Movie Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Average customer review:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

This is a review of the DVD location itself, as I assuming most of you already know the myth and have possibly seen the TV demonstrate. This is a digitally remastered DVD with a stereo soundtrack and positive crisp visuals.It’s actually a two DVD plot. The TV series, which is on the first DVD, is as reach to a flawless reproduction as is currently possible. Look it with the lights off to be pleased all the visuals and matte painting special effects that were available in 1981 with a shoestring budget. Additionally, this is a “must pick” impartial for the second DVD alone. Outtakes and deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, The Making of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, BBC Omnibus Tribute to Douglas Adams, and worthy more.BBC Video has stepped up and hit a homerun with this DVD residence. Be determined to witness it with and recommend it to your friends. “Piece and devour!”

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is one of those books that you would believe there is no plan that it could be done apt as a movie. Well guess what? IT HAS BE DONE!!!! This is a must have for EVERY “Hitchhiker’s” fan. Even if you never heard of the book,radio series, etc, and are a fan of british humor in the vein of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, you will fancy this. The movie isn’t actually objective based on the book, Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, but is based on the 1st 3 books; The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy,The Resturant At The Waste Of The Universe, and Life The Universe And Everything. Positive the effects are crude budget as hell, but that is all share of it’s charm.This is a comedy based on anecdote not effects. I actually mediate that the effects add to the humor. This is a classic and will always be a permanent share of my movie collection.I unprejudiced have one put a question to, WHEN WILL THIS Near OUT ON DVD?!?!?

Movie Title: Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life
Average customer review:

Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life

It would be easy to dismiss “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” as being a cross being “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and a James Bond movie except for two things. The first is that there is nothing inherently wrong with combining those two elements, even if the genesis of your character is a series of video games. The second is that despite the overwhelming plot similarities between this second Lara Croft film and the first and third Indiana Jones movies, there are actually things going to with the titular character. We are not talking profound psychological development here, but for an action film there is actually something else going on as well.

The main thing, of course, is the action, which is why the James Bond comparisons are so obvious. An earthquake shakes the Greek island of Santorini and the next thing we know Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) is on the trail of Pandora’s Box. Apparently it was what brought life to Earth and inside it there is one more thing. Not hope, as most versions of the Greek myth tell us, but a plague that will wipe out all life on earth. Lara is interested in the box because her reason d’etre is that: “Everything lost is meant to be found.” But evil scientist Dr. Jonathan Reiss (Ciaran Hinds), a Nobel prize winner who is apparently searching for the perfect poison, wants what is in the box. Along for the ride is Terry Sheridan (Gerard Butler), a charming rogue from Lara’s past who might be the yin to her yang.

Alexander the Great is involved in all of this as well, but that is just exposition. As was the case with the first Tomb Raider film, Lara Croft goes globe trotting, visiting as many continents as possible before the final credits. More importantly, each and every opportunity for putting in some stunts (not to be confused with CG effects) is taken advantage of, including Lara out for a horseback ride. Director Jan de Bont (”Speed”) and first time screenwriter Dean Georgaris have put together a superior sequel, and Jolie is much more comfortable in the role. Lara Croft’s biggest similarity to James Bond is not all the stunts but the overwhelming sense of being cool. No matter where on the planet she finds herself, Lara always knows more than here enemies and has friends close at hand.

But beneath the glamorous adventures and close brushes with death, Lara Craft has a series of reality checks to go through in “The Cradle of Life.” Part of it is professional, since there is growing reason to believe that finding Pandora’s box is not a good idea. But the other part is personal, since Sheridan keeps insisting there is something between them worth pursuing. The common denominator is that both of these issues speak to Croft’s feminine side. Clearly she is all woman, but much more, and being put in the position of being either a modern Pandora or an ordinary woman does not make Lady Croft happy. The endings of these two plot lines might be predictable, but at least they give the character and the movie some depth.

Speaking of being unhappy: This film was banned in China because “it damaged China’s reputation, giving the impression of a country in chaos, with no government and over-run by secret societies.” A movie has to deserve at least four stars for doing something like that.

If you liked the first film in the Tomb Raider series, “Cradle of Life” will deliver just as much fun. The sequel begins with artistocratic archeological adventuress Lady Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) diving off the coast of Greece, where a volcanic eruption has uncovered the fabled Lunar Temple. Within the underwater temple, Lara discovers a mysterious orb. As with many of her tomb raids, however, things soon go awry, and the orb falls into enemy hands.

Representatives of the British intelligence agency MI-5 recruit Lara to retrieve the orb, which Alexander the Great created as a map to Pandora’s Box. MI-5 fears that a scientist known for creating biological agents will use a plague contained in Pandora’s Box to create weapons of terror. Lara scoffs at MI-5’s offer to send agents to assist her, and insists on an assistant of her own choosing–a possibly untrustworthy mercenary (Gerard Butler) who is her former lover. And thus the quest for the orb begins anew.

Once again, Jolie brings to Lara Croft a terrific mixture of Indiana Jones’ daring and cleverness, James Bond’s class and grace under fire and an acrobatic combat style, wittiness and sex appeal all her own. She makes a very appealing heroine that both men and women can enjoy. At one point, as she is checking from rural China in via cell phone, her assistant asks her what she’s doing, and she coyly comments “Accessorizing” as she straps on automatic weapons and knives.

Lara is a woman used to doing things her way, as evidenced by how unimpressed she acts when the MI-5 agents tell her that the Queen requires her assistance in retrieving the orb. She aims her dry wit equally at her mercenary ex-lover and the thieves attempting to keep control of the orb.

The rapport between Gerard and Jolie is somewhat reminiscent of the repartee once seen on the silver screen between Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Although their barbs aren’t quite as rapid fire as “His Girl Friday” dialogue, the tension and lingering attraction between the two add spice to the movie. The question of whether Lara really can trust Terry (Gerard) to not double-cross her, and cut a better deal with the unsavory characters seeking the orb creates additional suspense.

One disappointment in “Cradle of Life” was that the puzzles that Lara must solve to find her way to Pandora’s Box aren’t as complex as the puzzles in the first “Tomb Raider.” Most of the puzzle work is done via computer with Lara sending images back to her assistant to crack back home. The imperative to find the orb and get to Pandora’s Box wasn’t quite the race against the clock involved in the first “Tomb Raider,” where pieces to the triangle that controlled time could only be retrieved during certain moments in a planetary alignment. Consequently, while the need to beat the bad guys to the next step was obviously important, the clock didn’t seem to be running quite as quickly.

Nevertheless, “Cradle of Life” does not disappoint with its breathtaking travelogue-style cinematography and its tricky stunts. A series of gymnastic maneuvers that Lara executes to climb atop the roof of the underwater temple and a motorcycle ride along the Great Wall of China were reminiscent of the settings in the first two Tomb Raider games. In other scenes, Lara flees from her captor among Chinese terra-cotta tomb warriors, and then rappels head first down a sheer cliff. The spiral passageways leading to the hiding place of Pandora’s Box created an eerie and exotic setting.

Overall, “Cradle of Life” is a lot of fun! The love story between Lara and Terry adds a complexity to the action. The exotic settings and the kick-butt stunts add up to a sequel that’s just as interesting to watch as the first. See this on the big screen. While I’m sure the DVD will be good, the sweeping views of China, Greece and Africa won’t translate as well to the small screen. See it now!

Movie Title: The Animation Show
Average customer review:

The Animation Show is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download The Animation Show

Very pleased with this set. In an age where you can quite easily pay $20 for a new, single-disc release of most movies, which come with no insert other than a one-sheet “Buy more DVDs from this company”…it’s refreshing to pay less than $20 for two well-made discs and a very nice, informative booklet. As a fan of Hertzfeldt, Plympton and Judge, I bought this on the strength of them, but am finding a lot more that I like on here as well. Can’t wait to catch the road show when it comes to the my area.

Buy,Download, Or Stream The Animation Show! Click Here

Word of warning, most people who come to this page will already know but, some of these cartoons are rather strange. Just be forewarned, if you try to put this on in mixed company, or for people who aren’t really into animation other than Family Guy and The Simpsons, I doubt they will run screaming – but they’re probably going to give you some strange looks. That’s one of the reasons I love them – but, it might not be a lot of people’s cup of tea.

And like JONG said, for 67 cents a short, you really can’t beat giving it a shot.

Somehow or another my local Target store was selling copies of this dvd about 10 days before it is supposed to be released. So….lucky me. For animation fans of whatever variety, this is a great little collection. “Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt have scoured the globe to bring you thirty amazing animated films”, and how! This collection includes a smorgasboard of animation, including traditional animation, rotoscoping, clay animation, stop-motion, 3d animation, experimental, and probably more than a few hybrids. If you are a fan of “Beavis and Butt-head” (or just a fan of Mike Judge in general), this collection contains several early animations and experimentations, somewhat revealing the evolution of the style behind “B & B”. Although, it may be said that you can probably view the majority (if not all) of these animations on-line, there is something invaluable about having them all in your hand contained within an attractively designed box set, which also contains an informative booklet profiling the artists behind the contained animations. All for under $20 (which comes out to about 67 cents per animation). Not too shabby.

Outdoor heaters are usually equipped with safety measures. This is because the outdoor heaters can cause dangerous accidents when it does not work properly. The safety measure usually comes in a develop of a safety switch located somewhere around the heater. For instance, the safety switch for outdoor gas heaters is located come the tank. The switch would usually be located at the first-rate location where it will not concern the user when time comes for it to be outmoded. Lookout for instruction inside the instruction booklet for more safety tips.

The weight of the heater is also principal to reflect. Outdoor heaters that are light weighted will be easy to recede about. There are also those who grasp to have the heater fixed to the wall so that it won’t pose as a threat to the people that are around the dwelling. Outdoor gas heaters are especially unsafe when it is knocked over and spills. Wherever you resolve to situation the heater, you should residence them where they are distinct to collect the excellent relieve.

When you catch an outdoor heater, you would interrogate it to adhere to your need of warming an space comfortably. This heating ability can be controlled by the power setting. This is the most famous criteria for outdoor heaters because there is absolutely no point in buying something that does not do the job properly. You can control this power and every manufacturer will have different power settings for their models. The power for outdoor gas heaters can be controlled by controlling the inflow of the gas.

Outdoor heaters that are heavily venerable are prone to atomize down and this may or may not be fixed by the buyer. This will require the buyer to do some troubleshooting. More often than not, heaters demolish down because of dirty surface. Therefore, it is notable that the heater is kept well-organized. For outdoor gas heater, if the liquid finishes then heater will not function. The user then will have to from time to time check the amount of liquid left in the tank. You should now the tips and tricks of outdoor heaters so that you won’t be puzzled and confuse should the heater breakdown.

Having outdoor heaters also means that you should do regular maintenance on the heater so that it will not shatter down. This is considered as well-known as troubleshooting. Regular maintenance on the heater will ensure a longer life span and avoid uncertain accidents. The outdoor gas heater needs to be checked regularly on the gas tank so that leaks can be detected before causing any hazard.

Buyers of outdoor heaters should choose notice of all these aspects in order to hold the heater working properly and safely. The lifespan of the heater will also be longer. The outdoor gas heaters require more attention because it can cause more distress if neglected.
Portable Furnace

Electric Portable Heaters

Portable Space Heaters

Movie Title: Clerks
Average customer review:

Clerks is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Clerks

I’m not going to tell the plot of Clerks, since tons of other reviewers have already done that, but instead I’m going to focus of the DVD, because I don’t feel enough people write about that.

First off here’s the special features:

Audio Commentary: This commentary features a nearly countless amount of people, but mostly Kevin Smith with the occasional tid bit from actor Brian O’ Halloran (also known as Brian Christopher O’ Halloran) or producer Scott Mosier. Funnily, Jason Mewes showed up drunk for the recording of this and lies on the floor past out most of the time, sometimes waking up to swear or scream “Snootchie Bootchies.” Obviously only one mike was used for this, but that never bothered me much, because the commentary is a load of fun, with tons of interesting things and laughs. I like this much better than the overrated Mallrats commentary.

Deleted Scenes With Introductions by Kevin Smith: There are about 6 deleted scenes, almost all of them extended bits, but all of them interesting. Ones I particularly liked were the longer Gum Guy’s speech, the longer conversation with Dane and Veronica, and the longer talking between Veronica and Randal. The only completely additional scene is in #3 where Randal tries to pursuade a customer to rent Smokey and the Bandit 3. Not very funny, but interesting. The introductions to the scenes by Kevin Smith are very good, short and to the point, where as in all the other DVDs he rambles on for about two minutes about why you should visit Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash or mumbles or wastes time going “Um,” you get my point. In these intros he simly states what you’ll find new in the scene and then you view, I think the longest intro is about thirty seconds. Excellent.

Original Ending: The shocking original ending is included for your enjoyment, and it is obvious why it was cut, although I personally love the scene and think it’d be a great ending to the film. Why? Because it ends on a downer, just like Dante and Randal talk about early in the film, and is more realistic (OK, maybe not, but I like it). Sit through the short set of credits for a breif cameo by director Smith. The ending features an introduction where Smith states how happy he is that the scene was cut. Interesting.

Music Video: The funny music video for Soul Asylum’s “Can’t Even Tell”, featuring a recreation of the hockey scene, in color no less! It’s an interesting look at what if would be like if the movie was in color, but it’s also a pretty good song, and the video is entertaining, measuring around four and a half minutes. Introduction by Smith is included, which is pretty interesting.

Theatrical Trailer: The film’s original trailer is included with introduction by Smith, where he states how crazy he is for it and that it’s one of his favorite trailers ever. It’s a nice trailer and all, but really, it is just a trailer, and I think he sees into it more than most people will (though I read a review that called the trailer “a piece of film itself”).

Anyway, those are the extras. It doesn’t look like much, but quality overwhelms quantity, and all these extras are very cool, and worth your time.

The sound and picture on the film is fine, at least when you think about it. Remember Clerks cost less than a car to make, and the picture is consistently grainy throughout, as well as black and white (oh boo hoo to all you people who can’t watch a black and white movie), but I could always tell what was going on, and after about two minutes, I got used to the grain (you will, too). The sound is a 2.0 surround sound that is always clear and never bothersome. There’s minor hiss, but barely irritating (or noticeable).

Anyway, I like CLerks a lot, although most people won’t watch it because of the black and white picture and a lot of people find it boring, but I just don’t understand how anyone could find a movie with such great acting and dialouge boring. Well, if you need an explosion or a bunch of action every ten minutes…..

Hope you liked my review (kind of long, sorry), and please vote if it was helpful. Thank you for reading.

One of my favorite films of all time… and they’ve given it the deluxe treatment with this 3-disc set. Here are the details from Kevin Smith’s View Askew website about this new edition:

Buy,Download, Or Stream Clerks! Click Here

The 93 minute “Clerks” Theatrical cut- All new HiDef transfer from 16mm IP supervised by Dave Klein with all-new 5.1 Skywalker Sound remix supervised by Scott Mosier, includes original commentary track from laser disc/initial DVD release

The 103 minute “Clerks” IFFM First Cut, includes all-new audio/video commentary track with Kevin, Scott, Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran and Jason Mewes.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Clerks! Click Here

The 95 minute “The Snowball Effect: The Story of Clerks” Brand Spanking New Documentary that inteviews almost everybody who ever had something to do with “Clerks”

The MTV Jay and Silent Bob shorts that everyone’s been crying for us to put on a DVD for years now

The Arclight 10th Anniversary Q&A with Brian, Jeff, Marilyn, Scott, Dave, Mewes, and Kevin

Lots of new video intros.

“The Flying Car” short from the Tonight Show (re-telecined in HiDef).

The Original theatrical trailer

“Can’t Even Tell” Music Video

The original Jeff, Brian, and Marilyn and Ernie O’Donnell audition tapes

The brand new, seven minute animated “Lost Scene” short

Expansive Still Photo Gallery

‘Clerks’ Trivia track

Original 168-page original first draft screenplay

Kevin’s ‘Clerks’ Journal

Kevin’s ‘Sundance’ Journal

Peter Broderick’s 1992 article “The ABC’s of No-Budget Filmmaking” that inspired the budget for ‘Clerks’

Peter Broderick’s followup article “Learning from Low-Budgets” a year later that does the same treatment on ‘Clerks’

Amy Taubin’s Village Voice article on the 1991 IFFM and ‘Slacker’ that inspired Kevin to take ‘Clerks’ to the IFFM

Amy Taubin’s Village Voice article on the 1993 IFFM about ‘Clerks’ being the gem of the festival.

Janet Maslin’s 1994 New York Times review of ‘Clerks’ entitled “At a Convenience Store, Coolness To Go”

The entire John Pierson ‘The Odd Couple: Sundance 1994″ Chapter from ‘Spike Mike Reloaded’ book

The original Kevin-penned IFFM program note

The original Bob Hawk-penned 1994 Sundance Film Festival program note.

“Mae Day” – Kevin and Scott’s Vancouver Film School documentary short.

Movie Title: Merrill’s Marauders
Average customer review:

Merrill’s Marauders is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Merrill’s Marauders

I have the movie in VHS, part of (I like to feel) a good collection of war films, in both VHS & DVD, from – “All Quiet on the Western Front ‘1930′” to “Saving Private Ryan ‘1998′, some ‘140′ war films. I can certainly use the 2 former as a benchmark for comparison & rating. If “Saving Private Ryan”, the finest war film I have ever seen, with the most graphically realistic & brutal battle scenes, ever shown on film, has, without a doubt become the benchmark by which all later war films would be judged, then “Merrill’s Marauders” is a ’60’s classic, with, in my opinion, some of the finest acting ever portrayed in a war film! Jeff Chandler, as an earlier review stated, gives one of his finest performances, (He truly is a gifted actor!)This movie portrays, as was intended the American involvement in the Burma Theater of Operations against the Japanese, a 3000 strong unit, put together of mostly seasoned troops, volunteers, for 1 mission against the enemy. From Jeff Chandlers gritty performance, such as when he tells his men – quote -”Everybody back into the swamp” instead of waiting for desperately needed food & ammo supplies, to avoid enemy troops searching for them, to a very poignant scene by actor Claude Akins. All the soldiers are completely exhausted from continuous battles with the enemy, and literally starving, from lack of food supplies that had run out, He’s approached by an old Burmese woman & young boy, in a village they have just occupied after a brutal battle, the pair attempt to feed him the
only food they have, a bowl of rice. Overwhelmed by it all, he not only breaks down in tears, but in a gesture reminiscent of the generation, and considering the horrific battle he’s just been through, removes his cap in a show of gentlemanly respect
to the old woman. To me the most touching & realistic scene I have ever seen him portray. As far as accuracy, I give the movie
“High Marks”, there is a scene in the reservoir night battle scene when the Japanese are attempting to infiltrate the American lines, a Japanese soldier who tries to bayonet Claude Akins is stopped by him and flipped over the stone wall and killed. If you look closely at the Japanese soldiers footwear, as he is flipped over the wall(you may have to do it in slo-mo)you’ll notice he is wearing the standard split-toe style shoe worn by Japanese troops during the war. The film makers, working for this type of accuracy, though it may well have not been noticed by the general public, only speaks for the realism that they worked to achieve. I agree with another review, in that the Japanese were, in many instances easy kills in the battle action, but I consider this a small slight against what I deem an excellent movie filled with gritty realism, good battle action, and an excellent look at the common American soldier in action and the constant fear, hunger & deprivation he faced, exemplified by the courage & tenacity with which he persevered and eventually triumphed over the enemy!
Sure it’s meant to rous the American public of the “60’s” with the unbeatable fighting spirit of the Ameircan G.I., and that’s exactly what it does, and does well! To all who read this, I am fairly new to the internet, and just learning my way around, but at age 48, I’ve seen most every war film shown, and I feel I am a fair judge. I give this film and the director & cast a solid “4 STARS ****!!!
…

This is a rugged and gritty WWII film set in the CBI Theater directed by Samuel Fuller. The action concerns Jeff Chandler, in his last screen portrayal, as Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill. Merrill leads a band of battle fatigued GIs (Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, Claude Akins, Will Hutchins and others) against the Japanese in the Burmese jungle. It is beautifully photographed in color and CinemaScope by William Clothier. Fuller co-wrote the script with Milton Sperling. This film has been highly underrated. It is a good depiction of the stress, determination and humanity experienced by the average GI in everyday face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. Jeff Chandler gives an accurate performance of the real Merrill. Jeff Chandler truly was a gifted actor and deserves more recognition for his talents as this film demonstrates. The VHS copy is in Full-Frame, but it retains the images in vivid color and is very enjoyable. It was released theatrically in 1962.

Movie Title: Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection
Average customer review:

Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection

Giving this set a bad rating because you already bought an earlier set is doing any potential buyers of this set a grave injustice.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection! Click Here

It is, simply, astonishing. Why? Start with digital transfers from the original camera negatives and magnetic tracks. Add commentaries for the majority of episodes. And multiple commentaries for several episodes. Add Rod Serling’s college lectures used for commentaries. Add interviews with cast and crew members. Add isolated msic scores. Add intros and outros. Add network promo spots. Add the TWILIGHT ZONE radio dramas and comic books…I could go on but why bother? If you are a TWILIGHT ZONE FAN, you won’t be disappointed.

I am a real fan of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone. I bought the 42 VHS collection of Twilight Zone via Columbia House Canada and paid nearly $1500.00 for the entire collection more than ten years ago. What a deal to obtain the DVD collection with all the extras for a fraction of what I paid for the VHS. The quality is excellent. One little note: there is no close caption for the season one but no problem for seasons 2,3,4,5. Thank you Amazon. I live in Québec canada and it took only five days to receive the collection by regular mail.

Movie Title: Some Like It Hot
Average customer review:

Some Like It Hot is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Some Like It Hot

To just the technical info above, this DVD (both the special edition and movie-only edition) DOES HAVE an English monophonic soundtrack that was originally extinct in the film. Also included is a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, but one wonders if a dialog-heavy film like this should really need a surround soundtrack. Dialogs in both the mono and the 5.1 tracks sound perfectly determined and understable. The surround sound only comes into spend during the occasional music and gunfight sequences. I do applaud the inclusion of the modern mono track, which quite a few unique DVDs of older movies do not provide in the hope of enticing novel DVD owners with 5.1 audio.The video transfer looks large — images are exciting, levels of dim notice realistic (you can clearly scrutinize and feel the velvety texture of a murky robe Monroe wears), signs of wear and stir are virtually non-existent. The portray aspect ratio is 1.66:1, which is not the 1:85:1 ratio former for the new US theatrical release and for all previous US letterboxed laserdisc releases. The 1.66:1 ratio adds a petite recount to the top, but doesn’t really affect the composition. The video is also non-anamorphic, so the resolution is not as high on a widescreen TV as it would be with an anamorphic DVD. There is also no English optional subtitles, but there are yellow optional French and Spanish ones.I would have gladly paid a higher sign if they had included better supplementary material on the Special Edition DVD, such as the audio commentary and home movies that were set on the Criterion laserdisc made in the early 90s. The extras on the Special Edition DVD include a attractive but superficial 30-minute recent interview with Tony Curtis reminiscing about the film, a rather listless 12-minute interview with the actresses who played the girl band members, a segment called “Virtual Hall of Memories” that is essentially a calm gallery, and trailers of 7 Wilder films including SOME LIKE IT HOT; all the trailers are in unpleasant video condition. The most spirited extra is a reproduction of a pressbook for the film, but the pictures are blurry and the smaller text is illegible. I am disappointed that we never score to hear from Jack Lemmon or Billy Wilder, both unruffled alive, on this DVD. These extras are not impressive, so one may think buying the movie-only edition for a cheaper brand.

Billy Wilder’s most well-liked comedy finally receives the deluxe treatment it deserves. MGM previously released this classic comedy in a nonanamorphic widescreen version a couple of years benefit. While that edition looked stunning decent this anamorphic transfer puts any previous editions (including my worthy favored laserdisc edition) to shame. Wilder’s comedy operates as a spoof of gangster films and a comedy about gender roles. Jerry (the slow Jack Lemmon) and Joe (Tony Curtis) are two musicians on the lam when they glance the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. With Spats Columobo (George Raft) and his men looking for the duo they go undercover as musicians outrageous dressing and joining an all female band headed for a gig in Florida. Becoming a woman allows Joe/Josephine to spent time with Sugar (Marilyn Monroe) the latest woman that catches Joe’s like. Jerry/Daphne on the other hand finds himself romanced by a rich man (Joe E. Brown) who won’t hold the hint as Jerry tries to blow off his advances.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Some Like It Hot! Click HereBuy,Download, Or Stream Some Like It Hot! Click Here
And you conception the 50’s were tame. One of Wilder’s richest 50’s comedies “Some Like It Hot” continues to be very amusing inverting our expectations constantly and playing with the roles that Jerry and Joe recall on with their current identities. Joe’s eyes initiate the most as before he was a beautiful ruthless womanizer. Becoming a woman puts him in the crosshairs of every male insight and he’s on the receiving raze of all the smirks, comments and passes that he would have outmoded with Sugar before his change. Wilder mixes social commentary so deftly with comedy (like Hitchcock’s work with suspense and social commentary) that at his best–and he’s at his best here–it reminds us how enthralling a movie can be without being heavy handed. It’s also filled with some agreeable in jokes (for example Colombo played by George Raft observes a thug flipping a coin and comments, “Where did you buy up that cheap trick? ” Raft of course did the loyal thing in one of his signature roles in “Scarface” from 1932) .

A mammoth movie looks even better in this engaging looking transfer. The dismal and white imagery of the film looks stunning. Originally Marilyn Monroe lobbied to have the film shot in color which Billy Wilder felt wouldn’t work for this comedy (he persuaded her to agree to shoot in shaded and white when he showed her develop up tests for Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in color where their obtain up as women made them peek slightly green) while the film certainly would have looked ample in color the sumptuous cinematography by Charles Lang (”The Graceful Seven”, “Wait Until Dim”) looks extremely edifying in this improbable looking transfer. Detail is quite salubrious and blacks are solid with a nice array of different textures evident in the transfer. Audio is presented in the novel mono and sounds radiant.
Buy,Download, Or Stream Some Like It Hot! Click Here

For those that are into such things the special features here are a spacious improvement over the previous edition. We procure a commentary track compiled from comments by the gradual Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and I.A.L. Diamond’s son (working with the comedy writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel–honestly I could have belief of better writers to pair with Diamond’s son) . While the insights aren’t exactly a revelation it is an appetizing commentary track.

We also find two terrific documentaries on the making of the film. The first features a mixture of unusual and older interviews from the cast and crew. The second documentary “The Legacy of `Some Like it Hot’” is packed with trivia about the making of the film, Wilder & Monroe’s relationship on the position and the difficult time Wilder had making the film with his leading lady including footage shot in the 80’s of Wilder and Diamond.

Finally we accumulate “Memories from the Sweet Sues” featurette with members of the women who played in the band, an interview with Tony Curtis entitled “Nostalgic Inspect Assist” where Curtis reveals that actor/voice artist Paul Frees did powerful of his dispute as Josephine because he had pains reaching the high sing. We also gather the imaginatively titled but unimpressive “Virtual Hall of Memories 3-D Tour” The fresh pressbook appears on the DVD as well and we acquire reproductions of various lobby cards. Finally we find previews and the new theatrical trailer.

Far more impressive than the lackluster previous DVD releases “Some Like It Hot” looks solid in this re-release although the film could notice a bit more vibrant. The featurettes are, for the most allotment, very proper and the compiled commentary track adds loads of trivia (some of which is duplicated in the featurettes) about the making of the film. I do wish that a film historian such as UCLA professor Howard Suber had been keen in some map to befriend provide context for the movie but that’s honest personal preference. A radiant release that could have been enormous with a wee bit more worry on the allotment of Sony/MGM.

Movie Title: Burn After Reading
Average customer review:

Burn After Reading is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Burn After Reading

After the true genius of No Country For Old Men, the Coen Brothers come back with a whole new dimension. Burn After Reading is a dark comedy about idiots faced with an intelligent and complex situation. Two Gym instructors Linda Litsky (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) find a disc containing the memoirs of ex CIA agent Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich). They, being idiots think it’s a disc containing top secret information and try to bribe Osbourne for money which would help pay for Linda’s cosmetic surgery. Things don’t go to plan as Osbourne has bigger things on his mind, his wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with the paranoid Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney).

Buy,Download, Or Stream Burn After Reading! Click Here

This film is actually quite intelligent in its own right, the characters seem well defined and are played superbly. The characters were specifically written for the actor playing them and it really shows.

John Malkovich portrays the agent lost of all hope well, you become quite intimidated by both his intelligence and temper.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Burn After Reading! Click Here

George Clooney as the paranoid individual who’s having more affairs than you can wave a stick at doesn’t falter. He’s jumpy, but hey who wouldn’t be if you were sleeping with three different women. This eratic behaviour becomes a bit tragic and leads to the death of one of the characters in the film.

Brad Pitt as the loveable and wannabe cunning idiot is fantastic, the facial expressions and general stereotypical dexterity of what we would expect a personal trainer to be really works. This becomes especially amusing when he enters into the bribing game with Malkovich and starts to enter into the character of cunning spy. It has to be seen to be believed.

Frances McDormands character is the real shining light of the whole film as she’s the catalyst leading up to the films biggest events. She’s a middle aged gym instructor paranoid over the look of her body. While trying to get plastic surgery, she’s turned down by her insurance company and is the one that convinces Pitts character to bribe Cox. She’s a woman on the edge of giving up on life and wants to take one last leap into the chance of a relationship, but is made even more nervous by her own body insecurities.

The Coens once again create a film that is both surreal and believable, the characters are shockingly brilliant. The scenario is a bit over the top but comes together perfectly. There is something that bothered me, however, and that’s the fact that every character in the film seemed to be having an affair with someone else. I don’t know, maybe that was the whole point that made the film work. For fans of the Coens this is definitely one that sits proudly in their film catalogue next to such greats as No Country For Old Men and The Big Lebowski. I would strongly recommend it to any film fan overall, it’s definitely worth it just for the Brad Pitt & Clooney facial expressions. Be warned though as if you’re easily offended by swearing, then you might as well take your pad and pen with you to start writing your complaints letter.

The Coen brothers are nothing if not eclectic in their choice of film projects. “Fargo”, “The Big Lebowksi”, “No Country for Old Men” and, now, “Burn After Reading”. Each film is quite unique. There is certainly no danger of the brothers being type cast.

“Burn After Reading” is a spoof spy film set in Washington. Its ensemble cast includes George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich and a wonderfully and eccentrically cast Brad Pitt. No one character steals the show. This could be a danger with such names but, somehow, the brothers ensure that each character has a role to play in this romp without any one actor taking all the lime light.

The plot involves a whole series of misunderstandings and mistakes as the lives of each character come closer together. In the end, paranoia runs rampant as some seem to win but, others, clearly lose. Perhaps the best way to describe the film is as black comedy. It is more subtle than the usual Hollywood comedy in the style of Jim Carrey or Steve Martin. It is also much darker. Yet, for all the double dealing, mistakes and misapprehensions, the story manages to remain connected as a whole. At no time does the viewer fail to join the dots.

Do not go looking for some greater or deeper meaning. “Burn After Reading” is simply a well cast spoof.

Movie Title: The Replacements
Average customer review:

The Replacements is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download The Replacements

As shocking as it may be, when you think about it, the football movies of the past, to include Oliver Stone’s excellent but dark, “On Any Given Sunday” simply do not match this film. I will even place this film in the all-time greats like “Pride of the Yankees” and “The Natural”.

First, we don’t need to watch any more tragedies on film, we need to see something that inspires us to overcome, and this film delivers: I’m surprised its considered a comedy! Hackman should get an oscar for this film because his narration and actions drive the film and create yet another complex character from the mind of the master. Hackman’s Coach knows that the men he wants to be his replacements are great, he is frustrated that life hasn’t shown them that and he wants to set them up for success, not failure. He believes in them as human beings, not just as football players, that if they can get a “second chance” they will shine. His talks with Keanu Reeves’ charachter, reveal a candor and leadership style you should really consider. He tells him flat out he wants to see the man and the ability come together because it will be wonderful to see or words to that effect, his belief in the REALITY that Reeves can deliver are stupendous. Later he instructs his Quarterback, in the hour of decision, the leader wants the ball in his hands.

Along the way, Reeves meets a sexy head cheerleader and there is a nice romance where she begins to believe in him, too. The football action scenes are the best yet to grace movie screens, you feel like you are in shoulder pads/helmet again. What I like was how just before the final game that would decide whether they go to the play-offs or not, Reeves gets canned by front-office politics in favor of the arrogant Joe Theismann-type “all pro” quarterback who is afraid he will lose his job. You are not really sure how the film will end at this point, the team follows the leadership of Reeves but are losing under the arrogant vet. The coach gets a phone call.

I will not give away the ending but Hackman’s voice over after the game, clinches it, I paraphrase: “All men once they have touched greatness in their lives are changed forever”.

AND THIS IS THE POINT!

Just once, do something great in your life! Go all out and let yourself know that you can do it, once you know this you will be changed forever. The world doesn’t let you or want you to know that greatness is within your grasp, this is why it beats you down. Find your gift you have been given and act on it, this is the true attitude “replacement” we need and this film shows us how to get it.

Despite the fact that this film is a totally unoriginal and predictable retread of a dozen “losers to winners” sports stories, it is so hysterically funny that I didn’t even care. The story is thin at best. The NFL is having a players strike and scabs are called in to finish the season. Our heroes are low on ability but high on desire and peculiarity. The quarterback, Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), once had a promising career, but he fell apart psychologically when his team was pummeled in a college bowl game and he was labeled a player that folds in the big game. Of course, while visiting the NFL, Shane falls in love with the head cheerleader (Brooke Langton) who never dates players (except of course this once).

All this is merely a mundane excuse for a raucous and silly comedy that has some sidesplitting moments. To enjoy this film you really need two things. You need to love football and you need to enjoy slapstick, banana peel comedy. I realize that this limits the audience considerably, but for those who qualify (and I am one), this movie is a scream.

Director Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink, Grumpier Old Men) did a great job on the football sequences. He hired 45 professional football players (Former NFL players, Canadian Football League, etc.) to do the football scenes and sent the actors to a three-week football camp. The action looked real because it was real. The players were told to play and hit the way they normally would. Of course, the plays were choreographed, but they were real football plays.

The comedy was lowbrow, outrageous and crass, with a great deal of physical comedy. The cheerleader scenes were a riot, especially the cheerleader tryouts. The scene where they started pantomiming sex acts to distract the opposing team was priceless. There was also sharp-witted football humor that required more than just a passing knowledge of the game.

There isn’t much serious that can be said about the acting. Keanu Reeves tried to play an earnest comeback and romantic role amidst all the foolishness and it really didn’t fit with the rest of the film. However, he was an excellent athlete. He did most of his own on-field shots and looked very believable as the quarterback. Gene Hackman was good when he was making snappy wisecracks, but his inspirational “Hoosiers” imitation was misplaced.

This film really belonged to the supporting actors like Orlando Jones (Clifford Franklin), Michael Taliferro and Faizon Love (The Jackson Twins), Ace Yonamine (Jumbo Fumiko), Rhys Ifans (Nigel “The Leg” Gruff) and all the cheerleaders who made the comedy work. Jon Favreau gets a special mention as the crazy S.W.A.T. officer turned linebacker who took the wild man role to the next level. The scenes with an incredulous Pat Summerall and John Madden were also fabulous.

This film won’t be fun for everyone, but it will have certain people falling off their chairs. I rated it an 8/10. Subtract two points if you aren’t amused by slapstick and boorish behavior, and another two if you aren’t a football fan. For the rest of you, be prepared to split a gut.