IPhone 3G used's review (Solid product) 『A good all-around thermos from Thermos. Keeps the liquid hot for several hours (I haven't tried the cold), has a good grip, and fits nicely in the car cup-holder. The only reason I don't rate it 5 stars is because you will get some leakage out of the top if you tilt it at a steep angle - but you should be fine unless you like to juggle your morning beverage.』
(Great for commuters, but wear a bib.) 『I bought this in the mid 1990's at Campmor in NJ. At the time I was working for an ambulance company, where I worked 12-24 hour shifts. I don't even remember what price I paid, but I was a serious coffee drinker and I needed to keep my drinks warm.
It get a 5 star for keeping coffee or tea nice and warm. It gets a 3 star for dripping. Years later when I got a suit and tie job, I dripped a lot on my shirts and ties. It didn't happen all the time, but enough to annoy me.
So if you plan a on using this a lot, wrap a Bounty around it.』
(Great for Commute!) 『I read all the reviews and decided to go with this style and size. I have had trouble in the past with leaking and coffee spilling out the side. This has been great. No leaks, it fits perfectly in my cup holder and my coffee stays warm for hours. Wish I would have purchased it long ago.』
(Very solid cup) 『Well built and keeps my coffee very hot. While not spill proof but spill resistant this cup does a great job. I wish it held more coffee but at the same time I had to make sure it would fit in my smaller sized drink holders in my Corvette. This cup fits perfectly.』
(Excellent) 『Excellent choice to keep your drink hot or cold for long periods of time. I loved it so much I purchased two.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Beautiful material, as promised - very fast shipping! Will recommend to friends.) 『I was extraordinarily happy with the material I purchased. The quality of both the material and stitching was superb considering the price, and customer service was excellent. I sent that to a friend in the Europe and he said he would never be able to find such good value, to buy a there of equivalent standard would cost triple at least.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Amazing.) 『If you're a mainstream Jazz fan wanting to experience the HD audio and video, you'd love this. Great show, amazing music and brilliant collaborations from guest artists. It's a big show, on a big venue by a bunch of big artists...
Perhaps "Chris Botti&Friends - Night Sessions (Live in Concert)" is a quite more intimate/relaxed performance given the atmosphere of the site and the reduced size of the venue, which brings the opportunity to choose between two different kind of shows, but none of them seems better than the other one.
They're just different.
Worth having.』
(Chris Botti: Live (With Orchestra and Special Guests) - Blu-ray Info) 『Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C MPEG4-AVC BD-50 / 1080i59.94 Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Running time: 1:29:01 Movie size: 31,01 GB Disc size: 41,14 GB Average video bit rate: 28.91 Mbps LPCM 5.1 13.8 Mbps 96Khz/24-bit DD AC3 5.1 640Kbps DD AC3 2.0 640Kbps
Subtitles: None
#Chris Botti Live: Behind the Scenes - Documentary (1080i / 30 min) #Interview with Chris Botti - Featurette (1080i / 19 min) #Meet the Musicians - Featurette (1080i / 10 min)』
(Trumpet Magician) 『A fantastic DVD featuring the Trumpet Master Chris Botti and an assortment of musical guests with varied styles. He brings out the best in each selection and it is amazing! I never tought that a trumpet's sound could be as evocative as it is when played by a true genius.』
(Botti tape) 『We were disappointed..Not because of the content (we had heard it in a bistro and had to have it) but we thought we were getting a CD. We tried every means of getting it to play to no avail. There was no indication on the packaging that it wasn't a CD. Can you enlighten me? Time for returning had expired..』
(Vocals? What Vocals!) 『Chris Botti - Live - With Orchestra&Special Guests As other reviewers have noted sound quality is amazing. The instrumental tracks are incredible and Chris Botti's core band are outstanding especially the two Billy's on piano&drums. CB has a beautiful romantic quality to his playing and thoroughly deserves his place in the line of virtuoso jazz musicians through the ages. Unfortunately the DVD dies off a little in the middle when a trail of vocalists are ushered onstage to sing their obviously under-rehearsed songs although Renee Olstead singing 'Pennies from Heaven' is a gem. If you weren't watching the DVD you would swear you were listening to a seasoned jazz singer. Considering CB could ask any vocalist in the world to his party, why didn't he? I would love to hear him play with the likes of Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Natalie Cole or Michael Buble to name just a few. Next album perhaps. It all comes right in the end but no need to encore with a muzak version of an old 'Police' hit. But it looked like a lot of fun was had by all. Definitely worth adding to your live jazz collection.』 『Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is mostly exquisite on this concert DVD, which gives old fans and new arrivals a chance to hear him apply his rich, expressive playing to a number of old standards, as well as one or two of his own compositions. Botti, along with a remarkable band including Billy Childs on piano and Billy Kilson on drums, plays six numbers as instrumentals but is joined on eight other performances by a few guests. Sans vocals, Botti warms up a delighted audience with a nice, if slightly exercised, take on "Someone to Watch Over Me," but proves magnificent on "When I Fall In Love" and especially Leonard Cohen's "A Thousand Kisses Deep." Then out glides old pal Sting (who invited Botti to join his own touring band some years ago), who has a nice go at "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?", followed by jazz-blues belter Jill Scott's terrific "Good Morning Heartache." Less effective are two appearances by Paula Cole, of which the second, "The Look of Love," doesn't work particularly well for anyone, including Botti and composer-pianist Burt Bacharach (also onstage). Renee Olstead sizzles up the joint with her kittenish "Pennies from Heaven," and Sting returns for a comic if touching "My Funny Valentine."--Tom Keogh』 『December 2005. Los Angeles, California. Trumpeter Chris Botti, on the heels of his break-through gold certified album "When I Fall In Love", and the record-breaking follow up "To Love Again", plays two triumphant shows at the Wilshire Theatre backed by a full orchestra and his virtuosic band. Playing repertoire mostly culled from these two hit albums, Chris is joined onstage by some of the world's most accomplished singers and musicians (in order of appearance) Sting, Jill Scott, Paula Cole, Burt Bacharach, Renee Olstead, Paul Buchanan and Gladys Knight. Filmed for the PBS Special "Chris Botti Live With Orchestra and Special Guests"....and now available on Blu-ray Disc. Presented in full 1080 High Definition and stunning high-fidelity uncompressed surround sound.』
Kakaku：499 saved$4.99
Lionsgate / HIT Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (My son LOVES it!) 『I got the DVD for my son when we went away, to keep him entertained during four hour plane ride. He didn't care for it on the plane, but once we got home, all he was saying is "barney, barney" (and he doesn't speak English). He loves the songs and dances to it.』 『Are you ready for some Tee-riffic fun? Laugh and sing with your favorite purple pal Barney in this super-dee-duper collection celebrating 20 years of enchanting imagination. Barney's opening his magical memory chest to share the best and brightest moments - from the charming songs and piano tunes to the activities of the heart involving elephant rides car racing and more! See the stories that made Barney the most beloved dinosaur by children for over 20 years. Don't miss your chance to enjoy this special treat!System Requirements:Running Time: 59 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 884487100244 Manufacturer No: H180033』
Kakaku：596 saved$5.96
Miriam Collection
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Incredible Performance by Reed and His Band) 『I've always had a sort of take it or leve it attitude towards Lou Reed's music. I could appreciate it but would not go out of my way to listen or find it. Much of that attitude has changed since I've seen Julian Schnabel's Berlin. I have now joined the initiated and feel that the music when properly presented is terrific.
Filmed over five nights at St. Ann's Warehouse in New York, Reed performs in its entirety his failed 1973 concept album Berlin. Berlin presents a 10 song cycle that attempts to tell the story of a couple living in 1970's Berlin before the wall came down. Caroline is a speed freak party girl who spirals out of control and eventually loses her children and commits suicide by slashing her wrists. Jim is left to pick up the pieces and try to figure out her motivation if any.
When released in 1973 the album came across as a gloomy concept work that did not have the commercial success that Reed felt it should. He shunned the material and did not perform it live for 33 years. The december 2006 concers which mke up the film presents the music as it should be heard. Reed's delivery is raw and emotional. The band led by guitarist Steve Hunter is spot on and there has been added the Brooklyn Youth Choir and a horn section to the mix.
The concert plays against a backdrop of films of Caroline's life shot by Schnabel's daughter Lola that add to the mood in a fuzzy out of focus sort of way. This is not happy material and it is not presented as such. It is emotional and raw.
The concert ends with a three song encore featuring Candy Says, Rock Minuet and Sweet Jane.
This is one of the best concert films that I have seen in years and easily ranks with such films as Scorsese's Last Waltz. Do yourself a favor and see this one and experience the music as it should be seen and heard.』
(How To Improve A Masterpiece) 『Saw the DVD last night. Very short review: 5 stars out of 5. I can't think of ANY other rocker in their mid 60's interpreting their early material from 1973 with this sort of INTEGRITY, power, musicianship, musicality&emotion.
This is MILES beyond anything the Stones, Who, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, etc have done in the last 20 years.
The only artists I know who come CLOSE to making their early 70's material relevant like this in new performance are Bruce Cockburn&Bowie's 90's work with Reeves Gabrels, neither of whom pulled it off like Reed does here.
Doesn't hurt to have a CRACK band anchored by Steve Hunter&Rob Wasserman (the entire band is tremendous).
What both makes it so special&oddly also at the same time might be my only criticism is this is NOT a greatest hits show. The only song on Berlin that qualifies for ME as a "greatest hit" is Lady Day (though the feel of the song has nothing in common with Billie Holiday stylistically, this song catches her essence better then any book I've ever read!). Berlin has several other strong songs (Sad Songs, Caroline Says, Men Of Good Fortune; there are NO bad songs on it), but again; it's not a hits show. We do get Sweet Jane as an Encore.
There's just something about seeing Reed feel these songs about being a 31 year old love lorn junkie as much at 64 as he did at 31 that melts me.
Highly recommended.』
(Pure Poetry.) 『This is one of the top 3 best Music films I've ever seen. The performance is so masterfully shot and performed (I like it more than the original album). Anyone who is a true fan of music will be blown away.』
(WARHOLS DREAM HAS COME TRUE....BERLIN LIVE!!!) 『After Lou's career was saved by Bowie IN 1972 with Lou's LP "Transformer", Lou went against expectation, creating his version of conceptual ARTROCK. BERLIN discribes the lives of two lovers, Jim and Caroline, her a singer, speed addict and mother, he a "waterboy". Berlin's reception in 1973 was cool, tho since that time, it has been critically reevaluated, and is now seen as his best, or second best solo LP. I love the heavy orchestration that has seldom been used before or since with Lou's work, and love the intensity of the relationship's tragedy at Berlin's core. Andy Warhol also loved the LP, and when it came out, he tried to get ahold of Lou, in order to mount a "cabaret" version of the LP. Sadly, Andy never connected with Lou, until Lou had morphed into his "ROCK AND ROLL ANIMAL" phase, shooting heroin, bleaching hair, etc. It took Lou only 35 years, to mount his cabaret version of BERLIN, but it was worth the wait. Lou's recent work has been sort of hit and miss, and I didnt expect this DVD to sound like the original album. Nevertheless, ALL the orchestration is intact from the album, and played note for note. Not only that, BERLIN adapts perfectly to the visual medium. Behind Lou, is a projection machine shows us, like the photographs in the BERLIN LP, a cinematic view of the lyrical storyline. Everything combines to bring forth an amazing show, that had me singing along for most of the album. Highlights, like "Caroline Says I", "Men of Good Fortune" and "Oh Jim" brought me goosebumps. When Jim beats Caroline up for shooting speed, and cheating on him, the guitar solo perfectly reflects the fight that destroyed the lover's relationship for the whole album. Its the dramatic summit of the piece. Backed up with the entire "rock orchestra" building on a riff, Lou attempts his Cecil Taylor-influenced guitar soloing, and pulls it off. BERLIN was amazing when it came out, its amazing now. All i can say to recommend this is, "IF" you are a fan of this album, then you wont be disappointed by the DVD, I can guarentee it. The only problem I had at all, was that Lou tried to speak/sing the parts, instead of singing the actual melodic vocal lines, as written in 1973. Since the production is very dense on the original BERLIN album, the vocal lines were often doubled by violin parts, or by the backing singers' harmonies. So, it's sort of sad not having Lou willing (or able?) to sing the original vocal parts. After the BERLIN album is performed, Lou and his basic rock band break into SWEET JANE. Then, CANDY SAYS begins, with ANTONY from ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS singing the song to heartbreaking perfection. The album BERLIN is so visual, so cinematic, that to watch it performed like this, reinforces and elucidates the literary concept so well. For Lou/VU fans that never saw Lou play live, or never got a chance to see BERLIN live when Lou toured it, this DVD is a great consilation prise. I only wish that, like the "A NIGHT WITH LOU REED" video from 1983, the camera could have turned to the audience, to show Andy Warhol enjoying the realization of his dream for the BERLIN concept album, all these years later. Bravo, Lou.』
(Lou at his most lyrical and introspective) 『The 1973 album, Berlin, is a dark operatic song-cycle about speed junkies Caroline and Jim. Both of them work the streets but when it is determined that Caroline is an unfit mother and her kids are taken away by social services the story gets even darker and Caroline and Jim's lives take separate but equally horrific turns for the worse. Taken individually songs like "Men of Good Fortune" and "How do you think it Feels" are very good but not quite equal to Lou's greatest. But together these songs build upon each otherand combine to create one of the most viscerally wrenching experiences in modern music. Admittedly, much of this sounds like it was written on cocktail napkins during a very dark, albeit painfully lucid, night of the soul. But the result is the most sublime music of Lou's career.
Though Lou always tells his stories through his character's eyes, this feels like confessional music written by an artist who is intimately acquainted with what life feels like in the dark aftermath of vanished love and vanished hope with nothing but the alchemy of his fevered brain to work with. And he produces not just a series of darkly beautiful and hauntingly introspective songs but a magnificently structured rock libretto replete with crashing rock chords, quiet cello and flute interludes, and a soul-replenishing choir. Its as if the artist had confronted oblivion itself, wrestled with it, and come up from the lower depths (or the Hell's Kitchen of the soul) with this magisterial orchestration with which to enchant himself back into life. And then he caps it all off with the most achingly beautiful rendition of "Candy Says" (sharing vocals with the fragile and tender voiced Antony) that I've ever heard. And thankfully so because even though the song is equally nihilistic in its vision of self-escape ("What do you think I'd see if I could walk away from me") it is a much-needed deliverance into the familiar after the soul-tormented foreign tour that is Berlin. "Candy Says" is followed by the rarely performed "Rock Minuet" (another of Lou's epic visions of street struggle), and then Lou finishes the set with "Sweet Jane" to provide emotional catharsis and closure.
Julian Schnabel perfectly complements the fragmented narrative with a collage of disjointed visuals that underscore but never intrude upon or threaten the integrity of Lou's composition. Its a perfect marriage of audio and visual art (Schnabel wisely takes a minimalist low-tech scrapbook approach using wallpapered panels, slides, and, occasionally, super 8 footage to create layers of visuals to complement the layers of sound). Its such a seamless and pleasing blend that I would not be surprised if this concert/art event does not become the new paradigm for concert/art in the decades to come.
Its so intimate and so intense that you feel like you are a kid again listening and responding to an album you just bought. In fact I was not familiar with this record so that is precisely the feeling that I had with this piece of music.
I'll admit that I do not love everything that Lou has done, but this is music that stirs the creative self and the heart and intrigues the ear in endless ways! I can think of very few albums that succeed on so many levels (Lou goes places no other artist goes) and get you responding on so many levels. This is music made and performed by an artist with all cylinders (light and dark) firing; Lou holds nothing back here and so you too respond with everything that you've got.
IPhone 3G used's review (101 Dalmatians) 『Modern technology has taken live-action filmmaking to limitless heights, but there are still some stories that are more suited for feature-animation. Dodie Smith's "The Hundred and One Dalmatians" is one of them. Walt Disney knew this and his "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" is one of the most loved animated films of all time. Unfortunately, director John Hughes did not and his live-action remake, "101 Dalmatians, comes up short in the end.
It is not a bad film, but it is incredibly awkward and extremely unfocused at times. Instead of a seamless blend of animal and human characters, we are now forced to get involved almost solely with the two-legged heroes of the picture, which is occasionally sweet, but obviously not right for a film that is supposed to be about dogs. Pongo and Perdita along with their brood of ninety-nine puppies have been pushed to the wayside and the collection of fur and feathered supporting players, which include a menagerie of barnyard creatures, are reduced to slapstick.
Cruella DeVil is still the driving force of the plot, but Glenn Close's marvelously overblown performance is still no match for her animated predecessor voiced by Betty Lou Gerson. And Cruella's bumbling cronies, Horace and Jasper (Mark Williams and Hugh Laurie) are merely cockney clones of the burglars in the "Home Alone" movies, which coincidentally were also directed by John Hughes.
The only characters that seem right are Roger (Jeff Daniels) and Anita (Joely Richardson). Daniels and Richardson have genuine chemistry and the prescence of Joan Plowright only adds to the warmth. The three of them deserve a movie of their own.』
(LIVE-ACTION REMAKE IS PERFECT COMPANION TO ORIGINAL ANIMATED FILM.) 『John Hughes' ("Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off") live-action remake (directed by Stephen Herek) of this beloved Disney animated classic is long on slapstick and other types of physical humor. It's easy to see Glenn Close's portrayal of evil dog-napping Cruella De Vil as a Disney variation of her manipulative, scary (and best-remembered) roles in "Fatal Attraction" and "Dangerous Liaisons." Glenn Close keeps Cruella close to her original cartoon origins, going deliciously and delightfully over the top. Clearly, Cruella is another Disney Witch. To emphasize this point, there is a scene where Cruella, draped in lion skin, gazes at her reflection and says, "Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who is the Fairest One Of All?" Hugh Laurie (of TV's "House") portrays one of Cruella's criminal cronies. It is great fun to watch assorted animals (dogs, racoons, rabbits, birds, pigs, etc.) rule over evil, but stupid, humans who attempt to kill or abuse them. Joan Plowright ("Nanny") and the always dependable Jeff Daniels ("Roger Darling", human pet of Dalmation Dog Pongo) are featured as two of the more kind humans. I'm very glad Disney has released both the original animated and live-action versions (Which I have wanted for a LONG time) of "101 Dalmations" on DVD. If you are a fan of the original animated version, you will likely enjoy the live-action remake as well. The two versions perfectly compliment each other. My favorite line of dialogue here comes towards the end. In the police wagon, Cruella screams at her three criminal cohorts, "Outwitted by a bunch of animals! You three have just one the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in the Morons Olympics!!" Jasper then asks, "Who won the Gold?" The Sequel, "102 Dalmations", however, should be AVOIDED, by ALL means.』
(One of my childhood favorites.) 『I have to admit, like "Toy Story," "101 Dalmatians" was one of my favorite childhood favorites from Disney. Although the worst part of the film was that Cruella DeVille use to give me the freaks. But I would have to admit that even though she still gives me the freaks, Glenn Close's performance is actually pretty good.
The movie tells the story of a guy named Roger who has a dog named Pongo and then he falls in love with a lady named Anita. Anita has a dog named Pertie. But the real catch of the dog is that they are dalmatians. Soon, Roger and Anita get married and together they have their own life with their maid Nanny.
The family soon gets puppies, which are dalmatians, but the one thing that is bothering them is that Cruela DeVille wants to kidnap them. She hires her two best friends, Jesper and Horace, to kidnap them. Pongo and Pertie want to find their missing puppies.
The DVD doesn't offer too much but sneak peeks. But it's still a great movie and a fun movie to watch. Different from the cartoon version, but that's all right. I was at least entertained with the movie and now we also have "102 Dalmatians" for me to finish.』
(Glenn Close steals the show) 『Disney remade their classic animated film of the same name 35 years after the original, as a live-action movie in 1996. The tale is familiar to most: two Dalmatians, Pongo&Perdy, bring their owners together. Roger (Jeff Daniels) and Anita (Joely Richardson) fall in love almost at first site when they meet in the park. They get married and their Dalmatians have puppies. Sounds like a lovely romantic tale, right? It would be if it weren't for Anita's boss, the evil Cruella de Vil (Glenn Close). Cruella is a fashionista who loves fur...and her latest desire is to own a coat made of Dalmatian fur. When she learns that Anita's dog has had a litter of 15, she sets her sites on them to make her desire come true. Anita&Roger turn down her offer, so she sends her bumbling minions Jasper&Horace (Hugh Laurie&Mark Williams respectively) to steal them for her.
Does it equal the original? No, not really...but this is not a surprise. How could you top Marc Davis' animation of Cruella, one of the most memorable characters in animation history? Still, you have to give Glenn Close much credit for making Cruella her own...remove her and you have little reason to watch this film. With her fright wig and amazingly over the top costumes, Close truly comes close...she is an evil delight to watch as she barks orders (pun intended) and does everything in her power to make the fur coat a reality. Laurie (now starring in the hit series "House") and Williams are excellent as her bumbling henchman. The animals are also lots of fun to watch, as they often show that they are much smarter than their human counterparts.
Note to parents: this movie is somewhat darker than the animated versions, with a few creepy scenes with the taxidermist. Nothing major, but still parents might want to be careful as Glenn Close's characterization is more frightening and nightmare inducing than her animated namesake.
Sadly and surprisingly, there are no extras on this DVD other than a theatrical trailer. The widescreen (2:35:1) picture is excellent (enhanced for 16x9 TVs), and there is a wonderful Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix.
Overall, an enjoyable film that is bumped up a few notches thanks to Glenn Close's performance.』
(Finally, here comes a long overdue release from Disney's Vault!) 『this is a great live-action take on the original classic starring two-time Golden Globe winning actress, Glenn Close. This DVD has been out of print for several years now, and is long overdue for a new release. Currently the cheapest that you can buy the only other dvd version of this film, is at $55 dollars, which is used in an "acceptable" condition. I really would like to update my disney collection, and I am very happy that they are releasing this DVD. Although, I do prefer the animated version, I do like the acting performance of Glenn Close's greatly convincing role as Cruella Devil and Joan Plowright's perfect fitting role as the Nanny. Any Disney collector would definitely be excited that this classic, which actually generated $320,689,294 in theatre sales, when it was released in 1996, is being brought back out of the disney vault for the first time in 9 years!!!!!』 『It's hard to know who thought it would be a good idea to make a live-action version of Disney's animated classic. The one bright notion anyone had was casting Glenn Close as Disneyüber-villainess Cruella de Vil; her flashing eyes and angular features are a perfect match and do credit to what is one of the most indelible animated characters Disney has ever created. The story remains essentially the same, focusing on Cruella's plot to kidnap the puppies of a young married couple (Jeff Daniels and Jolie Richardson) and make them into a coat. But the dreaded John Hughes, who wrote this script, fills it with sadistic slapstick and far too few genuine laughs. The human actors work hard, but to little avail; thankfully, there's a passel of puppies to regularly steal scenes when the going gets dreary--although there are only so many laughs to be had from inappropriate dog puddles.--Marshall Fine』 『Unleashing every ounce of Disney magic, 101 DALMATIANS thrilled audiences of all ages with fast-paced adventure and comedy -- featuring a brilliant performance by five-time Academy Award(R)-nominee Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil. Achieving new heights of hilarity, Disney's all-time classic puppy tale came to life as a worldwide box office sensation. In their small London flat, Dalmatians Pongo and Perdy, and their human "pets" Roger and Anita, are overjoyed by the arrival of 15 puppies. But when the spotted-fur-loving Ms. De Vil and her clumsy cohorts, Jasper and Horace, dognap the litter -- along with every other Dalmatian pup in London -- Pongo and Perdy must rally the town's animals to their rescue. The plan hurls them toward a thrilling climax filled with uproarious moments as the puppies attempt to outwit their captors and bring on a final showdown with Cruella! Packed with the largest and cutest collection of puppies ever brought to film, 101 DALMATIANS also features a superb cast of talented humans, including Jeff Daniels, Joely Ruchardson, and Joan Plowright. Now you can bring home Disney's live-action comedy hit, praised by critics as nothing short of "phenomenal!"』
IPhone 3G used's review (Why it's not on DVD) 『There is probably problems with licensing parts of the Soundtrack... One Part in particular ~ The Dead Kennedy's song playing while they are all in the Kitchen... Holiday in Cambodia. There have been lawsuits over this song between band members and Jello Biafra when Levi's wanted to use it in a commercial. Royalty payment disputes and the like. It has probably killed any chance of getting this film released on DVD.』
(What a team) 『Belushi and Aykroyd were a great pair to star in this movie. I wish they had done other projects like Neighbors. My VHS tape is getting ragged from being played for so many years. Who ever owns the rights to this movie need to get up off there butt and get it out on DVD. Its a shame to leave us out in the cold when they have it available for region 2 players.』
(A great black comedy that may not sink in with the first viewing...) 『I don't know what it is, but I see this in music and movies too: those things you instantly love are the ones that you tire of more quickly. The ones that grow on you over time are the ones you love for years and years. Well, Neighbors is one movie that just has to grow on you. This is a black comedy with lots of dark humor, so some scenes you're not sure whether to laugh or cringe on first viewing, and the subtlety of the excellent score also doesn't necessarily grab the viewer on the 1st pass.
The first time I saw this movie, I just found it ODD. However, upon a 2nd viewing, I found more and more of the entire film very funny and by the third I was laughing at pretty much every scene wondering how I hadn't found it more appealing the first time I saw it.
As the many other reviews state, this is Belushi playing a "straight" and ultimately bored suburbanite until "Vic" (Dan Aykroyd) -- a crazed lunatic with an apparent sadistic streak and overly seductive "wife" (played fantastically by Cathy Moriarty) -- moves in next door.
From there, nothing is what it seems and all you know for sure is that Vic and his wife seem out to get Belushi, and Belushi's wife even seems in on some of the madness. But every time Belushi tries to call them on it, HE somehow comes out looking like the bad guy. Every time he tries to expose how everyone is against him, it just backfires until...
Well, I won't play spoiler. Just check out the movie if you haven't already!! And be sure to give it at least a couple of viewings. It gets funnier every time I watch and I've seen it probably 30 times now! The stories of Belushi being out of it on cocaine during the filming of this may indeed be true (he clearly had a problem....), but you can't tell from his performance. This is his most demanding comedic role and he delivers, as does Aykroyd and all the cast. Remember: popular does not equal "good" and UN-popular does not equal NOT GOOD! This is a great, great film and should be released on dvd if there's any justice!
』
(John Belushi in a smart comedy) 『Forget Meet the Parents, Neighbors is where it's at. Why is this not on DVD? Tune into the Animal House 30th Anniversary on Biography until this movie starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi is released on DVD. Some special features would be a nice addition to this classic dark comedy. 』
(one for the ages) 『If you know and love Belushi and Aykroyd this movie is for you. The look on belushi's face when the doorbell rings in the opening scene cracks me up every time. and don't forget the repair garage owner and his son who moonlight as sewer suckers. Boy I wish I had this DVD.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Great!) 『This is such a great movie. I am really surprised that it is not on DVD yet. As far as I can tell, Fox Movie Channel is the only network that plays it and that is not offered with our cable package. I would buy a couple of copies if it were on DVD.』
(Buy it on eBay) 『On eBay you can likely find this film on DVD in Region 0 from Korea (plays anywhere in the world). I bought one and the packaging and DVD quality is first rate. All I had to do was turn off the Korean subtitles (on by default) and I was good to go. Great movie. Great quality DVD, and the DVD keepcase is in English, not Korean.』
(BUYERS BEWARE! BOOTLEG DVD.) 『This classic film has NEVER been issued on DVD. What is on offer here is a bootleg. Don't support the theft of copyright by purchasing an expensive, illegal copy of doubtful quality』
(If you like the movie, read the book) 『I have loved A Tree Grows In Brooklyn since the first time I saw it. I purchased it from a seller on Amazon and was disappointed in the quality of the DVD. It looks like someone burned it off of a VHS tape. Beside the point, I also got the book by Betty Smith and I can't believe the differences and similarities of the book and DVD. The novel is quite thick and I know a movie made to follow the book would be 5 hours long or more, but I can't stop thinking about the actors and their characters in the book. I like a happy ending and the DVD was much happier than the book. I have always liked Dorothy McGuire, Ted Donaldson and Peggy Ann Garner (she played in Jane Eyre with Elizabeth Taylor). I just hope this comes out in a better quality DVD and I will definitely repurchase it. I usually try to record it when it is aired on TCM or FMC and keep it on my DVR. Mr. Kazan did a great job with the movie though. It still remains my favorite.』
(Great story and service) 『Mom's been gone for 15 years but when growing up she always mentioned A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I'm now 67 and just read the book so HAD to have the movie. What great service to get it to me just as I was reading the last page....』 『Elia Kazan made his directorial debut with this adaptation of Betty Smith's novel about a bright, young girl growing up in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn, trying to rise above her tenement existence. Sensitively filmed by Kazan, and graced with wonderful performances by James Dunn as the wistful, alcoholic father and Dorothy McGuire as a strong-willed mother. Peggy Ann Garner won a special Oscar for her performance.--Tom Keogh』
