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)

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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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Bad Boys (1995)

What can I say about this movie, but the fact that Bad boys is one of my all time favourite films. It stars Will Smith (the Frensh Prince of Bell Air) and Martin Lawerance (Martain/Blue Streak) as two Miami cops, both are two very funny actors who took to the action role very well (of course Will Smith as continued on so in this role in films like ID4 and Men in black). The film produces great action and boasting good soundtrack(songs such as Shy guy) from the talents of a great director(This film really started Michael Bay's carear and is still one of his best).I know its not everyones cup of tea, but if you like your movies fast, sexy, loud and action packed buy the DVD now! This special edition had loads of extras.

When it comes to action films there is one man that has come to be known as Hollywood's go-to-guy when producing high-octane action/adventure fare. That man is Jerry Bruckheimer, "Top Gun", "Days of Thunder", and "Con Air" are just a few of the outstanding action films Bruckheimer has produced throughout the last 20 years. In 1995, Bruckheimer teamed up with director Michael Bay to make a film that focuses on two hip, young cops in Miami, Florida. To bring the freshness needed for the roles of Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, Bay and Bruckheimer looked to the talents of two popular young actors made famous by two very big television shows. The actors chosen were Will Smith (TV's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") and Martin Lawrence (TV's "Martin").

"Bad Boys" story as stated above, focuses on two Miami Detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence), who after confiscating one hundred million dollars worth of heroine come under fire when the drugs wind up stolen. With the drugs missing, the two lead detectives under investigation by Internal Affairs, it appears that this particular narcotics division of the Miami Police Department will be closed down for good. So, with no one on their side except for a young woman (Tea Leoni) who happened to witness a murder linked to the drugs, Mike and Marcus must strike out on their own to reaquire the drugs and bring down those responsible, if they succeed they can clear their names and keep their badges for another day, but if not it may just mean jail for the detectives.

Many critics were skeptical about whether or not two actors famous for doing comedy on network television shows could pull of being the leads in a high-profile action movie. Really many actors would probably have the problem with making the jump from TV to film, especially when their primary job had been comedy, with very little drama and no action, but Will Smith and Martin Lawrence succeed brilliantly. The comedic timing between these two actors is outstanding, and both pull off the dramatic scenes very convincingly, and the action scenes are well played and laid out thanks to the adrenaline charged directing of Michael Bay and the athletic prowess of the actors. Jerry Bruckheimer's skill for picking projects and finding the right people to make them come together seems to never fail, and "Bad Boys" is no exception.

If you're a fan of action films and for some reason have yet to see "Bad Boys", do yourself a favor and watch this movie, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

"Bad Boys" is rated R for violence, language, and sexuality.

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Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay make an excellent team! When they work together, explosions rock the screen, profanity is spewed between characters, and corpses far outnumber the amount of lines spoken. This is one of Will Smith's early ventures in film, and to be honest, I think this is his breakthrough role as Mike Lowrey, a playboy cop with a taste for gritty gunfights. Martin Lawrence is hilarious as Mike's partner, Marcus Burnett, a family man whose gig constantly interferes with his family life. Tea Leoni is okay, but not great, and her role seems a bit weird, as though it was just randomly stuck in the plot. The bad guy is a typical villain, with few lines and a thick accent. The action scenes are, of course, Bruckheimer-worthy, and so you wont be disappointed. The cinematography adds to the film's good parts. Overall, a movie that is fun, brainless stuff.

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In 1995, director Michael Bay made his directorial debut with "Bad Boys". Featuring a story by George Gallo and a screenplay by late show writers Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson ("Die Hard II", "Money Train") and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, despite being shot on a very low budget ($19 million), the film was a huge box office success making over $141 million in the box office .

"Bad Boys" would further the onscreen status of then-television show leads Will Smith and Martin Lawrence into movie stardom and would solidify Michael Bay's status as an action director.

VIDEO:

"Bad Boys" is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:85:1). For the most part, the Blu-ray release definitely marks a much better looking version of the film. You can see the skin pores on the characters, more detail in the characters as you can see the freckles on Tea Leoni's face much more clearly. Blacks are nice and deep. Outdoor scenes are vibrant and colorful and for the most part, for a 15-year-old film, fans of the film will definitely enjoy the PQ. I didn't see any aliasing, edge enhancement or any artifacting.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Bad Boys" shines in the lossless department. With this film being an action-driven film, there are times where you hear explosions and gun shots whizzing from left to right via the surround channels. I also noticed some shots utilizing LFE. But there was one scene where I felt it nearly blew my eardrum off because I had my system pumped up quite loudly. But the film definitely sounds incredible via lossless. Dialogue and music is clear and understandable through the front and center channels but there is good use of surround for the action segments.

Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Bad Boys" comes with the following special features presented in standard definition, English Stereo with Spanish or Portuguese subtitles:

* movieIQ(tm)+sync (use logo) and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie!

* Commentary with Director Michael Bay Featured on the original DVD release, Michael Bay talks about the making of the film, working with the talent and the crew and how certain scenes were created. Also, talking about his directorial debut, the two main characters inprovising and working with a low budget.

* Putting the Boom & Bang in the Bad Boys Documentary (23:54) A documentary on how the special effects were created for the film, the various weapons and how certain explosions were made.

* Three Music Videos Featuring Dana King's "Shy Guy", 69 Boyz "Five-O, Five-O" and Warren G's "So Many Ways".

EXTRAS:

"Bad Boys" comes with a cardboard protective slip case.

JUDGMENT CALL:

When "Bad Boys" came out in theaters in 1995, there were many critics who were not too thrilled by the film but the fact is that Martin Lawrence who had his own popular TV series "Martin" and Will Smith who had "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" were popular talents. Some may find the partnership between the two as just another cliche cop duo film and for the most part, I guess you can see it at that way but if you were a fan of these two, you were going to enjoy their interaction and their humor. And possible the smartest thing that Bay allowed (because he didn't like the script all that much) was to give Lawrence and Smith a chance to improvise their lines and have fun with it.

But if anything, "Bad Boys" was that film that lifted director Michael Bay and Will Smith's names to new heights. After this film, Will Smith was no longer the TV star but now a bonafide action star and followed up with "Independence Day" and "Men in Black", while Director Michael Bay would have a string of box office hits with "The Rock" and "Armageddon".

If this film proved anything, it was that Michael Bay knew what staff to work with because with such a low budget to work with, they accomplished a lot special effects-wise with very little (note: "Bad Boys" was budgeted at $19 million, Bay's next film "The Rock" was budgeted at $75 million).

"Bad Boys" was like your usual copy duo films. May it be "Lethal Weapon, "Beverly Hills Cop", "48 Hours" (two friends/partners who have their own problems with one another) but when you have two African American talent who can play off each other so well, it made the film very entertaining. The comedy and action was just right and I understand the critics feeling the film doesn't break any new ground but in 1995, I felt the timing was right for the film and for the most part, movie watchers agreed with the pairing as seen with the massive amount of money that "Bad Boys" had made.

As for the Blu-ray release, the Blu-ray definitely looks much better than the DVD and the lossless soundtrack is awesome. But if there is one thing where the special DVD slightly has an edge over the Blu-ray edition is that it does have the "Damage Control" which used angles to analyze special effects explosions and also an isolated music score which are not included on the Blu-ray. So, if you enjoy those special features, you may want to hang on to your special edition DVD version. But otherwise, the Blu-ray release of "Bad Boys" is much better than its DVD counterpart.

Overall, if you are a fan of "Bad Boys", definitely give this Blu-ray release a chance!

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This movie is very fun and full of action. If you can get past the cursing, it's well worth it. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are almost too much fun as cop partners who go deep undercover to recover stolen police evidence (drugs). Tea Leoni is also hilarious in the film and serves as a great counterpoint to the cocky buddy cops.

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Cougars, Inc. (2011)

One can only wonder what,first time writer,director and producer,K.Asher Levin was trying to get across to his viewing audience. I'm still trying to decide what storyline he was sttempting for the audience to understand much less follow,for a first time director,he won't be mistaken for a Steven Spielberg,out the gate,he decides to tell his story by the use of paper

inserts,that let the audience know what the next scene will be. Poor decision,Mr.Levin,if I can't follow the story your attempting to convey,don't insult me by using some other type of means, learn your craft before decide to direct a film!

Hopefully,Mr. Levin this was a learning experience for you or maybe your better suited to be a producer and possible a writer,

I have to at least give you credit for putting together a good cast of actors,even if I do feel the best acting was done by

James Belushi in this film,for a seasoned television actress,the like's of Kathryn Morris(Cold Case)just did not come across,as believable character, had there not been the insert & bar scene,which by the way,I've know a few bartender's and not one of them would have served acohol to a 17 year old,the part played by Kyle Gallner(Veronica Mars)which led to the first sex scene between him and Kathryn Morris. There again,not a believable scene,as a matter of fact,non of this movie seemed to make sense. I have to assume that the director's intent was left on the cutting room floor,its the main reason for giving this film, a one star,I could have possible giving it a two & 1/2 star for the actors that were part of the film,Denise Richards along with Sarah Hyland, the other notable characters were the sons of James Belushi & Eddie Murphy.

Don't waste your time or money on purchasing the this DVD or Blu-Ray edition,it was a disappointment,the actors in this film are more talented than this and they certainly couldn't have done it for the paycheck they received!

If you can get passed the idea that women who are as hot as Denise Richards needs someone to set them up with young boys for sex, you might enjoy the film... and oh yes, she is willing to pay for it too. Kyle Gallner plays Sam, a high school boy whose mom was a former playmate. He is a self describe victim of circumstance as he has been kicked out of multiple boarding schools. He finally finds one where it seems he can finish his education only to find out that the money has run out. He goes to a bar and meets Alison (Kathyrn Morris) whose husband cheats on her. He flatters her and the next thing you know they are in a motel room. The next day she leaves a note and a check. He mentions this to his new friends who suggest they start a "risky business" as teen boys for cougars.

The guys go on-line to meet more cougars in need and bring in more boys for a business that lasts for about a music montage. Sam has met a girl his own age and wants to end his relationship with "Mrs. Robinson."

Jim Belushi plays the overly cool school master who says, "Woman: What do you need to know about them? You tell the good looking ones they're smart and the smart ones they're good looking."

Sex, nudity (not Denise Richards), and Denise Richards' potty mouth.

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I really liked this movie except that Sam chose to be with immature but sexually active Courtney (Sarah Hyland, "Modern Family"), who is around his age. He did have "good" times with beautiful and irresistible Alison (Kathryn Morris, "Cold Case"). Seeing the other teen males with older women (Denise Richards as Judy and other women unknown) was a turn-on for me.

If only the same thing happened to me when I was a teenager...

Cougar Club

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I thought the film was great! I gave it five stars despite the fact that the characters could have been more developed, I thought the acting made up for it! The acting was superb! Denise Richards is amazing! For those reviewers that gave it a bad review they're taking life way too serious. I also love the fact that Eddie Murphy's son makes his freshman debut in this film!! He does a subperb job, pleasantly reminiscent of his dad!!! Especially, the makeout scene! Hilarious!!! This is not meant to be a thought provoking film with depth as in Dead Poet's Society. It's fun, funny, and superficial while making no apologies for it!!! As a matter of fact the lead character makes that clear at the outset!! This will truly be a cultural, cult film in years to come as the term "Cougar" is forever etched into America's subcubtural history!! :0)))

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I wanted a collegiate farce. That's what you get here. Strong performances (I think) by Jim (definite) and Kyle (sort of). Mindless entertainment, but worth a shot!

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Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

"Celeste and Jesse Forever" (2012 release; 92 min.) brings the story of Celeste (played by Rashida Jones, who also co-wrote the script) and Jesse (played by Andy Semberg), who have been "best friends forever" since their youth, got married 6 years ago, and now are separating but still remain friends. One day Jesse runs into Veronica, a Belgian girl (played by Rebecca Dayan), and starts dating her, even though he remains tormented by the loss of Celeste. In the rest of the movie we watch and wonder whether Celeste and Jesse ultimately will reconcile.

First off, you need to take a leap of faith that, despite still being BFFs, Celeste and Jesse are in the process of divorcing. It's never explained why that is happening, other than a general "taking each other for granted" type explanation (which does not square with the two spending all their time together). But once you can get over that, the movie works like a charm. Jones just oozes charisma, and with her recent roles in The Social Network, The Muppets, and Our Idiot Brother (not to mention her TV work on Parks and Recreation), she is cearly an up-and-coming talent. Can't wait to see what she will do next. There are several other smaller but still choice roles in here, notably Elijah Wood as Celeste's boss, Emma Roberts (niece of Julia Roberts by the way) as the Ke$ha-like pop singer, and the already mentioned Rebecca Dayan as the Belgian girl.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed this more than what I expected going in, and in that sense "Celeste and Jesse Forever" is another winning indie rom-com, not unlike, say, Ruby Sparks, Friends With Kids or even Your Sister's Sister. "Celeste and Jesse Forever" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is a comedy and drama, very much like 1989's 'When Harry Met Sally.' Most important, it portrays the ups-and-downs of relationships in today's world, on TV shows and in the Real World. The question millions of people have asked themselves after a loving relationship ends, can we still be friends? Celeste and Jesse met in high school, married young, and after reaching age thirty, began to grow apart. Celeste became successful in her career and Jesse is content at being unemployed. They clash in opinions and arguments until Celeste asks for a divorce. Jesse accepts the transition, still in love with Celeste. As they are apart, Celeste had second thoughts, and they both realized that in order to truly love someone, you may have to let them go. There are mixed-emotions, humor, and heartfelt moments. Acting Performance Very Good. Enjoyable and Highly Recommended!

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I did not expect this movie to be as good as it was when I decided to purchase it. This is one of those movies that, when you reflect back on the situations the main characters find themselves in, you really appreciate the movie and may end up watching it a second or third time through. The acting was solid, especially when it needed to be (like when she finds out the big news), and most of the time when I asked myself: "How would I react to that?", their reactions were largely similar to what mine would have been.

My favorite part is the "climax" when the two main characters finally confront their emotions outside of the bar and they do it angrily and storm off. You can really feel Rashida Jones' heart breaking in that sequence of scenes as she is at her wit's end and has nothing left to lose so she goes for broke and comes up short.

This ending was the type of ending I LOVE because you will like it, or dislike it, based on who you are as a person. No doubt they are perfect for each other and had great chemistry (both in the movie and as actor/actress) and this really made the point stick that sometimes life just doesn't happen the way we want it to and no matter how much we kick and scream, it carries on with or without us.

I actually loved the language in this movie. I feel like it was placed well. I will never understand how people consider vulgar language to be indicative of anything other than a different way to express yourself. Her use of the f-bomb when she finds out the big news framed this movie's dialogue and was awesome.

Read Best Reviews of Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) Here

While much of this romcom may seem familiar, it is not your traditional glossy Hollywood affair. Written by Rashida Jones (TV's "Parks and Recreation") it is based on a real life relationship she had with co-star Will McCormack who plays Skillz, a close friend.

In a breakout performance Jones carries the movie as a just turned 30 year old whose marriage to Jesse (Andy Samberg) she summarily decides to end. He doesn't resist but they vow to remain best friends. Their relationship goes back to their school days and while they seem perfectly happy, Celeste can't see children with him or a traditional future. Jesse is an artist who has no motivation to be successful. He's satisfied watching reruns of the Beijing Olympics.

Celeste is a borderline successful marketing executive who has just signed one of the young vapid pop stars of the day (Emma Roberts). A series of blunders puts the two at odds but ultimately close. The real story here is the emotional roller coaster Celeste and Jesse go through once Jesse finds another beautiful woman who becomes pregnant. Celeste plays the dating game for a while but is uncomfortable with the whole idea. It is then they both realize they didn't understand each other as much as they thought.

Backed by an excellent supporting cast, especially Elijah Wood and Celeste's gay business partner and Ari Graynor as her best friend, Jones is a wonder in this slightly off-kilter film. She shows remarkable range as she goes from hysterically funny to drunk and disorderly to being drained emotionally. It all felt very real.

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Celeste and Jesse Forever is an enjoyable movie with a real plot, fully developed characters, and a strong message. We meet career woman/trend watcher Celeste and her dreamer, artist husband just after their separation but before their divorce. They both ignore obvious signals that they are still deeply in love and meant for one another until, inevitably, an old acquaintance of Jesse's shows up. Jesse takes up the new relationship with hesitancy but he wants to move on with his life and heal. The new woman is offering him everything that Celeste was afraid to give, acceptance, love, and a family. Celeste learns the very hard way what a gift it was to have been truly loved. I won't spoil the ending as this movie is well worth watching. Enjoy!

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The Rundown BD + DVD Value Pack (2003)

Option BI MAKE YOU go see The Rundown.

The Rundown marks the arrival of Dwayne Johnson, A.K.A. "The Rock" as a bona-fide movie star. As Beck, a "Retrieval Expert" who longs for a simpler life as a chef, he displays for the first time on film the humor and charisma that won him "Millions....and MILLIONS!" of fans in the WWE. Dispatced to the South American town of El Dorado (Called Hell Dorado by the locals) to fetch Travis Walker (Seann William Scott), the wayward son of his shady boss, Beck gets more than he bargained for. He finds Travis easily enough, but getting him home might pose more of a problem. Not only does Travis not WANT to go home, but local land baron Hatcher (The hilariously nutty Christopher Walken, at his eye-popping best here) won't LET him go...At least not until Travis finds a mythical golden idol for him. The Rock vs. an army of gun-toting slave-drivers......Place your bets!

As I said earlier, The Rock is awesome in his role, bringing a mix of self-effacing humor and quiet strength to the mix, balancing out the potentially irritating Scott's whiny character. Walken is, as always, a joy to watch. His diatribe about The Tooth Fairy is worth the price of admission alone, and hearing him say "Oompa-Loompa" is sure to go down in history as one of my all-time favorite movie lines. Director Peter Berg shows himself to be equally comfortable with comedy and action; He keeps the film moving along at a brisk pace, and the action scenes are simply stunningNot only are the fights choreographed beautifully, but the action is easy to follow, with none of the choppy editing and shaky photography that has ruined many an action movie.

The Rundown is just what it portrays itself as: A fun buddy picture. I had a blast, and so did everyone else in the theater. If you're in the mood for action, The Rundown is a sure bet. If you smell what I'm cookin'.....

Well, I wasn't expecting a great deal from this film. In fact, I probably wouldn't have seen it at all if it hadn't gotten surprisingly good reviews. The Rock was pretty forgettable in 'The Scorpion King', although not terrible, but he puts in a great performance here. Tasked with the retrieval of a wayward son, he ends up in a three (or four) way hunt for a mysterious golden idol, along the way enountering everything from homicidal gold miners to jungle rebels to packs of angry monkeys. It is one funny movie, and the action scenes are great. Most importantly, the cast has both charisma and quality, and the dialogue isn't nearly as stilted as you'd expect in a typical action film. You can tell they all had fun making the movie, perhaps because it was actually filmed in Hawaii. Regardless, you should check this out even if you have doubts about it, because it will win you over.

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This movie is truly Rock-solid; the inimitable pro-wrestler turned actor admirably struts his stuff here in terms of sheer muscular star power and heavyweight charisma, and proceeds to turn the Amazonian jungle upside down in the process. This is certainly no dramatic masterpiece, but all of the cast are excellent in this incredible action movie, especially Christopher Walken, doing a turn as a witty yet egomaniacal villain who simply isn't prepared for the consequences as `Beck' (the Rock) arrives on his doorstep in his part of the jungle to retrieve the errant son of a gangster he is indebted to. The murder and mayhem that ensue make up two hours of first class entertainment as we find Rock against the world, and the world getting the worst part of the deal.

The movie is wonderfully photographed, and the comic moments flow from the opening sequences, when Beck step into a crowded bar to retrieve a debt from a pro football player. The ensuing madness is so well choreographed and played out that it is entirely believable despite the fact that it is strictly super-heroics that the character Rock plays has to deliver to punch, elbow, and drop-kick the whole offensive line of a pro football team in pursuit of his man. Likewise, the bar-room fight scene that sets up the rest of the movie once Beck arrives in Brazil is a study in athletic make-believe, so far out it is both fun and amazing to watch, as long as you can suspend your critical faculties long enough to not laugh out loud at the silliness of some of the supposed stunts. But the Rock never disappoints, and he always entertains!

Indeed, like some of the better early Schwarzenegger movies (e.g. `Predator'), the wit and winsome qualities of both the characters and the plot are indeed quite entertaining despite the fact we all know who is going to win, and thus have very little doubt as to how things will progress as the tale spins along toward its conclusion. Also, one can see that Rock is rising very quickly to fill the action hero void once held by Arnie and Sly Stallone. He has a lot of screen presence, and is a joy to watch in action. What's more, he seems to handle himself very well, and is quite believable on the screen, which is no small feat given the cartoon-like aspects of the story line. All in all, a great action flick, and one you will likely want to include in your video library. Enjoy!

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Praise for The Rock's performance in this film is not overrated. He has come into his own in this film and established himself as a true actor and not just a muscle-bound cretin. The Rock plays Beck, a polite leg-breaker for a low-life loan shark with big-time "clients" such as NFL super stars. In a business where violence is his back-up when diplomacy doesn't work, Beck loathes guns and has a deeper desire to run his own 5-star restaurant and leave this knuckle-busting life behind him.

His boss gives him one last assignment before he cuts him loose and gives him the restaurant of his dreams... the mission: bring back his son Travis (Seann William Scott). His father has pulled his son's butt out of a sling so many times, he is reeling him in to face the music.

Beck heads to South America to retrieve Travis in what he believes will be a quick grab and flight back to the U.S. Unbeknownst to Beck, Travis is seeking a priceless golden idol and a local slave driver (Christopher Walken) is keeping tabs on Travis so he can steal the treasure from him as soon as he finds it. Hatcher (Walken) runs a gold-mining operation, employing the local populous at disgustingly pitiful pay and slave-like hours and treatment. It's a real shanty-town, but filled with sophisticated cameras and other surveillance equipment and gun-toting thugs.

There is non-stop butt-kicking and far-out choreography through-out the film. So many scenes are so proposterous, it borders on insulting your intelligence, but things happen so fast and you get such a good laugh along the way, you really just sit back for the ride. There are a couple of scenes involving monkeys that are real gut-busters for laughs but they used African baboons for these scenes not animals you'd ever encounter in the western hemisphere. Anyone who watches the Discovery Channel even once in a while will roll their eyes at these scenes, but still laugh.

A local bar-keep named Mariana (Rosaria Dawson) adds an additional twist. Is she just a bar-keep, or is there something else going on... and how does she keep her hair looking so nice while running for her life in the middle of a humid rain forest?

Seann William Scott has proved that he is much more than the "Stifler" character in the "American Pie" series... he is a talented actor and can portray a range of characters and emotions. This film will probably be his launching pad into more serious roles in the future.

There is some language, but nothing beyond what you'd see on NYPD Blue on TV, limited in-your-face violence... just butt kicking, and no sex scenes so the movie is fairly family-safe.

On the overall first-time-viewing enjoyment meter, I'd give this film 5 stars, but on the "would I ever want to see it again" meter, I give it half a star.

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I enjoyed this movie on DVD and it is even better on HD DVD. Great picture quality with the lush jungle scenes and lots of bass in the soundtrack.

The movie is also very entertaining with lots of action and humor. The Rock plays a goon that has been sent to retrieve his bosses son played by Seann William Scott (a.k.a Stiffler from American Pie). The interaction between them is hilarious. The great Christopher Walken plays the bad guy and he is his classic self. His awesome dialogue (I wonder how much was ad-libbed?) and his pants pulled up to his drooping breasts add the finishing touches to this terrific movie. I think this is the Rock's best movie and a sequel must be made!

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