Paper Man (2009)

I saw this movie at its premiere at the LA Film Festival and I loved it! It is quirky-funny, poignant and melancholy by turns -exactly what I want in a film for grownups. The performances are stellar and the story highly original.

Paper Man is quite simply a fantastic movie. I haven't been this emotionally affected by a film since Gran Torino. Emma Stone and Jeff Daniels' characters compliment each other perfectly. One has seemingly never grown up, while the other has been deprived of their childhood. The way that they form such a truly unique friendship and help each other to find out what's missing inside of them, keeping them from moving on with their respective lives, is amazing to watch unfold. These two characters seem very different at first, but you eventually come to find that they rely on the same type of crutch to help them function, albeit not all that well, in normal society. The movie also certainly doesn't take it self too seriously, with just enough moments of levity to keep the story grounded. The movie is a winner from beginning to end and I can attest to the fact that Paper Man stays great through multiple viewings; with it's top-notch acting and unbelievably gripping ending. The ending is one of the most poignant and moving cinematic experiences I've ever had.

Bottom Line: This is the epitome of a 5/5 movie. Buy the DVD/Blu-Ray, watch it, love it, and spread the word to friends and family about this awesome indie film!

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What an inventive feature debut for this killer directing duo. Paper Man successfully manages to mix big concept with the feel of an intimate character driven film. A fun, inventive, drama told through a comic frame. Great performances from the whole star-studded cast. A wellobserved, tightly knit spiral into a troubled man's psyche, the film takes off fast and doesn't stop until its surprising and tense conclusion. It's refreshing to see indie-style filmmaking coming from such an accomplished cast and crew. Thumbs up for an original and moving soundtrack. Thumbs up for unique concept. Thumbs up for a great, creative partnership from its creators. Netflix it. Amazon it. Enjoy it.

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This movie made me think on many different levels. The first time I saw it I wasn't sure I liked it, but it got in my head and I started to relate many of the scenes in the movie to life. So, I watched it again and determined it was much better then I originally thought. Richard (Jeff Daniels) makes his first real friend at almost age 50. And Emma Stone (an actress I wasn't terribly crazy about until I saw this film) makes her first real friend when she's 16. Up until then they've both been doing the best they could not knowing really how to cope with the ravages of life except through slightly delusional and weak self affirmative behaviors. After they meet, they are stronger individuals recognizing they don't need to be what the rest of the world is claiming they need to be or even necessarily and more importantly what they thought they needed to be and they'll be OK.

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A writer (Daniels) trying to start his second book and find himself meets a local high schooler (Stone) and a friendship is born. Richard (Daniels) has always been different, for one he's in his 40's and has an imaginary friend (Ryan Reynolds). His wife (Lisa Kudrow) drops him off at a house alone in hopes he will finally start his book. Not feeling inspired Richard rides to town and meets Abby (Stone). The mis-matched pair become fast friends and discover more about themselves in the process. I can not say enough good things about this movie. Emma Stone stole this movie, her acting was great and I expect to see awards in her future if she keeps this up. This movie has it all, great humor, writing, acting and is also very moving. Almost instantly you feel sorry for Richard and you really root for him the rest of the movie. Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds really make you feel for them and you are right there with them trying to give Richard the push he needs. The ending is unexpectedly touching and I actually got a little choked up. I honestly could go on all day about how much I liked this movie, it's just a shame movies like this one (where the plot and acting take center stage) don't get the audience they deserve while "Yogi Bear" gets all the attention it can get. Do yourself a favor and watch this, you won't regret it. First time ever...I give it an A+

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Brand New Day (2010)

I'm not a great fan of musicals but this one won me over a few songs in, when it became clear this was not some schmaltzy precious view of Australian culture. Warm-hearted and post-modern, fun with an historical edge... it reeks of a new Australian Aboriginal confidence. It looks great too! Watch this instead of "Australia"!

I caught the show early one morning and fell in love with the characters, the storyline, and the amazing music. Lots of predictible plot twists, but a great show with a lot of very sly humor throughout. The music is hard to forget ... you will remember it and keep humming it for days to come!

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I watched this when I was living in Australia and fell in love with it. I am so happy it has finally come out in the US!

Be prepared to have these songs stuck in your head for days!

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This heartfelt musical comes with the aid of Screen Australia. It is set in 1968 where we meet a young Aboriginal boy named Willy, whose burgeoning hormones are pulling him towards his sweetheart Rosie, but his born again Christian mum is pushing him towards Priesthood and the avoidance of all sinful thoughts, let alone sinful deeds. So instead of being able to enjoy the laid back and mellow pearl fishing coastal town of Broome, he is packed off to Missionary school for some not so `happy clappy' ecumenical teachings.

Once back in the clutches of Father Benedictus (played brilliantly in a pantomime stylie by Geoffrey Rush), his life takes a turn for the miserable almost straight away. Then he makes the decision to stand up for his rights. This means that, despite performing a cracking tune with the refrain `There's nothing I would rather be, than to be an aborigine', he has to do a runner. This is the start of a road trip which will involves tramps, hippies and more adventures than you can shake a stick at.

I am not big on musicals, but this one is really funny, has real charm and some brilliantly over the top performances. The fab named Ernie Dingo (`Crocodile Dundee II') playing Uncle Tadpole is a case in point. Some of the acting is a bit third rate rep but because of the passion that jumps off the screen you really won't be too bothered.

This is just a load of fun, check out the treatment given to Tammy Wynette's `Stand by Your Man', just magical. So with a mix of original tunes and some well known numbers, the obligatory dance routines and black and white good and bad with some extra marital sex and a huge dose of fun thrown in this all adds up to a really cracking little film. It put a smile on my face so I can only recommend.

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I GOT THIS MOVIE BECAUSE I AM ON A MISSION TO EXPLORE ALL THE STUFF MISSY HIGGINS HAS DONE THAT I CAN BUY. I AM A FAN BUT NOT A NUT. WELL MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A NUT!!!LOL. I LOVED THIS MOVIE. WATCHED IT TWICE. FUNNY, CHEEKY AND SWEET. A LOVE STORY AND A REALLY COOL MOVIE. MISSY WAS AWSOME AND SO WERE THE REST OF THE CAST.

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Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009)

Tim Allen plays Henry LeFay, a man who never met a woman he didn't marry. Henry is a "Crazy Eddy" type who lives in a small upstate NY town. He is on vacation in Mexico when word comes to his daughter Barbie, that he has died. Barbie, who looks like a Barbie doll, is our voice of reason during this film. The movie then goes into a flashback of Henry, married to a young girl named Autumn (same age as his daughter Barbie), is also engaged to woman who Barbie loathes from high school (3 years younger than his wife Autumn) while he is having an affair with his ex-wife. To be honest, she was wife number 2 and number 4. At one point his ex-wife is chasing Henry with a knife because during oral sex he had answered his cell phone to talk to his fiancee (while his wife was away).

At the funeral, his ex-wives have conflicting instructions, written by Henry as to his funeral arrangements. During the bickering, an African-American woman shows up at the funeral claiming she was really Henry's first wife and that their marriage was annulled after three months. Henry's elderly mom keeps mistaking her for the hired help. In one touching scene Barbie tries to bond with her grandmother by asking her to tell her something she never told her before. As it turns out, grandma was a woman for hire at Pearl Harbor during the war.

After the funeral (I will spare you the comic details of the funeral to prevent spoiling the film) the movie ties up loose ends in a heart warming fashion.

Normally I avoid things with cute title puns such as Joan of Arcadia, or Grey's Anatomy, but this one was good for a laugh. Adult themes, rear nudity, drops the f-bomb very infrequently.

this looked like tim allens best movie from the trailers id seen. looked hillarious. well who ever produced those trailers should should get an award as the movie was not nearly as enertaining as it looked in the trailer

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Not too great a story, rather dumb and with a plot that is easy to figure out. Really somewhat stupid!

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I knew Tim Allen would be funney but most of the laughs in this film come from the perfectly played

Nutzzoid charactures of the women in the cast. Some even reminded me of women I actually know!

After much amusement and laughter I ended the movie thinking that had I been involved with such a

wacky bunch of women I would have never let anyone know I was still alive. But its also a good moral

pointer that shows just how complicated a mans life (and death) can become if he does not restrain

himself and remain faithful to one woman. This movie is FUNNY and not what you would expect it to be.

GRIZZ

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This is a really funny movie, great characters and loaded with many familiar faces, Tim Allen is his usual self, the twists are hilarious, the women who play the parts are well suited.

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Big Momma's House (2000)

The biggest problem with Big Momma's house is that you can often see just how funny it should be, but the cast and crew are not able to sustain the occasional hilarious parts with any consistency.

It doesn't seem to help that Big Momma's House wants to be more than a comedy. Writers Darryl Quarles and Don Rhymer shoot for a combination of a crime comedy ala Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and a romantic comedy. But the core comedy is absurdist, while the mostly serious crime stuff is so underwritten that it would be better absent, and the somewhat serious rom-com stuff is so generic and predictable that it has all the surprise of attending Mass.

To me, the comedy being absurdist is a plus, but it doesn't mesh well with other modes. It's ridiculous, of course, that Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) is trying to pass himself off as "Big Momma" Hattie Mae Pierce (Ella Mitchell). That's a large part of what makes it funny. However, director Raja Gosnell's decision to play the rest of the cast as mostly deadpan is a strange one. It leads the viewer to take the film in a more realist mode, but if you're doing that, you keep asking yourself why anyone else would believe that Turner is actually Big Momma. Gosnell should have gone for another approach during the Turner as Big Momma scenes. It's not that they're never funny, but too often the deadpan interaction breaks the humor.

However, the deadpan attitude works wonders when Mitchell is Big Momma. Mitchell is a fantastic here as a comic actress and especially Paul Giamatti as John is hilarious interacting with her. Once those too-brief scenes ended, I was wishing they wouldn't have, and when they reappeared again at the end, it made me more fully realize how much better they were. A whole film could have and should have been written around Mitchell as Big Momma with Giamatti and Lawrence interacting with her and beautiful co-star Nia Long via some other story.

Even with these problems, Big Momma is an enjoyable film. My wife enjoyed it even more than I did, we're looking forward to watching Big Momma's House 2, and we'll certainly watch this again in the future. But it's a case of moments of brilliance poking through so that you see just how much better it could have been.

Blue Streak was a suprise hit to me last fall, Big Momma's House suprised me this summer. I laughed my astrodynamics off watching Martin Lawrence dress up as BIG MOMMA (A 60 year old 400 pound lady) Not only was this a super funny movie, but a great story and excellent chemistry between Nia Long and Martin. Paul Giamatti, playing Lawrences FBI partner, is just as funny as Martin when given the chance. A few scenes stick out in mind like when BIG MOMMA (lawrence) take self defense class and when BIG MOMMA dunks over two other guys heads. Non-stop laughing in this one, go check it out--you're sure to like it. --Star Wars on DVD- Come on Lucas!

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Again, Martin Lawrence proves himself a Poor Man's Eddie Murphy with this Witless Effort. A Lame Script, Bad Direction and Actors who constantly look like they've just woken up, give this film a very "Couldn't be Bothered" feeling.

Take a Pinch of "Mrs Doubtfire", a Dash of "Stakeout" and filter out the Action and Comedy. That'll give a Pretty Good Estimation of the Entertainment in store for the Unlucky Viewer.

The One Saving Grace (and the reason for 2 stars instead of 1) is Anthony Anderson, who plays a Wannabe Cop who helps Lawrence out. He makes every piece of Poorly Written Dialogue he has seem like it was written by Neil Simon.

Only Die Hard Lawrence fans need apply, anyone not fitting that description should Spend their hard earned money elsewhere.

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I'm not usually a fan of movies in this genre, but Big Momma's House is not as bad a diversion as some might have you believe. If you've ever witnessed someone doing or saying something so stupid,low and crass that you had to laugh in spite of yourself, then this movie fits the bill. One of the strongest draws of this movie is its unusually strong cast of talented actors, who make the most out of what they are given. Like most comedies in this vein, you have to suspend your disbelief much of the time: the plot of this situational comedy is highly improbable, but sometimes quite funny. Martin Lawrence won't make you forget Eddie Murphy's star turn in the First "Nutty Professor" remake, but he does have some surprisingly amusing moments impersonating "Big Momma" while in pursuit of a criminal who is on the lam. Nia Long, his love interest, is as cool and ravishing as ever. Ella Mitchell gamely plays the real Big Momma and, best of all, Anthony Anderson is uproariously funny as a bumbling security guard who moonlights giving self-defense classes to elderly women in the neighborhood community center. As most reviewers here have indicated, "Big Momma's House" is definitely not worth agonizing about. It's the film equivalent of pleasantly disposable junk food. It could have been much worse.

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My Opinion: When I saw this movie, I had high hopes thinking that it would be funny. Boy was I ever mistaken! This is probably the worst movie of the year. Scored big with teens though because it has what they love --Lowbrow jokes! What a waste of film.

The Short and Sweet: To make a bust, an FBI agent poses as a 300-pound grandmother.

The Players: Martin Lawrence, Nia Long

The DVD: Not bad. Somewhat deserves Special Edition Label.

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Fantastic Fear of Everything

Jack (Simon Pegg) is a children's author who has switched to the dark and eerie world of crime writing. Having researched Victorian murderers for his book, Jack has become paranoid that someone is out to get him and he now barricades himself in his London flat. He does manage to venture out to meet with his agent, Clair (Claire Higgins), who isn't enthusiastic about his latest work, wanting him to work on a children's story about a hedgehog instead. Clair's opinion changes somewhat when a Hollywood executive expresses an interest in Jack's crime novel and there is talk of a possible movie deal. Jack has to get himself together to meet Clair and the executive for dinner and so begins a series of mishaps.

Jack's flat is run down and in need of a clean up. He parades around the place in his dressing gown and underpants, has no clean clothes and is reluctant to answer the door to anyone. Managing on little sleep, Jack spends his time trying to stay sane and piecing together suspects including one man who he is convinced must be a descendant of Dr Crippen. Forced to venture out, Jack has the difficulty of going to a launderette to wash a handful of clothes and make himself presentable for his meeting. This is far from straightforward though. Jack senses someone is after him and his fears are not helped by strange noises in his own home and peculiar figures wandering the streets. The basic routine of getting ready to leave the flat goes somewhat awry when Jack is forced to leave with a knife and drying his clothes in the oven literally backfires. The question is, is Jack's fear of danger on the streets of London all in his head or is there something to justify his fears.

A Fantastic Fear of Everything started well enough and Pegg raised many smiles having to carry the film on his own for a time. The problems he creates for himself are very funny but the film loses its way somewhat in the second half when Jack heads for a launderette. What began as a fairly straightforward and quite funny comedy grew a little too incredulous in the latter stages which is a shame. This is still a good comedy and Pegg fans will likely enjoy this but compared to his other work such as Spaced and Shaun of the Dead this one pales significantly.

A Fantastic Fear of Everything is an okay comedy about a writer losing his grip on reality in switching to a genre that has him constantly on edge. There are some very funny moments in here but the second half of the film does not live up to the first. Pegg puts in another good performance but the film doesn't quite match up to his talents as a comedian.

First of all, I'd like to say that one of the advantages of Blu Ray is that the region codes aren't as stingant as with DVD. Any Blu Ray player in the states will play European disks, which makes many titles available and often at more reasonable prices than you can get in the US. This film doesn't have a US release as of yet (and might not find a large audience to merit one). I find Simon Pegg to be a comic genius, he can rarely do wrong. Spaced is one of my all-time favorite television progams. This film doesn't compare at all to Spaced, but I enjoyed it all the same. Like some of his other films, this is a dark comedy (although some won't find it "funny", there aren't any zingers or jokes, but I find the situations and Pegg's reactions to be real and humorous). It's a sort of one-man act through a large portion of it, following him around his flat as he narrates his paranoia. His character is a real sad sack, but even while watching his pathetic misadventure, you still find something relatable about him. His delusional, irrational phobias are wildly exaggerated, yet most of us can find something about them to identify with. An oddball film, unconventional story which isn't something a mass audience, or even fans of Pegg's previous work will all enjoy. Worth watching if you like off-the-wall, random movies which don't follow a standard format. It's not a story I've seen before, perhaps with good reason!

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Last Holiday (2006) (2013)

Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) works in retail. On the side, she's in the church choir, and afterwards goes home and cooks while watching Emeril on TV. One day at work, she bumps her head and needs a cat scan. From the results of the CAT scan, the doctor then tells Georgia that she has a brain tumor and has three weeks to live. Upset and distraught, she goes home to look through her "Book of Possibilities" book (a book with all the goals she wants to achieve). Thinking it's all over, she takes a trip to Czechoslovakia. While there, Georgia has the time of her life. She bungee jumps, snowboards, and so much more. During her stay, people around her start wondering who exactly she is.

...a feel good movie, with a bit of a love story to it. Last Holiday is a smart comedy that will leave you thinking about life. Latifah is exquisite and also very funny. Two thumbs way up!

Queen Latifah stars in this endearing movie that forces the audience to question their own lives. Queen is told that she only has a few weeks to live, and she finds out that she has to learn a hard lesson about living life instead of waiting for the perfect time for things to happen. While this movie does force the viewer to think about life, there are some very funny moments. LL Cool J was surprisingly good in this film, and the rest of the supporting cast was wonderful.

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I just about never review motion pictures, but I absolutely had to say something about "Last Holiday." I have gone to see it three times, and I plan on seeing it at least once more before it is out of theatres, and I hope it comes out on DVD fairly soon.

Queen Latifah's performance is sensational as always, and she is perfectly cast. The supporting ensemble is also just brilliant.

Sure, this isn't Oscar material, and this won't break any box office record either, but this movie is the ultimate in life-affirming. It is true that the whole notion of the plot is rather cinematically cliched, but Latifah gets around this without a trace of sap on her fingers.

As the plot reaches its climax, it's hard to hold back the tears, at least if you're the sensitive type, and if you are not at least deeply moved you probably need to see a shrink.

You will indeed see that life is not about regrets; go out and fulfill your dreams and enjoy the life you have, because any day could be your last. The character of Georgia Byrd epitomizes this to pure perfection, and, as I said, it is profoundly moving.

And don't think you won't have a barrel of laughs, either. Go see this movie while you can.

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I saw this movie in Orlando a few weeks ago. You know it's a good movie when the audience applauds 2-3 times during the movie. Great cast. Queen Latifah is her usual cute, funny self. She's also regal in this movie. I had so much fun seeing this movie that I'm going again. Lots of funny stuff. And when the movie ended, I felt that warm feeling of happiness.

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Last Holiday is an excellent film starring the wonderful Queen Latifah (OK, so maybe I'm biased because I always liked her). The acting is very convincing and the plot moves along at a good pace. While this won't be wining any awards anytime soon, please don't let that stop you from getting this flick. The script is very well written and the casting couldn't be better. This movie kept my attention every step of the way!

The action begins when we meet Georgia Byrd, a rather shy woman who wears "frumpy clothing" and works in cookware within a department store. She secretly has a crush on Sean Matthews, a coworker, who is played brilliantly by L L Cool J. Just about all Georgia ever does besides work in the store is sing in her church choir and watch TV food shows as she tries to follow along with what the chef is preparing. Georgia even denies herself a single bit of this food; she feeds it to a young child named Darius instead and eats nothing except her "lean cuisine" frozen foods which she cooks in her microwave.

One day things change radically for Georgia. She hits her head by accident in the department store and she is rushed to the store's health clinic much to the chagrin of her supervisor who does nothing all day but talk on his cell phone and worry about profits. Much to Georgia's horror, Georgia has a CT scan that indicates that she has just three or four weeks to live.

Georgia decides that in her last remaining days on this planet she will travel after all to a swank resort in Czechoslovakia. This was one of the things she always wanted to do in her scrapbook of "possibilities." By pure chance she meets the top head of the department store there (Matthew Kragen played well by Timothy Hutton) and his mistress. Georgia also meets the chef she always idolized, Chef Didier played well by Gérard Depardieu; her senator (Giancarlo Esposito) and a few other "notables" who are staying at this resort.

Of course, to make the movie funny these people all simply assume that Georgia is some fantastically wealthy power broker-businesswoman and they try to decide who she is since none of them ever heard of her before. They also are so taken with Georgia that they want to do everything that she wants to do--it's childish but cute and funny and the same time.

Meanwhile, Matthew Kragen pays off one of the staff to rummage through Georgia's things to find out once and for all who she really is--and Sean Matthews heads for Czechoslovakia to get Georgia back for his soul mate and bride.

The movie can go anywhere from here. Will Matthew be able to discover who Georgia really is? Of course, Georgia never actually said she was a powerful business leader so maybe that will help--or maybe it won't when these snobs find out who she really is. What about Sean--will he be able to reach Georgia while she is still at the resort? And how will Georgia ever be able to handle her last days in Czechoslovakia after an avalanche may well leave her stranded there?

The DVD has a couple of deleted scenes and the "making of" extras are good. I agree with the reviewer who writes that "Last Look" was indeed the best of the bonuses.

Last Holiday gets two thumbs up from me! The cast is wonderful and everybody plays their roles perfectly. I highly recommend this film for people who like Queen Latifah and the other stars on this film; it's a good comedy as well.

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The Otto Preminger Collection (Hurry Sundown / Skidoo / Such Good Friends)

Preminger was never really appreciated enough for his gifted art. I've got to admit that when I was young I was turned off by Preminger purely on the grounds that I found him strange looking and his accent almost comical. But as an older adult I have really taken a good look at his work and find his talent at the genius level. Also he is every bit as original as someone like Kubrick and I know this is blasphemous but I think he had far more to say than Kubrick. Preminger was originally a protege of Daryl F Zanuck but soon felt controlled and unable to express his own ideas so he set out on his own with what yielded his greatest artistic achievements. He would take a story that most directors could only deliver straight forward action with and inject ideas that trancended the plot and often expressed the notion of the absurd nature of human existance. Much of this was done in such a sly tongue and cheek manner that you really had to be up on your Premingerisms to realize it. This is what they call in the art world as being "hip". If you are "hip" this means that you really do "get it" whereas the "squares" are left behind in "Dullsville". Preminger was one hip old daddy but even if you disagree with me and find his work not to your fancy that's OK because as I've always said about art, there is no right or wrong nor good or bad art. There is just what you like and what you don't like. But if you don't like Preminger then I have to suspect that you just don't "get it".

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Pineapple Express (Mastered in 4K) (Single-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra Violet Digital Copy) (2008)

A movie like PINEAPPLE EXPRESS should not be expected to be talked about in the same breath as CITIZEN KANE or GONE WITH THE WIND. However, it has nonetheless ascended to near the top ranks in its own particularly little sub-genre: the "pot" comedy.

While Cheech & Chong's UP IN SMOKE will probably always lead the pack, simply for being the first (and for being very edgy...in it's day)...EXPRESS is the first film of its ilk to boast huge laughs, modest thrills, enjoyable lead characters and a narrative structure that doesn't fall apart the further it goes. For example, the HAROLD AND KUMAR films can be greatly amusing, but their "plot" grows more and more flaccid and pointless as they move along. The lead "characters" are hardly believable as people...they are comic devices.

In PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, we have the story of a process server (Seth Rogan) who enjoys doing little else but smoking pot. He is decent at his job, but also spends much of it sitting in his car smoking. He's dating a high school girl who would have been seriously out of his league when HE was in school. His "best friend" may just be his pot dealer (James Franco.) And through an unfortunate circumstance, Rogan witnesses the murder of an Asian drug dealer by the leader (Gary Cole) of the other drug ring in his city. The murder is aided by a policewoman (Rosie Perez), who is also a pretty vicious killer. They get wise to who their witness is when Rogan makes the mistake of tossing his half-smoked joint out the window of his car as he hurriedly drives away. You see, the joint is made of a new weed called Pineapple Express, which thus far has been sold only to one drug middleman (Danny McBride), who has only sold it to one of his dealers...Franco. Thus, almost immediately, Rogan and Franco are on the run for their lives. Eventually they will have to beat these violent men at their own game just to survive.

That's about it for the basics of the plot...but what is nice about it is the way it holds together from beginning to end. The characters go through a journey and they change and grow a little. While the dialogue and humor are important, this is one "pot" movie where the plot is actually important to the film, not just an excuse to make "I'm so stoned" jokes.

Rogan is basically playing his character from KNOCKED UP again...but if you need that sort of character, he's got it down cold. He's a nice loser who actually looks like a real life person. Danny McBride joins this group of losers midway through, and he brings a nice jolt of almost absurdist humor the film. He's like Rasputin mixed with the character Terry on RENO 911 (you know, the "male prostitute" on roller skates). Gary Cole and Perez are a little too generic, and frankly, the bad guys in the film are not well-sketched out. Their behavior is inconsistent and not always credible.

James Franco steals the film, though. He was born to play this role. In movies as varied as SPIDERMAN and FLYBOYS...he often is unsuccessful at playing a button up, "serious" types. He's better when allowed to let his slacker show through. In FREAKS AND GEEKS, he was a stoner heartthrob, who discovered he had deep reserves of loyalty and love. In PINEAPPLE, he's a stoner with very little to offer, but who has a simplicity and openness about him that makes him likeable. Yes, it's the pot that has made him this way...but Franco refuses for settle for a simple caricature. His stoned but winning eyes & smile are the heart of this film.

The humor is certainly R-rated. Lots of "f" bombs. A fair amount of violence near the end too. It's crass and loud at times. Sometimes the jokes are obvious and unoriginal. But mostly it is sustained by moments of real feeling (as we see so often in films with the name Apatow stamped on them), likeable characters and a plot that has a beginning, middle & end.

Now, finally, let me comment on the "drug" elements. I don't use drugs. Even in my days of "youthful indiscretion" I was not a dabbler. I would certainly be what anyone would call "conservative" on this particular issue. So therefore, I might tend to take offense at such "glorification" of drugs. But I'm not sure that the film does that. True, it pretty much assumes that the entire world does drugs. But it also shows, quite clearly and without preaching, that the use of these drugs, while inducing pleasurable feelings, also induces stupid decision making, slothfulness and wastefulness. Clearly, it sides with those who would make pot legal...but it doesn't disdain those who oppose this. It simply IS. I can't imagine this film would make anyone change their behavior. Those who use pot regularly already are likely to smile in recognition at much of the behavior. Those who don't use it will NOT be inspired to give it a try. So while I'm not thrilled at a film that is clouded 90% of the time with pot fumes...I can't get upset about it either.

This was another in a long line of funny movies from Judd Apatow, but with a lot more action thrown in for good measure. Seth Rogen may always sound and act the same in everything he does, but that doesn't make him any less funny. James Franco is the real star of the show. I always thought he had great potential, but he just seemed so bland in the Spider-Man movies and Flyboys. This is a well acted and funny performance. I heard some people on the web talk about casting him as The Joker in the next Batman movie. Whether it happens or not, I now think he has a chance to pull it off. All the other cast members are weirdly memorable, especially the cat loving drug dealer who just won't die.

Pineapple Express does get really violent and a little gory towards the end, but it is a good mix of comedy and action. It's just plain fun.

3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars

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Truth be told, there were moments in this film where I died of uncontrollable laughter. I mean, Seth Rogen is hilarious, and James Franco is really transforming into an actor I get excited about watching. What happened there? There was a time when I would intentionally avoid movies starring that guy. I must say, he's surprised me. This film is a little unevenly crafted, but the end result is not anything to be ashamed of. It basically follows some stoner idiots as they run from a corrupt police officer and a drug dealer who they happened to witness kill some guy. The film bounces along nicely, remaining forgivably unbelievable. The ending, for me, was a mess and that whole action sequence overload killed a little of the films `fun factor', but the ending diner sequence was a laugh riot so I forgave it. James Franco owns this movie, playing a mindless stoner to perfection with the right amount of overplayed tenderness to make his character a pure standout. Not much else to say here. I'd watch it again.

Read Best Reviews of Pineapple Express (Mastered in 4K) (Single-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra Violet Digital Copy) (2008) Here

Saw this movie in the theater, and it was funny the whole way through. In my opinion, it wasn't like a normal pot movie, where people that don't smoke wouldn't enjoy it, it is funny for pretty much anyone. It's stupid funny sometimes, dark humor other times, smart and stupid, action and drama (a little bit), but all around hilarious. I laughed so hard I cried, and I felt it for days after--quite the ab workout! Definitely worth the money!

Want Pineapple Express (Mastered in 4K) (Single-Disc Blu-ray + Ultra Violet Digital Copy) (2008) Discount?

The movie was so good it's hard to fault the Blu Ray's lack of content (not horribly lacking, but could have been better) or the slow loading time (that is horrible, but that's Blu Rays in general and not just this one).

So, since I got this for less than $10 shipped, I can honestly say that it was worth every penny. This movie is absolutely hysterical, so even for a few more dollars it's still a 3 or 4 * purchase.

Enjoy!

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Clannad: After Story Complete Collection (2006)

First I am just a medical student, though I have taken film and media study classes I want people to know that I don't feel that I am in a position to make any grand claims and such. All the following of my review is just my opinion.

It would be impossible even given a book sized amount of text to describe the artistic and storytelling merit of this work. While I could praise this work for hours I will try to give people who are interested a quick overview. Truth be told, I am not an anime fan, in fact you can say I greatly dislike anime. I am also not a fan of love stories, romance, tragic stories, school life stories, or of Japanese works in which I had to read the English subtitles, but Clannad was all of this and it blew my mind. I have been searching my whole life for a work I could call a masterpiece and this was it. I was forced to watch this by a younger sibling and though I struggled within the first episode this work won me over. I have never seen a work so well crafted together in a combination of good storytelling; strong character development, artistic value, impressive visuals, and soul haunting music all weave together for form this beautiful masterpiece. It was because of Clannad that I was interested in what define "masterpiece", before Clannad I have seen the pinnacles of each medium (Citizen Kane, Watchmen, Ulysses, Hamlet, etc.) and I must say that Clannad part of that list.

Clannad was based off a Japanese visual novel (a medium we do not have here in America) and since it's visual novel release have been ranked as one of the greatest visual novels of all time, influencing many others, and has been called the Citizen Kane and Watchmen of visual novels for how it changed that medium from dating sims to psychological, mind bending, emotional stories. In the visual novel medium, there is an advantage to storytelling that other mediums don't have, the main one would be the amount of time and text length needed to tell the story. This allows the reader to interact and growth with the characters all them to become more emotionally attached when something happens to one of these characters. In fact the word count for the Clannad visual novel surpasses War and Peace, Atlas Shrugged, and Les Miserables combined. This translate well into an animated series (Clannad and Clannad: After Story) that in its own right may be the Citizen Kane of the whole animation medium. Thing done in the anime has exceeded what was expected of this medium, and for me personally this was the first time I ever saw what I could consider "true" emotions seen on film. When ever I watch a live action movie, no matter how much I feel for the characters in the end I still seem like actors acting. I never thought I would see animated characters portray emotions better than live actors until I show EP18 of Clannad: After Story, the combination of visuals and music as well as dialogue created such a heart moving scene; this surpassed anything I have ever seen in any story in any medium, even the original visual novel.

And while that this point you may think I am crazy or a die hard fan, I still don't like anime and don't consider myself a fan of Clannad, but regardless this does not mean I can't express my opinion on the artistic merit Clannad achieves. And I have not even gotten the music, all the music from the original soundtrack of the visual novel, was composed by the writer of the story and is one of the most beautiful soundtracks ever composed that touches hearts and emotions at the right moment. Every song is cued at the right time and recurring songs (like the Dango song that is Nagisa's theme song) create a feeling of happiness and nostalgia in the viewer. (Once tried to write a paper on the music of Clannad for a media class describing the beauty of the music and how it signals certain emotions at certain scenes. I got to 50 pages before I gave up knowing it would be impossible.)

While I do like Clannad it is far from perfect. There are many side stories and little things that may throw off viewers, but this still does not take away from this masterpiece. If the Mona Lisa had one tree in the background that was off it still does not change its artistic value. Same as Clannad. My only worries are that most people will be turned off by Clannad since it is an anime and such. But trust me and take the same challenge I give to my friends, if you watch from Clannad (Season 1) to Clannad: After Story (Season 2) Episode 18 and you can admit that you don't feel a thing, then that's fine, but most who do this admitted they cried and these are my military school friends in the Army and Marines who never admit they cried. This is a beautiful work and while I have seen shows and film that were tearjerkers for me these films always seemed to force the viewer in to a position where they had to cry, for Clannad this is real and you really feel it, emotions are not forced.

While in most tragic/tearjerker stories they bring you emotionally to a point so low that at most you will get a bittersweet ending with a hole in your heart. Clannad broke this trend and is the only fictional work I know that can take you to the lowest points of your soul to a happy ending. What amazes me the most for this "love story" is during the whole two seasons the main lovers do not even kiss once (not much less a sex scene which most love stories now a day think is needed). But even without a single kiss the hug they give each other at the very end was so touching and powerful it takes you from the depressing scene prior that made you cry your heart out and makes you want to stand and cheer for the beauty of this story and the happy ending they rightfully deserve. That one hug makes Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, and Titanic look like nothing.

This is truly an unrecognized masterpiece and I think as important to the storytelling media as much as Ulysses, Citizen Kane, and Watchmen were. This is highly recommended. And please don't go into watching this with high expectations just because of what I said, watch it normally and see for yourself. I understand that this may not be for some people and some will not like it though from talking to others it appeared that those who did not like Clannad never went through a tragic experience. It was only good for me because one of my close family members passed away a few years before I saw Clannad and I may have had a different impression if I did not go through that event. Though I think everyone could find something in this story for them to relate to. This is not just a romance, psychological, or tearjerking story, it also has comedy, and probably the only work I seen that have combine and done things that would otherwise never work into a masterpiece that does.

One blogger once posted a quick review of Clannad saying that "Clannad is the greatest story ever across all genres and media" and I have to agree.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I love this show. The characters are great, the stories are fantastic and it's just a wonderful show.

Having said that, the box sucks. This is the first anime DVD I've bought, so I don't know if this is common place, but the set comes with four discs that are just stacked on top of each other like I bought a hundred blank dvds. Usually when I get a DVD box set, the individual disks are in a sort of book where you can flip through and pick out an individual disk. I guess doing this saves space, but that's something else about the box that doesn't make sense. The disks take up a little more than half of the total interior of the box and the rest is filled with a white foam sheet. I want to take it out because it looks incredibly ghetto, but I'm afraid that if I do, the disks will fall out and get scratched in the box.

The actual disks are nice. This version includes the Japanese and English dubs as well as English subtitles. And the best part is, the signs are actually subtitled! I watched the original Clannad on Netflix, and I loved the show, but none of the Japanese text was translated. Usually it wasn't too hard to figure out what was going on, but occasionally an episode would end with a shot of a bulletin or some words on a chalkboard and anyone who doesn't speak Japanese is completely lost(and a few who might speak Japanese as well. I've taken Japanese for two years, and I was still struggling to read all of the signs).

Buy Clannad: After Story Complete Collection (2006) Now

Clannad and Clannad: After Story are two of my favorite anime's. Clannad: After Story picks up where Clannad left off, with Tomoya and Nagisa in a relationship. The story follows the ups and downs of their relationship, from bouts of Nagisa's sickness to Tomoya's struggles with his father and not wanting to be like him and wanting to take care of Nagisa. The pacing of the show is excellent and it never gets boring, it can go from hilarious hijinks (Nagisa's parents) to really tragic moments that make you feel for the characters and what they are going through. I cant remember a recent anime that actually made me care for the characters, it can be a real tear-jerker sometimes. Moving on from the story this anime also has some of the best animation you will find, its very crisp and clean. As for the audio department, the English dubs aren't bad but you lose some of the innuendo's and subtlety's of the Japanese audio track, as with most dubs in my opinion. I recommend using the Japanese audio with English subs. All in all if you like funny anime with a dose of drama and romance do yourself a favor and pick this up, you wont be disapointed!

Read Best Reviews of Clannad: After Story Complete Collection (2006) Here

Clannad: After Story follows Clannad and is as good as its predecessor.

It is the continuation of one of the best romance anime series out there and explores relationships more deeply than the first series. It can certainly be a tear jerker so keep some tissues handy but it is a wonderful story with many uplifting and entertaining moments as well. It was moving and powerful. It is not as fast-paced as Clannad but instead focuses more on the relationships between the central characters and their lives together after the first series. It is different than Clannad but it is just as good and if you liked Clannad you will enjoy this series as well.

For me personally listening with Japanese audio and English subtitles feels "right" (versus English dubbed) but to each his/her own. Once again I applaud the team who created this series. An excellent piece of work.

Want Clannad: After Story Complete Collection (2006) Discount?

Clannad After Story starts off where Sentai Filmworks Clannad ends. Clannad is Sentai Filmworks best ever anime in my opinion, Made by Kyoto Animation just like Kanon and Air TV. I love most animes made by Kyoto Animation, if you like drama animes you would to.

25 episodes on four disks, Widescreen 16:9, Rated 13+ so just about anyone can enjoy this anime.

Special Features: Clean Opening Animation, Clean Closing Animation, Commentary with David Matranga (Tomoya) and Luci Christian (Nagisa).

Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.

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