Stand By Me (Special Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book Different Seasons); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches, and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes, and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family, and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain, and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, The Princess Bride. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Great movie but horrible sound quality.......2007-09-17

Stand By Me is a great movie with solid performances all around including several future stars like Kiefer Sutherland and River Phoenix, in one of his final roles. It is truly a excellent adaptation of Stephen King's "The Body". However, I can't believe they even bother making DVDs (especially "Deluxe" editions) without including a 5.1 dolby digital audio track or even better, a DTS digital audio track. This edition of the movie only qualifies as a 2 star because of the ridiculous mono soundtrack. What were they thinking? What a joke, the soundtrack CD has better quality sound! A fun movie which would have been 4 stars with a decent audio transfer.

A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off.......2007-09-01

Rob Reiner and Stephen King collaborated on this classic and the wealth of their talent resulted in the sort of movie that's good every time it's seen. Based on The Body, one of King's novellas from his early `80's collection Different Seasons, and staying mostly faithful to the King tale (with the inexplicable exception of changing the setting of Castle Rock from Maine to Oregon) Stand By Me features a gifted cast of young actors who get the most out of a story that was already rich and multi-faceted. Concerning itself with a quest undertaken by four boys moving through the gray zone between childhood and adolescence, all of them seeking to locate the body of a missing local boy whom they know to have been struck and killed by a passing train, Stand By Me, as with The Body before it, is actually so much more than its surface plot, and is nothing short of a coming of age masterpiece that examines loss, destiny, and the journey toward a deeper understanding of human life. This is one of those movies that captures the story on which it was based, learns from it, and becomes something great indeed. At times funny, awkward and carefree, at others frightening, poignant, tragic, and starkly realistic, Stand By Me Is probably the best adaptation of a Stephen King work that's ever been done.

The Emotional Ride.......2007-08-10

Stand by Me, was the second film, directed by Rob Reiner, son of Carl Reiner, known best for his television work in the US and for launching the career of one Steve Martin.

Reiner was faithful to what Stephen King wanted, he was familiar with the material that could work and wouldn't. He made subsquent trimmings on the novel, so that the most important things for example, outlying the real friendship between Chris and Gordie being dominant, the way they communicate and approach their troubles in white-collar broken families with hard drinking fathers, which they refer to as "their old men". The film does not detact from Gordie's nostalgic narration as an adult, it is in some ways, tighter and easy to follow than the novel in this case.

A good tip, i will offer is, it is better to read the short story, The Body upon what the material is based on. There you will understand deeper the character of Chris Chambers; his father's binges; why his brother was known as "Eyeball" Chambers; his discontent for School; also indulge in Will's ambitious writing talent and their continuing friendship long after this episode which is very benefital as important. You will really enjoy it more, honest, i have.

Stand for Me, follows in particular, a young boy known as Gordon "Gordy" Lacha, who after losing his brother to a tragic accident, goes on an adventure with his best friend, Chris and the two pals they hang around with, Teddy and Vern, to retrieve the body of Ray Brower, a missing boy out for a raspberry picking.

This is effectively a character driven piece, with a great stunt piece, the runaway train sequence, the confronations between the friends, trying to abine and then drift apart as friends do, when they feel they have nothing left to prove and the jokes shared and the mere messing around.

This is Phoenix's shining performance, that makes this one. He plays Chris Chambers, who knows he is "able" to make a difference, when Gordie's anxiety with his parents wears him down, he is more than eager to show him, that if he doesn't listen to what is right, then he could lose his most valved dream of all. Chambers on the other hand, knows he has to help, but doesn't know how to do it properly, he is frightened he could hurt Gordie and that was point, he was making.

Stand by Me is also a film, where youngsters have to face up for their future, in a world of uncertainy, dreams broken and lies discussed, people who have to grow up on their own with or without their friends.

Stand by Me was a sleeper hit, it did manage to reach number tweleve on the top box office receipts of 1986 in the US, but in recent years, since Phoenix's passing, the film has become a reminder of how sad life can be and so unfortunate to so many people, it has hence become more powerful, it's popularity has continued to flourish on it's dedicated cult base and will continue to do so, as long as people have a dream for desire.

Bravo.......2007-07-19

Like Shawshank Redemption, this is a great film based on some of Stephen King's best work. It is poignant, nostalgic--and hilarious at times. (And some of us may never wade in ponds again because of it!)

Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!.......2007-07-12

We've all been there. It's summertime, when you're with a few, great friends and wanna go on a big adventure. Well, that's what "Stand By Me" is about; a brilliant mix of laugh-out-loud humor and introspective moments of awe, it's a movie that never wears thin.
The overall plot is that four boys, from ages twelve to thirteen, hear of a dead body and go searching overnight for it. There's plenty of summer adventure in it, big laughs among friends, and that feeling of living in the wild, if only for about forty-eight hours. And then, there's that feeling of change that, for at least one point in our life, we get nervous about. That necessity of holding onto friends even as you get separated from there. It puts you in such a state, as it's displayed in such an honest, realistic way that it captivates you all the way through.
What impresses me a lot about "Stand By Me" is how it just seems to carry on at full speed. There never seems to be a dull moment and by the time it's over, you may feel astonished that it's already done with. Like with a lot of other, great movies, this one has many, sub-situations the four guys get themselves into, and if it's not enough that they're racing a gang of older guys and outrun a junkyard dog, need I say more than such things as "campfire stories" or "a lake of leeches"? *shudders*
Without revealing the resolution, the ending shows the adult Gordie, who has been narrating the whole thing. The ending is very powerful and moving, and as the credits roll, the '61 song "Stand By Me" plays.
This is an excellent summer movie that goes by quickly, but leaves such an impression on you that you'll remember and love it forever. But through all the drama and action, it's a definite work of art that's sure to please anyone who sees it.

Average customer rating:

I'm glad I was never trapped on an island w/ these kids...
Pretty Good Movie
Great Product
It is an ok movie
Not the Best Adaptation

Lord of the Flies
Starring: Balthazar Getty , Chris Furrh , Danuel Pipoly , James Badge Dale , and Andrew Taft (II)
Director: Harry Hook
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005O06X
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com

Harry Hook's adaptation is not as faithful to the William Golding novel as you'd wish (they excised the Lord of the Flies dialogue with Simon!) and because of it, the movie is less allegorical and less resonant. A group of young men from a military academy are stranded on an island. The group quickly becomes fractious with a passive section led by Ralph, trying to get rescued, and a hunter faction, led by Jack, trying to procure meat and "have fun." Peter Brook's 1963 filming seemed to get closer to the Darwinist sense of this cultural disintegration. Here, the hunter faction seems more like Peter Pan's Lost Boys than the bloodthirsty murderers they are. The performances, particularly young Getty, don't quite carry the weight of the situation. It's still, however, sobering to slowly watch the school uniforms traded for war paint, and the little boys turn into little savages. --Keith Simanton

Description

With 'sharply expressive performances (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) by its young cast, this stunning adventure explores the deep dark corners of the human soul, as a group of adolescent castaways are thrust into an intense world where law and accountability are governed by the rules of survival. After a harrowing plane crash into the sea, a group of American military cadets finds itselfmarooned on a deserted island. Realizing the minimal chances of being rescued, the boys band together out of fear and desperation. But as the island paradise becomes their own, competition and power struggles split them into two packs. Ralph (Bathazar Getty) leads one group and preaches civilized ingenuity and togetherness, but Jack (Chris Furrh) wants nothing of it and builds a faction of barbaric hunters who ultimately go to war with Ralph. This powerful shift in conscience transforms ordinary kids into primal killers, setting off a devastating battle of good versus evil and presenting a haunting metaphor for the savage in us all.

Customer Reviews:

I'm glad I was never trapped on an island w/ these kids..........2007-06-07

This was a very good movie that came from an even better book. When I was younger I didn't understand people who would claim that the books were better than movies. Now, I do. However, I feel that for this statement to be true, one must have a vivid imagination and be able to immerse themselves in the world that the author created.

Anyway, I loved the book and I thought the movie was well done too. The kids are pretty good at acting. Almost too good, as if they were actually dropped off on an island and told that they had to figure out a way to survive. I would recommend watching this movie w/o children because I think it may be a bit much.

Pretty Good Movie.......2007-06-04

It doesn't follow the book that much, but I think it's pretty realistic of what you see in the movie. It should be different since it's expressing someone's own idea and point of view to the book. Pretty intense and a really great movie. Buy it.

Great Product.......2007-03-11

The product was received in great condition and timely delivered by the seller. I would buy again

It is an ok movie.......2007-02-11

This updated version of this movie is quiet a change from the book. But, just because it is a change from the book isn't a good reason for me not to like it. I did like the movie over all and I thought that the point that the director tried to make came across fine. Even though there were no adults there, the children did develop a "government" and those differences came out in the group that won compared to the group that lost followers. Also, in developing a "government" there was a hierachy of leadership and blood shed. See the movie for yourself and come to your own conclusions about the movie. For myself, I did enjoy it and will probably see it again.

Not the Best Adaptation.......2007-01-07

I read the book and then decided to purchase the film I thought it was not that bad but the swearing it was over the top. If you want to show this movie to students I'll be cautios there are more than 200 swearing words through out the film. There is an older version of this film, which is black and white, but far better than this one.

Average customer rating:

Hilarious Musical!!!
One of the few movies I see more than once
Mary Sunshine - you're ultra, ultra!
good movie
My Favorite Musical!

Reefer Madness - The Movie Musical
Starring: Kristen Bell , Christian Campbell , Neve Campbell , Alan Cumming , and Ana Gasteyer
Director: Andy Fickman
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
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ASIN: B000AYQOA6
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Amazon.com

If the idea of making a musical out of Roger Corman's Z-movie quickie The Little Shop of Horrors sounded weird, stick around for the all-singing, all-dancing Reefer Madness. Deliriously based on the notorious 1936 anti-pot social-guidance film, this is an ultra-campy enterprise that lands somewhere between Rocky Horror and a John Waters comedy. Christian Campbell and the spritzy Kristen Bell play the innocent teens lured into a soul-sapping cloud of marijuana dependence by pencil-mustached pusher Steven Weber and his long-suffering dame, Ana Gasteyer. The cast includes femme fatale Amy Spanger and a cameo by Neve Campbell, who dances her way through one sequence. The musical was written and composed by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, who re-create some of the kookiest scenes from the original movie ("Faster! Faster!"). Their funniest idea is to frame the sordid saga with a black-and-white story of a government agent showing a public-service film to horrified small-town citizens; he's played by the reliably sinister Alan Cumming, who also pops up in a variety of guises in the film-within-the-film. The only problem with this made-for-Showtime version of the stage show is that camp tends to wear thin, especially at 109 minutes, despite the expert song parodies. Even the original hour-long Reefer Madness got old quick. --Robert Horton

Description

Based on the propaganda film from 1936 that has become a cult hit, Reefer Madness is the height of camp entertainment! Framed as a "documentary", a straight-laced high school principal (Alan Cumming) seeks to impart his wisdom about the demon weed by telling a frightful tale about the fate of two innocent teens who fall under the spell of the drugs. Filled with outrageously funny and musical performances by Neve Campbell, Christian Campbell, Kristen Bell and Steven Weber, Reefer Madness is the feel good event of the year!

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious Musical!!!.......2007-08-23

To be completely honest, I originally saw this musical only because Christian Campbell was in it. It more than exceeded my expectations; I was in stitches throughout!! The musical numbers are both catchy and witty, and the whole thing is pulled off with such panache that you won't be able to dislike it. Reefer Madness, without question, will be one of the most entertaining and certainly most unique musical comedies you will ever see!

One of the few movies I see more than once.......2007-07-09

Reefer Madness is one of the few movies in my collection that I watch more than once; funny and catchy every time. And Bell is so cute as Mary even thought she is older than me when she filmed it.

Also, could someone tell me the size of your DVD? I bought mine of eBay and the DVD is a single layer 4.17GB disc. It have everything but the video quality suffers from deinterlace artifact.

If anyone can confirm their Amazon DVD have very good quality playing on computer, I am going to buy it again. Thanks.

Mary Sunshine - you're ultra, ultra!.......2007-07-09

I love this movie. Reefer Madness is my absolute favorite musical. The whole thing is campy and fun. I highly recommend it. Unquestionably one of my most watched DVDs.

good movie.......2007-07-08

good movie i luaghed and luaghed at all those crazy pot head stoners lol Thank the lord for that movie so i dont make the same mistake those kids did.

My Favorite Musical!.......2007-05-31

This is just outrageous. Its an explosive making of the musical for the movie screen and well worth the effort and money. If you are going to buy one musical dvd, you mine as well purchase this one, not only for yourself, but all of your friends too, who will get a real kick out of this trip!

As a bonus feature, it has the original 1936 propaganda film that inspired the musical (still entitled Reefer Madness), where you will see for yourself how little the musical actually had to embellish to mock it. Many people see it as comic gold on its own.

I recommend this highly, no matter who you are. Everyone should appreciate a little satire now and then and this one takes you on a ride that you won't get anywhere else!

Average customer rating:

Great movie but horrible sound quality
A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off
The Emotional Ride
Bravo
Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!

Stand By Me (Deluxe Edition)
Starring: Wil Wheaton , River Phoenix , Corey Feldman , Jerry O'Connell , and Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007G89G4
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Amazon.com essential video

Description

In a small woodsy Oregon town, a group of friends--sensitive Gordie (Wil Wheaton), tough guy Chris (River Phoenix), flamboyant Teddy (Corey Feldman), and scaredy-cat Vern (Jerry O'Connell)--are in search of a missing teenager's body. Wanting to be heroes in each other's and their hometown's eyes, they set out on an unforgettable two-day trek that turns into an odyssey of self-discovery. They sneak smokes, tell tall tales, cuss 'cause it's cool and band together when the going gets tough. When they encounter the town's knife-wielding hoods who are also after the body, the boys discover a strength they never knew they had. STAND BY ME is a rare and special film about friendship and the indelible experiences of growing up. Filled with humor and suspense, STAND BY ME is based on the novella 'The Body' by Stephen King.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie but horrible sound quality.......2007-09-17

A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off.......2007-09-01

The Emotional Ride.......2007-08-10

Bravo.......2007-07-19

Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!.......2007-07-12

Average customer rating:

Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment
Fantasticks butchered
Bad editing
The Fantastics
A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film

The Fantasticks
Starring: Joel Grey , Barnard Hughes , Jean Louisa Kelly , Joseph McIntyre , and Jonathon Morris
Director: Michael Ritchie
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
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ASIN: B000056KE9
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Amazon.com

Having opened off-Broadway in 1960 and still going strong, The Fantasticks would seem a natural for the movies. Or would it? The musical's charm hangs on a particular kind of intimate magic incubated exclusively in live theater. This didn't stop the chiefs of rudderless United Artists from bankrolling a film version in 1995, closely scripted from the play by original authors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. With the movie finished, the studio deduced there was no mass audience for the old-fashioned, stage-struck musical, and promptly set it on the shelf for five years.

A slimmer version of the film was briefly released to theaters in 2000, after being cut by Francis Coppola (with the approval of director Michael Ritchie). The cutting, sometimes within songs, seems capricious--if the movie was destined to be a flop either way, why not let it play out at full length? All of this ought to set off alarm bells... and yet, it turns out there's a bit of theatrical pixie dust left in the old thing after all. Ritchie and topnotch cinematographer Fred Murphy shoot many of the songs beautifully, setting them in the film's postcard-Midwest magic hour (best seen on the widescreen DVD). The genial tone, though admittedly precious, makes for a pleasant ride. It's a movie preadolescent girls can watch with their grandmothers without embarrassment on either side. Playing the archetypal boy and girl are former New Kid on the Block Joe McIntyre and Mr. Holland's Opus songbird Jean Louisa Kelly; he fits the part of an amiable doofus very well, while Kelly has the breathless dreaminess of youth and an intriguing undercurrent of restlessness. Their feuding fathers are the able Joel Grey and Brad Sullivan, and Jonathan Morris looks every inch the carnival maestro who gives these simple folk a glimpse at their dreams. Curiously, the show's signature song ("Try to Remember") is given only an abbreviated airing at the end. And how dare they cut "Plant a Radish"? --Robert Horton

Description

Set in America's heartland, this timeless musical tells the story of two young teens who find true love with the help of their fathers, a traveling carnival road show... and, of course, a little magic. This 1995 film was directed by Michael Ritchie and stars Joel Grey, Barnard Hughes, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Joe McIntyre. Based on the long-running off-off-Broadway musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt.

Customer Reviews:

Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment.......2007-08-13

I've seen Sullivan Street and Snapple Center stage versions and consider myself a knowledgeable fan--I can't be as harsh as others, but there are some disappointments for sure.

It's a movie, so they're going to "open it out" and the traveling carnival concept is not bad and worked sometimes ("You are Love") and even "Soon It's Gonna Rain" but the "carnies" often distract: during the abduction song and especially the abduction scene--more Henry and Mortimer and fewer extras, please.

Also, what's with the bawdy sight gags during what on stage is the "On the Road to an Episode" scene--did someone's junior high-age son sneak onto the computer--so out of sync with the entire show! Plus side, the expanded dancing scenes added a lot.

A big problem is the literal script, I'm surprised to see Schmidt and Jones wrote it. Too many things are explained (though it enhanced the "Let's Just Dance" sequence). Trust the material, people get it!

Casting was mostly strong--I LIKED El Gallo--less effected than most--Luisa was fantastic! Joel Grey, always a joy. But Joe McIntyre at best ordinary and at worst looked amateur. Barnard Hughes was great but his part criminally cut, and the great talents of Teller absolutely wasted! Overall, a disappointment but I wouldn't blame the "carnival" concept, but rather some choices made within that idea.

I do think any fan should view it at some point--if only for the (strong, methinks) interpretation of El Gallo, Joel Grey, Jean Louisa Kelly as Luisa, some great photography and the informed arguments one can make with fellow "Fantasticks" fans!

Fantasticks butchered.......2007-07-20

Other reviewers give essential information on the editing of this film. Here's my review: Coppola butchered the thing. The narrative has been stripped of any sub plots, any minor characters, any scenes that would flesh out these few characters and their story. The two lovers acquire the needed hardship to make their love meaningful in so few minutes it's difficult to see before and after differences. After seeing the thing straight through, I went to the deleted scenes and watched each one; many were very short; all were needed. Deleted and shortened songs: unforgivable. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful, casting works, etc. Someone needs to get control of the original of this film and restore its guts.

Bad editing.......2007-04-11

Release the movie the way the director originally filmed it in 1995, instead of the chopped up version finally released on dvd.

The Fantastics.......2007-03-08

I think the movie lost some of the essential intemacy so critical to the plot - but still it is a good place holder for people who did not have the chance to see the show

A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film.......2007-01-26

The film version of this Broadway chestnut was a long time coming, and even when it did come it sat on a shelf for several years after being filmed. It took Francis Ford Coppola's interest in it to help usher it in to theatres after some strategic editing. But it was all worth it, because this version of "Fantasticks" doesn't disappoint in the least.

As one who is very familiar with the off-Broadway show (and saw the original production at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village...of course, who didn't...it ran for over 40 years and became the longest running musical in the world), this version pushes all the right buttons present in the stage version while adding some new surprises as well. Thanks to the watchful eyes of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (the original creators of the show) who wrote the screenplay, this filmed version is spared the fate so many Broadway musicals suffer in the transition from stage to celluloid, often losing their original magic in favor of adding marketable box office stars (who don't always fit, let alone sing), new songs that don't quite work, etc.

Former Backstreet Boy Joey McIntyre turns in a fine performance as The Boy; Jean Louisa Kelly is delightful at The Girl and the late Barnard Hughes couldn't be more wonderfully befuddled as The Old Actor. Joel Grey adds some Broadway star power to the proceedings as one of the fathers. And they all sing with their own voices (quite successfully, too).

If you've never seen this classic tale of lost innocence and true love, you owe it to yourself to see this movie (or stop in at the Snapple Theatre in Times Square/NYC where a well-received revival of the show is currently playing).

Average customer rating:

Bells of Innocence - Chuck Norris
I really wanted to like this movie, but...
Silliest movie i've seen in a long time
Christian Zombie Western Supernatural Horror Buddy Film
Original, Mesmerizing Thriller

Bells of Innocence
Starring: Chuck Norris , Mike Norris , Carey Scott , David A.R. White , and Marshall R. Teague
Director: Ali Bijan
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
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ASIN: B0001KREGC
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Customer Reviews:

Bells of Innocence - Chuck Norris.......2007-07-20

Great message of faith. Also alerts you to the fact that we must at all times protect our children because the enemy (satan) is out to destroy them. They are our future.

I really wanted to like this movie, but..........2007-01-03

I got this DVD to show it to my friends from Church around Halloween. I really wanted to like it because it is a Christian film and because it has Chuck Norris in it. But it was really bad. The acting was bad, the dialogue and story were silly and there was hardly any action. I decided that I would not put my Christian friends through this punishment and I never watched it with them. I will probably trade this movie for something else at a local movie trading store.

Silliest movie i've seen in a long time.......2007-01-02

"Bells of Innocence" is about three guys who are flying to Mexico in a small plane to deliver bibels. Their plane runs out of oil and they have to land in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in Texas. They find a small town where there is no phone and everybody's acting strange, especially the children. Chuck Norris appears as a mysterious man with a horse. After a while it turns out the town has been taken over by the devil or something like that and that our three christian heroes must save the children.

Even though I know that whenever a film stars David A.R. White, the film is always some sort of christian propaganda, and usually not well made. Still, "Bells of Innocence" was surprisingly badly made. The special effects were what you might have expected from a 1960s movie, and all of the dialogue, and the entire story, was laughable.

If you're looking for a good movie, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a Chuck Norris movie, look elsewhere. He only plays a minor character. If you're looking for a movie that preaches christianity, this might do, and it's also worth watching if you like really bad movies, because it's so bad it's entertaining.

Christian Zombie Western Supernatural Horror Buddy Film.......2006-06-15

A gutsy and ingeniously approached spiritual warfare drama about battling demons, both one's own and in intercession. Intense and horrifying--as a movie dealing with Satan, soul stealing, and the horrors of hell should be. Mike Norris plays "Jux," a man out of fellowship and in a dark place personally after his wife left him, blaming him for their daughter's death. Yet Jux agrees to pilot his Christian buds Conrad and Oren to transport their collected Bibles to Mexico. The plane crashes outside "Ceres," a place that "doesn't even look like the planet Earth, man," "dirt, and a lot of sky," "not a place but a what." Hmmmm....Ceres, I recall from mythology, was the Roman name for the goddess who went looking for her daughter that was kidnapped by Hades. But that's not spoiling the movie, it's full of surprises--though yeah, it's about setting captives free. This movie's desert town of Ceres is populated by mark-bearing drones with superhuman strength and kids dressed like Little House on the Prairie...and then there's supercool "Michael," played by Chuck Norris, of course. "Bells of Innocence" caught my eye in the store at a time when I'd been praying for wisdom for what to do after I heard an other-worldly, threatening voice come out of a zombie-like shell of a person whose eyes normally were lifelessly void or displayed flashes of imprisoned fear, not the blazing hate that accompanied the demonic voice. Anyway, "Bells of Innocence" helped me to stand firm in faith, to strengthen my commitment to Jesus, to intercession, and to "fear not man who can kill the body but not the soul." My only reservation about the movie is that it's too scary for most kids. Everything else about it I found impressive: story, acting, music, production and underlying biblical message.

Original, Mesmerizing Thriller.......2006-04-12

Bells of Innocence is a thriller with a Christian faith-based theme, but is not too preachy, and succeeds in the creator's efforts to appeal to secular as well as religious audiences.

Chuck Norris stars as the mysterious Matthew, who assists three friends whose plane has crashed in a remote, sinister Texas town that is not found on any map. Mike Norris, Chuck's son, plays Jux, a tormented soul who has lost his faith with his young daughter's death. The three friends soon find themselves in a battle against Satan's minions for the souls of the town, and most importantly, the children who are being manipulated and used.

Though this film may be billed as a family movie, with no nudity or profanity, this is a dark thriller for adults. There are terrifying and violent scenes. The movie starts off slow, but it pulls the viewer in and scares you as bad as any secular horror film. Do not watch this film at night.

As far as those Amazon reviewers who have panned the film and said the acting was horrible, if they can genuinely cry as Mike Norris did in the climatic scene, then I would take their comments seriously. The acting was not horrible. It was solid, especially the villianious Joshua, played by Marshall Teague.

Very odd is that the only actor who WAS poor, David White (Conrad), looks exactly like Chuck Norris. I spent the entire movie thinking that White was Norris' son. Mike Norris in reality looks nothing like his father, and even looks the same age as Chuck. This movie is worth checking out just for this anamoly.

Average customer rating:

An Unconventional Parable About America's Gun Obsession Is A Complete Misfire
Unique film
Fight for peace - with guns
Nice
A Fable About Guns in America: Off Target (If Not Far Off) with Lars von Trier Script without Lars von Trier

Dear Wendy
Starring: Jamie Bell , Bill Pullman , Michael Angarano , Danso Gordon , and Novella Nelson
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
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ASIN: B000BQ5J2C
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Description

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration) and written by Lars von Trier (Dogville), Dear Wendy is an audacious and stylish exploration of guns and violence in America. When a young loner named Dick (Jamie Bell) discovers a vintage handgun, he finds himself strangely drawn to it in spite of his pacifist views. Soon he forms a secret club with other misfits in his town who collect and revere antique guns and refer to themselves as "The Dandies." But despite their firm belief in the most important Dandy rule of all - "never draw your weapons" - they eventually discover that some rules are meant to be broken.

Customer Reviews:

An Unconventional Parable About America's Gun Obsession Is A Complete Misfire.......2007-01-25

I was so excited to get caught up with "Dear Wendy," a film by two major filmmakers who I have enjoyed in the past. Bringing together writer Lars von Trier and director Thomas Vinterberg to tell a parable about a serious topic like guns sounded like a great idea. Vinterberg directed one of my all time favorite tales of family dysfunction, "The Celebration," while von Trier is responsible for two films that I regard as absolutely brilliant (although they are loathed by many)--"Dogville" and "Dancer in the Dark." "Dear Wendy," at first glance, would seem to have much in common with von Trier's other works--particularly "Dogville." That film eschewed conventional storytelling devices and employed a theatricality, an artificialness, to achieve a higher and profound result. Written in the same style, however, "Dear Wendy" lacks the dramatic heft and simply comes across as theatrical and artificial.

"Dear Wendy" is penned as a fable and an indictment of America's obsession with firearms. Wendy, in this case, is a pistol that is beloved by the main protagonist played by Jamie Bell. I have admired Bell in his challenging film choices and I can see why this film appealed to his sensibilities as an actor. Ultimately, though, the awkward script provides little chance for any of the actors to connect with the material in a relevant or believable way. The film is narrated in a love letter written by Bell to his gun and is one of the most stilted and pretentious voice-overs you're likely to encounter. Now, I realize this story is not meant to be believable--it's a parable. While I admire filmmakers with a unique vision willing to work against expectations, "Dear Wendy" ends up being so preposterous and so heavy handed that I lost all good will I might otherwise have had for this bizarre picture.

Set in a small unnamed mining town, Bell falls in love with a gun. Joining forces with other teenaged misfits, they form a club called the "Dandies." These kids proclaim themselves to be pacifists that love guns. In a series of over-the-top rituals, they marry their weapons and parade around town in costume. Every moment in "Dear Wendy" is done in such excess, it becomes increasingly hard to take anything seriously. There are constant references to "gangs" that people live in fear of, but the town is one square block and the only people represented are miners, the "Dandies," and the sheriff department led by Bill Pullman. The dramatic high point in "Dear Wendy" comes when a woman, who's deathly afraid of "gangs," is guarded by the "Dandies" as she attempts to visit a friend who lives one building away. I could outline many plot points, and even more over-the-top excesses, but the plot is not really what this is all about.

An absolute misfire on every level, I can't recommend "Dear Wendy." Even as an oddity, I found it lacking any real charm, message or redeeming value. I still love von Trier, I still love Vinterberg--but this film did nothing for me--artistically, dramatically or intellectually. Try it for something unique--but in this case, different doesn't necessarily translate to "good." KGHarris, 01/07.

Unique film.......2006-08-14

It's an strange movie. Wendy is a small gun. The main character Dick brought it for a birthday gift for a peer but decides to keep it. Later, he finds out it's a real gun by a co-worker and together get into shooting guns. Then they form a club with the other young people like themselves, timid and introverted. They call themselves the Dandies. All of them see themselves non-violent but get confidence from their guns. The Dandies relate to their guns as if they had a soul or personality. As you can guess, this movie doesn't have a happy ending.

If you are looking for something different, you might like this. It will get you pondering about America's relationship with guns and the culture around it. There was something about this film that got me thinking about the Columbine killers.

Fight for peace - with guns.......2006-08-08

I think DEAR WENDY requires different point of views and offers several interpretations. I guess we all share some kinda fascination for fire arms. It doesn't mean we disklike the existence of fire arms and their destructive power. Lars von Trier loves guns, he's a fire arm fanatic (I was told) and it becomes a bit obvious when you watch the interview on the DVD. So the film is a bit like a personal investigation, examining the fascination for fire arms in context to naturally disliking the use of it.

When compared to Moore's quasi-Documentation BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE you could say that it's not the fear that drives people to have fire arms but rather lack of self-confidence. The weapon literally becomes your friend and as with a good friend it's easier to walk along strangers and look them in their eyes. That's the result for the hero in this film. Only to carry the gun unseen by the others serves enough to make him able to walk straight and not feel like a complete loser. An experience that he begins to share with a friend. When they sorta think they have the proof that this simple thing actually works, they don't want to keep it to themselves as it would be "a shame not to share it with others". So next thing they do is builing a little group of so-called "Dandies" who worship their guns by the restriction not to use it and show it elsewhere but in their hideout.

It's very confusing later on, as I didn't quiet "get" what the thing about Sebastian was. He's black, and his grandmother used to serve in the hero's house years ago. As soon as Sebastian is part of the show, his grandmother is as well, triggering a really unpredictable plot point that, as a consequence, seems to force the dandies to break the roules and awaken their guns. Is there a message behind this? I know some people who think black people have more violant potential, and those would clap their hands at the end of the film. I see a bit of a risk there. Additionally, I don't see why it is the killer's grandma who gets them into the real trouble. It's interesting and entertaining, and confusing.

Maybe the movie wants to tell us that a fire weapon cannot be misused for anything else but destruction. In the context of the actual world situation (Iraq etc.), it seems plausible. But generally, it's not really true.

However, I thought the film was very interesting. Maybe I should give it less stars as some critical points are very unclear to me. But nah, It's a recommondation for sure.

Nice.......2006-03-22

This is a good film about guns and the STRONG drawing power they have for a punch of teens who are self proclaimed pacifist.

One thing becomes another and next thing there is a big shootout with guns blazing, these youngsters eventually becoming victims of one form or another to the volence which they advocate against.

Good film which could be shown in classrooms

A Fable About Guns in America: Off Target (If Not Far Off) with Lars von Trier Script without Lars von Trier.......2006-02-03

Though Thomas Vinterberg says in his interview with one Japanese paper that the film is "not solely aimed at America," "Dear Wendy" would evoke various responses from the audiences with one central topic in it. It is a very controversial one - guns in America, and the script is written by Lars von Trier, Danish director who did `Dogville' and `Dancer in the Dark.' Lars von Trier gave this script to Thomas Vinterberg (`Celebration'), another Danish director, and one of the founders of `Dogme 95,' experimental method of making films. (But here he discarded most of its rules. Yes, you can hear soudtrack music.)

The film is shot in Denmark and Germany, but the story is set in America. The time is not specified, but the characters are living in a small coal-mining town. Though the many scenes are shot outdoors, the town is represented by a small-scale set with a square and rows of houses, which reminds us of the minimalist approach of `Dogville.'

In this town we meet young teenage Americans - Dick (Jamie Bell), Stevie (Mark Webber), Susan (Alison Pill), Huey (Chris Owen), and Freddie (Michael Angarano). They are kind of `outsiders' of the community, but when Dick finds a gun at Susan's toyshop, things start to change because, as it turns out, the old-fashioned gun is a real one.

Naming his gun Wendy, Dick forms a group with other four. It is called The Dandies, `pacifists with guns,' spending their time in a disused factory to cement the bond, learning and practicing the weapons in Three Musketeers-Meets-Young Guns costumes. After brief peaceful period, however, troubles occur. First, a slight one, and then, a much bigger and serious one.

[PARABLE ON GUNS] It might be pointless to criticize on the grounds that the film's story is unrealistic. Neither is it fair to point out that Lars von Trier has never visited America. `Dear Wendy' is a parable, and should be seen as such. When Bill Pullman appears as a sheriff who speaks with a heavy accent, his character represents one type. Some scenes (like descriptions of a ricocheting bullet) look cartoon-ish, but they are intentional.

But director Vinterberg, it seems, is not equal to the ambitious idea in the script. The events depicted in `Dear Wendy' especially in the second half looks rather silly, and its argument is confused. Look how the Dandies get into troubles, and you know what I mean. Twice black people appear - Sebastian (Danso Gordon) and Clarabelle (Novella Nelson), and twice they bring disorder to the group and the town. And we see no other black people. What does this mean? Is there any meaning behind that casting, or just coincidence (or should I call it clueless)? Or how about the first mission of The Dandies? Their self-appointed business is to `escort' the old lady Clarabelle who is so afraid of the world outside that she cannot even cross the square while the town itself always looks very sleepy? Does this mean fear comes from inside? But what does that have to do with the young protagonist Dick's monologues about his love for Wendy, his gun?

If Lars von Trier had directed the film with his highly (and meticulously) stylish touch, which is seen in such films as `Zentropa,' things might have been different. Vinterberg has surely his own styles, and the photography is good, but they are neither experimental nor orthodox enough. He introduces us brief nudity (yes, Ms. Pill's) while we don't need it (do we?), knowing that the film is about something else; the film uses many pop songs of the 60s British group The Zombies (the music is great) while an American sheriff casually uses cell phone. And Dick declares he is an `American Boy' while, you know, Jamie Bell is born in England.

The film is well-acted, and some insightful moments and tension at gunfight, but they are buried among the confusion caused by the weak and uncertain direction. If only Lars von Trier himself did the job.

Lord Of the Flies (Cliffs Notes Version)

Average customer rating:

I'm glad I was never trapped on an island w/ these kids...
Pretty Good Movie
Great Product
It is an ok movie
Not the Best Adaptation

Lord Of the Flies (Cliffs Notes Version)
Starring: Balthazar Getty , Chris Furrh , Danuel Pipoly , James Badge Dale , and Andrew Taft (II)
Director: Harry Hook
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PMFS4Q
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

I'm glad I was never trapped on an island w/ these kids..........2007-06-07

Pretty Good Movie.......2007-06-04

Great Product.......2007-03-11

The product was received in great condition and timely delivered by the seller. I would buy again

It is an ok movie.......2007-02-11

Not the Best Adaptation.......2007-01-07

Average customer rating:

You Should Find It Too
a small diamond
You don't get Something for Nothing
Engaging
Worthwhile small film

What Alice Found
Starring: Judith Ivey , Bill Raymond , Emily Grace , Jane Lincoln Taylor , and Justin Parkinson
Director: A. Dean Bell
Manufacturer: Wellspring Media
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000JGWD5U
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Description

Fed up with her small-town New England Life in a dead-end job and an embarrassing mother, Alice takes off in her car for a surprise filled suspenseful road trip here she figures out things are not always what they seem to be.

Customer Reviews:

You Should Find It Too.......2006-10-09

What Alice Found is Spartan, it breaks the craft of filmmaking down into its most basic elements and executes well on every one. There are no flaming helicopters to be found here, or big name stars, nowhere to hide. Instead of distractions you find a well-conceived script, excellent acting, and subtle moral choices that never invite cheap, easy answers.

The entire cast of the picture could, and does, fit into an RV - it's a three-person ensemble piece. Digital photography gives What Alice Found a scruffy, high school project feeling that is perfectly in step with the protagonist's innocence and the cheesy ambience of truck stop hooking. In short, writer/director Dean Bell has turned drawbacks into allies.

The simple plot supports a complex character study. Alice, played admirably by newcomer Emily Grace, is running away from home to visit a friend in Florida. Brief flashbacks are used effectively to inform this decision, and help us understand her background. On the road she is befriended, unless "Shanghaied" is a better word, by a couple that roams truck stops in their mobile brothel RV. Part pimps and part surrogate parents, they quickly fold Alice into their world. Though she stays naive, we track her downward spiral by the way she looks.

The showcase performance here is by Judith Ivey, her Sandra manages to convey a broad range of emotions, and motives, without ever once seeming forced. She knows a lot, and she's quick to instruct Alice in the ways of the world, all she's discovered since she escaped Paducah, Kentucky. Through the course of the film we come to understand that neither Alice nor Sandra are completely innocent or guilty, and despite the unkind conditions, an important bond of understanding has been formed.

That is the greatest strength of What Alice Found. Had it been about an innocent waif victimized by horrid road vagabonds, it would have been two-dimensional. As it is, there's real depth. Highly recommended.

a small diamond.......2006-04-21

A beautiful, poignant movie that surprised me. Small, yes, but strangely moving and satisfying after starting out slow. Surprisingly good performances all around from people who don't look like they're professional actors, most of them.

You don't get Something for Nothing.......2006-03-05

I got this movie because Amazon recommended it based on some other movie that I watched. I am not sure what movie that was or how it tied to this one, but I guess that is besides the point. This movie is about a girl that is trying to get away from the town she grew up in like her girlfriend that left to go to college, but she doesn't have it so easy. She ended up stealing from her boss in order to have some money. Once she gets on the road in her beat up Escort, her car has problems and she runs into Sandra and Bill. Because of my usual pessimistic attitude, I was immediately suspicious of this couple. They were just tooo nice. That never bodes well with me.

Anyways, it is a pretty good film. It was very real in the sense that alot of girls may run away or somehow get on the streets and are so naive thinking that someone is going to help them just because. It is a pessimistic attitude, but more than likely if someone comes out of nowhere to help you, normally there is a large price to pay. You have to think about if what you are running away from is really worth the price you will pay for help from strangers. Alice found out.

This movie is not for children, so don't watch it with your little ones. The Sandra character was a mixed bag, she was just so doggone sweet and understanding that you just don't really know how to feel about her. Even though I did like the film, I am not sure if/when I would watch it again. I did find the movie interesting and I thought the acting was great. I also thought they did a good job of setting the characters up so that you could actually feel during the movie. Good job!

Engaging.......2006-02-23

"What Alice Found" is one of those flicks that just grabs at you when you're skimming channels for a movie to watch. It stars newcomer Emily Grace as Alice, a young girl fed up with her dull life in New England who decides to run off to Miami, FL to find herself and possibly get a degree in Marine Biology. Along the way, she has car trouble and is "helped" by Bill and Sandra, an older couple who seem to be as sweet as all get out. The duo, especially Sandra, becomes attached to Alice and they basically help her out in any way possible. As the miles pile up on her roadtrip, however, Bill and Sandra take her down the dark road of truck stop prostitution.

Emily Grace does a great job as the gullible young Alice. Judith Ivey, who's probably the only actor in this film that you'll recognize, is wonderful as Sandra. By the end of the film, you don't know whether to hug her or hit her. She's so sugary sweet that she's almost too hard to swallow. However, she gives a great performance. Bill Raymond plays Bill, who comes across as such a nice guy in the beginning of the film but eventually turns into a dirty and dispicable old man.

The story moves along at a solid pace and has a pretty good soundtrack to boot. It's recommended to fans of indie flicks but the average movie-goer should give it a peek.

Worthwhile small film.......2004-12-21

Judith Ivey's performance is outstanding in this well-written and nicely directed independent movie. Although this is a small-budget film, with all the drawbacks that implies, it's still very much worth seeing. The characters are engaging and complex, and you come to care deeply what will happen to them, especially Alice.

I'll look forward to seeing more from director Dean Bell, and will certainly watch for Judith Ivey in future roles. She should have won an Oscar for this performance.

Average customer rating:

Great movie but horrible sound quality
A Collaboration Of Talents Onscreen And Off
The Emotional Ride
Bravo
Bittersweet and adventurous; a summer-viewing essential!

Stand by Me
Starring: Wil Wheaton , River Phoenix , Corey Feldman , Jerry O'Connell , and Kiefer Sutherland
Director: Rob Reiner
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 0800141628
Release Date: 1997-09-10

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Great movie but horrible sound quality.......2007-09-17