Anne Hathaway

The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

This is a great movie, but it is not like the book.
A guy's perspective
And uh..............that's all (followed by a wave of a hand)
Blu-ray quality
Just all right

The Devil Wears Prada (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Meryl Streep , Anne Hathaway , Emily Blunt , Stanley Tucci , and Simon Baker
Director: David Frankel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Little Miss Sunshine
Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Unrated Widescreen Edition) [Region 99]
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000J103PC
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

This clever, funny big-screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's best-seller takes some of the snarky bite out of the chick lit book, but smoothes out the characters' boxy edges to make a more satisfying movie. There's no doubt The Devil Wears Prada belongs to Meryl Streep, who turns in an Oscar-worthy (seriously!) strut as the monster editor-in-chief of Runway,<img border="0" align=right src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/devil-wears-prada/dwp_253_sm.jpg"> an elite fashion magazine full of size-0, impossibly well-dressed plebes. This makes new second-assistant Andrea (Anne Hathaway), who's smart but an unacceptable size 6, stick out like a sore thumb. Streep has a ball sending her new slave on any whimsical errand, whether it's finding the seventh (unpublished) Harry Potter book or knowing what type she means when she wants "skirts." Though Andrea thumbs her nose at the shallow world of fashion (she's only doing the job to open doors to a position at The New Yorker someday), she finds herself dually disgusted yet seduced by the perks of the fast life. The film sends a basic message: Make work your priority, and you'll be rich and powerful... and lonely. Any other actress would have turned Miranda into a scenery-chewing Cruella, but Streep's underplayed, brilliant comic timing make her a fascinating, unapologetic character. Adding frills to the movie's fun are Stanley Tucci as Streep's second-in-command, Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love) as the overworked first assistant, Simon Baker as a sexy writer, and breathtaking couture designs any reader of Vogue would salivate over. -- Ellen A. Kim

Beyond The Devil Wears Prada <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="4" cellpadding="4"> <tr align="center" valign="top" class="tiny"> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0767914767.01._PIsitb-st-arrow,TopLeft,-1,-14_OU01_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg" border="0">
The Devil Wears Prada: A Novel</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000FZESR6.01._AA90_SCTHUMBZZZ_V39993596_.jpg" border="0">
The Devil Wears Prada Soundtrack</td> <td width="33%"> <img src="http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000L0YS02.01-A3HS64JP3NS7SF._SCTZZZZZZZ_V34923413_.jpg" border="0">
Prada Handbags</td> </tr> </table> Stills from The Devil Wears Prada (click for larger image) <table border="0" cellpadding="4" width="100%" cellspacing="4">

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Description

Based on the hilarious best-selling novel, this sinfully funny movie starring Academy Award(r) winner Meryl Streep* and Anne Hathaway is "sensationally entertaining in every way" (maxim). As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep), young Andy Sachs (Hathaway) has landed a job that "a million girls would die for." Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda's personal whipping girl just might be the death of her!

Customer Reviews:

This is a great movie, but it is not like the book........2007-06-13

I read the book on which this film is based before seeing this film. I loved the book, & I thought that the film would replicate the book. I was wrong. It's a great film, but I was disappointed that the film did not replicate the book. Some of the concepts in the book are the same in the film, but some are not. For example, Andy's (Hathaway's) boyfriend in the film is not the same as he is in the book. I guess they had to make some changes so that the film wasn't so long. My advice is to read the book! I enjoyed the book more than the film.

The Devil Wears Prada

A guy's perspective.......2007-06-08

I'm a guy, and unless you can't sit through a movie without aliens or something blowing up you (other guys) will enjoy this movie, with or without your significant other. It isn't a chick flick. Sure, the movie deals with fashion, relationship issues, and the difficulty of people making life choices. So what. These are just a springboard for what this movie really is--a well-paced comedy with the best actors in the business. The comic timing is as good as anything coming out of the Will Farrell or Ben Stiller camps. Have fun with this thing and don't take it too seriously.

And uh..............that's all (followed by a wave of a hand).......2007-06-07

Haven't read the book so I have nothing to compare this movie to. But I don't think I would regret not having read the book first. Well the movie is good enough that I don't think I shall be reading the book anymore, I will rather watch the movie again. Having been in the fashion industry I can relate to this very well. "The Devil Wears Prada" is director David Frankel's first theatrical feature film, however, it's by no means his first important job, as Frankel perfected his craft directing several episodes of the famous TV series, "Sex and the City" (also inspired by a "chick lit" source). In many ways, "The Devil Wears Prada" retains the feeling of Frankel's previous work and it's probably the obvious next step in his career. While it may not be the most original film ever, it has quite good features, such as a very good edition (by Mark Livolsi) and a well-selected soundtrack.

Many words have been written about Meryl Streep's excellent performance, so I'll just say that she was perfect for the role; as she gives a deeper, more complex personality to a character that essentially exist to be mean. While Streep's performance is essentially what makes the film to stand out from other similar movies, credit must also go to Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, who play Miranda's two main assistants. Hathaway as our main character, Andy, delivers a quiet, subtle performance that allows her character to be likable, especially as her actions begin to show the slow but constant effect that Miranda has in her. Emily Blunt is the film's best surprise, showing a great future and a big talent for comedy. Finally, Stanley Tucci has a minor role, but shows off his scene-stealing abilities and makes gold of every moment he appears on screen. The rest of the cast is quite effective, but nothing really as special as the four main characters.

Personally, I think that the film's worst problem is the many similarities it shares with other films, as it gives the feeling that the story lacks originality. However, "The Devil Wears Prada" makes up for this flaw with its light-hearted tone and its big charm, as it's a film that doesn't take itself too seriously (as other similar films do). Also, Frankel's past directing a TV series becomes too notorious at times, making the film look like an extended chapter of a TV series; however, this is not really as annoying as it sounds, and it's probably due to the act that this is Frankel's first feature film.

"The Devil Wears Prada" is quite a good film for a nice evening; it's charming, funny, and most importantly: entertaining. It's always a joy to watch a very talented actress at work, but it's also a joy to discover three new talents (Hathaway, Blunt and director David Frankel) having a chance and making a good job. It may not be a life-changing experience, but this devil is a nice surprise.

Blu-ray quality.......2007-06-04

The video quality is outstanding on a 1080p plasma but don't look to hear 5.1 audio. It may say 5.1 but all I heard was 2.0 the entire movie. Not impressive at all. Even outdoor scenes in busy traffic could have been enhanced with surround sound from the rear speakers but there wasn't any. You'd be better off upscaling the DVD version at a cheaper price.

Just all right.......2007-06-02

This movie was "just all right". The point of high fashion escapes me, and the lectures in the film were not convincing - at least to me. I watched the movie because Meryl Streep can do no wrong, and this movie was no exception. I was reminded of Glenn Close in 101 Dalmations - not the way I like to see Meryl Streep, but she looked good as an unlikeable character. I far preferred her in "Sophie's Choice," but perhaps that's just my taste in movies. I want a movie to say something meaningful, rock my world, make a difference. "The Devil Wears Prada" made me want to go to sleep - and certainly not to work!

Sophie's Choice

The Devil Wears Prada (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

This is a great movie, but it is not like the book.
A guy's perspective
And uh..............that's all (followed by a wave of a hand)
Blu-ray quality
Just all right

The Devil Wears Prada (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Meryl Streep , Anne Hathaway , Emily Blunt , Stanley Tucci , and Simon Baker
Director: David Frankel
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Little Miss Sunshine
Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Unrated Widescreen Edition) [Region 99]
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
The Departed (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000J103OI
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Amazon.com

<img border="0" align=right src="http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/devil-wears-prada/dwp_253_sm.jpg"> This clever, funny big-screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's best-seller takes some of the snarky bite out of the chick lit book, but smoothes out the characters' boxy edges to make a more satisfying movie. There's no doubt The Devil Wears Prada belongs to Meryl Streep, who turns in an Oscar�-worthy (seriously!) strut as the monster editor-in-chief of Runway, an elite fashion magazine full of size-0, impossibly well-dressed plebes. This makes new second-assistant Andrea (Anne Hathaway), who's smart but an unacceptable size 6, stick out like a sore thumb. Streep has a ball sending her new slave on any whimsical errand, whether it's finding the seventh (unpublished) Harry Potter book or knowing what type she means when she wants "skirts." Though Andrea thumbs her nose at the shallow world of fashion (she's only doing the job to open doors to a position at The New Yorker someday), she finds herself dually disgusted yet seduced by the perks of the fast life. The film sends a basic message: Make work your priority, and you'll be rich and powerful... and lonely. Any other actress would have turned Miranda into a scenery-chewing Cruella, but Streep's underplayed, brilliant comic timing make her a fascinating, unapologetic character. Adding frills to the movie's fun are Stanley Tucci as Streep's second-in-command, Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love) as the overworked first assistant, Simon Baker as a sexy writer, and breathtaking couture designs any reader of Vogue would salivate over. -- Ellen A. Kim

</td> </tr> </table>

Description

Customer Reviews:

This is a great movie, but it is not like the book........2007-06-13

A guy's perspective.......2007-06-08

And uh..............that's all (followed by a wave of a hand).......2007-06-07

Blu-ray quality.......2007-06-04

Just all right.......2007-06-02

Average customer rating:

dvd review
Nothing Special Except the Presence of Young Stars
A Movie That Does Not Know What It Wants To Be
it has its particular pleasures
Good movie Id recommend it!

Havoc (Unrated Version)
Starring: Anne Hathaway , Bijou Phillips , Shiri Appleby , Michael Biehn , and Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Barbara Kopple
Manufacturer: New Line Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Criminals | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

9 songs - Unrated Full Uncut Version
When Will I Be Loved
The Dreamers (Original Uncut NC-17 Version)
Uncovered
Lie With Me

ASIN: B000BBOUUE
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Amazon.com

After making her name in The Princess Diaries, Anne Hathaway takes a radical detour with this edgy independent drama. As Allie, a wealthy gangsta wannabe, she makes no excuses for her delinquent behavior: "We're just teenagers and we're bored." When her Pacific Palisades posse, including pal Emily (Bully's Bijou Phillips), starts hanging out with a Latino gang (including Six Feet Under's Freddy Rodríguez), they learn what thug life is really about. Hathaway couldn't be more game: She swears, she fights--she disrobes (several times). Written and directed by Oscar winners Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) and Barbara Kopple (American Dream), Havoc plays like a B movie, in the vein of the superior crazy/beautiful, and was released straight to video. For Hathaway fans, it's a chance to see this young talent in a very different light, but for Gaghan and Kopple followers, this lurid morality tale is sure to come as a letdown. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

A group of wealthy Los Angeles teenagers try to become part of the "gangsta" lifestyle but soon run into trouble when they come face to face with a real gang of Latino drug dealers.

Customer Reviews:

dvd review.......2007-05-13

I think this movie will wake up young kids and realize life is not all fun and games.

Nothing Special Except the Presence of Young Stars.......2007-04-28

Brief summery of "Havoc" would be like this. Two bored, rich, white teenagers Alliaon and Emily get attracted to the Latino gangsters in East LA. You don't have to think hard to figure out the results of their behaviors, and actually "Havoc" has little to say about anything after all. Familiar plot devices such as their rebellious high school boyfriends and a timid, quiet kid making a documentary film do not help, nor the clichéd images of the teenagers and their parents living in suburbia. Despite the good acting of Freddy Rodriguez as Hector, to whom our heroine is romantically attracted, the Latino characters are little better than stereotypes.

In fact the film could have been a great social commentary or a riveting drama with better characters (and the screenplay is written by Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana"). It is extremely difficult to show a couple of spoiled, affluent teenagers without making us feel "So why should we care?" and "Havoc" seems to need someone who can fix this problem. It may not be your cup of tea, but "Thirteen" did a better job with equally annoying, but more round characters.

What makes "Havoc" special is the presence of young stars including Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Freddy Rodriguez. It is true that Anne Hathaway disrobes herself, but those ""topless" scenes are nothing pornographic; however, it is also true that the film could be without them from the beginning. If you want to see Anne Hathaway breaking away from her "Princess Diary" image, she would do better in "Brokeback Mountain."

A Movie That Does Not Know What It Wants To Be.......2007-03-14

I have a soft spot for films with exposed flaws. In all honesty, this film should only have two stars, but for me it is a guilty pleasure.

Daredevil & Kangeroo Jack are my two favorites.

Havoc enters onto this list because its a film whose style changes with every scene. It's the first non-documentary film from Barbara Kopple and you can tell she's itching to document and not force life to do her bidding. And this "hands off" directing leads to things like Anne Hathaway's "one take only" acting.

The way that the white kids are portrayed is comical and I believe intentionally so. I know I laughed at them in high school. They look and sound rediculous. Especially Anne Hathaway's "come hither" dance in the first party scene where she "drops the n-bomb." She's completely incapable of delivering those lines realistically. The party scenes throughout the film run parellels that are intriguing characterwise. Anne Hathaway drops her act and behaves like herself around Hector, while Bijou keeps it up and gets reprimanded.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt once again shows his chops as an acting wonderchild with a fantastically comical performance. He is definately going to be a person to watch in the next ten years.

The film is about facades and stereotypes and how people wear the masks created by others in order to feel true and real. Anne Hathaway's tri-romance between Mike Vogel, Bijou Philips and Freddy Rodriguez each satisfy and aspect of self that she is in crisis over. But none of them are fulfilling because of the walls that are set by those around them. I think it's one of the few films I've ever seen where a main character is forced to juggle three people at once.

The scene where Anne confronts Mike the night after they go downtown was well done and pretty honest. Then the "girls night" immediately following is hysterically true as well.

The documentary that Matt O'Leary's character is filming is a nice device and leads to some of the most important scenes in the film. He is the only character that is real and does not "play the game." But this may be an endorsement by Kopple that filmmakers are the only truthful people on the planet. My favorite scene is the one between Anne Hathaway and Matt O'Leary where he confronts her and starts to ask her questions she is to afraid to answer, she jumps from one facade to the next and attempts to "seduce him" but he wants her not the fake her and denies her "advances." It should be the crux of the film, but it falls flat because as an actress Anne Hathaway is incapable of playing all of those people.

But! Its intentions are noble and the parents are brilliant. It's just to bad that they didn't tone it down and play it a lot straighter. It might have been a great film. They were just to busy marketing it to teenagers and not trying (ironically enough) to make it more cinema-veritae. Hopefully Kopple's next fore into fiction will be less plagued by errors.

it has its particular pleasures.......2007-03-12

This is one of those well-meaning movies made by well-intentioned people trying to comment on important social phenomena that winds up accidentally undercutting everything it wants to say by its flawed execution. The funniest thing about Havoc is that it was made by Barbara Kopple who is well known for making quality documentaries, yet it feels so resoundingly and thoroughly fake throughout (and of course Stephen Gaghan is sort of the current reigning writing champion of real yet simultaneously somehow very fake, which I say as someone who quite liked Syriana).

One really terrible decision (and I don't know whether to blame this on Gaghan or the original story) was to have a student making a movie about his fellow students in the movie. The idea was presumably supposed to be that it would allow for things/facts/themes to be said by the actors straight to the "documentary" camera that would have been difficult to establish quickly through dialogue but the result is a disaster where none of the people addressing the "documentary" seem to be coming from reality or talking like actual human beings. The only payoff for this decision is a great scene where Hathaway torments the young male filmmaker by flaunting her sexuality in front of him but on the whole, it was not a good decision to use this device.

As someone has already commented, the teens behaving badly scenes here are like slickly hollywoodized renditions of moments from Larry Clark's indie Kids (and note that Bijou Phillips also already appeared behaving badly in Clark's other kids behaving badly movie Bully); but then perhaps that's just a difference between New York and La La Land and perhaps this movie is a lot more real about L.A. than I know as an east coaster. The key to really enjoying Havoc is not to take it all that seriously and then you can have a very good time with it; try to think of it as an kind of overheated teen delinquency 50s-style melodrama. Hathaway is very pretty and tries hard with this movie; I admire her for taking the part and for gracing us with glimpses of her bared lovely skin. And some individual scenes are in fact pretty compelling or touching on their own, just in a rather exaggerated aftershool-special melodramatic way. So my advice is, don't go into Havoc expecting serious commentary on the state of our youth today and just take what fun it gives you.

Good movie Id recommend it!.......2007-03-09

The way the teenagers talked got on my nerves, but it was a good story, and I love Anne Hathaway!

Average customer rating:

Western Skies
mumbled lines and bad acting
Courageous and Tender
Fabulous film!
It's A BISEXUAL Movie . . . THERE, I Said It . . .

Brokeback Mountain (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Heath Ledger , Jake Gyllenhaal , Randy Quaid , Valerie Planche , and David Trimble (III)
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Gay & Lesbian | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Capote [Region 99]
Crash (Widescreen Edition)
Walk the Line (Widescreen Edition)
Memoirs of a Geisha (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) [Region 99]
Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JOFQ
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Amazon.com

A sad, melancholy ache pervades Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee's haunting, moving film that, like his other movies, explores societal constraints and the passions that lurk underneath. This time, however, instead of taking on ancient China, 19th-century England, or '70s suburbia, Lee uses the tableau of the American West in the early '60s to show how two lovers are bound by their expected roles, how they rebel against them, and the repercussions for each of doing so--but the romance here is between two men. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two itinerant ranchers looking for work in Wyoming when they meet and embark on a summer sheepherding job in the shadow of titular Brokeback Mountain. The taciturn Ennis, uncommunicative in the extreme, finds himself opening up around the gregarious Jack, and the two form a bond that surprisingly catches fire one cold night out in the wilderness. Separating at the end of the summer, each goes on to marry and have children, but a reunion years later proves that, if anything, their passion for each other has grown significantly. And while Jack harbors dreams of a life together, the tight-lipped Ennis is unable to bring himself to even consider something so revolutionary.

Its open, unforced depiction of love between two men made Brokeback an instant cultural touchstone, for both good and bad, as it was tagged derisively as the "gay cowboy movie," but also heralded as a breakthrough for mainstream cinema. Amidst all the hoopla of various agendas, though, was a quiet, heartbreaking love story that was both of its time and universal--it was the quintessential tale of star-crossed lovers, but grounded in an ever-changing America that promised both hope and despair. Adapted by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana from Annie Proulx's short story, the movie echoes the sparse bleakness of McMurtry's The Last Picture Show with its fading of the once-glorious West; but with Lee at the helm, it also resembles The Ice Storm, as it showed the ripple effects of a singular event over a number of people. As always, Lee's work with actors is unparalleled, as he elicits graceful, nuanced performances from Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway as the wives affected overtly and subliminally by their husbands' affair, and Gyllenhaal brings surprising dimensions to a character that could have easily just been a puppy dog of a boy. It's Ledger, however, who's the breakthrough in the film, and his portrait of an emotionally repressed man both undone and liberated by his feelings is mesmerizing and devastating. Spare in style but rich with emotion, Brokeback Mountain earns its place as a classic modern love story. --Mark Englehart

Description

Brokeback Mountain is a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The complications, joys and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal deliver emotionally charged, remarkably moving performances in "a movie that is destined to become one of the great classics of our time" (Clay Smith, The Insider).

Customer Reviews:

Western Skies.......2007-06-18

Well, after 1000 reviews, who needs my opin ion? I'm simply a country boy who took this film to heart, sadly know a few men whose lives are/were like this, even today. But as a film itself, it's a wonderfully simple, plaintive accomplishment.

I didn't have a problem understanding Heath's mumbled "ennis" accent. It's an all-too familiar tone from uptight men who can't open their hearts.

The massive hype and hoopla of this film having settled down, perhaps the viewing public will someday see the other hundreds of films with gay characters; granted, not all better, but more uplifting, and not so predictably tragic.

A nice film, based on a great short story. But when ever gay actors will be able to do as much, that'd be nice.

Can you imagine white actors playing African-Americans who suffer oppression? No.

Well, then, why does it have to be the same for gay cinema?

Who knows. anyway, not much special in the DVD. widescreen is the only way to see it, for the cinematography.

I liked watching it in Spanish, too.

mumbled lines and bad acting.......2007-05-30

The only redeeming thing about this movie is the scenery. I am not giving this movie one star because of the sexual content. I am giving this movie one star because of the acting. Heath Ledger mumbled his lines do badly I could not understand a word he was saying, and I watched this move twice. A cardboard standup would have displayed more acting ability than Jake Gyllenhaal. My advice, don't bother.

Courageous and Tender.......2007-05-29

Well boy howdy; I finally got around to viewing "Brokeback Mountain". During the early part of it, I thought it a bit slow and began to wonder if it wasn't past my bedtime. At the same time however, I thought the cinematography was stunning; making me wish I was in a proper cinema (as opposed to seeing it on my 20" screen).

Gradually I opened up to the story and the way it was presented, and lo and behold, by the end of the film I felt it worthy of the praise it has received. And in retrospect, I believe that it HAD to be revealed just as it was, in that somewhat plodding cowboy style. Kind of made me think of "A Prairie Home Companion"'s characters Dusty & Lefty from *The Lives of the Cowboys* (couldn't help myself; if you're a PHC listener, you'll know what I mean).

Sometimes I was frustrated by the behavior of the two lead characters, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the movie. For example, I wanted to suggest (before their subsequent marriages), that Jack & Ennis just DUMP that cowboy life and head for San Francisco or NYC or some other place more congenial to their relationship. But alas, there were other things to be considered as well; not the least of which would be the backgrounds and limited education (and hence opportunity) for these two, especially Ennis with his taciturn manner.

But my point is that in mulling over the possibilities, I took the characters of Jack & Ennis very seriously, as they were very convincingly portrayed by Gyllenhaal and Ledger. I forgot that Heath Ledger was Australian; he had that mumbly mealy-mouthed American cowboy bit down pat. And Ang Lee's direction turned my early-on yawns into rapt attention. Now I would like to watch the movie a second time (at least); something I seldom do. Please bear this in mind if you're tempted to give up on "Brokeback Mountain" halfway through, because you're "bored". By the way, the basis for this movie is a short story written for "The New Yorker" by Annie Proulx.

Also I'd just like to mention that if a gay man in the U.S. West had limited opportunities in 1963, it seemed to me that women (gay OR straight) had even LESS to choose from (sigh). But that's a discussion for another day...

Fabulous film!.......2007-05-24

Every time I watch this film it breaks my heart. It is one of the most moving I have ever see. Of course Heath Ledger is great and deserved the Oscar for his work but again, each time I see him I think that Jake Gyllenhall could have been nominated for best actor also. He is really good. Wonderful work by two young actors. The whole movie defines what it means to make a picture.

It's A BISEXUAL Movie . . . THERE, I Said It . . ........2007-05-22

Brokeback Mountain has often been referred to as "the gay cowboy movie," but such a label is far from the mark. This isn't a movie about gay men. This is a movie about two bisexual men who fall in love.

I never saw anything so powerful as one man falling in love with the other.

Jack falls helplessly in love with Ennis. We see it from the moment he tends to Ennis's head injury, the tenderness in which he dabs away the blood. Jack wants a life with the man he loves, and (like most of love's victims) he keeps coming back again and again in the hope that one day they can be together.

But Ennis is afraid and refuses to live with Jack again and again. When he was boy, he saw a man get murdered by the men in town just because he was suspected of being gay. Ennis tells Jack that his love for him could kill him, but like most people madly in love, Jack doesn't care and tells Ennis he's sick of being kept "on a short leash." Ennis blames Jack for the way he is, saying that's become nothing and he's nowhere and then breaks down and cries. As the two fight and eventually fall into each other's arms, it becomes apparent they can only be star-crossed lovers.

If you enjoy star-crossed lovers (Romeo and Juliet, Titanic, The Mulan Rogue) and have an open mind, then you'll love this film. It's a classic and will touch the lives of many.

Average customer rating:

A Modern "My Fair Lady" with an Outstanding Cast
Excellent movie for those who believe in fairy tales
Excellent teenage movie
Speedy and Safe Delivery
Humorous and entertaining

The Princess Diaries (Special Edition)
Starring: Julie Andrews , Anne Hathaway , Hector Elizondo , Heather Matarazzo , and Mandy Moore (II)
Director: Garry Marshall
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

All Disney Titles | Disney Home Entertainment | Stores | DVD | Video

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The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Full Screen Edition)
Ella Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
Freaky Friday
A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B000209KMW
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Amazon.com

A thoroughly engaging fairy tale that's family friendly without being condescending, The Princess Diaries is your basic Cinderella makeover story given a fresh, affectionate twist courtesy of a game, energetic cast and a screenplay that skirts schmaltz in favor of gentle, effective comedy. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a frizzy-haired, glasses-wearing 15-year-old girl whose two highest ambitions are to become invisible and to get a few smooches from the slickly attractive school heartthrob. As a girl who can't stand being the center of attention so much that she throws up during debate class, she's stunned and horrified when her coolly continental grandmother (Julie Andrews) shows up and informs her that she's the crown princess of the European principality Genovia. Soon enough, Mia has to undertake "princess lessons" (and a makeover) from her queenly grandmother, and eventually she blossoms into a confident, radiant girl--despite the worries and pressure that her newfound status brings. What makes The Princess Diaries work is director Garry Marshall's guileless, irony-free approach to the material (based on Meg Cabot's novel). In comparison to most snarky, ultra-hip teen comedies, The Princess Diaries is refreshingly and enjoyably square, content to win you over on charm alone and not a slick bag of tricks. Hathaway is a charismatic, appealing role model with a sharp sense of comic timing, and Andrews--who came to stardom as the object of a makeover supreme in My Fair Lady on Broadway--is at her regal best whether teaching Mia the proper royal wave or learning how to eat a corndog. Both leading ladies are complemented by a finely tuned cast, including Hector Elizondo as Genovia's head of security (and romantic counterpart to Andrews), Heather Matarazzo as Mia's best pal, and Robert Schwartzman as the good guy who ultimately wins Mia's heart. All in all, a royal pleasure. --Mark Englehart

Description

Disney's hilarious smash hit gets the royal treatment in this extraordinary 2-Disc Special Edition -- only on DVD. Starring Academy Award(R) winner Julie Andrews (1964 Best Actress, MARY POPPINS), the enchanting Anne Hathaway, and Hector Elizondo (PRETTY WOMAN), THE PRINCESS DIARIES is a cool, comical Cinderella story that will touch your heart. For teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), just surviving each school day is an adventure. Then the shocking news arrives that she's a real-life princess! So begins a comical transformation towards poise and princess-ness, including a media storm, jealous schoolmates, and a plot to take over her country.

Customer Reviews:

A Modern "My Fair Lady" with an Outstanding Cast.......2007-04-14

I suppose at one time or another, we all fantasize about discovering we are actually royalty. But what would it really look like? The Princess Diaries is the story of a plain, nerdy fifteen-year-old girl from San Francisco who suddenly discovers she is a princess and heir to the throne of a small European country. Mia, played by the absolutely charming Anne Hathaway, is an awkward, insecure girl whose self described expectation in life is, "to be invisible - and I'm good at it." However, with the help of her Grandmother, Queen Clarisse, superbly played by Julie Andrews (An inspired bit of casting, that. It is nice to see her back with Disney after her Academy Award winning performance in Mary Poppins.), Mia is transformed with the help of a remarkable makeover and "princess lessons." Mia learns not just how to be a princess but to have confidence in who she is. Not to say there are not some bumps along the way with mean girls, boy problems, and other problems all teenagers face - but in Mia's case, through the camera lens of the paparazzi. In the end, it all works out and she gets the right boy who "saw her when she was invisible" and sees her for the person she truly is.

The movie is family friendly and I would say the story is good for Jr. High and above. Garry Marshall does an excellent job directing. I must say it is good to see Julie Andrews moving gracefully into older rolls where her acting talents continue to shine. As I mentioned, Anne Hathaway does a great job as Mia. The show stealer in my opinion is Hector Elizondo who plays Joe, the Chief of Security, with a dry whit. Also appearing are Heather Matarazzo as Mia's best friend, Mandy Moore as the lead mean girl, and Robert Schwartzman as Mia's true love.

Excellent movie for those who believe in fairy tales.......2007-03-19

This movie was a great modern fairy tale~the geeky girl goes from invisible to fabulous and goes from a nobody to a Princess. Julie Andrews is of course an elegant, sophistocated Queen that loosens up with the help of her new granddaughter and the romance of her head of security and Anne Hathaway is wonderful: a cross between Lucille Ball and Audrey Hepburn. Enjoyable for all ages but definitely a chick flick.

Excellent teenage movie.......2007-01-26

One more masterpiece of Walt Disney Collection.

Suddenly 15-year old girl Mia (Anne Hathaway) find out that her dad was a crown prince of small country Genovia and that now she is the only hope of country and the only real heiress of the country.

Country Genovia is prototype of small coutry between France and Spain - Andorra (250km from Barcelona). Very nice country with friendly people.

Amazing grandma of Mia - Queen of Genovia (Julie Andrews). Both they make this comedy definitely worth seeing and just ROCK this film. Nice history, scenario, directing, actors - fantastic.

Nice comedy for whole family, that you would wanna watch again and again.

Speedy and Safe Delivery.......2007-01-18

Although I ordered this Video not long before Christmas it arrived in time to give as a Christmas present.

Humorous and entertaining.......2007-01-14

A great and entertaining movie, starring Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis , a dorky and less than popular highschool girl of 15 , whose life is changed around when she is invited to see her grandmother (Julie Andrews) who reveals to her that she is the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Genovia.
Lots of grooming and she is changed around to a radiant and beautiful princess.
This go's without saying , changes absolutely everything as everyone who previously ostracized her, suddenly wants to be her friend.
Her previous best friend, Lilly Moscovitz (Heather Matarazzo) doesn't know how to deal with it. Lilly's brother Michael Moscovitz (Robert Schwartzman) falls in love with her,while Mia at first is thrilled to date the jock who always ignored her Josh Bryant (Erik Von Detten).

All sorts of jinks and soirees before Mia grows fully into her role as Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Her Royal Highness, the princess of Genovia.
Also starring attractive young pop star Mandy Moore as her catty rival, cheer leader Lana Thomas.
Thomas is also given space to show off her magnifficent talent by singing Stupid Cupid , selected for performance by her character.
Julie Andrews is in fine fettle , and Hathaway is a talented young actresses. Hector Elizondo stars as Mia's driver and bodyguard Joe, and is excellent as usual.
Ultimately humorous and entertaining.

Average customer rating:

Wow- this was a BORING, uninteresting stinker...
Wonderful film; innovative, fresh, clever, well written/animated/voiced
Witty! Clever! We watch it all the time.
WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE
Maybe even more fun for parents

Hoodwinked (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Glenn Close , Chazz Palminteri , David Ogden Stiers , Patrick Warburton , and Andy Dick
Director: Cory Edwards
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)
Nanny McPhee (Widescreen Edition)
Cars (Widescreen Edition)
Chicken Little
Ice Age - The Meltdown (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000EQ5UHS
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Amazon.com

Hoodwinked fuses the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood with the crisscrossing storylines of film noir--pretty ambitious stuff for a computer-animated cartoon. The police cordon off Grandma's cottage and an amphibious version of William Powell named Nicky Flippers (voiced by David Ogden Stiers, M*A*S*H) begins interrogating the suspects: A Little Red in bell-bottoms (Anne Hathaway, Ella Enchanted), a Wolf turned investigative journalist (Patrick Warburton, The Woman Chaser), a snow-boarding Granny (Glenn Close, 101 Dalmatians), and a dimwitted would-be Woodsman (Jim Belushi, Curly Sue), each of whom have very different reasons for ending up in that cottage living room. The visual style of Hoodwinked mixes a clunky, video-game look with an homage to the stop-motion puppetry of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other Rankin-Bass holiday specials. While sometimes awkward, there are also moments of surreal beauty, such as when a depressed Red wanders through a field of blue and red flowers--and moments of lunatic comedy, such as the Schnitzel song, which is irresistibly bizarre. The Shrek-style pop-culture references grow annoying, but the left-field goofiness of a yodeling goat points toward a far more distinct and delightful comic world. Also featuring the voices of Anthony Anderson (Kangaroo Jack), rapper Xzibit, and an especially witty turn by Andy Dick (NewsRadio) as a deceptively cute bunny rabbit. --Bret Fetzer

Description

So you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Don't be too sure. . . . One of your favorite fairy tales is turned upside-down and inside-out in what the L.A. Times called "high-energy, imaginative entertainment." With irreverent storytelling, spunk and wit, Hoodwinked delivers a comedy caper for the young, the young at heart and everyone in between. When the police arrive at Granny's cottage in the woods to answer a domestic disturbance call, it looks like just another open-and-shut case. But Red, Granny, the Big Bad Wolf and the Woodsman are not your usual suspects, as they have their own dark secrets, wily deceptions and conflicting accounts of the crime. Together, they must put aside their differences and find their own original twist on Happily Ever After in this "raucous, genre-busting, animated gem (Entertainment Weekly, The Must List)."

Customer Reviews:

Wow- this was a BORING, uninteresting stinker..........2007-06-19

...and it looked good from the trailers. So I finally rented it. Watched the first 30 minutes and found it too ANNOYING for some reason & just hard to keep any interest in. So I stopped it & did other stuff. The next day, my cousin says, come over and we'll watch a movie. I said I had Hoodwinked and she said to bring it over because she wanted to see it. Again, after 30-40 minutes, we both looked at each other and stopped it. We both agreed it was annoying, uninteresting and definately NOT funny. If you want to laugh, then just rent Fletch.

BTW- LOOK BEYOND THE GLOATING REVIEWS OF THIS DVD AND AT ALL THE 1 STAR REVIEWS IT RECEIVED.

Wonderful film; innovative, fresh, clever, well written/animated/voiced.......2007-05-27

Super job on this film - congrats to the writers, producer, director and actors on it. One of the better of it's genre I've seen in recent years. Much better than most. Clever writing, wonderful voice acting, great comedic delivery, timing, and superb plot twists.

This was one of the best animated features I've seen (and I've seen almost all of them). Great to watch w/family, very fast paced, witty and well done. Bravo, gang! Cheers for a wonderfully produced family film. A+++

Regards,

Ken Calhoun

Witty! Clever! We watch it all the time........2007-05-25

I love this movie. My son has a bunch of kids movies, and when he wants to watch one together this is always the one I want to put in.

It's got grown up humor, but not "adult" humor, so you don't have to worry about your kid repeating something awful. I hear a new one-liner or witty remark every time I watch it. Without exception I laugh out loud when we watch it. It's got quick, humorous dialoge, and good music (catch myself singing little snippits of tunes around the house). All this and my kid (5 when we got it, 6 now) thinks it's hilarious, too.

Most of the characters are really likable and well done. There is one character I wish they'd have cast with a different voice, and Little Red Riding Hood could have been designed a little cuter or softer, but the movie's good features make up for the little shortcomings.

Really funny. Can't decide which character I like best -- probably the wolf, but the goat's pretty darn funny, too.

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

WOW DANG ONE OF THE BEST MOVE I HAVE EVER SEEN & FOR BEING ANATMAED IT IS UN-BLEAVABLE IN SO MEAN WAYS

Maybe even more fun for parents.......2007-03-27

As have many parents, I've watched hundreds of kid's films. Many are insufferable to sit through. This is so fun, so fast-paced, so laden with plot twists and colorful characters and quotable lines and NO scary stuff or sex jokes... it's a rare treat for children and adults alike. I consider Hoodwinked simply the best animated feature of the past ten years.

The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Princess Becomes a Princess
2nd in series of modern fairy tale
A sequel that works!
The Prncess Diaries 2
Excuse me--what century is this?

The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Anne Hathaway , Julie Andrews , Hector Elizondo , John Rhys-Davies , and Heather Matarazzo
Director: Garry Marshall
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Princess Diaries (Special Edition)
Ella Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
The Prince and Me (Widescreen Edition)
The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)

ASIN: B00063KGPU
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Amazon.com

If you're a ten-year-old girl, this sequel to Disney's 2001 hit will completely transfix you. How could it not? Bubbly Mia (Anne Hathaway), the American teenager who in the first film learned she was actually European royalty, finishes college and--whoosh!--heads off to Genovia, where he's given a closet full of fabulous clothes and jewelry in preparation to rule the kingdom under the tutelage of grandmother Julie Andrews. Throw in a horse and a volatile but innocent romantic attraction to the dreamy young stud (Chris Pine) who's also vying for the throne, and you have the kind of stuff that prepubescent girls rhapsodize about at slumber parties. Oh--and there's a slumber party here, too, featuring a bevy of cute, international young princesses mattress-surfing down a giant slide. Resistance is futile. For the rest of us, though, director Garry Marshall has managed to make his Laverne & Shirley days seem positively Shakespearean in comparison. The movie is precious, padded (two hours!), and pandering twaddle; Andrews, in her role as Queen Mother, is even shoehorned into a faux-hip-hop duet with Disney Channel favorite Raven (one of many, many grueling moments intended to sell the soundtrack). Then the film takes a maddening left turn three-quarters of the way into the plot and decides that, despite all the preceding consumption and connubial fantasies to the contrary, it's really about feminine emancipation. But don't worry--what causes you to smack your forehead in frustration will go right over the heads of its hypnotized target market. --Steve Wiecking

Description

Starring the irresistible Anne Hathaway (ELLA ENCHANTED) and Academy Award(R) winner Julie Andrews (Best Actress, MARY POPPINS, 1964), this modern-day fairy tale picks up right where THE PRINCESS DIARIES left off! As future queen of Genovia, Princess Mia (Hathaway) has everything a girl could want -- except the magical romance she's always dreamed of. But soon, Mia's shocked to discover that she needs to get married right now or her family will lose the crown! Comic complications rule the day in this delightful family story about finding out who you really are and discovering what it takes to make your dreams come true!

Customer Reviews:

Princess Becomes a Princess.......2007-03-28

A wonderful, enjoyable sequel to the original Princess Diaries. The characters exhibted the same lovable qualities, i.e. they stayed in character. A marvelous rags to riches story which really brought a conclusion to the lives and loves of the characters, especially
the Queen.

2nd in series of modern fairy tale.......2007-03-19

This 2nd movie about the geek turned princess is almost as good as the first. She's 5 years older and nearly ready to take the throne of Genovia but needs a few more lessons from her grandmother the Queen. She also has to deal with the fact that before she can be Queen herself she has to marry. In 30 days. It's hilarious to watch as she tries to become more sophistocated and elegant like her grandmother and goes through suitors to find Mr. Right. Anne Hathaway is even more stunning and has some great moments. Julie Andrews is fantastic and the guys are pretty cute.

A sequel that works!.......2007-03-16

The Disney Studios still have that magic touch, with Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway how could it not? An enjoyable modern-day fairly tale perfect for tweens and the elderly.

The Prncess Diaries 2.......2007-03-09

The disc are in excellent condition. They arrived on time. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Excuse me--what century is this?.......2007-02-11

My mom likes movies that have happy endings. She doesn't care if they're dumb: they just have to fulfill her little escapist fantasies. Often I wish that I could be like that, myself; that I could just watch an idiotic, fluffy chick flick and not roll my eyes at every scene or gag at the bad writing; that I, too, could have found this movie silly but enjoyable. You see, though, I have a problem: I cannot turn off my brain. If you share my deficiency, perhaps you should read my review and take my warnings into account. If you CAN turn off your brain, well, enjoy the movie.

For the record, I haven't read the books. I tried to read a Meg Cabot novel once and gave up after about the third page of the girl going "Oooh, I'm SO INDEPENDENT AND SASSY. I am truly the heroine to root for!"

I tried to find reasons for it. I mean, I like a lot of predictable chick flicks. Heck, before my mom turned on the Princess Diaries 2 I had been rewatching the Kim Possible movie that was airing on the Disney Channel. What was different about this movie? Why was I just not getting into it? Surely, there must have been SOME reasons.

First off, I blame the romances. It wasn't a good sign when the movie wrote off Michael like a bad Mary Sue fanfic: I mean come on, only ONE line that was just "Oh, the supposed love of my life is off touring with his band. And I'm totally fine with it, because it's not like the first movie stressed that I was head-over-heels in love with him... oh, wait." I'm not going to be like the girls here who absolutely hate that he wasn't in it, because I wasn't that fond of the romance in the first movie, but I absolutely hate when sequels do that. It was like Pocahontas 2 (another terrible sequel): "Hey, guess what, John Smith? I like John Rolfe now, even though the first movie basically said that we were soul mates and completely meant for each other!" At least, though, Pocahontas 2 didn't relegate John Smith to being written off in ONE LINE. That's just sloppy writing. If I'd cared about the couple, I would probably be pretty mad.

Anyway, sorry for my tangent. The problem is that we're introduced to two new guys: hot British Guy (Andrew,) and Pretty Boy Who's Being Puppeteered by His Machiavellian Uncle But Is Actually Really Nice Deep Down (Nicholas.) Mia has no chemistry with hot British guy (possibly due to the writing, because, like David Boreanz, if the guy is cute enough he can have chemistry with ANYONE.) This is okay though, because she's not supposed to. But then there's Pretty Boy, who is supposed to make Mia realize that while her pairing with Hot British Guy is a lot more practical and useful, she needs true romance in her life. (A sidenote: Oh God, please Disney, STOP with the arranged marriage crap. Mulan 2's premise was based entirely on the notion that "Arranged Marriages are BAD even though they actually had a pretty high success rate!" And poor Mia, having to marry a cute prince of her choice! I TRULY felt for her.) The problem is, Mia had no chemistry with that guy! And let me stress something: when the plot involves Mia cheating on someone with someone else, that someone else had better be someone who, when he is with her, heats up the screen. The whole love/hate premise, too, relies on how much chemistry they have. When they were arguing, I never got the feeling "Oh, just make out already!" I'm serious. You need Monica and Richard from Friends-level chemistry, or at least something more than "He's cute so I guess I'll like him." I don't even know why Mia liked him. I never did.

Next, I blame the plot. I already got into the arranged marriage issue, but when they introduced the villain, Pretty Boy's Uncle, he says something like "You wouldn't want to lose that crown: other people may grab it." We are subtly given the message that this guy is someone on whom we should keep an eye. But then the writers, thinking that its audience is absolutely stupid, makes him add "Like me." Oh, thanks writers, I NEVER would have gotten that. So nice that you took the time to clear that up. Then there are all of these references to The Prince (no, not the guy who performed at the Super Bowl Half Time Show) just to fool those of us above the age of 11 into thinking that we were watching something remotely intelligent. Nice try, movie.

Next is the movie's fatal flaw: the happy kingdom of Genovia. First off, what the heck kind of government does Genovia have? If it's a constitutional monarchy, Mia's going to be pretty disappointed in what she can all do. If it's not, which I think it is because I sort of got that Monarchy vibe, is this not the 21st century? Is our need for princesses so great that we'll take a leaf out of Hobbes's book? And what kind of name is Genovia, anyway? Couldn't Ms. Cabot have chosen a name that didn't sound completely made up? And couldn't they at least chose one uniform accent? I think Italian would have worked; Genovia seemed more Italian than anything. Anyway, we're supposed to believe that Genovians are these happy people who just LOVE having a Queen and even better if she's a 21-year-old (that's barely even legal to drink back in the USA) foreigner whom they barely know! YAY! And servants are also happy people with no needs of their own, who will do anything to please their princess, including tap routines? Again, this is probably because of that problem of not being able to turn off my brain that I have, but what kind of message is that? Even in the 18th century people were writing about servants who were wittier and more cunning than their masters, who had more of a purpose than just to serve them. Is such a gigantic step backwards necessary just to give a young girl a happy princess fantasy?

Basically, Genovia in this movie reminded me so much of Ancien Regime France vibe that all I could do was wonder when the people would get fed up enough and the Revolution would happen. I can see it now: Princess Diaries 3: Off With Her Head! Wouldn't that make a good movie? At least it'd have a REAL plot instead of some tripe chick flick-arranged marriage nonsense. Really, I'd watch it. In fact, if you're reading this, Disney, give me a call. I truly think that I have something here. Also, with the way Mia was spending money (People are poor here? Oh, we must help them even though my closet is probably bigger than most Genovians' kitchens! And they must be orphans! Everyone LOVES orphans!) I'm not sure how long those royal funds will last.

Another issue I think is that, well, we know nothing about Genovia other than that they have a lucrative pear industry. And, the audience probably being mostly American, we're most likely not apt to buy into that patriotic royalist stuff. Honestly, even most British people that I know insult their own monarchy on a regular basis. What is the Genovian history? What has kept them so placated? Have they tried other government systems before and decided that this one worked best? Surely not all of the rulers have been Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway's deceased father; there must have been some inept and possibly tyrannical Kings and/or Queens beforehand. And surely some years there must have been some meager pear harvests, which if we take the impression from the lavicious palaces and suites in which the royalty reside, would not have hampered royal spending. Come on, even in Aladdin the people were shown as impoverished and pretty miserable while the Sultan sat in the palace playing with his toys. Must Disney shelter its audiences to the point where it's ridiculous? All we're shown in this movie as to the darker side of Genovia are orphans. Please, Disney, I'm begging you: dig a LITTLE deeper. Or at least ditch the stereotypical "eager-to-please" servants; while I know you intended them to be humorous, the portrayal was stupid and in truth maybe even a little offensive.

I won't skewer the "Girl Power" moments in the film because, honestly, they really do it to themselves. I did, however, laugh when they had Raven Simone in it. And she was singing. Every Disney show/movie MUST have Raven in it, and at some point she must sing. It's a given. I was infuriated though that she got to sing with Julie freaking Andrews. That was like Michael Bolton singing "O soave fanciulla" from La Boheme with Renee Fleming on his CD. Sad.

Anyway, like I said, if you can turn off your brain and not analyze things to death like I do, you might enjoy this movie. If you are more like me though, you should probably avoid it. Especially if someone who likes it is watching it, because at some point she'll probably kick you out of the room after one too many snarky comments.

Average customer rating:

fun, looney with a point
A very cute movie for all ages
Great kids movie!
Loved the movie..NOTHING like the book.
A NEW CLASSIC

Ella Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Patrick Bergin , Cary Elwes , Joanna Lumley , Eric Idle , and Steve Coogan
Director: Tommy O'Haver
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Princess Diaries 2 - Royal Engagement (Full Screen Edition)
The Princess Diaries (Special Edition)
Ella Enchanted
A Cinderella Story (Full Screen Edition)
Ella Enchanted (Trophy Newbery)

ASIN: B00005JM5Q
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

Fairy tales and contemporary satire collide in Ella Enchanted, based upon the enormously popular young adult novel by Gail Carson Levine. Ella (Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries) received an unfortunate fairy gift in her cradle: No matter what anyone tells her to do, she's compelled to obey. Despite this, Ella grows up to be a headstrong young woman who refuses to swoon at the sight of a charming young prince (Hugh Dancy). To get her gift removed, Ella braves a forest packed with ogres, elves, and giants to find her fairy godmother (Vivica A. Fox, Kill Bill, Vol. 1). Much like Shrek, Ella Enchanted is sprinkled with comic modern references; for some, this will make the whimsy too cute, while others will appreciate the snarky jabs. Also featuring Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Minnie Driver, Joanna Lumley, Eric Idle, and many others. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Anne Hathaway, the delightful star of THE PRINCESS DIARIES, is Ella in the charming fairy tale adventure ELLA ENCHANTED. On the day of her birth, Ella is given a gift by her Fairy Godmother -- the gift of obedience, which is also a curse. Under no circumstances can Ella refuse anything she is asked to do, no matter how wicked it may be. Tired of being taken advantage of, Ella, with a talking book as her companion, leaves home to find her Fairy Godmother and return her unwanted gift. This simple errand soon turns into an amazing journey filled with ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves, and the plotting of Prince Charmont's evil uncle who wants to take over the Crown and rule the kingdom. Bursting with colorful characters, music, wit, and whimsy, ELLA ENCHANTED is a truly enchanting and heartwarming tale that will captivate the entire family.

Customer Reviews:

fun, looney with a point.......2007-06-14

What would life be like if you obeyed literally everything you were told, even accidently, like "spill the beans"? You'd have no choice if someone found out your secret and used it against you. That's the case here, which gives some food for thought, but with lots of silly stuff, a great song and dance by Hathaway, and, of course, a happy ending with a handsome prince. Purely for fun.

A very cute movie for all ages.......2007-05-23

This movie is appropriate for young children and is also very entertaining for adults. The music in it is wonderful and there are 80's tunes thrown in with some scenes, which is just hilarious. My little girls love it and I enjoy watching it with them. Very cute and harmless, and at the same time entertaining!

Great kids movie!.......2007-05-11

My [...] loves Cinderella, and thinks this is a great movie too. I also enjoy watching it because it makes me feel young again (I always dreamed of owning a unicorn when I was young.) Anne Hathaway is a wonderful tween actress. I've seen her in older portrayals, but she's much better playing younger parts.

My daughter and I love this movie, but it's an either you love it or hate it movie. My husband hates it. I guess that's the reason for the bad and good reviews.

Loved the movie..NOTHING like the book........2007-05-04

My daughter read Ella Enchanted for school and she liked it so much we decided to rent the movie. All throughout, my daughter kept saying, "That's not what happened!" "This is nothing like the book!". I finally just told her to stop and enjoy the movie for what it is. Nice movie, great for tweens, but don't expect it to be like the book.

A NEW CLASSIC.......2007-03-31

I purhased Ella on DVD after my girls started watching it daily. My kids have limits on their TV time, and one movie takes up most of their daily allotment. I know a movie's a hit when my kids would rather watch it than tune into Nickelodean or the Disney channel. This movie will be one of our classics. I'll put it away for a while and every so often the kids will pull it out and watch it every day for a few days then back it will go until the next time.
Ella Enchanted is a new fairy tale that deals with human and civil rights issues in ways children can understand and still be entertained by. The storyline and narration are great, even for kids with short attention spans.
Since ordering the movie, I've also purchased the CD and book. I highly recommend this fun movie.

Average customer rating:

Really enjoyable!
I loved it
A good adaptation
Douglas McGrath Nicholas Nickleby is the Better Version
Virtue - and audiences - rewarded

Nicholas Nickleby
Starring: Stella Gonet , Andrew Havill , Henry McGrath , Hugh Mitchell , and Poppy Rogers
Director: Douglas McGrath
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( N ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

David Copperfield
Our Mutual Friend
Daniel Deronda
Middlemarch
The Inheritance

ASIN: B00009MEJ4
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Amazon.com

While it necessarily streamlines the Charles Dickens classic, this delightful adaptation of Nicholas Nickelby captures the essence of Dickens in all of its Victorian splendor and squalor. With Charlie Hunnam (the U.K. Queer as Folk) doing noble work in the title role, this quintessentially Dickensian tale begins with the death of Nicholas's father, and the subsequent scheme by his cruel uncle (Christopher Plummer, perfectly cast) to separate Nicholas from his now penniless sister and mother. Stuck in a squalid school run by the evil Mr. and Mrs. Squeers (Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson), Nicholas escapes with his loyal friend Smike (Billy Elliott's Jamie Bell), whose lineage will determine the greedy uncle's fate. As he did with Jane Austen's Emma, writer-director Douglas McGrath has crafted a prestigious production that shifts effortlessly between comedy and tragedy without compromising its warm, inviting tone. His dialogue rings true throughout, inspiring a stellar cast including Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming, Edward Fox, and Timothy Spall. Dickens himself would almost certainly have approved. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Really enjoyable!.......2007-06-22

I usually like all adaptations of classics, because the film always starts with a great story. Some are done better than others and director Doug McGrath did a really good job with this one. I haven't read the novel so I can't compare the film to the book but the film felt complete in itself--I didn't sense that anything essential to the story was missing.

Everything about this is well done- the script, the settings, costumes, music, all of it. The cast is superb--a really fine group of established, talented actors and it's a pleasure to watch them. Some reviewers here didn't like the lead actor, Charlie Hunnan, but I thought he was perfect for the role--young, innocent (the director said he was looking for someone "lamblike") and certainly handsome. I quickly became engaged in the character, Nicholas, due to the qualities of this young man--his charm and earnestness. Tall, blond, with great cheekbones, he is the essence of a romantic hero, at least in my book.

The crippled orphan, Slake, is brilliantly played by Jamie Bell. It's a hard part, I think and the temptation to overdo the pathos is great. He did it just right and won the hearts of most all viewers, as you can read here. I felt that Anne Hathaway was the weakest link but she's not bad and fortunately, she's only in the last part.

Having seen quite a few hyper-arty films lately that seem to eschew any real action, emotion or....God forbid....an ending that offers real emotional resolution, I found this to be a wonderful relief. Goodbye artiness, bring back art!

I loved it.......2007-05-18

Little Smike broke my heart and after renting it I went out and bought my own copy.

A good adaptation .......2007-04-17

This movie, which was a wonderful adaptation to Dickens' masterpiece, did a good job at covering a very lengthy and in depth novel. I will not bother to summerize the movie - I guess that others have done that - so I will instead just say that this is a good and relaxing adaptation. If you want to just sit down and enjoy a very good adaptation to this novel, than this is the movie for you. It is only a few hours, so you do not have to be constantly changing the DVD's and sit for hours on end, and the acting is superb. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes the novel Nicholas Nickleby and wants a nice and uplifting movie. One things, however, is that it was heavily abridged, so if you want more details - or if you are trying to skimp out on having to read the entire book for an assignment - then you will want one of the other box sets. Otherwise, this is a good movie. It also has a wonderful soundtrack to accompany it, by a wonderful Mrs. Portman. One of my favorites.

Douglas McGrath Nicholas Nickleby is the Better Version.......2007-04-05

This is the better version to watch and have in your private collection. It has all the elements without going over the top. All the actors do a fine job and a always enjoy Anne Hathaway.
I would enjoy watching this version over John Dellimore version of Nicholas Nickleby anytme.

Virtue - and audiences - rewarded.......2006-09-01

Despite being overlooked on release, Douglas McGrath's wonderful 2002 version of Dickens' tale of good rewarded captures both the feel and the sound of Dickens remarkably well. This world is indeed lived in, and the characters are vividly realised. The underplayed theatricality of Nathan Lane's opening and closing narration, allied to a strong sense of the cinematic sets the perfect tone right from the start, and its reprise at the ending is almost a well-deserved bow from the filmmakers.

It's even good enough to overcome the void at its center that is Charlie Hunnam, clearly cast for his looks since acting isn't a strong point. Indeed, it's bizarre that in a film with so many Americans, Canadians and Australians in its cast, the most unconvincing accent comes from a Brit, but Geordie Hunnam's curiously Scouse accent sticks out like a sore thumb, not only at odds with the rest of his family but also making him sound like a bored Beatle throughout - a kind of benign George Harrison without the `tache or the personality.

Thankfully his blandness is more than compensated for by some excellent work by Christopher Plummer's villainous uncle, avoiding the usual caricature the role inspires, and Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson and Heather Goldenhersch (boasting such a perfect English accent I was surprised to find she was American) as the hideous Squeers family, embracing it and pulling it off magnificently, while Nathan Lane and Dame Edna Everidge are truly inspired casting as the open-hearted but financially challenged theatricals Mr and Mrs Crummles. There's fine work from Timothy Spall, Tom Courtenay, Phil Davis and, most surprising of all, even Edward Fox as well. It doesn't avoid the sentimentality but manages to turn it into genuine emotion, not least because no-one falls into the trap of wildly overplaying - even Dame Edna.

All in all an unexpectedly delightful, genuinely likeable, sincerely heartwarming film that deserved more success than it found - but as Mrs Crummles notes, in the great struggle between "those aged combatants art and commerce... art, it would appear from the receipts, is in its usual position of jeopardy."

Brokeback Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

Western Skies
mumbled lines and bad acting
Courageous and Tender
Fabulous film!
It's A BISEXUAL Movie . . . THERE, I Said It . . .

Brokeback Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Heath Ledger , Jake Gyllenhaal , Randy Quaid , Valerie Planche , and David Trimble (III)
Director: Ang Lee
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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