Ben Murphy

X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Whose fault is it anyway?
The Best movie in the X-Men trilogy!
Failure of a finale
the last stand????
ok

X-Men - The Last Stand (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Halle Berry , Ian McKellen , Famke Janssen , and Shawn Ashmore
Director: Brett Ratner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
Ice Age - The Meltdown (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000HCO83Q
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Amazon.com

X-Men: The Last Stand is the third installment in the popular superhero franchise, and it's an exciting one with a splash of fresh new characters. When a scientist named Warren Worthington II announces a "cure" for mutant powers, it raises an interesting philosophical question: is mutant power a disease that needs a cure, or is it a benefit that homo superior enjoys over "normal" human beings? No surprise that Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants resist the idea that they need to be cured, and declare war on the human race. But it's a little tougher for the X-Men, led by Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Cyclops (James Marsden), and Storm (Halle Berry). If you're Rogue (Anna Paquin), for example, your power means you can't even touch your boyfriend, Iceman (Shawn Ashmore). To compound matters, someone previously thought dead has returned, and might be either friend or foe.

With director Bryan Singer having moved on to Superman Returns, the franchise passes to the hands of Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), whose best work is done in the big action sequences such as a showdown between mutant armies. But it's difficult to manage the sheer volume of characters when adding longtime comic-book stalwarts such as Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Angel (Ben Foster), and one character in particular deserved better than an off-screen dismissal. And fans of the original Dark Phoenix comic book story might be underwhelmed by the movie's resolution. X-Men: The Last Stand is presumably the last film in the series, but the ambiguous ending leaves possibilities open. Look for the two writers most responsible for making the X-Men who they were, Stan Lee and Chris Claremont, in early cameos. --David Horiuchi

Beyond the Film <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4"> <tr align="center" valign="top" class="tiny"> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000BWVCM.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0">
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X-Men Evolution: The Complete Third Season</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AU9UYM.01.TZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0">
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The soundtrack and more</td> </tr> </table>

Description

Experience the awesome power of The X-Men's epic, final battle. Join well-known mutant heroes and villains, and meet a cadre of all-new warriors -- including Angel, Beast, Juggernaut and Colossus -- in this thrilling, explosive adventure! After a controversial "cure" is discovered, mutants can choose to retain their superhuman abilities or give up their unique gifts and become "normal." When peaceful mutant leader Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) clashes with his militant counterpart, Magneto (Ian McKellen), the battle lines are drawn for the war to end all wars. Bursting with nonstop action, spectacular special effects and exclusive extras, X-MEN THE LAST STAND is a force of nature that "will blow you away!"

Customer Reviews:

Whose fault is it anyway?.......2007-06-18

I've watched this movie a couple of times now, and I still can't decide if I like it or not. Some complain about Halle Berry's increased role in the film. I don't understand how she couldn't have a bigger part, since Cyclops and Professor X die and Jean is a zombie most of the time. That only leaves Wolverine and Storm as the remaining members of the team!
My question has to do with the script. Which came first, the poor script or folks jumping ship, or did a bad script get even worse when key players bolted?
Marsden and Singer ran off to do Superman. Superman was good, but it wasn't great. Since the story is about Dark Phoenix, it would seem that Marsden would have had a bigger role as Cyclops in X-Men than as Lois Lane's fiance. And Singer had done the two previous very successful X-Men movies. Why would he think doing Superman would be better than XMIII? It sounds like both men knew a bad thing when they saw it and ran away as fast as they could.
And what about Patrick Stewart? Did the original story called for Xavier's death, or did Mr. Stewart want to be written out of the story? His death seemed to serve no purpose in the storyline - other than it was easier to show her evil side by killing him off as opposed to having DP destroy star systems as she did in the comic.
Of course the other possibility is that they were setting up the Wolverine movie by doing away with the X-Men......

The Best movie in the X-Men trilogy!.......2007-06-16

This is the Best movie in the X-Men trilogy! I enjoyed this movie a-lot! It's more entertaining than Bryan Singer's X-Men movies. Brett Ratner and Hugh Jackman did a great job with this movie! X-Men the Last Stand is great film! Bryan Singer is a poor director! Bryan Singer's work on Superman Returns proves that he could not direct a superhero film. X-Men :The Last Stand is a must see movie! A

Failure of a finale.......2007-06-12

This is supposedly the last in the X-Men series before they go on to more focused films like Magneto and Wolverine. The Last Stand is appreciably different than the two previous installments due primarily to it featuring a different director, and secondarily because they continue to introduce more characters from the series. This does make it markedly more difficult to maintain focus. The original X-Men comic books took years to move through the same story arc. This was evident while viewing this film. The story seemed fractured because there were so many sub-plots. It was almost like there was a bunch of different movies cut and put together. The forays into the characters we forgot we were supposed to care about are forgettable, and could easily have been cut. However, it was an entertaining film throughout with great acting and spectacular effects. The battle scenes were bigger than the last two films because the mutants moved from the underground to do battle out in the open. I really don't know what else to say. Now that I'm actually writing this down, the movie wasn't all that great. It was a lot of fun to watch, but it could have been much better. The effects tried to compensate for the weaknesses elsewhere, but even the giant finale battle was sort of aloof. We were sort of detached from what was actually going on, and I felt it was more of an atmosphere of battle than actual action. I think as a package of three films - the X-Men trilogy - everything would be really cool. I enjoyed it, I really liked it, but it is far from being the pinnacle of movie making - even at comic book standards.

the last stand???? .......2007-06-11

Having enjoyed the first 2 Xmen I have to admit to being disapointed with the so called last stand. Once again the effects are outstanding. The acting wasnt too bad but not great Ian Mckellan as Magneto is a great performance. Now not being into the comics i probably am at a disadvantage but I dont understand killing off 2 of the main characters and so early at that. The film just left too many questions and not enough answers. The basis for the film is that a doctor has discovered a cure for the mutant gene which does not sit well with many mutants especially Magneto who in his own mind feels that mutants have risen above normal human beings and are entitled to dominate the world. Also Jean Grey has returned from the grave i guess you can say and her powers are now almost unstoppable. After she destroys everything in sight including her mentor and former boyfriend she is now at the side of magneto who intends to use her powers to put mutants above human. Wolverine and storm and a some other good mutants want equality for all and must stop magneto and his war. The battle at the end is ok but a little too easy a conclusion. Ofcourse there is a lot of room for a sequel at the end including the hint of Dr xaviers return in the credits. I hope the proposed Wolverine and Magneto prequels are better. Worht watching just not that great. Will leave die hard Xmen fans a bit confused

ok.......2007-06-06

i loved the first 2 x-men movies. wouldn't it be pc to say "x-people." brian synger, the director of the first 2 movies, was away doing 'superman returns;' (i'm still not sure if that was a remake or a sequel). superman returns also stole cyclops, which is why is was only in the beginning of X3.

the portrayal of the phoenix, the super-powerful jean grey, was poorly done and could have been so much more. she just sat in the background until the end. the whole premise of the movie was poor too. all they had to do was make apocalypse the main nemesis. he's an alien who was entombed in ancient egypt by the revolting people, kind of like star gate. his mutant powers are far beyond any one mutant. they are like rogue, where he absorbs them from other mutants, but can use the newly acquired powers forever, not just temporarily. that's how i understand apocalypse anyway. the "cure" for mutantism was a weak plot. there was no main, solid theme. pieces were just thrown in at random, there was no continuity or flow.

i loved the magneto freeing the imprisoned mutants scene a lot- throwing all those cars around. i liked seeing the wide variety of mutants like shockwave, etc., but still no gambit. it was cool to see storm do a tornado too.

the effects were great, but the plot was weak. it's a shame to end on a bad note. maybe if they get synger back, they can make a cool fourth one; just wait a while until the bad taste leaves everyone's mouth though. they left it open for a fourthquel, with professorX (i don't want to ruin it, but watch the last scene at the end of the credits) and magneto too. there's so many superhero movies now. venom was cool, can't wait for the silver surfer. maybe even ironman? i wonder if they'll play the black sabbath song of the same name during that movie. superheros are cool, everyone loves them. they show how we can become something beyond ourselves and help others. some people do this already in their own way, like a parent or a friend, others just want to be rescued. i used to have super powers when i would drink a lot. one moment i would be in one bar, and then, all of a sudden, i would be teleported to another bar along with some of my friends too. everyone has a little super in them. will you use it for good or for evil?

Average customer rating:

Historical Epic
Great book plot adapted to video
movie review
The Winds of War
winds of war dvd set

The Winds of War
Starring: Robert Mitchum , Ali MacGraw , Jan-Michael Vincent , John Houseman , and Polly Bergen
Director: Dan Curtis
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

War Epics | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

Miniseries | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

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Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

War and Remembrance - Volume 1 - Parts 1-7
War & Remembrance - Vol. 2, The Final Chapter: Parts 8 - 12
North and South - The Complete Collection
James Clavell's Shogun
Fall of Eagles

ASIN: B0001NBNGQ
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com

An engrossing, 1983 television miniseries based on a bestselling work of historical fiction by Herman Wouk, The Winds of War is an admirable production reminiscent of the era of Hollywood's epic features. At the center of the globe-trotting story is the Henry family, whose laconic but straight-shooting patriarch is United States Navy Commander Victor "Pug" Henry (Robert Mitchum), sent to Hitler's Berlin in the spring of 1939 as a naval attaché to the then-neutral American embassy. A keen observer, Pug deduces that Germany is not preparing for war on two fronts (western Europe on one side, Russia on the other) despite what the Nazis want the world to believe, meaning that Hitler must be working out a secret peace deal with Stalin. Pug's prescience makes him a favorite eyewitness in Berlin for Franklin D. Roosevelt (Ralph Bellamy); the irony is that Pug is far less sagacious when it comes to the realities of his family.

Polly Bergen plays unhappy wife Rhoda, who turns to A-bomb developer Palmer Kirby (Peter Graves) for comfort. Pug's 19-year-old daughter, Madeline (Lisa Eilbacher), defies her iron-willed dad's decision that she stay in school by taking a job for CBS radio in New York. Compliant son Warren (Ben Murphy) can't seem to get Pug's attention despite doing everything right (including becoming a Navy pilot, eventually present at the bombing of Pearl Harbor). By contrast, Pug spends more time fuming over black sheep son Byron (Jan-Michael Vincent), who is working in increasingly Fascist Italy as an assistant to an art historian (John Houseman) while trying hard to woo the latter's exasperating niece, Natalie (Ali MacGraw). The story of Byron and Natalie takes up much of The Winds of War as the pair traverse Poland during the shock of Hitler's 1939 assault, and Jewish Natalie later finds herself trapped inside Italy facing the threat of concentration camps. Before The Winds of War ends, each of these characters will end up in places and situations, and with historical figures (Churchill, Mussolini) as well as ordinary people, they would not have anticipated outside the pressures of war. The program's length and smart script allow for a lot of ideas and background detail that pull a viewer in--happily. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Historical Epic.......2007-06-20

The Winds of War is an excellent historical account of events leading up to America's entry into World War II. It follows the lives of the fictional Henry family as they are intertwined into actual events.

Great book plot adapted to video.......2007-04-13

I had read "The Winds of War" before I saw the miniseries. It is not usual for a movie script to convey what makes a book great but this not the case with "The Winds of War". Robert Mitchum plays a great role as a naval officer who sees himself, due to incredible multi-language capability, serving in naval intelligence in Europe and visiting the hot spots of that continent during the late 1930`s; like Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Soviet Union, United Kingdom ect. His younger son`s role plays out like the young are and how blinded they can be by love. His wife and her uncle roles are well played and show us those people who still think that a river will not be flooded even though they can hear the water rushing down its course. All the roles are well played. A good miniseries.

movie review.......2007-03-10

excellent telling of history. the way this is done you seem to learn more history than just reading a book. great cast.

The Winds of War.......2007-03-09

Excellent. One of the best mini series made. The series is based on the novel, The Winds of War by Herman Wouk, and follows the book very well. There is only one catch, this is only half the story. The second novel War and Rememberance, which was also made into a mini series is just as good.

winds of war dvd set.......2007-02-12

excellent service excellent product

All Quiet on the Western Front (Universal Cinema Classics)

Average customer rating:

The brutal poetry of war
Apparently Horace never served active duty
The Horrors of War
A powerful reminder
Nice anti-war message but awfully creaky

All Quiet on the Western Front (Universal Cinema Classics)
Starring: Louis Wolheim , Lew Ayres , John Wray , Arnold Lucy , and Ben Alexander
Director: Lewis Milestone
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Quiet on the Western Front
Paths of Glory
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Heiress (Universal Cinema Classics)
The Best Years of Our Lives

ASIN: B000KGGJ0Y
Release Date: 2007-02-06

Amazon.com essential video

If a classic movie can be measured by the number of indelible images it burns into the collective imagination, then All Quiet on the Western Front's status is undisputed. Since its release in 1930 (and Oscar win for best picture), this film's saga of German boys avidly signing up for World War I battle--and then learning the truth of war--has been acclaimed for its intensity, artistry, and grown-up approach. Director Lewis Milestone's technical expertise is already stunning in the great opening sequence, as a professor exhorts his students to volunteer for the glory of the Fatherland while troops march past the windows. Erich Maria Remarque's novel is faithfully followed, but Milestone's superbly composed frames make it physical: the first battle scene, with the camera prowling the trenches as they fill with death and chaos, was surely the Saving Private Ryan of its day. The cast is strong, with little-known Lew Ayres finding stardom in the lead (Ayres became a pacifist and conscientious objector during World War II; although he served in battle as a medic, the stance harmed his career). This DVD has no extras beyond a vintage re-release trailer and Robert Osborne's useful introduction, but the main draw is the excellent picture and sound quality of the print--the movie looks better than it has in years. Those indelible images are now clear enough to cut glass: Ayres' lonely look back at the disappearing troop truck; the blinded soldier who runs into enemy fire at night; the fine pair of boots wasted on a boy with an amputated leg; and the final, devastating seconds, arguably the defining cinematic image of war in the 20th century. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

The brutal poetry of war.......2007-06-10

Ah, the 1930's. The first full decade of sound for pictures. The advent of Technicolor. The full-flowering of Hollywood, bringing escapist entertainment to a world gripped by the Great Depression.

Many great movies were made in the 1930's. "The Adventures of Robin Hood", "Gone With the Wind", "Snow White", "The Wizard of Oz" were all great films from the late 1930's, which many people have refered to as the best time for cinema.

But the early 1930's, though often overlooked by modern audiences, contains such wonderful films as "M", "Frankenstein", "Dracula" and "All Quiet on the Western Front".

This film won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1930. It's well-deserved. The movie plot follows basically the same plot as the novel; centering around a group of young German soldiers going on the grand adventure of war. Whipped into a patriotic frenzy, they enlist, head to the front, and start dropping like flies.

The movie beautifully encapsulates the horror of war. The acting (particularly from Lew Ayres in the staring role), writing and directing are all top-notch. Put the film in color, and it could almost be a movie from this era, rather than one that's almost 80 years old.

The DVD version of this movie is... well, nothing to write home about. Not too many extras, though the comments from Robert Osborne are welcome. No chapter selection for some odd reason, but otherwise... it's ok.

Modern audiences don't really know too much about World War One. It's a largely forgotten war in our national conciousness. As I write this, we're 89 years out from the start of the war. Further, according to Wikipedia's "Surviving Veterans of World War One", there's only 28 veterans left world-wide. Twenty-eight. That's it. One less than when I looked last week, and almost certainly several more than we'll have by next year. Only three of the veterans left are from the USA.

If for no other reason than expanding your knowledge about this horrible, meaningless, stupid war, I strongly recommend this movie.

As a side note: if Universal still owns the rights to the novel, they need to be pressured to make a new version of this film in time for the 100th anniversary of the start of the war. Get the young teeny-bopper/teen-idol actors of our era (the Zac Effrons of the world), and let modern audiences see the beauty of youth twisted by war.

It's a lesson no one should ever forget.

Apparently Horace never served active duty.......2007-05-23

This picture serves to illustrate the madness in Horace's statement
that it is sweet and proper to die for one's country. Lew Ayres' perform-
ance was magnificent--especially the marching scene depicting his love and
respect for Kat, via facial expression and body language alone These few
seconds would have been worth the price of admission in 1930.
Those German boys weren't much different from the good, decent German-
American boys I grew up with.

The Horrors of War.......2007-05-08

All Quiet on the Western Front is an excellent adaptation of the Erich Maria Remarque novel about the horrors of war. It follows several German students from the classroom into the trenches as they die one by one. The story features many random stories depicting one boy, Paul Malvern's (Lew Ayres) experiences similarly to the way the book was organized. There are many powerful scenes, like boys going mad in the trenches, the sickening experience of the boys' first battle, and Paul killing a man up close.

Because this film was made at the beginning of the "golden age of Hollywood," viewers might expect it to be highly sentimental and preachy. Although its anti-war message is blatant, it is surprisingly underplayed and straight-forward.

The first few times I tried to watch this film I was put off almost immediately. The sound quality suffers because the film was made so early in the talkie era. The opening scene where the teacher preaches to the students about the glories of war is a bit long. However, after that scene, I soon found myself glued to the screen. Give the film a proper chance before condemning it.

A powerful reminder.......2007-05-07

Such a cinematagraphically sophisticated portrayal of the Great War's horrors and heroes.

Nice anti-war message but awfully creaky.......2007-03-30

Based on Erich Maria Remarque's famous pacifist novel, All Quiet on the Western Front explores the horror of WWI through the eyes of a young German soldier.

Ideas of glory fuelled by patriotism are quickly drowned in the mud-filled trenches of the battlefield. Young lives are squandered cheaply for a few centimeters of ground.

WWI was fought with traditional tactics - the mass charge, trenches - but combined with more efficient killings machines - machine guns, field artillery - led to horrific loss of life among the soldiers.

The Germans learnt from these mistakes in WWII and employed the tactics of the Blitzkreig "lightening war" where speed of movement was paramount.

Back to the film itself. It's really easy to tell this is a child of the early sound era - there is lots of overacting and it is very visual in its telling. Modern audiences will find it very heavy-going though.

Still it has an ageless anti-war message. An important part of film history but very much an antique now.

X-Men - The Last Stand (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Whose fault is it anyway?
The Best movie in the X-Men trilogy!
Failure of a finale
the last stand????
ok

X-Men - The Last Stand (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Halle Berry , Ian McKellen , Famke Janssen , and Shawn Ashmore
Director: Brett Ratner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Monsters & Mutants | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( X ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
Ice Age - The Meltdown (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000HCO83G
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Whose fault is it anyway?.......2007-06-18

The Best movie in the X-Men trilogy!.......2007-06-16

Failure of a finale.......2007-06-12

the last stand???? .......2007-06-11

ok.......2007-06-06

There's Something About Mary (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

SOME THINGS GET BETTER WITH AGE...THIS IS ONE OF THEM!
Cheesey Hijinx
Fantastic
There's something funny about Mary
Shocking in its time

There's Something About Mary (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Cameron Diaz , Matt Dillon , Ben Stiller , Lee Evans , and Chris Elliott
Director: Bobby Farrelly , and Peter Farrelly
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Office Space - Special Edition with Flair (Widescreen Edition)
Meet the Parents (Widescreen Special Edition)
Meet The Fockers (Widescreen Edition)
Dumb and Dumber
Old School (Widescreen Unrated Edition)

ASIN: B0006GANPA
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Description

Ted (Ben Stiller) is still in love with his high school prom date, Mary (Cameron Diaz), even though it's been years after the humiliating incident that cut their date short. Ted hires Pat, a private detective (Matt Dillon) to track her down, but Pat ends up falling in love with her too, starting a battle for Mary's heart.

Customer Reviews:

SOME THINGS GET BETTER WITH AGE...THIS IS ONE OF THEM!.......2007-03-05

I went to see this movie in the theater. It was after the first few weeks of release and I had read the reviews and decided to go see what was so funny about Mary. I must admit I wasn't expecting much, but within the first few minutes I found myself smiling and before long bursting out into uncontrolable laughter! This is a funny movie with excellent characters. I have watched it several times now and I think it is funnier with each viewing. I may not get the surprize laughs like the first time around, but Stiller,Dillon,Elliot and especially Lee Evans are hilarious! One of the great comedies of all time!

Cheesey Hijinx.......2006-05-31

"There's Something About Mary" is like many cheesey romantic comedies, except that is has more heart and more big laughs. One of the best aspects about Mary is that she is attracted to the integrity of men and not just their appearance. Ted (Ben Stiller) is an awkward teenager with braces who wins the heart of Mary (Carmen Diaz) when he shows the character and courage to defend her handicapped brother. He then garners a chance to take her to the prom, but a terrible accident cuts off their relationship, and leaves Ted yearning for her even after she moves to Miami. Through a friend, he hires a private investigator, Pat, (Matt Dillon) to find her. A slimeball from the start, he chases Mary himself and attempts to leave Ted in the dust.

"There's Something About Mary" is meant to be in bad taste, but for humor, sometimes it hits and sometimes it misses. Fortunately, it bats at about .750 and manages some grand slams. Mary is truly captivating enough to enable decency, but the treatment of the handicapped is a mixed bag. Special people are a touchtone to the characters, but there are a few cheap jokes involving the handicapped as well. Ben Stiller manages again to play Mr. Ordinary who is thrown into the worst of circumances, like in "Meet the Parents," and remain a nimble and nuerotic presence. It is a fun movie for all its hijinx and even (sometimes especially) the cheese...(including, notably a guest appearance by Chief Cheese, Brett Farve...)

Fantastic.......2006-01-07

This film is hilarious. Well done,

There's something funny about Mary.......2006-01-01

The Farrelly brothers, who gave us Dumb And Dumber, Kingpin, and Me Myself And Irene, direct There's Something About Mary, a movie that stars Ben Stiller (Meet The Parents), Cameron Diaz (The Mask, Gangs Of New York), Matt Dillon (The Outsiders, Crash), Chris Elliot (Groundhog Day, Scary Movie 2), and many others.

Mary is a story about a Rhode Island loser named Ted, played by Stiller, who can't keep his high school dreamgirl Mary, played by the charming Diaz, out of his mind 13 years after their prom date went terribly wrong way before it happened. He hires an obnoxious guy named Patrick, played by Dillon, to spy on her and tell him what she's been up to. Well, Patrick falls for Mary, and decides to move out to Florida where she resides to get to know her, and he does. Ted discovers that Patrick isn't giving him the truth about Mary and goes out to find her himself. It turns out that Mary has many admirers who try to win her heart (or shoes!) besides the lonely Ted. So the movie becomes a race on who can get her first and forever.

It's a silly tale but under the Farrellys direction, it's a surefire laugh-fest all the way through. Expect to see lots of sick humor like a guy giving a dog CPR, or bodily fluids used as toiletries. Also, the characters in Mary are funny by nature. The funniest character of them all is Warren, Mary's handicapped and heavy set brother, who punches people who touch his ears and loves to give piggy back rides.

Recommended

B-

Shocking in its time.......2005-08-26

Naturally the first of its kind it is very funny. Ted Stroehmann had a slight accident requiring Magda (Lin Shay) to do a little triage. This messes up his prom night with Mary Jensen. Mary moves to is last scene moving to Florida. Later in years he decides to rectify this. Ted heirs a detective, Pat Healy (Matt Dillon), to find Mary. The report is disappointing however he still peruses her and in the process has some interesting experiences. Some will make your hair stand on end. Soon he finds that there is not a clear track as he is one of many admirers.

Will Ted and Marry get together?
Will they want to?
And what about Pat who fell in love also?

Cameron, blue eyed natural blond from California, had already been in ten movies so she was well known at the time of this movie. The script and part fit her well. Off screen she has a sense of humor that could appreciate the sight gags.

Ben Stiller has been in several films before and since he always plays the same character. He has been pigeonholed a sort of modern day bathroom humor slapstick.

Average customer rating:

New disc is NOT 16x9 enhanced, it's the same disc content as the old DVD
WAY ABOVE AVERAGE THRILLER! HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR AND A BRAIN!
A Twisted Path To Grandma's House
Very good movie, take care with the aspect ratio
Trailer trash Little Riding Hood gone bad!

Freeway
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland , Reese Witherspoon , Wolfgang Bodison , Dan Hedaya , and Amanda Plummer
Director: Matthew Bright
Manufacturer: Republic Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Fear
Election
The Man in the Moon
Best Laid Plans
Eye of the Killer

ASIN: 6304517661
Release Date: 1997-08-20

Amazon.com

Freeway is one of those movies that has the power to simultaneously amaze and disgust just about anyone who dares to view it. Like Seven, Kalifornia, and Natural Born Killers, it's a movie that could be called a product of our times, since it caters to our societal fascination with serial killers and outrageous psychopathic behavior. But make no mistake: director Matthew Bright isn't out to feed anyone's sickest impulse. This is a scathing satire in the age of Jerry Springer fistfights and "real" TV shows like Cops, in which the "I-5 Killer" (Kiefer Sutherland) meets a wayward teenager (Reese Witherspoon) on the freeway that provides his nickname. She confides in the man but soon discovers his gruesome intentions, and ... well, let's just say she effectively defends herself, only to find later that the killer (whose wife is played by Brooke Shields, no less!) has used the media to his advantage. Fine performances make this a provocative thriller, but it's definitely not for the innocent or squeamish. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

New disc is NOT 16x9 enhanced, it's the same disc content as the old DVD.......2007-06-19

I own the old DVD released years ago by Republic Pictures, which was not 16x9 enhanced. Thus, if you own a newer Widescreen TV it will appear stretched and distorted.

Seeing this new DVD released by Lions Gate, you are led to believe that it is a new 16x9 enhanced transfer, which it even states very clearly on the back cover of this new DVD edition as "16x9 WIDESCREEN".

When I popped in the new DVD, imagine my surprise when I saw that it was in fact not 16x9 enhanced, but it is the SAME EXACT DISC CONTENT as the old Republic Pictures DVD release, right down to the generic menu!

Thanks for nothing Lions Gate...

WAY ABOVE AVERAGE THRILLER! HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR AND A BRAIN!.......2007-05-07

This is a quirky story with an excellent cast. There are a few surprises along the way throught this very different and interesting take on "Little Red Riding Hood". Off the wall and funny at times,this is one crazy little thriller!

A Twisted Path To Grandma's House.......2007-04-29

Anybody expecting the nice Reese Witherspoon of "Legally Blonde" and "Walk the Line" be forwarned. This film is definitely not for those with squeamish sensibilities and I'm not talking about the violence. "Freeway" is at once raunchy, rude, and over-the-top. The Red Riding Hood analogy is no surprise because there are fairy tale images flashed over the opening credits. The kicker here is what kind of skewed road Red is going to take to Grandma's house. The makers of "Freeway" careen all over the place and take many interesting directions to their intended destination. Reese Witherspoon should have been a star earlier than she was based on her work here. Despite her relative youth she is totally intuitive of what is expected of her here and she runs with it. Her performance is high octane in-your-face that just demands that you pay her mind. Or else. Kiefer Sutherland matches her in his wolf in sheeps clothing role. His evil nature is not telegraphed early and emerges at just the right moment to give the picture a jolt. For those adventurous souls who aren't easily offended "Freeway" is for you. My only objection is it's a little hard to take dark comedy that centers on abused children. The makers here are skating a real fine line there.

Very good movie, take care with the aspect ratio.......2007-04-23

Aparently there are two versions. This one (with a big "widescreen" on the cover) is letterbox, wich mean I watched the movie in my 50" plasma, but in 38" (letterbox keep wide aspect but in smaller size).
The movie is really good, Reese is a major actress, even since she was a little teenager, like in this movie.

Trailer trash Little Riding Hood gone bad!.......2007-03-20

Before Reese became June, she was a sheep in a wolf's "red" coat! What foul mouth she had; singing a different tune altogether. She walked a thin line between love and hate. Was that an Oscar in her basket for Keifer or for her? Or was it just lunch her hooker mom packed for her. I forgot how I enjoyed this movie; back when it was issued on widescreen VHS, which I gave away when I converted to dvd's. A friend from work mentioned he was watching it and never saw the end of it; he asked if I had the dvd; I thought I did, but now I do. Thanks to you guys!

Average customer rating:

Casper -- great film -- how about a Box Set?
CASPER NOT AS SPIRITED AS CARTOONS
Fun to watch
Shhheeeessh
Will bring tears

Casper (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Chauncey Leopardi , Spencer Vrooman , Malachi Pearson , Cathy Moriarty , and Eric Idle
Director: Brad Silberling
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Hocus Pocus
Casper Meets Wendy
The Addams Family
Casper - A Spirited Beginning
Disney's Flubber

ASIN: B0000AK7AA
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Product Description

Amblin Entertainment and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen and Jeffrey A. Montgomery present a live-action fun house ride filled with laughter, excitement and ghostly surprises. Ghost therapist Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) arrive at drafty, old Whipstaff Manor. Its greedy owner, Carrigan Crittendon (Cathy Moriarty), has hired Dr. Harvey to exorcise the house s apparitions: a friendly but lonely young ghost named Casper, who s just looking for a friend, and his outrageous uncles Stretch, Stinkie and Fatso (The Ghostly Trio). If the plan works, she and Dibs (Eric Idle), her partner-in-slime, can get their hands on the manor s fabled treasure. Meanwhile, Casper has found a kindred spirit in Kat, but the Ghostly Trio will not tolerate fleshies in their house. With hilarious antics and dazzling special effects from many of the creators of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Jurassic Park, Casper is a mile-a-minute adventure comedy for the whole family.

System Requirements:

Starring Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle

Music by James Horner

Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg

Directed by Brad Silberling

Running time: 1 Hour 41 Minutes

Amazon.com

This 1995 family film tries to put a fun spin on the story of a paranormalist and widower (Bill Pullman) who moves into a new house with his daughter (Christina Ricci) and meets up with the ghost of a dead little boy. Based on the comic book about Casper the friendly ghost, the film is a dreary series of awkward interactions between live actors and computer effects, and you can almost see Pullman and Ricci reconsidering the project while on camera. A few cameo appearances from uncredited stars help things a bit. But there's no way, based on this film, that one could have guessed that its director, Brad Silberling, would go on to make the exceptional drama City of Angels. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Casper -- great film -- how about a Box Set?.......2006-10-22

I once owned the first three Casper films on VHS. I'm glad that they're now available on DVD. I know that there are at least three films, maybe more. Here's my main idea.

There should be an Ultimate Casper Collection DVD box set. I for one am an avid collector, and I feel box sets make it more convenient to get series of movies together. Casper appeared for the first time in theaters back in 1995. It's high time that a Casper box set be released.

CASPER NOT AS SPIRITED AS CARTOONS.......2006-10-12

There's nothing really awful about this big budget version of the classic comic/cartoon series; there's also nothing really great about it either. In transporting the friendly spook into the modern realm, we get okay effects and a few laughs, but nothing to earn it classic status. This time, Casper and his naughty trio of friends haunt an old manor recently inherited by a greedy woman and her cohort. A treasure is supposedly hidden within its walls, so she hires a ghost "shrink" and his precocious teenage daughter to rid the house of the spooks. Kids will probably find it amusing, although there is some strong language and sexual innuendo. Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci try gamely to make it work, and they're adequate but it's really Cathy Moriarty in her best Cruela Deville impersonation who steals the acting honors.
All harmless fun but it didn't inspire any sequels so that should tell you something.

Fun to watch.......2006-09-30

I was surprised to find Casper is as fun to watch now as it was when it first came out. It's actually a very entertaining film with a good cast, althought the non-human characters steal the show. I enjoyed watching Casper's uncles Stinkie, Stretch, and Fatso.

As far as the story goes, you've got this old abandoned mansion in Maine where Casper lives with his three "obnoxious" uncles. Casper is very lonely, and his uncles don't tolerate humans at all. When the former owner leaves the house to his greedy daughter Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty), she comes running in search of a hidden treasure. She and her partner in crime (Eric Idle) don't last long in the house. With some secret from Casper, Carrigan gets in contact with a ghost shrink named Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) and invites him to the house. This makes Casper happy because he has a potential new friend in Harvey's daughter Kat (Christina Ricci). From there, there are many subplots that are drawn out well, and you can't help but feel sorry for Casper.

Over all, the animation and digital effects were done well, nothing too over the top. Rhe interaction between ghosts and humans is natural and believable. This is a great family film because kids will surely enjoy all of the ghostly antics, and adults will find themselves laughing along frequently.

Shhheeeessh.......2006-07-12

Check out all these "Reviewers" knocking this little gem. It's meant for pre-adolescents for goodness sake! It's a big hit at my place.

Will bring tears.......2006-04-03

This is a wholesome story of a boy who became ill and died much too young. He falls in love with a young 'live' girl who moves into the abandoned mansion with her father (a believer in the possibility of reaching into the beyond and speaking to the spirits). The three pesky ghosts add humor (guests can be so bothersome, especially if they're dead). Throw in a little greed for tension and it's a wonderful, entertaining plot for all ages. The scene between Casper and his mother will bring tears...but I loved it.
Chrissy K. McVay - Author

There's Something About Mary (Widescreen Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Comedy at its Best
THERE'S SOMETHING FUNNY ABOUT MARY
Reflects the attitude in the 1990's perfectly....
Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it...
there IS something about mary

There's Something About Mary (Widescreen Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Cameron Diaz , Matt Dillon , Ben Stiller , Lee Evans , and Chris Elliott
Director: Bobby Farrelly , and Peter Farrelly
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Meet the Parents (Widescreen Special Edition)
Me, Myself & Irene
Shallow Hal
Kingpin
Meet The Fockers (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00008DDGU
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Amazon.com

There's Something About Mary is one of the funniest movies in years, recalling the days of the Zucker-Abraham-Zucker movies, in which (often tasteless) gags were piled on at a fierce rate. The difference is that cowriters and codirectors Bobby and Peter Farrelly have also crafted a credible story line and even tossed in some genuine emotional content.

The Farrelly brothers' first two movies, Dumb and Dumber and Kingpin, had some moments of uproarious raunch, but were uneven. With Mary, they've created a consistently hilarious romantic comedy, made all the funnier by the fact that you know that they know that some of their gags go way over the line.

Cameron Diaz stars as Mary, every guy's ideal. Ben Stiller plays a high-school suitor still hung up on Mary years later; the obstacles standing between him and her include a number of psychotic suitors, a miserable little pooch, and, oh yeah, a murder charge.

The Farrellys' admittedly simplistic camera work, which adapts easily to a TV screen, and the fact that you'll likely laugh yourself so silly over certain scenes you'll want to replay them to see what you were missing while you were busy convulsing, make this a perfect video movie. --David Kronke

Description

Customer Reviews:

Comedy at its Best.......2007-01-29

This may be an old film the the comedy and appeal never gets old! This film has even be used in a scientific study about the effects of laughter on health! I don't think you can go wrong with this film.

THERE'S SOMETHING FUNNY ABOUT MARY.......2006-09-28

I found this to be a very, very funny movie. And everybody played their roles in a very funny way. But Kudo's have to go to Matt Dillon. I never knew he was so funny until I watched this film. Ted (Ben Stiller) still thinks of Mary (Cameron Diaz) even after 13 years. [you'd almost think it was stalking?] He hires a private investigator Pat (Matt Dillon) at the urging of his friend Dom (Chris Elliott). Dom has his problems too! We'll get to that in a moment. The problem is that the private investigator Pat (Matt Dillon) falls in love with Mary too! Therefore, he makes up a story to Ted that she is on welfare, overweight, and has many children from different fathers: Hoping to keep Ted away.

However, Ted discovers that Pat was lying. At the urging of his friend Dom (Chris Elliott) he goes to Florida, from Rhode Island, where Mary is now living. The problem is that Dom is a stalker, and has been in love with Mary for many years too! Also, enter Tucker (Lee Evans) the disabled and good friend of Mary who is also in love with her, and he's not disabled either. There are many, many funny scenes in this film. However, the scenes involving Matt Dillon and Mary are truly hilarious. And especially the extreme measure he goes to in order to be with her. All in all, a very funny film. Highly recommended.

Reflects the attitude in the 1990's perfectly...........2006-09-20

I saw this in a theatre, and I was the only one who wasn't laughing hysterically. There were a few chuckles here and there, but this film is actually quite boring. There are long, dull stretches here between the gross out jokes, and the drama (for lack of a better word) is really tedious. Of course, the attitude towards sex is extraordinarily childish (which is the point), and the film is extremely stupid. In many ways, this film exemplifies what kind of films were popular in the 1990's; gross out films with idiotic characters and really stupid behaviour and situations. I never found this film to be actually funny. The Naked Gun type films can be quite dumb at times, yet they're funny. This film has a few mild laughs, but mostly it's painfully unfunny. On a plus, this film doesn't have the smugness a lot of 90's films had, but that doesn't make it much better. So, if you're in the mood for stupid, stupid, and stupid, this film will do it for ya. If not, stay away.

Love it or hate it, you can't ignore it..........2006-05-05

The Farelly brothers who have in the past delivered such cinematic masterpieces as KINGPIN and DUMB AND DUMBER, are back at what they do best, and they are bigger, (maybe) better and (definitely) more gross than ever. Boldly throwing caution and any semblance of good taste to the wind, they deliver a chuckle-fest that might shock, disgust, and repel, but will without fail leave the viewer in splits.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY is in fact a sublime lesson on how to twist the simplest of storylines into a signature style of story-telling that is bound to leave an impact in the minds of viewers even weeks after they have seen it. "Politically incorrect" is an understatement when it comes to TSAB. The Farrellys don't spare anyone in their effort to attain new levels of snot-inducing toilet humour. Helpless animals, obese folks, handicapped guys, senior citizens are all targets of gags. Maybe the next edition of Oxford's will have a picture of Peter and Bobby Farrelly next to Gross and Tasteless. There is liberal usage of various bodily parts and function which make for most of the visual gags, right from a close up shot of what Ted has gotten stuck in his zipper, to a disgusting shot of fake sagging boobs in all their glory, and the infamous masturbation, or as it is more popularly know, the "hair-gel" episode.

The storyline is no great burden on the brain. Rhode Island loserboy Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) has a major crush on Mary Jenson (Cameron Diaz), just like every other guy on campus. However, him being the proverbial dorky-geek-with-braces-but-with-heart-of-gold, she asks him to the prom anyway. However, on the big day, thing go horribly wrong with Ted (guys would understandably sympathize more), and he has to be whisked away to the hospital. Mary's family moves to Miami, and since then, he has had no contact with her. Now, thirteen years after graduation, he finds out he still longs for her. So he hires a sleazeball investigator Pat Healy (Matt Dillon) to track her down. Time to introduce the love triangle. Pat falls for her hook, line, and sinker. Getting back, he paints a real bleak picture of Mary, with her being overweight, unwed with children, and now working as a mail order bride. However Ted being who he is, not-so-dorky-anymore-but-still-a-loserboy-with-a-heart-of-gold, decides to meet her anyway. The rest of the movie is as predictable as the state of our roads during monsoon, but the potholes on the way are custom-made to hit you when least expected.

While not needing any great displays of acting prowess, everyone in the movie is just fine in their roles. Cameron Diaz is totally believable as the beautiful and cheery-as-sunshine sweet little small-town girl, who has everyone falling for her. Ben Stiller comic timing is unquestionable, with an equally good ability to get a fair amount of "awwws" when he does his droopy sad looks. Sleaze has never been defined better than with Matt Dillon's character, and he runs away with some of the best lines in the movie.

The supporting cast is as good as headliners. Lee Evans as Tucker, Mary's friend, shines in a role as a physically handicapped architect. W. Earl Brown, as Mary's retarded brother is fine in a role that doesn't require much of him except to be the scapegoat for a number of offensive gags. Chris Elliott as Dom, Ted's best friend passes muster.

However, the show-stealer would have to be the little dog belonging to Magda (Lin Shaye), Mary's raunchy old-as-the-hills neighbour. Involved in a vicious man-animal wrestling match with Ted, and the centre of an extended sight gag where Pat has to revive it from its unconsciousness, the dig gives a voracious display of canine capers.

I also loved the use of Jonathan Richman as the guitar-toting guy, with his bongo-busting sidekick, who keeps popping up with songs meant to let us in on the state on Ted's progress.

So what would be the downer? Well, for one, the sight gags sometimes fail to deliver, or get to be a bit too disgusting to be palatable. Plus at times, the movie is dry without any comic parts. The most obvious flaw in the movie would be that it has a hard time deciding what exactly it wants to convey. Well scripted, emotional parts are rudely interrupted with toilet humour, and conversely, at times, the toilet gags are used to convey a deeper message.

This movie has an appeal that is hard to ignore. Even the strictly serious art-films-only type of killjoys will be hard pressed to stiffle their laughter. Oscar material this is not, but recommended to anyone looking for a good time.

there IS something about mary.......2006-05-05

This movie is so awesome!!!! I saw this movie after I bought the VHS. After this collector's edition came out, I bought it. WOW the extended version is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better! Don't get me wrong , the theatrical version is good and funny but the extended version is soooooo much better! If u don't like this movie and/or don't like the extended version better then shame on u! This movie is *so* funny, cute, and outrageousley funny. Be sure to get it now!A-

X-Men - The Last Stand (Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Whose fault is it anyway?
The Best movie in the X-Men trilogy!
Failure of a finale
the last stand????
ok

X-Men - The Last Stand (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Hugh Jackman , Halle Berry , Ian McKellen , Famke Janssen , and Shawn Ashmore
Director: Brett Ratner
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Monsters & Mutants | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( X ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Mission Impossible III (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
Ice Age - The Meltdown (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000HCO840
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Amazon.com