The Day I Saw Your Heart

Dysfunctional father-daughter relationship movie
"The Day I Saw Your Heart" (2011 release from France) is the most recent (July, 2012) release in the monthly Film Movement series of foreign and indie films. Please note that the original title of this movie is "Et Soudain, Tout Le Monde Me Manque" (which translates as "And Suddenly, I Miss Everyone").

Michel Blanc stars as Eli, who recently remarried and is expecting a baby with his new (and much younger) wife. Eli has 2 grown daughters, Dom(inique), who is looking to adopt a baby with her husband, and Ju(stine), the free-spirit who cannot stand her dad. Dom and Ju are appalled that their dad is to become a father again, given the terrible job he did with them. Or did he? In the first half hour of the movie, we witness what a complete jerk Eli is, and the toll it takes on everyone around him ("his loved ones" would be an overstatement).

But not everything is what it appears to be, and as the movie progresses we see signs of change in both Eli and Ju. To tell you...

The Foibles of Family: A French Charmer With Laughs And Heart
Jennifer Devoldere's dramedy "The Day I Saw Your Heart" is an offbeat combination of unbelievably quirky characters, farcical situations mixed with real life concerns, and overt sentimentality. There's not much about its plot that rings particularly true, but the underlying alienation that can exist within families grounds the movie in a way that make it virtually impossible not to respond to. It's very much like a grown-up sitcom that packs a surprisingly emotional punch. Perhaps I'm not describing the picture well. I enjoyed it very much. But my head groaned at some of the film's contrivances while my heart embraced its overall mood and message. It probably helped matters that the film boasts a strong and likable cast. Led by the lovely Melanie Laurent (who I still think was robbed of an Oscar nod for Inglorious Basterds), this French trifle has heart and charm to spare.

The movie introduces us to a typical family of comic dysfunction, the Dhreys. It soon becomes...

Loved This Film
The Day I Saw Your Heart is what is right and wonderful about independent film. This is a warm beautiful and funny film. I didn't want this film to end.

Everybody in this film is a little bit crazy, some more than others. Dad, Eli Dhrey, is the craziest but yet the one that loves everybody the most. At one point in the film Eli is talking with a doctor and says, if he was a doctor, he would call himself Dr. Dre. This is funny on so many levels; none of the least is that his last name in French is pronounced Dray, just like the good rap doctor. The film is full of non-sequiturs, people doing incredibly unexpected things. It is hard to imagine that a film in French with English subtitles would translate into a good dozen very funny jokes. The film is genuinely funny up until the day Justine sees the heart. This is always a delicate point in a film, the conflict is built and then the film changes direction to resolve the conflict. The director did an amazing job making that...

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Hospitalite

My House Is Your House: A Japanese Offering With Subtle Humor, Domestic Intrigue, And Bold Originality
The Japanese film "Hospitalite" has a gentle quirkiness that is rather disarming. I knew nothing about the film before settling in to watch it and, to a large degree, the film thwarted my every expectation. What begins as a lightweight family drama morphs into a twisty game of manipulation before settling into a true celebration of life. Seriously, you've got no idea where this story will end up from where it begins. And that's always a positive from my perspective. Elements of drama, black comedy and even slapstick take turns in this tale that gets increasingly odd as it progresses. But the odder it got, the more charmed I became. I can understand how some might find the beginning too subtle as it establishes the characters and their relationships with gentle humor, but it is exactly this more mild mannered approach that really sells the big finale. And the final section of the film is quite big, quite unexpected, quite jubilant and surprisingly meaningful as well...

Highly Entertaining!
Original, Funny and Thoughtful! Hospitalite is a drama-comedy with an enjoyable plot and an amazing cast! I'm a very difficult viewer who needs to be entertained but I actually really enjoyed the slow pace of the film. I felt I could better follow the evolution of each character and feel incredibly connected to them. Each character has something sincere and crazy that makes you never want to leave them and the `'family'' they form. One of the best films I have seen in a while!

Hospitality Taken To The Absurd
Mikio Kobayashi (Kenji Yamauchi) runs a printing business on the ground floor of his home. His second and very young wife Natsuki (Kiki Sugino) handles the financial affairs of the shop and looks after his daughter Eriko (Erika Ono). Into their lives comes a manipulative con man/blackmailer named Kagawa (Kanji Furutachi) claiming to be the son of an old friend of Kobayashi's father. Kagawa rapidly takes over the job of a sick employee and gets room and board provided too. Kagawa then also brings his wife to live in the house, the wife says she is from Brazil but one has doubts about this statement as she later says she is from Bosnia. Her English sounds American. What follows is that Kobayashi's life and the life of his family is turned inside out and upside down. Although this movie starts off subtly and slowly it picks up speed as it goes along, secrets are revealed and the plot thickens. I found this film to be primarily an outing and criticism about Japanese xenophobia. The...

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Free Men

Survival and Honor in Time of War
Isma

Corpo Celeste

"CAPTIVATING, COMPELLING, POWERFULLY MOVING!"
A young girl at the age of thirteen, prepares for Confirmation, but must deal with many challenges. Marta must deal with family problems, her own issues on religion, struggles of adolescence, and much more. She becomes brave and fearless to stand up for what she believes in, which causes problems with the Priest and her family. She struggles not only with her identity, but with peer pressure as she makes many attempts to cope. The story is compelling, heartfelt, and entertaining. Acting Performance Superb. Highly Recommended!

4.5 stars... outstanding coming of age and religion drama
First things first, I am a huge fan of the Film Movement library of foreign and indie movie, and this is the most recent (May, 2012) release. Film Movement releases films in the US on DVD that otherwise would never find an audience here.

"Corpo Celeste", roughly translated as "Celestial Body" (2011 release from Italy; 99 min.) brings the tender coming of age tale of 13 yr. old Marta, who recently relocated from Switzerland back to the family roots in southern Italy. She is preparing for Confirmation, a religious passage-of-age not unlike say the Bar/Bat Mitzvah in the Jewish faith, and the pressure to "fit in" with the rest of her Confirmation class is huge, not to mention the troubles at home (mon being non-functionally always in bed with some sickness, and disagreements with her 18 yr. old sister). There are no huge plot developments, we are simply watching Marta coping and getting ready for the day of Confirmation, as she struggles to find her identity. Religion plays a...

A Contemplative Italian Coming-Of-Age Story About Finding Personal Spirituality Amidst Organized Religion
It's so rare to see any serious contemplation of religion in movies today that the subject always feels fresh. The Italian film "Corpo Celeste," however, does not present itself as a message movie. It strikes a very personal tone as one young girl at the brink of womanhood tries to understand how religion might (or might not) be incorporated into her life. In a culture where religion is such a dominating force, 13-year old Marta might easily be dismissed as a trouble maker. But with a clear eye, she sees not the idea of religious practice but its implication. Instead of blindly accepting prescribed doctrine, she seems to be on a spiritual journey of her own. And her quiet reflection might be quite a bit more meaningful. I had heard certain criticism leveled at "Corpo Celeste" for its portrayal of the Catholic Church. Some say the portrait is too broad, but I heartily disagree. I think it presents the individuals involved as full fledged characters struggling to retain meaning...

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Almost in Love

A Bittersweet Love Story
A "slice of life' movie, somewhat informally done but that made it more realiastic in my view. It made me so happy to be past that point in my life and feel so sad for the youth in the throes of love and finding a mate. Well worth watching.





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Furry Vengeance

Awesome Family Fun!!!
I thought this movie was cute and perfect to watch with your kids. I honestly don't know why it has such low ratings. It's very funny. Brendan Fraser stars as a real estate developer named Dan Sanders who is planning to tear down the forest and build a mall. The animals of the forest soon decide to take matters into their own paws and make Dan's life miserable, until he realizes what they want. Dan's wife, Tammy doesn't believe him about the animals, and insists that he gets therapy. During an eco friendly fair, the animals will have their revenge against the man who is making Dan destroy the forest. If you love comedies, and children's movies, you'll love FURRY VENGEANCE!!!

Just enjoy it.
You buy your ticket. You park your logic and adult brain at the door. As you enter, you pull your 6th grade humor
back from the netherlands of childhood. And you just go with the absurdness of it all. And laugh. And remember that if animals could, they would. Enjoy.

Cute
Very cute family movie. It's funny and entertaining, keeps you laughing. My kids loves it. Brendan Fraiser and Brooke Shields were good choices for this!

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Married in Spandex

You're welcome, Mom and Dad.
This is a must-see for every person that saw Leslie Hall's wedding website and dreamed of the over-the-top extravaganza that would await them if only they were courageous enough to commit to being so out there in front of Grandma. I was surprised how much the film included the realistic glimpses of awkwardness when an awesome wacky idea was carried out to completion. The story was touching and real, complete with doubtful friends, reluctantly supportive family, and a very cute love story. You're welcome, Mom and Dad, that I didn't choose an Iowa wedding (but I wanted to)!

Real People
This movie has all the warmth, humor, stress, and honesty of every day people planning a wedding day that expresses who they are. The families and friends are lovely and imperfect and the story is well told and adventurous. It's a refreshing look at marriage and the ceremony that surrounds it.

awesome honest story
This is an amazing movie with an honest story that anyone can identify with. Hilarious couple (and maybe even more hilarious family) captured beautifuly. Enjoy!

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Prairie Love

Love, Awkwardness, And Relative Isolation: An Extreme Indie Showcasing An Unlikely Romance
"Prairie Love," from writer/director Dusty Bias, is an extremely low-budget indie that hopes that you will be captivated by its eccentricity and quirkiness. It has an unusual and appealing story that might have been mined for big laughs or intense drama. Bias, instead, keeps things on an even keel with a very understated tone. If you watch a lot of independent cinema, you'll recognize many of the arty conventions here. There is stilted dialogue, meaningful silences and stagnant camera shots taken from abstract angles. All of these things can and have been used to good affect in numerous other films, but "Prairie Love" starts to feel a little monotonous due to pacing issues. It's a real shame too, because I love the central plot line of the film and found the actors strangely appealing. As a odd love story, the screenplay comes close to succeeding. And as a comedy, there are hints of a great movie in evidence. Bias has a wonderful and original idea for a movie, but it just...

Crazy Love on the Lam
This movie reminds me a lot of "Fargo" and its many moments of jolting surprise and impromptu change. While its story or plot may initially appear to be blase - a cowboy drifter aimlessly travelling across a wide-open, snowbound prairie in a beat-up old station wagon - something suddenly happens to change all that. He picks up a hitchhiker whose car has broken down in the middle of a blizzard and, all of a sudden, that which was once a ho hum existence, now becomes a fascinating tale of love, lust and murder. As the hitchhiker shares his story about going to visit a female penpal at a local penitentiary, the drifter suddenly comes alive. As a survivor who has always lived his life on the margins of society, the wonders of sex have never been part of his lonely lifestyle. Now as he listens to the fantastic plans of his new travelling companion, his mind becomes transformed. He, too, wants to be able to have a woman in his life, and the only way he can do it is to hijack the other man's...

What a wonderful movie! Finally, something new to watch.
I lived in the North for years... you could feel the cold from your theater seats. I really loved the humor; I am so tired of all the movies out there...the same thing over and over again. Prairie Love gives "love stories" a fresh face. It is fun and touching. I loved every minute. I shall be watching for whatever this new writer gives us next. We can only hope he doesn't take too long.

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4 Assassins

Yes
I thought this was a great drama, but it was not an action film by my standards. I still liked it anyway. I'm a fan of Will Yun Lee.

Great service! Great movie!
Received my DVD very promptly, great service there!

Haven't had a chance to watch the movie yet, but hey, it's Miguel Ferrer! That's a guarantee right there, I've never seen him fail.

Interesting
This is a good first big screen debut by director/screen writer Stanley Orzel. You will be disappointed if you are looking for an action film-this is more of a "psychological" action film with the 4 assassins coming together for some unfinished business. Great concept,directing and cinematography. Had some very funny lines and I might have added some more and took it in the direction of a campy film (considering the low budget) that could entice a cult following for future encounters with the 4 assassins.

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Trailer Park of Terror (Unrated) [HD]

A (Surprisingly) Terrific Piece of Trailer Trash
When country performer Trace Adkins shows up in "TRAILER PARK OF TERROR" looking like a 'Thunderkiss '65'-era Rob Zombie, it's tempting to write this flick off as a 'Texas Chainsaw Wannabe', or maybe a 'House Of 1000 Ideas That Have Been Done A Million Times Before'. But Adkins gets credit from me, because for the brief time he's on-camera, he does manage a pretty impressive screen presence.

The same goes, shockingly enough, for the rest of "TRAILER PARK..." as well. Having sat through countless horror duds that purported to be more 'gruesome' or 'over-the-top' than anything seen before, I can't say that "TRAILER PARK..." is any more extreme than any of its gore-soaked precursors. And it's amusing & worth some chuckles, but high art this AIN'T. Yet, at the same time, "TRAILER PARK..." defies the odds, and avoids being just a forgettable, one-trick, cheapie horror gimmick. Sure, the whole redneck vibe is in full swing, with your standard. broadly-generalized mobile-home...

Gruesome and entertaining - A great modern zombie exploitation
When a bus carrying a group of troubled high school teens and their chaperons crashes near a trailer park, they're forced to fight for their lives against the reanimated `victims' of a brutal, vengeful massacre nearly thirty years prior.

Review: With a name like Trailer Park of Terror and an MPAA rating including "sadistic horror violence and torture, sexual content, pervasive language and drug use," it didn't take much suggestion to make me check out this little flick. . . then I found out my DVD had the unrated cut and I couldn't hold back any longer. And, boy, am I glad that I didn't wait. When I first heard of the film and read the synopsis, I was expecting a 2001 Maniacs-style shlock comedy-horror. To my pleasant surprise, the film actually took a much more horror-focused approach, leaving the comedy to be a simple mood-lightener at times and not a major part of the tone. Visually, the film is great. It, thankfully, does not have the cheap `shot-on-video' look that so...

Trailer Park of Terror
Trailer Park of Terror is a great film. The character makeup was awesome, and the storyline was very believable. It helps to be familiar with the comic book series though, as the movie is based on the series. I enjoyed the movie, and recommend it as a good movie to watch, especially around Halloween.

Definitely watch the mini movie at the end. It's hillarious!

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Small, Beautifully Moving Parts

A Likable, If Relatively Slight, Road Trip Comedy About Connectivity And Familial Bonds
The indie "Small, Beautifully Moving Parts" is one of those micro-budgeted film experiences that you'd be unlikely to have a chance to see outside of the festival circuit. That's the key, though, that makes it seem so refreshing. As a little film (and only 73 minutes at that), the movie has a lot to say about family and connectivity in the contemporary age. Its goals are modest, its themes are recognizable, and its characters are identifiable. Filmmakers Annie J. Howell and Lisa Robinson have crafted an intimate character study that has a quirky appeal without ever devolving into preciousness. And that's not always easy to do in an era where quirk has replaced genuine emotion in most mainstream comedies. So, "Small, Beautifully Moving Parts" is easy to like and recommend as long as you're not expecting a big or glossy production. Its quiet power is incredibly subtle and as our heroine discovers her own truth by the end of the film, it's surprisingly low-key but no less effective for...





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Shanghai Calling

A nice movie
I stumbled across this movie while looking for something simple to veg out with. A fun movie with a good cast, an reasonably original plot and no gratuitous violence or sex. A good movie night movie

"It's time to get in touch with your culture ... by having sex with it!"
SHANGHAI CALLING (Writ./Dir. Daniel Hsia, 2012, 100 minutes) is one of those movies that causes me to ache with anger and resentment at the fact that we miss these gems in the first place. I cannot understand the wasted hard work, the talent, that essentially goes down the drain from lack of an audience for such films.

This jewel of a film, which should be seen by everyone, grossed just over $10,000 when it opened. That's right, this classic film grossed less than it costs to buy a crappy SUV.

Oscar-worthy all around, this is the story of gorgeous corporate lawyer Sam Chou (Daniel Henney), a Chinese-American who is tapped to go to Shanghai by his firm. Since he is of Chinese descent - though 100% American - his firm thinks he'll be more effective. The odious task on which he embarks will not only warm your heart, it will open your eyes about Sino-American business practices.

Arriving in Shanghai, Sam quickly learns that the American "expat" community...

Light Airy Escapade with some valuable insights about 'ex-pats'
SHANGHAI CALLING may not light any fires of excitement in filmdom but it is a successful dual country effort to quash some misconceptions about China and the US and the news we hear daily. And if it were for that alone it would be worth an evening's outing, but graced by a really top notch cast of fresh actors not well known - yet - it becomes a tender little romp set in the spectacular beauty of Shanghai!

The story is a predictable one:a young handsome Chinese American Lawyer (a very fine young actor hunk Daniel Henney) who was born in America and speaks no Chinese at all is sent by his major law firm in New York to gain access into the big business happening in Shanghai - home of the manufacturers who make everything used in this country it seems! Once in China he encounters Chinese customs of which he is ignorant, a language he does not understand, an ex-pat mayor of Americatown (Bill Paxton), a beautiful single mom (Eliza Coupe, another one to watch) who has moved...

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Foreign Letters

Friendship And The Wonders Of America: Coming Of Age In A New Land
"Foreign Letters" is a surprisingly simple story of friendship that really captures the way people from different backgrounds can grow so vital to one another. Although the central characters are each facing an American childhood filtered through unique immigrant experiences, the film really has such a universal appeal. Telling the tale of young Ellie, a recent transplant from Israel, and her best pal Thuy, a refugee from Vietnam, the girls initially bond because they're both outsiders in the same suburban school. Autobiographical by nature, filmmaker Ela Thier really understands how kids interact with one another. Alternating between slavish devotion to instant betrayal, it's not always an easy road with your best friend. But there is such a purity of emotion, the bonds formed can be lifelong. And indeed, that is the case here as the plot is largely taken from Thier's own life journey and she has also taken on the role of Ellie's mother in the film. The movie even ends with...

gorgeous and rich film!!
Childhood is both heartbreaking and breathtaking. With extraordinary craft and soul, not to mention massive talent, Ela Thier unfolds before us this complex world through the friendship between two "outsider" girls in 1980s Connecticut. The nuances of a classroom, a cafeteria, a walk in the forest, a dance on a roof, dinnertime in two different kitchens, and an ice skating rink filled with boys - all illuminate without one wasted gesture or world the universe these two young friends navigate.

I had not realized, until watching Foreign Letters, how the story of childhood friendship so rarely gets told unless something is being blown up. But Foreign Letters proves that the story of love between friends, unfolding without special effects, is the real action adventure.

Cute story
The main character acted well. Low budget but the story is sweet, in fact it is based on the writers childhood.

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3 Weeks To Daytona

It's not the machine, it's the dream (official tagline)
"3 Weeks To Daytona" - starring Scott Cohen ("Kissing Jessica Stein", USA network's "Necessary Roughness"), Jorja Fox ("ER", "The West Wing", "CSI:") and Rip Torn ("Men In Black", "Freddy Got Fingered"), directed by Bret Stern ("R2PC: Road to Park City").

I was lucky enough to see this at the private screening in NYC in 2011, and got to chat with the director after. It's a film about NASCAR, but it's not all racing - though there are several very good racing scenes in it. Instead, it's a film about the people behind the racing: Chuck Weber (Scott Cohen) drives an airport limo by day, but his real passion is racing... unfortunately, he hasn't won a race in years. His girlfriend / crew chief...

Great Movie
If you love Jorja Fox, race cars, kids & cheering for the underdog, then you will definitely enjoy this movie.

Good
A movie about a man and his dream and the things that come between them, you know that little thing called life. It was worth watching and I enjoyed it. Scott Cohen was excellent as always as the down and out race car driver who still dreams of making it big. He's out of money, on the out's with his girlfriend, struggling at work and at times is a horrible father. All he really wants to do is race his car; the car he can't afford to fix and he can't seem to win with.

He has one last chance at redemption. It's a way to redeem not just his racing dream, but like all good sports movies, if he can fix that he just might be able to put the rest of his life back into place as well.

The cast was for the most part excellent, the story was pretty good, the budget was low, but the movie is worth watching. Just don't expect a big Hollywood production. If you're fan of Scott Cohen or Jorja Fox you won't be let down, both put in great performances.

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The Mooring

A little too predictable.
This movie did not excite me. It could of been more of a plot. The killing was boring. I do not not reccommend this movie.

Just killing
Just killing was the plot. Throughout the film it was poor acting, poor screenplay and just a bad actor hunting teen girls to kill them and that was it. Waste of time.

awesome
i love it need some work but awesome i say watch it you be like ruunnnnn then rrruuunnnnn then oh wow at the end i enjoy it cool if had part two of it

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The Bitter Buddha (2012) [HD]

Get to know The Bitter Buddha!
Eddie Pepitone is one of the most well-respected comics on the scene, but at the same time, many people in this country have no idea who he is. This documentary lets you inside the world of Eddie, from the perspective of both himself and his colleagues. Funny, inspirational, and very personal, do yourself a favor and get to know The Bitter Buddha.

Very Interesting
Provides a good view into the life of a very complex person. A man at war with himself is the perfect way to put it.

An Original...
I was introduced to Eddie Pepitone through Marc Maron on Air America's Morning Sedition Show. At first, I thought they had let a homeless man into the studio as a joke, but Eddie showed his off-kilter anger had a lot of thought behind it. It's been great learning that Eddie is both Everything and Nothing like his stage persona. A sweet, caring and a little unstable (Aren't we all?)comic who brings everything to every performance. Great Doc of a Good Man!

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Found Memories

The Beauty Of Silence: A Quietly Powerful Character Piece From Brazil
Without a doubt, I haven't seen a quieter movie than "Found Memories" in quite some time. This intriguing Brazilian film unfolds like a surreal dream, but it requires a certain patience for its payoff. As very little is explained, I found myself attempting to fill in the pieces of its rather enigmatic characters. While it's easy to accept everything in the movie at a surface level, I found almost supernatural undertones as the story unfolded. Perhaps I'm crazy, and that might be the case, but I read a lot into "Found Memories" whether director Julia Murat intended me to or not. The movie has a silent power and it was quite a while before I realized just how swept up in the film I was. And ultimately, I was surprised that this nearly wordless endeavor drew me so deeply into my own head!

The tale itself is rather simple and unremarkable. In the rural village of Jotuomba, life has settled into a very ordinary routine. We meet a stoic baker, Madalena, who bakes bread, lives in...

Totally loved it
This film may move a little slow to those more accustomed to mainstream cinema (eg, stuff exploding, eye-candy images and catchy soundtracks.) But give it a chance. This was a moving, meaningful and awesome film. I would watch it again, and I also am interested in seeking out other films associated with the director.



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Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome [HD]

Just watched the first 5 minutes. Amazing! But a series will never happen.
I feel your pain my friends but the only way this could've become a series is if it were sold to TNT or perhaps AMC! They are the only channels showing anything bold or even remotely considered sci-fi. That would be a show called "Falling Skies", the single closest thing to sci-fi on American television. Shame.

The actual SYFY channel has completely abandoned all things science fiction. A few years ago MGM was taken over by new management and they immediately decided to cancel the following: SG:A, SG:U, the new SG-1 movie (SG: Revolution), and the new SG:A movie (SGA: Extinction).

As long as this current bunch of skin-jobs is in charge we will never get real sci-fi. Instead we get a steady diet of rediculous monster movies with horrible acting and direction. We get fed one ghost hunting show after another. We're up to 5 of those shows now right? Oh and my personal favorite - wresting. Wrestling? What the fraaaaak? I just cant wait to see steroid injected men all...

Backstory : Bill Adama & the First Cylon War
The Time: The first Cylon War. The Place: Battlestar Galactica. Ensin Bill Adama is a young man right out of Viper Training, and sent on his first mission. Of course its top secret, and of course the fate of the war hangs on it, and of course he fracks a beautiful woman. Altho you can watch it bit by bit on line, it'll be far more fun to own the DVD, since the extra scenes often made Battlestar Galactica DVDs far more interesting, and complete. Also producer/developer/writer Ron's video commentary could be used for a college class in creative writing, since he's always revealing more than just dropped scenes and insider banter, but insights into his creative process. As for the film itself, its impressive. The computer graphics are along the line of PROMETHEUS. THe camerawork include a lot of bright lights shining into the lense, for realistic atmosphere, as well as outrageous futuristic technology. From the first moments of a viper battle, thru the latest technology inside the...

Frakking awesome!
I'm ordering this already based just on the first two web episodes that just came out. Everything is just so... Galactica... the young Adama is perfect, the look, the music, the effects, the story so far....frakking loving it! My biggest hope is this does so well they do a new series. Please Mr. SyFy channel - make this into a full series now!

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North Sea Texas

Effective And Emotional: A Thoughtful Coming-of-Age Story From Belgium
The Belgian coming-of-age tale "North Sea Texas" might not win any awards for originality as you're certain to have seen dozens of films to follow a similar story arc. Despite its familiarity, though, it still works as an exploration of the sexual and romantic awakening of an awkward teen stranded in a desolate seaside village. Before going any further, let me clarify that Bavo Defurne's debut feature is NOT set in Texas. While I think this would be perfectly clear from the description, I just thought that I would mention it as the prospect of subtitles seems to put off certain viewers. But, as they say, love is universal. And the yearning and emotions inherent throughout "North Sea Texas" are sure to resonate with anyone who has ever had a crush or experienced the complications of first love.

The boy at the center of "North Sea Texas" is Pim (Jelle Florizoone). Although we glimpse a younger version of Pim in the movie's opening sequence, the narrative covers about...

The torments of puberty
Jelle Florizoone's portrayal of the teenage Pim is brilliant. His darting eyes take in everything: his mother's childish and irresponsible behavior, his friend's sister's obsession with him, the sexiness of the gypsy Zoltan, and so forth. Nothing escapes him, and nothing protects him from hurt. Both he and his best friend Gino each lives in a fatherless family. At first the duo is inseparable, and make love, but since Gino is three years older, he soon begins a relationship with Fran

Gay Sex in the 70's

Recommended Documentary About 70s Gay Scene
The documentary Gay Sex in the 70s examines the lifestyle and culture of gay men from 1969 to 1981--the dawn of the AIDS era. The documentary was produced by former ABC Producer (20/20)Joseph Lovett. Gay Sex in the 70s is an excellent film.

The film primarily focuses on the disco era. Various gay men describe their lives and how things happened during that era. There is also a great deal of archived footage incorporated into the film. From back rooms at clubs to wild scenes in semi trucks at the docks things were definitely wild and free during that era.

Gay Sex in the 70s is a great historical film. The saddest part of the film is when the early 1980's are discussed. The dawn of the AIDS era really impacted the gay community in a major way. One man shows a pile of pictures of all of his friends who died from the disease. Another man tells a story about how one of his patients called him when he was hospitalized for what he was told was a strange cancer. One...

"New York was a constant cruising opportunity."
For a micro-budget documentary this is a good introduction to the gay scene in the 1970's, butt the title is misleading since it only tells the story of gay men in New York City in the 70's. There is absolutely nothing about anything outside of NYC which is sad because I was hoping this would talk some about gay oppression in other countries. Butt, oh well, I still enjoyed the film and was amazed by all the archival photos and video, especially the gay docks, "the trucks" and St. Mark's Baths! That was some crazy [...]!!! The St. Mark's Bath sounded awesome! Why can't there be something like that for heterosexuals nowadays?! I'd be there every weekend.

My main beef though is there just wasn't enough meat to the story. Yea, everybody is [...] and [...] and [...] nonstop, butt hearing about it over and over chafed me kinda raw. I wanted the film to penetrate deeper into the story. Instead it just poked around the rim. I wish there had been some interviews with somebody other...

Limited scope, but still worth a look
While I was only a kid during the 70s, this documentary provides a fascinating, bittersweet snapshot of the "golden age of gay sex," i.e. after Stonewall and before full-blown AIDS - along with Friedkin's "Cruising," this doc shows us what NYC must have been like if you were young, hot, and single - and even if you weren't you could score, too. Hard to believe that this time period is only two decades ago, but it seems like a distant world, a long-lost era so alien from out contemporary culture. I wish the film had made an attempt to also cover other area around the nation like SF, LA, etc. but this insider glimpse of NYC nostalgia makes you pine for "the good old days" even if, in tragic hindsight, we know they could literally kill you.

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Only Way

A great story that most can afford.
Great story of the Danish jews escape plan from the Nazis in WWII. This is a powerful movie that is affordable and it's nice to see in light of the 'Criterion" movies such as "The Sorrow and the Pity", The Battle of Algiers", "Army of Shadows", and also "Danish Solution", all of them excellent in their own right but rather pricey. Pick this one up if you're interested in escape/resistance themed war stories.

A very young Jane Seymour in a true tale of love and courage.
I was not familiar of this true story of how the people of Denmark protected and saved almost all of the 8,000 Jews with only a 24hr notice. They had made a pact with Hitler that while they were under German control the Jews would be left alone. Well this holds for only 3yrs as we know Hitler was not to be trusted and we know what he did with the Jews. The people of Denmark were so brave and acted as one!

It is quite moving. Not as violent as most holocaust accounts. A good introduction for older children. I love stores of how people helped people in WWII taking no thought to the fact they would die also if caught, they just did what was right. This is a film everyone should see.

We must never forget this time in history.

During WWII, honorable people save innocent lives
Set in 1940, THE ONLY WAY is the story of a Jewish family's attempt to flee Denmark before the German Army occupies the country. This low-key movie was a co-operative effort of four nations.

Historical note: Danes refused to turn Jews over to the occupying Germans, and some 7,000 were eventually provided safe passage to Sweden.

"The Only Way" is also available on DVD.

Also recommended:
THE ARYAN COUPLE(2004) is the story of a Jewish industrialist who must turn over his business to Hitler's government in order to secure for his family safe passage from the country. Stars Martin Landau as Joseph Krauzenberg. (DVD only)

Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 IMDb viewer poll rating.

(6.3) The Only Way (USA/Denmark/Panama/UK-1970) - Ebbe Rode/Helle Virkner/Jane Seymour/Ove...

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Vasermil

Belated but welcome release for a great Israeli movie
First things first, I am a huge fan of Film Movement, which releases foreign and indie movies on DVD which otherwise would never find an audience here.

"Vasermil" (2007 release from Israel; 95 min.) brings the story of three youths, growing up in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva in the Negev desert. In a sense it provides a microcosm of Israel's society, which has seen significant changes with the massive immigration in the last 15-20 years from Russia and Africa. One of the boys hails from Ethiopian immigrants, another from Russian immigrants, and the last one is an Israeli native. All of them live in difficult family and economic circumstances, and their way to improve themselves, perhaps, lies in playing for the local high school soccer team, hoping to attrack the interest of soccer scouts. I don't want to give too much away from the plot, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out, although I will venture to say that this movie doesn't guarantee a...

Three boys, one game.
(special thanks to Film Movement for providing me with a screener!)

Israel is, this movie reminds us, something of a melting pot. We have three young male characters we follow through this story, and each is a different nationality. We have Sholmi (Nadir Eldad), who works as a pizza delivery boy for an extremely unpleasant man and who is also captain of his local soccer team. Then we have Dima (David Taplitzky), a Russian immigrant who works for some shady types dealing drugs. Finally there's Adiel (Adiel Zamro), a student who is either Ethiopian by birth or just of Ethiopian ancestry. One interesting side effect of this cast of characters is that the movie is in three different languages: Hebrew, Russian and Amharic.

The movie begins with a rather bored-looking Dima stealing the scooter Shlomi uses for doing deliveries. This appears to be just a random act and not targeted at Shlomi in particular. He then spends some time riding around his hometown as Shlomi has...



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The Thieves [HD]

Terrific Movie, Great Cast, and Jaw Droping Action...
Get over the subtitle issue and watch this movie. The cast delivers great performances. The story's complexity unfolds wonderfully. I was thoroughly entertained by the stunts and action sequences. Many top notch movies have incredible stunts and action sequences but this movie takes the sequences to a significantly higher level... Watch is and let me know what you think...

The Thieves, action packed, quality script and characters, much better than many Hollywood counterparts
One of the best Heist movies I've ever seen. Director/Writer Choi Dong-hoon and writer Lee Ki-cheol managed to make each character unique and interesting in a 1.5 hr, film, a feature so often missed in action movies. Great stunts, good story, great acting. I'll take this movie over its Hollywood counterparts anytime.

Clever, clever, clever
What a wonderful movie. It's a little unfair to compare this movie to other caper films... it's very much an original!

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Bolt [HD]

STUNNING Visual Quality!
"Bolt" really blew me away; this is the first time that I have seen a CGI film that shows a level of mastery that allows the visual artistry of the film to be the driver rather than the capabilities of the computer. The characters have the typical CGI look--extremely well rendered, with the 3D type look you'd expect. However, the backgrounds have the look of a traditional painting. Art Director Paul Felix should be commended for this mixing of styles which works out extremely well. The overall lighting, colors, and style of this film are its hallmark in my opinion. The story is really not anything that will blow you away; in fact, it is somewhat predictable; however, with the characterizations, action sequences, visual quality, and the vocal talents behind the characters, "Bolt" becomes a must-see.

In a nutshell: Bolt (John Travolta) is a super-hero canine...at least in his own mind and to TV viewers everywhere. In order to protect his performance and keep it "real," TV...

Three versions of a wonderful new Disney film...
BOLT is the story of a dog who, in a TRUMAN SHOW way, is convinced from birth that he lives the life of a fictional TV show and proves his real-life worth to the world and himself. Bolt is a movie that was convinced by the U.S box office receipts that it was an underachiever when in reality it is one of the finest of Disney's recent animated features. Much speculation has surrounded the reasons for the grosses, two being the marketing angles and its competition on the same premiere weekend.

It was nominated for an Academy Award, it's a smash in the United Kingdom and is sure to hit big on DVD, especially in this nicely-packaged edition. If you're fortunate enough to have a Blu-Ray player, the magnificent artistry described in the bonus features will be especially apparent. There is a fine series of mini-documentaries about the making of the film and a very funny new short, SUPER RHINO, starring the breakout character, though the pop culture reference at the film's...

It's a keeper
I wasn't expecting Bolt to be this much fun. I kept laughing out loud. One touching part late in the film made me tear up. And the visuals are virtuoso.

The story has lots of familiar touches. Its road trip plot channels The Incredible Journey. Pooch Bolt sincerely thinks he has true superhero powers, much like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. The truth is that he is on a television series, and has been living a lie most of his life (The Truman Show, anyone?) His human, a preteen girl named Penny, is a child actress, although she truly loves Bolt and longs to give him a normal doggie life.

Although the plot could have been stronger, the visual effects and look of the film are amazing. I kept being distracted by the perfection on the screen. My poor...

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NY Export: Opus Jazz

exciting, dynamic, wonderful
I was fortunate to see this when it was broadcast on Great Performances. If you have any interest at all in dance - really really good dance - you need to see this film. Jerome Robbins remarkable choreography combined with exciting young dancers and fine filmmaking makes for a memorable experience. I plan to see it again and again, just as soon as the DVD is released.

different view of a great ballet
Having seen the ballet live in NYC, I was fascinated by the way the choreography was set to fit into the background of NYC streets and buildings and how it complemented the original choreography, which of course is "àla West Side Story". One must always remember that film is two dimensional and the stage is three dimensional and it's a LIVE presentation each and every time.

Amazing
I watched this each time it aired on Great Performances and was totally spellbound each time. Video isn't always the best way for an audience to feel the energy of a dance piece, but it's so well done that the experience of watching the film definitely rivals the live experience. It's very intimately shot but the camera work also allows you to see the patterns of the dancers' bodies from many angles, including really beautiful aerial shots.

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A Dark Truth [HD]

WHEN IS IT ENOUGH?
The film deals with the age old conflict of control of natural resources. In this case an international company called Clear-Bec runs water filtration systems. It makes deals with governments to take over the waterways used by the poor indigenous population, then turn around and sell them what has been free. Old progressives are familiar with this type of thing from Susan George's "How the Other Half Dies" (1976).

In this particular case, the water in an Ecuadorian village becomes polluted with sewage and leads to a typhus epidemic which wipes out a village. Part of the damage control was to have the military ensure there were no witnesses. The incident is brought to the attention of Morgan Swinton (Deborah Kara Unger) part owner of the evil corporation. She has a conscience and wants to get to the bottom of the incident against the wishes of her brother and the rest of the company.

She hires radio talk show host and former CIA agent Jack Begosian (Andy Garcia)...

Pretty entertaining B movie
This is not a bad movie. It's very watchable, decent amount of action spread throughout the movie, plot is kind of meh but serviceable. Acting and pace was altogether good.

Typical B action/drama where the bad guys are really bad and the good guys are not so good but altogether it works for the purposes of the story. 4.25 stars because of some pretty large plot holes and some glaring loose ends.

Andy Garcia in another true story
At least someone is paying attention to the world south of our borders. Good story based on a real one. Very good cast and lots of action.

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The Kids Are All Right [HD]

A good slice of life film - and topical.
The Kids Are All Right is a thoroughly entertaining slice-of-life domestic drama about two kids who look up their sperm-donor father, causing cataclysmic changes in the family dynamic. Not a unique premise save that the parents of the kids happen to be lesbians.

The entire cause célèbre for this film is to show straight America how "normal" gay families are and that they shouldn't be afraid of "gay marriage" or "gay parenting," thus it doesn't delve too deep or wander too far off topic. Political film making is a tricky business. You'll remember the Tom Hanks drama Philadelphia was maligned by the LGBT activist fringe for all the issues it didn't address; to which my answer has always been: it's a two hour film, if you add too many spicy issues you're left with an unpalatable polemic.

The script and direction by Lisa Cholodenko (High Art) are tight, well focused and only occasionally heavy-handed. Her characters are fresh, while being...

I Liked Overall, But Had A Problem With A Few Things In The Story...
I found this movie to be very well-acted and well-directed.
The sexual scenes didn't bother me not one bit, like some of the other reviewers.
I mean, COME ON!!---This is life in the 21st Century!--Grow up already!
People get naked and they interact, okay?---Thank goodness that computers and gadgets
haven't spoiled that for us (yet!), as it has with basic conversational skills and other forms
of by-gone or slowly dying human interaction.

I actually know both a lesbian couple, as well as a gay male couple who
are living similar circumstances as in the premise of this movie.
I found it very modern, refreshing, and mature in it's approach to the subject matter.
I have long been a fan of Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore and Annette Benning's work,
and I also thought "the kids" themselves did an excellent job at portraying their roles.
My problem was in that I felt like the Mark Ruffalo character kind of had his once happy
and...

Entertaining but flawed indie comedy/drama (3 1/2 stars)
Yes, this movie is probably being at least a little overpraised by the critics. I suspect many of them consider it "brave" for a film to depict an ordinary American family, whose parents just happen to be lesbians. Let's face it, awards voters and critics love anything that deals with race, homosexuality, or any of the other hot-button social topics (witness the dreck known as "Crash" winning Best Picture a few years ago).

None of which is meant to detract from The Kids are All Right, which is still quite an enjoyable small film. The acting especially is uniformly good. Annette Bening is sure to receive an Oscar nomination (well deserved), for her fantastic performance as Nic, the tightly-wound, more responsible half of the married couple formed by herself and Julianne Moore. Moore is also excellent playing Jules, a more aimless free-spirit type - their differences are a source of much of the comedy in the film. In all respects but their sexual orientation, they are a...

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Funeral Kings [HD]

Worth your time
They really captured teenage boy antics. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Language was a bit strong but, well, it was teenage boys.

Funny, Original, Entertaining, Relatable!!
Funeral Kings is such a great movie! the child actors are fantastic, the plot is strong and relateable for kids in the same age group. The language will offend children under 15 or 16 but it's to be expected, these are teenagers after all! Fantastic performances are delivered by every member in the cast adult and child. Plotline is consistent throughout and manages to not falter, this is a must see!

Very entertaining!!
Funeral Kings is a fun movie to watch. The language is pretty rough thus I would not recommend it for young children. The plot is based on the escapades of Altar boys and many who have been involved in the Catholic church can relate. Anyone with teenagers will relate to this film and enjoy a few laughs! I am sure we will see more from the McManus brothers and others involved in making this film. Enjoy it!

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Carl Panzram: The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance [HD]

A Great Documentary!
I have enjoyed John Borowski's films for several years and they continually get better. Although, his former documentaries on Dr. H.H. Holmes and Albert Fish are hard to beat, Panzram is visually exceptional and is well researched. This is independent film making at its best. The extras on the DVD are also outstanding. If you are interested in historical documentaries, serial killers, psychology, or just great entertainment--this film is for you! John Borowski is the Ken Burns of serial killers and his films are outstanding. Do yourself a favor and watch this film!

Fascinating documentary
Fascinating, well-made film. Underrated too, since I can't even find it on Flixter or Rotten Tomatoes. Watched it because it was recommended by comedian Bill Burr. And he was right! Excellent documentary!

fascinating, surprising
Borowski is one of the greatest crime documentary film makers of all time, and this third film of his, Panzram, is quite a surprise, as it focuses more on the topic of prison brutality and brutality by the system, including police, school administrators, etc., who created a cruel system where young and innocent individuals are tortured until they become hardened psychopaths. Panzram was evil, but the documentary shocked me because I was able to understand the violence by seeing it in its context- there are a lot of victims in this film, but Panzram is the ultimate victim here, brought up by a violent system where, like Charles Manson, he learned as a young child about power and rape and abuse and violence and manipulation instead of about relationships and love and ways to make this a better world. Panzram was not born a killer, the system made him one, and that is the only logical conclusion I got from this intense, very harsh and tragic true and tragically, avoidable description of...

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Come Out and Play

A Creepy Slow Build Tension Compensates Somewhat For Very Thin Plotting
The idea of murdering children on a rampage is certainly not a new one. There have been countless film projects to address the phenomenon in both horror and science fiction categories. But it is such an unsettling narrative device, it never fails to raise my curiosity. As the ultimate corruption of innocence, the sight of a young child ready to perpetuate irredeemable violence creates such a harrowing tableau that it is oftentimes difficult to look away. It has a car crash appeal that I find absolutely fascinating. The minimalist shocker "Come Out and Play" has a slow build tension that makes the most of its subject. For much of its scant 86 minute running time, it alludes to dangers unseen as opposed to showcasing carnage. This approach does create a creepy vibe, but it also calls for the adult cast to make a series of increasingly head-scratching decisions in order to sustain the tension. In a film of this type, I feel the need to get caught up in the escalating nightmare...

Truly Creepy
For me this film was very creepy, it gave me nightmares. Seeing children killing adults on screen for some unexplained reason was terrifying enough; but to see the way they were doing it was horrifying even more so. I was truly scared after seeing this movie, even though I never saw the original I still found it to be a terrifying and good horror movie. I will definitely have to see the original after seeing this one.

See the original instead
Disappointing English language remake of the classic 1976 Spanish horror flick Who Can Kill A Child? about a young couple on vacation who land on an island that seems to be completely deserted except for some children. Stephen King co-opted the basic premise for his famous 1977 short story Children of the Corn so what seemed pretty novel and shocking in 1976 is much less so now. This version follows the old Spanish flick very, very closely but where the original was extremely creepy this version is hamstrung by lousy acting (from the adult leads and the children alike) and never manages to generate any suspense whatsoever. In this film the first victim the protagonist sees killed by the children is stabbed and bludgeoned with rocks. In the original film the first victim was hung up like a human pinata while a smiling little girl slashes at him with a scythe. Which sounds creepier to you? Like the 2004 version of The Manchurian Candidate this ultimately comes across as much more...

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Beware of Mr. Baker [HD]

An amazing film.
I loved this documentary. Ginger Baker is both a crazy genius and a train wreck. Nevertheless, this film humanizes the Cream drummer, warts and all. You end up both loving and hating him, yet you can't look away. His musical genius is readily apparent. What is unique is that the filmmaker got as close to him as anyone could. The interviews with Baker and his family and friends are wonderful. The editing of the film is superb. Great use of animation in moving the story forward plus tons of archival footage and great music. If you're a music fan of a certain age, don't miss this film!

Real and vivid portrayal of a great drummer but a flawed personality
This documentary does not hold back; you get to see the man himself just the way he is and was (I met him once myself and would prefer not to repeat that experience). By far the most influential drummer in Rock of all time, even though he is not a "rock" drummer. His Jazz credentials alone are stellar and equal to the best of his generation, and when you mix that with his astounding intuitive understanding of African rhythms, he has no peers.
Wonderful interviews with Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and others.
Only wish they showed him playing more full pieces on his drums.

When Rockers Ruled the World
Heard about this documentary months ago and couldn't wait to see it; I was not disappointed. Excellent overview of the career of a true legend, and one of music's most compelling and contemptible characters. There was a time when rock stars like Ginger ruled the earth, leaving a path of dysfunctional destruction in their wake, while producing some of the greatest music the world has ever known.

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DreamWorks Madly Madagascar Digital Deluxe Edition [HD]

Best Madagascar Short
Funny, witty and quirky! A must see!!!!! Worth every dollar. I loved it so much I saw it over 10 times!

Get Ready to Laugh!
If you love the Madagascar characters you will love this DVD, as it brings them back together for some brand new fun. My kids are big fans of the movies and thus they were excited to see this as well. In watching this you will definitely laugh and have a great time as a family spending time together. My favorite character by far is King Julien... but that's just me! The movie was enjoyable and you will be engrossed in it from beginning to end! It is short, and not as long as the movies, but in my perspective still a lot of fun for the fan!

*I received a copy of this in return for a honest review, but it did not affect the way that I reviewed it*

cute valentines day movie
My 6 yr old daughter loves this movie. It's a short movie but kept her attention during the whole movie. Can't wait to show this movie to my grandkids!!!!!!

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Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone

Awesome Documentary on the 'bone
This was a really great film and does and excellent job at telling the story of the formation of this seminal L.A. band through early years and up to the point of the split of the original lineup. The movie tells the story of the musical path they have blazed and the trials and tribulations of staying true to their vision without compromise.

The only thing I wish it would have covered is everything that they've done since then as they've soldiered on through a few lineup and record label changes, and still continue on to today.

But I see why they had to stop where they did as the movie covers the subject in such great detail that it would have made a 3+ hour flick. Great film making and highly entertaining whether you're a fan of the band or not. This film just might make you one.

Ska/Punk is NOT Dead...
This documentary is a must see for any music lover that enjoys hearing about the history of how a band gets started and how music is created. Musicians have many different influences and it's interesting to learn about how a band like Fishbone (who is so unique) was formed, and why they did what they did, and continue to do so. In an age where real, true art is lacking and pseudo musicians are thriving, it's refreshing to see people who take their craft seriously, through all the adversity and difficulties musicians face in the music business. You have musicians, and then you have designers of music. The members of Fishbone are designers. Although they do not have millions of dollars from record sales, or a billion fans, they have the respect of their peers, and that is nothing short of honorable.

Best movie of 2011
According to RottenTomatoes.com, this is simply the best movie of 2011. Directors Anderson and Metzler manage the tour de force of making a documentary focussing on an obscure yet incredibly influential Los Angeles rockband, Fishbone (Crazy Glue, Fishbone's latest record) and at the same time amking it relevant for all audiences. The movie addresses the racial history of Los Angeles, brotherhood and its limits, creative processes,... while staying true to the uniqueness of the band. A must see !

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Bully [HD]

"Bully" is a must-see for any and all kids age 10 and up
Not sure why Amazon lists this as "The Bully Project", but we are talking indeed about the documentary "Bully", whose initial R rating by the MPAA Caused such an outcry (more on that later).

"Bully" (90 min.) is the self-explanatory title of this documentary, directed by Lee Hirsch (who he himself was a victim of bullying when growing up, reason for wanting to make this film). The movie basically follows 5 students in schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma as they deal with bullying in an almost daily basis, some with tragic results. There is a lot of footage from school buses, which appears to be ground zero for bullying. I assume Hirsch was able to mount some cameras in the bus unbeknowst to the kids. What we see is sometimes shocking. In the case of 12 yr. old Alex, the bullying becomes so violent that in the middle of the movie, we are informed that the film producers were so concerned with Alex's safety that they decided to share the school bus...

Everyone should see it, but not everyone will
My mom recently gave me a bag of papers, report cards and mementos from my school days. She meant it to be a nice thing for me to have in adulthood to remember my school days. People who want me to put the past behind me seem to also be the same people who won't let me forget it. I had to stuff that bag in the closet. I can't look at it without crying. Why were they so mean to me? Why was I such a bad person? Why did they hate me so much? I graduated high school in 1989, and the bullying I endured still hurts.

If you're an adult survivor of the kind of heinous treatment the kids in this movie endure, it may trigger a PTSD episode. If it never happened to you, you will be absolutely stunned at what goes on. They don't sugar-coat anything. Some of the footage is raw and disturbing. These kids know that the cameras are there; they've been recorded since before they were born. They know they are being watched, and they still behave like animals. It makes you really wonder what...

Powerful and Disturbing
BULLY is a powerful, disturbing documentary feature from director Lee Hirsch that sparked a national movement that rallied people to stand up to school bullying, hate and intolerance.

This is a difficult film to watch, as the camera captures the emotionally painful lives of five families whose children were victims of school bullying. Two of the kids committed suicide, while another in a desperate effort to get her fellow students to leave her alone, threatened then with a gun and wound up in jail.

However, what is truly distressing about BULLY is the "kids will be kids" and "there's not really much that we can do" attitude of the idiotic school administrators and local police who seem to prefer to ignore the issue.

Perhaps if officials like these had addressed the bullying problems in their school, a tragedy like Columbine would not have occurred.

BULLY is not "entertainment," but it is a film that every kid, parent and school official...

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Beauty Day

Hilarious and moving
Fantastic character-driven documentary about Canadian cable access personality Ralph Zavadil. Even if you haven't heard of him before (I hadn't), you must check this out. Beautifully shot, very funny, and quite powerful at times. Inspirational in a similar vein as AMERICAN MOVIE.

enjoyable documentary
I really liked the movie. If you need more info read the other longer review or just watch the trailor. At the end of the day did the movie keep me interested? yes. Make me laugh? yes. Make me say jesus that dude is fing crazy? oh yea a few times. What else to say 4 bucks well spent.

A fantastic documentary
Before Youtube and before Johnny Knoxville and his crew there was Ralph Zavadil, aka Cap'n Video. A local access cable show in St. Catharines, Ontario, Cap'n Video existed in obscurity until Zavadil's alter ego attempted one too many dangerous stunts. And it is that stunt, a botched plunge into a covered pool off a shaky ladder, which opens the documentary Beauty Day.

Not being a fan of watching people put themselves through bizarre, dangerous and often times disgusting stunts, I was hesitant to watch a documentary about one of the early pioneers of the genre that now dominates the web and fills far too many TV channels. Much to my surprise, Beauty Day is far more than a story about Cap'n Video. It is a well told story of a character you wouldn't believe existed in real life, proving the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction.

Zavadil nearly loses his life after the pool plunge stunt. Had it not been for a neighbor hearing the crash, Cap'n Video would have...

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Bully (Blu-ray + DVD)

"Bully" is a must-see for any and all kids age 10 and up
Not sure why Amazon lists this as "The Bully Project", but we are talking indeed about the documentary "Bully", whose initial R rating by the MPAA Caused such an outcry (more on that later).

"Bully" (90 min.) is the self-explanatory title of this documentary, directed by Lee Hirsch (who he himself was a victim of bullying when growing up, reason for wanting to make this film). The movie basically follows 5 students in schools in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma as they deal with bullying in an almost daily basis, some with tragic results. There is a lot of footage from school buses, which appears to be ground zero for bullying. I assume Hirsch was able to mount some cameras in the bus unbeknowst to the kids. What we see is sometimes shocking. In the case of 12 yr. old Alex, the bullying becomes so violent that in the middle of the movie, we are informed that the film producers were so concerned with Alex's safety that they decided to share the school bus...

Everyone should see it, but not everyone will
My mom recently gave me a bag of papers, report cards and mementos from my school days. She meant it to be a nice thing for me to have in adulthood to remember my school days. People who want me to put the past behind me seem to also be the same people who won't let me forget it. I had to stuff that bag in the closet. I can't look at it without crying. Why were they so mean to me? Why was I such a bad person? Why did they hate me so much? I graduated high school in 1989, and the bullying I endured still hurts.

If you're an adult survivor of the kind of heinous treatment the kids in this movie endure, it may trigger a PTSD episode. If it never happened to you, you will be absolutely stunned at what goes on. They don't sugar-coat anything. Some of the footage is raw and disturbing. These kids know that the cameras are there; they've been recorded since before they were born. They know they are being watched, and they still behave like animals. It makes you really wonder what...

Powerful and Disturbing
BULLY is a powerful, disturbing documentary feature from director Lee Hirsch that sparked a national movement that rallied people to stand up to school bullying, hate and intolerance.

This is a difficult film to watch, as the camera captures the emotionally painful lives of five families whose children were victims of school bullying. Two of the kids committed suicide, while another in a desperate effort to get her fellow students to leave her alone, threatened then with a gun and wound up in jail.

However, what is truly distressing about BULLY is the "kids will be kids" and "there's not really much that we can do" attitude of the idiotic school administrators and local police who seem to prefer to ignore the issue.

Perhaps if officials like these had addressed the bullying problems in their school, a tragedy like Columbine would not have occurred.

BULLY is not "entertainment," but it is a film that every kid, parent and school official...

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Two Family House [HD]

Smart and Sweet
What an absolutely lovely film this was. And what a shame it never enjoyed wider release, for it is eminently worth viewing. I was even more delighted when I found out that it really was based on a true story...the director/writer is Buddy's nephew.

Buddy Visalo is a lovable, warm, and bumbling dreamer whose wife Estelle constantly deflates his trial balloons--because she is expected to by her culture and the times they lived in. She wants Buddy to take no chances and would rather he kept a job he hated than try something new and more daring.

To realize his dream, Buddy must ignore Estelle and also evict the pregnant Mary O'Neary from the upstairs of the place where he hopes to start his bar. This eviction pains him greatly. How he assuages his pain and helps her out is the heart and soul of "Two-Family House".

This is a movie about doing good for someone and expecting nothing in return, about trying to fulfill a dream and dealing with the obstacles that are in your...

Two Family House an outstanding place to visit
A great movie with many outstanding performances by relatively, really relatively, unknowns. Heartwarming, humorous, nostalgic, totally elevating and causing much reflection on how humans treat one another today, in the past and with hope for the future. Very hard to forget this movie, its characters and its lessons. Hope not to.

two family house
This was simply the most appealing movie we've seen in years. It was touching, funny, moving and romantic. Unlike most romantic comedies it entertains men and women equally.The music alone makes it worthwhile. A must see for anyone from 18-80!

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Daddy, I'm a Zombie

Good moral to this story.
My eight year old grandson loves zombies. But I don't always like those choices for children. This is a sweet story with a good moral to it. We liked the animation and it held his attention all the way through despite the main characters being female.

pretty good show
my nieces watched it and loved it they are 3 and 11 and actually watched the whole thing through which is hard with a 3 yr old

This is a great movie for kids of all ages.
My sun did not like this movie at first but once he did he could not take his eyes off the T.V.

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Jesus' Son

Highly Recommended
"Jesus' Son" barely got a theatrical release, so here's your chance to discover one of the quirkiest and most heartfelt movies to come along since the `70s output of the late, great director Hal Ashby ("Harold & Maude," "Coming Home").

From Denis Johnson's low-key, disjointed short stories about addicts and outcasts, director Alison Maclean and her writers/adapters have distilled a narrative that's both goofy and lucid. The story drifts and meanders, as it should - our protagonist is a survivor who's still trying to comprehend his salvation. Anyone who took drugs in the `70s will be stunned by how familiar and true is the recreation of that era; bigger-budgeted period pieces often settle for easy nostalgia via bad wigs and hit parades, but here, offbeat locations and music selections spark forgotten memories of two-laned interstates, abandoned drive-ins and AM radio.

Unlike flashier but similar-themed junkie laments, "Jesus' Son" is a triumph of substance over style:...

The real deal - profound and entertaining
This movie changed the way I look at life. We all take so much for granted and it could all end at any moment. This is one of the main ideas of Jesus' Son. The main character, FH, stumbles through life while many of his friends die, yet he remains unharmed and only gradually begins to change his ways. This movie may be about death and pain, but it is optimistic and hopeful; as long as life continues, something good can happen. There is a surprising amount of humor in the film, all of it compassionate, it doesn't result to mocking the characters or the situations as so many movies these days do.

Some people have complained that Jesus' Son imitates Pulp Fiction in its narrative. This is untrue - the story unfolds as FH tells it, sometimes he doubles back to give more detail or fill in gaps, but for the most part it is linear. FH's narration gives the movie much of its personality.

The acting is astoundingly realistic throughout. Of all the movies I've seen this...

A Drugstore Cowboy for the '00s
It's hard to believe "Drugstore Cowboy" was released as long ago as 1989. Just as "Trainspotting" was often described as a "Drugstore Cowboy for the 1990s," it's tempting to describe "Jesus' Son" as a "Drugstore Cowboy for the 2000s".

Like Gus Van Sant's now-classic film, the story revolves around two heroin addicts (Billy Crudup and Samantha Morton, both excellent), it's set in the past (the 1970s instead of the 1960s), and it's based on a pre-existing literary source, in this case, Denis Johnson's story collection of the same name. But despite everything--mostly bad--that F@#khead (Crudup) experiences throughout the course of the film, "Jesus' Son" is more of a character study (FH, as he's known, also serves as narrator).

Like Portland's Gus Van Sant, New Zealand's Alison MacLean refrains from judging her characters. But "Jesus' Son" isn't as concerned with FH's drug use as much as his very character, his nature--his essence, if you will. And if you can't find...

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Black's Game [HD]

Icelandic Crime and Drug Fest that Rocks!
For such a small country Iceland doesn't half produce some talent and this is another example of what they can teach the rest of us. This is based on actual events and takes us back to the heady days of 1999, just before all the computers were going to fall over in 2000. It tells the story of Stebbi or `Psycho Stebbi' as he soon gets nicknamed (played by up and coming Thor Kristjansson `Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre'). He gets into trouble with the law and at the police station he runs into an old chum in the shape of shaven headed Toti (played by the guy with a name that rolls of the tongue - Johannes Haukur Johanesson ). Well Toti says he has a lawyer that is so great he can get him off the rap. So when Stebbi calls he says he will put him in touch for a small favour, a bit of mutual back scratching as it were.

Once the nature of said favour is made clear Stebbi starts to get cold feet, but they soon warm up again. Only then Toti gives him some advice in `self help'...

Great movie.
Priced just right and was impressed with the quality of the picture. Black's game was a real treat to watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys an edge of your seat flick. Jamie

Not bad
Kind of a plodding/dawdling fictional "crime" movie about drug dealing in iceland. It's definitely watchable it just doesn't go anywhere. Is it worth watching? The scenery is definitely different and it's shot pretty well; probably worth a rental if you watch these kinds of movies all the time. I know the "payoff" in these movies is supposed to be when everything falls apart (the "tragic" fall) and the main character thinks about what he's done but in this movie this "payoff" isn't really handled well; it feels a bit hollow. Also: there's very little violence in this movie which is odd for this type of movie.

3 stars; no more no less. Meh is meh.

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Freaky Deaky

I like the freaky but request more deaky
I like the 2012 caper film FREAKY DEAKY, based on the Elmore Leonard novel of the same name, well enough to recommend it. Stylish and fast-paced, FREAKY DEAKY held my attention even if I did not get into it as much as I did viewing, say, GET SHORTY, to name another movie version of a Leonard book. But the reason I say that is part of what I admire about FREAKY DEAKY: I was not sure whom to root for/root against. I give the flick credit for challenging the audience to make up its mind instead of having the movie do it for them. Maybe had its bigger schemers, played by Michael Jai White and Breanne Racano, had more screen time I would have been more caught up in it.

As FREAKY DEAKY takes place in the year 1974, in the background of a couple of scenes you'll note movie theaters playing films starring director Charles Matthau's famous dad, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE and THE FRONT PAGE.

With dynamite being a favorite tool of FREAKY DEAKY antagonists, it must...

Elmore Leonard weirdness at its best
Crispin Glover, is perfect. Loved the book, love the movie even more. Bravo! Stylish and moody, with a strong feeling of absurdity.

PUT THAT THING AWAY!
I love a good grindhouse. Heck I even love a mediocre grindhouse. This one didn't make it, and it wasn't just because Christian Slater was in it. The film starts in 1975 then plays newsreel headlines from 1968-1975 just to let us know the writers didn't care about details. We are then fed a story that is highly improbable. All this is find and well for a grindhouse.

What this story lacked was the grindhouse soundtrack and over the top dialouge. Instead they feed us a tale of Woody (Crispin Glover) a rich stoner accused of rape by a woman (Sabina Gadecki) that wasn't sure he actually raped her. The investigator (Billy Burke) gets kicked off the force, but that didn't seem to be a plot point, just an attempt at humor. Meanwhile seductive Robin (Breanne Racano) is after the money and utilizes bomb expect Skip (Christian Slater) to assist her.

The film has a lot of drug use, but lacks decent drug humor. The humor wasn't crude or low brow, it just wasn't well written...

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Orlok the Vampire 3d

Infuriating abomination (with some good 3D effects)
People will be attracted to this DVD for one or both of two reasons: 1) they are anaglyph 3D fans; 2) they know Nosferatu's stature in film history and the horror genre. At the outset, I will state that Chris Heuer's 3D rendering of the scenes is superior to most anaglyphic 3D work I have seen. Unfortunately, most of the film is flat. The scenes with Max Schreck are predominantly the ones rendered in 3D. That said, however, Chris Heuer (the 3D technician) is to be congratulated for his fine work. It is the only reason to purchase this DVD, and the only reason it gets one star.

As far as the other members of the production and distribution teams go, for their ignorance, dubious taste and contempt for the viewer's intelligence, they deserve to be buried in excrement in the lowest circle of hell. Some examples:

1. For no good reason, the setting is relocated to London (which is obviously contradicted by the scenery [canals] and iconic architecture of Wismar and...

A new dimension to Nosferatu
This DVD is loads of fun and I strongly recommend it for horror buffs, fans of 3D and anyone who loves Nosferatu. Purest may not be happy with this version of Nosferatu since it contains some newly inserted scenes, new titles, some new camera work (mainly close-ups). The inter-titles are also new and in some cases different from previous releases of the film. However, it is all in fun and makes for a real entertaining experience, especially if you are already familiar with the film. Fun is the key word here. If you want a serious viewing of Nosferatu, as a student of film, watch the restored version available from Kino. If you want to have fun and laugh at this masterpiece, get this 3D version. The 3D effect worked great for me and the transfer of film to DVD also looks great. In the final scene of the film when Orlock is bending over "Mina", the clarity is superb. I felt like I saw more details and a sharper image than in nearly any previous DVD of the film that I have watched...

THE BEST DVD OF NOSFERATU
Chances are if you're reading this you must have stumbled on to it by accident, because typing in "Nosferatu" will not show this dvd in the search results. At least the first page. I just happened to type in "silent vampire movies" and this came up. Most of what's presented here is really enjoyable or really annoying, depending on whether you're a purist or not. Much of the music is like what you might hear from a Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton film. There's some of that "Dastardly villain" music and occassionally the stereotypical spooky Halloween music along with the gothic choral vocals. I personally enjoy the added sound effects, even the screams and gasps of fear the characters make. But, I thought they could have done without the excessive giggling and snickering. AS FOR THE 3D itself: Unfortunately the 3d is not constant, but if you really want to see how much 3d there is, watch the 3d version without the glasses first. (Don't worry the picture is watchable) and look for the...

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