Alicia Witt

Average customer rating:

Magnum Opus
the best driffus movie of al times
WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE
Amazing!
Great acting ~ great gift idea!

Mr. Holland's Opus
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss , Glenne Headly , Jay Thomas , Olympia Dukakis , and William H. Macy
Director: Stephen Herek
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Hollywood Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Dead Poets Society (Special Edition)
Music of the Heart (Miramax Collector's Series)
Finding Forrester [Region 99]
Stand and Deliver
Lean on Me

ASIN: 6305428352
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Amazon.com

An earnest and at times overblown story of a music teacher's impact on those around him, Mr. Holland's Opus is at times a genuinely touching drama in the vein of It's a Wonderful Life. Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind) plays an aspiring composer and musician who takes a job teaching music at a local high school to save money while he composes his music. But when his wife (Glenne Headley) becomes pregnant, Glenn Holland must put aside his dreams and address the everyday realities of his life, from the melancholy and sometimes tragic fates of his students to the discovery that the son he cherishes is deaf. Building to a highly emotional climax in which the teacher sees the impact he's had on the world around him, Mr. Holland's Opus is a showcase for a fine Oscar-nominated performance by Dreyfuss and an engaging, heartwarming story. --Robert Lane

Description

Acclaimed star Richard Dreyfuss gives the performance of a lifetime (1995 Academy Award(R)-nominee, Best Actor -- MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS) in this uplifting hit cheered by audiences everywhere! Glenn Holland (Dreyfuss) is a passionate musician who dreams of composing one truly memorable piece of music. But reality intrudes when he reluctantly accepts a "day job" as a high school music teacher to support his family. In time, however, Mr. Holland realizes that his real passion is teaching, and his legacy is the generations of young people he inspires. Also featuring Glenne Headly (BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS) and Olympia Dukakis (MAFIA!) -- you're sure to find this electrifying motion picture both entertaining ... and unforgettable!

Customer Reviews:

Magnum Opus.......2007-06-12

Without becoming breezy or overly sentimental, 'Mr. Holland's Opus' shows us the dilemma of many teachers. How does one juggle all of the piles of responsibility one is given, and how does one rise above the fray to achieve greatness? With many hurdles to overcome, Glenn Holland (in an extraordinary performance by Richard Dreyfuss) comes to Portland's Kennedy High School with the aspiration of employment filler with enough free time to compose his own music. Naive about the demands for extra-curriculars and student tutoring, Glenn, nevertheless, must reinvent the wheel and learn to accomodate his students by taking risks to win their love for music. Locking heads with the vice principal (played with perfect starchy officiousness by William Macy), he nearly loses his job and composure. At home his loving, understanding wife will stand by him, but plausibly loses patience when their own beloved son (who was born deaf) gets the shaft on some quality mentor time. Feeling his pain, we also are absorbed in the lives of key students (in fine early performances by Terrence Howard and [Forrest] Whitaker to name a couple). He gets reprieves with the football coach (Jay Thomas) who offers friendship and a spirited rivalry. With a rising starlet at his school and the soundtrack of their lives evolving to John Lennon, the poignancy of a man who has painted himself into a corner comes to roost.

'Mr. Holland's Opus' is as realistic as it is an emotional dead ringer. Admittedly, I prejudged this movie on the notion that it would be facile, cloying, or overly sentimental. Nothing could be further from the truth.

the best driffus movie of al times.......2007-05-23

This movie was smash hit and got Drifus the oscar nomie for best actor. This movie was a smash hit back in 1996 making 83 milion in the United Statee and 103 million world wide. For those of you that loved Forest Gummp you will love this movie. This movie will always be the best Drifuss movie ever made of all time. If one teacher could effect that many kids. Then image what the natios of the world could do in real life. They could come together and put aside their petty differecnes and embrace there fellow man and women. I just have one thing to say God bless you Richard Drifus we need more people like you in these year of war aginst the middle east. Mr. Halland oppus show's the courage and purity that lies in the most seemingly difante of souls. That one man can change the lives of millions of people around him. If we can join together and work with each other instead of destroying and put each other down we can change the world and make it a place of peace for all nations. Christian, Jews, Araibs, Muyslins, Mormons, Japanse Athist everything inbetween from Hindu to Vodo. Together we can face overcome odds that would seem impossible to others. As the old song goes I quote"United we stand divide we fall". I recommend this movie for all ages. There is some mild language but that makes the movie even more phonimal and uplifting. This movie will be an utimate classic for decades to come. Mr Holland's Opus is a real tear jerk you will be laughing and crying at the same time. This movie will make you want enjoy life or in the words of Richard Driffus"Play the sunset!"

WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE.......2007-05-08

NOW I COULD EASYLY SAY THIS WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GRATEST MOVE EVER MADE IN THE WORLD THAT IS SO FOR SHORE

Amazing!.......2007-04-02

Mr. Holland's Opus is such a truly amazing movie! Its one of those movies that you first tune in to for the music, and then realize that it is an inspiring movie. The story of Glenn Holland, a fictional music teacher, who is ousted from his position after 30 years, is extremely touching. At first you don't want to like this man, who thought that he could write a symphony while teaching high school music, but you grow to love him as you see him interact with his students throughout the years. If you like Music of the Heart check out Mr. Holland's Opus.

Great acting ~ great gift idea!.......2007-03-28

If you love music, and who doesn't.. you will love this movie. The acting is wonderful ~ Richard Dreyfus gives a great performance, and it really makes you appreciate the joy of music itself. Fast shipping, great gift idea.

Average customer rating:

More Of A Pet Project Than True Cinema ...But Still ...
cult classic
Please for the love of Christ don't watch this movie!
FOUR STORIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
A surprise and worth many viewings

Four Rooms
Starring: Antonio Banderas , Jennifer Beals , Paul Calderon , Sammi Davis , and Amanda De Cadenet
Director: Quentin Tarantino , Anders, Allison , and Rodriguez, Robert
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

From Dusk Till Dawn (Dimension Collector's Series)
True Romance - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Jackie Brown (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Natural Born Killers
Reservoir Dogs (15th Anniversary 2-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: 6305327041
Release Date: 1999-04-20

Amazon.com

This unbearable quartet of stories was written and directed by hot filmmakers Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction), Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi), Allison Anders (Gas Food Lodging), and Alexandre Rockwell (In the Soup), which only proves that even the smart guys can really blow it sometimes. The anthology is linked by the hotel in which all the events are taking place, and by Tim Roth as a bellboy flitting from scene to scene. Nobody overcomes the insufferable air of self-congratulation that permeates this exercise in forced hipness. With Bruce Willis, Madonna, Lili Taylor, Ione Skye, Jennifer Beals, and Antonio Banderas. --Tom Keogh

Description

Don't miss the fun in this hilariously sexy comedy that has Antonio Banderas (THE MASK OF ZORRO), Madonna (EVITA), and a sizzling all-star cast checking in for laughs! It's Ted the Bellhop's (Tim Roth -- PULP FICTION) first night on the job ... and the hotel's very unusual guests are about to place him in some outrageous predicaments! It seems that this evening's room service is serving up one unbelievable happening ... after another! Also featuring Academy Award(R) winner Marisa Tomei (1992 Best Supporting Actress, MY COUSIN VINNY), FOUR ROOMS is a wild night of highly original comedy entertainment you'll enjoy ... without reservations!

Customer Reviews:

More Of A Pet Project Than True Cinema ...But Still ..........2007-06-10

An anthology of short films bound by one character is what you'll find in FOUR ROOMS. And all of the shorts are directed by four different directors with decidedly four different styles that overlap one another via Ted the Bellhop (Tim Roth,(...) .

It is Ted's first day on the job and it just so happens to be one of the busiest days of the year for the hotel (New Year's Eve). Relieving the old bellhop who'd worked there for fifty years, Ted is given sage advice that eventually falls apart on him (mostly related to sex, accountability, and keeping one's own council.)

The first episode is entitled "The Missing Ingredient." A clutch of witches inhabits a hotel room and they try to stir up incantations to revive a lost sexual sisters. Sammi Davis, Amanda De Cadenet, Valeria Golino, Ione Skye, Lili Taylor, Alicia Witt, and sex-pot Madonna round out the cast here. All of the witches brings a required item to the resurrection ceremony ...except one. She forgot to bring the sperm of a young man to add to their concoction. Enter Ted the Bellhop who finds his manliness much in need. This was the weakest of the four stories, failing to develop the tale or any of its characters, thus making the entire thing fall flat on its cinematic butt (even though there were plenty of nice butts and boobs in it). (...) director Allison Anders misses his mark.

The next episode is "The Wrong Man." Sigfried (David Proval) and his wife Angela (Jennifer Beals) are having an interesting New Year's Eve playing a rather kinky game of tie-up-the-wife- and-see-what-happens. Ted is brought into their midst and the sparks start to fizzle. Is Sigfried gay? Is Angela psychotic? Funny thanks to David Proval's history as a film bad-guy, this one had potential thanks to director Alexandre Rockwell.

The third installment is "The Misbehavers." A husband and wife played by Antonio Banderas (...) and Tamlyn Tomita plan to spend a romantic evening out but have to take their two misbehaving kids with them. Or do they? Enter Ted the Bellhop again. They hire him to watch over the boy and girl while they're away. Porno channels, a dirty syringe, flames, and a dead hooker all await the husband and wife upon their return. More of a slapschtick homage to (...), this over-the-top episode was directed by (...) director Robert Rodriguez -- who loves to direct Antonio Banderas (they worked together on (...) and (...) Probably one of the more laugh-out-loud endings of the four.

The final short is "The Man From Hollywood" directed by and starring Quentin Tarantino (...). At the end of his shift as well as his wits, Ted is summoned to the penthouse suite where he gets involved with a wager between two very drunk Hollywood types. Norman (Paul Calderon) and Chester Rush (Tarantino) have a bet going that Norman can't light his cigarette lighter ten times in a row without it failing. If Norman succeeds, he'll get Chester's cherry and expensive car. If he doesn't, Norm will lose a finger. But none of his friends in the room want to be responsible for doing hacking it off should Norman lose the bet. Enter Ted again. Offered a large stack of (...) bills if he'll do it, Ted numbly picks up a meat clever and...

But we won't give away the ending.

Seeming more like a pet project than anything of note, this 1995 offering is entertaining but sorely bland. The Jerry Lewis antics of Tim Roth are admirable (Lewis also starred in a film entitled (...) but the homage to comedy of days gone by felt forced or missing.

There are still laughs to be found but don't expect too many chuckles.

cult classic.......2007-05-28

If you are a Tarrintino fan you must buy this movie. It features four different stories, all with different directors. Must have for any cult classic fans.

Please for the love of Christ don't watch this movie!.......2007-02-04

I'm not usually one to be critical of a thing and not back it with balanced insightful information, but I wasted enough of my life with this movie to go that deep. I would rather have spend the 90 minutes hammering my fingertips flats with a ball peen hammer. Just don't do it. It's not funny no matter your "mindset" or "frame of reference".

FOUR STORIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.......2007-01-18

Bellhop (Tim Roth at his best) vs guests.

The first two stories suck (minus one star) with Maddona as herself.

The third story is priceless.(Antonio Banderas at his best as the head of the Latin Kings)

The fourth story is a great sequel to a "Twilight Zone" episode.(Bruce Willis and Quentin play themselves)

Marisa Tomei at her best as a crack-ho.
Kathy Griffin at her best as the hotel owner.

Adult content.

Worth having in your collection.
Once you see this, you'll want to share it with your friends.

If you like this movie try
Clay Pigeons
Without a Clue
Disorganized Crime

A surprise and worth many viewings .......2006-12-25

I'm not typically a Tim Roth fan, in fact the work he did in Planet of the Apes was so convincing I couldnt ever see him playing an enjoyable or particularly likeable character. From the moment Roths character goes out to start his shift at the hotel you get a feeling this guy has the best of intentions.

Each of the "Four Rooms" contains a different story, with different characters, Roth being the only connection between the four. Some smaller plot elements tie the four rooms together as well. These are slight and might be missed, but help to make the movie more whole.

My favorite "room" is the Tarintino room. Once you see Quentin you know things are going to get really funny, really dark, kind of weird but always worth the price of admisssion. His is the last of the four rooms though.

Antonio Banderas' room is also great. Although hes not a major part of this room, because the story focuses on his two kids in the scene, his reaction to the mischief the kids get into is awesome! Very fuuny.

Madonna has a nice little role as the head of a witch coven. In their room they are trying to raise a goddess, and need some "special" help from Roth.

Depending on how you like your comedies this movie may or may not be very funny to you. I liked it becuase I thought it was a bit smarter than slap stick comedies...Roths caricature of the proper British bellboy is the absolute best part of the movie as a whole.

Not perfect but worth owning and worth watching again and again.

Average customer rating:

SO FUNNY
Excellent Movie
One of my absolute favorites!
Well-mannered but rather inert romantic comedy (spoilers)
GOOD CHEMISTRY BETWEEN BULLOCK AND GRANT

Two Weeks Notice (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Hugh Grant , Alicia Witt , Dana Ivey , and Robert Klein
Director: Marc Lawrence (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

While You Were Sleeping
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (Widescreen Edition)
Notting Hill (Collector's Edition)
You've Got Mail
Maid in Manhattan [Region 99]

ASIN: B00008NRI8
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Amazon.com

You'd expect a cavalcade of cuteness from any pairing of Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, but Two Weeks Notice admirably avoids the obvious. You get plenty of Bullock's pratfalls and feisty sex appeal, and Grant's snappy comebacks are never in short supply, but first-time writer-director Marc Lawrence (who wrote Bullock's previous hit, Miss Congeniality) adds just enough antagonism to keep this romantic comedy from being a completely foregone conclusion. Neurotic lawyer, environmentalist, and landmark-preservation activist Lucy Kelson (Bullock) is determined to thwart the efforts of billionaire developer and jet-setting playboy George Wade (Grant); of course, fate brings them together and then rips them apart, just as they're beginning to feel the panicky pangs of love. A replacement attorney (Alicia Witt) defies formula by being genuinely sweet, and Lawrence steers clear of the most familiar clichés. It's formulaic anyway, but in Two Weeks Notice it's a comforting formula, delivered by stars who thrive within their limitations. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Opposites don't just attract - they hilariously banter, fuss, feud and collide when SANDRA BULLOCK plays an activist lawyer and HUGH GRANT is the eccentric tycoon who hires her in this romantic-comedy romp from the writer of Miss Congeniality DVD Features:
Additional Scenes:Two new scenes
Audio Commentary:Feature-length audio commentary with branching gags by Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant and Writer Marc Lawrence
Documentary:Visit the stars, moviemakers and New York City with "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Two Weeks Notice'"
Filmographies:Cast/Director Film Highlights
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

SO FUNNY.......2007-05-20

TWO WEEKS NOTICE is one of my favorite movies. There. I said it. Read on to see why I love this movie.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE is the story of Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a very. . . It's hard to describe her. She aspires to be a great lawyer - and in truth is - but she settles to work at Legal Aide and do pro-bono work instead of going and making money. Until she meets George Wade (Hugh Grant!).

George Wade is a multi-millionaire businessman, the face of Wade Corporations. He hires Lucy while he is in need of an assistant. They make a bargain - she'll work for him and help him get his building built, but he must keep the Coney Island Community Center. This works - for a while.

Lucy finally gets fed up with George's late night calls and strange demands and his lack of R-E-S-P-E-C-T (see movie for joke). So she gives him her two weeks' notice. But the thing is, Lucy is in love with George, but is too prideful to admit it.

This movie is so well written and well done overall. Hugh Grant does a wonderful job as George, whether you want to admit or not. He and Sandy Bullock may not have perfect chemistry, but they are so funny together. There are moments in the movie that make me laugh out loud. And I rarely laugh out loud.

LUCY: I think you are the most selfish person on the planet, George.
GEORGE: That's just silly. Have you met everyone on the planet?

See this movie. It's genuinely funny.

Excellent Movie.......2007-04-07

I rate this highly because it was an excellent movie. Your service was also excellent. Thank you! Mary Beth Harden

One of my absolute favorites!.......2007-01-19

This romantic comedy has the best of both worlds. It is really funny thanks to Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock. Plus, it is romantic without being sappy. Even my husband (a real guys guy) enjoys it.

Well-mannered but rather inert romantic comedy (spoilers).......2006-12-03

The creators of this civil, well-mannered comedy seem to cater to the old cliche of the impossible romantic pairing, but be warned: this is not a story of two opposite forces clashing against each other and, eventually, realizing how much they have always needed to get together. Here we have a rather aggressive lawyer and a rich, decent guy who falls for her. It's as simple and polite as that.

Bullock's self sufficiency doesn't seem to be needing Grant's decency for a minute. When she finally declares herself to him (he's been lovestruck all the while) it's only because he agreed to give her exactly what she wants. She must be falling as a 'thank you' gesture. Does she seem to really need Grant? The motivational arc seems to imply that she should only because a woman cannot live by herself.

There are other minor problems with this movie. We have a silly scene with a cellphone ringing in the middle of a wedding. The reasons of this are explained verbally in the subsequent scene. But there has been no set-up for the silliness, and the verbal explanation is pat and a cop-out.

Then we have a lot of scenes where people and cars move into the frame from right-field towards left. This is most annoying and signifying a backward pull in the visual development of the narration. The cinematography by Laszlo Kovacs is greyish and uninvolving. Kovacs is a master, and to be sure he manages to impart a consistently dull color tone to the whole proceedings. It must have been a stylistic requirement, yet the fact that all of the the natural daylight is cloudy doesn't sit well with this kind of stuff.

The director/writer succeeded especially in extracting two believable performances from the stars. "Two Weeks Notice" is pleasant enough. No big laughs, though, just polite smiles.

GOOD CHEMISTRY BETWEEN BULLOCK AND GRANT.......2006-11-24

The cast and director did their jobs and made an otherwise average story into a very enjoyable and humorous movie. If you like this one, you should also try the movies (DVD) "Love Actually" and "Miss Congeniality." HAPPY VIEWING.

Average customer rating:

Dune: epic classic, timeless, powerful...
Loved it, but really want the extra-long version.
I don't know why I like this, I just do-
I liked it then and I still like it now, more than ever...
Before there was Star Wars

Dune (1984) [HD DVD]
Starring: Francesca Annis , Leo Cimino , Daniel Bryan Corkill , Brad Dourif , and Linda Hunt
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video

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Science Fiction & Fantasy | HD DVD | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (TV Miniseries)
Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries) (Director's Cut Special Edition)
Forbidden Planet (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000IONJH4
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Amazon.com

Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it" affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and convoluted in the epic tradition; it has <table align=left cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" ><tr><td align="center"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/dvd-dune-fremen.jpg" border=0 align=top>
Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides </td></tr> </table>something to do with political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts (and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting, Kenneth McMillan, Patrick <table align=right cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" ><tr><td align="center"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/dvd-dune-sting.jpg" border=0 align=top>
Sting as Feyd-Rautha </td></tr> </table>Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt. --Jim Emerson

DVD features
Melange fans have a lot to be excited about with this impressive edition of Dune, though the "Extended Edition" label is a bit misleading. If you are expecting the mythic 4 hour "David Lynch preferred" version that is rumored to be sitting in a vault, don't get your hopes up. This isn't it. In an attempt to quickly sober spice-fueled giddy fans, producer Raffaella De Laurentiis (daughter of Dino De Laurentiis) immediately reveals in the 'Deleted Scenes' introduction that the rumored 4 hour version is just that; a rumor. What this DVD set does contain is the 2 Hour 17 Minute original theatrical release digitally remastered, available for the first time in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround sound. The presentation on this edition is a drastic improvement from the original letterboxed release. On the flipside of the DVD <table align=left cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" ><tr><td align="center"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/dvd-dune-fight.jpg " border=0 align=top>
 Knife fight! </td></tr> </table>is the alternate 2 hour 57 minute version cut for television. As many fans know, this 'extended' version was disowned by Lynch, who insisted his name be replaced by that famous Hollywood pseudonym "Alan Smithee;" the name used by directors whose film was taken away and recut against their wishes. There is some new material in the 14 minutes of deleted scenes offering a bit more background into the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy and the Fremen culture and their struggle. All other extras focus on the international production crew of Dune including the design team, special effects, and short documentaries on the miniature models and wardrobe designs. Disappointingly, there are no appearances in the bonus features by any of the original cast or Lynch himself. However, many of the production crew members talk openly about working with David Lynch and his artistic involvement in the visual process. To cap it off, this edition comes in a very stylish and sturdy DVD tin that opens like a keep case. --Rob Bracco

Further Explore the World Of Dune <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/0441172717.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0441172695.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0441104029.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)</td> <tr align="center" valign="top" class="tiny"> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000BW7QWW.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

Sci-Fi Action Films on DVD</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000639EV.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

The Dune TV Series</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000063JDE.01.MXXXXXXX.jpg" border="0">

David Lynch Essentials</td> </tr> </table>

Customer Reviews:

Dune: epic classic, timeless, powerful..........2007-06-20

For all those cheese-balls who criticized "Dune" when it came out in 1984, you're a bunch of goobs! I've read all the books, especially the first two books several times. It is a complicated environmental, political, religious, mythological masterpiece from Frank Herbert. The movie was poorly-received in theatres because most folks that went to see it back in the day couldn't stand to sit for more than two hours, never read the books (they are heady and complex), and didn't make much of an attempt to really get into the movie. Likewise, due to having shot way too long a movie, the DiLaurentiis folks had to edit the movie hardcore so it left some gaps.

All-in-all, I was eleven years old when I saw this movie back in the 80's an I understood it just fine. I came to grasp it even more as I read the novels.

The movie is basically about royal families competing against one another for a substance known as "the spice," which represents crude oil on earth. The fremen are a parallel-Muslim-type culture that lives in the desert where the "oil" or "spice" is harvested. Complex politics and intrigue are everywhere.

The acting is SUPERB! Kyle MacLachlan was the best choice is the world to play Paul, Sting was perfect as Feyd, good ole' Kenneth MacMillan was the GREATEST Baron Harkonnen ever, and overall there was an excellent international cast. The costumes, backdrops, scenery, and TOTO SOUNDTRACK were all unforgettable. I'm a huge Toto fan anyway (saw 'em in concert recently)...David Paich, the keyboardist and main songwriter for Toto delivered some music that will give you goose pimples.

I like this extended edition because it shows deleted scenes that add SO MUCH to this movie!!

Dune is quirky at times with some whispering and drawn-out scenes but in general it is so much fun, so heady, so vast, and despite the wild fantasy world we see in it, it seems believable at times. Fun trip. Worth every penny....

It's worth the spice to buy!

Loved it, but really want the extra-long version........2007-06-15

Loved it, but really want the extra-long version.

I don't know why I like this, I just do-.......2007-05-11

I am a huge fan of the entire Dune legacy. The films, the mini series... books (Frank Herbert's- haven't read the son's yet because it always tics me off when something good is dragged out long after the originator is gone... who knows if these books were part of Frank's vision- BUT I digress)

Where was I, oh yeah. Love Dune. Though this version is not true to the book, it has some true merit. You have to remember that it is from the 80s and forgive the effects, but if you are looking for sort of a cliff notes version of the storyline, this is it. Just don't watch it in place the book and go to a book club thinking you know the story.

Besides, you get to see all sorts of actors much younger than they are now, Patrick Stewart, Kyle M, Sting, and that dude from Quantam Leap just to name a few.

Good movie fodder to watch, and who cares what happens next- for he is the Kwisatz Haderach.

I liked it then and I still like it now, more than ever..........2007-05-11

David Lynch's vision and take on Dune may not compare to the book from which it is taken, but as a stand alone movie, both in its theatrical, as well as in its lengthened (directed by Alan Smithee...) version, are a product that can be considered valid.

The story is there, in its essence, the characters are there, although not really all as in the Novel, but then there is really no need for all of them, since it would just complicate an already intricate storyline.

Suffice it to say that this movie, even after all these many years, can still stand a comparison with newer Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies.
The style, the actors, the music and the scenery alone, lend it an aura of mythical proportions and this makes it far more than just another "cult" movie, but rather the vision of a true artist, confronted with a vision of another artist and mixing his own to the latter, and in this, David Lynch truly excels.

The cast includes a very young Kyle MacLachlan, masters of the trade, such as Max von Sydow, Juergen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Sian Phillips, Jose Ferrer, Freddie Jones and many others, whose talents are undisputed to give life to so bigger-than-life characters.

For the first time ever, we get both "takes" on the movie on a single, double-sided disc. One, as mentioned before, the Theatrical version, and the second, the lengthened TV version of the same, in 2.35:1 ratio and in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo.

For the price this is a well worthy buy, unless you already own an HD-DVD Player, in which case you may also opt to have that copy, but be warned, that copy only includes the theatrical version.

Before there was Star Wars.......2007-04-15

Some fun facts:
Dune was written and published in 1965
Star Wars was released in 1978
Dune the movie was released in 1984

I first saw Star Wars in the theaters in 1978 and became hooked to the series.
I never watched Dune or read it until recently and this is my take on the whole thing.

When I sat down and watched Dune I was surprised by the cheap sets and poor special effects. Star Wars had this movie beat hands down.
However, when it comes to the story of Dune: it is a great and amazing plot and adventure. I can now see where George Lucas was inspired for Star Wars.

As far as this DVD it has lots of hours of entertainment. You just have to get past some of the cheesy sets and filming.

All in all its a good DVD to have in your collection.

Average customer rating:

Queen Latifah is funny as usual....
A FEEL GOOD COMEDY ! VERY WELL DONE!
Entertaining and marvelous acting
I Enjoyed It
Great Family Movie

Last Holiday (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Queen Latifah , LL Cool J , Timothy Hutton , Giancarlo Esposito , and Alicia Witt
Director: Wayne Wang
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Family Stone (Widescreen Edition)
Rumor Has It... (Widescreen Edition)
Failure to Launch (Special Collector's Edition)
Big Momma's House 2
Something New (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000ERVJJK
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Amazon.com

Queen Latifah demonstrates her loose, easy charm in Last Holiday, a remake of the 1950 comedy with Alec Guinness. Though at first glance it's hard to imagine anyone less like Alec Guinness than Queen Latifah, they both communicate a world of inner thought with nothing more than a sly sideways glance. Georgia Byrd (Latifah), a department store employee, leads a life of frustrated desires--particularly for a bashful salesman from the outdoor furnishings department (LL Cool J, Deep Blue Sea). But when she learns she only has a few weeks left to live, Georgia gathers her money, quits her job, and flies to a swank European resort she's always dreamed of visiting. Naturally, her new carelessness with money and fearless candor lead everyone around her--including her senator (Giancarlo Esposito, Do The Right Thing) and her former boss (Timothy Hutton, Ordinary People)--to think she's a mover and shaker. Last Holiday unfolds the way you expect it to (dozens of movies and TV shows have similar plots), but Latifah and the capable cast keep it alive. Also featuring Alicia Witt (The Upside of Anger), Jane Adams (Happiness), and the ever-dependable Gerard Depardieu (Cyrano de Bergerac) as a passionate chef. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Enjoy Yourself … It's Later Than You Think! It's advice to follow for shy New Orleans cookware salesclerk Georgia Byrd (Oscar® nominee* Queen Latifah) when her doctor informs her that she has less than a month to live. With news like that, it's time to give your life a serious makeover! So Georgia jets off on a dream vacation to live life like there's no tomorrow. Enjoy hearty laughs and rollicking comedic misadventures when Georgia shakes up a glamorous European resort spa while enthusiastically embracing a new look … new moves … and a new attitude! LL Cool J is the handsome suitor back home who's not about to let Georgia slip away. And Timothy Hutton, Gerard Depardieu, Alicia Witt and Giancarlo Esposito also star in this comedy hit that makes the good times last forever.

Customer Reviews:

Queen Latifah is funny as usual.... .......2007-06-17

Last Holiday is a delightful movie. It's warm, funny, and sincere. The European countryside is also a treat to view.

Queen Latifah plays a character by the name of Georgia Byrd. Georgia is a shy and mild mannered woman that has a natural ability to cook as if she went to culinary arts school. Georgia keeps a "Possibilities" book...things that are all possible to her, but due to her mild manneredness, she only dreams of what life could be for herself. She is soon diagnosed with only three weeks to live and she decides to shed her mild mannered side to go out and experience life. This is when the real delightful part of the movie shines through.

The supporting cast is also great to watch. This is definitely one of these movies that could be purchased for your home DVD collection.

A FEEL GOOD COMEDY ! VERY WELL DONE!.......2007-06-07

I must admit this movie was much better than I expected. Queen Latifah has become a very watchable personality. She has made more than one movie work that would have flopped if she wasn't the star. This film will leave you with a warm heart and full of inspiration. I deducted one star because it was a bit predictable.....but who cares?!

Entertaining and marvelous acting .......2007-03-16

I enjoyed watching queen Latifah in a more mature acting. But the picture quality of the DVD that i bought was terrible (Thanx to amazon). To my surprise all the trailers quality were superb but the movie was Terrible terrible and terrible. To be honest the quality of the picture spoilt the fun side of the movie but still I say big ups to Queen(Uyisikhokho ntombazana). I had to use this platform although its of irrelevancy to comment about the movie format. "Enjoy everyday like its your last"

I Enjoyed It.......2007-03-03

I was kind of surprised that this movie was enjoyable to me. I usually don't like romantic comedies but this one was saved by Queen Latifah's charming way. While at work Georgia (Latifah) suffers an accidental head injury and while at the quack of a doctors office she is told that she has a brain tumor. She takes this news as an awakening and decides to go live life to the fullest. Along the way many funny moments occur along with some touching moments to make this movie a very feel good film and and all around winner.

Great Family Movie.......2007-03-02

A really fun and enjoyable film with the wonderful Queen Latifa. Great European scenery, a sweet story line, appropriate for the whole family, and really really sweet. Most anything with Queen Latifa is great, she's one of my top favorites. Anyone would enjoy this film!

Average customer rating:

you have to be open-minded
When the Dream Dies, Open Your Eyes
Living Vs. Existing.
Original and compelling
Scary Diaz

Vanilla Sky
Starring: Johnny Galecki , Kurt Russell , Michael J. Shannon , Timothy Spall , and Tilda Swinton
Director: Cameron Crowe
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Eyes Wide Shut
Open Your Eyes
Collateral (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Magnolia (New Line Platinum Series)

ASIN: B00005JKMZ
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Amazon.com

Vanilla Sky reunites director Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire) with über-playboy Tom Cruise, adds another sexy Cruz (Penélope) and Cameron Diaz for good measure, and delivers a wildly entertaining, bizarre venture into erotic science fiction. Adapted near exactly from Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar's 1997 romantic thriller Open Your Eyes, the film follows David Aames (Cruise) as he falls from his graceful Manhattan perch of inordinate wealth, good looks, and newfound love with Sofia (Cruz) because of severe facial disfigurement in a car accident caused by a suicidal ex-lover (Diaz). What at first promises to be a conventional allegory of redemption via true love is turned on its head as Cruise's character, reduced to wearing a latex mask and spurned by his friends, wins back his princess only after a miracle of plastic surgery restores his former beauty. A series of plot twists follows as waking life, technological advances, and nightmares flip-flop to dizzying effect and David ultimately comes face to face with his own mortality. Despite a final conceit to some vague morality, the appeal of the film is the wonderfully callous message conveyed by the rest of it (money and physical beauty equal happiness) through an unabashed vanity perfectly embodied by Cruise and Cruz. A delicious, decadent treat. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews:

you have to be open-minded.......2007-05-30

extremely complex film, very cameron crowe with the wonderful music selections and infinite details you would never pick up on until the fifth or sixth or twentieth viewing

i may be biased bc i enjoy penelope cruz very much. i thought it was a great film and something very different. atleast view it once!

When the Dream Dies, Open Your Eyes.......2007-02-19

Spoiler Alert: Skip this review if you don't want to know the ending.

Cruise's rich, handsome and happily shallow character has bought himself a custom-made Heaven. This heaven comes complete with his favorite sky, a vanilla-colored sky patterned after his late mother's Monet painting. The catch is that he doesn't know he's dreaming and that his peculiar heaven will eventually turn hellish. In fact, after 150 years of dreaming of the bliss of finding and winning his dearest and most true love Sofia, he first suspects and then rages that it's not real at all, but a nightmare. Strands of Hindu mysticism are subtly woven through this film, hinting of something beautifully infinite and strange. The movie's soundtrack heightens the mood and mind-bending confusion of this film, and it may turn the screws to your mind at times, leaving you spinning and feeling off center. If you don't understand the bad and the good vibrations that flow through this film, then--to paraphrase Penelope Cruz's character--maybe you will in another lifetime, when you are a cat.
In summary, I think this movie is worth watching more than once; so go ahead and get the DVD. There are many things to admire about it. For me, the romantic idea of being blissfully and timelessly sustained in a dream about finding one's true love is sweeter than a vanilla sky.

Living Vs. Existing........2007-02-09

Based upon a foreign film that translates into English as OPEN YOUR EYES (ABRE LOS OJOS), VANILLA SKY gets its title from a Claude Monet painting, "Seine at Argenteuil" that the film's protagonist, David Aames (Tom Cruise) has upon a wall. The painting is sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Vanilla Sky" because of the color that Monet used for the sky in the painting. The misnomer of the painting's title is a key in understanding and appreciating the film because early on it becomes clear that this is a movie that likes to play with one's mind and the things that take place aren't necessarily real.

VANILLA SKY revolves around the character of David Aames. David is the son and heir of a international media tycoon. Most everyone close to him, including his best friend Brain Shelby (Jason Lee) see David as a spoiled brat who has no appreciation whatsoever for all the gifts that have been given to him since birth. He takes advantage of almost everyone he meets and lives in a fantasy world of wine, women, and song. At the start of the film David is involved in a serious relationship with a beautiful blonde named Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz). They have been dating for sometime and are romantically linked, but David doesn't feel their relationship is as serious as Julie does. Whereas Julie is waiting for David to commit and propose, David sees her as simply being a "friend with benefits."

At his birthday party, David meets a woman that he finds so captivating and fascinating that he falls immediately in love with her. The woman, Sophia Serrano (Penelope Cruz) is the opposite of everything that he found attractive in Julie. David ends up walking her back to her place and spends the night talking with her. To him, Sophia is the woman of his dreams. She is the woman he would choose to marry. Unfortunately for David, Julie doesn't take things very well. She reminds him of some of the unavoidable truths about their relationship. Julie and David are involved in a car crash and when he opens his eyes, he is living in a different world.

His face has been reconstructed and at first things seem normal. But then David starts having nightmares. Soon the nightmares of his dreams seem to mix with his day to day life. He finds himself unable to distinguish the difference. Sophia is Julie and Julie is Sophia. The world is too confusing and David longs to sleep so that he can return to his dreams. Pleasant, pleasant dreams filled with the Sophia he met at the party and skies colored in vanilla.

I really don't like Tom Cruise much. He does have talent, but his large ego and cocky attitude take away from every picture I've ever seen him act in. Therefore, I was reluctant to see VANILLA SKY. I wish I would have watched the movie long ago.

The movie is a strange romantic drama sci-fi picture that tackles some huge issues. How do we live our lives? Would you rather live your life in a comfortable existence filled with superficial happiness or would you rather live an exciting, though often painful life filled with wonder and awe, truth and beauty, but only occasional moments of happiness? This is a decision that each one of us is actually presented with daily. We might not always recognize it as such, but it is and the way that choice is presented in the film makes VANILLA SKY such a powerful and engaging piece of cinema.

Cruise's ego works well for most of the film, though it denies the audience from completely identifying and empathizing with the plight of David Aames. Cruise is a great jerk, but not a very good reformed man. However, his gift at playing spoiled id-driven men sucks the audience into the action of VANILLA SKY from the beginning and even though one is never convinced of David's reformation, Cruise's performance/presence keeps the audience engaged throughout the film. Penelope Cruz reminds me of a Spanish Audrey Hepburn and though she isn't in the movie a great deal, she shines in the moments that she is. Cameron Diaz is a beauty and movie star, but overcomes her celebrity. She does a wonderful job of portraying Julie, an everywoman character that many women who have been stepped upon by men can relate to. Julie isn't on screen very long either, but when she is she raises some important questions about love, relationships, and sex in American society. Another important actor in the film is Jason Lee. Lee portrays David's best friend Brian, who is busy writing a novel. Brian is the catalyst for many of the film's deeper thought-provoking moments. It is also Brian who just might hold the key to the real meaning of the film. Like Cruise, sometimes having Lee in a picture is a turnoff, however in VANILLA SKY he is perfectly cast.

VANILLA SKY isn't the easiest film to understand. It isn't necessarily the most romantic film and though it's an intelligent movie, it asks more questions than it answers. It also has an open ending, so people who have to have a movie end all tidy will have problems with the film's ending. Nevertheless, the film is a beautiful piece of cinema that engages and entertains. A person cannot watch it without and not have something to think about later. That's something only really good movies can do.

Original and compelling.......2007-01-07

Vanilla Sky is an interesting examination of the human psyche. Cruise plays the handsome but arrogant tycoon who gets his face disfigured in a car accident. I think it's an amazing concept to ponder what a drastic blow to the ego this would be. Tom shows a great deal of courage with this role.
I also really enjoyed Cameron Diaz's performance. She's more known for her happy, goofy personality. But here she is the insanely jealous lover. She's attractive, controlling, and vindictive, every guys nightmare.
This movie jumps around and can be confusing the first time watching it. Overall it's a good story, but the individual characters and their interactions are the best part.

Scary Diaz.......2006-08-27

This movie really got me looking at C Diaz in a different light... really scary, creepy.
Makes you see that there are consequences to your actions.
Concept is interesting, not one of Tom's best but very entertaining. Makes you wonder what they may be able to do in the future. Enjoyed the movie, not for kids though.

Average customer rating:

poignant and lovely
Family hour!
Please enter a title for your review
A very good film
* * 1/2 Desperate Housewife

The Upside of Anger
Starring: Joan Allen , Suzanne Bertish , Dane Christensen , Erika Christensen , and Kevin Costner
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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

Crash (Widescreen Edition)
The Wedding Date (Widescreen Edition)
Monster-in-Law (New Line Platinum Series)
The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)
In Her Shoes (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JNP4
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Amazon.com

The sight of two lost souls finding something unavoidably necessary in each other carries The Upside of Anger through it pleasant episodic drift. When Terry Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) realizes that her husband won't be coming home again, she hits the skids and the bottle, leaving her four thunderstruck daughters (Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, and Evan Rachel Wood) to fend for themselves while she fends off the attentions of concerned neighbor Denny Davies (Kevin Costner). Writer/director Mike Binder (who has a good bit as Costner's sleazy producer) juggles too many subplots in this comedy/drama--his charming young actresses are all but wasted--then tosses in a wrongheaded climactic twist and terrible explanatory narration from young Wood. But the two leads do career-best turns: If you've given up hope on Costner, you'll be surprised by his shaggy dog appeal as a perpetually soused radio show host/faded ex-baseball star, while Allen's boozy, brittle performance is so remarkable that even her comic drunkenness is nuanced. --Steve Wiecking

Description

A touching yet humorous film about a woman who finds her and her daughters' lives changed by a former baseball star who steps into her life as her drinking buddy.DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary #1 with Director Mike Binder, Joan Allen and moderated by filmaker Rod Lurie
Deleted Scenes:Deleted scenes with commentary by Director Mike Binder (approx. 10 minutes)
Documentary:approx. 30 minutes
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

poignant and lovely.......2007-04-09

The movie has a star-studded cast, but no one competes for the space on screen. The script is smartly handled. The movie also handles the change of seasons, to show the passing time, very well. It brings a good point about anger and about knowing all sides of the story. I agree that the truth is only every partially correct. This movie made me miss quite a few people I haven't spoken with in a while and wonder about lost ties and misunderstandings.

Family hour!.......2007-03-31

When I watch this with my wife, it's called "The Upside of Anger." When I watch it by myself, it's called "Brian Moore in Taboo VII."

Please enter a title for your review.......2007-03-03

It's really unclear how well the mom and Kevin Costner know each other. It's like it keeps jumping back and forth between seeming like they just met and seeming like they've known each other for ages. If the mom character is supposed to be someone who watches a lot of daytime soaps and fancies herself as being a character in one of them than the actress did a good job at conveying that.
You could learn a lot from this movie though. Like apparently in the 14 year old dating world the line "i'm from a broken home" goes over well with bunjee jumping enthusiasts.
After the first half hour I stopped waiting for it to make sense.

A very good film.......2007-02-16

This film is the bittersweet tale of a family coming to terms with life and each other. Written and directed by Mike Binder, it starts out at a funeral and then flashes back three years into the past. It's primarily a love story between the estranged wife Terry Wolfenmeyer played by Joan Allen, and the semi-retired ex baseball jock neighbor, Denny Davies played by Kevin Costner. Terry's husband has apparently run off to Sweden with his receptionist leaving her and her four adolescent daughters to fend for themselves. Terry is torn up by the betrayal and turns to alcohol as a crutch, which works out well for Denny, who starts out as her drinking buddy.

Denny can tell how hurt Terry really his, and provides quiet support when she needs it. Each of the four daughters and her relationship with their mother is also a sub-plot, and this helps the film be more true to life than many films. The dialogue is witty and well-written. Joan Allen, though, really shines in this movie. Her portrayal of the bitter, almost alcoholic, betrayed wife is just phenomenal. Her sniping with her daughters and her facial expressions are just spot on. A truly great and memorable performance. Costner, although, not quite as good as Allen, does a solid job of playing Denny. Overall, I thought this was one of Costner's better performances.

There are moments of this film that are laugh at loud funny, and moments that are touchingly sad. Again that makes this film more realistic, and is a credit to Mike Binder who wrote and directed the film. He also plays a good bit role as Denny's sleazy radio producer.

The cinematography is well done, with the passing seasons used to show the passage of time. Too many romantic comedies happen in a kind of frozen landscape, where the story is the only thing important, and nothing outside of the story changes. This film is different, the landscape changes, and, more importantly, the characters change over time, again much more realistic than most films.

My only real gripe about this film was the younger daughter's cheesy documentary being used as kind of the "message' of the film; "it's easier to react with anger than love". Yeah, yeah we get it, the old films of slapstick comedy and the cartoon characters banging each other over the head are superfluous. We especially get the message when Terry looks at her four daughters sitting together at the end of the film and imagines them as they were 15 years, 10 years and 5 years ago.

A great story, with great dialogue, solid cinematography, solid acting with a "one for the ages" performance by Joan Allen, combine to make this a very enjoyable film. Strongly recommended.

* * 1/2 Desperate Housewife.......2007-01-03

A romantic comedy with the likes of Joan Allen and Kevin Costner should catch fire, shouldn't it? So why is this "witty" and "poignant" character-driven film from writer/director/actor Mike Binder flat as a pancake? Maybe because it's not witty nor poignant, but it seems to think it is. The Upside of Anger trots out tired cliches--the bored and boozy suburban housewife, the middle-aged has-been trying to find himself (Costner stretching himself in another washed-up baseball player role), the daughters coming of age, dealing with sex and boyfriends and having runs-ins with mom every other day. There doesn't seem to be a big point to it all--does Binder think he's telling us anything new?!? There are also way too many cribs, or attempted cribs, from Terms of Endearment, including a sudden serious hospital illness, to make this seem like anything more than a tired conceit of a movie wallowing in pretention. (Plus it just reminds you how fresh Terms of Endearment was in 1982. But 2005 is not 1982.) Allen, always natural and effortless, gets to strut her stuff as the middle-aged mom with a fondness for Grey Goose vodka; Costner is well-cast--he never displays much range but in the right role he fits like a comfortable old pair of shoes. Binder gives himself a major role as a radio producer in a subplot that goes littlewhere and seems more like a vanity trip than an exploration of anything germaine to the movie. The love interest of one daughter, Dane Christensen, has a pointless role, that climaxes puzzlingly when he smashes through a glass window while bungee-jumping from a tree (and if that makes little sense to you, it makes even less sense in the context of the film). The four daughters themselves (Alicia Witt, Keri Russell, Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood) are bland and interchangeable--maybe one daughter less and one subplot less would have given the movie more focus. But even better would have been more unique situations and setups for the conflicts, which are as forseeable as an Iraq quadmire. Too often in this movie mom just pops off on the typical things TV and movie moms pop off on all the time: mouthy children, the claustrophobia of suburbia, neighbors who want to get them between the sheets. Although the film tries the patented James L. Brooks formula of lurching from hilarity to pathos in an eyeblink, here the quips aren't funny, the drama not fresh, the psychological underpinnings pedestrian. We've seen it all before--on Desperate Housewives, for example, to which stylistically this movie bears more than a passing resemblance, especially when it comes to the undistinguished music score (amazingly, composed by Alexandre Desplat, who turned out far more unique and extraordinary work for the Nicole Kidman film Birth; this one he seems to have phoned in).

Well, we've *almost* seen it all before. At the very end there is a twist so unusual that I have to admit I was totally taken by surprise for once. The official Amazon review calls it "wrongheaded," but I disagree: this oddball direction is just what the rest of the movie needed. But is it worth waiting two hours for? For me, the answer is definitely no. Joan Allen, I love you, but better luck next time.

The DVD looks great, with a near-perfect transfer. There are commentaries and the obligatory "making of" documentary, but this film left me so bored that I cared about neither. More tellingly, there's a trailer that has the life and snap and energy that the film itself desperately needed.

Average customer rating:

Queen Latifah is funny as usual....
A FEEL GOOD COMEDY ! VERY WELL DONE!
Entertaining and marvelous acting
I Enjoyed It
Great Family Movie

Last Holiday (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Queen Latifah , LL Cool J , Timothy Hutton , Giancarlo Esposito , and Alicia Witt
Director: Wayne Wang
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Family Stone (Widescreen Edition)
Rumor Has It... (Widescreen Edition)
Failure to Launch (Special Collector's Edition)
Big Momma's House 2
Something New (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000ERVJJU
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Amazon.com

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

Queen Latifah is funny as usual.... .......2007-06-17

A FEEL GOOD COMEDY ! VERY WELL DONE!.......2007-06-07

Entertaining and marvelous acting .......2007-03-16

I Enjoyed It.......2007-03-03

Great Family Movie.......2007-03-02

Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King [Region 99]

Average customer rating:

Finally the story of Siegfried is told
Comes up from behind
Awesome TV series but...
Amazing
Eh

Dark Kingdom - The Dragon King [Region 99]
Starring: Benno Fürmann , Kristanna Loken , Alicia Witt , Julian Sands , and Samuel West
Director: Uli Edel
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Dungeons and Dragons- Wrath of the Dragon God (Widescreen Edition)
Bloodrayne (Unrated Director's Cut)(DVD ROM game is included)
Blood of Beasts [Region 99]
Underworld - Evolution (Widescreen Special Edition) [Region 99]
Dragon Storm

ASIN: B0007OCG5Q
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Amazon.com

Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King is a visually impressive historical adventure based on the same Germanic and Norse legends that inspired Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle operas and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Produced for German television (and shot in South Africa), the film stars Benno Furmann as Siegfried, a prince whose family is slaughtered by a pair of evil kings; raised by a blacksmith (Max Von Sydow, still commanding as ever), he meets and falls for Valkyrie queen Brunhild (Kristanna Loken from Terminator 3) and slays the dragon Fafnir for King Gunther (Samuel West), which in turn, involves him in treachery, war, and separation from his beloved Brunhild. Well directed by Uli Edel (Last Exit to Brooklyn>, The Mists of Avalon), Dark Kingdom occasionally suffers from exceedingly purple dialogue, but the performances, action, and special effects combine to make for a rousing fantasy-drama. Originally broadcast at three hours in length, the DVD presentation here is the U.S. cut, which comes in at just over two hours; a battery of five making-of featurettes are included in the disc's supplemental features. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Finally the story of Siegfried is told.......2007-06-01

The story of Siegfried and the Dragon was one of the most important and well-known legends in northern Europe, as evidenced by the vast number of references found in the archaeological record, but the story has been mostly forgotten by the general public. Everyone has heard of Achilles, but few people are familiar with Sigfried--or Sigurd as he was called in the Norse version of the tale--except those who study Norse mythology or German opera. Finally the story is told in a format that's accessible to the common man.

The advertising claims this was the inspiration for Tolkien, but this story inspired many more than just him. Richard Wagner goes without saying, but other stories like Grimm's classic Sleeping Beauty were obviously derived from Sigfried's saga as well, although that link isn't so obviously portrayed in this version.

I believe this was originally released as a mini-series on German television, then a year later on the Sci-Fi channel in the U.S. The acting is about what you'd expect from a TV movie, most of it is okay but there are many weak points. I suspect it's this weakness that earned it a less-than-stellar rating on IMDB. I didn't find it too distracting the first time through, but on repeated viewings you notice more. I still quite enjoy the movie, though. The one notable exception for me was Kristana Loken, who played Brinhild (also the Terminator in T3). She gave an excellent performance, and while of course Max Von Sidow always does an excellent job, Loken's performance was very memorable for me.

The worst thing about the movie is that this version is cut by about 50 minutes, as other reviewers have mentioned. It's frustrating because the edits were completely unnecessary. They cut the entire story of Prince Giselher and his developing relationship with Sigfried, along with some important scenes like Sigfried returning with the dragon's head. The original contained many scenes where they explored the differences between Sigfried's pagan religion and Christianity--very respectfully to both sides, I might add--but they cut out all of that. What's most frustrating is that this is the only version available in region 1 and I'm not aware of any efforts being made to release the original. I'd almost say you should buy whatever version you can and then download the full version if you can find it, but I'm sure they'd say that isn't legal.

If you are interested in ancient European legends or Norse mythology then I would highly recommend this movie, despite its flaws. If it inspires you to read the original tales, The Saga of the Volsungs or the Nibelungenlied, then all the better. If you just want a fun fantasy movie then I'd also recommend it as it's better than much of the fantasy fair out there, although it doesn't compete with The Lord of the Rings.

I give it 3/5, docked a point because of the missing scenes. The full-length version I would rate 4/5, if they would ever release it here.

Comes up from behind.......2007-04-13

I see a lot of movies, so its easy for me to become stale brained, wandering during even supposidly GOOD movies, well so many of them are FORMULA so....

This one however, comes up from behind ---got my FULL ATTENTION during much of its display.

The encompassing beautiful scenery -- I want to go visit!
Themes of the tragic flawed hero--gee I want to be like him, well, not in EVERY way
Beautiful heroine maiden --where do I buy my door length poster?
Treachorious seething villiany!

just kept me going.

At first I though, it was DRAGONSLAYER movie, he spends the time preparing. then climactically defeating the dragon, but that was only the big battle leading to something far more --intriguing.

I did not see the SCIFI series and did not even know of it, so my thoughts are not jaded because of the cuts, but I would have liked to have a DVD with ALL of it should one be released.

When I'm in the video store and they ask me about what I rented, I generally point at the wall where they have Dark Kingdom and say "not quite as good as THAT!"

Awesome TV series but..........2007-03-21

I watched this on Sci-fi everytime it was on. I could probably recite the entire movie to you, but I am ver dissapointed in the DVD because it is missing a lot that was shown in the series on tv. I would not recommend purchasing this DVD,b but if you get the chance, tape it if it ever comes back to Sci-fi

Amazing.......2007-02-07

This was a made for tv movie, a sci-fi channel exclusve. I had the great fortune to catch this 4 hour movie one nite, and have since seen it twice. It is remarkably well done, highly enjoyable, and the special effects are for the most part quite good. A family movie, magic, dragons, and lots of swordplay. Guaranteed to be a winner.

Eh.......2006-12-25

This movie was adequate.
What I would have to say about this movie overall is that some parts of it had potential.

The movie had great scenery and attention to costume design. Some of the acting was superb (brunhild), while others I hated (Sigfried! What kind of accent was that? I just hated his character as well).

Also, I think the character brunhild was superb. I loved her character design and personality very much, and it's a shame that she was paired with such a weak character like sigfried. They should have had the movie based on her instead.

Sigfried was not how you would picture a hero at all. He wasn't even an anti-hero. All he cared about was himself and the only quality that in my mind made him a hero was his "courage" and "strength."

This movie starts out very badly and kinda unrealistically, but it gets more interesting towards the latter half (aka: when brunhild comes in) and ends on an unexpected and sorta unsatisfactory ending.

Average customer rating:

SO FUNNY
Excellent Movie
One of my absolute favorites!
Well-mannered but rather inert romantic comedy (spoilers)
GOOD CHEMISTRY BETWEEN BULLOCK AND GRANT

Two Weeks Notice (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Sandra Bullock , Hugh Grant , Alicia Witt , Dana Ivey , and Robert Klein
Director: Marc Lawrence (II)
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00008NRI7
Release Date: 2003-04-29

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Description

Opposites don't just attract - they hilariously banter, fuss, feud and collide when SANDRA BULLOCK plays an activist lawyer and HUGH GRAN