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Bridesmaids (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (2011)

To be honest with you all, I really was not interested in seeing this movie, but my sister and my girlfriend dragged me to it. I really thought it would be a much better time for them to bond without me, but well, they disagreed and so I went. Cut to the actual film...

I laughed so hard there were actual tears running down my cheeks. I fully expected this to be a chick flick but it surpassed that title 100%. Yes, there was definitely some chick flickittude to it, but overwhelmingly it was a fantastic comedy that went over the top a little but more than made up for it the rest of the time. Truly an amazingly pleasant surprise.

Here, I'll say it, BRIDESMAIDS is better than THE HANGOVER. The tipping point is that BRIDESMAIDS comes with a core of emotional truth whereas if you lift that sense of mystery from THE HANGOVER, what's left is a series of skits. BRIDESMAIDS comes with more heart. It passes the smell test, demonstrates staying power. Odds are, it won't be long before other films are being lauded as "the next BRIDESMAIDS." And, based on that comparison, I might check out that other film, too.

Our self-destructive lead character Annie (Kristen Wiig) is informed that "hitting bottom is a good thing," but I think we all know that's a bunch of baloney, a heap of hooey. Character building can go fudge itself if it means one has to go thru what Annie does just to learn valuable life lessons. Annie's had a bad time of it. Her bakery shop went south. Her boyfriend is this self-absorbed, belittling, non-committing assclown. She rooms with an odd and portly British brother and sister whose presence, let's face it, can't possibly make anyone feel comfortable. Her current job as sales clerk at a jewelry store is as fulfilling as it sounds. And, to point out the cherry on her misery cake, Annie's best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), is getting married, with Annie tapped as the maid of honor.

Oh, does Annie have issues. She's one of life's self-saboteurs; she can be blamed for much of the bad joss what's befallen her. She loves her best friend dearly, but the cheap, pathetic side of her can't help but be resentful that their lives are going opposite ways. And since the hits keep on coming, why not now introduce the magnificent Helen (a very good Rose Byrne). Helen is the gorgeous trophy wife of Lillian's fiance's boss, and she's struck up a friendship with Lillian. Helen, wealthy as Croesus, supernaturally efficient at organizing weddings, and determined not to be upstaged. Helen and Annie immediately get on like houses on fire. Annie senses that Helen is poaching her best friend. Out comes the competitive streak. Except that Annie isn't as straight-faced sneaky as Helen. Watch Annie fall apart.

The theater I went to became sheer bedlam, rocking with belly laughs so raucous that entire chunks of dialogue went unheard. So that means something. Unless you're a friggin' recluse, you must have some down-to-earth women friends. These bridesmaids are drawn from stereotypes, but these actresses are all so funny. I can point out several of my women pals who fit several of these molds to a damn T. The fantastic cast works so well together. I haven't laughed so hard in years as when the bridal shop disaster went down. Anyway, this shouldn't come as a shock: Women sleep around, and often exercise the right to be vulgar when in comfortable company, and they certainly engage in scatological humor. Wendi McLendon-Covey ("Rita") is one of the bridesmaids, a discontented housewife with unruly kids, and although she's not in the movie a lot, she makes an impression (especially with that "crack the blanket in half" line). But it's the unfiltered Melissa McCarthy ("Megan"), built like a pugnacious fire hydrant, who ends up stealing the scenes.

Not having watched SNL in forever long, I didn't know Kristen Wiig from Shatner's wig. But now she's fixed on my radar, and now I expect this same level of funny out of her. Kristen Wiig is amazing in BRIDESMAIDS, co-writing it, performing in it. Her character is at turns petty and self-pitying and abusive, and yet there's a pained vulnerability and an innate likability that makes you invest in her. She's so sad sack. You long for her to get her sh-together, and you pull for her to get with that charming highway patrol cop with the unexpected Irish accent. But she's so resistant, so stuck in her rut. You pull for her.

Setting aside Wiig's ability to emote (which apparently surprised people left and right), her comic talents are what separate her from the pack. She has exquisite comic timing. What she does in that airplane sequence is spectacular stuff. And she exhibits marvelous chemistry with Maya Rudolph. Their friendship feels real; it helps to ground the story. I think this is a huge turning point for Kristen Wiig's career, if she rides this good momentum. And BRIDESMAIDS, it's one of them rare animals, a chick flick that a guy can sit thru without feeling that he's fulfilling an obligation to the girlfriend or the wife.

The DVD gives you the option to watch the Theatrical Version or the Unrated Version, and also the following bonus stuff:

Lively Audio Commentary with director Paul Feig, co-writer Annie Mumolo, and actors Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Ellie Kemper

3 Deleted Scenes, including Annie on a horrible blind date with Paul Rudd (totaling 00:07:48 minutes)

5 Extended & Alternate Scenes, including more grossness at the bridal shop (totaling 00:08:38 minutes)

Gag Reel (00:03:44 minutes)

Line-O-Rama repeated takes, actors trying out ad-libbed lines (00:12:08)

Cholodecki's Commercial a faux commercial advertising the jewelry store that Annie gets fired from (00:01:00)

Buy Bridesmaids (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (2011) Now

Oh...my...goodness...this movie was the funniest thing I've seen IN the theater in a long time. I usually wait for movies to come out on DVD, but this looked pretty interesting, and I wasn't disappointed. It was hilarious!

Finally, a film that shows women are funny too. Kristen Wiggs is stellar, her character is so messed up, but you know there is hope for her. I was sort of expecting a rom-com, but no, this was Sex in the City meets the Hangover. There is a part where they're going to Vegas, but don't quit make it, I would of LOVED to see them all go to Vegas. I don't think that place would be the same.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for entertainment that just makes you laugh. And do keep an eye on the actress playing Megan, she is hysterical. I've seen her in other movies, as a supporting character looking completely different and much more subdued; in bridesmaids she is unfiltered and funny as hell!

Go see this movie, you'll be glad you did.

Read Best Reviews of Bridesmaids (Universal's 100th Anniversary) (2011) Here

Finally, I've seen something that stars Kristen Wiig and wasn't a complete disappointment.

I loved her on "Saturday Night Live" and I'm always amazed at how talented she is. In BRIDESMAIDS, she not only stars but also shares writing credit...which is another reason I enjoyed this movie so much:

Only a woman would have written this.

As crude as BRIDESMAIDS sometimes is, rivaling male-oriented gross-out comedies like THE HANGOVER and such, this is still a story that only a woman would write. My case in point: the scene where Kristen feels the need to keep snatching the microphone from best friend Maya Rudolph's rich soon-to-be sister-in-law. The need to assert just how much these girls love and respect and care about Maya...only a woman would have written that. Guys wouldn't understand how much that means to a woman. Male writers would've just come up with schtick to embarass the girls.

So BRIDESMAIDS ends up being a fairly interesting insight into women and how they think.

It's also really funny!

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Went to see Bridesmaids at the theater tonight. Within minutes, I knew I'd be going back to see it tomorrow, and I will own it the day the DVD is released! I'm not going to rehash the plot others have already done it justice. I will say that I have never laughed so hard in my life! Most "comedies" seem childish to me, and by the midpoint I'm bored with it. I didn't want Bridesmaids to end. My face hurts, my ribs hurt I laughed that hard. It's a film with characters who seem more like someone you might know thirty-something women unashamed of being thirty-something women with all the craziness that goes along with it. This is THE funniest movie I have ever seen!

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Mallrats (1995)

Well, folks, it's been ten years since the would-be cult classic "Mallrats" bombed both critically and at the box office. To celebrate such failure, director Kevin Smith and company have erected a brand new double-dip...errr...I mean special edition DVD. Aside from the usual distractions (i.e. featurettes, commentary), the main attraction is an all new extended-cut of the flick, done by Kevin Smith himself. This new cut (don't fret, the original remains intact on the opposite side of the disc) integrates deleted footage and alternate takes into what ends up being a sprawling two hour and three minute epic. Think James Cameron re-editing "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Ok, maybe not that big of a deal, but it's still cool, nevertheless. The "Extended Version" is (as Smith describes it in his introduction) basically the script put to screen. The "new" film is just as funny, and actually, better. I never had a problem with the original "Mallrats," but for some reason, this version feels more complete -or incomplete? Watch the introduction...

The film, whichever version you choose, is classic Kevin Smith. As a follow-up to "Clerks," it suffers, but if you want to be entertained and want to laugh, this is the right place to come. The story is centered on two slackers, who are both dumped at the same time and come to the mall to cope. Along the way, they run into friends, enemies, crooked security guards, nerdy comic book fans, Stan Lee, and the infamous Jay And Silent Bob. Dick and fart jokes ensue. Not only is it Smith's first "colored" flick, but it is also his first time working under a studio, and his first time working with View Askew regulars Ben Affleck and Jason Lee (who play enemies in this movie). These two findings were pure gold. Ben Affleck would go on to give Smith his finest performances in "Chasing Amy" and "Jersey Girl," while Lee establishes himself as being outright hilarious and natural, right off the bat in this movie. The film itself is not without it's flaws, but the old saying goes "Time heals all wounds." When this movie first came out, it tanked, and it tanked hard. Now, ten years later, it has it's own cult audience, and surely, Kevin Smith has recovered from the initial disappointment. Hell, at the very least, it's good enough to warrant a revisiting on DVD.

If you owned the original DVD, you can give it up soundly when you by this DVD. Aside from a few minor things (i.e. the multi-angle commentary), most of the special features are intact with this new release. While not as extensive as last years "Clerks X" release, it still offers a bounty of supplemental material. The highlight being the "Mallrats Reunion Q & A" where the cast and crew get together for one big interview. Also, as mentioned before, the "Extended Version" of this film is also worth checking out if you are a diehard Kevin Smith fan. However, I have to warn, if you already own the first DVD and are just a mild Kevin Smith fan, you will probably be safe leaving this re-release alone. For me, and other people who just have to hear everything that comes out of his mouth, however, it is worth buying into the evil double dip.

Mallrats, to me, has always been an excellent and hilarious movie bordering on "comedy classic status". Not until watching the bonus material included on this Anniversary Edition DVD did I learn that it was basically a critical failure.

The quotable lines are countless. The talent found in casting is absolutely outstanding. The dialogue is quirky, thoughtful and biting, etc., etc... It's difficult to attribute the movie's failure to anything other than poor marketing and it not being properly prioritized by Rogue Pictures. But, whatever the cause, Mallrats has found it's cult following in the years following its release. It's too good a movie to have remained unnoticed and unappreciated for too long.

The 10th Anniversary DVD includes an extended version of the movie, as edited by Kevin Smith himself, while pleasuring himself so that he could truly "enjoy" his work (as revealed in the bonus interview). This version is hilarious and it gives you a slightly different feel for the movie, as alternate scenes or settings are used in certain places. It's interesting and just as hilarious as the theatrical version. The bonus DVD also includes a few featurettes, interviews and a feature commentary track with most of the cast.

Great movie, great DVD edition Highly Recommended!

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I think it's safe to say this movie is a cult classic; my friends and I have seen it countless times.

Kevin Smith's follow-up to 1994's "Clerks" was not-so-well-recieved by the critics.

The box-office numbers didn't treat the flick too kindly, either.

See? The stuff cult classics are made of.

The critics were wrong and the movie goers must have been napping in late 1995, because this film is hysterical from start to finish.

Buy this one, folks. You can't go wrong with a Kevin Smith movie. Buy it for the commentary, buy it for the deleted scenes (over one hour's worth), buy it for the witty dialog of Jason Lee, buy it to laugh at Jeremy London's acting skills; but most of all, buy it for the movie itself.

While you're at it, buy "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," too. And get a copy of "Dogma" (the best of the four) when it's released on DVD on May 2.

Remember: Kevin Smith is the best screenwriter out there, so buy it. You won't be sorry.

Read Best Reviews of Mallrats (1995) Here

As writer/director Kevin Smith said in his booklet for the Chasing Amy DVD, "Clerks" was overpraised and "Mallrats" was overbashed.

This movie follows along in the classical steps of such 80's movies such as "Screwballs", "Porky's", and "The Invisible Kid". In fact, one of its best descriptions is that it is a smart "Porky's".

In "Mallrats", Kevin once again revisits the Tri-town area of New Jersey, as every other moive in the View Askewniverse. The two unlikely heroes, Brodie and T.S. Quint (a shameless, yet clever plug for one of Kevin's favorite movie, "Jaws") have both been dumped by their girlfriends. And only in the mall can they find solace and comfort.

Brodie and T.S. run into all sorts of characters, including Jay and Silent Bob. Throughout the whole day, the try to find ways to get their girlfriends back. And in true 80's fashion, the guys get the girls and some breasts are shown. Not too bad for a movie that flopped in the box office.

Witty, intelligent, and hilarious, "Mallrats" has become a cult classic and any person who enjoys Kevin Smith should own a copy, along with his other movies, "Clerks", "Chasing Amy", and "Dogma".

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Mallrats was actually my introduction into the world of "Kevin Smith". Flicking through cable channels one day, I stumbled across this flick and have been a devoted fan ever since!

Since becoming more knowledgable in Kevin Smith films, To this day I cannot see why this film did so badly and how people can sit there and blast it.

As most people agree, the dialogue plays a decent part on why Smith films are so fantastic and fun, and this was the first thing that grabbed my attention. As mentioned, when I stumbled across Mallrats on Cable, it was almost the end of the film at the Game Show segment. To have a chick insinuating having sex as a question, and having Brodie (God bless Jason Lee!) scream out "Oh, you mean like...!", I was hooked. Thankfully, as cable is infamous for doing, Mallrats got multiple re-runs and the next day I caught the flick in full.

Onto the DVD Itself, any DVD of a great film such as Mallrats deserves purchasing. I mean, there is no other way, bar stealing a film reel yourself, to get the fantastic picture quality and sound, and more importantly, which you can't get too many places, BONUS FEATURES! And for this DVD to be advertised as having "Over 1 hour of Deleted Scenes", it makes any fan salivate from the mouth. Whilst I know many film purists who state "Deleted Scenes are deleted for a reason" (!), any true fan of a film wants to see scenes that the director intended to include but was prevented from doing so due to film politics, irritating production companies or simply time management.

The real gem on this disc however has to be the Audio Commentary. By the way, this was the first Audio Commentary I ever viewed with "Video Hijinks"; IE: when the mallrats logo appears, press the select button on your remote to change the screen to a 'live' shot of the guys in the Audio Commentary booth interacting with each other. It was great to see all the guys together. Smith, Mewes, good ol' Ben Affleck (Who by the time I saw Mallrats had become 'all that and a bag of potato chips' through his post-Mallrats flicks), as well as "Chasing Amy's Jason Lee" (A referral poor old J.L. will probably take to the grave) all work great together, feeding of what each other says to make a very intertaining and worthwhile DVD. In fact, People I know that HATE Mallrats (I can't see how the could) have bought the DVD primarily for the Commentaries and Extra Features. One mate I know only liked Clerks and Chasing Amy, but owns every Kevin Smith DVD on the market!

Another Gem has to be the "Easter Egg" on the Mallrats DVD. For those DVD-Illiterate people out there, an Easter Egg is a 'hidden bonus' but in most cases, these aren't hidden very well. To access it, move your cursor onto the Robot's Eyes at the Mallrats Menu and press select (It is either the Main Menu or the Bonus Features Menu). Rather humerous little addition by Kevin Smith. (However, no Kevin Smith inserts come close to the great one he did for the Criterion Chasing Amy Disc).

...Personally, Mallrats is my favourite Smith film as yet and Brodie Rulz!

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Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1995)

There are a few conditions required for "getting" this movie. You have to understand a few things before getting the jokes. Probably the most important thing is that you've seen Boys 'N The Hood and/or Menace II Society. These two movies contain the majority of the spoofs seen in Don't Be A Menace... There are also references to Poetic Justice, Juice, and Higher Learning. Without having seen the first two, most people will probably not get the jokes. Secondly, if you're into the hip hop culture, this movie will be a lot funnier. There's a lot of play on words from the rap lingo that you won't get if you haven't listened to it.

I really enjoyed this movie. It's a hilarious spoof of gangsta movies and gangsta rap. Keenan Ivory Wayans' cameos were hilarious. Shawn and Marlon make a great comedy team. It's just too bad they don't get more exposure (they're TV show on WB is hilarious, too). It's all tongue in cheek fun pointed at the harsher looks at inner city life that we get from movies and music.

If you're one of those people that hates movies like Naked Gun, Airplane, and Spaceballs, this movie is definitely not for you. Otherwise, pick it up and try not to fall off the couch :)

So many people just hate this film but I found it absolutely hilarious. Like the Scary Movie flicks it helps if you know the source films (Boyz N The Hood etc) fairly well. A lot of the funniest moments come from the deadpan way ludicrous lines are said, eg, of a pretty girl: 'What's her name?' 'Oh, that's Dashiki.' And the way characters refer to 'the hood' in inverted commas all the time, as in, 'I'm leaving 'the hood',' (cue gunshot). Who wouldn't laugh at the love-making scene where Trey ups the erotic ante by libating Dashiki with kool-aid then melting government-surplus cheese & dripping it like molten wax over her body? Well, a lot of people, apparently. But I laughed out loud a good many times watching this movie. The 'guilty' aspect is that it makes it almost impossible to re-watch Boyz N The Hood, Menace II Society etc in a serious manner because so many key scenes and moments are burlesqued in DBAMTSCWDYJITH.

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MY GOD! You have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever if you didn't find at LEAST one part of this movie hysterical! I was rollin from the opening part! Who is anyone to say that I have a shallow sense of humor just because I liked it? You have to know how to laugh at certain things and everyone these days are so "politically correct" and "edgy" that they forget the funny things and don't keep it real! Obviously they've never been in the hood or known anyone like the characters in Don't Be A Menace, because there really are people like that! I think it's most likely a movie that only blacks will understand. If you're white and you loved, more power to ya. This movie is just wayy too funny!

Read Best Reviews of Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1995) Here

`Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood' is an hilarious take on all the hood type movies and surprising it does come off really funny. Just as funny as `Friday' and such movies. Brothers, Marlon and Shawn Wayans, don't have any problem making fun of the typical ghetto life that a lot of Afro-Americans might have to experience. The thought of this might not be too appealing at first but give it a try and you should end up laughing without a doubt. Some viewers have said that you need to be a black person to find this movie funny, or you need to have lived in the hood, which, in my opinion, is not true, I'm white, I live in England and my face was so sore after laughing at this. The only thing that helps is if you've seen the movies that this is parodying, and then you should certainly have no problem finding this film hilarious. Just like I did.

To say, `Don't Be A Menace...' is a comedy classic is quiet the understatement. All the characters in this movie provide laugh after laugh. It's the practice run for Wayans movies to be made years later on. `Scary Movie 1 & 2' clearly have borrowed the mold from `Don't Be A Menace...' More films should be as funny as this one. Marlon's character `Loc Dog' certainly squares up to `Smokey' from the `Friday' anyday. Marlon's dialogue/appearance is cleverly written to poke fun at the stereotypical male you've seen in any John Singleton film. The cast is strong, good comedic performances come from the Wayans brothers (although, Marlon is the much better of the two), Suli McCullough, and Lahmard J. Tate, playing Ashtray's father, the second funniest character in this movie. The script is almost faultless in its field, and the jokes come quick and they don't let up until the end. This all helps to make this an addictive comedy classic. This truly is TOTALLY GHETTO FABULOUS!

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This is a great parody of all the hood movies that came out in the early 90's. "Don't Be a Menace" throws laughs at Hood Flicks such as "Juice", "Menace To Society", & "Boyz In Da Hood". So if u haven't seen those movies, you might not understand a lot of the comedy in this....but if u have seen em, check this out!

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Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2012)

This is not a slasher/gore fest kind of movie. It starts out funny and gets gross. It also made me think about things I don't typically watch with these kinds of films. If you are looking for something different, I say go for it!

Who says a horror flick can't have a sprinkle of comedy? This dry humored comedy-horror, Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal had me fixated to the screen. Not only is Lars super attractive, Eddie was written as a lovable killer which is AWESOME. I recommend this movie to 10-50 year old couples looking for a thrill and to test their dates humor.

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I'm a huge fan of horror, but not that big a fan of your typical Holywood horror-comedy. Eddie is funny, endearing and thought-provoking... and gory. Although it's not the unwarranted type of gore you see in the Walking Dead. It's a fun ride. I loved the unstated question what would happen if you met your muse but your muse is a sleepwalking cannibal? Also my favorite exchange in the movie is: Lars: "He eats small animals in his sleep?" Leslie: "It's not as bad as it sounds." Lars: "...it sounds pretty bad..." Watch it, enjoy it, dare to laugh.

Read Best Reviews of Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2012) Here

I enjoyed it, but wait for a rainy day where you don't have ANYTHING else to do. The ending had a good twist.

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When I first heard the title of this film, I'll admit, I chuckled. But after watching 'Eddie', I realized how much more complex this horror-comedy flick really was. I was really impressed with the acting of the main character who conveyed so much through body language (it can't be easy to play a mute, nonetheless a sleepwalking, cannibalistic mute!). It you are into campy films, and have a stomach for a bit of blood, I say watch it!

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Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

The movie:

Some chuckle moments, but not Bean at his finest. Picture quality is a lot better than the DVD counterpart, but sadly one of the funniest parts has been omitted from this UK release. For some reason the laptop scene at the beginning is cut, which is a shame because this is a classic Bean moment and I can think of several scenes I would have rather chopped before this. I suspect the over officious BBFC has a part to play here.

The Disc:

Presentation is as bare bones as it gets with the same extras as the DVD. The laptop scene can be once again be viewed in wonderful standard definition as part of the deleted scenes segment albeit minus the fight on the platform.

This is a region free disc and so I recommend looking at the Amazon.UK website as it's considerably cheaper.

This movie is far better than the first Mr. Bean movie. The plot is funnier and the characters, even Mr. Bean, are more sympathetic. And Willem Dafoe's appearance as an egotistical movie star is priceless.

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Jennifer's Body (2009)

What was it about Jennifer's Body that made it seem like it would be so worthless upon first glance? Was it due to the fact that it at its heart is a teen horror flick, or the fact that it was written by Diablo Cody, whose darling Juno I just didn't care for (I know, I know, blasphemy). Regardless of the reason, upon viewing Jennifer's Body, I can honestly say that it is a surprisingly good, funny, and even enjoyable flick that lampoons its high school setting as much as it celebrates it. Transformers beauty Megan Fox stars as the title character, who is the hottest girl in high school, and ends up falling prey to a devil-worshipping band (led by Adam Brody) who use her as a sacrifice. However, Jennifer ends up coming back to life as a demonic boy-devourer, and it's soon up to her unlikely BFF Needy (Amanda Seyfried) to save the day, and put an end to Jennifer's spree. While the film is a play on the sapphic relationships between teen females, there is enough hearty helpings of humor and gore for horror fans to eat up. Combine that with Diablo Cody's Juno-esque dialogue and surprisingly good turns by Fox and Seyfried, and Jennifer's Body ends up being surprisingly enjoyable. Give it a chance, you'll be pleasently surprised.

In 2009, the dark comedy horror film "Jennifer's Body" would mark the return of award winning writer Diablo Cody ("Juno", "United States of Tara") and would feature a collaboration with director Karyn Kusama ("Aeon Flux", "Girlfight"), actresses Megan Fox ("Transformers" films, "Hope and Faith") and Amanda Seyfried ("Mamma Mia!", "Veronica Mars", "Mean Girls").

"Jennifer's Body" which cost around $22 million to make, earned around $33 million worldwide and has received mix ratings from a variety of critics but earning praise from Roger Ebert and Peter Travers of "Rolling Stone Magazine".

Now "Jennifer's Body: Unrated" is released on Blu-ray with a special unrated version which includes both the original theatrical version of the film and also an unrated version. The Blu-ray release also includes a digital copy of the film.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

"Jennifer's Body" is presented in 1080p High Definition (Widescreen 1:85:1) with AVC @ 26MBPS. Picture quality is pretty solid as you can see the detail in various surfaces around town. A lot of scenes featuring blood, dirt and grime on the characters which is quite detailed onscreen. There is a fine layer of grain, skin tones are natural and blacks are nice and deep.

The lossless audio is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD MA and Spanish, French and Portuguese in Dolby Digital 5.1. The audio is dialogue and music driven, so most of the audio is coming from the front and center channels. There are some scenes that utilize the surround channels, from the slight sounds of a police siren, crowd ambiance and some of the action sequences. Some of the bass you hear from the film comes from the music but for the most part, the film is front and center channel driven.

Subtitles are featured in English SDH, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Thai.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Jennifer's Body: Unrated" comes with the following special features:

* Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama and Writer Diablo Cody (Theatrical Version) An enjoyable commentary featuring director Kusama and writer Diablo Cody discussing the unique script and the structure of the film.

* Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama (Extended Version) While watching the film, a red box will show up on the corner (indicating an extended scene) in which you can hear Karyn discussing the differences of the theatrical version from the extended version of the film and how the extended version of the film which is much more closer to the original script.

* Deleted Scenes (13:55) Six Deleted scenes which include the following deleted scenes: Dead Boys, Jennifer Check Is Gross, Needy Confronts Jennifer, Who's Cindy Crawford?, Needy Faces The Band, Ass, Gas or Grass...

* Gag Reel(4:55) Bloopers from "Jennifer's Body".

* Jennifer's Body: The Dead Pool (13:59) The cast and crew (including writer Diablo Cody, directory Karyn Kusama and the producers) talk about the concept of the film and working with the main talent of the film. And filming of the pool scene and the visual effects and make up effects involved.

* Video Diaries Video diaries from behind-the-scenes on the set of "Jennifer's Body" featuring Megan Fox and Johnny Simmons (12:49), Amanda Seyfried (10:23), Diablo Cody (7:05) and Dan Dubiecki (3:02).

* Megan Fox Is HOT (:53) A short special feature showcasing the sexy scenes of Megan Fox from the film.

* Megan Fox "Peer Pressure" PSA (:37) A naughty public service announcement for "Peer Pressure" (ala promotion for "Jennifer's Body").

* Fox Movie Channel Presents `Life After Film School' With Writer Diablo Cody (26:26) An interesting episode of "Life After Film School" with the three film students interview writer Diablo Cody about the film, her career, working with director Karyn Kusama, Megan Fox and more. Definitely love listening to Diablo Cody discuss her perspective of life and writing.

JUDGMENT CALL:

I suppose that there are horror fans who felt cheated that "Jennifer's Body" was less of a horror, teenage slasher film (despite it having horror elements) and was more of a film that was character driven and really focused on the relationships between Needy and Jennifer.

"Jennifer's Body" is quite interesting because Diablo Cody is pretty good of writing films, her way, her style and it's a carefree style of showing school popularity and the cruelness that happens amongst students. And what better way to take on the role of Jennifer than Megan Fox who has wanted to play this type of role.

But "Jennifer's Body" for the most part is not a great film nor is it the worst film ever made. I suppose it all comes down to the viewer and what they were expecting. Looking for a slasher/gory type of film, well "Jennifer's Body" has scenes that look quite disgusting but for the most part, it's not a scary film. In a way, "Jennifer's Body" plays more like a "Lost Boys" style of film with the music, dark groups of students in town where bad things happening. Also, the film manages to incorporate dark humor to the violence, teenage life and relationships.

But everything comes full circle at the end of the film and I really dig how "Jennifer's Body" ends so rock n' roll but with tragedy. A possible sequel in the future? Who knows.

Megan Fox did a fine job, this may not be the role that utilizes her in a non-sex kitten serious role but for Amanda Seyfried, she really shined in "Jennifer's Body" portraying a variety of emotions from anger, fear, sadness, you name it. It was really good to see her play the character of Needy since her previous films tend to showcase her in a more ditsy type of role. So, it was good to see her utilized in the film emotionally in a variety of ways.

If you enjoyed the film "Jennifer's Body: Unrated" comes with a good amount of special features and you get both the theatrical and extended versions of the film and a digital copy. But I really enjoyed how the Blu-ray release also gives us a much more in-depth glimpse of the writer Diablo Cody and her involvement in film. You don't get to see her shown all that much, so it was really cool to see several features with her.

Personally, for "Jennifer's Body: Unrated", it all comes down to the viewer. If you are a guy who wants to see Megan Fox, you'll dig the film. If you are a big Diablo Cody fan, you'll dig this Blu-ray release. If you're wanting to see the film for a scare, well... "Jennifer's Body" is not exactly that scary. But if you are wanting a popcorn flick that has elements of your favorite teen film and horror elements, you may find the extended version included on this Blu-ray release of "Jennifer's Body: Unrated" more to your liking.

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The author of Juno, the star of Mamma Mia and the movie world's frequently voted sexiest woman, all rolled up into one movie, and about the supernatural. What could be more zeitgeist..? And yet, alas, this is a pretty woeful mixture of a movie.. told with polish in places, perhaps, but still a mess.

Jennifer (Megan Fox) is the most popular girl in town, her best friend is the geek (and hehehe... she's called Needy gettit? What a laugh..). Jennifer is not shy hormonally driven, one might say, and known to exploit her looks. However, she bites off more than she can chew when she falls fowl of Adam Brody's rock band, who turn out to be minor students of witchcraft. She ends up possessed, and needs human flesh to keep her looks. Can Needy handle the situation and bring an end to the series of deaths in town..?

The tone clearly wants to be this decades Heathers [Blu-ray], but fails miserably in nailing the subtle black humour of that movie. Here, the language, which likes to dwell on descriptions of body parts and functions, in a way that is normally best left unspoken and for good reason, sits uneasy with the attempt at some sinister and almost Gothic goings on in the town of Devil's Kettle. The visuals are not bad, admittedly, in places.. but it can't save a lurching storyline with poorly drawn characters, and soundtrack which strives for smooth and hip but only manages jarring and out of place.

Overall, interesting idea, which could have been a quirky and trendy teen Gothic horror with black comedy overtones.. but only manages to raise laughs for the wrong reasons, with the only horror the discovery that Juno really must have been a one off for Diablo Cody's writing talents. Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried have done nothing to further their career by being in this unholy mess.

Read Best Reviews of Jennifer's Body (2009) Here

While FOX promotes all the other movies on its roster, the movie at the bottom of their agenda, may have been the one that should have been at the top. Don't get me wrong, it was a bad year for FOX, but JENNIFER'S BODY, while it may not be intellecual or have top known actors in it, it is, for all intensive purposes, sheer fun and constantly interesting.

Dismally promoted, JENNIFER'S BODY was shrugged off by its studio as a disappointment, but in the end, JENNIFER'S BODY will probably be one of the movies where, in a few years, or a few months, people will still be watching it. People will still have to get it off the shelf and check it out again and again, because its fun. It isn't all that scary, although it has some scary stuff in it. It's more along the line of 80s movies like NIGHT OF THE CREEPS. It's fun. It's eye candy. It's plain and simple, entertaining.

Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox are two of the hottest actresses in hollywood right now, and I don't mean HOT as in HAAATTT! I mean HOT as in, getting jobs and getting good jobs and continuing to deliver time after time. Especially Seyfried who is fast becoming one of my favorite actresses. She preys on the audiences natural reaction to find her adorable and cute and then does things either sexy or shocking and it works in JENNIFER'S BODY like a charm. She plays Needy, a nerdy girl who everybody thinks is a lesbo, except for her, who watches the world around her, including her friend Jennifer, become stranger and stranger as dead bodies keep popping up. Is she crazy? or is she just a gulible friend?

JENNIFER'S BODY has everything it needs and more to be a movie that will stand the test of time, despite the poor promotion it received from its studio. Unlike most movies that are forgotten as soon as the credits hit, BODY is a repeat viewer and a fun trip with two actresses who will be around for a long long time.

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So I will admit I bought this movie just for Megan Fox eye candy plus it was like $12 bucks, and it sat unopened on my bluray collection for about 3 months until I had nothing else to watch and I was in the mood for a thinkless horror movie but I must say I was rather pleasantly surprised at the movie as a whole, I actually laughed out loud a couple of times and enjoyed the story but just when I started to get a little bored the Megan Fox/Amanda Seyfried Kiss (OMG!!!) this is the best reason to buy this movie on BluRay and watch on your HDTV, it is pure movie magic.

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Evil Roy Slade & Brother's O'Toole - Double Feature (2012)

Okay, before I write any more here, I have to pass on a warning...

Evil Roy Slade makes this a fun little release, but, oh, attaching Brothers O'Toole to it makes you want to find a way to get through the protective Blu coating to scrape off that latter film.

Evil Roy Slade:

ERS was a 1972 TV-movie featuring John Astin as the most wonderfully nasty Westerrn bad guy. It's a funny 90 minutes, with an abundance of excellent supporting talent, including Mickey Rooney, Henry Gibson, and Dick Shawn...and the lovely Pamela Austin. who can make any man's heart beat faster. Basically, the story sets Slade as an orphaned baby in the Old West who even Indians and wolves refused to take in. He grows up not loving anything except his six guns. Until he falls in love with the prim and proper Pamela Austin, that is. At her urguing, he tries to give up his outlaw ways and go straight. John Astin (The Addams Family) had a field day with this role. Video is quite good (ranging from 3.5 to 4.0), but, considering its 1970s TV roots, will never be compared to any recent movies, please bear that in mind. Sound is clear. There are no extras. Movie: 3.5. Video 3.5. Audio: 3.5. Extras: 0. Overall: 3.5

And then we get to the second film on this disc...

Brothers O'Toole:

Now I must disclose I have not been able to sit through any more than the first 15 minutes of this film, but I could not take any more of it than that. Maybe I am wrong in being so negative about Brothers O'Toole, because I have come across a few reviews of the film by fans who rate it highly. I wanted to enjoy it, honestly, but after 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15, I felt the remaining time in my life is much too valuable to use any of it watching it. The video for B.O. is abysmal, looking like a cheaply-made film that has come nowhere near being restored for DVD, let alone Blu-ray. Think bad VHS. Movie: 1. Video rating: 1. Audio: 3. Extras: 0. Overall: 1.5

The Blues Brothers (Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet) (1980)

This is one of my favorite movies. I love the part where Ray Charles play the piano and everyone dances to "Shake a Tail Feather" and when Aretha Franklin sings "Think." And of course who could forget the car chase. That was the best car chase ever in a comedy.

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Simply Irresistible (1999)

First of all let me say I am a HUGE Sarah fan, and this film has gotten bad reviews from alot of people. This is not a film for you if you are looking for action, if you are, don't get this, because you won't like it. If you like romantic dramas, you will definetly like this. This movie wasn't made expecting EVERYONE to fall head over heels in love with it, it was made for people who enjoy films like this. Sarah plays a young girl who has no parents, and she lives by herself, and she runs her mom's resturaunt with her aunt. When the resturaunt may have to close because rent can't be kept up, somehow, Sarah's character starts to make delicious, delectable, irrisistible food that everyone falls in love with. She meets this guy who is opening a resturaunt, and the film just flows out from there. It's a great film, and it's great for those who want to watch a good movie with their girlfriend or boyfriend or for someone who just wants a good Saturday night movie to chill and watch. Sarah Michelle Gellar gives an amazing performance as usual, and you will not be dissapointed.

Simply Irresistible may not have done well in the box office, but that certainly doesn't mean that this film doesn't have any charm. Just because a movie doesn't find a proper following doesn't make it any less charming, in my opinion. Simply Irresistible is one of the best movies I've seen that hasn't had much viewership. It's fun, sweet, romantic, and just simply enjoyable all the way through.

This movie certainly boasts a top-notch cast that is led by the wonderful and amazing Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flanery. Amanda, played by Sarah Michelle, starts off as an awful chef but almost magically turns into a wonderful one overnight. She then begins falling in love with Tom, played by Sean Patrick, who is the owner of a popular department store.

Simply Irresistible tells a wonderful and romantic story of how scary falling in love can truly be and how wonderful it can be all at the same time. If you're in the mood for a light, romantic comedy, then I highly recommend this movie.

Buy Simply Irresistible (1999) Now

I rented this movie purely on the basis of a pretty charming little rave print review by Roger Ebert,and was glad I did (ended up even buying a copy on VHS for myself). The movie is slight and whimsical -lots of magic, not a lot of gritty reality -but it's sweet and strange and has a lot of charm. The characters are daffy and whimsically painted, and don't go the usual hollywood movie route. Gellar is sweet and insecure as the heroine -a much less glamorous role than her weekly (equally fabulous) vampire slaying Buffy heroine -while Buckley and Flanery and the fine supporting cast are all enjoyable to watch in the romantic mishaps that ensue. The wonderful Patricia Clarkson meanwhile is so much fun that she steals every scene she's in without detracting a bit from the appeal of her costars -a pretty good trick (it's worth the price of admission to hear her say, "This is nutty. Hazel-nutty.").

I really loved this movie - started out wondering where it was going, but by the end I didn't care - the writing is offbeat and fun, not so by the book. The movie's not "Schindler's List" or anything, sure -it's pretty lightweight -but it doesn't feel as Hollywood-ish as your usual romantic comedy, and you really never know what the characters will say next. The food also looks glorious and really adds to the sense of whimsy. The soundtrack is as sweet and fun as everything else -if you need cheering up, or convincing that there's still a bit of Astaire and Rogers in the world, this one's a great choice, where a perfect eclair can create true love, and a wonderful meal can make people weep with delight (and float in the air a time or two)...

Read Best Reviews of Simply Irresistible (1999) Here

"A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness." ~Elsa Schiaparelli

Sarah Michelle Gellar's softer side appears as she picks up the batterie de cuisine and tackles saving a restaurant from certain death. When it looks like Amanda's career is about to end as a chef, an angel appears in her life and gives her some sage advice about looking for a door that will open when another one closes. As the chef of a failing 70 year-old restaurant, the Southern Cross, she only has her loyal clientele who are not there for the food.

To say she is adorable as a chef is an understatement. She appears in a variety of fashionable outfits and weaves a sweet innocent spell on the viewer. Worth watching to see Sarah dressed up in a variety of outfits and different hairstyles.

There are also scenes of outdoor markets, beautiful orchids and of course restaurant scenes, Sarah shopping, cooking and crawling about on the floor chasing after magical crabs all to romantic music.

Instead of slaying vampires, "Buffy" bewitches Tom Bartlett (Sean Patrick Flanery) and entices love right into her life through cooking a variety of gourmet dishes. If every man has his weakness, Tom's weakness is luscious cuisine.

"She can cook things that make you crazy." ~Tom

As every kitchen sorceress has discovered, the right food can create the right mood and can invite happiness and love into your life. I loved the dance scene and the scene where Tom and Amanda disappear into the scented mist. This movie emphasizes the aphrodisiac qualities of food.

Amanda Shelton (Sarah) only discovers her true cooking talents after meeting Tom. At first she seems unaware of her current fate while Tom seems to be trying to control his fate. He is disturbed by his lack of emotional control and when he falls "in love" with Amanda, his world seems to be spinning out of control.

"My whole life was ordinary and then we met and these amazing things started to happen." ~Amanda

Is it love that makes Amanda a better cook and makes her cooking taste even better to Tom? Are their senses in a state of heightened awareness from the chemicals rushing through their bodies or is there magic floating about? Once she finds a recipe for caramel éclairs, Tom is even more attracted to her.

There are very few movies about cooking or chefs so this one is a treat. Tear drops in the food reminded me of Like Water for Chocolate. The emotions Amanda feels are somehow magically mixed into the food she is cooking. Either the dishes make people cry, stun them or make them lose their inhibitions. She seems to have a magical gift for culinary creations that have an effect on anyone who consumes them.

Is the orchid plant in this movie the "Oncidium Sharry Baby?" It did look similar, although I can't say for sure. Some people say it has a fruity vanilla scent and not really a chocolate scent. Most types of vanilla do not produce the vanilla beans. If you wanted to cook with flowers, you would want to make sure that the flowers you added to your cooking were edible. Orchid flowers are apparently edible.

Vanilla beans are the cigar-shaped seed pods from a climbing orchid and the pods must be picked, boiled and heated in the sun. It literally takes months to produce the delicious vanilla flavor. It actually takes 100 beans to make 1 gallon of vanilla extract. If you love vanilla extract, you might also enjoy: Fiori di Sicilia flavoring for your baking.

After watching this movie you may want to feed your lover oranges, invest in some expensive vanilla extract, get lost in a kiss or cook up some bliss. If you are looking for the best vanilla for your cooking, Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla is superior.

Deliciously cute, silly spells, sweet innocent love and a few hot and steamy kissing scenes in the kitchen. For romantics and lovers of kitchens and cuisine. Almost a culinary Cinderella story.

You might enjoy these books:

The Seduction Cookbook by Diane Brown (Baked Salmon with Raspberry Cabernet Sauce, ideas for late night seduction snacks and information on growing an erotic herb garden.)

A Passionfruit Cookbook by Patrick Jesse Pons-Worley (The flavor of passion fruit is so seductive and exotic.)

Written with a Spoon (Poetry and Recipes)

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids by Alec Pridgeon

The Edible Flower Garden by Rosalind Creasy

InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook (The "Fig Pastries" are decadent and naughty.)

Crab Cooking: Famous Recipes from Famous Places by Joyce Lafray

Movies with Food Themes:

Babette's Feast

Like Water for Chocolate

Scent of Green Papaya

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Big Night

~The Rebecca Review

P.S. If you need a recipe for the caramel iced éclairs to entice someone with see the comments section for the link.

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Mmmm, mussels...

They provide an excellent metaphor for this little known romantic comedy as they are an unforgiving shell surrounding an unmistakeably unique tasting meat. Either you like them or you don't and so it is with this film. If you have trouble enjoying the average Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan canoodler then this movie probably isn't for you. Only the truly romantic who believe in spells and rapture will appreciate "Simply Irresistible".

The story doesn't always make sense as it tends to meander off in odd ways just like the character Stella, (played dizzily by Betty Buckley), but this is also part of its charm, it's unpredictability. There is a woozy style to the filmmaking that perfectly captures the story's setup. A young chef finds love and fulfillment at the claws of a magical crab. As silly as it sounds, "Simply Irresistible" is also incredibly sincere with first rate performances from all involved.

However even the tastiest mussels sometimes get gritty and there are enough (what the?) moments in "Simply Irresistible" to snap first time viewers out of their trances. This is a film that actually improves the more you watch it, as the discordant moments tend to soften with exposure.

The ending is by far the movie's weakest link as it asks the viewer to believe in an instantaneous makeover for the movie's star and revisit a restaurant scene that has long exhausted its interest. How much better would it have been if leading man Tom, (Sean Patrick Flanery), had met Amanda, (Sarah Michelle Gellar), on the pavement in front of the department store and taken her for a walk through the nighttime streets of midtown Manhattan? We would have gotten to see more of their admirable chemistry and maybe been given a glance at how their relationship would develop after the credit roll. Instead were left literally dangling in mid air feeling a bit silly.

Because of its flawed ending, I can only give "Simply Irresistible" four stars and certain plot holes would have reduced this score to three if it weren't for the always inventive use of soundtrack in the movie. One plot hole that particularly disappoints is the disappearance of Amanda's benefactor Gene O'Reilly, (played wonderfully by playwright Christopher Durang), after the film's first few minutes. More of his presence might have helped to ease the audience into the magical realism the script so heavily relies upon.

Thankfully moments of spontaneous convergence abound, when the dialogue, acting, and direction merge into such effortless liquidity that it's like watching a lava lamp; hypnotic. Nothing creates this effect better than Patricia Clarkson's sumptuously brassy performance as Tom's assistant Lois. Every scene she's in she steals and her seduction of department store tycoon Jonathan Bendel, (Dylan Baker), more than justifies the suspension of disbelief this film requires.

Flanery and Gellar work well together here with Flanery delicately walking a fine line as an ambitious yet romantically feckless young executive enchanted by Amanda's cooking and then by Amanda herself. My favorite moment: when Tom arrives at Amanda's very busy restaurant to break it off with her only to be smitten all over again as she hands him a customer's plate to deliver. The song "Secret Smile" by Semisonic starts to swell as Amanda intones "The mussels are ready" while beaming a thousand watt grin in his direction. It's the kind of magic scene that enlivens this unusual and giddy confection of a film.

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Passion Play (2010)

If nothing else, Mitch Glazer's "Passion Play" scores points for being different. Part existential drama, part swoony romance, part gangster epic, and part fantasy parable--this offbeat tale actually works better than you might anticipate. Expecting relatively little, I bought into this adult fairytale and its eccentricities. For its first hour, it spins a rather sweet fable with deceptively hard edges. It is in this juxtaposition of moods and themes that the movie really sets itself apart. But after establishing an effective premise and winning me over--the film suddenly loses a bit of momentum, takes a complete tonal shift, and ends on a rather unsubtle note meant to be uplifting and fraught with meaning. It's like there was an intriguing idea for a story, but the movie doesn't know how to get to its end in a dramatically cohesive way. Still, I liked the film--but I definitely felt a division between its parts. The first hour rated about 4 stars, but the final thirty minutes kind of felt hollow for me.

When a hapless jazz musician (Mickey Rourke) raises the ire of a local gangster (Bill Murray), he soon finds himself looking down the barrel of a gun. Narrowing avoiding execution, he stumbles upon a traveling carnival and becomes enchanted with Megan Fox who performs as a sideshow attraction. I'm sure plenty of reviews and descriptions of the movie will give you more information--but I think the film works best if you let a few surprises occur naturally. Soon Fox and Rourke hit the road but their blossoming romance is threatened by Rourke's need to square himself with Murray. Fox's allure may be just the ticket to saving his life. Through no fault of the actors, it is when Fox and Murray meet that the film starts to lose a bit of its life force. Who, if anyone, will end up with whom? Or are there greater powers at work on this trio of damaged souls?

Rourke is an interesting presence here--understated and believable. Fox displays credible vulnerability and acquits herself well. However, the grand success of the movie depends on them having an impassioned bond. And although both are good independently, I never felt the real heat of connection and chemistry. The illusion of their romance is not able to withstand their separation--and the longing looks and teary wistfulness were never entirely convincing for me. Murray, for his part, also restrains himself with a sly menace that serves the piece well. And while I'm sure some will be won over by the ending, it just seemed to be trying a bit too hard--especially lacking a tangible love bond. Still, it's worth a look--especially if you enjoy the actors. About 3 1/2 stars overall--I admired what the film tried to accomplish even if I felt it wasn't wholly successful. KGHarris, 5/11.

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Passion Play focuses on a down on his luck trumpet player named Nate (Mickey Rourke) and his encounter with a young woman named Lily (Megan Fox) in a Mexican sideshow who just happens to have wings. As their lives quickly intertwine, things go from bad to worse when they run away from her overprotective carny father (Rhys Ifans) and into the spiraling web of the mobster who wants Nate dead, Happy Shannon (Bill Murray).

The premise is interesting. Not quite a noir tale, not quite magical realism... Passion Play, if I may be a bit spoilerish, is a tale of Purgatory. Unfortunately, it's not artfully done. It's too real and mundane to be fantastic, other than Lily's wings, and too casual about said wings for anyone to take it seriously. The ending is the only brave thought in the film, and even it is tainted by the plodding narrative and superfluous side characters.

Passion Play attempts subtlety through lingering character shots and uninspired dialogue delivered with horrible timing by both Rourke and Fox. Ultimately, it all falls flat. Bill Murray's Happy is the most interesting part, but even his poetic lines lack for drama and poignancy. I don't think that's his fault, though. The entire piece is earnest, but fails.

If you're looking for noirish films that deal with similar subject matters, I'd probably recommend The Salton Sea. Passion Play? I honestly can't even recommend a rental. It's not the worst movie, but it's pretty bad.

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This is a slow moving neo-noir modern western. Mickey Rourke plays Nate Poole, a jazz player has-been who has been caught with a mobster's wife. He is taken out into the desert to be shot when suddenly a group of Native Americans, dressed in white, shoot his killer. Nate walks until he reaches a sideshow carnival, complete with a woman with huge angel wings (Meagan Fox) named Lily Luster (short for Lilith, a fallen angel?). As the carnies are ready to kill Poole, Lily rescues him.

Rhys Ifans plays Sam Adamo (another Biblical reference as Lilith in mythology was Adam's first wife). He is the head carny and Lily's caretaker. Nate plans to exploit Meagan by going back to the mobster Happy Shannon (Bill Murray) who is anything but happy, as he is a "recent widower." Nate is aided by Harriet (Kelly Lynch) who runs the "Dream Lounge" in case you thought we were running out of symbols/metaphors. Oh yes, Happy's real name is "Michael" like the angel.

Poole seems to ruin his chance for redemption when he decides to exploit "angel." The movie contains tons of slow, seemingly useless, endless dialouge. The Sartre ending was expected as soon as the first shot was fired. This is more of an "indie" style movie or perhaps an "art" film. I think everybody will find something boring in this film in spite of the haphazard use of metaphors.

F-bombs, one dimly lit sex scene, nudity (not Meagan).

Read Best Reviews of Passion Play (2010) Here

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I really liked this movie a lot. I watched it on cable one night with no expectations.

Mickey Rourke was fantastic as the burnt out trumpet soloist Nate and Megan Fox was quite good in a role

that allowed her to stretch her wings a bit (no pun intended lol).

I loved the whole David Lynch styled atmosphere of the film and couldnt find too many things to say about it

except I believe the critics were wrong. They are like vultures and will pick off a film if they feel the others

circling sometimes I believe movies are dismissed because of what their peers think.

To go into the plot at all will spoil it for those who havent seen it, but this is definatley one

of Rourke's most interesting roles since Angel Heart and Bill Murray is sensational as the bad guy.

Dont listen to the critics they got it wrong Passion Play is a suprislingly excellent little film with touches

of Noir and is shot with an arthouse sensibility. And with the drivel that is being spewed out of the pens and

studios of Hollywood at the moment this is one of the more original films to come along in a long time.

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Looking for Eric (2009)

I'm a fan of Ken Loach and his gritty, and oh so earnest, working class heroes. In a resume populated with great films, my personal favorites range from 1994's social drama "Ladybird Ladybird" to 2002's crime laden "Sweet Sixteen" to 2006's epic war story "The Wind That Shakes The Barley." So I was a little surprised never to have heard of Loach's latest release, 2009's "Looking For Eric." Someone described it to me in advance by saying "Oh yeah, it's a Ken Loach comedy" and I thought "OK, this'll be interesting." I don't typically feel like smiling, much less laughing, during Loach's sometimes harrowing stories--but a great director is a great director. But while there are definitely comedic highlights to "Looking For Eric," I'm not actually sure it can be classified as a comedy. It's a drama with some funny bits as well as some fantasy thrown in. Truthfully, while I suspect others might like it more than I did, "Looking For Eric" was a bit of a misfire for me.

Its protagonist, Eric Bishop, is a man in crisis. Depressed and unsatisfied, he's raising two unruly stepsons and pining to reconnect more fully with his first wife. When his daughter needs childcare, it forces Eric into a relationship with the woman he left behind and starts to help him reevaluate the priorities in his life. But he can't do it alone. Eric conjures up his football hero Eric Cantona (playing himself) to be a mystical life coach. Slightly amusing at times, a bit awkward at others--Cantona is not a particularly nuanced actor--but the entire fantasy element never really connected with me. It's a fitfully funny idea, but it's only played for mild humor and real inspiration. But then, even this is overshadowed by an unconvincing turn into mob drama. One of the stepsons is in over his head and to extricate him from a dangerous group, Eric and his buddies dish out some vigilante justice.

Tonally, "Looking For Eric" is really all over the place. The "up with people" finale dealing with the mob is overly cutesy and unreal, the tentative romance with Eric and his ex-wife is sweet, the relationship with his sons is underdeveloped, the crime elements are familiar, and than there's Cantona--who's just odd. Steve Evets, in the lead, does a good job stringing it all together, and he works in overdrive to make you care. But he's surrounded by too much chaos. Both his boys are drawn in the sketchiest terms--but, all of the sudden, the plot shifts to center around one of them. As he hasn't really been developed as a character, the focus of "Looking For Eric" went a bit wonky. I guess I didn't actually dislike "Looking for Eric," ultimately I just didn't feel much of anything. Evets is the primary reason, for me, to recommend "Looking For Eric." KGHarris, 12/10.

This is one big, all cylinders firing, feel good with enough bitter sweet to choke a rat eating a hamburger. I loved the fat boys Mancunian mens' group. "Close your eyes and tell us what yer thinkin like". Yes, predictable there is alwys one thinking of a girl minus her kit-but the ensuing conversation had me on the ground clutching me belly. Shakespearean clowns riding along on that one. Its the working class humour, self effacing and on the make. Now Eric, what can you say. Not a fan of the mancuniuan ponies (away the Toon like and I never forgive them for stealing games and a title off us) but I like Eric. he's like Best, Law and Charlton. You own them regardless of who your tribe is because they were genius (please note Ronaldo is not in that sentence-cheers). So, in this movie Eric the maverick philosopher fits right in. Takes the piss out of hiself. See some of his magic at work on the theatre of dreams green turf. Kung fu anyone? But the man can also act and so he dovetails nicely with Steve Evets. This is a celebration of the resilience and plonkerness of working class men of a certain age (mine) which is why I relate to it. Didn't I just want Eric the postman to win at least one jackpot in life. Good man Loach!

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Hmm, this wasn't really what I was expecting to be honest, and I'm at a bit of a loss to review it, but I will plough on regardless.

Looking for Eric is not necessarily a search for Mr Cantona, the talismanic player for Manchester United in the mid 90s, although Mr Cantona assists in the search, but more the voyage of postman Eric to come to terms with his own life, the loss of his first love, and the regret he feels for his actions, and the struggles of trying to bring up his 2 wayward teenage step sons in today's Manchester, whilst he himself remains routed in the past.

Mr Cantona assists in this endeavour by appearing as an hallucination bringing Eric the benefits of his Gallic philosophies, as Eric struggles to come to terms with the situation he is in.

Thankfully, Eric has a good bunch of friends; both from his postman job, and from his football interest, FC United of Manchester, illustrates the other main point made in the film.

Eric and his friends represent the traditional working class fanbase of football, who supported Manchester United before they became the prawn sandwich eating "Pride of Singapore" and feel disenfranchised by the fact that whilst the local drug dealer has a box at Old Trafford, they cannot afford to attend the games any more. FC United of Manchester was formed by these disenfranchised fans, and these are the people who ultimately come to Eric's aid, when drug dealers threaten Eric's family.

So, the film is a commentary about a man reclaiming his past and his future, and about a group of football supporters reclaiming their heritage. It's quite prescient taking into account the teams in financial difficulty, and yet another Manchester United takeover battle in the offing.

The acting is top notch from this ensemble cast, and Eric Cantona, is, well, Eric Cantona, and his likeability, oddness and charisma come across rather nicely in the film.

So, I am still left feeling this is an odd film, but it charmed me enough to write a serious review about it, so it must have done something right.

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The premise of this movie is terrific--a man down on his luck looks to inspiration from his hero, Manchester United's legendary Eric Cantona who appears as himself in the movie as a sort of mentor to the other Eric the protagonist of the story.

What gets me annoyed most about the story is the progression is way too simplistic. Are we really supposed to believe that this depressed guy finally snaps out of what seems like a 30-year depression just because his friend introduces him to a "visualization" technique that opens the door to Eric Cantona offering him advice? It's funny and all but it doesn't quite explain his past 30 years.

Then the fact this scrawny guy can win back the love of his life so quickly is the stuff of movie scripts not reality. Not that I need a movie to be "real" but I think this movie is trying to present working class Manchester as a "real" place but often it seems more "Coronation Street" than anything.

Plus what is never explained is why one of the two sons who live with him is black. Is he adopted? Was Eric the postman married three times as he has three children in the movie?

The climactic scene is hilarious and makes the movie worthwhile (and I won't give it away) as do the Cantona hilite scenes (some of these goals he conjures up in a Utd shirt are the stuff of genius) and the scenes where Cantona offers his philosophy on life to Eric albeit in a mumbly sort of English that is hard to catch at times.

Lastly, you might need a degree in English soccer to follow some of the references. It helped that I knew about the FC United movement, the Selhurst Park incident that got Cantona banned for nine months and the "seagull" press conference statement (which you do get to see in the closing credits and is still as ironic and over the British press's heads as ever).

There are zero extras on the DVD other than the boring old deleted scenes and trailers.

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It was just what the doctor ordered. Low key and low prices, this movie kept staring at me until I searched and found it quickly enough. Perfect

Vendor delivery was fast and product played perfect. I'll be loyal to this one. I used to give great cs, I've always expect it back

Thank you.

Joe pantozzi

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A Private Function (1984)

What a surprise that this perfect gem is not better known...such a loss. Britain during the early fifties had much to look forward to and much still to do. Everything was still rationed just as in the war years principally because the treasury was sacked to pay for the arms and munitions needed to fight it. The Empire (or what was left of it) was broke too and most that had not already done so went the autonomous route now, taking revenue away from London...though all quite peaceably and with everyone's best wishes. It would be ten years after the war ended (that makes roughly fourteen in all) until rationing would end for these isles, celebrated with the fantastic Festival of Britain in 1955, and people could at last look forward into a new Elizabethan age, rather than back on that darkness. My god Britain paid for that war in every way possible...really. What a period then to set a comedy I suppose...except that this particular story required those lean and austere times for the telling of it. Fresh meat you see...gammon, bacon, joints roasted and slavered with apple sauce...mouth watering! Imagine then the lengths you might go to for some of that after, let's say, eleven years of powdered egg.

Michael Palin as the hen pecked chiropodist, Maggie Smith as the social climbing hen, Liz Smith as the batty scatty mother-in law who'll stuff virtually anything and everything in her gannet gob, Denholm Eliot (as the doctor) who refuses to be impressed and so must be made so...along with everyone else in town who matters....I have never laughed so much. They are all that generation who would have been children (more or less) in this time period and all say how they never felt they went without....how they enjoyed their childhood's and wish it could be the same always...when you watch this you can see their point. This film and everyone's performance in it is superb. Please...for your good health and for your better and more cheerful disposition...buy this movie.

When the incredible Maggie Smith shares top billing in a film with a pig, it is simply too delicious to resist. That is much the way I feel about 1984's "A Private Function." This delightful British comedy didn't get a lot of attention upon its release and is still relatively unknown stateside, but those that appreciate a droll skewering of class politics will be enchanted by this rude, yet smart, film. "A Private Function" won three British Academy Awards (BAFTAs) for Best Actress Maggie Smith, Best Supporting Actress Liz Smith, and Best Supporting Actor Denholm Elliott in addition to being nominated for Best Film and Best Screenplay. Headlined by Michael Palin, "A Private Function" is more akin to a classic Ealing Studio's comic caper than to contemporary Python. Bizarre and uniquely British in tone and temperament, I hope a new DVD release will raise awareness of this quiet gem. And there's a pig in it!

Set in a small town in post-war 1947 Britain, "A Private Function" introduces a world were deprivation and rationing are still every day occurrences. When the local town bigwigs want to impress for an impending Royal wedding, they set aside a pig for slaughter. It's all rather hush hush, though, as the very act they intend to commit violates the law. When Palin, as the put upon husband of Dame Maggie, is pushed too far by his socially carnivorous wife--he abducts the prize porker. Mayhem ensues as the town falls to pieces and Palin and Smith desperately try to hide their porcine concubine from prying eyes. There are plenty of gags, many at the expense of Smith's daft mother Liz Smith, who fears senility from all the strange new odors at home. Of course things work out--but not in the way anyone was expecting.

A great blend of physical humor and intellect, if you love British comedy--you'll undoubtedly love "A Private Function." Maggie Smith is an absolutely hilarious snoot, and many of the supporting roles are fleshed out by recognizable faces. (Recently deceased Pete Posthlewaite plays a town butcher.) Everyone gives such robust performances, however, it is surprising to find Michael Palin as the straight man. The quiet within the hilarity, it's not the role you'd expect such a rich comedic actor to inhabit. So, have a good time. Sit down with a big bowl of pork rinds and enjoy the wicked and wonderful "A Private Function." KGHarris, 1/11.

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A great cast and story. It's so witty as only the English can make. It's not a current movie, so don't expect any of the current stars with the exception of Maggie Smith, who is one of England's greatest actors. I didn't know how post WWII England was like when it had to ration meat, especially pork, during it's lean times. The story comes to a funny and entertaining climax at the end. Without giving the story away, I felt sorry for the pig. Although, I just couldn't stop laughing. I highly recommend this movie to adults with a great sense of humor. Let your children watch the cartoon channel. They just wouldn't appreciate the adult humor. I'm a "Carry On" fan so expect the same humor. The quality of the blu-ray is very good, if you into blu-ray movies.

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Michael Palin of Monty Python and 'Fish Called Wanda' fame teams up with Maggie Smith ('Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', 'Room With a View', 'Gosford Park') to form one of the most eccentric married couples in English history. To top it off, the couple live with her mother played by the acctress who portrays the eccentric female vestry member (always knitting and creating strange kitchen concoctions) in the 'Vicar of Dilby' series.

Palin is "foot doctor" who spends his days bicycling from house to house in post-War II Yorkshire tending to female patients. In his travels around and about he crosses paths with a syndicate of "business men" who are raising an illegal pig for a "private function" to be held the day the Princess Elizabeth (II) marries.

Following a farcical turn of events, Palin kidnaps the pig named "Betty" planned for the roast. Urged on by Smith's character (pure Maggie), the couple "keep" the pig in their bathroom and try to kill it. Soon enough, the syndicate members discover the kidnapping and are hot on the tail of the missing pig. In the meantime, a zealous copper is hot on their tails.

Other wonderful actors in this romp include Denholm Elliot ('Room With a View'), Alison Steadman ('Singing Dectective', 'Pride and Prejudice'), Pete Postlehwaite ('Name of the Father', 'Brassed Off') and other very familiar faces. An uplifting film, but not suitable for those who are weak of stomach.

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A vivid and comic look at dour Britain in the early 50's, just as Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen) is about to get married. Local celebrations are hampered by food rationing and a stolen pig becomes the centre of attention. Lizzie Smith as the old mum is brilliant, Richard Griffiths excellent (he is in "Withnail and I" too) and Dame Maggie Smith as Michael Palin's wife is just right.

Denholm Eliot, as a local bigwig, is a revelation. Buy it! Pity it's not on DVD.

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Practical Magic / The Witches of Eastwick (Double Feature) (2010)

I owned both movies on DVD. So the chance to upgrade in quality, plus cut down on shelf space was too good an opportunity to miss out on.

The Witches of Eastwick is an excellent film and looks better than the DVD version (not really difficult to be honest). Given that this, and PM are both based in small towns, with plenty of greenery and water around, Blu-Ray should, in theory, really bring out the colours. I can't really complain too much about Witches, given that the film was made in 1987. Having said that, the Warner releases (double features) of the first 4 Dirty Harry films look AMAZING, and these were made before Witches.

But i have a problem with Practical Magic. This film, if at all possible, looks WORSE on Blu-Ray than on regular DVD. What the hell have Warners done??!! At best, it's an exact copy over from DVD to HD. But it's evident that no cleaning up whatsoever was done.

In my opinion, if studios are going to release older titles on HD format, then they should at least have the courtesy to put the effort in. Blu-Ray discs are certainly not cheap. And whilst i'm delighted to have a better copy of Eastwick, being saddled with a poor copy of PM doesn't make me an entirely satisfied customer.

The 3 stars don't reflect the movies themselves, but if i could give individual stars for quality, it would be 3.5 for Eastwick and 0.5 for Magic.

Love Witches of Eastwick and have never seen Practical Magic but the quality of the transfer is crap. This is not Blu-Ray quality. It is barely a step above DVD quality and that is stretching it. Very disappointed. Have not decided if I will return it. At least it's presented in true widescreen. Be wary of buying a disc with two movies on it. They obviously have to sacrifice quality to fit two movies on one disc. This item was inexpensive but still not worth it.

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I LOVE practical magic but this blu ray transfer is crappy! It's also a little jumpy. Warner bros should try again but seperate them into 2 discs!

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I am a fan of sandra bullock movies and having another one on bluray it is great, clear picture quality and great sound i recomend this movie if you use to have it on dvd it is a great upgrade to have it on bluray.

Adding The Witches of Eastwick perfect combination of 2 classic movies one for Cher and the other for Sandra Bullock

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no sooner did i order this product that i received it in the post. Absolutely love the movie!! Meets my expectations

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