5 comments about Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven.

1. A classic allegory set in the "modern day world" that stays true to the source material. Totally Biblical with NO compromise-which is very rare in today's Christianity-a film that simply tells it like it is without being too graphic. If you have had it with today's watered down "Christianity" and are ready for some real "meat", this high quality production is for you! The journey of a seeker to Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and his life's journey to Heaven is beautifully acted and photographed with a marvelous score and high production values (this isn't a typical "low budget" Christian film). The true Christian life is full of hardship and suffering just as the Non-Christian life is-the difference being that we are upheld and gain strength by our faith in the One True God who sustains those of us who strive to remain true to him-THAT is the message of this film, not compromising with every belief system on the planet or thinking that God is here just to make us comfortable in this life and to make us filthy stinkin' rich!



2. What an excellent movie. Biblically sound and faithful the book. The gospel is presented clearly.
   
   The cinematography is beautiful, the acting superb and the music is inspiring. Technical effects and costumes are very well done. Many scenes are powerfully moving.
   
   I highly recommend this encouraging movie. I've ordered extra copies for friends and family.



3. This movie was well done and stayed true to the original story in the book. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a Christian movie that doesn't compromise on Christian principles to try to reach out to the secular world.



4. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R10A1OTHLUZZJE (53 sec video) This review contains some helpful information for those considering purchasing Pilgrim's Progress DVD. Also has some little known facts about the producer of this film. It is a solid Christian story that will help Believers to recognize and avoid all the detours that would prevent living the Faith filled life. Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven



5. I was pleasantly surprised by the production quality. Too many explicitly Christian films lack world class production values - this film does not. The casting is excellent, the characters believable and the storytelling is wonderful. The film is very true to the book. I enjoyed it far more than I expected to and highly recommend it.

5 comments about Gypsy.

1. I've always loved this movie. Natalie Wood is one of my favorite actresses. Some people might not like this because it is a musical. But it is a wonderful movie. Rosalind Russell gives a great performance. It is well worth watching.



2. I was ever so cautious about buying this DVD. First, there was the anxiety about potential editing horrors that destroy so many movies on DVD. Then there's the Herculean struggle of resolving who the best Mama Rose really was. And of course, everyone knows that the only movie that ever made full use of the medium to improve a musical was The Sound of Music. So my expectations were already low.
   
   I saw this movie years ago, and the faintness of my memory suggested to me that it wasn't all that great. By then, I had every note of the cast album with Ethel Merman memorized. And probably, I was wanting to hear Merman's voice in the part that Rosalind Russell sings/doesn't sing in the film.
   
   When I recently resolved to buy myself s'more Gypsy, I diligently read everything I could about all the filmed and recorded versions. And settled on this one. That was smart of me.
   
   First, and very importantly, be sure you're buying this widescreen format that beautifully captures the original cinematic exhibition. When you get to the scene at the train station and notice how the cinematography gently echoes Rose's empty and crumbling internal landscape, you will thank me.
   
   Second, there is no rational way to compare Rosalind Russell to Ethel Merman. Of course Merman could sing circles around her and virtually everyone else. But think about it. What would it really be like if Merman had done a film version? Ethel. In close up. Tonsils all engorged. If that had been the movie I'd watched, I think we both know I'd still be cowering under the sofa and unable to write this review. Rosalind Russell is such a very fine (and historically under-rated) film actress that she clearly fills out every inch of Mama Rose's character in the first scene. And her performance of "Some People" is just so good I get all giddy again just thinking about it. It's a pleasure to watch these songs being acted so well. Russell and Wood are the particularly strong actors here. Karl Malden left me wondering if Jack Klugman was really too busy to do the movie or what. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't stellar, and that looks bad next to what Rosalind Russell was doing with her part. Now on one hand, I was thrilled to see that the duet of "You'll Never Get Away from Me" was included in the outtakes--it's one of my favorite theater songs--but on the other hand, wow! Who knew a girl could miss Jack Klugman this much!
   
   If you are struggling, as was I, over which Gypsy to get on DVD, struggle no more. This is the one. Sure, you may be tempted to get Bette Midler. But I caution you to remember how it always gets with Bette Midler. Things seem to be going well for a while, then by the end of the film/show/concert, you're wanting to shake her and tell her to stop making faces. Rosalind Russell won't do that to you. She's just unspeakably fabulous in this role. All the brashness necessary for Mama Rose with all the subtlety necessary for film.
   
   As an extra bonus: If you squint a little, you'll realize that the strangely contemporary and familiar look you notice in Rosalind Russell's face is because she is a dead ringer for Alan Cumming in drag. This, needless to say, makes the film all the more enjoyable on an entirely new level.



3. I remember watching this movie as a child, however, the message is still the same today......you have to make yourself happy. Love this movie.



4. One of my favorite musical films. In Rosalind Russell's capable hands, Mama Rose becomes a flesh and blood, living, breathing, and heartbraking character. She gets the pathos and the ambition and the humor and the hurt just right... I love it! The rest of the cast is also first-rate.



5. I was very happy with the transaction and will deal with this person again in the future.

5 comments about The Pelican Brief.

1. We have a big "library" of VHS movies. We do, of course, want to trade them out for the sharper DVD, but because of the cost, we have been in no hurry. You have made it possible to to go ahead and build up our DVD library faster because of the excellent new or like-new movies you offer at such great low prices. Now we have a beautiful copy of another of our favorites--Pelican Brief! Glad to do business with such reliable sellers.



2. The Pelican Brief DVD
   
   The Pelican Brief is based on John Grisham's novelThe Pelican Brief (John Grisham) in which a student (played by Julia Robert's) discovers a plot to assassinate a couple of U. S. Supreme Court Justices so that two less environmentally biased justices can be appointed. Julia Roberts is beautiful as usual and Denzel Washington is superb, also as usual.
   
   Highly recommended for fans of Julia Roberts, Denzel, Washington, and John Grisham.
   
   Gunner February, 2008



3. I must say that this is a great movie; great cast, great story, great direction. I do think it sad and annoying though that in this technilogical day and age, that I have to get up and turn the disc over after about an hour or so, just to see the rest of the movie. Come on Warner Brothers, you can do a better job than that; and with this movie you should!I would only recommend this movie with the advisory that YOU DO HAVE TO GET UP FROM YOUR COMFORTABLE SEAT TO TURN THE DISC OVER IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE WHOLE MOVIE!!!!!!



4. This is a movie full of intrigue and suspense. Denzel Washington turns in one of his best performances as Gray Grantham. Julia Roberts is equally as exciting as Darby Shaw a Tulane law student. Together they work to expose a criminal conspiracy that involves many high officials that include the White House. When attempts are made on their lives, it becomes a race to see if they can solve the case before they forfeit their lives in pursuit of justice.



5. The quality of this DVD, The Pelican Brief, is very, very poor. The vast majority of the film is so dark that neither the characters nor the scenes can be viewed...the screen is practically pitch black, with no images.
   I will not be buying anymore DVDs from Amazon, due to the extremely poor quality of this single DVD, which I had so looked forward to receiving.

5 comments about L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment).

1. Ah, yes, why can't all our college experiences be this cool? Instead of rooming with a control freak-esque local girl in a run-down flat in a northeastern college town, wouldn't it have been great if I'd lived with a bunch of cool people in Spain? Oh, well.
   
   I find it hard to describe what this movie is about, so I'll leave it to others who have no doubt done a fine job of detailing its quirky, thin-yet-rich plot. To say it depicts the inner landscape of a young Frenchman's evolving personality as it concerns itself with interaction among co-habiting European students from all corners of the continent doesn't do it justice or explain much at all. I'll only say I enjoyed the fast-moving L'Auberge Espagnole and would recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a stylish young cast clash and bond under the wide blue skies of Barcelona and amid the scenery of ultra-modern twenty-first-century Europe.
   
   Merely by packing seven good-looking multinational young people into a small Spanish apartment you'd have a watchable tale right there, but Cedric Klapisch goes much farther by working in subplots about an adulterous affair, long-distance relationships, ethnic stereotyping, and the debt owed to one's personal past. "European Pudding" has winsome performances, funny moments---Wendy's brother taking a bullet for her by jumping into bed with the half-naked American troubadour was completely hilarious--- and is an intelligent, likable movie!
   
   So, Cedric, when can we look forward to seeing part three?



2. One of very few times I've laughed outloud at a movie... A different sense of humor is required. Highly recommend.



3. This is an Audrey Tautou film, not a Marion Cotillard film. Cotillard is not listed in the full cast list. Could someone explain?



4. A French film set in Barcelona, Spain; sounds beautifully intoxicating, right? That's that I thought but sadly I was sorely mistaken.
   
   `L'Auberge Espagnole' (`The Spanish Apartment' / `Euro Pudding' depending on how you want to translate it) has the makings of an intricately woven coming of age story but it manages to be nothing more than a boring and tepid waste of time. I remember when the opening credits for the film began to run and I thought to myself that this looked to be an extremely steamy sitcom, and I was put off a bit because I wanted to watch a `movie' and not a `sitcom' but I thought that if done right then it could prove to be a good time at least. Instead I got something that doesn't even qualify as a `Dawson's Creek' style romp; a film that merely skims across the surface of stimulation and barely comes off as entertaining. Even it's `film about nothing yet about so much more' approach is staggering and winds up being a film about nothing that is ultimately about nothing.
   
   I know I am in the minority here, but honestly, I can't bring myself to lie.
   
   I will say first and foremost that I adore films that seem to have no point but in the end touch us so deeply. I'm all for that, but `L'Auberge Espagnole' is not that kind of film, at least not for me. I gathered nothing from this experience, except shattered hopes and aspirations since the film wound up being so much less than I anticipated. After seeing Audrey Tautou sizzle and score with the beautifully constructed `Amelie' I was dying to see her in action once again, so I picked up this film. Sadly, Tautou is barely in this film, and even though she is decent in her small role she is still stunted by the scripts poor construction.
   
   The film follows Xavier, a French college student who decides to travel to Barcelona for a year to study economics and learn the Spanish culture in order to help secure himself a well paying job. He leaves behind his difficult girlfriend and overbearing mother and winds up bunking with quite a few roommates all of different ethnic backgrounds (British, Italian, German, Danish, Spanish). His girlfriend comes to visit, leaves upset, breaks up with him. He falls for his lesbian roommate, then his friend's wife. His roommate's brother comes to visit and turns everyone off (the only slightly entertaining segment in the film) and yet none of this seems remotely relevant since none of it is delivered in a way that makes us feel it is of the slightest importance.
   
   One good thing I can say about the film is that the entire cast handles their respective roles very well. Their acting can't really elevate this film into the importance it is so actively seeking, but it does at least give me a singular avenue in which to praise. Romain Duris is wonderful as Xavier, taking his characters shelter naivety and allowing him to blossom as the film lurches forward. It's within the supporting characters that I found the most joy though. Judith Godreche is especially stunning as Anne-Sophie, the married woman whom Xavier takes a liking to. Cecile De France is also mesmerizing as Isabelle, Xavier's off-limits roommate, and Kelly Reilly makes her mark as the loud and outspoken Wendy. I also really loved the inclusion of Kevin Bishop and his character William, for he actually held my interest for the brief moments he was on the screen.
   
   Sadly, they can't save this movie nor can they convince me to every watch it again or even suggest you give it a try. I'd stay away from this film, but then again so many others here have praised it and recommended it and obviously seen something within its running time that I fail to see.
   
   To each his own, I always say; to each his own.



5. Good idea, good direction, good cast, lots of fun, brings up real life issues and leaves you fulfilled.
   
   For those of you not familiar with Romain Duris yet, I also recommend seeing The Beat that My Heart Skipped. I think he has what it takes, and is one of the best actors today.

5 comments about The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition).

1. Seldom mentioned in discussions of "The Magnificent Seven" is the appearance of the stunning Mexican actress Rosenda Montero, the romantic interest of the character Chico. Now in her 70's, she appeared in very few American films,(She appeared in "She," with Ursula Andress) but had a big career in Mexican movies. I would love to have seen more of her exotic beauty in "Seven," but there were only a few shots of her. I think she is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen in a film, in terms of pure, raw beauty.



2. It is just a great movie to watch over and over again. It has great actors in it A good westernan to watch when bord with what is on tv.



3. This movie is literally the beginning of Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Steve McQueen's superstardom. This movie is to them, as "A Fistful Of Dollars" is to Clint Eastwood. It wasn't until I saw the special feature, on the making of "The Magnificent Seven", is when I rediscovered this movie all over again. The history and making of the movie is just as fascinating as the movie itself. Personally, I feel this movie contains Charles Bronson's greatest performance. The relationship, that he has with the three young boys, explaining to them the difference between what real courage and real responsibility that a man displays, in order, to be, a father, to his children and finally Bronson displaying toughness and tenderness, all at the same time, in a extremely moving scene, that actually can bring one to tears...A very rare Charles Bronson moment. This movie has that great theme song, that stands the test of time, plus an exceptional music score, along with powerful directing, by John Sturges. That old expression, "They don't make them like this anymore", definitely apply to "The Magnificent Seven".



4. This movie is without a doubt the best western ever made, actors are the best. They just do not make movies like they use to! How unfortunate, this has no nasty language, sex or anything else but the teachings of what it reflects. Frankly, I have watched this more than 10 times and every time it has something else to reflect. A must for anyone's collection of excellent movies.



5. I just received this movie and haven't had a chance to watch this version yet, but no matter what the quality, it is still a great movie with a great cast and great music!

5 comments about Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Special Edition).

1. If you love movie classics, this is one of the best black humor movies ever made. Of course you already know this because the movie has been around since the early 60's. For the new generation of movie goers, you might like this movie, on the other hand, If you think Jackass (the movie) was the best show ever, skip Dr. Strangelove because it will be way over your head.



2. There's no denying Peter Sellers' genius as he exhibits this very well in three main character parts that he plays here: the President, Mandrake, and Dr. Strangelove himself. These are three very different and unique roles and the fact that he pulls all three off very well speaks volumes of his comedic genius. I've seen "Some Like It Hot" placed higher than this film on lists of best comedies of all time but I disagree because as much as "Tootsie" and that film must have been hilarious at the time of release, many of the jokes do not age well up to this day with the exception of this film which is still very funny today. George C. Scott is also very good in this comedic role and this role is possibly one of the reasons someone thought of giving the role of Patton to him for what would later become his best ever screen performance in the movie "Patton".
   
   The dvd could have been better restored picture quality-wise and more sound options such as Dolby 5.1 surround would have been appreciated rather than just the Mono here but otherwise, this version with a good documentary among the bonus features is still value for money.
   
   A good comedy that ages well although it would be interesting to see what they do to improve upon this version for the Blu-ray one. Hopefully, better picture and sound quality options and more bonus features are among them.



3. I did not like this movie, neither did my friend or girlfriend. I seem to remember some hype about it as an old classic comedy, but it was not funny like it was supposed to be. Maybe if they did a remake of this movie that actually had punch lines to the jokes it may not be half bad. Some people may like this movie or understand it on a different level than me, but I dont understand.



4. Dr. Strangelove, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
   
   I've always found it somewhat amusing that when it comes to Stanley Kubrick's movies, I dovetail almost exactly with everyone else I know. If you ask Kubrick fans what their favorite Kubrick films are, you will get the almost universal answer of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Dr. Strangelove. I finally saw the former all the way through for the first time a couple of months ago, and it was just as bad as I figured it would be from the pieces I'd seen. Now, I've seen the latter, which I again assumed would be terrible based on what I'd seen of it; unlike 2001, though, in this case I'd actually underestimated how thoroughly horrible this movie is. (And, for the record, of the Kubrick movies I've seen-- I'm still missing a few-- my two favorites are, by far, The Killing and Lolita.)
   
   Critics back when it came out, of course, immediately compared it to Fail-Safe, the other 1964 film about the War Room. It was inevitable, really. The main difference between the two films is that Fail-Safe plays it straight and goes for tension, while Dr. Strangelove goes for satire. The biggest problem is that the satire just isn't funny. It's the same tired old antiwar message crap we've heard a million times before. There's no thought given to characters or plot at all; it all exists for the sole purpose of poking fun at anyone who's not a hard-line antiwar activist. (Reportedly, Peter George, upon whose novel the film is based, despised it-- probably for that reason.) There is no attempt at subtlety here, no attempt at artistry. There are many attempts at humor; all of them fail. Now, I grant you, they might actually be hilarious, but I couldn't tell; I was too busy reeling from getting hit in the head with the antiwar hammer over and over again.
   
   This is the big difference between the infinitely superior Fail-Safe and this pile of garbage; Fail-Safe actually hands the viewer a worthwhile story, characters for whom the viewer is capable of feeling sympathy/antipathy, plot development, the works. In other words, it's actually a movie rather than a collection of unfunny jokes around a theme. Dr. Strangelove is, in no uncertain terms, one of the worst movies I have ever had the displeasure of sitting all the way through. It may not be the worst, but it's certainly in the top five. (zero)



5. I can only add my kudos to this cult timepiece. Title could have been "It's a mad, mad world"! Peter Sellers and George C Scott give masterful performances. No wonder that this film has a cult following all over the globe!

5 comments about Blue Velvet (Special Edition).

1. The brutally honest performances, articulate and beautiful style, and the movie's sexual and violent shock value save the story from becoming too stale or uninspiring. Blue Velvet, all these years later, still seems completely original, invigorating and unsurpassed. It wouldn't matter if every film after Blue Velvet in David Lynch's career sucked, because Blue Velvet will always be his masterpiece. The things, along with Twin Peaks, will remember him for.
   
   Everyone assumes that Blue Velvet opens with the infamous ear-in-the-grass scene, but the film's opening is even more disturbing than that. A suburban fantasia of white picket fences, blood-red roses, waving fireman, happy children and a man watering his lawn gives way to the disturbing moment when the watering man collapses and the camera pans down to dirt level where a number of horrific insects are scrabbling in the dirt at the base of the lawn. The soundtrack changes from Leave It to Beaver-style music to the loud, gnawing, electric saw-like noises emitted by the creatures. Only subsequent to this scene does Jeffrey Beaumont (a wide-eyed, snoopy Kyle MacLachlan) find the ear in a field of overgrown weeds.
   
   The ear leads Jeffrey through a sordid underworld involving kidnapping, masochism, drug-dealing, and murder. But while there's a whole lot of plot in Blue Velvet, Lynch's more elemental concern is with unearthing the truth behind the façade (i.e. showing what lurks under the lawn). Even the blue velvet dress that chanteuse Dorothy Valens (Isabella Rossellini) wears hides a secret -- namely, the bruises on her body which are delivered by the vile Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper, in the role that brought him back to the limelight).
   
   When Jeffrey asks the niave Sandy (Laura Dern), the prim girl on whom he has a crush, why there is so much trouble in the world, the answer is clear -- without it, our lives would be far duller. Jeffrey himself admits that he loves a mystery and the curiosity that his desire entails is the same one that fuels Lynch's own vision. When Frank says to Jeffrey, "You're like me," it could be Lynch speaking to the audience. We want to know more, even if what we find out hurts or is ugly. Like the scene of an accident, we cannot look away. Fueled by a vibrant and always-surprising surrealism, Blue Velvet reminds us that the dreams and fantasies of our subconscious are dangerous and thrilling; it's surface reality that is mundane.
   
   This is definitely a film worth watching multiple times. It gets better and better on every viewing. There are so many questions, and at the same time, so many answers, which seem to bring up more questions. Blue Velvet is a timeless, unmissible film.



2. Blue Velvet is my favorite David Lynch film, and one of my favorite films of all time. In many ways it's a disturbing film, but not so much because of the violence (compared to today's standards), but because of the characters and the darkness of the human condition that they expose. It's worth watching Dennis Hopper channel Frank Booth, the sociopathic drug dealer who pretty much owns the film. Also great are Dean Stockwell, Isabella Roselinni, Kyle McLaughlin, and Laura Dern, all great actors and actresses who make the film the classic that it is. A must for film students.



3. "Blue Velvet" is a take on film noir with typical Lynch weirdness, unique atmosphere and breathtaking cinematic work. Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) comes home from college to visit his sick and bed-ridden father who had a tragic accident. Having made a startling discovery (to be more exact, a human ear lying in the grass), out of sheer boredom and driven by passion for adventure Jeffrey decides to proceed with this mystery and gets involved with a night-club singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) living in a shabby apartment building, which is somewhat incongruous to the sleepy suburban paradise of Lumberton.
   
   Dorothy, a queer mixture, of "damsel in distress" and "femme fatale", is in a middle of a life and death situation involving her husband and son. She is subjected to sexual abuse and other forms of violence by a psychopathic man named Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) and his demented associates. Jeffrey's further investigation reveals that one of the police detectives is also involved in the criminal activities of the gang, and that means that he will have to deal with these people using his own resources. He confides in Sandy, a good-natured and sweet blonde, whose father is a hard-working and honest policeman. Sandy is obviously fascinated by Jeffrey's recklessness, but her level-headed nature prevents her from becoming his full-time accomplice and ditching her boy-friend, at least, not until later on.
   
   Stylistically, Blue Velvet is a precursor to Lynch's notorious collaboration with Mark Frost - TV series "Twin Peaks". These creations share a lot of elements including the small town setting, a dangerously attractive brunette, oldies often played under disturbing circumstances, dreamy angel-like singers (remember Julie Cruise in Twin Peaks), flame and even the famous red curtains. Although "Blue Velvet" is just a thriller without any supernatural context, somehow you expect the Dwarf to pop up and start dancing at any time.
   
   The blue velvet is a leitmotif of the film. "Blue Velvet" is a song that Dorothy has to perform in a club every night looking straight in the eyes of her tormentors. Dorothy also wears a blue velvet gown at home, and Frank has a fetish for blue velvet using it in his perverted sexual games. Blue velvet is a symbol of mystery, obsession and hidden passions lurking beneath the exterior of men.
   
   Lynch uses different colors for the scenes taking place in the normal world of American suburbia versus Dorothy's apartment or Ben's house. Lumbertown is depicted as idyllic joyful place with bright yellow tulips against the white fence and bright green grass. Everything involving Dorothy or the criminals is shot either in the darkness or unnaturally striking colors. The director makes an interesting application of the contrast between the two women in protagonist's life. Dangerous and seductive Dorothy is a voluptuous brunette wearing blue or red gowns, whereas Sandy is a slender blonde, your typical American next door cheerleader.
   
   Kyle MacLahlan is cute, adorable and gives an incredibly convincing performance. His love-making scenes with Rossellini are tasteful, beautiful and disturbing at the same time. Rosselini was quite adequate, especially if we take into account the complexity of the character, but I couldn't get rid of this thought in the back of my head that Sherilyn Fenn would have been much more memorable. Perhaps, I am irreparably spoiled by Twin Peaks... However, Rossellini's was Lynch's favorite at the time, so we can understand being a little bit biased here.
   Dennis Hopper is way over the top as Frank Booth, being psychotic, violent and pitiful at the same time. His every appearance on the screen is a an avalanche of emotions, swear-words and craziness. He is a dangerous man and Jeffrey who stepped in his way knows that the only way for him to stay alive is to eliminate Frank.
   
   Lynch decided to end this flick on a joyful note. Everything goes back to normal in Lumberton, Jeffrey and Sandy will probably go on to have a long and wholesome life together with children on the way. Dorothy is hugging her son in the final moments of the movie, and the robin as the symbol of good is devouring the bug just as in Sandy's dream. However, despite the obviously happy ending and triumph of the good over the evil, the final scenes have such a dream-like and surreal quality that one cannot help suspecting that something bad is doomed to happen again. With Lynch you never know for sure...



4. After his father has a stroke, clean-cut college student Jeffery Beaumont (Kyle McLaughlin) returns home to help out in his father's hardware store. While walking in a field one day, he discovers a severed ear which leads him and girlfriend, policeman's daughter, Sandy Williams (Laura Dern), on a Hardy Boys-esque investigation that takes them to the dark underbelly of their perfect American small town existence.
   
   Imagine a 1930's film noir with sex and drugs, and the Hardy Boys as detectives, and you've got a pretty good idea of what this film is about. "Blue Velvet" takes standard crime film elements that you have seen dozens of times before and combines them into one of the most original films you have ever seen in your life. The central theme of this film is the battle between all that is wholesome, or good and that which is corrupt, or evil. The side of good is represented by Jeffery Beaumont, sort of a real-world Frank Hardy and a forerunner to McLaughlin's "Twin Peaks" character, Dale Cooper. Between Jeffery Beaumont and Dale Cooper, to me, McLaughlin is the face of innocence and this film is all about the loss of that innocence and its redemption. On the side of evil is drug-addicted, expletive-spewing Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), truly the most frightening and disturbing villain ever.
   
   "Blue Velvet" is a very nasty, in-your-face movie that is most certainly not for all tastes (I read on the internet that many people walked out when this film was first shown in cinemas and I can see why). It is also a very weird film (although, by the standards set by David Lynch's other movies, this film is positively normal) and many scenes in it are designed to be endured rather than enjoyed. Yet, unlike many other similarly dark films, I didn't come out of this film feeling dirty (something that I felt after seeing "Sin City"). I felt that, just like Jeffery Beaumont, I had journeyed to the underworld but had returned, and in the course of that return, any evil that I had encountered had been washed away. For this reason, if you do see this film, I recommend that you stay with it until the end. The middle might be bad, but in the end, all is restored.



5. I had never heard of this movie until I was watching a TV show that was describing the 10 best crime movies. I ordered it new and was pleased with the movie and the prompt delivery from Amazon.

5 comments about Return to Me.

1. I enjoy the movie and the DVD was just as described new, unopened, and working correctly.



2. This is a very touching and funny movie. Good clean fun that will run you through a gambit of emotions.



3. Have you ever wondered what happened to heart transplant patients after the surgery? Does it change their lives? What are their feelings knowing that their new life comes at the expense of someone else's?
   
   Bob (Duchovny) and Elizabeth (Richardson) had a great life. She loved caring for the apes at the zoo and he was building an enclosure to make the animals lives even better. They'd like to take a trip to Italy--maybe after the new building is done.
   
   Then, a tragic accident claimed her life. Bob signs away his wife's heart and tries to go on with his life.
   
   Grace (Driver) who's had a heart condition most of her life, is about to die. She gets word she's getting a heart. The surgery's successful, but she mourns that someone had to die to get her life. It takes her a year to send a thank-you note to the donor family.
   
   Life does get better for Grace. She's out of the hospital, she's painting and dreaming of going to Italy, but has never been on a plane...
   
   While Bob is out on a disastrous blind date, he meets Grace. She's waitressing his table. He ditches his date and accidentally leaves his phone at the restaurant O'Reilly's Italian, run by Grace's grandfather (O'Connor) and his lovable poker playing cronies.
   
   The rest is predictable and history, but is still worth seeing. "Return to Me" is a heartfelt comedy and a pleasant evening.
   
   Rebecca Kyle, May 2008



4. Here chick , chick, chick, yes, its a great chick flick. But guys it also is a great love story. A movie that leaves you with a good feeling.A funny warm wonderful movie, Remember when that was important.Its nice to watch a movie that doesn't make you feel like you have to change your clothes and wash your mind out. Great movies are still great.Bonnie Hunt tells a great story with comic embellishment. Good work Girl!



5. I LOVE this movie. I watch it over and over. A good story and great music. When talking about unforgettable movies with my friends, I always recommend this one. This is definitely a KEEPER!

5 comments about Legally Blonde (Special Edition).

1. This funny and fastpaced movie is the best remedy for a rainy day or finding out, like Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon), that your handsome boyfriend Warner Huntington III(Matthew Davis) has just dumped you. The plot is cute and doesn't claim to be "cerebral." There's nothing really to the story beyond the adventures/misadventures of a California Blonde at Harvard Law School. Her snooty, uppercrusty classmates look down their noses at her because of how she dresses, speaks, and acts...to their way of thinking, Elle is laughably unsophisticated and lacking in taste, with neither a history of social progressivism with which to pad her resume nor a sense of genetic superiority. They are certain she doesn't belong at such a distinguished Ivy covered institution as Harvard. Elle, however, is determined to show them that a girl who doesn't wear argyle and loves to get her nails painted when she's under stress can be anything she wants to be. Every bit a funny piece of pink fluff. Enjoy!



2. This DVD version of "Legally Blonde" is corrupt. They SAY it includes many many special features on the box, but when you open it and pop it into your DVD player, it does NOT have these special features:
   1) Deleted Scenes
   2) 2 Featurettes: "Inside Legally Blonde" & "The Hair That Ate Hollywood"
   3) Hit Music Video "Perfect Day" By Hoku
   4) Original Theatrical Trailer
   
   What it DOES include, though, is this:
   1) 2 Audio Commentaries Featuring Robert Luketic, Reese Witherspoon, Marc Platt & Film Crew
   2) a Trivia Track
   
   
   
   If you want "the whole enchilada", I strongly suggest you don't buy this DVD. It's a waste of money and a big fake.
   
   
   On the upside, though, "Legally Blonde" is 'a feel-good girl-power [movie]'. It's one of my favorites and it should be your's too! Some parts are hilarious and the plot is great too. If you just want to buy this DVD/movie just for the sake of enjoying the movie, then I'd say "GO FOR IT!!!!!" :)



3. Witty and smart is how I'd describe this movie. I'm a big fan of Reese Witherspoon, so she's an added bonus to this movie. I saw this movie once and fell in love with it so I had to buy it. It's so funny and cute at the same time. Definitely a movie to see!



4. Legally Blonde is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's not groundbreaking, it has no pretensions of greatness -- but it's absolutely tops for wonderful laughs and a cute chick-lit kind of story.
   
   Legally Blonde is more endearing every time I watch it.



5. In my 4 decades of movie watching, I don't know if I've ever seen one with a more predictable plot than this one. The writers made no effort to mislead the viewer, unlike movies such as Charade with Audrey Hepburn or Sixth Sense. None the less, Legally Blonde was quite enjoyable thanks to Reese Witherspoon's spirited acting, some good gag lines, Reese's amazing pink wardrobe, her Chihuahua's amazing and often coordinating wardrobe, and clever supporting characters. Unfortunately, the supporting characters like the angry lesbian law student and Raquel Welsh as a pampered wealthy socialite only had a few lines and were pretty much background for Reese Witherspoon, but they did add some interest and amusement. Reese Witherspoon's acting carries this movie and brings it from a mediocre 3 stars to a respectable 4.

5 comments about The NeverEnding Story.

1. Bastian is a young boy of higher than average intelligence and imagination struggling to deal with bullies and the recent death of his mother. The hardships that have befallen his life, along with the hard instruction of an out-of-touch father, have taken their toll on Bastian's ability to fantasize and dream, convincing him that he must grow up and keep his feet on the ground. Luckily for him, while taking refuge in an old bookshop one day on his way to school, Bastian is introduced to "The NeverEnding Story". This mysterious book takes his imagination on a daring quest with a young warrior named Atreyu to save a child-like empress and the entire land of Fantasia from the mysterious and terrible Nothing that is sweeping across the land and destroying everything it touches.
   
   If any movies from the now much celebrated 1980's can truly be called classics, "The NeverEnding Story" is without a doubt one of the most worthy. It was a time when fantasy films for young people were insanely popular, all with dazzling pre-CGI effects and eerie, otherworldly music, and this film is the finest example. Based on a famous German book (it's said that the author was not pleased with the film version), "The NeverEnding Story" is an exciting and magical tale about the restoration of a boy's imagination against great odds. The land and creatures of Fantasia, while sometimes rather ugly, are brilliantly brought to life, the cast is excellent, and every young boy growing up in the '80's was totally in love with beautiful Tami Stronach as the empress (now a lovely and accomplished dancer). We all also wanted a luck dragon of our own!
   
   The Warner Bros. DVD release could use an update, as all the extras are in the form of text information (little tidbits about the characters and effects), but at least the film is presented in widescreen (on the flip side) and a trailer is included as well. There were two sequels made to "The NeverEnding Story", plus a cartoon series and something called "Tales from the NeverEnding Story," which I believe was a live-action TV series. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of that stuff, so I can't recommend or discourage seeking it out. However, you can't go wrong with the enchanting original!



2. Only a died in the wool grump could possibly dislike this engaging fantasy movie ,based on Michael Ende's novel of the same name .It is imaginative and thoughtful.It revolves around a young boy named Baslian -played by Barret Oliver-who lives with his Dad (Gerald Mcraney)who gets on his case for Basilan's constant daydreaming .He is bullied at school and desperately misses his mother who has recently died .One day he cuts school and wanders into a mysterious bookshop where he picks up a book entitled The Neverending Story and as he begins to read the book the events in the story come to life.
   The key figure in the tale is a child like Princess (Tami Stronach).She is ill and fears that if she dies her land ,the land known as Fantasia , will be taken over and its essence destroyed .She sends a young warrior Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) to find a cure for her lingering illness.What menaces Hantasia is a plague of "nothing".The people of the land are losing hope and forgetting their apirations and Fantasia is dying as a result.Atreyu's journeyings bring him into contact with all manner of weird and wonderful creatures ,and gradually Basilian becomes sucked into and becomes part of the story himself.
   The tale with its state of the art for its era)animation ,puppetry and prostetics owes a great deal to Alice in Wonderland and ,in some sequences to the science fiction classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. with traces of The Wizard of Oz and The Dark Crystal .The special effects team of Brian Johnson (Alien )and Bruce Nicholson (The Empire Strikes Back)create menacing swamps and spooky wooods on a Bavarian sound stage which arte easily the equal of Industrial Light and Magic and are a vital part of a movie which is excellent for children but which also has a vital message for adults .Yes -this is a message movie folks .The warning is clear among the fantasy and charm-it warns of a generation that has turned its back on imagination in favour of media in which everything is laid out on a plate for the audience .It si apen of praise to then power and importance of the imagination .Our imaginations are under threat -amd if that does not worry you ,it sure as Gehenna should!
   
   The message here is a tad simplistic but overall it is a bold ,and daring movie with something to say
   
   It remains ,still,among the best movies of its era



3. This film effected me in a way that no other ever did as a child. When I saw it recently for the first time as an adult, I now appreciate the film now more than I did before. A fantasy that speaks to human nature and the thoughts of child and man alike. May I also add that the special effects here were at times beautiful and blow a lot of the modern fake looking computer graphics out of the water. Film makers should think about looking back into expensive animatronics and stop motion. It is better in my opinion.



4. This movie is charming. It has fantasy elements, real life childhood struggles and a real personable touch. If you are an avid reader you will relate to the lead character in this film. While I did not experience the bullying the lead character did as a child I definately related to his love of books and the escapism they represent. It's a thrill that this movie really puts you back in touch with, in only the way a child can experience. That is probably my favorite part of this film. Books were exciting worlds as a child, complete mysteries to be revealed; this movie captures that and brings it to life in a fantastic way. I thought it was clever and charming and very entertaining, fun for all. I still enjoy this film all these years later.



5. Watching any of the Lord of the Ring movies before viewing this film first should be against the law. "The Neverending Story" was one of the first titles I added to my DVD collection, and one of the first films I remember enjoying as a child. "The Neverending Story" incorporates all of the elements of the classic imaginary tales that came before it, like the wonderful "Wizard of Oz," with it's memorable characters who embody objects and animals from our everyday lives (my favorite was the "rock biter"), and it sets the standard for the blockbuster tales what would come after it, like the Lord of the Rings and Harry Poter movies, with it's tale of a young hero set out to achieve a great task and save the world. It would be unfair to compare the graphics and special effects of "The Neverending Story" with that of "The Lord of the Rings," but what this film does a better job of in my opinion, is tie the book in with the movie. The actual story might not be exact, but the way Sebastian was included directly into the film as the reader of the story being told is something a director might not be able to get away with in today's movie market. This is a must see for young viewers as it is for the most part kid-friendly.