5 comments about Splendor.

1. Gregg Araki has made a name for himself in the darker and more obscure side of film. Though this film has flourishes of the same Araki we have come to know (threesomes and homosexuality) this title is suprisingly hip and even refreshing. Being canadian, I have come to like the talents of the few actors hailing from my country. Kathleen Robertson fills a role that is nothing short of ravishing and adorable. It's much different from the sarcastic and barbed character she played in Nowhere (Lucifer). She is by far the heart and soul of this delightful and sexy comedy. Watching this movie, to me, was like drinking a strawberry milkshake in every sense. The storyline was, as some have put, a more modern version of "Three's Company" wich is also made mention of at one point in the movie. The plot takes many unique turns and the ending is even more of a delightful suprise. The soundtrack to this movie is excellent as Gregg once again proves his talent in musical selection as well as filmaking. Like in Nowhere, if you follow the closing credits through for a bit you'll be treated to another half a minute or so of antics from the characters. In summary this movie is a 3/4 or so change from the Araki we have come to know and love, but definitely another great movie success. (For the record.....Ms Kathleen Robertson, great job! Love ya lots!)



2. I was not conscious of "Splendor" being a Gregg Araki film when I started watching it but after the first two sequences I was thinking: "this is great directing-who did this"? While the technique screams "Araki", as does the casting of Kathleen Robertson, the narrative is so conventional that you find the combination hard to reconcile. I loved an earlier comment that "Splendor" is like a John Hughes remake of "The Doom Generation.
   
   Although Araki is paying homage to the great screwball comedies of the 1930's: "Topper", "It Happened One Night", "The Awful Truth", and "Bringing Up Baby"; the style and substance of "Splendor" is closer to Mike Nichols' "The Graduate" (not to mention an amusing parody of the "Graduate's" climatic wedding scene).
   
   Kathleen Robertson has the Rose McGowen part in this version of "The Doom Generation" and is generally well suited to the role. I have not decided yet if Robertson is in McGowen's class as an actress, or in the class of her fellow Canadians Mia Kirshner and Sarah Polley. Robertson was excellent in "Maniac Mansion" and "Beverly Hills 90210", but these were similar roles that appear to mirror her own cool and detached personality. One thing that is clear is that she was a great choice for Ariki's trademark close-ups. Anyone perceptive enough to close the camera to face distance when shooting McGowen, Robertson, and most recently Michelle Trachtenberg has a eye for breathtakingly beautiful visuals.
   
   The premise does not really have enough substance to sustain a feature although it might work as a half-hour television sit-com (see "Three's Company"). When the premise becomes tired the story brings in a new character, Eric Mabious; and the film self-destructs, killing time until a decent ending sequence. A tip-off that a screen writer has limited life experience to draw from is having cast and crew occupations for the characters. Robertson's character is an aspiring actress and Mabious is directing her in a made-for-television drama. His character is so hopelessly one-dimensional and painfully pathetic that I was convinced that he had a sinister side (what was with those blue contact lenses) that would eventually manifest itself. But this does not happen, maybe Araki had something interesting in mind and abandoned it in re-write. Mabious becomes a non-factor (see totally irrelevancy) and his scenes were simply inserted as padding to get this thing up to feature length.
   
   The bottom line is that Araki fans will be a little disappointed with "Splendor". It is very conventional, it isn't much of a story, and the good banter is limited (although Kelly MacDonald has fantastic dialogue in all her scenes) . But if your Araki appreciation is more for his directorial talents (casting, mise en scene details, camera movement and placement) and his post-production originality, you will find "Splendor" measures up very well to his prior work. The morning after scene early in the film simply blows away anything similar from any director.
   
   Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.



3. SPLENDOR is a quick little film that once again demonstrates writer/director Gregg Araki's talent in making big social comments out of just a little idea. Though this may not be one of his most successful films, it certainly has enough going for it to give it a look.
   
   Narrated by flippant, kooky, slightly irritatingly shallow Veronica (Kathleen Robertson) who also is the main character of the story, we find that Veronica (aka V aka Ron) has been on a dry run for a love life for a long time, and just when she thinks she'll never find her man, up pops Halloween, and with her best friend Mike (Kelly MacDonald) she ventures into a party where she meets not one but two candidates for relationship - Abel (hunky Jonathan Schaech) who is a would be writer and is inept at about everything social and Zed (also hunky Matt Keeslar) who is a drummer whose intellect and socialization skills don't go far beyond his drumsticks. Veronica beds them both, finds them equally attractive and eventually the three become a ménage à trois in the same apartment. The two men, while transiently jealous of each other, ultimately find happiness in Veronica's breadwinning capabilities and both truly love her and each other. Things become strained when Veronica learns she is pregnant!
   
   Meanwhile, Veronica is offered upward mobility by yet another hunk Ernest (Eric Mabius) who represents stability and money whereas Abel and Zed represent only passion. Considering her pregnant life choices she agrees to marry Ernest despite her lack of loving him and all proceeds towards the wedding day when Abel and Zed decide to make changes in the plans.
   
   Schaech, Mabius and Keeslar provide sufficient eye candy to overcome a strained script. Had Veronica been cast differently the story may have had a better impact, but as it is this remains a fun, spunky movie that for Araki fans is a good diversion. Grady Harp, November 05



4. Because gosh, you know what America needs? Sexual freedom. I mean, we really only THOUGHT we were liberated, sleeping with anything and everything that takes our fancy--but we weren't. What we NEED to do is to combine the promiscuous experiences, so we can collect venereal diseases and birth children of confused parentage even faster! Splendor shows us just what we're missing as it invites us to liberate ourselves from primitive notions like jealousy and knowing who the hell your father is. Don't let people judge you, man, as long as you're having fun, cos isn't that what it's all about? Me, I'm about promiscuous polyamory! Way to go, Splendor, lead the way!



5. And a charming triangle, splendor despite being a not conventional story is touching and lovely , Veronica cannot decide what is the best for the child shes expecting after a season living with her two loved best friends Zed and Abel whom maintain a sexual relation with her in a "friendly" sense but then Ernest came along, a sucessfull independant movie director who falls in love with Veronica and seems to be the rigth guy for her and her coming child, her mind tells her that, but her heart tells her to keep the relation with Zed and Abel so theres the crossroad, you gonna have to find out what happens at the end, in other hand the soundtrack is awesome, New Order "Bizarre love triangle", Blur , Slowdive (amazing band), House Of Love , Suede, wow!!!!!! a transition from 90s and the new millenium.
   HM

4 comments about Sesame Street - A Magical Halloween Adventure.

1. My son loves Sesame Street and has since he was a year old. He's not Elmo-crazed but he does love Elmo along with Cookie Monster (his favorite), Ernie, the Count and Baby Bear. I was trying to stay away from Elmo says BOO! because I bought him Elmo Saves Christmas last year and he won't watch it all the way through (I think it's too much elmo and not enough of the other guys) wich is why I picked this Halloween DVD. It's got more characters in it. This DVD is basically about the rituals of Halloween and what people do on the holiday for example it's got a trip to an apple cider factory to show how they make apple cider.
   
   The movie's educational and I, personally, like it but I think it's more for a 4+ child, not toddlers. If your child is 4yrs or older then I think it'll be an excellent choice.
   
   We've got It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie brown wich he loves & The Nightmare Before Christmas (or what he calls "JACK") wich he loves but I wouldn't recommend for toddlers. I guess we'll try Elmo says BOO! Wish us luck and Happy Halloween! :)



2. Our daughter, who just turned two in August, absolutely loves Sesame Street. When we bought her this movie we hoped it would keep her as involved and interested as the TV show and it has far exceeded our hopes. She has watched it over and over since the beginning of October, (along with her 9 year-old sister and 10 year-old brother if you can believe that!) and she now not only sings some of the silly songs, but says some of the lines with the characters, too!
   
   It is very informative and yet it keeps her attention. Every time she sees the part about the apples and the cider mill, she asks for an apple to eat!
   
   I am now in the hunt for the perfect Sesame Street holiday show, (maybe Elmo's World Happy Holidays?), so that the Halloween shows can be hidden away until next year.



3. My 2-1/2 year old was unimpressed with this at first, but "got" the concept after a couple of viewings and now asks for it every day. He was so excited when we got to actual Halloween this year, because he understood the concept of costumes and jack-o-lanterns. The songs aren't as catchy as the ones on most Sesame Street videos, but the segments with the real children really keep his attention and Caroline Rhea's mugging makes him giggle.



4. This is the first DVD my 18 month old insisted I play over and over! The songs are catchy and fun. I really enjoyed this DVD as well. Really great SS episode. Catherine Rhea is great as the main character.

3 comments about Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas [UMD for PSP].

1. I dont own the psp Verzion yet but the movie is great. I have been watching it for about 4 years now and still love it. be sure to buy this movie before any other.



2. I love this movie and I love my PSP the audio is good and the picture is clear, and well the movie speaks for itself



3. if it's sitting in a giant theater with hundreds of people, or watching it on dvd with some friends. Just watching the model making skills along with the lyrics of danny elfman bring the story to life. This movie isnt for kids anymore even the movie reviewer has to look at this movie very closely.
   And since seeing it in theaters since i was a mere lad to the new 3d apperance, i have followed tim burton's idea for years. and if it's that good on dvd, vhs, laserdisc, 16mm, they i would be really awesome if it was on psp. plus your psp can double as a dvd player. so it's almost like buying the dvd if you have the right hookups and such. excellenct movie, and i would suggest buying cause i'm pretty sure it's outta print

1 comments about Cowboy BeBop The Movie [UMD for PSP].

1. If you're into the Bebop series like I am, you realize this is a classic movie. Totally worth the money.

No comments about WordWorld: A Kooky Spooky Halloween.

5 comments about Sesame Street: Halloween Bonus Pack.

1. I bought this for my 20 month old son bc he loves Elmo (or Ehmo as he says) and these are great! They are so good, I kept them out for 2+ extra months after Halloween bc he loved them so much and only just yesterday packed them up with Halloween goodies so he would be excited next year.
   
   You won't be disappointed:-)



2. I bought this pack for my two year old son. He loved it! He still asks to watch it long after Halloween. The pack included "Elmo Says Boo" & "A Magical Halloween Adventure". My son is going through a "scared of everything" phase, so I was a bit worried, but there wasn't anything on either disc that upset him. He enjoyed every minute. He laughed through both shows. Keeping a two year old interested is a pretty tough trick but these shows sure worked on my little guy. I highly recommend it!



3. I simply gave this 4 stars because of my 3-year olds' reaction. She seemed a little scared, which surprised me because we've owned Sesame Street videos before and they are perfect. You can expect this, though, since they are Halloween videos.
   Just a suggestion, if you gently, simply explain to your little one that things are pretend, honestly I think they'll be ok. For example, my daughter was very scared at first of the skeleton in 'Elmo Says Boo'. I could see that in her face, so I simply said it was just silly and we all have bones, so tell the skeleton to "Get some skin!" That's just what she says now and she's not scared anymore.
   Another caution, on the second video, they do talk about monsters being in the closet, which obviously may create a problem for your little one's imagination. I simply explained that the monsters were funny monsters just like Elmo and they were playing peek-a-boo. That seemed to resolve the issue.
   Overall, I recommend these videos and you can't beat it for the deal. Great to watch all fall through the Halloween season. Enjoy if you decide to purchase this set!



4. This is the first movie my 17 month old son insists that I play over and over. I also really like this special, I just wish they were longer. For those with small children, this is a great halloween treat. Good songs, good story. I highly recommend it!



5. I grew up watching Sesame Street and now my daughter is doing the same. She absolutely adores anything Sesame Street and if it's on TV, she stops what she's doing and runs to watch. She loves the Halloween DVD and watches it even though Halloween has passed. I'd recommend it to anyone that wants entertaining television that also teaches numbers and ABC's.

No comments about Halloween Starter Pack (Land of the Dead / Dawn of the Dead / The Thing) [Blu-ray].

1 comments about Nicktoons - Halloween - Tales of Fright.

1. I love this DVD as I am quite the connoisseur of Halloween specials; I can't get enough of them! Hey Arnold's 'Arnold's Halloween' strikes the jackpot with its War of the Worlds inspired storyline; it's sufficiantly moody and fun. Rugrats' 'Curse of the Werewuff' is a new entry into Nick's Halloween canon and a welcome one at that. A show that has become too precious as of late, this stops before going to far with its own "cuteness". I still prefer thir original Halloween episode 'Candy Bar Creep Show', but 'Werewuff' is still highly enjoyable! The Fairly Odd Parent's 'Scary GodParents' is equally hip and funny and SpongeBob SquarePants' 'Scaredy Pants' is perfect. Only the strange inclusion of two non-Halloween related Rocket Power stories stops me forom giving this a five-star rating; they have a Halloween epsiode so why wasn't it included? Their two entires seem pointless and only one is anywhere near being holiday themed. With so many great Halloween epsiodes left off the DVD, one has to wonder at this choice.

2 comments about 3 Vincent Price Greatest Horror Classics of All Time with Free Halloween CD.

1. The 3 titles on this disc are: "House on Haunted Hill", "The Bat" and lastly but awesomely "The Last Man on Earth". Also includes a cd; "Scary Sounds of the Night". All are required Vincent Price movies, especially "The Last Man on Earth"
   which you will see as inspiration for several movies that followed.
   Sit back pop some corn and enjoy!



2. 3 classic movies in one - video is ok - menu shows "trailers" but won't actually do anything. Watermark for video company is very annoying, but does go away after 10 minutes or so.

4 comments about Cartoon Network Halloween 3 - Sweet Sweet Fear.

1. This DVD looks pretty good. Espically because it's a halloween one! I am a big halloween fan, you know. I am glad that they will finally have the new ed edd eddy halloween special on there. Here are the four episodes that I KNOW will be on this DVD:
   Ed Edd Eddy's Boo Haw Haw
   Camp Lazlo: Hallobeenies (my favorite)
   Foster's Home: Bloooo
   It's The Great Pumpkin Juniper Lee.
   
   And they'll probably have some other halloween-related episodes of KND, and other shows on Cartoon Network.



2. I bought this DVD expecting to finally get to see Ed Edd n Eddy's "Boo Haw Haw". Be warned: It is NOT on this disc! There are some fine episodes on here, but that one is not present. Here's the actual list (from the disc in front of me as I type):
   
   Foster's Home: "Bloooo"
   Juniper Lee: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Juniper Lee"
   Billy & Mandy: "the Bubble with Billy"
   Ed, Edd n Eddy: "Don't Rain on My Ed"
   Kids Next Door: "Operation J.E.W.E.L.S."
   Powerpuff Girls: "Candy's Dandy"
   
   I was disappointed that "Boo Haw Haw" was not on the disc, being an obvious choice, but "Don't Rain on My Ed" is one of my favorite Eds episodes, so I don't feel completely let down. I'm not sure what that episode has to do with Halloween, but a good one nonetheless.
   The disc is starkly devoid of extras, apart from CN's usual promos for upcoming material.
   There are good episodes on this disc, and what is there is good quality, but given the absence of the most obvious episode choices and the lack of any extra material, I can't rate this disc higher than a 3. It's great if you really like these episodes, otherwise just watch them on TV.



3. Although the other episodes were great, it's cool to finally see Juniper Lee on DVD, even if it is one episode. I recommend this DVD because I am a Juniper Lee fan and the other episodes are great too.



4. It's baaaaaack.... This is the third installment of Cartoon Network Halloween. Now for a bit of a rundown of what's what on the latest Halloween DVD.:
   
   Foster's: "Bloooo" - An unwell Blooregard turns white as a ghost ! (Let me tell you, that episode was WAY outta control.)
   
   Juniper Lee: "It's the Great Pumpkin, Juniper Lee" - Young monsters turn into children every Halloween night. Now June must find a way to change them back.
   
   Ed, Edd n Eddy: "Don't Rain on my Ed" - Time grows short for the Eds as they race towards the candy store for free jawbreakers.
   
   Billy and Mandy: "The Bubble with Billy" - Billy chews on, then intentionally swallows some otherworldly gum Grim gave him.
   
   Kids Next Door: "Operation J.E.W.E.L.S." - Numbuh 5 searches for the lost "Blurpleberry Supreme".
   
   Powerpuff Girls: "Candy is Dandy" - The girls are each rewarded a piece of the Mayor's candy. Now they must save the day again in order to get more.
   
   Now here's a list of episodes that didn't seem to make it to the DVD.:
   
   I Am Weasel: "I Are Ghost" - Weasel and Baboon are ghosts in the Ghost Union and must scare someone in order to keep their jobs.
   
   I Am Weasel: "I Am Franken-Weasel" - Mad dentist Dr. Franken-Weasel is itching to get back to his mad scientist roots.
   
   Johnny Bravo: "Going Batty" - To upstage her nerdy boyfriend, a vampire girl goes out with Johnny.
   
   Dexter's Lab: "Scare Tactics" - Dexter and his dad watch a scary movie and pretty soon the entire night becomes that scary movie.
   
   Cow and Chicken: "Halloween with Dead Ghost Coast to Coast" - Red Guy dressed as a familiar Adult Swim character suggests to Cow and Chicken that they dress up as humans for Halloween. Unfortunately, it didn't work.
   
   A random episode of "Courage the Cowardly Dog" - This is perhaps the BIGGEST gap in all of volume 3. Since the subtitle to this DVD is "Sweet Sweet Fear", I would suggest this episode:
   
   "Katz Kandy" - Sick and tired of being second to Muriel, the felonious Katz whips up some mutant jam to kidnap her. Now Courage must save Muriel who is caught between two things: A huge taffy machine and a hungry Eustace.
   
   Surely Volume 4 will have at least one of those episodes, AND the Eds' "Boo Haw Haw" special. Just wait 'til next year.