King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death')

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Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 09/30/2008 Run time: 98 minutes Rating: R

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Better known in the United States as Five Fingers of Death, this spectacular mix of martial arts action and Western-style melodrama from the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios helped to light the fuse for the kung fu movie explosion in the early '70s. Indonesian actor Lo Lieh is the young acolyte caught up in a struggle between rival martial arts schools; after one villainous outfit murders several of Lieh's classmates with the help of hired killers, he trains to develop the invincible "Iron Palm" technique and defeat the opposing school. Korean director Chang-hwa Jeong delivers stunning (and very violent) action set pieces (set to a dizzying array of American library music cues, most notably Quincy Jones' theme to Ironside) but also manages to create a compelling and dramatic sub-story about loyalty and honor. The result is a martial arts film that can be enjoyed by viewers who aren't fanatical about the genre and diehard kung fu heads alike. The widescreen DVD (which surpasses all previous VHS and DVD versions of the film) includes an interesting commentary track by Quentin Tarantino (who aided Dragon Dynasty in assembling its Shaw Brothers library) and critics Elvis Mitchell and David Chute, who discuss King Boxer's appeal and thematic similarities to Hollywood product; Chute is also featured with critic Andy Klein in one of three short supplements about the film's production and history, with director Jeong and martial arts choreographer Liu Chia-Liang taking center stage for the others. - Paul Gaita


King Boxer (aka 'Five Fingers Of Death') Customer Review


One of the Shaw Brothers Studios most well-known films, King Boxer was an international success that helped instigate the kung fu craze of the '70s. It opens with an old master (Wen Chung Ku) attacked in an alley. He fends off the fighters, but decides he isn't strong enough to travel to a martial arts school to learn the Iron Fist (also called Iron Palm) fighting technique. He sends his pupil and son-in-law Chao Chi-Hao (Lo Lieh) instead. When Chao arrives at the school, he finds the students and teachers in preparation for the All China Tournament. They fear that if their archrivals win the competition they will rule with cruelty. Chao, the clumsy rookie, must start at the lowest rung of the school's ladder and work his way up. Meanwhile Ming Dung Shun (Tin Fung), master of the "bad" school has hired Chen Lang (Gam Hei Chu), a tough mercenary, and two Japanese ronins to kill or maim the "good" school's best fighters. In one of these fights Chao's hands are broken and it seems as if he will not be able to fight again. Chao redoubles his efforts to overcome his injury and learn the Iron Fist technique. Mastery of the technique is indicated by a "whooo-hee whooo-hee" sound effect and a quick zoom to the fighter's glowing hands. Chao's old master is also attacked and killed by these fighters and his daughter/Chao's girlfriend Yin Yin (Ping Wang) flees to tell him the bad news. Chao fights his way to the All China Tournament, and prepares to take on Ming Dung Shun and his cohorts. In the United State, the film is more commonly known as Five Fingers of Death, the more exploitative title given to it by Warner Brothers. ~ Michael Buening, All Movie Guide

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)

A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version) Sale

Are you ready for a movie that puts filth right where it belongs? Then get ready to laugh with A Dirty Shame--the latest raunchy riot from director John Waters (Hairspray). When a concussion awakens the carnal urges of Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in a battle of decency versus depravity.

DVD Features:Audio Commentary:Feature commentary with John WatersDVD ROM Features:Documentary:"All the Dirt on A Dirty Shame" documentaryTheatrical Trailer:

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• Are you ready for a movie that puts filth right where it belongs? Then get ready to laugh with A Dirty Shame--the latest raunchy riot from director John Waters (Hairspray). When a concussion awakens the carnal urges of Sylvia (Tracey Ullman), the people of Pinewood become pitted against each other in a battle of decency versus depravity.Running Time: 88 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COME

When prissy, prickly Sylvia Stickles (Tracey Ullman) suffers a head injury during a traffic altercation, she's, er, revived by self-appointed sexual missionary Ray-Ray Perkins (Johnny Knoxville) and is transformed into an insatiable, take-no-prisoners sex maniac. Yes, it's a John Waters film. Yes, it's filthy. No, it's not as hilarious and sustained as you'd like it to be. It works for a while, though: Ullman, never a stingy comedienne, does everything Waters dares her to do without hesitation; words cannot describe the perversely sporting delight with which she mounts a water bottle during a round of "The Hokey Pokey" at an old folks' home. And there's some fun to be had when Sylvia's emancipation leads her Baltimore 'burb to new heights of ecstasy, freeing her large-breasted daughter Caprice (Selma Blair) while horrifying husband Vaughn (Chris Isaak) and her hardline mother Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd, hysterical) in the process. It's also packed with the standard cameos, the most satisfying of which is good old Patty Hearst at a Sex Addicts Anonymous encounter. But, for all the nasty, necessary glee, the movie feels inescapably been-there-done-that, and you can't help but wish this was 1972 and Divine was on hand to prowl for dog droppings. The most shocking thing about A Dirty Shame is how desperate and tiresome its anarchy becomes.--Steve Wiecking


A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version) Customer Review


Underneath all the outrageous antics, John Waters' films often offer a warm message of tolerance. In his early films, he chose misfits, outcasts, and "normal" people to play characters that reflected the strangeness of suburban America. In his later films, such as "A Dirty Shame", he chooses a combination of mainstream Hollywood stars (Tracey Ullman, Chris Isaak, Selma Blair), his usual favorites (Mink Stole), and pop culture oddities (Johnny Knoxville, David Hasselhoff, Patty Hearst) to populate his subversive world.

If "Serial Mom" was a satire of the media's love of violence, and "Pecker" lambasted the pretentiousness of the art world, "A Dirty Shame" is an almost sincere (albeit very silly) cry for sexual liberation. Whereas most Hollywood films only allow for beautiful people to enjoy sexual freedom, "A Dirty Shame" makes the case for every person's right to enjoy their own sexual appetites, as long as, to quote Johnny Knoxville's sex guru Ray-Ray, "it's safe and consentual".

To bring this message home, the audience is treated to a smorgasbord of hilarious and horny characters, including a trio of "bears", an adult baby, a "human vacuum cleaner", and a couple who enjoy "Roman showers". (Don't ask.)

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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Chinese for Kids: Learn Chinese Beginning Level 1 Volume 1

Chinese for Kids: Learn Chinese Beginning Level 1 Volume 1 Sale

CHINESE FOR KIDS vol. 1 bring fun and excitement to language learning. Starring native Mandarin speakers and 3-D animated characters this DVD teaches basic conversational Chinese within the context of a fantastic birthday party - full of lively songs delicious, food, and playful games. Billy and his cute Shih Tzu puppy Benboo teach useful phrases for everyday situations along with words for colors, numbers, and toys. Embedded throughout the video are interactive DVD games that test a child s comprehension and original music by a Hollywood composer designed to reinforce new words and phrases. All Language Tree videos incorporate the breakthrough Multi-Cognition ApproachTM, developed by a Stanford University cognitive scientist, for faster and deeper learning. DVD comes with learning booklet.

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• CHINESE FOR KIDS vol. 1 is the first of a 2-part DVD and booklet series that bring fun and excitement to language learning. Starring native Mandarin speakers and 3-D animated characters, this DVD teaches basic conversational Chinese within the context of a fantastic birthday party - full of lively songs, delicious food, and playful games. Billy and his cute Shih Tzu puppy, "Benboo", teach useful p

Chinese for Kids: Learn Chinese Beginning Level 1 Volume 1 Customer Review


I've seen several learn Chinese DVD's and this one is one of the best. The mix of speech, song, graphics all came together to keep your attention and educate. This DVD really does it's job.

The basis of the DVD is 2D Flash Type animation where the subjects are fairly static but moving through the scene. The colors are bright and there is enough motion and change to keep watchable but not distract from the message, Somehow I really think this minimalist style adds to the impact, flashy GCI is nice but you end up watching the pictures, not focusing on the lesson.

The presentation is by an american female narrator who follows the daily activites of a Chinese family, specifically Billy and his pet Shi-Tzu Bemboo. But it doesn't cute out too much on the dog nor is it all about billy. The lessons cover names of family members, dinner, a visit to the farm, the four tones, parts of the body and more. There is both regular speech and a recap song after the "lesson". The format and pacing might be a little fast for the first time but after you watch it enough times you catch on. I've already got some experience with the langauge so I can't rate it from a strictly beginner standpoint.

I'm married to a Chinese lady and we have two kids 4 and 18months at the time of this review. So I've got well above average exposure to the Langauge but I found it useful, kind of a reinforcement exercise and fleshing out a few little details. My kids (who understand but refuse to speak chinese) loved it. It kept them engaged and encouraged the older one to actually spit out a few words. The younger one got a lot of it as she was picking up both the Chinese and the English words.

The fact that they really enjoyed it and it kept their attention and focus and they got a lot out of it is why I rate this one so highly. Others may make arugments for or against this methodolgy or presentation of the langauge. I could pick at a few things (my wife mentioned that the chinse pronounciation wasn't very good) but in the end its the impact on the target audience that determines how good the product is and it really hit home. I'd highly recommend it.

PROS -
Excellent presentation, visuals, audio and songs are well balanced and keep the pace going.
Good selection of material (very relavent to beginners)
Best explanation of the 4 tones yet

CONS-
MIGHT be a big jump for a total beginner (I can't judge)
Chinese pronounciation isn't perfect (Taiwanese accent claims the Mainlander), I wouldn't know.

All and all I'd highly recommend it.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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The King and Four Queens

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Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 05/12/2009 Run time: 86 minutes Rating: Nr

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The King and Four Queens Customer Review


Passion, envy, and inextricable situations and a subtle eroticism embellish this extraordinary bloodless western - something like western for vegetarians -. You 'll love it.

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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief [Blu-ray]

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief [Blu-ray] Sale

Modern and mythical worlds collide in this thunderous fantasy-adventure starring Pierce Brosnan, Kevin McKidd and Uma Thurman as you’ve never seen them before! Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager...he’s just learned he’s the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus’ ­lightning bolt – the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt and prevent a war amongst the gods that could destroy our world!

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Mythology and the modern world collide in this epic quest for justice by Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman), your basic below-average, misfit student whose family life is a mess and who's misunderstood by everyone except his best friend, Grover (Brandon T. Jackson). A voice warns that everything is about to change as Percy enters the New Roman and Greek Art Gallery on a school field trip, and, indeed, it does. Percy's substitute teacher morphs into a mythical beast and tries to attack him, and it's revealed that Percy is the son of Poseidon, and a true demigod. Percy also discovers that Grover is really a satyr--half-human, half-goat--and his sworn protector, and that one of his teachers is a centaur--half-horse, half-man--who's more committed to Percy's education than he could ever have imagined. On top of it all, Percy is the prime suspect in the recent theft of Zeus's lightning bolt and is being hunted by the gods. Following these shocking revelations, Percy is taken to a special training camp to learn to control and use his exceptional powers, and in the process, his mother is imprisoned by Hades. Against all advice, Percy, his protector Grover, and Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), daughter of Athena, leave camp to rescue Percy's mother from the underworld. Their quest is extremely dangerous and puts them squarely in the path of Medusa (Uma Thurman), with her venomous hair and gaze that turns people to stone. The three also battle a five-headed, fire-breathing beast and visit a Las Vegas casino patrons never leave, and finally they find themselves deep in the underworld, at the mercy of the unpredictable Persephone, wife of Hades. Somehow, Percy must both convince the gods he did not steal Zeus's lightning and prevent a war of the gods that could potentially destroy the entire world. Based on the books by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is an exciting action film rich with ancient mythology, yet set squarely in the 21st century. Enriched by strong special effects and some potently disturbing images, it is a powerful story about family, trust, determination, and love. (Ages 11 and older) --Tami Horiuchi


Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief [Blu-ray] Customer Review


First off let me just say that I have read all 5 books at least twice through. I am an avid fan of this series. I was looking forward to this movie for quite a while. Of course this takes the course that many book adaptions take. That is, it differs from the book in many ways. Personally, I went to the midnight showing of this film expecting the differences, and went with an open mind to the idea of differences. And you know what? I immensely enjoyed this film! First, let me run down some differences between the book and film.

Unless you've read the book and don't mind finding out what was cut and changed, consider this your SPOILER ALERT!


First and most obviously, the ages of the actors. They are all in their late teens, whereas the kids in the book are 12.

Second, no Ares, Clarisse, or Dionysus. The fight for the Lightning Bolt is with Luke instead of Ares. And Annabeth takes on the role of the warrior girl in the movie.

Third, instead of a quest, Percy Grover and Annabeth just ditch camp to get the lightning bolt and save Percy's mother.

Fourth, NO PROPHECY. No mention of Thalia or the Big Three pact. I hope they mention it in The Sea of Monsters if they make it.

Those are the 4 biggest changes I remember from the movie and biggest complaints from avid fans. Logan Lerman (Percy), Alexandra Daddario (Annabeth), Brandon T Jackson (Grover), and Jake Abel (Luke) are all great actors. I hadn't really heard of them until The Lightning Thief. But they are terrific actors! Brandon is hilarious as Grover, and makes tons of jokes as the comic relief. Some may find his constant cracking of joke irritating, but in the right mood he's hilarious.

Sean Bean, and Kevin Mckidd are great as Zeus and Poseidon respectively. They're not in it very much, but Mr. Mckidd's entrance in the beginning of the film is awesome. I won't reveal more, but he's the first we see in the film.

And lets not forget Uma Thurman as Medusa! She was brilliantly done, and was very spooky and awesome. If you've read the book you know she dies, but I wish they would find a way to bring back Medusa because Uma Thurman was brilliant!

All in all, this was an amazing film, and I look forward to the deleted scenes included with the Blu-Ray release, because only 5 out of 10 scenes are on the DVD release. Plus, the Blu-Ray comes with a DVD and a code for a free copy on iTunes, which is brilliant. So this is a great film for the whole family, and I know I will be headed to the store to get it after it's release. (or, I think I'll just buy from amazon, because they do have really good prices on Blu-Rays)

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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Persuasion

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Anne Elliot is persuaded to break off an engagement to Capt. Wentworth, but tensions are resumed when they meet again eight years later.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG
Release Date: 5-JUN-2007
Media Type: DVD

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• ISBN13: 9780767836630
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Movie adaptations of Jane Austen's classic novels were all the rage (relatively speaking) in the mid-1990s. Clueless updated Austen's Emma, which was more conventionally adapted in another version (Emma) starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Emma was produced yet again, this time for British television, as were a celebrated miniseries of Pride and Prejudice and this splendid film of Austen's Persuasion. Persuasion is the story of a love that survives eight years of dormancy and the frustrating obstacles of class prejudice in 19th century England. Anne (Amanda Root) is captivated when she meets the dignified naval officer Capt. Wentworth (Ciarán Hinds), but she is advised to discourage his romantic overtures because he has no fortune. They meet again eight years later, but now Capt. Wentworth has become wealthy while Anne's father is in reduced circumstances in the wake of reckless extravagance. A series of circumstances ensue which prevent Anne and Wentworth from expressing their mutual and inevitable love. The film's success depends entirely on the subtle, superb performances of Root and Hinds. The film builds slowly, occasionally leaving you wondering if anything at all is going to happen. When it does, you realize how carefully crafted a film this is, and the final result is grandly rewarding. --Jeff Shannon


Persuasion Customer Review



When I first saw this film I fell in love.(Admitted- I was first shocked of Amanda Roots being Anne, because she looked older than 27, but I like her playing and in the end I find her very pretty in a natural way. Besides, nowadays we've got a total different notion of beauty)
Everything is perfect in this adaption: from the actor and actress playing Cpt. Wentworth and Anne, over the story and how the film is developped over the choice of music( extremely beautiful).
This is my absolute favourite film adaption of Jane Austen's novel ( except maybe Pride & Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth).
If I could, I would award this film more than 5 stars.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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Out of Africa

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The most acclaimed motion picture of 1985 stars Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in one of the screen’s great epic romances. Directed by Oscar winner Sydney Pollack, Out of Africa is the fascinating true story of Karen Blixen, a strong-willed woman who, with her philandering husband (Klaus Maria Brandauer), runs a coffee plantation in Kenya, circa 1914. To her astonishment, she soon discovers herself falling in love with the land, its people and a mysterious white hunter (Redford). The masterfully crafted, breathtakingly produced story of love and loss earned Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay (based on material from another medium), Cinematography, Original Score, Art Direction (Set Decoration) and Sound.

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Sydney Pollack's 1985 multiple-Oscar winner is a sumptuous andemotionally satisfying film about the life of Danish writer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), better known as Isak Dinesen, who travels to Kenya to be with her German husband (Klaus Maria Brandauer) but falls for an English adventurer (Robert Redford). The film is slow in developing the relationship, but it is rich in beautiful images of Africa and in the romantic tone surrounding Blixen's gradual discovery of her life and voice. One downside: while we may all love Redford, he is as convincingly British as Kevin Costner is in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. --Tom Keogh


Out of Africa Customer Review


This Sydney Pollack film is a work of sumptuous beauty, the colors of the vast land that is Africa a backdrop to an equally gorgeous romance that itself is tied to a continent. This is Karen Blixen's true story of her time in Kenya and her romance with a mercurial hunter who lives with Africa, rather than in it. Karen would leave her spirit and her soul on the wide open plains of this beautiful land, which is the real star of this lush and most romantic of films. Robert Redford and Meryl Streep are both marvelous in this elegant banquet of love and beauty.

Karen embarks on a journey to Africa after a marriage of convenience to an old friend. The marriage will turn sour shortly after their arrival to the coffee plantation paid for with her money. His unfaithfulness will bring about an illness that will force her to return home for treatment, or go insane. She has met Denys already, however, and fallen in love with a land and its people, and knows she must come back.

The romance of Karen and the enigmatic Denys is languid, like the plains, and their differences vast, like the orange evening skyline. She starts a school for the tribal children and feels ties to her coffee farm and the beautiful country around her. Denys, however, has been in Africa a long time, and knows all those there are just passing through. He roams the plains and knows no ownership, at least not the kind Karen needs.

A flight over Kenya set to John Barry's beautiful score is one of those magical moments in film never to be forgotten. Karen, who would later write of these things under the name, Isak Dinesen, would describe it as "A glimpse of the world from God's eye."

This majestic offering has a breathtaking scope few films can compare to. It is a visual feast for the eyes, and the answer for the hearts of all those wondering where romance has gone.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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The Little Princess

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Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 08/13/2002

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Shirley Temple stars in this 1939 version of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel about a little, motherless girl left in the care of a girls boarding school by her soldier father, and then made into a servant there when he's missing in action during World War I. The fine tear-jerking film is a good vehicle for the famous moppet, and director Walter Lang (The King and I) makes a memorably lavish production of the Victorian milieu. The final scene, in which our Shirley is helped by one of the most famous women in history, brings down the house. The DVD release contains a theatrical trailer and Dolby sound. --Tom Keogh


The Little Princess Customer Review


The run down. A young girl who comes to live in boarding school while her father is away in the war. The girls father is supposed dead, and the head of the school a cold hard hearted woman puts the girl into service working for the school. But the little girl holds tight to the idea that her father is not dead, just missing and that he will come back for her.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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The Haunting

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An experiment in fear escalates into a heart-stopping nightmare for a professor and three subjects trapped in a haunted mansion with terrifying secrets. Special features: deleted scenes, bios and production notes: director's commentary: two theatrical trailers and interactive menus.

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Suffering from the extreme bad luck of being released at the same time as the low-budget The Blair Witch Project, this adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House attempts to update Shirley Jackson's psychologically terrifying ghost story to the era of big-budget, computerized special effects. Does it work? Well, let's just say that showing isn't exactly the same as telling. A prime example of bloated studio filmmaking, The Haunting telegraphs all its frights so blatantly that it forsakes any of Jackson's subtle horrors for the remedial scares of a clunky carnival ride. The story remains basically the same, with four people called to an old mansion for experiments in the supernatural, but instead of getting inside the heads of its main characters (as the 1963 adaptation by Robert Wise did so well), Jan DeBont's film deserts character development for the huge, glorious set design provided by Eugenio Zanetti (Restoration). Thus, instead of a well-drawn story you get... a well-drawn house, one that four very talented and underutilized actors--Lili Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Liam Neeson, and Owen Wilson--wander around in endlessly (as Zeta-Jones puts it, the house is "sort of Charles Foster Kane meets the Munsters"). Taylor, as the hypersensitive Nell, is the unknowing lynchpin in the battle between good and bad ghosts and gets saddled with most of the expository dialogue of the mansion's gothic backstory. Zeta-Jones (showing some spark) and Neeson (showing none) are sadly reduced to providing reactionary shots of the film's disastrous climax, which mixes hapless new-age affirmations with computer-generated effects of ghosts and exploding windows, walls, doors, etc. For this haunted-house story, take a quick tour of the breathtaking rooms, but definitely don't stay the night. --Mark Englehart


The Haunting Customer Review


Eleanor Lance is called to meet at Hill House for Dr. Marrow's sleeping disorder studies, along with three other people. The owners of the house tell them that no one will be around and that they won't be able to hear them. The first night they all sit around and talk. Eleanor tells them that her sleeping disorder is different because she can sleep it is just that she wakes up because she thinks her dead mom is still living with her. Well that isn't the case now because she is woken one night in the Hill House bedroom by talking childrens voices asking her for her help. At first scared by the voice, she learns to avoid them. Later, the group finds out that Dr. Marrow is not using them for sleeping disorders but a test in fear. The fear is first thought to be fake but eventually turns real when loud noises are heard and objects start to move. Now they must try an escape the house before they are all killed. I enjoyed it. The acting is good and there are moments that make you jump.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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The Perfect Storm

The Perfect Storm Sale

It's Halloween, 1991. Near Gloucester, Massachusetts, the six members of the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat, head out to sea for their last trip of the season. Unbeknownst to them, a shockingly brutal storm is slowly gaining steam. Before the National Weather Bureau has a chance to inform the crew of the impending danger, it's too late. The resulting battle with three merging weather fronts--an unheralded natural disaster--is grueling and tragic. Based on the true-life best selling novel by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane and is directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary with Wolfgang Peterson Commentary with S. Fangmeier and H. Elswit Commentary with Sebastian Junger
Documentary
Featurette:James Horner Featurette
Filmographies:HBO First Look Special (29:30)
Gag Reel
Other:"Whitness to the Storm" (4:30)
Photo gallery:"Yours Forever" Photo Montage
Production Sketches:Storyboard Art with W. Peterson Commentary
Storyboards
TV Special
Theatrical Trailer

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Setting out for the one last catch that will make up for a lackluster fishing season, Captain Billy Tyne (George Clooney) pushes his boat the Andrea Gail out to the waters of the Flemish Cap off Nova Scotia for what will be a huge swordfish haul. While his crew is gathering fish, three storm fronts (including a hurricane) collide to create a "perfect storm" of colossal force, and Billy's path back to Gloucester, Massachusetts, takes them right smack into the middle of it. Wolfgang Petersen's adaptation of Sebastian Junger's seafaring bestseller is a faithful if by-the-numbers true-story account of a monster storm that rocked New England in 1991, specifically Tyne's commercial fishing boat and its crew. Junger's tale fashioned a compelling if staid narrative out of seemingly disparate events, but this film adaptation tends to flatten out the story into a conventional if absorbing story of man vs. nature, as the crew fights for survival against the awesome waves the storm kicks up. The central part of the film, which cuts between the Andrea Gail's fight to stay afloat and the attempts of the Coast Guard to rescue a yacht in peril, is suspenseful action of the first degree, aided by some awesome computer-generated waves.

Still, it's a long way to that action, with an extended first act that consists mainly of stoic men, crying women, and a fair amount of "don't go out into the sea" dialogue--in other words, a compelling story has been shoehorned into standard summer movie fare. It's too bad, as Peterson assembled an excellent cast--including Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, John C. Reilly, and William Fichtner among them--but seems to opt for only a surface exploration of these characters, though Clooney seems to have a touch of Captain Ahab in him. You may still be won over by the movie, but for a more in-depth portrait, go to Junger's book for the missing details. --Mark Englehart


The Perfect Storm Customer Review


I am a pretty big fan of this film. I find it absorbing, moving and devastating (which are three things I look for in a film). The cast is stellar, the story is heartbreaking and the pacing is spot on. It is a film that slowly (yet engagingly) simmers until it boils over with a dynamic conclusion.

The film tells the true story of a group of sea-fishermen who got themselves caught in the middle of a `perfect storm' off the coast of Massachusetts. In 1991 the Andrea Gail set sail for, what promised to be, a successful `final attempt' at making up for a lackluster season. The captain, Billy Tyne, was a stubborn yet charming man who was not going to go out without a fight. Once out to sea, things looked great. When three large storms collided in their path though, everything went sour.

Despite the fact that we know how this ends (if you don't then I'll try and keep that a `secret'), the film remains intense and dramatic, and the ending is very much a climactic conclusion despite our foreknowledge. That is really the best part of this film, the pacing and direction. I totally understand the points made about the `generic' quality to the plot. This is very much a true story in that `by the numbers' sense. There is not a lot of character development or depth. The men that we meet aboard the Andrea Gail are no different than the men we meet in other `natural disaster' type biopics. So, I do wish that they had spent a little more time fleshing out their personas. We do get a little peek into their home life during the films opening sequences, as they say goodbye to friends and family before setting sail, but that small glimpse isn't really enough to constitute depth.

That aside, the acting here is very good. Despite not having much depth of character, the cast (which includes George Clooney, John C. Reilly, Diane Lane, Mark Wahlberg and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) add layers of realism to their characters. You feel for them, you cry for them, you root for them. I wish that the script had fleshed them out a little more, but they work magic with what they are given.

I also wanted to mention that I found the whole yacht rescue plot line to be distracting and pointless and the films one major low point.

But, the real star of the show is Wolfgang Peterson. Peterson works wonders in the water (even though his 2006 attempt at Poseidon was near dreadful in scope, it looked great). Dating as far back as 1981 (where he should have raked in awards for his brilliant direction of `Das Boot'), Peterson has proven that small, cramped spaces surrounded by watery depths are his forte. This is no exception. You can feel each creek and movement and sloshing of the water against the side of his man-made prison. It's not his strongest moment, and it doesn't quite reach Weirs transcendent direction of `03's masterpiece `Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World', but what Peterson does here should not go unmentioned. He transports you to the middle of the ocean and delivers that feeling of isolated fear, all the while surrounding you with the warm comfort of comradeship.

Like I said, I love this film. It has its faults, and it surely could have been better, but for what this film sets out to do (which is entertain), it does so gloriously. I have not read the book, although I hear that it is stellar (and better than the film), so I may look into it someday.

Until then, I will gladly watch this film again and again.

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The Enemy Below

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It's Mitchum vs. Jurgens as the commanders of an American destroyer and a German U-boat play a deadly game of cat and mouse.

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In The Enemy Below Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens are respectively captains of a U.S. destroyer and a German U-boat whose vessels come into conflict in the South Atlantic. Both are good men with a job to do, the script noting Jurgens' distaste for Hitler and the Nazis and engaging our sympathy with the German sailors almost as much as the Americans. Made at the height of the cold war of the 1950s, the film delivers a liberal message of co-operation wrapped inside some spectacular action scenes and a story which builds to a tense and exciting, moving finale. --Gary S. Dalkin


The Enemy Below Customer Review


Robert Mitchum is a survivor from his previous ship and is now commanding a US destroyer escort. Curt Jurgens is a survivor of the Battle of the Atlantic and is trying to stay alive to carry out a mission. Both men meet in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in a deadly duel of wits. For me it was not so much a matter of good versus evil but men versus the Atlantic as both the German and American ships are damaged and we see two battles, man against man and man against the sea. Both battles are never ending.

Mitchum is saddled with a wardroom of reserve officers with little real knowledge of the sea and has to make do with them. Jurgens has a ship of battle tested men whom he is leading. The contrasts are start at times as we see that one of the men working with to destroy the German submarine is a watchmaker in civilian life and now is working a depth charge rack aboard Mitchum's ship. Jurgens has one officer steeped in the Nazi line and his treatment of him is quite interesting as we see how well he dismantles the officer's arrogance.

In the end, both captains have a wary respect for the professionalism of the other. One might wonder about the respect for a man who's duty is to sink a ship on sight and without warning and maybe condeming the entire crew to death in one form or another. Remember that in the Pacific, US submarines were doing the same thing to Japanese ships.

Overall I found this movie to be a realistic portrayal of life at sea in the US and German navies in the middle of World War II. I highly recommend it.

★★★ Read More Reviews ★★★

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Fosse

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The electricity of one of Broadway's greatest talents springs to life in Fosse, a tribute to the man behind such favorites as Cabaret, Chicago, Sweet Charity, and Pippin. A seductive mixture of physically aggressive dance moves and dazzling visual style, Bob Fosse's approach to theater revolutionized how we experience music and dance, while his mixture of cynicism and sentiment remains timely decades after his death. Join one of Fosse's most gifted collaborators, Ann Reinking, as she and a wild, gyrating cast take you through such memorable standards as "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," "Steam Heat," "Mein Herr," and the unforgettable "Big Spender." So pull up a seat, put on your dancin' shoes, and get ready for a tune-studded show guaranteed to deliver plenty of "Razzle Dazzle!" Songs: Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, Bye Bye Blackbird, From the Edge, Percussion 4, Big Spender, Crunchy Granola Suite, From This Moment On, Transition/Dance Elements, I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man, Shoeless Joe Ballet, Dancing in the Dark, Steam Heat, I Gotcha, Rich Man's Frug, Silly Thoughts, Cool Hand Luke, Nowadays, The Hot Honey Rag, Glory, Manson Trio, Mein Herr, Take Off with Us/Three Pas de Deux, Razzle Dazzle, Who's Sorry Now, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Mr. Bojangles, Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries (reprise), Sing Sing Sing. 118 minutes.

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The 1999 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Fosse celebrates the work of director-choreographer Bob Fosse, one of Broadway's and film's truly innovative and distinctive talents. While Fosse's protégé Ann Reinking (also the co-choreographer) and frequent collaborator Ben Vereen are the headliners, the dance revue was conceived as an ensemble piece, so the 32-member cast gets plenty of chances to shine. The nearly two-hour performance features re-creations of dazzling numbers from such milestones as Cabaret ("Mein Herr"), Chicago ("Nowadays"), Sweet Charity ("Big Spender"), The Pajama Game ("Steam Heat"), Dancin' ("I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man"), and All That Jazz ("There'll Be Some Changes Made," among others, but not the stunning "On Broadway" sequence). Reinking, Vereen, and another Fosse collaborator, cast member Dana Moore, also share their memories in interview segments. Filmed in live performance, Fosse stands as a memorial to one man's striking vision, an essential record of many classic routines, and simply a whole lot of fun to watch. --David Horiuchi


Fosse Customer Review


Lovers of musical theatre will need no introduction to Bob Fosse. FOSSE is a tribute to his work, staged on Broadway, a 1999 Tony Award winner for Best Musical and the DVD was filmed on stage in 2001 by PBS. The show recreates dance numbers that Fosse choregaphed for musicals such as THE PAJAMA GAME, CABARET, SWEET CHARITY, PIPPIN, CHICAGO right through to dance-only shows such as DANCIN' (which itself is due for a Broadway revival). DVD transfer is excellent, in high definition widescreen. Chapter selection has been thoughtfully designed, listing each acts numbers (there are three acts) and bonus feature includes an interview with Dana Moore, Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen. A must-have for all lovers of musical theatre!

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Talk to Me (Widescreen Edition)

Talk to Me (Widescreen Edition) Sale

Academy Award® nominee Don Cheadle portrays the one and only Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene Jr. in this funny feel-good and inspiring true story. Ex-convict Greene talks his way into an on-air radio gig with program director Dewey Hughes (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his unprecedented "tell it like it is" style breaks all the rules while electrifying a city and bringing a nation together when it needs it the most. Also starring Cedric The Entertainer Taraji P. Henson Mike Epps and Martin Sheen Talk to Me tells the extraordinary story of an outrageous and beloved voice ready to shake up the world in the movie critics are hailing as "fresh and revelatory" (Carina Chocano Los Angeles Times).System Requirements:Running Time: 119 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/URBAN LIFE Rating: R UPC: 025193330420 Manufacturer No: 62033304

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There's no doubt: Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor are two of the most dynamic actors around. In their hands, Talk to Me becomes as graceful as an Astaire-Rogers dance and as volcanic as heavyweight championship bout. In this true story set in the 1960s, Dewey Hughes (Ejiofor, Dirty Pretty Things, Inside Man) works for a Washington, D.C., radio station that's losing its hold on its urban audience. When ex-con "Petey" Green (Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda, Crash) blusters his way into the station's offices, Hughes rejects him at first, but soon suspects that this fiery loudmouth might be the spark the station needs. Thus begins a long, rocky relationship between two men who need each other for success and friendship, whose mutual career turns explosive on the set of The Tonight Show. Though directed with smooth confidence by Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou), Talk to Me would be a fairly conventional biography were it not for its two lead performers. Cheadle and Ejiofor make both of these men complex and contradictory, wary and deeply caring, proud and aggressive but often self-defeating. They bring this slice of history--Green's career is deeply intertwined with the civil-rights movement--to crackling life. Giving them solid support are Martin Sheen (The West Wing), Cedric the Entertainer (Barbershop), and Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow) as Green's sexy and assertive girlfriend, Vernell. --Bret Fetzer


Talk to Me (Widescreen Edition) Customer Review


I tell it to the hot, I tell it to the cold. I tell it to the young and, I'll tell it to the old.... and I'll tell you this Talk to Me is a great film!!

This movie was phenomenal. Not knowing much of the background surrounding this film, I was pleasantly surprised with all the comedy laced throughout! What I found most memorable is the portrayal of the relationship/friendship/business partnership depicted between Petey Greene and Dewey Hughes. It is rare that you see such a strong and well-developed relationship between men. They chronicle the difficulties and challenges as well as the celebratory and great moments in a powerful and engaging way. Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor captured perfectly the dichotomy of Petey Greene and Dewey Hughes's relationship. They were truly the opposite of the other and yet one in the same. The performance of Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor is so compelling. I am not surprised by this because the caliber and capability of these fine actors has preceded them. The supporting cast I found wonderful as well from Blue Blazes (Martin Sheen) to Vernell Watson (Taraji P. Henson) to Nighthawk (Cedric the Entertainer). This film had great casting and great performances across the board.

This movie expertly captured what I have seen of the 60's and 70's in wardrobe and set design down to the little details. Did you see the key holder Dewey had when he locked Sunny Jim in his office? My mom had a similar one in black! That memory is from a child of the 80's. I love how everything blends into that period and is something that would fit. The director (Kasi Lemmons) and set designers did an exceptional job re-creating the riots that occurred after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. A city burning filled with violence that reflected the pain from the atrocity that took place. This piece of the film was very touching. The time period shift is also reflected in the appearance of the actors themselves. Vernell is a perfect example in just looking at the hairstyles alone. Her hair transforms from relaxed and styled in a beautiful up-do (mid 60's), to an Angie Davis-like afro perfectly coiffed (mid-late 60s), to outrageously huge (early-mid 70's) to permed waves (late 70's early 80's). And the threads follow the same beat, which is a wonderful progression to observe. The movement through time shifts flawlessly to the credit of the director, set and, wardrobe designers.

This movie has heart and a whole lot of SOUL!! I cannot forget the music that sets the tone of every scene in this film. The music helps evoke the spirit of the time and the people that are portrayed. This is an extremely well written, well performed, and well-directed film! I enjoyed this film immensely!

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Hawaii

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Two cultures collide in this vast, lavish and truly spectacular film starring Julie Andrews, Max Von Sydow, Richard Harris, Gene Hackman and Carroll O'Connor. Adapted from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and nominated* for seven OscarsÂ(r), this "majestic, gorgeously framedepic is adventuresome picture-making, a credit to the industry" (The Film Daily) and riveting entertainment! They came to bring God, but instead brought disease and destruction. The Rev. Abner Hale (Von Sydow) and his gentle wife Jerusha (Andrews) attempt to convert early 19th-century Hawaiian natives to Christianity but find themselves ill-equipped to endure the unexpected tribulations of paradise. Surging with the excitement of windstorms, firestorms, shark attacks and magnificent island scenery, Hawaii shines as passionately as the island paradise itself!*1966: Supporting Actress (Jocelyne LaGarde), CinematographyColor, Costume DesignColor, Special Visual Effects, Score, Song, Sound

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George Roy Hill (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) directed this adaptation of James Michener's novel about the history of the 50th state. Max von Sydow plays a zealous missionary with a Calvinist bent, intent on enlightening the natives even as his wife (Julie Andrews) is romanced by the dashing Richard Harris. The film is both a glossy vision of Hawaii in the early 19th century and a sometimes-brutal drama full of death, a rough childbirth, stormy weather, etc. Hill's blunt editing, meant to emphasize the more terrifying aspects of the natural order of life, makes the film look particularly dated and mannered today. This is best appreciated for its cast, all of whom were making inroads in Hollywood at the time. --Tom Keogh


Hawaii Customer Review


I had seen this movie many years ago in the theatre when it was first released. After planning a trip to Hawaii with a friend who had never been to Hawaii, I thought it would be good for her to get a little background on where we were going. The movie explained the history of some of the places we visited.

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Mr North

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Anthony Edwards, Mary Stuart Masterson and Virginia Madsen star with a cast of luminaries, including Robert Mitchum, Harry Dean Stanton, Anjelica Huston, Tammy Grimes and Lauren Bacall, in this heartwarming and hilarious fable about a man who sets a wealthy community's hair on end literally! When young Yale graduate Theophilus North (Edwards) settles in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1926, he charms the elite with his ability to heal with an unusual energy that flows from his fingertips. But as North gains a reputation as a savior, he simultaneously endures the wrath of the local doctor, who labels him a charlatan. Suddenly this gifted newcomer must defend his honor before his unique talent sparks a backlash that lands him in jail!

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T. Theopholis North (Anthony Edwards) is an aspiring adventurer making do as a tutor and reader to the upper-crust in 1920s Newport, Rhode Island, in Danny Huston's enchanting if rough-edged adaptation of Thornton Wilder's comic novel. Equally at home with the rich (Robert Mitchum's blustery but big-hearted philosopher millionaire) and the poor (butler and all-around-town character Harry Dean Stanton), the young man with an electric personality (literally) becomes a liberator, a matchmaker, a reluctant faith healer, and a tonic for a community in the thrall of charlatans. Huston, son of the great John Huston (who helped script the film), is not a deft filmmaker, but he has a welcoming warmth and a contagious affection for his colorful characters. If his cast (which includes Lauren Bacall, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Anjelica Huston, Danny's sister) tends to overplay their parts, it's in the genial spirit of this lighthearted lark. --Sean Axmaker


Mr North Customer Review


Just got the DVD, and forgot how wonderfully entertaining this film really is. Danny Huston's directorial debut was met with mixed reaction, but this film never fails to entertain. It's simple, sweet and a bit profound (based on Thornton Wilder) and the attention to 1920's period detail is intact. The most fun thing is the exemplary ensemble cast that Mr. Huston assembled (no doubt with help from father, John, who was co-writer). Anjelica Huston, Mary Stuart Masterson, Tammy Grimes, Virginia Madsen, Harry Dean Stanton, the wonderful Lauren Bacall, and, most notably, the GREAT Robert Mitchum. Holding it all together,in a wonderfully confident fashion, is a young Anthony Edwards in the title role. He is an Everyman, knowing he is better than his lot, talented and confident enough to fulfill his dream. A fine cameo from the great playwright, Christopher Durang, is also a pleasure. After a day of beating your brains out and wondering why life isn't better, watch this film and you'll feel good. Apparently, Mr. North was in all the right places at the right time... Hey! It COULD happen...(?)

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Spanish for Kids: Learn Spanish Beginner Level 1

Spanish for Kids: Learn Spanish Beginner Level 1 Sale

Spanish for Kids vol. 1 introduces Spanish is a way that kids will truly enjoy. Featuring 3D animation along with live action sequences, this DVD teaches basic conversational Spanish within the context of a fantastic birthday party. Carlos and his best friend, Chiquitita the Chihuahua, teach useful phrases your child can use right away. Lessons include meeting and greeting, colors, numbers, clothing, and much more. Embedded throughout the video are interactive DVD games that test a child s comprehension and original music by a Hollywood composer designed to reinforce new words and phrases. All Language Tree videos incorporate the breakthrough Multi-Cognition ApproachTM, developed by a Stanford University cognitive scientist, for faster and deeper learning. DVD comes with learning booklet.

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• Learning Spanish opens doors to new life opportunities: greater career possibilities, enhanced academic performance, and better understanding of other cultures. Spanish for Kids Vol. 1 introduces Spanish in a way kids will truly enjoy. Starring native Spanish speakers and 3-D animated characters, this DVD teaches basic conversational Spanish within the context of a fantastic birthday party - full

Spanish for Kids: Learn Spanish Beginner Level 1 Customer Review


I'm definitely glad we bought this, and will be buying the second one in this series. I'm a speech therapist, and agree that the techniques used for language teaching are very appropriate -- lots of repetition, pairing the same words with different contexts, speaking and singing the same words, and having different people use the same words. Good pairing of auditory and visual strategies.

The production values are not the best, so as an adult I'm very aware that some of the acting is stiff ("Feliz cumpleanos, Carlos" as Papa is about to fall asleep at the table). The sound fluctuates in quality and obviously some of it was dubbed in later -- meaning that it sounds as if from a different source. It also looks like the quality of an old camcorder that we had.

BUT -- my daughter loves it, watches it over and over, and definitely has picked up some new Spanish from the DVD. The context is very relate-able for her and holds her attention all the way through.

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The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

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BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE THE (DVD MOVIE)

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Before their blockbuster collaboration on Grease, John Travolta and director Randal Kleiser boosted their early careers with this well-acted, sensitively directed television movie. Teenager Tod Lubitch (Travolta) is forced to live in a plastic isolation chamber because he was born with a nonfunctioning immune system, leaving him vulnerable to even the most common everyday viruses. A unique coming-of-age story, the movie (first telecast in 1976) has become the subject of jokes over the years, but Travolta's comeback has sparked new interest in the star's Welcome Back, Kotter days. --Jeff Shannon


The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Customer Review


This is a very famous tv movie and it portrays a young John Travolta who is born with immunity deficiencies. He is obliged to live inside closed environments which are controlled by his parents with the supervision of his doctor played by Ralph Bellamy. Touching story with a lovely interpretation by John which we will never forget. He falls in love for the first time, as any teenager, for his neighbour played by Glynnis O'Connor. The new generations must know this tv movie and I believe they will like it! You have drama, romance, even comedy. Look at him when he's studying... The technical parts such as the image and sound are not the best ones compared with today's standards. In spite of it, this movie must be watched mainly for the story,the actors and the last scene. I've already watched it several times but I always cry. So nice and edifying!!!

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Ultimate Avengers 2 (Rise of the Panther)

Ultimate Avengers 2 (Rise of the Panther) Sale

To save humanity, the Earth's mightiest heroes must reunite for a rematch of heroic proportions. Mysterious Wakanda. It lies in the darkest heart of Africa, unknown to most of the world. An isolated land hidden behind closed borders, fiercely protected by its young king - the BLACK PANTHER. A king hold the fate of the entire earth in his hands. Because brutal alien invaders are coming, soon to fill every sky and control every land, seeking what is buried beneath ancient Wakanda. That leaves the Black Panther with a single option, one that goes against the sacred decrees of his people-to ask for help from outsiders. And so he turns to--- The Avengers - Captain America. Iron Man. Thor. Giant Man. Wasp. And the Incredible Hulk. These mightiest of heroes have battled the aliens before, and barely survived. They thought it was over. They were wrong.

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Ultimate Avengers 2 (Rise of the Panther) Customer Review


i love this movie for being a cartoon, people dying, shield's being tossed around like a joint hammer slamming. ITS GREAT.....whats not to like aliens, marvel heroes, and a black nick fury...eh ill look the other way on that, hell as long as he puts lead into people i dont care how he looks, he can look like urkel for all i care he he...imagine urkel fighting aliens like that. get the movie you wont regret it.......you jerks

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The Kite Runner

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Amir is a young Afghani from a well-to-do Kabul family; his best friend Hassan is the son of a family servant. Together the two boys form a bond of friendship that breaks tragically on one fateful day, when Amir fails to save his friend from brutal neighborhood bullies. Amir and Hassan become separated, and as first the Soviets and then the Taliban seize control of Afghanistan, Amir and his father escape to the United States to pursue a new life. Years later, Amir – now an accomplished author living in San Francisco – is called back to Kabul to right the wrongs he and his father committed years ago.

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Like the bestselling book upon which it's based, The Kite Runner will haunt the viewer long after the film is over. A tale of childhood betrayal, innocence and harsh reality, and dreamy memory, The Kite Runner faces good and evil--and the path between them, though often blurry and sorrowfully relative. Director Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) presents a painterly vision of Afghanistan before the Soviet tanks, before the Taliban--lush, verdant, fertile--in its landscape and in its people and their history and hopes. The story follows two young boys' friendship, tested beyond endurance, and the haunting of their adult selves by what happened in their youth--and what horrors befall their country in the meantime. The performances of the two boys--Zekeria Ebrahimi (Amir) and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada (Hassan)--are the film's strongest, unforced and gently evocative. The penance paid by their adult selves is foreshadowed, but never predictable--and the metaphor of innocence lost, a common theme in Forster's work, keeps the film, like the title kites, truly aloft.--A.T. Hurley


The Kite Runner Customer Review


Kite Runner, a fictional book, was written by Jhaled Hosseini. Hosseini has also authored A Thousand Splendid Suns. Children may not understand the themes of this book and there are also some graphic scenes. The reader learns about many cultural differences between Afghanistan and the U.S. Kite Runner is about the struggle between shame and being able to forgive yourself. The different characters in this story deal with this issue in different ways. I was impressed with the way the author writes in a way that you begin to empathize with the characters and also ties in cultural themes to the story. The cultural themes the author does decide to use are very effective in that they do not seem to be just thrown in there, but they have a point in the story and move the plot along.

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Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1

Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1 Sale

Disney*Pixar invite you to discover these masterpieces of storytelling from the creative minds that brought you Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and many more. With revolutionary animation, unforgettable music and characters you love, these dazzling short films have changed the face of animation and entertainment and are sure to delight people of all ages for years to come. Experience them now – for the first time together in an amazing collection including never-before-seen footage.

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• Experience these masterpieces of storytelling from the creative minds that brought you TOY STORY, MONSTERS, INC., FINDING NEMO and many more. With revolutionary animation, unforgettable music and characters you love, these dazzling short films have changed the face of animation and entertainment and are sure to delight people of all ages for years to come. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMAT

Pixar's unprecedented string of hit animated features was built on the short films in this collection. John Lasseter and Ed Catmull used these cartoons the way Walt Disney used the "Silly Symphonies" during the 1930s: as a training ground for artists and a way to explore the potential of a new medium. Although it's only 90 seconds long, "Luxo, Jr." (1986) ranks as the "Steamboat Willie" of computer animation: For the first time, audiences believed CG characters could think and feel. (It was also the first CG film to make audiences laugh.) When the artists began work on Toy Story, they had learned so much from the shorts, they were ready to undertake that landmark creation. In the later shorts, the viewer can see the artists continuing to experiment: with a more realistic human figure in "Geri's Game" and with new ways of suggesting atmospheric effects in "Boundin'." Some of the more recent shorts continue the adventures of the characters from the features. "Jack-Jack Attack" reveals what happened to the hapless baby-sitter while the Incredibles were off fighting Syndrome, while "Mater and the Ghost Light" shows that life goes on for the inhabitants of Radiator Springs. When Sully from Monsters, Inc. tries to adjust his seat in "Mike's New Car," the animators prolong the moment to wring every drop of humor from the situation--just as an earlier generation of animators milked Wile E. Coyote's antics for all they were worth. The long-unseen films for Sesame Street are an unexpected bonus. A delightful collection of entertaining shorts, and a significant chronicle of the growth of computer animation. (Rated G: suitable for all ages: cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon


Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1 Customer Review


I bought this for a x mas present. It was for my secret santa and this is what she put on her wish list. I bought it and For such a great price. Pixar short film collection is a great present. Amazon had a good price. Recommend it to anyone that loves PIXAR movies.

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The Princess and The Frog (Three Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

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Disney celebrates a modern-day classic from the directors of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Discover what really happened after the princess kissed the frog in an inspired twist on the world's most famous kiss. This hilarious adventure leaps off the screen with stunning animation, irresistible music and an unforgettable cast of characters. Enter Princess Tiana's world of talking frogs, singing alligators and lovesick fireflies as she embarks on an incredible journey through the mystical bayous of Louisiana. Spurred on by a little bit of courage and a great big dream, these new friends come to realize what's truly important in life...love, family and friendship. Overflowing with humor and heart, The Princess and the Frog is an incredible motion picture experience your whole family will want to enjoy again and again!

Bonus Content Includes: Deleted Scenes, The Princess Portraits Game, DVD Feature Film + Bonus, Digital Copy Of Feature Film, The Making Of A Princess, Conjuring The Villain, The Return To Hand-Drawn Animation, The Disney Legacy, Disney's Newest Princess, Bringing Life To Animation, Art Galleries, Music Video By Ne-Yo

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After the visual bombast of many contemporary CG and motion-capture features, the drawn characters in The Princess and the Frog, the Walt Disney Studio's eagerly awaited return to traditional animation, feel doubly welcome. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), The Princess and the Frog moves the classic fairy tale to a snazzy version of 1920s New Orleans. Tiana (voice by Anika Noni Rose), the first African-American Disney heroine, is not a princess, but a young woman who hopes to fulfill her father's dream of opening a restaurant to serve food that will bring together people from all walks of life. Tiana may wish upon a star, but she believes that hard work is the way to fulfill your aspirations. Her dedication clashes with the cheerful idleness of the visiting prince Naveen (Bruno Campos). A voodoo spell cast by Dr. Facilier (Keith David) in a showstopping number by composer Randy Newman initiates the events that will bring the mismatched hero and heroine together. However, the animation of three supporting characters--Louis (Michael-Leon Wooley), a jazz-playing alligator; Ray (Jim Cummings), a Cajun firefly; and 197-year-old voodoo priestess Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis)--is so outstanding, it nearly steals the film. Alternately funny, touching, and dramatic, The Princess and the Frog is an all-too-rare example of a holiday entertainment a family can enjoy together, with the most and least sophisticated members appreciating different elements. The film is also a welcome sign that the beleaguered Disney Feature Animation Studio has turned away from such disasters as Home on the Range, Chicken Little, and Meet the Robinsons and is once again moving in the right direction. Rated G: General Audiences, suitable for ages 6 and older: violence, some scary imagery, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Stills from Princess and the Frog (Click for larger image)

The Princess and The Frog (Three Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Customer Review


When my wife and I married almost 15 years ago, I became more acquainted with very unique world that is New Orleans -- particularly the food. I had not seen very many flattering portrayals of the city in movies and TV (Live and Let Die springs to mind) but it is truly an amazing city with lots of rich history, wonderful people and did I mention food?

Food figures prominently in The Princess and the Frog, since Tiana, the lead character, dreams of opening a great restaurant and fulfilling the wishes of her father. There are more than a few scenes devoted to cooking and cuisine. One scene in particular uses the proper dicing of vegetables for gumbo as a way to bond Tiana and Prince Naveen.

Music is also a core component to both the city and the film and Randy Newman delivered a full "book" score that touches each musical style of the region and add much-needed songs to the recent Disney catalog. My particular favorite is "My Evangeline," a stunningly beautiful ballad sensitively sung by the amazing Jim Cummings (also the voice of Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck and many others). By the way, every speaking actor also sings his or her songs.

There have been those who have expressed comments about what The Princess and the Frog is not, rather that what it is. Perhaps the hopes for Disney's return to hand-drawn animation created overly high expectations, but it's wonderful to see this style executed in such exquisite, classic style. I think it will hold up to the test of time and become a Disney staple.

Don't miss the audio commentary by the directors because they are very generous in their background information as well as generous in giving credit to those involved in the film. It's interesting to note their story about how, when faced with creating an animated feature after the division was all but shuttered, were looking for animation desks and were led to a secret "stash" collected by Christopher (son of Disney Legend Winston) Hibler -- somehow he knew they would be needed.

The Blu-Ray not only offers a more detailed and brilliant image and sound, but there almost a dozen features there that are not included on the regular DVD. Plus you get a download disc so you can watch it on your iPod. Who would have thought such things were possible only a few years ago?

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