Adam Had Four Sons [HD]

Warm Family Story
While this film may be predictable as to its events and conclusion, it is a warm and enjoyable film to watch. After the death of his wife (Fay Wray), a father (Warner Baxer) raises his four sons with the help of a devoted governess (Ingrid Bergman). When one of the sons marries, it is to an evil shrew (Susan Hayward), and the battle between good and evil, Bergman and Hayward, is joined.

Bergman and Hayward turn in memorable performances. Also watch for a sweet performance by a young June Lockhart.

GOOD CAST...SO SO MOVIE
This is a family saga of a huband (Warren Baxter) and wife (Fay Wray) who have four sons. As they are quite well to do, they hire a French governess (Ingrid Bergman) for the boys. Several years later, the wife falls ill and dies. The governess becomes the mother figure. Shortly after, the stock market crashes and the father loses everything and is forced to send the governess away with a promise to send for her as soon as he can.

This is where the movie becomes somewhat implausible. The father sends for her years later, but the boys are fully grown young men. They obviously do not need a governess. Yet, she lives with them. It is obvious to all that the father and the governess are in love, but nary a word of such passes between them.

Out of the clear blue, one of the sons marries a beautiful, but loose woman (Susan Hayward). The governess does not like this son's wife and with good reason. The wife soon commences an affair with one of her husband's brothers. Soon, this serene...

A good classic family drama...
Emilie (Ingrid Bergman), a french governess, is hired by wealthy Adam Stoppard (Warner Baxter) and his wife Molly to look after their four sons. Following the untimely death of their mother, the boys grow to depend on Emilie more.

When the boys are older they join the army. When they return home one of them brings home a beautiful wife Hester (Susan Hayward). It soon becomes clear that Hester is trouble. She's a heartless gold-digger that nearly splits the family apart. Can Emilie hold the family together with Hester around causing trouble?

Over the years Emilie's feelings for Adam grow deeper and she falls in love with him. Even the though the boys are now men at this point, Adam insists that she come and live with them again as part of the family....

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Our Man in Havana [HD]

Slow-building, surprisingly subtle comedy of spying
Sir Carol Reed's 1960 film of Graham Greene's "Our Man in Havana" gets off to a slow start. The expatriate British widower Jim Wormold (Alec Guinness) is having difficulty making enough money to support the expensive tastes of his cherished teenaged daughter Milly (Jo Morrow), who has caught the idea of a Batista torturer and equestrian, Capt. Segura (Ernie Kovacs). The British spymaster for the Caribbean (No

Who's Harry Crumb? [HD]

WHO'S HARRY CRUMB? YOU WON'T BE SORRY YOU ASKED!
IN A NUTSHELL -- "WHO IS HARRY CRUMB?":

John Candy plays bumbling Harry Crumb, the last survivor of a family of great detectives. This Crumb works in the agency his legendary grandfather founded, but he's been exiled to their "Greater Tulsa" office. Eliot Draisen (Jeffrey Jones) who somehow has become the Director of "Crumb and Crumb" assigns the inept Harry Crumb to find the kidnapped daughter of a multi-millionaire (played by the affable Barry Corbin from TV's "Northern Exposure"). There is a catch, however ... Draisen doesn't want the kidnappers found, for reasons of his own. While Crumb bumbles along through various mishaps (aided by his able assistant, Shawnee Smith) which are articulated via a series of ridiculously funny comedy skits, the kidnappers feel completely secure. In the meantime, Elliot Draisen tries to have his way with the millionaire's wife (Annie Potts), but does that have anything to do with the plot?

OKAY IT SOUNDS KIND OF PAT -- BUT:...

Great movie for the collection
I was about seven or eight years old when I first saw This movie, but it was instantly my favorite. The only thing is that it's most physical comedy. Now that I'm older I realize that it's not his best movie, but it's still a great comedy classic.

Wishing for deleted scenes
I really enjoyed this movie, even though I'm not the biggest John Candy fan. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon when Saturday night is still keeping you from getting off the couch.

My only complaint is that I remember first seeing the movie on TV when I was visiting a friend in New York, and there was a hilarious scene that took place in the wine cellar, John Candy accidentally starts a machine that shoots clay pigeons all over the cellar and floods it with wine.

The scene must have been added to the TV broadcast to cover the bra scene being deleted, but was not part of the theatrical release and is not on the DVD. Which is weird, because if you watch the scene where they play footsie under the table at dinner, one of John Candy's pant legs is stained halfway up the shin with wine. With the deletion of the scene, that makes no sense.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Maybe if they ever release this movie in Blue Ray they will have the "director's...

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Five (1951) [HD]

First post nuke film
The official review about this film is correct it is the first post nuke film that i know of. I do not have this copy of the movie but I do have a bad copy made from an old film.

The movie is exactly how I remember it from the first time I say it on TV over 30 years ago maybe close to 40 years. It is about a group of 5 people who gather in Arch Oboler's house (yes it was filmed in his Frank Loyld Wright house).

This movie will disappoint all of the five year old's out there because it is a slow moving introspective picture about the 5 who try and to some degree fail to live together in this house. The movie was made at a time when action was not the only prerequisite for a movie. There are no explosions and no real scenes of mass destruction and of course it is in black and white, so there is another reason for the 5 year old's to not like it. There are 4 men and one pregnant woman at the beginning and at the end it is more of and Adam and Eve beginning.

The first post-nuclear film
This DVD transfer looks worlds better than previous VHS versions, but is still marred by problems that go back to the condition of the master print. But it's an excellent reminder that Arch Oboler was ahead of the pack in so many respects. Here he is, creating the first film about the survivors of a world-devastating nuclear exchange, establishing the language and tone--and setting the bar--for many films that followed. For all its apparent simplicity, FIVE contains complex characterizations and uncompromising moments of confrontation and narrative development, as well as some unforgettable images.

a sleeper to watch!
I accidentally ran across this film on one of the Roku channels. I had never heard of it and thought I would give it a shot. I was not disappointed. It's an apocalyptic film without the zombies and gore--just the struggles of five people thrown together. It deals with the good and evil of mankind and focuses upon the relationships built by these five individuals. If you're into zombies and plagues, then stay away! But if you like solid drama based upon character development, then this is a movies you should see. I liked it enough to purchase my own copy!Five

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The Mating Of Millie [HD]

Good plot and well acted.
We always enjoy watching Glen Ford movies and we were not disappointed. The female lead did a nice job in portraying a career woman of her day. Her character gave the movie a modern feel.

Love old movies
Loved this old movie as a kid and wanted to see it again, doesn't make it to tv very often

Great movie
Warm loving and heartfelt. Thelma Ritter charming and funny. I wish she was my mother-in-law. ;). That John Lund is wonderful as her loving son. I love the way they're always trying to protect each other. I love this movie

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Last Dance [HD]

Sharon Stone, more than makeup and short skirts
I stumbled across this movie on television recently and was mesmerized by Sharon Stone's performance. Her looks were down-played for her role of death row inmate and what showed through was luminous acting and touching vulnerability. Her character, bred from white trash and convicted of a brutal double murder, brought a new insight into the circumstances surrounding violent crime and the reform found in prison. This movie made me doubt my firm stance in support of capital punishment (and that's not easy to do). Rob Morrow is both sensitive and powerful as the rich kid attorney that finds something to fight for in his defence of this woman. Overall, a moving and tragic movie not to be missed, and definitely notable among other death row dramas for its gender reversal and the new perspective that brings.

see it if you haven't seen dead man walking
OK, I haven't seen dead man walking, so I'm not as mad as most people who think this is a rip-off of that movie. The movie isn't lame, it isn't very powerfull either, but it still makes a sad compelling movie. Rick chooses his first case, that of Cindy, who was convicted of a double murder. After she, not having close relatives but a brother whose also locked up, isn't intersted of being saved, he thru showing her compassion and caring, she finally realizes that there's so many things for her to do, she didn't want to die, but she didn't want to be locked up in there forever, but after that, she just doesn't want to die. So, I liked the movie, I was surprised by the ending, because it seemed that rick had done so much, but really, it just seemed that way since you get so involved in seeing how he tries so hard to save her. It shows you how some people can really change, and the dilema of having less than 30 days to save someone you've gotten so involved with.

Sharon Stone in a character part
Last Dance DVD

Last Dance is a movie starring Sharon Stone and Rob Morrow. Stone is a prisoner sitting on death row facing execution with a new attorney (Morrow) trying to defend her, get a stay or something? Stone gives a commanding performance right down to the prison "tat" on her hand.

If you like Sharon Stone, you'll like this movie.

Recommended for fans of Sharon Stone and Rob Morrow.

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Platinum Blonde [HD]

The Best Actor You've Never Seen
Robert Williams doesn't even get any billing on the DVD cover or on other promotions of this film, but he IS the star of the film....and he is outstanding.

Williams could have been a major star, a very well-known actor, had he not died four days after this picture was released with a ruptured appendix. The man simply puts on an acting clinic here. I wonder if young aspiring actors are ever shown this film and told to study Williams? If is wasn't for this film, I assume nobody would ever know about this guy.

Anyway, the movie is really dated but its interesting thanks to some great dialog, mainly, once again, by Williams. Jean Harlow gets the billing but a young Loretta Young has the real beauty and charm here. Too bad her role was so minor and bland. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

The storyline is one of Hollywood's favorite themes: the average Joe beating up on the snobby rich people. Harlow's "mother" in here (Louise Closser Hale) plays that snob...

Platinum Blonde
Any B&W fan will appreciate this film. I LOVED Robert Williams--I thought he was refreshingly original and had great chemistry with both of his female co-stars, two stunningly beautiful and very different women. The scene with the the song about the garters is priceless, and one of the sexiest scenes ever filmed(and there are many other breathtakingly sexy scenes as well). Although it should have been called "Cinderella Man", in captures it's time period in every way. I would have loved to see Robert Williams in other roles after this one, but he died very shortly after filming. You'll also love the scene where Stew follows Ann into the library! Don't miss this cool and sexy film.

Give it a Few Tries
Platinum Blonde is the story of a newspaper reporter (Robert Williams), one of the best. His job is to investigate a scandal with one of the best known families, the Schuylers. He's so clever, he gets them to admit to a story against their will, but in the process is captured by the eye of beautiful daugher Anne (Jean Harlow). Although he scoops them, he also helps them out of the mess and makes his way into the family by eloping with Anne. This hurts his pal Gallagher (Loretta Young) who has loved him for years, but he's in his own world. He doesn't quite realize what he's getting himself into as a poor man wedding a rich family. Cracks from his friends ensue and day by day his wife does all that she can to change him.

Unfortunately, people have high expectations for this film, and it doesn't necessarily measure up. First of all, this is not typical Capra. There are not heartfelt messages of hope at the end. The characters do not signify what the average man strives to be...

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Blue Valentine [HD]

A Great Contemporary Romance About Breaking Up
Perhaps more than any other film in 2010, I have eagerly anticipated the arrival of "Blue Valentine." After superlative press at Sundance, the film fell into the most ridiculous and unnecessary scandal of the year when the MPAA branded the movie with a NC-17 rating. A film filled with grown-up emotions and intimacies, "Blue Valentine" is an unlikely target for such a rating (in an era filled with movies of extreme violence, gore, and much more nudity) other than the fact that "Blue Valentine" feels so extraordinarily real. Luckily, the rating was rightfully overturned so the picture could enjoy a wider release and the benefits of a more extensive advertising campaign. "Blue Valentine" is a sophisticated and smart entertainment for adult audiences brought to realistic fruition by the stellar Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. Naturalistic and utterly believable, rarely has a film been able to dissect a relationship with such savvy attention to detail.

You might have heard...

4.5 stars for one of the best acted films of the year
BLUE VALENTINE is a low budget film, telling us about the beginning and end of a marriage. It stars Ryan Gosling & Michelle Williams. The movie shows us "now" over the space of just a couple of days, as we see this couple along with their roughly 5 year old child, going through mundane tasks and the final arguments that lead to their split. The film also bounces back to the few weeks or months from their first meeting until the day they get married. We see them about 5 or 6 years younger, na

Linewatch

Linewatch - Gooding at his best - Great Story Line
I wish I had watched the extras before viewing the movie. You get a real sense of what the message is and get an 'Aha' moment after viewing it. Linewatch is a very well done, very good cinematograpy, excellent feel.

Yes, a bit slow, I think the portrayal is one of what life is like for the Border Patrol. You have your moments where you have activity, but there are times where you are out in the wilderness and time just drags on. There are a few comments about family life, 'wish we could move,' and the like. You do get a sense of beauty, seeing the variety of landscape that is the American desert. Filmed in New Mexico, you get that endless feeling, that the desert just never ends.

The movie takes off when our main character runs into his former gangsta connections. He and his family are taken 'for a ride' as you sense the two sides, Gooding vs. the Ganstas, are vying for power. As the extra mentions, he is a man seeking redemption. You have a lot of young...

Ex-gangbanger in the border patrol
In Texas as far from the LA crips and bloods as he could get 'mad dog'
has a lonely job and a nice family. Chasing a coyote brings up ancient history come to haunt him. He has enough trouble with white vigilantes.
He runs into his homies as they are trying to get a shipment of drugs up from Mexico. These are murderers and drug pushers from the big city
in his dry washes and desert territory. The trouble isn't going to leave him or his family alone... Good tension and acting here.

Slow and Rather Boring
Cuba Gooding Jr, a Border Patrol Guard, is blackmailed by gangsters from his past who threaten his family if he doesn't help them smuggle drugs into the country.

Not much dialog. Plenty of musical scores that sound alike. Lots of guns, shooting and blood, with the hero hunting down the gangsters at the end. Typical storyline. Predictable ending. Cuba Gooding is not seen at his best. Were it not for him this movie would receive no stars.

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Art Car: The Movie

A fun, feel good film about a little known piece of Americana.
An insider look at one of those uniquely American forms of sub-cultural art and the genuine characters who shape and mold its existence. Art Car is more of a film that examines the individual component of an offbeat art movement than a strict expose on the mechanics of medium. Art Car follows the story of Rebecca Bass, a charming teacher who motivates her students to participate in Houston's annual Art Car Parade. The filmmakers use her story as a centerpiece to the story of Art Car, and branch out to examine both the history and future of Art Car community. The film spends an adequate amount of time tracing the history of the movement, paying close attention to those hard to categorize moments that occur in Art Car's early stages. Bass, like many of the other artists in the film, becomes the real focus of the story. These quirky, kind-hearted groups of artists are the types of characters we want to find in the pockets of American society. People who seem to have found a way to live...

Art Car: The Movie
Finally the "art car" phenomena is explained from the indiviual interest to the fraternity of contributors. Most amazing is the use of the art car as a teaching tool. Rebecca Bass taps into her students talents. This is a great effort in production of a story within a story.

giant sigh
The subject matter of this movie was so interesting, this movie however, was not. The filmmakers use the same sound bites from interviews over and over again. Dan Aykroyd is in the film for about 30 seconds (he is the grand marshal for the art car parade). There are a lot of neat art cars in the film, I would much rather know about them, how they were built, considerations when building an art car, the people who build them, than the sort of half-assed nonsensical story of a high school class building an art car. To clarify, the class's story was compelling, interesting, all that jazz, just SO poorly told... When you first see them they are throwing out ideas six months before the competition, next time you see them they're building the car. There is no explanation of how they arrived at their theme, designed the car, etc. This film tried to do too much (maybe?) and ended up not doing anything well.

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Toy Story [HD]

A Modern Masterpiece in Every Way
Cowboy doll Woody is Andy's favorite toy, and as part of that comes the privilege of being the leader of all the other toys. His world is suddenly turned upside down when Andy gets a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. Suddenly, Woody finds himself in danger of being replaced as Andy and all the toys flock to Buzz. Worse yet, Buzz doesn't know he's a toy. He thinks he's the real Buzz Lightyear. But when the two toys get lost a couple days before Andy moves, they'll have to work together to get home. Can Woody work with Buzz when they don't have the same goal?

I can't believe it's been ten years since this movie came out. It's had an immeasurable impact on the animation field and movies in general. At the same time, its flaws are evident. The humans look as plastic as the toys, and the fur on the dog is laughable. Computers have come a long way in ten years.

Whether this movie was any good or not, it would have been an important milestone...

A Real Classic.
This is the first of the Pixar films, and it remains the best. The movie is full of lovable characters, and full of wonderful lessons about friendship and trust that will delight all ages. Of all the computer-animated movies that have come out since this classic, this is with out a doubt the best.

"ANDY'S NEW TOY...'TOY?!'..."TOY! T-O-Y!'..."I THINK YOU MEAN..."
"Toy Story", the landmark movie that ushered animation into the computer age, is still a bona fide family classic- and funny as all get-out to boot. This superb package brings it all back, both the movie itself and an Al's Toy Barn full of bonuses.

First things first- the movie looks and sounds fantastic!

I don't have one of those flashy home-theater outfits, but this digital print shows off some great color, with the various toy characters in pristine, bright glory. Sound master Gary Rydstrom upgraded the soundtrack to the point where you can hear the click of the tiny toy soldiers. Best of all, you don't need a 50-inch screen or ultra-Dolby amp to enjoy this newer-than-new view.

The movie, of course, introduced a new, innovative animation outfit called Pixar to the world- and what a job they did on this first feature effort! Woody and Buzz Lightyear, of course, are icons to kids of all ages, but all the other members of the "Andy's Room"...

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Slednecks 15

Awesome!!!
Loved it! The take from the female helps my daughter relate to sledding. Great camera shots. Awesome riders. Beautiful scenery. Great added commentary from the different riders.





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Jack Goes Boating

Well acted character study with an A+ indie soundtrack
Jack Goes Boating marks the directorial debut of one of America's most accomplished and one of my personal favorite actors, the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman. The man has been a spark in such films as Spike Lee's touching 25th Hour and the Charlie Kaufman-helmed surrealist mind-bender Synecdoche, Ny. His direction here is understated, his film shambling but not entirely bleak. Jack Goes Boating is a drifting picture, but it is a winner because of its heart. It could have, given the subject matter, a relentlessly dour experience. Instead, Hoffman incorporates both the happy and the sad in mostly equal measures. A small film, but a success.
The film centers on a neurotic, rasti-loving New York limo driver with a penchant for pot and a nearly overwhelming sense of day-to-day isolation. He latches onto a couple whose marital fabric is stretching from past indiscretions, through whom he is introduced to an equally neurotic young woman named Connie who seems to have a good if...

Idiosyncratic, But Aloof, Character Piece Mismarketed As A Comic Gem
Every year, there are a fair share of idiosyncratic character pieces that pop up in the indie film scene that are loaded down with critical hyperbole proclaiming them as comedic masterworks. And nine out of ten times, these films (marketed as comedies) leave mainstream audiences perplexed. "Jack Goes Boating" is a prime example of just such a film--albeit one with a pretty impressive pedigree. Directed by and starring the great Philip Seymour Hoffman with the terrific Amy Ryan providing support, let me make one thing clear before I go any further--I am EXACTLY the audience for this film. In fact, when it was in town theatrically, I was going to go but it only lasted one week in our local movie houses. So I knew what this film was, had my expectations firmly in check, and was eager to jump right in! Well, truth be told, Hoffman's work left me a little cold with its remote awkwardness.

I appreciate films that can mine comic inspiration from the world's disconnectedness. "Jack...

Beautiful, but scary film
This film was exactly what I thought it would be, and more.

Philip Seymour Hoffman directs and stars in this quiet, quirky film about a man named Jack. Jack and Connie are set up on a blind date by their married friends, Clyde and Lucy. Clyde and Lucy seem very together and ambitious, while Jack and Connie are basically loner losers.
But from this humble, awkward first date emerges a real relationship and passion for life. Throughout the film we see very little of Jack and Connie, or Lucy and Clyde, together, but we really get to know them as individuals and couples.

The perfection Clyde and Lucy exude quickly diminishes to show the tarnished dysfunction they actually inhabit together. The denial and lack of love is painful to watch, while Jack's hopefulness and devotion are truly touching. The lesson this film taught me made it worth watching (the last line is so beautiful).

Some pretty scary and violent (more verbal than physical) moments...

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Gone Fishin' [HD]

Nonstop Laughter! One Amusing Disaster after Another!
The film starts out in New Jersey when Joe and Gus are around ages 10 - 12 years fishing on the shore. They are talking about life, their plans for the future. Joe is smoking a cigar. Gus warns him it is not healthy. Joe flicks the cigar back, it lands in a long pipe, which starts a fire that leads to some factory. In the background, the lights of a nearby city go out one after the other. In the next scene, Joe's photo makes front page news, he is credited with having caused a "blackout" in at least 1/3 of the city.

Next scene, Joe and Gus are adults, still best friends ... they live next door to each other, in almost identical houses. They have a family and are planning a "fishing trip of a lifetime" in the Florida Everglades. They drive down to Florida with their fishing boat behind them. They make a stop at a Florida cracker style restaurant and discuss their plans. A sophisticated British man, who it turns out is a con artist, overhears them. He plays them for suckers,...

A sleeper of a slapstick family entertainment comedy.
This video received little notice in major reviews but provides great family entertainment. A sleeper of a movie, it deserves better acclaim, and features great acting and comedy situations that keep going throughout the feature. Although some parts can be dull (Willie Nelson has a bit part that could be spiced up a degree), the overall film was very enjoyable and should appeal to the broader audience. Rated PG. Will be great when released on DVD.

Hillariously funny
Gone fishing is a delightful movie that the whole family can enjoy.Joe Pescie and Danny Glover are deliver a good clean [no foul language] film that reminds me of the fun times when I went fishing...

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Heartworn Highways

Excellent!
I am a songwriter based in Nashville and I'm so glad to see that this movie has made it to DVD. These guys, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, etc., are the ones who made me want to become a writer in the first place and it's so great to see them so young and hopeful, like they might be able to do something new and inpired, heartfelt and intelligent. The most moving scenes, for me, are the ones with Townes Van Zandt. He had such a sparkle in eyes back then in '75.

The songs are wonderful and the performances are rough and real, like country music was for a time. Check it out!

Whew!!!!!! What a treat
This is a film that won't get much press, and many will miss. Make no mistake, this is a raw, underground masterpiece. Sound Quality is excellent, and this footage is RARE. I recently read the Steve Earle bio "Hardcore Troubadour" (not a bad read-4 stars) and several times it talks about the jam sessions at Guy Clarks's house. I could only visualize the magic from those mid 70's get togethers. This dvd captures those actual moments. Steve Earle must be under 20 (and hard to recognize). Many other artists also. Guy Clark does a great "Desparadoes Waiting For The Train". One full hour of unreleased music as an extra, is a real treat. This is a sleeper, not to be missed.

A musical vision fulfilled - Townes Van Zandt and friends
I was stunned by this movie. I learned of it and purchased it in 2003. For various reasons it remains for me the best, most emotional movie I have seen about musicians and their music. The producer chose well: He found the songwriters that shaped country and rock for the next 30 years: Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Steve Young, John Hiatt, Charlie Daniels and a tribute to the late Skinny Dennis, immortalized in Guy Clark's "LA Freeway." I wish David Allen Coe had been left out, but no film is perfect.

The songwriters are shown at their best and worst: a drunken, funny TVZ falls into a rabbit hole and Silent Night is rendered by fine musicians too drunk to remember the lyrics.

This movie was made when I was a poor student and musician with a small circle of talented friends in Tampa at the University of South Florida. The difference is that most of my friends and I got straight jobs [we still tried to make a difference] but these...

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From Place to Place

Buy it from Porch Productions
Needed 4 copies of this DVD, and Amazon only had 1 new and 1 used for $19.95 each...I paid only $9.95 each for new copies through Porch Productions.





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The Black Room [HD]

Forgotten Karloff Classics
This four-movie set contains one almost forgotten Karloff classic, two quite watchable B-thrillers and a comedic misfire noted only for the performances of Karloff and Peter Lorre.

THE BLACK ROOM (1935) - One of Boris's best. He plays twin aristocrats who grow up under a prophecy that says the younger will kill the older in order to fulfill a family curse. The curse apparently began in the "black room," hence the title. Karloff is at his best, playing the brutal older brother, Gregor, as well as his cosmopolitan younger twin, Anton. There are some nice twists and turns during the course of the film, and the pacing helps to hold our interest.

THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG (1939) - During his tenure at Columbia, Boris starred in a number of B-programmers playing a mad scientist. Here he plays Dr. Savaard, a med scientist obsessed with bringing the dead back to life, specifically by using a mechanical heart he has invented. Needing a suitable subject, he experiments...

Ask And Ye Shall Receive.
No sooner had I finished writing a review of THE BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION saying that someone should release THE BLACK ROOM on DVD when lo and behold here it is. The fact that it's being issued by Sony means that it will use the best prints available which is great considering how often Boris is badly served by substandard prints of his non-Universal films. Sony has already issued a couple of the Columbia Karloff "Mad Doctor" films on DVD (THE DEVIL COMMANDS, THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES) and while they were devoid of any real extras, the visual quality of the films was an improvement over the old VHS copies. This will complete the set and give us THE BLACK ROOM in the bargain which is the finest of the films he did for Columbia. Directed by Roy William Neill (known for the modern day Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce) THE BLACK ROOM gives Boris one of his best acting opportunities in a double role as twin brothers one good the other evil (a triple role when you...

An assortment of Karloff's Columbia output
Sony's new Icons of "Horror - Boris Karloff Collection" consists of four films Karloff made at Columbia between 1935 and 1942. Quality varies from film to film but with Karloff on board these films are all worth watching.

Perhaps the very best and most interesting film included is 1935's "The Black Room" a first-rate costume drama in which Karloff delivers a tour-de-force performance as twin brothers. This film is reminiscent of the fine historical spectacles one might expect from a studio like MGM. It also offered Karloff an opportunity to play a more mainstream dramatic role (or roles to be precise) before he got completely pigeonholed into the roles of monsters and mad scientists by the mid-40s. "The Black Room" is considered one of his all-time best films and should be a pleasure to all Karloff fans.

As for the other three films, well, they're not his best but they do offer some fun and entertainment. My favorite of these three is 1939's "The Man They Could...

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The Return of the Vampire [HD]

"It ain't even safe to be dead, anymore!"
The definitive movie vampire, Bela Lugosi, stars in this entertaining Columbia production. Although mired in a downward career spiral of poverty row clunkers, Bela, ahem, rises to the occasion. Among the familiar vampire cliches, we find a unique character in Andreas (Matt Willis), the wolf man familiar that serves the vampire. This guy looks like Lon Chaney, Jr. in full makeup, but he does not go around howling at the full moon. Instead, he shows great restraint and is quite articulate as he speaks rather than growls. His fiendish appearance tells of the soul's evil and the vampire's spell. After a prologue, that shows the vampire's 1918 horror and dispatch, Andreas escapes the dark side with help from a kindly lady scientist (Frieda Inescort). He falls back into dreadful habits after a WWII bombing raid unearths Bela. The scenes in the London cemetery inflicted with bomb damage are surreal images of foggy darkness and the children of the night. The script suffers from some...

"Yes, alive, with the blood of his victims."
After appearing in a slew of poverty row features throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s there's slight sense of renewal in seeing Bela Lugosi donning the role of a vampire in the film Return of the Vampire (1944). Oh sure, his character here isn't the same as the one he most famously portrayed in Tod Browning's Dracula (1931), but it might as well be...directed by Lew Landers (The Raven, Condemned Women), based on an idea from Kurt Neumann (Kronos, The Fly), the film stars, as I've mentioned, Bela Lugosi (Dracula, White Zombie). Also appearing is Frieda Inescort (The Alligator People), Nina Foch (Cry of the Werewolf), Roland Varno (Women in Bondage), Matt Willis (The Mark of the Whistler), Gilbert Emery (The House of the Seven Gables), and Miles Mander (Tower of London, The House of the Seven Gables), probably best remembered as his role of Cardinal Richelieu from the classic film The Three Musketeers (1939).

As the film begins we learn the year is 1918, and we're in...

Dracula Ressurrected?
This is a brilliant, underrated picture, featuring Bela Lugosi playing a real vampire for only the second time in his career. Here, he is aided by a talking werewolf who, although looks a little tatty, has rather more character to him than Lon Chaney's more famous lycanthrope. If you let yourself believe in such concepts, you will probably find this film enjoyable and even a little shocking. Lugosi plays Armand Tesla (basically Dracula under another name), who returns to claim the heroine (played by Nina Foch) after 'marking' her when she was a child. However, the werewolf with a heart eventually turns on him and drags him out into the sunlight, where he melts in spectacular fashion. Original touches, such as the inclusion of the very real (at the time) Second World War, the afore-mentioned werewolf and Miles Mander's final words to the camera, are mixed with traditional fog-bound graveyards, howling wolves and long-caped vampires, and are married together with startling...

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The Black Knight [HD]

the black knight
i have been looking for this movie for quite some time. i was so happy to see it on amazon.com. i just love alan ladd.

thanks
charotte
augusta, ga.

Good old chivalrous movie
I had tried to view this movie on Netflix. Netfix didnt carry it. The movie was of the knight of old era in the 50's..comparable to The Black shield of Falworth.

Old Fashion Hokey 50's Era Movie Making
Giant plot holes and overly bright colors coupled with bad scripting and worse acting........ I loved these movies as a kid, it sucks to get older.

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Jacqueline Kennedy: In Her Own Words

Behind The Walls of Camelot: Intimate Conversations With Jackie Kennedy from 1964
From a historical perspective, our interest in the Kennedy administration has never waned and probably never will. So one of the major news stories from 2011 was when taped conversations with Jacqueline Kennedy surfaced and were made available for the public to finally hear. Made just months after the President's death in 1964, Jackie sat for a series of interviews with Arthur Schlesinger Jr and made several hours worth of taped conversations. These are the basis for this enlightening and intimate ABC Special hosted by Diane Sawyer. Caroline Kennedy had held this material, and reputedly it wasn't to be released until after her mother's passing. Caroline has discussed the fact that she contemplated editing the tapes before letting them go but, in the end, allowed Jackie to speak for Jackie. We're the better for it. Despite their prominence and popularity, the Kennedys have also been somewhat enigmatic to me--especially Jackie. This special gave me a greater perspective into the...

Amazing
Jacqueline was a very intersting lady. It was fascinating to hear her talk and hear the culture as far as where woman were supposed be in society.

Very interesting
I enjoyed this and it encouraged me to go on to purchase the actual book that Caroline Kennedy published based on the actual tapes that her mother recorded. Hearing what Jacqueline Kennedy thought about the things going on during that period of time was just amazing to me since it was history in the making that I was living through too. It was a period of time that contributed to my life to a large way.

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The Words (Director's Cut)

A film about writers for writers
Lay aside the critical reviews that have filleted this movie, and perhaps even your friends and family that didn't get it.

If you are a writer, you will get it.

The meat of this movie is as much about the struggles living up to expectations as it is about plagiarism. The pressures to have a "real job" and the approval you seek from those around you and what price you are willing to pay to hang on to that approval. When you feel it is your calling to be a writer, you constantly are filled with self doubt. Will I ever be good enough? Will my writing ever be good enough?

Because these are the driving forces of the film, of course it isn't some after-school special aimed at bringing an end to plagiarism. It is structured around the choices we make in building our lives. What are we willing to sacrifice for success?

While the nested stories could have gone very wrong, the film is well-executed and not hard to follow. And while Dennis Quaid...

Literary lovers delight, my wife and I enjoyed it on the screen
Already my wife wants another viewing. I'm prone to agree. We're 2 book addicts, drama film lovers, and this film's depth is not often seen in big screen theater. It's about sacrificing integrity for fame and money. It details how an unscrupulous decision can implode and create collateral emotional damage to cherished people. The Words is presented in storyline layers, woven together like literature, not easily tracked by those simply looking at action, FX, and adventure. THE WORDS is intellectual with a capital WOW.

Hammond (Dennis Quaid) writes a story about an ambitious, but not stellar, young writer Rory (Bradley Cooper) who has ripped-off an unpublished manuscript written by an old man (Jeremy Irons) over 60 years earlier. If you don't understand `plagiarism', stop here and don't bother viewing. It's the entire plot in one word. The story progresses in the same fashion as a bestseller novel, layers woven together, scenes jumping from 2012 to 1940 Paris, and back, from...

'The Words' will speak to you
In The Words, Bradley Cooper stars as Rory Jansen, a struggling writer that stumbles upon a briefcase which contains a story that holds the key to launching his career. Shortly after publishing the story, success launches his career. However, an old man (Jeremy Irons) confronts Jansen about publishing this 'thought to be' lost story and from there a plot line within a plot line within a plot line unfolds - all of which revolves around the overlying theme: fame/success vs. choice/consequence. Yes, there's also some romance. Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, and Dennis Quaid co-star.

It's easy to say the plot becomes predictable about half way through the film (and it does), but films don't always have to be about the sudden 'twist' ending that nobody saw coming. Sometimes it's nice to watch a film and think about the meaning behind the story - in this case it's about the choices we make that affect our lives and the lives of the people around us. It's especially interesting...

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Scandalous John [HD]

Very unique film for Disney
STORY: John McCanless is a 79 year old cowboy rancher living physically in modern times, while his mind is still in the wild west. A descendant of the Old West's greatest rancher, he protects his Crazy M Ranch in New Mexico from "them varmits, Apaches, and bandits" that no one can see but him. Turns out the real bandits are the bankers snatching up the area land for development. He hires a handyman from Mexico named Paco, after first trying to fill him full of lead. Paco is convinced to stay by the rancher's grandaughter and he quickly gets over his initial fear. Eventually he sees the West through the eyes of the old rancher, gains new respect for him and joins him in his vision. They hit the trail to bring the herd (1 scrawny bull) to market for the "big payoff", encountering lawmen and crooks along the way.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Released in 1971, this film was in production while Walt was alive, but was not released until after his death. A very unconventional movie,...

one of the very best
This remarkable and unique film is many things: it is an analogue of Don Quixote, with John McCanlis (or Don Juan) as Quixote and Paco as his sidekick. He saves a damsel (not) in distress, and battles imaginary enemies. He was a bookworm in his youth, but now regards books as useless.

The Quixote image is poignant, as the theme of this movie is the environment and its destruction in the name of "progress." And Don Juan is trying to save it. As he says, the land is to be destroyed to make "a fishpond for dudes." Don Juan meets some Apaches and speaks to them in their own language. Problem is--they don't understand their own language! And Don Juan battles the people who are doing this, whom he calls "Blackjack" and who are personified by Whittacker.

This movie is a deliberate monument to all the people, like McCanlis, who built the West, and to the principles of self-reliance, help of neighbors and all-around honor that this man represents.

The...

Very unique film for Disney
STORY: John McCanless is a 79 year old cowboy rancher living physically in modern times, while his mind is still in the wild west. A descendant of the Old West's greatest rancher, he protects his Crazy M Ranch in New Mexico from "them varmits, Apaches, and bandits" that no one can see but him. Turns out the real bandits are the bankers snatching up the area land for development. He hires a handyman from Mexico named Paco, after first trying to fill him full of lead. Paco is convinced to stay by the rancher's grandaughter and he quickly gets over his initial fear. Eventually he sees the West through the eyes of the old rancher, gains new respect for him and joins him in his vision. They hit the trail to bring the herd (1 scrawny bull) to market for the "big payoff", encountering lawmen and crooks along the way.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Released in 1971, this film was in production while Walt was alive, but was not released until after his death. A very unconventional movie,...

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The Man From Colorado [HD]

Great Psychological Western With Ford and Holden
The late forties saw an interesting subgenre of the Western appear-the psychological Western, which emphasized characters' thoughts and emotions as much, if not more, than action.

The Man From Colorado is one such psychological Western, and is a very good film made even better by its two stars, Glenn Ford and William Holden. Ford and Holden play men who soldier together during the Civil War, and come back to a home town struggling with lawlessness. Holden becomes a marshal, but Ford becomes the town judge. Unfortunately, Ford is suffering from what would now be called post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition gaining attention during the time that this film was made due to the prevalence of World War II soldiers who were diagnosed with this condition. Ford, who had been losing his grip on reality toward the end of the war, now loses it fully under the weight of his responsibilities, putting him on a collision course with his former friend Holden.

The Man From...

Unconventional Western
Henry Levin's post-Civil War western, shot in Techincolor, features real-life best friends Glenn Ford and William Holden (both RIP) as former Union officers who find themselves on opposite sides after Owen Devereaux (Ford) becomes town judge, and who begins to abuse his power to punish anyone who opposes him. Del Stewart (Holden) is made town marshal but he sees that his friend is slipping more and more into insanity (which today would be referred to as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), brought on by his experiences during the war. Enemy lines are drawn more strongly as Devereaux marries Carolyn (Ellen Drew), with whom Stewart is also in love. As Owen's mind deteriorates and his madness intensifies, the town is thrown into a uproar and his sadistic, murderous tendencies only grow. Of course, there has to be a showdown that only one man can win.

Ford's son has referred to this film as "an oddball production", perhaps because it was a rarity of the time, a psychological...

Good, but...
Being particularly partial to both Holden and Ford since the early 1940's I might have been influenced by that background in giving this 4 stars. There was nothing wrong with the acting, but I really had a problem with Ford's make-up! He began with a slightly grayish color which became increasingly grayer and darker before the film ended. I assume that it was to exaggerate the whites of his eyes when he opened them widely to portray the extent of his mental illness by the film's end. They should have left that to his usual sensitive acting. Also, I think that the main theme (what happens to some men who fight wars) was short-changed in order to bring in too many other story lines. I would have thought that, being so soon after World War II (1949), the director would have been more sensitive to that aspect of the story. Otherwise, a good, unusual western worth seeing for anyone attuned to that genre and either or both of those excellent actors.

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White Fang 2: Myth Of The White Wolf [HD]

Fun
This is a very good adventure movie with a nice touch of romance and of course the dog. I watch this movie more than most. It's fun. Dave

White Fang movies
I always liked this movie when I was younger. I especially like the wolf that is in the movie. I wished I owned one.

A bland, fangless sequel
Ethan Hawke returns for a mute cameo before passing on the lead role to an unknown actor in this pointless film. Henry Casey is looking after Jack's claim and White Fang after Jack finally moves to San Francisco. He meets a native girl who convinces him to search for Caribou. And...that's it when it comes to plot.

It's very, very slow and doesn't really build up to much. There are still some lovely views and scenery but the scope is lost, and even White Fang himself has a diminished presence and function.

Overall White Fang 2 feels and looks a lot like a Disney Channel TV and not like a theatrical movie. Nothing to do with Jack London either, so I can't really recommend it to any particular fanbase the first might have had.

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The Devil Commands (1941) [HD]

Boris At His Strangest
Boris Karloff made a series of pictures for Columbia during the late 30s and early 40s, usually playing mad scientists. This is his maddest scientist of the lot. Based (very) loosely on "The Edge of Running Water," a popular story by William Sloane, the film concerns the attempts of Boris to communicate with his late, very beloved wife. To do so, he enlists the help of a medium and several stolen corpses, who are seated around a table in robotic diving helmets and subjected to huge amounts of electricity. The townspeople are growing suspicious of Boris and so he is visited by the sheriff. (Kenneth MacDonald, who later went on to star as a foil for the Three Stooges in several shorts.) The sheriff, in turn, calls Boris's long lost daughter (Amanda Duff) to come and fetch her father. But Boris decides she is perfect suited for the experiment, and so uses her to get in touch with the wife. Watch for the great scene when the maid, coaxed by the sheriff to do a little snooping, gets locked...

Karloff rarity worth the bucks.
Ok so it's a lot of money to pay for a film made in 1941 with no extra's but if your a Karloff or Vintage Horror lover it's worth the money.
I thought the picture quality was good..not stunning, but as clear as watching a movie on tv.
As for the film - it's one of the most interesting Karloff made during the 30's and 40's.
But if Columbia want a big seller on their hands they'll release 'The Black Room' & 'The Man They Could Not Hang' on a double bill disc.

When the Devil Commands, Karloff Listens!
Perennial favorite Boris Karloff stars as a scientist who has created a helmet then when placed on the head of a subject can transfer their brainwaves onto a graph. Kind of like a lie detector graph. He discovers that women have stronger waves of brain energy then men. He demonstrates this to a room full of fellow scientists and friends, by using his wife an an example. Her brain waves are indeed stronger and much to the amazement of his skeptical friends the graph on the wall jumps up and down! Later after his wife dies in a car accident, Boris returns to his lab and angrily throws switches and discovers that his wife's energy has returned to the lab! He now joins up with a spiritualist and a bruteing Igor type to further his experiments and try and contact his beloved wife from beyond the grave. Holds up quite well today. The seance table surrounded by corpses, the swirling spirits appearing as a funnel of energy and King Karloff in all his maniacal glory. My only complaint is the...

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Messengers 2: The Scarecrow [HD]

Somebody Tell Me What Was the Message for "Messengers 2?"
Before you waste your time watching this movie, try watching the original "Messengers I" film. The original movie had a pretty good plot with a decent ending. More importantly, "Messengers I" was set up whereby the original family who first owned the house that was bought by the film's main characters had been murdered (don't worry, this shouldn't be a spoiler in terms of ruining the first film if you have never seen it). "Messengers II" is supposed to be a prequel that reveals the history of what happened to the original family who died in the house years before the current family of "Messengers I" ever moved in.

"Messengers II" is mainly about a farmer named John Rollins, who was played by Norman Reedus. Reedus' overall performance as John was pretty good and I found his character to be quite relatable. The film, however, first appears to focus on his soon approaching psychological meltdown after struggling to keep his wife and family together, creating a productive crop...

Not original, but nothing really bad at all...
Having watched the "The Messengers," it wasn't hard for me to enjoy this sequel. The first one itself was really just a blend of "The Grudge 1 and 2," "Amityville Horror," and "The Birds." The combination made for an entertaining movie, not to mention having the now top-status actress Kristen Stewart as the main character.

The sequel, "The Messengers 2: The Scarecrow," is a little different. It takes on the backstory that wasn't fully explained in the first of the why the man went nuts and murdered his family. It keeps the whole "Amityville Horror" feeling, but looses the whole Grudge feeling in favor of some "Jeepers Creepers 2" elements, save the Killer Scarecrow that will also remind people of The "I know what you did last summer" movies. All in all, it's another entertaining movie. No, it isn't original, but is very entertaining and interesting from start to finish.

Though, in the end, it is not 2/3 as good as the 1st. However, if you enjoyed the 1st, then...

You Call That a Corn Field?
I mean, really! That field should just go off forever in every direction but it really looks like some nasty two acre garden. Also, I realize that EVERY single movie now has to feature people who are younger than thirty since it's impossible to believe that anyone over the age of thirty could possibly contribute to society but I have a hard time believing that the wife is old enough to have given birth to that teenager (popped her out at the age of 14? I guess...) and the sheriff is, oh, what do you think, maybe twenty? Are there still sharecroppers? If a nearby sharecropper decided to pull off her top and pour water all over her naked torso, do you think you would even be anywhere to actually see it, if your farm was at least one or two quarters large? What? There's nudity? Yeah, a little bit, but not even enough to merit a rental, so maybe you ought to just go hang out by the local corn field, and one day, she'll come along.

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Love Actually [HD]

"Love actually is all around..."
"Love Actually" is just the right mix of romantic comedy and drama to leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling as you leave the theatre. It's an ideal Christmas movie for moms and dads who want to see something else while the kids venture into more PG films.

Writer/director Richard Curtis enlists a plethora of some of the finest British actors (and a few noteworthy Americans) to tell several different love stories. While it seems that there may be a few too many characters at first, the overall flow of the film allows the viewer to keep track quite easily. The cast is led by the ever-so-charming Hugh Grant as the British Prime Minister. While some critics have called this casting unbelievable, Grant actually pulls it off by portraying a more human, but yet stronger PM that we would all love to have leading us. His dance to the Pointer Sisters' "Jump for My Love" borders a bit on ridiculous, but it is nevertheless fun to watch. In the film, the PM is caught between leading his...

The Perfect Stocking Stuffer
This is the perfect Christmas gift to get any member of the group of free-loading moochers you call your friends. It's the perfect excuse to have a movie night at THEIR house, and make them ante up some wine, cheese, grapes and lots of chocolate, then hunker down for an evening of cornball romantic comedy with a difference.

Chances are, with Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Alan Rickman on show, you won't even notice that the storyline is hardly Pulitzer Prize material, but you do stand the chance of busting a seam when Hugh does his Footloose/Saturday Night Fever/Risky Business impression at Lot 10 Downing Street, and Bill Nighy makes like Robert Palmer for a video shoot of the worst ever chart topping Christmas song. There's also the incomparable Rowan Atkinson, making like Mr.Bean at appropriately inopportune moments.

In case you think it's all about the guys (it is - but one can't take sides) there's a brilliant performance by Emma Thompson, and...

(4+) Actually Quite Entertaining but Definitely Deserves "R"
My rating is based on my enjoyment of this film. It has both major strengths and serious weaknesses, and as other reviews indicate has fostered very strong reactions, both positive and negative. Its format is somewhat disconcerting if you are not prepared for the methodology of the director. It contains nudity, profanity, sexual situations, and several situations that are very suggestive and some moviegoers may consider to border on the obscene. However, the situations that some people may consider offensive actually serve a purpose in developing the overall theme of the film.

Love, in all its manifestations - wonder, joy, pain, happiness, passion, grief... is the theme of the film. A very talented ensemble cast is utilized to tell several somewhat interrelated stories concerning the emotional lives of the various characters. The cast includes Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, Kiera Knightley and Alan Rickman. There are also telling cameos by Billy...

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Barbary Pirate [HD]

barbary pirate
enjoy older movies, this one falls into the movie scenes I appreciate,during this time more characters are involved and the scenes give one a feeling of what that time was like. Thank you.





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Tell It To The Judge [HD]

Funny movie
Russell at her best, comedy with romance! Robert Cummings is excellent as the ex-husband trying to get Russell back in this zany comedy. Enjoy Hollywood in its finest decade.

Andy

Zany
If you like the old screwball comedies and Rosalind Russell's voice you will love this movie. She and her husband have just been divorced but he is trying desperately to win her back. The woman who was the cause of the divorce (a beautiful blonde) and Rosalind's interfering uncle keep popping in every time it seems they are back on solid ground. Funny (predictable) circumstances, fast moving, silliness. I love watching the old movies if you like reminiscing about the fifties, checking out the fashions and hearing the music. This one is enjoyable but with only two main characters, a little tiring by the end.

DVD could not be played - did not work
DVD could not be played - was not usable unfortunately. Do not recommend this one as I was not able to view it. The DVD I received appeared to be defective.

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Across the Sierras [HD]

"Across the Sierras (1941) ... Wild Bill Elliott ... D. Ross Lederman (Director) (2011)"
Columbia Pictures Corporation presents "ACROSS THE SIERRAS" (1941) (59 min/B&W) -- Starring Bill Elliott, Richard Fiske, Luana Walters, Dub Taylor, Dick Curtis, LeRoy Mason, Ruth Robinson, John Dilson, Milton Kibbee & Ralph Peters

Directed by D. Ross Lederman

Wild Bill Hickok (Bill Elliott) saves his friend Larry Armstrong (Richard Fiske) from hanging and then tries to get him to join him in becoming a rancher. But Larry joins up with outlaw Mitch Carew (Dick Curtis) and when Bill goes after him he accidentally shoots and kills Larry. Planning to marry Anne Woodworth (Luana Walters), Bill now hangs up his guns. But when Carew comes looking for him he straps on Larry's gun and heads out to meet him.

Plenty of action packed scenes with fisticuffs thrown for good measure.

Outstanding B-Western with more than a few unexpected twists in its second half, Across the Sierras (1941), was the fourth of 12 "Wild Bill Hickok" film series with it's star...

Bill Elliott as Bill Hickok a must
Here we have a much more than average b-western, it's a must for b-western lovers. Bill Elliott playing Bill Hickok is on solid ground as always but almost stealing the picture is villain Dick Curtis. He is mean and tough and his hateful conversations with Bill filmed in great camera angels are astonishing. The final showdown is nothing less than a beauty. Leroy Mason also gives a master performance as a partner to Curtis. We must and can live with a few slips. Beautiful Luana Walters is too cheerful in the scene following the experience of seeing her uncle shot dead and the title "Across the Sierras" has no connection with the plot however, which of course is quite ordinary with b-westerns. And important! As usual from Sony Pictures the picture and sound is in top, we cannot come closer to going to the movie theater.

I'm a Peaceable Movie Watcher
Streamed well. Good image quality. Ops! Thought this was one of my free Prime eligible movies. Cost me a couple of bucks but that was not too much. Will be more careful in the future. Your typical Bill Elliott western.

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Steep [HD]

Risk and Joy
Steep
dir. Mark Obenhaus, 2007

Risk and Joy

One of the subjects of Mark Obenhaus's fascinating documentary on extreme ski mountaineering speaks of the pure and simple joy he experiences when tackling a difficult run, and then tells us the joy wouldn't be so great without the risk inherent in the challenge. I think this is one of the younger skiers, perhaps Shane McConkey. [I saw this in theater a couple of months ago, so details may be a bit vague.] But on the other hand, one of the older and wiser heads, I believe one of those who opened up Chamonix, tells us that though the risk may look extreme, the challenge is in developing skill and technique so that the apparent risk is reduced to manageable and sane levels. Of course, what is manageable and sane to some may be crazy foolhardiness to the rest of us, but after all we take risks every day and familiarity dulls the realization that a careless traffic merge, or pushing the speed to make that sales...

Thrilling Ride For Anyone
At first, it appeared that this would be a movie that only appeals to skiers. In fact, this is a fascinating and thrilling ride. You will see places on earth you did not know existed. You will see these guys riding helicopters to the top of mountains where there is barely enough room to stand, and then, skiing downhill at blazing speed. As you might expect, as the movie passes from continent to continent, we see some of the guys we had followed in the beginning actually die. This is a thrilling movie and is not to be missed.

Great Movie with Lots of Interviews
What a great start to a night of watching ski films. Interviews from some of the greats that bring you closer to your love of the mountains, the snow, and the lifestyle.

All the exciting skiing is towards the end of the film, and it's not packed with excitement. It's more about connecting with the lifestyle we choose, and remembering just how close to the edge of life we can find ourselves.

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The Rundown [HD]

You Have Two Options: Option A- Go See The Rundown.
Option B- I MAKE YOU go see The Rundown.

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

As I said earlier, The Rock is awesome in his role, bringing a mix of...

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

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

The movie is wonderfully photographed, and the comic moments flow from the opening sequences, when Beck step into a crowded bar to retrieve a debt from a pro football player. The ensuing madness is so well choreographed and...

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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "Proposals for Welfare"

Who is Jimmy Carter?
After watching this most revealing 'Firing Line' you may have to rethink that question. The then-governor's (1973) views on social welfare, fiscal responsibility (particularly regarding the role of the federal government versus that of the states, but also touching on the personal inasmuch as he purports here to disdain the idea of public monies being handed out to the able-bodied as a byproduct of his belief in the 'Puritan work ethic'!), and racial politics are so measured, so reasonable (albeit within the Keynesian paradigm), it's difficult to believe you're listening to the same feckless Utopian who presided unapologetically over an administration (and compliant Congress) that ran the U.S. economy-- and its global prestige-- onto the rocks just a few short years later. You can draw only one of two conclusions: either he was being disingenuous in his responses to Mr. Buckley's pointed queries (perhaps engaging in what he deemed to be populist sophistry to make himself seem more...





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Hang Loose

Awesome movie
Awesome movie starring Kevjumba! It's a must watch for a kevjumba fan. I just wished that Kevjumba would make other movies. Go Kevjumba and Papajumba!

Dante Basco rock in this
This is a very fun movie. Kevjumba and Dante Basco really do a great job in this. Very entertaining movie. Honestly, some of Bascos Best work. I have watched him since Hook and I feel this is some of his best comedic work. I think even Bascos little brother is in this from City Guys. Can't wait to see him in Murder 101, something very different from this I hear. Highly recommend this no brainer for some good laughs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rwih7cKZ6I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rwih7cKZ6I

this is the link for the movie for free.

yea so just click on the link for the movie.

btw, im a kevjumba fan too.

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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "On Impeachability"

Good memories
Been a long time since I have seen Mr. Buckley in action. Hasn't lost anything over the years. Never quits teaching.

even buckley is shaking his head
it is intriguing to me to witness the departure of rationality from the american political right.

perhaps i did myself a disservice by watching the chomsky-buckley debate (obviously i did), but i could not help but feel like buckley wanted to pull out his remaining hair during the course of this interview.

to be fair, coulter has a few valid points. the word to be stressed there is "few". those points, despite being butchered by rhetorical extremism, were undoubtedly what got her book published in the first place.

now, as i refuse to re-watch that embarrassment to human intellect, i must focus my criticism on the prevailing theme of the moral and valorous office held by the [figure] head of state. as coulter states so simply time and time again, the office of president of the united states is only befitting a person [though to be fair, at the time our constitution was written women did not have the right to vote, let alone hold political office] of...

Ann Coulter & Bill Buckley Jr. Talk Impeachability
The founding fathers within the Constitution provided a mechanism to remove people from their office of public trust. That mechanism consisted of Impeachment by the House which can be thought of as an indictment, and a subsequent trial before the Senate. This theoretically at least gave some clarity and accountability to the people.

After a president is impeached, the charges are taken by the House leadership and delivered to the Senate. There are special rules to cover a presidential trial in the Senate. The presiding judge is none other than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. There appears to be no rule in a presidential trial that explicitly specifies that the president must testify or even attend the sessions.

During the Nixon impeachment hearings an interesting notion surfaced. Could the president pardon himself for all the crimes and misdemeanors and thereby free himself from any prosecution on at least the Federal level?

During the...

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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.

Buckley's "Firing Line" exhibits the art of wit + brillance.
William F. Buckley's "Firing line" was unique in two ways: Buckley's weekly shows show-cased the Yale-educated, upper-class, polished mind with his brilliance and wit.

Yale-educated, Buckley came from privilege and had served in the British SIS (secret service)-which formed the US's OSS during WWII.
Buckley founded the publication "National Review". and authored books such as: "God and Man at Yale".

You'll find well-matched debate partners who could hold their own.

I watched this show as a early teen and it challenged me with the heroic intellectualism which Buckley exhibited.that I became a scholar also. So my own education was a direct result of my admiration of

This was a man who enjoyed other intellectual viewpoints also.

Well-done Amazon! Carolanne Mekeel-Matteson

Audio No Problem
Very glad to see these shows available. Almost never missed an episode back in the day. Audio was just fine for me.

Video has no audio : (
I retract my last review. The audio works and Ron Paul still has it.

While I would certainly love to hear an energetic and (relatively) young Ron Paul go head to head with Bill Buckley, unfortunately the video has no audio.

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A Firing Line Debate: "Resolved: That U.S. Industry Does Not Need Protection"

Interesting debate. Dated, but useful in historical sense.
This Firing Line Debate was not what I hoped it would be. First, WFB Jr takes almost a backseat in the discussions. The apporach to the debates in the '90s is to have 4 versus 4 with equal time to debate and represent their cases. Very balanced, very democratic. Because there are 4 on 4, each person has less time to talk and thoroughly get into discussion about topics. As a result, people are speaking hurriedly and often punctuate their points by giving minispeeches either while answering and sometimes while questioning their opponents. Because the opposition has less time to address what's being said, they find themselves forced to interrupt. Instead of a strong civil discussion, you have something which is much more contemporary (and undesirable to many) which is a lot of loud crosstalking instead of listening and responding. This is a universal criticism of this debate format for all of the debates I've seen from this period.

The debate over this issue is more academic...





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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "How to Speak, How to Listen"

Adler is Exceptional
How to Speak How to Listen is a companion book to the classic work How to Read a Book. These two books have helped me immeasurably when it comes to interacting with thinking people.





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A Firing Line Debate: "Resolved: That We Should Move towards Privatization, Including Schools-II"

Can't miss
Always trenchant, always entertaining. William F. Buckley is an American institution whose absence from the public scene is keenly felt in the dismal quality of today's political commentary and discourse. It's a joy to remember how it once was and to hope it can one day be again.





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America On Wheels: Model T

A great look back in time!
The model t changed America and this show has some of the best examples of the automobile made it happen. One of the largest gathering of surviving model t's in recent history. A must see for all the T people out there.





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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "The Crisis of Intelligence"

Intelligent discussion
Vernon Walters provides a smart advocacy of intelligence operations. The issues of 30-40 years ago seem no different than today.





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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "Is England Still Influencing America?"

Interview concerning Hitchens New Book at the Time
It was a treat to see an interview with a youthful Christopher Hitchens. I have not read this book by him and the interview made me want to buy it. Looks like Amazon will be able soon to chalk up another sale. The interview included John O. Sullivan and the exchanges were a delight!





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Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr. "How Does One Find Faith?" [Full Version]

Abridged Version of Interview
If you are interested in Buckley and Muggeridge and the question of faith, then this Firing Line interview will be immensely enlightening and enjoyable for you. And you should try to find the transcript which I have found in some of Muggeridge's books. Unfortunately, this DVD is an abridged version of the original one hour interview (which was presented after Firing Line was changed to a thirty minute format), and lasts for less than 30 minutes. It in simply incomprehensible that the original 1 hour interview should be cut into pieces like this, and it is for this reason that I give it the one star. The portion of the interview presented is great, but I certainly hope that future Firing Line DVDs have complete, not abridged programs.

A must see/must read
In 1980, as a young medical student, I happened to catch this interview, and was spellbound by these heavyweights discussing one of life's most vital subjects. In something I had never before done, nor since, I paid for a transcript, which has been one of most prized possessions. It is now ragged around the edges, but I still re-read parts, and have oft quoted it. I am going to order the DVD now, but just wanted a few of you know how powerful are the thoughts of Muggeridge, and encourage you to do the same. One day, when they get a bit older, I would like to share both the transcipt and interview with my 5 children.

Tom W. Goggin, MD
Athens, GA

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS ON DVD!!!
I watch this and can only think here's proof that the present is not always (or even often) better than the past. Compare this to any current talk show and you'll see what I mean. Truly, the fact that these are (finally) being made available on DVD is a godsend.

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The Stone Killer [HD]

Where's the DVD??
Great Bronson film loaded with action and great Bronson lines. I truly think he should have gone with this character as his franchise instead of his career ending Death Wish stuff. Bronson gives a great performance and the soundtrack is in the same classic 70's style as Enter the Dragon and Dirty Harry. Also available at Amazon.com, check out the re-mastered soundtrack for The Stone Killer. A must have for fans of the 70's!!! Be advised that this VHS pictured here is recorded in the dreaded EP mode. Time to put this one on DVD.....

ITS BRONSON!
Bronson and director Michael Winner warmed up before DEATH WISH in 1973 with this watchable thriller that has its' "gaudy moments" as quoted by Bronson. There are some great lines and where else can you see (Papa Walton) Ralph Waite playing a racist detective in a series of outdated suits? You also get a very young John Ritter in LAPD blue serge and Martin Balsam haming it up (fake Italian accent and all) as the central casting New York Mafioso. THE STONE KILLER isn't great, it isn't awful. It's Bronson!

Bronson's best
This film takes it's place right in the tough cop films of the seventies. I place it right in with the likes of The French Connection; Dirty Harry; Magnum Force and Death Wish. Another plus is the movies great sondtrack.

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6 DEGREES OF HELL

POSSESSION IS 9/10TH OF THE LAW
SIX DEGREES OF HELL is a rather perverse twist on the six degrees of separation theory. Writer/director/co-star Joe Raffa weaves a tale of ghostly possession and psychobabble focusing on young June and the psychic forces she is destined to release upon the world.
A clever premise falters at times, with incoherent plotholes and reckless sound editing. The performances are on a community theatre level. Some of the make-up effects are good but due to its obviously limited budget, there are some laughable ones, too. Some of the blood looks like tomato juice.
The presence of Corey Feldman as a punkish paranormal investigator adds little more than a vehicle for narrative exposition. The final scene seems an indication of a potential sequel.
SIX DEGREES is entertaining in a sleazy way and rental would be wiser than purchasing. One viewing should be enough.

IT'S HERE
The film consists of a "Dead TV" group who operate a Haunted Hotel, one with an evil history. The script centers around June (Nicole Cinaglia) a young lady who is a "psychic beacon." The basic idea, which was not well developed, is that satan(?) of some evil desires to leave hell. This is done in a six step or six degree process which requires killing individuals close to June.

Part of the picture consists of a psychic who is called in to investigate what had happened. It gave zero contribution to the film other than set up for a sequel. The execution of the Horror Hotel itself I enjoyed. The special effects were decent. The dialouge needed improvement. The film seemed to have either been poorly written, directed, or died on the editing floor as it didn't come together the way a horror film should come together, i.e. it had good scenes, they just didn't tie them together properly to hold our interest.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, sex, corpse nudity.

Holy Horrible Horror flick
First let me say that I'm a big Horror movie fan, and this my friends was just plain embarrassing!! Corey Feldman was terrible, I think that all those years of partying have fogged his ability to even halfass act!! This was NO LOST BOYS!! This movie jumped around way too much, and the acting in general sucked! The only thing about this movie that was entertaining was that it was so corny it made you have to laugh at times. So, don't waste your time or money.

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