But as a filmmaker I feel connected to this story, as a viewer I love it even more. It's a cute film about the process of making movies when you have no money and your crew is incompetent. I really enjoyed it!
Showing posts with label free online films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free online films. Show all posts
Let's Make a Movie (2012)
But as a filmmaker I feel connected to this story, as a viewer I love it even more. It's a cute film about the process of making movies when you have no money and your crew is incompetent. I really enjoyed it!
The Answer Man (2009)
Was desperately searching for something to watch while being home sick.I had never heard of a "Pre-theatrical trailer", but was intrigued! I watched the actual trailer and saw that this flick starred Lauren Graham and Jeff Daniels which sounded/looked like the beginnings of something really, really great!
I pondered the price watched the trailer again and went with my gut!
I rented it!!
I LOVED it!!
I highly recommend it and can't wait to spread the word!
I also can't wait to see it again!
No spoilers here it reminded me alot of the movie Once.
It was a very simple but sweet plot that almost everyone should be able to see themselves in one way or another. It had love story, family, drama, parenthood, romance, realty, addictive behaviors, but it also had laughter!! It also reminds me of As Good as It Gets. But, this movie is also completely original when I compare it to those it's more of a feeling.
This movie is BEAUTIFUL in many ways!
I hope others give it a watch and feel the same!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!
I loved this movie.
There I said it; I actually loved an Independent Film.
Jeff Daniels plays a foul-mouthed spiritual author who took over 10% of the G-O-D market by writing a book on the conversation that he had with the Almighty. Because of the fame and the zealots, he has lived a life of isolation. He has never spoken publically about his book; he has never opened himself up in that way. His publicist hates him, he hides action figures in a cabinet and is paranoid about anyone touching his piano. That is until he is in excruciating back pain and literally crawls into the office of a chiropractor and his world is opened up in un-expectant ways.
I would hate to say that Lauren Graham and Lou Taylor Pucci are the supporting cast because they each hold their own and then some to Jeff Daniels. Each storyline -of a single mother starting out on her own and a bookstore owner fresh out of rehab dealing with an alcoholic father hold the same fascination as the reclusive author. Each person is searching for answers in a world that only offers more questions and challenges.
This movie is very funny, very over the top in language and very sincere in the message of needing people to help us over our hurtles. In a way, we all need a Jeff Daniels / Arlen Faber in our lives -a man that does not have all the answers but sure knows how to give good insight when it is needed.
Read Best Reviews of The Answer Man (2009) Here
This movie may not be perfect in all aspects, but it is full of sweet and heart-breaking moments that keep you rooting for its many underdogs all the way--even the harsh and jaded main character, Arlen. The chemistry between the actors is flawless, without exception. The ending is satisfying in that it doesn't feel the need to tie up all the loose ends and it leaves you wanting more. I have heard it compared to As Good as it Gets, but I prefer this version. While it lacks the glossy main stream production qualities of AGAIG, it makes up for it in its every day heroes that are much more relatable.Want The Answer Man (2009) Discount?
This movie is a little bewildering. It constantly threatens to veer into syrupy sweetness and does occasionally all the while covering up a genuinely deep and thoughtful foundation. The characters spend a little too much time introducing themselves and explaining who they are. Better to show than tell. There are moments of groan inducing corniness and there are small, subtle moments of greatness. Overall I like the movie, I think I came out a little better having watched it and isn't that what art is all about?Save 39% Off
The Stunt Man
The Stunt Man has always been one of my favorite movies. It contains some of the best work of Peter O'Toole's, one of England's great actors. A young Barbara Hershey is, like the candy bar, good enough to eat and Steve Railsback delivers a great performance as the paranoid fugitive/stunt man. When this movie first was released, it was one of the most unique films I had ever seen. A rare blend of action/adventure, comedy, satire, and love story, it defied simple categorization. Although today we are much more knowledgeable about movie making techniques and thus can shoot a few more holes in the story, "The Stunt Man" holds up pretty well to the test of time. After watching it countless times, I still marvel at the witty dialogue and clever plot twists. It is not your typical Hollywood formula movie.Perhaps the most enjoyable parts of this new DVD are the special features. The director's audio track and the companion disk "The Sinister Saga of the Making of the Stunt Man" finally shed some light on the trials and tribulations that Richard Rush encountered while making and releasing this film. If you loved the movie like I did, you must see this recent (2000) look back by the director on his greatest movie accomplishment. It includes recent interviews with many of the stars. It is interesting to hear how this project affected them and their careers. If you have never seen "The Stunt Man", you owe it to yourself to do so. You won't be disappointed.
To relate the plot of "The Stunt Man" in a concise way is to deny the subtleties and intricacies that really distinguish this as a bold and unusual work of art. But here's a brief synopsis. The film begins as a convict, played by Steve Railsback (Charles Manson in "Helter Skelter"), makes a break from the cops who are transporting him. Fleeing into the neighboring seaside village, he stumbles onto a film set where a tragedy that will likely be investigated has just struck. To avoid police intervention, the film's director (Peter O'Toole) embraces Railsback and identifies him as the company's stunt man who was just involved in an accident. It seems an ideal setup, as Railsback needs a new identity and the film production needs to account for the missing stunt man. As the film progresses, Railsback learns about movie making, becomes infatuated with the leading lady (Barbara Hershey), and starts to suspect that O'Toole has sinister ulterior motives.
The beauty of "The Stunt Man," which may be one of the most delightfully "inside" films about the industry ever made, is that it works on so many different levels. You could aptly describe the film as a drama, a comedy, a thriller, and action picture, a romance, a satire of filmmaking, and a study of truth versus illusion--what is reality? Seriously, it is successful in every one of these fields. Add breathtaking action sequences, a wickedly funny and literate script, and bravura performances--and this mini-masterpiece truly stands the test of time. Hershey and Railsback are terrific, but O'Toole steals the show as the megalomaniacal director! Anyone who loves movies, and the art of filmmaking, should find much merit in "The Stunt Man." But make no mistake, as much as I will defend this as a great film--you, in no way, have to be a film snob to enjoy it. This film is deliriously entertaining and a wild ride!
This film carries my highest recommendation to movie lovers of all ages. While maybe not one of the 5 "best" pictures ever made, it is easily one of my 5 most enduring "favorites." Check it out. KGHarris, 02/07.
Features (some old, some new) for the newest 6/7/11 2-disc Special Edition DVD set):
* Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Richard Rush, and Stars Peter O'Toole, Steve Railsback, Barbara Hershey, Alex Rocco, Sharon Farrell and Chuck Bail.
* The Maverick Career Of Richard Rush Exclusive New Featurette
* Peter O'Toole Recounts The Stunt Man Exclusive New Featurette
* Devil's Squadron Exclusive New Featurette With Steve Railsback And Alex Rocco
* Barbara Hershey On Nina Franklin Exclusive New Featurette
* The Sinister Saga Of The Making Of The Stunt Man Feature Length Documentary By Richard Rush
* Theatrical Trailers
* Deleted ScenesThere are just some movies in your life that really speak to you--that connect to you on some emotional or intellectual level in a very special way. "The Stunt Man" from director Richard Rush is such a film for me. Released in 1980, this ode to movie making is a challenging, intelligent, incisive and fun film that very few people saw upon its initial release. After a 10 year preproduction struggle by Rush, a tumultuous shoot, and no support from a studio that didn't care about the film--it was essentially dumped with no fanfare. Even star Peter O'Toole has commented, "The Stunt Man wasn't released, it escaped." But with amazing clarity and foresight, the film was surprisingly awarded with three major Academy Award nomination--Best Actor for Peter O'Toole, Best Director for Rush, and Best Screenplay for Rush and Lawrence Marcus. In the years that have followed, the film has attained a cult status and a legion of faithful fans (myself among them). In fact, I have seen this film probably 15 times and it was the first (really!) VHS tape I ever bought--now that's dating me!
To relate the plot of "The Stunt Man" in a concise way is to deny the subtleties and intricacies that really distinguish this as a bold and unusual work of art. But here's a brief synopsis. The film begins as a convict, played by Steve Railsback (Charles Manson in "Helter Skelter"), makes a break from the cops who are transporting him. Fleeing into the neighboring seaside village, he stumbles onto a film set where a tragedy that will likely be investigated has just struck. To avoid police intervention, the film's director (Peter O'Toole) embraces Railsback and identifies him as the company's stunt man who was just involved in an accident. It seems an ideal setup, as Railsback needs a new identity and the film production needs to account for the missing stunt man. As the film progresses, Railsback learns about movie making, becomes infatuated with the leading lady (Barbara Hershey), and starts to suspect that O'Toole has sinister ulterior motives.
The beauty of "The Stunt Man," which may be one of the most delightfully "inside" films about the industry ever made, is that it works on so many different levels. You could aptly describe the film as a drama, a comedy, a thriller, and action picture, a romance, a satire of filmmaking, and a study of truth versus illusion--what is reality? Seriously, it is successful in every one of these fields. Add breathtaking action sequences, a wickedly funny and literate script, and bravura performances--and this mini-masterpiece truly stands the test of time. Hershey and Railsback are terrific, but O'Toole steals the show as the megalomaniacal director! Anyone who loves movies, and the art of filmmaking, should find much merit in "The Stunt Man." But make no mistake, as much as I will defend this as a great film--you, in no way, have to be a film snob to enjoy it. This film is deliriously entertaining and a wild ride!
The Limited Edition of the DVD also contains the feature length documentary--"The Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man." This is a fascinating look at the trials and tribulations of getting "The Stunt Man" to the screen by a writer/director with no intention of compromising his vision. I recommend this edition while it's still available, the journey of this film is a tremendous and impressive story! And Rush is easy to admire and like.
This film carries my highest recommendation to movie lovers of all ages. While maybe not one of the 5 "best" pictures ever made, it is easily one of my 5 most enduring "favorites." Check it out. KGHarris, 02/07.
Read Best Reviews of The Stunt Man Here
Peter O'Toole, Barbara Hershey and Steve Railsback are superb in this movie. Railsback is a Vietnam vet who accidently kills a copy and stumble upon a WW I movie being shot by O'Toole, who plays the director. After his stunt man is killed, O'Toole blackmails Railsback into becoming his stunt man, and Railsback thinks O'Toole is trying to kill him.Barbara Hershey as Railsback love interest looks gorgeous. O'Toole is amazing. Not your usual, predictable Hollywood plot. A very special movie worth owning for repeat viewing.An image so vivid that unlike any previous blu-ray I have purchased to date, I had to dumb-down my monitor from "vivid" to "standard" to compensate, which is a good thing as the reduction in contrast subdues the occasional film grain which is evident quite often but short-lived, such as when Director Rush presumably zoomed in on the film negative for a close-up in post-production as an afterthought rather than having done so 'in camera' during the shoot. Though the original mix was mono, discrete surround sounds are quite evident from time to time. After enduring the poor print quality of the laserdisc pressing it's good to see Rush's beloved film get its due on blu-ray, both of which are well worth the upgrade if you're a big fan like myself, but if you're not and already have the two-disc Limited Edition, you won't find enough of a difference to warrant this upgrade to blu-ray.
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Marrying Man, The (1991)
Based on a true story, The Marrying Man tells the story of Charlie Pearl (Baldwin) and Vicki Anderson (Basinger), he a rich playboy, she a Vegas lounge singer and girlfriend of gangster Bugsy Siegel. They love, fight, marry. Four times. Funny one-liners, great cast, fantastic songs and an authentic recreation of the glamorous late 1940's, early 1950's era are all propelled by real life husband and wife team Baldwin and Basinger's brilliant screen chemistry. The couple fell in love on the setand it shows. Their portrayal of a couple whose sizzling heat fuels a love-hate relationship which takes over and nearly destroys their lives is backed up and given light relief by the perfectly chosen comedic supporting cast. Fisher Stevens and Paul Reiser feature as some of Charlie's struggling Hollywood friends, Reiser giving a wry narrative throughout which aids in the films continuity and light tone. Armand Assante, as Bugsy Siegel with an ironic sense of humor, delivers a refreshing and different slant on the usual movie gangsters. Robert Logia is fantastic and funny as the aggressive and egotistical movie studio owner and Elisabeth Shue is terrific as his neurotic and spoiled daughter, engaged to Charlie, but who is no match for sexy songstress Vicki. Basinger who did all of her own singing, gives a knock-out performance as the talented and ambitious singer. Her deliverysexy, suggestive, vibrantis perfect. In a sleazy Vegas casino, Charlie and his friends' first sight of her back-lit, curvy figure and the sound of her throbbing voice causes the stuttered and dazed reaction of: "she has great ....... phrasing" to which Reiser's character replies, "Oh yeah, the first thing I noticed when we walked in here was her phrasing". The cast, atmosphere and the on-screen heat with her leading man all make the film an enjoyable whole. But it is Basinger's transformation of Vicki's whole persona and performing style, from initially ambitious, brassy and slightly trashy, to sophisticated, worldly, and mellow in a perfectly honed performance that really helps make the film memorable.
The film is charming. It is predictable, but still an enjoyable experience, thanks mainly to Kim Basinger. (By the way, I was not a fan of her at all until I saw her in this film.) Her performances of songs like "Let's Do It" and "Honeysuckle Rose" may be considered too sexy by purists, but considering modern sensibilities and the fact that she is supposed to be singing in a Las Vegas club in the fifties (the decade of Marilyn Monroe), I think her approach is perfectly fine. Her "stage presence" during these numbers is scintillating--I would love to see her perform music like this live in concert. The musical arrangements are fantastic also.
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I had never heard of this movie & some how found it on Amazon & read some reviews & figured what the heck, for less than $5.00 I can get Kim Basinger in blu-ray. She is so nice to look at. It's a fun movie to watch, if you like Kim, or for you ladies, Alec. I can't compare it to the dvd quality as I have never seen it in this format, but the blu-ray is pretty nice & the price is right too. I say if you like Kim or Alec go ahead & get this. You will probably like it too. I can't believe how really good Kim sang either. Really unexpectedly nice. Did I mention how NICE Kim looked !!!!!!!Read Best Reviews of Marrying Man, The (1991) Here
This adaptation of Neil Simon's play will never be a classic film, but if you can get it cheap, I recommend it highly. There are worse romantic comedies you could waste your time on, but this one is nostalgic and genuinely glamourous fun. It's a great escape from all the current situation settings in similar films.Charlie Pearl (Alec Baldwin), multi-millionaire, is about to marry movie honcho Lou Horner's (Robert Loggia) daughter until his friends take him to Vegas for a bachelor party, and he falls for club singer Vickie Anderson (Kim Basinger), who also happens to be Bugsy Siegel's (Armand Assante) girlfriend. It's a wild ride between a millionaire playboy and a fast nightclub singer that involves 4 marriages and 3 divorces. It won't change your world, but it certainly is fun, the costumes are excellent, and the soundtrack is among my favorites. Check it out.
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See Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger on screen together for the first time in a comical and heart-warming rendition of the classic boy-meets-girl story with an enormous twist! The plot is brilliantly funny and the supporting cast includes Paul Reiser. Kim and Alec are superb together great actors. The Marrying Man is a definite Must See!Save 60% Off
JCVD/Exit Speed (2008)
Now like many I too accept that Jean Claude Van Damme isn't the greatest actor in the world. He's an action hero after all and much like Steven Seagal, he's someone we wouldn't usually expect a 5 star acting performance from. He's just used to kicking people in the head and looking all attractive whilst doing so. Now he's older and currently a man who's career was absolutely dying a death, at least until this film was made and now he has the possibility to be back on form and revive his career as a more serious actor.So what makes this film different from all the rest? I hear you ask. Well for one he's not playing some clichéd character who you end up shouting "kick his head off" at. He's actually playing himself in a fictional setting and as strange as it sounds it actually allows him to display much more acting talent than you would have first thought.
So what's the film about? I hear you secondly ask. Well, JCVD's life isn't going too well and is constantly in battle to win movie roles but is constantly beaten by his rival Steven Seagal. His wife has divorced him and is in legal battles for the right to have access to his daughter. He also has quite a few tax and money troubles to boot, so to escape his troubles he decides to go home to his native Belgium only this isn't as peaceful as he'd hoped.
Upon his arrival in Belgium he goes into a Post Office, and after his fans tell a local policeman that the legendary Jean Claude Van Damme is home and in the local post office. Then out of nowhere a gunshot rings from the post office sending people into a panic and shocked that it turns out to be the movie star himself holding up the post office, or is it?
Well what entails is a film about hostage negotiation and a traumatic movie star life that is topped off with a difficult situation. It's not the typical JCVD film as it contains very little fighting karate style, but the film is made truly special with the defining monologue. Roughly half way through the film, JCVD is brought away from the story and the film in quite a strange style that allows him to deliver a monologue that gives the impression it comes straight from the heart. He talks about his life and career and how he wants to be remembered as a more serious actor. I got the impression that a lot of the monologue although in a scripted movie, was actually improvised or at least written by JCVD himself.
I would highly recommend this film to any JCVD and non-JCVD fan as it's truly his best work to date. This is seriously a possible breakthrough movie for him to bring his career back up to speed and rather than continuing to star in "straight to DVD" movies like this one, sadly, he may be given more movies that start in the cinema and give him a wider appeal as the man is still a name that captures peoples interests.
Get it, you wont be disappointed.
Buy JCVD/Exit Speed (2008) Now
I came upon a crowd outside a movie theater bearing the title: JCVD. The theater is jammed with dedicated fans having memories of Van Damme's past International super star status from the 1988 Bloodsport.What a movie! It likely surpassing the collective expectations from the start of the entire audience. The opening scene rocks. A 4-minute film within a film begins with vintage-like Van Damme moments of high energy action. This single-shot sequence unfolds vamping up Van Damme's pre-existing persona in dynamic fashion. Then this incredible assembly of action ends with a hilarious fake wall falling over when a door is simply slammed too hard by a winded and exhausted Van Damme blithely complaining to a movie director, who couldn't care less (as in real life), that he is 47 and it is simply too hard to do these mad action scenes at his age!
The film then pivots under the young but world class directorship of Mabrouk El Mechri to the main story, where the audience is treated to a Van Damme they have never seen before acting with incredible depth and character. This transformation from a shallow bigger-than-life action hero to portraying true down-to-life emotions will be worth the admission alone.
Van Damme's dramatic performance and his featured monologue --are remarkable. The director caught Van Damme on film in a way to make any audience celebrate with rousing enthusiasm alongside Van Damme as he convincingly relates his belief in the American dream, then address his marriage and drug problems of his past, and how he wants a second chance to make a difference in the world. It is one of those cinema moments bordering on being a masterpiece; it re-invents Van Damme.
The camera floats through the chaos of Van Damme's life and caresses Van Damme's face that has taken on a good amount of character. Van Damme has stories in his eyes. Van Damme has life in his eyes. Van Damme has sadness in his eyes. Van Damme has regrets in his eyes. Van Damme has a message to deliver. The movie cleverly uncovers the pitfalls behind celebrity status with humor that Van Damme does very well.
The plot borrows on Van Damme's trying past. Playing himself, a beaten and depressed Van Damme returns to his native Belgium in hopes of getting out of the limelight. Van Damme is financially drained and makes a bee line to his home bank. But the Belgium bank is in the midst of being robbed. Van Damme is caught up in the ensuing mayhem as the police on arrival wrongly assume Van Damme is part of the robbery team. The actual criminals are enjoying extravagant good luck. Not only do they have Belgium's biggest movie star in their control, but through his ill-luck he is also taking the fall for them! In trying to find a way out, Van Damme realizes his Hollywood action roles of his past all fall flat when a real gun is pressed to his head.
This is a movie to be seen, not merely read about. Not only is Van Damme re-born but so too is the audience through a shared experience with Van Damme's factual failures and triumphs! (Dr. R. Witmer, Ph.D. co-author of Van Damme's Biography appearing )
Read Best Reviews of JCVD/Exit Speed (2008) Here
It's been a long time since I've willfully watched anything starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, but the premise of JCVD just kind of caught me off guard. Van Damme basically does play himself here: a washed up actor who blew his Hollywood stardom and is stuck in a bitter custody battle over his daughter. He's reduced to starring in sub-par B-movies, and on top of it all, he's broke. Now back in Brussels, Van Damme goes on his way to the post office to sort out his money situation, only to walk head first into a robbery, where the crooks make it look like he's the one behind it. Despite many of the reviews on here, JCVD is neither fantastic nor dreadful, it just falls somewhere in between. However, for Van Damme fans, JCVD is a must see. Van Damme is unusually good playing himself, and his monologue to the camera towards the end of the film is especially heartfelt. The film's main flaws lie mostly in its pacing and dialogue, but for what it's worth, JCVD ends up being more or less a shining moment for Van Damme, and that in itself is quite an accomplishment.Want JCVD/Exit Speed (2008) Discount?
The Jean Claude Van Damme Review Matrix (JCVD-RM)1. Who is he? JCVD is JCVD
2. Which family member/friend must be avenged? Himself
3. Does he take his shirt off? No, but he wears his heart on his sleeve
4. Does he have sex with a C-List actress? No, but he gets screwed in the end
5. Is there a tournament? Well, court is kind of like a double-elimination tournament
6. Is training needed for this tournament? No, but law school would have been nice
7. Does he do the splits in training or in the tournament? Unfortunately not
8. Does he punch someone in the balls? Punch + Kick = SWAT officer gets carried away in agony, desperately craving an ice pack like a long lost lover
9. Does he do a series of flying or 360 kicks? More than enough to satisfy a true JCVD fan
10. Is his enemy unbeatable? How does one truly conquer one's own demons?
11. Does he overcome an injury or other hindrance? In life, in court, and in a precarious post office predicament, JCVD is constantly plagued by his own shining star.
12. Does he win? The most revealing win of his career.
Beginning with an introspective peek inside production at a JCVD movie, we learn that he is no longer the man he once was. Sure, he's still dynamic, powerful, and above all a bona fide superstar, but he's also not quite as capable as he once was at a younger age. Despite the fact that he's 47 something his new director disregards like a slave driver he still manages to put together a pulse-pounding intro in a single take, with multiple attackers, countless weapons, a wall falling over like in a Buster Keaton movie, and even his patented testicle attacks.
The plot of the movie itself is rather ingenious. It's JCVD playing himself, in a movie soaked in the realism of his every day life. What it must be like to be one of a few superstars in a smaller country. He handles his situation with class, poise, and humility. Facing a ruthless child custody hearing, he must display those traits just to maintain a semblance of sanity. All that changes when he walks into a robbery and the criminals decide to use his celebrity to their advantage. What ensues is a battle of wills and wits, as Van Damme uses his status to gain the trust of his fellow prisoners, as well as to manipulate the mind and break the bond between the trio of robbers.
Most impressive about JCVD is a lengthy, heartfelt monologue midway through the movie. He talks directly into the camera and completely exposes his innermost thoughts. Separated from the cast and the set for a moment, similar to how a play differentiates group acting and audience interaction a break from the other characters he pours out raw emotion. Directly mocking Hollywood stardom, he struggles emotionally through real life references to his marriage and drug problems; it's personal, and it's deep.
His stardom is obviously a difficult subject. How he feels both vindicated and tortured by his success at the same time why can't others be as lucky? On the verge of tears, a breakdown must have been difficult to hold back; it wouldn't be surprising to discover the scene took multiple takes. It reinforces his frailties, and it supports the script that proposes his humanism, his mortality, that would clearly take over were a real gun placed to his head.
The monologue is also where JCVD displays his acting ability. He's actually a good actor something obvious to anyone who has seen In Hell, Wake of Death, or Nowhere to Run. Speaking in his native language, it's easier to express emotions. In all actuality, it's probably the language barrier in other films that makes him less believable. When working with familiarity, the acting range flows as easily as the dialogue (the subtitles are fast, unobtrusive, and seamlessly integrated). It's hard not to side with Van Damme, from the very beginning the viewer is privy to the behind the scenes treatment he often receives, and the undeserved lack of respect he commands as an actor
JCVD deserves similar praise to the fawning Mickey Rourke has received for "The Wrestler". This film poignantly proves that he has real acting chops, and that he can truly tap into that deep-seeded trauma which all great actors grasp when needed. He's painfully sincere, and completely fascinating in this exposition. His jump may have lost an inch, his kick may have lost some power, and his splits may not be as straight as they once were, but he is revitalized in this tour de force. Even for non-fans, JCVD comes highly recommended.
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21 & Over (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (2013)
Not another "young adults (high school -orcollege) drinking too much" comedy genre movie? 21&OVER is predictable and the average moviegoer can predict the plot and connect-the-dots from point A-to-B, of each step of what's going to happen in this movie. The only thing the film had going for it, is that the film had actors [we] haven't seen before. So, it seemed fresh in that aspect. But that's all. That was one of the reasons of the success of the original THE HANGOVER (and surprise! '21' was written and directed by the original screenwriters of the THE HANGOVER). However, the differences between the two films is that, at least ONE of films was funny (and we know which one). '21' was excrutiating and cringe-worthy and this reviewer somehow didn't laugh at any of the situations and misadventures of a trio of high school/college buddies celebrating one of them coming-of-age (and now he can legally drink in bars): Jeff Chang (Justin Chon). He is about to embark on a medical career upon completing his pre-med studies at a northwest american university (the university & college town location shots were impressive). It's his 21st birthday, and his two friends want to take him out to go bar-hopping to celebrate. As it is always hard not to stereotype asian characters in film, the creators did a good job not to. However, in a kind of reverse stereotyping they did however portrayed asian parent(s) as expecting their children to excel in academics. Which isn't too bad and they kind of made the asian parent a pretty strong (if not a very angry) asian figure. Overall, another film in a particular 'genre' that is a little bit recycled & devoid of any humor (dialogue and situation-wise).
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follows the recipe for not losing too much money for the producer, I guess. It's a total recipe movie; unoriginal, safe, mildly zany in a 'been there, done that' a thousand times way. Not entertaining, unless you're so bereft of a life that you find the f-bomb somehow still to have shock value in a hollywood production.Read Best Reviews of 21 & Over (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (2013) Here
Nicole (Sarah Wright) states the theme when she says, "Oldest friends are the weirdest friends." In this story two "odd couple" friends Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin) decide to take out mutual friend Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) on his 21st birthday to the objection of Chang's father (François Chau).Miles Teller plays a colorful character who caught the essence of John Belushi from "Animal House" as well as a few of his lines. He was refreshing to watch as the other two actors were essentially straight men for him. Chang passes out and has an important appointment the next day. His friends frantically try to locate his house, even though they were there just hours ago. The film consists of the cast of cliche characters they encounter through their drunken night as they find out things about Jeff that are contrary to what they knew of him as a friend.
The film starts out fairly decent, even up through the first bar scene. After that it starts to slide into a "been there done that, got the t-shirt" mode where the fun has worn off and you wait for something original to happen.
"21 and over" is definitely for 21 and under.
Parental Guide: F-bombs, male rear nudity/sock puppets.
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I thought this movie was awesome. I went and saw it in theaters and I enjoyed the entire thing. I didn't feel like I wasted an hour and a half of spent money I shouldn't have. I will admit I went into the movie being a huge, huge fan of Skylar Astin. He's not only adorable but a very talented actor. I can see his career going places! I was into the movie the entire time and thought it was hilarious. I laughed a lot through out the entire thing.Not sure why the movie didn't do well at the box office and for the 1 star rating below me. I've seen much, much worse movies than this. Give it a chance. It does what it's supposed to and that is make you laugh. Miles Teller is a great actor as well and pleased to watch him in the movie. Although I didn't really like his character he did a great job through out the movie.
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Kino Classics Lina Wertmuller Collection (Love & Anarchy, The Seduction of Mimi, All Screwed Up) (3
The Seduction of Mimi and Love & Anarchy were released as single DVDs in the past with poor visual quality. I owned those DVDs and never realized how bad a job those transfers were done until I bought this set. The picture is pristine for both movies at long last and that goes for All Screwed Up as well (which was not out on DVD prior to this set).These movies are real classics. The Seduction of Mimi was even remade in Hollywood with Richard Pryor as Which Way Is Up?. The Seduction of Mimi and Love & Anarchy also start the collaboration between Wertmuller and her leading man Giancarlo Giannini. The two went on to make five films together and these are the first two (the others are Swept Away, Seven Beauties and Night Full of Rain.
I cannot recommend these movies more especially if you discovered the ones I mentioned above. Love and Anarchy is a period piece set during the height of Mussolini's regime prior to the start of the war. This has much more drama than comedy while All Screwed Up and The Seduction of Mimi are contemporary Italian comedies.
This set is more of a companion release to The Lina Wertmuller Collection (Summer Night / The Nymph / Swept Away / Seven Beauties / Ferdinando and Carolina).
Born Yesterday (1993)
One of the biggest problems with remakes is often that they are extremely dated. Born Yesterday, the 1993 remake of the wonderful 50's comedy, starring the irrepressible Judy Holliday, and a gruff, teddy-bearish Brodrick Crawford--holds up beautifully. The basic story remains the same,(remember: "Do me a favor, Harry...drop dead!!!") but the details, the dress and the language are totally 90's. It's a delightful, and really--a touching story of a young woman (Melanie Griffith) who is brought to an appreciation of herself as something well beyond a gorgeous face. Her teacher is a kinder, gentler Don Johnson; and her Neanderthal-type husband, John Goodman is Harry, a nasty 'Fred Flintstone Goes To Washington' kind of guy! It all works till a bit of a let down near the end, but truly, there's a several minute rendition of the first 17 or so Ammendments to the Constitution sung (with energy) to the tune of the "12 Days of Christmas" that, alone, would be worth the price of admission!! Rent it, buy it; somehow, try it!!
This movie is a study in so many things: self-respect, respect for others, integrity, dignity, and the beauty of brains. When Billie (Melanie) tells Paul (Don) that she can get anything she wants from Harry (John), she reveals her lack of understanding of self-worth: she wants a mink coat and gets it because she gives him what he wants. By movie's end she wants more and has earned the self-respect and determination to get it.
The whole education aspect ("smarten up" Billie so she won't be an embarrassment while Harry is in Washington, D.C.) serves as a wonderful example to viewers of the power of knowledge. Harry hires Paul, who sets Billie off on an educational journey that jump starts her unused brain. First, she reads a book that no one actually reads--Alexis de Toqueville. She increases her vocabulary. She acquires culture through the art in the National Gallery of Art, especially focusing on a Van Gogh painting that depicts the dignity of manual labor, a reminder of her father.
Billie questions later what she should do with this new, profound awareness. The status quo is easy to maintain; change is always difficult. In this case, with change come a new self-respect and self-confidence. The new Billie will marry Paul. If it seems she is trading one man for another, that is misleading because this particular man encourages her growth, in fact was the catalyst for it. Good things will come from this relationship.
What an uplifting, happy movie for everyone: the new couple, Harry, who now must learn the art of patience while he awaits re-acquisition of his holdings one property per year, and the viewer, privy to their story and two fantastic kisses!Melanie Griffith is one of my favorite Bombshells. I think she was made for this role & is a role model for being sexy! I rented the original film about 6 months ago. I found the character, that Judy Holliday played, didn't elicit any sympathy from me & I didn't really like her character as a person. One thing I did love discovering, when I watched the original, was that the uncouth but cute "Whaaaaaat?!!!!!!" screamed by Billie Dawn, was from the original movie. Melanie's Billie Dawn makes you want her to succeed & makes you feel for her plight of being uneducated amongst the DC circle. Plus I just love most of Bille Dawn's outfits in this film. I watch this movie when I'm feeling a little flustered, overwhelmed & stupid -I watch Billie struggle all over again & succeed all over again & it makes me feel like I can do what I set out to do. The movie even inspired me to get a copy of Democracy in America!
Read Best Reviews of Born Yesterday (1993) Here
Although I am a fan of Melanie Griffith, Don Johnson and John Goodman, I am not a fan of this version of Born Yesterday. If I had never seen the original or if the original was not one of my favorite movies, I may have rated it higher, because the story and the acting are good. But the original is a classic and, in my opinion, a movie should only be remade if the original can be improved on, and this one doesn't meet that standard. The best part of this movie is the ingenious song about some of the Amendments to the Constitution sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." If you really want to see this movie in its classic form, buy the original Judy Holliday, William Holden, Broderick Crawford version. Note to Hollywood: Classics don't need to be remade!Want Born Yesterday (1993) Discount?
John Goodman and Melanie Griffith played their parts suberbly.
This is about a millionaire scrap metal tycoon who turns real estate mogul (John Goodman) whose clueless girlfriend (Melanie Griffith) finds herself without a clue in the Washington-Merrie-Go-Round. So her boyfriend (Goodman) hires Paul Verrall (Don Hohnson) to help her with the special skills, small talk, etc.
A problem: boyfriend Goodman, like almost everyone else, as the story demonstrates, are not nearly as smart as they lead everyone else to believe, like the reporter for NPR who pretends to have read de Toqueville, but has not, as Griffith discovers. It is all an act, designed to impress others.
The script is so true to life, full of flakes and phonies, that it is almost laughable.
A great movie, and one you will probably remember for a long time. It shows how we all get bullied by the people with real power over us. Very entertaining, too.
Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and mainenance
and other books
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Live at the Royal Albert Hall
I'm a huge Minchin fan. I've watched and/or listened to everything he's published. I own all the albums and videos, and this is my favorite of all of them.There's tons of fresh material not to be found in his other released works, or even at his typical touring set, at least through 2010 and 2011 shows. It's slick, well-produced, and near technically flawless. And of course seeing Tim with one of the world's finest symphony orchestras is outstanding fun.
I am not sure about the Blu Ray region. I have an American PS3 (Region A), and it plays for me without any problem.
Buy Live at the Royal Albert Hall Now
I found out about Tim Minchin about 2 years ago. I very quickly became fairly obsessed. If you enjoy music and comedy with a touch of humanism, then I guarantee you will like Tim and this performance DVD.Read Best Reviews of Live at the Royal Albert Hall Here
Not even one off note! The whole show was wonderful and hilarious. Even the obviously off-the-cuff banter with the audience was charming. So well performed and recorded that you will look forward to the next reviewing.Want Live at the Royal Albert Hall Discount?
I could not play it on my DVD player, I had to watch it on my computer. I was excited to show everybody on my big screen but no go!!!Save 39% Off
To Die For (1995)
If you would like to see a really great performance by Nicole Kidman, pick up a copy of "To Die For" at your local video store. Directed by Gus Van Sant, screenplay by Buck Henry from the book by Joyce Maynard (both Henry and Maynard have bit parts in the film), "To Die For" is a wicked little gem of a film.Kidman won the Golden Globe award for Best Actress for her performance, and frankly I thought she should have gotten the Academy Award (unless I remember incorrectly, I don't think she was even nominated for an Academy Award for it). But she is absolutely brilliant in it: chilling, funny, scary, sexy, and horrifically evil.
Kidman portrays Suzanne Stone-Maretto: a devious, calculating, self-centered woman who manipulates Larry Maretto (a very sympathetic performance by Matt Dillon) into marrying her, quickly tires of him when he tries to stand in her way of her greatest ambition in life, which is to be the next Diane Sawyer, and soon convinces her teenage lover to kill him for her. Sound familiar? "To Die For" was loosely based on the real-life story of Pamela Smart, who seduced her 15-year old lover into murdering her husband.
Joaquin Phoenix is Jimmy Emmett, the hapless student who becomes Suzanne's lover; Lydia Mertz is Alison Follard, a young girl who idolizes her; and Casey Affleck is Russel Hines, another student who gets caught up in the scheme. Illeana Douglas is great as Larry's acidic, loving sister Janice, who also gets one of the best lines in the film, and at the very beginning, no less; and Dan Hedaya is Larry's father, Joe Maretto. Dan Hedaya is a master of the "Believe me, you don't want to see me mad" performance, with obvious menace just under a calm surface. The casting is great, and the performances are all right on target.
Look for uncredited cameos by George Segal as a conference speaker, and David Cronenberg as...you'll just have to go see it.
Directed by Gus Van Sant in his usual cobbled-together manner (hoary, quasi-documentary devices to propel the screenplay, regular flashbacks, direct-to-the-camera diction, etc..) based on Buck Henry's trippy adaptation of a novel by the same name. The result is a pleasantly watchable movie that moves quickly and keeps you guessing the limits to which our protagonist would limp to achieve her ambitious goals.
I felt that the premise, beyond its chirpy surface, is quite thought-provoking. If our perky weather reporter were to be successful in her quest then we could believe that total dedication to a quest is admirable and ultimately rewarded -regardless of the means employed. Can we condone murder though? Perhaps we are offered a tongue-in-cheek hyperbole that extremes are necessary if we are to escape our station in life.
This movie apart from amusing you will surely leave you with something to savor, not just off its theme but from the brilliant supporting performances of Casey Affleck, Matt Dillon and especially Joaquin Phoenix.
Recommended rental.To Die For is an excellent, detailed portrait of a female narcissist. This movie is no comedy. If you ever have the great misfortune of tangling with one of these psychopaths, trust me, you WONT be laughing.
Nicole Kidman plays Suzanne Stone, the girl who grows up as the center of her family's never-ending attention, the Golden Child Who Can Do No Wrong. As life goes on, Suzanne hones her manipulation skills, and marries Larry (played by Matt Dillon), who reflects back to Suzanne the image of herself that she wants to believe and see. Perfect!
That is, until Larry demands that the marriage include him. In bed one morning soon after being wed, Larry wants to make love with Suzanne. She icily shoves his hand away saying "get your hands off me." She has to get ready for work, to "fix my face" for the world. It's performance time, and Suzanne is always on. Larry just doesn't get it. Their life is about HER, not them. When Larry broaches the topics of having children and her helping him out in the family restaurant business, Suzanne decides he has to go. This girl has global aspirations. She won't be marginalized with motherhood and a family business!
When Suzanne lands a job at a community TV station, she turns a small job fetching coffee and running errands into her role as the weather girl reporting from "The Weather Center." She soon executes one of her many grandiose schemes: making a documentary about high school teenagers in their natural habitat. Enter Joaquin Phoenix's character Jimmy Emmet, an introspective but deeply lost teenager who falls hard for Suzanne. She soon sexually manipulates Jimmy into doing her bidding, with promises of eternal love and "then we can always be together." Her blinding charisma engulfs Jimmy and friends Russel and Lydia, and of course she heartlessly kicks them all to the curb the instant she achieves her goal.
If you know anything about narcissism, you'll see all the high points in To Die For: grandiosity, complete disregard for the feelings of others, ice-cold manipulation, and lightning-fast betrayal once the narcissist has achieved her goal. You're seeing how a psychopath operates. If only the narcissists of the world found the same fate as Suzanne Stone. I strongly recommend To Die For.
Read Best Reviews of To Die For (1995) Here
If you like your humor smart, wicked, ironic, and served on a silver platter, this one's for you. Buck Henry wrote the screenplay, which should say plenty about the level of intelligence and sly wit at work here. Nicole Kidman gives the performance of a career as a woman who looks, acts, and dresses like a Barbie doll come to life. She has completely bought into the myth that, frankly, we all believe to one extent or another. That is, being on tv is a good thing and validates a person, makes that person more real than real. Her obsession to be a tv celebrity is like a narcotic for her.Suzanne Stone lives in a fantasy land, imagining that her role as the weather lady on a local cable access tv station will somehow be a springboard for Babwa Wawa type notoriety. Watching her voracious, yet somehow sadly innocent, ambition is both funny and horrifying. Kidman plays it perfectly, never winking at the camera. The story, though based on actual events, is little more than a vehicle for many wonderful performances. Her husband, played with real comic skill by Matt Dillon, has to go, he's just in the way. The stoner, semi-goth high school students she enlists for the hit, including Joaquin Phoenix, are charmed and subservient, amazed that a celebrity would pay attention to them. (As we would be if Oprah asked us to wax her car, which we probably would, because we also believe that being on tv is a good and important thing.)
Other inspired performances include George Segal in a splendidly cynical cameo, succinctly summarizing tv business reality. Dan Hedaya, who must get his 5:00 shadow somewhere around 9:47 a.m., is just right as the guy who settles the score. But the real sleeper is Illeana Douglas, narrator and Ms. Stone's sister-in-law. She smells a rat long before anyone else, and her wise-acre sarcastic delivery is terrific, especially as she gracefully skates over the evidence. That's cold!
Van Sant is a very interesting director. Drugstore Cowboy was as fascinating as it was disturbing. Elephant offered an amazing look at Columbine through the other end of the lens. Finding Forrester, a tad trite and commercial, did have heart. Good Will Hunting, yikes, what did we do to deserve the twin monsters it loosed upon the landscape? Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, one of the best books ever becomes one of worst movies ever. My Own Private Idaho. This movie, featuring an unnerving performance by the late River Phoenix, was chilling, haunting, beautiful, and absolutely brilliant. Van Sant is certainly capable of greatness, and Kidman is also. In To Die For they are both at their absolute best.
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Nicole Kidman plays the perfect psychopath in TO DIE FOR. The psychopath is the one area of psychology that no one has a cure for. Psychopaths lack moral impulse. They not only don't have the vaguest idea of what right and wrong mean, but they also don't understand why other people can get all exercised about violations of right and wrong. Kidman in the movie doesn't murder because it's calculated and she can get away with it; she doesn't even think that far ahead. And that's what makes acting a role like this so blamed difficult. Kidman pulls it off in what I regard as one of the two greatest bravura female acting performances in the past quarter century. (The other is Kate Nelligan in the 1981 movie, EYE OF THE NEEDLE.) If only the screenplay were up to Kidman's level, it would shake five stars out of me. There's a little too much fussing about with the teenagers, and some scenes last too long. A good editing job could have trimmed ten or fifteen minutes out of this movie and made it one of Hollywood's all=time best. But, given what we have, if you watch it only for Kidman's incredible, incredible performance, you'll get a lot more than your money's worth.Save 42% Off
Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy
PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE BLU-RAY EDITION OF THE TRILOGY. AMAZON HAS A BAD HABIT OF COMBINING THESE REVIEWS UNDER THE DVD ONES AS WELL.The "Star Trek" films with the original cast get a Blu-ray release with mixed results. I sprung for the trilogy because, frankly, outside of "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" these are the best films from the series of films produced with the original cast.
"The Wrath of Khan", "The Search for Spock" and "The Voyage Home" are ALL in high definition contrary to a misinformed review here. They also all use too much Digital Noise Reduction to eliminate film grain which "softens" the image and eliminates much of the detail that Blu-ray is famous for. The result is that skin textures look waxy lacking detail. Edge enchancement has been used to "refocus" the image a bit (DNR is a technique used to manage film grain and video "noise" but when over used it robs the image of the very qualities that make Blu-ray outstanding. This is often done by digitally throwing the image out of foucs if I recall correctly and then using edge enhancement to refocus the image). "Wrath" looks better simply because it was restored while the other two aren't).
You probably won't notice the difference unless you're watching this on a monitor above 40 inches (and if you watch it with a projection system it will be REALLY noticeable). That said, all three films could look better but they still look better than the DVDs. Audio sounds terrific.
We get a lot of new extras as well as all the original stuff from the 2 disc DVDs except the text commentaries. "The Wrath of Khan" features a new commentary track with director Nicholas Meyer and Manny Coto ("Odyssey 5", "Star Trek: Enterprise", "24"). We also get "James Horner: Composing Genesis", "Collecting Star Trek's Movie Relics", A Tribute to Richardo Montalban", "Star Fleet Academy: The Mystery Behind Ceti Alpha VI" all in HD. We also get on all three films "Libary Computer" which is an interactive dictionary replacing in many respects the text commentary. Be aware that the pop up menu cannot be accessed when watching the film in "Libary Computer" mode.
"The Search for Spock" includes a new commentary track by long time "Next Generation" writer and "Battlestar Galatica" producer/writer Ronald D. Moore joined by "Trek" writer Michael Taylor. While they had nothing to do wih the film Moore an entertaining speaker discusses the differences between the films, the original series and "The Next Generation" with insight. "Spock: The Early Years", "Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame", "Starfleet Academy: The Vulcan Katrar Transfer" are all presented in high def. Something I never noticed before while watching "Khan" or "Spock" is that one of the shots of the Genesis Planet is less than a perfect matte--you can see the stars behind the planet if you look carefully.
"The Voyage Home" features "Star Trek" writers Roberto orci and Alex Kurtzman in a brand new commentary track. "Pavel Scheko's Screen Moments", The Three Picture Saga", "Star Trek for a Cause", "Starfleet Academy: The Whale Probe" are all in HD. Also included is the "Libary Computer" again while all three films have "Star Trek I.Q." available only via the Blu-ray Live option.
The packaging leaves something to be desired--I would have preferred each in its own slimline Blu-ray container. This is presented in a fold out style holder. The artwork is attractive enough but the slip case and fold out holder may not stand up well to wear and tear.
As far as the quality of the films themselves even with the small budgets for the films all three are well written with strong performances and direction. Unfortuntely we don't get the "Director's Special Edition" of "The Wrath of Khan" which has been digitally restored (the film was in fairly bad shape) and remastered. Grain is quite noticable throughout and it appears that DNR wasn't used quite as heavily here as on the other two films (which were remastered first).
The script by Nicholas Meyer and Harve Bennett (although Jack Sowards is credited his script was one of five that was the basis of the final script along with writer/producer Harve Bennett) for "Khan", by Bennett for "Spock" and with Nicholas Meyer for "Voyage Home" are all strong and feature the humor/action that was characteristic of some of the best episodes of the original series. Bennett never really got the credit (or the thank you from Roddenberry)for reviving the show and giving it a production that captured the best of Trek.
I'm looking forward to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" receiving a deluxe Blu-ray transfer with the "Director's Cut" included since it features the many visual effects that Wise wanted added as well as added him the luxury fine tuning the edit of the film (something he never had a chance to do because of the time constraints due to visual effects snafus and a drop dead premiere date).
So a mixed review--all three films look better than they did in their DVD incarnation but the transfers could be better. Audio sounds terrific and the extras are all good and welcome. The packaging though could be better but the price for this three disc set is pretty good. Hopefully "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek: The Undiscovered" country will be available separately with the former including BOTH versions of the film and the latter including the "Director's Extended Cut".
So I took a risk and bought the set after reading elsewhere that the other transfers were actually pretty decent. So after watching all three films I can say that it was a pretty good purchase considering all thats included in the set.
As far as PQ is concerned, Wrath of Kahn is definitely the best. Great colors, great depth and great detail. Nothing like The Dark Night, but very respectable for a film of its age. I would give it a 9/10.
PQ on The Search For Spock fairs a little worse, but not by much, colors and detail are right up there with Kahn, though not quite reaching its quality. Its not OBVIOUS that II was restored and III was merely remastered, they are very close with the only real knock against III being its depth. The image is just slightly flatter than II, but again, not by much. 8.5/10
The only downside for me was The Voyage Home, which while decent on its own, is noticably lacking when compared to the first two. The colors are often muted and a bit hazy, and the depth is just not there. However some space shots look great, so its not terrible. 7/10
I watched this set on a 50" 1080p plasma and really only noticed the DNR when I got right up to the screen otherwise it rarely bothered me.
So there you have it. Yes I would have liked Paramount to go all out on restoring these movies and Im sure they will someday, but IMO unless youre a videophile you'll probably only notice it on STIV because III looks about as good as II. So if youre like me and are on the fence about whether or not to buy this set now or wait for Paramount to give a proper release a few years from now, I would say that while you might not be blown away by these transfers, theyre definitely respectable and far from as bad as the other reviews would have you believe. Plus, at $40 its a pretty good deal for what you get. Highly Recommended.
Buy Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy Now
I don't know who Paramount is trying to lure into buying this set. But for what it's worth, this is a pretty sweet package.In case you're unfamiliar with the "Star Trek" franchise, this set includes the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movies. The reason it's tagged as a "trilogy" is because each film starts almost immediately where the previous one left off. Also, these are three of the most popular of the series.
I could talk forever about these movies, but I think the important thing to remember is that all of them will hold up if you're not a fan of the franchise.
"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is a fan-favorite for many reasons, one of them that the villain is a character from the original 1960s TV show. But, if you've never seen Khan's appearance from the TV show, I think you'll still get a huge thrill seeing him ooze of cold vengeance. Admiral Kirk's struggle to face life & death --both literally and spiritually --is sure to please anyone who enjoys a good character drama. The drama and relationships between the characters are what drive the story from start to finish, and you don't need to be a fan to appreciate the connections. The space battles are still a treat even after over 25 years, and the ending scenes are incredibly powerful.
"Star Trek II" is one of my favorite movies of the 80s, and I'm sure I'd say that even if I wasn't a fan of this franchise. It's an expertly-crafted sci-fi action/drama, and earns its acclaimed status.
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"Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" is probably the least favorite from this trilogy, but it's still a good one, in my opinion. Even though non-Trekkers may be confused by a few of the story developments (notably Spock's Vulcan culture), I believe this one holds its own simply because of its production merits. James Horner's music reuses tracks from "Star Trek II", but has a few haunting melodies specifically for this installment. The action is good, and kinda brutal when the Klingons take decisive action. And I find the premise intriguing...try to recover a resurrected companion who's stranded on a planet about to explode, while you're being hunted by ruthless, greedy warriors!
"Star Trek III" will speak well enough to newcomers, but it's definitely tailored more for the familiar audience.
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"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" is sure to be a pleasant ride for anybody. Our heroes must travel back in time to recover an extinct species to save the planet. Why and how humpback whales are supposed to tell an alien to stop ruining our O-zone layer is beyond me. But somehow it all makes sense, and it's not the reason to invest in this film.
In addition to the usual merits we look for in "Star Trek" movies (great music, engaging special effects, and fun characters), this one is faltout hilarious! Try to imagine how seven 23rd Century explorers (one of them an alien) attempt to steal two enormous mammals when their spaceship has lost most of its energy after their time travel. You got misused profanity, Cold War tension, primitive technology, and contemporary music. But rather than being a farce, the movie is great fun.
"Star Trek IV" may not be my favorite of the series, but I'm sure it's the one that everyone will enjoy. It stimulates your brain, uplifts your spirit, and forces some strong laughs.
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To my knowledge, some of the bonus extras that were released on the 2-disc sets back in 2001-2003 won't be on this "Motion Picture Trilogy". Instead, there will be a new goodies.
The main reason I want to check this set out is that Ronald D. Moore provides a track on "Star Trek III". Moore wrote some of the best episodes for "The Next Generation" TV show, was the driving force behind the new "Battlestar Galactica" series, and has proven to be an engaging speaker through his podcast commentaries.
But that's just the fanboy in me. I don't see much of a reason to buy this set if you already own the 2-disc releases of these movies. But if you've never owned "Star Trek II, III, or IV" --or never SEEN them --then this is a good way to go.
Read Best Reviews of Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy Here
What's good about it: contains the 3 best "Trek" films that feature the original cast. The picture is slightly better than the 2-disc DVDs of these films, which looked great. The Dolby Digital EX sound is a nice improvement over the previous releases.What's bad about it: Wrath of Khan is the theatrical cut, whereas the 2-disc DVD was the Director's Cut. NONE of the incredible bonus features from the 2-disc releases are included with this set, and the all-new features are mostly a bust. The visual effects featurette in this set is a real letdown, as it covers the first 6 movies in 13 minutes, so there is no time for any great detail on the FX work.
Bottom line: The transfers, both video and audio, are as good as DVD gets. If that's what you are after, or if you don't have the out of print 2-disc releases, this should do fine.
Want Star Trek: Motion Picture Trilogy Discount?
I got an advance copy of this and the first thing I noticed is that ONLY "The Wrath Of Khan" has been re-mastered in Hi Definition!BEWARE: The other two movies are NOT Hi Definition transfers! So why buy Blu-Ray copies of Standard Definition transfers? You are only going to buy "The Search For Spock" and "The Voyage Home" again when Paramount re-masters them in Hi-Definition!
Some customers may not notice this cheap-out when buying this set. The BIG lettering on the back says "DIGITALLY REMASTERED WITH BRILLIANT PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY", but if you look closer you will see the small print says "The films have been digitally remastered and The Wrath of Kahn has been fully restored in high definition picture quality and 7.1 Dolby TrueHD."
So it seems that Paramount only had one of these movies ready for Blu-Ray but wanted to have a Box-Set on the store shelves when the new movie came out.
****CLARIFICATION****
Some fans are confused by my review. Let me first say that I am a television engineer, not a novice Blu-Ray owner. So I want to list some clear facts to help all understand what this set is.
1) Are all of these movies 1080p High Definition video presentations? YES
2) Do all of these movies have 7.1 Dolby TrueHD Audio? YES
3) Will all of these movies look better than the older releases? YES
What is the difference?
Paramount returned to "Khan"'s original film negatives to make new high definition transfers and restore the movie. All of the other movies are the 2001 transfers, digitally enhances using DNR technology and upconverted to 1080i for a high definition look. This is a form of DIGITAL REMASTERING IN HIGH DEFINITION. And this is the term that confuses the average Blu-Ray collector. 90 percent of the time when a studio claims "digitally remastered" on a DVD or Blu-Ray Disc they do NOT mean they went back to the original film negatives to make a new transfer, they just used digital technology to clean up the old transfer.
So why the complaint?
Because we all believe that Paramount will re-release these again, newly "Restored" from the original negatives. If you do not believe that, look back at Paramount's track history of Star Trek releases.
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The Oranges (2011)
"The Oranges" (2012 release; 90 min.) brings the story of two married couples living across the street from each other. There is Terry and Cathy Ostroff (played by Oliver Platt and Allison Janney). Terry and Cathy are best friends with David and Paige Walling (played by Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener), whose marriage is not going well and whose twenty-something yr. old daughter Vanessa still lives with them. This is in sharp contrast with Terry and Cathy's daughter (and Vanessa's childhood friend) Nina (played by Leighton Meester), who is living "la vida loca" in San Francisco. Things go unexpectedly sour for Nina who, tails between her legs, moves in with her parents. The two families are enjoying their time together, until Nina and David develop a crush on each other (despite their significant age difference). At that point we are about one-third into the movie, and to tell you more of the plot would simply ruin your viewing experience. But as you can well imagine, all kinds of crazy situations develop from there, some of them funny, others bittersweet, and yet other moments outright sad.Several comments: Hugh Laurie (yes, he of the "House" TV series) shows again with this performance how versatile he really is. (Remember a year ago he released an album "Let Them Talk", which was critically well-received.) I'm sure it had to be a relief for Laurie to be playing a character so vastly different from "House". However, Catherine Keener and Oliver Platt also bring choice performances. It's difficult to assess Leighton Meester, as it is hard to make that leap of faith to see what she sees in David, who is twice her age. Also it is a bit strange that the movie was released in early October (when I saw it at the Landmark E Street Theatre in Washington), as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays play a significant role in the movie.
All that aside, the bottom line is that this movie is more than just a 'romantic comedy', as the movie brings home some poignant moments. I found myself enjoying this movie a lot more than I had expected. If you are in the mood for one of those "little indie movies that could", "The Oranges" is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Nina breaks up with her boyfriend and comes home for Thanksgiving after two years. The parents hope to fix her up with Toby Walling (Adam Brody), but Nina has suddenly developed a taste for older men, older married men who sleep on the couch. They are quickly discovered and the film goes into a mild disaster mode with crude comments from Nina's mom (Allison Janney) and snarky remarks from the hurt Vanessa.
The film had some funny parts, but for the most part it simply makes you smile at the awkward situation. The characters were well developed. The dialouge was decent. It has appeal and is worth a view, at least once. Leighton Meester did a great job.
Parental Guide: F-bomb. No sex or nudity. Some crude sex talk.This is more of a TV "sit-com" than an actual movie, and there is very little to recommend it. Not even Catherine Keener can save it. As to the plot, it tries to superimpose outlandish humor and over-the-top acting onto a more serious sexual/marital dilemma. And the formula doesn't work. In fact, there aren't very many laughs or social insights to be derived from this film.
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I love Hugh Laurie. However, reading the brief description first on Amazon didn't outline the plot. It said, "Fresh-squeezed laughs and sexy fun sweeten this critically-acclaimed comedy with an all-star cast."How was I to know that this movie showcased Hugh Laurie's "zipper trouble" with his best friend's 20 year-old DAUGHTER.
He watched his best friend's little girl grow up. Then he had lots of sex with her. Yuck.
His character struck me as a Woody Allen wannabe.
If my best friend's husband pulled that stunt with my own beautiful 20 year-old daughter, my husband and I would star in a new movie stealing the title "There Will Be Blood."
What a stinker.
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This film is a waste of Hugh Lauries (and our) time, a sophomoric half assed comedy that isn't funny...how un-funnySave 50% Off