Control Alt Delete (2008)

Okay, I bought this movie having seen only one review at a 1 star, but I figure at eleven bucks for the Blu-Ray from Fry's, it's worth it just to see how bad it could be. I figure if I expected it to be awful, I'd be pleasantly surprised. I wasn't disappointed.

Okay, so the main character is an incredibly twisted pervert of a nerd (and, really, almost all the major characters are perverts), but the story is pretty funny, assuming you're a geek or a nerd. That said, I'd caution that this is a very adult movie, and it might be a little too creepy for non-geek, non-nerd people. If the concept of someone engaging in... adult activity... with a computer grosses you out, don't watch this one.

I am a big fan of Tyler Labine so I rented this from Netflix and it was awful. That is not even the word for it. Not one funny part, not one dramatic part, not one part that made the least bit of sense. Stay Away from this movie.

Buy Control Alt Delete (2008) Now

This is one of the worst movies I've seen. Don't waste your time nor money. This is nothing but a computer geek's bonk-fest with his hard drive (pardon the pun.) There's no real plot, no character development, no character arc, and very poor acting.

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Jumping the Broom (2011)

Update 9/7/2011: I bought the film and listened to the commentary. It was so dreadfully boring. I'm always hesitant to listen to commentary when the director is the main speaker because they bring up all this stuff that viewers truly don't care about (ex. tent leaning to the side, boat in the distance, why a certain color was used). But this director just went on and on with these long-winded lectures about culture, skin complexion and relationships. I wanted him to talk about the actual movie, but I felt like I was sitting through a motivational speak, which would've been cool if that was what I was looking for. I liked the playful arguing and friendly flirting between Laz Alonso and Paula Patton though. I did learn a few things like Tasha didn't know how to swim, Mike Epps hurt his leg and like a trooper kept going and Paula Patton's obsession with her breath. These were those funny quirks I wanted to hear about. Oddly enough, Romeo was never acknowledged during the commentary (unless I missed it), but all the other actors were. I wondered why, but every time Romeo came up, the director was back into another lecture. My opinion: Just watch the film without the commentary.

Cons: Absolutely none (Edit: 9/7 minus the commentary)!

Pros: I loved this movie. From the previews, we already know that two people are getting married, and their families are from two different classes. What I was worried about was the non-elite group would be extra ghetto, stereotypical, loud and obnoxious, basically everything that awful "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family" was. Instead we got an intelligent group of blue collar workers with a couple family members who just weren't impressed with the bells and whistles. Yeah, they kept it "real," but it was real in the sense that it wasn't degrading, and I LOVED that about this film. I'd never seen Loretta Devine play a role that wasn't overly nice and motherly in the sweetest way, so it was fascinating to see her as the obnoxious post office worker and mean mother-in-law-to-be. I was equally ecstatic to find out that Tasha Smith would FINALLY not be playing the angry black woman. I was completely thrown off at how Angela Bassett pulled off such a snobbish, catty role. She did really well, even though she seems so chill in real life. Paula Patton continues to progress as an actress, and I loved her in this film. I already knew Laz Alonso and Mike Epps (the latter being ridiculously funny) were going to kill it, and Laz Alonso and Paula Patton had a ginormous amount of onscreen romantic chemistry. Romeo did his thing, and his acting has improved a lot, too. DeRay Davis was funny in the way only DeRay can do, and I liked him and Mike Epps in the same movie together. Neither was trying to out-funny the other, and they both worked well. Mike Epps was actually doing a lot of serious acting in the middle of his jokes, so I give him MAJOR respect for doing it in such a convincing way.

I just read that Brian Stokes Mitchell, who played the elite father, was Trevor on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Although I don't recognize him from that television show, he's so handsome and he did so well in this film. I would love to see him in more stuff, but apparently I've never seen anything he's done outside of that television show. When I first saw him, I was thinking, "Where did he come from? Please hire him more often." I almost always like anything Meagan Good is in, and I love everything about Valarie Pettiford. Her personality just bursts on television and in movies.

To sum it up, two people are getting married after going out for six months. Paula Patton's character, Sabrina, got a job in China. Laz Alonso's character, Jason, doesn't believe in long distance. They decide to get married but Sabrina's family hasn't met Jason's family. That's where the fun starts! When Mrs. Taylor's relatives come into town to this rich family's home, there are definitely some choice words, side eyes, secrets released and a lot of laughs.

I definitely recommend this film for anyone looking for quality work that you may not expect.

At the risk of sounding prejudice, I saw this movie with a theater full of black people, which I contend is the best way to enjoy this movie as the audience reaction was perhaps more enjoyable than the movie. Paula Patton plays Sabrina Watson who has prayed to God to meet the right man. She gets her sign when she runs into (with her car) Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso). After dating for 5 months they opt to get married. Sabrina's family is wealthy and act like "white people." They frown on black culture. Jason's mom works for the post office and takes anger management classes. When the families get together for the first time for the wedding, there is a clash of personalities and cultures as Jason's mom (Loretta Devine) reminds the bride's family they are still black. The phrase "jumping the broom" was new to me. It is what black people traditionally do at weddings, dating back to the time of slavery. Since slaves were not allowed to marry, they would perform their own marriage ceremony by jumping the broom.

By having the bride's family be black also, the film could do more with the cultural clash and get away with it than if it was a black-white wedding. For instance, the groom's family wants to do the Electric Slide, a nearly time-honored tradition at black weddings. The bride's family rejects the idea to wit the groom's family responds, "So I suppose you are going to do the River Dance?" This would never work with a black-white wedding, but works remarkably well with two black families, judging from the roar from the audience.

Oh yes. And the happy wedding couple have not yet consummated their relationship and everyone knows it and thinks it is odd. And the bride's family has a few secrets. The low point was when Jason's mom plays the trump card. The movie shifts from funny to awkward.

No swearing. No sex. No nudity (bra/panties). Adult themes.

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This movie is so awesome in every aspect! This movie is filled with comedy, drama, love and inspiration and many more things that impact our everyday life. I could not believe the feeling of joy that this movie left me with.

My mother, sister, and I went to see this movie today for mothers day and this movie did not disappoint. Bishop Jakes and the characters of this movie out did them selves. Mike Epps was soooooooo funny to me in this movie! To me he put on a great show as did the other characters.

This movie was so good to us that we wanted to see it again at midnight... I can not wait until this movie comes out on DVD, as I plan to watch this movie over and over again!

We needed a good clean movie with comedy like this to make us laugh, after all laughter is the best medicine!

I also can not begin to tell you about the scenery in this movie.. It was breath taking!

Each and everyone will be able to relate to both families, I love the story line as it felt so real! I felt like I was there with the characters just waiting for the next incident to unfold!

This movie has great characters and lots of fun and unfolding events that will keep you on the edge of your seat or rolling on the floor laughing! Everyone in the movie theater was laughing and carrying on at the comedy and great acting by the characters in this movie.

If you have not seen Jumping the broom, you need to get out and go see it right now... You are missing out... I could not wait to write a review about this move, as it is that good!

I wish that more movies like this would be made.. This is just great clean family fun at its best!

Thanks to Bishop Jakes, all of the characters of this movie and everyone who had a part in bringing this movie to life and to the movie screen! Please please make more movies like this.. And keep of the great work!

Thanks, as you made a joyful day for mothers day for my family and I! We were truly Blessed and many who view this movie will also be Blessed!

Get ready to get your laugh on, your tears on and dust off your dancing shoes!

Another good movie to view is called A Good Man Is Hard To Find, I purchased this movie through Amazon... You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy we sure did!

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I've seen this movie before... it was a film released not too long ago called "Our Wedding", which featured America Ferreira, Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia among others. The cast actually was pretty good, but the film itself was a little poor. Though that one tried to deal more with ethnic twists (one of Latin background, the other of African-American), the premise and in some ways even flow and scenes of the movie felt eerily similar. "Jumping the Broom", produced by Tracey Edmunds, ex-wife of Babyface. She has had some fair movies in the past and this one is another that was 'ok'. Not good, not bad, just ok (to me).

The premise has been talked about already, and I can't really review this without giving away spoilers. So be warned! Ok then what I did like about the movie was that there was an occasional twist to it. Especially with the aunt. And I also liked the way they handled Tasha Smith's character. I was also pleasantly surprised by Mike Epps role in the movie though at some times became a bit much not for the lechery but preachiness. To put it another way, though the film dealt with different African-American families from different ranges in social status, they did not make the individuals from the 'poorer' end particularly ignorant. Granted, they just couldn't quite get away from having SOME of that there in the movie but overall I think it was handled well. Now... what I did not like, is easier to talk about. Paula Patton really over-acting the part on this one and the person that said she seemed un-realistic, to me, hit the nail on the head. From the voice to even the shock news in the end, it seemed a bit far-reaching. The movie couldn't get away from the tendency to preach in just about every African-American movie where there is always this big moment, usually too late, where the main character has had enough. There also seemed to be some rather serious issues in the end of the movie that would have needed to have been discussed, so you are left with a seemingly incomplete product. That or Paula Patton's character really was that big of a push-over. And really in regards to the characters, not many of them were likeable at all from the bridesmaids (the one they forcefully had falling for the chef) to the groomsmen other than the person that Laz's character chose to be his best man. Funny but by not having that many lines and making the most of what he did have and actually standing for something; more than even Jason in my view.

All in all, I probably wouldn't recommend to buy this movie but renting it is ok. Seeing it once was probably enough for me. I didn't even get into Loretta Devine's character or Angela Bassett's, who were every bit as predictable as advertised one a little bitter, another a little disgusted, both un-necessary. But without conflict I suppose there really isn't a compelling story. I guess what is most frustrating is that there was quality here and good actors but perhaps not the best directing. There was real opportunity for some special moments in the movie, like having the bridesmaid fall for the chef, Jason's cousin putting to rest some of his demons & perhaps even being inspired for more out of his own life. Or what about noticing a bit more that Jason's uncle really was a good hearted individual doing more to highlight some of these positives. Oh, and how about going deeper into Claudine's background which I was honestly a little interesteed about. I am not saying that the movie had to be a 'feel good' story or Inspirational uplifting saga. Just that there was a missed opportunity to give it and the actors a chance to provide the characters more depth. Which makes me think that perhaps the movie wasn't thought out as much as it should've been and ironically suffered from a kind of identity crisis of it's own. The funniest moment though to me, was that in the end (SPOILER), you wonder what the heck was the big deal about jumping over a broom... if it was that important, just do it. lol

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I saw this movie on opening weekend and I can't begin to say how much I loved it. It was funny and wholesome and sexy without being over-the-top or inappropriate. As soon as it started showing on Starz I have watched it almost every day (sometimes twice a day). It's been too long since I've loved a movie this much, because there simply aren't many like this being made anymore. Most of the ones out now are filled with so much violence or sex or just silliness that they're almost unbearable to watch, and forget being able to watch them with your children. But my son and I can sit and watch Jumping the Broom without me having to worry about him hearing or seeing something he shouldn't. And that's refreshing. I even loved the soundtrack!

I liked Paula Patton before, but I love her now. She's such a great actress. And Laz Alonzo has grown so much over the years, and come a long way since his days hosting on BET. Loretta Devine has played many 'Mama' roles but this was a stretch from what I'm used to seeing her in. She effectively made me dislike her. Tasha Smith was endearing and a far (and welcome) cry from her all-too-familiar as the angry black woman (Why Did I Get Married?, For Better or Worse, The Game, etc). Romeo was smooth and sexy in his role as Sebastian, and while him and Tasha Smith's character Shonda was a bit of a stretch for me, they worked well together. The actor who played the father, Gregory Watson, looked way familiar to me and then I realized he was the one who played Cam Winston on Frasier, and Trevor on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He was awesome. And Angela Bassett was outstanding, as usual. They actually made me want to learn French! I could keep going but all of the actors in the movie were great, in my opinion. Even though I didn't care for Sabrina's friends, Blythe and whatever-the-other-one's-name-was, who seemed more catty and snobby than supportive of their 'best friend.'

I'm not ashamed to admit that I cry every time I watch this movie; it has so many touching and beautiful moments. It almost makes you believe in love and soul mates again. Laz Alonzo is just a pile of bow-legged yum who I love seeing go through this range of emotion over the course of the movie. This is by far my favorite role of his. I will definitely be getting the DVD to this one...awesome, awesome movie.

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Tremors Attack Pack (1990)

Certainly the jewel in the Tremors series of movies between 1990 and 2004 is the original. It's funny. It's scary. It's suspenseful. It's got a great cast. It's fun to watch! And this DVD release gives you the three follow-on sequels for almost the price you'd expect to spend for the original cult classic by itself.

In the original 1990 "Tremors", you have Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward as the leading characters. Their performance together is (almost) on par with John Travolta and Sam Jackson in Pulp Fiction; the dialogue between these guys is priceless. They truly come across as buddies for life.

The story is simple: a B-movie-esque scenario where giant man-eating subterranean monsters (big wormlike things called aptly named Graboids) start plucking man and animal from the surface in a remote desert town. Bacon and Ward are trapped by the underground beasts with little known Finn Carter and mercenary neighbors (Michael Gross) and his wife (Reba McEntire). The result is a fun story of everyone saving themselves and finding a way to kill the monsters before the monsters eat them all.

Tremors 2 is very entertaining. Another fun movie and an above par sequel. But gone is the realistic notion that the original movie carried with "these-people-are-trapped-and-have-no-choice-but-to-fight-the-monsters-themselves". Instead remnant cast members Ward and Gross (instead of the military or some superior entity) are commissioned to dispose of the reappearance of the Graboids. Kevin Bacon is a huge loss to the the comradery factor that the original held. The flick moves a long well, has a good story, it's still scary and suspenseful, and has a great surprise twist when the Graboids mutate making this somewhat of an original in its own right.

The next two movies, Tremors 3 and Tremors 4 are fair. I could easily spend less time and be as entertained by the much shorter SpongeBob Squarepants 10 minute "Alaskan Bull Worm!" tribute episode to the original Tremors.

Tremors 3 is the better of the two with another mutation twist, and an entertaining story. Michael Gross is back as Burt, but you really have to turn a blind eye to the why-hasn't-anyone-called-the-frickin'-army factor. Tremors 4 is a prequel to the original that is difficult to sit all the way through. There is really no need to elaborate on #3 or #4, because they are both so predictable based on the first two that you can easily guess what they are about and what happens.

A cool thing about all of them is that creator, writer, producer and director SS Wilson is on board for all four flicks to hold everything together better than other films that spawn one too many sequels.

All in all, as I said earlier, the original Tremors alone makes this a very, very worthwhile addition to any collector's movie library, in-genre or out. The addition of Tremors 2 makes this purchase a very easy Add to Cart. "But be advised, Burt, there are two more...I repeat...two more mother-humpers".

PROS

You get all 4 movies in one box, a great value at about ~$5 per movie!

The first movie is the best but you'll probably also like the fourth (which is a prequel) and either the 2nd or 3rd if you haven't seen any of them yet.

Inside is a coupon for $10.50 off a ticket to Peter Jackson's King Kong which opens in theaters 12-14-05 (valid until 1-1-06).

CONS

Despite the claims on the packaging for 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, all four movies are presented in 1.78:1 NON-anamorphic widescreen. In fact, the video transfers are exactly the same as those on the previous DVDs.

All 4 movies are on TWO discs which of course means both discs are double-sided. ARGH. If you're not the type of person to handle optical discs carefully, forget buying this, you'll probably scratch everything up right away, no offense.

To make matters worse for two double-sided discs, the DVD case Universal came up with is absolutely atrocious. It's one of those double-inset ones, where you've got sub-impressioned spaces for the discs, so you can actually see both discs simultaneously, but in order to remove the disc on the lower inset, you have to remove the disc on the upper inset first because it's on top. And doing that without touching the lower disc is easier said than done. Universal couldn't use one of those convenient double-flip panel DVD cases instead? This approach is just plain aggravating.

The cardboard slip case that houses the actual DVD case is designed backwards, so the DVD case slips out from the left, instead of the right!

Four movies on two discs screams cheapness. Why didn't Universal just put together all four DVD sets to make a four-movie mega-package?

MOVIES SYNOPSIS

Sorry, not enough space for write-ups of each movie, but you can read up on them individually here on Amazon, each one has lots of customer reviews! To sum up, the first movie is about the Graboids, big monsters that lurk underground and lurch out when they feel something moving on the ground! Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are hysterical! The 2nd movie has the "shriekers," the next evolution of the Graboids. The 3rd shows the "ass-blasters," the next next evolution. Gotta watch to find out why they're named that! Finally the 4th is set in 1889 and goes back to the origins of the Graboids.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Universal took some time to tweak the individual movies' special features for this package, so you'll find some additional stuff not on the previous DVD releases of the movies (some stuff was re-organized too).

TREMORS (1990) Disc 1, Side A

Newly added Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, with optional subtitles

BONUS MATERIALS

-The Making of Tremors, 53:34, 10-part documentary with optional subtitles

--"How It All Began" (pre-production)

--"Building Perfection"

--"The Mechanical Effects"

--"The Cast"

--"Photography and Editing"

--"The Creatures"

--"The Miniatures"

--"The Cliff"

--"The Ending" (features an alternate ending)

--"Creature Featurette"

-Outtakes, 05:12

-Featurette, 03:58 (behind-the-scenes clips)

-Theatrical Trailers, 04:03 (collection of the trailers, quite a few)

-Kevin Bacon Profile, 03:02 (video interview on his role, with movie clips)

-Michael Gross Profile, 02:33 (video interview on his role, with movie clips)

-Reba McEntire Profile, 02:02 (video interview on her role, with movie clips)

-Production Photographs, includes 16 stills

-Tremors 2: Aftershocks Trailer

TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS (1996) Disc 1, Side B

Audio presented only in Dolby Digital 2.0

Tremors 2: Aftershocks Trailer (same one provided on Side A)

TREMORS 3: BACK TO PERFECTION (2001) Disc 2, Side A

Audio presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 (not listed in DVD menus though)

BONUS MATERIALS

-Spotlight On Location, 14:43, provides a behind-the-scenes and looks back at the franchise with interview clips from producers/crew

-Trailers

--TREMORS (same one provided on Disc 1, Side A)

--TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS (same one provided on Disc 1, Side A)

--TREMORS 3: BACK TO PERFECTION

TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS (2004) Disc 2, Side B

Audio presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 (not listed in DVD menus though)

BONUS MATERIALS

-Audio commentary track, with director S.S. Wilson (also directed Tremors 2) who gives an informative commentary and provides interesting bits on production and casting

-You're on the Set of TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS, 12:03, provides a behind-the-scenes and includes interview clips from producers/crew

Buy Tremors Attack Pack (1990) Now

I am a huge fan of the Tremors movies, and am very excited to see a box set funally being released. The first movie is excellent, the foundation for many good sci-fi/fantasy movies, the beginning is slow enough to actually introduce the movie, but exciting enough to have you hooked, then comes Tremors 2: Aftershocks, new setting, new challenge, new characters, same classic storyline and still has Micheal Gross as Burt Gummer, the match made in heaven for an actor to a part. Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, back to the original detting with a few new characters and yet another exciting twist and an all new way to save the day. Then comes Tremors 4: The Legend Begins, One of the only good prequels in movies to date. All this for only $26 list price? An excellent buy.

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Darn right I'm gonna "double-dip" and get this on Blu-Ray! I'll probably hold my breath until September and TURN

blue! Oh yeah! I'll BE blue-green in October anyway... see my Profile Photo now, and join ME in seeing these four

films in September.

BTW: Kevin Bacon is only in the first one. Michael Gross, however is in all four. I --for one --was disappointed

when the series was cancelled... and movie # 5 was cancelled, as well. Bummer!

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Like many fans, I grew up around these films. When I heard that they were to release a box set I was very, very excited. Upon getting this box set as a gift I was shocked to discover that...

1) The only season of Tremors: the Series is not included in this set and the Sci-Fi channel still has it locked away in their vault.

2) The majority of the special features are gone except for those of the first film and about half of the fourth film. The fourth film I had rented once and saw a very entertaining short film and I was shocked to discover it was no longer there.

3) The movies are on 2 duel sided discs, meaning that they are cheap and prone to damage if you are not extremely careful with them.

On the good side though, you do get all four films for the low price of 20 dollars. I love all of the tremors films (yes even the third one which gets a bad rap, even by me sometimes), I hope that some day there will be a fifth one and that even though the series deserves a much better box set, this one will do until the one day release the TV series and the rumored 5th film. Hoped this review helped.

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K-On 3

Standard of animation A++

Music A+

Stories B++

Pace B

Character development A

Dubbing A++

Extras C+

Packaging A+

Okay, this is the third of the entertaining K-on! series and I got it as soon as it was released in Australia last month (November 2011, in fact). If you like K-on!, you'll probably want it. The blu-ray is excellent and it features some of the most vivid animation I've seen. A very high quality product indeed. The pace of the three episodes here is perhaps a little more leisurely than I like and things get frustrating for the new girl, Azusa, in the Light Music Club I hope we see more rehearsing and performing in volume 4, due for release next month in Australia. The characters are all well developed and there are some laughs, some warmth and the occasional moments of "bentness", usually coming from the girls' music teacher and mentor, Sawako Yamanaka (Sawa-chan, as she's known). It's all good harmless fun and I think many fans of anime would like this series. It is not as side-splittingly hilarious or as sharp as Azumanga Daioh, but there is plenty to enjoy.

Okay, a couple of small complaints. This is a blu-ray DVD, right? Then how come we only get three episodes? This volume cost the same as volumes 1 & 2, which both featured four episodes. So that bothered me a little. I read that volume 4 will only feature 3 episodes, too. This wouldn't be such a bother to me if there were more in the way of extras, but there aren't. The extras in the current three volumes are not generous. Normally, I wouldn't mind this IF there were more episodes per blu-ray. It is nice to watch the interviews with the American cast, but there's plenty of room left for more. I would like to have seen at least something from the Japanese side of the show, after all it is a Japanese TV show. I am not an original language chauvinist, and I will happily watch shows in either Japanese or English depending on my mood. But I would have liked to meet either the Japanese creators of the show or meet some of the Japanese cast in the extras. Maybe the last disc in the series will provide this? I do have some animé DVDs and Blu-rays without many extras at all, if any. I don't mind that if there are more episodes or a full length movie is presented.

So, there you have it: volume 3 of K-on! an entertaining and beautifully produced series that looks fantastic in hi-def.

I knocked off one star because only three episodes were offered. But what's there is good.

K-On is an excellent Series, Combining Musical Features with Reality, Making it feel like you are apart of a band! (I have Previous Band Experience.) Going through the motivation, and fun events and learning about each-other more and more.

Buy K-On 3 Now

Great lighthearted series about a group of high school students joining a music club that I would recommend for anyone or even families to watch.

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K-On! Vol. 3

Fans of Azusa can rest easy, Bang-zoom set aside the manga translation of Azu-meow (UGH!), and instead decided to keep the logical choice of Azu-nyan.

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