Showing posts with label comedy movies in 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comedy movies in 2010. Show all posts

Click (2006)

ClickIn this one Adam Sandler is self-absorbed architect Michael Newman who is married to the sweet and supportive Donna played by the beautiful Kate Beckinsale, of the UNDERWORLD films. He has 2 beautiful kids, Ben and Samantha, who he doesn't get to see much because he's working lots of overtime in an attempt to be made a partner by David Hasselhoff, his ungrateful boss. One night, tired, frustrated, unable to even figure out which remote will turn on his TV, he sets out to find a "universal remote." In an embarrassing production of product placement that would make a NASCAR driver blush, he ends up at "Bed, Bath & Beyond," specifically the "Beyond" room. Here he finds the resident eccentric genius employed there, called Morty, chiefly because Sandler loves having Christopher Walken, who plays the part, say "Morty." Morty gives him an unique experimental device to get his life under "control." Michael is now able to turn on any & all appliances with the a single "click." He gradually learns of the device's other functions: It can "MUTE" the bark of the family dog, PAUSE everything and fast forward through an argument with the Mrs. he can adjust his HUE as well. Wanting to learn more he visits "the Beyond" and Morty again. Morty tells Michael that he got exactly what he asked for "a remote to control his universe." Morty further demonstrates more features, including one that lets him flip through his existence at varying speeds. Michael is soon corrupted absolutely by the sheer power of the control, literally losing control. Before long he can't stop the remote from selecting what and when he will fast-forward, causing him to miss events he wants to experience, eventually leading the obligatory " It's A WONDERFUL LIFE" epiphany when does realize all that he's missed and sometimes it is and sometimes isn't a wonderful life, but that's okay, he gets the message and all is forgiven.

The film is light formula-fare with heart, like some of Sandler's weaker films, there are laughs to be found. Sandler is okay as the nice-guy with a crude streak. Hasselhoff is fun as the jerk boss. Some of the gags get repetitive and some aren't that funny the first time. Also an over-large amount of time is spent creating the progressively older Michael Newman.

Click is directed for Sandler's Happy Madison production company by Frank Coraci of the Wedding Singer, Waterboy and most recently Around the World in 80 Days (the Jackie Chan). And Sandler again uses Henry "the Fonz" Winkler (previously in the Happy Madison universe as Coach Klien, and as himself in Little Nicky) and Julie Kavner (best known as the voice of Marge Simpson) to play his unappreciated folks. If nothing else, Sandler is a loyal guy.

If you do not know who Adam Sandler is yet, then let me say "Wake up!" This is by far his best film yet, to go along with "Big Daddy," "The Waterboy," "Anger Management," and "Happy Gilmore." Oh, I was laughing so hard when I saw this in the big house. Not only is Adam Sandler great, but so is Christopher Walkin, who plays the guy who gives Adam Sandler this remote. Alright, let me brief you about this Blockbuster flick.

A guy who is down on his luck go to "Bed, Bath, and Beyond." There he goes to the way beyond section of the store, where he meets the creator of the universal remote control (played by Christopher Walkin) that is a remote control not just for electronics, but for everyday life. With this remote, one could mute sound entirely, skip a part of life (such as, let's say you are in high school. Every time it was test time, the remote would skip it for you. How it skipped it, I am not saying). All in all, it is about one lucky dude who found a very powerful remote (he got it for FREE).

So, get this film. You will not be disappointed, that is if you like Adam Sandler or if you just plain like comedy for comedy's sake. Hope I helped get you to laugh, because I sure did, as did the entire auditorium of the movie theatre I was at that day. Oh, and if you like this movie, check out "RV" with Robin Williams. Have fun and be ready to laugh out loud!

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The closest Adam Sandler has come to a great film to this point in his career is "50 First Dates." As far as I was concerned get rid of Rob Schneider as Ula and cut the vomiting Walrus and you would have a five star movie. "Click" is in the same mold in that it combines Sandler's romantic side with a unusual situation and still insists on adding raunchy humor (I suppose there could be worse things than your dog trying to have sex with a giant stuffed duck, but let us not go there). Consequently, "Click" is not an improvement on "50 First Dates," but I do not think that it constitutes a step backwards, which would be welcomed news.

Sandler plays Michael Newman, who has married beyond his reach the gorgeous Donna (Kate Beckinsale), and has two young kids who love him, his son Ben (Joseph Castanon) and his daughter (Tatum McCann), despite the fact that he is so busy trying to make partner at the architecture firm where he works that he is ignoring his family more and more each day. Every time he makes a promise to his family, he feels forced bo break it to satisfy John Ammer (David Hasselhoff) at work. Things are getting so bad that Michael suddenly decides that what he needs ia a universal remote, just like the O'Doyle's next door, so that at least he can turn on his TV instead of the overhead fan. So he heads off into the night and since Bed, Bath and Beyond is the only store opens, goes in to find his universal remote. What he finds instead in the Beyond part of the store is Morty (Christopher Walken), who indeed has a universal remote, and not just your ordinary universal remote, as I assume everybody knows from the previews.

I must say up front that I am pretty sure I could listen to Christopher Walken say anything, up to an including the instructions for using a universal remote or any other form of technology and be thoroughly entertained. I would also add that Morty is absolutely right about Donna's body. Anyway, with his amazing universal remote Michael quickly learns that he can use it to control his world and click away his problems, from muting his dog, fast-forwarding through fights with his wife, and pausing his boss so that he can slap the guy silly (although I think close-captioning would have been funnier for the scene with the Japanese businessmen at the restaurant). Then Michael discovers the catch.

It is not, as the trailer would lead you to believe, that the remote breaks. But rather, as Morty explains, that it functions like Tivo in that it pays attention to what he is doing with the remote and automatically does it again. So if you decide to fast-forward through an illness or foreplay with your wife, then that becomes the way it will be for the rest of your life. This is a fairly interesting idea given the premise of the film, and the only real flaw in it is that once you establish Michael is on "auto pilot" during the chapters of his life that are skipped, then I do not see how he could be so successful at his business given that he has to use the remote to save the bacon with the Japanese firm. But that is just because I pay attention to the rules of the game and like to take them to their logical extensions.

Sandler has gathered familiar faces for this film, with Henry Winkler playing Michael's father, Sean Astin as Ben's swim coach, and even a nice cameo by Schneider, whose understate performance encouraged my hopes for this film. Perhaps the biggest surprise here is that the raunchy humor got me to laugh out loud several times, even if a grown man striking back at the Eddie Haskell-wannabee who lives next door would be wrong, very wrong indeed (but still funny). However, my wife would like me to state in no uncertain terms that what I was laughing at was clearly guy humor, and I am pretty sure she rolled her eyes and shook her head more often than she joined in on the laughing (it was hard to tell, the theater was dark and I was trying to watch the movie).

Ultimately, the problem with the movie is the end, when Michael gets his second chance. That is because the screenplay by Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe (the team who did "Bruce Almighty") invests so much in the big epiphany and final grace note at the end of the third act that they apparently have nothing much to come up with for the epilogue where we are assured Michael and his family will live happily ever after. "50 First Dates" had a great final payoff scene, and you can go all the way back to "It's a Wonderful Life" to see how well you can milk the return from Hell to the real world. Granted, you will not top the end of the Hell sequence, but then you are not supposed to. Still, there has to be a better payoff for what comes between that point and the start of the credits. I am still rounding up on this one, but I should have been in a position to round down. Final Note: Nice touch with getting Dolores O'Riordan from the Cranberries to show up to sing "Linger" live at the wedding.

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What would you do if you could pause, rewind, fast-forward (basically all of the functions you can do with a DVD player) with your life? Would you rewind through prior events to relive the glory days? Or would you skip ahead to avoid waiting in traffic or enduring a fight, or would you pause or slow-down a moment to make it seemingly last forever. Wouldn't it be nice if we had such capabilities, just imagine what fun a person could have with that kind of power. In Sony Pictures hit comedy "Click" Adam Sandler gets to experience what would happen with that power first hand, and sometimes the outcome isn't exactly what he had in mind.

"Click" is the story of Michael Newman (Adam Sandler), a man without a lot of spare time on his hands. He has a hectic, very demanding job, a boss (David Hasselhoff) who is ungrateful for everything that he does, and a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) and kids that deserve more attention than he is able to give. After feeling like life is going nowhere fast for himself, Michael visits a local store and meets a very odd man (Christopher Walken) who gives him what may be the greatest gift of all time, a universal remote. The difference between this universal remote and all others is that this one can not only control electronics, but everyday life as well. Soon, Michael is using the remote to skip arguments or boring conversations, speed up certain activities, even going back through his life to relieve the good times as a younger man. However, the remote begins to go haywire and Michael finds his life spinning out of his control, and the more he tries to fix things the worse they get. Now, he must try to regain what he's lost before it's too late.

"Click" is a movie that I wanted to see from the get-go. I thought it looked funny, it featured Adam Sandler, so I knew that was a safe bet, plus it had a great supporting cast, and what appeared to be a unique story that we all could relate to (meaning all of us that would like to have this type of control over certain aspects of life). When I finally got around to seeing the movie, I must say that it wasn't all that much like I expected. Sure, it was laugh out loud funny numerous times throughout the film, but there was seriousness to the story that was unexpected, yet a welcome addition at the same time. When the remote begins to mess with Michael's life, the movie shifts gears and becomes mostly a drama, revealing the consequences of rushing through life and how eventually it will just pass you by. It's not often that an Adam Sandler movie actually features a moral or message to the story, but this one did, and it didn't feel out of place at all.

I was really surprised that for an Adam Sandler comedy, it was actually very different from his standard fare, there were his typical off-color jokes and remarks, but his character also had a sincerity to him that was uncommon for him to play. Watching him mature over the course of the film was interesting, because it forced Sandler to play more of his dramatic side rather than his slapstick side that he relies on the most. I haven't seen Adam Sandler's more serious movies "Reign Over Me" and "Punch Drunk Love", so I wasn't too sure how all of the serious elements were going to end up playing out when I saw that was definitely where the story was heading, but he handled it remarkably well. The rest of the cast was a mixture of sweet and caring (Michael's wife and kids), to somewhat strange (Michael's parents), to downright kooky and possibly on the verge of insanity (Christopher Walken's character). Each actor/actress was equally entertaining, and delivered very fun, interesting characters that were always enjoyable when on the screen. My favorite supportive character had to have been Chris Walken's, and I was happy that the writers gave him more than just a cameo of screen time. I believe he literally stole every scene he was in, and he did it so effortlessly, which is how it should be done.

If you are a fan of Adam Sandler movies you should enjoy "Click", it does start out kind of slow, but after 10 minutes or so it really picks up, but there is some seriousness to it as well, so don't just expect to be laughing the entire time. But if you're not a fan of Sandler's films, and I know there are plenty of you out there, this is definitely one of his movies that I think you should see. It's a different type of Adam Sandler comedy, one with much more depth and originality than most of his efforts. Though not my favorite Adam Sandler movie, it definitely ranks up there around the top with "Big Daddy" and "The Longest Yard".

"Click" is rated PG-13 for language and sensuality.

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Click is an anomaly of sorts. It isn't quite a comedy, but it's got too many funny moments to be a drama. I guess it's a dramedy, which is important to know if you go into it expecting a lighthearted, fun, family movie. It is each of those things, but at different moments. Adam Sandler plays a workaholic architect who is so busy trying to get ahead at work that his family life begins to suffer. When he is offered a "universal remote that controls your universe," he jumps at the chance to have a sense of control in his chaotic life. The next thing he knows his life is a DVD complete with commentary from James Earl Jones that he can pause, rewind, and fast forward at his leisure.

The moral of the story is that you should be careful what you wish for because when you get it, you might not want it anymore. Overall, this movie was fine, but I didn't think it was stellar. It's along the same lines of Bruce Almighty and that movie about disappearing poop with Jack Black. If you liked those, or the general message therein, I think you'll like this one. I wasn't expecting the middle part of the movie to be such a downer, but if you go into it expecting the somber moments I think you'll enjoy it more.

Also, David Hasselhoff plays Sandler's boss, a completely self-absorbed misogynist. Seeing Mitch Buchanon on screen again makes this movie worth watching in and of itself.

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Look Who's Talking

Look Who's Talking"Look Who's Talking" is probably my favorite film with Kirstie Alley, my favorite film with John Travolta (though "Grease" comes close) and my favorite film with Bruce Willis (though I'm not exactly a fan of his). It's funny, it's romantic, it's got some innovative special effects, a couple of car chases, and John Travolta even gets to fly a plane (which he must have really enjoyed at the time!).

Kirstie Alley plays Mollie, an accountant who has an office affair with one of her clients (George Segal), and ends up getting pregnant. It wasn't planned, and she's a little ashamed of the source, but Mollie soon warms to the idea of having a baby. After a traumatic day late in the preganacy, Mollie goes into labor in the middle of the bustling streets of New York, and takes a cab driven by the easy going James (John Travolta). Though it's not really what he wants to do (he wants to be a pilot) he's very good at driving a cab, and gets Mollie there very quickly. She has the baby, Mikey, and he's something of a thinker (voice/thoughts spoken by Bruce Willis), wondering to himself what this strange world around him is, and who these strange people around him are. He starts to grow up as time goes on, and Mollie decides to look for a father. She made a mistake, and she owes it to Mikey to find him a Dad. She dates here, she dates there, but could the right Dad be staring her in the face this whole time?

Everyone plays their part well, and the plot flows really nicely, bit of action, bit of a thoughtful moment, bit of a laugh. It's a romatic comedy of sorts, and it's a funny look at early motherhood, it's interesting seeing both happening at the same time. It's one of those films I can watch again and again, and have done over the years. The soundtrack is great too, a mixture of some older pop hits and contemporary 1980s tunes (including "Dumb Things" by Australian musician Paul Kelly during the taxi labor scene, a song I really like).

Overall, it's a sweet and funny little film, a definitely worth a look for fans of anyone in it. Recommended.

LOOK WHO'S TALKING actually did very well when it came out. I think these amazon people take things too seriously or don't have kids, or have such stressful lives they can't enjoy any kind of humor these movies have. I even enjoyed it when it came out and i was still in elementary school. My mom enjoyed it, and she loved babies and everything that had to do with babies and kids. Parents would enjoy this movie, not all but most. I'm not even one of those "kid lovers" I like kids, but not obsessed or anything like many kid lovers are. But LOOK WHO'S TALKING is a simple comedy with many funny parts like when kirstie alley's voice turned into a devil voice as she went into labor, because of the pain. To me, and my mom that part was hilarious and many women could relate to that because giving birth is no picnic, especially when it's your first baby. I've never given birth, but i've heard the stories. Anyways, i also read many amazon people's reviews about how horrible look who's talking too was, i'm thinkin' what is wrong with people nowadays? That was a cute movie too, the baby girl was as cute as a button, and the acting wasn't bad. I dont understand that. And at the end when mikey took his baby sisters's hand and they walked, and you could see her wobbling, and that cute baby walk which is so cute words can't describe, and the song i got you babe added to the moment. What's not to love, that was an adorable ending all i could say was AWWWWWW!!! people need to lighten up, especially if you wanna be good parents. Try to enjoy life, and not take things so seriously. These movies were basically about that. All those little funny and heartwarming moments when your kid is born and starts to grow and learn. But LOOK WHO'S TALKING NOW i must agree with the others because it was horrible. It doesn't make sense frankly, the first two films were about talking babies, why go to dogs? I like dogs and everything buy WHY? It's almost embarassing to watch. Kind of absurd and yes the acting was horrific, and cheeesy script, and everything in the film was flat out stupid. What next talking furniture and appliances lol. But the first two are still great films, and john travolta is one of my favorite actors, and elias koteas who was in number two was funny, like he was in some kind of wonderful.

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I've loved this movie since I was young, and didn't get half the jokes. A lot of the jokes are aimed at the adult audience, rather than teaching kids how they came into the world it wasn't by a stork!

With all the recent bad press about Kirstie Alley's weight gain, it's good to watch her, when she was still reasonably slim. And she looks great in this film. Especially when she does the little dance, while feeding Mikey, and John Travolta walks in.

Although John Travolta will never be as good as he was in Grease, this is one of those movies, where he provides the laughs, and genuinely looks quite nice especially when he has the bruise, after Mikey's real dad hits him with a phone! (You just wanna kiss him all better!) His love of beer and fast food is beginning to show in this, as he has a little stomach, which then becomes a big stomach for Pulp Fiction!

I'm never quite sure as Bruce Willis as the voice of Mikey. When I was younger, I probably didn't see a lot of Bruce Willis in movies, and still to this day, I don't really recognise his voice. He's trying too hard to have a high voice, and sure, on certain words, he lets slip, and you can hear its him. But it just doesn't sound like him.

This is a terrific film, to watch as a youngster, and as an adult, and be able to appreciate the sexual chemistry between John & Kirstie. It's funny, and although, the sequels aren't as good, when are they? I just have to get the second one on DVD now!

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I did not like this as I did not know the words it had in it not good for a 10 year old to watch

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This was a great movie my daughter loved it. It was packaged nicely and was a new copy. It was also a great price. I would recommend any to buy this DVD.

Calvin Marshall (2010)

Calvin MarshallThis film was exceptional. Calvin Marshall, who is played by actor Alex Frost is a really special character. His endurance and perseverance are unequaled. This film highlights the dedication that many people have in order to achieve their goals. Calvin Marshall is a prime example of someone who is willing to put in a great deal of time and effort in order to fulfill his dreams. Most of all, this is a very accurate depiction of a college junior. Dealing with his lack of talent in baseball as well as a blossoming love life, we see Calvin struggle with the typical issues that most college students deal with. He is positive throughout it, though, and his story is a great one for everyone to see play out. Calvin may be given some false hope by his coach who refuses to cut him, but it only causes him to work more.

Eventually, the truth catches up to Calvin and he has to come to terms with who he really is and what his future holds. By facing failure and overcoming disappointment, he is awakened to the reality that choosing a new and more fitting dream to follow is the most difficult, but ultimately most rewarding, part of the journey. This is a great film if you're looking for an inspirational story that is not sugar-coated.

great story about one of the many young men who had a dream of being a ballplayer and went after it. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.

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Calvin Marshall is an enchanting, entertaining, evocative, exceptional coming-of-age baseball story that shines a spotlight on small-town life and the death of dreams. My favorite scene is the softball scene near the end. It authentically captures the joy and camaraderie of belonging to such a team. The mellow soundtrack adds to the charm. Rated R for the cynical, dejected coach's expletives and for brief sexuality.

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I came across this movie in search of movies to help get my baseball fix during the offseason and was pleasantly surprised. Calvin Marshall is about baseball and romance in a small junior college town with Calvin's passion for the game at center focus. One of the best things about this film is the duality of the main characters. Calvin Marshall is a square, but exudes charisma. He's also a lousy baseball player, but a softball legend. Tori Jensen is a dominant volleyball player, yet very tender within. Coach Little is a foul-mouthed grinder with a soft heart. The chemistry between the characters is there, and there's no question that director Gary Lundgren nailed it so between Calvin (Alex Frost) and Tori (Michelle Lombardo). This movie spoke to me as one of many who will never know what it's like to play professional ball, yet holds a strong passion for the game. I kinda felt like I was living vicariously thru Calvin as he did all his workouts, booted all those grounders and hammered those softballs. Steve Zahn was very convincing as Coach Little, barking off commands with authority, but also tiptoeing thru his relationship with Calvin. This film does a great job of taking you on an emotional rollercoaster while looking at the flaws and strengths of our humanity. The cinematography is well-done with wonderfully shot perspectives and terrific use of color. The soundtrack lent itself to that mellow, introspective tone. If I had to compare it with a TV show, 'Ed' would probably be the closest in terms of the overall feel. It's hard to think of another great, feel-good baseball movie like this, which makes Calvin Marshall a classic, IMO.

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Calvin Marshall is a charming, funny, independent feature written and directed by Gary Lundgren. I agree with others that this is the best performance of Steve Zahn's career. Absolutely love the soundtrack scored by John Askew and featuring wonderful indie music talent: The National, Rosie Thomas, Jandek, The Church, The Sound, and Tracker. Starring Alex Frost, Michelle Lombardo, Steve Zahn, Jane Adams, Andrew Wilson, Diedrich Bader, Jeremy Sumpter, Abraham Benrubi, Josh Fadem.

A few reviews & headlines:

"A moving portrait of small-town life and the fallout from unrealized dreams." New Yorker

"Steve Zahn gives a career-best performance in this low-key gem." Hollywood Reporter

"Lundgren's light touch gives this classic coming-of-age film its distinctive ring. A scruffy, sweet ode to managing youthful expectations." The Village Voice

"Calvin Marshall is well-supported by cinematography that captures the lure of the baseball diamond, and is a must-see for any baseball movie fan."

"Calvin Marshall Combines Baseball and Indie Rock. (Clearly This is the Best Film Ever.)"

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The Guilt Trip (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (2012)

The Guilt Trip(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)Aside from her near-cameo appearances in two ensemble comedies, Barbra Streisand has not starred in a movie in sixteen long years, not since 1996's The Mirror Has Two Faces which she also directed. Her output as an actress has been meager since around 1980 when she started directing films, building houses and returning to the concert stage periodically, so it was with both great anticipation and some trepidation that I saw this light-hearted 2012 comedy. What a relief to find she hasn't missed a beat in her sharp comedy timing. I think she's terrific as Joyce Brewster, the energetically overbearing mother of Andy, an organic chemical engineer who long ago moved to California and has recently invented a cleaning solution he is pitching to various store chains headquartered across the country. He plans a weekend visit with Joyce in New Jersey, but upon an intriguing discovery about her past, he invites her on an eight-day cross-country road trip with him.

As directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal) and written by Dan Fogelman (the underrated Crazy, Stupid, Love) who based his script on his own late mother, the film is about how their two mismatched personalities unsurprisingly clash at every stop as their relationship twists and turns with each new humiliation for Andy and each new revelation for the both of them, a few of them quite poignant. The film is at its comedic best when she and co-star Seth Rogen as Andy volley back and forth with her well-meaning thoughts and antics at odds with his spiky annoyance at anything she says or does. Rogen plays against type as the coiled-up Andy since his stoner-dude personality has been the basis of much of his previous comedy. Here he needs to show some dramatic gravity (as he did earlier this year in Take This Waltz) and again does surprisingly well when necessary. There is a confrontation scene between the two characters that I wish could have gone on a bit longer and deeper than it did, but he manages to bring a real edge to the film in ways I didn't quite expect from him.

Of course there are predictable comedy pieces that also work like a steak-eating contest in Texas where Joyce has to down a fifty-ounce piece of beef in an hour to avoid a $100 tab. There's also quite a supporting cast here, but like Streisand movies of yore, the familiar actors contribute moments that amount to nearly bit parts. Kathy Najimy and Miriam Margolyes are among Joyce's Weight Watchers friends in a quick dinner scene early in the story, while Adam Scott and Ari Graynor show up at the very end of the road trip in San Francisco. In between are appearances by Brett Cullen as a cowboy who becomes smitten with Joyce during the eating contest and Nora Dunn as an officious HSN TV hostess. But that's fine since Rogen really lets Streisand dominate the movie all the way from pushing off potential suitors at a mature singles mixer to getting into the wrong car at a mini-mart pit-stop to getting drunk in a motel bar to sharing her innocently ignorant perceptions of stereotypes. This is only her 19th film since her extraordinary debut in Funny Girl 44 years ago, reason enough to enjoy the warm, accomplished performance she gives here.

GUILT TRIP is a welcome change from most films Hollywood powerbrokers tend to finance. Like HOPE SPRINGS which was released earlier this year, this film is NOT the sidesplitting comedy one would expect to see from the theatrical trailers promoting the film. Instead it is a warm and endearing film focusing on a relationship between mother and adult son. This is one of Streisand's most subdued but convincing performances in years. She is not the larger than life persona we've seen in previous films. Rogen gives a nice performance as Andy, a character very unlike others he's created in past films. This is definitely a film I'll enjoy watching from time to time and sharing with friends.

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I took my dad to see this movie. A couple years back I lost my mother, coincidentally my mother and I went to see A mirror has two faces the last movie she released where Barbra was the star. In one scene, halfway through the movie an incident happens and it changes the dynamics of this movie. Anyway, I sat there at the end when others were laughing and tears were rolling down my eyes. I can remember similar situations with my mother, I loved her but I'm also a gay male, I wasn't the only child but the distance between my eldest brother and I (I'm the baby) is 10 years. I also was the gay male so I can understand the story plot very well. Would I see it again, I have, this time alone, still cried at the end but it was a good cry. Now don't get me wrong the ending is not sad, but I loved my mother, she was my friend and as we get older they tend to become our friend, just wish I had more time with her. Excellent movie, really!

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"Let me tell you something kiddo, you don't have to like me or spend time with me, but as long as I'm your mother you will treat me with respect. Now drink your water before you drop dead from dehydration." Andy Brewster (Rogen) has invented a new cleaner. He is going on a cross-country trip to try and sell it. His first stop is New York...and a visit with his mom (Streisand). When a conversation brings up old stories Andy decides to invite his mom to join him, which he regrets about 5 minutes in. I was looking forward to seeing this because the trailer reminded me of me and my own mom. I will say the movie wasn't as funny as I was hoping but it was still really funny and I do recommend this. Every mother and son should see this together, I saw a lot of similarities between me and mine throughout. Some lines I'm sure we have said over and over. The cast is perfect and Rogen and Streisand actually seem related. The end got a little sappy but overall this is a very funny movie. Overall, funny but I was also hoping for funnier. I do recommend seeing this though. I give it a B.

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This was a good movie. Not as funny as advertised but a decent story and Barbara Streisand is always great.

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The Best of Blu-ray Disc: Volume Three (Blazing Saddles / The Departed / GoodFellas / Superman) (20

The Best of Blu-ray Disc: Volume ThreeI love the Departed and Blazing Saddles. Superman is good for how old it is and I liked Goodfellas but I didn't think it was as great as people make it out to be. The Departed and Goodfellas look great in 1080p as you would expect, but I was extremely surprised at how good Superman and Blazing Saddles looked in 1080p. I got this all these blu-rays for $40 so it was a great deal getting all these classic movies for about $10 each. I highly recommend this Best of Blu-ray set.

Great value. Unlike some of the other HD sets, this one includes 4 very good movies with no duds to bring it down.

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You know why these DVDs w/Blu-ray are cheaper, as in only $10 each? They don't have the loseless audio coding technology. That's DTS-HD Master and Dolby True HD. That's a shame. Most blu-ray movies have the latest Audio technology. Look on the back of a couple of new Blu-rays you buy or rent and you'll see it. And boy will you hear it too when you have a good stereo receiver to go with it too. Until then, why are they even continuing to make blue rays w/1080P high Video quality but not with better Audio? I don't know...

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This strange collection rounded out alist of br movies brother in law wanted. Each movie is very good and at a very good value...easy stocking stuffer or add on to someone's movie wish list

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Originally the product ordered was not the product received. Was refunded promptly and UsTrade even went above and beyond to correct the original issue. We now have the movies originally purchased and are loving them!

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Management (2008)

ManagementThis film was absolutely beautiful. It has that shy pre-emptiveness we expect from films which deal with tender topics such as love and approaching a girl. We all know that the chances of watching a Jennifer Aniston film and being completely bowled over are slim but this film does do that. I thought she was very good in the film and man, did the film have it's funny moments. Before watching this film, I saw Sunshine Cleaning and I quite liked the film. The one thing that is common between this film and Sunshine is Steve Zahn. Management, however, is the film that I liked more and I thought it had it's heart in the right place. At just 1 hour 20 minutes, this film never promises to conquer the world but it makes you go into guffaws.

This film has no flaws and unlike films like "You, Me and Dupree" this film never tries too hard to be cute. It's amazing how such films can be churned out even in 2009. I wish I had waited and seen this at the movies but that was not meant to be. I sneaked an advanced screening copy from some place and I'm sorry for that. There is wonderful chemistry between Zahn and Aniston. Girls, you will love this. Guys, you will not hate your girls for this. Genuine, free spirited and unabashed.

This movie really brought tears to my eyes. I thought it was going to be a comedy. Instead, it was a romance with very honest characters and an unusually realistic feel to it. I think this is the best role I've ever seen Jennifer Aniston play. Steve Zahn is someone I've liked but never saw him as a leading man.

The words 'leading man' hardly describe him in this movie. He is one of the two main characters (Aniston is the other) and he draws the viewer into his world. At first, you wonder if you really want to be in that world. Then, by the end of the movie, you feel like he could be your best friend.

I can't help but think of another movie, 'Being John Malkovich', that tries to bring the viewer into a world. Sure, that world is topsy-turvy but the point is: that movie doesn't succeed in doing that half as much as this movie does. And that movie was critically acclaimed. This movie has not gathered much notice but I predict it will gain a reputation and stay around for a long time. I've already thrown out my copy of 'Being John Malkovich'.

It takes 20 or 30 minutes to establish some things and it does this at a very slow pace. Stay with the movie it picks up quickly and you love the characters, you just can't help it.

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This is one of Jennifer annistons lesser known roles. She and Steve Zahn are a most unlikely romantic couple. This movie is a little gem in the morass of overhyped stuff that hits the markets these days. It's gentle, humorous and has unexpected moments.I guess it would be a chick flick since there are no car chases, but my husband has watched it three times.

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Is this a romantic comedy? If so, they forgot the romance and the comedy. Aniston is dried up here, but I guess that was her character. Steve Zhan is the most likeable character, but that's not saying much. Woody Harrelson si simply a cartoon as a retired punk musician turned yogurt mogul. Someone must have thought this vehicle would fly, but it doesn't. It takes a weird turn halfway in, when Zhan starts jumping out of airplanes and turning into a Bhuddist monk. Check this one off on your list of Jennifer Aniston date movie flops.

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I can understand why some people didn't like this: it is unusual, not your standard Rom Com. But here is what I loved about it:

extremely well acted: the main characters have a sweetness and muddledness that evolves during the course of the movie, and does so in a way that is both moving and convincing. And, while at the beginning it was hard to believe that the two characters could grow close, by the end (or really the middle), it was very believable. I loved both Zahn and Aniston. and the supporting actors were funny (woody herrelson) and good (everyone).

the story is romantic but not in a usual way. it's paced more slowly, which I liked a lot once I got used to it.

it has a sweetness that derives from the Steve character (played by steve zahn), and actually from the other characters too.

if you like independent movies, with their unusual pacing, then definitely try this one.

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On the Double (1961)

On the DoubleAfter the success of his dramatic turn in "The Five Pennies", Danny Kaye returned to comedy at the tail end of his film career. Fortunately, "On The Double" is probably his last great film, a jaunty WWII intrigue-filled farce about a timid American soldier (Kaye) tapped by the military to serve as a decoy for a famous British Colonel (who's targeted for death by the Nazis) after it's discovered he's a dead ringer for the man. From there, poor Kaye fumbles through his role as the stakes get higher, involving himself in the Colonel's personal entanglements with his lovely but underappreciated wife (Dana Wynter) and amorous chauffeur (Diana Dors). As with Kaye's best films, this one relies on his special gifts for dialect, wordplay & rubber-faced timing. Just watch Kaye as he does his stuff in such hilarious comedy pieces as a military innoculation ceremony; a "dignified" ballroom complete with lost contact lenses, a wild Scottish dance, and food fight; and a climactic gag marathon of switching disguises to escape Germany.

Deftly helmed by notable director Mel Shavelson, its songs are supplied by Kaye's wife Sylvia Fine, and rounded out by a fine supporting cast (Wilfred Hyde-White and Jesse "Lonely Maytag Repairman" White). As with "Knock On Wood", Olive Films did a fine job of presenting this rare Kaye vehicle; the print is in good condition, and the colors vibrant.

Thanks for finally bringing this long-unseen movie to DVD!

On The Double, Wonderman and Court Jester are my 3 top favorites for Danny Kaye's hilarious comedy. I had a VHS taped version of On The Double from the television that was about 20 years old (low quality and full of commercials and cutoff about halfway) so I am very pleased to get the DVD version. The only things that would make the DVD release better is special features but I'm not complaining. Danny Kaye at his best! Look into his other films such as Five Pennies and White Christmas. Great, clean entertainment for the whole family.

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On The Double

Danny Kaye had a long and varied career as an actor, singer, and dancer with stops on the Broadway stage (Lady In The Dark, Let's Face It), radio and television circuit, and Hollywood film (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Court Jester). At one point, he had his own TV show, The Danny Kaye show, airing on CBS from 1963 to 1967 that won both Emmy and Peabody awards. He could perform songs with tongue twisting lyrics, many of which were written by his wife; his movie roles often contained plots featuring body doubles and cases of mistaken identity that induce gut busting laughter. The film under review, On The Double, is one of these.

Kaye plays an enlisted military man with such a gift for impersonation, he's entered into a secret program to impersonate General Laurence McKenzie Smith, who we're told is busy planning the D-Day invasion. Part of Kaye's comedy is his ability to deliver long lines in one breath: "How many times have I told you I'm on a sorb free fat free high protein low calorie low cholesterol diet, now what's so difficult about that?" Other times, in a pantomime routine he becomes, by turn, a German spy, a fighter pilot, a high society matriarch, and a Marlene Dietrich impersonator.

With his ranting, blathering, blustering, and knee jerk idiocy on display in this film, many people with time on their hands are likely to re-discover how good Danny Kaye was at providing slapdash entertainment. As Cary Grant once said: "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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So glad to be able to add this fun Danny Kaye to our film collection! Wonder where the rest of his classics are such as "Up In Arms", The Kid From Brooklyn", etc.... Please, please release them on dvd. We enjoyed "On the Double" very much as we had never seen it before it was a fun adventure. Subtitles/ captions would be, at the very least, a great addition to these newly released dvds for the price. Otherwise we enjoyed it very much.

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Rather silly premise of just 2 American soldiers posted to a British unit. (The British soldiers were clearly American.) Danny Kaye's character was over-the -top. Still, there were some funny moments, like the impossibly quick costume changes as Kaye's character tried to escape from the German soldiers, none of whom seemed able to catch or shoot him. This type of slapstick comedy would have looked better in the 1920s.

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Driving Miss Daisy (2013)

Driving Miss DaisyLovely is such an old fashioned word, I know. But that's the word that describes this film, for me. The story of the developing friendship over many years between the black chaueffeur and the older Jewish woman is very heartwarming in its simplicity. Jessica Tandy is marvelous as "Miss Daisy" the fiercely independant, irascible widow, whose advancing age requires her son to employ, against her wishes, a driver/companion for her. Miss Tandy, who originated the role of Blanche DuBois on Broadway in "A Streetcar Named Desire", was a wonderful actress. This was one of her last films, and all the skill, sublety, and experience of her life-long craft come together to create a living, breathing "Miss Daisy." Morgan Freeman meets her skill in his portrayal of "Hoag", the accomodating chaueffeur. He has the manner of a certain resignation that an older black man may have felt in the turbulent, prejudiced south in which he lived, yet exudes dignity. He has the manner of "Hoag" down pat, right down to the closed mouth laugh that I have seen in the old black men who hang out on the corner. This is not a caricature, he IS "Hoag." His relationship with Miss Daisy starts out very rocky, to say the least, but, as time passes, their places in each others lives develope into almost a "marriage", with a quiet understanding of, and dependence on, each other. And though Miss Daisy insists she was not prejudiced, and inherently wasn't, it is touching to see her slowly let go of her last universally accepted beliefs of peoples place in society, where the "colored" help were always servants of some sort, and the line was just never crossed. Scenes such as the one where she and "Hoag" are both eating their dinner in the house, she in the dining room, he , alone in the kitchen, express this. The very thought of them dining together, it just wasn't done. As time goes on, and she becomes quietly aware of the similarities of the prejudices against her religion and the prejudices and injustice against Hoags race, the differences that seperate them become insignicant. Dan Akroyd and Patti Lupone are fine as Miss Daisy's son and his typically '50s wife, who admonishes her black maid for the unforgivable sin of forgetting to tell her she was out of coconut for the ambrosia she was serving to her guests... a '50s hostess' nightmare. There are a few moments when their performances threaten to lapse into parody, but one is only aware of this because this is basically a two person play, and the skill and realism of Tandys and Freemans performances just eclipse the others, they are basically props compared to the skill and, yes, sublety of the leads . The exception is Esther Rolle as "Idella" , Miss Daisys black maid. Though her part is small, and her lines few, she manages to convey a resigned dignity also, and her dead-pan delivery of several one liners is very humorous. Miss Daisys affection and respect for Idella is clearly etched upon her face, however, at Idella's funeral. This is just a wonderfully simple, beautiful film. It never treads into being overly sentimental, thanks to the casting of two very special stars. This film took many by surprise by winning the Oscar for best film of the year, proving that a movie with no special effects, and, that actually tells a story, can still move audiences. The final scene, where their years-long friendship comes full circle, will have tears in your eyes, as Miss Daisy conveys the sweet sad wisdom of the old, who know that "all shall soon pass...."

Superb casting of Jessica Tandy as a stubborn elderly Southern woman of privilege and Morgan Freeman as her loyal and capable and patient chauffeur makes this one of the best dramas and character studies of all time. Tandy won an Oscar for this 1989 performance and Freeman was nominated for one. This is a movie of wonderful spirited characters, people who demonstrate sassiness, independence, tolerance, admiration, and respect for each other but only after a few years of working together. It all started when Miss Daisy crashed her car and her son, Dan Aykroyd, a pompous banker type, declared she absolutely could drive no more. So he hired a chauffeur for her. At first, all the old Southern prejudices came into plan, prejudices of class, race, and education. But gradually the wisdom and quiet patience of Freeman's character won her over.

At its core, this is the story of an unlikely friendship that shows it's possible to transcend prejudice and appreciate the human being within.

Highest marks.

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Driving Miss Daisy is one of my all-time favorites. I bought the Special Edition widescreen DVD (ISBN 0-7907-7237-X, UPC 0-85392-33402-5) and was horribly disappointed. It shows less picture than does my old fullscreen VHS tape (and I seem to be the only one who has noticed)! Although the image is with a widescreen aspect ratio, the left & right sides of the picture do not extend beyond those of the VHS. And the top & bottom letterbox black bars on the DVD image are actually covering up parts of the picture that I can see on the VHS. In other words, THE PICTURE BETWEEN WIDESCREEN DVD AND FULLSCREEN VHS IS IDENTICAL, EXCEPT THAT THE DVD HAS BLACK BARS LITERALLY COVERING UP THE TOP & BOTTOM. For instance, at the end of the movie, the VHS tape clearly shows Miss Daisy's hand fumbling with the fork, and her slice of pie sitting there on the table. On the widescreen DVD, this is all covered up by the bottom black bar, so all you see of the pie is the few bites that Hoke raises (out of the void) to Miss Daisy's mouth. The touching scene is completely ruined. I'm not exactly sure what's up with this pseudo-widescreen version, but it stinks.

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This is simply a wonderful film! The performances by Jesica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, Dan Ackroyd and Esther Rolle are top-notch. The pace of the film is magnificent; there is not a dull moment in the entire one and a half hours. The set is lovely and period correct, as is the music and even the automobiles (mostly vintage Cadillacs). The chemistry between the two lead characters is very special, and Jessica Tandy certainly deserved the Academy Award for her performance. It is wonderful to see the progression over the period of several decades, and the friendship that develops between a proud, old Jewish widow and her newly appointed chauffeur. Dan Ackroyd as Miss Daisy's son is surprisingly effective also. An all round gem of a movie that deserves to be seen again and again.

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Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman will light up your heart in this sweet and charming tale. It was nominated for nine Oscars in 1989 and deservedly so. Four were bestowed including Best Picture and Best actress for Tandy. Freeman was also nominated.

The story,based on Alfred Uhry's award winning play, begins in early 1950's Georgia. Miss Daisy is getting on in years,her dutiful but tiring son(Dan Aykroyd, also nominated) feels she needs a chauffeur,as her driving isnt exactly up to par. Being a very proud and stubborn woman, she resists the idea,would rather walk than be seen being driven around. Even after Hoke Colburn(Freeman) is hired,she refuses to give in.

Hoke is also proud and stubborn, he is hired to do a job and by george he's gonna do it! So eventually he brings her around and little by little she gets comfortable with him.They form a unique and lasting bond.Over 25 years we watch their relationship grow. Daisy teaches Hoke to read. Hoke Brings out the best in Daisy.He is ALWAYS there for her. Daisy is Jewish, and for the first time in her life is witness to hate crimes. Hoke is no stranger to that and can empathize with her.She gains some understanding of him.

The cast also includes fine performances from Esther Rolle and Patti Lupone. The musical score by Hans Zimmer is delightful.

So the film by itself is 5 stars. But I went with 4 stars because the DVD "Has been formatted to fit your screen"(In other words..no widescreen) That takes away from the original theatrical version. Other than that the DVD(WB) is very good. The picture was sharp and clear with nice color. The sound in the Dolby Surround(2.0) was good.Dialouge was crisp. There's a few extras, theatrical trailer, awards and cast. There's also subtitles. So even without the widescreen I'm glad I got this edition, it's just too good of a film not to be watched.

Kick back and enjoy....Laurie

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I Sell the Dead (2010)

I Sell the DeadThis movie has been getting good press in mags like "Fangoria" and "Rue Morgue." It can be rented at Blockbuster as one of their exclusives and is scheduled for a street release at the end of March. It is a low budget project, but one that's produced with a lot of class, wit, energy and a respect for the genre.

It involves a couple of low-life, but likable Burke and Hare-type grave robbers named Grimes and Blake, and their misadventures supplying fresh corpses for a local doctor/mortician (Angus Scrimm). They unearth the usual rotten and not-so-rotten corpses, vampires, zombies and even an extraterrestrial (!), but their most dangerous adventure comes in the form of a sick, violent family of grave robbers who don't appreciate the competition: The House of Murphy. The daughter, who was burned beyond recognition, wears a mask identical to the burned daughter in the classic French film "Les Yeux sans Visage" ("Eyes Without a Face")-great touch! The son grinds up his victims' bones and uses the bone dust for snuff.

Overall, a fun, tongue-in-cheek movie with laughs and thrills that belies its low budget with a great script, excellent actors and above-average production values. Special features include several IFC trailers, including "I Sell the Dead." I would suggest using the subtitle feature as the accents are thick in some places. Highly recommended.

I Sell the Dead (Glenn McQuaid, 2008)

This is a film that's been getting a decent amount of buzz since a while before it came out. Needless to say, it never showed up on screens in the heartland, so I had to wait for it to appear on DVD before getting a chance to see it. Depressing, that, because I Sell the Dead delivers all the promise one expects from its stellar cast and then some. (Impressively, this is the third horror comedy to come down the pike in the past twelve months that's well worth your time, along with Pontypool and Dead Snow.)

I Sell the Dead opens with Arthur Blake (The Lord of the Rings' Dominic Monaghan) about to be hanged for the crimes of murder and grave-robbing. He spends the night before giving his confession to a priest (Hellboy's Ron Perlman), maintaining that he is entirely innocent of the murder, but that he and his longtime partner Willie Grimes (Session 9's Larry Fessenden) were the best in the grave-robbing business. We see Blake starting off as Grimes' apprentice, with the two of them working for the brutal Dr. Quint (Phantasm's Angus Scrimm), then striking out on their own, only to run afoul of the area's most notorious grave-robbers, the gang known as the House of Murphy. Things only get worse when they decide to take on another apprentice, the beautiful and willful Fanny Bryers (Exorcism: Driving Out the Devil's Brenda Cooney).

The script is fast-paced and witty, but it's the sight gags that really make this work. And I'm not talking about over-the-top Airplane-style sight gags, either; while McQuaid goes over the top a few times, it's the subtlety of the thing that makes this film as charming as it is. Well-written, genuinely funny, with excellent acting and a couple of twists at the end that actually work (as predictable as they are), I Sell the Dead is one of those horror movies you should show to your friends who don't think they like horror movies. They'll get a kick out of it, and so will you. ****

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I noticed this at my local Blockbuster. Brought it home without any real expectations, and was really very pleasantly surprised.

The movie revolves around Arthur Blake, a graverobber who is about to be executed, and Ron Perlman, the monk who is interviewing Blake before his execution. Perlman wants to know how Blake got started in graverobbing, what his career was like, and what happened to Blake's worst rival. Blakes' tale involves the dead, vampires, zombies, and aliens. It is somewhat bloody, but laced with humor. Worth watching!

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Great cast, great idea and stylish.... but it was missing something. It was neat to look at, but I never really connected to it.

There were a whole lot of good ideas, but not enough was done with them. The movie would have been better if it were longer to expand on the ideas or more focused. Most of Arthur's apprenticeship could have been cut for instance.

The horror wasn't particularly scary and the humor snicker worthy at best. Combined with the slow pacing, it's just too many strikes against the movie. It's a shame, because this movie has the cast and ingredients to be a genuine cult classic.

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A pair of grave robbers strike gold when they discover a wealth of undead corpses (including zombies, vampires, and other ghouls) buried in the local cemetery, bodies that earn them a fine reward from the seedy local doctors working under the guise of science. Their framed story is retold by Arthur Blake, the younger of the two thieves, who relays their adventures to a priest while awaiting the guillotine. Glenn McQuaid similarly strikes gold with this off-beat but highly original Horror Comedy, offering the same stunning cinematography and art design as the Hammer productions with a classic Gothic aesthetic. Fessenden and Monaghan make for a charmingly clever pair of down on their luck grave robbers, and they are joined by an equally talented and enjoyable cast of miscreants including the great Ron Perlman as the wayward priest. The production and design of the film could not have been improved, but I SELL THE DEAD falls just short of becoming a modern classic due to the uneven pacing brought on by its structure and format. As Blake begins each new tale, a great amount of time is spent setting up each new scenario and introducing new characters, which inevitably undermines the action, suspense, and horror. The fleshed out characters and plot are both appreciated, but not at the cost of a rushed payoff for each of the vignettes. McQuaid displays a tremendous amount of potential in this, his second film, and hopefully the open ending will allow for an even stronger sequel with the same sharp scripting and humor.

-Carl Manes

I Like Horror Movies

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