Devil Girl From Mars - 1954

Nice British 1950's SciFi Flick


A fun movie and decent presentation
With a title like DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS you're not expecting much, so when you get a movie with at least a little bit of substance you're inevitably pleased. Almost a quiet, character ensemble movie buoyed considerably by its rural English setting and its well-defined (if somewhat broadly drawn) characters. Sure, it's a B-movie, but it's not nearly as campy as some would describe - in fact, it's played rather seriously. Overall, not a bad way to pass a Saturday afternoon; great home matinee material.

The DVD presentation is sparse - there's a trailer, and chapter selections, but nothing else. It's tough to justify the list price on this, but it IS a very nice print overall and shows excellent tone and definition. Sound is excellent as well. It goes without saying that it blows away those VHS EP copies out there.

Interesting And Well Acted British Sci Fi Story With A Memorable Lead female Character
Being a 1950's sci fi buff I've long wanted to see this British film produced by "Spartan Productions", but not being your typical, splashy, colour filled production overwhelmed with special effects it has always been hard to find. Despite it's decidely "B", movie title that screams "forgettable cheapie!" this production is in actual fact well done and takes a distinctly different approach to your standard 1950's space saga story telling. Most importantly it has a strong and memorable female lead in the "Devil Girl", of the title played here by a most alluring Patricia Laffan who I have always enjoyed for her playing of the evil Roman Empress Poppea in MGM's collosal production of "Quo Vadis?" in 1951. Unlike many low budget sci fi's from this period this film takes a far less sensational slant in its telling relying more on some interesting character work while of course incorporating the standard element of romance for good measure. Despite the film's obviously limited budget it is...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Crucible of Terror - Color -1971

Curious oddity grows with repeated viewing -- get the DVD
Victor Clare (former BBC DJ, Mike Raven) is an artist. He "worships" beauty. He wants to "preserve" and "possess" beauty. That's why he never sells his work. It's not his job, it's his devotion. Fortunately, his workload is manageable because his taste in beauty is narrow. No trees or sunsets or daffodils. No landscapes, or still lives, or abstracts. He only paints women. Young women. Young nekkid women. And nothing but.

Hey, he's an artist.

Actually, Victor doesn't just paint. He also sculpts. If you've seen House of Wax (1953), you've got a rough idea of his technique. It's one reason the film is called Crucible of Terror. A crucible is "a vessel used for melting or calcining materials at high temperatures." It's also "the bottom of an ore furnace in which the molten metal collects." Victor owns one of each.

A crucible is also "a severe test or trial." People trapped in a tense, suffocating social setting are said to be in a...

This New Release Does The Film Justice!
A psychotronic gem and a rather original tale in the "mad artist" subgenre of horror film, this is the first version of "Crucible of Terror" not to suffer from ghastly editing and bad prints that have so far been the norm. Having seen the entire film while vacationing in London, I can say that this is 99% intact but I am not complaining about the missing 1%. The print is clear and some of the more erotic and disturbing scenes have not been hacked out. Character actor Ronald Lacey is a hoot as the embittered toad of a son to an equally piggish and megalomaniacal reclusive artist played by former BBC DJ Mike Raven. Raven definitely looks the part and a whole slew of other British character actors round out this macabre tale of art, obsession, and murder most foul. Recommended for lovers of bizarre low-budget cinema!

Bad treatment of a classic psychotronic film.
A good bad film is a thing to treasure, as with this dark gem that shows character actor Ronald Lacey years before he stalked the screen as the Nazi interrogator in Raiders of the Lost Ark. However, this has ten minutes of the original footage edited out and it spoils the whole thing. To discuss it further is pointless. I have heard similar treatment has struck some classic Hammer films as they made their way here. I am very disappointed.

Click to Editorial Reviews

MINDS OF TERROR

Osvaldo picks-
A breath of fresh air on low budget American horror, 26 October 2008
7/10
Author: osvaldobneto from Brazil

I'm beginning to get tired of movies with the same tired script that was used in a lot of other movies. The only thing that changes is the character names. MINDS OF TERROR is a example of what is possible to do something original and different enough with such a low budget. It's very good to know there is people trying to make the difference on the genre.

Really good editing, camera work and some quality acting, specially Randy Allen (who look as a less ugly Michael Berryman) and Joe Estevez. The "farm story" is a great little short feature to this great little horror movie. I was only a bit disappointed because i read a plot summary talking this was a anthology horror movie, something i think this isn't. The other two stories are way too short, even if they feature people like Conrad Brooks (clearly enjoying himself and having fun with the bit...





Click to Editorial Reviews

El Bulli

Not What You Expected
If you are a real foodie, chef, and someone involved in the business of food you might like this. If you are expecting a Gordon Ramsey or Bourdain style documentary then you will be disappointed. You will not learn how to cook any of what legendary chef, Ferran Adrià, makes at the now retired El Bulli restaurant. The documentary starts with the closing of his restaurant for the season then turns into a dialogue between chefs on the creativity and science of the creation of new dishes. You are like a fly on the wall. Jose Andres operates arguably the most advanced kitchen in the world, very interesting to see how everything comes together, but this film won't be for everyone

Pretty boring.
I really enjoyed Bourdain's documentary about El Bulli,Decoding Ferran Adria: Hosted by Anthony Bourdain (and the episode of No Reservations with Ferran Adria), and in those you really got to see what cooking and eating at El Bulli was like. I also enjoyed Lisa Abend's book The Sorcerer's Apprentices: A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adrià's elBulli. This movie, however, was much less interesting to watch.

The movie is 1hr 50mins long, and all dialogue is in Catalan, Spanish, or French, with English subtitles. The first half of the movie is almost all video of Ferran's sous-chefs working in the lab. There is no narration at all, very little cooking, and it is somewhat tedious to watch. Yes, it is interesting to see what they do, but most of the time it is unclear exactly what they are doing and what ingredients they are...

Ultimate for foodies
If you classify yourself as a foodie, you have got to see this movie. This is where food preparation is takes to almost a scientific level. I do not believe anyone else in the entire world has done this approach to food preparation.
Too bad if you never got to el Bulli, it closed in 2011. The brothers opened Tickets and 41degrees in Barcelona while the featured chefs opened Compartir north of Barcelona, with Faran's blessings to continue along the same path, and not too far from the el Bulli original site.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Long Autumn

Very very good short loved it!
I enjoyed the story. It had a very good meaning behind it. The actors were amazing and it moved nicely.





Click to Editorial Reviews

She Demons

Quintessential B-flick looks better than ever
First off, I'll admit that this is one of my long-time favorite cheesey movies. It's got just about everything you could want in a B-movie: a shipwreck on an uncharted island, spunky heroine (Irish "Sheena" McCalla), stiff-as-cardboard hero, nubile native dancing girls, papier-mache cave walls, lecherous evil scientist, whip-cracking Nazis, embarrassing racial stereotypes, pasty-faced monsters, heart-touching sentimentality, low-key humor, volcanoes, lava, and a Hideously Disfigured Wife, whose face the scientist is trying to restore, natch. This heady mix of numerous beloved B-genres remains probably Richard Cunha's most technically accomplished work, and the most thought-provoking in his oeuvre. ...not as dizzyingly awful as an Ed Wood film, or as leaden as a Herbert L. Strock movie, but campy, enjoyable, rainy-Saturday-afternoon fare nonetheless. Bad film junkies cannot possibly be disappointed. As for the DVD, this has got to be the best presentation yet for this film...

Everything a cult B movie should be
She Demons turned out to be a much better film that I expected it to be. While there is absolutely nothing original about the plot, the film manages to retain one's interest from start to finish. Native girls, a mad Nazi scientist, atavistic she demons, bombs, volcanic eruptions -- what's not to like?

The film opens sort of strangely, with a news report about a recent hurricane followed by a plea for information from some rich guy whose daughter's boat is missing. Then we cut to our shipwreck survivors: poor little spoiled rich girl Jerrie Turner (stalwart blonde Irish McCalla, whom some may recognize as Sheena, Queen of the Jungle), scientist Tod Maklin (Tod Griffin), comic-relief sidekick Sammy Ching (Victor Sen Yung), and a native captain who doesn't even survive long enough to witness the big native girl dance scene. And what a native girl dance scene it is. These aren't your run-of-the-mill natives; these girls, made up of the Diana Nellis Dancers, include some real...

Ricard Cunha's Lasting Memorial to Cheese
First off, let me say that "She Demons" is a favorite Z picture of mine. As a kid I always looked forward to the times it played on "Chiller Theater." I mean, where else could you get mad scientists, Nazis, disfigured go-go dancers (with the phoniest make-up), paper mache scenery, AND Irish McCalla?

To be fair, the film has a few scares at the end, especially when the mad scientist's wife discloses all too clearly her reason for not leaving with the heroes and the death of Mr. Nazi Mad Scientist himself. The DVD transfer is excellent, and though this is not the sort of picture in Ed Wood's league, it is still enough fun for inviting a few friends over and doing your own version of "Mystery Science Theater 3000."

And the best reason for owning it? Where can you get such sublime awfulness...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Young Hercules

Simply Fantastic!
This is a really great movie! Ian Bohen's performance as the serious, yet fun teenage Hercules is truly award worthy! He seemed to capure the escence of the part that Kevin Sorbo recently made famous a bit more than Ryan Gosling, who played Young Hercules in the T.V. series. And, he's increadably cute! Dean O'Gorman played Iolas to a "T". Chris Conrad did not disappoint with his portrayal of the always serious, and determined, Young Jason. The chemistry between the actors makes the film even more enjoyable. It really looks like they're having fun working together! Another key character is Ares, played by Kevin Smith. He, as always, gives a truly inspired performance as the deliciously evil God of War. The director should really be accredited for casting such a talented group of actors, and using thier abilities to thier full potential. The breath-taking scenery of the New Zealand countryside is the backdrop of this innovative film. It was only fitting that the "Young...

Before the Legendary Journeys...
Considering they used pretty much the same production team as they did with H:TLJ, it was okay. No it wasn't the same, but it was close. This is before Hercules had his legendary journeys. It shows young Herc trying to impress his father and forging an unlikely friendship with Ioalus to help their new friend Jason, heir to the throne of Corinth. With the same crew that brought us "HTLJ" & "XWP" it's perfect.

Kevin Smith as Ares, Michael Hurst as a jeweler, & Meighan Desmond as Discord make appearances.

A truly great movie!
I thought that this movie was absolutely fantastic! It is one of the best that I've ever seen. I believe that Ian Bohen's performance was truly award-worthy. The film's stars, plot, and storyline go beautifully with the breath-taking New Zealand backdrop. A definite must see!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Adventures Of Brer Rabbit [HD]

Delightfully unique!
I loved the story of Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch when I was a kid. (I had the...(gulp)...album of the story...boy am I old!!) It's great to be able to share these stories with my kids. It's not perfect, but it is enjoyable. Upon repeated viewing, a few things started irritating me, especially considering that my very young children are watching: the party episode, where the song playing in the background says over and over (and over) "Work that body, work, work that body..." The siblings in the skit at the beginning are also pretty rude to each other. This is a movie that doesn't feature cute and cuddly wilderness critters hopping along in friendship...these guys are constantly trying to eat each other. I'm glad we rented it, and we all definitely enjoyed it, but we won't be buying it.

This is a rip off don't buy it!
I was introduced to Brer Rabbit via Uncle Remus' stories in Song of the South. This DVD does not remotely come close to the stories told by the lovable Uncle Remus. They are watered down political correct inaccurate bla bla mindless pap. Uncle Remus' original stories had substance and wisdom I didn't find in this DVD.

Excellent Family Movie
While this movie may not be the same as Disney's classic "Song Of The

South", this direct-to-video film is a beautifully animated, clean,

wholesome, entertaining family film. This movie is filled with very

memorable characters, plenty of adventure, a lot of captivating

stories, great moral lessons, and superb animation. This film also has

a lot of clean humor without any of the sexual innuendo, lame puns, or

gross-out humor that's found in many animated T.V. shows and films

nowadays. Even though this film is aimed at small children, you can

enjoy this movie whether you're 4 or 40, and it's great for the whole

family to watch together (or by yourself). On a scale of 1 to 10, I

give this film a 10 all the way! You will not be disappointed.

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Passion Of The Christ Definitive Edition [HD]

'they've seized him'
One of the most talked about films in decades; thought I would add my 2 cents as a late entry.

I think the root controversy about the film has to do with the question of whether or not it has artistic merit for a viewer without faith. I think this is a fair question, as I never really understood the idea that religion offers, so to speak, an excuse for ugly artwork. Arguably there is no such excuse, unless one of the points of religious art is to repel people who don't already share the faith.

The film has been labeled violent, which it is; but unfair here has been the label that it is in some sense unusually violent. It is not. There are hundreds of films that are far more violent. Perhaps this film is even less violent than average. It is perhaps even less violent than the blockbuster version of Gandhi of some years back, billing Candice Bergen and Ben Kingsley, of which the Passion has reminded me somewhat; at any rate they are at least in the same ball park...

The reflection
When you start the movie you have the hype that has surrounded it. At the end you have the feeling that this individual loved, believed, and gave everything for his beliefs. You understand that the Jews of that society show they were like us today where a few acted as if they were the voice of the many. It is a movie that pulls at the fabric of your understanding of this horrible and painful death allowing you to understand it and what it must have been like.

In summary it is a movie that made me reflect. It made me sad, and based on my beliefs made me proud that this individual cared for me and gave his life to set me free. It was a well done and flowed well from beginning to end. It built on itself the way a great movie should. The editing and story through the lens was exceptional. It was a great technical movie regardless of beliefs.

Review for the Definitive Edition
I purchased this version after I saw it in the store the week it came out. I already owned the original DVD release, but I heard this had lots of special features and the re-cut version. Therefore I purchased this edition. However, I was a bit disappointed.

I really enjoyed the movie in the theater. It tells the story of the last 12 hours of the life of christ. It was very gory and I wouldn't want to show it to children. However, for older people (12 yrs. and up)this does a good job of depicting the trials and tribulations of Christ's crucifiction.

My biggest complaint about this movie was the subtitles. However, if you are familiar with the Biblical story, you can pretty much ignore the dialogue and focus on the picture.

Now for this "Definitive Edition" Special feature wise this is a great edition to have. It has loads of extra features.

My biggest complaint about this edition was that if you are a person like me who sometimes has...

Click to Editorial Reviews

David E. Talbert's What Goes Around Comes Around

Not his funniest, but decent effort here!
I have been a huge fan of David E. Talbert's work for the past 5 years and as such have purchased almost every play and movie that he has produced. When this was announced I pre-ordered without hesitation as I have become accustomed to his consistency for producing quality releases. Unfortunately I was somewhat disappointed with this release, it has many known actors and actresses but even they could not save this from being just mediocre. I am still a huge fan of his work and will still continue to support him but this play was not what i was expecting and is not his best effort. See Fabric Of A Man, Mr. Right Now and What My Husband Doesn't Know for better examples of his work!

Really Good!
What Goes Around Comes Around was a very good play. Although the acting could use some work, it was real. I loved how it showed how women know something is wrong in their relationships, but are so in love that they (we), sometimes (more times then we would like to admit), allow the men in our lives (who are caught doing wrong), to flip the script on us and make it our fault. And I loved how it showed we do have the power to turn things around. Great job, Mr. Talbert!

David E. Talbert just keeps getting better and better!
OMG! I love David E. Talbert's plays! They really touch my heart, and the endings always make me feel sooo good! His plays are perfect!! They are never too drawn out, and they have the right amount of comedy and the right amount of spiritualness to them! (If that's even a word! LOL) I wish I could audition for one of his plays because they are so awesome! If you are a fan of Gospel plays, then definitely check this one out!

Click to Editorial Reviews

Columbus Circle [Blu-ray]

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...

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Pack (Bloody Disgusting Selects)

Makes You Think Twice Before Picking Up A Hitchhiker
Actually she only picks up a hitchhiker thinking she was going to get trouble from a group of bikers. A great french film that leads you to believe that this is another cannibalistic or sadistic family type of film. A good turn of what the film is really about when the bodies are hung left for dead. This film is up there along with my other favorite french horror films (Frontier(s), High Tension, High Lane, Martyrs, Inside, and Them) just to name a few.

The Crap.
La Meute (The Pack) (Franck Richard, 2010)

A little over halfway into The Pack, Franck Richard's debut film, it changes from a generic, mindless torture porn film to "what the hell am I watching?". Had it stayed there, I think, it could have been at least half of something special--but instead after that first bout of WTFery, the film goes right back to mindless, derivative joylessness, and I started hating it all over again. It never recovered.

The movie begins with Charlotte Massot (Brotherhood of the Wolf's Émilie Dequenne) driving through a snowy wasteland, where she encounters chilly hitchhiker Max (Stella's Benjamin Biolay). They stop at a diner to grab some coffee and warm up, and find themselves menaced by a trio of bikers who are chased off by the diner's shotgun-wielding owner (Micmacs' Yolande Moreau). However, when Max disappears into thin air after a quick trip to the restroom, Charlotte goes looking for him--and finds that things are not at...

Superb Horror
This one is a nugget for horror film fans. It has all of the ingredients to terrorize you...make your skin crawl...keep you guessing. Nothing predictable about this one. Pure horror. Loved every minute...from the eery backdrops to the creepy soundtrack. It reminded me very much of a Stephen King flick...but there was no humor in this one. Pure horror! ENJOY! All 5 stars!

Click to Editorial Reviews

The Egg And I [HD]

MA & PA VOL I - 4 funny films - now on a remastered DVD!
In 1946 Author Betty MacDonald wrote a Best Seller "The Egg and I". In 1947 Universal Pictures made it into one of the most popular movies starring Claudette Colbert & Fred MacMurrary as newly wed city folk gone chicken farmers. And Majorie Main & Percy Kilbride as "Ma & Pa Kettle" the madcap country neighbors with 15 kids. The Egg and I and the Kettles were so popular that Universal Pictures made a sequel starring the Kettles in "The Further Adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle" in 1949. Again so successful the Kettles became a series of hilarious films. Main & Kilbride were the perfect blend for Beverly HillBillies comedy.

Summary: All 4 films are Standard Format and Black/White remastered picture & sound (excellent quality). "The Egg & I (1947) Has newly weds Bob & Betty MacDonald (Colbert & MacMurray) giving up the city life for the life of a chicken farmer "EGGS" in the state of Washington. Their 40...

"one of these days"
I will never get tired of Ma and Pa and the kids. These are great family movies you will enjoy watching again and again. I loved watching these as a kid and was THRILLED when they came out on DVD.

In the Egg and I we first meet up with Ma and Pa Kettle as they "borry" from the neighbors.

In the Further Adventures, what will happen when Pa writes in to get a new tobbaco pouch and end up winning a model home?

In Ma and Pa Kettle go to town they venture out to New York after Pa wins another contest and they have a mess of trouble trying to deliver a black bag.

Back on the Farm is my favorite, where they think they have uranium growing in their backyard after being forced back to the old house by their son's pushy mother-in-law.

You will love the wholesome down home humor of these movies with Pa's ever borrowing and saying "he has to fix that one of these days" and Ma with a heart as big as all outdoors always there to keep him and the...

Great to see "The Egg and I" again
The real gem of this package is "The Egg and I", and to get it along with the first three "Ma and Pa" movies is even better. The three M&P movies represented here are somewhat of a mixed bag as far as the humor is concerned.

However, in all cases, the transfers are nicely done by Universal and the bonus of theatrical trailers makes this a set well worth the investment.

Click to Editorial Reviews

American Wedding (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)

Hilarious From Start To Finish!
When I first heard about a third American Pie movie, I had my doubts. The second was good, but by the end it was a little tired. When I heard half the cast of the first two would be missing, I also had doubts, especially since the second movie had nearly every person with a speaking line from the original in it (and even the monkey). After seeing the movie, I realized I was very wrong. From the beginning, my mom, her friend and I were laughing like crazy. It wasn't even until the end of the movie that I realized much of the cast was missing from this one. I actually thought it helped the movie, because in part two, some characters (Oz, Vicky, Heather and Jessica) seemed to be there for no purpose. Without them, the story was much more consistent. This movie was also even funnier than the first two. Stifler was practically the star of this movie. Everything he did was great, especially when he traded places with Finch and pretended to be all goody-goody. Eugene Levy was...

A Lot Twisted and Really Funny
I really should dislike this movie, because the comedy is even more disgusting and base than the previous movies in this series, but when the movie is funny, it's hilarious, and I couldn't stop laughing. Be warned, however, that much of the humor comes from gross situations.

In this edition, Jim Levinstein (Jason Biggs) asks Michelle Flaherty (Alysson Hannigan) to marry him. The big moment is to happen in a very nice restaurant. Jim hints that he wants to ask Michelle a very important question, and his hinting about is misinterpreted by Michelle, who crawls under the table to do what she thinks Jim wants. In the mean time, Jim's dad, played by SCTV alumni Joe Levy, shows up and sits in Michelle's chair, unaware that she is under the table. Michelle goes unnoticed until Jim's dad mentions the wedding proposal, which causes Michelle to bump the underside of the table. Jim jumps up, his pants are down, and it's embarrassment and pandemonium. As funny as this scene is, it gets...

a brilliant way to end the series?
This is DEFINATELY one of the FUNNIEST movies of the year! I give mad props to the director for creating such a incredible and hillarious movie. Like many people have said, I thought it would be a total letdown without some of the other characters but after watching the movie, I wasn't disappointed at all. To be honest with you all, I truly do believe that this is the BEST movie in the series. This made me laugh my mouth off from start to finish and the plot to the story was incredibly done. I also believe that the actors and actresses put their best effort to make a great ending to the series. However, this does get me questioning: will this movie truly end the series? I highly believe that there will be another one (I'm hoping too) and I'm sure a lot of people out there would want to see another AMERICAN PIE once they see this. There are some funny scenes and scenes you won't want to miss in this movie! The scene where Stifler enjoys the dogs licking his pants has to be the funniest...

Click to Editorial Reviews

4 Film Favorites: Sandra Bullock (In Love and War, The Lake House, Practical Magic, Two Weeks Notice)

gift idea
i purchase these "4-packs" alot as gifts. i attach a couple of candy bars and a box of micro-wave popcorn to the dvd with a ribbon and you have a great "movie night" gift for christmas or birthdays. best of all, the total cost is well under $15 bucks. i keep 4 or 5 on hand at all times for emergency gifts.

4 great movies
4 great movies packed into one DVD set at a great price. You can't ask for anything more, except more movies like this.

Review
I think this is very well priced and am proud to be the owner of these movies . Recommed to all .

Click to Editorial Reviews

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song [HD]

Great Documentary!
I had to watch this for school and I am so glad that I did - it was really a very moving documentary about a really remarkable person. Well worth seeing!

interesting, but...
I intended this movie for a class activity at the end of the school year in my guitar class. I believe most of them enjoyed it, but it was quite political for a music class, though that is definitely a part of Pete Seeger's story. It is well told and has a lot of interesting detail about the man and his times. Quite a bit of musical example is included, but I would not show it again, because parents in this quite conservative area could complain.



Click to Editorial Reviews

Best Worst Movie [HD]

One of the best movies I've seen all year.
Managed to catch this at a local indy theater, having been a Troll 2 fan for ages. I was fully expecting Best Worst Movie to be funny and entertaining -- which it was -- but what caught me off guard is just how touching and effecting it is. While the proceedings are constantly enlivened by George Hardy, the actor who played the father in Troll 2, many of the other actors lives have not gone so well. There's the sadly comic shopkeeper, who was on leave from a mental institute at the time Troll 2 was filmed, and the twilight years of the actor who played Uncle Seth. But seeing the actress who played the mother from the movie is downright unsettling , even tragic.

On the flip side, seeing the director and writers of Troll 2, and witnessing their fervent belief that they made an insightful, important film that was simply ahead of its time... it's like an Italian knockoff of Ed Wood, only less friendly. And while Fergasso comes off as a buffoon much of the time, there are...

Yes Yes YES!
I caught this at a little indie theater in Ohio with my friend even though I only knew the basic jist of Troll 2. It was probably one of the funniest and fascinating movies I've seen in a long time. You really get to see how personalities affect the outcome of a film. I'm not one to really have a gut busting laugh in a theater, but this movie produced several. The timing on the jokes, the provoking story, the characters you meet throughout...What a great movie. Totally worth every penny without any disappointment. If you didn't manage to catch it in theaters, this is the perfect chance to see it at home. DO IT.

Best movie about the best worst movie
As a fan notes in "Best Worst Movie", the worst movies are never made
that way on purpose but inherit their serious badness from the
sincerity with which they were made. Thus was the case with Troll 2,
which the director Claudio Fragasso inconceivably insists was an
earnest work of art. This documentary, put together by the actor who
played the son in the 1990 film, catches up with Fragasso as well as
the writer (Fragasso's wife) and cast of Troll 2.

Many terrible films have acquired cult followings--most notably of
recent times Tommy Wiseau's The Room--but to my knowledge, Troll 2 is
the only one which is itself a subject of a documentary. Michael
Stephenson does an excellent job in conveying not only Troll 2's infamy
but also the general "it's all in fun" attitude of fans who love truly
bad movies. Even if you haven't seen Troll 2 (although I highly
recommend you do!), I think you'll find this documentary...

Click to Editorial Reviews

Jodi Picoult's Salem Falls

A Lifetime Movie Endeavor That Loses Steam As It Starts To Take Itself Too Seriously,
Author Jodi Picoult has penned some surprisingly ambitious and thought-provoking page turners. "Salem Falls," as a novel, is not one of her strongest endeavors. It's readable enough and works as escapism, but it lacks some of the believability and realness that distinguish her best books. As soon as I'd read it, I'd pretty much forgotten it. The Lifetime network adaptation of "Salem Falls," not surprisingly then, gave me almost the same reaction. I watched it, it was reasonably enjoyable, but I can't imagine revisiting it anytime in the future. If it was on TV and you were a Picoult fan, I'd say "sure, give it a look." But as a DVD purchase, I'm not positive that I'd recommend it to anyone but the most stalwart fans. Fundamentally, it is a story riddled with cliche and reliant on coincidence to drive it forward. But while I never believed a moment of this TV presentation, it wasn't without a few moderate pleasures.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of "Salem Falls" is its...

Not even close to the book...
When it comes to books being made into movies-I always give a lot of leeway...EXCEPT when they take the whole of it (rather than just parts) and rewrite the story and characters! If I had never read the book, it IS entertaining-but the ending is way too predictable and abrupt. Everything there catches your eye but it never goes further than that. Wish I hadn't spent $14.99 on it! :

Wife really likes the movie
Not a lot to say about the movie except my wife likes it a lot so that's all that matters right?

Click to Editorial Reviews

Leprechaun 5: In The Hood

An Important Movie
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***

It has been said the good movies are merely entertaining, whereas great ones alter the way we think and feel about things. Leprechaun 'N the Hood is a great movie. Writer Doug Hall had a message he wanted to convey, and thankfully he came into contact with a director the caliber of Rob Spera to help him bring it to the masses. Spera was able to relay Hall's vision in a manner that was both entertaining and touching. The reason this film resonates with the audience is due to the characters and how they develop throughout the story. The plot revolves around three aspiring rappers and their dreams of fame and fortune as their ambition leads them down a road of pain and despair. As part of their Machiavellian plot for stardom, they are reduced to robbing a famous rap producer and end up stealing a magic flute that guarantees their success in the rap world. At the same time, they also inadvertently awaken the vile leprechaun. Our first impression is...

Ice Tee + a evil Leprachaun = dvd goodness
This is one of those movies, you will love it, or you will hate it. It's not in the least bit scary, but then again none of the Lep movies really are. You don't watch them to be scared, you watch them because deep down, you know you love to see people running and screaming from him. It's just fun to watch. Over the life span of the Leprachaun movies. We've seen him in the back woods, outerspace, now the hood! It might not be a logical step, but it makes for an oddly entertaining movie. I think the movie can be summed up by the beginning. Where the Lep is freed from frozen state and quotes "free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I'm free at last" with a laugh. There is a lot wrong with him quoting Martin Luther King, but it's funny! And there's quite a bit of humor people will find offensive, there are stereotypes played up, but remember it's all in fun. For a good part of this movie the lep isn't even in it. I think the 3 homies add much to it, and Ice Tee is a riot...

One star only for the synergy of an elf doing a unit in the bushes
Meaningless National Holidays are the best, aren't they? We, Sid the Elf, certainly think so. They give us the chance to, among other things, watch a ton of B and consume a copious ammount of food. If there is a better combination, other than the trifecta, Sid has yet to find it. So, we decided to honor Christopher Columbus in the best way possible by double-dipping B and getting some unbelievable Italian take-out to honor the famous Italian explorer. The first selection was Leprechaun in the Hood. We can admit that we got suckered in by even the slightest possibility of seeing the leprechaaun(Sid's Irish cousin) chase Ice-T around with a pink turkey baster. Well, that didn't happen. So we were disappointed by that and by the film overall.

This film started with a scene set in the 70's. Ice-T's character Mack Daddy(lots of thought went into that one) and an equally fro'ed buddy went on a treasure hunt in the cave of the Irish elf. They take the necklace from around the...

Click to Editorial Reviews

9500 Liberty

A leap forward in documentary...
In 1988 (barely a generation ago) Errol Morris forever changed documentary films with his seminal work The Thin Blue Line. The film broke the rules: it included re-enactments, opinions, and alternate scenarios and, in so doing, broke the documentary's equivalent of the fourth wall--in this case, the wall between the story and the storyteller.

From that point forward the definitions further blurred. Documentaries took up residence in a gray area that had leapt beyond the boundaried objectives of their prior world. A year after Morris' effort came Michael Moore's Roger and Me, a film in which the documentarian's opinions were broadly front and center. From there it wouldn't be much longer before the documentarian became the subject, ushering in the experiential documentary most famously exhibited by Morgan Spurlock in his justifiably notable work, Super Size Me.

With the 2009 release of 9500 Liberty, a disturbing yet ultimately uplifting film by Eric Byler and...

A timely saga
I lived in Prince William County when it was Ground Zero for immigration wars. (Ground Zero was the term Sen. Warner used to describe it.) The film is somewhat shocking at first viewing, because of the hate-filled hysteria that erupted over the issue of immigration, which led to an equally shocking edict from the Board of Supervisors that required police to demand documents from 'suspected' undocumented immigrants. The filmmakers artfully countered the brutality by posting their film footage online, of both the haters and people of reason, and gradually conflict resolution won the day, if not the war.
I think the film is a work of art and allows you to feel the moral issues before us today. Because immigration is still such a timely issue I have bought many copies to distribute to churches for viewing and discussion.

like in Arizona, profiling divided a community
I liked this because it showed how ugly motives cost the people and businesses involved. The businesses may never recover. This documentary showed how everyone lost, there were no winners.

Click to Editorial Reviews