Mad Max (Special Edition)

Amazon.com

The Road Warrior is already a classic, sans condescending genre distinctions like "sci-fi" or "action." But the story of Mel Gibson's stately antihero begins in Mad Max, George Miller's low-budget debut in which Max is a "Bronze" (cop) in an unspecified postapocalyptic future with a buddy-partner and family. But unlike most films set in the devastated future, Mad Max is especially notable because it is poised between our industrialized world and total regression to medieval conditions. The scale tips towards disintegration when the Glory Riders burn into town on their bikes like an overamped cadre of Brando's Wild Ones. Representing the active chaos that will eventually overwhelm the dying vestiges of civil society, they take everything dear to Max, who will exact due revenge. His flight into the same wilds that created the villains artfully sets up the morally ambiguous character of the subsequent films. --Alan E. Rapp

Description

Setting Mel Gibson on a sure path to superstardom, this highly acclaimed "crazy collide-o-scope"(Newsweek) of highway mayhem "cinematically defined the postapocalyptic landscape" (TV Guide). Featuring eye-popping stunts that are "electrifying and very convincing" (Variety) and "an authentically nihilistic spirit" (The Village Voice), Mad Max is "pure cinematic poetry" (Time). In the ravaged near future, a savage motorcycle gang rules the road. Terrorizing innocent civilians while tearing up the streets, the ruthless gang laughs in the face ofa police force hell-bent on stopping them. But they underestimate one officer: Max Rockatansky (Gibson). And when the bikers brutalize Max's best friend and family, they send him into a mad frenzy that leaves him with only one thing left in the world to live forrevenge!

Customer Reviews:

Blah.......2007-09-01

I thought this movie was boring and it didn't let you get to know any of the characters. The only good thing in this movie is a young, cute Mel Gibson.

Better Than Ever!.......2007-08-31

Mad Max Special Edition is great!!! Not only does it contain the actual aussy voices from the cast (Not American Overdub Like The Original), the second DVD offers the making of Mad Max and the history of Mel Gibson and his acting career. Mad Max was always a cult classic, on DVD it's a new experience.

Thomas

An awesome DVD! (Original Australian language track included!).......2007-08-22

Right off the bat, I want everyone who reads this review to know that Mad Max Special Edition contains the original Australian language track.
I was mislead by another review, it said that MGM's Mad Max Special Edition didn't have the original track, but the old discontinued Orion version of Mad Max did. Well, that was false information, because after all the time, effort, and money it took to track down that elusive version, it turned out to only play in the US Dubbed English Language track! So disregard the information in that review and buy this one.

PROS: Plays in both Fullscreen and Widescreen!
In addition to the US Dub, this DVD contains the option to switch the Language track to the original Australian track!
Contains 2 Documentaries, "Mel Gibson: The birth of a Superstar" & "Mad Max: The Film Phenommenon!"
Theatrical Trailers.
Audio comentary with Jon Dowding, David Eggby, Chris Murray, & Tim Ridge.
"Road Rants" Movie Trivia & Fun facts about the movie!
Photo Gallery
TV Spots
And More!

CONS??? Well... Since the DVD is double sided, it's harder to hold it without smudging it, I guess that's a con...?

Overall: Mad Max is an excellent movie that's fun to watch, easy to follow, easy to appreciate, and exciting to boot! Combine that with the original Australian language and a whole lot of special features, and all you have to ask yourself is, "Do I want my popcorn buttered, salted, or both?

Overall Rating: 5 Stars!

Man Stripped Down. .......2007-08-15

To his feral state. Yes, I'm aware of the feral child character in Road Warrior but in Mad Max we see the beginning of this imagined society's serious decline. It's rather humorous that a film that seems so low budget to us today can be as entertaining and riveting as this one is. Watching this now, for the fourth or fifth time, I have to say that this very young Mel Gibson, did he not already possess a legitimate level of talent, would not have been so believable in this role due to his physical appearance. His polish and chiseled features really don't fit in amid the band of miscreants that is the cast, but we soon forget our initial impressions due to his performance. The people in Mad Max are far closer to man's actual state than most of us care to admit. The audience can completely relate to Max's reaction at the end of the film and we cheer for him and long to press our feet even more heavily upon the accelerator.

mad max US edition.......2007-08-13

when i bought mad max(eu edition) it had no extras the sound was 1.0 dolby that was it but complete original soundtrack, then in the US a version was brought out with Aussi sound 5.1 and a documentary so i bought this one aswell, when viewing the movie i soon found out that the soundtrack is not complete, for instance in the opening chase going after the nightrider the guy in the interceptor eventualy says ï'm gona ram him he repeats this many times, í only heard it twice in the US edition, but still the US editon comes with many more extras

Average customer rating:

Dawn of the Dead---the original, the best.

Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray]
Starring: Ted Bank , Tony Buba , Sharon Ceccatti , Pan Chatfield , and Jim Christopher
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000UR9QIK
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Customer Reviews:

Dawn of the Dead---the original, the best........2007-09-12

This movie is awesome. I have all the other dvd releases and will definately be buying this Blu-Ray version as well. Can never have enough copies of a classic.
Can't wait to see it on my 73" WideScreen HDTV.

SWEET!

Howards End - The Merchant Ivory Collection

Average customer rating:

Pretty Much Perfect
Flawless!
Howards End as a Recurring Character
Love Emma Thompson.
Another stellar production from Merchant-Ivory

Howards End - The Merchant Ivory Collection
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave , Helena Bonham Carter , Joseph Bennett (III) , Emma Thompson , and Prunella Scales
Director: James Ivory
Manufacturer: Merchant Ivory
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006Z2NAY
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Amazon.com essential video

Howards End is E.M. Forster's beautifully subtle story of the crisscrossing paths of the privileged and those they disdain--and of a remarkable pair of women who can see beyond class distinctions. Dramatic and tragic, but also surprisingly funny, this James Ivory film focuses on a pair of unmarried sisters (Emma Thompson, who won an Oscar, and Helena Bonham Carter) who befriend a poor young clerk (Sam West) and, without meaning to, ruin his life. Meanwhile, Thompson also makes the acquaintance of a dying neighbor (Vanessa Redgrave), who leaves her a family home in her will--which her husband (Anthony Hopkins) destroys. But, ironically, he meets and falls in love with Thompson, even as their paths once more intersect with the increasingly miserable young clerk. Nuanced acting, gorgeous but muted cinematography, and a beautifully economical script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, which also won an Oscar. --Marshall Fine

Description

Margaret and Helen Schlegel (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter) are sisters from a well-educated European family: intelligent, free-spirited, cultured, and highly emancipated by the standards of the time. A series of events brings them into a relationship with the Wilcox family: healthy, conservative, conventional, and very English, headed by the prosperous Henry (Anthony Hopkins) and his priggish son, Charles (James Wilby). Both families also come into contact with Leonard Bast (Samuel West) and his wife, a couple near the lowest tier of the rigid class system. Leonard's desire for cultural and intellectual status attracts the attention of Helen, who must come to terms with her unexpected feelings toward him. At the same time, Margaret must reconcile her independent spirit with her desire for companionship and a comfortable place in Edwardian society; her moral strength is eventually able to resolve the tangle of opposites. First published in 1910, E.M. Forster's Howards End remains one of the most important English novels of the twentieth century, and Merchant Ivory Productions' tour-de-force adaptation was one of the most critically acclaimed films of the 1990s.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Much Perfect.......2007-09-14

I saw this in the theater when it came out six times. (Maybe more) I went myself, took a friend, went myself again, etc. It is a gorgeous, atmospheric escape into a compelling thought-provoking story; one of Merchant-Ivory's masterpieces, it's everything a film should be (In my opinion anyway...)

The ideas posed are: Who will inherit England? and the famous "Only Connect". These are beautifully summed up, and acted by Emma Thompson's Margaret Schlegel, the films heart and core, who connects the characters by small degrees of separation. Thompson's performance is a masterful, and earned her an Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and countless other awards. The entire cast is magnificent - not a wrinkle in the fabric. Also outstanding is Vanessa Redgrave, the scenes between her fading Mrs. Wilcox and Emma Thompson's Margaret Schlegl are sublime.

After Mrs. Wilcox and Margaret Schlegel meet (because Margaret's sister Helen, and Mrs. W's son Paul cannot "connect"), Mrs. Wilcox bequeaths her family home - Howard's End (stand in for England) to Margaret and Helen, whose lease has expired on their own family home. Helen and the poverty stricken Leonard Bast "connect", and in the course of the story Leonard's son inherits Howard's End because his father could not. I could go on, but I'll just say this is a sumptuous feast of a movie. If you like great acting, a thought provoking plot, and authentic period recreation to escape into for a couple hours - chances are you'll love this one.

Extras are great; scenes from a t.v. adaptation with Glenda Jackson, a "making of" documentary from 1992, and interviews with Jenny Beavan (costume designer), Luciana Arrighi (magnificent set-designer), and of course James Ivory, Ismael Merchant and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.

Flawless!.......2007-08-22

Great story, gorgeously photographed, with a perfect cast, all adding up to first rate entertainment. Highly recommended!

Howards End as a Recurring Character.......2007-08-08

Well-loved story and exquiste settings and surroundings make for a multi-layered drama.
The lush countryside makes the different seasons Howards End progresses through set moods
that range from cozy to dark and stormy. Beautiful movie to look at but definitely more of
a "womens' movie" that one most men would sit through.

Love Emma Thompson........2007-07-28

I originally bought this film because Emma Thompson won an Oscar for it but now it's definitely one of my favorites for many other reasons. It's a relatively clean movie, which is nice to see today, but it's still for adults. The subtleness in the performances and in story line are beautiful to watch. If you like 'Remains of the Day' and other such films, you'll love Howards End.

Another stellar production from Merchant-Ivory.......2007-05-12

I love most of Merchant-Ivory's productions, and this is one of their best. The stellar cast itself would compel one to view this excellent production. Anthony Hopkins plays the patriarch of the Wilcox clan, whose wife, played impeccably by the ever graceful Vanessa Redgrave owns Howards' End, the ethereal family homestead. Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter play the Shlegel sisters who are quite down to earth. Bonham Carter does an excellent job of portraying the wilful younger sister whose love for a working class man ultimately leads all three families to examine their values & principles, and most importantly, to look deep within their souls. A great movie about the class conflict in England as well as the passions that drive three different families.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Dawn of the Dead
Well Worth The Extra Few Dollars
best zombie movie ever
dated and pretentious. But it's a decent film

Dawn of the Dead (Ultimate Edition)
Starring: Ted Bank , Tony Buba , Sharon Ceccatti , Pan Chatfield , and Jim Christopher
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
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Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002IQNAG
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com

George Romero's 1978 follow-up to his classic Night of the Living Dead is quite terrifying and gory (those zombies do like the taste of living flesh). But in its own way, it is just as comically satiric as the first film in its take on contemporary values. This time, we follow the fortunes of four people who lock themselves inside a shopping mall to get away from the marauding dead and who then immerse themselves in unabashed consumerism, taking what they want from an array of clothing and jewelry shops, making gourmet meals, etc. It is Romero's take on Louis XVI in the modern world: keep the starving masses at bay and crank up the insulated indulgence. Still, this is a horror film when all is said and done, and even some of Romero's best visual jokes (a Hare Krishna turned blue-skinned zombie) can make you sweat. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Something has breached the barrier between the dead and the living, and the dead are coming back to walk the earth, not to mention eat the living.

Slowly people begin to realise that is something wrong, but react too slowly, and the dead take over. Some small number of survivors try and hold out.

Dawn of the Dead.......2007-09-02

I liked this movie alot. It was entertaining. The best scene is in the parking garage.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

Well Worth The Extra Few Dollars.......2007-07-30

Originally, I thought I might simply buy a regular copy of this film. However, I decided to purchase the ultimate edition instead and was not disappointed. Upon receiving and opening it you quickly realize you possess much more than just the different movie editions (which are great also). In addition, you have extras, trailers, and other features that make this the complete package deal.

My friends were big fans of the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. When I told them they needed to see Romero's 1978 original version they were worried the time gap might affect the movie quality. Quite the contrary, we watched it on a digital projector and they enjoyed every minute of it.

If you are a true fan of the Dead Series then this is the edition you both want and need.

best zombie movie ever.......2007-07-21

This is without a doubt the best zombie movie ever made. My major complaint has always been that they edited out some scenes from most of the DVD releases. But that problem is solved with the Ultimate Edition. It contains the directors cut, argentos version, and the extended version. Now this movie can finally be seen the way it was meant to be seen. I was really impressed with the actors in this movie. They really did a good job, and got into their characters. Day of the Dead is pretty good too (never really did like Night much) but I don't think Day deserves to be called a masterpiece. Dawn of the Dead certainly deserves to be called one of the best horror movies ever made.

dated and pretentious. But it's a decent film.......2007-07-10

I am a huge fan. I like zombie movies of all types. I like Dead Alive. I like 28 days later. I like this version of Dawn of the Dead. But I really didn't find it steller. FOr one, the film is very dated, making it hard for us to take the zombies seriously. But that's alright. I understand it is 30 years old. What I don't tolerate is Romeros social satire. It might be because everybody talks about it, but it seems about as subtle as a zombie in a strip club. We get already. Zombies want to come to the mall. Zombies are mindless. Humans are like zombies. That means... wait for it... We are a mindless consumerist culture. Wow. Thanks for the insight. In spite of this the film is interesting and well made. It just seems like Geore sacrificed the brooding, oppresive tone for a more comical one. I understand that bad stuff goes on and there is some great, shocking gore, but, overall, it just seems like people give the move a bit too much credit. I personaly prefer the remake.

Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again...
Another weird story
The men should have stayed gone
A Good Sequel
Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak.

Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Lara Flynn Boyle , David Cross (II) , Rosario Dawson , Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine , and Jay Johnston
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JKZ3
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Amazon.com

More remake than sequel, Men in Black II safely repeats everything that made Men in Black the blockbuster hit of 1997. That's fine if you loved the original's fresh humor, weird aliens, and loopy ingenuity, but as sequels go, it's pure déjà vu. Makeup wizard Rick Baker is the only MIB alumnus who's trying anything new, while director Barry Sonnenfeld and costars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (as alien-fighting agents Jay and Kay, respectively) are on autopilot with an uninspired screenplay. The quest of a multitentacled alien--on Earth in the form of Lara Flynn Boyle--for the light of Zartha requires Jay to deneuralize Kay, whose restored memory contains the key to saving the planet. The tissue-thin premise allows all varieties of special effects--mostly familiar, with some oddly hilarious new stuff tossed in for good measure. Certainly enjoyable as a popcorn distraction, but the MIB magic has worn a bit thin. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Saving the Earth From the Scum of the Universe, Again..........2007-08-12

After successfully saving the planet from a deadly alien threat and raking in big money at the box office, the boys at 'MIB' were livin' the good life and enjoying all the perks of being beloved by moviegoers. Which is probably why Columbia Pictures felt the need to bring more intergalactic action and hilarity to the masses with a sequel to the highly popular film with the hopes of starting a franchise. So, 5 years after their first big screen adventure, Agent's K and J (Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith) are back again to save mankind from the worst scum of the universe, in Barry Sonnenfeld's "Men in Black 2".

"Men in Black 2" finds Agent J (Will Smith) having a difficult time keeping partners while protecting the Earth from alien threats. After he de-neuralized his former partner/mentor Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), J feels he's better as loner agent than partnered up. However, when a deadly new threat comes to Earth in the guise of a lingerie model (Lara Flynn Boyle), J and 'MIB' must bring in the one agent who will stand a chance of stopping this threat and saving humanity once again, Agent K. The only problem is, he doesn't remember anything about his life in 'MIB'.

What happens when a movie is so successful that it makes tons of money, turns its young lead actor into a mega-star, and catches audiences completely by surprise with how good and unique of a movie it was? Well, the obvious answer would be to make a sequel and cash in on the original film's success, which is exactly what Columbia Pictures did. However, there is a slight problem with this plan, how do you top what's already been done? The surprise factor is gone, the freshness has worn off, and it's possible that due to the mediocre animated series that was spawned from the original movie has diminished people's interest in the series.

To solve their possible problems Columbia Pictures brought on two writers that can handle the type of material needed for this type of movie, meaning plenty of action, humor, and sci-fi fun. Next, the powers-that-be managed to convince the main cast to reprise their roles from the first film, and lastly bring back the director that made them successful in the first place. So, did Columbia's plan of action work for this film or was it to fall prey to being yet another inferior sequel in an already long list? The answer, mostly yes, but there were some issues with the movie.

The cast was excellent, which isn't surprising given the talent assembled here, but as much as I enjoy Will Smith in most movies he makes, at times he actually felt boring to me here. I understand that the goal was having his character in the place of Tommy Lee Jones' at the beginning of the movie, being the serious career agent, no longer the care free rookie, but he came off like he was bored, leaving his performance feeling stiff. Now, I will say that once Tommy Lee Jones' character was back in play, Will Smith lightened up and the movie quickly picked up and felt more like the original, but the early part of his performance does put a bit of a damper on things. Tommy Lee Jones returns to playing the role that he does best, and apparently it's the only role he knows how to do, the no-nonsense serious man with a mission and a really dry, subtle sense of humor. Though the schtick is the same as before, it's still fun to see these two characters interact on screen, easily erasing the crappiness of the children's animated series. The supporting cast was solid throughout, I did grow tired of Johnny Knoxville's character, but he did provide some humorous moments. The rest of the cast was fun, and giving more screen time to Frank the Pug and the 'Worm' guys was a nice touch.

The story was a good follow-up to the original, with plenty of humor, though not as much as I'd hoped for before Agent K returns, but still the jokes were funny. The action was energetic like before, though a little more over-the-top in places than even the previous film had done, and the sci-fi elements were inventive. However, with all that being said, the story did suffer some from the fact that it had lost its freshness and originality since the first one was so much of a surprise and audiences didn't know what to expect, but this time we had a pretty good idea. Honestly it didn't matter what anyone did in this movie, no matter what was tried they just couldn't match the original, which is unfortunate since the characters are so fun and story potential is everywhere, but in the end you still can't do better than what's come before. This is actually one of those rare cases when the potential for a sequel is there, but the studio should avoid going through with it for the simple fact that you most likely won't be able to do better than what you already have done.

"Men in Black 2" is still a fun movie, though not as good as the original, but that doesn't mean the movie's not worth seeing or owning. Yes, there are some problems with this movie in some areas, but most are overcome early on, leaving audiences with a rather enjoyable movie experience.

"Men in Black 2" is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and sensuality.

Another weird story.......2007-07-02

Kay is gone, J is looking a partner like Kay. A snake lady shows up, other things happen too.
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flyne Boyle.

The men should have stayed gone.......2007-06-25

I remember having such high hopes for this movie, but it turned out that the movie trailer had served up all the laughs and the rest of the flick was shockingly dull and un-orginal. But I get it. Sequels are hard and Hollywood are usually a greedy lot. The plot re: returning the Light couldn't have been more campy or paper thin if you tried. But, and it's a big but, it may have worked a little better for children. I'm not sure. I don't have children. Anyhoot, if you have absolutely nothing to do or you're searching for what NOT to do with a sequel, check this film out. Otherwise, watch the first movie and then pretend that this one never happened. Where's a good nuturalizer when you need one?

A Good Sequel.......2007-02-19

A very good comedy, Men in Black II picks up four years after the first movie left off, and continues to shed light on Earth's finest agents. This time the arrival of an unexpected guest from outer space will rock their world...
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle and Rosario Dawson (both of whom are HOT!), and the rest of the cast carry out their performances very well.
The setting, the plot, the music, the humor, and the dialogues are all wonderful!
Overall, it is a movie worth watching, and even though quite silly at times, it will surely put you in a good mood! 4.5 Stars

Where this sequel is strong, it is v-e-r-y strong. Where it is weak, it is v-e-r-y weak........2007-02-17

Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith are back and, IMHO, and their chemistry is as good if not better than in the original (this time IMHO Jones deserved top billing). Rip Torn is given some lines that I'm sure made him wonder if the $$$ he received from being in the second movie was worth the public embarrassment. Tony Shalhoub, on the other hand, is hilarious during the deneuralizer scenes (even though the writers saddled him with stolen lines).

On the other hand, with the exception of Johnny Knoxville as Scrad/Charlie, the villians are downright awful, and, as much as I like Patrick Warburton's other work, his short appearance here was pretty bad.

The Superbit technology doesn't get as many opportunities to shine as in MIB, although it is quite noticeable during the first subway scene and at the end. I'm still impressed enough with Superbit to choose it over other formats, even if I sacrifice the DVD "bonus features" to have it.

Average customer rating:

John Carpenter once again works his evil spell
Long on Atmosphere
There's a SECRET to this movie
Required for the true horror collection...
Pretties For You

Prince Of Darkness
Starring: Donald Pleasence , Jameson Parker , Victor Wong (III) , Lisa Blount , and Dennis Dun
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000AOX0A
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Amazon.com

The B picture lives on in the films of John Carpenter. Prince of Darkness weds supernatural horror with quantum weirdness, when a group of theoretical-physics students, led by their professor, Birack (Victor Wong), joins forces with a priest (Donald Pleasence) to forestall the coming of the Dark Lord. His Darkness has been imprisoned in a cylindrical container as a swirling green plasma since time immemorial, and is now beginning to find his way out. All of this is bolstered by a lot of fancy science talk (all of which is real, I can assure you--someone did his homework), which allows us to settle down, say okey dokey, and enjoy the thrills that this presages. As the title character spreads his contagion through the group of students, holed up in a church to study the sequestered Satan, the film shapes up as an homage to George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, much like Carpenter's earlier film, Assault on Precinct 13. But this adds the twist of quantum physics dovetailing with religious orthodoxy, and in the bargain spawning numerous zombie minions. There are plenty of squishy splatter opportunities, the kind that make some affected people say, "This is a bad movie!" while they grin from ear to ear. Look for Alice Cooper as a street schizo. I think you'll recognize him. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

John Carpenter once again works his evil spell.......2007-08-30

I have been a long time fan of Mr. Carpenter's films whether they be good(Halloween, The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13, The Fog, Escape From New York, Dark Star, or Starman) or less than his best(They Live, Escape From L.A., or Memoirs Of An Invisible Man) and this film is one of his better efforts.
After a priest dies, his co-workers contact a collage and has a physics class come to study an ancient liquid stored in a church. What we find out is that the liquid is Satan's very essence, and he wants out to bring his big daddy Anti-God here to rule the world. The liquid begins to leak and starts to take over the group one by one.
Doesn't sound like much, but in Mr. Carpenter's hands you get a first rate little horror movie that also has a little food for thought to go along with the scares. The science used here is real,as the blurb on this site states and that makes it just a little more creepier.
Maybe not for all taste, but it works better than you might think. Give it a try.

Long on Atmosphere.......2007-08-08

I saw this for the first time on TV in the early days of the Sci-Fi Channel, and my esteem for this film has grown over the years - its a fun horror movie, but at the same time its very well put together. In Prince of Darkness, John Carpenter ably combines familiar locales, deep-seated phobias, an ancient evil menace, and the standard ten-little-Indians format to great effect. When certain signs indicate that some evil is awakening in the cellar of an ancient church in a California city, a local priest calls on a prominent local physicist and his graduate students to investigate. But what happens when the evil begins to reach out, and the evil's minions start attacking? Definitely gruesome, definitely high-concept, definitely fun.

There's a SECRET to this movie.......2007-07-19

The secret to a truly scary time watching this movie does not even require watching it....embedded within the audio track are deep bass tones that are too low to hear, however they will make your internal organs vibrate causing a sense of nervousness and fear. You have to have really good bass speakers or subwoofer. My BOSE Acoustimass works great. Also, try listening to The Exorcist on a good surround system....you will run screaming from your home.

Required for the true horror collection..........2007-03-14

This is a great movie. There's a blend of sci-fi and horror - old fashioned horror from the 80s. This is a smart movie, a creepy movie, and a horror movie all rolled into one. You will apreciate the brilliance of John Carpenter after this. It has a slow steady pace that digs deep into your fears and eventually you will be dreaming about the movie and waking up scared to go back to sleep. Classic....must have for the collection. Watch it every 2 or 3 months or so...

Pretties For You.......2007-02-17

Figures. Just when I thought this movie was about the emergence of the AntiChrist, Alice Cooper himself shows up and all hell breaks loose.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Dawn of the Dead
Well Worth The Extra Few Dollars
best zombie movie ever
dated and pretentious. But it's a decent film

Dawn of the Dead (Divimax Edition)
Starring: James A. Baffico , Fred Baker (II) , Ted Bank , David Crawford , and Jesse Del Gre
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0001611DI
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Dawn of the Dead.......2007-09-02

I liked this movie alot. It was entertaining. The best scene is in the parking garage.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

Well Worth The Extra Few Dollars.......2007-07-30

best zombie movie ever.......2007-07-21

dated and pretentious. But it's a decent film.......2007-07-10

Sir! No Sir! - The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam

Average customer rating:

Documentary at it's finest
A documentary that should be seen by everyone in the military
so moving
A story retreived from the dustbin of history
War resisters speak out

Sir! No Sir! - The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam
Starring: Louis Font , Michael Wong (IX) , Joe Bangert , Dave Blalock , and Howard Levy (II)
Director: David Zeiger
Manufacturer: DOCURAMA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IB0DE4
Release Date: 2006-12-19

Amazon.com

Pundits often make parallels between America's involvement in Iraq and the nightmare that was Vietnam; director-writer-producer David Zeiger's Sir! No Sir! does it too. But while the comparisons are generally apt (both conflicts are known as "quagmires," became hugely unpopular with the public, and inflicted serious political damage on the presidents who presided over them), this documentary makes a vital distinction: namely, that some of the most vocal and active opponents of the Vietnam War were the very soldiers who fought in it. These are haunted men who went to Southeast Asia because it was their duty, perhaps even because they saw it as the right thing to do, only to become sorely disillusioned when they witnessed the horrible injuries, the villages bombed for little or no reason, the civilians tortured and killed, and various other horrors that took place "in country." Some, like the so-called Nine for Peace, formed GI protest groups while still on active duty in Vietnam; some went AWOL (there were reportedly 500,000 incidents of desertion); a great many, including soldiers who refused to be deployed to 'Nam at all, were court-martialed and imprisoned in military stockades like San Francisco's Presidio, while still others returned home, joined movements like Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and published virulent underground newspapers. All of this is delivered via personal anecdotes, photos, and occasional file footage. The material is undoubtedly compelling, but Sir! No Sir! pretty much makes its point in the first half hour, rendering the final hour somewhat tedious. And that's not even including the nearly two hours of accompanying bonus material. Most of the latter consists of extended interviews based on what we've already seen in the main program; there's also a look at the Winter Soldier inquiry (the subject of a separate documentary), as well as a joint appearance by "Hanoi Jane" Fonda, Vietnam's most infamous celebrity protester, and Cindy Sheehan, who became an anti-war activist after her son was killed in Iraq in 2004. --Sam Graham

Description

Easily the most timely and resonant film about the soldiers on the front lines of antiwar resistance, the award-winning breakout theatrical hit SIR! NO SIR! Tells an almost entirely forgotten story of the military men and women who helped force the U.S. government to end the Vietnam War. Contrary to the popular image of long-haired hippies spitting on returning soldiers, SIR! NO SIR! vividly demonstrates that GIs were the heart and soul of the anti-war movement. Poignantly narrated by a diverse cast of veteran GI resisters who recall the ferocious days of peace marches and stiff jail sentences, SIR! NO SIR! pulls no punches in its raw depiction of the power of people, especially those in uniform. Directed by David Zeiger, SIR! NO SIR! is "powerful stuff, offering us not only a new look at the past, but to the unavoidably relevant insights into the present" (New York Daily News).

Customer Reviews:

Documentary at it's finest.......2007-09-13

i've seen a lot of documentaries, but the soundtrack, the interviews and the reflection of past onto the present made this film one of the best i've ever seen.

A documentary that should be seen by everyone in the military.......2007-06-19

Sir! No Sir! is one of the best documentaries produced about the Vietnam War. In light of the emerging soldier's resistance to the Iraq War, this documentary shows us where anti-war energy should be focused. See this documentry, than read The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq.

so moving.......2007-06-11

i don't have additional factual information to add to the excellent reviews already posted. i'll just say i viewed this last night and found it so moving and inspiring i can't stop thinking about the subjects of this film, what they endured and their incredible service to humankind. the personal risk they undertook is almost unimaginable. note that several commented they were not even aware there was a GI antiwar movement to support their actions.

i do want to add that besides the fascinating subject matter this documentary is extremely well done. the pacing keeps you riveted and the production overall is excellent. highest recommendation.

A story retreived from the dustbin of history.......2007-05-03

This documentary is a necessary corrective to the widely held perception that the Vietnam anti-war movement was anti-soldier. In fact, a key component of the anti-war movement was the soldiers. As early as 1965, highly decorated "lifers", who joined the armed services convinced they were doing their duty to their country, began speaking out against the war, refusing orders, and faced court-martials to stop the war in Vietnam. As one former Green Beret said, "I was doing my job right, but I wasn't doing right." By 1969 war resistance among GIs, which had started as individual acts of defiance spread among draftees "in country" and among vets returning home, and emerged as a crucial component of the anti-war movement. So much so that even the US military had to concede that the majority of US troops were anti-war.

Sir, No, Sir is a very well done documentary that weaves together interviews, news footage, and commentary about the "forgotten" anti-war movement--the GI coffee house movement, the underground GI press, and the "alternative" USO-style shows that featured an anti-war message that was tailored to the soldiers' expereince. It closes with some parting shots on how the GI anti-war movement was "erased" from popular memory through films like Hamburger Hill and Rambo--which situate the anti-war movement as being anti-soldier.

The extras on the DVD are also quite interesting. Of particular interest is the interview with the infamous "Dave Rabbitt." Years ago, I received a copy of a recording of a "pirate" radio station in Vietnam and had often wondered about its authenticity. This film confirmed that briefly an unofficial radio station (Radio First Termer-FM69), which was "for the troops" but against the war, operated in the Phan Rang area of Vietnam. It broadcast "hard acid-rock music" for the "first-termers and non-reenlistees" in Vietnam. An interesting story in and of itself, and just one part of the forgotten anti-war movement.

War resisters speak out.......2007-04-15

A most-important film about the GIs who resisted the war on Viet Nam while inside the military and in the country itself. Fragging of COs was not unusual, leaving Nixon to pull out ground troups and send major air strikes to this torn country .. A must see for all people who think they recall or have read about the resistance against this war.

Average customer rating:

The Mircale Mile bus has left the City
some flaws but worth watching
Taut, suspenseful movie
Is that all there is?
Quirky but enjoyable film

Miracle Mile
Starring: Anthony Edwards , Mare Winningham , John Agar , Lou Hancock , and Mykelti Williamson
Director: Steve De Jarnatt
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008R9KL
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Amazon.com

What do you do when you're given the deadline for the end of the world? Steve De Jarnatt's insidiously clever and utterly gripping nuclear thriller begins as a romantic lark--amiable swing trombonist Anthony Edwards meets girl of his dreams Mare Winningham--and turns into a nightmarish vision of society out of control. It all turns on the chance pick-up of a ringing pay phone at 4 a.m. and a panicked voice breathlessly warning Edwards that World War III has been launched. Genuine wake-up call or elaborate prank? De Jarnatt plays his hand close to the chest, which only increases the unnerving tension as word spreads like a contagion. Future E.R. star Edwards is perfectly cast as the everyman driven to reckless desperation and director De Jarnatt creates wonders on a small budget. His vision of L.A.'s Miracle Mile gripped in the blind panic of a careening traffic jam is both believable and chilling. --Sean Axmaker

Description

What would you do if you knew you only had an hour to live? This intense, "eerily euphoric" (TheNew York Times) romantic thriller stars Anthony Edwards ("ER") and Mare Winningham (Georgia) in a frighteningly plausible story that "yanks you by the lapels and draws you onto a high-velocity roller coaster" (Houston Post)! After 30 years of searching, Harry (Edwards) has finally met the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, before they even have a chance to go on their first date, Harry intercepts some chilling news: WWIII has begun and nuclear missiles will destroy Los Angeles in less than an hour! Not sure if this is a prank or an omen, Harry races through LA, fighting angry mobs of terrified people in a desperate search for Julie (Winningham), the one person with whom he wants to spend the last moments of his life.

Customer Reviews:

The Mircale Mile bus has left the City.......2007-08-23

Sure I like happy endings, but let's face if I was living in L.A. and a nuclear missile was going to go off in an hour I doubt I could expect a happy ending. This closely examines the lifes of everyone that is touched by Anthony Edwards character Harry. The news that the missiles are hot and will be inbound just over an hour sets almost everyone into a panic to just leave or grab the one they care about most and bolt. After Harry just met the girl he is sure he wants to spend the rest of his life with, Mare Winningham as Julie, he is out of time. Who would have guessed that he would get a phone call while trying to get in touch with her to apologize for missing their next date. Considering what she said she would do on their third date I doubt Harry would have missed it short of an earthquake. It is rather an ironic ending when you consider where they first met. All-in-all not a bad end of the world movie. I recommend it as a rental before buying.

some flaws but worth watching.......2007-07-23

The flaws: some dialogue and delivery could have been better; the shopping cart is just silly; the two gay guys from the gym make you laugh because of their hair and outfits; running around asking strangers if they know any heli pilots is also silly.
However....it is quite entertaining to watch the human race melt down as the end of the world approaches. That it begins and ends at the La Brea Tar Pits is a nice touch. The 80s style is unmistakable; who can forget the clothing and hair of that era (see above comment)? Fun stuff, in an odd way.

Taut, suspenseful movie.......2007-07-04

I just watched this again for the first time since it came out and it still gripped me.

The first 30 minutes make you think you're watching a love story. Then, through a series of unfortunate and unforeseen events, the protagonist misses his date and ends up in front of a payphone at 4:00 AM trying to get in touch with his date when the phone suddenly rings. He answers it...

... and all Hell breaks loose. This movie will keep your gut clemched and you're mind racing, trying to guess whether it's for real or just a horrible misunderstanding right up to the last minute of the film.

Was it a joke phone call or the real thing?
Is Landa insane or is she for real?

I removed one star because of the ending. The film steamrolls from the answered call forward and then slams you into the brickwall of an ending rather than go around it. Some people like that type of ending. Done right, I do too. Not this one.

Still, one very frightening movie. Highly recommended.

Is that all there is?.......2007-06-13

What plays for the most part like a sufficiently zany second fiddle to Scorsese's "After Hours" also ends in the most unsatisfying way I've had the misfortune to sit through. This is supposed to be a love story at heart -- else our bespectacled hero Harry Washello, played by Anthony Edwards, closer to "Revenge of the Nerds" than "E.R.," would not kiss asphalt at 40 mph to rescue love interest Julie "I-lost-the-fight-with-my-lawnmower" Peters, played by Mare Winningham, as nuclear winter looms on the horizon. Yet when all is said and done, this is a defeatist romance at best. It's as if there were two scriptwriters butting heads on the set, one attempting something like a precursor to "Four-Eyed Monsters;" the other trying to make a statement about the threat of nuclear war and other meathead qualities of our modern-day Gomorrah. And the moral lesson trumps anything Cupid can cook up, leaving the doomed couple staring at one another uncomfortably in the film's rather unmiraculous final moments.

Still, the film merits three stars because Edwards really takes to portraying the 30-something, trombone-playing loner who as the movie starts finally meets the woman of his dreams, then becomes the recipient of a wrongly-dialed doomsday message. The supporting cast is up to the task as mayhem builds -- particularly Kurt Fuller in a gonzo scenestealer as the go-to guy when you need a helicopter in a jiffy. And somebody was definitely having fun crafting scenes like the witching-hour health club, in which our Armageddon-whistleblowing everyman Harry comes off as less stable than the coke-crazed, vaseline-slathered fitness freaks who populate the club. But then, sadly, "Mile" fumbles at the 1-yard line.

Quirky but enjoyable film.......2007-05-31

Anthony Edwards (ER)plays a musician and romantic who finds the love of his life on the same day that he finds out the world is coming to an end. That is the basic premise of this quirky and eccentric film. At the same time he arrives late for his date with his dreamgirl he intercepts a phone call from someone telling him that the world will end in 1 hour. He then shares this strange and prophetic message with the oddball night characters at an all night diner. Everything gets crazy as he then decides to take the extra time to save his new love.

This enjoyable movie was made in the late 1980s when the anxiety and worry about a possible superpower nuclear showdown, USA vs USSR, was still real and palpable. There are some interesting performances here. Denise Crosby (Star Trek Next Generation) character takes this information right to heart and pulls out all the stops to get out of town fast. Myleti T. Williamson (Heat, Forrest Gump) plays a petty criminal who gets caught up in the hysteria by accident. They are other fine performances by actors you will immediately recognize. And it's fun to take notice of the things that seemed to change right after this movie was made. By the early 90s the threat of the USSR- gone. Soon after that pay phones began to disappear. People walking around restaurants and other public places with a cigarette in tow- gone (thankfully). Brick sized mobile phones- gone.

Filmed in LA and mostly at night this low budget movie is suitably accompanied by the music of Tangerine Dream. This surreal movie stays interesting and fun from beginning to end.

Average customer rating:

THEY DO NOT COME IN PEACE...

Independence Day (UMD for PSP)
Starring: Jay Acovone , Adam Baldwin , Kimberly Beck , John Capodice , and Margaret Colin
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP

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One of the biggest box office hits of all time delivers the ultimate encounter when mysterious and powerful aliens launch an all-out invasion against the human race. The spectacle begins when massive spaceships appear in Earth's skies. But wonder turns to terror as the ships blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet. Now the world's only hope lies with a determinde

ASIN: B000FFL2I4
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

One of the biggest box office hits of all time delivers the ultimate encounter when mysterious and powerful aliens launch an all-out invasion against the human race. The spectacle begins when massive spaceships appear in Earth's skies. But wonder turns to terror as the ships blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet. Now the world's only hope lies with a determinded band of survivors, uniting for one last strike against the invaders - before it's the end of all mankind.

Customer Reviews:

THEY DO NOT COME IN PEACE..........2006-09-05

This is a sensational, sci-fi, alien invasion, action film with a terrific cast and superlative special effects. Alien invaders suddenly darken the skyline across the world, as city sized flying saucers hover ominously over major cities world wide. A computer geek, David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), figures out how the alien ships are communicating with each other and realizes the import of what he has discovered. He manages to have an audience with President Whitmore (Bill Pullam), as his ex-wife is one of the president's top aides, and tells the president of his findings. Wonder at the alien saucer spectacle turns to terror, as the meaning of the ships in the sky becomes clear.

The White House evacuates just in time, as the aliens launch a world wide attack in complete synchronization, an awesome spectacle that enthralls the viewer. A counter attack is launched, led by fighter pilot Captain Steve Hiller (Will Smith), which ends in disaster for the fighter pilots, as only Hiller survives to fight another day. He manages, however, to bring in a captive. Notwithstanding the gravity of the premise of the film, there are moments of comic relief interspersed throughout.

Meanwhile, our computer geek, realizing why the counter attack failed, comes up with a solution, one that requires nerves of steel and a desire to walk on the wild side. A second counter attack is launched world wide, which leads to some terrific action scenes and heroics by a most unlikely candidate. Naturally, mankind is victorious. It is not the victory itself, however, but what leads up to the victory that makes the film so entertaining.

This is a fast paced film with a myriad of subplots and coincidental pairings that may stretch the viewer's credence but do not take away from the enjoyment of the film. The special effects are dazzling. The cast is excellent. Will Smith is charming and funny throughout. Bill Pullam is appropriately presidential, and Jeff Goldblum is a most convincing computer geek. Look for fine performances from the stellar supporting cast: Mary McConnell, Robert Loggia, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Judd Hirsch, James Rebhorn, Harry Connick, Jr., and Harvey Fierstein. All in all, this is a marvelous film.

Be prepared for an unintended poignant moment in the film, when the camera pans to the New York skyline and the viewer sees the World Trade Center twin towers standing proud and tall on the horizon. It is a moment that gives the viewer pause in remembrance of what was. It is, indeed, a moment to remember.

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