IPhone 3G used's review (The Final Gift...) 『This review refers to the Three Colors Trilogy DVD
To give this trilogy 5 stars hardly begins to express the way I feel about all three of these films. The illustrious career of masterful film maker Krzystof Kieslowski is capped off by this wonderful gift he has left us with. Those of you that have seen it will understand what I mean when I say that once you have viewed these films, and the characters in them,they will stay with you always.
Although told as three separate stories "Blue", "White" and "Red" (the order in which they should be watched ), you will find a connection of life and happenstance relating to the main characters of each story. It should be viewed as one long story. Think of it as if going to a fine dining establishment, where the chef has prepared each course to compliment the other.
In "Blue", we get lost in Julie's world(Julitte Binoche), a woman who has lost all that is dear to her in a horrible car accident. Her husband, an acclaimed composer and her little daughter gone forever. She tries to shut herself off from the world, shedding material possesions and shunnung her friends, but is drawn back into life by some revealing facts she has learned about her dead husband.
"White" will draw you into it's web of intigue and passion, as a Polish man(Zbigniew Zamachowski) plans the ultimate revenge on his beautiful French wife(Julie Delpy)that he has lost but still loves. Kieslowski adds a wonderful touch of humor to this one.
"Red" is the story of chance meetings and fate. Do they happen by coincidence or do we unwittingly make our own destinies? Valentine (Irene Jacob) is a beautiful young model who's life takes a turn in a new direction when she accidentally hits a dog with her car. The dog belongs to a mysterious older man, whose past may be the answer to her future.
I have only given a short synopsis of each story, as they must be viewed fresh by the first time watcher. You will find them an experience you will want to relive soon and often. Kieslowski's unique film making style combined with the intricate camera work of Piotr Sobocinski, the lulling music of Zbigniew Preisner, beautiful screenplays by Kieslowski and Piesiewicz and a cast that turns in no less than stellar performances will move you like no other film ever has.
I used to watch these films, whenever they appeared on my cable Independent Film Channel. The DVDs sold singley seemed a little high priced, but now that they are in this boxed set at such a reasonable price, I jumped at the chance to own them.I have the Miramax setThree Colors Trilogy (Blue / White / Red)(region 1) The discs are excellent and have a wide variety of bonus material.
I can think of only one other film that has had such a personal effect on me. That is "Schindler's List". If you have not seen these stories and you really enjoy fine film making give these a try. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have.
Thanx....Laurie
the wonderful soundtracks:Bleu: Bande Originale Du Film- White: Bande Originale Du Film - Red: Bande Originale Du Film』
(Red, white, blue) 『Around here, red, white and blue are known as the colours of the American flag, and they are also the colours of the French flag.
But they also are the names of the late Krzysztof Kieslowski's brilliant "Three Colours" trilogy. This man hasn't gotten the acclaim of more prominent European directors like Tom Tykwer, but his "Three Colors" trilogy has a delicacy that most directors can only dream of. Beautiful, painful, artfully shot, it's a visual feast for anyone who has an appreciation for beauty, subtlety, and good direction.
In "Blue," Julie de Courcy (Juliette Binoche) and her family are in a car accident when their brakes fail. Julie is injured, but her composer husband and their daughter die. She can't bring herself to commit suicide, but neither can she just go home and get over it. So instead she leaves her palatial house in the country after a night with her husband's old friend Olivier (Benoît Régent), who has been in love with her for years.
Julie arrives in Paris with nothing but a blue cut-glass lampshade, takes back her maiden name, rents an apartment, and tries to leave her old life behind. Though she says she doesn't want love or friends (because they are "traps"), she befriends a promiscuous young woman and is pulled back to Olivier when he starts to finish her husband's unfinished work. In turn, Olivier reveals to her the side of her husband she never knew -- the other woman he loved.
"Blanc" is more of a comedy than a tragedy, but there is an element of sadness as well.Hairdresser Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski) is being coldly divorced by his beautiful wife Dominique (Julie Delpy) because she is sexually dissatisfied with him. She also strips him of his money and possessions, leaving him playing pitiful music at the subways. What's more, she rubs it in his face that she's now having sex with other men.
Things can't get worse, right? Wrong: Karol goes back to Poland and ends up getting beaten up and robbed. Via some not-so-legal methods, Karol builds himself an impressive fortune and becomes determined to get back at his cold, manipulative ex-wife. Amid a web of killing, seduction and faked death, Karol finds the perfect method to bring Dominique down...
And "Rouge" is the color of love. On her way home from a modelling session, Valentine (Irene Jacob) accidently runs over and injures a pregnant dog. The owner is Joseph Kern, (Jean-Louis Trintignant) an embittered, cynical ex-judge whose years of condemnation and acquittal have left him spiritually adrift. He now spends his time alone in his house, wiretapping the phones of his neighbors and predicting what will happen in their lives.
After Valentine expresses disgust at Joseph's activities, he turns himself in to the authorities. Their friendship grows into a bond of differing values and unhappy histories. As Valentine prepares to leave for England, the judge reveals the tragic circumstances of his early life -- a tragedy mirrored by some of the people he has been spying on.
The three colours of the French flag symbolize liberty, equality and fraternity -- and these are echoed in the stories of Kieslowski's films. And each of the three movies has its own "feel" -- "Blue" is cool and sensual, "White" was sharp and sexy, and "Red" has a sweetness and richness that is truly moving.
And while most directors are just boring when they do slow, arty direction, Kieslowski infused his direction with sensual beauty and endless light and colour, like a painting come to life. And he intertwined many symbolic images and lingering threads from one movie to the next, whether it's an old lady recycling bottles or a rather surprising finale for "Red" that brings all three movies' protagonists together.
And he saturated the movies with the colour of their title -- blue is sadness, depth and beauty; white is beautiful and pure, stark and blinding; red is passion and warmth. While this may not have been Kieslowski's intention, the constant presence of these colors (a bridal gown, a swimming pool, and so on) add an extra dimension to the emotions in the story, especially the first.
Juliette Binoche is an extremely good actress, and this movie uses her expressiveness as most movies don't. Zamachowski brings an element of humanity and poignancy to what could have been an idiotic character, and I never felt anything but understanding for this guy. And Irene Jacob brings a sweetness and innocence to her role as Valentine (aptly named, considering the title of the movie she stars in) that is rarely seen in modern movies.
Kieslowski was an unusual and extremely talented moviemaker, and his "Three Colors" trilogy -- "Bleu," "Blanc" and "Rouge" -- is an exceptional piece of work. We shall not see his like again.』 『RED:
Nominated for 3 Academy Awards (Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography, 1994) Red stars Irene Jacob (Victory, My Life So Far) as a young model whose chance meeting with an unusual stranger leads her down a path of intrigue and secrecy. As her knowledge of the man deepens, she discovers an astonishing link between his past...and her destiny!WHITE:
Starring sexy Julie Delpy (Investigating Sex, The Three Musketeers) White is the mysterious tale of a man whose life disintegrates when his beautiful wife of six months deserts him. Forced to begin anew, he rebuilds his life, only to plan a dangerous scheme of vengeance against her! Winner of the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival.BLUE:
Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche (The English Patient, Best Supporting Actress, 1996) stars as a young woman left devastated by the unexpected death of her husband and child. She retreats from the world around her, but is soon reluctantly drawn into an ever-widening web of lies and passion as the dark, secret life of her husband begins to unravel.』
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Universal Studios
Not yet released IPhone 3G used's review (The Masters of Dark Comedy Triumph Again) 『"Burn After Reading" continues the Coen Brothers' remarkable streak of making darkly comic, deliciously twisted thrillers that are populated by people who are so quirky, stupid, selfish, superficial, and sympathetic (some of them anyway) that they seem like real people instead of reel people. This film has hilarious performances, each one, like each character, with different nuances and movitations.
Oswald Cox is the head CIA over the Balkans region, Osbourne Cox, who gets called into his boss' office one day to find out that he is being demoted ("As you know, things aren't going well over there," he is told). He is so angry that he quits, and begins writing his memoirs. A CD containing his writings falls into the hands of two gym workers, played by Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand. Their attempt to at first return the CD, and then blackmail Cox begins a comic-tragic chain of events that involves them, Cox, Cox's shrewish wife (played by Tilda Swinton), Harry Pfarrer, a treasury agent who sleeping with Cox's wife and McDormand, and Pitt and McDormand's boss at the gym (played by Richard Jenkins), who has an unpsoken crush on McDormand.
This is one of those stories where it's not only obvious that everyone does not live happily ever, but that some of the characters won't live at all. The Coens' ear for dialogue and talent for getting the most out of their actors in on full display. Everyone's performance is tremendously well done. With the exception of Jenkins' character, everyone's reason for what they doing is either selfish, shallow, and/or stupid.
"Burn After Reading," as with most of the other Coens' movies, is not for everyone, but those who enjoy black as night comedies, this movie is a treat.』
(Will be delivered on Dec 23rd) 『Just ordered this with 2 day shipping (free with Prime) and the delivery date estimate is Dec 23rd. This has been my experience with past releases as well, Amazon will get it to you on the release date.』
(It does not get any better) 『This is the funniest movie that I have ever seen. You will watch it many, many times. Coen Brothers at their best. Better than Fargo. Script and casting is unbelievable.』
(Bizarre but gripping comedy of oddness) 『Everyone in this film has their own way of being slime, and it makes for great entertainment. There's a lot of confusion and betrayal with umpteen characters to dislike for various quirky reasons.
It's extremely funny and the situations involved are typically unusual. Brad Pitt is outstanding as dim gym trainer Chad, and John Malkovich is also superb.
An excellent film.』
(Wonderful Black Comedy) 『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. 』 『After the dark brilliance ofNo Country for Old Men,Burn After Readingmay seem like a trifle, but few filmmakers elevate the trivial to art quite like Joel and Ethan Coen. Inspired by Stansfield Turner'sBurn Before Reading, the comically convoluted plot clicks into gear when the CIA gives analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich) the boot. Little does Cox know his wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton, riffing on herMichael Claytoncharacter), is seeing married federal marshal Harry (George Clooney, Swinton'sClaytonco-star, playing off hisSyrianarole). To get back at the Agency, Cox works on his memoirs. Through a twist of fate, fitness club workers Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt in a pompadour that recallsJohnny Suede) find the disc and try to wrangle a "Samaratin tax" out of the surly alcoholic. An avid Internet dater, Linda plans to use the money for plastic surgery, oblivious that her manager, Ted (The Visitor's Richard Jenkins), likes her just the way she is. Though it sounds like a Beltway remake ofThe Big Lebowski, the Coen entry it most closely resembles, this time the brothers concentrate their energies on the myriad insecurities endemic to the mid-life crisis--with the exception of Chad, who's too dense to share such concerns, leading to the funniest performance of Pitt's career. IfLebowskirepresented the Coen's unique approach to film noir,Burnsees them putting their irresistibly absurdist stamp on paranoid thrillers fromEnemy of the StatetoThe Bourne Identity.--Kathleen C. Fennessy』
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Miramax
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Outstanding) 『Krzysztof Kieslowski was one of the more interesting filmmakers of the last quarter century, and the centerpiece of his claim to greatness is the Three Colors (Trois Couleurs) trilogy of films that he wrote and directed in the early to mid-1990s, filming them all at the same time. Blue, White, and Red represent the three colors of the French flag, and symbolize the three virtues of liberty, equality, and fraternity respectively. Blue (Bleu) is the first film in the series, and was released in 1993. The color blue also resonates for its associations with depression and coldness, that are well demonstrated in the film. It was deserving of the many award sit garnered, such as winning Best Film at the Venice Film Festival and the Goya Awards, as well as star Juliette Binoche (who looks like a prettier Julia Roberts, as well as a better actress) winning Best Actress at Venice and the Cesar Awards. Yet, Kieslowski made a wise choice to depoliticize his films, for the freedom that Blue deals with is not political but personal and emotional- a hoped for freedom from memories, and not the cheap sort that Hollywood would foist, such as a woman running away from an abusive boyfriend. If only more artists (think Latin American writers) could learn that political statements can be made slyly and subtly and wield far more power than overt preaching. Another wise move he made was to cast this film as a picaresque, whose main character is delineated in small strokes, with scenes that do not drive simple plot not character development, but stand alone and apart as merely defining her state of mind. The film starts with an automobile accident that kills off a husband and father, the famous musical composer Patrice de Courcy, and his five year old daughter Anna. The only survivor is his wife, named Julie de Courcy neé Vignon (Juliette Binoche). This is foreshadowed when we see a shot of leaking brake fluid from the car when the daughter is let off the side of the road to urinate. Fortunately, the crash occurs off camera, not in the melodramatic style a Hollywood film would drool over. Interestingly, at the endof the film, after the credits, Kieslowski has a sly tweak when he notes that, since the car is an Alfa Romeo, any loss of brake fluid, and the accident, are purely fictional events. When Julie wakes in a hospital we see an extreme close up of her pupil reflecting the image of her doctor. It is anobjective shot of subjectivity after Julie regains her consciousness after an unspecified period of time. This ellipsis of death to the opened eye has a great psychic resonance to the viewer, in a way mere words cannot. She recovers, after a fey attempt at suicide by overdose at her hospital, and decides to abandon her country estate and set out for an anonymous life in Paris. In one scene, Julie comes upon her old maid who is crying. She asks, `Why are you crying?' The maid answers, `I am crying because you are not.' The rest of the plot has been detailed by others. I started this review by stating that Krzysztof Kieslowski was one of the more interesting filmmakers of the last quarter century, and I stand by that claim. The only thing a viewing of this film will add to that claim is to append the term great to that description, for Blue is a flat-out masterpiece. It is as mysterious as a work of Antonioni, symbolic as a film of Bergman, humane as a work of Fellini, and precise as a work of Kubrick. That's good company to keep, and this film earns such companionship 』
(Outstanding, with one quibble) 『I've finally seen all three films of the trilogy, and Blue is probably my least favorite, but that's considering I gave the film five stars. Really, all three films are outstanding and I couldn't recommend them more highly.
However, as an animal lover, I was bothered by Julie's 'solution' to the problem of finding a mother mouse and her tiny babies, in her closet. I agree that few people want to find a mouse family in their house, but to dispatch the neighbor's cat to kill them all was cruel and unnecessary. She could have left the mice until they were old enough to trap and release, she could have moved the family in a suitable 'house' outside, or she could have put them in a cage and allowed the family to grow until they could be safely released.
We treat other creatures in a too cavalier manner. These animals are living creatures and deserve to live their lives out without human interference in such a sense as Julie did. This bothered me thoughout the film.
At least in 'Red' Kieaelowski allowed that the German Shepherd dog, who was 'run over' by the female protagonist Valentine, survived and was treated with love and respect by her owner. At one point, it showed that the puppies survived and were doing well.
Other than that, I loved Blue and plan on buying all three films on DVD. Blue was very well acted and the music was just fantastic. The soundtrack to Blue is available here and I plan on buying that as well. The music is used very effectively. It intrudes in a way that I felt the Julie character (who was married to a composer and helped edit his work) was just struck by the powerful nature of the music, perhaps as she had envisioned it or as she shared her husbands obsession with it.
Highly recommended. Buy this; you will not be disappointed!』
(Ah, Kieslowski, we lost you too soon.) 『Blue (Krzystof Kieslowski, 1993)
I'm not sure who wrote the cover copy for the Miramax release of Blue, but whoever it was should have lost his job. To describe a Kieslowski film in the terms of a traditional, and derivative, Hollywood mystery is a crime of monstrous proportions. And yet that's exactly what they did.
If you have any experience with Kieslowski (and if you don't, I strongly suggest getting your hands on Dekalog immediately, if not sooner), you've got a better idea of what to expect here-- a spare, moving portrait of someone in distress. That someone is Julie Vignon de Courcy (Juliette Binoche), who awakens from a coma after a car accident to find that her husband and daughter were both killed. She flees her old life, setting herself up anonymously in Paris, but pieces of her old life-- including some she didn't know existed-- keep cropping up to stall her flight at every turn.
If you've never seen a Kieslowski film, it's very difficult to explain what it is that makes him, as some have said, the best European filmmaker of the twentieth century; it has to do with the attention to detail, the subtleties of his movies, as opposed to the larger constructions of plot, setting, or theme. Granted, he uses all these things masterfully. It would be difficult to focus on a filmmaker's wonderful attention to detail if the movie holding those details up is a travesty (cf. every film M. Night Shyamalan has made since Unbreakable). But whereas some filmmakers are capable of producing wonderful set pieces that one can watch over and over again without remembering much of anything about them-- think, for example, about the cult hit Tremors-- scenes from Kieslowski flicks will haunt you for years after you first see them. A close-up of a face, say. An awkward telephone conversation. Juliette Binoche running her hand along a wall, so lost in thought that she doesn't realize she's drawing blood. (Yes, that's really Juliette Binoche's hand, and her blood.) It's these little things that separate the Kieslowskis of the world from the guys who are almost, but not quite, that good. A Kieslowski film isn't something you simply watch, it's something you experience. **** 』
(Compelling Film of Loss and Reclamation) 『"Blue" is not an easy film to watch but for that reason it makes it that more indispensible. The film deals with a young widow coping with not only the loss of her husband but her child as well. The film essentially examines how we comport ourselves in the face of great personal tragedy. We don't necessarily agree with the choices that Julie(Juliette Binoche) makes but they're certainly understandable. There is no handbook for grief and some of us try to insulate ourselves from the past just to survive day to day. Personally, I can relate to Julie because I have a sister who lost a husband at a young age and at the time I found some of her behavior inexplicable. Binoche gives a carefully modulated performance that doesn't overplay the film's more dramatic elements. A challenging film for adventurous filmgoers.』
(A Beguiling French Modern Classic. , 14 Sep 2007) 『Plot:
A young widow tries to escape her grief by moving to Paris, but, is escape possible.
My Review:
The 'Three Colours' trilogy is made by Krzysztof Kieslowski, the director of a small multitude of brilliant and exceptional French films, The Double Life Of Veronique; being one of his best.
Remarkable performances are endowed with the protagonist Julie (Juliette Binoche) surviving a car crash that claims the lives of her famous composer husband and five-year-old daughter, Julie (Binoche) makes an anonymous new start in a Paris flat; trying to regain her life.
A stern, frozen response to her persona in much the same of this review being short and bereft of essence. She construes vivid memories, haunted by music from her late husband's unfinished piece, a child's laugh could be heard.
Verdict:
Kieslowski: well done. 9/10.』 『Praised as one of the top films of the year by critics and audiences alike, this stylish and provocative mystery delivers captivating performances and stunning imagery! Academy Award(R)-winner Juliette Binoche (Best Supporting Actress, 1996, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, CHOCOLAT) is a young woman left devastated by the unexpected death of her husband and child. She retreats from the world around her, but is soon reluctantly drawn into an ever-widening web of lies and passion as the dark secret life of her husband begins to unravel. With each startling discovery and heart-stopping surprise, BLUE is sure to entertain you from beginning to end!』 『The first installment of the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy on Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, the three colors of the French flag. Blue is the most somber of the three, a movie dominated by feelings of grief. As the film begins, a car accident claims the life of a well-known composer. His wife, played by Juliette Binoche (Oscar winner forThe English Patient), does not so much put the pieces of her life back together as start an entirely new existence. She moves to Paris, where she dissolves into a wordless life virtually without other people. Kieslowski attaches an almost subconscious significance to the color blue, but primarily he focuses on Binoche's luminous face, and the way her subtle shifts in emotion flicker and disappear. The picture may be more enigmatic than the follow-upsWhiteandRed, but Binoche's quiet, heartbreaking presence becomes spellbinding; her performance won the best actress prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1993.--Robert Horton』
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By Debbie McClellan and Alfono Video Productions
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Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (sting) 『i bought this dvd for my husband on oct 15. we did not have chance to watch this dvd until 28 nov. but when we started dvd player it start to make noise and on screen it shows bad disk. so i try to returned the dvd however i could not send them out because it was over 30days. it said it will play on regular dvd so we tried on 3 different player but no go. i am stock with damage dvd. is anyone could help out! i could not find any phone # or e-mail only shows customer returned department address. anyway i am going to send this out to customer returned department and wait to see. this is a real stink!』
(Widescreen v. full) 『Just to offer my two cents, now that both versions are on DVD:
Regardless of what aspect ratio it was originally shot in, the full-screen version is indeed pan&scan. I now have both. If you compare the two, you'll see the newer widescreen DVD is not missing any of the picture from the top or bottom. It is the full-screen that is indeed missing the sides. I never saw it in the theater, so I can't say how it was originally projected. Either way, it's one of the best films ever (way better than Citizen Kane), so watch it however you want and enjoy.』
(The Ultimate Con) 『This movie ranks up there as one of the best films ever made and stands up well over the years.
Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Robert Shaw (who I always think of being an underated actor and the performance here and in Jaws show how great he was) all bring A-List performances to the movie.
The cinematography and look of the film adds to the atmosphere and is brilliant, while "The Entertainer" by Joplin adds to the feel of the movie.
And of course there is the plot itself. The planning, twists and turns of the con of the conman stand up on repeat viewings and letting some time pass between the viewings helps make the nuances stand up on repeat viewings regardless of whether you are able to remember the overall plot or conclusion - in other words it is one of the films that you can see over and over.
Highly recommended.』
(Defective Product) 『I ordered a HD copy of The Sting on DVD. The DVD would not load on my HD player. I returned the defective DVD and was sent a second HD copy of The Sting on DVD. The second DVD also would not load on my HD player. I returned the second one for a refund. I think you were sent a batch of defective HD DVD's. I am still awaiting my refund of the original purchase price.』
(The Sting) 『One of my all-time favorite movies (with the exception of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid)!!! I wore out the VHS tape so now I purchased the DVD. Paul Newman was a great actor and The Sting is a great movie. An appropriate legacy.』 『Winner of 7 Academy Awards® including Best Picture The Sting stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two con men in 1930s Chicago. After a friend is killed by the mob they try to get even by attempting to pull off the ultimate "sting." No one is to be trusted as the twists unfold leading up to one of the greatest double-crosses in movie history. The con is on!BONUS MATERIALS : The Art of the Sting - Retrospective Making a Masterpiece The Legacy Theatrical Trailer Production NotesSystem Requirements:Run Time: 130 minsFormat: DVD HD Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG UPC: 025193281029 Manufacturer No: 61032810』 『Winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, this critical and box-office hit from 1973 provided a perfect reunion for director George Roy Hill and stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who previously delighted audiences withButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Set in 1936, the movie's about a pair of Chicago con artists (Newman and Redford) who find themselves in a high-stakes game against the master of all cheating mobsters (Robert Shaw) when they set out to avenge the murder of a mutual friend and partner. Using a bogus bookie joint as a front for their con of all cons, the two feel the heat from the Chicago Mob on one side and encroaching police on the other. But in a plot that contains more twists than a treacherous mountain road, the ultimate scam is pulled off with consummate style and panache. It's an added bonus that Newman and Redford were box-office kings at the top of their game, and while Shaw broods intensely as the Runyonesque villain,The Stingis further blessed by a host of great supporting players including Dana Elcar, Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, Charles Durning, and Harold Gould. Thanks to the flavorful music score by Marvin Hamlisch, this was also the movie that sparked a nationwide revival of Scott Joplin's ragtime jazz, which is featured prominently on the soundtrack. One of the most entertaining movies of the early 1970s,The Stingis a welcome throwback to Hollywood's golden age of the '30s that hasn't lost any of its popular charm.--Jeff Shannon』 『Winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, this critical and box-office hit from 1973 provided a perfect reunion for director George Roy Hill and stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who previously delighted audiences withButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Set in 1936, the movie's about a pair of Chicago con artists (Newman and Redford) who find themselves in a high-stakes game against the master of all cheating mobsters (Robert Shaw) when they set out to avenge the murder of a mutual friend and partner. Using a bogus bookie joint as a front for their con of all cons, the two feel the heat from the Chicago Mob on one side and encroaching police on the other. But in a plot that contains more twists than a treacherous mountain road, the ultimate scam is pulled off with consummate style and panache. It's an added bonus that Newman and Redford were box-office kings at the top of their game, and while Shaw broods intensely as the Runyonesque villain,The Stingis further blessed by a host of great supporting players including Dana Elcar, Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, Charles Durning, and Harold Gould. Thanks to the flavorful music score by Marvin Hamlisch, this was also the movie that sparked a nationwide revival of Scott Joplin's ragtime jazz, which is featured prominently on the soundtrack. One of the most entertaining movies of the early 1970s,The Stingis a welcome throwback to Hollywood's golden age of the '30s that hasn't lost any of its popular charm.--Jeff Shannon』
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Hbo Home Video
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (See it for Olivier) 『This was among the play-to-TV movies presented by Sir Laurence in the late 1970's. I thought it was pretty good, although Joan Plowright seemed rather stiff. I don't know if it's what the play called for, but I thought she came off rather...stiff. I've seen her in other movies and was surprised. Maybe it's the character or the direction, but watching her Lady Pitts going on and on in a drunken state became boring after a while.
Still, the young actor who plays Ernest is good to watch and Olivier, although in a minor part, steals the show. I don't want to give the plot away, but he very believably fools the audience (well, maybe I'm just gullible) when on the screen.』
『Winner "Best Play of the Year" in 1949, DAPHNE LAUREOLA was a great hit in post-War London when first staged there by Sir Laurence Olivier, in a production which starred Dame Edith Evans. Re-visited here in a production from 1977, starring Sir Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright, DAPHNE LAUREOLA is a witty and surprising tale of romantic idealism and faltering desire. In a Soho restaurant, a diverse group of people gather for dinner. Four partygoers celebrating a birthday, a bitter couple snapping over supper, an elderly working class businessman, and Ernest, a young Polish emigre. Dining separately, they find their evening disturbed by an extraordinary woman, Lady Pitts, who talks aloud and sings even louder while knocking back double brandies and handing out invitations to tea at the home of her husband Sir Joseph. The impact of her appearance on their evening and in particular on the impressionable Ernest, becomes the subject of this extraordinary production. For the young man, she is Beatrice to his Dante; Daphne, to his Apollo. But for Lady Pitts, the situation may be something entirely different, as will be revealed in DAPHNE LAUREOLA.』
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Universal Studios
Not yet released IPhone 3G used's review (The Mummy is flushed!) 『After a long hard day, I decided to go see this movie. I enjoyed the 1st and 2nd ones, but this was awful! It waz one the worst movies! I have ever seen!』
(Awfull in every way) 『Everything about this movie is screwed up. The Director: Replacing Stephen Sommers with Rob Cohen was the biggest mistake. I can understand if Mr. Sommers refused to direct this movie once he finished reading the script.
The Casts: Rachel Weiz replaced with Maria Bello makes the Evelyn character dull: the joke, the magic conection between Rick and Evelyn as in the prevous 2 movies is lost, I don't know why Rachel refused this project, but I think she made a very smart decision. Luke Ford, indeed is too old to played the son, he looks more like a brother to Brendan Fraser.
The Talents: A waste of talents, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh can do more than that, yet the director didn't maximize their talents. Maria Bello tried so hard to play Evelyn character, but failed. I think she was a great actress, but after seeing her in this movie I changed my mind.
The Visual Effects: A westerner director made an oriental dragon = screwed up in every way, a chinesse dragon doesn't look like that! find an art director who did a research first before creating a movie.
The Script: (Warning: contain spoiler) The story is so stupid and awfull, that is insulted our mind and logic. The biggest joke is when a mummy who can change into an indestructible flying dragon had to change into a flightless beast, and then change back to a human, so that he can be killed by his enemy. Ridiculous!
If you just curious about this movie, rent it before you decided to buy it. For me it's not worth the money, even if the price drop to $1.99.』
(Pointless...) 『What a waste of time. Rachel Weisz is gone, Jet Li sleepwalks through the role (with what little screen time he actually has), and the plot is very predictable. Save your money, trust me.』
(Unbelievably Awful) 『I did not believe that this movie could possibly be so bad until I saw it. I would have left when the Yeti came out except I was surrounded on either side. There is absolutely no chemistry between any of the characters-- they all act as though they are on the stage saying their lines by themselves. Brendan Frazier maintains one tone of voice throughout-- irritated and loud. Maria Bello as Evie is too "suave" with none of the endearing clumsiness of Rachel Weisz, and it looks as though she and Fraser can barely stand to be near each other much less be married. There is a hackneyed theme of their grown son being estranged from his parents, which is totally at odds with the second movie. It's kind of like whoever sat down to write this clunker looked for every cliche s/he could find so as to include it in the film. Stay home and rent the first two movies if you don't already have them. This one's a waste of time.』
(Third Time is a Charm) 『The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Two Disc Deluxe Edition) I found this version different, but just as exciting as the other two. It still had humor, family values, mixed in with breath taking action and intrigue Maybe the other viewers are not as young at heart. My grandchildren enjoyed it too. Joy Crumpley』 『The third film in theThe Mummyseries freshens the franchise up by setting the action in China. There, the discovery of an ancient emperor's elaborate tomb proves a feather in the cap of Alex O'Connell (Luke Ford), a young archaeologist and son of Rick O'Connell (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Evelyn (Maria Bello, taking over the role from Rachel Weisz). Unfortunately, a curse that turned the emperor (Jet Li) and his army into terra cotta warriors buried for centuries is lifted, and the old guy prepares for world domination by seeking immortality at Shangri La. The O'Connells barely stay a step ahead of him (climbing through the Himalaya mountains with apparent ease), but the action inevitably leads to a showdown between two armies of mummies in a Chinese desert.The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperorhas a lot to offer: a supporting cast that includes the elegant Michelle Yeoh, Russell Wong, and Liam Cunningham, the unexpected appearance of several Yeti, and a climactic battle sequence that is nightmarishly weird but compelling. On the downside, the charm so desperately sought in romantic relationships, as well as comic turns by John Hannah (as Evelyn's rascal brother), is not only absent but often annoying. Rarely have witty asides in the thick of battle been more unwelcome in a movie. Rob Cohen's direction is largely crisp if sometimes curious (a fight between Fraser and Jet Li keeps varying in speed for some reason), but his vision of Shangri La, in the Hollywood tradition, is certainly attractive. --Tom Keoghbr>
Stills fromThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor(Click for larger image)
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Sony Pictures
Not yet released IPhone 3G used's review (One of the best films of the year) 『I still remember the night I went out with my family to watch this movie. If you haven't watched any meaningful movie this year, don't let this one go by, it is rich, honest and totally captivating. We need more movies like this in our theaters. The cast was great, the screewriting excellent and the message is powerful. As a Christian, I was touched beyond words and couldn't not help but cry when Kirk Cameron's character was complaining to his Dad next to the old cross and then without any word from his father he finally understood a message that changed his life and would change anyone's life. I love this movie and recommend it to everyone, doesn't matter if you're in a relationship or not. It is without a doubt my favorite pick of the whole year.』
(An Awesome Film!!!) 『When I went to see this with my parents; I just expected a movie about fire fighting, because my dad is a firefighter, and he wanted to see it also! It turned out to be a movie about love, God, and marriage. Captain Caleb Holt is a firefighter who is having problems with his wife, Catherine. They have a huge fight, and Catherine wants a divorce. Caleb visits his dad and gives him a 40 day challenge. Each day, he has to to something nice for his wife. It's not all serious, there are quite a few funny moments, and a little suspense when it comes to firefighting. When Catherine thinks that Caleb is being nice just to get money from the divorce, he still doesn't stop. Around the 20th day, Caleb finally wants to commit to keeping Catherine. It gets really emotional sometimes. If you are a fireman, like love stories, or a Christian, you'll love FIREPROOF!!!』
(Fireproof -- Awesome) 『I watched this movie at the local theater TWICE last week and loved it both times. It evokes a variety of emotions including laughter, tears, tension. Many co-workers watched it also and we could not stop talking about it. The writing is superb! The actors and actresses are perfect for their parts (even the church members that have roles).
Even if you are not married, this movie can still teach you about relationships. Just because you are single or have a good marriage does not mean you should not watch it.
An excellent addition to any movie library. The Kendrick brothers just keep getting better!』
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WALT DISNEY VIDEO
Not yet released IPhone 3G used's review (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Blu-ray Info) 『Version: U.S.A / Region A Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / High Profile 4.1 Running time: 2:29:58 Movie size: 32,33 GB Disc size: 48,70 GB Average video bit rate: 19.02 Mbps
Subtitles: English SDH / Chinese / French / Indonesian / Korean / Malay / Portuguese / Spanish / Thai Number of chapters: 22
#Audio Commentary #Circle Vision Interactive: Creating the Castle Raid #BD-Live
Disc 2 ****** #The Bloopers of Narnia (3m:06s) #Seven Deleted Scenes with optional introduction by director Andrew Adamson (11m:15s) #Inside Narniam: The Adventure Returns (34m:41s) #Sets of Narniam: A Classic Comes to Life (23m:45s) #Big Movie Comes to a Small Town (23m:20s) #Previsualizing Narnia (10m:09s) #Talking Animals and Walking Treesm: The Magical World of Narnia (4m:50s) #Secrets of the Duel (6m:46s) #Becoming Trumpkin (4m:47s) #Warwick Davism: The Man Behind Nikabrik (11m:08s)』
(Not as good as the first, but worth viewing) 『This review comes from my wife Sarah, who is a big fan of the first movie: The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a masterpiece. This movie didn't come close to the power of that movie. Regardless, if you're a fan of the first movie, I feel it's worth your time to view this second flick.
The first movie had such a positive, clear message of faith, love, forgiveness, standing up for what you believe in and redemption. The story along with the characters was so well developed. It had charm and depth. It was emotionally engaging.
This one was darker, with much confusion, frustration and less of a clear message to take away. There was a lot of focus on the fighting, and there were several periods in the movie that were plain disturbing rather than moving. The sets were darker also. I felt as if there was no one to like. Caspian was hard to relate to. Even the four main characters from the prior movie were less likable and more challenging to sympathize with. The ending left me entirely unsatisfied and even a bit sad. The "romance" between the older Pevensie girls and Prince Caspian was a bit unbelievable.
Yet, those who really enjoyed the first flick will want to see the continuation. The four Pevensie kids go back to Narnia and you'll want to follow the story. As in the first, the special effects are amazing, and the acting is top-notch. The introduction of the mouse character was enjoyable, and there were moments that made it worthwhile. While it doesn't live up to it's predecessor, it's still a decent movie. I give it a C+ or a B-.
』
(Wonderful!) 『One of the lesser "Chronicles of Narnia" novels makes for a difficult b
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