleischer, 1936)
When Sinbad (i.e., Bluto) challenges Popeye to a series of battles, the big brute nearly wins until Popeye pulls out his can of spinach. Many scenes use modeled sets to create three-dimensional backgrounds. 16 minutes, color. Optional audio commentary by Jerry Beck, illustrator Leslie Cabarga and animators Ray Pointer and Bob Jaques.
2. PEACE ON EARTH* (MGM, 1939)
A chilling classic. During a post-apocalyptic Christmas Eve, two young squirrels ask their grandfather what the word “men” means in the lyric “Peace on earth, good will to men.” As he explains that man was the species that destroyed itself by waging war, the cartoon shows rotoscoped scenes of armed conflict. Optional audio commentary by Greg Ford.
3. A WILD HARE* (Warner Bros., 1940)
The first official Bugs Bunny cartoon looks primitive by later standards, but still has all the ingredients of the rascally rabbit’s recipe. When “wabbit” hunter Elmer Fudd sticks his rifle down a hole, up pops Bugs to ask “What’s up, Doc?” Optional audio commentary by Greg Ford.
4. PUSS GETS THE BOOT* (MGM, 1940)
Tom is called Jaspar in this early version of a Tom and Jerry short. A typical cat-and-mouse chase results in a number of broken household objects. Optional audio commentary by Mark Kausler.
5. SUPERMAN* (Paramount /Fleischer, 1941)
The classic story of The Man Of Steel as told in a 10-minute animated short, including his early life in rural Kansas. Later, he works with Perry White and Lois Lane at The Daily Planet as Clark Kent, but must change into Superman to save Lois, and the world, from a mad scientist. The first Superman cartoon. Optional audio commentary by producer Paul Dini.
6. HIAWATHA’S RABBIT HUNT (Warner Bros., 1941)
When an Elmer Fudd-like Hiawatha (from the classic Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem The Song of Hiawatha) arrives in the forest hunting rabbits for dinner, Bugs will have none of it.
7. RHAPSODY IN RIVETS* (Warner Bros., 1941)
Ever seen Fantasia 2000’s version of “Rhapsody in Blue”? Here’s an obvious inspiration. A construction site foreman imagines himself as as conductor of Franz Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody,” with his workers as the orchestra.
8. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (MGM, 1941)
Tom chases Jerry under and around a Christmas tree until — holy cats! — he is touched by the holiday spirit.
9. THE BLITZ WOLF* (MGM, 1942)
When the evil Adolph Wolf wants to invade the state of Pigmania, Sergeant Pork spoils his plans. A wartime take on “The Three Little Pigs.” Optional audio commentary by Eric Goldberg.
10. PIGS IN A POLKA* (Warner Bros., 1942)
In a parody of Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia, The Big Bad Wolf channels the spirit of Deems Taylor as he introduces a spoof of the Three Little Pigs set to a classical music piece, in this case Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances.”
11. SWOONER CROONER* (Warner Bros., 1944)
Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Jimmy Durante and Al Jolson are among the crooners caricatured as Porky Pig holds a contest to help his hens lay more eggs. Songs include “As Time Goes By,” “Shortenin’ Bread,” “Lullaby of Broadway” and “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby.”
12. WALKY TALKY HAWKY* (Warner Bros., 1946)
When naive young chicken hawk Henery comes across Foghorn Leghorn, the rooster proclaims “I’m a horse!” and proceeds to convince the little bird that the real chicken is the Barnyard Dog. “Ooh!” says Henery. “That’s the biggest chicken I ever did see!” Optional audio commentary by Jerry Beck.
13. DR. JEKYLL AND MR. MOUSE (MGM, 1947)
Every idea backfires when Tom tries to stop Jerry from drinking from a milk bowl.
14. MOUSE WRECKERS (Warner Bros., 1948)
Claude Cat debuts as he battles with hobo mice Hubie and Bertie over a new home.
DISC 3
1. HATCH UP YOUR TROUBLES (MGM, 1949)
Jerry plays mom to a baby woodpecker that hatches in his bed.
2. JERRY’S COUSIN (MGM, 1950)
Legendary voice talent Paul Frees portrays Jerry’s cousin Muscles, a mouse who is so strong Tom ends up groveling at his feet. Background music includes “Lydia, the Tattooed Lady,” best known as a gem from Groucho Marx.
3. LITTLE JOHNNY JET* (MGM, 1952)
A baby jet helps his father, an old B-29, find work after the war. A old fighter pilot resembles Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Optional music-only audio track.
4. TOUCHÉ, PUSSY CAT! (MGM, 1954)
Tuffy (formerly known as Nibbles) is desperate to join Captain Jerry’s Mouseketeers. Songs: “Frere Jacques,” “We’re on Our Way.” Cinemascope. Optional music-only audio track.
5. FROM A TO Z-Z-Z-Z* (Warner Bros., 1953)
The daydreams of schoolboy Ralph Phillips include flying like a bird, punching out an opponent in the boxing ring and becoming Douglas MacArthur. Optional audio commentary by animation author Amid Amidi (Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation, The Art of Robots).
6. SANDY CLAWS* (MGM, 1954)
When Granny takes Tweety to the beach, Sylvester tries to steal him from his cage, then “rescue” the bird from some huge waves.
7. GOOD WILL TO MEN (MGM, 1955)
An atomic-era version of Disc 2’s “Peace on Earth,” this time with mice in the ruins of a church. Optional music-only audio track.
8. TABASCO ROAD* (Warner Bros., 1957)
After a festive night in a cantina, Speedy Gonzales has to rescue tequila-tinged buddies Fernando and Pablo from a huge cat. Optional music-only audio track.
9. ONE DROOPY KNIGHT (MGM, 1957)
Sirs Butchalot and Droopalot vie to kill a dragon to win a princess. One of the worst Droopy cartoons, it was nevertheless nominated for 1957’s Best Short Subject Academy Award. Cinemascope. Optional music-only audio track.
10. HIGH NOTE* (Warner Bros., 1960)
When a set of musical notes attempts to arrange themselves to perform the Johann Strauss classic “The Blue Danube,” a rogue note ruins their plans after visiting the “Little Brown Jug.”
11. NELLY’S FOLLY* (Warner Bros., 1961)
Homewrecker! That’s the reputation a singing giraffe from Africa gets after she arrives at a zoo and develops a relationship with a married male.
12. NOW HEAR THIS* (Warner Bros., 1962)
This spare, surreal, almost psychedelic Chuck Jones masterpiece concerns an old British gent who thinks he finds a magical hearing aid, though it’s actually a horn from Satan’s forehead. There’s no dialogue, but many, many sound effects. The first Warner Bros. short to feature the company’s revised graphic titles, it also includes a rarely heard rendition of “The Merry Go-Round Broke Down.” Optional audio commentary by Amid Amidi.
There are two nice bonus features. “Drawn for Glory: Animation’s Triumph at the Oscars” is a new 60-minute, clip-heavy documentary that covers all the major studios. “What’s Cookin’ Doc?” is a 1944 Bugs Bunny short that shows the rabbit at an Academy Awards ceremony fighting to win the Oscar for “Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt.” He ends up with a booby prize, a rabbit statue that comes to life with the voice of famed radio star Bert “The Mad Russian” Gordon.
This set will include the separately released Winners disc Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection – The 15 Winners, pluse two discs of nominees. Warner Brothers Home Video owns 38 nominated cartoons, but they have chosen to only release 26 of them. I don’t know why 12 were omitted.
From the Warner Brothers Home Video press release:
Disc 1:
Academy Award® winning shorts featured on the DVDs:
1) The Milky Way (MGM),
2) Yankee Doodle Mouse (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
3) Mouse Trouble (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
4) Quiet Please (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
5) The Cat Concerto (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
6) Tweetie Pie (WB),
7) The Little Orphan (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
For Scent-Imental Reasons (WB, Pepe Le Pew),
9) So Much for so Little (a special educational Warner Brothers short),
10) Two Mouseketeers (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
11) Johann Mouse (MGM, Tom & Jerry),
12) Speedy Gonzales (WB),
13) Birds Anonymous (WB, Tweety & Sylvester),
14) Knighty-Knight Bugs (WB, Bugs Bunny)
15) The Dot and the Line (Chuck Jones classic MGM cartoon).
Discs 2 & 3:
Academy Award® nominated shorts featured on the DVDs include
1) Popeye The Sailor Meets Sinbad The Sailor (Paramount/Fleischer)
2) Superman (Paramount/Fleischer)
3) Walky Talky Hawky (WB, Foghorn Leghorn)
4) One Droopy Knight (MGM, Droopy)
plus 12 more un-announced titles.
Those close to the production of this DVD say we can expect these cartoons to be included on the Nominees discs, but they have not yet been officially announced:
5) A Wild Hare (WB, Bugs Bunny)
6) Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt (WB, Bugs Bunny) new to DVD.
7) Rhapsody In Rivits (WB) new to DVD.
Greetings Bait (WB) new to DVD.
9) Swooner Crooner (WB, Porky Pig) new to DVD.
10) Life With Feathers (WB, Sylvester) new to DVD.
11) Mouse Wreckers (WB, Hubie & Bertie)
12) From A to Z-Z-Z-Z (WB, Ralph Philips) new to DVD.
13) Sandy Claws (WB, Tweety & Sylvester) new to DVD.
14) Tobasco Road (WB, Speedy Gonzalas)
15) Mexicali Schmoes (WB, Speedy Gonzalas)
16) Mouse And Garden (WB, The Honeymousers)
17) The High Note (WB Chuck Jones classic) new to DVD.
18) Pied Piper Of Guadalupe (WB, Speedy Gonzalas)
19) Beep Prepared (WB, Road Runner) new to DVD.
20) Nelly’s Folly (WB) new to DVD.
21) Now Hear This (WB, Chuck Jones classic) new to DVD.
22) Peace On Earth (MGM, Harmon-Ising classic) new to DVD.
23) Night Before Christmas, The (MGM, Tom & Jerry)
24) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Mouse (MGM, Tom & Jerry)
25) Hatch Up Your Troubles (MGM, Tom & Jerry)
26) Good Will To Men (MGM, Hanna Barbera Cinemascope remake of the classic Peace On Earth) new to DVD.
BONUSES will include a red carpet-worthy special feature entitled “Drawn for Glory: Animation’s Triumph At The Oscars®” which focuses on the history of the Academy Awards® animation short subject category.
Then watch Bugs Bunny try to promote his film Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt to the Acadamy for an award.
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Download The Americanization of Emily Free.
Movie Title: The Americanization of Emily The Americanization of Emily is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Americanization of Emily |
Hollywood movies were becoming increasingly adventurous in the early 1960s, tackling a wide variety of subjects with candor and intelligence. THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY is one of the finest films of that period, a movie that manages to be a biting satirical comedy, a clear-eyed cherish narrative, and a passionate denunciation of warfare all at the same time.James Garner portrays “dog-robber” Charlie, an American naval officer stationed in London during WWII and charged with the duty of keeping his admiral (Melvyn Douglas) in as complete a region of comfort as possible. Charlie freely admits that he likes his job because it keeps him far away from combat and the risk of death. This attitude does not intially endear Charlie to Emily (Julie Andrews), a military driver and Britisher who has lost several family members to the fighting. Slowly, however, the two plunge in savor and view to earn a life together. Then misfortune intervenes: the admiral devises a public relations view to ensure that the first man killed in the D-Day invasion is a sailor. And it looks like Charlie is in effort of becoming that man. . .THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY was made in 1964, the same year as DR. STRANGELOVE, an anti-war film that has now become legendary. EMILY was favorite enough but somewhat overlooked at the time of its release, and it is not as notorious today as it deserves to be.Buy,Download, Or Stream The Americanization of Emily! Click HerePaddy Chayevsky’s screenplay is filled with witty, pungent dialogue (even during Charlie and Emily’s treasure scenes) . And the performances are apt. Garner has said more than once that this is his accepted of his films. And Andrews, in what was only her second movie (she made EMILY between MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC) is amazing, giving us a portrait of a highly complex woman who first disdains her lover’s cowardice and then clings to him because of it.The black-and-white photography (which blends seamlessly with true WWII newsreel footage) is crisp. And Johnny Mandel’s pick up is amazing, from his tongue-in-cheek march over the credits to the haunting cherish theme which was later given a Johnny Mercer lyric, “Emily.”If you appreciate war (or anti-war) films, care for stories, dusky comedies, or thought-provoking drama, you’ll fetch worthy to savor in THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY.
I first saw The Americanization of Emily many years ago and I have always loved it. Before getting it on video recently, I had not seen it for a very long time but I idea about it often – not least because I had since followed the film’s example by being an American guy in appreciate with an English Rose. That culture shock is the heart of the film and is something I can attest to. I also remember my father, who had been in the US Navy in WWII, telling me how accurately the film depicted the navy brass. All in all, The Americanization of Emily gets better every time I examine it.
Buy,Download, Or Stream The Americanization of Emily! Click Here
Paddy Chayefsky’s script gives the film its solid foundation with three dimensional characters who voice snarl yet believable dialogue. The mixture of satire, sex and sentiment is honest correct. The British are fond of saying that Americans have no sense of irony. They have obviously never seen this film.
Holding everything together and making the audience genuinely care is James Garner in the most impressive performance of his career. He plays a “dog robber” – personal aide to an vital admiral, an officer dedicated to making the war as comfortable as possible, and a devout coward. Stationed in London during the buildup to D-Day, Garner is having a very fine war indeed. He is a man who is very determined of himself and what he believes in. At least, until he meets Julie Andrews – English war widow and military driver. These two people have absolutely nothing in celebrated. So it is inevitable, yet somehow oddly logical, that they drop in savor.
But a puny thing called World War Two keeps getting in the diagram. Garner’s mentally unhinged admiral decides that the first monotonous man on Omaha Beach should be a sailor and wants Garner to photograph the event – if not have the honour of being insensible himself. Cue the best exploration of heroism and cowardice (also known as accepted sense) ever place on hide.
Although the film is undoubtedly Garner’s brightest moment, the rest of the cast invent solid and memorable contributions. Melvyn Douglas, in one of his last roles, as the admiral and James Coburn, in one of his early roles, as a gung-ho junior officer both ably exhibit that the phrase “military intelligence” is a contradiction in terms. The improbable English actress Joyce Grenfell is both batty and touching as Julie Andrews’ mother. And what about Julie Andrews? People who only know her from the oversweet Mary Poppins or Sound of Music will be amazed by her utterly convincing performance as a woman who refuses to let reality slay her romanticism. She and Garner spark and complement each other beautifully and their chemistry, more than anything else, makes this film so memorable.
You might reflect that a murky and white film made in the Sixties and plot during World War Two would seem dated. But The Americanization of Emily is as novel and intriguing as ever because, above all, it is about people and the human condition. And they, for better or worse, never change.
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The best movie ever is Shattered.
Movie Title: Shattered Shattered is available for streaming or downloading. |
Please keep in mind that I am one of a handful of people that saw this film ON THE BIG SCREEN IN A MOVIE THEATER instead of just on TNT, butchered for television, with commercial interruptions. It is much better the way it was intended to be seen. After seeing the film twice ON THE BIG SCREEN during its limited release, these are my comments:
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Imagine a Yuppie Gerard Butler. Great looking. Confident. Successful. Gorgeous wife. Beautiful sweet daughter. The perfect life in upscale suburban Chicago. Enter mysterious menacing stalking stranger and their worst nightmare begins. He threatens the life of their daughter as insurance for their obedience to his demands.
Sound like the typical ‘kidnapped kid’ flick? It’s not.
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It’s taut, suspenseful, edge of your seat storytelling combined with good solid performances by all, especially Bello and Brosnan. Butler is very good, but I’ve seen him better. I believe he filmed this on the heels of the grueling demands of 300 and it shows a bit. He may not be at the very top of his game here, but he still performs well.
Brosnan upped his credibility as an actor for me in this film. He played the menacing stranger perfectly. Just the right tone of voice and facial expressions, joined with his eyes and body language, spoke in unison to perfection in every scene. I’d really like to see more from him, he is a very good dramatic actor. I like him better as an older, mature man. More gritty, less suave.
Maria Bello is perfect as the mother held hostage by mother love and the need to protect her child at all costs.
I loved the score. Where you might expect a really intense, gritty score, this one opts for a quieter one with a hint of bluesy undertones and it works. It intensifies at the right moments, but never takes a front seat as often happens in thrillers. It melds with the action and helps makes each scene into an audiovisual, emotional emulsion.
In fact, the whole film is just quieter than one would expect, given what is usually served up with films of this genre. There are no car chases, no last minute rescues, no heroes. It never goes over the top. It has its feet on the ground and its eyes on what’s human and real.
This film is no dud. Even though it had a very limited release, it is not the fault of the filmmakers or the actors. It is good movie-making. You may not think it’s one of the best films you’ve ever seen, but there’s a good chance you’ll be satisfied that you got your money’s worth. I give it a definite thumbs up.
Scale of 1-10? I give this an 8.
Warning: DON’T read much about this film. DON’T watch the trailer over and over. The less you know going in, the better your experience of it will be. Because of one seemingly innocuous remark made by someone who’d seen it, I guessed the ending about halfway through. I wasn’t even trying. But things we hear stick in our minds whether we like it or not. I sincerely wish I had not guessed correctly. The rest of the film lost it’s suspense for me.
Hint: This is a two timer. It’s even better the second time.
This is a true psychological suspense thriller where the viewer has NO idea of the twists and turns in this movie. I truly enjoyed watching it but I’m finding it very hard to review. About all I can write is that the focus of the movie is on a couple whose child is kidnapped. From there, you have to see the film, the kidnapper and his wishes and what develops. Prepare for surprises. If you like unpredictable suspense films, Pierce Brosnam (showing his age but still appealing) is excellent as are the other actors.
I can’t write more about this because I’ll give away the plot. You deserve to be surprised. Sit back and prepare to be thrilled.
I don’t recall this one getting much publicity or even its appearance in theaters so it really took me by surprise. In the film, a couple leaves home for a brief respite with their child in the care of a sitter. From there, the suspense builds, along with the news that their child has been kidnapped. I will only add that you need to pay close attention because what you see isn’t always what you think.
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Watch Oh! What a Lovely War Online.
Movie Title: Oh! What a Lovely War Oh! What a Lovely War is available for streaming or downloading. |
“Oh! What a Lovely War” takes on nothing less than the immense task of encapsulating the entirety of World War One into two and a half hours. This is a story of courage and sacrifice beyond comprehension, and of stupidity and heartlessness on a truly monumental scale. But the courage and sacrifice are not, as in the usual telling of tales, that of a handful of heroes, but of an entire generation. And the stupidity and heartlessness belong to the military and world leaders of the day. As monarchs, generals, and politicians wallow in luxury and privilege, the ordinary soldier wallows in mud – and brutal death. This is a story that will make you gasp and cry `never again.’ And you know your cry is in vain.
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A notice after the opening screen credits states something that must be kept in mind throughout the film: “The principal statements made by the historical characters in this film are based on documentary evidence, and the words of the songs are those sung by the troops during the First World War.” Therefore, to underscore the absurdity of an international effort that did its utmost to murder an entire generation, much of the dialogue of the historical characters, comfortably ensconced away from the fighting, sounds absurd. Is it really possible, for example, that General Haig, after considering the huge loss of life on both sides, could have said something like “in the end, the Germans will have five thousand men and we will have ten thousand, so we will have won”?. Apparently so.
The men in the trenches, on the other hand, had the unenviable choice of facing probable death or mutilation on the battlefield, or facing the firing squad for cowardice if they deserted. They express themselves in the memorable songs of the day, many of which are rich in gallows humor (”hanging on the old barbed wire” is one cheerful refrain). But despite its gruesome themes, there is not one drop of blood in the film: when death comes, it arrives in the form of a bright red poppy.
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Those who cannot relate to epochal events except through the eyes of a circumscribed set of characters may have trouble with this film. And some may find frivolous a film that depicts human tragedy through upbeat song and dance numbers (all of which are wonderfully staged and performed). But recall that the words sung are those of the actual participants in the unfolding tragedy. “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here” underscores the troops’ view of the meaningless sacrifice. If their impious words set to beloved hymns seem offensive, perhaps it is because when life is at its bleakest, humor can help save one’s sanity.
This film, directed by the great Richard Attenborough, is a work of genius; it delivers a message that is all-too-relevant for our times.
I first saw this film on the big screen in London when it was first released. I have been waiting for this film to appear on any video format for years. I can only hope that this is not the edited version. Shown on television only rarely and severely edited the film loses its sarcastic wit and anti-war feelings.
The very idea of setting a musical retelling of the WWI, from the English point of view, on Brighton Pier’s Fun Fair is audacious to say the least. “England Put the Kibasch on the Kaiser” truly begins the fun and shock. Maggie Smith’s appearance as a Music Hall star is wonderful as she exhorts the troops to sign up. All of the songs, excepting the title one are from the era and provide enough feeling to swamp your feelings. Hooray! I shall use it in class Winter Quarter. It will be a revelation to those who have not seen it!
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Sleeping Beauty Reviews and Downloads.
Movie Title: Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty is available for streaming or downloading. |
I vividly remember the release of Sleeping Beauty. I was old enough to go see it myself – just barely. There I was sitting way up front eating my popcorn and all of a sudden this spectacular dragon materialized right before my eyes. Popcorn forgotten, I was hooked. Cartoons never looked the same to me, and I spent the rest of my life inhaling fantasy and science fiction on a quest for the same thrill.
Animation has changed quite a bit in the ensuing years, but even today Sleeping Beauty is a towering achievement. Now I’m more sensitive to the tricks of the art and can see the masterful use of perspective that made the scenes leap out at you. When I first picked up this DVD I half expected to be disappointed, to find it really wasn’t so glorious in retrospect. This is hardly the case – this film is just as vibrant and alive as it was in 1959.
The added dimension now is that I can see how Disney’s work was a formative influence on animation even today. Artist/Directors like Miyazaki owe much to this film and its predecessor Snow White. And they freely admit it. As a production, Sleeping Beauty created a sense of legitimacy for animation that proved that high quality animation was something well beyond the Saturday morning funnies.
Disney took a great risk when creating this film, pouring a tremendous amount of resources in making it something as perfect as was possible for his time. While the studio reaped the financial benefits, the audience was the real winner, as a whole genre exploded before our eyes. Even now, with anime rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with, this film stands out for story, art, and music.
The additional features, especially those that retell the making of the film, are excellent as well. All captures in fine detail on this DVD. This is a must see for anyone who still loves a fairy tale.
This movie is one of the great classics of animation, especially for Disney. The DVD version is significantly improved compared to the previous VHS tape. The picture and sound were both greatly enhanced for this release. Furthermore, both widescreen and full screen versions are available in this package.
As with Disney’s other classics, some liberties were taken with the original story of Sleeping Beauty. Disney took the classic story and made it unique and special. In some ways the story is less violent and dark than the original fairy tale. In other ways, such as the portrayal of Maleficent, the movie is dark and forbidding. While the movie is generally a children’s movie, Maleficent’s dragon and her general demeanor can be somewhat frightening for some in the pre-school and younger set.
Aurora was the first love for many a young boy, and was also the model for the aspirations of millions of girls. The romantic love story of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip enchanted would-be princesses everywhere, and in some cases became the measure by which future spouses were measured (and many of us struggled to meet the ideal).
Of course, the romantic story and the evil of Maleficent were balanced by the comedy of the animal characters and the three bumbling, good-hearted fairy godmothers. While their goodness may appear a bit too vanilla and sweet for some, it is perfect for those longing for the innocence of their youth.
While the movie is the most important part of the DVD, this two CD set contains a phenomenal number of extras. I found the audio commentary by various key individuals to be absolutely fascinating. I planned to listen to portions of the commentary in preparation for my review, and instead found myself listening to the entire thing because it was so incredibly fascinating. Mary Costa (Princess Aurora) and others provide their perspective on the creation of the movie, as well as personal memories of Walt Disney and his influence on the film. The audio commentary by itself is worth replacing your VHS tape, particularly for aficionados of Disney movies.
In addition to the audio commentary are numerous, emphasize numerous, other bonus features. Some I felt were less than worthwhile, others, such as the shorts “Grand Canyon” and “The Peter Tchaikovsky Story,” were excellent bonuses. The number of bonuses on this two disc set was so large that there is a navigational overview included in the DVD that categorizes 38 features found on the second disc.
With the movie and the wealth of bonuses, this movie is a must-buy for those who have yet to have “Sleeping Beauty.” For those who have the VHS, the bonus material is nearly worth the cost of the DVD. Certainly those who are collectors of Disney memorabilia and historians of Disney will find the DVD to be a concise compendium of some of the best information available regarding this film. I highly recommend this DVD!
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Why I hate The Usual Suspects.
Movie Title: The Usual Suspects The Usual Suspects is available for streaming or downloading. |
“Round up the usual suspects.” And so they do – and ending up in the lineup are career criminals Michael McManus, Fred Fenster and Todd Hockney (Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro and Kevin Pollack), ex-cop gone bad gone good again Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne) and small-time con man Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey).
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Wait a minute … five criminals in one lineup? There’s something wrong here, right? Right …
In “The Usual Suspects,” not only every line but every gesture, every facial expression and every camera cut counts. Even if you distrust the story being told, you can’t exactly pin down everything that’s wrong with it. The plot unfolds through the tale extracted from Kint, one of two survivors of a massacre and subsequent explosion on a boat docked in San Pedro Harbor, by U.S. Customs agent David Kujan (Chazz Palminteri). And at the same time as Kint is spinning his yarn, in a nearby hospital the other survivor (badly injured and fresh out of a coma) helps a police sketch artist draw a picture of the mastermind behind the scheme – “the devil,” Keyser Söze.
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You can watch this movie countless times, and you will still discover new subtleties every single time. Not only will you find that it still makes sense after the story line has been unraveled at the end (which therefore is a plot twist, not a non-sequitur). You’ll also discover nuance upon nuance in Kevin Spacey’s incredible performance. You’ll see that tiny apologetic grin on Todd Hockney’s face as attorney Kobayashi (Pete Postlethwaite) lists a weapons truck heist – the very act which brought them together in the initial lineup, and which they have all come to believe to have been a trumped-up charge – as Hockney’s latest sin against Keyser Söze, now forming part of the debt to be repaid by participating in the suicide mission in San Pedro Harbor. And at some point you’ll also have figured out all of Fenster’s lines (not being a native English speaker, I am relieved to find that I wasn’t the only one struggling with them at first) … although the mumbling is of course part of his character, and is as excellently delivered as every other aspect of Benicio del Toro’s acting, his lines are so funny and to the point you almost wish he’d speak more clearly so you wouldn’t miss half his punch lines the first time around.
Among a cast of tremendous actors (to name just two, Gabriel Byrne in one of his best performances and Benicio del Toro, deserving much more than just an “also starring” mentioning in the opening credits), Kevin Spacey’s star shines brightest. To this day it is a mystery to me how he came to be awarded the Academy Award for Best *Supporting* Actor – the only things the man supports (in fact carries, almost single-handedly) in this movie are Bryan Singer’s directing and Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay, and that alone makes him the movie’s lead character. But regardless of its title, the award was more than justified, and so was the one for McQuarrie’s screenplay. With infinite trust in the audience’s ability to pick up on little gestures, looks and inflections of his voice, Kevin Spacey displays all the many aspects of his character at the same time; and even the tenth time around, his performance still holds as true as the first time you watch the movie. Almost expressionless he tells his tale, always seeming to give away just about as much as he has to, and only raising his voice for a pointed (and exquisitely timed) expletive upon first being confronted with the name Keyser Söze, and for a wailing “Why me??” as agent Kujan tries to convince him that his own archenemy, Keaton, has been behind their failed enterprise all along and purposely let him (Kint) live to tell their story.
This is one of those movies which have you quote their many memorable one-liners forever. (Just look at how many reviewers on this site alone are quoting the one about “the devil’s greatest trick.”) To the extent that it cites other works, those citations pay homage, they don’t merely copy – right down to the name of the movie’s production company (Blue Parrot/Bad Hat); like the title containing a reference to “Casablanca,” the prototype of all films noir (or those made in Hollywood at least). It is one of the best modern examples of the genre and has long since become a cult classic – it’s a must in every decent collection.
Also recommended:
Memento (Widescreen Two-Disc Limited Edition)
L.A. Confidential
Seven (New Line Platinum Series)
Sometimes a movie really surprises you, really blows you away for some reason. I saw “The Usual Suspects” not really expecting anything interesting. Well, I was wrong. Instead I got to see a terrifically exciting movie featuring outstanding acting and a plot twist that actually caught me by surprise.
The plot? Following a bloody shoot-out aboard a ship moored at a Santa Monica pier, the police question a hood by the name of Verbal Kint in an attempt to learn about what happened. We see several different possibilities and the final answer we get is a real surprise.
Typically movies rely upon special effects, left-field plot twists, and brand-name casting to get the job done. “The Usual Suspects” relies on an excellent script, good direction and wonderful acting from people who might not necessarily be household names. Look at this cast- Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollack, Benicio Del Toro, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Dan Hedaya, and Pete Postlethwaite. This is some serious acting talent to behold. They all are great, but in particular Gabriel Byrne (Dean Keaton) and Kevin Spacey (Verbal Kint) deliver exceptional performances. Neither man is quite who they seem to be. Spacey won a well-deserved Oscar for his performance in this film.
Director Brian Singer does a brilliant job coaxing terrific acting performances from his cast. This was a tought movie to make and he pulled it off in spades.
Go see “The Usual Suspects” and find out why it is one of my favorite films.