10 Years (2011)

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Have you been to your ten-year high school reunion yet? If you have then you will relate to this film starring Channing Tatum. There were a couple of stereotypes like the hot girl everyone's eager to see whether or not she got fat. Or the class bully whom you're hoping doesn't show up at all. Most of all, though, when you go to your reunion you're eager to see the people who meant the most to you. Like a sweetheart, or the guy you had a crush on. All of these scenarios are represented in this film. I admit, I chose it because of Anthony Mackie whom I'd just seen kicking vampire butt in Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, but I'm glad I watched this film. It was more poignant than I thought it would be. A lot of the characters matured in the ten years since they'd graduated. Although one of them was still a bully deep down even though he made a show of having 'changed'. Entertaining and even enlightening, give 10 Years a try.

I was a little reluctant to watch this movie given the couple bad reviews that I read on Amazon and the "average" IMDB rating. I just finished watching this and I would indeed rate this at least 7 out of 10. The story line had humor, romance, realism, and the acting and storyline were both above average.

I don't like silly movies that have no heart or emotion in both acting and storyline, and this movie, 10 Years, has both Heart and Emotion and left me feeling like watching it again.

This will go into my movie Library.

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10 Years has a great cast and the performances are all very good. The problem, or the movie's strong point, depending on your taste, is that the pace and the individual stories are very realistic. The problem with that is that things move a little slowly. I did enjoy the movie, and it's worth the price of a rental, but it's not something that I would go out of my way to see again.

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I read the only review posted here and was disgusted. The reviewer didn't "get" the movie at all and that's a shame. If he would take the time to READ about what the movie was about before he saw it he may understand the things he didn't like are EXACTLY what the storyline said it would be and IS. It's a brilliant collection of individuals who act just as real people act in the situation of the story. Jamie Linden did an excellent job capturing what a high school reunion is like and how the characters of your past change or don't!

I thought the movie flew by and would have liked to know even more and be able to spend even more time with the characters. I can't wait for the video to be released and will have to add it to my library. I also look forward to the next Linden production.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Call me crazy but I always love movies centered around high school reunions. 10 YEARS is no exception. The cast is very attractive and engaging and the plot is, well, pretty typical of every other movie of this genre. It does not move along as quickly as, say, ROMY & MICHELLE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, but toward the end the pace quickens a bit. There is a lot of dialogue in this film and I seemed to have a bit of difficulty hearing all the lines of the actors. Not sure if it was the sound quality or my aging ears. There were some funny parts and some heartfelt moments. There seems to be a character that almost everyone could identify with. Overall, this was not my favorite high school reunion movie, but it certainly wasn't the worst. It's worth seeing, just for the attractive cast if nothing else. I liked it and I will share it with friends.

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Mysterious Girlfriend X: Complete Collection

Unfortunately, as too often happens, the people who write the product summary have either never watched the show in question, or are misguided enough to believe that sensationalism is the path to sales success. What I mean to say is the "Editorial Review" (which is rather a "official" product summary) is almost entirely misleading as to what this show is about.

Here's what Mysterious Girlfriend X is really about:

This is a low-key romantic comedy about a couple of high schoolers discovering love for the first time with each other. Although there are some unique circumstances as to how this comes about, the core of the story is not really about those oddities, but rather about how this couple grows together emotionally over time.

Mikoto Urabe is the titular "Mysterious Girlfriend" -and an intriguing mystery she definitely is. In the strictest sense she represents what is sometimes referred to as the "Magical Girlfriend" type of character... however this is played very low-key for most of the series, with the emphasis instead placed on how she handles developing her love interest (given her unusual attributes), rather than any stories focused on her "powers" per se.

Akira Tsubaki is the often bewildered protagonist -equally accepting and intrigued by Urabe. Probably the most important thing I can say about him is: he is normal, in the sense that he is neither an over-the-top pervert, nor does he recoil in fear whenever a female pays attention to him (unlike alot of anime male leads). His reactions are pretty understandable, and generally he is a pretty mellow guy.

There is drool exchanged, and alot of it -but this is reasonable when you consider how much drool is exchanged in your average french kiss (not to mention other bodily fluids in intercourse). Some people seem to haven a strong aversion to this, but that really comes down to some unrealistic ideas as to what is "hygienic" in human sexuality (which is not a terribly hygienic act). Mysterious Girlfriend X handles these realities with a very matter-of-fact honesty that is quite refreshing.

Overall, the series is heartwarming and humorous, and I think by the end of the series you will find yourself rooting for the couple to continue growing together long into their mysterious future.

Addendum: After I purchased the Blu-ray I was able to watch the entire series dubbed as well. I think it was a pretty good dub overall, and it could absolutely be enjoyable for someone who hates subtitles -but I still prefer the original Japanese cast, and would recommend watching the subtitled version.

There are techniques used by storytellers and others to grab the audience and to hold their attention;this crazy series grabs a "handful" and doesn't let go,even when it becomes clear the two are heading down the path to probable romance. The initial tasting of her drool may feel like a slap across the eyes to even the most hardy of otako's and cause the weak to run screaming from the room but if you take it as a French kiss... without the tongue...and the kiss...,well,it still is a bit off the wall.The tasting of drool,so goes the storyline,tells the taster the true feelings of the the drool doner that they are unable to express in words,but only if there is a "connection" to the other person.

What you will get is a great,well-drawn,dare I say,intelligent series about a male teenager that falls for a very strange teen-aged girl that,among other weirdness,carries a pair of scissors in her panties, even in her bikini while she sunbathes at the beach.For whatever reason,she pulls the scissors out and uses them to astonishing effect on whatever object that she targets.

Probably one of the best offerings from the anime "gods" this season and is on my "must buy" list. Easily PG-13 but probably aimed for the 16-17 age group. I got my copy quickly and it is a first-rate product. The "fan-serv" in this edition remains the same few times she pulls her scissors out and the "nudity" is,even without details,(ie,no nipples)the nude bodies are further shaded or blurred. As the story is the purpose of this series and not fan-service,it is most highly recommended.

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The initial impression I had from this anime is that this would be a really queer series to watch. I decided to give it a try since crunchyroll had it available for subscription and I actually enjoyed watching the story and seeing the characters progress through their problems.

Story:

The premise is that a new transfer student names Urabe comes into the class of the main character Akira and she ends up creeping everyone out by out bursting into laughter. One day Akria comes back into the class late and wakes up Urabe and tells her to go home and she ends up leaving a drool puddle on her desk. For some unknown reason Akira decides to lick that drool.

Throughout the series Urabe's drool has some mysterious effect on Akira. This is really out there with the drool thing, but the story does suck you in and makes you want to know what events take place each episode. I never found it to be predictable at all with a really unique character like Urabe. The series definitely has more a mature theme, but I never found it to be creepy, it's just how the characters are.

Animation:

The animation is pretty cool in this series. It has the high-definition quality of 1080p, but the character design have that classic 1990/2000's look to them a bit and it ends up blending together wonderfully. The locations they visit and the school setting all look amazing in HD and you never get bored watching the events taking place. The main characters themselves have their own unique look to them and you can tell who's who even if they are in the school outfits, or city clothes.

Soundtrack:

Some of the themes are really, really cool. The main one I love is the dream theme; which is the song that plays when Akira has a dream, or any dream like sequence that plays out during the anime. It was really nothing I have heard before and was stuck in my head for a while. The other themes are mainly a mix of the opening and ending themes.

Speaking of the opening and ending songs, the voice actress for Urabe actually sings both of them. I only found this out by looking at IMDB and I thought this was pretty cool that she can both act and sing really well. The opening theme reminds me a bit of Chobits though, since you can hear a bit of theme at the start of it. The closing theme is interesting to listen to as well.

Verdict:

I really enjoyed watching this anime and it's nothing like I have seen before. The memorable soundtrack, characters and story make this a series I really recommend to anyone who enjoys anime; especially those who like stories about relationships. Granted I know the droll thing can make some people not want to watch this anime at all, but is it really that odd compared to series that have aliens with superpowers that shoot beams, or giant robots fighting intergalactic wars? If you can get past the droll theme, you're in for one of the most unusual and great series out there.

Positive:

* Really cool story that sucks you in

* Never found it to be predictable

* Great mix of classic character design with High Definition Resolution

* Characters are identifiable with unique design

* Dream theme is amazing and extremely memorable

Negative:

* Drool thing might turn away some people

* Also has some mature themes in the episodes

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First, listen to the other reviewers and NOT the blurb on the back of the package. Though I like spit puns as much as the next person, that is a very inaccurate description of the tone of this show. It's actually a pretty serious and often sweet show, not just a gross-out comedy. Nothing really gets explained about Urabe's "powers" (no answers in the manga yet either) but it preserves her mystery. Anyway, when I first watched the show, I might has well have had some of Urabe's addicting drool: I marathoned all thirteen episodes in one day!

It is rated M, and rightly so, but it's pretty tame compared to most M-rated things I've seen. There is no sex, no violence to speak of, some nudity shielded by strategically placed shadows (edit: a bit more than I remembered, you can actually see some... topmost female body parts in the second episode, though they are shown in the shadowed side of a sunset), a few suggestive surreal dream sequences, and no bad language that I recall (at least in the subtitled version). The topics of sex and arousal are touched on, mainly to illustrate some of the embarrassing/confusing feelings, and honest wonderings about sex that most teenagers have. But one thing I really love about the show is that the main couple is taking their relationship very slow. I read an essay online calling it "the first pro-abstinence anime", and that sounds about right to me. I would say this show is appropriate for more conservative teens ages 16 and up.

Finally unless you really like the manga, I would not recommend buying this show without watching at least several episodes first. (At the present time, it's streaming legally for free on Crunchyroll.) I absolutely love it, but I realize that there are a lot of people who won't. There's a slowly building romance with no "payoff" in the traditional sense, so that may disappoint some viewers. And then there's the drool. And a lot of it. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me, but I have always kind of been labeled the weird one in my family... and at my school... and at my church... and, well... Try the show: you just might like it.

Update: Got the blu-rays, and just wanted to say that the picture and sound quality is fantastic. Had to watch the dub for comparison reasons and I LOVED it. Since I don't speak Japanese, I missed a lot of the nuances in the tones of voice the characters were (probably) using. I can actually discern them in the English dub, so I enjoy the show even more now than I did before. I thought the VA they picked for Urabe was perfect. Almost no special features, if you care about that. I found this to be a good release, and I'm sure going to get my money's worth out of it.

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I won't give a description of this, already available. The studio description doesn't do it justice and sells it short.

I finally got my copy of the DVD and have been watching the series over again. I have been enjoying the small, subtle hints and background character development. The story is actually rather sweet and the more I watch it, the better I like it. The drool doesn't bother me, or get in the way. There is no way that words could express the feelings that Tsubaki and Urabe have for each other. One realizes how intense (dare I say mind shattering) a real kiss might be!

Tsubakis frustrations at the pace of the relationships development is understandable. But I think he realizes what the true depth of Urabes affection for him is.

I still think that there are a whole lot of questions regarding Urabes background that would prove quite interesting. (The manga doesn't touch on that aspect either. I have enjoyed the manga, but after 77 chapters, I'm left asking for more background. I don't see a lot of development as a couple).

The only real disappointment I have with the DVD is the english dub. First, I didn't expect one. Nothing I read in the reviews or DVD decriptions led me to believe there would be one. That being said, the dub is poorly done.

Although it follows the sub titles pretty closely, the VA's chosen are hard to appreciate.

The VA's just don't give me the same feel as the subbed version does.

Tsubaki= Josh Grelle

Urabe= Genevieve Simmons

Ueno= Greg Ayers

Christofer Ayers is the ADR manager.

Oka= Brittny Karbowski

Youko= CArli Mosier

Not their best work.

If you liked it, the DVD is worth adding to the library.

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The Yankles (2012)

This is a very enjoyable movie with a big heart. It takes the classic underdog gets a second chance theme and presents it in its own unique way. It centers on a baseball team, but it is not a "sports" movie. It takes place at a Yeshiva, but it is not a religious movie. Rather, it's a feel-good movie with likeable characters that will absolutely leave a smile on your face. As far as originality, it does hew to the well-known cinematic theme of underdogs doing well under the guidance of new leadership, however much originality is here in context of the setting, the characters and their cultural struggles with the sport, as well as an interesting plot twist that may prevent them from ultimately playing in an important league tournament. I first saw it on the big screen, and now that it is out on Blu-ray (as well as on Amazon Instant Video), I plan on having it as part of my permanent home library as well!

In life, winning isn't everything. Sports films have built their own industry within an industry about exploring what it is that makes one a winner: is it the final score, is it the way the game is played, or is it something more, something magical, something that'll always be elusive except to those who're willing to put in on the line for their team? Along comes THE YANKLES, and you'll believe it has far more to do with one's faith faith in the game, faith in your God, faith in yourself and maybe that's the best estimation put to film yet.

Down-on-his-luck Charlie Jones (played by Brian Wimmer) an ex-baseball player fresh out of jail and trying to reform his life and image can't find a team anywhere that'll touch him with a ten foot pole. Enter "the Yankles," a brand-new college team desperately in need of a coach! A former Minor League playing now pursuing his faith learns that Jones needs to meet his community service commitment under the terms of his parole, and voila! It's a match made in sports comedy Heaven ... or whatever may account for Heaven in the Jewish faith.

What writer/director David R. Brooks (along with writing partner Zev Brooks) has done is they've smartly examined the world of sports through the prism of faith ... and why not? There have long been messages about believing in one's self mirrored in the best sports movies, but he's amped up the faith to an all new level here by revolving the story around a fictional collegiate team set at a Jewish school. What could spiral into "preachy-ness" stays mostly sublime as the team struggles to understand `the game' instead of simply `winning it,' allowing for such handsome subplots as having a father and a son comes to terms with their differing views on life as well as Jones trying to win back his former love who's now embraced her faith fully. Through Jones' eyes, the audience gets introduced to these matters; through the team's eyes, they see what rewards come with the full expression of it. It's balanced extremely well, and, indeed, these matters of devotion end up meaning more personally than they would in a film wholly centered on baseball.

My only complaint and, sure, I'm a critic, so I have to have at least one is that the games here never really get center stage. (I know that wasn't the pure intent of the film, but I'll say what I think needs to be said anyhow.) Instead of building up the game giving the viewer a handful of sequences to set up how important a critical play or crucial inning is for the story instead we're given only the pivotal sequence. Instead of presenting the full sense of a game, the game is reduced to just what's needed to underscore the message. That's all well and good; and it happens so consistently throughout that it's easy to determine that it was either (a) deliberate or (b) due to the constraints of time. However, it would've been nice to have the big game the championship game play out a bit closer to the way they do in a traditional sports film. So much was made about the lessons learned in getting to `the show' that it would've been nice to give those moments more screen time; still, it's a minor blemish in an otherwise solid (and noble) run around the bases. Otherwise, the film never feels formulaic, and it retains a modest freshness throughout.

For the record, I know very little about the Jewish faith. While a large part of THE YANKLES' storylines explore what it's like to be a Jew especially as it impacts with playing a sport I found all of it extremely accessible. I've no doubt that if I had a stronger understanding of the Jewish faith I probably would've uncovered even more humor in the script, but, as I've read some scuttlebutt online about "needing to be a Jew" in order to truly appreciate the film, I wanted to debunk that so far as I was concerned. This non-Jew found plenty to identify with and cheer about with this feature.

At a time when the evening news is fairly regularly filled with stories of players, parents, coaches, referees, and umpires going berserk on and off the playing field, how refreshing is it to find a film like THE YANKLES? Certainly, the story briefly explores I said "briefly," folks the importance of winning on the field, but so much more of the film spends time exploring how important a winning strategy is off the field. There are metaphors for winning in life, in school, in faith, in relationships.

THE YANKLES is produced by Magnolia Pictures with DZB Productions, LLC. DVD distribution is handled through Magnolia Home Entertainment. The disc looks exceptional, and I'll admit I had some trouble with audio in a few sequences; the mix was a bit off for my tastes, but it was certainly fixable on my sound system. And, for the record, the film has won plenty of accolades, including "Audience Favorite Best Feature' at both the 2010 Palm Beach International Film Festival and the 2011 Trimedia Film Festival, as well as other citations at the 2010 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, the 2010 Int'l Family Film Festival, the 2011 New Jersey Jewish Film Festival, the 2010 Heartland Film Festival, and the 2010 Anaheim International Film Festival. The disc includes deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, extended musical scenes (music plays a large role in the flick), an audio commentary, and other little trinkets.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDED. Certainly a case could be made that THE YANKLES isn't for everyone, but it would be just plain silly to do so. And you'd be a putz! Or a schmuck! Give in to the wholesome charm of watching these young Rabbis-in-training put up or shut up in their trials to just play the game, and have yourself two hours of fun. Plus, it's overwhelmingly family-friendly even for the young'uns who'll probably find even more to laugh at than this old soul did.

In the interests of fairness, I'm pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Magnolia Home Entertainment provided me with a DVD screener copy of THE YANKLES by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review.

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Every Baseball fan and Jew should see this movie. This is a great movie for frends to get together and watch. Also fun movie for a temple togther.

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This is a very enjoyable movie with a big heart. It takes the classic underdog gets a second chance theme and presents it in its own unique way. It centers on a baseball team, but it is not a "sports" movie. It takes place at a Yeshiva, but it is not a religious movie. Rather, it's a feel-good movie with likeable characters that will absolutely leave a smile on your face. As far as originality, it does hew to the well-known cinematic theme of underdogs doing well under the guidance of new leadership, however much originality is here in context of the setting, the characters and their cultural struggles with the sport, as well as an interesting plot twist that may prevent them from ultimately playing in an important league tournament. I saw it on the big screen, and now that it is out on Blu-ray, I plan on having it as part of my permanent home library as well!

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Fantastic movie -well-written, engaging subject matter, and inspiring story. Enjoyed by the entire family. Kudos for a great and entertaining production. I highly recommend this film.

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Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This

If you are a casual or even huge Cheech & Chong fan, you will find something that you will enjoy in this DVD. For the casual fan, you will see all of the classic C&C bits, but for the hardcore fan, you will get so much more. Old faves are flipped in new ways, updated for the times, making them even more hilarious than the first time around, & various characters that the duo have performed as make appearances throughout as well. Also, you get a bit of Shelby Chong's performance & bits of Tommy Chong doing solo bits about pot (duh) & being incarcerated for selling bongs (see the documentary "a/k/a Tommy Chong" for more information). The production quality is top notch, & the program flows so well, interweaving between stage bits & backstage or character bits.

Even better, this show was shot in my hometown (San Antonio TX) at a theatre (The Majestic Theatre) that I have been to many times. I have even been on the outside balcony area that the two end up on trying to smoke a fatty in the DVD (don't want to give to much away, but it is one of the funniest parts). Also, make sure to stick around until after the credits for a quick bonus. Dave was here.

In other reviews of "live" shows from comedy to Rock I usually say that my acid test is if I saw the show is it a good representation and if I didn't am I mad at myself for missing it...and I am furious that I didn't catch these guys on this tour because I think I'd still be laughing. I picked up the blu-ray and the production values are top notch. Its also a unique way to present a live show with many inserted bits (I do not want to give them away) that while not giving the viewer the exact live feel maybe improve it to almost movie level...in fact this is more a concert movie than a documentary of a show....and that's not a bad thing..it means more laughs!!

There are also plentiful bonus features that I believe make this worthwhile to purchase. If you are a fan that goes back to their initial films and "records man" ...ooops , then this will be a lovely trip back.

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I just wish that Dave was here so that he could watch these two guys together again, doing what they do BEST. And that is, making us all laugh 'til we cry. Hey man, what a trip. EXCELLENT! That truly sums it all up in just one word. EXCELLENT! Five STARS all the way. You just have to watch the totally hilarious skit in which the two guys dress up like an old married couple, and go to a sleezy theater to see a porn movie together. OMG! I honestly had to stop the DVD twice during that particular skit, just to catch my breath again. I was laughing so hard I couldn't even breath right. I honestly have NOT laughed that hard in years and years. It was so great to see the boys back together again, especially after so many years of being apart. Believe me everyone, if you are a TRUE (and I mean a TRUE) Cheech & Chong fan, then you'll not only order this DVD from NetFlix, you'll also order it through Amazon, so that you can own this DVD for yourself. OMG, it was great! Totally awesome. I must watch this one again tonight, before I have to return it. Way to go, DUDES. Way to go!

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Hey man is Dave here? Great movie of Cheech and Chong reunited after all these years and at a great price. Lots of laughs for the money. Thank you Amazon!!!

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This was frigging hilarious. I loved this so much I bought it. I loved it as much as Up in Smoke. Hope Cheech & Chong are getting high off the royalties! Can't wait for their next adventure!

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Music and Lyrics (2007)

Sure. Why not? The first question in assessing a movie's merit is does it do as intended?

With "Music and Lyrics," what it intends is nothing extraordinary. It aims to be a fun, romantic, sweet comedy of a man meeting a woman and falling in love, with a poke at pop culture. It accomplishes this. I saw this on February 14, Valentine's Day, and wanted exactly as delivered.

Paul McCartney asked in the 1970s what the world needs with another silly love song. "Music and Lyrics" is, in film, a silly love song.

Hugh Grant plays Alex Fletcher, a has-been pop singer from a defunct duo similar to Wham!, struggles to find his way as his audience stops caring. Realistic, he knows what he is capable of, but is unsure what his next step should be.

When Cora, a pretentious form of Britney Spears-Shakira-Christina Aguilera of sex-pop, offers him an opportunity to write a song, he runs into trouble. He is a melody man, not a lyricist. His lyricist from his old band, Pop!, is long gone.

In walks Sophie Fisher, played with charm by the ever-sweet Drew Barrymore. She's Alex's temporary plant watering person (and not a very good one), with a penchant for delivering peppy lyrics under her breath. Despite the scorn of fill-in wordsmith Greg Antonsky, Alex takes a liking to her style. Greg's angst-style, hopeless lyrics seem off kilter with Alex's personality.

Embittered from a broken affair with an engaged man, Sophie is uninterested. It is one thing to hum a tune, and it is another to commit to writing a song. However, Alex only has a few days and pressures (begs, really), Sophie to help.

She acquiesces, and tries to write. Alex and Sophie clash, as he understands the profession of music, and is desperate, and she is still stuck on the failed affair.

Both are living in the past, and both need to move up into 2007 to survive and thrive.

Finally, lyrics are written, and Cora loves them -with a few changes. Cora's version is laced with faux spirituality and tramped-up seduction. Sophie's artistic sensibilities are insulted, and pulls the song much to Alex's chagrin. They argue, break-up, and now, Alex is stuck trying to fix a song.

Can he fix the song on time? Will they figure out how to live in the present day? What about love (this is a romantic comedy, remember?).

A fine self-mocking performance is put on by Kristen Johnston as Sophie's older sister Rhonda, making jabs at her own weight-loss campaign. Brad Garrett as Alex's agent Chris Riley is right on the money, as he is both a manager and friend.

Drew Barrymore shows she's more than the girl next door, but has a kind of Lucille Ball, Jenna Elfman, Meg Ryan mix going on.

Hugh Grant is perfectly cast, and is the better side of himself. He never overplays the role, and yet, does not fall into the 'stupid Englishman' persona he occasionally does.

I fully recommend "Music and Lyrics."

Anthony Trendl

editor, HungarianBookstore.com

"Music and Lyrics" is a hoot: witty, bright, beautifully performed by the luminous Drew Barrymore (as ditzy, charming, beautiful Sophie Fletcher) and the dry of wit, Hugh Grant (as the less famous half, Alex Fletcher of a hot 80's duo, "Pop" obviously patterned after "WHAM") and briskly paced by director Marc Lawrence.

The story is light and airy: Fletcher needs help writing a song for a Britney clone, Cora. A song that could maybe bring him back to prominence after twenty years of playing store openings, amusement parks and nostalgia concerts. Sophie, though a partner with her sister in a Weight Loss clinic, is a whiz at writing pop lyrics: presto...match made in heaven!

The interplay between Barrymore and Grant is spot on and the dialogue and story are almost up to their excellent timing but they both work hard, though not too as that would negate the comedy, to make this work and in most scenes it does.

"Music and Lyrics" is as light as a crepe filled with caramelized bananas and topped with whipped cream and as such don't expect more from it than a huge smile and the delicious satisfaction that comes from eating something you have no business consuming.

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Really good romantic comedies are few and far between. 'Music and Lyrics is one of the good ones! Reminiscent of 'The Wedding Singer' with it's parody of the 80's pop scene and also co-starring Drew Barrymore, this smart and funny film features a believable chemistry and relationship between the two leads and not too sappy an ending. The 80's in-jokes are clever and keep this movie from falling into the same traps most bad romantic comedies do. Hugh and Drew are as likable as they ever have been in this romantic musical comedy! The fact that they acually sing the songs in this film make it all the better.

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This is a movie that you'll love forever. Hearing any snippet of the score will give you that happy, sappy feeling that only a great romantic comedy can.

Drew Barrymore is precious as only Drew Barrymore can be, and five minutes into the film I forgot that I never really considered myself a huge fan of Hugh Grant!

Music and Lyrics is everything that a romantic comedy is meant to be and then some. This DVD belongs in your collection!

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From the opening credits, "Music and Lyrics" bounces along and for ninety minutes draws you in to what has to be one of the most charmingly appealing films of the last few years. Everything seems to work here beginning with the simple premise that a has-been songwriter is given a deadline of two days to write a new song for an up-and-coming pop queen...only to discover that he needs a lyricist. And boy, does he find one!

Hugh Grant plays Alex Fletcher, the aging star of the musical group "Pop". With that song deadline looming and down-and-out about his success in completing it on time, in walks Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) to water his plants. What happens from here on out is pure magic as Alex discovers Sophie's natural talent with lyrics. The film sails along, never letting down, as they work together and discover each other.

I've seen "Music and Lyrics" twice and liked it even better the second time. The supporting cast with Brad Garrett as Alex's tortured manager, Kristen Johnston, as Sophie's neurotic-driven older sister and Haley Bennett as Cora Corman, the new pop sensation, are all terrific. The songs are evocative of another age and work well in support of the film. But it is really the chemistry between Grant and Barrymore that wins the viewer over. Perfectly cast, she plays foil to his gentle, persuasive humor and the end result is sheer joy. I highly recommend "Music and Lyrics". It's a refreshingly funny, witty and wonderful film.

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Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection (Spartacus / Lolita / Dr. Strangelove / 2001: A Space O

I won't review the films themselves. I have done so elsewhere, and if you are reading this, you probably are a Kubrick fan, anyway. My set arrived yesterday and I have spent some quality time with it, though I have obviously not had a chance to watch every disk all the way through, yet.

On one user's negative review with respect to the "destructive" packaging: all I can say is, if you stop and think about it before wailing on the disks trying to get them out of their sleeves, you'll be FINE. The sleeves, are indeed, engineered to keep the disks in, so they don't fall on the floor if you tip the package the wrong way. A moment's thought will tell you that a thumb on the label side of the disk, a forefinger on the edge, and some firm but gentle pulling while rotating a little is all you need to get the disks out without a hint of damage. The sleeve will release its grip and all will be well. Believe me, you'll be glad for the snugness of the fit when you realize how well it protects the disks when you're not watching them.

On the continuing Aspect Ratio controversy: I could be wrong about this, but I think the esteemed Mr. Kubrick would be fine with the 16x9 cropping of The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. It's true that Kubrick initially only wanted videos of his films released "full frame", i.e. with the whole negative image showing unmasked, because he hated pan-scan, and thought letterboxing distracting. After Barry Lyndon, he shot 35mm without a hard matte, but composed for 1.85:1 precisely because he knew some theaters would project it 1.85:1 while others would go for 1.66:1, and still others would have their own "custom" aspect ratio i.e. funky screen size based more on the way larger theaters were being chopped up into multiplexes at the time, than on the needs of the films being shown. But newer 16x9 HD TVs, which became popular after his death, largely obviated the need for near full-negative cropping, as far as video is concerned. Kubrick's visual compositions are just slightly roomy in 16x9, without the oddly empty quality of some of his shots when viewed in full-frame on a 4x3 TV. There are purists who get almost violent when discussing the "proper" aspect ratios of Kubrick's *oeuvre* on video, and who insist we should be watching them in 4x3 even now, because "that's what he intended." I am not among them. His original reasoning made sense when TVs were all squarish, but I think he would have accommodated 16x9 home theatre TVs, had he lived into the Blu-ray era. Such TVs existed in his lifetime, but they were not the norm the way they are now. If you read his interviews carefully, he was a surprisingly practical guy, for being such a perfectionist.

The transfers appear, in most cases, to be the same ones used for the last release of the collection, but in a format closer to their native 4k resolution. They are thank God NOT over-enhanced the way so many mass-market "popular" films seem to be when released on Blu-ray, these days. While they are sharp and detailed, they don't have those artificially "cut out" looking edges, either. I'm not a videophile, but I like what I see and hear.

I was able to get the discs out easily without damage. They stick slightly but i just used my shirt and wedged them out. no scratches and no finger prints. They play fine. i did put them in jewel cases so i don"t have to worry about someone else having trouble. i wouldn't let the negative reviews turn you off to this box. They made it sound a lot worse than it is.

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While, as other noted reviewers have expressed, yes, most of the Blu-ray's in this set have been available previously. But altogether at once, including Dr. Strangelove, Spartacus, Lolita (first time on Blu), and Barry Lyndon (also first time on Blu), along with the new 40th anniversary edition of A Clockwork Orange? Yes, I'd say it's safe to venture that this set is worth the seemingly steep price. Because yes, at first glance, it seems like a lot of money until you realize the value at hand.

But value aside, the transfers are mostly fantastic, especially the transfer on my favorite of Kubrick's films, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The colors are crisp and the details are fantastic, especially the black and white on Lolita. I am so glad that this film had finally achieved a release on Blu Ray.

My only complaint is the lack of new features on the previously released discs and the lack of ANY FEATURES on Lolita and Barry Lyndon. Fans have been waiting years for these releases and we now only get half of a release (the other half should have contained a commentary by an expert AT LEAST). But the transfers are fantastic, making it a satisfying purchase.

Overall, I am especially happy with this release, save for the complaints that I have previously listed. I'd give the box set a four out of five.

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This is an absolutely amazing set in terms of the films and their respective transfers but the packaging is seriously atrocious. In terms of content I must advise anyone who is interested in Stanley Kubrick's films to buy this set but be forewarned, the packaging is really irritating. It's not because of how hard it is to remove the discs (that's not an issue for me), it's because of the smudges and scratches that may result from said removal. My advice: buy the set and some cheap plastic DVD cases, remove the discs and house them in the cases instead of the collection booklet.

Otherwise, I love this set. I've never seen Barry Lyndon look this beautiful!

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This is regarding the non-blu-ray version:

GENERAL: If you are a fan of Stanley Kubrick, you probably own all or most of these movies. The versions on these discs are the most recent versions released on DVD, just re-ripped to these colorful discs to make a snazzy package. In other words, there are no new extras. (For example: Clockwork Orange just has audio commentary and theatrical trailer, just like the version in the last Kubrick collection.)

ASPECT RATIOS: These are fine. (I mean for goodness' sake, people, get a grip...) As with all of the other releases that I've seen (again... for goodness' sake, people, get a grip...) these all have the varying aspect ratios intended by Kubrick. For example, Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon are 1.66 to 1. Space Odyssey is 2.35 to 1. These are honestly the only three I checked.

(As a matter of fact, Clockwork is the first DVD with a 1.66 to 1 ratio that my DVD player actually reads properly! With Barry Lyndon which is on this set and Nightmare Before Christmas, I have to mess around with my DVD player and my TV to get it the movies to not be stretched out.)

THE PACKAGING: One early reviewer had a problem with the DVDs coming in cardboard casings that scuffed the discs. The package I received from amazon does not use this type of casing for the discs. The discs are cased in a beautifully practical plastic binding. Each disc is on its own "page" in the binding, stuck into a spindle. Works great.

NOTE: Watched Spartacus. Actually looks pretty awful, considering. One scene opens focused a line of people about 20 feet from the camera, and their faces are just total blurs. Also, there are little black film blemishes that come up sometimes. That said, who was really buying this set to see Spartacus?

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Leaves of Grass (2009)

Leaves of Grass isn't a movie that you can easily categorize. While it doesn't offer up laughs every few minutes, it's still a clever comedy in the vein of a Coen Brothers film. But you also can't quite call it a black comedy completely in the spirit of Burn After Reading or Fargo. It's equal parts crime drama, humor, romance and philosophy.

The film revolves around the intertwining lives of two identical twins, played by the incredibly talented Edward Norton. Ivy League philosophy professor Bill Kincaid is lured back to his Oklahoma hometown as part of a scheme cooked up by Mary Jane growing brother Brady. The first half hour of the film moves slowly but quickly gains momentum when the two siblings eventually cross paths.

The best part of this movie is easily watching Norton put on brilliant performances as both brothers. The supporting cast is top-notch as well, especially director Tim Blake Nelson in the role of Bolger, Brady's partner in crime. Nelson slips into the role effortlessly, which is no surprise considering he himself is a real-life Okie (a Jewish one at that, which influences a subplot of the movie). My only gripe with casting was Richard Dreyfuss as Jewish gangster Pug Rothbaum, with Dreyfuss giving one of the most bizarre attempts at a Southern accent in film.

I enjoyed the cinematography, Jeff Danna's work on the score, and the infusion of philosophy into the film. As a Southerner, I appreciated the fact that Brady's accent was no reflection on his intelligence. While not as well-read as his sibling, he still gets the occasional profound message across. The only real complaint I have about the film are the jarring scenes of violence. Considering it's not entirely a dark comedy, scenes that involved murders seemed extremely out of place in this movie.

Overall, watching Edward Norton effectively tackle two completely different roles was a real treat. If you enjoy a good drama or comedy that makes you think, definitely check this one out.

A double performance by Edward Norton as two entirely opposite brothers is, surprisingly enough, not the only reason to see this film. Yes, Norton's a master of his craft and his stoner hick brother and oxford-cloth uptight prof brother are both equally masterful creations. He dominates every scene, on par with Nicholas Cage's similar turn in Adaptation or more recently Sam Rockwell's in the slow-burn space opera Moon. But even without a competent lead like Norton at the helm, the film succeeds, chiefly do the the adept writing/direction of Tim Black Nelson, who incidentally has a side-kick part as a dim-witted trailer trash fella with a heart of pure gold.

The script is great. Beginning with a philosophy lecture that doesn't feel at all forced and eventually delving into some pretty shocking violence (and lots of pot smoking...with pot that LOOKS LIKE REAL POT! Seriously, pretty convincing for once) the film is a down-home roller coaster ride that even manages to work in Whitman's titular namesake to pretty good effect. Don't except straight up comedy, as the film is pretty gory at times. The tone, in fact, takes a sort of 180 degree shift about 2/3 of the way in, becoming more dramatic ala a warmer, brighter Fargo or a more subdued, less western-oriented Red Rock West. The effect of this shift is a little disorienting, but ultimately it works, seeming to freshen the proceedings. There is palpable suspense. We feel for Norton's characters, both of them. His accent is pretty good and his eyes (especially as the rural brother) are strange and intoxicating. I can't stress enough how unique and interesting this film is. It works as a crime drama, stoner comedy, philosophical treatise on life/the choices we make that make us. It is equal parts funny, screwball, bloody and in the end pretty life-affirming. There are a couple scenes that feel sort of contrived (one subplot involving a wayward Jewish orthodontist seems a little too easy, but is interesting nevertheless) but overall this is a high-brow bit of sweaty-palmed but laugh inducing entertainment and not be missed if you have a fleeting interest in pot flicks and/or low-life crime character studies.

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I enjoyed this move. I thought it had character and realism. That said, I think it is wrong to call it a comedy. It is a fairly hard hitting movie that has very graphic violence and a gritty taste. The comedy is almost all based on tragedy.

I don't recommend it for folks that aren't ready for movie that is rated R based on violence and needs to be.

Good movie, but don't be fooled by characterizations you may read.

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LEAVES OF GRASS is a writing and directing triumph for Tim Blake Nelson! One of the reasons for such applause is the on-screen impression Nelson brings to his roles that of a funny but not too bright backwoods hick and that impression is completely squelched (though not in the character he plays in the film -another dummy) by his intelligent and challenging writing and astute direction. LEAVES OF GRASS as a title begins the dichotomy of message and content of this film: yes, it references Walt Whitman's great book many times and in many ways, but it also refers to the contemporary interpretation of the word 'grass' as being marijuana. It is that kind of double entendre that propels this film of the conflict and life progress of identical twin brothers from Oklahoma both played with consummate skill by Edward Norton.

Bill Kincaid (Edward Norton) is a brilliant contemporary and classical philosophy professor at Brown University who speaks in academic terms, having isolated his feelings from the world by obsessing on the meanings of the teachings of Plato, Sophocles, etc: passion is destructive and to be avoided. He left his Oklahoma family 12 years ago, unable to relate to the shenanigans of his twin brother ex-con Brady (Edward Norton) and his drug-addled mother Daisy (Susan Sarandon). Back home Brady and Daisy long to see Bill (Daisy has placed herself in a retirement center to avoid bad habits and Brady has developed a sophisticated marijuana production system) and they agree that the only way Bill will come home is if one of them dies. Brady is in trouble with the drug dealer Pug Rothbaum (Richard Dreyfus) in Tulsa and Brady knows that the only way he and his looney partner Bolger (Tim Blake Nelson) can resolve matters is to get Brady's double back home as an alibi. Bill recieves a message that Brady has been murdered and reluctantly decides to go home for the funeral. But arriving home Bill discovers the truth of the ploy and is convinced that if he simply stays in Little Dixie, OK for a weekend he will be able to return to his work. Confrontations occur, both negative and positive: Bill meets school teacher/poet Janet (Keri Russell) and feels an attraction that has been dormant, Brady introduces Bill to the pleasures of his premium marijuana, Bill meets with Daisy in a moving encounter, Brady and Bolger travel to Tulsa and become involved in murder, and when Brady and Bolger return there is a final scene where the broken worlds of the twins is in a way repaired.

That is only a brief outline of the complex plot that Nelson has written and far too many of the subplots have not been mentioned. But LEAVES OF GRASS, like reading Whitman's book, must be savored. The acting is terrific, the atmosphere of Oklahoma is well-captured, and the strange musical score by Jeff Danna matches the story perfectly. Edward Norton is in top form as both of the twins and the rest of the cast many very well known names are in minor roles is uniformly fine. It is a comedy but as in the classical sense, a true comedy must contain drama, and there is drama 'aplenty' . Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 2010

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There isn't much to say that hasn't been said by others.

My favorite thing about this film is that it was a new story, not the same boring, meaningless drivel that usually ends up making the most money. The actors & producers weren't trying to make everyone happy, they were trying to make a good film & knew it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

The thing which strikes me most about the story, and yet doesn't get mentioned is that all of the violence and death in this film comes from the fact that the grass is under prohibition just like all the violence which resulted from alcohol prohibition and just as regrettable. If Brady could have worked on his agriculture without the threat of prison, he wouldn't have had to deal with a shady dealer of dangerous narcotics for financing. If his plants were legal, he could have resolved his business dispute in court instead of with violence and nobody would have been killed.

Anyway... good movie, I'm glad the film industry still takes risks by shooting quirky, not-for-everyone stories that they know won't make as much money as vapid action thrillers. Every actor in this film earned their keep by presenting believable representations, and of course Ed Norton rocked the hell out of both roles. Not bad camera work either... I read a couple reviews that the "twins" don't exactly look each other in the eye when they're talking to each other... wha? I was too busy enjoying the story to notice nitpicks like that.

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The Babysitters (2007)

Initially when I heard about The Babysitters, I thought of Risky Business with Tom Cruise in it, but upon watching it, I realised the two movies are very different. Risky Business was tinged with humor throughout but The Babysitters takes a very dark look at teens, sex, drugs and middle-aged men, a combustible combination indeed.

The movie begins with a bunch of nubile teen girls in compromising positions with middle-aged men, and a commentary by the lead actress [Katherine Waterston] who plays Shirley. We know the movie is going to be rather dark when Shirley casually makes the observance that "paid fellatio" is not much different than flipping burgers.

Turns out Shirley is a financially-challenged honors student who babysits to earn extra money and meets a couple Gail [ Cynthia Nixon] and Mike [John Leguizamo] who have two children. Mike is a middle-aged executive who finds his wife rather boring and unadventurous, and whilst driving Shirley home one night, they 'bond'. A kiss results in a heavy tip for Shirley, and soon the pair are engaged in a hot affair, the first encounter netting Shirley $200. The bright young woman decides this is the path to financial freedom, and is soon not only making money hooking on the side with Mike and other like-minded guys but also pimping out her similar-minded classmates, charging a 20% levy on each of her 'girls' transaction.

What appears to be an easy ride turns difficult and dangerous when greed and rivalry amongst the girls turns life into a spiralling nightmare for Shirley.

Katherine Waterston [daughter of Sam Waterston of Law & Order] does an amazing job in her role as the enterprising teen Shirley, though I did find her sudden chameleon-like change from virginal teen to teen nymphet and madam hard to swallow [pun intended]. John Leguizamo's performance as Mike was well-done, though his sex scenes with Waterston were unconvincing. Cynthia Nixon's dumpy wife role truly wasted her talents and didn't elicit much sympathy for her character. Another stand-out performance was by Halley Wegryn Gross who plays Nadine, another of Shriley's girls.

Overall, I found the movie an above-average attempt at addressing the darker side of high school students' lives, the pressures they face etc, but I felt the movie did not truly spend time on character development and plot cohesion.Final verdict: a dark drama dealing with teen vice and angst.

this movie certainly had a lot to offer but came out short. if you're going to make a adult-themed movie, then go for it. having sex scenes with everyone fully clothed does nothing for the movie. it's not my main complaint or major concern, but it is more distracting than anything. i doubt if teenagers are that organized or can keep a secret especially with all the business, money and backstabbing that was going on. their business would of collapsed long before it did. and it would not only be the kids that noticed high buck jewerly and clothes on them. i really don't think the leguizamo character would really have the caring and feelings he did. i didn't think much of the acting or characters played. and yes, common sense giving teenagers drugs and alcohol will come back to haunt you. nothing really happened, which i'm sure is a relief to the characters. if this movie would have been made in any other nonpolitically correct decade, it might have been done differently.

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This movie is rather average, characters forgettable, director's work let's call it unobtrusive, so at best it should be given 3 stars, so why did I give it four?

Precisely because it's so average and normal.

In this movie Shirley, a student in a nice clean high school in a nice clean American suburb organizes her classmates into a prostitution ring, well functioning, smooth and efficient American business.

The movie starts with Shirley, actually a honors student, babysitting for a neighboring family. When the husband, Mike [John Leguizamo], gives her a ride back home, they kiss, and he gives her a rather heavy tip.

Soon we find him giving her tips for very different services, which she offers without much ado. Money is very prominent in the film from the very beginning to the very end, because Shirley, while her family is far from poor, doesn't have much money herself, and needs some income of her own that's why she is babysitting in the first place.

But for her sexual services she, apparently, gets paid much better than for babysitting, and, as she says herself in the movie, "paid fellatio is not much more humiliating than flipping burgers". Amazingly, this is talking a nice clean girl from nice, clean American suburbia, not an underclass, deprived girl from some inner city slums.

But the film gives us much more than this. Once Shirley is established in her new role, one day she tells her friend, her classmate, about this small business she has on a side, and her classmate becomes interested, she needs extra money too. Shirley asks her "customer" Mike if any of his friends might be interested in similar kind of service. Or maybe it's Mike who asks her if she has any classmates who could "babysit" for his buddies.

Soon Shirley's business is growing, she adds new customers, and her classmates willingly provide them with quality service. There're some conflicts, but those are of purely business nature: Shirley charges classmates a fee for providing them with clients, and some girls don't want to pay, or they don't want to pay enough this kind of conflict, nothing personal. No moral torments.

Girls counting money are shown in this film more than once, and it is pretty much as sexually explicit as this film goes.

Lord Of the Flies, where a group of boys is left without adults on an island, shows how easy human morals are going away when children are left unsupervised.

No remote uninhabited islands in Babysitters.

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After about half an hour, the viewer can predict the outcome. What is not so transparent is the development of the two central, and one or two peripheral, characters.

Note of a moral nature: this movie (like numerous others that primarily aim to shock in order to motivate a kind of moral reflection that is valuable in itself, films such as 'American Beauty', 'Magnolia', 'Bad Education', '13 Tzametti', 'Perdita Durango' and 'Natural Born Killers') raises the question: "Will its release encourage morally reprehensible behavior?" My answer would be "Maybe." Not much of an answer, but perhaps this is something troubling, and perhaps public debates on such subject matter as one encounters in this film wouldn't be a bad idea. I can understand some peoples' less-than-favourable response to this film. After all, teen prostitution isn't the world's healthiest practice, both physically AND psychologically. Anyway. What about the non-normative aspects of the film (which warrant discussion in themselves)?

Leguizamo is versatile, and this movie provides further evidence of said trait. Nixon fans might be disappointed insofar as her role is a minor one, with little investigation of the character she plays. But Leguizamo, his love interest (Waterston), and the other 'babysitters' (esp. 'Brenda') are given some serious attention. Of special mention are a few aspects of Waterston's character that make for a more interesting story than would otherwise have been the case.

Not an easy film to watch. Makes one wonder how exaggerated the story actually is. Overall, entertaining, superior acting, interesting plot. But note moral caveat above.

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It could be said that this movie is a lesson on considering every angle before embarking on a new endeavor. In this case, the girls realized they could make money by having sex under the guise of baby-sitting, but eventually things get out of control in ways that make it not worth even the good money. What seems like it is going to be easy money turns difficult and dangerous. Avarice and typical teen girl rivalry among the group turns life into a treacherous nightmare for Shirley. The movie gets four stars instead of five because I am not sure a girl as 'innocent' as Shirley could turn into such a ruthless Madame in such a short time. There is nudity (teen breasts) and some bad language and drugs, but less than one would expect in such a movie.

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