Waking Life

Amazon.com

Waking Life is a film that never settles down. Or maybe it never wakes up. Regardless, Richard Linklater's animated meditation seems to strike a perfect balance between the plotless meanderings of Slacker and the unquenchable knowledge-seeking of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Any way you look at it, this is a weird, original movie.

As he attempts to figure out what separates dreams from reality, the protagonist (Dazed and Confused's Wiley Wiggins) hears an earful from everyone he stumbles upon. Ramblings range from the scholarly (Linklater's former college professor Robert C. Solomon gives a monologue) to the banal (of which there are plenty). Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Steven Soderbergh, and Adam Goldberg all get animated cameos, basically playing themselves. The dream-centered dialogues eventually grow mind-numbing, but that's OK; the animation steals the show. Each frame of the movie, which was first shot with live actors, was painted over, and the process renders a distorted and trippy collage of sights and sounds. Linklater's film is ultimately quite poignant, but, as with any good journey, you'll need to sit through some fairly tedious moments before reaching the destination. --Jason Verlinde

Description

From the director of Slacker and Dazed and Confused comes one of the most imaginative animated features ever made. This funny, ingenious film, which Rolling Stone Magazine calls "nothing short of amazing," explores the fascinating question: "Are we sleep-walking through our waking state or wake- walking through our dreams"? Join Wiley Wiggins as he searches for answers to lifes most important questions in a world that may or may not be reality in the "most visually alive movie of the year." (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times)

Customer Reviews:

Eye-opening. Wake up and watch........2007-09-09

Now, here's something you don't see every day. Waking Life is a movie that isn't afraid to be smart, but it manages to be sexy at the same time. And the painstakingly crafted visuals are guaranteed to keep you watching long enough to - gasp! - actually have an original thought or two by the time you're all done.

Imagine you're dreaming, and you know you're dreaming, but you can't seem to wake up. What would you do? In the world of Waking Life, you'd free your mind, that's what. The twenty or so teachers you'll encounter here each have a unique message to share. You'll meditate on death, contemplate the future of human evolution, and reject your plateau. And if you do get around to waking up, things may never be the same.

If you're into movies where the person who changes the most at the end is you and not the protagonist, you won't wanna miss Waking Life.

It's a series of holy moments, if you're looking closely.

Interesting times with Waking Life.......2007-08-23

This movie was originaly recommended to me by a college friend while discussing mild-altering experiences. After seeing it, I now understand why. This movie is an exercise in expanding your mind. It's pretty much one long trip through different "conversations" the main character is pressumably having regarding how we view our world and what that means. We're never sure exactly how these conversations are taking place and why the main character moves from person to person, but each one tells us something about how we understand our waking/dreaming time. Again, as this movie was recommended during conversations about shrooms and pot, I wasn't sure what to expect but now I have to thank my friend. If you've ever wondered about reality and dreams, this movie shows you you're not alone. It also puts forth some pretty convincing arguments in between interesting stories about life's little quirks.

Something like a daydream.......2007-07-22

If you enjoy hearing folks wax philosophical and don't mind spacey visuals, you may enjoy this film. Here is a sample from Robert Solomon:

"The reason why I refuse to take existentialism as just another French fashion or historical curiosity is that I think it has something very important to offer us for the new century. I'm afraid we're losing the real virtues of living life passionately, in the sense of taking responsibility for who you are, the ability to make something of yourself, and feeling good about life. Existentialism is often discussed as if it's a philosophy of despair. But I think the truth is just the opposite. Sartre, once interviewed, said he never really felt a day of despair in his life. But one thing that comes out from reading these guys is not a sense of anguish about life so much as a real kind of exuberance, of feeling on top of it. Its like: your life is yours to create.

"I've read the postmodernists with some interest, even admiration. But when I read them I always have this awful nagging feeling that something absolutely essential is getting left out. The more that you talk about a person as a social construction or as a confluence of forces or as fragmented or marginalized, what you do is you open up a whole new world of excuses. And when Sartre talks about responsibility he's not talking about something abstract. He's not talking about the kind of self or soul that theologians would argue about. It's something very concrete. It's you and me talking, making decisions, doing things, and taking the consequences.

"It might be true that there are six billion people in the world and counting, nevertheless, what you do makes a difference. It makes a difference first of all in material terms. It makes a difference to other people. And it sets an example. And in short I think the message here is that we should never simply write ourselves off and see ourselves as the victim of various forces. It's always _our_ decision who we are."

Merily merily merily merily, life is but a dream... ok, great, we get it........2007-07-21

Robert Solomon has a very small part in this film and it wasn't enough to save the movie. Check out any of his books or teachings in The Teaching Company (TTC) series. He is one of the greatest teachers of existentialism. But this movie is based around one question... What is reality? Instead of leaving me with questions of What is it to exist? I was left with the questions, "why did I watch this movie" "did I expect it to get better?" "how did it get worse", and "how did anyone get anything deeper out of this movie than "Space Balls?"

This movie is a high school philosophy project based off of the movie "Open Your Eyes," or the americanized version (just as good) "Vanilla Sky." (except I don't remember if you get to see Penelope Cruz naked in Vanilla Sky;)

Honestly... if you want to watch a movie about philosophy or that will at least leave you with existential or profound questions/answers, please check out the following: What the Bleep, Big Fish, Adaptation, Fight Club, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which is drenched with Sartre) Dark City, or as I just suggested, Open Your Eyes. As far as other philosophies... Moralism/Responsibility, check out: The Cider House Rules or Babel. For Futurism/Postmodernity: Brazil, 12 Monkeys or Children of Men.
There are a lot of great movies out there... don't waste your time on this one. It sucks beyond all understanding... it's one philosophical accomplishment.

Typical of Linklater....talky, uneven, occasionally insightful, occasionally banal and tiresome..........2007-06-16

I like Richard Linklater more as a person than a filmmaker. Here is a good example of his work. The ideas put forth are interesting and necessary, but the film overall is very ponderous, talky (almost all of Linklater's films are talky), pseudo-intellectual (like his generation, Gen X), and kind of boring in spots. The conversations veer from passable to banal, and the rotoscoping, while interesting, isn't really groundbreaking. Rotoscoping has been done for quite some time, but it looks better than it used to, because of digital technology. The film is average. I like Linklater's intelligence and ambition, and he's very personable in interviews, but his work is usually disappointing. It's not terrible, but it's not as good as it can be.

Average customer rating:

My Favorite
One of my favorite films
Thre is no double standard for George Sand
Excellent, Entertaining Satire
ho hum

Impromptu
Starring: Judy Davis , Hugh Grant , Mandy Patinkin , Bernadette Peters , and Julian Sands
Director: James Lapine
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005UJYA
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Amazon.com

Still more Victorian country-house shenanigans: novelist George Sand (Judy Davis, affected but pretty darn charming) has eyes for Franz Liszt's young protégé Chopin (Hugh Grant, solid as always, but burdened by a silly Polish accent and a script that never lets him stretch out), but various lovers, jealous rivals, and Chopin's own overdeveloped sense of propriety conspire to confound her. Impromptu is witty but overlong--probably 20 minutes of hijinks and repartee, not to mention several completely gratuitous and redundant characters, could have been sliced from the film. Davis plays Sand as an impetuous, overgrown tomboy, outraging her genteel hosts by wearing pants, chomping cigars, and falling off horses; her coterie of artist-friends assure us, in a series of naked plot devices, that she nonetheless has a heart of gold. It's all good silly fun, and about as feminist as your average Def Leppard video--the other two developed female characters are ugly stereotypes: a featherbrained, feckless social climber (Emma Thompson, who once again proves she's up for anything) and a spiteful, back-stabbing shrew (the ever-capable Bernadette Peters). Director James Lapine clearly belongs to the Dr. Quinn school of historical accuracy, so don't expect to learn anything about the period or the artists themselves. Impromptu is far more Melrose Place than Mrs. Dalloway, or perhaps best described as an episode of Entertainment Tonight set in the 19th century. --Miles Bethany

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite.......2007-09-17

Impromptu is my favorite all time movie. It well written, well acted by a flock of fine performers and it's funny plus being historically accurate
and filled with beautiful music. George Sand (Judy Davis)pursues Chopin (Hugh Grant)and at the end they go off to Majorca. Impromptu is intentionally funny. A Song to Remember is almost as funny but not on purpose. George Sand (Merle Operon) carts Chopin (Cornel Wild)off to Majorca and they have problems. Together they make a great pair of movies for a weekend.
Helen

One of my favorite films.......2007-07-28

This has to be one of my all time favorites. It is a wonderful, funny, romantic look at the beginning of the relationship between Chopin and Georges Sand. Judy Davis is a marvel as Sand, conniving, volatile, loving. Hugh Grant at the beginning of his career invests Chopin with an otherworldly charm that is unforgettable. The whole cast is marvelous. You cannot help but laugh out loud at the antics this group of artists (Liszt, Delacroix, Sand) get up to. Do yourself a favor and watch this wonderful film. It will take you to another world for a few hours. You'll enjoy the journey.

Thre is no double standard for George Sand.......2006-09-04

James Lapine is best known as a playwright and director. He is most famous for his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim including Sunday in the Park with George, Passion and Into the Woods. He brings this talent to the big screen.

George Sand was a great French writer. Since society thought that women should be subservient housewives, George wanted to fly in the face of society. She wrote under a man's name and dressed like a man. She treated men as playthings. Therefore, she was the scandal and titillation of Paris.

That is until she is introduced to the shy Polish composer Frederic Chopin. When she hears his music, she becomes enchanted with him. But Frederic wants nothing to do with such a notorious woman. So George decides to give Frederic a woman that he wants.

This is a brilliant romantic comedy with a cast of up and coming actors. Judy Davis has always chosen interesting role from her early Australian films to her television roles. This is another great meaty role for Judy and she eats it up. Hugh Grant was a relative unknown when this film was made but this film would be the first of the quintessential Hugh Grant characters. In supporting roles are Lapine regulars Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin. Also in the film are early roles by Emma Thompson and Julian Sands.

If you are looking for something witty and intelligent, Impromptu is definitely the film to watch.

DVD EXTRAS: NONE

Excellent, Entertaining Satire.......2006-08-28

I would unreservedly rate Impromptu five out of five after two viewings, the reason being it's the most successful period drama I've watched that combines history and farce in a most effectively entertaining manner.

Each of the main characters (practically everyone has a distinct voice) are imbued with nothing short of humour and definitive caricature - a steadfast George Sand, a neurotic Chopin, an irreverant Musset, a virile Delacroix, a hyperbolic, quietly intellectual and mild Liszt, a haughty, spiteful and duplicitous Marie D'Agoult and a hysterical Countess who has been so effectively parodied as the patron of minor talents but huge inheritance.

As with countless of historical dramas, Impromptu has not been spared a degree of measurement with regards to historical accuracy. I feel that a certain dispense from the facts is acceptable, so far as they remain relevant, and conducive to the development of the story and in this case, the humour.

Emma Thompson has proven time and again, her mastery of period drama and her multi-faceted talents.

Judy Davis and Bernadette Peters are truly brilliant and entertaining in their convincing and riveting portrayals of Sand (whom you love to emphatize with) and D'Agoult (whom you love to hate), eventually placed at loggerheads.

The DVD also comes with a French voice-over not found in many films of French background filmed in English. The dialogue is much more hilarious than the original in English! (especially with George Sand and Marie D'Agoult's parts)... A boon for viewers who wish to improve on their non-native language.

The soundtracks are strung together in a most admirable fashion, beginning most lightheartedly with Chopin's fleeting-paced but good-natured Impromptu in A flat, the theme of Sand's "romantic calling" in Chopin's first Ballade and the Fantasie-Impromptu near to the end of the film, which should be familiar to almost any viewer.

Lush orchestrations have been "mixed" in certain parts with the original solo piano excerpts to enhance the dramatic flow. Musical purists need not be overly concerned with this mild cosmetic effect.

Overall, it is a film I would recommend without hesitation to lovers of classical music, historical drama and comedy.

ho hum.......2006-08-10

Feels like a stage play -- and not a very good one -- a stage play with the stilted dialogue and lack of action that plague that genre. Hugh Grant, the biggest star at the center of this film, is vulnerable and feminine, and the rest of the cast arranges itself around him. So far so good.

But really in the final analysis, this is not the most compelling film in any category in which it might offer itself. Historically, it's a bit off (the youngsters hitting their palms together "YES" telegraphs the extent to which this is not a well researched historical film); the "art for art's sake" message is way too heavy-handed; the script, the cast, the cinematography, the music -- all of it feels way too choreographed. I could have passed this one up with no disadvantage to myself or my sensibility.

Average customer rating:

Go on safari in NYC
Life changing and spiritually transformative
full out exuberance!!!
Transformed in an Afternoon
The beauty of New York City

The Cruise
Starring: Timothy 'Speed' Levitch
Director: Bennett Miller
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E5N65M
Release Date: 2006-03-07

Customer Reviews:

Go on safari in NYC.......2007-08-01

This movie will take you on a wild journey through NYC. Filled with interesting perspectives and trivia. Speed really adds a human element to the city personifying everything he passes giving the city depth. You will never see NYC the same way again.

Life changing and spiritually transformative.......2007-05-15

If you've ever felt like a transit system might be on your side, or like the weather might be conspiring against you, then you might find a familial rapport with Speed. An eccentric who refers to "masculine turns" and referring to the Brooklyn Bridge as his friend, Speed will take you on a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps like you've never seen it before.
Thanks to this film, I had the blessing of spinning between the twin towers, a la Speed Levitch, almost exactly one year before 9/11. Twirling around, as he did in the film, marveling at the magnitutde of the universe, wondering why we so often forget the importance of being child-like, I knew this moment was significant.
This is my favorite film of all time and I do not say that lightly. Speed has changed the way I think about and interact with the world. I am one who does not often like to see movies repeatedly, but I get something new each time I see this one. It is funny, charming, simple, and important. If you've ever had a love affair with a flower, see this film. If you never have, and never intend to, watch with fascination as Speed relays his experience of the universe.

full out exuberance!!!.......2007-03-11

I first saw this movie in the 90's and instantly fell in love with it. The Cruise is an insightful, albeit, quirky love affair between a man and a city. Timothy 'Speed' Levitch is an ultra poetic soul who finds beauty in the aspects of life that everyone else passes by without notice. The Cruise is more than a movie, its a way of life. A particular way of viewing the everyday world that surrounds us all. If you are looking for a tour of New York as a metaphoric journey through your own soul... this movie is for you. If you are looking for directions to Nieman Marcus...choose something else. Thank you Speed and be wary of the anti-cruise...it's everywhere.

Transformed in an Afternoon.......2006-12-30

I fell in love with a man who had no car, no permanent home, no flashy form of monetary income and a bout with acne. Granted, no one would describe me as fastidious, nor have I ever stepped into a pair of sexual slacks, but I teeter constantly between a hackneyed existence and the pursuit of a non-grid-plan lifestyle. To me, civilization really is "a giant repression melting into suppression so that you never say what you mean." I began crying of great relief and hope the moment Speed uttered the first sentence in this documentary and, yes, Speed, you transformed me in an afternoon. Thanks to all of those involved in the creation of this film. Here's to keeping The Cruise alive. Sharon Cole--Philadelphia, Pa.

The beauty of New York City.......2006-11-05

NYC is an ugly place.
Its beauty is in your head regardless of whether you've seen the place or not.

The Cruise is a poem in the mind of Timothy Levitch whose forum is the top level of an NYC double-decker tour bus. His subject is that beautifully embellished city in his mind.
Bennett Miller put the film together so that Levitch's spontaneity, love

Average customer rating:

An interveiw only
Alright
One Of The Best Music DVDS On The Market
The making of a great album
Decent DVD

Classic Albums - Metallica: Metallica
Starring: Metallica , and Classic Albums
Manufacturer: Eagle Eye/Pioneer
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005Q2Z2
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com

The making and continued influence of Metallica's commercial breakthrough (known simply as "the Black Album") is entertainingly recounted in this must for Metallica fanatics, especially those who are interested in the recording of one of hard rock's most sonically breathtaking albums. Drummer Lars Ulrich, singer James Hetfield, and producer Bob Rock take up the lion's share of the interviews, and their reminiscences a decade after the fact include many juicy tidbits (like Ulrich and Rock loathing each other by the time the recording was finished, or that the final mix was nearly ruined by a digital clicking sound on the master tape--luckily, a successful remastering was done). The Dolby 2.0 Stereo sound is appropriately pummeling, even if we are treated to mere excerpts from the songs, videos, and even some of the original demos. Classic Albums: Metallica adroitly summarizes a pivotal moment in hard rock history. --Kevin Filipski

Description

The story of the making of this remarkable album is told here via exclusive interviews with band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted, archive footage and performance, and contributions from producer Bob Rock. We revisit the original multi-tracks of the album, as well as listen to previously unheard demo recordings.

Featuring the five singles from the album, Enter Sandman, Sad But True, "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Nothing Else Matters", this is the compelling story of one of the biggest selling albums of all time, a true Classic Album.

Customer Reviews:

An interveiw only.......2007-02-03

This is strictly an interview with metalica,It is not a music video so dont be fooled by the cover.I bought it and got screwed.

Alright.......2006-03-08

Its alright but i knew all the information ahead of time before watching it but u strongly recommend getting a year and a half in the life of metallica it has the same information but it goes more into detail and is alot longer

One Of The Best Music DVDS On The Market.......2004-11-01

Metallica's self-titled DVD on one of their albums, which is known as "The Black Album"( album is actually self-titled, but because the front and back of the album is all black, it earned it's reputation as "The Black Album")is one of the best music DVDS on the market. This DVD goes behind the scenes into the making of the album; there are interviews with band members James Hetfield, Jason Newsted, Kirk Hammet, Lars Ulrich, and producer Bob Rock. You get to listen to previously unheard demo recordings, and the five singles off of "The Black Album" are on this DVD: "Enter Sandman", "Holier Than Thou", "Sad But True", "The Unforgiven", and "Nothing Else Matters". I also enjoyed the exteneded interviews for the DVD, and it was very interesting when James Hetfield told the behind the scenes stories for when he wrote "Nothing Else Matters" and "The God That Failed". Hetfield also talked about how he and the band members in Metallica faced difficulties in their childhoods( parents getting divorced, family members dying)and how music was what guided them through all the tough times in their childhoods. If you enjoyed "The Black Album", you definitely don't want to miss the DVD.

The making of a great album.......2004-04-14

I actually got this dvd for my birthday, and i wasnt really sure if it would be good coz i'm not a huge fan of documenteries, but i gotta say i was not disappointed with it.
Although i would've liked to see maybe more of the video clips for the singles instead of just little clips from them it was interesting hearing them talk about songwriting and how they wrote the album etc.
It's also their 1st album with producer Bob Rock and he has some interesting things to say.
Some highlights are Kirk's solo on wherever i may roam, watching them at the mixing boards playing around with the sound and hearing all the seperate guitar parts, and all the little clips of their live shows. It also explains what inspired the S&M concert.
If you're a die-hard Metallica fan or interested in songwriting and good music, then i reccomend this dvd.

Decent DVD.......2003-06-06

I watched this at a friends and will probably eventually buy it but I have a few other Metallica videos I want to replace with DVD first.

Description

Featuring the 5 singles from the album: "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", "The Unforgiven", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Nothing Else Matters", this is the compelling story of one of the biggest selling heavy metal albums of all time.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting watch.......2006-02-15

Was really wanting some actual full length music videos allong with this but it did not deliver. When the cover says "cuts from" thats what they mean. It was interesting to watch to see how the band started with thir first album and how they progressed. Seems like I would have watched this on "Behind the Music". Man I wish they had included the actual music videos on this. Why did they classify this as UMD Music when all it is is a documentary.

So all you get is the main feature running about 40 something minutes going over the five singles from the Black Album. Enter Sandman, Sad but True, The Unforgiven, Wherever I may roam, and Nothing Else Matters. And it has Im guessing another 40 something minutes in some additional interviews.

It wouldn't have taken much to put the actual music or even the video's on this UMD MUSIC selection.

Kinda dissapointed but still an innteresting watch. You do get to hear some of the origional riffs and clips of the progression of the making of the songs.

Average customer rating:

Speed of Life
Very nice
Good acting, great cinematography, beautiful story
For Scott Caan fans only
Get up to 'speed' on the superb acting of Scott Caan

Speed of Life
Starring: Scott Caan , Leo Burmester , Mia Kirshner , Anthony Ruivivar , and Geoffrey Cantor
Director: Rob Schmidt
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000714DT
Release Date: 2002-12-17

Customer Reviews:

Speed of Life.......2006-06-20

"Speed of Life" is an independent film that is incredibly under the radar, even for an indie movie. I'm surprised that a moivel ike this didn't get a lot more publicity than it did, because it is a really really great and powerful movie. It stars Scott Caan as Drew, an ex-heroin addict and college dropout who spends his time caring for his invalid father (Leo Burmeister, who's really good). Then Drew meets Sarah (Mia Kirshiner) and his world is turned upside down. As Sarah draws Drew back into his old habits and Drew's friend Satan enters the picture, the movie progresses to a final shocking climax. In many ways, although this isn't a movie I should compare it to, this movie is like "The Brown Bunny". Except with that film, the end gave the film purpose. In this movie, the end just shocks us. The movie, for the first half, basically plays the same way. Nothing incredibly exciting happens. I'm going to keep this short, but Caan, Kirshiner, and Burmeister are incredible and if you have somehow stumbled onto the movie...Do not hesitate, see it.

GRADE: A-

Very nice.......2005-09-23

What I felt most touching about this movie was how devoted this son was to his father. And the director didn't pretty anything up. He shows the son actually changing his father's diapers and you see everything! It just makes the situation all the more real. And the son deals with the stress of this by turning to drugs and alcohol which is understandable. The ending is shocking and heartbreaking. It's a very good movie.

Good acting, great cinematography, beautiful story.......2004-12-21

OK... so my initial interest was prurient. Scott Caan in various stages of undress.... I'm there! This movie has much more to recommend it than fleeting moments of eye candy. Caan's portrayal of devoted son trying to make the most of a bad situation. The internal conflict over what's right vs. what's necessary is clear, but not melodramatically dwelled upon. Anguish doesn't need to be torturous.

This movie deserves much more attention than it received when it was released.

For Scott Caan fans only.......2003-02-06

I am a huge Scott Caan fan and have been waiting for this DVD to come out since it premeired in 1999 at Sundance. I really have no words to describe this movie. It was too... up to be good. But too real to be bad.The relationship between Drew and his father was beautifully demented and hard to watch and throughout the movie you just ended up feeling sorry for everyone. The best part was the chemistry between Scott and Mia Kirshner. Other than that I would recommend this movie only to fans of either one of them. On the plus side, Scott Caan hasn't looked this hot in a wife beater since Varsity Blues.

Get up to 'speed' on the superb acting of Scott Caan.......2003-02-04

I've been a huge admirer of Scott Caan ever since I first saw him on the big screen. The son of the great James Caan, his pedigree may well be taken care of, but he still had a lot to therein live up to. And he did so in an amazing list of acting jobs that include 'Gone In 60 Seconds,' `Novocaine,' `Varsity Blues' and even the cheesy 'American Outlaws' and 'Ready To Rumble'. In 'Speed of Life' Caan is the central character that takes care of his `fast-fading' father in much the same way a new mother would take care of her newborn. Finally pushed to levels he never realized he could feel, Drew (Caan) turns to drugs to relax, but ends up losing his job, his common sense and finally his judgement. That all said, it's Leo Burmester's ('The Abyss,' `The Neon Bible') role as Caan's relapsed father that steals the show and the heart strings well before the tortured end.

Average customer rating:

Love this movie
The grass is greener
Fairly interesting look at the married life.
A Responsible Dream
If you liked 'American Beauty'....

Metroland
Starring: Christian Bale , Emily Watson , Lee Ross , Elsa Zylberstein , and John Wood
Director: Philip Saville
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783240252
Release Date: 2000-03-28

Amazon.com

Metroland, based on Julian Barnes's first novel, is a tale of midlife, middle-class malaise reminiscent of Ang Lee's The Ice Storm. It's 1977, and shaggy-haired thirtysomething Chris (Christian Bale) has a lovely wife (Emily Watson) and baby, a solid office job, and a nice house in the London suburb of Metroland. Life is good, until the surprise arrival of old chum Toni (Lee Ross), whom Chris has not seen for 10 years and who was his accomplice in teenage shenanigans and heady visions of a bohemian life abroad. Toni, an inveterate ladies man and rootless poet, disdains his old friend's bourgeois milieu and feels it his duty to revive Chris's passion for women, art, and rock & roll. Meanwhile, Chris can't stop fantasizing about his steamier days as a 20-year-old in Paris with his sultry French girlfriend, and fails to notice that Toni covets his wife and that she has sexual desires of her own. While there's a palpable sexual energy in the movie's proceedings that adds a certain zing to the themes of angst and longing, their eventual epiphanies are disappointingly benign. Lee Ross's swashbuckling Toni and Emily Watson's intelligent, knowing wife carry the movie. --Rebecca Wright

Customer Reviews:

Love this movie.......2005-07-19

It's one of my all time favorites. I love Christian Bale too. I have seen this movie many times and I still like watching it. I just wish I would have gotten it on DVD instead of VHS. DVD's last longer.

The grass is greener.......2002-05-09

This is the first movie that I've seen that depicts a good marriage in a realistic way. Married people are not immune to wanting to have sex with other people, they just weigh those wants against the value of their marriage. This film takes a look at one man's quarter-life crisis spurred on by the arrival of his devil-may-care childhood buddy. It is an exhamination of what one has versus what he invisioned he would have, and a realization of whether or not he is happy. This film is a glimpse at life, not sappy or overly-dramatic, just good.

Fairly interesting look at the married life........2002-02-02

Some people assume that they will stay young and single forever. Sleeping around, partying, no familial responsibility...sounds pretty good right? "Metroland" takes a look at the life of Chris (Christian Bale). Chris is a married thirty-something living in a nice part of town and has a stable job. All seems content in his life. Then one day out of the blue, his old buddy Toni shows up. Toni tries to bring Chris back into his world of the single life filled with hot women, smoking pot and hanging out at parties. This causes Chris to take inventory of his current life and the decisions he has made. Some of this film is in flashback. It shows Chris as a 21 year old photographer in Paris, where he meets the carefree Annick (played wonderfully by Elsa Zylberstein). He eventually meets Marion (Emily Watson), who is another Brit like himself currently in France. She develops a very low-key bond with Chris and eventually they marry. Was it the right choice?

"Metroland" has a superb cast which plays their roles in just the right manner. Where this movie falters, however, is the mediocrity of the script. An introspective movie such as this should have much more powerful and memorable dialogue than it has. Hardly anything ever really comes out and grabs you. It just kinda rolls along and eventually reaches its conclusion. It could've been a great look at the choices we make and where it ends up placing us in life. As it is, however, it falls short of greatness...but it's still worth a look.

A Responsible Dream.......2001-05-13

Christian Bale stars in "Metroland" as Chris, the early-middle-aged British suburbanite who is suddenly forced to dredge up all his bohemian, idealistic questionings from his early twenties when his old poet-buddy Tony (played by Phillip Saville) shows up. Emily Watson must have sparked many a crush among male cinema-goers, as Chris' mildly stodgy, yet keenly intelligent and feisty wife. Maybe it's just because I'm at a time in life (33) when someone like her is highly attractive, but, well, I thought she was a total babe. But beyond my reaction to her personally, the movie in general has the feel of a real slice of life. This is a set of occurences that many people can relate to, things that strike a real chord.

A few reviewers have commented that this movie lacked a real climax. What did you expect, car chases? Huge explosions? Some kind of cosmic epiphany, perhaps? I think the essence of the charm of this movie can be summed up by Chris' wife's simple obsevation that Tony, the rootless wanderer, is jealous of Chris. Romance and wild times are fine for a couple years when you're young. "Young" in this sense being a socially constructed state, after all -- many people in the world expect to be married and having children, or are busily preparing for it, in their very early twenties, instead of being out drinking and cavorting with Parisian babes. Still, if you are bourgeois enough not to have felt internal forces driving you to get married immediately after high school, as people in many neighborhoods do, after all -- then this movie will speak to you. The point of this movie is that sooner or later, at SOME point, be it at 18 or 30, everyone grows up, and maybe that fact is something other than the zenith of heinousness. I like this movie.

By the way, for anyone out there who likes the basic story of this film, my favorite Julian Barnes book (he wrote the book this movie came from) is "The Porcupine." It's a much more political, different kind of story, but it's really provocative. It makes good use of Barnes' characteristic ear for dialog, and his deft characterizations. If you like Julian Barnes, you should find a copy of "The Porcupine."

"Metroland," at any rate, is positively worth scoping out. Two thumbs up.

If you liked 'American Beauty'...........2000-11-12

you'll love METROLAND, a gentle, bittersweet British film that explores the extremes of middle-age male sexual frustration in the same way - sans violence, of course. Christian Bale, oft cited as one of the biggest stars on the Internet, demonstrates why with an incredible range portraying Chris Lloyd at ages 17, 21 and 35. Subtle changes of mannerism and perspective make Bale's work very satisfying - none of that 18-to-80 aging make-up for Bale!

Customer Reviews:

The Making on the Best Ever Hard Rock Album.......2005-09-29

This a must for any fan of Metallica or Hard Rock!
An in depth look in to the making of a legand album!

Average customer rating:

great dvd
Anthrax : "Alive 2 ; The DVD"
Can't Wait to See it
"NOT" what you may expect
sick show

Alive 2: The DVD
Starring: Anthrax
Manufacturer: Sanctuary
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000ADKTN0
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Customer Reviews:

great dvd.......2006-07-04

This DVD rocks! The best thing about it, besides the good camerawork with the Pasonic DVX 100's and the sound, is the EDITING. No quick cuts, no spinning, no headaches or nausea. Great creative job by whoever was behind this. And killer show. I was there..

Anthrax : "Alive 2 ; The DVD".......2006-03-13

This is a SICK SHOW. Anthrax gets back to their roots here, and lays down one incredible live show here. All of the old classics are performed, and they don't miss a beat. The original line-up, and one kick as set....

What are you waiting for?? This is a classic peice of Metal History, BUY IT ALREADY!!!!

Can't Wait to See it.......2006-01-27

I haven't actually seen this, but I did see Anthrax's Among The Living tour at a little joint in Wichita, and then 3 more Belladonna era shows after that. That's why I can't wait to see this DVD. However, Spitz is my favorite member, so I'm a little bummed to see a post that they don't show much of him. Anthrax isn't Anthrax if any of these guys aren't in the band. Dan Lilker is a great bass player, but he's not right for Anthrax. John Bush, whatever, that definitely wasn't the Anthrax that people who went through high school with Belladonna at the helm want to hear (kind of like Van Halen without DLR). All I can say is I've seen them 4 times and I'm really glad to see that this DVD is out. I know it's good.

"NOT" what you may expect.......2006-01-21

Yeah, it was really, really cool to experience this DVD! OK so the sound is great, visuals great, camerawork was competent but during the concert, they hardly ever showed SPITZ at all...and the little hercules went and got all JACKED up and didn't even get airtime. What's that about? The phobic closet Danny lover/haters? Bad choice not showing the DAN!! ALso, there were some points where Joey didn't really seem convinced of what he was saying as crowd talk filler. I believe from what I can see and hear of Joey for him to be a pretty nice and straight up guy. Maybe I might've remembered hearing something about that reunion tour not lasting or someone dropping out? I need clearance and closure on this. So, someone up top set me straight on this, I'm not going to their website. Buy the dvd.
Anthrax rock the living ace outtof the set. Some songs missing...whatever, I'm just glad about this event! I notice a lot of posters go on to "bitch" or "pee and moan" about details like picture quality and SUPERPAPHONIC STEREO DEREO SOUND and things like that not being up to their standars and for that reason...don't buy the product. Dude...you sound like my ex girlfriend..you know, it's not really too cool for "guys" to sound like chicks. OK? I assume most reviewers are guys like me. Maybe not. No money involved. Sounds good. Money to buy the dvd, maybe, huh? Oh yeah.

Charlie Benante seems like sort of a low key grudgedickens, but whatever. He's a bastage of a drummer! Bello struk me as being kind of annoying as hell too what, what, whatever. No one lays it down like Frank Bello. I used to rock these guys on my toshiba back in 89 with Among the living on paperroutes and anywhere else!!
Crazy too think that these guys were such a huge/almost bloodstream influence for so many cool people, like the fans!!
Buy this product even though I ended up contradicting myself about being a nitpickin' bitchnaz.

sick show.......2005-11-28

Let me just say that i was at this show and its great that they captured it almost entirely on this dvd perfectly. They left out the little Dime tribute thing they did and Got The Time but other then that this is it. It looks and sounds killer and Joey hasn't aged a day. A must have for any Anthrax or classic thrash fan.

Average customer rating:

too much critics, not enough MH

Inside Motorhead
Starring: Motörhead
Manufacturer: Classic Rock Legends
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0007URSWQ
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Product Description

INSIDE MOTORHEAD (MOTORHEAD)

Customer Reviews:

too much critics, not enough MH.......2006-08-28

The vid clips are almost all available on "the best of MH" in their entirety. Here they are snipped to bits spliced in with the uninteresting comments of a handful of critics of no particular reknown. almost no interviews with the band.

DVD:

DVD

DVD