Forgetting Sarah Marshall [HD]

we were surprised
My wife and I took a chance on this and rented it when we couldn't find anything else. We haven't seen any other Apatow films -- they all looked a little too adolescent for our tastes. We had read some good reviews of this, though, so we gave it a shot. It was a real surprise -- very clever, well-written, and genuinely funny. Great cast, and all give excellent performances. Lots of real talent went into this. A very enjoyable movie.

fantastic
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" is another smashing success brought to you by Judd Apatow and friends. This time it is Jason Segel's turn to shine and he certainly does not dissapoint with a script that is both laugh out loud funny and emotionally honest.
While one has come to expect Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, and even Segel himself to be on point because of their past turns in other Apatow produced comedies, it is the newcomers that really impress.
Like Christpher Mint-Plaisse as Fogel in "Superbad" it is the ability to find new and original comedic voices that have largely contributed to the success of past Apatow movies like "Superbad", "Knocked up", and even "40 year old virgin".
"Sarah Marshall" introduces the british Comedian Russell Brand to American audiences as Aldous Snow the ultra-ridiculous british rockstar/new boyfriend of Sarah Marshall. Brand has dynamite comic timing and is certainly willing to do anything for a laugh. His interactions with Jonah Hill whose...

Worth it in the end
Partway through this movie I was tempted to stop it, but I'm glad I didn't. This is a movie that starts good, has a wandering middle section, but a strong, satisfying finish. The story is one most people can relate to - a guy gets dumped, tries to forget his ex but can't get away from her, and manages to find someone else. The part where I almost gave up on it was around where Jason Segel's character was breaking down in scenes which were intended to be funny, but at times just felt sad. I enjoy comedies which include their share of drama, but these scenes felt too forced. It seemed like some of those scenes stretched on for too long or borderline-funny gags were repeated too much. The movie does still have its share of funny scenes, like most of Apatow's films.

The scenes with the Dracula puppet musical were quite funny and the ending was rather touching. I will also give the movie credit for being one of the few daring enough to include male frontal nudity. Movies have no...

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Joe Kidd [HD]

Not a Complete Film on this Universal DVD
Scenes are missing on this DVD by Universal. Besides Kidd's and Helen's personal scene that's not apparent, what about the missing dinner scene at Helen's cabin? Duvall and Stroud reveal their characters even more at the dinner table but it is not shown on this version. Duvall invites a reluctant Helen to the table and takes command for himself. This film gets no respect by not being complete.

Average Western, But The DVD Is Not The Complete Film.
Since I never expected a whole lot out of JOE KIDD, I wasn't really disappointed. I was expecting a standard, light western, nothing more . . . . . and that's exactly what I got. JOE KIDD is about a guy named Joe Kidd (gasp!), who gets involved with a posse led by a rich land baron named Harlan (Robert Duvall). He's after the Hispanic revolutionary wannabe Luis Chama, who's causing a lot of trouble and stirring up the Spanish populace. And that's about it. Like I said, nothin' at all to get excited about, but Clint's mere presence can make a movie worth while. Unfortunately (and obviously), he's the highlight of the film, as the rest of the cast is just passing. Not even the great Robert Duvall seems to be interested in the picture, but who can blame him? Actually, the story has (or had) potential; it covers (or tries to) a lot of ground about loyalty, right vs. wrong, and it even raises the question of "What IS right?". But none of this is ever brought up to its full...

As good as any
I don't understand why this got mediocre to bad reviews,I've seen this movie many times & think it's as good or better than any of his early work.As a bonus you get Robert Duval & Don Stroud(who you know is going to get killed before the end of the movie).
Highly recommended to any Clint fan !

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The Secret Life of Words [HD]

(3.5 STARS) "The Secret Life of Words": Quiet and Poetic with One Very Serious Theme
"The Secret Life of Words" is directed by Isabel Coixet ("My Life without Me"). In this quiet film Sarah Polley is Hanna silently working at a factory, keeping to herself in her life. One day her boss tells her to take a vacation even though Hanna doesn't seem to enjoy the idea. Still she travels to a seaside town, where she finds nothing to do. While having a lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, however, she hears about Josef (Tim Robbins), severely burnt victim of a fire at an offshore oil rig.

Hanna volunteers to nurse him and flies to the isolated site where not many things happen. There Hanna cares for Josef, who cannot see her face, wearing a bandage over his eyes because of injury. Josef keeps talking to Hanna, asking her questions while telling her a few things about him. As the film slowly goes on, Hanna, not the most sociable nurse in the world, still starts to reveal her past, which is related to the events that happened in her native country years ago...

Silence as a Protection for Facing Past Horrors
It is always a joy to find a DVD in the videostore that is completely an unknown entity, only to discover upon viewing it that it is a little masterpiece of cinematic art. Such is the case with THE SECRET LIFE OF WORDS, and having seen the film now raises the question of how it went unnoticed in the theater release. Though touted on the cover as an 'Almodóvar film', in reality it's connection to the genius lies in the fact that both Pedro and his brother Agustín Almodóvar were executive producers: the film was written and directed by Spanish artist Isabel Coixet (Paris, je t'aime, Invisibles, My Life Without Me). It is a minimalist statement about the indomitable human spirit, a story that slowly unwinds to reveal some of the most terrifying aspects of trauma of war and guilt and shame ever written.

Hanna (Sarah Polley, in a phenomenal performance) is a deaf, silent reclusive young woman working as a line operator in a factory, so married to her...

Absolutely Unforgettable
*****

"The Secret Life of Words" is a slow-paced movie telling the story of a young woman who takes care of a burn victim. The young woman, Hanna, is a torture victim. The film show the slow development of intimacy between her and her patient. It explores themes subtley and beautifully and unconventionally.

If you are interested in being entertained, you may not enjoy this movie. If you want to be moved, and touched, and to have an unforgettable film experience, you will not be unsatisfied.

This is not a conventional movie, and those who wish for a quick pace and obvious themes will be disappointed. Those who are content to process and think while a theme is developed, and who are open for a different sort of movie will be pleased.

The acting in this movie is incredible, from Tim Robbins' leading role, to Julie Christie, and Sarah Polley. I had rented the movie, and immediately purchased it after viewing it once to keep and to view again and...

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The Heat's On

Uncomfortably Warm For Mae
A very different Mae West vehicle, The Heat's On supposedly led its star to avoid motion pictures for the next 26 years. According to her autobiography, Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It, Miss West said she had been talked into the film by her old friend Gregory Ratoff, who told her he was set to Produce (un-credited) and Direct a film version of a then-Broadway musical called Tropicana. After the deal fell through, he told her, "Dahlink, we can't do the picture I told you about, but a movie called Tropicana we'll make". Miss West further related that when she saw the script she tried to back out, but too much money had already been invested, and the producers, including Mr. Ratoff, would be ruined if the film didn't go forward. Many film buffs will remember that, among his many film credits, Gregory Ratoff had played Benny Pinkowitz in Mae West's I'm No Angel in 1933, and later played producer Max Fabian in All About Eve (1950), but few realize that he directed (30) almost as...

The great Mae West in a rather lukewarm musical-comedy
It's interesting to see the legendary Miss Mae West during the 1940's era of boogie-woogie music and bobbed hairdos. Playing stage star Fay Lawrence, Mae does here what she always does best: Commands scenes in her own unique laid-back style, and tosses out one-liners like bonbons. The plot itself is something of a mess: Conniving producers scheme to manipulate Fay's career by making double-crossing deals behind her back. Naturally, it's ultimately up to Mae's character to come in & straighten out the whole mess, as she often did in her earlier films.
The result? Too many random musical numbers, and not enough Mae. After all, she secures top billing, so you would expect to see her dominate this film, and deservedly so. "The Heat's On" (1943) is a rambling production, but has enough going for it to be pleasant. Its best asset--as in every movie she does--is Mae herself. Although THO turned out mediocre because Mae was not invited by Columbia Pictures to re-write some of the script,...

Not enough Mae West
Not enough Mae West, but worth it just because she's in it. She is the only one in this movie one remembers.

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Bulletproof [HD]

A Great Team
I really liked this movie for a couple different reasons. First of all both Damon Wayans and Adam Sandler are two of my favorite comedy actors. Both these guys seem to draw off each other very well and make a great team. I also liked the story and the little twists and turns it takes close to the end. There are also a few scenes that are the funniest stuff I've ever seen Sandler do. If you're in to crime, action, and most of all comedy movies then I definately say buy this movie

An enjoyable, underrated action/comedy flick
In Hollywood, several comedy stars who make action flicks usually get laughed at- and they usually get laughed at pretty bad. Sure, it would be interesting to see someone like Jim Carrey or Robin Williams do an action movie,but that will probably never happen, and once comedy star Bruce Willis proved that he could pull off an action movie("Die Hard")while Eddie Murphy has a talent for both action and comedy as well. So, if you take a look at Adam Sandler and his movies, and if you thought that you would never see Adam Sandler do an action movie, then you are wrong-because Sandler's 1996 film with Daman Wayans, "Bulletproof" does have some comedy in it, but there is a lot of action in it as well.

The movie starts off with Sandler portaying Archie Moses, a small time car thief and a drug dealer in Los Angeles. His best friend is Rock Keats (Wayans)who is also a car thief. Moses and Keats have been friends for a year. Meanwhile, Moses is working on a drug operation with a...

This movies is really good
Bullet Proof is a great combination of comedy and action. Wayans and Sandler are perfect for their characters; melding each of their comedic styles without loosing personal flavor. One of the best comedy/action movies I have seen. My only complaint is the film's occasional predictability.

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The Great Waldo Pepper [HD]

Waldo in Widescreen!!!
At long last, we have The Great Waldo Pepper in widescreen format as it was meant to be seen. Having suffered my full-screen version for way too many years, I was thoroughly thrilled to receive my widescreen version today, and I could not make it back from my mailbox (six miles away) fast enough. The transfer is immaculate and there is no film grain visible as there is in the full-screen format. Plus, all the two-shots are complete, so you can actually see all the people involved in the conversation. Needless to say, the aerial shots are stupendous, and you feel as if you're right up there with them with the ground spinning lazily below. I cannot vouch for the sound quality (mono), as my home theater unit is in storage in another state, but as far as I can tell, it's every bit as good as the Good Times version I've watched for years. There are a few negatives to the DVD, which caused me to subtract a star:

1. No special features. Even the lowly Good Times full-screen...

The word "great" also describes the movie
This movie has special significance for me because I first saw it as a teenager. Yet it holds up as a great movie for me 28 years after it was made (unlike some others I could name).

I like Robert Redford in almost anything, and he's at his best here as a barnstorming pilot in the 1920s who pretends to have seen more action in World War One than he did. He made me feel for the character when he said, "It should have been me" after rival flyer Axel Olsen exposed him as a "four-flusher" for claiming he was a key figure in a famous battle.

Pepper finally gets his chance to go up against the German World War One ace Ernst Kessler (perhaps loosely based on the real German ace Ernst Udet) as a stunt pilot in a movie crew.

The dialogue scenes between Pepper and Kessler leading up to the climactic dogfight are the best part of the movie, even though Kessler's lines seemed to be written more in the interest of serving the plot than in serving the character.

The...

Wish it was in widescreen.
I made my dad take me to see this as a 7th grader back in 1975, and I snapped it up on impulse when I ran across it in a store. The aviation sequences are superb. Redford must be a pilot himself as some sequences clearly show him in a plane that is actually flying. The character of Ernst Kessler is loosely based on the real life Ernst Udet (whose picture appears in the opening sequence), a German WWI ace who had the words "Not you again!" painted on the tail of his airplane. A real treat for any early aviation enthusiast as the various reproduction aircraft look amazingly accurate. One thing I liked about the flying sequences was the lack of any soundtrack, just the sound of the vintage engines. Also featured is a young Susan Sarandon. DVD doesn't have any extra features to speak of (not even a trailer) but is priced right. Too bad they didn't do it in widescreen. A few things to look out for: When Olssons wheels fall off his plane at the beginning of the movie, look for tiny...

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Columbus Circle [HD]

An exciting thriller that keeps you guessing the entire time. Great acting, plot & movie. I really enjoyed this. I say A-
"Well this is Columbus circle sir, nothing seems strange around here." Reclusive multi-millionaire heiress Abigail Clayton (Blair) has been living alone in her apartment for almost 20 years. When her neighbor dies she is upset that new tenants have moved in. When an ugly incident introduces Abigal to her new neighbors the lives of all involved begin to change. I have to say that this is normally the kind of movie that I love. A great cast where all their lives are intertwined with each other in some way. A movie that keeps you guessing at the motives of everyone and just when you think you know what's going on a twist is thrown in. This is another type of movie that to talk about it would give away something that would ruin the enjoyment of it so I will just say that this is a must see movie that you will enjoy. I really did. Overall, a great thriller full of twists that keeps you guessing. I give it an A-.

Previews do NOt Reflect Quality Here
An elderly tenant on the penthouse floor of Columbus Circle is found dead, seemingly a slip and fall. One detective is not certain however and decides to investigate further. While getting statements, the detective discovers the other other resident on the penthouse floor, living across the hall, is somewhat hard to get in contact with. She does not seem at home at first, but rumor has it that she has not been out of her home for 17 years. No one really knows the mystery behind it. After the incident, she tries to get the penthouse across from her, but someone new moves in, bringing back not only memories but setting a series of events falling, like dominoes.

Before reviewing the movie itself, I want to say that the previews I saw of this movie did not do it justice. They looked grainy and had bad sound quality, making me wonder if I should watch it. An obscure distributor added to that, and if it would not have been for the cast involved I might have missed a good film...

Previews Do Not Reflect Quality
An elderly tenant on the penthouse floor of Columbus Circle is found dead, seemingly a slip and fall. One detective is not certain however and decides to investigate further. While getting statements, the detective discovers the other other resident on the penthouse floor, living across the hall, is somewhat hard to get in contact with. She does not seem at home at first, but rumor has it that she has not been out of her home for 17 years. No one really knows the mystery behind it. After the incident, she tries to get the penthouse across from her, but someone new moves in, bringing back not only memories but setting a series of events falling, like dominoes.

Before reviewing the movie itself, I want to say that the previews I saw of this movie did not do it justice. They looked grainy and had bad sound quality, making me wonder if I should watch it. An obscure distributor added to that, and if it would not have been for the cast involved I might have missed a good film...

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