5 comments about House of Wax (Widescreen Edition).

1. This movie is not an exact remake of Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933) and House Of Wax (1953). It is a movie that has a different but mildly similar story. Whereas the 1933 and 1953 movies took place in a big city, this 2005 movie takes place in a very small and remote town in Louisiana. There ARE some similarities to the 1933 and 1953 flicks, but the similarities are loose at best. I have to wonder why they titled the movie House Of Wax, which is the same title as the 1953 movie. Maybe it was name recognition to get people in the door at the movie theater.
   
   To me, this movie is a cross between The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Friday The 13th movies. Right from the beginning of the movie it had The Texas Chainsaw Massacre feel to it, then the Friday The 13th feel kicked in a short time later. Much like these movies (and so many slasher horror movies including Halloween), House Of Wax features a group of teenagers or twenty-somethings who are partying and just trying to have a good time, whether its at a campground, a neighborhood, or wherever. Then somewhere along the way they run into trouble and a killer stalks them. In this movie, six college friends have their car break down in a remote area. They had been on their way to a football game. They discover a small town when they are looking for help. On the way to this small town, two of them catch a ride with a creepy, mentally sick stranger. I have no clue why these people would trust a creepy stranger like the one in this movie, or any stranger. You gotta see him to know what I'm talking about. In town there is a museum called House Of Wax. This building is literally made of wax - the walls, floors, everything. Inside are wax mannequins. To sum up the plot, the kids run into not one but two wax sculpting killers who are brothers. There is lots of blood and gore. The goal of the killers is to make wax sculptures out of the captured kids (much like in the 1933 and 1953 movies). The kids try desperately to escape the museum and the town unscathed. Four of the kids are killed off. The ending is over-the-top and memorable. This movie has lots of good special effects and props.
   
   This movie stars the attractive Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Brian Van Holt, Paris Hilton, Jared Padalecki, Jon Abrahams, and Robert Ri'Chard. The musical score by John Ottman is pretty good. There are a couple of "current" type of heavy rock songs in this movie that will someday date this movie.
   
   Paris Hilton has a lesser role in this movie compared to some of the other actors. In my opinion, she did a pretty good job acting. I must say I'm surprised to see the overall rating of this movie at 3 1/2 stars after 266 reviews. I thought it would be higher. After reading a lot of the lower rated reviews it is clear that a lot of people dislike Paris Hilton. It goes beyond acting ability, which some people question, while others praise it. I think a lot of it has to do with pure jealousy, unfortunately. She's young, rich, and famous. Again, she doesn't have a huge role in this movie. But she's in this movie, bottom line, and a lot of people don't like that. She probably was put in to sell movie tickets and give the movie a boost. Personally, I forget about who she is and judge her acting ability and the character she played, which I thought passed the test. In real life she comes across as a stereotypical blonde bimbo. People can't see past that. It doesn't help that in this movie she has a striptease scene that really sticks out like a sore thumb compared to what the other actors are doing. It almost felt to me like her striptease scene was put in the movie as a sort of self-promotion. Back in 2005 she was the hottest name out there and a tabloid story every day it seemed (and still pretty much is). I've read lots of reviews where people love the fact and are gleeful that she was killed off in this movie. Some of it could be because they disliked the character she played, but some of it could be just because she's Paris Hilton.
   
   This DVD comes with many extras, including a B-Roll and Bloopers Video Cast Commentary, an on location segment about the design of the House Of Wax, the visual effects, an alternate opening, a gag reel, and the theatrical trailer.
   
   If you want to see a unique and creepy horror movie thriller, then I recommend this movie. This movie is better than I thought it would be. You might agree with me. And keep an open mind when it comes to Paris Hilton.



2. I have to admit, this movie is really not that scary. There are a couple predictable moments when you find yourself jumping against your better judgement, but beyond that, it's just good makeup. However, House of Wax seems to be unintentionally entertaining. The acting is amusing because it is just THAT BAD, and Paris Hilton's death scene is classic. The sets were pretty well done, and, even though you could see the end scene coming from a mile away, I still thought it was a thrilling conclusion. Overall, I think this film completely missed the mark for horror and drama, but I still found myself enthralled and wanting to watch the rest, which is why I'm giving it three stars. If you're looking for a quality film, which it sounds like some of the negative reviewers were, you won't find it here, but, if you just want a entrtaining movie and have nothing else to do, this is your kind of film.



3. "House of Wax" is based loosely on the 1953 horror film of the same name starring Vincent Price. While driving a group of college friends break down in an old deserted town. They eventually come across a house, which is actually a house made out of wax, and unknown to them killers live there. The plot sounds insane, but the movie is actually quite enjoyable, especially if you like films that depict young people being chased by crazed killers. The special effects are intelligent and the performances are strong, headed by "One Tree Hill" hunk Chad Michael Murray. The movie is also known for the screen debut of Paris Hilton, who unlike what the critics say, is actually a good actress. A film clip of Bette Davis from "What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?" is used in the film when the characters come across an old run down theatre. The movie grossed over $68 million at the boxoffice and made another $42 million on DVD so the film was a commercial success. The DVD comes with behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making of the movie, the trailer is included, and an alternate opening comes with the set. "The Long Island Press" says of "The House of Wax" that, it's a "hot, sexy, deliciously creepy horror film".



4. Turning the Gothic classic into a modern teen Slasher should have been a complete disaster, but somehow HOUSE OF WAX (2005) succeeds in creating a fun if not basic remake. Working against it are all of the cliched Teen Horror trademarks found in its pretty cast, gratuitous sex, and cheap scares, let alone the fact that it was produced through Dark Castle Entertainment, notorious for such trashy remakes as HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL or THIR13EN GHOSTS. Now, no one is arguing that this is a great Horror film, because it's not, but it is a genuine good time and a guilty pleasure for gore and Slasher fans. It takes the basic premise of the two original films, kicks up the pace, chucks a bucket of blood in their faces, and in an unexpected surprise, even manages to top the design through its impressive special FX and set work. Sure, you can't name a single character by the end of the film, but who really cares when most of them are just pins to be knocked down by the blade wielding brothers? The derivative plot is just familiar enough to maintain interest until the blood starts spewing, and from that moment on it is one brutal death after another for each of the Barbie doll characters. I love the idea of the entire city being part of the exhibit, and the grand finale where the literal House of Wax melts in on itself is nothing short of incredible.
   
   -Carl Manes
   I Like Horror Movies



5. I'm not sure why this movie is getting such good reviews from others. Personally I thought it was pretty bad. The acting is horrible and the script is ridiculous. If people really were as dumb as the "teenagers" in this movie act, they'd have a lot more problems than just getting dipped in wax. Okay, the movie is good for some laughs, and there is some "gore" for those who like that, but I wouldn't waste my time or money watching this again and if I could get it back for the first viewing, I would. One star - and that's only because there is no Zero on the meter.

5 comments about Trafic - Criterion Collection.

1. Not Jacques Tati's best film, his last, manipulated by an insensitive studio, to the point that the great auteur was not fully engaged. However, his genius still shines despite the low budget and less than noble support of studio executives. One must suspend plot to become an attentive observer - as much occurs in the background and around the edges as in the foreground. This film is a gestalt - a whole environment that frames Tati's signature Mr. Hulot character, who travels through the world in a bemused land of Mu daze. Ever helpful, ever friendly, ever beating a hasty retreat from leathershod feet and less sensitive souls (pun perhaps intended). Expect the unexpected and expect to laugh. You won't be disappointed.



2. After going bankrupt with the disappointing Playtime - Criterion Collection, Jacques Tati brought back his Monsieur Hulot character for one last outing in Trafic.
   
   While Playtime poked fun at modern architecture and its alienating effects on the people confronted by it, Trafic simply explores the effect that cars have on people. It's a much more simplistic film than its predecessor and, I believe, a better one.
   
   In Trafic, Tati's Monsieur Hulot is the director of design for the auto company Altra and it is his job to transport his new, elaborately designed automobile to an auto show in Amsterdam. Of course, nothing goes as planned beginning with the fact that the car must be transported in the back of a truck that frequently breaks down or runs out of gas at the most inopportune moments. The car is, of course, nothing too simplistic itself. It's a "camping car" complete with fold-out chairs, a table, two twin beds, a stove, cigarette lighter, and a whole lot more. Trafic also features a jazzy musical score reminiscent of M. Hulot's Holiday - Criterion Collection.
   
   As with Playtime, there's not much plot to speak of but, remarkably, Tati still makes his point clear with a never-ending stream of sight gags and the like.
   
   One of the factors that I think makes Trafic better than Playtime is the less serious tone. It has a much breezier pace and it's more colorfully vibrant than the gloomy gray of Playtime.
   
   As with all of the Hulot films, Tati doesn't use close-ups. He lets the camera linger back allowing Hulot and whatever other character may come along to be lost in the chaos of their misadventures. And the aforementioned misadventures here are brilliant; the car-crash scene and subsequent hilarity that ensues is delightful and well choreographed.
   
   Besides the endless gags about cars; Tati also incorporates many jokes involving animals. These are some of the high-points of the film, particularly a scene in which a group of kids steal a dog and make up a fur-coat to look like the dog before lodging it under the tire of a car. Then there's Hulot trying to convince the devastated owner that it's not actually her dog. Tati wraps up his film with a brilliant shot of umbrella-toting people walking amidst a bunch of cars.
   
   I like to compare Tati to Chaplin and it is true that Hulot would have existed comfortably with the Little Tramp. However, while the Tramp's exploits were simple, yet laugh-out-loud funny and heartbreaking; Hulot's are much more complex and silly. Tati was probably a better filmmaker than Chaplin, but Chaplin was much funnier and more personal. There will be times while watching Trafic when you have a smile glued to your face and you're marveling at the sheer genius of it all. Entertainment wasn't always a weapon Tati wielded, but the man did have a knack for staging wonderful, elaborate sight gags that likely required both money and extreme attention to detail.
   
   Inferior to the original Hulot (mis)adventure, Trafic is worth seeking out. The Hulot character may have made Tati bankrupt, but with Trafic the man departed with his character on a high-note.
   
   GRADE: B+



3. This is for the fans of Jacques Tati. It certainly isn't his best film, but definitely a must. Tati directs and plays his caracter Monsieur Hulot, who has to bring a new car model for a car show from Paris to Amsterdam, with some difficulty off course. I think the film belongs to your Tati collection, next to Jour de fete, Les vacances de M. Hulot, Mon oncle and (the ultimate comedy) Playtime. Here also the main caracter moves reluctantly in a society ruled by machines in which people allways seem to go nowhere fast. The car crash towards the end is more a ballet of cars moving around eachother, not the usual car accident. I only could find the dvd version on amazon.com



4. This is my second Tati film after 'Playtime' (probably not the best place to start), which was a film so visually dense that I knew a single viewing wouldn't do it justice. 'Trafic' is less complex, but more accessible. It is unusual to see comedies that are truly cinematic, but Tati's work hinges on his impeccable and distinctive eye for composition - these films are masterfully designed. Tati shoots everything wide, and fills the frame. This isn't just a style overlaid on the films, the humor is visual, and the look is always in service to the comedic effects. The symbiosis of aesthetics and content is quite something to behold, and cineastes should not be put off by Tati's reputation for physical comedy - these films are as visually sophisticated as anything else you're likely to see, and downright intoxicating in that respect. Cinematically, Tati's work is of the highest order. The fact that it's also funny is icing. I am very, very, very impressed. Why didn't I get around to seeing these earlier? (I'm sure I saw an excerpt of 'M. Hulot's Holiday' in a film class long ago, but if I had known where it was all going I'm sure I would have jumped on these. Film classes are really NOT the best way to see films.)
   
   Criterion does another stellar job here. UPDATE: this is now going OOP along with some other respectable Criterion editions of Studio Canal titles.
   
   The larger your monitor, the better you will be able to appreciate this film. (In the case of the detail-packed 70mm framing of 'Playtime' it is essential. THAT transfer had me drooling, and pretty much clinched for me that when I upgrade my system I will have to get the very biggest screen possible, dammit!)



5. Let me preface this review by stating that this type of physical and/or slapstick comedy is completely lost on me, so if you`re a fan, don`t bother to read on. I find this stuff painful to sit through, although I did appreciate Tati`s 'M. Hulot`s Holiday' - I`m not saying I liked it, but it was a fine homage to the earlier works of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Charles Lloyd. For me, this style of comedy might be funny once, but that`s it. There are no additional layers to peel back and enjoy, no witty dialogue that you may have missed the first time out, it`s all right there on the surface - once scratched, it`s over. The premise is too simple, the dialogue inept and inane, the same joke plays on over and over and never seems to end. And, considering the time period, there simply isn`t enough dialogue. I know, it`s me, but I want to warn other potential buyers who aren`t fans of physical comedy to stay away - this stuff is as funny the second time around as the time-worn "pull my finger" joke - it`s exasperating. I`ll shoulder the blame myself this time - I don`t know what I was expecting, the French think Jerry Lewis was a genius...

5 comments about The Fog (Special Edition).

1. 'The Fog' is a decent horror movie from the talented director John Carpenter. He was the guy who created the original 'Halloween' movie and the remake of 'The Thing'. The story is about a mysterious fog that envelopes a small town. The fog contains a haunted ship. The ghosts of the ship are wanting revenge from an incident that happened one hundred years earlier. As with many horror movies, one has to suspend various logical flaws and unlikely coincidences. But the movie is driven my the suspense and an eerie atmosphere. The most memorable character is the female disc jockey who attempts to warn the town of the fog. The movie has a cool ending also.



2. I have a feeling I saw this when it came to TV sometime after release in 1980. I do remember ghosts and a fog; that's about all. Picked it up at minimum price as I was on the check-out line at Borders today. Just one of those evenings when a ghost story seemed in order. Perhaps it was because yesterday, as I glanced over to a point about a half mile from where I stood, the tall buildings had their upper stories cloaked in, yes, truly, fog. Somewhat to my surprise, as the first movie I have seen in a few months, it kept my attention until the final stages; always the toughest part to script in a film of this sort. Inevitably, there was a bit of a let-down for me, though, obviously. not for many other viewers. All in all, I can recommend it for those who go for this kind of thing as a decent outing with little of the kind of cheap shot violence that takes the place of writing/directing skill.



3. Being yet another movie that comes from The Golden Era of Horror Films, "The Fog" contains all the elements that make up a classic horror movie. It's got a great and chilling atmosphere with the mysterious fog that rolls in and out, a really cool setting with the city on the bay, great monsters that are in this case, the ghosts of the sailors, and there's even some good gore shots throughout.
   
   Although the pace of this movie is not the fastest in a horror film, I think it's suitable to the overall atmosphere of the movie, which for the most part, is dark and surreal, the sort of tone that's set on a movie you'd watch on a stormy Friday night. By the time the movie climaxes at the end, you'll definitely feel the impact and the wait will indeed be worth it. The ending, however, is the most likely part of the movie that will be the most debatable among horror fans. I personally felt that, for the most part, it was satisfying, although it the tone of the ending was a little awkward, almost as though the writers were preparing a sequel.
   
   With all said and done, "The Fog" is a classic, atmospheric horror movie and is highly recommended to fans seeking such a film. An ideal movie for Halloween time, be sure to pick it up in time for the 31st! Thanks for the time, and peace.



4. John Carpenter's The Fog (1979) is a typical John Carpenter movie. Carpenter's horror movies are very simple. Nothing complex. This simple approach to horror really works well. His three Halloween movies fall into this category as well (Halloween, Halloween II, and Halloween III). The Fog, however, is pretty unique. I think the setting of the movie is its greatest asset. This movie takes place in the seaside village of Antonio Bay, California. The basic story is that on the night of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the town, a thick fog emerges from the bay area and comes ashore. But what also comes ashore in the fog are the ghosts of murdered sailors who want to get revenge for the sins of the town's founding fathers a century earlier. Time is of the essence, for the town's people must solve a crime that's a century old, or die. As the fog rolls in, the ghosts do too, and the eerieness level increases.
   
   This movie stars Adrienne Barbeau (John Carpenter's wife at the time) as the lighthouse disc jockey, Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween H2O, etc.), Janet Leigh (Curtis's real life mother, and the star of Psycho), John Houseman, Hal Holbrook, Charles Cyphers (Halloween, Halloween II), and Tom Atkins (Halloween III). The acting is good throughout. John Carpenter himself even appears in the movie very briefly near the beginning. In my opinion the strongest acting performance was by Adrienne Barbeau. She has a good disc jockey voice and her on-air demeanor during the fog crisis is a strong point of the movie.
   
   This DVD comes with special features, two of which are called "Tales From The Mist - Inside 'The Fog' Documentary" and "Fear On Film - Inside 'The Fog' Documentary". There are also outtakes, an advertising gallery, a storyboard-to-film comparison, and interesting audio commentary by John Carpenter and Debra Hill.
   
   If you want to watch a very good horror movie that is vintage John Carpenter, then The Fog is your movie. I highly recommend it. It's a good movie to watch late on Halloween night after the trick-or-treaters have gone home and the jack-o-lantern has been extinguished.



5. Great flick in it's day. I still watch it once a year, usually on a cold, foggy night (really sets the mood!). Turn up the volume, shut the blinds and hold on to your chair. I have the DVD version and hope to pick up the Blu-ray version soon. Has anyone got a comparison of the two formats?
   
   BTW, a reviewer mentioned a cool film fact about the Diary that Father Malone keeps. If you watch the part where he opens it up for the first time, pause it in the first few film frames and you can read what the previous page says. All I can say is it was definately not intended to be read by you or I!

5 comments about Cabin Fever.

1. Had all the elementts of good horror, well executed, not THE best acting, but pretty good. Creepy, disturbing, all that good [...]. I bought it knowing it was B horror, and was pleasantly surprised. worth seeing!



2. If I could rate this no stars I would.
   
   No plot.
   No suspense.
   No originality.
   
   Just no...



3. Watching "Cabin Fever" reminded me of the fun one could have while making a horror film. One could argue that modern horror is too detailed, over-produced, under talented, and quintessentially making the same mold over and over merely for cinema dollars. The argument is tired, but true. Made in 2002, and only grossing about 21 million, this was a small blip on everyone's radar. Found randomly on DVD one October at my local video store, "Cabin Fever" was a means to merely scare a gathering of friends, or perhaps just gather some laughs. Little did we realize that this was something stronger than just your average teen-horror flick. Director Eli Roth (speaking pre-"Hostel") knew his horror genre. Being an assistant with David Lynch for many years, he understands that spooky doesn't mean linear, that blood does come in gallon containers and the more obscure the better. "Cabin Fever" proved that with mediocre dialogue, great horror shots, and the fear of the unknown (which was left unknown throughout the film). He tells us the fears, but not his characters - giving us tension with the horror. While "Hostel" seems too mainstream and less Lynch-ian for my standards, "Cabin Fever" complete with "pancakes", "Denis", the box, and the fear of this backwoods community, is that diamond in the rough. This singular film demonstrated the power behind Roth, and his missed opportunity for films to come.
   
   There is no arguing that this is an amateur film. The edits are rough, the story is haphazard, and the characters are bland, but what is impressive is the passion behind the camera. The flux of different genres blended together proves that Roth had done his homework, that he loves horror, and wasn't afraid of taking chances. He created a horror film without giving us a monster, the choice of a faceless virus wreaking havoc onto a group of unsuspecting teens was bold, but worked perfectly. Fear was created within the unknown, or more importantly, from what we knew but our characters did not. Cliché to the hilt, our leaders in this rag-tag group of C-actors (of which our leader is the boy from "Boy Meets World") try to break the mold, but nothing spectacular comes of it. This, oddly, works for "Cabin Fever" because the core of the film doesn't need popular faces, but instead a stark need for bleak realism. As horror watchers, we know that the outcome for those with cliché lines is not positive, so Roth plays with that. He builds non-existent characters to run around screaming, while we scream back. "Go out of the woods" - "Get in the cabin" - "Don't stare at the naked woman" - "Get help!" are all things not said within the film, but instead in the audience. Roth pulls you in. Instead of being a mere spectator, "Cabin Fever" asks you to be involved.
   
   Two big scenes (amongst many) stand out as reasons to watch this film. Whether you are a horror fan or not, these two speak volumes of what Roth learned from Lynch when working together. The first is Dennis. The child at the store that has a fascination with biting people that sit next to him, who loves pancakes, and equally enjoys karate moves - was one of those moments that proved Roth's loyalty to the trade. The slow motion karate reminded me of "Twin Peaks" and the music that accompanied added to that feel. The entire station was pulled from a Lynch world, and I would have considered this theft if the two hadn't worked together. Instead, it felt more like a homage, a brief "thank you" to Roth's mentor. With that said, the second scene that speaks volumes of Roth's talent is something that he has carried with him throughout his "Hostel" years. The unknown. Without spoiling anything, when our group of gun-toting locals arrive to the cabin, two have guns while one merely carries a box. When two fall shy of their goals, the other merely attempts to open a box as his form of defense. What was in that box? What could have protected him? This is the unknown makes "Cabin Fever" stand out stronger than others of this genre released at the same time. Sure, it's small - but the effect and conversation that follows with your peers is sublime.
   
   Again, "Cabin Fever" wasn't the bee's knees of horror films, but unlike Roth's future endeavors it demonstrated his ability to take a small idea and blossom it into true fear. Many will probably not enjoy this film, seeing "Hostel" as his penultimate work, this will seem lackluster - but for those nay-sayers against his torture-porn, this is a throwback to a stronger era of horror moviemaking. One part David Lynch, one part "Wrong Turn", and one part "The Stand" (that's a lot of parts) - Roth proves that he can handle a camera, a story, and a crew whilst scaring us, grossing us out, and creating a world within a world.
   
   VIDEO: The film is loose, an amateur outing with quite a bit of ideas that seem under developed and over exposed, but I loved it. It showed talent coupled with intrigue. Roth will forever be remembered to the mass audiences as "Hostel" maker, but for me - "Cabin Fever" ranks as more original and enjoyable.
   
   VISUAL: Simple DVD. The woods and colors seem to blend. The sharpness of some of the scenes isn't as focused, and it felt grainy at times - but again, this was a first film for Roth. With little money, what can you do? There were some great scenes that were filmed with strong angles and a keen eye for storytelling, but nothing spectacular. Decent transfer that could use a strong upgrade one day.
   
   SOUND: One of the key elements to this film is the sound - and borrowing from Lynch and creating his own voice, Roth does wonders with the music chosen. From the included songs to the background theme, "Cabin Fever" has a distinct sound that makes it feel like you are being chased by a flesh eating virus in the woods.
   
   EXTRAS: This simple disc is packed with stuff. The "Family Friendly" version of the film is hysterical. Roth hams it up for the camera, a la a Disney introduction. The "Chick-O-Vision" is a great inclusion. My personal favorites, "The Rotten Fruits" have three episodes on the disc that will make you laugh hysterically as well as see those dull Veggie Tales in a new light. Then, there is the quintessential behind the scenes footage where we learn about every aspect of this film. Lacking a strong commentary, that would be my only complaint with such strong special features.
   
   Overall, I am not afraid to say that I like "Cabin Fever". When I first saw it I was impressed by what little I understood and what Roth spoon-fed me. I thought he was a director to watch, and I still think he has quite a bit of potential, but to be remembered merely for "Hostel" just doesn't cut it. "Cabin Fever" is a great entry into the world of horror, creating genuine scares and following a predesigned structure (not a bad thing for this film) - he uses his own techniques to tell his story. "Cabin Fever" remains a strong entry into the world of horror. If you are new to Roth, I say start here - if you are disappointed with his future work - go back and see this again. You will not be disappointed.
   
   Grade: **** out of *****



4. Synopsis: Paul (Rider Strong), Bert (James DeBello), Karen (Jordan Ladd), Marcy (Cerina Vincent), and Jeff (Joey Kern) are college students who rent a cabin in (presumably) northern California to get away for a vacation. During their time, Bert encounters an individual who is sick with a virus. After Bert shoots at the person, the infected individual tracks down the group and ends up vomitting blood all over the place until fleeing after being ignited on fire. Unfortunately, the vomitted blood starts to infect the group as they struggle to find a way to survive. Will they live through their ordeals or will they each succumb to the mystery virus?
   
   This film will never win an Academy Award; nor will it go down as one of the "best films ever." But seriously, if you DON'T end up laughing your butt off after watching this movie, you need to check yourself for a pulse. Sure it was branded as a horror film but man alive were there parts that my friends and I were just busting out laughing at everything that was going down. Oh, and the movie has the best ending of any other film hands down.
   
   I recommend it for those who are age appropriate who want to find an unexpected source of dark humor in a horror film. You'll never look at pancakes the same again!



5. This was one I caught on cable. It was amusing enough, but don't have really high expectations. The acting and production values are decent and the plot was able to keep my interest.

5 comments about Cheaper By the Dozen 2.

1. I bought part one a long time ago and now I just bought two.
   
   I saw it in the theater and enjoyed it but didn't bought it for a long time.
   
   I just receieved and watched. It is not incredible but from time to time, I think I will watch this film. Good as part one.
   
   The picture quality is good.
   
   Nice DVD.



2. A touching, heartwarming movie about family bonding with good clean comedy throughout.
   
   The Baker's dozen are back with some interesting interaction with another large family. Rilvary and some love connections are the result.
   
   My family and I enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen but this sequel is even more entertaining. Fun for the whole family.



3. My eight-year-old boy bought this movie and watches it everyday. It is funny and teaches a valuable lesson on the importance of family.



4. My wife and I actually enjoyed the first `Cheaper' outing, so we were kind of excited about this one. I mean, Eugene Levy is hysterical (we love him) and the idea of him sparing with comedic legend Steve Martin was just too much not to anticipate.
   
   This film is a horrible mess.
   
   I don't know why I felt the need to build up to that, I mean, this film really deserves to apologies or excuses or really anything other than a complete panning, but for some reason I feel compelled to give it two stars (that's still a D). As horrible as this movie is, and as generic and tasteless and clichéd and predictable and nauseatingly syrupy preachy (call Ron Howard, Shankman is encroaching on his heavy handed territory) it is, `Cheaper by the Dozen 2' has a thin (very thin) layer of heartwarming enjoyment. So, while I didn't like it, I didn't hate it.
   
   Thank you Levy for remaining funny when Martin wasn't, and thank you little Alyson Stoner for giving this ridiculously unbelievable film a layer of genuine youthful honesty.
   
   This film follows the Baker clan as they embark on a vacation back to their old stomping grounds in order to reestablish family unity. The oldest Baker girls are moving away and Tom feels as though he's losing his grip on his family. With everyone on board they all make the trip, only to find that they are drifting further apart as Tom's competitive spirit flies into overdrive when he's reunited with childhood nemesis Jimmy Murtaugh.
   
   The storyline is pretty simple, but its all the `finding yourself' gushiness that really drags this film into `roll your eyes' ridiculousness. When the eldest Baker boy and the eldest Murtaugh daughter get together all sorts of stupid and unrealistic `findings' take place. Whoever wrote this (you Sam Harper) was really lazy, stuffing a bunch of supposed heartwarming sequences into one poorly constructed package. I love you Shankman (mostly because you amuse me on `So You Think You Can Dance') but this is a horrifying cinematic mess if I ever saw one.
   
   Steve Martin is awkward, Bonnie Hunt is barely there, Piper Perabo is sadly underused (again!), Tom Welling is boring, Carmen Electra is hot, Eugene Levy is funny (even if you want to punch him throughout the whole movie), Jaime King is pretty yet dense, Hilary Duff is hideous and talentless (way too thin physically and emotionally)...but there is always Alyson Stoner, who carries this movie on her inexperienced shoulders.
   
   Walk away. I advise everyone to walk away. There is far better out there. And to all those giving this five stars because it's `clean family fun' I say "I'm happy for you" but really, there are much better `clean' films out there, so why waste precious time with this one?



5. Not as good as the first movie, but it has it's moments. It was nice to see all the stars return from the first movie plus additional stars join the cast. I thought the competition between the families a bit redundant. However, the story of a family pulling together never gets old.

5 comments about The Blair Witch Project.

1. Ahhh going all the way back to summer 1999 when this little gem was released, i was in high school, a bunch of my friends saw this. we were divided after the show, some did not like the whole documentary style look, the shaky camera use, some said it wasn't scary, some like me thought it was brilliant and scary, the old adage less is more... certainly worked in this case.
   
   The movie isn't about the budget--- sure it was made on a small small budget and made a huge profit, what helped was that we as viewers were first introduced to an aggressive online ad campaign--- the film makers had the website, had the back story of the three lost film makers, the history of the Blair Witch, it was all very clever because I remember when clicking through the website I couldn't tell if this was real or not, or based on a true story then as word got around when this movie was getting popular it was all a clever rouse by the film makers themselves. Now you see these online viral ad campaigns everywhere, all in part have to thank the Blair Witch movie. remember 1999 was still new to online information, Yahoo was coming around and there was the big Website boom, look how far we come now with the Net.
   
   And the whole documentary style film making is not new, the film makers have alot to owe to the Italian Cannibal movies Cannibal Holocaust for the inspiration, where that film an anthropologist finds lost footage of a trio of film makers that disappeared in the jungles of the Amazon. This film was made back in the early 80s. So this kind of style is not new.
   
   The movie itself is shot in grainy black and white, and showing no gore no violence, everything is implied. At night in the woods all alone, your mind can take over, hearing every little twig break, every leaf rustle, will make your hairs stand on end. It's this simplicity that makes the film work. There's a scene where the three filmmakers are in the tent and they hear strange sounds coming from the woods and they shine a flash light out in the the black abyss and it doesn't penetrate nothing, the light, doesn't illuminate who or what is out there, total blackness is all around them and it's only then they feel most vulnerable, the filmmakers playing on everyone's general fear of the unknown, the darkness and one cannot anticipate early morning that much faster to make it safe again with the daylight. i want to say it's also a character driven movie, the interactions between the trio of documentary filmmakers and the stress they are put through as they get lost deeper and deeper into the Maryland wilderness. Everyone is on edge and on the brink of flipping out and going postal on each other, but throughout they try to stay calm and keep that inner beast inside them.
   
   Let's fast forward to 2009, the new hit movie paranormal Activity, borrowing heavily from Blair witch, using less is more, this time in a house that has a demonic spirit
   
   Anyways Blair Witch is a classic horror movie, our parents generation had the exorcist, Jaws, Psycho, Night of the Living dead, people who grew up in the 80s had Friday the 13th, Nightmare on elm street, The Thing, what do we got? Scream (crap), Urban legends (Yawn) I know what you did last summer (definitely crap), Final Destination and its subsequent crappie sequeals (Blahhh)
   Blair witch is a rare gem for us who grew up in the 90s and got bombarded with crap movies like I mentioned, this one was a diamond in the ruff. I must say Where is the blu ray 10th anniversary edition?



2. When I first saw this movie, I was one of those who thought it was real. I learned later that it wasn't. I think that is what made this movie. It was done in such a fashion that made you think you were really watching these people get lost in the woods and having these eerie things happening to them at night. We did not see any witches or creatures or anything of that nature, we just heard wierd noises and activity and in the morning something odd was the result, such as finding the piles of rocks surrounding the campsite that were not there the night before. Sometimes what you don't see can be scarier then what you do see. The acting was excellent, the characters were real and convincing. I felt the way the three dealt with each other and thier indivdual reactions to thier desperate situation seemed very geninue, like it could have happened that way. It was a very unique idea to do a film in this fashion.
   
   I just have one problem with this movie. You would think that when they found the stream or river that they would just follow it out the of woods. They interviewed a man fishing at the beggining so you know that river would eventually lead the way home. Granted that could have been a different river but who cares. I would rather try that then walk through the woods with no sense of where I am headed, that compass was useless along with the map that one of the characters tossed. One might agrue, the "same log" theory in which they walked in one direction all day and ended up at the same point, as if the "mystical powers" of the woods and the "witch" were keeping them hostage and not allowing them to leave, and that following the river would not have mattered, and would explain why the map and compass were useless. In reality if I were lost in the woods and I found a river, I would follow it, and it seemed like a stupid move on thier part not to.



3. Please remember, you saw this movie just like the rest of the world. AND YOU WERE SCARED. Don't lie to yourself when looking at this movie. You saw it just like me and thought it was innovative and original. Don't care what anyone says this movie blew up over night and was the talk of the town. But for some reason after EVERYONE went and saw it, the haters came out and did what haters do---hate.
   
   i bought this because this is the first in its creation. Hand-held movie with a low budget with actors not so much acting. The director gave them notes as to what was happening, but as for the screaming and the terror that the characters encounter are all true. The director and sent them in to the woods and scared the cr*p out of them to produce what i like to think of as a "true" scary movie.
   
   Just remember this was the first of its kind...(present day follower: paranormal activity)
   
   Just has 'saw' was the first to create the new genera of shock horror
   
   Don't discount the originals



4. I felt like I was totally ripped off by all the hype. I'm guessing the movie marketing executives made this movie merely to prove that they could take the absolute worst stupid boring movie ever made and, if given enough money to spend on advertising, they could reap profits 100 times their marketing expenditures. This movie must have been some kind of test at how stupid the viewing public really is. This movie is not even worth your time watching it, never mind spending any money on it. It is the epitome of waste.



5. This "movie" is a "documentary" about the so-called Blair witch legend. It was marketed and hyped up as a true story, that three teenagers went into the woods in search of the Blair witch in October 1994 and never returned. Then their camcorder footage was found a year later.
   
   The whole idea behind this movie was to scare its audience with the concept of making the audience get frightened of things they don't see. It's called psychological horror. Other horror movies of the past have accomplished this goal. The Haunting (1963) is a perfect example. The Haunting was a professionally made movie with a musical score, the whole nine yards. In contrast, The Blair Witch Project was filmed with a camcorder and a shakey one at that. There is no music in the film. It's raw. It has a skeletal budget. It has the sounds of the day and the sounds of the night and the sounds of profane teenagers. It's basically a "reality" film about some teens who are lost in the woods in search of a legendary witch that supposedly lives there. The fact that they're looking for a witch and lost at the same time makes them increasingly frightened and frustrated as the movie progresses.
   
   The main problem I have with this film is that the footage is so shakey and amateur-ish. This movie is unwatchable. It'll make you dizzy and give you a headache. It's fine to use a camcorder. I thought it was a unique way to film a documentary "movie". But at least make the footage watchable. I can understand the camera shaking at times when the kids are running away from something that's scaring them, but to have shakey footage when they're just sitting around and talking or when planning their trip is really inexcusable. If I want to watch really bad and I mean REALLY bad and shakey camcorder footage, I can watch any one of the countless lame and shakey videos that somebody I know has made throughout the years. He's the worst cameraman of all time, hands down. I don't know what's so hard about keeping a steady camera. This film would have been better if the camerawork was better. Instead of feeling scared, I found myself being distracted by the terrible camerawork and feeling dizzy with a headache, also. The bad camerawork robbed me of any scared feeling I was supposed to have when watching this film.
   
   I think that if everyone who saw this film in 1999 would have known from the beginning that this film's story was not true, it wouldn't have drawn the crowds that it did. There was a brilliant marketing campaign for this film and it worked. Normally I'd give this film 1 star, but I'm adding an additional star for its unique approach and the fact that the marketing ploy made the makers of this film $ millions. Again, it would be a better film had the camerawork been better.

1 comments about Cabin Fever: Unrated Director's Cut.

1. Keep in Mind If you enjoyed the Super Loaded DVD of Cabin Fever with the 5 Audio Commentaries
   Hold on to the Standard DVD
   
   This BR is a Completely Different version
   Unrated Director's Cut with A New Audio Commentary (Which is Cool for the Director and Cast to do A New One for BR Fans)
   Great job more Studios should do this for the HD Format
   
   Lionsgate did A Great HD Transfer
   The Audio rocks DTS-HD 7.1
   
   The Film itself is One of the Better Indie Horror Films in the last 10yrs.
   It's a Strange Combination of The Crazies, Night of the Living Dead, The Blob, The Stuff, The Thing, and Evil Dead!
   With plenty of WTF Moments, Oddball Charters and Plenty of Blood, Gore and Nudity
   The Shaving in the Bathtub scene alone is a Must See But, it's so hard to watch!
   For those who never seen it I highly Recommend viewing it Once
   It's very Unique
   
   A Must own BR for any Horror Fan! 9/10

5 comments about The Little Bear Movie.

1. Once again Little Bear and his adorable, loveable friends have proven that good wholesome cartoons are out there! My 3 yr old adores these movies. My older children watched when on Nickelodeon...so happy I found them for my newest addition. Would recommend to anyone who is unsure of what their children should be watching.



2. My three year old loves to watch Little Bear. She was so happy when I showed her there was an entire movie. Sweet characters, sweet story. Just sweet.



3. We were SO excited to find these on Amazon. My 3 and a half year old grandson has loved Little Bear nearly half his life. No Little Bear DVDs in the shops here and the tapes mama made from the TV have nearly worn out. The US dvds played on our Aus player perfectly. The Little Bear stories are delightful, gently paced, kindly humorous and, although a teensy bit sexist in places, have more moral depth to them than a lot of stuff for preschoolers. This movie does have a short passage that Casper finds a bit scary and we turn that part off for him. Otherwise we are happy for Casper to watch the rest of the movie.



4. kids watched over and over. Parents will enjoy the story about father and little bear going camping and the songs are cute.



5. We bought this for our little one for Christmas and we love it. It is a little bit scary with the mountain lion, but otherwise is great. the animation is so much more vibrant than the TV series, it is amazing. We are a little bear lovin' family!

5 comments about Stand By Me (Special Edition).

1. In the novella "The Body" written by Stephen King that this film is based upon, a group of boys set out to find a local dead body, and end up finding more out about themselves than anything. Along the way, master wordsmith King is able to develop each and every character to a point where readers can really care for or sympathize with their problems or successes.
   
   In this film version, "Stand By Me", though, that incredible character development is lacking. I realize I am a bit "tainted", as I know what I was missing, but suffice it to say that after the novella experience, the film just seemed to lack that extra "oomph" to turn it into any sort of classic.
   
   Of course, I probably am expecting the impossible in this situation, as director Rob Reiner likely did everything he could to develop four very different young men in the span of only 88 minutes, but just that limitation alone drags the story down a bit. Whereas King (as he is known to do) can, in a very in-depth fashion, probe the personal lives of each of his characters, Reiner is restricted to a series of flashbacks that just don't have the same emotional connection with the viewer as King does with the reader.
   
   Now, don't get me wrong...I don't think that this is a bad film by any stretch of the word. If you have not read the novella, I think you might be inclined to give it another star in the rating column (don't expect "classic" status, though). However, if you (like I was) are looking for faces to be put to King's classic characters, locations, and themes, then you will likely be a bit disappointed, as "Stand By Me" fails to carry that mantra like some others have (including "The Shawshank Redemption", a classic movie based on a story in the same collection as "The Body").



2. I first saw this movie when I was 7 years old. I'm 29 now, and it is still my all-time favorite movie. A wonderful movie about boyhood friendship and the different problems that each kid faces in his home life or in social situations. Four boys set off on a journey to find the body of a dead kid, but it's much more than that. The movie is about the camaraderie of the boys and the problems that each one faces. Chris, the leader of the gang, comes from a family with a bad reputation and therefor is labeled bad by the other people in the town. Gordie is a kid who is coping with the death of his own brother, but more than that, the lack of a relationship between him and his father. Teddy has a dad who is very abusive because he suffers mental problems from his experiences in WWII. Vern is kind of the social outcast. Certainly not one of the most popular kids in school.
   
   Now, about some of the other reviews I have read and you may have read yourself: First of all, let me start by saying that if you're a self-esteem movement parent and can't stand curse words because they greatly offend you, stay away from this movie. This movie is very realistic. Believe it or not, 12 year-old kids swear, get over it. My friends and I swore long before that, but we never did it in front of adults. We didn't do it because we saw it in movies. We did it to act rebellious and thought it made us look older than we were, just like every other 12 year-old kid. These kids in the movie are just like any other 12 year-old boys. So do not use this movie as a scapegoat. Like I said, just get over the fact that 12 year-old boys do swear.
   
   Second of all, this is NOT a chick flick like a couple of reviewers have said. Yes, this is not an action-packed Die Hard type movie, but that doesn't make it a chick flick. I'm a guy. All my friends like this movie, guys and girls, and none of the guys ever called it a chick flick. It's no more of a chick flick than the movie Rudy, which I have never heard of receiving that accusation. If you're that insecure in your masculinity, then please just stay away from the movie.
   
   As long as the last two things I mentioned don't apply to you, order the movie right now!



3. This has always been one of my favorite movies. Having seen it at least two dozen times over the years, it still hasn't gotten old. Adapted from the Stephen King novella "The Body" from the collection Different Seasons, the film follows four friends as they set out to find the dead body of a missing boy so they can become "heroes". Sensitive Gordie, tough but kindhearted Chris, troubled Teddy, and Vern, the proverbial fat kid, your sure to identify yourself with at least one of these characters. Watching this film, it's nearly impossible not to start thinking about you're own childhood friends and the adventures you had together. And it's true, you never will have friends again quite like the ones you had when you were twelve.



4. Great old movie based on one of my favorite old songs. A group of pre--adolescents facing an adult discovery that tests their loyalty. Great stuff, well acted.
   
   Video in good shape.



5. One of the greatest movies of all time, and I'm glad I found it. Everyone should see this movie at least once in their life time. I feel that everyone can relate to AT LEAST one of the characters AT LEAST once throughout the course of the movie. MUST SEE!

5 comments about Harry and the Hendersons (Special Edition).

1. Returning from a hunting trip in the forest, the Henderson family's car hits an animal in the road. At first they fear it was a man, but when they examine the "body" they find it's a "bigfoot". They think it's dead so they decide to take it home there could be some money in this. As you guessed it isn't dead. Far from being the ferocious monster they fear "Harry" to be, he's a friendly giant. In their attempts to keep Harry a secret, the Henderson's have to hide him from the authorities and a man, who has made it his goal in life, to catch a bigfoot. You will fall in love with Harry and wish that Bigfoot / Sasquatch was real. A funny, endearing movie. I whole heartedly recommend this for anybody looking for a family movie that warms the heart.



2. I'm only 23, about to be 24, but some movies you love forever, no matter how long ago it was you first saw them or how old you are when you rediscover them again for the trillionth time. For me, one such movie is Harry and the Hendersons. If you've seen it before and have been waiting for the DVD release, and let's face it, who hasn't seen this move that wanted a DVD release, then now's your chance, and I say jump. Fond memories of classic movies like this, they're only made once in your life, but with things like DVDs and what have you, fond memories can live a long time.



3. besides it being about big foot!!(awesome!!) the story is so loving and caring and just great! its a family favorite and has been for years. i dont think a family should be without it!!!



4. This movie is still as good to watch as it was when it first was made. A must for EVERY FAMILY.



5. I got the DVD fast as always when you order anything from Amazon.com. It works great and I love this movie!! So funny!